7600. UNTERREDUNG DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN MINISTER MITCHELL.

Potsdam, 23. Juni 1756.

Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Berlin 24. Juni (very secret) über die ihm am 23. Juni zu Potsdam gewährte Audienz: …„His Majesty read to me several lettres from Vienna and Paris … giving an account of the discourses of several foreign ministers at the court where they reside446-2 … One of the letters, from Paris, says that Monsieur de Rouillé told the Genoese minister446-3 that the King intended to send troops into the island of Corsica, in order the better to be able to protect Minorca; the Genoese minister answered very properly and afterwards gave in a representation in writing, setting forth the hardship and injustice of this measure, by which the Republic would become exposed to the resentment of the English etc.

The paper marked D446-4 I received from the King's own hand …

His Majesty then was pleased to throw out his thoughts on the present State of affairs, which I shall endeavour to recapitulat with all the precision that I can.

<447>

He thinks it probable that before the end of August there will be three camps formed, one in Bohemia, one in Moravia by the Austrians and one upon the frontiers of Russia447-1 by the Russians, that perhaps the French may at the same time march a body of troops to attack His Majesty's German dominions, and he asked jocosely what I thought he could do to defend Hannover, if he was attacked thus on all sides. I said the King was Willing to concert measures with him, and in the mean time the valour of his troops and the capacity of the generals could not fail to give him a superiority over his enemies. He replied you have too high an opinion of the troops and the generai, and concluded with saying that, in the present conjuncture, the strictest union and most thorough confidence between the King and him was now necessary for their mutual interests and safety. In case the affair of the king of the Romans should again be brought upon the tapis, he wished to concert proper measures with His Majesty upon it and to act in conjunction with him.

I have in some of my former letters mentioned to your Lordship the King of Prussia's opinion with regard to the choosing of a king of the Romans. He considers that dignity not as of the greatest importance, and that it must sooner or later fall to the Archduke, but he wishes to concert with the King proper articles for the capitulation447-2 of the king of the Romans; this he thinks of real importance, as the power of every elector, prince and member of the Empire may be affected by it.

The King thinks the King of Great Britain has reason to expect success in Denmark, if proper suggestions are made to that court and their jealousy worked up on the head of religion, but care must be taken to avoid saying anything of America, of commerce or of maritime affairs, and the grandmaster Moltke is one that should be particularly applied to.

As to Holland he says the late treaty [of Vienna] with Versailles must certainly give strength and vigour to the Stadtholders party, raise the jealousy of the people on account of religion and make them uneasy to see the very barrier-towns secured to the Austrians by the French. He said that, to his own part, he had very little interest in that country, but that he had given Orders to his minister at the Hague to concur with colonel Yorke in everything.447-3

Notwithstanding the great number of enemies, the King seems in no wise disconcerted, and has already given Orders everywhere, the field-equipages, horses etc. are ordered to be got ready and the furloughs of all the soldieis that are above four German miles from their corps, are recalled, so that in a fortnight's time he will be ready to<448> act. His troops, as I am informed, are complete and the artillery in excellent order.

The King imagines that the Russians will make their attack on the side of Memel, he has already appointed the general that is to command in Prussia, but he did not name him and said only he was one he could trust, and of whom he had a good opinion.448-1

He told me that one of the reasons he wished for a fleet in the Baltic,448-2 was that it might prevent the Russians from ravaging Pomerania, but that, wherever they came, he should endeavour to give them a proper reception.

The King of Prussia believes there are other articles in the treaty of Versailles besides those that have been affectedly made public, and that France may have given him up to be attacked by the house of Austria, upon condition that that grateful house should suffer the French to invade His Majesty's German dominions …“

Nach der Ausfertigung im Public Record Office zu London.


446-2 Aus den Berichten Klinggräffen's vom 16. Juni (vergl. Nr. 7611) und Knyphausen's vom 14. Juni (vergl. Nr. 7612).

446-3 Sorba.

446-4 Eine Abschrift des Berichtes Flemming's an Brühl, d. d. Wien 9. Juni, von Maltzahn am 18. Juni übersandt. Vergl. Nr. 7608 und S. 445 Anm. 1.

447-1 In der Copie des Mitchell'schen „Letter-book“ (British Museum in London): „Prussia“ .

447-2 Das Gesperrte in der Vorlage unterstrichen.

447-3 Vergl. Nr. 7604.

448-1 Vergl, Nr. 7601.

448-2 Vergl. S. 428.