8429. UNTERREDUNGEN DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN MINISTER MITCHELL.
Dresden, 12. December 1756.
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Dresden 13. December (most secret): „In the conversation I had yesterday with the King of Prussia,<133> he said his minister at London had written to him133-1 that the King desired he would give him a general. He added: The King shall have what general he pleases. Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick133-2 has been talked of, he is a very brave and a good officer, but I must be free with you, I do not think him equal to such a command, il n'a pas l'esprit décisif. I would venture to recommend and answer for the Prince of Prussia, if he was not my brother. He has seen much and given thorough pains in our profession, and I think him every way qualified for that or even a greater command.
I took the liberty to say that I was sorry he had not mentioned this sooner, but if he would give me leave, I would still mention it to the King. He answered: If you do, it must be as from yourself, for I would have the King absolutely free in the choice of his gênerai, and I still am of opinion that Prince Lewis of Brunswick133-3 is the rittest person to command the King's army. I would prefer him to either of the other two we have been talking of . . .“
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Dresden 13. December, er habe den König von Preussen von dem Erlass des Grafen Holdernesse vom 26. November unterrichtet und ihm die Versicherung gegeben, dass König Georg II. entschlossen sei, im Bunde mit Preussen alle Mittel zur Vertheidigung der Religion und der Freiheiten des Reiches aufzubieten: „,...When I mentioned the King of Sardinia,133-4 he said, though in the situation that Prince was, he could not act, yet if he could be brought to make an augmentation in his troops, that step would give uneasiness both to the house of France and Austria and could not fail to be of advantage to the allies.
But, above all, he says, the good disposition of the Porte133-5 should be cultivated and their jealousy of the late treaty of Versailles may be improved in such a way as to make them speak at least, if they will not act. He thinks any declaration from the Porte would have an immédiate and sensible effect on the projects of the court of Vienna.
Upon my telling His Prussian Majesty that part of the foreign troops133-6 had already left England, he said as the season was so far advanced, he had thought that in case the King approved of the projet,133-7 it might be better to quarter them in the Prussian dominions in Westphalia, which would free the soldiers from many long and fatiguing marches and enable them to take the field early and in good Kondition, that he would find them quarters, and then he named several<134> places. I begged the favour to have this in writing, which he was pleased to send me134-1 ...
His Prussian Majesty said that, so soon as he knew the King's resolution, he would, if it was agreeable, send an officer to Hannover134-2 to concert everything with the ministers and to assist them in the exécution of what should be agreed upon, that this appearance of perfect harmony and intelligence between the King and him might perhaps have some effects upon the Council of France and make them reflect before they began to act . . .
The King of Prussia hopes that orders have been already given to the King's ambassador at [the] court [of Petersbourg] to make use of every means to prevent their taking any part in the present war, and he is of opinion that a part of the subsidy can not be better applied than to this purpose ...“
Nach den Ausfertigungen im Public Record Office zu London.
133-1 Bericht Michell's, London 26. November. Vergl. Nr. 8431.
133-2 Vergl. S. 34; Bd. XIII, 609.
133-3 Vergl. S. 34; Bd. XIII, 609.
133-4 Vergl. S. 122.
133-5 Vergl. S. 122.
133-6 Gemeint sind die hannoverschen und hessischen Truppen. Vcrgl. S. 64; Bd. XII, 508; XIII, 491.
133-7 Vergl. Nr. 8354.
134-1 Mitchell übersendet zugleich diese Quartierliste für die hannoverschen und hessischen Truppen (vergl. auch Nr. 8430).
134-2 Vergl. S. 144.