<62> of conveyance destroys all suspicion1 . . . Explanations are indeed the foundation of real friendship, but suspicion and perpetual diffidence are the bane of all amity and confidence.
I have within this week had no less than two explanations with His Prussian Majesty, the first relating to count Wackerbarth's supposititious proposals, to which I think a satisfactory answer was given in my letter to Your Lordship of the 18th by Lambe.2
The other was occasioned by what M. de Münchhausen was pleased to write to Count Podewils viz. that it was reported that Count Kaunitz had set out from Vienna in order to treat with the King of Prussia; now it unluckily happens that by the date of Münchhausen's letter this advice from Vienna must have been several days before the battle, when there was not the least appearance that the court of Vienna wanted to treat with the King of Prussia. I soon perceived that His Prussian Majesty was not the dupe of M. de Münchhausen's finesse, but I made the best apology I could from M. Münchhausen's zeal for his master's service, and the King of Prussia was pleased of himself to give me the strongest assurances of his resolution to fulfill every engagement he had with His Majesty, and he frankly said he wanted to do all the harm he possibly could to his present enemy as soon as possible, in order to be at liberty to act elsewhere, and that he wished above all things, if Prague was taken, that the Empress-Queen could be brought to dissolve her alliance with France, and even to assist with her troops against the French (which however he hardly expected), that in that case he would march directly against the French, and I am persuaded he most sincerely wishes to give them such a blow as he has given to Austria.
After such declaration and so fresh a date, I submit to your Lordship whether it be expedient to demand immediately a farther explanation ...“
Nach der Ausfertigung im Public Record Office zu London.
8968. AU FELD-MARÉCHAL DE KEITH A WELESLAWIN.
Au quartier général [devant Prague,] 20 mai 1757.
Mon cher Maréchal. J'ai trouvé moi-même la signature de la lettre du maréchal Browne, que je joins ci-close,3 changée et mal peinte, en sorte que je crois qu'il se trouve plus malade qu'on ne l'a cru.4
Si vous croyez qu'une batterie du côté du prince Maurice5 pourrait inquiéter le quartier du Wischerad,6 je verrai si je pourrai y envoyer 4 ou 5 canons de 24 livres de balle, pour embarrasser ce lieu-là. Il
1 Die Prinzessin von Oranien war die Tochter König Georg's II. Ueber die Vermittelung des Verkehrs nach Paris vergl. Bd. XIV, 323. 388.
2 Vergl. S. 35 Anm. 6.
3 Vergl. Nr. 8965.
4 Vergl. S. 16.
5 Prinz Moritz lagerte am linken Ufer der Moldau oberhalb von Prag.
6 Vergl. S. 55.