7493. UNTERREDUNGEN DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN MINISTER MITCHELL.
Sanssouci, 11. und 12. Mai 1756.
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Berlin 14. Mai, über seine Antrittsaudienz in Sanssouci am 11. Mai:327-1 „, … I then proceeded to open to His Majesty the views the King my master had in honouring me with this commission, which he heard with great attention and immediately replied that he would strictly fulfill the treaty he had lately entered into with the King of Great Britain, and that he did not think that the peace of Germany would be disturbed this year. He added that what designs the court of Vienna and the court 0f France might have had for exciting troubles in Germany, upon pretence of religion and upon the supporting the rights of the Hereditary Prince of Hesse, were, for the present at least, postponed, as the Prince of Hesse was now at Berlin and very desirous of entering into his service “ 327-2
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Berlin 14. Mai, (very secret) …: „ … As several things of a private nature passed in the two audiences327-3 that I had, I shall endeavour to lay them before your Lordship in as concise a manner as I can.
When I pressed His Majesty to propose a plan or concert for preserving the peace of Germany, in case it should be disturbed on any pretence whatever, he said nothing will happen this year, I can answer for it with my head, but I do not pretend to say what may happen the next. I have several plans ready, and the King of Great Britain may choose which he likes, I will fulfill my engagements with him, and, in case the peace of the Empire should be disturbed in consequence of the conventions that have been talked of between the house of Austria and France, I will make cause commune with the King of Great Britain and will act against both, French and Austrians; but, says he, are you sure of the Russians? I replied, the King, my master, thought so. His Prussian Majesty said the King of Great Britain may depend on what I say, but I expect that what passes between us, will be kept secret …
<328>The King then said he was well informed that a convention was framing between the courts of Vienna and France, but the court of Vienna were greatly embarrassed in what manner to answer the instances which Mr. Keith had lately been directed to make,328-1 that their intention was to shift giving any answer tili the convention was actually signed, and so to justify this conduct by the manner in which our court had conducted itself in the negociation of the late treaty with Prussia; that there were three articles in this convention,328-2 the last of which was to be kept secret:
1° the court of France to agrée to a neutrality of the Netherlands;
2° the court of Vienna to promise a neutrality with regard to the présent disputes between Great Britain and France, and to take no part whatever in them;
3° that the Archduke should be chosen king of the Romans; — which he said must be the case sooner or later, as there was no one eise upon whom the choice could fall.
He asked me whether we were absolutely sure of the Russians? I told him I believed we were, and that the Russian ambassador at the court of Vienna had made the strongest and most friendly representations to the Emperor and Empress upon the subject of the late treaty between His Majesty and the King of Great Britain. The King of Prussia observed that these representations might have been made by the order of Chancellor Bestushew, who, he knew, was our friend.
He told me the news from Minorca328-3 were that the French had actually landed, that, if they succeeded in their attempt upon that island, it might probably render the means of accommodation more difficult, that, no doubt, I had heard the French proposed to give that island to the Spaniards, and the Empress-Queen to exchange the dutchy of Luxemburgh and part (I think he said) of the Netherlands with Don Philip for his possessions of Parma, Placencia and Guastalla, and that the French gave out that this scheme was approved of by the court of Spain …
The King concluded this conversation by asking me whether I did not think that, when the affair of Minorca was Over, it would be a proper time to renew the offers of mediation? I answered that His Majesty was more able to judge what was fit, than I to advise …“
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Berlin 14. Mai, (secret): „I shall now take the liberty to acquaint your Lordship with some particulars that passed in the two audiences I had of His Prussian Majesty, which I have not mentioned in my other letters to your Lordship of this date.
In reasoning upon the event of the Landgrave of Hesse's death, and that a war was to begin in Germany, the King said he knew that the Empress-Queen could bring 100,000 men into the field, that France<329> could not bring above 50,000, of which he reckoned the German regiments at their service at 20,000, the rest Palatine and Würtemberg troops, with a few French regiments added to make up the number, that on the other side the King of Great Britain, though he had sent 8,000 of his troops to England. could by an augmentation and by taking the Duke of Brunswick's into his pay, have an army of 25,000 or 30.000 men, that he, the King of Prussia, could bring an army of 100,000; but still there would be wanting 30,000 Russians, that, in order to facilitate the Coming of the Russians, he proposed that they should embark on board their galleys in the ports of Livonia and Courland nearest to their quarters and sail along the coasts of Prussia and Pomerania, that he would give them quarters in the ports of Pomerania, if they had occasion to land, and they might be put on shore at Rostock (or Radstadt), which voyage, he reckoned, would be in all about four weeks and would be a great saving of time as well as of fatigue to the troops, in case there was occasion for them to enter upon immediate service.
He said, with regard to the Elector Palatine, there was no hopes of gaining him from France, but he thought the Elector of Cologne might be come at,329-1 that he heard Mylord Stormont was to go to Bonn, but said that was not the way to gain him, and as he thought it of importance to have him, he suggested that some Roman-Catholic gentleman should be sent, without any character, to reside at his court and get into his favour, that, if the gentleman was hardi, effronté et bouffon, he could not fail of success and would be able at any time to get the Elector out of the hands of the French, that then a little money would be necessary and a minister might be sent to sign and seal with him; but that he did not indeed believe it would be possible to get the Elector to act against the French, that it would be sufficient, if he refused them passage for their troops et qu'il criât beaucoup. He added that such a gentleman as he had described, he imagined might be found among the Scotish or Irish Roman-Catholics.
He enquired how the Elector of Bavaria stood affected. I told him the subsidy-treaty was not renewed. Then, says he, the French will have him.
The King of Prussia's frankness in this second audience made me take the liberty to ask him whether he had yet given any answer to the insinuations that had been made by the court of Great Britain for him, to declare what part he would take, if Great Britain or Ireland was invaded by the French?329-2 He answered freely that he had given none, because he was sure that his medling would do harm and would only provoke the French, who, he knew, were out of humour with him, though they dissembled; but, says he, they are in the wrong, and my treaty with them expires this year;329-3 I will not renew it nor guarantee their<330> possessions in America. He then added that the French ministry were a very weak one,330-1 and we had little to fear from them, but did well to be upon our guard because of their superior force, that they meant to amuse us with fears of an invasion, in order to exhaust our treasure and to prevent our ships from going to sea.
With regard to the war in America, he said he could not help wondering at the absurdity of both nations to exhaust their strength and wealth for an object that did not appear to him to be worth the while, that he was persuaded by next year both nations would be sick of it and remove the seat of the war into Europe, unless a peace could be made before that time.
He then mentioned to me the affaire of Sweden,330-2 which, he said, were in a very odd situation, the Senate was endeavouring to alter the form of govemment and to take everything into their own hands, that in order to put a stop to these proceedings and to preserve the government of Sweden as it was settled, he suggested that, if the court of Russia by the influence of the King of Great Britain could be induced to make a representation against these innovations (which the Empress might do as having guaranteed the succession to the crown of Sweden), he, the King of Prussia, as an ally of Sweden, would at the same time make a representation to the same purpose,330-3 and he thought these representations could not fail of having a due effect and of giving a turn to affaire in that country, that England would also feel the advantage of it, as it would effectually stop the junction of the Swedish and Danish squadrons,330-4 and that, if Sweden was once detached, Denmark would think twice, before they send out their ships of war …“
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Berlin 14. Mai, (private and particular): „ …The King of Prussia told me that he had had some conversation with the Prince of Hesse,330-5 in which he had represented to him the conséquences of his putting himself into the hands of the courts of Vienna or France, that it must necessarily make his country the seat of war and might end in the ruin of himself and his family, that the Hereditary Prince had promised him to give the strengest assurances to the Landgrave and his subjects that he will make no attempt whatever upon the religion of the country, nor in any way endeavour to alter the constitution, that the Prince imagines (what he is pleased to call) the harsh measures taken by the Landgrave with regard to him to have proceeded from the King of England.
In the second audience I had of the King of Prussia, he said that he was Willing to take the Prince of Hesse into his service330-6 (not that he had a good opinion of him), if I thought it would be agreeable to<331> the King of Great Britain. I answered I really did not know what were the King's sentiments upon this affair. The King of Prussia then said : « But what is your own private opinion? » I replied that it seemed to be more for the interest of the Protestant cause in generai as well as for preserving the peace of Germany that the Prince of Hesse should be in the service of His Prussian Majesty rather than in that of Vienna or France. « If you think so », says the King, « I will take him into my service to-morrow. »
Auf Mitchells Bitte, mit der Aufnahme des Prinzen in preussische Dienste zu warten, bis eine genügende Antwort vom britischen Hofe eingelaufen sei, hat der König erwidert: %« I will endeavour to put him off till that time » …“
Nach den Ausfertigungen im Public Record Office zu London.
327-1 Vergl. S. 319.
327-2 Vergl. S. 312.
327-3 Der König hatte Mitchell am 11. aufgefordert, den folgenden Tag in Potsdam zu bleiben und ihm an diesem Tage eine zweite Audienz gegeben.
328-1 Vergl. S. 197.
328-2 Vergl. S. 322.
328-3 Vergl. S. 320.
329-1 Vergl. S. 276.
329-2 Vergl. S. 274.
329-3 Vergl. S. 49.
330-1 Vergl. Bd. X, 529; Bd. XI, 479.
330-2 Vergl. S. 324.
330-3 Vergl. S. 323.
330-4 Vergl. S. 239.
330-5 Vergl. S. 279. 283.
330-6 Vergl. S. 318.