7520. UNTERREDUNG DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN MINISTER MITCHELL.
Sanssouci, 24. Mai 1756.
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Berlin 27. Mai, über die Audienz in Sanssouci am Montag, den 24. Mai:355-4 „ …The King of Prussia is well disposed to second His Majesty's views with regard to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hesse, and he has again renewed in the strongest terms his sincere intention of strictly fulfilling all his engagements with the King, but is fully convinced that nothing can happen this year to disturb the peace of Germany. He was pleased with the accounts which your Lordship enabled me to communicate concerning Russia,355-5 but still I could perceive some doubt and diffidence remained, and I suspect there have been accounts from that court of a very différent nature, though nobody here chooses to speak out …“
<356>Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Berlin 27. Mai (secret): „ …I acquainted His Majesty with such parts of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams' dispatches as I thought were the most proper to make an impression upon him and to convince him that affairs at the court of Petersburg were in a very good situation. I added that care would be taken they should continue so, as the King my master was sensible of the importance of that alliance and was resolved to cultivate it. He added he was glad that our affairs were in so good a situation, that there had been lately great divisions and dissensions at that court,356-1 that it was of the utmost conséquence that the King's interest and influence should be maintained there, that, while Russia was secured, the peace of Germany was safe; and as he, the King of Prussia, was strictly resolved to adhere to the treaty he had lately entered into with the King of Great Britain, and Willing to fulfill every engagement, he thought that the peace of Germany could not be disturbed by any power whatever, while Russia continued well disposed to England, that the greatest attention should be had to that court, not only because of its instability, but that the French were actually endeavouring to get it out of our hands, and that he was informed a Douglas — he supposed a jacobite and a créature of M. d'Argenson — had lately been sent to that court, that he had been introduced by the Great Chancellor to the Empress, that this Douglas was supposed to have lettres of credence …
As I had said in this conversation that the Duke de Nivernois' stay at Berlin and the manner in which he had been received there, had been made use of at the court of Petersburg as a means to indispose the Empress of Russia against the treaty lately concluded, and that in order to increase her jealousy, it had been suggested that His Prussian Majesty was then actually negociating a new treaty with France, the King answered with some emotion that surely he was not responsible to Russia for the manner in which he received public ministers at his court, that the Duke de Nivernois was a man of great quality, who had even given up the point of rank, in order to come to Berlin with the character of minister plenipotentiary, after having been ambassador at Rome, that he, King of Prussia, had then just made a treaty with the King of Great Britain which made it more necessary to show a particular attention to the minister of France, and he would freely tell me what his views were in so doing, that he wanted to prevent the war from becoming general and had hopes at that time of bringing the two nations together and to make them understand one another and their respective interests,356-2 which he thought they had both mistaken, that he was still of the same opinion and would keep out of the war as long as he could, that was his principle, that if Germany was attacked by foreign troops, he would fulfill his engagements and would facilitate the coming of 30,000 Russians by sea to be landed at Rostock or at Stettin;<357> but, added he, I shall be very sorry to see any foreign troops whatever in the Empire, and I hope the Russians will not come, unless there be real occasion for them, in that case I should wish to have them, they will serve as a pledge for the fidelity of the Russian Empire and prevent its being induced to take a part against us.
When I mentioned the instructions that had been sent to Monsieur Keyserlingk at Vienna to renew his représentations at that court,357-1 he said that signified little, for there was an understanding between the courts of Vienna and Petersburg, that the court of Vienna had delayed giving an answer to Mr Keith, till the arrivai of a Courier from Petersburg, that the answer they had given, would not be agreeable to the King and was in substance that, as we had not previously communicated the treaty with Prussia to them and had omitted in that treaty the defence of the Netherlands,357-2 that the Empress-Queen must make such alliances as may secure her dominions etc. This, he said, was the purport of the answer to Mr Keith, calculated to justify their treaty with France, which could not be long kept secret, as he was informed that it was actually signed on the 7th instant at Paris,357-3 and contained the articles he had formerly mentioned to me, which your Lordship will find in my very secret letter of the 14th instant.357-4
He thinks it likely, in the humour the court of Vienna now is, that, as they have Silesia constantly in their eye, wish to recover Parma and Placencia and to extend their dominions in Lombardy and want nothing so much as a general war. To bring this about, they may, under hand, instigate France to attack His Majesty's German dominions the next year (though he cannot believe they will openly act against His Majesty), that France may probably hearken to this proposition, especially if the attempts she is now making in America and in Minorca, should fail, or if their fleet should be beaten at sea, for it will be then the only card France has to play, and even this he thinks they may be disappointed of, if a timely concert is entered into before the month of October next, and he was Willing to offer plans to His Majesty for that purpose, in which however the 30,000 Russians make an essential part …
I acquainted the King of Prussia with His Majesty's resolution of declaring war against France.357-5 He said nothing; but told me, by way of news, that 45 bataillons were to march towards the coasts opposite to Britain, that Monsieur de Belle-Isle was to be at Dunkirk about the end of the month and several camps to be formed.357-6 He asked me what number of troops we had in Britain, and said he did not think we had been so strong; but, though he could not persuade himself that France really intended to invade England, yet we could not be too much upon our guard, and he hoped for that reason that neither the<358> service of America neither the defence of Minorca nor any project whatever would incline us to dégarnir our coasts by sending out too many ships of war, that, while we had a strong fleet at home, France would hardly venture to invade, but if we weakened ours too much, it became the interest of France, in the present conjuncture, to risk everything with an equal or nearly equal force; he, therefore, recommends keeping at home a fleet greatly superior to the French.
I insinuated to His Majesty that, if any concert of alliance was formed, the republic of Holland might still be of great use, that an ancestor of his had saved that Republic, and it would add to his glory to lend his hand once more to raise and relieve her, that, if something was not done, there was danger of the Republic falling into the hands of France. He heard with attention and did not seem to disrelish the proposition, but added that the Republic at present was in a very low State …“
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Berlin 27. Mai (private and particular) über Besprechungen, die er mit dem Könige in Betreff des Erbprinzen von Hessen gehabt hat:358-1 „ …His Majesty was pleased to talk with great freedom to me upon the whole of this unhappy affair. He said that he had so bad an opinion of the Hereditary Prince and he knew him to be so weak and so fickle that he would absolutely have had nothing to do with him, if it had not been pour faire plaisir au Roi and to the Landgrave, and that the consideration of the present State of affairs in Europe made him, the Prince, of conséquence at this time; that in order to prevent his falling into the hands of Vienna or of France, he was Willing to take him into his service, though he had no hopes to make anything of him.
Mitchell hat die Meinung geäussert, der Eintritt in die preussische Armee würde den Erbprinzen von seinen Fehlern heilen … [The King] said « You do not know him, if he was in my service (though he says „après le purgatoire qu'il aime la discipline prussienne“ ), I cannot nor will answer for him, he may deceive me, for he is always of the mind of the person that speaks to him last, and there is nobody about him capable to guide him; I blame his father for this. »
When I urged the necessity there was of an separation and the justice of securing an independent provision for Her Royal Highness, to take place after the death of the Landgrave, the King of Prussia said he was very sensible of the disagreeable situation in which Her Royal Highness must be, and he told me several things that he has learnt from his sister-in-law (a Princess of Hesse married to his brother Prince Henry, who has lately been to visit her uncle the Landgrave)358-2 that convinced him not only of the impropriety, but of the impossibility of her living with her husband in any degree of comfort.
<359>He likewise thinks that it is reasonable and just that a suitable independent provision should be secured for Her Royal Highness after the death of the Landgrave, but he asked me what I would propose. I answered that I was not instructed to make any proposition. He then said the best way that now occurs to me, is for the Landgrave to put her in possession of the county of Hanau immediately, which he said he believed he intended to do, but that his age and infirmities had hitherto prevented him from bringing his intention into execution.
Mitchell hat erwidert, dass die Versorgung der Prinzessin und ihrer Kinder dem Könige Georg sehr am Herzen läge. … He answered you may assure the King that I will do everything in my power to second and facilitate His Majesty's intentions in that matter, but he hoped it would be remembered that he had not taken upon him to answer for the conduct of the Hereditary Prince, even when he was in his service, that he knew too much of him to undertake for him, but he added « I wish you would speak with the Prince yourself, I should be glad to have a witness, you will see with your own eyes, he will teil you his story without your asking him, and you will be better able to judge of his character. » Mitchell hat entgegnet, er habe keinen Auftrag zu solchem Vorgehen erhalten. … The King said « Put yourself in his way, he will talk to you, you may visit him as a private man, not as a minister and you may hear him at least. »
When I asked His Majesty if the prince of Hesse would be soon received into his service, he answered « I have made him a proposition,359-1 but have not yet received his answer. I make use of Monsieur de Borcke to transact with him » …“
Nach den Abschriften359-2 der Mitchell'schen Berichte im Public Record Office zu London.
355-4 Vergl. S. 351.
355-5 Erlass Holdermesse's, d. d. Whitehall 14. Mai: Darin waren eingeschlossen 1) ein Bericht Williams', d. d. Petersburg 11. April, mit der Nachricht, dass die Versuche den Argwohn der Kaiserin auf die englisch-preussische Convention zu lenken, bisher ohne Erfolg geblieben seien; 2) ein Bericht Keith's, d. d. Wien 27. März, mit der Meldung, Keyserlingk habe Befehl erhalten, am wiener Hofe die englischen Interessen zu unterstützen. Vergl. auch Nr. 7572.
356-1 Vergl. S. 262. 306.
356-2 Vergl. S. 36. 146.
357-1 Vergl. S. 415.
357-2 Vergl. S. 2. 16.
357-3 Vergl. S. 355.
357-4 Vergl. Nr. 7493 S. 328.
357-5 Vergl. S. 351. 374.
357-6 Vergl. S. 361.
358-1 Vergl. S. 330.
358-2 Vergl. S. 251.
359-1 Vergl. S. 350. 353.
359-2 Die Ausfertigungen der Berichte sind verloren gegangen; sie waren dem Mitchell'schen Courier bei seinem Aufbruch von Berlin gestohlen worden. Vergl. S. 374.