<296> why she might not declare it, that he was so much disposed to peace that any declaration would have satisfied him, provided he had found in it an assurance for his security, that he had read this answer over several times, but could find nothing of that sort in it, that, as a farther proof of his modération and aversion to war, he had directed his minister to ask once more an audience of the Empress to obtain this assurance, that, if it was granted, either verbally or in writing, without the formality of the English and French ministers being present,1 he would be satisfied, but, if refused, he had ordered his minister to depart forthwith from Vienna, as the inclosed instruction sent to Monsieur de Klinggræffen2 will fully inform your Lordship. The Postscript to this instruction, which he likewise gave me, is very remarkable as it shows his real way of thinking, after having received great provocation and after having been put to a prodigious expence. Though completely prepared for war, he is Willing to be quiet, if he can but be secure, and indeed this is perfectly agreeable to the whole tenor of his conversation, that even with success he cannot be a gainer by war, that, therefore, both, interest and inclination, lead him to wish for peace, so that he should be glad to hear propositions for peace, even after he had taken the field.
He then told me that he was to march next morning,3 and that Orders were given to the other corps of his troops to move at the same time …
As the King of Prussia has been pleased to communicate the instruction he has sent to Monsieur de Maltzahn his minister at Dresden,4 I send it inclosed together with a declaration5 to be published,6 as soon as his troops enter the Saxon territories. When I asked whether he had previously demanded a passage for his troops trough Saxony, he answered he had not, that he was afraid the Saxons might have called in the Austrians and thereby have disappointed the scheme he had laid, that nothing but the absolute necessity of his affairs made him take this Step.
I shall now endeavour to give your Lordship the best idea I can of the King of Prussia's scheme of Operations, as far as he was pleased to communicate it to me.
After his troops are assembled at Pirna — for he does not seem to expert Opposition from the Saxons — he will, without loss of time,
1 Vergl. S. 165.
2 Vergl. Nr. 7914.
3 Vergl. Nr. 7937.
4 Nr. 7915.
5 In dem Mitchell'schen Letter-Book (British Museum) „with a printed copy of the declaration etc.“
6 „Déclaration du Roi sur les motifs qui obligent Sa Majesté d'entrer avec son armée dans les États héréditaires du roi de Pologne, électeur de Saxe.“ Berlin 1756. Vergl. S. 322 Anm. 8.