8871. UNTERREDUNGEN DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN MINISTER MITCHELL.
[Lockwitz, 18. April 1757.]
Mitchell schreibt, Dresden 19. April, an den Herzog von Cumberland: „Sir. Since I had the honour of writing to Your Royal Highness by the messenger dispatched last Friday, I have seen His Prussian Majesty twice; but it was only yesterday that he opened himself to me for the plan of operations for the ensuing campaign, of which I shall endeavour to give Your Royal Highness an account, after premising some things necessary to be known, as Your Royal Highness may not have seen my latest letter to the Earl of Holdernesse.“
Es folgt eine Erzählung der Unternehmungen des Herzogs von Bevern gegen Friedland513-2 und des Corps unter dem Prinzen von Preussen und Keith gegen Neustadt,513-3 eines Verstosses des Prinzen Moritz gegen Eger513-4 und eines gleichen des Prinzen Heinrich gegen Hainspach.513-5
<514>„All these, Sir, were but feints to alarm, amuse and, if possible, deceive the enemies, who, by the accounts from Bohemia, are still quiet in their quarters; and if those false attacks have so far succeeded, as to cover the King of Prussia's real intention, I may venture to say that His Prussian Majesty is upon the point of executing one of the boldest and one of the greatest designs that ever was attempted by man.
Yesterday the King of Prussia told me that maréchal Schwerin with his army had entered Bohemia514-1 and was to be joined by the troops under the Prince of Bevern from Zittau to act on the other side of the Elbe. He said likewise that on Wednesday he will leave Lockwitz, and on Thursday, the 21st, the whole army will march, and it is to be joined in Bohemia by the corps under Prince Moritz of Dessau. He did not name the place of junction,514-2 but I conjecture it will be towards Leitmeritz, as the navigation of the Elbe is most essential514-3 and must be preserved. For the sarne reason part of the army will pass through Hellendorf, Hlinay, Aussig etc. into Bohemia . . .
The King of Prussia said the greatest difficulty he had found in bringing this project to bear, was the securing of dry forage for the cavalry and provisions for his men,514-4 which, however, he had now accomplished without trusting to what might be found in the enemy's magazines. He added one other thing had given him great trouble, which was to conceal his real design from his own officers. In this too he had succeeded, for I really believe that yesterday morning there were but two persons in the whole army besides himself that were then acquainted with his plan;514-5 and the secret has been so well kept that tili this day the officers knew nothing of his intention to leave Lockwitz, but talked that in a few days perhaps, if the weather was fine, the army would encamp.
If His Prussian Majesty succeeds in the execution of this noble project, he will soon be in a condition to succour the army of Your Royal Highness,514-6 and to help to protect the Landgrave of Hesse, which he has much at heart;514-7 and I have the satisfaction to assure Your Royal Highness that the King of Prussia continues in the best disposition towards His Majesty and towards Your Royal Highness, though he complains bitterly, and perhaps with too much reason,514-8 of the late transactions at Hannover and of the cold indifference and slowness with which things there have been conducted, but he is persuaded Your Royal Highness can and will restore everything514-9 . . .“
Mitchell schreibt an Holdernesse, Dresden 19. April (private), man sei einem Mordanschlag gegen den König auf die Spur gekommen;<515> was über denselben in Erfahrung gebracht, scheine vollkommen begründet zu sein. „The King of Prussia mentioned to me the two persons that were set out from Warsaw upon that detestable design; they will be looked after, if they come this way; but he said nothing that could lead me to conjecture by whom they were put upon it. In conversation he assured me that he had no intention to hurt any of the Royal family, that what was done,515-1 was absolutely necessary . . . I think upon the whole His Prussian Majesty has had a very narrow escape, which however seems to have made no impression at all upon him, nor to have created in him the least diffidence whatever of anybody.“
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513-2 Vergl. S. 375. 376.
513-3 Vergl. S. 473.
513-4 Vergl. S. 506. 516.
513-5 Vergl. S. 505. 519.
514-1 Vergl. S. 512 Anm. 1.
514-2 Vergl. S. 510. 526.
514-3 Vergl. Bd. XIII, 297.
514-4 Vergl. S. 416. 423. 440. 488.
514-5 Vergl. dagegen Nr. 8834 S. 480.
514-6 Vergl S. 488.
514-7 Vergl. S. 468. 518.
514-8 Vergl. S. 437. 465.
514-9 Einen Theil der an den Herzog von Cumberland gesandten Nachrichten schreibt Mitchell ebenfalls am 19. April in dem officiellen Bericht an Holdemesse.
515-1 Vergl, Nr. 8854.