11942. UNTERREDUNG DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN GESANDTEN MITCHELL.
[Freiberg, März 1760.]
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Freiberg 26. März (particular and secret), er habe dem Könige die Bitte vorgetragen, den Landgrafen von Hessen zum Gouverneur von Berlin zu ernennen.197-3 „[His Prussian Majesty] answered he was ready to do it, but the Landgrave must ask for it; that at present he believed the Landgrave did not think of it, as he had insinuated to Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, that he intended to reside at Cassel, happen what might, and that he does insist upon the county of Hanau being restored to him.197-4 His Prussian Majesty observed that the terms offered by the King to the Landgrave were such as ought to satisfy, that he feared there would be no keeping of him for any considerable time considering the means that would be made use of to seduce him, that he was of opinion it might be expedient to amuse him with hopes about the county of Hanau, without however yielding anything in that affair. His Prussian Majesty concluded with saying that he was informed the King's electoral minister residing at Cassel was disagreable to the Landgrave, that therefore it might be proper in the present juncture to send another person who was not personally obnoxious, and who, by talking a language different from his predecessor, may be more capable to deceive him, which he thinks is the only means to keep the Landgrave firm in the alliance.“
Nach der Ausfertigung im Public Record Office zu London.197-5
<198>197-3 Vergl. Nr. 11827.
197-4 Vergl. Nr. 11896 und S. 169. Anm. 1.
197-5 Am 27. berichtet Mitchell (secret) an Holdernesse, der König habe ihm einen Bericht über die Unterredung zwischen dem Grafen Saint-Germain und dem General Yorke, die am 15. März stattgefunden hatte, gegeben. „He observed that, though the man and his manner were of the most incommon kind, yet General Yorke has done right to give Your Lordship an immédiate account of what had passed; that it was very probable the count may have been employed in this commission by the Marshai Belle-Isle without the knowledge of the other French ministers, as the cabinet is extremely divided.“