456 
in hoftilities with the Turks, which lafted. 
from 1787 to 1790, the difcontented Hun- 
garians and Flernings revolted againft his 
government. Frederick William coun- 
tenanced both infurreétions. He -fent 
agents to Bruffels—he appointed one of his 
own officers, general Schoenfeld, to com- 
mand the Flemifh mfurgents—-he even 
marched an army to the frontiers of Bohe- 
mia; but when he found his intereft in 
fioning the treaty of Reichenbach, he was 
the firft to abandon both Flemings and 
Hungarians to their fate, and to the mercy 
of the new empercr Leopoid. During 
the fame period, the kmg of Sweden, who 
had been encouraged by the. promifed 
fupport of England and Pruffia, to engage 
in a defperate and unpopular war with the 
Czarina, was left to fight his battles alone, 
and compelled by his viétorious adverfary 
to fign the peace of Wercla, in 1790. 
The government of this country was pre- 
vented from fulfilling its engagements by 
the oppofition of Mr. Fox, and by the 
voice of the people ; but Frederick Wil- 
liam had no fuch excufe for his verfatility 
and fhameful breach of faith. | 
* All thefe aéts of political meannefs and 
duplicity were, however, utterly infigni- 
ficant when compared with his profligate 
conduct towards the Poles. The diftur- 
bances, that brought about the revolution 
in that-devoted country, were fomented 
by his agents; the new government was 
deluded into fecurity by his promifes; he 
even feeméed determined to oppofe the 
arbitrary pretenfions of the imperial 
Catharine. Burt thefe fair appearances 
were only meant to lure the northern 
republicans to their ruin. As foon as 
his plans’ were ripe for execution, he 
made the very conftitution he had pro- 
mifed to guarantee, the preteace of ine 
vafion. The Pruffian, Auftrian, and 
Ruffian eagles pounced in concert upon 
their prey, and Poland was no more. 
In 1791, Frederick William, at the 
inftigation of M. de Bifchoffswerder, who 
was defirous of fupplanting count Herz- 
‘berg, propefed that monfter in politics, 
an alliance between Auftria and Pruffia. 
The firft outlines of it were fketched in 
Ttaly, whither M.de Bifchoffswerder went 
in fearch of Leopold, ahd it was after- 
wards amplified and concluded at Piloitz. 
Leopold, brought up in the crafty {chool 
of Tetalian politics, eladly acceded to the 
propofal, probably with views fimilar to 
' thofe of Frederick William; but his fuc- 
ceflor was anticipated -and‘outwitted by 
she Pruifian monarch. 
Original Anecdotes...Frederick III. of Pruffia. 
[Dec. 
The ratification of the treaty was op- 
pofed by count Herzberg (whe foon after 
retired from the adminiftration), by the 
duke of Brunfwick, and by the veteran 
Mollendorff. But when once it was ratified, 
the two latter were of opinion, that the 
war fhould be piofecuted with fteadinefs 
and vigour, in order to fave Pruffia from 
the odium of farther duplicity. Nor did 
they afterwards recede from thofe fenti- 
ments. It was prince Henry, the old 
King’s brother, then at variance with 
them both, who was 
of the peace. img 
Count Herzberg’s principles—the fame 
as thofe upon which thofe of Frederic FI 
had governed—were more beneficial to 
his country, and highly favourable to the 
liberty of Germany *. It was his opi- 
mion that Pruffia fhould not. draw the 
{word, unlefs compelled to it; but that 
fhe fhould be a check upon the emperor’s 
views of aggrandizement in- Germany, 
by keeping herfelf prepared at all times 
for that event. Asto the French, he 
thought that fhe ought to continue en- 
tirely neutral, and to wait the iflue of 
their commotions, only taking care to 
protect the frontiers of Germany again 
their attempts. Thus would Pruffia 
have remained a quiet fpe@tator of the 

* Count Herzberg, a man of the moft pro 
foung erudition, and extenfive knowledge of 
the intereits of the feveral cabinets of Europe, 
united the warmeft patriotifm with the moft 
difinterefted probity. . During the long reign 
of Frederic II. his life was devoted to the 
happinefs and glory of bis king and country. 
His policy was to keep a watchful eye’ over 
the rivals of Pruflia, and only to draw the 
fword, when the arms of reafon were no longer 
of any eifedt. 
Convinced of the advantages the Pruffiag 
monarchy enjoyed, by virtue of its civil and 
military conftitution, he defpifed intrigue, 
and all thofe little artifices, which are the. 
cuftomary weapons of -weaknefs and igno- 
rance, and which only ferve to expofe thofe 
who employ them, to-cenfure and derifion. @ 
His mode of aéting was, to reflec duly or 
every ftep to be taken for the -happinefs and 
faiety of the empire, aud when once <a’ plan 
was adopied, to purfue it with attivity and 
vigour. The franknefs and candour of hig 
conduct, not only gained him the good-will 
of his_feilow-citizens (particularly. after’ the 
wer of the Bayarian {ueceffion) »but procured 
him alfo the efteem and confidence of ali the 
cabinets of Europe, which acknowledged that 
Sully was not a more worthy miniiter and 
fiend to Henry I¥, than Herzberg was te 
Frederick IJ, : 
conflict, 
the chief promoter 
