ld not, in strict reason, though aware that these
savageries were on march. He had hoped the Eugen-Hulsen appliances, even
should all else fail, might keep them at bay. And indeed, in regard to
these latter, it turned only on a hair. Montalembert calculating, vows,
on his oath, "Can assure you, M. l'Ambassadeur, PUIS BIEN VOUS ASSURER
COMME SI J,ETAIS DEVANT DIEU, as if I stood before God," [Montalembert,
ii. 108.] that, from first to last, it was my doing; that but for me, at
the very last, the Russians, on sight of Hulsen and Eugen, and no Lacy
come, would have marched away!

Friedrich's orderings and adjustings, dated Lubben, where his Army
rested after this news from Berlin, were manifold; and a good deal still
of wrecks from the Berlin Business fell to his share. For instance, one
thing he had at once ordered: "Your Bill of a Million-and-half to the
Russians, don't pay it, or any part of it! When Bamberg was ransomed,
Spring gone a year,--Reich and Kaiser, did they respect our Bill we had
on Bamberg? Did not they cancel it, and flatly refuse?" Friedrich is
positive on the point, "Reprisal our clear remedy!" But Berlin itself
was in alarm, for perhaps another Russian visit; Berlin and Gotzkowsky
were humbly positive the other way. Upon which a visit of Gotskowsky
to the Royal Camp: "Merchants' Bills are a sacred thing, your Majesty!"
urged Gotzkowsky. Who, in his zeal for the matter, undertook dangerous
visits to the Russian Quarters, and a great deal of trouble, peril and
expense, during the weeks following. Magnanimous Gotzkowsky, "in mere
bribes to the Russian Officials, spent about 6,000 pounds of his own,"
for one item. But he had at length convinced his Majesty that Merchants'
Bills were a sacred thing, in spite of Bamberg and desecrative
individualities; and that this Million-and-half must be paid. Friedrich
was struck with Gotzkowsky and his view of the facts. Friedrich,
from his own distressed funds, handed to Gotzkowsky the necessary
Million-and-half, commanding only profound silence about it; and to
Gotzkowsky himself a present of 150,000 thalers (20,000 pounds odd);
[Archenholtz, ii. 146.] and so the matter did at last end.

It had been a costly business to Berlin, and to the King, and to the
poor harried Country. To Berlin, bombardment of ten hours; alarm of
discursive siege-work in the environs for five days; foreign yoke for
three days; lost money to the amounts above stated; what loss in wounds
to b