The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-02-10
Frederick the Great on the Verge Of
Suicide.

ELCuCLlNh ~
Suicide.
We find the following in an article in
Harper's Magazine for February on
Frederick the Great
cat the bridges (after the battle of
KunersdorD Frederick found but three
thousand men of his late army. The
huts around we're filed with the
wounded and dying, presenting an
aspect of misery which, In these hours
of terrible defeat, appalled, his majesty.
In one of these huts, surrounded by
mutilated bodies, groans and death,
Frederick wrote the following despatch
to his minister Einckenstein) at Berlin.
It was dated Octscher, August IL,
1853:
"I attacked the enemy this morning
about eleven. We beat him back to the
Jews churchyard, near Frankfort. All
nv troops came into action, and have
done wonders. 1 reassembled them
three times. At length I was myself
nearly taken prisoner, and we had to
quit the field. My coat is riddled with
bullets. Two horses were killed under
me. My misfortune is hat 1 am still
alive. Our loss is very considerable.
OF an army of f~orty-eight thousand
men, I have at this moment, while /
write, not more than three thousand
together. 1 am no longer master of my
forces
In Berlin you will do well to think
of your safety. 1t is q great calamity.
1 will not survive it. The consequences
of this battle will be worse than the
battle itself. 1 have noresources more;
and, to confess the truth, / hold all for
lost. Twill not survive the destruction
of my country. Farewell forever"
"F.n
Probably the reader will infer from
the above letter that the king felt
that the hour had come for him to die,
and that he intended to resort to that
most consummate act of folly and cow
ardice-suicide. He had always ayowed
this to be his intention inthe last resort.
He had the poison prepared for that
purpose, md always carried it with him.
He had urged his sister Wilhelmina to
initiate his example in this respect, and
not to survive the ruin of their house.
Ruin now seemed inevitable. In the
battle of Kunersdorf Frederick had
lost, In killed and wounded, nineteen
thousand men, including nearly all the
officers of distinction, and also one
hundred and sixty pieces of artillery.
The remainder of his army was so dis
persed that it could not be rallied to
present any opposition to the foe.
Though General Soltikof had lost an
equal number of pen, he was still at
the head Of nearly eighty thousand
troops flushed with victory. He could
summon to his standard any desirable
reinforcements. An unobstructed
march of but sixty miles would lead his
army into the streets of Berlin. The
affairs of Frederick we're indeed des-
perate. There was not a CLEAN OF hope
to cheer him. In preparation for his
retirement from the army, from the
throne, and from life, he that evening
drew up the following paper, placing
the fragments of the army which he was
about to abandon in the hands of Gen.
Finck. By the death of the king the
orphan and infant child Of his brother
Augustus William (who had died but a
few months before) would succeed to
the throne. Frederick appointed his
brother Henry generalissimo of the
Prussian army.
This notable paper, which reflects
but little credit upon the character Of
Frederick, was as follows:
General Finck gets a difficult COM
mission. The unlucky army which 1
gave up to him is no longer in a condi-
ton to make head against the Russians.
Haddick will now start for Berlin,
perhaps LOudon too. If General Finck
goes after these, the Russians will fall
on his rear. If he continues on the
Oder, he gets Haddick on his flank.
However, 1 believe, should Loudon go
to Berlin, he might attack Loudon and
beat him. This, if it succeeded, would
be a stand against misfortune, and hold
matters up. The gain is much in these
desperate circumstances. Copper, my
secretary, will send him the news from
Torgau and Dresden. You must inform
my brother of everything, whom have
declared generalissimo of the army. To
repair this bad luck altogether is not
possible. But what my brother shall
command must be done. The army
swears to my nephew. This is all the
service in these unhappy circumstances
I am in a condition to give. If 1 had
still had resources, / would have staid
b. them. FREDERICK"
1t will be perceived that this paper
is slightly less ~despairing than the pre-
ceding letter which he had written to
Count Finckenstein. Frederick, having
written the order to General Finck,
threw himself, in utter exhaustion, up
On some straw in a corner of the hut,
and fell soundly asleep. The Prussian
officers, passing by, gazed sadly through
the open door upon the sleeping mon
arch. A single sentinel guarded the
entrance.