More spicy crown prince gossip reported by the Devil to Seckendorff Jr.: Manteuffel advised Fritz to try harder with the procreation business:
"(...)because it would make your state now happier, and would save you from many future worries, because when we see that You have no lineage, we will marry your brother William, and then the scheming and plotting will be inevitable" .
Junior agreed to all this; "But", he said, "I can't embrace my wife with passion, and when I sleep with her, I do it rather out of duty than by inclination."
Mantteuffel points out that the earth would be barren if the only children born were born to couples who loved each other, and hey, gird your loins, I hear she's got at least a nice exterior?
Junior: ,, This is true, her form is very pretty; but i have never been in love with her. However, I should be the last man, in the world if I didn't esteem her: because she has a very sweet nature, a more docile woman one cannot imagine, she's excessively compliant, and hastens to do everything she believes can please me. Also, she can't complain that I'm not sleeping with her. I truly don't know why there isn't a child there already."
In case Seckendorff Jr. is slow on the uptake, Manteuffel has a literary hint for him:
The Devil makes me read the Roman History of Des Echarts and points out the character of Junior, who is the same as that of Emperor Hadrian.
On December 1st (still 1736), FW is not a fan of Suhm: Upon hearing of the appointment of Suhm as envoy to the court of Petersburg, the King says: "He's an arch villain, and I'm sorry I didn't hang him while I had him here."
In early 1737, Seckendorff is not impressed with teenage AW: Prince William had a weak spell yesterday at the parade; however he was obliged to dine with us, where he cut a sad figure.
On the other hand, he has a soft spot for coming menace Ferdinand, when it's Ferdinand's turn to dine with Dad and his smoking chums:
Little Prince Ferdinand did not contribute much, other than his kindness to keep the king in good spirits. But above all, this kind child deserves to be reported because, wanting to have something of Biberius, who was sitting next to him, he uses the expression: Your excellence, be as gracious as to give me something of this." To which Bberius replied: "I can't dole out graces; the King alone is capable of providing grace." To which the prince replied: "OH yes, your excellency, but you are Field Marshall now, so you will be able to act gracefully." Biberius couldn't help but show his amusement. The King smiled; but the Beard" - La Barbe, the Beard, is der alte Dessauer, Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau - behaved with the air of a Hercules in his fury.
(Because Grumbkow has been made a Field Marshal.)
Seckendorff Jr. has the bad luck that Original Seckendorff, the Field Marshall, temporarily falls from grace back home in Vienna and has been arrested and imprisoned in Graz, where he'll stay until MT ascends to the throne. (She'll release him.) This means Seckendorff the nephew is called back from Prussia. In Vienna, he first tries to make good weather for uncle and also shares gossip with people bitching about MT's new husband. Remember, they all think Franzl is the future ruler, nobody considers MT will rule, and they aren't impressed by his lack of military prowess. Also, he's a foreigner from Lorraince, so basically half French, and everyone hates the French. So Seckendorff Jr. notes:
Dissension at home. The Duke of Lorraine has all Austrians as enemies. He is at odds with his parents-in-law and they are displeased with him; the archduchess alone stands by her husband. The Duke is very annoyed with Bartenstein and has cause to be. He's only told of the May decisions after his return to the army. Bartenstein has told him to his face that after the Emperor has done him the honor of giving him his inheriting daughter, he was to submit himself to the Emperor's will in everything.
Like I said: Franzl's early life in Vienna was one long humiliation conga. (With the important exception of MT standing by him, as he would stand by her in the years to come.)
On page 206, Seckendorff the nephew is asked to give his assessment on the topic: Fritz: Hot or not? Well, he also has to say whether or not he thinks FW is still trustworthy, but we have our priorities here, don't we?
About the feelings of the King. Myself: "The King has a good heart, he is at his core imperially minded and remembers the dinner in Prague with enoyment." Himself: "Ah, if only his actions would fit with this supposed good heart!" Myself: "One has to bind him by solid and mutually beneficial conditions." Himself: "One has to see how that could be accomplished."
About the person of the Crown Prince. His figure: handsome, looks like a Hannover, wears his own hair, looks pretty masculine, if flabby." "Does he love horses and hunting?" "No, he is a terrible rider and hunter; he loves reading, music, magnificence and "la bonne chère"."
"The good dear? Is this code for something? Anyway, the obvious question is asked: how reconciled are father and son, really?
His relationship with the King his father. "In public, things are well. But there are still needling phrases. Besides, the Prince in his heart has never forgotten his arrest in Wesel, and he hates with an eternal hatred all which contributed, i.e. Derschauer." Himself: "But not Grumbkow?" "No. Biberius is corresponding with him; he sits at his table and drinks from his wine."
His relationship with the Crown Princess. "Good; she's pretty, compliant; they sleep together."
His religion: "That of an honest man; God; all confessed will be forgiven." The Crown Prince loves pomp and grandeur; he'll reestablish all the court offices; he wants to have princes and counts at his court.
See, Seckendorff Jr., with that kind of intelligence it's not surprising poor MT was caught unawares. If she even had time to read the files before he invaded. It's on page 206 ff if you want to read it for yourself.
Anyway: Once it's apparant Uncle Seckendorff isn't going to get out of Graz any time soon, Seckendorff the nephew decides that his career in Austrian services is doomed for now, and requests to be allowed to transfer to Anhalt. Where he'll continue to work for Fritz' brother-in-law, one of the two odious ones. Which is how this volume concludes.
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But what is really going on here?: The Austrian Dossier (Seckendorff III)
Date: 2020-02-01 12:24 pm (UTC)"(...)because it would make your state now happier, and would save you from many future worries, because when we see that You have no lineage, we will marry your brother William, and then the scheming and plotting will be inevitable" .
Junior agreed to all this; "But", he said, "I can't embrace my wife with passion, and when I sleep with her, I do it rather out of duty than by inclination."
Mantteuffel points out that the earth would be barren if the only children born were born to couples who loved each other, and hey, gird your loins, I hear she's got at least a nice exterior?
Junior: ,, This is true, her form is very pretty; but i have never been in love with her. However, I should be the last man, in the world if I didn't esteem her: because she has a very sweet nature, a more docile woman one cannot imagine, she's excessively compliant, and hastens to do everything she believes can please me. Also, she can't complain that I'm not sleeping with her. I truly don't know why there isn't a child there already."
In case Seckendorff Jr. is slow on the uptake, Manteuffel has a literary hint for him:
The Devil makes me read the Roman History of Des Echarts and points out the character of Junior, who is the same as that of Emperor Hadrian.
On December 1st (still 1736), FW is not a fan of Suhm: Upon hearing of the appointment of Suhm as envoy to the court of Petersburg, the King says: "He's an arch villain, and I'm sorry I didn't hang him while I had him here."
In early 1737, Seckendorff is not impressed with teenage AW: Prince William had a weak spell yesterday at the parade; however he was obliged to dine with us, where he cut a sad figure.
On the other hand, he has a soft spot for coming menace Ferdinand, when it's Ferdinand's turn to dine with Dad and his smoking chums:
Little Prince Ferdinand did not contribute much, other than his kindness to keep the king in good spirits. But above all, this kind child deserves to be reported because, wanting to have something of Biberius, who was sitting next to him, he uses the expression: Your excellence, be as gracious as to give me something of this." To which Bberius replied: "I can't dole out graces; the King alone is capable of providing grace." To which the prince replied: "OH yes, your excellency, but you are Field Marshall now, so you will be able to act gracefully." Biberius couldn't help but show his amusement. The King smiled; but the Beard" - La Barbe, the Beard, is der alte Dessauer, Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau - behaved with the air of a Hercules in his fury.
(Because Grumbkow has been made a Field Marshal.)
Seckendorff Jr. has the bad luck that Original Seckendorff, the Field Marshall, temporarily falls from grace back home in Vienna and has been arrested and imprisoned in Graz, where he'll stay until MT ascends to the throne. (She'll release him.) This means Seckendorff the nephew is called back from Prussia. In Vienna, he first tries to make good weather for uncle and also shares gossip with people bitching about MT's new husband. Remember, they all think Franzl is the future ruler, nobody considers MT will rule, and they aren't impressed by his lack of military prowess. Also, he's a foreigner from Lorraince, so basically half French, and everyone hates the French. So Seckendorff Jr. notes:
Dissension at home. The Duke of Lorraine has all Austrians as enemies. He is at odds with his parents-in-law and they are displeased with him; the archduchess alone stands by her husband. The Duke is very annoyed with Bartenstein and has cause to be. He's only told of the May decisions after his return to the army. Bartenstein has told him to his face that after the Emperor has done him the honor of giving him his inheriting daughter, he was to submit himself to the Emperor's will in everything.
Like I said: Franzl's early life in Vienna was one long humiliation conga. (With the important exception of MT standing by him, as he would stand by her in the years to come.)
On page 206, Seckendorff the nephew is asked to give his assessment on the topic: Fritz: Hot or not? Well, he also has to say whether or not he thinks FW is still trustworthy, but we have our priorities here, don't we?
About the feelings of the King. Myself: "The King has a good heart, he is at his core imperially minded and remembers the dinner in Prague with enoyment." Himself: "Ah, if only his actions would fit with this supposed good heart!" Myself: "One has to bind him by solid and mutually beneficial conditions." Himself: "One has to see how that could be accomplished."
About the person of the Crown Prince. His figure: handsome, looks like a Hannover, wears his own hair, looks pretty masculine, if flabby." "Does he love horses and hunting?" "No, he is a terrible rider and hunter; he loves reading, music, magnificence and "la bonne chère"."
"The good dear? Is this code for something? Anyway, the obvious question is asked: how reconciled are father and son, really?
His relationship with the King his father. "In public, things are well. But there are still needling phrases. Besides, the Prince in his heart has never forgotten his arrest in Wesel, and he hates with an eternal hatred all which contributed, i.e. Derschauer." Himself: "But not Grumbkow?" "No. Biberius is corresponding with him; he sits at his table and drinks from his wine."
His relationship with the Crown Princess. "Good; she's pretty, compliant; they sleep together."
His religion: "That of an honest man; God; all confessed will be forgiven." The Crown Prince loves pomp and grandeur; he'll reestablish all the court offices; he wants to have princes and counts at his court.
See, Seckendorff Jr., with that kind of intelligence it's not surprising poor MT was caught unawares. If she even had time to read the files before he invaded. It's on page 206 ff if you want to read it for yourself.
Anyway: Once it's apparant Uncle Seckendorff isn't going to get out of Graz any time soon, Seckendorff the nephew decides that his career in Austrian services is doomed for now, and requests to be allowed to transfer to Anhalt. Where he'll continue to work for Fritz' brother-in-law, one of the two odious ones. Which is how this volume concludes.