LOL on Blanning's whitewashing of G2's attitude towars Wretched Nephew.
It may not be deliberate whitewashing! Maybe he only read the diplomatic versions. After all, those ministers are getting paid for *something*, and that includes successful spin doctoring.
get this: the Legationssekretär in GB was one Abraham Michell (yes, Michell, just to make life easier for us), whom Fritz had never met, who had, in fact, never visited Prussia in his life, and about whom it's unclear whether he even had taken the customary oath of loyalty to Prussia when becoming the previous envoy's secretary.
Oh, gosh. So I was with Fritz that Peter might not be the person you'd want for hardcore negotiations, but if the alternative is this guy, and no formal envoy? In a way, though, that almost makes it better: clearly this has less to do with Peter and more to do with 1) Fritz being cheap, 2) Fritz not giving a damn about British relations.
...It's a balance-of-powers miracle that Fritz ended up with any allies at all in 1756. :P
This decision was made in 1747; within two years, after Hans Hermann's half brothers killed each other, Fritz intervenes in Katte family affair and gets cousin Ludolf a rich heiress.
Yep, I was thinking of this. No wonder my fictional Peter is so insecure in 1750. :/
Chesterfield: it is, indeed, possible, but like I said, I REALLY HOPE HE DIDN'T TELL PETER:
Let's hope it went like this.
British: Sound out Fritz. British: Get a thumbs down. British: Decide there's no point in telling Peter.
Let's also hope Peter was happier as Academy curator anyway.
Re: Andrew Mitchell: The Return - Choosing an Envoy
It may not be deliberate whitewashing! Maybe he only read the diplomatic versions. After all, those ministers are getting paid for *something*, and that includes successful spin doctoring.
get this: the Legationssekretär in GB was one Abraham Michell (yes, Michell, just to make life easier for us), whom Fritz had never met, who had, in fact, never visited Prussia in his life, and about whom it's unclear whether he even had taken the customary oath of loyalty to Prussia when becoming the previous envoy's secretary.
Oh, gosh. So I was with Fritz that Peter might not be the person you'd want for hardcore negotiations, but if the alternative is this guy, and no formal envoy? In a way, though, that almost makes it better: clearly this has less to do with Peter and more to do with 1) Fritz being cheap, 2) Fritz not giving a damn about British relations.
...It's a balance-of-powers miracle that Fritz ended up with any allies at all in 1756. :P
This decision was made in 1747; within two years, after Hans Hermann's half brothers killed each other, Fritz intervenes in Katte family affair and gets cousin Ludolf a rich heiress.
Yep, I was thinking of this. No wonder my fictional Peter is so insecure in 1750. :/
Chesterfield: it is, indeed, possible, but like I said, I REALLY HOPE HE DIDN'T TELL PETER:
Let's hope it went like this.
British: Sound out Fritz.
British: Get a thumbs down.
British: Decide there's no point in telling Peter.
Let's also hope Peter was happier as Academy curator anyway.