Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Foreign News
March 13, 1807
The Enquirer
Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In a proclamation dated December 3, 1806, from Breslau, the King of Prussia urges Silesia's inhabitants to endure sacrifices and defend against the invading enemy, highlighting Russian military aid, volunteer forces, and the appointment of Prince of Anhalt Dessau as interim governor general.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
PROCLAMATION
BY THE KING OF PRUSSIA,
TO THE INHABITANTS OF SILESIA.
"Brave Inhabitants of Silesia!
Among the mournful events which have taken place during the course of the present war, there is nothing that has so much filled with grief the heart of his majesty, as to see a considerable part of his provinces and faithful subjects, oppressed by the weight of sufferings, which must be the inevitable consequence of a war, in which the enemy, by his manner of making war, unusual in our time, entirely exhausts the country through which he passes, with forced requisitions of every kind, and by the large bodies of marauders who swarm round his disciplined armies, and who, incapable of parrying, treat the armed warrior and the unhappy peaceable inhabitant with the same cruelty, and every where leave behind them traces of the grossest barbarity, deserts and ashes; even where, through fear of violence, the unarmed inhabitants have shewn the greatest submission in the reception of those destroying hordes.
His majesty perceives that his faithful Silesian provinces are now threatened with the same wretched fate.
It sensibly grieves his majesty that he is prevented by the situation of affairs, which renders his presence necessary at other points, from hastening in person to the aid of his faithful Silesians, who have at all times, and under all circumstances, rewarded the paternal care of their monarch for the welfare and prosperity of their country, by the most unshaken attachment to the house of Prussia,
The enemy boasts--favored by fortune, so liable to change, and not less favored by the treachery of base traitors--that he has already annihilated the whole force of the Prussian monarchy.
But he knows not that his majesty is at this moment at the head of a formidable army, which burns with eagerness to engage the oppressors of the country.
He knows not, or appears not to wish to know, that the monarch of Prussia finds himself surrounded by a guard which no force, no misfortunes, no calumny can subdue--the unalterable love of his people.
He knows not that every day thousands of volunteers offer themselves, with arms in their hands, to set bounds to his progress, and that the Silesians display no less activity and energy in defence of their king and country, than to defend their property from unexampled rapacity.
He flatters himself with the doubts he is anxious to disseminate of the promised aid of Russia.
But he deceives himself in his hopes; the most sacred and inviolate fulfilment of all treaties entered into, is one of the principal traits in the character of the noble minded sovereign of all the Russias.
Already two formidable Russian armies have arrived near the banks of the Vistula, while a third, much more numerous, is advancing by rapid marches.
Already legions of patriots, voluntarily armed, and used to battle, are prepared to join the armies in the field.
His majesty, under these circumstances, depends on the attachment of his Silesian states and subjects, who have at all times, both by word and deed, given the most manifest proofs of their unshaken fidelity; and he believes that, by the appointment, ad interim, of one of the most distinguished of them, his excellency the prince of Anhalt Dessau, to be governor general of Silesia, he gives them a proof of his confidence and goodwill. Conducted by this prince, who has gloriously signalized himself in the course of the war, the states, and all classes of the inhabitants of Silesia, will certainly exert themselves to contribute all in their power, in conjunction with the forces which his majesty will send to their assistance, to defend their country, and their own province in particular.
Invested with full power by his majesty, I therefore hereby call on all and each of the inhabitants of the Silesian provinces, to bear cheerfully the sacrifices and burthens which probably may be necessary for the attainment of this great object, and the rather as they not only can bear no proportion to the enormous sacrifices to which they must be subjected should the enemy succeed in his attempt to conquer Silesia, but as in due time they will be rewarded by his majesty, and as far as possible made good.
Given at Breslau, the 3d of December, 1806.
COUNT VON GOTZEN,
Major and flugel adjutant to his majesty the king."
BY THE KING OF PRUSSIA,
TO THE INHABITANTS OF SILESIA.
"Brave Inhabitants of Silesia!
Among the mournful events which have taken place during the course of the present war, there is nothing that has so much filled with grief the heart of his majesty, as to see a considerable part of his provinces and faithful subjects, oppressed by the weight of sufferings, which must be the inevitable consequence of a war, in which the enemy, by his manner of making war, unusual in our time, entirely exhausts the country through which he passes, with forced requisitions of every kind, and by the large bodies of marauders who swarm round his disciplined armies, and who, incapable of parrying, treat the armed warrior and the unhappy peaceable inhabitant with the same cruelty, and every where leave behind them traces of the grossest barbarity, deserts and ashes; even where, through fear of violence, the unarmed inhabitants have shewn the greatest submission in the reception of those destroying hordes.
His majesty perceives that his faithful Silesian provinces are now threatened with the same wretched fate.
It sensibly grieves his majesty that he is prevented by the situation of affairs, which renders his presence necessary at other points, from hastening in person to the aid of his faithful Silesians, who have at all times, and under all circumstances, rewarded the paternal care of their monarch for the welfare and prosperity of their country, by the most unshaken attachment to the house of Prussia,
The enemy boasts--favored by fortune, so liable to change, and not less favored by the treachery of base traitors--that he has already annihilated the whole force of the Prussian monarchy.
But he knows not that his majesty is at this moment at the head of a formidable army, which burns with eagerness to engage the oppressors of the country.
He knows not, or appears not to wish to know, that the monarch of Prussia finds himself surrounded by a guard which no force, no misfortunes, no calumny can subdue--the unalterable love of his people.
He knows not that every day thousands of volunteers offer themselves, with arms in their hands, to set bounds to his progress, and that the Silesians display no less activity and energy in defence of their king and country, than to defend their property from unexampled rapacity.
He flatters himself with the doubts he is anxious to disseminate of the promised aid of Russia.
But he deceives himself in his hopes; the most sacred and inviolate fulfilment of all treaties entered into, is one of the principal traits in the character of the noble minded sovereign of all the Russias.
Already two formidable Russian armies have arrived near the banks of the Vistula, while a third, much more numerous, is advancing by rapid marches.
Already legions of patriots, voluntarily armed, and used to battle, are prepared to join the armies in the field.
His majesty, under these circumstances, depends on the attachment of his Silesian states and subjects, who have at all times, both by word and deed, given the most manifest proofs of their unshaken fidelity; and he believes that, by the appointment, ad interim, of one of the most distinguished of them, his excellency the prince of Anhalt Dessau, to be governor general of Silesia, he gives them a proof of his confidence and goodwill. Conducted by this prince, who has gloriously signalized himself in the course of the war, the states, and all classes of the inhabitants of Silesia, will certainly exert themselves to contribute all in their power, in conjunction with the forces which his majesty will send to their assistance, to defend their country, and their own province in particular.
Invested with full power by his majesty, I therefore hereby call on all and each of the inhabitants of the Silesian provinces, to bear cheerfully the sacrifices and burthens which probably may be necessary for the attainment of this great object, and the rather as they not only can bear no proportion to the enormous sacrifices to which they must be subjected should the enemy succeed in his attempt to conquer Silesia, but as in due time they will be rewarded by his majesty, and as far as possible made good.
Given at Breslau, the 3d of December, 1806.
COUNT VON GOTZEN,
Major and flugel adjutant to his majesty the king."
What sub-type of article is it?
War Report
Military Campaign
Diplomatic
What keywords are associated?
Prussian Proclamation
Silesia Defense
Enemy Invasion
Russian Aid
Volunteer Forces
War Sacrifices
What entities or persons were involved?
King Of Prussia
Prince Of Anhalt Dessau
Count Von Gotzen
Sovereign Of All The Russias
Where did it happen?
Silesia
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Silesia
Event Date
The 3d Of December, 1806
Key Persons
King Of Prussia
Prince Of Anhalt Dessau
Count Von Gotzen
Sovereign Of All The Russias
Outcome
appointment of prince of anhalt dessau as interim governor general of silesia; expectation of russian armies and volunteer forces to aid defense; promise of rewards for sacrifices endured.
Event Details
The King of Prussia addresses Silesians, expressing grief over war's devastations by the enemy, urging steadfast defense despite his absence, countering enemy boasts with reports of his army, popular loyalty, volunteers, and incoming Russian forces; appoints Prince of Anhalt Dessau as governor and calls for bearing necessary burdens.