Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia"
Book XII
Processed by D.R. Thompson
drthom@ihug.co.nz





BOOK XII.

FIRST SILESIAN WAR, AWAKENING A GENERAL
EUROPEAN ONE, BEGINS.

December, 1740-May, 1741.


Chapter I.

OF SCHLESIEN, OR SILESIA.

Schlesien, what we call Silesia, lies in elliptic shape, spread on
the top of Europe, partly girt with mountains, like the crown or
crest to that part of the Earth;--highest table-land of Germany or
of the Cisalpine Countries; and sending rivers into all the seas.
The summit or highest level of it is in the southwest; longest
diameter is from northwest to southeast. From Crossen, whither
Friedrich is now driving, to the Jablunka Pass, which issues upon
Hungary, is above 250 miles; the AXIS, therefore, or longest
diameter, of our Ellipse we may call 230 English miles;--its