"Meanwhile,"continuesWilhelmina,"theKingofEngland’stimeofarrivalwasdrawingnigh。Werepaired,onthe6thofOctober,toCharlottenburgtoreceivehim。Theheartofmekeptbeating,andI
  wasincruelagitations。KingGeorge[myGrandfather,andGrandUncle]arrivedonthe8th,aboutsevenintheevening;"——duskyshadesalreadysinkingoverNatureeverywhere,andallpathsgrowingdim。Abundantflunkies,ofcourse,rushoutwithtorchesorwhatisneedful。"TheKingofPrussia,theQueenandalltheirSuitereceivedhimintheCourtofthePalace,the’Apartments’
  beingontheground—floor。SosoonashehadsalutedtheKingandQueen,Iwaspresentedtohim。Heembracedme;andturningtotheQueensaidtoher,’Yourdaughterisverybigofherage!’HegavetheQueenhishand,andledherintoherapartment,whithereverybodyfollowedthem。AssoonasIcamein,hetookalightfromthetable,andsurveyedmefromheadtofoot。Istoodmotionlessasastatue,andwasmuchputoutofcountenance。
  Allthiswentonwithouthisutteringtheleastword。Havingthuspassedmeinreview,headdressedhimselftomyBrother,whomhecaressedmuch,andamusedhimselfwith,foragoodwhile。"
  PrettylittleGrandsonthis,yourMajesty;——anyfutureofhistoryinthisone,thinkyou?"I,"saysWilhelmina,"tooktheopportunityofslippingout;"——hopefultogetaway;butcouldnot,theQueenhavingnoticed。
  "TheQueenmademeasigntofollowher;andpassedintoaneighboringapartment,whereshehadtheEnglishandGermansofKingGeorge’sSuitesuccessivelypresentedtoher。Aftersometalkwiththesegentlemen,shewithdrew;leavingmetoentertainthem,andsaying:’SpeakEnglishtomyDaughter;youwillfindshespeaksitverywell。’Ifeltmuchlessembarrassed,oncetheQueenwasgone;andpickingupalittlecourage,IenteredintoconversationwiththeseEnglish。AsIspoketheirlanguagelikemymother—tongue,Igotprettywelloutoftheaffair,andeverybodyseemedcharmedwithme。TheymademyeulogytotheQueen;toldherIhadquitetheEnglishair,andwasmadetobetheirSovereignoneday。Itwassayingagreatdealontheirpart:fortheseEnglishthinkthemselvessomuchaboveallotherpeople,thattheyimaginetheyarepayingahighcomplimentwhentheytellanyonehehasgotEnglishmanners。
  "TheirKing[myGrandpapa]hadgotSpanishmanners,Ishouldsay:
  hewasofanextremegravity,andhardlyspokeawordtoanybody。
  HesalutedMadamSonsfeld[myinvaluablethrice—dearGoverness]
  verycoldly;andaskedher’IfIwasalwayssoserious,andifmyhumorwasofthemelancholyturn?’’Anythingbutthat,Sire,’
  answeredtheother:’buttherespectshehasforyourMajestypreventsherfrombeingassprightlyasshecommonlyis。’
  Hewaggedhishead,andanswerednothing。Thereceptionhehadgivenme,andthisquestion,ofwhichIheard,gavemesuchachill,thatIneverhadthecouragetospeaktohim,"——wasmerelylookedatwithacandlebyGrandpapa。
  "Weweresummonedtosupperatlast,wherethisgraveSovereignstillremaineddumb。Perhapshewasright,perhapshewaswrong;
  butIthinkhefollowedtheproverb,whichsays,Betterholdyourtonguethanspeakbadly。Attheendoftherepasthefeltindisposed。TheQueenwouldhavepersuadedhimtoquittable;
  theybandiedcomplimentsagoodwhileonthepoint;butatlastshethrewdownhernapkin,androse。TheKingofEnglandnaturallyrosetoo;butbegantostagger;theKingofPrussiaranuptohelphim,allthecompanyranbustlingabouthim;butitwastonopurpose:hesankonhisknees;hisperukefallingononeside,andhishat[oratleasthishead,Madam!]ontheother。
  Theystretchedhimsoftlyonthefloor;whereheremainedagoodhourwithoutconsciousness。Thepainstheytookwithhimbroughtbackhissenses,bydegrees,atlast。TheQueenandtheKing[ofPrussia]wereindespairallthiswhile。Manyhavethoughtthisattackwasaheraldofthestrokeofapoplexywhichcamebyandby,"——withinfouryearsfromthisdate,andcarriedoffhisMajestyinaverygloomymanner。
  "Theypassionatelyentreatedhimtoretirenow,"continuesWilhelmina;"buthewouldnotbyanymeans。HeledouttheQueen,anddidtheotherceremonies,accordingtorule;hadaverybadnight,aswelearnedunderhand;"butpersistedstoicallynevertheless,beingacrownedMajesty,andboundtoit。
  Hestoicallyunderwentfourorthreeotherdays,offestival,sight—seeing,"pleasure"socalled;——amongothersights,sawlittleFritzdrillinghisCadetsatBerlin;——andonthefourthday(12thOctober,1723,sothinksWilhelmina)fairly"signedtheTreatyoftheDouble—Marriage,"EnglishTownshendandthePrussianMinistryhavingsettledallthings。[Wilhelmina,MemoiresdeBareith,i。83,87,——InCoxe(MemoirsofSirRobertWalpole,London,1798),ii。266,272,273,aresomefainthints,fromTownshend,ofthisBerlinjourney。]
  "SignedtheTreaty,"thinksWilhelmina,"allthingsbeingsettled。"WhichisanerroronthepartofWilhelmina。
  SettledmanyorallthingswerebyTownshendandtheothers:
  butbeforesigning,therewasParliamenttobeapprised,therewereformalities,expenditureoftime;betweenthecupandthelip,suchthingstointervene;——andthesadfactis,theDouble—MarriageTreatyneverwassignedatall!——However,allthingsbeingnowsettledreadyforsigning,hisBritannicMajesty,nextmorning,setofffortheGOHRDEagain,totryiftherewereanyhuntingpossible。
  Thisauthenticglimpse,oneofthefewthatareattainable,oftheirfirstConstitutionalKing,letEnglishreadersmakethemostof。TheactdoneproveddreadfullymomentoustoourlittleFriend,hisGrandson;andwillmuchconcernus!
  Thus,atanyrate,wastheTreatyoftheDouble—Marriagesettled,tothepointofsigning,——thoughttobeasgoodassigned。ItwasatthetimewhenCzarPeterwasmakingarmamentstoburnSweden;
  whenWood’sHalfpence(onbehalfofherImproperGraceofKendal,theleanQuasi—Wife,"Maypole"orHop—pole,whohadrunshortofmoney,assheoftendid)wereaboutbeginningtojingleinIreland;[Coxe(i。216,217,andSUPPLYthedates);WalpoletoTownshend,13thOctober,1723(ib。ii。275):"TheDrapier’sLetters"areof1724。]whenLaw’sBubble"System"hadfallen,wellflaccid,intoChaosagain;whenDuboistheunutterableCardinalhadatlengthdied,andd’OrleanstheunutterableRegentwasunexpectedlyabouttodoso,——inamostsurprisingSodom—and—Gomorrahmanner。[2dDecember,1723:
  Barbier,JournalHistoriqueduRegnedeLouisXV。(Paris,l847),i。192,196;Lacretelle,HistoiredeFrance,18mesiecle;&c。]Nottomentionotherdullandvilephenomenaofputridfermentation,whichweretranspiring,orsluttishlybubblingup,inpoorbenightedrottenEuropehereorthere;——sincethesearesufficienttodatetheTransactionforus;andwhatdoesnotsticktoourFritzandhisaffairsitismorepleasanttoustoforgetthantoremember,ofsuchanepoch。
  Hereby,forthepresent,isagreatloadrolledfromQueenSophieDorothee’sheart。One,and,thatthehighest,ofherabstrusenegotiations,cherished,laboredin,thesefourteenyears,shehasbroughttoavictoriousissue,——hasshenot?HerpoorMother,oncesoradiant,nowsodimandangry,shutintheCastleofAhlden,doesnotapprovethisDouble—Marriage;notsheforherpart;——asindeedeviltoallHanoverianinterestsisnowchieflyhergood,poorLady;andsheisgrowingmoreandmoreofaMegaeraeveryday。WithwhomSophieDorotheehasherowndifficultiesandabstrusepractices;butstrugglesalwaystomaintain,underseven—foldsecrecy,somethreadofcorrespondenceandpiousfilialministrationwhereverpossible;thatthepoorexasperatedMother,wretchedestandangriestofwomen,benotquitecutofffromthekinshipoftheliving,butthatsomesoftbreathofpitymaycoolherburningheartnowandthen。[InMemoirsofSophiaDorothea(London,1845),ii。385,393,arecertainfractionsofthisCorrespondence,"edited"inanamazingmanner。]AdarktragedyofSophie’s,this;theBluebeardChamberofhermind,intowhichnoeyebutherownmusteverlook。
  PRINCESSAMELIACOMESINTOTHEWORLD。
  InreferencetoQueenSophie,andchronologicallyifnototherwiseconnectedwiththisDouble—MarriageTreaty,Iwillmentiononeotherthing。HerMajestyhadbeeninfluctuatinghealth,allsummer;unaccountablesymptomsturningupinherMajesty’sconstitution,languors,qualms,especiallyatendencytoswellingorincreaseofsize,whichhadpuzzledandalarmedherDoctorsandher。FriedrichWilhelm,onconclusionoftheMarriage—Treaty,hadbeenappointedtojoinhisFather—in—law,BritannicGeorge,attheGohrde,insomethreeweeks’time,andhaveaboutofhunting。
  Onthe8thofNovember,bedtimebeingcome,hekissedhisWilhelminaandtherest,bywayofgood—by;intendingtostartveryearlyonthemorrow:——longjourney(150milesorso),tobedoneallinoneday。Inthedeadofthenight,QueenSophiewasseizedwithdreadfulcolics,——pangsofcolicorwhoknowswhat;——
  FriedrichWilhelmissummoned;risesinthehighestalarm;
  nonebutthemaidsandheathandtohelp;andthecolic,orwhateveritmaybe,getsmoreandmoredreadful。
  Colic?OpoorSophie,itistravail,andnocolic;andacleveryoungPrincessissuddenlytheresult!NonebutFriedrichWilhelmandthemaidformidwives;motherandinfant,nevertheless,doingperfectlywell。FriedrichWilhelmdidnotgoonthemorrow,butnextday;laughed,everandanoninloudhahas,attheparthehadbeenplaying;andwasverygladandmerry。HowtheexperiencedSophie,whosetwelfthchildthisis,cametocommitsuchanoversightisunaccountable;butthefactiscertain,andmadeamerrynoiseinCourtcircles。[Pollnitz,ii。199;Wilhelmina,i。87,88。]
  ThecleverlittlePrincess,nowborninthismanner,isknownbynametoidlereaders。ShewaschristenedAMELIA;andweshallhearofherintimecoming。Buttherewas,astheCirculatingLibrariesstillintimate,acertainloud—spokenbraggartofthehistrionic—heroicsort,calledBaronTrenck,windy,rash,andnotwithoutmendacity,whohasendeavoredtoassociateherwithhisowntranscendentandnotundeservedill—luck;hintingthepoorPrincessintoasadfameinthatway。Forwhich,itwouldnowappear,therewasnobasiswhatever!MostcondemnableTrenck;——
  whom,however,Robespierreguillotinedfinally,andsosettledthataccountandothers。
  OfSophieDorothee’stwelvechildren,includingthisAmelia,therearenoweightliving,twoboys,sixgirls;andafterAmelia,twoothers,boys,aresuccessivelytocome:teninall,whogrewtobemenandwomen。OfwhomperhapsIhadbettersubjoinaList;
  nowthattheeldestBoyandGirlareabouttogetsettledinlife;
  andtherewithclosethisChapter。
  FRIEDRICHWILHELM’STENCHILDREN。
  MarriagetoSophieDorothee,28thNovember,1706。
  AlittlePrince,born23dNovember,1707,diedinsixmonths。
  Thencame,l。FREDERIKASOPHIEWILHELMINA,ultimatelyMargravineofBaireuth,afterstrangeadventuresinthemarriage—treatyway。
  WroteherMemoiresthere,about1744。
  Ofwhomweshallhearmuch。LeftaDaughter,heronechild;
  Daughterbadlymarried,to"KarlreigningDukeofWurtemberg"
  (PoetSchiller’sfamousSereneHighnessthere),fromwhomshehadtoseparate,&c。,withangerenough,byandby。
  AfterWilhelminaintheFamilyseriescameasecondPrince,whodiedintheeleventhmonth。Then,24thJanuary,1712,2。FRIEDRICH。
  Afterwhom(1713)alittlePrincess,whodiedinfewmonths。
  Andthen,3。FREDERIKALOUISA,born28thSeptember,1714;agenowaboutnine。MargravineofAnspach,30thMay,1729;Widow1757。
  HeroneSon,born1736,wastheLADY—CRAVEN’SAnspach。
  FrederikaLouisadied4thFebruary,1734。
  4。PHILIPPINACHARLOTTE,born13thofMarch,1716;becameDuchessofBrunswick(herHusbandwasEldestBrotherofthe"PrinceFerdinand"sofamousinEnglandintheSeven—YearsWar);
  herSonwastheDukewhoinvadedFrancein1792,andwastragicallyhurledtoruinintheBattleofJena,1806。TheMotherlivedtill1801;Widowsince1780。
  Afterwhom,in1717,againalittlePrince,whodiedwithintwoyears(ourFritzthenseven,——probablythefirsttimeDeathevercamebeforehim,practicallyintohislittlethoughtsinthisworld):then,5。SOPHIEDOROTHEEMARIA,born25thJanuary,1719;MargravineofSchwedt,1734(eldestMagrafofSchwedt,mentionedaboveasacomradeoftheCrown—Prince)。Herlifenotveryhappy;shedied1765。Leftnoson(Brother—in—lawsucceeded,lastoftheSchwedtMARGRAVES):herDaughter,weddedtoPrinceFriedrichEugen,aPrussianOfficer,CadetofWurtembergandultimatelyHeirthere,isAncestressoftheWurtembergSovereigntiesthatnoware,andalso(byoneofHERdaughtersmarriedtoPaulofRussia)ofalltheCzarkindredofourtime。[Preuss,iv。278;Erman,
  ViedeSophieCharlotte,p。2722。]
  6。LOUISAULRIQUE,born24thJuly,1720;marriedAdolfFriedrich,Heir—Apparent,subsequemlyKingofSweden,17thJuly,1744;Queen(hehavingacceded)6thApril,1751;Widow1771;
  died,atStockholm,16thJuly,1782。MotherofthesubsequentKings;herGrandsontheDEPOSED>[OErtel,p。83;Hubner,tt。91,227。]
  7。AUGUSTWILHELM,born9thAugust,1722;Heir—ApparentafterFriedrich(sodeclaredbyFriedrich,30thJune,1744);FatheroftheKingswhohavesincefollowed。Hehimselfdied,insadcircumstances,asweshallsee,12thJune,1758。
  8。ANNAAMELIA,born9thNovember,1723,——onthetermswehaveseen。
  9。FRIEDRICHHEINRICHLUDWIG,bornl8thJanuary,1726;——thefamedPrinceHenri,ofwhomweshallhear。
  10。AUGUSTFERDINAND,born23dMay,1730:abrilliantenoughlittlesoldierunderhisBrother,fullofspiritandtalent,butliabletoweakhealth;——wasFatherofthe"PrinceLouisFerdinand,"atragicFailureofsomethingconsiderable,whowentoffinLiberalism,wit,inhighsentiment,expenditureanddebauchery,greatlytotheadmirationofsomepersons;andatlengthrusheddesperateupontheFrenoh,andfoundhisquietus(10thOctober,1806),fourdaysbeforetheBattleofJena。
  ChapterII。
  AKAISERHUNTINGSHADOWS。
  TreatyofDouble—Marriageisreadyforsigning,oncetheneedfulParliamentarypreludingsaregonethrough;Treatyissigned,thinksWilhelmina,——forgettingthedistancebetweencupandlip!——
  Astosigning,oreventoburning,andgivingupthethoughtofsigning,alas,howfarareweyetfromthat!Imperialspectre—huntingsandthepoliticsofmostEuropeanCabinetswillconnectthemselveswiththat;andsenditwanderingwideenough,——
  lostinsuchajungleofintrigues,pettifoggings,treacheries,diplomaciesdomesticandforeign,asthecourseoftrue—lovenevergotentangledinbefore。
  ThewholeofwhichextensiveCabinetoperations,coveringsquaremilesofpaperatthismoment,——havingnevertheless,aftertenyearsofeffort,endedinabsolutezero,——wereofnowortheventothemanagersofthem;andareoflessthannonetoanymortalnoworhenceforth。SothatthemethodoftreatingthembecomesaproblemtoHistory。Topitchthemutterlyoutofwindow,andoutofmemory,nevertobementionedinhumanspeechagain:thisisthemanifestpromptingofNature;——andthis,werenotourpoorCrown—Princeandoneortwoothersinvolvedinthem,wouldbeourreadyandthrice—joyfulcourse。Surelytheso—called"PoliticsofEurope"inthatdayareathingthisEditorwouldotherwisewithhiswholesoul,forgettoalleternity!"Putridfermentation,"
  ending,aftertheenduranceofmuchmal—odor,inmerezerotoyouandtoeveryone,eventotherottingbodiesthemselves:——isthereanywiseEditorthatwouldconnecthimselfwiththat?ThesearethefieldsofHistorywhicharetobe,sosoonashumanlypossible,SUPPRESSED;whichonlyMephistopheles,orthebadGeniusofMankind,cancontemplatewithpleasure。
  Letusstrivetotouchlightlythechiefsummits,hereandthere,ofthatintricate,mostempty,mournfulBusiness,——whichwasreallyonceaFactinpracticalEurope,notthemerenightmareofanAttorney’sDream;——andindicate,sofarasindispensable,howtheyoungFriedrich,Friedrich’sSister,Father,Mother,weretribulated,almostheart—brokenanddonetodeath,bymeansofit。
  IMPERIALMAJESTYONTHETREATYOFUTRECHT。
  KaiserKarlVI。,headoftheHolyRomishEmpireatthistime,wasahandsomemantolookupon;whoselife,fullofexpense,vicissitude,futilelaborandadventure,didnotproveofmuchusetotheworld。Describableasalaboriousfutilityrather。HewassecondsonofthatlittleLeopold,thesolemnlittleHerrinredstockings,whohadsuchtroubles,frights,andrunningstoandfrowiththesiegingTurks,liberativeSobieskis,acquisitiveLouisFourteenths;andwhoatlengthendedinaseaoffutilelabor,whichtheycalltheSpanishSuccessionWar。
  ThisKarl,secondson,hadbeenappointed"KingofSpain"inthatfutilebusiness;andwithmuchsublimity,thoughinternallyinanimpoverishedcondition,heproceededtowardsSpain,landinginEnglandtogetcashfortheoutfit;——arrivedinSpain;androvedaboutthereasTitular—Kingforsomeyears,withthefightingPeterboroughs,Galways,Stahrembergs;butdidnogoodthere,neitherhenorhisPeterboroughs。Atlength,hisBrotherJoseph,FatherLeopold’ssuccessor,havingdied,[17thApril,1711。]KarlcamehomefromSpaintobeKaiser。Atwhichpoint,KarlwouldhavebeenwisetogiveuphisTitularKingshipinSpain;forhenevergot,norwillget,anythingbutfutilelaborfromhangingtoit。
  Hedidhangtoitnevertheless;andstill,atthisdateofGeorge’svisitandlongafterwards,hangs,——withnotableobstinacy。Tothewoeofmenandnations:punishmentdoubtlessofhissinsandtheirs!——
  KaiserKarlshriekedmereamazementandindignation,whentheEnglishtiredoffightingforhimandit。WhentheEnglishsaidtotheirgreatMarlborough:"Enough,yousorryMarlborough!YouhavebeatenLouisXIV。tothesupplenessofwash—leather,atourbidding;thatistrue,andthatmayhavehaditsdifficulties:
  but,afterall,weprefertohavethethingpreciselyasitwouldhavebeenwithoutanyfighting。You,therefore,whatisthegoodofyou?Youarea——personwhomweflingoutlikesweepings,nowthatoureyesightreturns,andaccuseofcommonstealing。
  Goandbe——!"
  NothingeverhadsodisgustedandastonishedKaiserKarlasthistreatment,——notofMarlborough,whomheregardedonlyashewouldhavedoneapairofmilitarybootsoraholster—pistolofsuperiorexcellence,fortheusesthatwereinhim,——butoftheKaiserKarlhisownsublimeself,theheartandfocusofPoliticalNature;
  leftinthismanner,nowwhenthesordidEnglishandDutchdeclinedspendingbloodandmoneyforhimfarther。"Ungrateful,sordid,inconceivablesouls,"answeredKarl,"wasthereever,sincetheearlyChristiantimes,suchamartyrasyouhavenowmadeofme!"SoansweredKarl,indiplomaticgroansandshrieks,toallendsofEurope。ButthesulkyEnglishandAllies,thoroughlytiredofpayingandbleeding,didnotheedhim;
  madetheirPeaceofUtrecht[PeaceofUtrecht,11thApril,1713;
  PeaceofRastadt(followinguponthePreliminariesofBaden),6thMarch,1714。]withLouisXIV。,whowasnowbeatensupple;
  andKarl,afterayearofindignantprotestsandfutileattemptstofightLouisonhisownscore,wasobligedtodothelike。
  HehaslosttheSpanishcrown;butstillholdsbytheshadowofit;willnotquitthat,ifhecanhelpit。Hehuntsmuch,digestswell;isasublimeKaiser,thoughinternallyratherpoor,carryinghisheadhigh;andseemstohimself,onsomesidesofhislife,amartyredmuch—enduringman。
  IMPERIALMAJESTYHASGOTHAPPILYWEDDED。
  KaiserKarl,soonafterthetimeofgoingtoSpainhaddecidedthataWifewouldbenecessary。HeappliedtoCarolineofAnspach,nowEnglishPrincessofWales,butatthattimeanorphanedBrandenburg—AnspachPrincess,veryBeautiful,graceful,gifted,andaltogetherunprovidedfor;livingatBerlinundertheguardianshipofFriedrichthefirstKing。HeryoungMotherhadmarriedagain,——highenoughmatch(toKur—Sachsen,elderBrotherofAugusttheStrong,AugustatthattimewithoutprospectsoftheElectorate);——butitlastedshortwhile:Caroline’sMotherandSaxonStepfatherwerebothnow,longsince,dead。SoshelivedatBerlinbrilliantthoughunportioned;——withtheroughcubFriedrichWilhelmmuchfollowingherabout,andpassionatelyloyaltoher,astheBeastwastoBeauty;whomshedidnotmindexceptasacubloyaltoher;beingfiveyearsolderthanhe。[Forster,i。107。]
  IndigentbrightCaroline,ayoungladyoffineaquilinefeaturesandspirit,wasappliedfortobeQueenofSpain;wooerahandsomeman,whomightevenbeKaiserbyandby。IndigentbrightCarolineatonceanswered,No。ShewasneververyorthodoxinProtestanttheology;butcouldnotthinkoftakingupPapistryforlucre’sandambition’ssake:bethatalwaysrememberedonCaroline’sbehalf。
  TheSpanishMajestynextappliedatBrunswickWolfenbuttel;
  nolackofPrincessesthere:PrincesaElizabeth,forinstance;
  Protestantshetoo,butperhapsnotsosqueamish?OldAntonUlrich,whomsomereadersknowfortheidleBooks,long—windedNovelschiefly,whichhewrote,wastheGrandfatherofthisfavoredPrincess;agood—naturedoldgentleman,oftheidleornamentalspecies,inwhoseheadmostthings,itislikely,werereducedtovocables,scribbleandsentimentality;andonlyasteadyinternalgravitationtowardspraiseandpuddingwastraceableasveryrealinhim。AntonUlrich,affrontedmoreorlessbytheimmenseadvancementofGentlemanErnstandtheHanoverianorYOUNGERBrunswickLine,wasextremelygladoftheImperialoffer;andpersuadedhistimidGrand—daughter,ambitioustoo,butratherconscience—stricken,ThatthechangefromProtestanttoCatholic,theessentialsbeingsoperfectlyidenticalinboth,wasameretrifle;thathehimself,oldashewas,wouldreadilychangealongwithher,soeasywasit。
  WhereupontheyoungLadymadethebigleap;abjuredherreligion;
  [1stMay,1707,atBamberg。]——wenttoSpainasQueen(withsadinjurytohercomplexion,butotherwisesuccessfullymoreorless);——andsitsnowasEmpressbesideherKarlVI。inagrandenough,probablyratherdull,butnotsingularlyunhappymanner。
  She,aBrunswickPrincess,withNephewsandNieceswhomayconcernus,isKaiserinntoKaiserKarl:foraughtIknowofher,akindlysimpleWife,andunexceptionableSovereignMajesty,ofthesortwanted;whomletusremember,ifwemeetheragainoneday。IaddonlyofthispoorLady,distinguishedtomebyaDaughtershehad,thathermindstillhadsomemisgivingsaboutthebigleapshehadmadeintheProtestant—Papistway。FindingAntonUlrichstillcontinueProtestant,shewrotetohimoutofSpain:——"Why,O
  honoredGrandpapa,haveyounotdoneasyoupromised?Ah,theremustbeataintofmortalsininit,afterall!"UponwhichtheabsurdlysituatedoldGentlemandidchangehisreligion;andismarkedasaConvertinallmannerofGenealogiesandHistories;——
  trulyanoldliterarygentlemanducalandserene,restoredtothebosomoftheChurchinasomewhatpeculiarlyridiculousmanner。
  {Michaelis,i。131。]——Buttoreturn。
  IMPERIALMAJESTYANDTHETERMAGANTOFSPAIN。
  EverafterthePeaceofUtrecht,whenEnglandandHollanddeclinedtobleedforhimfarther,especiallyeversincehisownPeaceofRastadtmadewithLouistheyearafterKaiserKarlhadutterlylostholdoftheCrownofSpain;andhadnottheleastchancetoclutchthatbrightsubstanceagain。Butheheldbytheshadowofit,withadeadlyHapsburgtenacity;refusedfortwentyyears,underallpressures,topartwiththeshadow:"TheSpanishHapsburgBranchisdead;whereupondonotI,oftheAustrianBranch,solerepresentativeofKaiserKarltheFifth,claim,bythelawofHeaven,whateverhepossessedinSpain,bylawofditto?BattlesofBlenheimofMalplaquet,Court—intriguesofMrs。
  MashamandtheDuchess:thesemaybringTreatiesofUtrecht,andwhatyouarepleasedtocalllawsofEarth;——butaHapsburgKaiserknowshigherlaws,ifyouwoulddoathousandUtrechts;andbythese,Spainishis!"
  PoorKaiserKarl:hehadahighthoughtinhimreallythoughamostmisguidedone。TitularKingofMen;butmuchbewilderedintomereindolentfatuity,inanesolemnity,highsniffingpridegroundedonnothingatall;aKaisermuchsunkinthesedimentsofhismuddyEpoch。Sureenough,hewasaproudloftysolemnKaiser,infinitelythegentlemaninairandhumor;Spanishgravities,ceremonials,reticences;——andcould,inabetterscene,havedistinguishedhimselfbybetterthanmerestatuesqueimmovabilityofposture,dignifiedenduranceofennui,andHapsburgtenacityinholdingthegrip。Itwasnottill1735,aftertusslingsandwrenchingsbeyondcalculation,thathewouldconsenttoquittheShadowoftheCrownofSpain;andletEuropeBEatpeaceonthatscore。
  TheessenceofwhatiscalledtheEuropeanHistoryofthisPeriod,suchHistoryasaPeriodsunkdeadinspirit,andaliveonlyinstomach,canhave,turnsallonKaiserKarl,andthesehisclutchingsatshadows。Whichmakesaverysad,surprisingHistoryindeed;moreworthytobecalledPhenomenaofPutridFermentation,thanStrugglesofHumanHeroismtovindicateitselfinthisPlanet,whichlatteraloneareworthyofrecordingas"History"
  bymankind。
  OnthethroneofSpain,besidePhilipV。themelancholicnewBourbon,LouisXIV。’sGrandson,satElizabethFarnese,atermaganttenaciouswoman,whoseambitiouscupiditieswerenotinferiorinobstinacytoKaiserKarl’s,andprovednotquitesoshadowyashis。Elizabethalsowantedseveralthings:renunciationofyour(KaiserKarl’s)shadowyclaims;nayofsundryrealusurpationsyouandyourTreatieshavemadeontheactualpossessionsofSpain,——
  KingdomofSicily,forinstance;Netherlands,forinstance;
  Gibraltar,forinstance。Butthereisonethingwhich,weobserve,isindispensablethroughouttoElizabethFarnese:thefuturesettlementofherdearBoyCarlos。Carlos,whomasSpanishPhilip’ssecondWifeshehadgiventoSpainandtheworld,asSecondorsupplementaryINFANTthere,——atroublesomegifttoSpainandothers。
  "ThisdearBoy,surelyhemusthavehisItalianApanages,which,youhaveprovidedforhim:DuchiesofParmaandPiacenza,whichwillfallheirlesssoon。SecurityfortheseItalianApanages,suchaswillsatisfyaMother:LetusintroduceSpanishgarrisonsintoParmaandPiacenzaatonce!HowelsecanwebecertainofgettingthoseindispensableApanages,whentheyfallvacant?"OnthispointElizabethFarnesewaspositive,maternallyvehement;
  wouldtakenosubterfuge,denialordelay:"LetmeperceivethatIshallhavetheseDuchies:that,firstofall;orelsenotthatonly,butnumerousotherthingswillbedemandedofyou!"
  UponwhichpointtheKaisertoo,wholovedhisDuchies,andhopedyettokeepthembysometurnofthegame,nevercoulddecidetocomply。WhereuponElizabethgrewmoreandmoretermagant;listenedtowildcounsels;tookupanAlberoni,aRipperda,anywanderingdiplomaticbull—dogthatoffered;andletthemlooseupontheKaiserandherothergainsayers。Totheterrorofmankind,lestuniversalwarshouldsupervene。SheheldtheKaiserwellatbay,mankindwellinpanic;andcontinuallytherecameonallEurope,forabouttwentyyears,aterrorthatwarwasjustabouttobreakout,andthewholeworldtotakefire。TheHistorysocalledofEuropewentcantingfromsidetoside;heelingatahugerate,accordingtothepassesandlungesthesetwogiantfigures,ImperialMajestyandtheTermagantofSpain,madeatoneanother,——foratwentyyearsormore,tilloncetheduelwasdecidedbetweenthem。
  Therecamenexttonowar,afterall;sputteringsofwartwiceover,——1718,ByngatMessina,aswesaw;andthen,in1727,asecondsputter,aswearetosee:——buttheneighborsalwaysranwithbuckets,andgotitquenched。Nowartospeakof;butsuchnegotiating,diplomatizing,universalhope,universalfear,andinfiniteadoaboutnothing,aswereseldomheardofbefore。
  ForexceptFriedrichWilhelmdrillinghis50,000soldiers(80,000
  gradually,andgraduallyeventwicethatnumber),IseenoCrownedHeadinEuropethatisnot,withimmeasurableapparatus,simplydoingZERO。Alas,inanageofuniversalinfidelitytoHeaven,wheretheHeavenlySunhasSUNK,thereoccurstrangeSpectre—huntings。Whichisafactworthlayingtoheart。——DuelofTwentyYearswithElizabethFarnese,abouttheeventualitiesofParmaandPiacensa,andtheShadowofthelostCrownofSpain;
  thiswasthefirstgrandSpectralityofKaiserKarl’sexistence;
  butthiswasnotthewholeofthem。
  IMPERIALMAJESTY’SPRAGMATICSANCTION。
  KaiserKarlmeanwhilewasrathershortofheirs;whichformedanotherofhisrealtroubles,andinvolvedhiminmuchshadow—hunting。HisWife,theSereneBrunswickEmpresswhomwespokeofabove,didatlengthbringhimchildren,broughthimaboyeven;buttheboydiedwithintheyear;and,onthewhole,thereremainednothingbuttwoDaughters;MariaTheresatheelderofthem,born1717,——theprettiestlittlemaidenintheworld;——
  nosontoinheritKaiserKarl。UnderwhichcircumstancesKaiserKarlproducednow,intheYear1724,aDocumentwhichhehadexecutedprivatelyaslongagoas1713,onlyhisPrivyCouncillorsandotherOfficialwitnessesknowingofitthen;[19thApril,1713
  (Stenzel,iii。5222)。]andsolemnlypublishesittotheworld,asathingallmenaretotakenoticeof。AllmenhadnoticeenoughofthisImperialbitofSheepskin,beforetheygotdonewithit,five—and—twentyyearshence。[PeaceofAix—la—Chapelle,1748。]
  AveryfamousPragmaticSanction;nowpublishedfortheworld’scomfort!
  BywhichDocument,KaiserKarlhadformallysettled,andfixedaccordingtothepowerhehas,intheshapeofwhattheycallaPragmaticSanction,orunalterableOrdinanceinhisImperialHouse,"That,failingHeirs—male,hisDaughters,hisEldestDaughter,shouldsucceedhim;failingDaughters,hisNieces;
  andinshort,thatHeirs—femalerankingfromtheirkinshiptoKaiserKarl,andnottoanypriorKaiser,shouldbeasgoodasHeirs—maleofKarl’sbodywouldhavebeen。"APragmaticSanctionisthehighnamehegivesthisdocument,ortheActitrepresents;
  "PragmaticSanction"being,intheImperialChanceryandsomeothers,thereceivedtitleforOrdinancesofaveryirrevocablenature,whichasovereignmakes,inaffairsthatbelongwhollytohimself,orwhathereckonshisownrights。[ArarekindofDeed,itwouldseem;andallthemoresolemn。In1438,CharlesVI。ofFrance,concedingtheGallicanChurchitsLiberties,does,itby"SANCTIONPRAGMATIQUE;"CarlosIII。ofSpain(in1759,"settlingtheKingdomoftheTwoSiciliesonhisthirdson")doesthelike,——whichisthelastinstanceof"PRAGMATICSANCTION"inthisworld。]
  ThisPragmaticSanctionofKaiserKarl’s,executed19thApril,1713,waspromulgated,"gradually,"nowherenowthere,from1720
  to1724,{Stenzel,pp。522,523。]——inwhichlateryearitbecameuniversallypublic;andwastransmittedtoallCourtsandSovereignties,asanunalterablelawofThingsImperial。
  TherebythegoodmanhopeshisbeautifullittleTheresa,nowsevenyearsold,maysucceedhim,allasasonwouldhavedone,intheAustrianStatesandDignities;andincalculabledamages,wars,andchancesofwar,beprevented,forhisHouseandforalltheworld。
  Theworld,incredulousofto—morrow,initslazyway,wasnotsufficientlyattentivetothisnewlawofthings。Somewhowerepersonallyinterested,astheSaxonSovereignty,andtheBavarian,deniedthatitwasjust:remindedKaiser—KarlthathewasnottheNoahorAdamofKaisers;andthatthecaseofHeirs—femalewasnotquiteanewideaonsheepskin。No;thereareolderPragmaticSanctionsandsettlements,bypriorKaisersofblessedmemory;
  underwhich,ifDaughtersaretocomein,we,descendedfromImperialDaughtersofolderstanding,shallhaveawordtosay!——
  TothisKaiserKarlanswerssteadily,withendlessargument,ThateveryKaiserisaPatriarch,andFirstMan,insuchmatters;
  andthatsoithasbeenpragmaticallysanctionedbyhim,andthatsoitshallandmustirrevocablybe。TotheotherPowers,andindolentimpartialSovereignsoftheworld,hewaslavishinembassies;inardentrepresentations;andsparednopainsinconvincingthemthatto—morrowwouldsurelycome,andthatthenitwouldbeablessednesstohaveacceptedthisPragmaticSanction,andseeitlyingforyouasaLawofNaturetogoby,andavoidincalculablecontroversies。
  ThiswasanothervastShadow,orconfusedhigh—piledcontinentofshadows,towhichourpoorKaiserheldwithhiscustomarytenacity。ToprocureadherencesandassurancestothisdearPragmaticSanction,was,evenmorethantheshadowoftheSpanishCrown,andaboveallafterhehadquittedthat,theonegrandbusinessofhisLifehenceforth。WithwhichhekeptallEuropeinperpetualtravailanddiplomacy;rayingoutambassadors,andlessostensibleagents,withbribes,andwithentreatiesandproposals,intoeveryhighSovereignCourtandeverylow;negotiatingunweariedlybyallmethods,withallmen。Foritwashisevening—songandhismorning—prayer;thegrandmeaningofLifetohim,tillLifeended。Youwouldhavesaid,thefirstquestionheasksofeverycreatureis,"WillyoucovenantformyPragmaticSanctionwithme?Oh,agreetoit;acceptthatnewLawofNature:whenthemorrowcomes,itwillbesalutaryforyou!"
  MostoftheForeignPotentatesidlyacceptedthething,——asthingsofadistantcontingentkindareaccepted;——madeTreatyonit,sincetheKaiserseemedsoextremelyanxious。OnlyBavaria,havingheritableclaims,neverwould。Saxonytoo(AugusttheStrong),beinginthelikecase,orabetter,flatlyrefusedforalongtime;wouldnot,atall,——exceptforaconsideration。
  BrightlittlePrinceEugene,whodictatedsquaremilesofLettersandDIplomaciesonthesubject(Lettersofasteadydepthofdulness,whichatlastgrowsalmostsublime),waswonttotellhisMajesty:"Treatying,yourMajesty?Awell—trainedArmyandafullTreasury;thatistheonlyTreatythatwillmakethisPragmaticSanctionvalid!"ButhisMajestyneverwouldbelieve。SothebrightoldEugenedictated,——or,wehopeandguess,heonlygavehisclerkssomekey—word,andsignedhisname(inthreelanguages,"EugeniovonSavoye")tothesesquaremilesofdullepistolarymatter,——probablytakingSpanishsnuffwhenhehaddone。Forhewearsitinbothwaistcoat—pockets;——has(ashisPortraitsstilltellus)givenupbreathingbythenose。Thebrightlittlesoul,withaflashinhimasofHeaven’sownlightning;butnowgrowingveryoldandsnuffy。
  ShadowofPragmaticSanction,shadowoftheSpanishCrown,——itwassuchshadow—huntingsoftheKaiserinVienna,itwasthisofthePragmaticSanctionmostofall,thatthwartedourPrussianDouble—Marriage,whichlaysofarawayfromit。ThisitwasthatprettynearlybroketheheartsofFriedrich,Wilhelmina,andtheirMotherandFather。Forthereneverwassuchnegotiating;notforadmittancetotheKingdomofHeaven,inthepioustimes。Andtheopengoings—forthofit,stillmorethesecretminingsandmole—coursesofit,wereintoallplaces。Abovegroundandbelow,noSovereignmortalcouldsayhewassafefromit,lethimagreeornot。FriedrichWilhelmhadcheerfully,andwithallhisheart,agreedtothePragmaticSanction;thisaboveground,insightofthesun;andrashlyfanciedhehadthendonewithit。Till,tohishorror,hefoundtheImperialmoles,bywayofkeepingassurancedoublysure,hadbeenunderthefoundationsofhisveryhouseforlongyearspast,andhadallbutbroughtitdownabouthiminthemosthideousmanner!——
  THIRDSHADOW:IMPERIALMAJESTY’SOSTENDCOMPANY。
  AnotherobjectwhichKaiserKarlpursuedwithsomediligenceinthesetimes,andwhichlikewiseprovedashadow,muchdisturbanceasitgavemankind,washis"OstendEast—IndiaCompany。"
  TheKaiserhadseenimpoverishedSpain,richEngland,richHolland;hehadtakenupacreditablenotionaboutcommerceanditsadvantages。Hesaidtohimself,WhyshouldnotmyNetherlandstradetotheEast,aswellastheseEnglishandDutch,andgrowopulentlikethem?Heinstituted(OCTROYA)an"OstendEast—IndiaCompany,"underduePatentsandImperialSheepskins,ofdate17thDecember,1722,[Buchholz,i。88;Pfeffel,AbregeChronologiquedel’Histoired’Allemagne(Park,1776),ii。522。]gaveitwhatfreedomhecouldtotradetotheEast。
  "Impossible!"answeredtheDutch,withdistractionintheiraspect;"Impossible,wesay;contrarytoTreatyofWestphalia,toUtrecht,toBarrierTreaty;anddestructivetothebestinterestsofmankind,especiallytousandourtrade—profits!Weshallhavetocaptureyourships,ifyoueversendany。"
  TowhichtheKaisercounterpleaded,earnestly,diligently,forthespaceofsevenyears,——tonoeffect。"Wewillcaptureyourshipsifyoueversendany,"answeredtheDutchandEnglish。WhatshipsevercouldhavebeensentfromOstendtotheEast,orwhatilltheycouldhavedonethere,remainsamystery,owingtothemonopolizingMaritimePowers。
  TheKaiser’slaudablezealforcommercehadtoexpenditselfinhisAdriaticTerritories,——givingprivilegestothePortsofTriesteandFiume;[Hormayr,OEsterreichischerPlutarch,x。101。]makingroadsthroughtheDalmatianHill—Countries,whichareusefultothisday;——butcouldnotoperateontheNetherlandsinthewayproposed。TheKaiser’sImperialOstendEast—IndiaCompany,whichconvulsedtheDiplomaticmindforsevenyearstocome,andmadeEuropelurchfromsidetosideinaterrificmanner,provedamerepaperCompany;neversentanyships,onlyproducedDiplomacies,and"hadthehonortobe。"
  ThiswasthethirdgrandShadowwhichtheKaiserchased,shakingalltheworld,poorcrankworld,ashestrodeafterit;andthisalsoendedinzero,andseveraltonsofdiplomaticcorrespondence,carriedoncebybreathlessestaffettes,andnowsilent,gravitatingtowardsAcheronallofthem,andinterestingtothespidersonly。
  PoorgoodKaiser:theysayhewasahumanestatelygentleman,statelythoughshortish;fondofpardoningcriminalswherehecould;verypolitetoMuratoriandtheAntiquaries,eventoEnglishRymer,inopeninghisArchivestothem,——andmaderoadsintheDalmatianHill—Country,whichremaintothisday。Idonotwonderhegrewmoreandmoresaturnine,andaddictedtosolidtaciturnfield—sports。HisPolitical"Perforce—Hunt(PARFORCE
  JAGD),"withsomanytwo—footedterriers,andlegationarybeagles,distressingalltheworldbytheirbayingandtheirburrowing,hadprovedtobeofShadows;andmeltedintothinair,toaverysingulardegree!
  ChapterIII。
  THESEVENCRISESOREUROPEANTRAVAIL—THROES。
  InprocessofthissoterrificDuelwithElizabethFarnese,andgeneralcombatoftheShadows,whichthenmadeEuropequake,ateverynewlungeandpassofit,andwhichnowmakesEuropeyawntoheartheleastmentionofit,therecametwosputteringsofactualWar。Byng’ssea—victoryatMessina,1718;Spanish"SiegeofGibraltar,"1727,arethemainphenomenaofthesetwoWars,——
  England,asitswontis,takingashotinboth,thoughithasnowforgottenboth。And,onthewhole,therecame,sofarasIcancount,SevengranddiplomaticSpasmsorCrises,——desperategeneralEuropeanTreatyingshitherandthenthither,solemnCongressestwoofthem,withendlesssupplementaryadhesionsbytheminorpowers。
  Sevengrandmother—treaties,nottomentionthedaughters,orsupplementaryadhesionstheyhad;allEuroperisingspasmodicallyseventimes,anddoingitsveryuttermosttoquellthisterribleincubus;allEuropechangingcolorseventimes,likealobsterboiling,fortwentyyears。SevendiplomaticCrises,wesay,markedchangingsofcolorinthelong—sufferinglobster;andtwoso—calledWars,——beforethisenormouszerocouldbesettled。
  WhichhighTreatiesandTransactions,humannature,aftermuchstudyofthem,grudgestoenumerate。ApanageforBabyCarlos,ghostofaPragmaticSanction;thesewereapairofcausesformankind!Benowordspokenofthem,exceptwithregretandonevidentcompulsion。
  Forthereader’sconveniencewemustnotethesalientpoints;
  butgrudgetodoit。Salientpoints,nowmostlywraptinOrcus,andterrestriallyinterestingonlytothespiders,——exceptonanoccasionofthiskind,whenpartofthemhappenstosticktothehistoryofamemorableman,Toustheyaremerebubblings—upofthegeneralputridfermentationofthethenPoliticalWorld;
  andaretoounlovelytobedweltonlongerthanindispensable。
  TripleAlliance,QuadrupleAlliance,CongressofCambrai,CongressofSoissons;ConferenceofPardo,TreatyofHanover,TreatyofWusterhausen,whatarethey?Echoanswers,What?RipperdaandtheQueenofSpain,KaiserKarlandhisPragmaticSanction,arefallendimtoeverymind。TheTroublesofThorn(sadenoughPapist—Protestanttragedyintheirtime),——whonowcarestoknowofthem?ItismuchifwefindahearingforthepoorSalzburgEmigrantswhentheygetintoPreussenitself。Afflictedhumannatureoughttobe,atlast,deliveredfromthepalpablysuperfluous;andifafewthingsmemorablearetoberemembered,millionsofthingsunmemorablemustfirstbehonestlyburiedandforgotten!Buttoouraffair,——thatofmarkingthechiefbubblings—upintheabove—saidUniversalPutridFermentation,sofarastheyconcernus。
  CONGRESSOFCAMBRAI。
  WealreadysawByngseafightingintheStraitsofMessina;
  thatwaspartofCrisisSecond,——sequel,inpowder—and—ball,ofCrisisFirst,whichhadbeeninpapertillthen。ThePowershadinterfered,byTriple,byQuadrupleAlliance,toquenchtheSpanish—AustrianDuel(aboutApanageforBabyCarlos,andaquantityofotherShadows):"TripleAlliance"[4thJanuary,1717。]
  was,wemaysay,whenFrance,England,HollandlaboriouslysortedouttermsofagreementbetweenKaiserandTermagant:"Quadruple"
  [18thJuly,1718。]waswhenKaiser,aftermuchcoaxing,acceded,asfourthparty;andsaidgloomily,"Yes,then。"Byng’sSea—fightwaswhenTermagantsaid,"No,by——thePlotsofAlberoni!
  NeverwillI,formypart,accedetosuchterms!"andattackedthepoorKaiserinhisSiciliesandelsewhere。Byng’sSea—fight,inaidofasufferingKaiserandhisSicilies,inconsequence。
  Furthermore,theFrenchinvadedSpain,tillMessinawereretaken;
  naytheEnglish,bylandtoo,madeadashatSpain,"DescentonVigo"astheycallit,——inreferencetowhichtakethefollowingstrayNote:——
  "Thatsameyear[1719,yearafterByng’sSea—fight,Messinajustaboutrecaptured],theretookeffect,plannedbythevigorousColonelStanhope,ourMinisteratMadrid,whotookpersonalshareinthething,a’DescentonVigo,’suddenswoop—downuponTownandshippinginthoseGallician,north—westregions。Whichwasperfectlysuccessful,——LordCobhamleading;——andmademuchnoiseamongmankind。FilledallGazettesatthattime;——butnow,again,isallfallensilentforus,——exceptthisonethrice—insignificantpoint,Thattherewasinit,’inHandyside’sRegiment,’aLieutenantofFoot,bynameSTERNE,whohadleft,withhispoorWifeatPlymouth,averyremarkableBoycalledLorry,orLAWRENCE;
  knownsincethattoallmankind。WhenLorryinhisLIFEwrites,’myFatherwentontheVigoexpedition,’readersmayunderstandthiswasit。Strangeenough:thatpoorLieutenantofFootisnowprettymuchallthatisleftofthissublimeenterpriseuponVigo,inthememoryofmankind;——hangingthere,asifbyasinglehair,tillpoorTRISTRAMSHANDYbeforgottentoo。"[MemoirsofLaurenceSterne,writtenbyhimselfforhisDaughter(seeAnnualRegister,Year1775,pp。50—52)。]
  Inshort,theFrenchandeventheEnglishinvadedSpain;
  EnglishByngandotherssankSpanishships:TermagantwasobligedtopackawayherAlberoni,andgivein。Shehadtoaccedeto"QuadrupleAlliance,"afterall;makingit,sotospeak,aQuintupleone;makingPeace,infact,[17thFebruary,1720。]——
  generalCongresstobeheldatCambraiandsettlethedetails。
  CongressofCambraimetaccordingly;in1722,——"inthecourseoftheyear,"Delegatesslowlyrainingin,——datenotfixabletoadayormonth。Congresswas"sat,"aswesaid,——or,alas,wasonlystillendeavoringtogetseated,andwanderingaboutamongthechairs,——whenGeorgeI。cametoCharlottenburgthatevening,October,1723,andsurveyedWilhelminawithacandle。MoreinaneCongressnevermetinthisworld,norwillmeet。Settlementprovedsodifficult;allthemore,asneitherofthequarrellingpartieswishedit。KaiserandTermagant,fallenasifexhausted,hadnottheleastdispositiontoagree;laydiplomaticallygnashingtheirteethatoneanother,readytofightagainshouldstrengthreturn。
  Difficultforthirdpartiestosettleonbehalfofsuchapair。
  NayatlengththeKaiser’sOstendCompanycametolight:whatwillthirdparties,DutchandEnglishespecially,makeofthat?
  ThispoorCongress———letthereaderfancyit——spenttwoyearsin"argumentsaboutprecedencies,"inmerebeatingsoftheair;
  couldnotgetseatedatall,butwanderedamongthechairs,till"February,1724。"Nordiditmanagetoaccomplishanyworkwhatever,eventhen;themostinaneofHumanCongresses;
  andmemorableonthataccount,ifonnoother。There,inoldstagnantCambrai,throughthethirdyearandintothefourth,wereDelegates,Spanish,Austrian,English,Dutch,French,ofsolemnoutfit,withabigtailtoeach,——"LordWhitworth"whomIdonotknow,"LordPolwarth"(EarlofMarchmontthatwillbe,afriendofPope’s),weretheEnglishPrincipals:[Scholl,ii。197。]——there,foraboutfouryears,werethesepoorfellow—creaturesbusied,balingoutwaterwithsieves。SeenthroughtheHorn—GateofDreams,thefigureofthemrisesalmostgrandonthemind。
  AcertainbrightyoungFrenchman,FrancoisArouet,——spoiledforasolidlaw—career,butwhoseOEDIPEwesawtriumphingintheTheatres,andwhowill,underthenewnameofVOLTAIRE,becomeverymemorabletous,——happenedtoberunningtowardsHollandthatway,oneofhismanyjourneysthitherward;andactuallysawthisCongress,theninthefirstyearofitsexistence。Sawit,probablydinedwithit。ALetterofhisstillextant,notyetfallentothespiders,assomuchelsehasdone,testifiestothisfact。Letusreadpartofit,thelessdespicablepart,——asaPiecesupremelyinsignificant,yetnowinamannertheonesurvivingDocumentofthisextraordinaryCongress;Congress’sownworksandhistoryhavingallotherwisefallentothespidersforever。TheLetterisaddressedtoCardinalDubois;——forDubois,"withthefacelikeagoat,"[HerzoginvonOrleans,BRIEFE。]yetlived(firstyearofthisCongress);andRegentd’Orleanslived,intenselyinterestedhereasthirdparty:——andagoat—facedCardinal,oncepimpandlackey,ugliestofcreatedsouls,ArchbishopofthissameCambrai"byDivinepermission"andfavorofBeelzebub,wascapableofpromotingayoungfellowifhechose:——
  "TOHISEMINENCECARDINALDUBOIS(fromArouetJunior)。
  "CAMBRAI,July,1722。
  "……WearejustarrivedinyourCity,Monseigneur;where,I
  think,alltheAmbassadorsandalltheCooksinEuropehavegivenoneanotherrendezvous。ItseemsasifalltheMinistersofGermanyhadassembledhereforthepurposeofgettingtheirEmperor’shealthdrunk。AstoMessieurstheAmbassadorsofSpain,oneofthemhearstwomassesaday,andtheothermanagesthetroopofplayers。TheEnglishMinisters[aLORDPOLWARTHandaLORDWHITWORTH]sendmanycourierstoChampagne,andfewtoLondon。Fortherest,nobodyexpectsyourEminencehere;itisnotthoughtyouwillquitthePalais—Royaltovisitthesheepofyourflockintheseparts[no!],itwouldbetoobadforyourEminenceandforusall……Thinksometimes,Monseigneur,ofamanwho[regardsyourgoat—facedEminenceasabeautifulingeniouscreature;andsuchahandinconversationasneverwas)。
  TheonethingIwillask[ofyourgoat—facedEminence]atPariswillbe,tohavethegoodnesstotalktome。"[OEuvresdeVoltaire,97vols。(Paris,l825—1834),lxviii。95,96。]
  Alas,alas!——ThemoredespicableportionsofthisLetterweomit,astheyarenothistoryoftheCongress,butofArouetJuniorontheshadyside。SomuchwilltestifythatthisCongressdidexist;
  thatitswiggeriesanditwerenotalways,whattheynoware,partofanightmare—visioninHumanHistory。——
  ElizabethFarnese,seeingatwhatratetheCongressofCambraisped,lostallpatiencewithit;andgettingmoreandmoreexasperationsthere,atlengthemployedoneRipperda,asurprisingDutchBlack—ArtistwhomshenowhadforMinister,topullthefloorfrombeneathit(sotospeak),andsendithomeinthatmanner。WhichRipperdadid。Anappropriateenoughcatastrophe,comfortabletothereader;uponwhichperhapshewillnotgrudgetoreadstillanotherword?
  CONGRESSOFCAMBRAIGETSTHEFLOORPULLEDFROMUNDERIT。
  TermagantElizabethhadnowoneRipperdaforMinister;
  asurprisingDutchadventurer,oncesecretaryofsomeDutchembassyatMadrid;who,discerninghowthelandlay,hadbrokenloosefromthatsubalterncareer,hadchangedhisreligion,insinuatedhimselfintoElizabeth’sroyalfavor;andwasnow"DukedeRipperda,"andadiplomaticbull—dogofthefirstquality,fullofmightyschemesandhopes;inbrief,anewAlberonitotheTermagantQueen。ThisRipperdahadpersuadedher(thethirdyearofourinaneCongressnowrunningout,tonopurpose),Thathe,ifheweresentdirecttoVienna,couldreconciletheKaisertoherMajesty,andbringthemtoTreaty,independentlyofCongresses。
  Hewassentaccordingly,inallprivacy;hadreportedhimselfaslaboringthere,withthebestoutlooks,forsomewhilepast;
  when,stillearlyin1725,thereoccurredonthepartofFrance,——
  whereRegentd’Orleanswasnowdead,andnewpoliticsbadcomeinvogue,——that"sendingback,"ofthepoorlittleSpanish:
  Infanta,["5thApril,1725,quittedParis"(Barbier,
  JournalduRegnedeLouisXV。,i。218)。]andmarryingofyoungLouisXV。elsewhere,whichdroveElizabethandtheCourtofSpain,notunnaturally,intoaverydeliriumofindignation。
  WhytheysentthepoorlittleLadyhomeonthoseshockingterms?
  Itseemstherewasnoparticularreason,exceptthatFrenchLouiswasnowaboutfifteen,andlittleSpanishTheresawasonlyeight;
  andthat,underDucdeBourbon,thenewPremier,andnoneofthewisest,therewas,expressorimplicit,"anardentwishtoseeroyalprogenysecured。"Forwhich,ofcourse,awifeofeightyearswouldnotanswer。Soshewasreturned;andeveninablunderingway,itissaid,——theFrenchAmbassadoratMadridhavingprefacedhiscommunication,notwithlightadroitpreludingsofspeech,butwithatempestoftearsandhowlinglamentations,asifthatwerethewaytoconciliateKingPhilipandhisTermagantElizabeth。Transportofindignationwasthenaturalconsequenceontheirpart;ordertoeveryFrenchmantobeacrosstheborderwithin,sayeight—and—fortyhours;rejectionforeverofallFrenchmediationatCambraiorelsewhere;
  questiontotheEnglish,"Willyoumediateforus,then?"Towhichtheanswerbeingmerely"Hm!"withlooksofdelay,——orderbyexpresstoRipperda,tomakestraightwayabargainwiththeKaiser;almostanybargain,soitweremadeatonce。Ripperdamadeabargain:TreatyofVienna,30thApril,1725:[Scholl,ii。201;
  Coxe,Walpole,i。239—250。]"TitlesandShadowseachofusshallkeepforhisownlifetime,thentheyshalldrop。Astorealitiesagain,toParmaandPiacenzaamongtherest,letthesebeasintheTreatyofUtrecht;arrangeableinthelump;——andindeed,ofParmaandPiacenzaperhapsthelesswesay,thebetteratpresent。"Thiswas,insubstance,Ripperda’sTreaty;
  theThirdgreatEuropeantravail—throe,orchangeofcolorinthelong—sufferinglobster。Whereby,ofcourse,theCongressofCambraididstraightwaydisappear,thefloormiraculouslyvanishingunderit;andsinks——farbelowhumaneye—reachbythistime——towardstheBottomlessPool,eversince。Suchwasthebeginning,suchtheendofthatCongress,whichArouetLEJEUNE,in1722,sawasacontemporaryFact,drinkingchampagneinRamillieswigs,andarrangingcomediesforitself。
  FRANCEANDTHEBRITANNICMAJESTYTRIMTHESHIPAGAIN:
  HOWFRIEDRICHWILHELMCAMEINTOIT。TREATYOFHANOVER,1725。
  ThepublicationofthisTreatyofVienna(30thApril,1725),——
  miraculousdisappearanceoftheCongressofCambraibywithdrawalofthefloorfromunderit,andcloseunionoftheCourtsofSpainandViennaastheoutcomeofitsslowlabors,——filledEurope,andchieflythelatemediatingPowers,withamazement,anger,terror。
  MadeEuropelurchsuddenlytotheotherside,aswephrasedit,——
  othergunwalenowunderwater。Wherefore,inHeaven’sname,trimyourshipagain,ifpossible,yehighmediatingPowers。ThisthemediatingPowerswerelaudablyalerttodo。DucdeBourbon,andhisyoungKingabouttomarry,wereofpacifictendencies;
  anxiousfortheBalance:stillmorewasFleury,whosucceededDucdeBourbon。CardinalFleury(withhispupilLouisXV。underhim,producingroyalprogenyandnothingworseorbetterasyet)
  began,nextyear,hislongsupremacyinFrance;anagedreverendgentleman,ofsly,delicatelycunningways,anddislikingwar,asGeorgeI。did,unlesswhenforcedonhim:nowandhenceforth,nomediatingpowermoreanxiousthanFrancetohavetheshipintrim。
  GeorgeandBourbonlaidtheirheadstogether,deeplyponderingthislittlelessthanawfulstateoftheTerrestrialBalance;
  andinaboutsixmonthsthey,intheirquietway,suddenlycameoutwithaFourthCrisisontheastonishedpopulations,soastorighttheship’strimagain,andmore。"TreatyofHanover,"thiswastheirunexpectedmanoeuvre;donequietlyatHerrenhausen,whenhisMajestynextwentacrossfortheHanoverhunting—season。
  Merehunting:——butthediplomatists,aswellasthebeagles,wereallinreadinessthere。EvenFriedrichWilhelm,ostensiblyintentonhunting,wascomeoverthither,hisabstruseIlgens,withtheirinkhorns,escortinghim:FriedrichWilhelm,huntinginunexpectedsort,waspersuadedtosignthisTreaty;whichmakesitunusuallyinterestingtous。AnexceptionalprocedureonthepartofFriedrichWilhelm,whobeyondallSovereignsstayswellathome,carelessofaffairsthatarenothis:——procedurebetokeningcordialityatHanover;andofgoodomenfortheDouble—Marriage?
  Yes,surely;——andyetsomethingmore,onFriedrichWilhelm’spart。
  HisrightsontheCleve—JulichCountries;reversionofJulichandBerg,onceKarlPhilipshalldecease:——perhapsthesehighPowers,foraconsideration,willguaranteeone’sundoubtedrightsthere?
  Itisunderstoodtheygavepromisesofthiskind,nottoospecific。Naywehearfartheracuriousthing:"FranceandEngland,lookingforimmediatewarwiththeKaiser,advisedFriedrichWilhelmtoasserthisrightsonSilesia。"Whichwouldhavebeenanimportantprocedure!FriedrichWilhelm,itisadded,hadactualthoughtsofit;theKaiser,inthosemattersoftheRITTER—DIENST,oftheHEIDELBERGPROTESTANTS,andwhereverachancewas,hadbeenunfriendly,littlelessthaninsulting,toFriedrichWilhelm:"GivemeonesingleHanoverianbrigade,toshowthatyougoalongwithme!"saidhisPrussianMajesty;——buttheBritannicneveraltogetherwould。[OEuvresdeFrederic,i。153。]Certainitis,FriedrichWilhelmsigned:
  amanwithsuchFighting—ApparatusastobeimportantinaHanoverTreaty。"BalanceofPower,theytellme,isinadreadfulway:
  certainlyifonecanhelptheBalancealittle,whynot?
  ButJulichandBerg,one’sownoutlookofreversionthere,thatisthepointtobeattendedto:——Balance,Ibelieve,willsomehowshiftforitself!"Ontheseprinciples,FriedrichWilhelmsigned,whileostensiblyhunting。[Fassmann,p。368;Forster,
  Urkundenbuch,p。67。]TreatyofHanover,whichwastotrimtheshipagain,oreventomakeitheeltheotherway,datesitself3dSeptember,1725,andisofthispurport:"Wethree,France,England,Prussiatostandbyeachotherasoneman,incaseanyofusisattacked,——willinviteHolland,Denmark,SwedenandeverypacificSovereigntytojoinusinsuchconvention,"——
  astheyallgraduallydid,hadFriedrichWilhelmbutstoodfirm。
  ForitisastateoftheBalanceslittlelessthanawful。
  Rumorgoesthat,bytheRipperdabargain,fataltomankind,DonCarloswastogetthebeautifulyoungMariaTheresatowife:
  thatwouldsettletheParma—Piacenzabusinessandsomeothers;
  thatwouldbeacompensationwithawitness!SpainandAustriaunited,asinKarlV。’stime;orperhapssomeSuccessionWar,orworse,tofightoveragain!——
  FleuryandGeorge,asDucdeBourbonandGeorgehaddone,thoughbothpacificgentlemen,brandishedweaponsattheKaiser;stronglyadmonishinghimtobecomelessformidable,oritwouldbeworseforhim。Possibleindeed,insuchashadow—hunting,shadow—huntedhour!FleuryandGeorgestandlookingwithintenseanxietyintoacertainspectralsomething,whichtheycalltheBalanceofPower;
  noendtotheirexorcismsinthatmatter。Truly,ifeachoftheRoyalMajestiesandSereneHighnesseswouldattendtohisownaffairs,——doinghisutmosttobetterhisownlandandpeople,inearthlyandinheavenlyrespects,alittle,——hewouldfinditinfinitelyprofitablerforhimselfandothers。AndtheBalanceofPowerwouldsettle,inthatcase,asthelawsofgravityordered:
  whichisitsonemethodofsettling,afteralldiplomacy!——FleuryandGeorge,bytheirmanifestoing,stillmorebytheirlevyingofmen,GeorgeI。shovellingouthisEnglishsubsidiesasusual,createddeadlyqualmsintheKaiser;whostillfounditunpleasantto"admitSpanishGarrisonsinParma;"butfoundlikewisehisTermagantFriendinexorablypositiveonthatscore;andknewnotwhatwouldbecomeofhim,ifhehadtotryfighting,andtheSea—Powersrefusedhimcashtodoit。
  Herebywastheshiptrimmed,andmore;shipnowlurchingtotheothersideagain。GeorgeI。goessubsidyingHessians,Danes;
  soundingmanifestoes,beatingdrums,inanalarmingmanner:
  andtheKaiser,exceptitwereinRussia,withthenewCzarinaCatherineI。(thatbrownlittlewoman,nowbecomeCzarina[8thFebruary,1725。TreatywithKaiser(6thAugust,1726)wenttonothingonherdeath,11thMay,1727。]),findsnoallytospeakof。Anunlucky,spectre—hunting,spectre—huntedKaiser;who,amidsomanydrums,manifestoes,menaces,isnowrollingeyesthatwitnesseverywhereconsiderabledismay。ThisistheFourthgrandCrisisofEurope;crisisortravail—throeofNature,bringingforth,andunabletodoit,BabyCarlos’sApanageandthePragmaticSanction。Fourthconspicuouschangeofcolortotheuniversallobster,gettingitselfboiledonthosesadterms,fortwentyyears。Foritssins,weneednotdoubt;foritsownlong—continuedcowardices,slothsandgreedyfollies,aswellasthoseofKaiserKarl!——
  AtthisFourthchangewewillgladlyleavethematter,foratime;
  muchwishingitmightbeforever。Alas,asifthatwerepossibletous!Meanwhile,letafflictedreaders,lookingbeforeandafter,readiertoforgetthantorememberinsuchacase,acceptthisNote,orSummaryofalltheSeventogether,bywayofhelp:——
  TRAVAIL—THROESOFNATUREFORBABYCARLOS’SITALIANAPANAGE;
  SEVENINNUMBER。
  l。TripleAlliance,English,Dutch,French(4thJanuary,1717),saying,"Peace,then!NoAlberoni—plotting;noDuel—fightingpermitted!"SamePowers,nextyear,proposingTermsofAgreement;
  Kaisergloomilyacceptingthem;whichmakesitQuadrupleAlliance(18thJuly,1718);Termagantindignantlyrefusing,——withattackontheKaiser’sSicilies。
  2。FirstSputterofWar;Byng’sSea—fight,andtheotherpressures,compellingTermagant:Peace(26thJanuary,1720);
  CongressofCambraitosettletheApanageandotherpoints。
  3。CongressofCambrai,awearinesstogodsandmen,getsthefloorpulledfromunderit(Ripperda’sfeat,30thApril,1725);
  sothatKaiserandTermagantstandrankedtogether,Apanagewraptinmystery,——totheterrorofmankind。
  4。TreatyofHanover(France,England,Prussia,3dSeptember,1725)restorestheBalances,andmore。Warimminent。
  Prussiaprivatelyfallsoff,——asweshallsee。
  [ThesefirstFourliebehindus,atthispoint;butthereareThreeothersstillahead,whichwecannothopetoescapealtogether;namely:]
  5。SecondSputterofWar:TermagantbesiegesGibraltar(4thMarch,1727——6thMarch,1728):Peaceatthatlatterdate;——
  CongressofSoissonstosettletheApanageandotherpoints,asformerly。
  6。CongressofSoissons(14thJune,1728——9thNovember,1729),asformerly,cannotintheleast:TermagautwhispersEngland;——
  thereisTreatyofSeville(9thNovember,1729),FranceandEnglandundertakingfortheApanage。Congressvanishes;Kaiserisleftsolitary,withtheshadowofPragmaticSanction,inthenightofthings。Pauseofanawfulnature:——butFleurydoesnothastenwiththeApanage,aspromised。Whereupon,atlength,7。TreatyofVienna(16thMarch,1731):Sea—Powers,leadingTermagantbythehand,Sea—PowersandnoFrance,unitewithKaiseragain,accordingtotheoldlawsofNature;——andBabyCarlosgetshisApanage,induecourse;——butdoesnotrestcontentwithit,Mammanorhe,verylong!
  Hugespectresandabsurdbugaboos,stalkingthroughthebrainofdullthoughtlesspusillanimousmankind,do,toaterribleextent,tumblehitherandthither,andcausetolurchfromsidetoside,theirshipofstate,andallthatisembarkedthere,BREAKFAST—TABLE,amongotherthings。Nevertheless,iftheywereonlybugaboos,andmereShadowscausedbyImperialhand—lanternsinthegeneralNightoftheworld,——oughttheytobespokenofinthefamily,whenavoidable?