["Lookmeintheeyes；packoffools；youwillhavetodissectme，youwillthenknow:"Anytruthinallthat？Nomatter。]
"AtnoonofthatTuesdayhetooktheSacrament，thePope’sNuncioadministering。HisMajestyshoweduncommonlygreatcomposureofsoul，andresignationtotheDivineWill；"beingindeed"certain，"——soheexpresseditto"aprincipalOfficialPersonsunkingrief"（Bartenstein，shallweguess？），whostoodbyhim——
"certainofhiscause，"notafraidincontemplatingthatdreadJudgmentnownear:"Lookatme！AmanthatiscertainofhiscausecanenteronsuchaJourneywithgoodcourageandacomposedmind（MITGUTEMUNDDELASSENEMMUTH）。"TotheDoctors，dubitatingwhatthediseasewas，hesaid，"IfGazelli"mylateworthyDoctor，"werestillhere，youwouldsoonknow；butasitis，youwilllearnitwhenyoudissectme；"——andonceaskedtobeshowntheCupwherehisheartwouldlieafterthatoperation。
"Sacramentbeingover，"Tuesdayafternoon，"hesentforhisFamily，toblessthemeachseparately。HehadalongconversationwithGrandDukeFranz，"titularofLorraine，actualofTuscany，"whohadassiduouslyattendedhim，andcontinuedtodoso，duringthewholeillness。"TheGrandDuke’sSpouse，——MariaTheresa，thenoble—heartedandtheoverwhelmed；whoisnowinaninterestingstateagainwithal；alittleKaiserkin（JosephII。）cominginfivemonths；firstchild，alittlegirl，isnowtwoyearsold；——"hadbeenobligedtotaketobedthreedaysago；laidupofgriefandterror（VORSCHMERZENUNDSCHRECKEN），eversinceSundaythe16th。
NorwouldhisImperialMajestypermithertoenterthisdeath—
room，onaccountofhercondition，soimportanttotheworld；
buthisMajesty，turningtowardsthatsidewhereherapartmentwas，raisedhisrighthand，andcommandedherHusband，andtheArchduchessheryoungerSister，totellhisTheresa，Thatheblessedherherewith，notwithstandingherabsence。"PoorKaiser，poorTheresa！"MostdistressingofallwasthescenewiththeKaiserin。Thenightbefore，ongettingknowledgeofthesadcertainty，shehadfaintedutterlyaway（STARKEOHNMACHT），andhadtobecarriedintotheGrandDuchess’s[MariaTheresa’s]room。
BeingsummonednowwithherChildren，forthelastblessing，shecriedasindespair，’Donotleaveme，YourDilection，donot（ACH
EUERLIEBDENVERLASSENMICHDOCHNICHT）！’"Poorgoodsouls！
"HerImperialMajestywouldnotquittheroomagain，butremainedtothelast。
"Wednesday，19th，allday，anxiety，mournfulsuspense；"poorweepingKaiserinandalltheworldwaiting；theInevitablevisiblystrugglingon。"Andinthenightofthatday[nightof19th—20thOct。，1740]，betweenoneandtwointhemorning，DeathsnatchedawaythismostinvaluableMonarch（DENPREISWURDIGSTENMONARCHEN）
inthe66thyearofhislife；"andKaiserKarlVI。，andtheHouseofHapsburganditsFivetoughCenturiesofgoodandevilinthisworldhadended。ThepoorKaiserin"closedtheeyes"thatcouldnownomorebeholdher；"kissedhishands，andwascarriedoutmoredeadthanalive。"[Anonymous，UTSUPRA，pp。220—227。——
Adelung，PragmatischeStaatsgeschichte
（Gotha，1762—1767），ii。120。JOHANNCHRISTOPHAdelung；thesamewhodidtheDICTIONARYaudmanyotherdeservingBooks；hereisthepreciseTitle:"PragmatischeStaatsgeschichteEuropens，"
thatis，"DocumentaryHistoryofEurope，fromKaiserKarl’sDeath，1740，tillPeaceofParis，1763。"Asolid，laboriousandmeritoriousWork，ofitskind；extremelyextensive（9vols。
4to，someofwhicharedoubleandeventreble），mostlyintheundigested，sometimesinthequiteuncookedorrawcondition；
perhapsaboutafifthpartofitconsistsof"Documents"proper，whichareshippable。Itcannothelpbeingdull，waste，dreary，butiseverywhereintelligible（excellentIndexestoo），——andoffersanunhappyreaderbyfarthebestresourceattainableforsurveyofthatsadPeriod。]
AgoodaffectionateKaiserin，Idobelieve；honorable，truthful，thoughunwittyofspeech，andconvertedbyGrandpapainapeculiarmanner，ForherKaisertoo，afterall，Ihaveakindoflove。
Ofbrilliantarticulateintellectthereisnothing；norofinarticulate（asinFriedrichWilhelm’scase）anythingconsiderable:infacthisShadow—Hunting，andDuellingwiththeTermagant，seemedthereverseofwise。Buttherewassomethingofahighproudheartinit，too，ifweexamine；andeventhePragmaticSanction，thoughinpracticenotworthoneregimentofironramrods，indicatesaprofoundlyfixeddetermination，partlyofloyalnature，suchasthegodsmoreorlessreward。"Hehadbeenagreatbuilder，"saytheHistories；"wasagreatmusician，fittoleadorchestras，andhadcomposedanOpera，"——poorKaiser。
Therecameoutlargetraitsofhim，inMariaTheresaagain，underanimprovedform，whichweremuchadmiredbytheworld。Helooks，inhisPortraits，intenselyserious；ahandsomeman，stoicallygrave；muchthegentleman，muchtheKaiserorSupremeGentleman。
As，inlifeandfact，hewas；"somethingsolemninhim，evenwhenhelaughs，"thepeopleusedtosay。AmanhonestlydoinghisverybestwithhispoorKaisership，anddyingofchagrinbyit。
"Onopeningthebody，theliver—regionprovedtobeentirelyderanged；intheplacewherethegall—bladdershouldhavebeen，astoneofthesizeofapigeon’seggwasfoundgrownintotheliver，andnogall—bladdernowthere。"
Thatsamemorning，withearliestdaylight，"Thursday，20th，sixA。M。，"MariaTheresaisproclaimedbyherHeraldsoverVienna:
"AccordingtoPragmaticSanction，Inheritressofallthe，"&c。
&c。；——SovereignArchduchessofAustria，QueenofHungaryandBohemia，forchiefitems。"AtsevenherMajestytooktheOathfromtheGeneralsandPresidentsofTribunals，——said，throughhertears，’Allwastostandontheoldfooting，eachinhispost，’"——
andtheotherneedfulwords。CouriersshootforthtowardsallCountries；——oneexpresscouriertoRegensburg，andtheenchantedWiggeriesthere，tosayThatanewKaiserwillbeneeded；
REICHS—VicarorVicars（Kur—Sachsenandwhoevermore，fortheyaresometimesdisagreedaboutit）willhavetoadministerintheinterim。
AsecondcourierwesawarriveatReinsberg；helikewisemaybeimportant。TheBavarianMinister，KarlAlbertKur—Baiern’sman，shotoffhisexpress，liketheothers；answeris，byreturnofcourier，orevenearlier（foramessengerwasalreadyontheroad），Makeprotest！"WeKur—BaiernsolemnlyprotestagainstPragmaticSanction，andtheassumptionofsuchTitlesbytheDaughterofthelateKaiser。KingofBohemia，andingoodpartevenofAustria，itisnotyou，Madam，butofrightWE；as，byHeaven’shelp，itisourfixedresolutiontomakegood！"
Protestwaspresented，accordingly，withallthesolemnities，withoutlossofamoment。TowhichBartensteinandtheAuthoritiesanswered"Pooh—pooh，"asifitwerenothing。Itisthefirstrippleofanimmeasurabletideordelugeinthatkind，threateningtosubmergethenewMajestyofHungary；——ashadbeenforeseenatReinsberg；thoughBartensteinandtheAuthoritiesmadelightofit，answering"Pooh—pooh，"oralmost"Ha—ha，"forthepresent。
HerHungarianMajesty’schiefGenerals，Seckendorf，Wallis，Neipperg，sitintheirrespectiveprison—wardsatthistime（fromwhichshesoonliberatesthem）:Kur—Baiernhaslodgedprotest；
atReinsbergtherewillbeanimportantresolutionready:——andintheAustrianTreasury（whichemploys40，000persons，bigandlittle）thereisofcashoravailable，resource，100，000florins，thatistosay，10，000poundsnet。[Mailath，GeschichtedesOestreichischenKaiserstaats（Hamburg，1850），v。8。]AndunlessPragmaticsheepskinholdtighterthansomepersonsexpect，theaffairsofAustriaandofthisyoungArchduchessareinathreateningway。
HisBritannicMajestywasontheroadhome，aboutHelvoetsluysorontheseaforHarwich，thatnighttheKaiserdied；ofwhoseillnesshehadheardnothing。AtLondon，tendaysafter，thesuddennewsstruckdismallyuponhisMajestyandthePoliticalCirclesthere:"Nohelp，then，fromthatquarter，inourSpanishWar；perhapsfarotherthanhelp！"——Nay，certainGazetteerswereafraidthegrandnewAnti—SpanishExpeditionitself，whichwasnow，atthelonglast，aftersuchconfusionsanddelays，lyingready，ingreatstrength，NavalandMilitary，wouldbecountermanded，——onPragmatic—Sanctionconsiderations，andthecrisisprobablyimminent。[LondonNewspapers（31stOct。—6thNov。，1740）。Butitwasnotcountermanded；itsailedallthesame，"November6th"（seventhdayafterthebadnews）；andmadetowards——Shallwetellthereader，whatisOfficiallyadeadsecret，thoughbythistimewellguessedatbythePublic，EnglishandalsoSpanish？——towardsCarthagena，toreinforcefieryVernon，inthetropicallatitudes；andoversetSpanishAmerica，beginningwiththatimportantTown！
CommodoreAnson，healso，afterlongfataldelays，isoff，severalweeksago；[29th（18th）September，1740。]roundCapeHorn；hoping（orperhapsalreadynothoping）toco—operatefromtheOtherOcean，andbesimultaneouswithVernon，——ontheselooseprinciplesofkeepingtime！CommodoreAnsondoes，ineffect，makeaVoyagewhichisbeautiful，andtomankindmemorable；butastokeepingtrystwithVernon，theverygodscouldnotdoitonthoseterms！
ChapterIX。
RESOLUTIONFORMEDATREINSBERGINCONSEQUENCE。
Thursday，27thOctober，twodaysaftertheExpresseswentforthem，SchwerinandPodewilspunctuallyarrivedatReinsberg。
Theywerecarriedintotheinteriorprivacies，"tolongconferenceswithhisMajestythatday，andforthenextfourdays；
Majestyandtheyevendiningprivatelytogether；"gravebusinessofstate，noneguesseshowgrave，evidentlygoingon。
TheresolutionFriedrichlaidbeforethem，fruitofthesetwodayssincethenewsfromVienna，wasprobablythemostimportanteverformedinPrussia，orinEuropeduringthatCentury:ResolutiontomakegoodourRightsonSilesia，bythisgreatopportunity，thebestthatwilleveroffer。Resolutionwhichhadsprung，Ifind，andgottosuddenfixityintheheadoftheyoungKinghimself；
andwhichmetwithlittlesaveoppositionfromalltheothersonsofAdam，atthefirstblushandforlongafterwards。And，indeed，themakingofitgood（ofit，andoftheimmenseresultsthathungbyit）wasthemainbusinessofthisyoungKing’sLifehenceforth；
andcosthimLaborslikethoseofHercules，andwasinthehighestdegreemomentoustoexistingandnotyetexistingmillionsofmankind，——tothereadersofthisHistoryespecially。
Itisalmosttouchingtoreflecthowunexpectedly，likeaboltoutoftheblue，allthishadcomeuponFriedrich；andhowitoversethisfineprogramforthewinteratReinsberg，andforhisLifegenerally。NotthePeaceablemagnanimities，buttheWarlike，arethethingappointedFriedrichthiswinter，andmainlyhenceforth。
Those"GOLDENorsoftradiances"whichwesawinhim，admirabletoVoltaireandtoFriedrich，andtoanesurientphilanthropicworld，——itisnotthose，itis"theSTEEL—BRIGHTorstellarkind，"
thataretobecomepredominantinFriedrich’sexistence:
grimhail—storms，thundersandtornadoforanexistencetohim，insteadoftheopulentgenialitiesandhalcyonweather，anticipatedbyhimselfandothers！Indisputablyenoughtous，ifnotyettoFriedrich，"ReinsbergandLifetotheMuses"aredone。
Onasudden，fromtheoppositesideofthehorizon，see，miraculousOpportunity，rushinghitherward，——swift，terrible，clothedwithlightninglikeacourserofthegods:dareyouclutchHIMbythethundermane，andflingyourselfuponhim，andmakefortheEmpyreanbythatcourserather？Beimmediateaboutit，then；
thetimeisnow，orelsenever！——NofairjudgecanblametheyoungmanthathelaidholdoftheflamingOpportunityinthismanner，andobeyedthenewomen。Toseizesuchanopportunity，andperilouslymountuponit，wasthepartofayoungmagnanimousKing，lesssensibletotheperils，andmoretotheotherconsiderations，thanoneolderwouldhavebeen。
SchwerinandPodewilswere，nodoubt，astonishedtolearnwhattheRoyalpurposewas；andcouldnotwantforcommonplaceobjectionsmanyandstrong，hadthisbeenthescenefordwellingonthem，ordressingthemoutateloquentlength。Buttheyknewwellthiswasnotthescenefordoingmorethan，witheloquentmodesty，hintthem；thattheResolution，beingalreadytaken，wouldnotalterforcommonplace；andthatthequestionnowlyingforhonorablememberswas，Howtoexecuteit？Itisonthis，asIcollect，thatSchwerinandPodewilsintheKing’scompanydid，withextremeintensity，consultduringthosefourdays；andwere，mostprobably，ofconsiderableusetotheKing，thoughsomeoftheirmodificationsadoptedbyhimturnedout，notastheyhadpredicted，butashe。OnalltheMilitarydetailsandoutlines，andonalltheDiplomaciesofthisbusiness，herearetwoOraclesextremelyworthconsultingbytheyoungKing。
ToseizeSilesiaiseasy:aCountryopenonallbutthesouthside；openespeciallyonourside，whereabattalionoffootmightforceit；thethreeorfourfortresses，ofwhichonlytwo，GlogauandNeisse，canbereckonedstrong，areprovidedwithnothingastheyoughttobe；notabove3，000fightingmeninthewholeProvince，andtheselittleexpectingfight。Silesiacanbeseized:
butthemaintainingofit？——Wemusttrytomaintainit，thinksFriedrich。
AtReinsbergitisnotyetknownthatKur—Baiernhasprotested；
butitiswellguessedhemeanstodoso，andthatFranceisathisbackinsomesort。Kur—Baiern，probablyKur—Sachsen，andplentymore，Francebeingsecretlyattheirback。WhatlowconditionAustriastandsin，allitsreadyresourcesruntothelees，isknown；andthatFrance，gettinglivelyatpresentwithitsBelleislesandadventurousspiritsnotrestrainablebyFleury，isalwaysonthewatchtobringAustrialower；capable，inspiteofPragmaticSanction，tosnatchthegoldenmoment，andspringhunter—likeonamoribundAustria，werethehunting—dogsonceoutandincry。ToFriedrichitseemsunlikelythePragmaticSanctionwillbeaLawofNaturetomankind，inthesecircumstances。
Hisopinionis，"theoldpoliticalsystemhasexpiredwiththeKaiser。"HereisEurope，burninginonecornerofitbyJenkins’sEar，andsuchasmoulderofcombustiblematerialawakeningnearerhand:willnotEurope，probably，blazeintogeneralWar；
PragmaticSanctiongoingtowastesheepskin，anduniversalscrambleensuing？Inwhichhewhohas100，000goodsoldiers，andcanhandlethem，maybeanimportantfigureinurgingclaims，andkeepingwhathehasgotholdof！——
Friedrich’smind，astothefact，isfixed:seizeSilesiawewill:
butastothemannerofdoingit，SchwerinandPodewilsmodifyhim。Theircounselis:"Donotstepoutinhostileattitudeattheveryfirst，saying，’TheseDuchies，Liegnitz，Brieg，Wohlau，Jagerndorf，aremine，andIwillfightforthem；’sayonly，’Having，asiswellknown，interestsofvariouskindsinthisSilesia，Iventuretotakechargeofitintheperiloustimesnowcome，andwillkeepitsafefortherealowner。’Silesiaseizedinthisfashion，"continuethey，"negotiatewiththeQueenofHungary；offerherhelp，largehelpinmenandmoney，againstherotherenemies；perhapsshewillconsenttodousright？"——
"Sheneverwillconsent，"isFriedrich’sopinion。"Butitisworthtrying？"urgetheMinisters。——"Well，"answersFriedrich，"beitinthatform；thatisthesoft—spokencautiousform:anyformwilldo，ifthefactbethere。"ThatisunderstoodtohavebeenthefigureofthedeliberationinthisconclaveatReinsberg，duringthefourdays。[Stenzel（fromwhatsourceshedoesnotclearlysay，nodoubtfromsourcesofsomeauthenticity）givesthisassummaryofit，iv。61—65。]AndnowitremainsonlytofixtheMilitarydetails，tobereadyinaminimumoftime；andtokeepourpreparationsandintentionsinimpenetrabledarknessfromallmen，intheinterim。Adieu，Messieurs。
Andso，onthe1stofNovember，fifthmorningsincetheycame，SchwerinandPodewils，aworldofnewbusinesssilentlyaheadofthem，returntoBerlin，intenttobeginthesame。AlltheKingswillhavetotaketheirresolutiononthismatter；wisely，orelseunwisely。KingFriedrich’s，letitprovethewisestornot，isnotablytherapidest，——complete，andfairlyenteringuponaction，onNovember1st。AtLondonthenewsoftheKaiser’sdeathhadarrivedthedaybefore；BritannicMajestyandMinistry，thrownmuchintothedumpsbyit，muchintothevague，arenothinglikesopromptwiththeirresolutiononit。Somewhatsorrowfullyinthevague。Infact，theywillgojumblinghitherandthitherforaboutthreeyearstocome，beforemakinguptheirmindstoaresolution:
sointricateistheaffairtotheEnglishNationandthem！
Intricateindeed；andevenimaginary，——definablemainlyasabottomlessabyssofnightmaredreamstotheEnglishNationandthem！Productiveofstrongsomnambulisms，asmyfriendhasit！——
MYSTERYINBERLIN，FORSEVENWEEKS，WHILETHEPREPARATIONSGO
ON；VOLTAIREVISITSFRIEDRICHTODECIPHERIT，BUTCANNOT。
PodewilsandSchweringone，KingFriedrich，thoughstillverybusyinworking—hours，returnstohissocietyanditsgayetiesandbrilliancies；apparentlywithincreasedappetiteafterthesefourdaysofabstinence。Stillbusyinhisworking—hours，asaKingmustbe；courierscomingandgoing，hundredsofbusinessesdespatchedeachday；andintheeveningwhatarelishforsociety，——Praetoriusisquiteastonishedatit。Music，dancing，play—acting，suppersofthegods，"notdonetillfourinthemorningsometimes，"thesearetheaccountsPraetoriushearsatBerlin。"FromallpersonswhoreturnfromReinsberg，"writeshe，"theunanimousreportis，ThattheKingworks，thewholedaythrough，withanassiduitythatisunique；andthen，intheevening，giveshimselftothepleasuresofsociety，withavivacityofmirthandsprightlyhumorwhichmakesthoseEvening—
Partiescharming。"[Excerpt，inPreuss，Thronbesteigung，p。418。]Soithadtolast，withfrequentshortjourneysonFriedrich’spart，andatlastwithchangetoBerlinashead—quarters，foraboutsevenweekstocome，——tillthebeginningofDecember，andthedayofaction，namely。AnotablelittleInteriminFriedrich’sHistoryandthatofEurope。
Friedrich’ssecret，tillalmosttheveryend，remainedimpenetrable；though，bydegrees，hismovementsexcitedmuchguessingintheGazetteerandDiplomaticworldeverywhere。
MilitarymattersdoseemtobegettingbriskinPrussia；arsenalsmuchastir；troopsareseenmustering，marching，plainlytoasingulardegree。MarchingtowardstheAustrianside，towardsSilesia，somenote。Yes；butalsotowardsCleve，certaindetachmentsoftroopsaremarching，——donotmensee？AndtheIntrenchmentatBuderichinthoseparts，thatisgettingforwardwithal，——thoughprivatelythereisnottheleastprospectofusingit，inthesealteredcircumstances。FriedrichalreadyguessesthatifhecouldgetSilesia，soinvaluableontheoneskirtofhim，hemillprobablyhavetogiveuphisBerg—Julichclaimsontheother；
Ifancyheisgettingreadytodoso，shouldthetimecomeforsuchalternative。ButhelaborsatBuderich，allthesame，and"improvestheroadsinthatquarter，"——whichatleastmayhelptokeepaninquisitivepublicatbay。ThesearesevenbusyweeksonFriedrich’spart，andontheworld’s:constantrealitiesofpreparation，ontheonepart，industriouslyveiled；ontheotherpart，suchshadows，guessings，spyings，spectralmovementsabovegroundandbelow；Diplomaticshadowsfencing，Gazetteershadowsrumoring；——dreamsofaworldasifnearawakeningtosomethinggreat！"AllOfficersonfurloughhavebeenorderedtotheirposts，"writesBielfeld，onthosevaguetermsofhis:"OnarrivingatBerlin，younoticeagreatagitationinalldepartmentsoftheState。Theregimentsareorderedtopreparetheirequipages，andtoholdthemselvesinreadinessformarching。TherearemagazinesbeingformedatFrankfurt—on—OderandatCrossen，"——handyforSilesia，youwouldsay？"ThereareconsiderabletrainsofArtillerygettingready，andtheKinghasfrequentconferenceswithhisGenerals。"[Bielfeld，i。165（Berlin，30thNovember，isthedateheputstoit）。]Theauthenticfactis:"BythemiddleofNovember，Troops，totheextentof30，000andmore，hadgotorderstobereadyformarchinginthreeweekshence；theirpublicmotionsveryvisibleeversince，theiractualpurposeamysterytoallmortalsexceptthree。
TowardstheendofNovember，itbecomestheprevailingguessthatthebusinessisimmediate，notprospective；thatSilesiamaybeinthewind，notJulichandBerg。WhichinfinitelyquickenstheshadowyrumoringsandDiplomaticfencingsofmankind。TheFrenchhavetheirspecialAmbassadorhere；aMarquisdeBeauvau，observantmilitarygentleman，whocamewiththeAccessionComplimentsometimeago，andkeepshiseyeswellopen，butcannotseethroughmill—stones。FleuryisintenselydesiroustoknowFriedrich’ssecret；butwouldfainkeephisown（ifheyethaveone），andishimselfquitetacitandreserved。ToFleury’sMarquisdeBeauvauFriedrichisverygracious；butinregardtosecrets，isforareciprocalprocedure。CouldnotVoltairegoandtry？
ItisthoughtFleuryhadletfallsomehinttothateffect，carriedbyabirdoftheair。SureenoughVoltairedoesgo；
isactuallyonvisittohisroyalFriend；"sixdayswithhimatReinsberg；"perhapsnearafortnightinall（20November—
2Decemberorso），hangingaboutthoseBerlinregions，onthesurvey。Hereisanunexpectedpleasuretotheparties；——butinregardtopenetratingofsecrets，anunproductiveone！
Voltaire’sostensibleerrandwas，ToreportprogressabouttheANTI—MACHIAVEL，theVanDurennonsense；and，atanyrate，tosettletheMoney—accountsontheseandotherscores；andtodiscoursePhilosophies，foradayortwo，withtheFirstofMen。
Therealerrand，itisprettyclear，wasasabove。Voltairehasalwaysawistfuleyetowardspoliticalemployment，andwouldfainmakehimselfusefulinhighquarters。FleuryandhehavetheirtouchesofdirectCorrespondencenowandthen；andobliquelytherearealwaysintermediatesandchannels。Smallhint，theslightesttwinkleofFleury’seyelashes，wouldbedulyspeededtoVoltaire，andsethimgoing。Weshallseehimexpresslymissionedhither，onsimilarerrand，byandby；thoughwithasbadsuccessasatpresent。
OfthishisFirstVisittoBerlin，hisSecondtoFriedrich，VoltaireintheVIEPRIVEEsaysnothing。ButinhisSIECLEDE
LOUISXV。hedrops，withproudmodesty，alittlefoot—noteuponit:"TheAuthorwaswiththeKingofPrussiaatthattime；andcanaffirmthatCardinaldeFleurywastotallyastrayinregardtothePrincehehadnowtodowith。"TowhichaDATEslightlywrongisadded；therestbeingperfectlycorrect。[OEuvres（SiecledeLouisXV。，c。6），xxviii。74。]Nootherdetailsaretobegotanywhere，iftheywereofimportance；theverydatesofitinthebestPrussianBooksareallslightlyawry。Here，byaccident，aretwopoorflint—sparkscaughtfromthedustwhirlwind，whichyieldacertainsufficingtwilight，whenputintheirplace；andshowusbothsidesofthematter，thesmoothsideandtheseamy:——
1。FRIEDRICHTOALGAROTTI，ATBERLIN。From"Reinsberg，21stNov。，"showingthesmoothside。
"MYDEARSWANOFPADUA，——Voltairehasarrived；allsparklingwithnewbeauties，andfarmoresociablethanatCleve。Heisinverygoodhumor；andmakeslesscomplainingabouthisailmentsthanusual。Nothingcanbemorefrivolousthanouroccupationshere:"
mereverse—making，dancing，philosophizing，thencard—playing，dining，flirting；merryasbirdsonthebough（andSilesiainvisible，excepttooneselfandtwoothers）。[OEuvresdeFrederic，xviii。25。]
2。FRIEDRICHTOJORDAN，ATBERLIN。
"RUPPIN，28thNovember。
"……ThyMiser[Voltaire，nowgonetoBerlin，ofwhomJordanistosendnews，asofallthingselse]，thyMisershalldrinktotheleesofhisinsatiabledesire（SIC）toenrichhimself:heshallhavethe3，000thalers（450pounds）。Hewaswithmesixdays:
thatwillbeattherateof500thalers（75pounds）aday。Thatispayingdearforone’smerry—andrew（C’ESTBIENPAYERUNFOU）；
neverhadcourt—foolsuchwagesbefore。"[Ib。xvii。72。
Particularsofthemoney—payment（travellingexpenseschiefly，ratherexorbitant，andTHISjourneyaddedtothelist；andnowhisperoftheconsiderableVan—Durenmoneys，andcopyrightofANTI—MACHIAVEL，inabatement）areinRodenbeck，i。27。Exactsumpaidis3，300thalers；2，000agoodwhileago，1，300atthistime，whichsettlesthegreedybill。]
Whichlatter，alsoatfirsthand，showsustheseamyside。
Andhere，finally，withdatehappilyappended，isapoeticsnatch，inVoltaire’sexquisitestyle，whichwiththeresponsegivesusthemediumview:——
VOLTAIRE’SADIEU（"BilletdeConge，
2December，1740"）。
"Non，malgrevosvertus，non，malgrevosappas，Monamen’estpointsatisfaite；
Non，vousn’etesqu’unecoquette，Quisubjuguezlescoeurs，etnerousdonnezpas。"
FRIEDRICH’SRESPONSE。
"Monamesentleprixdevosdivinsappas；
Maisnepresumezpointqu’ellesoitsatisfaite。
Traitre，vousmequittezpoursuivreunecoquette；
Moijenevousquitteraispas。"
[OEuvresdeFrederic（xiv。167）；
OEuvresdeVoltaire；&c。&c。]
——Meaning，perhaps，inbriefEnglish:V。"Ah，youarebutabeautifulcoquette；youcharmawayourhearts，anddonotgiveyourown[won’ttellmeyoursecretatall]！"F。"TreacherousLothario，itisyouthatquitmeforacoquette[yourdivineEmilie；andwon’tstayhere，andbeofmyAcademy]；
buthowever——！"FriedrichlookedhopinglyontheFrench，butcouldnotgivehissecretexceptbydegreesandwithreciprocity。
SomedayshencehesaidtoMarquisdeBeauvau，intheAudienceofleave，awordwhichwasremembered。
VIEWOFFRIEDRICHBEHINDTHEVEIL。
AstoFriedrichhimself，sinceaboutthemiddleofNovemberhisplansseemtohavebeendefinitelyshapedoutinallpoints；
Troopssomany，whentobeonmarch，andhow；noimportantdetailuncertainsincethen。November17th，hejotsdownalittleNote，whichistogotoVienna，weretheduehourcome，byaspecialAmbassador，oneCountGotter，acquaintedwiththegroundthere；
andexplaintoherHungarianMajesty，whathisexactdemandsare，andwhattheexactserviceshewillrender。OfwhichimportantlittlePaperreadersshallhearagain。Gotter’sdemandsareatfirsttobehigh:OurFourDuchies，duebylawsolong；theseandevenmore，consideringtheimportantserviceswepropose；thisistobehisfirstword；——but，itappears，heisprivatelypreparedtoputupwithTwoDuchies，ifhecanhavethempeaceably:
DuchiesofSaganandGlogau，whicharenotoftheFouratall，butwhichlienearestus，andarefarbelowthevalueoftheFour，toAustriaespecially。ThisintricatepointFriedrichhasalreadysettledinhismind。AndindeeditisnotablythehabitofthisyoungKingtosettlematterswithhimselfingoodtime:andinregardtoallmannerofpoints，hewillbefound，onthedayofbargainingaboutthem，tohavehisownresolutionformedanddefinitelyfixed；——muchtohisadvantageoverconflictingparties，whohavetheirsstillflyingloose。
Anotherthingofmuchconcernmentis，TosecurehimselffromdangerofRussianinterference。TothisendhedespatchesMajorWinterfeldtoRussia，amanwellknowntohim；——dayofWinterfeld’sdepartureisnotgiven；dayofhisarrivalinPetersburgis"19thDecember"justcoming。Russia，atpresent，isratherinastaggeringcondition；hopefulforWinterfeld’sobject。
Onthe28thofOctoberlast，onlyeightdaysaftertheKaiser，CzarinaAnneofRussia，shewiththebigcheek，onceofCourland，haddied；"audaciousDeath，"asourpoorfriendhadit，"venturinguponanotherCrownedHead"there。BierenherdearCourlander，oncelittlebetterthanaHorse—groom，nowDukeofCourland，Quasi—
HusbandtothelateBigCheek，andtherebysovereignofRussia，thislongwhilepast，isleftOfficialHeadinRussia。PoorlittleAntonUlrichandhisaugustSpouse，wellenoughknowntous，haveindeedproducedaCzarIwan，somemonthsago，tothejoyofmankind:butCzarIwanisinhiscradle:FatherandMother’sfunctionislittleotherthantorockthecradleofIwan；
BierentobeRegentandAutocratoverhimandthemintheinterim。
Totheirchagrin，tothatofFeldmarschallMunnichandmanyothers:theupshotofwhichwillbevisiblebeforelong。
CzarinaAnne’sdeathhadseemedtoFriedrichtheopportuneremovalofadangerousneighbor，knowntobeinthepayofAustria:
herenowarenewmutuallyhostilepartiesspringingup；chance，surely，ofabargainwithsomeofthem？HedespatchesWinterfeldonthiserrand；——probablythefittestmaninPrussiaforit。
HowsoonandperfectlyWinterfeldsucceeded，andwhatWinterfeldwas，andsomethingofwhataRussiahefoundit，weproposetomentionbyandby。
These，andallpointsofimportance，Friedrichhassettledwithhimselfsometimeago。WhathisownprivatethoughtsontheSilesianAdventureare，readerswillwishtoknow，sincetheycanatfirsthand。HearFriedrichhimself，whoseveracityisunquestionabletosuchasknowanythingofhim:——
"ThisSilesianProjectfulfilledallhis（theKing’s）politicalviews，"——summedthemallwellupintoonehead。"Itwasameansofacquiriugreputation；ofincreasingthepoweroftheState；andofterminatingwhatconcernedthatlong—litigatedquestionoftheBerg—JulichSuccession；"——canbesureofgettingthat，atlowest；
intendstogivethatup，ifnecessary。
"Meanwhile，beforeentirelydetermining，theKingweighedtheriskstherewereinundertakingsuchaWar，andtheadvantagesthatweretobehopedfromit。Ononeside，presenteditselfthepotentHouseofAustria，notlikelytowantresourceswithsomanyvastProvincesunderit；anEmperor’sDaughterattacked，whowouldnaturallyfindalliesintheKingofEngland，intheDutchRepublic，andsomanyPrincesoftheEmpirewhohadsignedthePragmaticSanction。"Russiawas——orhadbeen，andmightagainbe——
inthepayofVienna。SaxonymighthavesomeclippingsfromBohemiathrowntoit，andsobegainedover。ScantyHarvest，1740，threateneddifficultiesastoprovisioningoftroops。"Therisksweregreat。Onehadtoapprehendthevicissitudesofwar。Asinglebattlelostmightbedecisive。TheKinghadnoallies；andhistroops，hithertowithoutexperience，wouldhavetofrontoldAustriansoldiers，growngrayinharness，andtrainedtowarbysomanycampaigns。
"Ontheothersidewerehopefulconsiderations，"——fourinnumber:
FIRST，WeakconditionoftheAustrianCourt，Treasuryempty，War—
Apparatusbrokeninpieces；inexperiencedyoungPrincesstodefendadisputedsuccession，onthoseterms。SECOND，ThereWILLbeallies；FranceandEnglandalwaysinrivalry，bothmeddlinginthesematters，Kingissuretogeteithertheoneortheother。——
THIRD，SilesianWarlieshandytous，andistheonlykindofOffensiveWarthatdoes；Countryborderingonourfrontier，andwiththeOderrunningthroughitasasurehigh—roadforeverything。FOURTH，"Whatsuddenlyturnedthebalance，"oratleastwhatkeptitsteadyinthatposture，——"newsoftheCzarina’sdeatharrives:"Russiahasceasedtocountagainstus；andbecomeamanageablequantity。On，therefore！——
"Addtothesereasons，"saystheKing，withacandorwhichhasnotbeenwelltreatedintheHistoryBooks，"Addtothesereasons，anArmyreadyforacting；Funds，Suppliesallfound[lyingbarrelledintheSchlossatBerlin]；——andperhapsthedesireofmakingoneselfaname，"fromwhichfewofmortalsabletoachieveitareexemptintheiryoungtime:"allthiswascauseoftheWarwhichtheKingnowenteredupon。"[OEuvresdeFrederic（HistoiredemonTemps），i。128。]
"Desiretomakehimselfaname；howshocking！"exclaimseveralHistorians。"Candorofconfessionthathemayhavehadsomesuchdesire；howhonest！"iswhattheydonotexclaim。AstothejusticeofhisSilesianClaims，oreventohisownbeliefabouttheirjustice，Friedrichaffordsnottheleastlightwhichcanbenewtoreadershere。Hespeaks，whenbusinessrequiresit，of"thoseknownrights"ofhis，andwiththeairofamanwhoexpectstobebelievedonhisword；butitiscursorily，andinthebusinesswayonly；andthereisnothereorelsewheretheleastpleading:——aman，youwouldsay，considerablyindifferenttoourbeliefonthathead；hiseyessetonthepracticalmerely。
"JustRights？Whatarerights，neversojust，whichyoucannotmakevalid？Theworldisfullofsuch。Ifyouhaverightsandcanassertthemintofacts，doit；thatisworthdoing！"——
WemustaddtwoNotes，twosmallabsinthinedrops，bitterbutwholesome，administeredbyhimtotheOldDessauer，whosegloomywonderoverallthismilitarywhirlofPrussianthings，anddiscontentthathe，latelytheheadauthority，hasneveroncebeenspokentoonit，havebeengreat。Guessing，atlast，thatitwasmeantforAustria，aPowerratherdeartoLeopold，hecansuppresshimselfnolonger；butbreaksoutintoCassandraprophesyings，whichhavepiquedtheyoungKing，andprovokethisreturn:——
1。"REINSBERG，24thNovember，1740。——IhavereceivedyourLetter，andseenwithwhatinquietudeyouviewtheapproachingmarchofmyTroops。Ihopeyouwillsetyourmindateaseonthatscore；
andwaitwithpatiencewhatIintendwiththemandyou。Ihavemadeallmydispositions；andYourSerenitywilllearn，timeenough，whatmyordersare，withoutdisquietingyourselfaboutthem，asnothinghasbeenforgottenordelayed。"——FRIEDRICH。
OldDessauer，cuttothebone，perceiveshewillhavetoquitthatmethodandneverresumeit；writesnexthowpainfulitistoanoldGeneraltoseehimselfneglected，asifgoodfornothing，whilehisscholarsareallowedtogatherlaurels。Friedrich’sanswerisofsoothingcharacter:——
2。"BERLIN，2dDECEMBER，1740。——YoumaybeassuredIhonoryourmeritsandcapacityasayoungOfficeroughttohonoranoldone，whohasgiventheworldsomanyproofsofhistalent（DEXTERITAT）；
norwillIneglectYourSerenityonanyoccasionwhenyoucanhelpmebyyourgoodCounselandco—operation。"Butitisamere"bagatelle"thisthatIamnowupon；though，nextyear，itmaybecomeserious。
Fortherest，Saxonybeinganeighborwhoseintentionsonedoesnotknow，IhaveprivatelypurposedYourSerenityshouldkeepanoutlookthatway，inmyabsence。PlentyofemploymentcomingforYourSerenity。"ButastothispresentExpedition，Ireserveitformyselfalone；thattheworldmaynotthinktheKingofPrussiamarcheswithaTutortotheField。"——FRIEDRICH。[Orlich，
GeschichtederSchlesischenKriege（Berlin，1841），i。38，39。]
AndtherewithLeopold，eagerlycomplying，hastorestsatisfied；
andbewareoftoomuchfreedomwiththisyoungKingagain。
"Berlin，December2d，"isthedateofthatlastNotetotheDessauer；datealsoofVoltaire’sADIEUwiththeRESPONSE；——
onwhichsameday，"Friday，December2d，"asIfindfromtheOldBooks，hisMajesty，quittingtheReinsbergsojourn，"hadarrivedinBerlinabout2P。M。；accompaniedbyPrinceAugustWilhelm[betrothedatBrunswicklately]；suchacrowdonthestreetsasiftheyhadneverseenhimbefore。"HecontinuedatBerlinorintheneighborhoodthenceforth。Busydaysthese；andBerlinamuchwhisperingCity，asRegimentafterRegimentmarchesaway。
Kingsoontofollow，asisthought，——"whohimselfsometimesdeignstotaketheRegimentsintohighestowneyeshine，HOCHST—EIGENEN
AUGENSCHEIN"（thatis，toreviewthem），saythereverentialEditors。December6th——ButletusfollowthestrictsequenceofPhenomenaatBerlin。
EXCELLENCYBOTTAHASAUDIENCE；THENEXCELLENCYDICKENS，ANDOTHERS:DECEMBER6th，THEMYSTERYISOUT。
OfcourseherHungarianMajesty，andherBartensteinsandMinistries，heardenoughofthosePrussianrumors，interiorMilitaryactivities，andenigmaticmovements；buttheyseemstrangelysupineonthematter；indeed，theyseemstrangelysupineonsuchmatters；andleanateaseupontheSea—Powers，uponPragmaticSanctionandotherLawsofNature。ButatlengtheventheybecomepainfullyinterestedastoFriedrich’sintentions；
anddespatchanEnvoytosifthimalittle:anexpertMarchesediBotta，Genoesebybirth，skilfulintheRussianandotherintricacies；whowashereatBerlinlately，doingtheAccessionCompliment（ratherillreceivedatthattime），andisfitforthejob。PerhapsBottawillpenetratehim？Thatisbecomingdesirable，inspiteofthegayPrivateTheatricalsatReinsberg，andtheBerlinCarnivalBallsheissooccupiedwith。
Englandisnotlessinterested，andthediligentSirGuyisdoinghisbest；butcanmakeoutnothingsatisfactory；——muchthereverseindeed；andfallsintoangryblackanticipations。"Nobodyhere，greatorsmall，"sayshisExcellency，"daresmakeanyrepresentationtothisyoungPrinceagainstthemeasuresheispursuing；thoughallaresensibleoftheconfusionwhichmustfollow。APrincewhohadtheleastregardtohonor，truthandjustice，couldnotactthepartheisgoingtodo。"Alas，no，ExcellencyDickens！"Butitisplainhisonlyviewwas，todeceiveusall，andconcealforawhilehisambitiousandmischievousdesigns。"[Despatch，29thNovember—3dDecember，1740:Raumer，p。58。]"Neverwassuchdissimulation！"exclaimstheDiplomaticworldeverywhere，beingangeredatit，asifitwereaviceonthepartofaKingabouttoinvadeSilesia。Dissimulation，ifthatmeanmendacity，isnotthenameofthething；itistheartofwearingapolitecloakofdarkness，andtheKingislittledisturbedwhatnametheycallit。
BottadidnotgettoBerlintillDecemberlst，hadnoAudiencetillthe5th；——bywhichtimeitisbecomingevidenttoExcellencyDickens，andtoeverybody，thatSilesiaisthethingmeant。
BottahintsasmuchinthatfirstAudience，December5th:
"Terribleroads，thoseSilesianones，yourMajesy！"saysBotta，asifhistoricallymerely，butwithaglanceoftheeye。"Hm，"
answershisMajestyinthesametone，"theworstthatcomesofthemisalittlemud！"——Nextday，DickenshadexpressAudience，"Berlin，Tuesday6th:"asmartish，somewhatflurriedColloquywiththeKing；which，wellabridged，maystandasfollows:——
DICKENS……"IndivisibilityoftheAustrianMonarchy，Sire！"——
KING。"Indivisibility？Whatdoyoumean？"——DICKENS。"ThemaintenanceofthePragmaticSanction。"——KING。"Doyouintendtosupportit？Ihopenot；forsuchisnotmyintention。"（Thereisforyou！）……
DICKENS。"EnglandandHollandwillmuchwonderatthemeasuresyourMajestywastaking，atthemomentwhenyourMajestyproposedtojoinwiththem，andweremakingfriendlyproposals！"（Hasbeenadeceitfulman，SirGuy，atleastanimpenetrable；——butthislatterisratherstrongonyourpart！）"WhatshallIwritetoEngland？"（"WhenImentionedthis，"saysDickens，"theKinggrewredintheface，"eyesconsiderablyflashing，Ishouldthink。）
KING。"Youcanhavenoinstructionstoaskthatquestion！Andifyouhad，Ihaveananswerreadyforyou。Englandhasnorighttoinquireintomydesigns。YourgreatSea—Armaments，didIaskyouanyquestionsaboutthem？No；Iwasandamsilentonthathead；
onlywishingyougoodluck，andthatyoumaynotgetbeatenbytheSpaniards。"（Dickenshastilydrawsinhisrashhornsagain；
afterapassortwo，King’snaturalcolorreturns。）……
KING。"AustriaasaPowerisnecessaryagainsttheTurks。ButinGermany，whatneedofAustriabeingsosuperlative？Whyshouldnot，say，ThreeElectorsunitedbeabletoopposeher？……
Monsieur，IfinditisyournotioninEngland，aswellastheirsinFrance，tobringotherSovereignsunderyourtutorage，andleadthemabout。UnderstandthatIwillnotbeledbyeither……Tush，YOUareliketheAthenians，who，whenPhilipofMacedonwasreadytoinvadethem，spenttheirtimeinharanguing！"
DICKENS……"BergandJulich，ifweweretoguaranteethem？"——
KING。"Hm。Don’tsomuchmindthatRhineCountry:difficultiesthere，——Dutchalwaysjealousofone。But，ontheotherFrontier，neitherEnglandnorHollandcouldtakeumbrage，"——pointsclearlytoSilesia，then，yourExcellencyDickens？[Raumer，（fromState—
PaperOffice），pp。63，64。]
Alas，yes！Troopsandmilitaryequipmentsare，fordayspast，evidentlywendingtowardsFrankfurt，towardsCrossen，andeventheNewspapersnowhintthatsomethingisonhandinthatquarter。
Nay，thissameday，TUESDAY，6thDECEMBER，therehascomeoutbriefOfficialAnnouncement，toalltheForeignMinistersatBerlin，ExcellencyDickensamongthem，"ThathisRoyalMajesty，ourmostall—graciousHerr，hastakentheresolutiontoadvanceaBodyofTroopsintoSchlesien，"——ratheroutoffriendlyviewstowardsAustria（muchbusinesslyingbetweenusaboutSchlesien），notoutofhostileviewsbyanymeans，asallExcellenciesshallassuretheirrespectiveCourts。[CopyofthePaperin
Helden—Geschichte，i。447。]AnnouncementwhichhadthrowntheExcellencyDickensintosuchaframeofmind，beforehegothisAudienceto—day！——
SATURDAYfollowing，whichwasDecemberl0th，MarquisdeBeauvauhadhisAudienceofleave；intendingforParisshortly:
Audienceverygracious；covertlyhinting，onbothsides，morethanitsaid；endinginthesewords，ontheKing’sside，whichhavebecomefamous:"Adieu，then，M。leMarquis。IbelieveIamgoingtoplayyourgame；iftheacesfalltome，wewillshare（
Jevais，jecrois，jouervotrejeu:silesasmeviennent，nouspartagerons）！"[Voltaire，OEuvres（SiecledeLouisXV。，c。6），xxviii。74。]
ToBotta，allthiswhile，Friedrichstrovetobespeciallycivil；