Butifweask，WhatBelleisleorFranceandLouisXV。hadtodothere？theanswerisrigorously，Nothing。Theirownwindyvanities，ambitions，sanctionednotbyfactandtheAlmightyPowers，butbyphantasmandthebabbleofVersailles；transcendentself—conceit，intrinsicallyinsane；pretensionsovertheirfellow—creatureswhichwerewithoutbasisanywhereinNature，exceptintheFrenchbrainalone:itwasthisthatbroughtBelleisleandFranceintoaGermanWar。AndBelleisleandFrancehavinggoneintoanAnti—PragmaticWar，theunluckyGeorgeandhisEnglandweredraggedintoaPragmaticone，——quittingtheirownbusiness，ontheSpanishMain，andhurryingtoGermany，——interrorasatDoomsday，andzealtosavetheKeystoneofNaturethese。ThatisthenotablepointinregardtothisWar:ThatFranceistobecalledtheauthorofit，who，aloneofalltheparties，hadnobusinesstherewhatever。
AndthewagesduetoFranceforsuchapieceofindustry，——thereaderwillyetseewhatwagesFranceandtheotherpartiesgot，atthetailoftheaffair。Forthattooisapparentinourday。
Wehaveoftensaid，theSpanish—EnglishWarwasitselflikelytohavekindledEurope；andagainFriedrich’sSilesianWarwasitselflikely，——Francebeingnearlysuretointerfere。ButifboththeseWarswerenecessaryones，andifFranceinterferedineitherofthemonthewrongside，theblamewillbetoFrance，nottothenecessaryWars。Francecould，innoway，haveinterferedinamorebarefacedlyunjustandgratuitousmannerthanshenowdid；nor，onanyterms，havesopalpablymadeherselftheauthoroftheconflagrationofdeliriumsthatensuedforaboveSevenyearshenceforth。NayforaboveTwentyyears，——thesettlementofthisSilesianPragmatic—Antipragmaticmatter（andofJenkins’sEar，incidentally，ALONGwiththis！）nothavingfairlycompleteditselftill1763。
HOWBELLEISLEMADEVISITTOTEUTSCHLAND；ANDTHEREWASNO
FITHENRYTHEFOWLERTOWELCOMEHIM。
ItisverywrongtokeepEnchantedWiggeriessittinginthisworld，asiftheywerethingsstillalive！Byaspeciesof"conservatism，"
whichgetspraisedinourTime，butwhichisonlyaslothfulcowardice，baseindifferencetotruth，andhatredtotroubleincomparisonwithliesthatsitquiet，mennowextensivelypractisethismethodofprocedure；——littledreaminghowbadandfatalitatalltimesis。Whenthebrainsareout，thingsreallyoughttodie；
——nomatterwhatlovelythingstheywere，andstillaffecttobe，thebrainsbeingout，theyactuallyoughtinallcasestodie，andwiththeirbestspeedgetburied。Menhadnoses，atonetime；
andsmeltthehorrorofadeceasedrealityfallenputrid，ofaoncedearveritybecomemendacious，phantasmal；buttheyhave，toanimmensedegree，lostthatorgansince，andarenowlivingcomfortablycheek—by—jowlwithlies。Liesofthatsad"conservative"kind，——andindeedofallkindswhatsoever:forthatkindisageneralmother；andBREEDS，withafecunditythatisappalling，didyouheeditmuch！——
Itwaspitythatthe"HolyRomishReich，TeutschbyNation，"hadnotgotitselfburiedsomeagesbefore。Onceithadbrainsandlife，butnowtheywereout。UndertheswayofBarbarossa，underouroldanti—chaoticfriendHenrytheFowler，howdifferenthaditbeen！NofieldforaBelleisletocomeandsowtaresin；norottenthatchforaFrenchSun—godtogosailingaboutinthemiddleof，andsetfireto！Henry，whentheHungarianPan—SlavonicSavagerycameuponhim，hadgotreadyintheinterim；andamangydogwasthe"tribute"hegavethem；followedbythedueextentofbrokencrowns，sincetheywouldnotbecontentwiththat。ThatwasthedueofBelleisletoo，——hadtherebeenaHenrytomeethimwithit，onhiscrossingthemarches，inTrierCountry，inSpring，1741:
"There，youanarchicUpholstery—Belus，fancyingyourselfGodoftheSun；thereiswhatTeutschlandowesyou。Gohomewiththat；andmindyourownbusiness，whichIamtoldisplentiful，ifyouhadeyeforit！"
Butthesadtruthis，foraboveFourCenturiesnow，——andespeciallyforThree，sincelittleKaiserKarlIV。"gaveawayallthemoneysofit，"inhispressingoccasions，thisHolyRomishReich，TeutschbyNation，hasbeenmoreandevermorebecominganimaginaryquantity；theKaisershipofitnotcapableofbeingwornbyanybody，exceptaHapsburgerwhohadresourcesotherwisehisown。
Thefactispalpable。AndAustria，andAnti—ReformationEntity，"conservative"inthatbadsense，ofslothfullyabhorringtroubleincomparisonwithlies，hadnotfoundthepoisonmoremal—odorousinthisparticularthaninmanyothers。Andhadcherishedits"HolyRomishReich"grownUNholy，phantasmal，likesomuchelseinAustrianthings；andhadheldfirmgripofit，theseThreeHundredyears；andfounditafurthersomeandsuitablething，thoughsensibleitwasmoreandmorebecominganEnchantedWiggerypureandsimple。Norhavetheconsequencesfailed；theyneverdo。
Belleisle，LouisXIV。，HenriII。，FrancoisI。:itislongsincetheFrenchhaveknownthisstateofmatters；andbeeninthehabitofbreakinginuponit，fomentinginternaldiscontents，gettingupunjustWars，——withorwithoutadvantagetoFrance，butwithendlessdisadvantagetoGermany。SchmalkaldicWar；Thirty—YearsWar；
LouisXIV。’sWars，whichbroughtAlsaceandtheotherfinecuttings；latePolish—ElectionWar，anditsLorraine；Austrian—
SuccessionWar:manyarethewarskindledonpoorTeutschlandbyneighborFrance；andlargeisthesumofwoestoEuropeandtoit，chargeabletothatscore。Whichappearsevenyetnottobecompleted？——Perhapsnot，evenyet。ForitisthepenaltyofbeingloyaltoEnchantedWiggeries；oflivingcheek—by—jowlwithliesofapeaceablequality，andstuffingyournostrils，andsearingyoursoul，againsttheaccursedodortheyallhave！——ForIcanassureyouthecurseofHeavendoesdwellinoneandallofthem；andthesonofAdamcannottoosoongetquitoftheirbadpartnership，costhimwhatitmay。
Belleisle’sJourneyasSun—godbeganinMarch，——"endofMarch，1741，"nodateofadaytobehadforthatmemorablething:——andhewentgyratingabout，throughtheGermanCourts，foralmostayearafterwards；hiscourserathererratic，butalwaysinasplendorasofBelus，withthosehundredandthirtyFrenchLordsandValets，andthegloryofMostChristianKingirradiatinghim。Verydiligentforthefirstsixmonths，tillSeptemberorOctobernext，whichwemaycallhisSEED—TIME；andbynomeansrestingafternineortwelvemonths，whiletheharrowingandhoeingwenton。InJanuary，1742，hehadthegreatsatisfactiontoseeaBavarianKaisergot，insteadofanAustrian；andeverywherethefruitofhisdiligenthusbandrybegintoBEARDfairlyaboveground，intoacropoffacts（likearmedmenfromdragon’steeth），and"thepleasureofthe"——
WHOMwasitthepleasureof？——"prosperinhishands。"Belleislewasaprettyman；butIdoubtitwasnot"theLord"hewasdoingthepleasureof，onthisoccasion，butaveryDifferentPersonage，disguisedtoresemblehiminpoorBelleisle’seyes！——
AustriawasnotdangeroustoFranceinlatetimes，andnowleastofall；howfarfromit，——humbledbythelossofLorraine；andnowasitwerebankrupt，itselfindangerfromalltheworld。AndFrance，sofarasexpressTreatiescouldbindaNation，wasboundtomaintainAustriainitspresentpossessions。ThebitterlossofLorrainehadbeensweetenedtothelateKaiserbythatsolitarydropofconsolation；——ashisFailureofaLifehadbeen，poorman:
"Failurethemostofmehasbeen；butIhavegotPragmaticSanction，thankstoHeaven，andevenFrancehassignedit！"LossofLorraine，lossofElsass，lossoftheThreeBishoprics；sinceKarlV。’stimes，nottospeakofearlier，therehasbeenmerelossonloss:——andnowisthetimetoconsummateit，thinkBelleisleandFrance，inspiteofTreaties。
TowardshumblingorextinguishingAustria，Belleislehastwopreliminarythingstodo:FIRST，BreakthePragmaticSanction，andgeteverybodytobreakit；SECOND，GuidetheKAISERWAHL（ElectionofaKaiser），sothatitissue，notinGrand—DukeFranz，MariaTheresa’sHusband，asallexpectitwill，butinanotherpartyfriendlytoFrance:——sayinKarlAlbertofBavaria，whoseFamilyhavelongbeengoodclientsofours，dependentonusforalivinginthePoliticalWorld。Belleisle，thereislittledoubt，hadfromthefirstcasthiseyeonthisunluckyKarlAlbertforKaiser；
butisuncertainastocarryinghim。Belleislewilltakeanotherifhemust；Kur—Sachsen，forexample；——anyother，andallothers，onlynottheGrand—Duke:thatisapointalreadyfixedwithBelleisle，thoughhekeepsitwellinthebackground，andiscarefulnottohintittillthetimecome。
InregardtoPragmaticSanction，BelleisleandFrancefoundnodifficulty，——orthedifficultyonly（whichwehopemusthavebeenconsiderable）ofeatingtheirownCovenantinbehalfofPragmaticSanction；anddeclaring，whichtheydidwithoutvisibleblush，ThatitwasaCovenantincluding，ifnotexpressly，thentacitly，asallhumancovenantsdo，thisclause，"SALVOJURETERTII（SavingtherightsofThirdParties），"——thatis，ofElectorsofBavaria，andotherswhomayobject，againstit！Osoulofhonor，OfirstNationoftheUniverse，wasthereeversuchasubterfuge？Hereisafieldoffloweringcorn，thebiggestintheworld，begirtwithelaboratering—fence，manymilesoffirmoak—palingpitchedandbuttressed；
——thepoorgentlemannowdeadgaveyouhisLorraine，andalmosthislife，forswearingtokeepupsaidpaling。Andyoudokeepitup，——
allexceptsixyards；throughwhichthebiggestteamonthehighwaycandrivefreely，andthepaltriestcadger’sasscanstepinforabellyful！
Itappears，thefirstNationoftheUniversehad，atanearlyperiodoftheirconsultations，hituponthisofSALVOJURETERTII，asthemethodofeatingtheirCovenant，beforeanenlightenedpublic。[20thJanuary，1741，intheirNoteofCeremony，recognizingMariaTheresaasQueenofHungary，Notewhichhadbeenduesoverylong（ADELUNG，ii。206），thereisominoussilenceonPragmaticSanction；"beginningofMarch，"thereisvirtualavowalofSALVO
JURE（ib。279）；——openavowalonBelleisle’sadvent（ib。305）。]
Andtheypersistedinit，therebeingnootherforthem。
Anenlightenedpublicgrinnedsardonically，andwasnottakenin；
but，assomanyotherswereeatingtheirCovenants，underequallypoorsubterfuges，theenlightenedpubliccouldnotgrinlongonanyindividual，——couldonlygapemutely，withastonishment，onall。
Agloriousexampleofveracityandhumannobleness，setbythegodsofthislowerworldtotheirgazingpopulations，whocouldreadintheGazettes！Whatistruth，falsity，humanKingship，humanSwindlership？AretheTenCommandmentsonlyafigureofspeech，then？AnditwassomebeggarlyAttorney—Devilthatbuiltthissublunaryworldandus？Questionsmightrise；hadlongbeenrising；——butnowtherewasaboutenough，andtheresponsetothemwasfallingdue；andBelleislehimself，whatisverynotable，hadbeenappointedtogetreadytheresponse。Belleisle（littleasBelleisledreamtofit，inthesehighEnterprises）wasusheringin，bywayofresponse，aRAGNAROK，orTwilightoftheGods，which，as"FrenchRevolution，orApotheosisofSANSCULOTTISM，"isnowwellknown；——andthatissomethingtoconsiderof！
DOWNBREAKOFPRAGMATICSANCTION；MANNEROFTHECHIEF
ARTISTSINHANDLINGTHEIRCOVENANTS。
TheoperationonceaccomplishedonitsownPragmaticCovenant，Francefoundnodifficultywiththeothers。EverybodywasdisposedtoeathisCovenant，whocouldseeadvantageinsodoing，afterthatadmirableexample。ThedifficultyofFranceandBelleisleratherwas，tokeepthehungrypartiesback:"Don’teatyourCovenantTILLthepropertime；patience，wesay！"AmostsadMiscellanyofRoyalties，comingalltothepoint，"WillyoueatyourCovenant，Willyoukeepit？"——andeating，nearlyall；infact，whollyallthatneededtoeat。
OnthefirstInvasionofSilesia，MariaTheresahadindignantlycomplainedineveryCourt；andpointingtoPragmaticSanction，haddemandedthatsuchLawofNaturebecompliedwith，accordingtocovenant。WhatMariaTheresagotbythiscircuitoftheCourts，everybodystillknows。ExceptEngland，whichwaswilling，andHolland，whichwasunwilling，allCourtshadanswered，moreorlessuneasily:"LawofNature，——humph:yes！"——and，farfromdoinganything，notoneofthemwouldwithcertaintypromisetodoanything。FromEnglandaloneandherlittleKing（towhomPragmaticSanctionisthePalladiumofHumanFreedomsandtheKeystoneofNature）couldshegettheleasthelp。Theresthungback；wouldnotopenheartorpocket；waitedtilltheysaw。Theydonowsee；
nowthatBelleislehasdonehisfeatofCovenant—eating！——
ElevengreatPowers，somecountThirteen，someTwelve，[Scholl，ii。286；Adelung，LIST，ii。127。]——butnotwoagree，andhardlyoneagreeswithhimself；——enough，thePowersofEurope，fromNaplesandMadridtoRussiaandSweden，haveallsignedit，letussayaDozenoraBaker’s—Dozenofthem。AndexceptourlittleEnglishPaladinalone，whoseinterestandindeedsalvationseemedtohimtoliethatway，andwhoneedednoPragmaticCovenanttoguidehim，nobodywhateverdistinguishedhimselfbykeepingit。BetweenDecember，1740，whenMariaTheresasetuphercriesinallCourts，ontoApril，1741，England，painfullydraggingHollandwithher，hadaloneoftheBaker’s—Dozenspokenwordofdisapproval；muchlessdoneactofhindrance。Twoespecially（FranceandBavaria，nottomentionSpain）haddonethereverse，anddisowned，anddeclaredagainst，PragmaticSanction。AndaftertheBattleofMollwitz，whenthe"littlestone"tookitsfirstleap，andsetallthundering，thencame，liketheinrushofafashion，throughoutthathighMiscellanyorBaker’s—Dozen，thegeneraleatingofCovenants（whichwasagainquickenedinAugust，forareasonweshallsee）:
andbeforeNovemberofthatYear，therewasnoCovenantlefttoeat。OftheBaker’s—DozennobodyremainedbutlittleGeorgethePaladin，draggingHollandpainfullyalongwithhim；——andPragmaticSanctionhadgonetowater，likeiceinaJuneday，anditsbeautifulcrystallinequalitiesandprismaticcolorswereforevervanishedfromtheworld。Willthereadernoteapointortwo，apersonageortwo，inthissordidprocess，——notfortheprocess’ssake，whichisverysordidandsmellsbadly，butforhisownsake，toelucidatehisowncoursealittleintheintricaciesnowcomingorcomeuponhimandme？
1。ELECTOROFBAVARIA。——KarlAlbertofBaiernisbysomecountedasaSignerofthePragmaticSanction，andbyothersnot；
whichoccasionsthatdiscrepancyofsum—totalintheBooks。Andhedidonce，inasense，signit，heandhisBrotherofKoln；
but，beforethelateKaiser’sdeath，hehadopenlydrawnbackfromitagain；andcountedhimselfaNon—signer。Signerornot，he，forhispart，lostnomoment（butratherthecontrary）inopenlyprotestingagainstit，andsignifyingthatheneverwouldacknowledgeit。Ofthisthereadersawsomething，atthetimeofherHungarianMajesty’sAccession。Dateandcircumstancesofit，whichdeserveremembering，aremorepreciselythese:October20th，1740，KarlAlbert’sAmbassador，Perusabyname，wrotetoKarlfromVienna，announcingthattheKaiserwasjustdead。FromMunchen，onthe21st，KarlAlbert，anticipatingsuchanevent，butnotyetknowingit，ordersPerusa，inCASEoftheKaiser’sdecease，whichwasconsideredprobableatMunchen，todemandinstantaudienceoftheproperparty（KanzlerSinzendorf），andthereopenlylodgehisProtest。WhichPerusadid，punctuallyinallpoints，——nomomentLOST，butratherthecontrary，aswesaid！LetpoorKarlAlberthavewhatbenefitthereisinthatfact。Hewas，ofalltheAnti—
PragmaticCovenant—Breakers（ifheeverfairlyweresuch），theonlyonethatproceededhonorably，openlyandatonce，inthematter；
andhewas，ofthemall，byfarthemostunfortunate。
ThisisthepoorgentlemanwhomBelleislehadsettledonforbeingKaiser。AndKaiserhebecame；tohisfrightfulsorrow，asitproved:hiscrownlikeacrownofburningiron，orlittlebetter！
ThereislittleofhimintheBooks，nordoesonedesiremuch:
atallaquilinetypeofman；muchthegentlemaninaspect；andinreality，ofdecorousseriousdeportment，andthewishtobehighanddignified。Hehadakindofright，too，intheAnti—Pragmaticsense；andwascomeofImperialkindred，——KaiserLudwigtheBavarian，andKaiserRupertofthePfalz，calledRupertKLEMM，orRupertSmith’s—vice，ifanyreadernowrememberhim，werebothofhisancestors。HemightfairlypretendtoKaisershipandtoAustrianownership，——hadheotherwisebeenequaltosuchenterprises。But，inallambitionsandattempts，howsoevergroundedotherwise，thereisthisstrictquestiononthethreshold:"Areyouofweightfortheadventure；arenotyoufartoolightforit？"
Ambitiouspersonsoftenslurthisquestion；andgetsquelchedtopieces，bybringingtheTwelveLaborsofHerculesonUnherculeanbacks！NoteveryoneissoluckyasourFriedrichinthatparticular，——whoseback，thoughwithdifficulty，heldout。
WhichpoorKarlAlbert’sneverhadmuchlikelihoodtodo。
FewmortalsinanyagehaveofferedsuchanexampleofthetragedieswhichAmbitionhasinstoreforhervotaries；andwhatamatterHopeFULFILLEDmaybetotheunreflectingSonofAdam。
Wesaid，hehadakindofrighttoAustria，withal。HedescendedbythefemalelinefromKaiserFerdinandI。（asdidKur—Sachsen，thoughbyayoungerDaughterthanKarlAlbert’sAncestress）；andheappealedtoKaiserFerdinand’sSettlementoftheSuccession，asahigherthananysubsequentPragmaticcouldbe。Uponwhichtherehangsanincident；stillfamoustoGermanreaders。KarlAlbert，gettingintoPublicArgumentinthisway，naturallyinstructedPerusatodemandsightofKaiserFerdinand’sLastWill，thetenorofwhichwasknownbyauthenticCopyinMunchen，ifnotelsewhereamongthekindred。Aftersomedelay，Perusa（4thNovember，1740），summoningtheotherexcellenciestowitness，gotsightoftheWill:
tohishorror，therestood，inthecardinalpassage，insteadof"MUNNLICHE"（maledescendants），"EHELICHE"（lawfullybegottendescendants），——fataltoKarlAlbert’sclaim！NorcouldhePROVE
thattheParchmenthadbeenscrapedoraltered，thoughhekepttryingandexaminingforsomedays。Hewithdrewthereupon，byorder，straightwayfromVienna；testifyingindumb—showwhathethought。"ItisyourCopythatisfalse，"criedtheViennapeople:
"ithasbeenfoistedonyou，withthiswrongwordinit；donebysomebody（yourfriend，theExcellencyHerrvonHartmann，shallweguess？），wishingtocurryfavorwithambitiousfoolishpersons！"
SuchwastheAustrianstory。PerhapsinMunchenitselftheirCopyistwasnotknown；——foraughtIlearn，theCopywasmadelongsince，andtheCopyistdead。Hartmann，namedasCopyistbytheViennapeople，madeemphaticpublicanswer:"NeverdidIcopyit，orseeit！"Andthererosegreatargument，whichisnotyetquiteended，astothequestion，"Originalfalsified，orCopyfalsified？"
——andthemodernvote，Ibelieve，ratherclearlyis，ThattheAustrianOfficialshaddoneit——inacaseofnecessity。[Adelung，ii。150—154（14th—20thNovember，1740），givesthepublicfacts，withoutcommentary。Hormayr（AnemonenausdemTagebucheinesaltenPilgersmannes，Jena，1845，i。162—169，——
ouroldHormayroftheAUSTRIANPLUTARCH，butnowAnonymous，andinOppositionhumor）considersthecasenearlyprovedagainstAustria，andthatBartensteinandoneBessel，apillaroftheChurch，wereconcernedinit。]Possi—ble？"Butyouwillloseyoursoul！"saidtheParsononcetoapooroldGentlewoman，EnglishbyNation，whorefused，indying，tocontradictsomedomesticfiction，togiveupsomedomesticsecret:"Butyouwillloseyoursoul，Madam！"——
"Tush，whatsignifiesmypoorsillysoulcomparedwiththehonorofthefamily？"——
2。KINGFRIEDRICH；——KingFriedrichmaybetakenastheAnti—
Pragmaticnextinorderoftime。Hetoolostnotamoment，andproceededopenly；noquirkingtobechargeduponhim。Hisaccountofhimselfinthismatteralwayswas:"BytheTreatyofWusterhausen，1726，unquestionablyPrussiaundertooktoguaranteePragmaticSanction；thelateKaiserundertakinginreturn，bythesameTreaty，tosecureBergandJulichtoPrussia，andtohavesomeprogressmadeinitwithinsixmonthsfromsigning。
Andunquestionablyalso，thelateKaiserdidthereupon，orevenhadalreadydone，preciselythereverse；namely，secured，sofarasinhimwaspossible，BergandJulichtoKur—Pfalz。SuchTreaty，havinginthiswaydonesuicide，isdeadandbecomezero:andIamfree，inrespectofPragmaticSanction，todowhatevershallseemgoodtome。Mywishwas，andwouldstillbe，TomaintainPragmaticSanction，andeventosupportitby100，000men，andsecuretheElectionoftheGrand—DuketotheKaisership，——weremyclaimsonSilesiaonceliquidated。ButthesehavenoconcernwithPragmaticSanction，fororagainst:thesearegoodagainstwhoevermayfallHeirtotheHouseofAustria，ortoSilesia:andmyintentionis，thatthestronghand，solongclencheduponmyrights，shallopenitselfbythisfavorableopportunity，andgivethemout。"ThatisFriedrich’scase。Andintruththejuryeverywherehastofind，——sosoonasinstructed，whichisalongprocessinsomesectionsofit（inEngland，forexample），——ThatPragmaticSanctionhasnot，excepthelplesslamentations，"AlasthatYOUshouldbeheretoinsistuponyourrights，andtoopenfistslongclosed！"——theleast，wordtosaytoFriedrich。
3。TERMAGANTOFSPAIN。——PerhapsthemostdistractedoftheAnti—
PragmaticsubterfugeswasthatusedbySpain，whentheShe—dragonorTermagantsawgoodtoeatherCovenant；whichwasataveryearlystage。TheTermagant’spoorHusbandisaBourbon，notaHapsburgatall:"ButhasnothefallenheirtotheSpanishHapsburgs；becomealloneasthey，anALTER—EGOoftheSpanishHapsburgs？"asksshe。"AndtheAustrianHapsburgsbeingout，donottheSpanishHapsburgscomein？He，Isay，thisBOURBON—Hapsburg，heistherealHapsburg，nowthattheAustrianBranchisgone；
PresidentheoftheGoldenFleece[whichacertain"Archduchess，"
MariaTheresa，hadbeenmeddlingwith]；Proprietor，he，ofAustrianItaly，andofallormostthingsAustrian！"——andproducesDocumentaryCovenantsofPhilipII。withhisAustrianCousins；
"towhichPhilip，"saidtheTermagant，"weBourbonssurely，ifyouconsiderit，areHeirandAlter—Ego！"Isnot，thisacuriouscaseoftestamentaryright；humangreedobliteratingpersonalidentityitself？
Belleislehadagreatdealofdifficulty，keepingtheTermagantbacktillthingswereripe。Herhopepracticallywas，BabyCarlosbeingprosperousKingofNaplesthislongwhile，togettheMilaneseforanotherBabyshehas，——BabyPhilip，whomsheoncethoughtofmakingPope；——andsheiseagerbeyondmeasuretohaveastrokeattheMilanese。"Wait！"hoarselywhispersBelleisletoher；
andshecanscarcelywait。MariaTheresa’sNoteofAnnouncement"NewQueenofHungary，mayitpleaseyou！"theFrench，aswesaw，wereverylonginanswering。TheTermagantdidnotansweritatall；complainedonthecontrary，"Whatisthis，Madam！GoldenFleece，you？"——and，earlyinMarch，informedmankindthatshewasSpanishHapsburg，thegenuinearticle；andsentoffExcellencyMontijos，alittlemanofgreatexpense，toassistattheElectionofaproperKaiser，andbeusefultoBelleisleinthegreatthingsnowahead。[Spain’sGolden—Fleecepretensions，17thJanuary，1741
（Adelung，ii。233，234）；"PublishesatParis，"inMarch（ib。293）；
andonthe23dMarchaccreditsMontijos（ib。293）:ItalianWar，heldbackbyBelleisleandtheEnglishFleets，cannotgetbeguntillOctoberfollowing。]
4。KINGOFPOLAND。——ThemostticklishcardinBelleisle’sgame，andprobablythegreatestfooloftheseAnti—PragmaticDozen，wasKur—Sachsen，KingofPoland。He，likeKarlAlbertKur—Baiern，derivesfromKaiserFerdinand，thoughbyaYOUNGERDaughter，andhasalikeclaimontheAustrianSuccession；claimnullified，however，bythatsmallcircumstanceitself，butwhichhewouldfainmendbyonemakeshiftoranother；andthinksalwaysitmustsurelybegoodforsomething。ThisisAugustIII。，thisKingofPoland，asreadersknow；sonofAugusttheStrong:PapamadehimchangetotheCatholicreligionsocalled，——forthesakeofgettingPoland，whichprovesaverypoorpossessiontohim。Whoknowswhatdamagethepoorcreaturemayhavegotbythatsadoperation；——whichallSaxonysighedtotheheartonhearingof；foritwasalwayshopedhehadsomerealreligion，andwoulddeliverthemfromthatBabylonishCaptivityagain！HemarriedKaiserJosephI。’sDaughter，——MariaTheresa’sCousin，andbyanElderBrother；——this，too，oughtsurelytobesomethingintheAnti—Pragmaticline？Itistrue，Kur—BaiernhastoWifeanotherDaughterofKaiserJoseph’s；butsheistheyounger:"IamseniorTHERE，atleast！"thinksthefoolishman。
Tootrue，hehadfinally，inpastyears，tosignPragmaticSanction；nohelpforit，nohopewithoutit，inthatPolish—
Electiontime。HewillhavetoeathisCovenant，therefore，asthefirststepinAnti—Pragmatism；andheisextremelyindoubtastotheHow，sometimesastotheWhether。Andshiftsandwhirls，accordingly，atagreatrate，inthesemonthsandyears；nowonMariaTheresa’sside，deludedbyshadowsfromVienna，andgettingintoRussianPartition—Treaties；anontickledbyBelleisleintothereverseposture；thenagainreversing。Anidle，easy—tempered，yetgreedycreature，who，whatwithreligiousapostasyinearlymanhood，whatwithflaccidambitionssince，andidlegapingsaftershadows，haslosthelminthisworld；andwillmakeaverybadvoyageforselfandcountry。
HisPalinurusandchiefCounsellor，atpresentandafterwards，isaCountvonBruhl，oncepagetoAugusttheStrong；nowrisentosuchheight:Bruhlofthethreehundredandsixty—fivesuitsofclothes；
whomithasgrownwearisomeeventolaughat。Acunninglittlewretch，theysay，andofdefttongue；butsurelyamongtheunwisestofalltheSonsofAdaminthatday，andsuchaPalinurusasseldomsteeredbefore。Kur—Sachsen，beingReichs—VicarintheNorthernParts，——（Kur—BaiernandKur—Pfalz，asfriendsandgoodWittelsbacherCousinssurelyought，inacrisislikethis，haveagreedtobeJOINT—VicarsintheSouthernParts，andnolongerquarreluponit），——Kur—SachsenhasagooddealtodointheElectionpreludings，formalitiesandprearrangements；andiscapable，asKur—PfalzandCousinalwaysare，ofservingaschiseltoBelleisle’smallet，insuchpoints，whichwillplentifullyturnup。
5。KINGOFSARDINIA。——Reichs—VicarintheItalianPartsisCharlesAmadeusKingofSardinia（tougholdVictor’sSon，whomwehaveheardof）:anofficemostlyhonorary；suitabletotheimportantindividualwhokeepstheDooroftheAlps。CharlesAmadeushadsignedthePragmaticSanction；buteatshisCovenant，liketheothers，onexampleofFrance；——having，ashenowbethinkshimself，claimsontheMilanese。TherearetwoclaimantsontheMilanese，then；theSpanishTermagant，andhe？Yes；andtheywillhavetheirdifficulties，theirextensivetusslingsinItalianWarandotherwise，tomakeanadjustmentofit；andwillgiveBelleisle（atleasttheDoorkeeperwill）animmensityoftrouble，inyearscoming。
InthiswaydothePragmaticpeopleeattheirownCovenant，oneaftertheother，andarenotashamed；——tillallhaveeaten，orasgoodaseaten；and，almostwithinyearandday，PragmaticSanctionisavanishedquantity；andpoorKaiserKarl’slife—laborisnotworththesheepskinandstationeryitcosthim。Historyreportsinsum，That"nobodykeptthePragmaticSanction；thatthefew[strictlyspeaking，theone]whoactedbyit，wouldhavedonepreciselythesame，thoughtherehadneverbeensuchaDocumentinexistence。"ToGeorgeII。，itis，wasandwillbe，theKeystoneofNature，thetrueAnti—Frenchpalladiumofmankind；andhe，draggingtheunwillingDutchafterhim，willdogreatthingsforit:
butnobodyelsedoesanythingatall。Mightwehopetobidadieutoit，inthismanner，andnevertomentionitagain！——
DocumentmorefutiletherehadnotbeeninNature，norwillbe。
FriedrichhadnotyetfoughtatMollwitzinassertionofhisSilesianclaim，whenthepoorPope——poorsoul，whohadnoCovenanttoeat，buttookpatternbyothers——claimed，insolemnAllocution，ParmaandPiacenzafortheHolySee。[Adelung，ii。376（5thApril，1741）]Alltheworldisclaiming。OftheCourtofWurtemberganditsProtestings，and"extensiveDeduction"aboutnothingatall，wedonotspeak；[Ib。ii。195，403。]norofMontmorencyclaimingLuxemburg，ofwhichheisTitular"Duke；"norofMonsignorediGuastallaclaimingMantua；norof——Inbrief，thefencesarenowdown；abroadFrenchgapinthosemilesofelaboratepaling，whicharegoodonlyasfirewoodhenceforth，andanyassmayrushinandclaimabellyful。GreataretheworksofBelleisle！——
CONCERNINGTHEIMPERIALELECTION（Kaiserwahl）THATIS
TOBE:CANDIDATESFORKAISERSHIP。
AtequalstepwiththeruiningofPragmaticSanctiongoesonthatspoilingofGrand—DukeFranz’sElectiontotheKaisership:
thesetwooperationsrunparallel；orrather，underdifferentforms，theyareoneandthesameoperation。"Toassist，asaMostChristianneighborought，inpickingoutthefitKaiser，"wasBelleisle’sostensiblemission；andindeedthisdoesincludevirtuallyhiswholeerrand。TillthreemonthsafterBelleisle’sappearanceinthebusiness，Grand—DukeFranzneverdoubtedbutheshouldbeKaiser；Friedrich’soffersto，helphiminithehadscorned，astheofferofafifthwheeltohischariot，alreadyrushingonwithfour。"HereisKur—Bohmen，Austria’sownvote，"
countstheGrand—Duke；"Kur—Sachsen，doingPrussian—PartitionTreatiesforus；Kur—Trier，ourfatlittleSchonborn，Austriantothebone；Kur—Mainz，importantchairman，regulatoroftheConclave；
hereareFourElectorsforus:thenalsoKur—Pfalz，hesurely，inreturnfortheBerg—Julichservice；finally，andliabletonoquestionKur—Hanover，littleGeorgeofEnglandwithhisendlessguineasandresources，alittleJack—the—Giantkiller，greaterthanallGiants，PaladinofthePragmaticandus:hereareSixElectorsoftheNine。LetBrandenburgandtheBavarianCouple，Kur—BaiernandKur—Koln，dotheirpleasure！"ThiswasGrand—DukeFranz’scalculation。
BythetimeBelleislehadbeenthreemonthsinGermany，theGrand—
Duke’snotionhadchanged；andhebegan"applyingtotheSea—Powers，""toRussia，"andallround。InBelleisle’ssixthmonth，theGrand—Duke，aftersuchdemolitionofPragmatic，andsuchdisastersandcontradictionsashadbeen，sawhiscasetobedesperate；thoughhestillstucktoit，Austrian—like，——orrather，Austriaforhimstucktoit，theGrand—Dukebeingcarelessofsuchthings；——andindeed，privately，neverdidgivein，evenAFTERtheElection，asweshallhavetonote。
TheReichitselfbeingmainlyaPhantasmorEnchantedWiggery，its"Kaiser—Choosing"（KAISERWAHL），——nowgettingunderwayatFrankfurt，withpreliminaryoutskirtsatRegensburg，andintheChanceryofMainz——isveryphantasmal，nottosayghastly；
andforbidding，notinviting，tothehumaneye。NineKurfursts，ChoosersofTeutschland’srealCaptain，innoneofwhomistheremuchthoughtforTeutschlandoritsinterests，——andindeedinhardlymorethanOneofwhom（PrussianFriedrich，ifreaderswillknowit）istheretheleastthoughtthatway；but，ingeneral，muchindifferencetothingsdivineordiabolic，andthoughtforone’sownpaltryprofitsandlossesonly！Soithaslongbeen；andsoitnowis，morethanusual。——Consideragain，areEnchantedWiggeriesabeautifulthing，inthisextremelyearnestWorld？——
TheKaiserwahlisanaffairdependingmuchonprocessions，proclamations，ondelusionsoptical，acoustic；onpalaverings，manoeuvrings，holdingsback，thenhastypushingsforward；
andindeedismainly，inmoresensesthanone，underguidanceofthePrinceofthePoweroftheAir。Unbeautiful，likeaWorld—
ParliamentofNightmares（ifthereadercouldconceivesuchathing）；hugeformless，tonguelessmonstersofthatspecies，doingtheir"threereadings，"——underPresidencyorchief—pipershipasabove！Belleisle，forhispart，isconsummatelyskilful，andmanagesasonlyhimselfcould。Keepshisgamewellhidden，notahintorwhisperofitexceptinstudiedproportions；spreadsouthislines，hisbirdlime；tickles，entices，astonishes；goeshisrounds，likeasubtleFowler，takingcaptivethemindsofmen；
aPhoebus—Apollo，godofmelodyandofthesun，fillinghisnetwithbirds。
Ibelieve，oldKur—Pfalz，forthesakeofFrenchneighborhood，andBerg—and—Julich，weretherenothingmore，wasveryhelpfultohim；
——inMarchpast，whentheElectionwastohavebeen，whenitwouldhavegoneatonceinfavoroftheGrand—Duke，Kur—PfalzgottheElection"postponedalittle。"Postponing，procrastinating；
thenagainpushingviolentlyon，whenthingsareripe:BelleislehasonlytogivesignaltoafitKur—Pfalz。InallKurfurstCourts，theFrenchAmbassadorssingdiligentlytothetuneBelleislesetsthem；andCourtsgiveear，orwilldo，whenthecharmerhimselfarrives。
Kur—Sachsen，asabovehinted，washismostdelicateoperation，inthecharmingortrout—ticklingway。AndKur—Sachsen——andpoorSaxony，eversince——knowsifhedidnotdoitwell！"DeductthisKur—SachsenfromtheAustrianside，"calculatesBelleisle；"addhimtoours，itisalmostanequalityofvotes。Kur—Baiern，ourownImperialCandidate；Kur—Koln，hisBrother；Kur—Pfalz，bygenealogyhisCousin（nottomentionBerg—Julichmatters）；herearethreeWittelsbachers，knittogether；threesurevotes；KingFriedrich，Kur—Brandenburg，thereisafourth；andifKur—Sachsenwouldjoin？"
ButwhoknowsifKur—Sachsenwill！ThepoorsoulhashimselfthoughtsofbeingKaiser；thennothoughts，andagainsome:
thoughtswhichBelleisleknowshowtohandle。"Yes，Kaiseryou，yourMajesty；excellent！"Andsetstoconsiderthemethods:
"Hm，ha，hm！Think，yourMajesty:oughtnotthatBohemianVotetobeexcluded，foronething？Kur—Bohmenisfallenintothedistaff，MariaTheresaherselfcannotvote。Surelyquestionwillrise，Whetherdistaffcan，validly，handitovertodistaff’shusband，astheyareaboutdoing？Whether，infact，Kur—Bohmenisnotinabeyanceforthistime？""So！"answeredKur—Sachsen，Reichs—
Vicarius。Andthereuponmeetingsweresummoned；NightmareCommitteessatonthismatterundertheReichs—Vicar，slowlyhatchingit；andatlengthbroughtout，"Kur—BohmenNOT
transferablebythedistaff；Kur—Bohmeninabeyanceforthistime。"
GreatlytothejoyofBelleisle；infinitelytothechagrinofherHungarianMajesty，——whodeclareditacryinginjustice（thoughI
believelegallydoneineverypoint）；andbyandby，evenmadeitapleaofNullity，destructivetotheElectionaltogether，whenherHungarianMajesty’saffairslookedupagain，andtheworldwouldlistentoAustriansophistriesandobstinacies。ThiswasanessentialservicefromKur—Sachsen。[Began，indistinctly，"inMarch"（1741）；languid"forsomemonths"（Adelung，ii。292）；
"November4th，"wassettledinthenegative，"Kur—Bohmennottohaveavote"（MariaTheresiensLeben，
p。47n。）。
AfterwhichKur—Sachsen’sownpoorKaisershipdiedawayinto"Hm，ha，hm！"again，withagratefulBelleisle。WhoneverthelessdexterouslyretainedKur—Sachsenasally；ticklingthepoorwretchwithotherbaits。OftheKaiserhehadreallymeantallalong，therewasdeadsilence，exceptbetweentheparties；nowhisperheard，forsixmonthsafterithadbeenagreedupon；none，fortwoornearthreemonthsafterformalsettlement，andsigningandsealing。KarlAlbert’sTreatywithBelleislewas18thMay，1741；
andhedidnotdeclarehimselfaCandidatetill1st—4thJulyfollowing。[Adelung，ii。357，421。]BelleisleunderstandstheNightmareParliaments，theelectioneeringart，andhowtodealwithEnchantedWiggeries。Moreperfectmaster，inthatsadart，hasnotturneduponrecordtoone’safflictedmind。SuchaSun—god，anddoingsuchaScavengerism！Belleisle，inthesixthmonth（endofAugust，1741），feelssureofamajority。HowBelleislemanaged，afterthat，tocheckmateGeorgeofEngland，andmakeevenGeorgevoteforhim，andtheKaiserwahltobeunanimousagainstGrand—
DukeFranz，willbeseen。GreatareBelleisle’sdoingsinthisworld，iftheywereusefuleithertoGodorman，ortoBelleislehimselffirstofall！——
TEUTSCHLANDTOBECARVEDINTOSOMETHINGOFSYMMETRY，SHOULDTHEBELLEISLEENTERPRISESSUCCEED。
Belleisle’sschemes，intherearofallthislabor，aregrandiosetoadegree。MenwonderattheFirstNapoleon’smadnotionsinthatkind。ButnoNapoleon，inthefireoftherevolutionaryelement；noSham—Napoleon，intheashesofit:hardlyaParisianJournalistofimaginativeturn，speculatingontheFirstNationoftheUniverseandwhatitsplaceis，——couldgohigherthandidthisgrandioseBelleisle；amanwithclearthoughtsinhishead，underatorpidLouisXV。Letmesee，thinksBelleisle。GermanywithourBavarianforKaiser；Germanytobecutinto，say，FourlittleKingdoms:
1。BavariawiththeleanKaiserhood；2。Saxony，fattenedbyitsshareofAustria；3。Prussiathelike；4。Austriaitself，shorndownasabove，andshovedouttotheremoteHungarianparts:VOILA。
These，notreckoningHanover，whichperhapswecannotgetjustyet，areFourprettySovereignties。Three，orTwo，ofthesehireablebygold，itistobehoped。AndwillnotFrancehaveaglorioustimeofit；playingmasteroftherevelsthere，eggingoneagainsttheother！Yes，Germanyisthen，whatNaturedesignedit，aProvinceofFrance:littleGeorgeofHanoverhimself，andwhoknowsbutEnglandafterhim，mayonedayfindtheirfateinevitable，liketheothers。
OLouis，OmyKing，isnotthisanoutlook？LouisleGrandwasgreat；butyouarelikelytobeLouistheGrandest；andhereisaWorldshaped，atlast，aftertherealpattern！
Suchare，insadtruth，Belleisle’sschemes；notyetentirelyhatchedintodaylightorarticulation；bntbecomingarticulate，tohimselfandothers，moreandmore。Reader，keepthemwellinmind:
Ihadrathernotspeakofthemagain。TheyareessentialtoourStory；buttheyareafflictivelyvain，contrarytotheLawsofFact；andcan，noworhenceforth，innowisebe。Myfriend，itwasnotBeelzebub，norMephistopheles，norAutolyeus—Apollothatbuiltthisworldandus；itwasAnother。Andyouwillgetyourcrownwellrapped，M。leMarechal，forsoforgettingthatfact！Franceisanextremelyprettycreature；butthisofmakingFrancethesupremeGovernorandGod’s—VicegerentofNations，is，was，andremains，oneofthemaddestnotions。FranceatitsidealBEST，andwithademi—
godforKingoverit，werebynomeansfitforsuchfunction；nayofmanyNationsiseminentlytheunfittestforit。AndFranceatitsWORSTornearlyso，withaLouisXV。overitbywayofdemi—god——OBelleisle，whatkindofFranceisthis；shininginyourgrandioseimagination，insuchcontrasttothestingyfact:likeacreatureconsistingoftwoenormouswings，fivehundredyardsinpotentialextent，andnobodybiggerthanthatofacommoncock，weighingthreepoundsavoirdupois。Cockwithhisowngizzardmuchoutofsorts，too！
Itwas"earlyinMarch"[Adelung，ii。305。]whenBelleisle，theArtificialSun—god，quittedParisonthiserrand。HecamebytheMoselleroad；calledontheRhineKurfursts，Koln，Trier，Mainz；
dazzlingthem，sofaraspossible，withhissplendorforthemindandfortheeye。HeproceedednexttoDresden，whichisamaincard:andwherethereisimmensemanipulationneeded，andthemostdelicatetrout—tickling；thisbeingaskittishfish，andanimportant，thoughafoolish。BelleislewasatDresdenwhentheBattleofMollwitzfellout:whatawindfallintoBelleisle’sgame！
HeranacrosstoFriedrichatMollwitz，tocongratulate，toconsult，——asweshallseeanon。
Belleisle，Iaminformed，inthispreliminaryTourofhis，speaksonly，orhintsonly（exceptintheproperquarters），ofElectionBusiness；oftheneedthereperhapsis，onthepartofanAgegrowinginliberalideas，toexcludetheAustrianGrand—Duke；
tocurbthatponderous，harsh，ungenerousHouseofAustria，toolonglordingitovergenerousGermany；andtosetupsomebetterHouse，——Bavaria，forexample；Saxony，forexample？Ofhisplansintherearofthisheissilent；speaksonlybyhints，byinnuendoes，totheproperparties。Butripeningorripe，plansdolietorear；
far—stretching，high—soaring；inpart，darkevenatVersailles；
darklyfermenting，notyetdeveloped，inBelleisle’sownhead；onlytheFutureKaiseraluminousfixedpoint，shootingbeamsacrossthegrandioseCreation—Processgoingonthere。
BytheendofAugust，1741，Belleislehadbecomecertainofhisgame；24thJanuary，1742，hesawhimselfasifwinner。
BeforeAugust，1741，hehadgothisElectorsmanipulated，tickledtohispurpose，bythewitcheryofaPhoebus—AutolycusorDiplomaticSun—god；majoritysecuredforaBavarianKaiser，andagainstanAustrianone。Andinthecourseofthatmonth，——whatwasstillmoreconsiderable！——hewasgetting，undermildpretexts，aboutahundredthousandarmedFrenchmengentlywaftedoveruponthesoilofGermany。TwocompleteFrenchArmies，40，000each（PLUS
theirReserves），oneovertheUpperRhine，oneovertheLower；
aboutwhichweshallhearagreatdealintimecoming！Undermildpretexts:"Peaceableaslambs，don’tyouobserve？MerelytoprotectFreedomofElection，inthisfineneighborcountry；andasalliestoourFriendofBavaria，shouldhechancetobenewKaiser，andtopersistinhismodestclaimsotherwise。"Thiswashiscrowningstroke。WhichfinishedstraightwaytheremnantsofPragmaticSanctionandofeveryobstacle；andinashiningmannerswepttheroadsclear。Andso，onJanuary24thfollowing，theElection，longheldbackbyBelleisle’smanoeuvrings，actuallytakeseffect，——infavorofKarlAlbert，ourinvaluableBavarianFriend。AustriaisleftsolitaryintheReich；PragmaticSanction，KeystoneofNature，whichBelleisleandFrancehadsworntokeepin，isopenlytornoutbyBelleisleandbyFranceandthemajorityofmankind；
andBelleisleseeshimself，toallappearance，winner。
ThiswastheharvestreapedbyBelleisle，withinyearandday；
afterendlessmanoeuvring，suchasonlyaBelleisleinthecharacterofDiplomaticSun—godcoulddo。Beyondquestion，thedistractedambitionsofseveralGermanPrinceshavebeenkindledbyBelleisle；whatwecalledtherottenthatchofGermanyiswellonfire。ThisdiligentsowingintheReich——tojudgebythe100，000，armedmenhere，andthecounterhundredsofthousandsarming——
hasbeenaprettystrokeofdragon’s—teethhusbandryonBelleisle’spart。
BELLEISLEONVISITTOFRIEDRICH；SEESFRIEDRICHBESIEGE
BRIEG，WITHEFFECT。
ItwasApril26thwhenMarechaldeBelleisle，withhisBrothertheChevalier，withValoriandotherbrightaccompaniment，arrivedinFriedrich’sCamp。"CampofMollwitz"sonamed；betweenMollwitzandBrieg；whereFriedrichisstillresting，inavigilantexpectantcondition；and，exceptitbethetakingofBrieg，hasnothingmilitaryonhand。Wednesday，26thApril，thedistinguishedExcellency——escortedforthelastthreemilesby120Horse，andtheothercustomaryceremonies——makeshisappearance:nodoubtaninterestingonetoFriedrich，forthisandthedaysnextfollowing。
Theirtalkisnotreportedanywhere:norisitsaidwithexactitudehowfar，whetherwhollynow，oronlyinpartnow，BelleisleexpoundedhissublimeideastoFriedrich；orwhatprecisereceptiontheygot。Friedrichhimselfwriteslongafterwardsoftheevent；
but，asusual，withoutprecision，exceptingeneraleffect。Now，orsometimeafter，FriedrichsayshefoundBelleisle，onemorning，withbrowclouded，knitintointensemeditation:"Haveyouhadbadnews，M。leMarechal？"asksFriedrich。"No，ohno！IamconsideringwhatweshallmakeofthatMoravia？"——"Moravia；Hm！"Friedrichsuppressestheglancethatisrisingtohiseyes:"Can’tyougiveittoSaxony，then？BuySaxonyintothePlanwithit！""Excellent，"
answersBelleisle，andunpuckershissternbrowagain。
Friedrichthinkshighly，andaboutthistimeoftensaysso，ofthemanBelleisle:butastotheman’seffulgencies，andwide—wingedPlans，noneislessseducedbythemthanFriedrich:"Yourchickensarenothatched，M。leMarechal；someofushopetheyneverwillbe，——thoughtheincubation—processmayhaveusesforsomeofus！"
FriedrichknowsthattheKaisershipgiventoanyotherthanGrand—
DukeFranzwillbemostlyanimaginaryquantity。"AgrandSymbolicCloakintheeyesofthevulgar；butemptyofallthings，emptyevenofcash，forthelastTwoHundredYears:Austriacanwearittoadvantage；noothermortal。HangitonAustria，whichisasolidhumanfigure，——so。"AndFriedrichwishes，andhopesalways，MariaTheresawillagreewithhim，andgetitforherHusband。"ButtohaugitonBavaria，whichisaleanbarepole？Oh，M。leMarechal！
——AndthoseFourKingdomsofyours:whatabroodofpoultry，those！
ChickenshappilyyetUNhatched；——eggsaddle，Ishouldventuretohope:——onlydogoonincubating，M。leMarechal！"ThatisFriedrich’snotionofthething。BelleislestayedwithFriedrich"afewdays，"saytheBooks。Afterwhich，Friedrich，findingBelleisletoowingedacreature，corresponded，inpreference，withFleuryandtheHeadSources；——whoarealwaysintenselyenoughconcernedaboutthose"aces"fallingtohim，andhowthesamearetobe"shared。"
[DetailsinHelden—Geschichte，i。912，962，916；inOEuvresdeFrederic，ii。79，80；&c。]
InsteadofparadeorreviewinhonorofBelleisle，therehappenedtobeafargrandermilitaryshow，ofthepracticalkind。TheSiegeofBrieg，theOpeningoftheTrenchesbeforeBrieg，chancedtobejustready，onBelleisle’sarrival:——andwouldhavetakeneffect，wefind，thatverynight，April26th，hadnotasuddenwintryoutburst，or"tempestofextraordinaryviolence，"prevented。
Nextnight，nightofthe27th—28th，undershineofthefullMoon，intheopenchampaigncountry，onbothsidesoftheRiver，itdidtakeeffect。Anuncommonlyfinethingofitssort；asonecanstillseebyreadingFriedrich’sstrictProgramforit，——amostminute，preciseandall—anticipatingProgram，whichstillinterestsmilitarymen，asFriedrich’sfirstPieceinthatkind，——andcomparingtherewiththeNarrativesoftheperformancewhichensued。
[OrdreundDispositiones（SIC），wornachsichderGeneral—
LieutenantvonKalcksteinbeiEroffnungderTrancheen，&c。
（OeuvresdeFrederic，xxx。39—44）:theProgram。
Helden—Geschichte，i。916—928:
theNarrative。]
Kalkstein，Friedrich’soldTutor，isCaptainoftheSiege；
underhimJeetz，longusedtoblockadingaboutBrieg。ThesilveryOderhasitsduebridgesforcommunication；allisinreadiness，andwaitingmanifoldasintheslip，——andthereisEngineerWalrave，ourGlogauDutchfriend，whoshall，attherightinstant，"withhisstraw—rope（STROHSEIL）markoutthefirstparallel，"andbeswiftaboutit！Thereare2，000diggers，withthedueimplements，fascines，equipments；dulydivided，intoTwelveequalParties，and"alwaystwospadementoonepickman"（whichindicatessoftsandyground）:these，withtheescortingorcoveringbattalions，TwelvePartiestheyalso，onbothsidesoftheRiver，aretobeintheirseveralstationsatthefixedmoments；
man，musket，mattock，strictlyexact。TheyaretoadvanceatMidnight；thecoveringbattalionssomanyyardsahead:nospeakingispermissible，northeleasttobacco—smoking；nodrumtobeallowedforfearofaccident；nofiring，unlessyouarefiredon。
Thecoveringbattalionsareallto"lieflat，sosoonastheygettotheirground，allbuttheOfficersandsentries。"TorearofthesestandWalraveandassistants，silent，withtheirstraw—rope；
——silent，thenanonswift，andinwhisperoralmostbydumb—show，"Now，then！"Afterwhomthediggers，fascine—men，workers，eachinhiskind，shallfallto，silently，anddigandworkasforlife。
Allwhichisdone；exactasclock—work:beautifultosee，orhalfsee，andspeakoftoyourBelleisle，intheserenemoonlight！Halfanhour’smarching，halfanhour’sswiftdigging:theTown—clockofBriegwashardlystrikingOne，when"theyhaddugthemselvesin。"
And，beforedaybreak，theyhad，intwobatteries，fiftycannoninposition，withapropersetofmortars（othersidetheRiver），——
readytoastonishPiccolominiandhisAustrians；whohadnothadtheleastwhisperofthem，allnight，thoughitwasfullmoon。
GrafvonPiccolomini，anactivegallantperson，hadrefusedterms，sometimebefore；andwashopefullyintentondoinghisbest。
Andnow，suddenly，thereroseroundPiccolominisuchatornadoofcannonadingandbombardment，dayafterday，always"threegunsofoursplayingagainstoneoftheirs，"thathisgunsgotruined；
that"hishay—magazinestookfire，"——andtheSchlossitself，whichwasadjacenttothem，tookfire（asadthingtoFriedrich，whocommandedpause，thattheymighttryquenching，butinvain）:——andthat，inshort，Piccolominicouldnotstandit；butonthe4thofMay，preciselyafteroneweek’sexperience，hungoutthewhiteflag，and"beatchamadeat3oftheafternoon。"Hewasallowedtomarchoutnextmorning，withescorttoNeisse；parolepledged，Nottoserveagainstusfortwoyearscoming。
Friedrichinperson（Iratherguess，Belleislenotnowathisside）
sawtheGarrisonmarchout；——keptPiccolominitodinner；agallantPiccolomini，whohadhopedtodobetter，butcouldnot。ThiswasaprettyenoughpieceofSiege—practice。Torstenson，withhisSwedes，hadfuriouslybesiegedBriegin1642，ahundredyearsago；andcoulddonothingtoit。Nothing，butwithdrawagain，futile；
leaving1，400ofhispeopledead。Friedrich，theAustrianGarrisononceout，setinstantlyaboutrepairingtheworks，andimprovingthemintoimpregnability，——ouruglyfriendWalravepresidingoverthatoperationtoo。
Belleisle，wemaybelieve，solongashecontinued，wasfullofpolitewonderoverthesethings；perhapshadcriticaladviceshereandthere，whichwouldbepolitelyreceived。Itiscertainhecameoutextremelybrilliant，giftedandagreeable，intheeyesofFriedrich；whooftenafterwards，notintheverystrictestlanguage，callshimagreatman，greatsoldier，andbyfartheconsiderablestpersonyouFrenchhave。Itisnolesscertain，Belleisledisplayed，sofarasdisplayable，hismagnificentDiplomaticWaretothebestadvantage。Towhich，weperceive，theyoungKinganswered，"Magnificent，indeed！"butwouldnotbiteallatonce；andratherpreferredcorrespondingwithFleury，onbusinesspoints，keepingthematterdexterouslyhanging，inanilluminatedelementofhopeandcontingency，forthepresent。
Belleisle，afterweknownothowmanydays，returnedtoDresden；
perfectedhisworkatDresden，orshoveditwellforward，with"thatMoravia"asbait。"Yes，KingofMoravia，you，yourPolishMajesty，shallbe！"——anditissaidthesimplecreaturedidsostylehimself，byandby，incertainrareManifestoes，whichstillexistinthecabinetsofthecurious。Belleislenext，afteronlyafewdays，wenttoMunchen；tooperateonKarlAlbertKur—Baiern，awillingsubject。And，inshort，Belleislewhirledalongincessantly，torchinhand；makinghis"circuitoftheGermanCourts，"——detailsofsaidcircuitnottobefollowedbyusfarther。
OnesmallthingonlyIhavefoundrememberable；probablytrue，thoughvague。AtMunchen，stillmoreoutatNymphenburg，thefineCountry—Palacenotfaroff，therewasofcourselongconferencing，longconsulting，secretandintense，betweenBelleislewithhispeopleandKarlAlbertwithhis。KarlAlbert，asweknow，washimselfwilling。ButacertainBaronvonUnertl——heavy—builtBavarianoftheoldtype，anoldstagerintheBavarianMinistries——wasoffarotherdisposition。Oneday，outatNymphenburg，UnertlgottotheCouncil—room，whileBelleisleandCompanywerethere:
Unertlfoundtheapartmentlocked，absolutelynoadmittance；andheardvoices，theKurfurst’sandFrenchvoices，eagerlyatworkinside。"Admitme，GraciousHerr；UMGOTTESWILLEN，me！"Noadmission。Unertl，indespair，rushedroundtothegardensideoftheApartment；desperatelysnatchedaladder，setituptothewindow，andconjuredtheGraciousHighness:"FortheloveofHeaven，myALLERGNADIGSTER，don’t！HavenotradewiththoseFrench！
RememberyourillustriousFather，KurfurstMax，intheEugene—
Marlboroughtime，whatajobhemadeofit，buildingactualarchitectureonTHEIRbigpromises，whichprovedmereacresofgiltballoon！"[Hormayr，Anemonen（citedabove），ii。152。]Wordsterriblyprophetic；buttheywerewithouteffectonKarlAlbert。
TherestofBelleisle’sinflammatorycircuitingsandextensivetravellings，forhehadmanyfirstandlastinthismatter，shallbelefttothefancyofthereader。May18th，hemadeformalTreatywithKarlAlbert:TreatyofNymphenburg，"KarlAlberttobeKaiser；
Bavaria，withAustriaProperaddedtoit，aKingdom；Frencharmies，Frenchmoneys，andotherfineitems。"[GiveninAdelung，ii。359。]
Treatytobekeptdeadsecret；KingFriedrich，forthepresent，wouldnotaccede。[GiveninAdelung，ii。421。]June25th，aftersomepreliminarysurveyoftheplace，BelleislemadehisEntryintoFrankfurt:magnificentintheextreme。Andstilldidnotrestthere；buthadtorushabout，backtoVersailles，toDresden，hither，thither:itwasnottillthelastdayofJulythathefairlytookuphisabodeinFrankfurt；and——theElectioneggs，sotospeak，beingnowalllaid——sethimselftohatchthesame。
Aprocesswhichlastedhimsixmonthslonger，withcuriousphenomenatomankind。NottillthemiddleofAugustdidhebringthose80，000ArmedFrenchmenacrosstheRhine，"tosecurepeaceinthoseparts，andfreedomofvoting。"NottillNovember4thhadKur—Sachsen，withtheNightmares，finishedthatimportantproblemoftheBohemianVote，"BohemianVoteEXCLUDEDforthistime；"——
afterwhichallwasready，thoughstillnotintheleasthurry。
November20th，camethefirstactual"Election—Conference（WAHL—
CONFERENZ）"intheRomeratFrankfurt；towhichsucceededTwoMonthsmoreofconferrings（uponalmostnothingatall）:
andfinally，24thJanuary，1742，cametheElectionitself，KarlAlberttheman；poorwretch，whoneversawanothergooddayinthisworld。
Belleisleduringthosesixmonthswasratherhighandairy，extremelymagnificent；butdidnotwantdiscretion:"morelikeaKurfurstthananAmbassador；"capableof"visitingKur—Mainz，withservantspurposelyinOLDliveries，"——wherethecaseneededold，whereKur—Mainzneededsnubbing；nototherwise。[Buchholz，ii。
57n。]"TheMarechaldeBelleisle，"saysanEye—witness，ofsomefameinthosedays，"comesoutinavarietyofparts，amongushere；playsnowtheGeneral，nowthePhilosopher，nowtheMinisterofState，nowtheFrenchMarquis；——anddoesthemalltoperfection。
Surelyamasterinhisart。HisBrothertheChevalierisoneofthesensiblestandbest—trainedpersonsyoucansee。Hehasapenetratingintellect；isalwaysoccupied，andfullofgreatschemes；andhasneverthelessastaidkindofmanner。HeisoneofthemostimportantPersonageshere；andinallthingshisBrother’srighthand。"[VonLoen，KleineSchriften
（citedinAdelung，ii。400）。]InFrankfurt，bothBelleisleandhisBrotherweremuchrespected，theBrotherespecially，asmenofdignifiedbehaviorandshiningqualities；butastotheirhundredandthirtyFrenchLordsandotherValetry，thesebytheirextravagancesandexcesses（AUSSCHWEIFUNGEN）madethemselvesextremelydetestable，itwouldappear。[Buchholz，ii。54；
inAdelung，ii。398n。，aFrenchBROCARDonthesubject，ofsufficientemphasis。]
ChapterXII。
SORROWSOFHISBRITANNICMAJESTY。
GeorgeII。didnothearofMollwitzforaboveafortnightafteritfellout；buthehadnoneedofMollwitztokindlehiswrathorhisactivityinthatmatter。[MollwitzfirstheardofinLondon，April25th（14th）；Subsidyof300，000poundsvotedsameday。
LondonGazette（April11th—14th，1741）；
CommonsJournals，xxiii。705。]GeorgeII。hadseen，allalong，withnaturalmanifoldaversionandindignation，thesehighattemptsofhisNephew。"WhoisthisnewlittleKing，thatwillnotlethimselfbesnubbed，andlaughedat，andledbythenose，ashisFatherdid；butseemstobetakingaroadofhisown，andtacitlydefyingusall？Averyhighconductindeed，foraSovereignofthatmagnitude。AspiresseeminglytobetheleaderamongGermanPrinces；toreduceHanoverandus，——us，withthegoldofEnglandinourbreeches—pocket，——tothesecondplace？AreverendoldBishopofLiege，twitchedbytherochet，andshakenhitherandthither，likeareverendoldclothes—screen，tillheagreetostandstillandconform。AndnowaSilesiaseizedupon；aPragmaticSanctionkickedtothewinds:thewholeworldtobeturnedtopsy—
turvy，andHanoverandus，withourbreeches—pocket，reducedto——？"
Theemotions，theprognosticatings，anddistractedproceduresofhisBritannicMajesty，ofwhichwehaveourselvesseensomewhat，inthisfermentationoftheelements，arecopiouslysetdownforusbytheEnglishDryasdust（mostlyinunintelligibleform）:but，exceptforsanepurposes，onemustbecarefulnottodwellonthem，tothesorrowofreaders。SeldomwastheresuchafeatofSomnambulism，asthatbytheEnglishandtheirKinginthenexttwentyYears。
Toextracttheparticleofsanityfromit，andseehowthepoorEnglishdidgettheirownerranddonewithal，andJenkins’sEaravenged，——thatistheoneinterestingpoint；DryasdustandtheNightmaresshall，toalltime，bewelcometotheothers。HerearesomeExcerpts，aselectfew；whichwillperhapsbeourreadiestexpedient。Thesedo，undercertainmainaspects，shadowforththeintricatepostureofKingGeorgeandhisNation，whenBelleisle，asProtagonistesorChiefBully，steptdownintothering，inthatmanner；asking，"IsthereanAntagonistes，then，orChiefDefender？"Iwilllabelthem，numberthem；and，withtheminimumofneedfulcommentary，leavethemtoimaginativereaders。
No。1。SNATCHOFPARLIAMENTARYELOQUENCEBYMR。VINER
（19thApril，1741）。
Thefuliginousexplosions，moreorlessvolcanic，whichwentoninParliamentandinEnglishsociety，againstFriedrich’sSilesianEnterprise，forlongyearsfromthisdate，arenowalldeadandavoidable，——thoughtheyhavelefttheireffectsamongustothisday。PerhapsreaderswouldliketoseetheonereasonablewordI
havefalleninwith，ofoppositetendency；Mr。Viner’sword，atthefirststartingofthatquestion:plainlysensibleword，which，haditbeenattendedto（asitwasnot），mighthavesavedussomuchnonsense，notofidletalkonly，butofextremelyseriousdeedwhichensuedthereupon！
"LONDON，19thAPRIL，1741。Thisday[Mollwitznotyetknown，CampofGottintoowellknown！]KingGeorge，inhisownhighperson，comesdowntotheHouseofLords，——which，liketheOtherHouse，issunkpainfullyinWalpoleControversies，Spanish—WarControversies，ofamerelydomesticnature；——andinformsbothHonorableHouses，withextremecaution，namingnobody，ThathemuchwishestheywouldthinkofhelpinghiminthesealarmingcircumstancesoftheCelestialBalance，readyapparentlytogoheelsuppermost。
Towhichthegeneralansweris，’Yes，surely！’——withavoteof300，000poundsforherHungarianMajesty，afewdayshence。
FromthosecontinentsofParliamentarytufa，nowfallensowasteandmournful，hereisonelittlepiecewhichoughttobeextricatedintodaylight:——
"MR。VINER（onhislegs）:……’IfImistakenotthetrueintentionoftheAddressproposed，’inanswertohisMajesty’smostgraciousSpeechfromtheThrone，’weareinvitedtodeclarethatwewillopposetheKingofPrussiainhisattemptsuponSilesia:
adeclarationinwhichIseenothowanymancanconcurwhoKNOWS
NOTthenatureofhisPrussianMajesty’sClaim，andtheLawsoftheGermanEmpire[NORDOI，MR。V。]！Itoughttherefore，Sir，tohavebeenthefirstendeavorofthosebywhomthisAddresshasbeensozealouslysupported，toshowthathisPrussianMajesty’sClaim，sopubliclyexplained[BYKAUZLERLUDWIG，OFHALLE，WHO，ITSEEMS，HAS
STAGGEREDORCONVINCEDMR。VINER]，sofirmlyurgedandsostronglysupported，iswithoutfoundationandreason，andisonlyoneofthoseimaginarytitleswhichAmbitionmayalwaysfindtothedominionsofanother。’（HEARMRVINER！）"[Tindal，xx。491，givestheRoyalSpeech（DATEinaveryslobberycondition）；seealsoCoxe，HouseofAustria，iii。365。Viner’sFragmentofaSpeechisinThackeray，LifeofChatham，i。87。]……
Amostindispensablething，surely。Whichwasneverdone，norcaneverbedone；butwasassumedaseitherunnecessaryorelsedoneofitsownaccord，bythatCollectiveWisdomofEngland（withasageGeorgeII。attheheadofit）；whoplungedintoDettingen，Fontenoy，AustrianSubsidies，Aix—la—Chapelle，andfoundationoftheEnglishNationalDebt，amongotherstrangethings，inconsequence！——
UponthatofKanzlerLudwig，andthe"sopublicExplanation"（whichweslightlyheardoflongsince），hereisanotherNote，——unlessreadersprefertoskipit:——
"ThattheDiplomaticandPoliticalworldisuniversallyintravailatthistime，noreaderneedbetold；Europeeverywhereindimanxiety，heavy—ladenexpectation（whichtoushasfallensovacant）；lookingtowardsinevitablechangesandthehugeinane。
Allintravail；——andalreadyutteringprintedManifestoes，Patents，Deductions，andotherpublictravail—SHRIEKSofthatkind。
Printed；nottospeakoftheunprinted，oftheoralwhichvanishedonthespot；orevenofthewrittenwhichwereshotforthbybreathlessestafettes，andunhappilydidnotvanish，butlieinarchives，stillhumminguponus，"Won’tyoureadme，then？"——Alas，exceptoncompulsion，No！Lifebeingprecious（andtime，whichisthestuffoflife），No！——
"AtReinsbergaselsewhere，atReinsbergfirstofall，ithadbeenfelt，inOctoberlast，thattherewouldbeManifestoesneeded；
learnedProof，themoreirrefragablethebetter，ofourRighttoSilesia。Itwassettledthere，LetLudwig，KanzleroftheUniversityofHalle，doit。[HerrKanzlerLudwig，monsterofAntiquarian，LegalandotherLearningthere:wealthy，too，andclose—fisted；whomwehaveseenobligedtoopenhisclosedfist，andtodobuildingintheFriedrichStrasse，beforenow；
Nussler，hisson—in—law，havingnomoney:——ascarelessreadershaveperhapsforgotten？]Ludwigsetabouthisnewtaskwithaproudjoy。
Ludwigknowsthatstory，ifheknowanything。LongyearsagoheputforthaChapteruponit；weightyChapter；inaBookofweight，saidJudges；——Bookweighing，inpoundsavoirdupoisandotherwise，noneofusnowknowswhat:[TitleofthisweightyPerformance（seePreuss，Thronbesteigung，p。432）is，orwas（sizenotgiven），GermaniaPrinceps（Halae，1702）。Preusssaysfarther，"ThatBookii。c。3handlesthePrussianclaims:Jagerndorfbeing？13；Liegnitz，？14；OppelnandRatibor，？16；——andthatLudwighadsentaCopyofthisArgument[weightyPerformancealtogether？OrBookii。c。3ofit，whichwouldhavehadabetterchance？]toKingFriedrich，onthedeathofKaiserKarlVI。"]——but，inafteryears，itusedtobesaidbyflatterersoftheKanzler，’HerrKanzler，seetheeffectofLearning。Itwasyou，itwasyourweightyBook，thatcausedallthisWorld—tumult，andflungtheNationsintooneanother’shair！’
UponwhichtheoldKanzlerwouldblush:’Youdometoomuchhonor！’
"Ludwig，directlyonordergiven，gatheredouthisdocumentsagain，intheKing’snamethistime；andpromisedsomethingweightybyNew—year’sdayatlatest。"DoubtlesstothejoyofNussler，whohasstillnoregularappointment，thoughwelldeservingone。"Andsureenough，onJanuary7th）atBerlin，’inthreelanguages，’Ludwig’sDEDUCTIONhadcomeout；aneagerPublicwaitingforit:[Titleis，RechtsgegrundetesEigenthum（intheLatincopies，Patrimonium，andProprietefondeeenDroitintheFrenchcopies）des&c。，——thatistosay，LegalRightofPropetiyintheRoyal—ElectoralHouseofBrandenburgtotheDuchiesandPrincipalitiesofJagerndorf，Liegnitz，Brieg，Wohlau