"Ourgreat—grandfatherslivedinperpetualterrorthattheywouldbedevouredbyFrance；thatFrenchambitionwouldoversettheCelestialBalance，andproceednexttoeattheBritishNation。
Standuponyourguardthen，onewouldhavesaid:Looktoyourships，toyourdefences，toyourindustries；toyourvirtuesfirstofall，——yourVIRTUTES，manhoods，conformitiestotheDivineLawappointedyou；whicharethegreatandindeedsolestrengthtoanyManorNation！Disciplineyourselves，wisely，inallkinds；
moreandmore，tilltherebenoanarchicfibreleftinyou。
Unanarchic，disciplinedatallpoints，youmightthen，Ishouldsay，withsupremecomposure，letFrance，andthewholeWorldatitsback，trywhattheycoulddouponyouandtheuniquelittleIslandyouaresoluckyastolivein？——Foolishmortals:whatPotentialityofBattle，thinkyou（notagainstFranceonly，butagainstSatanasandtheMinistersofChaosgenerally），wouldapoorFriedrichWilhelm，nottospeakofbetter，havegotoutofsuchaPossession，haditbeenhistoputindrill！Anddrillisnotofsoldiersonly；
thoughperhapsofsoldiersfirstandmostindispensablyofall；
since’withoutBeing，’asmyFriendOliverwaswonttosay，’Well—
beingisnotpossible。’Thereismilitarydrill；thereisindustrial，economic，spiritual；graduallythereareallkindsofdrill，ofwisediscipline，ofperemptorymandatebecomeeffectiveeverywhere，’OBEYtheLawsofHeaven，orelsedisappearfromtheselatitudes！’Ahme，ifonedealtinday—dreams，andpropheciesofanEnglandgrowncelestial，——celestialsheshouldbe，notingoldnuggets，continentsallofbeef，andseasallofbeer，AbolitionofPain，andParadisetoAllandSundry，butinthatquitedifferentfashion；andthere，Ishouldsay，THEREwerethemagnificentHopetoindulgein！Thatweretomethe’CauseofLiberty；’andanythesmallestcontributiontowardsthatkindof’Liberty’wereasacredthing！——
"Belleisleagainmay，ifhepleases，callhistheCauseofSovereignty。ASovereignLouis，itwouldappear，hasnotgoverningenoughtodowithinhisownFrenchborders，butfeelscalledtoundertakeGermanyaswell；——agentlemanwithanimmensegoverningfaculty，itwouldappear？Truly，goodreader，Iamsickofheart，contemplatingthoseemptysovereignmountebanks，andemptyantagonistditto，withtheirCausesofLibertyandCausesofAnti—
Liberty；andcannotbutwishthatwehadgottheashesofthatWorld—Explosion，of1789，wellriddledandsmelted，andthepoorWorldwerequitofagreatmanythings！"——
MyConstitutionalHistorianofEngland，musingonBelleisleandhisAnti—Pragmaticindustriesandgrandiosities，——"howChief—BullyBelleislesteptdownintotheringasagayVolunteer，andfoolishChief—DefenderGeorgehadtofollowdismallyheroic，asaConscriptofFate，"——dropsthesewords:inregardtotheWagestheyrespectivelyhad:——
"NationsthatgointoWarwithoutbusinessthere，aresureofgettingbusinessastheyproceed；andifthebeginningwerephantasms，——especiallyphantasmsofthehoping，self—conceitedkind，——theresultsforthemareapttobeextremelyreal！AswasthecasewiththeFrenchinthisWar，andthosefollowing，inwhichhisBritannicMajestyplayedchiefcounter—tenor。From1741，inKingFriedrich’sFirstWar，onwardstoFriedrich’sThirdWar，1756—1763，thevolunteerFrenchfoundagreatdealofworklyingreadyforthem，——gratuitousontheirpart，fromthebeginning。
Andtheresultstothemcameout，firstcompletelyvisible，intheWorld—Miraclesof1789，andtheyearsfollowing！
"Nations，again，maybedrivenuponWarbyphantasmTERRORS，andgointoit，insorrowofheart，notgayetyofheart；andthatisashadebetter。AndonealwayspitiesapoorNation，insuchcase；——
astheveryDestiniesratherdo，andjudgeitmoremercifully。
Nay，thepoorbewilderedNationmay，amongitsbrain—phantasms，havesomethingofrealityandsanityinarticulatelystirringitwithal。ItmayhavearealordinanceofHeaventoaccomplishonthoseterms:——andIFso，itwillsometimes，inthemostchaoticcircuitousways，throughendlesshazards，atahundredorahundredthousandtimesthenaturalexpense，ultimatelygetitdone！
ThiswasthecaseofthepoorEnglishinthoseWars。
"TheywereWarsextraneoustoEnglandlittlelessthantoFrance；
neitherNationhadrealbusinessinthem；andtheyseemtousnowaverymadobjectonthepartofboth。Buttheywerenotgratuitouslygoneinto，onthepartofEngland；farfromthat。Englandundertookthem，withitsbigheartverysorrowful，strangespectralitiesbewilderingit；andmanagedthem（asmendosleep—walking）withagloomysolidityofpurpose，withaheavy—ladenenergy，and，onthewhole，withadepthofstupidity，whichwereverygreat。Yetlookattherespectivenetresults。FranceliesdowntorotintograndSpontaneous—Combustion，ApotheosisofSansculottism，andmuchelse；
whichstilllasts，toherowngreatperil，andthegreatafflictionofneighbors。PoorEngland，aftersuchenormousstumblingamongthechimney—pots，andsomnambulismoveralltheworldfortwentyyears，findsonawakening，thatsheisarrived，afterall，whereshewishedtobe，andagooddealfarther！Findsthatherownimportantlittleerrandissomehoworother，done；——and，inshort，that’Jenkins’sEar[asshenamedthething]HASbeenavenged，’andtheOceanHighways’opened’andagooddealmore，inamostsignalway！
FortheEternalProvidences——littleaspoorDryasdustnowknowsofit，mumblingandmaunderingthatsadstuffofhis——dorule；andthegreatsouloftheworld，Iassureyouoncemore，isJUST。
AndalwaysforaNation，asforaman，itisverybehoovefultobehonest，tobemodest，howeverstupid！"——
Bythistime，however，——Mollwitzhavingfallenout，andBelleislebeingevidentlyonthesteps，——hisBritannicMajestyrecognizesclearly，andinsistsuponit，strengthenedbyhisHarringtonsandeverybodyofdiscernment，That，nefariousornot，thisFriedrichwillrequiretobebargainedwith。That，farfrombreakinginuponhim，andpartitioninghim（howfarfromit！），thereisnoconceivablemethodofsavingtheCelestialBalancestillHEbesatisfied，insomeway。ThisistheonestephisBritannicMajestyhasyetmade，outofthesehischokingimbroglios；andtrulythisisone。Hyndford，hisbestnegotiator，isontheroadforFriedrich’sCamp；RobinsonatVienna，hasbeendirectedtosayandinsist，"Bargainwiththatman；hemustbebargainedwith，ifourCauseofLibertyistobesavedatall？"——
Andnow，havingopenedthedust—binsofar，thatthereader’sfancymightbestirredwithoutafflictiontohislungsandeyes，letusshutitdownagain，——mightwebuthopeforever！Thatistoofondahope。Butthebackgroundorsustainingelementmadeimaginable，thefeweventsdeservingmemorymaysurelygoonatamuchswifterpace。
ChapterII。
CAMPOFSTREHLEN。
Friedrich’sSilesianCampsthisSummer，CampofStrehlenchiefly，wereamongthestrangestplacesintheworld。Friedrich，aswehaveoftennoticed，didnotmuchpursuethedefeatedAustrians，atornearMollwitz，orpressthemtowardsflatruinintheirSilesianbusiness:itisclearheanxiouslywishedabargainwithoutfartherexasperation；andhopedhemightgetitbyjudiciouspatience。
Brieghetook，withthatfineoutburstofbombardment，whichdidnotlastaweek:butBriegoncehis，hefellquietagain；keptencamping，herethere，inthatMollwitz—Neisseregion，forabovethreemonthstocome；notdoingmuch，beyondtheindispensable；
negotiatingmuch，orrathernegotiatedwith，andwaitingonevents。
[InCampofMollwitz（nearerBriegthantheBattle—fieldwas）till28thMay（aftertheBattlesevenweeks）；thentoCampatGrotkau（28thMay—9thJune，twelvedays）；thence（9thJune）toFriedewalde，Herrnsdorf；toStrehlen（21stJune—20thAugust，nineortenweeksinall）。SeeHelden—Geschichte，i。924，ii。931；
Rodenbeck，Orlich，&c。]
BothArmieswerereinforcingthemselves；andFriedrich’s，forobviousreasons，inthefirstweeksespecially，becamemuchthestronger。OnceinMay，andagainafterwards，wearyofthepacethingswentat，hehadresolvedonhavingNeisseatonce；
onattackingNeipperginhisstrongcampthere，andcuttingshortthetediousjanglingsanduncertainties。HeadvancedtoGrotkauaccordingly，sometwelveorfifteenmilesnearerNeisse（28thMay，——stayedtill9thJune），quitewithinwindofNeippergandhisoutposts；butfoundstill，oncloserinspection，thathehadbetterwait；——anddosowithalatagreaterdistancefromNeippergandhisPandourSwarms。HedrewbackthereforetoStrehlen，northwestward，ratherfartherfromNeissethanbefore；andlayencampedtherefornineortenweekstocome。NottillthebeginningofAugustdidtherefalloutanymilitaryevent（Pandourskirmishinginplenty，hutnothingtocallanevent）；andnottilltheendofAugustanythatpointedtoconclusiveresults。AsitwasatStrehlenwheremostlytheseDiplomacieswenton，andtheCampofStrehlenwasthefinalandeverywaythemainone，itmaystandastherepresentativeoftheseDiplomatizingCampstous，andfigureasthesoleonewhichinfactitnearlywas。
StrehlenisapleasantlittleTown，nestledprettilyamongitsgraniteHills，thesteepleofitvisiblefromMollwitz；sometwenty—fivemileswestofBrieg，somethirtysouthofBreslau，andaboutasfarnorthwestofNeisse:thereFriedrichandhisPrussianslie，undercanvasmainly，withoutpostsanddetachmentssprinkledaboutunderroofs:——aCampofStrehlen，moreorlessimaginablebythereader。Andworthhisimagining；suchaCamp，ifnotforsoldiering，yetfornegotiatingandwaggingofdiplomaticwigs，asthereneverwasbefore。Here，strangelyshiftedhither，isthecentreofEuropeanPoliticsallSummer。FromtheutmostendsofEuropecomeAmbassadorstoStrehlen:fromSpain，France，England，Denmark，Holland，——therearesometimesnineatonce，howmanysuccessivelyandintotalIneverknew。[Helden—
Geschichte，i。932。]TheylodgegenerallyinBreslau；
butarealwaysrunningovertoStrehlen。Theresits，properlyspeaking，thegeneralSecretParliamentofEurope；andfrommostCountries，exceptAustria，representativesattendatStrehlen，orgoandcomebetweenBreslauandStrehlen，submissivetotheevilsoffield—life，whenneedis。Asurprisingthingenoughtomankind，andbigastheworldinitsownday；thoughgonenowtosmallbulk，——oneHumanFigureprettymuchallthatisleftofmemorableinittomankindandus。
FrenchBelleislewehaveseen；whoisgoneagain，longsince，onhiswideerrands；fatValoritoowehaveseen，whoisassiduouslyhere。Theotherfigures，excepttheEnglish，canremaindarktous。
OfMontijos，theeminentSpaniard，abrownlittleman，magnificentastheKingdomoftheIncas，withhalfapageoftitles（halfapeck，five—and—twentyormore，ofhandlestohislittlename，ifyoushouldeverrequireit）；who，findingmatterssobackwardatFrankfurt，andnothingtodothere，hasbeenout，intheinterim，touringtowhileawaythetedium；andishereonlyassequelandcorroborationofBelleisle，——sayasbottle—holder，orashigh—
wroughtpeacock’s—tail，toBelleisle:——oftheeminentMontijosI
havetorecordnexttonothingintheshapeofnegotiation（"Treaty"withtheTermagantwasonceproposedbyhimhere，whichFriedrichinhispolitestwaydeclined）；andshallmentiononly，Thathisdomesticarrangementsweresumptuousandcommodiousintheextreme。Lethimarriveinthemeanestvillage，destituteofhumanappliances，andbedirectedtothehutwhereheistolodge，——
straightwayfromthefourgonsandbaggage—chestsofMontijosisproduced，firstofall，aroundofarrashangings，portabletables，portablestove，goldplateandsilver；thus，withwax—lights，winesofrichestvintage，exquisitecookeries，Montijoslodges，akingeverywhere，creatinganAladdin’spalaceeverywhere；abletosay，liketheSageBias，OMNIAMEANAECUMPORTO。ThesethingsarerecordedofMontijos。Whathedidinthewayofnegotiationhasescapedmen’smemory，asitcouldwellaffordtodo。
OfHyndford’sappurtenancesforlodgingwealreadyhadaglimpse，throughBuschingonce；——pointingtowardssoliddinner—comfortsratherthanarrashangings；andjustifyingtheEnglishgeniusinthatrespect。TheweightofthenegotiationsfellonHyndford；
itisbetweenhimandFrenchValorithatthematterlies，Montijosandtheothersbeingmeresatellitesontheirrespectivesides。
Muchbatteredupon，thisHyndford，byrefractoryHanoverianspittingGeorgeasElectoragainstthesameGeorgeasKing，andeggingthesetwoidentitiestowofulbattlewitheachother，——
"LaymeathisMajesty’sfeet"fulllength，andlethisMajestysaywhichiswhich，then！Aheavy，eating，haggling，unpleasantkindofmortal，thisHyndford；bitesandgruntsprivately，inastupidferociousmanner，againstthisyoungKing:"Oneoftheworstofmen；whowillnottakeuptheCauseofLibertyatall，andisnotmadeintheimageofHyndfordatall。"Theyaredreadfullystiffreading，thoseDespatchesofHyndford:buttheyhaveparticlesofcurrentnewsinthem；interestingglimpsesofthatsameyoungKing；——likewiseofHyndford，laidathisMajesty’sfeet，andbeggingforselfandbrothersanygoodbeneficethatmayfallvacant。Wecandiscern，too，acertainroughtenacityandhorse—
dealerfinesseintheman；abroad—based，shrewdlypracticalScotchGentleman，wideawake；andcanconjecturethatthediplomaticfunction，inthatelement，mighthavebeeninworsehands。HeisoftenlaidmetaphoricallyattheKing’sfeet，KingofEngland’s；
andhauntspersonallytheKingofPrussia’selbowatalltimes，watchingeveryglanceofhim，likeaBritishhouse—dog，thatwillnotbetakeninwithsuspicioustravellers，ifhecanhelpit；
andcastingperpetualhoroscopesinhisdullmind。
OfFriedrichandhisdemeanorinthisstrangescene，centreofaWorldalldrawingsword，andjumblinginhugeDiplomaticandotherdeliriumabouthisears，thereaderwilldesiretoseeadirectglimpseortwo。AstothesadgeneralImbroglioofDiplomacieswhichthenwelteredeverywhere，readerscanunderstandthat，ithas，atthisday，fallenconsiderablyobscure（asitdeservedtodo）；andthatevenFriedrich’sshareofitisindistinctinparts。
Thegame，wideasEurope，andoneofthemostintricateeverplayedbyDiplomatichumancreatures，waskeptstudiouslydarkwhileitwenton；andithasnotsincebeenapleasantobjectofstudy。
ManyoftheDocumentsarestillunpublished，inaccessible；sothatthevariousmovesinthegame，especiallywhattheexactdatesandsequenceofthemwere（uponwhichallwouldturn），arenotcompletelyascertainable，——norintrutharetheymuchworthhuntingafter，throughsuchanelement。Onethingwecouldwishtohaveoutofit，theonethingofsanethatwasinit:thedemeanorandphysiognomyofFriedrichastheremanifested；Friedrichalone，orprettymuchaloneofalltheseDiplomaticConjurers，havingasolidveritableobjectinhand。Therest——thespidersareverywelcometoit:whoofmortalswouldreadit，wereitmadeneversolucidtohim？SuchtraitsofFriedrichascanbesiftedoutintotheconceivableandindubitablestate，thereadershallhave；theextinctBedlam，thatbegirdledFriedrichfarandwide，neednotberesuscitatedexceptforthatobject。OfFriedrich’sfairness，orofFriedrich’s"trickiness，machiavelismandattorneyism，"readerswillformtheirownnotion，astheyproceed。Ononepointtheywillnotbedoubtful，Thathereissuchasharpnessofsteadyeyesight（likethelynx’s，liketheeagle’s），and，privatelysuchacourageandfixityofresolution，asarehighlyuncommon。
April26th，1741，inthesamedayswhileBelleislearrivedintheCampatMollwitz，andwitnessedthatfineopeningofthecannonadeuponBrieg，ExcellencyHyndfordgottoBerlin；andonnotifyingtheevent，wasinvitedbytheKingtocomealongtoBreslau，andbeginbusiness。Englandhasbeenprofuseenoughinofferingher"goodofficeswithAustria"towardsmakingabargainforhisPrussianMajesty；butisbusyalso，attheHague，concertingwiththeDutch"somestrongjointresolution，"——resolution，OpenlytoadviseFriedrichtowithdrawhistroopsfromSilesia，bywayofstartingfairtowardsabargain。Averystrongresolution，theyandtheGazetteersthinkit；andaskthemselves，Isitnotlikelytohavesomeeffect？TheirHighMightinesseshavebeenscrewingtheircourage，andunderEnglishurgency，havedecided（April24th），[Helden—Geschichte，i。964；theADVICE
itself，averymild—spokenPiece，butofriskishnaturethinktheDutch，isgiven，ib。965，966。]"Yes，wewilljointlysoadvise！"
andFriedrichhasgotinklingofitfromRasfeld，hisMinisterthere。Hyndford’sfirstbusiness（weretheDutchExcellencyoncecomeup，butthoseDutcharealwayshangingastern！）istopresentsaid"Advice，"andtrywhatwillcomeofthat，An"Advice"nowfallentotallyinsignificanttotheUniverseandtous，——onlythatreaderswillwishtoseehowFriedrichtakesit，andifanyfeatureofFriedrichdisclosesitselfintheaffair。
EXCELLENCYHYNDFORDHASHISFIRSTAUDIENCE（CampofMollwitz，May7th）；ANDFRIEDRICHMAKESAMOST
IMPORTANTTREATY，——NOTWITHHYNDFORD。
May2d，HyndfordarrivedinBreslau；andaftersomepreliminaryflourishings，anddifficultiesaboutpost—horsesandfurnituresinaseatofWar，gottoBrieg；andthence，May7th，"totheCamp[CampofMollwitzstill]，whichisaboutanEnglishmileoff，"——
PodewilsescortinghimfromBrieg，andwhatwenotefarther，Pollnitztoo；ourpooroldPollnitz，somekindofChiefGoldstick，whomwedidnototherwiseknowtobeonactivedutyinthoserudescenes。BelleislehadpassedthroughBreslauwhileHyndfordwasthere:——"amunabletoinformyourLordshipwhatsuccesshehashad。"BriegSiegeisdoneonlythreedaysago；Castlealllyingblack；andthenewtrenchingandfortifyinghardlybegun。Inaword，May7th，1741，"about11A。M。，"ExcellencyHyndfordisintroducedtotheKing’sTent，andhashisFirstAudience。
Goldstickhavingdonehismotions，nonebutPodewilsisleftpresent；whositsatatable，takingnotesofwhatissaid。
Podewils’sNotesareinvisibletome；buthere，inauthenticthoughcarefullycompressedstate，isHyndford’sminuteNarrative:——
ExcellencyHyndfordmentionedtheInstructionshehad，asto"goodoffices，"friendshipandsoforth。"ButhisPrussianMajestyhadhardlypatiencetohearmeout；andsaidinapassion[werise，wherepossible，Hyndford’sownwording；readerswillallowfortheleadenqualityinsomeparts]:——
KING（inapassion）。"’Howisitpossible，myLord，tobelievethingssocontradictory？Itismightyfineallthisthatyounowtellme，onthepartoftheKingofEngland；buthowdoesitcorrespondtohislastSpeechtohisParliament[19thAprillast，whenMr。Vinerwasinsuchminorityofone]andtothedoingsofhisMinistersatPetersburg[aprettyPartition—Treatythat；
andtheExcellencyFinchstillbusy，asIknow！]andattheHague[ExcellencyTrevorthere，andthisbeautifulJoint—ResolutionandAdvicewhichiscoming！]tostirupalliesagainstme？IhavereasonrathertodoubtthesincerityoftheKingofEngland。
Theyperhapsmeantoamuseme。[ThatisFriedrich’srealopinion。
[HisLettertoPodewils（Ranke，ii。268）。]]But，byGod，theyaremistaken！Iwillriskeverythingratherthanabatetheleastofmypretensions。’"
PoorHyndfordsaidandmumbledwhathecould；knewnothingwhatinstructionsFinchhad，Trevorhad，and——
KING。"’MyLord，thereseemstobeacontradictioninallthis。
TheKingofEngland，inhisLetter，tellsmeyouareinstructedastoeverything；andyetyoupretendignorance！ButIamperfectlyinformedofall。AndIshouldnotbesurprisedif，afterallthesefinewords，youshouldreceivesomestrongletterorresolutionforme，’"——Joint—ResolutiontoAdvise，forexample？
Hyndford，notinthestrengthofconsciousinnocence，standssilent；theKing，"inhisheatofpassion，"saidtoPodewils:——
KINGTOPODEWILS（onthesudden）。"’Writedown，thatmyLordwouldbesurprised[asheshouldbe]toreceivesuchInstructions！’"（Amischievoussparkle，halfquizzical，halfpractical，considerablyintheFriedrichstyle。）——Hyndford，"quitestruck，myLord，withthisstrangewayofacting，"andofpokingintoone，protestswithangrygrunt，and"wasputextremelyuponmyguard。"OfcoursePodewilsdidnetwrite……
HYNDFORD。"’Europeisunderthenecessityoftakingsomespeedyresolution，thingsareinsuchastateofcrisis。Likeafeverinahumanbody，gottosuchaheightthatquinquinabecomesnecessary。’……Thatexpressionmadehimsmile，andhebegantolookalittlecooler……’ShallweapplytoVienna，yourMajesty？’
FRIEDRICH。"’Followyourownwillinthat。’
HYNDFORD。"’WouldyourMajestyconsentnowtostandbyhisExcellencyGotter’soriginalOfferatViennaonyourpart？
Agree，namely，inconsiderationofLowerSilesiaandBreslau，toassisttheQueenwithallyourtroopsformaintenanceofPragmaticSanction，andtovotefortheGrand—DukeasKaiser？’
KING。"’Yes’[whatthereadermaytakenoticeof，anddateforhimself]。
HYNDFORD。"’WhatwasthesumofmoneythenofferedherHungarianMajesty？’
"Kinghesitated，asifhehadforgotten；Podewilsanswered，’Threemillionflorins（300，000pounds）。’
KING。"’Ishouldnotvaluethemoney；ifmoneywouldcontentherMajesty，Iwouldgivemore。’……Herewasalongpause，whichIdidnotbreak；"——norwouldtheKing。Podewilsremindedmeofanideawehadbeendiscoursingoftogether（"onhissuggestion，myLord，whichIreallythinkisofimportance，andworthyourLordship’sconsideration"）；whereupon，onsuchhint，HYNDFORD。"’WouldyourMajestyconsenttoanArmistice？’
FRIEDRICH。"’Yes；but[countsonhisfingers，May，June，tillhecomestoDecember]notforlessthansixmonths，——tillDecember1st。Bythattimetheycoulddonothing，’"theseasonoutbythattime。
HYNDFORD。"’HisExcellencyPodewilshasbeentakingnotes；
ifIamtobeboundbythem，mightIfirstseethathehasmistakennothing？’
KING。"’Certainly！’"——Podewils’sNote—protocolisfoundtobecorrectineverypoint；Hyndford，withsomeslightflourishofcomplimentsonbothsides，bowshimselfaway（invitedtodinner，whichheaccepts，"willsurelyhavethathonorbeforereturningtoBreslau"）；——andsotheFirstAudiencehasended。[Hyndford’sDespatches，Breslau，5thand13thMay，1741。AreinState—PaperOffice，liketherestofHyndford’s；alsoinBritishMuseum（AdditionalMSS。11，365&c。），theroughdraughtsofthem。]
BaronayandPandoursareabout，——thisistendaysbeforetheZiethenfeatonBaronay；——butnoPandour，noworafterwards，willharmaBritishExcellency。
TheseutterancesofFriedrich’s，themoreweexaminethembyotherlightsthatthereare，becomethemorecorrectlyexpressiveofwhatFriedrich’srealfeelingswereontheoccasion。Muchcontrary，perhaps，toexpectationofsomereaders。AndindeedwewillhereadviseourreaderstopreparefordismissingaltogetherthatnotionofFriedrich’sduplicity，mendacity，finesseandthelike，whichwasoncewidelycurrentintheworld；andtoattendalwaysstrictlytowhatFriedrichsays，iftheywishtoguesswhatheisthinking；
——therebeingnosuchthingas"mendacity"discoverableinFriedrich，whenyoutakethetroubletoinformyourself。
"Mendacity，"myfriends？HowbusyhavetheOwlsbeenwithFriedrich’smemory，indifferentcountriesoftheworld；——perhapsevenmorethantheirsadwontisinsuchcases！Forindeedhewasapttobeofswiftabruptprocedure，disregardfulofOwleries；
andgavescopeformisunderstandinginthecourseofhislife。
Butaveraciousmanhewas，atallpoints；notevenconsciousofhisveracity；buthaditinthebloodofhim；andneverlookedupon"mendacity"butfromaverygreatheightindeed。Hedoesnot，exceptwheresuitable，atleasthenevershould，expresshiswholemeaning；butyouwillneverfindhimexpressingwhatisnothismeaning。Reticence，notdissimulation。Andasto"finesse，"——donotbelieveinthateither，inthevulgarorbadsense。Trulyyouwillfindhisfinesseisaveryfinething；andthatitconsists，notindeceivingotherpeople，butinbeingrighthimself；inwelldiscerning，forhisownbehoof，whatthefactsbeforehimare；andinsteering，whichhedoessteadily，inamostvigilant，nimble，decisiveandintrepidmanner，bymonitionofthesame。Nosalvationbutinthefacts。FactsareakindofdivinethingtoFriedrich；
muchmoresothantocommonmen:thisisessentiallywhatReligionIhavefoundinFriedrich。And，letmeassureyou，itisaninvaluableelementinanyman’sReligion，andhighlyindispensable，thoughsooftendispensedwith！Readers，especiallyinourtimeEnglishreaders，whowouldgaintheleastknowledgeaboutFriedrich，intheextinctBedlamwherehisworknowlay，haveagreatmanythingstoforget，andsadstrataofOwl—droppings，ancientandrecent，tosweepaway！——
ToFriedrichabargainwithAustria，whichwouldbeagettingintoport，incomparisoritogoingwiththeFrenchinthatdistractedvoyageoftheirs，ishighlydesirable。"ShallIjoinwiththeEnglish，inhopeofsometolerablebargainfromAustria？ShallI
havetojoinwiththeFrench，indespairofany？"ReadersmayconsiderhowstringentuponFriedrichthatquestionnowwas，andhowticklishtosolve。Anditmustbesolvedsoon，——underpenaltyof"beingleftwithnoallyatall"（asFriedrichexpresseshimself），whilethewholeworldisgroupingitselfintoarmedheapsforandagainst！IftheEnglishwouldbutgetmeabargain——？
Friedrichdarenotthinktheywill。Nay，scanningtheseEnglishincoherences，thesecontradictionsbetweenwhattheysayhereandwhattheydoandsayelsewhere，hebeginstodoubtiftheyzealouslywishit，——andatlasttobelievethattheysincerelydonotwishit；that"theymeantoamuseme"（ashesaidtoHyndford）
——tillmyFrenchchancetooisover。"Toamuseme:but，PAR
DIEU——！"HisNotestoPodewils，ofwhichRanke，whohasseenthem，givesussnatches，arevividinthatsense:"IshouldbeashamedifthecunningestItaliancoulddupeme；butthataloutofaHanoverianshoulddoit！"——andPodewilshasgreatdifficultytokeephimpatientyetalittle；Valoribeingsobusyontheotherside，andthetimesopressing。Herearesomedatesandsomecomments，whichthereadershouldtakewithhim；——hereisaverystrangeissuetotheJoint—Resolutionofastrongnaturenowonhand！
AfewdaysafterthatFirstAudience，GinkeltheDutchExcellency，withtheduePapersinhispocket，didarrive。ExcellencyHyndford，whoisnotwithoutroughinsightintowhatliesunderhisnose，discoversclearlythatthegrandDutch—EnglishResolution，orJoint—ExhortationtoevacuateSilesia，willdonothingbutmischief；and（athisownrisk，persuadingGinkelalsotodelay）
sendsaCouriertoEnglandbeforepresentingit。AndfromEngland，inaboutafortnight，getsforanswer，"Doharm，thinkyou？
Hm，ha！——Presentit，allthesame；andmodifybyassurancesafterwards，"——asifthesewouldmuchavail！ThisisnottheonlyinstanceinwhichSt。James’srejectsgoodadvicefromitsHyndford；thepitywouldbegreater，werenottheBusinesswhatitis！PodewilshasthegreatestdifficultytokeepFriedrichquiettillHyndford’scouriergetback。Andonhisgettingbackwithsuchanswer，"Presentitallthesame，"Friedrichwillnotwaitforthatceremony，ordelayamomentlonger。FriedrichhashadhisValoriatwork，allthiswhile；ValoriandPodewils，andendlesscorrespondenceandconsultationgoingon；andthingshypotheticallyalmostquiteready；sothat——
June5th，1741，Friedrich，spurringPodewilstotheutmostspeed，and"orderingsecrecyonpainofdeath，"signshisTreatywithFrance！Akindofprovisionaloff—and—onTreaty，Itakeittobe；
whichwasneverpublished，andisthoughttohavehadmanyIFSinit:sigusthisTreaty；——andnextday（June6th，suchistheimpetuosityofhaste）instructshisRasfeldattheHague，"YouwillbeforehandinformtheHighMightinesses，inregardtothatAdviceofApril24th，whichtheydeterminedongivingme，throughtheExcellencyHerrvonGinkelalongwithExcellencyHyndford，ThatsuchAdvicecan，byme，onlybeconsideredasablindcomplaisancetotheCourtofVienna’simproperurgencies，improperinsuchamatter。ThatforcertainIwillnotquitSilesiatillmyclaimsbesatisfied。AndthelongerIamforcedtocontinuewarringforthemhere，"wastingmoreresourceandriskuponthem，"thehighertheywillrise！"[Helden—Geschichte，i。963。]
AndthisiswhatcomesofthatterriblycourageousDutch—English"Joint—Resolutionofastrongnature；"ithasliterallycutbeforethepoint:theExhortationisnotyetpresented，buttheTreatywithFranceissignedinvirtueofit！——
UndoubtedlythisofJune5thisthemostimportantTreatyintheAustrian—SuccessionWar，andthecardinalelementofFriedrich’sprocedureinthatAdventure。Andithasneverbeenpublished；
nor，tillHerrProfessorRankegotaccesstothePrussianArchives，haseventhedateofsigningitbeenrightlyknown；butisgiventwoorthreewaysindifferentexpressCollectionsofTreaties。
[Scholl，ii。297（copying"Flassan，Hist。delaDiplom。
Franc。v。142"），gives"5thJuly"asthedate；
Adelung（ii。357，390，441）guessesthatitwas"inAugust；"Valori（i。108），whowashimselfinit，givesthecorrectdate，——butthenhisEditor（thoughtinquiringreaders）wassuchaslovenandignoramus。SeeStenzel，iv。143；Ranke，ii。274。]HerrRankeknowsthisTreaty，andthecorrespondences，especiallyFriedrich’scorrespondencewithPodewilspreparatorytoit；andspeaks，ashiswontis，severalexactthingsaboutit；thankstohim，inthecircumstances。Iwishitcouldbemade，evenwithhishelp，fullyintelligibletothereader！For，weretheTreatyneversoexpress，surelythemodeofkeepingit，onbothparts，wasverystrange；
andthatlatterconcernsussomewhat。
Averyfast—and—looseTreaty，toallappearance！OutwardlyitisamereTreatyofAlliance，eachpartyguaranteeingtheotherforFifteenYears；withoutmentionmadeofthejointBelleisleAdventurenowinthewind。Butthen，likethepostscripttoalady’sletter，therecome"secretarticles"bearinguponthatessentialitem:HowFrance，inthecourseofthiscurrentseason1741，istobringanArmyacrosstheRhineinsupportofitsfriendKur—BaiernVERSUSAustria；is，inthesametermoftime，tomakeSwedendeclarewaronRussia（importantforFriedrich，whoisneversureamomentthatthoseRussianswillnotbreakinuponhim）；
andfinally，mostimportantofall，ThatFrance"guaranteesLowerSilesiawithBreslautohisPrussianMajesty。"InreturnforwhichhisPrussianMajesty——willdowhat？Itisreallydifficulttosaywhat:BeatrueallyandsecondtoFranceinitsgrandGermanAdventure？Notatall。Friedrichdoesnotyetknow，nordoesBelleislehimselfquiteprecisely，whatthegrandGermanAdventureis；andFriedrich’swishesneverwere，norwillbe，fortheprosperityofthat。SupportFrance，atleastinitssmallBavarianAnti—AustrianAdventure？Bynomeansdefinitelyeventhat。
"MaintainmyselfinLowerSilesiawithBreslau，andfightmybesttosuchend:"reallythat，youmightsay，isinsubstancethemostofwhatFriedrichundertakes；thoughinarticulatelyhefindshimselfboundtomuchmore，——andwillfranklygointoit，IFyoudoasyouhavesaid；andunlessyoudo，willnot。NeverwasamorecontingentTreaty:"unlessyoustirupSweden，Messieurs；unlessyouproducethatRhineArmy；unless——"suchissteadilyFriedrich’sattitude；longafterthis，herefusestosaywhomhewillvoteforasKaiser:"FortuneofWarwilldecideit，"answershe，inregardtothatandtomanyotherthings；andkeepshimselftoanincomprehensibleextentloose；ready，forweeksandmonthsafter，tomakebargainonhisownSilesianAffairwithanybodythatcan。
[Ranke，ii。271，275，280。]
ForindeedtheFrenchalsoareverycontingent；Fleuryhangingoneway，Belleislepushinganother；andknownothowfartheywillgoonthegrandGermanAdventure，norconclusivelywhetheratall。
HereisanAnecdotebyFriedrichhimself。Valoriwas，onenight，withhim；and，onrisingtotakeleave，thefathand，stickingprobablyinthebigwaistcoat—pocket，twitchedoutalittlediplomatic—lookingNote；whichFriedrich，withgentleadroitness（permissibleinsuchcircumstances），sethisfootupon，tillValorihadbowedhimselfout。TheNotewasfromAmelot，FrenchMinisteroftheForeignDepartment:"Don’tgivehisPrussianMajestyGlatz，ifitcanpossiblybehelped。"Verywell，thoughtFriedrich；anddidnotforgetthefinelittleNoteonburningit。[OEuvresdeFrederic，ii。90。]Therewent，inFrenchcouriers’
bags，agreatmanysuch，toAustriasomeofthem，offarmorequestionabletenor，withinthenexttwelvemonths。
Twothingswehavetoremark:FIRST，ThatFriedrich，withaneyetorealbusinessonhispartintheBavarianAdventure，inwhichKur—Pfalzissuretoaccompany，volunteered（likearealmanofbusiness，andmuchtoBelleisle’ssurprise）torenouncetheBerg—
Julichcontroversy，andletKur—Pfalzhavehisway，thattheremightbenoquarrellingamongallies。Thistooiscontingent；
butwasgladlyacceptedbyBelleisle。SECOND，ThatBelleislehadinstructedValori，NottoinsistonactivehelpfromFriedrichintheGermanAdventure，butmerelytostipulateforhisNeutralitythroughout，incasetheycouldgetnomore。HowjoyfullywouldFriedrichhaveacceptedthis，——hadValorivolunteeredwithit，whichhedidnot！[Ranke，ii。280。]But，afterall，inresultitwasthesame；andhadtobe，——PLUSonlyagreatdealofclamorbyandby，fromtheFrenchandtheGazetteers，abouttheArticleinquestion。
WasthereeversocontingentaTreatybefore？Itissigned，Breslau，5thJune，1741，andbothpartieshavetheirhandsloose，andmakeuseoftheirlibertyformonthstocome；nay，insomesort，allalong；feelinghowcontingentitwas！Friedrichdidnotdefinitelytiehimselftill4thNovembernext，fivemonthsafter:
whenhesignedtheFrench—BavarianTreaty，renouncedBerg—Julichcontroversies，andfairlywentintotheFrench—Bavarian，smallerFrenchAdventure；intothegreater，orwide—wingedBelleisleone，heneverwentnorintendedtogo，——perhapseventhecontrary，ifneedful。Readersmaytrytoremembertheseelucidativeitems，riddledfromtheimmensitiesofDryasdust:Ihavenomoretogive，norcanaffordtoreturnuponit。Maynotwewellsay，asabove，"ATreatythoughttohavemanyIFSinit！"——Andnow，8thJune，comessolemnlytheJoint—Resolutionitself；likemustard（underaflourishoftrumpets）threedaysafterdinner:——
"CAMPOFGROTKAU，8thJUNE。HyndfordandGinkel[thesamerespectableoldGinkelwhomweusedtoknowinFriedrichWilhelm’stime]，having，accordingtorenewedorder，gotoutfromBreslauwiththatformidableDutch—English’Advice’orJoint—Exhortationintheirpocket，didthisdayintheCampatGrotkaupresentthesame。
Averymild—spokenPiece，thoughithadrequiredsuchcourage；
andwhichisnotnowworthspeakingof，thingshavinggoneaswesee。Friedrichreceiveditwithagraciousmien:’InfinitelysensibletothetroublehisBritannicMajestyandtheirHighMightinessestookwithhisaffairs；Documentshouldreceivehisbestconsideration，’——whichindeedithasalreadydone，anditsAnswerwithal:AFRENCHTreatysignedthreedaysago，invirtueofit！’MightIrequestashortPrivateAudienceofyourMajesty？’
solicitsHyndford，intendingtomodifybynewassurances，asbidden。——’Surely，’answersFriedrich。
"ThetwoExcellenciesdinewiththeKing，whoisinhighspirits。
Afterdinner，HyndfordgetshisPrivateAudience；doeshisbestinthewayof’newassurances；’whichproducewhateffectwecanfancy。Amongotherthings，heappealstotheKing’s’magnanimity，howgrandandgenerousitwillbetoacceptmoderatetermsfromAustria，to——’KING（interrupting）:’MyLord，don’ttalktomeofmagnanimity，aPrince[actingnotforhimselfbutforhisNation]
oughttoconsulthisinterestinthefirstplace。IamnotagainstPeace:butIexpecttohaveFourDuchiesgivenme。’"[State—PaperOffice（Hyndford，Breslau，12thJune，1741）。]
HyndfordandGinkelsleptthatnightinGrotkauTown:"at4nextmorningtheKingsentusword，ThatifwehadamindtoseetheArmyonmarch，"justmovingoff，Strehlenway，"wemightcomeoutbytheNorthGate。"WeaccordinglysawthewholeArmyleaveCamp；
andmarchinfourcolumnstowardsFriedewald，whereMarshalNeippergisencamped。"Notabitofit，yourExcellency！NeippergissafeatNeisse；amidinaccessibleembankmentsandartificialmud:andthesearemereHussar—Pandourrabbleouthere；whomapushortwosendshomeagain，——woulditcouldkeepthemthere！Buttheyareofsylvan（orSALVAGE）nature，affectingtheshade；andburstout，fortheftandarson，sometimesatgreatdistances，nocalculatingwhere。"TheKing’sArmylayallthatnightupontheirarms，andencampednextmorning，the10th。Ibelievenothinghappenedthatday，forwewereobligedtostayatGrotkau，forwantofpost—horses，agoodpartofit。"
Hyndfordhears（insecretOppositionCircles，andlaystheflatteringunctiontohissoulandyourLordship’s）:"TheKingofPrussia’sArmy，asIaminformed，unlesshewilltakecounsel，anothercampaignwillgoneartoruin。Everythingisinthegreatestdisorder；utmostdejectionamongsttheOfficersfromhighesttolowest；"——factbeingthattheKinghasimportantimprovementsandnewdrillingsinview（togoonatStrehlen），Cavalryimprovements，Artilleryimprovements，unknowntoHyndfordandtheOpposition；andwillnotberuinednextcampaign。"Ihopethenewswehavehere，ofthetakingofCarthagena，istrue，"
concludeshe。Alas，yourExcellency！
Byadifferenthand，fromthesouthwardHungarianregions，farovertheHills，takethisotherentry；almostofenthusiasticstyle:——
"PRESBURG，25thJUNE。MariaTheresa，inhighspiritsaboutherEnglishSubsidyandthebrightaspects，leftViennaaboutaweekagoforPresburg[adriveoffiftymilesdownthefineDonaucountry]；andiscelebratingherCoronationthere，asQueenofHungary，inaverysublimemanner。Sunday，25thJune，1741，thatisthedayofputtingonyourCrown，——IronCrownofSt。Stephen，asreadersknow。TheChivalryofHungary，fromPalfyandEsterhazydownward，andalltheworldarethere；shininginloyaltyandbarbaricgoldandpearl。AtrulybeautifulYoungWoman，beautifultosoulandeye，devouttooandnoble，thoughill—informedinPoliticalorotherScience，isinthemiddleofit，andmakesthescenestillmorenoticeabletous。See，asthefinishoftheceremonies，shehasmountedahighswifthorse，swordgirttoherside，——agreatrideralways，thisyoungQueen；——andgallops，Hungaryfollowinglikeacomet—tail，totheKonigsberg[KING’S—HILL
socalled；nogreatthingsofaHill，Oreader；madebybarrow，youcansee]，tothetopoftheKonigsberg；theredrawssword；
andcuts，grandlyflourishing，totheFourQuartersoftheHeavens:
’Letanymortal，fromwhateverquartercoming，meddlewithHungaryifhedare！’[Adelung，ii。293，294。]ChivalrousHungaryburstsintopassionateacclaim；oldPalfy，Icouldfancy，intotears；andalltheworldmurmurstoitself，withmoist—gleamingeyes，’REX
NOSTER！’Thisis，infact，thebeautifulestKingorQueenthatnowis，thisradiantyoungwoman；beautifulthingshavebeen，andaretobe，reportedofher；andshehasaterriblevoyagejustahead，——
littledreamingofitatthisgrandmoment。IwishhisBritannicMajesty，orRobinsonwhohasfollowedouthither，couldpersuadehertosomecomplianceontheSilesianmatter:whatathingwerethat，forherself，andforallmankind，justnow！Butshewillnothearofthat；andisveryobstinate，andherstupidHofrathsequallyandmuchmoreblamablyso。DeaftohardFactsknockingattheirdoor；ignorantwhatNoah’s—Delugeshavebrokenoutuponthem，andarerushingoninevitable。"
Byanotablecoincidence，preciselywhilethosesword—flourishingsgoonatPresburg，MarechalExcellencyBelleisleismakinghisPublicEntryintoFrankfurt—on—Mayn:[25thJune，1741（Adelung，ii。
399）。]Frankfurttooisincheeryemotion；streetspopulouswithSundaygazers，andcriticsofthesublimeinspectacle！ThisisnotBelleisle’sfirstentrance；hehimselfhasbeenheresometime，settlinghisHousehold，andagoodmanythings:buttodayhesolemnlyleadsinhisCountessandAppendages（overfromMetz，whereMadameandheofficiallyresideincommontimes，"GovernorofMetz，"oneofhismanyoffices）；——leadsinMadame，insuitablyresplendentmanner；tokindlehouseholdfire，asitwere；
andindicatethathereishisplace，tillhehavegotaKaisertohismind。TwinPhenomena，thesetwo；goingon500milesapart；
unconsciousofoneanother，orofwhatkinshiptheyhappentohave！——
EXCELLENCYROBINSONBUSYINTHEVIENNAHOFRATHCIRCLES，TOPRODUCEACOMPLIANCE。
BritannicGeorge，bothforPragmatic’ssakeandfordearHanover’s，desiresmuchtherewereabargainmadewithFriedrich:HowisthePragmatictobesavedatall，ifFriedrichjoinFranceinitsBelleislemachinations，thinksGeorge？AndalreadyhereisthatCampofGottin，glitteringinviewlikeadrawnswordpointedatone’sthroatoratone’sHanover。Nay，inamonthortwohence，astheBelleisleschemesgotabovegroundintheshapeoffacts，thisdesirebecamepassionate，andabargainwithPrussiaseemedtheonethingneedful。For，alas，thereaderwillseetherecomes，aboutthattime，asecondsword（theMailleboisArmy，namely），pointedatone’sthroatfromtheFrenchsideofthings:sothataPaladinofthePragmatic，andHanoverianKingofEngland，knowsnotwhichwaytoturn！George’ssincerityofwishisperhapsunderratedbyFriedrich；whoindeedknowswellenoughonwhichsideGeorge’swisheswouldfall，iftheyhadliberty（whichtheyhavenot），butmuchoverrates"theastucity"ofpoorGeorgeandhisEnglish；
ascribing，asisoftendone，tofine—spunattorneyismwhatismerecunctation，ignorance，negligence，andotherformsofastupidityperhapsthemosthonestintheworld！BydegreesFriedrichunderstoodbetter；buthenevermuchlikedtheEnglishwaysofdoingbusiness。George’sdesireisabundantlysincere，notwhollyrestingonsublimegrounds；andgrowsmoreandmoreintenseeveryday；butcouldnotbegratifiedforagoodwhileyet。
Co—operatingwithHyndford，fromtheViennaside，isExcellencyRobinson；whohasastillharderjobofitthere。PitypoorRobinson，OEnglishreader，ifyoucanforindignationatthebusinessheisin。SavingtheLibertiesofEurope！thinksRobinsonconfidently:FoundingtheEnglishNationalDebt，answersFact；
anddoingBottomtheWeaver，withlongears，inthemiserablestPickleherringTragedythateverwas！——ThisisthesameRobinsonwhoimmortalizedhimself，nineortenyearsago，bytheFirstTreatyofVienna；thrice—salutaryTreaty，whichDISJOINEDAustriafromBourbon—SpanishAlliances，andbroughtherintothearmsofthegratefulSea—Powersagain。ImminentDownfalloftheUniversewasthus，glorytoRobinson，arrestedforthattime。AndnowwehavethesameRobinsoninstructedtosharpenallhisfacultiestothecuttingpitch，anddotheimpossibleforthisnewandreversefaceofmatters。Whatachangefrom1731to1741！BugbearofdreadfulAustrian—SpanishAlliancedissolvesnowintosunlitclouds，encirclingabeautifulAustrianAndromeda，abouttobedevouredforus；andtheDownfalloftheUniverseisagainimminent，fromSpainandothersjoiningAGAINSTAustria。Oh，yewigs，andeximiouswig—
blocks，calledright—honorable！Ifaman，sovereignorother，weretostaywellathome，andmindhisownvisibleaffairs，trustingagooddealthattheUniversewouldshiftforitself，mightitnotbebetterforhim？Robinson，whowritesratheraheavystyle，butisfullofinextinguishableheavyzealwithal，willhaveagreatdealtodointhesecomingyears。AncestorofcertainvaluableEarlsthatnoware；authorofimmeasurablequantitiesoftheDiplomaticcobwebsthatthenwere。
ToamodernEnglishreaderitisverystrange，thatAustriansceneofthingsinwhichpoorRobinsonispuffingandlaboring。
Theineffablepride，theobstinacy，impotency，ponderouspedantryandhelplessnessofthatdulloldCourtanditsHofraths，isnearlyinconceivabletomodernreaders。Stupiddilapidationisinalldepartments，andhaslongbeen；allthingslazilycrumblingdownwards，sometimesstumblingdownwithgreatplunges。Cashisdone；theworldrising，allround，withplunderousintentions；
andhungryRuin，youwouldsay，comingvisiblyonwithseven—leagueboots:hereislittleroomforcarryingyourheadhighamongmankind。Highneverthelesstheydocarryit，withagrandlymournfulthoughstolidinsolentair，asifbornsuperiortothisEarthanditswisdomsandsuccessesandmultiplication—tablesandironramrods，——reallywith"acertaingreatness，"sayssomebody，"greatnessasofgreatblockheadism"inthemselvesandtheirneighbors；——and，likesomeabsurdoldHindooIdol（crockeryIdolofSomnauth，forinstance，withthebellyofhimsmashedbybattle—
axes，andthecart—loadofgoldcoinallrunout），persuademankindthattheyareagod，thoughindilapidatedcondition。Thatisourfirstimpressionofthething。
Butagain，betterseeninto，thereisnotwantiugacertainworthilysteadfast，conservativeandbroad—basedhighair（remindingyouof"Killourownmutton，Sir！"andtheancientEnglishToryspecies），solidandloyal，thoughstolidAncientAustrianTories，thatdefinitionwillsufficeforus；——andToryismtoo，thereadermayrelyonit，ismuchpatronizedbytheUpperPowers，andgoesalongwayinthisworld。Nay，withoutagoodsolidsubstratumofthat，whatthing，withneversomanyballot—
boxes，stump—orators，andlibertiesofthesubject，iscapableofgoingatall，exceptswiftlytoperdition？TheseAustrianshavetakenagreatdealofruining，firstandlast！TheirrelationtothethenSea—Powers，especiallytoEnglandembarkedontheCauseofLiberty，fillsonewithamazement，bynomeansofanidolatrousnature；andisdifficulttounderstandatall，ortobepatientwithatall。
OfdispositiontocomplywithPrussia，Robinsonfinds，inspiteofMollwitzandthesadexperiences，notraceatVienna。ThehumoratViennaisobstinatelydefiant；simplytoregardFriedrichasahousebreakerorthiefinthenight；whomtheywillsoondealwith，weretheyonceonfootandimplementsintheirhand:"Swift，yeSea—Powers；wherearetheimplements，thecash，thatmeansimplements？"TheYoungHungarianMajestyherselfismagnificentlyofthatopinion，whichissanctionedbyherBartensteinsandwisestHofraths，withhardlyadissentient（oldSinzendorfalmostaloneinhiscontrarynotion，andhesoondies）。RobinsonurgesthedangersfromFrance。NoHofrathherewillallowhimselftobelievethem；
tobelievethemwouldbetoohorrible。"Dependuponit，France’sintentionsarenotthatway。Andattheworst，ifFrancedoriseagainstus，itisbutbargainingwithFrance；bettersothanbargainingwithPrussia，surely。FrancewillbecontentablewithsomethingintheNetherlands；whatelsecanshewantofus？
Paringsfromthatoutskirt，whatarethesecomparedwithSilesia，ahorridgashintothevitalparts？AndwhatisyieldingtotheKingofFrance，comparedwithyieldingtoyourPrussianKing！"——
Itistruetheyhavenomoney，theseblinddullpeople；butarenottheSea—Powers，Englandespecially，there，createdbyNaturetosupplymoney？WhatelseistheirpurposeinCreation？ByNature’slaw，astheSunmountsintheEclipticandthenfalls，theseSea—
Powers，intheCauseofLiberty，willfurnishusmoney。
Nosurrender；talknottomeofSilesiaorsurrender；Iwilldiedefendingmyinheritances:whataretheSea—Powersabout，thattheydonotfurnishmoremoneyinapromptmanner？ThesearethethingspoorRobinsonhastolistento:RobinsonandEngland，itisself—
evidentatVienna，haveoneduty，thatoffurnishingmoney。Andinapromptmanner，ifyouplease，Sir；whynotpromptandabundant？
AnEnglishsoulhassmallexhilaration，lookingintothoseoldexpenditures，andbullyingsforwantofpromptitude！ButifEnglishsoulswillsolemnly，underhighHeaven，constituteaDukeofNewcastleandaGeorgeII。theirCaptainsofthemarchHeavenward，andsay，withoutblushingforit，nayrejoicingatit，inthefaceofthesun，"YouarethemostgodlikeTwowecouldlayholdofforthatobject，"——whathaveEnglishsoulstoexpect？Myconsolationis，and，alas，itisapoorone，themoneywouldhavebeenmostlywastedanyway。Buymenandgunpowderwithyourmoney，tobeshotawayinforeignparts，withoutrenownoruse:isthatsomnchworsethanbuyingridiculousupholsteries，idleluxuries，frivolities，andintheendunbeautifulpot—belliescorporealandspiritualwithit，hereathome？Iamstrucksilent，lookingatmuchthatgoesonunderthesestars；——andfindthatmisappointmentofyourCaptains，ofyourExemplarsandGuidingandGoverningindividuals，higherandlower，isafatalbusinessalways；andthatespecially，ashighestinstanceofit，whichincludesallthelowerones，thisofsolemnlycallingChiefCaptain，andKingbytheGraceofGod，agentlemanwhoisNOTso（andSEEMStobesomainlybyMaliceoftheDevil，andbytheverygreatandnearlyunforgivableindifferenceofMankindtoresisttheDevilinthatparticularprovince，forthepresent），isthedeepestfountainofhumanwretchedness，andtheheadmendacitycapableofbeingdone！——
AsforthebraveyoungQueenofHungary，myadmirationgoeswiththatofalltheworld。Notinthelanguageofflattery，butofevidentfact，theroyalqualitiesaboundinthathighyoungLady；
hadtheylefttheworld，andgrowntomerecostumeelsewhere，youmightfindcertainofthemagainhere。Mostbrave，highandpious—
minded；beautifultoo，andradiantwithgood—nature，thoughoftemperthatwilleasilycatchfire:thereisperhapsnonoblerwomanthenliving。Andshefrontstheroaringelementsinatrulygrandfemininemanner；asifHeavenitselfandthevoiceofDutycalledher:"TheInheritanceswhichmyFathersleftme，wewillnotpartwiththese。Death，ifitsomustbe；butnotdishonor:——Listennottothatthiefinthenight！"MariaTheresahasnotstudied，atall，theHistoryoftheSilesianDuchies；sheknowsonlythatherFatherandGrandfatherpeaceablyheldthem；itwasnotshethatsentoutSeckendorftoride25，000miles，orbroketheheartofFriedrichWilhelmandhisHousehold。PityshehadnotcompliedwithFriedrich，andsavedsuchriversofbitternesstoherselfandmankind！Buthowcouldsheseetodoit，——especiallywithlittleGeorgeatherback，andabundanceofmoney？This，forthepresent，ishermethodoflookingatthematter；thismagnanimous，heroic，andoccasionallysomewhatfemaleone。
HerHusband，theGrandDuke，aninert，butgood—tempered，well—
conditionedDukeafterhissort，goeswithher。Himweshallseetryvariousthings；andatlengthtaketobankingandmerchandise，andevenmeal—dealingonthegreatscale。"OurArmieshadmostpartoftheirmealcircuitouslyfromhim，"saysFriedrich，oftimeslongsubsequent。NowasalwayshefollowsloyallyhisWife’slead，nevershehis:Wifebeing，intrinsicallyaswellasextrinsically，thebetterman，whatothercanhedo？——OfcompliancewithFriedrichinthisCourt，thereispracticallynohopetillafteragreatdealofbeatinghaveenlightenedit。OutofdeferencetoGeorgeandhisardors，theypretendsomeintentionthatway；andare"willingtobargain，yourExcellency；"——nodoubtofit，providedonlythepricewerenexttonothing！
Andso，whilethewatchfuledaciousHyndfordisdoinghisbestatStrehlen，poorRobinson，blownintotripleactivity，correspondsinaboundlesszealousmannerfromVienna；andatlasttakestoflyingpersonallybetweenStrehlenandVienna；prayingtheinexorableyoungQueentocomplyalittle，andthentheinexorableyoungKingtobesatisfiedwithimaginarycompliance；andhasabreathlesstimeofitindeed。HisDespatches，passionatelylong—winded，areexceedinglystiffreadingtothelikeofus。Oreader，whatthingshavetobereadandcarefullyforgotten；whatmountainsofdustandashesaretobedugthrough，andtumbleddowntoOrcus，todisengagethesmallestfractionoftrulymemorable！Wellif，intencubicmilesofdustandashes，youdiscoverthetongueofashoe—
bucklethathasoncebelongedtoamanintheleastheroic；
andwipeyourbrow，invokingthesupernalandtheinfernalgods。
Myheart’sdesireistocompresstheseStrehlenDiplomatichorse—
dealingsintothesmallestconceivablebulk。Andyethowmuchthatisnotmetal，thatismerelycinders，hasgotthrough:impossibletoprevent，——maytheinfernalgodsdealwithit，andreduceDryasdusttolimits，oneday！Here，however，areimportantPublicNewstranspiringthroughtheoldGazetteers:——
"MUNCHEN，JULY1st[orineffectafewdayslater，whentheLettersDATEDJuly1sthadgonethroughtheircircuitousformalities]，[Adelung，ii。421。]KarlAlbertKur—BaiernpubliclydeclareshimselfCandidatefortheKaisership；as，privately，hehadlongbeenrumoredandbelievedtobe。Kur—Baiern，theysay，hasofmilitiasandregularstogetherabout30，000menonfoot，allpostedingoodplacesalongtheAustrianFrontier；anditiscommonlythought，thoughlittlecredibleatVienna，thatheintendsinvadingAustriaaswellascontestingtheElection。TowhichtheViennaHofrathanswersinthestyleof’Pshaw！’
"VERSAILLES，11thJULY。ExtraordinaryCouncilofState；Belleislebeingthere，homefromFrankfurt，totakefinalorders，andgetofficialfiatputuponhisschemes。’AllthePrincesoftheBloodandalltheMarechalsofFranceattend；’questionis，HowtheWaristobe，nay，WhetherWaristobeatall，——socontingentistheFrench—PrussianBargain，signedfiveweeksago。OldFleury，togivefreedomofconsultationandvote，quitstheroom。Someareofopinion，onePrinceoftheBloodemphaticallyso，ThatPragmaticSanctionshouldbekept，atleastWarAGAINSTitbeavoided。
Butthecontraryopiniontriumphs，Kinghimselfbeingstronglywithit；Belleisletobesupremeinfieldandcabinet；shallexecute，likeakindofDictatororVice—Majesty，byhisownmagnificenttalent，thosemagnificentdevisingsofhis，glorioustoFranceandtotheKing。[Ib。417，418；seealsoBaumer，p。104（ifyoucanforhisdate，whichisgiveninOLDSTYLEasifitwereinNew；averyeclipsingmethod！）。]Thesemanymonths，theFrenchhavebeenarmingwiththeirwholemight。TheViennapeoplehearnow，Thatan’Armyof40，000isrumoredtobecoming，’oreventwoArmies，40，000
each；butwillnotimaginethatthisiscertain，orthatitcanbeseriouslymeantagainsttheirhighHouse，precioustogodsandmen。
BelleislehavingperfectedthemultiplexArmydetails，rushesbacktoFrankfurtandhisendlessDiplomaticbusinesses（July25th）:
Armiestobeonactualmarchbythe10thofAugustcoming。
’DuringthisVersaillesvisit，hehadsuchacrowdofOfficersandgreatpeoplepayingcourttohimaswasliketheKing’sLeveeitself。’[Barbier，ii。305。]
"PASSAU，31stJULY。PassauistheFrontierAustrianCityontheDonau（meetingoftheInnandDonauValleys）；aplaceofconsiderablestrength，andakeyorgreatpositionformilitarypurposes。Austrian，orQuasi—Austrian；for，likeSalzburg，ithasaBishopclaimingsomeimaginarysovereignties，butalwaysholdswithAustria。July31st，earlyinthemorning，aBavarianExciseman（’Salt—Inspector’）appliedatthegateofPassauforadmission；
gatewasopened；——alongwiththeExciseman’certainpeasants’
（disguisedBavariansoldiers）pushedin；heldthegatechoked，tillGeneralMinuzzi，KarlAlbert’sGeneral，withhorse，foot，cannon，whohadbeenlurkingcloseby，likewisepushedin；andatonceseizedtheTown。Townspeedilysecured，MinuzziinformstheBishop，wholivesinhisSchlossofOberhaus（strongishplaceonaHill—
top，othersidetheDonau），Thathelikewise，underpainofbombardment，mustadmitgarrison。ThepoorBishophesitates；
but，findingbombardmentactuallyreadyforhim，yieldsinabouttwohours。KarlAlbertpublisheshisManifesto，’inforty—fivepagesfolio’[Adelung，ii。426。]（totheeffect，’AllAustriamine；
orasgoodasall，——ifIliked！’）；andfortifieshimselfinPassau。
’Insidious，nefarious！’shrieksAustria，inCounter—Manifesto；
calculatesprivatelyitwillsoonsettleKarlAlbert，——’Unless，OHeavens，FrancewithPrussiadidmeantobackhim！’——andbeginstohavemisgivings，inspiteofitself。"
Misgivings，whichsoonbecamefatalcertainties。Robinsonrecords，doubtlessonsurebasis，thoughnotdatingit，acuriouspieceofstage—effectintheformofreality；"Onhearing，beyondpossibilityofdoubt，thatPrussia，France，andBavariahadcombined，thewholeAulicCouncil，"ViennaHofrathinabody，"fellbackintotheirchairs[andmetaphoricallyintoRobinson’sarms]
likedeadmen！"[Raumer，p。104。]Satstaringthere；——thewindstruckoutofthem，butnotallthefollybyagreatdeal。
Now，however，isRobinson’stimetoplythem。
EXCELLENCYROBINSONHASAUDIENCEOFFRIEDRICH
（CampofStrehlen，7thAugust，1741）。
Byunheard—ofentreatiesnudconjurations，aidedbythesestrokesoffate，RobinsonhasatlengthextortedfromhisQueenofHungary，andherwiseHofraths，somethingresemblingaphantasmofcompliance；withwhichhehurriestoBreslauandHyndford；
hopingagainsthopethatFriedrichwillacceptitasareality。
GetstoBreslauonthe3dofAugust；thencetoStrehlen，consultingmuchwithHyndforduponthisphantasmofacompliance。Hyndfordlooksbutheavilyuponit；——fromus，inthisplace，farbeittolookatall:——alas，thisisthefamedScenetheyTwohadatStrehlenwithFriedrich，onMonday，August7th；reportedbythefaithfulpenofRobinson，andvividlysignificantofFriedrich，wereitbutcompressedtotheduepitch。WewillgiveitintheformofDialogue:thethingofitselffallsnaturallyintotheDramatic，whentheflabbypartsarecutaway；——andwasperhapsworthierofaShakspearethanofaRobinson，allfactsofitconsidered，inthelighttheyhavesincegot。
SceneisFriedrich’sTent，PrussianCampintheneighborhoodofthelittleTownofStrehlen:time11o’clockA。M。Personagesofit，TwoBritishsubjectsinthehighDiplomaticline:ponderousScotchLordofanedaciousgloomycountenance；floridYorkshireGentlemanwithimportantProposalsinhispocket。Costume，frizzledperukepowdered；frills，wrist—frillsandother；shoe—buckles，flappedwaistcoat，court—coatofantiquecutandmuchtrimming:allthisshallbeconceivedbythereader。TightyoungGentlemaninPrussianmilitaryuniform，bluecoat，buffbreeches，boots；withalertflashingeyes，andcarelesselegantbearing，salutescourteously，raisinghisplumedhat。Podewilsincommondress，whohasenteredescortingtheotherTwo，sitsrathertorearward，takingrefugebesidethewritingapparatus。——FirstpassagesoftheDialogueI
omit:merepickeeringsandbeatingsaboutthebush，beforewecometoclosequarters。ForRobinson，thefloridYorkshireGentleman，ischargedtooffer，——whatthinksthereader？——twomillionguilders，about200，000pounds，ifthatwillsatisfythisyoungmilitaryKingwiththealertEyes！
ROBINSON……"’Twohundredthousandpoundssterling，ifyourMajestywillbepleasedtoretireoutofSilesia，andrenouncethisenterprise！’
KING。"’RetireoutofSilesia？Andformoney？Doyoutakemeforabeggar！RetireoutofSilesia，whichhascostmesomuchtreasureandbloodintheconquestofit？No，Monsieur，no；thatisnottobethoughtof！Ifyouhavenobetterproposalstomake，itisnotworthwhiletalking。’Thesewordswereaccompnniedwiththreateninggesturesandmarksofgreatanger；"considerablystaggeringtotheTwoDiplomaticBritishgentlemen，andofevilomentoRobinson’sphantasmofacompliance。Robinsonapologeticallyhumsandhahs，floundersthroughthebadbitofroadashecan；flounderinglyindicatesthathehasmoretooffer。
KING。"’Letusseethen（VOYONS），whatistheremore？’
ROBINSON（withpreliminaryflourishingsandflounderings，yetconfidently，asnowtablinghisbestcard）……"’PermittedtoofferyourMajestythewholeofAustrianGuelderland；liescontiguoustoyourMajesty’sPossessionsintheRhineCountry；
importantcompletionofthese:Iampermittedtosay，thewholeofAustrianGuelderland！’Importantindeed:adirtystripeofmoorland（ifyoulookinBusching），aboutequivalenttohalfadozenparishesinConnemara。
KING。"’Whatdoyoumean？[turningtoPodewils]——QU’EST—CEQUENOUS
MANQUEDETOUTELAGUELDRE（HowmuchofGuelderlandistheirs，andnotoursalready）？’
PODEWILS。"’Almostnothing（PRESQUERIEN）。
KING（toRobinson）。"’VOICIENCOREDEGUEUSERIES（moreragsandrubbishyet）！QUOI，suchapaltryscraping（BICOQUE）asthat，forallmyjustclaimsinSilesia？Monsieur——！’HisMajesty’sindignationincreasedhere，allthemoreasIkeptaprofoundsilenceduringhishotexpressions，anddidnotspeakatallexcepttobeghisMajesty’sreflectionuponwhatIhadsaid。——
’Reflection？’"askstheKing，witheyesdangeroustobehold；——
"MyLord，"continuesRobinson，heavilynarrative，"hiscontemptofwhatIhadsaidwassogreat，"kickinghisbootthroughGuelderlandandtheguildersasthemostcontemptibleofobjects，"andwasexpressedinsuchviolentterms，thatnow，ifever（asyourLordshipperceives），itwastimetomakethelasteffort；"playourtrump—carddownatonce；"amomentlongerwasnottobelost，tohindertheKingfromdismissingus；"whichsaddestinyisstilltooprobable，afterthetrump—card。Trump—cardisthis:
ROBINSON……"’ThewholeDuchyofLimburg，yourMajesty！ItisaDuchywhich——’IextolledtheDuchytotheutmost，describeditinthemostfavorableterms；andadded，that’theElectorPalatine[oldKur—Pfalz，ononeoccasion]hadbeenwillingtogivethewholeDuchyofBergforit。’
PODEWILS。"’Pardon，Monsieur:thatisnotso；thecontraryofso；
Kur—PfalzwasnotreadytogiveBergforit！’——[WearenotdeepinGermanHistory，weBritishDiplomaticgentlemen，whoaresquandering，nowandofold，somuchmoneyonit！TheAulicCouncil，"fallsintoourarmslikedeadmen；"butitiscertaintheElectorPalatinewasnotreadytogiveBerginthatkindofexchange。]
KING。"’ItisinconceivabletomehowAustriashoulddaretothinkofsuchathing。Limburg？AretherenotsolemnEngagementsuponAustria，sanctionedandagainsanctionedbyalltheworld，whichrendereveryinchofgroundintheNetherlandsinalienable？’
ROBINSON。"’EngagementsgoodasagainsttheFrench，yourMajesty。
OtherwisetheBarrierTreaty，confirmedatUtrecht，wasforourbehoofandHolland’s。’
KING。"’Thatisyourpresentinterpretation，ButtheFrenchpretenditwasanarrangementmoreintheirfavorthanagainstthem。’
ROBINSON。"’YourMajesty，byalittleEngineerArt，couldrenderLimburgimpregnabletotheFrenchorothers。’
KING。"’Havenottheleastdesiretoaggrandizemyselfinthoseparts，orspendmoneyfortifyingthere。Uselesstome。AmnotI
fortifyingBriegandGlogau？Theseareenough:foronewhointendstolivewellwithhisneighbors。NeithertheDutchnortheFrenchhaveoffendedme；norwillIthembyacquisitionsintheNetherlands。Besides，whowouldguaranteethem？’
ROBINSON。"’TheProposalistogiveguaranteesatonce。’
KING。"’Guarantees！Whomindsorkeepsguaranteesinthisage？
HasnotFranceguaranteedthePragmaticSanction；hasnotEngland？
Whydon’tyouallflytotheQueen’ssuccor？’"——Robinson，inclinedtopout，ifhedurst，intimatesthatperhapstherewillbesuccorersonedayyet。
KING。"’Andpray，Monsieur，whoarethey？’
ROBINSON。"’Hm，hm，yourMajesty……Russia，forexample，whichPowerwithreferencetoTurkey——’
KING。"’Good，Sir，good（BEAU，MONSIEUR，BEAU），theRussians！Itisnotpropertoexplainmyself；butIhavemeansfortheRussians’
[aSwedishWarjustcominguponRussia，tokeepitshandinuse；
sodiligenthavetheFrenchbeeninthatquarter！]。