AboutNew—year’sday，1755，Braddock，withhisTwoRegimentsandcompletedapparatus，gottosea。Arrived，20thFebruary，atWilliamsburginVirginia（"atHampden，nearthere，"ifanybodyisparticular）；foundnowthatthiswasnottheplacetoarriveat；
thathewouldlosesixweeksofmarching，bynothavinglandedinPennsylvaniainstead。FoundthathisStoreshadbeenmispackedatCork，——thatthishadhappened，andalsothat；——and，inshort，thatChaoshadbeenveryconsiderablyprevalentinthisAdventureofhis；anddidstill，inallthatnowlayroundit，muchprevail。
Poorman:verybrave，theysay；butwithoutknowledge，exceptoffield—drill；aheartofiron，butbrainmostlyofpipe—clayquality。Amansevereandrigorousinregimentalpoints；
contemptuousoftheColonialMilitias，thatgatheredtohelphim；
thrice—contemptuousoftheIndians，whowereavitalpointintheEnterpriseahead。Chaosisverystrong，——especiallyifwithinoneselfaswell！PoorBraddocktooktheColonialMilitiaRegiments，ColonelWashingtonasAide—de—Camp；tooktheIndiansandAppendages，ColonialChaosmuchpresiding:andafterinfinitedelaysandconfusedhagglings，gotonmarch；——2，000regular，andofallsortssay4，000strong。
Gotonmarch；sprawledandhaggleduptheAlleghanies，——suchaCommissariat，suchawagon—service，aswasseldomseenbefore。
PoorGeneralandArmy，hewasliketobestarvedoutright，atonetime；hadnotacertainMr。Franklincometohim，withcharitableoxen，with500pounds—worthprovisionsliveanddead，subscribedforatPhiladelphia，——MrBenjaminFranklin，sincecelebratedoveralltheworld；whodidnotmuchadmirethisiron—temperedGeneralwiththepipe—claybrain。[Franklin’sAUTOBIOGRAPHY；
Gentleman’sMagazine，xxv。378。]Thereupon，however，Braddocktooktheroadagain；sprawledandstaggered，atthelonglast，tothetop；"atthetopoftheAlleghanies，15thJune；"——andforwarddownuponFORTDUQUESNE，"roadsnearlyperpendicularinsomeplaces，"attherateof"fourmiles"andevenof"onemileperday。"Muchwoodallabout，——andthe400Indianstorear，inadespisedanddisgustedcondition，insteadofbeingvanwardkeepingtheirbrightestoutlook。
July8th，BraddockcrossedtheMonongahelawithouthindrance。
July9th，waswithintenmilesofFORTDUQUESNE；ploddingalong；
marchingthroughawood，when，——AmbuscadeofFrenchandIndiansburstoutonhim，FrenchwithdefencesinfrontandstoreofsquattedIndiansoneachflank，——whoatonceblewhimtodestruction，himandhisEnterpriseboth。Hismenbehavedveryill；
sensibleperhapsthattheywerenotledverywell。Wednesday，9thJuly，1755，aboutthreeintheafternoon。Histworegimentsgaveonevolleyandnomore；utterlyterror—struckbythenovelty，bythemisguidance，asatPrestonpansbefore；shot，itwaswhispered，severaloftheirownOfficers，whowerefuriouslyrallyingthemwithwordandsword:ofthesixtyOfficers，onlyfivewerenotkilledorwounded。Bravemencladinsoldier’suniform，victimsofmilitaryChaos，andmiraculousNescience，inthemselvesandinothers:cantherebeamoredistressingspectacle？
Imaginaryworkersarealltragical，inthisworld；andcometoabadend，soonerorlater，theyortheirrepresentativeshere:
buttheImaginarySoldier——heispaidhiswages（heandhispoorNationare）ontheverynail！
Braddock，refusingtofallbackasadvised，hadfivehorsesshotunderhim；washimselfshot，inthearm，inthebreast；wascarriedoffthefieldinadeath—stupor，——forwardallthatnight，nextdayandnext（toFortCumberland，seventymilestorear）；——andonthefourthdaydied。TheColonialMilitiashadstoodtheirground，ColonelWashingtonnowofsomeuseagain；——whowererankedwelltorearward；andabletoreceivetheambuscadeasanopenfight。
Stoodstriving，foraboutthreehours。Andwouldhavesavedtheretreat；hadtherebeenaretreat，insteadofapanicrout，tosave。ThepoorGeneral——ebbinghomewards，heandhisEnterprise，hourafterhour——rousedhimselftwiceonly，foramoment，fromhisdeath—stupor:once，thefirstnight，toejaculatemournfully，"Whowouldhavethoughtit！"Andagainonce，hewasheardtosay，daysafter，inatoneofhope，"Anothertimewewilldobetter！"whichwerehislastwords，"deathfollowinginafewminutes。"
Weary，heavy—ladensoul；deepSleepnowdescendingonit，——softsweetcataractsofSleepandRest；suggestinghope，andtriumphoversorrow，afterall:——"Anothertimewewilldobetter；"andinfewminuteswasdead！[ManuscriptJOURNALOFGENERALBRADDOCK’S
EXPEDITIONIN1755（BritishMuseum:King’sLibrary，271e，King’sMss。212）:raw—material，this，oftheOfficialAccount（LondonGazette，August26th，1755），whereitisfaithfullyenoughabridged。WillperhapsbeprintedbysomeinquiringPITTSBURGHER，oneday，aftergoodstudyonthegrounditself？Itwasnottill1758thatthebonesoftheslainweregotburied，andtheinfantPittsburg（nowsobusyandsmoky）rosefromtheashesofFORTDUQUESNE。]
TheColonialPopulations，whohadbeenthinkingofTriumphalArchesforBraddock’sreturn，arestrucktothenadirbythisnews。
FrenchandIndiansbreakovertheMountains，harrying，burning，scalping；theBlackSettlersflyinward，withhorroranddespair:
"AndtheHomeGovernment，too，canproveabrokenreed？Whatistobecomeofus；whoseisAmericatobe？"——Andinfact，undersuchguidancefromHomeGovernmentsandColonial，thereisnosayinghowthemattermighthavegone。Tomenofgoodjudgment，andwatchingonthespot，itwas，foryearscoming，anominousdubiety，——thechancesratherfortheFrench，"whounderstandwar，andareallunderonehead。"[GovernorPownal’sMemorial（ofwhichINFRA），inThackeray’sLifeofChatham。]ButtherehappenstobeinEnglandaMr。Pitt，withroyaleyesmoreandmoreindignantlysetonthisBusiness；andinthewombofTimethereliecombinationsandconjunctures。IftheHeavenshavesodecreed！——
TheEnglishhad，beforethis，despatchedtheirAdmiralBoscawen，towatchcertainWar—ships，whichtheyhadheardtheFrenchwerefittingoutforAmerica；andtointerceptthesame，bycaptureifnototherwise。Boscawenisontheoutlook，accordingly；descriesaFrenchfleet，CoastofNewfoundland，firstdaysofJune；losesitagaininthefogsoftheGulf—Stream；buthas，June9th（amonthbeforethatofBraddock），comeupwithTwoFrigatesofit，and，aftershortbroadsiding，madeprizesofthem。Andnow，onthisBraddockDisaster，orderswent，"ToseizeanddetainallFrenchShipswhatsoever，tillsatisfactionwerehad。"And，beforetheendofthisYear，about"800Frenchships（value，say，700，000pounds）"
wereseizedaccordingly，whereseizableontheirwateryways。
WhichtheFrench（"ourownconductinAmericabeingsoundeniablyproper"）characterizedasutterpiracyandrobbery；——andgettingnoredressuponit，bydemandinthatstyle，hadtotakeitasnobetterthanmeaningOpenWarDeclared。[Paris，December21st，1755，MinisterRouille’sRemonstrance，withmenace"UNLESS——:"London，January13th，1756，SecretaryFox’sreply，"WELLTHEN，NO！"Dueofficial"DeclarationofWar"followed:ontheEnglishpart，"17thMay，1756；""9thJune，"ontheFrenchpart。]
ChapterXV。
ANTI—PRUSSIANWAR—SYMPTOMS:FRIEDRICHVISIBLEFOR
AMOMENT。
TheBurningofAKAKIA，andthosefoolishMaupertuis—VoltaireDuellings（bysyringeandpistol）hadbynomeansbeenFriedrich’soneconcern，atthetimeVoltairewentoff。Preciselyinthosesamemonths，Carnival1752—1753，KingFriedrichhad，inaprofoundlyprivatemanner，comeuponcertainextensiveAnti—PrussianSymptoms，Austrian，Russian，Saxon，ofamostdangerous，abstruse，butatlengthindubitablesort；andis，eversince，prosecutinghisinvestigationofthem，asathingoflifeanddeathtohim！
SymptomsthattheremaywellbeaTHIRDSilesianWarripeningforward，inevitable，andofweightierandfiercerqualitythanever。SotheSymptomsindicatetoFriedrich，withafatallyincreasingclearness。And，oflate，hehastoreflectwithal:
"IftheseFrench—EnglishtroublesbringWar，ourSymptomswillberipe！"As，infact，theyprovedtobe。
KingFriedrich’sinvestigationsanddecisionsonthismatterwillbetouchedupon，fartheron:butreaderscantake，inthemeantime，thefollowingsmallDocumentaryPieceasNoteofPreparation。
ThefactsshadowedforthareoftheseYearsnowcurrent（1752—1755），thoughthisjudicialDepositiontotheFactsisofulteriordate（1757）。
Inthecourseof1756，aswillwellappearfartheron，itbecamemanifesttotheSaxonCourtandtoalltheworldthatsomebodyhadbeenplayingtraitorintheDresdenArchives。Somebody，especiallyintheForeignDepartment；copyingfurtively，andimpartingtoPrussia，Despatchesofthemostsecret，thrice—secretandthrice—
dangerousnature，whichlierepositedthere！Whocanhavedoneit？
Guesses，researcher，weremany:atlengthsuspicionfellononeMenzel，aKANZELLIST（GovernmentClerk），ofgoodsocialrepute，andsuperiorofficialability；whoisnothimselfintheForeignDepartmentatall；butwhosewayofliving，orthelikesign，hadperhapsseemedquestionable。In1757，Menzel，andtheSaxonCourtanditsbusinesses，wereallatWarsaw；Menzeldreamingofnodisturbance，butprosecutinghisaffairsasformerly，——when，oneday，September24th（theslot—hounds，longscentingandtracking，beingnowatthemark），MenzelandanAssociateofhisweresuddenlyarrested。Confrontedwiththeircrimes，withtheproofsinreadiness；andnextday，——madeaclearConfession，findingthematterdesperateotherwise，Copyofwhich，inNotarialform，exactandindisputable，thereadershallnowsee。Asthisstory，ofFriedrichandtheSaxonArchives，wasveryfamousintheworld，andmythiccircumstancesareprevalent，letusglanceintoitwithourowneyes，sincethereisopportunityinbriefcompass。
"EXTRACTUSPROTOCOLLORUMININQUISITIONS—SACHEN，"——THATISTO
SAY，EXTRACTOFPROTOCOLSININQUEST"CONTRAFRIEDRICH
WILHELMMENZELANDJOHANNBENJAMINERFURTH。"
"ATWARSAW，25thSEPTEMBER，1757:Thisday，intheKing’sName，inpresenceofLegationsrathvonSaul，HofrathFerbersandKriegsrathvonGotzetheUndersigned:ExaminationoftheKabinets—KanzellistMenzel，arrestedyesterday，andnowbroughtfromhisplaceofarresttotheRoyalPalace；——who，ADMONITUSDEDICENDAVERITATE，madeanswers，totheeffectfollowing:——
"HisnameisFriedrichWilhelmMenzel；agethirty—eight；isasonofthelateHofrathandPrivy—referendaryMenzel，whoformerlywasintheKing’sservice，anddiedafewyearsback。HasbeenseventeenyearsKanzellistattheGEHEIMECABINETS—CANZLEI（SecretArchive）；hadtakentheoathwhenheenteredonhisoffice。
"AcknowledgessomeSlipsofPaper（ZETTEL），nowshowntohim，tobehishandwriting:theycontainednewsintendedtobecommunicatedtothePrussianSecretaryBenoit，nowresidinghere"，atDresdenformerly。
"Confessesthathehasemployed，hereaswellaspreviouslyinDresden，hisBrother—in—law，thejourneymangoldsmithErfurth（whowaslikewisearrestedyesterday），toconveytothePrussianSecretaries，PlessmannandBenoit，suchpiecesanddespatchesfromtheSecretCabinet，especiallytheForeigndepartment，ashe，Menzel，wantedtocommunicatetosaidPrussianSecretaries。
"Confesseshavingreceived，bydegrees，sincetheyear1752，fromthePrussianMinister（ENVOYE）vonMahlzahn，andtheSecretariesPlessmannandBenoit，forsuchcommunications，thesumof3，000
thalers（450pounds）inall。
"Wasledintothesetreasonablepracticesbythefollowingcircumstance:Heowedatthattime100thalersonaPromissoryNote，toacertainRhenitz，whothenlived（HIELTSICHAUF）atDresden，andwhopressedhimmuchforpayment。Ashepleadedinabilitytopay，Rhenitzhintedthathecouldputhimintothewayofgettingmoney；andaccordingly，atlast，tookhimtothethenPrussianSecretaryHecht，atDresden；bywhomhewasatoncecarriedtothePrussianMinistervonMahlzahn；whogavehim100
thalers（15pounds），withtherequesttocommunicatetohim，nowandthen，newsfromtheArchiveoftheCabinet。ForalengthoftimePrisonercouldnotaccomplishthis；asthesaidVonMahlzahnwantedPiecesfromtheForeignOffice，andespeciallytheCorrespondencewiththetwoImperialCourtsofAustriaandRussia。
Thesepaperswerelockedinpresses，whichPrisonercouldnotgetat；moreover，theCourthad，inthemeantime，gonetoWarsaw，PrisonerremainingatDresden。Inthatway，manymonthspassedwithouthisbeingabletocommunicateanything；till，atlast，aboutDecember，1752，theSecretaryPlessmanngavehimawholebunchofkeys，whichweresaidtobesentbyPrivy—counsellorEichelofPotsdam[whomweknow]，totrywhetheranyofthemwouldunlockthepressesoftheForeignDepartment。Butnoneofthemwould；andPrisonerreturnedthekeys；pointingout，however，whatalterationswererequiredtofitthekeyhole。
"And，aboutthreeweeksafterthis，PlessmannprovidedPrisonerwithanothersetofkeys；amongwhichonedidunlocksaidpresses。
WiththiskeyPrisonernowrepeatedlyopenedthepresses；
andprovidedPlessmann，wheneverrequired，——oftenest，withPetersburgDespatches。Hadalso，threeyearsago（1754），hereinWarsaw，communicatedViennaDespatches，threeorfourtimes，toBenoit；especiallyonSundaysandThursdays，whichwereslackdays，nobodyintheOfficeaboutnoon。
"TheactualfirstoftheseCommunicationsdidnottakeplacetillafterEaster—Fair，1753；Prisonernothaving，tillsaidFair，receivedthesecondbunchofkeysfromPlessmann。NowandthenhehadtocommunicateFrenchDespatches。WheneverhegaveoriginalDespatches，hereceivedthembackshortlyafter，andreplacedtheminthepresses。DuringthispresentstayoftheCourtatWarsaw，hascommunicatedlittletoBenoitexceptfromtheCIRCULARS
[LegationNEWS—LETTERS]，whenhefoundanythingnoteworthyinthem；
also，nowandthen，thePonikauDespatches[PonikaubeingattheReich’sDiet，incircumstancesinterestingtous]。Hasreceived，onetimeandanother，several100thalersfromBenoit，sincetheCourtcamehitherlast。"——（AndsoEXITMenzel。）
"HereupontheSecondPrisonerwasbroughtin；——whodeposedasfollows:——
"HeisnamedJohannBenjaminErfurth；agoldsmithbytrade；
agethirty—two；thePrisonerMenzel’sBrother—in—law。
"ConfessesthatMenzelhadmadeuseofhim，atDresden，duringoneyear:todeliver，severaltimes，sealedpaperstothePrussianSecretaryPlessmann，orrathermostlytoPlessmann’sservant。
Alsothat，hereinWarsaw，hehashadtocarryDespatchestoBenoit，andtodeliverthemintohisownhands。LatterlyhehasdeliveredtheDespatchestocertainPrussianpeasants，whostoppedatBenoit’s，andwhoalwaysrelievedeachother；andeverytime，theonewhowentawaydirectedPrisoner，inturn，tohimthatarrived。
"HereceivedfromMenzel，yesterdaytowardsnoon，asmallsealedpacket，whichhewastoconveytothePrussianpeasantwhohadmadeanappointmentwithhimatthePrussianOffice（HOF）here。Butashewasgoingtotakeit，andhadjustgotoutsideofthePalaceCourt，acorporaltookholdofhimandarrestedhim。
Confesseshavingconcealedtheparcelinhistrousers—pocket，andtohavedeniedthathehadanythinguponhim……ACTUMUTSUPRA。"
Signed"GOTZE"（withtitles）。
"Nextday，September26th，Menzelre—examined；answersineffectfollowing:——
"PlessmannneverhimselfcameintotheArchiveOfficeatDresden；
excepttheonetime[atimethatwillbenotabletous！]whenthePrussiansweretheretotakeawaythePapersbyforce；
thenPlessmannwaswiththem，"——andwewillrememberthecircumstance。
"BeforeleavingDresdenforPoland，lastYear（1756），he，Menzel，hadreturnedthesaidkeytoPlessmann；whogavehimothersforusehere。Afterhisarrivalhere，hereturnedthesekeystoBenoit，inthepresenceofErfurth；saying，theywereofnousetohim，andthathecouldnotgetattheDespatcheshere。Prisonerfartherdeclares，thatitwastheMinistervonMahlzahnwho，ofhisownaccord，andquiteatthebeginning，madetheproposalconcerningthekeys；andwhenPlessmannbroughtthekeys，hesaidexpresslytheywerefortheMinister，alongwithfiftythalers，whichhe，Menzel，receivedatthesametime。ACTUMUTSUPRA。"Signedasbefore。[Helden—Geschichte，v。677（asBEYLAGEorAppendixtotheKur—Sachsen"PROMEMORIAtotheReich’sDiet；"ofdate，Regensburg，31stJanuary，1758）。]
WecouldgivesomeofthestolenPieces，too；buttheyareofabstrusetenor，andwouldbemereenigmastoreadershere。
EnoughthatFriedrichunderstandsthem。ToFriedrich’sintenseandlong—continuedscrutiny，theyindicate，whatisnexttoincredible，butisatlengthfatallyundeniable，ThattheoldTREATY，whichwecalledOFWARSAW，"TreatyforPartitioningPrussia，"isstill（inspiteofallsubsequentandsuperincumbentTreatiestothecontrary）vigorouslyaliveunderground；thatSaxonBruhlandherHungarianMajesty，towhomisnowaddedCzarishMajesty，arefixedaseveroncuttingdownthisafflictive，tooaspiringKingofPrussiatothesizeofaBrandenburgElector；busy（intheseMenzelDocuments）consideringhowitmaybedone，especiallyhowthebear—
skinmaybeSHARED；——andthat，inshort，thereliesahead，inevitableseemingly，andnotfaroff，aThirdSilesianWar。
Whichpunctuallycametrue。TheTHIRDSILESIANWAR——sincecalledSEVEN—YEARSWAR，thatprovingtobethelengthofit——isnownear。
Breaksout，hastobreakout，August，1756。TheheaviestanddireststruggleFriedricheverhad；thegreatestofallhisProwesses，AchievementsandEndurancesinthisworld。And，onthewhole，thelastthatwasverygreat，orthatislikelytobememorablewithPosterity。Uponwhich，accordingly，wemusttryourutmosttoleavesomenotuntruenotioninthisplace:andthatonceDONE——
Courage，reader！
FRIEDRICHISVISIBLE，INHOLLAND，TOTHENAKEDEYE，FOR
SOMEMINUTES（June23d，1755）。
In1755itwasthatVoltairewrote，notthefirstLetter，butthefirstverynotableone，tohisRoyalFriend，aftertheirgreatquarrel:[Dated"TheDELICES，nearGeneva，4thAugust，1755"（inRodenbeck，i。287；inOEuvresdeFrederic，
xxiii。7；notgivenbyanyoftheFrenchEditors）。]seductivelyrepentant，andoh，sotrue，sotender；——RoyalFriendstillobstinate，whoanswersnothing，oranswersonlythroughDePrades:
"Yes，yes，weareaware！"AnditwasinthesameYearthatFriedrichfirstsawD’Alembert，——Voltaire’ssuccessor，inasense。
Andfartheron（1stNovember，1755），thattheEarthquakeofLisbonwent，horriblycrashing，throughthethoughtsofallmortals，——
thoughtsofKingFriedrich，amongothers；whosereflectionsonit，Iapprehend，arestingy，snarlinglycontemptuous，ratherthanvaliantandpious，andneednotdetainushere。Onethingonlywewillmention，foranaccidentalreason:ThatFriedrich，thisYear，madeashortruntoHolland，——andthatactualmomentarysightofhimhappenstherebytobestillpossible。
InSummer，1755，aftertheWest—CountryReviews，andashortJourneyintoOst—Friesland，whencetoWeselontheRhine，——whitherFriedrichhadinvitedD’Alemberttomeethim，whomhefinds"UN
TRES—AIMABLEGARCON，"likelyforthetaskinhand，——FriedrichdecidedonarunintoHolland:strictlyINCOGNITO，accompaniedonlybyBalbi（Engineer，aGenoese）andonepage。BadehisD’Alembertadieu；andleftWeselthitherwardJune19th。[Rodenbeck，i。287。]
AtAmsterdamheviewedtheBramkampPicture—Gallery，theillustriousCountry—houseofJewPintoatTULPENBURG（Tulip—
borough！）……"Isawnothingbutwhim—whams（COLIFICHETS），"sayshe:"IgavemyselfoutforaMusicianoftheKingofPoland；"
woreablackwigmoreover，"andwasnowhereknown:"[
OEuvres，xxvii。i。268（"Potsdam，28thJune，1755；"
andib。p。270），toWilhelmina，whoisnowonthereturnfromherItalianJourney。UNCERTAINAnecdotesofadventuresamongthewhim—whams，inRodenbeck，&c。]——and，forfinis，gotintothecommonPassage—Boat（TREKSCHUIT，nodoubt）forUtrecht，thathemightseetheotherfineCountry—housesalongtheVechte。FineenoughCountry—houses，——notmudandsedgesthemainthing，asidlereadersthink。ToArnheimuptheVechteinthismanner；WeselandhisownCountryjustathandagain。
NowithappenedthatayoungSwiss——poorenoughinpurse，butnotwithouttalentandeyesight，assistantTeacherinsomeBoarding—
schoolthereabouts；nameofhimDeCatt，agetwenty—seven，"bornatMorgesnearGeneva1728"——hadgotholiday，orhadgoterrand，poorgoodsoul；haddecided，onthissameday（23dJune，1755），togotoUtrecht，andsosteptintotheveryboatwhereFriedrichwas。
Hehimself（inaLetterwrittenlongaftertoEditorLAVEAUX）shalltellustherest:——
"AsIcouldn’tgetintotheROEF（cabin）becauseitwasallengaged，IstayedwiththeotherpassengersintheSteerage（DANS
LABARQUEMEME），andtheweatherbeingfine，cameupondeck。
Aftersometime，theresteptoutoftheCabinamanincinnamon—
coloredcoatwithgoldbutton—HOLES；inblackwig；faceandcoatconsiderablydustedwithSpanishsnuff。Helookedfixedlyatme，forawhile；andthensaid，withoutfartherpreface，’Whoareyou，Monsieur？’Thiscavaliertonefromanunknownperson，whoseexteriorindicatednothingveryimportant，didnotpleaseme；andI
declinedsatisfyinghiscuriosity。Hewassilent。But，sometimeafter，hetookamorecourteoustone，andsaid:’Comeinheretome，Monsieur！YouwillbebetterherethanintheSteerage，amidthetobacco—smoke。’Thispoliteaddressputanendtoallanger；
andasthesingularmannerofthemanexcitedmycuriosity，Itookadvantageofhisinvitation。Wesatdown，andbegantospeakconfidentiallywithoneanother。
"Doyouseethemaninthegardenyonder，sittingsmokinghispipe？’saidhetome:’Thatman，youmaydependuponit，isnothappy。’——’Iknownot，’answeredI:’butitseemstome，untiloneknowsaman，andiscompletelyacquaintedwithhissituationandhiswayofthought，onecannotpossiblydeterminewhetherheishappyorunhappy。’
"Mygentlemanadmittedthis[verygood—natured！]；andledtheconversationontheDutchGovernment。Hecriticisedit，——probablytobringmetospeak。Ididspeak；andgavehimfranklytoknowthathewasnotperfectlyinstructedinthethinghewascriticising。——’Youareright，’answeredhe；’onecanonlycriticisewhatoneisthoroughlyacquaintedwith。’——HenowbegantospeakofReligion；andwitheloquenttonguetorecountwhatmischiefScholasticPhilosophyhadbroughtupontheworld；thentriedtoprove’ThatCreationwasimpossible。’AtthislastpointIstoodoutinopposition。’ButhowcanonecreateSomethingoutofNothing？’saidhe。’Thatisnotthequestion，’answeredI；
’thequestionis，WhethersuchaBeingasGodcanorcannotgiveexistencetowhathasyetnone。’Heseemedembarrassed，andadded，’ButtheUniverseiseternal。’——’Youareinacircle，’saidI；
’howwillyougetoutofit？’——’Iskipoverit"saidhe，laughing；
andthenbegantospeakofotherthings。
"’WhatformofGovernmentdoyoureckonthebest？’inquiredhe，amongotherthings。’Themonarchic，iftheKingisjustandenlightened。’——’Verywell，’answeredhe；’butwherewillyoufindKingsofthatsort？’AndthereuponwentintosuchasallyuponKings，ascouldnotintheleastleadmetothesuppositionthathewasone。Intheendheexpressedpityforthem，thattheycouldnotknowthesweetsoffriendship；andcitedontheoccasiontheseverses（hisown，Isuppose）:——
’Amitie，plaisirdesgrandesames；
Amitie，quelesRois，cesillustresingrats，Sontassezmalheureuxdeneconnaitrepas！’
’IhavenotthehonortobeacquaintedwithKings，’saidI；’buttojudgebywhatonehasreadinHistoryofseveralofthem，Ishouldbelieve，Monsieur，thatyou，onthewhole，areright。’——’AH，OUI，OUI，Iamright；Iknowthegentlemen！’
"WenowgottospeakofLiterature。ThestrangerexpressedhimselfwithenthusiasticadmirationofRacine。Adrollincidenthappenedduringourdialogue。Mygentlemanwantedtoletdownalittlesash—window，andcouldn’tmanageit。’Youdon’tunderstandthat，’
saidI；’letmedothat。’Itriedtogetitdown；butsucceedednobetterthanhe。’Monsieur，’saidhe，’allowmetoremark，onmyside，thatyou，uponmyhonor，understandaslittleofitasI！’——
’Thatistrue；andIbegyourpardon；Iwastoorashinaccusingyouofwantofexpertness。’——’WereyoueverinGermany？’henowaskedme。’No；butIshouldliketomakethatjourney:IamverycurioustoseethePrussianStates，andtheirKing，ofwhomonehearssomuch。’AndnowIbegantolaunchoutonFriedrich’sactions；butheinterruptedmerapidly，withthewords:’NothingmoreofKings，Monsieur！Whathavewetodowiththem？Wewillspendtherestofourvoyageonmoreagreeableandcheeringobjects。’Andnowhespokeofthebestofallpossibleworlds；
andmaintainedthat，inourPlanetEarth，therewasmoreEvilthanGood。Imaintainedthecontrary；andthisdisputebroughtustotheendofourvoyage。
"Onquittingme，hesaid，’Ihope，Monsieur，youwillleavemeyourname:Iamverygladtohavemadeyouracquaintance；perhapsweshallseeoneanotheragain。’Ireplied，aswasfitting，tothecompliment；andbeggedhimtoexcusemeforcontradictinghimalittle。’Ascribethis，’Iconcluded，’totheill—humorwhichvariouslittlejourneysIhadtomakeinthesedayshavegivenme。’
Ithentoldhimmyname，andweparted。"[Laveaux，
HistoiredeFrederic（2dedition，Strasbourg，1789，andblownnowintoSIXvols。insteadoffour；deadall，exceptthisfraction），vi。365。Seyfarth，ii。234，isright；ib。170，wrong，andhasledotherswrong。]Partedtomeetagain；andlivetogetherforabouttwentyyears。
OfthishonestHenrideCatt，whomtheKinglikedonthisInterview，andsentforsoonafter，andatlengthgotas"LECTEUR
DUROI，"weshallhearagain。["September，1755，"sentfor（butDeCattwasillandcouldn’t）；"December，1757"got（Rodenbeck，i。
285）。]Hedid，from1757onwards，whatDePradesnowdoeswithmoreofnoise，theoldD’Argetfunctions；faithfullyandwell，forabovetwentyyears；——leftaNote—Book（notveryBoswellian）abouttheKing，whichislatterlyintheRoyalArchivesatBerlin；andwhichmightwithoutharm，orevenwithadvantage，beprinted，buthasneveryetbeen。AveryharmlessDeCatt。AndwearesurelyobligedtohimforthisviewoftheTravellingGentleman"withthecinnamon—coloredcoat，snuffynoseandblackwig，"andhismanneroftalkingonlightexternalsubjects，whiletheinnermanofhimhasweightsenoughpressingonit。Agestillunderfive—and—forty，butlooksoldforhisyears。
"June23d，1755:"itisintheverydayswhilepoorBraddockisstaggeringdowntheAlleghanies；Braddockfairlyoverthetop；——andtheFateswaitinghim，ataFortnight’sdistance。Faraway，ontheothersideoftheWorld。ButitisnotableenoughhowPittiswatchingthething；andwillatlengthgethandlaidonit，andgetthekingshipoveritforabovefouryears。WherebytheJENKINS’S—
EARQUESTIONwillagain，thistimeonbetterterms，coalescewiththeSILESIAN，orPARTITION—OF—PRUSSIAQUESTION；andboththeselongControversiesgetdefinitelyclosed，astheEternalDecreeshadseengood。
ENDOFBOOK16
HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV17
byThomasCarlyleTHESEVEN—YEARSWAR:FIRSTCAMPAIGN。
1756—1757。
ChapterI。
WHATFRIEDRICHHADREADINTHEMENZELDOCUMENTS。
Theill—informedworld，entirelyunawareofwhatFriedrichhadbeenstudyingandascertaining，tohisbittersorrow，forfouryearspast，wasextremelyastonishedattheparthetookinthoseFrench—
Englishtroubles；extremelyprovokedathisbreakingoutagainintoaThirdSilesianWar，greaterthanalltheothers，andkindlingallEuropeinsuchaway。Theill—informedworldrangviolently，thenandlongafter，withaControversy，"Wasitofhisbeginning，orNotofhisbeginning？"Controversy，whichmayinourdaybeconsideredassettledbyunanimousmankind；finishedforever；
andcannowhavenointerestforanycreature。
Omittingthat，ourproblemis（wereitpossibleinbriefcompass），Tosetforth，bywhatauthentictraitsthereare，——notthe"ambitious，""audacious，"voraciousandhighlycondemnableFriedrichoftheGazetteers，——butthethrice—intricatelysituatedFriedrichofFact。WhattheFactsprivatelyknowntoFriedrichwere，inwhatmannerknown；andhow，inamorecomplexcrisisthanhadyetbeen，Friedrichdemeanedhimself:uponwhichlatterpoint，andthosecognatetoit，readersoughtnottobeignorant，ifnowfallenindifferentonsomanyotherpointsoftheAffair。Whataloud—roaring，looseandemptymatteristhistornadoofvociferationwhichmencall"PublicOpinion"！Tragicallyhowlingroundaman；whohastostandsilentthewhile；andscan，wiselyunderpainofdeath，thealtogetherinarticulate，dumbandinexorablematterwhichthegodscallFact！FriedrichdidreadhisterribleSphinx—riddle；theGazetteertornadodidpipeandblow。
KingFriedrich，incontrastwithhisEnvironmentatthattime，willmostlikelyneverbeportrayedtomodernmeninhisrealproportions，realaspectandattitudethenandthere，——whicharesilentlynotalittleheroicandevenpathetic，whenwellseeninto；——and，forcertain，heisnotportrayableatpresent，onoursideoftheSea。Butwhathintsandfractionsoffeatureweauthenticallyhave，oughttobegivenwithexactitude，especiallywithbrevity，andlefttotheingenuousimaginationofreaders。
ThesecretsourcesoftheThirdSilesianWar，sincecalled"Seven—
YearsWar，"gobackto1745；nay，wemaysay，totheFirstInvasionofSilesiain1740。ForitwasinMariaTheresa’sincurablesorrowatlossofSilesia，andherinextinguishablehopetoreconquerit，thatthisandallFriedrich’sotherWarshadtheirorigin。
TwiceshehadsignedPeacewithFriedrich，andsolemnlycededSilesiatohim:butthattoo，withtheImperialLady，wasbynomeansafinistothebusiness。NotthatshemeanttobreakherTreaties；farfromhersuchathought，——intheconsciousform。
Though，alas，intheunconscious，again，itwasalwaysrathernear！
practically，shereckonedtoherself，theseTreatieswouldcometobebroken，asTreatiesdonotendureforever；andthen，atthegoodmoment，shedidpurposetobeready。"Silesiabacktous；PragmaticSanctioncompleteineverypoint！WasnotthatourdearFather’swill，monitionofallourFathersandtheirPatriotismsandTraditionaryHeroisms；andinfact，thebehestofgodsandmen？"
Tenyearsago，thisnotionhadbeencutdowntoapparentdeath，inadisastrousmanner，forthesecondtime。Butitdidnotdieintheleast:itneverthinksofdying；startsalwaysanew，passionatetoproduceitselfagainasactionvalidatlast；andlivesintheImperialHeartwithatenacitythatisstrangetoobserve。
Stillstranger，intheenviousValet—Heart，——inthatofBruhl，whohadfarlesscause！
ThePeaceofDresden，Christmas，1745，seemedtobeanactofconsiderablemagnanimityonFriedrich’spart。Itwas，atthefirstblushofit，"incredible"toHarrach，theAustrianPlenipotentiary；
whoseembarrassed，astonishedbowwerememberonthatoccasion，withEnglishVillierssheddingpioustears。Butwhatisveryremarkablewithalisathingsincediscovered:[INFRA，nextNote（p。276）。]ThatHarrach，magnanimoussignaturehardlyyetdry，didthenstraightway，byorderofhisCourt，veryprivatelyinquireofBruhl，"ThereisPeace，yousee；whattheycallPeace:——butourTREATYOFWARSAW，forPartitionofthismagnanimousman，standsallthesame；doesn’tit？"Towhich，accordingtotheDocuments，Bruhl，hardlyescapedfromthepangsofdeath，andstillinaverypale—yellowcondition，hadansweredineffect，"Hah，sayyouso？
One’shatrediseternal；——butthatman’sironheel！Waitalittle；
getRussiatojoininthescheme！"——andhungback；thewillingmind，butthetooterrified！Andinthisway，likeafamishingdoginsightofatoodangerouslegofmutton，Bruhlhaseversinceratherheldback；wouldnotre—engageatall，foralmosttwoyears，evenontheCzarina’sengaging；andthenonlyinacautious，conditionalandhypotheticmanner，——thoughwithfamineincreasingdaybydayinsightofthedesiredviands。Hishatredisfell；
buthewouldfainescapewithbackunbroken。
HOWFRIEDRICHDISCOVEREDTHEMYSTERY。CONCERNINGMENZEL
ANDWEINGARTEN。
Friedrichhasbeenawareofthismystery，atleastwideawaketoitandbecomingevermoreinstructed，foralmostfouryears。
TraitorMenzeltheSaxonKanzellist——we，whohavepropheticallyreadwhathehadtoconfesswhenlaidholdof，areaware，thoughasyet，andonto1757，itisadeadsecrettoallmortalsbuthimselfand"threeothers"——hasbeenbusyforPrussiaeversince"theendof1752。"GotadmittancetothePresses；senthisfirstExcerpt"aboutthetimeofEaster—Fair，1753，"——timeofVoltaire’stakingwing。Andhasbeenatworkeversince。CopyingDespatchesfromthemostsecretSaxonRepositories；readyalwaysonExcellencyMahlzahn’sindicatingthePiecewanted；andoflate，Ishouldthink，isbusierthanever，astheSaxonMystery，whichisalsoanAustrianandRussianone，getsmorelightthrownintoit，andseemstobefastripeningtowardsactionofaperilousnature。ThefirstExcerptsfurnishedbyMenzel，readerscanjudgehowenigmatictheywere。TheseMenzelPapers，copiesmainlyofPetersburgorViennaDESPATCHEStoBruhl，withBruhl’sANSWERS，——theprincipalofwhichweresubsequentlyprintedintheirbestarrangementandliveliestpointofvision[InFriedrich’sManifestoes，chieflyinMEMOIRE
RAISONNESURLACONDUITEDESCOURSDEVIENNEETDESAXE（compiledfromtheMENZELORIGINALS，sosoonastheseweregotholdof:
Berlin，Autumn，1756）。AsolidandablePaper；rapidlydone，byoneCountHerzberg，whorosehighinaftertimes。Reprinted，withmanyother"Pieces"and"Passages，"inGesammelteNachrichtenundUrkunden，——whichisa"Collection"ofsuch（2vols。，113Nos。small8vo，noPlace，1757，myCopyofit）。]——arebynomeansaluminoussetofDocumentstoreadersatthisday。
ThinkwhatastudytheywereatPotsdamin1753，whilestillinthechaoticstate；fishedout，moreorlessatrandom，asMenzelcouldlayholdofthem，orbedirectedtothem；theenigmaclearingitselfonlybyintenseinspection，andcapabilityofseeinginthedark！
Itappears，——ifyouarecuriousontheanecdoticpart，——
"WinterfeldwasthefirstthatgoteyeonthisdangerousSaxonMystery；someEx—Saxon，abouttosettleinBerlin，givinghintofittoWinterfeld；whoneededonlyahint。SosoonasWinterfeldconvincedhimselfthattherewasweightintheaffair，heimpartedittoFriedrich:’Schemeofpartitioning，yourMajesty，ofpickingquarrel，thenoverwhelmingandpartitioning；mostseriousscheme，Austrian—RussianaswellasSaxon；goingonsteadilyforyearspast，andverylivelyatthistime！’Iftrue，Friedrichcannotbutadmitthatthisisseriousenough:important，thriceover，todiscoverwhetheritistrue；——andgivesWinterfeldauthoritytoprosecuteittothebottom，inDresdenorwhereverthesecretmaylie。WhothereuponchargedMahlzahn，thePrussianMinisteratDresden，tofindsomeproperMenzel，andbestirhimself。
HowMahlzahnhasfoundhisMenzel，andhasbestirredhimself，wesaw。Thief—keysweremadetopatterninBerlin；firstsetdidnotfit，seconddid；andstealthyMenzelgainsadmittancetothatChamberoftheArchives，canstealthitheronshoesoffeltwhenoccasionserves，andcopywhatyouwish，——foraconsideration。
Intermittently，sinceaboutEaster—Fair，1753。Threepersonsarecognizantofit，Winterfeld，Mahlzahn，Friedrich；three，andnomore。Probablytheabstruseststudy；andthemostintense，goingonintheworldatthatepoch。[Rotzow，CharakteristikdesSiebenjahrigenKrieges（Berlin，1802），i。23。]
"AtaveryearlystageoftheMenzelExcerptsitbecamemanifestthatcertainsynchronousAustrianDittowouldprovehighlyelucidative；that，infact，itwouldbeindispensabletogetholdoftheseaswell。WhichalsoWinterfeldhasmanagedtodo。Adeep—
headedman，whohashiseyesabouthim；andisveryapttomanagewhatheundertakes。OneWeingartenJunior，aSecretaryintheAustrianEmbassyatBerlin（ExcellencyPeubla’ssecondSecretary），hashisacquaintanceshipsinBerlinSociety；andforonething，asWinterfelddiscovers，is’madlyinlove’withsomeChambermaidorquasi—chambermaid（letuscallherChambermaid），’DaughteroftheCastellanatCharlottenburg。’Winterfeld，throughtheduechannels，appliedtothisChambermaid，’GetmeasmallsecretCopyofsuchandsuchDespatches，outofyourWeingarten；itwillbewellforyouandhim；otherwiseperhapsnotwell！’Chambermaid，hopeurging，orperhapshopeandfear，didherbest；Weingartenhadtoyieldtherequiredproductandproducts，asrequired。BythisWeingarten，fromsomedatenotlongafterMenzel’sfirstmysteriousDresdenExcerpts，thenecessaryAustrianglosses，sofaraspossibletoWeingartenontheindicationsgivenhim，havebeenregularlyhad，forthetwoorthreeyearspast。
"WeingartenfirstcametobeseriouslysuspectedJune，1756
（WeingartenJunior，letusstillsay，fortherewasaSeniorofunstainedfidelity）；’June15th，’ExcellencyPeublapointedlydemandshimfromFriedrichandtheBerlinPolice:
’WeingartenJunior，mySECONDSecretar，fugitiveandtraitor；
hiddensomewhere！’["BERLIN，22dJUNE:EveryresearchmakingforMr。Weingatten，——invainhitherto"（Gentleman’sMagazine，xxvi。，i。e。for1756，p。363）。]ExcellencyPeublaisanswered，24thJune:’Wewouldsofaincatchhim，ifwecould！
WehavetriedatStendal，——notthere:triedhisMother—in—law；
knowsnothing:haveforbornelayinguphispoorWifeandChildren；
andhopeherImperialMajestywillhavepityonthatpoorcreature，whoisfallensomiserable。’[Helden—Geschichte，iii。713。]SothatExcellencyPeublahadnothingforitbuttocomposehimself；tohonortheunstainablefidelityofWeingartenSeniorbyapublicpieceofpromotion，whichsoonensued；andlettheJuniorrun。WeingartenJunior，onthefirstsuspicion，hadvanishedwithduepromptitude，——wasnottobeunearthedagain。
WeperceivehehasmarriedhisCharlottenburgBeauty，andtherearehelplessbabies。Itseems，helivedlongyearsafter，intheAltmark，asaHerrvonWeiss，’——hisreflectionsmanifold，butunknown。[Retzow，i。37。]Whatismuchnotabler，Cogniazzo，theAustrianVeteran，heardWeingarten’sMASTER，GrafvonPeubla，talkofthe’GRANDMYSTERE，’soonafter，andhowFriedrichhadheardofit，notfromWeingartenalone，butfromGross—FurstPETER，RussianHeir—Apparent！[Cogniazzo，i。225。]
"AstoMenzel，hedidnotgetaway。Menzel，aswesaw，lastedinfreeactivitytill1757；andwasthenputunderlockandkey。
Wasnothanged；satprisonerfortwenty—sevenyearsafter；
overgrownwithhair，legsandarmschainedtogether，heavyironbarunitingbothankles；dietbread—and—water；——fortherest，healthy；
anddied，notverymiserableitissaid，in1784。Shockingtraitors，Weingartenandhe。"
Yes，adiabolicalpair，they，sureenough:——andthethingtheybetrayedagainsttheirMasters，wasthatacelestialthing？
ServantsoftheDevildofallout；andServantsnotoftheDevilarefain，sometimes，toraiseaquarrelofthatkind！——
Thethenworld，aswesaid，wasonelouduproaroflogicontherightreadingandthewrongofthoseSibyllineDocuments:"DidyourKingofPrussiainterpretthemaright，oreventryit？Didnotheusethemasacloakforhighwayrobbery，andswallowingofapeaceableSaxony，badmanthathesurelyis？"ForFriedrich’sdemeanor，thistimeagain，whenitcametotheactingpoint，wasofeminentrapidity；almostaswifterlion—springthanever；anditbroughtonhim，intheaerialorvocalway，itsusualresult:
hugeclamorofrageandlogicfromuninformedmankind。
Clamorousrageandlogic，whichhasnowsunkirresuscitablydead；——
nothingofitmuchworthmentioningtomodernreaders，scarcelyevenitsHICJACET（inFootnotes，forthebenefitofthecurious！），——anditis，atlast，athingnotdoubtfultoanybodythatFriedrich，inthatmatterdidreadaright。Sothatnowthelouduproarisreducedtoonesmallquestionwithus，WhatdidhereadinthoseMenzelDocuments？WhatFactlyinginthemwasitthatFriedrichhadtoread？Here，smelteddownbyrepeatedroastings，issuccinctanswer；——fortheultimatefragmentofincombustiblehereaselsewhere，willgointoanutshell，oncethecontinentsofDiplomatist—Gazetteerlogicanddisorderlystable—litter，threateningtoheapthemselvesovertheverystars，havebeenfaithfullyburntaway。
Readersheardofa"UnionofWarsaw，"earlyin1745，concludedbytheSea—PowersandtheSaxon—PolishandHungarianMajesties:
veryharmlessUNIONofWarsaw，publictoalltheworld，——butwithacertainthrice—secret"TREATYofWarsaw"（betweenPolishandHungarianMajestythemselvestwo，theSea—Powersbeinghorror—
struckbymentionofit）whichhadfollowedthereupon，inaneagerandwonderfulmanner。Thrice—secretTreaty，forPartitioningFriedrich，andsettlingtherespectivesharesofhisskin。
Treatywhich，todenoteitsorigin，wecalledofWarsaw；thoughitwasnotfinishedthere（sharesofskinsodifficulttosettle），and"TreatyofLEIPZIG，18thMay，1745，"isitsALIASinBooks:——ofwhichTreaty，astheSea—Powershadrecoiledhorror—struck，therewasnowhisperfarther，tothemortotherestofexotericmankind；——thoughithasbeenoneofthebusiestEntitieseversince。FromtheMenzelDocuments，Iknownotafterwhatcircuitousgropingsandsearchings，FriedrichfirstgotnoticeofthatTreaty:
[NowprintedinOEuvresdeFrederic，iv。
40—42。]figurehislookondiscoveringit！
WesaiditwastheremarkablestbitofsheepskininitsCentury。
Readershaveheardtoo，ThatitwasproposedtoBruhl，byagratefulAustria，directlyonsigningthePeaceofDresden:
"OurPartition—Treatystandsallthesame，doesitnot？"——andinwhathumorBruhlanswered:"Hah？GetRussiatojoin！"Boththesefacts，ThatthereisaTreatyofWarsawandthatthisistheAustrian—Saxontemperandintentiontowardshimandit，FriedrichlearnedfromtheMenzelDocuments。Andifthereaderwillpossesshimselfofthesetwofacts，andunderstandthattheyareofagerminative，mostvitalquality，indestructiblebythetimesandthechances；andhavebeengrowinganddevelopingthemselves，dayandnighteversince，inatrulywonderfulmanner，——thereaderknowsinsubstancewhatMenzelhadtoreveal。
Russiawasgottojoin；——therearemethodsofoperatingonRussia，andkindlingapoorfatCzarinaintostrangesuspicionsandindignations。InMay，1746，withinsixmonthsofthePeaceofDresden，aTreatyofPetersburg，newversionoftheWarsawone，wasbroughttoparchment；CzarinaandEmpress—Queensigning，——Bruhldyingtosign，butnotdaring。HowRussiahasbeengottojoin，andmoreandmorevigorouslybearahand；howBruhl’srabiditiesofappetite，andterrorsofheart，havecontinuedeversince；
howAustriaandRussia，——Bruhlaidingwithhystericalalacrity，hauntedbyterror（andatlastmercifullyEXCUSEDfromsigning），——
have，yearafteryear，especiallyinthislastyear，1755，broughtthematternearerandnearerperfection；andtheTwoImperialMajesties，withBruhltorear，waitonlytilltheyarefullyready，andtheworldgivesopportunity，topickaquarrelwithFriedrich，andoverwhelmandpartitionhim，accordingtocovenant:
This，wanderingthroughendlessmazesofdetail，isinsumwhattheMenzelDocumentsdisclosetoFriedrichandus。How，inaspaceoftenyears，thesmallseed—grainofaTreatyofWarsaw，orTreatyofPetersburg，plantedandnourishedinthatmanner，intheSatan’sInvisibleWorld，hasgrownintoamightyTreethere，——propheticofFactsnearathand；whichwereextremelysanguinarytotheHumanRaceforthenextSevenYears。
Thisisthesum—total:butforFriedrich’ssake，andtoillustratethesituation，letustakeafewglancesmore，intothethenSatan’sInvisibleWorld，whichhadbecomesoominouslybusyroundFriedrichandothers。TheCzarina，wesay，wasgottoengage；
22dMay，1746，therecameaTreatyofPetersburgdulyvalid，whichisthatofWarsawunderanewname:andstillBruhldurstnot，foraboveayearcoming，——nottillAugust15th，1747；[MEMOIRERAISONNE
（inGesammelteNachrichten），i。459。]andthen，onlyinahypothetichalf—and—halfway，withfearandtrembling，thoughwithhungerunspeakable，insightoftheviands。
AverywretchedBruhl，asseenintheseMenzelDocuments。OnpoorPolishMajestyBruhlhasplayedthesorcerer，thislongwhile，andriddenhimashewouldanenchantedquadruped，inashamefulmanner:buthow，inturn（aswestudyMenzel），isBruhlhimselfhagridden，huntedbyhisowndevils，andleadssuchaghastlyphantasmalexistenceyonder，intheValleyoftheShadowofCLOTHES，——mereClothes，metaphoricalandliteral！["MONTREZ—MOIDES
VERTUS，PASDESCULOTTES（Haveyounovirtuesthentoshowme；
nothingbutpainofbreeches）！"exclaimedanimpatientFrenchTraveller，ledaboutinBruhl’sPalaceoneday:Archenholtz，GeschichtedesSiebenjahrigenKrieges，
i。63。]WretchedBruhl，agitatedwithhatredsofaratherinfernalnature，andwithterrorsofanotcelestial，comesoutonoursympathies，asadogalmostpitiable，——werethatpossible，withtwelvetailorssewingforhim，andaSaxonygettingshovedovertheprecipicesbyhim。
Afamishingdoginthemostsingularsituation。Whathedaredo，hedoes，andwithsuchawill。Butthereisalmostonlyonethingsafetohim:thatofeggingontheCzarinaagainstFriedrich；ofcoiningliestokindleCzarishMajesty；ofwaftingoneverywindrumorstothatend，andcontinuallybesiegingwiththemtheemptyCzarishmind。BruhlhasmanyConduits，"theSieurdeFunck，""theSieurGross"plentyofLegationarySieursandConduits；——whichissuefromallquartersonPetersburg，andwhichfindthereaReservoir，anddueRussianSERVICE—PIPES，preparedforthem；——andBruhlisbusy。
"CommerceofDantzigtoberuined，"suggestshe，"thatisplain:
lookathisAsiaticCompanies，hisPortofEmbden。Polandistobestirredup；——hasnotyourCzarishMajestyheardofhisintriguesthere？Courland，whichisalmostbecomeyourMajesty’s——cunninglysnatchedbyyourMajesty’saddress，likeavaluablemoribundwhaleadriftamongtheshallows，——thisbadmanwillhaveitouttoseaagain，withtheharpoonsinit；fairlyafloatamidthePolishAnarchiesagain！"ThesearebutspecimensofBruhl。OrwecangivesuchinBruhl’sownwords，ifthereaderhadrather。HereareTwo，whichhavetheadvantageofbrevity:——
1……TheSieurdeFunck，SaxonMinisteratPetersburg，wrotetoCountBruhl，9thJuly，1755（saysaninexorableRecord），"ThattheSieurGross[nowMinisterofRussiaatDresden，whovanishedoutofBerlinlikeanangrysky—rocketsomeyearsago]
woulddoagoodservicetotheCommonCause，ifhewrotetohisCourt，’ThattheKingofPrussiahadfoundachannelinCourland，bywhichhelearnedallthesecretsoftheRussianCourt；’"
andSieurFunckadded，"thatitwasexpectedgoodusecouldbemadeofsuchastorywithherCzarishMajesty。"——TowhichCountBruhlreplies，23dJuly，"ThathehasinstructedtheSieurGross，whowillnotfailtoactinconsequence。"
2。SieurPrasse，sameFunck’sSecretaryofLegation，atPetersburg，writestoCountBruhl，12thApril，1756:——
"IambiddensignifytoyourExcellencythatitisgreatlywished，inordertofavorcertainviews，youwouldhavethegoodnesstocausearriveinPetersburg，bydifferentchannels，thefollowingintelligence:’ThattheKingofPrussia，onpretextofCommerce，issendingofficersandengineersintotheUkraine，toreconnoitretheCountryandexcitearebellionthere。’Andthisadvice，bepleasedtoobserve，isnottocomedirectfromtheSaxonCourt，norbytheEnvoyGross，butbysomethirdparty，——totheendtheremaybenoconcertnoticed；——asthey[L’ON，the"service—
pipes，"andmanagingExcellencies，RussianandAustrian]havegiventhesamecommissiontootherMinisters，sothatthenewsshallcomefrommoreplacesthanone。
"They[thesaidmanagingExcellencies]havealsorequiredmetowritetotheBarondeSack，"ourSaxonMinisterinSweden，"uponit，whichIwillnotfailtodo；andtheyassuredmethatourCourt’sadvantagewasnotlessconcernedinitthanthatoftheirown；addingthesewords[comfortabletoone’ssoul]，’TheKingofPrussia[in1745]gaveSaxonyablowwhichitwillfeelforfiftyyears；butwewillgivehimonewhichhewillfeelforahundred。’"
TowhichbeautifulsuggestionExcellencyBruhlanswers，2dJune，1756:"AstotheSecretCommissionofconveyingtoPetersburg，byconcealedchannels，IntelligenceofPrussianmachinationsintheUkraine，wearestillbusyfindingoutarightchannel；andthey[L’ON，themanagingExcellencies]shallverysoon，onewayortheother，seetheeffectofmypersonalinclinationtosecondwhatissogoodanintention，thoughalittleartful（UNPEUARTIFICIEUSE，"
——UNPEU，nothingtospeakof）！[MEMOIRERAISONNE（in
GesammelteNachrichten），i。424—425；andib。472。]
FancyapoorfatCzarina，ofmanyappetites，oflittlejudgment，continuallybeatenuponinthismannerbytheseSaxon—AustrianartistsandtheirRussianservice—pipes。Bombardedwithcunninglydevisedfabrications，everywindfreightedforherwithphantasmalrumors，norayofdirectdaylightvisitingthepoorSovereignWoman；whoislazy，notmalignantifshecouldavoidit:mainlyamassofesurientoil，withalkalionthebackofalkalipouredin，atthisrate，fortenyearspast；till，bypouringandbystirring，theygethertothestateofSOAPandfroth！Isitsowonderfulthatshedoes，bydegrees，riseintoeminentsuspicion，anger，fear，violenceandvehemenceagainstherbadneighbor？Oneatlastbeginstoconceivethoseinsanewhirls，continualmadsuspicions，madprocedures，whichhavegivenFriedrichsuchvexation，surpriseandprovocationintheyearspast。
Friedrichisalwaysspeciallyeagertoavoidill—willfromRussia；
butithascome，inspiteofallhecoulddoandtry。AndtheseproceduresoftheCzarishMajestyhavebeensocapricious，unintelligible，perverse，andhisfeelingisoftenenoughirritation，temporaryindignation，——whichweknowmakesVerseswithal！IcannowherelearnfromthosePrussianimbrogliosofBooks，whattheFriedrichSayingsorSatiricalVersesproperlywere:RetzowspeaksofaPRODUKT，oneatleast，knownininteriorCircles。[Retzow，i。34。]PRODUKTwhichdecidedlyrequirespublication，beyondanythingFriedricheverwrote；——thoughonecandowithoutittoo，andinvokeFancyindefectofPrint。
ThesharpnessofFriedrich’stongueweknow；andthediligenceofbirdsoftheair。Toallherothergriefsagainstthebadman，thishasgiventhefinishinthetenderCzarishbosom；——andlikeanenvenomeddrophassetthesaponaceousoils（alreadydosedwithalkali，andwellinsolution）foamingdeliriouslyoverthebrim，innever—imagineddelugesofahatredthatisunappeasable；——verycostlytoFriedrichandmankind。Risingeverhigher，yearbyyear；
andnowrisen，towhatheightjudgebythefollowing:——
ATPETERSBURG，14th—15thMAY，1753，"TherewasMeetingoftheRussianSenate，withdeliberationheldforthesetwodays；andforissuethisconclusioncometo:——
"Thatitshouldbe，andherebyis，settledasafundamentalmaximoftheRussiaEmpire，NotonlytoopposeanyfartheraggrandizementoftheKingofPrussia，buttoseizethefirstconvenientopportunityforoverwhelming（ECRASER），bysuperiorforce，theHouseofBrandenburg[Hear，hear！]，andreducingittoitsformerstateofmediocrity。"[MEMOIRERAISONNE（inGesammelteNachrichten），i。421。]Legofmuttontobeactuallygoneinto。Withwhatanenthusiasmof"Hear，hear！"fromBruhlandkindredparties；especiallyfromBruhl，——who，however，darenotyetbite，excepthypothetically，suchhisterrorsandtremors。Or，lookagain（sameSenate，ATPETERSBURG，OCTOBER，1755）:"TowhichFundamentalMaxim，articulatelyfixedeversincethoseMaydaysof1753，theaugustRussianSanhedrim，deliberatingfartherinOctober，1755，addsthisremarkableextension，"ThatitisourresolutiontoattacktheKingofPrussiawithoutfartherdiscussion，whensoeverthesaidKingshallattackanyAllyofRussia’s，orshallhimselfbeattackedbyanyofthem。"
HailedbyBruhl，asnatural，withhisliveliestapproval。
"AgloriousDeliberation，that，indeed！"writeshe:"ItclearsthewayofactionforRussia’sAlliesinthismatter；andforustoo；
thoughnobodycanblameus，ifweproceedwiththeextremestcaution，"——andratherwaittilltheBearisnearlykilled。
[MEMOIRERAISONNE（inGesammelteNachrichten），i。422。]
ManymarvelsFriedrichhaddecipheredoutofthisWeingarten—MenzelApocalypseofSatan’sInvisibleWorld；andoneoftenfanciesFriedrich’stoneofmind，inhisintenseinspectingofthatfatefulcontinentofdarkness，andhislabyrinthicsteppingbydegreestotheoracularpoints，whichhavealightinthemwhenflungopen。
Butinrespectofpracticalinterest，thisofOctober，1755（whichwouldgettoPotsdamprobablyinfewweeksafter）musthavesurpassedalltheothers。Marvelsmany，oneaftertheother:
[Forexample，orinrecapitulation:aTreatyofWarsaworLeipzig，topartitionhim（18thMay，1745）；TreatyofPetersburg（22dMay，1746，newformofWarsawTreaty，withCzarinasuperadded）；
tremulousQuasi—AccessiontheretoofhisPolishMajesty（mosttremulous，hypotheticQuasi—Accession，"Yes—AND—No，"15thAugust，1747，andoftenafterwards）；firstDeliberationoftheRussianSenate，15thMay，1753；&c。&c。Forexample，orinrecapitulation:
aTreatyofWarsaworLeipzig，topartitionhim（18thMay，1745）；
TreatyofPetersburg（22dMay，1746，newformofWarsawTreaty，withCzarinasuperadded）；tremulousQuasi—AccessiontheretoofhisPolishMajesty（mosttremulous，hypotheticQuasi—Accession，"Yes—AND—No，"15thAugust，1747，andoftenafterwards）；firstDeliberationoftheRussianSenate，15thMay，1753；&c。&c。]nodoubtleft，longsince，oftheconstantdisposition，preparationandfixedintentiontopartitionhim。Buthere，inthislastindicationbytheRussianSenate，——whichkindlesintodismalevidencesomanyotherenigmatictokens，——therehasanulteriororacularpointdiscloseditselftoFriedrich；invaguercondition，butnotlessindubitable，andmuchmoreperilous:namely，Thatnow，atlast（endof1755），theTwoImperialMajesties，veryeagerboth，considerthatthetimeiscome。Andare——asFriedrichlooksabroadontheAustrian—Russianmarchingsoftroops，campings，andunusualmilitarysymptomsandcombinations——visiblypreparingtothatend。
"TheyhaveagreedtoattackmenextYear（1756），iftheycan；andnextagain（1757），withoutIF:"soFriedrich，puttingwrittenwordandpublicoccurrencetogether，graduallyreads；andso，allreaderswillsee，thefactwas，——thoughImperialMajestyatSchonbrunn，asweshallfind，strovetodenyitwhenappliedto；
andscouted，asmerefictionandimagination，thenotionofsuchan"Agreement。"WhichIinfer，therefore，NOTtohaveexistedinparchment；notinparchment，butonlyinreality，andasamutualBondregisteredin——shallwesay"inHeaven"，assomearewont？——
registered，perhaps，inTWOPlaces，veryseparateindeed！Notruer"Agreement"everdidexist；——thoughadevoutImperialMajestydeniesit，whowouldshudderattheliedirect。
PoorImperialMajesty:whocantellhertroublesandstraitsinthisabstrusetime！HeavenitselforderinghertogetbacktheSilesiaofherFathers，ifshecould；——yetHeavenalwayslookingdubious，surely，uponthismethodofdoingit。BysolemnPublicTreatiessignedinsightofallmankind；andcontrariwise，intheverysamemoments，bySecretTreaties，ofafellnature，concoctedunderground，todestroythelifeofthese！ImperialMajestyflattersherselfitmaybefair:"TreatyofDresden，TreatyofAix—la—Chapelle；Treatieswrungfrommebyforce，thetyrannicSea—Powersscrewingus；Kaunitzcantell！AconsummateKaunitz；
whohasprovidedremedies。Treatiesdogetbroken。Besides，IwillnotgotoWar，unlessHEtheBadOneofPrussiado！"——Alas，yournobleMajesty，plainitatleastis，yourloveofSilesiaisverystrong。AndconsummateKaunitzandithaveledyouintostrangepredicaments。ThePompadour，forinstance:whowasitthatanswered，"JENELACONNAISPAS；Idon’tknowher，I"？HowgladlywouldtheImperialMariaTheresa，soulofPropriety，havemadethatanswer！Butshedidnot；shehadtoanswerdifferently。ForKaunitzwasimperative:"AkindlittleNotetothePompadour；one，andthenanotherandanother；itisindispensable，yourImperialMajesty！"
AndImperialMajestyalwayshadtodoit。Andthereexistinwriting，atthishour，variousflatteringlittleNotesfromImperialMajestytothatAddress；whichbegin，"MACOUSINE，"
"PRINCESSEETCOUSINE，"saymanywitnesses；nay"MADAMEMATRES
CHERESOEUR，"saysonegoodwitness:[Hormayr（citedinPreuss，i。
433n。，——asareDuclos；Montgaillard；MEMOIRESDERICHELIEU；
&c。]——Noteswhichoughttohavebeenprinted，beforethis，orgivenatleasttotheMuseums。"MyCousin，""PrincessandCousin，"
"MadamemydearestSister:"Oh，highImperialSoul，withwhatstrangebed—fellowsdoesMiseryofvariouskindsbringusacquainted！
FriedrichwasblamablyimprudentinregardtoPompadour，thinksValori:"Alittlecomplaisancemighthave"——whatmightitnothavedone！——"ButhisPrussianMajestywouldnot。AndwhiletheMinistersofalltheotherPowers"alliedwithFrance"wentassiduouslytopaytheircourttoMadame，theBaronvonKnyphausenalone，byhisMaster’sorder，neveroncewent["Don’t！JENELACONNAISPAS"]，——
whiletheEmpress—Queenwaswritingherthemostflatteringletters。ThePrinceofPrussia，King’seldestBrother，wishedardentlytoobtainherPortrait，andhadappliedtomeforit；
ashadPrinceHenritomyPredecessor。TheKing，whohassuchgallantandseductivewayswhenhelikes，couldcertainlyhavereconciledthiscelebratedLady"，——ahighlyimportantImproperFemaletohimandothers。[Valori，i。320。]
Yes；buthequitedeclined，notcountingthecosts。Costsmaybeimmediate；profitsareremote，——remote，butsure。Costsdidindeedproveconsiderable，perhapsfarbeyondhisexpectation；though，I
flattermyself，theyneverawokemuchremorseinhim，onthatscore！——
Friedrich’sEnigma，towardstheendof1755andonwards，isbecomingfrightfullystringent；andthesolution，"Whatpracticallywillbethewisecourseforme？"doesnotlesseninabstruseintricacy，butthereverse，asitgrowsmorepressing。AverystormyanddubiousFuture，truly！Twocircumstancesinitwillbehighlydeterminative:oneofthemevidenttoFriedrich；theotherunknowntohim，andtoallmortals，excepttwoorthree。FIRST，ThattherewillbeanEnglish—FrenchWarstraightway；andthat，asusual，theFrench，weakeratsea，willprobablyattackHanover；——
thatistosay，bringtheWarhometoone’sowndoor，andripenintofulfilmentthoseAustrian—RussianPlots。Thisistheevidentcircumstance，fastcomingon；visibletoFriedrichandtoeverybody。Butthat，insuchevent，Austriawilljoin，notwithEngland，butwithFrance:thisisaSECONDcircumstance，guessablebynobody；knownonlytoKaunitzandaselectoneortwo；butwhichalsowillgreatlycomplicateFriedrich’sposition，andrenderhisEnigmaindeedastonishinglyintricate，aswellasstringentforsolution！
ChapterII。
ENGLISHDIPLOMACIESABROAD，INPROSPECTOFAFRENCHWAR。
BritannicMajesty，Iknownotatwhatdate，butbeforethelaunchingofthatpoorBraddockthunder—bolt，muchmoreafterthetragicexplosionitmade，hadfeltthatFrenchWarwasnearlyinevitable，andalsothattheFrenchmethodwouldbe，asheretofore，toattackHanover，andwoundhiminthattenderpart。
Theregoeson，accordingly，alivelyForeignDiplomatizing，onhisMajesty’spart，atpresent，——indefect，almosttotal，ofDomesticPreparation，militaryandother；——MajestyandMinistersexpectingsalvationfromabroad，asusual。Militarypreparationdoeslagatashamefulrate:but，ontheotherhand，thereisagreatdealofpondering，reallyindustriousconsideringandcontriving，aboutForeignAllies，andtheirsubsidiesandengagements。Thatstep，forexample，thequestionableSeizureoftheFrenchShipsWITHOUT
DeclarationofWar，wasacontrivancebydiplomaticHeads（ofbadquality）:"Seizetheirships，"saidsomebadHead，aftermeditating；"puttheirshipsinSEQUESTRATION，tilltheydousjustice。Iftheywon’t，andgotoWar，——thenTHEYaretheAggressors，notwe；andourAllieshavetosendtheirauxiliaryquotas，aspercontract！"SotheShipswereseized；heldinsequestration，"tillmanyofthecargoes（beingperishablegoods，someevenfish）rotted。"[Smollett’sHistoryofEngland；
&c。&c。]Andinreturn，aswillbeseen，notoneauxiliarycametohand:sothatthediplomaticHeadhadhisrottedcargoes，andmuchpublicobloquy，forhispains。Notafortunatestrokeofbusiness，that！——
BritannicMajesty，onapplyingatVienna（throughKeith，SirorMr。
RobertKeith，theFIRSTExcellencyofthatname，fortherearetwo，afatherandason，bothViennaExcellencies），wasastonishedtolearnThat，insucheventofanAggression，evenonHanover，therewasnoco—operationtobelookedforhere。Altogethercoldonthatsubject，herImperialMajestyseems；regardlessofExcellencyKeith’sremonstrancesandurgencies；and，intheend，isflatlynegatory:"Cannotdoit，yourExcellency；timessoperilous，badKingofPrussiasominatory，"——nottomention，SOTTOVOCEthatwehaveturnedonouraxis，andthewind（thankstoKaunitz）nolongerhitsusonthesamecheekasformerly！
"Cannot？Willnot？"BritannicMajestymaywellstare，wide—eyed；
rememberingsuchgiganticSubsidizingsandAlcidesLabors，Dettingens，Fontenoys，ontheper—contraside。Butsostandsthefact:"NohelpfromanungratefulVienna；——quick，then，seekelsewhere！"AndHanburyandtheContinentalBritishExcellencieshavetobestirthemselvesastheyneverdid。EspeciallyHanbury；
whoisdirecteduponRussia，——whomaloneoftheseExcellenciesitisworthwhiletofollowforamoment。Russia，onfairsubsidy，yieldedusa35，000lastWar（willinglygranted，mostuseful，thoughwehadnofightingoutofthem，mereterrorofthembeingenough）:beyondallthings，letHanburydohisbestinRussia！