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