history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第5章
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g and untwisting； as that appointed Hanbury。 Who in fact broke his heart by it；and died mad； by his own hand； before long。 ＇Hanbury's 〃Life〃 （in Works； vol。 iii。） gives sad account。＇ Poor soul； after all！Here are some Russian Notices from him （and he has many curious； not pertinent here）； which are still worth gleaning。
PETERSBURG； 2d OCTOBER； 1755。 。。。 〃The health of the Empress ＇Czarina Elizabeth； CATIN DU NORD； age now forty…five＇ is bad。 She is affected with spitting of blood； shortness of breath； constant coughing； swelled legs and water on the chest； yet she danced a minuet with me；〃 lucky Hanbury。 〃There is great fermentation at Court。 Peter ＇Grand…Duke Peter＇ does not conceal his enmity to the Schuwalofs ＇paramours of CATIN； old and new＇； Catherine ＇Grand…Duchess； who at length has an Heir； unbeautiful Czar Paul that will be； and 〃miscarriages〃 not a few＇ is on good terms with Bestuchef〃 （corruptiblest brute of a Chancellor ever known； friend to England by England's giving him 10；000 pounds； and the like trifles； pretty frequently； Friedrich's enemy； chiefly from defect of that operation）she is 〃on good terms with Bestuchef。 I think it my duty to inform the King ＇great George； who will draw his prognostics from it＇ of my observations upon her； which I can the better do； as I often have conversations with her for hours together； as at supper my rank places me always next to her；〃 twice…lucky Hanbury。
〃Since her coming to this Country； she has； by every method in her power； endeavored to gain the affections of the Nation： she applied herself with diligence to study their language； and speaks it at present； as the Russians tell me； in the greatest perfection。 She has also succeeded in her other aim； for she is esteemed and beloved here in a high degree。 Her person is very advantageous； and her manners very captivating。 She has great knowledge of this Empire； and makes it her only study。 She has parts； and Great… Chancellor ＇brute Bestuchef＇ tells me that nobody has more steadiness and resolution。 She has； of late； openly declared herself to me in respect of the King of Prussia；〃hates him a good deal； 〃natural and formidable enemy of Russia；〃 〃heart certainly the worst in the world ＇and so on； but will see better by and by； having eyes of her own＇：she never mentions the King of England but with the utmost respect and highest regard； is thoroughly sensible of the utility of the union between England and Russia； always calls his Majesty the Empress's best and greatest Ally ＇so much of nourishment in him withal； as in a certain web…footed Chief of Birds； reckoned chief by some＇； and hopes he will also give his friendship and protection to the Grand…Duke and herself。 As for the Grand…Duke； he is weak and violent； but his confidence in the Grand…Duchess is so great； that sometimes he tells people； that though he does not understand things himself； his Wife understands everything。 Should the Empress； as I fear； soon die； the Government will quietly devolve on them。〃 ＇Hanbury's Despatch； 〃October 2d； 1755〃 （Raumer； pp。 223…225）； Subsidy Treaty still at its floweriest。＇
Catherine's age is twenty…six gone； her Peter's twenty…seven： one of the cleverest young Ladies in the world； and of the stoutest…hearted； clearest…eyed；yoked to a young Gentleman much the reverse。 Thank Hanbury for this glimpse of them； most intricately situated Pair； who may concern us a little in the sequel。And； in justice to poor Hanover； the sad subject…matter of Excellency Hanbury's Problems and Futilities in Russia and elsewhere； let us save this other Fraction by a very different hand； and close that Hanbury scene：
〃Friedrich himself was so dangerous；〃 says the Constitutional Historian once： 〃Friedrich； in alliance with France； how easy for him to catch Hanover by the throat at a week's notice； throw a death…noose round the throat of poor Hanover； and hand the same to France for tightening at discretion！ Poor Hanover indeed； she reaps little profit from her English honors： what has she had to do with these Transatlantic Colonies of England？ An unfortunate Country； if the English would but think； liable to be strangled at any time； for England's quarrels： the Achilles'…heel to invulnerable England； a sad function for Hanover； if it be a proud one； and amazingly lucrative to some Hanoverians。 The Country is very dear to his Britannic Majesty in one sense； very dear to Britain in another！ Nay Germany itself； through Hanover； is to be torn up by War for Transatlantic interests；out of which she does not even get good Virginia tobacco； but grows bad of her own。 No more concern than the Ring of Saturn with these over…sea quarrels； and can； through Hanover； be torn to pieces by War about them。 Such honor to give a King to the British Nation； in a strait for one； and such profit coming of it：we hope all sides are grateful for the blessings received！〃
THERE HAS BEEN A COUNTER…TREATY GOING ON AT VERSAILLES IN THE INTERIM； WHICH HEREUPON STARTS OUT； AND TUMBLES THE WHOLLY ASTONISHED EUROPEAN DIPLOMACIES HEELS…OVER…HEAD。
To expectant mankind； especially to Vienna and Versailles； this Britannic…Prussian Treaty was a great surprise。 And indeed it proved the signal of a general System of New Treaties all round。 The first signal； in fact；though by no means the first cause；of a total circumgyration； summerset； or tumble heels…over…head in the Political relations of Europe altogether； which ensued thereupon； miraculous； almost as the Earthquake at Lisbon； to the Gazetteer； and Diplomatic mind； and incomprehensible for long years after。 First signal we say； by no means that it was the first cause； or indeed that it was a cause at all；the thing being determined elsewhere long before； ever since 1753； when Kaunitz left it ready； waiting only its time。
Kaiser Franz； they say； when （probably during those Keith urgencies） the joining with France and turning against poor Britannic Majesty was proposed in Council at Vienna； opened his usually silent lips； and opined with emphasis against such a course； no Kaunitz or creature able to persuade Kaiser Franz that good would come of it；though； finding Sovereign Lady and everybody against him； he held his peace again。 And returned to his private banking operations； which were more extensive than ever； from the new troubles rising。 〃Lent the Empress…Queen； always on solid securities；〃 says Friedrich； 〃large sums； from time to time； in those Wars； dealt in Commissariat stores to right and left； we ourselves had most of our meal from him this year。〃 ＇ OEuvres de Frederic； iv。 8。＇ Kaiser Franz was； and continued； of the old way of thinking； but consummate Kaunitz； and the High Lady's fixed passion for her Schlesien； had changed everybody else。 The ulterior facts are as follows； abbreviated to the utmost。
September 22d； 1755； a few days before Hanbury's Subsidy…feat at Petersburg； which took such a whirl for Hanbury； there had met for the first time at Versailles； more especially at Babiole； Pleasure… House of the Pompadour； a most Select Committee of Three Persons： Graf von Stahremberg； Austrian Ambassador； Pompadour herself； and a certain infinitely elegant Count and Reverence de Bernis （beautiful Clerico…Mundane Gentleman； without right Benefice hitherto； but much in esteem with the Pompadour）；for deepest practical consideration in regard to closure of a French…Austrian Alliance。 Reverend Count （subsequently Cardinal） de Bernis has sense in Diplomacy； has his experiences in Secular Diplomatic matters； a soft…going cautious man； not yet official； but tending that way： whom the Pompadour has brought with her as henchman； or unghostly counsellor； in this intricate Adventure。
Stahremberg； instructed from home； has no hesitation； nor has Pompadour herself； remembering that insolent 〃JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS；〃 and the per…contra 〃MA COUSINE；〃 〃PRINCESSE ET SOEUR：〃but Bernis； I suppose； looks into the practical difficulties； which are probably very considerable； to the Official French eye； in the present state of Europe and of the public mind。 From September 22d； or autumnal equinox； 1755； onward to this Britannic…Prussian phenomenon of January； 1756； the Pompadour Conclave has been sitting；difficulties； no doubt； considerable。 I will give only the dates； having myself no interest in such a Committee at Babiole； but the dates sufficiently betoken that there were intricacies； conflicts between the new and the old。 Hitherto the axiom always was； 〃Prussia the Adjunct and Satellite of France：〃 now to be entirely reversed； you say？
JULY； 1755； that is two months before this Babiole Committee met； a Duc de Nivernois； respectable intelligent dilettante French Nobleman； had been named as Ambassador to Friedrich； 〃Go； you respectable wise Nivernois； Nobleman of Letters so called； try and retain Friedrich for us； as usual！〃 And now； on meeting of the Babiole Committee； Nivernois does not go； lingers； saddled and bridled； till the very end of the Year； arrives in Berlin January 12th； 1756。 Has his First Audience January 14th； a man highly amiable to Friedrich； but with proposals；wonderful indeed。
The French； this good while back； are in no doubt about War with England； a right hearty War； and have always expected to retain Prussia as formerly；though rather on singular terms。 Some time ago； for instance； M。 de Rouille； War…Minister； requested Knyphausen； Prussian Envoy at Paris： 〃Suggest to your King's Majesty what plunder there is at Hanover。 Perfectly at liberty to keep it all； if he will plunder Hanover for us！〃 ＇ OEuvres de Frederic； iv。 29。＇ Pleasant message to the proud King； who answered with the due brevity； to the purport； 〃Silence； Sir！〃with didactic effects on the surprised Rouille。 Who now mends his proposal； though again in a remarkable way。 Instructs Nivernois； namely； 〃To offer King Friedrich the Island of Tobago； if he will renew Treaty； and take arms for us。 Island of Tobago （a deserted； litigated； but pretty Island； were it ever ours）； will not that entice this King； intent on Commerce？〃 Friedrich； who likes Nivernois and his polite ways； answers quizzingly： 〃Island of Tobago？ Island of Barataria your Lordship must be meaning； Island of which I cannot be the Sancho Panza！〃 ＇Ib。 31。＇ And Nivernois found he must not mention Tobago again。
For the rest； Friedrich made no secret of his English Treaty； showed it with all frankness to Nivernois； in all points： 〃Is there； can the most captious allege that there is； anything against France in it。 My one wish and aim； that of Peace for myself： judge！〃 Nivernois stayed till March； but seems to have had； of definite； only Tobago and good words； so that nothing farther came of him； and there was no Renewal of Treaty then or after。 Thus； in his third month （March； 1756）； practical Nivernois was recalled； without result；instead of whom fat Valori was sent； privately intending 〃to do nothing but observe； in Berlin。〃 From all which； we infer that the Babiole Committee now saw land； and that Bernis himself had decided in the affirmative： 〃Austria； not Prussia； yes； Madame！〃 To the joy of Madame and everybody。 For； it is incredible； say all witnesses； what indignation broke out in Paris when Friedrich made this new 〃defection；〃 so they
