ather of dissolute habits,
handsomest and windiest of young Polacks): "Good for a Lover to the
Grand-Duchess, this one!" thinks Hanbury. Which proved true, and had its
uses for Hanbury;--Grand-Duchess and Grand-Duke (Catherine and Peter,
whom we saw wedded twelve years ago, Heirs-Apparent of this Russian
Chaos) being an abstrusely situated pair of Spouses; well capable of
something political, in private ways, in such a scene of affairs; and
Catherine, who is an extremely clever creature, being out of a lover
just now. A fine scene for the Diplomatist, this Russia at present.
Nowhere in the world can you do so much with bribery; quite a standing
item, and financial necessary-of-life to Officials of the highest rank
there, as Hanbury well knows. [His Letters (in Raumer), PASSIM.] That
of Poniatowski proved, otherwise too, a notable stroke of Hanbury's; and
shot the poor Polish Coxcomb aloft into tragic altitudes, on the sudden,
as we all know!

Hanbury's immense dexterities, and incessant labors at Petersburg, shall
lie hidden in the slop-pails: it is enough to say, his guineas, his
dexterities and auxiliary Poniatowskis did prevail; and he triumphantly
signed his Treaty (Petersburg, 30th September) "Subsidy-Treaty for
55,000 men, 15,000 of them cavalry," not to speak of "40 to 50 galleys"
and the like; "to attack whomsoever Britannic Majesty bids: annual cost
a mere 500,000 pounds while on service; 100,000 pounds while waiting."
[In _Adelung,_ vii. 609.] And, what is more, and what our readers are to
mark, the 55,000 begin on the instant to assemble,--along the Livonian
Frontier or Lithuanian, looking direct into Preussen. Diligently
rendezvousing there; 55,000 of them, nay gradually 70,000; no stinginess
in the Czarina to her Ally of England. A most triumphant thing, thinks
Hanbury: Could another of you have done it? Signed, ready for ratifying,
30th September, 1755 (bad Braddock news not hindering);--and before it
is ratified (this also let readers mark), the actual Troops getting on
march.

Hanbury's masterpiece, surely; a glorious triumph in the circumstances,
and a difficult, thinks Hanbury. Had Hanbury seen the inside of the
cards, as readers have, he would not have thought it so triumphant. For
years past,--especially since that "Fundamental maxim, May 14th-15th,
1753," which we heard of,--the Czarina's longings had been fixed. And
here now--scattering money from both hands of it, and wooing us with
diplomatic f