set afloat upon English guineas!

With a hope, as is credibly surmised, that the English might soothe or
muzzle this implacable Czarina, Friedrich, directly after Hanbury's feat
in Petersburg, applied at London, with an Offer which was very tempting
there: "Suppose your Britannic Majesty would make, with me, an express
'NEUTRALITY CONVENTION;' mutual Covenant to keep the German Reich
entirely free of this War now threatening to break out? To attack
jointly, and sweep home again with vigor, any and every Armed Non-German
setting foot on the German soil!" An offer most welcome to the Heads of
Opposition, the Pitts and others of that Country; who wish dear Hanover
safe enough (safe in Davy-Jones's locker, if that would do); but are
tired of subsidizing, and fighting and tumulting, all the world over,
for that high end. So that Friedrich's Proposal is grasped at; and after
a little manipulation, the thing is actually concluded.

By no means much manipulation, both parties being willing. There was
uncommonly rapid surgery of any little difficulties and discrepancies;
rapid closure, instant salutary stitching together of that long
unhealable Privateer Controversy, as the main item: "20,000 pounds
allowed to Prussia for Prussian damages; and to England, from the other
side, the remainder of Silesiau Debt, painfully outstanding for two
or three years back, is to be paid off at once;"--and in this way
such "NEUTRALITY CONVENTION OF PRUSSIA WITH ENGLAND" comes forth as a
Practical Fact upon mankind. Done at Westminster, 16th January, 1756.
The stepping-stone, as it proved, to a closer Treaty of the same date
next Year; of which we shall hear a great deal. The stepping-stone,
in fact, to many large things;--and to the ruin of our late
"Russian-Subsidy Treaty" (Hanbury's masterpiece), for one small thing.
"That is a Treaty signed, sure enough," answer they of St. James's; "and
we will be handsome about it to her Czarish Majesty; but as to RATIFYING
it, in its present form,--of course, never!"

What a clap of thunder to Excellency Hanbury; his masterpiece found
suddenly a superfluity, an incommodity! The Orthodox English course now
is, "No foreign soldiers at all to be allowed in Germany;" and there
are the 55,000 tramping on with such alacrity. "We cannot ratify that
Treaty, Excellency Hanbury," writes the Majesty's Ministry, in a tone
not of gratitude: "you must turn it some other way!" A terrible blow to
Hanbury, who had been