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 d