f 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 af