af is to say, "have caused anxiety in her
Majesty's peaceable Neighbor of Prussia; who desires always to continue
in peace; and who requests hereby a word of assurance from her Majesty,
that these his anxieties are groundless." Friedrich himself hopes little
or nothing from this; but he has done it to satisfy people about him,
and put an end to all scruples in himself and others. The Answer may be
expected in ten or twelve days.

And, about the same time,--likely enough, directly after, though there
is no date given, to a fact which is curious and authentic,--

Friedrich sent for two of his chief Generals, to Potsdam, for a secret
Conference with Winterfeld and him. The Generals are, old Schwerin and
General Retzow Senior,--Major-General Retzow, whom we used to hear of in
the Silesian Wars,--and whose Son reports on this occasion. Conference
is on this Imminency of War, and as to what shall be done in it.
Friedrich explains in general terms his dangers from Austria and Russia,
his certainty that Austria will attack him; and asks, Were it, or were
it not, better to attack Austria, as is our Prussian principle in such
case? Schwerin and Retzow--Schwerin first, as the eldest; and after
him Retzow, "who privately has charge from the Prussian Princes to do
it"--opine strongly: That indications are uncertain, that much seems
inevitable which does not come; that in a time of such tumultuous
whirlings and unexpected changes, the true rule is, Watch well, and
wait.

After enough of this, with Winterfeld looking dissent but saying almost
nothing, Friedrich gives sign to Winterfeld;--who spreads out, in their
lucidest prearranged order, the principal Menzel-Weingarten Documents;
and bids the two Military Gentlemen read. They read; with astonishment,
are forced to believe; stand gazing at one another;--and do now take
a changed tone. Schwerin, "after a silence of everybody for some
minutes,"--"bursts out like one inspired; 'If War is to be and must be,
let us start to-morrow; seize Saxony at once; and in that rich corny
Country form Magazines for our Operations on Bohemia!'" [Retzow, i. 39.]

That is privately Friedrich's own full intention. Saxony, with its Elbe
River as Highway, is his indispensable preliminary for Bohemia: and he
will not, a second time, as he did in 1744 with such results, leave it
in an unsecured condition. Adieu then, Messieurs; silent: AU REVOIR,
which may be soon! Retzow Junior, a rational, sincere, but