rather
pipe-clayed man, who is wholly to be trusted on this Conference, with
his Father for authority, has some touches of commentary on it, which
indicate (date being 1802) that till the end of his life, or of Prince
Henri his Patron's, there remained always in some heads a doubt as to
Friedrich's wisdom in regard to starting the Seven-Years War, and to
Schwerin's entire sincerity in that inspired speech. And still more
curious, that there was always, at Potsdam as elsewhere, a Majesty's
Opposition Party; privately intent to look at the wrong side; and doing
it diligently,--though with lips strictly closed for most part; without
words, except well-weighed and to the wise: which is an excellent
arrangement, for a Majesty and Majesty's Opposition, where feasible in
the world!--

From Retzow I learn farther, that Winterfeld, directly on the back of
this Conference, took a Tour to the Bohemian Baths, "To Karlsbad, or
Toplitz, for one's health;" and wandered about a good deal in those
Frontier Mountains of Bohemia, taking notes, taking sketches (not with
a picturesque view); and returned by the Saxon Pirna Country, a strange
stony labyrinth, which he guessed might possibly be interesting soon.
The Saxon Commandant of the Konigstein, lofty Fortress of those parts,
strongest in Saxony, was of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called
on this Commandant; found his Konigstein too high for cannonading those
neighborhoods, but that there was at the base of it a new Work going
on; and that the Saxons were, though languidly, endeavoring to bestir
themselves in matters military. Their entire Army at present is under
20,000; but, in the course of next Winter, they expect to have
it 40,000. Shall be of that force, against Season 1757. No doubt
Winterfeld's gatherings and communications had their uses at Potsdam, on
his getting home from this Tour to Toplitz.

Meanwhile, Klinggraf has had his Audience at Vienna; and has sped as
ill as could have been expected. The Answer given was of supercilious
brevity; evasive, in effect null, and as good as answering, That there
is no answer. Two Accounts we have, as Friedrich successively had them,
of this famed passage: FIRST, Klinggraf's own, which is clear, rapid,
and stands by the essential; SECOND, an account from the other side of
the scenes, furnished by Menzel of Dresden, for Friedrich's behoof
and ours; which curiously illustrates the foregoing, and confirms the
interpretation Friedr