n-side is in
motion under law of gravity, and you behold one wide stone-torrent
thundering towards the valleys; shivering woods, farms, habitations
clean away with it: fatal to any Image of composite Clay and Brass which
it may meet!

There is, accordingly, from this point, a change in Friedrich's Silesian
Adventure; which becomes infinitely more complicated for him,--and for
those that write of him, no less! Friedrich's business henceforth is not
to be done by direct fighting, but rather by waiting to see how, and
on what side, others will fight: nor can we describe or understand
Friedrich's business, except as in connection with the immense,
obsolete, and indeed delirious Phenomenon called Austrian-Succession
War, upon which it is difficult to say any human word. If History,
driven upon Dismal Swamp with its horrors and perils, can get across
unsunk, she will be lucky!

For, directly on the back of Mollwitz, there ensued, first, an explosion
of Diplomatic activity such as was never seen before; Excellencies
from the four winds taking wing towards Friedrich; and talking and
insinuating, and fencing and fugling, after their sort, in that
Silesian Camp of his, the centre being there. A universal rookery of
Diplomatists;--whose loud cackle and cawing is now as if gone mad to
us; their work wholly fallen putrescent and avoidable, dead to all
creatures. And secondly, in the train of that, there ensued a universal
European War, the French and the English being chief parties in it;
which abounds in battles and feats of arms, spirited but delirious, and
cannot be got stilled for seven or eight years to come; and in which
Friedrich and his War swim only as an intermittent Episode henceforth.
What to do with such a War; how extricate the Episode, and leave the
War lying? The War was at first a good deal mad; and is now, to men's
imagination, fallen wholly so; who indeed have managed mostly to forget
it; only the Episode (reduced thereby to an UNintelligible state)
retaining still some claims on them.

It is singular into what oblivion the huge Phenomenon called
Austrian-Succession War has fallen; which, within a hundred years ago
or little more, filled all mortal hearts! The English were principals
on one side; did themselves fight in it, with their customary fire, and
their customary guidance ("courageous Wooden Pole with Cocked Hat," as
our friend called it); and paid all the expenses, which were extremely
considerable, an