ustrian-Succession case! Wars
otherwise are mere futile transitory dust-whirlwinds stilled in blood;
extensive fits of human insanity, such as we know are too apt to break
out;--such as it rather beseems a faithful Son of the House of Adam NOT
to speak about again; as in houses where the grandfather was hanged, the
topic of ropes is fitly avoided.

"Never again will that War, with its deliriums, mad outlays of blood,
treasure, and of hope and terror, and far-spread human destruction,
rise into visual life in any imagination of living man. In vain shall
Dryasdust strive: things mad, chaotic and without ascertainable purpose
or result, cannot be fixed into human memories. Fix them there by never
so many Documentary Histories, elaborate long-eared Pedantries, and
cunning threads, the poor human memory has an alchemy against such ill
usage;--it forgets them again; grows to know them as a mere torpor, a
stupidity and horror, and instinctively flies from Dryasdust and them."

Alive to any considerable degree, in the poor human imagination, this
Editor does not expect or even wish the Austrian-Succession War to be.
Enough for him if it could be understood sufficiently to render his
poor History of Friedrich intelligible. For it enwraps Friedrich like
a world-vortex henceforth; modifies every step of his existence
henceforth; and apart from it, there is no understanding of his business
or him. "So much as sticks to Friedrich:" that was our original bargain!
Assist loyally, O reader, and we will try to make the indispensable a
minimum for you.

WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR THE AUSTRIAN-SUCCESSION WAR?

The first point to be noted is, Where did it originate? To which the
answer mainly is, With that lean Gentleman whom we saw with Papers in
the OEil-de-Boeuf on New-year's day last. With Monseigneur the Marechal
de Belleisle principally; with the ambitious cupidities and baseless
vanities of the French Court and Nation, as represented by Belleisle.
George II.'s Spanish War, if you will examine, had a real necessity in
it. Jenkins's Ear was the ridiculous outside figure this matter had:
Jenkins's Ear was one final item of it; but the poor English People,
in their wrath and bellowings about that small item, were intrinsically
meaning: "Settle the account; let us have that account cleared up and
liquidated; it has lain too long!" And seldom were a People more in the
right, as readers shall yet see.

The English-Spanish War had a ba