i. 57 n.] "The Marechal de
Belleisle," says an Eye-witness, of some fame in those days, "comes out
in a variety of parts, among us here; plays now the General, now the
Philosopher, now the Minister of State, now the French Marquis;--and
does them all to perfection. Surely a master in his art. His Brother the
Chevalier is one of the sensiblest and best-trained persons you can see.
He has a penetrating intellect; is always occupied, and full of great
schemes; and has nevertheless a staid kind of manner. He is one of the
most important Personages here; and in all things his Brother's right
hand." [Von Loen, _Kleine Schriften_ (cited in Adelung, ii. 400).]
In Frankfurt, both Belleisle and his Brother were much respected, the
Brother especially, as men of dignified behavior and shining qualities;
but as to their hundred and thirty French Lords and other Valetry, these
by their extravagances and excesses (AUSSCHWEIFUNGEN) made themselves
extremely detestable, it would appear. [Buchholz, ii. 54; in Adelung,
ii. 398 n., a French BROCARD on the subject, of sufficient emphasis.]

Chapter XII. -- SORROWS OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY.

George II. did not hear of Mollwitz for above a fortnight after it fell
out; but he had no need of Mollwitz to kindle his wrath or his activity
in that matter. [Mollwitz first heard of in London, April 25th (14th);
Subsidy of 300,000 pounds voted same day. _London Gazette_ (April
11th-14th, 1741); _Commons Journals,_ xxiii. 705.] George II. had seen,
all along, with natural manifold aversion and indignation, these high
attempts of his Nephew. "Who is this new little King, that will not let
himself be snubbed, and laughed at, and led by the nose, as his Father
did; but seems to be taking a road of his own, and tacitly defying us
all? A very high conduct indeed, for a Sovereign of that magnitude.
Aspires seemingly to be the leader among German Princes; to
reduce Hanover and us,--us, with the gold of England in our
breeches-pocket,--to the second place? A reverend old Bishop of Liege,
twitched by the rochet, and shaken hither and thither, like a reverend
old clothes-screen, till he agree to stand still and conform. And now a
Silesia seized upon; a Pragmatic Sanction kicked to the winds: the
whole world to be turned topsy-turvy, and Hanover and us, with our
breeches-pocket, reduced to--?"

The emotions, the prognosticatings, and distracted procedures of his
Britannic Majesty, of which we have ourselv