a and the Sea-Powers, to
that effect.

3. "Will help by vote, and with whole amount of interest will endeavor,
to have Grand-Duke Franz, the Queen's Husband, chosen Kaiser; and to
maintain such choice against all and sundry. Feel myself strong enough
to accomplish this result; and may, without exaggeration, venture to say
it shall be done.

4. "To help the Court of Vienna in getting its affairs into good order
and fencible condition,--will present to it, on the shortest notice, Two
Million Gulden (200,000 pounds) ready money."--Infinitely welcome this
Fourth Proposition; and indeed all the other Three are welcome: but they
are saddled with a final condition, which pulls down all again. This,
which is studiously worded, politely evasive in phrase, and would fain
keep old controversies asleep, though in substance it is so fatally
distinct,--we give in the King's own words:

5. "For such essential services as those to which I bind myself by
the above very onerous conditions, I naturally require a proportionate
recompense; some suitable assurance, as indemnity for all the dangers
I risk, and for the part (ROLE) I am ready to play: in short, I require
hereby the entire and complete cession of all Silesia, as reward for
my labors and dangers which I take upon myself in this course now to
be entered upon for the preservation and renown of the House of
Austria;"--Silesia all and whole; and we say nothing of our "rights" to
it; politely evasive to her Hungarian Majesty, though in substance
we are so fatally distinct. [Preuss, _Thronbesteigung,_ p. 451; "from
Olenschlager, _Geschichte des Interegni_ [Frankfurt, 1746], i. 134."]

These were Friedrich's Proposals; written down with his own hand at
Reinsberg, five or six weeks ago (November 17th is the date of it); in
what mood, and how wrought upon by Schwerin and Podewils, we saw above.
Gotter has fulfilled his instructions in regard to this important little
Document; and now the effect of it is--? Gotter can report no good
effect whatever. "Be cautious," Friedrich instructs him farther; "modify
that Fifth Proposal; I will take less than the whole, 'if attention is
paid to my just claims on Schlesien.'" To that effect writes Friedrich
once or twice. But it is to no purpose; nor can Gotter, with all his
industry, report other than worse and worse. Nay, he reports before
long, not refusal only, but refusal with mockery: "How strange that his
Prussian Majesty, whose official post