ge, and otherwise
not the best of neighbors. But, in theory, in speech, this too was
abundantly conciliatory,--to the Dutch at least. "Nothing earthly in
view, nothing, ye magnanimous Dutch, except to lodge here in the most
peaceable manner, paying our way, and keep down disturbances that might
arise in these parts. That might arise; not from you, ye magnanimous
High Mightinesses, how far from it! Nor will we meddle with one broken
brick of your respectable Barrier, or Barrier Treaty, which is sacred
to us, or do you the shadow of an injury. No; a thousand times, upon
our honor, No!" For brevity's sake, I lend them that locution, "No, a
thousand times,"--and in actual arithmetic, I should think there are
at least four or five hundred times of it,--in those extinct Diplomatic
Eloquences of Excellency Fenelon and the other French;--vaguely
counting, in one's oppressed imagination, during the Two Years that
ensue. For the Dutch lazily believed, or strove to believe, this No of
Fenelon's; and took an obstinate laggard sitting posture, in regard
to Pragmatic Sanction; whereby the task of "hoisting" them (as above
hinted), which fell upon a certain King, became so famous in Diplomatic
History.

Imagination may faintly picture what a blow this advent of Maillebois
was to his Britannic Majesty, over in Herrenhausen yonder! He has had
of Danes six thousand, of Hessians six, of Hanoverians sixteen,--in all
some 30,000 men, on foot here since Spring last, camping about (in two
formidable Camps at this moment); not to mention the 6,000 of English on
Lexden Heath, eager to be shipped across, would Parliament permit; and
now--let him stir in any direction if he dare. Camp of Gottin like a
drawn sword at one's throat (at one's Hanover) from the east; and lo,
here a twin fellow to it gleaming from the south side! Maillebois
can walk into the throat of Hanover at a day's warning. And such was
actually the course proposed by Maillebois's Government, more than
once, in these weeks, had not Friedrich dissuaded and forbidden. It is
a strangling crisis. What is his Britannic Majesty to do? Send orders,
"Double YOUR diligence, Excellency Robinson!" that is one clear point;
the others are fearfully insoluble, yet pressing for solution: in a six
weeks hence (September 27th), we shall see what they issue in!--

As for Robinson, he is duly with the Queen at Presburg; duly conjuring
incessantly, "Make your peace with Friedrich!" And her Majesty w