Chapter IX. -- WILHELMINA GOES TO SEE THE GAYETIES AT FRANKFURT.

On the day when Friedrich, overhung by the grim winter Mountains, was
approaching Glatz, same day when Segur was evacuating Linz on those sad
terms, that is, on the 24th day of January, 1742,--two Gentlemen were
galloping their best in the Frankfurt-Mannheim regions; bearing what
they reckoned glad tidings towards Mannheim and Karl Albert; who is
there "on a visit" (for good reasons), after his triumphs at Prag and
elsewhere. The hindmost of the two Gentlemen is an Official of rank
(little conscious that he is preceded by a rival in message-bearing);
Official Gentleman, despatched by the Diet of Frankfurt to inform Karl
Albert, That he now is actually Kaiser of the Holy Romish Empire; votes,
by aid of Heaven and Belleisle, having all fallen in his favor.
Gallop, therefore, my Official Gentleman:--alas, another Gentleman,
Non-official, knowing how it would turn, already sat booted and saddled,
a good space beyond the walls of Frankfurt, waiting till the cannon
should fire; at the first burst of cannon, he (cunning dog) gives his
horse the spur; and is miles ahead of the toiling Official Gentleman,
all the way. [Adelung, iii. A, 52.]

In the dreary mass of long-winded ceremonial nothingnesses, and
intricate Belleisle cobwebberies, we seize this one poor speck of
human foolery in the native state, as almost the memorablest in that
stupendous business. Stupendous indeed; with which all Germany has been
in travail these sixteen months, on such terms! And in verity has got
the thing called "German Kaiser" constituted, better or worse. Heavens,
was a Nation ever so bespun by gossamer; enchanted into paralysis, by
mountains of extinct tradition, and the want of power to annihilate
rubbish! There are glittering threads of the finest Belleisle
diplomacy, which seem to go beyond the Dog-star, and to be radiant, and
irradiative, like paths of the gods: and they are, seem what they might,
poor threads of idle gossamer, sunk already to dusty cobweb, unpleasant
to poor human nature; poor human nature concerned only to get them
well swept into the fire. The quantities of which sad litter, in this
Universe, are very great!--

Karl Albert, now at the top-gallant of his hopes: homaged Archduke of
Upper Austria, homaged King of Bohemia, declared Kaiser of the German
Nation,--is the highest-titled mortal going: and, poor soul, it is
tragical, once more, to think what