as been visible--since those high
attempts of Britannic George and the Hungarian Majesty, contumeliously
spurning the Peace offered them, and grasping evidently at one's
Lorraines, Alsaces, and Three Bishoprics--a marked change; comfortable
to look at from Friedrich's side. Most Christian Majesty, from the
sad bent attitude of insulted repentance, has started up into the
perpendicular one of indignation: "Come on, then!"--and really makes
efforts, this Year, quite beyond expectation. "Oriflamme enterprises,
private intentions of cutting Germany in Four; well, have not I smarted
for them; as good as owned they were rather mad? But to have my apology
spit upon; but to be myself publicly cut in pieces for them?"

March 15th, 1744, Most Christian Majesty did, as we saw, duly declare War
against England; against Austria, April 26th: "England," he says, "broke
its Convention of Neutrality (signed 27th September, 1741); broke said
Convention [as was very natural, no term being set] directly after
Maillebois was gone; England, by its Mediterranean Admirals and the
like, has, to a degree beyond enduring, insulted the French coasts,
harbors and royal Navy: We declare War on England." And then, six weeks
hence, in regard to Austria: "Austria, refusing to make Peace with
a virtuous Kaiser, whom we, for the sake of peace, had magnanimously
helped, and then magnanimously ceased to help;--Austria refuses peace
with him or us; on the contrary, Austria attempts, and has attempted,
to invade France itself: We therefore, on and from this 26th of April,
1744, let the world note it, are at War with Austria." [In _Adelung,_
iv. 78, 90, the two Manifestoes given.] Both these promises to Friedrich
are punctually performed.

Nor, what is far more important, have the necessary preparations
been neglected; but are on a quite unheard-of scale. Such taxing and
financiering there has been, last Winter:--tax on your street-lamp, on
your fire-wood, increased excise on meat and eatables of all kinds: Be
patient, ye poor; consider GLOIRE, and an ORIFLAMME so trampled on by
the Austrian Heathen! Eatables, street-lamps, do I say? There is 36,000
pounds, raised by a tax on--well, on GARDEROBES (not translated)!
A small help, but a help: NON OLET, NON OLEAT. To what depths has
Oriflamme come down!--The result is, this Spring of 1744, indignant
France does, by land, and even by sea, make an appearance calculated
to astonish Gazetteers and men. Land-forces 1