een
Prussia and all its neighbors. And the FOURTH cause is the tiniest of
all: the "Meadow of Clamei." Meadow of Clamei, some square yards of
boggy ground; which, after long study, one does find to exist in the
obscurest manner, discoverable in the best Maps of Germany,--some twenty
miles south of the Elbe river, on the boundary between Hanover-Luneburg
and Prussia-Magdeburg, dubious on which side of the boundary. Lonesome
unknown Patch of Meadow, lying far amid peaty wildernesses in those
Salzwedel regions: unknown to all writing mortals as yet; but which
threatens, in this summer of 1729, to become famous as Runnymead among
the Meadows of History! And the FIFTH cause--In short, there was no
real "cause" of the least magnitude; the effect was produced by the
combination of many small and imaginary ones. For if there is a will to
quarrel, we know there is a way. And perhaps the FIFTH namable cause, in
efficiency worth all the others together, might be found in the
Debates of the Smoking Parliament that season, were the Journal of its
Proceedings extant! We gather symptoms, indisputable enough, of very
diligent elaborations and insinuations there; and conclude that to
have been the really effective cause. Clouds had risen between the two
Courts; but except for the Tobacco-Parliament, there never could have
thunder come from them.

Very soon after George's accession there began clouds to rise; the
perfectly accomplished little George assuming a severe and high air
towards his rustic Brother-in-Law. "We cannot stand these Prussian
enlistments and encroachments; rectify these, in a high and severe
manner!" says George to his Hanover Officials. George is not warm on his
throne till there comes in, accordingly, from the Hanover Officials a
Complaint to that effect, and even a List of Hanoverian subjects who
are, owing to various injustices, now serving in the Prussian ranks:
"Your Prussian Majesty is requested to return us these men!"

This List is dated 22d January, 1728; George only a few months old
in his new authority as yet. The Prussian Majesty grumbles painfully
responsive: "Will, with eagerness, do whatever is just; most surely! But
is his Britannic Majesty aware? Hanover Officials are quite misinformed
as to the circumstances;"--and does not return any of the men. Merely
a pacific grumble, and nothing done in regard to the complaints. Then
there is the Meadow of Clamei which we spoke of: "That belongs to
Brandenbur