LEVERSERAI L'EMPIRE," writes she once; "I will
overturn the German Empire," if they drive me to it, in this matter.
[Letter copied by Dubourgay (in Despatch, marked PRIVATE, to Lord
Townshend, 3d-14th May, 1729); no clear address given,--probably to
Dubourgay himself, CONVEYED by "a Lady" (one of the Queen's Ladies),
as he dimly intimates.] What secret manoeuvring and endeavoring went
on unweariedly on royal Sophie's part, we need not say; nor in what
bad element, of darkness and mendacity, of eavesdropping, rumoring,
backstairs intriguing, the affair now moved. She corresponds on it
with Queen Caroline of England; she keeps her two children true to it,
especially her Son, the more important of them.

CROWN-PRINCE FRIEDRICH WRITES CERTAIN LETTERS.

Queen Sophie did not overturn the Empire, but she did almost overturn
her own and her family's existence, by these courses; which were not
wise in her case. It is certain she persuaded Crown-Prince Friedrich,
who was always his Mother's boy, and who perhaps needed little bidding
in this instance, "to write to Queen Caroline of England;" Letters one
or several: thrice-dangerous Letters; setting forth (in substance), His
deathless affection to that Beauty of the world, her Majesty's divine
Daughter the Princess Amelia (a very paragon of young women, to judge by
her picture and one's own imagination); and likewise the firm resolution
he, Friedrich Crown-Prince, has formed, and the vow he hereby makes,
Either to wed that celestial creature when permitted, or else never any
of the Daughters of Eve in this world. Congresses of Soissons, Smoking
Parliaments, Preliminaries of the Pardo and Treaties of Seville may go
how they can. If well, it shall be well: if not well, here is my vow,
solemn promise and unchangeable determination, which your gracious
Majesty is humbly entreated to lay up in the tablets of your royal
heart, and to remember on my behalf, should bad days arise!--

It is clear such Letters were sent; at what date first beginning, we
do not know;--possibly before this date? Nor would matters rise to the
vowing pitch all at once. One Letter, supremely dangerous should it come
to be known, Wilhelmina has copied for us, [Wilhelmina, i. 183.]--in
Official style (for it is the Mother's composition this one) and without
date to it:--the guessable date is about two years hence; and we will
give the poor Document farther on, if there be place for it.

Such particulars ar