for a time, but
cannot stand the confinement," are averse to the solitary system, and
object (think with what vocality!): "upon which Hanover has to send
foxes and weasels." [Ib. ii. 240] These guardian animals, and the 300
women laden with cannon-balls from the forge, are the most peculiar
items in the French Account current, and the last I will mention.

Difficulty, quasi-impossibility, on the French side, there evidently
is, perhaps more than on any other. But Choiseul has many arts;--and
his Official existence, were there nothing more, demands that he do the
impossible now if ever. This Spring (26th March, 1761), to the surprise
and joy of mankind, there came formal Proposal, issuing from Choiseul,
to which Maria Theresa and the Czarina had to put their signatures;
regretting that the British-Prussian Proposal of last Year had, by ill
accident, fallen to the ground, and now repeating it themselves (real
"Congress at Augsburg," and all things fair and handsome) to Britannic
and Prussian Majesties. Who answered (April 3d) as before, "Nothing
with more willingness, we!" [The "Declaration" (of France &c.), with the
Answer or "Counter-Declaration," in Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ iii. 12-16.]

And there actually did ensue, at Paris, a vivid Negotiating all Summer;
which ended, not quite in nothing, but in less, if we might say so.
Considerably less, for some of us. We shall have to look what end
it had, and Mauduit will look!--Most people, Pitt probably among the
others, came to think that Choiseul, though his France is in beggary,
had no real view from the first, except to throw powder in the eyes of
France and mankind, to ascertain for himself on what terms those English
would make Peace, and to get Spain drawn into his quarrel. A Choiseul
with many arts. But we will leave him and his Peace-Proposals, and the
other rumors and futilities of this Year. They are part of the sound
and smoke which fill all Years; and which vanish into next to nothing,
oftenest into pure nothing, when the Years have waited a little.
Friedrich's finances, copper and other, were got completed; his Armies
too were once more put on a passable footing;--and this Year will have
its realities withal.

Gotzkowsky, in regard to those Leipzig Finance difficulties, yields me a
date, which is supplementary to some of the Archenholtz details. I find
it was "January 20th, 1761,"--precisely while the Saldern Interview, and
subsequent wreck of Hubertsburg, went