d sundry, "except seven,"
whose names will not be interesting to you. Paid off, with or without
remorse, such the exhaustion of finance; Kleist, Icilius, Count
Hordt and others vainly repugning and remonstrating; the King himself
inexorable as Arithmetic. "Can maintain 138,000 of regular, 12,000
of other sorts; not a man more!" Zealous Icilius applied for some
consideration to his Officers: "partial repayment of the money they
have spent from their own pocket in enlistment of their people now
discharged!" Not a doit. The King's answer is in autograph, still
extant; not in good spelling, but with sense clear as light: "SEINE
OFFICIERS HABEN WIE DIE RABEN GESTOLLEN SIE KRIGEN NICHTS, Your Officers
stole like ravens;--they get Nothing." [Preuss, ii. 320.] Lessing's fine
play of MINNA VON BARNHELM testifies to considerable public sympathy for
these impoverished Ex-Military people. Pathetic truly, in a degree; but
such things will happen. Irregular gentlemen, to whom the world 's their
oyster,--said oyster does suddenly snap to on them, by a chance. And
they have to try it on the other side, and say little!--But we are
forgetting the Peace-Treaty itself, which still demands a few words.

Kleist's raid into the Reich had a fine effect on the Potentates there;
and Plotho's Offer was greedily complied with; the Kaiser, such his
generosity, giving "free permission." We spoke of Privy-Councillor
von Fritsch, and his private little word with Friedrich at Meissen, on
November 25th. The Electoral-Prince of Saxony, it seems, was author of
that fine stroke; the history of it this. Since November 3d, the French
and English have had their preliminaries signed; and all Nations are
longing for the like. "Let us have a German Treaty for general Peace,"
said the Kurprinz of Saxony, that amiable Heir-Apparent whom we have
seen sometimes, who is rather crooked of back, but has a sprightly Wife.
"By all means," answered Polish Majesty: "and as I am in the distance,
do you in every way further it, my Son!" Whereupon despatch of Fritsch
to Vienna, and thence to Meissen; with "Yes" to him from both parties.
Plenipotentiaries are named: "Fritsch shall be ours: they shall have my
Schloss of Hubertsburg for Place of Congress," said the Prince. And on
Thursday, December 30th, 1762, the Three Dignitaries met at Hubertsburg,
and began business.

This is the Schloss in Torgau Country which Quintus Icilius's people,
Saldern having refused the job, willi