ugust,
something broke in the apparatus as she descended; and it has ever since
been an omen to her. [Hormayr, _OEsterreichischer Plutarch,_ iv. (2tes)
94; Keith, ii. 114.] Omen now fulfilled.

On her death, Joseph and Kaunitz, now become supreme, launched abroad
in their ambitious adventures with loose rein. Schemes of all kinds;
including Bavaria still, in spite of the late check; for which latter,
and for vast prospects in Turkey as well, the young Kaiser is now upon
a cunning method, full of promise to him,--that of ingratiating himself
with the Czarina, and cutting out Friedrich in that quarter. Summer,
1780, while the Kaiserinn still lived, Joseph made his famous First
Visit to the Czarina (May-August, 1780), [Hermann, vi. 132-135.]--not
yet for some years his thrice-famous Second Visit (thrice-famous
Cleopatra-voyage with her down the Dnieper; dramaturgic cities and
populations keeping pace with them on the banks, such the scenic faculty
of Russian Officials, with Potemkin as stage-manager):--in the course
of which First Visit, still more in the Second, it is well known the
Czarina and Joseph came to an understanding. Little articulated of it as
yet; but the meaning already clear to both. "A frank partnership, high
Madam: to you, full scope in your glorious notion of a Greek Capital and
Empire, Turk quite trampled away, Constantinople a Christian metropolis
once more [and your next Grandson a CONSTANTINE,--to be in readiness]:
why not, if I may share too, in the Donau Countries, that lie handy? To
you, I say, an Eastern Empire; to me, a Western: Revival of the poor
old Romish Reich, so far as may be; and no hindrance upon Bavaria,
next time. Have not we had enough of that old Friedrich, who stands
perpetually upon STATUS QUO, and to both of us is a mere stoppage of the
way?"

Czarina Catharine took the hint; christened her next Grandson
"Constantine" (to be in readiness); [This is the Constantine who
renounced, in favor of the late Czar Nicholas; and proved a failure in
regard to "New Greek Empire," and otherwise.] and from that time stiffly
refused renewing her Treaty with Friedrich;--to Friedrich's great grief,
seeing her, on the contrary, industrious to forward every German scheme
of Joseph's, Bavarian or other, and foreshadowing to himself dismal
issues for Prussia when this present term of Treaty should expire. As to
Joseph, he was busy night and day,--really perilous to Friedrich and
the independence of t