g
home on handsome terms) Stenzel, v. 124 (for the PER-CONTRA feeling).]
And the Kaiserinn herself, Austria's high Mother, did, they say, after
such a Leuthen coming on the back of such a Rossbach, feel discouraged;
but the Pompadour (not France's Mother, whatever she might be to France)
was of far other mind: "Do not speak of it, MA REINE! Double or quits,
that is our game: can we yield for a little ill-luck? Never!"

France dismisses its D'Argenson, "What Armies are these of his; flying
home on us, like draggled poultry, across the Rhine!"--summons the famed
Belleisle to be War-Minister, and give things an eagle-quality: ["26th
February, 1758" (BARBIER, iv. 258).] France engages to pay its subsidies
better (France now the general paying party, Austria, Sweden, Russia
itself, all looking to France,--would she were as punctual as England
used to be!),--in a word, engages to be magnanimous extremely, and will
hear of nothing but persistence. "Shall not we reap, then, where there
is such a harvest standing white to us?" Kaunitz admits that there never
will again be such a chance.--Peace, it is clear enough, will not be got
of these people by any Letter, or human device whatever, except simply
by uttermost, more or less miraculous fighting for it. Friedrich is
profoundly aware of this fact;--is busy completing his Army: 145,000
for the field, this Year, 53,000 the Silesian part, "a good many of
them Austrian deserters;" [Stenzel, v. 155.] and is closing an important
Subsidy Treaty with England,--of which more anon.

And if this is the mood in France and Austria, think what Russia's will
be! The Czarina is not dead of dropsy, as some had expected, but, on
the contrary, alive, and fiercer than ever; furious against Apraxin, and
determined that Fermor, his successor, shall defy Winter, and begin
work at once. She has indignantly dismissed Apraxin (to be tried by
Court-Martial, he); dismisses Bestuchef the Chancellor; appoints a new
General, Fermor by name; orders Fermor to go and lose not a moment, now
in the depth of Winter since it was not done in the crown of Summer, and
take possession of East Preussen in her name.

Which Fermor does; 16th January, crosses the border again, 31,000 in
all, without opposition except from the frost; plants himself up and
down,--only two poor Prussian battalions there; who retire, with their
effects, especially "with seven wagons of money." January 22d, Fermor
enters Konigsberg; publishes n