ly a road to those Halberstadt-Magdeburg parts, your Hanover shall
have neutrality!" "Neutrality to Hanover?" sighed Britannic Majesty:
"Alas, am not I pledged by Treaty? And, alas, withal, how is it
possible, with that America hanging over us?" and stood true. Nor is
this all, on the part of magnanimous France: there is a Soubise getting
under way withal, Soubise and 30,000, who will reinforce the Reich's
Armament, were it on foot, and be heard of by and by! So high runs
French enthusiasm at present. A new sting of provocation to Most
Christian Majesty, it seems, has been Friedrich's conduct in that
Damiens matter (miserable attempt, by a poor mad creature, to
assassinate; or at least draw blood upon the Most Christian Majesty
["Evening of 5th January, 1757" (exuberantly plentiful details of it,
and of the horrible Law-procedures which followed on it: In Adelung,
viii. 197-220; Barbier, &c. &c.).]); about which Friedrich, busy
and oblivious, had never, in common politeness, been at the pains to
condole, compliment, or take any notice whatever. And will now take the
consequences, as due!--

The Wesel-Cleve Countries these French find abandoned: Friedrich's
garrisons have had orders to bring off the artillery and stores, blow up
what of the works are suitable for blowing up; and join the "Britannic
Army of Observation" which is getting itself together in those regions.
Considerable Army, Britannic wholly in the money part: new Hanoverians
so many, Brunswickers, Buckeburgers, Sachsen-Gothaers so many; add those
precious Hanoverian-Hessian 20,000, whom we have had in England guarding
our liberties so long,--who are now shipped over in a lot; fair wind
and full sea to them. Army of 60,000 on paper; of effective more than
50,000; Head-quarters now at Bielefeld on the Weser;--where, "April
16th," or a few days later, Royal Highness of Cumberland comes to take
command; likely to make a fine figure against Marechal d'Estrees and his
100,000 French! But there was no helping it. Friedrich, through Winter,
has had Schmettau earnestly flagitating the Hanoverian Officialities:
"The Weser is wadable in many places, you cannot defend the Weser!"
and counselling and pleading to all lengths,--without the least effect.
"Wants to save his own Halberstadt lands, at our expense!" Which was the
idea in London, too: "Don't we, by Apocalyptic Newswriters and eyesight
of our own, understand the man?" Pitt is by this time in Office,
who perhaps