RAVAIL-THROES.

In process of this so terrific Duel with Elizabeth Farnese, and general
combat of the Shadows, which then made Europe quake, at every new
lunge and pass of it, and which now makes Europe yawn to hear the
least mention of it, there came two sputterings of actual War. Byng's
sea-victory at Messina, 1718; Spanish "Siege of Gibraltar," 1727, are
the main phenomena of these two Wars,--England, as its wont is, taking a
shot in both, though it has now forgotten both. And, on the whole,
there came, so far as I can count, Seven grand diplomatic Spasms or
Crises,--desperate general European Treatyings hither and then thither,
solemn Congresses two of them, with endless supplementary adhesions
by the minor powers. Seven grand mother-treaties, not to mention the
daughters, or supplementary adhesions they had; all Europe rising
spasmodically seven times, and doing its very uttermost to quell this
terrible incubus; all Europe changing color seven times, like a lobster
boiling, for twenty years. Seven diplomatic Crises, we say, marked
changings of color in the long-suffering lobster; and two so-called
Wars,--before this enormous zero could be settled. Which high Treaties
and Transactions, human nature, after much study of them, grudges to
enumerate. Apanage for Baby Carlos, ghost of a Pragmatic Sanction; these
were a pair of causes for mankind! Be no word spoken of them, except
with regret and on evident compulsion.

For the reader's convenience we must note the salient points; but grudge
to do it. Salient points, now mostly wrapt in Orcus, and terrestrially
interesting only to the spiders,--except on an occasion of this kind,
when part of them happens to stick to the history of a memorable man, To
us they are mere bubblings-up of the general putrid fermentation of the
then Political World; and are too unlovely to be dwelt on longer than
indispensable. Triple Alliance, Quadruple Alliance, Congress of Cambrai,
Congress of Soissons; Conference of Pardo, Treaty of Hanover, Treaty of
Wusterhausen, what are they? Echo answers, What? Ripperda and the Queen
of Spain, Kaiser Karl and his Pragmatic Sanction, are fallen dim to
every mind. The Troubles of Thorn (sad enough Papist-Protestant tragedy
in their time),--who now cares to know of them? It is much if we find
a hearing for the poor Salzburg Emigrants when they get into Preussen
itself. Afflicted human nature ought to be, at last, delivered from
the palpably superfluous;