oes, beating drums, in an alarming manner: and the Kaiser,
except it were in Russia, with the new Czarina Catherine I. (that brown
little woman, now become Czarina [8th February, 1725. Treaty with Kaiser
(6th August, 1726) went to nothing on her death, 11th May, 1727.]),
finds no ally to speak of. An unlucky, spectre-hunting, spectre-hunted
Kaiser; who, amid so many drums, manifestoes, menaces, is now rolling
eyes that witness everywhere considerable dismay. This is the Fourth
grand Crisis of Europe; crisis or travail-throe of Nature, bringing
forth, and unable to do it, Baby Carlos's Apanage and the Pragmatic
Sanction. Fourth conspicuous change of color to the universal lobster,
getting itself boiled on those sad terms, for twenty years. For its
sins, we need not doubt; for its own long-continued cowardices, sloths
and greedy follies, as well as those of Kaiser Karl!--

At this Fourth change we will gladly leave the matter, for a time;
much wishing it might be forever. Alas, as if that were possible to us!
Meanwhile, let afflicted readers, looking before and after, readier to
forget than to remember in such a case, accept this Note, or Summary of
all the Seven together, by way of help:--

TRAVAIL-THROES OF NATURE FOR BABY CARLOS'S ITALIAN APANAGE; SEVEN IN
NUMBER.

1. Triple Alliance, English, Dutch, French (4th January, 1717), saying,
"Peace, then! No Alberoni-plotting; no Duel-fighting permitted!"
Same Powers, next year, proposing Terms of Agreement; Kaiser gloomily
accepting them; which makes it Quadruple Alliance (18th July, 1718);
Termagant indignantly refusing,--with attack on the Kaiser's Sicilies.

2. First Sputter of War; Byng's Sea-fight, and the other pressures,
compelling Termagant: Peace (26th January, 1720); Congress of Cambrai to
settle the Apanage and other points.

3. Congress of Cambrai, a weariness to gods and men, gets the floor
pulled from under it (Ripperda's feat, 30th April, 1725); so that Kaiser
and Termagant stand ranked together, Apanage wrapt in mystery,--to the
terror of mankind.

4. Treaty of Hanover (France, England, Prussia, 3d September, 1725)
restores the Balances, and more. War imminent. Prussia privately falls
off,--as we shall see.

[These first Four lie behind us, at this point; but there are Three
others still ahead, which we cannot hope to escape altogether; namely:]

5. Second Sputter of War: Termagant besieges Gibraltar (4th March,
1727--6th March, 1728): Peace