agined.

In 1624, in pity to all parties, some attempt at practical Division
of the Territory was again made: Neuburg to have Berg and Julich,
Brandenburg to have Cleve, Mark, Ravensburg and the minor appurtenances:
and Treaty to that effect was got signed (11th May, 1624). But it was
not well kept, nor could be; and the statistic cipher of new treaties,
manifestoes, conferences, and approximate written area of Law-Paper goes
on increasing.

It was not till forty-two years after, in 1666, as will be more minutely
noticeable by and by, that an effective partition could be practically
brought about. Nor in this state was the Lawsuit by any means ended,--as
we shall wearisomely see, in times long following that. In fact there
never was, in the German Chanceries or out of them, such a Lawsuit,
Armed or Wigged, as this of the Cleve Duchies first and last. And the
sentence was not practically given, till the Congress of Vienna (1815)
in our own day gave it; and the thing Johann Sigismund had claimed
legally in 1609 was actually handed over to Johann Sigismund's
Descendant in the seventh generation, after two hundred and six years.
Handed over to him then,--and a liberal rate of interest allowed. These
litigated Duchies are now the Prussian Province Julich-Berg-Cleve, and
the nucleus of Prussia's possessions in the Rhine country.

A year before Johann Sigismund's death, Albert Friedrich, the poor
eclipsed Duke of Prussia, died (8th August, 1618): upon which our swift
Kurfurst, not without need of his dexterities there too, got peaceable
possession of Prussia;--nor has his Family lost hold of that, up to the
present time. Next year (23d December, 1619), he himself closed a swift
busy life (labor enough in it for him perhaps, though only an age
of forty-nine); and sank to his long rest, his works following
him,--unalterable thenceforth, not unfruitful some of them.

Chapter XV. -- TENTH KURFURST, GEORGE WILHELM.

By far the unluckiest of these Electors, whether the most unworthy of
them or not, was George Wilhelm, Tenth Elector, who now succeeded Johann
Sigismund his Father. The Father's eyes had closed when this great flame
was breaking out; and the Son's days were all spent amid the hot ashes
and fierce blazings of it.

The position of Brandenburg during this sad Thirty-Years War was passive
rather than active; distinguished only in the former way, and as far
as possible from being glorious or victorious. Never sin