ons of conveniency; and others waited in
suspense for the death of the Spanish monarch, as an event which, they
imagined, would be attended with very important consequences in the
southern parts of Europe. With respect to the maintenance of the war,
whatever difficulties might have arisen in settling funds to support the
expense, and finding men to recruit the different armies, certain it
is all these difficulties were surmounted before the opening of the
campaign. The court of Vienna, though hampered by the narrowness of its
finances, still found resources in the fertility of its provinces,
in the number and attachment of its subjects, who more than any other
people in Europe acquiesce in the dispositions of their sovereign; and,
when pay cannot be afforded, willingly contribute free quarters for the
subsistence of the army. The czarina, though she complained that the
stipulated subsidies were ill paid, nevertheless persisted in pursuing
those favourite aims which had for some time influenced her conduct;
namely, her personal animosity to the king of Prussia, and her desire of
obtaining a permanent interest in the German empire. Sweden still made a
show of hostility against the Prussian monarch, but continued to slumber
over the engagements she had contracted. France, exhausted in her
finances, and abridged of her marine commerce, maintained a resolute
countenance; supplied fresh armies for her operations in Westphalia;
projected new schemes of conquest; and cajoled her allies with fair
promises, when she had nothing more solid to bestow. The king of
Prussia's dominions were generally drained, or in the hands of the
enemy; but to balance these disadvantages he kept possession of Saxony;
and enjoyed his annual subsidy from Great Britain, which effectually
enabled him to maintain his armies on a respectable footing, and open
the campaign with equal eagerness and confidence.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

FRANCKFORT SEIZED BY THE FRENCH.

The Hanoverian army, commanded by prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, was
strengthened by fresh reinforcements from England, augmented with German
recruits, regularly paid, and well supplied with every comfort and
convenience which foresight could suggest, or money procure; yet, in
spite of all the precautions that could be taken, they were cut off from
some resources which the French, in the beginning of the year, opened
to themselves by a flagrant stroke of perfidy, which even the extreme