they would take some resolution in
his favour, but the partisans of Prussia frustrated all his endeavours:
one of the deputies protesting against holding a diet while there were
foreign troops in the kingdom, the assembly broke up in a tumultuous
manner, even before they had chosen a mareschal. The diet of Sweden,
which was convoked about the same period, seemed determined to proceed
upon business. They elected count Axel Person their grand mareschal,
in opposition to count Horn, by a great majority; which was an unlucky
circumstance for the Prussian interest at Stockholm, inasmuch as the
same majority obstinately persisted in opinion, that the war should be
prosecuted in the spring with redoubled vigour, and the army in Germany
reinforced to the number of at least thirty thousand fighting men. This
unfavourable circumstance made but little impression upon the Prussian
monarch, who had maintained his ground with surprising resolution and
success since the beginning of the campaign; and now enjoyed in
prospect the benefit of winter, which he is said to have termed his best
auxiliary.

INTIMATION GIVEN TO THE STATES OF WESTPHALIA BY THE KING OF PRUSSIA.

The animosity which inflamed the contending parties was not confined to
the operations in war, but broke out, as usual, in printed declarations,
which the belligerent powers diffused all over Europe. In the beginning
of the season, the states of the circle of Westphalia had been required,
by the Imperial court, to finish their contingent of troops against the
king of Prussia, or to commute for this contingent with a sum of money.
In consequence of this demand, some of the Westphalian estates had sent
deputies to confer with the assembly of the circle of Cologn; and to
these the king signified, by a declaration dated at Munster, that as
this demand of money, instead of troops, was no less extraordinary than
contrary to the constitutions of the empire, should they comply with it,
or even continue to assist his enemies either with troops or money, he
would consider them as having actually taken part in the war against
him and his allies, and treat them accordingly on all occasions.
This intimation produced little effect in his favour. The duke of
Mecklenburgh adhered to the opposite cause; and the elector of Cologn
co-operated with the French in their designs against Hanover. By way of
retaliation for this partiality, the Prussians ravaged the country
of Mecklenburgh,