private thoughts in regard to the surrounding scene of things were
extremely serious; and already it had begun to be apparent, from
those Britannic-Austrian procedures, that some new alliance with
France might well lie ahead for him. During Voltaire's visit, that
extraordinary Paper from Vienna, that the Kaiser was no Kaiser, and
that there must be "compensation" and satisfactory "assurance," had
come into full glare of first-reading; and the DICTATUR-SACHE, and
denunciation of an evidently partial Kur-Mainz, was awakening
everywhere. Voltaire had not gone, when,--through Podewils Junior
(probably with help of the improper Dutch female of rank),--
Friedrich got to wit of another thing, not less momentous to him;
and throwing fearful light on that of "compensation" and
"assurance." This was the Treaty of Worms,--done by Carteret and
George, September 13th, during those languid Rhine operations;
Treaty itself not languid, but a very lively thing, to Friedrich
and to all the world! Concerning which a few words now.

We have said, according to promise, and will say, next to nothing
of Maria Theresa's Italian War; but hope always the reader keeps it
in mind. Big war-clouds waltzing hither and thither, occasionally
clashing into bloody conflict; Sardinian Majesty and Infant Philip
both personally in the field, fierce men both: Traun, Browne,
Lobkowitz, Lichtenstein, Austrians of mark, successively
distinguishing themselves; Spain, too, and France very diligent;--
Conti off thither, then in their turns Maillebois, Noailles:--high
military figures, but remote; shadowy, thundering INaudibly on this
side and that; whom we must not mention farther.

"The notable figure to us," says one of my Notes, "is Charles
Emanuel, second King of Sardinia; who is at the old trade of his