fond Mother (who at one time looked that way for her Infant,):
"Well, here is the Milanese fallen loose!" Readers know her for a
lady of many claims, of illimitable aspirations; and she went very
high on the Pragmatic Question. "Headship of the Golden Fleece,
Madam; YOU head of it? I say all Austria, German and Italian, is
mine!"--though she has now magnanimously given up the German part
to Kaiser Karl VII.; and will be content with the Italian, as an
Apanage for Don Philip. And so there is War in Italy, and will be.
To be imagined by us henceforth.

A War in which these Three Elements are noticeable as the chief.
FIRST, the Sardinian Majesty, [Charles Emanuel, Victor Amadeus's
Son (Hubner, t. 293): born 27th April, 1701; lived and reigned till
19th February, 1773 (OErtel, t. 77).] who is very anxious himself
for Milanese parings and additaments; but, except by skilfully
playing off-and-on between the French side and the Austrian, has no
chance of getting any. For Spain he is able to fight; and also (on
good British Subsidies) against Spain. Element SECOND is the
British Navy, cruising always between Spain and the Seat of War;
rendering supplies by sea impossible,--almost impossible.
THIRD, the Passes of Savoy; wild Alpine chasms, stone-labyrinths;
inexpugnable, with a Sardinian Majesty defending; which are the one
remaining road, for Armies and Supplies, out of Spain or France.

The Savoy Passes are, in fact, the gist of the War; the insoluble
problem for Don Philip and the French. By detours, by circuitous
effort and happy accident, your troops may occasionally squeeze
through: but without one secure road open behind them for supplies
and recruitments, what good is it? Battles there are, behind the
Alps, on what we may call the STAGE itself of this Italian War-