BOOK XVIII.

SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT.

1757-1759.


Chapter I.

THE CAMPAIGN OPENS.




Seldom was there seen such a combination against any man as this
against Friedrich, after his Saxon performances in 1756. The extent
of his sin, which is now ascertained to have been what we saw, was
at that time considered to transcend all computation, and to mark
him out for partition, for suppression and enchainment, as the
general enemy of mankind. "Partition him, cut him down," said the
Great Powers to one another; and are busy, as never before, in
raising forces, inciting new alliances and calling out the general
POSSE COMITATUS of mankind, for that salutary object.
What tempestuous fulminations in the Reichstag, and over all
Europe, England alone excepted, against this man!

Latterly the Swedes, who at first had compunctions on the score of
Protestantism, have agreed to join in the Partitioning adventure:
"It brings us his Pommern, all Pommern ours!" cry the Swedish
Parliamentary Eloquences (with French gold in their pocket):