388 
waiting for us at Prague, and the moment | 
I had dressed myself to pay my respects 
to him, whio shouldentér but His Majesty. ° 
«* No ceremony,” said he to me, “‘ lam 
come to chat with my master.” He was 
a Charles XII. of peace; he dreamt of 
nothing but military matters; but these 
were only parades, exercises, short coats, 
little hats, and tall men.. I was obhged 
to hear him talk on all these subjects, of 
the fine order of his troops, and of his eco- 
nomy. Here I took him up, and advised 
him to amass plenty of money and plenty 
of men, to defend us if we were attacked ; 
for my system, as may be perceived, was 
not to make war, but to creace a barrier 
against France, in order to take from 
her all inclination ta attack us. Prefer- 
ring friends to allies, who are often trou- 
blesome, and a-kind of tutors, I only 
engaged him not to declare against us ; 
knowing his avarice, | was apprehensive 
Jest we should not prevail so far. I per- 
suaded Charles VI. to descend a step from. 
his Spanish haughtiness, and at least,to 
give him.a friendly reception. He gave 
him a handsome entertainment, which 
eost a good deal of money. I prevailed 
wpon all the Bahemian nobility .to pay 
the inighest honour and respect to the 
king. He would have preferred a review 
to a ball, but that was not our forte. I 
was so well satisfied with the higher tac- 
tics as to care nothing about wheeling 
to the right and left, and the handling of 
arms. The contrast of the dignity and 
magnificence of our emperor in a mantle 
of gold, with this royal corporal, was very 
amusing. He returned to Potzdam, and 
we to Vienna. : 
1733.—It was about this time that I 
elearly perceived the diminution of my 
influence. The king of Poland died in 
she month of February. Russia proposed 
to assist as in securing the election of his 
son Augustus III. in spite of France, 
who was desirous of again seating Sta- 
nislaus upon the throne, A great con- 
ference at court ; scarcely any division of 
opinion: that for making war belongs 
principally to those who tase no part in 
war, as the ministers, the priests, the 
women, and the loungers of a great city. 
I said one day in a company where they 
were clamouring on the subject: “ [ 
wish that your Excellencies, and you la-% 
dies, were each obliged by the emperor 
to pay 4000 ducats; and that you fine 
gentiemen had to march immediately 
with muskets on your shoulders.” This 
reminds me of two lines which I read. 
gome time ago, I knew net where: 
-— 
Memoirs of Prince Eugene, of Savoy. 
[Nov. 1, 
Et pour un souffier.qui ne’se battrait pas, 
A la mort fait courir pour l’honneur des état. 
At length it was asserted that the so- 
called honour of the state was compro- 
mised, if we did not go to war. . ** I ree 
cognize it not,” said Ito the ministers, 
*‘ except when it is supported by powerful 
means: those of France.-tevér were so 
strong as at present; her finances are in 
the best possible state, in censequence 
of twenty years of peace. We have had 
scarcely ten since the peace of Westpha- 
lia; that is to say, for a period of near 
eighty years. Her administration is 
wise.” I would not roundly declare that 
our’s was.not, but I hinted as much. 
“ What have we to do with a war so fo- 
reign to the Germanic body, which will 
make this- reflection, and send: us no ase 
sistance? The Russians are too distant 
to afford any; and before they arrive, 
the Empire and Italy will be overrun. 
Recollect the versatility of England in 
my better days: she is ever ready to be- 
gin.again. A mercantile policy is always 
to be heard at the doors of parliainent. 
The Englishman, just, noble, upright, and 
.generous, on his private account, is the - 
contrary in behalf of his country. ’Tisa 
land of contradiction, whose constitution 
the ocean alone supports ; as bad faith ir 
speeches,and a desire to shine,support the 
‘Opposition. 
‘*The haughtiness and unskilfulness 
aften manifested by the emperor’s envoys 
at foreign courts, frequently cause them 
to slip away from him, and render it im- 
possibie to reckon upon any thing; and 
notwitostanding my conversations with 
Liria and Robinson, I would lay a wager 
that Spain will declare for France, and’ 
England will remain neuter.” 
Good as were the reasons which I al- 
leged to prove that France would be 
very giad to find a pretext fora war with 
us, aud bad as were those employed to re= 
fute them, the latter nevertheless prevail- 
ed. It was perhaps supposed that I should 
refuse the command of the army, which 
was offered me out of compliment; but ~ 
_this was a mistake, for I accepted it. 
for my own part individually, lam fond . 
of war; and in this | wished to meet the 
fate of Turenne. es 
Refore | had time to ascemble the 
army, the command of whieh till my ar= 
rival was given to the duke of Bevern, 
and while I was making all my arrange- 
meirts with the council of war, what Thad 
foreseen happened. Gn the 28th Oc- 
tober, the French had taken the fortress 
of Kehl, levied contributions ner 
the. 
| 
