Retrefpect of French Literature. —Mifcellanies. | 
She accordingly determined on re- 
venge; and, for this purpofe, raifed up 
new enemies againft Frederick. Her Ma- 
jefty, in particular, entered into a clofe 
alliance with Blizabeth, at that time Em.~ 
prefs of Ruffia, and daughter to Peter the 
Great; while the epicrams which the 
Proffian monarch bazarded but too pub- 
licly, he gailantrics of the 
pelle. 
‘relative to the 
Princefs, operated as’ one of the principal 
motives which determined her to enter in- 
to the war. 
‘© Tr was acaule nearly Bi ao favs 
our author, ** that lof Frederic the al- 
liance of France—for nations are in gene- 
ral the milirable puppets of the vices of 
thofe who govern them. He often fuf- 
fered the moit marked proofs of his {corn 
for the miftrefs of Louis XV. (the Mar- 
chioncls de Pompadour) to efcape from 
him in converfation; and this lady was, of 
courfe, informed of, and mortificd at thee 
follies. Maria Therefa, on the contrary, 
fol! lowing the advice of Agana: her mi- 
nifter, made advances to Majlame de Pom- 
padcur, and even wrote her the mott flat- 
tering letters. Nothing more was want- 
ing to change the fyitem of Europe, and 
appeafe that ancient animefity that had 
fubfifted fince the days of Charles V. and 
Francis I. between the 
Auttria and Bourbon. The plans of the 
Cardinal de Richelieu, for the abafement 
of the former, which had heen - followed 
conitantly, until then, bs the French co- 
vernment, were abandoned, in confequens e. 
of a few compliments on the part of an 
Emorefs to a woman of intrigue, and 
Auftria became the aily of France, bya 
treaty figned May 1, 1756. This only 
afforded a freth opportunity for the far- 
caltic jokes of Freceric! 
<¢ In the mean time, fome difputes 
took place between France and England, 
relative to the limits of Arcadia and Ca- 
nada, and they quarrelied about a few 
leagues of defert : fuch, at leat, adds he 
** was the pretext of the aeith, whofe 
real motive originated in the with to ruin 
the commerce of Frence, which began 
Once more to rear its head, to ufurp the 
dominion of the feas, and to enjoy the ex- 
clulive monopoly of ne produGtions of 
the two Indies. In $5, without the 
formality of a Poldiasten of war, they 
feized no lefs than three hundred mer- 
chantmen appertaining to France. They 
were allo politic encugh to fcek for the 
alliance of the great Frederic, on 
pole either to cover or defend their conti- 
nental poflefions in Germany. 
rival Houfes of- 
pur- 
613 
‘€ France commenced the war ina bril- 
liant manoer, daring the campaign ot 
1758, partly by the victory obtained by 
the fleet under Gallifloniere over that of. 
Admiral Byng, and partly by the cap:ure 
of Minorca;, but thefe were the only fac-_ 
cefles gained over we Enolith, during the 
whole continuance of hottilities, 
*¢ Prederre, ree received information 
that an offenfive league had been entered 
into between the Courts of Vienna, Pe- 
terfbure and Drefden, determined to an- 
tcipate their proje@s. He accordingly 
fell upen Saxony, which was not ftreag 
enough to refit him, made the whole army 
of the eleStorate Pree of war, drove 
the Eiccter himfel¥ from his capital, 
forced him to: retire into his kingdom of 
Poland, where he found vo manneg 0% fuce 
cour whatfoever. On this the Auttrian 
ircops were put in motien, and a conti. 
nental war once more took place. 
“In 3757, France fen! an army in‘e 
Germany, to which was joined that, of 
fuch of the circl s as had declared for the 
head of the empire,. againit the King of 
Profia. Ruffia alfo appeared during ‘this 
campaign on the theatre of war, and Fre- 
deric found himfeif alone, having to on- 
pote all the forces of the powers of Auta 
tria, France, Ruffia, Sweden, and 4 
moiety of the Empire.” hes 
td 
Such is the account of the caufes that - 
led to. the Seven Years’ War, according ta 
M. de Retzon, who accompanied his fa- 
ther, General Retzon, into the field. Two 
hiftories of it bad been publithed long be- 
fore; one by M. Tempelhof, and the 
eae by M. De:rchenholtz; but our au- 
thor promiles, in the courte of his werk, 
“to lift up part of the veil, which his 
prececeffors have been induced, at times, 
to throw over the pifure.” Although 
the King of Pruffia is allowed to baye 
acted the princepal charaéter in the drama, 
yet he is not here flattered “ The cavi ice, 
the harfline!s, and fometimes the precipi- 
tation of his character, are frankly avow-. 
ed; but even making ample allowance 
fois thefe tauits, our author , ill depicts 
him as the hero of his own and of every 
age. 
in the courfe of “ahi war, he was feve~ 
ral times on the eve of ruin. Alter the 
battle of Kollin (june 18, 1757) wick 
was gained by General Daun, the po. 
fition aflumed by the King was delperat ee 
and he himfelf was fo fepAble ct a:, that 
he had formed the defign of putting aa» 
end to his life; be wrote to this purpofe 
to the Mangraviue of Barcith, his fitter: 
he 
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