ving married Munnich's stepdaughter, a Fraulein von
Malzahn, of good Prussian kin); was acquainted with the latitudes and
longitudes here, and well equipped for the operation in hand. To Madam
Munnich, once Madam Malzahn, his Mother-in-law, he carried a diamond
ring of 1,200 pounds, "small testimony of his Prussian Majesty's regard
to so high a Prussian Lady;" to Munnich's Son and Madam's a present of
3,000 pounds on the like score: and the wheels being oiled in this way,
and the steam so strong (son Winterfeld an ardent man, father Munnich
the like, supreme in Russia, and the thing itself a salutary thing),
the diplomatic speed obtained was great. Winterfeld had arrived in
Petersburg December 19th: Treaty of Alliance to the effect, "Firm
friends and good neighbors, we Two, Majesties of Prussia and of All the
Russias; will help each the other, if attacked, with 12,000 men,"--was
signed on the 27th: whole Transaction, so important to Friedrich,
complete in eight days. Austrian Botta, directly on the heel of those
unsatisfactory Dialogues about Silesian roads, about troops that were
pretty, but had never looked the wolf in the face,--had rushed off,
full speed, for Petersburg, in hopes of running athwart such a Treaty
as Winterfeld's, and getting one for Austria instead. But he arrived
too late; and perhaps could have done nothing had he been in time.
Botta tried his utmost for years afterwards, above ground and below, to
obstruct and reverse this thing; but it was to no purpose, and even
to less; and only, in result, brought Botta himself into flagrant
diplomatic trouble and scandal; which made noise enough in the then
Gazetteer world, and was the finale of Botta's Russian efforts,
[Adelung, iii. ii. 289; Mannstein, p. 375 ("Lapuschin Plot," of Botta's
raising, found out "August, 1743;"--Botta put in arrest, &c.).] though
not worth mentioning now.

The Russian Notebook continues:--

"Munnich, supreme in Russia since Bieren's removal, had wise counsels
for the Regent Anne and her Husband; though perhaps, being a high old
military gentleman, he might be somewhat abrupt in his ways. And there
were domestic Ostermanns, foreign Bottas, La Chetardies, and dangerous
Intriguers and Opposition figures, to improve any grudge that might
arise. Sure enough, in March, 1741, Feldmarschall Munnich was forbid
the Court (some Ostermann succeeding him there): 'Ever true to your Two
Highnesses, though no longer needed;'--and withdrew, in