reat use
to her in the affairs of Life, and of great charm in Society." [Letter
of Voltaire "To Madame Chambonin," end of 1742 (_OEuvres,_ Edition in
40 vols., Paris, 1818, xxxii. 148);--is MISSED in the later Edition (97
vols., Paris, 1837), to which our habitual reference is.] Voltaire (if
you read with the microscope) has, on this side also, thoughts of being
off. "Off on this side?" Madame flies mad, becomes Megaera, at the
mention or suspicion of it! A jealous, high-tempered Algebraic Lady.
They have had to tell her of this secret Mission to Berlin; and she
insists on being the conduit, all the papers to pass through her hands
here at Paris, during the great man's absence. Fixed northeast; that is,
to appearance, the domestic wind blowing! And I rather judge, the great
man is glad to get away for a time.

This Quasi-Diplomatic Speculation, one perceives, is much more serious,
on the part both of Voltaire and of the Ministry, than any of the former
had been. And, on Voltaire's part, there glitter prospects now and then
of something positively Diplomatic, of a real career in that kind, lying
ahead for him. Fond hopes these! But among the new Ministers, since
Fleury's death, are Amelot, the D'Argensons, personal friends, old
school-fellows of the poor hunted man, who are willing he should have
shelter from such a pack; and all French Ministers, clutching at every
floating spar, in this their general shipwreck in Germany, are aware of
the uses there might be in him, in such crisis. "Knows Friedrich; might
perhaps have some power in persuading him,--power in spying him at
any rate. Unless Friedrich do step forward again, what is to become of
us!"--The mutual hintings, negotiatings, express interviews, bargainings
and secret-instructions, dimly traceable in Voltaire's LETTERS, had
been going on perhaps since May last, time of those ACADEMY failures,
of those Broglio Despatches from the Donau Countries, "No staying here,
your Majesty!"--and I think it was, in fact, about the time when Broglio
blew up like gunpowder and tumbled home on the winds, that Voltaire set
out on his mission. "Visit to Friedrich," they call it;--"invitation"
from Friedrich there is, or can, on the first hint, at any point of the
Journey be.

Voltaire has lingered long on the road; left Paris, middle of June; [His
Letters (_OEuvres,_ lxxiii. 42, 48).] but has been exceedingly exerting
himself, in the Hague, at Brussels, and wherever else present, i