eanwhile here is the English calamity; worse than any
Schweidnitz, Colberg or other that has befallen in this blackest, of the
night.

THE PITT CATASTROPHE: HOW THE PEACE-NEGOTIATION WENT OFF BY EXPLOSION;
HOW PITT WITHDREW (3d October, 1761), AND THERE CAME A SPANISH WAR
NEVERTHELESS.

In St. James's Street, "in the Duke of Cumberland's late lodgings,"
on the 2d of October, 1761, there was held one of the most remarkable
Cabinet-Councils known in English History: it is the last of Pitt's
Cabinet-Councils for a long time,--might as well have been his last of
all;--and is of the highest importance to Friedrich through Pitt. We
spoke of the Choiseul Peace-Negotiation; of an offer indirectly from
King Carlos, "Could not I mediate a little?"--offer which exploded said
Negotiation, and produced the Bourbon Family Compact and an additional
War instead. Let us now look, slightly for a few moments, into that
matter and its sequences.

It was JULY 15th, when Bussy, along with something in his own French
sphere, presented this beautiful Spanish Appendix,--"apprehensive that
War may break out again with Spain, when we Two have got settled." By
the same opportunity came a Note from him, which was reckoned important
too: "That the Empress Queen would and did, whatever might become of the
Congress of Augsburg, approve of this Separate Peace between France
and England,--England merely undertaking to leave the King of Prussia
altogether to himself in future with her Imperial Majesty and her
Allies." "Never, Sir!" answered Pitt, with emphasis, to this latter
Proposition; and to the former about Spain's interfering, or whispering
of interference, he answered--by at once returning the Paper, as a
thing non-extant, or which it was charitable to consider so. "Totally
inadmissible, Sir; mention it no more!"--and at once called upon the
Spanish Ambassador to disavow such impertinence imputed to his Master.
Fancy the colloquies, the agitated consultations thereupon, between
Bussy and this Don, in view suddenly of breakers ahead!

In about a week (July 23d), Bussy had an Interview with Pitt himself on
this high Spanish matter; and got some utterances out of him which are
memorable to Bussy and us. "It is my duty to declare to you, Sir, in the
name of his Majesty," said Pitt, "that his Majesty will not suffer
the disputes with Spain to be blended, in any manner whatever, in the
Negotiation of Peace between the Two Crowns. To which I mu