er! One thing
is certain: the Silesian Reviews, next Year, if this King be alive,
will be a terrible matter; and Military Gentlemen had better look to
themselves in time! Kaltenborn's sympathy will help little; nothing
but knowing one's duty, and visibly and indisputably doing it, will the
least avail.

Just in the days when Bouille left him for France, Friedrich ("October,
1784") had conceived the notion of some general Confederation, or
Combination in the Reich, to resist, the continual Encroachments of
Austria; which of late are becoming more rampant than ever. Thus, in
the last year, especially within the last six months, a poor Bishop of
Passau, quasi-Bavarian, or in theory Sovereign Bishop of the Reich, is
getting himself pulled to pieces (Diocese torn asunder, and masses of
it forcibly sewed on to their new "Bishopric of Vienna"), in the most
tragic manner, in spite of express Treaties, and of all the outcries
the poor man and the Holy Father himself can make against it. [Dohm
(DENKWURDIGKEITEN, iii. 46,--GESCHICHTE DER LETZTEN PERIODE FRIEDRICHS
DES ZWEITEN) gives ample particulars. Dohm's first 3 volumes call
themselves "History of Friedrich's last Period, 1778-1786;" and are
full of Bavarian War, 3d vol. mostly of FURSTENBUND;--all in a candid,
authentic, but watery and rather wearisome way.] To this of Passau, and
to the much of PANIS-BRIEFE and the like which had preceded, Friedrich,
though studiously saying almost nothing, had been paying the utmost of
attention:--part of Prince Henri's errand to France is thought to
have been, to take soundings on those matters (on which France proves
altogether willing, if able); and now, in the general emotion about
Passau, Friedrich jots down in a Note to Hertzberg the above idea; with
order to put it into form a little, and consult about it in the
Reich with parties interested. Hertzberg took the thing up with zeal;
instructed the Prussian Envoys to inquire, cautiously, everywhere;
fancied he did find willingness in the Courts of the Reich, in Hanover
especially: in a word, got his various irons into the fire;--and had not
proceeded far, when there rose another case of Austrian Encroachment,
which eclipsed all the preceding; and speedily brought Hertzberg's irons
to the welding-point. Too brief we cannot be in this matter; here are
the dates, mostly from Dohm:--

NEW-YEAR'S DAY, 1785, on or about that day, Romanzow, Son of our
old Colberg and Anti-Turk friend, who is