gious Duchies to
Austria, after all. Friedrich, vividly awake to every chance, foresaw,
in case of such disjunctures in Italy, good likelihood of quarrel there.
And has despatched the experienced old Marischal to be on the ground,
and have his eyes open. Marischal knows Spain very well; and has often
said, "He left a dear old friend there, the Sun." Marischal was under
way, about New-year's time; but lingered by the road, waiting how
Ferdinand would turn,--and having withal an important business of his
own, as he sauntered on. Did not arrive, I think, till Summer was at
hand, and his dear Old Friend coming out in vigor.

August 10th, 1759, Ferdinand died; and the same day Carlos became King
of Spain. But, instead of giving Naples to Don Philip, Carlos gave it
to a junior Son of his own; and left poor Philip to content himself with
Parma and Piacenza, as heretofore. Clear against the rights of Austria;
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is perfectly explicit on that point! Will
not Austria vindicate its claim? Politicians say, Austria might have
recovered not only Parma and Piacenza, but the kingdom of Naples
itself,--no France at present able to hinder it, no Spain ever able. But
Austria, contrary to expectation, would not: a Country tenacious enough
of its rights, real and imaginary; greedy enough of Italy, but of
Silesia much more! The matter was deliberated in Council at Vienna; but
the result was magnanimously, No. "Finish this Friedrich first; finish
this Silesia. Nothing else till that!"

The Marischal's legationary function, therefore, proved a sinecure;
no Carlos needing Anti-Austrian assistance from Friedrich or another;
Austria magnanimously having let him alone. Doubtless a considerable
disappointment to Friedrich. Industrious Friedrich had tried, on
the other side of this affair, Whether the King of Sardinia, once
an adventurous fighting kind of man, could not be stirred up, having
interests involved? But no; he too, grown old, devotional, apprehensive,
held by his rosaries, and answered, No. Here is again a hope reasonable
to look at, but which proves fallacious.

Marischal continued in Spain, corresponding, sending news (the Prussian
Archives alone know what), for nearly a couple of years. [Returned
"April, 1762" (Friedrich's Letter to him, "10th April, 1762:" in
_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xx. 285).] His Embassy had one effect, which is
of interest to us here. On his way out, he had gone by London, with a
view of ge