envoying for his Majesty], sent, at that very time, to Brussels,
for Maps of the Moselle and of the Three Bishoprics, and purchased
five copies,"--means to examine Milord Stair's proposed Seat of
War, at any rate. (Here is a pleasant friend to have on visit to
you, in the next apartment, with such an eye and such a nose!) ...

"Monseigneur," finely insinuates Voltaire in conclusion, "is not
there" a certain Frenchman, true to his Country, to his King, and
to your Eminency, with perhaps peculiar facilities for being of
use, in such delicate case?--"JE SUIS," much your Eminency's.
[ OEuvres, lxxii. p. 568 (to Cideville),
p. 579 (D'Argenson), p. 574 (Fleury).]

Friedrich, on the day while Voltaire at Brussels sat so busy
writing of him, was at Salzdahl, visiting his Brunswick kindred
there, on the road home to his usual affairs. Old Fleury, age
ninety gone, died 29th January, 1743,--five months and nineteen
days after this Letter. War-Minister Breteuil had died January 1st.
Here is room for new Ministers and Ministries; for the two
D'Argensons,--if it could avail their old School-fellow, or France,
or us; which it cannot much.



Chapter III.

CARNIVAL PHENOMENA IN WAR-TIME.

Readers were anticipating it, readers have no sympathy; but the
sad fact is, Britannic Majesty has NOT got out his sword;