would have suited the noble times of the Roman Republic.'"
[ OEuvres, iv. 2.] He has his Herculean
battle, his Master and he have, with the Owleries and the vulturous
Law-Pedantries,--which I always love Friedrich for detesting as he
does:--and, during the next five years, the world will hear often
of Cocceji, and of this Prussian Law-Reform by Friedrich and him.

His Majesty's exertions to make Peace were not successful;
what does lie in his power is, to keep out of the quarrel himself.
It appears great hopes were entertained, by some in England, of
gaining Friedrich over; of making him Supreme Captain to the Cause
of Liberty. And prospects were held out to him, quasi-offers made,
of a really magnificent nature,--undeniable, though obscure.
Herr Ranke has been among the Archives again; and comes out with
fractional snatches of a very strange "Paper from England;"
capriciously hiding all details about it, all intelligible
explanation: so that you in vain ask, "Where, When, How, By whom?"
--and can only guess to yourself that Carteret was somehow at the
bottom of the thing; AUT CARTERETUS AUT DIABOLUS. "What would your
Majesty think to be elected Stadtholder of Holland? Without a
Stadtholder, these Dutch are worth nothing; not hoistable, nor of
use when hoisted, all palavering and pulling different ways.
Must have a Stadtholder; and one that stands firm on some basis of
his own. Stadtholder of Holland, King of Prussia,--you then, in
such position, take the reins of this poor floundering English-
Dutch Germanic Anti-French War, you; and drive it in the style you
have. Conquer back the Netherlands to us; French Netherlands as
well. French and Austrian Netherlands together, yours in
perpetuity; Dutch Stadtholderate as good as ditto: this, with
Prussia and its fighting capabilities, will be a pleasant