writes to Count Bruhl, 12th April, 1756:--
"I am bidden signify to your Excellency that it is greatly
wished, in order to favor certain views, you would have the
goodness to cause arrive in Petersburg, by different channels, the
following intelligence: 'That the King of Prussia, on pretext of
Commerce, is sending officers and engineers into the Ukraine, to
reconnoitre the Country and excite a rebellion there.' And this
advice, be pleased to observe, is not to come direct from the Saxon
Court, nor by the Envoy Gross, but by some third party,--to the end
there may be no concert noticed;--as they [L'ON, the "service-
pipes," and managing Excellencies, Russian and Austrian] have given
the same commission to other Ministers, so that the news shall come
from more places than one.

"They [the said managing Excellencies] have also required me to
write to the Baron de Sack," our Saxon Minister in Sweden, "upon
it, which I will not fail to do; and they assured me that our
Court's advantage was not less concerned in it than that of their
own; adding these words [comfortable to one's soul], 'The King of
Prussia [in 1745] gave Saxony a blow which it will feel for fifty
years; but we will give him one which he will feel for a hundred.'"

To which beautiful suggestion Excellency Bruhl answers, 2d June,
1756: "As to the Secret Commission of conveying to Petersburg, by
concealed channels, Intelligence of Prussian machinations in the
Ukraine, we are still busy finding out a right channel; and they
[L'ON, the managing Excellencies] shall very soon, one way or the
other, see the effect of my personal inclination to second what is
so good an intention, though a little artful (UN PEU ARTIFICIEUSE,"
--UN PEU, nothing to speak of)! [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in