in sight of a too dangerous leg of mutton, Bruhl has ever since
rather held back; would not re-engage at all, for almost two years,
even on the Czarina's engaging; and then only in a cautious,
conditional and hypothetic manner,--though with famine increasing
day by day in sight of the desired viands. His hatred is fell;
but he would fain escape with back unbroken.


HOW FRIEDRICH DISCOVERED THE MYSTERY. CONCERNING MENZEL
AND WEINGARTEN.

Friedrich has been aware of this mystery, at least wide awake to it
and becoming ever more instructed, for almost four years.
Traitor Menzel the Saxon Kanzellist--we, who have prophetically
read what he had to confess when laid hold of, are aware, though as
yet, and on to 1757, it is a dead secret to all mortals but himself
and "three others"--has been busy for Prussia ever since "the end
of 1752." Got admittance to the Presses; sent his first Excerpt
"about the time of Easter-Fair, 1753,"--time of Voltaire's taking
wing. And has been at work ever since. Copying Despatches from the
most secret Saxon Repositories; ready always on Excellency
Mahlzahn's indicating the Piece wanted; and of late, I should
think, is busier than ever, as the Saxon Mystery, which is also an
Austrian and Russian one, gets more light thrown into it, and seems
to be fast ripening towards action of a perilous nature. The first
Excerpts furnished by Menzel, readers can judge how enigmatic they
were. These Menzel Papers, copies mainly of Petersburg or Vienna
DESPATCHES to Bruhl, with Bruhl's ANSWERS,--the principal of which
were subsequently printed in their best arrangement and liveliest
point of vision [In Friedrich's Manifestoes, chiefly in MEMOIRE