and suggests to him at last: "Plainly ask her Hungarian Majesty,
What is your meaning by those Bohemian Campings?" "Pshaw," answers
Friedrich: "Nothing but some ambiguous answer, perhaps with insult
in it!"--nevertheless thinks better; and determines to do so.
[Mitchell Papers.]



Chapter IV.

FRIEDRICH PUTS A QUESTION AT VIENNA, TWICE OVER.

July 18th, 1756, Friedrich despatches an Express to Graf von
Klinggraf, his Resident at Vienna (an experienced man, whom we have
seen before in old Carteret, "Conference-of-Hanau" times), To
demand audience of the Empress; and, in the fittest terms, friendly
and courteous, brief and clear, to put that question of Mitchell's
suggesting. "Those unwonted Armaments, Camps in Bohmen, Camps in
Mahren, and military movements and preparations," Klinggraf is to
say, "have caused anxiety in her Majesty's peaceable Neighbor of
Prussia; who desires always to continue in peace; and who requests
hereby a word of assurance from her Majesty, that these his
anxieties are groundless." Friedrich himself hopes little or
nothing from this; but he has done it to satisfy people about him,
and put an end to all scruples in himself and others. The Answer
may be expected in ten or twelve days.

And, about the same time,--likely enough, directly after, though
there is no date given, to a fact which is curious and authentic,--
Friedrich sent for two of his chief Generals, to Potsdam, for a