secret Conference with Winterfeld and him. The Generals are, old
Schwerin and General Retzow Senior,--Major-General Retzow, whom we
used to hear of in the Silesian Wars,--and whose Son reports on
this occasion. Conference is on this Imminency of War, and as to
what shall be done in it. Friedrich explains in general terms his
dangers from Austria and Russia, his certainty that Austria will
attack him; and asks, Were it, or were it not, better to attack
Austria, as is our Prussian principle in such case? Schwerin and
Retzow--Schwerin first, as the eldest; and after him Retzow, "who
privately has charge from the Prussian Princes to do it"--opine
strongly: That indications are uncertain, that much seems
inevitable which does not come; that in a time of such tumultuous
whirlings and unexpected changes, the true rule is, Watch well,
and wait.

After enough of this, with Winterfeld looking dissent but saying
almost nothing, Friedrich gives sign to Winterfeld;--who spreads
out, in their lucidest prearranged order, the principal Menzel-
Weingarten Documents; and bids the two Military Gentlemen read.
They read; with astonishment, are forced to believe; stand gazing
at one another;--and do now take a changed tone. Schwerin, "after a
silence of everybody for some minutes,"--"bursts out like one
inspired; 'If War is to be and must be, let us start to-morrow;
seize Saxony at once; and in that rich corny Country form Magazines
for our Operations on Bohemia!'" [Retzow, i. 39.]

That is privately Friedrich's own full intention. Saxony, with its
Elbe River as Highway, is his indispensable preliminary for
Bohemia: and he will not, a second time, as he did in 1744 with
such results, leave it in an unsecured condition. Adieu then,