Messieurs; silent: AU REVOIR, which may be soon! Retzow Junior, a
rational, sincere, but rather pipe-clayed man, who is wholly to be
trusted on this Conference, with his Father for authority, has some
touches of commentary on it, which indicate (date being 1802) that
till the end of his life, or of Prince Henri his Patron's, there
remained always in some heads a doubt as to Friedrich's wisdom in
regard to starting the Seven-Years War, and to Schwerin's entire
sincerity in that inspired speech. And still more curious, that
there was always, at Potsdam as elsewhere, a Majesty's Opposition
Party; privately intent to look at the wrong side; and doing it
diligently,--though with lips strictly closed for most part;
without words, except well-weighed and to the wise: which is an
excellent arrangement, for a Majesty and Majesty's Opposition,
where feasible in the world!--

From Retzow I learn farther, that Winterfeld, directly on the back
of this Conference, took a Tour to the Bohemian Baths, "To
Karlsbad, or Toplitz, for one's health;" and wandered about a good
deal in those Frontier Mountains of Bohemia, taking notes, taking
sketches (not with a picturesque view); and returned by the Saxon
Pirna Country, a strange stony labyrinth, which he guessed might
possibly be interesting soon. The Saxon Commandant of the
Konigstein, lofty Fortress of those parts, strongest in Saxony, was
of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called on this Commandant;
found his Konigstein too high for cannonading those neighborhoods,
but that there was at the base of it a new Work going on; and that
the Saxons were, though languidly, endeavoring to bestir themselves
in matters military. Their entire Army at present is under 20,000;
but, in the course of next Winter, they expect to have it 40,000.
Shall be of that force, against Season 1757. No doubt Winterfeld's