Maria Theresa was completely bound by the last peace contract at
Dresden; besides, the two Silesian wars had weakened and
impoverished Austria, and time was necessary to heal her wounds
before she dared make a new attempt to reconquer the noble jewel of
Silesia, which Frederick had torn from her crown. Notwithstanding
her pious and Christian pretensions, she hated Frederick with her
whole heart.

England had allied herself with Russia. France was at the moment too
much occupied with the pageants which the lovely Marquise de
Pompadour celebrated at Versailles, not to be in peace and harmony
with all the world; yes, even with her natural enemy, Austria. Count
Kaunitz, her ambassador at Paris, had, by his wise and adroit
conduct, banished the cloud of mistrust which had so long lowered
between these two powers.

This was the state of things at the close of the year 1775. Then was
the general quiet interrupted by the distant echo of a cannon.
Europe was startled, and rose up from her comfortable siesta to
listen and inquire after the cause of this significant thunderbolt.
This roar of cannon, whose echo only had been heard, had its birth
far, far away in America. The cannon, however, had been fired by a
European power--by England, always distinguished for her calculating
selfishness, which she wished the world to consider praiseworthy and
honorable policy. England considered her mercantile interests in
America endangered by France, and she thirsted with desire to have
not only an East India but a West India company. The French colonies
in America had long excited the envy and covetousness of England,
and as a sufficient cause for war had utterly failed, she was bold
enough to take the initiative without excuse!