Frederick was gracious and kind toward the officials of all the
German powers. On one occasion, when the wife of Councillor
Reichart, attached to the Saxon embassy, was confined, at
Frederick's earnest wish, his private secretary, Eichel, stood as
god-father to the child. [Footnote: "Characteristics of the
Important Events of the Seven Years' War."]

In order to promote good feeling in Saxony, the king sent Count
Mattzahn, one of the most eloquent cavaliers of the day, to the
Dresden court; and so well supplied was he, that he dared compete in
pomp and splendor with Count Bruhl.

Frederick appeared to attach special importance to the friendship of
Saxony, and with none of his foreign ambassadors was he engaged in
so active a correspondence as with Mattzahn. It was said that these
letters were of a harmless and innocent nature, relating wholly to
paintings, which the count was to purchase from the Saxon galleries,
or to music, which Frederick wished to obtain from amongst the
collection of the dead Hesse, or to an Italian singer Frederick
wished to entice to Berlin.

The world no longer favored Frederick's retirement. The less
disposed he was to mingle in politics, the more Maria Theresa,
Elizabeth of Russia, Augustus of Saxony, and the Marquise de
Pompadour agitated the subject.

France had not forgotten that the contract between herself and
Prussia was about to expire. She knew also that the subsidy money
between England and Russia had not yet been voted by Parliament. It