The queen of Hungary still retained her firmness.  The Prussian declaration was not long without an answer, which was transmitted to the European princes, with some observations on the Prussian minister’s remonstrance to the court of Vienna, which he was ordered by his master to read to the Austrian council, but not to deliver.  The same caution was practised before, when the Prussians, after the emperour’s death, invaded Silesia.  This artifice of political debate may, perhaps, be numbered by the admirers of greatness among the refinements of conduct; but, as it is a method of proceeding not very difficult to be contrived or practised, as it can be of very rare use to honesty or wisdom, and as it has been long known to that class of men whose safety depends upon secrecy, though hitherto applied chiefly in petty cheats and slight transactions; I do not see that it can much advance the reputation of regal understanding, or, indeed, that it can add more to the safety, than it takes away from the honour of him that shall adopt it.

The queen, in her answer, after charging the king of Prussia with breach of the treaty of Breslaw, and observing how much her enemies will exult to see the peace now the third time broken by him, declares: 

“That she had no intention to injure the rights of the electors, and that she calls in question not the event, but the manner of the election.

“That she had spared the emperour’s troops with great tenderness, and that they were driven out of the empire, only because they were in the service of France.

“That she is so far from disturbing the peace of the empire, that the only commotions now raised in it are the effect of the armaments of the king of Prussia.”

Nothing is more tedious than publick records, when they relate to affairs which, by distance of time or place, lose their power to interest the reader.  Every thing grows little, as it grows remote; and of things thus diminished, it is sufficient to survey the aggregate without a minute examination of the parts.

It is easy to perceive, that, if the king of Prussia’s reasons be sufficient, ambition or animosity can never want a plea for violence and invasion.  What he charges upon the queen of Hungary, the waste of country, the expulsion of the Bavarians, and the employment of foreign troops, is the unavoidable consequence of a war inflamed on either side to the utmost violence.  All these grievances subsisted when he made the peace, and, therefore, they could very little justify its breach.

It is true, that every prince of the empire is obliged to support the imperial dignity, and assist the emperour, when his rights are violated.  And every subsequent contract must be understood in a sense consistent with former obligations.  Nor had the king power to make a peace on terms contrary to that constitution by which he held a place among the Germanick electors.  But he could have easily discovered, that not the