“If you choose to disobey the orders of the emperor, and to delay the execution of the article relative to Belgrade, I will instantly dispatch a courier to Vienna, and charge you with all the misfortunes which may result.  I had great difficulty in diverting the grand vizier from the demand of Sirmia, Sclavonia and the bannat of Temeswar; and when I have dispatched a courier, I will return into the Turkish camp and protest against this violation of the treaty.”

General Schmettan was compelled to yield.  Eight hundred janissaries took possession of one of the gates of the city; and the Turkish officers rode triumphantly into the streets, waving before them in defiance the banners they had taken at Crotzka.  The new fortifications were blown up, and the imperial army, in grief and shame, retired up the river to Peterwardein.  They had hardly evacuated the city ere Count Neuperg, to his inexpressible mortification, received a letter from the emperor stating that nothing could reconcile him to the idea of surrendering Belgrade but the conviction that its defense was utterly hopeless; but that learning that this was by no means the case, he intreated him on no account to think of the surrender of the city.  To add to the chagrin of the count, he also ascertained, at the same time, that the Turks were in such a deplorable condition that they were just on the point of retreating, and would gladly have purchased peace at almost any sacrifice.  A little more diplomatic skill might have wrested from the Turks even a larger extent of territory than the emperor had so foolishly surrendered to them.

CHAPTER XXVI.

MARIA THERESA.

From 1739 to 1741.

Anguish of the King.—­Letter to the Queen of Russia.—­The imperial Circular.—­Deplorable Condition of Austria.—­Death of Charles VI.—­Accession of Maria Theresa.—­Vigorous Measures of the Queen.—­Claim of the Duke of Bavaria.—­Responses from the Courts.—­Coldness of the French Court.—­Frederic of Russia.—­His Invasion of Silesia.—­March of the Austrians.—­Battle of Molnitz.—­Firmness of Maria Theresa.—­Proposed Division of Plunder.—­Villainy of Frederic.—­Interview with the King.—­Character of Frederic.—­Commencement of the General Invasion.

Every intelligent man in Austria felt degraded by the peace which had been made with the Turks.  The tidings were received throughout the ranks of the army with a general outburst of grief and indignation.  The troops intreated their officers to lead them against the foe, declaring that they would speedily drive the Turks from Belgrade, which had been so ignominiously surrendered.  The populace of Vienna rose in insurrection, and would have torn down the houses of the ministers who had recommended the peace but for the interposition of the military.  The emperor was almost beside himself with anguish.  He could not appease the clamors of the nation.  He was also in alliance