“You, sir,” she exclaimed, “who had such a share in the sacrifice of Silesia; you, who contributed more than any one in procuring the cessions to Sardinia, do you still think to persuade me?  No!  I am neither a child nor a fool!  If you will have an instant peace, make it.  I can negotiate for myself.  Why am I always to be excluded from transacting my own business?  My enemies will give me better conditions than my friends.  Place me where I was in Italy before the war; but your King of Sardinia must have all, without one thought for me.  This treaty was not made for me, but for him, for him singly.  Great God, how have I been used by that court!  There is your King of Prussia!  Indeed these circumstances tear open too many old wounds and create too many new ones.  Agree to such a treaty as this!” she exclaimed indignantly.  “No, no, I will rather lose my head.”

CHAPTER XXIX.

MARIA THERESA.

From 1748 to 1759.

Treaty of Peace.—­Dissatisfaction of Maria Theresa.—­Preparation for War.—­Rupture between England and Austria.—­Maria Theresa.—­Alliance with France.—­Influence of Marchioness of Pompadour.—­Bitter Reproaches Between Austria and England.—­Commencement of the Seven Years’ War.—­Energy of Frederic of Prussia.—­Sanguinary Battles.—­Vicissitudes of War.—­Desperate Situation of Frederic.—­Elation of Maria Theresa.—­ Her Ambitious Plans.—­Awful Defeat of the Prussians at Berlin.

Notwithstanding the bitter opposition of Maria Theresa to peace, the definitive treaty was signed at Aix-la-Chapelle on the 18th of October, 1748, by France, England and Holland.  Spain and Sardinia soon also gave in their adhesion.  The queen, finding it impossible to resist the determination of the other powers, at length reluctantly yielded, and accepted the terms, which they were ready unitedly to enforce should she refuse to accede to them.  By this treaty all the contracting powers gave their assent to the Pragmatic Sanction.  The queen was required to surrender her conquests in Italy, and to confirm her cessions of Silesia to Prussia.  Thus terminated this long and cruel war.  Though at the commencement the queen was threatened with utter destruction, and she had come out from the contests with signal honor, retaining all her vast possessions, excepting Silesia and the Italian provinces, still she could not repress her chagrin.  Her complaints were loud and reiterated.  When the British minister requested an audience to congratulate her upon the return of peace, she snappishly replied,

“A visit of condolence would be more proper, under these circumstances, than one of congratulation.  The British minister will oblige me by making no allusion whatever to so disagreeable a topic.”

The queen was not only well aware that this peace could not long continue, but was fully resolved that it should not be permanent.  Her great rival, Frederic, had wrested from her Silesia, and she was determined that there should be no stable peace until she had regained it.  With wonderful energy she availed herself of this short respite in replenishing her treasury and in recruiting her armies.  Frederic himself has recorded the masculine vigor with which she prepared herself for the renewal of war.