第272章 LETTER CLXXIV(2)

Ferdinand had certainly made himself absolute,and the empire consequently formidable to France,if that Cardinal had not piously adopted the Protestant cause,and put the empire,by the treaty of Westphalia,in pretty much the same disjointed situation in which France itself was before Lewis the Eleventh ;when princes of the blood,at the head of provinces,and Dukes of Brittany,etc.,always opposed,and often gave laws to the crown.Nothing but making the empire hereditary in the House of Austria,can give it that strength and efficiency,which I wish it had,for the sake of the balance of power.For,while the princes of the empire are so independent of the emperor,so divided among themselves,and so open to the corruption of the best bidders,it is ridiculous to expect that Germany ever will,or can act as a compact and well-united body against France.But as this notion of mine would as little please SOME OF OUR FRIENDS,as many of our enemies,I would not advise you,though you should be of the same opinion,to declare yourself too freely so.Could the Elector Palatine be satisfied,which I confess will be difficult,considering the nature of his pretensions,the tenaciousness and haughtiness of the court of Vienna (and our inability to do,as we have too often done,their work for them);I say,if the Elector Palatine could be engaged to give his vote,I should think it would be right to proceed to the election with a clear majority of five votes;and leave the King of Prussia and the Elector of Cologne,to protest and remonstrate as much as ever they please.The former is too wise,and the latter too weak in every respect,to act in consequence of these protests.The distracted situation of France,with its ecclesiastical and parliamentary quarrels,not to mention the illness and possibly the death of the Dauphin,will make the King of Prussia,who is certainly no Frenchman in his heart,very cautious how he acts as one.

The Elector of Saxony will be influenced by the King of Poland,who must be determined by Russia,considering his views upon Poland,which,by the by,I hope he will never obtain;I mean,as to making that crown hereditary in his family.As for his sons having it by the precarious tenure of election,by which his father now holds it,'a la bonne heure'.

But,should Poland have a good government under hereditary kings,there would be a new devil raised in Europe,that I do not know who could lay.

I am sure I would not raise him,though on my own side for the present.

I do not know how I came to trouble my head so much about politics today,which has been so very free from them for some years:I suppose it was because I knew that I was writing to the most consummate politician of this,and his age.If I err,you will set me right;'si quid novisti rectius istis,candidus imperti',etc.

I am excessively impatient for your next letter,which I expect by the first post from Hanover,to remove my anxiety,as I hope it will,not only with regard to your health,but likewise to OTHER THINGS;in the meantime in the language of a pedant,but with the tenderness of a parent,'jubeo te bene valere'.

Lady Chesterfield makes you many compliments,and is much concerned at your indisposition.