Memoirs of the Courts of Berlin, Dresden, Warsaw, and Vienna; In the Years 1777, 1778, and 1779 Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1806 edition. Excerpt: ...his deftrufition..Maria Therefa, miftrefs of Schweidnitz and of Glatz, already anticipated the reftoration of all Silefia; while the 'Various Princes andStates of Gennany, whom Frederic Frederic had either 4iuEei.oic jittacked, impatiently waited for the accomplifhment of their refpective expectations, in the divifion of his dominions. Such was the critical and almoft hopelefs condition of his aflairs, when the death of Elizabeth, Emprefs of Ruffia, tqok_place. That Princefs, Frederic's implacable enemy, expired at Peterfburgh, of a diftemper accelerated by her intemperance, on the fifth of January, 1762. Her nephew and fuccef-for, Peter the Third, who had fecretly laboured during feveral years to impede the progrefs of the Ruffian armies, inftantly manifeiteil Avithout difguife, the violent predilection that he had long nouzimed for his Pruffian Maief-ty; a partiality which rofe to adoration. No t content with feparating his forces from thofe of Maria Therefa, he a6led as Tier" avowed enemy, and as the auxiliary of Frederic. His reign was indeed fhort, and its termi'-nation tragical: But, the great principle of political connection between Mufcovy and Auftria, which had fiibfifted under Eliza beth, was not the lefs diffolved. Catherine the Second, who fucceeded Peter? though fhe by no means adopted the intemperate ' zeal of her hufbancl in favour of Pruflia, was too wife as well as too magnanimous, to refume the perfonal animofities of Eliza beth. She withdrcw-her troops altogether frojii_j: he conteft, jtlmoft g _JboB--as_jhe afcended the throne..Sweden-.wearied with a war in which fhe had loft Jier mili-tary reputation, without reaping the fmalleft augmentation of territory, had previoufly concluded a feperate peacejwilh the Court of...