Louisa of Prussia and Her Times

count's arm and led hi

r eyes," he said, smiling

excellency," rep

ice, who evidently had not done his duty and been guilty of a lack of vigilance

apital because you accompanied their majesties on their trip

right, your

eep that remote province at any price-the faction which detests both of us because we do not join its enthusiastic hymns in honor of the French Republic and the republican General Bonaparte-this faction has hired the miserable rabble to represent the people, to break my windows, and frighten me sufficiently to make me ready and willing to adopt its insane policy. The chief of police came to see me yesterday. He gave me an account of the whole affair, and declared himself fully prepared to protect my palace, and to nip the riot in the bud. I begged him not to do any thing of the kind, but to look on passively and attentively, and only come to my palace after the mob had entered it. I was very anxious for once t

ers this time without giving them int

to tear this list, throw the pieces away, and avert my head, like the pious bishop who found a murderer under his bed, permitted him to escape, and averted his head in order not to see the fugitive's fa

aped with impunity, will go home in triumph, and repe

, and THEY are the best instruments to rule a people with. My God, what should be done with a nation consisting of none but pure and virtuous men? It would be perfectly unassailable, while its vices and foibles are the very things by which we control it. Therefore, do not blame the people on account of its vices. I love it for the sake of them, for it is through them that I succeed in subjectin

then, that even the ringlea

eaders who were bold enough to come up here. Let us immure them in some strong, thick-walled prison, and while the other rioters are vainly tormenting their heavy skulls by trying to guess what has become of their leaders, we shall render the latter so pl

of sincere admiration. "Men grow wise by listening to you, and happy and powerful by obeying you! I am entirely de

hand in hand-let us always keep our common goal in vi

all follow you as readily as t

mperor not to make peace with France under any circumstances. We counted at that time on the regiments of grenadiers whom we had sent to the seat of war, and who, under the command of Archduke Charles, were to defend the defiles of Neumarkt against the advancing columns of the French army. We knew, besides, that the French troops were worn out, exhausted, and anxious for peace

were firmly determined not

esach, and advanced on the next day to attack the fresh regiments of our grenadiers in the gorges of Neumarkt. Archduke Charles had placed himself at the head of these regiments, firing the courage of the soldiers by his own heroic example. But he was confronted by the united French forces from Italy and Germany, and in the evening of that disastrous day the archduke and his grenadiers were compelled to evacuate Neumarkt, which was occupied by the victorious French. The archduke now asked the French general for a cessation of hostilities during twenty-four hours in order

so?" asked Count S

d the Marquis de Gallo-to Bonaparte's headquarters at L

thorize the archduke to

h afford us a reasonable prospect of gain, and discard those which may involve us in loss. Power alone is infallible, eternal, and divine, and power has now decided in favor of France. Wherefore we must y

the expense

compensate us for the losses which peace may inflict. If we lose any

ment of the rights of the holy German empire," said Count Saurau, smiling; "Prus

indulge-we shall take good care that nothing comes of it. Prussia has no long

ain, will last but a few days, at best for a few weeks; for his di

e has a most beautiful wife. He is not dangerous, therefore, and I hope and believe that Austria never will lack the power to humiliate and check this Prussian kingdom-this revolutionary element in the heart of the German empire. The danger, however, that threatens us now, does not come from Prussia, but from France, and especially from this General Bonaparte, w

d all Italy, and transformed the Italians into insurgents and rebels

rtion of it still stands firm. The l

. His feet are to

at Leoben, and until peace itself is established, we should pursue such a policy that the peace, instead of involving Austria in serious losses, will give her a chance to increase her strength and enlarge her territory. We must keep our eyes on Bavar

rt the objections of France? Shall we satisfy

e power of injuring us. We shall endeavor so to arrange the peace we are going to conclude with France as to benefit Austria, and injure Prus

au, greatly astonished at what he had heard. "But di

to compensate us on our southern frontier for our losses elsewhere. Of course, we ought to receive some

s, I do not

in my hand must remain a secret until I have played them out, or I would run the risk of losing every thing. But this time I will let you peep into my cards,

n, and that I cannot conceive how a sovereign and independent state is to become an Austria

h her, like a mouse, in it? Listen to me! We must encourage Venice to determi

ill not be bold enough for that, after hearing of our

the most precarious position. Through some other confidential messenger send word to Count Adam Neipperg, who, with some of our regiments occupies the southern Tyrol in close proximity to the Venetian frontier, that Venetia is ready to rise and needs his assistance, and order him to advance as far as Verona. The Venetians will look upon this advance as a confirmation of the news of our victories. The wise little mi

scheme worthy of being planned by some great statesman. In this manner we sha

ement is more tenacious than blood. And now, my dear count, as you know and approve of my plans, I pray you to carry them out as rapidly as possible. Dispatch your agents without delay to Venice and to the Tyrol. We have no

shall have executed your orders, and my most s

g to send to the V

ial agent I have-An

he has a failing which renders it easy for us to control him. He is exceedingly covetous, and has a pretty wife who spends a great deal of money. Pay him we

n the hands of a man who knows how to steer and guide her, as no

unt. My father, the ship-builder, taught me all ab

the anteroom assisted him in putting on his cloak, whereupon he rapidly descended the magnificent marble staircase which an hour ago had been desecrated by the broad and clumsy feet of the populace. But

to call me 'his little count!' His little count! Ah, I shall prove to this ship-builder's son one day that little Count Saurau is, after all, a greater man tha