Revelations of the Diplomatic History of the 18th Century

“I shall conclude this discourse by thus shortly recapitulating what I have said. That since the Czar has not only replied to the King of Denmark entreating the contrary, but also answered our Admiral Norris, that he would persist in his resolution to delay the descent upon Schonen, and is said by other newspapers to resolve not to make it then, if he can have peace with Sweden; every Prince, and we more particularly, ought to be jealous of his having some such design as I mention in view, and consult how to prevent them, and to clip, in time, his too aspiring wings, which cannot he effectually done, first, without the Maritime Powers please to begin to keep him in some check and awe, and ‘tis to he hoped a certain 1)otent nation, that has helped him forward, can, in some measure, bring him back; and may then speak to this great enterpriser in the language of a countryman in Spain, who coming to an image enshrined, the first making whereof he could well remember, and not finding all the respectful usage he expected, ‘You need not,’ quoth he, ‘be so proud, for we have known you from a plum-tree.’ The next only way is to restore, by a peace, to the King of’ Sweden what lie has lost: that checks his (the Czar’s) power immediately, and on that side nothing else can. I wish it may not at last be found true, that those who have been fighting against that King, have, in the main, been fighting against themselves. If the Swede ever has his dominions again, and lowers the high spirit of the Czar, still he may say by his neighbours, as an old Greek hero did, whom his countrymen constantly sent into exile whenever. he had done them a service, but were forced to call him back to their aid, whenever they wanted success. ‘These people,’ quoth he, ‘are always using me like the palm-tree. They will be breaking my branches (Continually, and yet, if there comes a storm, they run to me, and can’t find a better place for shelter.’ But if he has them not, I shall only exclaim a phrase out of ‘Ference’s Andria:

How can you believe it, can you understand it,

that anyone should be born with so much stupidity in him

that he would take pleasure in wickedness?”

4. Postscript . — “I flatter myself that this little history is of that curious nature, and on matters hitherto so unobserved, that I consider it, with pride, as a valuable New Year’s gift to the present world; and that posterity will accept it, as the like, for many years after, and read it over on that anniversary, and call it their Warning Piece. I must have my Exegi-Monumentum, as well as others.”

Chapter III