[97] This was a private letter which reflected severely upon the character of Maupertuis.
[98] Thiebault, Souvenirs de Vingt Ans de Séjour à Berlin.
[99] Biographie Universelle.
[100] In a letter which the Prince of Prussia, Augustus William, wrote to the king, remonstrating against those encroachments which were arraying all Europe against him, he says: “Russia is persuaded that your designs upon her occasioned the applications which you have made to the court of Vienna to substitute a truce of two years in room of a solemn treaty of peace. She believes that you wanted to tie up the hands of the empress queen so as to put it out of her power to succor her ally; that a war against Russia was the principal object of your intrigues in Sweden; that you have designs upon Courland; that Polish Prussia and Pomerania would be very convenient to you; and that you find Russia the greatest obstacle to this rounding of your dominions. In short, she believes that she has the same interest in your abasement as the house of Austria.”—Vie de Frédéric II., Roi de Prusse, t. ii., p. 318.
[101] Age of Louis XV., chapter xxxii.
[102] Archenholtz, Histoire de la Guerre de cet Homme.
[103] An uncle of the great Mirabeau.
[104] The Duchess of Pompadour.
[105] In the years 1508–1509 the celebrated league of Cambrai was formed by Louis XII. of France, Maximilian, Emperor of Germany, Ferdinand, King of Spain, and Pope Julius II., against Venice. The league was called Holy because the pope took part in it.