As to the justice of his Silesian Claims, or even to his own belief about their justice, Friedrich affords not the least light which can be new to readers here.
He speaks, when business requires it, of "those known rights" of his, and with the air of a man who expects to be believed on his word; but it is cursorily, and in the business way only; and there is not here or elsewhere the least pleading:--a man, you would say, considerably indifferent to our belief on that head; his eyes set on the practical merely.

"Just Rights?
What are rights, never so just, which you cannot make valid?
The world is full of such.

If you have rights and can assert them into facts, do it; that is worth doing!"-- We must add two Notes, two small absinthine drops, bitter but wholesome, administered by him to the Old Dessauer, whose gloomy wonder over all this military whirl of Prussian things, and discontent that he, lately the head authority, has never once been spoken to on it, have been great.

Guessing, at last, that it was meant for Austria, a Power rather dear to Leopold, he can suppress himself no longer; but breaks out into Cassandra prophesyings, which have piqued the young King, and provoke this return:-- 1.

"REINSBERG, 24th November, 1740 .-- I have received your Letter, and seen with what inquietude you view the approaching march of my Troops.
I hope you will set your mind at ease on that score; and wait with patience what I intend with them and you.