And now, try how he might, there was no turning it another way; this, privately, and this only, being the Czarina's own way.

A Czarina obstinate to a degree; would not consent, even when they made her the liberal offer, "Keep your 55,000 at home; don't attack the King of Prussia with them; you shall have your Subsidy all the same!" "No, I won't!" answered she,--to Hanbury's amazement.

Hanbury had not read the Weingarten-Menzel Documents;--what double double of toil and trouble might Hanbury have saved himself and others, could he have read them! Hanbury could not, still less could the Majesty's Ministry, surmise the Czarina's secret at all, now or for a good while coming.

And in fact, poor Hanbury, busy as a Diplomatic bee, never did more good in Russia, or out of it.

By direction of the Majesty's Ministry, Hanbury still tried industriously, cash in both hands; tried various things: "Assuage the Czarina's mind; reconcile her to King Friedrich;"-- all in vain.
"Unite Austria, Russia and England, can't you, then ?--in a Treaty against the Designs of France:" how very vain! Then, at a later stage, "Get us the Czarina to mediate between Prussia and Austria" (so very possible to sleek them down into peace, thought Majesty's Ministry):--and unwearied Hanbury, cunning eloquence on his lips, and money in both hands, tries again, and ever again, for many months.