In 1753, when he miraculously screwed round the French into union with the Austrians to put down an upstart Prussia, this was his grand fulcrum, the immovable rock in which the great Engineer fixed down his political capstans, and levered and screwed.

He did triumphantly wind matters round,--though whether they much profited him when round, may be a question.
But the same grand principle, in the later instance of partitioning Poland, has it not proved eminently triumphant, successful in all points?
And, doubtless, this King of Prussia recognizes it, if made worth his while, thinks Kaunitz.

In a word, Kaunitz's next utterance is wonderfully changed.

The great Engineer speaks almost like a Bishop on this new text.

"Let the Two Courts," says he, "put themselves each in the other's place; each think what it would want;" and in fact each, in a Christian manner, try to do as it would be done by! How touching in the mouth of a Kaunitz, with something of pathos, of plaintiveness, almost of unction in it! "There is no other method of agreeing," urges he: "War is a terrible method, disliked by both of us.