Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/837

Rh not abandon it. In 1756, she explained herself more fully; and, independent of the political reasons which might equally affect both powers, she added her resentment against the King of Prussia. "I have sacrificed," said she, "my dearest interests to the tranquillity of Europe, by ceding Silesia; but if ever a war should break out between him and me, I will either recover all my rights, or perish with my family in the attempt."

The Imperial ambassador at the court of Versailles attempted to convince the ministers of the wisdom of his plan, and particularly Madame de Pompadour, whose support, from the credit she enjoyed, he deemed it most essential to secure. Nor was this lady insensible to the idea of playing a nobler part than any she had hitherto performed in politics. She adopted the project of the ambassador; but found the ministry so hostile to it, that she durst not venture to present it to the king. Affairs were in this situation, when war broke out again between France and England: Prussia offered himself as the confederate of France; but, aware she could not accept it without a rupture with the empress queen, she took so long to determine, that he concluded an amicable one with England, in the interim of their deliberations. The Imperial ambassador still had recourse to Madame de Pompadour, who broke the matter to the king. Lewis was impressed with sentiments of esteem for a princess against whom he had waged a war unfounded injustice, while he entertained an unfavourable opinion of Frederick, whom he considered as a self-sufficient heretic, and a free-thinker. A conference accordingly took place between the Imperial and French ministers and Madame de Pompadour. The former displayed the utmost candour and frankness, and declared the empress justly conceived it would be inconsistent with