Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/103

 the fair provinces of Germany. The weakness of the reigning Emperor gave him a fair opportunity to attempt the execution of his schemes. He entered into a negotiation with Charles, which ended in a treaty, aimed at Frederic. It was agreed that Mecklenbourg, Pomerania, and some other of the northern provinces, should be conquered and ceded to Peter, and the southern Austrian duchies, to Charles. This flagrant treaty was no sooner signed, than pretenses were sought for to break with the unsuspecting Frederic. Between ambitious Princes these are seldom wanted long. It would be endless to repeat even the titles of the memorials, answers, and rejoinders that were published between the parties; but the Emperor, finding his enemies were determined to attack him, prepared for his defense. The Duke of Saxony, his General, collected his troops, and found himself at