CH. U.] RUPTURE WITH AUSTRIA* 187

was aspiring activity. The condemnation of the
enterprise of the King of Prussia was so unanimous
and so strong at Vienna, that it carried away not only
the English, but even the two Prussian ambassadors.
Borcke wrote plainly to his sovereign, that if he had
been consulted upon the draft of the proposals, he
should have opposed it. Götter, who in a confidential
conversation described his master as a man having
some good qualities, but the vices of ambition and
love of money, and who never took advice, praises
the minister Podewils tor not having contributed in
any way to this enterprise ; and congratulates himself
that he had nothing to do with it. He actually
repeated to the King the opinion of the court of
Vienna, that the only thing for him to do was at
once to quit Silesia. The confidence and pride of
the court subjugated all minds.
On the arrival of the intelligence of the events in
Breslau, all fiirther communication was broken off.
The Prussian ambassadors quitted Vienna ; on the
1 8th January, Götter reached Schwerin's outposts in
Upper Silesia, and it was evident that a serious con-
flict between the two powers was at hand.
The immediate question, however, was not which
of the two were the stronger, but rather which of the
two had taken the right view of the situation, and
what position the powers of Europe generally would
assume — above all, France, on whose decision the
turn of affiurs on the continent generally might be
said to depend.
188 THE HOUSE OF BRANDENBURG. [bOOK Y.
CHAPTER III.
POLICY OF FRANCE.
