George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10

[111] ‘that I have no connection whatever with Eng-

Chap. III.} 1777.

land, nor do I grudge to France any advantages she may gain by the war with the colonies.’¹ ‘Her first interest requires the enfeeblement of Great Britain, and the way to this is to make it lose its colonies in America. The present opportunity is more favorable than ever before existed, and more favorable than is likely to recur in three centuries.’² ‘The independence of the colonies will be worth to France all which the war will cost.’³

As the only way to bridle the ambition of Austria, and to preserve the existence of his own kingdom and the liberties of Germany, he pressed upon the French council an alliance of France, Prussia, and Russia. ‘Italy and Bavaria,’ he said, ‘would follow, and no alliance would be left to Austria except that with England.⁴ If it does not take place, troubles are at hand to be decided only by the sword.’⁵ In his infirm old age, he felt his own powers utterly unequal to the renewal of such a conflict; and he saw no hope for himself, as king of Prussia, to rescue Bavaria and with it Germany from absorption by Austria, except in the good — will of France and Russia.

While Frederic was encouraging France to strike a decisive blow in favor of the United States, their cause found an efficient advocate in Marie Antoinette. She placed in the hands of her husband a memoir which had been prepared by Count de Maillebois and