[Footnote 319: At the end of April, when he had been pressing the negotiation for three months, d'Argenson had absolutely no faith in its success. See a very significant passage in Zevort, p. 280, which throws a light more than usually clear upon d'Argenson's view of his own position.] [Footnote 320: Zevort, Appendix, p. 362.] [Footnote 321: _Cf._ Zevort, p. 143, where d'Argenson is quoted as saying in March: "La sagesse et l'honneur veulent que nous soutenions le roi de Prusse avec toute l'ardeur la plus grande que nous ayons jamais embrassée aucune vue d'État."] [Footnote 322: Ibid., p. 145.] [Footnote 323: De Broglie, "Marie Thérèse," I. p. 311.] [Footnote 324: Ibid., I. p. 131.] [Footnote 325: Ibid., I. pp. 290-3.] [Footnote 326: Zevort, p. 145.] [Footnote 327: De Broglie, "Marie Thérèse," I. p. 303.] [Footnote 328: Ibid., I. pp. 307-13.] [Footnote 329: Ibid., I. p. 317.] [Footnote 330: Ibid., I. p. 318.] [Footnote 331: Zevort, pp. 144, 154.] [Footnote 332: De Broglie, "Marie Thérèse," I. p. 309.] [Footnote 333: Zevort, Appendix, p. 364, Frederick to Louis XV., May 2, 1745.] [Footnote 334: Zevort, Appendix, p. 366, Memoir of Frederick, May 16.] [Footnote 335: Ibid., Appendix, p. 367.] [Footnote 336: Ibid., Appendix, p. 364.] [Footnote 337: See p. 110.] [Footnote 338: De Broglie, "Marie Thérèse," II. p. 58.] [Footnote 339: Ibid., II. p. 90.] [Footnote 340: Ibid., II. p. 93.] [Footnote 341: Zevort, Appendix, p. 368.] [Footnote 342: De Broglie, "Marie Thérèse," II. pp. 102-29.] [Footnote 343: Ibid., II. pp. 130-42.] [Footnote 344: Ibid., II. p. 144.] [Footnote 345: Ibid., II. pp. 196, 197.] [Footnote 346: Ibid., II. pp. 188, 189.] [Footnote 347: As an example of the straits to which d'Argenson was reduced through the failure of the French Government to support his policy, we may cite some remarks of his to the French representative at Frankfort in reference to the retreat of Conti. "It appears that the King of Poland, having always regarded the continuance of the French army in the neighbourhood of Frankfort as an obstacle to the success of the views which he has formed from the beginning in regard to the imperial crown, is on the point of declaring himself a candidate." It is absurd to suppose that d'Argenson really meant this, or looked upon the retreat as a subject of congratulation. It was simply one of the kaleidoscopic movements by which events, affected as they were by successive disasters, might still be made to look beautiful. The resource, perhaps, was a little ridiculous; but it is hard to see what he would have done without it.] [Footnote 348: De Broglie, "Marie Thérèse," Appendix, II. pp. 407, 408.] [Footnote 349: Ibid., II. p. 195.] [Footnote 350: Ibid., II. p. 201.] [Footnote 351: Ibid., II. p. 223.] [Footnote 352: Ibid., I. p. 261.] [Footnote 353: Ibid., II. p. 340.]