To these Claimants, whose Pretensions might have been foreseen, appear'd a third no way expected, but whose Title seem'd to be as well founded, as his Power to support it was unquestionable. This was the young King of _Prussia_, who claim'd the Principality of _Silesia_, as antiently belonging to the _Brandenburgh_ Family, from whom the House of _Austria_ had gain'd it by unjust means. As this Prince assembled a numerous Army on the _Emperor's_ Death, every one imagined it was to support the _Pragmatic Sanction_. But, instead of this, in _November_ he enter'd _Silesia_, at the head of 30,000 Men, and soon made himself master of _Breslaw_, the Capital, and the greatest Part of the Country, the _Austrians_ being in no Condition to oppose him. His Behaviour to the vanquish'd was so generous, as easily won their Affections; the rather, as the major Part of that People were of the reform'd Communion, and had suffer'd on that Account much Persecution from the House of _Austria_; whereas the Court of _Berlin_ had always declared and often interposed in their Favour. As soon as the King of _Prussia_ had struck his Blow, he caused, by his Ministers, the following verbal Proposals to be laid before the Court of _Vienna_: I. _That he would guarantee the Queen's Dominions in_ Germany _with his whole Force. And for that End_ II. _He would enter into a close Alliance with the Courts of_ Vienna, Petersburgh, _and the Maritime_ Powers. III. _That he would use his utmost Endeavours to get the D. of_ Lorrain _raised to the Imperial Throne_. IV. _That he would advance the Queen in ready Money two Millions of Florins._ V. _In Consideration of all which, he only desired the absolute cession of Silesia._ The Queen's Answer was strong and peremptory: She thank'd the King for his Offers with regard to the D. of Lorrain; but as the Election, by the Golden Rule, should be free, she thought raising a War in Germany was no likely means of contributing to that End. That as to the Offer of two Millions, the contributions his Army had raised in Silesia amounted to more: And, as to the cession of that Province, her Majesty being resolved to maintain the Pragmatic Sanction, could never consent to the Dismembring any Province belonging to the Succession handed down to her, without violating her Honour and her Conscience.... THE '45. I. LANDING OF THE YOUNG PRETENDER; THE RAISING OF THE STANDARD; SURRENDER OF EDINBURGH. +Source.+--Robert Forbes: _The Lyon in Mourning_. Edited by H. Paton for the Scottish History Society 1895. Vol. xx., pp. 201-210. _Journal of the Prince's imbarkation and arrival, etc., the greatest part of which was taken from Duncan Cameron at several different conversations I had with him._