The first act of the new king revealed qualities of which Voltaire had no conception.

On the 23d of December, after leaving a masked ball, he started post-haste for the frontier of Silesia, where he had collected thirty thousand men.

Without preliminary notice, without declaration of war, he at once entered the Austrian territory, which was scantily defended by three thousand men and a few garrisons.

Before the end of January, 1741, the Prussians were masters of Silesia.

"I am going, I fancy, to play your game," Frederick had said, as he set off, to the French ambassador: "if the aces come to me we will share." Meanwhile France, as well as the majority of the other nations, had recognized the young Queen of Hungary.