ABSTRACT
Frederick finding Maria Theresa obdurate, accepted the offered French alliance. By the Treaty of Breslau, Franee guaranteed Breslau and Lower Silesia to Frederick; he in return gave up all claims on Julich and Berg in favour of the Sulzbachs, and promised his vote and his help to the Elector of Bavaria. Charles VI had made great efforts to attach them to the Hapsburg dynasty, but his over-anxiety had defeated its own ends. Unduly lavish concessions and favours had only whetted their appetites and made them ask for more. Charles VI had made some praiseworthy efforts to sweep away the cramping relics of these mediaeval institutions, but he had not had much success, and trade and industry were subject to their blighting influence. Ail Charles VI's efforts to reform the finances had broken down, and the two recent and most disastrous wars seemed to have utterly exhausted the resources of the country.
