1746-56      Frederick's reasons for War.	89
CHAPTER VIII.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEVEN YEARS^5 WAR.
.  § i. Fredericks reasons for War.
after concluding the Peace of Dresden, Frederick re-
turned to Berlin in the full hope of enjoying, at least for
some time, the tranquillity which his country Frederick
greatly needed, after its efforts in the Silesian £™f **$.
wars. He was, no doubt, sincere in his de- 56.
sire for peace, for he had much to lose, little to gain by
a renewal of the war. For the next few years he was
busy with law reform and, other useful projects ; but at
the same time he went on continually strengthening his
army, and laying up treasure year by year, for he knew
well that, however peaceful his own intentions might be,
Maria Theresa would never forgive the conqueror of
Silesia.
It was during this period that * autumn manoeuvres '
were introduced. Frederick devoted himself with great
assiduity to the study of tactical problems, and Autumn
then caused them to be worked out in practice manoeuvres,
by his troops. In 1753, 36,000 troops were collected a^
Spandau for this purpose, and the manoeuvres lastec
twelve days. Prussian officers were brought from al.
parts of the kingdom to witness them, but great care was
taken to prevent the presence of any unauthorised per-
son. A cordon of sentries was drawn round the
manoeuvring ground, and the chief magistrate of Span-
dau was even ordered to permit no one to ascend the
church tower. After the Seven Years^3 War the ma-
noeuvres were not shrouded in such mysterious secresy,
and foreign officers were permitted to be present at them.
It was not till 1753 ^tnat Frederick became actually