One of the curious features of the Seven Years War was the way in which the Holy Roman Empire continued to function as a proto-United Nations, in spite of the fact that several of the constituent states were at war with the Empire.

Displaying a characteristic amusement at the quaint anticks of foreigners the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE for September 1758, reported on a recent Imperial council meeting:

"It was resolved in August last by a majority of voices in the dyet of Ratisbon, to intreat his imperial majesty to borrow 300,000 crowns in the name of the empire, with an assurance that the same should be repaid out of the first contingents raised by the Germanic body. The several ministers from the courts of Brandenburgh, Hanover, and Hesse Cassel, excused themselves from consenting to this resolution. That of Hanover declared, that the French and Austrian troops, having by exorbitant contributions exhausted the revenues of the electorate, as well as the territories of its allies, he could not possibly change his opinion. That of Brandenburgh referred to his memorial of the 28th of June. In a word, this subject occasioned great debates in the electoral college.

By a conclusion of the same Aulic council, issued the 21st past, the King of Great Britain, in his quality of elector of Brunswick-Lunenburgh, is enjoined to break up his army immediately; to recall the foreign troops he has sent over to Germany; to indemnify his co-estates for all damages he has done them; to furnish his contingent to the army of execution; and to pay his quota of the Roman months, on pain of being put under the ban of the empire if he does not give satisfaction in all these points.

By two other decrees, issued the same day, the same council threatens to treat in the same manner the reigning Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel and the Count of Lippe-Buckeburg, if within the space of two months they do not make their troops quit the Hanoverian army, and turn them over to that of the empire."

In short the King of Prussia [Brandenburgh] and his allies were to ordered to contribute money towards the upkeep of the imperial armies [with whom of course they were at war], while the elector of Hanover was to go further and send his foreign auxiliaries [the British contingent] home and join the imperial army instead.