_Querelle d'Allemand._--The phrase, "faire une querelle d'Allemand,"
means, as your readers are aware, to pick a quarrel with a person for
the mere pleasure of quarrelling: and the earliest instance of its
application, that occurs to me, will be found in one of Du Vair's
essays, where speaking of the virtues of some of his predecessors in the
office of "chancelier", he says:
"Après avoir longuement et fidèlement servi la patrie, on leur
dresse des querelles d'Allemand, et de fausses accusations pour
les bannir des affaires."
Is the origin of this expression connected with any particular
occurrence in history; or has it arisen from any proneness to quarrel,
which might be said to be inherent in the national character of the
Germans?