PrinceKarl，someweeksago，atHeilbronn，joinedhisRhineArmy，whichhadgatheredthitherfromtheAustrianside，throughBaiern，andfromtheHither—AustrianorSwabianWinter—quarters；withfullintenttobeacrosstheRhine，andhomeuponElsassandtheCompensationCountries，thisSummer，underwhatdifficultiessoever。Karl，or，assomewhisper，oldMarshalTraun，whoisnominallysecondincommand，domakeagloriouscampaignofit，thisYear；——andlifttheCauseofLiberty，atonetime，tothehighestpitchiteverreached。Here，inbriefterms，isPrinceKarl’sOperationontheRhine，muchadmiredbymilitarymen:——
"STOCKSTADT，JUNE20th，1744。SomethirtyandoddmilesnorthofMannheim，theRhine，beforeturningwestwardatMainz，makesoneotherofitsmanyIslands（ofwhichtherearehundredssincetheleapatSchaffhausen）:oneother，andIthinkthebiggestofthemall；perhapstwomilesbyfive；whichtheGermanscallKUHKOPF
（Cowhead），fromtheshapeithas，——anarrowsemi—ellipse；
Rivertheresplittingintwo，onesplit（thewestern）goingstraight，theotherbendingluxuriantlyround:sothattheHIND—
headorstraightendoftheIslandliestowardsFrance，andtheroundend，orcow—LIPS（sotospeak）towardsnativeTeutschland，andthewoodyHillsoftheBerg—Strassethereabouts。Stockstadt，chieflittleTownlookingoverintothisCowheadIsland，liesundertheCHIN:understandonlyfartherthattheGermanbranchcarriesmorethantwo—thirdsoftheRiver；thatontheIslanditselfthereisnotown，orpostofdefence；andthatStockstadtistheplaceforgettingover。CoignyandtheFrench，some40，000，areguardingtheRiverhereabouts，withlines，withbatteries，cordons，thebesttheycan；Seckendorf，with20，000more（’Imperial’OldBavarianTroops，revivified，recruitedbyFrenchpay），isinhisgarrisonofPhilipsburg，readytohelpwhenneeded:"——notmoultingnow，atWembdingen，inthatdismalmanner；new—featherednowinto"Kaiser’sArmy；"waitinginhisPhilipsburgtoguardtheRiverthere。
"Coigny’sFrenchhaveramparts，ditches，notquiteunfurnished，ontheirownshore，oppositethisCowheadIsland（ISLEDEHERON，astheycallit）；lookingovertothehind—head，namely:buttheyhavenothingconsiderablethere；andintheIslanditself，nothingwhatever。’IfnowStockstadtweresuddenlysnatchedbyus，’thinksKarl；——’ifafewpontoonswerenimblyswungin？’
"JUNE20th，——Coigny’speopleallshootingFEU—DE—JOIE，forthatneverenoughtobecelebratedCaptureofMeninandtheDutchBarrierafortnightago，——thisismanagedtobedone。TheactiveGeneralBarenklau，activeBrigadierDaununderhim，pushesrapidlyacrossintoKuhkopf；rapidlythrowsupintrenchments，ramparts，mountscannon，digshimselfin，——greatlytoCoigny’sastonishment；
whosepeoplehereabouts，andinalltheirlinesandposts，arebusyshootingFEU—DE—JOIEforthoseimmortalDutchvictories，atthemoment，andneverdreamingofsuchathing。Freshforcefloodsin，PrinceKarlhimselfarrivesnextday，insupportofBarenklau；
Coigny（head—quartersatSpeyer，fortymilessouth）neednotattemptdislodginghim；butmuststanduponhisguard，andprepareforworse。Whichhedoeswithdiligence；shiftingnorthwardintothoseStockstadt—Mainzparts；callingSeckendorfacrosstheRiver，andotherwisedoinghisbest，——forabouttendaysmore，whenworse，andalmostworst，didverilybefallhim。
"NoattemptwasmadeonBarenklau；nor，beyondthealarmingoftheCoigny—Seckendorfpeople，didanythingoccurinCowheadIsland，——
unlessitwerethefinisofanuglybullyandruffian，whohasmorethanonceafflictedus:whichmaybeworthoneword。
ColonelMentzel[copper—facedColonel，originallyPlay—actor，"SpyinPersia，"andIknownotwhat]hadbeenattheseizureofKuhkopf；aprominentman。Whom，onthefifthdayafter（’June25th’），PrinceKarloverwhelmedwithjoy，byhandinghimaPatentofGeneralcy:’JustreceivedfromCourt，myFriend，onaccountofyourmeritsoldandlate。’——’Aha，’saidBarenklau，congratulatingwarmly:’Dinewithme，then，HerrGeneralMentzel，thisveryday。
ThePrincehimselfistobethere，HighnessofHessen—Darmstadt，andwhonot；allareimpatienttodrinkyourhealth！’Mentzelhadagloriousdinner；stillmoregloriousdrink，——PrinceKarlandtheothers，itissaid，egginghimintomuchwildblusterandgasconade，toseasontheirmuchwine。Eminentswillofdrinking，withtheloudcoarsetalksupposable，onthepartofMentzelandconsortsdidgoon，inthismanner，allafternoon:intheevening，drunkMentzelcameoutforair；wentstruttingandstaggeringabout；emergingfinallyontheplatformofsomerampart，faceofhimhugeandredasthatofthefoggiestrisingMoon；——andstood，lookingoverintotheLorraineCountry；belchingoutastormofoaths，astohistakingit，astohisdoingthisandthat；andwasevenflourishinghisswordbywayofaccompaniment；when，lo，whistlingslightlythroughthesummerair，arifle—ballfromsomesentryontheFrenchside（writerssay，itwasaFrenchdrummer，grownimpatient，andsnatchingasentry’spiece）tookthebrainofhim，orthebellyofhim；andherusheddownatonce，atotallycollapsedmonster，andmereheapofdeadruin，nevertotroublemankindmore。"[GuerredeBoheme，iii。165。]
ForwhichmyreadersandIareratherthankful。Voltaire，andperhapsothermemorablepersons，sometimesmentionthisbrute（miraculoustothePlebsandGazetteers）；otherwiseeternaloblivionwerethebestwecoulddowithhim。Trenckalso，readerswillbegladtounderstand，endsinjailandbedlambyandby。
"PrinceKarlhadnottheleastintentionofcrossingbythisCowheadIsland。NeverthelesshesetabouttwootherBridgesintheneighborhood，nearerMainz（fewmilesbelowthatCity）；
keptmanoeuvringhisForce，inhugehalf—moon，roundthatquarter，andmysteriouslyupanddown；alarmingCoignywhollyintotheMainzregion。Forthespaceoftendays；andthen，stealingofftoSchrock，alittleRhineVillageabovePhilipsburg，manymilesawayfromCoignyandhisvigilantes，he——
"NIGHTOF30thJUNE—1stJULY，SuddenlyshotPandourTrenck，followedbyNadastiand6，000，acrossatSchrockwhoscatteredSeckendorf’spooroutpoststhereaboutstothewinds；’builtabridgebeforemorning，andnextdayanother。’NextdayPrinceKarlinpersonappeared；andonthe3dofJuly，hadhiswholeArmywithitsluggagesacross；andhadseizedtheLinesofLauterburgandWeissenburg（celebratednortherndefenceofElsass），——muchtoCoigny’samazement；andremainedinexpugnablethere，withElsassopentohim，andtoCoignyshut，forthepresent！[Adelung，iv。
139—141。]Coignymadebitterwail，accusation，blameofSeckendorf，blameofmenandofthings；eventriedsomefighting，Seckendorftoodoingfeats，torecoverthoseLinesofWeissenburg:butcouldnotdoit。And，infact，blazingtoandfrointhatexcitedratherthanluminouscondition，couldnotdoanything；exceptretireintothestrongpostsofthebackground；andsendexpressonexpress，swifterthanthewindifyoucan，toavictoriousKingoverturningtheDutchBarrier:’Help，yourMajesty，orwearelost；andFranceis——whatshallIsay！’"
"AdmirablefeatofStrategy！WhataGeneral，thisPrinceKarl！"
exclaimedmankind，——Cause—of—Libertymankindwithspecialenthusiasm；andtooktowritingLIVESofPrinceKarl，[Forinstance，TheLifeofhisHighnessPrinceCharlesof&c。，with&c。&c。（London，1746）；oneofthemostdistractedBlotcheseverpublishedunderthenameofBook；——
wakeningthoughtsofapublicdimnessveryconsiderableindeed，towhichthiscouldofferitselfaslamp！]aswellastar—burningandTE—DEUM—ingonanextensivescale。ForithadsenttheCauseofLibertyboundingupagaintothetopofthings，thisofcrossingtheRhine，insuchfashion。And，ineffect，theCauseofLiberty，andPrinceKarlhimself，hadrisenherebytotheiracmeorculminatingpointinWorld—History；nottocontinuelongatsuchheight，littleastheydreamtofthat，amongtheirtar—burnings。
Thefeatitself——contrivedbyNadasti，peoplesay，andexecuted（whatwastherealdifficulty）byTraun——broughtPrinceKarlverygreatrenown，thisYear；andispraisedbyFriedrichhimself，nowandafterwards，asmasterly，asJuliusCaesar’smethod，andtheproperwayofcrossingrivers（whenexecutable）infaceofanenemy。AndindeedPrinceKarl，owingtoTraunornot，ishighlyrespectableinthewayofGeneralshipatpresent；anddidintheseFiveMonths，fromJuneonward，reallyconsiderablethings。AthisveryacmeofLife，aswellasofGeneralship；which，alas，soonchanged，poorman；nevertoculminateagain。Hehadgot，atthebeginningoftheYear，thehighMariaTheresa’soneSister，ArchduchessMariaAnna，toWife；[Agethentwenty—fivegone:
"born14thSeptember，1718；marriedtoPrinceKarl7thJanuary，1744；died，ofchildbirth，16thDecembersameyear"（Hormayr，OEsterreichischerPlutarch，iv。erstesBaudchen，54）。]thecrownoflongmutualattachment；shesafenowatBrussels，diligentCo—Regent，andinapromisingfamily—way；heherewalkingonvictorious:——needanymanbehappier？Nomancanbesupremelyhappylong；andthisGeneral’sstrategicfelicityandhisdomesticwerefatallycutdownalmosttogether。TheCauseofLiberty，too，nowatthetopofitsorbit，was——ButletusstickbyourExcerpting:
"DUNKIRK，19thJULY，1744[PrincessUlrique’sWedding，justtwodaysago]。KingLouis，onhearingoftheJob’s—newsfromElsass，instantlysuspendedhisConquestsinFlanders；detachedNoailles，detachedthisoneandthat，double—quick，DivisionafterDivision（leavingSaxe，with45，000，tohisownresources，andthefatuitiesofMarshalWade）；and，19thJuly，himselfhastensofffromDunkirk（leavingmuchoftheluggage，butnottheChateaurouxbehindhim），tosavehisCountry，poorsoul。Butcouldnot，intheleast，saveit；thereverserather。August4th，hegottoMetz，Belleisle’sstrongtown，about100milesfromtheactualscene；hisdetachedreinforcements，say50，000menorso，hangingoutaheadlikeflame—
clouds，butuncertainhowtoact；——Noaillesbeingalwayscunctatiousintimeofcrisis，andpoorLouishimselfnothingofaCloud—Compeller；——andthen，"METZ，AUGUST8th，TheMostChristianKingfellill；dangerously，dreadfully，justliketodie。WhichentirelyparalyzedNoaillesandCompany，orreducedthemtomerehysterics，andexcitementoftheunluminouskind。AndfilledFranceingeneral，Parisinparticular，withterror，lamentation，prayersoffortyhours；andsuchaparoxysmofhero—worshipaswasneverseenforsuchanobjectbefore。"[Espagnac，ii。12；Adelung，iv。180；FastesdeLouisXV。，ii。423；&c。&c。]
FortheCauseofLibertyhere，weconsider，wastheculminatingmoment；Elsass，LorraineandtheThreeBishopricslyingintheirquasi—moribundcondition；AustrianclaimsofCompensationceasingtobevisionsoftheheatedbrain，andgainingsomefootingontheEarthasfacts。PrinceKarlishereactuallyinElsass，masterofthestrongpasses；elateinheart，heandhis；France，again，asiffallenparalytic，intotemporarydistraction；offeringforresistancenothinghithertobutthatuniversalwailingofmankind，Hero—worshipofathrice—lamentablenature，andthePrayersofForty—Hours！MostChristianMajesty，nowINEXTREMIS，centreofthebasesthubbubthateverwas，isdismissingChateauroux。
Noailles，CoignyandCompanyhangwellbackupontheHillregions，andstrongpostswhicharenotyetmenaced；orflyvaguely，moreorlessdistractedly，hitherandthither；notintheleastlikefightingKarl，muchlesslikebeatinghim。KarlhasGermanyfreeathisback（nayitisaGermanpopulationroundhimhere）；neitherhaversacknorcartridge—boxliketofail:beforehimareonlyaNoaillesandconsorts，flyingvaguelyabout；——andthereisinKarl，orunderthesamecloakwithhimatpresent，atalentofmanoeuvringmen，whichevenFriedrichfindsmasterly。IfoldMarshalWade，attheotherendoftheline，shouldchancetoawakenandpresshomeonSaxe，andhisremnantofFrench，withrightvigor？Infact，therewasnot，thatIcansee，forcenturiespast，notevenattheSiegeofLilleinMarlborough’stime，amoreimminentperilforFrance。
FRIEDRICHDECIDESTOINTERVENE。
KingFriedrich，onhearingoftheseRhenishemergenciesandofKingLouis’sheroicadvancetotherescue，perceivedthatforhimselftoothemomentwascome；andhastenedtoinformheroicLouis，ThatthoughthetermsoftheirBargainwerenotyetcompleted，Sweden，Russiaandotherpointsbeingstillinapendentcondition，he，Friedrich，——withaneyetosuccessoftheirJointAdventure，andtotheindispensabilityofjointaction，energy，andthetopofone’sspeednowornever，——would，bythemiddleofthissameAugust，beonthefieldwith100，000men。"AninvasionofBohemia，willnotthatastonishPrinceKarl；andbringhimtohisRhine—Bridgesagain？Overwhich，ifyourMostChristianMajestybeactive，hewillnotget，exceptinahalf，orwhollyruinedstate。Followhimclose；sendtherestofyourforcetothreatenHanover；sitwellontheskirtsofPrinceKarl。Himashehurrieshomeward，ruinedorhalf—ruined，him，orwhateverAustrianwillfight，Idomybesttobeat。WemayhaveBohemia，andabeatenAustria，thisveryAutumn:
see，——and，inoneCampaign，thereisPeacereadyforus！"ThisisFriedrich’sschemeofaction；successcertain，thinkshe，ifonlytherebeenergy，activity，onyourside，asthereshallbeonmine；
——andhassentCountSchmettau，filledwithfieryspeedanddetermination，tokeeptheFrenchfullofthelike，andconcertmutualoperations。
"Magnanimous！"exclaimNoaillesandtheparalyzedFrenchGentlemen（KingLouis，Ithink，nowpastspeech，forSchmettauonlycameAugust9th）:"Mostsublimebehavior，onhisPrussianMajesty’spart！"ownthey。Andtrulyitisafinemanfulindifference（bynomeanssocommonasitshouldbe）toallinterests，toallconsiderations，butthatofaJointEnterpriseonehasengagedin。
Andtruly，furthermore，itwasimmediatesalvationtotheparalyzedFrenchGentlemen，inthatalarmingcrisis；thoughtheydidnotmuchrecognizeitafterwardsassuch:andindeedwereconspicuouslyforgetfulofallpartsofit，whentheirowndangerwasover。
MariaTheresa’sfeelingsmaybeconceived；GeorgeII’sfeelings；
andwhattheCauseofLibertyingeneralfelt，andfuriouslysaidandcomplained，when——suddenlyasaDEUSEXMACHINA，orSupernalGenieintheMinorTheatres——Friedrichsteptin。Preciselyinthissupremecrisis，7thAugust，1744，Friedrich’sMinister，GrafvonDohna，atVienna，hasgivennoticeoftheFrankfurtUnion，andsolemnEngagemententeredinto:"Obligedinhonorandconscience；
willandmustnowstepforthtorightaninjuredKaiser；
cannotstandthesehighproceduresagainstanImperialMajestychosenbyallthePrincesoftheReich，thisunheard—ofprotestthattheKaiserisnoKaiser，asifallGermanywerebutAustriaandtheQueenofHungary’s。PrussianMajestyhasnottheleastquarrelofhisownwiththeQueenofHungary，standstrue，andwillstand，bytheTreatyofBerlinandBreslau；——only，withcertainotherGermanPrinces，hasdonewhatallGermanPrincesandpeoplesnotAustrianareboundtodo，onbehalfoftheirdown—troddenKaiser，formedaUnionofFrankfurt；andwill，witharmedhandifindispensable，endeavortoseerightdoneinthatmatter。"
[InAdelung，iv。155，156，theDeclarationitself（Audience，"7thAugust，1744。"Dohnaoffhomeward"ontheseconddayafter"）。]
ThisistheastonishingfactfortheCauseofLiberty；andnoclamorandexecrationwillavailanything。Thismanisprompt，too；
doesnotlingeringettingouthisSword，whenhehastalkedofit。
PrinceKarl’sOperationislikelytobemarredamazingly。IfthisswiftKing（comparabletotheoldSerpentfordevices）weretoburstforthfromhisSilesianstrengths；treadsharplyontheTAIL
ofPrinceKarl’sOperation，andbringbacktheformidablyfangedheadofIToutofAlsace，fivehundredmilesallatonce，——therewouldbeabusiness！
WewillnowquittheRhineOperations，whichindeedarenotnowofmoment；Friedrichbeingsuddenlythekeyofeventsagain。Iaddonly，whatreadersarevaguelyawareof，thatKingLouisdidnotdie；thathelayatdeath’sdoorforpreciselyoneweek（8th—15thAugust），symptomsmendingonthe15th。Intheinterim，——Grand—
AlmonerFitz—James（UncleofourContediSpinelli）insistingthatacertainCardinal，whohadgottheSacramentsinhand，shouldinsist；andendlessministerialintriguebeingbusy，——moribundLouishad，whenitcametotheSacramentalpoint，beenobligedtodismisshisChateauroux。PoorChateauroux；anunfortunatefemale；
yet，onealmostthinks，thebestmanamongthem:dismissedatMetzhere，andliketobemobbed！ThatwastheoneissueofKingLouis’sdeath—sickness。Sublimesickness；duringwhichallParisweptaloud，interrorandsorrow，likeachildthathaslostitsmotherandseesamastiffcoming；weptsublimely，anddidthePrayersofForty—Hours；andcalledKingLouisLeBIEN—AIME（TheWell—
beloved）:——merelysomeobstructionintheroyalbowels，itturnedout；——agoodcathartic，andthePrayersofForty—Hours，quitereinstatedmatters。NayreinstatedevenChateauroux，sometimeafter，——"theDevilbeingwellagain，"and，astheProverbsays，quittinghismonasticview。ReinstatedChateauroux:butthistime，poorcreature，shecontinuedonlyaboutaday:——"Suddenfever，fromexcitement，"saidtheDoctors:"Fever？Poison，youmean！"
whisperedothers，andlookedforchangesintheMinistry。
Enough，oh，enough！——
OldMarshalWadedidnotawaken，thoughbawledtobyhisLigoniersandothers，andmuchshakenabout，pooroldgentleman。
"Noartillerytospeakof，"murmuredhe；"wantbaggage—wagons，too！"andlaystill。"Hereisartillery！"answeredtheOfficialpeople；"WithmyownmoneyIwillbuyyoubaggage—wagons！"answeredthehighMariaAnna，inherownnameandherPrinceKarl’s，whoareJoint—Governorsthere。Possiblyhewouldhaveawakened，hadtheygivenhimtime。Buttime，inWarespecially，isthethingthatisnevergiven。OnceFriedrichHADstruckin，themomentwasgoneby。
PooroldWade！Ofhimalsoenough。
ChapterII。
FRIEDRICHMARCHESUPONPRAG，CAPTURESPRAG。
ItwasonSaturday，"earlyinthemorning，"15thAugust，1744，thatFriedrichsetout，attendedbyhistwoeldestBrothers，PrinceofPrussiaandPrinceHenri，fromPotsdam，towardsthisnewAdventure，whichprovedsofamoussince。Sudden，swift，totheworld’sastonishment；——actuallyonmarchhere，inthreeColumns（twothroughSaxonybyvariousroutessoutheastward，onefromSilesiathroughGlatzsouthwestward），toinvadeBohemia:rumorsays100，000
strong，factitselfsaysupwardsof80，000，ontheirvariousroutes，convergingtowardsPrag。[Helden—Geschichte，ii。1165。Orlich（ii。25，27）enumeratesthevariousregiments。]HisColumns，especiallyhisSaxonColumns，arealreadyontheroad；hejoinsoneColumn，thisnight，atWittenberg；andisbent，throughSaxony，towardsthefrontiersofBohemia，attheutmostmilitaryspeedhehas。
ThroughSaxonyabout60，000go:hehasgottheKaiser’sOrdertotheGovernmentofSaxony，"OuraugustAlly，requiringonourImperialbusinessatransitthroughyou；"——andWinterfeld，anexcellentsoldierandnegotiator，hasgoneforwardtopresentsaidOrder。ADocumentwhichflurriestheDresdenOfficialsbeyondmeasure。TheirKingisinWarsaw；theirKing，ifhere，coulddolittle；andindeedhasbeenincliningtoMariaTheresathislongwhile。AndWinterfeldinsistsonsuchdespatch；——andnoteventheDukeofWeissenfelsisinTown，DresdenOfficials"sendofffivecouriersandthirteenestafettes"tothepooroldDuke；
[Helden—Geschichte，ii。1163。]gethimatlast；and——Themarchisalreadytakingeffect；theymayaswellconsenttoit:whatcantheydobutconsent！Intheuttermostflurry，theyhadsettofortifyingDresden；allhandsdrivingpalisades，picking，delving，makingCOUPURES（trenches，orsunkbarricades）inthestreets；——fatallyawarethatitcanavailnothing。IsnotthistheKaiser’sOrder？Prussians，totheamountof60，000，areacrossourFrontiers，rapidlyspeedingon。
"Friedrich’sManifesto——underthemodestTitle，’ANZEIGEDER
URSACHEN（AdvertisementoftheCauseswhichhaveinducedhisPrussianMajestytosendtheRomishKaiser’sMajestysomeAuxiliaryTroops）’——hadappearedintheBerlinNewspapersThursday，13th，onlytwodaysbefore。Anastonishmenttoallmankind；whichgaverisetoendlessmisconceptionsofFriedrich:butwhich，supportingitselfonproofs，onpunctuallyexcerptedfoot—notes，isintrinsicallyamodest，quietPiece；and，whatissingularinManifestoes，hasnothing，oralmostnothing，initthatisnot，sofarasitgoes，aperfectstatementofthefact。’Auxiliarytroops，thatisouressentialcharacter。NowarwithherHungarianMajesty，orwithanyother，onourownscore。ButherHungarianMajesty，howhasshetreatedtheRomishKaiser，herandourandtheReich’sSovereignHead，andtowhatpassreducedhim；refusinghimPeaceonanyterms，exceptthoseofself—annihilation；denyingthatheisaKaiseratall；’——andenumeratesthevariousImperialinjuries，withproofgiven，quietfootnotesbywayofproof；andconcludesinthesewords:’ForhimselfhisMajestyrequiresnothing。
ThequestionhereisnotofhisMajesty’sowninterestatall[everythinghisMajestyrequired，orrequires，isbytheTreatyofBerlinsolemnlyhis，iftheReichanditsLawsendure]:andhehastakenuparmssimplyandsolelyintheviewofrestoringtotheReichitsfreedom，totheKaiserhisHeadshipoftheReich，andtoallEuropethePeacewhichissodesirable。’[GiveninSeyfarth，Beylage，i。121—136，withdate"August，1744。"]
"’Pretences，subterfuges，lies！’exclaimedtheAustrianandAlliedPubliceverywhere，orstrovetoexclaim；especiallytheEnglishPublic，whichhadnodifficultyinsodoing；——aPubliccomfortablyblankastoGermanfactsornon—facts；andfindingwithamazementonlythisaverycertainfact，ThatherebyistheirownPragmaticthundercheckedinmid—volleyinamostsurprisingmanner，andthetriumphantCauseofLibertybroughttojeopardyagain。
’Perfidious，ambitious，capricious！’exclaimedthey:’aPrincewithouthonor，withouttruth，withoutconstancy；’——andcompleted，forthemselves，inhotrabidhumor，thatEnglishTheoryofFriedrichwhichhasprevailedeversince。Perhapsthemostsurprisingitemofwhichisthislatter，veryprominentinthoseoldtimes，ThatFriedrichhasno’constancy，’butfollowshis’caprices，’andaccidentalwhirlsofimpulse:——itemwhichhasdroppedawayinourtimes，thoughtheothersstandasstableasever。Amonumentofseveralthings！Friedrich’ssuddennessisanessentialpartofwhatfightingtalenthehas:ifthePublic，thrownintoflurry，cannotjudgeitwell，theymustevenmisjudgeit:whathelpisthere？
"ThattheabovewereactuallyFriedrich’sreasonsforventuringintothisBigGameagain，isnotnowdisputable。Andastotherumor，whichroseafterwards（andwasdenied，andcouldonlybedenieddiplomaticallytotheear，ifeventotheear），ThatFriedrichbySecretArticlewas’tohaveforhimselftheThreeBohemianCircles，Konigsgratz，Bunzlau，Leitmeritz，whichliebetweenSchlesienandSachsen，’[Helden—Geschichte，i。1081；Scholl，ii。349。]——thereisnotadoubtbutFriedrichhadsobargained，’Verywell，ifwecangetsaidCircles！’andwouldrightcheerfullyhavekeptandheldthem，hadthebiggamegoneinallpointscompletelywell（game，toreinstatetheKaiserBOTHinBohemiaandBavaria）byFriedrich’sfineplaying。Notadoubtofallthis:——norofwhatanextremelyhypotheticoutlookitthenandalwayswas；greatlytooweakforenticingsuchaman。"
FriedrichgoesinThreeColumns。One，onthesouthorleftshoreoftheElbe，cominginvariousbranchesunderFriedrichhimself；
thisalonewilltouchonDresden，passonthesouthsideofDresden；gatheritselfaboutPirna（intheSaxonSwitzerlandsocalled，anotablelocality）；thenceovertheMetalMountainsintoBohmen，byToplitz，byLowositz，Leitmeritz，andtheHighwaycalledthePascopol，famousinWar。TheSecondColumn，underLeopoldtheYoungDessauer，goesontheotherornorthsideoftheElbe，atafairdistance；marchingthroughtheLausitz（rendezvousorstarting—pointwasBautzenintheLausitz）straightsouth，tomeettheKingatLeitmeritz，wherethegrandMagazineistobe；
andthence，stillsouth，straightuponPrag，inconjunctionwithhisMajestyorparalleltohim。[Helden—Geschichte，i。1081。]ThesearetheTwoSaxonColumns。TheThirdColumn，underSchwerin，collectsitselfintheinteriorofSilesia；
isissuing，byGlatzCountry，throughtheGiantMountains，BOHMISCHEKAMME（BohemianCOMBSastheyarecalled，whichTouristsknow），bythePassofBraunau，——disturbingthedreamsofRubezahl，ifRubezahlhappentobethere。This，say20，000，willcomedownuponPragfromtheeasternside；andbefirstontheground（31stAugust），——firstbyoneday。InthehomepartsofSilesia，welleastwardofGlatz，thereisleftanotherForceof20，000，whichcangoacrosstheAustrianBorderthere，andhangupontheHills，threateningOlmutzandtheMoravianCountries，shouldneedbe。
Andso，initsThreeColumns，fromwest，fromnorth，fromeast，themarch，withasteadyswiftness，proceeds。ImportantespeciallythoseTwoSaxonColumnsfromwestandnorth:60，000ofthem，"withafrightful（ENTSETZLICH）quantityofbiggunscominguptheElbe。"
MuchiscominguptheElbe；indispensableHighwayforthisEnterprise。Threemonths’provisions，endlessartilleryandprovender，isontheElbe；480bigboats，withimmenseVORSPANN（oftrace—horses，dreadfulswearing，too，asIhaveheard），willpassthroughthemiddleofDresden:notlandingbyanymeans。"No，beassuredofit，yeDresdeners，allflurried，palisaded，barricaded；
nohairofyoushallbeharmed。"Afteradayortwo，theflurryofSaxonysubsided；Prussians，understrictdiscipline，molestnoprivateperson；paytheirway；keepwellaloof，tosouthandtonorth，ofDresden（allbutthenecessaryammunition—escortsdo）；——
andrequireoftheOfficialpeoplenothingbutwhattheLawoftheReichauthorizesto"ImperialAuxiliaries"insuchcase。
"TheSaxonsthemselves，"Friedrichobserves，"hadsome40，000，butscatteredabout；KinginWarsaw:——dreadfulterror；makingCOUPURES
andTETES—DE—PONT；——couldhavemadenodefence。"Hadwediligentlyspenteightdaysonthem！reflectsheafterwards。"ToseizeSaxony[andhobbleitwithropes，sothatatanytimeyoucouldpinitmotionless，andeven，ifneedwere，milkthesubstanceoutofit]，wouldnothavedetaineduseightdays。"[OEuvresdeFrederic，iii。53。]Whichwouldhavebeenthetrueplan，hadweknownwhatwasgettingreadythere！Certainitis，Friedrichdidnomischief，paidforeverything；anxioustokeepwellwithSaxony；hopingalwaystheymightjoinhimagain，insuchaCause。"CausedeartoeveryPatriotGermanPrince，"urgesFriedrich，——thoughBruhl，andthePolish，once"Moravian，"Majestyareofaverydifferentopinion:——
"MariaTheresa，herthoughtsathearingofitmaybeimagined:
’TheEvilGeniusofmyHouseafootagain！MyhighprojectsonElsassandLorraine；HusbandforKaiser，ElsassfortheReichandhim，Lorraineformyselfandhim；goneprobablytowater！’
Neverthelessshesaid（anOfficialpersonheardhersay），’MyrightisknowntoGod；Godwillprotectme，asHehasalreadydone。’
[Helden—Geschichte，ii。1024。]Androseverystrong，andmagnanimouslydefiantagain；perhaps，atthebottomofherheart，almostgladwithalthatshewouldnowhaveastrokeforherdearSilesiaagain，unhinderedbyPaladinGeorgeandhisTreatiesandnotions。Whatmeasures，againstthisnefariousPrussianoutbreak，hatefultogodsandmen，arepossible，sherapidlytakes:inBohemia，inBavariaandherotherCountries，thatarethreatenedorcanhelp。Andabatesnothingofheartorhope；——
prayingwithal，immensely，sheandherPeople，accordingtothemodetheyhave。SendingforPrinceKarl，weneednotsay，double—
quick，astheveryfirstthing。
"OfMariaTheresainHungary，——forsherantoPresburgagainwithherwoes（August16th，Dietjustassemblingthere），——letussayonlythatHungarywasagainchivalrous；thatoldPalfyandthegeneralHungarianNationansweredintheoldtone，——VIVATMARIA；
ADARMA，ADARMA！withTolpatches，Pandours，Warasdins；——and，inshort，thatgreatandsmall，ininfinite’Insurrection，’havestillastrokeofbattleinthemPROREGENOSTRO。ScarcelyaboveaDistrictortwo（astheJASZERSandKAUERS，intheirover—cautiousway）makingtheleastdifficulty。Muchenthusiasmandunanimityinalltheothers；hereandthereaHungariangentlemancomplainingscornfullythattheirtroops，knownasamongthebestfightersinNature，arecalledirregulartroops，——irregular，forsooth！Inonepublicconsultation[Districtnotimportant，notveryspellable，thoughdoubtlesspronounceablebynativestoit]，agentlemansuggeststhat’Winterisnear；shouldnottherebesomeslightprovisionoftents，ofshelterinthefrozensleetyMountains，toourgallantfellowsboundthither？’Uponwhichanotherstartsup，’WhenourAncestorscameoutofAsiaMinor，overthePalusMaeotisboundinwinterice；and，sabreinhand，cuttheirwayintothisfineCountrywhichisstillours，whatshelterhadthey？Notalkoftents，ofbarracksoraccommodationthere；each，wraptinhissheepskin，founditsheltersufficient。Tents！’[Helden—
Geschichte，ii。1030。]Andthethingwascarriedbyacclamation。
"WidewailinBohemiathatWariscomingback。Nobilityallmakingoff，sometoViennaortheintermediateTownslyingthitherward，sometotheirCountry—seats；alloutofPrag。WillingmindonthepartoftheCommonPeople；whichtheGovernmentstrainseverynervetomakethemostof。Herearefasts，processions，PrayersofForty—
Hours；here，asinViennaandelsewhere。InViennawasaThreeDays’solemnFast:thelikeinPrag，orbetter；withprocessiontotheshrineofSt。Vitus，——littlelikelytohelp，Ishouldfear。
’Rise，allfenciblemen，’exclaimstheGovernment，——’atleastwewillballot，andmakeyourise:’——MilitiapeopleenterPragtotheextentof10，000；liketoavaillittle，onewouldfear。GeneralHarsch，withreinforcementofrealsoldiers，isdespatchedfromVienna；Harsch，oneofourablestsoldierssinceKhevenhullerdied，getsinstillintime；andthusincreasestheGarrisonofregularsto4，000，withavigorousCaptaintoguideit。OldCountOgilvy，thesamewhomSaxesurprisedtwoyearsagointhemoonlight，snatchingladdersfromthegallows，——OgilvyisagainCommandant；
butthistimenominalmainly，andwithbetteroutlooks，Harschbeingunderhim。Inrelays，3，000oftheMilitiamendigandshovelnightandday；repairing，perfectingtherampartsoftheplace。
Then，astoprovisions，endlesscornisintroduced，——farmersforced，theunwillingatthebayonet’spoint，todeliverintheircorn；muchofitinsheaf，sothatwehavetothrashitinthemarket—place，inthestreetsthatarewide:andthusinPragisheardthesoundofflails，amongtheMilitia—drumsandsomanyothernoises。Withthegreatchurch—organsgrowling；andthebassandtrebleMISEREREofthepoorsuperstitiousPeoplerising，toSt。Vitusandothers。Infact，itisageneralDanceofSt。Vitus，——exceptthatoftheflails，andMilitia—menworkingattheramparts，——mostlynotleadingany—whither。"["LETTERfromaCitizenofPrag，"date，21stSept。（inHelden—Geschichte，ii。1168），whichgivesseveralcuriousdetails。]
MeanwhileFriedrich’smarchfromwest，fromnorth，fromeast，isflowingon；diligent，swift；punctualtoitstimes，itsplaces；andmeetsnoimpedimenttospeakof。AtTetschenontheSaxon—BohemianFrontier，——apleasantSchlossperchedonitscrags，asTouristsknow，wheretheElbesweepsintoSaxonSwitzerlandanditslongstonelabyrinths，——atTetschentheAustrianshadtakenpost；
hadtriedtoblocktheRiver，drivingpilesintoit，andtumblingbouldersintoit，withaviewtostopthe480PrussianBoats。
Thesepeopleneededtobetornout，theirpilesandthey:whichwasdoneintwodays，thesoldierpartofit；andoccupiedtheboatmenaboveaweek，beforeallwasclearagain。Prosperous，correcttoprogram，alltherest；notneedingmentionfromus；——herearethefewsparksfromitthatdwellinone’smemory:——
"AUGUST15th，1744，KingleftPotsdam；joinedhisFirstColumnthatnight，atWittenberg。ThroughMieissen，Torgau，Freyberg；isatPeterswalde，easternslopeoftheMetalMountains，August25th；
alltheColumnsnowonBohemianground。
"FriedrichhadcrossedElbebytheBridgeofMeissen:onthesouthernshore，politelywaitingtoreceivehisMajesty，therestoodFeldmarschalltheDukeofWeissenfels；towhomtheKinggavehishand，"nodoubtinfriendlystyle，"andtalkedforabovehalfanhour，"——withsuchsuccess！thinksFriedrichbyandby。WehaveheardofWeissenfelsbefore；thesamepoorWeissenfelswhowasWilhelmina’sWooerinoldtime，nowonthevergeofsixty；
anextremelypolitebutweakisholdgentleman；accidentallypreservedinHistory。Oneofthoseconspicuous"HumanClothes—
Horses"（phantasmalallbutthedigestivepart），whichaboundinthatEighteenthCenturyandotherslikeit；anddistressyourHistoricalstudies。Pooroldsoul；nowFeldmarschallandCommander—
in—Chiefhere。HasbeeninTurkandotherWars；withlittleprofittohimselforothers。Usedtolikehisglass，theysay；isstillverypoor，thoughnowDukeinrealityaswellastitle（succeededtwoegregiousBrothers，someyearssince，whohadbeenspendthrift）:hehasstilloneotherbeatingtogetinthisworld，——fromFriedrichnextyear。Diedaltogether，twoyearshence；andWilhelminaheardnomoreofhim。
"AtMeissenBridge，saysome，wasthisHalf—hour’sInterview；
atPirna，theBridgeofPirna，otherssay；[SeeOrlich，ii。25；
andHelden—Geschichte，ii。1166。]——quiteindifferenttouswhich。AtPirna，andhitherandthitherinSaxonSwitzerland，Friedrichcertainlywas。’Whoeversawsuchpositions，yourMajesty？’ForFriedrichisalwayslookingout，wereitevenfromthewindowofhiscarriage，andputtingmilitaryproblemstohimselfinallmannerofscenery，’Whatwouldamando，inthatkindofground，ifattacking，ifattacked？withthathill，thatbrook，thatbitofbog？’andadviseseveryOfficertobecontinuallydoingthelike。[MILITARYINSTRUCTIONS？RULESFORA
GOODCOMMANDEROF&c。？——Ihave，forcertain，readthisPassage；
butthereferenceisgoneagain，likeasparrowfromthehouse—
top！]ThatisthevalueofpicturesqueorotherscenerytoFriedrich，andtheireffectongoodPrussianOfficersandhim。
"……AtTetschen，ColonelKahlbutz，"diligentPrussianColonel，"plucksoutthose100Austriansfromtheirrocknestthere；
makesthemprisonersofwar；——whichdetainedtheLeitmeritzbranchofustwodays。August28th，junctionatLeitmeritzthereupon。
Magazineestablishedthere。Boatscomingonpresently。FriedrichhimselfcampedatLobositzinthispart，"——Lobositz，orLowositz，whichhewillrememberoneday。
"AUGUST29th，MarchtoBudin；thatis，southward，acrosstheEger，arrivewithinfortymilesofPrag。AustrianBathyani，summonedhastilyoutofhisBavarianposts，tosuccorinthispressingemergency，hasarrivedintheseneighborhoods，——some12，000
regularsunderhim，precededbycloudsofhussars，whomZiethensmitesalittle，bywayofhandsel；——nootherAustrianforcetospeakofhereabouts；andwearenowbetweenBathyaniandPrag。
"SEPTEMBER1st，ToMickowitz，nearWelwarn，twentymilesfromPrag。
September2d，CampontheWeissenbergthere。"[Helden—
Geschichte，i。1080。]
AndsotheyareallassembledaboutPrag，begirdlingthepoorCity，——thirdSiegeithasstoodwithinthesethreeyears（sincethatmoonlightNovembernightin1741）；——andareonlywaitingfortheirheavyartillerytobeginbattering。Thepoorinhabitants，inspiteofthreesieges；the10，000rawmilitia—men，mostlyofHungarianbreed；the4，000regulars，andHarschandoldOgilvy，arealldisposedtodotheirbest。FriedrichisnaturallyinhastetogetholdofPrag。Buthefinds，ontakingsurvey:thatthesword—
in—handmethodisnotnow，asin1741，feasibleatall；thattheplaceisingoodpostureofstrength；andwillneedahotbatteringtotearitopen。OwingtothataccidentatTetschen，thesiege—
cannonarenotyetcomeup:"Buildyourbatteries，yourMoldau—
bridges，yourcommunications，tillthecannoncome；andbewareofBathyanimeddlingwithyourcannonbytheroad！"
"Bathyaniiswithintwentymilesofus，atBeraun，acompactlittleTowntosouthwest；gatheringaMagazinethere；andreadyforenterprises，——inmoreforcethanFriedrichguesses。’Drivehimout，seizethatMagazineofhis！’ordersFriedrich（September5th）；
anddespatchesGeneralHackeonit，arightman，"——atwhoseweddingweassisted（weddingtoanheiress，longsince，inFriedrichWilhelm’stime），ifanybodynowremembered。"Andonthemorrowtherefallsoutaprettylittle’ActionofBeraun，’aboutwhichgreatnoisewasmadeintheGazettesPROandCONTRA:whichdidnotdislodgeBathyanibyairymeans；butwhichmighteasilyhaveruinedtheimpetuousHackeandhis6，000，gettingintomaskedbatteries，Pandourwhirlwinds，chargesofhorses’fromfront，fromrear，andfrombothflanks，’——hadnothe，withmasterlypromptitude，whirledhimselfoutofit，snatchedinstantlywhatbestposttherewas，anddefendedhimselfinexpugnablythere，forsixhours，tillreliefcame。"[DIEBEYBERAUNVORGEFALLENEACTION（inSeyfarth，
Beylage，i。136，137）。]Brilliantlittleaction，wellperformedonbothsides，butleadingtonothing；andwhichshallnotconcernusfarther。ExcepttosaythatBathyanididnow，moreathisleisure，retireoutofharm’sway；andbegincollectingMagazinesatPilsenfarrearward，whichmayproveusefultoPrinceKarl，intheroutePrinceKarlisupon。
Siege—cannonhavingatlastcome（September8th），thebatteriesareallmounted:——onWednesday，9th，lateatnight，theArtillery，"inenormousquantity，"opensitsdreadthroat；poorPragisstartledfromitsbedbytorrentsofshot，solidandshell，fromthreedifferentquarters；andmakeshastetostandtoitsguns。
Fromthreedifferentquarters；fromBubenetschnorthward；fromtheUplandofSt。Lawrence（famedWEISSENBERG，orWhite—Hill）westward；
andfromtheZiscabergeastward（HillofZisca，whereironZiscapostedhimselfonagrandoccasiononce），——whichlatterisabroadlongHill，westendofitfallingsheeroverPrag；andonanotherpointofit，highestpointofall，thePraguershaveastrongbatteryandworks。ThePraggunsotherwisearenottooeffectual；
plantedmostlyonlowground。BymuchthebestPragbatteryisthisoftheZiscaberg。Andthis，aftertwodays’experiencehadofit，thePrussiansdeterminetotakeonthemorrow。
SEPTEMBER12th，Schwerin，whocommandsonthatside，assaultsaccordingly；withtheduesteadfastnessandstormfulness:
throwingshellsandballsbywayofprelude。Friedrich，withsomegroupofstaff—officersanddignitaries，stepsoutontheBubenetschpost，toseehowthisaffairoftheZiscabergwillprosper:thePraguersthereabouts，seeingsomanydignitaries，turncannononthem。"Disperse，IHRHERREN；haveacare！"criedFriedrich；nothimselfmuchminding，sointentupontheZiscaberg。
Andcouldhaveskiptindifferentlyoveryourcannon—ballsploughingtheground，——hadnotonefatefulballshatteredoutthelifeofpoorPrinceWilhelm；agoodyoungCousinofhis，shotdownhereathishand。DoubtlessasharpmomentfortheKing。PrinceMargrafWilhelmandapooryoungpage，theretheyliedead；indifferenttotheZiscabergandallcomingwarsofmankind。Lamentation，naturally，forthisyoungman，——BrothertotheonewhofellatMollwitz，youngestBrotheroftheMargrafKarl，whocommandsinthisBubenetschredoubt:——Butwemustliftoureye—glassagain；
seehowSchwerinisprospering。Schwerin，withduesteadfastnessandstormfulness，afterhispreludeofbomb—shells，rushesondouble—quick；cannotbewithstood；hurlsoutthePraguers，andseizestheirbattery；aruinouslosstothem。
TheirgrandZiscaredoubtisgone，then；andtwosubsidiarysmallredoubtsbehinditwithal，whichtheFrenchhadbuilt，andnamed"themagpie—nests（NIDSAPIE）；"thesealsoareours。Andweoverhang，fromourZiscaHill，theveryroofs，asitwere；
andthereisnothingbutalongbarecurtainnowinthisquarter，readytobebatteredinbreach，andsoonholed，ifneedful。Itisnotneedful，——notquite。Inthecourseofthreedaysmore，ourBubenetschbattery，ofenormouspower，hasbeensodiligent，ithassetfiretotheWater—mill；burnsirretrievablytheWater—mill，andstillworse，thewoodenSluiceoftheMoldau；sothattheriverfallstotheeverywherewadablepitch。AndGovernorHarschperceivesthatallthisquarteroftheTownisopentoanycomer；——
and，infact，thathewillhavetogetaway，thebesthecan。
Whiteflagaccordingly（Tuesday，15th）:"Freewithdrawal，totheWischerad；won’tyou？""Bynomannerofmeans！"answersFriedrich。
BidsSchwerinfromhisZiscabergmakeaholeortwointhat"curtain"oppositehim；andgetsreadyforstorm。UponwhichHarsch，nextmorning，hastobeatthechamade，andsurrenderPrisonerofWar。Andthus，Wednesday，16th，itisdone:asiegeofoneweek，nomore，——afterallthatthrashingofgrain，drillingofmilitia，andotherspiritedpreparation。Harschcouldnothelpit；
thePrussiancannonadingwassofurious。[Orlich，ii。36—39；
Helden—Geschichte，i。1082，andii。1168；
OEuvresdeFrederic，iii。56；&c。&c。]
PraghastoswearfealtytotheKaiser；and"payaransomof200，000pounds。"Drilledmilitia，regulars，Hungarians，about16，000，——onlythatmanyoftheTolpatchescontrivedtowhiskloose，——aremarchedprisonerstoGlatzandotherstrongplaces。
PragCity，withplentyofprovisioninit，isours。AbrilliantbeginningofaCampaign；theeyesofallEuropeturnedagain，inveryvarioushumor，onthisyoungKing。IfonlytheFrenchdotheirduty，andhangwellontheskirtsofMarshalTraun（orofPrinceKarl，theCloakofTraun），whoishasteninghitherwardallhecan。
ChapterIII。
FRIEDRICH，DILIGENTINHISBOHEMIANCONQUESTS，UNEXPECTEDLY
COMESUPONPRINCEKARL，WITHNOFRENCHATTENDINGHIM。
ThiselectricallysuddenoperationonPragwasconsideredbyastonishedmankind，whateverelsetheymightthinkaboutit，adecidedlybrilliantfeatofWar:fallinglikeaboltoutoftheblue，——likethreebolts，suddenlycoalescingoverPrag，andstrikingitdown。Friedrichhimself，thoughthereisnothingofboastaudiblehereoranywhere，wasevidentlyverywellsatisfied；
andthoughttheaspectsgood。ThereisPrinceKarlwhirlinginstantlybackfromhisStrasburgProspects；thegeneralSt。VitusDanceofAustrianthingsrisinghigherandhigherinthesehomeparts:——reasonablehopethat"inthecourseofoneCampaign，"proudobstinateAustriamightfeelitselfsowrungandscrewedastobegladofPeacewithneighborsnotwishingWar。ThatwastheyoungKing’scalculationatthistime。And，hadFrancedoneatallasitpromised，——orhadtheyoungKinghimselfbeenconsiderablywiserthanhewas，——hehadnotbeendisappointedinthewayweshallsee！
FriedrichadmitshedidnotunderstandWaratthisperiod。Hisownschemenowwas:Tomovetowardsthesouthwest，theretoabolishBathyaniandhisTolpatches，whoarebusygatheringMagazinesforPrinceKarl’sadvent；toseizethesaidMagazines，whichwillbeveryusefultous；thenadvancestraighttowardsthePassesoftheBohemianMountains。TownsofFurth，Waldmunchen，unfortunateTownofCham（burntbyTrenck，wheremasonsarenowbusy）；thesestandsuccessiveinthegrandPass，throughwhichtbehighwayruns；
somehundredmilesorsofromwhereweare:march，atone’sswiftest，thitherward，Bathyani’sMagazinestohelp；andthereawaitPrinceKarl？ItwasFriedrich’sownnotion；notabadone，thoughnotthebest。Thebest，headmits，wouldhavebeen:Tostayprettymuchwherehewas；abolishBathyani’sTolpatchpeople，seizingtheirMagazines，andcollectingothers；ingeneral，wellrootingandfencinghimselfinPrag，andintheCirclesthatliethereaboutsupontheElbe，——boundedtosouthwardbytheSazawa（branchoftheMoldau），whichrunsparalleltotheElbe；——butwellrefusingtostirmuchfartheratsuchanadvancedseasonoftheyear。
Thatsecondplanwouldhavebeenthewisest:——thenwhynot，followit？Tootameaplanfortheyouthfulmind。Besides，weperceive，asindeedisintimatedbyhimself，hedreadedtheforceofpublicopinioninFrance。"Aha，lookatyourKingofPrussiaagain。
GonetoconquerBohemia；and，excepttheThreeCircleshehimselfistohaveofit，letsBohemiagotothewinds！"Thissortofthing，Friedrichadmits，hedreadedtoomuch，atthatyoungperiod；
soloudhadthecriticismsbeenonhim，inthetimeoftheBreslauTreaty:"OutuponyourKingofPrussia；callyouthatanhonorableAlly！"UndoubtedlyaweaknessintheyoungKing；inasmuch，sayshe，as"everyGeneral[andeveryman，addwe]shouldlooktothefact，nottotherumorofthefact。"Well；but，atleast，hewilladopthisownothernotion；thatofmakingforthePassesoftheBohemianMountains；toabolishBathyaniatleast，andlockthedooruponPrinceKarl’sadvent？Thatwashisownplan；and，thoughsecond—
best，thatalsowouldhavedonewell，hadtherebeennothird。
Buttherewas，aswehinted，athirdplan，ardentlyfavoredbyBelleisle，whosewar—talentFriedrichmuchrespectedatthistime:
planbuiltonBelleisle’sreminiscencesoftheoldTabor—Budweisbusinesses，andtotallyinapplicablenow。Belleislesaid，"Gosoutheast，notsouthwest；righttowardstheAustrianFrontieritself；thatwillfrightenAustriaintoafinetremor。ShutuptheroadsfromAustria:Budweis，Neuhaus；seizethosetwoHighroadTowns，andkeepthem，ifyouwouldholdBohemia；thewantofthemwasourruinthere。"Yourruin，yes:butyourenemywasnotcomingfromAlsaceandthesouthwestthen。HewascomingfromAustria；
andyourownhomelayonthesouthwest:itisalldifferentnow！
FriedrichmightwellthinkhimselfbewitchednottohavegoneforChamandFurth，andthePassesoftheBohmer—Wald，accordingtohisownnotion。Butsoitwas；heyieldedtothebigreputationofBelleisle，andtofearofwhattheworldwouldsayofhiminFrance；aweaknesswhichhewillperhapsbetaughtnottorepeat。
Infact，heisnowabouttobetaughtseveralthings；——andwillhavetopayhisschool—wagesashegoes。
FRIEDRICH，LEAVINGSMALLGARRISONINPRAG，RUSHESSWIFTLYUP
THEMOLDAUVALLEY，UPONTHETABOR—BUDWEISCOUNTRY；TOPLEASE
HISFRENCHFRIENDS。
FriedrichmadenodelayinPrag；inhasteatthislatetimeofyear。September17th，ontheverymorrowoftheSiege，thePrussiansgetinmotionsouthward；onthe19th，Friedrich，fromhisposttonorthoftheCity，defilesthroughPrag，onmarchtoKunraditz，——firststageonthatquestionableExpeditionuptheMoldauValley，rightbank；towardsTabor，Budweis，Neuhaus；
tothreatenAustria，andpleaseBelleisleandtheFrench。
PragisleftunderGeneralEinsiedelwithasmallgarrisonof5，000；——Einsiedel，asteadyelderlygentleman，favoriteofFriedrichWilhelm’s，hasbrieforder，oroutlineofordertobefilledupbyhisowngoodsense。Posadowskyfollowsthemarch，withasmanymeal—wagonsaspossible，——draught—cattleinveryineffectualcondition。OurmainMagazineisatLeitmeritz（shouldhavebeenbroughtontoPrag，thinksFriedrich）；Commissariatveryill—managedincomparisontowhatitoughttobe，——towhatitshallbe，ifweeverlivetomakeanotherCampaign。HeavyartilleryisleftinPrag（anotherfault）；andfromeachregiment，oneofitsbaggage—wagons。[Helden—Geschichte，i。1083；
Orlich，ii。41etseqq。；Frederic，iii。59；&c。]"WerestadayhereatKunraditz:21stSeptember，gettotheSazawaRiver；
——22d，toBistritz（restaday）；——26th，toMiltschin；and27th，toTabor:"——ButtheDiarywouldbetedious。
FriedrichgoesintwoColumns；onealongthegreatroadtowardsTabor，underSchwerinthis，andFriedrichmainlywithhim；theothertotheright，alongtheRiver’sbank，underLeopold，YoungDessauer，whichhastogobywildcountryroads，ornowandthenroadsofitsownmaking；andmuchneedsthepioneer（adifficultmarchintheshorteningdays）。Posadowskyfollowswiththeproviant，drawnbycattleofthehorseandoxspecies，dailyfallingdownstarved:greatswearingtheretoo，Idoubtnot！
GeneralNassauisvanguard，andstretchesforwardsuccessfullyatamuchlighterpace。
TherearetwoRivers，considerablebranchesoftheMoldau，comingfromeastward；which，andfirstofthemtheSazawa，concernushere。AftermountingthesouthernUplandsfromPragforadayortwo，youthenbegintodropagain，intothehollowofaRivercalledSazawa，importantinBohemianWars。Itisofwindingcourse，thefirstconsiderablebranchoftheMoldau，risinginTeutschbrodCountry，seventyoreightymilestoeastofus:inregardtoSazawa，thereis，atpresent，nodifficultyaboutcrossing；theCountrybeingallours。AftertheSazawa，mountagain，longmiles，dayafterday，throughintricatestonydesolation，rocks，bogs，untrimmedwoods，youwillgettoMiltschin，thencetoTabor:
Miltschinisthecrownofthatroughmoorcountry；fromPragtoTaborissomesixtymiles。AfterMiltschinthecourseofthosebrownmountain—brooksisalltowardstheLuschnitz，thenextconsiderablebranchoftheMoldau；branchstilllongerandmorewindingthantheSazawa；Tabortowersupnearthisbranch；Budweis，ontheMoldauitself，isfortymilesfarther；andthereatlastyouareoutofthestonymoors，andinarichchampaigncomfortabletomanandhorse，wereyoubutoncethere，afterploddingthroughthedesolations。ButfromthatSazawabytheLuschnitzontoBudweis，mountingandfallinginsuchfashion，theremustbeninetymilesorthereby。Plodalong；andkeepasharpeyeonthewhirlingcloudsofPandours，forthosetoohavegotacrossuponus，——addedtotheothertempestsofAutumn。
Ontheninthdayoftheirmarch，thePrussiansbegintodescryonthehorizonaheadthesteeplesandchimney—topsofTabor，onitshighscarpedrock，or"HillofZisca，"——foritwasZiscaandhisHussitesthatbuiltthemselvesthisBitofInexpugnability，andnameditTaborfromtheirBibles，——inthosewastemountainregions。
Onthetenthday（27thSeptember），thePrussianswithoutdifficultytookTabor；wallsbeingruined，garrisonsmall。WelieatTabortillthe30th，lastdayofSeptember。Thence，2dOctober，partofustoMoldau—Teinrightwards；wherecrosstheMoldaubyaBridge，——
"Bridge"onehasheardof，inoldBrogliotimes；——crossthere，withintent（easilysuccessful）tosnatchthat"CastleofFrauenberg，"
darlingofBroglio，forwhichhefoughthisPharsaliaofaSahaytonopurpose！
BothColumnsgotunitedatTabor；andpausedforadayortwo，torest，andgatheruptheirdraggledskirtsthere。TheExpeditiondoesnotimproveinpromise，asweadvanceinit；themarchoneofthemostuntowardly；andPosadowskycomesupwithonlyhalfofhisprovision—carts，——halfofhiscattlehavingfallendownofbadweather，hill—roadsandstarvation；whatcouldhedo？Thatisanominouscircumstance，nottheless。
ThreethingsareagainstthePrussiansonthismarch；twoofthemaccidentalthings。FIRST，thereis，atthislateseasontoo，theintrinsicnatureoftheCountry；whichFriedrichwithemphasisdescribesasboggy，stony，precipitous；awaste，hungryandaltogetherbarrenCountry，——tooemphaticallysodescribed。ButthenSECONDLY，whatmighthavebeenotherwise，thePopulation，workeduponbyAustrianofficials，allflyfromthesightofus；
nothingbutfirelessdesertedhamlets；andthecorn，iftheyeverhadany，allthrashedandhidden。Noamountofmoneycanpurchaseanyservicefromthem。Poordarkcreatures；notlovingAustriamuch，butlovingsomeothersevenless，itwouldappear。OfBigotedPapistCreed，foronething；thatisagreatpoint。Wedonotmeddlewiththeirworshipmoreorless；butweareHeretics，andtheyhateusastheNight。WhichisadreadfuldifficultyyoualwayshaveinBohemia:nowherebutintheCircleofKonigsgraz，wherethereareHussites（fartotherearofusatthistime），willyoufinditotherwise。Thisisdifficultysecond。
Then，THIRDLY，whatmuchaggravatesit，——weneglectedtoabolishBathyani！AndhereareBathyani’sPandourscomeacrosstheMoldauonus。PlentyofPandours；——towhom"10，000freshHungarians，"ofanewInsurrectionwhichhasbeengotupthere，aredailyspeedingforwardtoaddthemselves:——suchaswarmofhornets，asdarkenstheverydaylightforyou。Vaintoscourgethemdown，toburnthemoffbyblazeofgunpowder:theyflyfast；butarestraightwaybackagain。Theylurkinthesebushywildernesses，scraggywoods:
noforagingpossible，unlesswholeregimentsaresentouttodoit；
youcannotgetalettersafelycarriedforthem。Theyareanunspeakablecontemptiblegrieftotheearnestleaderofmen。——Letusproceed，however；itwillservenothingtocomplain。LetushopetheFrenchsitwellontheskirtsofPrinceKarl:thesesorrowfullaborsmayallturntogood，inthatcase。
FriedrichpushesonfromTabor；shootspartly（aswehaveseen）
acrosstheMoldau，totheleftbankaswell；capturesromanticFrauenbergonitshighrock，whereBrogliogotintosuchaflusteronce。WecouldpushtoPisek，too，andmakea"BivouacofPisek，"
ifwelostourwits！NassauisinBudweis，inNeuhaus；andpropergarrisonsaregonethither:nothingwantingonoursideofthebusiness。ButthesePandours，these10，000InsurrectionHungarians，withtheirTrencksspurringthem！Acontinualunblessedswarmofhornets，these；whichshutouttheverylightofdayfromus。
Tooliterallythelightofday:wecangetnofreemessagingfromparttopartofourownArmyeven。"AsmanyassixOrderlieshavebeendespatchedtoanoutlyingGeneral；andnotoneofthemcouldgetthroughtohim。TheyhavesnaptupthreeLetter—bagsdestinedfortheKinghimself。ForfourweeksheisabsolutelyshutoutfromtherestofEurope；"knowsnotintheleastwhattheKaiser，ortheMostChristianoranyotherKing，isdoing；orwhethertheFrencharesittingwellonPrinceKarl’sskirts，ornotattemptingthatatall。Thisalsoisathingtobeamended，athingyouhadtolearn，yourMajesty？AnArmyabsolutelyshutoutfromnews，fromletters，messagestoorfro，andgropingitswayindarkness，owingtothesecircumambientthunder—cloudsofTolpatches，isnotawell—situatedArmy！Andalas，whenatlasttheLetter—bagdidgetthrough，and——
Butletusnotanticipate！
AtTabortherearosetwoopinions；which，inspiteoftheKing’spresence，wasanewdifficulty。SouthfromTaboraday’smarch，theHighwaysplits；directwayforVienna；left—handgoestoNeuhaus，right—hand，orstraightforwardrather，goestoBudweis，bearinguponLinz:whichofthesetwo？NassauhasalreadyseizedBudweis；
anditisahabitablechampaigncountryincomparison。
Neuhaus，fartherfromtheMoldauanditsuses，butmoreimminentonAustria，wouldbeeasytoseize；andwouldfrightentheEnemymore。
LeopoldtheYoungDcssauerisforBudweis；rapidSchwerin，ahardyoutspokenman，isemphaticfortheotherplaceasHead—quarter。
Soemphaticareboth，thatthetwoGeneralsquarrelthere；
andFriedrichneedshisauthoritytokeepthemfromoutbreaks，fromopenincompatibilityhenceforth，whichwouldbedestructivetotheservice。Fortherest，Friedrichseizesbothplaces；sendsadetachmenttoNeuhausaswell；butholdsbyBudweisandtheMoldauregionwithhismainArmy；whichwasnotquitegratifyingtothehardySchwerin。Ontheoppositeorleftbank，holdingFrauenberg，therenownedHill—fortressthere，wemakeinroadsatdiscretion:
butthecountryiswoody，favorabletoPandours；andtherightbankisourchiefsceneofaction。Howwearetomaintainourselvesinthiscountry？TowinterinthesetownsbetweentheSazawaandtheLuschnitz？UnlesstheFrenchsitwellonPrinceKarl’sskirts，itwillnotbepossible。
THEFRENCHARELITTLEGRATEFULFORTHEPLEASUREDONETHEM
ATSUCHRUINOUSEXPENSE。
FrenchsittingwellonPrinceKarl’sskirts？TheyarenotmolestingPrinceKarlinthesmallest；nevertriedsuchathing；——areturnedawaytotheBrisgan，totheUpperRhineCountry；gonetobesiegeFreyburgthere，andseizeTowns；abouttheLakeofConstance，asiftherewerenoFriedrichinthegame！ItmustbeownedtheFrenchdoliberallypayoffoldscoresagainstFriedrich，——if，exceptintheirownimagination，theyhadoldscoresagainsthim。Nomaneverdeliveredthemfromamoreimminentperil；andthey，theropeoncecutthatwasstranglingthem，magnificentlyforgetwhocutit；andcelebrateonlytheirowndistinguishedconductduringandaftertheoperation。Toadegreetrulywonderful。
Itwasmoonlight，clearasdaythatnight，23dAugust，whenPrinceKarlhadtorecrosstheRhine，closeintheirneighborhood；
[GuerredeBoheme，iii。196。]——andinsteadofharassingPrinceKarl"tohalfortowholeruin，"asthebargainwas，theirdistinguishedconductconsistedingoingquietlytotheirbeds（oldMarechaldeNoaillesevencallingbacksomeofhistooforwardsubalterns），andjoyfullyleavingPrinceKarl，thenandafterwards，tocrosstheRhine，andmarchforBohmen，athisownperfectconvenience。
"SeckendorfwillsitonKarl’sskirts，"theysaid:"toolateforUS，thisseason；nextseason，youshallsee！"Suchwastheirtheory，afterLouisgotthatcathartic，androsefrombed。
Schmettau，withhisimportunities，whichatlastirritatedeverybody，couldmakenothingmoreofit。"LettheKingofFrancecrownhisgloriesbytheSiegeofFreyburg，theconquestofBrisgau:——forbehoofofthepoorKaiser，don’tyouobserve？
HitherAustriaistheKaiser’s；——andfurthermore，wereFreyburggone，therewillbenoinvadingofElsassagain"（whichisanotberprivatelyveryinterestingpoint）！
Andthere，atFreyburg，theMostChristianKingnowis，andhisArmyuptothekneesinmud，conqueringHitherAustria；besiegingFreyburg，withmuchdifficultyowingtothewet，——besiegingtherewithwhatenergy；aspectacletotheworld！Andhas，forthepresent，butonewife，nomistresseither！WithrapturouseyesFrancelookson；withadmirationtoobigforwords。Voltaire，I
haveheard，madepilgrimagetoFreyburg，withrhymedPanegyricinhispocket；sawthosemiraculousoperationsofaMostChristianKingmiraculouslyawakened；andhadthehonortopresentsaidPanegyric；andbeseen，forthefirsttime，bytheroyaleyes，——
whichdidnotseemtorelishhimmuch。[ThePanegyric（EPITREAU
ROIDEVANTFRIBOURG）isinOEuvresdeVoltaire，xvii。184。]SincethefirstdaysofOctober，Freyburghadbeenunderconstantassault；"amidrains，amidfrosts；asiegelongandmurderous"（tothebesiegingparty）；——andwasnotgottillNovember5th；notquiteentirely，theCitadelsofit，tillNovember25th；MajestygonehometoParis，toilluminationsandtriumphalarches，intheinterim。[Adelung，iv。266；Barbier，ii。414（13thNovember，&c。），fortheilluminations，grandintheextreme，inspiteofwildrainsandwinds。]Ithadbeenadifficultandbloodyconquesttohim，thisofFreyburgandtheBrisgauCountry；andI
neverheardthateithertheKaiserorhegotsensibleadvantagebyit，——thoughPrinceKarl，onthepresentoccasion，mightbesaidtogetagreatdeal。
"SeckendorfwilldoyourPrinceKarl，"theyhadcriedalways:
"SeckendorfandhisPrussianMajesty！ArenotweconqueringHitherAustriahere，fortheKaiser’sbehoof？"Seckendorftheydidofficiallyappointtopursue；appointorallow；——andlaidalltheblameonSeckendorf；whoperhapsdeservedhisshareofit。
Verycertainitis，SeckendorfdidlittleornothingtoPrinceKarl；marched"leisurelybehindhimthroughtheOber—Pfalz，"——
skirtingBaireuthCountry，Karlandhe，toWilhelmina’sgrief；
[HerLetters（OEuvresdeFrederic，xxvii。
i。133，&c。）。]——"leisurelybehindhimatadistanceoffourdays，"
knewbetterthanmeddlewithPrinceKarl。SothatPrinceKarl，"intwenty—onemarches，"disturbedonlybytheelementsandbadroads，reachedWaldmunchen26thSeptember，intheFurth—ChamCountry；
[Ranke，iii。187。]andwasheardtoexclaim:"Weareletoffforthefright，then（NOUSVOILAQUITTESPOURLAPEUR）！"——Seckendorf，findingnothingtoliveuponinOber—Pfalz，couldnotattendPrinceKarlfarther；butturnedleftwardshometoBavaria；madeakindofSecond"ReconquestofBavaria"（onexactlythesametermsastheFirst，AustrianoccupantsbeingallcalledofftoassistinBohmenagain）；——concerningwhich，hereisanExcerpt:——
"Seckendorf，followingathisleisure，andjoinedbytheHessiansandPfalzers，soasnowtoexceed30，000，leavesPrinceKarlandtherestoftheenterprisetodoasitcan；andapplieshimself，forhisownshare，astheneedfulestthing，togettingholdofBavariaagain，thathispoorKaisermayhavewheretolayhishead，andpayoldservantstheirwages。Dreadfullyexclaimedagainst，theoldgentleman，especiallybytheFrenchco—managers:’WhydidnottheoldtraitorstickintherearofPrinceKarl，inthedifficultpasses，anddrivehimprone，——whilewewentbesiegingFreyburg，andpoachingabout，tryingforabitoftheBrisgauwhilechanceserved！’Atraitorbeyonddoubt；probablyboughtwithmoneydown:
thinksValori。But，afterall，whatcouldSeckendorfdo？HeisnowofweightforBarenklauandBavaria，notformuchmore。HedoessweepBarenklauandhisAustriansfromBavaria，clearout（inthecourseofthisOctober），allbutIngolstadtandtwoorthreestrongtowns，——Passauespecially，’whichcanbeblockaded，andafterwardsbesiegedifneedful。’Fortherest，heisdreadfullyill—offforprovisions，incapableoftheleast，attemptonPassau（asFriedrichurged，onhearingofhimagain）；andwillhavetocantonhimselfinhome—quarters，andlivebyhisshiftstillSpring。
"ThenoiseofFrenchcensurerisesloud，againstnotthemselves，butagainstSeckendorf:——Friedrich，beforethatTolpatcheclipseofCorrespondence[whenthreeofhisLetter—bagswereseized，andhefellquitedark]，hadtoowellforeboded，andcontemptuouslyexpressedhisastonishmentattheblameBOTHwerewellearning:
Passau，saidhe，cannotyougoatleastuponPassau；whichmightalarmtheEnemyalittle，anddraghimhomewards？’Adieu，mydearSeckendorf，yourOfficerwilltellyouhowwedidtheSiegeofPrag。YouandyourFrencharewettedhens（POULESMOUILLEES），’——
coweringaboutlikedrenchedhensinadayofsetrain。’AsIhearnothingofeitherofyou，Imusttrytogetoutofthisbusinesswithoutyourhelp；’"——otherwiseitwillbeillformeindeed！
[ExcerptedFragmentofaLetterfromFriedrich，——（exactdatenotgiven，dateofEXCERPTis，DonanworthCountry，23dSeptember，1744），——whichtheFrenchAgentinSeckendorf’sArmyhadareadingof（CampagnesdeCoigny，iv。185—187；
ib。216—219:citedinAdelung，iv。225）。]"WhichlatterexpressionalarmedtheFrench，andsetthemuponwritingandbustling，butnotupondoinganything。"
"PrinceKarlhadcrossedtheRhineunmolested，intheclearestmoonlight，August23d—24th；SeckendorfwasnotwhollygottoHeilbronn，September8th:aprettywaybehindPrinceKarl！