e activity, the zeal of all ranks, ever since this expedition into
Saxony, and clutching of Saxony by the throat, contemporary witnesses
declare to have been extraordinary. "Horses for Piccolomini's
Cavalry,--they had scarcely got their horses, not to speak of training
them, not to speak of cannon and the heavier requisites, when Schwerin
began marching out of Glatz on Piccolomini. As to the cannon for Browne
and him, draught-cattle seem absolutely unprocurable. Whereupon Maria
Theresa flings open her own Imperial Studs: 'There, yoke these to our
cannon; let them go their swiftest;'--which awoke such an enthusiasm,
that noblemen and peasants crowded forward with their coach-horses and
their cart-horses, to relay Browne, all through Bohemia, at different
stages; and the cannon and equipments move to their places at the
gallop, in a manner," [Archenholtz, i. 24.]--and even Browne, at the
base of the Metal Mountains, has got most of his equipments. And is
astir towards Pirna (Army of 60,000, rumor says), for relief of the
Saxon martyrs. Friedrich's complexities are getting day by day more
stringent.

From the middle of September, Marshal Keith, as was observed, with Half
of the Prussians, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick under him, has been on
the Bohemian slope of the Metal Mountains; securing the roads, towns and
passes thereabouts, and looking out for the advance of Marshal Browne
from the interior parts. Town of Aussig, and the River-road (castle of
Tetschen, on its high rock known to Tourists, which always needs to be
taken on such occasions), these Keith has secured. Lies encamped from
Peterswalde to Aussig, the middle or main strength of him being in the
Hamlet of Johnsdorf (discoverable, if readers like): there lies Keith,
fifteen miles in length; like a strap, or bar, thrown across the back of
that Metal-Mountain Range,--or part of its back; for the range is very
broad, and there is much inequality, and many troughs, big and little,
partial and general, in the crossing of it. A tract which my readers and
I have crossed before now, by the "Pascopol" or Post-road and otherwise;
and shall often have to cross!

Browne, vigorously astir in the interior (cannon and equipments coming
by relays at such a pace), is daily advancing, with his best speed: in
the last days of September, Browne is encamped at Budin; may cross the
Eger River any day, and will then be within two marches of Keith. His
intentions towards Pirna Country