ceal them; I keep all the fears
to myself, and communicate to the Public only the hopes, and the trifle
of good news I may now and then have. If the stroke I am meditating
succeed [stroke on Daun's Anti-Schweidnitz strategies, of which anon],
then, my dear Marquis, it will be time to expand one's joy; but till
then let us not flatter ourselves, lest some unexpected bit of bad news
depress us too much.

"I live here [Schloss of Hermannsdorf, a seven miles west of Breslau]
like a Military Monk of La Trappe: endless businesses, and these done,
a little consolation from my Books. I know not if I shall outlive this
War: but should it so happen, I am firmly resolved to pass the remainder
of my life in solitude, in the bosom of Philosophy and Friendship. When
the roads are surer, perhaps you will write me oftener. I know not where
our winter-quarters this time are to be! My House in Breslau is burnt
down in the Bombardment [Loudon's, three weeks ago]. Our enemies grudge
us everything, even daylight, and air to breathe: some nook, however,
they must leave us; and if it be a safe one, it will be a true pleasure
to have you again with me.

"Well, my dear Marquis, what has become of the Peace with France
[English Peace]! Your Nation, you see, is blinder than you thought:
those fools will lose their Canada and Pondicherry, to please the Queen
of Hungary and the Czarina. Heaven grant Prince Ferdinand may pay
them for their zeal! And it will be the innocent that suffer, the poor
officers and soldiers, not the Choiseuls and--... But here is business
come on me. Adieu, dear Marquis; I embrace you.--F." [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ xix. 191.]

Two Events, of opposite complexion, a Russian and a Saxon, Friedrich had
heard of while at Hermannsdorf, before writing as above. The Saxon Event
is the pleasant one, and comes first.

HULSEN ON THE DURRENBERG, AUGUST 20th. "August 20th, at Strehla, in that
Schlettau-Meissen Country, the Reichsfolk and Austrians made attack
on Hulsen's Posts, principal Post of them the Durrenberg (DRY-HILL)
there,--in a most extensive manner; filling the whole region with vague
artillery-thunder, and endless charges, here, there, of foot and
horse; which all issued in zero and minus quantities; Hulsen standing
beautifully to his work, and Hussar Kleist especially, at one point,
cutting in with masterly execution, which proved general overthrow
to the Reichs Project; and left Hulsen master of the field and of his
D