Berlin
Local History; though compressible to small bulk for strangers, who have
no specific sympathies in that locality.

"FRIDAY, 3d OCTOBER, 1760, Tottleben, with his hasty Vanguard of 3,000,
preceded by hastier rumor, comes circling round Berlin environs; takes
post at the Halle Gate [West side of the City]; summons Rochow [the same
old Commandant of Haddick's time];--requires instant admittance; ransom
of Four million Thalers, and other impossible things. Berlin has been
putting itself in some posture; repairing its palisades, throwing up
bits of redoubts in front of the gates, and, though sounding with alarms
and uncertainties, shows a fine spirit of readiness for the emergency.
Rochow is still Commandant, the same old Rochow who shrunk so
questionably in Haddick's time: but Rochow has no Court to tremble for
at present; Queen and Royal Family, Archives, Principal Ministries,
Directorium in a body, went all to Magdeburg again, on the Kunersdorf
Disaster last year, and are safe from such insults. The spirit of the
population, it appears, even of the rich classes, some of whom are
very rich, is extraordinary. Besides Rochow, moreover, there are,
by accident, certain Generals in Berlin: Seidlitz and two others,
recovering from their Kunersdorf hurts, who step into the breach with
heart admirably willing, if with limbs still lame. Then there is old
Field-marshal Lehwald [Anti-Russian at Gross Jagersdorf, but dismissed
as too old], who is official Governor of Berlin, who succeeded poor
Keith in that honorable office: all these were strong for defence;--and
do not now grudge, great men as they are, to take each his Gate of
Berlin, his small redoubt thrown up there, and pass the night and the
day in doing his utmost with it.

"Rochow refuses the surrender, and the Four Millions pure specie;
and Tottleben, about 3 P.M. in an intermittent way, and about 5 in a
constant, begins bombarding--grenadoes, red-hot balls, what he can;--and
continues the s&me till 3 next morning. Without result to speak of;
Seidlitz and Consorts making good counter-play; the poor old 1,200 of
Garrison growing almost young again with energy, under their Seidlitzes;
and the population zealously co-operating, especially quenching all
fires that rose. What greatly contributed withal was the arrival of
Prince Eugen overnight. Eugen of Wurtemberg [cadet of that bad Duke] had
been engaged driving home the Swedes, but instantly quitted that with a
5,000