r. It is
judged to have been the hardest stroke Friedrich had in the course of
this War. "Our strenuous Campaign on a sudden rendered wind, and of
no worth! The Enemy to winter in Silesia, after all; Silesia to go
inevitably,--and life along with it!" What Friedrich's black meditations
were, "In the following weeks [not close following, but poor Kuster does
not date], the King fell ill of gout, saw almost nobody, never came out;
and, it was whispered, the inflexible heart of him was at last breaking;
that is to say, the very axis of this Prussian world giving way. And for
certain, there never was in his camp and over his dominions such a gloom
as in this October, 1761; till at length he appeared on horseback again,
with a cheerful face; and everybody thought to himself, 'Ha, the world
will still roll, then!'" [Kuster, _Lebens-Rettungen Friedrichs des
Zweyten_ (Berlin, 1797), p. 59 &c. It is the same innocent reliable
Kuster whom we cited, in SALDERN'S case, already.]

This is what Loudon had done, without any Russians, except Russians to
give him eight-and-forty hours colic, and put him on his own shifts.
And the way in which the Kriegshofrath, and her Imperial Majesty the
Kaiserinn, received it, is perhaps still worth a word. The Kaiser,
who had alone known of Loudon's scheme, and for good reason (absolute
secrecy being the very soul of it) had whispered nothing of it farther
to any mortal, was naturally overjoyed. But the Olympian brow of Maria
Theresa, when the Kaiser went radiant to her with this news, did
not radiate in response; but gloomed indignantly: "No order
from Kriegshofrath, or me!" Indignant Kriegshofrath called it a
CROATEN-STREICH (Croat's-trick); and Loudon, like Prince Eugen long
since, was with difficulty excused this act of disobedience. Great is
Authority;--and ought to be divinely rigorous, if (as by no means always
happens) it is otherwise of divine quality!

Friedrich's treatment of Zastrow was in strong contrast of style. Here
is his Letter to that unlucky Gentleman, who is himself clear that he
deserves no blame: "My dear Major-General von Zastrow,--The misfortune
that has befallen me is very grievous; but what consoles me in it is, to
see by your Letter that you have behaved like a brave Officer, and
that neither you nor the Garrison have brought disgrace or reproach
on yourselves. I am your well-affectioned King,--FRIEDRICH." And in
Autograph this Postscript: "You may, in this occurrence, s