sideration, 'to be paid in SALT,' it appears [_OEuvres
de Frederic,_ v. 10.]); with whom they marched about, and did nothing
considerable. The Serenity had pleaded, 'I must command them myself!'
'You?' said Belleisle, and would not hear of it. Next year again,
however, that is 1759, the Duke was positive, 'I must;' Belleisle not
less so, 'You cannot;'--till Minden fell out; and then, in the wreck of
Contades, Belleisle had to consent. Serenity of Wurtemberg, at that late
season, took the field accordingly; and Broglio now has him at Fulda,
'To cut off Ferdinand from Cassel;' to threaten Ferdinand's left flank
and his provision-carts in that quarter. May really become unpleasant
there to Ferdinand;--and ought to be cut out by the Hereditary Prince.
'To Fulda, then, and cut him out!'

"FULDA, FRIDAY, 30th NOVEMBER, 1759. Serene Highness is lying here for a
week past; abundantly strong for the task on hand,--has his own 12,000,
supplemented by 1,000 French Light Horse;--but is widely scattered
withal, posted in a kind of triangular form; his main posts being Fulda
itself, and a couple of others, each thirty miles from Fulda, and five
miles from one another,--with 'patrols to connect them,' better or
worse. Abundantly strong for the task, and in perfect security; and
indeed intends this day to 'fire VICTORIA' for the Catastrophe at Maxen,
and in the evening will give a Ball in farther honor of so salutary an
event:--when, about 9 A.M., news arrives at the gallop, 'Brunswickers
in full march; are within an hour of the Town-Bridge!' Figure to what
flurry of Serene Highness; of the victoria-shooting apparatus; of busy
man-milliner people, and the Beauty and Fashion of Fulda in general!

"The night before, a rumor of the French Post being driven in by
somebody had reached Serene Highness; who gave some vague order, not
thinking it of consequence. Here, however, is the Fact come to hand in
a most urgent and undeniable manner! Serene Highness gets on horseback;
but what can that help? One cannon (has nothing but light cannon) he
does plant on the Bridge; but see, here come premonitory bomb-shells
one and another, terrifying to the mind;--and a single Hessian dragoon,
plunging forward on the one unready cannon, and in the air making horrid
circles,--the gunners leave said cannon to him, take to their heels; and
the Bridge is open. The rest of the affair can be imagined. Retreat at
our swiftest, 'running fight,' we would fain call