p all round! Bevern was a loyal, considerably skilful and
valiant man; in the Battle of Lobositz, and elsewhere, we have seen him
brave as a lion: but perhaps in the other kind of bravery wanted here,
he--Well, his case was horribly difficult; full of intricacy. And he
sat, no doubt in a very wretched state, consulting the oracles, with
events (which are themselves oracular) going at such a pace.

Schweidnitz was besieged October 26th. Nadasti, with 20,000, was set
to do it; Prince Karl, with 60,000, ready to protect him; Prince Bevern
asking the oracles:--what a bit of news for Friedrich; breaking suddenly
the effulgency of Rossbach with a bar of ominous black! Friedrich,
still in the thick of pure Saxon business, makes instant arrangement for
Silesia as well: Prince Henri, with such and such corps, to maintain the
Saale, and guard Saxony; Marshal Keith, with such and such, to step over
into Bohemia, and raise contributions at least, and tread on the tail of
the big Silesian snake: all this Friedrich settles within a week; takes
certain corps of his own, effective about 13,000; and on November 13th
marches from Leipzig. Round by Torgau, by Muhlberg, Grossenhayn; by
Bautzen, Weissenberg, across the Queiss, across the Bober; and so, with
long marches, strides continually forward, all hearts willing, and all
limbs, though in this sad winter weather, towards relief of Schweidnitz.

At Grossenhayn, fifth day of the march, Friedrich learns that
Schweidnitz is gone. November 12th-14th, Schweidnitz went by
capitulation; contrary to everybody's hope or fear; certainly a
very short defence for such a fortress. Fault of the Commandant, was
everybody's first thought. Not probably the best of Commandants, said
others gradually; but his garrison had Saxons in it;--one day "180 of
them in a lump threw down their arms, in the trenches, and went over to
the Enemy." Owing to whatsoever, the place is gone. Such towers, such
curtains, star-ramparts; such an opulence of cannons, stores, munitions,
a 30,000 pounds of hard cash, one item. All is gone, after a fortnight's
siege. What a piece of news, as heard by Friedrich, coming at his utmost
towards the scene itself! As seen by Bevern, too, in his questioning
mood, it was an event of very oracular nature.

On Monday, 14th, Schweidnitz fell; Karl, with Nadasti reunited to him,
was now 80,000 odd; and lost no time. On Tuesday next, NOVEMBER 22d,
1757, "at three in the morning," long hours be