rincipally an
affair of the gazetteers and the imagination: but it is certain, Olmutz
this time was excellently well defended; the Commandant, a vigorous
skilful man, prompt to seize advantages; and Garrison and Townsfolk
zealously helping: so that Friedrich's progress was unusually slow.
Friedrich's feelings, all this while, and Balbi's (who 'spent his first
1,220 shots entirely in vain,' beginning so far off), may be judged
of,--the sound of him to Balbi sometimes stern enough! As when (June
9th) he personally visits Balbi's parallels (top of the Tafelberg
yonder); and inquires, 'When do you calculate to get done, then?' West
side of Olmutz and of the River (east side lies mostly under water),
there is the bombarding; seventy-one heavy guns; Keith, in his expertest
manner, doing all the captaincies: Keith has about 8,000 of foot and
horse, busy and vigilant, with their faces to the east. In a ring of
four camps, or principally three (Prossnitz, Littau, and Neustadt, which
is across the River), all looking westward or northwestward, some, ten
or twenty miles from Keith, Friedrich (head-quarters oftenest Prossnitz,
the chief camp) stands facing Daun; who lies concentric to him, at the
distance of another ten or twenty miles, in good part still thirty or
forty miles from Olmutz, veiled mostly under a cloud of Pandours.

"Of Friedrich's impatiences we hear little, though they must have been
great. Prince Henri is ready for Prag; many things are ready, were
Olmutz but done! May 22d, Prince Henri had followed Mayer in person,
with a stronger corps, to root out the Reichsfolk,--and is now in
Bamberg City and Country. And is even in Baireuth itself, where was
lately the Camp of the new Reichs General, Serene Highness of Zweibruck,
and his nascent Reichs Army; who are off bodily to Bohemia, 'to Eger and
the Circle of Saatz,' a week before. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 206-209.
Wilhelmina's pretty Letter to Friedrich ("Baireuth, 10th May");
Friedrich's Answer ("Olmutz, June, 1758"); in _OEuvres de Frederic,_
xxvii. i. 313-315.] Fancy that visit of Henri's to a poor Wilhelmina;
the last sight she ever had of a Brother, or of the old Prussian
uniforms, clearing her of Zweibrucks and sorrowful guests! Our poor
Wilhelmina, alas she is sunk in sickness this year more than ever;
journeying towards death, in fact; and is probably the most pungent,
sacredly tragic, of Friedrich's sorrows, now and onwards. June 12th,
Friedrich's pouting Bro