ously intending 'co-operation
with the Russians;' which would give Daun pleasure, could it be done
without cost. Loudon does despatch a 500 hussars to Frankfurt [Friedrich
now gone for Custrin], who, I think, carry a Letter for Fermor there;
but lose it by the way,"--for the benefit of readers, if they will wait.
"Loudon captures a poor little place in Brandenburg itself; bullies it
into surrender, after a day (the very day of Zorndorf Battle, 'August
25th'):--place called Peitz, garrisoned by forty-five invalids; who go
on 'free withdrawal,' poor old souls, and leave their exiguous stock of
salt-victual and military furnitures to Loudon. [In _Helden-Geschichte,_
v. 229-232, the "Capitulation" IN EXTENSO.] Upon which Loudon
whirls back out of those Countries; finding his skirts trodden on by
Ziethen,--who now sees what Daun and he are at; and warns Margraf Karl
[properly Keith, who has now joined again, as real president or chief]
That HITHER is the way. Margraf Karl, on the slip for some time past,
starts from Grussau instantly (I should guess, not above 25,000 of
all arms); leaving Fouquet with perhaps 10,000 to do his utmost, when
Generals Harsch and Deville with their 20 or 30,000 come upon Silesia
and him,--as indeed they are already doing; already blockading Neisse,
more or less, with an eye to besieging it so soon as possible.

"Meanwhile, Serene Highness of Zweibruck, the Reichsfolk and some
Austrians with him, prefaced by Dombale more to westward, is wending
into Pirna Country; and, in spite of what Prince Henri can do (Mayor
and the Free Corps shining diligent, and Henri one of the watchfulest of
men), Zweibruck does get in; sets Maguire with Austrians upon besieging
Pirna, that is to say, the Sonnenstein of Pirna; 3d-5th SEPTEMBER,
gets the Sonnenstein, a thought sooner than was counted on; [In
_Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 223-228, account of this poor Siege, and of the
movements before and after.] and roots himself there,--'head-quarters in
Struppen' again, 'bridge at Ober-Raden' again, all as in 1756; which, if
nothing else can well do it, may give his Highness a momentary interest
with some readers here. Prince Henri is at Gross Seidlitz, alive every
fibre of him: but with Daun circling round to northward on his left,
intending evidently to take him in flank or rear; with Dombale already
to rear, in the above circumstances, on his right; and Zweibruck himself
lying here in front free to act, and impregnable if a