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d speculation。 The common rumor is； says Excellency Mitchell； who is sojourning there for the present； 〃That Bruhl ＇nefarious Bruhl； born to be the death of us！＇ has persuaded Polish Majesty to sanction this enterprise of Daun's；〃very careless； Bruhl； what become of Dresden or us； so the King of Prussia be well hurt or spited！
Certain enough； NOVEMBER 9th； Daun does come on； regardless of Schmettau's assurances； so that； 〃about midnight：〃 Mayer； who 〃can hear the enemy busily building four big batteries〃 withal； has to report himself driven to the edge of those high Houses （which are filled with combustibles）； and that some Croats are got into the upper windows。 〃Burn them； then！〃 answers Schmettasu （such the dire necessity of sieged places）： and； 〃at 3 A。M。〃 （three hours' notice to the poor inmates）； Mayer does so； hideous flames bursting out； punctually at the stroke of 3： 〃whole Suburb seemed on blaze ＇about a sixth part of it actually so＇； nay you would have said the whole Town was environed in flames。〃 Excellency Mitchell climbed a steeple： 〃will not describe to your Lordship the horror； the terror and confusion of this night； wretched inhabitants running with their furniture ＇what of it they had got flung out； between 12 o'clock and 3＇ towards the Great Garden； all Dresden； to appearance； girt in flames； ruins and smoke。〃 Such a night in Dresden； especially in the Pirna Suburb； as was never seen before。 ＇Mitchell； Memoirs and Papers； i。 459。 In Helden…Geschichte； v。 295…302； minute account （corresponding well with Mitchell's）； ib。 303…333； the certified details of the damage done： 〃280 houses lost；〃 〃4 human lives。〃＇ This was the sad beginning； or attempt at beginning； of Dresden Siege； and this also was the end of it； on Daun's part at present。 For four days more； he hung about the place； minatory； hesitative； but attempted nothing feasible； and on the fifth day； 〃for a certain weighty reason；〃 as the Austrian Gazettes express it；he saw good to vanish into the Pirna Rock…Country； and be out of harm's way in the mean while！
The Truth is； Daun's was an intricate case just now； needing； above all things； swiftness of treatment； what； of all things； it could not get from Daun。 His denunciations on that burnt Suburb were again loud； but Schmettau continues deaf to all that；means 〃to defend himself by the known rules of war and of honor；〃 declares； he 〃will dispute from street to street； and only finish in the middle of Polish Majesty's Royal Palace。〃 Denunciation will do nothing！ Daun had above 100；000 men in those parts。 Rushing forward with sharp shot and bayonet storm； instead of logical denunciation； it is probable Daun might have settled his Schmettau。 But the hour of tide was rigorous； withal；and such an ebb； if you missed it in hesitating！ NOVEMBER 15th； Daun withdrew； the ebbing come。 That same day； Friedrich was at Lauban in the Lausitz； within a hundred miles again； speeding hitherward； behind him a Silesia brushed clear； before him a Saxony to be brushed。 〃Reason weighty〃 enough； think Daun and the Austrian Gazettes！ But such； since you have missed the tide…hour； is the inexorable fact of ebb；going at that frightful rate。 Daun never was the man to dispute facts。
November 20th； Friedrich arrived in Dresden； heard； next day； that Daun had wheeled decisively homeward from Pirna Country； that the Reichs Army and he are diligently climbing the Metal Mountains； and that there is not in Saxony； more than in Silesia； an enemy left。 What a Sequel to Hochkirch！ 〃Neisse and Dresden both！〃 we had hoped as sequel； if lucky： 〃Neisse OR Dresden〃 seemed infallible。 And we are climbing the Metal Mountains； under facts superior to us。
And Campaign Third has closed in this manner；leaving things much as it found them。 Essentially a drawn match； Contending Parties little altered in relative strength；both of them； it may be presumed； considerably weaker。 Friedrich is not triumphant； or shining in the light of bonfires； as last Year； but； in the mind of judges； stands higher than ever （if that could help him much）； and is not 〃annihilated〃 in the least； which is the surprising circumstance。
Friedrich's marches； especially； have been wonderful； this Year。 In the spring…time； old Marechal de Belleisle； French Minister of War； consulting officially about future operations； heard it objected once： 〃But if the King of Prussia were to burst in upon us there？〃 〃The King of Prussia is a great soldier；〃 answered M。 de Belleisle； 〃but his Army is not a shuttle （NAVETTE）；〃to be shot about； in that way； from side to side of the world！ No surely； not altogether。 But the King of Prussia has； among other arts； an art of marching Armies； which by degrees astonishes the old Marechal。 To 〃come upon us EN NAVETTE；〃 suddenly 〃like a shuttle〃 from the other side of the web； became an established phrase among the French concerned in these unfortunate matters。 ＇Archenholtz； i。 316； Montalembert； SAEPIUS； for the phrase 〃EN NAVETTE。〃＇
〃The Pitt…and…Ferdinand Campaign of 1758；〃 says a Note； which I would fain abridge； 〃is more palpably victorious than Friedrich's； much more an affair of bonfires than his； though it too has had its rubs。 Loss of honor at Crefeld； loss of Louisburg and Codfishery： these are serious blows our enemy has had。 But then； to temper the joy over Louisburg； there was； at Ticonderoga； by Abercrombie； on the small scale （all the extent of scale he had）； a melancholy Platitude committed： that of walking into an enemy without the least reconnoitring of him； who proves to be chin…deep in abatis and field…works； and kills； much at his ease； about 2；000 brave fellows； brought 5；000 miles for that object。 And obliges you to walk away on the instant； and quit Ticonderoga； like asurely like a very tragic Dignitary in Cocked…hat！ To be cashiered； we will hope； at least to be laid on the shelf； and replaced by some Wolfe or some Amherst； fitter for the business！ Nor were the Descents on the French Coast much to speak of： 'Great Guns got at Cherbourg；' these truly； as exhibited in Hyde…Park； were a comfortable sight； especially to the simpler sort： but on the other hand； at Morlaix； on the part of poor old General Bligh and Company； there had been a Platitude equal or superior to that of Abercrombie； though not so tragical in loss of men。 'What of that？' said an enthusiastic Public； striking their balance； and joyfully illuminating。 Here is a Clipping from Ohio Country； 'LETTER of an Officer ＇distilled essence of Two Letters＇； dated； FORT…DUQUESNE； 28th NOVEMBER； 1758：
〃'Our small Corps under General Forbes； after much sore scrambling through the Wildernesses； and contending with enemies wild and tame； is； since the last four days； in possession of Fort Duquesne ＇PITTSBURG henceforth＇： Friday； 24th； the French garrison； on our appearance； made off without fighting； took to boats down the Ohio； and vanished out of those Countries；'forever and a day； we will hope。 'Their Louisiana…Canada communication is lost； and all that prodigious tract of rich country；'which Mr。 Washington fixed upon long ago； is ours again； if we can turn it to use。 'This day a detachment of us goes to Braddock's field o