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history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第20章

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 done; if you cannot even settle what imbecile is to go and try it?

〃Seldom had Country more need of a Commander than America now。 America itself is of willing mind; and surely has resources; in such a Cause; but is full of anarchies as well: the different States and sections of it; with their discrepant Legislatures; their half…drilled Militias; pulling each a different way; there is; as in the poor Mother Country; little result except of the St。…Vitus kind。 In some Legislatures are anarchic Quakers; who think it unpermissible to fight with those hectoring French; and their tail of scalping Indians; and that the 'method of love' ought to be tried with them。 What is to become of those poor people; if not even a Lord Loudon can get out?〃

The result was; Lord Loudon had not in his own poor person come to hand in America till August; 1756; Season now done; and could only write home; 〃All is St。 Vitus out here! Must have reinforcement of 10;000 men!〃 〃Yes;〃 answers Pitt; who is now in Office: 〃you shall have them; and we will take Cape Breton; please Heaven!〃but was thrown out; and by the wrigglings that ensued; nothing of the 10;000 reached Lord Loudon till Season 1757 too was done。 Nor did they then stead his Lordship much; then or afterwards; who never took Cape Breton; nor was like doing it;but wriggled to and fro a good deal; and revolved on his axis; according to pattern given。 And set (what chiefly induces us to name him here) his not reverent enough Subordinate; Lord Charles Hay; our old Fontenoy friend; into angry impatient quizzing of him;and by and by into Court…Martial for such quizzing。 'Peerage Books; ? Tweeddale。' Court…Martial; which was much puzzled by the case; and could decide nothing; but only adjourn and adjourn;as we will now do; not mentioning Lord Loudon farther; or the numerous other instances at all。 '〃1st May; 1760; Major…General Lord Charles Hay died〃 ( Gentleman's Magazine  of Year); and his particular Court…Martial could adjourn for the last time。〃I wrote something for Lord Charles;〃 said the great Johnson once; many years afterwards; 〃and I thought he had nothing to fear from a Court…Martial。 I suffered a great loss when he died: he was a mighty pleasing man in conversation; and a reading man〃 (Boswell's  Life of Johnson:  under date; 〃3d April; 1776〃)。'

Pitt; we just saw; far from being confirmed and furthered; has been thrown out by Royal Highness of Cumberland; the last thing before crossing to that exquisite Weser Problem。 〃Nothing now left at home to hinder us and our Hanover and Weser Problem!〃 thinks Royal Highness。 No; indeed: a comfortable pacific No…government; or Battle of the Four Elements; left yonder; the Anarch Old waggling his addle head over it; ready to help everybody; and bring fire and water; and Yes and No; into holy matrimony; if he could!Let us return to Prag。 Only one remark more; upon 〃April 5th。〃 That was the Day of Pitt's Dismissal at St。 James's: and I find; at Schonbrunn it is likewise the day when REICHS…HOFRATH (Kaiser in Privy Council) decides; in respect to Friedrich; that Ban of the Reich must be proceeded with; and recommends Reich's Diet to get through with the same。 ' Helden…Geschichte  (Reichs…Procedures; UBI SUPRA)。' Official England ordering its Pitt into private life; and Official Teutschland its Friedrich into outlawry (〃Be quiet henceforth; both of YOU!〃)are; by chance; synchronous phenomena。


PHENOMENA OF PRAG SIEGE:PRAG SIEGE IS INTERRUPTED。

Friedrich's Siege of Prag proved tedious beyond expectation。 In four days he had done that exploit in 1744; but now; to the world's disappointment; in as many weeks he cannot。 Nothing was omitted on his part: he seized all egresses from Prag; rapidly enough; had beset them with batteries; on the very night or morrow of the Battle; every egress beset; cannon and ruin forbidding any issue there。 On the 9th of May; cannonading began; proper siege… cannon and ammunition; coming up from Dresden; were completely come May 19th; after which the place is industriously battered; bombarded with red…hot balls; but except by hunger; it will not do。 Prag as a fortress is weak; but as a breastwork for 50;000 men it is strong。 The Austrians tried sallies; but these availed nothing; very ill…conducted; say some。 The Prussians; more than once; had nearly got into the place by surprisal; but; owing to mere luck of the Austrians; never could;say the same parties。 'Archenholtz; i。 85; 87。'

A DIARIUM of Prag Siege is still extant; Two DIARIUMS; punctual diurnal account; both Austrian and Prussian: 'In  Helden…Geschichte;  iv。 42…56; Prussian DIARIUM; ib。 73…86; Austrian。' which it is far from our intention to inflict on readers; in this haste。 Siege lasted six weeks; four weeks extremely hot;from May 19th; when the proper artilleries; in complete state; got up from Dresden。 Line of siege…works; or intermittent series of batteries; is some twelve miles long; from Branik southward to beyond the Belvedere northward; on both sides of the Moldau。 King's Camp is on the Ziscaberg; Keith's on the Lorenz Berg; embracing and commanding the Weissenberg; there are two Bridges of communication; Branik and Podoli: King lodges in the Parsonage of Michel;the busiest of all the sons of Adam; what a set of meditations in that Parsonage! The Besieged; 46;000 by count; offer to surrender Prag on condition of 〃Free withdrawal:〃 〃No; you shall engage; such of you as won't enlist with us; not to serve against me for six years。〃 Here are some select Specimens; Prussian chiefly; in an abridged state:

〃MAY 19th; No sooner was our artillery come (all the grounds and beds for it had been ready beforehand); than as evening fell; it began to play in terrific fashion。〃

〃NIGHT OF THE 23d…24th MAY; There broke out a furious sally; their first; and much their hottest; say the Prussians: a very serious affair;which fell upon Keith's quarter; west side of the Moldau。 Sally; say something like 10;000 strong; picked men all; and strengthened with half a pound of horse…flesh each〃 (unluckily without salt): judge what the common diet must have been; when that was generous! 〃No salt to it; but a fair supplement of brandy。 Browne; from his bed of pain (died 26th June); had been strongly urgent。 Aim is; To force the Prussian lines; by determination and the help of darkness; in some weak point: the whole Army; standing ranked on the walls; shall follow; if things go well; and storm itself through;away Daun…wards; across the River by Podoli Bridge。

〃Sally broke out between 1 and 2 A。M。; but we had wind of it; and were on the alert。 Sally tried on this place and on that; very furious in places; but could not anywhere prevail。 The tussling lasted for near six hours (Prince Ferdinand〃 of Preussen; King's youngest Brother; 〃and others of us; getting hurts and doing exploits);till; about 7 A。M。; it was wholly swept in; with loss of 1;000 dead。 Upon which; their whole Army retired to its quarters; in a hopeless condition。 Escape impossible。 Near 50;000 of them; but in such a posture。 Provision of bread; the spies say; is not scarce; unless the Prussians can burn it; which they are industr
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