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ng reinforcements to this garrison and that； he has weakened himself beyond right power of fighting。 ＇ OEuvres de Frederic； iv。 141； 159。＇ Schweidnitz is liable to siege； Breslau； with its poor walls and multitudinous population； can stand no siege worth mentioning； the Silesian strong places； not to speak of meal…magazines； are like to go a bad road。 Quite dominant； this Prince Karl； placarding and proclaiming in all places； according to the new 〃Imperial Patent；〃 ＇In Helden…Geschichte； （iv。 832； 833）； Copy of it： 〃Absolved from all prior Treaties by Prussian Majesty's attack on us； We〃 &c。 &c。 （〃21st Sept。 1757〃）。＇ That Silesia is her Imperial Majesty's again！ Which seems to be fast becoming the fact；unless contradicted better。 Quick！
Bevern has now； October 1st； no manoeuvre left but to draw out of Breslau； post himself on the southern side of it； in a safe angle there； marshy Lohe in front； broad Oder to rear； Breslau at his right…hand with bread； and there intrenching himself by the best methods； wait slowly； in a sitting posture； events which are extensively on the gallop at present。 One fancies； Had Winterfeld been still there！ It is as brave an Army； 30；000； or more； as ever wore steel。 Surely something could have been done with it； something better than sit watching the events on full gallop 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 before daybreak； Karl； with his 60；000； all learnedly arranged； comes rolling over upon hapless Bevern： with no end of cannonading and storm of war： BATTLE OF BRESLAU； they call it； ruinous to Bevern。 Of which we shall attempt no description： except to say； that Karl had five bridges on the Lohe； came across the Lohe by five Bridges； and that Bevern stood to his arms； steady as the rocks； to prevent his getting over； and to entertain him when over； that there were five principal attacks； renewed and re…renewed as long as needful； with torrents of shot； of death and tumult； over six or eight miles of country； for the space of fifteen hours。 Battle comparable only to Malplaquet； said the Austrians； such a hurricane of artillery； strongly intrenched enemy and loud doomsday of war。 Did not end till nine at night； Austrians victorious； more or less； in four of their attacks or separate enterprises： that is to say； masters of the Lohe； and of the outmost Prussian villages and posts in front of the Prussian centre and right wing； victorious in that northern part；but plainly unvictorious in the southeast or Prussian left wing；farthest off from Breslau； and under Ziethen's command； where they were driven across the Lohe again； and lost prisoners and cannons； or a cannon。 ＇In Seyfarth； Three Accounts； Beylagan； ii。 198； 221； 234 et seq。＇
Some of Bevern's people； grounding on this latter circumstance； and that they still held the Battle…field； or most part of it； wrote themselves victorious；though in a dim brief manner； as if conscious of the contrary。 Which indeed was the fact。 At the council of war； which he summoned that evening； there were proposals of night…attack； and other fierce measures； but Bevern； rejecting the plan for a night attack on the Austrian camp as too dubious； did； in the dark hours； through the silent streets of Breslau； withdraw himself across the Oder； instead； leaving 80 cannon； and 5；000 killed and wounded； an evidently beaten man and Army。 And indeed did straightway disappear personally altogether； as no longer equal to events。 Rode out； namely； to reconnoitre in the gray of his second sad morning； on this new Bank of the Oder； saw little except gray mist； but rode into a Croat outpost； only one poor groom attending him； and was there made prisoner： intentionally； thought mankind； intentionally； thinks Friedrich； who was very angry with the poor man。 ＇Preuss； ii。 102。 More exact in Kutzen； DER TAG VON LEUTHEN （Breslau； 1857；an excellent exact little Compilation； from manifold sources well studied）； pp。 166…169； date 〃24th November。〃＇
The poor man was carried to Vienna； if readers care to know； but being a near Cousin there （second…cousin； no less； to the late Empress…Mother）； was by the high now…reigning Empress…Queen received in a charmingly gracious manner； and sent home again without ransom。 〃To Stettin！〃 beckoned Friedrich sternly from the distance； and would not see him at all： 〃To Stettin； I say； your official post in time of peace！ Command me the invalid Garrison there； you are fit for nothing better！〃I will add one other thing； which unhappily will seem strange to readers： that there came no whisper of complaint from Bevern； mere silence； and loyal industry with his poor means； from Bevern； and that he proved heroically useful in Stettin two years hence； against the Swedes； against the Russians in the Siege…of…Colberg time；