, was not far from equal, and may be called
about 150 miles. They marched with diligence, not with hurry; had their
pauses, rest-days, when business required. They got to their ground,
with the simultaneousness appointed, on the eleventh or twelfth day.

The middle Column, under the King, where Marshal Keith is second
in command, goes by Torgau (detaching Moritz of Dessau to pick up
Wittenberg, and ruin the slight works there); crosses the Elbe at
Torgau, September 2d; marches, cantoning itself day after day, along the
southern bank of the River; leaves Meissen to the left, I perceive, does
not pass through Meissen; comes first at Wilsdruf on ground where
we have been,--and portions of it, I doubt not, were billeted in
Kesselsdorf; and would take a glance at the old Field, if they had time.
There is strict discipline in all the Columns; the authorities complying
on summons, and arranging what is needful. Nobody resists; town-guards
at once ground arms, and there is no soldier visible; soldiers all
ebbing away, whitherward we guess. [_Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 732, 733;
_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 81.]

At Wilsdruf, Friedrich first learns for certain, that the Saxon Army,
with King, with Bruhl and other chief personages, are withdrawn to
Pirna, to the inexpugnable Konigstein and Rock-Country. The Saxon Army
had begun assembling there, September 1st, directly on the news that
Friedrich was across the Border; September 9th, on Friedrich's approach,
the King and Dignitaries move off thither, from Dresden, out of his
way. Excellency Broglio has put them on that plan. Which may have its
complexities for Friedrich, hopes Broglio,--though perhaps its still
greater for some other parties concerned! For Bruhl and Polish Majesty,
as will appear by and by, nothing could have turned out worse.

Meanwhile Friedrich pushes on: "Forward, all the same." Polish Majesty,
dating from Struppen, in the Pirna Country, has begun a Correspondence
with Friedrich, very polite on both hands; and his Adjutant-General, the
Chevalier Meagher ("Chevalier de MARRE," as Valori calls him,--MA'AR, as
he calls himself in Irish), has just had, at Wilsdruf, an interview with
Friedrich; but is far from having got settlement on the terms he wished.
Polish Majesty magnanimously assenting to "a Road through his Country
for military purposes;" offers "the strictest Neutrality, strictest
friendship even; has done, and will do, no injury whatever to his
Prussian Ma