ATTLE OF LOBOSITZ.

Welmina,--or Reschni-Aujest, last pertinent of Welmina (but we will take
Friedrich's name for it), offers to the scrutinizing eye nothing, in
our day, but some bewildered memory of "Alte Fritz" clinging obstinately
even to the Peasant mind thereabouts. A sleepy littery place; some
biggish haggard untrimmed trees, some broken-backed sleepy-looking
thatched houses, not in contact, and each as far as might be with its
back turned on the other, and cloaked in its own litter and privacy.
Probably no human creature will be visible, as you pass through. Much
straw lying about, chiefly where the few gaunt trees look down on it
(cattle glad of any shelter): in fact, it is mainly an extinct tumult
of straw; nothing alive, as you pass, but a few poor oxen languidly
sauntering up and down, finding much to trample, little to eat. The
Czech Populations (were it not for that "Question of the Nationalities")
are not very beautiful!

Close south of this poor Hamlet is a big Hill, conspicuous with three
peaks; quite at the other base of which, a good way down, lies Lobositz,
the main Village in those parts; a place now of assiduous corn-mill and
fruit trade; and one of the stations on the Dresden-Prag Railway. This
Hill is what Lloyd calls the Lobosch; [Major-General Lloyd, _History
of the late War in Germany, _1756-1759 (3 vols. 4to, London, 1781), i.
2-11.] twin to which, only flatter, is Lloyd's "Homolka Hill" (Hill
of RADOSTITZ in more modern Plans and Books). Conspicuous Heights, and
important to us here,--though I did not find the Peasants much know them
under those names. By the southern shoulder of this Lobosch Hill runs
the road from Welmina to Lobositz, with branches towards many other
villages. To your right or southern hand, short way southward, rises the
other Hill, which Lloyd calls Homolka Hill; the gap or interval between
Homolka and Lobosch, perhaps a furlong in extent, is essentially the
PASS through those uplands. This pass, Friedrich, at the first moment,
made sure of; filling the same with battalions, there to bivouac. He
likewise promptly laid hold of the two Hills, high Lobosch to his left,
and lower Homolka to right; which precautionary measure it is reckoned
a fault in Browne to have neglected, that night; fault for which he
smarted on the morrow.

From this upland pass, or neck between the two Mountains, Friedrich's
battalions would have had a fine view, had the morning shone for them:
Lob