is some fifteen miles hence;
how infinitely at your Majesty's service, should the march prove
inevitable, and go that way!"--"Well, perhaps!" I find Friedrich did
dine, the second day hence, with one of these Gentlemen; and lodged with
the other. Government at Breslau has ordered such Protest, on the part
of the Frontier populations and Official persons: and this is all that
comes of it.

During these hours, it chanced that the big Bell of Crossen dropped from
its steeple,--fulness of time, or entire rottenness of axle-tree, being
at last completed, at this fateful moment. Perhaps an ominous thing?
Friedrich, as Caesar and others have done, cheerfully interprets the
omen to his own advantage: "Sign that the High is to be brought low!"
says Friedrich. Were the march-routes, wagon-trains, and multifarious
adjustments perfect to the last item here at Crossen, he will with much
cheerfulness step into Silesia, independent of all Grunberg Protests and
fallen Bells.

On the second day he does actually cross; "the regiments marching in,
at different points; some reaching as far as 25 miles in." It is Friday,
16th December, 1740; there has a game begun which will last long! They
went through the Village of Lasgen; that was the first point of Silesian
ground ("Circle of Schwiebus," our old friend, is on the left near by);
and "Schwerin's Regiment was the foremost." Others cross more to the
left or right; "marching through the Village of Lessen," and other dim
Villages and little Towns, round and beyond Grunberg; all regiments and
divisions bearing upon Grunberg and the Great Road; but artistically
portioned out,--several miles in breadth (for the sake of quarters),
and, as is generally the rule, about a day's march in length. This
evening nearly the whole Army was on Silesian ground.

Printed "Patent" or Proclamation, briefly assuring all Silesians, of
whatever rank, condition or religion, "That we have come as friends to
them, and will protect all persons in their privileges, and molest
no peaceable mortal," is posted on Church-doors, and extensively
distributed by hand. Soldiers are forbidden, "under penalty of the
rods," Officers under that of "cassation with infamy," to take anything,
without first bargaining and paying ready money for it. On these
terms the Silesian villages cheerfully enough accept their new guests,
interesting to the rural mind; and though the billeting was rather
heavy, "as many as 24 soldiers to a com