know, his father's estates were
sequestrated after the battle of Culloden, where he himself fell. I
am writing a despatch to Pitt, saying that Drummond's son has been
serving under your majesty through the war, and has greatly
distinguished himself; and have asked him to annul the sequestration,
upon the ground that this young officer has done very valiant service
to your majesty, and so to the allied cause, giving a list of the
battles at which he has been present, and saying that the Duke of
Brunswick had, in his report of the battle of Minden to you, spoken
highly of the services he rendered him. If you would add a line in your
own hand, endorsing my request, it would greatly add to its weight."

"That I will readily do," the king said. "I will write a short
letter, which you can inclose in your own despatch."

And sitting down at once he wrote:

"The King of Prussia most warmly endorses the request of his
excellency, Sir John Mitchell. Not only has Major Fergus Drummond
shown exceptional bravery upon several occasions, which resulted in
his promotion to the rank of major with unprecedented rapidity, but
he saved the king's life at the battle of Zorndorf, meeting and
overthrowing three Russian cavalrymen who attacked him. It would,
therefore, give the king very great satisfaction if the English
minister would grant the request made on Major Drummond's behalf by
his excellency, the English ambassador."

"Thank you very much," the latter said, as he read the note
Frederick handed him. "I have no doubt that this will be effectual.
Culloden is now a thing of the past. There are many Scottish
regiments in the English king's service, and many acts of clemency
have, of late, been shown to those who took part in the rebellion,
and I cannot doubt that Pitt will at once act upon your request.
However, I shall say nothing to Drummond on the subject until I
hear that his father's estates have been restored to him."

As day after day passed, the king became more anxious as to the
position of Prince Henry. That energetic officer had indeed been
busy and, by threatening an attack upon Daun's magazines, had
compelled the Austrian commander to move to Bautzen for their
protection, and finally to make a decided effort to crush his
active and annoying foe. Gathering a great force in the
neighbourhood of Prince Henry's camp, he prepared to attack him on
the morning of September 22nd; but when morning came Prince Henry
had disapp