at the
opposite Gate; after which, open again for a second lot. But in this
case,--owing to accident (very unusual) of a baggage-wagon breaking
down, and people hurrying to help it forward,--the whole regiment gets
in, escorted as usual by the Town-guard. Whole regiment; and marches,
not straight through; but at a certain corner strikes off leftward to
the Market-place; where, singular to say, it seems inclined to pause
and rearrange itself a little. Nay, more singular still, other
regiments (owing to like accidents), from other Gates, join it;--and--in
fact--"Herr Major of the Town-guard, in the King's name, you are
required to ground arms!" What can the Town Major do; Prussian
grenadiers, cannoneers, gravely environing him? He sticks his sword into
the scabbard, an Ex-Town Major; and Breslau City is become Friedrich's,
softly like a movement during drill. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 982, n.
227, 268; Adelung, ii. 439; Stenzel, iv. 152.]

Not the least mistake occurred. Cannon with case-shot planted themselves
in all the thoroughfares, Horse-patrols went circulating everywhere;
Town-arsenal, gates, walls, are laid hold of; Town-guards all disarmed,
rather "with laughter on their part" than otherwise: "Majesty perhaps
will give us muskets of his own;--well!" The operation altogether
did not last above an hour-and-half, and nobody's skin got scratched.
Towards 9 A.M. Schwerin summoned the Town Dignitaries to their Rathhaus
to swear fealty; who at once complied; and on his stepping out with
proposal, to the general population, of "a cheer for King Friedrich,
Duke of Lower Silesia," the poor people rent the skies with their
"Friedrich and Silesia forever!" which they repeated, I think, seven
times. Upon which Schwerin fired off his signal-cannon, pointing to the
South; where other posts and cannons took up the sound, and pushed it
forward, till, as we noticed, it got to Friedrich in few minutes, on the
review-ground at Strehlen; right welcome to him, among the manoeuvrings
there. Protestant Breslau or cordwainer Doblin cannot lament such a
result; still less dare the devout Old Ladies of Quality openly lament,
who are trembling to the heart, poor old creatures, though no evil came
of it to them; penitent, let off for the fright; checking even their
aspirations henceforth.

Syndic Guzmar and the peccant Officials being summoned out to Strehlen,
it had been asked of them, "Do you know this Letter?" Upon which
they fell on th