m partly), and goes home; leaving the Chevalier de Saxe
to preside in room of him. As for Polastron, he produces Order from
Broglio, "Iglau got, return straightway;" must and will cross over into
Bohemia again; and does. Nay, the Comte de Saxe had, privately in his
pocket, a Commission to supersede Polastron, and take command himself,
should Polastron make difficulties about turning back. Poor Polastron
made no difficulties: Maurice and he vanish accordingly from this
Adventure, and only the unwilling Saxons remain with Friedrich. Poor
Polastron ("a poor weak creature," says Friedrich, "fitter for
his breviary than anything else") fell sick, from the hardships of
campaigning; and soon died, in those Bohemian parts. Maurice is heard
of, some weeks hence, besieging Eger;--very handsomely capturing Eger:
[19th April, 1742 (_Guerre de Boheme,_ ii. 78-65).]--on which service
Broglio had ordered him after his return. The former Commandant of the
Siege, not very progressive, had just died; and Broglio, with reason
(all the more for his late Moravian procedures) was passionate to have
done there. One of the first auspicious exploits of Maurice, that of
Eger; which paved the way to his French fortunes, and more or less
sublime glories, in this War. Friedrich recognizes his ingenuities,
impetuosities, and superior talent in war; wrote high-flown Letters of
praises, now and then, in years coming; but, we may guess, would hardly
wish to meet Maurice in the way of joint-stock business again.

FRIEDRICH SUBMERGES THE MORAVIAN COUNTRIES; BUT CANNOT BRUNN, WHICH IS
THE INDISPENSABLE POINT.

February 19th, these sad Iglau matters once settled, Friedrich, followed
by the Saxons, plunges forward into Moravia; spreads himself over
the country, levying heavy contributions, with strict discipline
nevertheless; intent to get hold of Brunn and its Spielberg, if he
could. Brunn is the strong place of Moravia; has a garrison of 6 or
7,000; still better, has the valiant Roth, whom we knew in Neisse once,
for Commandant: Brunn will not be had gratis.

Schwerin, with a Detachment of 6,000 horse and foot, Posadowsky,
Ziethen, Schmettau Junior commanding under him, has dashed along far in
the van; towards Upper Austria, through the Town of Horn, towards Vienna
itself; levying, he also, heavy contributions,--with a hand of iron,
and not much of a glove on it, as we judge. There is a grim enough
Proclamation (in the name of a "frightfully injur