ng all
opposition. The king and prince-elector were not accustomed to have
a will of their own; and Count Bruhl, the favorite of fortune, showed
himself weak and helpless in the hour of adversity. It needed the
queen's powerful energy, and the forcible representations of the French
ambassador, Count Broglio, to arouse them from their lethargy; and
what Count Broglio's representations, and the queen's prayers and tears
commenced, hatred finished. Count Bruhl's sinking courage rose at the
thought of the possibility of still undermining the King of Prussia, and
putting an end to his victorious march. It was only necessary to detain
him, to prevent him from reaching the Bohemian borders, until the
Austrian army came to their assistance, until the French troops had
entered and taken possession of Prussia. Therefore, Count Bruhl sent
courier after courier to Saxony's allies, to spread her cry for help to
every friendly court. He then collected the army, ordered them to camp
at Pirna, which was very near the boundary of Bohemia, and, as it
was guarded on one side by the Elbe, and on the other by high rocks,
appeared perfectly secure. When these preparations were commenced, the
count's courage rose considerably, and he determined to prove himself
a hero, and to give the Saxon army the inspiring consciousness that,
in the hour of danger, their king would be in their midst. The king
therefore left for the fortress of Konigstein, accompanied by Count
Bruhl, leaving the army, consisting of about seventeen thousand men, to
follow under the command of General Rutrosky, and to encamp at the foot
of Konigstein. Arrived at Konigstein, where they thought themselves
perfectly secure, they gave themselves up to the free and careless
life of former days. They had only changed their residence, not their
character; their dreams were of future victories, of the many provinces
they would take from the King of Prussia; and with this delightful
prospect the old gay, luxurious, and wanton life was continued. What
difference did it make to Count Bruhl that the army was only provided
with commissary stores for fourteen days, and that this time was
almost past, and no way had been found to furnish them with additional
supplies. The King of Prussia had garrisoned every outlet, and only the
King of Saxony's forage-wagon was allowed to pass.

Frederick knew better than the Saxon generals the fearful, invincible
enemy that was marching to the camp of Pir