ody or to peace of mind, or whether any loss that way, nobody has
counted. The Berlin people rose to a more than Roman height of temper,
testifies D'Argens; [_ OEuvres de Frederic,_ xix. 195-199: "D'Argens
to the King: Berlin, 19th October, 1760,"--an interesting Letter of
details.] so that perhaps it was a gain. The King's Magazines and
War-furnitures about Berlin are wasted utterly,--Arsenal itself not
blown up, we well know why;--and much Hunnish ruin in Charlottenburg,
with damage to Antiques,--for which latter clause there shall, in a few
months, be reprisal: if it please the Powers!
Of all this Montalembert declares, "Before God, that he, Montalembert,
is and was the mainspring." And indeed, Tempelhof, without censure
of Montalembert and his vocation, but accurately computing time and
circumstance, comes to the same conclusion;--as thus: "OCTOBER 8th,
seeing no Lacy come, Czernichef, had it not been for Montalembert's
eloquence, had fixed for returning to Copenik: whom cautious Lacy would
have been obliged to imitate. Suppose Czernichef had, OCTOBER 9th, got
to Copenik,--Eugen and Hulsen remain at Berlin; Czernichef could
not have got back thither before the 11th; on the 11th was news of
Friedrich's coming; which set all on gallop to the right about."
[Tempelhof, iv. 277.] So that really, before God, it seems Montalembert
must have the merit of this fine achievement:--the one fruit, so far
as I can discover, of his really excellent reasonings, eloquences,
patiences, sown broadcast, four or five long years, on such a field as
fine human talent never had before. I declare to you, M. l'Ambassadeur,
this excellent vulture-swoop on Berlin, and burning or reburning of the
Peasantry of the Mark, is due solely to one poor zealous gentleman!--
What was next to follow out of THIS,--in Torgau neighborhood, where
Daun now stands expectant,--poor M. de Montalembert was far from
anticipating; and will be in no haste to claim the merit of before God
or man.
Chapter V.--BATTLE OF TORGAU.
After Hulsen's fine explosion on the Durrenberg, August 20th, on the
incompetent Reichs Generals, there had followed nothing eminent; new
futilities, attemptings and desistings, advancings and recoilings, on
the part of the Reich; Hulsen solidly maintaining himself, in defence of
his Torgau Magazine and Saxon interests in those regions, against such
overwhelming odds, till relief and reinforcement for them and him
should arrive; and
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