t, and much running about in those central and
Hill-ward parts, Friedrich found he would have to be content with his
former allotment of Saxon territory, and to leave the Austrians quiet
in theirs. Took winter-quarters accordingly, and let the Enemy take.
Cantoned himself, in that Meissen-Freyberg Country, in front of the
Austrians and their impassable Plauens and Chasms:--pretty much as in
the past Year, only that the Two Armies lay at a greater distance, and
were more peaceable, as if by mutual consent.

Head-quarter of the King is Leipzig; where the King did not arrive till
December 8th,--such adjusting and arranging has he had, and incessant
running to and fro. He lived in the "Apel House, NEW Neumarkt, No. 16;"
[Rodenbeck, ii. 65.] the same he had occupied in 1757, in the Rossbach
time. "ACH! how lean your Majesty has grown!" said the Mistress of it,
at sight of him again (mythically, I should fancy, though it is in the
Anecdote-Books). "Lean, JA WOHL," answered he: "and what wonder, with
Three Women [Theresa, Czarina, Pompadour] hanging on the throat of me
all this while!" But we propose to look in upon him ourselves, in this
Apel House, on more authentic terms, by and by. Read, meanwhile, these
Two bits of Autograph, thrown off incidentally, at different places, in
the previous busy journeyings over Meissen-Freyberg country:--

1. FRIEDRICH TO MARQUIS D'ARGENS (at Berlin).

"MEISSEN, 10th November, 1760.

... "I drove the enemy to the Gates of Dresden; they occupy their Camp
of last Year; all my skill is not enough to dislodge them,"--[Chasm of
Plauen, "a place impregnable, were it garrisoned by chimney-sweeps,"
says the King once]. "We have saved our reputation by the Day of Torgau:
but don't imagine our enemies are so disheartened as to desire Peace.
Duke Ferdinand's affairs are not in a good way [missed Wesel, of which
presently;--and, alas also, George II. died, this day gone a fortnight,
which is far worse for us, if we knew it!]--I fear the French will
preserve through Winter the advantages they gained during the Campaign.

"In a word, I see all black, as if I were at the bottom of a tomb.
Have some compassion on the situation I am in; conceive that I
disguise nothing from you, and yet that I do not detail to you all my
embarrassments, my apprehensions and troubles. Adieu, dear Marquis;
write to me sometimes,--don't forget a poor devil, who curses ten times
a day his fatal existence, and could wish he