o or Langensalza to look across
to, but are mischievous upon our outposts on the edge of the Voigtland
yonder. The expedition lasted only ten days (APRIL 1st it left quarters;
APRIL 11th was home again); a sharp, swift and very pretty expedition;
[Tempelhof, v. 48-57.] of which we can here say only that it was
beautifully impressive on the Reichs gentlemen, and sent their
Croateries and them home again, to Bamberg, to Eger, quite over the
horizon, in a considerably flurried state. After which there was no
Small-War farther, and everybody rested in cantonment, making ready till
the Great should come.

The Prussian wounded are all in Leipzig this Winter; a crowded stirring
Town; young Archenholtz, among many others, going about in convalescent
state,--not attending Gellert's course, that I hear of,--but noticing
vividly to right and left. Much difficulty about the contributions,
Archenholtz observes;--of course an ever-increasing difficulty, here as
everywhere, in regard to finance! From Archenholtz chiefly, I present
the following particulars; which, though in loose form, and without
date, except the general one of Winter 1760-1761, to any of them, are to
be held substantially correct.

... "'It is impossible to pay that Contribution,' exclaim the
Leipzigers: 'you said, long since, it was to be 75,000 pounds on us
by the year; and this year you rise to 160,000 pounds; more than
double!'--'Perhaps that is because you favored the Reichsfolk while
here?' answer the Prussians, if they answer anything: 'It is the King's
order. Pay it you must.'--'Cannot; simply impossible.' 'Possible, we
tell you, and also certain; we will burn your Leipzig if you don't!' And
they actually, these Collector fellows, a stony-hearted set, who had a
percentage of their own on the sums levied, got soldiers drawn out
more than once pitch-link in hand, as if for immediate burning: hut the
Leipzigers thought to themselves, 'King Friedrich is not a Soltikof!'
and openly laughed at those pitch-links. Whereupon about a hundred
of their Chief Merchants were thrown into prison,--one hundred or so,
riddled down in a day or two to Seventeen; which latter Seventeen, as
they stood out, were detained a good many days, how many is not
said, but only that they were amazingly firm. Black-hole for lodging,
bread-and-water for diet, straw for bed: nothing would avail on the
Seventeen: 'Impossible,' they answered always; each unit of them, in
sight of the other si