hat is taken from
her own beautiful young brain. All operatic, vague, imaginary,--some of
it expressly untrue. [In Mecklenburg-SCHWERIN, which had always to smart
sore for its Duke and the line he took, the Swedes, this year, as usual
(but, TILL Torgau, with more hope than usual), had been trying for
winter-quarters: and had by the Prussians, as usual, been hunted
out,--Eugen of Wurtemberg speeding thither, directly after Torgau;
Rostock his winter-quarters;--who, doubtless with all rigor, is levying
contributions for Prussian behoof. But as to Mecklenburg-Strelitz,--see,
for example, in SCHONING, iii. 30 &c., an indirect but altogether
conclusive proof of the perfectly amicable footing now and always
subsisting there; Friedrich reluctant to intrude even with a small
request or solicitation, on Eugen's behalf, at this time.] So that
latterly there have been doubts as to its authenticity altogether.
["Boll, _Geschichte Mecklenburgs mit besonderer Berucksichtigung der
Culturgeschichte_ (Neubrandenburg, 1856), ii. 303-305;"--cited by
Giesebrecht, who himself takes the opposite view.] And in fact the
Piece has a good deal the air of some School-Exercise, Model of
Letter-writing, Patriotic Aspiration or the like;--thrown off, shall
we say, by the young Parson of Mirow (Charlotte's late Tutor), with
Charlotte there to SIGN; or by some Patriotic Schoolmaster elsewhere,
anywhere, in a moment of enthusiasm, and without any Charlotte but
a hypothetic one? Certainly it is difficult to fancy how a modest,
rational, practical young person like Charlotte can have thought of so
airy a feat of archery into the blue! Charlotte herself never disavowed
it, that I heard of; and to Colonel Grahame the Ex-Jacobite, hunting
about among potential Queens of England, for behoof of Bute and of a
certain Young King and King's Mother, the Letter did seem abundantly
unquestionable and adorable. Perhaps authentic, after all;--and
certainly small matter whether or not.

Chapter VII.--SIXTH CAMPAIGN OPENS: CAMP OF BUNZELWITZ.

To the outward observer Friedrich stands well at present, and seems
again in formidable posture. After two such Victories, and such almost
miraculous recovery of himself, who shall say what resistance he will
not yet make? In comparison with 1759 and its failures and disasters,
what a Year has 1760 been! Liegnitz and Torgau, instead of Kunersdorf
and Maxen, here are unexpected phenomena; here is a King risen from the
deep