"in Neisse neighborhood" is to be
prevented or impeded, it is Friedrich, not Ziethen, that will have to do
it.

Junction in Neisse neighborhood (Oppeln, where it should have been,
which is some 35 miles from Neisse), Friedrich did, by velocity and
dexterity, contrive to prevent; but junction somewhere he probably
knows to be inevitable. These are among Friedrich's famed marches and
manoeuvrings, these against the swift Loudon and his slow Russians; but
we will not dwell on them. My readers know the King's manner in such
cases; have already been on two Marches with him, and even in these same
routes and countries. We will say only, that the Russians were and had
been very dilatory; Loudon much the reverse; and their and Loudon's
Adversary still more. That, for five days, the Russians, at length close
to Breslau (August 6th-11th), kept vaguely cannonading and belching
noise and apprehension upon the poor City, but without real damage to
it, and as if merely to pass the time; and had gradually pushed out
fore-posts, as far as Oppeln, towards Loudon, up their safe right bank
of Oder. That Loudon, on the first glimpse of these, had made his
best speed Neisse-ward; and did a march or two with good hope; but at
Munsterberg (July 22d), on the morning of the third or fourth day's
march, was astonished to see Friedrich ahead of him, nearer Neisse than
he; and that in Neisse Country there was nothing to be done, no Russian
junction possible there.

"Try it in Schweidnitz Country, then!" said Loudon. The Russians leave
off cannonading Breslau; cross Oder, about Auras or Leubus
(August 11th-12th); and Loudon, after some finessing, marches back
Schweidnitz-way, cautiously, skilfully; followed by Friedrich, anxious
to prevent a junction here too or at lowest to do some stroke before it
occur. A great deal of cunning marching, shifting and manoeuvring there
is, for days round Schweidnitz on all sides; encampings by
Friedrich, now Liegnitz head-quarter, now Wahlstadt, now Schonbrunn,
Striegau;--without the least essential harm to Loudon or likelihood
increasing that the junction can be hindered. No offer of battle either;
Loudon is not so easy to beat as some. The Russians come on at a snail's
pace, so Loudon thinks it, who is extremely impatient; but makes no
mistakes in consequence, keeps himself safe (Kunzendorf, on the edge of
the Glatz Hills, his main post), and the roads open for his heavy-footed
friends.

In Nicolstadt, a mar