spite of such trepidations from the Court
and others] defend himself to the last man.' Free-Corps people [not
Quintus's, who is on the other side of the River], [Tempelhof, v. 67.]
with regulars to rear, advance on the Pirna Gate; hurl in Maguire's
Out-parties; and had near got in along with them,--might have done so,
they and their supports, it is thought by some, had storm seemed the
recommendable method.

"For four days there is livelier and livelier cannonading; new batteries
getting opened in the Moschinska Garden and other points; on the
Prussian part, great longing that the Magdeburg artillery were here.
The Prussians are making diligently ready for it, in the mean while
(refitting the old Trenches, 'old Envelope' dug by Maguire himself in
the Anti-Schmettau time; these will do well enough):--the Prussians
reinforce Holstein at the Weisse, Hirsch, throw a new bridge across
to him; and are busy day and night. Maguire, too, is most industrious,
resisting and preparing: Thursday shuts up the Weistritz Brook (a dam
being ready this long while back, needing only to be closed), and lays
the whole South side of Dresden under water. Many rumors about Daun:
coming, not coming;--must for certain come, but will possibly be
slowish."

FRIDAY 18th. "Joy to every Prussian soul: here are the heavy guns from
Magdeburg. These, at any rate, are come; beds for them all ready;
and now the cannonading can begin in right earnest. As it does with a
vengeance. To Mitchell, and perhaps others, 'the King of Prussia says He
will now be master of the Town in a few days. And the disposition he has
made of his troops on the other side of the River is intended not only
to attack Dresden on that side [and defend himself from Daun], but also
to prevent the Garrison from retiring.... This morning, Friday, 18th,
the Suburb of Pirna, the one street left of it, was set fire to, by
Maguire; and burnt out of the way, as the others had been. Many of the
wretched inhabitants had fled to our camp: "Let them lodge in Plauen,
no fighting there, quiet artificial water expanses there instead." Many
think the Town will not be taken; or that, if it should, it will cost
very dear,--so determined seems Maguire. [Mitchell, iii. 170, 171.] And,
in effect, from this day onwards, the Siege became altogether fierce,
and not only so, but fiery as well; and, though lasting in that violent
form only four, or at the very utmost seven, days more, had near ruined
Dresden