'
and adds 'what to some of us seemed not superfluous afterwards), 'I am
incapable of acting falsely or with chicane.' In fact, till 9 in the
evening there was no signature by Durchlaucht; but about 6, on such
pledge by Maguire of his hand and his honor, the Siege entirely gave
up the ghost; and Dresden belonged to Austria. Tuesday Evening, 4th
September, 1759; Sun just setting, could anybody see him for the rain.

"Schmettau had been over-hasty; what need had Schmettau of haste? The
terms had not yet got signature, perfection of settlement on every
point; nor were they at all well kept, when they did! Considerable
flurry, temporary blindness, needless hurry, and neglect of symptoms
and precautions, must be imputed to poor Schmettau; whose troubles began
from this moment, and went on increasing. The Austrians are already
besetting Elbe Bridge, rooting up the herring-bone balks; and
approaching our Block-house,--sooner than was expected. But that is
nothing. On opening the Pirna Gate to share it with the Austrians,
Friedrich's Spy (sooner had not been possible to the man) was waiting;
who handed Schmettau that Second Letter of Friedrich's, 'Courage; there
is relief on the road!' Poor Schmettau!"

What Captain Kollas and the Prussian Garrison thought of all this,
THEY were perhaps shy of saying, and we at such distance are not
informed,--except by one symptom: that, of Colonel Hoffman, Schmettau's
Second, whose indignation does become tragically evident. Hoffman, a
rugged Prussian veteran, is indignant at the Capitulation itself; doubly
and trebly indignant to find the Austrians on Elbe Bridge, busy raising
our Balks and Battery: "How is this Sir?" inquires he of Captain Sydow,
who is on guard at the Prussian end; "How dared you make this change,
without acquainting the Second in Command? Order out your men, and come
along with me to clear the Bridge again!" Sydow hesitates, haggles;
indignant Hoffman, growing loud as thunder, pulls out a pistol,
fatal-looking to disobedient Sydow; who calls to his men, or whose men
spring out uncalled; and shoot Hoffman down,--send two balls through
him, so that he died at 8 that night. With noise enough, then and
afterwards. Was drunk, said Schmettau's people. Friedrich answered, on
report of it: "I think as Hoffman did. If he was 'drunk,' it is pity the
Governor and all the Garrison had not been so, to have come to the same
judgment, as he." [P.S. in Autograph of Letter to Schmettau,