ters, retired
to Brandenburg, and there lived silent, poor but honorable, for his
remaining fifteen years. Madam Schmettau came out very beautiful in
those bad circumstances: cheery, thrifty, full of loyal patience; a
constant sunshine to her poor man, whom she had preceded out of Dresden
in the way we saw. Schmettau was very quiet, still studious of War
matters; [See _Leben_ (by his Son, "Captain Schmettau;" a modest
intelligent Book), pp. 440-447.] "sent the King" once,--in 1772, while
Polish Prussia, and How it could be fortified, were the interesting
subject,--"a JOURNAL," which he had elaborated for himself, "OF THE
MARCHES OF KARL TWELFTH IN WEST PREUSSEN;" which was well received:
"Apparently the King not angry with me farther?" thought Schmettau. A
completely retired old man; studious, social,--the best men of the
Army still his friends and familiars:--nor, in his own mind, any mutiny
against his Chief; this also has its beauty in a human life, my friend.
So long as Madam Schmettau lived, it was well; after her death,
not well, dark rather, and growing darker: and in about three years
Schmettau followed (27th October, 1775), whither that good soul had
gone. The elder Brother--who was a distinguished Academician, as well
as Feldmarschall and Negotiator--had died at Berlin, in Voltaire's time,
1751. Each of those Schmettaus had a Son, in the Prussian Army, who
wrote Books, or each a short Book, still worth reading. [_Bavarian War
of 1778,_ by the Feldmarschall's Son; ad this _Leben_ we have just been
citing, by the Lieutenant-General's.] But we must return.

On the very morrow, September 5th, Daun heard of the glorious success
at Dresden; had not expected it till about the 10th at soonest. From
Triebel he sends the news at gallop to Lieberose and Soltikof: "Rejoice
with us, Excellenz: did not I predict it? Silesia and Saxony both are
ours; fruits chiefly of your noble successes. Oh, continue them a very
little!" "Umph!" answers Soltikof, not with much enthusiasm: "Send us
meal steadily; and gain you, Excellenz's self, some noble success!"
Friedrich did not hear of it for almost a week later; not till Monday,
10th,--as a certain small Anecdote would of itself indicate.

Sunday Evening, 9th September, General Finck, with his new 6,000,
hastening on to join Wunsch for relief of Dresden, had got to
Grossenhayn; and was putting up his tents, when the Outposts brought him
in an Austrian Officer, who had come with a Tru