secret it even sent moneys, recruits, numerous young
volunteers to Friedrich; much more, hopes and prayers. But his disgust
with the late transformation by enchantment was inexpiable.

It was May or June, as had been anticipated, before the Russian main
Army made its practical appearance in those parts. Fermor had, in the
interim, seized Thorn, seized Elbing ("No offence, magnanimous Polacks,
it is only for a time!"),--and would fain have had Dantzig too, but
Dantzig would n't. Not till June 16th did the unwieldy mass (on paper
104,000, and in effect, and exclusive of Cossack rabble, about 75,000)
get on way; and begin slowly staggering westward. Very slowly, and amid
incendiary fire and horrid cruelty, as heretofore;--and in August coming
we shall be sure to hear of it.

Lehwald was just finishing with the Swedes,--had got them all bottled up
in Stralsund again, about New-Year's time, when these Russians crossed
into Preussen. We said nothing of the Swedish so-called Campaign of last
Year;--and indeed are bound to be nearly silent of that and of all
the others. Five Campaigns of them, or at least Four and a half; such
Campaigns as were never made before or since. Of Campaign 1757, the
memorable feature is, that of the whole "Swedish Division," as the
laughing Newspapers called it, which was "put to flight by five Berlin
Postilions;"--substantially a truth, as follows:--

"Night of September 12th-13th, 1757, the Swedes, 22,000 strong, did at
last begin business; crossed Peene River, the boundary between their
Pommern and ours; and, having nothing but some fractions of Militia
to oppose them, soon captured the Redoubts there; spread over Prussian
Pommern, and on into the Uckermark; diligently raising contributions,
to a heavy amount. No less than 90,000 pounds in all for this poor
Province; though, by a strange accident, 60,000 pounds proved to be the
actual sum.

"Towards the end of October they had got as much as 60,000 pounds from
the northern parts of Uckermark, Prentzlow being their head-quarter
during that operation; and they now sent out a Detachment of 200
grenadiers and 100 dragoons towards Zehdenick, another little Town, some
forty miles farther south, there to wring out the remaining sum. The
Detachment marched by night, not courting notice; but people had heard
of its coming; and five Prussian Postilions,--shifty fellows, old
hussars it may be, at any rate skilful on the trumpet, and furnished
with hussar