robbing and plundering, murdering and
destroying, violating and burning, rushed through Berlin, filling all
the inhabitants with terror and alarm.

General Bachmann kept faithfully the promise he had made to
Gotzkowsky, and the Russian army at first not only preserved the
strictest discipline, but even protected the inhabitants against the
violence of the Austrians and Saxons.

The terrified citizens had one powerful and beneficent friend--this
was John Gotzkowsky. Yielding to his urgent entreaty, General von
Bachmann's adjutant, Von Brinck, had taken up his quarters in his
house, and by his assistance and his own influence with the general,
Gotzkowsky was enabled to afford material aid to all Berlin. For
those citizens who were able to pay the soldiers he procured a Russian
safeguard, and more than once this latter protected the inhabitants of
the houses against the vandalism of the Austrians and Saxons.

Contrary to the wish of the Russians, the Austrians had forced
themselves into the city, and, in spite of the terms of the
capitulation agreed upon with the Russians, had quartered themselves
upon the citizens, from whom, with the most savage cruelty and threats
of ingenious torture, they extorted all the gold and jewels they
possessed.

Berlin was now the open camping-ground of Croats and Austrian hussars,
and Russian Cossacks, and all minds were filled with dread and
anxiety.

It is true that even the Cossacks forgot the strict discipline
which had been commanded them, and entered the houses, robbing and
compelling the inhabitants, by blows of the knout, to give them
all they wanted. But yet they were less cruel than the Saxons,
less barbarous than the Austrians, who, with scoffing and derision,
committed the greatest atrocities. Indeed, it was only necessary
to complain to the Russian general in order to obtain justice
immediately, and have the Cossacks punished. Eight of them were
strung up in one day at the guard-house on the New Market square, as
a warning and example to the others, and expiated their robberies by
a summary death. But with the Austrians and Saxons it was the officers
themselves who instigated the soldiers to acts of revolting barbarity,
and who, forgetful of all humanity, by their laughter and applause
excited their subordinates to fresh ill-treatment of the inhabitants.
Disregarding the capitulation, and listening to their national enmity,
and their love of plunder, they pressed forward