and attacked the rear of the Prussians;
but did no further mischief than killing about two hundred of their men.
The siege of Prague being thus raised, the imprisoned Austrians received
their deliverer, count Daun, with inexpressible joy, and their united
forces became greatly superior to those of the king of Prussia, who was
in a short time obliged to evacuate Bohemia, and take refuge in Saxony.
The Austrians harassed him as much as possible in his retreat; but their
armies, though superior in numbers, were not in a condition, from their
late sufferings, to make any decisive attempt upon him, as the frontiers
of Saxony abound with situations easily defended.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENCE OF HANOVER.

Having thus described the progress of the Prussians in Bohemia, we must
cast our eyes on the transactions which distinguished the campaign
in Westphalia. To guard against the storm which menaced Hanover in
particular, orders were transmitted thither to recruit the troops that
had been sent back from England, to augment each company, to remount
the cavalry with the utmost expedition; not to suffer any horses to be
conveyed out of the electorate; to furnish the magazines in that country
with all things necessary for fifty thousand men. Of these, twenty-six
thousand were to be Hanoverians, and, in consequence of engagements
entered into for that purpose, twelve thousand Hessians, six thousand
Brunswickers, two thousand Saxe-Gothans, and a thousand Lunenburghers,
to be joined by a considerable body of Prussians, the whole commanded
by his royal highness the duke of Cumberland. The king of England having
published a manifesto, dated at Hanover, specifying his motives for
taking the field in Westphalia, the troops of the confederated states
that were to compose the allied army, under the name of an army
of observation, began to assemble with all possible diligence near
Bielefeldt. Thither the generals, appointed to command the several
divisions, repaired to settle the plan of operations with their
commander, the duke of Cumberland, who having left London on the ninth
of April, arrived on the sixteenth at Hanover, and from thence repaired
to the army, which, having been joined by three Prussian regiments that
retired from Wesel, consisted of thirty-seven battalions and thirty-four
squadrons. Of these, six battalions and six squadrons were posted at
Bielefeldt, under the command of lieutenant-general baron de Sporcken;
six