battering-places should be ready against its coming.--"Let the
Young Dessauer with that Rearguard, or Reserve of 10,000, which is
now at Crossen, come up and assist here," orders Friedrich; "and
let him be swift, for the hours are pregnant!" On farther
reflection, perhaps on new rumors from Breslau, Friedrich perceives
that there can be no besieging of Glogau at this point of time;
that the Reserve, Half of the Reserve, must be left to "mask" it;
to hold it in strict blockade, with starvation daily advancing as
an alIy to us, and with capture by bombarding possible when we
like. That is the ultimate decision;--arrived at through a welter
of dubieties, counterpoisings and perilous considerations, which we
now take no account of. A most busy week; Friedrich incessantly in
motion, now here now there; and a great deal of heavy work got well
and rapidly done. The details of which, in these exuberant
Manuscripts, would but weary the reader. Choosing of the proper
posts and battering-places (post "on the other side of the River,"
"on this side of it," "on the Island in the middle of it"), and
obstinate intrenching and preparing of the same in spite of frost;
"wooden bridge built" farther up; with "regulation of the river-
boats, the Polish Ferry," and much else: all this we omit; and will
glance only at one pregnant point, by way of sample:--

... "Most indispensable of all, the King has to provide
Subsistences:--and enters now upon the new plan, which will have to
be followed henceforth. The Provincial Chief-men (LANDES-AELTESTEN,
Land's-ELDESTS, their title) are summoned, from nine or ten
Circles which are likely to be interested: they appear punctually,
and in numbers,--lest contumacy worsen the inevitable. King dines
them, to start with; as many as 'ninety-five covers,'--day not
given, but probably one of the first in Herrendorf: not Christmas