Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/182

 i68 ANNUAL RE

rampart, the governor having cx-

prefs orders to defend himTelf till

the laft extremity. The minifler

at the fame time pointed out to

them the imminent danger to

which the city and the caftle, and

even the royal family, would be

expofed, if he fliould be forced to

come to that extremity, as the fire

of the faburbs could not fail,

without a miracle, to reach the

town, and make terrible havock :

He at the fame time conjured the

deputies of the Itates, to ufe their

utmofl endeavours to divert the

florm, and not to confider the

governor's declaration as a vain

threat, for he could aflure them

upon his honour, that upon the

firing of the firft cannon againft the

town, they would fee the fuburbs

on fire.

Marfhal Daun happily changed his refolution upon the king's ap- proach, who was returning vic- torious from ZorndorfF; and the governor of Drefden, yielding to the intreaties of the inhabitants, ordered the cbmbuftible 'matters with which he had filled the houfes to be removed. But marfhal Daun returning a fecond time into Sax- ony, appeared again, namely on the 6th of November, within fight of Drefden, with a formidablearmy. This army having made a mo- tion on the 7th, and taken a camp on this fide Lockowitz, the gover- nor, who could no longer doubt that his views were againll the capital, caufed the combuflibie ' matters to be quickly replaced in the houfes of the fuburbs which iurrounded the town ditch, and commanded the rampart. The court was im.mediately informed cf it by M. de Bofe, the chief cup- bearer, whom Count Schmettau charged Lo reprefent again to his

GISTER, 1758.

court, that if the enemy's army fhould approach the fuburbs, he would that inflant fet fire to them. It was anfwcred, that as the court, its hands being tied, was obliged to acquiefce in all, and wait the laft extremities, the governor was free to do whatever he thought he could anfwer.

The fame day (Nov. 8.) at noon the enemy's advanced troops, at- tacked the hufTars and indepen- dent 'battalions which were pofted at Streifljsn and Gruene-Wiefe. This fkirmifli continued till night came on, and made the governor judge that it might have confe- quences, as the enemy might eafily repulfe thofe advanced ports, and enter pell-mell with them into the fuburb. He therefore detached next day (the 9th) in the morning Colo- nel Itzenplitz with 700 men, and fome pieces of cannon, and ported them himfelf in the redoubts that furrounded the fuburb, that, in cafe of need, they might fupport the huffars and the independent battalions. About noon he fent for the magirtrates of the town ; put them in mind of what he had faid to them in the month of July laft; and lo!d them, that the enemy having evidently a real defign againft Drefden, he gave them notice for the laft time, that on the firrt appearance of an Au- firian in the fuburbs, they would be fet on ^re. The magiftrates anfwered by only (hrugging their fhoulders, and deploring the mif- fortune of their fellow citizens. The governor told them, that they had nothing to do but to apply to the court, who alone could avert the c'tlamity.

About noon the Auftrian van- guard attacked the advanced ports,

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