Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/184

 month of July; and not to those of the suburbs; and there was nothing in this but what is usual. What hath been said to the contrary is, in short, so false, that the court of Dresden was pleased to thank the governor for the good order he caused to be observed during those troubles: as will appear by the annexed letter of De Bose the chief cup-bearer.

It only remains that we should say something of the messages that passed between Marshal Daun and Count Schmettau, by the intervention of Colonel Sawoisky. After the first compliments, M. de Sawoisky told the governor, that Marshal Daun was extremely surprised at the burning of the suburbs; that he (Sawoisky) was desired to enquire whether it was by order that this was done in a royal residence, which was a thing unheard of among christians; and that he hoped the city of Dresden would not be treated in the same manner. The marshal then made his compliments to the court; and added, that the governor should be responsible in his person for what had been done, or for what might be done, again this royal residence. The colonel received for answer, in presence of Lieutenant-general Itzenplatz, that the governor had the honour to be known to be marshal; that he had orders to defend the town to the last man; that his excellency was too well acquainted with war, to be ignorant that the destruction of the suburbs, which the marshal had attacked, was according to rule: that as to what concerned the town, it depended upon his excellency, since if he attacked it, the governor would defend himself from house to house, and from street to street; and that the whole infantry of the army was ready to defend the city.

On the 11th, the governor having learnt from several burghers of the suburbs, who, at their own request, had been brought into the town with their effects by water, that the enemy had thrown into the flames, or massacred without pity, some defenceless people belonging to the Prussian army, who had remained behind, particularly a surgeon; sent at noon Captain Collas with a trumpet to the marshal, with orders to tell him, that his excellency's well known character did not permit it to be believed that such cruelties were committed by his order; and therefore to demand to whom they were to be ascribed; that as to the destruction of the suburbs, Colonel Sawoisky had already carried an answer on that head to the marshal, but that this opportunity was taken to declare to his excellency, that if he desired to save the rest of the suburbs, he must hinder his troops from appearing in them; that no body had the preservation of the town and suburbs more at heart than the governor, as far as was consistent with his duty, and his honour; that the houses would not have been set on fire, had not the troops of his army forced their way into the suburbs, and even fired several cannon into the town (which M. Daun pretended not to know; saying, that it had been done without his orders;) and that the combustible matters were ready to consume what was left of the suburb, in case his troops should again enter it. The court took advantage