Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/75

 HISTORY OF T FIE WAR.

6i

greatly fuperi-^r to thac which lies retired in defpair. within the walls. Here the moil were Liii in all the

Nov.

10.

Combufllbles le houfes.

wealthv p.irt of the inhabitant; re- At t.iree o'clock next

fide, and here are carried on thofe morn r 5, the figna! for hr-

feveral curious manufactures for ing the fuburbs was given ;

which DrelUen is fo famous. Count and in a moment a place fo lately

Daun forefaw this confequence of tr.e feat of eafe and luxury, flou-

his attempt. He .endeavoured to rilhing • in traffic, in pleafures,

intimidate the gnvernor trom this and ingenious arts, was all in

mealure, to wnich he knew the flames. A calamity fo dreadful need

cruel reafon of war would naturally no high colouring.. However, :,s

lead hi ;n, by threatening to make little mifchlef attended- fuch*a com -

him perfoiially anfwerable for the bullion as the nature of the (h\r\r

fteps he fhoald take; but Count could admit, very few l<>lt their

Schmettau anfwered with the firm- lives; but many tlieii- \vhble fub-

nefs t:.at became a man of honour ftance. When this wa-: don°, the

and a foldier, that he would an- Pralllan troops abandoned the flam-

fwer whatever he fhould do, Si.d ing I'aburbs, and retired in good

would not only burn the fuburbs, order into the city,

in cafe M. Daun. advanced, but, M. Daun faw this fire, which

would likeWife- defend the city it- whillt it laid waile the capital of his

fdf rtreet by llreei, and at lail even ally, made it more diiiicult for him

the callle, which was the royal re- to force it; he fent in fome empty

fidence, if he Ibi^uld be driven to threats to the governor. But the

it. When the magilcrates were ap- Saxon miniller at Rati/bon made

prifed of this reiolution, they feil grievous complaints to the Diet of

at the feet of Count Schmettau, and what he reprefented as the molt

implored him to change his mind, unparalleled acil of wanton and un-

and to have mercy on tiiat devoted provoked cruelty, that had ever

part of their city. The part of the been committed. The emifTiries

royal family, who remained in of the court of Vienna fpread the

Drefden, joined their fupplications fame complaints; and they made

to thofe of the magiftrates; they no fcruple to invent and to alter

prayed him to fpare that laft refuge facls in fuch a manner as to move

of dillreffcd royalty, and to aUow the greateft pity towards the (xif^

at leall a fecure refidence to thofe, ferers, and the greateft indignati-

who had been deprived of every on ngainft the King of Prufiia. All

thing elfe. All entreaties were in vain, thefe, however, were in a diort

Schmettau continued firm in his re- time abundantly confuted, by the

folution. He told them that their authentic certificates of the ma-

fafety depended on themfelves, and giftrates of Drefden, and of thofe

on M. Daun ; that if he made no Oi^cers of the court, who were per-

attempts, the fuburbs fhould be Itil fccdy acquainted with the tranfac-

fecure ; but that if he took any farther fteps the necefllty of his maker's fervice, and his own ho- nour, would compel him to act very difagreeable to the lenity of his difpofition.

tion. By thefe certificates it appears that only two hundred and fifty houfes were confamed. Though this vsas a terrible calamity, it was nothing to the accounts given in Tne magiftrates: the. gazettes of the Auftrian fac^on.

By