Smyrna times., 1871-01-25
MISceIIU 2z eOuS.
Frederic the Great on the Verge of Sui

AT the bridges after the battle OF Runners
doIfl Frederick found but three thousand men
Of his late army. The huts around were filled
with the wounded and the dying, presenting
an aspect of misery which, in these hours of
terrible defeat, appalled, his majesty. In one
of these hutS surrounded by mutilated bodies,
groans, and death, Frederick wrote the follow
ing dispatch to his minister (Flncken>ten) at
Berlin. 1t was dated OctSchel, August IL, |
1859:
:" attacked the enemy this morning about
eleven. We beat him back to the Jews |
Church yard, near Frankfort. All my troops
came into action, and have done wonders.
reaSSemhltd them three times At length | |
was myself nearly taken prisoner and we had
to quit the field. My coat is riddled with bul-
lets Two horses were killed under me- My
misfOrunes is that am still alive. Our loss
is very considerable. Of an army of forty
eight thousand men | have at this moment,
while write, not more than three thousand
together. | am no longer master of my forces.
In Berlin you will do well to think of your
safety. It is great calamity. will not sur
vive it. The consequences of this battle will
be worse than the battle itself have no re.
sources more and, to confess the truth, hold
all tor lost will not survive the destruction
of my country. Farewell forever. F."
Probably the reader will infer from the above
letter that the king felt that the hour had come
Tor him 10 die, and that he intended to resort
to the most cOnsummate act Of iOllv and cow
ardice-Suicide. He had always avowed this
to lie his intention in the last resort. He had
the poison prepared tor that purpose and al
US carried it with him. He had urged his
sister Wllhemina to initiate his example in this
respect, and not to survive the ruin of their
house. Ruin now seemed inevitable In the
battle of Kunersdorf Frederick had lost, in
killed and wounded, nineteen thousand men,
including nearly all the officers of distinction,
and also one hundred and sixty pieces of ar
= tillery. The remainder of his army was so
!. dispersed that it could not be rallied to present
anN opposition to the foe.
Though General SOitikOf had lost an equal
number OF men, We was still at the head of
d nearly eighty thousand troops flushed with
victory. He could summon to his standard
any d slrable relnfOrc, ments. An unnbstruct-
/. ed march of but sixty miles would lead his
army into the streets of Berlin. The affairs ot
Frederick were indeed desperate. There wa,
st not geam of hope to cheer him. In prepa
N ration Tor his retirement from the army, frOm
n the throne, and from life, he that evening drew
up the following paper, placing the fragment
n of the army which he was about to abondon il
E. the hands Of general Fnck. BY the death o
n the king the orphan and infant child of hi
brother augustus William (whO had died bu
he few months before) would succeed to tn
' throne. Frederick appointed his brothe
henry generalSSlmo OF the PruSSlaD army.
e This notable paper which reflects but littl
r. credit upon the character OF Frederick, was
le follows:
General Finck gets difficult commission
The unlucky army which gave up to him
no longer in a condition to make head agains
the Russians. Haddck will now start fc
Berlin, perhaps LOudOn too. If general Fine
go after these, the Russians will fall on hi
r. rear. 1t he continue on the Oder, he ge
Haddock on his flank. However, | believ,
y should LoudOn go for Berlin. he might attac
LOudon and beat him. This, if it succeed
would be a stand against misfortune, and ho
matters up Time gained is much in thes
desperate circumstances. Copper my secretar
will send him the news from Torgan and Dire
den. You must inform my brother of ever
thing, whom | have declared generalissimo
the army. To repair this bad luck altogeth,
r it is not possible. But what my brother sha
command must be done The army swears
my nephew. This is all the advice in these u
happy circumstances | am in a condition
give. If | had still had resources, | wou
have stald by them. FREDERICK. >
1tIy 1t will be perceived that this paper is Sigh
ly less despairing than the preceding lett
which he had written the order to geneI
finck, threw himself in utter exhaustion, up,
some straw in corner of the hut, and II
soundly asleep. The Prussian officers pass
.. by, gazed sadly through the open door up
the sleeping monarch A single sentinel guar
rs ed the entrance, From " Frederick t
'o' Great, i'll H0rpers Magazine for February
Mrs. ROBERT f. LEE.-Athough vel
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