Frederick’s Attempt to Rescue his Brother.--Captured Dispatches.-- Battle of Hochkirch.--Defeat and Retreat of Frederick.--Death of Wilhelmina.--Letter to Voltaire.--Rejoicings at Vienna.--The Siege of Neisse.--The Siege of Dresden.--Conflagrations and Terror.-- The Siege raised by Frederick.--Results of the Third Campaign.-- Unavailing Efforts for Peace.--Despair of Frederick 463 CHAPTER XXX. FOURTH CAMPAIGN OF THE SEVEN YEARS’ WAR. Desperate Exertions of Frederick.--Aid from England.--Limited Resources.--Opening of the Campaign.--Disgraceful Conduct of Voltaire.--Letter to Voltaire.--An Act of Desperation.--Letter to Count Finckenstein.--Frankfort taken by the Prussians.--Terrible Battle of Kunersdorf.--Anguish of Frederick.--The Disastrous Retreat.--Melancholy Dispatch.--Contemplating Suicide.--Collecting the Wrecks of the Army.--Consternation in Berlin.--Letters to D’Argens.--Wonderful Strategical Skill.--Literary Efforts of the King 475 CHAPTER XXXI. THE STRUGGLE CONTINUED. Winter Encampment.--Death of Maupertuis.--Infamous Conduct of Voltaire.--Reproof by the King.--Voltaire’s Insincerity.-- Correspondence.--The King publishes his Poems.--Dishonorable Conduct of the King.--New Encampment near Dresden.--Destruction of Frederick’s Army in Silesia.--Atrocities perpetrated by the Austrians.--Astonishing March.--The Austrians outwitted.--Dresden bombarded and almost destroyed by Frederick.--Battle of Liegnitz.-- Utter Rout of the Austrians.--Undiminished Peril of Frederick.-- Letter to D’Argens 495 CHAPTER XXXII. THE END OF THE FIFTH CAMPAIGN. Incessant Marches and Battles.--Letter from Frederick to D’Argens.-- Letter to his Brother Henry.--Berlin summoned to Surrender.-- Sacking of the City.--Letter to D’Argens.--Desperate Resolves of Frederick.--The Resort of Suicide.--Remarkable Address of Frederick to his Generals.--Bloody Battle of Torgau.--Dismal Night-scene.-- Familiarity of the King with the Soldiers.--Winter Quarters at Freiberg.--Singular Letter to the Countess of Camas.--Death of the Princess Amelia.--Anecdotes of the King.--His domestic Habits.-- His unscrupulous Measures to obtain Men and Money.--Letter of Charlotte of Mecklenburg 507 CHAPTER XXXIII. THE END OF THE SEVEN YEARS’ WAR.