Shortly after Mayer, about the time when Mayer was wending homeward, General von Oldenburg, a very valiant punctual old General, was pushed out westward upon Erfurt, a City of Kur-Mainz's, to give Kur-Mainz a similar monition. And did it handsomely, impressively upon the Gazetteer world at least and the Erfurt populations,--though we can afford it no room in this place. Oldenburg's force was but some 2,000; Pirna Saxons most of them:--such a winter Oldenburg has had with these Saxons; bursting out into actual musketry upon him once; Oldenburg, volcanically steady, summoning the Prussian part, "To me, true Prussian Bursche!"--and hanging nine of the mutinous Saxons. And has coerced and compesced them (all that did not contrive to desert) into soldierly obedience; and, 20th June, appears at the Gate of Erfurt with them, to do his delicate errand there. Sharply conclusive, though polite and punctual. "Send to Kur-Mainz say you? Well, as to your Citadel, and those 1,400 soldiers all moving peaceably off thither,--Yes. As to your City: within one hour, Gate open to us, or we open it!" [In _Helden-Geschichte_ (v. 371-384) copious Account, with the Missives to and from, the Reichs-Pleadings that followed, the &c. &c. _Militair-Lexikon,_? Oldenburg.] And Oldenburg marches in, as vice-sovereign for the time:--but, indeed, has soon to leave again; owing to what Event in the distance will be seen! If Prag Siege go well, these Mayer-Oldenburg expeditions will have an effect on the Reich: but if it go ill, what are they, against Austria with its force of steady pressure? All turns on the issue of Prag Siege:--a fact extremely evident to Friedrich too! But these are what in the interim can be done. One neglects no opportunity, tries by every method. OF THE SINGULAR QUASI-BEWITCHED CONDITION OF ENGLAND; AND WHAT IS TO BE HOPED FROM IT FOR THE COMMON CAUSE, IF PRAG GO AMISS. On the Britannic side, too, the outlooks are not good;--much need Friedrich were through his Prag affair, and "hastening with forty thousand to help his Allies,"--that is, Royal Highness of Cumberland and Britannic Purse, his only allies at this moment. Royal Highness and Army of Observation (should have been 67,000, are 50 to 60,000, hired Germans; troops good enough, were they tolerably led) finds the Hanover Program as bad as Schmettau and Friedrich ever represented it; and, already,--unless Prag go well,--wears, to the understanding eye, a very contingent aspect. D'Estrees outnumbers him; D'Estrees, too, is something of a soldier,--a very considerable advantage in affairs of war.