May Heaven reward so much virtue and such heroic sentiments! "Since I wrote last to you, my misfortunes have but gone on accumulating.

It seems as though Destiny would discharge all its wrath and fury upon the poor Country which I had to rule over.

The Swedes have entered Pommern.

The French, after having concluded a Neutrality humiliating to the King of England and themselves [Kloster-Zeven, which we know], are in full march upon Halberstadt and Magdeburg.

From Preussen I am in daily expectation of hearing of a battle having been fought: the proportion of combatants being 25,000 against 80,000 [was fought, Gross-Jagersdorf, 30th August, and lost accordingly].