THE MARIA-THERESA ORDER, NEW KNIGHTHOOD FOR AUSTRIA.

No tongue can express the joy of the Austrians over this

victory,—vouchsafed them, in this manner, by Lieutenant-Colonel

Benkendorf and the Powers above. Miraculously, behold, they are not upon

the retreat to Suchdol, at double-quick, and in ragged ever-lengthening

line; but stand here, keeping rank all night, on the Planian-Kolin

upland of the Kamhayek:—behold, they have actually beaten Friedrich;

for the first time, not been beaten by him. Clearly beaten that

Friedrich, by some means or other. With such a result, too; consider

it,—drawn sword was at our throat; and marvellously now it is turned

round upon his (if Daun be alert), and we—let us rejoice to all

lengths, and sing TE-DEUM and TE-DAUNUM with one throat, till the

Heavens echo again.

There was quite a hurricane, or lengthened storm, of jubilation

and tripudiation raised at Vienna on this victory: New ORDER OF MARIA

THERESA, in suitable Olympian fashion, with no end of regulating and

inaugurating,—with Daun the first Chief of it; and "Pensions to Merit"

a conspicuous part of the plan, we are glad to see. It subsists to this

day: the grandest Military Order the Austrians yet have. Which

then deafened the world, with its infinite solemnities, patentings,

discoursings, trumpetings, for a good while. As was natural, surely, to

that high Imperial Lady with the magnanimous heart; to that loyal solid

Austrian People with its pudding-head. Daun is at the top of the Theresa

Order, and of military renown in Vienna circles;—of Lieutenant-Colonel

Benkendorf I never heard that he got the least pension or

recognition;—continued quietly a military lion to discerning men, for

the rest of his days. ["Died at Dresden, General of Cavalry," 5th May,

1801 (Rodenbeck, i. 338, 339).]

Nay once, on Dauu's TE-DEUM day, he had a kind of recognition;—and even, by good accident, can tell us of it in his own words: [Kutzen (citing some BIOGRAPHY of Benkendorf), p. 143.]—

"I was sent for to head-quarters by a trumpeter,"—Benkendorf was,—"when all was ready for the TE-DEUM. Feldmarschall Daun was pleased to say at sight of me, 'That as I had had so much to do with the victory, it was but right I should thank our Herr Gott along with him.' Having no change of clothes,—as the servant, who was to have a uniform and some linens ready for me, had galloped off during the Fight, and our baggage was all gone to rearward,—I tried to hustle out of sight among the crowd of Imperial Officers all in gala: but the reigning Duke of Wurtemberg [Wilhelmina's Son-in-law, a perverse obstinate Herr, growing ever more perverse; one of Wilhelmina's sad afflictions in these days] called me to him, and said, 'He would give his whole wardrobe, could he wear that dusty coat with such honor as I!'"—yes; and tried hard, in his perverse way, for some such thing; but never could, as we shall see.

How lucky that Polish Majesty had some remains of Cavalry still at Warsaw in the Pirna time; that they were made into a Saxon Brigade, and taken into the Austrian service; Brigade of three Regiments, Nostitz for Chief, and this Benkendorf a Lieutenant-Colonel, among them;—and that Polish Majesty, though himself lost, has been the saving of Austria twice within one year!