"Every thing else must now give way to this victory proceeds from God! Shew yourselves worthy of his high protection by obedience and fulfilling your duties. Let courage, constancy, loyalty, and good discipline, be your renown!-Follow the example of your forefathers; be worthy of them, and remember your posterity!

"A sure reward will fall on him who distinguishes himself; deep disgrace and punishment on him who forgets his duty.

"Your King will always be with you, and with him the Crown Prince, and the Princes of his house. They will fight along with you.

They and the whole nation will combat with you, and at our side. A valiant people will come to our assistance, and to the assistance of all Germany a people that, by glorious deeds, has secured its independence. They relied on their Sovereign, their leader, their cause, their own strength; and God was with them; so will it be with you; for we also fight the great fight, for the independence of our country.

"Confidence in God, courage, and perseverance! be our word. "FREDERICK WILLIAM."

(Signed,)

Whilst these diplomatic arrangements were proceeding, the harassed and now confused commanders of the French armies in vain attempted to make a stand at Berlin. The inhabitants manifested a spirit no less formidable to them than that of the enemy; and even the French confessed, that the first of the Russian light troops that approached Berlin were conducted and reinforced by the young men of that capital, several of whom were killed in the skirmishes which took place in the suburbs. The French ambassador, St. Marsan, who was a spectator of the interview between Alexander and the King of Prussia, was, on the following day, on the point of presenting some remonstrance to the Prussian Chancellor, but was stopped by a note from the latter, formally signifying to him that Prussia was at war with France, and assigning the reasons for this step. A similar, but more detailed note, was presented, on the 27th March, at Paris, by Count Krusemark, the Prussian Minister there; to which an angry answer was given on the 1st of April, by the Duke of Bassano. The Prussian statement set forth the strongest justification for taking up arms at the present time, and contained arguments no less powerful and conclusive against that narrow, defensive system, which has successively led to the degradation of every Sovereign by whom it has been adopted. It exhibited the almost impracticability of any engagements with Buonaparte, and the absolute necessity under which the other powers of Europe are placed, of destroying his system, or being destroyed

by it. By the treaty of Tilsit, in 1807, Prussia was left in a very helpless condition. It might have been easily foreseen, that by the occupation of the fortresses, Buonaparte would become, in effect, master of that country, and might consequently use it as an advanced post, in his future hostilities against Russia. At the same time he was not only enabled to exhaust it by grievous exactions, under the name of contributions, but to ruin its finances by that ingenious mode of impoverishing his neighbours, which he termed the Continental System. In this wretched situation was Prussia placed, when Buonaparte's plans against Russia began to be developed. Unable to stand alone, her circumstances did not allow of neutrality, and she was unwillingly dragged along as a vassal in the train of the general enemy of human repose. But if she had suffered oppressions in time of peace, she was at once plundered, trampled on, and insulted, during the war. Buonaparte acted the sovereign, or rather the tyrant, without restraint or ceremony. He seized on Pillau and Spandau, by a sort of military surprise: he kept possession of Glogan and Custrin, in express opposition to his treaties he subsisted his garrisons in those places, by levying contributions for ten leagues round each he seized no less than 70,000 horses, and 20,000 carriages, besides every other article that his Commissaries happened to want; and he even sent orders to Gen. Bulow to join Victor's corps, without consulting the King of Prussia on the subject. These and many more equally serious and well-founded complaints were distinctly set forth by Count Krusemark; and Buonaparte, in reply, began by a sarcastic allusion to the versatile politics of the Prussian cabinet since 1792; as if he himself, since that time, had not gone through more changes, exhibited more flagrant instances of lying and perjury, disowned his country, his Sovereign, and his God more shamelessly, and more frequently, than any individual recorded in history. He stated, that as for himself, it was contrary to his justice and his heart to declare war merely for political convenience! He would have made Prussia a mediator-he would have aggrandised her he was too generous-he did not suspect the duplicity of one who had solicited the honour of an alliance with him.

Prince Kutusoff Smolensk, on the 25th of March, issued the annexed proclamation to the Germans, which almost gave a new character to the war. In it he assures the world, that the sword has been unsheathed by the allies, to recover the independence of

Europe, and they will give a death-blow to the oppressors, by an nouncing, that the Confederation of the Rhine must be dissolved.

"While the victorious warriors of Russia, accompanied by those of his Majesty the King of Prussia, his ally, appear in Germany, his Majesty the Emperor of Russia, and his Majesty the King of Prussia, announce to the Princes and nations of Germany, the return of liberty and independence. They only come with an intention of aiding them to reconquer those inalienable benefits of nations, and of affording powerful protection, and lasting security, to the regeneration of a venerable empire.

"These two armies, trusting in God, and full of courage, advance, hoping that every German, without distinction, will join them, &c.

"The Confederation of the Rhine, that deceitful fetter with which the General Disturber bound Germany, after dismembering her, and even obscuring her ancient name, can no longer be tolerated, as it is the effect of foreign constraint and of foreign influence. It must be dissolved.

"Their Majesties will only give protection while the German Princes and nations are engaged in completing the grand work.

"Let France, who is beauteous and strong through herself, occupy herself, in future, in promoting her internal welfare! No foreign power intends disturbing it—no hostile power shall be sent against her rightful frontiers. But be it known to France, that the other powers are solicitous of conquering lasting tranquillity for their subjects, and that they will not lay down their arms until the foundation of the independence of every European state has been established and secured."

An Address was issued at Konigsberg, on the 12th of March, from the Saxon, Bavarian, and Rhenish officers, who, in joining "the Army of the North of Germany," sunk all petty local distinctions in the bond of a common patriotism. "We are Germans," said they this single word included every thing. The moment seemed to be arrived when Germany could raise her depressed head, when she might hope to throw off the slavish yoke of France;—even in those parts where the enemy still kept his footing, a general spirit was rising, which promised to reconquer the lost honour and freedom of Germany :-and with manly confidence they concluded

"Posterity will not ask, in what service we were engaged, but for what cause we fought; whether for Germany and human nature, or for tyranny and France." It was upon this deep, inwrought feeling of what is due to common origin and common wrongs,-upon this sacred love of country, and indignation against the Tyrant, that the best hopes of the Continent were built. Cold calculations of interest,-mild treating with the rapacious plunderers of all for the restitution of a part, could never arrest the

giant-stride of universal despotism. Nations must rise as one man; and they appeared to be so rising. Prussia became one great camp; the cabinet intriguers vanished; the Generals, known by their resolute opposition to French influence, were invested with new and really effectual powers; the whole country between the Elbe and the Oder was divided into four military districts, under the command of L'Estocq, Tauenzien, Massenbach, and Gotzen; the militia was called out; the levy en masse was preparing; volunteers enrolled themselves on all sides; no less than 20,000 of the militia were collected at Konigsberg, besides a reserve of 10,000, and the national enthusiasm was universally directed to one great object.

The King of Prussia issued, on the 20th of March, 1813, an edict concerning the abolition of the so-called Continental system, and the duties henceforward to be collected on goods hereafter to be imported by sea. By this edict the ships and goods of all friendly and neutral nations were freely permitted to enter into his harbours and territories, without any exception or difference. All French goods, either produce or manufactures, were totally prohibited, not only for use, but likewise to pass through his territories, or those occupied by his armies.

The so-denominated Continental impost was taken off, and exclusive of the consumption excise to be especially paid on foreign goods entered inwards by sea for home consumption, there was directed to be levied the heretofore established import and transit duty, as it was previous to the establishment of the Continental impost in the year 1810, which duty was to be collected on the gross weight, but only to continue so long as the increased expenses arising from the war carrying on for the liberation of Germany should render it necessary.

The French troops quitted Berlin in the night of the 3d of March, and Tschernicheff arrived in that city at five o'clock of the following morning. At noon, between twelve and one o'clock, both infantry and artillery entered. The entry was performed in peace and good order, amid a great concourse of people, and the Russian troops were received with kindness and hospitality. The three detachments which were in the advance under the orders of MajorGenerals Tschernicheff and Berkendorf, and Colonel Tettenborn, as well as a part of the cavalry of the advanced-guard, and some Cossacks, precipitately pursued the enemy, and several petty engagements took place in the neighbouring villages, especially at Steglitz, from whence the Russians sent several prisoners into Berlin. Dd

VOL. II.

On the 11th of March, Count Wittgenstein made his public entry into that city, and was received with the greatest enthusiasm. After the Grand French Army, (including the division of General Grenier, amounting to 20,000 men, which in the beginning of January had hastened from Italy to its support,) had been reduced by several severe engagements with the Cossacks to about 18,000 men, and quitted Berlin to lay the basis of future operations in a more solid manner behind the Elbe, General Morand, who kept possession of Swedish Pomerania with about 2500 men, and who, according to instructions, was to have maintained himself there at all events, put himself in march to follow the Grand Army, whose left wing be formed under the name of the Army of Pomerania. On his march he was joined by the Custom-House officers established there; the cavalry was about 50 men strong: the artillery consisted of 18 pieces.

Baron Von Tettenborn, Colonel-Commandant of a corps of General Wittgenstein's division of the army, marched with his corps in the direction of Hamburgh; his van-guard was at Lunenburg when Morand, on the 15th of March, entered into Molln. Some parties of Cossacks that had been detached in front, and who appeared opposite Molln, caused the Army of Pomerania to halt, and induced General Morand to remain there for the day, and in the night to march to Bergedorf, where he was met by the 11th Military Division, and the Custom-House officers stationed in Hamburgh. General Morand made a feint of marching from Bergedorf to Hamburgh, but was prevented by the Danish troops; 3000 of whom, with a numerous artillery, were stationed on the borders to maintain their neutrality.

It now appeared to be General Morand's intention to take a position in Bergedorf and the Vierlanden, and for this purpose he garrisoned Eschenburg, a place situated a German mile towards Lauenburg, with 500 men and 8 pieces of artillery. From Eschenburg to Bergedorf it is one continued defile, where cavalry is totally useless, and from this defile to the Elbe it is a morassy country, cut through with innumerable canals; and possibly Gen. Morand had calculated on being able to keep this post; but the regiments of Cossacks pushed forward by Lieutenant-Colonel Berkendorff, Commander of the van-guard, fell in with the enemy, when some volunteers immediately dismounted, and continuing skirmishing, kept the enemy employed till late in the night. Meanwhile a detachment of Cossacks were sent by a bye road to Bergedorf, who had driven the enemy's piquets into the town, and put every thing