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plated. If, for instance, the French were against the said enemy? This is the plain to invade Hampshire, and I were to be or- meaning of the thing; and, what, then, dered, by the Commander of the District, are we to think of those, who are ready to burn my house, my barns, and my not only to apologize for the government ricks, to give him up my horses for his not yielding the people protection against use, and to cut the throats of my other an invader, but who are ready to justify it cattle; such an order would be very fool- in destroying any portion of the people, ish indeed, and would not at all tend to lest, for want of that protection which is the defence of the country: but suppose it their due, they should fall into the hands to be given and to suppose me to obey it, of the enemy? It is easy for some persons, is it reasonable to think, that I should not sitting safe by their fire-sides in England, receive compensation from the country at to talk about the right of the Czar to burn large? If by the destruction of my pro- out his subjects at Moscow; but, people perty, the King is preserved on his throne, of the City of London, Aldermen, Comand the country at large is finally preserved mon Council-men, and all you, Bankers, from subjugation, or, if it is with this Merchants, Shop-keepers, and men in view that my property is destroyed by or- Trade of all sorts; how, if Buonaparte der of the Government, will any one deny and his army were in Essex, would this my right to a compensation for the loss of doctrine suit you? If the Prince Regent, that property? Upon this principle, then, and the Royal Family, seeing that they how can the Czar be justified in ordering, were unable to keep the French out of as the Times news-paper says he did, the London, were to retire to Dublin, and sudden destruction of a City, like that of leave orders for the setting fire to London Moscow ? For, who shall give compen- in a hundred different places at once, and sation for lives taken away; for the death for the reducing of it to ashes amidst the of the aged, the lame, the blind, the sick, expiring screams and groans of the people; the women in child-birth, the wounded what, in such a case, would you say?. soldiers, who perished, and who necessa- Would you say, that the Prince Regent, rily must have perished, upon this occa- being safe at Dublin himself, bad a plain, sion? For the taking away of life nothing full, and perfect right to give such an can compensate; and, if it should be said, order?. -If you would, then, you may that, by the means of this terrible act at applaud the doctrine of the Times newsMoscow the Empire of Russia will be fi- paper, if you would not, pray recollect, nally preserved from the dominion of Buo- that the people of Moscow were human naparte; nay, if we grant, that it is cer- beings as well as yourselves.—The SEtain that that act will produce this effect, CON D assertion hangs upon the first. If I I not only deny that the act was justifiable, have succeeded in showing, that the Czar but I deny the right on the part of the had no right to order the burning of MosCzar to cause the life of any one man to cow at the time and in the manner debe taken with a view of securing that object. scribed by the French, it follows, of Government makes laws for the ruling course, that, the act, being in itself a of the people; it takes from the people a criminal act, no one could be justified in considerable portion of their property; it obeying those orders, any more than I compels them to yield personal services, could be justified in obeying the orders of and for what? What is the answer when the Prince Regent (if it could be supposed we complain of heavy burdens? When possible that he would give me such orders) we complain that so large a share of our to fire the house of any one of the King's property is taken from us in taxes? When subjects. But our hirelings contend that we complain of the quantity of our neces- the people, who have been tried and consaries of life being so much reduced? The demned by the French, had a right to set answer always is, that these privations are fire to the City of Moscow, "without any necessary to the defence of our country" other authority than their own brave and against the enemy; that they are necessary to secure us in the quiet enjoyment of what the government does not take from us. And, what sense is there in this, unless it be meant to tell us, that, if we give the government all that is demanded from us in taxes, the government, on its part, will be able and willing to afford us protection Momis. 4

"laudable resolution."-Brave and laudable resolution! Impudent hirelings! The "brave and laudable resolution of setting fire by night to the dwellings of 300,000 poor defenceless creatures! The brave and laudable resolution of burning to death 30,000 men who had been wounded in battle against the enemy: Reader, in

be made personally responsible; and that all the members of the national assembly and other persons in authority, not excepting the national guards of Paris, should be made personally responsible for all events, on pain of losing their heads, pursuant to military trials, without hope of pardon; that the City of Paris should be given up to military execution, and should be exposed to total destruction; and finally, that, every place and town whatsoever which should concur with the City of Paris, should also be given up to military execution and exposed to total destruction. -Mr. Editor of the Times news-paper, you tell us, that you have proclamations of the ruffian Ge

all Europe there is not to be found wretches so base as to hold such language, except in England. Here, and here only, the promulgators of such horrid sentiments could find encouragement.But, observe what a field of destruction is here opened; what a scourge is here let loose! Admit this doctrine, and then, the moment a country is invaded it is exposed to fire and sword at the hands of any part of the people. Any band of ruffians who may wish to profit from confusion, will here find a complete justification for any crimes, any acts of cruelty, any arsons, any murders, that their views may lead them to commit. In order to illustrate a little further the nature of the act committed at Moscow,nerals of France as you call them. Find it may not be amiss to observe on what has us one equal to this, and then we may albeen sometimes said of the conduct of Na- low, perhaps, that the French Generals poleon and the French Generals.They have come up to the example, set them by have been accused, and they are accused the kings of Europe.I was in France by the Times news-paper upon this occawhen this memorable proclamation was sion, with having issued proclamations con-issued; and when it was, soon afterwards, taining "threats of razing houses, burning "down whole towns, shooting individuals, " and banishing families, for mere ad"herence to the duties of loyalty and pa"triotism." Now, this latter part of the assertion is false; because they never told any body, that they would punish them for being either loyal or patriotic; or for the adherence to any duty whatever. This is an addition by the Editor of the Times news-paper. The French Generals only told the people that they would punish them in this manner, if they were guilty of resistance to their wilt.And now, without stopping to inquire how far they were justified in these their threats by invaders in former wars, let us see how far they stand justified by the combination of crowned heads, under whose orders France itself was invaded in the year 1792, when this long and bloody series of warfare was begun under the late Duke of Brunswick Lunenburg. This Duke, in his proclamation, dated at his head quarters at Coblentz, on the 25th of July, 1792, and addressed to the inhabitants of France, told them, that, unless they obeyed his commands, he would treat them as rebels; that he would cause them to lose their heads and estates; that the inhabitants of towns, burghs, and villages, who should dare to defend themselves against his troops, in any way whatever, should be punished instantly, according to the rigorous rules of war, or their houses should be demolished or burned; that the City of Paris and all its inhabitants, without distinction, should

followed by the actual invasion of France, with a view to put these horrid threats into execution.- However, if it was cruel and atrocious in the French Generals to issue threats of razing houses and of burning down whole towns; if this was cruel and atrocious; if the bare threat was cruel and atrocious in an enemy, what must the execution be, in a friend, nay, in a sovereign himself? And, what a character are these men providing for the Emperor of Russia?The THIRD assertion is, that Napoleon had no right to create any tribunal to try the incendiaries, and that it was a tribunal equally unknown to the laws of God and man, of nature and of nations, and only competent to pronounce a sentence of judicial murder.This assertion is equally false with the two former; for, at the time that this tribunal was created, and at the time when the crime was committed, the city of Moscow was under the dominion of Buonaparte, and the people of that city owed him allegiance as their sovereign by conquest, Those who have written upon the law of nations, lay it down, that a conqueror has a right to make prisoners of war if he chooses, of all the subjects of the hostile power who may fall into his hands, though they have committed no violence against him; but, that, now-a-days, the conqueror generally carries his rights, in this respect, no further than to exercise certain rights of sovereignty over them, such as raising and quartering troops among them, making them pay taxes, obey his laws, and punishing as rebels those who

consequences. If it were once to be admitted, that a sovereign, when unable to keep any portion of his dominions out of the hands of the enemy, has a right, while he himself is safe at a distance, to cause the destruction of all the houses, and the utter ruin, if not the death, of all the inhabitants of that part of his dominions; if this were once to be admitted as sound

self in any other light than that of a beast, propagated, and reared up, for the mere use and pleasure of an owner.The people have rights as well as their sovereign. The crown, as the Prince Regent once declared, is, in this country, held for the benefit of the people; but, what becomes of this maxim, if the people are to be sacrificed, to be actually burnt out of their houses, to lose their property or their lives, for the preservation of the crown?

attempt to betray him or shake off his yoke, It is clear, then, that, according to the law of nations, as practised amongst the old governments of Europe, the city of Moscow became subject to the Emperor Napoleon on the day that his army marched into it, which was on the fourteenth of September, and it is stated that it was on the 14th and 15th of that month that the persons executed by order of the court-doctrine, no subject could look upon himmartial, were detected in the act of setting hre to the city. Upon what ground, therefore, can any man attempt to deny the right of Napoleon to create a tribunal for the trial of such persons? He had not only a right to do it, but it was his duty to do it; for, not to have done it, would have been to wink at one of the greatest crimes that ever was committed in the world. That the firing of the city took place after it was in his possession cannot be denied, because it was his own soldiers who detected the incendiaries in the act; and, therefore, unless we deny, that the conqueror of any country or place has a right to punish men for criminal acts committed in any country or place, we must allow, not only that Napoleon had a right to erect the tribunal in question, but also, that, allowing the facts to have been clearly proved, this sentence of that tribunal was just. Let us apply this doctrine of the Times news-paper to ourselves. I beseech the reader to believe, that, notwithstand ing all the impudent boasting of the hired news-papers; notwithstanding all the braggings of these vile flatterers of folly; I beg the reader to believe, that notwithstanding all this, the world has a right to judge, and will judge, our conduct by the same standard that we judge the conduct of others. I ask, therefore, this question: if, in the night following the day when we took possession of Flushing, a number of the natives of that town had been detected by our soldiers in setting fire to the houses while the people were asleep; and, if our commander had tried them by a court-martial, and ordered them to be shot, I ask, whether we should not, in such a case, have applauded the conduct of our commander? The reader must know that we should have applauded such conduct; and, therefore, he must acknowledge that these accusations against Napoleon are unfounded.It is not, however, to defend him that I have entered upon these observations. It is in order to expose to timely reprobation, a doctrine, which, if once generally tolerated, might lead to the most destructive

-Having now, as, I think, proved the falsehood of the three first assertions abovementioned, the fourth and fifth fall to the ground of course; and, indeed, it is not to be credited, that, except amongst our hired writers, any man living is to be found, capable of believing, or of affecting to believe, that all the nations of the world ought to protest against a conqueror exercising the rights of sovereignty, and that the Emperor of Russia would be justified in putting to death his prisoners of war to avenge that of the acknowledged incendiaries of the capital of his empire. These vile writers, in the indulgence of their silly rage against Buonaparté, care not who they involve. In this case, not content with comparing the conduct of our army in Portugal with that of the incendiaries of Moscow, they tell us, that, in this act of Buonaparte, a blow is struck at every wise and cautious government, and every brave and patient people. And, they pretty broadly hint that our government would do right to complain of this act of Buonaparté, lest he should hereafter take occasion to proceed against some of our people in Portugal and Spain, on grounds similar to those whereon he has proceeded against the incendiaries at Moscow. Their object is, to blacken Buonaparté; to take the part of every one who is against him; but, I suspect, that very few of the persons composing the native part of our brave army in Spain and Portugal, will think themselves much honoured in being put upon a level with the incendiaries of Moscow; and as little should I think that Lord Wellington will regard it as a compliment to be defended upon the same

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(Signed)

MARCOFF.

ground that a defence is set up for Count Rastopchin, who, according to the accounts greater length. I have the honour, &c. published in these our news-papers, was the person who organized the burning of the Russian capital, and the almost certain destruction of its three hundred thousand of inhabitants.I have now, I trust, placed this matter in its true light; and have shown how dangerous it is for us to couple the adoption of doctrines with our feelings towards Buonaparte. This may lead us into enormous errors; and, therefore, the sooner and the more effectually we divest ourselves of the habit, the better.

Translation of a Letter addressed by Count Rastapchin to the Emperor Alexander, dated Moscow.

WM. COBBETT.

Botley, Wednesday, 18th Nov. 1812.

OFFICIAL PAPERS.

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Sire, The oaths I have taken to your Majesty guarantees my fidelity. I fulfil the duty of a Christian, and of a faithful subject, in exposing to your Imperial Majesty considerations which have been suggested by existing circumstances, by a knowledge of mankind, and the zeal which animates me for the glory of my country, and the preservation of the Nobility whom your Majesty yourself deems to be the sole support of the throne. This illustrious body, animated by the spirit of Pojarsky and Minine, are ready to sacrifice every thing for Twenty-fourth Bulletin of the French Grand their country, and the pride of bearing the Army-(Continued from page 638.) Russian name. The militia being formed, give a general battle, and to employ every will oppose an insurmountable barrier to possible means to prevent the enemy from the enemy of the world, and put an end getting to Moscow. The position of our to his desire of entering a country protected army is a very fine one, and gives every by God, and where the foot of an enemy reason to hope for victory. The advanced has not trod for an hundred years past. guard, which is at the distance of 12 wersts, But all these measures, all these armaments from the first line, was engaged yesterday hitherto unheard of, will vanish in the with a superior force of the enemy; they twinkling of an eye, if the desire of acattacked several times, but were always re- quiring a pretended liberty should raise the pulsed. The advanced guard received or- people upon the ruin of the nobles, the only ders to-day to retire upon the first line, to object of the populace in all troubles, and afford means to the enemy of giving battle in all revolutions. This class of men would to Moscow, and our army is ready to re- now so much the more readily deliver themceive them. Eight battalions of my selves to their excesses, after the examples troops are with the first army, and six with of the French, and these sad events, the the second. There remains to me 3,000 inevitable consequences of which, are the men, to take care of the security of the destruction of laws and of Sovereigns.villages, which have been plundered, and The measures taken to send foreigners out several of which have been burnt by our of the empire have only produced ill, as baggage attendants, and by the Cossacks. scarcely one in forty has determined to quit I have likewise a column of 4,000 men in a country, where every foreigner receives reserve in the left wing. We reckon on a consideration and fortune. If the French battle to-morrow. I will write to you if it have taken the oath of naturalization, it is takes place, which depends entirely upon through fear and cupidity, and without its Napoleon. We wait for his attack. If, producing any change by their manner, or however, he delays too long, the Prince is their desire of injuring Russia, which is determined to attack him. He continues proved in their insinuations in the Corpoto fortify his camp. I have entreated him,rations, that they only wait for Napoleon to as well as all the other Generals, to give be free. Sire, purify Russia, and keep battle, and force the enemy to retire. The none but priests; order to be sent back bePrince says himself that it will be necessa-yond the frontiers a troop of wretches, ry, to prevent the enemy from entering Moscow, as if he gets there it will render him master of all Russia.—Barclay de Tolli remains still in possession of the command of the first army, and of the Ministry of War. He continues to correspond with

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whose sad influence corrupts the souls and minds of your virtuous subjects.My duty, my oath, my conscience, direct me to fulfil a sacred duty, in laying before you the truth, such as I present it to you at a time when your heart will render justice to

my sincere attachment.I conjure you, therefore, Sire, in the name of the Most High, to think of the past and the present, of the treason of Stepanoff, of the disposition of the public mind, of philosophers, of martinists, and of the election of a Chief of the Militia of Moscow. Appear for some days in this capital, and your presence may revive, in the hearts of your subjects, that love which has been almost extinguished by dissension, forgetfulness of the laws, and contempt for the Ministry. I am, &c. COMTE THEODORE RASTAPCHIN.

with the wings, but at length the springs broke, and I was obliged to terminate my operations. The balloon is filled and all the other apparatus in order, and I shall be well content if you will convince yourself upon these points, by honouring me with your presence.As I have said that the delay is owing to bad steel, although it is the best that could be procured in Moscow, it may be necessary to state that a person has promised to relieve me from this embarrassment, by furnishing me with better steel, and I'must wait the result.I flatter myself that your Excellency will believe me, when I say, that this delay has

Copies and Translations of three Letters, signed Leppich, addressed to the Gover-caused me much chagrin; but when I shalt nor-General Rastapchin. have received the promised steel, all will go on well.I am, &c.

[This Leppich is a quack mechanician, who appears to have been charged with the direction of the formation of the famous infernal balloon. It will be seen by the first Letter, that M. Rastapchin himself furnished the necessary funds for this work.]

To M. Le Comte Rastapchin.

July 30 (Aug. 11), 1812. M. le Comte, I pray you to transmit to me by this opportunity 12,000 roubles in bank-notes.I greet you sincerely, and am your Excellency's very humble, &c.

(Signed) LEPPICH.

Translated from the Russian, 24th Aug.

(4th Sept.), 1812.

M. Le Comte,-Your Excellency can scarcely figure to yourself how much trouble I have had in finishing my balloon. The want of practice in my workmen has placed me under the necessity of doing the more trifling things myself; and not knowing the Russian language, I could only employ Germans. All this has prevented my ascension to-day; but at length my balloon is finished. To-morrow at noon, without fail, I shall ascend in it, and in a few hours the aerostat will be only visible from Moscow with a telescope. I have the honour, (Signed)

&c.

LEPPICH.

(Signed)

LIPPICH.

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Reports respecting the Battles of Frasnoi,
Smolensk, and Valontino.

Report of the Duke of Elchingen to the
Major-General, respecting the Bivouac of
Kanosava, seven leagues from Smolensk,
14th Aug. 1812, at eleven o'clock in the
evening.

Monseigneur, I have the honour to acquaint your Highness, that the 5th Corps D'Armée deployed this morning from KaDnieper, near Khomino, in the direction of rasinim, by the wooden bridge over the Krasnoi. Having received orders from the Emperor to proceed rapidly towards that town, where, according to a report received by his Majesty, the enemy had a regiment of infantry, the head of my column arrived there about three o'clock in the afternoon. The 24th light infantry, supported by the remainder of the 10th division, attacked the enemy with a wonderful degree of boldness, and Krasnoi was carried by assault without any hesitation.

-The enemy, whose strength amounted to nearly 6,000 infantry, 1,200 cavalry, and ten pieces of cannon, had formed in echelon, and assumed a threatening aspect behind the town; but the infantry attacked (This Leller was wrillen in French.) them so vigorously that they were forced to M. Le Comte,-You cannot imagine how retreat, which they did in good order, unmany difficulties I have had to surmount to der the protection of their artillery, which succeed in my enterprize; and, what cha-was very well served.At half a league grins me more, is, that yesterday, when my object appeared to be attained, the mechanical springs failed in consequence of the badness of the steel. The machine advanced well and made some movements

distance from Krasnoi, the cavalry, commanded by the King of Naples, also attacked and pursued the enemy; the Russian infantry, which had been abandoned by their cavalry, formed at first two close co

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