VOL. XXII. No. 26.1 LONDON, SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 1812. 801] [Price 1s. [802 ful. This Message tells another story; it speaks, in a language not to be misunderstood, of the sufferings of the Russians. It was, it seems to me, the business of the government and army of Russia to keep the French out of that country; to prevent the people from suffering; and, not to let in the enemy, and afterwards appeal to the people of Russia to compensate the sufferers.Be this as it may, however, I cannot see, for my part, any reason why the people of England should be taxed for the purpose of feeding or clothing those of Russia, who, but a very little while ago, were amongst our enemies. If, indeed, I could see, that the sufferings of the Russians have led to our benefit, I should have less objection to the grant; but I can see no such thing; I cannot discover any possible advantage that we are to derive from the results lately witnessed in Russia; and, though I may be thought singular in this my opinion now, I shall not, I am convinced, be so thought in a few months from this time.During the debate upon the subject, it was observed, that the Russians were fighting for us as well as for themselves. The idea was this, that by their sacrifices, which had produced such distress in the army of Napoleon, and which had been the cause of all those victories over him of which we have read, a market is opened to our manufactures. This may possibly be true; but, if it be, it only tends to make good what the French have so often asserted; namely, that we derive benefit from the sufferings of the people of the Continent; and, I really do not think, that there was a great deal of wisdom in making the avowal.The sufferings of the people of MOSCOW were particularly mentioned, and Mr. Vansittart is reported to have said, that, after the burning of that city, "some hundreds SUMMARY OF POLITICS. GRANT TO THE RUSSIANS."After sweet "meat comes sour sauce," says the old proverb; and so in our case; after so much rejoicing and gun-firing comes a demand upon our purses. The reckoning comes, and we look just as foolish as a set of fellows at an ale-house, when, at the end of four or five hours singing, and halfooing, and swallowing, the landlord comes in with his long score.———— -This grant was called for by the Regent, in a Message delivered to the House of Commons, on the 17th of December, in the following memorable words:"G. P. R.-The Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the be"half of His Majesty, having taken into "his serious consideration the accounts " which he has received of the severe dis"Tresses to which the inhabitants of a part "of the Empire of Russia have been ex"posed in their persons and property, in "consequence of the unprovoked and atro"cious invasion of that country by the "Ruler of France, and the exemplary and "extraordinary magnanimity and fortitude "with which they have submitted to the "greatest privations and sufferings in the defence of their country, and the ardent "loyalty and unconquerable spirit they "have displayed in its cause, whereby re"sults have been produced of the utmost importance to the interests of this king"dom, and to the general cause of Europe, "recommends to the House of Commons, "to enable His Royal Highness, in aid of "the contributions which have been com"menced within the Russian empire for "this purpose, to afford to the suffering "subjects of His Majesty's good and great ally the Emperor of Russia, such speedy "and effectual relief as may be suitable to "this most interesting occasion."This" of thousands of persons were driven to Message, and the grant of £200,000," the sheller of the woods in a Russian which has taken place in consequence of it, are, one would suppose, sufficient to make this "most thinking nation" begin to think a little. They have been taught to believe, that the French alone were suffering, and that the Russians were completely success "winter." But, who was it that caused this dreadful suffering? Who was it that commanded Moscow to be burnt? This is a great point; and, therefore, we will hear what the Czar himself, in his proclamation of the 15th of November, says upon the Sovereign "had a plain, full, and perfect "right to cause Moscow to be burnt;" who called Napoleon a murderer because he put some of the incendiaries to death; and who called upon the Czar to put to death ten times the number of French prisoners of war by way of retaliation? What will they now say? Will they turn short about, and again accuse Napoleon of the act; an act which they have applauded to the skies; an act which they said was fully justifiable in the sovereign of the country: an act, in short, with regard to which the Morning Chronicle has recently read its recantation, confessing that it was in error when it disapproved of the act? What will they now say; now, when they hear the Czar laying this act, of which they have so much approved, upon the shoulders of Napoleon? I suppose that they will say no more of the matter. They will leave it where it is. They will not contradict the Czar; they will publish his assertion that Napoleon caused the city to be burnt; and will leave their accusations about his matter. He expresses himself thus: "It is well known to the whole world in "what manner the enemy has entered the "boundaries of our Empire. No step or " means that have so frequently been re"sorted to by us for the punctual fulfil"ment of the peaceable stipulations, nor "our steady endeavours, by all possible " means, to avert the effects of a bloody "and destructive war, has been able to "check his obstinate design, in which he "has shewn himself entirely immovable. "With peaceful promises on his tongue, "he never ceased to think on war. At "length, having collected a large army, "and strengthened it with Austria, Prus"sia, Bavaria, Wurtemberg, Westpha"lian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and "Polish regiments, who were constrained, through disgrace and fear, he put himself " in motion with this immense force, sup"plied with vast quantities of artillery, "and penetrated into the interior of our country. Murder, fire, and destruction were his attendants on the march. The "plundered property, the towns and vil-" murder" of the incendiaries unretracted; "lages set on fire, the smoking ruins of "Moscow, the Kremlin blown up into the "air, the temples and altars of the Lord "destroyed-in one word, all kinds of "cruelty and barbarity, hitherto unheard "of, at length prove by his own actions that they have long been laying conceal"ed in the depth of his mind. The mighty "and happy Russian empire, which pos"sesses every thing in abundance, awaken❝ed in the heart of the enemy envy and "dread. The possession of the whole world "could not satisfy him, so long as the "fertile fields of Russia still were hap"py."-Here is a distinct declaration, that it was Buonaparte who caused Moscow to be burnt; for what does it say? Why, this: "That the smoking ruins of Mos-produced the necessity of his retreat at so cow prove, by his own actions," that his designs of cruelty and barbarity have long been lying concealed in his mind. This is quite clear. There can be no other construction of the words. The Czar distinctly says, that the smoking ruins of Moscow are one proof of the designs of Napoleon; that they are a proof of what his own actions have been.Now, then, what will those hirelings say, who accused the Czar of having commanded Moscow to be burnt? or, rather, who applauded him for the act; and who justified the detected incendiaries upon the ground of their having obeyed the orders of their Sovereign; who asserted that that so that, between the two, the thinking inclement a season; and, in short, that led many of them have taken their departure) " Whether we could go the length of adfor having voluntarily burnt their own "dressing one of the French Princes in houses and food and raiment, rather than this language of Shakespeare, we do not suffer them to afford shelter and comfort to" pretend to decide. But at least we may the French; what will be said of their assert that this is the time in which voluntary sacrifices, if we now adopt the Louis XVIII might produce much belief, that it was by the enemy's order" effect by publishing an Address to the that the burning took place?—These are" French Nation.If the reluctance to difficulties out of which none but persons" do this arise from a belief that the like those who conduct our press would be "French will be the first to make overable to extricate themselves. Whether "tures to him, it is, we think, by no they will or not I shall not pretend to say;" means politic. A frank and open debut, certain I am, that, if they fail, it"claration should come from him, guawill not be for the want of falsehood and ranteeing the purchasers of the national impudence unparalleled in the history of" property, acknowledging the Senate, and the world.- With respect to the grant, I" confirming the civil officers in the posshall only further observe, that it seems to "session of their places. The effect of me of little consequence whether the money "such a declaration under such circumbe sent to Russia or to the Peninsula. It"stances as the present, might have every is, perhaps, full as well to expend it in "beneficial effect, at least it could do no the North as in the South. I do not like" harm."--Here, then, we have, at to make a great deal of the matter; if I last, openly avowed that which it has alhad had the distribution of £200,000, I ways been suspected was at the bottom of could have found objects in England on the hearts of some persons in this country. whom to confer it; but, if it be to go to Here, too, Buonaparte and the people of foreigners, I would as lief the Russians France will see, what these persons would should have it as the Portuguese, or the do, if they had the power.- -As to the Sicilians, or the Spaniards, or the Hano- guaranteeing work spoken of in the close, verians, or any other nation. I have the people of France will, I dare say, see really no choice in such a case. I would that they, at present, stand in need of no give none of them money; and if we are guarantee, and will not be in a hurry compelled to pay taxes to give to any of to desire one. They will, doubtless, rethem, I care not a straw which of them collect, that with him, whom we now it is. call an usurper, we made a treaty of peace and friendship some years ago; and, perhaps, they will find it very difficult to comprehend what has made him an usurper now more than he was then.But, it seems, that "the French nation MUST now be THE BOURBONS.- -Ever since it was known that Napoleon had experienced a reverse of fortune in Russia, our hired prints have been preparing the way for the introduction of the project of restoring the Bourbons; and, on the 18th instant, the Courier, in the height of its joy at the news from Russia, openly avowed the project in the following terms: If ever there "was a time when, more than another, "the Bourbons had a chance of remounting "the Throne of their ancestors, this is surely the time, when defeat and disgrace have attended THE USURPER, "and when the French nation, drained of "its population, and ruined in its commerce, must be discontented from one "end to the other. Whether it would be "wise to have one of the Princes of that "House, the husband of the interesting daughter of Louis the XVIth, or the "Duke de Berri, hoist the Royal Standard at once: "Now is the time of help: your eye in France Would create soldiers, make our women fight, "To doff their dire distresses; "discontented from one end to the other." As to the defeat and disgrace of Buonaparté, why, as the Morning Chronicle asked the other day, should we suppose the people of France more alive upon such a point than the people of England? And, experience has taught us, that such events produce no such effects with us, as are here contemplated to be produced in France. -The truth is, however, we have, as yet, no proof of either the disgrace or the defeat of Buonaparte. That he has had, and, perhaps, still has, very great difficulties to contend against; that his army has greatly suffered; that he has experienced enormous "the Island of Houat, with a design to losses; that he may be obliged to evacuate" penetrate into the Morbihan; notice of a great part of the Russian territory which" the circumstance was given on the 21st he had overrun; all this may be true; and " November to Captain Molini, Comyet, in the usual meaning of the words, he "mandant of the Imperial Navy, of the may have suffered neither disgrace nor de-" four departments. This officer immedifeat; and, therefore, it is the height of "ately dispatched his Majesty's lugger folly, to say nothing of its detestable wick-"Alert, to seize the Brigands. The Lieueduess, in any one in this country to broach" tenant of the lugger arrived in the evensuch a project as that of carrying on the "ing of the 22d, at the anchorage of the war for the restoration of the Bourbons; "island, and landed at midnight, at the and, of course, for bringing Europe back" head of a detachment from his vessel, to the state in which it was twenty years "with which he went to the house where it ago. The Times newspaper of the was supposed they lodged. They found 19th instant says: "To suppose that de- " the whole three. The moment the Lieu66 gradation will effect any moral change in" tenant entered, they fell on him and his "his nature, will humble his mind, and " party with pistols and poniards, deter"incline him to peace and good faith, and "mined to force their way out. After a des"the severe duties of justice, is to betray a "perate struggle to overpower them, it "total ignorance of the force of passions was found necessary to shoot them. There "deeply rooted, and nurtured by long and" was nothing found about them but pistols "excessive indulgence. Whilst he lives" and poniards. Their Chief alone had a "and acts the Monarch, he will endeavour" small paper of poison in his pocket. to act the Tyrant. He must, therefore," They were recognised to be Depiege, "be divested of all power to do mischief;" alias Debar, Deguern, alias Sans-Souci, "he must be entirely beaten down and "and Droz. Their papers and instructions "destroyed. Towards this great and salu- "were found by Lieutenant Allanioux, in tary end, much progress has been made by the late splendid victories of the Rus"sian arms. It is for our Statesmen to 66 66 66 a portmanteau, and were immediately forwarded to Capt. Molini, who 66 sent them to the Police. These miserfinish the great work so happily begun," able wretches only obtained lodgings by animating the oppressed nations of " by threatening the inhabitants of Houat. Europe, with one common spirit of re- "This event will deter the Spies of Eng"sistance against a tyranny which now "land from returning to this island. The "tollers on its base.". These are the "Quarter-Master Person, who attacked sentiments now afloat, the expression of "Deguero, received several stabs of the which, though through channels so con- "poniard in his clothes. The artillerytemptible, may, perhaps, prolong, for "man Allcan, received a ball in his left years, this terrible war. It is impossible," side, but the wound is not dangerous. after this, to think of peace with Napoleon "The Journal de l'Empire refers its upon any terms which shall leave us the "readers to the intelligence from L'Orient, power of annoying him. I, the other day," as affording an explanation of a paraquoted a passage from one of these papers, "graph in the London papers of the 30th in which the whole French nation were "ult. which stated that a French General made participators in the alleged crimes" and two French Colonels had been landed of their Chief; and they are now told, that "in France by the Armide frigate.— that chief must be beaten down and wholly" The pretended General," it says, 66 was destroyed.In the meanwhile there is an "the old Chouan Chief Debar, and his account published in the French papers of " soi-disant Colonel, Droz and Deguero, some attempts having actually been made "ruffians notorious by the crimes which to bring about a counter-revolution in that" they committed in our civil broils. They country. This account is very curious, and "embarked at Plymouth in the beginning not less interesting to us, as will be seen" of November, and arrived in Quiberon from a perusal of it and from the observa- " Bay, where they remained four or five tions which it naturally suggests. The days on board, not daring to land. At articles from the French papers are as fol-length they caused themselves to be conlows: "L'Orient, Nov. 25.-The Com-"veyed to the Isle of Houat, where they "missary of Police, at L'Orient, having" were put on shore on the 16th Novem"received information that three English "ber." After stating their capture, it says, agents had been landed a few days on "there were found on Debar, who was 66 66 ... is possible; and, if it should not really happen, I dare say the new Dukes and Counts will thank us full as much as if it did happen.- -In short, the notions of our writers, and, indeed, the notions now set afloat in the public papers, are trulyalarming. They menace us with a war for the rest of our lives; or at least a war to continue as long as the pound bank-note will buy a quartern loaf. The promulgation of such notions places all upon the hazard of a die. If Napoleon fall, why, then, we may have peace from that cause; but, if he rise; if he surmount his present difficulties, what hope can we rationally entertain of peace with him upon any terms short of such as will deprive us of all future power? After the publication of these denunciations against him, against all persons in authority under him, and, indeed, against the whole mass of the French people; after this, who can hope for peace, if he should survive?— The same career that we ran during the Anti-Jacobin war we now seem to be en "shot on the 23d November, several de"failed reports of his operations, dated "France, Morbihan, the 2d, 3d, and 4th "December. The first is addressed to the "Prince of Wales, the second to the Duke "of Kent, and the third to the Secretary of "State for the War Department. Debar "announces in these reports, that he had "made his way into Britanny in the midst "of the greatest dangers; that he had al"ready assembled a great number of mal❝contents and deserters, and would soon "be in a situation to strike some decisive "blow; in short, he gives a daily statement of his progress up to the 4th De"cember. Thus it appears, that before he had arrived at Houat, and perhaps "before he had left London, this able Ge"neral had drawn up a faithful account of *the signal advantages which he was to "obtain twelve days after his death. We cannot refrain from congratulating the "English Ministers upon their choice of agents, and the incredible success with "which they execute the missions intrust-tering upon anew. During that war many "ed to them. This, however, is not the "first time that they have so worthily jus. tified its confidence. This affair may serve as an appendix to the mystification ❝of Drake, and merits that it should be "recorded as an additional specimen of the "sublime combinations of English policy. "We hope the details we have just given "will gratify the impatient curiosity of a "London public, and we promise them, for the future, that we shall give them punctual advices respecting such expedi"tions as often as they are sent to us. The Times news-paper, in the height of its rage at the result as here recorded, falls foul of the French police, and ascribes its vigilance to the circumstance of the fate of the new Dukes and Counts being dependent upon that of their master. They must, the Times says, all stand or fall together, and therefore the former are so faithful in the absence of the latter; to which he adds, that "the short road to peace is over the "corpse of the monster.' -These are expressions of great weight; they ought to be attended to by us, because they are sure to be attended to by Buonaparte and by the people of France. This writer threatens the new Dukes and Counts with the gibbet, in case of the fall of Napoleon; and he thinks, perhaps, that he shall have to record the putting of that threat in execution. It is, however, to look a little too far before him to see them, in " his mind's eye" thus swinging so soon. To be sure, the thing occasions offered for making a safe and honourable peace; but, whenever we saw the French arms experiencing a reverse; whenever we saw the difficulties of France disposing her rulers towards peace, our hopes of humbling her revived, and our refusal to treat goaded her on to fresh exertions. In those auspicious moments, when moderation in our views and our language might have done every thing for us and our allies, we assumed a tone that soon threw us back to our former situation; and, by a series of such conduct, we, at last, reduced ourselves to the necessity of making a peace like that of Amiens.If, when Buonaparté returned from Egypt (à fugitive as we then called him) we had accepted of his offer of peace, how different at this day would have been the state of Europe, and of England in particular! But, we then threw the Bourbons in the teeth of France; we then talked of seeing a government established such as we could make peace with. One would think that, with the bitter fruits of that day still on our palate, we should be more cautious; but, there are men whom nothing will teach prudence, WAR IN THE PENINSULA. -The French official papers give an account of the prisoners and deserters, which entered Salamanca between the 16th and 21st of November, which are stated at 25 officers and 3,497 non-commissioned officers and |