ページの画像
PDF
ePub

religion, freedom, and property, to
be trampled upon; she will defend
them to the last drop of her blood.
Hitherto the general zeal against
the enemy clearly evinces how pow
erfully our empire is guarded by
the undaunted spirit of its sons.
Thus no one despairs; nor is this
a time to despair, when every class
of the empire is inspired with cou-
rage and firmness-when the ere-
my, with the remainder of his daily
decreasing forces, at a distance from
home, in the midst of a numerous
people, is surrounded by our armies,
one of which stands before him, and
the other three are endeavouring to
cut off his retreat, and to prevent
him from receiving any fresh re-
inforcements-when Spain has not
only thrown off his yoke, but also
threatens to invade his territories-
when the greatest part of Europe
(exhausted and enslaved by him),
serving him involuntarily, is anxi-
ously and impatiently awaiting the
mement when she shall tear herself
from his heavy and insupportable
chains-when his own country sees
no end to the torrent of its blood,
shed for his ambition.

In the present disastrous state of human affairs, will not that country acquire eternal fame, which, after encountering all the inevitable desolations of war, shall at last, by its patience and intrepidity, succeed in procuring an equitable and permanent peace, not only for itself, but also for other powers; nay, even for those who are unwillingly fight ing against us? It is gratifying and natural for a generous nation to render good for evil.

Almighty God! turn thy merciful eye to thy supplicating Russian church. Vouchsafe courage and patience to thy people struggling in a just cause, so that they may thereby overcome the enemy; and

in saving themselves,may also defer.d the freedom of kings and nations.

PROCLAMATION OF THE EMPEROR

ALEXANDER, DATED ST. PETERSBURGH, NOVEMBER 15TH. We, Alexander the First, by the grace of God, emperor and autocrat of all the Russias, &c.

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 resorted to by the punctual fulfilment of the peaceable stipulations, nor our steady endeavours by all possible means to avert the effects of a bloody and destructive war, have been able to check his obstinate design, in which he has shewn himself entirely immoveable. With peaceful promises on his tongue, he never ceased to At length having think on war. collected a large army, and strengthened it with Austrian, Prussian, bavarian, Wurtemburg, Westphalian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish regiments, who constrained through disgrace and fear, he put himself in motion with this immense force; supplied 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 villages 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 lying concealed in the depth of his mind. The mighty and happy Russian empire, which possesses every thing in abundance, awakened in the heart of the enemy envy and dread. The possession of the whole

world

world could not satisfy him, so long as the fertile fields of Russia still were happy. Full of this envy and internal hatred, he revolved, turned, and arranged in his mind, all manner of evil means by which he might give a dreadful blow to her power, a total confusion to her riches, and bring general destruction on her prosperity. He likewise thought by cunning and flattery, to shake the fidelity of our subjects; by the defilement of the sanctuaries and God's temples, to make religion ansteady, and to strike the national sight with follies and extravagancies. On these hopes he built his destructive plans, and with them he forced himself, like a pestilential and murderous tempest, into the heart of Russia.

The whole world has fixed its attention on our suffering country, and inwardly moved, thought they saw in the reflection of the flames of Moscow the last day of the existence of our freedom and independence. But great and mighty is the God of Justice! The triumph of the enemy was of short duration; pressed on all sides by our valiant armies and levies, he soon discovered that by his temerity, he had ventured too far, and that he could not, either by his vaunted army, his seducements, or his cruelties, inspire fear into the loyal and valiant Russians, nor save himself from destruction. After many fruitless endeavours, and now that he sees his numerous troops every where beaten and destroyed, he, with the small remains of them, seeks his personal safety in the rapidity of his flight; he flies from Moscow with as much fear and depression as he advanced against it with pride and insolence; he flies, leaving his cannon behind him, throwing away his baggage, and sacrificing every thing

that can retard the swiftness of his flight. Thousands of the fugitives daily fall to the earth and expire. In such manner does the just vengeance of God punish those who insult his temples. Whilst we, with paternal tenderness and joyful heart, observe the great and praiseworthy actions of our faithful subjects, we carry our most warm and lively gratitude to the first cause of all good, -the Almighty God; and in the next place we have to express our thanks, in the name of our common country, to all our loyal subjects, as the true sons of Russia. B. their general energy and zeal, the force of the enemy is brought down to the lowest degree of decline, for the greater part has either been annihilated or made prisoners. All have unanimously joined in the work. Our valiant armies have every where defeated the enemy. The higher nobility have spared nothing by which it could contribute to the increase of the strength of the state. The merchants have distinguished themselvs by sacrifices of all kinds. The loyal people, burghers, and peasantry, have given such proofs of fidelity and love for their country, as can only be expected of the Russian nation. They have zealously and voluntarily entered into the hastily raised levies, and have shewn a courage and resolution equal to veteran warriors. They have with the same force and intrepidity penetrated the enemy's regiments, with the same implements with which they on a few weeks before turned up their fields. In this manner the troops of levies sent from St. Petersburgh and Novogorod, for the strengthening of the forces under count Wittgenstein, have behaved themselves, especially at Polotzk, and other places. We have

besides,

besides, and with heartfelt satisfaction, perceived by the reports of the commander in chief of the armies, and from other generals, that in several governments, and particularly in those of Moscow and Kalouga, the country people have armed themselves, chosen their own leaders, and not only resisted all attempts at seducing them, but also sustained all the calamities that have befallen them with the perseverance of martyrs. Often have they united themselves with our detachments, and assisted them in making their enterprizes and attacks against the enemy. Many villagers have secreted their families and tender infants in the woods; and the inhabitants, with armed hand and inconceivable courage, under engagements on the Holy Gospel not to leave each other in danger, defended themselves, and whenever the enemy shewed him self, have fallen upon him, so that many thousands of them have been cut to pieces, and dispersed by the peasants, and even by their women, and numbers taken prisoners, who were indebted for their lives to the

humanity of those very people whom they came to plunder and destroy.

So high a purpose, and suck invincible perseverance in the whole nation, does it immortal honour, worthy of being preserved in the minds of posterity. With the courage of such a nation, we entertain the most well founded hopes. Whilst we, jointly with the true church, and the holy synod and clergy, supplicate God's assistance, that if our inveterate enemy, and the mocker of God's temple and holiness, should not be entirely and totally destroyed in Russia, yet that his deep wounds, and the blood it has cost him, will bring him to acknowledge her might and strength.

Meanwhile we hold it to be our bounden duty, by this general publication before the whole world, to express our gratitude to the valiant, loyal, and religious Russian nation, and thereby render it due justice.

Given at St. Petersburgh, the 15th day of November, in the year 1812 after the birth of Christ, and in the 12th year of our reign. (Signed)

ALEXANDER.

An

An ACCOUNT of the Income of, and Charge upon the CONSOLI-
DATED FUND, in the Years ending 5th January, 1811 and 1812;
together with an Account of the WAR TAXES for the same Periods.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

An Account of the AMOUNT of BALANCES of SUMS issued for the Payment of Dividends due and not demanded, and for the Payment of LOTTERY PRIZES OF BENEFITS, which had not been claimed, and which remained in the hands of the Governor and Company of the BANK of ENGLAND, on the undermentioned Days, being those next before the Issue, from the Exchequer, of Money for the Payment of Dividends on Account of the National Debt; for each of the four preceding Quarters respectively-(Pursuant to 48 Geo. III. cap. 4.)

[blocks in formation]

An Account of the total value of the FORGED NOTES presented at the BANK of ENGLAND for Payment, and refused, from being forged, for the eleven Years, from 1st of January, 1801, to 31st December, 1811:

The nominal value of the forged notes presented for payment, and }£101,661

refused within the

Bank of England, 26th March, 1812.

...

H. HASE, Chief Cashier.

N. B. The above return includes all forged notes, supposed to have been fabricated on the continent, and presented within the aforesaid period.

« 前へ次へ »