The National Register.
London, England, 1813-04-18 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

THE DON COSSACK.

APRIL 18.

Wednesday last, at noon, Caudilll and the neighbourbood.of the
Royal Exchange, was crowded almost to suffocation by persons ars-
sembled for the purpose of seeing the Rassian Officer, Captain Bock,
alai the Don Cossack, who arrived in this c: sultry on Friday se'ainght,
They arrived at the Mansion House shortly after one o'clock ; and
were greeted with loud and repealed acclamations, ansl. cendrieted by
the thy Marsha:3 t) the anti chamber, where the Lord Mayor, at-
tended by several of the Ildermen, received them. A very hand.
some cold collation was prepased, of which Captain Bock and the Cos.
sack partook. Mr. Grant kindly undertook to he the 1. terpreter
ba'-
tt can Isis Lordship and the veteran warrior. His Lordship assured the
Cossack, that as Chief Magistrate of the city of London, he wars
proud and happy to offer Ins hand to so dtstinguislad a soldit r, al-
thouah Le was not decorated with title and rank. The ati,wer of the
Cos3ack was short, but emphatic ; he thanked the Lord Nlayor, and
was ready to die for the geod of his Sovereign and his country. His
Lordship then took the veteran by the hand, and a hearty shake took
place on both sides.
Captain Bock was in foll uniform ; and a jewel, the reward of Ilia
valour in the battle of Borodino, was pendant from his ner k. The
name of the. Cossack is Alexander Wittischendst ; he is it his eslth
year, and had been allowed to retire on a peasant. the row aid of his
courage and good conduct. When lie heard of the lava:aril of Isis
country by the French, he quitted his retirement, and voluotariF en-
rolled himself and his two sons in defeace t native indepenet nee.
He wa4 dressed in tie Cossack caataare, its a lard • pistel staci% on
his left side, on a belt, a musket slung behind him, and a pike ups.
wards of ten feet lung, shod with sharp iron. 'to a question put to
him by Mr. Grant, at the desire of teveral Gentle:mos, w kaiser he
killed any of the enemy, he answered with great navich—" Three
officers, besides the fry."
At half-past one the Lord Mayor and'atteudants, with the Don Cos.
sack, and Captain Back, proceeded to the Rival Exchange.--
The rash into 'Clialige was irresistible, and a very narrow lane was
formed with great difficulty, through w filch they pr ceeded in) to
Lloyu's, and placed themselves in the gallery on the west side, where
the Cossack could be distinctly seen from reel, part The huzzas were
cordial and repented. Silence being at !coatis obtained, the Lord
Mayor said that he was desired by the noble Wurtior, and the Don
Cossack, to return their best acknowledgements for the gratify iota re-
cep.ion he had experienced. Ile Olen proposed-a salute of thee
times three to the gallant visitors, and his Lordship gi‘ing the word, it
was complied with by acclaniwions as cheerfal mid loud as ever al re
heard in that place. His Lordship their said, he was requestad by
Captain Bock to propose three times three to Lord Wellington terd the
British Army, which was zealously adopted. Old Engatod was also
given with three times three.
The Lord Mayor, by the desire of the Don Cossack, communicated
through the Interpreter, assured the Meeti g that he should always
continue faithful to his country, and to Isis Sovert ign; and that he
had trained up his two sons, who were ready to die in the same good
cause. His Lordship added, that the Cossack had with the instrument
in his hand killed thirty-nine of the enemy. Au universal Insist of ac-
clamation succeeded, and the visitors withdrew.
The following is a description of the persists of the Don Cossack,
who has attracted so much attention :

His stature is about six feet ; his make robust and manly ; los car-
riage and demeanor very erl, and even graceful ; his motions and
gestures being entirely tree from that angular stitfoess which civilized
etiquette has attached to the soldier. His features and conhtemoce,
thought rough and military, are at the same time expressive of ex-
ceeding good nature and honesty. His broad and open f qchend is
the very mirror of candour and simplicity ; and wt,ether from the sof-
tening hand of age, or the pastoral habits of his counte men, there is
nut one trait of the brutal character in his lace. His beard is long
and bushy, adding much to the power of his eyes, which; though light
in col,ior, beans forth with much fire. llts hair, less grey than his
heard, flowing unconfined, is combed back over his sie..l: about the
length of six inches; on the tbrehead, it is cut stmt and straight. His
dress consists of a blue jacket and loose trowsers of coarse cloth, with
shoes very broad and round at the toes. as if to allow free action to
the feet, on which he stands rem& kably straight and firm. His band
is remarkably broad in its spread, thiutgh his fingers are not long; and
he manages his arms, consisting of a pistol, a musket, a sabre, and a
long pike, with wonderful address and case, and carrying them with-
out the least appearance of being eucumbered by their weight, or in-
convenienced by the length of the musket or pike. It is said that a
subscription is contemplated, for the purpose of sending him back
handsomely clothed and armed, in testimony of the general admira-
aura of the British nation for his countrpneus' valour and his own.