The National Register.
London, England, 1812-07-19 00:00:00

PIN 19•

with gi‘ ing this public pledge of her pacific disposition, I
even .rliett she saw the mighty preparations of her enemy,
she allowed hint to complete them, without falling into the
snare which he had spread for her, and suffering herself to
be enticed into an act of hostility, which would have enabled
him to tell the world that she was a lawless invader whom he
took up arms to repel, and to begin the contest with the
tide of public opinion in his favour. Pacific, but undaunt-
ed!, Russia neither courted nor shrunk from War. Conscious
of her renewed and accumulated means, she had shaken off
the humiliating yoke she had borne too long, and once more
acted as became an independent Power. She was willing to
negociate, and to satisfy NAPOLEON on the very points he
wished her to concede, but she would not bow before the
uplifted sword, and dentanded,as the basis of the ncociation,
that a neutral territory be left between the two armies.—
This demand which would have restored freedom of discus-
sion amongst the negotiators, every difference which might
wise being no longer likely to excite a threat of instant hos-
tiiity, was considered hy Napoetos, wbta.e plan of intitni-
dAion it would counteract, as an insult. With all his re-
prd for peace, he would not sacrifice the advanced position
Ile had etken on the Russian frontlet s to its renovati,m. And
although he had listened to those terms with apparent ac-
quiescence when proposed to him at Paris by Pt ince he RA-
hceileSe his preparations were then incomplete, and he
ht dissimulation still usvfel ; he had no sooner reached
the Niennat with hi's army, than he suddenly found them
" arrogant and extraordinary," and leaving him no alterna•
tire but " dishonour or war." The latter was instautly de •
chic-Li—the 'Niemen crossed at three places on the Q:;d ult.
at right, and, on the 26th the date of the third Bulletin •
already received, the French army occupied Kowno, likata-
noni, hossiena, and Skroroule. and its light cavalry the pkins
within ten leagues of Wilna, the capital of Lithuania. Ar.
LNDER remained in this town with his guards, and his army
vas posted at Nonikontoni and Newtroski. NAPOLEON
beasts in his Bulletin that the Russian General BAG A woRT,
with a put of the Russian army, having been cut off from
\Vilna, had been compelled to retreat towards the I)wina.
ilut as A LEX AND ER'S plan is evidently to act on the defen-
sive, and to draw the invaders of his dominions as far as pos-
sible from their resources, it is probable that this movement
was made purposely. The mote rapid the advance, the
eater will be the wants of the French, as the country
through which they proceed is wasted by the retiring army,
and it is difficult their supplies should keep pace with their
progress when, as in the present instance, it is unopposed. The
third, Bulletin, indeed, tells us, that " an immense supply
of ht.:ltaly, flour, and biscuit, is passing through Dantzick
and Konigsberg for Kowno," a pretty considerable distance,
"'nee will be greatly encreased for the next convoy, should
the Russians persevere in the wise system which they have
%!lopted. It is, therefore, evident that, even should the
Drench meet with signal advantages, they will not be able to
pursue them with their usual activity, as the country now
yields nothicg, and the Russian magazines are placed at too
Free a distance in the rear of their army to fall immediately
turn the hands of a victor. There will always he time for
their removal, during the slow advance of an army which
tlerives its sustenance from such distant parts. It may be even
dollbted whether the magazines of the French will be suffici-
ent to supply the wants of their army, if they do not feed on
the land they occupy. But as, in contemplation of this war,
p PARTE had been nearly two years collecting grain in
ru3sta from every part of the Continent, thus augmenting
arc
tittleity
which was generally felt, it is likely that his sup-
Plies will not be soon exhausted. He has also introduced