The National Register.
London, England, 1813-01-03 00:00:00

~_ -~

2

THE NATION

•
liberty to the slaves, but when he perceived the brutality of
that class of persons, he would not agree to a measure which
would have devoted many to death. So then, NAPOLEON
had it in his power to conquer Russia with her own popula-
tion, but this would have been an act olanim°si/y, which he
could not reconcile to his conscience. From this, we must.
suppose, he did not attempt to stir up the Russian people
against • their government, and of course believe that
be was in no wise concerned in exciting the Poles to hostili-
ties against Russia. But for his effot is to soothe that irritation
which he found among them, they would, doubtless, have been
much more formidable to their neighbours. Russia ought
to feel very much obliged to him, but what ought to be,
and what must be the feelings of the French, when they are
told all this? What must the thousand's, now in mourning
in his happy dominions say, when they are told that he could,
with the means he had in his bands, have conquered Russia,
and saved his army the disasters of that disgraceful flight,
which made his wretched followers at once the scorn and the
pity of all Europe. What will be said by the widows, who
" Long look fur Lords, who never will return."
when they learn that their husbands were devoted to de-
struction, by the tenderness of NAPOLEON for the Russians.
If they merited this consideration, why did he go to war
with them ? Oh, it was a war of policy— and being a war
of policy, it was quite natural Tor " a wise captain at the
bead of an immense army in Russia," to sacrifice his own
soldiers to his regard for an enemy. It was policy to under-
take this political crusade in order to give the Rus-
sians a campaingn's drilling, in order to make their Mo-
narch an enemy worthy the arms of NAPOLEON the flreat.
These considerations, and a feeling of humanity, made this
father of soldiers" consign his jinni& to all the miseries
which have overtaken them in their retreat. • Ile had doubt-
less made up his mind to c. peel what occurred. To deny
this were to impeach his foresight, in praise of which so
much has been said, and Which we are well disposed to
believe is equal to his valour, and not inferior to his hu-
manity.
What must Frenchmen think of this. speech ? Surely
they must feel that it is attrociously false, or they must be-
lieve that they have been basely sold to destruction. In
either case what confidence and what ardour must it not
excite in the new conscripts ! What must the Russians think
of this statement ? They know it to be untrue, and can only
doubt whether it is intended merely to deceive the Fiend)
peoplpeople, or whether it is published to deceive them also ?
e,
charity, and ostentatious compassion, will excite little
gratitude in their hearts. They have learnt to appreciate
the humanity of 131:0NA P A WEE, and cannot but feel that
to be insulting, which ascribes their successes to any thing
under Providence but their own valour. What must be
She effect of the language of BUON AP A RTE 011 English-
men ? Are there among us men who will still contend that
by the ensuing Spring, the Tyrant will again be enabled to
take the field, at the head of an army more powerful than
was that which now rots beneath the snows of Russia? Those
who have power to think, and honesty to express their
thoughts, will surely own losses so immense that all the
sophistry of NAPOLEON could not disguise them from
the world, mast be of such magnitude, that they can-
Itions must inspire
The enemy may
mask of affected
igth so soon as he
Council of State
been " touched" by

..

r n .

N. 2:

. . • .
the recitals contained in the 29th Bulletin, and then, after
a senseless panegyric on the hero who deserted his army,
their address proceeds in the following consoling strain :
" Let our enemies exult, if they please, in the material
losses, which -the' rigoui of the season, and the severity of the
climate occasioned ; hut F..+. them calculate our forces ; let
them learn that there'are no efforts or sacrifices, of which,
after the example of your Majesty, the French nation is not
capable, in order to realise your glorious plans."
This, like some of the passages already noticed, we could
almost suptio::e intended .to give a hint to Ru:sia, and as
the former seems framed to cajole, the latter appears de-
signed to intimidate. The strain, however, is to us al-
toffeiller delilttful. The tone adopted by the c'rest-
fißen Tyrant strotrly marks his shame and his despair. Lie
feels his power shaken to its foundation. It ran only be
re-established by future victories; victories as splendid, as
his defeat has been signal. Ile has not the means of ob-
taining these, and he hardly knows where to look for them.
He feels a we do, that it will be long before an army will
follow him with the same confidence as heretofore. lie
knows that France long &vault he was invinciLle, but
that she is now awake for ever.

FOREIGN lATELLIGENCE.

FRENCH PAPERS.

PA R rs, Dec. 20.—This day, Sunday, December the 20th, 1812, at
noon, the Emperor,—being seated on his throne, surrounded by the
Princes Grand Dignitaries, Cardinals, Ministers, Great Officers,
Great Eagles of the Legion of Honour, and attendants of his Majestv,
received the Senate, who were conducted to this audience by a Master
and Assistant of the Ceremon'es, introduced by his Excellency the
i. ancf Master, and presented by his Serene Highness the Prince
Vice-Grand-Elector. His Excellency M. the Count Lacepede the
President, delivered the following Address !
" SIRE —The Senate hastens to present at the foot of your Imperial
and Royal Majes!y's throne, the.ofFering of its congratulations on the
)rapes arrival of your Majesty among your people.
" The absence of your Majesty, Sire, is always a national calamity,
while your presence is a blessing which fills the whole French people
with joy and confider ce.
" Your Imperial and Royal Majesty has laid all the bases of the
organization of your vast empire ; but many ob.pcts yet remain to be
consolidated or executed : and the smallest delay in the completion of
our institutions is a national misfortune.

. .
". While your Imperial Majesty, Sire, was at eight hundred leagues
from your capital, at the head of your vicnuious armies, attempts
were made to disturb public order in this great capital, by men who
had escaped from prisons, in which your I mperial clemency had saved
them from death, merited by their past crimes. Thoy have paid the
penalty of their new olli.nces.
" Happy France, whose monarchial constitution places her beyond
the reach of civil discord,—and of tI e bloody feuds to which party
gives birth,—and of the horrible distractions which revolutions en-
gender.
" The Senate, first Council of the Emperor, and whose authority
only has existence when the Monarch calls it forth, and puts in move-
ment, is established for the conservation of that monarchy, and of tho
hereditary succession to your throne, un'ler our fourth dynasty.
" France and posterity will find it, under all circumstance;, faithful
to this sacrc.l trust ; and all its Members ‘N ill be always ready to die
in defence of that palladium of national security and prosperity.
" In the commencements of our ancient dynasties, Sire, the Mo-
narch has been more than once seen to ordain, that a solemn oath
should, by anticipation, connect the French of all ranks with tho
heir of the throne ; and sometimes, when the age of the young
Prince permitted it, the crown was placed upon his head as the
pledge of his future authority, and the emblem of the
.perpetuity of
the Government.

" The affection %% Ilia the whole nation feels for the King of Rome,
proves, Sire, both the att.ichment of the French to the btoQd of your
Majesty, and that internal sentiment which re-asbures every citizen,
and which points out to him, in august infant, the security of his
own children, the safeginird of his own fortune, and an instirinoutJ-
able obstacle to those intestine divisions, those civil agitations, and
thme pol;tical revolutions, which are the greatest scourges that can
afflict nations. •

" S, re, your Majesty as %N.:wed the French eagles over the towers
of Moscow. The enemy. •ould neither arrest your suci:ess nor tim art

-:a-- _

not be easily r-,•,", Ttese considera
its with ho.„sk. --'
. -'" ez fidence.
iNv-'0•
atteznet •: i It . -- •
gaiet
.43,,,i,s t,
~.!•••,_ 1 .:.,•4: . ' -er .the
army i... 1. ,) -or, - . ~ .) The
1 • ,
is. ,
Le. 1, 4 stren;
lufor $ • t ''" 4.2 s ','. . I' ,
1;\- =:.-.:-.--- in arl
_,_,___ .... rte. v/ •ye be
1 - %lii thir
41.14ra : ow

.TA''. P.

,4,16