The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-12 00:00:00

171

rizours of the siege, and the inflexibility of their de-
fenders, and made signs to the French, inviting them
to occupy the town. The latter completely la into
the snare, and detached a corps of 12,000 Alen to
take immediate advantage of the apparent conta-
gion. They had no sooner entered the streets, than
they were furonslv assailed by these very women, the
townsmen, and a part of the garrison ; and, it is reported,
that the carnage was dreadful, that only 800 of the bri-
gands escaped. Six hundred of these generous ftmales
-were killed on the occasion.

We received on Friday, a series of Monitenrs to the
28th ult. Their contents as far as they refer to Austria,
are blended with rancour, misstatement, and ill-disguised
hostility. The only article of importance they contain is
an intercepted letter, said to he written by the Editor of
the Vienna Gazette to the Editor or the Hamburg Cor-
re•spondenten. This letter, which the French thought of
sufficient importance, as to consider it deserving of pub-
Ccity, corroborates our observations relative to the ARCH-
DUKE CHAHLEN, and the Austrian 'Military force. The
following is a faithful copy of this letter :
" N t, FEn. 4.—The question of peace or war, and the
part that Austria is to take, has been for a long lime the subject
,►f much uncertainty in conversation. This uncertainty arises
from our ignorance of how Austria actually stands with Russia.
Within th2,e two days the rumour of war has gained much
ground. The whole Austrian force is to he divi►led into three ar-
mies. The Emperor in person will take the command of one Of
them, with Qaat ter-Master-Geo. Chastoler under him. The 2d
will be commanded by the Archduke Charles, with the Prince
of Lichtenstein and Quarter-Master-Gen. Moyer under him.
The third will be confided to the Archduke John, wiih General
Bach for his Quarter-Masser-General. This army appears des-
tined to take a position in interior Austria. The Counsellor of
State Fassbinder, and Counts Taurau and Charles Zychy were
appointed to it -yesterday."

A Russian Messenger has certainly arrived in this coun-
try. He came over in the Auckland packet, and was
landed, oa Wednesday List, at Aldborough. The pretended
object of his arrival is to bring dispataks to Admiral Sr-
; but we are positively informed that he is the
bearer of dispatches to our gvr►erntnent. We long an.
ticipated, as our Readers will recollect, a change of Rus-
sian politics; and were convinced that the presence
of the Qu EE 'V of PRUSSIA would effect a revolution
in the political system of the Court of St. Petersburg.
We always concluded that the journey of that amia-
ble and illustrious woman was undertaken for that purpose.
Those who had an opportunity of observing the conduct of
the QUEEN after the battle of Jena, of admiring her meg•
nanimity and imperturbable serenity, after the disaster*.
which beret her country, are alone capable of appreciating
her character. She never bent to the tyrant, she never at-
tempted to appease him in the very zenith ()figs success,and
in the declension of her own fortunes. She remained con-
alstent and great to the last, detesting the ravager of
country, and despising the wretch, who had employed all
the arts of hell to blacken her fair name. An Austrian
Alessenger has also arrived in the Auckland packet,and is said
to have brought to our government a formal notification►
of hostilities with France. Since his arrival, it is stated, that
the Cabinet of Vienna has made a demand of six millions as
a loan, and an army of 60,000 men. We confidently trust,
our Government will comply with both demands. Extra-
ordinary sacrifices and exertions can alone save Europe
and ourselves. Among other rumours it is said, that
70,000 Prussian troops arc in readiness to take the field,
iu conjuctiou with Austria.
We haVe long anticipated this war. We have,
for several weeks, endeavoured to direct the attention of
the public to an occurrence, the most momentous whisk
could, perhaps, occur within the range of the possible.
But the contrary opinion was too deeply rivetted, to be
weakead by any mode of reasoning,. however acute, how-