The National Register.
London, England, 1812-01-12 00:00:00

JAN. P 2.

that state towards which France was commencing to
verge. She had become a fictitious power. Still
clothed in the celapity which her struggles and vic-
tories under FItEDERICK the GREAT had acquired, she
inspired respect And leer. Her army remained un-
impaired and passed for the best disciplined in Europe.
Dazzled by her own tame, she was unconscious of her
real weakness ; and after having viewed the overthrow
of her rnigh test neighbours,. not only without yielding
them any assist ince, but with secret exultation, now
stepped forth in the vain hope of exalting heiself on the
ruins of their conqueror. The French Chief, deceived by
appearances, fancied he had now to contendi with the same
army whom FREDERICK had taught to conquer. To meet
the most celebrated veterans in Europe, he brought all
his own, and only found that his enemy consisted princi-
pally in Officers and recruits, perfectly skilled in discip-
line, hut without any military experience, after he had
defeated them 'with immense slaughter on both sides, on
the plains of A uerstadt. At one blow he had prostrated
the Prussian Monarchy, but this triumph had cost him
still dearer than the former, and he had. not terminated
the war. He had to encounter
.the advancing hosts of
Russia ; and in order to be able to meet them, was ccrii-
relied to replace his lost veterans with conscripts. Hence
the character of the campaign that ensued totally differed
from that of the preceding. The Russian troops were ex-
perienced warriors, his own were now mixed. His pro-
gress became slow, and was frequently checked. His
boldness turned into extreme caution. Instead of hurry-
ing on decisive battles, he fought many actions, in which
he deemed it victory not to be defeated, and with no other
end in view than to eNercise hii conscripts, and inure them
to danger. After every engagement he gave them rest
by returning i!Ito cantonments, instead of pursuing any
advantage which he might have obtained ; and it was
only after he had spent several months in trials of their
discipline, skill, and courage, that he resumed the main
. object of the war. Even then he only conquered after
repeated battles of the most sanguinary nature, which.
deprived him of additional numbers of his veterans, and
of multitudes of his new soldiers, so that at the close of
the conflict, althov.:4ll he was able to form Kingdoms and
Duchies out of the territory, he had acquired, he re-
mained still more weakened in effective strength than
before. He returned laden with the laurels and spoils of
the war, but with a sword blunted for future conquest.
(To be continued.)

PAROCHIAL WATCHING.

Parliamentary proceedings shew that the SECRETARY
for the Horne Department has determined to submit. the
important business of Nightly Watching to legislative in-
vestigation. Circumstances having " produced increased
Nigitance on the part of the Magistrates," Mr. RYDER,
desirous of obtaining the judicial assistance-of " many
Meinliers who were absent at the Quarter Sessions," has
delayed his-motion tilt Friday next, when it may be reasott
ably cxpeced that some operative remedy against noc•
.turnal depredators will be seriously propo-sed, and, •at
length; efficaciously adopted. The present system of
watching, .if system it may be called, cannot with safety
be persiqed in,—the sooner it is
.superseded, the better ;
but the evil. his deep,, and therefore we are not of opinion
that it can be either so- easily or speedily removed, as
many of our contemporaries think. All will be done,
doubtless, that san be dcz:-.

• '

done, w *nleireeT;e with the th;b6o-v—e-riina'ent of the United Stites ot ,t men .. z.... /I
remain unadjusted, the dillculties vrhich the affair of the Cbeearah•

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