The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-15 00:00:00

INTERESTING FRENCH WOMAN.

(From Lord Londonderry's Narrative of the War in
Germany and France.
I witnessed here a very interesting, but I for
unfortunately too usual an occurrence, that took
place in the capture of the convoy and enemi9
baggage, &c. at Fa Fere Champenoise.
forward in the melee, I perceived that some 0'
the Cossacks, most probably from Bashkir, had
not only secured a French Colonel's caPche and
baggage, but one of them had seized his wife,
whose cries rent the air, and with the aid of two
other gallant Tartars was placing her behind him-
I will not detail the frequent histories of lawless
troops, nor add to these pages instances of bar-
barity which I fear have been too justly given of
the conduct of the Russian predatory hordes in
their march through France ; but I reflect with sa-
tisfaction that it was my good fortune to rescue,
even for a moment, a lovely and most interesting
Frenchwoman from the hands of these wild
soldiers. Being, however, unable to listen to her
afflicting details, and not knowing in what man'
ner better to place her in security, I ordered my
own orderly hussar, of the King's German Le-
gion, to place her for a moment en troupe, and
carry her to my billet at the head-quarters. I
was unwilling, and indeed could not at that mo-
ment leave the field ; but consoled myself with
the thought that--when I returned at night to my
quarters, I should received the gratitude of a
beautiful creature, and pictured to myself ro-
mance connected with this occurrence. But,
alas ! how little can we reckon on any future
event, and how idly do we all build des chilteaux
en .Espagne !
I fear that my precautions were not so great
as I flattered myself they were : the distance be-
tween the champ de batallie and Fere Cham-
penoise was inconsiderable : the town was in
sight ; and from the number of officers and
troops moving about, I could not imagine that
my beautiful prisoner would be recaptured ; but,
sad to relate, either the same Cossacks returned,
or others more savage and determined, and per-
ceiving my faithful orderly hussar and prize, fell
upon him, and nearly annihilating hint
re-seized their victim ; and although the
strictest investigation was made throughout
his whole army, by the Emperor of Russia,
to whom I immediately repaired, and related
the melancholy tale, (and who heard it with all
that compassion and interest it could not fail to
inspire,) the beautiful and interesting French
woman never re-appeared. I drop a veil over
the horrible sequel which imagination might
conjure took much blame for my ne'
up,
and
glect of a sufficient escort. My hussar crawled
to me next morning, half dead from ill usage;
and his pathetic tale placed me in a state of mind
scarcely _less deplorable.

EXTRAORDINARY FIsII.—LAS Mr. lioNl-
- of College-street, watch-maker, along with another
gentleman, way, fishing for pike in the neighbourhood of
Pocklington, on the 12th inst., they were surprised, after
having laid their lines, by the appearance of a very strange-
looking bird on the opposite side of the river. Their 6ret
impressions were to run for a gun to shoot it ; but on
closer examination they perceived it was held by a line ;
and, on a still closer view, found that it was actually
caught by one of their own lines, having dived, and takefl
the bait intended for the pike. On their approach, it
made directly for the water, but was ultimately'smittred,
and proved to be a very fine crested cormorant (Pho37.
cracorax Cristatus). It is now in the hands of Mr.,
DIXON, of Walmgate, bird•stuffer. York Chronicle.