The Sun.
London, England, 1825-07-07 00:00:00

MARSHAL MACDONALD.

The Marshal appears to be about sixty years,
thin in person, and rather above the middle size ; his hair is
quite gray, his eyes dark, his countenance rather round and
sedate. lie was plainly dressed in black, and, like his cele-
brated friend Buonaparte, takes snuff in great quantities.—
He speaks very little English, and that little imperfectly.
The fatigue of a soldier's life, and the anxieties of political
struggles, appear to have brought premature age, for he
walked feeble appearing in an infirm state of health. When
on the field of Culloden, he expressed his surprise at the imbe-
cility which dictated the choice of that spot for the position of
the Pretender's army. No spot could be worse chosen for the
position of an irregular body of men acting on the defensive
against regular troops : and the wonder was increased, the
General observed', when the neighbouring high grounds behind
the Water of Nairn afforded, so fine a position to obtain the
objects and suit the circumstances of the Jacobites. Of Mar-
shal Macdonald's life little or nothing is known in this country.
His merits must no doubt be assumed to be great, since they
conducted him at an early age to a high command in the French
army, and have sustained him in that rank amid all the vicissi-
tudes which his country and his colleagues in arms have ex-
perienced during thirty years. The first time, we believe,
that his name became familiar in the country was in the
year 1799, when the French, having been totally defeated
by the Combined Armies of Russia and Austria, under the
direction of the celebrated Suvaroff, Gen. Macdonald was ap-
pointed to command a.division of the French artily directed to
act in concert with another 'division under Moreau. The rapid
and enterprising manoeuvres of Macdonald on this occasion dis-
concerted the plans of Suvaroff, and obliged him to withdraw•
from the prosecution of the designs he was engaged in, and
hasten to the relief of the Austrians, then on the point of being
overwhelmed. By astonishing exertions and rapid marches,
Suvaroff succeeded in effecting a junction with the Austrians,
and the combined armies were ready to make head against the
French General. The battle which ensued on the banks
of, the Trebia, a deep and rapid river in the north of Italy,
was, for duration and obstinacy, wholly unequalled in that
war which has been characterised as a " war of giants."
• For three summer days in' succession, the contest was main-
tained with almost unremitting obstinacy. At length the
French army was compelled ,to retire, leaving 12,000 of
their number extended on the field of battle. Gen. Macdonald,
who had been wounded a few weeks previously, was again
wounded in this action. He managed his retreat, however, so
ably, that his opponents, gallant, active, and skilful as they
were, could gain no further advantage, and the shattered wrecks
of the French army were conducted without any further loss
through the passes of the Appenines into France. Suvaroff
being congratulated on his victory, answered in the words of
the'monarch of Epirus—" Another such victory and we shall
be undone." So far as we have heard, Marshal Macdonald
was never employed in the Peninsula, nor opposed to
British troops. Fie had a command in the French army which
invaded Russia, but he was not with that part of it whit.; ad-
vanced to Moscow. During the campaign which ensued after
the disastrous retreat from Russia, he was actively engaged
with Buenaparte, Ney, Vandamme, and other celebrated Ge-
nerals, in the attempt to retrieve the affairs of their country,
then bending before the combined efforts of Europe. In this
struggle, Marshal Macdonald, having had one-half of his di-
ende unexpected
histed
vriisseieninofthteheraivrmery
Bosepbaerrateidn frooneirmthaneyo,thwerash
yatrack"
weakened state, and defeated by the indefatigable Blucher.—
(Glasgow Chronicle-)