The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-12-29 00:00:00

TI I TPATESNI AN.

FRENCH PIPERS.

which would have devoted many families to death ,
and the most horrible punishments. My army has
sustained losses; but they arose from the preetatuse
severity of the MOIL
4( I accept the sentiments which you express to,
wards me."
After this audience, the Council •of State, con-
' ducjed and introduced with the same forms, were pre-
sented to his Majesty, by his Serene liigkitess the
Prince Arch-Chaucellor of the Empire.
. ylis Wetteucy M. the Count Defermon, Milder
of State, President of the Section qf Finances, spoke
as follows :
I tt sInE,--The first wish which the Members pf
your council of State feel, in common with all yogr
faithful subjects, is to lay at the feet of your Majes-
ty's throne, their congratulations on your happy re
turn ; and to express the sentiments of gratitpde
with which they are inspired, on learning that your
Majesty is come to crowq by your presence the hopes
4nd wishes of your people.
I" Whilst itt the absence of yoqr Majesty we were
employing ourselves in thnse,labours with which you
deigned to entrust us, and whilst every moment of
oqr time was ciccupied in the execution of your or-
ders for the happiness and prosperity of the empire,
we were far from conceiving that any Frenchman
could forget those sacred and protecting principles
which have extricated us from att4rcky, 4,,a which
should ever secure us from it. . .
tt Sire,—lt was with' the melt profound grief
that we witnessed the crime committed by a:maniac,
syho, for a *vim* offence, had deserved a' pqaish-
meat which your Majesty was so generous as to re-
, mit ; but his attempt has °lily served to convince
our old enemies of to fruitlessness of similar plots,
and to prove anew the sincere attachment of all the
functipttaries of the empire to the constitution which
your Majesty has given to it. All parties in the
empire exhibited proofs qf their attachment; and
all your subjects have rivalled the public function?
aries in respect for principles, and in attachment to
your sacred persons and your august Majesty.
L°God, who protects ,France, will long preserve
her from the greatest of misfortunes. But in such an
event, every heart would rally around the Prince who
k the object of our hopes and prayers ; sod every
Frenchman would renew at his feet the oaths of fide-
lity and of love for the Emperor whom the coustitu-
tion would call to the succession.
g; We have been touched with the recitals con-
tained in the last Bulletin of the Grand Army.—
What admiration must not be excited by the deve,
lopment of the most august character during that
month of perils and of glory, when the sufferings of
the heart could takeaway none of its vigour from the
intellect !
46 What sentiment must not be inspired in a na-
tion truly generous, by the faithful picture of its ult.
foreseen losses, on perceiving that the tutelary genius
of France has known how to prevent their effects,
and to make them the occasion of new glory !
Your Majesty never appeared more fuily at the
summit of your destinies, than in those moments,
when fortune, by arming the elements, seemed to
endeavour to remind us that she could be incon-
stant. •

Paws, Dec. 20.—This day, Sunday, Dec. 20th,
1812, at noon, the Emperor, being seated on his
throne, surrounded by the Princes, Grand Digni-
taries, Cardinals, Ministers, Great Officers, Great
Eagles of the Legion of Honour, and attendants of
bis Majesty, received the Senate, who were con-
ducted to this audience by a Master and Assistant of
the Ceremonies, introduced by his Excellency the
Grand Master, and preseuted by his Serene Highness
the Prince Vice Grand Elector. His Excellency
tJfe Count Lacepede, the President, delivered the
following Address :
" StaE,—The Senate hastens to present at the
toot of. your Imperial and Royal Majesty's throne,
the offering of its congratulations on the happy ar-
rival of your Majesty among your people. The
absence of your Majesty, Sire, is always a national
calamity, while you; presence is a blessing which
fills the whole French people with joy and confi-
dence. Your Imperial and Royal Majesty has laid
all the bases of the organization of your vast empire ;
but ninny objects yet remain to be consolidated or
executed ; and the smallest delay in the completion
of our institutions is a national misfortune.
_ _

ig While your Imperial Majosty, Sire, was at
eight hundred leagues from your capital, at the head
of your victorious armies, attempt; were made to
disturb public order in this great Capital,- by men
who had escaped from prisons, in which your Impe-
rial clemency had saved them from death, merited by
their past crimes. They have paid the penalty of
their new offences.

“ Happy France, Sire, whose monarchical con-
stitution places her beyond the reach of civil discord,
of the bloody feuds to which party gives birth,
and of the horrible distractions which revolutions
engender.
.” The Senate, first Council of the Emperor, and
whose authority only has existence when the Mo-
narch calls it forth, and puts it in movement, is
established for the conservation of that monarchy,
and of the hereditary succession to your throne,
under our fourth dynasty.
" France and posterity will find it, under all
circumstances, faithful to this sacred trust; and all
Its members will be always ready to die in defence of
that palladium of national security and prosperity.
" In the commencements of our ancieut dynasties,
Sire, the Monarch has been more than once seen to
ordain, that a solemn oath should, by anticipation,
connect the French of all ranks with the heir of 'the
throne; and sometimes, when the age of the young
Prince permitted it, a crown was placed upon his
bead, as the pledge of his future authority, and the
emblem of the perpetuity of the Government.
" The affection which the whole nation feels for
the King of Rome, proves, Sire, both the attach-
leant of the French to the blood of your Majesty,
and that internal sentiment which re-assures every
citizen, and which points out to him, in that august
infant, the security of his own children, the safe-
guard of his own fortune, and an insuimountable
obstacle to those intestine divisions, those civil agi-
tatious, and those political revolutions, which are
the greatest scourges that can afflict nations.
Sire, your Majesty has waved the French eagles
over the towers of Moscow. The enemy could
neither arrest your success nor thwart your plans,
but by resorting to the frightful resources of despo-
tic governments,—creatlug deserts on all his fron-
tiers, carrying conflagration into his provinces, and
delivering to the flames his capital,—the centre of his
riches, and the growth of so many ages.
" Those, Sire, who renewed these barbarous tac.
tics of their savage ancestors, were ill-acquainted
with the heart of your Majesty. It would have
voluntarily renounced the trophies which were to be
purchased by so much blood, and so many woes to
humanity.
" The ardour with which we see arriving from all
the departments of the empire, under the colours of
your Majesty, the numerous soldiers called forth by
the S'enalus Consultuns of last September, furnishes
an example of what your Majesty niay expect from
the zeal, patriotism, and warlike spirit of the
French, to snatch from the influence of our enemies
the various portions of the Continent, and to con-
quer an honourable and solid peace.
" May yOur'lmperial and Royal Majesty accept
the tribute of the gratitude, love, and inviolable
fidelity of the Senate, and the French people."
His Majesty replied as follows;
" SENATORS,--*-What you have said is very agree.
able to Me: *I hare at heart the glOry and the power
of France ; but my first thoughts are engaged by
every thing Reit may perpetuate internal tranquillity,
and place my people for ever in security against the
rage or faction, and the hUrrors of • anarchy. It is
upon these enemies •of the happiness of nations that,
with the ennselit and love the French, I have
founded this throne, to Witistriteftettdrisatd are at-
tac lied the destinies of the country.
' " A timid and cowardly soldiery ruin the indepen-
dence of nations ; but pusillanimous magistrates de-
stroy the empire of the laws, the rights alba throne,',
and social 'order' • - • '
' • " 'Did noblest of deaths would be that of the
soldier who falls in the field of honOus:, were not'
the death of a magistrate, perishing in 'defence of
his Sovereign, the throne, and Ole lacks, More glo-
flews still.

" When I undertook the regeneration of France,
intreated of 'Providence a determinate nuniber of
years. Destruction is the work of a moment, but
one cannot build up again without the assistance of
time. The greatest want of a State is that of cou-
rageous magistrates.
Our fathers hld for their rallying cry, The
xini is dead,--fong live the King! These few wsrds
comprehend the principal advantages of themonarchy.
I believe I have deeply studied the spirit which my
people have shown in different ages ; l'have'rellected
on what hei happened in different epochs of our Itis-
tory ; I will still think of It. '
" .The war which j maintain-10th Russia is * war
of policy. T have • Waged. it llthout aithitosit ;
could have wished spiel lier the. intsfor(oftei
%vliich she ha§ tsosed'herSelf. '1 shOuld have peers
able to arm the greater part Ofletr popolatietiageinst
her, by" poclaintintlibeiti.to 'lie shoes; great
iPtaiber of, -village! 4eminadit of.nie i !Sal MOM I
tierattved ate btetility of that ‘iitireetisizi class bf the
Russian 'People, I sefosed to outdo to & 1114141/ali

•
cOTTEN BURGH M4tL.
GOTTENIWRON, Dix. l8.:--Reports from Den-
mark state, that 'it is in contemplation, by that Go-
' vernment; to make peace with Great Britain is
likewise said that Deputies from the Oriti'sh, lialashig;
and Suredieh Attatiraliies are to fix a 'silt* (lid
Danish min of war that may have bean lost, and the
remainder to -be returned to 'Denmark, WhiCh is to
receive 'a iompansatluit• for the diritage snatalned'bi
the bombardment of Copenhagen'; for "ditch
"--Aik ant to 517,000•1nen lo' the Rabaul

eriganiiints, tor attiiiiieg the Freefh ark.,
iu retreat thfouth Germany. • • • •
•• , •

Y

I

• ST: PETERSRAiIIi, Dim. 1,

INTIIRCIWZOLITTER PROX THE PRINCE OF NEUF-
CHATEL TO MARSHAL DATOUST.
gg ihmroo or Ecitnuoz.,-1t is the wish of the
Emperor, that you support the Duke of Lichinge,
In the retreat which he is making with his rearTguar.lii
while the Viceroy, to-morrow, wj3l march to take
post at Krasnoff. You will, thergore, take care to
occupy the ppst Which you shall judge advisable, and
which the Viceroy shall evacuate. The intention of
the Emperor is, that you, with your corps. aud that
of the Duke of Elchiugen, retire from Krasnoi, and
make this movement an the IGth and 17th,—General
Charpentier, with his garrison, ceteilyting tg three
third Polish battalions and a regiment of cavalry,
will leave the tows at the same time with the rear.—
liefoxe you march put, you will blow up the ram-
parts which surround Smolensk, as the misses are
ready, a.:d only need to be set Ore to. Yoe will
take care that the ammunition, powder chests, and
every thing that cannot be carried away, be destroy-
ed and Ounit, as also the muskets the Cannon
should be buried. Generals eintsseloup and Lace-
lessiere will take care, each in his department, to
carry these orders into proper execution,
" You will take care to seud out patreles, that
no marauder may remain behind; and 'you will also
leas as few persons as possible in the hospitals.
Tgieneil) Prince of NOVPIIATI-4., biopic-Gen.
" Sioolepok, Nov. 2 (44)."

TIM OFIEW. Of
,C4TAIAT CQU7(T WITTGIFNIITEjY,
ItAlitAlt T s yokuimiza aspuiw to ins istrgit4t.
• INAJESTI4 64121140.11 MY 191%15010, 17p (49Tu)

OF NOVEMBER ;••••

Yesterday I reported to your Imperial Majesty
1 that I should proceed to the river /3eresina, near. Stu!.
dintzy, which I the same day accomplished. On
coming up with the enemy at the above-mentioned
! passage, they halted, and with a very strpog force
; defended the passage, in order to save their baggage
and heavy waggons,
1 Notwithstanding this I drove them from their first
position, and pursued them three wersts. The ac-
tion continued the whole day. Torday I forced
! them to cross the river at Studintu ; having done
which, they burned the bridge. Admiral Tchiche-
. gar having sent me pontoons, I am now establishing
the bridge. I shall then act in concert with him and
iCount Platoff on the opposite side. Yesterday we
took from the enemy one gun, and 1500 prisoners ; •
and this day, at the passage, we took 12 guns,
many more having been thrown into the river.
1 Several Staff and General Officers were taken pri-
soners, besides others of inferior rank, and more
continue to be brought in, which I have not yet I
I been able to take an account of. I
1 The number of waggons belonging to Govern- ,
ment and private persons-is so great, that a space of
half a werst square is so covered with them, that it
is impossible either to ride or walk through them;
and three companies of the new raised militia have
been employed merely to clear a passage for the
army.
In these vehicles, which chiefly consisted of car,
rieges of different descriptions, sent' from Moseowt
we found, besides, a very great booty for the army,
silver and other articles belonging to the churcha
which wet plundered by the enemy at Moscow, I
we are now collecting them, and I shall
_dispatch
them to the Governor of Moscow. Congratulating
your Majesty ou the above, I lay at the feet of your
Imperial Majesty a stand of colours. The loss in
killed and wounded In the course of these two days
! exceeds 3000 men.

" Let our . enemies exult, if they please, in the
material losses which the rigour of the season, and
the severity of the climate, occasioned; bet let them
calculate our forces ; let them learn that there are
no efforts or sacrifices, of which, after the example of
of your Majesty, the French nation is not capable,
in order to realize your glorious plays.
" In return, Sire, for your labours and your pa-
ternal caret, we can only offer to your Majesty, in : •
common with your whole empire, the expression of REPORT mast GENERAL COUNT wervormsvere, To gu*
our sentiments of respect, admiration, and love. We, IMPERIAL MAJESTY, DATED Boaissow, Nov. 28.
venture to hope, that your Majesty will deign to I I had the honour, on the 21th'of November, most
accept this tribute with the same goodness With which submissively to report, that Marshals Victor and
you have invariably honoured the fidelity and deve- Oudittot were retreating before me towards Borissow.
tion of your Council of State !" • I I marched after them from the town of Tschituga.
His Majesty replied as follows: ; General Platoff followed the enemy's Grand Army.
64 Counsellors of State, every time that I re-eater I Admiral Tchichagotf was .to receive the enemy at
France, my heart experiences the most lively satis. i Boiiiisowl and by this means it was intended to in-
faction. If the people testify so much love for my i• close him on three sides. In consequence of this ar-
son, it is because they are impressed with a convic- • rangement, I caused my vanguard, under Major-
ties' of the advantages of monarchy. - f General Wlastow, to pursue the enemy. This Ge.
It is to that ideal system, to those dark me- i neral defeated General Dintilit's division, near the
taphysics, which, in pursuing with subtlety the : town of Patura, and within two days, one Lieut..
search after first causes, seek to found upon their Colonel, 36 Officers, and 2000 men, were made
basis the legislation of stations, instead of accom- i prisoners. As 1 then perceived that' the enemy was
modating laws to the knowledge of the human i quickly retreating, I undertook making a flank
heart, and to the lessons of history, that we must I movement from Kcilopenitche, and marched towards ,
attribute all the misfortunes which our favour. the town of Baran, in order from this point to cut
ed France has experienced.. Thee., errors errors ne- him off from the Lepilska road, and be enabled to
cessarily, and in reality, did lead to the regime of : act on NVesselowo and Stadinzy, where he Was
men of blood. Who proclaimed the principle of in-
'forming bridges.
surrectiott to be a duty ? Who flattered the people : When I arrived at the town of Kotrizy, I received
by proclaiming a sovereignty which it was incapable .
I information, that Napoleon would cross the Beresina
of exercising ? Who destroyed the sanctity of and : river, and that Victor's corps formed his rear-guard.•
respect for the laws; by making them depend, not i I therefore put myself in march to attack him whilst
upon the sacred Pfiftciptft bf justice, the 'int,"±efersittg, and desired- Elena( Platoff to hasten Us
tare of things, and of civil justice, but -solelyl Borissow, which he accordingly did: lie proceeded
on the will ,of an assembly composed of men, lon the Toletchiu road, and after my arrival with the
strangers to the knowledge of civil, criminal, ad, : whole corps at Old Borissow, cut off the enemy's rear
ministrative, political, and military laws ? When a' guard, consisting of half of Victor's corps, and attack.-
matt is called to regenerate a State, he mast follew iedit on yesterday afternoon. After a heavy fire of
principles directly opposite. History points the i
I musl:etrjf, whichcontlaued • for four hour, and by
human heart; it is in history-that he must search for; the effect of our artillery, the enemy were thrown •
the advantages and inconveniences of different modes i into disorder, and put to flight: we took one piece
of legislation. Such are the principles which the lof artillery, and 30 Officers and 1000 men were
State Council of a great empire should never lose; made prisoners. He suffered a great loss besides in
sight of ; it must unite to them a courage superior ; killed and wounded. Meanwhile I sent a Flag of
to every trial ; and, after the examples of the Pre- Truce to inform • the enemy of our superiority al
sidents Harley and Mole, be ready to perish in' de- I force, and tell him that he was sorrounded, and must,
fence of the Sovereign, the Throne, and the Laws. surrender. The courage and valour of the troops
44 I appreciate the proofs of attachment, which the under my command, together with General Platoff's
Council of State Ittio4iven in every circumstance. I Itrriyal at Borrissow, forced the enemy to send ma
accept its sentiments." . • ' two Flags of Truce, with information that they sur-
rendered. At midnight, the General of Division;
ilartonneaux, the Brigade General Lettre, two Co-
lonels, 40 olficen, and 800 men, who had almmdt.
submitted, were brought to me.
tiari
" At seven o'clock this morning, the rental
laid down their arms, viz. Generals Carouse and Platii
wont, three Colonels, 13 Lieutenant-Colonels, 184
Ulcers, and 7,000- men, and delivered up mate
pieces of "MUM*, three standards, and a number et,
paggsge isiggens. Among these troops am two re-
giments :of cavalry, one Saxon and one of Sergi
faith very pod horses, .
' "On such a 4ictery, a similar to which btu
s .•
scarcely 64446 isms gained over the French, I
t Mil thistiberty• tiiPee. nrstiihiang yaut MO NT, sod