The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-30 00:00:00

• The

killed ill

body ile,
the battle of Wagram, has been conveyed to Peris
for interment. The following biographical skttcli
of this distinguished Officer is extracted Irvin the.
Journal de l'Enspire, of the 7th instant :
Death has snatched away an Officer of rare
'Hera, at the age of 31 years. Cherished and ho-
neared by his family, his friends, and his soldiers,.
General Count Lasalle has left a great example to
some, and a memory dear to all. lie was born at
Metz, un the 10th of May, 1775, of a noble family
of that city. He embraced the profession of arms
at a very tender age. So early as 1786 he served
ht a regiment of Alsace as an officer. Impatient to
distinguish hituself, he had sought an opportunity
bt vain, when the Revolution opened a vast career
to those whose genius destined them to a cote.
mead over ethers. But a new prejudice had
succeeded to an old one.—The birth of the Count
Lasalle, which had opened to him the road to mi-
litary honours, deprived hint of his rank. He
forgets that he had commanded—be conceals leis
.otaino and his services in the rear ranks of the 2.3 d
regiment of mounted chasseurs, and, like Tolbert,
his great uncle, he retains nothing bet his native
courage. lie soon attracted notice. His regi-
ment served in the Army of the North, and he
obtained the rank of a Corporal. Followed by
some chassenrs of his company, he attacked and
took a battery.--The report of this action reallied
the Comasander in Chief. He saw young Lasalle,
and made him an Officer.

In Itsityrat Tice head of 18 horsemen, he nest
100 hussars of the enemy, and did not hesitate a
moment to charge them. The hundred Austrian
hussars, electrified by a French cavalier, yield to
the impetuosity of 18 men. Carried away by his
ardour, be went astray in pursuit of the enemy,
and found himself alone iu the middle of four
hussars, who rushed upon him. lie fights these
four adversaries, wounds all the four, and rejoins
his little band, who had despaired of him as lost.
The battle of Rivuli added to the glory which
he had already acquire.l. The enemy occupied a
height which commanded the plain : They must
be driven from it ; and it is Lasalle who was she.
sea by him, who knew so 1..01 how to select
among men the person most lit to execute an en.
terprise as pesilous as honourable. The enemy
is driven from one position to another, and the
modest victor returns, eharged with colours and
laurels, which he lays at the feet of hh General.
The Emperor says to him---" Rest yewrsctf stn.
der these colours, Lasulk, you hare done well."
His services hi Egypt procured for him the rank
of Colonel. He returns from Egypt to gather
fresh laurels in Italy. Ile was made General of
Brigade in the campaign of 1805, against Austria.
In 1806, in the war against Prussia, General
Lasalle dared alone, at the head of two regiments
of cavalry, to attack a strong place, and success
justified the attempt which appeared so rash.
Stettin opens its gates; a garrison of 6,000 men,
and 100 pieces of nation, fell into the hands of
the victor.

At the battle of Heilsberg, Lasalle was every
where at the head of his light cavalry. By one of
those ietiplicable chances which frequently happen
in war, the Grand Duke of Bag, new King of
Naples, was enveloped by twelve of the enemy's
dragoons. Lasalle had shot time tp reflect, nor to
give orders. His heart carries him off. He rushes
alone upon the enemy, with the rapidity of light.
ning, slays the officer who commands the detach.
• meat, and puts the rest to flight. In a few hours
after, 'Aisne is eitvelt.p el in his turn, while aban-
doning himself to his impetuosity. The Grand
Duke of Berg perceives theilatiger of his deliverer.
Ile flies to his succour, rescues him, and, embrac.
ing him, says "General, we are quit."
The war in Spain opened to General Lasalle a
new career of glory. With a corps of 0000 in-
fantry, and only 300 cavalry, he fought at Tor.
queen:Lila a Spanish army of 27,000 men, and took
all its cannon. Pursuing his success, he gained a
second victory before Palencia ; and that city,
although defended by a river, and a numerous
garrison, was obliged, as well as Valladolid, to
Surrender at tliseretion. Charged with the admi.
nistration of the Spanish provinces which had snb.
mitted, he madis the new Government beloved
among them. He was no longer that formidable
man whom they had only known by his exploits.
Persuasion flowed 'from his lips ; goodness was
painted in his countenance ; and honour was the
rule of his conduct,.md gained him the hearts of all.
(tussle twice conquered, and Blake, who was
ambitious of the honour of fighting the French,
had assembled an army of 40,000 men. The
Duke of Istria had not more thau 12,000 to op.
pose to them. A terrible battle took place at Me-
dina-del-Rio-Seem The fate of this day was for '1
a long time uncertain. Gcn. Lasalle decided the
victory by a charge at the bead of the•lOth and
22d regiments of chasseurs. In a few days after this
memorable action, be was appointed Grand Offi.
cur of the Legion of Honour.
When the French army matte a retrogratlemove.
mcut upon Vittoria, Lasalle was charged with the
command of the rear-guard. He checked the ene-
my by the:kill of his manceuvres, and merits the
praise of his Commander:in-Chief, and every ;Mel-
ligent officer.
The Emperor appeared in Spain. Every thing
yields in a moment to his inconceivable ascendant.
While his Majesty was fighting in person with the
almost innumerable army of Castile, Lasalle, with
his two regiments of chasseurs, attaeked, and
forced Borges, where a division of the mew
was entrenched. Twelve pieces of cannon, amid
17 standards, were the fruits of this new victory.
At Villaricur, he orders his faithful chasseurs to
follow him, and, with them, takes 17 pieces of
cannon and four standards.
At Medelin„ he rnshcd among the ranks of the
enemy, at the bead of the 4th regiment of ettira,.
siers—kills every thing that opposes him—and it
is to him that Frame is indebted for the success of
that day.
Called to the Army of Germany, General La-
salle has terminated his illustrious, but short ca.
reef, by new feats of arms, meritiug the praise and
regret of his Majosty.
. •