The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-12-17 00:00:00

THE S'f,ITESMAIV.

. L.

'LONDON:
THURSDAY, ezegsibka 17, 181%
-4.0111.-
the Extraordinary 6azefle of yesterday, contain-
ta the most interesting accounts of the glorious suc-
co of the Russia' unties against their hitherto for•
midahle enemy ;and, according to this intelligenoe, it
seems evident, that *considerable part of tke litrfteis
grnsy has beet% either killed
.er taken evisosteritat,
The great battle fought on the 17th titer iti *Mr
BONAPARTE commanded, was a desperate 'effort oti i
fie part of the Frenchoud the result appears to have
been of the most disastrous nature for them. NAro.
UDR', finding the fate of the day about to terminate in
favour of his opponents, hastily quitted the field of
battle, and sought his p..r%oual safety in Bight.—
it is supposed that he had pi epared, in some degree,
for the events of this memorable day, and stationed
a certain portion of his cavalry on the road to Minsk,
which reaching in safety, he has a new hazard to en-
counter, as TCIIICUAGOFF, with his detachment, had
express orders to intercept t.im. Thus the whole
route of loraroLtotr will be marked with hair-breadth
escapes, sh^uld ha ever arrive at Wilms, the first
town where he can be said to sleep in safety, since it
is Impossible far him to rely upon meeting with
AUOtREALN rtieforcetnent. The public interest will

be less excited with regard to the future hostility el
the adverse armies ie Russia, than with the fate of
the personal leader of one of them—almost every
tens considers his death like the opening of a new
Hook of Fate, mid Is calling to mind what happened
to the ait_couqueriug Greece on the death of the
famed AMOUNT:IEL For our oon part we be-
be**, should this glaring sun set in premature aud sud-
den
death, so much is the gloins excited in
Pante, that a week would not pass before a new
aspirant would raise Ms head, and elevate hie septa-.
tations to some such towering distinctions as hispre-
decessor. Would, instead of such a character,•s
Tails might rise up to distinguish the 19th century,
by his respect and devotion to that most grateful of
divine precepts, " Peace and GOODWILL AMONG
•
On taking a general view of the Dispatches and
ulletins which have issued from Government. since
the retreat of the French from Moscow, together
with the French Papers, and various other sources of
private information from the contending armies, we
perceive such a train of accumulating disasters bear-
isig down, in every direction, upon the retreating ene-
eiy, as must have almost annihilated the body of the
Grand Freuch Army, leaving only the scattered re-
mains aud fragments, which have escaped the vengeance
and fury of their terrific assailants, to pursue their
frantic flight towards Poland. Such, we say, is the
conclusion we must draw from the copious details
given by Lord CATHCART, of the movements and
operations of the camr,mign ; and though the French
and German Papers'which have been received, give
a very different account of the retrograding Grand
Array ; yet, putting aside the delusive veil which
both Governments have thrown over their reverses
and tlselr .lis a sters, and stripping the successes of their
tarnished and exaggerated reports, it plainly appears
that the tide of victory has completely flowed in fa-
' your of the Russian arms, and carried their strug-
gliug enemy down the stream of sad reverse, towards
a hospitable region, whither self-preservation, like
a gravitating power, has impelled him to fly. And
should he eventually escape, as it were by miracles
;I the wreck of his army into such secure situation,'
seas to again be able to collect his resources', and bring
to a strong position or line of defence all the reinforce-
:lces which his Conquests have placed in his power ;
t',:s sanguinary eontcst, we feelingly regret to say,
.-is,aot be considered as approaching towards a close
awful suspension only awaits the fate of miriads
of iaaoceut victims, whose repose will resemble that
s! the *retches, shut up in the cave of the
C)clops, who remained in the tranquil expectation
of being de►oured !

We understand that the report of NEY being dead,
and BEAUNARNOIS being wounded, was brought by
DANIELS, the Messenger.
Count Wonoszow, on his present embassy from
Petersburgh, has brought with him his two sons,
who are to be educated in England, and who, if
profiting well of advantages certainly to be had
here, may, in time to come, not telly have a cutup-
relive ascendancy in their own country, but deserve
it doubly by the proper consideration and good
offices to this country..
The Port letters still are silent as to any reinforce-
ments going to the fleet under Sir FRVICIS LAVOILEY
in the West Indies ; and yet it is now six months
since the Americans declared nor!—and, alas! since,
the British Merchants, Colonists, and others, have!
endured lt!
Admiral BENTINCIC is joined with Lord CATHCAST
in the Councils of Russia, and if need be, is to have
a command.
We hear Mr. Want) has began Ids Soup Charity,
twice in the week, assisted by one Lady of Fashion.
The number of meals given away is said to be about
three hundred, made on a very cheap plan, but is
very nutritious and good. •
In the present dearth of eons and high price of
horses, tt may not be useless to know, that in Afritat,
after the rains, the inhabitants used to plough with
an ass and air old woman. In turning over.PLINY,
this notable expedient was discovered, which is per- j
haps new to Sir Jerre SrscLare, who may make
something of it as an Appendix to his next Essay on.
Mermaids. The passage is as follows "post imbres
viii ascllo, et aparte altera Jugi eau vomerem tra-1
hente, irridimus scindi."
Monday se'nnight, Mr: HdLSET, of Hereford, for
a considerable wager, undertook to ride 'his horse'
from Worcester Bridge to Hereford Market-place in
two hours. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state
of the weather, and badness of the road, he completed
his task in 16 minutes less than the time allowed,
without in the least distressing the horse. The dis-
tance was 28 miles.
A family at Bourdeaux, named' Manson, consist-
ing of seven persons, was poisoned' on the 15th of
About three o'clock yesterda whilst tl
y, . November, by eating champignens, which the father
• had gathered in his owngartlett. The father, mo-
teats of the Metropolis were every where assembled !
ther and four children, died within three days, and
congratulating each other on the glorious intelligence I the recovery of the Other infant was doubtful.
from Russia, the Park and Tower guns were fired, I We are authorized to state, that Special Cemmiss
and it was instantly believed that this was on ac- sions of Oye'r and Terminer, and Gaol Delivery,
count of new victories, in which the British arms'had will be opened at the Castle of York, on a
tsverorty
participated. Soma it was said had been defeated , early day in January, by Mr. Baron Teos
by the Marquis and Sir S
of xr.msoros ; IDNEY • and Mr. Justice LE Blase, for the trial of offences,
counected with the disturbances lately existing Inc,
Smut, it was added, had, by a coup-dr-main, taken
!part of the West Riding. It is not their Lorlships'
Naples. Both these rumours were unfounded. They . purpose to try any primers on private prosecution,
etiglueted probably' in that tide of success which --Leeds
.Mercroy. •
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