Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-01

orc enemy. now became hopeless: and
tbouahl the little army was brave, though
the neople were faithful and active, though
the last battle was long, obstinate, and
bloody; though the Swiss achieved won
lders, and though the women fought by the
sides of their husbands, melting them to
victory or death, all was in vain: hundreds
and thousands persisted by the sabres OF
the French, and while the earth was strew-
led with their dead bodies, and while the
| flames assembled from the once happy dwell
ings of this valiant and innocent people, the
hard-earned and long preserved liberties OF
Switzerland expired.
Germany, which closes this awful les
| son, was invaded by the French, in 1895,
and 1798. These inyasions were attended
with crimes too atrocious to be credited,
were they not proved by indisputablo evi-
dcnce, and did they not accord with the
general practice Of the inhuman wretches
by whom they were committed. In adj
verting to these detestable acts of oPpres-
sion and cruelty, we must recollect, that
they were perpetrated upon apeople, who
had made no resistance OF any sort against
the invaders, and who in every instanceh had
entered into an agreement with the French
generals, to pay them great sums OF mo-
ney, in order to preserve their country
from plumber. In consequence of the ran
SOM thus wrung from the people, the inva-
ders declared, by public proclamation, that
the persons and property OF the inhabitants
should be strictly respected? and that their
rights, usuages, laws, and religion should
remain inviolate and undisturbed On these
assurances, thus solemnly made, the Gre
dulous people all implicitly relied while
some Of the poorer classes regarded the
French, not as enemies, but as their deli
vcrers from taxes and labor. No sooner,
showever, had the invasion taken place, no
sooner had the French become masters OF
the country, than they spread themselves
over it like beasts OF prey, devouring and
destroying every thing before them. They
spared neither cities nor towns, neithervii-
lagos nor hanlets, nor solitary houses !;
from the church to the cell, from the cas-
tie 10 the cottage no state OF life, however
lofty, or however humble, escaped their
rapicious assaults; no sanctity excited their
veneration; no grandeur their respect; no
misery their forbearance or Their pity.
After having pIundetei he houics of the gen
Try, tbs clergy, ard the tradeimen after having
piiIaged the lhops, warchopfes, and manufactures,
they proceeded to the farm houfcs, and cottages !;
they rifed the pockets and chcfs of the iahab
IL, L. H. l.of
!. their rooms, dug Up their cellars, learched the
newly made graves and broke open the coGins il
hope Of finding leclettrealurc. They lometimes
threatened people with immediate dcseh, iome
times put them to the torture, fometimes lace
rated and crippled them, in order to wiring from
them dilcoyery Of their little pittancc Of ready
money. The dccpc& and mott apparent poverty
was no proretton againf their rapacity grey
hairs and lilping infancy the Gck, the dying, wo
men in child bed, were alike expcfed to the mott
barbsrous treatment dragged from their beds,
presencc that they were The keepers Of concealed
wealth. The teams and Aocks, cattle of every
kind, the maraudcrs drove off, cut TO pieces OF the
ipot, or LETT in fate of Uutilation corn, hay
and i}raw they waited or burnt they demolilhed
the iioulchod furniture, de&royed the utcniilS
Of he diaries, the barns, and the fables tore
downthc gaies, leyeIled the fences. 10 many
places thsy Grippad the clothes from me backs
the people, let their hquor flowing in the cellar,
barnt their Pfoyiions to sGles. The churches,
whether Romiih or Prote&ant, they rendered q
lcenc CT ifdllcnmiuatc robbery, of fcrilcg
and blafphcmy TOO lhocking to defr:ba. t.
wards women Of all ages and all conditions, they
were guilty of brutality never before heard Of:
Neither extreme youth nor extreme age; neiihe,
weakness nor defoTmity nor the lostbcme diff
cafe neither the pangs fasor, nor the agonies
OF death could refrain diem erie, tears, fuppli
cations were of no avail and whether fathers,
hotbands or orolbcrs interfrrcd, murder fldom