Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-10-18
REFLECTIONS
ON THE
s tn Il E O. Z L Z q p E..

France has resembled vast volcano,
which pours its destructive lava over the
neiehboring districts, and is constantly ex-
tending the circle Of lis devastations still
wider. Indeed the whole sum of wretched-
ness and misery which her ambition has
produced exceeds all poN ers of description.
It may help US however to form some JUST
notioas of it, if We consider attentyelv the
following account Of the deplorable calan,-
ties of former war in Germany taken rom
SchiAer's history.
g In places which had formerly possessed
plenty and happiness" (says Sch!jIer) :" and
ove- which thousands Of people wei, spreed,
nothing bat devastation was now 10 be seen ;
the fields abandoned by the industrious nus
bandmsn, lay waste and uncolsiyated, and
where young crop or smiling harvest ap-
pea1ed, march of soldiers DESTROYED the
fruits Of twelve.months labor. Burned
castles and villages in ashes, lay upon all
sides, the melancholy objects Of contcmpla-
ton, while their plundercd inhabitants re-
paired to join an army O. incendja'ics, and
thus retaliate upon their fellow citizens that
fate, of which they themselves had been the
first victims. In ORDER toavoid oppression,
recourse WAS had to violence. The towns
groanet' under the licentioasncss Of IN prin-
cipled gsrrisons, who squardercd The pro-
peyty ot the inhabitants, and exercised the
utmost disorders. While the march of ail
army laid waste an entire country, or plum
dered it by winter quarters, the industry Of
whole year was ejfaced by The ravages OF
month. The fate OF such as had garri-
son within their walls, or in their neighbor-
hood, was the most unhappy, because the
sictors trod IN the footsteps OF the vanquish-
ed, and no greater indulgence was to be ex-
pected from friends than from enemies. All
these different calamities brought want and
hunger to their utmost pitch, and The lnise-
ries Of the latter years were increased by a
scarcity. The crowding ofpeoll- i'll camps
and quarters, want upon one side, and ex-
cess on the other, occasioned contagious dis
tempcrs, which were more fatal than the
sword. All the bonds OF social life were
dissolved in this universal confusion the
respect for order, the fear Of the laws, the
purity of morals ard Of religion, were lost
under the weight Of an iron sceptre. Anar-
chv and impunity disdained every law, and
men became terocious according as their
country was wasted No situation was
longer re spected, no property was secured
from plumber. The soldier, il word reign
ed, and that most brutal Of despots often
made his superiors experience his own pow
err
The interesting nature of this extract will
be deemed, presume a sufficient excuse
for its length. Reader, peruse it attentive
y. View it as real picture of the calami.
ties of war. Learn from it to appreciate
the happiness of state of peace and learn
from it also to sympathize with the millions
of our fellow beings who have lately suffer
ed and are even now suffering miseries as
great as these which were described by the
pen of Schiller.
Who can contemplate, without strong e.
motions, the blood stained fields of Europe,
the destruction of her towns and villages.
the slaughter of her inhabitants, the wretch.
edness ct innumerable multitudes, who,
though they have escaped the edge of the
sword, are bereaved of their relations, strip.
ped OF their property, and reduced to power
ty and want-and all this to CRAFTY the am
bition OF one man. Napoleon! how many
mothers has thy sword made childless.---
How many widows, how many orphans are
in the train of thy bloody conquests. How
many are now among the dead, who, bu,
for thee might have enjoyed still the light of
-.... oW many are now pining in misery