Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-27

If Jnly. asweil 50 On the 18th OF Aug..
completely defeated the Duke OF Reg
gio, (Oudinot Was it against any
Of these commanders. that he has
been successful; or vast atsmolensk'
where he fought . great battle mere,
.ly TO enter that city by permission
Where are bis trophies obtained at
the battle of volontina' Where are
his prisoners. the standards ana can
non takens Who are the ofheers XIII,
ed, wounded, or surrendered, anu
what is the Number of the slam
All these be says can be seen on the
Geld of battle; but as we cannot SO
there. it is rather uneisiI. anti cer-
taiply unu.aI with. him, not to give
the world more precise information:
Tobe sure he once attempted to kill
a Russian general, Count Paalen' out Ut
Napolean has not yet made himself
master Il the art Of guessing, as it
appeared that this very Identical
Count, in a subsequent action, CO.
ver;ag the retreat OF the Russian ar
nv FROM Vitesk to Semolensk, DIS
tinguished himself rather more than
was agreeable to his Majesty's feei,
Jugs. AS TO the novel manner OF
saving s.that the Russians must have
lost great many Generals: that the
number Of their killed and wounded
must have been treble to ours,' and
SO on to he sure it saves the trouble
of counting, but unless the names are
mentioned, and the enumeration ace
tually made, we take the liberty OF
being somewhat sceptic upon the
subject. To refer US for proofs to the
field Of battle is like pointing the
true centre of the earth On any spot
we may chance to stand upon; anu
those who do not belize it, may sa-
satisfy themselves by actual ad-mea-
surement.
But the battle of Mojaisk;s to de-
eide every thing--It may or 1t may
not. The Russians probably Will
fight there they may retreat, and
Napoleon may get to Moscow; but
have ,hey notretreated before! Have
their armies been broken in the re-
treat? Ii is these armies. and not
Moscow. that he must conquer, ere
he can hope for the successful az
complishment of his daring views.
The Russians are prepared to give
I'D their capital, rather than RI.
all their forces in enc battle anu
this is sufficient for every purpose
of hope and consolation. AS to the
report in the Moniteur, God grant il
may he true. In all eases we expect
Napoleon " i'll claim victory bat If
in this one he has adopted a new me-
i,;oa of announcing il. preferring q
private to an official communication,
"a none without his sanction couid
have been received within tiie space
of sixteen days, l say again, God
gran, it may be true, for there will
be 70 doubt of his having the worst
size Of the battle in question.
cannot conclude without an at
tempt TO dispcl The fears entertained
Of corruption among the Russian no
hiIity. They have more 10 lose by
treachery, and more to gain by 10y
atty. They hetest the French, and
were dissatisfied with the last peace.
Their uationa! pride & predictions
never can brook submission 10 To-
reisa power. They never yet have
betrayed their country; and it is
unjust and ungenerous to suspect TO
reign influence where it never yet
has siewn Itself to any alarming ex-
tent. Even the plot of Speransky,
turns out mere nothing; as he has
been found innccen. and a pension Of
$4,000 roublcs has been settled upon
him. They, most ofall. wished for
war; and accordingly they have made
the greatest sacrifices. Their lives
and fortunes have been chserfuily
offered. and therefore their int!iyidu-
al passions and personal ambi,ionars
already engaged in the present con-
test. In short. they are entitled to
the utmost confidence of every brave
loyal and rirtuous nation.
Canadian Intelligence.
LOWER CANADA.