Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-10

of the commence VI lbe N~s" fFNt
not to be daily and hourly informed Of
what was passing in Moscow. myself
ordered the destruction Of some maya.
lines. but from the arrival OF the French
at Moscow, the Russians destroyed no
thing but the stores OF the c.rs~rish's,
whcS YOU adopted the resolution ofseiz-
ing them, by distributing the carriages
at your pleasure the inhabitants caus'
ed very lew conHagrations. You pro-
ceeded Systematically in the destruction
Of that capital, fixing the particular days
and marking out the quarters winch
were to be set on FIRE at fixed periods
| have had an exact account OF the whole
it has been fullowed with precision
and one proof that it was not the lnha'
bitsnts that ruined Moscow.is, that you
DESTROYED with cannon shot the houses
and other edi6ccs, built with too much
solidity, hurting balls against them a,
midst the flames. Undoubtedly We shall
endeavor to revenge ourselves. Our
conference is closed"
Certainly Lauriston had no reason to
be satisfied with its issue. The rrench
had been long accustomed to arrange
matters of this sort in tete tete, or
by an nmicable interview but here
more than 80 persons were Witnesses
on the one hand, of the dignity OF the
| Russian marshal, and on the other, OF
the cringing meanness OF low te!!o"
commissioned by a brigand.
The following is q sketch OF the con-
versa,ion between Mura, and gen. Mi
| loradoyi,ch, which took place at the adj
vanccd posts of the Russian ard french
armies, on the llth CT October, 1918.
After the usual compliments
Murat-Are you informed, general
| of the excuses committed by your Cos
sacks! They fire upon the foragers
| whom send out in different directions !;
even your peasants, supported by theh'
massacre our insulated hussars.
MiIoradovitch-I am delighted that
the Cossacks strictly obey the orders
given them. 1t is also most satisfactory
for me to learn, from your majesty's
mouth, that our peasants show them
selves worthy of the name of Russians.
Murat-It is contrary to all the hi
thcrto received rules of war and from
this harsh state of things, shall be COM
PEELED to send out columns To the right
and left to protect the foragers.
Mlorad. SO much the better, sire !;
| my officers complain of having been 3
weeks in inaction. They burn with i'm
patience to take cannon, colors-
Mura,-But why seek to embitter two
nations, formed TO estesm each other IN
so many respects |!
Milorad.-My officers and myself are
| ready to give you all possible marks OF
our esteem; but, sire, your foragers are
| always taken, and the columns which
you may send ts the right and lett to
protect them, shall be beaten.
Murat-You are passionate in words,
general, but words do not beat an enc.
nv. Cast your eye on the map; you
will there see the country we have con-
oucred, and how far we have penetrat-
ed
Milerad.---Charles XII. penetrated
still farther; he reached Pultowa.
Murat--The French army has been
constantly victorious.
Milorad.-But we have never fought
except at BorodiDow.
Murat-That victory opened to US
the gates OF Moscow.
Milorad.--I beg your pardon; sire,
Moscow was abandoned to you.
Murat-At any rate we are masters of
your ancien, ard immense capital.
Misorad Yes, sire, and 1t Is On at
flicting though, to every Russian, to
myself in particular l did every thing
for the salvation of Moscow. Rus-
STA has made to you an immense sacri.
fee /: but she already begins to reap the
advantages attached TO *.
hurst-How?
Milosad.-I perceive that Napoleon
has sent Lauristen to our gen. in chief
to treat of peace. know that your SOL
diers are reduced to satisfy themselves
for 60 hours, with what is scarcely sut-
ficient to support man for 81.
Murat-The passports sent you were
a farce.
Milorad. (continuing)-I see that the
king of Naples has come to general Mi.
l"radovitcb to be quarter for his foragers
and to set Oh foot sort of negotiation
to calm the soldiers
MuTat (piqued My VISA was purely
accidental ; and | meant only to inform
yeu Of the abuses committed by your
troops. Want of discipline is a great
misfortune to an army it has often been
Its ruin.
Milorad.-But in that case you ought
rather to encourage it. Precious want
of discipiine, which makes rs shoot the