Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-01
BURNING OF MOSCOW.

me Following account ofthe destruction
OF Moscow, is copied from the review of
LaDaume's Narrative of the Campaien in
Russia, in the number of the Edin6ureh
Review just published (:
The conflagration of Moscow affords
the author ample materials for awful and
affecting description. When the French
entered the city, they found it desolate.
no cry, nor noise of any sort was heard /;
but thick smoke was observed to arise in
the form of q, column, from the centre Of
the town. They advanced with cautious
steps, frightened at the loneliness of the
streets, and apprehensive of treachery. In
the middle of the town, near the Exchange,
few inhabitants were seen assembled
around the Kremlin; and farther on. a
crowd of soldiers exposed to sale vast
collection OF articles which they had pill
LACED. Advancing still farther into the CT
ty, the number of soldiers increased thew
were seen IN troops, carrying on their
backs pieces of cloth, loayes of sugar. and
whole bales of merchandise. Our author
was at a loss to account for this shocking
disorder, when he was informed that the
smoke which he had seen on entering the
town, proceeded from the Exchange, which
was full of goods and to which the Rus
slams set fire when they commenced their
retreat. Being impelied by curiosity to
advance, he at length penetrated intothe
interior of the building which was by this
time prey to the flames and he proceeds
with his narrative in the following terms !:
No cry, no tumult was heard in this
scene of horror Every one found album
dainty sufficient to satisfy his thirst for
plunder. Nothing was heard but the
cracking of the flames, and the noise of
the doors that were broken open--and oc-
casionally dreadful crash caused by the
falling in of some vault. Cottons. mus
inns, and in short all the most costly pro-
auctions OF Europe and Asia, were a prey
to the flames.-The cellars were filed with
sugar, oil and vitriol these burning all at
once in the subterraneOus warehouses, sent
forth torrents of flame through thick iron
gates, and presented striking image #
the mouth of hell. 1t was a spectacle both
terrible and affecting. Even the most
hardened minds were struck with a con-
victiOn that so great calamity would on
some future day, call forth the vengeance
of the Almighty upon the authors Of such
crimes.
6 II was at first imagined that the fire
would not extend beyond the Exchange.
But every one was struck with astonish-
ment and regret, when, at the dawn of the
following day, the cOnhagation was seen
raging on every side---the wind, which was
violent, giving irresistible fury to the flames.
a great part of the population of Moscow,
concealed in cellars, or other secret recess
ses of their houses, were now seen rushing
in dismay from their hiding places some
carrying with them their most precious ef-
fects, while others saved only their chill.
.dren, who were closely clasped in their
arms. The fire soon reached the finest
parts of the city, and involved in indiscri-
inmate ruin all the costly monuments of
architecture and taste. 'The hospitals too.
CONTINUED our author,) which contained
10000 wounded Russians, now began 10
burn. This offered a harrowingand dread
full spectacle. Almost all of these miserable
creatures persisted. A few who still lineer-
ed, were seen crawling, halfburnt among
the smoking ruins and others, grooming
under heaps Of dead bodies, endeavOred in
VAIN to extricate themselves from the nor