Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
I From .Miss Igiliiams, .Narratire. 4

puSS uiat uhS SAduipiS VI tiiVSc Noindu me- |
roes who could not outliye their honourable |
Sdefeat on the plain of Philippi, might have
occurred to his remembrance or he of
Pontus, who, though out of the reach of
Pompey, sought no further refuge than the
Cimerian Bosphorus, by the double instru-
ment of poison and the sword. You may
imagine that he was rejecting on the
friendly offers of his faithful Mameluke,
who, on his abdication the preceding year
at Fontainbleau. stood before him with his
newly sharpenet sciinetar, saving that he
waited his orders to perform That last du-
ty. The examples of Cato OF Utica, of
Hannibal, aud of so many other iliustrious
personages, youmay believe. gliled through
his mind. No, Bonaparte's thoughts were
remote from these heathenish deeds of
greatness ;hs meditations were of a more
sober and familiar nature. The prepara-
tons with which he was busted at this e.
ventfui moment G big with his fate,'' were
those of Perkal and perfumery-and his
discourse was of the cut, size and quality
of various kinds of shirts, and the quantity
ofpomatums and perfumes which he judg-
ed necessary for his expedition. The in
ventory of those objects which he has left
behind him, is mt the least curious frag-
ment found among the collection ofhis state
papers. itappears that no detail was o.
mitted or neglected, for the voyage he was
preparing to make towards the new world,
in the well slowed cabin OF light frigate
and as TO his return TO our hemisphere, he
left that affair at present to his destin.
e was told by General -, who was his
Rrcf ,nv,oefnr of orf,iiar., ,.,h,ch anemarc
to our master of ordnance, that the battle
of EYlau was at one moment l0st-ss Cen
eral,' said Bonaparte, /" place your pieces
so as to protect my retreat; is all over !;
we are beaten. You see how soon an en-
pire is lost" The artillery was about to
be placed, when divisions of cavalry,
that were not expected till the following
day, suddenly made their appearance; the
battle recommended, audi BoDaparte ex-
claimed, that his destin had the houours Of
the day.
The country people had learned that the
Invading army was that of the English,
and they had heard that the English troops
are an exception to the general practice of
plumber and devastation-tha they never
iii treated the inhabtants-th they paid
literally tor what they wanted, aud caress-
ed the little children. They behold an
armed host, four abreast, pause when "a
bout to enter field of wheat, in crossing
the country, and changing their order, pro-
eeed In Indian files, one by One, along the
narrow beaten path, careful to do no injury
by treading on the corn, and avoid bruising
the flowrets Of the valley with hostile PAGES.
From Scotts cisH TO Paris, in 1914.
The following extract of letter written
from Paris, and inserted In some of our
public papers, is understood to be from the
pen OF an lrishman of distinguished abili-
ties and station. 1t may serve to shew
that the author Oftie foregoing work is not
singular in the favorable view he takes OF
the state Of French manners and princi-
pies. It was observed of it that it was sc e.
evidently the picture Of one extreme, drawn
by mastery but incontinent hand and
with an eye much more ;ttractable, we
suspect, by the gaudier and fouer objects
OF notice thanby the sober and more re-
deemIng. 1t may serve, however, as a
proper set of to the other extreme, and al
due distance betwee the two, proper
idea may be entertained of this singular
people, who, for such length of time uu-
der King aud Emperor, under smooth ty.
tants and rough, had done and chartered
so much, apparently to so little purpose
The letter, or at least such part of it as ap
peared in print, commences as follows
/" fear war will soon unfold her latter
ed banners on the continent. This poor
country is in deplorable state--a ruined
noblesse---a famished clergy---a state OF
smOthered war between the upstarts and
the restored-their finances most distress
ed--the military spirit divided--te most
opposite opinions as to the lasting of the
present form Of things every thing unhing-
sd-yet really sympathisc with this wor-
ried, amiable, and perhaps contemplate
people so full Ct talent and vice--so fri
yolous, soincOusistent and prone to change
so ferOcious too in their fickeness a.
bout six revolutions within twenty years.
and as fresha as ever for a new dance.
This strange vicissitudes of man draw
tears, but they also teach wisdom | never
found my mind so completely magic Ian
tern-such rapid succession Ofdisiointed
images-the past, the present, the future
possibly. One ought not to be hasty, in
taking up bad impressions, and need not
say that three weeks can give but little
room for observation : but from what dc
see and learn from others, who have seen
ong aud deeply, have conceived The worst
dea ofsOciaI Paris.