Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-05-21


Of his time. He was the particular Ia
yorite of Fredrick the Second. he DIS
played the greatest valour in the held Gu
: ring the seven years war, when by his
daringness and skill he often gained im-
portant actions with very small means.
His fine figure, his wit, and delicate Cd.
seryance Of circumstances, distinguished
him above all the German princes OF his
time.
He succeeded to the government OF a
country Of no great extent, oppressed
with court expenditure and debts. Tie
dedicated himself at the same time to the
prussian army. and he took part also IN
the politIck of Prussia. HIS merits,
however, as wise ruler Of his own pa
ternal lominlons is least known. Here
he was timetable.
II was remarkable, that in his own
state he should have refused to indulge
his own fcndness for numerous and
brillint army Of all the lesser princes
he maintained the fewest troops. The
care nearest his heart was to tighten in
every way the burdens ofhis people. The
expensive opera was abolished, the cour!
establishment placed on the simplest
footing, intriguing favorites banished, and
order and economy introduced in the
right place. The Duke inquired minuteIy
into every thing, he was always accessi-
bic to the distressed, he had singular
memory. and knew the history of a very
great number OF his subjects. He willing
ly conversed with bis people, he sought
opportunities Of allowing the lover orders
TO communicate With him all were
known to hin, but he left every man at
full liberty in his operations; for very
different from so many other petty prin-
ces, he never attempted to intermeddle
in affairs which ought always to be left
perfectly free. The states debts we're
soon honestly discharged, the prosperity
of his state increased, the taxes which
rose in all other states were "a similar
fact in all ti,nes) actually diminished in
his. HIS memory is held among all
classes Of Brunswickers, in the highest
affection. In every village of the coun-
try he is the subject on which the peo-
pie fcrdly dwell.
Frederick William the son of Charles
Ferdinand, distineui he'd himself in two
events, in the last OF which he fell with
glory.
When the independence Of Europe
was sealed bv the peace Of 1902, the Duke
of Brunswick was CT the bohemian from
tiers, in the middle of subjugated Ger
many Disdaining, though it was in his
power, to remuin Subject to the enemy,
he undertook the passage which seemed
hardly possible, thr ugh number of hos
tile hands, every one of which was SUI
psrior to his own, till be reached the sea
on whichhe did MT possess single boat.
The adventure became great achieve
mem, from the prodigious efforts made.
and the valcur displayed in so many
tbs skill in countermarch-
ing to escape, the dexterity in obtaining
vessels, and the good fortune in which SO
difficult an undertaking was crowned.
The evening before his death the Duke
of Brunswick aud wellington were at a
Ball at Brussels. The Duke, whose
whole mind was occupied by the awful
ness of the cris, was often absent---he
listned and heard a distant cannonading.
lie communicated the circumstance, and
expressed himself afraid CT a surprise.
Wellington did not entertain anv such
belief, but thought MaA it wss a salutson
on He arrival Of the king Of Prussia at his
army, Brunswick repeated his appre
tensions several times. lie requested
urgently to be ne; mitted to march cut
with corps, by way OF
Guarding against danger. This was
and he was allowed to take
with him his Rrunswickers and 1000
Saoens. FIe Immediately began his
march; a considerable time before mid
night, allowed his troops to rest and
march by turns, and advanced q Ger
man miles. re fell in all AZ once with
a large army of French destined to fall on
Neliine ton He lad the good fortune TO
transmit Immediately the intelligence to
" ellington, who availing himself o the
nreciops hours. Tie devoted va.ou1
with which the Duke and his wsrriours
for eight long hours occupied fhe French
70 allow time for the assembling together
If the armv-the obstinaey WIN winch
he threw himself with his small and
.wearie6 bara in the wa Of the hostile
.arny--the loss of nearly three thousand
men on the part Of the Brunswlckers.--
the two severe wounds which the Duke