The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-10-25
mo.
E'om a toiee from 81. Heisna.
BONApAUfrE

| BURNING OF hosEOM.---I WAS in tie
midst of fine city pfovisioned Cor a year.
Tor IN Russia they always lay IN provision
Tor several months beforo the frosts set II.
St"res of all Kinds were plenty. Thr bou-
SEES Of the inhabitants were well provided.
aud nany had even lelt their servants to
attend upon MS. In most Of them there
was note left by the proprietor, begging
The French officers who toGk possession IL,
ithke core OF their furniture and other things:
ihai they had left every article necessary
Tor our wants, and hoped 10 return Ia n
few days when Tie Emperor Alexaudr-
had accommodated matters, at Which fhey
would be happy 10 see tls MANY ladies
remained behind. They knew that | Ind
bctn ~ Berlin and Vienna with NY armies
snd that no injury had been done 10 the
inhabitants, and moreover, they expected
speedy peace. We were 10 hopes of en-
Joilag ourselves IN winter quarters, with
every prospect al success IN the spring.
Two days alter onr arrival, fire was dis
covered, Which al first was not supposed
To be- alarming, but Ia have been caused by
me soldiers hlndllng their fires too near th.
houses, which were chiefly of wood. /
was angry at this, and issued very strict
orders On the subject To The commnndanl,
OF the regiments and others. The next
day II bad advanced, but still not SO ~ To
give serious alarm. However, afraid that
u might gain upon us, went out on horse
oafk, and gave every direction To extin-
su'sl II. 1he neNt morning n violent
Wlhu rose, aud The IRE spread with rapid
u'ly' some hundred mscroants, hired for
lhat purpose, dispersed themselves in diff.
'crcnt parts oi The town, and with matches
winch they concealed under their el0nks.
sci IRE ia AZ many houses 10 wndward a.
ihey could, which wns easily done, in con.
sequence of the eombustible materials OF
winch they were built. THIS, together
WIN The violence OF the wind, rendered
every effort TO exiinguish the fire n.lTeeta-
a. myself narrowly escaped with life.
In ordef Ia shew an example, | ynntured
INTO The midst of the flames, ard had nv
halr and eyebrows singcd, aud my clothes
burnt off my baek bui it WAS in vain as
lhey ha'l destroyed most OF the pumps, of
winch there were above thousand out
ct all these, believe that we could only
hnd one that was ser,iceablc. Besides,
HE wrctches thai had been hired by Ros-
toPchn, ran about IN every quarter, dis
aeinlnallng fire with their mliches in
winch they were bul too much assisted By
the wind.
The terrible connagralion ruined every
lhlhg. was prepared for every thing bot
|lis. HWaS unforeseen, for who would have
thought That u iallon would have set its
own capital ON fire f? The inhabitant,
themselves, however, did all they eould'to
eAilhgiilsll II, aud several of. them psf.
iSlitd hthef endeayours. They also broi'
before as numbers Of Tie incendiares with
lher matches, aa amidst such popoia-za
we never could have discovered them our
selves. caused about two hundred Of
these wretclles 10 beslot Had il not been
for this fatal fire, bad every thing my ar.
my wanted excellent winter quarters
stores Of all kinds were in plenty and the
next year would have decided il. Alexall-
ncr would have niale peace, OF would
nave been III Fetersburghp asked II he
thought that he could entirely subdue Rus
s'a. No." replied Napoleon, but J
eould have caused Russia TO make such "A
peace as suited the interests Of france. |
was I'VE days too late IN quitting Moscow.
Several Of the generals continued lie,
were burnt out Of their beds. | myself
remained IN The kremlin until surrounded
WIN names. The IRE advanced, seized the
chinese and lndia warehouses;, aud several
stores Of oil aud spirits, which burst forth
~ names aud overwhelmed every thing.
tlen retired 10 country house OF the
Emperor Aiexander's, distant about O
league rom Moscow, and YOU may figure
to yourselves the intensity ofthe fire, when
tell you that you could scarcely bear your
mana upon the walls Of the windows on the
side next to Moscow, in consequence of
their heated state. II was the spectacle of
sea and bilious q. fye, n sky and clouds
OF Ilame .nonptaias Of red rolling flames,
Ike Immense waves Of the sea, alternately
bursting forth aud elesating themselves to
skies of fire, aud then sinking into the
ocean Of fame below. Oh, il was the
most grand, the most sublime, and the
most terrific sight the world ever be-
held p