Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-05-10
Tte Constitutional eubtg.
NAPoLEON,s CAMPAIGN in RUSSIA.

Philip de Segur.
The French Expedition to Russia, in the year 1879
was SO stupendous In design overwhelming in exc
cution aud awful i'm disappointment as Il, form one
oil Tie most extraordinary the annals of
Kind single acknowledgements for long time
The favorite of fortunewho had been raised from
security, by his great talents, TO the dignity Of Emperor
oil the frenchhis ambition unsaated by such
ed station seemed determined the conquest of Europe
and the dominion of the greatest part of the old world
Russia, excited by the influence of Great Britain alone
appeared TO resist HIM and her he resolved chastise
for her daring insolence, in opposing his mighty plans
OF noriinate and unlawful conquest. The grand re-
suits OF NapoleOn's invasion of Russae almost total
annhIlaon of the greatest army in the world, and the
subsequent abdicaon of the Imperial Crownare fresh
in every PERSONS mind.
Numerous accounts of so memorable an event--the
a nPaign OF 1879, have appeared in the German,
French, Russian and English languages. But two of
them comprise nearly the whole of the materials of the
rest besides much of novel materials. We allude 10
the Historic de hlitaire de la Compagne de Russo eli
1912 by Col BoUTouRLIN, Aide de- amp ofhis Irnpc-
rial Majesty, AleXand and Count De SEGUR's work
the title of which heads this article
Count Philip de Segur is the of the well know
Count Lewis Segnr, and has been many years in the
military service of his country. Having been prison.
err Moscow before the treaty Tlsit he had OPP
portuntles OF becoming acquainted with Russia and the
Russians He served in the Campaign of 1872 as n
General OF brigade; and, the contents of his
sufficiently testify, he have enjoy ed the best
means of knowing the private opinions and actions
{" Napoleon well those of his ministers and his
ais. In fact the extremely interesting and novel de-
a'ls respecting the Tx Emperor before and during the
fatal expedition, sufficient 10 have established the
character OF Segurs work, which has all almost unpa-
Ia'eied sale in France.
We shall now endeavour 10 amrse and CRAFTY our
readers by some quotations from these Volumes fairly
concssng, however, that amidst so much important and
new matter, we find difficulty in selection. The Count
commences his work b. numerous "details pecng the
political condition of the States of Europe and of Turkey
especially III relation To Russia and France before the
Expedition OF the Freuch in l8i2. The oiIuwjng re
marks respecting Brrnadote merit attention.. When
the communications between France and Russia were
| interrupted
Napoleon immediately addressed himself TO tle Prince
OF Sweden his notes were conceived the svle of a
lord paramount who speaks to the interest ofis vas
sal, and who Is sens lie of the right he has to his grat
tude or submission, and who calcu upon it, He de
nanded that Bernadotte should declare real war
against England, shut her from the Baltic and that he
should send an army of 10000 Swedes against Russia
In return Tor this, he promised him his projections the
restoration of Finland, and twenty millions for an eoua
amount OF colonial produce, which the Swedes were
hrst TO denver Austria undertook TO support this pro
position: but Benadoe already feeling himself settled
on the throne, answered like independent monarch
Ostensbly, he declared himself neutral opened his
ports 10 all nations, proclaimed his right and his grev-
anccs, appealed to humanity, recommended peace, and
oeTtd himself as mediator: secretly he offered himself
to Napoleon at the price NORWAY, Finland and sub
sidy.
'At the reading of letter conceived 10 tbis new and
XPecedsylc, Bunapare seized wiihrag and as
constituent. He saw in II, and without reason
pfemedtatcd detection the part of Betnadoite a So
cret agreement with his cnemies! he filled with in
d'gnation; ne exclaimed stTik ing violently the let
ter, and the table which il lay open .lIe the rascal,
he presume TO give advice 10 dictate the law TO mel
to dare to pro: such infamous act* to ne.And
this from man who every thing tn nv bonutv
What ingratiiude' Then pacing the room with rand
strides, he was at intervals giving such express
slons as these 81 ought to have expected iI he has al
ways sacrificed every thing to his interests This is the
same man who during his short ministry attempted the
TPtNfIn n fa lnfarr loo
only to gain by disorder he opposed the 18th Rrumarr
lie 1t was who was conspiIng the west against fine
establishment Of law and region Has not his enyous
and Ferflous inat ton already BETRAYED the French
army al Au'rstcdc How many times, from regard To
Joseph, Lave pardoncd his nlrgues and concealed his
faults! And yet have made him gencral-n- chief mar
shall, duke prince and finally king! But YOU see how
all these iavoUrs, and the pardon MANY INJURIES
thrown away a man like this! For century past
u Sweden, half devoured by Russia, still retains her in
uePennehce' she owes IT to the support Of France. But
matters moi; Bernadotte requires the baptism of the
ancient aTistoCraCI baptism of blood and of French
blood and you will see that to satisfy his envy and
ambition, he will betray both his native and adopted
country
| Sin vain did they attempt to calm him. Tho rep
resented the difficulties which his new situation had i'm
posed BernadOtte that the cesson of Finland TO Rms
STA had separated Sweden from the continent, almost
made an island of that country, and thereby enlisted her
IN tile English system Under such important circuu-
stances, all the need that he had of this ay as una BILE
to ranquish bis pride, which revoed at a proposition
which he regarded as insulting; perhaps also the new
monarch OF Sweden he still saw the same Berdano;te
who was formerly bis subject and his military Inferior
and who appeared to have for himself destiny
independent oil his. From that moment his nsruc tons
to his minister bore the impress Of that dispositions the
latter 1T is true softened the bitterness of thcm but
! rupture became inevitable.
Otis uncertain which contributed most 10 it, the
Pdeoi Napoleon or the ancient jealousy of ernadoe
it's certain that on the part Of the former the motives
of 1t were honorable. Denmark said he was his
most faithful ally; her attachment 10 France lad ost
her the loss of her feet and the burning Of her capital
Must he repay fidelity which had been so cruel,
tried by an act of treaChery such that of taking Nor
way from her to give to Sweden
As to the subsidy which Sweden asked of him. he an
swered as he had done to Turkey that the war wa
to be carried ON with money, England would always b.
sure to oubid him. and above all, that there wa
weakness and baseness5 in triumphng by corruption
ReVerng by this to his wounded pride he terminated
the conference by eXclaiming, 'Bernadotte impose
conditions on me! Does he fancy then that have nee
OF h'm' Will soon bind him to my victorious career
aud comIei hum to follow my sovereign impulse1