Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-11-04


P'e'err'hg to take counsel OF opportunity; a system
more conformabie to the pronptitude of his genius
In o'hcr respects, the whole army was loaded will
Tue avours of ITS head If lie happened to meet will
conVoys OF wounded, he stopped them informed him
sell OF their condition, of thlir suernps or Ito 80
uohS IN winch they had been wounded, and never ouit
ted them without consoling them by his words. or ma
Ging them partakers of his bounty.
lie bestowed particular attention on his guard be
himself daily reviewed them, ayishing commentator
ana sometimes blame; but the latter seldom fell ON any
out 'e administrators which pleased the soldiers and
diverted their complaints.
frequently sent wine from his table to the sentinel
VINO was nearest 10 him. One day he assembled tho
et'te OF his guards, for the purpose of rivpr thc,p
ne" leader; he made them speech. and with his own
mana and sword introduced him them; afterwards he
embraced him IN their presence So many attentions
were ascribcd by To his gratitude for the past nv
others, to lis eNgency for the future.
Inc latter saw clearly that Napoleon had AT first fat
tereu ''hseH with the hope Of receiving fresh over
lures oil peace from Alexander, and that the mscr and
debility of his army had occupied his attention II v,s
REQUISITE To allow the long train of srarrles ard sick
sulcient tune, the fur oininn their corps md tho
latter for reaching the hospitals. Finally TO establish
cse hospitals, TO collect PROVISIONS recruit the hrsc
and wait for the Ios7tal-waggons the artillery. and
inc Pahtoons wch were still aboriousv dragging after
u.s. across the Lithuauiau sands His corrcsnonbonco
WIN Europe must also have been source of occupa-
uoh 10 nun. 10 conclude, destructive atmosphere
stopped MS progress. Such, in fact is that climate; the
lyp
II either parches or mandates burns up or freezes the
SOIL and lis Inhabitants, for whose protection il
expressly framed peridous climate the heat Of Which
debaled our bodies, in order TO render them moro
ceaS'oie To the frost by which they were shortly TO be
pierced. ~ "
The Emperor not the least sensible of ifs cOccts
""' "eii he found himself somewhat refreshed bv re-
pose when no envoy fran Alexander made his appear
ace' ana his FIRST dispositions were completed he was
seized with ImpatIencc. lie was observed IN o,rov,
restless, whether il that inactivity ANNOYED him nc
i does all men of active habits and that he preferred
danger TO the WEAKNESS Of expectations or that he was
agatcd by that desire of acquisition which, with the
greater part of mankind has stronger elicac, Than t
pleasure ot preserving, or the fear of losno
IL was then especially that the image of captivo Moe
COW ocs'egcu MN; IL was the boundary of his fears the
OBJECT oil 5 hopes possessed of that he would
every thing. From that time ii wa Coreseen that an
dent and restless genius like his and accustomed short
cuts would not wait eight months when he felt hs nh
cct within his reach, and when twenty DAYS were sui
Gent TO attain it,
we must not however, be too hasty in Judging this
extraordinary man by the weaknesses common 10 AL
men. We shall presently hear from himself We sI n
see ho" much his political position tended to cornDra e
his military position. at later period we shall h., los
tempted to blame the resolution he about to talk
when Is seen that the fate of Russia depended rpon
only one more days health, which failed Napoleon even
on the very field of the Moskwa
meantime, he at disappeared hardly bold enough to
CONFESS 10 himself project of such great temerily. But
/ i'm he face
lie len began TO Deliberate and the State oc great r
reso ton which tormented his mind affected his vbna
iFane lie was observed to wander about his apart.
ments, as 1t pursued by dangerous temptation:
nothing could Tet his attentions; ne every moment be-
ran, Quilted, and resumed his labour; he walked obout
without any object; inquired the hour and looked NJ
ms watch; completely absorbed he stopped hu;nued q
'uAe WIN an absent AIR, aud again began walking
about.
In the midst Of this porpexitv. he occasopaIv al.
dressed 81 DSryi,C I,o
tence "Wel what shall we doo Shall we STAY whore
we are or advance How is it possible to stop Short in
lie midst o! glorious careern He did not wait for
their rePiy but sill kept wandering about as if he
was looking for something somebody to terminate his
INDIGESTION.
AT length quite overwhelmed with the weight of such
annPortan consideration, and oppressed with so great
an uncertainty, he would throw himself on one of the
oeds winch he had caused TO be laid the floor of his
apartments HIS frame, exhausted by the heat and tc
struggles of his mind, could only bear covering of tle
slightest texture; it that state that he passed
portion of his days al Witepsk
But when bis body at rest his spirit was ONLY the
more active. GLOW many motives urged him toward.
Moscow How support at Witeps1 the emu; Of seven
winter months:--he, who till then had ALWAYS been the
assaiant, was about TO be reduced TO defensive posi-
ton; part unworthy of him, OF which he bad no ex
rciiencc. ard adverse TO his genius
Moreover, at Witespk nothing had been 5cci1oa
and yet al what distance was he already from
Europe then, would at length behold him stoopcd
whom nothing had been able TO stop. Would not fine
dur'tIon OF the enterprise augment its danger? Ought
he 10 allow Russia time TO arm herself cntrey9 How
long could hc protrac this uncertain condition without
mparIng The charm Of his infabilit1 (which the re-
slstance OF Spain had already eniecbed) and without
eugcndering dangerous hopes in Europe? What wonId
be thought, u 1T were known that third of his army
dispersed or SICK longer the ranks, IL was
Indispensable therefore, dazzle the world speedily
by the ccIat Of great victory and hide so MANI sacr
fees under heap OF laurelsp
Then, if he remained at Wtepsls he considered that
he should have the enui the whole expense all the in
convenlences, and all the anxiees of defensive ros
Ton 10 bear while at Moscow there would be pcacc
abundance, reimbursement Of the expenses of The war
anu immortal glory lie persuaded himself that auda
city Tor hun was henccf1rth the greater prudence: thai
II IS the same with all hazardous undertakings as will
faults IN which there is always risk at the beginning bu
frequently gain at the conclusion; that tie more incx
cn7abc they are, the they require to be successful
That 1t was indispensable, therefore to consummatc th
undertaking. to push to- tie utmost, asonish the uni
verse beat down Alexander by his audacifv, and carry
OFT prize which, should be compensation for so many
losses.
Thus IT was that the same danger which perhaps
ought 10 have recalled him 10 the Nemen or kent hin