Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-10-29
MIsCEL LANY.
From .Segur's HstryofMe Expedition 10 Rus
sin

STA.
CONGREGATION OF MOSCOW.
While our troops were vet struggling
with the conhagration, and the army
was disputing their prey with the
flames, Napoleon, whose sleep none had
dar2I to disturb during the night, was
awoke by the twofold light of day and
of the fire. His first feeling was that
OF irritation, and he would have COM
manded the devouring element; but he
soon paused and yielded to impossible
ity. Surprised that when he had struck
at the heart of mighty empire he
,hna,d find there any other sentiment
than submission and terror, he felt him
self vanquished and surpassed in deter
mination.
The conquest for which he had Sac
riticed every thing, was like phantom
he had pursued, and which, at the mo-
ment when he imagined he had gras-
ped it, vanished in mingled mass OF
smoke and flame. He rose every mo-
ment, paced to and fro, and again sat
down abruptly. He traversed his a
partments with quick steps; his sud
den and vehement gestures betrayed
painful uneasiness; he quilted resumed
and again quilted, an urgent occupa-
ton, to hasten 10 the windows and
watch the progress of the conflagration
Short and incoherent exclamatlons
burst from his laboring bosom. "What
a tremendous spectacle!-It is their
own work!-So many palaces!-Whai
men!-These are Scythians indeed"
Between the fire ard him there was
an extensive vacant place, then the
Moskwa and its two quayS; and yet the
panes Of the windows against which he
leaned were already burning TO the
touch, and the constant exertion oil
sweepers, placed on the iron roofs OF
the palace, were not sufficient 10 keep
them clear Of the numerous fakes OF
fire which alighted upon them
At this moment rumour was spread
that the Kremlin was undermined; this
was confirmed by the Russians, and
written documents Some OF the al
PENDANTS were beside themselves with
fear; while the military awaited un
moved what the orders Of the emperor
and fate should decree; and TO this alarm
the emperor replied only by smile OF
incredu!ity.
But still he walked convulslvely; he
stopped at every window, and behelo
the terrible element consuming his bril-
liant conquest; Selling OH all the bridg
es, all the avenues to his fortress, lnclo
sing, as it were, besieging him in 1t
spreading every moment among TIT
neighboring houses, and reducing hin
within narrower and narrower limits
combining him at length to the SHE o
the Kremlin alone.
We already breathed nothing Blu
smoke and ashes. Night approached
and was about to add darkness 10 GU
dangers; the equinoctial gales, in ALI
ance with the Russians, increased IL
violence. The king of Naples ans
prince Eugene FASTENED to the spot; il
company with the prince Of Neufcha
tel, they made their way to the empe
ror, and urged him by theirentreatles
their gestures and on their knees, AM
insisted on removing him from thi
scene of desolation. All was in vain.
, Napoleon, in possession Of the pal
} ace Of the Cars, was bent on not yield
ing that conquest even TO the contia
grafton. when all at once the shout o
"the Kremlin is on fire." passed iron
mouth to mouth, and reused US iron