Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-11-26

CONFEDERATION OF MOSCOW.

From {. gurs History of the Expedition to
Russia.
CONFLAGRATION OF MOSCOW.
While our troops were yet struggling
with the conilagratiou, and the army was
disputing their prey with the flames,
Napoleon, whose sleep none had dared
TO disturb during the night, was awoke
by the twofoId light Of day and Of the
FIRE. His first feeling was that of irriia-
sion, and he would have commanded the
devouring element; but he soon paused
and yielded to imposslbilily Surprised
that when he had struck at the heart oil
mighty empire he should find there any
other sentiment than submission and
terror, he felt himself vanqu,shed and
surpassed in determination.
This conquest for which he had sacri
feed every thing, was like phantom he
had pursued, and which at the moment
when he thought be had srasped it, van
ished in mingled mass OF smoke and
fame. He rose every moment, paced
TO and fro, and again sat down abruptly.
He traversed his apartments with quick
steps; his sudden and vehemen ges-
>ores betrayed painful uneasiness; he
quilted, resumed, and again Quilted, an
urgent occupation, TO hasten to the win
dows aad watch the progress Of the con
Aagration. Short and incohercnt excla-
ma,ions burst from bis laboring bosom.
" What tremendous spectacle lit is
their own work $50 many palaces -
What men These are Scythians in
deed %
Between the FIRE and him there was
an extensive vacan, place, then the Mosk-
wa and its two quays; and yel the panes
OF the windows against which he leaned
were already burning to the touch, and
the constant cxertion of sweepers, placed
on the iron roofs Of the palace, were not
sufficient to keep them clear of the Du-
merous flakes Of fire which alighted on
them.
Al this moment rumor was spread
that the Krem lin was undermined this
was confirmed by the Russians and writ
ten documents. Some Of the attendants
were beside themselves with fear; while
the military waited unmoved what the
orders of the Emperor and fate should de-
cree; and to this alarm the Emperor re-
piled only by smile of incredibly.
But still he walked convulsively; he
stopped at every window, and beheid the
terrible element consuming his brilliant
conquest; seizing on all the bridges, all
the avenues tie his fortress, inclosne, as
it were, besieging him in il; spreading
every moment among the neighboring
houses, and reducing him within mar
rover and narrower limits, confinng him
at length to the site Of the Kremlin alone.
We already bteathed nothing bu,
smoke and ashes. Night approached,
and was about to add darkness to our
dangers the equinoctial gales. in alli-
ance with the Russians, increased in vio-
lence. The King OF Naples and Prince
Eugene FASTENED to the spot; in COM
pany with the Prince Neufcha,el, they
made their way to the Emperor, and
urged him by their entreaties, their GEES
lures, and on their knees, and insisted on
removing him from this scene of desola-
ton All was in vain.
Napoleon, in possession OF the palace
OF the Cars, was bent on not yielding
that conquest even to the con1sgration,
when all at once the shout of "the Krem-
lin is on fire J" passed from mouth to
mouth, and reused US from the contem.
pla,ive stupor with which we had been
seized. The Emperor went out to re-
connotre the danger. Twice had the
FIRE communicated to the building in
which he was, and twice had it been ex-
tnguished; but the tower Of the arsenal
was still burning. A soldier of the pc.
lice had been found in il He was brough,
in and Napoleon caused him lobe inter.
rogated in his presence. This man was
the incendiary; he had executed his
commission at signal given by his
chief. 1t was evident that every thing
was devoted to destruction, the ancien,
and sacred Kremlin itself not excepted,
The gestures Of the Emperor bespoke
disdain and vexation; the wretch was
hurried into the first court, where the
cnraged grenadiers despatched him with
their bayonets.
This incident decided Napoleon. He
hastily descended the northern staircase,
famous for tho massacre Of Strelilzes,