The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-06-08
COUNT ROSTOPCuIN.-Th.

w NV h''sh tAltdoihiuhIf WYNN - Tt
corded in history. died lately at Mos
cow. He was Governor oil that cit,
at the time of the invasion of Rus
STA by Bonapastc. q it was underhi,
direction n superintendent that il
WIS destroyed. This fact, for som,
cause, he had denied. but the dcnia
is not crrdtcd,S the honor Of having
devised this terrible eSpcdent Tor
the deliverance Of his country. vet
rests on him. d" Moscow giled with
its golden Cupulas. the cradle aud
the tomb of the Russian nobility, ;"
contained at that time two hundred
and ninety five churches. aud fifteen
hundred mansions, with their gar
dens and dependencies, inicrmixcd
with smaller houses and cottages,
spread over several leagues Of ter
ritory. These edifces. including
even the shops are described as all
covered with polished aud painted
irOn.--The churches we're surroun
ded by a terrace, and several stce-
pies, terminating in golden balls, a.
boye which was exhibited the cres-
cent. and, lastly. the cross dcnoting
the successive triumphs of Mahome-
tanlsm and Christianity A single
ray of sunshine caused this splendid
city to glisten with "A thousand CO
lors. At sight of it, the traveller
paused, delighted and asto oishcd.
1t reminded him of the prodigies
with which the oriental poets had
amused his childhood, while, ON en-.
tering it, the wealth and luxury, the
gorgeous spectacles and sumptuous
festivities, which he Witnessed, made
him imagine himself transported in
to " city of kings" Such is Mos
cow described to have been by one
OF the historians of the campaign,
when the progress OF the French in
yaders led to the resolution of de, o.
ting it sacrifice to the flames, an
idea which was conceived and ex-
ecuted by Count Rostopchin. The
detail which Segur has given OF the
events attending it, IS highly inter
esting. Struck with establishment
at the silence which prevailed, on
bis approach. Napoleon entered the
city, and it was long ere he could be
brought to credit the reports of his
officers, that .u0Sc01o 1UdS deserted
This was a disappointment for
which he was not prepared. Little
however, did he then think of the
greatness OF the mOrtiiiC alton which
he was yet to endure. In a few
hours the alarm was sounded that
the city was on fire in several pla-
Ces. At first it Was attributed to
the CareleSsness of the soldiery. and
the Indignation Of the Emperor was
excited against the supposed authors
of the calamity .--Bu it was soon
found that these fires owed their ORR
gin to other causes. All efforts to
arrest their progress we're found I'M
ayailitlg. In attempting to escape
from the place where he had taken
his residence, the Emperor was
nearly suifocated.-For several day y
and nights this terrible conhagra-
ton continued, and Moscow became
vast heap of ruins. But at the de-
struction of this splendid city, it
vas not the Russians, but their en-
emies, who shed bitter tears IL ma
king this sacrifice, Rostopcbin con-
signed to destruction the nobiest of
his palaces & he subsequently eau
sed his splendid mansion at Woron-
owo to be also destroyed. inscribing
on the iron gate of a church which
was left standing, this memorial,
Which the French. shuddering with
surprise read as they approached !:
-" For eight years l have been
embellishing this place, where have
lived happily IN the bosom OF my
family. The inhabitants of this es-
tate will leave it on your approach
while | have set fire to my house
that it might net be polluted with
your presence. Frenchmen have
relinquisbed to you my two houses
in Moscow, with furniture to the a
mount of half a million of rubIcs.
Here you will find nothing but ash
es g"
These scenes were but Of yester-
day--but where are the actors in
them Z" Alexander the Dcliverer F"
is no more, and he who swayed the
sceptre of uncontrolled sovereignty