Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-15
PROVIDENCE

Discussion as to the origin ofthe Confogra.
ton Of JMoseow.-By the .Aut.or of Wa-
verIy.
The ConAagration Of Moscow was SO CON-
| plets in its devastation, so important in its con-
sequences, and so critical in the moment Of its
| commencement, that almost all the eye-wit-
nesses have imputed it to a sublime, yet almost
horrible cxertion of patriotic decision ON the
part Of the Russians, their government, and in
particular Of the Governor, Rostopcbin. Nor
has the positive denial Of Count Rostopchin
himself diminished the general conviction, that
the fire was directed by him. All the French
off GERS continue to this day to ascribe the con-
fagration to persons whom he had employed.
On the other hand there are many land those
good judges of the probabilities in such an
event, who have shown strong reasons for be-
lieving that Moscow shared but the fate OF a
deserted city, which is almost always burnt as
well as p~illaged. Should, however, the scale
Of evidence incline to the side of accident. his
tory will lose one o! the grandcst, as well as
most terrible incidents, which she has on re-
cord.
Considered as a voluntary Russian act, the
burning Of their capital is an incident Of gigan-
tic character, which we look upon with awe
and terror; and our ia culties are 80 confused
by the immensely Of the object. viewed in its
different bearings that we hardly know wheth-
er TO term it vice or virtue, patriotism or ven-
geance. Whether the burning of Moscow was
or was not, the work of Russian will and r IS
sian hands, the Office which it was 10 produce
upon the campaign were likely to be ofthe most
important character. Buonapurte's object in
pressing on to the capital at every risk, was to
grasp o pledge, for the redemption of which he
had no doubt Alexander would be glad TO make
peace upon his own terms. But the price Of
his victory however fair to tho sight, had like
the tabled fruit, said to grow on the banks Of
the Dead sea, proved in @he end, but "soot and
ashes" Moscow indeed he had seized, but il
had persisted in his grasp; and far from being
able to work upon Aleyander's fears for its
safety, it was reasonable to think that its total
destruction had produced the most vehement
arch, since Napoleon received not even the CT
Witty of an answer to his conciliatory letter.
And thus the acquisition SO mnch desired as
the means Of procuring peace, had become by
this catastrophe. the cause of the most irrecon-
cileable snmity.
Neither was it a triAing consideration, that
Napoleon had lost by this dreadful fire, a great
part Of the supplies, which he expected the
capture Of the metropolis would have contrib.
uted for the support Of his famlshed army
Had there existed in Moscow the usual popu-
lation Of a capital, he would have found the u.s.
ual modes of furnishing its markets in full &C.
tivity. These doubtless are not Of the common
kind, for provisions are sent to this capital not
as is usual from fertile districts around the city,
but from distant regions; whence :hey are
brought by water carriages in the summer, and
sledges which travel on the ice and frozen snow
in the swin,er time. To Moscow, with its
usual inhabitants, these supplies must have
been RENTED, as usual, lest tho numerous
population Of $50 COO and upwards should be
famished, as well as the %enemy's army
Eu, Moscow Observation-Disclosures burnt, and re-
duced to mountains Of cinders and ashes = had
no occasion for such supplies; nor was it to be
supposed that the provinces from which they
were usually RENTED, would send them to a
heap of ruins, where there remained mono to
be fed, save the soldiers of the invading army.
This conviction came with dreadful aniicipa-
ton Oh the Emperor Of France and his princi-
pal officers.