Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-01-22
Atat0rteaL

DNfBbH& ~ shpStoVs HtS5EGl
n war Ia winch Russia IS engaged against
n Turkey, leads us to call ep historical
q events TO the memory, which otherwise
mlgbt De forgotten aLad the common
n occurrences ot lte. Ihe Russians con-
q template The taking of CanstantiIopie,
n perhaps they may at tnls time Oy preVl-
! Gus victories, be on a secure march to.
wards this ancient city The Turks
4 have so far display ed great courage and
4 resistance III tue defence OF their from
tier posts, and Inc enemy from the best
accounts received, have as YET but little
20 boast Of Nevertheless the number
of Nicholas armies are great, they are
brave aud disciplined, has resources a
bundsnt, his power scarcely TO be with
stood. But the patriotism and the spir
1t OF the iusks, may realize the same
disappointment to Nicholas, that Alex.
sndel did to Bonaparte, We thereio ore
4 present our readers with the following
+ description of the burning of Moscow,
Il which we copy from the .MicrOcosm.-
! The fate OF the capital OF Russia, may
present to the Imagination what might
81 De mat oil turkey.
I'm the meanwhile Smolenzk was re.
j duced, and Napoleon arrived at Wiastna.
The fame of his approach filed all Mos
cow with considerations; and the Rus.
\ slams began 10 abandon their capital
The Governor, Count Rostopchin, inior-
med the women in his proclamation, that
he did aot wish to detafn them but that
their husbands, and brothers must re.
main, or they would cover themselves
with infamy forever. He then added
some encouraging particulars concern
ing the hostile foEces Of the French
and concluded his address, by exclaim
ing 1--WE will take the images Of the
blessed Virgin, and put an and 10 all the
horrors Of war at oncep AT the same
time prodgious balloon was construct
ed by the command Of Alexander, under
she direction of a celebrated German
ArtIticer. The destination Of the huge
machine, was to hover over the French
army, single out its distinguished Chief
tain, and destroy him and his suite, by q
shower ct balls and fire works.-Several
attempts were made TO raise it but in
valn-the springs of the wings breaking
at every trial. Nevertheless, Count
Rostopchin, affected to persevere in the
desgn-and under its pretended execU-
ton, caused an immense number of
squl0s and other oombestible materials
80 be prepared Moscow itself. he in
tended should be the great internal ma
came, whose sudden and tremendous
explosion should consume the Emperor
OF France and bis army. Such was the
plan Of this noble descendant of one Of
The greatest conquerors OF Asia He
conceived it without effort, matu,ed il
IN silence, and executed il with Exed
and terrible determination. The devo-
tedness with which this great national
sacrifice was made, stands without par
allel-and is so extraordinary, indeed,
That history seems to pause, in order TO
fathom and conte mplste IL. A single IN
divIdusl, in the midst of a vast emniFe.
nearly overthrown, surveys its danger
with acalm and steady eve. He mea-
oures, and he appreciates it-and he
ventures without authority to devote all
poohc and private interest sacrifice to
" What motive could inspire him with
such astonishing assurance? He feared
.ne seuuctlons of the enemy more than
AIS srms-s revelation more than a con.
guest lie feared lest the dissraceful
peace, dictated al the Kremlin Of the
autocfat, should tarnish forever the hon.
or OF the Russian empire and straight
way ne projected and carried into excu-
ZION the HFagHf,,I n. A
COW
The preparations were all made in
n'enee' without the knowledge either Of
.ne people or their sovereign. The ma
non was ignorant that it was sacrificing
Us capital. This is said TO be so strictly
fue' that when the moment for burning
,he city arrived, the inhabitants who
nau He'd to the churches, execfated the
destruction. Those who beheld il at
Instance, the most opuleut of the no
ules' mistaken as well as the humblest
- tneir peasants, charged the French
"''n it--and IN short. those by whom il
vas ordered, threw the odium of il upon
me soldiers, for having engaged in the
"ofA oil ruin, in order TO render the ar.
;y an object Of detestation, and care
"e out little for the maledc,ions. of so
many unfortunate craaturas rro,,;tod