The native American., 1838-04-07

been discharged during the action, and the close
proximity OF the contendng masses to the deadly
batteries which spread grape or halfmuskel shot
through TIER ranks. Though stretched on the
cold snow, and exposed to the severity Of an arc
TIC winter, they were burning with thirst, and pi-
teous cries were heard on all sides for water, or
assistance to extricate the wounded men from
beneath the heaps of slain, or load of horses by
which they were crushed. Sixthousand of these
noble animals encountered the field or, maddened
with pain, were shreking aloud amidst the stifled
groans Of the wounded. Subdued by loss Of
blood, tanned by cold, exhausted by hunger the
iioemen lay side by side amidst the general wreck.
The Cossack was to be seen beside the Italian:
the gay vinedresser from the smiling banks of the
Garonne, lay athwart the stern peasant from the
plains of the Ukraine. The extremity of suffer-
ing had extinguished alike the fercest and the
most generous passions. After his usual custom,
Napoleon, in the afternoon, rode through this
dreadful field. accompanied by his generals and
staff, while the still burning piles Of Serpalen
and Saussgarten sent volumes of black smoke over
the scene of death: but the men exhibited none Of
their wonted enthusiasm: no cries of ViCe En-
pereur were heard: the bloody surface echoed only
with the cries of suffering, or the groans of wo
It is this moment which the genius of LIE Gros has
selected for the finest and most inspired painting
that exists of the Emperor, in that immortal
work, which, amidst the false taste and artificial
sentiment of Partisan society, has revived the Sc
we're simplicity and chastened feeling of ancient
art"
This was the time for England to have thrown
her strength into the scale. She was strongly
importuned by Russia and Prussia. They point
ed out the spot where British expedition might
strike the mortal blow. .'Send force to the
mouth of the Elbe Join the Swedes in Pome-
rama. Napoleon must fall back through fear of
having his retreat cut off in Germany. Austria
only waits for England. She has forty thousand
men in observation in Bohemia. She could have
a hundred thousand in motion on the Elbe. The
Prussians are ready to rise. The balance is now
equipoised. Throw in the British alliance, and
the fates of Europe are decided
Nothing could be more rational, effective, and
true; but the ban of Whiggism was upon Eng
land. Her evil genius, in the person Of Lord
Grey, man whose presence in public life has al
ways been signalized by some great public Gala
nifty, froze her councils. The dastardly and
shortsghted minister replied to all the eager out
cries Of Europe in these words, which ought 10
extnguish him as patriot and a politician for
ever;-"Doubtless the spring is the most favora-
bic period for military operations, but at the pre-
sent .juncture, the allies must not look for any
considerable land-force from Great Britain And
this with the despatch Of the battle Of Eylau ac-
tually in his hands! Let this be his epitaph. 1t
is gnominy.
Napoleon's consciousness Of his defeat was
discoverable by stronger signs than the charlata-
merry of military movements, adopted for the ex-
press purpose of disguise He made proposals of
peace to Russia and Prussia. They were refused
with impunity. He ordered up his principal
corps from the rear but dared not again attack the
Russians. And, finally, he demanded of France,
in March, 1907, the anticipated CONSUMPTION of
September, 1908.
Even at this distance Of time, it is difficult to
restrain the solemn qualification that follows from
the sense of retributive justice. France till now
had seen without pang the miseres which the
world suffered from her armies. All was victory,
and no man counted the, agonies which every
victory cost the unfortunate people of the seat of
war. France saw cannon and colors sent back to
her capital from the unhappy countries blasted by
the presence of her soldiery. Still all was ma
tional exulation. ssWe are the first soldiers, the
first politicians, the first philosophers, the first
people of the globe," was the national outcry; and
every voice was raised to hail the progress Of
European massacre. But the slaughter had now
begun to be retorted on herself; the sudden de-
mand Of new conscripton excited universal as
tonishment, remOnstrance, and alarm. "What!'
was the public exclamation, s'three conscrptions
within less than seven months; two hundred and
forty thousand Of the rising generation sent to be
slaughtered in the Polish deserts within half a
year! What nation could stand SO horrible a
drain! France must inevitably be ruined" 'tNo
words,' says Mr. Alison, scan do justice to the
CONSERVATION which this third requisition excited
amongst all classes, especially those whose chill
dren were likely to be reached by the destructive
scourge. In vain the bulletins announced, that
victories were gained with hardly any loss. The
terrific demand of the different conscriptions,
amounting to no less than 100000 men in seven
months, too clearly demonstrated the fearful
chasms which sickness and the sword of the enc
my had made in their ranks. The number of
young men who annually attained the age of
eighteen in France, which was the period selected
for the conscripton, was about two hundred
thousand. Thus in half year, more than a
whole annual generation had been required for a
service which experience had now proved to be
almost certain destruction"
The usual chicanery Of Napoleon was employ
ed to enfeeble the force of the public feelings the
journals were put on new course of fiction; the
theatrical spirit of the Government was brought
to act upon the theatrical spirit of the people, and
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