The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-11-28

men W. ere tho destToyers. When the French were
at the gates orlho city, the prison doors were opened
md the prisoners set free. The worst criminals and
all The refuse Of society were turned loose TO spoil
and destroy what they would 1t might have been
thoso or the wild Poacs that applied the torch, or it
might have been the Russians Count Rostopehin, as
one sufficient in command to enforce obedience TO
any order. Tho foreign residents here almost uni
VERBALLY attribute the act 10 him, 1t was the buInIns
aof Moscow than any feeling Of revenge, that
gave sort Of savage ferocty to every movement OF
tho French army. They had slain until the hand OF
tho murderer wus faint with labor, and even the
thirsty spirit of Vengeance became exhausted. Ma
poeon alone had power 10 check the prevailing mad
mess of the hour and before him all were awed into
-sence and respect. With the destroyeTs themselves
il was soon blood for blood The dosolater became
desolatc and the destroyer Of another life, sup
plant for his own. The temples had been robbed
Of their gold, and silver, and precious stones, and
such was the plumber of the French Emperor sent
from Moscow to Paris,-a part Of which reached its
destination but most Of it was intercepted by the
Cossacks, who seemed to be omnpresent, and deal
ing ont vengeance wherever then appeared. Awful
indeed must have been every incident of the Russian
campaign, from the entrance Of the French army into
The city in the spendor of great triumph, to their
sad departure from the walls the town, driven forth
AS they were almost like the prisoners weekly borne
from the bill have just visited to drenry and distant
Siberia. The fire broke forth in the Bazaar, where
there contagion in every inch Of ground, and
from this centre it spread until nearly ee-fourths
of the city were in flames The walls OF the Krem-
lin were impregnable to the flames, but the city
burnt and burning beyond, the flames being spread
even by the incendary and robber, until orders
given to hang every Russian his door, who should
be found thus sacrificing life und property. For
time Moscow n Of fire. and it rolled on ,drv-
en- by the winds, and overwhelming every thing that
stopped its The temple, the palace and the
cottage all alike fell before and beneath the fury Of
rhe flames The waters the Mostnn that wound
their sepenne course along the city, nor those of
the lake and springs around, nor all the labor and
art of man, could stay the march Of tho angel Of
death. lie moved with the flaming sword, and
whichever way he would, he went until even the
destroyer seemed weary Of his flight, and Of his
will stayed his own progress. Look this picture,
and down on this. from the Sharon hills see no
signs of this deso'aton. Every thing is bright and
beautiful beneath you. Instead Of the blaze off fire.
there is The sunof heaven gliding the domes and mi
converts are sending forth their gded and star-spnn
ged steeples, amidst the hicky settled habitnons OF
the people, The great river of the city is at the foot
of the hill from whence begins the expanded plain
upon which the city has been laid. The Boulevards
OF the town give form and shape to the irregu-
lar mass within; but beyond the walls, there is neith-
~er form shape. All is confuson,-but the confn-
siou ofbudings, crowded they with many
towers, domes and minnrets with the pointed roofs
of almost all the dwellings make the whole view pic
auresque and imposing. The city is seen from the
Sharon hills in all its extent and grandeur.
The setting sun shone fully upon the Kremlin as I
stood upon the brow Of the HILL and at glance all
the buildings Of the sacred enclosure OF those beyond
seen, appearing in more than their beauty.
We had travelled six versts from tho town
to ace these hills, with other attraction than the
grand Wow they gave 10 the city As in all hstori-
cal places, there here most interesting assoca-
tons to add to the pleasure of our visit. They were
only those have mentioned in the first appear
ance of Moscow to the French Army after their long
and weary march from Poland, but here almost upon
The summit orthe i,l, is the temporary prison house
Of the unfortunate beings, doomed TO an external ex
lie in the mines and amidst the wilds Of Siberia
NFresh from the knout and recent from the Chain,'
they borne first this great depot prepared for
1heir reception and from thence to their dreary
home. The Sabbath is the day selected for this pill
grmage, and Sabbath morning, noon, may be
from fifty to thrice fifty human beings borne off,
under strong military guard, to regions where they
are to remain till death relieves them of their suffer-
ings. There is no return from this exile, and the
mention of Sibera in ussia excite terror in
every bosom that hears the sound. The political Of
fender and the offender against the laws of God and
man find here common resting place. 1t is treason
to think aloud, either in the whisper of thought or
through the Press. The law is deemed more potent
than the sword and Siberia is hung up like ga ghost,
goblin, damned,'' to terrify all who speak, and
write, well MS those who net with freedom against
the State Upon the Sharon Hills is the depot for
most orthose Offenders and here congregate the Gu
1rious and the sympathsing to ec.their fellow mon
thus torn from friends and country for the commission
of offences times designed such, and in
other lands would be deemed moro virtue than a
crime. Moscow is only the depot for the prisoners
Of the Capital and those of the Provinces north and
al, T., Al.