Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-09-03
scene of modern time commenced,
THE BURNING OF MOSCOW.

Moriier as governor Of the city, Immediately
issued his orders and was putting forth every
exer,ion, when al daylight Napoleon fastened
to him. Affecting 10 disbelieve the reports that
the inhabitants were firing their own city, he
pu, more rigid commands on Morlier. 10 keep
the soldiers from the work of destruction. The
Marshal simply pointed TO some iron covered
houses that had not yet been opened, from eve-
ry crevice of which smoke was issuing like
steam from the sides of penl-up volcano. Sad
and thoughtful, Napoleon turned towards the
Kremlin, the ancient palace of the Cars, whose
huge structure rose high above The surrounding
edifces.
In the morning. Morlier by great exer,ons
was enabled TO subdue the fire. But the next
night; Sept, 18th at midnight, the senlinels on
watch upon the lofty Kremlin, saw below the
flames bursting through the houses and palaces,
and cry of fire! fire passed through the
city. The dread scene had now fairly opened.
Fiery balloons were seen dropping from The air
and Lighting upon the houses-dull explosions
were heard on every side from the shut up
dwellings, and the next moment bright light
burst forth, and the flames were raging through
the apartments. The serene air and moonlight
of the night before had given way TO driving
clouds, and wild tempest that swept with the
roar Of the sea over the city. Flames arose on
every side, blazing and cracking in ,he storm,
while clouds of smoke and sparks in an inces-
SAINT shower went driving towards the Kremlin.
The clouds themselves seemed turned into FIRE,
rolling in wrath over devoted Moscow. Nor
lier crushed with the responsibility thus thrown
upon his shoulders, moved with his Young
Guard amid this desolalion, blowing up the
houses and facing the tempest and the confa-
grafton.
He fastened from place 10 place amid the
blazing ruins, his face blackened with the smoke
and his hair and eye brows singed with the fierce
heat. AT length the day dawned, a day Of tenn
pes, and flame; and Morlier, who had strained
every nerve for ihiriy-six hours, entered pal
ace and dropped down from fatigue. The man
ly form and stalwart arm that had so often car
rieG death into the ranks Of the enemy, at length
gave way, and the gloomy Marshal lay and
painted in usler exhaustion. But the night of
,empesls had been succeeded by day of tenn.
pest; and when night again enveloped the city,
il was one broad fame, wavering 10 and fro in
the blast. The wind had increased TO a per.
feet hurricane, and shifted from quarter 10 quar-
ter as if on purpose 10 swell the sea of fire and
extinguish the last hope. The fire was ap-
preaching the Kremln, and already the roar of
the flames and The crash of falling houses, and
the cracking of burning timbers were borne TO
the ears of the startled Emperor. He arose
and walked TO and fro, stopping convulsively
and gazing on The terrific scene. Murai, Eu-
gene, and Berlher rushed into his presence,
and on their knees besought him TO fee: but he
still clung to that naughty palace as if i. were
his Empire.
But at length the shout, The Kremlin is on
fire. was heard above the roar of the confagra-
ZION, and Napoleon reluctantly consented to
leave. He descended into the streets with his
staff, and looked about for a way Of egress, bu,
the flames blocked every passage. AT length
they discovered pos,ern gate, leading to the
Moskwa, and entered ii, but they had only enter
ed still further into the danger. AS Napoleon
cast his eye around The open space, girded and
arched with fire, smoke and cinders, he saw
one single street YET open, and amid the crash
Of falling houses and raging Of the fames-----
over burning ruins, through clouds of rolling
smoke, and between walls of fire, he pressed
on; and al length, half suflocaled, emerged in
safety from the blazing city, and took up his
quarters in The imperial palace OF Perowsky,
nearly three miles distant Morier, relieved
from his anxiety for The Emperor, redoubled his
efforts TO arrest the conhsgrarion. His men
rushed into every danger Breath
ing nothing but smoke and ashes---c -canopied by
fame, and smoke and cinders---su surrounded by
walls Of fire that rocked to and fro and fell with
crash amid the blazing ruins, he struggled