Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-04-10
MOSCOW NEVER BURNED.

Senator Douglas is said to have made the dis
covery, while travelling in Russia, that the city
Of Moscow was never burned! The following
statement of the matter is from the Muscatine
Qowa) Inquirer
Coming on the boat few days ago, wo hap
pcned to fall in company with Senator Douglas,
who came on board at Quincy, on his way to
Warsaw. In the course of very interesting
count of his travels in Russia, much Of which has
been published BY letter writers, he stated fact
which has never yet been published, but which
startingly contradics the received historical rela-
ton of one Of the most extraordinary events that
ever fell to the lot of history to record. For this
reason the Judge said he felt delcacy in making
the assertion that the city Of Moscow was never
burned.
He said that, previous to his arrival ut Moscow
he had several disputes with his guide as to the
burning of the city, the guide declaring that it
never occurred, and seemed to be nettled at Mr..
Douglass persistancy in his opinion but on ex-
aiming tie fire marks around the city, and the
city itself, he became satisfied that the guide was
correct.
The statement goes on to set forth that the an
tiquity of the architectural particularly of
its sssx hundred first class churches" streaching
through anteNapolconic ages to Pagan times,
and showing the handwork of different nations
of history--demonstrates that the city never was
burned down Tor up.) The Inquirer adds =
The Krcmlin is a space of several hundred
acres, in the heart of the city, in the shape Of
hat-iron, and is enclosed by wall sixty feet high
Within this enclosure is the most magnificent pal
ace in Europe, recently built, but constructed over
an ancient palace, which remains, thus enclosed,
whole and perfect, with all its windows, &c.
Near the kremlin, surrounded by q wall, is a
Chinese town, appearing to be several hundred
years Old. still occupied by descendants Of the
original settlers.
The circumstances which gave rise to the error
concerning the burning Of Moscow, these ::
1t is city of 10000 inhabitants, in circular
form, occupying large space, five miles across.
There the winters are SIX months long, and the
custom was, and still is, to lay up supplies of
provisions and wood to last six months Of severe
cold weather. To prevent these gigantic supplies
from cncumbering the heart of the city, and yet
render them convenient practicable to every
locality, a row of wood houses was constructed
TO circle completely round the city, and outside of
these was a Of granares, and in these were
deposited the whole of the supplies. Napoleon
had entered the city with his army, and was him.
self occupying the palace Of the kremlin, when,
one night, by order of the Russian Governor. eve
~ granary simultaneously burst into a blaze
All efforts to extinguish them were vain, and Ma
poleon found himself compelled to march his
army through the fire.
Retiring to an eminencc, he saw the whole city
enve:oped in vast sheets OF flames, and clouds of
smoke, and apparently all on fire. And so far as
he was concerned, it might well have been, for
there were. houses enough to supply each soldier
with room, yet without revision or fuel, and a
Russian army to cut off supplies, he and his army
could not subsist there. During the fire some
houses were burned, but the city was not In the
Krcmlin, magazine blcwup, tracking the church
of Ivan more than hundred feet up, but burn
Ing nothing.
Mr.. Douglas saw the fremarks around the city,
where wood houses and granaries for winter sup
plies now stand of old but there appears no
marks of contagration within the city. On the
contrary, it bears the uum:stakablc evidence of
ace.