The Empire County argus., 1855-02-10

Moscow NEVER BURNED.--Senator Douglas is
said to have made the discovery, while travelling in
Russia last year. that the city of Moscow was never
burned The following statement of the matter is
from the Muscatine Qowa) Inquirer
Coming up on the boat few days ago, we hap,
pened to fall in company with Senator Douglas
who came on board at Quincy, on his way to War
saw. In the course of a very interesting account
of his travels in Russia, much of which have been
published by letter writer's, he stated fact which
has never yet been published, but which startlngy
contradicts the received historical relation 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 delicacy in making the asser-
ton that the ciy of MoScoU acas neuer burned
He said that previous to his arrival at 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.
Douglas persistency in his opinion, but on examin-
ing the fire marks around the city, and the city
itself, he became satisfied that the guide was COR
rect.
The statement goes on to set forth that the anti
guilty of the architectural particularly of its
six hundred first class churches" stretching thro
anti-Napoeonic ages to pagan times, and showing
the handiwork of different nations of history DEM
onstrates that the city was never burnt down (or
up.) The Inquirer adds:
The Kremln is space of several hundred acres,
in the heart of the city, in the shape of at-iron,
this enclosure is the most magnificent palace in
Europe, recently built, but constructed over
cient palace which remains thus enclosed, whole
and perfect, with all its windows, etc
Near the Kremlin surrounded by WALL is a
Chinese town, appearing to be several hundred
years DID, still occupied by descendants of the orig
inal settlers.
-, :ol. l. H.
concerning the burning Of Moscow, were these 1t
is city of 100000 Inhabitants, in circular form,
occupying large space, five miles across. There
the winters are six months long, and the customs
and still is to lay up supplies of provisions and
wood to last six mouths of severe and cold weather.
To prevent these gigatic supplies from cumbering
the heart of the city, and yet render them con-
venent as practicable to every locality, row of
wood houses was constructed to circle completely
around the city, and outside of these was row of
granares and in these were deposited the whole of
the supplies
Napoleon had entered the city with his army
and was himself occupying the palace of the Krem-
lin, when, one night by order of the Russian Gov
ernor, every wood house and every granary stimuli
taneously burst into blaze. All efforts to extin-
guish them were vain and Napoleon found himself
compelled to march his army through the fire
Retiring to an eminence he saw the whole city en-
veloped in vast sheets of fame and clouds of smoke
and apparently on fire. And so far as he was con.
cerned it might we'll have been, for though
houses enough were left to supply every soldier
with room yet without provisions or fuel, and a
Russian army to cut off supplies, he and his army
could not subsist there. During the fire some
houses were probably burnt, but the city not
In the Kremlin magazine blew up, cracking the
church of Ivan more than hundred feet up, but
setting nothing on fire.
Mr.. Douglas saw the fire marks around the city
where wood houses and granaries for winter sup
plies now stand as of old, but there appears nc
marks of conaagration within the city. On the
contrary, it bears the unmistakable evidence Of
age.