The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-03-24
miscellaneous.
MOSCOW NEVER WAS BURNED.
An Interesting Sketch of Russia.

An Interesting Sketch of Russia.
Judge 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 Muscatnc Qowa) lnquir-
or:
Coming up on tho boat a few days ago,
we happened to fall in company Senator
Douglas, who came on board at Quincy on
his way to Warsaw. In tho course ola very
interesting account of his travels in Russia,
much of which has been published by letter
writers, he stated fact that has never yet
been published, but which startlingly con-
tradicts 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 assertion that the city Of Mos
COW was never burned.
lie said that previous to his arrival at Mos
COW lie had several disputes with his guide
as to the burning Of the city, the guide de-
claring that it never occurred, and seemed to
be nettled at Mr. Douglas pcrsistcncy in his
opinion, but on examining the tirc-marks
around the city, and the city himself, he be-
came satisfied that the guide was correct.
The statement goes on to set forth that the
antiquity Of the architectural city-partcu-
larry of its 'slx hundred first class churches
stretching through anti-Napolconic ages to
Pagan times, and showing the handiwork of
different nations of history demonstrates that
the city was never burned down Tor up.) Tho
Inquirer adds:
The kremlin is space of several hundred
acres, in the heart of the city, in the shape
of a fat.iron, and is inclosed by wall sixty
feet high. Within this Enclosure is the most
magnificent palace in Europe, but construct
cd over an ancient palace, which remains
thus inclosed, whole and perfect with all the
windows, &c.
Near the krcmlin, surrounded by wall
is Chinese town, appearing to be several
hundred years old, still occupied by des-
cendents of tho original settlers.
The circumstances which gave lise to the
error of the burning of Moscow, were these.
1t is a city of $4,000 inhabitants, occupying
the large space of five miles across. There
the winters arc six months long, and the Gus
tom was and still is, to lay up supplies Of
wood and provisions to last the six months
of severe cold weather. To prevent these
gigantic supplies from numbering the city,
and yet render them as practicable to every
locality, row of wooden houses was con-
structed to circle completely around the city,
and outside Of these was row of granaries,
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 tho Kremln, when one night,
by order of the Russian Governor, every
wood house and every granary Simultaneous
" 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 All emineuce, he saw
the whole city enveloped in vast sheets OF
fame and clouds Of smoke, apparently all on
fire. And so far as he was concerned. it
might as we'll have been, for though houses
enough were left to supply every soldier with
q room, yet without provisions or fuel, and
Russian army to cut off supplies, he and
his army could not subsist there. During
the fire some Of the houses were probably
burnt, but the city was not In the Krem-
lin, magazine blew up, cracking the church
of Ivan more than hundred feet up, but
setting nothing Oh fire.
Mr.. Douglas saw the fire marks around
the city, where wood-houscs and granaries
for winter supplies now stand as of aid, but
there appear no marks within the city. On
the contrary, it bears unmistakable owl
denccs of age.