The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-10

To be stripped OF IL after the fact was To
leave him two things-shame and weak
ness. Nevertheless affairs went forward
favorably; and II II were thing known
to history all might have been well.
Suddenly, however, on the 18th Of Sep
tember, SOC, Fox died; and by tho In
coming Of Lauderdale, the whole complex
ION was changed. Toryism again ran ram
pant. TIE Anglo Russo Prussian intrigue
was removed. Frederick William sent d
peremptory challenge TO Napoleon to be-
take himself out OF Germany. Tho Em-
peror had In truth a.S;cd 20 withdraw his
forces but the Gar fad also agreed TO re-
linquish certain vantage ground on tho
Dalmatian frontier-and had not done It,
Therefore, Napoleon's army corps would
remain In Germany Frederick William
suddenly declared war; and Napoleon, In
"a month after the death Of Fox and tho
sudden reyulsion In diplomacy concentrat-
ed In Saxe-Weimar an army OF nearly
hundred thousand men.
The Prussians, sixty thousand strong
under Prince Hohenlohe, occupied the city
Of Jena, on the Saale. There, on the 18th
of October, they were attacked and utterly
routed by the French leaving behind
twelve thousand in killed and wounded,
and about fifteen thousand prisoners On
the same day, at Auerstadt, fourteen miles
from Weimar, a corps Of the Grand Army,
thirty five thousand strong, under Marshal
Dayout, fell upon division Of fifty thou
sand Prussians, commanded by tho Duke
of Brunswial and Frederick William in
person, and won signal victory. Bruins
wick was mortally wounded, and about
ten thousand Of his soldiers were put hors
du combat.
Prussia was utterly overwhelmed by the
disaster. Her fortresses were surrendered
without resistance, and Napoleon, in less
than fortnight, occupied Berlin. On tho
2lst Of November, he issued from that city
his celebrated Berlin decree, declaring thu
British Islands in a state of blockade, and
interdicting all correspondence and trade
with England The property Of British
subjects, under wide schedule of liabil.
tiles was declared contraband Of war.
Meanwhile, the aid promised TO Prussia
by the Car Ind been too slow for tho
lightning that struck at Jena. Tho on.
coming Russians reached the Vistula, but
were forced back by the victorious French,
who took possession Of Warsaw. There tho
Emperor established his winter quarters
and remained for nearly three months, en-
gagged in the formulation Of new plans OF
conquf.t and new schemes for the pacifica-
tion orEurope. Here IL was, in his inter
val of repose, TINT he won the beautiful
princess Madame Walewska. Hoping TO
secure the Independence OF her country,
she laid her Polish charms on the altar,
and followed the fortunes Of her Imperial
but unfulfllling lover not TO Elba only,
but to Longwood and despair. After If.
teen years Of hopeless devotion, she reen
tered the world TO be known as the Coun-
tess d'Ornano
After Jenn, Prussia, though crushed, re-
mained belligerent. Her shattered forces
drew off to tho borders, and were Joined by
the Russians in East Prussia. The cam
paign Of 1907 opened here. On the Sth OF
February, tho French army, about 40, 900
strong, advanced against the allies, COM
manded by Bcnningsen and Lestocq At
the town Of Eylau, about twenty miles
from Konigsberg, q great but indecisive
battle was fought, in which each army
suffered loss of nearly Is, 900 men. The
Russians and Prussians fell back about
four miles 10 Fricdland, and both armies
were reinforced, tho French 20 about S0,-
600, and the allies to approximately the
same number.
The shock of Eylau, the inclcmency Of
the season, and the political complications
tnhb iHlChtUtu every IlOTlLDn ntlli DdCh
military movements until the beginning
of summer. On the l4th Of June was
fought the great battle of Friedland; and
the allied army was virtually destroyed.
The loss OF the Russians and Prussians
was more than 25, 900 men; that of the
French, fewer than 5000 Napoleon COM
manded In person, and his triumph was
prodigious. Though common fame would
have Austorlitz To be tho most glorious Of
his battles, critical opinion comedies the
palm to Friedand. Tho martial splendor
of that day has been caught in our own
times by the heroic brush of Meissonier,
and delivered, in the most splendid paint
ing In America, tofhe immortality of art.
Tho traveller, walking alone in the Metro
politan Museum of New York, near tho
twilight hour, finds himself unexpectedly
In the presence Of the sccno. There, on n
slight elevation, in the whcatficld of June,
sitting on his white horse, with his hat
lifted, In silent salutation, surrounded by
the princes and marshals OF his Empire,
sits the sardonic somnambulist while be-
fore him to tho left tho cuirassiors of the
Guard on their tremendous horses at full
gallop, bearing down through the broken
wheat, with buglers in tho van and sabcrs
flashing high, and bearded mouths wide
open with yellings that resound through
the world till now, plunge wildly, irresist-
IDLY, onward against the unseen enemy,
reckless alike of life and death, but choos-
ing rather death, If only the marble face
but smilel
After Friedland Tilsit. There, In the
middle Of the Memel, on the 25th Of June.
1907, Napoleon and tho Car met on the
famous raft. The bcatcn Alexander had
como 10 admire his victorious antagonist.
Why should the faces of his fifty thousand
dead prevent him from falling in love with
the Destroyer The Empcrors readily
agreed TO be at peace. On the eth Of July
q treaty was concluded between France
and Russia, and two days afterwards
similar compact between France and Prus.
sia. Frederick William had sought refuge
after the battle in the little town Of
Mcmel, which was now about all he might
call his ownl
Now was. created the grand duchy Of
Warsaw, composed Of Prussian territory.
Over this now state was set Napoleun's
Fl. II.