rear, the whole of the French rear-guard. | in flank. The enemy lost, on the 30th Thanksgiving and Te Deum will form November, seven pieces of cannon, and on the 1st Dec. two pieces; besides a great many prisoners, which are hourly augmenting.

Continuation of the Journal of the Military
Operations from 3d to 8th December.
Lieutenant-General Schepesefe reports,
on the 2d: December, that Count Goudo-
vitch was marching with the militia under
his orders, seventy thousand strong, upon
Mohelow.Admiral Tchitschagoff re-
ports, on the 1st December, that he was
pursuing the enemy in the direction of Sem-soners.
bini and Viamen to Plestschenitza, while
the detachment which he had sent in ad-
vance to destroy the bridges, annoyed him

itsch.

Dec. 7.-Admiral Tchitschagoff reports, on the 4th, that the advanced guard, while pursuing the enemy as far as Latigal, Ma jor-General Orouka's detachment took from the Guards two pair of colours, one piece of cannon, and without reckoning the invalids and the wounded, made 1,500 prisoners, amongst whom were a great many Officers of all ranks, and General Preysiny. In this affair Count Platoff himself headed his regiment of Cossacks.The Commander of a party, Colonel Sesslavin, reports, that having made a successful attack upon Sahress, he made General Dorgeusal prisoner, and eleven Officers of different ranks; and that he was marching direct upon Wilna, in order to overtake the enemy, upon his march, and attack him at the head of his columns.-General Count Platoff reports, on the 5th December, that during his pursuit of the enemy, and driving him from Molodetich na, he took six pieces of cannon and 500 prisoners; and that Colonel Kaysaroff, whom he had detached with a strong party, had attacked the enemy's cavalry of guards, who were escorting the baggage of Napoleon, killed about 500 of them, took one standard and a part of the baggage, toge ther with some papers of great importance. The head-quarters is with the advanced guard of General Miloradowitch, in order to be near the centre of the military operations.Colonel Koussiny reports, that he found at Minsk, besides a considerable quantity of bread, about 3,000 excellent French muskets, fabricated at Liege.

other Brigade Generals, were dangerously the Emperor Napoleon. The fruits of this wounded.-Head-quarters at Beloroutschie. unexpected attack were the capture of GeDec. 6.-Head-quarters at Modaschow-neral Kaminsky, two Colonels, two Lieutenant-Colonels, two Majors, 24 Officers of different ranks, and 217 soldiers. The advanced guard of Admiral Tchitschagoff, in vigorously pursuing the enemy to Chotinischi, took from them five cannons, one Colonel, six Officers, and above 500 prisoners. Besides an inconsiderable loss of men on our side, Major-General Grekoff was slightly wounded by a ball in the head.The enemy, still pursued by the advanced guard of Admiral Tchitschagoff, was, on the 3d of December, overtaken at Latigal, and vigorously attacked by MajorGeneral Count Ozouzka, when two Saxon standards were taken (which I have now the honour to lay at your Imperial Majesty's feet, by the hands of the Sub-Lieutenant of the Guards, Feutch), and one cannon, and more than 1,500 prisoners, among whom are several Officers, and one General, of whose name I have not yet been informed. The troops of General Count Platoff took a very active part in this affair.- -The advanced guard of Admiral Tchitschagoff having approached Molodetschno on the 4th of December, found the bridge destroyed by the enemy; who, having quitted this place about midnight, continued his march to Smorgino. Major-General Count Ozouzka continued his pursuit, took 500 prisoners, and six cannon; besides which, two cannon were found at Molodetchno.By the report of Admiral Tchitschagoff, of LieutenantGeneral Sacken's engagement with the corps of General Regnier, which forms the rear-guard of Prince Schwartzenberg, the Austrian troops which were advancing to Slonim, are again returned to Isabeline, to Report of the Commander-in-Chief of the reinforce General Regnier. This moveArmy, General Field-Marshal Prince ment induced Lieutenant-General Sacken Kutousoff Smolensko, to His Imperial to retire upon Scheremoff, in order to be Majesty, dated Head-quarters, at Ra- always in the rear of the enemy, in case daschkawitsch, the 7th December, 1812. this last should attempt to march towards The French army having passed the Be- Wilna. By this movement your Imperial rezyna, that of Admiral Tchitschagoff pur Majesty will perceive, that the Prince of sued it without intermission, and gained Schwartzenberg retires from, rather than repeated advantages over the enemy, who approaches towards Wilna. However, in retired by Pletschenitza, Molódetschno, order to be quite certain of the direction and Smorgoni, to Wilna. Major-General which he takes, I have ordered the corps Lanskoy, who had been sent on the 26th of Count Oscharoffsky to manoeuvre on the Nov. by Fourieff to Pletschenitza, after side of Slonim.- -I this instant received having gone 12 miles by cross-roads, on report from Count Platoff, accompanied the morning of the 29th, fell upon the ad- with a Polish standard, which I have the vanced-guard of the enemy at Pletsche-honour to send with this report to your mitza, while it was preparing quarters for Imperial Majesty.

Report of the Commander-in-Chief of the from this place on the 7th by Count Russian Armies, Field Marshal Prince Orouzka as far as Belitzi, with a loss of Kulousoff Smolensko, to His Imperial nine pieces of cannon and above 1,000 priMajesty, of the 12th of December, 1812. soners, a great number of tumbrils, and other carriages. In conséquence of the After a slight resistance the enemy was obliged yesterday to abandon the city of extreme cold, and the great want of proWilna, which the troops of your Imperial visions, the number of persons perishing Majesty, under the command of Admiral along the high roads have considerably inTchitschagoff, immediately took possession creased, amongst whom are noticed many of. The enemy had not had time to de-of Napoleon's guard. Aid-de-Camp stroy the considerable magazines which he General Count Oscharoffsky reports, unhad prepared there: we have taken from der date Woloschana, 7th December, that him a quantity of cannon. The advanced-on that day he arrived there, and proposed guard, and all the army under Admiral following the Grand Army in a parallel Tchitschagoff, are in pursuit of him. I line, endeavouring at the same time to cover its left flank, and to observe the am myself at the distance of 20 wersts from Wilna; but I will not fail to trans- movements of the corps under Prince mit to your Imperial Majesty a detailed Schwartzenberg.-Admiral Tchitschagoff reports on the 8th, that his van-guard, report, as soon as I shall arrive there. commanded by Major-General Tchaplitz, continuing to pursue the enemy, and to press him closely, had compelled him to abandon 61 pieces of cannon. Colonel Mordegnasse, Aid-de-Camp General of the I have the honour to transmit herewith Staff, the Aid-de-Camp of Marshal Datranslations of the continuation of the jour-voust, and 2,000 men, were made prinal of military operations from the 8th to the 13th of December, and of Marshal Prince Kutousoff Smolensko's report, dated Dec. 14.

Extract of a Dispatch from General Viscount Cathcart, dated St. Petersburgh, December 22, 1812.

soners in this affair. The whole of the

road from Smorgoni to Oschnisany was so completely strewed with dead bodies, and dead horses, and covered with artillery waggons, tumbrils, and carriages, that it was rendered almost impassable.- -The dissatisfaction amongst Napoleon's troops has increased to such a pitch, that they with one voice charge him as the author of all their misery.

Head-quarters, Smorgonie, Dec. 10.Colonel Knorring reports, under date of the 8th, that he detached some squadrons to watch the enemy's motions on the side of Novaswerskena and Stalbzeff.

-Ge

Dec. 8.-Admiral Tchitchagoff, in his first report of the 5th, states, that MajorGeneral Count Orouzka had pursued the enemy to Moldetschno, taking 5,000 prisoners and eight pieces of cannon. By his second report of the 7th of December, it appears that his van-guard, under the orders of Major-General Tchablitz, had press-neral Count Wittgenstein states, that keeped so close on the enemy's rear, as to carry ing with his corps to the right of Tchitschaz off his piquets, and subsequently entirely goff's army, in a parallel line, he was on to destroy that corps near Smorgoni, at the 9th at Nestawischkach. His van-guard which place their main body halted, and at Swiranke, and his cavalry under the were not a little surprised to see our Cos-command of Aid-de-Camp General Kutousacks appear, when they immediately fled soff, and Major-General Borosdin at Newith such precipitation as to leave all their mentschine. magazines. The enemy's loss on this occasion amounted to 25 pieces of cannon and 3,000 prisoners. Head-quarters, Molodetschino, 9th of December. -The enemy was pursued

9th December. The partisan, Colonel of the guard, Sesslavia, reports, that having come up with the enemy's cavalry, he immediately attacked them, they were over(To be continued,)

Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent-Garden.
LONDON: Printed by J. M'Creery, Black-Horse-Court, Fleet-street.

VOL. XXIII. No. 6.] LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1813. [Price 1s.

161].

Letter II.

TO THE THINKING PEOPLE OF

ENGLAND,

ON THE AFFAIRS OF THE EAST INDIA
COMPANY.

THINKING PEOPLE,

[162

"the strict maintenance of the Charter, is "of such magnitude as to demand the most grave and deliberate attention. He must "have a very comprehensive mind indeed, "that can, at a first view, decide on the "national policy of the measure. We cer "tainly do not feel ourselves competent to Before we come to consider the argu- "form such a judgment. But on the alterments in support of that opposition, which" native, namely, that if the Company do the City of London, in its corporate capa-" not implicitly acquiesce in the principle city, is making to the intended measure of" of the measure without inquiry or expla opening the trade to the East Indies, I think " nation, the result may be the TRANSit right to offer you some further remarks "FER OF THE WHOLE TO GOupon what has been said relative to the new "VERNMENT, there can be but one power and influence, which such a measure must throw into the hands of the ministry at home.

66

opinion, viz.:—that it would be CON"STITUTIONAL RUIN. The dissolu"tion of the India Company could not I noticed, in my last, an idea of Mr. "take place without bringing with it a naBirch and of Mr. Favell, that the measure, "tional bankruptcy, and that must be folby taking the government, and, of course, "lowed by military despotism. A corres the army and revenue of India, out of the "pondence, therefore, of more dreadful hands of the East India Company, the "import was never laid before the public, ministry would become possessed of so "and we earnestly request our readers to much power, that . . . . that . . . . that" give it the attention which it deserves." God knows what they might do! I will At the first blush there appears to be now cite a passage from the Morning Chro- something so wild in this; there appears to nicle, which passage was published upon be something so mad in the notion, that the the first appearance of the correspondence constitution of England is to be destroyed; inserted in my last Number.- We this that a national bankruptcy is to be pro"day lay before our readers the corres-duced; that a military despotism is to be "pondence that has taken place between established, by the dissolution of a Com"the Court of Directors and the President pany of merchants; there seems to be "of the Board of Control. There never something so crazy, or, more politely speakbefore the public eye a correspond-ing, so delirious; it seems to proceed from' ence pregnant with results so important something so much like one of those " "and alarming; for the letter of Lord "acerbations," vulgarly called fits; the Buckinghamshire, in the most summary thing seems to be so much of this character, "and cavalier style, gives the India Com- that I should not have thought it worthy of pany only the alternative of the surrender notice, had it not issued through the chief "of a material part of their rights, or the organ of the Whig faction. What an opi-' "unconditional transfer of the whole ma- nion, however; what a contemptuous opinagement and power of India to Minis- nion must the writer have of the intellects "ters. He will submit to no previous dis- of his readers, to put forth such extrava"cussions. He bids them hunt for infor- gant notions! We are, indeed, in a pretty "mation among the Memorials and Peti- state, if what he says be true. A charter "tions from the Out-ports; but demands is granted to a company of merchants to "the concurrence of the Company to the trade to one of our colonies; the term of 66 opening of the trade, before he will enter the charter is about to expire; and, we are "into an explanation of the rules by which told, that, if we do not renew the charter, "it shall be regulated. The question of a we shall be placed under a military despotpartial opening of the India trade, or of ism! Verily a man must have screwed up

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came

F

ex

his nerves into a very light state, before he could hazard such an assertion.

dissolution of the Company, the Government must guarantee the payment of the interest upon its debts, or else, the whole of the funding fabric would be instantly blown into the air; but, no injury could arise from this; because, as I have before shown, the Government is, at this time, and long has been, surety for the payment of the interest on the Company's debts.

Another question that I should wish to put to this gentleman is, where he has made the discovery, that, what he calls a national bankruptcy " must be followed by

it will be best, first to ask him what it is that he means by a military despotism?. Does he mean that state of things, where there is nothing existing in the name of law; where there are no tribunals, with people sitting in them, called judges; where there are none of those persons called peace-officers, police-officers, commission

In what way, I should be glad to know, is the dissolution of the East India Company to produce this terrible effect? To point out this, was the duty of the Morning Chronicle; and not having done it, his assertion might be dismissed, without further notice, it being incumbent on no one to produce proof, or argument, in refutation of that, which has not been attempted to be proved. Nevertheless, as the matter is of great importance, I will put here a few questions to this writer. And in the first"a military despotism!" But, perhaps, place, I ask him, whether it be likely, that a national bankruptcy will arise from the dissolution of a Company, the affairs of which Company are in such a state as to require the aid of the Government to keep the Company itself from becoming bankrupt? I ask whether this be likely? For some years past, the East India Company has been borrowing money, or rather bankers of taxes, surveyors of taxes, supervisors notes, from the national Government; it has come to the Government, and has got from it accommodations; the Government has lent it bank-notes to the amount of millions. I will not encumber my argument with the items in detail; but I state distinctly, that this East India Company has had bank-notes to the amount of millions of pounds, lent to it by the Government, in order to enable it to pay its dividends; for, Thinking People, this Company has its National Debt, and its dividends, in the same manner that the Government at Westminster has! Now, if the Company cannot pay its way without the assistance of the nation; if it be compelled to borrow money of the nation in order to pay its dividends; if this be the case (and the Morning Chronicle does not deny the fact), how is the dissolution of this Company to make the nation itself a bankrupt? I shall be told, perhaps, that, if the Company's Charter be not renewed, it will not be able to pay its debts, or the interest on its debts; and, that, the East India Stock-holders being thus ruined, an alarm will be spread amongst the stock-holders of the nation; that the funds will fall to a very low price, and that thus a national bankruptcy will be produced. But, how is this to happen? The Government would only have to guarantee the payment of the interest upon the India stock, in order to prevent any such alarm; and that, in fact, it now does, by the advances which it makes to the Company, in order to enable it to pay its dividends. The truth that in case of a

of taxes, assessors of taxes, collectors of taxes, excise-men, custom-house-officers, tide-waiters, &c. Does he mean a state of things, wherein all these are unknown, and where the taxes are collected and offenders against the Government are punished through the instrumentality of soldiers only? If he does, then I tell him that he means to describe a state of things which never existed in any nation in the world. If he means a state of things where the Government has the absolute command of so large a military force, as completely to preclude, or to render desperate, any attempt at resistance on the part of the people, let the acts of the Government be what they may; if he means this state of things, then I call upon him to show how the dissolution of the East India Company; I call upon him to show, how a national bankruptcy can possibly be big with the danger which he affects to anticipate.

By national bankruptcy, he means, doubtless, as others have meant, a ceasing to pay at the Bank the interest of the national debt. But, is he not deceived as to the course which things will naturally take in this respect? The Bank continues to pay the dividends on the debt, as promptly as it paid them before the stoppage in 1797. It pays, indeed, in paper, instead of hard money, and so it will continue to do, as long as the paper will pass current at all. There may come a time when the paper will be worth very little; or, in other words, when it will require a great deal of it to purchase the saine quantity of goods