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treat which he is making with his rear-stimulated by the presence of Napoleon, he

was totally defeated on the 5th (17th) of this month. He himself escaped with great difficulty; he lost his artillery, his baggage, his staff of command, all his equipages, and even a part of those belonging Thus the Marto the Emperor his master.

guard, while the Viceroy, to-morrow the 27th, will march to take post at Krasnoi. You will, therefore, take care to occupy the post which you shall judge advisable, and which the Viceroy shall evacuate. The intention of the Emperor is, that you, with your corps, and that of the Duke of Elchin-shal's staff, which Louis Nicholas Davoust gen's, retire from Krasnoi, and make this received on the 29th Floreal, and the year movement on the 28th and 29th. General 12, is added to the number of victories, Charpentier, with his garrison, consisting which will serve as a testimony to posterity of three-third Polish battalions, and a regi- of the melancholy fate which has befallen ment of cavalry, will leave the town at the this vanquished army, which dared to same time with the rear. Before you make an irruption into the Russian empire, march out you will blow up the ramparts in a manner worthy of the Vandals. Marwhich surround Smolensko, as the mines shal Davoust being by this defeat cut off are ready, and only need to be set fire to. from the corps of Marshal Ney, was so far You will take care that the ammunition, from being able to support him, that it was powder-chests, and every thing that cannot not even in his power to give him informabe carried away, be destroyed and burnt, tion of the destruction of his own corps. as also the muskets; the cannon should be Marshal Ney experienced the same fate on buried. Generals Chasseloup and Loulos- the next day, the 6th (18th) ditto. He siere will take care, each in his department, took the same road, and after a battle, to carry these orders into proper execution, which was decided on both sides by the -You will take care to send out patrols, naked sword, 12,000 men laid down their that no marauders remain behind; and arms. you will also leave as few persons as possible in the hospitals.

(Signed) Prince of Neufchatel, Maj.-Gen. ALEXANDER.

Smolensko, 2d (14) Nov.

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Before Marshal Davoust left Smolensko, he in fact executed the orders he had received, but only in such manner as characterizes a flying enemy. He caused the mines to be sprung; set fire to 800 powder chests; and in his own person set the example to the incendiaries, who, notwithstanding the endeavours of Marshal Ney to prevent it, were spreading the flames into all parts of the city. After this proof of his valour, Marshal Davoust marched with his corps in such disorder as would have reflected disgrace on conscripts, and thus proceeded on Krasnoi, where, although he was supported by several corps of the Imperial guards, who formed the remainder of the 4th corps d'armee; and although

In one word, Marshal Ney's corps, and the whole garrison of Smolensko were made prisoners to a man. The number of cannon that fell into the hands of the Russians on both those days amounts to upwards of 190. Marshal Ney has fled through the woods, where our yagers are searching for him.-St. Petersburgh, 19th Nov. (1st Dec.)

Twer, Nov. 20.-Our brave troops in pursuit of the enemy continue incessantly to gain victories. Every day French prisoners are brought in by hundreds and by thousands, which have been sent by the corps of Count Wittgenstein. A great number of cannon have likewise been taken. The roads to Dorogobush are covered for the distance of several wersts with the dead bodies of the enemy, and the rivers on those roads are entirely filled with their bodies and with their dead horses.

Tula, Nov. 16.-On the 13th inst. 1,200 French prisoners were taken through this city, on the Kasan road; they are dreadfully exhausted and covered with rags.(Same Paper.)

From the Berlin Gazette of Dec. 3. Vienna, Nov. 24.-The report that negociations towards a general Peace will (To be continued.)

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

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COBBETT'S WEEKLY POLITICAL REGISTER.

VOL. XXIII. No. 4.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1813. [Price 1s.

97]

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which I sincerely entertain, and wish distinetly to express and to put upon record; if the power of Napoleon be dangerous to us, the wider his forces are extended upon the continent, in a direction away from us, the better. The expedition to Egypt, if we had not followed the French thither, was what every Englishman ought to have wished for; and, the force and talents requisite for establishing and maintaining a new division of territory and power on the other side of the Vistula, would certainly have left us in a greater degree of security.

If we do, what ground have we for joy SUMMARY OF POLITICS. thereat? Would he, if he had completely NORTHERN WAR.-- -We have, at last, conquered Russia, have made the lot of the information, on which we may safely rely people worse than it was before? Would as to this war. It is now become evident, he have made them less free? Would he that the losses of the French Emperor have have deprived them of any privilege; any been immense, since his departure from the means of ensuring their safety and happiplace where Moscow once stood; that his ness? If we answer these questions; if we, army in the North is fearfully reduced both with sincerity, can answer these questions. in men and horses, as well as in all the in the affirmative; then, indeed, have we stores and implements necessary in war; cause for joy at the failure of his enterprise; that, that part of his army which has made but, if we cannot, we have not, as philangood its retreat, is in great want of everythropists, any cause for joy at that failure. thing to inspirit it, except its own native As Englishmen have we any cause for soul; but, at the same time, it is to be ob-joy? Does his failure at such an immense served, that, in no part of this army has distance from us, make us more secure disaffection appeared, and that its fidelity against his power? Does it remove any of to its Chief does not betray any of those the causes of alarm to us, which before exsymptoms, that would naturally be expect-isted?I am of opinion; an opinion ed, if, as we are incessantly told, the French people were so discontented with the laws of conscription.With the alLies of the Emperor, however, the case is, as was to be expected, totally different. They have not only discovered disaffection towards him, but have, in one case, as will be seen from the Official documents, actually deserted him; and, in fact, gone over to the enemy.The French report to the Senate ascribes this defection to the intrigues and corruption of England; but, if Napoleon had not been obliged to retreat; if he had not met with reverses that so materially enfeebled his army," the intrigues and corruption of England" would have had no effect at all.The exultation of our hireling prints, upon this occasion, is, of course, without bounds. They predict, from the defection of the Prussian army (for, I have no doubt that it will extend to the whole army), nothing short of the total overthrow of Napoleon and of the French empire. If they were to predict, as a consequence of it, an addition of 10 or 15 millions annually to our taxes, and a prolongation of the war for four or five years, they would, I am afraid, be nearer the mark. What ground; what solid ground, is there for these exultations? Do we view the baffling of Napoleon's views on Russia merely as philanthropists?

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Suppose, that, as the consequence of the late events in Russia, Prussia should openly declare against Napoleon? What then? Has he not tried Prussia as an enemy? Has he not had to fight Prussian armies before? And, if he be not able to maintain himself on points so distant as those which he has now reached, does it follow, that he will be unable to give us as much annoyance as he has hitherto given us?Where, then, is the ground for all this boisterous exultation? cause for all this frantic joy? ling prints consider Napoleon as ruined, because he has failed in a war against the elements; for, after all, to the elements. alone he owes his failure. Ruined! Ruined, when he can call out an additional force of 300,000 men! We are told, that

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Where the

-Our hire

these men will never be forth-coming; and, | exacerbation, before this, was that which we have been told the like twenty times seized the country a few months before the during the last twenty years. In every in- battle of Marengo; but, though it has not stance, however, we have been told false- yet broken out so authentically as it did hoods, and so, I am convinced, we are now. then, I think that the present exacerbation -The fate of Napoleon, and of conti- is full as strong. -That the notions and nental Europe, depends upon the French writings, of which I have been speaking, people; and I am very glad that he is com- do proceed from real mental malady, and pelled to confess this. While they remain that the parties entertaining or uttering attached to him, he has little to fear. The them are bona fide mad, or, more politely resources which he finds in their soil, their speaking, affected with mental delirium, is, industry, and, above all, in their love of I think, pretty well proved by the fact, glory, are greater than all the other powers that the malady here, as in the cases of inof the continent possess. While the French dividuals, unhappily afflicted with high people remain, as they now appear to be, delirium, are to be quieted only by coercive animated with his soul, he has nothing to means, vulgarly called beating. The high fear his ambition may receive checks; he delirium of 1792 and 1793 was totally may meet with difficulties and mortifica- cured the next years by the campaigns of tion; but, he will lose very little of the the French in Flanders, Holland, and Gerpower that he now possesses.--Never- many. The Helder war operated as a great theless, he must now, one would suppose, composer; and, the battle of Marengo acbe in a state that would induce him to listen tually effected a cure, which, though temto moderate terms of peace; an advantage porary, was, at least, a proof of the truth to us, resulting from his reverses, which of the position for which I am contending: our hired writers never even allude to; that this species of delirium is, like that nay, the fairer that the occasion for offering of individuals, quieted by beating.To terms of peace become, the farther do they effect the counter-revolution obviously conseem to be from wishing for such offers to templated by these writers, the human be made. They represent him as humbled mind must travel backwards three centuin the dust; as trembling for the daily ex- ries; and, they may be assured, that, great istence of his power; as reduced to the ut- as may be the merit of the old dynasties, most extremity; and, instead of recom- the human mind is going to perform no mending this as the moment to offer terms such movement. France, and, indeed, the of peace, they cry out for war, war, war, greater part of Europe, is in the hands of until peace can be attained by "" marching new possessors; fame, power, property, "over his corpse." In short, their view respect, reverence, have changed owners. of the matter is this: that peace ought The change, too, has been from the feeble never to be sought for, till what they call to the vigorously minded; and, do the silly "the legitimate sovereigns of Europe are men, who live by selling their columns of "restored;" or, in other words, till Hol- lies and trash in London, imagine, that land be in the hands of the Stadtholder; there is to be a change back again, because Hanover in those of its former Elector; those who purchase those lies and that trash Naples in those of its former King; the shake in their shoes lest the same change States of the Church and the rest of Italy should come hither?- -But, suppose it in those of the Pope and its former King, possible to effect such a change as these Duke, and Princes; Spain in those of Fer-wise-acres contemplate, of what use would dinand; and France itself in those of the it be to us? To make France weaker? Bourbons. This is their view of the ques- Better tell her so. It is not, however, netion of peace. Without such a counter-cessary, for there is not a man in France revolution, they think, or, at least, they say, that England cannot make peace with safely. To entertain such an idea, really seems to argue a state of mind that calls, that raves aloud for a straight waistcoat. But, these fits, or, more politely speaking, paroxysms, or, still more politely speaking, "exacerbations," have visited this country for the last twenty years, upon every occasion when the French have met with a reverse in the war. The most remarkable

who does not know, that it is with that view that her enemies wish for a counterrevolution.This is the real object wished, but there is also another, which is now-and-then avowed; namely, to put a total stop to the progress of revolutionary principles; to extinguish for ever the hopes of those who are charged with wishing for a change in England. Now, how false must be the hearts of those men who wish for the fall of Napoleon upon this ground?

and caused so many fathers and mothers
to be flogged, for the transgressions of
their children. We night then hear,
with our own ears, the reasons of the com-
mon people for lamenting that the privilege
of being commissioned officers in the army
and navy is no longer confined exclusively
to the Aristocracy; we might then hear
the farmer's reasons for lamenting that he
is no longer called upon for a tenth-part of
his produce; we might hear why it is that
the people of Brittany sigh for the return
of that order of things, when the little
Seigneurs left them not even their new-
married wives to call their own, and when,
under the title of droit de baisé de mariées,
they exacted from each bridegroom a fine,
in the way of composition for abstaining
from the first possession of his bride.
We might, I say, hear with our own ears,
the reasons of the people of France for la-
menting the loss of the old government;
and, therefore, if these accusers of the go-
vernment of Buonaparté were sincere in
their accusations, they would wish for no-
thing so ardently as peace.-

-The Times

They call him tyrant, despot, monster; they say he has established a military despotism in France; they assert, that the people of France lament the change from the sway of the Bourbons; they swear, that, from one end to the other of France, the name of Napoleon is execrated; and, that were it not for the army, his power would not last a day. Now, if this be true, what has the Government, what has the established order of things in England to fear from the example of France? If all this be true; if it be all notorious, as it is assumed to be; or, if it be capable of proof, what danger is there, that the people of England, and especially the lovers of liberty, will receive encouragement from the example of France? If these accusations against Napoleon and his government be well-founded; or, if the accusers be sincere in their accusations, what can they desire better than the example of France as a warning to England? If they be sincere in their accusations, nothing but a wonderful stretch of philanthropy can possibly induce them to wish for any change of things in France; for, if revolution be really at-news-paper, which, some few weeks ago, tended with all the horrors ascribed to the abused the whole French nation, now calls government of Napoleon, who can believe, for a DECLARATION on our part of our view that the people of England are to be pre- in the war. Very good. Let us have that vailed upon to enter upon such a revolu- declaration; we shall then know for what tion? Those, therefore, who wish to sup- the war is to be continued; and the people port the present system of things in Eng- of France and of all the world will know land, ought, one would think, to wish for it too. There is nothing that I should like the prolongation of the present system of better than to see such a Declaration just things in France. But, the truth is, at this time; because, if our views were that these writers are not sincere. They moderate; if we had no wild scheme about produce no proof of the truth of what they deliverance, if we spoke in the language of say respecting Napoleon's government; peace, I have no doubt that peace we and they do not themselves believe that should have.But, if our language were which they assert on the subject. If they high; if we insisted upon the restoration were sincere, they ought to wish for a of Holland, Hanover, and the like, the peace, that Englishmen might go, and Declaration would assuredly do harm. with their own eyes, convince themselves In short, it appears to me, that we may, of the truth of what now rests on bare as- if we will, now have peace upon safe and sertion. Peace (which Napoleon has so honourable terms; and, if we miss this often tendered us) would enable us to go, opportunity, we may never have another. and satisfy ourselves of the miseries which The ministers have now the means of putthe French people have brought on their ting down their rivals for many years to country by the change in their government. come, and, amongst the advantages of Peace, one would think, would be worth peace, that, perhaps, would not be the making, were it only to effect this purpose. least; for, of all the factions that I ever We might go, and come back loaded with heard of, that of the present Whigs is certhe proofs of what now rests upon the bare tainly the worst; the most corrupt, the word of notorious dealers in falsehood. most greedy, and the most hostile to the We might publish in detail the fatal con- people's rights. sequences of the abolition of Tithes and feudal rights, of the corvée, the gabelle, and the game-laws, which two latter sent so many thousands of people to the galleys,

PRICE OF PORTER.The general complaint of things being dear, and especially the complaints of the rise in the price of

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The

Porter, require some observation. This | 9s. a week, and now he has 155. He is, beverage was sold not a great many years indeed, paid in paper; but, then, the ago, and, indeed, until the war against wheat is purchased in paper also. he Republicans of France, at three-pence short, all goes on together rising in price, halfpenny the pot.it is now to be sixpence and nobody visibly suffers from the rise, the pot. The rise has been called unrea- except persons of fixed incomes. sonable; some have called it extortion. fixed annuitant, whether his annuity arise The latter it cannot be, because no man is from the funds or from any other source, compelled to purchase it; no man is com- suffers most lamentably. If his annuity pelled to give his money for it.But as was granted before the French war, he to its being unreasonable, how can it be does not now receive much more than half so called, when the brewer's expenses are as much as was intended. And, here, I more than three times what they formerly would beg to remind parents, who prot were, while the price, even at sixpence, vide annuities for their children in the way does not amount to the double of what it of Insurance, what a losing, uay, what a formerly was. The average price of Bar- perilous, game they play. Suppose, ley before the French war was not more for instance, a father, in 1792, laid out a than three shillings the Bushel. The ave- sum sufficient to secure his daughter £300 rage price for years past has been seven a year in 1813, and thereafter for her life; shillings the Bushel. Hops have kept on she, in fact, will receive now only £200 rising in the same way, and the duty both of money of the same quality that he laid on malt and beer have kept pace with the out for her; and, which is still worse, if other expenses. Rent, labour, utensils, the paper continue to depreciate, she will, have all tripled. How, then, is it pos- in another ten years, receive not £100 a sible to make beer as cheap as before the year. The thing will appear more clear, war? There is only one way, in which it if we suppose the payment of the annuity can be done, and that is, by making the to take place in wheat instead of money. pump keep pace with the Barley, Hops, When he lodged the money which &c. This has, of course, been done; but, things are now come to that pass, that, if the pump is to be resorted to for the purpose of protecting the Brewer, those who drink must be content with something very little stronger than water itself.

was to secure the annuity to his daughter, wheat, we will say, was £20 a load, and, of course, the annuity, when it came to be paid, would have brought her 15 loads of wheat; but, it will now, if she be paid in wheat, bring her only 10 loads; and, It is very certain that sixpence is nearly in all human probability, if paid in wheat the double of three-pence halfpenny; but, ten years hence, the annuity would not then, it must be in money of the same bring her 5 loads.- -The insurance ofquality; whereas, our money has changed fices, on the contrary, drive a most profitits nature. It was, before the French war, able trade. The more the paper depregold and silver it is now paper; and six-ciates the better it is for them. They pence in this money is not worth more can never be wrong. They are sure to than four-pence in the money which we gain. They must always pay in a money had before the war. Wheat is said to be inferior in value to that which they redear; and so it is; but, it is not so dearceive as the consideration for the annuity. as it appears to be at first sight. It sells for £30 a load, or more; but the sale is for paper; and, I state it as a fact which I know to be true, that, only a few weeks ago, wheat was sold at £22 a load, at Christ-church market, for hard cash. This is a high price; but it is one-third less than the price seems to be; for the average price of the market, on that day, was £32 à load in paper. Here is, at once, a sufficient cause for the rise in the price of porter. It should be borne in mind, too, that the wages of men rise in the same proportion as the wheat. I can remember when wheat was thought dear at £12 a load; but, then the labouring man had

-He

When, therefore, a father is making this sort of provision for his children, he should reflect upon the uncertainty of what he is doing. If he be a true blue Antijacobin, he will, perhaps, impute my opinions to disloyalty; but, he should not, because he hates the jacobins, expose his own children to starvation.may depend upon it, that a depreciated paper-money, like the human frame, is doomed to inevitable extinction. It can no more be brought back to its original value, than an old woman can be made young, though my Lord Lauderdale professes to know how to do it.- -Wheat will, f dare say, be £200 or £300 a load; but,

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