Cremona, to Verona, and to Piedmont'; Buonaparte hoped, by thus harassing an old man, to bend the mind of the pontiff to his purposes. On hearing, however, that some attempt would be made to release the holy father, he or dered him to be sent to France, and placed under the police at Fontainbleau. There he remained for some time, till the emperor surprised him with a visit on the 19th of January of this year. Buonaparte and the Austrian princess left Paris under pretence of hunting at Grosbois, and suddenly proceeded to Fontainbleau," where they were not expected." Buonaparte instantly repaired to the pope's apartments, and entered upon the business of his visit. From that evening till the 25th, various conferences took place between them, which ended in the signing of a new concordat. The pope had considered Buonaparte's last marriage illegal and his issue illegitimate, as the former marriage had not been dissolved according to the canons of the catholic church, nor by the special permission of the head of that church. The manner in which the pope had been treated had produced a strong sensation in France, which, although Buonaparte might disregard it during the tide of his victories, he now felt was no longer to be treated with contempt. The proposals, however, which were now made to the pope, were accepted, the territories of the church were restored, and the sanction of his holiness was obtained to the marriage of the French ruler.

Other measures for sustaining the authority of Buonaparte were also adopted. A regency was provided in the event of his death during the minority of his son. The Austrian princess was named the regent; she was to act with the assistance of a council. She and her son were to be crowned a spectacle which, although it might

amuse the Parisians for a day, could do little towards consolidating the new dynasty.

The legislative body having been convoked in the month of February, Buonaparte made one of his singular speeches to them. He consoled them by an assurance that the British army had been wrecked before Burgos, and had evacuated Spain.-But every one asked, if the British army had been wrecked before Burgos, how happened it that the enemy had not ventured to make any attack upon it in its ruined state? If the allies had entirely evacuated Spain, why were not the French again in possession of the capital of Estremadura and of Ciudad Rodrigo ? If all the hopes of the English had been disappointed and their projects defeated, how came it to pass that the enemy was not in possession of the fertile provinces of Andalusia ?-When alluding to the Russian campaign, he said, that he was constantly victorious at Polotsk, at Mohilo, at Smolensko, and Maloyraslovitz." At Maloyraslovitz! where the Russians drove him back to the road which be came the grave of his army!" He got to Moscow," he said," triumphing over every obstacle, and even the conflagration of that city changed in no manner the prosperous state of his affairs." This was in direct contradiction to his own bulletins (particular. ly the 26th) in which he said, "that after Moscow had ceased to exist, the emperor had determined either to aban. don this heap of ruins, or only occupy the Kremline-that it appeared useless to compromise any thing whatever for an object that was of no military value, and had now become of no political importance."-But after expressing all due contempt for the Russian arms,after asserting that the Russian troops were not able to stand before the French army-what did Buonaparte now pre

pose to do? The object of the war, as avowed by himself in his first bulletins, was to dictate to Russia; to deprive her of her consideration and her influence; to impose upon her his system, and to reduce the Emperor of Russia to the abject situation of a King of Bavaria. What did the French ruler now avow to be his object? To make the Russians return to their own country! "The Russians," said he, "shall return to their own frightful climate!" Was it for this he went to war with Russia?—that she might not establish her power over Germany? that she should be contented with her own immense possessions?--Heinvaded her territories to conquer her, and he was now anxious only that she should not invade France. She had destroyed the army which he brought against her, and burst beyond the limits of her own territories; and he would now have been fully satisfied if her armies would have relieved him of their presence, and "returned to their frightful climate!"

Buonaparte spoke very generally of his allies. He said, indeed, he "was satisfied with all of them-that he would abandon none of them, and that he would maintain the integrity of their states."-One paragraph in the speech shewed the impossibility of making peace. "The French dynasty reigns and shall reign in Spain," a pledge which, so long as it was persisted in, cut off all hope of putting a period to the war with England.

The Russian army meanwhile had arrived on the Vistula. The utmost deliberation was required in determining the course which it was now to follow. The French possessed along that river a range of fortresses, which commanded its course, and seemed to oppose a barrier against the further progress of a northern army. Was the Russian army to employ itself in besieging these fortresses, and thus se

VOL. VI. PART I.

cure this line of defence against any future invasion? This seemed the most prudent plan, and corresponded with the established usages of war. But the Russians had penetration enough to perceive, that much more brilliant prospects were opened by the present situation of Europe. The remains of the French army were too small, and in too complete a state of disorganization and dismay, to oppose any obstacle to their victorious progress. It was certain, that as they advanced, every sovereign, every country, would receive them with open arms; their force would be swelled by the force of all the districts which they might traverse; the resources of every country would be withdrawn from the strength of France and added to that of her enemies. With respect to the danger of leaving behind them so many strong-holds, the example of the French themselves had shewn, that there were circumstances, in which what might otherwise have been the height of imprudence, became perfectly safe. The danger, which would have been serious if entering into a hostile country, with a powerful enemy in front, ceased to exist when the French force was completely broken, and when the whole country through which their pursuers were to pass was enthusiastically devoted to their cause. Every circumstance, in short, indicated, that the moment had arrived for following up, with the utmost vigour, the advantages they had gained. It would have been madness to pause, until the mighty edifice, which for the first time had been made to totter, should be laid in the dust. The Russians therefore determined to advance; and the boldness and vigour of this policy, contrasted with the caution which had marked their proceedings in different circumstances, heightened greatly the impression of that wisdom by which their councils were guided.

On the 7th of February, Major-Ge

neral Count Woronzoff marched towards Posen with his detachment; whilst Admiral Tchichagoff invested the fortress of Thorn, General Miloradovitch's corps passed to the left bank of the Vistula. Major-General Paskevitch, with the 7th corps, took possession of Sakroczin, and pushed forward some cossacks for the purposes of observation as far as Modlin.

The enemy, with the view of obtain ing provisions from the villages about Dantzic, made a sally towards Brentau, but was immediately received by some Cossacks, who compelled him to retreat. At the same time a strong column of infantry and of cavalry appeared on the Russian left flank, opposite the village of Nenkau, and at first drove in their advanced posts. A cossack chief, named Meinikoff, taking advantage of this movement, collected several detach ments of his warriors, rode round the enemy's wing, and falling unexpectedly on his rear, threw him into confusion; the result was, that the whole column was cut off from the city, and not a single man returned into the fortress; 600 men were cut down on the spot, and 200 privates and 73 officers were made prisoners.

Prince Schwartzenberg's corps having been forced to retreat, on the 8th of February General Miloradovitch took possession of the city of Warsaw. On his arrival at the village of Wilanoff, he was met by the deputies of the corporations of the nobility, merchants, and clergy, headed by the prefect, subprefects, and mayors of the city, who presented to him the keys of Warsaw. Major-General Count Sievres, commanding in Koningsberg, received orders to march against Pillau, with all the troops and artillery then in Koningsberg, and to summon the French garrison to surrender. In pursuance of these orders, the general arrived with 6000 men and a strong party of artillery, in the village of Old Pillau,

within 2000 paces of the fortress :— The troops posted themselves partly in front of this village, and partly on the heights situated on the right and left of it; and the Russian general immediately sent a summons to the commandant of the French garrison. This measure led to a convention, by which the French troops, on the 8th, quitted the town and fortress of Pillau, which had been garrisoned by them since the month of May, 1812. The garrison, which marched out, consisted of about 1200 men; the number of sick left behind amounted to about 400. On the 9th the Russian troops returned to the grand army; the Prussian troops who were in the town and citadel remained as a garrison.

The mild and sagacious policy of the Russians in entering the provinces of the north as friends and deliverers, and restoring the national functionaries, greatly assisted their exertions.Their advance was accompanied with every circumstance which was calculated to endear their cause to the nations around them.-They resorted to the press as a powerful auxiliary for the overthrow of the enemies of Europe; they disseminated friendly addresses over the continent, and their conciliatory offers were received with joy at Warsaw, Berlin, Hamburgh, and Dresden. The press, which had been so long fettered by the French, and compelled to disseminate falsehood throughout Europe, began, after the success of the Russians, to reassume its legitimate functions.--Wherever the allies carried their arms, this pow. erful engine was occupied in exposing the malignant and deceitful policy which had been so long pursued by the ruler of France.

The King of Prussia, who felt himself while at Potsdam entirely in the power of the French general and garrison of Berlin, resolved on obtaining

his personal freedom by a sudden and unexpected removal to Breslaw. Having arrived there, he, on the 3d of February, issued proclamations to his subjects, calling on them to arm in support of their king and country. This patriotic call was well understood over Prussia, and volunteers from all parts of the kingdom presented themselves for enrolment. Mortified by this sight, Beauharnois, the new commander of the French armies, forbade the recruiting enjoined by the royal decree. This unparalleled affront had no other effect than to excite the indignation of the king and of his people.

The Austrians, in the month of February, concluded an unlimited truce with the Russians, in virtue of which they withdrew into Gallicia; and the Saxons under Regnier profited by this circumstance to retire towards their own country. On the evening of the 13th of February, however, General Winzingerode came up with General Regnier and his Saxons at Kalitsch. The enemy directed their movements upon the city, to form a junction with 4000 Poles, who had 15 pieces of cannon with them; but they found themselves suddenly attacked by the Russian troops with their characteristic ardour. The result of this attack was highly honourable to the Russians, as the Saxon infantry, who were in superior) force, made a brave and obstinate resistance. Two Saxon standards, seven pieces of cannon, the Saxon general, Nostitz, three colonels, 36 officers and 2000 privates, were the trophies of this day. General Winzingerode's advanced guard pursued the enemy, who retreated upon Raczkowo and Ostrowo.

In this state of things, the King of Prussia offered himself as a mediator between the chief belligerents. On the 15th of February, he proposed a truce, on condition that the Russian

troops should retire behind the Vistula and the French behind the Elbe, leaving Prussia, and all its fortresses, free from foreign occupation.-These terms seem very favourable to the beatten and discomfited enemy, who had so lately threatened to annihilate the independence both of Russia and Prussia. They were sullenly rejected, however, by Buonaparte; while the Emperor Alexander, on the other hand, evinced such sentiments of liberality toward the Prussian monarchy and nation, as could not but insure their cordial attachment.

The patriots of Prussia accordingly surrounded their sovereign at Breslaw: they represented, that the moment was at length arrived to shake off the degrading yoke, to which, in common with all Germany, their nation had been so long subjected; they wisely and energetically insisted, that there was but one line to be adopted an alliance offensive and defensive with Russia. This just remonstrance at length prevailed. On the 22d of February a treaty of peace and alliance, offensive and defensive, was concluded betwixt the Emperor of Russia and King of Prussia, and a system of combined military operations was arranged.

The King of Prussia, on this occa. sion, addressed his people and his armies." It was unnecessary," he said, "to render an account to his good people of Germany, of the motives for the war which was now commencing: they were evident to impartial Europe. Prussia was bowed down under the superior power of France. That peace, which deprived the king of half his subjects, procured us no blessings; it, on the contrary, injured Prussia more than war itself. The country was impoverished. The principal fortresses were occupied by the enemy; agriculture was neglected, as well as the industry of the cities, which had risen to a very

high degree. Liberty of trade being interrupted, the new system naturally closed all the sources of ease and prosperity. By the most exact observance of the stipulated treaties, the king hoped to obtain some alleviation for his people, and at last to convince the French ruler that it was his own interest to leave Prussia independent; but the king's exertions to obtain so desirable an object proved fruitless;-nothing but haughtiness and treachery were the result. The Prussians discovered, but rather late, that Buonaparte's conventions were more ruinous to them than open wars. The moment was now arrived in which no illusion respecting their condition could remain." Prussians," said the king, "you know what you have suffered during the last seven years. You know what a miserable fate awaits you if we do not ho. nourably finish the war which is now commencing. Remember former times! Remember the illustrious Elector, the Great Frederick! Remember the benefits for which our ancestors contended under his direction: liberty of conscience, honour, independence, trade, industry, and knowledge. Bear in mind the great example of our allies the Russians! Think of the Spaniards and Portuguese small states have even gone to battle for similar benefits against a more powerful enemy, and obtained victory! Remember the Swiss and the people of the Netherlands! Great sacrifices are required from all ranks, because our plan is great, and the means of our enemy extensive.You will make them sooner for your country and your king, than for a foreign ruler; who, by so many examples, has proved he would seize your children, and drain your resources for designs to which you are strangers.Confidence in God, constancy, courage, and the powerful assistance of our allies, will favour our just cause

with victory. How great soever the sacrifices which may be required from individuals, they are small compared with the sacred interests for which they are given, for which we combat, and for which we must conquer, or cease to be Prussians. We are now engaged in the last decisive contest for our existence as an independent people.There is no medium between an honourable peace and inglorious ruin.Even this you would manfully support for your honour, because a Prussian cannot live without it.-But we dare confidently trust, God and our firm purpose will give our just cause victory, and with this an uninterrupted peace, and the return of happier times."

The French ambassador, St Marsan, who was a spectator of the interview between the Emperor Alexander and the King of Prussia, resolved on the following day to present a remonstrance to the Prussian chancellor. He was prevented, however, by a note from the latter, formally announcing to him, that Prussia was at war with France, and assigning the reasons by which he justified her conduct. A similar note was presented to the French government at Paris by Count Krusemarck, the Prussian minister, to which an angry reply was made by the Duke of Bassano.

The Prussian minister stated the strongest reasons in justification of an appeal to arms at the present time, and argued with much force and abili ty against the French system, which had successively led to the degradation of every sovereign by whom it had been adopted :-He urged the folly of trusting to any engagements with Buonaparte, and the absolute necessity to which the powers of Europe were exposed, of destroying his system, or being destroyed by it. Prussia, by the treaty of Tilsit, in 1807, was left in the most feeble condition. It was easy