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 to the Emperor his master. Thus the Mar treat which he is making with his rear-stimulated by the presence of Napoleon, he 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 movement on the 28th and 29th. General Charpentier, with his garrison, consisting of three-third Polish battalions, and a regiment of cavalry, will leave the town at the same time with the rear. Before you march out you will blow up the ramparts which surround Smolensko, as the mines are ready, and only need to be set fire to. You will take care that the ammunition, powder-chests, and every thing that cannot be carried away, be destroyed and burnt, as also the muskets; the cannon should be buried. Generals Chasseloup and Loulossiere will take care, each in his department, to carry these orders into proper execution. You will take care to send out patrols, that no marauders remain behind; and you will also leave as few persons as possible in the hospitals. (Signed) Prince of Neufchatel, Maj.-Gen. ALEXANDER. Smolensko, 2d (14) Nov. A true account of the manner in which the Prince of Eckmuhl executed the orders of the Emperor Napoleon, transmitted to him in the dispatch to the Prince of Neuf chatel: received on the 29th Floreal, and the year He 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. 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 '. Before Marshal Davoust left Smolensko, thousands, which have been sent by the he in fact executed the orders he had re- corps of Count Wittgenstein. A great ceived, but only in such manner as charac-number of cannon have likewise been taken. terizes 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 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. COBBETT'S WEEKLY POLITICAL REGISTER. VOL. XXIII. No. 4.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1813. [Price 1s. 971 [98 If we do, what ground have we for joy thereat? Would he, if he had completely conquered Russia, have made the lot of the people worse than it was before? Would he have made them less free? Would he have deprived them of any privilege; any means of ensuring their safety and happiness? If we answer these questions; if we, with sincerity, can answer these questions in the affirmative; then, indeed, have we cause for joy at the failure of his enterprise; but, if we cannot, we have not, as philanthropists, any cause for joy at that failure. As Englishmen have we any cause for joy? Does his failure at such an immense distance from us, make us more secure against his power? Does it remove any of the causes of alarm to us, which before ex SUMMARY OF POLITICS. NORTHERN WAR.- We have, at last, information, on which we may safely rely as to this war. It is now become evident, that the losses of the French Emperor have been immense, since his departure from the place where Moscow once stood; that his army in the North is fearfully reduced both in men and horses, as well as in all the stores and implements necessary in war; that, that part of his army which has made good its retreat, is in great want of every thing to inspirit it, except its own native soul; but, at the same time, it is to be observed, that, in no part of this army has disaffection appeared, and that its fidelity to its Chief does not betray any of those symptoms, that would naturally be expect-isted?I am of opinion; an opinion ed, if, as we are incessantly told, the which I sincerely entertain, and wish disFrench people were so discontented with tinctly to express and to put upon record; the laws of conscription.With the al- if the power of Napoleon be dangerous to lies of the Emperor, however, the case is, us, the wider his forces are extended upon as was to be expected, totally different. the continent, in a direction away from us, They have not only discovered disaffection the better. The expedition to Egypt, if we towards him, but have, in one case, as will had not followed the French thither, was be seen from the Official documents, actu- what every Englishman ought to have ally deserted him; and, in fact, gone over wished for; and, the force and talents reto the enemy.The French report to the quisite for establishing and maintaining a Senate ascribes this defection to the in-new division of territory and power on the trigues 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? other side of the Vistula, would certainly have left us in a greater degree of security. -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 D 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 heating.—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 counter-› revolution.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! They call him tyrant, despot, monster; and caused so many fathers and mothers they say he has established a military des- to be flogged, for the transgressions of potism in France; they assert, that the their children. We might then hear, people of France lament the change from with our own ears, the reasons of the comthe sway of the Bourbons; they swear, that, mon people for lamenting that the privilege from one end to the other of France, the of being commissioned officers in the army name of Napoleon is execrated; and, that and navy is no longer confined exclusively. were it not for the army, his power would to the Aristocracy; we might then hear not last a day. Now, if this be true, the farmer's reasons for lamenting that he what has the Government, what has the is no longer called upon for a tenth-part of established order of things in England to his produce; we might hear why it is that fear from the example of France? If all the people of Brittany sigh for the return this be true; if it be all notorious, as it is of that order of things, when the little assumed to be; or, if it be capable of Seigneurs left them not even their newproof, what danger is there, that the peo- married wives to call their own, and when, ple of England, and especially the lovers of under the title of droit de baisé de mariées, Liberty, will receive encouragement from they exacted from each bridegroom a fine, the example of France? If these accusa- in the way of composition for abstaining tions against Napoleon and his government from the first possession of his bride.be well-founded; or, if the accusers be We might, I say, hear with our own ears, sincere in their accusations, what can they the reasons of the people of France for ladesire better than the example of France as menting the loss of the old government; a warning to England? If they be sincere and, therefore, if these accusers of the goin their accusations, nothing but a wonder-vernment of Buonaparte were sincere in ful stretch of philanthropy can possibly in their accusations, they would wish for noduce them to wish for any change of things thing so ardently as peace.- The Times in France; for, if revolution be really at-news-paper, which, some few weeks ago, tended with all the horrors ascribed to the government of Napoleon, who can believe, that the people of England are to be prevailed upon to enter upon such a revolution? Those, therefore, who wish to support the present system of things in England, ought, one would think, to wish for the prolongation of the present system of things in France.- But, the truth is, that these writers are not sincere. They produce no proof of the truth of what they say respecting Napoleon's government; and they do not themselves believe that which they assert on the subject. If they were sincere, they ought to wish for a peace, that Englishmen might go, and with their own eyes, convince themselves of the truth of what now rests on bare assertion. Peace (which Napoleon has so often tendered us) would enable us to go, and satisfy ourselves of the miseries which the French people have brought on their country by the change in their government. Peace, one would think, would be worth making, were it only to effect this purpose. We might go, and come back loaded with the proofs of what now rests upon the bare word of notorious dealers in falsehood. We might publish in detail the fatal consequences 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, abused the whole French nation, now calls PRICE OF PORTER.- -The general complaint of things being dear, and especially the complaints of the rise in the price of Porter, require some observation.This | 9s. a week, and now he has 15s. 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.In the Republicans of France, at three-pence short, all goes on together rising in price, half-penny 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. The 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 prowere, 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 losing, nay, 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.It is very certain that sixpence is nearly the double of three-pence halfpenny; but, then, it must be in money of the same quality; whereas, our money has changed its nature. It was, before the French war, gold and silver it is now paper; and six-ciates the better it is for them. They pence in this money is not worth more than four-pence in the money which we had before the war. Wheat is said to be dear; and so it is; but, it is not so dear 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 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 a 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 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, in all human probability, if paid in wheat ten years hence, the annuity would not bring her 5 loads.- -The insurance offices, on the contrary, drive a most profitable trade. The more the paper depre can never be wrong. They are sure to gain. They must always pay in a money inferior in value to that which they receive as the consideration for the annuity. -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.- -He 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, I · dare say, be £200 or £300 a load ; but, |