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FROM THE LONDON f.ITFRAKY OAEF.TTE.
JJistorv of the Expedition to Russia, undertaken
by the Emperor Napoleon, in the year eigh
teen hundred and twelve. By General Count
Philip do Segnr.
The French Expedition to Russia, in
the year eighteen hundred and twelve, wus
po stupendous in design, JO overwhelming
in execution, ami so awful in disoppoint-
jnciit, as to form one of the most extraor
dinary events in the annals of mankind.—
yV single individual—apparently for a long
time the favourite of fortune—who had
.Itcen raised from obscurity, by his great
talents, to the dignity of Emperor of the
French—his ambition linsntiated by such
an exalted station, seemed determined on
the conquest of Europe and the dominion
ofl.be greatest part of the old world. Rus
sia, excited by the influence of Great Bri-
tnin, alone ap|iearcri to resist him ; and be
resolved to chastise for her daring inso
.Jeneo, Ids mighty plans of in
ordinate and unlawful Conquest. The
grand rosuits-of Napoleon's invasion of
Russia— 1 the almost total annihilation of
the greatest army of the world, nnd the
subsequent abdication of the’ Imperial
Crown—are fresh in every person’s mind'.
Numerous nccounts of so memorable mi
event—the Campaign of 1812—have ap
peared in the German, French, Russian,
and English languages. Ilut two of them
comprise nearly the wdiole of the materials
of the vest, besides much of novel iti uteri-
We allude to the Histoire Militant;
de la Campagne de Russia, in 1812, hy
Colonel Boutourlio, aid-de-camp of Iiis Im-
g (trial Majesty, Alexander; and Count tie
pgur’s work, tlictitle of which heads this
article. In these vofuinns, we have the
Russian ami the French accounts of the
Campaign of 1812, from the pens of two
rttMingriisbed •bdtfWhnto who shared m
the dangers anti the honours of the war,
and who enjoyed peculiar advantRgew for
obtaining accurate information respecting
the State of the respective armies—their
organization and motions, their victories
and defeats. Eucli work consists of two
volumes, and has its iiecidinT merits ; 'both
are written in a perspicuous, lively, anti
engaging style, and are, in a great mea-
euro, free from illiberolity anti exaggera
kiwi. They are both distinguished hy
much good taste nnd candour. The Rus
sian Aide-de-Camp is often enamoured in
the highest degree by the wonderful mili
tary talents of Napoleon, especially when
surrounded by danger; ami the French
General frequently speaks of the plans of
Kutusof in very flattering terms. Neither
of the authors conceal the false move
ments, the errors, or the defects of dheir
respective commanders. In a word, the
«u-<> IManric.s tire very laborious tu»d very
meritorious performances ; and it is rather
singular, that after the lapse of above a
dozen of years, they should have appeared
within a few months of each other. They
especially deserve the attention of the sol
dier, who will find in them a rich field for
studying the art of war ; niul we will ven
ture to say, that the general reader will
rise from their perusal with .great satisfac
tion and delight. Boutourlin’s work con
tains plans of all the most important en
gagements, and various maps; and Seguifls
volumes are embellished by portraits of
Napoleon, Alexander, Murat and Ney, and
are illustrated hy a map of the countries
between Paris ami Moscow, showing the
route of the French army, and n view of
the disastrous passuge of the Nitimcn.—
But it is only to the latter (Segur’s) work
that we mean to turn the attention of our
tenders at present.
Gount Philip de Segur is the son of the
"well known Count Lewis Segur, and has
been many yenrs in the military service of
his country. Having been a prisoner, near
Moscow, ltefore the treaty of Tilsit, he had
opportunities of becoming acquainted with
Russia and the Russians, lie served in
the campaign of 1812, as a General of Bri
gade ; nnd, as the contents of his volumes
sufficiently testify,, he must have enjoyed
the best menus of knowing the private opi
nions and actions of Napoleon, as well as
t hose of his ministers and his generals. In
l’urt, the extremely interesting anti novel
details respecting the Ex-Emperor, be
fore anti during the fatal expedition, are
sufficient to have established the character
of Segur’s work, which has had an almost
Unparalleled sale in France.
It is divided into hooks and chapters,
hut, unfortunately, has neither tables of
contents, heads of chapters, nor an index.
AVc point out these defects to the attention
of the translators, should a second edition
tie called for, which we have no doubt w ill
fioon be tlie case. ,
Having done ao, wo shall endeavor to a-
Wtiso anil gratify our readers hy sumo quo
tations from the volumes, fairly confessing
however, that in the midst of much impor
tant nnd new mutter, we find u difficulty in
selection. The Count commences his
"work by numerous details, respecting the
political condition of the States of Europe
uinl of Turkey, especially in relation to
Russia nnd France, before the Expedition
\ho Frolic It 1812. The following re
marks respecting Bernndoae merit atten
tion. When the communication* between
Franco and Russia were interrupted,
“ Napoleon immediately addressed him
self to the Prince of Sweden ; his dotes
were oonceivAl in the style of a lord para
mount who speaks in the interest of his
vassal, and who is Sensible of the right he
lias to his gratitude or submission, anti
who calculates upon it. lie demanded
that Bernadette should declare ureal war
against England, shut her out from the
Baltic, and that he Ahould send an army of
10,0110 Hwedes against Russia. In return
for this, ho promised him his protection,
the restoration of Finland, and twenty
millions for an equal amount of colonial
produce, which the Swedes were first to
deliver. Austria undertook to support this
proposition; hut Bernadette, already feel
ing himself settled on the throne, answer
ed like an independent monarch. Osten
sibly, he tlecluretl himself neutral, opened
his ports to all nations, proclaimed his
rights and his grievances, appealed to hu
manity, recommended peace, and offered
himself as a mediator ; serretly, lie offered
himself to Napoleon at the prico of Nor
way, Finland, and a subsidy.
“ At the reading of a letter conceived in
this new and unexpected style, Bonaparte
whs seized with rage and astonishment,
He saw iti it, nnd not without reason, n
premeditated defection on the part of Her-
nudutto, n secret agreement with his ene
mies ! he was filled with indignation ; he
exclaimed, striking violently oil the letter,
anil the table on which it lay open: lie!
the rascal! he presume to give me advice?
to dictate the law to me ! to dare propose
such un infamous act* to me !—And this
from a man who owes every thing to my
who derived his elevation from himself, re*
lying on the faith i»l’ir*>ntrwj,on the rwuetn-
brnuco of past benefits, and on the retdin
terests of Sweden, required succours frOiti
Bernadette, the ancient mnnarrhs of Lon
don nnd Pete.rshnrgh demanded his opi
nion with deference, and submitted them
selves hy anticipation to the counsels of
his experience. Finally, while the genius
of Napoleon, the grandeur of his elevation,
the importance of his enterprise, and the
habit of their former relations, still classed
Bernadette as his lieutenant, they appear
ed already to treat him as their general.
How was it possible for him not to seek to
escape on the one hand from a sense of in
feriority, nnd on the other to resist n inode
of treatment nnd promises so seductive*
Tims it was that the future prospects of
Sweden were sacrificed, uml her indepen
dence for ever laid tit the mercy of Russi
an faith hy the treaty of Petersburg, which
Bernadotte signed outlie 24th of March,
1812. That of Bucharest, between Alex
ander nnd Mahmoud, was concluded on
the 28th of May. Thus did wo lose the
support of our two wings.
“ Nevertheless, the Emperor of the
French, at the head ofmoretliun six hun
dred thousand men, and already too faa
udvanred to think of retreating, flattered
himself that his strength would determine
every tiling; that a victory on the Niemcn
would cut the knot of nil these diplomatic
difitcultics, which he despised, probably
too much ; that then all the nionurclis of
Europe, compelled to acknowledge hi:; as-
cetidancy, would he eager to return into
iiis system, und that all those satellites
would be drawn into its vortex.”
When Napoleon was still at Paris, his
" gre at officers” anti his ministers were
bounty! What ingratitude!’ Then pne-1 alarmed at the terrible encounter which
ing the room with rapid strides, he was at was preparing, and their opinions deliver
intervals giving vent to such expressions cd to their Sovereign are extremely ninus-
ns these: ‘ I ought to have expected it! he ing. Napoleon details his chief reasons
hns always sacrificed every thing to his in- for the Expedition, in these words:
terests! Tfiis is the same man, who dttr- 1 “ ‘That lie did not create circumstances,
ing his short ministry, attempted the re- l hut that lie would not ullow them to es-
surrcction of tho infamous Jacobins!-—I cape him, that lie comprehended them all,
When lie looked only to gain hy disorder, anil held himself in as much readiness as
he opposed the Iritli Brnmnire ! He it was possible for their appearance ; that in or
who tvns conspiring in the west against tier to accomplish his designs, lie was per
the rc-establishment of law anti religion! 1 fectly awnre that twelve years were ne
Ilns not his envious and perfidious inac- cCssnry, but that he could not spare time
tion already betrayed the French army at to wait so Ion
Auerstadt ? How many tinios, from re-1 “ ‘ That as to tho rest, he had not pro-
gartl to Joseph, have 1 pardoned his in- voked this war ; that he had been faithful
uesand concealed hits faults! Anti yet I to his engagements witli Alexander; that
I have made him General-in-chief, mar-1 proof of this wus to he found inthecold-
hal, duke, prince, And finally king! But I ness oF his relations with Turkey nnd
you see how all these fuvours, ami the pnr- Sweden, delivered into the hands of Rus-
lon of ro many injuries,are thrown uwav sin, one almost entirely, the other dispos-
on a man like this! For a century past, if sessed of Finland, ami even the ide of
Sweden, half devoured by Russia, still re-1 Aland, which was so near Stockholm.—
“ t'n this occnsion. tlmre was no Variety
nf tints with Which Iiis brilliant and fertile
tains h^r independence, she owes it to the I That ho had replied to the distressed up-
support of France. But it matters not: I peal of the Swedes, by advising them to
Bernadotte requir <•., t—■—i “■“* '•* =* •
cient nrisror-Tnry'T
Bernadotte requires the baptism of the an-1 make the cession. . _
T ft Wpttsm ot ijTTidtrrfinnj ^
of French blood! arid you’Will soon see, " ’ MMT -ms* * r
that to testify his envy and ambition, he
will betray both Iiis native and adopted
country
“ In vain did they attempt to calm him.
Russian army destined to act in concert
with l’oniutowski in Austrian Gtdlicin
had come forward too laic, was too weak,
and hmf acted perfidiously ; that since that
time, Alexander, by a ukase of the fllst of
They represented the difficulties which Iiis I Dec. 1810, had abandoned the continental
new situation had imposed on Bernadot-1 system, awl by his prohibitions declared an
that the cession of Finland to Russia actual war against French commerce; that
I separated Sweden from the continent, lie perfectly understood that the national
almost made an island of that country, and interest am! spirit of the Russians may
thereby enlisted her in the English system, have compelled him to tltnt, but that lie
Under such important circumstances, all had then made knoWti to the emperor that
the need which he had of this ally was un- I lie was aware of his position, nnd that he
able to vanquish his pride, which revolted I would enter into every kind of nrrange-
nt a proposition which lie regarded as in- I inept which his repose required; and that
suiting; perhaps also in the new monarch ] nevertheless, Alexander, instead of modi
of Sweden lie still satv the same Bernadot-1 fying his ukase, had assembled 80,000 men
to who wns formerly iiis subject, and iiis I under pretence ol supporting his custom
military inferior, and who affected to have I house officers ; that lie had suffered him
cut out for himself a destiny independent I self he suborned by England ; that, in
of his. From that moment Iiis instruc-1 sliorf, even at this time he refused to re-
tions to Id* hove tUe impress of I cognise the tiiirty-second military division,
that disposition ; the latter it is true, sof- and required the evacuation of Prussia by
teued the bitterness of them, but a rupture I the French ; a requisition which amounted
became inevitable. to a declaration of war.’
It is uncertain which contributed most I “Through all of these complaints, many
to it, the pride of Napoleon, or the ancient of which were well grounded, some per-
jealousy of Bernadotte, it rs certain thut sons thought they perceived that the pride
on the part of the former the motives of it of Napoleon had been wounded hy the re-
were honourable. ‘Denmark,’ ho said, frisal which Russia, in 1807, had made of
‘ was bis most faithful ally ; her attach- his hand, since he had exposed Himself to
meat to France had cost her the loss of war,by dispossessing the Russian Princess
her fleet and the burning of lier capital.— I of Oldenburg of her duchy.”
Must lie repay a fidelity which hud been It appear* that Napoleon thought liim-
o cruelly tried, by an act of treachery such self prepared to meet all the objections, of
s that of taking Norway from her to give his opponents, (at least according to Sc-
to Sweden ? gur’s opinion, lie Was ready to be invinci-
“ As to the subsidy which Sweden Ask- Wc.)
cd of him, he answered, as he bail done to « jj; s 8 },j}f u } hand Ivas able to comprc-
Turkey, that it the war was to no curried I hnid and turn to Ids purpose every disposi-
ori with money, England would always he ,j on . HM( | > hi fuct, when lie wantcd'to pur-
sure to outbid him ;’ and above ull, ‘ thut I suade, there was a kind of charm in hi* de-
tliere was weukuess and basenessin tri- j |M>rliiient, Which it was impossible to rc-
uiriphing by corruption.’ Reverting l»y j s j s ^ One felt overpowered by his superi-
tliis to Iiis wounded pride, he terminated 1 strength, nnd compelled ns it were, to
the conference by excluimitig, ‘Bernadot* su i, m it to his influence. It was, if it may
te impose conditions on me! Does be I he so explained, a kind nf magnetic influ-
fancy then that I have need of him? I|enre: for bis ardent and variable genius
will soon bind him to my victorious career, I hifused itself entirely into all bis desires,
nnd tom pel him to follow my sovereign I tj,o least as well ns the greatest: what-
impulse.’ • _ I ever lie willed, all Iiis energies and all his
“ But the active and speculative English, I faculties united to effect: they appeared
who were out ol Iiis reach, made a judici- I his heck ; they hastened forward ; nnd
ous estimate of the weak points of liissys- I obedient to Ids dictation, sitnulianeousiy
tetn„urnl found tho Russians ready to act. I sssumed the forms which lib desired,
upon their suggeBtibns. They it was who I J
i \ j i i : r.*- I 1L 'VtiM mu.
imagination did not adorn his project, in
order to convince ami persuade. The
same text supplied him with a thousand
different commentaries, with which the
character and position ofench of Iiis inter
locutors inspired him : he enlisted each in
his undertaking, by presenting it to hint
under the form nnd colour, and in the point
of view, most likely to gratify him.
“ But to the princes of ids family ho had
long revealed the stnto of his thoughts:
lio complained that they did not suflieient-
appreciate his position. ‘ Can you not
see,’ said lie to them ‘that as I was not born
upon n throne, I must support mysolfupeu it
as 1 ascended it by my renown? that it is
npcnssnryi'oritto go on increasing; tliatn
private individual, become a sovereign like
irjyself, cun no longer stop ; that ho must
ho conriminlly ascending, and that to be
•tntionury is to he lost.” ’
Yet ifi reality, Napoleon nppearsto have
been extremely ngiinted ami oppressed
with the responsibility and tho ililliciilty
of Iiis mighty plan.
“ At that epoch, no necessity of position,
no sentimout of self love, could prompt
Napoleon to combat his own arguments,
ami prevent him from listening to himself,
lienee lie became thoughtful ami agitated.
He collected accounts of the nctunl condi
tion of the different powers of Europe ; he
ordered an exact nnd complete summary
ofthemtobe made; and busied himself
in the perusal: his anxiety increased : t6
him. all irresolution was a punishment.
“ Frequently was he discovered half
reclined on a sofa, whore lie remained for
several hours, plunged in meditation; some
times lie started up, convulsively, nnd with
an ejaculation. Fancying ho” honrd ids
name, lie would exclaim, * Who calls me ?'
Then rising, nnd walking about with hur
ried steps, lie nt length added, ‘ No ! be
yond n doubt, nothing is yet sufficiently
matured round mo, even in my own fami
ly, to admit of so distant a war. It must
lie delayed for three years!’ And instant
ly he dictated, with precipitation, the pro
ject of a detailed note, by which the Em
peror of Austria, his father-in-law, was
to net as a mediator between Russia, En
gland, and Franco.
“He then read the instructions which
he had just dictated, hut did not sign them,
oirthe circumstances being noticed to him,
lie replied, as was often the case, ‘ No! to
morrow morning •, ono should never be
too much in a hurry: the night is a good
counsellor.’ When he gave orders for the
affair to remain secret ; and that the sum
mary which reminded him of the .dangers
of his position fits continually left on his
table. It was his constant subject of cou-
suitntion/nud every lime he consulted it,
he apuicvedaiutmueau.'
sjoiis. ^
Wffad Buonaparte’s terms been granted
it is evident that he would linvc put off,
the Russian Expedition for some time.
“ But.” when the Emperor Alexandei
conditions of pacification were receivctl,
“ it was too late : besides, at the point ft
which both parties were now arrived, that
ultimatum necessarily led to War. Nnpole
on was too proud both of himself & France
lie WHStootnUch over-ruled by his position
to yield to a menacing negociator, lent
Prussia at liberty to throw herself info the
open arms of Bussin, and to abandon Po
land) He wus too fur advanced: hewoiilr
he obliged to retrogrmle in order to find
a point at which to stop; and in his situa
tion, Napoleon considered every retro
grade step which lie might take ns the in
cipient point of a complete downfal.
“ His w*i*lies for ddlay being thus frustra
ted, he survcyedtlie enormous volume of
his military strength ; the recollections of
Tilsit nnd Erfurt were revived ; lit! receiv
ed with complacency delusive information
respecting the character of Iiis rival. At
one tirtie, he hopes that Alexander will
give way nt the approach of so menacing
an invasion : at another, be yields to iiis
conquering imagination; be indulgently
allows it to deploy it* masses from Cadiz
to Oazen, fcto comer the whole ofEurnpo.
In the next moment bis fancy riots in the
pleasure of being lit Moscow. That city is
eight hundred leagues fru
ready lie is digesting
respect to it, as if it were on the eve of he
ing occupied. A French physician, who
had long inhabited that capital, having
apprised him that its magazines and its
environs were sufficient to maintain his
army for eight months, he immediately at
tached him to Iiis (lersoti.
“ Fully impressed, however, with a sense
of the peril in which lie was ubout to em
bark, lie sought to surround himself w ith
ull bis fricutlss.”
ported to the King, V.nilmlen Was at length
brought before him.
Not nt all affected by-the tortures lie had
undergone in his captivity, nor hy the al
most certain prospect of u speedy anti cru
el death, instead of imploring the favor of
Ferdinand, he devoted the brief interview
to presenting him with a picture of the ru
inous situation to which he had been re
duced hy Iiis ministry lj e declared to
him that oil Spain was in fact filled with
secret societies; that |Wseetltions, Impri
sonments and scaffolds, were vuitily em
ployed for their destruction; that no liu-
man powerrould succeed in attempting to
defeat their object} that the persons of
whom the societies were composed hail
never proposed any project against the life
of the King, nor even against Iiis rank or
dignity; that in placing liimoii a throne sup
ported hv the lows, & by the love and confi
dence of tho people, his power would have
been raised to the highest degree of stabi
lity ; in short, that in order to secure a hap
py result, it might perhaps he sufficient if
tile King would, of his own free rheh'e,
adopt tho spirit of tliosb vftry societies, and
place himself nt their bond. Ho demand*
ed of him to require front the Court of
Rome the revocation of the censures she
lias-pronounced ngujnst them; above nil,
that lie should reject the narrow and sun-
t'uiuary interest of his councillors; nml
declared that the King of Spain would
then have at Iiis disposal on invincible nr-
my, which lie might indeed despair to re
duce to servitude, hut which, while if re
mained free, would also be the more de
voted and tho more fnitliful.
At this kind of language, in which the
ministry were not accustomed to tleul, Fer
dinand betrayed mare surprise than irrita
tion. The elinrucier of flint Prince has
appeared in so inexplicable a light, so con
trary in different situations of lifo, that we
should he nfraid to decide whether the con-;
deseension with which lie treated Vnnhn-
len was the effect of compassion or of pro
found dissimulation. It is certain, howe
ver, that lie inquired witli an itppeuruure
of the tendercst interest concerning the
privations he hud suffered in prisun; and
on learning that he was accustomed to
smoking tobacco, scut him a case of Havana
segnrs from among those which had lieen
reserved for his own use. After sugn
marks of interest, one would lmvc looketl
for the clemency of the Prince mid the ii-
berntion of Vanlialen; but the fact wus fur
otherwise. While bis friends Were Enjoy
ing the exjiectntion of a huppy termination
to the nffuir, Ihe ministers of Ferdinand
pressed its decision with activity; and the
information was brought by a little girl, nn
attendant in the prison, thut the greatest
danger was to Iw apprehended to Vanlia-
leit. The child having caught a few
*.Plfll»nt Ilf M PAWxtnvnntlAW mhiriti
ort, FurenerTea m Tmlwlig tier
way to u small window by which Iiis dun
geon tvas lighted, informed him of the (lun
ger to which lie whs exposed, nml supplied
him with paper and si pencil.
Vnulinlcn wns thus enabled to open a
correspondence with his friends in the ci
ty, und inform them, that ill spite of the re
straints under which lie labored, the
means of escape were in his power. He
received in reply, that “ their nrms and
their purses wfrri nt Iiis service.” A great
reward wns, therefore, offered to his in
teresting little messenger ; and a topo
graphical plan having been drawn of the
streets in the neighborhood of the prison,
n copy of it was sent to Vanlialen, on
which Wore marked the plqcos where Iiis
friends tvere to he posted. All this being
thus concerted, it was neCfcssnry only to
fix on a moment for tho execution of the
plan. It Was in the Winter; the day had
arrived ; the clock struck seven; anti the
first detachment of his friends assembled
at the distance of a few paces from the
principal entrance of the prison. A man
made Iiis nppedrancc, dressed in n night
gown and slippers. In an instant they
disguised him in a foreign uniform and
led him away.
After taking several long turns through
the streets of Madrid, in order to hafllt; a
pursuit, the fugitive wus conducted to a
safe retreat, where he found 4000 francs in
Vent him ; and al- (t°bl* remitted for him lfy the gencroti
information with of Montijo, with passport* provided
had been endeavouring for tho last three
years to draw the forces of Napoleon into
the defiles of Spain, and to exhaust them ;
it wus they also who were on the watch to
take advantage of the vindictive enmity of
thus that the greater part of
those Whom lie wished to gain over found
themselves, ns it were,Fnscihated by him in
spite of themselves. It was flattering to
your vanity to sec the master of Europe
appearing to have no other ambition, no
the prince til Sweden. 1 oilier desire, than tligt of convincing you :
e Active and restless „„
“ Knowing that the
to lieholtl those features, so formidable to
Bernadotte. It was thus that they cures-
sotl him, at the time that the irritated Na
poleon was threatening him; they pro
mised him Norway, nnd a subsidy, when
the other, forced to refuse him that pro
vince of a faithful ally, took possession of
Pomerania. While Napoleon, a monarch
“ * Napnlcon no doulit spoke of the proposi
tion which Bernadotte made to him Intake nwuy
Norway from Denmark, his faithful nlly, in or
ricr hv this act of treachery to purchase the
of dtvoden* 1 •
* • * fj.
impulse of the most frunk and confiding
disclosures, and that voice, so curessiug
while it addressed von, was k not the
same, whose lowest whisper ran through
out all Europe, announced wars, derided
battles, settled the fate of empires, ruined
or destroyed reputations? VViiat vanity
could resist a charm of so great potency ?
Any defensive position was forced on all
points; Iiis eloquence was so much more
s its-1 convincing, as ho liipisejl'rinpeured to he
' ITIlviltCCiL *
• *' 4
ESCAPE. FROM THE LNtlnSITlON.
[Translatedforth# A T . York DailyAdrertiieri]
The following highly interesting nnd ro
mantic story is from n French work enti
tled a “ Historical Sketch of the principal
Political and Military Events produced hv
the Revolution in Spain, by M. Louis Jul-
linn”—published nt Paris in 1821 :
The Spanish Captain Van llalcn, a na
tive of Cadiz, nnd particularly known for
his zeal in propagating secret associations,
hail begun in 1817 to disseminate their li
hcral principles among the inhabitants of
the city of Murcia, where he was
garrison. Iiis devotion to this subject
could not long remain unpunished : he
wits soon denounced, and Conducted to
prison. His papers, w Inch iintl been seiz
ed, proved that he had been in correspon
deuce with all the secret societies in the
kingdom. Being thus convicted of two
crimes at once, the local authorities consi
dered the matter too important to be stib-
iriittcd to their (Incision, and Vnnhalen Wns
trunlpoi ted, under a numerous escort, to
the prisons of Madrid, and committed to
one of the most obscure dungeons in ihe
for his departure from Bpuiii. lie passed
out of the Kingdom into Portugal, ami
thence to England, after which lie took
the route to Russia, where Ire entered m
to the military service.
The secrecy with which this affair was
conducted In the more remarkable, and
the more honorable to the character and
patriotism of the Spaniards, because thnt
from the moment when it was decided
that Vtinhttleii should remain a few days
n Madrid to avoid the search which was
known to life making in the environs oftlie
city, all the members of the secret socie*
tics being Informed of his escape, desired
t6 see him, and did, in fact, see him, with
out the occurrence of n single net of indis
cretion, and, indeed, without causing any
apprehension to the fugitive or his friends.
We do.not believe thnt history can furnish
a more noble example of confidence, or
one which was more justified by the event.
It was during the interval which Vmdm-
len spent In Madrid, in expectation of an
opportunity to leave the country, that he
recounted to many of his friends who
were ciintihually visiting him, the.partieti
lnrs of his escape; and they are at once
so romantic, and so well authenticated,
that we cannot withheld them from our
rentiers.
When lie had obtained from his little
friend, the prison girl, a precise tlcscripti
on of the edifice which he had.only passed
through very hastily nt. his introduction!
lie requested of the jailor to lie suppluM
with some medicine, which lie pretended
to want, hnd desired it might lie brought to
him at the hour he had fixed for his friends
Inquisition. Preparations were mude for to wait for him. 1 he jailor appeared at.
his trial; hut as lie laid declared, from the the time: appointed, and entered the dun-
first moment
give IK) answl
Un less in
fluMUMMfiH^
VI,—fro. 10.
stant) Jk throw ing him upon the bed, rover*
ed him with the clothe*, sprung out oftha
door Wipchha I been left opoh, locked it aft
ter him,passed through tho intricate wind
ing passages which the little girl hur tle-
scribed to uiitl a hundred times overhand
instead of taking tho direction ty the outer
doer, which it would have been Ilripossih|o
to pails, obeyed her directions, and folto#-
od a course that Jed to the apartments in*
habited by the jailor. The jailer’s family
consisted ol* his Wife and daughter, whd
being occupied with dohlbstic affairs, Were
terribly frightened at the appearance of
such an 'Apparition* and never thought oft
attempting to prevent his escop#« which hw
effected l»y an outer door. It wns noC
long, however, before the twt» Women
came to their senses, and entering tljo pri
son, began to sbnrch for the jailor 1 but
wandering without light through the dark
and spurious corridors, they were long in
finding tho right way to Vanhalen’k dun
geon, where the nfcw prisoner was crying
with all his might, hut remained Unheard
at a remote distance.—[Precis hist. 6,‘c.
In our paper oi* Saturday lust, We men*
tioned tho arrival of this distinguished
Spanish officer, who is now in this city,
with his interesting young wife, aistor of
the celebrated Gen. Quirogn.
The following is the circular Sent by th£
Inquisition of Madrid to the “Holy Offi
ces” in all parts of Spain, after the escape
ofOol. Vanhalcn. The original document
fell into his bunds, in a remarkable man
ner, after the destruction of ihe Inquisiti
on of Bureelona, hnd now lies before tis 1
“ To the Holy Office of the Inquisition at
Barcelona:
Received on the 10 th ) On the night oftha *
of February, 1818. i 30th of January last,
nt 7 o’clock, a little before or aftei*, Lieut.
Col. Don Juan Vanlialen, Captain of the
regiment of Madrid Chasseurs, escaped
from the secret prisons of this Holy Office,
in which lie was confined. His descripti
on is as follows—He is 2ft or 90 years of
age, five feet aud five or six inches high,
(Spanish measure,) regularly fortne.il anil
well proportioned, light brown hair) inclin
ing to sandy, full und well formed face,
complexion white mingled with red. nosa
mol e than regular, eyes bright, and with
an expression of surprize, of a restless and
violent disposition :—for which we ptjty
you to take Ihe necessary precautions, that
in case lie should present himself ih yotfi*
city, or in any other town of your district,
his pei soti nihy be seized and secured il»
the prisofls nf your Holy Office, giving ue
immediate advice, that Wo may provide
for Iiis return tb our own; for the present
acknowledging the receipt of this, Ac.
Our Lord prwerve you ninny years.—.
Inquisition of the Court, Ffeb. 4, 1818.
Lh Lvis Cubero. D Marino Esperanto*
VENICE.
A history oftliis celebrated State, chM*
monly called a Republic, 1ms lieen recent
ly published in France, by the author, M.
Dnru. Tho only account that wo have
seen of this work is in the last number of
the Quarterly Review’, which contains an
interesting article upon it. The Review
ers commence their remariin by saying that
—“ Tim origin of that celebrated repub
lic, must be dated from before the coiit-
inenc.ement of modern history ; nnd its
extinction has been numbered among tho
striking political events of our own times.
Emerging from the bosom of the waves in
the darkest ages of Italian misery, ‘lift
queen of the Adriatic—herself immeVea-
hle,—became a mournful spectator of the
long agony nnd dissolution of the Roman
Empire. For thirteen hundred years she
witnessed in security the subsequent ra
vages of continental Wars, the rise and do-
cleiisioiiB of nations, the change of dynas
ties—the whole awful drama of huninn
fate ; until tho last surviving witness of
antiquity, the common link between two
periods of civilzntion, she foil in her turn,
und has readied the lowest depth of abase
ment.
We have often admired the bravery rtnd
exploits of the Venetians, and from a very
imperfect knowledge of the true character
of their government, did suppose thnt
there must have been something, at least,
that wns praise-worthy And free ;* and
when we found the reviewers making the
following broad denunciation, we WOrb
for a moment surprised. After mention
ing her wers with Genon, and other piarea,
nnd the extension of her dominion and
influence over a great part of Lombardy,
nnd in Italy, they add—” But even tlieaa
y ield in interest to the fearful und impeding
sptfcdvle which is offered hy the constitu
tion nnd policy of her governmentthe
gloomiest Affine ofrcnldcpotism everPi eet-
ed lor the pretended security of republican
freedom. History 1ms no parallel tb that
silent, mysterious, inexorable tyranny ; •
tyranny to its subject*, #
—“ subtle, inr’-iWe,
And universal n« tlu? n : r they hr atbrri; *
A power that never slumbered, nevn- partlttncfo'
All eye, iilD-ar, now here and every w here."
Straggle as it mtiy seem— 44 ttmler thik
dark nntVelontlcss administration, Vfenicte
Was the throne ofpleasure, the r.liortn! sra^
hot only of Indian but of fehfopoatt fea«
tivity;” ntid attar giving nil nccoUnt oftha
gnyety and splendour hy which rihe Was
distinguished, tho reviewer* 8"VBut
in so fair n city, all this splendour, (festivity,
’hnd lively activity, wob consistent with
scenes of soc ret, but excessive. hnCror.-—
Hor palaces and hfer prisons wero conti
guous ; nnd while the masque arid the ire*
vcl encircled the edifice of srovernmafiA,
tlmt nnrient pile covered"abodfea ofmWry,
fr'rn which ttiercy andjhopei Were alike, ex
cluded. During tlm gayest hours »,f Ve
netian plcnsure,m the throng oftlvc casino,
or in the mazes of the carnival, individu
als disappeared front society^ nml Wgffi
heard of wo more*, to bretttbe an inquiry
alter their fate, wns a dangerous lnq.ru-
denec.; evHi to ftiourn their loss, was n»\
