THE OF THE NORTHERN WAR: COMMENCING IN 1912, TO THE CONGRESS AT VIENNA IN 1815. AN ACCOUNT OF THE CITY OF MOSCOW, A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSSACKS, AND A VARIETY OF ANÉCDOTES OF THE EMPERORS AND GENERALS CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY. BY JOHN HAMPDON, Esq. Author of the French Revolution. "He was nothing; became Emperor; conquered nations; disturbed Newcastle upon Tyne: PRINTED FOR MORELAND & ANDERSON, BY PRESTON & HEATON, SIDE. ADDRESS. THERE is scarce a man in the British dominions who will not peruse these sanguinary battles with extraordinary interest. The results of those memorable achievements history will record to the latest posterity. We at length enjoy the supreme satisfaction of being enabled to announce the fortunate termination of this desolating and murderous war. For twenty-four years prejudice, corruption, or arbitrary power, have vainly opposed themselves to the course of knowledge, reformation, and liberty. In this period, perhaps, six millions of human beings have fallen in the field of battle; as many more have been victims to fire, pestilence, shipwreck, and famine, the consequence of war; and an equal number by civil feuds, by the executioner's alternate power, by prolonged imprisonment, or by broken hearts arising from hopes blasted and fortunes ruined! The war has however arrived at a close, attended by consequences which have baffled all human foresight, and produced results entirely different from the expectation of those who were the most active in commencing and prolonging it; thereby affording another striking lesson of the folly of placing the last stakes of life and happiness on the uncertainty of human calculations. Sincerely, therefore, do we congratulate our readers on the termination of a series of wars, which have been the scourge of our times, and the disgrace of human nature; and we trust, that external tranquillity will be followed by domestic happiness and prosperity; and that we may live at home and abroad in the spirit, as well as in the form, of PEACE. The Editor tenders his grateful acknowledg ments to the numerous subscribers to this work, and assures them, every authentic information has been had recourse to, in order to enrich his pages; if, in the execution of The NORTHERN WAR and its wonderful consequences, he has stated nothing but facts, and that to the satisfaction of the reader, he shall think himself highly remunerated, together with the pleasure of serving a friend. The EDITOR. CONTENTS. CHAP. I. Remarks on the Nature of Bonaparte's Ambition. -Origin of his Hatred to this Country.-His Desire of Power had for its Object the Destruction of Britain.-This led him to invade Spain-and was the Occasion of his War with Russia. -His complaints against Russia-that she had abandoned the Continental System-that she had injured the Commerce of France-that she had threatened the Duchy of Warsaw-and that she had protested against his Occupation of Oldenburgh.- Curious Reasons by which he justified this last Measure. - p. 1 CHAP. II. Preparations for War on the Part of Russia and France. The Situation and Means of the two Powers contrasted. -Character of the Russian Soldiery.-Advantages and Disad- vantages of the two Nations in the approaching Contest.-A CHAP. III. Military Error of the Russians in advancing to the Niemen.-Consequences of it.-Corps of Bagration separa- ted from the main Army,-which retires to the Dwina.-The French at Wilna.-Bonaparte re-establishes the Kingdom of Poland.-Russians abandon their intrenched Camp at Drissa- and retire to Witepsk.-Wittgenstein takes a Northern Route towards Petersburgh,-followed by Oudinot.-Battles between CHAP. V. Bonaparte prepares for his Retreat.-Defeat of Murat.-Cossacks hover round the French Army.-Movements and Operations of Kutusoff and Wittgenstein.-Escape of Win- b |