NOTE (14).-Page 43.

SAINT Petersburgh stands upon the Neva, near the Gulph of Finland, and is built partly on some Islands, in the mouth of that river, and partly on the Continent.

The internal improvement of the Russian empire, the great object of Peter's reign, was considerably advanced by approaching the capital, to the more civilized parts of Europe; by this means he drew the nobility from their rude magnificence and feudal dignity at Moscow, to a more immediate dependence upon the sovereign, to more polished manners, to a greater degree of social intercourse; nor did any other cause, perhaps, so much tend to promote his plans for the civilization of his subjects, as the removal of the imperial seat from the inland provinces to the Gulf of Finland.-Vide Coxe's Travels.

NOTE (15).-Page 45.

BOADICEA, Queen of the Icene, driven to desperation by the successes. of the Roman army, under Nero, set fire with her own hand to her capital. She was a Princess of an undaunted spirit, but like most of the Pagan worthies, vindictive and superstitious.

NOTE (16).-Page 48.

THE most striking monuments of the ancient magnificence of Persia, are the ruins of its capital, Persepolis.-They consist of beautiful pilasters, superb columns, spacious galleries, grand porticos, and other architectual remains of former splendour.-A short distance from these ruins is a remarkable mountain, formed of an entire rock.-It stands between two beautiful plains; is levelled by art, and its sides perpendicular. Various figures in bas relief are still discernible upon it, and the tombs of the ancient Kings of Elam or Persia excavated in its sides. -Several inscriptions and two small edifices adorn this wonderful structure, but the zeal of the Moslems, who consider the destruction of images as acceptable to their Prophet, and the hand of time together, have defaced them.-They, however, still remain objects of interest and inquiry to the enlightened traveller.

K

NOTE (17).-Page 48.

WHEN Alexander the Great was at Persepolis, and upon the point of marching against Darius, he made a great entertainment for his friends, at which they drank to a degree of intoxication; and the women had their share in it, for they came in masquerade to seek their lovers. The most celebrated among these women was Thais, a native of Attica, and mistress to Ptolemy, afterwards King of Egypt. When she had gained Alexander's attention by her flattery and humorous vein, she addressed him over his cups, in a manner agreeable to the spirit of her country, but far above a person of her stamp. "I have undergone great fatigues," said she," in wandering about Asia; but this day has brought me a compensation, by putting it in my power to insult the proud courts of the Persian Kings. Ah! how much greater pleasure would it be to finish this carousal with burning the palace of Xerxes, who laid Athens in ashes, and to set fire to it myself in the sight of Alexander! Then shall it be said in times to come that the women of his train have more signally avenged the cause of Greece upon the Persians, than all that the Generals before him could do by sea or land."

This speech was received with the loudest plaudits and most tumultuary acclamations. All the company strove to persuade the King to comply with the proposal. At last, yielding to their instances, he leaped from his seat, and, with his garland on his head, and a flambeau in his hand, led the way. The rest followed with shouts of joy, and, dancing as they went, spread themselves round the Palace.-The Macedonians who got intelligence of this frolic, ran up with lighted torches, and joined them with great pleasure.-Vide Plutarch.

NOTE (18).-Page 50.

"ALMOST immediately after entering Moscow, Buonaparte sent message by a Russian gentleman to the Emperor Alexander, couched in the most amicable and even familiar terms. He said, "there was nothing he wished for more than to renew his friendship with the Emperor, for whom he had ever cherished the highest esteem, and with whose personal wishes he should at all times be happy to comply;-that had Alexander requested him not to enter Moscow, he would not have

entered it; that he was even now ready to quit the spot, if such was the desire of a sovereign whom he was anxious to oblige. In short, that if Alexander desired peace, he had only to say so, and peace should that instant be concluded." This bait might have taken with almost any individual sooner than with the Emperor of Russia. He remembered the fawning looks, the flattering words, the feigned humility of Tilsit, and he felt, that it was not for Sinon to betray a second Troy.-Vide Military Panorama, Vol. II. page 134.

Extract of a Letter from Sir Robert Ker Porter to John Philippart, Esq. descriptive of the Events of the Campaign in Russia till the expulsion of the Enemy from Moscow.

"The beginning of the year 1813 has no resemblance with that of 1812; an amazing campaign seems to have placed an age of time between the two periods; to recal the events which have filled up this interval, is to trace the movements of that invisible hand which directed them, and which balances the destiny of empires. This short retrospect is sufficient. On the 24th of June the French, passing the Niemen at four different places, entered the Russian territory. Their. principal strength was directed to oppose the first Russian army, commanded by General Barclay de Tolly; their aim was to separate this army from the second, under Prince Bagrathion, by turning its left; without suffering his division to be cut in two, the General in Chief caused it to fall back upon the Dwina, and consolidate itself in the fortified camps at Drissa; he there successfully engaged the French several times, who were obliged to move on the bank of the river, towards Vitepsk: this movement put the Russian Commander-in-Chief under the necessity of advancing by forced marches to Smolensk; the corps forming its right remained near Polotzk under the orders of Count Wittgenstein; who, meanwhile, had advantageously given battle to Marshal Oudinot, near that city; and it now acted, and was considered a separate body: the attempts of that Marshal to clear the road of Pskoff, for the purpose of threatening St. Petersburgh, were entirely frustrated in the action of the 17th of August, which took place under the walls of Polotzk-his army was defeated, and himself wounded; his successor, Gouveau St. Cyr, was beaten on the 18th, in the battle of Beloé; the combatants engaged even in the streets of the

city. The Russian and French armies being placed opposite each other, remained in almost quiet observation for nearly two months. Upon the remotest frontier of the south-west, General Tormozoff commanded an army of observation, traversing the boundaries of Gallicia; he had captured at Kobnire a Saxon corps of more than 2,000 men, together with its General and Staff. This army kept in check that of the enemy under Regnier. The second grand army, under Prince Bagrathion, when the French entered the empire, had immediately taken a direction from the south of the government of Grodno, by Slongno, Novogrodeck, and Mira, and across the government of Minsk, towards the Dnieper, for the purpose of joining the first army; after a long train of difficult marches, and bold engagements, at length, on the beginning of August, it acted in concert with that army; and, upon the 17th of that month, its position was only fifteen wersts from Smolensk, at which place the first army awaited its arrival; on the same day a destructive action took place near that city; the French had concentrated all their strength there ;-they renewed the attack several times with furious determination. The first Russian army continued resistance for the sake of giving time to the second to get the start of the enemy upon the road leading to Moscow. In the night of the 18th, the Russians retired, leaving the French masters of Smolensk : animated by their apparent success, the French came to the rash resolution of following the Russian army, which was proceeding along the road to Moscow; so that, from the 18th of August until the 22d, every day was marked by a new engagement: on the 23d the Russians were at Dorogobouch, and on the 28th at Wiazma. The Emperor had spoken to the nation; she had answered by rising up in arms; every individual made himself a soldier-all the Sons of Russia flew to protect their native soil, her institutions, her faith. A national war was about to burst forth, and a devoted people were hastening to display their unanimity and resources. General Kutusoff had just terminated the war with Turkey, and displayed, in doing so, the talents of a consummate General, added to those of an able negociator.

The two Russian armies, now united, demanded but one head, and it was Kutusoff upon whom the public called to fill that distinguished post. The Emperor sanctioned it by sending him to the army. On the 29th of August the Prince arrived, and was hailed by the general confidence of his soldiers. In the meanwhile the French were preparing

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for a battle as gigantic as their army. This army comprised, in addition to its national troops, Germans of every description, Bavarians, Saxons, Swabians, Westphalians, Prussians; it united Italians and Dutch, Swiss and Poles, Spaniards and Portuguese: the whole continent had contributed to swell its immensity. Never had modern times seen so various and so huge a mass, nor beheld any army advance so far from its resources. The vast body dragged after it a train of more than a thousand cannon, and its cavalry numbered more than sixty thousand horses. All the strength of the West, of the South, and of the East of Europe, was marshalled on the plains of the North, to please the caprice of a single individual. What would be the issue of this struggle, or was Russia fated to fall? was the prediction of the invaders to be fulfilled? Kutusoff took up his position upon the heights of Borodino, a village situated upon the river Moskva, which was within the limits of the government of Moscow. The Russian army was much inferior to the enemy, but, marching on native ground, it was strong in confidence and courage. The 6th of September passed in skirmishes between reconnoitering parties:-on the 7th a general battle took place; it seemed the combat of giants ;-on each side a thousand cannon vomited death from their fiery mouths; the principal attack of the French was directed against the feeble left of the Russians, yet that weakest part was found impenetrable:-eight times were redoubts taken and retaken!—eight times the cavalry returned to the charge! The earth shook beneath the fury of man ;-night alone put an end to this sanguinary contest. When no object remained visible, the groans of the dying, succeeding the roar of the artillery, marked through the darkness, the vast field of battle. During the night the field was kept by the Russians; but, fatigued with victory, they were unable to follow up their advantage, by renewing the combat.

Superior in numbers, the enemy brought up some fresh columns, which, by two roads, took the direction of Moscow, threatening at once the flanks and the rear of the Russians. Kutusoff had the magnanimity to decide upon sacrificing the capital for the preservation of the country-he fell back; and, on the 15th of September, the invaders entered the ancient seat of the Czars. The enemy's aim had been to strike at the heart of Russia; he had failed; the blow was not mortal ;— "it is the end which crowns all," were the prophetic words used by the