The whole case is now before you, Sir; war or peace is in your power. That you may choose the latter is the earnest wish of your Royal Highness's faithful servant, WM. COBBETT. Bolley, 23d September, 1812. The a great mortification to send over to her | under him; but, they have all become pacific overtures, which one of them al- dust when opposed to him. He is now ready calls suing for peace. Far from within a short distance, comparatively your Royal Highness be counsels like these! speaking, of Moscow! That one fact ought How much blood might they cause to flow! to make his enemies look grave. This was the language with regard to the greatest of conquerors, of whom history republicans of France; but, the haughty speaks, have not, in their whole lives, Pitt was glad, at last, to be permitted to performed half what he has performed send overtures of peace to those republi- since he quitted Paris the last time, and cans. I hope, therefore, that we shall, that was, I believe, about the time that I in this case, be wise in the out-set, which quitted Newgate. In two months he has is far better than wisdom at the close. done more, has gone farther with an army, than ever commander did before in two years.- "Fall upon his rear!" The sots! who told them that it was possible to fall upon his rear? His rear, indeed! His rear is covered by the people whom he has emancipated. His rear is covered by the Poles and the Lithuanians. Millions are at his back.And, then, as to the French. See! he dares leave France and go to the north pole, if the climate would let him. After this can we be cheated into the belief, that he and his government are haled in France? Can any man of common sense be made to believe, that there is any chance of "delivering" the French nation? There is not, in my opinion, the smallest chance of any thing being done to obstruct him in the North. He will, in all probability, make a peace with the Emperor of Russia, and will obtain the power of enforcing completely the continental system. Having done that he will, in all likelihood, proceed to finish his work in the Southern Peninsula. I would, therefore, have offered him terms of peace now, before he had completed his work in the North; and, of course, before he was sure of success.- -I have always been full of apprehensions for the result of this war; because, if there be no power left upon the continent, able to make head against Napoleon, the whole of his force may, at last, be directed against us.I, for my part, can see no one against treating for peace, while I can see many reasons for it. SUMMARY OF POLITICS. NORTHERN WAR. -Napoleon approaches MOSCOW. Perhaps he is now there; and yet we are told of the bravery and the patriotism of the Russians.Well, then, if they be both brave and patriotic what is the inference? why, that patriotism dictates to them to let the French come and take possession of their country. -I have hitherto given, as fully as I have been able, the Bulletins of the French army, and I shall continue to do so; for, I am convinced that they will contain the true history of this most important war, a war which is to decide the fate of the last of the old powers in Europe, except England.If it be possible for any thing to add to the barefaced, the unblushing infamy, of our corrupt press, it would be the praises it is now bestowing upon the character and conduct of BERNADOTTE, the Crown Prince of Sweden. Long after I was in Newgate, they abused him like a common thief. I endeavoured to assuage their wrath; but, no: it would not be: they would insist, that he was all that was abominable. Now, behold, he is the only man to save the cause; he is to be the great deliverer of Europe; he has had a meeting with our august ally, the Czar, who has lately received a consecrated image of the Patron Saint of Russia from the Bishop of Moscow!The idea is, that Bernadotte, assisted by us, is to take over an army and fall upon the rear of Napoleon. To stab him in the back as it were. Never! He'll never attack Napoleon. 'There have been many men great while Botley, 24th September, 1812. reason PAPER AGAINST GOLD.The gold is now sold at £5. 11s. an ounce. I merely note this, in order to let my readers see how the work of depreciation goes on. The price of bullion fluctuates a little; but, generally, it is a fair standard of the value of the paper. WM. COBBETT. OFFICIAL PAPERS. NORTHERN WAR.-Twelfth Bulletin of the Grand French Army.-Witepsk, Aug. 7. At the battle of the Drissa, the Russian General Koulnien, a distinguished officer of the light troops, was killed; ten other Generals were wounded; four Colonels were killed.- -General Ricard, with his brigade, entered Dunaberg the 1st August. He found eight pieces of cannon; all the remainder had been taken away. The try. -The King of Naples met the enemy in advance of Ostrovno, and engaged in different charges of cavalry, which obtained two grand results. About 600 prisoners and eight pieces of cannon were the trophies of this day. The General of Division Delzons informs me, that the 8th had several engagements, which it supported with valour. On the 26th, the King of Naples received orders to continue his march upon Witepsk, and me to move with a division to support the movement of the cavalry. I went before day to the King of Naples, and we together agreed upon the Duke of Tarentum also arrived there on the 2d. Thus, Dunaberg, that the enemy has been fortifying for five years, where he has expended several millions, which cost him more than 20,000 men during the la-follow the cavalry, and the 14th, and guard, bour, has been abandoned without firing a musket, and is in our power, like the other works of the enemy, and like the intrenched camp which he had on the Drissa.- -In consequence of the taking of Dunaberg, his Majesty has ordered that a park of 100 pieces of artillery, which he had formed at Magdeburg, and which he had advanced upon the Niemen, should retrograde to Dantzic, and be put in depot in that place. -At the commencement of the cam paign, two besieging parks of artillery had been prepared; one against Dunaberg, the other against Riga.- -The magazines of Witepsk are provisioned; the hospitals organized. These ten days of repose are extremely useful to the army. The heat is, besides, excessive. We have it warmer here than in Italy. The harvests are superb; it appears that this extends to all Russia. Last year it was bad every where. The crops will not begin to be cut before eight or ten days.His Majesty has made a large square (place) before the palace which he occupies at Witepsk. This palace is situate upon the banks of the left of the river Dwina. Every morning, at six, there is a grand parade, at which all the officers of the Guard appear. One of the brigade of Guards, in fine condition, alternately defiles. Report of the Prince Viceroy of the Battles of the 25th, 26th, and 27th July. Sire, I have the honour to address to your Majesty the reports of the battles which took place on the 25th, 26th, and 27th July, and in which the Fourth Corps that I command took part. -Your Majesty ordered the King of Naples, Commandant of the Cavalry of the Army, to set out from Beehen Kovisch, and take the direction of Witepsk. I received orders to place at his disposition the 8th light infan hour at which the movement should commence. -I ordered the 13th division to About ten in the to follow the 13th, but en echelon, and at an hour's distance.-The route ran through a wood, and the 8th was quickly engaged to open the road, which the enemy disputed with infantry.morning, the 8th, after having drawn from the wood all the enemy's tiralleurs, met them formed, and holding an advantagesiderable elevation, protected by a numeous position upon a piece of ground, of conrous artillery, having before them a deep ravine, and their left supported by a forest, so thick, that it was impossible for masses General Ostermann's corps, consisting of to penetrate it, without breaking. It was two divisions of infantry, which occupied this position, I then ordered General Delzons, commandant of the 13th division, to form for the attack the Croat regiment and 84th, upon the left of the road, the first deployed, the second in column by divisions. A battalion of voltigeurs, and the 93d regiment were placed upon the right, en echelon, by battalion. The attack commenced; it was brisk, and the enemy were charged with intrepidity. The Croats and 84th obliged the battalions offered to them to give way. General Huard, who commanded this attack, displayed equal valour and capacity. Upon the right, the voltigeurs and 92d experienced a greater resistance; they had to penetrate through the forest, debouch, and form under the enemy's fire, who placed on their left their principal force. It was not without multiplied efforts, that General Roussel succeeded in taking a position upon debouching from the wood, and driving away the enemy; all the valour of the troops and the obstinacy of the General were required to succeed in this so difficult attack. -Nevertheless, the centre and the left, which could not sce the slow progress of the right, contended The enemy's cavalry several times endeavoured to charge the squares, but the fire and countenance of this regiment always -The two first companies checked them. EUGENE NAPOLEON. The in the forest, pursuing their success. enemy, who saw their left supported itself, marched the reserve upon the right, which was more closely pushed. The Croats and -The of the 9th line, voltigeurs, which had pass84th were in their turn assailed.King of Naples, with his brilliant valoured the bridge, under the enemy's fire, were and the promptitude of lightning, deter- skilfully and bravely directed by Captains mined upon a vigorous charge of cavalry, Guyard and Savory, upon the enemy's flank, loss. [The great which arrested the enemy. The Chief of and carried them, with Battalion, Ricard, with a company of cara- remainder of this report consists of praises bineers of the 8th, threw himself before bestowed upon different Officers, who disthe mouths of the cannon. The Chief of tinguished themselves.]— -I am, with the Battalion, Dumay, and Captain Bonardale, most profound respect, Sire, &c. &c. with an uncommon bravery, maintained the greatest order in the column of artillery. During this time General Roussel debouched from the forest, charged the enemy with the 92d in column, and rendered himself. master of the position. The Croats and 84th, supported by two battalions of the 106th regiment, kept in reserve to this moment, regained their first advantages. It was then that every thing was re-established, and we remained masters of the ground which the enemy had so hardly contested.After some moments of repose to rally the troops and reform the columns, the enemy were again pursued, and promptly driven from all the positions which they still attempted to defend. They were thus brought back till within two leagues from Witepsk, in which the 13th division took a position about nine in the evening. The 14th was placed upon the road, in a second line, with orders to clear the banks of the Dwina. The guard was also placed in the rear, to the right of the 13th division.On the 27th, your Majesty ordered the cavalry and 4th corps to continue the movement upon Witepsk. On this day the 14th division took the lead; the General of Brigade, Bertrand de Sivray, was detached with the 18th regiment of light infantry, and three companies of voltigeurs; he seized upon a village occupied by the enemy on the right, and followed the crest of the heights, of which he rendered himself master; the remainder of the division advanced and formed upon the left of the road, in presence of the enemy, established its artillery, silenced that opposed to it, and forced the Russians to withdraw their line from the banks of the ravine they occupied behind a burnt bridge. First Report from the King of Naples to the Emperor.Malluzero, Aug. 1. Sire, I arrived from Polotsk at Beehen Kovisch, in the evening of the 24th, and agreeably to the instructions which were sent me, to rejoin the 1st corps of cavalry, and with it bear upon Witepsk, the ViceGeneral Nansouty roy was to support me. left his head-quarters at Bandebova, and Í rejoined him when he was engaged with the enemy upon the height of Ostrovno, and master of the first position of eight pieces of cannon, which the advanced guard of Bruyen's division had taken.——This success was the result of a brilliant charge of cavalry, executed by General Pere, with equal bravery and skill, notwithstanding General Ostermann, who had on that morning, with all his corps, taken a position some hundred toises in the rear, opposed it with infantry. I made St. German's division rapidly advance, and form his lines by brigades, and all his artillery was properly placed. I then saw at about fifty toises distance a Russian regiment of dragoons debouch from a wood, which began to form upon the left flank of the foreign brigade with which I then was. To change from front upon the right, charge, overthrow, and almost instantly destroy it, was A second but the affair of an instant. charge of Pere's brigade, having at its head General Count Ornano, took place upon the causeway; it was assisted by the infantry's fire.Informed by the prisoners that I had to contend with the whole of Ostermann's corps, I ordered Delzon's and Broussur's divisions to march upon the -General Broussur took advantage of line; I advanced two battalions of the 8th this retrograde movement of the enemy, light infantry, which your Majesty had in passed the river with his division, formed the morning placed at my disposal, and his regiments by echellons, in a double placed them along a small wood, which square, under a very brisk fire of his artil- was upon my left, to support my first brilery. The square of the 53d was nearest.gade of cavalry, which the fire of the inDilcounts. 4. HALE -105 REEPER n fantry would necessarily force to retire. Upon seeing this movement, about three battalions marched from their left to the front of my cavalry, to meet these two battalions. I ordered them to be charged; they were obliged to retire with considerable loss. I wished to maintain this posi'tion till the arrival of Delzon's division; but the enemy marched by favour of a wood which was upon my right, ten or twelve battalions, and shewed a disposition to attack my right-a movement which would necessarily have compelled me to abandon my positions.-Two of these battalions had already debouched, and forced the brigade on the right to give way. Two other battalions debouched on my left upon a regiment of cuirassiers and the 9th lancers. Almost at the same time these four battalions were charged and destroyed, those on my left by the 9th lancers, and those on my right by the foreign brigade. I have seldom seen cavalry charge infantry with such courage and success.-Delzon's division now being arrived, I ordered it to march along the Dwina, and take a position that would threaten the rear of the Russians. This movement alone stopped the enemy on my right, who were eager to recal their battalions to the centre to cover their retreat, which they effected the same instant. The two battalions of the eighth regiment of light infantry repulsed two or three charges of the enemy's infantry, and constantly covered the front of my Jine. The artillery did the greatest injury to the enemy; it fired 1,500 discharges at half shot distance.Such, Sire, is the exact account of the battle of Ostrovno, of which the results have been the taking of eight pieces of cannon, 7 or 800 prisoners, and at least 5 or 6,000 Russians killed and wounded. Your Majesty may judge of the enemy by passing over the field of battle. favour. I have the honour to request of your Majesty a Lieutenancy for M. Berthier, Sub-Lieutenant of the 16th horse chasseurs, who was in the charge made by General Ornand, and was one of the first who attacked the pieces; his superior officers have a great respect for him. I am, Sire, your Majesty's affectionate Brother, JOACHIM NAPOLEON. Second Report of the King of Naples to the Emperor. Malluzero, Aug. 2. Sire, I received in the night between the 25th and 26th of July a dispatch from your Majesty, according to which I was to make a strong reconnoissance upon the enemy with a considerable quantity of artillery, and the division Delzons, which was to support it. I put in motion all the first corps of the reserve of the cavalry, and the two battalions of the 8th of infantry. My advanced guard met with the rear guard of the enemy at about two leagues from Ostrovno; they were advantageously posted behind an extremely deep ravine; they had infantry and cavalry, and were covered on their front and flanks by thick woods; several cannon shot were exchanged; the two battalions were sent to stop the infantry, which already made the cavalry retrograde. In the mean time the division Delzons had arrived; here the part of the cavalry was naturally to have concluded. The Viceroy made his disposition and marched upon the enemy. The ravine was passed. brigade of foreign cavalry had passed the Dwina, protected our left flank, and debouched in the plain; the rest of the light division marched upon the causeway in proportion as the Viceroy repulsed the infantry of the enemy. The cuirassiers were left in reserve behind the ravine, and their cannon placed in battery. My right was covered by immense woods. The enemy were vigorously led to the second position, behind the ravine, where, no doubt, were their reserve. He was repulsed a second The I acquainted your Majesty by my letter, written on the very ground, with the brilliant conduct of the Generals who directed these different charges. Your Majesty will find more in detail, in the annex-time, and a second time renewed the ated Reports, the names of the brave men who most particularly distinguished themselves: your Majesty will permit me to solicit for them the justly merited rewards. I owe particular eulogium to General Count Belliard, who was in all the charges, and was of the greatest use to me in executing the different movements which I found it necessary to order. I must likewise name to your Majesty all the individuals of my House, and request your goodness in their tack; I perceived confusion; I ordered a charge of cavalry against a column of infantry which was marching audaciously in the plain. The brave Poles rushed on the Russian battalion-not a man escapednot one was made prisoner-the last men were killed, even in the woods. The pas de charge was immediately beaten, and all the square battalions of your Majesty's infantry, and General Girardin, who led the battalions of the left, received orders to make a change to the right and incline on the grand chaussée on the rear of the enemy. All the battalions who were immediately on the right executed the same manoeuvres ; and General Peré inclined with the 8th regiment of hussars to the right, and vigorously charged the whole left of the enemy, which owed its safety only to the woods and ravines that retarded our march. The whole division followed the movement on the causeway; the cavalry debouched on the heights in front of the five or six regiments of cavalry which I had caused to be cannonaded; it was in this position that your dispatch found me, and whence it caused me to pursue the enemy, who was led with drums beating to a ravine about a league and a half from Witepsk.Here is, Sire, an account of the affair of the 26th, in which, according to the reports of all the prisoners and deserters, the enemy suffered still greater losses than on the preceding evening. One may boldly state their loss at from 2,500 to 3,000 killed, and an immense number wounded. Your Majesty scarcely lost any body.[Here follows the praises of the different officers who distinguished themselves.] JOACHIM NAPOLEON. -Jacob Report of Marshal the Duke of Tarentum, to the Prince Major-General. stadt, July 22. Monseigneur, I have this instant (five o'clock in the evening) received the report of General Grawert, respecting the engagement which took place on the 19th at Ekau. Scarcely had he arrived at Banske, and replaced General Ricard, whilst his infantry was passing the Aa, he detached Colonel de Roeder, with a party of 60 horse, to reconnoitre the ground. He met the enemy's posts about three leagues from Banske, easily drove them back; but observing they had forces behind them, he informed General Grawert of it, and at the same time demanded two squadrons and half a battery of horse artillery; but, previous to their arrival, the enemy, who from a height had been able to convince himself of the weakness of Col. Roeder's detachment, fell upon him; he valiantly defended himself, in order not to lose the advantageous position he occupied.This unequal combat became more critical and lively, when Major Sturn, with the 1st regiment of dragoons, arrived; this brave officer vigorously charged the enemy's cavalry, overthrew and pursued it to the wood, where it was checked by the enemy's infantry. In this charge the enemy had many men killed, and an officer and 20 men taken prisoners. The Prussians had one man killed and 20 wounded, three of whom were officers; among whom is Count Brandenburg. The prisoners taken in this affair unanimously declare, that the preceding evening considerable reinforcements had arrived at Ekau, upon which the enemy advanced four battalions, some squadrons of Uhlans, a paulk of Cossacks, and some cannon, and besides concentrated themselves with very superior forces, with a battery of 10 pieces of cannon in Ekau. -General Grawert, being informed of this, determined upon sending orders to General Kleist, that, by a first disposition, I had sent to Kunken and Draken, upon the high road from Herbergen to Riga, to march by the right of the river Ekau, to take the enemy in flank and rear, whilst he made dispositions for attacking him in front.-General Grawert marched upon Ekau, drove all the enemy's troops from the right to the left bank of the river Ekau, with his cavalry and tiralleurs, and, in an advantageous position, waited the arrival of General Kleist; of whose arrival, as soon as he was informed by the first discharge of cannon, he approached the enemy, passed the defile with the cavalry, the artillery, and the tiralleurs, and supported that attack by a part of his infantry, whilst the other advanced to guard the defile.General Kleist vigorously attacked on his side, his left bearing upon Ekau. The combat was long and murderous; the Russians defended their positions foot to foot; even a detachment which was cut off fought to the last extremity. Nevertheless, the bravery of the Prussian troops, notwithstanding their inferiority of numbers, and the good conduct of the chiefs and officers, triumphed over the Russians. At eight in the evening they were forced at all points, and put to flight.- -The result of this day is a flag taken, and several hundreds of prisoners. The enemy lost a considerable number of men in killed and wounded. The loss of the Prussians is of consideration. -[Here follow the names of those officers who distinguished themselves.]General Grawert supposes the enemy will take a position between Ekau and Riga, from whence he reckons upon driving them with facility, as the Russians are discouraged by the action of the 19th, whilst the Prussians are full of confidence.—Gen. Grawert adds, that the 19th has been a |