LETTER XII. St. Petersburgh, November, 1805. To strangers, unaccustomed to the various changes produced in men and things by the influence of intense frost, nothing appears more wonderful or note-worthy than that part of the city dedicated to the sale of frozen provisions. Your astonished sight is there arrested by a vast open square, containing the bodies of many thousand animals piled in pyramidical heaps on all sides. Cows, sheep, hogs, fowls, butter, eggs, fish, all are stiffened into granite. The fish are attractively beautiful; possessing the vividness of their living colours, with the transparent clearness of wax imitations. The beasts present a far less pleasing spectacle. Most of the larger sort being skinned, and classed according to their species; groupes of many hundreds are seen piled up on their hind legs against one another, as if each were making an effort to clime over the back of its neighbour. The motionless apparent animation of their seemingly struggling attitudes (as if suddenly seized in moving, and petrified by frost), gives a horrid life to this dead scene. Had an enchanter's wand been instantaneously waved over this sea of animals during their different actions, they could not have been fixed more decidedly. Their hardness, too, is so extreme, that the natives chop them up for the purchaser, like wood; and the chips of their carcases fly off in the same way as splinters do from masses of timber or coal. A hatchet, the favourite instrument of the country, is used in the operation; as indeed it is generally applied to every other act of ingenuity or strength. Sometimes to things so nicely delicate, that if the boors were taught to write, I have little doubt but their pens would be made and repaired with it. But to return to the market. The provisions collected here are the product of countries many thousand versts beyond Mosco. Siberia, Archangel, and still remoter provinces, furnish the merchandize, which during the frost's severity is conveyed hither on sledges. In consequence of the multitudes of these commodities; and the short period allowed to the existence of the market, they are cheaper than at any other part of the year; and are therefore bought in large quantities to be laid up as winter stock. When deposited in cellars they keep good for a length of time. At certain hours every day the market, while it lasts, is a fashionable lounge. There you meet all the beauty and gaiety of St. Petersburgh; even from the imperial family down to the Russ merchant's wife. Incredible crowds of sledges, carriages, and pedestrians, throng the place: the different groupes of spectators, purchasers, venders, and commodities, form such an extraordinary tout ensemble as no other city is known to equal. occur. During this mart of congealed merchandize, affecting scenes often The provisions, I have already told you, are transported from the most remote provinces of this vast empire. Consequently the infinitude of sledges necessary for their conveyance are accompanied by boors. It is not often the case, that for more than one season the same persons travel with them; and this change of conductors is produced by motives more honourable, more powerful than interest itself. Whenever a new levy is made for the army, a given number (according to the state's necessity) is taken from every five hundred slaves capable of bearing arms. Most of the villages have been thus deprived of some of their inhabitants; and it is with the affectionate hope of again seing their different relatives, that many very aged men accompany these frozen caravans. St. Petersburgh is the extent of their views. The knowledge of that city and of their own village, bounds their geographic acquirements: it is thither all their wishes tend; for to that spot alone, they falsely believe, is fixed the object of their fond solicitude. Ignorant of any particular corps, and only conscious that it is a soldier they seek, under the liveliest impressions of expectation and affection, they momentarily look for the blessing of again embracing a son, a brother, or some other near and beloved kinsman. Actuated by similar feelings, hundreds of soldiers (after their military duties are over for the day) are seen going from groupe to groupe, searching for their own parents amongst these patriarchal strangers. To the observation of a benevolent individual, these scenes are delightful. Nothing can be more affecting than to witness their joyful meetings; fathers embracing their sons, brothers their brothers. But expressions of disappointment and envy at their comrades good fortune, frequently excite more distressing sympathies; and the heart saddens while listening to the impatient enquiries of many, who are soon deprived of their dearest hopes, by the information that another country contains their offspring: perhaps another world. My pencil would but feebly trace a scene which can only be pictured by the feelings. I must therefore plead its inability; and for my pen, how weak too is its description! Thy reflective, and finely tempered mind, my friend, would here have much food for rumination. How gladly should I listen to thoughts which were ever as full of wisdom as of sympathy! In witnessing this scene, wouldst thou not gather interesting details of humble and domestic love, its joys and disappointments; and clothed in thy pure and touching language, how would they penetrate the heart! But though Heaven has not gifted me with eloquence, I am not quite unblest with the spirit whence it springs; and, therefore, feeling all the tenderness of private interests, I am not less sensible to that disinterestedness which loses the soft comforts of life in devotion to the public weal. Writing of these sons and brothers, who go far from their families, to defend their country's honour, reminds me of a recent act of their courage, when led on by the invincible arm of one of their most distinguished Generals. Knowing that your heart beats in unison with every deed of true heroism, I cannot refrain from repeating it here. The name of Prince Bagration is well known to you. His already hard-earned laurels, gathered on the plains of Italy, and snatched from the precipices of St. Gothard, have established his reputation as a soldier for ever. He is indeed the Sir Sidney of Russia! possessing the same intrepid enterprise, dauntless perseverance, and a resolution to overcome, which no opposition can withstand. with admiration on the narrative of his actions in Italy; how often have we, together, commented with delight on the bravery with which he extricated his troops from the difficulties into which the misfortunes of others had led him! He seems fated to be thus involved; and thus How often have bring himself out from danger with increased glory to himself and honour to his soldiers. The late affair on the advance of the main body of the Russian army under the gallant General Kutauzoff, is a new instance of his presence of mind; and how much more powerful men are when sound military knowledge directs the points of their bayonets. His command was a small one; not over more than four thousand men, who formed the rear guard of Kutauzoff's army. That General, from several unforeseen circumstances, found himself obliged to pursue his march; and so leave the troops of the Prince in the extremest peril. General Murat, meanwhile, with an incalculable force threw himself between these two divisions, and totally cut off all communication betwixt the rear and the main body of the Russians. The French troops surrounded those of Bagration. The experience and ever-wakeful attention of the Prince made him fully comprehend his situation, and determined him, instead of yielding the day as lost, to keep the enemy on the alert; and so gain time for the troops under Kutauzoff to advance beyond the reach of the enemy. At the moment he took this resolution, he well knew the price he should pay for carrying it into execution. To preserve the main body of the army he must sacrifice the lives of his heroic followers, and lay down his But that appeared to him the lesser evil. Their deaths would secure the escape of the great hope of Russia, its concentrated troops, its bravest generals, and he made no hesitation in taking his choice. own. A messenger was sent to him from the enemy, importing that it would be for the mutual advantage of both parties, if the commanders of each army should have a conference before the advanced posts. Bagration |