£bt. XL Observations made on a Tour from Hamburg, through ’ : Berlin 5 Gorlitz , and Breslaw to Sdberbrrg , and th< nc ' to Got- henburg. By Robert Semple, Author of Two Journeys in jSpain, a Sketch of the Caracas, &c. , 8vo. pp. 285. Lon- don, Baldwin, 1814. M & Sample has, by his former works, contributed so mate- rially to the information and amusement of the public, tij/jt we naturally regard him with a considerable degree of in- terest, and hear with concern of any misadventures which may pave befallen him* The present volume is principally occupied 1114. Semple’s Tour in Germany* 4$5 with a detail of the treatment which he recently experienced from a British Minister, — r>ne of those extraordinary ambassadors whom the wisdom of oar government, of course without any bias from personal or court connexions, has stationed in the vicinity of the Allied' Sovereigns during the momentous crisis of the war. We have more than once had occasion to commend this au- thor for the plain and useful information which his books contain, and for the simple and cheap form* of their publication. The work before us, though much less interesting than such a tour, at su. h ,t time, might have been rendered, — a defect chiefly ow- ing to the misfortune which we are about to mention, — contains, nevertheless, several valuable notices respecting the countries to which it relates. The journey was undertaken during the sus- pension of hostilities last spring, after the disastrous retreat of the Kr* neb, the author having left England in the middle of April: but he remained abroad during the campaign, having returned after the armistice. The author fi*>t made Heligoland, after a very short passage of iiitie more than ibrty-eight hours; but having the misfortune Jo Mi ike on the rocks which surround the island, they were ob- liged to leave l lie vessel, and land in boats. Being detained by contrary winds in this little island for above a week, he had an opportunity of observing it with sufficient minuteness. The most singular circumstances in its physical situation, are its percepti- ble 4 decay by the action of the sea on the crumbling rock of which it is composed, and the romantic beauty of the scenery among the dills towards the south. Its temporary political importance, however, during the reign of the French system upon the Con- tinent, was far more remarkable. It became the great entrepot for smuggling, that is, for trade, between the Continent and Eng- land. The occupations of the inhabitants continued as former- ly to be those of a seafaring life ; and the noted avarice derived from their employment in piloting and succouring distressed na- vigators, had not been diminished by the new importance which their situation of late years gave them. Mr Semple conceives this 4 exorbitant love of money ’ to be greatly increased ; aiul lie seems, indeed, to deduce it from recent events, without a precise knowledge of former periods. He also notices the re- markable appearance of all labour on shore being performed by the women — even to the most fatiguing. As the author has on other occasions dealt in sentiment, and in works of fiction, a little of the romantic now and then breaks out here. In survey- ing the rocks, he is first pleased to fancy that a mass whicl^felt t not for behind him , 9 might have overwhelmed him. Then he imagines that * at spme distant period his bones nnight have re- 436 Semple's Tour in Germany. Jan* 4 visited the fight ; 5 and, his mineralogy suddenly coming in to the aid of his poetry, he proceeds to suppose that they would then appear 4 encased in argillaceous schistus, and whitened by the 4 waves \ 9 and that in this elegant condition they might be ( car- * ried by the tides to the shores of Britain, and form a subject 4 of speculation and wonder to philosophers yet unborn ! * Among such a race as the Heligoland boatmen, one does not expect to find the accomplishment of music ; but, in tiuth, Ger- many is, almost as much as Italy, 6 native to ' that delightful art. The boattrfen who carried Mr Semple to Cuxhaven, ‘"animated • by the prospect of a speedy passage, began to sing charming 4 little German airs, in parts, with a propriety and softness that 4 surprised him . 9 From Cuxhaven he went up the river to Ham- burg ; and here he saw in every corner convincing proofs of the popular enthusiasm against France, which pervaded all Germany during the late memorable campaign ; an enthusiasm which ap- pears to have first displayed itself in 1809, although the unfor- tunate errors committed during that campaign, the discord among the three great powers, and the culpable neglect of the common cause by England, rendered it almost unavailing. * Our readers have lately heard so much of the Cossacks, that we shall not dwell upon the account which Mr Seitiple gives of those he saw in Hamburg — but it is amusing to remark the mania for imitat- ing those savage warriors, in the Hamburg volunteers. Corps were formed with the peculiar pike and whip, but wholly igno- rant of the use ©f either. They galloped all day through the streets, to the terror of the women and children, and the dan- ger of their own necks, but fared and slept like luxurious citizens. On his way from Hamburg to Berlin, Mr Semple heard ru- mours from all quarters, of the great battle fought at Lutzcn ; and its event was, of course, variously represented, according as the accounts came from French or German sources. At one place he saw a deserter from the French armies, a native of Modena, who had been an apothecary, and was carried oft' by the conscription. This anecdote naturally excites the author's reflexions; nor do we intend to say a word that can mitigate die hatred so generally felt towards the French military system* Btit v common justice requires us to reflect upon the means by whiefi our Allies recruit their armies ; and the history of Frede- rick II, furriishes far worse instances of violence, than that prac- , hated on jModenese apothecary $ for his kidnappings were prac- ' ^ already entered fully into this afflicting subject, in our July 1811, arid shewn that the liberation of Europe been ejfecttd in 1809. 181*. 437 Semple’s Tour in Germany . tised in foreign states, over whose subjects he could not pretend to have any rights. Every one remembers the history of tho Abbe Bastiani, who was carried off while engaged in the func- tions of his office in the Tyrol ; and after serving some years as a soldier, was found to be a Savant , in which capacity he was afterwards retained about the Prussian court. The work of Thiebault, formerly noticed in this Journal, f is full of such an- ecdotes. They are given by that courtly and ^sequious histo- rian only as pleasant incidents, arising out of Frederics military arrangements. Another instance of our Allies adopting some of the enemy’s arts, occurs in these pages. When Mr Semple ar- rived in Berlin, he found that city illuminated for the * victory ‘ gained near Leipsic, ’ meaning the battle of Lutzen. The next day, the guns were fired for the same event ; and on the same evening, by a whimsical coincidence, the city was in great alarm at the approach of the enemy ; the public chest was moved, and the archives carried away to a place of safety. In- deed, our author suffered by this policy of the government. Having demanded his passport ibr Dresden, he obtained it ea- sily, on paying the customary numerous fees ; and no hint was given of the real state of the case. The mails were suffered to depart as usual. Vet all this while the government knew that Dresden was in the hands of the enemy ! The following inci- dents, too, passed in the streets of Berlin, and at a place in the hands of the Russians ; which, had it occurred in a town occu- pied by the French, would have given rise to innumerable com- mentaries. • On the evening preceding my departure I met one of my fel- low-passengers from Hamburg, to whom I related my intention of going to Dtesden. He seemed surprised, which induced me to ask if he knew of any danger. We were alone, and in the middle of a solitary street, yet he only shrugged up his shoulders, and looking about him said, ‘ People knew not what to believe . 9 He evaded further questions on the subject, and soon quitted me. The same, or similar answers, were made to roy inquiries by the landlord of the inn where I lodged, although he knew perfectly well the state of af- fairs. An Englishman in similar circumstances would have said at once, “ The French are thete ; ’* yet was this simple answer not to be obtained by any direct inquiry, and I departed with the ordinary post, relying in a manner on the faith of government. * p. 70 , 71 . * We did not arrive at Barutb, a further distance of fourteen miles, until two in the morning. This is the first town on this road in the Saxon territory, and was, as we were told, full of Russian troops ; yet to my great surprise not one appealed in the streets, it being nour f “ Souvenirs de vingt am. 39 See our No. for Oct. 1805. k *38 Semple’s Tour in Germany*. Jap* fine moonlight, nor were we challenged by a single sentinel. . At the post-house we entered the apartment of General Barclay de Tolly, who was asleep, and should not have soon found out our mistake but for a single aid-de camp, who* was stationed near him. Strange as it may seem, even here the post-master would nor. inform us that [Dresden was in possession of the enemy. He ventured to say, how- ever, that he believejd they had got' that » part of the city which is oh the left bank of tire Elbe, but that the Russians held the other; and the centre arches of the bridge being destroyed alone prevented the French from being driven out. We were five in company, two Of Whom were Saxons, inhabitants of Dresden, seeking to return to their own homes. They trusted to this intelligence* and determined tb proceed. Captain Fabfer, of the Prussian artillery, one of our company, was of the same opinion, and I thought there could be no danger in joining them . 9 p.73,74. He had not travelled far, however, when he found it neces- sary to change his route, and get into the rear of the Allied ar- my. After beating* about for some days to discover theii head- quarters, and exposing himself to some danger of fidlbq. into tne hands of the enemy, to prepare for which he de-tn ye ? his letter of recommendation to Lord Gathcart, he at length i*c. idl- ed the desired spot. The following accoui.t <>1 his receptioi we Think it right to extract, that ho may tell his own stoiy, upon which almost the whole of the present work turns * Owing to the fatigued state of our hoives, we did not arrive" at Wtrrt«chen until two o’clock In this village most of the ho' » were deserted bv the inhabitants, not a woman or child was to be seen; the doors were all open, and many of the vrinduw.s broken or the sashes removed. The Emperpr’s head-quarters were in a large house, on the side of which facing Hoclikirck, are still the mark* made by cannon-balls, fired in that battle more than fifty years ago. T'ty have beep carefully preserved, and a Latin imsc * ^ n n—urds and deplores the cau»e : “ Eheu ! Sign a praiii iloc/il/rtfi/ww. M In the large court- yard, filled with horses and Cossacks, I found a bundle of straw, where I gladly threw myself down whilst my companion went to deliver his despatches. Scarcely had I done so, when the guard flew to arms ; every body stood up, and the Emperor t nssod to enter the house. I beheld a man tall, lusty, well made, although tfbmewhat round-shouldered, and of a countenance rather soft and jpfldthan penerating or imposing. Yet his troops look towards him as a superior being, ol* at least believe him to be, as perhaps in some respect? he is, the greatest of. monarchy At a subsequent period I beheld his lame and wounded soldiers, In their quarrels with the m- habitants, threatening them with the wrath of the Great Alexander, m name which they seemed to think every European was bound to • feiptet* * After Chad remained about two hours among the Cos- sacks,' the officer returned, and having directed his servant to Show 1814. Semple's Tout in Germany . 4-39 trie the English quarters, w^e bade each other adieu. Having expe- rienced $6 much kindness, front Germany and Russians, I anticipated ai least an equal share *‘rorn Englishmen. Behold me at length ar- rived at the point to which, since leaving Luckau, I had been press- ing with so much anxiety. Here at last I am sure of an asylum for a short time, and at all event? will be enabled to sl'eep one night in peace and prepare for froh fatigues. Here I shall learn the truth, and no longer be reduced to wander in uncertainty, as to the real position of the enemy. Full of these ideas I reached a miserable house, such as the village afforded,, the head-quarters of Lord Cath- cart. He was absent with the Emperor viewing the lines of redoubts, but his household received me with kindness and attention. They set before me bread, coffee, and the little luxury of milk, so diffi- cult to be procured in the midst of a large army. They told rae, that there was nothing but a little straw on which t could sleep ; but this was more than was enioved by a hundred thousand brave rr " round me, and I had already in my mind cheerfully marked out the corner where 1 would lie, A great battle was expected to be fought next day Refreshed by sleep I shall see, perhaps I shall share in that battle. With these thoughts I saw Lord Cathcart arrive ; I present- ed my passports, l related my case, and mentioned that under the dread of falling into the hands of the French I had destroyed a let- ter which I had for his Lordship, but that T had still one for the Rus- sian Admiral Greig, whom I understood to be with the Emperor. Having examined my passports he informed me that they contained no proof of my being a British subject, that I was avowedly born in America, and asked if I had no farther documents. I replied that my American birth was owing to my father and mother being made prisoners in the American war, and carried into Boston, and that as X had travelled with these passports through Prussia, l could have no suspicion of their being inaccurate, nor was I provided with any other. His Lordship left me, and after some time sent for me again. u It will be proper, ” said he, “ that you go to Gorlitz, which is a large town, where you will easily procure horses and every accom- modation tor pursuing your journey to Colberg, the nearest sea-port now left open to an Englishman. There will be an opportunity this evening ;'and this gentleman, ” pointing to a young Russian officer, “ will conduct you. ” Fain would I have expressed my wish to re- main at Wurtschen ; but. under the existing circumstances I felt that it was not for me to oppose so direct an intimation. An hour after- wards I again saw his Lordship on horseback, who asked with much apparent politeness, if there was any thing else he could do for me. ” I answered that there was not ; when he touched his hat to me and rode off. Soon afterwardvS, the Russian officer made his ap-. pearanco, with a common travelling waggon, in which wa$ some straw instead of seats ; my portmanteau was placed in it, and we set off. His Majesty the King of Prussia, one of his sons, and two or , Ihree of his officers, had placed themselves by the side of the toad. 440 Semple’s Tour in Germany. Jan. and surveyed me attentively as we passed. Not being aware of their rank, nor as yet of my own situation, I regarded their stedfast looks os singularly ill-bred, until my companion informed me who they were.’ p. 93 — 98. At first Mr Semple proceeded well and quietly with his com- panion. They passed along the rear of the army ; and when night fell, though the moon was obscured by clouds, they could see moving about large bodies of troops ; and the roads were filled with trains of artillery and waggons. By the bivouac lights they discerned the soldiers reposing, sometimes quite naked, stretched before the fire. Duripg the first day, Mr Semple on- ly observed in his fellow traveller a certain "anxiety about his motions ; but in the course of the night, having got out of the carriage to stretch his limbs, the Russian officer awoke, and, alarmed #t his absence, requested him to seat himself again, a- bout which our author delaying a little, speedily reeoiveef a sum- mons in such a tone, as ‘.at once and for the first time discovered * to him the nature of his situation. ’ In a word, he was in custo- dy, and travelling towards a place of confinement. Arrived at Gorlitz, he was placed in more strict arrest j but while waiting for the chief of the police, after enduring considerable insult from Cossacks and others, he was greatly relieved to see Mr George Jackson, secretary of the English "legation, enter; and he explained his situation to this gentleman,' - who asked him if he remembered once, four years before, having had a passport signed at Seville by the British minister there ; and on Mr Sem- ple’s professing not to recollect it, told him he could not possi- bly be the person he pretended. After a night’s rest had done away the effects of three days and nights excessive fatigue and watching, and brought hack" the author’s recollection oAhe'fm- portant circumstance in all its details, he wrote immediately an account of it. But no attention was paid to this ; and a hint be- ing given, that Admiral Greig’s letter of introduction, which he still kept, .must contain some proofs in his favour, he was in- duced to open it; but it was snatched from him before he could read it; and what became of it he could never learn; nor was it acted upon, although containing of course a clear evidence of his being the person in question. Mobile detained iti Gorlitz, a Frenchman was brought to the sarhe* prison ; who having been established for some years at Dresden, had been arrested, he knew not why, probably on suspicion oflieing a spy. In his company, he was conveyed under strict guard oh the road to Silesia,— the populace of the • towns through which they passed never failing to insult and mal- trt&t them as French spies, or traitors of some other descrip- 1814 *. 441 Semple's Tour in Germany . tion. Under these sufferings, a very natural and honest reflec • tion seems to have filled Mr Semple’s mind -—he sympathized with the feelings of the mob, whtf had such good reason to hate the French ; and felt himself in the situation of * a man who in disguise was unwittingly ill-treated by his friends . 9 As the road approached the frontiers of Poland, the dress of the inhabitants varied from the German ; and their language, mix- ed up with Sclavonic, became without difficulty intelligible to the Russian soldiers. On arriving at Breslaw, 4 he first beard the formidable answer given to the guard at the gate, —that they were state prisoners a fact which, after what had pass- ed, ought not, we think, to have greatly surprised him. The guards being here doubled over them, and their prison being a room with a vaulted roof, contrived, they supposed, for the purpose of overhearing the author passed his time in singing ‘ the loyal strains of God save the King ^ and Utile Britannia s * — which seems to have produced no other good effect than that of annoying his fellow prisoner. Two more state prisoners were here joined with them, a Frenchman, and a Saxon, who had been arrested without any reason assigned. They were soon conveyed from Breslaw, and found that their destination was the fortress of Silberberg, a remote and mountainous garrison of great strength, in a solitary situation. It may easily be supposed, from the durance in which he was kept while on this journey, that he picked up little or no infor- mation. We scarcely meet with any thing worth noticing, ex- cept the mysterious silence preserved at Breslaw, upon the event of the battle of Wurtzen, respecting which it was quite in vain to inquire. After narrowly escaping being stoned to death by the mob in passing through the town of Silberberg, they at length readied the fortress on the summit of the hill. 6 We * passed, ’ says he, 4 formidable rows of pallisades, appearing 4 new cut and sharpened, fresh redoubts, and throngs of sol- 4 diers. The winding road led us by a long ascent to the sum- 4 mit of the hill. A deep dry ditch, over which was a draw- 4 bridge, still separated us from the body of the fortress. I 4 turned to take a last look of freedom, and saw below me at a 4 great distance a beautiful and fertile country, the lesser ranges 4 of hills which we had passed, and even the plains extending 4 to Breslau ; but already the trampling of the horses' feet cau£- 4 ed a hollow sound on the wooden drawbridge; we passed un- 4 der the arched gateway; and in art instant I saw no longer a- 4 ny thing round me but prison-walls. ’ p. 137. And this was what my Lord Cathcart termed sending a man to 4 GorJitz, 4 which is a large town, where he might easily procure horses. 442 SempleY Tour in Germany* JT&fi. 4 and every accommodatl m for pursuing his journey to Col- 4 berg, the nearest sea-port now left open to an Englishman* ~ It was also, we presume, vrith a view to this fortress, that hts Lordship asked—* with much apparent politeness, if there Was 4 any thing else he could do for him/^-p. 96 & 7. To be sure, any^ thing Jess resembling 4 tke rietifest sea* port > * cannot well be imagined. The first step taken was to confine Mr Semple and one of the French prisoners in a casemate, where the light scarcely entered. He was. fed on bread and water, with a little miser- able soup and a morsel of meat. They were soon removed to a dungeon both dark and damp, a casemate at the bottom of the ditch, Here he found a new companion in the Abbe Henri, curate and professor at Jena, a Frenchman by birth, but long established in Germany, and treated with some confidence by Buonaparte in the campaign 1806. After several changes of dungeon they were finally settled in one of a very unpromising appearance. The following passage gives some idea of this lodging. ' « The next day we were again removed to another casemate, a true dungeon, being at times so dark, that, except near the window, we could not see to read at noon-day, and situated directly under the drawbridge, over which every cart passing made a thundering noise/ Here the damp ran constantly down the walls, and the salt- petre fell on our faces as we slept. Fortunately we had made a great discovery in our first casemate, where a number of large wooden shutters, to fastrn on the windows externally, like the dead- lights of vessels, were piled up. These were about six feet long, by four in width* and tolerably smooth on one side, serving very well to spread our mattresses upon. 4 In all our changes, we had taken constant care to carry them with us, and we now found them of the greatest utility, in protect- ing us from immediate contact with the damp brick floor. By de- grees we collected stones, and put under them, thus raising us far- ther from the damp. We were now allowed to go out for about half an hour every day, to walk in the ditch ; and even this trifling liberty was at first delightful. In a short time, however, we found ourselves still exposed to occasional insults from the young soldiers, when they saw us for the first time f,and the return from these half- * hour excursions became very melancholy, from the cheerful ,sun- dripe and the pure air, to a gloomy vault apd the door locked. Af* ter Some time* my twp companions, unable to withstand it, fell sick. They becaifce affected with violent pains all 6ver their bodies, which frequently compelled them to njogn, and sometimes to cry out a- loud Jn w' The poor Professor lost all his firmness, and cried like a child. For tny pOrt, they told me that my lace was mailed with a profound melancholy. At length, after many peri* 181*. US Semple’s Tour in German#. tions, it was thought necessary to send the chief surgeon of the gar* risori to, visit my companions, and, by his interference, we were allow- ed the liberty of walking out three or four hours in the day, always well guarded. Lefebre also procured a guitar; and its tinkling sounds were heard within these gloomy walls, for the first time perhaps since their foundation. We began now also to pay attention to the linnets* which, in great numbers, had built their nests in the various crevices of the lofty walls opposite our windows. Every morning they begafi their songs with the first dawn of light, and soothed us with a mo- mentary delusion of liberty and happiness, * p. 14*6 — 14*8* On the 4th of June, Mr Semple’s loyalty towards the Sove* reign seems to have been but little impaired by the treatment he had received through the representative. He had recourse, as pon a former occasion, to a vehement singing of God save the vitigj which exceedingly annoyed his companions, and pro- duced in himself only ‘ a forced gaiety, followed by a greater depression of spirits , 9 in so much that lie never afterwards had ecourse to the same attempt. He got some hints, too, that the renewal of hostilities might throw the fortress into the hand*? of the French, and give him occasion for * all the protection which his French friends could afford him. 3 They seem, there- fore, to have agreed together much more cordially. They con- tributed to amuse each other with singing and writing, for they contrived to » tained from these officers is weil worth extracting. * Captain Perregaux gave me details of his warfare against the English in Spain. He allowed to them a great deal of national bra- very, stating, that they acted admirably as tiiailleurs, and that the Scots were 4 devils ’ with the bayonet. By these, he no doubt meant the Highland regiments, his prejudices not permitting him to acknow- ledge the superiority of the English in that decisive weapon. Mar- shal Marmont, he said, had not lost his arm. It w~as broken in two places by the bursting of a shell, at the battle of Salamanca ; but a skilful surgeon had been able to preserve it. This young man receiv- ed frequently letters and money from his friends* the head-quartets of Marshal Marmont net being above twenty miles from Silberberg, Among other things, the cross and ribbon of the Legion of Honour were sent to him, which his uncle had had interest to procure. It was pleasing to observe at once a striking trait of national character. He eagerly placed the ribbon in his button-hole, and never afterwards failed to wear it, as he walked up and down among his fellow prison- ers. An Englishman would have spumed the bauble, which, how- ever, amongst a people separated from him only by a few leagues, becomes an object of envy, and a powerful engine iruthe hands of ambition* 1 From die other young captain I had numerous details of the ever- mexoorable campaign of Moscow. His regi merit of Hulans had. been constantly with the advanced guard under Murat; and out of twelve ho^drecf and fifty men, of which it originally consisted, nearly a thousand had already fallen, or were in the hospital before quitting , For six days before entering that city, he had eaten horse- flesh,' which was hi? sole food for sixty-two days on the retreat ; and toad already pai d a ducat for a half beer-glass of common spirits* from the day of crossing the Niemen, during the whole of the mafeh. 1814. Semple’^ Tour in Germany. 445* riot a dozen peasants were seen on either side of the route. Every thing was burnt up, destroyed, or removed. At the battle of Smo- lensko, the infantry alone were at first engaged, the cavalry on both sides lining the opposite banks of the river, in separate squadrons for a long distance, to prevent a surprise on either flank* But in the bat- tle of Mojaisk, or Boiodino, the cavalry had a large part. There he had two horses killed under him; Nothing can be said sufficient to give an idea of the horrors of that battle. The* French troops, contrary to their usual custom, fought in a mournful silence. Ca- valry and infantry, Cossacks and artillery, all were mixed together in the promiscuous carnage. The battle began at four in the morn- ing, and the last cannon-shot was fired about nine at night. So dif- ficult, however, is it to acquire the knowledge of truth, even -from respectable eyewitnesses of great events, that he positively affirmed the French to have remained masters of the field. In proof of this, lie Alleged that his regiment continued on the ground that nigllt, and was pul in inarch at four o’clock next morning for Moscow. J> oubt- less, acting as captain of cavalry, enveloped in dust, and" in perpe- tual motioq, he could not properly judge of the great movements of the armies, and had mistaken. a flank march for a direct advance in front. Yet, it is often on these partial views, that men are most po- sitive in their opinions. At Moscow, the army found cloth, and at first plenty of coffee, chocolate, wine, furs, and luxuries, but little or no flour. Soon every thing became enormously dear. Long be- fore the retreat began, subordination was lost amongst the troops ; and it was the general opinion, that Bonaparte had been deceived by an appearance of negotiation, to lose so much time at Moscow. Ho was in the affair which took place previous to the retreat, iu which he thought it extremely probable that the Russians took thir- ty-seven pieces of cannon, as stated by Beningsen, as lie knew of twenty-five. It was a complete surpiise; and Murat himself was nearly taken. For a. long time his white plume, which, as King of Naples, lie always wore in the field, was conspicuous amid hostile helmets and the spears of Cossacks ; and it was only by a desperate charge of his adherents that he was saved. It is impossible, by any description, to exaggerate the hon ors of the retreat It was three hundred thousand men put to suffer all that human nature could en- dure, without entire destruction. His horses all died, and he was obliged to walk in the severity of the cold with his feet nearly bare. He saw forty louis given for a place in a common cart, for a distance of thirty miles; and a General, after making a bargain of that kind, being benumbed by the cold, was pushed out by common soldiers, who had previously occupied the seats, and left to perish oft the road. After innumerable hardships, he had with difficulty reached Poland, when his strength entirely failed him, and he lay’ ill for fifteen weeks at the house of an hospitable curate. From this, when pur- suing his route on foot to his own country, the war hj*oke out be- tween Prussia and France ; and after various adventures, he had been 1 * . f SempIe*s Tour in Germany* Jan'. arrested and confined in Silberberg. Both he and Perreganss^fcalked With great contempt of the Cossacks, whom they agreed in affirming to bo wholly useless in battles, and by no means remarkable for their bravery in skirmishes and single combats. Their great qualities are their cunning ; their skill in concealing themselves, and suddenly as- sembling on given points ; the intimate knowledge which they ac- quire of a country, and their unwearied patience. By these quali- ties, they surround an enemy’s army, as it were by an invisible line, interrupt his communicatipns, and make prisoners perpetually. It is curious to see them make a charge. They advance in large mas- ses ; but in approaching the enemy, the bravest only press forward, whilst the others gradually check their career, in proportion to dieir want of courage. By this means, the whole mass assumes by degrees the rude appearance of a wedge, or of several wedges join- ed at the base. Should the attack of the foremost be successful, the rest cry “ victory,” and share the glory; but if it fail, as a- gainst regular cavalry it is almost sure to do, they have at least the honour of leading the retreat. r p. 166 — It 2. . At length on the 50th of July, older* came to set our author at liberty, after having been eleven weeks in confinement, and above a month of the time in the most odious of dungeons. lie says, he ascertained that Mr Merry, Lord Cathcarfs private se- cretary, whose family knew him well, had repeatedly offered to ride over to Silberberg to identify him, but Imd never been ■’per- mitted by his Lordship. This, and indeed the whole transac- tion, will doubtless be deemed a fit matter of explanation bv I^ord (V-thcart. That a mistake may have been committed by the Huwiari and Prussian officers at head quarters, in the hurry of but h a moment as that of Mr Semple's ai rival there — the eve of tlie great battle of Wuvtzen — can easily be imagined; and Though its consequences may have proved very painful to an innocent individual, we should not be prepared severely to con- demn those who committed the blunder. But making every allowance for the situation o( the Prussian or Russian officers, we ;trc not quite prepared to give the same latitude to the British minister; and the suspicion seems all to have originated with him. Mr Semple’s passport stated hint to be an American born ; he says that he gave a full explanation of this circumstance: But it is quite immaterial — for why should not an American show himself at the Russian head- quarters ? Lord Cathcart was there as a foreigner himself; and Mr Semple, even if he had been an American, had as good a right as he to be on the spot. Yet from $Ome confused notion of American and enemy being the ^^ thingj Lord Cathcart seems to have procured his arrest, it may be thought, that had others been disposed to 'imprison a, person stating himself to be a British subject, the mi. Semple^ Tour in Germany . 417 British ambassador was called upon to have the truth of the rent- ier examined — at all events, there can be bur, one opinion upon the manner of doing the act. Either Mr Semple’s story above extracted, is wholly false, — or every thing that was done, was without Lord Cathcart’s knowledge, and he was grossly deceived bv the people about him,* — or his behaviour w as such, as we are unwilling to designate. This charge corning against the noble envoy in a very moderate tone, and preferred by a gentleman, of considerable respectability, who gives his name with his ac- cusation, merits at all events a distinct answer. Mr George Jackson, too, seems called upon to* explain his .conduct;; and we trust that those two diplomatists will speedily clear up to the world, the very unpleasant suspicious under which Mr Semple’s narrative manifestly Jays them. The author returned to Berlin, and from thence he went to fStralsunci, where he embarked for Ystadiin Sweden, and came by Gottenburg to England. This route is now so common,, that wc do not detain li e reader with any notice of what Mr Semple observed in the course of it. Wc have already said, that the history of his detention forms the chief subject of the volume; and whatever particulars we have noted Inside this narrative, are so much over and above what ho profosis logi\t\ We hope soon to hear of him at the close of some imw and U"-s unfortunate journey; and exhort him to continue publishing his remarks in a plain manner, — adapted to «dl reader, and suited to all purchasers.