Stettin and the fortresses of Silesia, along roads in the most complete want of repair. These difficulties, however, and the storms and rigours of the season, were incapable of furnishing any effectual interruption. The troops who surrounded the place consisted, in a great degree, of the auxiliaries of France, of different prejudices, habits, and languages, but whose efforts, under the direction of Marshal Le Febvre, were effectually combined by a happy union of encouragement and discipline, and who, in repelling the sorties of the besieged, and in advancing the progress of the works, displayed astonishing alacrity and perseverance. The exertions of the commander of the fortress were, on the other hand, no less striking and meritorious; his vigilance and energy, in this situation of high responsibility, were incessant operation. Nothing was neglected which could contribute to the means of defence, or to the annoyance of the enemy.

Both the Russians and Prussians made strong efforts to save the place, but all their valour and exertions were unable to preserve it, and the garrison, after losing 7000 men, were compelled to capitulate. This conquest was of great consequence to Bonaparte, who, in the mean time used every effort to detach the King of Sweden from the confederacy; but failing in this he ordered Stralsund to be invested. Reinforcements being received in this place, the French were repulsed with loss, but Marshal Mortier soon recovered the ground, and discomfited the Swedes with great loss.

With a view to guard against any attempt on the part of the British, whose preparations began to excite considerable alarm, the Dutch troops, which had been co-operating with the French in Germany, were ordered to their own territory, on a supposition that an attempt might be intended against Holland and to provide against any efforts in the Baltic, a corps of observation was ordered to be formed, without delay, under the command of Marshal Brune. It was an object of great importance to Bonaparte, in these circumstances, to detach the King of Sweden from his alliance; and the attempts

nct rather surprised them who were then unache true character of his Swedish majesty. ere heard with coolness by the French ed himself with great propriety during cted conference. The surrender of 'v to the disposable force of the offer any immediate and effecquit his almost impregnable wever, when the season uld not be long nearly Ternative of pacifica

ty; and the confi

preventing any success.cumstances soon occurred

and decisive conflict.

une the Russian army were in motion;

..ole of their right wing, attacked three divi

French army. From two of these they met with

se; but in the attack, conducted by General Benagsen and the grand duke Constantine, on the division of Ney, the French general was obliged to fall back and abandon his positions and magazines. Liebstadt and Gutstadt were both evacuated, and the corps of Ney was conducted by him to Ackendorf. On the eighth, however, Bonaparte arrived at the general's camp at Deppen, and immediately ordered an attempt on those important stations, by the corps of Ney and Lasnes, the imperial guard and the cavalry of reserve. This formidable force was opposed by the rear guard of the Russians at Glottau; but, at length, recovered all the positions in advance of Gutstadt, and occupied the town by main force, the contest being continued in its very streets, with the most horrid and destructive carnage. The Russians now fell back upon Heilsburg. Before this place was posted a formidable body of infantry and cavalry supported by sixty pieces of cannon. The French, however, pressed on and gradually gained considerable ground. Both parties fought with

the most determined bravery; but, as night advanced, the Russians were compelled to retreat to their entrenchments. Here they were expected to make a stand. The manœuvres of the French were, therefore, now directed to cutting off the retreat of the Russian right wing to Landsberg, in which Berthier was principally concerned; while Davoust threw himself along the Alle to the right of Heilsburg to preclude the retreat of their left. Demonstrations of an intention to attack were, in the mean time, made by the Russians in their entrenched camp. These, however, it appeared, were only a cover to the plan which had been now resolved on, to abandon even this chosen and formidable position; and, on the night of the eleventh, accordingly, they began to pass the Alle, quitting the whole country to the left, and leaving to the disposal of the enemy their entrenchments, magazines, and wounded. From the fifth to the twelfth the loss of the Russians amounted to nearly 20,000 men. They were pursued by the light cavalry of the enemy to the right bank of the Alle near Bartenstein. Light corps advanced in various directions to cut off their retreat to Koningsberg. The Duke of Berg proceeded towards the latter place, supported by Davoust and Soult; while Bonaparte himself, with the corps of Ney and Mortier and the imperial guard, immediately pressed on to Friedland.

On the 14th, the anniversary of the battle of Marengo, a circumstance of which the French emperor did not fail to remind his troops, and which naturally produced the most enthusiastic recollections and exertions, the grand struggle took place. The Russian army was fully deployed, the left wing extending to the town of Friedland, and its right reaching a mile and a half in the opposite direction. Bonaparte having reconnoitred, determined to attempt the town of Friedland, in the first instance; and, having changed his front, ordered the extremity of the right wing, under General Ney, to advance to the attack. At half past five Marshal Ney began to move forward. The division of Marchand,

also, at the same time advanced to co-operate with him, in another direction. When the Russians observed Ney to have quitted the wood by which he had been supported, they endeavoured to turn him by several regiments of cavalry, preceded by a multitude of Cossacs, who were, however, repulsed by the firmness of the dragoons of Latour Maubourg. In the mean time a battery was erected by General Victor, in his centre, and pushed on 400 paces by General Lennermont, to the extreme annoyance of the Russians; and which, by commanding their attention to its destructive fire, interfered with those manoeuvres which might otherwise have defeated the operations of Ney. The Russian troops which attacked the right wing of this general, were received on the bayonet or driven into the river, in which an immense number perished. When the left wing of Ney, however, had nearly reached the works which surrounded the town, it was exposed to the most imminent peril. The imperial Russian guard, which had been here concealed in ambuscade, suddenly advanced upon the French, with an impetuosity which threw them into disorder, and nearly rendered the effort of the marshal abortive. The division of Dupont, however, which formed the right of the reserve, marched against the Russian guard, who performed prodigies of firmness and valour, but were unable to resist this effort of the enemy. Various reinforcements were drawn from the Russian centre and other corps in reserve, for the defence of the town, all which proved eventually ineffectual. Friedland was at length taken; and, the struggle being continued in the town, its streets became the scene of slaughter, and were covered with human bodies. The centre, under Marshal Lasnes, was now engaged, and the Russians made several attempts against this centre corps of the French similar to that which had failed on its right wing; but the repeated efforts of its cavalry were only capable of displaying their valour, and continuing for a longer period the work of carnage. The battle lasted from five in the morning till seven at night. Both sides