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That mirror where clearly my mis'ry Į view:

To keep the bands of early plighted love; But strove in vain, for, ah ! relentless pow'r, With tyrant sway nas fix'd that hated hour, When I a victim to the altar hie, Spite of the streaming tear, the murmur'd sigh, Forc'd to declare, but in a perjur'd vow, How to a husband's will I'll ever bow. Break my first love, and fainting with alarms,

Look round, and sink into a dotard's arms. Oh, God of nature, thou who reign'st a

bove,

Where, where was pity, where a parent's

love!

Could

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And breathing fervent blessings on his soul, Consign it to the bosom of his God.

L

AND where is now the parent's fondest But stop, my breast, for Nature claims a

hope?

The well known youth, their joy for ever fled!

Lo, pale and silent lies the lovely clay,

Life's fairest sunshine sets, to rise no more, University of Edinburgh 1805.

tear, Now sorrow's dread solemnity revere ; Friends!-what can fill this blank?..

T. A

HIS

H

Historical Affairs.

WAR ON THE CONTINENT.

AVING given an account of the too successful progress of the French army in Germany, we come now to a detail of the military operations in Italy, where we are sorry to find that fortune has not more befriended the arms of the Austrian Emperor.

During last summer a very considerable army had been collected in the Venetian territory, which in the beginning of October amounted to 70,000 or 80,000 men, when the Archduke Charies arrived from Vienna, and took the command. He had under him several experienced Generals. - On the other hand, the French forces had been assembling in Italy during the same period, and we understand out-numbered the Austrians. These were under the command of Marshal Massena, who was assisted by several officers who had distinguished themselves in the former war, Gardanne, Duhesme, Molitor, Lacombe St Michel, Verdier, Monnet, Partonneau, d'Espagne, and St Cyr, who joined Massena with 22,000 men from Naples, about the 1st of November.

It appears that the Commanders of the respective armies had agreed to a kind of truce, by which neither party should commence hostilities, until after the expiration of a certain time. This also appears to have been the 17th October, at midnight. For at four o'clock in the morning of the 18th, the French general put his army in motion, attacked the bridge of the old castle of Verona, and passed the Adige, notwithstanding a vigorous resistance on the part of the Austrians, who continued the action with great obstinacy till six in the evening. The Austrians (accord ing to Massena's account) lost 1200 killed, and a great number wounded, besides 1400 prisoners, seven pieces of cannon, and 18 waggons. The French lost but few men, and had 300 wounded. On the morning of the 29th October, the French advanced against the Austrian divisions posted at Veronette and St Michael, when the latter were again Jan. 1806.

defeated, with the loss of 1600 men and two pieces of cannon.

Next day (the 30th) the Austrians were attacked the whole length of their line near Caldiero, when a very severe engagement took place. The Austrian reserve of 24 battalions of grenadiers, and several other regiments, were ordered forward by Prince Charles, with 30 pieces of cannon, and fought with great bravery, but were at length forced to retreat, with the loss of 3500 prisoners, and as many killed and wounded. So say the French accounts, who state their own loss to be very insignificant, though it is said it fell little short of that of the Austrians.

A part of the right wing of the Austrian army consisting of about 5000 men, and commanded by Gen. Hillinger, was separated from the main body, in consequence of the retreat, and was summoned next day to surrender by an aid de-camp of Massena's. This the Austrian General, not seeing any French troops, at first refused; but finding himself unable to effect a junction with the main army, and being surrounded by the advanced guard of the enemy, capitulated on the 2d Nov. on conditions, the officers to retire to Vienna, not to serve during the war till exchanged, and the soldiers to become prisoners of war.

The Austrian accounts of the battle of Caldiero state the result as more favourable on their side; - that the Archduke took 2000 prisoners, with the standard of the 5th regt. and that the French lost at least 5000 men in the engagement. But with all the talents of the Archduke, and the firm courage of his army, it appears he was unable to oppose with any chance of ultimate success, the superior numbers of the French under Massena. On the 14th of Nov. he commenced his retreat from Vicenza, and with so much skill and courage was it conducted, that he finally effected his arrival in Hungary about the 26th, without suffering any attack on his rear from the French.

The Venetian territory being thus left entirely at the mercy of the French General, General, we are told that he levied a contribution of half a million of florins on Verona, and a whole million on Padua. It has not yet been said whe. ther Massena entered Venice or not.

We come now to take a view of affairs in the north of Germany, a quarter, which, looking to the conduct to be pursued by the King of Prussia, had become not a little interesting. We formerly stated the evacuation of Hanover by the French General Bernadotte, in the end of September, leaving a garrison in Hameln of 8000 men, under Gen. Barbou. And it would appear that the allied powers, Britain, Russia, Austria, and Sweden, had receiv ed some kind of assurance, that the Court of Berlin was, if not to join them in actual hostility against France, at least determined to preserve the neutrality of that quarter of the continent more especially under his protection, and to oppose by force the return of a military power which should disturb its tranquillity. Accordingly, in the course of the month of September, a body of about 25,000 Russians were shipped on board of English transports (hired for that purpose) at Cronstadt, and were landed at Stralsund in Swedish Pomerania, under Gen. Tolstoy. In the same month a corps of 18000 Swedes likewise arrived at the same port, and on the ad of Nov. the King of Sweden himself arrived at Stralsund in a yacht from Ystadt in Sweden, accompanied by Mr Pierrepont the English Ambassador at Stockholm, Baron Armfeldt, his confidential minister, and a numerous suite. These troops were quartered throughout Mecklenburgh.

As Britain had no doubt agreed to support her allies in this part of the Continent as far as she was able, a considerable force was accordingly embarked at Ramsgate, consisting of the German Hanoverian legion, (near 8000,) the brigade of Coldstream guards, the 4th, 14th and 23d regiments of foot, with another regiment of riflemen (the 95th), and a strong detachment of artilery, (in all about 13,000 men); and having sailed on the 4th Nov. from the Downs, with a fair wind, under convoy of the Leopard man of war and some small vessels, they reached the Weser on the soth, and landed at Bremen in safety,

where they were welcomed by the inhabitants with every mark of kindness.This army was commanded by Gen. Don. with Gens. Finch and Paget under him.

Immediately on his arrival, Gen. Don published the following Proclamation, addressed to the inhabitants of the Electorate of Hanover :

"I George Don, Lieutenant General in the service of his Majesty of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, Commander in Chief of a corps of British troops upon the Continent, hold it my first duty, upon my arrival in his Majesty's German States, to make known and hereby declare to the inhabitants of the Electorate of Hanover, 'that the principal object of the troops I have the honour to command, is to effect the evacuation of his Majesty's German States, and to undertake the defence of the same against the enemy.

"The well known discipline of the troops under my command, is to me the best assurance of their good conduct towards the subjects of their lawful Sovereign-but, contrary to my expectation, should any well grounded com-. plaint be brought before me, I shall investigate its merits with impartiality, and remedy re the same accordingly without delay..

"His Britannic Majesty, my gracious Sovereign, is convinced, that his beloved German subjects will receive his troops in the most friendly manner. I, therefore in his Majesty's name, and by his express command, invite all persons, whose circumstances will permit, to enter into the military service, particularly those who have previously belonged to the Hanoverian army. I invite them, without delay, to join the British standard, where I shall ensure to them every privilege attached to his Majesty's German Legion. With our forces thus united, we shall then oppose a check to the unlawful demands of the enemy; and we may thus the more confidently reckon upon the good consequences of our efforts, being armed with our cause, in behalf of our King and country. "Given at Stadt, Nov. 20. 1805. GEORGE DON, Lieut-Gen.

(Signed)

On the ad of Dec. Count Munster, the Hanoverian minister at London, who had

had come over with Gen. Don, arrived at Hanover, and immediately published the following Declaration :

"We GEORGE IH. by the Grace of God, &c.

"Our warmest wishes for the liberation of our beloved German estates have at length succeeded; the enemy, in consequence of the efforts of our high allies, having been compelled to evacuate them. We had indulged a hope, that this would have been effected some time since, by our own troops; but the execution of the same has been retarded by contrary winds. In the interim, the King of Prussia, while the Russian troops required by his Majesty were advancing, took possession of the city of Hanover, when evacuated by our enemies, under the most friendly assurance.

"It is one of the first objects since the restoration of the ancient administration of affairs, thus publicly to make known to the country, our joy upon this happy change; and to testify to our faithful subjects, that the repeated proofs of their unshaken fidelity and attachment, during the oppression they suffered from the enemy, have not been unnoticed by us, but have been observed and acknowledged with increased affection and good will. Our next object will now be directed to the healing of the wounds inflicted by the enemy in every possible way; and, as far as in our power lies, to cause the calamities of the past to be forgotten in the prospect of the future. But we confidently expect from our faithful subjects, that each of them will co-operate with us to the extent of his abilities, never losing sight of the reflection, that this country has been by the enemy most unjustly involved in the war-and which still calls for our strongest efforts, to ensure those happy consequences which must be the result of our perseverance.

"We are, therefore, convinced, that the country will be gratified in receiving the information, that it is our intention to entrust the direction of the administration of the military affairs of this country to the Duke of Cambridge, as soon as he can conveniently arrive. This notice, is, therefore, previously given to all whom it may concern. With respect to civil concerns, we have found it necessary to send our Cabinet Minister, Count Munster, who, with other

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His Swedish Majesty also issued a Declaration on his arrival on the Continent, which is a very temperate and dignified exposition of his motives for making a common cause with the other powers against French ambition.

"We Gustavus Adolphus, by the Grace of God, King of Sweden, the Goths and Vandals, Heir of Denmark and Norway, &c. declare, That, when we entered upon the government of our kingdom, the unfortunate French Revolution had prevailed for years, while the most sanguinary scenes there perpetrated, had spread spread discord, insurrection, and war, over the greatest part of Europe. During the nine succeeding years, the French Revolution never ceased to threaten an interruption of the general tranquillity, and to excite the attention of every country. Trusting in the fidelity of the Swedish nation, and favoured by its distance from France, we witnessed, without alarm, the furious zeal of the factions, and their tyranny over a divided state, persuading ourselves, that the experience of these great calamities, produced by dissension and oligarchy, might at length be the means of restoring order, and an equitable government, for the security of the French people, and other states. This pleasing hope was not fulfilled. The government was indeed frequently changed; but the fundamental principles, so dangerous to all Europe, still remained unaltered. They were not only retained under the Consular government, but in proportion as power came into the hands of the First Consul, his ideas of law and justice were diminished: every thing was now sacrificed to that ambition, which usurped an authority over the rights of nations and treaties, and even over that respect which all Governments wish to preserve for themselves. The blood of one of the

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