After some disputes with France, war was declared, and an alliance formed between Russia and Austria, as also between Russia and Great Britain. The king of Prussia and the king of Sweden soon Afterwards entered into an alliance with Alexander. It was expected that by the united forces of these sovereigns Napoleon would have been burled from his throne or compelled to listen to equitable terms of pacification. Under the articles BRITAIN, AUSTRIA, ITALY, SWEDEN, are particular accounts of the events of this period, but especially under FRANCE, where they at e detailed with minuteness. The battle of Austerlitz in 1805, in which the combined Austrian and Russian troops were defeated; the battle of Jena, in which the Prus sians were signally overcome; the defeat of the Rus sians at Pultusk; the dreadful contest of Eylau, in which both parties claimed the victory; the surrender of Dantzic to the French; the defeat of the Russians in various engagements, and their complete discomfi ture at the battle of Freidland; and the subsequent treaty of peace between, Russia and France, which was concluded at Tilsit in 1807, where Napoleon and Alexander had a meeting;—are events which are par ticularly described under FRANee.. During this war, in the year 1806, an enormous national militia of 612,000 was raised. Under BRITAIN are mentioned the causes that led to a rnputre between Russia and that country, and which the latter ascribes to Britain's not having given sufficient assistance against the French, as well as to the seizure of the Danish fleet. An embargo was, in consequence, laid upon all British vessels. Sweden having refused to comply with the requests of France and Russia, to abandon her alliance with Great Britain, Russia marched an army into Sweden, which, though checked in its progress of hostility, proved but too successful. In 1808 the two emperors Napoleon and Alexander, held a second meeting near Erfurt. In 1809 the juncture between Russia and Austria was broken. because this power had carried on war against France. Peace was con eluded with Sweden, by which Russia acquired Finland as far as the river Tornco with the Aland islands. In 1810 a new form was given to the imperial council, and by a manifesto, a part of Gallicia was taken under protection. In 1811 considerable changes took place with the ministers and the colleges, and the beautiful cathedral of the mother of God of Kathn, which was founded by Paul, and built after the plan of a Russian bondsman, was consecrated. The army of the grand vizier, consisting of 35,000 men, became prisoners to the Russians, who were protecting Imeritia and Bessarabia, and peace was concluded in 1812. Shortly
afterwards peace was likewise concluded between Britain and Russia, and then commenced the prepa rations for the grand struggle of the European powers, one of the most memorable in the annals of time. Under the article FuANcE, is a minute account of the disputes between that country and Russia; of Napo leon's immense preparations for the invasion of Rus sia in 1812; of his advance to Vilna; of the battles of \Vitebsk, Smolensk, and Borodino; of the entrance of the French into Moscow, and their operations and miserable situation there; of Buonaparte's retreat and awful disasters; and of the loss of his enormous and fine army. Here we may remark that the Burning of Moscow, which the French attributed to the Russians, and which the Russians attributed to the French with the greatest obstinacy for many years, is at length avowed by the Russians. Dr. Lyall endeavoured by a series of arguments to show that the French burned Moscow, and he blames Rostoptchin, who, in a pamphlet, disclaims the honour of being the head of the incendiaries. But Colonel Boutourlin has set the matter at rest, by telling us that Moscow was burnt by the arrangement of un grand personnage. Who this great person was, whether Prince Kutuzof, or the emperor Alexander, we are not informed; though we are assured it was not Rostoptchin.
The institution of the Bible Society at Petersburgh, under the immediate protection of the emperor in 1812, is a memorable event. From it branches have spread into the remotest regions even of Siberia, and their number is daily augmenting. Its success has been wonderful, and we trust its effect in humanizing the peasantry will be felt in distant ages.
The history of the campaigns 1812-13-14-15 is given under FRANCE, and therefore we shall not renew the subject here.* We cannot dwell upon the late of Buo naparte, whose mighty ambition seemed as unchecked as unbounded, whose success appeared as marvellous as his projects were gigantic, and whose fall, as con trasted with his elevation, throws every other example of human vicissitude into the shade.
In consequence of the congress of Vienna, that part of Gallicia acquired by Russia from Austria in 1809, returned to that power, and the greatest part of the principality of 'Warsaw was then ceded to Russia. Poland, or that part of it over which the emperor of Russia extends his sway, has since been called the Kingdom of .Poland, and Alexander has added to his other numerous titles, that of King of Poland. See