Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

APPENDIX.

November, 1842. During the course of this year, chance has brought me into the company of two individuals who served in our armies during the campaign of 1812, and who both lived in Russia for some years after having been made prisoners there. The one is a Frenchman, now professor of the Russian language at Paris ; his name is M. Girard; the other is an Italian, M. Grassini, brother of the celebrated singer whose beauty once caused great sensation in Europe, and whose admirable dramatic and musical talents have contributed to the glory of the modern Italian school.

These two individuals have recounted to me facts which, singularly agreeing as they do, although the parties have not the slightest knowledge of each other even by name, have appeared to me sufficiently interesting to merit publication.

The following is the summary of M. Girard's relation.

He was made prisoner during the retreat, and immediately sent, with 3000 other Frenchmen, under charge of a body of Cossacks, into the interior of the empire, where the prisoners were dispersed among the different governments.

The cold became daily more intense. Dying of hunger and fatigue, the unfortunate men were often obliged to stop on the road, until numerous and violent blows had done the office of food for them, and inspired them with, strength to march on until they fell dead. At every stoppage, some of these scarcely clad and famished beings were left upon the snow. When they onee fell, the frost glued them to earth, and they never rose again. Even their ferocious guards were horrified at their excess of suffering.

Devoured by vermin, consumed by fever and want, carrying everywhere with them contagion, they became objects of terror to the villagers, among whose abodes they were made to stop. They advanced, by dint of blows, towards the places destined