government; which, immediately proposed to Brune to withdraw their troops, on condition of his remaining on his present position. This was precisely what he wanted. The army, weakened by desertions, was reduced to 14,400 men, 800 of whom at Newenegg and Guminen, the former three leagues to the north, the latter, the same distance to the west from Berne, kept 20,000 French in check. The remaining 6400 occupied the position of Fraubrunnen, also three leagues to the north of the capital. Such was the handful of men who remained to dispute the fate and fame of Swisserland,

In order to cover the principal attack on Fraubrunnen, the enemy on the 5th, at one in the morning, opened an ineffectual cannonade on the post of Guminen, and marched 15,000 men on Laupen, Newenegg, and St. Gines. Notwithstanding this surprize, the Bernese defended themselves with intrepidity, repulsed the enemy at St. Gines, and yielded at Laupen and Newenegg, only to an immense superiority of force. The adjutant general rallied the troops, and a reinforcement of 2000 men having arrived at break of day, the Bernese Militia renewed the battle, by attacking in their turn, with incredible impetuosity. Receiving a tremendous fire of

grape and musquetry, they advanced, bayonets fixed, upon the foe; routed, and compelled him

to repass ravine the of Newenegg; drove him before them nine miles; recovered all the artillery they had lost on the preceding night, and took several pieces of his cannon, besides killing or wounding 2000 of his men. In this hardfought action, the total loss of the Bernese in killed and wounded of both sexes was eight hundred. This victorious column was instantly pre-s paring to march to the deliverance of Fribourg, when other events forced it to retreat.

About five o'clock in the morning Schawenbourg attacked in front and on the flanks, the position of Fraubrunnen. The Militia had to defend themselves not only against a force treble their number, two thousand of whom were cavalry; but also against a train of flying artillery, a species of warfare wholly unknown to them, and which made dreadful ravages in their ranks. After a very severe resistance, the position was turned and carried by the enemy; the Militia rallied at Urtéren, and renewed the battle; dislodged from this position, they occupied another in the rear of the Grauholtz, a woody hill, about a league and an half from Berne, and there the action was continued for

two hours and a half with murderous fury. The French having succeeded in turning this position also, the Bernese Militia rallied again about half a league from the former, and bravely disputed their country, inch by inch. Driven from their ground, with their ranks thinned by the fire of the flying artillery, and the sabre of the enemy's cavalry; they rallied once more, on an open plain, within sight of their capital, their altars, and all the monuments of their ancestors glory, and for the fifth time in one day renewed the battle.* Their intrepid but unfortunate little army left 2000 killed or wounded of both sexes on the different fields of battle. The loss of the French exceeded 1600 killed, besides an incredible number of wounded. Here expired that famous republic, which had been the nursery of renowned statesmen and generals, and celebrated for its wisdom, its maxims, its valour! By its fall, it pleased Divine Providence to con vey an instructive lesson to all free states, that, as in time of peril, unanimity is the bond of security and independence; so dissention, intrigue and faction, will infallibly cause their

* How often have regulars rallied five times in one morning against treble their number?

loss. Had the people of Berne been united, not treble the force which the French had in their Canton could have accomplished its subjugation; but, when those entrusted with the interests of the people, set them an example of division, we, cannot wonder that the people themselves should quarrel with each other.

With respect to the struggles of the rest of the Helvetic confederacy, after the reduction of Berne, and particularly of the Forest Cantons; glorious as they undoubtedly were, yet, the length of their details, though furnishing, abundant facts in support of the volunteer system, would swell this letter into a volume. It is evident there was no bush-fighting in the deadly actions enumerated, as an inspection of the map of the country will shew. I insist therefore that those battles were fought on a comparatively open country, by Militia bat_ talions in line; who had been embodied only twenty days before they went into actual service that the loss was equal on both sides, or that the difference was in favour of the Swiss; that Militia and Volunteers can rally without being all killed off in the evolution; that if the 26,000 confederates had been united, they would have driven the French with their cavalry and flying

*

artillery within their own confines; and, that if the Diet of Arau had proclaimed the Landsthurm a month sooner, 400,000 Frenchmen would not have been able to have forced their way into Swisserland. Hence, the loss of that country is to be attributed, not to the organization of its Militia, but, to the unhappy indecision of its government.

Now, Sir, if 14,000 Swiss Volunteer Infantry were thus able to face a regular, disciplined army, of nearly 50,000 men, supported by a well-ap, pointed cavalry and artillery, and even to keep the scales of victory long in suspense; shall it be denied that FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND British Volunteers, whose motives to action are full as strong, are wholly incompetent to defend their country, against an invader, who by no human possibility can bring one third of their force to act at one time against them?* If not, how high, grand, and palmy is our state, when

Admitting that the Dutch schuyts can stow human flesh as they can pickled herrings and salted pork, it is utterly impossible for a greater number to land than those mentioned above. An invading army cannot come without cavalry, some stores and ammunition; the disembarkation will occupy a considerable time, and how the vessels that will bring them over are to get back in order to transport a reserve I know not. Perhaps, they will be worked by steam.

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