Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

NEW-YORK, August 12.

The letters under the signature of Massena, admit of some remarks.

General Massena, in his letter of the 24th May, says "The Austrians crossed the Rhine but were driven back with considerable loss."

In another letter of the 26th, without mentioning that the Austrians had again crossed the Rhine, he says they (the Austrians) were assembling troops on the River Thur, with an intention of attacking him.

A question here arises, how the Austrians came in possession of this country? Surely general Massena must have been dreaming, when, on the 24th, he wrote that he had compelled the Austrians to repass the Rhine, when at the same time this same Massena must have retreated to that part of the Thur, which is a distance of about 40 miles from the Rhine.

It does not appear by Massena's letter of the 26th May, that he had driven the Austrians to the Right Bank of the Rhine, though his letter of the 24th positively asserts it.

Massena again, in his letter of the 28th, says the Arch Duke had rejoined his army with a considerable reinforcement, and attacked him on the lines of the Thur, when the action, by his account, lasted about 12 hours, during which time he only made 800 prisoners! In this letter the modest General observes, that he advanced for the purpose of concentrating his force more towards Zurich! Advanced! here is a grand mistake. This is what may be called, in our plain, simple language retreating, or flying before the enemy! For, it is plain to every one the least acquainted with the Geography of that country, that Zurich is considerably in the rear of the river Thur.

No doubt the Arch Duke, while Massena was thus advancing made a proper use of his situation, and lessened by killed, wounded and prisoners, the army of the French General, who appeared so anxious to concentrate his troops at Zurich, We have reason to believe, from Massena's own letter, that, at least, the Archduke was not idle; for the French general candidly confesses, that the efforts and obstinacy of the enemy, were beyond all expression!

By letters of anterior dates, from near the army of the Austrian General Hotze, it appears that he had penetrated a considerable distance into Switzerland, by a different rout from that of the Archduke, so as to push his advanced guards as far as Zurich. From this it is clear, that the French must be between two Austrian armies.

Since writing the above, we have received by way of Philadelphia, late news from Eu-rope, which, though not so direct as we could wish, confirms, in a great measure, our opinion, relative to the French army in Switzerland.