The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

"The approach of night added new sorrows to the conflagration, and the narrative contains the following description of this dreadful scene:
Penetrated by so many calamities, I hoped that the shades of night would cast a veil over the dreadful scene; but they contributed on the contrary, to render the conflagration more visible. The violence of the flames which extended from north to south, and were strangely agitated by the wind, producing the most awful appearance, of a sky which was darkened by the thickest smoke. Nothing could equal the anguish which absorbed every feeling heart, and which was increased in the dead of the night, by the cries of the miserable victims who were savagely murdered, or by the screams of young females, who fled for protection to their rearing mothers, and whose ineffectual struggle tended, only to inflame the passion of their violators. To these dreadful groans and heart-rending cries, which every moment broke upon the ear, were added the howling of the dogs, which, chained to the doors of the palaces, according to the custom at Moscow, could not escape from the fire which surrounded them.
I flattered myself that sleep would for a while release me from these revolting scenes; but the most frightful recollections crowded upon me, and all the horrors of the evening again passed in review. My wearied senses seemed at last sinking into repose, when the light of a near and dreadful conflagration piercing into my room, suddenly awoke me. I thought that my room was a prey to the flames. It was no idle dream; for, when I approached the window, I saw that our quarters were on fire, and that the house in which I lodged, was in the utmost danger. Sparks were thickly falling in our yard, and on the wooden roofs of our stables. I ran quickly to my landlord and his family. Perceiving their danger, they had already quitted their habitation, and had retired to a subterranean vault which afforded them more security. I found them with their servants all assembled there; nor could I prevail on them to leave it, for they dreaded our soldiers more than the fire. The father was sitting on the threshold of the door, and appeared desirous of appeasing, by the sacrifice of his own life, the ferocity of those barbarians, who advanced to insult his family. Two of his daughters, pale, with dishevelled hair, and whose tears added to their beauty, disputed with him the honour of the martyrdom. I at length succeeded in snatching them by violence from their asylum, under which they would otherwise soon have been buried."
To quit Moscow, proceeded towards Peter's Row, where it encamped; and here the author saw the wretched inhabitants taking their departure from their ruined habitations, to wander they knew not whither. He describes this afflicting spectacle in the following terms: