ed to be.

Dantzick was defended with the more desperate resolution, because it was
expected that, as soon as the season permitted, an English fleet and
army would certainly be sent to its relief. But the besiegers having a
prodigious superiority of numbers, and conducting the siege with every
advantage of skill, the place was at length compelled to surrender, on
the 7th of May; after which event, Napoleon's extraordinary exertions in
hurrying supplies from France, Switzerland and the Rhine country, and
the addition of the division of 25,000, which had captured Dantzick,
enabled him to take the field again at the head of not less than 280,000
men. The Russian general also had done what was in his power to recruit
his army during this interval; but his utmost zeal could effect no more
than bringing his muster up again to its original point--90,000; the
chief blame lying, as it was alleged, with the coldness of the English
cabinet, who, instead of lavishing gold on the Emperor of Russia, as had
been done in other similar cases, were with difficulty persuaded to
grant him at this critical time, so small a supply as L80,000. Russia
has men to any amount at her command; but the poverty of the national
purse renders it at all times very difficult for her to maintain a large
army in a distant contest.

Bennigsen, nevertheless, was the first to reappear in the field. In the
beginning of June he attacked Ney's division stationed at Gustadt, and
pursued them to Deppen, where, on the 8th, a smart action took place,
and Napoleon arrived in person to support his troops. The Russians were
then forced to retire towards Heilsberg, where they halted, and
maintained their position, during a whole day, in the face of an enemy
prodigiously superior in numbers. The carnage on both sides was fearful;
and Bennigsen, continuing his retreat, placed the river Aller between
him and Napoleon.

The French Emperor now exerted all his art to draw the Russian into a
general action: the resistance he had met with had surprised and enraged
him, and he was eager to overpower and extinguish Bennigsen before
further supplies of these hardy Muscovities should come up to swell his
ranks. The Russian general was on the eastern bank of the Aller,
opposite to the town of Friedland, when Buonaparte once more came up
with him on the 13th of June. There was a long and narrow wooden bridge
over the river, close by, which might have been destroyed if not
defended