Education > Elements of universal history on a new and systematic plan

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MODERN HISTORY.
previously formed an alliance with Sweden, Alexander declared
war against the French emperor, who on his part announced his
intention to drive back the Russian monarchy to Asia. The
tremendous contest that followed, so important for the inde¬
pendence of Europe, has already been detailed under France.
The steady valour and heroic sacrifices of the Russian people
saved their country and preserved the liberties of mankind ;
and an unprincipled and insatiable ambition received its most
awful lesson amid the horrors which attended the retreat from
Moscow. After this period Russia experienced an almost
uninterrupted triumph, till, on the 31st March 1814, her
victorious troops, in conjunction with those of the other allies,
took possession of the French capital. Her sovereign ob¬
tained a considerable share of the fruits of these signal suc¬
cesses. By the congress of Vienna, in 1815, the city of War¬
saw, with a large adjacent territory, was erected into the
kingdom of Poland, and annexed to his empire ; several pro¬
vinces bordering on Persia had previously (1813) been ceded
to him by the peace of Goolistan ; whilst the important ac¬
quisition of Finland, obtained from Sweden in 1809, proved a
source of great benefit and security to his northern dominions.
The remainder of his reign was passed in various useful
measures of internal improvement.
TURKEY.
The unprovoked invasion of Egypt by the French, and
their subsequent successes, compelled Sultan Selim to form a
defensive alliance with Russia and England in 1798, and the
great exertions of the latter power at length restored that
important province to the dominions of the Porte. Mean-
while, the introduction of modem tactics into the army, and
the favour shown to the new corps disciplined after this
manner, which were known by the designation of the Nizam
Djedit, had excited the deadly hostility of the janissaries, who
foresaw in the advancement of this body a presage of their
own downfal. In the midst of these discontents, the in¬
trigues of France so far prevailed in the Ottoman councils as
to precipitate a war with their late allies, England and Rus¬
sia, 1806. The latter power immediately occupied the pro¬
vinces of Moldavia and Wallachia; while an English fleet,
under Admiral Duckworth, passed the Dardanelles and ap¬
proached the capital, but was speedily compelled to retreat.
A strong force being now sent under the vizier to the Russian