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whom　the　arrival　of　the　French　troops　have　driven　from　their　homes。　　We
have　submitted　to　the　entreaties　made　by　them　not　to　abandon　their
property；　and　we　are　at　present　alone　in　their　palaces。〃　　The　Emperor
inquired　of　them　if　there　were　still　other　Frenchmen　at　Moscow；　and　asked
that　they　should　be　brought　to　him；　and　then　proposed　that　they　should
charge　themselves　with　maintaining　order；　appointing　as　chief；　M。　M；
whom　he　decorated　with　a　tri…colored　scarf。　　He　recommended　them　to
prevent　the　pillage　of　the　French　soldiers　in　the　churches；　and　to　have
the　malefactors　shot；　and　enjoined　them　to　use　great　rigor　towards　the
galley…slaves；　whom　Rostopchin　had　pardoned　on　condition　that　they　would
set　fire　to　the　city。

A　part　of　these　Frenchmen　followed　our　army　in　its　retreat；　seeing　that　a
longer　stay　at　Moscow　would　be　most　disagreeable　to　them；　and　those　who
did　not　follow　their　example　were　condemned　to　work　on　the　streets。

The　Emperor　Alexander；　when　informed　of　the　measures　of　Rostopchin；
harshly　rebuked　the　governor；　and　ordered　him　at　once　to　restore　to
liberty　these　unfortunate　Frenchmen。




CHAPTER　VI。


We　re…entered　the　Kremlin　the　morning　of　the　18th　of　September。　　The
palace　and　the　hospital　for　foundlings　were　almost　the　only　buildings
remaining　uninjured。　　On　the　route　our　carriages　were　surrounded　by　a
crowd　of　miserable　Muscovites　begging　alms。　　They　followed　us　as
far　as　the　palace；　walking　through　hot　ashes；　or　over　the　heated　stones；
which　crumbled　beneath　their　feet。　　The　poorest　were　barefoot；　and　it　was
a　heart…rending　sight　to　see　these　creatures；　as　their　feet　touched　the
burning　debris；　give　vent　to　their　sufferings　by　screams　and　gestures　of
despair。　　As　the　only　unencumbered　part　of　the　street　was　occupied　by　our
carriages；　this　swarm　threw　themselves　pell…mell　against　the　wheels　or
under　the　feet　of　our　horses。　　Our　progress　was　consequently　very　slow；
and　we　had　so　much　the　longer　under　our　eyes　this　picture　of　the　greatest
of　all　miseries；　that　of　a　people　burned　out　of　their　homes；　and　without
food　or　the　means　to　procure　it。　　The　Emperor　had　food　and　money　given
them。

When　we　were　again　established　at　the　Kremlin；　and　had　resumed　our
regular　routine　of　living；　a　few　days　passed　in　perfect　tranquillity。
The　Emperor　appeared　less　sad；　and　in　consequence　those　surrounding　him
became　somewhat　more　cheerful。　　It　seemed　as　if　we　had　returned　from　the
campaign；　and　taken　up　again　the　customary　occupations　of　city　life；　but
if　the　Emperor　sometimes　indulged　in　this　illusion；　it　was　soon　dispelled
by　the　sight　Moscow　presented　as　seen　from　the　windows　of　his　apartments；
and　each　time　Napoleon's　eyes　turned　in　that　direction　it　was　evident
that　he　was　oppressed　by　the　saddest　presentiments；　although　he　no　longer
manifested　the　same　vehement　impatience　as　on　his　first　stay　at　the
palace；　when　he　saw　the　flames　surrounding　him　and　driving　him　from　his
apartments。　　But　he　exhibited　the　depressing　calm　of　a　careworn　man　who
cannot　foresee　how　things　will　result。　　The　days　were　long　at　the　Kremlin
while　the　Emperor　awaited　Alexander's　reply；　which　never　came。　　At　this
time　I　noticed　that　the　Emperor　kept　constantly　on　his　table　Voltaire's
history　of　Charles　XII。

The　Emperor　was　a　prey　to　his　genius　for　administration；　even　in　the
midst　of　the　ruins　of　this　great　city；　and　in　order　to　divert　his　mind
from　the　anxiety　caused　by　outside　affairs；　occupied　himself　with
municipal　organization；　and　had　already　arranged　that　Moscow　should　be
stocked　with　provisions　for　the　winter。

A　theater　was　erected　near　the　Kremlin；　but　the　Emperor　never　attended。
The　troupe　was　composed　of　a　few　unfortunate　French　actors；　who　had
remained　in　Moscow　in　a　state　of　utter　destitution；　but　his　Majesty
encouraged　this　enterprise　in　the　hope　that　theatrical　representations
would　offer　some　diversion　to　both　officers　and　soldiers。　　It　was　said
that　the　first　actors　of　Paris　had　been　ordered　to　Moscow；　but　of　that　I
know　nothing　positively。　　There　was　at　Moscow　a　celebrated　Italian　singer
whom　the　Emperor　heard　several　times；　but　only　in　his　apartments；　and　he
did　not　form　part　of　the　regular　troupe。

Until　the　18th　of　October　the　time　was　spent　in　discussions；　more　or　less
heated；　between　the　Emperor　and　his　generals；　as　to　the　best　course　to　be
pursued。　　Every　one　well　knew　that　retreat　had　now　become　inevitable；　and
the　Emperor　was　well　aware　of　this　fact　himself；　but　it　was　plainly
evident　that　it　cost　his　pride　a　terrible　struggle　to　speak　the　decisive
word。　　The　last　days　preceding　the　18th　were　the　saddest　I　have　ever
known。　　In　his　ordinary　intercourse　with　his　friends　and　counselors　his
Majesty　manifested　much　coldness　of　manner；　he　became　taciturn；　and
entire　hours　passed　without　any　one　present　having　the　courage　to　begin　a
conversation。　　The　Emperor；　who　was　generally　so　hurried　at　his　meals；
prolonged　them　most　surprisingly。　　Sometimes　during　the　day　he　threw
himself　on　a　sofa；　a　romance　in　his　hand　which　he　simply　pretended　to
read；　and　seemed　absorbed　in　deep　reverie。　　Verses　were　sent　to　him　from
Paris　which　he　read　aloud；　expressing　his　opinion　in　a　brief　and
trenchant　style；　he　spent　three　days　writing　regulations　for　the　French
comedy　at　Paris。　　It　is　difficult　to　understand　this　attention　to　such
frivolous　details　when　the　future　was　so　ominous。　　It　was　generally
believed；　and　probably　not　without　reason；　that　the　Emperor　acted　thus
from　motives　of　deep　policy；　and　that　these　regulations　for　the　French
comedy　at　this　time；　when　no　bulletin　had　yet　arrived　to　give　information
of　the　disastrous　position　of　the　French　army；　were　written　with　the
object　of　making　an　impression　on　the　inhabitants　of　Paris；　who　would　not
fail　to　say；　〃All　cannot　be　going　so　badly；　since　the　Emperor　has　time　to
occupy　himself　with　the　theater。〃

The　news　received　on　the　18th　put　an　end　to　all　uncertainty。　　The　Emperor
was　reviewing；　in　the　first　court　of　the　Kremlin　palace；　the　divisions　of
Ney；　distributing　the　cross　to　the　bravest　among　them；　and　addressing
encouraging　words　to　all；　when　an　aide…de…camp；　young　Beranger；　brought
the　news　that　a　sharp　engagement　had　taken　place　at　Winkowo　between　Murat
and　Kutusoff；　and　that　the　vanguard　of　Murat　had　been　overwhelmed　and　our
position　taken。　　Russia's　intention　to　resume　hostilities　was　now　plainly
evident；　and　in　the　first　excitement　of　the　news　the　Emperor's
astonishment　was　at　its　height。　　There　was；　on　the　contrary；　among　the
soldiers　of　Marshal　Ney　an　electric　movement　of　enthusiasm　and　anger
which　was　very　gratifying　to　his　Majesty。　　Charmed　to　see　how　the　shame
of　a　defeat；　even　when　sustained　without　dishonor；　excited　the　pride　and
aroused　a　desire　to　retrieve　it　in　these　impassioned　souls；　the　Emperor
pressed　the　hand　of　the　colonel　nearest　to　him；　continued　the　review；　and
ordered　that　evening　a　concentration　of　all　the　corps；　and　before　night
the　whole　army　was　in　motion　towards　Woronowo。

A　few　days　before　quitting　Moscow；　the　Emperor　had　the　churches　of　the
Kremlin　stripped　of　their　finest　ornaments。　　The　ravages　of　the　fire　had
relaxed　the　protection　that　the　Emperor　had　extended　to　the　property　of
the　Russians。

The　most　magnificent　trophy　in　this　collection　was　the　immense　cross　of
the　great　Ivan。　　It　was　necessary　to　demolish　a　part　of　the　tower　on
which　it　stood　in　order　to　take　it　down；　and　it　required　stupendous
efforts　to　break　this　vast　mass　of　iron。　　It　was　the　Emperor's　intention
to　place　it　upon　the　dome　of　the　Invalides；　but　it　was　sunk　in　the　waters
of　Lake　Semlewo。

The　evening　before　the　Emperor　was　to　hold　a　review；　the　soldiers　were
busily　employed　polishing　their　arms　and　putting　everything　in　order；　to
conceal　as　far　as　possible　the　destitute　condition　to　which　they　were
reduced。　　The　most　imprudent　had　exchanged　their　winter　clothing　for
provisions；　many　had　worn　out　their　shoes　on　the　march；　and　yet　each　one
made　it　a　point　of　honor　to　make　a　good　appearance　on　review；　and　when
the　glancing　rays　of　the　sun　shone　on　the　barrels　of　the　well…polished
guns；　the　Emperor　felt　again　in　witnessing　this　scene　some　slight　return
of　the　emotions　with　which　his　soul　was　filled　on　the　glorious　day　of　his
departure　for　the　campaign。

The　Emperor　left　twelve　hundred　wounded　at　Moscow；　four　hundred　of　whom
were　removed　by　the　last　corps　which　quitted　the　city。　　Marshal　Mortier
was　the　last　to　go。　　At　Feminskoe；　ten　leagues　from　Moscow；　we　heard　the
noise　of　a　frightful　explosion；　it　was　the　Kremlin　which　had　been　blown
up　by　the　Emperor's　orders。　　A　fuse　was　placed　in　the　vaults　of　the
palace；　and　everything　arranged　so　that　the　explosion　should　not　take
place　within　a　certain　time。　　Some　Cossacks　came　to　pillage　the　abandoned
apartments；　in　ignorance　that　a　fire　was　smoldering　under　their　feet；　and
were　thrown　to　a　prodigious　height　in　the　air。　　Thirty　thousand　guns　were
abandoned　in　the　fortress。　　In　an　instant　part　of　the　Kremlin　was　a　mass
of　ruins。　　A　part　was　preserved；　and　a　circumstance　which　contributed　no
little　to　enhance　the　credit　of　their　great　St。　Nicholas　with　the
Russians　was　that　an　image　in　stone　of　this　saint　remained　uninjured　by
the　explosion；　in　a　spot　where　almost　everything　else　was　destroyed。
This　fact　was　stated　to　me　by　a　reliable　person；　who　heard　Count
Rostopchin　himself　relate　it　during　his　stay　in　Paris。

On　the　28th　of　October　the　Emperor　retraced　his　way　to　Smolensk；　and
passed　near　the　battle…field　of　Borodino。　　About　thirty　thousand　corpses
had　been　left　on　this　vast　plain；　and　on　our　approach　flocks　of　buzzards；
whom　an　abundant　harvest　had　attracted；　flew　away　with　horrible
croakings。　　These　corpses　of　so　many　brave　men　presented　a　sickening
spectacle；　half　consumed；　and　exhaling　an　odor　which　even　the　excessive
cold　could　not　neutralize。　　The　Emperor　hastened　past；　and　slept　in　the
chateau　of　Oupinskoe　which　was　almost　in　ruins；　and　the　next　day　he
visited　a　few　wounded　who　had　been　left　in　an　abbey。　　These　poor　fellows
seemed　to　recover　their　strength　at　the　sight　of　the　Emperor；　and　forgot
their　sufferings；　which　must　have　been　very　severe；　as　wounds　are　always
much　more　painf