Moscow had been conquered; but the victors had gained only a heap of ruins.*

after a long silence - "This sad event is the presage of a long train of disasters!"

112. Imagination cannot conceive the horrors into which the remnant of the people, who could not abandon their homes, were plunged by this unparalleled sacrifice. Bereft of everything, they wandered amidst the ruins, eagerly searching for a parent or an infant amidst the smoking heaps; and from the scene of devastation, the wrecks of former magnificence were ransacked alike by the licentious soldiery and the suffering multitude. The city, abandoned to pillage, was speedily filled with marauders; and, in addition to the whole French army, numbers flocked in from the country to share in the general license. Furniture of the most precious description, splendid jewellery, Indian and Turkish stuffs, stores of wine and brandy, gold and silver plate, rich furs, gorgeous trappings of silk and satin, were spread about, in promiscuous confusion, and became the prey of the least intoxi

111. The Emperor long clung to the Kremlin, in the hope that the cessation of the fire would enable him to retain his conquest. But at length, on the 16th, the conflagration had spread in every direction: the horizon seemed a vast ocean of flame, and the cry arose that the Kremlin itself was on fire. He gave vent to his rage by commanding the massacre of the unfortunate men who had been intrusted with the duty of commencing the conflagration, and, yielding to the solicitations of his followers, abandoned the Kremlin. The wind and the rush of the flames was so violent, that Berthier was almost swept away by their fury; but the Emperor and his followers arrived in safety before night at the country palace of Petrowsky. General Mathieu Dumas and Count Daru, who were among the last that left the Kremlin, could scarcely bear the intense heat as they rode along the quay to follow the Emperor; and, on leav-cated among the multitude. A frighting it, their horses were with difficulty brought to pass between two burning houses at the entrance of the street, which formed the sole issue that remained to them. Arrived at length at Petrowsky, they had leisure to contemplate the awful spectacle which was presented by the conflagration. Early on the following morning, Napoleon cast a melancholy look to the burning city, which now filled half the heavens with its flames, and exclaimed,

66

*It is a most extraordinary fact, that, more than four hundred years before, Moscow had undergone a similar destruction by fire from the ruthless hands of the victorious Tartars -"What words," says the Russian historian, 'can adequately paint the deplorable state to which Moscow was then reduced? That populous capital, resplendent with riches and numbers, was annihilated in a single day; there remain only smoking ruins; piles covered with ashes and drenched with blood: you see nothing but corpses and churches sacked or half devoured by the flames. The awful silence of death is interrupted only by

the pitiable lamentations of wretches covered with wounds, a prey to all the agonies of prolonged torture."-Singular destiny of a capital to have been twice the victim of such a catastrophe!-KARAMSIN, Histoire de Russie,

v. 101.

ful tumult succeeded to the stillness which had reigned in the city when the troops first entered it. The cries of the pillaged inhabitants, the coarse imprecations of the soldiers, were mingled with the lamentations of those who had lost their parents, their children, their all, in the conflagration. Pillage became universal in those days of unrestrained license: the same place often beheld the general's uniform and the soldier's humble garments in search of plunder. The ground, in the parts which had been consumed, was covered with a motley group of soldiers, peasants, and marauders of all countries and aspects, who sought in the smoking ruins the remains of the precious articles which they formerly contained. The church of St Michael, which covered the tombs of the Emperors of Russia, did not escape their sacrilegious violence; but no treasures were found to reward the cupidity of the depredators. The shouts of the marauders were interrupted by the shrieks of the victims of miltary license, and occasionally drowned in the roar of the

conflagration; while not the least extraordinary part of the clamour arose from the howling of the dogs, which, being chained to the gates of the palaces, were consumed in the flames with which they were surrounded.

metropolis had already spread the intelligence of the fire; and the lurid light which filled one half of the heavens attested too plainly the truth of their tale. The roar of the flames and the fury of the tempest, occasioned by the extraordinary heat of so large a portion of the atmosphere, was heard even at so great a distance; and as the troops marched at night, their steps were guided by the glare of the conflagration. Only one feeling pervad ed every breast, that of profound and ineffaceable indignation; one only passion animated every bosom, that of stern and collected vengeance. The burning of the holy city had effaced all lighter feelings, and impressed a religious solemnity on that memorable march. Words there were none spoken in the vast array; the hearts of all were too big for utterance; the tread of the men alone was heard from the ranks; but the silent tears which trickled down the cheek, and the glance of fire which was turned towards the heavens, bespoke the deep determination that was felt. Silent and mournful they continued their way, interrupted only by the burning fragments which occasionally fell among their ranks, and for a moment illuminated the stern visages of the soldiers. They left behind them their palaces and their temples; monuments of art and miracles of luxury; the remains of ages which had passed away, and of those which were yet unfinished; the tombs of their ancestors and the cradles of their descendants. Nothing remained of Moscow but the 114. In making this march, the remembrance of the city and the resotroops were filled with the most melan-lution to avenge it.* choly feelings. The fugitives from the

113. While these terrible scenes were passing in the metropolis, the Russian army retired on the road to Kolomna, and after falling back two marches in that direction, wheeled to the right, and by a semicircular march regained the route to Kalouga, in the neighbourhood of the Smolensko road. By this masterly movement, Kutusoff at once drew near to his reinforcements, covered the richest provinces of the empire, secured the supplies of the army, and threatened the communications of the enemy. The city of Kalouga, stored with ample magazines, served as the base of the future operations of the army. The camp at Tarutino, where he took post, was speedily filled with provisions; and the multitude of recruits who daily arrived from the southern provinces restored the spirits of the soldiers. Placed on the old central route between Moscow and Kalouga, this position enabled the Russians to defend all the avenues to that important city, and also to Toula; and, at the same time, to reap the benefit of all the supplies which these provinces, by far the richest in grain in the whole empire, afforded. The event soon showed of what consequence the admirable selection of this station was to the future success of the campaign.

* Karamsin.

VOL. X.

A

CHAPTER LXXIII.

RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.

augmented numbers of turbulent barbarism both require expansion and compel obedience. The stream of conquest overwhelms for a time the monuments of civilisation, and buries the labours of useful industry; but the victors insensibly acquire knowledge from the vanquished, and yield to the superiority of more advanced civilisation; while the conquered provinces are regenerated by the infusion of barbarian valour, and regain, amidst the hardships of life, the virtue they had lost by its refinements. Ages elapse during the mighty change, and generations seem doomed to misfortunes during the winter of existence; but the laws of nature are incessantly operating, and preparing in silence the spring of the world.

1. THE stream of lasting conquest | of civilisation, at once provoke hostiliin every age has flowed from the north ties and disarm resistance; while the to the south. The superiority of arms, or the power of knowledge, have some times given the civilisation of refined, a temporary advantage over the courage of barbarous states; but all the great settlements of mankind have come from the northern regions. The fanaticism of Arabia, the legions of Rome, for a time subdued the fairest regions of the globe; but the dynasties they established did not attain lasting endurance. The empire of the Caliphs hardly survived the immediate descendants of Omar; the crescent of Mahomet wavered till it was steadied by the conquests of Turkestan; the discipline of Rome more easily conquered the whole of Asia than it did a few semi-barbarous tribes in the north of Germany and all the courage of the legions could not subdue the nations beyond the frontier of the Danube, or prevent the provinces of their dominion from at length becoming the prey of an uncivilised but indomitable northern enemy.

3. The era of Napoleon was not destined to form an exception to this general tendency. The enthusiasm which the French Revolution had occasioned, the talent it had developed, the military abilities of its chief, had 2. It is by the continued operation rolled the tide of conquest backward of this military superiority of the to its source, and pushed far beyond north over the south, that the purity the utmost limits of the Roman em of the moral atmosphere is preserved, pire the dominion of southern civilisaand the progress of wealth rendered tion. But the concurrence of these consistent with the preservation of vir- extraordinary events could not pertue and energy of mankind. The south manently alter the destinies of manis the seat of the riches which corrupt, kind. The flames of Moscow were the but the north is the abode of the funeral pile of the French empire; energy which regenerates mankind. from its ashes arose a spirit which Civilisation, it is true, induces opu- could never be subdued. From that lence, and opulence gives birth to cor- period commenced a succession of disruption: but courage as certainly ac-asters which brought back the tide of companies poverty, and valour in the end insures conquest. The accumulated wealth and decaying hardihood

conquest to the shores of the Rhine, and re-established the wonted ascendancy of the northern over the south

the walls of Leipsic has realised all the magnificence of Eastern imagination, and all the visions of chivalrous glory.

ern regions. But the second invasion | which disgraced the struggle were ocof the northern nations was not stain-casioned, have learned wisdom and ed by the barbarities which marked gained experience in its course; and the first; the irruption of Alexander the misfortunes of governments have was very different from that of Attila. given them a weight and an importOther conquerors have preceded him ance unknown in the former ages of in the path of military glory; other the world. Even the sovereigns of nations have bowed beneath the yoke Europe have felt the influence of the of foreign dominion; and other ages same causes: they have been driven have seen the energies of mankind from the abodes of ease and affluence, wither before the march of victorious to join in the soldier's duties, and parpower. It has been reserved to our take of the soldier's glory: they have age alone to witness, it has been the been compelled to justify the emihigh prerogative of Russia alone to nence of their rank by the display of exhibit, a more animating spectacle. all the qualities by which it is ennobled. To show us power applied only to the All that is great and all that is noble purposes of beneficence, victory made in Europe have been assembled in one the means of moral renovation, con- memorable field: the prayers of emquest become the instrument of poli-perors have ascended to heaven for tical resurrection. After resisting the the success of the soldier's arm; and mightiest armament which the power the meeting of the sovereigns within of man had ever assembled against the liberties of mankind, we have seen her triumphant arms issue victorious | from their desolated country, give liberty to those who had been com- 5. But the dawn of the day which pelled to attempt her subjugation, and was fraught with these mighty events, avenge the ashes of her own capital and destined to set amidst this blaze by sparing the cities of her prostrate of glory, was dark and gloomy to Rusenemy. Before the march of her vic- sia. The necessity of abandoning the torious power, we have seen the ener- metropolis, the ruin of the ancient gies of the world revive; we have seen capital, spread dismay through the emher triumphant voice awaken every pire. On the 16th September, Kutusoff fallen people to nobler duties, and re- announced the melancholy event, addcall the remembrance of their pris-ing, as the only matter for consolation, tine glory; we have seen her banners" that the city was bereft of the popuwaving over the infant armies of every lation who constituted its strength; renovated nation, and the track of her that the people are the soul of the emchariot wheels followed, not by the pire; and that, where they are, there sighs of a captive, but by the blessings is Moscow and the empire of Rusof a liberated world. sia." The Emperor displayed in these trying circumstances a heroism worthy of ancient Rome. On the morning on which the intelligence of the battle of Borodino reached St Petersburg, he sent for the English ambassador, Lord Cathcart. Without attempting to disguise that they had been overpowered in that bloody fight, and that the sacrifice of Moscow would be the consequence, he desired him to inform his government, that not for one nor twenty such calamities would he abandon the contest in which he was engaged; and that, rather than submit, he would abandon Europe, and retire

4. In this moral renovation of nature all ranks have been compelled to participate. The high and the low, the rich and the poor, have been alike found at the post of honour. The higher orders, by whose vices these revolutions were occasioned, or by whose weakness an inlet was opened for these disasters, have been purified by the misfortunes themselves; and in the school of adversity they have been trained to nobler employments, and called to the exercise of more animating duties. The lower ranks, by whose cupidity and ambition the crimes

altogether to the original seats of his ancestors in the Asiatic wilds. He expressed the same determination in his letters to Kutusoff, adding his dissatisfaction that the semblance even of a negotiation with General Lauriston had been kept up. "All my instructions to you," said he, "all my orders, all my letters-in a word, everything should convince you that my resolution is immovable, and that no terms whatever could induce me to terminate the war, or to fail in the sacred duty of avenging our country." +

own rights, but in extending the blessings of freedom to other states; and even to those who have been made the unwilling instruments of attempting its subjugation! May the blessing of the Almighty enable us to return good for evil; by the aid of His succour may we be enabled to triumph over our enemies; and, in saving ourselves, may we become the instruments of His mercy for the salvation of mankind."

7. The preparations of the Russian government corresponded to the grandeur of these resolutions, and their firmness was worthy of the cause in which they were engaged. The peace with Turkey had rendered disposable the greater part of the Moldavian army: while the treaty with Sweden, conclud

6. Nor did the public conduct of the Emperor fall short of these magnanimous declarations. His address to the nation, announcing the fall of Moscow, concluded with these remarkable and prophetic words: -"Leted by the Emperor in August at Abo, there be no pusillanimous depression; let us swear to redouble our courage and perseverance. The enemy has entered Moscow deserted, as into a tomb, without the means either of ruling or subsistence. He invaded Russia at the head of three hundred thousand men; half have perished from the sword, famine, or desertion; the other half are shut up in the capital, bereft of everything. He is in the centre of Russia, and not a Russian has yielded to his power. Meanwhile our forces increase and surround him. He is in the midst of a warlike people, whose armies envelop him on every side; soon, to escape from famine, he will be compelled to cut his way through our brave battalions. Shall we, then, yield, when Europe is in admiration at our exertions? Let us show ourselves worthy of giving her an example, and bless the Hand which has chosen us to be the first of nations in the cause of freedom. In the present miserable state of the human race, what glory awaits the nation which, after having patiently endured all the evils of war, shall succeed by the force of courage and virtue, not only in reconquering its

enabled the regular forces in Finland to be withdrawn for the reinforcement of the corps of Count Wittgenstein. When the main Russian force, therefore, retired before Napoleon, and drew the war into the interior of the country, two powerful armies were preparing to intercept his communications and cut off his retreat. The corps of Wittgenstein, augmented by the greater part of the troops of Finland, under Count Steinheil, and the militia of St Petersburg, to the numerical force of fifty thousand men, received orders to act vigorously against St Cyr, and drive him from Polotsk, in order to approach the banks of the Oula and the line of retreat of the main French army. At the same time the army of Moldavia, under Tchichagoff, of an equal force, was directed to advance from the southern provinces, to pass the corps of Schwartzenberg, and establish itself on the line of the Beresina, and at the important bridge of Borissow. Thus, while Napoleon was resting in fancied security among the ruins of Moscow, and impatiently expecting the submission of Russia, a formidable force of a hundred thousand men was converging towards Poland from the shores of the Baltic and the banks of the Danube, to cut off his retreat to western Europe. The empire was pierced to its heart; but in