retreated, and we advanced to Smolensko, which the enemy on withdrawing had fired. As often as we fought, the arms of France were triumphant. At Valantina we gained a great victory; but the Russian emperor manifested no disposition to treat, and it was announced to us that we must advance to Moscow to conquer peace.

"We calculated on passing the whole of the winter in that city. How we laughed at seeing the false noses and ears prepared for us to wear when the frost set in!

We at length

approached the ancient capital of Russia, in which we fondly hoped all our cares would, for a season, be at an end. One mighty contest took place near the village of Borodino; the slaughter was great on both sides, but the eagles of France gained new glory, and Moscow became the conquerors' prize.

"Great was our joy at seeing ourselves masters of that far-famed seat of Imperial grandeur. Now we expected the Emperor Alexander would be glad to accept of any terms that Napoleon would deign to grant; and were only afraid that the differences would be brought to a close so soon, and cause us to lose that pleasant residence which we had almost all made up our minds to enjoy during the next four or five months. But day after day passed, and no overture was made from the enemy. Strangely menacing reports reached us. The Russian commander-in-chief, General Kutusoff, we were told, had declared that the French had done all they could, and now it was for his army to begin their war; and Rostopschin, the governor of Moscow, had called on the inhabitants to arm themselves with hatchets, pikes, and pitchforks, at the same time addressing to them these remarkable words : 'We will send our French guests back to the devil, and make

them yield their souls; and we will commence our labours for reducing these perfidious men to ashes.'

"We, however, flew to the stores of brandy, and very merry we made ourselves. I cannot aver that we spared the Russians much: we were not so cruel, I should say, as the English at Badajos, but we were cruel enough.

"The Russians, as I told you, on quitting Smolensko, had set fire to it: we found the same thing had been done at Moscow, but we soon extinguished the flames. However, new fires continually broke out in various parts of the town. It was supposed that our troops had caused the mischief: we soon learnt, to our grief, that it was the Russians themselves, who thus devoted their city to the flames, in order to blast the hopes of their invaders.

"It was on the 10th of September-we had then been three days in Moscow-that vast columns of smoke were seen to rise in the air from the eastern quarter. The like was presently observed in other parts. There was a strong sulphureous smell. We were inquiring the cause, when the flames, forcing their way through everything, burst on our eyes in appalling splendour, rendering the whole city as light as day. The fire spread rapidly from street to street. We had no means of stopping it. Water was scarce; for nearly all the pumps in the city were purposely destroyed. Combustibles had been artfully disposed in various places, to spread the ruin far and wide, and sustain the all-devouring fury of the conflagration.

"It was reported to us, that malefactors in the prisons had been first made drunk, and then sent out, with flaming torches, to fire the houses of the inhabitants. These wretches were

B B

ordered to be shot, and a number of wild-looking men were accordingly put to death. I saw Napoleon, who had been called from his bed at four o'clock in the morning, to behold the progress of the flames, sadly gazing on the tremendous spectacle from the windows of the Kremlin (the palace of the Emperor of Russia) and looking as if he read in that the future fate of the grand army. The glass flew from the intense heat. He was called upon to consult his own safety by withdrawing, but he repeatedly refused, and seemed to wish to bury himself in the ruins of the city he had conquered, but found himself impotent to save. Twice had the fire assailed the Kremlin, and it was completely surrounded by burning masses, before he could be persuaded to leave it. One miserable being was found in the arsenal: he had been ordered there, by the governor, to fire the building. Brought before the Emperor, his guilt was proved to the satisfaction of his judges. Fury and disdain glared in the eyes of Napoleon: 'Miscreant!' he exclaimed, is it thus you make war? Such barbarian vengeance is a disgrace to humanity.' The unhappy Russian was hurried into the next court, where the grenadiers, who had seized him, buried their bayonets in his bosom."

"That poor man was sacrificed for obeying those who had a right to command his services-for acting against the enemies of his country," Monsieur Le Blanc remarked.

"Yes, sir," replied the soldier; "but he used means shocking to humanity, to tarnish our national glory."

"Glory!" Monsieur Le Blanc thoughtfully repeated; while a glance at Philip seemed distinctly to say, "such horrors are identified with glory."

The serjeant proceeded. "A lunatic asylum was among