fixed his headquarters at Petrowsky, a country
palace of the Czar, about a league distant. But he could not withdraw
his eyes from the rueful spectacle which the burning city presented, and
from time to time repeated the same words, "This bodes great
misfortune."

On the 20th, the flames being at length subdued or exhausted, Napoleon
returned to the Kremlin, well aware how mighty a calamity had befallen
him, but still flattering himself that the resolution of the enemy would
give way on learning the destruction of their ancient and sacred
metropolis. The poor remains of the enormous city still furnished
tolerable lodgings for his army: of provisions there was as yet
abundance; and the invaders, like true Frenchmen, fitted up a theatre,
and witnessed plays acted by performers sent from France; while the
Emperor himself exhibited his equanimity by dating a decree, regulating
the affairs of the Theatre Francais at Paris, from "the imperial
headquarters in the Kremlin." His anxiety to show the French that, even
during his hottest campaigns, his mind continued to be occupied with
them and their domestic administration has already been alluded to.
There was audacious quackery in a stage rescript from Moscow.

Day passed after day and still there came no answer from Alexander:
Buonaparte's situation was becoming hourly more difficult. The news of
the great battle of Salamanca had already reached him: the rumour of
some distant disaster could not be prevented from spreading among the
soldiery. Nearer him, the two flanks of his mighty host had been alike
unsuccessful. The united army of Tormazoff and Tchichagoff, on the
south, and that of Witgenstein, on the north, had obtained decided
advantages over the French generals respectively opposed to them, and
now threatened to close in between Napoleon's central columns and the
magazines in Poland. Witzingerode was at the head of a formidable force
on the road to St. Petersburg; and to the south-west of Moscow lay
Kutusoff, on a very strong position, with an army to which every hour
brought whole bands of enthusiastic recruits. On every side there was
danger; the whole forces of Russia appeared to be gathering around him.
Meantime the season was far advanced; the stern winter of the north was
at hand; and the determined hostility of the peasantry prevented the
smallest supplies of provision from being introduced into the capital.
Had the citizens remained there, the means of subsist