ence would of
course have continued to be forwarded in the usual methods from the
provinces; but neither boat nor sledge was put in motion after it was
known that Moscow contained no population but the French. The stores, at
first sight so ample, within the city itself, had already begun to fail:
the common soldiers had rich wines and liqueurs in abundance, but no
meat except horse-flesh, and no bread. Daru gave the Emperor what the
latter called "a lion's counsel"; to draw in all his detachments,
convert Moscow into an intrenched camp, kill and salt every horse, and
trust to foraging parties for the rest--in a word, to lay aside all
thoughts of keeping up communication with France, or Germany, or even
Poland; and issue forth from Moscow, with his army entire and refreshed,
in the commencement of the spring. But Napoleon had excellent reasons
for suspecting that were he and his army cut off from all communication,
during six months, with what they had left behind them, the Prussians,
the Austrians, his Rhenish vassals themselves, might throw off the yoke:
while, on the other hand, the Russians could hardly fail, in the course
of so many months, to accumulate, in their own country, a force before
which his isolated army, on re-issuing from their winter quarters, would
appear a mere speck.

Napoleon at length sent Count Lauriston to the headquarters of Kutusoff,
with another letter to Alexander, which the Count was to deliver in
person. Kutusoff received the Frenchman in the midst of all his
generals, and answered with such civility that the envoy doubted not of
success. The end, however, was that the Russian professed himself
altogether unable to entertain any negotiation, or even to sanction the
journey of any French messenger--such being, he said, the last and most
express orders of his Prince. He offered to send on Napoleon's letter to
St. Petersburg, by one of his own aides-de-camp; and to this Lauriston
was obliged to agree. This interview occurred on the 6th of October: no
answer from St. Petersburg could be expected sooner than the 26th. There
had already been one fall of snow. To retreat after having a second time
written to the Czar, would appear like the confession of inability to
remain. The difficulties and dangers attendant on a longer sojourn in
the ruined capital have already been mentioned; and they were increasing
with fearful rapidity every hour. It was under such circumstances that
Napoleon lingered on