from every window.  Some few indeed were too unhappy to take part in the general joy on this memorable day.  It was the only punishment, but truly a severe one, for the abject wretches who have not German hearts in their bosoms.  Never did acclamations so sincere greet the ears of emperors and kings as those which welcomed Alexander, Francis, Frederic William, and Charles John.  They were followed by long files of troops, who had so gloriously sustained the arduous contest under their victorious banners.  In the midst of Cossacks, Prussian, Russian, Austrian, and Swedish hussars, appeared also our gallant Saxon cavalry, resolved henceforward to fight for the liberty of Germany, and the genuine interests of their native land.

A great number of regiments immediately continued their march without halting, and took some the road to Pegau, and others that to Merseburg, in order to pursue the enemy in his left flank and in his rear.  Bluecher’s army had the preceding day advanced to the neighbourhood of Merseburg, where it was now posted in the right flank of the retreating force.  Leipzig had nothing more to fear.  French officers and soldiers were every where seen intermixed with their conquerors.  It was only here and there that they were collected together and conveyed away.  Of the greater part but little notice was taken in the first bustle, as all the gates were well guarded, and it was scarcely possible for one of them to escape.  Numbers had fled during the assault from their quarters into the suburbs.  Many seemed to have left behind valuable effects and money, as I should conjecture from various expressions used by some, who offered, several Napoleon-d’ors to any person who could assist them to reach their lodgings.  For this, however, it was now too late.  Strict orders were issued against the secreting or entertaining of Frenchmen, and they were therefore obliged to seek, for the moment, a refuge in the hospitals.

Only a small part of the combined troops had gone in pursuit of the French.  By far the greatest portion reposed in countless ranks round the town from the fatigues of the long and sanguinary conflict.  Part of the army equipage entered, and all the streets were soon crowded to such excess that you could scarcely stir but at the risk of your life.  The allied monarchs alighted in the market-place, where the concourse of guards and equipages was consequently immense.  Here I saw the late French commandant of the city coming on foot with a numerous retinue of officers and commissaries, and advancing towards the Russian generals.  The fate of general Bertrand was certainly most to be pitied; he was a truly honest man, who had no share in those inexpressible miseries in which we had been for the last six months involved.  I felt so much the less for the commissaries, whom I have ever considered as the Pandora’s box of the French army, whence such numberless calamities have spread over every country in which they have