soldiers; when he was informed that the different corps, destitute of every thing, were ready to fight for the relics of Moscow; that, finally, all the existing resources were wasted by this irregular pillage; he then issued strict orders, and forbade his guard to leave their quarters.  The churches, in which our cavalry had sheltered themselves, were restored to the Greek worship.  The business of plunder was ordered to be taken in turn by the corps like any other duty, and directions were at length given for securing the Russian stragglers.

But it was too late.  These soldiers had fled:  the affrighted peasants returned no more; great quantities of provisions were spoiled.  The French army have sometimes fallen into this fault, but on the present occasion the fire pleads their excuse:  no time was to be lost in anticipating the flames.  It is, however, a remarkable fact, that at the first command perfect order was restored.

Some writers, and even French ones, have ransacked these ruins in quest of traces of outrages which might have been committed in them.  There were very few.  Most of our men behaved generously, considering the small number of inhabitants, and the great number of enemies, that they met with.  But if in the first moments of pillage some excesses were committed, ought this to appear surprising in an army exasperated by such urgent wants, such severe sufferings, and composed of so many different nations?

Misfortune having since humbled these warriors, reproaches have, as is always the case, been raised against them.  Who can be ignorant that such disorders have always been the bad side of great wars, the inglorious part of glory; that the renown of conquerors casts its shadow like every thing else in this world!  Does there exist a creature ever so diminutive, on every side of which the sun, great as is that luminary, can shine at once?  It is therefore a law of nature, that large bodies have large shadows.

For the rest, people have been too much astonished at the virtues as well as at the vices of that army.  They were the virtues of the moment, the vices of the age; and for this very reason, the former were less praiseworthy, and the latter less reprehensible, inasmuch as they were, if I may so express myself, enjoined by example and circumstances.  Thus every thing is relative, which does not exclude fixed principles and absolute good as the point of departure and aim.  But here the question relates to the judgment formed of this army and its chief; and he who would form a correct judgment of them must put himself in their place.  As, then, this position is very elevated, very extraordinary, very complicated, few minds are capable of attaining it, embracing the whole of it, and appreciating all its necessary results.

CHAP.  IX.