This was not all:  Napoleon, at Wilna, had a new empire to organize; the politics of Europe, the war of Spain, and the government of France, to direct.  His political, military, and administrative correspondence, which he had suffered to accumulate for some days, imperiously demanded his attention.  Such, indeed, was his custom, on the eve of a great event, as that would necessarily decide the character of many of his replies, and impart a colouring to all.  He therefore established himself at his quarters, and in the first instance threw himself on a bed, less for the sake of sleep than of quiet meditation; whence, abruptly starting up shortly after, he rapidly dictated the orders which he had conceived.

Intelligence was just then brought him from Warsaw and the Austrian army.  The discourse at the opening of the Polish diet displeased the emperor; and he exclaimed, as he threw it from him, “This is French!  It ought to be Polish!” As to the Austrians, it was never dissembled to him that, in their whole army, there was no one on whom he could depend but its commander.  The certainty of that seemed sufficient for him.

CHAP.  III.

Meantime, every thing was rekindling at the bottom of the hearts of the Lithuanians a patriotism which was still burning, though almost extinguished.  On one side, the precipitate retreat of the Russians, and the presence of Napoleon; on the other, the cry of independence emitted by Warsaw, and more especially the sight of those Polish heroes, who returned with liberty to the soil whence they had been expelled along with her.  The first days, therefore, were entirely devoted to joy:  the happiness appeared general—­the display of feeling universal.

The same sentiments were thought to be traceable everywhere; in the interior of the houses, as well as at the windows, and in the public places.  The people congratulated and embraced each other on the high-roads; the old men once more resumed their ancient costume, reviving ideas of glory and independence.  They wept with joy at the sight of the national banners which had been just re-erected; an immense crowd followed them, rending the air with their acclamations.  But this enthusiasm, unreflecting in some, and the mere effect of excitement in others, was but of short duration.

On their side, the Poles of the grand duchy were always animated by the noblest enthusiasm:  they were worthy of liberty, and sacrificed to it that property for which liberty is sacrificed by the greater part of mankind.  Nor did they belie themselves on this occasion:  the diet of Warsaw constituted itself into a general confederation, and declared the kingdom of Poland restored; it convened the dietins; invited all Poland to unite; summoned all the Poles in the Russian army to quit Russia; caused itself to be represented by a general council; maintained the established order; and, finally, sent a deputation to the king of Saxony, and an address to Napoleon.