We re-entered the Kremlin the morning of the 18th of September.  The palace and the hospital for foundlings were almost the only buildings remaining uninjured.  On the route our carriages were surrounded by a crowd of miserable Muscovites begging alms.  They followed us as far as the palace, walking through hot ashes, or over the heated stones, which crumbled beneath their feet.  The poorest were barefoot; and it was a heart-rending sight to see these creatures, as their feet touched the burning debris, give vent to their sufferings by screams and gestures of despair.  As the only unencumbered part of the street was occupied by our carriages, this swarm threw themselves pell-mell against the wheels or under the feet of our horses.  Our progress was consequently very slow, and we had so much the longer under our eyes this picture of the greatest of all miseries, that of a people burned out of their homes, and without food or the means to procure it.  The Emperor had food and money given them.

When we were again established at the Kremlin, and had resumed our regular routine of living, a few days passed in perfect tranquillity.  The Emperor appeared less sad, and in consequence those surrounding him became somewhat more cheerful.  It seemed as if we had returned from the campaign, and taken up again the customary occupations of city life; but if the Emperor sometimes indulged in this illusion, it was soon dispelled by the sight Moscow presented as seen from the windows of his apartments, and each time Napoleon’s eyes turned in that direction it was evident that he was oppressed by the saddest presentiments, although he no longer manifested the same vehement impatience as on his first stay at the palace, when he saw the flames surrounding him and driving him from his apartments.  But he exhibited the depressing calm of a careworn man who cannot foresee how things will result.  The days were long at the Kremlin while the Emperor awaited Alexander’s reply, which never came.  At this time I noticed that the Emperor kept constantly on his table Voltaire’s history of Charles XII.

The Emperor was a prey to his genius for administration, even in the midst of the ruins of this great city; and in order to divert his mind from the anxiety caused by outside affairs, occupied himself with municipal organization, and had already arranged that Moscow should be stocked with provisions for the winter.

A theater was erected near the Kremlin, but the Emperor never attended.  The troupe was composed of a few unfortunate French actors, who had remained in Moscow in a state of utter destitution; but his Majesty encouraged this enterprise in the hope that theatrical representations would offer some diversion to both officers and soldiers.  It was said that the first actors of Paris had been ordered to Moscow, but of that I know nothing positively.  There was at Moscow a celebrated Italian singer whom the Emperor heard several times, but only in his apartments, and he did not form part of the regular troupe.