Nine days after the abandonment of Moscow, a messenger from Kutúzov reached Petersburg with the official announcement of that event. This messenger was Michaud, a Frenchman who did not know Russian, but who was quoique étranger, russe de cœur et d’âme, as he said of himself. Though a foreigner, Russian in heart and soul. The Emperor at once received this messenger in his study at the palace on Stone Island. Michaud, who had never seen Moscow before the campaign and who did not know Russian, yet felt deeply moved (as he wrote) when he appeared before noter très gracieux souverain with the news of the burning of Moscow, dont les flammes éclairaient sa route. Our most gracious sovereign. Whose flames illumined his route. Though the source of M. Michaud’s chagrin must have been different...