OntheeveningofthefirstofSeptember, afterhisinterviewwithKutuzov, CountRostopchinhadreturnedtoMoscowmortifiedandoffendedbecausehehadnotbeeninvitedtoattendthecouncilofwar, andbecauseKutuzovhadpaidnoattentiontohisoffertotakepartinthedefenseofthecity; amazedalsoatthenoveloutlookrevealedtohimatthecamp, , offended, andsurprisedbyallthis, , , , forallthegeneralswhocametoMoscowafterthatbattlehadsaidunanimouslythatitwasimpossibletofightanotherbattle, andsincethenthegovernmentpropertyhadbeenremovedeverynight, andhalftheinhabitantshadleftthecitywithRostopchin', comingasitdidintheformofasimplenotewithanorderfromKutuzov, andreceivedatnight, breakinginonhisbeautysleep.
WhenlateroninhismemoirsCountRostopchinexplainedhisactionsatthistime, herepeatedlysaysthathewasthenactuatedbytwoimportantconsiderations: 'sactionsappearirreproachable."Whyweretheholyrelics, thearms, ammunition, gunpowder, andstoresofcornnotremoved? WhywerethousandsofinhabitantsdeceivedintobelievingthatMoscowwouldnotbegivenup—andtherebyruined?" "Topreservethetranquillityofthecity," explainsCountRostopchin."Whywerebundlesofuselesspapersfromthegovernmentoffices, andLeppich'sballoonandotherarticlesremoved?" "Toleavethetownempty," .
Allthehorrorsofthereignofterrorwerebasedonlyonsolicitudeforpublictranquillity.
Onwhat, then, wasCountRostopchin'sfearforthetranquillityofMoscowbasedin1812? Whatreasonwasthereforassuminganyprobabilityofanuprisinginthecity? ?
