, andexceptforamobinthegovernor'scourtyard, assembledthereathisbidding, , whenthesurrenderofMoscowbecamecertainoratleastprobable, Rostopchininsteadofexcitingthepeoplebydistributingarmsandbroadsheetshadtakenstepstoremovealltheholyrelics, thegunpowder, munitions, andmoney, andhadtoldthepopulationplainlythatthetownwouldbeabandoned.
Rostopchin, thoughhehadpatrioticsentiments, 'sentryintoSmolenskhehadinimaginationbeenplayingtheroleofdirectorofthepopularfeelingof "theheartofRussia." Notonlydiditseemtohim (astoalladministrators) thathecontrolledtheexternalactionsofMoscow'sinhabitants, buthealsothoughthecontrolledtheirmentalattitudebymeansofhisbroadsheetsandposters, , andhadgrownsousedtoit, thatthenecessityofrelinquishingthatroleandabandoningMoscowwithoutanyheroicdisplaytookhimunawaresandhesuddenlyfeltthegroundslipawayfromunderhisfeet, , hedidnottillthelastmomentwholeheartedlybelievethatMoscowwouldbeabandoned, , , thoughhehadlongknownthatMoscowwouldbeabandonedheknewitonlywithhisintellect, hedidnotbelieveitinhisheartanddidnotadapthimselfmentallytothisnewpositionofaffairs.
Allhispainstakingandenergeticactivity (inhowfaritwasusefulandhadanyeffectonthepeopleisanotherquestion) hadbeensimplydirectedtowardarousinginthemasseshisownfeelingofpatriotichatredoftheFrench.
