Butstrangetosay, allthesemeasures, efforts, andplans—whichwerenotatallworsethanothersissuedinsimilarcircumstances—didnotaffecttheessenceofthematterbut, likethehandsofaclockdetachedfromthemechanism, swungaboutinanarbitraryandaimlesswaywithoutengagingthecogwheels.
Withreferencetothemilitaryside—theplanofcampaign—thatworkofgeniusofwhichThiersremarksthat, "Hisgeniusneverdevisedanythingmoreprofound, moreskillful, ormoreadmirable," —thatplanneverwasorcouldbeexecuted, , forwhichlaMosquee (asNapoleontermedthechurchofBasiltheBeatified) wastohavebeenrazedtotheground, 'swishthatitshouldbeblownupwhenheleftMoscow—, aboutwhichNapoleonwassoconcerned, , andaccordingtoThiersitwasonlyeventuallyfound, likealostpin, bytheskill—andapparentlythegenius—ofMurat.
Withreferencetodiplomacy, allNapoleon'sargumentsastohismagnanimityandjustice, bothtoTutolminandtoYakovlev (whosechiefconcernwastoobtainagreatcoatandaconveyance), proveduseless; Alexanderdidnotreceivetheseenvoysanddidnotreplytotheirembassage.
Withregardtolegalmatters, aftertheexecutionofthesupposedincendiariestherestofMoscowburneddown.
Withregardtoadministrativematters, theestablishmentofamunicipalitydidnotstoptherobberiesandwasonlyofusetocertainpeoplewhoformedpartofthatmunicipalityandunderpretextofpreservingorderlootedMoscoworsavedtheirownpropertyfrombeinglooted.
