t of sincerity in their convictions。 They feared Napoleon； they saw his strength and their own weakness； and frankly admitted it。 They said： “Nothing but a huge disgrace and ruin can come of the war！ We have abandoned Vilna； and abandoned Vitebsk； and we are abandoning the Drissa too。 The only sensible thing left for us to do is to conclude peace； and as soon as possible； before we have been driven out of Petersburg！”
This view was widely diffused in the higher military circles； and found adherents； too； in Petersburg—one of them being the chancellor Rumyantsev； who advocated peace on other political considerations。
A fifth section were the adherents of Barclay de Tolly； not so much from his qualities as a man； as a minister of war and commander…in…chief。 “Whatever he may be；” they always began； “he is an honest； practical man； and there is nobody better。 Let him have sole responsibility； since war can never be prosecuted successfully under divided authority and he will show what he can do； as he did in Finland。 We owe it simply to Barclay that our army is strong and well organised； and has retreated to the Drissa without disaster。 If Barclay is replaced by Bennigsen now； everything will be lost； for Bennigsen has proved his incapacity already in 1807。” Such was the line of argument of the fifth party。
The sixth party； the partisans of Bennigsen； maintained on the contrary that there was after all no one more capable and experienced than Bennigsen； and that whatever else were done they would have to come back to him。 They maintained that the whole Russian retreat to Drissa had been an uninterrupted series of shameful disasters and blunders。 “Let them blunder now if they will；” they said； “the more blunders the better； at least it will teach them all the sooner that we can’t go on like this。 And we want none of your Barclays； but a man like Bennigsen； who showed what he was in 1807； so that Napoleon himself had to do him justice； and a man； too； is needed to whom all would readily intrust authority； and Bennigsen is the only such man。”
The seventh class were persons such as are always found in courts； and especially in the courts of young sovereigns； and were particularly plentiful in the suite of Alexander—generals and adjutants； who were passionately devoted to the Tsar； not merely as an emperor； but sincerely and disinterestedly adored him as a man； as Rostov had adored him in 1805； and saw in him every virtue and good quality of humanity。 These persons； while they were ecstatic over the modesty of the Tsar in declining the chief command of the army； deplored that excess of modesty； and desired and urged one thing only； that their adored Tsar； conquering his excessive diffidence； would openly proclaim that he put himself at the head of the army； would gather the staff of the commander…in…chief about him； and； consulting experienced theorists and practical men where necessary； would himself lead his forces； who would be excited to the highest pitch of enthusiasm by this step。
The eighth and largest group； numbering ninety…nine to every one of the others； consisted of people who were eager neither for peace nor for war； neither for offensive operations nor defensive camps； neither at Drissa nor anywhere else； who did not take the side of Barclay； nor of the Tsar； nor of Pfuhl； nor of Bennigsen； but cared only for the one thing most essential—their own greatest gain and enjoyment。 In the troubled waters of those cross…currents of intrigue； eddying about the Tsar’s headquarters； success could be attained in very many ways that would have been inconceivable at other times。 One courtier； with the single…hearted motive of retaining a lucrative position； would agree today with Pfuhl； and to…morrow with his opponents； and the day after to…morrow would declare that he had no opinion on the subject in question； simply to avoid responsibility and to gratify the Tsar。 Another； in the hope of bettering his position； would seek to attract the Tsar’s attention by loudly clamouring a suggestion hinted at by the Tsar on the previous day； by quarrelling noisily at the council； striking himself on the chest and challenging opponents to a duel to prove his readiness to sacrifice himself for the common good。 A third simply took advantage of the absence of enemies between two councils to beg a grant from the Single Assistance Fund for his faithful service； knowing there would be no time now for a refusal。 A fourth took care to place himself where the Tsar might quite casually find him deeply engrossed in work。 A fifth tried to reach the long…desired goal of his ambition—a dinner at the Tsar’s table—by violently espousing one side or another and collecting more or less true and valid arguments in support of it。
All the members of this party were on the hunt after roubles； crosses； and promotions； and in that chase they simply followed the scent given them by the fluctuations of imperial favour。 As soon as they saw the imperial weather…cock shifting to one quarter the whole swarm of these drones began buzzing away in the direction； making it more difficult for the Tsar to shift his course back again。 In the uncertainty of the position； with the menace of serious danger； which gave a peculiarly intense character to everything； in this whirlpool of ambitions； of conflicting vanities； and views； and feelings； and different nationalities； this eighth and largest party； absorbed only in the pursuit of personal interests； greatly increased the complexity and confusion。 Whatever question arose； the swarm of drones； still humming over the last subject； flew to the new one； and by their buzzing drowned and confused the voices of sincere disputants。
At the time when Prince Andrey reached the army yet another—a ninth party—was being formed out of all the rest； and was just making its voice heard。 It consisted of sensible men of age and political experience； sharing none of the conflicting opinions； and able to take a general view of all that was being done at headquarters； and to consider means for escaping from the vagueness； uncertainty； confusion； and feebleness。
The members of this party thought and said that the whole evil was primarily due to the presence of the Tsar with his military court in the army； that it brought into the army that indefinite； conditional； and fluctuating uncertainty of relations which is in place in a court； but mischievous in an army； that it was for the Tsar to govern and not to lead his troops； that the only escape from the position was the departure of the Tsar and his court from the army； that the simple presence of the Tsar paralysed fifty thousand troops； which must be retained to secure his personal safety； that the worst commander…in…chief； acting independently； would be better than the best commander…in…chief with his hands tied by the presence and authority of the Tsar。
While Prince Andrey was staying； with nothing to do； at Drissa； Sishkov； the secretary of state； one of the leading representatives of this last group； wrote to the Tsar a letter to which Balashov and Araktcheev agreed to add their signatures。 In this letter he took advantage of the Tsar’s permitting him to offer his opinion on the general question； and respectfully suggested the sovereign’s leaving the army； urging as a pretext for his doing so the absolute necessity of his presence to rouse public feeling in the capital。
To appeal to the people； and to rouse them in defence of their fatherland； was represented as urgently necessary to the Tsar； and was accepted by him as a sufficient reason for leaving。 The outburst of patriotism that followed that appeal （so far indeed as it can be said to have been produced by the Tsar’s visit to Moscow） was the principal cause of the subsequent triumph of Russia。
Chapter 10
THIS LETTER had not yet been given to the Tsar； when Barclay； at dinner one day； informed Bolkonsky that his majesty would be graciously pleased to see Prince Andrey in person； to ask him some questions about Turkey； and that Prince Andrey was to present himself at Bennigsen’s quarters at six o’clock in the evening。
That day news had reached the Tsar’s quarters of a fresh advance on Napoleon’s part that might be regarded as menacing the army—news that turned out in the sequel to be false。 And that morning Colonel Michaud had accompanied the Tsar on a tour of inspection about the Drissa fortifications； and had tried to convince the Tsar that the fortified camp； constructed on Pfuhl’s theory； and hitherto regarded as the chef d’？uvre of tactical science； destined to overthrow Napoleon—that that camp was a senseless absurdity that would lead to the destruction of the Russian army。
Prince Andrey arrived at Bennigsen’s quarters； a small manor…house on the very bank of the river。 Neither Bennigsen nor the Tsar was there； but Tchernishev； the Tsar’s aide…de…camp； received Bolkonsky； and informed him that the Tsar had set off with General Bennigsen and Marchese Paulucci to make his second inspection that day of the fortifications of the Drissa camp； of the utility of which they were beginning to entertain grave doubts。
Tchernishev sat in the window of the outer room with a French novel。 This room had once probably been the main hall； there was still an organ in it； on which were piled rugs of some sort； and in the corner of the room was a folding bedstead belonging to Bennigsen’s adjutant。 The owner of the bedstead； too； was there。 Apparently exhausted by work or festivities； he sat dozing on the folded bed。 Two doors led from the room： one straight in front opening into the drawing…room； another on the right opening into the study。 From the first door came the sound of voices speaking German and occasionally French。 In the drawing…room there was being held； by the Tsar’s desire； not a military council—the Tsar loved to have things vague—but a meeting of a few persons； whose opinions he wished to hear in the present difficult position。 It was not a military council； but a sort of council for the elucidation of certain questions for the benefit of the Tsar personally。 To this sort of semi…council had been bidden the Swedish general； Armfeldt； the general on the staff Woltzogen； Wintzengerode （whom Napoleon had call