[218] "When Napoleon saw them fairly in possession of the opposite bank, he exclaimed, 'Behold my star again appear!' for he was a strong believer in fatality,"—Ségur, tom. ii., p. 295.
[219] "Napoleon was deeply affected with so unexpected a misfortune—'Must this loss come to spoil all after having escaped as by a miracle, and having completely beaten the Russians.'"—Rapp, p. 246.
[220] The conduct of the admiral was so unaccountable on this occasion, that some attempted to explain it on his naval habits, and to suppose that he was prevented from sending the reinforcements by the wind being contrary.—S.
[221] Ségur, tom. ii., p. 317; Jomini, tom. iv., p. 195.
[222] "For a long time we had had no news from France; we were ignorant of what was going on in the grand duchy; we were informed of it at Malodeczno. Napoleon received nineteen despatches at once."—Rapp, p. 249.
[223] The reader will find the details of this singular attempt in the [succeeding chapter].
[224] "Napoleon passed through the crowd of his officers, who were drawn up in an avenue as he passed, bidding them adieu merely by forced and melancholy smiles; their good wishes, equally silent, and expressed only by respectful gestures, he carried with him. He and Caulaincourt shut themselves up in a carriage; his Mameluke and Wakasowitch, captain of his guard, occupied the box; Duroc and Lobau followed in a sledge."—Ségur, tom. ii., p. 337.
[225] Ségur, tom. ii., p. 320.
[226] Histoire de l'Ambassade dans le Grand Duché de Varsovi, en 1812, p. 207.
[227] This alludes to exaggerated reports circulated by Marat, Duke of Bassano, then residing at Wilna, of a pretended victory obtained by Napoleon, at the passage at Studzianka.—S.