s were
prepared for the homeward bound, and immediately all the sick wards
were overflowing, and virulent fevers annihilated the last strength of
the unfortunates. Countless were the corpses carried out, and the
citizens had to be careful that the infection did not penetrate into
their houses. Any of the foreigners that could, after the necessary
rest, crept home weary and hopeless. But the boys in the streets sang,
"Knights without swords, knights without horses, fugitives without
shoes, find nowhere rest and repose. God has struck man, horse, and
carriage," and behind the fugitives they yelled the mocking call, "The
Cossacks are coming." Then there was a movement of horror in the flying
mass, and they quickly tottered on through the gates.

These were the impressions of 1813. Meanwhile the newspapers announced
that General York had concluded the convention of Tauroggin with the
Russian Wittgenstein, and the Prussians read with dismay that the King
had rejected the stipulations, and dismissed the General from his
command. But immediately after it was said that he could not be in
earnest, for the King had left Berlin, where his precious head was no
longer safe among the French, and gone to Breslau. Now there were some
hopes.

In the Berlin paper of 4th March, among the foreign arrivals were still
French Generals; but the same day Herr von Tschernischef, commander of
a corps of cavalry, entered the capital in peaceful array.

It had been known for three months that the Russian winter, and the
army of the Emperor Alexander, had destroyed the great army. Already
had Gropius, at Christmas, introduced a diorama of the burning of
Moscow. For some weeks many of the new books had treated of Russia,
giving descriptions of the people; Russian manuals and Russian national
music were in vogue. Whatever came from the east was glorified by the
excited minds of the people. Nothing more so than the vanguard of the
foreign army, the Cossacks. Next the frost and hunger, they were
considered the conquerors of the French. Wonderful stories of their
deeds preceded them, they were said to be half wild men, of great
simplicity of manners, of remarkable heartiness, indescribable
dexterity, astuteness, and valour. It was reported how active their
horses were, how irresistible their attacks, that they could swim
through great rivers, climb the steepest hills, and bear the most
horrible cold with good courage.

On the 17th February, they app