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Next day the field marshal gave a dinner and ball which the
Emperor honored by his presence. Kutuzov had received the Order
of St. George of the First Class and the Emperor showed him the
highest honors, but everyone knew of the imperial dissatisfaction
with him. The proprieties were observed and the Emperor was the
first to set that example, but everybody understood that the old
man was blameworthy and good-for-nothing. When Kutuzov, conforming
to a custom of Catherine's day, ordered the standards that had
been captured to be lowered at the Emperor's feet on his entering
the ballroom, the Emperor made a wry face and muttered something
in which some people caught the words, "the old comedian."
The Emperor's displeasure with Kutuzov was specially increased
at Vilna by the fact that Kutuzov evidently could not or would
not understand the importance of the coming campaign.
When on the following morning the Emperor said to the officers
assembled about him: "You have not only saved Russia, you
have saved Europe!" they all understood that the war was
not ended.
Kutuzov alone would not see this and openly expressed his
opinion that no fresh war could improve the position or add to
the glory of Russia, but could only spoil and lower the glorious
position that Russia had gained. He tried to prove to the Emperor
the impossibility of levying fresh troops, spoke of the hardships
already endured by the people, of the possibility of failure and
so forth.
This being the field marshal's frame of mind he was naturally
regarded as merely a hindrance and obstacle to the impending war.
To avoid unpleasant encounters with the old man, the natural
method was to do what had been done with him at Austerlitz and
with Barclay at the beginning of the Russian campaign- to transfer
the authority to the Emperor himself, thus cutting the ground
from under the commander in chief's feet without upsetting the
old man by informing him of the change.
With this object his staff was gradually reconstructed and
its real strength removed and transferred to the Emperor. Toll,
Konovnitsyn, and Ermolov received fresh appointments. Everyone
spoke loudly of the field marshal's great weakness and failing
health.
His health had to be bad for his place to be taken away and
given to another. And in fact his health was poor.
So naturally, simply, and gradually- just as he had come from
Turkey to the Treasury in Petersburg to recruit the militia, and
then to the army when he was needed there- now when his part was
played out, Kutuzov's place was taken by a new and necessary performer.
The war 1812, besides its national significance dear to every
Russian heart, was now to assume another, a European, significance.
The movement of peoples from west to east was to be succeeded
by a movement of peoples from east to west, and for this fresh
war another leader was necessary, having qualities and views differing
from Kutuzov's and animated by different motives.
Alexander I was as necessary for the movement of the peoples
from east to west and for the refixing of national frontiers as
Kutuzov had been for the salvation and glory of Russia.
Kutuzov did not understand what Europe, the balance of power,
or Napoleon meant. He could not understand it. For the representative
of the Russian people, after the enemy had been destroyed and
Russia had been liberated and raised to the summit of her glory,
there was nothing left to do as a Russian. Nothing remained for
the representative of the national war but to die, and Kutuzov
died.
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