We trace no further the details of suffering too great for human endurance. Sixty thousand men are computed to have crossed the Beresina. Loison, with 15,000, advanced from Wilna to meet and protect them; he lost 12,000 by three days of frost. Other reinforcements joined the retreat; yet of this total, amounting fully to 80,000 men, there recrossed the Niemen but 20,000 stragglers, nine cannon, and 1000 infantry and cavalry under arms, and the merit of preserving this remnant belongs to Ney alone. Murat, to whom Napoleon at his departure intrusted the command–in–chief, and other marshals, had ceased to issue orders, or commanding, had ceased to be obeyed: Ney alone retained some influence and authority. Ever last in the retreat, with a rearguard sometimes of twenty men, he opposed a bold front to his pursuers, and pre–eminently merited the title of “bravest of the brave,” when the tried valour of others was changed into confusion and despair. Scott’s summary of the total loss in the campaign runs thus:— Slain in battle 125,000 Died from fatigue, hunger, and } the severity of the climate } 132,000 Prisoners, comprehending 48 } generals, 3000 officers, and } 193,000 upwards of 190,000 soldiers } ———— 450,000 [Illustration] END OF VOL. I. London: Printed by W. CLOWES and Sons, Stamford Street. ILLUSTRATIONS. Page Battle between Theseus and a Centaur, from a design of Flaxman 11 Warrior, in the undress of the heroic age 39 Head of Hercules, from a Camarinæan coin ib. Medal of Caligula 114 Profile of the Emperor Paul 152 Cosmo de’ Medici, from a Florentine medal 153 Lorenzo de’ Medici, from ditto 189 Giuliano de’ Medici, from ditto 189 Head of Napoleon, from the series of Napoleon medals 190 Medal struck by Napoleon after the retreat from Moscow, from ditto 237 * * * * * All the medals have been engraved from the originals preserved in the British Museum. INDEX Alp Arslan, 93. Antony, retreat of, from Parthia, 211-213. Aristogiton, 169-174. Aristomenes, 40-54. Bajazet, imprisoned by Tamerlane, 86. ----his treatment of French prisoners, 88-92. Brooke, death of Lord, 134. Buchan, Countess of, imprisoned by Edward I., 87, 88. Caligula, 134-143. Cambyses, 120-131. Cleomenes, 132, 133. Crassus, retreat and death of, 198-211. Crœsus, 77-80, 156. Cylon, insurrection of, 154. Darius, invasion of Scythia by, 190-198. England, state of, under first Norman kings, 23-27. Fatalism, 156-161. Greek history, mythic period of, 11-13, 21-23. Guesclin, Bertrand du, treatment by Black Prince, 103, 104, 108-113. Harmodius, 169-174.