Chapter 28

           

           ManyhistorianssaythattheFrenchdidnotwinthebattleofBorodinóbecauseNapoleonhadacold,andthatifhehadnothadacoldtheordershegavebeforeandduringthebattlewouldhavebeenstillmorefullofgeniusandRussiawouldhavebeenlostandthefaceoftheworldhavebeenchanged.TohistorianswhobelievethatRussiawasshapedbythewillofoneman—PetertheGreat—andthatFrancefromarepublicbecameanempireandFrencharmieswenttoRussiaatthewillofoneman—Napoleon—tosaythatRussiaremainedapowerbecauseNapoleonhadabadcoldonthetwenty-fourthofAugustmayseemlogicalandconvincing.

           IfithaddependedonNapoleon’swilltofightornottofightthebattleofBorodinó,andifthisorthatotherarrangementdependedonhiswill,thenevidentlyacoldaffectingthemanifestationofhiswillmighthavesavedRussia,andconsequentlythevaletwhoomittedtobringNapoleonhiswaterproofbootsonthetwenty-fourthwouldhavebeenthesaviorofRussia.Alongthatlineofthoughtsuchadeductionisindubitable,asindubitableasthedeductionVoltairemadeinjest(withoutknowingwhathewasjestingat)whenhesawthattheMassacreofSt.BartholomewwasduetoCharlesIX’sstomachbeingderanged.ButtomenwhodonotadmitthatRussiawasformedbythewillofoneman,PeterI,orthattheFrenchEmpirewasformedandthewarwithRussiabegunbythewillofoneman,Napoleon,thatargumentseemsnotmerelyuntrueandirrational,butcontrarytoallhumanreality.

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