Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/562

 524 Readings in Europea,7i History 451. Stein reports the battle of Leipzig to his wife. in disorder. They are driving him over to the left bank of the Rhine and the Austro-Bavarian army will catch up with him before he crosses the river. This is the result of the bloody but glorious battle of the 14th, 16th, 18th, and 19th of October.. And so that monstrous structure built up by the maddest and most perverse tyranny and cemented by the blood and tears of so many millions now lies in ruins. From one end of Germany to the other men now dare to say that Napoleon is a scoundrel and an enemy of the human race ; that the shameful bonds in which he has held our fatherland are broken, and the humiliation he has heaped upon us is washed out in streams of French blood. This great event is due to the persistence and noble spirit developed by Emperor Alexander in the important and deci- sive events of last year, the heroic devotion of his people, and the spirit of justice and moderation which he has shown in all his negotiations with the p6wers whom he has invited to associate their efforts with his ; to the sacrifices and strength which Prussia has brought to the struggle since she entered it ; to the spirit of opposition and hate toward the oppressor which has shown itself on all sides. The workings of Providence are at least justified by the terrible judgment which has been meted out to the monster whose obstinacy has led him into political and military follies which have hastened his fall and made him an object of contempt among the people. . . . These results have been won by two bloody, glorious, and tragic campaigns, and through many costly battles. At Liitzen, Bautzen, Teltow, Dresden, Katzbach, Kulm, Denne- witz, Bledin, Leipzig, the seed was sown for this harvest which now awaits us, the fruits of which we should enjoy with a devout and thankful recognition of the hand of Prov- idence, and in all moderation. The allies have vested in me the whole administration of the territory which they have occupied. Repnin has been made governor of Saxony. I leave in a fortnight, as soon as the army has reached Frankfort.