Wellington’s introduction to the curious war-dance taking place in Vienna came when, the morning after his arrival, he was graced by a visit from the Tsar of all the Russias. After complimenting him and solicitously enquiring about his journey from Paris, Alexander began to bemoan, with affected anxiety, the fact that from what he had heard France was in poor shape politically, and that its army was riven with dissension and quite unfit for anything. Wellington put him right, briskly affirming that the government of Louis XVIII was strong and that the army was in excellent condition. This news
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