In 1812 and 1813 Kutúzov was openly accused of blundering. The Emperor was dissatisfied with him. And in a history recently written by order of the Highest Authorities it is said that Kutúzov was a cunning court liar, frightened of the name of Napoleon, and that by his blunders at Krásnoe and the Berëzina he deprived the Russian army of the glory of complete victory over the French.132 Such is the fate, not of great men (grands hommes) whom the Russian mind does not acknowledge, but of those rare and always solitary individuals, who discerning the will of Providence, submit their personal will
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