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Kutuzov's expectations that the proposals of capitulation (which

were in no way binding) might give time for part of the transport

to pass, and also that Murat's mistake would very soon be

discovered, proved correct. As soon as Bonaparte (who was at

Schonbrunn, sixteen miles from Hollabrunn) received Murat's

dispatch with the proposal of a truce and a capitulation, he

detected a ruse and wrote the following letter to Murat:

Schonbrunn, 25th Brumaire, 1805,

at eight o'clock in the morning

To PRINCE MURAT,

I cannot find words to express to you my displeasure. You command

only my advance guard, and have no right to arrange an armistice

without my order. You are causing me to lose the fruits of a

campaign. Break the armistice immediately and march on the enemy.

Inform him that the general who signed that capitulation had no

right to do so, and that no one but the Emperor of Russia has

that right.