remained quiet his hopes would have proved correct, and that the west bank of the Rhine would now be under French rule. But France was eager to revenge past injuries put upon her by England; and, as if in answer to her desires, the second Alexander the Great appeared in Napoleon, and began "alarming the Old World with his dazzling schemes of aggrandizement." Against England his whole energies were directed. “Let us be masters,” said he, “of the Channel for six hours and we are masters of the world." I In 1798, he captured Malta, occupied Egypt, and undertook a campaign in Syria, as a furtherance to his desires of obtaining India, at the same time retaining his ideas with regard to "As in the American War, France avenges on England her expulsion from the New World, so under Napoleon she makes Titanic efforts to recover her lost place there. This, indeed, is Napoleon's fixed view with regard to England. He sees in England never the island, the European state, but always the world Empire, the network of dependencies and colonies and islands covering every sea, among which he was himself destined to find his prison and his grave" (Seeley's "Expansion of England," p. 33). England. Malta to Egypt, Egypt to India, India to England. In 1802 a momentary universal peace occurred. But Napoleon could not rest, his ambition spurred him on. His anger was again kindled by the English retention of Malta, after his defeat in Egypt, and he saw if Malta was wrested from him his lofty schemes would be undermined. In 1803 he again declared war against England and Holland. He arrested all the English residents in France between the ages of sixteen and sixty and kept them confined. The younger Pitt was just the statesman fit to cope with him, and frustrate his aims. He aimed at a European coalition,1 by which all threatening dangers from the overwhelming greatness of one nation might be averted. I The first coalition of England, Prussia, Holland, and Sweden, was for the purpose of keeping the European Peace. The second coalition (1799-1801), composed of Russia, England, Austria, Portugal, Naples, and the Ottoman Empire. The third coalition (1805), composed of England, Russia, Austria, and Sweden. On October 21, 1805, the glorious victory at Trafalgar, the outcome and consummation of Nelson's inspiring command, "England expects every man to do his duty," broke the naval power of France. And yet this was followed by the capitulation of Ulm, the defeat at Austerlitz, and the subsequent Treaty of Presburg, which broke up the coalition of England, Russia, and Austria, and seriously affected Pitt's health thereby. Truly, "Austerlitz killed Pitt." I At once Napoleon proceeded to turn the whole forces he had on the Continent against England, especially after the Peace of Tilsit, (1807). He first attacked England with the "Continental System," i.e., he prohibited all direct and indirect European trade with the I 66 Though he was still but forty-seven, the hollow voice and wasted frame of the great Minister had long told that death was near, and the blow to his hopes proved fatal. 'Roll up that map,' he said, pointing to the map of Europe, 'it will not be wanted these ten years.' Once only he rallied from stupor; and those who bent over him caught a faint murmur of 'My country! How I leave my country!'" (Green's "Short History of English People," p. 799). British Isles. This he confirmed by the Decrees of Berlin (1806) and Milan (1807). In 1812 he invaded Russia and entered the famous city with the cry of "Moscow! Moscow!" Even at that moment, however, his real aim of attack was England, across the Channel. England was ever uppermost in his thoughts. "He conquers Germany, but why? Because Austria and Russia, subsidized by England, march against him while he is brooding at Boulogne over the conquest of England. When Prussia was conquered, what was his first thought? That now he has a new weapon against England, since he can impose the Continental System upon all Europe. Why does he occupy Spain and Portugal? It is because they are maritime countries, with fleets and colonies that may be used against England." I Ι Napoleon was driven out of Moscow by fire, and his return march turned literally into a defeat, while his plan of a direct attack in Prof. Seeley's "Expansion of England," p. 105. |