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the most sensitive part。 He tells one that he is a dupe； a betrayed
husband； another that he is an abettor of assassination； he assumes
the air of a judge condemning a criminal； or the tone of a superior
reprimanding an inferior； or； at best； that of a teacher taking a
scholar to task。 With a smile of pity； he points out mistakes； weak
points； and incapacity； and shows him beforehand that he must be
defeated。 On receiving the envoy of the Emperor Alexander at
Wilna；＇99＇ be says to him：
〃Russia does not want this war； none of the European powers are in
favor of it； England herself does not want it； for she foresees the
harm it will do to Russia； and even； perhaps； the greatest。 。 。 I know
as well as yourself； and perhaps even better； how many troops you
have。 Your infantry in all amounts to 120；000 men and your cavalry to
about 60；000 or 70；000； I have three times as many。 。 。 。 The Emperor
Alexander is badly advised。 How can he tolerate such vile people
around him … an Armfeld； an intriguing； depraved； rascally fellow； a
ruined debauchee； who is known only by his crimes and who is the enemy
of Russia； a Stein； driven from his country like an outcast； a
miscreant with a price on his head； a Bennigsen； who； it is said； has
some military talent； of which I know nothing； but whose hands are
steeped in blood？＇100＇ 。 。 。 。 Let him surround himself with the
Russians and I will say nothing。 。 。 。 Have you no Russian gentlemen
among you who are certainly more attached to him than these
mercenaries？ Does he imagine that they are fond of him personally？ Let
him put Armfeld in command in Finland and I have nothing to say； but
to have him about his person； for shame ！ 。 。 。 。 What a superb
perspective opened out to the Emperor Alexander at Tilsit； and
especially at Erfurt！ 。 。 。 。 He has spoilt the finest reign Russia
ever saw。 。 。 。 How can he admit to his society such men as a Stein；
an Armfeld； a Vinzingerode？ Say to the Emperor Alexander； that as he
gathers around him my personal enemies it means a desire to insult me
personally； and； consequently； that I must do the same to him。 I will
drive all his Baden； Wurtemburg； and Weimar relations out of Germany。
Let him provide a refuge for them in Russia！〃
Note what he means by … personal insult＇101＇； how he intends to avenge
himself by reprisals of the worst kind； to what excess he carries his
interference； how he enters the cabinets of foreign sovereigns；
forcibly entering and breaking； to drive out their councilors and
control their meetings： like the Roman senate with an Antiochus or a
Prusias； like an English Resident with the King of Oude or of Lahore。
With others as at home； he cannot help but act as a master。 The
aspiration for universal dominion is in his very nature； it may be
modified； kept in check； but never can it be completely stifled。〃＇102＇
It declares itself on the organization of the Consulate。 It explains
why the peace of Amiens could not last； apart from the diplomatic
discussions and behind his alleged grievances； his character； his
exactions； his avowed plans； and the use he intends making of his
forces form the real and true causes of the rupture。 In
comprehensible sometimes even in explicit terms； he tells the English：
Expel the Bourbons from your island and close the mouths of your
journalists。 If this is against your constitution so much the worse
for it； or so much the worse for you。 〃There are general principles
of international law to which the （special） laws of states must give
way。〃＇103＇ Change your fundamental laws。 Suppress the freedom of the
press and the right of asylum on your soil； the same as I have done。
〃I have a very poor opinion of a government which is not strong enough
to interdict things objectionable to foreign governments。〃＇104＇ As to
mine； my interference with my neighbors； my late acquisitions of
territory； that does not concern you： 〃I suppose that you want to talk
about Piedmont and Switzerland？ These are trifles〃＇105＇ 〃Europe
recognizes that Holland； Italy； and Switzerland are at the disposition
of France。＇106＇ On the other hand； Spain submits to me and through her
I hold Portugal。 Thus； from Amsterdam to Bordeaux； from Lisbon to
Cadiz and Genoa； from Leghorn to Naples and to Tarentum； I can close
every port to you； no treaty of commerce between us。 Any treaty that
I might grant to you would be trifling： for each million of
merchandise that you would send into France a million of French
merchandise would be exported；＇107＇ in other words； you would be
subject to an open or concealed continental blockade； which would
cause you as much distress in peace as if you were at war。〃 My eyes
are nevertheless fixed on Egypt； 〃six thousand Frenchmen would now
suffice to re…conquer it〃；＇108＇ forcibly； or otherwise； I shall return
there； opportunities will not be lacking； and I shall be on the watch
for them； 〃sooner or later she will belong to France； either through
the dissolution of the Ottoman empire； or through some arrangement
with the Porte。〃＇109＇ Evacuate Malta so that the Mediterranean may
become a French lake； I must rule on sea as on land； and dispose of
the Orient as of the Occident。 In sum； 〃with my France； England must
naturally end in becoming simply an appendix： nature has made her one
of our islands； the same as Oleron or Corsica。〃＇110＇ Naturally； with
such a perspective before them； the English keep Malta and recommence
the war。 He has anticipated such an occurrence； and his resolution is
taken； at a glance； he perceives and measures the path this will open
to him； with his usual clear…sightedness he has comprehended； and he
announces that the English resistance 〃forces him to conquer Europe。 。
。 。〃＇111＇ … 〃The First Consul is only thirty…three and has thus far
destroyed only the second…class governments。 Who knows how much time
he will require to again change the face of Europe and resurrect the
Western Roman Empire？〃
To subjugate the Continent in order to form a coalition against
England； such； henceforth； are his means； which are as violent as the
end in view； while the means； like the end； are given by his
character。 Too imperious and too impatient to wait or to manage
others； he is incapable of yielding to their will except through
constraint； and his collaborators are to him nothing more than
subjects under the name of allies。 … Later； at St。 Helena； with his
indestructible imaginative energy and power of illusion； he plays on
the public with his humanitarian illusions。＇112＇ But； as he himself
avows； the accomplishment of his retrospective dream required
beforehand the entire submission of all Europe； a liberal sovereign
and pacificator； 〃a crowned Washington； yes；〃 he used to say； 〃but I
could not reasonably attain this point； except through a universal
dictatorship； which I aimed at。〃＇113＇ In vain does common sense
demonstrate to him that such an enterprise inevitably rallies the
Continent to the side of England； and that his means divert him from
the end。 In vain is it repeatedly represented to him that he needs
one sure great ally on the Continent；＇114＇ that to obtain this he must
conciliate Austria； that he must not drive her to despair； but rather
win her over and compensate her on the side of the Orient； place her
in permanent conflict with Russia； and attach her to the new French
Empire by a community of vital interests。 In vain does he； after
Tilsit； make a bargain of this kind with Russia。 This bargain cannot
hold； because in this arrangement Napoleon； as usual with him； always
encroaching； threatening； and attacking； wants to reduce Alexander to
the role of a subordinate and a dupe。＇115＇ No clear…sighted witness
can doubt this。 In 1809； a diplomat writes： 〃The French system； which
is now triumphant； is directed against the whole body of great
states；〃＇116＇ not alone against England； Prussia； and Austria； but
against Russia； against every power capable of maintaining its
independence； for； if she remains independent； she may become hostile；
and as a precautionary step Napoleon crushes in her a probable enemy。
All the more so because this course once entered upon he cannot stop；
at the same time his character and the situation in which he has
placed himself impels him on while his past hurries him along to his
future。＇117＇ At the moment of the rupture of the treaty of Amiens he
is already so strong and so aggressive that his neighbors are obliged；
for their own security； to form an alliance with England； this leads
him to break down all the old monarchies that are still intact； to
conquer Naples； to mutilate Austria the first time； to dismember and
cut up Prussia； to mutilate Austria the second time； to manufacture
kingdoms for his brothers at Naples； in Holland and in Westphalia。
At this same date； all the ports of his empire are closed against the
English； which leads him to close against them all