What was the attitude of Napoleon towards this league?  He certainly took little pains to conciliate the Czar.  In fact, his actions towards Russia were almost openly provocative.  Thus, while fully aware of the interest which Alexander felt in the restoration of the King of Sardinia, he sent the proposal that that unlucky King should receive the Ionian Isles and Malta as indemnities for his losses, and that too when Russia looked upon Corfu as her own.  To this offer the Czar deigned not a word in reply.  Napoleon also sent an envoy to the Shah of Persia with an offer of alliance, so as to check the advances of Russia on the shores of the Caspian.[15]

On the other hand, he used every effort to allure Prussia, by secretly offering her Hanover, and that too as early as the close of July.[16] For a brief space, also, he took some pains to conciliate Austria.  This indeed was necessary:  for the Court of Vienna had already (November 6th, 1804) framed a secret agreement with Russia to make war on Napoleon if he committed any new aggression in Italy or menaced any part of the Turkish Empire.[17] Yet this act was really defensive.  Francis desired only to protect himself against Napoleon’s ambition, and, had he been treated with consideration, would doubtless have clung to peace.

For a time Napoleon humoured that Court, even as regards the changes now mooted in Italy.  On January 1st, 1805, he wrote to Francis, stating that he was about to proclaim Joseph Bonaparte King of Italy, if the latter would renounce his claim to the crown of France, and so keep the governments of France and Italy separate, as the Treaty of Luneville required; that this action would enfeeble his (Napoleon’s) power, but would carry its own recompense if it proved agreeable to the Emperor Francis.

But it soon appeared that Joseph was by no means inclined to accept the crown of Lombardy if it entailed the sacrifice of all hope of succeeding to the French Empire.  He had already demurred to le vilain titre de roi, and on January 27th announced his final rejection of the offer.  Napoleon then proposed to Louis that he should hold that crown in trust for his son; but the suggestion at once rekindled the flames of jealousy which ever haunted Louis; and, after a violent scene, the Emperor thrust his brother from the room.

Perhaps this anger was simulated.  He once admitted that his rage only mounted this high—­pointing to his chin; and the refusals of his brothers were certainly to be expected.  However that may be, he now resolved to assume that crown himself, appointing as Viceroy his step-son, Eugene Beauharnais.  True, he announced to the French Senate that the realms of France and Italy would be kept separate:  but neither the Italian deputies, who had been summoned to Paris to vote this dignity to their master, nor the servile Senate, nor the rulers of Europe, were deceived.  Thus, when in the early summer Napoleon reviewed a large force that fought over again in mimic