The conflicts which took place in Spain during the year 1811 were unattended by any decisive results.  Some brilliant events, indeed, attested the courage of our troops and the skill of our generals.  Such were the battle of Albufera and the taking of Tarragona, while Wellington was obliged to raise the siege of Badajoz.  These advantages, which were attended only by glory, encouraged Napoleon in the hope of triumphing in the Peninsula, and enabled him to enjoy the brilliant fetes which took place at Paris in celebration of the birth of the King of Rome.

On his return from a tour in Holland at the end of October Napoleon clearly saw that a rupture with Russia was inevitable.  In vain he sent Lauriston as Ambassador to St. Petersburg to supersede Caulaincourt, who would no longer remain there:  all the diplomatic skill in the world could effect nothing with a powerful Government which had already formed its determination.  All the Cabinets in Europe were now unanimous in wishing for the overthrow of Napoleon’s power, and the people no less, ardently wished for an order of things less fatal to their trade and industry.  In the state to which Europe was reduced no one could counteract the wish of Russia and her allies to go to war with France—­Lauriston no more than Caulaincourt.

The war for which Napoleon was now obliged to prepare forced him to neglect Spain, and to leave his interests in that country in a state of real danger.  Indeed, his occupation of Spain and his well-known wish to maintain himself there were additional motives for inducing the powers of Europe to enter upon a war which would necessarily divide Napoleon’s forces.  All at once the troops which were in Italy and the north of Germany moved towards the frontiers of the Russian Empire.  From March 1811 the Emperor had all the military forces of Europe at his disposal.  It was curious to see this union of nations, distinguished by difference of manners,

—­[It should be remarked that Napoleon was far from being anxious for the war with Russia.  Metternich writing on 26th March 1811, says “Everything seems to indicate that the Emperor Napoleon is at present still far from desiring a war with Russia.  But it is not less true that the Emperor Alexander has given himself over, ’nolens volens’, to the war party, and that he will bring about war, because the time is approaching when he will no longer be able to resist the reaction of the party in the internal affairs of his Empire, or the temper of his army.  The contest between Count Romanzov and the party opposed to that Minister seems on the point of precipitating a war between Russia and France.”  This, from Metternich, is strong evidence.]—­

language, religion, and interests, all ready to fight for one man against a power who had done nothing to offend them.  Prussia herself, though she could not pardon the injuries he had inflicted upon her, joined his alliance, but with the intention of breaking