This great battle afforded another proof of our naval inferiority.  Admires Calder first gave us the lesson which Nelson completed, but which cost the latter his life.  According to the reports which Duroc transmitted to me, courage gave momentary hope to the French; but they were at length forced to yield to the superior naval tactics of the enemy.  The battle of Trafalgar paralysed our naval force, and banished all hope of any attempt against England.

The favour which the King, of Prussia had shown to Duroc was withdrawn when his Majesty received intelligence of the march of Bernadotte’s troops through the Margravate of Anspach.  All accounts concurred respecting the just umbrage which that violation of territory occasioned to the King of Prussia.  The agents whom I had in that quarter overwhelmed me with reports of the excesses committed by the French in passing through the Margravate.  A letter I received from Duroc contains the following remarks on this subject: 

The corps of Marshal Bernadotte has passed through Anapach and by some misunderstanding this has been regarded at Berlin as an insult to the King, a violence committed upon his neutrality.  How can it be supposed, especially under present circumstances, that the Emperor could have any intention of insulting or committing violence upon his friend?  Besides, the reports have been exaggerated, and have been made by persons who wish to favour our enemies rather than us.  However, I am perfectly aware that Marshal Bernadotte’s 70,000 men are not 70,000 virgins.  Be this as it may, the business might have been fatal, and will, at all events, be very injurious to us.  Laforeat and I are treated very harshly, though we do not deserve it.  All the idle stories that have been got up here must have reached you.  Probably Prussia will not forget that France was, and still may be, the only power interested in her glory and aggrandisement.

At the end of October the King of Prussia, far from thinking of war, but in case of its occurrence wishing to check its disasters as far as possible, proposed to establish a line of neutrality.  This was the first idea of the Confederation of the North.  Duroc, fearing lest the Russians should enter Hamburg, advised me, as a friend, to adopt precautions.  But I was on the spot; I knew all the movement the little detached corps, and I was under no apprehension.

The editor of the Hamburg ‘Correspondent’ sent me every evening a proof of the number which was to appear next day,—­a favour which was granted only to the French Minister.  On the 20th of November I received the proof as usual, and saw nothing objectionable in it.  How great, therefore, was my astonishment when next morning I read in the same journal an article personally insulting to the Emperor, and in which the legitimate sovereigns of Europe were called upon to undertake a crusade against the usurper etc.  I immediately sent for M.