ompels me to ascend to the dictatorship of the world? My
destiny is not yet accomplished-the picture exists as yet only in
outline. There must be one code, one court of appeal, and one coinage
for all Europe. The states of Europe must be melted into one nation, and
Paris be its capital." It deserves to be mentioned that neither the
statesman thus contemptously dismissed, nor any of his brethren, ever
even alluded to the injustice of making war on Russia for the mere
gratification of ambition. Their arguments were all drawn from the
extent of Alexander's resources-his 400,000 regulars, and 50,000
Cossacks, already known to be in arms-and the enormous population on
which he had the means of drawing for recruits; the enthusiastic
national feelings of the Muscovites; the distance of their country; the
severity of their climate; the opportunity which such a war would afford
to England of urging her successes in Spain; and the chance of Germany
rising in insurrection in case of any reverses.

There was, however, one person who appealed to the Emperor on other
grounds. His uncle, the Cardinal Fesch, had been greatly afflicted by
the treatment of the Pope, and he contemplated this new war with dread,
as likely to bring down the vengeance of Heaven on the head of one who
had dared to trample on its vicegerent. He besought Napoleon not to
provoke at once the wrath of man and the fury of the elements; and
expressed his belief that he must one day sink under the weight of that
universal hatred with which his actions were surrounding his throne.
Buonaparte led the churchman to the window, opened it, and pointing
upwards, said, "Do you see yonder star?" "No, sire," replied the
Cardinal. "But I see it," answered Napoleon; and abruptly dismissed him.

Trusting to this star, on which one spot of fatal dimness had already
gathered, Napoleon, without waiting for any formal rupture with the
Russian diplomatists at Paris, now directed the march of very great
bodies of troops into Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. Alexander's
minister was ordered, in the beginning of April, to demand the
withdrawal of these troops, together with the evacuation of the
fortresses in Pomerania, in case the French government still entertained
a wish to negotiate. Buonaparte instantly replied that he was not
accustomed to regulate the distribution of his forces by the suggestions
of a foreign power. The ambassador demanded his passports, and quitted
Paris.