o Europe at large. "Never, perhaps, was
Europe more critically situated than at this moment, and never was the
probability of universal Monarchy more nearly being realized, than in
the person of the Corsican. I can see but little difference between
the name of Emperor, King, or Prefect, if they perfectly obey his
despotic orders. Prussia is trying to be destroyed last--Spain is
little better than a province of France--Russia does nothing on the
grand scale. Would to God these great Powers reflected, that the
boldest measures are the safest! They allow small states to fall, and
to serve the enormous power of France, without appearing to reflect
that every kingdom which is annexed to France, makes their own
existence, as independent states, more precarious." How shrewd a
prophecy this was as regards Prussia and Spain, those two countries
were to learn by bitter experience; and remote Russia herself, though
she escaped the last humiliation, saw in the gigantic hosts whose
onset a few years later shook her to her centre, the armed subjects of
the many smaller states, in whose subjugation she had acquiesced
during the period of the Czar's moral subservience to Napoleon.

Nelson's essentially military genius had in political matters a keenly
sensitive intuition of the probable action of his fellow-warrior,
Bonaparte. "Russia's going to war in the way I am sure she will, will
cause the loss of Naples and Sardinia; for that Court will not send
100,000 men into Italy, and less are useless for any grand purpose."
"Your Excellency's summary account of the situation of Naples since
the negotiations with Russia," he wrote to Elliot in October, "are
perfectly clear; but the times are such that kingdoms must not be
played with. So far from Russia assisting Naples, it may involve her,
without the greatest care and circumspection, in total ruin. Naples
must not be hastily involved in war with France. Sicily must be saved.
The Calabrians must be kept from the entrance of French troops. If we
are consulted, we must assist Naples in keeping off the blow as long
as possible." That Napoleon's action would have been as here surmised,
had his purposes then tended towards the Mediterranean instead of the
English Channel, we have his own assertion. "At the solicitation of
your ambassador at St. Petersburg," wrote he to the Queen of Naples,
three months later, referring to the same subject, "ten thousand
Russians have been sent to Corfu.... If it