erage in the half century before the war had been 64s. 6d. On March 5,
1801, the price of the quartern loaf stood as high as 1s. 101/2d. On
July 23 it was still 1s. 8d. The harvest of this year was, however, an
excellent one. The price fell rapidly during August, and by November 12
was as low as 101/2d.

[3] Cornwallis, _Correspondence_, iii., 382-487.

[4] In a letter to Charles Carey, dated October 22, Fox went the length
of expressing extreme pleasure in the triumph of the French government
over the English (_Memorials of C. J. Fox_, iii., 349).

[5] Malmesbury, _Diaries_, iv., 60, 62.

[6] Lecky, _History Of Ireland_, v., 465.

[7] Lanfrey, _Napoleon I._ (English edition), ii., 202; Pellew, _Life of
Sidmouth_, ii., 164.

[8] Browning, _England and Napoleon in 1803_, pp. 1-6.

[9] Browning, _ibid._, pp. 6-10.

[10] See especially Hawkesbury's despatch in Browning, _ibid._, pp.
65-68, and Whitworth's despatches, _ibid._, pp. 73-75, 78-85.

[11] Whitworth's despatch of March 14, in Browning, _England and
Napoleon_, p. 116.

[12] Browning, _England and Napoleon_, p. 218.

CHAPTER II.

THE RETURN OF PITT.

The period following the rupture of the peace of Amiens, though crowded
with military events of the highest importance, was inevitably barren in
social and political interest. Disappointed in its hopes of returning
prosperity, the nation girded itself up with rare unanimity for a
renewed contest. In July the income-tax was reinstituted and a bill was
actually carried authorising a levy _en masse_ in case of invasion.
Pending its enforcement, the navy was vigorously recruited by means of
the press-gang; the yeomanry were called out, and a force of infantry
volunteers was enrolled, which reached a total of 300,000 in August, and
of nearly 400,000 at the beginning of the next session. Pitt himself, as
warden of the Cinque Ports, took command of 3,000 volunteers in Kent,
and contrasted in parliament the warlike enthusiasm of the country with
the alleged apathy of the ministry. On July 23 a rebellion broke out in
Ireland, instigated by French agents and headed by a young man named
Robert Emmet. The conspiracy was ill planned and in itself
insignificant, but the recklessness of the conspirators was equalled by
the weakness of the civil and military authorities, who neglected to
take any precautions in spite of the plainest warnings. The rebels had