s to enter Silesia, and by favouring Pitt's plan of a joint
expedition of the Allies to Hanover with a view to the liberation of
Holland; and when he ordered the mobilization of the whole Prussian
army, there appeared good grounds for expecting the speedy accession of
at least 150,000 troops trained in the school of Frederick the Great.
Even Haugwitz now suggested that if war came England must give Prussia a
subsidy.[738] The Anglophil party at Berlin raised its head in triumph
at the approach of the Russian Emperor; and when on 28th October he
entered Berlin with enthusiastic greetings from the populace, Europe
seemed about to be leagued against Napoleon. Chivalry and prudence alike
counselled such a union, for on the morrow arrived news of the
annihilation of Mack's army. Nothing but prompt action could save
Germany from the Napoleonic deluge.

The first rumours of the disaster at Ulm did not reach London until 2nd
November. Lord Malmesbury was dining with Pitt and mentioned the report
to him, whereupon the Prime Minister exclaimed in loud and angry tones,
"Don't believe a word of it: it is all a fiction."[739] But on the
morrow a Dutch newspaper was brought, and Malmesbury translated the
account, which was so clear and detailed as to leave little room for
doubt. Pitt's countenance changed. There came over him that look which
his friends saw imprinted more deeply with every week of deepening
gloom. For a brief space it passed away. On 6th November London heard
the joyful yet painful news of Trafalgar. It reached Downing Street at 3
a.m. Pitt was so moved by conflicting emotions that he, the soundest of
sleepers, could not find repose, but roused himself for work. The Stock
Exchange registered the swift oscillations from confidence to doubt, for
though all fear of the French and Spanish fleet was at an end, yet, as
Nelson perished, national security seemed imperilled, and Consols sank.

The contrast between the victorious constancy of Britain and the
wavering and hapless counsels of the Germanic States inspired Pitt with
one of the most magnanimous utterances of that age. At the Lord Mayor's
banquet on 9th November, that dignitary proposed his health as the
Saviour of Europe. Pitt concentrated his reply into these two memorable
sentences: "I return you many thanks for the honour you have done me;
but Europe is not to be saved by any single man. England has saved
herself by her exertions, and will, as I trust, save Euro