Egypt and the Orient
generally, Pitt resolved that England should thenceforth dominate both
the sea route and the overland route to the East Indies.

Unfortunately, owing to the fogs on the River Elbe and other delays at
Hamburg, Harrowby did not reach Berlin until the middle of
November;[742] and a fortnight earlier (3rd November) the sovereigns of
Russia and Prussia had framed the Treaty of Potsdam. Ostensibly, it
bound Prussia to side with the Allies unless within four weeks Napoleon
accepted her armed mediation, which she proposed to offer forthwith. She
required from the French Emperor a full recognition of the independence
of Germany, Holland, Switzerland, and Naples, which of course implied
the withdrawal of French troops from those lands. Napoleon was also to
grant to the dispossessed King of Sardinia the following
indemnities--Genoa, Parma, and Piacenza; while Austria was to recover
Central Venetia as far as the River Mincio. The Allies flattered
themselves that Napoleon would at once reject these terms and throw
Prussia into their arms. Such, too, was the conviction of Pitt. While
regretting that France should keep Piedmont and find no barrier opposed
to her in Holland,[743] he felt so convinced of Napoleon's refusal and
of Prussia's good faith that he prepared to satisfy her demand for a
British subsidy. Prussian troops were marching into Hanover, as if with
the aim of ousting the French and restoring the authority of George III;
and Hardenberg assured Harrowby in their first interview, on 16th
November, that that force would protect the flank of the Anglo-Russian
expedition then about to enter the Electorate.

On the surface, then, everything seemed to augur a brilliant success for
Pitt's policy. As had happened before, the recklessness of Napoleon
favoured the British cause; and it is probable that, if Frederick
William had sent to the French headquarters any one but Count Haugwitz,
Prussia would have drawn the sword. Napoleon was in great danger. True,
he met with little opposition in his advance to Vienna and thence into
Moravia. But the deeper he plunged into that province, the worse would
be his position if 180,000 Prussians were launched at his flank and
rear. The Court of Berlin was well aware that the destinies of Europe
lay in its hands; and for once a fatal confidence possessed Frederick
William. He and his advisers used the crisis, not in the magnanimous
spirit which impelled Pitt to sacrifice ne