fleet was a favourite ulterior object with
Napoleon; and if a different result of the Russian campaign had placed
the resources of Europe at his command, there is no doubt but that the
days of St. Vincent and Trafalgar would have been renewed. There was an
English officer who was much in his presence and confidence at Elba, and
to whom he proposed the most flattering inducements to enter his
service. "I am honoured by your Majesty's offer," was the reply, "but I
was born an Englishman." Conversing with him on naval affairs, he one
day said, "I would have had two hundred sail of the line, and when I
brought against you such a force, you must have been crushed." But the
officer soon convinced him that the tactics which he had made so
effectual on land, by concentrating an overwhelming force upon his
enemy, were not applicable to naval operations. Sailors are made but
slowly. It requires an able commander to direct twenty ships, and the
most skilful could scarcely manoeuvre forty. Dark nights and gales would
disperse the unwieldy armada, and a small, but well managed force, would
hang upon it and destroy it in detail. The Emperor saw the force of the
objections, and closed the conversation with the compliment already
related.

Once, towards the end of the war, an opportunity seemed to be offered by
which the enemy might be compelled to sacrifice part of his fleet, or to
risk a general battle. On the morning of November 5th. 1813, the French
fleet had sailed out of Toulon with the wind at E.S.E., and advanced to
a greater distance than usual, when the wind suddenly shifted to
south-west. Immediately the enemy made every exertion to work back to
their harbour. The main body of the British fleet was just in sight to
the southward, and an advanced squadron of four sail, with a fifth at no
great distance, was about half-way between the two fleets. This squadron
lay up for the enemy under all sail, with every appearance of being able
to cut off the rear ships, the _Wagram_ of 130 guns, with four
two-deckers and four frigates. On the approach of the British, the enemy
tacked, and stood in so close, that many thought they intended to run
themselves on shore; but they again tacked off to the southward, and the
advanced squadrons stood on with every prospect of passing to windward
of them. Unfortunately, as the British ships approached, the wind headed
them, and threw them off so much, that they only fetched just within
gun-shot of