ONCE the sense of relief in being at peace had passed, all
England realized that it was only a matter of months before
the struggle was renewed. Napoleon had regarded the
Treaty of Amiens as a new tactic in his struggle for Empire.
This treaty had restored French possessions in the Carib-
bean; France possessed Louisiana; the vast hinterland was
unclaimed, but a secret understanding with Spain allowed
Napoleon to dream of a French Empire stretching from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Golden Gate. But, even as he
dreamed, his practised mind exploited the confusions of
Europe to weaken still further Britain's position: with his
grasp of military reality he knew that Britain must be con-
quered. Whilst Addington shillied and shallied, he took a
firm grip on Switzerland, Holland, and Piedmont. When it
was clear that public opinion would drive Addington willy-
nilly into war, he sold Louisiana to the Americans, and
refused to evacuate Malta. The last was a misjudgement.
After astonishing acts of appeasement the British govern-
ment became stiff-necked about Malta, and Napoleon was
at war sooner than he expected or wished, for much of his
fleet was scattered in the Caribbean.

It was easier for the government to declare the war than
to fight it. Apart from the capture of a few French ships, the
British could only wait on Napoleon's intentions, for his
armies had swept through Italy, and we lacked allies. It
was not long before his intentions disclosed themselves - the
invasion of England; every port in Europe was rushed into
a frenzy of shipbuilding: the Grand Army was brought to

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