A History of All Nations from the Earliest Times (Volume 17); Being a Universal Historical Library (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906. Excerpt: ... best, which all friends of Germany cherished in common, however much they might otherwise be divided in opinion. They knew that the unnatural structure of Bonaparte's world-empire could not endure, but the trial was before them of seeing that dominion rise to a greatness yet more gigantic. CHAPTER III. NAPOLEON AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS POWER. FOR the moment, Napoleon's aim was reached by means of the interviews at Erfurt; the continued friendship of Alexander was a pledge of the peaceful action of Austria and Prussia, so that nothing detained him from hastening across the Pyrenees, in order to restore in that region the lost glory of the arms of France. The problem did not appear difficult to him; his military perception decided with entire justice that the united Spanish troops were not able to defeat 25,000 French placed in a judicious position. And now, instead of the fresh levies who had proved themselves so inadequate in that country, he threw into it 150,000 choice troops, who, under his personal leadership and that of his best marshals, would quickly crush out the insolent insurrection. People of Holland, of the Rhine Confederation, and Poles and Italians were summoned to join the great expedition which was to bring back King Joseph to his capital; the gap thus created was filled by an extraordinary conscription of 160,000 men, and this levy not only anticipated the year next succeeding, but also comprehended the past year. The Spaniards opposed to this powerful activity of their enemy nothing but sullen quarrels, perverse regulations, pompous solemnities, and blind confidence of victory. The absolute want of any concern for popular welfare and development had removed far from this people alike the power which culture bestows and the weakness which it ...