InreadingthehistoryofthisperiodwefindthatinwhateverplaceNapoleonhappenedtobe，therewasthecentralpointofaction.TheaffairsofEuropewerearrangedathisheadquartersinthesamemannerasifhehadbeeninParis.Everythingdependedonhisgoodorbadfortune.
Espionage，seduction，falsepromises，exactions，——allwereputinforcetopromotethesuccessofhisprojects;buthisdespotism，whichexciteddissatisfactioninFrance，andhiscontinualaggressions，whichthreatenedtheindependenceofforeignStates，renderedhimmoreandmoreunpopulareverywhere.
ThebattleofTrafalgartookplacewhileNapoleonwasmarchingonVienna，andonthedayafterthecapitulationofUlm.ThesoutherncoastofSpainthenwitnessedanengagementbetweenthirty—oneFrenchandaboutanequalnumberofEnglishships，andinspiteofthisequalityofforcetheFrenchfleetwasdestroyed.——[Theactualforcespresentwere27Englishshipsofthelineand38Franco—Spanishshipsoftheline;seeJames’
NavalHistory，vol.iii.p.459.]
Thisgreatbattleaffordedanotherproofofournavalinferiority.