The tone of the Russian cabinet has become much more conciliatory to us since they heard of your operations at Copenhagen."[166] It would seem, however, that this double-dealing was prompted by naval considerations.

The Czar desired to temporize until his Mediterranean squadron should gain a place of safety and his Baltic ports be encased in ice; but on 27th October (8th November, N.S.) he broke off all communications with us, and adopted the Continental System.
Meanwhile, at the other extremity of Europe, events were transpiring that served as the best excuse for our harshness towards Denmark.

Even before our fleet sailed for the Sound, Napoleon was weaving his plans for the destruction of Portugal.

It is clear that he designed to strike her first before taking any action against Denmark.

During his return journey from Tilsit to Paris, he directed Talleyrand to send orders to Lisbon for the closing of all Portuguese ports against British goods by September the 1st--"in default of which I declare war on Portugal." He also ordered the massing of 20,000 French troops at Bayonne in readiness to join the Spanish forces that were to threaten the little kingdom.[167] What crime had Portugal committed?
She had of late been singularly passive: anxiously she looked on at the gigantic strifes that were engulfing the smaller States one by one.