By the 1st of May our troops can be in Asia, and at the same time those of Your Majesty, at Stockholm.

Then the English, threatened in the Indies, and chased from the Levant, will be crushed under the weight of events with which the atmosphere will be charged."[196] There were several reasons why Napoleon should urge on this scheme.

He was irritated by the continued resistance of Great Britain, and thought to terrify us into surrender by means of those oriental enterprises which convinced our statesmen that we must fight on for dear life.

He also desired to restore the harmony of his relations with Alexander.

For, in truth, the rapturous harmonies of Tilsit had soon been marred by discord.