Near the close of the century (1789) the French Revolution broke out.
It was a violent and successful attempt to destroy those feudal
institutions which France had outgrown, and which had, as we have
seen, disappeared gradually in England after the rebellion of Wat
Tyler (SS250, 252). At first the revolutionists received the hearty
sympathy of many of the Whig party (S479), but after the execution of
Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette,[1] England became alarmed not
only at the horrible scenes of the Reign of Terror but at the
establishment of the French democratic republic which seemed to
justify them, and joined an alliance of the principal European powers
for the purpose of restoring monarchy in France.
[1] See "Death of Marie Antoinette," in Burke's "Reflections on the
French Revolution."
Napoleon had now become the real head of the French nation, and seemed
bent on making himself master of all Europe. He undertook an
expedition against Egypt and the East, which was intended as a
stepping-stone toward the ultimate conquest of the English empire in
India, but his plans were frustrated by Nelson, who completely
defeated the French fleet at the battle of the Nile (1798).
With the assistance of Spain, Napoleon next prepared to invade
England, and was so confident of success that he caused a gold medal
to be struck, bearing the inscription, "Descent upon England." "Struck
at London, 1804." But the English warships drove the French and
Spanish fleets into the harbor of Cadiz, and Napoleon had to postpone
his great expedition for another year.[2] In the autumn of 1805, the
French and Spanish fleets sallied forth determined to win. But Lord
Nelson, that frail little man who had lost his right arm and the sight
of his right eye fighting his country's battles, lay waiting for them
off Cape Trafalgar,[3] near by.
[2] In 1801 Robert Fulton, of Pennsylvania, proposed to Napoleonthat
he should build warships propelled by steam. The proposal was
submitted to a committee of French scientists, who reported that it
was absurd. Had Napoleon acted on Fulton's suggestion, his descent on
England might have been successful.
[3] Cape Trafalgar, on the southern coast of Spain.
Two days later he descried the enemy at daybreak. Both sides felt
that the decisive struggle was at hand. With the exception of a long,
heavy swell the sea was calm, with a light breeze, but sufficient to
bring the two fleets gradually within range.
"As they drifted on their path
There was silence deep as death;
And the boldest held his breath
For a time."[4]
[4] Campbell's "Battle of the Baltic," but applicable as well to
Trafalgar.
Just before the action Nelson ran up this signal to the masthead of
his ship, where all might see it: "England explects Every Man to do
his Duty." The answer to it was three ringing cheers from the entire
fleet, and the fight began. When it ended, Napoleon's boasted navy
was no more. Trafalgar Square, in the heart of London, with its tall
column bearing aloft a statue of Nelson, commemorates the decisive
victory, which was dearly bought with the life of the great admiral.
The battle of Traflagar snuffed out Napoleon's projected invasion of
England. He had lost his ships, and their commander, in his despair,
committed suicide. The French Emperor could no longer hope to bridge
"the ditch," as he derisively called the boisterous Channel, whose
waves rose like a wall between him and the island which he hated
(S14). A few years later, Napoleon, who had taken possession of Spain
and placed his brother on the throne, was driven from that country by
Sir Arthur Wellesly, destined to be better known as the Duke of
Wellington, and the crown was restored to the Spanish nation.