1805.
Doings of Napoleon—His letter to George III.—Lord Mulgrave’s
reply—War declared against Spain—General Fast—Men voted for Army
and Navy—The Salt Duty—Withdrawal of “The Army of England”—Battle
of Trafalgar and death of Nelson—General Thanksgiving.
THE YEAR 1805 was uneventful for many reasons, the chief of which was
that Bonaparte was principally engaged in consolidating his power after
his Coronation. He was elected Emperor on the 20th of May, 1804, but
was not crowned until December of the same year. In March, 1805, he was
invited by the Italian Republic to be their monarch, and, in April, he
and Josephine left Paris for Milan, and in May he crowned himself King
of Italy.
He was determined, if only nominally, to hold out the olive branch of
peace to England, and on the 2nd of January, 1805, he addressed the
following letter to George the Third.
“SIR AND BROTHER,—Called to the throne of France by Providence,
and by the suffrages of the senate, the people, and the army, my
first sentiment is a wish for peace. France and England abuse their
prosperity. They may contend for ages; but do their governments well
fulfil the most sacred of their duties, and will not so much blood,
shed uselessly, and without a view to any end, condemn them in their
own consciences? I consider it as no disgrace to make the first step.
I have, I hope, sufficiently proved to the world that I fear none of
the chances of war; it, besides, presents nothing that I need to fear:
peace is the wish of my heart, but war has never been inconsistent
with my glory. I conjure your Majesty not to deny yourself the
happiness of giving peace to the world, nor to leave that sweet
satisfaction to your children; for certainly there never was a more
fortunate opportunity, nor a moment more favourable, to silence all
the passions and listen only to the sentiments of humanity and reason.
This moment once lost, what end can be assigned to a war which all my
efforts will not be able to terminate? Your Majesty has gained more
within the last ten years both in territory and riches than the whole
extent of Europe. Your nation is at the highest point of prosperity:
to what can it hope from war? To form a coalition with some Powers of
the Continent! The Continent will remain tranquil—a coalition can
only increase the preponderance and continental greatness of France.
To renew intestine troubles? The times are no longer the same. To
destroy our finances? Finances founded on flourishing agriculture can
never be destroyed. To take from France her colonies? The Colonies are
to France only a secondary object; and does not your Majesty already
possess more than you know how to preserve? If your Majesty would but
reflect, you must perceive that the war is without an object, without
any presumable result to yourself. Alas! what a melancholy prospect
to cause two nations to fight merely for the sake of fighting. The
world is sufficiently large for our two nations to live in it, and
reason is sufficiently powerful to discover means of reconciling
everything, when the wish for reconciliation exists on both sides. I
have, however, fulfilled a sacred duty, and one which is precious to
my heart. I trust your Majesty will believe in the sincerity of my
sentiments, and my wish to give you every proof of it.
“NAPOLEON.”
When the King opened Parliament on the 15th of January, 1805, he
referred to this letter thus: “I have recently received a communication
from the French Government, containing professions of a pacific
disposition. I have, in consequence, expressed my earnest desire to
embrace the first opportunity of restoring the blessings of peace
on such grounds as may be consistent with the permanent safety and
interests of my dominions; but I am confident you will agree with me
that those objects are closely connected with the general security of
Europe.”
The reply of Lord Mulgrave (who had succeeded Lord Harrowby as
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) was both courteous and politic.
It was dated the 14th of January, and was addressed to M. Talleyrand.
“His Britannic Majesty has received the letter which has been addressed
to him by the head of the French Government, dated the 2nd of the
present month. There is no object which His Majesty has more at heart,
than to avail himself of the first opportunity to procure again for his
subjects the advantages of a peace, founded on bases which may not be
incompatible with the permanent security and essential interests of his
dominions. His Majesty is persuaded that this end can only be attained
by arrangements which may, at the same time, provide for the future
safety and tranquillity of Europe, and prevent the recurrence of the
dangers and calamities in which it is involved. Conformably to this
sentiment, His Majesty feels it is impossible for him to answer more
particularly to the overture that has been made him, till he has had
time to communicate with the Powers on the Continent, with whom he is
engaged with confidential connexions and relations, and particularly
the Emperor of Russia, who has given the strongest proofs of the wisdom
and elevation of the sentiments with which he is animated, and the
lively interest which he takes in the safety and independence of the
Continent.
“MULGRAVE.”
* * * * *
Very shortly after this, England declared war against Spain, and
the Declaration was laid before Parliament on January 24th. A long
discussion ensued thereon; but the Government had a majority on their
side of 313 against 106.
Probably, His Majesty’s Government had some inkling of what was coming,
for on the 2nd of January was issued a proclamation for another general
Fast, which was to take place on the 20th of February, “for the success
of His Majesty’s arms.” History records that the Volunteers went
dutifully to church; and also that “a very elegant and fashionable
display of equestrians and charioteers graced the public ride about
three o’clock. The Countesses of Cholmondeley and Harcourt were noticed
for the first time this season, each of whom sported a very elegant
landau. Mr. Buxton sported his four bays in his new phaeton, in a
great style, and Mr. Chartres his fine set of blacks.” Thus showing
that different people have different views of National Fasting and
Chastening.
That the arm of the flesh was also relied on, is shown by the fact that
Parliament in January voted His Majesty 120,000 men, including marines,
for his Navy; and in February 312,048 men for his Army, with suitable
sums for their maintenance and efficiency.
Of course this could not be done without extra taxation, and the
Budget of the 18th of February proposed—an extra tax of 1d., 2d.,
and 3d. respectively on single, double, and treble letters (as they
were called) passing through the post; extra tax of 6d. per bushel on
salt, extra taxes on horses, and on legacies. All these were taken
without much demur, with one exception, and that was the Salt Duty
Bill. Fierce were the squabbles over this tax, and much good eloquence
was expended, both in its behalf and against it, and it had to be
materially altered before it was passed; one of the chief arguments
against it being that it would injuriously affect the fisheries, as
large quantities were used in curing. But a heavy tax on salt would
also hamper bacon and ham curing, &c., and Mrs. Bull had an objection
to see Pitt as
[Illustration: BILLY IN THE SALT-BOX.[21]]
The Flotilla could not sail, and “the Army of England” was inactive,
when circumstances arose that rendered the withdrawal of the latter
imperative: consequently the Flotilla was practically useless, for
it had no troops to transport. Austria had gone to war with France
without the formality of a Declaration, and the forces of the Allies
were computed at 250,000. The French troops were reckoned at 275,000
men, but “the Army of England” comprised 180,000 of these, and they
must needs be diverted to the point of danger.
We can imagine the great wave of relief that spread over the length and
breadth of this land at this good news. The papers were, of course,
most jubilant, and the whole nation must have felt relieved of a great
strain. Even the Volunteers must have got somewhat sick of airing and
parading their patriotism, with the foe within tangible proximity, and
must have greatly preferred its absence.
The _Times_ is especially bitter on the subject:
“1. The _scene_ that now opens upon the soldiers of France, by being
obliged to leave the coast, and march eastwards, is sadly different
from that _Land of Promise_ which, for two years, has been held out
to them, in all sorts of gay delusions. After all the efforts of the
_Imperial Boat Builder_, instead of sailing over the Channel, they have
to cross the _Rhine_. The bleak _forests_ of Suabia will make but a
sorry exchange for the promised spoils of our _Docks_ and _Warehouses_.
They will not find any equivalent for the _plunder of the Bank_, in
another bloody passage through ‘the _Valley of Hell_;’ but they seem to
have forgotten the magnificent promise of the _Milliard_.”[22]
The _Times_ (September 13th) quoting from a French paper, shows that
they endeavoured to put a totally different construction on the
withdrawal of their troops, or rather to make light of it. “Whilst
the German papers, with much noise, make more troops march than all
the Powers together possess, France, which needs not to augment her
forces, in order to display them in an imposing manner, detaches a few
thousand troops from the Army of England, to cover her frontiers, which
are menaced by the imprudent conduct of Austria. England is preparing
fresh victories for us, and for herself fresh motives for decrying
her ambition. After all, those movements are not yet a certain sign of
war,” &c.
The greatest loss the English Nation sustained this year, was the death
of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, which was fought on
the 21st of October, 1805.
[Illustration: DEATH OF NELSON.]
On the 6th of November the glorious news of the Victory was published,
and there was but one opinion—that it was purchased too dearly.
That evening London was but partially illuminated. On the 7th these
symptoms of rejoicing were general, but throughout them there was a
sombre air—a mingling of the cypress with the laurel, and men went
about gloomily, thinking of the dead hero: at least most did—some did
not; even of those who might have worn a decent semblance of woe—old
sailors—some of whom, according to the _Times_, behaved in a somewhat
unseemly manner. “A squadron of shattered _tars_ were drawn up in
_line of battle_, opposite the Treasury, at anchor, with their lights
_aloft_, all _well stowed with grog_, flourishing their mutilated
stumps, cheering all hands, and making the best of their position, in
collecting _prize money_.”
A General Thanksgiving for the Victory was proclaimed to take place on
the 5th of December. The good Volunteers were duly marched to church,
and one member of the Royal Family—the Duke of Cambridge—actually
attended Divine Worship on the occasion. At Drury Lane Theatre, “the
Interlude of _The Victory and Death of Lord Nelson_ seemed to affect
the audience exceedingly; but the tear of sensibility was wiped away by
the merry eccentricities of _The Weathercock_”—the moral to be learned
from which seems to be, that the good folks of the early century seemed
to think that God should not be thanked, nor heroes mourned, too much.
This must close this year, for Nelson’s funeral belongs to the next.
After the Battle of Trafalgar, the Patriotic Fund was again revived,
and over £50,000 subscribed by the end of the year.
Consols were remarkably even during this year, varying very little even
at the news of Trafalgar: January, 61⅞; December, 65.
The quartern loaf varied from January 1s. 4¼d., to December 1s. 0¼d.
Wheat varied from 95s. to 90s. per quarter.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]