Napoleon had declared the whole of the British Islands in a state of blockade.

The British Government replied by blockading _de facto_ the whole of Europe.

This was done by those celebrated orders in council, which, more than anything else, precipitated the downfall of Napoleon.

They threw the trade of the world into the hands of England.

Of course, Russia was deeply affected, so was Spain and all the other maritime states; and they were all, one way or another, in open hostility with this country.