The whole of the Continent was to be embattled against her.

On the Hapsburg alliance he might well rely.
But the conduct of Prussia gave him some concern.

For a time she seemed about to risk a war _a outrance_, such as Stein, Fichte, and the staunch patriots of the Tugendbund ardently craved.

Indeed, Napoleon's threats to this hapless realm seemed for a time to portend its annihilation.

The King, therefore, sent Scharnhorst first to St.
Petersburg and then to Vienna with secret overtures for an alliance.
They were virtually refused.