This was not denied by Napoleon; but he saw the opportunity, and determined to profit by it, of exciting the jealousy of other governments, by reclaiming against the exercise, on the part of England, of a species of assault which England, from her maritime predominance, has more temptations and better means to adopt than any other power.

He resolved, therefore, to retaliate by a wholly unprecedented outrage.

The very night that the resolution of the cabinet of St.James's reached Paris, orders were given for arresting the persons of all English subjects residing or travelling within the dominion of France.
Not less than 10,000 persons, chiefly of course of the higher classes of society, thus found themselves condemned to captivity in a hostile land.
Had Napoleon adopted less violent measures, his reclamations against the English government might have been favourably attended to throughout Europe.

But this despotic and unparalleled infliction of exile and misery on a host of innocent private individuals, was productive of far different effects.

It moved universal sympathy, indignation, and disgust.
[Footnote 42: See Wordsworth's verses, "written at Calais the 15th Aug.
1802," in which the indifference of the people is contrasted with their enthusiasm in the early days of the Revolution.
"Festivals have I seen that were not names:-- This is young Buonaparte's natal day; And his is henceforth an established sway, Consul for life.