CHAPTER XXII.
British Expedition to Copenhagen--Coalition of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, against English Commerce--Internal affairs of France--The Administration of Napoleon--his Council of State--Court--Code--Public Works--Manufactures--Taxes--Military Organisation--The Conscription.
Napoleon, having left strong garrisons in the maritime cities of Poland and Northern Germany, returned to Paris in August, and was received by the Senate and other public bodies with all the triumph and excess of adulation.

The Swedish King abandoned Pomerania immediately on hearing of the treaty of Tilsit.

In effect the authority of the Emperor appeared now to be consolidated over the whole continent of Europe.

He had reached indeed the pinnacle of his power and pride;--henceforth he was to descend; urged downwards, step by step, by the reckless audacity of ambition and the gathering weight of guilt.
The English government, being satisfied that the naval force of Denmark was about to be employed for the purposes of Napoleon, determined to anticipate him, while it was yet time, and to send into the Baltic such a fleet as should at once convince the court of Copenhagen that resistance must be vain, and so bring about the surrender of the vessels of war (to be retained by England, not in property, but in pledge until the conclusion of a general peace), without any loss of life or compromise of honour.

Twenty-seven sail of the line, carrying a considerable body of troops under the orders of Earl Cathcart, appeared before the capital of Denmark in the middle of August, and found the government wholly unprepared for defence.