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RISE OF THE CONTINENTALempire, but was also a proof how much the Prussian cabinetof that time could submit to, in admitting without hesitationthe army of a conquering power into the heart of its statesin order to maintain its precarious neutrality.The first great effect of this war on the continent, wasthe erection of the French imperial throne. The formalrestoration of an hereditary monarchy in France, could notconsidered in itself, be repugnant to the views of England;but the claims which were involved in this new title, wereof such a nature, that they defeated the prospect of peace,and must have inspired England with hopes of soon beingable again to find allies on the continent ;and who, indeed,could doubt that every exertion would be made to effect thisobject, when Pitt, for the second time, with the same principles, the same powers of mind, though not of body, wasplaced at the head of affairs. 1 The war itself bore altogether a peculiar character. Here were two hostile powersdetermined to wreak on each other all the mischief theycould ;and yet one being strong at sea, the other by land,they could scarcely come at each other. In France, thepopular mind had been so accustomed, during the preceding war, to the loss of colonies, which had scarcely beenrestored, that the operations of the English in this respectcould hardly move it. No field of battle offered itself on whichthe British troops could disembark. Great preparations,however, were made for effectinga descent on England. Anumerous army was assembled on the opposite coast ;awhole fleet of armed and unarmed transports were built tocarry it over. But that, without a fleet to keep open thecommunication with France as well as to cover the passageand landing, an invasion was impracticable, or, if indeedeffected, that it would end in the defeat and capture of theinvading army, was obvious to every one, as was, consequently, that such a design could never have been seriouslyplannedstill there were not ; wanting political,and evenmilitary writers, who believed it ! But on the other side, itwas not less certain that the threatening attitude assumedcould not last for ever, nor even long; that the interest ofthe new ruler of France required a new war ;and experience has now shown, .that the descent upon England was1On 28th May, 1804.