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.  With worship France proclaims
    Her approbation, and with pomps and games
    Heaven grant that other cities may be gay! 
    Calais is not:  and I have bent my way
    To the sea coast, noting that each man frames
    His business as he likes.  Another time
    That was, when I was here long years ago,
    The senselessness of joy was then sublime!” &c.
]

[Footnote 43:  Witness, among other evidences, the noble sonnet of Wordsworth:—­

    “TOUSSAINT, the most unhappy Man of Men! 
    Whether the all-cheering sun be free to shed
    His beams around thee, or thou rest thy head
    Pillowed in some dark dungeon’s noisome den
    O, miserable chieftain! where and when
    Wilt thou find patience!  Yet die not; do thou
    Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful brow: 
    Though fallen Thyself, never to rise again,
    Live and take comfort.  Thou hast left behind
    Powers that will work for thee—­Air, Earth, and Skies;
    There’s not a breathing of the common Wind
    That will forget thee; thou hast great Allies;
    Thy friends are Exultations, Agonies,
    And Love, and Man’s unconquerable Mind.”
]

[Footnote 44:  See Wordsworth’s sonnet, “22nd Sept. 1802.”

    “We had a fellow-passenger who came
    From Calais with us, gaudy in array,—­
    A Negro Woman like a Lady gay,
    Yet silent as a woman fearing blame;
    Dejected, meek, yet pitiably tame,
    She sate, from notice turning not away,
    But on our proffered kindness