THE SQUIEE AND HIS VOLUNTEERS. 163 



Consul, who demanded of tlie English Government 

 that it should restrict their power. A recriminatory 

 war of words, of loud and fierce defiances, influenced 

 the temper of the people on each side of the Channel, 

 and it again became evident that difierences existed 

 which could only be settled by the sword. In a 

 conversation with Lord Whitworth, Napoleon was 

 reported to have said : — " A descent upon your 

 coasts is the only means of ofience I possess ; and 

 that I am determined to attempt, and to put myself 

 at its head. But can you suppose that, after having 

 gained the height on which I stand, I would risk 

 my life and reputation in so hazardous an under- 

 taking, unless compelled to it by absolute necessity. 

 I know that the probabiKty is that I myself, and 

 the greatest part of the expedition, will go to the 

 bottom. There are a hundred chances to one 

 against me; but I am determined to make the 

 attempt ; and such is the disposition of the troops 

 that army after army will be found ready to engage 

 in the enterprise.'^ This conversation took place on 

 the 21st of February, 1803 ; and such were the 

 energetic measures taken by the English Govern- 

 ment and people, that on the 25th of March, inde- 

 pendent of the militia, 80,000 strong, which were 



