Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/69

BETWEEN THE CZAR AND THE SULTAN. 2i fection of Prussia threw upon the Czar the burthen c H a P. II of having to be foremost in the defence of Austria. ' Therefore, in 1805, the Emperor Alexander came forward with his army to the rescue, and in the following year he refused to stand idle when Prussia was the victim, and again moved forward his armies ; and although he was worsted at Austerlitz in striving to defend Austria, ami although, after heroic struggles in defence of Prussia, he at last was vanquished at Friedland and was obliged to make peace, still his faithful and valorous efforts gained him so much of the respect of Europe, and even of his victorious adver- sary, that, beaten as he was, he was able to go to Tilsit and to negotiate with the great Conqueror of the day upon a footing which resembled equality. It has fallen to the lot of England also to have By En K iami some share of the honour which Europe bestows upon resolute defenders of right ; for when Bona- parte wished to make himself master of Spain and Portugal, it was the interest of England to prevent this result if she could, and to endeavour to thwart and humble the French Emperor in the midst of his triumphs: but it was also for the interest of Europe that England should be able to do this. Nay, so crushing had been the disasters suffered by the Continental States, that the glorious duty of standing foremost and alone in defence of the liberties of mankind was cast for a time upon England. The task might well seem a hard one, for all that the islanders could do was to send out in ships scanty bodies of troops, in order that the