The great powers of Europe, then assembled in congress at Vienna, instantly declared, that Napoleon, by breaking the convention which established him as an independent sovereign at Elba, had destroyed the only legal title on which his political existence depended, placed himself without the pale of the law, and proved to the world, that there could neither be truce nor peace with him. The allied powers, in consequence, denounced Napoleon as the enemy and disturber of the tranquillity of Europe, and resolved immediately upon uniting their forces against him and his faction, to preserve, if possible, the general peace. Notwithstanding the hostile declaration of the allied sovereigns, they were utterly unable to put their armies in motion without that most powerful lever, _English gold_, the real sinews of war. Britain’s expenditure in 1815, was no less than 110,000,000_l._ sterling; out of which immense sum 11,000,000_l._ were distributed as subsidies amongst the contracting powers: Austria received 1,796,220_l._; Russia, 3,241,919_l._; Prussia, 2,382,823_l._; and Hanover, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Italy and the Netherlands, with the smaller German states, shared the remainder amongst them. Menacing as the position of the allies towards Napoleon appeared to be, and imposing as were their armies assembling to oppose him, he assumed a bold and resolute posture of defence. The general aspect of France at that time was singularly warlike; nearly the whole nation appeared to be electrified, and buckled on its armour to join the messenger of war. The exaltation of Napoleon was soon however sobered down by the arrival in Paris of the declaration of the allied powers, which document was little calculated to produce a favourable impression as to the ultimate success of the Emperor’s enterprise. The war-cry of nearly every state in Europe was, _To arms! Draw the sword, throw away the scabbard, until the usurper shall be entirely subjugated and his adherents put down_.