laborious official, took his seat at the council-board as minister of external relations. Talleyrand's withdrawal had not the slightest influence on the Emperor's foreign policy; in fact, the quidnuncs at Fontainebleau declared that he was seen limping into Napoleon's office almost every evening.[18] But he was so well known in every court, his circle of personal acquaintances was so large, so timorous, and so reverential, that superstitious men believed his retirement augured the turn of Napoleon's fortunes. [Footnote 18: Sorel, Vol. VII, pp. 191-2.] CHAPTER VIII THE EMPIRES OF LAND AND OCEAN[19] [Footnote 19: References as before, and Mahan: Influence of Sea Power upon the French Revolution and Empire. Loir: Etudes d'histoire maritime. Clowes: The Royal Navy. Stanhope: Life of Hon. William Pitt.] Diplomacy at St. Petersburg -- Internal Politics of Russia -- Alexander's Perplexities -- War between Great Britain and Russia -- New Orders in Council -- The Milan Decree -- Position of the United States -- The Regeneration of Prussia -- Napoleon's Repressive Measures -- Austria's New Army -- Diplomatic Tension between Russia and France -- Designs of Napoleon as to Egypt -- He Temporizes with Alexander -- Caulaincourt and Tolstoi -- The Czar's Demands -- Napoleon's Visit to Italy -- Limitations of his Ambition -- Visions of Oriental Empire -- Control of the Mediterranean -- His Proposition to Russia -- His Complete Program.