LETTER FROM NAPOLEON TO MURAT. 341

one hundred thousand men under arms; these dividedthroughout the country would suffice to raise the wholeof it against us.

“ I lay before you the inevitable obstacles ; there areothers which you yourself must easily foresee. Englandwill surely not let slip this excellent opportunity to multiplyour embarrassments. She is daily sending supplies andreinforcements to her troops in Portugal and in theMediterranean; both in Sicily and in Portugal she islevying troops.

“ The royal family of Spain , not having gone to establishitself in its dominions of “ the Indies,” nothing but arevolution can change the political atmosphere of Spain ;there are no people in Europe less prepared for change orsocial improvement. Those enlightened men who observethe monstrous vices of the government, and who would bewilling to substitute any authority for that of the royal, arein too small number; the great majority is of those whoprofit by misrule.

Even in accordance with the interest of my empire,I could confer infinite benefits upon Spain . Could ever amore fitting occasion offer!—which should be my firststep?

“ Shall I present myself at Madrid amidst the quarrelsbetween father and son, and make myself the arbitraryjudge? Shall I cause Charles IV . again to reign ? To meit seems a ticklish undertaking:—his rule—his favorite,are too generally abhorred; they would sustain themselvesbut for a moment.

“ The internally sincere enemy of France is Ferdinand.On that sole account was he chosen king to the prejudiceof his father. Shall I place him on the throne in order toserve the faction, that for twenty-five years has been desiringthe destruction of France ? A political family alliance is a