At that period the great enemy of this country, Napoleon, was engaged in the great struggle which was then taking place before his first deposition or abdication; and it was a Crisis of Vast Importance, because there was little doubt that in the event of that great Emperor succeeding, his attention would be again turned towards the destruction of this country, and if he had been again established in the plenitude of power on his throne, they had every reason to expect a reiteration of those threats of invasion which for so many years had engaged the attention of this country.