Hi Mr Cornwell, I’d just like to say in addition to the subject of politics which was recently mentioned that the book Napoleon and Wellington by Andrew Robertson (which I recommend if you haven’t read it) has some information on this subject and is an interesting read altogether. The government at the time was Tory government at the time and I learned from the above book that they tended to support Wellington and the war. I believe the Prime Minister Lord Liverpool, elected in 1812 after the murder of Spencer Perceval, was particularly supportive. As for the Whigs, I was quite shocked to discover that many of them – including high ranking members of society such as the Duchess of Devonshire – actively supported Napoleon’s cause and had supported the French revolution. Yet it’s families like the Devonshires who would have the most to lose if there had been a revolution in Britain at the time! Other points raised by the book were that Napoleon abandoned Spain to his Generals without seeing the job through, a factor which contributed to his eventual defeat, and later his Russian campaign just seems ridiculous! Incidentally the point made at the end of the book interested me – that although Wellington won it’s Napoleon’s dream of a united Europe which is coming true – but I hope Britain remains independent! I have just finished Emperor: The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden, endorsed by you, and I really enjoyed it . I’m looking forward to future books. Marie