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Comment by cmdkeen | Hacker News Reader

Napoleon complained of "Pitt's gold" that Britain sent to the continental states in the coalitions. But there were 7 coalitions in total - Napoleon kept defeating them on land, so Britain couldn't rely on them.

I'm just getting stuck into Robert's "Napoleon the Great", my Christmas present to myself!

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British gold bought distractions. Britain has the best navy but on land it couldn't even compete with France. If the French were able to cross the channel from Boulogne, then it'd be the end of the empire.

At Austerlitz, Britain paid money for each dead Russian soldier. English agents were busy counting the dead making sure his majestry's money is well spent while French medics trying to save wounded from both side. Austrian emperor Francis allegedly said 'English are merchants of human flesh.

> At Austerlitz, Britain paid money for each dead Russian soldier. English agents were busy counting the dead making sure his majestry's money is well spent

Can you provide more information on this?

What are your sources of that? I am French myself, and used to be fond of the history of Napoleon, but I never heard of that.

http://www.napoleonicsociety.com/english/Life_Nap_Vol2_Chap1...

Also, Britain routinely paid other monarchies to have them send their soldiers. They hired Germans to fight against American independence. George Washington's famous first victory was crossing the Delaware river and surprise attacked what were actual German legions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessian_%28soldiers%29#American...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_crossing_...

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