unchecked by any reply , hammond went on ; he spoke passionately and at length about the dangers of napoleon 's domination of europe , the stifling of the trade which should otherwise bring great wealth to china , and the threat of an insatiable conqueror spreading his empire ever wider - perhaps , he added , ending on their very doorstep , `` for napoleon has already made one attempt , sir , to come at us in india , and he makes no secret that his ambition is to exceed alexander .