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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..78cbecf --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60387 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60387) diff --git a/old/60387-0.txt b/old/60387-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 645bf57..0000000 --- a/old/60387-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14258 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Peninsular War Volume II (of -6), by Robert Southey - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: History of the Peninsular War Volume II (of 6) - -Author: Robert Southey - -Release Date: September 30, 2019 [EBook #60387] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR, VOL 2 *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Charlie Howard, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber’s Note - - -Sidenotes are shown in UPPER-CASE and enclosed in ♦DIAMOND SYMBOLS♦; -italic text is enclosed in _underscores_. Other notes will be found at -the end of this eBook. - - - - -HISTORY - -OF THE - -PENINSULAR WAR. - - - - -LONDON: - -PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS. - - - - - HISTORY - OF THE - PENINSULAR WAR. - - - “Unto thee - “Let thine own times as an old story be.” - - DONNE. - - - BY ROBERT SOUTHEY, ESQ. LL.D. - POET LAUREATE, - - HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY, OF THE - ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY OF HISTORY, OF THE ROYAL - INSTITUTE OF THE NETHERLANDS, OF THE - CYMMRODORION, OF THE MASSACHUSETTS - HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC. - - - A NEW EDITION. - - _IN SIX VOLUMES._ - - VOL. II. - - - LONDON: - JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET. - - MDCCCXXVIII. - - - - -Ἱστορίας γὰρ ἐὰν ἀφέλῃ τις τὸ διὰ τί, καὶ πῶς, καὶ τίνος χάριν ἐπράχθη, -καὶ τὸ πραχθὲν πότερα εὔλογον ἔσχε τὸ τέλος, τὸ καταλειπόμενον αὐτῆς -ἀγώνισμα μὲν, μάθημα δὲ οὐ γίγνεται· καὶ παραυτίκα μὲν τέρπει, πρὸς δὲ -τὸ μέλλον οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ τὸ παράπαν. - - POLYBIUS, lib. iii. sect. 31. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER IX. - PAGE - Preparations at Zaragoza 1 - - Description of that city 3 - - Legend of our Lady of the Pillar 5 - - Contempt of the French for the Zaragozans 7 - - The French attempt to storm the city 8 - - Palafox goes out to collect reinforcements 9 - - General Verdier joins Lefebvre with reinforcements 11 - - The Torrero taken 11 - - The French bombard the city 11 - - Exertions of the women 13 - - Countess Burita 13 - - Augustina Zaragoza 14 - - The French again repulsed in an attempt to take the city by - storm 15 - - They invest the city 16 - - They form a bridge over the Ebro 17 - - Distress of the inhabitants 17 - - Foundling Hospital burnt 18 - - Convent of St. Engracia 19 - - The Hospital set on fire 24 - - War in the streets 25 - - Santiago Sass 26 - - Number of the dead 28 - - Retreat of the enemy 29 - - - CHAPTER X. - - Moretti sent from Badajoz to the Spaniards at Lisbon 35 - - Difficulties of Junot’s situation 35 - - Kellermann takes the command in Alem-Tejo 37 - - He attempts to conciliate the Spaniards at Badajoz 38 - - Distribution of the French troops in Portugal 41 - - The Spaniards at Porto declare against the Intruder, and march - into Spain 41 - - The lawful government restored at Porto 42 - - The Governor adheres to the French, and suppresses the - insurrection 43 - - Junot disarms and seizes the Spaniards at Lisbon 45 - - Junot’s proclamation to the Portugueze 47 - - Festival of the Corpo de Deos at Lisbon 49 - - The procession interrupted by a panic fear 52 - - Junot fortifies the Castle 54 - - Edict for disarming the people 54 - - Movements at Braga 56 - - Insurrection at Melgaço 56 - - The Prince Regent proclaimed at Braganza 59 - - The Braganzans intimidated by the news from Porto 60 - - Second insurrection at Porto 62 - - Formation of a Junta in that city 63 - - Measures of the Junta 66 - - Arrest of Cardoso 67 - - Disturbed state of the people 70 - - The Junta conclude an alliance with the Junta of Galicia 72 - - Its authority acknowledged throughout the north of Portugal 73 - - The insurrection extends toward Coimbra 74 - - Scheme for surprising the enemy in Coimbra 75 - - The French in that city are made prisoners 76 - - The Juiz do Povo takes the command 78 - - Order restored there 79 - - Preparations for defence 80 - - Successful expedition against Figueira 81 - - Loison ordered to march from Almeida to Porto 83 - - He turns back from Mezam Frio 84 - - The peasantry harass his retreat 85 - - He goes to Viseu 86 - - Alarm at Coimbra in consequence of his movements 86 - - He returns to Almeida 87 - - Insurrection at Olham in Algarve 88 - - Success of the insurgents 90 - - The Chamber of Faro issue an edict against them 91 - - Insurrection at Faro 91 - - The French excluded from that city 93 - - A Junta formed at Faro 94 - - The insurrection spreads through Algarve 94 - - The French retreat to Mertola 95 - - The people of Algarve form a treaty with Seville 96 - - Insurrection at Villa-Viçosa 96 - - The French enter the town 98 - - Lobo gets possession of Jurumenha 99 - - A French detachment sent from Mertola to Beja 101 - - The people rise against them 102 - - Beja sacked by the French and set on fire 104 - - Kellermann’s proclamation to the people of Alem-Tejo 105 - - Junot’s proclamation to the Portugueze 106 - - National feeling of the Portugueze 108 - - The Juiz de Fora at Marvam 110 - - His flight 112 - - He returns, and seizes the town 114 - - Insurrection at Campo-Mayor and throughout the - north of the province 115 - - Measures of the French 116 - - They endeavour to avail themselves of the Clergy’s influence 118 - - Insurrection at Thomar 120 - - Insurrection at Leiria 121 - - Success of the insurgents at Nazareth 121 - - Margaron approaches Leiria 122 - - Preparations for defence 123 - - The French enter the city 124 - - Massacre of the prisoners 126 - - Loison’s march from Almeida to Abrantes 127 - - Language of the French Bulletins 129 - - Loison ordered towards Coimbra 132 - - Nazareth sacked and burnt by the French 133 - - A Junta established at Beja 135 - - Junta of Estremoz 136 - - A supreme Junta formed at Evora 138 - - Loison sent into Alem-Tejo 139 - - He advances against Evora 140 - - Action before that city 143 - - The city taken 145 - - Inhumanity of the conquerors 146 - - Alarm at Estremoz 147 - - Loison proceeds to Elvas 149 - - He enters Portalegre 150 - - He is recalled towards Lisbon 151 - - Insubordination of the people at Porto 151 - - Design of a military usurpation in that city 153 - - The conspirators are seized 154 - - Disturbances at Braganza 156 - - The New-Christians plundered at Villa Nova da Foz-Coa 157 - - Troubles at Viseu 159 - - Riotous proceedings at Arcos de Val de Vez 160 - - The rabble enact laws 161 - - Communication between Alem-Tejo and the northern provinces 163 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - State of public feeling in England 166 - - An expedition ordered to the court of Portugal 168 - - Former services of Sir Arthur Wellesley 169 - - Sir Arthur lands at Coruña 171 - - He proceeds to Porto 172 - - He goes to the Tagus to confer with Sir C. Cotton 173 - - Troops landed in the Mondego 174 - - They advance to Leiria 176 - - Joy of the Portugueze in Lisbon 177 - - Measures of the French 179 - - Movements of Laborde and Loison 180 - - General Freire separates from the English 181 - - Motives for this separation 183 - - Skirmish near Caldas 185 - - Laborde takes a position at Roliça 185 - - Battle of Roliça 188 - - Abrantes occupied by the Portugueze 190 - - Movements in Alem-Tejo and Algarve 193 - - Alcacere and Setubal abandoned by the French 194 - - Measures at Lisbon 195 - - Proclamation to the people of Lisbon 196 - - Preparations on board the Russian squadron 199 - - Junction of Loison, Laborde, and Junot 200 - - The British advance to Vimeiro 200 - - General Anstruther’s brigade lands 201 - - Arrival of Sir Harry Burrard in the roads 202 - - He alters the plan of the campaign 203 - - Battle of Vimeiro 205 - - The French resolve to propose terms 216 - - Arrival of Sir Hew Dalrymple 218 - - He orders the army to advance 219 - - Kellermann comes to negotiate for the evacuation of Portugal 221 - - Terms of the armistice 222 - - Junot returns to Lisbon 224 - - General Freire dissatisfied with the armistice 226 - - Difficulty concerning the Russian squadron 227 - - Convention of Cintra 228 - - Remonstrances of the Portugueze Commander 233 - - Reply of Sir Hew Dalrymple 236 - - The British flag hoisted in the forts 238 - - Anarchy in Lisbon 239 - - The French continue to plunder 240 - - Question concerning baggage 241 - - The French endeavour to carry off articles from the Museum 243 - - They embark horses, carriages, and pictures, which are - recovered 243 - - They carry off large sums in money 244 - - Question concerning the silver in bars 245 - - Farther instances of dishonour in the French 246 - - Protests of the Monteiro Mor, and of the Juiz do Povo 247 - - Danger of tumults in Lisbon 249 - - Temper of the French 251 - - Their embarkation 252 - - Final report of the commissioners 253 - - Addresses of thanks to the British Commander 254 - - Galluzo besieges Elvas 255 - - Difficulties concerning the surrender of Elvas 257 - - Elvas and Almeida given up 259 - - Tumults at Porto 260 - - The Spanish troops at Lisbon embarked for Catalonia 262 - - Intrigues of the Junta of Porto 263 - - Council of Regency re-established 265 - - Outcry in England against the Convention 267 - - Board of Inquiry appointed 273 - - Its decision 274 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - Necessity of a provisional Government 277 - - Castaños prevents a contest between Granada and Seville 279 - - Plans for a Government 279 - - Arrival of a Sicilian Prince at Gibraltar 280 - - Ambition of the Junta of Seville 282 - - The Council of Castille advise a Central Junta 283 - - Project of the Junta of Seville 284 - - The Provincial Juntas assent to it 289 - - Unworthy choice of the Junta of Seville 290 - - The other members unexceptionable 292 - - Jovellanos refuses all offers from the Intrusive Government 295 - - Aranjuez chosen for the place of meeting 296 - - Installation of the Central Junta 298 - - Conduct of the Council of Castille 299 - - The Leonese Deputies arrested by Cuesta 300 - - Cuesta’s vindication of his conduct 301 - - The Council of Castille interfere 303 - - Cuesta is summoned before the Junta 303 - - Declaration of the New Government 306 - - Jovellanos proposes a Regency, and that a Cortes be summoned 311 - - Expectations from a Cortes 313 - - State of the war in Catalonia 315 - - Duhesme resolves to besiege Gerona 316 - - Difficulties on the march 317 - - Troops from Minorca land at Tarragona 318 - - Barcelona blockaded 319 - - The Junta of Catalonia remove to the head-quarters 320 - - Caldagues sent to interrupt the siege of Gerona 321 - - He attacks the enemy’s batteries with success 321 - - Duhesme raises the siege 323 - - Unpopularity of the Commander in Catalonia 324 - - Difficulties of the service 325 - - The Marques approaches Barcelona 327 - - British troops ordered from Sicily to Catalonia, but detained - by the Commander 328 - - Bilbao occupied by the French 329 - - Difficulties in bringing the Spanish armies into the field 330 - - The Marques de la Romana 333 - - Distribution of his troops in the Baltic 334 - - Their conduct when the oath of allegiance to Joseph was - proposed 336 - - An agent sent to communicate with him 337 - - He asks for a force to cover his retreat 338 - - Sir Richard Keats goes upon this service 339 - - Plan for collecting the Spanish troops 340 - - Romana takes possession of Nyborg 341 - - The entrance of the British squadron is resisted 342 - - Arrival of some of the regiments from Jutland 343 - - They leave the Isle of Funen 344 - - Fate of the horses 345 - - The Spaniards are landed in the Isle of Langeland 346 - - They sail for Gottenburg, and there embark for Spain 348 - - Romana lands in England 349 - - Error of the Spaniards in not appointing a commander-in-chief 350 - - Difficulty of feeding their armies 350 - - Bilbao taken by the French, and retaken 351 - - Position of the armies in October 352 - - Commissioners sent to the Spanish armies 353 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - Buonaparte deeply affected by the reverses in Spain 355 - - He conceals them from the French people 356 - - Statement of the French Government 358 - - Report of M. Champagny 360 - - Second Report 363 - - Report of the War-minister 365 - - Suspicion of the views of Austria 367 - - Message from Buonaparte to the Senate 368 - - The Senate approves his measures 369 - - March of the troops toward Spain 371 - - Speech of Buonaparte to the troops 373 - - Conferences at Erfurth 374 - - Overtures of peace 374 - - Reply of the British Government 376 - - Reply of the Russian and French Ministers 378 - - Final answer of the British Government 380 - - British Declaration 381 - - Buonaparte departs for Spain 384 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - Movements against Blake’s army 387 - - Blake falls back to Espinosa 388 - - Battle of Espinosa 390 - - Dispersion of Blake’s army at Reynosa 393 - - Buonaparte arrives in Spain 394 - - Defeat of the Extremaduran army at Burgos 395 - - Proclamation excluding certain Spaniards from pardon 396 - - Movements against Castaños 398 - - Battle of Tudela 398 - - Retreat of the defeated army 400 - - Their deplorable condition at Calatayud 401 - - They are ordered to approach Madrid 402 - - Measures of the Central Junta 403 - - Pass of the Somosierra forced 407 - - The Junta retire from Aranjuez 408 - - State of Madrid 409 - - Marques de Perales murdered by the populace 411 - - Duque del Infantado sent to the central army 411 - - Madrid summoned 412 - - Morla treats for a capitulation 414 - - Speech of Buonaparte to the Deputies 415 - - Surrender of Madrid 417 - - Decrees issued by Buonaparte 419 - - Proclamation to the Spaniards 420 - - Change in Buonaparte’s views concerning Spain 422 - - Retreat of the central army 423 - - Lapeña succeeds to the command 424 - - They reach Guadalaxara 425 - - The Duque del Infantado joins them 427 - - Condition of the troops 427 - - They retire toward the Tagus 429 - - Passage of the Tagus 430 - - Some of the troops mutiny 431 - - Infantado chosen Commander 432 - - They retire to Cuenca 432 - - Arrival of the Conde de Alache’s corps 434 - - Retreat of the Central Junta from Aranjuez 439 - - Their address to the people of Madrid 440 - - The French enter Toledo 442 - - Defence of Villacañas 444 - - Preparations for defending the Sierra Morena 446 - - Murder of S. Juan at Talavera 447 - - Edict against deserters 450 - - English stragglers butchered by the French cavalry 451 - - The French take possession of the Escurial 452 - - Excesses of the French 454 - - Galluzo collects the fugitives in Extremadura 456 - - He prepares for the defence of the Tagus 457 - - The French cross the river 459 - - Galluzo retreats to Jaraicejo 460 - - Dispersion of his army 461 - - Galluzo is superseded by Cuesta 463 - - - CHAPTER XV. - - Buonaparte reproaches and insults the English 465 - - The British army from Portugal enters Spain 466 - - Former services of Sir John Moore 468 - - His care to maintain discipline 468 - - Ill prospect of affairs when he arrives at Salamanca 469 - - Sir David Baird arrives at Astorga 470 - - Sir John Moore resolves to retreat upon Portugal, and embark - from Lisbon 471 - - He asks the opinion of the British Ambassador 473 - - Mr. Frere’s reply 475 - - He wishes the army to advance for the defence of Madrid 475 - - Two Spanish Generals sent to confer with Sir John Moore 477 - - Morla and the military Junta urge him to advance 477 - - Colonel Charmilly sent to Sir John Moore by the Duque del - Infantado and Mr. Frere 479 - - Sir John Moore resolves to advance 481 - - News of the surrender of Madrid 483 - - Correspondence with Romana 485 - - First skirmish at Rueda 486 - - The command of the Spanish armies offered to Sir John Moore, - and refused 488 - - Junction formed with Sir David Baird 490 - - They advance against Marshal Soult 491 - - The French endeavour to surround the British army 493 - - Sir John Moore begins his retreat 493 - - Ill conduct of the troops 496 - - Passage of the Ezla 496 - - General orders issued at Benevente 497 - - Affair of cavalry on the Ezla 499 - - Sir John Moore reaches Astorga 501 - - Honourable conduct of Romana and his army 502 - - Sir John Moore pursues his retreat 503 - - The Bierzo 505 - - Disorders committed by the troops 506 - - Buonaparte stops at Astorga 507 - - Skirmish at Cacabelos 509 - - Retreat continued from Villa Franca 510 - - Treasure abandoned 513 - - The army collects at Lugo 514 - - Sir John offers battle 516 - - Retreat to Coruña 517 - - Sir John is advised to propose terms 519 - - Preparations for battle 520 - - The artillery embarked 521 - - Battle of Coruña 522 - - Repulse of the French 527 - - Death of Sir John Moore 529 - - Embarkation of the army 530 - - - - -HISTORY - -OF THE - -PENINSULAR WAR. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA. - - -♦1808. JUNE.♦ - -Important as the battle of Baylen was in its direct and immediate -consequences to the Spaniards, their cause derived greater celebrity -and more permanent strength from the defence of Zaragoza. - -♦PREPARATIONS AT ZARAGOZA.♦ - -Order had been restored in that city from the hour when Palafox assumed -the command. Implicit confidence in the commander produced implicit -and alert obedience, and preparations were made with zeal and activity -proportioned to the danger. When the new Captain-General declared war -against the French, the troops which he mustered amounted only to 220 -men, and the public treasury could furnish him with no more than an -hundred dollars; sixteen ill-mounted guns were all the artillery in -the place, and the arsenal contained but few muskets. Fowling-pieces -were put in requisition, pikes were forged, powder was supplied from -the mills at Villafeliche, which were some of the most considerable -in Spain, ... for every thing else Palafox trusted to his country and -his cause. And his trust was not in vain; the Zaragozans were ready to -endure any suffering and make any sacrifice in the discharge of their -duty; the same spirit possessed the whole country, and from all those -parts of Spain which were under the yoke of the enemy officers and -soldiers repaired to Zaragoza as soon as it was seen that an army was -collecting there; many came from Madrid and from Pampluna, and some -officers of engineers from the military academy at Alcala. And the -spirits of the people were encouraged by the discovery of a depôt of -fire-arms walled up in the Aljafaria; they had probably been secreted -there in the succession war, when one party resigned that city to its -enemies, and their discovery in this time of need was regarded by the -Zaragozans as a manifestation of divine Providence in their favour. The -defeats which their undisciplined levies sustained at Tudela, Mallen, -and Alagon abated not their resolution; and in the last of these -actions a handful of regular troops protected their retreat with great -steadiness. The French general, Lefebvre Desnouettes, pursuing his -hitherto uninterrupted success, advanced, and took up a position very -near the city, and covered by a rising ground planted with olive trees. - -♦DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY.♦ - -Zaragoza was not a [1]fortified town; the brick wall which surrounded -it was from ten to twelve feet high, and three feet thick, and in -many places it was interrupted by houses, which formed part of the -inclosure. The city had no advantages of situation for its defence, -and would not have been considered capable of resistance by any men -but those whose courage was sustained by a virtuous and holy principle -of duty. It stands in an open plain, which was then covered with olive -grounds, and is bounded on either hand by high and distant mountains; -but it is commanded by some high ground called the Torrero, about a -mile to the south-west, upon which there was a convent, with some -smaller buildings. The canal of Aragon divides this elevation from -another rising ground, where the Spaniards had erected a battery. The -Ebro bathes the walls of the city, and separates it from the suburbs; -it has two bridges, within musket-shot of each other; one of wood, -said to be more beautiful than any other of the like materials in -Europe; the other of freestone, consisting of seven arches, the largest -of which is 122 feet in diameter; the river is fordable above the -city. Two smaller rivers, the Galego and the Guerva, flow at a little -distance from the city, the one on the east, the other on the west; -the latter being separated from the walls only by the breadth of the -common road: both are received into the Ebro. Unlike most other places -of the peninsula, Zaragoza has neither aqueduct nor fountains, but -derives its water wholly from the river. The people of Tortosa, (and -probably of the other towns upon its course,) drink also of the Ebro, -preferring it to the finest spring; the water is of a dirty red colour, -but, having stood a few hours, it becomes perfectly clear, and has a -softness and pleasantness of taste, which soon induces strangers to -agree with the natives in their preference of it. The population was -stated in the census of 1787 at 42,600; that of 1797, excellent as it -is in all other respects, has the fault of not specifying the places -in each district; later accounts computed its inhabitants at 60,000, -and it was certainly one of the largest cities in the peninsula. It had -twelve gates, four of them in the old wall of Augustus, by whom the -older town of Salduba upon the same site was enlarged, beautified, and -called Cæsarea-Augusta, or Cæsaraugusta; a word easily corrupted into -its [2]present name. - -The whole city is built of brick; even the convents and churches were -of this coarse material, which was bad of its kind, so that there -were cracks in most of these edifices from top to bottom. The houses -are not so high as they usually are in old Spanish towns, their -general height being only three stories; the streets are, as usual, -very narrow and crooked; there are, however, open market-places; and -one very wide, long, and regularly built street, formerly called the -Calle Santa, having been the scene of many martyrdoms, but now more -commonly known by the name of the Cozo. The people, like the rest of -the Aragonese, and their neighbours, the Catalans, have been always -honourably distinguished in Spanish history for their love of liberty; -and the many unavailing struggles which they have made during the -last four centuries, had not abated their attachment to the good -principles of their forefathers. Within the peninsula, (and once -indeed throughout the whole of Catholic Europe,) Zaragoza was famous -as the city of our Lady of the Pillar, whose legend is still so firmly -believed by the people, and most of the clergy in Spain, that it was -frequently appealed to in the proclamations of the different generals -and Juntas, as one of the most popular articles of the national faith. -The legend is this: when ♦OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR.♦ the apostles, after -the resurrection, separated and went to preach the gospel in different -parts of the world, St. James the elder, (or Santiago, as he may more -properly be called in his mythological history,) departed for Spain, -which province Christ himself had previously commended to his care. -When he went to kiss the hand of the Virgin, and request her leave -to set off, and her blessing, she commanded him, in the name of her -Son, to build a church to her honour in that city of Spain wherein he -should make the greatest number of converts, adding, that she would -give him farther instructions concerning the edifice upon the spot. -Santiago set sail, landed in Galicia, and, having preached with little -success through the northern provinces, reached Cæsarea-Augusta, where -he made eight disciples. One night, after he had been conversing -and praying with them as usual on the banks of the river, they fell -asleep, and just at midnight the apostle heard heavenly voices sing, -_Ave Maria gratia plena!_ He fell on his knees, and instantly beheld -the Virgin upon a marble pillar in the midst of a choir of angels, -who went through the whole of her matin service. When this was ended, -she bade him build her church around that pillar, which his Lord, -her blessed Son, had sent him by the hands of his angels; there, she -told him, that pillar was to remain till the end of the world, and -great mercies would be vouchsafed there to those who supplicated for -them in her name. Having said this, the angels transported her back -to her house at Jerusalem, (for this was before the Assumption) and -Santiago, in obedience, erected upon that spot the first church which -was ever dedicated to the Virgin[3]. Cathedral service was performed -both in this church and in the see, and the meetings of the chapter -were held alternately in each. The interior of each was of the most -imposing[4] kind. When the elder of these joint cathedrals was erected, -Pope Gelasius granted indulgencies to all persons who would contribute -toward the work, and thus introduced a practice which contributed as -much to the grandeur and magnificence of ecclesiastical architecture, -as to laxity of morals and the prevalence of superstition. - -♦CONTEMPT OF THE FRENCH FOR THE ZARAGOZANS.♦ - -Many mournful scenes of bigotry and superstition have been exhibited -in Zaragoza; but, in these fiery trials which Buonaparte’s tyranny was -preparing for the inhabitants, the dross and tinsel of their faith -disappeared, and its pure gold remained. The French, accustomed as -they were to undervalue the Spanish character, had spoken with peculiar -contempt of the Zaragozans. “Few persons,” they said, “are to be seen -among them who distinguish themselves by their dress; there is little -of that elegant attire so observable in large cities. All is serious -and regular, ... dull and monotonous. The place seems without any kind -of resource, because the inhabitants use no effort to obtain any; ... -accustomed to a state of apathy and languor, they have not an idea -of the possibility of shaking it off[5].” With this feeling, equally -despising the strength of the place, and the character of the people, -the French proceeded to besiege the capital of Aragon. A party of -their cavalry entered the town on the 14th, perhaps in pursuit of the -retreating patriots; they thought to scour the streets, but they were -soon made to feel, that the superiority of disciplined soldiers to -citizens exists only in the field. - -♦JUNE 15. - -THE FRENCH ATTEMPT TO STORM THE CITY.♦ - -On the following morning, the French, with part of their force, -attacked the outposts upon the canal, and, with their main body, -attempted to storm the city by the gate called Portillo. A desperate -conflict ensued. The Aragonese fought with a spirit worthy of their -cause. They had neither time, nor room, nor necessity for order. -Their cannon, which they had hastily planted before the gates, and -in the best situations without the town, were served by any persons -who happened to be near them; any one gave orders who felt himself -competent to take the command. A party of the enemy entered the city, -and were all slain. Lefebvre perceived that it was hopeless to persist -in the attack with his present force, and drew off his troops, having -suffered great loss. The patriots lost about 2000 men killed, and as -many wounded. In such a conflict the circumstances are so materially -in favour of the defendants, that the carnage made among the French -must have been much greater. Some part of their baggage and plunder -was abandoned in their retreat. The conquerors would have exposed -themselves by a rash pursuit, but Palafox exhorted them not to be -impatient, telling them, that the enemy would give them frequent -opportunities to display their courage. While he thus restrained their -impetuosity, he continued to excite their zeal. This victory, he said, -was but the commencement of the triumphs which they were to expect -under the powerful assistance of their divine patrons. The precious -blood of their brethren had been shed in the field of glory, ... on -their own soil. Those blessed martyrs required new victims; let us, he -added, prepare for the sacrifice! - -♦PALAFOX GOES OUT TO COLLECT REINFORCEMENTS.♦ - -The Zaragozans had obtained only a respite; defeated as he was, -Lefebvre had only removed beyond the reach of their guns; his troops -were far superior to any which they could bring against him; and it was -not to be doubted that he would soon return in greater force, to take -vengeance for the repulse and the disgrace which he had suffered. A -regular siege was to be expected; how were the citizens to sustain it -with their brick walls, without heavy artillery, and without troops -who could sally to interrupt the besiegers in their works? In spite of -all these discouraging circumstances, confiding in God and their own -courage, they determined to defend the streets to the last extremity. -Palafox, immediately after the repulse of the enemy, set out to -muster reinforcements, to provide such resources for the siege as he -could, and to place the rest of Aragon in a state of defence, if the -capital should fall. He was accompanied by Colonel Butron, his friend -and aide-de-camp; Lieut.-Colonel Beillan, of the engineers; Padre -Basilio, and Tio Jorge. With these companions and a small escort he -left the city by the suburbs, crossed the Ebro at Pina, and collecting -on the way about 1400 soldiers who had escaped from Madrid, formed a -junction at Belchite with Baron Versage and some newly raised troops -from Calatayud. Their united numbers amounted to some 7000 men, with -100 horse and four pieces of artillery. Small as this force was, -and still more inefficient for want of discipline than of numerical -strength, Palafox resolved upon making an attempt with it to succour -the city. The prudence of this determination was justly questioned by -some; others proposed the strange measure of marching to Valencia: -this probably originated with some of the stray soldiers who were at -liberty to seek their fortune where they pleased, and the proposal -was so well received that a considerable party prepared to set off -in that direction, without orders. But Palafox called them together, -exhorted them to do their duty, and offered passports to as many as -chose to leave him in the moment of danger. The consequence of this -offer was that not a man departed. From Almunia, where he had rested a -day, he then marched towards Epila, thinking to advance to the village -of La Muela, and thus place the invaders between his little army and -the city, in the hope of cutting them off from their reinforcements. -Lefebvre prevented this, by suddenly attacking him at Epila, on the -night of the 23d: after a most obstinate resistance, the superior arms -and discipline of the French were successful. The wreck of this gallant -band retreated to Calatayud, and afterwards, with great difficulty, -threw themselves into Zaragoza. - -♦G. VERDIER JOINS LEFEBVRE WITH REINFORCEMENT.♦ - -The besiegers’ army was soon reinforced by General Verdier, with 2500 -men, besides some battalions of Portugueze, who, according to the -devilish system of Buonaparte’s tyranny, had been forced out of their -own country, to be pushed on in the foremost ranks, wherever the first -fire of a battery was to be received, a line of bayonets clogged, -or a ditch filled, with bodies. They occupied the best positions in -the surrounding plain, and, on the 27th, attacked the city and the -Torrero; but they were repulsed with the loss of 800 men, six pieces -of artillery, and five carts of ammunition. By this time, they had -invested nearly half the town. The next morning they renewed the attack -at both places; from the city they were again repulsed, losing almost -all the cavalry who were engaged. But the Torrero ♦THE TORRERO TAKEN.♦ -was lost through the alleged misconduct of an artillery officer, who -was charged with having made his men abandon the batteries at the most -critical moment. For this he was condemned to run the gauntlet six -times, the soldiers beating him with their ramrods, and after this -cruelty he was shot. - -♦THE FRENCH BOMBARD THE CITY.♦ - -The French, having now received a train of mortars, howitzers, and -twelve-pounders, which were of sufficient calibre against mud walls, -kept up a constant fire, and showered down shells and grenades from the -Torrero. About twelve hundred were thrown into the town, and there was -not one building that was bomb proof within the walls. After a time, -the inhabitants placed beams of timber together, endways, against the -houses, in a sloping direction, behind which those who were near when -a shell fell, might shelter themselves. The enemy continued also to -invest the city more closely, while the Aragonese made every effort -to strengthen their means of defence. They tore down the awnings from -their windows, and formed them into sacks, which they filled with -sand, and piled up before the gates, in the form of a battery, digging -round it a deep trench. They broke holes for musketry in the walls and -intermediate buildings, and stationed cannon where the position was -favourable for it. The houses in the environs were destroyed. “Gardens -and olive grounds,” says an eye-witness, “that in better times had been -the recreation and support of their owners, were cheerfully rooted up -by the proprietors themselves, wherever they impeded the defence of the -city, or covered the approach of the enemy.” ♦EXERTIONS OF THE WOMEN.♦ -Women of all ranks assisted; they formed themselves into companies, -some to relieve the wounded, some to carry water, wine, and provisions, -to those who defended the gates. The ♦COUNTESS BURITA.♦ Countess Burita -instituted a corps for this service; she was young, delicate, and -beautiful. In the midst of the most tremendous fire of shot and shells, -she was seen coolly attending to those occupations which were now -become her duty; nor throughout the whole of a two months’ siege did -the imminent danger, to which she incessantly exposed herself, produce -the slightest apparent effect upon her, or in the slightest degree -bend her from her heroic purpose. Some of the monks bore arms; others -exercised their spiritual offices to the dying: others, with the nuns, -were busied in making cartridges which the children distributed. - -Among threescore thousand persons there will always be found some -wicked enough for any employment, and the art of corrupting has -constituted great part of the French system of war. During the night -of the 28th the powder magazine, in the area where the bull-fights -were performed, which was in the very heart of the city, was blown -up, by which fourteen houses were destroyed, and about 200 persons -killed. This was the signal for the enemy to appear before three gates -which had been sold to them. And while the inhabitants were digging -out their fellow-citizens from the ruins, a fire was opened upon them -with mortars, howitzers, and cannons, which had now been received for -battering the town. Their attack seemed chiefly to be directed against -the gate called Portillo, and a large square building near it, without -the walls, and surrounded by a deep ditch; though called a castle, -it served only for a prison. The sand-bag battery before this gate -was frequently destroyed, and as often reconstructed under the fire -of the enemy. The carnage here throughout ♦AUGUSTINA ZARAGOZA.♦ the -day was dreadful. Augustina Zaragoza, a handsome woman of the lower -class, about twenty-two years of age, arrived at this battery with -refreshments, at the time when not a man who defended it was left -alive, so tremendous was the fire which the French kept up against -it. For a moment the citizens hesitated to re-man the guns. Augustina -sprung forward over the dead and dying, snatched a match from the hand -of a dead artilleryman, and fired off a six-and-twenty pounder; then, -jumping upon the gun, made a solemn vow never to quit it alive during -the siege. Such a sight could not but animate with fresh courage all -who beheld it. The Zaragozans rushed into the battery, and renewed -their fire with greater vigour than ever, and the French were repulsed -here, and at all other points, with great slaughter. On the morning -of this day a fellow was detected going out of the city with letters -to Murat. It was not till after these repeated proofs of treasonable -practices, that the French residents in Zaragoza, with other suspected -persons, were taken into custody. - -♦THE FRENCH AGAIN REPULSED IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE CITY BY STORM.♦ - -Lefebvre now supposing that his destructive bombardment must have -dismayed the people, and convinced them how impossible it was for so -defenceless a city to persist in withstanding him, again attempted to -force his way into the town, thinking that, as soon as his troops could -effect a lodgement within the gates, the Zaragozans would submit. On -the 2d of July, a column of his army marched out of their battery, -which was almost within musket-shot of the Portillo, and advanced -towards it with fixed bayonets, and without firing a shot. But when -they reached the castle, such a discharge of grape and musketry was -opened upon their flank, that, notwithstanding the most spirited -exertions of their officers, the column immediately dispersed. The -remainder of their force had been drawn up to support their attack, -and follow them into the city; but it was impossible to bring them a -second time to the charge. The general, however, ordered another column -instantly to advance against the gate of the Carmen, on the left of -the Portillo. This entrance was defended by a sand-bag battery, and by -musketeers, who lined the walls on each side, and commanded two out of -three approaches to it; and here also the French suffered great loss, -and were repulsed. - -♦THEY INVEST THE CITY.♦ - -The military men in Zaragoza considered these attacks as extremely -injudicious. Lefebvre probably was so indignant at meeting with any -opposition from a people whom he despised, and a place which, according -to the rules and pedantry of war, was not tenable, that he lost his -temper, and thought to subdue them the shortest way, by mere violence -and superior force. Having found his mistake, he proceeded to invest -the city still more closely. In the beginning of the siege, the -besieged received some scanty succours; yet, however scanty, they were -of importance. Four hundred soldiers from the regiment of Estremadura, -small parties from other corps, and a few artillerymen got in. Two -hundred of the militia of Logrono were added to these artillerymen, and -soon learnt their new service, being in the presence of an enemy whom -they had such righteous reason to abhor. Two four-and-twenty-pounders -and a few shells, which were much wanted, were procured from Lerida. -The enemy, meantime, were amply supplied with stores from the magazine -in the citadel of Pamplona, which they had so perfidiously seized on -their first entrance, as allies, into Spain. Hitherto they had remained -on the right[6] bank of the Ebro. On the 11th of July they forced the -passage of the ford, and posted troops enough on the opposite side to -protect their workmen while forming a floating bridge. In spite of -all the ♦1808. JULY. THEY FORM A BRIDGE OVER THE EBRO.♦ efforts of -the Aragonese, this bridge was completed on the 14th; a way was thus -made for their cavalry, to their superiority in which the French were -mostly indebted for all their victories in Spain. This gave them the -command of the surrounding country; they destroyed the mills, levied -contributions on the villages, and cut off every communication by which -the besieged had hitherto received supplies. These new difficulties -called out new resources in this admirable people and their general, -... a man worthy of commanding such a people in such times. Corn mills, -worked by horses, were erected in various parts of the city; the -monks were employed in manufacturing gunpowder, materials for which -were obtained by immediately collecting all the sulphur in the place, -by washing the soil of the streets to extract its nitre, and making -charcoal from the stalks of hemp, which in that part of Spain grows to -a magnitude that would elsewhere be thought very unusual[7]. - -♦DISTRESS OF THE INHABITANTS.♦ - -By the end of July the city was completely invested, the supply of food -was scanty, and the inhabitants had no reason to expect succour. Their -exertions had now been unremitted for forty-six days, and nothing but -the sense of duty could have supported their bodily strength and their -spirit under such trials. They were in hourly expectation of another -general attack, or another bombardment. They had not a single place of -security for the sick and the children, and the number of wounded was -daily increased by repeated skirmishes, in which they engaged for the -purpose of opening a communication with the country. At this juncture -they made one desperate effort to recover the Torrero. It was in vain; -and convinced by repeated losses, and especially by this last repulse, -that it was hopeless to make any effectual sally, they resolved to -abide the issue of the contest within the walls, and conquer or perish -there. - -♦FOUNDLING HOSPITAL BURNT.♦ - -♦1808. AUGUST.♦ - -On the night of the second of August, and on the following day, the -French bombarded the city from their batteries opposite the gate of -the Carmen. A foundling hospital, which was now filled with the sick -and wounded, took fire, and was rapidly consumed. During this scene of -horror, the most intrepid exertions were made to rescue these helpless -sufferers from the flames. No person thought of his own property or -individual concerns, ... every one hastened thither. The women were -eminently conspicuous in their exertions, regardless of the shot and -shells which fell about them, and braving the flames of the building. -It has often been remarked, that the wickedness of women exceeds -that of the other sex; ... for the same reason, when circumstances, -forcing them out of the sphere of their ordinary nature, compel them to -exercise manly virtues, they display them in the highest degree, and, -when they are once awakened to a sense of patriotism, they carry the -principle to its most heroic pitch. The loss of women and boys, during -this siege, was very great, fully proportionate to that of men; they -were always the most forward, and the difficulty was to teach them a -prudent and proper sense of their danger. - -♦CONVENT OF ST. ENGRACIA. - -AUGUST 3.♦ - -On the following day, the French completed their batteries upon the -right bank of the Guerva, within pistol-shot of the gate of St. -Engracia, so called from a splendid church and convent of Jeronimites, -situated on one side of it. This convent was, on many accounts, a -remarkable place. Men of letters beheld it with reverence, because the -excellent historian Zurita spent the last years of his life there, -observing the rules of the community, though he had not entered into -the order; and because he was buried there, and his countryman and -fellow-labourer, Geronymo de Blancas, after him. Devotees revered it, -even in the neighbourhood of our Lady of the Pillar, for its relics -and the saint to whom it was dedicated. According to the legend, she -was the daughter of Ont Comerus, a barbarian chief, in the pay of the -Romans, by whom the city of Norba Cæsarea, (situated near the Tagus, -between the present towns of Portalegre and Alcantara) was given -him, together with its district, for his service in recovering it -from Cathelius, a chief of the Alemanni. His daughter, Encratis, or -Encratide, (for from one of these names Engracia has been formed) was -brought up a Christian, and espoused to a governor on the Gallic side -of the Pyrenees, to whom she was sent with a suitable escort. Their way -lay through Cæsarea-Augusta, where the Præses, or Governor of Spain, -Publius Dacianus, the bloodiest minister of the tenth persecution, -was at that time endeavouring to extirpate Christianity. Engracia, -either preferring martyrdom to her unknown spouse, or imagining that -her rank would be her safeguard, visited the governor for the purpose -of interceding in behalf of the Christians, and remonstrating against -his cruelty. Thus much of the legend is probably fabulous; but certain -it is, that a virgin of that name was tortured under that persecution; -and, though she survived, was venerated as a [8]martyr in that city, -before the close of the century in which she suffered. Just, however, -as her claim is to pious remembrance, her church, and the divine -honours which have been paid to her, were procured by fraud. Angels -are said to have descended at her death, and to have officiated at her -funeral, bearing tapers and thuribules, and singing hymns of triumph. -During the Moorish captivity, her relics disappeared; they were -discovered towards the close of the fourteenth century, which was the -great age for inventions of this kind. There stood at that time, upon -the site of this memorable convent, an old church, dedicated to the -Zaragozan martyrs, of the tenth persecution, and called the _Iglesia -de las Masas_, in memory of an early specimen of Catholic ingenuity. -Dacianus, holding relic-worship in as much contempt as the Christians -did his idolatry, in order to prevent them from indulging in it, burnt -the bodies of the martyrs, together with those of some malefactors, -thinking that their ashes would be undistinguishable; nevertheless, the -Christians found their own, which had collected together in white balls -or masses, separate from the rest. In 1389, the regular canons, to whom -the church belonged, resolved to rebuild a part of it: in digging the -foundation, two marble chests were discovered. The lid of the smaller -was fastened down very firmly with a sort of pitch; when this was taken -off, two sets of human bones were found in different compartments; -over the one were the words _Lupercii Martyris_, sculptured in the -marble; over the other, _Engratiæ Virginis_: these latter were of -rose-colour, which was admitted as proof of their authenticity. The -larger chest contained a great assortment of anonymous bones, ashes, -and the white masses, which had disappeared for so many centuries. -The mine was very rich; the workmen went on till they had invented -thirteen chests, and at last, a whole pit full of relics, not the -less efficacious because it could not be ascertained to whom they had -belonged. Seventy years afterwards, Juan II. of Aragon, one of the -wickedest and most perfidious of men, fancied or feigned, that by St. -Engracia’s intercession, he was cured of a complaint in his eyes; in -consequence of which, he resolved to enlarge this church, and build a -monastery adjoining it for the Jeronimites, ... an order which, during -that and the succeeding age, was in great favour at the three courts -of the Peninsula. He began his work, but died without completing it, -leaving that charge by will to his son, Ferdinand, the Catholic king. -He continued the building, but it was not finished till the reign of -Charles the Fifth. - -Both the church and convent were splendidly adorned, but the most -remarkable part of the whole edifice was a subterranean church, formed -in the place where the relics were discovered, and having the pit, or -well, as it was called, in the middle. It was divided by a beautiful -iron grating, which excluded laymen from the interior of the sanctuary. -There were three descents; the widest flight of steps was that which -was for public use, the two others were for the religioners, and met -in one behind the three chief altars, within the grating. Over the -midst of these altars were two tombs, placed one upon the other in a -niche; the under one containing the relics of Engracia’s companions -and fellows in martyrdom; the upper, those of the saint herself, her -head excepted, which was kept in a silver shrine, having a collar of -precious stones, and enclosed in crystal. The altars on either side -had their respective relics; and several others, equally rich in such -treasures, were ranged along the walls, without the grating. The roof -was of an azure colour, studded with stars to represent the sky. The -breadth of the vault considerably exceeded its length; it was sixty -feet wide, and only forty long. Thirty little columns, of different -marbles, supported the roof. On the stone brink of the well, the -history of the Zaragozan martyrs was represented in bas-relief; and an -iron grating, reaching to the roof, secured it from being profaned by -idle curiosity, and from the pious larcenies which it might otherwise -have tempted. Within this cage-work, a silver lamp was suspended. -Thirty such lamps were burning there day and night; and, though -the roof was little more than twelve feet high, it was never in the -slightest degree sullied with smoke. The fact is certain[9]; but the -useful and important secret, by which oil was made to burn without -producing smoke, was carefully concealed; and the Jeronimites continued -till this time to exhibit a miracle, which puzzled all who did not -believe it to be miraculous. - -♦THE HOSPITAL SET ON FIRE.♦ - -On the 4th of August, the French opened batteries within pistol-shot -of this church and convent. The mud walls were levelled at the first -discharge; and the besiegers rushing through the opening, took the -batteries before the adjacent gates in reverse. Here General Mori, who -had distinguished himself on many former occasions, was made prisoner. -The street of St. Engracia, which they had thus entered, leads into -the Cozo, and the corner buildings where it thus terminated, were -on the one hand the convent of St. Francisco, and on the other the -General Hospital. Both were stormed and set on fire; the sick and the -wounded threw themselves from the windows to escape the flames, and -the horror of the scene was aggravated by the maniacs, whose voices -raving or singing in paroxysms of wilder madness, or crying in vain -to be set free, were heard amid the confusion of dreadful sounds. -Many fell victims to the fire, and some to the indiscriminating fury -of the assailants. Those who escaped were conducted as prisoners to -the Torrero; but when their condition had been discovered, they were -sent back on the morrow, to take their chance in the siege. After a -severe contest and dreadful carnage, the French forced their way into -the Cozo, in the very centre of the city, and, before the day closed, -were in possession of one half of Zaragoza. Lefebvre now believed -that he had effected his purpose, and required Palafox to surrender, -in a note containing only these words: “Head-quarters, St. Engracia. -Capitulation[10]!” The heroic Spaniard immediately returned this reply: -“Head-quarters, Zaragoza. War at the knife’s point[11]!” - -♦WAR IN THE STREETS.♦ - -The contest which was now carried on is unexampled in history. One side -of the Cozo, a street about as wide as Pall-mall, was possessed by the -French; and, in the centre of it, their general, Verdier, gave his -orders from the Franciscan convent. The opposite side was maintained -by the Aragonese, who threw up batteries at the openings of the cross -streets, within a few paces of those which the French erected against -them. The intervening space was presently heaped with dead, either -slain upon the spot, or ♦AUGUST 5.♦ thrown out from the windows. Next -day the ammunition of the citizens began to fail; ... the French -were expected every moment to renew their efforts for completing the -conquest, and even this circumstance occasioned no dismay, nor did any -one think of capitulation. One cry was heard from the people, wherever -Palafox rode among them, that, if powder failed, they were ready to -attack the enemy with their knives, ... formidable weapons in the hands -of desperate ♦THE CITY RECEIVES A REINFORCEMENT.♦ men. Just before the -day closed, Don Francisco Palafox, the general’s brother, entered the -city with a convoy of arms, and ammunition, and a reinforcement of -three thousand men, composed of Spanish guards, Swiss, and volunteers -of Aragon, ... a succour as little expected by the Zaragozans, as it -had been provided against by the enemy. - -♦P. SANTIAGO SASS.♦ - -The war was now continued from street to street, from house to house, -and from room to room; pride and indignation having wrought up the -French to a pitch of obstinate fury, little inferior to the devoted -courage of the patriots. During the whole siege, no man distinguished -himself more remarkably than the curate of one of the parishes, -within the walls, by name P. Santiago Sass. He was always to be seen -in the streets, sometimes fighting with the most determined bravery -against the enemies, not of his country alone, but of freedom, and -of all virtuous principles, wherever they were to be found; at other -times, administering the sacrament to the dying, and confirming, with -the authority of faith, that hope, which gives to death, under such -circumstances, the joy, the exultation, the triumph, and the spirit of -martyrdom. Palafox reposed the utmost confidence in this brave priest, -and selected him whenever any thing peculiarly difficult or hazardous -was to be done. At the head of forty chosen men, he succeeded in -introducing a supply of powder into the town, so essentially necessary -for its defence. - -This most obstinate and murderous contest was continued for eleven -successive days and nights, more indeed by night than by day; for it -was almost certain death to appear by daylight within reach of those -houses which were occupied by the other party. But under cover of the -darkness, the combatants frequently dashed across the street to attack -each other’s batteries; and the battles which began there, were often -carried on into the houses beyond, where they fought from room to room, -and floor to floor. The hostile batteries were so near each other, that -a Spaniard in one place made way under cover of the dead bodies, which -completely filled the space between them, and fastened a rope to one of -the French cannons; in the struggle which ensued, the rope broke, and -the Zaragozans lost their prize at the very moment when they thought -themselves sure of it[12]. - -♦NUMBER OF THE DEAD.♦ - -A new horror was added to the dreadful circumstances of war in this -ever memorable siege. In general engagements the dead are left upon -the field of battle, and the survivors remove to clear ground and -an untainted atmosphere; but here ... in Spain, and in the month of -August, there where the dead lay the struggle was still carried on, and -pestilence was dreaded from the enormous accumulation of putrifying -bodies. Nothing in the whole course of the siege so much embarrassed -Palafox as this evil. The only remedy was to tie ropes to the French -prisoners, and push them forward amid the dead and dying, to remove -the bodies, and bring them away for interment. Even for this necessary -office there was no truce, and it would have been certain death to the -Aragonese who should have attempted to perform it; but the prisoners -were in general secured by the pity of their own soldiers, and in this -manner the evil was, in some degree, diminished. - -♦RETREAT OF THE ENEMY.♦ - -A council of war was held by the Spaniards on the 8th, not for the -purpose which is too usual in such councils, but that their heroic -resolution might be communicated with authority to the people. It was, -that in those quarters of the city where the Aragonese still maintained -their ground, they should continue to defend themselves with the same -firmness: should the enemy at last prevail, they were then to retire -over the Ebro into the suburbs, break down the bridge, and defend the -suburbs till they perished. When this resolution was made public, it -was received with the loudest acclamations. But in every conflict -the citizens now gained ground upon the soldiers, winning it inch by -inch, till the space occupied by the enemy, which on the day of their -entrance was nearly half the city, was gradually reduced to about an -eighth part. Meantime, intelligence of the events in other parts of -Spain was received by the French, ... all tending to dishearten them; -the surrender of Dupont, the failure of Moncey before Valencia, and -the news that the Junta of that province had dispatched six thousand -men to join the levies in Aragon, which were destined to relieve -Zaragoza. During the night of the 13th, their fire was particularly -fierce and destructive; after their batteries had ceased, flames burst -out in many parts of the buildings which they had won; their last -act was to blow up the church of St. Engracia; the powder was placed -in the subterranean church, ... and this remarkable place, ... this -monument of fraud and of credulity, ... the splendid theatre wherein -so many feelings of deep devotion had been excited, ... which so many -thousands had visited in faith, and from which unquestionably many had -departed with their imaginations elevated, their principles ennobled, -and their hearts strengthened, was laid in ruins. In the morning the -French columns, to the great surprise of the Spaniards, were seen at a -distance, retreating over the plain, on the road to Pamplona. - -The history of a battle, however skilfully narrated, is necessarily -uninteresting to all except military men; but in the detail of a siege, -when time has destroyed those considerations, which prejudice or -pervert our natural sense of right and wrong, every reader sympathizes -with the besieged, and nothing, even in fictitious narratives, -excites so deep and animating an interest. There is not, either in -the annals of ancient or of modern times, a single event recorded -more worthy to be held in admiration, now and for evermore, than the -siege of Zaragoza. Will it be said that this devoted people obtained -for themselves, by all this heroism and all these sacrifices, nothing -more than a short respite from their fate? Woe be to the slavish heart -that conceives the thought, and shame to the base tongue that gives it -utterance! They purchased for themselves an everlasting remembrance -upon earth, ... a place in the memory and love of all good men in all -ages that are yet to come. They performed their duty; they redeemed -their souls from the yoke; they left an example to their country, never -to be forgotten, never to be out of mind, and sure to contribute to and -hasten its deliverance. - -One of the first cares of Palafox, after the delivery of the city, -was, to establish a board of health to provide against the effects -of putrefaction, ... such was the number of French who were left -dead in the houses and in the streets. Pamplona, whither the wreck -of their army retreated, was for many days filled with carts full -and horse-loads of wounded, who arrived faster and in greater number -than they could be lodged in the hospitals and convents. It was -equally shocking to humanity to behold their sufferings, and the cruel -regardlessness of their comrades, who, while these wretches were -fainting for want of assistance and of food, and literally dying in the -streets, were exposing their booty to sale, and courting purchasers -for church plate, watches, jewels, linen, and apparel, the plunder -which they had collected in Navarre and Aragon; and which, in their -eagerness to convert into money, they were offering at a small part of -their value. There were, however, scarcely any purchasers except for -the church plate, which was bought for the purpose of restoring it, at -the same cost, to the churches and monasteries from whence it had been -stolen. - -The temper of the Zaragozans after their victory was not less heroic -than their conduct during the struggle. It might have been expected -that some degree of exhaustion would have succeeded the state of -excitement to which they had been wrought; and that the widowed, the -childless, and they who were left destitute, would now have lamented -what they had lost, or, at least, that they themselves had not perished -also. This, however, was not so. Mr. Vaughan visited Zaragoza a little -while after the siege, and remained there during several weeks: he saw -(they are his own impressive words) “many a parent who had lost his -children, and many a man reduced from competence to poverty, but he -literally did not meet with one human being who uttered the slightest -complaint: every feeling seemed to be swallowed up in the memory of -what they had recently done, and in a just hatred of the French.” These -are the effects of patriotism, aided and strengthened by religion: its -influence, thus elevated and confirmed, made women and boys efficient -in the time of action, and the streets of a city not less formidable -to an invader than the best constructed works of defence. Let not the -faith which animated the Aragonese be called superstition, because our -Lady of the Pillar, Santiago, and St. Engracia, were its symbols. It -was virtually and essentially religion in its inward life and spirit; -it was the sense of what they owed equally to their forefathers and -their children; the knowledge that their cause was as righteous as -any for which an injured and insulted people ever rose in arms; the -hope that by the blessing of God upon that cause they might succeed; -the certain faith that if they fell, it was with the feeling, the -motive, and the merit of martyrdom. Life or death therefore became to -the Zaragozans only not indifferent, because life was useful to the -cause for which they held it in trust, and were ready to lay it down: -they who fell expired in triumph, and the survivors rather envied -than regretted them. The living had no fears for themselves, and for -the same reason they could have no sorrows for the dead. The whole -greatness of our nature was called forth, ... a power which had lain -dormant, and of which the possessors themselves had not suspected the -existence, till it manifested itself in the hour of trial. - -When the dead were removed, and the ruins sufficiently cleared, -Ferdinand was proclaimed ♦AUGUST 20.♦ with all the usual solemnities; -a ceremony, at other times attended with no other feeling than such as -sports and festivity occasion, now made affecting by the situation of -Ferdinand himself, and the scene which surrounded the spectators; walls -blackened with fire, shattered with artillery, and stained with ♦AUGUST -25.♦ blood. The obsequies of the Spaniards who had fallen were next -performed with military honours, and their funeral oration pronounced -from the pulpit. The brave priest Santiago Sass was made chaplain to -the commander in chief, and Palafox gave him a captain’s commission. -These were times when the religion of Mattathias and the Maccabees was -required; and the priest of the altar was in the exercise of his duty, -when defending it, sword in hand, in the field. A pension was settled -upon Augustina, and the daily pay of an artilleryman. She was also to -wear a small shield of honour embroidered upon the sleeve of her gown, -with Zaragoza inscribed upon it. Tio Jorge was killed during the siege. -Other persons, who had distinguished themselves, were rewarded; and -the general reward which Palafox conferred upon the Zaragozan people, -is strongly characteristic of Spanish ♦SEPT. 20.♦ feeling. By his own -authority, and in the name of Ferdinand, he conferred upon all the -inhabitants of the city and its districts, of both sexes and of all -ranks, the perpetual and irrevocable privilege of never being adjudged -to any disgraceful punishment by any tribunal for any offence, except -for treason or blasphemy. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -INSURRECTION IN PORTUGAL. - - -♦1808. MAY.♦ - -While these events were passing in Spain, Portugal also was convulsed -by this political ♦AN AGENT SENT FROM BADAJOZ TO THE SPANIARDS AT -LISBON.♦ earthquake. The first insurrection in Madrid had been no -sooner known at Badajoz, than an anonymous proclamation from that -city was circulated on the Portugueze border; and a lieutenant of the -Walloon Guards, by name Moretti, was sent to consult at Lisbon with -General Carraffa upon the means of withdrawing the Spanish troops. -Carraffa thought it too hazardous to declare ♦NEVES, T. III. 7.♦ -himself at that time; but though in other respect acting altogether -in subservience to Junot, he did not make him acquainted with the -transaction, and Moretti returned in safety. - -♦DIFFICULTIES OF JUNOT’S SITUATION.♦ - -Junot was now disturbed from his dreams of royalty; yet his head lay as -uneasily as if it had worn a crown. Like the other French commanders, -when the insurrectionary movement became general throughout Spain, -he thought it impossible that any continued or formidable resistance -could be opposed to the power of France: but his own situation was -exposed to peculiar danger; he was farther removed from assistance than -any of the other commanders in the Peninsula; there was an English -squadron in sight, watching the course of events, and in defiance -of all his vigilance, well informed of whatever was going on; and -it was not to be doubted, that if a favourable opportunity offered, -Great Britain would make an effort for the deliverance of Portugal. -Pursuant to his instructions from Madrid, he had sent into Galicia the -remains of Taranco’s division, so that Carraffa’s was now the only one -which remained; some 4000 of these were at Porto, the rest were in -detachments at Lisbon, Mafra, Santarem, and on the other side the Tagus -at Setubal, Cezimbra, and ♦NEVES, III. 66.♦ other places. In the hope -of exciting a national feeling against them, and thereby counteracting -that sympathy which their common language, manners, and religion, and -now a sense of their common interest, were producing between them -and the Portugueze, rumours were spread, that by an arrangement made -with Buonaparte, Portugal was to be governed by Spain till its fate -should be determined at a general peace. But this artifice failed. -The Spaniards were not to be deceived; from the time when they knew -that Ferdinand had been inveigled to Bayonne, there was an end of all -good understanding between them and the French; and they were so ready -to engage in personal quarrels, from the national indignation which -possessed them, that it was found necessary to confine them to their -quarters at an early hour in the evening. Care was taken to divide them -into small detachments, and station every where with them a superior -number of French. Many deserted, especially of those who were quartered -beyond the Tagus. Some made their way to the Spanish frontiers in -strong parties. The regiment of Murcia marched for Spain in a body, -in defiance of its colonel; a detachment of 600 French was sent from -Lisbon to intercept them; they met at ♦NEVES, III. 67.♦ Os Pegoens; -this was a case in which individual ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 287.♦ -strength and determination were of more avail than military discipline; -the Spaniards were victorious, and proceeded on their way, receiving -the utmost kindness from the people, and nearly two hundred wounded -French were landed at Lisbon. - -♦KELLERMANN TAKES THE COMMAND IN ALEM-TEJO.♦ - -Badajoz was the point to which the Spaniards repaired from Alem-Tejo -and the south of Portugal, and the numbers who were collected there -made such an addition to the strength of the garrison, that General -Kellermann, who was then at Elvas, felt himself ill at ease in the -neighbourhood. That general had taken the command in Alem-Tejo -upon Solano’s departure, and so different was the spirit of his -administration, that one of his first measures was by his own authority -to impose an extraordinary contribution upon the exhausted province. -Evora was to pay 10,000 _cruzados novos_, Elvas and Portalegre 8000 -each, Villa-Viçosa 6000, and other places in proportion. The sum was -exacted within six hours after the demand: but it was restored without -♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, P. 277.♦ delay, in consequence of peremptory -orders from Junot, when complaint was made to him of this unauthorized -exaction. He was displeased with Kellermann for presuming to levy -money at his own pleasure, and this was no time for exasperating the -people by farther acts of oppression. Already they were in so perturbed -a state, that it ♦MAY 22.♦ was deemed expedient to order all absent -bishops and beneficed priests to return to their dioceses and cures, -and there exert themselves in preserving order, and exhorting the -people to submission. Buonaparte had reckoned upon the good services -of the clergy; experience, he said, had shown him that countries where -there were many friars were easily conquered; ... he was undeceived of -both errors in the Peninsula. - -♦HE ATTEMPTS TO CONCILIATE THE SPANIARDS AT BADAJOZ.♦ - -In the hope of reviving old animosities, and exciting the Portugueze -to act against the Spaniards, Kellermann called out the _Ordenanças_, -and required the people of Elvas to take arms for the defence of -their city, which, he said, the Spaniards, eternal enemies to the -name and independence of Portugal, were preparing to attack ♦JUNE -1.♦ from Badajoz. At the same time he sent a letter to the Spaniards -of that place, exhorting them to return to their duty, and promising -intercession, and pardon and protection. No answer was returned; he -then put forth an argumentative address to the Commandant and the -Representatives of Extremadura, asking them what end they could propose -to themselves from the revolt in which they had blindly engaged? The -House of Bourbon had renounced all its rights to Spain; Ferdinand was -in France, and the right of appointing a king for the Spaniards had -been transferred ♦1808. JUNE.♦ to the Emperor. Did they wish to draw -upon themselves the evils by which France had been ravaged during so -many years? If that country had come with glory out of a struggle -which would for ever be celebrated, it was owing to her internal -strength, her valour, and above all the talents of that extraordinary -man whom Heaven had sent to reign over her, for her happiness, and -for the happiness of the Spaniards also, if they chose it. Could they -expect a like issue? Would valour alone suffice to effect it? What was -their position? Half Spain had declared for the new order of things. -Their own countrymen would take the field against them. The French -armies were in the midst of the land, under the greatest generals, -without enemies, and abundantly supplied with all the means of war. -On their part they had only some soldiers who had murdered their -chiefs; a populace vain of their own strength, because they had met -with no resistance; and a few miserable English, the eternal artists -of discord, active in stirring up enemies to the French, and always -ready, like cowards, to abandon the victims of their infernal policy. -Nor was there any thing in the change which had taken place to provoke -their opposition. At the commencement of the preceding century Spain -had called Philip V. to the throne, for the purpose of establishing -an invariable union ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 288.♦ with France. The -establishment upon that throne of a prince of the new French dynasty -was nothing more than a consequence of the system which Spain had then -adopted, and which was now confirmed. There was yet time to choose. The -sword was not yet drawn, the door was still open for reconciliation, -... and he requested that they would not close the gate of their city -against his communications. To this also no answer was vouchsafed. He -made a third effort, telling them that he would suspend hostilities -till they should be better informed, and desiring the Junta to meet him -at the Caya, the little stream which there divides the kingdoms. No -persons were there to meet him; and he then began to store the forts of -Elvas, and to devise plans for attacking Badajoz, expecting, no doubt, -that some of the troops in Spain would be ordered upon that service. -Believing too that fêtes and rejoicings would have as much effect in -Portugal as in France, he appointed a day of public thanksgiving for -the benefits which Napoleon had promised to confer upon the Portugueze. -They were not a people to be thus deceived. Their hearts were with the -Spaniards, and so many repaired to Badajoz, where D. Joseph Galluzo, -with great activity, was forming a camp, that they were incorporated -in a legion of foreign volunteers, the command of which was given to -Moretti. Many artillerymen escaped thither from Elvas; some hundred -of the Portugueze troops whom the French had ordered away for foreign -consumption, had been collected there; ♦NEVES, III. 75.♦ promotion -was offered to all officers of that nation who should join them, and -Kellermann’s vigilance could not prevent the emigration which took -place in consequence. - -♦DISTRIBUTION OF THE FRENCH TROOPS IN PORTUGAL.♦ - -A considerable garrison was required in Elvas, as being the strongest -fortress in the kingdom, and now of more importance because of the -hostile attitude which the Spaniards at Badajoz had assumed. Strong -garrisons were placed at Peniche and Setubal, for fear of the English. -Almeida also had been occupied by the French. ♦NEVES, III. 77.♦ Except -the troops in that place there were no other French in the whole north -of Portugal than the small parties stationed upon the military road, -a weak detachment at Figueira, and some fifty men at Coimbra. The -great body of the French was collected at Lisbon, and in the adjacent -country, where, in case of sudden danger, they might be brought to -act promptly and with ♦THE SPANIARDS AT PORTO DECLARE AGAINST THE -INTRUDER, AND MARCH INTO SPAIN.♦ effect. Porto was in possession of -the Spaniards, who had occupied it by virtue of the secret treaty -of Fontainebleau. General Bellesta, however, upon whom the command -had devolved, had been placed under the orders of the French General -Quesnel, when the abortive kingdom of Northern Lusitania was no longer -held out as a lure to the court of Spain. Quesnel had with him about -seventy dragoons, and a few other French, holding military or civil -situations. When news arrived of the movements in Gallicia, Bellesta, -obeying without hesitation the voice of his country, ♦JUNE 6.♦ arrested -the French and their general, and convoking the military, judicial, -and civil authorities, explained to them briefly the situation of -affairs, expressed a hope that Junot would by that time have been -seized in Lisbon, as Quesnel was in Porto, and asked of them what -course they would pursue, ... whether they would restore the national -government, choose a Spanish one, or remain in submission to the -French? The _Vereador_, Thomas da Silva Ferras, replied, that he, and -the chamber, and the city, desired nothing more than to be under the -government of their lawful sovereign, and required that the royal -arms might immediately be re-established. A _Desembargador_ ventured -to observe, that they had no authority to determine such things, not -being representatives of the people; that they were without arms, ... -that they had no means of resisting so terrible an enemy as the French; -and that it was better to wait till they knew what had happened at -Lisbon. Reasonable as the fear was which this speaker expressed, a more -generous feeling prevailed, and by Bellesta’s orders the _Sargento -Mor_, Raymundo José Pinheiro, went from the meeting to take the command -of ♦NEVES, III. C. 6.♦ the fortress of S. Joam da Foz, at the mouth of -the Douro. - -♦THE LAWFUL GOVERNMENT RESTORED AT PORTO.♦ - -It was late at night when the meeting broke up. Raymundo called -together his officers; they bound themselves by a formal deed and -solemn oath to act for the service of their lawful Prince against the -French, and invoking the aid of Our Lady of the Rosary, to whom that -castle was dedicated, vowed in the Prince’s name to solemnize the -anniversary of that day by a festival to her honour. At daybreak the -Quinas were once more seen flying upon the fortress, a royal salute -was fired, and returned from the castles of Queijo and Matozinhos, -the bells were rung, rockets were discharged, and the people gave -themselves up to joy. The Spaniards without delay marched for Coruña, -taking with them their prisoners. An English brig of war, which was -cruising off the river, hearing an unusual stir in the city, drew near -in hopes of ascertaining the cause; Raymundo went on board, he was -received with due honours, and an officer returned to shore ♦NEVES, -III. 85–91.♦ with him, and was sent to Luiz de Oliveira da Costa, who -commanded at Porto during the absence of General Bernardim Freire de -Andrada. - -♦THE GOVERNOR ADHERES TO THE FRENCH, AND SUPPRESSES THE INSURRECTION.♦ - -Luiz de Oliveira had been present at the meeting which Bellesta -convened, and assented to the resolution which had there been taken. -Whether his heart was with his voice on that occasion, or whether he -had submitted to the prevailing opinion only while it was dangerous -to oppose it, the fear of the French returned upon him, now that the -Spaniards had left Porto to its own means of defence; and instead of -receiving the English officer with open arms, he wrote to Raymundo, -calling him to account for having opened a communication with the -English brig, and saying that he knew nothing of the business. Raymundo -replied with great spirit, that if the governor had forgotten what -passed when the government of the Prince Regent was re-established, he -had not; he and his officers had proclaimed their beloved Sovereign, he -had invited the English commander, in the Prince’s name, to assist him; -and if any person disputed the propriety of what he had done, he would -make that person know what the power of the royal name was, and that -that port was open for the English. Raymundo’s means, however, were not -commensurate with his will; the people of Porto were disheartened by -the departure of the Spaniards, and the city remained to all appearance -in perfect submission to the French government, while the Portugueze -flag was flying at S. Joam da Foz. A lieutenant-colonel, by name Manoel -Ribeiro de Araujo, now presented himself in that fortress with an order -from Oliveira to take the command. Raymundo told him, that if it were -taken for the service of the Prince, he was ready to resign it into -his hands; but if it were his intention to follow the French part, he -might return to the place from whence he came, for within those walls -no other name should be acknowledged than that of the lawful sovereign, -and not a shot should be fired from them against the English. Araujo -returned in the evening with fair words, and invited Raymundo to the -governor’s house, there to confer with him upon the best mode of -proceeding in the present critical circumstances. The treacherous -invitation was accepted, and he had no sooner set foot within -Oliveira’s apartment than he was arrested as a disturber of the people. -The next step would have been to deliver him up to the French, and to -certain death; but though he had with strange want of circumspection -walked into the snare, neither his courage nor his presence of mind -forsook him. Oliveira, with Araujo and another officer, went out into -the varanda to give directions ♦NEVES, III. 91–97.♦ concerning him; -Raymundo, who was left alone in the apartment, quietly locked the -varanda door, and lost no time in gaining a place of concealment. - -♦JUNOT DISARMS AND SEIZES THE SPANIARDS AT LISBON.♦ - -Bellesta had left a letter for Junot, which the Chamber of Porto, as -soon as his departure left them to the sense of their own weakness, -dispatched to Lisbon, with assurance of their continued submission -to the French. The news reached him at the close of an entertainment -given by the French officers at the theatre, where, though the Russian -admiral and his officers were present, the portrait of Buonaparte was -displayed, with the Russian flag lying among other trophies ♦OBSERVADOR -PORTUGUEZ, 292.♦ at his feet. A sense of insecurity was manifested amid -their festivities; the avenues to the theatre were occupied by armed -troops, fire engines were made ready, and all the watermen were ordered -to be at hand with their barrels full. The entertainment continued -till four in the morning, and immediately afterward movements were -observed which indicated that some important intelligence had arrived; -couriers were sent off, troops crossed the Tagus, and detachments -marched to Mafra, Santarem, and other places. A body of Spaniards who -were stationed in the Campo de Ourique were ordered to the Convent -of S. Francisco da Cidade, an unfinished pile of enormous magnitude, -which the French occupied as barracks, and where a thousand men were -waiting to disarm them as soon as they should enter. The Spaniards, -when they drew nigh, suspected ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 295.♦ some ill -design, and fixing their bayonets, declared they would not be quartered -there. They were allowed to return without interruption; and in the -evening they and their countrymen at Val de Pereiro, being in all -1200, were ordered to assemble at two in the morning, in the Terreiro -do Paço, there to embark and cross the river on their way to Spain. -Thither they repaired joyfully, and found 3000 troops awaiting them, -with cannon placed under the arcades of that great square, and at the -mouths of the streets which open into it; and they were summoned to -lay down their arms and baggage, and surrender. In the course of that -and the succeeding day, the Spaniards from Mafra and other parts were -brought in as prisoners, in a condition which excited the compassion -of the people, their women exhausted with the fatigue of marching in -the burning heat of summer, some carrying children at the breast, and -some, who were unable to walk, tied upon the baggage carts, lest they -should be thrown off. The whole number of Spaniards thus arrested was -somewhat above 4500; they were confined in hulks upon the Tagus. The -officers were left at liberty upon their parole; but after a few days, -when several had broken an engagement, which, considering the manner -in which they had been seized, they did not think themselves bound in -honour to observe, they were placed under the same confinement as the -men. Junot then informed his army, in public orders, that the infamous -conduct of the Spanish General Bellesta, the revolt of two regiments, -the arrest of some of his officers at Badajoz and at Ciudad Rodrigo, -and the inability of the Spanish commanders to control their men, had -compelled him to this severe measure. Happily it had been executed -without shedding blood. These Spaniards were not enemies; they should -receive pay and provisions as heretofore, and their actual situation -in no degree altered his good disposition toward them. ♦NEVES, III. -99-109. OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 300.♦ He expressed his satisfaction -at the conduct of his soldiers; and said, that if the English thought -proper to make an attack, they were now fully at leisure to receive -them. - -♦JUNOT’S PROCLAMATION TO THE PORTUGUEZE.♦ - -He addressed a proclamation also to the Portugueze, wherein with -incautious effrontery he avowed the double treachery which had been -♦JUNE 11.♦ practised upon them and upon the Spaniards. After six months -of tranquillity, he said, the peace of the kingdom had been in danger -of being disturbed by the Spanish troops, who entered the country -apparently as allies, but in reality with the intention of dismembering -it. No sooner had he in the Emperor’s name taken possession of the -whole government, than they had begun to show their dissent: and at -length their conduct at Porto, and in other places, had compelled him -to disarm all who were within his reach. “Portugueze,” he continued, -“I have hitherto been satisfied with your good disposition. You have -known how to appreciate the advantages which must result to you from -the protection of Napoleon the Great. You have had confidence in me. -Continue it, and I will guarantee your country from all invasion, from -all dismemberment. If the English, who know not how to do any thing -except fomenting discord, choose to seek us, they will find us ready to -defend you. Some of your militia and your remaining troops shall make -part of my army to cover your frontiers; they will be instructed in the -art of war, and if I may be fortunate enough to put in practice the -lessons which I learnt from Napoleon, ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 297.♦ I -will teach you how to conquer.” Junot seems at this time to have aimed -at conciliating the Portugueze soldiers, and making them act with his -army. For this purpose he announced certain new regulations by which -they were placed upon the same footing with the French ♦JUNE 14.♦ as to -their pay and provisions. Hitherto four-fifths of their pay had been -in paper money, which was at a great discount; the proportion was now -reduced to two-thirds. A promise was made that the first item in the -monthly military expenses should be for the allowance of the Portugueze -prisoners in Algiers. The manner in which it was notified that the -troops were to be under French command, was not in the imperious tone -which the Duke of Abrantes, as he styled himself, heretofore had used; -they were to form part of the divisions, it was said, within whose -districts they were stationed; consequently the French commanders were -to include them in their reports, and inspect and review them, to see -that they received what was their due, and to perfect and accelerate -their instruction. The ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 303.♦ artillery, cavalry, -engineers, and marine, were to be immediately under the orders of the -respective French generals, who by this means would know their force, -watch over their instruction, and see to their welfare: the intention -of his majesty being, that the Portugueze troops should be treated in -the same manner as his own in all respects. - -♦FESTIVAL OF THE CORPO DE DEOS AT LISBON.♦ - -But it was too late for conciliation and flattery, after so many -acts of insolent oppression: and an accident at this time occurred -to manifest ♦JUNE 16.♦ with what suspicious apprehensions the French -and the inhabitants of Lisbon mutually regarded each other. The day -arrived for the annual procession of the Corpo de Deos. In the days -of Joam V. this had been the most splendid display which the Catholic -religion exhibited in Europe; and though in latter years the management -had been less perfect, and there had been some diminution of its -splendour, it was still a spectacle of unrivalled magnificence and -riches. The streets of the capital on that occasion, and that only, -were cleaned and strewn with fine gravel; the houses were hung with -damask; the troops in their new uniforms, the various companies -and brotherhoods, civil and religious, each with their banners, the -knights of the military orders, and all the monks and friars of Lisbon, -moved in the procession; which was closed by the dignitaries of the -patriarchal church, the Prince in person, and the chief persons of -his court, following the great object of Catholic adoration, which on -that day, and that day only, was actually carried abroad. The most -remarkable object in this pompous display used to be an image of St. -George in complete armour, upon a beautiful horse, led by a squire and -supported by pages on each side, and accompanied by the finest horses -from the royal stables, with rich housings, and escutcheons thrown -across their saddles. These horses and the saint had formed part of the -procession from the year 1387, with one interruption only, early in the -seventeenth century, when, at the instigation of a certain Mordomo, the -Archbishop of Lisbon excluded the horses, as thinking it irreverent -that the Real Presence should be preceded by unreasonable creatures. -St. George’s charger alone was excepted from the prohibition; but in -the midst of the procession that charger suddenly stopped, and could -neither be induced nor compelled to proceed; it was not doubted that -the rider had chosen this means to manifest his displeasure at the -privation of his accustomed train; the Archbishop revoked his order -upon the spot, and when the horses were introduced as usual, St. George -consented to move forward, and the ceremony of the day was concluded -with more than wonted satisfaction. The profane Mordomo, however, was -not forgiven; on the following Sunday, when he was saying mass at the -saint’s altar, St. George let ♦MAPPA DE PORTUGAL, T. II. 257.♦ his -spear drop from his hand upon the offender’s head. - -The image which performed this miracle, after appearing annually in the -procession during more than 350 years, was destroyed by fire at the -time of the great earthquake. A new one, however, had been substituted, -which succeeded to all the honours and miraculous properties of its -predecessor. One of the finest horses which could be found in Portugal -was selected to bear the saint in the great procession, and reserved -for that single purpose, as if any other would have desecrated it. -Junot, however, had taken St. George’s horse for himself, and rode it -every Sunday when he reviewed his troops. And this year, for the first -time, St. George was not to bear a part in the pageant: the reason -which the French assigned for excluding him was, that he could not -appear with his usual splendour, because the jewels of the Cadaval -family, which he always wore in his hat on that day, had been taken to -Brazil when the court emigrated. Other motives were imagined by the -Portugueze: when the saint returned, after the fatigues of the day, a -royal present had always been allotted him; it was thought that the -French wished to spare themselves this expense. They were carrying on -works within the circuit of the castle which were designed to command -the city, and render the place defensible against the English and the -Portugueze themselves; these works were carried on secretly, but it was -part of the ceremony that St. George should enter the castle, and in -that case his retinue would have observed what ♦NEVES, III. 257.♦ was -going on. Lastly, the people said that the French did not choose to let -St. George go into public because he was an English saint. - -♦THE PROCESSION INTERRUPTED BY A PANIC FEAR.♦ - -In all other things Junot wished the Lisboners to see that the -spectacle had lost nothing of its wonted splendour. The procession had -performed half its course when a sudden alarm arose, occasioned, it is -said, by a thief, who being detected in some petty larceny, cried out, -in the hope of exciting confusion and effecting his escape, that the -English were crossing the bar. A general tumult ensued; some of the -French formed as if expecting immediately to be attacked, ... others -hurried to their posts with a celerity which was absurdly attributed -to fear instead of promptitude; a crowd rushed into the church of S. -Domingos for sanctuary, from whence the chapter of the patriarchal -church were just about to proceed with the pix, in which the Romish -mystery of impanation, the object of that day’s superstition, was -contained. Some of the insignia which were to form a part of the show -were thrown down and broken in the rush, and the clergy hastened to -secure themselves each where he could. Not the mob alone, but the -persons who were to form the procession, priests, monks, ministers, -and knights, in the habiliments of their orders, took to flight; -communities and brotherhoods forsook their banners and their crosses; -here and there only an aged friar or sacristan was seen in whom the -sense of devotion was stronger than fear, and who remained in his -place, thinking that if he were now to die, it were best to perish at -his station and in his duty. Wherever a door was open, the terrified -people ran in, as if flying from an actual massacre; the great streets -and the Rocio were presently deserted, and the pavement was strewn -with hats, cloaks, and shoes, lost in the confusion. Fewer accidents -occurred than might have been expected in such a scene; the alarm -abated when it was ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 306. NEVES, III. 256–262. -THIEBAULT, 122–124.♦ ascertained that the British fleet was not -entering; and when the cause of the [13]disturbance was discovered, -the broken parts of the procession were brought together as soon as -possible, and Junot with his generals closed it, in place of the Prince -Regent and his court. - -♦JUNOT FORTIFIES THE CASTLE.♦ - -Though the tidings of the insurrection at Porto had soon been followed -by news that submission had been restored in that city, intelligence -of insurrectionary movements or designs was now arriving every day, -and Junot thought it necessary to take farther precautions for holding -Lisbon in subjection. The water-carriers were employed to fill the -cisterns in the Castle, which was now strongly fortified; stores and -fodder were laid in there, it was garrisoned with 800 men, and all the -swords and small arms from the arsenal ♦JUNE 24. EDICT FOR DISARMING -THE PEOPLE.♦ were removed thither. An edict was issued commanding all -persons to deliver up their fire-arms, swords, and hunting-spears, -those Portugueze alone whose legal privilege it was to wear a sword -being allowed still to retain one. If within forty-eight hours after -the publication of that edict arms should be found in the possession -of a Portugueze, he was to be imprisoned, and fined according to his -means from 100 franks to 1000 cruzados; if the offender were a native -of Great Britain, and delayed obedience half the time, his fine was to -be from 100 cruzados to 10,000, and greater punishment inflicted if -the case required it: for other foreigners the same time was appointed -as for the natives, and the extent of ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 314.♦ -their fine was to be 2000 cruzados, but, like the English, they were -liable to any farther punishment which the French might think proper -to inflict. It was the custom in Portugal, as formerly in England, to -celebrate the eve of certain festivals, and especially those of St. -John the Baptist, and St. Peter, with bonfires: the custom of kindling -festal fires at that season of the year is as old as the worship of -the Kelts, even perhaps before their entrance into Europe; and it is -one of the many pagan rites which Romish Christianity adopted. The use -of gunpowder made it a dangerous custom even among a people so little -addicted to mischief as the Portugueze: and at the pretended desire of -certain pious persons, who deemed such rejoicings incompatible with -that calm and collected state of mind which the church required at -such times, all these demonstrations of festivity were prohibited. Any -person letting off fire-works or fire-arms, as had been usual, making -any use of gunpowder, or kindling a bonfire, was to be imprisoned -eight days, and pay a fine proportioned to his means: parents were -made answerable for their children, schoolmasters for their boys, -masters for their servants, tradesmen for those in their employ; the -public walk was not to be open in the evening, and any concourse of -people in the streets was forbidden. Orders were given to clear the -♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 311.♦ Campo de Ourique immediately, though the -crops were not ripe, that troops might be encamped there, from whence, -and from the Castle, the city would be completely under their command. -Detachments were sent north and south to keep down a people, who were -now everywhere beginning to manifest their long suppressed ♦OBSERVADOR -PORTUGUEZ, 317.♦ indignation. The men marched out of Lisbon with -provisions and kettles upon their backs, and each with a loaf fixed -upon his bayonet. - -♦MOVEMENTS AT BRAGA.♦ - -The news of the first insurrection at Porto produced considerable -effect in the north of Portugal before it was known that that city, -through the treachery or timidity of the persons in power, had again -submitted to the intrusive government. At Braga the Archbishop gave -orders for taking the cover from the royal arms upon his palace, and -reciting in the service the collect for the Prince Regent and Royal -Family. The restoration of the legitimate government was proclaimed -by the better part of the people; but the public performance of that -duty was prevented by some of those persons who are to be found in -all countries, whose sole object is to advance themselves, they care -not by what means. They, putting their trust in Buonaparte and his -♦NEVES, III. 124–6.♦ fortune, drew up formal charges against the -primate, and dispatched them to Junot. Had the French remained masters -of Portugal, this process would have terminated in his deposition, -perhaps in his death; ... but the fire was now spreading on all sides, -and breaking out, as in ♦INSURRECTION AT MELGAÇO.♦ Spain, every where, -simultaneously. A Galician gentleman, by name Mosqueira de Lira, -having concerted measures at the house of his brother-in-law, who was -an inhabitant of Melgaço, with the Corregedor of that place, and with -a retired magistrate, entered the town with some other Galicians of -the border and their armed followers, on a day when the people from -the adjacent country were assembled there at a fair. Encouraged by -their appearance, the Portugueze broke out into execrations against -Napoleon and his instruments, and proclaimed their lawful Prince. -The Quinas, which, during the usurpation, had been covered upon all -public buildings and monuments where they had not been destroyed, -were presently exposed again to the eyes of a people whose belief -it was that Christ himself had in person commanded the founder of -their monarchy to bear upon his shield those ♦JUNE 9.♦ symbols of his -passion. The next day the acclamation was performed with the same -formalities as at the commencement of a new reign, the magistrates and -persons in office taking the lead; and the joyful inhabitants sallied -out to indulge their overflowing loyalty by repeating the scene in -the neighbouring villages. Their hilarity was interrupted by a sudden -report that a French army had landed on the coast of Galicia, and -that a corps of that army had already arrived at Caniza, meaning to -cross the Minho, and attack Melgaço. That town had been founded by -the first King of Portugal, and refortified by King Diniz: his works -had long since fallen to decay, and the place was open to an enemy. -The bells rang the alarm, and the people, resolving rather to meet -the danger than to wait for it, set off with two pieces of cannon, -tumultuously, and in that state of heated spirits and insubordination -which such calamitous times produce. The falsehood of the report was -soon ascertained; a fellow then boldly proposed that they should -nevertheless march forward and collect forces, and because the _Capitam -Mor_ ordered the countrymen to return peaceably to their homes, this -man attempted to pistol him; the mischief was prevented by a resolute -and right-minded peasant, who seized the ruffian and threw him to the -ground. Other indications of the disposition in the populace to abuse -their power as soon as they feel it, soon appeared. A rumour went about -that the _Juiz de fora_ had struck the red flag which had been planted -in the town; a tumultuous sentence of death was passed upon him, and -a party set out to execute it. But when they approached the town they -saw the flag still flying: it was however true that the Juiz had been -advised to strike it, because, if the French arrived, the sight of the -bloody flag might provoke them to put all to the sword. The advice was -given by an officer, and with no ill intention, for no man exerted -himself more actively: but his military prudence on this occasion had -well nigh cost him his life, and he only escaped by the swiftness of -his horse. Warned by these indications how dangerous any act would be -which the people could interpret into an intention of intimidating -them or checking their ardour, the Juiz, when he received Junot’s -proclamation, communicated it to none but those on whom he could rely; -he prepared for action as well as the means of the place would afford, -and applied to the Junta of Orense for assistance in men, arms, and -ammunition. Some troops accordingly were sent by them to Milmanda -and Cellanova, whence they might enter ♦NEVES, III. 126–135.♦ -Portugal to assist Melgaço, whenever their assistance was required. - -♦THE PRINCE REGENT PROCLAIMED AT BRAGANZA.♦ - -While the national feeling was thus displayed in one of the remotest -corners of the kingdom, similar scenes occurred in places of more -importance, and more exposed to the vengeance of the enemy. The -post-office in the city of Braganza was at the house of the Abbot of -Carrazedo. ♦JUNE 11.♦ A letter brought him news of the insurrection -at Porto; he read it aloud to the persons who happened to be present; -their letters confirmed the welcome tidings, and added the flattering -expectation that by that time Junot would have been made prisoner -at Lisbon. Readily believing what they wished, they set up a shout -of rejoicing; the news spread; the multitude joined in exulting -acclamations, and the parties from the post-office hastened to a -church, where the governor of the province, General Manoel Jorge Gomes -de Sepulveda, was attending a service in honour of St. Antonio. This -general, though oppressed with age and infirmities, hesitated not as -to the course which he should pursue. He left the church to issue such -orders as were expedient without delay. The bells of the cathedral were -ordered to strike up, and those of all the churches joined presently -in expressing and heightening the public joy. There were, however, men -in authority who had no generous hopes or feelings to mislead their -judgement on this occasion; and they, like others of the same stamp -at Braga, thinking to obtain favour with the intrusive government, -hastened to the general, and asked him what was the meaning of all this -stir. Sepulveda took them to the window, and showed them the streets -swarming with people, who were crying out, The Prince and the Royal -House of Braganza for ever! the General for ever! Down with the French! -“There,” said he, “you hear what is the meaning; ... and you may quiet -that multitude if you dare.” He illuminated his house, which was the -signal for a general illumination: he ordered such arms as were in the -city to be made ready for service, sent to Chaves for more, offered -pardon to deserters upon their repairing to Braganza, called upon -all reduced officers to come forward, and issued orders to all the -governors and _Capitaens mores_ within his jurisdiction to proclaim -their lawful Prince, and enrol the peasantry for the service of their -♦NEVES, III. 136–141.♦ country. A solemn mass was celebrated the next -day in the cathedral as a thanksgiving service, a sermon was preached -upon the occasion, and all who were present mounted the national -cockade, the clergy wearing it upon the breast. - -♦THE BRAGANZANS INTIMIDATED BY THE NEWS FROM PORTO.♦ - -These festive days were of short duration. The next post, which was -expected to confirm the promises of the last, and bring news of Junot’s -overthrow and capture, arrived with intelligence that all was tranquil -at Lisbon, and that Porto had returned to subjection. It brought also -circular letters from the French government, requiring the Portugueze -to continue in obedience, and threatening severe vengeance to all who -should disturb the public tranquillity. The danger was now deemed as -imminent as the triumph had before seemed certain. Loison would hasten -from Almeida to punish Braganza for its revolt; and Marshal Bessieres -also, they thought, was about to descend upon them from Castille. The -time-servers now obtained an ascendancy, and were about to draw up a -formal accusation against Sepulveda, and the persons who had taken the -lead in this precipitate insurrection. They proposed to him, however, -that he should join with them in a representation soliciting pardon for -the city, saying that all which had been done, had been submitted to by -him because it was not possible at that moment to oppose the populace, -and that the illuminations and other demonstrations of joy were only in -honour of St. Antonio. Letters were accordingly written to this effect. -Sepulveda’s object was to gain time by dissimulation, while he took -measures for securing a retreat into Spain, unless affairs in Portugal -should take a fortunate turn; and while he let the promoters of this -submission ♦NEVES, III. 141–146.♦ send his letter with their own to the -post-office, he secretly instructed the post-master not to forward it. - -♦SECOND INSURRECTION AT PORTO.♦ - -As the first declaration of the people at Porto had occasioned these -movements in the north of Portugal, so these secondary movements, -reported and exaggerated in like manner, re-acted upon the public -spirit in that city. Oliveira, who had acted under fear of the French, -was now in fear of his own countrymen, and soon found himself in such -a situation, that he was in danger of being regarded as an enemy by -both. On the day of the Corpo de Deos he wished the soldiers to carry -the French eagles in the procession instead of the national banner, -and this they resolutely refused to do; the end was, that only a few -companies, without any colours, appeared in the train. The temper of -the people was shown at this time by the groups which collected in the -streets, and the agitation which every countenance expressed. Raymundo, -consulting at once his own safety, and the furtherance of his country’s -cause, had conveyed letters to the city, dated from Vianna and from -Valença, saying that he was on his way to Spain, there to solicit -succours, with which he should presently return: and the ignorant -people, ready to believe any thing, were fully persuaded that he would -soon appear at the head of a Spanish ♦NEVES, III. 97.♦ army. A report, -with more appearance but as little reality of truth, accelerated the -success of his stratagem, though it was intended to intimidate the -people. The _Juiz de fora_ at Oliveira de Azemeis received orders -to provide rations for a French detachment on the way from Coimbra -to Porto. It was part of Junot’s policy to alarm the people by such -reports, for the purpose of keeping them in submission. The means of -that place were not equal to the sudden demand; the Juiz represented -this to the governor of Porto, and bread was ordered from that city, -in obedience to the requisition. A few Frenchmen, who had concealed -themselves during the first insurrection, and re-appeared when Oliveira -restored the usurped authority, imprudently assisted in loading the -carts with loaves for this purpose; a crowd collected at the sight, -burning with indignation; a native Portugueze artilleryman remarked, -that bread enough could be found for the French, though not for the -Portugueze; one of the Frenchmen returned an answer which ♦NEVES, III. -163–168.♦ provoked a blow; the mob immediately took part, seized the -French, and delivered them to a guard of soldiers, who took charge of -them, without knowing for what end, or inquiring by whose authority. - -♦FORMATION OF A JUNTA IN THAT CITY.♦ - -This second insurrection had been prepared, though the occasion upon -which it broke out was accidental. The Portugueze flag was displayed, -Joam Manoel de Mariz brought out from the barracks at Santo Ovidio -four field-pieces ready for service, with thirty artillerymen to serve -them; the arsenal was opened, and arms and cartridges distributed to -all who applied for them. And Raymundo, who had concealed himself -in a country-house only two miles from Porto, made his appearance -by the convent of S. Domingos, with nineteen Spaniards, armed with -blunderbusses like himself, and covered with dust, and with their -cloaks upon their backs, like men arriving from a long march. They -declared that a Spanish army was on the way, and the people, in full -expectation of this support, prepared to defend the city against the -French. Some guns were placed upon the bridge, others on the heights -of Villa-nova. There was some difficulty in conveying them to the -latter position; a Dominican, who had sallied from his convent sword in -hand, and with his sleeves tucked up, laid hold of the ropes; friars, -priests, and women, followed his example, and the work was presently -accomplished. While they were thus exerting themselves to provide -for the defence of the city, the rabble exercised their authority in -the usual way, discharging fire-arms in the streets, beating drums, -blowing trumpets, ordering the bells to be rung in all the churches and -convents, breaking open houses to search for Frenchmen and suspected -persons. They threw Oliveira and many others into prison, but happily -no murders were committed. The mob were restrained in their ferocity by -the expectation that traitors would be brought to condign punishment -as soon as the lawful authority was re-established, which it soon -would be. Till that time it was resolved that a local and provisional -government should be formed after the manner of the Spaniards. The -authors of the movement had concerted this, and fixed upon persons to -constitute the Junta; but while they were engaged in the ceremony of -nominating and appointing them, a report arrived that the French were -actually at Grijo, within twelve miles of Porto. The question then was, -should they wait upon the defensive on the heights of Villa-nova, or -hasten to attack them, in the hope of surprising them by night, and -finding them exhausted by a long march? The bolder opinion prevailed; -and a volunteer party set off for Grijo, and hurried there so fast, -that they would have been in worse condition, as well as worse order, -than the enemy, if any enemy had been there. But instead of the French -they found a few travellers on the way from Coimbra, who assured them -that there was no rumour of the advance of any troops along the road. -Even a victory would hardly have elevated their spirits more. This -was about daybreak; they hastened back to the city. The ♦JUNE 19.♦ -soldiers in the Campo de S. Ovidio swore upon their swords to defend -the independence of Portugal, their religion, and their King. A public -meeting was convoked, the bells of the chamber rung, the soldiers led -the way in military order, with two field-pieces; the people followed -to the episcopal palace; the Bishop came forth into the varanda, and -gave the assembled multitude his blessing; then he descended among -them, kissed their banner, and led the way to the cathedral, there to -implore the divine assistance in their meritorious undertaking. This -done, they returned to the palace, and proceeded to appoint what they -called the Provisional Junta of Supreme Government; the list which -had been prepared was shortened, as being inconveniently numerous; -eight members were appointed, in equal numbers, from the clergy, the -magistracy, the military, and the citizens, and ♦NEVES, III. 169–176.♦ -the Bishop was placed at their head with the title of President -Governor. - -♦MEASURES OF THE JUNTA.♦ - -The Bishop, D. Antonio de S. José e Castro, immediately published -a manifesto, in the name of the Prince Regent, declaring that the -French Government was abolished and exterminated in that country, -and the royal authority restored and to be exercised plenarily and -independently by the Provisional Junta of Porto, till the government -instituted by his Royal Highness should be re-established. The Junta -therefore gave orders, that in all places the Prince should be -proclaimed, and the royal arms uncovered and respected as heretofore -they always had been, and now again hereafter were to be; and they -called upon all constituted authorities to act accordingly. His next -business was to dispatch a messenger to General Sepulveda at Braganza, -requesting succours, especially in cavalry, and an officer capable of -taking the command, whether for attack or defence. The Visconde de -Balsamam was sent to the British brig, which was still hovering off -the bar, and a communication was thus opened with England. Voluntary -contributions were liberally made, the pay of the soldiers was raised, -and as a measure not less popular, a _Tribunal de Inconfidencia_ -was instituted, to take cognizance of causes in which treason was -suspected. The prevalence of suspicion is indeed one of the many -dreadful evils in such calamitous times. An example of this occurred -before the close of ♦ARREST OF CARDOSO.♦ the day. Colonel José Cardoso -de Menezes Soutomaior had been that day appointed to the chief -command, as being the senior officer. Happening to send a messenger -that evening with letters upon public business to the _Juizes de fora_ -at Oliveira de Azemeis and Recardaens, he forgot to provide him with -the passport which was now necessary for crossing the bridge. The -messenger was therefore stopped by the guards, and either from the -confusion occasioned by fear, or from a confidence of protection, -refused to declare whither he was going, or by whom he was sent. Upon -this the guards searched him, and found the two letters. These would -have explained the matter and cleared him; but perceiving that a third -letter which he carried more secretly about his person was in danger -of being found, he drew it out, tore it in pieces with his teeth, and -threw it over the bridge. A few fragments were saved, but not enough -to give any indication of its contents. The messenger was immediately -arrested as a traitor, and carried before José Cardoso, who thought at -first to end the business by desiring that the man might be left with -him, and saying that he would answer for him. The people (for a crowd -had collected on the way) transferred at this their suspicions upon -Cardoso himself; and to satisfy them, he found it necessary to open the -two letters, and thus acquaint the mob with arrangements which it had -not been intended that they should know. But he could give no account -of the paper which had been torn; and therefore the mob, having thrown -his messenger into prison, returned to arrest him and carry him before -the Bishop. Protestations of innocence were vain, and it was evident -that his life would be in danger on the way; some of his friends, -however, bethought themselves of a happy stratagem; they rung the -alarm bells, and raised a cry that the enemy was approaching. Evening -was now closing; the populace left their intended victim to go in -quest of the invaders, and passed the night in hurrying here and there -upon the false report. Cardoso meantime got in safety to the Bishop’s -palace, and related all that had passed. As far as he was concerned -his justification was clear, but of the third letter he could give no -account. The messenger, however, gave a plain and credible one; he had -not long since been at Lisbon, where a Frenchman had given him this -letter for one of his countrymen in Porto; on his arrival in that city -he found that the person to whom it was addressed had been carried away -prisoner by the Spaniards; and his intention was, when he returned to -Lisbon, to deliver it again to the writer. He had torn it in a moment -of fear, lest he should be considered a partizan and agent of ♦NEVES, -III, 186–192.♦ the French, if it were found upon him. The Bishop was -satisfied; but he advised Cardoso not to appear in public till this -unlucky accident should be forgotten. - -About noon, on the ensuing day, the alarm bells were rung again, -drums beat, trumpets sounded, and preparations were again made for an -immediate engagement with the enemy. They were at Os Carvalhos, it -was said, eight miles off. There was some foundation for this report. -The Juiz at Oliveira de Azemeis was in expectation and fear of the -French, and not having received the bread from Porto which he had been -ordered to have in readiness for them, had sent to this town and to -the adjacent villages, to embargo all that could be found. Troops and -volunteers now hurried forward with the utmost alacrity, and in the -utmost disorder. This was a critical moment for Cardoso: if he went -abroad, to put himself at the head of the forces, as his duty required, -there was the risk of being again accused and endangered as a traitor: -if, on the other hand, he forbore to appear, the very forbearance would -be interpreted as a proof of disaffection to his country. After some -hours of indecision, he could not bear to remain inactive, and incur -the reproach to which it must needs subject him at such a time, and -forth he went. He had not gone far before a poor fellow, whom a party -of _Ordenanças_ upon some suspicion had seized, met him, and implored -his protection. Cardoso inquired into the case, and finding the man -innocent, gave orders to release him. His authority was disputed, and -presently he himself was reproached and seized as a traitor. Some were -for putting him to death upon the spot; and though others insisted -upon carrying him before the Bishop, it appeared very doubtful whether -he would reach the palace alive. When they met a priest upon the way, -the mob called upon him to confess this traitor, who was about to -die, and Cardoso himself cried out for absolution, seeing nothing but -death before his eyes. The Bishop was convinced of his innocence, but -could neither persuade the populace, nor command them; nor could he -save Cardoso’s life by any other expedient than that of allowing him -to be thrown into one of the worst dungeons of a Portugueze prison. In -that miserable confinement ♦NEVES, III. 192–196.♦ he remained till the -heat of these tumults had abated; he was then released, and honourably -distinguished himself afterwards. - -♦DISTURBED STATE OF THE PEOPLE.♦ - -Meantime Porto was in a frightful state of insubordination. The people -readily enrolled themselves, but, as if intoxicated with joy, they -celebrated their deliverance instead of labouring to secure it: and -men who ought to have been practising the drill, or erecting batteries -and throwing up trenches, were beating drums, ringing the bells, -and wasting powder in empty demonstrations of bravery. The city was -illuminated during three successive nights, and they seemed so little -aware of the tremendous conflict in which they were engaged, that they -were about to march to war as to a festival. From this delusion the -Bishop roused them by an appeal well adapted to those for whom it was -intended. “Portugueze,” he said, “in the name of Heaven and of Jesus -Christ, listen to a government which loves you, which desires your -happiness, and is labouring for it! Their turbulence, he told them, -their insubordination, their waste of powder, only exposed them to the -enemy, who would come upon them by surprise, and surely destroy them, -if they would not listen to their rulers and obey orders. Strength -without order was like the bull, who, strong as he is, is brought to -the ground by a weak hand, with the aid of dexterity and a cloak. Their -endeavour should be to be unseen and unheard, that they might the more -fatally be felt; ... to conceal their movements, that they might strike -when the blow was not expected. The government conjured them, by every -thing which was most sacred in heaven and earth, to subject themselves -to discipline, and obey their officers. Where they were posted there -they were adjured to remain till the time for action arrived: they who -were first in the field would diminish the number of the enemy when -they engaged them; the second body, when they arrived, would weaken -the French still farther; the third would complete their destruction. -But if all hurried on tumultuously, all would be lost.” The populace -by this time had fired away so much powder, and spent so much of -their animal spirits in rioting, and hurrying here and there upon so -many false alarms, that they were disposed to listen to this advice. -Tranquillity was produced by exhaustion; and to preserve it, order -was given that the alarm bells should not be rung till the cathedral -♦NEVES, III. 196–198.♦ began, and that whenever that was necessary, a -flag should be hoisted on the tower by day, and a torch by night, to -distinguish it from the fire-bell. - -♦THE JUNTA CONCLUDE AN ALLIANCE WITH THE JUNTA OF GALICIA.♦ - -Subordination being now in some degree restored, the Junta entered with -alacrity upon their arduous duties. They raised a loan, and imposed -new taxes, as the exigencies of the time required; among others a -duty of four _mil reis_ upon every pipe of wine which was exported. -Two deputies were sent to England; and an alliance was concluded with -the Supreme Junta of Galicia, the nearest of the newly constituted -authorities in Spain; Galicia engaging first to assist in liberating -Portugal, and Portugal promising, ♦NEVES, III. 199.♦ after her own -deliverance should be accomplished, to co-operate in expelling the -French from every part of the Peninsula. Wild as this promise appeared -to the French, and to those shallow statesmen by whom the French -were regarded as invincible, and the power of Buonaparte not to be -resisted, it was faithfully performed by the Portugueze, and fulfilled -to the letter of the bond. The Junta of Porto had another object to -accomplish, more difficult, and at that time not less important, than -an alliance with Spain. Other Juntas were now springing up in the -north of Portugal at the first hope of deliverance, and unless these -were induced to acknowledge that at Porto as supreme, all plans of -defence would be frustrated by the jealousy of contending authorities. -One had been formed ♦ITS AUTHORITY IS ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGHOUT THE -NORTH OF PORTUGAL.♦ at Viana on the same day; others at Torre de -Moncorvo, Miranda, and other places of less note; all these submitted -readily to the superiority which was claimed. Braganza was not so -willing to resign its pretensions. The intrusive government had not -been re-established in that city, notwithstanding the efforts of its -adherents, and the apparent assent of General Sepulveda. Their penitent -letters to the French ministry were stopped at Villa Real, where the -people proclaimed their lawful Prince; and when the Braganzans, upon -tidings of the second insurrection at Porto, formed a Junta, and -required obedience to its edicts, its authority was disowned there. -Sepulveda was so offended at this, that he sent Brigadier Manoel Pinto -Bacellar to arrest Francisco da Silveira Pinto da Fonseca, then a -lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, who had taken the lead at Villa Real. -Bacellar acted with more prudence than the general who sent him, and -endeavoured by amicable means to bring about a good understanding; and -Silveira, disregarding the orders of one who had so far been found -wanting, that he had at least professed submission to the French -after having once thrown off their yoke, crossed the Douro, to spread -the revolution in the province of Beira. Sepulveda found as little -obedience in Torre de Moncorvo and some other Juntas in that district, -when he issued a circular order requiring that every town which was -entitled to a voice in the Cortes should send a deputy to assist -at the provincial Junta of Tras os Montes, the title which that of -Braganza had assumed. Opposed in their pretensions on that side, after -contesting the authority of the Porto Junta, concluding a treaty with -it, and then again disputing with it, and arraigning its measures, the -Junta of Braganza ended at length in ♦NEVES, III. 151–162. 180–185.♦ -obeying the advice of the Bishop of Porto, which was repeated in strong -terms by Sepulveda, and dissolving itself. - -♦THE INSURRECTION EXTENDS TOWARDS COIMBRA.♦ - -The whole of Tras os Montes and of the province between the rivers had -now declared against the intrusive government, and acknowledged the -Junta of Porto. The same spirit was spreading in Beira. Aveiro declared -itself, and a plan was formed for surprising the French in Coimbra, an -undertaking of more importance than danger. The details are curious, -as showing the disposition of the people, the insignificance of their -means, and the disorderly manner of their proceedings. A patrole of -armed peasants had been sent out from Porto upon the Coimbra road, to -obtain intelligence of the enemy, concerning whom nothing certain was -known. Dr. José Bernardo de Azevedo, of the order of Avis, hearing upon -what service these persons had been sent, represented to the Junta how -little likely it was that such a set of men should act with discretion; -upon the first news of the enemy they would hurry back without -ascertaining their numbers, position, and probable movements; or if -they ventured to approach them, would most probably fall into their -hands. He ♦JUNE 22.♦ offered to obtain the desired information himself, -knowing the country well, and accordingly laying aside his habit, set -off with one servant on horseback. When he arrived at Oliveira de -Azemeis, he met the greater part of the patrole on their return in -triumph; they had failed to arrest the Juiz as they intended, but they -had caught a lawyer, and were dragging him to Porto as a suspected -person. They had however sent four of their party forward on the -Coimbra road, in pursuance of their original object, and José Bernardo -proceeding on his journey, overtook them at Mealhada, a village about -twelve miles from Coimbra. Exulting that they had advanced so far -without meeting the French, and encouraged by what they heard from -the people of Mealhada, that the enemy had only a handful of men in -Coimbra, and most of them invalided, they resolved to fall upon them, -by surprise if possible, that very day. A reformed colonel of militia -at Ois undertook to bring thirty armed ♦NEVES, III. 200–205.♦ men; the -people of Mealhada volunteered their services, and the two parties were -to meet at Carquejo, half way on their march. - -♦SCHEME FOR SURPRISING THE ENEMY IN COIMBRA.♦ - -When the men of Mealhada began to prepare for their expedition, there -were some whose hearts failed them, and the contagion spread. José -Bernardo, however, by reproaching and threatening some, encouraging -and praising others, with the seasonable administration of fruit and -wine, and the zealous help of a serjeant of the _Ordenança_, mustered -some thirty peasants, with about twenty muskets, the rest were armed -with pikes and sickles and other such instruments; and when they set -off many of the others followed, ashamed to be left behind. The party -from Ois not having arrived when they reached Carquejo, José Bernardo -ordered his people to halt for them there, and suffer no person to pass -toward Coimbra, while he and two others went on to reconnoitre and -form the plan of attack. He found no difficulty in entering the city -and obtaining all the information he desired. The French soldiers in -Coimbra did not amount to an hundred men, and of these not more than -forty were capable of service. There was a rumour that 1200 Spaniards -were on the way against them. This the inhabitants were more likely to -believe than the French, who, relying upon their Emperor’s fortune, the -terror of the French name, and the submission of the Portugueze, were -living to all appearance in full confidence of security. Satisfied with -this intelligence, and without venturing to concert any co-operation in -the city, José Bernardo returned as far as the Bridge of Agua de Maias, -and sent to hasten the march of his motley volunteers. - -♦THE FRENCH IN THAT CITY ARE MADE PRISONERS.♦ - -When they were not far from this bridge, they were seen by a patrole -of four horsemen, two French and two Portugueze, who clapped spurs to -their horses, in order to cross the bridge before them and give the -alarm. The insurgents, however, equally on the alert, got between them -and the bridge, and addressed them with the _quem vive_? Napoleon, -was the answer, and two pistols were fired upon them without effect. -A general discharge was returned, which killed two of the patrole -and mortally wounded another. The fourth, who escaped unhurt, was -a Portugueze; he threw himself off his horse, cried out, _Viva o -Principe de Portugal!_ and joined his countrymen. The wounded man was -a Frenchman: the insurgents, with a humanity not to have been expected -at such a moment, left one of their number to assist him, and he was -afterwards removed into the city, and there humanely and carefully -attended; but to his latest breath he reviled the Portugueze, and the -last hope which he expressed was, that ample vengeance would be taken -for his blood. The French guard at the gate of S. Sophia hearing the -guns, and seeing a number of men approach, fired among them, and fled -to their quarters in the College of S. Thomas. The Portugueze followed -close: they were fired upon from the windows without effect, for the -French were too sensible of their own weakness to make any regular -defence; the doors were forced, and they quietly laid down their arms, -and suffered themselves to be bound, ♦NEVES, III. 207–212.♦ happy to -receive no worse treatment from such an assemblage, ... for by this -time the whole rabble of Coimbra had collected. - -♦THE JUIZ DO POVO TAKES THE COMMAND.♦ - -Having thus easily succeeded, the first thought of José Bernardo and -his comrades was to obtain the sanction and assistance of some legal -authority for their future proceedings. The courage, and perhaps the -disposition, of the magistrates was doubted; but the _Juiz do Povo_ -was an officer whom tumultuous times had heretofore forced into -importance, and the _Juiz do Povo_ was now called for. José Pedro de -Jesus, a cooper by trade, who held the office, happened to possess a -rare union of upright character, activity, and good sense. He came -forward, assumed a power which was willingly recognized, and exercised -it in a manner which at once gratified the populace and satisfied the -wishes of cooler minds. First he lodged the French safely in prison, -then distributed among the people the arms of those cavalry regiments -belonging to the northern provinces, which Junot had disbanded. In -the depôt with these weapons a flag was found with the royal arms. It -was carried in triumph through the streets, while the exulting people -hastened to uncover the shield of Portugal upon the public buildings. -The bells from all the colleges and convents and churches of that -populous city pealed in with the acclamations of the people, and -heightened the excitement and agitation of their spirits. Bonfires were -kindled, as in old times, in defiance of Junot’s prohibition: the night -of St. John’s had always been a festival in Coimbra, but never before -had it been celebrated with such uproar and overflowing joy. Some -barks on the river, laden with provisions for the French in Figueira, -were seized during the night; and in the morning it was deemed prudent -to march off the prisoners to Porto, under a strong escort, lest the -magistracy, in their fear, ♦NEVES, III. 214–217.♦ should release them, -and again reduce the city to submission. - -♦ORDER RESTORED IN COIMBRA.♦ - -This apprehension, however, was ill founded. The _Juiz de fora_ came -forward to act in the national cause; the students and lecturers -formed themselves into an academical corps; and the Vice-Rector of -the university, Manoel Paes de Aragam Trigoso, took upon himself the -civil authority, in compliance with the wish of the inhabitants. They -would have vested the military command in General Bernardim Freire -de Andrade, whom the Prince, before his departure for Brazil, had -appointed to the command at Porto. Not choosing to exercise it under -the intrusive government, he was living privately at Coimbra; but being -now summoned by the Bishop and Junta of Porto to his proper station, -he declined for that reason the present nomination. The people next -thought of D. Miguel Pereira Forjas, but he chose rather to follow -Bernardim as his quarter-master general. They then chose Bernardim’s -brother, Nuno Freire de Andrade, making him, however, subordinate to -Trigoso. The men who thus accepted offices of authority discharged -a most perilous duty to their country. They were not, like their -countrymen in Tras os Montes and between the rivers, secured in some -degree by distance from the French, and within reach of assistance -from Spain, or, if need were, of an asylum in that kingdom. Nor would -Coimbra be like some of the smaller towns, overlooked as unworthy of -vengeance. Next to the capital itself there was no place in Portugal -where a terrible example would so deeply impress and intimidate the -nation: it was within easy reach of the enemy, from Almeida as well -as from Lisbon, and all military means of defence were ♦NEVES, III. -219–223.♦ wanting: a few pounds of powder were all that could be found -in the city, and not one piece of cannon. - -♦PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE.♦ - -On the other hand, more talents and enterprise, such as the times -required, might reasonably be expected in Coimbra than in any other of -the Portugueze towns. It was a populous and flourishing university, the -only one in the kingdom: here therefore the flower of the Portugueze -youth would be found, just at that age when they would be most willing -and fit for service; and of that rank, and in that place, where -national and generous feelings would have their strongest influence. -If any where heads to plan and hands to execute might be found, it -would be here. Accordingly no exertions were wanting. Chemists made -gunpowder, geometricians directed works of defence, old soldiers were -employed, some in making cartridges, others in training volunteers; -mechanics were ♦NEVES, III. 223–225.♦ set to work in whatever manner -they might be most useful; bridges were broken down, roads broken up, -means made ready for defending the streets, if the enemy should enter -the city, and a strict police established. - -♦SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION AGAINST FIGUEIRA.♦ - -When one day had been passed in these arrangements and preparations -an expedition was planned against Figueira da Foz, a small town and -fort at the mouth of the Mondego, on the right bank, seven leagues -from Coimbra. The French had a garrison of an hundred men there. Forty -volunteers, who were almost all students, under the command of Bernardo -Antonio Zagalo, ♦JUNE 25.♦ a student also, set out at evening, in hope -of capturing this important point: they relied upon increasing their -numbers on the way, and they took with them authority from the governor -to raise the country as they went. Zagalo, with four horsemen, took -the right bank, the rest of the party the left: they met at Montemor o -Velho, and marching all night, appeared with the reinforcements which -they had gathered, now some 3000 in number, before Figueira, at seven -in the morning. The enemy were taken by surprise; they were dispersed -about the town, when they saw this multitude approach; but immediately -retiring into the fort, they prepared for defence. The place might -have been easily defended against a crowd of peasants, more of whom -were armed with pikes and reaping-hooks than with fowling-pieces, and -who were likely, upon the slightest loss or disgust, to abandon their -enterprise as precipitately as they had engaged in it. But the French, -relying too confidently upon the submission of the Portugueze, had -neglected to store the fort with provisions; and Zagalo summoned them, -saying he knew they had not food for more than four-and-twenty hours, -and that if they did not surrender they should all be put to the sword. -Contrary to his usual policy, Junot had given the command of this -fort to a Portugueze lieutenant of engineers; this person demurred -at surrendering, because his family were at Peniche, in the power -of the French. But, wanting either the will or the ability to exert -himself in the enemy’s service, he remained inactive and confounded, -till the following day, when Zagalo received positive orders from -Coimbra to return immediately with all his people. This enabled the -commander to obtain terms which might be pleaded to save his credit; -and he capitulated on condition that the garrison should be allowed to -cross the river with their arms and knapsacks, but without powder and -ball; and to march unmolested to Peniche, the nearest strong place in -possession of the French. Upon these terms the fort was given up; but -the peasantry searched the men when they were embarking, and finding -that some of them had concealed a few cartridges, declared that the -conditions were broken: they themselves were desirous of breaking them, -and therefore gladly found this pretext; and the ♦NEVES, III. 226–233.♦ -French would have been massacred if the students had not exerted -themselves to protect them, and lodged them safely as prisoners at -Coimbra. - -♦LOISON ORDERED TO MARCH FROM ALMEIDA TO PORTO.♦ - -A report of Loison’s sudden approach had occasioned the order for -recalling Zagalo. General Count Loison had been sent in the latter end -of May, with 4000 troops, to Almeida, in pursuance of positive and -repeated instructions from Murat when exercising the command in Madrid. -He was to concert his movements with Bessieres, and, if necessary, to -join him; he was to observe Salamanca, and secure Ciudad Rodrigo, if -that were practicable. But the Spaniards were too much awakened to be -again deceived or surprised by the French; and Loison having remained -at Almeida from the 5th of June till the 16th, received orders from -Junot to march upon Porto, take the command in that city, and keep the -northern provinces in subjection. He had previously got possession of -Fort Conceiçam. Each party seems at this time to have been strangely -ignorant of the movements and means of the other: Loison apprehended -that an enemy’s force might render it impossible for the French to -maintain this fort; he therefore directed General Charlot, whom he -left with the command at Almeida, to remove thither the guns from -Conceiçam, keep it as long as he could, and destroy the works if he -should be forced to evacuate ♦JUNE 17.♦ it. He then began his march -with two regiments of light infantry, fifty dragoons, and six pieces of -♦THIEBAULT, 148–150.♦ artillery. A battalion of light infantry was to -set out from Torres Vedras, and reach Porto at the same time. - -On the fourth day he reached Lamego without the slightest resistance, -and on the following morning crossed the Douro by the ferry at Regoa, -and reached Mezam-frio, meaning to sleep there. ♦HE TURNS BACK FROM -MEZAM-FRIO.♦ His advanced guard was on the way to Amarante, which -is only forty miles from Porto, when news was brought him while he -was at dinner that the mountaineers were defending the pass at Os -Padroens da Teixeira; and presently a second ill messenger arrived with -intelligence that his baggage was attacked at Regoa. These operations -had been ably planned by Silveira, and were well executed. In so strong -a country he deemed it better to turn back than to proceed at the -risk of being surrounded by an armed population. An ambuscade among -the vineyards at Santinho annoyed him greatly on his way toward the -Douro, and he himself was slightly hurt. The Portugueze, when they were -dislodged, retreated to the heights; the French took up a position -for the night, and in the morning sacked the villages of Pezo and -Regoa, where neither age, nor infirmity, nor sex, nor childhood, were -spared by them; for Loison was one of those men after Buonaparte’s own -heart, who, being equally devoid of honour and humanity, carried on -war in the worst spirit of the worst ages, plundering and massacring -without shame and without remorse. He now understood that Porto, -which he had expected to find discontented indeed, but passive and in -subjection, had thrown off the yoke; that a Portugueze officer, with -whom he maintained a secret correspondence, had been fain to abscond -from that city; that the disbanded soldiers had reassembled; and that -the insurgent peasantry, in such numbers as to be truly formidable, -were moving ♦THE PEASANTRY HARASS HIS RETREAT.♦ against him from all -parts of the two northern provinces. The news of his retreat was -presently known throughout the whole country between the Tua and the -Cavado; expresses and telegraphs could not have communicated it more -rapidly than it was spread by the voluntary bearers of good tidings. -One column came from Villa Real, one from Amarante, a third from -Guimaraens; a motlier assemblage had never taken the field; ... the -commonest weapons were pikes and long poles armed with reaping-hooks at -the end; and there were as many abbots, monks, friars, and parochial -clergy in command, as officers. The three columns united at Regoa, -too late to impede or molest the French in their passage of the -river. The enemy halted for part of the night at Lamego, and resumed -their retreat at two in the morning. The Portugueze came up with -them that day at Juvantes, and harassed them during three days. The -total want of discipline, order, and authority, rendered their great -superiority of numbers unavailing; and after they had reached Castro -d’Airo, dispersing as irregularly as they had collected, they gave -up the pursuit, less in consequence of the loss which they sustained -in a few brisk encounters, ♦NEVES, III. 235–248. THIEBAULT, 150–1.♦ -than because they were too numerous to find sustenance, and every man -was eager to report the retreat of the enemy and the share he had -borne in the success. F. José Joaquim de Assumpçam, a friar of orders -gray, distinguished himself in this expedition, by his activity, his -strength, and his unerring aim. - -♦HE GOES TO VISEU.♦ - -The loss on either side, in this pursuit, appears not to have been -great; the pursuers were too disorderly and too ill armed to make any -serious impression upon the enemy, and the French were not strong -enough to act upon the offensive with effect. They lost two pieces of -artillery, and some of their ammunition and baggage; and a few rich -uniforms which fell into the hands of the Portugueze were suspended as -trophies in the churches of N. Senhora da Oliveira at Guimaraens, and -of S. Gonçalo de Amarante, in the town which was under his peculiar -patronage. Being freed from his pursuers, Loison, sending part of his -force by the road of Moimenta da Beira, which was the shorter but -rougher line to Almeida, took himself the way of Viseu. This ♦ALARM -AT COIMBRA IN CONSEQUENCE OF HIS MOVEMENTS.♦ was the movement which -alarmed the people at Coimbra, and induced them to recall Zagalo from -Figueira. It was not improbable that his intention was to march upon -that important city, and there place himself in communication with -Lisbon: his own judgement would dispose him ♦THIEBAULT, 152.♦ to this, -and indeed no fewer than five-and-twenty dispatches, instructing him -so to do, had been sent, not one of which had reached him. But he had -received an exaggerated report of the proceedings in Coimbra, brought -by some partizans of the French, who had fled to save their lives, -on the night of the insurrection, when their houses were broken open, -during the suspension of all order and authority. Their testimony -concerning the temper and unanimity of the inhabitants could not be -doubted; it was ♦NEVES, III. 217.♦ added, that they were busy in -constructing formidable works of defence, and that an auxiliary force -of 12,000 Spaniards was expected there. Such strange events were now -every day occurring, that nothing seemed too extraordinary to be -believed; and Loison, it is thought, in consequence of these rumours, -judged it best ♦HE RETURNS TO ALMEIDA.♦ to change his purpose, and -return to Almeida. The Portugueze general who commanded in Beira -resided at Viseu; upon the approach of the French he summoned the -magistrates and members of the _Camara_, and they determined not to -oppose a premature and unavailing resistance. Loison, though notorious -for rapacity, in the most rapacious army that ever disgraced its -profession and its country, was at this time sensible how desirable it -was, if possible, to obtain a character for moderation and equity. He -encamped his troops for the night without the city, in the open space -where the fairs were held, took up his own lodging in the general’s -house, and on his departure the next day, paid for every thing with -which the men had been supplied. He also released three or four -prisoners, who, in the late skirmishes, had fallen into his hands. At -Celorico, where an insurrectionary movement had commenced, it was -suspended by the prudence of the magistrates and the just fears of the -people, till the enemy had passed by. The peasantry of the adjacent -country were less cautious; they appeared in arms upon the heights, and -Loison therefore sent two companies to burn the village of Souropires. -Being now within easy reach of Almeida, and knowing that the country -about Trancoso and Guarda was in a state of insurrection, his intention -was to employ ♦THIEBAULT, 152.♦ himself in reducing it to submission; -but here the only one of the numerous dispatches from Lisbon which -reached its destination found him, and, in pursuance of its orders to -draw nearer the capital, he hastened to Almeida, to make the ♦NEVES, -III. 249–253.♦ necessary arrangements for his march. On the way he -began to sack the city of Pinhel, which the inhabitants had deserted -at his coming; but upon the tidings that a corps from Tras os Montes -had arrived at Trancoso, and that Viseu was now in arms, he hastened -forward, and on the 1st of July re-entered Almeida. - -♦Insurrection at Olham.♦ - -When Loison, upon the first apprehension of danger, was sent to -occupy Porto, General Avril was instructed, at the same time, to take -possession of Estremoz and Evora, for the purpose of holding Alem-Tejo -in subjection, and to give orders for securing Algarve. General Maurin -commanded for the French in this kingdom, as it is designated, the -smallest but richest province in Portugal: owing to his illness the -command had devolved upon Col. Maransin, who received instructions to -occupy Mertola as well as Alcoutim, for guarding the Guadiana against -the Spaniards; and to protect the coast from Faro, the greatest port in -that province, to Villa Real, the frontier town, at the mouth of the -river. Maransin, however, was not left at leisure to do this. Junot’s -proclamation, announcing the seizure of the Spanish troops, expressing -his satisfaction with the Portugueze for their peaceable deportment, -and promising to instruct them in the art of war, had been fixed upon -the church door at Olham, a small fishing village about four miles -from the city of Faro. The governor of Villa Real, Col. José Lopes -de Sousa, happening to be in that village on the day of the Corpo de -Deos, as he was going into the church stopped to see what the people -were reading. The language of that proclamation proved how little Junot -understood the character of the nation to which it was addressed; it -wounded that high sense of national honour for which the Portugueze -are remarkable, and Lopes, giving way to an honourable feeling of -indignation, tore the paper down, and trampled upon it; then turning to -the bystanders, exclaimed, “Ah, Portugueze, we no longer deserve that -name ... we are nothing now!” But they answered, that they were still -Portugueze, and swore that they were ready to lay down their lives for -their religion, their Prince, and their country. Though the impulse -had thus been given, and the determination of the parties formed, they -did not neglect the religious duties of the day, but entered the -church peaceably, and attended mass. That done, they proclaimed the -Queen and Prince Regent in the porch, and called upon Lopes to be their -general. He without delay prepared an address to the people, and sent -for two pieces of artillery and some powder from an island at the bar -of Armona, and from Fort Lorenzo on the bar of Faro. These were secured -before the French in Faro could hear of the projected insurrection. -Two agents also went off to the English squadron; the means which were -at the commandant’s disposal had probably been all disposed of to the -Spaniards; they proceeded therefore to Ayamonte, and performed their -errand with such good speed, that on the following night they returned -to ♦NEVES, III. 270–275.♦ Olham with 130 muskets from the Junta of that -city. - -♦SUCCESS OF THE INSURGENTS.♦ - -The greater part of Maransin’s force was stationed at Mertola, the -rest was at Tavira and Villa Real, except 200 men at Faro. But before -the news reached Faro a larger body of fishermen and peasantry had -collected than 200 men could with any prudence have attacked. The -French therefore sent for reinforcements from Villa Real and Tavira. -From the latter place fourscore men embarked for Faro in three caics. -The fishermen of Olham, confident in their skill upon the water, set -out to intercept them under Captain Sebastiam Martins Mestre, one of -those persons who had opened a communication with the English fleet -and with Ayamonte. So little were the French prepared for such an -encounter, that they surrendered without resistance, and thus the -insurgents obtained a seasonable supply of arms. They were not long -allowed to enjoy their victory; about 200 French arrived from Villa -Real to assist their countrymen at Faro, and they marched against -Olham. The Portugueze met them half way, and disposed an ambuscade -to receive them: their own eagerness prevented its success; but they -behaved so well in a skirmish which ensued, that the enemy thought it -not prudent to advance. This was the third day of the insurrection, and -the people of Faro had as yet made no manifestation in its ♦THE CHAMBER -OF FARO ISSUE AN EDICT AGAINST THEM.♦ favour. The chamber of that city -had, on the contrary, issued an edict against the insurgents, for what -it denominated a riotous and scandalous attempt against the security -of the nation, saying that their conduct would brand the Portugueze -with the infamous stain of ingratitude, and warning them against the -severe punishment which awaited them if they persisted in their frantic -and desperate attempt. This edict was posted up in Olham; and it so -evidently affected the people, in whom great excitement and fatigue -had now produced proportionate exhaustion, that ♦NEVES, III. 275–281. -OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 332, 333.♦ Lopes and Mestre, who had been hurt -in the skirmish, thought it prudent to carry their prisoners to Spain, -and go themselves to solicit aid from the Juntas at Ayamonte and at -Seville. - -♦INSURRECTION AT FARO.♦ - -Maransin, not aware of their departure, and anxious to lose no time -in suppressing a spirit the consequences of which he had so much -reason to dread, sent out three pieces of cannon to his detachment, and -for want of French troops, a party of fifty Portugueze artillerymen, -under Lieutenant Belchior Drago, an officer much more inclined to -act against the enemies of his country than with them. Meantime the -commander of the French, having learnt that the people of Olham were -wavering, succeeded in obtaining a conference with some of them, and -proposed terms. He promised them a free pardon, if they would return to -their obedience; said that they should be protected in their fishery, -and that even Lopes himself should be no otherwise punished than by -forbidding him to appear in that place. The persons to whom these -conditions were propounded listened to them willingly, and expressed -an opinion that the people would probably assent, if the Portugueze -authorities in Faro gave their sanction to the proposals. Some of the -magistrates accordingly went to conclude this agreement with the Prior -of Olham, a zealous Portugueze, to whom, in the absence of Lopes and -Mestre, the insurgents looked as their proper counsellor and ruler. But -at this moment, when the French by mere authority had nearly quelled -the insurrection, the spell was broken, and they were made sensible -that they had relied too confidently upon the terror of their name. -A few Faro-men met in the shop of one Bento Alvares da Silva Canedo, -and determined, while the French troops were absent, to raise the -city against them. They hired a fellow for a few moidores to give the -signal, by chiming the bells of the Carmo church at a certain hour, in -the manner usual in that country when prayers are solicited for a woman -in labour. They who had concerted the scheme sallied into the streets, -and proclaimed their native Prince; the populace gathered together at -that welcome acclamation; a colonel of artillery joined them, and sent -advice to Belchior Drago, who immediately returned to the city with -his detachment; two of his brothers, both in the Portugueze service, -appeared in the same cause, and the rest of the native troops without -hesitation ♦THE FRENCH EXCLUDED FROM THAT CITY.♦ did the same. The -French, when they would have re-entered the city to restore order, -found cannon planted against them by men who knew how to use them; -and, being repulsed in two attempts, retreated towards Tavira. Their -magazines, their military chest, and all their papers, were taken[14], -General Maurin, sick in bed, was necessarily left to his fate; and the -populace would have killed him in their first use and abuse of power, -if some humaner spirits had not interfered to preserve him. The Bishop -also exerted ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 333–335.♦ himself to prevent this -inhumanity, and had him ♦NEVES, III. 282–289.♦ transferred to the -episcopal palace for security. - -♦A JUNTA FORMED AT FARO.♦ - -On the following morning an assembly of the people was held in the Alto -da Esperança. The magistrates, the Bishop and his chapter, the clergy, -the monks and friars, (who had all taken arms), the troops and the -nobles, met and solemnly proclaimed their lawful Prince; the _Quinas_ -were hoisted, and an oath was taken that they would each to the last -drop of his blood defend the rights of the house of Braganza. Circular -letters were dispatched to all the towns and villages in Algarve. -The next day some instances of insubordination, and the reasonable -apprehension of an attack, induced one of the canons to propose, and -the people to consent, to the appointment of a Junta. The Chamber -nominated seven electors for the nobles, and as many for the people, -the chapter seven for the clergy, and the army seven for themselves. -By these electors eight members were chosen, two for each of the four -orders, and the Conde de Castro-Marim was appointed president. This -nobleman had been governor and captain-general of Algarve at the -time of the invasion; under the intrusive government he resided as a -private individual at Tavira, and the popular desire of re-establishing -the order of things to which they had been accustomed, was shown -in nominating him to the presidency, as it was indeed in all the -circumstances of the insurrection throughout ♦THE INSURRECTION SPREADS -THROUGH ALGARVE.♦ Portugal. Emissaries were now sent to the east and -west: in the west there were no enemies, and within eight-and-forty -hours the acclamation was effected in Loule, Sylves, Lagos, at the -fort of Sagres, and in the little towns to the north of Cape St. -Vincent. From the east there was reason to apprehend an attack; the -enemy, who had been compelled to retire from Faro, had retreated to -Tavira, and had been joined there by a detachment from Mertola. But the -English squadron was in sight; and the French commander, knowing how -inadequate his whole force was to the dangers which menaced it, knew -also that Algarve might, with little inconvenience, be left to itself, -and that his business was to place himself in communication with the -♦THE FRENCH RETREAT TO MERTOLA.♦ troops in Alem-Tejo. He therefore -withdrew to Mertola, and the people of Tavira, rising as soon as the -enemy retired, harassed them on the way. Juntas, subordinate to that -of Faro, were now formed in Tavira, and in other smaller places; a -red riband upon the right arm was assumed as the badge of patriotism, -and they who ventured to appear without it were in no small danger -from the people; but though many persons were insulted and menaced, -and some imprisoned as partizans of the French, the better orders -exerted their influence with such effect, that no blood was shed. -Preparations were made for defending the passes of the mountains which -divide Algarve from Alem-Tejo; and accredited agents were sent to -Ayamonte, Seville, and Gibraltar. Arms were without delay supplied -from all these places, and from Gibraltar a considerable quantity of -ammunition. A circumstance, however, occurred, which seemed likely -at first to occasion a misunderstanding with the Spaniards; for the -Portugueze, upon the retreat of the French, having thrown up some works -at Castro-Marim, the Spaniards crossed the river and destroyed them. -This measure, so rash, and in appearance so hostile, was occasioned -by an apprehension that the French might return there, which they had -made a demonstration of doing before they ♦THE PEOPLE OF ALGARVE FORM -A TREATY WITH SEVILLE.♦ abandoned Tavira. It was soon explained, when -each people had so strong an interest in being upon the best terms with -each other, and a formal ♦NEVES, III. 290–303.♦ treaty was concluded -with the Junta of Seville. - -Before the insurrection in Algarve had succeeded, and even before -it was known beyond the mountains, the same national feeling had -♦INSURRECTION AT VILLA-VIÇOSA.♦ manifested itself in Alem-Tejo at -Villa-Viçosa, the place of all others where the national and loyal -feelings of a Portugueze would be most elevated by local associations, -having been the residence of the Braganzan family during the Spanish -usurpation. Early in the month the inhabitants had been exasperated by -the passage of a French escort through the town, with the contributions -that had been levied in that _Comarca_ and the plate of the churches. -They were farther irritated by an order for the militia to repair -to Elvas at a time when Kellermann hoped to employ them against the -Spaniards at Badajoz. But Elvas, where the main body of the French in -Alem-Tejo were stationed, was only four leagues distant; there was a -strong detachment still nearer, at Estremoz, and a French company was -quartered among them, in the castle: they knew not that any movement -for the recovery of their country’s independence had been made; nor, -owing to their peculiar situation, were there any people in Portugal by -whom it could be made with so little hope or possibility of success. -Thus they had borne oppression, and might have continued to bear it, -if their oppressors, in the wantonness of power, had not added insult -to wrong. There was an image of N. Senhora dos Remedios, which, after -having by a supernatural declaration of its own pleasure, changed its -name, ♦SANTUARIO MARIANO, T. VII. 571, 579.♦ made sundry voyages to -and from India, and travelled from one place to another in Portugal -during more than fourscore years, had at length obtained a settlement -at Villa-Viçosa, in a chapel of its own, where, being in high odour -for its miraculous powers, it was visited with peculiar devotion on -its own holyday, the 19th of June, by the people of that town, and the -adjacent country. The history of this idol might excite a mournful -smile for human weakness, not without indignation at the systematic -frauds which have been practised upon a religious people. The French -were too irreligious to see any thing in it but matter of mockery; and -some of the soldiers, placing themselves in a gateway near the chapel, -amused themselves with deriding the Portugueze, who were going there -to worship, in ignorance indeed, and in delusion, but in simplicity -and sincerity of heart. Some of the peasants resented this insult -by manual force; more Frenchmen came to help their comrades, more -Portugueze to support their countrymen; the scuffle became serious, for -life or death, ... the bell of the _Camara_ was rung, the ♦NEVES, III. -305–309.♦ French retired into the Castle, and succeeded in closing the -gate, which had been so well secured with iron in old times, that the -people were neither able to break it open, nor to hew it in pieces. -This was towards evening, and the riot continued all night. - -♦THE FRENCH ENTER THE TOWN.♦ - -The town was now in open insurrection. Messengers set off to solicit -succour from Badajoz, and General Francisco de Paula Leite, who had -lately governed the province, was called upon to take the command, -which he absolutely refused, knowing that this tumult must inevitably -end in the destruction of those who engaged in it. Antonio Lobo Infante -de Lacerda, an old officer, and then Sargento-Mor of the militia, -regarding consequences less, set his life fairly upon the die; he -took the lead, and stationed marksmen upon the top of the Conceiçam -church, and in other points which commanded the Castle. Owing to these -dispositions several of the French fell. Meantime the news reached -Estremoz, where Kellermann and Avril both happened to be: fifty -dragoons, with half a battalion of infantry, and two pieces of cannon, -were immediately dispatched to rescue their fellows. A poor countryman, -by name Ignacio da Silva, was in Estremoz at the time; seeing their -movements, he easily divined their intention; good will gave him good -speed, and running the ten miles, he brought intelligence of their -march to Villa-Viçosa in time for Antonio Lobo to make preparations for -receiving them. He stationed some forty men, all for whom fire-arms -could be found, upon the walls, and towers, and houses, at the entrance -from the Borba road; the enemy, informed of, or divining this design, -took another entrance. The way was soon cleared by their field-pieces. -General Avril and Colonel Lacroix entered the town in pursuit of -the routed multitude, the bayonet was used, with little mercy or -discrimination, 200 persons were killed in the ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, -335.♦ streets, many more in the country, twelve prisoners ♦NEVES, III. -309–315.♦ were put to death as ringleaders in what the French called -rebellion, and the place was given up to pillage for one hour. - -♦LOBO GETS POSSESSION OF JURUMENHA.♦ - -The messengers from this unfortunate town had been joyfully received -at Badajoz; and Moretti, the officer who had performed the perilous -service of conferring with General Carraffa in Lisbon, was dispatched -with a corps of Portugueze refugees which had been formed under -protection of the Spanish fortress. They had arrived at Olivença on -their way, when Antonio Lobo arrived there also, escaping with about a -score companions from the carnage. Instead of returning with ill news, -as a man of ordinary spirit would have done, Moretti inquired whether -some useful enterprise might not be attempted; and they determined -upon getting possession of Jurumenha, knowing how important it was -that the Portugueze loyalists should possess a place within their own -border, which had the name of being fortified, when the French were in -no condition to attack it. It was occupied by a Portugueze garrison, -but the governor partook so little in the honourable feelings of his -nation, that he had that day seized some fugitives from Villa-Viçosa, -and sent them prisoners to Elvas, requesting at the same time a French -garrison for his security and that of the place. He understood the -temper of his own people; but Moretti and Lobo knew it also, and -calculated upon it. Sixteen Portugueze, concealing their arms, entered -as if upon ordinary business; eight proceeded to seize the governor, -the others took their station in the gates, and admitted their party -just in time to point the artillery of the place against the French, -who had been ordered from Elvas to occupy it without delay. Moretti now -obtained farther assistance from Badajoz, and discretionary powers: on -the other hand, Kellermann sent a second party to recover Jurumenha; -but supposing the force which defended it to be much stronger than in -reality it was, they returned without venturing to attack it. This -greatly encouraged the Portugueze, and more than counterbalanced the -effect of their slaughter at Villa-Viçosa. Emissaries and proclamations -were sent from hence throughout ♦NEVES, III. 316–320.♦ the province; -and the people, exaggerating the importance of the place, looked to it -with confidence as a strong point of support in their own country. - -♦A FRENCH DETACHMENT SENT FROM MERTOLA TO BEJA.♦ - -The news from Algarve, spreading at the same time, elevated their -spirits; and the state of the country soon became such, that the -French couriers were every where intercepted. Colonel Maransin, with -his troops, had now effected his retreat to Mertola, from whence, -for the purpose of restoring a communication with Estremoz and with -Lisbon, he sent a detachment of 100 foot and thirty dragoons to Beja. -That city was originally a settlement of the Kelts, possessed next by -the Carthaginians, afterwards the Pax Julia of the Romans, a Moorish -corruption of which name has been euphonized to its present form. -It was taken from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, restored -from its ruins and fortified in the thirteenth century by Affonso -III. and beautified by his son, King Diniz, with his characteristic -magnificence, of which the walls with their forty towers, and the fine -castle, bore testimony in their ruins. Here, as in all the other cities -of Alem-Tejo, there was a melancholy air of decay, less owing to the -long and destructive struggle with Spain, in which that province had -been the great scene of action, than to the peculiar circumstances -which depressed its agriculture, and that inhuman persecution of the -New-Christians, by which the largest part of the commercial capital in -Portugal had either been annihilated by confiscations, or driven out of -the kingdom. Still, however, it contained some ten or twelve thousand -inhabitants, and was a place of considerable importance in that thinly -peopled province. It stood on the highest part of an elevated and -extensive plain, conspicuous from a distance, and commanding a wide -prospect on all sides, the heights of Palmella and even of Cintra being -distinctly visible. The immediate country, where it is cultivated, is -fertile, and the situation in high repute for its salubrity. Eventful -as the history of Beja had been, it was now to undergo as severe a -calamity as any with which it had been visited in the unhappiest ages -of Spain. - -♦JUNE 23. - -THE PEOPLE RISE AGAINST THEM.♦ - -The French detachment entered the city without opposition, passed the -night there, and on the next day ordered quarters and provisions to be -made ready for the whole body of troops in Mertola, who, they said, -were about to follow them. Their demand was received in such a manner -by the people of Beja, who were now acquainted not only with the state -of Spain, but with the nearer events in Algarve and at Jurumenha, that -the French deemed it prudent to march out, and take a position in the -open country, not far from the walls. This encouraged the populace; -and, like all mobs, becoming cruel as they felt themselves strong, they -murdered two soldiers whom the French indiscreetly sent into the city -for provisions. Ignorant of their fate, the commander supposed they -had been imprisoned, and threatened, if they were not immediately set -free, to release them by force. The people then riotously demanded -arms, that they might rush out and attack the enemy. The magistrates -remonstrated with them in vain, and on the following ♦JUNE 25.♦ morning -the Corregidor, finding that farther delay would only endanger his own -life, distributed among them such weapons as could be collected, and -taking the safest course for himself, set off to solicit aid from the -Junta of Ayamonte, the nearest authority by which it could be supplied. -The Provedor and the Juiz de Fora thought it their duty to avert, if -possible, the immediate danger: they went out to the French, entreated -them not to attack the town, and promised them supplies; the enemy -were easily entreated, because they were not strong enough in reality -for any such attempt: the magistrates then endeavoured to make the -people ratify what they had undertaken for them; all reasoning was in -vain, and to save their own lives they left the city. But here also -private malice availed itself of public troubles to effect its own -ends; a messenger recalled them, upon the plea that they were wanted -to give orders for collecting provisions, in fulfilment of their -agreement; for the Corregidor having departed, there was no person -to take upon himself that business. Deceived ♦NEVES, III. 323–327.♦ -by this treacherous message, they returned, and were butchered by a -ferocious mob, who knew not that they were made the brutal instruments -of individual revenge. - -♦BEJA SACKED BY THE FRENCH, AND SET ON FIRE.♦ - -By this time, however, the ardour of the people had so far cooled, that -they no longer talked of sallying against the French, they contented -themselves with keeping a tumultuous watch through the night; and -when the morning dawned, and there appeared no enemy, they fancied -themselves secure. The French commander had merely retired out of -sight: his dispatches reached Mertola at eleven on the preceding night; -at midnight Maransin, with 950 men, began his march, and at four the -next evening the united force ♦JUNE 26.♦ arrived before Beja. They were -opposed by a mere multitude without order, leader, or plan of defence, -every man acting for himself as he thought best. Yet the victory was -not gained without a brave resistance, and some loss to the assailants. -According to the French account they lost eighty in killed and wounded, -while 1200 of the Portugueze were slain in the action, and all who were -taken in arms were put to ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 341. NEVES, -III. 327–332.♦ death. The worst excesses followed by which humanity can -be disgraced and outraged, and the[15] city was sacked and set on fire. - -In this whole merciless proceeding Maransin acted upon his own -judgement, well knowing that such was the system which Napoleon had -laid down, and which his generals felt no reluctance in executing. He -proceeded to Evora, and Kellermann, approving of his conduct, held -out the fate of Beja in a proclamation, as a warning ♦KELLERMANN’S -PROCLAMATION TO THE PEOPLE OF ALEM-TEJO.♦ to the province. “Inhabitants -of Alem-Tejo,” he said, “Beja had revolted, and Beja exists no longer. -Its guilty inhabitants have been put to the edge of the sword, and its -houses delivered up to pillage and to the flames. Thus shall all those -be treated who listen to the counsels of a perfidious rebellion, and -with a senseless hatred take arms against us. Thus shall those bands -of smugglers and criminals be treated, who have collected in Badajoz, -and put arms into the hands of the unhappy Lusitanians, but dare not -themselves march against us. Who, indeed, can resist our invincible -troops? Ye who have precipitated yourselves into rebellion, prevent, -by prompt submission, the inevitable chastisement that awaits you! And -ye who have hitherto been happy or prudent enough to continue in your -duty, profit by this terrible example! Our general in chief has not -told you in vain that ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 347.♦ clouds of rebels -shall be dispersed before us like the sands of the desert before the -impetuous breath of the south wind.” - -♦JUNOT’S PROCLAMATION TO THE PORTUGUEZE.♦ - -The bombastic sentence which Kellermann thus quoted, was from a -proclamation that Junot had just sent forth, in that spirit of -shameless falsehood and remorseless tyranny which characterised the -intrusive government. He asked the Portugueze what madness possessed -them? What reason they could have, after seven months of the most -perfect tranquillity, of the best understanding, to take arms; ... and -against whom? against an army which was to secure their independence -and maintain the integrity of their country! Was it their wish, then, -that ancient Lusitania should become a province of Spain? Could they -regret a dynasty which had abandoned them, and under which they were no -longer counted among the nations of Europe? What more could they desire -than to be Portugueze, and independent? and this Napoleon had promised -them. They had asked him for a king, who, under his all-powerful -protection, might restore their country to its rank. At this moment -their new monarch was expecting to approach them. “I hoped,” said -Junot, “to place him in a peaceable and flourishing kingdom; am I to -show him nothing but ruins and graves? Will he reign in a desert? -assuredly not; and you will not be any thing but a wretched province -of Spain. Your customs and laws have been maintained; your holy -religion, which is ours also, has not suffered the least insult; it is -you who violate it, suffering it to be influenced by heretics, who only -wish for its destruction. Ask the unhappy Roman-catholics of Ireland -under what oppression they are groaning! If these perfidious islanders -invade your territory, leave me to fight them; ... your part is to -remain peaceably in your fields.” He then attempted to soothe them, -saying, that if any abuses in the administration still existed, every -day’s experience would diminish them. The Emperor, satisfied with the -reports which he had received of the public spirit, had graciously -remitted half the contribution. He was fulfilling all their wishes. And -would they let themselves be dragged on by the influence of a banditti, -at the very moment when they should be happy? “Portugueze,” said he, -“you have but one moment to implore the clemency of the Emperor and -disarm his wrath. Already the armies of Spain touch your frontiers -at every point; ... you are lost if you hesitate. Merit your pardon -by quick submission, or behold the punishment that awaits you! Every -village or town in which the people have taken arms, and fired upon -my troops, shall be delivered up to pillage, and destroyed, and the -inhabitants shall be put to the sword. Every individual ♦OBSERVADOR -PORTUGUEZ, 317–320.♦ found in arms shall instantly be shot.” - -The French had dealt largely in false promises; they were sincere in -their threats, and on the very day when this proclamation was issued -at Lisbon, that sincerity was proved at Beja. ♦NATIONAL FEELING OF -THE PORTUGUEZE.♦ But as the Portugueze had not been deceived, neither -were they now to be intimidated. Their character had been totally -mistaken by their insolent oppressors. They, like the Spaniards, had -a deep and ever-present remembrance of their former greatness. It -was sometimes expressed with a vanity which excited the contempt of -those who judge hastily upon that imperfect knowledge which is worse -than ignorance; more generally it produced a feeling of dignified and -melancholy pride. The kingdom had decayed, but the degeneracy of the -people was confined to the higher ranks, whom every possible cause, -physical and moral, combined to degrade. Generation after generation, -they had intermarried, not merely within the narrow circle of a few -privileged families, but oftentimes in their own; uncles with their -nieces, nephews with their aunts. The canonical law was dispensed -with for these alliances; but no dispensing power could set aside the -law of nature, which rendered degeneracy the sure consequence. Thus -was the breed deteriorated; and education completed the mischief. -The young fidalgo was never regarded as a boy: as soon as the robes, -or rather bandages of infancy were laid aside, he appeared in the -dress of manhood, was initiated in its forms and follies, and it was -rather his misfortune than his fault, if, at an early age, he became -familiar with its vices. When he arrived at manhood, no field for -exertion was open to him, even if he were qualified or disposed to -exert himself. The private concerns of embellishing and improving an -estate were as little known in Portugal as those public affairs in -which the nobility of Great Britain are so actively engaged: if not -in office, he was in idleness, and his idleness was passed in the -capital. A wasteful expenditure made him a bad landlord, and a bad -paymaster; a deficient education made him a bad statesman; and well -was it if the lax morality which the casuists had introduced into a -corrupt religion, did not make him a bad man. Exceptions there were, -because there are some dispositions so happily tempered, that their -original goodness can never be wholly depraved, however unpropitious -the circumstances in which they are placed; but men, for the most -part, are what circumstances make them, and these causes of degeneracy -were common to all of the higher class. On the other hand, the middle -classes were improved, and the peasantry uncorrupted. Their occupations -were the same as those of their forefathers; nor did they differ from -them in any respect, except what was a most important one at this time, -that a long interval of peace, and their frequent intercourse with the -Spaniards, had effaced the old enmity between the two nations, so that -along the border the languages were intermingled, and intermarriages -so common, as to have produced a natural and moral union. They were a -fine, hospitable, noble-minded race, respected most by those who knew -them best. The upper boughs were scathed, but the trunk and the root -were sound. - -♦THEIR HATRED OF THE FRENCH.♦ - -Their ignorance as well as their superstition, contributed at this -time to excite and sustain a national resistance. They expected -miracles in their favour; the people of Coimbra actually believed -that a miracle had been wrought, because when the French fired upon -them from the windows of their quarters, no person was ♦NEVES, III. -210.♦ hurt. Of the relative strength of nations they knew nothing, nor -of the arrangements which are necessary for carrying on war, nor of -the resources by which it must be maintained. Spain filled a larger -space in their imagination than France, and Portugal than either; and -they were not erroneous in believing that Spain and Portugal together -possessed a strength which might defy the world. The threats of the -intrusive government therefore excited indignation instead of dismay; -such language addressed to minds in their state of exaltation, was like -water cast upon a fire intense enough to decompose it, and convert its -elements into fuel for the flames. The fate of Beja excited hatred and -the thirst of vengeance instead of fear, and the insurrection continued -to spread in the very province where the experiment had been made upon -so large a scale of putting an end to it by fire and sword. - -♦THE JUIZ DE FORA AT MARVAM.♦ - -A Portugueze of the old stamp, by name Antonio Leite de Araujo -Ferreira Bravo, held the office of Juiz de Fora at Marvam, a small -town about eight miles from Portalegre, surrounded with old walls. Of -the many weak places upon that frontier it was the only one which, in -the short campaign of 1801, resisted the Spaniards in their unjust -and impolitic invasion, and was not taken by them; and this was in -great measure owing to his exertions. When the French usurped the -government, a verbal order came from the Marquez d’Alorna, at that time -general of the province, to admit either French or Spanish troops as -friends, and give them possession of the place. Antonio Leite protested -against this, maintaining that no governor ought to deliver up a -place intrusted to his keeping without a formal and authentic order: -proceedings were instituted against him for his opposition, and he was -severely reprehended, this being thought punishment enough at that -time, and in a town where no commotion was dreamt of. When the decree -arrived at Marvam, by which it was announced that the house of Braganza -had ceased to reign, Antonio Leite sent for the public notaries of the -town, and resigned his office, stating, in a formal instrument, that -he did this because he would not be compelled to render that obedience -to a foreign power which was due to his lawful and beloved Sovereign, -and to him alone. Then taking with him these witnesses to the church -of the Misericordia, he deposited his wand of office in the hands of -an image of N. Senhor dos Passos, and in the highest feeling of old -times called upon the sacred image to keep it till it should one day -be restored to its rightful possessor. He then returned to his house, -and put himself in deep mourning. The order arrived for taking down the -royal arms. He entreated the _Vereador_ not to execute it, upon the -plea that the escutcheon here was not that of the Braganza family, but -of the kingdom, put up in the reign of Emanuel, and distinguished by -his ♦NEVES, II. 109–122.♦ device; and when this plea was rejected, he -took the shield into his own keeping, and laid it carefully by, to be -preserved for better days. - -♦HE FLIES THE TOWN.♦ - -The Juiz seems to have been a man who had read the chronicles of his -own country till he had thoroughly imbibed their spirit. These actions -were so little in accord with the feelings and manners of the present -age, that they were in all likelihood ascribed to insanity, and that -imputation saved him from the persecution which he would otherwise have -incurred. But when the national feeling began to manifest itself, such -madness was then considered dangerous, and the Corregidor of Portalegre -received orders from Lisbon to arrest him. Before these orders arrived -he had begun to stir for the deliverance of his country, and had sent a -confidential person with a letter to Galluzo, the Spanish commander at -Badajoz, requesting aid from thence to occupy Marvam; men could not be -spared; and the messenger returned with the unwelcome intelligence that -before he left Badajoz the business on which he went had transpired, -and was publicly talked of. Perceiving now that his life was in -danger, his first care was that no person might suffer but himself, -and therefore he laid upon his table a copy of the letter which he had -written, from which it might be seen that the invitation was his single -act and deed; having done this, he seemed rather to trust to Providence -than to take any means for securing himself. It was not long before, -looking out at the window, he saw the Corregedor with an adjutant of -Kellermann’s and a party of horse coming to his house. He had just -time to bid the servant say he was not within, and slip into the -street by a garden door. He had got some distance, when the Corregedor -saw him, and called after him, saying he wanted to settle with him -concerning the quartering of some troops. Antonio Leite knew what his -real business was too well to be thus deceived, and quickened his -pace. The town has two gates, one of which was fastened, because the -garrison was small: toward that however he ran, well knowing that if -he were not intercepted at the other, he should be pursued and surely -overtaken. Joaquim José de Matos, a Coimbra student, then at home for -the vacation, met him, and offered to conceal him in his house; but -the Juiz continued to run, seeing that the soldiers were in pursuit, -dropt from the wall, escaped with little hurt, and then scrambled down -the high and steep crag upon which it stands. Matos, thinking that he -had now involved himself, ran also, and being of diminutive stature, -squeezed himself through a hole in the gate; they then fled together -toward Valencia de Alcantara, and had ♦NEVES, III. 333–337.♦ the -satisfaction, at safe distance, of seeing a Swiss escort come round the -walls to the place where the Juiz had dropt. - -♦HE RETURNS, AND SEIZES THE TOWN.♦ - -The Spanish frontier being so near, their escape was easy; but when -they had been a few days at Valencia de Alcantara, Matos determined -upon returning to his family, knowing that there was no previous charge -against him, and thinking that the act of having spoken to the Juiz -could not be punished as a crime. In this he was mistaken. The governor -of Marvam was a worthy instrument of the French. He not only arrested -Matos, but his father also, an old man who was dragged from his bed, -where he lay in a fit of the gout, to be thrown into a Portugueze -prison; and a physician, whom he suspected of being concerned in the -scheme of an insurrection. This news reached the Juiz; it was added, -that his own property had been sequestered, he himself outlawed, and -all persons forbidden to harbour him, and that a French escort had -arrived to carry the three prisoners to Elvas. He could not endure to -think that he should be, however innocently, the occasion of their -death, and therefore determined to attempt at least their deliverance -at any hazard. It was not difficult to find companions at a time when -all usual occupations were at a stand, and every man eager to be in -action against an odious enemy. With a few Spanish volunteers he -crossed the frontier, and there raised the peasantry, who knew and -respected him: with this force he proceeded to a point upon the road -between Marvam and Elvas; the escort had passed, ... but he had the -satisfaction to learn that it had not gone for the prisoners, only -to bring away the ammunition and spike the guns. This raised their -spirits; they directed their course to Marvam, climbed the walls during -the night, opened the prison, seized the governor, and without the -slightest opposition from two hundred Portugueze troops, whom he had -just obtained from Elvas to secure the place, and who, if they knew -what was passing, did not choose to notice it, the adventurers returned -to Valencia in triumph with their friends, and with the governor -prisoner. The Junta of Valencia did not now hesitate, in conformity to -an order from Badajoz, to give the Juiz regular ♦JUNE 26.♦ assistance; -he entered Marvam in triumph with this auxiliary force, and the Prince -Regent was proclaimed there by the rejoicing inhabitants, at the very -time when Beja was in flames. A few ♦INSURRECTION AT CAMPO-MAYOR.♦ -days afterwards a Spanish detachment from Albuquerque entered -Campo-Mayor with the same ♦JULY 2.♦ facility. Some jealousies which -arose there, as well as at Marvam, from the inconsiderate conduct of -the Spanish officers in issuing orders as if they were in their own -territories, were put an end to by the formation of a Junta, of which -the Spanish commander at Campo-Mayor was made president. The example -of these places was immediately followed at Ouguela, Castello de -Vide, Arronches, and Portalegre; and the insurrection thus extended -throughout all that ♦NEVES, III. 337–360.♦ part of the province which -is to the north of Elvas. - -♦MEASURES OF THE FRENCH.♦ - -Junot meantime was in a state of great anxiety at Lisbon. It was not -known what was become of Maransin and the troops in Algarve; there was -no news of Loison; the insurrection in the north had reached Coimbra, -and was spreading in Estremadura, and there was a report, probable -enough to obtain credit, that an expedition of 10,000 English was -off the bar. He called a ♦JUNE 28.♦ council, at which the generals -of division, Comte de Laborde and Travot, were present, the chief of -the staff, General Thiebault, Baron de Margaron, and other officers. -The result of their conference was, that the army should be collected -in and near Lisbon, leaving garrisons in only the three important -places of Almeida, Elvas, and Peniche; that Setubal and the left bank -of the Tagus should be maintained as long as possible; that when the -English appeared they should occupy in succession three positions; one -from Leiria to Ourem and Thomar; a second from ♦THIEBAULT, RELATION, -128.♦ Santarem to Rio-Mayor, Obidos, and Peniche; lastly, one from -Saccavem to Cintra: finally, that they should defend Lisbon till the -utmost extremity, and only leave it to retire upon Elvas, rest the -troops there, and then force their way either to Madrid, Segovia, or -Valladolid. In ♦1808. JULY.♦ pursuance of this resolution, Kellermann -was summoned from Alem-Tejo, and courier after courier dispatched to -recall Loison from Beira. Junot’s next measure was to put the church -plate ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 321.♦ which he had secured in a portable -form, and for this purpose what there was no time for coining was -melted into ingots. To counteract the rumours, true and false, by -which the Portugueze were encouraged, it was affirmed that Napoleon -had entered Spain, and that 20,000 men had reached the frontiers of -Portugal to reinforce the French. Alarmed and harassed by contradictory -rumours, and dreading from the temper of the people an insurrection, -which would be punished by a massacre, many families removed from -Lisbon; those who had country estates to their _Quintas_, the greater -number to the different ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 343. N.♦ places on the -opposite side of the river, particularly ♦JULY 1.♦ Almada and Casilhas. -They were however ordered to return; every head of a family who did not -within four days obey this order was to be arrested, and all persons -were prohibited from leaving Lisbon, unless they were provided with a -passport from the police, ... an institution to which the Portugueze at -this time applied the name of the Inquisition. It was of importance, -the decree said, that good citizens should be secured against the -ridiculous rumours which were promulgated, and that all notions of -danger to the city of Lisbon should be put an end to; the French army -would know how to maintain tranquillity there. This, however, was less -a measure of policy than of extortion; those families who had retired -were made to pay, in proportion to their means, for permission to -remain where they were. They who had nothing to ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, -345.♦ give suffered the whole inconvenience of this oppressive law. - -♦THEY ENDEAVOUR TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE CLERGY’S INFLUENCE.♦ - -The French commander tried to suppress the national feeling by the -influence of religion. In the village of Varatojo, near Torres Vedras, -there was a famous seminary for itinerant preachers of the Franciscan -order, instituted by Fr. Antonio das Chagas, a man remarkable alike for -his genius, for the profligacy of his youth, and the active, austere, -enthusiastic piety of his after life. Junot sent for the Guardian -of this seminary, requiring his immediate attendance; the old man, -in strict adherence to the rule of his order, which forbade him to -travel by any other means, obeyed the summons on foot, and arrived -four-and-twenty hours later than the time appointed. He was then -ordered to dispatch some of his preachers, as men who possessed great -authority over the people, to Leiria and into Alem-Tejo, to preach -the duty of submission and tranquil obedience. The Guardian excused -himself by representing that his brethren who were qualified for such -a mission were already on their circuits, and that there were then in -the seminary none but youths engaged in preparing for the ministry, -and old men, who, being past all service, rested there ♦NEVES, IV. -61–63.♦ from their labours, in expectation of their release. ♦JULY 2.♦ -The dignitaries of the patriarchal church could not so well evade -his commands; a pastoral letter was obtained from them denouncing -excommunication against all persons who should, directly or indirectly, -either by writing, speaking, or acting, encourage the spirit of -insurrection which had gone abroad. This was sent into the provinces, -with a letter from the French intendant of police, Lagarde, in which -the clergy ♦JULY 4.♦ and the heads of convents were informed, that -wherever public tranquillity might be disturbed, they would be held -responsible, because no disturbance would break out if they exerted -themselves to prevent it, as the true spirit of religion required. -The fate of Beja, he said, should be that of every city in Portugal -which should have the guilty imprudence to revolt against the Emperor, -now the sole sovereign of that country. And he asked the Portugueze, -wherefore they would bring upon themselves the heavy weight of power -at a moment when the Almighty authority (such was the blasphemous -expression) thought only of putting in oblivion the rights of conquest, -and of governing with mildness? Is it, said he, before a few handfuls -of factious men ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 348–353.♦ in Portugal that the -star of the great Napoleon is to be obscured, or the arm of one of his -most valiant and skilful captains to be deadened? Deeply as the baneful -superstition of the Romish church has rooted itself in that country, -the threat of excommunication excited nothing but contempt. The French -could not derive any assistance from ecclesiastical interference while -it was remembered that they had robbed the churches. - -♦INSURRECTION AT THOMAR.♦ - -It is not extraordinary that the intrusive government should have -failed to deceive the people by its addresses; but that it should have -attempted so to do; that it should have talked of benefits intended -and conferred upon a nation on whom it had brought such wide and -general misery, and inflicted injuries as unprovoked as they were -enormous, indicated indeed an effrontery of which none but the agents -of Buonaparte were capable. Their insolent language exasperated the -Portugueze. One of these papers was lying upon a tradesman’s counter -in Thomar, and one of their very few partizans vindicated the manner -in which the Prince was there spoken of, saying, that the country was -now rid of him and of the Inquisition. A Franciscan who was present -immediately took a knife from his sleeve, and struck it through the -paper into the board, saying, that in that manner he would serve any -one who dared speak against his Prince and his religion: and producing -a pistol, he was only withheld by force from giving murderous proof -of his sincerity. An information was laid against him, and a party of -Portugueze soldiers sent from Abrantes to arrest him: he absconded in -time, and the Guardian of the convent, who was suspected of favouring -his escape, was taken in his stead. Before they could carry him out of -the ♦NEVES, IV. 3–8.♦ town, the people rose and rescued him, and the -restoration of the legitimate government was proclaimed with the same -ceremonies as in other places. - -♦INSURRECTION AT LEIRIA.♦ - -About the same time a handful of students from Coimbra, collecting -volunteers as they went, spread the insurrection at Condeixa, Ega, and -Pombal, and approached Leiria, from which city a small party of the -French retired before them. This place was within easy reach of the -enemy, and troops, arms, and ammunition were wanting to defend it. The -people sent to Coimbra for all, as if Coimbra could supply either: the -Bishop exerted himself to forward the preparations; and the people -mustered tumultuously with that confidence which an ignorant multitude -always feels of its own untried strength. The French had some small -garrisons upon the coast, about twenty miles off, in the little forts -of Nazareth, S. Giam, and S. Martinho, which communicated with each -other by telegraphs, and drew rations every day from the adjoining -country. The Juiz of Pederneira was compelled to furnish these; in -this time of alarm he was called upon to store them with a convenient -stock beforehand, and because this was not, and could not be done in a -few hours, they began to pillage the neighbourhood. Provoked at this, -the fishermen fell upon a ♦SUCCESS OF THE INSURGENTS AT NAZARETH.♦ -Frenchman, who was going with dispatches from S. Martinho to Nazareth, -and murdered him, crying, Down with the French! The sentinel at the -signal-post had the same fate ... the signal-post was broken, and -the country round about was presently in insurrection. The enemy -withdrew from S. Giam and S. Martinho, having hastily spiked two guns -at the former place, and buried two barrels of powder. They fell back -upon a detachment under General Thomieres, which watched the country -between the Caldas, Obidos, and Peniche. Nazareth was blockaded by -the insurgents; the report was, that a considerable Spanish army had -arrived at Leiria, and incredible as this was, it was believed, and -gave full confidence to these ignorant and zealous people. They sent -thither for assistance, and the Coimbra students came with a party of -peasants, those who could muster the best arms. The cannon were brought -from S. Giam, and rendered serviceable; the two barrels of powder were -discovered; a Portugueze artilleryman escaped from the fort to join -his countrymen, and direct their operations; and the French, finding -themselves now in serious danger, capitulated ♦JULY 5.♦ to save their -lives. The victorious students and their party were far advanced on -their ♦NEVES, IV. 14–30.♦ return to Leiria, when they heard news of -that miserable city, which rendered it necessary for them to strike -into the pine forest, and conduct their prisoners by unfrequented ways -to Figueira. - -♦MARGARON APPROACHES LEIRIA.♦ - -General Margaron had been sent from Lisbon with between 4000 and 5000 -men, to check the progress of the insurrection in Estremadura, and -learn some intelligence of Loison, from whom nothing had been heard -for a considerable time. Though the disposition of the people was -every where the same, they were kept down by the presence or by the -neighbourhood of the enemy, every where within reach of the capital; -and he met with no opposition till he approached Leiria. That city, -which is the most considerable place on the road to Coimbra, is built -upon the little rivers Liz and Lena, in a beautiful country, an hundred -miles from Lisbon. It is believed to have been built from the ruins of -Colippo, a Lusitanian city which the Romans destroyed; and it has been -asserted, that Sertorius planted a colony there whom he brought from -Liria in Spain. Affonso Henriquez fortified it as a strong hold against -the Moors, who then possessed Santarem, and recovered it after they had -captured it. Some of his successors occasionally resided there, and -its fine castle was enlarged and beautified by Queen St. Isabel, wife -of the magnificent King Diniz. At the beginning of the last century -it contained 900 houses and 2150 communicants. Its population had -increased, and might at this time have been estimated at about 5000. -The adjacent country has been made the scene of pastoral romance by -Francisco Rodriguez Lobo, for which it is precisely adapted by its wild -yet beautiful and peaceful character. - -♦PREPARATION FOR DEFENCE.♦ - -The people of Leiria and the peasantry who had collected there had -had little time for preparation when they heard that the French were -approaching. They had paraded through their streets the banner of the -city, bearing for its device a crow upon a pine tree; in memory of one -which, when Affonso Henriquez attacked the city, perched there in the -midst of his camp, and clapped its wings and croaked in a manner that -was accepted as a good omen. They had proclaimed the Prince, restored -and repainted the royal arms, and assisted at the performance of _Te -Deum_ in the cathedral; but school-boys in a rebellion could not have -been more unprepared with any plan of defence, or unprovided with -means for it. They were in an open city. They had not a single piece -of cannon. Of some 800 men who were stationed at outposts and other -points of danger, scarcely a fourth part were armed with muskets, and -for these three or four round of cartridges were all that could be -found. To persons unacquainted with the character and condition of the -Portugueze it might appear almost incredible that resistance should -have been attempted under circumstances thus absolutely hopeless. -But the people were goaded by insult, and stung by the feeling of -insupportable wrong. They had been wantonly invaded, ... grievously, -inhumanly, and remorselessly oppressed. They knew that the nation -was rising against its oppressors: they felt instinctively what -the strength of a nation is; and were too ♦NEVES, IV. 31–36.♦ much -exasperated to consider, or too little informed to understand, that -without order and discipline numbers are of little avail, and even -courage not to be relied on. - -♦THE FRENCH ENTER THE CITY.♦ - -The higher orders were perfectly sensible of their imminent danger, -but they would have exposed themselves to certain destruction if -they had attempted to reason with the infuriated multitude. The -magistrates therefore, and the person who had been appointed to the -command, withdrew secretly from the city during the night, and fled. -In the morning five Frenchmen, who had been surprised upon a marauding -party, were ♦JULY 5.♦ brought in prisoners. A short-lived and senseless -exultation was excited at their appearance. At noon it was known that -the enemy were close at hand; they sent forward a peasant who had -fallen into their hands, and whom, contrary to their custom, they had -spared, to offer pardon to the people if they would return to their -obedience; that offer being refused, they attacked the insurgents. By -their own account the resistance was so momentary, that there was no -time for the artillery, nor for half the troops to take part in the -action. The insurgents threw away their arms, like terrified villagers, -imploring the clemency of an irritated conqueror. From 800 to 900 were -left upon the field. The city was ♦3d BULLETIN. OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, -357. THIEBAULT, 143.♦ entered on all sides. But, by their own -account, the moment the action was over, General Margaron restrained -the indignation of his troops; their moderation was equal to their -valour, and victory was immediately followed by order. Margaron, in a -proclamation to the inhabitants, dwelt upon his clemency. “A decree had -been issued,” he said, “commanding that every town where the French -were fired upon should be burnt, and its inhabitants put to the sword.” -They had incurred that penalty, and his duty required him to inflict -it. Nevertheless he had prevented the massacre and the conflagration; -not a house, not a cottage had been burnt; he had protected their -persons and their property, as far as was possible under such -circumstances; and instead of seeking for the guilty, he repeated -to them his offers of peace and union. He called upon them to learn -who were their real friends, and ♦THIEBAULT, PIÈCES JUSTIFICATIVES, -NO. 10.♦ lay aside their arms. “Leave,” said he, “the noble task of -protecting and defending you to the soldiers of the great nation. -Submit yourselves to the power which Heaven supports, and obey our holy -church as I do, ... you in renouncing your projects of exterminating -the French, I in forgiving all that you have done against them.” - -♦MASSACRE OF THE PRISONERS.♦ - -♦NEVES, IV. 48.♦ - -This is what the French relate of their conduct at Leiria. “Sepulchres -of Leiria,” exclaims the Portugueze historian of these events, “prove -ye the falsehood with which these robbers, as cruel as they are -perfidious, have deceived the world!” What they have not related is now -to be recorded. It is not dissembled by the Portugueze that the defence -was as feeble and as momentary as the enemy describe it. They entered -the city on all sides, and began an indiscriminate butchery; old and -young, women and babes, were butchered, in the streets, in the houses, -in the churches, in the fields. The most atrocious acts of cruelty were -committed, and not by the common soldiers only. One of the superior -officers related of himself, that a feeling of pity came over him when -upon entering the town he met a woman with an infant at her breast, -but calling to mind that he was a soldier, he pierced mother and child -with one thrust! Free scope was given to every ♦MEMOIR OF THE EARLY -CAMPAIGNS OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, P. 8.♦ abominable passion; and in -the general pillage the very graves were opened, upon the supposition -that treasure might have been hidden there, as in a place where no -plunderer would look to find it. When the slaughter in the streets had -ceased, they began to hunt for prisoners, and all who were found were -taken to an open space before the Chapel of S. Bartholomew, there to -be put to death like the prisoners at Jaffa. The greater number of -these poor wretches fell on their knees, some stretching their hands -in unavailing agony toward their murderers for mercy; others, lifting -them to heaven, directed their last prayers where mercy would be found. -The murderers, ♦NEVES, IV. 37–42.♦ as if they delighted in the act of -butchery, began their work with the sword and bayonet and the but-end -of the musket, and finished it by firing upon their [16]victims. - -♦LOISON’S MARCH FROM ALMEIDA TO ABRANTES.♦ - -On the same day actions of the same devilish character were committed -by Loison’s division on their way from Almeida. Leaving a garrison -of 1250 men in that place, and having blown up the works of Fort -Conception, he set out towards Lisbon, in pursuance to the orders -which he had received, with between 3000 and 4000 troops. The next -day he approached the city of Guarda; it happened to be Sunday, and -also the annual festival of Queen St. Isabel, whose name, stripped -of all fable and idolatrous observances, deserves always to be held -in dear and respectful remembrance by the Portugueze. The assemblage -of people was therefore much greater than at other times; but they -were assembled to keep holyday, not to provide for their defence. -A Junta had been constituted there two days before; and with that -miscalculation of strength, or ignorance of the state of things, which -prevailed so generally among their countrymen, they seem not to have -considered themselves as in danger of an attack till Loison was within -two miles of the city. An old iron gun, rusty and dismantled, and lying -useless in the ruins of the castle, was their whole artillery; ... a -few peasants mounted it upon a cart, and so carried it to a rising -ground near the road, as if the sight of it would deter the French from -advancing. According to the ♦BULLETIN 4. OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, -366.♦ French official account, the rebels, as they insolently styled -the Portugueze, drew up in two ♦THIEBAULT, 153.♦ lines, having their -flanks well supported, and two pieces of cannon to protect their -centre; their lines were forced at all points, their guns taken, -themselves surrounded as well as routed; the disorder was general, the -slaughter dreadful; more than a thousand dead were left upon the field, -and Loison in pursuit of the fugitives entered the city. The truth is, -that a disorderly multitude fled as soon as they were attacked; and -that, as all who could not escape were cut down, the number of the -slain has not perhaps been much exaggerated. A night of licentiousness -and pillage followed, and Loison then proceeded. The ancient and -flourishing town of Covilham escaped a similar visitation, because -it lay somewhat out of the line of his march, and he had no time to -spare. Alpedrinha, a place containing between two and three thousand -inhabitants, was not so fortunate. On the same day that Margaron -entered Leiria, and with as little resistance, General Charlot entered -this ♦JULY 5.♦ unhappy town; that General was one of the few commanders -who had hitherto obtained a character for honour and humanity, ... -here, however, all horrible crimes and cruelties were committed; one -inoffensive old man was taken out of the town, and burnt alive within -sight and hearing of the fugitives upon the mountains; and the French, -having carried off every thing ♦NEVES, IV. 77.♦ that was portable, -set the place on fire. They proceeded, plundering as they went, by -Sarzedas, Cortiçada, and Sardoal to Abrantes. - -♦LANGUAGE OF THE FRENCH BULLETINS.♦ - -The French stated in their bulletin that they had lost upon their -march twenty killed, and from thirty to forty wounded, whereas the -rebels had left at least three thousand upon the different fields -of battle[17]. The character of the intrusive government would be -imperfectly understood hereafter, if its language as well as its -acts were not faithfully recorded. The bulletin which announced this -statement to the Portugueze, and to that great portion of the civilized -world in which the events of the war were anxiously observed, proceeded -to say, “this is the mournful result of a frenzy which nothing can -justify, which nothing can excuse, and which obliges us to multiply -the number of victims who excite sorrow and compassion, but upon -whom a terrible necessity compels us to inflict the strokes of just -vengeance. Thus it is that the Portugueze people, blind instruments -of the unfeeling calculations of the British cabinet, destroy with -their own hands the happiness which we with all our power were -endeavouring to make them enjoy! Thus it is that from the bosom of -tranquillity, of good order, and of repose, they draw upon themselves -the destructive scourge of war, and bring devastation even upon the -very fields where God had given abundance! Thus it is that deluded -men, ungrateful children as well as guilty citizens, change all the -claims which they had to the benevolence and protection of government, -for deserved misfortune and wretchedness, ruin their families, carry -desolation, flames, and death, into their dwellings, transform -flourishing cities into heaps of ashes and vast tombs, and by their -fatal union draw upon the whole country the calamities which they -provoke, which they deserve, and from which (weak victims as they are) -they cannot escape, covering themselves with shame, and completing her -destruction. Thus it is that no other resource remains to them than -the clemency of those whom they sought to assassinate, ... a clemency -which they do not implore in vain, when, acknowledging their crime, -they ask pardon from the French, who, incapable of belying their -noble character, are ♦BULLETIN 4. OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 368.♦ -always as full of generosity as of valour.” This was the [18]language -of Buonaparte’s governor in Portugal! “To be the victim,” says Mr. -Wordsworth, commenting upon these things and words at the time, in -that strain of profoundest feeling and philosophy by which his higher -compositions are so eminently distinguished, “to be the victim of such -bloody-mindedness, is a doleful lot for a nation; and the anguish must -have been rendered still more poignant by the scoffs and insults, -and by that heinous contempt of the most awful truths, with which -the perpetrator of those cruelties has proclaimed them. Merciless -ferocity is an evil familiar to our thoughts; but these combinations -of malevolence historians have not yet been called upon to record; -and writers of fiction, if they have ever ventured to create passions -resembling them, have confined, out of reverence for the acknowledged -constitution of human nature, those passions to reprobate spirits. Such -tyranny is, in the strictest sense, intolerable; not because it aims at -the extinction of life, but of every thing which gives life its value, -... of virtue, of reason, of repose in God, or in truth.” - -♦LOISON ORDERED TOWARDS COIMBRA.♦ - -Loison, for the sake of intimidating the country, and thereby -preventing the danger of such resistance as he had experienced in Tras -os Montes, had sent before him a report that he had been reinforced -by 16,000 men from the army of Marshal Bessieres; and this news was -officially transmitted to Junot by the Corregedor of Abrantes. At -first the French received the tidings with entire belief, and with a -joy proportionate to the danger from which they now thought themselves -delivered. A comparison of dates and distances occasioned some -uncomfortable doubts, and the next day advices came that Loison had -arrived at Abrantes with no other force than his own. But even this was -of no inconsiderable importance: it relieved them from their anxiety -concerning him, it brought the whole of their disposable force within -reach and within command, for Kellermann had now arrived with the -troops from Alem-Tejo; and Junot determined upon striking a great blow -before the English should appear. Kellermann had been sent to Alcobaça, -where the troops under General Thomières, who covered Peniche, and -those of Margaron (who had received the submission of the people of -Thomar, and exacted from them ♦NEVES, IV. 64.♦ 20,000 cruzados) were -to be under his orders. Loison was now instructed to form a junction -with them and take the command; crush the insurgents in that part of -the country, march against Coimbra, subdue and chastise that city, thus -quenching one great furnace of the insurrection, ♦THIEBAULT, 146.♦ and -return to Lisbon. Before he reached Alcobaça part of these instructions -had been fulfilled by Thomières. - -♦NAZARETH SACKED AND BURNT BY THE FRENCH.♦ - -That General had advanced with a few hundred men to Obidos, with the -intention of relieving the fort at Nazareth; but a reconnoitring -party which he sent forward to Barquinha was driven back, four of his -scouts were made prisoners and sent on board an English vessel, and a -report that a considerable body of English had landed there to assist -the insurgents deterred him from proceeding in time. The Portugueze -themselves raised this report; in reality they had applied for aid -to the English, who, some time before, had taken possession of the -Berlengs; a few pieces of cannon were given them, but the garrison was -so scanty that no men could be spared; and the short respite which -they obtained by deceiving the enemy would have been better employed -in providing for escape, than for a feeble and disorderly resistance. -Nine days after their triumph Thomières proceeded against them ♦JULY -14.♦ with 3000 men, in the belief that some English had joined them. -One column, under cover of the darkness, got under the ill-served guns -of the insurgents before they were perceived; the Portugueze fired -in haste without aim and without effect, and then took to flight. A -few drunken fellows, who had undertaken to serve the guns, remained -by them, with a woman and a few old men, and these were put to death. -The town of Nazareth was sacked, and set on fire. The jewels which -they took from the church of N. Senhora de Nazareth were estimated at -more than £20,000; for of the innumerable and many-named idols of Our -Lady in Portugal, this was the most celebrated. It is the very image -which, according to the legend, St. Jerome sent from Bethlehem to St. -Augustine, and St. Augustine to his monks at the Caulian monastery, -from whence, at the destruction of the Goths, it was brought by King -Roderick and Romano to this spot. It is said, that during the last -century the idol has sometimes been visited by not less than 20,000 -devotees on the day of its festival. The enemy then descending to the -beach, burnt the lower town, consisting of some 300 houses, of which -only four escaped the flames; they burnt also the nets and vessels, -upon which the inhabitants, ♦NEVES, IV. 84–87.♦ being fishermen, -depended for their subsistence: they then plundered Pederneira, and set -it on fire, and returned with their booty to Alcobaça[19]. - -♦A JUNTA ESTABLISHED AT BEJA.♦ - -Loison having taken the command, proceeded, in pursuance of his -instructions, towards Coimbra; but he had hardly got beyond Leiria when -he was recalled, in consequence of an alteration in Junot’s plans, -which the events in Alem-Tejo had rendered necessary. In the north of -that province the insurrection was spreading far and wide, while Beja -was in flames; and when Kellermann marched for Lisbon, leaving only a -garrison in Elvas, it spread with equal rapidity in the south. Beja -had not been destroyed by the fire; houses with little furniture and -little wood-work are not easily burnt. The Corregedor returned there -from Ayamonte with a supply of arms; a Junta was formed, which assumed -great authority, and acted with unusual promptitude and vigour. Men -were raised, the regular taxes claimed in the name of the rightful -government, and a detachment under Sebastiam Martins Mestre, who had -taken an active part in Algarve, was sent to guard against the French -at Setubal, by forming a cordon to guard the river Sadam. Having raised -a few men for this purpose in the districts of Grandolo and Santiago -de Cacem, he proceeded to Alcacer do Sal, established a Junta there, -and brought four iron guns from Melides for the defence of this town, -a point of great importance to the province while there was an enemy’s -force ♦NEVES, IV. 92–95.♦ at Setubal: Setubal and Palmella were the -only places which they now occupied on that side the Tagus. - -♦JUNTA OF ESTREMOZ.♦ - -Lobo meantime, leaving Moretti in Jurumenha, formed Juntas at Borba -and at Villa-Viçosa, where he placed the palace and park upon their -former establishment. These Juntas readily acknowledged the supremacy -of Estremoz, where one was at this time formed, which endeavoured -to make its authority recognized as supreme in Alem-Tejo, and was -supported in its pretensions by the Spanish government at Badajoz. -The claim was admitted by all the smaller places in the surrounding -country, but not at Beja nor at Campo-Mayor, in which latter place -considerable activity had been displayed. Instead of doubling the -soldiers’ pay, which had been rashly done at Porto, the officers who -assembled at Campo-Mayor resolved that those whose means rendered -it possible should serve for half-pay, or without pay; they raised -loans and donatives, levied a third of the rent upon the entailed -estates, and took from the property of the church contributions in -kind; and having thus acquired considerable funds, they undertook, and -for a time sustained, the improvident expense of paying their Spanish -allies. The ready obedience shown to its authority, when these imposts -were demanded, and the power which it derived from the distribution -of the money thus raised, gave the Junta of Campo-Mayor exaggerated -notions of its own importance, and when tidings arrived that a Junta -of higher or equal pretensions had been formed at Estremoz, that of -Campo-Mayor sent to propose a reciprocal alliance, as if one sovereign -power were treating with another. But in reply a paper in the form of a -decree was sent, declaring, that the primacy of the Junta of Estremoz -should be acknowledged by all others in the province, because of the -position of that place, and because it was a fortified town; that the -members of that Junta should have the title of Highness, because they -represented the august person of the Sovereign; and that there should -be a subordinate Junta in every town, and one deputy from each sent as -a representative to assist in the Supreme Junta of Estremoz. Obedience -♦NEVES, IV. 92–116.♦ to this decree was required from Campo-Mayor, till -a Supreme Junta should be established, as it was about to be, at Evora, -whither head-quarters were to be removed. - -The transfer of the supreme provincial authority to Evora was -concerted by Moretti and by the Portugueze General Francisco de -Paula Leite, who had refused to concur in the first hasty tumult at -Villa-Viçosa, but who now, when the insurrection had become general -throughout the province, felt himself bound to resume the charge -with which the Prince Regent had intrusted ♦A SUPREME JUNTA FORMED -AT EVORA.♦ him. The object of this transfer seems to have been a -persuasion, that as Evora was the most populous city in the province, -and the seat of the Archbishop, its authority would at once be -acknowledged, and all disputes for precedency, which might otherwise -prove so prejudicial to the common cause, would thus be terminated. -This object was effected: in other respects the measure was incautious, -and contrary to the judgement of the most judicious inhabitants; for -when Moretti had by letter proposed it to them, they replied, that the -richest city of Alem-Tejo, lying as it did so near Elvas, ought not to -declare itself, unless it could reckon upon a force of 8000 men for its -defence. It was not that the will was wanting; this General Leite knew; -and without farther demur, he and Moretti and Lobo, with ♦JULY 20.♦ -200 foot soldiers and 100 cavalry, entered Evora. They were received -with enthusiasm; a Junta was formed under two presidents, Leite being -one, and the Archbishop, D. Fr. Manoel do Cenaculo Villas Boas, the -other, a man then in extreme old age, distinguished for his erudition -and his exemplary virtues. Circular letters were dispatched to all the -other Juntas in Alem-Tejo, requiring a recognition, and the troops -which had been embodied were ordered to Evora. Before the new machine -of government could be ♦NEVES, IV. 118–126.♦ put in motion, Loison had -crossed the Tagus on his way to destroy it. - -♦LOISON SENT INTO ALEM-TEJO.♦ - -Notwithstanding the contempt with which the French government, and its -agents in Portugal, regarded the Portugueze, Junot knew how easily -brave men might be made good soldiers, under due instruction; and he -seems to have apprehended, that better officers would be found to train -and command them than either Portugal or Spain at that time could -supply. He apprehended that the force in Alem-Tejo would soon become -strong enough not only to seize Setubal, but to occupy the heights -of Almada, and render useless all the batteries on the left bank of -the Tagus; while at the same time another division of their troops, -acting higher up the river, would co-operate with the insurgents from -Coimbra. To prevent this combination, he resolved to attack the weaker -and nearer body first. For this purpose Loison had been recalled from -Leiria, Solignac and Margaron were placed under his command, with -5000 men, and it was thought, that after quelling the insurgents -in Alem-Tejo, he might send a supply of food to Lisbon, especially -of meat, ... victual Elvas, strike a blow against the Spaniards at -Badajoz, and then, recrossing the Tagus at Santarem or Abrantes, -proceed against Coimbra; operations from which, at any time, in case -of need, he could speedily turn back to join the main body of the -French at Lisbon. There was, in fact, so little combination ♦THIEBAULT, -156.♦ among the Portugueze at this time, that the insurgents in the -northern provinces, and those in Alem-Tejo, knew nothing whatever of -each other’s proceedings, and the first news which reached the latter -of the insurrection at Porto was communicated to the people of Sines by -an English frigate. - -♦HE ADVANCES AGAINST EVORA.♦ - -The first tidings of Loison’s movement which reached Evora were, that -he had crossed the Tagus, and was in full march towards that city. No -time was lost in transmitting this from Aldea Gallega; any previous -intelligence had been rendered impossible by the secrecy with which -the French prepared their measures. Moretti applied for reinforcements -to Badajoz; orders were sent for the forces from Campo-Mayor and the -other places in the north of the province, to hasten to Evora, and -General Galluzo was requested to occupy the posts which would be left -unprotected by their absence; but no assistance came from Badajoz, and -Galluzo, instead of acting as was expected, forbade the Portugueze to -leave Campo-Mayor. An advanced guard of 700 men had been stationed at -Montemor o Novo, twenty miles from the city. General Leite ordered 400 -men to reinforce this post. They met the corps which they had been sent -to support in full retreat, the commander, not knowing that succours -were on the way to him, having thought himself too weak to await[20] -an attack. Instead of deriving confidence or hope from the meeting, -they hastened to Evora, and entered the city in alarm, exclaiming that -they were betrayed. That cry, in such miserable times, is sure to be -eagerly taken up. The people had been assured that the French who were -coming against them did not exceed 800 men; this had been said either -in a most erroneous policy, to keep up the spirits of the inhabitants, -by deceiving them as to the extent of their danger; or more probably in -good faith, all ranks being credulous in believing what they wished; -the natural effect, when the truth now became known, was to give the -populace apparent ground for believing the vague charge of treason; -their tumultuous movements were with difficulty suppressed, and the -Corregedor found himself so marked an object of suspicion, that, -in the hope of securing himself, he secretly left the city. Order -being in some degree restored, piquets of cavalry and patroles were -stationed for the night. In the morning a company of Miquelets arrived -from Villa-Viçosa (that term having been borrowed from the Catalans), -and the legion of Foreign Volunteers in the Spanish service, under -Sargento-Mor D. Antonio Maria Gallego: both came by forced marches; -the latter had left Jurumenha the preceding evening, a distance of -four-and-forty miles. With these succours the whole force collected -then amounted to 1770 ♦NEVES, IV. 126–131.♦ men, of whom about half -were regular troops, the others being volunteers newly-raised and -undisciplined. - -♦EVORA.♦ - -The city of Evora is so ancient, that fabulous history has laid its -foundation more than two thousand years before the Christian era. -Certain it is, that it was a flourishing city in the days of Viriatus. -Sertorius chose it for his residence; some of the buildings with which -he adorned it are still remaining, and the inhabitants are still -supplied with water by his aqueduct, which Joam III. repaired. Cæsar -made it a municipal town, and from him it was called Liberalitas Julia. -Under the Visigoths it continued to flourish, and Sisebut coined -money there. It was recovered from the Moors in the reign of Affonso -Henriquez, the first king, by the romantic enterprise of Giraldo -the Fearless, then an outlaw. King Fernando rebuilt or repaired its -walls; and Cardinal Henrique founded an university and established an -Inquisition there; but the university had been suppressed. In the war -of the Restoration it was besieged and taken by D. Juan de Austria, -but it was soon recovered, and the Spaniards in retreating toward -their own frontier suffered one of the most signal defeats which they -sustained during that long contest. Its population, once amounting -to 40,000, had declined to about half that number at the beginning -of the eighteenth century; since which time it had varied so little, -that there had neither been any apparent diminution nor increase. The -city was populous enough to have defeated the force which was now -marching against it, if it had been prepared for a Zaragozan defence. -There is courage enough for any thing in the Portugueze character; but -that individual and commanding genius was wanting by which alone the -inhabitants of a large city can be made to act steadily with one will, -and thereby capable of heroic valour. They prepared for a military -defence in the field, which was exposing peasantry and half-disciplined -troops to certain defeat. - -♦ACTION BEFORE THE CITY. - -JULY 29.♦ - -About seven in the morning the vedettes announced that the enemy were -in sight, and the Portugueze took their ground in better order than -might have been expected, considering the alarm and insubordination -which had lately prevailed, and the real inequality of the contest. -Their right rested upon the Mill of S. Bento, about a mile from the -city, the centre was posted upon the hill of S. Caetano, the left -rested upon the Quinta dos Cucos. Having reconnoitred this position, -Loison directed General Solignac to attack the enemy’s right, and -Margaron to break the centre with one part of his brigade, while the -other attacked the left; they were to unite behind the city, occupy -the roads to Arrayolos and Estremoz, and thus cut off the fugitives -from all retreat, the cavalry being ready for pursuit upon the right -and left, ... so sure and easy a victory was anticipated. The action -began about eleven. The Portugueze had four four-pounders in their -right wing, one three-pounder in the centre, and two howitzers in -the left; there was no want of artillerymen, and if the other troops -had understood their business and performed their duty like these, -the event might have been doubtful; but the cavalry could not by any -exertion of their commanders be brought into action; they hung back -and retired, while the infantry stood their ground. When the latter -were defeated, instead of flying, as the French had expected, in all -directions, they retreated into the town. The defeat, however, was -thought so irreparable, that General Leite and his staff made the best -of their way to Olivença, and Moretti hastened to the Archbishop, to -bid him provide for saving his own life without delay, in the imminent -danger which threatened it. The venerable prelate calmly told him -in reply, to think of preserving his own, which might yet be useful -and honourable to his country; for himself, he said, the remainder -of his days, few and useless as they needs must be, did not deserve -a thought. The city had five gates, three of which had been walled -up; the breaches which time had made in the walls had also been -closed, but the walls were old and ruinous, and the French forced -their entrance at many points, and then most of the defendants took -flight: ... Moretti and the ♦NEVES, IV. 132–138. OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ -382–387. THIEBAULT, 158–165.♦ Spaniards to Jurumenha, the company -from Villa-Viçosa to their own town; others dispersed; time was gained -for them by the resistance which Lieutenant-Colonel Franco made at one -of the gates, and the brave conduct of the foreign volunteers under -[21]Gallego, who fought desperately in the streets, and suffered great -loss. - -♦THE CITY TAKEN.♦ - -The horrors which ensued will be remembered in Portugal while any -record of past times shall be preserved there. Though even a military -pretext was wanting for delivering up the city and the inhabitants -to the will of the soldiers, the whole proceedings of the Portugueze -and their Spanish allies having been those of regular war, to them it -was abandoned. A resolution had been taken in the Junta that those -persons who feared the event should provide for their safety by -retiring in time; ... from some unexplained cause, most probably from -a well-grounded fear that any persons who attempted to remove would -be regarded as traitors by the furious populace, few or none availed -themselves of this ominous warning; when it was too late great numbers -got over the walls, but the French horse surrounded the city, and -showed as little mercy to the fugitives without, as the infantry did -to the ♦INHUMANITY OF THE CONQUERORS.♦ inhabitants within. The convents -and churches afforded no asylum; not those who had borne arms alone, -but children and old men, were massacred, and women were violated and -slaughtered. The lowest computation makes the number of these victims -amount to 900. The clergy and religioners were especial objects of -vengeance: they were literally hunted from their hiding-places like -wild beasts: eight-and-thirty were butchered; among them was the Bishop -of Maranham. The Archbishop’s intercession with Loison obtained only a -promise that a stop should be put to these enormities; no attempt was -made to restrain them that day, nor during the whole night, nor till -eleven on the following morning, and then by an order of the General, -what he called the lawful pillage was declared to be at an end; but -he contented himself with ♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 387. NEVES, IV. -138–142.♦ issuing the order; no means for enforcing it were taken, and -the soldiers continued their abominations till every place had been -ransacked, and their worst passions had been[22] glutted. - -♦ALARM AT ESTREMOZ.♦ - -According to the statement of the French, 8000 of the allies were -killed or wounded in the battle and in the capture of the city, and -4000 made prisoners, the latter being chiefly peasants. Their own loss -they stated at 90 killed, and more than 200 wounded. The intimidation -of that part of the country which was within the immediate reach of -the victors was such as might be expected after such a blow. At the -first rumour that reached Estremoz, the populace became ungovernable; -their first impulse was that of rage, which would willingly have -found any victim on which to sate itself. An officer had just arrived -from Portalegre; they fancied that he had prevented the coming of -some regular troops, which they had looked for; an attempt was made -to murder him in the hall of the Junta, whither he fled for refuge, -and in the presence of the members; and there was no other means of -saving him but by concealing him from the ferocious rabble. Presently -a dispatch came, announcing the total defeat at Evora, the capture -of the city, and the loss of every thing. Such was the temper of the -people, that it was a service of the utmost danger to communicate -this news; and the member who attempted to read the dispatch to them -from a varanda found his life in danger, and drew back. But it was -not possible either to conceal the fatal intelligence or to delay it. -Estremoz would assuredly be the next object of the enemy, and Evora -was only six leagues distant; if they had hitherto dreamt of defending -the town, the fate of Evora was now before their eyes: they knew that -even the unreasonable multitude would feel this near and imminent -danger, though they would not endure to be told of it; and the members -of the Junta determined to take measures for immediate submission. The -melancholy manner with which they passed through the crowd confirmed -the worst apprehensions of the people; and as they went along they -spake each to those persons on whose prudence he could rely, telling -them what had occurred, and what must now of necessity be done; thus -they thought the news might pass from one to another with the least -danger, and every one take such measures for himself as he deemed best. -There was a cry of treason at first, when it was seen that of the three -guns which had been mounted to defend the walls, one was cast into the -ditch, and the other two sent off to Olivença. The Juiz de Fora became -the object of suspicion, and could he have been found at that moment, -would have been murdered; ... so fickle is popular feeling, that this -very man was presently sought for as the ♦NEVES, IV. 145–149.♦ fittest -person to give counsel. A meeting was held, and a messenger deputed to -solicit Loison’s clemency. - -♦LOISON PROCEEDS TO ELVAS.♦ - -Loison received the messenger well, thinking that severity enough had -been shown to secure the submission of Alem-Tejo. He constituted a -provisional government in Evora, at the head of which the Archbishop -was compelled to act, and he set off for Estremoz on the fourth day -♦AUGUST 2.♦ after the action. He raised no contributions there, -permitted no pillage, and paid for every thing which the troops -consumed; he also set at liberty some of his prisoners. But when -he proceeded to Elvas he ordered two Swiss prisoners to be shot, -condemned four others to work in chains for five years, threw the -Spanish commander Gallego into a dungeon, and condemned the Portugueze -Lieut.-Colonel Franco to death, for bearing arms against the French. -The Bishop of Elvas interceded earnestly for this officer, and finding -all intercession vain, concluded by saying, if this favour were refused -him, he had still one to ask, which was, that the General would -sentence him to the same fate, seeing life would be hateful to him if -he could not save his countryman under such circumstances. Loison was -♦1808. AUGUST. NEVES, IV. 149, 156–158. OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 397.♦ -touched at this, and revoked the order for execution. That General -has left a name in Portugal which will be execrated to the latest -generations; here, however, is an instance which evinces some sense of -generosity, as if his heart had not been naturally bad; but it was the -tendency of the Revolution, and of Buonaparte’s system, to make men -wicked whom it did not find so. - -♦LOISON ENTERS PORTALEGRE.♦ - -The less portable part of the plunder of Evora was sold at Elvas, a -sort of fair being held for the purpose; and many persons purchased -church vessels for the sake of restoring them to the altars from whence -they had been taken. Loison made a movement upon Badajoz, and believing -that the troops in that city had been called off to the Spanish armies, -and that his recent success had occasioned great consternation there, -endeavoured to introduce officers under a flag of truce, for the -purpose of observing the state of the place; but they were refused -admittance. The commandant of Elvas, Colonel Miquel, had made himself -odious in that city, especially for executing a German as an emissary -of the Spaniards, the main proof against him being some thirty pieces -of gold which were found in his possession. Some fugitives from -Elvas, with a few comrades from Campo-Mayor, waylaid this commandant -as he went from the city, intending to sleep in Fort La Lippe, for -greater security; they fired upon him and an officer in his company; -the officer escaped, but Miquel lay all night upon the ground, the -soldiers not venturing to seek him in the darkness, and being removed -to Lisbon, he died there of his wounds. ♦HE IS RECALLED TO THE -NEIGHBOURHOOD OF LISBON.♦ This was some days before Loison’s arrival. -That General appointed M. Girod de Novilard of the engineers to succeed -him, and marched upon Portalegre. The Spaniards had already retired -from thence, and the Bishop, with most of the principal persons, -withdrew also in time. The city was plundered, and a contribution of -100,000 cruzados demanded from the district; about 40,000 were raised, -and six persons were carried away as pledges for the remainder. He -then ♦NEVES, IV. 156–164. THIEBAULT, 168–172.♦ marched for Abrantes, -having received dispatches which ordered him to hasten his return -toward Lisbon by that route, it being now certain that an expedition -from England was off the coast. - -♦INSUBORDINATION OF THE PEOPLE AT PORTO.♦ - -Those provinces, meantime, which had not felt the vengeance of the -French were in a state of anarchy. The temporary dissolution of order, -even though no revolutionary opinions were at work, produced evils -little less alarming than the actual presence of the enemy. The cry -of an inflamed multitude is always for blood. The Intendant of Police -at Porto addressed a manly proclamation to the people, reproving them -for eagerly demanding the death of a few suspected persons, who were -already in the hands of justice, and from whom they had nothing to -fear. In the processes against them, he said, there ought to be nothing -precipitate, nothing that could be accused of inhumanity; he must -see that all the proofs of their guilt were brought forward, that -his own honour might suffer no stain. If they were dissatisfied with -him, he would gladly lay down an office which he had never solicited; -more willingly would he accompany his son to the army, than occupy a -station for which, even in quiet times, he should have thought himself -unqualified; and though life was dear to him, he would rather lose -it in the service of his country than in a tumult. But mobs are as -seldom capable of reason as of compunction. It was necessary, for -the sake of preventing wider evils, to accelerate the processes, and -to promise blood. No person, however innocent of any connexion with -the French, however distinguished for his exertions against them, -was safe from suspicion; no place, however sacred, was secure from -search. Upon a report that a suspected person had concealed himself in -a burial-vault, it was proposed to open all the vaults in the church -till he was found. Upon another rumour that he was concealed in a nun’s -habit in a Carmelite nunnery, the mob proposed to break in and examine -the sisterhood. Raymundo exerted himself to prevent this scandalous -outrage. Some one charged him also with treason, and his life was for a -moment in danger. But Raymundo, who knew how little in such times any -popularity, however deserved, was to be trusted, had provided himself -with a crucifix in case of need. He displayed ♦NEVES, IV. 209–224.♦ it -in this emergency, and by an exclamation according with the display, -induced the rabble to join with him in a shout of loyalty, and -succeeded in dissuading them from entering the convent. - -♦DESIGN OF A MILITARY USURPATION IN THAT CITY.♦ - -Even in this early stage of popular commotions a military usurpation is -said to have been projected by Luiz Candido Cordeiro Pinheiro Furtado, -in conjunction with Joam Manoel de Mariz. Both were esteemed good -officers; the latter was a member of the Junta, the former offended -that he had not been nominated, and still more so that another person -had been made commander-in-chief. They designed to erect a military -Junta under their own direction, and they proposed to raise a corps -under the name of the Loyal Porto Legion, of which Candido was to have -the command; the officers were named, the uniform designed, and worn by -Candido with some of his associates; he took to himself also a guard of -honour, which, from a small beginning, was gradually increased, till at -length the armed attendance with which he always appeared in public was -such as to excite reasonable apprehension. The city was in this state -when Bernardim Freire arrived from Coimbra to take upon himself the -command. He was received with great joy by the people; but Luiz Candido -was evidently displeased at his coming, and Bernardim was soon apprised -that a conspiracy was formed against him and against the Junta. He was -careful therefore to keep Candido and Mariz as much about his person as -possible. Among other precautions for preserving tranquillity in the -city, he ordered the guns to be unloaded; persons were not wanting to -represent this as being done with a treacherous design; and a priest, -notorious for irregularities, at the head of a mob seized his bridle, -and exclaimed that the people would have no such General. A dangerous -stir had already begun, when some men of better mind came resolutely -forward; one of them felled the priest to the ground; Bernardim spake -to the crowd in a manner which conciliated their good ♦NEVES, IV. -225–229.♦ will, the priest was thrown into prison, and the day was -closed with an illumination in honour of the General. - -♦THE CONSPIRATORS ARE SEIZED.♦ - -Upon the arrival of D. Miguel Pereira Forjaz to assist his -brother-in-law Bernardim, an attempt was made to establish a military -Junta, in aid of the provisional government, and as a check upon -the designs of Candido and his associates. This, however, proved -ineffectual; and they proceeded so rapidly in organizing an armed -party, that it was deemed necessary to secure Candido and Mariz without -delay, lest the city should become a scene of bloodshed. They were -accordingly summoned to a consultation at the Bishop’s palace, and -there arrested. Their escort, which, as usual, had accompanied them, -began to express displeasure at this; and three of the men entering the -palace, demanded insolently that their commander should be delivered to -them; if he were innocent, they said, they would set him at liberty; if -he were a traitor, they would blow him to pieces from the mouth of a -cannon. These men were secured, and Raymundo, with some other officers -to whom this service had been assigned, disarmed their fellows. The -agitation, however, continued the whole day, though this was at an -early hour; and it was not till after midnight that the prisoners -could be conducted without danger of a rescue to the jail. They were -immediately proceeded against according to the forms of Portugueze law, -and the evidence against them appeared so conclusive, that Candido was -condemned to death, and Mariz to be degraded to Angola. The gallows -accordingly was erected, Candido was led into the oratory to perform -the last religious duties, the brethren of the Misericordia went out -to attend the execution, and the crowd collected to witness it; when, -after a while, it was announced that the two prisoners were removed -to the fortress of S. Joam da Foz, to be embarked for Brazil, and -there placed at the Prince’s disposal. So fickle is a multitude, that -the crowd, which a few days before had almost mutinied because of the -arrest of this man, became riotous now because he was not put to death. -They were pacified by the personal exertions of the Bishop and two of -his dignitaries, and by an official notification that the Junta having -pronounced sentence of death against Luiz Candido upon full proof of a -most ♦NEVES, IV. 229–237.♦ atrocious crime, had thought it proper to -lay the proceedings before the Prince, and remit the criminal to his -mercy. - -♦1808. JULY.♦ - -The populace at Porto were kept in some degree of submission by -the vigorous measures of the provisional government, the respect -which was paid to the episcopal character, and by the influence -which men of property possess in a ♦DISTURBANCES AT BRAGANZA.♦ -flourishing commercial town. In remoter parts the local authorities -were weaker, and tumults of the most disgraceful nature occurred. -After the provinces beyond the mountains and between the rivers had -been delivered from their first danger, by the failure of Loison’s -expedition from Almeida, they were more seriously alarmed from the -side of Castille and Leon; and indeed had it not been for the success -of the Spaniards in Andalusia, Junot would probably have received -powerful reinforcements from Marshal Bessieres after the battle of Rio -Seco. The first disturbances arose at Braganza upon a rumour that this -army was approaching. The people gathered together tumultuously, and -when they learnt that no enemies were near, directed their vengeance -against all whom they suspected; and in such times it is in the power -of any wretch, however vile and worthless, to throw suspicion upon -the object of his envy or resentment. The Junta, in hope of appeasing -them, convoked a popular meeting, ... the readiest means of showing -them their power, and teaching them how to abuse it; and the result -was, that most of the members of the Junta were turned out, and such -as the mob thought fit elected in their places. A shoemaker, and the -keeper of a wine-house, who, because he was maimed in one arm, called -himself _o Loison Portuguez_, were the kings of the rabble. The latter -took upon himself the office of general, and was actually obeyed by the -troops. Their chief vengeance was directed against the New-Christians, -for Pombal’s law (the redeeming act of that tyrannical statesman) had -not even in half a century produced a feeling of toleration in the -populace. Any accusation, however preposterous, was believed; they -gutted the house of one man, and threw him into prison, upon a charge -of witchcraft, for having, it was said, made an image of General -Sepulveda, and placed it over the fire in a frying-pan. When the city -had thus continued three days under mob-rule, the magistrates took -courage from despair, arrested the ruling demagogues during the night, -and sent them prisoners to Chaves. Troops came from Villa Real, where -Sepulveda at that time was, and tranquillity was restored; but it was -necessary to gratify the people by making useless preparations for -defence; and the popular opinion was, that nothing but what was right -had been done, that the persons whose property had been destroyed, and -their lives endangered, ♦NEVES, IV. 238–245.♦ deserved the usage they -had suffered, and that the magistrates were bribed by the Jews. - -♦THE NEW-CHRISTIANS PLUNDERED AT VILLA NOVA DE FOZ-COA.♦ - -More serious disturbances occurred at Villa Nova de Foz-Coa, arising -from the same popular intolerance and love of rapine. That town, one of -the most flourishing in Beira Alta, owed in great part its prosperity -to its position at the confluence of the Coa with the Douro. A -considerable trade in silk, and in rice, salt-fish, and other articles -of foreign importation, brought thither by the river from Porto, was -carried on with the adjacent country, and with the Spaniards of the -border. This trade was mostly in the hands of persons who, because they -were of Jewish extraction, were believed by the vulgar to be still -attached in heart to the Mosaic law. The cry of Down with the French, -was coupled here with Kill the Jews; ... their houses were attacked, -their goods plundered, their persons abused, their lives threatened and -seriously endangered, and more than twenty of the wealthiest families -in that country reduced to utter ruin by the complete destruction of -their property. Some of these unhappy persons effected their escape -to Moncorvo; and, because they were protected there, and the Junta -of that town endeavoured to restore order at Villa Nova, hostilities -ensued between the two townships. The evil spread; and if the Junta of -Moncorvo had not arrested during the night some movers of sedition in -their town, and seized also some of the ringleaders from Villa Nova, -who had crossed the Douro, the province of Tras os Montes would soon -have suffered all the evils of civil war, exasperated by a spirit of -fanaticism, such as existed in the worst ages of superstition and -ignorance. The New-Christians were accused of assisting the French -with money, blaspheming God, cursing the Prince, ♦NEVES, IV. 245–263.♦ -defiling the crucifix, and finally, of Manicheism! When a judicial -inquiry was afterwards instituted concerning the riots, depositions to -this effect were made against them upon oath! - -♦TROUBLES AT VISEU.♦ - -The troubles at Viseu, though less destructive in their consequences, -assumed a more revolutionary character. The mob insisted upon having -a Juiz do Povo, and elected a demagogue to that office, which had -not before been known among them, which in quiet times is useless, -and in turbulent ones dangerous. Florencio José Correa de Mello, the -general of the province, and the Bishop, a good but timid man, instead -of refusing to acknowledge this tumultuous and illegal appointment, -ratified it by administering an oath to the chosen favourite of the -mob, who from that moment became a person of more authority than either -Bishop or General. The latter offended the military by refusing to -double their pay, as had been so imprudently done at Porto; on this -account they became mutinous, and a riot broke out in the city upon an -absurd report that Loison was come to visit him. The demagogue, who was -lord of the day, obtained from the intimidated Bishop an order for his -arrest, his house was sacked, and he and the Juiz de Fora were thrown -into prison amid the insults of a multitude who knew not what they -did. A meeting of the people was then held, at which the magistrates -were deposed, new ones ♦NEVES, IV. 263–273.♦ appointed, and the Bishop -was declared Generalissimo, with Silveira, who happened to be passing -through Viseu, for his adjutant-general. - -Proceedings equally outrageous, and of more perilous tendency, -occurred in the town of Arcos de Val de Vez. The bells in that town -and in the surrounding villages rung the alarm upon a report that -20,000 French had landed at Espozende, and were entering Ponte de Lima. -♦RIOTOUS PROCEEDINGS AT ARCOS DE VAL DE VEZ.♦ A disorderly multitude -collected, and set out in search of the enemy; their courage was easily -roused, and soon spent; for when they had ascertained that the report -was without foundation, and were returning home, they learnt that -a body of men from the north were in possession of their town, and -instead of hastening thither to protect their property, and restore -order, they took to flight, each seeking a place of refuge where he -thought best. The people in fear of whom they fled were peasantry, who, -like themselves, had set out to fight the French, in utter disorder; -hurrying along in scattered parties, some with a soldier for their -leader, some with an abbot, provided neither with ammunition nor bread, -increasing their numbers as they went along, and expecting that the -magistrates were to issue orders for supplying them wherever they -came. The _Vereadores_ exerted themselves to feed this rabble, and be -rid of them; the Juiz de Fora, dismayed at such a visitation, and in -despair of satisfying such visitors, absconded, and his disappearance -was imputed to a consciousness of treason. While they were seeking him -every where, an unlucky messenger entered the town with dispatches -from the Corregedor of Barcellos, and as he happened to have lost an -arm, the senseless multitude took him for Loison; and even when they -had examined his papers were still so possessed with this preposterous -notion, that they placed him in confinement. Another messenger with -letters fell into their hands, and was seized in like manner; and they -were demanding a warrant for the apprehension of the Juiz de Fora, -when he was brought in from the country, by an inhuman rabble, in a -condition which would have excited pity in the poor unthinking wretches -themselves who were his tormentors, if they had beheld him separately, -and if men did not seem to be divested of all compassion when they -act in mobs. With great difficulty they were prevailed upon not to -finish killing him, but to lodge him in prison. Presently the thirst -for blood returned, and they ordered a young priest to go and prepare -him for death. The priest objected that he had not yet received that -order in the church which empowered him to officiate in the sacrament -of confession; upon which they replied, that they ♦NEVES, IV. 279–287.♦ -conferred the order. The young man then entered the prison, and with -great presence of mind advised the Juiz to feign himself dead; then -going out, he asked the mob, with a tone of anger, why they had sent -him to confess a man whom they had already killed? They made no farther -inquiry; ... the bells tolled for his death, and by this artifice his -life was saved. - -♦THE RABBLE ENACT LAWS.♦ - -The rabble now took upon themselves to reform the state; they began -by turning out the members of the Camara, throwing the chairs out -of window, demolishing the seat of the Judge, and burning the public -papers. They displaced officers, deposed two or three abbots, and -nominated a Capuchin friar to be their General. They appointed a Junta, -and made laws whereby they abolished the recruiting system, fixed the -prices of milk, meat, and wine, prohibited the exportation of bread, -forbade all processes for debt, suspended all law-suits during the war, -abolished the fees of the parochial priests, and were hardly persuaded -to spare the tithes, and, finally, exempted all tenants from payment -of manorial rights; and these laws were enacted not for their own -district alone, but for the whole kingdom. This was the only indication -of a revolutionary disposition which manifested itself during these -unhappy times. By good hap the persons whom they had chosen to form -their Junta were prudent and well-intentioned men, who temporized -with them, and accepted an illegal authority in the hope of restoring -order. The anniversary of a religious procession occurred at this -time, and they took advantage of it. The Host was borne through the -streets, a sermon adapted to the circumstances was preached with good -effect, and the reformers, tired of their work, and willing to secure -what they had gained by pillage, broke up, and returned to their own -part of the country. The people of the land then enrolled themselves, -established patroles, and subjected themselves to ♦NEVES, IV. 287–293.♦ -good discipline; so that when a second visit of the same kind was -attempted, they seized the ringleaders. Troops at length came from -Viana, and many of the criminals were apprehended and sent prisoners to -Porto. - -♦COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ALEM-TEJO AND THE NORTHERN PROVINCES.♦ - -The authority of the provisional government at Porto would not -have been generally acknowledged, and with so little reluctance, -throughout these provinces, if that city had not been looked to as a -capital, because of its great commercial importance. But so little -intercourse was there between the north and south of Portugal, that -both had been in insurrection against the French more than a month, -before it was known in one part that any resistance had commenced in -the other. Vague reports indeed were in circulation, which could be -traced to no authentic source; but no intelligence upon which any -reliance was placed arrived in Alem-Tejo, till a student from Coimbra, -who had enlisted in the academic corps, came to Campo-Mayor on his -own concerns, and gave a clear account of the transactions in which -♦JULY 18.♦ he had borne a part. The news was immediately dispatched -to Badajoz; tidings of the battle of Baylen reached that city at the -same time; and messengers, accredited by the governors of Badajoz -and Campo-Mayor, were sent to Coimbra, to communicate the joyful -accounts from Spain. They were received not merely with transports of -exultation, but with as much surprise, says the Portugueze historian -of these events, as if they had come from another world, ... in such -utter ignorance were the people of Beira of what had been going on -in Alem-Tejo, though the two provinces, along an extent of some forty -miles, are only separated by the Tagus. The messengers on their part -with equal surprise learnt that the legitimate government was restored -in Tras os Montes, and Entre Douro e Minho. Being thus referred to -Porto, thither they proceeded; and returned from thence with letters -from the Bishop and the General to the Archbishop of Evora and the -Junta of Badajoz, recommending the establishment of a provisional -government under the Archbishop, similar to that at Porto, that the -same system might be pursued in the south as in the north. When they -reached Coimbra on their way, they learnt the fate of Evora, that -news having been circulated by the French without delay. Proceeding -on their journey, when they drew near Castello-Branco they found the -roads full of fugitives, removing with their children and families, and -such goods as they could carry away, in fear of Loison, so far had the -terror of his name extended. It was not then known that he had marched -toward Abrantes; and the messengers, to avoid the ♦NEVES, IV. 197–205.♦ -danger of falling in with his troops, entered Spain by Zebreira, and so -proceeded to Badajoz and Campo-Mayor. - -Things were in this state when a British expedition arrived upon the -north coast. General Leite was collecting at Olivença the troops which -had escaped from Evora. The Conde de Castro-Marim was raising and -embodying forces in Algarve; and the Junta of Porto were hardly less -perplexed by the perilous spirit of insubordination which prevailed -both in the city and in the remoter parts of the provinces, than by the -deficiency of money and means for the men who willingly came forward to -serve against the invaders. There were numbers, and courage, and good -will, but every thing else was wanting. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -FIRST CAMPAIGN OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN PORTUGAL. CONVENTION OF CINTRA. - - -♦1808.♦ - -♦STATE OF PUBLIC FEELING IN ENGLAND.♦ - -These transactions in Spain and Portugal excited the deepest interest -in the English people; not so much for the hope, which had thus -unexpectedly arisen, of advantages to England, and to the general -welfare of Europe, as for the nature of the contest, their detestation -of the unequalled iniquity by which it had been provoked, and their -sympathy in the instinct and principle by which it was carried on. -Every day seemed lost till an army of our own should be co-operating -with men engaged in a cause so sacred, so congenial to the feelings -of a Briton. Such was the eagerness to participate in the glorious -struggle, that the militia almost universally offered themselves for -foreign service, and the country with one voice called for an effort -equal to the occasion. But the Government was not prepared for such -exertions. Our military operations had never yet been carried on upon -a scale such as was now required, and since the peace of Amiens they -had been almost wholly suspended. Though great and most essential -improvements in the army had been steadily and unostentatiously carried -into effect by the Duke of York, much remained to be done; and it -wanted that efficiency which nothing but experience could give it. -That our troops were able to beat the enemy wherever they should meet -on equal terms, or even with considerable advantage of numbers on -the enemy’s side, no Englishman doubted, unless he wished the enemy -success; but the public confidence went no farther. The war had on -our part so long been almost exclusively maritime, that the army had -suffered something in reality and more in reputation. The French, -always fond of war, had become a military people; their military -establishment was supposed to be perfect in all its branches, their -troops experienced, their officers excellent, their commanders of the -highest celebrity: to oppose them we had generals very few of whom -had ever been tried in command, and officers of whom the far greater -number, like their men, had never seen an enemy in the field. A great -effort, however, was now called for by our new allies. The Spanish -Juntas with which the British Government had hitherto communicated, -preferred assistance in money and supplies to an auxiliary force; they -had a brave but undue confidence in their own strength, and perhaps -they foresaw that mutual ill will might probably arise between combined -armies whose habits and prejudices were widely dissimilar. What they -desired was, that a British expedition should be employed against the -French in Portugal; this would act as a powerful diversion in favour -of Spain; thither we were called by the wishes and groans of the -Portugueze people; and it was believed, that when the deliverance of -that kingdom should have been effected, a plan of co-operation with the -Spaniards might be arranged. - -♦AN EXPEDITION ORDERED TO THE COAST OF PORTUGAL.♦ - -When the insurrection of the Spaniards began, an armament was preparing -at Cork, which, as different prospects opened upon us, had been -supposed to be intended at one time against Ceuta, at another for -South America. Its destination was now fixed for the Peninsula, and -the command was given to Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley. His -instructions were, while the fleet proceeded off Cape Finisterre, -to make for Coruña himself, and consult there with the Provisional -Government of Galicia. He was authorized to give the most distinct -assurances to the Spanish and Portugueze people, that his Majesty, in -sending a force to their assistance, had no other object in view than -to afford them his most unqualified and disinterested support. In all -questions respecting their provisional government, should any such -arise, he was as far as possible to avoid taking any part; maintaining -only these principles, that no act done by Charles or Ferdinand could -be considered valid, unless they returned to their own country, and -were absolutely free agents there; and that the entire evacuation of -the Peninsula by the French was the only basis upon which the Spaniards -should be induced to treat. In any arrangements he was directed to -act with the utmost liberality and confidence, the object of Great -Britain being to assist the people of Spain and Portugal in restoring -and maintaining against France the independence and integrity of their -respective monarchies. - -♦FORMER SERVICES OF SIR A. WELLESLEY.♦ - -Arthur Wellesley, fourth son of Viscount Wellesley, Earl of Mornington, -was born in the year 1769, at Dengan Castle, in Ireland, the seat of -his ancestors. After having been a short time at Eton, he was removed, -while very young, to the military academy at Angers; for there was not -at that time any institution in Great Britain wherein tactics were -taught, and the youth who meant to follow the military profession was -obliged to go to France if he wished to learn the elements of war. -He obtained his first commission about the age of eighteen, in the -41st regiment; and after a series of exchanges and promotions, his -elder brother, afterwards Marquis Wellesley, purchased for him the -lieutenant-colonelcy of the 33rd, in 1793. He conducted himself in -the disastrous retreat from Holland so as to obtain much praise from -military men. In 1795 he embarked for service in the West Indies, -but being providentially driven back by storms, his destination was -altered. In 1797 he went out to India with his brother Lord Mornington, -then Governor General; there he distinguished himself in the war -against Tippoo, and being appointed Governor of Seringapatam after the -capture of that city, and one of the commissioners for disposing of -the conquered territories, he discharged his arduous duties in such -manner as to deserve and obtain the gratitude of the conquered people. -In the subsequent war against the Mahrattas he commanded at the battle -of Assye, against an army exceeding his own number in the proportion -of ten to one; and whose disciplined troops, under French officers, -more than doubled the British force. The action was severe beyond all -former example in India: having won the enemy’s artillery, consisting -of an hundred pieces, which were served with perfect skill, he had to -take them a second time with the bayonet, when men who had feigned -death rose from the ground and turned them upon the conquerors as they -pressed forward in pursuit. The victory was decisive; the success was -followed up, and at the close of that triumphant war a monument in -honour of the battle was erected at Calcutta; the inhabitants of that -city presented him with a sword, and his own officers with a golden -vase; the thanks of parliament were voted him, and he was made a Knight -Companion of the Bath. He returned to England in 1805; took his seat -in the House of Commons the ensuing year, as member for Newport in the -Isle of Wight, and in 1807 was appointed Chief Secretary in Ireland. -But his military services were soon required; he accompanied Lord -Cathcart in the expedition against Copenhagen, and commanded in the -only affair of importance which took place. He was now to be tried -in more arduous undertakings; and such was the repute in which his -talents were held, that when the armament for the Peninsula was placed -under his command, the opinion both of the army and of the public -entirely accorded with the choice which Government had made. - -♦SIR ARTHUR LANDS AT CORUÑA.♦ - -Sir Arthur Wellesley, having about ten thousand men under his command, -sailed from Cork on the 12th of July, and leaving the fleet as soon as -he had seen it clear of the coast, made sail in a frigate for Coruña, -and arrived there on the 20th. There the Junta of Galicia informed him -of the battle of Rio Seco; and that the French, being, in consequence, -masters of the course of the Douro, were enabled to cut off the -communication between that province and the country to the south and -east. The French in Portugal they estimated at 15,000, of whom 12,000 -were supposed to be at Lisbon; and he was told that the Portugueze -troops at Porto amounted to 10,000, and that a Spanish corps of 2000 -had begun their march for that city on the 15th, and were expected to -arrive there about the 25th. Sir Arthur consulted with them concerning -the immediate employment of his army. They explicitly stated that -they were in no need of men, but wanted arms, ammunition, and money: -... this latter want was relieved by the arrival of £200,000 from -England that very day. They strongly recommended him to employ his -forces against the enemy in Portugal, because while that army remained -unbroken the Spaniards could never make any simultaneous effort to -drive the French out of the Peninsula; and they advised him to land -in the north, that he might bring forward and avail himself of the -Portugueze troops in that quarter. - -♦HE PROCEEDS TO PORTO.♦ - -Accordingly Sir Arthur sailed for Porto, ordering the fleet to -follow him. He arrived there the 24th, and had a conference that -night with the Bishop and the general officers. From them, and from -Lieutenant-colonel Brown, who had previously joined them, he learnt -that the regular Portugueze troops who had been collected amounted -to 5000 men, and were posted at Coimbra; that there were about 1200 -peasants in advance, and a corps of 2500 Portugueze and 300 Spanish -infantry at Porto, besides volunteers and peasants; but all were badly -equipped and armed, the peasantry having only pikes. It was concerted -that the 5000 should co-operate with him, and the remainder with the -Spanish corps, then, so the Spaniards had informed him, on its way -from Galicia; and that the peasantry should be employed, part in the -blockade of Almeida, part in the defence of Tras os Montes, which -province was supposed to be threatened by Bessieres, in consequence -of his victory at Rio Seco. Sir Arthur stated, that he should want -cattle for draught, and for the supply of his army; the Bishop took pen -and ink, wrote down the number which would be required, and replied -immediately that they were ready. - -Here Sir Arthur received a letter from Sir Charles Cotton, advising -him to leave the troops either at Porto or at the mouth of the Mondego, -and proceed to communicate with him off Lisbon. ♦HE GOES TO THE TAGUS -TO CONFER WITH SIR C. COTTON.♦ The fleet accordingly was ordered to -Mondego Bay, and the general proceeded to confer with Sir Charles. -There he found dispatches from General Spencer, stating that he had -landed his corps in Andalusia, at the request of the Junta of Seville; -but that he had resisted the applications made to him to join Castaños, -thinking it advisable to preserve his force unbroken, for the purpose -of acting with Sir Arthur. He had, however, consented to take up a -position at Xeres, where he might serve as a point of support for -Castaños, in case of defeat, and from whence he could re-embark in -eight-and-forty hours: and he supposed that Sir Arthur would begin -his campaign at Cadiz, implying an opinion that Dupont could not -be defeated without English assistance. Sir Arthur, however, being -convinced by the Junta of Galicia that his army would be employed with -more advantage to the common cause against Junot, ordered General -Spencer to join him off the coast of Portugal, unless he should be -actually engaged in operations which he could not relinquish without -injury to the Spaniards. - -♦THE MONDEGO THE ONLY PLACE WHERE A LANDING COULD BE EFFECTED.♦ - -General Spencer represented Junot’s force as exceeding 20,000 men: -the admiral, according to the reports of the Portugueze, estimated -them at less: Sir Arthur concluded that they were from 16,000 to -18,000, of whom about 12,000 were at Lisbon, and in its vicinity, and -2400 at Alcobaça. Any attempt at landing in the Tagus was considered -impracticable: it would be equally so at Cascaes: it was at all times -difficult to land an army in the small bays near the rock, and would -be now especially dangerous because of the neighbourhood of the enemy: -Peniche was garrisoned by the French. There was therefore no choice but -to disembark in the Mondego. Thither Sir Arthur returned. He rejoined -the fleet there on the 30th, and there he found intelligence of the -defeat of Dupont, and advice from his own government, that he would be -reinforced immediately with 5000 men, under Brigadier-General Acland, -and afterwards with 10,000 who had been under Sir John Moore in Sweden, -the command being vested in Sir Hew Dalrymple; but he was directed -to carry into execution without delay the instructions which he had -received, if he thought himself sufficiently strong. He also received -accounts that Loison had been detached from Lisbon, to open the -communication with Elvas, the patriots in Alem-Tejo having been joined -by about a thousand men from the Spanish army of Estremadura, and being -now formidable. - -♦TROOPS LANDED IN THE MONDEGO.♦ - -♦1808. AUGUST.♦ - -This latter account made him conclude that there was no danger of -being attacked by superior numbers before his reinforcements reached -him; and he determined to land, both for the sake of the troops, and -because he knew that the Portugueze, who were much discouraged at -seeing the men remain so long on board after their arrival in Mondego -Bay, would suspect either the inclination of the English to contend -with the French, or their ability, if the landing were still deferred. -It was now found that the Coimbra students had performed a service of -real importance in winning Figueira from the enemy; the landing in the -Mondego being so difficult, that with all the zeal and ability of the -navy, it would have been impossible to effect it without the cordial -assistance of the Portugueze. They began to disembark on the first of -August. The weather was so little favourable, and the surf so high, -that the whole of the troops were not landed till the 5th, and on that -day General Spencer arrived, his corps following him the next. He had -embarked immediately upon learning the surrender of Dupont, not waiting -for instructions. This corps was disembarked on the 7th and 8th, on -which night the whole army were in readiness to advance: the march of -the main body was, however, delayed till the 10th, at the desire of the -Portugueze general officers. Sir Arthur conferred with them at Montemor -o Velho, and arranged the plan of operations: he armed and inspected -their troops, recommended and superintended their organization, and -offered as large a sum as his military funds could afford, to defray -the expenses of their equipment: this, however, was declined by their -officers. While the troops were landing, a party of the police cavalry -arrived at Coimbra, having effected their escape from Lisbon. This -hazardous attempt was planned and conducted by Eliziario de Carvalho. -A serjeant, by name Gamboa, as soon as their flight was discovered, -was dispatched to the French commander at Santarem, with orders to -intercept and make an example of them, according to the system of the -French tyranny. Gamboa, however, with the party under his command, -followed and joined his countrymen; and they accomplished their -dangerous march in safety. - -♦THEY ADVANCE TO LEIRIA.♦ - -Sir Arthur determined to march along the road nearest the sea, for the -sake of communicating with the store-ships; but as this communication -must needs be very precarious, both as depending upon the state of -the surf, and also because the army might find it expedient to strike -more into the country, arrangements were made for taking with them -sufficient stores to last till they should reach the Tagus. The -advanced guard marched on the 9th, supported by the brigades under -Generals Hill and Ferguson. Laborde and Thomieres had collected their -corps, to the amount of from 5000 to 6000 men, in the neighbourhood -of Leiria; they threatened the magazines formed in that city for the -Portugueze army; and Sir Arthur was urged to advance as speedily as -possible, for the sake of preserving them. The main body followed -on the 10th: on that day Sir Arthur received advices from Coruña, -informing him that neither Blake nor Cuesta was in a condition to -act offensively against Bessieres, nor to follow him, if he should -enter Portugal. But at the same time news arrived of the flight of the -Intruder from Madrid; and Sir Arthur perceived that Bessieres would -be more solicitous to cover his retreat towards the French frontier, -than to attempt a diversion in favour of Junot. At all events, there -was time enough for his operations against the latter before Bessieres -could arrive; and it was to be expected that General Acland, or -Sir John Moore, would land before he could come up. These advices, -therefore, only determined him to follow up with the utmost celerity -the plan which he had concerted. On the 11th the main body joined -the advanced guard at Leiria, and the next day the Portugueze force, -consisting of 6000 men, including 600 cavalry, arrived, the whole force -being now collected there. When the English advanced guard entered that -city, they found in one of the convents the dead bodies of several -monks who had been murdered by the French; ♦EARLY CAMPAIGNS OF THE DUKE -OF WELLINGTON, P. 8.♦ the murderers had amused themselves with dipping -their hands in the blood of these victims, and printing the red mark -upon the wall. - -♦JOY OF THE PORTUGUEZE IN LISBON.♦ - -The arrival of the British troops in Portugal had the immediate -effect of putting an end to that anarchy which had already produced -so much evil in the northern provinces. Meantime the wildest reports -were afloat at Lisbon. The miserable people looking every where for -deliverance, believed that an army from Morocco was coming to their -aid. The trick of the egg was repeated, not as before, with mysterious -initials, referring to King Sebastian, but with a distinct annunciation -that the French were speedily to be destroyed. The egg thus inscribed -was found ♦NEVES, V. 67.♦ upon the high altars of the Patriarchal -Church: but the former instance had led the French to discover the -easy process by which an inscription in relief may be produced, and -on the following morning eggs with a counter prophecy, in the same -fashion, were to be seen upon the ♦THIEBAULT, 170.♦ high altar in every -church in Lisbon: at the same time a paper was fixed up, explaining -the trick. This was fair matter of mirth for the day; but Junot and -his officers well knew that the hostile prediction was not made now -without a reasonable and near prospect of its fulfilment; and very -soon intelligence came that the only foe of which ♦NEVES, V. 62, 65.♦ -he stood in fear had actually disembarked. The Portugueze commanders -at Coimbra and Pombal used their utmost endeavours that no information -of the British movements might reach the enemy, and in this they were -assisted by the disposition of the people. But entire concealment -was not possible; ... the news came to Lisbon at the same time from -General Thomieres, from the agents of the police, by private letters, -and by public report; and if Junot could have doubted the accuracy of -his dispatches, all doubt ♦THIEBAULT, 172.♦ would have been removed by -the altered appearance of the Lisbonians, who now knew that of a truth -their deliverance was at hand. - -Loison was immediately recalled from Alem-Tejo, and Laborde, who was -supposed to be the ablest of the French generals, was sent with the two -brigades of Generals Brenier and Thomieres to manœuvre and delay the -enemy till Loison ♦MEASURES OF THE FRENCH.♦ could arrive, Travot being -appointed to the command at Lisbon in Laborde’s stead; ... this general -♦THIEBAULT, 175.♦ was chosen because having demeaned himself as a man -of honour and humanity, he had deserved and obtained the respect and -good opinion of the Portugueze. The castle at Lisbon, which had now -been strongly fortified, was supplied with more ammunition and stores. -The fowling-pieces and other weapons, which had been delivered up in -obedience to a former edict, were broken, or rendered useless, ... the -bars of silver into which the church plate had been cast, and the other -portable plunder, packed for removal, and deposited on board one of the -Portugueze ships of war. Whole piles of rich hangings and vestments, -the spoils of palaces and churches, were burnt in a building erected -for the purpose near head-quarters, and in the sight of the people, -for the sake of the gold and silver wherewith they were embroidered. -In order to counteract the excitement of hope in the citizens, it was -confidently asserted, that 20,000 French had entered Portugal on the -side of Braganza; and for the chance, vain as it was, of provoking -their bigotry, they were reproached as having brought a stain upon -their country by inviting heretics and Mahometans to fight against the -French, who, like themselves, professed the true religion. It was -indeed actually believed by the Portugueze that the British had brought -with them a Moorish force: the Portugueze Consul in Barbary had in fact -obtained from the Emperor of Morocco a promise of 200,000 _cruzados_ -for the service of Portugal; and this may have given occasion to a -belief which was confirmed by the appearance of the Highlanders: ... -♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 402. NEVES, V. 65, 118.♦ their dress was -immediately pronounced not to be Christian, and for a time no doubt was -entertained but that these were the Moorish auxiliaries. - -♦MOVEMENTS OF LABORDE AND LOISON.♦ - -The French apprehended that Sir Arthur would move upon the Zezere and -the Tagus, for the purpose of interposing between Loison’s detachment -and their main force. Laborde therefore proceeded by Villa Franca and -Rio-Maior to Candieiros, where he encamped; from Rio-Maior he might -either take the direction of Alcobaça, Leiria, or Thomar, and, it -was hoped, co-operate with Loison, in case any attempt were made to -prevent their junction. Learning, however, that the British army kept -the line of the coast, and that Loison had crossed the Tagus without -opposition, and was in no danger of being impeded in his march, he -proceeded to Alcobaça, ♦THIEBAULT, 175.♦ where he found Thomieres. -Junot had instructed him to reconnoitre the position of Batalha; ... -the last ground, it might have been thought, on which an invader would -have risked a battle; for there it was where Portugal, (and then also -with English aid,) had achieved her own deliverance in the battle of -Aljubarrota, one of the most signal and important victories in the age -of chivalry. The country was too open for his force, and he therefore -remained at Alcobaça, watching the movements of the enemy, and hoping -to be joined by Loison. That general, meantime, had suffered much on -his march through Alem-Tejo, from the excessive heat and the want of -water. Though there were none to oppose them in the field or harass -them, the French felt what it was to be in a country where every -inhabitant regarded them with a deadly hatred. Wherever they went the -towns and villages were deserted; ... meat, wine, and even bread, were -wanting; and the persons who fell into their hands, or perhaps remained -in their line for the purpose of deceiving them, sent them out of -their way in search of springs or rivulets, which when they reached -them were dry; ... or ♦THIEBAULT, 172.♦ of stagnant waters, wherein -hemp was steeped, and of which, nauseous and noisome as it was, the -men could not be prevented from drinking greedily. Many died of heat -and exhaustion on the way; and they who from fatigue or sickness fell -behind, were killed by the peasantry. - -♦G. FREIRE SEPARATES FROM THE ENGLISH.♦ - -Loison reached Abrantes on the 9th, crossing the Tagus by the bridge -of boats at that city. He rested there one day, and, leaving 200 men -in garrison, proceeded on the next across the Zezere to Thomar, where -he arrived on the same day that the main body of the English reached -Leiria, the two cities being about thirty miles from each other. -Laborde was at Alcobaça, six leagues from the latter city, on the road -to Lisbon. Their object had been to join at Leiria, but in this the -British army had anticipated them; and as there was no practicable road -for carriages between Thomar and Alcobaça, Loison could only effect -a junction with Laborde by a circuitous route to the southward, and -thus the latter general was exposed to be attacked alone. Bernardim de -Freire, the Portugueze commander, in his former conferences with Sir -Arthur, had expressed a wish that the British commissariat would supply -his troops with British stores during the campaign. The impossibility -of complying with so unreasonable a demand was pointed out; and Sir -Arthur observed, that it was a new thing to require any army landing -from its ships to supply not only its own consumption of meal, but also -that of the native army which it was come to assist. He added, however, -that he did not expect to have occasion to call upon the country for -bread during his march towards Lisbon; but that beef, wine, and forage -would be required, all of which the Bishop of Porto had engaged should -be supplied. Notwithstanding this explanation, General Freire renewed -the subject on his arrival at Leiria; and, instead of pursuing his -march, the following morning, at the hour appointed, he sent a message -to the British commander, saying, that unless the Portugueze were to -be fed by the English commissariat, he would separate them from the -English army, and march for Santarem by way of Thomar; urging as his -reason, that supplies would be scarce on the straight road, but here -there was great plenty, and he should also be in a situation to cut -off the retreat of the French from Lisbon. Freire had voluntarily -placed himself and his troops under Sir Arthur’s command only the day -preceding. - -♦MOTIVES FOR HIS SEPARATION.♦ - -There was another reason for this conduct, which he did not communicate -to the British General. A fear had come upon the Portugueze officers -during the night, that Loison, whose arrival at Abrantes they knew, -would turn upon the northern provinces; the fate of Beja and Evora was -before their eyes, and they trembled for Coimbra. Their apprehensions -were confirmed by the arrival that night of dispatches from the -Governor of Coimbra, communicating to General Freire, as information -of the utmost importance, that Laborde’s orders were to amuse the -Portugueze army, in order that Loison might pass in their rear and -destroy that city; thus, the Governor added, it had been determined in -a council of war at Lisbon, and the advice was sent to him by a person -upon whom he had entire reliance. It is very possible that the advice -came from the French themselves, for the purpose of deceiving him. -General Freire began now to fear not only for his own retreat, but even -that the English, if they met with a repulse, would be cut off from -the Mondego, and unable to retire to their ships. The truth is, that -he was unequal to his situation, and having persons about him of as -little experience as himself, they confused one another. Concealing -from Sir Arthur this, which was the real cause of ♦NEVES, V. 79–81.♦ -his vacillation, he chose to separate upon the question of supplies. -The danger of the plan was pointed out to him, but in vain: Sir Arthur -urged him, equally in vain, to co-operate with the British army in the -deliverance of Portugal, if he had any regard to his own honour, to -the honour of his country, or of his Prince: he then requested him to -send him 1000 infantry, with his cavalry, 250 in number, and his 400 -light troops, engaging to feed them; and this was done. He advised -him, at all events, to remain at Leiria, or Alcobaça, or any where in -the rear of the English, that his troops might not be unnecessarily -exposed to destruction; but notwithstanding he was now assured that the -English General had found resources in the country fully adequate to -their subsistence, he said he should persist in his plan. Sir Arthur, -considering it of importance, on political grounds, that the Portugueze -troops should accompany his march, would have undertaken to feed them, -if he could have relied upon his commissariat; but this, he complained, -was so ill [23]composed, as to be incapable of distributing, even to -the British troops, the ample supplies which had been procured for -them. Freire’s conduct was imputed to an opinion that the English were -too weak for the service upon which they were advancing; it was not -suspected that he had received intelligence which alarmed him, and -which he had withheld from the British commander. He was, however, wise -enough to follow the advice which he had at first refused, and remained -at Leiria. - -♦SKIRMISH NEAR CALDAS.♦ - -On the 14th, Sir Arthur reached Alcobaça, from which the French fell -back the preceding night: the next day he arrived at Caldas. Laborde -and Thomieres were now at Roliça, about ten miles off, and their -advanced posts were within a league of the Caldas. Four companies -of riflemen were ordered to drive them back; they were tempted to -an incautious pursuit; a superior body of the enemy endeavoured to -cut them off, and would have succeeded, had not General Spencer come -to their support. A trifling loss was sustained in this affair, -but the village was won, and the French retired entirely from the -neighbourhood; their picquets having been driven from Obidos. - -♦LABORDE TAKES A POSITION AT ROLIÇA.♦ - -The country between the Caldas and Obidos is a sandy level, with an -open pine wood. Obidos itself stands finely upon an insulated hill, -and a little beyond a mountainous or hilly region begins, the ascent -from the low country being abrupt and difficult. Laborde had retired -thither, knowing the strength of the ground, and expecting to be joined -there by Loison, who, he knew, would make every exertion to effect his -junction in time. That junction had once already been prevented by the -timely arrival of the British at Leiria, and Sir Arthur now advanced -for the ♦AUGUST 17.♦ purpose of a second time preventing it. The enemy -were drawn up at the foot of the hill, in front of their position; -they retired to the heights, and Sir Arthur, having reconnoitred the -ground, and seen how difficult the attack in front would be, determined -to attack both flanks. He therefore directed Major-General Ferguson, -with 3000 men, to turn the enemy’s right, and Major-General Hill to -attack the left, while the Portugueze troops, under Colonel Trant, by a -wider movement on that side, were to penetrate to his rear. Meanwhile -columns under Major-Generals Crawford, Nightingale, and Fane, were -to assemble in the plain, ready to force their way up the passes as -soon as it should be seen that the enemy were shaken. This plan, which -would have ensured success with the least possible loss, was frustrated -by some mistake in the delivery of an order. Ferguson’s brigade was, -in consequence of this error, brought into the plain to support the -central movement; and the attack was made in front, upon the strength -of the position, before the enemy apprehended any danger on the flanks -or in the rear, and consequently while they were able to apply their -whole force and undivided attention where they were strongest. - -Roliça was at that time a large and beautiful village, with more -appearance of comfort and welfare about it than was usual in Portugueze -villages. The place, with its five dependent hamlets, contained about -three hundred families, the larger half of the population being in -Roliça itself. Most of the houses had an inclosed garden or orchard, -and the country is full of olive grounds, vineyards, and gardens, with -stone inclosures. A little beyond Roliça is the hamlet of N. Senhora -de Misericordia, a place of fewer houses, but of the same description: -just without this village the British artillery was well placed, on a -rising ground, where there stood some of those strong and well-built -windmills which are common in Portugal; below were olive grounds, and -an open grove of ilex or cork, under cover of which our troops were -enabled to approach and deploy with little loss, though the French kept -up a constant fire from the heights. Laborde had planted his eagle on -the highest point of Monte S. Anna, near a wooden cross, which marked -the spot of some murder or accidental death. The view from those -heights is singularly beautiful, presenting just such objects as Gaspar -Poussin delighted in painting, and in such combination as he would -have placed them; rocks and hills rising in the valley, open groves, -churches with their old galilees, and houses with all the picturesque -varandas and porticos which bespeak a genial climate; Obidos with its -walls and towers upon an eminence in middle distance, and its aqueduct -stretching across the country as far as the eye could follow it; Monte -Junto far to the east, and on the west the Atlantic. And till the -iniquitous invasion of the country by France, there had been something -in the condition of the people here which accorded with the loveliness -of the scene wherein they were placed. Such as their lot was, they were -contented with it; three and even four generations were found under -the same roof: like plants, they grew, and seeded, and decayed, and -returned to earth upon the spot where they had sprung up. If this state -of things be not favourable to commercial prosperity and the wealth of -nations, it is far more conducive to individual virtue and happiness -than the stage by which it is succeeded. - -♦BATTLE OF ROLIÇA.♦ - -Upon this beautiful ground it was that the British troops were first -to be tried against the soldiers of Buonaparte in the Peninsula. -The strength of the enemy’s position fully compensated for their -inferiority in numbers. The way by which the assailants had to ascend -was up ravines, rather than paths, more practicable for goats than men, -so steep, that in many parts a slip of the foot would have been fatal, -in some parts overgrown with briars, and in others impeded by fragments -of rock. Three of these dry water-courses, which appeared the least -difficult, were attempted; that in the centre was the most promising, -and this the 9th and 29th regiments attacked. They were protected in -their advance by the fire of our artillery. The way would not admit -more than three or four men abreast, in no place more than six. Near -the top there was a small opening, in the form of a wedge, overgrown -at the point with a thick coppice of myrtle, arbutus, arborescent -heath, and those other shrubs which in this part of Portugal render -the wild country so beautiful. An ambush of riflemen had been posted -here, and here Colonel Lake, of the 29th, fell, with many of his men. -When they had reached the summit, they were exposed to a fire from -the vineyards, while they could not form a front to return it. The -grenadier company, by a brave charge upon that part of the enemy who -were in the open ground, won for them time to form; and though Laborde, -with great promptitude, rallied the French as soon as they gave way, -and brought them thrice to the charge, they kept their ground. This -severe contention had continued two hours, when Brigadier-General Fane, -with the light troops, appeared on the right, and Major-General Hill -on the left. Laborde then deemed it necessary to abandon his first -line and retire into the hamlet of Azambugeira, which was in the rear. -Throughout the action this General had shown that the high military -reputation which he enjoyed was well founded; all his movements were -judiciously planned, and rapidly and well executed, men and officers -giving good proof of skill and courage. The superiority of the British -troops was therefore finely shown; for, from the nature of the ground, -and from unavoidable circumstances, the force which on our side was -actually engaged was by no means equal to that of the enemy. A gallant -charge, under Major-General Spencer, drove them from this last position -in the hamlet; the advantage could not be followed up for want of -cavalry, and also because of the difficulty of bringing up cannon and -more troops in time. Laborde therefore, making his last stand upon a -height beyond Azambugeira, collected his troops on the plain ground -behind, formed them into lines, and then retired toward Torres Vedras, -leaving his guns upon the field. - -♦ABRANTES OCCUPIED BY THE PORTUGUEZE.♦ - -The loss of the British, in killed, wounded, and missing, was nearly -500. The French[24] acknowledge to have lost nearly 600. Laborde was -slightly wounded at the beginning of the action. Even during the action -he was in hopes that Loison might arrive; but Loison, finding that the -English were before him at Leiria, found it necessary to take the line -of Torres Novas and Santarem, and so for Torres Vedras. The Portugueze -had anxiously watched his movements, and no sooner was it ascertained -that he had left Thomar, than they prepared to cut off the small -garrison which he had left in Abrantes. Freire had ordered Bacellar -to get possession of that city, with the aid of some Spanish troops -under the Marques de Valadares, who had arrived at Castello Branco. -Captain Manoel de Castro Correa de Lacerda had been sent forward to -obtain certain intelligence of the enemy; and he finding circumstances -favourable, and adventurers enough to join him, determined, with three -priests militant, by name Captain-Father P. Manoel Domingos Crespo, -Lieutenant-Father Lourenço Pires, and Ensign-Father José Nicolao Beja, -to make the attempt without waiting for the Spaniards. They collected -at Villa de Rei some three hundred men, armed with hunting-spears, and -a few with firelocks; a considerable number of the _Ordenanças_ joined -them during the night on the heights of Abrançalha, which was the place -appointed for their meeting; and early on the morning of that day on -which the battle of Roliça was fought, they entered Abrantes, leaving -Ensign-Father Beja with a party of spearmen in ambush to cut off the -enemy if they should attempt to fly. The French, upon the first -appearance of danger, retired into the old castle, and fired from the -windows, ... for there was no artillery there. Upon this Father Crespo -stationed some sharp-shooters upon the roof of S. Vicente’s church, -which was opposite. The enemy, then knowing how impossible it was to -hold out in their unprovided state, resolved to sally, and make for the -river side, where they had four vessels laden with stores, about to -fall down the stream for Lisbon; but before they could reach the shore, -they were surrounded by such numbers, and lost so many men, that they -laid down their arms. They who were on board the vessels, seeing their -danger, leaped into the river; some perished in attempting to cross it, -they who reached the opposite shore were pursued and hunted down like -wild beasts; fifty-two were killed that day, and 117 taken prisoners; -the few who escaped for the time had no place of safety near, and fell -into the hands of the peasantry. The Corregedor-Mor at this time met -with a miserable fate. Because of the office which he unfortunately -held, the French had made him the instrument of their exactions: the -same constitutional timidity which prevented him from resigning his -post rather than obey their tyrannical orders, induced him now to fly, -in the unworthy hope of securing himself under their protection. He -therefore forded the river, and hid himself in a vineyard; there a -peasant discovered him, to whom he immediately offered 200 milreis if -he would conduct him to the French army; the villain took the money, -led him to a solitary place, stabbed him in five places, then robbed -him, and left him to expire. On the third day he was found by some -women, still alive, and was carried to Abrantes; no care availed to -save his life, and he died rather of inanition and loss of blood, than -from the nature ♦NEVES, V. 95–105.♦ of his wounds; but he was able -to relate what had passed, so that the murderer was apprehended and -brought to justice. - -♦MOVEMENTS IN ALEM-TEJO AND ALGARVE.♦ - -Among the French effects which were taken at Abrantes were about 200 -hides and 1000 bags of cotton, which the state of the intermediate -country had prevented them from sending into France: they had carried -on a gainful trade while the communication was open. But now they -began to feel that the amount of their gains and of their plunder -was in danger. In spite of all prohibitions and precautions, some -intelligence still found its way to Lisbon. The British squadron and -the transports had been seen from the heights, and though the French -abated nothing of their high tone, the inhabitants were now well -assured that their deliverance was at hand. As the only course which -offered any hope of extricating himself, Junot resolved to collect -the whole of his disposable force, and give the English battle before -their reinforcements arrived, and before they should be ready to act on -the offensive. The only places in which he left garrisons were Elvas, -Almeida, and Peniche. Setubal had hitherto been occupied by a force -under General Graindorge, who had succeeded Kellermann in the command -there. His situation had not been tranquil, while Mestre had taken -possession of Alcacere do Sal, and an English frigate was off the port. -But Mestre was recalled in all haste to Beja, when that city, after the -fate of Evora, apprehended a second visitation with fire and sword. -The men whom he commanded gave on this occasion proof of that patient -and uncomplaining spirit with which the Spaniards and Portugueze -endure privations. They started fasting and without provisions, and -after a long day’s march reached the little town of Odivella, where -no rations had been provided for them. Mestre and his adjutant then -went from door to door, to beg bread, and with the bread which was -thus obtained they were contented and cheerful. Aware of the alarm -which Loison’s operations had excited, Graindorge resolved to clear -the neighbourhood, and the Juntas of Alcacere, Santiago de Cacem, and -Grandola, fled at his approach. But when Beja was relieved from danger -by Loison’s movements to the north, Mestre, who had been dispatched -toward Evora, ♦ALCACERE DO SAL AND SETUBAL ABANDONED BY THE FRENCH.♦ -was ordered to return upon Alcacere, and the same direction was taken -by one body of men from Algarve, and by another under Lopes from Beja. -Graindorge had now received orders to retire with his troops to Almada; -Alcacere therefore was abandoned when the Portugueze arrived there, -and Setubal also. Setubal had been singularly fortunate during a time -of general rapacity. Perfect order had been maintained there while -Solano and the Spaniards possessed it; and when Graindorge succeeded -Kellermann, a Portugueze woman, who lived with him as his mistress, had -influence enough to prevent him from delivering up that beautiful town -to pillage, which his men required, and which, it is said, they had -been ♦NEVES, IV. 173–179. OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 291.♦ promised. The -Portugueze writers ought not to have passed over in silence the name -of one who averted so much evil, and who, it may well be believed, was -more to be pitied than condemned for her frailty. - -♦MEASURES AT LISBON.♦ - -About 300 men were left at Palmella. Graindorge had two regiments -under his command at Almada and other places on the left bank of the -Tagus. The forts at the Bugio, Trafaria, and St. Julien, were occupied -by the French, and they had troops also at Cascaes and Ericeyra. -Sufficient force was to be left in and near Lisbon, to keep down -the inhabitants, by the presumed aid of the Russian squadron, whose -presence in the river was of great importance to Junot at this time. -The enemy had recourse also to their usual policy of circulating -fabricated intelligence. They affirmed, that 20,000 French had arrived -at Braganza, and they produced Badajoz Gazettes which must have been -forged for the purpose, relating the defeat and consternation of the -Spaniards, and the rejoicings with which Joseph had been received on -his triumphant entrance into Madrid. Few persons were deceived by these -artifices. On the 15th the Emperor Napoleon’s birthday was celebrated; -the guns from the ships and fortresses were fired, Junot gave a grand -entertainment to his officers, and appeared afterwards at the Opera -in state; but meantime every thing was made ready for his departure. -The night was passed in giving orders, and at daybreak the reserve was -in motion, with the staff, the military chest, containing a million -francs, and the most precious and portable part of their plunder. The -Comte de Bourmont, and some other French emigrant officers who had -found an asylum in Lisbon during the horrors of the Revolution, on this -occasion joined the French army, the Count at his own solicitation -being placed upon the staff, to fight against a government by whose -bounty they had been supported, and a people who had hospitably -received them in their distress: and for this moral treason ♦OBSERVADOR -PORTUGUEZ, 406. THIEBAULT, 187–8.♦ they have been extolled -in their own country, with that perversion of principle and utter -insensibility to honour, which equally characterise the schools of the -Revolution, and of Buonaparte. - -♦PROCLAMATION TO THE PEOPLE OF LISBON.♦ - -It had been proposed to form a national guard at Lisbon at this time, -composed of all who had any property to protect; but this was rejected, -less as being impracticable than as dangerous. The Lisbonians had too -much reason to execrate their oppressors. Their sufferings, though not -of that kind which give a splendour to history, and consecrate the -memory of the sufferers, had been more pitiable, for they had been long -continued and obscure. The French themselves confessed, that they -knew not how the people of Lisbon subsisted during the three months -preceding the harvest; ♦THIEBAULT, 95.♦ for it was known that the -consumption of food in that great city was only one-third of what it -used to be, and the numbers who had been expelled, who had emigrated -with the court, or had found means of following it, were not greater -than that of the foreign troops who had been introduced. Impossible as -it was to conciliate a people upon whom they had inflicted such deep -and irreparable injuries, the French deemed it politic at this time -to take the most conciliatory measures in their power; if the popular -feeling could be repressed or allayed only for a few days, by that time -they should either have obtained a victory over the English, or have -placed themselves by treaty under the safeguard of British honour. -With these views Junot left a decree, that the heads of the tribunals, -and the chief persons among the nobility and clergy, should be invited -to assist at the council of government during his absence. He left -also a proclamation to the inhabitants of Lisbon, saying, that he was -departing from them for three or four days, to give battle to the -English, and whatever might be the event, he should return. “I leave,” -said he, “to govern Lisbon, a general who, by the mildness and firmness -of his character, has obtained the friendship of the Portugueze at -Cascaes and Oeyras; General Travot will, by these same virtues, obtain -that of the inhabitants of Lisbon. Hitherto you have been tranquil; -it is your interest to continue so! do not stain yourselves with a -horrible crime at the moment when, without any danger of your own, the -lot of arms is about to determine by what power you are to be governed. -Reflect for an instant upon the interests of the three nations who are -contending for the possession of Lisbon. What the French desire is the -glory and the prosperity of the city and of the kingdom, for this is -the interest and the policy of France. Spain wishes to invade Portugal -and reduce it to a province, that she may again make herself mistress -of the Peninsula. And England would domineer over you for the purpose -of destroying your port and your navy, and impeding the progress of -industry among you. The English regard the magnificence of your port -with envy; they will not suffer it to exist so near them, and they have -no hope of preserving it. They know that a new French army has already -passed your frontiers, and that if this should not be sufficient, -another will come after it; but they will have destroyed your naval -establishments, they will have caused the destruction of Lisbon, and -this is what they aim at, and what they desire: they know that they -cannot maintain themselves upon the Continent; but if they can destroy -the ports and the navy of any other power, they are content. I depart -full of confidence in you. I reckon upon all the citizens who are -interested in the preservation of public order; and I am persuaded that -it will be preserved. Call to mind the miseries which must necessarily -follow, if this beautiful city should compel my troops to enter it by -force! The exasperated soldiers would not be then to be controlled; ... -fire, sword, all the horrors of war which are practised in a city taken -by assault, ... pillage, ... death, ... behold what you would draw -♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 408.♦ upon yourselves! The thought alone makes -me shudder. Inhabitants of Lisbon, avert from yourselves these terrible -calamities!” - -♦PREPARATIONS ON BOARD THE RUSSIAN SQUADRON.♦ - -The tone of the French was somewhat altered in their menaces. There had -been no shuddering when the fate of Beja and Evora was announced to -the people of Lisbon, nor when the massacre at Leiria was perpetrated. -Care was taken to manifest that the French were prepared to execute -their threats if needful. The Russian squadron, which lay at anchor -in a line from Junqueira to Boa Vista, was made ready for action, the -men being stationed at their quarters with lighted matches; they, no -doubt, apprehended an attack from the English fleet, but ♦OBSERVADOR -PORTUGUEZ, 410.♦ La Garde intimated that they would fire upon the city -in case an insurrection were attempted. Justly apprehensive, however, -for his personal safety, this Intendant, whom, because perhaps of his -office, the people regarded with peculiar hatred, went sometimes to -pass the night on board the Vasco da Gama, and General Travot, though -he was evidently esteemed by the people for his mild and honourable -conduct (so much is a good name worth even in the worst times) thought -it prudent not to sleep out of the Castle. ♦JUNCTION OF LOISON, -LABORDE, AND JUNOT.♦ - -Junot went by water to Villa Franca, and leaving Thiebault there to -command the reserve, joined Loison at Alcoentre. That General had -reached Santarem on the 13th, in a deplorable condition. The weather -was intensely hot, without a cloud in the sky, or a breath of air -stirring. Whole companies lay down upon the way; many died of thirst, -and more would have perished if the officers of the staff, as soon as -they arrived at that city, had not gone out with a great number of the -inhabitants carrying water to meet them; brandy also was sent out, -and carts to convey those who were unable to proceed farther on foot. -Each of Loison’s long marches at this time is said to have cost him -not less than an hundred men. The troops were so dreadfully exhausted, -that he was compelled to remain two days at Santarem. On the 16th he -proceeded to Alcoentre, where Junot joined him the next day; they then -moved to Cercal, and on the day after the action at Roliça the British -army distinctly ♦EARLY CAMPAIGNS, 18.♦ saw their columns in the line -of Torres Vedras. To that place Laborde was now recalled, who had -retreated beyond it to Montachique; he effected his junction on the -19th, and ♦THIEBAULT, 190–193.♦ when General Thiebault arrived with the -reserve on the 20th, the whole force which Junot could bring into the -field was collected there, in number about 12,000 infantry, and 1200 or -1500 horse. - -♦THE BRITISH ADVANCE TO VIMEIRO.♦ - -Sir Arthur had not pursued Laborde after the battle of Roliça; the -line by which the enemy ♦AUGUST 18.♦ retired would have led him from -the sea. He was beginning his march for Torres Vedras on the morrow, -when he received advice that General Anstruther was arrived on the -coast. His original intention had been to employ this General’s -brigade, and that of General Acland, in besieging Peniche, if that -should be necessary; otherwise to land them in some of the bays near -the rock, in the rear of the enemy, while he pressed upon their -front. But the resistance which he had experienced at Roliça, and -his disappointment of any co-operation from Freire, induced him now -to land General Anstruther’s troops, and join them to the army. He -proceeded therefore to the village of Vimeiro, that being the position -best calculated to effect his junction, and, at the same time, a march -in advance. Calms prevented the fleet, which was anchored off the -Berlings, from standing in, till the evening of the 19th. The brigade -was then landed at Maceira, upon a sandy beach, at the foot of a -cliff almost perpendicular, the ascent of which is exceedingly steep -and difficult. The landing was a measure of extreme difficulty and -♦GENERAL ANSTRUTHER’S BRIGADE LANDS.♦ hazard. The boats were almost -always filled in going-in by the surf, many were swamped, and a few -men perished; the disembarkation, however, by the great exertions and -skill of the navy, was effected with less loss than might have been -expected. The French could not oppose the landing, but, profiting by -their superiority in cavalry, they sent a body of dragoons, in the -hope of attacking the brigade on its march. Against this danger due -precautions had been taken. The troops, when they had marched about -three leagues, found a detachment under General Spencer waiting at -Lourinham to receive them, and took their place in the advanced guard. - -♦ARRIVAL OF SIR HARRY BURRARD IN THE ROADS.♦ - -The French cavalry were active during this and the preceding day; they -scoured the country, and Sir Arthur could obtain no information of the -enemy, except that their position was very strong, and occupied by -their whole force. On the 20th, at noon, it was announced that General -Acland was in the offing; and on the evening of the same day Sir Harry -Burrard, the second in command, arrived in Maceira Roads. Sir Arthur -immediately went on board, informed him of what had been done, and of -the present state of things, and laid before him the plan of operations -upon which he had intended to proceed. His purpose was to march on the -following morning, push his advanced guard to Mafra, and halt the main -body about four or five miles from that place, thus turning the enemy’s -position at Torres Vedras. He possessed as much knowledge of the ground -as good maps and scientific descriptions could impart; Sir Charles -Stuart (a man whose great military talents had never been allowed a -field whereon to display themselves) had carefully surveyed this part -of the country when he commanded the British troops in Portugal; it had -not escaped him, that upon this ground, in case of serious invasion, -the kingdom must be saved or lost; and his maps and papers were in -Sir Arthur’s hands. The battle would thus be fought in a country of -which he had adequate knowledge, and he hoped to enter Lisbon with the -retreating or flying enemy. Such was the plan which he had formed, and -orders for marching on the morrow had actually been issued, before Sir -Harry’s arrival. - -♦HE ALTERS THE PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN.♦ - -To Sir Arthur, who had a well-founded confidence in himself and in -his troops, no prospect could have been more encouraging; but the new -commander did not behold it hopefully. The objections to a forward -movement preponderated in his mind; he learnt that the artillery[25] -horses were inefficient, that our men, for want of cavalry, were kept -close to their encampments by the enemy’s horse; and that it would -not be possible to go far into the country, because they depended -upon the ships for bread. Weighing these things, he was not convinced -that Sir Arthur’s intentions were expedient; the decision which he -was now to make appeared to him most serious in its consequences; he -thought it was impossible to calculate the disasters to which a check -might expose the army, and therefore he deemed it necessary to wait -for Sir John Moore’s division. Sir Arthur had recommended that that -division, when it arrived in the Mondego, should march upon Santarem, -a position from whence it might intercept the enemy’s retreat, whether -they attempted to make their way to Almeida or to Elvas; but the new -commander hearing on his way of the action at Roliça, and disapproving -this arrangement, had immediately dispatched instructions by which Sir -John Moore was directed to proceed from the Mondego, and join him as -speedily as possible in Maceira Roads. In vain did Sir Arthur represent -the precious time that would be lost before this division could be -landed and become serviceable at Vimeiro; the far greater utility which -might be expected from its presence at Santarem; the evil of at once -changing their operations from an offensive to a defensive course; and -of allowing the enemy to choose their time and ground. For, situated -as the two armies now were, it was impossible to avoid an action. If -the British troops advanced, they would have the advantage of acting on -the offensive; it was his opinion that they might reach Mafra before -the French could bring on a general engagement; and in that case -they should turn the French position. But these representations were -unavailing; an inauspicious spirit of caution prevailed. The whole plan -of the campaign was changed; and with the enemy collected within three -leagues, the army was ordered to remain stationary, till a corps should -arrive, of which no tidings had yet been received. In a general who -commands good troops the want of confidence is as great a fault as the -excess of it in the commander of an ill-disciplined army. - -♦THE BATTLE OF VIMEIRO.♦ - -It was soon seen how well Sir Arthur had judged of the enemy’s -intentions. Junot was ill supplied with provisions; he could not -venture long to be absent from Lisbon: situated as he was, it appeared -to him that there would be less evil in an immediate defeat, than must -arise from prolonged operations, though they should lead ♦THIEBAULT, -194.♦ to a victory. His business, therefore, was to bring on an action -as soon as possible, and to make the attack; and at the moment when Sir -Harry Burrard, resolving upon delay, had countermanded the orders for -advancing on the morrow, the French were in motion. - -Vimeiro, a name which was now to become memorable in British and -Portugueze history, is a village situated nearly at the bottom of a -lovely valley, about three miles from the sea, and screened from the -sea breeze by mountainous heights, through which the little river -Maceira winds its way. The village stands at the eastern extremity of -these heights; and on the opposite side, separated from them by a deep -ravine, are other heights, over which the road to Lourinham passes, -a little town in the _Termo_ or district of which the parishes of -Vimeiro and Maceira are included. The western termination reaches the -sea-shore. As the army had halted here only for the night, meaning to -proceed early on the morrow, they were disposed of, not as expecting an -attack, but as most convenient for the troops. Six brigades bivouacked -on the height to the westward. The advanced guard was posted on a hill -south-east of Vimeiro, to cover the commissariat and stores which were -in the village: this height was entirely commanded by higher ground -to the westward. The cavalry and the reserve of artillery were in the -valley, between the hills on which the infantry were placed; and there -were picquets of observation on the hills to the eastward. - -♦AUG. 21.♦ - -The enemy, who had marched all night, and whom some accidents had -impeded on their way, first appeared at eight in the morning, forming -in strong bodies upon the heights toward Lourinham, thus threatening -the advanced guard and the left, which was the weak part of the -British position. Sir Arthur had visited the advanced posts early in -the day, and had returned to his quarters before the first shots were -exchanged with the enemy’s advance. He now moved the brigades of -Generals Ferguson, Nightingale, Acland, and Bowes, successively across -the ravine to the heights on the Lourinham road. General Anstruther’s -brigade took post on the right of the advanced guard, and Major-General -Hill was moved nearer, as a support to these troops, and as a reserve, -in addition to which our small cavalry force was in the rear of their -right. The French army was in two divisions, ... the right, of about -6000 men, under General Loison; the left, about 5000, under Laborde. -Kellermann had the reserve, which was intended to connect the two -wings, but they were too distant from each other. General Margaron -commanded the cavalry. - -Laborde came along the valley to attack the advanced guard on the -eminence or table hill; he had a column of infantry and cavalry to -cover his left flank, and on his right one regiment marched in column -to turn the defenders, and penetrate the village by the church; but -this purpose had been foreseen, and part of the 43rd had been ordered -into the churchyard to prevent it. The French advanced with perfect -steadiness, though exposed to a severe fire of riflemen posted behind -the trees and banks, and of seven pieces of artillery well directed. -They advanced like men accustomed to action and to victory; but -suffering more severely as they drew nearer, and especially from the -Shrapnell shells, (then first brought into use,) they faltered, and -opened a confused fire. Still they advanced, and arrived within a few -paces of the brow of the hill, where the 50th regiment, under Colonel -Walker, with a single company of the rifle corps on its left, stood -opposed to them. That regiment poured upon them a destructive volley, -and instantly charged with the bayonet, and penetrated the angle -of the column, which then broke and turned. The regiment which was -entering the village by the church, was attacked in flank by General -Acland’s brigade, then advancing to its position on the heights; -and our cavalry, poor in number as it was, charged with effect. The -discomfiture of this column was then complete; they fled, leaving about -1000 men on the ground, 350 prisoners, and seven pieces of artillery; -and they were pursued for nearly two miles to the plain beyond the -woody ground, where they were supported by a reserve of horse, and -where Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, of the 20th light dragoons, who -particularly distinguished himself that day, fell, with many of his -men, overpowered by a much superior force of cavalry. The secondary -column, under General Brenier, which was to have supported Laborde in -his attack, made a side movement to the left, in order to cross the -ravine, and thus it was separately engaged by General Anstruther’s -brigade; and being charged with the bayonet, was repulsed with great -loss. An aide-de-camp of Sir Arthur’s coming up to tell this General -that a corps should be sent to his assistance, he replied, “Sir, I am -not pressed, and I want no assistance; I am beating the French, and am -able to beat them wherever I find them.” - -Loison’s attack was made nearly at the same time as Laborde’s: it was -supported by a large body of cavalry, and made with the characteristic -and imposing impetuosity of French troops. They drove in our light -troops, but they were checked by General Ferguson’s brigade, consisting -of the 36th, 40th, and 71st, which formed the first line; after some -close and heavy firing of musketry, the 82d and 29th came up, and the -brigades of Generals Bowes and Acland. The enemy were then charged -with the bayonet; this weapon is of French invention, but it was made -for British hands. They came to the charge bravely, and stood it for -a moment; ... in that moment their foremost rank fell “like a line of -grass before the mowers.” This is not the flourish of an historian, -seeking artfully to embellish details which no art can render -interesting to any but military readers; it is the language of an actor -in the scene, who could not call it to mind in after-hours without -shuddering; for the very men whose superiority was thus decidedly -proved, could not speak without involuntary awe, of so complete and -instantaneous a destruction, produced as it was, not by artillery or -explosions, but by their own act and deed, and the strength of their -own hearts and hands. The bodies of about 300 French grenadiers were -counted upon the field, who had fallen in this charge. The enemy were -pursued to a considerable distance, and six pieces of cannon were taken -in the pursuit. General Kellermann made a vigorous attempt, late in -the action, to recover these from the 71st and 82d, which were halted -in a valley where the guns had been captured. These regiments retired -a little way to some advantageous ground, then faced about, fired, and -advancing with the bayonet, drove the French back with great loss. -Thus were they every where repulsed, though their whole force had been -engaged, while not more than half the British army had been brought -into action. - -♦SIR HARRY BURRARD TAKES THE COMMAND.♦ - -Before the action began Sir Harry Burrard and his staff left the -ship; they soon heard the firing after they were on shore, and by -the time they reached Vimeiro, which is about three miles from the -landing-place, the armies were hotly engaged. They found Sir Arthur on -the heights, and he explained in few words to the new Commander the -position of the army, and the measures which he had taken for beating -the enemy. Sir Harry was perfectly satisfied, and directed him to go -on with an operation which he had so happily and so well begun. This -he did not as giving up his command for the time, but as fulfilling -one of the functions of a commander, by directing Sir Arthur to pursue -measures which he approved, and holding himself as responsible for -the event as if the plan had been originally his own. So far all was -well. Toward the close of the action, when the French were beaten on -the left, and it was evident that they must be every where defeated, -Sir Arthur went to him, and represented that this was the moment for -advancing; that he ought to move the right wing to Torres Vedras, and -pursue the beaten enemy with the left. By this movement upon Torres -Vedras, the French would be cut off from the nearest road to Lisbon, or -if they attempted it, they would find themselves between two bodies of -our troops; there remained for them, as the alternative, the circuitous -route by Alenquer and Villa Franca; ... they were dispirited, beaten, -and in confusion, absolutely, in his opinion, incapable of forming -or of appearing again in the shape of an army, if they were followed -even at a slower rate by a victorious enemy; and this he said, giving -them full credit for discipline and great facility in forming after -having been broken. There was plenty of ammunition in the camp for -another battle, and provisions for twelve days. But neither these -representations, urged as they were with natural and fitting warmth, -nor the victory which was before his eyes, could induce the new -Commander to deviate from his former opinion. He replied, that he -saw no reason to change his purpose, and that the same motives which -induced him yesterday to wait for reinforcements, had still the same -weight. At this moment the enemy were retiring in great disorder, and -most completely disheartened by their defeat. Sir Arthur, grieved at -seeing the irrecoverable opportunity go by, made a second attempt -to convince the Commander that victory was in his hands. General -Ferguson had sent his aide-de-camp to represent the great advantage of -advancing, ... he himself could, in fact, have cut off a considerable -body of the enemy. Sir Arthur took the aide-de-camp to the Commander. -But this second representation was as ineffectual as the first. His -Adjutant-General, Brigadier-General Clinton, and Colonel Murray, his -Quarter-Master-General, who had coincided in opinion with him the -preceding evening, agreed with him now also. He had just heard from an -officer who had passed through General Freire’s troops, such an account -of them and their proceedings, as precluded any hope of rendering -them useful; the artillery horses seemed to him inefficient; but more -especially the want of cavalry, he thought, incapacitated the army -from following up its success. The 260 Portugueze horse which were -with us had shown themselves nearly useless; the British were only 210 -in number, and they had suffered severely in the action, ... this was -known, though the extent of their loss had not yet been ascertained. -These difficulties preponderated with him; he adhered still to his -determination; and Sir Arthur, whose sense of military duty would not -allow him to act in disregard of orders, as Nelson was accustomed to -do, turned to one of his officers, and concealing the bitterness of -disappointment under a semblance of levity, said, “Well, then, we have -nothing to do, but to go and shoot red-legged partridges,” ... the -game with which that country abounds. From that moment he gave up all -hope of cutting the French off from Lisbon, inclosing them there, or -preventing them, if they thought proper to attempt it, from protracting -the campaign by retreating upon Elvas and Almeida. - -The loss of the enemy in this action was about 3000[26] killed and -wounded, thirteen pieces of artillery, and twenty-three ammunition -waggons; that of the English little more than 700 killed, wounded, and -missing. The British numbers in the field were 16,000, of which only -half had been engaged; the French were about 14,000, including 1300 -cavalry, and the whole of this force was brought into action. General -Solignac was severely wounded; General Brenier wounded, and left on the -field. He was in danger of being put to death by those into whose hands -he had fallen, when a Highlander, by name Mackay, who was a corporal in -the 71st, came up and rescued him. The French General, in gratitude for -his preservation, offered him his watch and purse; but Mackay refused -to accept them. When he had delivered his prisoner in safety to Colonel -Pack, the French General could not help saying, “What sort of man is -this? He has done me the greatest service, and yet refuses to take -the only reward which I can at present offer him!” Brenier no doubt -contrasted this with the conduct of his countrymen, in whose rapacities -and cruelties, it appears by the testimony of the Portugueze, that he -had no share; when, therefore, Colonel Pack replied, “We are British -soldiers, sir, and not plunderers,” he must have deeply felt the -disgrace which had been brought upon the French character. Mackay -was immediately made a serjeant by Sir Arthur Wellesley’s express -desire; and the Highland Society, at their next meeting, voted him -a gold medal, with a suitable device and inscription. The piper to -the grenadier company of the same regiment, Stewart was his name, -received early in the action a dangerous wound in the thigh: he would -not, however, be carried off the field, but, sitting down[27] where -his comrades might hear him, he continued playing warlike airs till -the end of the engagement. A handsome stand of Highland pipes, with -an inscription commemorating the manner in which he had deserved the -donation, was voted him by the Highland Society. - -Most of the wounded French who fell into the conqueror’s hands were -young, and of delicate appearance, ... apparently men whose lot would -not have fallen in the army, under any other system than that of the -conscription, though, having been forced into it, they had acquired -the worst vices which have ever disgraced and degraded the profession -of arms. They were dressed in long white linen coats and trowsers, -their firelocks were about six inches longer in the barrel than ours, -their bayonets about three shorter, the locks of their pieces much -better finished, and the pans so constructed, that the powder was not -liable to fall out, ... an accident which at that time often happened -to ours. A chaplain of the British army, as he was endeavouring to -render assistance to some of them, while under the surgeon’s hands, -addressed himself to one in the language of commiseration, and uttered, -at the same time, a natural expression of regret at the horrors of -war: but the Frenchman fiercely answered him, with a mixture of pride -and indignation, that he gloried in his wounds, and that war was the -greatest happiness of life. During the whole day the armed peasantry -prowled about the field, taking vengeance upon every wounded or -straggling Frenchman whom they could find, for the manifold wrongs of -their country, and the aggravated injuries which they had endured. So -conscious indeed were the prisoners of the little mercy which they -deserved at their hands, that they dreaded lest these men should break -in upon them, and massacre them all; and a guard was stationed to -protect them. The peasantry, however, passed the night in the field, -carousing round a large fire, recounting to each other what they had -done, and rejoicing over the day’s work. - -♦THE FRENCH RESOLVE TO PROPOSE TERMS.♦ - -In withholding the army from following up the great advantage which it -had gained, Sir Harry Burrard knew how unpopular such a determination -must be, and sacrificed his own feelings to his judgement. He thought -it not allowable to risk much when the reinforcements which were at -hand would make the British force so superior, that any further efforts -of the enemy must be vain, and success would be obtained without -hazard and with less loss. He erred in judgement; but this honourable -testimony was borne to him by Sir Arthur Wellesley, the person of -all others by whom that error must have been felt most keenly, that -he decided upon fair military grounds in the manner which he thought -most conducive to the interests of the country. The French failed not -to profit by the respite which was thus allowed them; they formed a -rear-guard of four regiments of cavalry, and retired[28] at leisure, -no attempt being made to harass their retreat. Junot, who is said -to have exposed himself at the close of the action so as hardly to -have been saved from the British cavalry, summoned Generals Laborde, -Loison, Kellermann, and Thiebault, upon the field, and demanded their -opinions, whether the army ought again to try the lot of arms, and if -not, what course it should pursue. They agreed that they were neither -in a condition to give battle, nor to stand one. Their troops were -harassed, discontented, and discouraged; their ammunition would not -last three hours longer; their provisions were failing, their horses -already sinking for want of forage. Their losses were irreparable, -whereas the enemy were looking for strong reinforcements; and, in fine, -the slightest reverse would now leave them at the mercy of the English -and Portugueze. Nothing remained but to preserve the best attitude they -could, and retire to Lisbon, the possession of which was now their -only safeguard. They retreated accordingly to Torres Vedras. A second -council was held there on the morrow; and upon a full view of the -difficulties and dangers[29] of their situation, and the impossibility -of effecting a retreat through so large a part of Spain as must be -traversed before they could effect a junction with their countrymen, -they resolved to try what could be done by negotiation. General -Kellermann, therefore, was dispatched with a flag of truce to propose a -convention for the evacuation of Portugal. Meantime Sir Hew Dalrymple -had arrived and taken the command of the British army, which thus had -three commanders-in-chief within twenty-four hours. - -♦ARRIVAL OF SIR HEW DALRYMPLE.♦ - -Sir Hew Dalrymple had been expressly chosen for this command because of -the zeal and judgement which he had displayed during the whole of those -important transactions in the south of Spain on which so much depended, -and in which he had acted upon his own responsibility. In a private -letter from Lord Castlereagh, then minister for the war department, -Sir Arthur Wellesley was recommended to his particular confidence, and -a full persuasion expressed that that officer’s high reputation would -alone dispose Sir Hew to select him for any service which required -great prudence and temper, combined with much military experience; but, -above all, that the habits of communication in which Sir Arthur had -for a length of time been with his majesty’s ministers, concerning the -affairs of Spain, would point him out as an officer of whom it would -be desirable for the commander-in-chief, on all accounts, to make the -most prominent use which the rules of the service would permit. Sir -Hew embarked at Gibraltar on the 13th; and learnt that night from Lord -Collingwood, who was off Cadiz, that Sir Arthur’s corps had either -landed, or was about to land, in Mondego Bay. Arriving off the Tagus -on the 19th, he was informed by Sir Charles Cotton, that Sir Arthur -was proceeding along the coast. It was not Sir Hew’s wish to supersede -that General in a detached command for which he had been particularly -chosen, especially when he was now completely engaged in an enterprise -from which it was impossible to recede, and which required all -his ability to accomplish. Under these feelings, therefore, the -Commander-in-chief resolved to proceed to Mondego Bay, and there join -the expected reinforcements when they should land, leaving Sir Arthur -meantime to pursue and complete his own plan. Seeing, however, on the -way a number of ships under the land, and receiving a vague account -of the action at Roliça from a sloop of war, he sent an aide-de-camp -on shore for intelligence, ordering him to inform Sir Arthur, if he -chanced to see him, that he was proceeding to fall in with Sir Harry -Burrard and the main body, and that though he wished to be informed -of his proceedings, he did not mean to interfere with his command. -This was on the evening of the 21st; about midnight the boat returned, -bringing intelligence of the battle, and that Sir Harry Burrard was in -command. There was now no room for that delicacy toward Sir Arthur, as -honourable as it was judicious, which he had resolved to observe. His -determination was immediately taken, and in the morning the frigate -stood in for the shore. - -♦HE ORDERS THE ARMY TO ADVANCE. AUG. 22.♦ - -None of the official accounts which Sir Arthur had addressed to him -had been received; he landed therefore with no other information than -what had been thus gathered upon the way, and entirely unacquainted -with the actual state of the French army. When he reached the beach -they were embarking the wounded for Porto; during the whole night the -sailors had been thus employed, wading nearly up to the middle in the -sea, and displaying as much humanity as skill. Arriving at Vimeiro, -he found the army on the ground which it had occupied the day before, -the dead lying on the field, and the carts still busy in removing the -wounded. That ground had not been chosen as a military position, but -merely as a halting-place, and it was now necessary to remove from it, -because of the late action. Sir Hew therefore gave orders for marching -the next morning at daybreak toward Lisbon by way of Mafra. Like his -predecessor, he thought that Sir Arthur had entered upon a hazardous -operation, which, unless it obtained complete success, must end in -complete ruin, the British having no prospect of support, nor any thing -upon which to fall back in case of disaster, so that on their part -the battle would be fought for existence, while the enemy, in case of -defeat, would lose only what were killed or taken. But he differed from -Sir Harry Burrard in this, that he deemed it imprudent to wait for Sir -John Moore’s division, the arrival of which was extremely uncertain, -and that he saw the necessity of pursuing active measures. The French, -he knew, must either give him battle, for the sake of defending Lisbon, -(a chance which he was willing to take, though they were superior in -cavalry, and, as he thought, in numbers, and though they would have -the great advantage of choosing their ground;) or they would cross the -Tagus. - -♦KELLERMANN ARRIVES TO PROPOSE AN ARMISTICE.♦ - -Soon after mid-day an alarm was given that the enemy were advancing to -renew the attack; the position was taken as on the preceding morning. -It proved to be a body of cavalry with a flag of truce; and General -Kellermann alighting at head-quarters, proposed an armistice, for -the purpose of concluding a treaty for the evacuation of Portugal by -the French. Sir Hew immediately called for his two predecessors. He -himself had no means of knowing, but from them, what the consequences -of yesterday’s battle really had been; the responsibility was his, -but for the information upon which the agreement was to be founded, -he trusted to them, and more especially to Sir Arthur. That General’s -plans had been completely defeated by the refusal to follow up the -victory, and by the change which Sir Harry Burrard, before he landed, -had made in the intended destination of Sir John Moore’s corps. -Considering, therefore, that in consequence of these errors the enemy -had been allowed leisure to resume a formidable position between the -British army and Lisbon, and could not now by any increase of the -British numbers be prevented from crossing the Tagus, and occupying in -strength the strong place of Elvas, with its stronger fort La Lippe, -and Almeida; that the Tagus would not for some time longer be open to -the fleet, the army meantime depending upon the ships for supplies, -and that its communication with them by the coast must at that season -be most precarious: considering also how important it was that the -troops should not be delayed by regular sieges in Portugal, but march -as soon as possible into Spain, he thought it expedient that the French -should be allowed to evacuate Portugal with their arms and baggage, -and that every facility for this purpose should be afforded them. -They occupied at that time, in a military point of view, he thought, -the whole of Portugal, having every strong hold in their hands; their -present situation enabled them still to avail themselves of those -possessions, and to strengthen them as they might think proper; and he -was of opinion that an army which had its retreat open, and possessed -such advantages, had a fair claim to be allowed such terms. He wished, -however, to limit the suspension of arms to eight-and-forty hours. Sir -Hew preferred that it should be unlimited, as it had been proposed; in -this he had a view to the disembarkation of Sir John Moore’s corps, -which was not forbidden by the agreement. - -♦TERMS OF THE ARMISTICE.♦ - -An armistice accordingly for the purpose of negotiating a definitive -convention was concluded upon[30] these terms: That the river -Sisandre should be the line of demarcation between the two armies, -and that neither of them should occupy Torres Vedras; that the English -general should bind himself to comprehend the armed Portugueze in the -truce, and that their line of demarcation should be from Leiria to -Thomar: that it was agreed that the French army should in no case be -considered as prisoners of war; that all the individuals of it should -be transported to France with their arms and baggage and private -property, and that they should be deprived of no part of it whatsoever: -that no individual, whether Portugueze, Frenchman, or of a nation -allied to France, should be molested for his political conduct, but -be protected, both in person and property, and have liberty to retire -from Portugal within a limited time, with all his effects: that the -neutrality of the port of Lisbon should be acknowledged for the Russian -fleet; that is to say, that, when the English army and fleet should be -in possession of the city and port, the Russian fleet should neither be -disturbed during its stay, nor stopped when it might choose to depart, -nor pursued when it had sailed, till after the time fixed, in such -cases, by maritime law: that all the French artillery, and all their -cavalry horses, should be transported to France. - -A demur was, with good reason, made concerning the baggage and private -property which the French were to carry off with them; and Kellermann -explained, that the words were only to bear their strict grammatical -meaning. The article regarding the Russians underwent more discussion. -Sir Hew insisted, that this was a point referable to the Admiral, -and that if he did not agree to it, it must be struck out; with this -understanding on the part of the French negotiator that article was -framed. - -♦JUNOT RETURNS TO LISBON.♦ - -While Kellermann was thus employed in the British camp, Junot occupied -the positions of the Cabeça de Montechique and Mafra, and hastened -himself to Lisbon. On the 20th official intelligence had been -published in that city that Laborde had sustained an action with the -English army, and though he had only 2000 men, had kept his ground -against it; in the night he had taken a position conformably to his -orders, for the purpose of joining the Commander-in-chief; their -junction had been formed, the enemy were in a strait, and would be -attacked on the morrow, when they would be made to see what the French -could do: two English regiments had been destroyed in the action. -The people, however, understood by reports more worthy of belief -than any official statements of the enemy, that the English had been -successful at Roliça. The news of the battle of Vimeiro also reached -them at nightfall of the 22d; it was asserted, not only that Junot -had been defeated, but that he was taken prisoner; the people openly -congratulated each other in the streets, and the exultation and stir -at the Ave Maria hour were such as to indicate an insurrection. None -of the French deemed it prudent to appear, except General Travot, who -relied, and not in vain, upon that personal good-will which he had -obtained by a conduct always humane and honourable. At daybreak of -the 23d, a letter from Junot was published, dated from the field of -battle, at four in the afternoon. It stated that the English had been -attacked at nine o’clock that morning, in the fortified position which -they occupied, and that in an instant they had been dislodged from all -their advanced points. The left of the French army had obtained from -the first complete success; their right having to take a circuitous -course, could not arrive in time to decide the action entirely; it -had continued till two o’clock, and they should probably finish it on -the morrow. At two they had taken a position, and were three leagues -nearer the enemy than on the preceding day. The loss of the English had -been great. “On our part,” said Junot, “there have been 150 killed, -and from 300 to 400 wounded. We are stronger now, fresh troops having -reached me ... to-morrow, therefore ...” there the sentence was broken -off, and General Travot concluded the bulletin by saying, that many -of the enemy’s superior officers had been killed or wounded, that the -Commander-in-chief was well, and in a few days would be in Lisbon. He -arrived, in fact, that afternoon, with the reserve, and such of the -wounded as could be removed. A royal salute was fired from the Castle, -as if he had returned victorious; but the countenances of the French, -even the generals themselves, belied this manifestation of success. -♦NEVES, V. 151–154. OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 413, 417.♦ It was soon -rumoured that a capitulation had been proposed, and no doubt could be -entertained concerning this when it was known that an English officer -arrived that night in company with Kellermann, and that a boat had been -sent off to the English fleet. - -♦GENERAL FREIRE DISSATISFIED WITH THE ARMISTICE.♦ - -The British army marched on the morning after the armistice was signed, -and took a position near the village of Ramalhal, this movement -being made merely for convenience. The Portugueze General, Bernardim -Freire, visited the Commander-in-chief there; and received a copy of -the armistice: he was dissatisfied with it, and promised to send a -confidential officer to communicate with him thereupon. Accordingly -Major Ayres Pintode Sousa soon arrived at Sir Hew’s head-quarters. -His strongest objections related to that article which stipulated -that no persons should be molested for their political conduct; that -being a question, he said, which it was for the Portugueze government -to decide. It appeared evident to Sir Hew, that General Freire was -offended because there was no mention of the Junta of Porto in the -armistice. His answer was, that the government of Portugal, to -which the decision of this point would belong, nowhere existed; and -moreover the measure was wholly military, and admitted of no delay; he -desired, however, that General Freire would state in writing whatever -observations he had to make, and promised that they should be most -favourably considered in the progress of the negotiation. - -♦DIFFICULTY CONCERNING THE RUSSIAN SQUADRON.♦ - -There arose a difficulty now respecting the Russian fleet. -Notwithstanding the preparations of defence which had been made on -board their ships, the feelings of the Russians and of their Admiral -were not with the French, and all Junot’s endeavours to make their -presence available for the increase of his own means were in vain. Sir -Arthur Wellesley had learnt, when he visited the British squadron off -the Tagus, that it was Admiral Siniavin’s intention to take no part in -the contest between the two contending powers, but claim the protection -of a neutral port. It was his opinion, that if they conducted -themselves upon this principle, they ought not to be molested, and that -it mattered not what became of their ships, so they were not allowed -to return to the Baltic. In Sir Hew’s judgement the Admiral was the -best, if not the only judge of the question, and to him accordingly the -stipulation in the armistice concerning them had been referred. Sir C. -Cotton refused to ratify it; and upon this Sir Arthur recommended the -Commander to put an end to the armistice, and lose no farther time in -advancing, leaving it for Junot to renew the negotiation if he thought -proper. The Commander was of a different opinion; good faith, he -thought, required that the Admiral’s sentiments should be communicated -to General Junot; but he notified to him, at the same time, that the -armistice must be at an end in forty-eight hours, and Colonel Murray, -who was the bearer of this notice, was authorized to negotiate a -convention. - -♦CONVENTION OF CINTRA.♦ - -The question concerning the Russians was adjusted between the two -Admirals. It was agreed that the ships should be held as a deposit by -Great Britain, to be restored within six months after the conclusion -of peace between Russia and that power; and that the men should -be conveyed to their own country at the expense of the British -Government, without any condition or stipulation respecting their -future services. The definitive convention also was soon concluded. The -terms were, that the French army should evacuate Portugal with their -arms and baggage, not be considered prisoners of war, be furnished -with means of conveyance by the English government, and disembarked -in any of the ports between Rochefort and l’Orient, and be at liberty -to serve on their arrival. They were to take with them all their -artillery of French calibre, with the horses belonging to it, and the -tumbrils supplied with sixty rounds per gun, all their equipments, -and all that is comprehended under the name of property of the army; -and all individuals of the army were to be at liberty to dispose of -their private property of every description, with full security for -the purchasers. The horses of the cavalry and of the officers were -to be embarked, those of the former not exceeding 600, those of the -latter not exceeding 200; and as the means of conveyance for horses -were very limited, facility should be given them for disposing of -those which could not be embarked. The garrisons of Elvas, Peniche, -and Palmella, were to be embarked at Lisbon, that of Almeida at Porto, -or the nearest harbour, and British commissaries were to provide for -their subsistence and accommodation on the march. The sick and wounded -who were not in a state to be removed were entrusted to the British -army, their expenses while they remained to be discharged by the -British Government, and reimbursed by France. Should doubts arise as -to the meaning of any article, it was to be interpreted favourably -to the French. From the date of the ratification of this convention, -all arrears of contributions, requisitions, or claims whatever of -the French Government against the subjects of Portugal, or any other -individuals residing in that country, founded on the occupation of -Portugal by the French troops, should be cancelled, all sequestrations -upon their property removed, and the free disposal of the same restored -to the proper owners. All subjects of France, or of powers in alliance -with France, domiciliated in Portugal, or accidentally there, should -be protected, their property respected, and themselves at liberty -either to remain in the country, or to accompany the French army. No -Portugueze was to be held accountable for his political conduct; and -all who had continued in office, or accepted it, under the French -Government, were placed under the protection of the British commanders, -and were to sustain no injury either in their persons or property, for -it had not been at their choice to obey the French or not: if they -chose to sell their property and remove, the term of one year should be -allowed them for that purpose. The Spanish troops detained at Lisbon -were to be given up to the British Commander, and he engaged to obtain -from the Spaniards the release of such French subjects, as, not having -been taken in battle, nor in consequence of military operations, were -now detained in Spain. - -♦1808. SEPTEMBER.♦ - -That this convention, considered in a military point of view, was -advantageous to Great Britain, was the opinion of all the British -Generals. By effecting the immediate deliverance of Portugal, it -left the British army at liberty to advance into Spain, and reach -the main scene of action in time for the great struggle which was -expected there. The details of the treaty were thought of inferior -consideration. Kellermann had declared that the French would not submit -to severer terms, but that if such were insisted on, they would retire -to the strong fortresses in their possession, defend themselves there -till the last extremity, and destroy Lisbon before they abandoned it. -There was no reason to think that any compunction would withhold them -from doing this; and though it might possibly have been prevented -by bringing on an action, that action must have been fought in the -immediate vicinity of Lisbon, perhaps in the city itself. Motives of -humanity therefore had their weight with the Commander-in-chief in -making such large concessions to an enemy, who, if they had met with -sterner treatment, better suited to their deserts, would presently have -lowered their tone, and been glad to accept of any terms which should -secure them a safe embarkation. - -The military advantages of the convention were not over-rated; it -will indeed appear hereafter that they proved greater than had been -foreseen. But some political errors were committed in framing it; -and the British Generals did not assume that moral tone which the -occasion justified, and which the soundest policy required. Buonaparte -was designated in the armistice as his imperial and royal majesty, -although Great Britain had never acknowledged him either as Emperor of -the French or King of Italy. Junot was allowed to sign the convention -as Duke of Abrantes, a title to which he had no better right than to -the property which he had amassed in Portugal by rapine. Sir Arthur -Wellesley had recommended, pending the negotiation, that some mode -should be devised “for making the French Generals disgorge the church -plate which they had stolen.” An article had been framed accordingly, -specifying in direct terms that the property of churches, monasteries, -and palaces should not be carried away. But this article was withdrawn, -on the repeated representations of Kellermann that its introduction -into a public monument would be reproachful to the French army. The -Commander-in-chief, he said, was particularly desirous it should be -omitted; and he was willing, on that condition, to pledge his word -of honour that no property of this kind should be removed. Except in -the case of some carriages which the court had left behind, and some -beasts taken for the service of the army, he disclaimed all knowledge -of any such appropriation of Portugueze property by the French as was -imputed to them; and if there were any officers who had thus acted, he -expressed a hope that they might reap no benefit from their misconduct. -With regard to the churches, a contribution had been regularly levied -on them for the public service, and its produce expended; this of -course the English could not mean to redemand. The confidence with -which these representations were urged, imposed for a time upon -honourable men, and the obnoxious article was withdrawn upon the very -ground for which it ought to have been retained. - -♦REMONSTRANCES OF THE PORTUGUEZE COMMANDER.♦ - -The convention was concluded on the 30th of August, and ratified by -the British Commander, not at Cintra, from which place it has been -denominated, but at Torres Vedras. It was communicated immediately to -General Bernardim Freire. The reply from that General was, that he was -in some measure responsible to the Provisional Government for obtaining -for the Portugueze whatever could be useful and honourable to the -state; but there was not in the whole treaty a single article relating -to the Portugueze army. It became therefore his duty to inquire how -far the engagement contracted with the French for the restoration of -their civil officers who were in the hands of the Portugueze extended? -if the Provisional Government, taking advantage of his conduct in -having taken no part in these arrangements, should order him to act in -co-operation with the Spanish army in Alem-Tejo against the French, -would the British army oppose any such intention? and if the honour -and dignity of the Portugueze nation, and the authority of the Prince, -should seem to have been compromised by these arrangements, would the -British Generals take upon themselves to answer for it? Ayres Pinto, -when he delivered this reply, declared that he did justice to the -friendship and loyalty of the British nation, and individually felt -himself highly honoured by the manner in which Sir Hew had received -him; “nevertheless,” said he, “your Excellency must well know that the -public will judge of us not by our private conduct, but by that which -bears an authentic character; and there is no other means of avoiding -the ill will of the public than by obtaining from your Excellency a -reply which may convince the Portugueze people that the General to whom -the direction of their forces is confided, has yielded only to urgent -circumstances, and to the absolute necessity of not compromising the -army under his command.” - -If the Portugueze General had not separated from the British army, -contrary to the advice and request of Sir Arthur Wellesley, he would of -course have been a party to the negotiation. Sir Hew, upon occasion of -the armistice, had desired him to state his sentiments fully while the -negotiations were in progress; not having received one word of comment -during that time, he expressed his surprise at this late expostulation -on terms to which the honour of the British Commanders was pledged, as -far as their influence or power could be supposed to extend by the -common and known laws of war. But to this it was replied, that Ayres -Pinto had personally communicated the General’s objections to the -conditions of the armistice, representing that the Portugueze army and -the Government were treated too cavalierly in this transaction; that -some notice should be taken of them, were it only to prevent factious -persons from raising injurious reports; that the French were not strong -enough to deserve so much consideration; and that the Portugueze were -now in a condition to demand account from them of the robberies, -rapines, depredations, murders, and sacrileges of every kind which -they had committed in that kingdom, and which called for exemplary -vengeance. The Portugueze Commander now poured in his representations -and complaints. It was his duty to declare, he said, that not having -been consulted on, or privy to this negotiation, in which he supposed -his country was concerned, he considered himself exempt from all -responsibility for it. He complained that no notice had been taken in -the armistice of the troops under the Monteiro Mor in Alem-Tejo, nor of -the Spanish army of Extremadura which had entered that province. The -British army, he affirmed, could not, and ought not to be considered -in any other light than an auxiliary army; as such it had been applied -for by the Provisional Government, and as such it was still to be -regarded, let its strength be what it might. Under these circumstances -any treaty with the French ought to have been made in conjunction with -the Portugueze Government, and with its full approbation. He protested -finally against the treaty in the whole and in its separate parts, -... in the whole, because it contained no consideration of the Prince -Regent or the Government which represented him; in its parts, because -no declaration was made that what places, stores, and ships were to be -taken possession of should be restored to the Portugueze Government; -because it stipulated for the impunity of individuals who had betrayed -their country; and because it made no provision for the security of the -people of Lisbon and its neighbourhood while the French continued there. - -♦REPLY OF SIR HEW DALRYMPLE.♦ - -These representations were in some respects well founded; they were -mingled with futile matter, and there was also a covert purport in -them, which Sir Hew Dalrymple perfectly understood, of exciting a -popular feeling in favour of the Junta of Porto, that body being -desirous of prolonging and extending its authority, after the -circumstances which alone rendered it legitimate had ceased. Leaving -this question untouched, Sir Hew replied, with a courtesy and frankness -that disarm resentment. It was not possible, he said, to engage the -existing Government of Portugal in a negotiation purely military in its -nature, and in which no reference was had either to the Governments -of England or of France. With regard to the indemnity for political -offences, it was natural that the French should demand it; and to him -it appeared that the treaty afforded a fair occasion for remitting -punishments which, by keeping political animosity alive, would not have -tended to the tranquillity and happiness of the country. There was -little reason to suppose that persons who had thus rendered themselves -obnoxious would venture to remain long after the French; if they did, -they would of course be vigilantly observed, and their future treatment -would depend upon their future conduct. It was not from any want of -personal respect to General Freire that he did not enter into the -discussion of points which it was only incumbent on him to explain to -the Government of the country. But being aware of the calumnies which -had been disseminated by the enemy in other countries, as now in this, -he assured his Excellency, and would use the necessary means for giving -publicity to the pledge, that he served in Portugal as the Commander -of a force acting in alliance with the Sovereign of that country; -and therefore considered himself bound by duty and honour to pay as -strict a regard to the interests of the Prince Regent, the dignity and -security of his Government, and the welfare of the nation of which he -was the lawful ruler, as even his Excellency himself. But as touching -the cessions, he did not see in what terms they could have been -better framed. “The nominal Duke of Abrantes,” said Sir Hew, “is not -the guardian of the Prince Regent’s interests; and if any pledge is -necessary of the pure and disinterested views of the Sovereign I have -the honour to serve, I do not think it was through the stipulations of -a treaty with that General that it could most properly be conveyed.” -The manifest good faith and the temper of this reply produced their -proper effect, and General Freire expressed his satisfaction in it as -promising the most happy, prompt, and secure accomplishment of the -object at which they aimed. - -♦THE BRITISH FLAG HOISTED IN THE FORTS.♦ - -Before the British troops entered Lisbon the Russian Admiral wrote -to Sir Hew to inquire what flag was to be displayed when the forts -on the Tagus were delivered up, and whether, if the Portugueze flag -were hoisted, the port would be considered neuter, and his squadron -entitled to the benefit of that neutrality. Sir Hew replied, that if he -felt authorized to interfere in a business which had been exclusively -referred to Sir C. Cotton, he could easily anticipate the answer which -that Commander would make. Contrary, however, to his expectation, -when two regiments were landed from the fleet, and took possession of -the ports on the river, the British flag was hoisted. The Portugueze -were naturally hurt at this; but before their General could offer any -representation on the subject, Sir Hew had ordered the Portugueze -colours to be displayed in its stead. The negotiation concerning the -Russian squadron had not been concluded when the question was proposed -to the British General, and it was to settle in a summary way Admiral -Siniavin’s claim to the protection of a neutral port that the English -flag had been planted by Sir C. Cotton. - -♦ANARCHY IN LISBON.♦ - -During the negotiation Lisbon was in a dreadful state. Those wretches -who, to the reproach of Christian states and civilized society, are -bred in the corruption of all great cities, took advantage of the -temporary dissolution of government as they would have done of a -conflagration or an earthquake. The soldiers of the police, being -Portugueze, had almost all gone to join their countrymen in arms; -and the French while they went the rounds, suffered robberies to be -committed in their hearing and in their sight, either not understanding -the cries for help, or not choosing to interfere, now that their -reign was at an end. They indeed themselves were in such danger, that -they soon gave over patrolling the streets, and fired upon those -who approached their quarters in the night. In this manner several -♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 420, 501–3. NEVES, V. 202.♦ Portugueze were -shot; the French venturing upon this, not so much in the confidence of -their own strength, as in full reliance upon the interference of the -English to protect them. - -There had been a great error of judgement in not following up -the victory at Vimeiro; and in the subsequent negotiations the -British Generals had taken a lower tone than the enemy expected, or -circumstances required. But they were more censurable for having -failed to manifest that moral sense of the enemy’s conduct which -individually they felt, and yet collectively seemed for a time to have -suppressed for the sake of professional considerations and courtesy, -never more unworthily bestowed. The soldiers of Buonaparte in Portugal -had forfeited all claim to those courtesies which honourable men will -always delight in rendering to honourable enemies. They had disgraced -their profession and their country, and it behoved the British, for -the sake of theirs, to have testified their sense of this in the most -decided manner. But instead of shunning any farther intercourse than -was necessary for the execution of the treaty, they entered into social -intercourse with the French, entertainments were mutually given, and -British Generals sate at Junot’s table in company with the men who -were responsible for the horrors committed at Evora and Leiria. They -were not fully informed of those crimes, and certainly did not believe -Junot and his people to be so thoroughly destitute of honour as they -soon found them. But proof enough of their wickedness had been given in -public and official acts; and in thus appearing for a time to forget -the real character of the cause in which Great Britain was engaged, a -moral fault, as well as a political error, was committed. - -♦THE FRENCH CONTINUE TO PLUNDER.♦ - -Elated no doubt by this, as well as by their success in negotiation, -the French continued that system of public and private robbery for -which they seemed to think the convention had granted them entire -impunity. General Freire complained to Sir Hew Dalrymple that they -were plundering the treasury, the museum, public libraries, arsenals, -churches, and the houses and stores of individuals. The British -commissioners for carrying the convention into effect, Major-General -Beresford and Lord Proby, informed him, that except the military and -naval stores there was no kind of public property which the French -intended to relinquish; that they meant to carry off the valuables -of the Prince, the plunder of the churches, and much of the property -of individuals; that they had packed up the royal library, and most -of the articles of the museum; that during the negotiation they had -taken a sum of about £22,000 from the _Deposito Publico_, which was in -fact a robbery of individuals, that money being deposited there till -litigations concerning it should be decided; and that even after the -terms were signed they had actually demanded the money arising from the -revenues of the country. The merchants of Lisbon addressed a memorial -to the British Commander, stating that Junot had exacted from them a -forced loan of two million _cruzados_, promising that payment should -be made out of the enormous war-contribution which he had imposed; -they had not been paid, and it was now his intention to depart without -paying them; they therefore prayed for redress, and likewise that some -steps should be taken for recovering their ships and property which had -been unlawfully sequestered in France. - -♦QUESTION CONCERNING BAGGAGE.♦ - -There was something absolutely comic in the impudent persuasion of -the French that they might continue to pillage, and carry off what -they pleased, under protection of the British army. They proposed to -take away the Vasco da Gama and some Portugueze frigates; the Gama, it -may be remembered, was the ship wherein they had embarked great part -of the treasure which they had collected. The reply was, that these -vessels did not belong to them, and they were only to carry away their -individual baggage. Junot actually demanded five ships to remove his -own personal effects. Such a demand was of course pronounced to be -inadmissible. Sir Hew declared he would not listen to any proposal -which compromised his own honour and that of the British nation. -He perceived, that owing to the shameless and open manner in which -the French were preparing to carry off public and private property, -popular indignation was strongly excited, and that because of the -interpretation which they by their conduct affected to give the -convention, this feeling was little less directed against the English -than the French. He instructed the commissioners therefore to require -the restoration of these plundered goods; “by this means,” said he, -“affording a proof to the Portugueze nation that we at least act with -good faith, and are therefore entitled to use the necessary measures, -however vigorous, for the protection of those obnoxious persons for -whose safety that faith is pledged.” - -The commissioners exercised their charge with becoming firmness. -The money taken from the public deposit they compelled the French -to promise to replace, ... a concession which was not obtained till -after a very long discussion. The spoils of the museum and royal -library were also ♦THE FRENCH ENDEAVOUR TO CARRY OFF ARTICLES FROM THE -MUSEUM.♦ reclaimed. They had been selected, General Kellermann said, -by M. Guiffroi, a member of the National Institute: the objection, -indeed, on the part of the English, he admitted to be well founded; -nevertheless, he observed that these articles, consisting chiefly of -specimens in natural history, and interesting manuscripts, were, in -general, duplicates, ... that they were precious acquisitions for the -sciences; ... the sciences were of all countries, and far from making -war upon them, we ought to promote their communication. They wished, -therefore, to select articles of natural history at their pleasure, and -to leave for them such compensations as the English might think proper. -Of course, the British commander returned a most decided negative, -saying he could not sell articles which were not his, and would not -allow them to be removed: and the French general was compelled to issue -a general order, commanding all individuals of the French army, or -administration, to make restitution of whatever they had taken from any -public or private establishment, within four-and-twenty hours. - -♦THEY EMBARK HORSES, CARRIAGES, AND PICTURES, WHICH ARE RECOVERED.♦ - -It was something to have wrung from them such a confession of robbery; -yet within a few hours after this very order had been issued, Junot’s -first aide-de-camp, Colonel de Cambis, carried off the Prince Regent’s -horses from the royal stables, to embark them as General Junot’s -property. Having been compelled to restore them, this same officer -the next day endeavoured in like manner to carry off two carriages -belonging to the Duke of Sussex, and it was necessary to threaten him -with being carried prisoner to England, if he persisted in this sort -of conduct. It was ascertained that Junot had embarked a collection -of pictures from the house of the Marques de Angeja; restitution was -demanded, and he said they had been given to him. This was found to be -false; and Junot then laid the affair upon a relation of his who was -embarked with him, but who immediately endeavoured to conceal himself -in one of the transports. A threat of detaining the General brought -this person back; he was ordered on shore, to give an account of the -transaction, and as he refused to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the -commissioners, or to land, was compelled to do both, and to produce the -pictures. - -♦THEY CARRY OFF LARGE SUMS IN MONEY.♦ - -But in other cases the commissioners were bound by the letter of a -treaty, in which it now appeared that one party could not have presumed -too little upon the honour of the other, nor one too much. All the -money which these plunderers had collected they were allowed to carry -off. Sir Hew observed, that this description of property could never -come under the provisions of the treaty, and that it was impossible -to identify it, or prove exactly from whom it was obtained. But Ayres -Pinto had pointed out a simple and satisfactory mode of proof: the -French had brought no Portugueze money with them, consequently, -whatever they possessed in it must have been the fruits of rapine. Yet -the French carried off three months’ pay for the whole army, in the -general military chest, and, besides this, distributed large sums to -the different regiments, to be carried off in their regimental chests. -One regiment alone was said to have taken 100,000 crowns with it. - -♦QUESTION CONCERNING THE SILVER IN BARS.♦ - -The French had also a great quantity of silver in bars, into which they -had reduced the pillage of the churches and palaces, for the sake of -easier conveyance. Kellermann strenuously insisted that the convention -guaranteed to them whatever was in their possession previous to the -first day of the truce, and declared, most positively, that they -never would concede this point. The commissioners, on the contrary, -insisted upon the article which restricted them from carrying off -other than military and personal baggage; and they declared that the -Commander-in-chief would never consent to any other construction. At -length they compromised the dispute: the French, though they would -not acknowledge that, by the treaty, they were under any obligation, -proposed to pay the debts of the army with this silver, for which -purpose, they said, it had ever been expressly intended, and agreed, -that if any remained after these debts were discharged, it should be -delivered up. The commissioners acknowledged, that, by the convention, -they could scarcely require more; and Sir Hew pronounced that the -offer was fair, and might be acceded to. - -♦FURTHER INSTANCES OF DISHONOUR IN THE FRENCH.♦ - -The commissioners, however, were soon convinced that concession was not -the likeliest expedient for avoiding new pretensions. The ingenuity of -man, they said, could not provide against French cavil, and ingenuity -in misconstruction; and in consequence of the perpetual subterfuges and -false promises of Kellermann, they insisted upon the establishment of a -committee, to inquire into all the claims presented by the Portugueze, -and to be invested with full authority to summon persons, and to order -restitution. Property to a very great amount, both private and public, -was recovered by these means. Information was obtained that fifty-three -boxes of indigo were embarked as part of Junot’s baggage: the indigo -was found and seized: the French general, of course, disclaimed -any knowledge of the transaction; and the commissioners, without -hesitation, assured him that every officer in the British army would -acquit him personally on this head, because it was impossible for him -to inspect or know what was done in his name! A bold and well-supported -attempt was made to avoid the repayment of the money taken from the -Deposito Publico, and a compensation for articles taken from the public -magazines since the convention, amounting in the whole to £40,000. The -justice of this demand had been acknowledged, and immediate payment -promised. Nevertheless, it had not been made when Junot embarked, and -when he was called upon to fulfil his agreement, Kellermann pleaded -that the money remaining in the _Caisse Militaire_ did not amount to -the £60,000, which, by the explanation of the convention, was admitted -to be a fair military chest, and therefore he considered the agreement -to repay these sums as cancelled. The first division of the French had -already sailed, but the commissioners applied to Sir Charles Cotton -to detain the second, and the Commander-in-chief, till that point -should be satisfactorily settled. Even after this instance of vigour, -much litigation and discussion was permitted; and when, at length, -Kellermann yielded to necessity, attempts were still made to put off -the payment, till no means of enforcing it should be left. During -the three last days that Junot remained in the river, orders were -repeatedly given to the _payeur-general_ to pay this money, and they -were always evaded, under some frivolous pretext; till at last the -commissioners ordered him and his baggage on shore to the arsenal, and -then the Frenchman reluctantly refunded this part of the plunder. - -♦PROTESTS OF THE MONTEIRO MOR AND OF THE JUIZ DO POVO.♦ - -While the commissioners were thus recovering from the French a part -of that wealth which they had collected by every means of oppression -and violence, the strong interference of the British alone preserved -these plunderers from the vengeance of the people. The popular feeling -was partaken by all ranks. The Monteiro Mor, who had now advanced -to Azeitam, addressed a protest to the British Admiral against the -treaty, because the Prince and his Government had not been consulted; -and because no attention had been paid to himself, who, without any -foreign aid, had found means to expel the enemy from the kingdom of -Algarve, and pursuing them, passing on to Alem-Tejo, and compelling -them to evacuate all their posts, had taken a position with his army -on the south bank of the Tagus. Such fanfaronade could only detract -from his own deserts, and discredit the exertions and the sufferings -of a brave and loyal nation. He accompanied this protest by a request, -that, on account of the robberies and atrocities which the French had -committed, the vessels employed to carry them home might be embargoed -till the King of England and the Prince of Brazil should have resolved -on what was best for the honour and interest of the two nations; and he -required that their baggage should be rigorously searched by Portugueze -and English commissioners, lest they should carry away with them the -booty which they had so infamously obtained. The Juiz do Povo also -presented a protest; though the convention had not been published, the -people, he said, knew there was no mention made in it of the three -states of the kingdom, and that it left them without satisfaction for -the crimes both against divine and human laws, and without vengeance -for the murders, robberies, and atrocities of every kind, which the -usurpers had committed. “Our churches stript,” said he, “the royal -palaces damaged, the royal treasury plundered, the people reduced to -poverty and misery, so that the streets and squares of the capital -are rendered impassable by crowds of beggars, ... nothing of this is -taken into consideration: ... yet the safety of kingdoms depends on -not letting their rights be invaded without punishing the offenders, -and the consequence of permitting such crimes with impunity will -occasion incalculable misfortunes. The people and the officers of -this tribunal declare their gratitude to the generous allies who have -liberated Portugal, but they pray for the suspension of a convention -so favourable to the French as this is said to be. It must be invalid -after the abuses and hostilities which they have continued to commit in -Almeida, and the contribution which they have since extorted; and this -tribunal cannot consent to the return of the enemy to France, as they -already threaten that they will come back to destroy what they have -left.” - -♦DANGER OF TUMULTS IN LISBON.♦ - -Such language from a magistrate whose name was never heard but in -turbulent times, increased the popular ferment; and General Hope, who -now commanded in Lisbon, found it necessary to issue a proclamation, -prohibiting the Portugueze from entering the city with arms, or wearing -them in the streets; and enacting that all places where wine was sold -should be shut at six in the evening, and not opened before sunrise. To -enforce these regulations, and maintain order, strong guards, picquets, -and patroles, were appointed to arrest every person who should break -the peace. Nothing but this prompt vigilance prevented the people from -gratifying their thirst for vengeance. It is said that all the houses -in Belem in which the enemy were lodged were marked in the course of -one night, and that lists of those Frenchmen and their adherents who -were deemed most worthy of death were posted up. The English were -loudly reproached for having protected men who deserved the most -exemplary punishment; and there were not wanting persons unreflecting -enough to assert, that sure as they were of the Spaniards, they could -have exacted that punishment without any necessity for English aid. -This feeling, however, was far from general. The English character was -too well known in Lisbon, for the English name ever to be unpopular -among a people not less retentive of kind and friendly feelings than -of injuries. When the English soldiers went to occupy the arsenals -and forts, refreshments were brought out for them along the way, and -British officers were followed in the streets by applauding crowds; -while the hatred which was manifested towards the French was so deep -and general, that no people could possibly have incurred it unless -they had deserved it to the utmost. Not only did the Portugueze refuse -to purchase from them those things which they wished to convert into -money, they refused to sell them any thing, even provisions for their -hospital. If a Frenchman ventured to appear alone, trusting to escape -discovery, he betook himself, upon the first suspicious eye which -was directed toward him, to an Englishman for protection. Kellermann -came on shore one day after his embarkation to dine with a British -officer, and being recognized on his return to the water-side, was -attacked by the mob. Our sailors defended and saved him, but not before -he had received some severe contusions. Loison, who was a more marked -object of execration, was considered in so much personal danger, that -four battalions were bivouacked near his quarters, and four pieces of -cannon planted there for his protection. But toward those officers who -had demeaned themselves humanely and honourably, the people testified -nothing but respect and good-will. - -♦TEMPER OF THE FRENCH.♦ - -The French were not sufficiently humbled to bear this meekly. The -success which they had obtained in negotiation, in their minds more -than counterbalanced the humiliation of their defeat, and of their -present state. They denied that they had been defeated; they affirmed -that they had dictated the terms; and Junot continued to occupy the -royal box at the opera till his departure. The English generals -respected, in this instance, the custom of the country, and after the -Frenchman had resigned it, left it unoccupied, with the curtain down. -But however much the enemy might console themselves with the confident -hope of again becoming masters of the kingdom, their pride was bitterly -wounded by the display of national feeling which met them every where, -and which they considered presumptuous in a people who were soon to be -brought again under their iron yoke. They called it audacity in the -Portugueze to wear the national cockade, which they still chose to -denominate a badge of insurrection; and they complained that even in -their sight lamps were prepared for illuminating the city upon their -departure, ♦THIEBAULT, 219–222.♦ and demanded in greater numbers than -could be supplied. - -♦EMBARKATION OF THE FRENCH.♦ - -The first division of the French embarked under protection of the -second, the second and third were protected by the British troops from -the fury of the Portugueze. Wholly to restrain it was impossible, -but no serious injury was done. They embarked amid the curses of the -people. Nine days and nights the rejoicings continued, not by any order -from the magistracy, but by the voluntary act of the inhabitants, -whose joy was in proportion to the misery from which they had been -delivered. It was a joy which thousands whose fortunes had been ruined -in the general calamity, partook; and which brought the last earthly -consolation to many a broken heart. The enemy, while they lay in the -river, were within sight of the illuminations and fire-works, and could -hear the bells with which that great city rang from side to side. -However brave in arms, however skilful in negotiation, they departed -under circumstances more reproachful than had ever before attached to -any army, or body of military men. As a last act of baseness, one of -their general officers called at the commissioners’ office, while they -were absent, just before he embarked, and carried off all the papers he -could collect, in the hope of making it impossible for them to produce -an account of their proceedings. But he was driven back to Lisbon by -contrary winds, and compelled ♦FINAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.♦ to -restore them. The commissioners concluded the final report of their -transactions by stating, that the conduct of the French had been -marked by the most shameful disregard of honour and probity, publicly -evincing their intention of carrying off their plundered booty, and -leaving acknowledged debts unpaid. “Finally, said they, they have -only paid what they were obliged to disgorge, and were not permitted -to carry off. The British commissioners had represented to General -Kellermann, that whatsoever the words, it could never be the spirit of -any convention, that an army should, as a military chest, or otherwise, -carry off public money, leaving public debts unpaid: they had called -upon him, for the honour of the French army and nation, to act justly; -and yet, unmindful of any tie of honour or of justice, the French army -had taken away a considerable sum in the military chest, leaving its -debts unpaid, to a very large amount.” - -Thus the courtesy which had been shown toward the French Generals in -the course of the negotiation, had the effect of fixing upon them a -deeper stigma; by bringing into full view a low chicanery, a total want -of honour, and utter disregard of truth, which could not have been -suspected, if it had not been thus officially proved, and placed upon -public record. Had such charges been advanced by the enemy against the -general officers of a British army, the strictest inquiry would have -been instituted, and no rank, no influence, no professional merits, -could have screened the offenders. They would have been dismissed -with ignominy from the service which they had disgraced, and for -ever excluded from all honourable society. There was a time when the -highest eulogium which the French bestowed upon a soldier was to say, -that he was without fear and without reproach; but under the system of -Buonaparte nothing was considered reproachful in his soldiers, provided -they feared nothing in this world or in the next. - -♦ADDRESSES OF THANKS TO THE BRITISH COMMANDER.♦ - -The good faith of the British, and their real regard for the -interest and feelings of the Portugueze nation, were now apparent. -The national flag was every where displayed, and the people were -informed by a proclamation that no time would be lost in establishing -their government upon the basis on which the Prince had left it, and -substituting the civil for that military power which was continued -only from necessity and for a few days. The magistrates and the clergy -meantime, and all persons who possessed authority or influence, were -called upon to co-operate in preserving order. Addresses of thanks came -from the provinces; and the Juiz do Povo, who had protested in the name -of the people of Lisbon so strongly against the convention, now for -those same people expressed their gratitude to the British Commander, -the British Sovereign, and the British nation, requesting that their -sincere thanks for this great deliverance might be made known to the -smallest village as well as to the throne. Such was the proud situation -of the British army at Lisbon. Some formalities had been forgotten -in the negotiation, some minor interests had been overlooked, and -the courtesies of war had been too liberally accorded to an enemy -who should have been made to feel their moral degradation. But the -unstained honour, the unsuspecting integrity, the open manliness, the -plain dignity of the British character, had been manifested throughout -the whole of these transactions; and this was felt and acknowledged by -the Portugueze. - -♦GALLUZO BESIEGES ELVAS.♦ - -Difficulties which could not have been foreseen arose concerning the -delivery of Elvas. Galluzo, who commanded the army of Extremadura, and -who had hitherto afforded no very efficient aid to the Portugueze, -thought proper at this time, when he had been required by every civil -and military authority to begin his march towards Castille, in contempt -of those orders to enter Alem-Tejo, and besiege Elvas, as if no treaty -for its surrender had been made. The French Commandant, Girod de -Novillars, upon this required from the inhabitants an immediate loan of -money, to the amount of 30,000 francs, and wine and provisions to the -value of 20,000 more. Drained as they had been by repeated exactions, -the people of Elvas were in no condition to obey this demand; the -Bishop and the magistrates therefore easily obtained permission to go -to the Spanish camp, and entreat Galluzo to suspend hostilities. That -General, however, declared, that if the French did not surrender within -six hours, he would open his fire against Fort La Lippe, and put the -whole garrison to the sword. He had no time to lose, he said, but must -hasten to assist his fellow-soldiers in expelling the enemy from the -Peninsula; and the inhabitants must either abandon the city, or take -arms against the French. From this dilemma they were delivered by the -French themselves, who, during the night, withdrew into the forts, -leaving about an hundred men in the hospital. An agreement was then -made, with Galluzo’s consent, that the city should remain neutral; -and the Spaniards began an absurd fire against Fort La Lippe, which -is the strongest fortress in Portugal. Things were in this state when -Lieutenant-Colonel Ross arrived with letters from the French Commander, -instructing M. Girod to give up the place to him in pursuance of the -convention. A demur was made by the Commandant, till he could send -an officer to Lisbon, and satisfy himself that the dispatches were -authentic; and difficulties less reasonable in their kind were started -both by the Spaniards and Portugueze. Galluzo argued that no agreement -between the British and French Generals could be binding upon him. The -Spaniards, he affirmed, had a right as besiegers to take possession of -Elvas, and the Spanish arms were not to be defrauded of the splendour -which this would give them. He threatened Girod that if any injury -were offered to the city the prisoners should be put to death, and -the garrison receive no mercy; and he insisted that they should march -out and lay down their arms, and that the place should be entered -and occupied by the Spaniards only. In his communications with Sir -Hew Dalrymple he held rather a lower tone, saying that certainly he -should not have besieged and cannonaded Elvas if he had known of the -convention; but it had not been thought proper to announce it to him. -He required only a joint surrender to the British and Spanish arms, -leaving the place and the prisoners to his Excellency; but he had -heard the garrison were not to be considered prisoners; that article, -though the opinion was that it would not be executed, occasioned some -uneasiness, and therefore he would make them lay down their arms, and -swear not to bear them again against Spain or her allies. - -♦DIFFICULTIES CONCERNING THE SURRENDER OF ELVAS.♦ - -Galluzo was at this time upon ill terms with the Portugueze. They -complained that throughout the struggle in Alem-Tejo he had promised -much and performed little; that the Spaniards had acted as masters -in those fortresses which they had entered as friends, countermanded -the orders of the Portugueze General, encouraged insubordination, -appropriated to their own use money which had been raised for the -national cause, and pillaged the country as they passed through it. On -the other hand, Galluzo reproached the Portugueze with want of activity -and energy, and with giving his people nothing but water when they went -to assist them. His pretensions to Elvas, therefore, which under any -circumstances might have given offence, were now peculiarly offensive; -and it happened that the Junta of Porto, who were at this time not -without hope of getting the government of the kingdom into their own -hands, had ordered General Leite to march into Elvas and occupy it as -soon as it should be evacuated. The General communicated their orders -to Sir Hew, declaring that he felt it his duty to obey, and laying -before him his complaints against the Spaniards. These difficulties -were surmounted by a proper mixture of conciliation and firmness on -the part of the British Commander. The first great object was, that -British faith should be kept, and complete protection afforded to the -French garrison. For this purpose those troops whom it was intended to -canton in Alem-Tejo were immediately ordered thither, and stationed as -near Elvas as possible. Colonel Graham was sent to Galluzo to bring him -to reason; and if this were found impracticable, then to proceed to -Madrid, and call for the interference of higher authorities. Colonel -Ross was instructed to bear in mind, that as the French surrendered -to no nation except the English, neither Spanish nor Portugueze -troops were to appear when they marched out: that with respect to -the Portugueze, the feelings of the nation were to be gratified, and -their flag every where displayed under a salute; but he was to hold -the substantial power, even if he saw cause for allowing a Portugueze -General to march in with a detachment of his men. Colonel Graham -performed his difficult mission with great ability. Galluzo ceased -from all farther interference, and was so gratified by the temper in -which this affair had been carried on by the British Commander, and the -services which had been rendered to the soldiers of Extremadura who had -been released at Lisbon, that he ordered the black English cockade to -be blended with the red Spanish one in his army, to mark his gratitude, -as he informed Sir Hew, and denote the intimate alliance between the -two countries. - -♦ELVAS AND ALMEIDA GIVEN UP.♦ - -All difficulties being at length removed, the forts were delivered up, -General Leite entered the city, and the French garrison, between 1400 -and 1500 in number, were marched to Aldea Gallega. No insults were -offered them on the way; and they were joined by their comrades, who, -having been wounded at Evora, had been left in that city, and treated -with careful humanity by the inhabitants. The garrison of Almeida were -not removed so easily. The Portugueze had kept up an irregular blockade -of that fortress after Loison’s departure; they borrowed fire-arms from -the Spaniards of Ciudad Rodrigo, and were so little scrupulous in their -mode of warfare, that a friar poisoned the water of a tank at which -the cattle belonging to the garrison used to drink. Almeida might long -have defied any efforts which the Portugueze or the Spaniards in that -quarter could have made against it; it was, however, gladly delivered -up, in conformity to the convention, and the garrison were marched -to Porto, under a British escort, there to be embarked. ♦TUMULTS AT -PORTO.♦ On the day of their arrival, they employed themselves in -converting as much of their plunder as possible into money: purchasers -were not wanting, and their market continued the whole day and -night, horses being the ostensible articles. Such a traffic excited -the indignation of all but those who were profiting by it; and that -indignation was excited to the highest pitch, when, on the following -morning, as the baggage of the French was examined at the Castle -of St. Joam da Foz, in presence of the governor and of Sir Robert -Wilson, several rich church vestments were found in one of the boxes. -The horror which the Portugueze feel at sacrilege is perhaps hardly -conceivable by those who are not acquainted with them. The governor -himself, on this occasion, joined the populace in their outcry, and -immediately gave orders that no vessel should be permitted to pass the -castle. The news soon reached Porto, exaggerated as it passed from -mouth to mouth; a mob collected, bent upon putting the French to death; -and some insults were offered the English for protecting them. The -Bishop, Sir Robert Wilson, and many officers, Portugueze and English, -used their utmost exertions to quiet the tumult. They succeeded in -restoring peace at St. Joam da Foz: but the crowd still continued on -both sides the river; and at an early hour of the morning some thousand -persons had assembled, with a determination to attack the French on -board the transports: they placed artillery on both shores, and mounted -guns on board the ships. Fortunately for the French, they were provided -with sixty rounds each man, and one of the transports in which they -were embarked was armed with six-pounders. The Bishop and Sir Robert -Wilson again came down to mediate, and the latter was employed, without -intermission, from nine in the morning till five in the afternoon in -negotiating between the French General and the populace. It was in -vain for the Frenchman to tell Sir Robert that he was bound to see the -articles of capitulation executed to the very letter, ... that was -impossible: he had secured their lives, and this was the utmost he -could do. The mob insisted that the French should be disembarked, their -baggage examined on shore, and that they should leave their arms: there -was no alternative, and they were compelled to submit. No sooner had -they left the transports, than the rabble boarded them, and began to -plunder in their turn: every thing was ransacked; the very provisions -and wearing apparel of the ship-owners disappeared. Here, however, -the tumult ended: the more riotous of the populace retired with their -booty; the better classes were ashamed of the disgrace which had thus -been brought upon them; and every possible reparation was made, to the -entire satisfaction of the British officers. - -♦THE SPANISH TROOPS AT LISBON EMBARKED FOR CATALONIA.♦ - -During the negotiation the French, who were not ashamed to propose -any thing, proposed that an equal number of French prisoners should -be set at liberty, in exchange for the Spaniards whom they had seized -at Lisbon. This Sir Hew declared to be inadmissible; the Spaniards, -he said, must be immediately set free, and not the interests alone, -but the feelings of the Spanish nation were to be considered. He -consented, however, to obtain for them, if possible, the release of -such Frenchmen as had been arrested in Spain during the troubles, not -having been taken in battle, or in consequence of military operations. -Humanity induced him to this; and in communicating it to the Spanish -authorities, he relied upon Spanish generosity for complying with -his request for their deliverance. The scene at Lisbon, when arms, -horses, and artillery were restored to the Spaniards who had been so -long detained prisoners, was one of those spectacles at which the -heart rejoices. They were about 3800 in number, some 2000 having -effected their escape. The ceremony was made as public and impressive -as possible, and the Spanish Commander distributed alms upon the -occasion among the poor of Lisbon, which caused a general festivity. -Applications for these troops were made from various parts of Spain. -The Junta of Galicia required them; and some of the Spanish Generals -at Madrid wished them to be embarked for Santander, there to join -Blake’s army. Castaños, to whose judgement at this time that deference -was paid which his great services had well deserved, was of opinion -that they would be more serviceable in Catalonia than in any other -part. For Catalonia therefore they were embarked in British transports, -and Sir Hew advanced a loan of 90,000 dollars to purchase horses for -them. - -♦INTRIGUES OF THE JUNTA OF PORTO.♦ - -It was sufficient for the British Commander in these transactions to -follow the plain dictates of a humane and honourable mind. In settling -a civil government, and thereby putting an end to the fearful anarchy -which every where prevailed, he had a more delicate task. The Junta -of Porto were intriguing to obtain a continuance of their power; -and under a pretext that Lisbon would for some time be in a state -of great confusion, they made their wishes known to Sir Hew, that -the seat of the temporary government might remain at Porto, and that -deputies from the other provinces, as they then did from the northern -ones, should repair thither to transact business for those parts -which they represented. The Bishop also observed, that an authority -had been forced upon him, which he had accepted only in the hope of -re-establishing the government of his lawful Prince; and that if it -were thought expedient for him to retain it till the pleasure of the -Prince was known, it must be under the condition of remaining at Porto, -from whence the inhabitants would not permit him to depart, unless by -a direct order of their Sovereign. Such an arrangement would be most -beneficial to the kingdom in its present state; and that opposition -to it which might otherwise be expected, would be obviated if Sir -Hew Dalrymple would take upon himself to recommend it. This sort of -finesse was little likely to attain its end with a British Commander. -Sir Hew, who was better acquainted with the state of affairs in Spain -than any other person at that time, had no such advantage in Portugal. -But in politics, as in morals, there is a principle of rectitude which -always leads us right, and that principle he followed. He neither -lent himself to this intrigue, nor allowed the displeasure which it -naturally excited to preponderate against the real services which the -Bishop of Porto had rendered to his country, and the popularity which -in consequence he then possessed. He replied therefore to the Bishop, -that had there been no objection, the Council of Regency which the -Prince had appointed at his departure, would now have resumed their -authority of course; but seeing that some of its members were strongly -suspected of being in the French interest, he felt himself authorized -to state, that however desirous the King his Sovereign might be to -interfere as little as possible in the internal affairs of Portugal, -it was impossible for his Majesty, under the peculiar circumstances of -the case, to acquiesce in the return of those persons to power. On -the other hand, those members who had kept aloof from the interests -of the enemy, and retaining their loyalty had retained the confidence -of the nation, had an unquestionable claim to be reinstated in their -situations. Declaring therefore that his instructions were to take -measures for forming a Regency as soon as possible, composed of such -persons of rank, character, and talents, as might be found ready to -undertake, and qualified to discharge, the important trust, but with as -few changes (particularly in the subordinate departments) as might be -compatible with the public interests, in the fulfilment of this duty he -naturally addressed himself to his Excellency and the Provisional Board -of Government at Porto. “You,” Sir Hew continued, “have already turned -your thoughts to the great question now at issue, and are doubtless -prepared to propose measures for completing the Council of Regency so -as to merit the confidence of the nation, and to prevent any just cause -of discontent in any other provisional government, or other respectable -description of the people. For my own part, I have only been able, from -the information I have received since my arrival in Portugal, to form -one decided opinion on this subject; which is, the infinite importance -to the public welfare that your Excellency should yourself hold a -distinguished place in the proposed Regency.” - -♦THE COUNCIL OF REGENCY RE-ESTABLISHED.♦ - -The Bishop’s reply was, that he should readily acquiesce in whatever -might be determined upon, except his own nomination to the Council; -for he, better than any other person, knew what was necessary for the -good of the public cause, and of the northern provinces, and therefore -would not remove from the place where he had been stationed by God -and by his Prince. It was soon, however, ascertained, that if this -Prelate could not remain at the head of the government at Porto, he -would not persist in refusing to accept a share in it at Lisbon. Sir -Hew therefore, upon mature deliberation, and with the best advice which -could be obtained, issued a proclamation, saying, that through the -success with which Providence had blessed the British arms, the time -was come when the re-establishment of the Portugueze government ♦SEPT. -18.♦ could be effected. He gave the people due praise for the exertions -which they had made against the French; and saying that no views of -interest or of national aggrandizement could be imputed to the liberal -policy of Great Britain, declared, that the best manner in which he -could fulfil the intentions of his Sovereign, and promote the welfare -of Portugal, was by restoring that Council to which their Prince had -delegated his authority when he preserved his royal dignity from the -insults of an implacable enemy, and secured his American dominions. One -of that Council had been unhappily sent away from his country; others -had incurred imputations which rendered their restoration impossible at -this time. The three, however, who had contracted no such disability, -the Monteiro Mor, D. Francisco Xavier de Noronha, and Francisco da -Cunha e Menezes, he called upon to resume the administration, and with -them the Desembargador Joam Antonio ♦SEPT. 20.♦ Salter de Mendonça, and -Brigadier D. Miguel Pereira Forjas Coutinho, whom the Prince had named -to succeed in case of vacancies. These persons assembled accordingly, -and to fill up the number which the act of regency appointed, elected -the Marquez daz Minas and the Bishop of Porto. The Junta of Porto then -dissolved itself, declaring, however, that if the Regency should again -be overthrown by any new invasion of the enemy, (which they prayed -God to avert,) or any other calamity, they should by that event enter -again upon the full exercise of the authority which they now laid -aside. The other Juntas were in like manner dissolved: the Regency -was acknowledged throughout Portugal, and things resumed, as far as -possible, their former course. - -♦OUTCRY IN ENGLAND AGAINST THE CONVENTION.♦ - -While Sir Hew Dalrymple was employed in carrying the terms of the -convention into effect, putting an end to the anarchy which prevailed, -and preparing with all possible speed to advance into Spain, an -outcry which he little expected had arisen against him at home. The -official account of the battle reached England a fortnight before the -news of the armistice and convention: tidings came with it that the -French had proposed to evacuate Portugal, and the news of Junot’s -unconditional surrender was looked for as what must necessarily ensue. -When the terms of the convention were received the Park and Tower -guns were fired; but the public feeling was not in accord with this -demonstration of joy, and never was any public feeling so unanimously -and instantaneously manifested. The hopes of the nation had been raised -to the highest pitch; their disappointment was in proportion, and it -was expressed with a violence only to be explained by the deep and -general abhorrence which the conduct of the French in Portugal had -provoked. The capitulations of the Helder and of Buenos Ayres were -remembered as less mortifying than the convention of Cintra. Nothing -else could be talked of, nothing else could be thought of: men greeted -each other in the streets with execrations upon those who had signed -this detested convention; it kept them waking at night, or disturbed -their sleep, like a misdeed or a misfortune of their own. The London -newspapers joined in one cry of wonder and abhorrence; on no former -occasion had they been so unanimous. The provincial papers proved -that, from one end of the island to the other, the resentment of this -grievous disappointment was the same; some refused to disgrace their -pages by inserting the treaty; others surrounded it with broad black -lines, putting their journal in mourning for the dismal intelligence it -contained; some headed the page with a representation of three gibbets, -and a general suspended from each, cut in wood for the occasion. - -What could be done? There were not wanting writers who called upon -government to annul the convention. The Romans, they said, would have -done so, and have delivered up the generals who signed it, bound and -haltered, to the enemy’s discretion. Would it be argued, that to break -the treaty would be to break our faith towards the enemy? Why, it was -so framed that it could not be fulfilled without breaking our faith -towards each and all of our allies! We were the allies of Portugal; -and it was a breach of faith towards Portugal, to transport this army -of thieves, ravishers, and murderers out of the country in which they -had perpetrated their crimes, and from which they had no other possible -means of escape. We were the allies of Spain; and it was a breach of -faith towards Spain, if four-and-twenty thousand French troops, cut off -from all succour and all retreat, should be conveyed, under the British -flag, into their own country, with arms and baggage, that they might -join the forces with which Buonaparte was preparing to march against -the Spaniards. We were the allies of Sweden; and it was a breach of -faith towards Sweden to carry Russian sailors through the Swedish fleet -for the purpose of manning Russian ships against the Swedes. Were we -then to annul this treaty with our enemies, or to betray our friends? -for to this alternative our triumvirate of generals had reduced us! -No law of nations could justify them in making such stipulations; no -law of nations therefore could justify us in performing them. But -the French, it was urged, had already fulfilled their part of the -convention; they had evacuated the fortified towns, and admitted us -into Lisbon. Thus we had already reaped the advantages, and were, in -honour, bound to carry into effect the remainder of the treaty, which -was advantageous to them. In whatever way we acted, some loss of honour -was inevitable; but it was less disgraceful to break the terms than -to fulfil them; better that the French should reproach us, than that -they should compliment us upon a fidelity which enabled them to injure -our allies. The blow, it was affirmed, might have gone far towards -deciding the fate of Europe. France had lost one army in Andalusia, -and how deeply Buonaparte felt the loss was shown by the anxiety with -which he concealed it from the French people. What might not have been -the effect of the destruction of a second and larger army, following -so close upon that of the former! How would it have encouraged the -Portugueze, given new animation to the Spaniards, and raised the hope -and the courage of those various states who were suffering under the -tyrant’s yoke! - -The conditions which had been granted to the Russian Admiral were -condemned with the same vehement feeling of disappointment. The -intimate connexion which had so lately subsisted between the Courts -of London and Petersburgh, and the personal regard which the British -Admiral entertained for Admiral Siniavin, had been adduced as reasons -why an agreement acceptable to both nations should be concluded. -Certainly it became us to manifest every mark of personal respect -toward the Russian officers, because, though the false policy of their -government had engaged the two countries in war, there existed no -angry feelings nor jarring interests between them; and the wishes of -both were for a renewal of that long established intercourse which was -beneficial to both. It also behoved us especially to show ourselves -grateful for the protection which the Russians had afforded to the -English and Portugueze refugees, and the facilities which they had -given them of effecting their escape. These were personal favours, for -which the obvious personal return should have been to have immediately -sent home men and officers under an engagement not to serve against -us or our allies, and to have shown towards them every courtesy and -kindness by which the evils of hostility can be mitigated. But that -personal regard should influence the terms of capitulation, was a thing -as unheard of as the terms themselves. “Hold in deposit!” The phrase -had never before been known in the British navy. They knew what it was -to fight their enemies; they knew what it was to beat, capture, sink, -burn, and destroy them, according to the spirit and letter of their -instructions. This was said by the navy, and by the nation; and the -bitter reflection arose, how would Nelson have received such a proposal! - -Such language as this arose from a right feeling; but the -disappointment of well-founded and high-raised hopes had heated the -public mind, and disqualified it for regarding the whole transaction -dispassionately. The manner in which the Portugueze had been overlooked -in the negotiation was aggravated in England by persons who supported -the pretensions of the Junta of Porto; and undue stress was laid upon -the neglect of formalities which could not have been overlooked if -the Portugueze General had been acting with the British army as he -ought. There had been one serious omission affecting the Portugueze, -which was, in not insisting upon a stipulation that the troops of that -nation who had been sent to serve in Buonaparte’s armies should be -restored to their own country; such a stipulation ought to have been -required, though it would undoubtedly have been broken. The other -oversights which were objected were merely frivolous, and the manner -in which, through all the subsequent details, the feelings as well as -interests of the Portugueze had been consulted, had already contented -them, and made them grateful for the conduct of their allies. There was -another cause which exasperated the English people: they compared the -treatment of Junot’s army with that of Dupont’s, and were mortified -by a comparison which ought rather to have elated them; for looking -to what seemed advantageous, and not to what was just, they did not -perceive that in deferring to a popular cry the Junta of Seville had -broken a solemn engagement. The strong disapprobation with which Sir -Hew Dalrymple regarded that breach of faith, acted upon him, perhaps -unconsciously, when he allowed the French the utmost which could be -claimed upon the most liberal construction of the letter of the treaty -in their favour. - -♦BOARD OF INQUIRY APPOINTED.♦ - -Meetings were convened in most parts of England to express the -indignation of the people at the convention, and call for the -punishment of those by whom it had been negotiated. The Common Council -presented an address to the same purport, and were told in reply that -it was inconsistent with the principles of British justice to pronounce -judgement without previous investigation, and that their interposition -was not necessary for inducing the King to institute a due inquiry -into a transaction which had disappointed the hopes and expectations -of the nation. Accordingly the three Generals were recalled, and a -Board of Inquiry was appointed, composed of the Earl of Moira, General -Craig, Lord Heathfield, the Earl of Pembroke, Sir George Nugent, and -Lieutenant-General Nicolls, with Sir David Dundas for president. -Their decision, after a long and full investigation, was, that they -could not pronounce, with confidence, whether the victory of Vimeiro -ought to have been pursued or not; but, considering the extraordinary -circumstances under which two new commanders arrived from the ocean, -and joined the army, (the one during, and the other immediately after -the battle, and these successively superseding each other, and both -the original commander, within the space of twenty-four hours,) it -was not surprising that the army was not carried forward until the -second day after the action, from the necessity of the generals’ being -acquainted with the actual state of things, and proceeding accordingly. -On a consideration of all circumstances, they were of opinion, that -no farther proceeding was necessary; and, however some of them might -differ respecting the fitness of the convention, it was their unanimous -declaration, that unquestionable zeal and firmness had been exhibited -by all the three generals. - -As this was, in fact, delivering no opinion at all, the board was -called upon, by the Duke of York, as commander-in-chief, to resume its -consideration of the armistice and convention, and pronounce decidedly -whether they thought them adviseable. The armistice was disapproved -by Earl Moira; the convention by the same nobleman, by the Earl of -Pembroke, and General Nicolls: thus, six of the seven members approved -the armistice, and four approved the convention. The dissentient -members delivered in their reasons for the opinion which they gave. -General Nicolls and Earl Pembroke confined themselves to a military -point of view. Earl Moira took a wider scope, and argued ably against -the moral and political effects of the treaty. The proceedings ♦JAN. -18, 1809.♦ were concluded by a declaration from the King, adopting -the unanimous opinion of the board, that no farther proceeding was -necessary; but expressing his disapprobation of those articles of -the convention in which stipulations were made, directly affecting -the interests or feelings of the Spanish and Portugueze nations. That -disapprobation his Majesty had signified to Sir Hew Dalrymple when -the treaty was first laid before him, and he repeated it, deeming it -necessary that his sentiments should be clearly understood, as to the -impropriety and danger of the unauthorised admission, into military -conventions, of articles of such a description. Nor could he forbear -observing, that Sir Hew’s delaying to transmit the armistice concluded -on the 22d of August, till the 4th of September, when the ratified -convention was transmitted at the same time, was calculated to produce -great public inconvenience, and that such inconvenience had, in fact, -resulted therefrom. The King abstained from any observations upon other -parts of the convention. - -Thus the whole censure fell upon Sir Hew Dalrymple. But it was seen -by the people that the great error of judgement had been committed -at home, in not providing that the General by whom the campaign was -planned should carry it to the end. And how often may it be observed -in history, as in private life, that the course of events is better -directed to the end desired, than if the persons most interested in the -success could themselves have ordered it! So it was in this campaign, -which at the time so severely disappointed the nation. A more splendid -triumph might have been obtained in the field, a higher tone might -have been taken in the negotiation; but in either of these cases -Almeida and Elvas would have been left in possession of the enemy; and -whatever efforts might have been made for reducing them, they could -easily have held out till the dispersion of the Spanish armies. It -would then have been a great object with the French to relieve the -garrisons, and this would have brought them to Lisbon at a time when -there were neither preparations nor means for resistance there. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRAL JUNTA. OPERATIONS IN CATALONIA. - EMBARRASSMENTS AND MOVEMENTS OF THE SPANISH ARMIES. ESCAPE OF THE - SPANISH TROOPS FROM DENMARK. - - -♦1808.♦ - -♦NECESSITY OF A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.♦ - -When Castaños was informed of Sir Hew Dalrymple’s appointment to -the command of the British army, he declared that he regarded this -nomination as the most fortunate event of his own life; so much -advantage to the common cause did he anticipate from their confidence -in each other, and the cordial co-operation which would ensue. In -reality that influence which the confidence of a British commander -would have given him, might have been of the most essential benefit to -Spain at this momentous crisis. - -Such was the national character, that when the struggle commenced every -man was ready to follow in the cause of his country; but so pitiable -had been the state of education, and so successfully had the double -despotism of the government and the inquisition shut out knowledge -from their empire, that no man was fit to lead. There were now as many -governments as there were Juntas, each acting with little regard to the -others; and as these were every where filled by persons chosen because -of their station, the government throughout Spain was delivered, or -rather fell into the hands of the provincial nobility and gentry, with -a few clergy; a set of men whom their general want of information, -their prejudices, and their previous way of life, in great measure -disqualified for the task to which they were called. Among them were -some persons who had formerly been in office at Madrid; but whatever -advantage they might have derived from habits of business, was more -than counterbalanced by the dilatory formalities acquired at the same -time, and their attachment to the old routine with all its defects and -evils. Wherever therefore such statesmen of the old school were found, -the Juntas were less efficient than they might have been without them. -The powers with which these bodies found themselves invested were -neither limited in extent or duration: the people in their confidence -(which at such times is as blind as their suspicion) never thought -of proposing restrictions: and the Juntas, when once in possession -of authority, thought only of making it as extensive, and retaining -it as long as they could. Some of them passed decrees bestowing upon -themselves the titles of Excellencies and Highnesses, and adopted -uniforms of the gaudiest fashion. This was mere vanity; but serious -injury was done, when, with as little decency as had been observed -under the old system, they conferred commissions and commands, not upon -those persons who had the fairest claim, but upon their own friends -and relations and dependents; and thus, as the enrolment was general, -the armies were filled with officers who had no other pretensions to -rank and promotion than what they derived from favour. - -♦CASTAÑOS PREVENTS A CONTEST BETWEEN GRANADA AND SEVILLE.♦ - -After the great success in Andalusia, the provincial Juntas, instead -of exerting themselves to the utmost for completing the deliverance of -the country, became jealous of each other. Where the rival authorities -were far distant, this feeling impeded the public service; greater -evils were threatened when they bordered upon each other. Granada at -this time refused to acknowledge the supreme authority which the Junta -of Seville assumed, and had hitherto exercised with ability and good -fortune. A warm contention ensued; and Tilly, either from irritation, -or worse motives, proposed that a division of the Andalusian army -should be sent to enforce submission. Fortunately Castaños was present -at the meeting in which this proposition was made; he rose from his -seat, and, striking the table, said, he should like to see the man who -dared order a division of the troops under his command to march without -his authority! He knew no distinction of provinces; he had the honour -to command part of the army of Spain, and never would he suffer it to -be made the instrument of civil war. - -♦PLANS FOR A GOVERNMENT.♦ - -The occasion required, and therefore justified, this prompt assumption -of a power, dangerous in its kind, and in nowise congenial to the -unambitious temper of Castaños, a man whose only desire was to do his -duty like a true Spaniard under any circumstances. It proved, however, -the necessity of establishing a more legitimate authority than as yet -existed. Lord Collingwood, in his first communications with Seville, -had advised that a general Council, Cortes, or Congress, should be -appointed, and invested with power from the several provincial Juntas -to preside over and act in the name of the whole. The necessity of some -such arrangement became every day more apparent. Some persons proposed -to establish a military form of government, in which that vigour which -the emergency required might be found; some were for assembling a -Cortes; others recommended that a viceroy or lieutenant of the kingdom -should be appointed, and to this Castaños was at one time inclined. -His first thought before the struggle began had been to invite the -Archduke Charles; but upon considering that the invitation could not -be accepted while Austria continued at peace with France, and that if -a war between those powers took place, the Archduke’s services would -be required at home, he then thought the Prince Royal of the house of -Naples would be the fittest person to hold the regency till the fate -of Ferdinand should be known; and this he proposed to the ♦ARRIVAL -OF A SICILIAN PRINCE AT GIBRALTAR.♦ Junta. The Sicilian court from -the commencement of the insurrection had directed their views to the -same object: their minister in London had sounded the disposition of -the British Government, and found it decidedly unfavourable to their -schemes; and they sent a plenipotentiary to reside at Gibraltar, for -the purpose of furthering the interests of the family. But Sir Hew -Dalrymple happened to be informed of what had passed in London, and -finding that the object of this mission was altogether disapproved by -the British Government, and that the agent had papers which he intended -to circulate without previously communicating their contents to him, -felt it necessary to let him know that his residence in the garrison, -under these circumstances, might be attended with inconvenience, and -therefore he must return to Palermo for new instructions. This was -about the middle of July; in the ensuing month, a few days before Sir -Hew left Gibraltar to take the command of the army, Prince Leopold, -second son of the King of the Two Sicilies, with the Duke of Orleans -and a large retinue, arrived there in a British man of war. A more -ill-judged step could hardly have been taken. Great Britain had -scrupulously avoided any thing which could have the appearance of -dictating to the Spaniards, or interfering with them in any other way -than that of giving the most prompt and liberal support; but what -a pretext would it afford those who were ever ready to malign the -measures of England, if at a time when the Spaniards were deliberating -concerning the settlement of their government, a Prince who claimed -the regency should be received with royal honours at Gibraltar, and at -the very juncture when a British army arrived upon the coast! Under -these embarrassing circumstances Sir Hew acted with great firmness and -discretion. Persisting in that upright and steady course of conduct -which had in so great a degree contributed to win the confidence of -the Spanish nation, he refused in any manner to support pretensions -which he had reason to believe were not approved by his government; -to that government he referred the Duke of Orleans, who accordingly -resolved to go to England, and make his representations in person; the -Prince was received into Gibraltar, and left there, when Sir Hew went -to the army; if he were chosen Regent, any deputation duly appointed to -announce that nomination was of course to be admitted, and considered -as attached to his retinue; but no such deputation from any local or -provisional government was to be received on such terms. - -♦AMBITION OF THE JUNTA OF SEVILLE.♦ - -There was at this time a report that the Junta of Seville had declared -for a regency, and were hesitating between the Archbishop of Toledo, as -the only remaining member of the Bourbon family in Spain, a Prince of -the Neapolitan house, and the Conde de Montijo, the most intriguing, -and then one of the most popular persons in Spain. As this individual -had no pretensions to such a charge, except what his undeserved -popularity might give him, the report was probably raised by himself as -one means to bring about his elevation. Some members of that Junta were -intoxicated with success; a few others cared for nothing but their -own interest: the latter wished for a Regent of their own appointment, -under whose name they might possess the real power; the former were -for retaining the authority which hitherto they had administered well, -but which ceased to be legitimate when it became apparent that it was -retained for ambitious motives. A paper from the Junta of Murcia, which -expressed the opinion of Florida-Blanca, had forcibly pointed out the -necessity of a central government, and the inevitable ruin which a -polyarchy of independent Juntas would bring on. It advised that the -cities which had a seat in the Cortes should elect a council to govern -in the name of Ferdinand, and that the military affairs should be -entrusted to a council of generals. The Junta of Seville suppressed -this paper wherever their influence extended; but a like measure was -now recommended by an authority with which the Junta could not cope. - -♦THE COUNCIL OF CASTILLE ADVISE A CENTRAL JUNTA.♦ - -The Council of Castille had recovered some of its lost reputation -by the tardy resistance which it opposed to the Intruder, and by -exerting itself with authority to maintain order in the capital, after -the retreat of the French. It published a justification of its own -conduct, more elaborate than convincing, and dispatched a circular -address to the provincial Juntas, declaring ♦AUG. 4.♦ its readiness to -co-operate with them in any plans of defence. With respect to measures -of another kind, it said, which were necessary to save the country, -all that belonged to that Council was to excite the authority of the -nation, and assist it with its influence, advice, and knowledge. Under -circumstances so extraordinary it was not possible to adopt at once -the measures indicated by the laws and customs of Spain; the Council -therefore would confine itself to recommending that deputies should be -appointed by all the different Juntas, who should meet together, and, -in union with it, confer and determine upon this important object; so -that all provisions proceeding from this common centre might be as -expeditious as the end required. - -♦PROJECT OF THE JUNTA OF SEVILLE.♦ - -The better spirits in the Junta of Seville prevailed on this occasion, -and that body, yielding with a good grace to the general opinion, -seemed at the same time to direct it. They published an address, -written with the ability which distinguished all their public papers. -Hitherto, they said, the cause of the Spaniards had been prosperous, -and nothing could frustrate their hopes of success, except a want of -union among themselves. Their enemies were anxious to foment divisions. -Human passions, personal interests ill understood, the ignorance, -the weakness, the blindness of men, might assist these evil designs, -destroy a beginning so glorious, and facilitate the ruin of Spain. -This they were endeavouring to guard against, protesting, before God -and man, that they wrote nothing but what was dictated by the love of -their country, being ready to hear the opinions of other provinces, -and to amend their own errors, whenever it should be shown that they -had committed any. The chief care should be to avoid whatever might -serve to sow disunion: of this nature were all discussions concerning -the royal house, and the order of succession in the different families -which derived a right from it. The laws upon this point were well -known; but are we, said they, in a situation to talk of this? Long live -King Ferdinand VII. and his august brothers, heirs of the crown after -his attested decease! Why anticipate inquiries which could only be -necessary in default of them? - -The second question which agitated the people was of a different -nature: ... Was there a necessity for creating a supreme government, -which should unite the sovereign authority of all the provinces, till -the restitution of Ferdinand to his throne? From the beginning they -had been persuaded such a government was by all means necessary. Many -Juntas and many military commanders had expressed their conviction -of this truth, ... a conviction arising from the necessity in every -nation of a civil government, to which the military may be subordinate. -Spain, deriving wisdom from history, had never thought of appointing -a dictator. Her generals (and the fact was most honourable to the -Spanish name) had been the first to acknowledge a system of things as -ancient in Spain as the monarchy itself. The confidence of the people -in the Supreme Juntas, the abundance with which pecuniary resources -had been placed at their disposal, the heroic loyalty wherewith -the army had obeyed them, and the happy issue, thus far, of their -civil administration, and of the military enterprises which they had -directed, placed in the most conspicuous light, and established, -beyond all doubt, this fundamental truth, and most essential political -principle. But who was to create this supreme civil government? Who -were to compose it? Where should be its place of residence? What the -extent of its authority? How might it be established, without producing -disunion among the different provinces? These were the important -questions to be examined. - -It had been said that the Cortes ought to assemble, that the Council -of Castille should convoke them, and the whole proceedings be executed -under the authority of that tribunal. But the Council of Castille never -possessed the right of convoking the Cortes, ... why then should they -give it that authority? Was it because it had lent the whole weight of -its influence to the usurpation? Because it had acted in opposition -to those fundamental laws which it was established to preserve and -defend? Because it had afforded the enemy every facility to usurp the -sovereignty of Spain, to destroy the hereditary succession of the -crown, and the dynasty legally in possession? Because it had recognized -and seated on the throne a foreigner, destitute even of the shadow of -a title to it? What confidence could the Spanish nation place in a -government convoked by an authority incompetent, illegal, and guilty -of acts which might justly be ranked with the most atrocious crimes -against their country? But the Council of Castille being thus excluded -from all consideration, who was to convoke the Cortes? It was the -peculiar and exclusive prerogative of the King to summon them; the -provinces would not submit to any other authority; they would not -unite: thus, therefore, there would be no Cortes, or, if a few deputies -were to assemble, that very circumstance would occasion divisions, the -very evil which all were anxious to avoid. The kingdom found itself -suddenly without a king and without a government, ... a situation -unknown in its history, and to its laws. The people legally resumed -the power of appointing a government. They created Juntas without any -regard to the cities which had votes in the Cortes. The legitimate -power was therefore deposited with the Juntas: in virtue of that power -they had governed, and still were governing, and had been, and still -were, universally acknowledged and obeyed. Their situation had not -changed; the danger still existed; no new authority had supervened: the -lawful authority resided entire in the Juntas to which the people had -confided it. It was therefore incontestable that the sole and exclusive -right of electing those who were to compose the supreme government -was vested in the supreme Juntas. And whom should they elect? Most -certainly individuals of their own body; for they alone derived their -power from the people, and in them the nation had reposed entire -confidence. Hence, if there were any province in which the military -power subsisted alone, it was absolutely necessary that a supreme Junta -should be constituted there, by which the people might act; this being -indispensable, in order to concentrate the legitimate power of the -people; for, under present circumstances, the government could not be -legitimate, unless it originated in their free consent. - -The Junta of Seville was therefore of opinion that the supreme -Juntas, meeting on the same day, should each elect, from its own -members, two deputies; and the persons so elected, from that moment, -be acknowledged as governors-general of the kingdom. The supreme -Juntas ought nevertheless to be continued till the termination of the -present state of things, being invested with the internal management -of their respective provinces, but under due subordination to the -general government. They ought to give instructions to their deputies -constituting that government, and it would be the duty of those -deputies to observe them, and to represent and support the claims -of their provinces, as far as was consistent with the public weal. -If there were one of the Royal Family capable of presiding in the -supreme government, he, and no other, ought to be appointed to that -office; but if there were no person of the royal blood, then it must -elect a president from its own body; and, to obviate all danger, the -presidency should be only for such limited time as might seem best. -The Juntas would appoint a place for the seat of government, which the -government might afterwards change, if it should see cause. It ought to -be at a distance from the dangers of war, and to possess other local -advantages. Seville possessed those advantages, but had no anxiety to -be selected, and willingly sacrificed her claims. The Junta of that -city would, however, frankly state, that, in their opinion, La Mancha -was most convenient for the seat of government, and, especially, either -the city of Ciudad-Real, or Almagro. But this point was to be decided -by the free choice of the supreme Juntas. The paper concluded with a -brief and dignified recapitulation of what the Junta of Seville had -done for their country, disclaiming, on their part, any affectation or -desire of superiority, and declaring, that whatever they had done was -no more than their indispensable duty. - -♦THE PROVINCIAL JUNTAS ASSENT TO IT.♦ - -The general opinion was undoubtedly in favour of the plan of government -thus recommended; and it is no light proof of its fitness, that -schemes the same in principle and effect should have been suggested -by persons who had no communication with each other, and whose views -were in other respects so different. There were many in England who -thought it would have been better to have at once convoked the Cortes, -in the supposition that there was more resemblance between the Cortes -and the English parliament than had ever really existed, and in the -generous but mistaken hope that vigorous measures might be expected -from a free legislative assembly. The best and wisest of the Spaniards -wished also for a Cortes, and looked to it for such judicious reforms -as were conformable to the constitutional principles of the monarchy, -and suited to the habits and feelings of the nation. But they saw that -many points must be determined before the manner of assembling the -Cortes could be adjusted, and that the necessity of forming a central -government was immediate and urgent. The plan therefore which the -Junta of Seville proposed was assented to without opposition. Still -it was a great object with many of the provincial Juntas to retain -their power. That of Valencia drew up secret rules for its deputies, -declaring that they were to follow the direction of their constituents, -remain subject and obedient to them, communicate regularly with them, -and in no instance depart from their instructions; and they reserved -to themselves the power of displacing their deputies at pleasure. This -paper was made public; and it was known that other Juntas, that of -Seville in particular, had pursued the same mischievous course. - -♦UNWORTHY CHOICE OF THE JUNTA OF SEVILLE.♦ - -The Junta of Seville, however, did worse than this. In electing its -deputies it chose two persons so notoriously unworthy of such a trust, -that the only motives which could be assigned for the choice were a -desire of being rid of them, or an opinion that they would submit to -any terms for the sake of the appointment. D. Vicente Hore was the -one; he had been a creature of Godoy’s, and was so sensible of the -estimation in which he was held, that he declined the charge, knowing -his life would be in danger if he appeared in Madrid, where it was of -course expected that the Central Junta would assemble. D. Juan de Vera -y Delgado, titular Archbishop of Laodicea, the coadjutor of Seville, -was then chosen in his place; and this was an unexceptionable choice. -It was hoped and expected that Tilly, the other member, would follow -Hore’s example, in declining an appointment for which he was equally -disqualified; but Tilly was of a bolder stamp. A blasted character had -not prevented him from obtaining great popularity at Seville; and being -utterly regardless of the means by which he brought about his ends, he -was ready to venture for the highest stake in the game of revolution. -Foul facts had been proved against him, and fouler were, upon no light -grounds, imputed. He had found it necessary to fly from Madrid before -the troubles, because he was implicated in the robbery of a jeweller. -The murder of the Conde de Aguila was attributed to him, because -it was certain that he might have saved the Count by the slightest -interference in his behalf. A wretch who was notoriously his creature -had been one of the most active instruments in Solano’s death; and -Reding would have been made away with by his means before the battle of -Baylen, if the intention had not been disclosed to Castaños, and by him -prevented. - -This appointment was not perhaps what Tilly would have chosen; for it -was believed that he had no inclination to show himself at Madrid; but -he trusted to his talents for intrigue, obtained a monthly allowance -of 500 dollars, and looked ♦THE OTHER MEMBERS UNEXCEPTIONABLE.♦ for -those opportunities which revolutionary times offer to insane and -desperate ambition. It is to the honour of the Spaniards, that this -was the only exceptionable person elected for the central Junta: -perhaps in no country could an equal number of men, under similar -circumstances, have been chosen more worthy of the trust reposed in -them. To be elected to a situation of so great responsibility, in -a time of unexampled difficulties, was no object of desire; in no -instance was the appointment solicited, and in most it was reluctantly -accepted. The persons deputed were thirty-five[32] in number; of -whom Florida-Blanca and Jovellanos were the most remarkable, for the -offices which they had formerly filled, and the rank which they held -in public opinion. Both were scholars as well as statesmen, both men -of business, both high-minded and honourable Spaniards. Florida-Blanca -had more of the spirit of his country, Jovellanos was more influenced -by that of the age. The former had been an ambitious politician; the -latter was always a philosopher, in the true and virtuous meaning -of that polluted word. As the despotic minister of an absolute king, -Florida-Blanca had used his power vigorously to uphold the dignity of -the kingdom, and improve its internal condition; most of his measures -were wise, and all were well-intended; but if he had ever conceived -a wish to correct the abuses of the state, it had never appeared in -his actions: Jovellanos had unwillingly accepted office, because it -placed him in a sphere uncongenial to his modest habits and better -mind, and withdrew him from the task to which he had devoted himself, -of improving his native province. Jovellanos’s desire was to meliorate -the government and the nation by recurring to the free principles of -the old constitution; Florida-Blanca thought that if governments were -administered as they ought to be, the strongest must be the best. -Both, without hesitation[33], obeyed the call of their country, though -Florida-Blanca, who was in extreme old age, would more willingly have -passed the short remainder of his days in preparing and waiting for -death; and Jovellanos, broken down, more by the infirmities which -an unjust and cruel imprisonment had aggravated or induced, than -by the weight of sixty-five years, desired for himself nothing in -this world but tranquillity. The former brought with him little more -than a venerable name; but Jovellanos was in full possession of his -intellectual powers. - -♦JOVELLANOS REFUSES ALL OFFERS OF THE INTRUSIVE GOVERNMENT.♦ - -Every effort had been made by Azanza, O’Farril, Urquijo, Mazarredo, -and Cabarrus, to engage this excellent man in the Intruder’s service. -He had lived in habits of friendship with all these persons, more -especially with the two last. Knowing how inaccessible he would be to -all unworthy inducements, they endeavoured to deceive him, as they -would fain have deceived themselves, by representing that theirs was -the only course which could secure the welfare of Spain; and that by -no other means could the calamities with which it was threatened be -averted; for they thought it absurd to imagine any effectual resistance -could be opposed to the determined ambition of Buonaparte. His reply -was, that if the cause of their country were as desperate as they -supposed it to be, still it was the cause of honour and loyalty, and -that which a good Spaniard ought to follow at all hazards. Jovellanos -held with his favourite author Cicero that friendship was to be -preferred to every thing except honour and virtue; he had given proof -of this by his former conduct toward some of these friends, and they -found now, as they had then, that no considerations could ever prevail -in him over the sense of duty. It gave him no little pain that his name -should be published in the Madrid gazette as one of Joseph’s ministers; -thus to appear a traitor even for a few days to those who knew him -not, or knew not how decidedly he had refused the appointment, was an -injury which he felt severely. This was one of Buonaparte’s insolent -acts; fallen as Urquijo and his colleagues were, they would not have -thus outraged the feelings of a man whom it was not possible that -they could ever cease to respect and admire. At length, the Intrusive -Government having ascertained that he was really suffering under severe -bodily infirmities, forbore to molest him with further solicitations. -He was gradually recovering when news of the battle of Baylen refreshed -his heart, and seemed to give him new life as well as hope. And when -his appointment to the Central Junta was announced, though his first -thought was of the ravages which age and affliction had made upon his -debilitated frame, the sense of duty ♦JOVELLANOS A SUS COMPATRIOTAS, -P. II. ART. I. 18–25.♦ overcame all personal considerations, and he -notified his acceptation without delay, at the same time declining a -salary of 4000 ducats which had been assigned him. - -♦ARANJUEZ CHOSEN FOR THE PLACE OF MEETING.♦ - -In little more than a week he joined the deputies for Aragon, -Catalonia, and Valencia, at Madrid; and then two difficulties, -which had not been anticipated, occurred. The first related to the -instructions with which the Junta of Seville had fettered their -members; instructions wholly repugnant to the principle upon which -the provisional government was formed. The inconsistency and the -evils of this measure were represented to Castaños, who was then in -Madrid with his army; that General’s influence was never exercised -unworthily, nor withheld when it might be useful; and in consequence -of his remonstrance the obnoxious instructions were withdrawn, though -it appeared afterwards that secret ones to the same tenour had been -substituted. The other difficulty was concerning the place of meeting. -Jovellanos thought that no place could be so proper as the metropolis: -there, in the palace of their kings, the Central Junta would derive -consequence and respect from the place; they would appear at the head -of the first tribunals and chief magistracy; the public documents were -upon the spot, and any advice or assistance which they might require at -hand. The members who were at Madrid agreed in this opinion, which was -supported also by Castaños: but the Junta of Seville were averse to any -measure which might lessen their authority, and in this instance they -were well served by Tilly for reasons which nearly concerned himself. -He had stopped at Aranjuez, and succeeded in persuading Florida-Blanca, -who was decidedly for fixing the government at Madrid, that it would be -convenient to hold their first sittings where they were, and determine -there upon the forms which they should observe in the capital. He -gained time by this ... always a great object for one who trusts to -intrigue and fortune. So fully persuaded however were Jovellanos and -his colleagues when they went to Aranjuez that they should speedily -adjourn to Madrid, that they left orders for forming an establishment -there. - -♦INSTALLATION OF THE CENTRAL JUNTA. SEPT. 26.♦ - -The greater part of the deputies having arrived, their installation was -performed with as much ceremony as the place and circumstances would -permit. The Archbishop of Laodicea performed mass, and administered -an oath to his colleagues, first taking it himself, that they would -preserve and extend the holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion, -defend their Sovereign Ferdinand, their rights, privileges, laws, and -usages, and especially those relating to the succession in the reigning -family, promote every thing conducive to the welfare and improvement of -the kingdom, keep secret every thing which ought not to be divulged, -maintain the laws, and resist the enemies of the country at all -hazards. The oath having been taken, Te Deum was sung by the barefooted -friars of St. Pasqual, and the assembly then adjourned to the hall -chosen for their sittings. Florida-Blanca was appointed president, and -his first act was to proclaim King Ferdinand from the great gallery of -the principal front of the palace. The gates of the palace had not been -opened till now since the departure of Charles for Bayonne; and the -ceremony of thus proclaiming Ferdinand in the favourite residence of -his ancestors, ... the scene of his own childhood, ... the spot where, -six months ago, he had been acclaimed King, ... he who was now prisoner -in a foreign land, and in the power of the perfidious tyrant who had -ensnared him, ... moved the venerable statesman to tears when he -pronounced his name, and excited feelings of grief and indignation in -the multitude, which heightened and hallowed the enthusiasm wherewith -they repeated it. - -♦CONDUCT OF THE COUNCIL OF CASTILLE.♦ - -The Junta dispatched copies of the act and oath of installation to the -different councils and tribunals, requiring their members to take the -same oath, and issue orders to all the subordinate Juntas, provinces, -magistrates, governors, and viceroys, for obeying the new government, -as holding in deposit the sovereign authority for Ferdinand, the -councils continuing in the exercise of their ordinary functions, but -referring to the Central Junta all matters exceeding their powers, -and upon which the Sovereign ought to be consulted. Other tribunals -immediately signified their prompt and unreserved obedience; the -Council of Castille alone delayed their answer. The mortification which -they felt at not being incorporated with the provisional government, -as they had proposed, was embittered by a consciousness that they had -forfeited all claim to the confidence of the nation. Having, however, -almost by accident, recovered so much authority, they strove to extend -it, and after five days returned an answer, saying that, having given -the subject their most serious consideration, they had resolved to take -the oath, and circulate the necessary orders that the Central Junta -should be obeyed in whatever was for the service of the King and of the -public cause. But they added, that in discharge of their indispensable -duty, they would hereafter communicate to the Junta the result of -their consultations for the observance and maintenance of the laws. -The reservation implied in this reply offended the Junta, and more -especially the President Florida-Blanca, who had not been accustomed -to tolerate delay or demur under his administration; and an answer was -returned conveying reproof in the form of admonition, which reduced the -Council of Castille to a quiet but malevolent submission. - -♦THE LEONESE DEPUTIES ARRESTED BY CUESTA.♦ - -The Leonese deputies had been seized by General Cuesta on their way. -One of them, the Bayley Valdes, notified his arrest to Florida-Blanca, -who instantly perceiving what fatal consequences must arise from any -serious dispute between the civil and military authorities, wrote -mildly to Cuesta, requesting that he would release the deputies, -prefer his charges against them to the Junta, and leave the decision -to that body. At the same time Castaños, to whom the judicious part -of the people in Madrid looked for some interference in their fear -at this unexpected act of military violence, addressed a letter to -the Castillian general, representing to him calmly, but forcibly, the -surprise and alarm which this arrest had occasioned, at a time when -the great object of forming a provisional government was on the point -of being happily effected; and asking what offence the deputies had -committed, men as they were of high character, and the Bayley Valdes -distinguished for the services which he had performed? what authority -was competent to arrest and detain them? why, if they were delinquents, -they had not been denounced to the Juntas of their respective -provinces? why their crimes were not published in the face of the -nation, and themselves accused before the Central Junta, then about to -assemble? - -♦CUESTA’S VINDICATION OF HIS CONDUCT.♦ - -In his answer to Castaños, Cuesta declared, that as principal and -sole chief of the provinces of Castille and Leon, he was not bound -to give an account of his conduct to any other provincial authority, -being independent of all till a general government or regency should -be established; nevertheless, as his Excellency apprehended some -uneasiness in the people of Madrid, and in the whole nation, concerning -this transaction, he deemed it proper to satisfy his doubts. The -Junta of Castille having been dissolved by the entrance of the enemy -into Valladolid, he had increased the Junta of Leon by adding to it a -deputy for every intendency or province of Castille, and had confirmed -Valdes as their president, Valdes having promised to obey his orders -in all things, without consideration of his own rank. But after the -battle of Rio Seco, a few members of this Junta, seeing him pursued by -the French, and forsaken by the Galician army, retired to Ponferrada, -instead of Astorga, whither he had directed them to repair: and there, -under the influence of Valdes, treated clandestinely with the Junta -of Coruña, to unite with them at Lugo, and from thence govern both -Castille and Leon, independently of the captain-general, who, indeed, -was to become subordinate to them. The Bayley had notified this to him, -and at the same time ordered him to deliver up his cavalry to General -Blake. Instead of obeying such orders, he had immediately annulled this -fugitive Junta, and commanded the inferior Juntas to break off all -communication with it, which they had accordingly done, except in those -parts of Leon which were under the immediate power of the Galician -general. The fugitive Junta persisted in its pretensions, and had -elected Valdes and the Vizconde de Quintanilla as its representatives -in the Central Junta. Let any impartial person then say whether he -had not good reason to arrest them for insubordination! Not having -been elected by any competent authority, they were not members of the -Central Junta, and therefore no offence had been offered to that body -in arresting them. Whenever that body should be assembled, he would be -the first person to obey it, and submit to its high consideration the -cause of Valdes and his accomplices: till then neither the rank of the -Bayley, nor his assumed quality of member of the Central Junta, for the -provinces of Castille and Leon, shall suffice, said the old General, -to exempt him from my jurisdiction. The same answer he returned -to Florida-Blanca, and sent back the letter which that nobleman -had addressed to Valdes, saying that the prisoner was in strict -confinement, deprived of all communication. - -♦THE COUNCIL OF CASTILLE INTERFERE.♦ - -Castaños, not receiving a reply as soon as he had expected, called upon -the Council of Castille to interfere; and that tribunal, well pleased -that its authority should be appealed to on so important an occasion -in such times, wrote in consequence to Cuesta, remonstrating on the -dangerous tendency of his conduct. But he returned for answer, that the -imprisonment of these persons was the best means of preventing danger, -as it would effectually preclude the contentions which might arise if -a double set of representatives for Castille and Leon should present -themselves; that neither prudence nor justice permitted him to overlook -the infidelity, insurrection, and insubordination of a Junta which he -had created; and that for these offences, as Valdes was a general, he -would deliver him over to be tried by a council of war, composed of -generals, unless a sovereign regency should first be established; in -which case he would submit the whole proceeding to their judgement, -and his own powers also, ... powers which till then he considered -independent of any other authority. - -♦CUESTA IS SUMMONED BEFORE THE CENTRAL JUNTA.♦ - -Upon this principle, and an assumption that the Juntas in Castille -and Leon derived their authority from him and not from the people, -Cuesta made the Junta of Valladolid, who had assembled in Leon, send -a representative to the Central Junta. The assembly refused to admit -him, and ordering Cuesta to set his prisoners at liberty, summoned -him also to Aranjuez, that all parties might be heard. This was in -effect removing him from the command of his army. Such an assertion -of their power was well-timed, for Cuesta, making no secret of his -hostile intentions against them, had declared to the British agent, -Mr. Stuart, that two measures were necessary for the public good; -first, the restoration of the authority of the Captains General and of -the Royal Audiences, (which would have ensured to him the continuance -of his command); and, secondly, the exercise of military influence -over the Junta, to make them elect an Executive Council, of three or -five members, each of whom should be placed at the head of one branch -of the government, and responsible to the nation only. But Cuesta, -intemperate as he was, sincerely desired to serve his country; and he -obeyed the summons without hesitation. Mutual accusations were made. -The Junta of Leon reproached the General with his attempts to maintain -order at the commencement of the insurrection, and thereby serving -the Intrusive Government. They injured themselves more than Cuesta by -this disingenuous attack; for his defence upon that point was full and -satisfactory: what persons in authority were there throughout Spain, he -asked, who had not endeavoured to suppress the first popular movement, -knowing how great a force the enemy had in the heart of the country, -ready to act any where, and not knowing that the spirit of resistance -was universal? As soon as that spirit was fairly manifested, he had -taken the national side, had brought armies into the field, and had -done his duty faithfully, if not fortunately. It was base indeed in -the Junta to bring against him this accusation, which, if it had been -taken up by the populace, or his own soldiers, might so easily have -occasioned his murder. On the other hand, it was found, that in the -affair of the deputies Cuesta’s conduct had not been distinguished by -that honest obstinacy which appeared in his own account, and which -characterised his general conduct. He had not disapproved of the -Junta’s measures till they ordered him to send his cavalry to Blake, a -measure which all the military men in Madrid considered of the utmost -importance at the time. His opinion of the Bayley Valdes had been so -favourable, that he had made known his intention to have him elected as -his own colleague; and the immediate cause of this rash and intemperate -proceeding was anger that he himself had not been chosen. So completely -had this feeling mastered him, that instead of advancing with his -army to Burgo del Osma, (as had been resolved in a council of war at -Madrid at which he was present,) he had actually fallen back to Segovia -to gratify his resentment by seizing Valdes. Valdes would now have -terminated the dispute by giving in his resignation: this it was not -thought proper to accept; the validity of his election was admitted, -and the other points were referred to a competent tribunal, but the -course of events soon put an end to all further proceedings. - -♦DECLARATION OF THE CENTRAL JUNTA.♦ - -The Central Junta, thus peaceably established, and unanimously -recognized by the nation, began their administration with the fairest -promises. They acknowledged the national debt, and took upon themselves -the obligations contracted by the crown, which formed the patrimony -of many families; and which they pledged themselves punctually to -pay. That portion of the revenue which had formerly been swallowed up -in the enormous expenses of the royal household, or engrossed by the -favourite, would, they trusted, enable them to diminish the imposts -laid upon the towns and villages; and great resources would be found -in the property forfeited by those who had betrayed their country. The -sum total of the funds arising from these sources, from the regular -revenues, and from the donatives and contributions of Spain and the -Indies, they promised annually to publish, with an account of its -expenditure. They would simplify, as far as possible, the revenue -system, gradually suppress useless offices, establish economy in -all the branches of financial administration, and remove the abuses -introduced into it by the old government. - -The duties which they proposed to themselves, and the benefits which -they promised the people, were farther explained in an address to -the nation; for they affirmed, it became them to inform the people -of their situation, with a dignity becoming the Spanish character; -and to establish, in a frank and generous manner, those relations of -reciprocal confidence which ought to be the basis of every just and -wise administration. A tyranny of twenty years, exercised by the most -incapable hands, had brought them to the very brink of perdition: -the nation was alienated from its government by hatred or contempt: -every thing favoured the perfidious plot which Buonaparte had formed -against them, when they rose to vindicate their rights, and became at -once the admiration of Europe. Their situation was unexampled in their -history, unforeseen by their laws, and, as it were, opposed to their -habits. Great and wonderful things they had accomplished; but all their -enthusiasm and all their virtue were required for what remained to be -done. Their armies were naked and unprovided with every thing. The -French, collected behind the Ebro, were expecting reinforcements, and -ravaging Upper Castille, Rioja, and the provinces of Biscay; Navarre -and Catalonia were almost wholly in their power: they possessed the -passes, and had made themselves, by what treachery was well known, -masters of the strong frontier fortresses, and of Barcelona. The despot -of France, deceiving, by the grossest impostures, the slaves who -obeyed him, was striving to keep all other states in inactivity, that -he might bring the whole enormous weight of his military force upon -Spain. The continental powers were watching the issue of this first -struggle, desiring to declare themselves against the common enemy, but -proceeding with the timid circumspection which they had learnt from -past misfortunes. A confederacy against the tyrant was evidently their -only means of preservation: for what state could now hold relations of -amity with him? who could now give credit to the words and promises of -Buonaparte, or trust to his good faith? The fate of Spain was at once -a lesson and a warning to Europe, ... her resolution would serve as -an example, her victories as an incentive; and the reprobate, who had -trampled under foot the principles of justice, had placed himself in -that fearful situation, that he must either become master of all, or -perish in the struggle which he had so wantonly provoked. - -But this co-operation would not be obtained till the Spaniards had -given such earnest of success as rendered victory certain: they must -therefore call forth all their means, as if they were singly to contend -against the whole power of France. The Junta believed it would be -necessary to maintain 500,000 men in arms, besides 50,000 cavalry, ... -a force which, however disproportionate to their present situation, and -to all former exigencies, was not more than the present times required. -The power of their adversary was colossal, his ambition even greater -than his power, and his existence incompatible with their liberty. His -exertions were to be estimated by the barbarity of his character and -the extremity of his danger; but they were the exertions of a tyrant, -and would be confounded, when opposed to the constancy of a great and -free people. - -The last government ... if that might be called government which -was one continued and monstrous dilapidation, had exhausted all the -sources of prosperity. The resources which arose from the revenues -of the royal household, from the enormous sums formerly devoured by -the insatiable avarice of Godoy, from his collected rapine, and the -confiscated estates, from a free trade, a well-arranged administration -of the revenue, and regularly distributed contributions, had already -been indicated. The succours already given so generously by England, -and still to be expected from that nation, were to be added to these -means. “But,” said the Central Junta, “it is incumbent on us that these -succours, which have been so opportunely given, and so gratefully -received, and the effects of which have been so beneficial, should -be hereafter recognized and recompensed with the reciprocity and -decorum which become a great and powerful nation. The Spanish monarchy -must not, in this respect, be placed in a state of inequality and -dependence on its allies. The produce of these various means would be -great but slow, and therefore insufficient for the urgent necessities -of the state. Would they be sufficient to furnish for a time the -ordinary supplies, discharge the great debt which must be incurred, -and maintain the formidable army which must be kept up? If not, the -government would at once have recourse to the nation, certain, from -the fidelity with which its accounts would regularly be published, from -the necessity and notoriety of the public wants, and the patriotism -of the nation, that although to evils so extraordinary as the present -remedies as extraordinary must be applied, its demands would neither be -disregarded through distrust, nor detested as arbitrary. - -“The defence of the kingdom, and the means of providing for it, must -necessarily be the first duty of the government; but it would fulfil -only half its duties if it attended to this alone: other duties -remained, to be the great reward of the virtue of the Spaniards and of -their sacrifices. A little time only had passed since, oppressed and -degraded, ignorant of their own strength, and finding no protection -against these evils, neither in the institutions nor in the laws, they -had even regarded foreign dominion as less hateful than the wasting -tyranny which consumed them. The dominion of a will always capricious, -and most often unjust, had lasted too long: their patience, their love -of order, their generous loyalty had too long been abused: it was time -that law, founded on general utility, should commence its reign. This -was the desire of their good and unfortunate King Ferdinand; this was -what he pointed out, even from the captivity to which a perfidious -traitor had reduced him. The name of their country ought no longer -to be a vague and idle word to the Spaniards; henceforward it was -to import to their ears and to their hearts the sanctuary of laws, -the theatre for talents, the reward of virtue. Such a country the -Junta solemnly promised they should possess; and till the military -operations, which must at first be slow, in order better to insure -success, should furnish the leisure necessary for this great and solemn -reform, the government would privately prepare for it. Instead of -rejecting the advice of enlightened men, they desired and requested -it. The knowledge and illustration of their ancient and constitutional -laws; the changes which change of circumstances rendered necessary in -their re-establishment; the reform which might be necessary in the -civil, criminal, and commercial codes; projects for improving public -education, which was in Spain so greatly on the decline; a system of -regulated economy for the distribution and collection of the public -revenue, ... these were subjects for the investigation of wise and -thoughtful men, and on which the opinions of such men were solicited. -The Junta would form different committees, each entrusted with a -particular department, to whom all writings on matters of government -and administration might be addressed: so that each contributing by his -exertions to give a just direction to the public mind, the government -might be enabled to establish the internal happiness of Spain.” - -♦JOVELLANOS PROPOSES A REGENCY, AND THAT A CORTES BE SUMMONED.♦ - -These were fair professions; nor were the intentions of the Central -Junta less laudable than their language. Tilly alone excepted, the -members were upright and honourable men, worthy to represent a nation -distinguished for its high sense of honour. But they were unacquainted -with each other, and except the President, Jovellanos, and Garay, -wholly unused to business: for a national assembly too few, and for -an executive government too many. Jovellanos was of opinion that they -ought immediately to appoint a regency of five persons, one of them -being a dignitary of the church, to be installed on the first day of -the ensuing year: that the Central Junta should then be reduced to half -its original number, retaining one member only of each deputation, -for the purpose of watching over the observance of the constitution -entrusted to the regency, and corresponding with the provincial Juntas, -which should thenceforward consist of four members each: these were -to exist as long as the Council of Regency; and the Central Junta of -Correspondence, as it was then to be called, only till the meeting -of the Cortes, which Jovellanos maintained ought immediately to be -announced as to assemble as soon as the enemy should have been driven -out of Spain, or, at all events, in two years from the present time, -if the delivery of the country should not be accomplished before. He -proposed also that the Junta, before it resigned its powers, should -appoint persons qualified for such a task to prepare plans of reform in -the constitution, laws, finance, system of public instruction, army, -and marine; ... these plans were to be formed under the inspection and -approbation of the Council of Regency and the Junta of Correspondence, -and finally submitted to the Cortes. ♦1808. OCTOBER.♦ In delivering -this advice, Jovellanos, to remove all suspicion of any interested -views, repeated in writing the solemn declaration which he had before -made by word of mouth, that he never would accept of any office or -employment himself; the natural and invincible repugnance which he had -ever felt for such preferment, the bitter price which he had paid for -having once accepted it, in deference to a brother whom he respected -like a parent, and the sad sense of decay both in his physical and -moral powers, determined him to this resolution. The only duty which -he would undertake to perform was ♦JOVELLANOS MEMORIA, P. II. § 33, -34. APPENDICES, NO. 5.♦ the noble one of simply delivering those -opinions which he thought most conducive to the good of his country, in -discharge of the high trust wherewith his own province had honoured him. - -♦EXPECTATIONS FROM A CORTES.♦ - -Jovellanos expected the greatest benefit from a Cortes; but he -apprehended great evil if it were hastily convoked, and without due -preparation. That party who have since assumed the appellation of -_Liberales_ censured him for proposing to postpone it so long. They -were then a very small, but active, minority, consisting chiefly of -physicians, lawyers, and unbelieving priests, whose little knowledge, -exclusively derived from prohibited French books, was worse than -ignorance. These persons were for hurrying on to a jacobinical -revolution, and were impatient for a Cortes as the first great means -of embodying that democracy which they expected to govern. But there -were also many of the best of the Spaniards who looked to the Cortes -as the surest means of delivering their country, and restoring it to -its former dignity and power; and the same views were very generally -entertained in England, and by the British Government itself. In fact, -the assembling of a Cortes had been proposed by our first authorized -agent, Mr. Stuart, to the Juntas of Galicia and Asturias. Some of the -difficulties which would attend it were then perceived; the Asturians -proposed that it should assemble at Oviedo, the Galicians at Villa -Franca in the Bierzo, each Junta wishing that it should be convoked -near their own place of abode; and for the purpose of retaining their -power, they wished to enlarge the deputation, so that all their own -members might be included. Though it was thus seen that the measure -was not so easily accomplished as had been supposed, still the opinion -prevailed in England, that if a free legislative assembly were -established in Spain, the same blessings would ensue as the British -people enjoy under the well-tempered constitution which has grown -with their growth, and adapted itself to their circumstances. There -are errors from which it is painful to be undeceived. Those persons -were wiser in their generation, who, having the recent example of -France before their eyes, believed that legislative assemblies, in -countries unaccustomed to such modes of legislation, are more to be -dreaded than desired; that the reformation which is thus begun tends -to certain anarchy; and that where great and extensive improvements in -the existing system are necessary, the only means whereby they can be -effected, without inducing worse evils than those which are removed, -is by an upright and far-sighted minister, under a strong government. -Upon ♦FLORIDA-BLANCO AVERSE TO IT.♦ this point Florida-Blanca judged -more truly than Jovellanos. Such, however, was the respect with which -the opinions of that admirable man were at this time heard, that his -proposal would have been carried, if the Junta had come ♦JOVELLANOS -MEMORIA, P. II. § 35.♦ to an immediate decision upon it; and it -was only by deferring the final discussion till Nov. 7, being that -day month, that the minority averted a measure which shocked their -prejudices as much as it alarmed their fears. - -♦State of Catalonia.♦ - -The Junta were at this time full of hope; they had just confidence -in the national character; and they were elated by the enthusiastic -spirit which had manifested itself, the splendid successes which had -been obtained, the apparent inactivity of the enemy, and the promised -co-operation of Great Britain, which had already effected the delivery -of Portugal. They had also encouraging advices from Catalonia. After -relieving Figueras, the French dispatched a force from that fortress -to get possession of Rosas, but failed in the attempt. ♦JULY 16.♦ Ill -armed, and worse disciplined as they were, the Catalans displayed that -unconquerable spirit which in all ages has distinguished them. ♦1808. -JULY.♦ In no other province were such great and continued exertions -made against the invaders: and in no other province were the people -left so entirely to their own resources. They made the most urgent -solicitations to the Junta of Seville for a supply of artillery, which -could have been spared in abundance from the arsenals of Seville and -Cadiz, and which Lord Collingwood offered them the means of conveying; -but they could obtain none, and were fain, therefore, to use the -trunks of trees, bored, and hooped with iron. The want of cavalry was -even more severely felt in all the level part of the country; ... no -substitute could be found for this, nor was it possible that their -volunteers and newly-raised levies could resist the well-disciplined -horse-soldiers upon plain ground. They had, however, been eminently -successful where the ground favoured them; and confiding in their -numbers, they occupied the right bank of the Llobregat from San Boy to -Martorell, in order to distress the enemy in Barcelona. From thence -they were dislodged by General Lechi, who, marching out by night with -2500 men, forded the river in several places at daybreak, drove them -from their batteries, sacked the towns and villages along the line, set -fire to them, and returned in triumph, bearing as trophies the banners -of the churches which had been plundered. ♦DUHESME RESOLVES TO BESIEGE -GERONA.♦ Duhesme then resolved to undertake the siege of Gerona, having -concerted it with Reille, who was to co-operate with him from Figueras. -It was an object of great importance; for while Gerona and Hostalrich -were in possession of the Spaniards, they would be able greatly to -molest, if not wholly to interrupt, the communication by land between -Barcelona and France. Materials of every kind were found in the -well-stored arsenals and magazines of Barcelona, and the horses, mules, -and carriages of the inhabitants of that city were put in requisition -for conveying them. So sure of success was Duhesme, and so exasperated -by his former failure, that he is ♦CABAÑES, P. I. 80–85.♦ said to have -declared he would arrive before the city on one day, attack it the -next, take it on the third day, and on the fourth destroy it. - -♦DIFFICULTIES ON THE MARCH.♦ - -He began his march on the 10th of July, with about 6000 men. From -Barcelona to Gerona is a journey of twenty hours; but Duhesme had not -calculated upon the obstacles which he was to encounter on the way. -The road for two-thirds of the distance lies always within sight of -the sea, and in great part along the coast; the Catalans, under D. -Francisco Milans, had broken it up, and annoyed him with great activity -on his left, while an English frigate, and some smaller vessels, -brought their guns to bear upon him from the sea; these impediments -delayed him five days between Caldetas and San Pol. On the 19th he -divided his troops; one part crossed the wild mountains of Vallgorguina -to S. Celoni, and endeavoured by a sudden attack to get possession of -Hostalrich. Twice they attempted to escalade it, and were repulsed with -loss by the acting governor D. Manuel O’Sulivan. The other division -continued the coast road, losing many guns and much of its ammunition -there. They rejoined on the way to Gerona, and arrived before that -city on the 22nd, where they were met on the following day by Reille -♦CABAÑES, I. 85–87.♦ with 2000 men from Figueras; but Duhesme had -suffered so much on the march, that he was in no condition for active -operations, and the remainder of the month was employed in preparing -for the siege. - -♦TROOPS FROM MINORCA LAND AT TARRAGONA.♦ - -On the very day that the French General appeared for the second time -before Gerona, the Marques del Palacio, with 4600 regular troops from -Minorca, landed at Tarragona. Many officers, who had hitherto remained -in Barcelona, and several magistrates, escaped now from that city to -join it. The first measure of the Marques was to strengthen the line of -the Llobregat, which the Somatenes and Miquelets, undismayed by their -late defeat, had again occupied. The Conde de Caldagues was sent with -a detachment upon this service, and the garrison, who made a vigorous -attempt to dislodge him immediately on his arrival, were repulsed. The -Catalans were now in high spirits, and with the assistance of Lord -Cochrane, in the Imperieuse frigate, made a successful attack upon the -Castle of Mongat, a small fort on the coast, about nine miles from -Barcelona, which the French had strengthened, as a point of support for -their plundering incursions to the eastward. About an hundred prisoners -were taken there, seven pieces of cannon, and a considerable quantity -or ammunition ♦1808. AUGUST.♦ and stores. The enemy could no longer -maraud in that direction, and feeling great present inconvenience, -began to apprehend serious consequences ♦BARCELONA BLOCKADED.♦ from the -blockade of Barcelona: the British cruisers watched it effectually by -sea, and in the only part of the land now open to them, which was the -mountainous country in their immediate vicinity, between the Llobregat -and the Besos, they had to contend with an ♦CABAÑES, P. II. 3–25.♦ -armed and exasperated peasantry; for even those persons who would have -remained quiet were driven to despair by the system of fire and sword -which Duhesme pursued. - -♦BARCELONA.♦ - -Barcelona, with its fort Monjuich, is one of the strongest places in -Europe. It is remarked by Swinburne, that the citadel was calculated -to overawe the inhabitants at least as much as to protect them from a -foreign enemy. For this in fact it was built, when six hundred houses -were demolished for its site; and to the same purpose it was now -applied against the family which built it, when Buonaparte’s perfidy -had made the Bourbons as popular in Catalonia as they had been hated -there during the war of the succession. Every house in Barcelona lies -exposed to Monjuich, which stands singly on the south-west. A new -fortress had been erected there early in Charles the Third’s reign, and -it had that completeness and magnificence which characterised public -works in Spain. On the sea side it was considered impregnable, so -admirably had the natural strength of the situation been improved by -art; and toward the land the glacis had been sloped at an incredible -expense in such a manner that no approaches could be made under -shelter. The population of Barcelona in 1797 was 130,000, and if -the increase since had been in proportion to that of the ten years -preceding, it must have amounted to 150,000 at this time. Yet this -population, than which a braver and nobler-minded people were no where -to be found, was kept under control by 4000 French, Lechi having been -left with no greater force. The city was so completely at the mercy of -the citadel and Monjuich, that the invaders had nothing to fear from -open attacks. Their only danger was from stratagems or famine. Against -the former they were always on their guard; and it was to open the -communication for supplies and reinforcements from France that Duhesme -had undertaken the expedition against Gerona. - -♦THE JUNTA OF CATALONIA REMOVE TO THE HEAD-QUARTERS.♦ - -The Marques del Palacio arrived in Catalonia without treasure or -provisions, and there was no government to which he could look for -either. The contributions which had been raised had already been -expended, and nothing was to be obtained by way of loan. A temporary -resource was found in the confiscation of French property; for in these -calamitous times the numerous French families who were settled in Spain -bore their full share in the general misery and ruin. These funds, -however, could not long suffice; and for the better establishment -of some permanent system, it was agreed that the Supreme Junta of -Catalonia, which had hitherto resided at Lerida, should remove from -that inconvenient situation, and accompany in future the head-quarters. -The Junta was newly constituted accordingly, and the Commander-in-chief -was chosen president. The Marques would now have marched to raise the -siege of Gerona; but such means as he would have deemed adequate were -wanting; he had no cavalry, the little which there was in Lerida and -Tarragona was unfit for action, and perhaps he reasonably distrusted -his troops if they were led against a well-disciplined ♦CALDAGUES -SENT TO INTERRUPT THE SIEGE OF GERONA.♦ army. Caldagues, however, was -sent to harass the enemy and interrupt the siege, with four companies -of regular troops, 2000 Miquelets and Somatens, and three pieces of -artillery. He was joined at Hostalrich by more of these new levies, -making his whole number 4300 men, and he received two cannon from that -fortress. They advanced to Castella, passing within sight of the French -encampment; some officers came out of ♦CABAÑES, II. 30–32, 52–55.♦ the -city to confer with the Count, and a joint attack upon the enemy’s -batteries was concerted for the following morning. - -♦HE ATTACKS THE ENEMY’S BATTERIES WITH SUCCESS.♦ - -This was on the night of the 15th; Duhesme had been so harassed in his -operations, and so slow in them, that though he arrived before Gerona -on the 19th of July, it was not till the morning of August 13 that -his batteries began their fire. It was directed chiefly against the -Castle, which, like that at Barcelona, bears the name of Monjuich, -and which, with all the other forts around Gerona, had been neglected, -and was in a state of great dilapidation. On the 15th a considerable -breach had been made. The garrison was then strengthened with 900 men, -who were ordered to be ready at daybreak, and to sally as soon as the -relieving troops should be ascending the hill of Monjuich; but instead -of waiting for this, they sallied as soon as they saw them marching -down the distant heights of St. Miguel and Los Angeles. The execution -therefore was as rash as the plan, and certainly few attempts in war -have ever been made in which there was so little reasonable prospect of -success. The besieging army consisted of 11,000 men, of which 1000 were -cavalry, all disciplined soldiers, upon whom their officers could rely. -There were 4700 regular troops in Gerona, who, for want of discipline, -were not to be relied on in the field; and of the force which Caldagues -had now collected, amounting to 6000, there were but 300 regulars. But -Duhesme was at this time too much dispirited by the general prospect of -affairs in Spain, and the reverses which he himself had suffered, to -be sensible of his own superiority, or to profit by the errors of his -opponents. One battery was taken at the point of the bayonet in this -premature sally, and presently set on fire. A second also was stormed; -the French, who had been driven from it, recovered it, being reinforced -by a Swiss battalion; but a column of the Spaniards arrived in time to -assist their countrymen, and it was again taken, and the carriages -burnt. D. Henrique O’Donell, who held the rank of _Sargento Mayor_ in -the regiment of Ultonia, distinguished himself greatly in this part of -the action. The destruction of these batteries was the object for which -Caldagues had hazarded an attack upon an enemy so greatly superior in -strength. His own troops, meantime, drove the French from the heights -of S. Miguel to the village of Camp-Dura; from thence they, in their -turn, were driven back to the heights, and being ♦CABAÑES, II. 55–62.♦ -there reinforced, made the enemy again give way before them, dislodged -them from Camp-Dura, and pursued them till they crossed the river Ter -to Sarria. - -♦DUHESME RAISES THE SIEGE.♦ - -Caldagues dispatched news of his victory from the field of battle to -Tarragona, saying that the enemy’s batteries were demolished, and -all the artillery taken with which they had battered Monjuich in -breach. All that he had hoped, and more than he could reasonably have -expected, had been obtained; and when his troops, flushed with success, -would have exposed themselves in the plain to the French cavalry, he -restrained them, ordered them to fortify themselves upon the heights, -and exerted himself to repair the breach in Monjuich, lest it should -be attacked in the morning. Duhesme indeed might have recovered in -the night the positions which he had lost, so little discipline was -there among the Spaniards, and so little watch or order was observed, -notwithstanding the strict injunctions of the Commander. But Duhesme -appears to have been one of those men who lose their powers of mind -when good fortune forsakes them; and Caldagues, when day broke, and he -was expecting a formidable attack, discovered, to his astonishment, -that the enemy had disappeared. They had fled, rather than retreated, -in the night, and in such haste, that they left several hundred barrels -of powder which they might with ease have rolled into the river. Reille -returned to Figueras with little loss, there being no impediment in -that direction; but Duhesme, who did not venture a second time upon -the coast road, when he reached Calella took a line between the high -♦MARSHAL GOUVION ST. CYR, PIECES JUSTIF. NO. 3. CABAÑES, II. 62–81.♦ -mountains and the sea, throwing his artillery down the precipices, and -abandoning great part of the baggage and stores, and even leaving the -sick and wounded who were not able to sit on horseback. The retreat was -made with such precipitation, that Milans, who pursued, did not come -up with them till they were within seven miles of Barcelona, on the -heights of Mongat. But Lechi being, fortunately for them, apprised by a -spy of their approach, met them there with part of the garrison, at a -time when a small Spanish force might have completed their destruction. - -♦UNPOPULARITY OF THE COMMANDER IN CATALONIA.♦ - -An outcry was raised against Palacio because he had not intercepted the -enemy in their retreat, nor was he ever forgiven by the unreasonable -people for not having done what it was impossible to do. When the -account from the field of battle reached him at Tarragona, the French -were half way to Barcelona; and before he was apprised that they had -broken up the siege, they were already in that city. The command which -he had ♦CABAÑES, II. 101.♦ undertaken was no enviable one. The repulse -of the enemy at Valencia, their losses in Andalusia, and the heroic -defence of Zaragoza, had ♦DIFFICULTIES OF THE SERVICE.♦ raised hopes -which nothing but the most brilliant success could satisfy; the service -in which he was engaged required great steadiness and military skill; -the best of his troops were wanting in both, and the great body of them -fit only for irregular war. The Junta of Catalonia had decreed that an -army of 40,000 men should be raised; and because there were no officers -to command, and no time for disciplining them, they determined that the -whole force should consist ♦D. FR. MANOEL HIST. DE CATALAÑA, L. IV. P. -90.♦ of Miquelets. This class of irregular troops was originally called -[34]Almogavares; but when they began to alter their savage appearance -and barbarous mode of warfare, they took their present name from one -of their favourite commanders, Miquelot de Prats, a notable partizan -who attached himself to Cæsar Borgia. The name was popular among the -Catalans, the Miquelets having distinguished themselves whenever the -country was invaded, and especially in the succession war. It was -intended to raise forty _tercios_ of a thousand men each, and this -might have been done in a few days, such was the national spirit, if -equipments of every kind had not been wanting. A great bounty was given -to these Miquelets, but this prevented recruiting for the line, and -the regular troops were disgusted at seeing that men received larger -pay for engaging in a service where they had more ♦CABAÑES, I. 90–93.♦ -liberty, and were subject to less discipline. On the other hand, the -Miquelet officers received less pay than those of the army, and were -less esteemed, their rank being only during the war. The force which -was thus defective in its constitution, was also ill armed. Sir Hew -Dalrymple, upon whom pressing demands for arms were made from all -that side of the peninsula, could allot but few to Catalonia; and the -abundant supplies which had been sent out by England were dispatched -to other parts, where they were neither so much wanted nor so well -bestowed; for Barcelona was the great arsenal of the province: 50,000 -firelocks had there fallen into the enemy’s hands, whereas the -manufactory at Ripoll could furnish the Catalans with not more than -150 per week. Palacio therefore ordered pikes or partisans to be made, -with which he armed the two foremost ranks of the Miquelets, who, -as upon the old system, were drawn up three deep. In hands that can -be trusted with the bayonet the pike would be a weapon hardly less -efficient; but for these raw troops the want of fire-arms lessened -the little confidence which they felt in themselves when they were -brought to encounter soldiers as well disciplined as armed. ♦CABAÑES, -II. 130–132.♦ Even the regular troops knew their own inferiority in the -art of war. They were incapable of manœuvring in the face of an enemy; -for so greatly had their discipline been neglected while no danger was -apprehended, that they had gone through none of the rehearsals by which -soldiers ♦CABAÑES, I. 78.♦ are prepared for real action; mere drilling -seems to have been all the instruction they had received. - -♦THE MARQUIS APPROACHES BARCELONA. SEPT. 1.♦ - -With this force, as ill officered as it was ill provided in all other -respects, the Marques removed his head-quarters to Villa-franca, -to maintain the line of the Llobregat, and take advantage of any -opportunity for recovering Barcelona while the blockade was kept up. -An expectation that something would be attempted by the inhabitants -seems to have influenced the Spaniards to this measure, otherwise ill -judged. The recovery of Barcelona was indeed an object of the greatest -importance; but weakened as Duhesme then was, a few thousand Miquelets, -with the armed population, would have sufficed to prevent the -incursions of the garrison, and the Spaniards should have taken their -post on the Pluvia instead of the Llobregat, with the Ter for their -second position, and Gerona and Hostalrich to ♦MARSHAL GOUVION ST. CYR, -280.♦ support them, ... there they could best have impeded the efforts -which the French would make for relieving and securing to themselves -the strongest place in Spain. A British force might here have rendered -the most essential service. Deputies from the Junta of Catalonia were -sent to Madrid, to consult with the Council of Generals there upon -the affairs of the province; and in the hope of obtaining British aid -one of them proceeded to Lisbon to confer with Sir Hew Dalrymple. All -that could be done in that quarter was effected; the Spanish troops -in Lisbon were embarked for Catalonia; and the British Government, -sensible of what might be effected there by timely measures, ordered -thither 10,000 men from the army at that time stationed ♦BRITISH TROOPS -ORDERED FROM SICILY, BUT DETAINED THERE BY THE COMMANDER.♦ in Sicily. -But a feint of invading Sicily was made by Murat, who had succeeded -Joseph Buonaparte as Intrusive King of Naples; and the troops were -detained in an inactive and unworthy service, when they ought to have -been co-operating for the most important ends with one of the finest -and bravest people in the world. At no other time or place during the -whole war could such a body of English troops have been employed to so -much effect as at this time in Catalonia. Some petty jealousies or idle -forms had hitherto deprived the Catalans also of cavalry when it might -have been most useful. There was a regiment of hussars in Majorca, -for which the Junta repeatedly applied, and its applications were -earnestly enforced by the British officers who were in communication -with that island; but it was ♦CABAÑES, II. 129.♦ not till after a -series of frivolous and vexatious delays that they were embarked at -length in the beginning of October; and a detachment of them had not -reached the Llobregat more than twenty-four hours before they were led -to intercept the enemy at S. Culgat, on their return to Barcelona from -a marauding expedition. Not expecting to be attacked by cavalry, the -French were taken by surprise; they suffered a considerable loss, and -from that time confined their incursions within narrower bounds. The -troops from Portugal soon afterwards arrived; reinforcements also came -from Valencia and Majorca; Palacio ♦CABAÑES, II. 161.♦ was removed from -the command, because of the unpopularity which he had incurred, and was -succeeded by D. Juan Miguel de Vives. - -♦BILBAO OCCUPIED BY THE FRENCH.♦ - -The want of military knowledge and military talent was never more -severely felt in any country than in Spain at this momentous crisis. -It could not be doubted that Buonaparte was preparing to bring against -the Spaniards that tremendous force which none of the continental -powers had hitherto been able to withstand. If he seemed to delay, it -was only that the preparations might be more complete; sure, meantime, -that neither Spain nor England knew at that time how to profit by -the interval, and that very probably disunion might arise among the -Spaniards themselves, of which he might take advantage. The French -had paid dearly for the error of dividing their forces, and advancing -where they had no point of support; they were now in strong positions, -receiving reinforcements from time to time, and waiting in security -till Buonaparte should come in person to complete the subjugation of -Spain, which they, as well as the tyrant himself, believed could not be -averted by any human interference. About the middle of August they sent -a detachment to take possession of Bilbao, a beautiful but defenceless -city, commanded on every side by its hanging gardens. The inhabitants, -inferior in number, ill armed, and without any works to protect them, -made a brave resistance, in revenge for which the French committed -great enormities when they entered the town: had they arrived a few -hours later, they would have got possession of arms, ammunition, and -money from England, which were just entering the harbour. - -♦DIFFICULTIES IN BRINGING THE SPANISH ARMIES INTO THE FIELD.♦ - -A full sense of their danger, when the whole wrong which was intended -them was avowed, had roused the Spaniards to their first great and -successful exertions. After their victorious troops had entered -Madrid, they were less alive to the danger, and more sensible of the -embarrassments of their situation. Sudden efforts, directed by the -emergency which called them forth, would no longer avail. Foresight -and combination were required for extensive operations; and these were -thwarted by selfish views, and still more by capricious or obstinate -tempers, which in this state of general insubordination there was -nothing to restrain. The Galician army under Blake, having the plains -of Castille before them, could not advance without cavalry in the face -of an enemy who had from three to five thousand dragoons; and Cuesta -would not send his cavalry to act under Blake, because of his quarrel -with that General and with the Junta of Galicia. The Extremaduran -army, from a similar feeling of pride, was kept vapouring before -Elvas, while it was called for by all the authorities at Madrid. A -more vexatious impediment was interposed by the Junta of Seville. That -Board had thought proper, when the army in Andalusia was first raised, -for one of its members to accompany the Commander-in-chief, that no -injury might arise from delay in consulting the civil authority, and -perhaps also to rid themselves of Tilly, who was the person appointed. -When, to their disgrace, they elected this man to the Central Junta, -D. Andres Miñano was deputed to the army in his stead, with a salary -of a thousand dollars per month; but public opinion at Seville was so -strongly expressed against this misapplication of the public money, -and supported by so many members, especially by the Archbishop, that -the allowance was reduced one half. The whole was a needless expense, -for the Junta was still so tenacious of their authority, that this -representative was a mere agent to execute their pleasure, and not -to determine upon his own judgement. They sent positive orders that -the army of Andalusia should not advance beyond Madrid; and knowing -that Castaños had delivered his opinion strongly upon the impropriety -of regarding any army as belonging to its own province instead of -the kingdom at large, they let him know, that if these instructions -were disobeyed he should not be supplied with money. At this time the -French had driven the Spaniards from Tudela, and pushed forward to -Borja; the troops which were opposed to them in that quarter falling -back upon Zaragoza. Pressing demands for support came from Palafox: -the Generals who were at Madrid saw that the Andalusian army ought -to advance without delay, and this it could not do without money. -This matter was taken up warmly by the British agents at Madrid and -Seville; and as the Junta of that city had received two millions -of dollars from the British Government, a strong remonstrance was -presented to them upon their present conduct, and they were called -upon to apply it to the public service without delay. Their reply, -which, like all their papers, was written with great ability, would -have been satisfactory, if they had not passed over in silence their -orders that Castaños should not advance. They argued, that after all -that Andalusia had done, it was to be expected that La Mancha and the -other provinces which the Andalusian army was gone to protect, would -provide for it while it was employed in their service. The sums which -they had received from Great Britain had been sent expressly to them, -as other sums had to the Juntas of Galicia and Asturias, who had -neither incurred such expenses, nor contributed such aid to other parts -of Spain. But upon this matter they waived all discussion; ... they -answered the bills which an English agent at Madrid had negotiated for -the use of their army, authorized Castaños to draw on them according -to his wants, and immediately sent forward 200,000 dollars. This was -just before the meeting of the Central Junta: the Andalusian army was -then advanced to Soria, the Valencian under General Llamas moved to -Zaragoza, and Blake toward Miranda upon the Ebro. - -♦THE MARQUES DE LA ROMANA.♦ - -One of the first things which Castaños had requested after he had -opened a communication with Gibraltar was, that dispatches might be -forwarded to Romana, who commanded the Spanish troops in the Baltic. -He expressed the greatest anxiety concerning him and his army, who had -been thus treacherously removed to so great a distance from their own -country, but at the same time the fullest confidence in them and their -Commander. He judged of the men as Spaniards, of the General by his -individual character. D. Pedro Caro y Sureda, Marques de la Romana, was -a man whose happy nature had resisted all the evil and debilitating -influences of the age and country and rank in which he was born. His -public career was begun in the navy; but having attained the rank of -_Capitan de Fragata_, he quitted that profession for the land service, -a change not unfrequent in Spain. During the French revolutionary -war he served under his uncle, D. Ventura Caro, who commanded on the -Biscayan frontier; and having distinguished himself there, was made -General of division in the army of Catalonia, under Urrutia, where he -continued to be conspicuous for his good conduct. When that miserably -misconducted war was concluded by a scandalous peace, Romana devoted -part of his leisure to the theory of his profession, which he was -the better able to study as having received an excellent education, -and made the best use of it. And so evenly did he steer his course, -that without in the slightest degree courting the favour of Godoy, or -sullying himself by any condescension, he never became an object of his -persecution; a singular instance of good fortune in those disgraceful -times, or rather of what may be effected by undeviating rectitude and -good sense. For he possessed a rare union of frankness and perfect -prudence; and while his own breast wore no disguise, and needed none, -could read with unerring intuition the characters of others. There -was in his manners that simplicity which is the sure indication of -generosity and goodness, and which wins confidence while it commands -respect. Spain, where honour is the characteristic virtue of the -nation, where so many heroic and illustrious men have arisen, has never -produced a man more excellently brave, more dutifully devoted to his -country, more free from all taint of selfishness, more truly noble than -Romana. - -♦DISTRIBUTION OF HIS TROOPS IN THE BALTIC.♦ - -The force under his command consisted of about 14,000 men. They were -marched to Hamburgh in Aug. 1807, and quartered there, along the Elbe -and at Lubeck, as part of the army under Marshal Bernadotte, then -Prince of Ponte Corvo. It was reported that this army was to invade -Sweden, in conjunction with the Danes, and the Spanish division was -put in motion accordingly about the middle of March. But when the -van-guard, having safely crossed the Little Belt to the Isle of Funen, -was preparing for the passage of the Great Belt, they were prevented -by the appearance of an English frigate and brig between Nyeborg and -Corsoer, at a season when it was thought no enemy’s vessels would -venture into those seas. The remainder of the troops therefore were of -necessity ordered to halt, and were quartered in Sleswic, till they -should be able to effect the passage. The Prince Christian Frederick, -of seventy-four guns, was sent to clear the Great Belt of these -enemies, but falling in with the Stately and the Nassau, was captured, -after a severe action, close to the shore of Zeeland. Bernadotte, -who had crossed to that island a few hours only before the English -cruisers appeared, was now, in order to return to his head-quarters -at Odensee, obliged to go round the Isles of Falster and Laland, land -in Sleswic, travel to Kolding, and from thence cross the Little Belt. -Watching their opportunity, as they could during the months of April, -May, and June, some of these troops got to the Isle of Langeland; and -some succeeded in effecting by night the passage of the Great Belt from -Funen to Zeeland, the greater number still remaining in Funen, or upon -the coast of Jutland. - -♦THEIR CONDUCT WHEN THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO JOSEPH WAS PROPOSED.♦ - -The French journals affirmed that these troops had taken the oath of -allegiance to the Intruder with unanimous enthusiasm. No man who knew -the Spanish character believed this falsehood. They were in a situation -where they were cut off from all communication with their own country, -and where no intelligence could reach them but what came through the -French press, or other channels equally under the control of the French -government. Nevertheless in these garbled and falsified accounts they -saw enough to convince them that their countrymen were not submitting -to a foreign dominion so easily as the tyrant endeavoured to represent. -This opinion was confirmed when a dispatch arrived from Urquijo to -Romana, requiring the army to take the oath to the Intrusive King, -that dispatch being the only paper which the courier brought; ... it -was plain, therefore, that private letters were intercepted, and that -something must have occurred of which it was important that they should -be kept in ignorance. When the oath was proposed, it was taken without -much demur by the troops in Jutland under D. Juan Kindelan, the second -in command. Those in Funen, with the Commander, refused it vehemently -at first, but took it at length conditionally, that is to say, with a -protestation that it was to be null if the changes which had occurred -in Spain were not confirmed by the general consent of the nation. The -regiments of Asturias and Guadalaxara, which were in Zeeland, were less -placable; being under the immediate command of a Frenchman, General -Frerion, they attacked his house, killed one of his aids-de-camp, and -wounded another, and he himself only escaped with life by disguising -himself, and flying to Copenhagen. The men then planted their colours, -knelt round them, and swore to be faithful to their country. - -♦AN AGENT SENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM.♦ - -The British Government meantime had not been inactive. The first -difficulty was how to communicate with the Spanish Commander. A -Roman-catholic priest, by name Robertson, was found willing to -undertake this dangerous service, and qualified for it by his skill as -a linguist. One Spanish verse was given him; to have taken any other -credentials might probably have proved fatal, and there was an anecdote -connected with this which would sufficiently authenticate his mission. -During Mr. Frere’s residence as ambassador in Spain, Romana, who was -an accomplished scholar, had recommended to his perusal the Gests of -the Cid, as the most animated and highly poetical, as well as the -most ancient and curious poem in the language. One day he happened to -call when Mr. Frere was reading it, and had just made a conjectural -emendation in one of the [35]lines; Romana instantly perceived the -propriety of the proposed reading, and this line, therefore, when he -was reminded of it, would prove that Mr. Robertson had communicated -with his friend the British Ambassador. Mr. Mackenzie was sent with -Robertson to Heligoland, there to provide means for landing him on the -continent, and to make farther arrangements as circumstances might -direct. - -♦HE ASKS FOR A FORCE TO COVER HIS RETREAT.♦ - -The war with the Northern powers, and the interdict against British -goods, had given the miserable island of Heligoland an importance at -this time which it had never before possessed. Upon Mr. Mackenzie’s -arrival, an embargo was placed on the shipping there, and Robertson -was dispatched in a boat to land on the nearest shore; but so vigilant -a watch was kept wherever this might have been possible, that after -three days he returned to the island, convinced there was no hope of -accomplishing his errand unless he were provided with a passport. -Fortunately a vessel belonging to the port of Bremen had recently been -captured, and carried into Heligoland. Mr. Mackenzie sent for the -master, and proposed to liberate him and his ship if he would engage to -procure a passport for Robertson at Bremen. It happened to be in the -man’s power to redeem himself and his property upon these easy terms, -for he had a near relation in office in that city. The engagement was -faithfully performed; and Robertson, whose appearance was quite German, -and who assumed the character of a schoolmaster, found his way to -Romana. That noble Spaniard was greatly agitated at learning the real -situation of his country; the success in Andalusia, the deliverance -of Zaragoza, and the retreat of the Intruder from Madrid, were not -known in England at the time of Robertson’s departure; but he did not -hesitate a moment. Their conversation was in Latin; and Robertson was -sent back with a request that Mackenzie would proceed to the Baltic, -and procure the assistance of as many troops as might be necessary -to cover the retreat and embarkation of the Spaniards. Ten thousand -British troops, under Sir J. Moore, had been sent to Gottenburg in -the month of May, to co-operate with the Swedes. It was this aid that -Romana required. - -♦SIR RICHARD KEATS GOES UPON THIS SERVICE.♦ - -This information was immediately communicated to the British -Government, and within a week Mr. Mackenzie received letters for Sir -John Moore, directing him to employ the troops in this service. Instead -of sending these dispatches, he thought it better to carry them, and -confer with that Commander in person, but when he reached Gottenburg -the expedition had sailed for England. Having left Heligoland without -permission, he now attempted to return thither, and for that purpose -embarked in the packet. A gale of wind drove it on the Danish coast. A -privateer, carrying sixteen guns, and well manned, came out, expecting -an easy capture; inferior as the English were, both in men and guns, a -fight of four hours was supported, till the Dane put his ship about, -and the packet returned to Gottenburgh in a shattered state. Baffled -in this intent, he thought his better course would be to make for the -fleet in the Baltic, and acquaint the Admiral with the disposition of -the Spaniards. Travelling therefore with all speed to Ystad, he there -found a Swedish vessel, which conveyed him to Sir James Saumarez’s ship -the Victory; and upon his representations Sir James, without waiting -for instructions, ordered Admiral Sir Richard Keats, with part of his -squadron, to the Great Belt, there to act in concert with Romana. -While they were preparing, orders for the performance of this service -arrived. A Spaniard attached to the embassy in London came out with -the dispatches, bringing letters from the Junta of Galicia, and from -individuals to Romana and the second in command. - -♦PLAN FOR COLLECTING THE SPANISH TROOPS.♦ - -It was of great importance that Romana’s determination should be kept -secret as long as possible, lest the French and the Danes, who were -but too ready to have acted with them, should overpower his dispersed -forces. A young Spanish officer crossing from Zeeland to Langeland -was taken by this squadron; the letters were intrusted to him, he was -secretly put on shore in Langeland, and from thence crossed to Funen. -Such a messenger, it was thought, would not excite suspicion. Admiral -Keats proposed that the troops in Funen should secure themselves in a -peninsula on the north side of that island, from whence, if necessary, -they might be removed to the small island of Romsoe. The Danish -gun-boats would be rendered inactive if Romana was able, and should -think proper, to seize on the town and port of Nyborg; but this the -Admiral thought would endanger the troops in Zeeland ♦1808. AUGUST.♦ -and Jutland, by provoking the Danes to act as enemies, when otherwise -it might be hoped they would be disposed secretly to favour the quiet -removal of the Spaniards, or at least to make no serious efforts for -impeding it. There was little probability that any negotiation for -their peaceable departure would be successful, subservient as the -court of Denmark was to the policy of France; but after the movement -should have commenced, a declaration of the honourable and unoffending -object in view might be advantageous. The two regiments in Zeeland, -it was proposed, should attempt to force their way to the peninsula -near Corsoer; if they succeeded in this, they might probably defend -the isthmus there, till they could be removed to the little island of -Sproe, half way between Corsoer and Nyborg. There were four regiments -in Jutland, distributed at Aarhuus, Ebeltoft, Greenaae, Randers, -Hobroe, Mariager, and some as high as Aalborg on the Gulf of Limefiord. -Orders were sent to these that they should take possession of such -vessels as they could find at Randers, Aarhuus, Fredericia, and Snogoe, -and make their way to Funen. - -♦ROMANA TAKES POSSESSION OF NYBORG.♦ - -It was scarcely possible that these movements could be concerted -without exciting suspicion, prepared as the French officers and the -Danish Government were to expect some such attempt, and especially -after the manner in which the regiments in Zeeland had expressed their -national feeling. The French Commandant in Langeland discovered that -the officer who had passed from thence to Funen had communicated with -the English ships. When Romana understood this, he doubted not but -that the French in Holstein and Sleswic would be brought up by forced -marches; and as there were more than 3000 Danish troops in Funen, -he thought it necessary to take possession of Nyborg without delay. -The garrison were too weak to resist, and no violence ♦AUG. 9.♦ or -incivility was offered: the concerted signal was then made to Admiral -Keats, who had hoisted his flag the preceding day in the Superb off -that town; and he dispatched a letter to the Governor, assuring him, -that notwithstanding the state of war between England and Denmark, it -was his wish to abstain from every hostile and offensive act, provided -no opposition were made to the embarkation of the Spaniards. While this -was going on, he must co-operate with those troops, and consequently -often communicate with the town of Nyborg; but the strictest orders -had been given that all under his command should observe the utmost -civility toward the inhabitants. If, however, the Spaniards were -opposed, he must, however reluctantly, take measures which might -occasion the destruction of the town. - -♦THE ENTRANCE OF THE BRITISH SQUADRON IS RESISTED.♦ - -The Danish garrison had yielded to circumstances; but an armed brig and -cutter, which were moored across the harbour, rejected all the pacific -offers both of the Spaniards and English, and even the remonstrances -of their own countrymen; such small vessels and boats as could be -collected were sent against them, and they were captured after half -an hour’s resistance and some waste of lives. Romana had been careful -that no act of hostility should be committed by his people, except -what was absolutely necessary for securing their embarkation; but some -of them, now irritated at the obstinacy with which their friends and -deliverers were opposed, fired a few shots at the Danish ships from the -batteries before they struck. Admiral Keats then wrote a second time to -the Governor, saying, that as his entrance into the harbour had been -resisted, he was bound by no law or usage to respect the property of -the inhabitants. The Spaniards had occasion for some of the vessels in -that port, and unless the masters and crews would assist in equipping -and navigating them, he could not secure them from injury; if they -would, he pledged himself to do so, and to grant them passports to -return in safety, after the short service for which they were required -should be ended. - -♦ARRIVAL OF SOME OF THE REGIMENTS FROM JUTLAND.♦ - -On the same day that Nyborg was thus taken possession of, the -Spaniards, who were at Svendborg, which is at the southern extremity -of Funen, got possession of some gun-boats, that might otherwise have -prevented their passage, and crossed to Langeland. The regiment of -Zamora on the same day also arrived from Ebeltoft and Greenaae at -Middlefahrt; and starting from that place at ten on the same night, -performed the march to Nyborg in twenty-one hours, a distance of more -than fifty English miles. The regiment which made this prodigious -exertion for the sake of returning to assist in the deliverance of -Spain, was one of those which the French papers described as having -displayed the greatest satisfaction at the accession of the Intruder! -The troops which were at Hobroe and Mariager, and those at Aarhuus, -succeeded also in embarking, and arrived safely in the port of Nyborg. -The two regiments in Zeeland were unable to escape; three of the -battalions had previously been disarmed for their conduct when the oath -was proposed to them, and the others were now surrounded by Danish -troops: and there still remained three cavalry regiments and one of -infantry, in Jutland, of which, and of the officers sent to them, no -account had been received. While the troops were embarking on board -such vessels as were in the port of Nyborg, one of these regiments -arrived. - -♦THEY LEAVE THE ISLE OF FUNEN.♦ - -The British Admiral had been at first of opinion, that if the troops -in Langeland felt themselves safe, it would be better to land all -the others there, from whence they might be removed at leisure. The -possession of Langeland had now been secured, but Nyborg was an -insecure position; it was reported that some thousand French had -collected upon the shores of the Little Belt; and these, with the -Danes in Funen, and the garrison of Nyborg, might seriously impede -the embarkation from that town, or perhaps succeed in cutting off -the rear-guard. It was judged expedient, therefore, to spike the guns -there, and remove the troops to a neck of land called Slipshavn, about -a league distant; and from thence they were shipped with as much -expedition as the unfavourable weather permitted. - -♦FATE OF THE HORSES.♦ - -Two of the regiments which had been quartered in Funen were cavalry, -mounted on the fine, black, long-tailed Andalusian horses. It was -impracticable to bring off these horses, about 1100 in number; and -Romana was not a man who could order them to be destroyed lest they -should fall into the hands of the French: he was fond of horses -himself, and knew that every man was attached to the beast which had -carried him so far, and so faithfully. Their bridles, therefore, were -taken off, and they were turned loose upon the beach. As they moved -off, they passed some of the country horses and mares, which were -feeding at a little distance. A scene ensued such as probably never -before was witnessed. The Spanish horses are not mutilated, and these -were sensible that they were no longer under any restraint of human -power. A general conflict ensued, in which, retaining the discipline -that they had learnt, they charged each other in squadrons of ten or -twenty together; then closely engaged, striking with their fore-feet, -and biting and tearing each other with the most ferocious rage, and -trampling over those which were beaten down, till the shore, in the -course of a quarter of an hour, was strewn with the dead and disabled. -Part of them had been set free on a rising ground at some distance; and -they no sooner heard the roar of the battle than they came thundering -down over the intermediate hedges, and catching the contagious madness, -plunged into the fight with equal fury. Sublime as the scene was, it -was too horrible to be long contemplated, and Romana, in mercy, gave -orders for destroying them; but it was found too dangerous to attempt -this; and after the last boats quitted the beach, the few horses that -remained were seen still engaged in the dreadful work of mutual[36] -destruction. - -♦AUG. 11. THE SPANIARDS ARE LANDED IN THE ISLE OF -LANGELAND.♦ - -On the second morning all were safely on board, but the wind detained -them in the harbour; and there, on the evening of that day, the -regiment from Aarhuus joined them, in four vessels, which they had -seized. The one at Randers did not succeed in making its escape. The -south part of Langeland was in possession of the Spaniards. As soon as -the wind permitted, their fellow-soldiers were landed there. The whole -number was about 9000 men, with some 230 ♦AUG. 13.♦ women and children. -Stores and water were to be laid in for their voyage to Gottenburg. -The Danish Governor, General Ahlefeldt, agreed not to molest them, and -withdrew his troops to the northern part of the island, promising, that -if any French were known to arrive in Funen, he would then deliver -up their arms. It was thought necessary to demand them the ensuing -day, upon a rumour that this had occurred; and also because a body of -Danish cavalry had appeared as if observing the Spaniards for some -military view; and because the escape of the French Commandant had -been facilitated by the General. Some of the troops refused to obey, -a detachment was therefore marched against them to enforce obedience, -and this demonstration of force was sufficient. They took the horses -also, having only about 200 of their own, which had been brought from -Svendborg; but they voluntarily promised that these arms and horses, -and whatever else belonged to the Danes, should be left upon the beach -at their departure. Some robberies, which a few of the men committed, -were instantly punished, and restitution made; and a just price was -fixed for the provisions which were demanded: they were supplied, -therefore, without reluctance. Meat was in abundance, but there was a -difficulty in obtaining bread; and the water lay at a distance from -the shore, ... a thousand men, and all the carriages that could be -procured, were employed in conveying it. Their situation was still an -anxious one: an attack was to be apprehended from the opposite port -of Svendborg; it was known that the Danes could collect as many as -four-and-twenty gun-boats there, and the channel would not admit of -frigates to defend it: a flotilla, indeed, came out from thence one -night, and kept up an idle cannonade upon the Spanish encampment. -It was reported that French troops had arrived there, and of this no -certain information could be obtained, for not a peasant in Langeland -could be induced by the offer of any reward to go and ascertain the -fact; an instance of national honour which may more than counterbalance -the unworthy conduct of the Danish Government at this time. That the -French were not inactive was certain. Proclamations from Bernadotte -were introduced into the camp, endeavouring to deceive the Spaniards -with regard to the state of affairs in their own country, to excite -suspicion of the English, and to make them arrest their leaders; but -these papers provoked only the contempt which they deserved. - -♦THEY SAIL FOR GOTTENBURG, AND THERE EMBARK FOR SPAIN. AUG. 18.♦ - -On the sixth day after their landing Admiral Saumarez arrived, -and in three days more, every thing being ready, the troops were -re-embarked. The arms and horses which they had taken from the Danes -were left in the batteries. Before they departed a flag of truce was -sent to Copenhagen, requiring, on the part of their Commander, that -the regiments which were detained should be allowed to depart. The -vessels from Aarhuus, being manned by Danes, were supplied by the -British Admiral with stores for eight days, and released. Those from -Nyborg were manned from the fleet, and an offer was made to send them -back from Gottenburg with the crews of two Danish vessels which had -been captured, provided the Danes would release an equal number of -British prisoners in exchange. But these measures were not met with -a corresponding temper by the Danish Government, and the convoy was -fired at as it passed the battery of Slipshavn. They reached Gottenburg -in safety; and the Spaniards there received the first intelligence of -the successes which their countrymen had obtained. They were landed, -for the sake of health and comfort, upon the islands in the harbour; -transports from England arrived in a few days, and this little army -then sailed for their own country, full of ardour, ... to lay down -their lives in its defence. - -♦1808. SEPTEMBER.♦ - -♦ROMANA LANDS IN ENGLAND.♦ - -While the convoy proceeded on its voyage to Coruña, Romana landed in -England, for the purpose of consulting with the British Government. It -was there determined that his force should be disembarked at Santander, -to be incorporated with the Galician army; and to avoid all immediate -difficulty concerning its support, the existing armies in the present -disorganized state of Spain being raised and subsisted by their -respective provinces. Great Britain undertook to pay and feed it for -two months, by which time it was supposed the Central Junta would be -ready to perform this part of its duties. These were troops on whose -discipline and courage entire reliance might be placed; and Romana’s -intention was to triple the infantry, by forming upon each battalion a -regiment of three. And as it was designed that a British army should -advance to bear its part in the first brunt of the great contest, the -intention was, that, if possible, it should act with Romana on the -left flank, and Castaños on its right. With both these officers it -was justly thought the service might proceed in the true spirit of -confidence and good will; the reputation of both stood deservedly high, -and their disposition was even of more importance, when operations were -to be carried on by concert between the generals, not by a paramount -and controlling command. For, ♦ERROR OF THE SPANIARDS IN NOT APPOINTING -A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.♦ by a strange error, the Spanish Government -had resolved to make the commands independent of each other. This -error seems to have been committed less from want of judgement than -in deference to the provincial Juntas, and in fear of offending them; -yet at that time public opinion would have supported them had they -appointed Castaños commander-in-chief. - -♦DIFFICULTY OF FEEDING THEIR ARMIES.♦ - -It was not, however, the abilities of any single general, however -pre-eminent, which could have saved the Spanish armies, constituted -as they then were, from inevitable defeat, unless a strong British -force had been ready to have acted with them. Preparations upon -an adequate scale had been promised and intended by the Central -Government; but when they had raised men and embodied them, the -difficulty of maintaining them occurred, a difficulty which has at all -times been greater in Spain than in any other civilized country. Our -own commissariat was then far from effective; for great experience, -as well as great activity and talents, are required in the business -of providing an army: it is not then to be wondered at that the -Spaniards, under their complicated embarrassments, should have been -grievously defective in this main branch of the military art; but -this was one cause why the number of their armies fell far short of -their computed force, many young recruits returning to their homes, -when they saw how miserably they fared in the camp. It would have been -most desirable to have followed up the first successes with vigour, -and have attacked the enemy while the impression made upon them by so -many humiliating failures was fresh, and before farther reinforcements -should enable them to resume the offensive. But this had not been -possible. The French were strongly posted, and well provided with all -the means of war; and their cavalry gave them complete command of the -plains of Castille. They had ravaged the land from Burgos to Astorga, -and driven in contributions from the very gates of the latter city. -Blake could oppose no resistance to them in that open country without -cavalry, and for want of that essential arm was obliged to alter his -intended plan of operations, and pursue, at considerable risk, a -different course. He resolved to take a position between Bilbao and -Vitoria, and menace the right flank and rear of the French, while the -army of Aragon should act on their left. - -♦BILBAO TAKEN AND RETAKEN. SEPT. 20.♦ - -Bilbao had remained a month in possession of the enemy; it was then -retaken by the Marques de Portazgo, and if his advanced posts had not -♦1808. OCTOBER.♦ begun to fire too soon, the garrison might have been -surprised and made prisoners. After an action of three or four hours -they effected their retreat, losing some 400 men. But considerable -bodies of French had now passed the Pyrenees; and Marshal Ney, who came -at this time to take the chief command till Buonaparte himself should -arrive, feigning to retreat upon Vitoria for the purpose of deceiving -Portazgo, suddenly marched with the centre of his army upon Bilbao. -The Marquis drew off in time, without losing a man or a gun, and took -up a position at Valmaseda. There he was joined by a detachment of the -Galician army, and Blake immediately made preparations to recover the -city; but General Merlin, whom Ney had left to command there, knew that -the place was not tenable against a superior force, and evacuated it on -the night of Oct. 11. - -♦POSITION OF THE ARMIES IN OCTOBER.♦ - -The French force at that time amounted to about 60,000; and the -Spanish Generals knew, by an intercepted dispatch, that 72,000 more -would enter Spain before the middle of November. The Spaniards were -nominally 130,000, but the effective number was very far short of this. -With the left or western army Blake occupied a line from Burgos to -Bilbao. The eastern army, that of Aragon and Valencia, under Palafox, -was stationed, part near Zaragoza, and part was as far advanced as -Sanguessa, on the left of the enemy, outflanking them on that side, as -Blake did on the west. The head-quarters of the central army, under -Castaños, were at Soria; ... so that the whole formed a crescent. The -Spaniards now began to experience the ruinous effects of that false -policy which had exaggerated their successes and their strength, and -had represented the final deliverance of the country as an event soon -and certainly to be looked for. This delusion made the people clamorous -for the accomplishment of their expectations, and the government itself -either partook or yielded to this impatience. The wise precautions -with which the Junta of Seville began the war were disregarded, and -the Central Junta called upon the Generals to hasten their operations. -However strong, they said, might have been the reasons for delay, -loss of time had already proved injurious, and must be more so if the -enemy should receive their expected reinforcements. An end therefore -must be put ♦COMMISSIONERS SENT TO THE SPANISH ARMIES.♦ to this -inactivity. And, as if dissatisfied with their generals, they appointed -D. Francisco Palafox to go as their representative to the armies, with -the Marques de Coupigni and the Conde de Montijo under him. He was to -be received with the same honours as a Captain-General of the army, to -confer with the Commanders, concert operations with them, and himself -decide upon the plan of attack. Another reason for this mission was, -that Castaños and Palafox differed totally in opinion concerning the -measures which ought to be pursued. The latter was eager for action, -because he believed that every thing might be accomplished by zeal -and courage; the former understood the art of war better, and knew -how little these qualities alone were to be trusted in the open field -against an enemy strong in cavalry, equal in numbers, and superior in -discipline. The commissioners were sent to determine between them. -Of all the measures of the Central Junta this was the worst. It was -taken a few days before Romana arrived in Spain. Had he been present, -his authority, coming in aid of the opinion of Castaños, which was -decidedly but warily expressed, might have prevented so preposterous a -mission, and averted the evils which were thus precipitated. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - PROCEEDINGS OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. CONFERENCE AT ERFURTH. - PROPOSAL FOR PEACE. BUONAPARTE ENTERS SPAIN. - - -♦1808.♦ - -♦BUONAPARTE IS DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THE REVERSES IN SPAIN.♦ - -It had always been Buonaparte’s system, and therein it was that the -strength and wisdom of his policy consisted, to ensure success, as -far as the end can be rendered certain by the employment of adequate -means. Having stripped Spain of its best troops, introduced his armies -into the heart of the country, seized the most important fortresses, -inveigled into captivity the whole Royal Family, and extorted from -them a formal renunciation of the crown in his favour; the people, -he thought, if they dared attempt any partial opposition, would be -effectually intimidated by the first slaughter, and the military -executions which should follow it. His calculation was erroneous, -because the Spanish character, and the strength of good principles, -had not been taken into the account. He had never dreamt of a national -resistance; and the defeat of armies, till that time irresistible, -affected him the more deeply, because he felt that the measures -♦MARSHAL GOUVION ST. CYR, 18.♦ which had drawn on these disasters were -as infamous as he now perceived that they were impolitic. The reverses -which befell him in the latter part of his bloody career he bore with -the coldest insensibility; but he was distressed by these, and all but -cast down. - -♦HE CONCEALS THEM FROM THE FRENCH PEOPLE.♦ - -But it was too late to recede; the infamy was indelible, it remained -only to secure the prize, and this he believed there would be no -difficulty in effecting. His first care was to conceal from the French -all knowledge of the mortifying failure his arms had experienced, -till he should have secured the subserviency of the other continental -powers, and collected fresh armies to pour into the peninsula. His -system of government was founded upon falsehood as well as force. While -all Spain was in arms, the French papers represented it as joyfully -welcoming its new sovereign. “The disturbances,” they said, “which -broke out in a few provinces were completely quelled: they had been -occasioned only by the common people, who wished to pillage the rich: -the disaffected had got together some bands of smugglers, opened the -prisons, and put arms into the hands of the felons: these wretches -had committed great excesses upon their peaceful countrymen, but -every thing was now quiet. The captains-general, the magistrates, and -the polished part of the nation, displayed the best sentiments, and -the greatest repose and best state of mind prevailed. At Cadiz the -public tranquillity did not experience a moment’s interruption; the -inhabitants of that interesting city had resisted all the insidious -offers of the English. Throughout the peninsula, indeed, only a few -insignificant individuals had been led astray by the spies of England. -But the Council of Castille, and the most respectable persons, had -exerted their influence with all ranks, to crush the seeds of sedition -before they should shoot forth; and their efforts had been completely -successful.” Over great part of France and of the continent these -accounts would be believed; wherever, indeed, a vigilant tyranny could -keep out all information except its own. But at Bayonne it was not -possible that the truth could be concealed; and by the falsehood which -was officially circulated in that part of the country, it seems that -the general opinion there was strongly against a war, provoked solely -for the aggrandizement ♦JUNE 8.♦ of the Buonaparte family. M. Champagny -addressed a note to the prefect of the Gironde, informing him, that -the Emperor had just received advices from his brother the King of -Holland, saying the King of England was dead, and that the first act -of George IV. had been to make a total change of ministers. This -was not given as a report, but as an authenticated fact, officially -communicated: “and may this event,” it was added, “be the presage of a -general peace, ... the object of the Emperor’s wishes, to the want of -which Europe is so sensible, and which would be so advantageous to the -commerce of Bourdeaux in particular!” The same falsehood was repeated -in that number of the Madrid[37] Gazette which contained Buonaparte’s -proclamation of Joseph as King of Spain and the Indies. Buonaparte -endeavoured also to keep his allies as well as his subjects ignorant of -the real state of things. The Russian Ambassador at Madrid could find -no means of communicating to his court an account of what was passing -in Spain, all his letters being intercepted in France, till at the end -of August, when some British officers were in Madrid, an opportunity -was afforded him of sending his dispatches through England; he then -confided to the honour of a hostile power what could no longer be -trusted to an unprincipled ally. - -♦STATEMENT OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.♦ - -It was not till two months after the capture of the ships at Cadiz, -and five weeks after the flight of the Intruder from Madrid, that any -account of the affairs of Spain appeared in the French ♦SEPT. 6.♦ -papers, except assurances that all was well. A long narrative was then -published, written with the usual falsehood of the French government, -but not with its usual skill. The insurrection was ascribed entirely -to the artifices and bribes of England, assisted by the monks and the -Inquisition, ... the Inquisition, which had lent its whole authority -to the usurpation! Great stress was laid upon the excesses which the -patriots had committed; whereas the list of persons who were here -claimed as martyrs in the Intruder’s cause did not equal in number -the victims of one _noyade_ in the Loire, scarcely exceeded that of -one day’s allowance for the guillotine in Paris. The military detail, -which was called a correct abstract of the events of the campaign, -was composed with studied and inextricable confusion; all order of -time and place was inverted and involved, and facts, exhibited thus -piecemeal, were still farther disguised by suppression, exaggeration, -and falsehood. At Valencia, it was said, French intrepidity overcame -every obstacle: twenty pieces of artillery were taken; the suburbs -were carried, and the streets strewed with dead bodies: ... this -indeed was true; but they were the bodies of the French. At Zaragoza, -fourteen cloisters, which had been fortified, three-fourths of the -city, the arsenal, and all the magazines were in their possession. That -unfortunate city was almost ruined by fire, the bombardment, and the -explosion of mines. Not a hint was given of the event of that memorable -siege. The loss of the fleet was not mentioned. Dupont was so spoken -of, as to make it evident, that, if he returned to France, his life -would atone for his failure. After a series of events which could not -be described, because they ought to be a subject of judicial inquiry, -he had committed the triple fault of suffering his communication with -Madrid to be cut off, of letting himself be separated from two-thirds -of his army, and then giving battle in a disadvantageous position, -after a forced night-march; and, manifesting an equal deficiency of -political as of military talent, he had allowed himself to be deceived -in negotiations. This unexpected event, the numerous descents of the -English upon the coast of Galicia, (where no English had landed, except -a few officers,) and the excessive heat of the season, had induced -the King to assemble his troops, and place them in a cooler climate -than that of New Castille, and in a situation possessing a milder -atmosphere, and better water: therefore, he left Madrid, and the -army went into cooler cantonments. The bodies of insurgents scarcely -deserved to be mentioned: they defended themselves behind a wall or a -house; but a single squadron of cavalry, or a battalion of infantry, -was sufficient to put many thousands of them to the rout. “All that -the English papers have published,” said Buonaparte’s gazetteer, “is -unfounded and false. England knows well the part that she is acting; -she also knows well what she is to expect from all her efforts. Her -only object is to involve Spain in confusion, that she may thereby make -herself mistress of such of its possessions as best suit her purposes.” - -♦REPORT OF M. CHAMPAGNY.♦ - -At the same time, two reports from the minister of foreign affairs -were laid before the French senate. The first of these bore date -from Bayonne, so far back as the 24th of April. Hitherto the modern -powers of Europe had always thought it necessary to hold forth some -decent pretext for engaging in hostilities, however iniquitous might -be the latent motives ... but the semblance of moral decorum was now -contemptuously laid aside; and in this state-paper Buonaparte was -advised to seize upon Spain, for the purpose of carrying on the war -against England more effectually, every thing being legitimate which -led to that end. No state in Europe was more necessarily connected with -France than Spain: she must be either a useful friend, or a dangerous -enemy; ... an intimate alliance must unite the two nations, or an -implacable enmity separate them. Such an enmity had in old times become -habitual: ... the wars of the 16th century proceeded as much from the -rivalry of the nations as of the sovereigns: the troubles of the League -and the Fronde had been excited and fomented by Spain; and the power -of Louis XIV. did not begin to rise, till, having conquered Spain, he -had formed that alliance with the royal family which ultimately placed -his grandson on the throne. That act of provident policy gave to the -two countries an age of peace, after three ages of war: but the French -revolution broke this bond of union; and the Spanish Bourbons must -always, through their affection, their recollections, and their fear, -be the secret and perfidious enemies of France. It was for the interest -of Spain, as well as of France, that a firm hand should re-establish -order in her affairs, now when a feeble administration had led her to -the brink of ruin. A king, the friend of France, having nothing to fear -from her, and not being an object of distrust to her, would appropriate -all the resources of Spain to her interest, and to the success of that -common cause which united Spain to France and to the continent. Thus -would the work of Louis XIV. be re-established. What policy suggests, -said the report, justice authorises. The increase of the Spanish army -before the battle of Jena was really a declaration of war: the laws of -the customs were directed against French commerce: French merchants -were aggrieved, while the ports were open to the contraband trade of -England, and English merchandize was spread through Spain into the rest -of Europe: Spain, therefore, was actually in a state of war with the -Emperor. - -Even M. Champagny, however, had not the effrontery to press this -conclusion. Exclusive of this, he said, existing circumstances did -not permit the Emperor to refrain from interfering in the affairs of -Spain. He was called upon to judge between the father and the son. -Which part would he take? Would he sacrifice the cause of sovereigns, -and sanction an outrage against the majesty of the throne? Would he -leave on the throne a prince who could not withdraw himself from the -yoke of England? In that case, France must constantly keep a powerful -army on foot in Spain. Would he reinstate Charles IV.? This could -not be effected without overcoming a great resistance, and shedding -French blood. And should that blood, of which France was prodigal for -her own interests, be shed for a foreign king, whose fate was of no -consequence to her? Lastly, would he abandon the Spanish nation to -themselves, and while England was sowing the seeds of trouble and of -anarchy, leave this new prey for England to devour? This was not to -be thought of. The Emperor, therefore, occupied, of necessity, with -the regeneration of Spain, in a manner useful to that kingdom and to -France, ought neither to re-establish the dethroned king, nor to leave -his son upon the throne; for in either case it would be delivering her -to the English. Policy advised, and justice authorized him to provide -for the security of the empire, and to save Spain from the influence of -England. - -♦SECOND REPORT.♦ - -Thus was the principle, that whatever is profitable is right, openly -proclaimed by the French government, ... a principle which the very -thief, on his career to the gallows, dares not avow to himself. The -other report from the same minister ♦SEPT. 1.♦ was of four months -later date, though the former had plainly not been written till it -was thought expedient to publish it: for the Tyrant needed no adviser -in his conduct at Bayonne; and if his usurpation had been passively -submitted to by the Spaniards, Spain would have been represented as -the brave and faithful ally of France, and the new dynasty exhibited -as the reward of her loyalty, which was now to be the means of curbing -her hostile disposition. This second report began by proposing to the -Emperor that he should communicate to the Senate the treaties which -had placed the crown of Spain in his hands, and the constitution, -which, under his auspices, and enlightened by his advice, the Junta -at Bayonne, after free and mature deliberation, had adopted, for -the glory of the Spanish name, and the prosperity of Spain and its -colonies. He had interfered with Spain, it said, as a mediator; but -his persuasive means, and his measures of wise and humane policy, had -not been successful. Individual interests, foreign intrigues, and -the influence of foreign corruption had prevailed. The disturbances -in Spain were occasioned by English gold. Would, then, his Majesty -permit England to say, “Spain is one of my provinces! My flag, driven -from the Baltic, the North sea, the Levant, and even from the shores -of Persia, rules in the ports of France?” No, never! To prevent so -much disgrace and misfortune, two millions of brave men were ready to -scale the Pyrenees, and chase the English from the peninsula. If the -French fought for the liberty of the seas, they must begin by wresting -Spain from the influence of the tyrant of the ocean. If they fought -for peace, they could not obtain it till they had driven the enemies -of peace from Spain. If they fought for honour, they must promptly -inflict vengeance for the outrages committed against the French name -in Spain. The probability of meeting the English at last, of fighting -them man to man, of making them feel the evils of war themselves, ... -evils of which they were ignorant, having only caused them by their -gold, was represented as no small advantage. They will be beaten, said -M. Champagny, destroyed, dispersed, or, at least, they will make haste -to fly, as they did at Toulon, at the Helder, at Dunkirk, in Sweden, -... wherever the French armies have been able to find them! But their -expulsion from Spain would be the ruin of their cause; it would exhaust -their means, and annihilate their last hope. In this contest the wishes -of all Europe would be with France! - -♦REPORT OF THE WAR-MINISTER.♦ - -These reports, with the two mock treaties of Bayonne, were laid before -the Senate, and, at the same time, a report of the war-minister was -presented. France, it was said, had never possessed more numerous or -better appointed armies, neither were they ever better kept up, or -better provisioned. Nevertheless, the events which had taken place in -Spain had occasioned a pretty considerable loss, in consequence of an -operation, not less inconceivable than painful, of the division under -General Dupont. His Majesty had notified his resolution of assembling -more than 200,000 men beyond the Pyrenees, without weakening either the -armies in Germany or that in Dalmatia. A levy of 80,000 was therefore -indispensable, and these could only be taken from the four classes of -the conscription of the years 1806, 7, 8, and 9, which, exclusive of -the men who had married within those years, might furnish 600,000. In -levying 80,000, only one conscript out of seven would be called out, -and the vacancies in the armies would thus be filled up with soldiers -of 21, 22, and 23 years of age, that is, with men fit to undergo the -fatigues of war. “It is true, Sire,” said the war-minister, “that the -custom observed of late years might, to a certain degree, induce a part -of your subjects to consider themselves released from the duty of the -conscription, as soon as they had furnished the contingent required -for the year; and, under this point of view, what I propose might -appear to require from your people a sacrifice. But, Sire, there is -no one but knows, that, by the words of the law, your Majesty would -be authorised to call to your standard the whole of the conscription, -not only of the last four years, but even of the antecedent years: and -even were there question of a real sacrifice, what sacrifice is it that -your Majesty has not a right to expect from the love of your subjects? -Who among us is ignorant that your Majesty wholly sacrifices yourself -for the happiness of France, and that upon the speedy accomplishment -of your high designs depend the repose of the world, the future -safety, and the re-establishment of a maritime peace, without which -France can never enjoy tranquillity? In proposing to your Majesty to -declare, that henceforth no retrospective call shall take an antecedent -conscription, I only participate, Sire, in your paternal wishes. I -think it expedient, at the same time, to propose to your Majesty to -order out the conscription of the year 1810, determining the amount of -it, from the present instant, at 80,000 men ... to furnish the means, -as occasion may require, of forming camps of reserve, and of protecting -the coast in the spring time. This conscription would be raised only -under the apprehension of a war with other powers, nor would it be -called out before the month of January next.” - -Thus, then, it appeared that those persons who had escaped from the -conscriptions of four years were again to stand the hazard of this -dreadful lottery, and that of the unmarried men, between the ages of -21 and 23, one in seven was to be sent to the armies! ... and this -draught upon the morality, the happiness, the vital strength, the -flesh and blood of the French people ... was required, because their -Corsican master had thought proper to appoint his brother to be king -of Spain! The promise that no retrospective conscription should again -be called for, shows plainly what the feelings of the nation were at -such a measure, when Buonaparte thought it necessary to soothe them, -by declaring, that it was not to be repeated. This was not all: one -year’s conscription had already been anticipated, another year was -to be levied in advance, and 80,000 men, whose services, by these -baleful laws, were not due till 1810, were now to be ♦SUSPICION OF THE -VIEWS OF AUSTRIA.♦ called forth. This was necessary, the report said, -because England and Austria were increasing their armies; and it was -an evil inseparable from the present state of Europe, that France must -increase hers in the same proportion. A suspicion of the intentions of -Austria was now intimated. Its armaments, the war-minister declared, -had often excited his solicitude. He had been told by the minister for -foreign affairs, that the best understanding prevailed with the court -of Vienna; but though it did not belong to his department to dive into -the views and interests of states, and explore the tortuous labyrinths -of politics, it was his duty to neglect nothing for preserving to the -French armies, at all points, that just superiority which they ought to -possess. The plan which he had proposed would give the army of Spain -200,000 men, without weakening the other armies; and the conscription -of 1810 would increase the armies of Germany, of the North, and of -Italy, by more than 80,000. From such a force what could be expected -but the speedy re-establishment of tranquillity in Spain, of a maritime -peace, and of that general tranquillity which was the object of the -Emperor’s wishes? Much blood would be spared, because so great a number -of men would be ready to shed it.... Here the tyrant’s principle is -right: and grievously was that parsimony of strength on the part of -his mightiest enemy to be lamented, which, by never sending a force -sufficient to insure its object, so often wasted what it sent. - -♦MESSAGE FROM BUONAPARTE TO THE SENATE. - -SEPT. 4.♦ - -A message from Buonaparte accompanied these reports, when they were -laid before the Senate. He mentioned his firm alliance with Russia, -and said, that he had no doubts of the peace of the continent, but -that he ought not to rely upon the false calculations and errors of -other courts; and since his neighbours increased their armies, it was -a duty incumbent upon him to increase his: he therefore imposed fresh -sacrifices upon his people, which were necessary to secure them from -heavier, and to lead them to the grand result of a general peace. “I am -determined,” said he, “to carry on the war with Spain with the utmost -activity, and to destroy the armies which England has disembarked in -that country. The future security of my subjects, a maritime peace, -and the security of commerce, equally depend upon these important -operations. Frenchmen, my projects have but one object in view ... your -happiness, and the permanent well-being of your children; and if I -know you right, you will hasten to comply with this new call, which is -rendered necessary by the interests of the country.” - -♦THE SENATE APPROVE HIS MEASURES.♦ - -In the first of Buonaparte’s three constitutions for France, the -affectation of Roman titles, and the false taste with which they were -applied to offices essentially different, were equally to be remarked. -The name of Senate, however, was well retained under his imperial -government, just such a Senate having existed during those disgraceful -ages of the Roman empire, when a despotism, similar to that which he -had established in France, was degrading their country, and preparing -the way for the universal barbarism and misery which ensued. The -baseness of those wretches who sanctioned the iniquities and cruelties -of Tiberius and Caligula was equalled by the obsequious senators of -Buonaparte. On the day after his message had been presented, they -voted an address, echoing the gross and palpable falsehoods of his -assertions, applauding his measures, and appropriating to themselves, -and, as far as the crimes of a government can be imputed to the people, -to the French nation also, the guilt of his conduct towards Spain. -“Your Majesty,” said they, “desires to defend solemn and voluntarily -concluded treaties; to maintain a constitution freely discussed, -adopted, and sworn to by a national junta; to suppress a barbarous -anarchy, which now covers Spain with blood and mourning, and threatens -our frontier; to rescue the true Spaniards from a shameful yoke, by -which they are oppressed; to assure to them the happiness of being -governed by a brother of your Majesty; to annihilate the English -troops, who unite their arms with the daggers of the banditti; to -avenge the French blood, so basely shed; to put out of all doubt the -security of France, and the peace of our posterity; to restore and -complete the work of Louis XIV.; to accomplish the wish of the most -illustrious of your predecessors, and particularly of him who was by -France most beloved; to extend your great power, in order to diminish -the miseries of war, and to compel the enemy of the continent to a -general peace, which is the sole object of all your measures, and the -only means for the repose and prosperity of our country. The will -of the French people is, therefore, Sire, the same as that of your -Majesty. The war with Spain is politic, just, and necessary.”... If the -transactions which are the subject of this history had passed in remote -ages, and such a narrative as is here presented had been preserved to -us, it would scarcely be possible, when we found the Senate of a great -nation, like France, thus solemnly approving and ratifying the conduct -of its Emperor, not to suspect that the history had been handed down -in an imperfect state; that some facts had been suppressed, and others -distorted; for, however credible the usurpation itself might appear, -as the act of an individual tyrant, that it should, with its attendant -circumstances of perfidy and cruelty, be thus represented as a just -and necessary act, by a legislative assembly, and made the ground of -a national war, is something so monstrous, that it would startle our -belief; and, for the honour of human nature, we should hesitate before -we trusted human testimony. - -♦MARCH OF THE TROOPS TOWARD SPAIN.♦ - -The conscription for which the tyrant called was decreed without one -dissentient voice, by an assembly constituted for no other purpose than -that of executing his will and pleasure. His other measures had already -been taken. About the middle of August he had ordered General Gouvion -Saint Cyr from Boulogne, to repair to Perpignan, and there collect an -army, with which to enter Catalonia, as soon as Buonaparte himself -should enter Spain on the other side. He gave him no other instructions -than that he should use all efforts to preserve Barcelona: “if that -place be lost,” said he, “to recover it will cost me eighty thousand -men.” The troops from Prussia and Poland were recalled; they consisted -not of Frenchmen alone, but of Germans and Italians, Poles, Swiss, -and Dutch, Irish, and Mamalukes, men of all countries and languages, -of all religions and of none, united into one efficient body by the -bond of discipline. They cared not whither they were ordered, so it -were only to a land which produced the grape, ... upon what service, -or in what cause, was to them a matter of indifference; war was their -element, and where-ever they went they expected to find free quarters, -and no enemy who could resist them. Not a few of them when they heard, -as they had so often heard before, that they were now to give the last -blow to the tottering power of England, believed they were about to -march to England by land through Spain; the desert, they said, had -separated them from that country when they were in Egypt, and when they -were at Boulogne there was the sea; but they should get there now. As -soon as these troops had crossed the Rhine, they were received with -public honours in every town along the line of their march. Deputations -came out to welcome them, they were feasted at the expense of the -municipality, and thanked at their departure for the honour they had -conferred upon the place. This was Buonaparte’s policy. But the conduct -of the soldiers showed what an enemy might expect from them, when -their own countrymen, upon whom they were quartered, did not escape ill -usage. They treated them as they had done the Germans; and the allied -troops took the same licence which they had seen the French exercise -among an ♦ROCCA, 9, 12.♦ allied and friendly people. Under the imperial -government every thing was subject to the sword. - -♦SPEECH OF BUONAPARTE TO THE TROOPS.♦ - -Buonaparte reviewed them at Paris. “Soldiers,” said he, “after having -triumphed on the banks of the Danube and the Vistula, you have passed -through Germany by forced marches. I shall now order you to march -through France, without allowing you a moment’s rest. Soldiers, I have -occasion for you! The hideous presence of the leopard contaminates the -continent of Spain and Portugal. Let your aspect terrify and drive him -from thence! Let us carry our conquering eagles even to the pillars of -Hercules: there also we have an injury to avenge!” The capture of the -French squadron at Cadiz had never been published in France, and this -hint is the only notice that ever was publicly taken of it. “Soldiers,” -he pursued, “you have exceeded the fame of all modern warriors. You -have placed yourselves upon a level with the Roman legions, who, in one -campaign, were conquerors on the Rhine, on the Euphrates, in Illyria, -and on the Tagus. A durable peace and permanent prosperity shall be the -fruits of your exertions. A true Frenchman can never enjoy any rest -till the sea is open and free. Soldiers, all that you have already -achieved, and that which remains to be done, will be for the happiness -of the French people, and for my glory, and shall be for ever imprinted -on my heart.” - -♦1808. OCTOBER. - -CONFERENCES AT ERFURTH.♦ - -The preparations for war were answerable to the arrogance of this -harangue. All the roads to Spain were thronged with troops, marching -from all parts of France and its dependencies toward the Pyrenees. -While they were on their march, Buonaparte set out for Germany, to -meet his dependent German princes, and the Emperor Alexander, at -Erfurth. Some of the performers of the _Theatre Française_ had orders -to precede him, that these potentates might be provided with amusement. -An opportunity was taken of giving Alexander a momentous hint of the -superiority of his new friend: ... Buonaparte took him to the field of -Jena: a temple, dedicated to Victory, was erected on the spot where -the French Emperor had past the night previous to the battle: tents -were pitched round it; and, after a sumptuous breakfast, he was led -over every part of the ground which the two armies had occupied, and -left to make his own reflections upon the spot where Prussia received -the reward of its long subserviency to France, and of its neutrality -when the fate of the continent was upon the hazard. The immediate -consequence of the meeting was a proposal for peace to Great Britain. - -♦OVERTURES OF PEACE FROM ERFURTH.♦ - -These overtures were made in the customary diplomatic forms; but they -were accompanied by a joint letter from the Emperors of France and -Russia to the King of England. Having been brought together at Erfurth -by the circumstances of the continent, their first thought, they said, -had been to yield to the wishes and wants ♦OCT. 12.♦ of every people, -and to seek, in a speedy pacification, the remedy for the common -miseries of Europe. The long and bloody continental war was at an end, -and could not possibly be renewed. Many changes had taken place, many -states had been overthrown. The cause was to be found in the evils -arising from the stagnation of maritime commerce. Still greater changes -might yet occur, and all of them contrary to the policy of the English -nation. Peace was their interest, as well as the interest of the -continent. We unite, therefore, said they, in intreating your Majesty -to listen to the voice of humanity, silencing that of the passions; to -seek, with the intention of arriving at that object, how to conciliate -all interests, and by that means to preserve the powers which still -exist; and to insure the happiness of Europe, and of this generation, -at the head of which Providence has placed us. The official notes -stated, that Russian plenipotentiaries would be sent to Paris, there -to receive the answer of England; and that French plenipotentiaries -would repair to any city on the continent, to which the King of Great -Britain and his allies should send theirs. It was added, that the King -of England must, without doubt, feel the grandeur and sincerity of this -conduct on the part of the two Emperors; that their union was beyond -the reach of change; and that it was formed for peace as well as for -war. - -♦REPLY TO THE RUSSIAN MINISTER. - -OCT. 28.♦ - -In answer to the Russian minister, it was stated, that however desirous -his Majesty might be to reply directly to the Emperor Alexander, the -unusual manner in which his letter was drawn up deprived it entirely -of the character of a private and personal communication, and it was -impossible to adopt that mark of respect towards him, without, at the -same time, recognizing titles which the King of England never had -acknowledged. This was a needless demurral. We had sent ministers to -treat with Buonaparte since he had been Emperor of France, ... surely -this was, to all intents, an effectual recognition of his title. It was -weakening the moral strength of our cause, to rest, even for a moment, -upon a point of punctilio. In every other respect, the correspondence -on the part of England was worthy of the cause. An immediate assurance -that France acknowledged the government of Spain as party to any -negotiation, was declared to be absolutely necessary: that such was the -intention of the Emperor of Russia, it was added, his Majesty could -not doubt. He recollected the lively interest which that Emperor had -always manifested for the dignity and welfare of the Spanish monarchy, -and wanted no other assurance that he could not have been induced to -sanction, by his concurrence, or by his approbation, usurpations, -the principles of which were not less unjust than their example was -dangerous to all lawful sovereigns. - -♦REPLY TO THE OVERTURES.♦ - -The letter of the two Emperors was fully and most ably answered in an -official note. The King’s readiness and desire to negotiate a peace on -terms consistent with his own honour, and with the permanent security -of Europe, were again declared. If the condition of the continent -were one of agitation and of wretchedness, if many states had been -overthrown, and many more were still menaced with subversion, it was a -consolation to the King to reflect, that no part of those convulsions -could be in any degree imputable to him. Most willing was he to -acknowledge that all such dreadful changes were indeed contrary to the -policy of Great Britain. And if the cause of so much misery was to be -found in the stagnation of commercial intercourse, although he could -not be expected to hear with unqualified regret that the system devised -for the destruction of the commerce of his subjects had recoiled upon -its authors or its instruments, yet it was neither in his disposition, -nor in the character of the people over whom he reigned, to rejoice in -the privations and unhappiness even of the nations which were combined -against him. He anxiously desired the termination of the sufferings of -the continent. The war in which he was engaged was entered into for -the immediate object of national safety; but, in its progress, new -obligations had been imposed upon him, in behalf of powers whom the -aggressions of a common enemy had compelled to make common cause with -him, or who had solicited his assistance and support in the vindication -of their national independence. The interests of Portugal and of Sicily -were confided to his friendship and protection; and he was connected -for peace, as well as for war, with the King of Sweden. To Spain he -was not yet bound by any formal instrument, but he had, in the face of -the world, contracted with that nation engagements not less sacred, -and not less binding upon his mind than the most solemn treaties. He -therefore assumed, that, in an overture made to him for entering into -negotiations for a general peace, his relations subsisting with the -Spanish monarchy had been distinctly taken into consideration, and that -the government acting in the name of his Catholic Majesty, Ferdinand -VII., was understood to be a party to any negotiation in which he was -invited to engage. - -♦REPLY OF THE RUSSIAN AND FRENCH MINISTERS. NOV. 8.♦ - -The answer of the Russian minister was, that the admission of the -sovereigns in alliance with England could not be a point of any -difficulty; but this principle by no means extended to the necessity -of admitting the plenipotentiaries of the Spanish insurgents, and the -Emperor Alexander could not admit them. He had already acknowledged -King Joseph Napoleon; he was united with the Emperor of the French; -and he was resolved not to separate his interests from those of that -monarch. But Count Romanzoff added, he saw, with pleasure, that, -in this difference of opinion respecting the Spaniards, there was -nothing which could either prevent or delay the opening of a congress; -because his Britannic Majesty had himself admitted, that he was bound -to no positive engagement with those who had taken up arms in Spain. -Count Romanzoff did not intend to insult a British King, by telling -him he might violate his word and honour, because he was not bound -to keep them by any formal instrument; ... but M. Champagny’s reply -was intentionally insulting. “How,” said he, “is it possible for the -French government to entertain the proposal which has been made to it, -of admitting the Spanish insurgents to the negotiation? What would -the English government have said, had it been proposed to them to -admit the Catholic insurgents of Ireland? France, without having any -treaties with them, has been in communication with them, has made them -promises, and has frequently sent them succours.” The writer did not -perceive what warning this utterly irrelevant argument held out to the -disaffected in Ireland, by thus plainly informing them, that however -Buonaparte might promise them support, he was at all times ready to -abandon them, whenever it might suit his views. Menacing language was -then introduced. England, we were told, would find herself under a -strange mistake, if, contrary to the experience of the past, she still -entertained the idea of contending successfully, upon the continent, -against the armies of France. What hope could she have, especially -when France was irrevocably united with Russia? France and Russia -could carry on the war till the court of London recurred to just and -equitable dispositions; they were resolved to do so; and the English -were admonished not to lose sight of the inevitable results of the -force of states. - -♦DEC. 9. - -FINAL ANSWER OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.♦ - -Mr. Canning’s replies were equally decided and dignified. To Count -Romanzoff he expressed the King’s astonishment and regret, that it -should be supposed he would consent to commence a negotiation by -the previous abandonment of the cause of the Spanish nation, and -of the legitimate monarchy of Spain, in deference to an usurpation -which had no parallel in the history of the world. He had hoped that -the participation of the Emperor Alexander in these overtures would -have afforded a security to him against the proposal of a condition -so unjust in its effect, and so fatal in its example. Nor could -he conceive by what obligation of duty or of interest, or by what -principle of Russian policy, his Imperial Majesty could have found -himself compelled to acknowledge the right assumed by France, of -deposing and imprisoning friendly Sovereigns, and forcibly transferring -to herself the allegiance of loyal and independent nations. If these -were indeed the principles to which the Emperor had inviolably attached -himself, to which he had pledged the character and resources of his -empire, and which he had united himself with France to establish by -war, and to maintain in peace ... deeply did the King of England lament -a determination by which the sufferings of Europe must be aggravated -and prolonged: but not to him was to be attributed the continuance -of the calamities of war, by the disappointment of all hope of such -a peace as would be compatible with justice and with honour. To the -French minister Mr. Canning said, he was especially commanded to -abstain from noticing any of those topics and expressions insulting -to his Majesty, to his allies, and to the Spanish nation, with which -the official note of M. Champagny abounded. The King of England was -desirous to have treated for a peace which might have arranged the -respective interests of all the belligerent powers on principles of -equal justice, but he was determined not to abandon the cause of the -Spanish nation, and of the legitimate monarchy of Spain; and the -pretension of France, to exclude from the negotiation the central -and supreme government, acting in the name of his Catholic Majesty, -Ferdinand VII., was one which he could not admit, without acquiescing -in an usurpation unparalleled in the history of the world. - -♦BRITISH DECLARATION. - -DEC. 15.♦ - -As soon as this correspondence was concluded, the rupture of the -negotiation was made known in England, by a declaration which, while -any sense of honour remains in the English nation, may always be -recollected with pride and satisfaction. The continued appearance of a -negotiation, it said, when peace was found to be utterly unattainable, -could be advantageous only to the enemy. It might enable France to -sow distrust and jealousy in the councils of those who were combined -to resist her oppression; and if, among the nations which were -groaning under the tyranny of French alliance, or among those which -maintained against France a doubtful and precarious independence, -there should be any who were balancing between the certain ruin of a -prolonged inactivity and the contingent dangers of an effort to save -themselves from that ruin ... to nations so situated, the delusive -prospect of a peace between Great Britain and France could not fail -to be peculiarly injurious. Their preparations might be relaxed, by -the vain hope of returning tranquillity, or their purpose shaken, by -the apprehension of being left to contend alone. That such was, in -fact, the main object of France in the proposals transmitted from -Erfurth, his Majesty entertained a strong persuasion. But at a moment -when results, so awful from their importance, and so tremendous from -their uncertainty, might be depending upon the decision of peace or -war, he felt it due to himself to ascertain, beyond the possibility -of doubt, the views and intentions of his enemies. It was difficult -for him to believe that the Emperor of Russia had devoted himself so -blindly and fatally to the violence and ambition of the power with -which his Imperial Majesty had unfortunately become allied, as to be -prepared openly to abet the usurpation of Spain. He therefore met the -seeming fairness and moderation of the proposal with fairness and -moderation on his part real and sincere, expressing his just confidence -that the Spanish government, acting in the name of Ferdinand VII., was -understood to be a party to this negotiation. The reply returned by -France to this proposition cast off at once the thin disguise, which -had been assumed for a momentary purpose, and displayed, with less than -ordinary reserve, the arrogance and injustice of that government. The -universal Spanish nation was described by the degrading appellation -of the Spanish insurgents, and the demand for the admission of its -government as a party to any negotiation was rejected, as inadmissible -and insulting. With astonishment, as well as grief, he had received -from the Emperor of Russia a reply similar in effect, although less -indecorous in tone and manner. The King would readily have embraced -an opportunity of negotiation which might have afforded any hope -or prospect of a peace compatible with justice and with honour. He -lamented an issue by which the sufferings of Europe were prolonged; but -neither his honour nor the generosity of the British nation would admit -of his consenting to commence a negotiation by the abandonment of a -brave and loyal people, who were contending for the preservation of all -that is dear to man, and whose exertions, in a cause so unquestionably -just, he had solemnly pledged himself to sustain. - -Such an answer was consistent with the honour, the principles, and -the feelings of the British people. Buonaparte anticipated it: his -♦BUONAPARTE DEPARTS FOR SPAIN.♦ proposals might have that effect which -the English cabinet had foreseen, upon the powers which he oppressed, -and they might deceive the French people; at least they gave a popular -topic for his sycophants in the Senate, and those whose office it was -to mislead the public mind. He himself knew what the result must be, -and had not for a moment suspended or slackened his preparations. ♦OCT. -25.♦ Before a reply could be made to the first overture, he returned -to Paris, and, in his address to the legislative body, informed them -that he should depart in a few days, to put himself in person at the -head of his army, and, with God’s help (such was the expression of the -blasphemer), to crown the King of Spain in Madrid, and plant his eagles -on the forts of Spain. It was a distinguished favour of the providence, -he said, which had constantly protected his army, that passion had so -far blinded the English councils, as to have made them abandon the -defence of the seas, and at last produce their army on the continent. -His vaunts and his impieties were, of course, echoed by those whom he -addressed: but their flattery was far exceeded by the language of some -deputies from the new Italian departments, who had audience on the same -day. The destinies of the whole world, they told him, were confided by -the Almighty to his impenetrable views, to the supreme power of his -genius, to the miraculous exploits of his arms. Hence a new order -of things, already written in the books of the Eternal, was prepared -for their country. In the necessity in which he was to overthrow, to -destroy, to disperse all enemies, as the wind dissipates the dust, -he was not an exterminating Angel; but he was the Being that extends -his thoughts, and measures the face of the earth, to re-establish its -happiness upon a better and surer basis. He was destined before all -ages to be the Man of God’s right hand; the Sovereign Master of all -things. Language of more idolatrous adoration was never listened to -by the frantic Caligula, nor uttered by the infatuated followers of -Sabatai Sevi. It was not, however, too gross for the tyrant to whom it -was addressed; and he applauded it in his reply. Immediately after this -scene he left Paris, reached Bayonne on the 3d of November, and, five -days afterwards, put himself at the head of his army at Vitoria. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - BUONAPARTE ENTERS SPAIN. DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMIES. SURRENDER OF - MADRID. THE SPANIARDS ENDEAVOUR TO RALLY AT CUENCA, AND ON THE - TAGUS. - - -♦1808. OCTOBER.♦ - -An old prophecy was at this time circulated in Paris, importing that -the disasters which would lead to the overthrow of the French empire -were to originate in Spain. It had probably been sent abroad in the -days of Louis XIV. when his designs upon that kingdom were first -manifested, and the resistance which they would provoke from the powers -of Europe was foreseen. The persons by whom it was now reproduced -apprehended ♦PASLEY ON THE MILITARY POLICY OF GREAT BRITAIN, P. -34.♦ that the English would land a strong force in the north of the -peninsula, so as to cut off the French armies from their communication -with Bayonne. Like all desponding or discontented politicians, they -overrated the wisdom and the power of the enemy. If indeed, when an -expedition was sent to Portugal, this had been done at the same time, -the issue can hardly be deemed doubtful. We had disciplined soldiers, -ships to transport them, and means of every kind in abundance; but -vigour was wanting in our councils, and in offensive war we had every -thing to learn. It was, however, intended that an army little short -of 40,000 men should take the field with the Spaniards; and had such -an army been in the field, under an able and enterprising commander, -subsequent events have given an Englishman right to affirm, that no -force which could have been brought against it in one point, would have -been able to defeat it. But this intention was frustrated as much by -the precipitance of the Spaniards as by the dilatoriness of the British -movements. - -♦MOVEMENTS AGAINST BLAKE’S ARMY.♦ - -By the latter end of October not less than 100,000 troops had crossed -the Pyrenees from the side of Bayonne, to reinforce their countrymen. -The head-quarters were at Vitoria, where they had continued since -Joseph arrived there on his flight from Madrid. The left wing, under -Marshal Moncey, Duke of Cornegliano, was posted along the banks of -the Aragon and the Ebro, having its head-quarters at Tafalla; Marshal -Ney, Duke of Elchingen, had his head-quarters at Guardia; Marshal -Bessieres, Duke of Istria, at Miranda, with a garrison at Pancorbo; -Marshal Lefebvre, Duke of Dantzic, occupied the heights of Durango, -and defended the heights of Mondragon from the threatened attack of -the Spaniards. Blake had posted the main body of his army in front -of Lefebvre’s force, and occupied with the rest the debouches of -Villarcayo, Orduña, and Munguia. He hoped that the Asturian General, -Azevedo, would cut off the communication between Durango and Vitoria -by Ochandiano, and that, by possessing himself of the heights of -Mondragon, and thus getting in the rear of the enemy’s advanced guard, -he might be enabled to strike a great blow. The plan was good, if it -could have been executed in time; but Blake persisted in it after he -knew that the French had received strong reinforcements. Some trifling -advantages, and the confidence of the Spanish character, encouraged -him to this imprudence, by which he exposed himself to be entirely cut -off. It was Buonaparte’s intention to take the advantage which was thus -offered him; and Lefebvre therefore had been ordered to content himself -with keeping the Spaniards in check till the Emperor should arrive; -but his flanks were so much annoyed by Blake, that this delay became -inconvenient, and on the last day of October the French attacked him. -After a long and well-contested action of nine hours the Spaniards -retreated in good order by Bilbao and Valmaseda to Nava, without losing -colours or prisoners. No artillery had been used, the country being -too mountainous for it. The enemy entered Bilbao the next day; and the -corps of Marshal Victor, Duke of Belluno, arriving at this time, was -directed by Munguia and Amurrio to Valmaseda, to fall upon the flank of -the Galician army. - -♦BLAKE FALLS BACK TO ESPINOSA. - -1808. NOVEMBER.♦ - -Blake’s intention had been to fall back till he could concentrate his -whole force; but the second division, and a part of the Asturians under -Azevedo, had their communication cut off; and as the French were -strengthening themselves at Arancadiaga and Orrantia to prevent the -junction, he prepared to attack them. They retreated during the night -of the 4th; but on the following day a division of his army came up -with 7000 of the enemy near Valmaseda, and drove them from thence with -considerable loss. Having thus effected the junction, he attacked the -enemy again on the 7th at Gueñes, and turned their left wing, but his -own centre was unable to advance; and perceiving that the French had -received very considerable reinforcements that day from Bilbao, his own -men too being exhausted by hunger and fatigue, he deemed it prudent to -retire to Espinosa de los Monteros, where he hoped to refresh and feed -his men, and draw artillery and supplies from Reynosa. Seldom indeed -have any troops endured greater hardships. From the 23rd of October -they had been continually in the open air, among the mountains of -Biscay, during rainy nights and the most inclement weather: they were -all without hats, great part of them half clothed, and barefooted, and -they had been six days without bread, wine, or spirits; indeed, without -any other supply of food than the sheep and cattle which were to be -found among the mountains. There had been a considerable desertion -among the young recruits; but from those who remained not a murmur was -heard under all these privations: they manifested no other wish than -that the sacrifice of their lives might contribute to the destruction -of the enemy, and the deliverance of Spain. - -♦BATTLE OF ESPINOSA.♦ - -The system of the French was to beat this army down, as their -increasing numbers enabled them to do, by repeated attacks. Blake -intended to remain some days at Espinosa, for the purpose of giving -his men some rest. But having arrived on the 9th, his rear-guard, -under the Conde de San Roman, one of the officers who had escaped -from the Baltic, was attacked on the following day, by a far superior -force. He immediately posted his army in front of the town; Azevedo, -with the Asturians and the first division, on a height to the left, -covering the road to S. Andero; the second division on a hill to the -right; the third and the reserve in the centre. The van-guard was -posted on a little hill close in the rear of the centre, with six -four-pounders. The enemy were successful in their first attack, and -drove the Spaniards from a wood which they had occupied; they returned, -however, to the charge, being reinforced with the third division, and -the action became general, except on the left of the Spanish position. -It continued for three hours, till evening closed in; and Blake thought -the advantage was on his side, though the enemy had gained possession -of a wood and ridge of hill in front of his centre and right. The -contest had been very severe, and a very great proportion of the -Spanish officers had fallen, San Roman among them, and the Galician -General Riquelme, both mortally wounded. The men lay on their arms -that night, and Victor, who commanded in this battle, brought up fresh -troops from his rear to the ridge. At daybreak, when the main attention -of the Spaniards was drawn towards this point, he made his great attack -upon their left, commencing it with a strong body of sharp-shooters; -they were twice repulsed; meantime one of their large columns, under -General Maison, came up and formed in line; the sharp-shooters, being -reinforced, returned to the charge, and General Ruffin, with his -division, attacked the centre. There the enemy were well resisted; but -on the left they succeeded, owing, in great part, it appears, to the -system which on this and the preceding day was practised, of marking -out the officers. Azevedo, and the two Asturian Generals who were next -in command, fell; this threw the men into confusion, and when they saw -themselves cut off from the road to S. Andero, and that the French -were advancing to occupy a height in rear of the town which commands -the road to Reynosa, they gave way, and nothing remained but to order -a general retreat. They had to retire by a bridge over the Trueba and -a defile; and instead of attempting to save the guns, which would -necessarily have impeded the retreat of the army, Blake thought it -better to employ them till the last moment; this was done with great -effect, and they were spiked when the enemy was close to them. - -Blake was one of those men who would have been thought worthy of the -chief command if they had never been trusted with it. His talents -were considerable; he understood the theory of his profession well, -and could plan an action or a campaign with great ability; but he -was deficient in that promptitude and presence of mind which are -the first qualifications of a commander. His own game he could play -skilfully, but when the adversary disconcerted it by some unexpected -movement, he was incapable of forming new dispositions to meet -the altered circumstances. By persisting against a superior and -continually increasing force in operations which had been calculated -against an inferior one, he exposed himself to the imminent hazard -of being entirely cut off; and by advancing so far into a country -which had been stripped of its provisions, and with no commissariat -to follow him, he exhausted his men. Under every privation he indeed -set them an example of cheerfulness, and let them see that he fared -as hardly as themselves; but this could not counteract the effects -of inanition. They were in a state of famine when they arrived at -Espinosa, and would have found nothing there to relieve them if 250 -mules, laden with biscuits, had not most opportunely arrived, sent by -Major-General Leith, who was forwarding partial supplies toward them -by every possible way. But men thus hungered, and enfeebled also by -long continued exposure to cold and rain, were ill fitted for close -action, in which much depended upon personal strength. Another and -more lamentable error was, that the troops from the Baltic, the only -thoroughly disciplined part of his force, were brought into action -after the first defeat, and exposed by single battalions to bear the -brunt of every conflict; and thus they were sacrificed in detail, -giving melancholy proof, by the devoted courage with which they stood -their ground, of what they could have effected, if, as a body, they had -been brought into some fair field of battle. - -♦DISPERSION OF BLAKE’S ARMY AT REYNOSA.♦ - -Blake attempted with the remains of his army to make a stand at -Reynosa; his principal magazine and his park of artillery were there; -it is one of the strongest positions in that strong country, and -had it been occupied in time, the event of the campaign might have -been different. But the forlorn hope of collecting his scattered -forces there was soon defeated. Victor was pursuing him closely from -Espinosa; Lefebvre from the side of Villarcayo. And from the side of -Burgos, where a fatal blow had now been struck, Marshal Soult, Duke -of Dalmatia, marched upon Reynosa. No alternative was left him but to -retreat toward S. Andero, and the dispersion was so complete, that -there no longer remained any force on this side to oppose the enemy. -Yet in justice to this ill-fated army it should be said, that no men -ever behaved more gallantly, nor with more devoted patriotism. Without -cavalry, half clothed, almost without food, they fought battle after -battle against troops always superior in number, and whose losses were -always filled up with reinforcements. Nor did any circumstance of -disgrace attend their defeat; there was no capitulation, no surrender -of large bodies, or of strong places; the ground on which they fought -was won by the French, and that was all, as long as any body of the -Spaniards remained together. The magazines at Reynosa now fell into -their hands, and they entered S. Andero. ♦NOV. 16.♦ The Bishop saved -himself in an English ship, and General Riquelme expired as his men -were lifting him on board. They had borne him thither from Espinosa; -for, routed as they were, they would not leave him to die in the hands -of the enemy. Here, and in some of the smaller ports, the French found -a considerable booty of English goods. - -♦BUONAPARTE ARRIVES IN SPAIN.♦ - -When Buonaparte arrived in Spain he was not pleased at finding that -Lefebvre had opened the campaign; his hope had been to march a strong -force in the rear of Blake’s army, and thus place it in a situation -where it must either have been destroyed or have laid down its arms. -In crossing the mountains near Mondragon he had nearly lost one of his -favourite Generals, Marshal Lasnes, Duke of Montebello; the ground was -covered with frozen snow, his horse fell with him, and in attempting to -rise fell on him. He was carried to Vitoria in a state of great danger, -his body covered with those discolorations which show that the small -vessels of the skin are ruptured, the abdomen swoln, the extremities -cold, suffering acute pain, and with all the symptoms of inflammation -in the intestines, from the shock and the pressure. M. Larrey, who -attended Buonaparte in all his campaigns, had learnt a remedy from the -savages of Newfoundland, applied by them to some sailors whose boat had -been broken to pieces and themselves dashed by the waves upon their -coast. A large sheep having been first stunned by a blow on the neck, -was immediately flayed, the reeking skin was sown round the Marshal’s -body, while his limbs were wrapped in warm flannels, and some cups of -weak tea were given him. He felt immediate relief, complaining only of -a painful sense of formication, and of the manner in which the skin -seemed to attract every part wherewith it was in contact. In the course -of ten minutes he was ♦LARREY, CAMPAGNES ET MEMOIRES, T. III. 243–246.♦ -asleep. When he awoke, after two hours, the body was streaming with -perspiration, the dangerous symptoms were relieved, and on the fifth -day he was able to mount on horseback and follow the army. - -♦DEFEAT OF THE EXTREMADURAN ARMY AT BURGOS.♦ - -Buonaparte reached the head-quarters at Vitoria on the 8th, and -immediately pushed forward a corps under Soult against the Extremaduran -army in his front. Bessieres commanded the cavalry, which had before -proved so fatal to the Spaniards at Rio Seco, and which had now been -greatly reinforced. This army, under the Conde de Belveder, had been -intended to support Blake, and keep up a communication between his -army and that of Castaños. It consisted of about 13,000 men; and their -Commander, a young man, although aware that a superior force was -advancing against him, waited for the attack in an open ♦NOV. 10.♦ -position at Gamonal. He had with him some of the Walloon and Spanish -guards, and a few regiments of the line; the rest were new levies, and -among them a corps of students, volunteers from Salamanca and Leon. -These youths, the pride and the hope of many a generous family, were in -the advanced guard. They displayed that courage which might be looked -for in men of their condition, and at that time of life: twice they -repulsed the French infantry, and when Bessieres with the horse came -upon their flank, fell almost to a man where they had been stationed. -The loss in killed was estimated at 3000, nearly a fourth of this brave -army; the victorious cavalry entered Burgos with the fugitives, and -the city, which was entirely forsaken by its inhabitants, was given up -to be plundered. Bessieres pursued Count Belveder, while Soult turned -aside toward Reynosa, to complete the destruction of Blake’s army. One -corps of the French marched upon Palencia, another upon Lerma; from -the latter place the Count retreated to Aranda; there also Bessieres -pursued, and the wreck of the army collected at Segovia; the piquets -of the French were now upon the Douro, and their cavalry covered the -plains of Castille. - -♦PROCLAMATION EXCLUDING CERTAIN SPANIARDS FROM PARDON.♦ - -On the second day after the defeat of the Extremaduran army Buonaparte -established his head-quarters at Burgos, and issued a proclamation, -granting, in the Intruder’s name, a pardon to all Spaniards who, -within one month after his arrival at Madrid, should lay down their -arms, and renounce all connexion with England. Neither the members -of the Juntas nor the general officers were excepted: but wishing, -he said, to mark those, who, after having sworn fidelity to Joseph -Buonaparte, had violated that oath; and who, instead of employing -their influence to enlighten the people, had only used it to mislead -them: wishing also that the punishment of great offenders might serve -as an example in future times to all those, who, being placed at the -head of nations, instead of directing them with wisdom and prudence, -should mislead them into disorders and popular tumults, and precipitate -them into misfortunes and war: for these reasons he excepted from -this amnesty the Dukes of Infantado, Hijar, Medina Celi, and Ossuna, -the Marques de Santa Cruz, Counts Fernan Nunez and Altamira, the -ex-Minister of State Cevallos, and the Bishop of S. Andero; declaring -them traitors to the two crowns of France and Spain, and decreeing -that they should be seized, brought before a military commission, and -shot. Those persons who had sworn homage to the Intruder, compulsory as -that homage was, had unquestionably exposed themselves to its possible -consequences: they had been forced into a situation in which the -only alternative was to become traitors to him, or traitors to their -country: but by what law or what logic were they traitors to France, -a country to which they owed no allegiance, and with which they had -contracted no obligation? - -♦MOVEMENTS AGAINST CASTAÑOS.♦ - -From Burgos Marshals Ney and Victor were dispatched with their -divisions to act on the rear of Castaños, and cut off his retreat, -while Lasnes, with 30,000 men, should attack him in front. This last -remaining army of the Spaniards is represented by the French as -consisting of 80,000 men, of whom three-fourths were armed. But the -nominal force of the conjoined armies under Castaños and Palafox was -only 65,000, and the effective soldiers hardly more than half that -amount. Many of the Andalusian troops had returned to their homes -after the first success, and many more had remained at Madrid, so that -though some thousands (mostly from Valencia) had joined Castaños, his -force was little more numerous than it had been at Baylen. His own -opinion was decidedly against risking an action in which there could -be no reasonable hope of advantage; but the commissioner, D. Francisco -Palafox, to whom the power of overruling the General had been madly -entrusted by the Central Junta, determined that a battle should be -fought, and Castaños therefore was compelled to fight, lest he should -be stigmatized as a traitor, and murdered by his own men, or torn to -pieces by a mob. Already the Conde de Montijo, who left the army at -this time, was every where accusing him of treachery, because he had -warmly opposed a determination, the fatal consequences of which he -certainly foresaw. - -♦BATTLE OF TUDELA.♦ - -The plan of the French against this army was the same as that which -they had practised against Blake’s; they meant to rout it by a -powerful attack in front, and to destroy the fugitives by intercepting -them with a second force in their flight. Their destruction was -considered to be as certain as their defeat, but Ney was less -expeditious in his movements than had been calculated; and Castaños -hearing on the 21st that this corps was advancing upon Soria, while -Lasnes and Moncey approached from the side of Logroño and Lodosa, -abandoned Calahorra and fell back upon Tudela. On the 22d Lasnes -entered Calahorra and Alfaro, and at daybreak on the following morning -he found the Spaniards drawn up in seven divisions, with their right -before Tudela, and their left extending along a line of from four -to five miles upon a range of easy heights. The Aragonese, who had -joined only a few hours before by forced marches, were on the right, -the Valencians and the troops of New Castille in the centre, the -Andalusians on the left. Their line was covered by forty pieces of -artillery. Situations were chosen by the enemy for planting sixty -pieces against them; but upon seeing their own relative strength, and -the confusion which was observable among the Spaniards, they preferred -a more summary mode of attack. General Maurice Mathieu, with a division -of infantry, forced the Spanish centre; and General Lefebvre, with the -cavalry, passing through, wheeled to the left, and coming in the rear -of the Aragonese, at a time when that wing, having withstood an attack, -supposed itself victorious, the fate of the battle was decided. At the -same time Lagrange, with his division, attacked the left; a brave, -and in some part a successful resistance was opposed; and the action, -which began in the morning, was prolonged on this side till darkness -enabled Lapeña’s division to fall back from Cascante to Tarazona, -where the first and third divisions were stationed, and had not been -engaged. There too the second division arrived, which had been ordered -to support Lapeña; but though it received these orders at noon, and -the distance which it had to march was only two leagues, either from -incapacity in the leaders, or want of order, it did not arrive till -night, after the action was decided. - -♦RETREAT OF THE DEFEATED ARMY.♦ - -According to the French 4000 Spaniards fell in this battle, 3000 men, -300 officers, and thirty pieces of cannon were taken, their own loss -not amounting to 500. The right wing, dispersing and escaping how it -could, assembled again at Zaragoza, with some of the central division -also, there to prove that their failure in the field had not been for -want of courage. As soon as the wreck of the left had collected at -Tarazona, Castaños ordered them to begin their march by way of Borja to -Calatayud. It was midnight, and at the moment when they were setting -forward a chapel, which served as a magazine, blew up. Many shells went -off after the explosion; this occasioned an opinion that an enemy’s -battery might be playing upon them, and the Royal Carabineers, in the -midst of the confusion, fancying that the chapel was occupied by the -French, presented themselves sword in hand to charge it. Presently -a cry of treason was set up; it spread rapidly; misfortune in such -times is always deemed a proof of treachery; those troops who had -not been engaged could not understand wherefore they were ordered to -retreat, and at such an hour; a general distrust prevailed; some corps -dispersed, and they who remained together were in a fearful state -of insubordination. They retreated however through Borja and Ricla, -without stopping in either place, and on the night of the 25th reached -Calatayud. - -♦THEIR DEPLORABLE CONDITION AT CALATAYUD.♦ - -On that same day Maurice Mathieu entered Borja in pursuit, ... too -late to make any prisoners. Ney arrived on the day following. He had -been ordered to reach Agreda on the 23d, which, if he had done, the -wreck of this army must have been destroyed; but he found a pretext -for delay in the fatigue of his men, and a cause in the pillage of -Soria. The people of that city, unmindful of the example which the -Numantines had set them upon that very ground, opened their gates to -the enemy. This did not save them from being plundered. Their church, -and their rich wool-factors, afforded good spoil to the French; and -for the sake of this booty, and that he might extort all he could -from the inhabitants, Ney remained there three days, not because his -men had been over-marched. But this delay enabled Castaños to reach -Calatayud. He had thus escaped the danger of immediate pursuit, and men -and officers had leisure now to feel the whole wretchedness of their -situation. There were neither magazines nor stores here; the system of -supplying the troops, which before had been miserably incomplete, was -at an end, and the military chest, containing two million _reales_, -had been conveyed to Zaragoza. Desperate with hunger, the men broke -through all restraint, and the inhabitants fled from their houses, -hardly less dismayed at the temper of their own soldiers than at the -vicinity of the French. The muleteers attached to the baggage and -artillery could obtain no payment, nor food either for their animals -or themselves; such as could find opportunity threw away the baggage, -mounted their beasts, and rode away; others abandoned them altogether, -cursing their ill fortune, and yet glad to escape with their lives. The -soldiers, having nothing else to stay the cravings of hunger, devoured -cabbage leaves, or whatever crude vegetables they could find, and many -literally dropped for want. - -♦THEY ARE ORDERED TO APPROACH MADRID.♦ - -Here Palafox and the Aragonese army expected that Castaños would -have rallied, have made a stand, and, acting on the offensive as -circumstances permitted, have saved Zaragoza from a second siege, or -at least have delayed its evil day. They who formed this expectation -did not reckon upon the activity of the enemy, and imputed to their own -government a promptitude and power which it was far from possessing. -Had the defeat of the central army been apprehended in time, and -measures taken for supporting it, one of the first objects would have -been to have strengthened this point. There had been no such foresight. -The French were in pursuit, and orders arrived from Morla, who was one -of the council of war, requiring Castaños to hasten with his army to -the defence of the capital. He consulted accordingly with the chiefs -of division, and they resolved to march by way of Siguenza; from -whence they might either repair to Somosierra, if that strong position -should still be retained, or to Madrid, if such a movement should be -more advisable. In that direction, therefore, they recommenced their -retreat, after one day’s rest. - -♦MEASURES OF THE CENTRAL JUNTA.♦ - -The Central Junta, mean while, was occupying itself with measures ill -adapted to such times. While Blake’s army was fighting, day after day, -without clothing, without food, and without reinforcements to recruit -its ranks, they passed a decree for the establishment of a special -tribunal, to try all persons accused of treason; its object being not -more to bring such as were guilty to deserved punishment, than to -rescue from suspicion and danger those who were unjustly suspected; -for, under the existing circumstances of Spain, they said, the people -having suffered so much from treachery, would naturally suspect all -those whose conduct it did not fully comprehend. The tribunal, which -was composed of members from each of the great councils of state, was -to have a jurisdiction over persons of all ranks: but not to carry -into execution any sentence of death, confiscation, or dismissal from -office, till they laid the whole case before the Supreme Junta. A -certain number of its members might carry on the ordinary business, but -a writ for the arrest of any person, or the sequestration of his goods, -must be issued by the whole. Especial provisions were made to prevent -secret arrest, or long confinement; and the papers of the accused were -not to be detained, as soon as it was ascertained that they contained -no relation to the matter with which he was charged. No proceedings -were to take place upon anonymous information, nor was any informer -to be admitted, who would not consent to let his name be known. The -humanity of these provisions is in such direct opposition to the -practice of the holy office, that it seems to have been the intention -of the framers of this tribunal to render their state inquisition as -unlike as possible to that curse and disgrace of their country. The -tribunal was particularly charged to inquire into the conduct of those -persons who had gone as deputies to Bayonne, or who had submitted to -the Intruder at Madrid; endeavouring carefully to distinguish between -what was compulsory and what was their own act and deed; and proceeding -with the caution and prudence required, where, on the one hand, the -public safety was at stake, and, on the other, the reputation of -many good and honourable citizens. And when their investigations had -established the innocence of any one, they were to consult with the -Supreme Junta upon the means of restoring to him all the credit and -respectability which he had formerly enjoyed. - -By another decree, dated on the day when Castaños was defeated at -Tudela, they resolved that honorary militias should be formed in -all towns which were not in the scene of war, in order to prevent -disorders, and to arrest robbers, deserters, and ill-disposed persons. -A more remarkable measure related to the Ex-Jesuits: their banishment -was repealed, and they were permitted to return to any part of Spain, -and there enjoy their pensions. The reason assigned was, that it was -a miserable thing for them to be expatriated, to live far from their -friends and kin, and be abandoned to the mercy of strangers; that it -was now become difficult to furnish them with the pensions assigned -to them by the crown; and that the sums thus allotted were so much -withdrawn from the circulating specie of the kingdom, to increase that -of foreign and even of hostile countries. This late act of humanity to -the poor survivors of an injured community, is not at any time to be -censured; but it is extraordinary that at such a time it should have -occupied the attention of the Junta. - -Of these measures, all would have been unexceptionable, and even -praise-worthy, had they been well-timed; but the Central Junta still -pursued the fatal system of deceiving the people as to the extent -and imminence of their danger. They addressed a proclamation to the -inhabitants of Madrid, saying, that they had taken all the measures in -their power for defeating the enemy, ♦NOV. 21.♦ who, continuing his -attacks, had advanced to the neighbourhood of Somosierra; and that the -number of the French there hardly amounted to 8000 men. The enthusiasm -with which the soldiers were preparing to beat the enemies of their -country, they said, and their confidence in their valour, was not to be -expressed; and the English were ready to march from the Escurial, to -reinforce the position chosen by the able general whom the Junta had -appointed, and to support the operations of the van, who, by that time, -were already engaged with the slaves of the tyrant. - -With such representations did the government endeavour to deceive the -people of Madrid, and lull them into a feeling of security, when its -duty was, to have told them the whole extent of their danger, and -manfully roused them to those exertions which the emergency required. -But they themselves still in some degree partook the delusion which -they inspired. Their confidence in the Spanish character was too well -founded ever to be shaken; and they relied, with little reflection, -upon the natural strength of the country. Their present hope was upon -the pass of the Somosierra. D. Benito San Juan, a judicious and able -officer, of high reputation, was stationed there with the remains -of the Extremaduran army, which had with great promptitude been -reinforced. The Junta did not call to mind with how little difficulty -Vedel had forced the stronger passes of the Sierra Morena. - -♦PASS OF THE SOMOSIERRA FORCED.♦ - -Buonaparte continued at Aranda till the 29th, when his head-quarters -were removed to Bocaguillas, a village upon the skirts of the -Somosierra. There he learnt that about 6000 men were entrenched upon -the heights of Sepulveda, and that a stronger body occupied the pass. -The advanced guard was attacked without the success which the French -expected; but the Spaniards, instead of being encouraged by this -advantage, forsook their entrenchments and dispersed. On the following -morning the enemy, under M. ♦NOV. 30.♦ Victor, attempted the pass. -Sixteen pieces of cannon had been well placed to flank the ascent, and -some attempts had been made to break up the road; but this easy means -of defence had been so imperfectly performed, that the pass was won -by a charge of Polish lancers. They were favoured in their approach -by a thick fog; but the Spaniards must have strangely neglected the -advantage of the ground, when they suffered a strong mountain defile -to be taken by a charge of light horse. The men, fancying themselves -betrayed, betrayed themselves by their own fears; they threw away their -arms, and dispersed among the hills, leaving all the artillery and -baggage to the enemy. And now the way to Madrid was open. - -During the series of disasters which thus rapidly succeeded each -other, there had been no time for the Junta to think of removing -their residence to the capital, still less for them to take into -consideration, on the appointed day, the plan for forming a Regency, -and convoking the ♦THE CENTRAL JUNTA RETIRE FROM ARANJUEZ.♦ Cortes. -They began now to feel themselves insecure at Aranjuez; ... already -advanced parties of the French had approached the Tagus; wherever they -went there was no armed force to oppose them; they had appeared at -Villarejo on the 28th, on the 30th at Mostoles; and if at this time two -or three hundred horse, with a few infantry, had pushed on to Aranjuez, -they might with perfect ease have surprised the Junta, and by depriving -Spain of its government, have inflicted ♦JOVELLANOS’S MEMORIAL, P. II. -§ 44.♦ upon it a more dangerous injury than all which it had hitherto -suffered in the field. This opportunity was overlooked by Buonaparte; -and the Junta, sensible of their danger when the consequences of the -defeat at Tudela and the rout at Somosierra were known, deliberated -whither to retire. Florida-Blanca, who was sinking under the burthen -of years and the anxieties of his situation, was for removing at once -to Cadiz, and a few others agreed with him. Jovellanos, who added to -his other virtues that of perfect calmness and intrepidity under any -danger, represented that this would be sacrificing too much for safety; -and that the honour of the government, as well as the public service, -required that it should establish itself as near as possible to the -theatre of war. Toledo was named, and rejected, ♦1808. DECEMBER.♦ as -having nothing but its situation to defend it. Cordoba and Seville were -proposed, but liable to the same objection; and Badajoz, which was the -place that Jovellanos advised, was chosen: the provinces every where -were open to the enemy, but Badajoz was a strong place, from whence -the Junta might correspond with the British army, and with that which -Romana was now re-forming in the northern provinces from the dispersed -troops of Blake and the Conde de Belveder. There they could take -measures for raising new armies in Extremadura and Andalusia; and if -the French should overrun those provinces, which there was now nothing -to prevent them from doing, they might thence pass through Portugal to -those northern parts where the founders of the Spanish monarchy had -found an asylum from the Moors; and where its restorers, animated with -the same spirit, might, in like manner, Jovellanos thought, maintain -the independence of their country. They were to halt at Toledo on the -way, and there take such measures as circumstances might require. - -♦STATE OF MADRID.♦ - -Two days before the passage of the Somosierra orders had been given -to arm and embody the people of Madrid. The people were ready and -willing, but this measure had been too long delayed; nevertheless a -permanent Junta was formed, to maintain order, and provide for the -defence of the capital; and the latter object was especially entrusted -to Morla and to the Marques de Castelar. Now indeed was the time for -that city to have emulated Zaragoza, and the spirit was not wanting in -the inhabitants, had there been one commanding mind to have directed -them. Priests and regulars came forward to bear arms, and old men, and -women, and boys offered themselves for the service of their country; -... for this purpose leaving their houses open, and their property -to take its chance, they employed themselves in opening trenches, -erecting batteries, and barricading the streets. The pavements were -torn up, and women and children carried the stones to the tops of the -houses, to be used from thence against the enemy. Parapets were made -on the houses, and the doors stopped with mattresses. Whatever arms -were in the possession of individuals were brought forth, and about -8000 muskets were distributed. The troops who were in the city, and -the armed inhabitants, were now assembled in the Prado, that they -might be distributed to their appointed stations; the first step for -establishing that order without which all efforts in defence of the -city would be ineffectual. Great confusion prevailed, and when the -people called out for cartridges, Morla coolly replied, that there -were none. Happy had it been for Morla, if the indignation which -this proof of negligence excited had been directed against himself; -had he then perished under the hands of the mob, the treachery which -he was preparing would never have been known on earth, and he would -have escaped perpetual infamy. But his character stood so high, that -no ♦MARQUES DE PERALES MURDERED BY THE POPULACE.♦ suspicion pointed -towards him. It happened that among those cartridges which had been -delivered in the morning some were found containing sand instead of -gunpowder; they had probably been made by some dishonest workman, or -mischievous lad; but in such a time of feverish irritation and imminent -danger, the fact was of course imputed to a deep-laid scheme of -treason, and the Marques de Perales was the person upon whom the crime -was laid. The Duque del Infantado was informed that a mob was hastening -toward the house of this unfortunate nobleman, and that he and his -family were in the greatest peril. Infantado himself seems to have -thought there was guilt somewhere; he repaired instantly to the spot, -meaning to deliver over the suspected persons to a proper tribunal, by -which they might be tried; but before he arrived Perales[38] had been -pierced with wounds, and his dead body dragged upon a mat through the -streets, the rabble accompanying it, and exulting in what they believed -his deserved punishment. - -♦THE DUQUE DEL INFANTADO SENT TO THE CENTRAL ARMY.♦ - -The permanent Junta, who held their sittings at the post-office, as -the most central point, taking into consideration the proximity of -their danger, thought that more reliance was to be placed upon succour -from without, than on any exertions of the inhabitants. These persons -were in truth unequal to the arduous situation in which they were -placed; even the example of Zaragoza had not taught them what wonders -might be effected in a civic defence; and they did not consider, that -as the first insurrection, and the consequent massacre at Madrid, had -roused all Spain to arms, a greater impulse would now be given if -the capital opposed a determined resistance. They agreed therefore -to content themselves with such efforts as might prevent the enemy -from instantly forcing the town, and induce him to grant terms of -capitulation. If by this means time could be gained for a diversion to -be effected, or a successful attempt made in their favour, it would be -well; but if not, their minds were subdued to this. They counted upon -succour from San Juan’s troops, many of whom were now arriving, and -they dispatched Infantado to meet the remains of the central army, and -bring it ♦MANIFESTO DEL DUQUE DEL INFANTADO, I. 10.♦ with all speed to -the relief of Madrid. On the 2d of December, therefore, early in the -morning, the Duke set out on this forlorn commission, accompanied by -the Duque de Albuquerque and a small escort. - -♦MADRID SUMMONED TO SURRENDER.♦ - -Only an hour or two after their departure, Bessieres, with the -French cavalry, came within sight of Madrid, and took possession of -the heights. Buonaparte arrived at noon on the same day, being the -anniversary of his coronation. There were not more than 6000 troops in -the city, but there were ten times as many men ready to lay down their -lives in its defence; and the sight of the enemy excited indignation, -not dismay. It was apparent that there was a total want of order among -the people, but that they were in a state of feeling which might render -them truly formidable: the bells of all the churches and convents were -sounding, and from time to time the shouts of the multitude were heard, -and the beat of drums. Preparations had been made which evinced at once -the zeal and the ignorance of those by whom they were directed; the -batteries were so low, that it was easy for the French to plant their -guns where they could completely command them; and they were so near -the wall, that there was scarcely room to work them, and the men would -suffer more by the broken stones than the direct effect ♦INFANTADO, -P. 4.♦ of the enemy’s shot. Buonaparte thought it easier to force the -city than he would have found it; but though insensible to any humane -considerations, policy made him desirous of avoiding that extremity. -Such a catastrophe might inflame the continent as well as Spain, by -proclaiming to all Europe how utterly the Spaniards abhorred the yoke -under which he had undertaken to subject them. An aide-de-camp of -Marshal Bessieres was therefore sent to summon the town in form; he -was seized by the people, and would have been torn to pieces if the -soldiers had not protected him. No communication could be opened that -day with those who wished to deliver up the capital. In the evening the -French infantry came up; arrangements for an attack in the morning -were made by moonlight; and at midnight a Spanish Colonel, who had been -taken at Somosierra, was sent with a letter from M. Berthier, Prince -of Neufchatel, to the Marques de Castelar, exhorting him not to expose -Madrid to the horrors of an assault. Castelar replied, that he must -consult the constituted authorities, and ascertain also how the people -were affected by their present circumstances before he could give an -answer; and he requested a suspension of arms for the ensuing day. - -♦MORLA TREATS FOR A CAPITULATION.♦ - -This reply was sent on the morning of the 3rd. Before it arrived an -attack had been commenced upon the Buen Retiro, the favourite palace -of Philip IV. which had been fortified with some care, as a point -from whence the city might be commanded. Thirty pieces of cannon -soon made a breach in the walls, and the place was carried, after -a thousand Spaniards had fallen in defending it. The other outlets -which had been fortified were won also, but the French were repulsed -from the gates of Fuencarral and Segovia. Some shells were thrown, -in the hope of intimidating the inhabitants. In the forenoon of the -ensuing day Berthier sent in a second summons. “Immense batteries,” -said he, “are mounted, mines are prepared to blow up your principal -buildings, columns of troops are at the entrances of the town, of -which some companies of sharp-shooters have made themselves masters. -But the Emperor, always generous in the course of his victories, -suspends the attack till two o’clock. To defend Madrid is contrary to -the principles of war, and inhuman towards the inhabitants. The town -ought to seek protection for its peaceable inhabitants, and oblivion -for the past.” The firing ceased, and at five in the afternoon Morla -and D. Bernardo Yriarte came out to Berthier’s tent. They assured -him that Madrid was without resources, and that it would be the -height of madness to continue its defence, but that the populace -and the volunteers from the country were determined to persevere in -defending it. They themselves were convinced that this was hopeless, -and requested a pause of a few hours, that they might make the people -understand their real situation.... Hopeless, and without resources, -when threescore thousand men were ready to defend their streets, and -doors, and chambers! This would not have been said if Palafox had been -in Madrid. - -♦SPEECH OF BUONAPARTE TO THE DEPUTIES.♦ - -These unworthy deputies were introduced to Buonaparte, and one of -those theatrical displays ensued in which he delighted to exhibit -himself. “You use the name of the people to no purpose,” said he; “if -you cannot appease them, and restore tranquillity, it is because you -have inflamed them, and led them astray by propagating falsehoods. Call -together the clergy, the heads of convents, the Alcaldes, the men of -property and influence, and let the city capitulate before six in the -morning, or it shall cease to exist. I will not withdraw my troops, -nor ought I to withdraw them. You have murdered the unfortunate -French prisoners who fell into your hands; and only a few days ago -you suffered two persons in the suite of the Russian Ambassador to be -dragged through the streets, and killed, because they were Frenchmen. -The incapacity and the cowardice of a General put into your power -troops who capitulated on the field of battle, and that capitulation -has been violated. You, M. Morla, what sort of an epistle did you write -to that General? Perhaps it becomes you, Sir, to talk of pillage; -you, who, when you entered Roussillon, carried off all the women, and -distributed them as booty among your soldiers. Besides, what right had -you to use such language? the capitulation precluded you from it. See -what has been the conduct of the English, who are yet far from piquing -themselves on being strict observers of the law of nations. They cried -out against the convention of Portugal, but they have fulfilled it. -To violate military treaties is to renounce all civilization; it is -placing generals on a footing with the Bedouins of the desert. How dare -you then presume to solicit a capitulation, you who violated that of -Baylen? See how injustice and ill faith always recoil upon the guilty! -I had a fleet at Cadiz, it was in alliance with Spain, and yet you -directed against it the mortars of the city where you commanded. I had -a Spanish army in my ranks; and rather than disarm it, I would have -seen it embark on board the English ships, and be forced to precipitate -it afterwards down the rocks at Espinosa. I would rather have seven -thousand more enemies to fight than be wanting in honour and good -faith. Return to Madrid. I give you till six o’clock in the morning; -come back at that hour, if you have to announce the submission of the -people; otherwise you and your troops shall be all put to the sword.” -Had there been a Spaniard present to have replied as became him in -behalf of his country, Buonaparte would have trembled at the reply, -like Felix before the Apostle. - -♦SURRENDER OF MADRID.♦ - -The enemy had now been three days before Madrid, and the ardour of -the people was deadened by delay and distrust. Deserted and betrayed -as they were, they knew not in whom to confide, and therefore began -to feel that it behoved every one to provide for his own safety. -During the night the strangers who had come to assist in the defence -of the capital, and such of the inhabitants as had been most zealous -in the national cause, left a scene where they were not allowed to -exert themselves; and at ten o’clock on the morning of the 5th the -French General Belliard took the command of the city. Morla’s first -stipulation was, that the catholic apostolic Roman religion should be -preserved, and no other legally tolerated. No person was to be molested -for his political opinions, or writings, nor for what he had done in -obedience to the former government, nor the people, for the efforts -which they had made in their defence. It was as easy for the tyrant to -grant this, as to break it whenever he might think proper. The fifth -article required that no contributions should be exacted beyond the -ordinary ones. This was granted till the realm should definitely be -organized; and, with the same qualifying reserve, it was agreed, that -the laws, customs, and courts of justice should be preserved. Another -article required, that the French officers and troops should not be -quartered in private houses nor in convents. This was granted with -a proviso, that the troops should have quarters and tents furnished -conformably to military regulations, ... regulations which placed -houses and convents at their mercy. The Spanish troops were to march -out with the honours of war, but without their arms and cannon: the -armed peasantry to leave their weapons, and return to their abodes. -They who had enlisted among the troops of the line within the last four -months were discharged from their engagements, and might return home; -the rest should be prisoners of war till an exchange took place, which, -it was added, should immediately commence between equal numbers, rank -for rank. It was asked that the public debts and engagements should -be faithfully discharged; but this, it was replied, being a political -object, belonged to the cognizance of the assembly of the realm, and -depended on the general administration. The last article stipulated, -that those generals who might wish to continue in Madrid should -preserve their rank, and such as were desirous of quitting it, should -be at liberty so to do. This was granted; but their pay was only to -continue till the kingdom received its ultimate organization. - -♦DECREES ISSUED BY BUONAPARTE.♦ - -Notwithstanding the formality with which the soldiers were included -in this capitulation, very few of them remained to be subject to its -conditions. Castelar and all the military officers of rank refused to -enter into any terms, and, with the main body of the troops and sixteen -guns, marched out of the city on the night of the 4th, and effected -their retreat. The Council of Castille, which had already suffered the -just reproaches of their country, had now to endure the censure of -the tyrant whom they had supported while his power was predominant, -and disowned when the tide turned against him. He issued a decree, -whereby, considering that that Council had shown, in the exercise of -its functions, as much falsehood as weakness, and that, after having -published the renunciation of the Bourbons, and acknowledged the -right of Joseph Buonaparte to the throne, it had had the baseness to -declare that it had signed those documents with secret reservations, he -displaced them, as cowards, unworthy to be the magistrates of a brave -and generous nation. Care, however, was taken to except those who had -been cautious enough not to sign the recantation. At the same time -another decree was passed, abolishing the Inquisition, as incompatible -with the sovereign power, and with the civil authority. Its property -was to be united to the domains of Spain, as a guarantee for the public -debt. A third decree reduced the number of existing convents to -one-third. This was to be effected by uniting the members of several -convents in one; and no novice was to be admitted or professed till the -number of religioners of either sex should be reduced to one-third of -their present amount. All novices were ordered to quit their respective -convents within a fortnight; and those who, having professed, wished -to change their mode of life, and to live as secular ecclesiastics, -were permitted so to do, and a pension secured to them, to be regulated -by their age, but neither exceeding 4000 reales, nor falling short of -3000. From the possessions of the suppressed convents, a sum was to -be set apart sufficient for increasing the proportion of the parish -priests, so that the lowest salary should amount to 2400 reales; the -surplus of this property should be united to the national domains; -half of it appropriated to guarantee the public debt, the other to -reimburse the provinces and cities the expenses occasioned by supplying -the armies, and to indemnify the losses caused by the war. Provincial -custom-houses were abolished, and all seignorial courts of justice; -no other jurisdiction being permitted to exist than the royal courts; -and another decree, premising that one of the greatest abuses in the -finances of Spain arose from the alienation of different branches of -the imposts, which were, in their nature, unalienable, enacted, that -every individual in possession, either by grant, sale, or any other -means, of any portion of the civil or ecclesiastical imposts, should -cease to receive them. - -♦PROCLAMATION TO THE SPANIARDS.♦ - -Buonaparte now addressed a proclamation to the Spaniards. What possible -result, he asked them, could attend even the success of some campaigns? -Nothing but an endless war upon their own soil. It had cost him only a -few marches to defeat their armies, and he would soon drive the English -from the peninsula. Thus, to the rights which had been ceded him by -the princes of the last dynasty, he had added the right of conquest: -that, however, should not make any alteration in his intentions. His -wish was to be their regenerator. All that obstructed their prosperity -and their greatness, he had destroyed; he had broken the chains which -bore the people down; and, instead of an absolute monarchy, had given -them a limited one, with a free constitution. The conclusion of this -proclamation was in a spirit of blasphemy, hitherto confined to the -barbarous countries of Africa or the East. “Should all my efforts,” -said he, “prove fruitless, and should you not merit my confidence, -nothing will remain for me but to treat you as conquered provinces, and -to place my brother upon another throne. I shall then set the crown of -Spain upon my own head, and cause it to be respected by the guilty; -_for God has given me power and inclination to surmount all obstacles_.” - -But though Buonaparte had thus easily dispersed the Spanish armies, and -made himself master of Madrid, his triumph was not without alloy. He -now perceived with what utter ignorance ♦CHANGE IN BUONAPARTE’S VIEWS -CONCERNING SPAIN.♦ of the national character he had formed the scheme -of this usurpation, and he complained of having been deceived, when, -in reality, he had turned a deaf ear to all who would have dissuaded -him from his purpose. Till he arrived at Madrid, ♦DE PRADT, 180.♦ the -people, as well as the armies, had disappeared before him; the towns -and cities were abandoned ♦ROCCA, 24, 55.♦ as his troops approached. -Twelve months before there was no other country wherein his exploits -were regarded with such unmingled admiration; they had a character of -exaggerated greatness which suited the Spanish mind, and as he had -always been the ally of Spain, no feeling of hostility or humiliation -existed to abate this sentiment: now, it was not to be disguised from -himself that he was universally detested there as a perfidious tyrant. -But policy, as well as pride, withheld him from receding; unless he -went through with what he had begun, he must confess himself fallible, -and let the world see that his power was not equal to his will, and -then the talisman of his fortune would have been broken. He had -committed the crime and incurred the odium; wherefore then should he -not reap the benefit, and secure the prize, not for a brother, whom he -began to regard with contempt as the mere puppet of his pleasure, but -for himself? This was a feeling which he did not conceal from those who -possessed his confidence; and Joseph, and the unworthy ministers who -had abased themselves to serve him, were made to perceive it, by the -manner in which Napoleon, regardless even of appearances, issued edicts -in his own name, as in a kingdom of his ♦DE PRADT, 222, 225.♦ own. The -obstinacy of the Spaniards in refusing to acknowledge his brother, he -thought, would give him ere long a pretext for treating the country as -his own by right of conquest. Meantime no interval was to be allowed -them for collecting the wreck of their forces to make another stand. - -♦RETREAT OF THE CENTRAL ARMY.♦ - -Three days before the battle of Somosierra, Castaños, with his broken -army, recommenced their retreat from Calatayud. Some ten miles west of -that city, near the village of Buvierca, the high road to Madrid passes -through a narrow gorge, where the river Xalon has forced or found -its way between two great mountain ridges. When D. Francisco Xavier -Venegas, with the rear-guard, consisting of 5000 men, reached this -place, he found instructions from the Commander-in-chief, requesting -him to suspend his march, and take measures for defending the pass, -on which, he said, the safety of the other divisions depended; and -he desired him to place the troops whom he selected for this purpose -under such officers as would volunteer their services, promising to -reward them in proportion to the importance and danger of the duty. -Venegas was too well aware of its importance to trust the command to -any but himself, and he replied, that he would halt there till the -rest of the army was beyond the reach of pursuit. Early on the 29th -the French came up, 8000 in number, under Mathieu. They commenced an -attack at eight o’clock, which continued for eight hours: the Spaniards -suffered severely; but they maintained the pass, and they effectually -disabled this part of the French army from pursuing. On the evening -of the following day the army reached Siguenza with all the artillery -which they took with them from Tarazona, notwithstanding the bad state -of the roads and the fatigue of the men, who had been allowed no rest -upon this last march. Here Castaños received a summons from the Central -Junta, and resigned the command to Don Manuel de Lapeña. - -♦LAPEÑA SUCCEEDS TO THE COMMAND.♦ - -The situation to which this general succeeded was deplorable. The -artillery had indeed been saved, and the pass of Buvierca most -gallantly maintained; nevertheless the army had suffered during its -retreat from all the accumulated evils of disorder, insubordination, -nakedness, and cold, and hunger, and fatigue. Sometimes when the -rear-guard had been on the point of taking food, the enemy came in -sight, and the ready meal was abandoned to the pursuers; this, though -it was the effect as much of panic in the soldiers as of any want of -conduct in their commanders, gave new cause for dissatisfaction and -distrust. The men themselves were ready to fly at sight of the French, -because they suspected their leaders, yet they accused their leaders of -treachery for not always turning and making head against the enemy, -... not reflecting, that the officers in like manner, though from a -different motive, could place no confidence in their men. Many dropped -on the way, overmarched, or foundered for want of shoes; others turned -aside because they considered the army as entirely broken up: they were -ready to die for their country, but it was folly, they thought, to -squander their lives, and, under the present circumstances, their duty -was to preserve themselves, and recover strength for future service. -The loss at Buvierca, too, had been considerable. Before they reached -Siguenza the four divisions had thus been wasted down to 8000 men. - -♦THEY ARRIVE AT GUADALAXARA.♦ - -It was on the evening of the last day of November that they reached -this point. Here message after message arrived, requiring them to -hasten with all possible speed to Somosierra. They set forward again -the following day, the infantry by Atienza and Jadraque, the horse and -artillery by Guadalaxara, in order to avoid the bad roads, leaving -the river Henares on their right. This plan was soon changed; advices -reached them in the middle of the night at Jadraque, that the pass of -Somosierra had been lost. It was now determined that the whole army -should march for Guadalaxara, for the defence of Madrid; information -of this movement was dispatched to the Marques de Castelar, in that -city; and persons were sent, some to ascertain the position of the -enemy, others to learn whither San Juan had retreated, in order that -some operations might be concerted with him. ♦DEC. 2.♦ The next day, -when the foremost troops entered Guadalaxara, they found some detached -parties of the enemy in the town, whom they drove out: the first and -fourth divisions, the horse and the artillery, arrived there that -night; here the news was, that Madrid was attacked, and the continual -firing which was heard confirmed it. Poor as the numbers were which -they could carry to the capital, they were eager to be there; and if -Madrid had been protected, as it might have been, by a British army, -or defended as the inhabitants, had it not been for treachery, would -have defended it, 8000 men, who stood by their colours under so many -hopeless circumstances, would have brought an important succour. The -inhabitants relied with great confidence upon this reinforcement; ... -they expected hourly that these brave men would appear, and take post -beside them at their gates, and in their streets; and one of the most -successful artifices by which the traitors who made the capitulation -depressed their zeal, was by reporting that a second battle had been -fought, in which the army of the centre had been entirely defeated by -Marshal Ney, so that no possible succour could be expected from it. At -the very time when this falsehood was reported, a part of this brave -army was only nine leagues from Madrid, impatient to proceed to its -assistance. They were, however, compelled to remain inactive the whole -of the next day, waiting for the second and third divisions and the -van, which did not come up till the day following. - -♦THE DUQUE DEL INFANTADO JOINS THEM.♦ - -On that day the Duque del Infantado joined them, having passed safely -through the advanced posts of the French by favour of a thick fog. -A council of war was held; the urgent danger of the capital was -represented by the Duke, and low as his hopes had fallen, when he saw -the deplorable state to which the remains of the army were reduced -by fatigue and hunger, it was nevertheless determined that an effort -should be made, not to attack the besiegers, for this would have -been madness, but to collect as large a convoy of provisions as they -could, and endeavour to enter with it under cover of the night by the -Atocha gate. The Duke, however, knew but too well the situation of -the metropolis; and at his suggestion a letter was sent to the French -General who commanded before the walls, reminding him that a great -number of French were in the hands of the Spaniards, and would be held -responsible with their lives for any ill treatment which might be -offered to the inhabitants of Madrid. Both the officer and the trumpet -were detained prisoners by Buonaparte’s orders. - -♦CONDITION OF THE TROOPS. - -DEC. 4.♦ - -The troops were now mustered, and it was then perceived what they had -lost in number, and how severely they had suffered during this fearful -retreat. From 6000 to 7000 infantry, and about 1500 cavalry, were all -that could be brought together; men and horses alike exhausted by -fatigue and hunger; many indeed had fallen and perished by the way. -Here for the first time they found something like relief, great numbers -not having tasted bread for eight days: they had now sufficient food, -and there was cloth enough in the manufactory there to supply every man -with a _poncho_, the rude garment of the Indians about Buenos Ayres, -which the Spaniards have adopted for its simplicity and convenience. -Meantime the French were collecting in their neighbourhood; they -occupied Alcala and the adjoining villages, and some skirmishes took -place at Meca. Buonaparte had been informed of their movements, and as -soon as Madrid capitulated, Bessieres was dispatched to Guadalaxara -with a considerable force of horse, and Victor followed with infantry. -The first business of Lapeña was to disencumber himself of his -superfluous artillery, for they had brought off no fewer than sixty -pieces of cannon. Forty of these, to preserve them from the enemy, -were sent across the Tagus at Sacedon, and these were safely forwarded -to Carthagena. The van, under Venegas, which had saved the army at -Buvierca, arrived on the night of the 4th. Its losses had been replaced -by drafts; the post of honour and of danger had been assigned it during -the whole of this retreat, and it continued to cover the movements -of the other divisions. Two of them were leaving Guadalaxara when it -arrived, the second and third followed the next noon, in two columns, -proceeding by two roads to Santorcaz: this division began to follow -them, but before it was out of one gate, the advanced guard of the -enemy entered at another. - -♦THEY RETIRE TOWARDS THE TAGUS.♦ - -Venegas perceived the importance of a position to the south of the -city, lying directly between the two roads to Santorcaz, and he -immediately, occupied it. The battalions (_tercios_) of Ledesma and -Salamanca, which formed the rear of the third division, perceived his -intention, and turned back and joined him; their commanding officers, -D. Luis de Lacy and D. Alexandre de Hore, being ambitious of bearing -part in the action which they expected. The French were in great force -opposite on the right bank of the Henares; some of their detachments -forded both on the right and left of the Spaniards’ position; but -light troops had been stationed on both the flanks, who skirmished -with them, and repelled them till night. The position was judged too -formidable in front to be attacked, and the main body of the French -halted during the whole evening, not choosing to cross the river. -Having thus obtained time for the army to perform its march, which was -all he hoped or wanted, Venegas broke up three hours after the darkness -had closed, and continued his retreat in good order without the loss -of a single man. The Commander now took up a position at Santorcaz, a -little village about two leagues east of Alcala, between the rivers -Henares and Tajuna. There he learnt the fate of Madrid. The French now -evacuated Alcala, and extended themselves along the heights at the back -of Meca, and along the banks of the Jarama, pushing their advanced -parties to Arganda, Morata, and other places in that neighbourhood. -The plan of Lapeña and his officers under these circumstances was, to -cross the Tagus at Aranjuez, and take shelter, if necessary, among the -mountains of Toledo. With this intent they marched to Villarejo de -Salvanes. A few poor soldiers, who dropped behind at Nuevo-Bastan, were -sabred by the French with that cruelty which at this time so frequently -characterised and disgraced their armies. - -♦PASSAGE OF THE TAGUS.♦ - -On the 6th, when they were about to proceed to Aranjuez, tidings -came that the French were in possession of that place, and this was -confirmed by an express from General Llamas, who had vainly attempted -to resist the enemy there with a few armed peasantry, and a few -soldiers who had escaped from Madrid. New difficulties now presented -themselves to the remnant of this harassed army. To look towards Toledo -was become hopeless: it was equally hopeless to make for Andalusia, -for the French General, Ruffin, as soon as he had obtained possession -of Aranjuez, crossed the Tagus, and, pushing on as far as Ocaña, cut -off their retreat in that direction. Nothing remained but to cross -the Tagus by boats at Villamanrique, Fuenteduenas, Estramera, and -other places where there were ferries, and make for the Sierras of -Cuenca. There it was hoped they might be able to rest, rally the -stragglers, and again unite in numbers sufficient to take vengeance -for all their sufferings. Hazardous as it was to cross the river in -this manner, with an enemy so near at hand, it was effected with rare -good fortune; the French had not foreseen the attempt, and not a man -nor a gun was lost. Having gained the left bank of the river, they -hastened on their retreat, and head-quarters were established on the -7th at Belinchon. The second division, under General Grimanest, which -crossed at Villamanrique, was the only one which was endangered. This -having effected the passage, took up a position at Santa Cruz, between -Aranjuez and Ucles, where it was attacked on the night of the 8th -by a corps of Bessieres’ division, under General Montbrun. Finding -themselves unable to maintain the position against a force which was -superior to their own, they abandoned it before they sustained any loss. - -♦SOME OF THE TROOPS MUTINY.♦ - -The first and fourth divisions mutinied on their march to Yedra, -where they were to be stationed. This was ascribed to the intrigues -of some traitorous agents, as well as to the unprincipled ambition of -a few officers, desirous, in these times of insubordination, to exalt -themselves by flattering the soldiers and slandering their commanders. -It was easy to inflame the men, who imputed all their misfortunes to -treason, and were already in a state of great insubordination. They -insisted upon marching to Madrid, that they might attack the enemy -there; an artillery officer was at their head; and the guns were -planted to prevent the troops from proceeding in the direction where -they had been ordered. A difference of opinion among themselves -prevented the execution of this mad purpose; some were for hastening to -Despeñaperros, to take their post in the passes of the Sierra Morena -for the defence of Andalusia. This afforded opportunity for the General -to reason with them, and pacify them for a while. In consequence of -this circumstance, the difficulty which daily increased of subsisting -the troops, their increasing wants, and the rapid desertions which were -naturally occasioned by privations, want of hope, and total relaxation -of discipline, Lapeña assembled his general officers at Alcazar de -Huete. The Duque del Infantado, and Llamas, who had joined them at -Villarejo, were present at this council, and it was determined, on -Lapeña’s proposal, that the ♦INFANTADO CHOSEN COMMANDER. DEC. 9.♦ -Duque should take the command. One reason for appointing him was, that -he was president of the Council of Castille, and in that character -was entitled to require provisions and all things necessary from the -people, ... such being the respect paid to the old authorities and -established forms, even at a time when necessity might have superseded -all laws, as paramount to all. - -♦THEY RETIRE TO CUENCA.♦ - -No command was ever accepted under more painful and disheartening -circumstances. The troops were in a state of mutiny: the enemy within -three leagues, preparing to complete their destruction; they had -neither stores, supplies, nor treasure, nor other means of obtaining -any than by the obedience which the people might pay to his authority; -and upon any panic which might seize the soldiers, or any suspicion -that should arise among them, the General would be the first victim; it -had too fatally been proved, that no character, however unimpeached, no -services, however eminent, afforded any protection against the ferocity -of a deluded multitude. With a full sense of these dangers, the Duke -accepted a command which it might have been even more dangerous to -refuse. His rank, his affable manners, the part which he had taken -against the Prince of the Peace, and the share which he was supposed -to have had in bringing about the downfall of that worthless minion, -had made him one of the most popular persons in Spain; and though he -had lost something by accompanying Ferdinand on his miserable journey -to Bayonne, still he stood high in the opinion of the nation. The new -appointment was announced to the army in a short proclamation; and the -Central Junta ratified it afterwards, approving Lapeña’s resignation, -and dispensing with an informality, which the dangerous and peculiar -state of things rendered prudent. The immediate good which had been -expected from this measure was produced; for the soldiers confided in -their untried General, and order was re-established among them. On -the 10th they entered Cuenca, there concluding a retreat of nearly -four hundred and fifty miles. The position of that city enabled them -to receive supplies from La Mancha, Valencia, and Murcia; there they -rested for a while, discipline was restored, and three persons, -who had been most active in the mutiny, were brought to trial and -executed. The troops were clothed, funds were raised for paying and -supporting them, and hospitals established. The stragglers having -recovered that strength, for want of which they had fallen behind, -rejoined their corps; new levies were raised; and it was manifest that, -notwithstanding all their disasters, notwithstanding the mighty power -of the enemy, the treachery of some leaders, and the misconduct of -others, which had been hardly less injurious, the spirit of patriotism -was still unimpaired, and the people, by whom alone a country is to be -saved, had not abated one jot of heart or hope. - -♦ARRIVAL OF THE CONDE DE ALACHE’S CORPS.♦ - -Five days after their arrival they were joined by a corps which it was -supposed had been cut off among the mountains of Rioja. The history -of its escape is equally honourable to the men and to the Conde de -Alache D. Miguel Lili, who conducted them. They formed originally a -part of the army of Old Castille, under the Conde de Cartaojal, which -had been broken up after the position of Logroño was lost. At the -end of October, Castaños stationed it along the skirts of the Sierra -de Cameros, extending from in front of Logroño to Lodosa; the last -division of this force, which formed the left flank of the army, was -posted at Nalda under Lili. During the first three weeks of November, -this division sustained repeated and almost daily attacks; varying its -position as circumstances required, and having, like Blake’s army, to -endure the severest privations; nevertheless it carried off fourteen -pieces of artillery, from Nalda to Ausejo and Calahorra, in sight of -the French, and by roads which had been thought impracticable. On the -night of the 21st, Lili received intelligence that a considerable force -of the enemy had moved from Logroño towards Ausejo; the next day he -learnt that the Spaniards, who were stationed there and at Tudelilla, -had fallen back upon their right, and that 5000 French infantry and -1000 horse had moved from Najara, giving out that they were going -for Calahorra. He was thus in imminent danger of being surrounded. -Immediately he left the banks of the Iregua, and fell back to Venta de -Codes, four leagues in the rear of Nalda, where, in the course of the -night, a messenger from Cartaojal reached him with instructions written -at Tudelilla, on the 21st, saying, that the French were in great force -at Ausejo, and that Castaños ordered him to retreat by the Sierra to -Agreda, whither Cartaojal himself was going with all his troops to -oppose the French on the side of Almazan. - -♦NOV. 23.♦ - -For Agreda, therefore, Lili began his march at daybreak. By two in the -afternoon he had reached Villar del Rio, five leagues from the place -which he had left, eight from that to which he was bound; but here -he met intelligence of fresh disasters and new dangers. Agreda, it -was said, had already been abandoned by the Spaniards; 1200 French -cavalry, with a small body of foot, were on their way to that town from -Soria, which had opened its gates to the enemy; other columns from -Soria and from Almazan were to follow in the same direction. Fugitives -now arrived every hour, with tidings that the enemy were sacking one -place, or approaching another, all their parties tending to the one -point of Agreda. Lili perceived, that if Cartaojal had not already -retired from that town, he inevitably must, and that for himself, -if he continued his march, it would be to run into the midst of his -enemies. He did not hesitate, therefore, to disobey orders which would -have involved him in certain destruction; and, acting upon his own -judgement, he marched the next morning in a contrary direction, to -Lumbreras, and the day afterwards to Montenegro, thinking that a more -defensible point, and for the sake of receiving certain intelligence -from the side of Agreda. The report that that town had been evacuated -on the 23d was premature; and Lili received a letter from Cartaojal, -written from thence on the 24th, and regretting that he had fallen -back to Lumbreras upon erroneous information; to have joined him at -Agreda, he said, was the proper movement, and almost the only means of -safety; but it was no time to consider what might have been done, and, -as things were, he must now follow his own discretion, with that zeal -which it was not doubted he possessed. Whatever regret Lili might have -felt at receiving this reproof, was effectually counteracted by the -report of the messenger who brought it; for at the very moment when -Cartaojal dispatched him, news arrived that the enemy were beginning to -attack the town. In fact, he was compelled speedily to abandon it, and, -marching by way of Borja to Calatayud, joined the wreck of the army of -the centre, and accompanied them in their retreat. - -Perilous as Lili’s situation now was, he had yet to receive -intelligence of events which rendered it more desperate. On the 27th he -learned at Salas de los Infantes, by some stragglers who had escaped -from the action at Burgos, that that capital was now in the hands of -the French. His spies brought him information, that the Intruder was -with a great force at Aranda; that the enemy occupied all the bridges -and fords of the Duero; and that the Somosierra was threatened: -finally, to crown the distressing news of the day, a full account -reached him of the battle of Tudela. On every side he was surrounded; -to move in any direction seemed equally perilous, and he was utterly -ignorant what course had been taken by the relics of the army which -he wished to join. In these difficulties his first measure was to -march to Canales, four leagues from Salas, where, in the very centre -of the mountains, he might hope to remain concealed from the enemy, -or resist them to the best advantage if he were attacked. There, amid -those difficult and inclement heights, from whence the Arlanza flows -toward Lerma, the Duero toward the plains of Castille, the Tiron, the -Najerilla, and the Iregua toward Rioja, he remained six days. During -this time he obtained sufficient intelligence of the movements of the -French to direct his own, and then proceeded towards New Castille, in -search of Castaños’s broken army. On the 5th he reached Quintanar de -la Sierra, on the 6th San Leonardo. His men travelled the whole of the -following day and night, and crossed the Duero at Berlanja. On the 9th -they entered Atienza, and here the information which they found served -only to occasion new perplexity; for here Lili learned that the central -army had passed through, and been pursued by the French; that they -had afterwards abandoned Guadalaxara and the heights of Santorcaz: of -their farther movements nothing was known. Lili, however, considering -all circumstances, was convinced that they must have retreated upon -Cuenca, and he directed his march towards the same point. On the 11th, -at daybreak, he crossed the great road from Zaragoza to Madrid, at -an opportune and happy hour, passing between the last division of -the French and their rear-guard, then on the way from Calatayud; and -on the day that the Duke del Infantado reached Cuenca, he arrived at -Villar de Domingo Garcia, from whence, on the 16th, he passed to the -head-quarters of the Commander. During this whole retreat, which was -over a tract of nearly four hundred miles, through the most difficult -and untravelled ways, this corps had constantly been surrounded by the -enemy, who were seldom more than ten or twelve miles distant from -them. Food they had none, but what they could procure upon the way; -most of the men were barefoot, many of them nearly naked, but their -spirits never failed. - -♦RETREAT OF THE CENTRAL JUNTA FROM ARANJUEZ.♦ - -If ever during the contest there was a time when Spain might have -been irretrievably subjected, it was now, if a dissolution of the -government had taken place. The Central Junta had been slow in -perceiving the danger, but when it came upon them they acted with -promptitude and wisdom. Before they left Aranjuez a commission of -six members was appointed to transact business during their journey, -and official intelligence of their removal was communicated to the -foreign ministers. Their escort was so insufficient, that a small -body of cavalry might have surprised them; they travelled in parties, -but assembled at Talavera; three members were left there to collect -and re-organize the soldiers who were coming in great numbers to that -point. From thence proceeding to Truxillo, there they again met, -dispatched orders to the provinces, and sent some of their own members -to those places where they might be most useful. That city afforded an -opportunity of reconsidering where they should fix their abode, whether -at Badajoz, as had been determined, or at Cordoba, the road to either -place being open: Seville was preferred to either, and they assembled -there on the 17th of December. Before this removal it had been -concerted by Jovellanos, with some members of the Royal Council and of -the Council of the Indies, that eleven members of the former, and nine -of the latter, including their presidents, should follow the Central -Junta, and with two members from each of the other tribunals, form a -_Consejo reunido_, or united Council. The other members were commanded -to leave Madrid, and retire either to their own places of abode in the -provinces, or whither they would, there to receive their salaries, -assist the government with their advice and services when called upon, -and promote by all means in their power the national cause. Too many of -these persons were found wanting in the hour of trial, some in weakness -submitting to the Intruder rather than endure the ills of honourable -poverty, others taking an active and infamous part in his service. -The proposed Council was formed of those who repaired to Seville; and -those who, from whatever cause, arrived at a later time, found from -the Junta an indulgence which would not have been granted them by the -people, less charitable, and perhaps less just; they were received with -respect, and their salaries continued to them. - -♦THEIR ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF MADRID.♦ - -The agents of the Intruder knowing how desirable for their views it -would be to bring the national government into disrepute, reported -that the Junta had sanctioned and approved the capitulation of the -capital. This the Junta contradicted in a manly proclamation, and they -exhorted the inhabitants of Madrid to bear in mind that the temporary -occupation of their buildings by the enemy was of little moment, while -he was not master of their hearts. “Continue to resist him,” said -they, “in the very bosom of your families; place no confidence in the -promises of the French; remember that they have promised happiness to -every people, and have made every people miserable. Keep alive your -hope, retain your fortitude, and your deliverance will be glorious in -proportion to the greatness of the danger which you have encountered.” -They made no attempt to conceal the extent of their disasters; but -they attributed them to the inexperience of their troops, and denied -that the monarchy was comprehended within the narrow precincts of -the metropolis. “Were you to believe the enemy,” said they, “our -armies have vanished like the smoke of the battle, and Spain has -neither forces wherewith to oppose her invaders, nor authority to -regulate her councils, nor resources to save her from destruction. -All this is false. The government which has been chosen by the people -never attracted more respect, never felt more strongly the strong -principle of union, and never found more ardour in the public cause. -The provinces have redoubled their exertions at its voice, and new -enlistments, new contributions, and new sacrifices have already filled -the void occasioned by our losses.” A splendid instance of patriotism -in one of the nobles was at this time made public; the Duke of Medina -Sidonia, whose property had just been confiscated in Madrid by the -intrusive government, had from the commencement of the struggle made a -free gift every month of 2500 dollars, in addition to his share of the -public burthens, and to various donations of necessaries for the army. - -While the Junta was making exertions which were well seconded by the -zeal of the people, the whole of those extensive plains, which form -the centre or table-land of Spain, lay at the mercy of the invaders. -On the 11th of December Victor had his detachments in Aranjuez and -in Ocaña; ♦THE FRENCH ENTER TOLEDO.♦ on the 19th he occupied Toledo. -The surrender of this ancient and famous city, after its professions -of determined patriotism, was one of those circumstances for which -the Spaniards were reproached, by those who had depreciated their -exertions, and despaired of their cause. Yet if the Toledans did not -signalize themselves by heroic sacrifices, like the Zaragozans, there -was no want of a right spirit, nor had they been deficient in their -duty. In the spring of the preceding year Dupont and Vedel entered that -city with their divisions, and raised a most oppressive contribution. -But no sooner had they proceeded on their way to Andalusia, than a -Junta was formed, consisting of the most respectable citizens: they -could not raise forces themselves, being surrounded by the enemy, and -having no military means; but they ordered as many of the districts in -that kingdom as could exert themselves to act under the instructions -of the Junta of Badajoz; they contributed large sums of money; and -they refused obedience to four successive orders which enjoined them -to proclaim the Intruder, though it was announced, that, if they -continued in their disobedience, 5000 French would come, and perform -the ceremony sword in hand. The evacuation of Madrid relieved them -from this danger. And when the victorious army of Castaños was on its -way to the capital, Toledo supported 10,000 men of that army for three -weeks, made a donation of 300,000 reales to them on their departure, -equipped many of their officers, and clothed a great proportion of -the men. This was not all. In two months it raised and equipped two -regiments of infantry, and a corps of 700 horse; for which funds -were raised by a subscription, all persons, from the archbishop to -the poorest peasant, contributing according to their means. The -university also raised a corps of students; and after the siege of -Zaragoza the pectoral of the archbishop, valued at 150,000 reales, -was converted into money to relieve the inhabitants of that heroic -city. After the defeat at Burgos, the Toledans applied to government -for arms to defend their walls. This was the mode of warfare to which -the Junta, if they had rightly understood the nature of their own -strength, should have resorted; and this system of defence was advised -by the English ambassador, Mr. Frere, than whom no man judged more -generously, nor more wisely, of the Spanish character and the Spanish -cause. But this essential precaution had been neglected; and when the -Toledans applied for artillery and ammunition, disaster followed so -close upon disaster, that there was no leisure for attending to their -request, urgent as it was. What then could be done? They sent off -their moveable property to Seville; 12,000 swords also were dispatched -to the same place, from that fabric which for so many centuries has -been famous, and which probably owes its original celebrity to workmen -from Damascus. The Junta, the legitimate authorities, and all the most -distinguished inhabitants, left the city; neither the threats nor -promises of the Intruder could induce them to return: they retired -to the free part of the peninsula, submitting to poverty with that -dignified composure which resulted from the consciousness of having -discharged their duty. This was the fate of the parents, while their -sons, in the corps of students, fought and bled for the independence -of Spain. It is plain, therefore, that though the gates of Toledo were -opened to the enemy, that same spirit still existed within its walls -which, during the war of the Commons of Castille, rendered it the last -hold of Spanish liberty. - -♦DEFENCE OF VILLACAÑAS.♦ - -From Toledo, from Aranjuez, and from Ocaña, parties of French -cavalry overran the open and defenceless plains of lower La Mancha, -foraging and plundering the towns and villages with impunity as far -as Manzanares. The La Manchans, relying, like the government, too -confidently upon the resistance which regular armies and the modes -of regular warfare could oppose to such a military power as that of -France, had made no preparations for defending themselves; some places -were deserted by the inhabitants; all left open to the enemy, who -scoured the country at their pleasure. The little townlet of Villacañas -afforded a single and honourable exception. A party of 60 horse entered -it on the night of the 20th of December, being a detachment from a -much larger force which had quartered itself in Tembleque. The people -caught up such arms as they could find, and drove the invaders out; -they began immediately to dig trenches and throw up barricadoes, ... -the adjoining peasantry came to their assistance, ... a few persons of -high quality fled; but, with these few exceptions, the utmost zeal and -alacrity were displayed by all ranks, and ready obedience was paid to -some old soldiers, who took upon themselves the command. During five -successive days the French renewed their attacks, and were constantly -repulsed; their plundering parties had no artillery with them, and the -means of defence, therefore, as long as the Spaniards took care not -to expose themselves to a charge of horse in the open country, were -equal to those of attack. Weary at length of repeated failures, and -unwilling to incur farther loss in an object of no other value than -what the plunder of the place might be worth, the French desisted from -any farther attempts, and Villacañas remained safe and uninjured, -while all the country round was ransacked. The example was deservedly -thought of such importance, that the whole details of this little -siege were published by the government in an extraordinary gazette. -Whatever contributions were due to the state by the inhabitants of this -townlet were remitted to them, and those persons who had taken the lead -were rewarded by other privileges. “This,” said the government, “is -the kind of war which our perfidious enemy feareth most, and which is -the most advantageous for ourselves. Let the people of every village -arm themselves, entrench themselves in their very houses, break up -the roads, lay ambushes upon every height and pass, intercept his -provisions, cut off his communications, and make him perceive that -at every step he will find the most obstinate resistance. Thus we -shall waste his forces; thus we shall show to the world that a great -and generous nation is not to be insulted with impunity, not to be -conquered when it fights for its king, for its liberty, and for its -religion.” - -♦PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENDING THE SIERRA MORENA.♦ - -Meantime the Juntas of Ciudad Real, (the capital of Upper La Mancha,) -and of the four kingdoms of Jaen, Granada, Cordoba, and Seville, which -compose the province of Andalusia, formed a Central Assembly in La -Carolina, where two deputies from each province met to consult upon -speedy measures for fortifying the gorge of Despeñaperros, this pass -of the Sierra Morena being considered as the Thermopylæ, where the -progress of this new barbarian might be withstood. Here an army was -necessary, and there was none: the Marques de Palacio was sent by the -Supreme Junta to form one under his command. The Juntas of Andalusia -and La Mancha raised new levies; and officers and men who had deserted -from the central army, many of them scattering alarm and sedition -where they fled, re-entered into this new establishment. The marine -battalions and brigades of artillery were ordered hither from Cadiz, -leaving only 300 men in that city, besides the volunteers. Fourteen -pieces of cannon had been fortunately stopped at Manzanares, on their -way to Madrid. These were now mounted upon the works which were thrown -up to defend this important position. Another road also, by which the -enemy might have passed the Sierra, was occupied by a detachment of -500 men. Before the middle of December, 6000 foot and 300 horse had -assembled at La Carolina, and their number increased daily. But it -was not towards the Sierra Morena that Buonaparte was looking; his -attention was chiefly fixed upon the English army, and the road by -which he thought to reach Andalusia was through Extremadura, hoping -to overtake the Supreme Junta in their flight; having reached them at -Truxillo, his armies might divide, one marching to take possession of -Lisbon, the other to take vengeance for Dupont at Seville and Cadiz. - -♦MURDER OF SAN JUAN AT TALAVERA.♦ - -There was no force in Extremadura which could oppose any obstacle -to this plan. When the pass of Somosierra was lost, San Juan, who -commanded there, cut his way sword in hand through a squadron of Poles, -and by by-roads reached Segovia, where he found the troops who had -retired from Sepulveda. From thence he marched to Guadarrama, united -with the Extremaduran troops under General Heredia, and descended to -the Escurial, because he was without provisions in the pass. There -they received orders to hasten to Madrid, and enter that city by the -gate of Segovia. On the way exaggerated reports were spread of the -strength of the enemy; suspicion increased the insubordination of the -soldiers; the artillery and baggage-men forsook their charge and fled, -and several corps broke up. The whole of Heredia’s van-guard dispersed -in this manner, in spite of all San Juan’s efforts to detain them; -they would rally, they said, at Talavera: this word went through the -army, and served as a pretext for every one who chose to fly. The two -generals had only a handful of men with them when they approached -Madrid, and then they discovered that the city had been betrayed. No -other course remained for them than to repair to Talavera, in the hope -of rallying what would still form a considerable force. The rabble of -the army, sufficiently faithful to their appointment, bent their way -to that city, plundering as they went along; and there San Juan met -them, unhappily for himself. The wretches who had been foremost in -subverting discipline, and instigating the troops to break up, began to -apprehend punishment if the army should again assume a regular form; -and this was likely to be the case immediately, for many thousands -(many having escaped from Madrid) were now collected there, and the -government had already begun to take measures for re-equipping them. It -was easy for these villains to raise a cry against San Juan: all men -knew the importance of the position at Somosierra; but there were few -who knew with what insufficient means the general had been supplied. -Mobs never reason, least of all when they are under the influence of -fear; and the Spanish troops had suffered so much from incapacity, -that when any person was denounced as a traitor, it seemed like a -relief to themselves, and an act of justice to their country, to vent -their vengeance upon him. The cry against San Juan became general: a -friar went at the head of a party to the convent of the Augustines, -where he had taken up his quarters, and they cried out that they were -come to put ♦DEC. 7.♦ Benito San Juan to death. San Juan attempted to -expostulate, but in vain. He drew his sword to defend himself, and -immediately he was pierced with their bullets. The rabble dragged the -body to a gibbet, and hung it there; next they sought for Heredia, -that they might kill him also; but he eluded their search. As soon -as their fury was allayed, the instigators of these excesses secured -themselves by flight; and the troops, who had been misled, perceived -the consequences of their lawless conduct. If San Juan had indeed been -a traitor, they felt that they ought to have delivered him up to the -proper tribunal; ... by taking vengeance into their own hands they had -made themselves obnoxious to the laws. Whom too could they trust, whom -were they to obey? Instead, therefore, of forming a new army, as they -had designed, at Talavera, they dispersed again, not having now any -rallying place appointed, but each man going whither he thought best. -Some took the road to Andalusia, some to Avila: the Extremadurans, who -were the most numerous, went to their homes. - -♦EDICT AGAINST DESERTERS.♦ - -The dispersion of the soldiers called forth a severe edict. It began -by stating, that the martial laws of Spain had affixed no punishment -for officers who deserted their colours or stations, it never having -been supposed that men of such rank could possibly be guilty of such -a crime. But now it had unhappily been seen that many officers, -forgetful of all honour and duty, had fled, scattering disorder and -terror wherever they went, and pretending treason in their generals -as an excuse for their own conduct; whereas they themselves had been -the worst enemies of their country, by abandoning their generals in -the most critical moments. The Junta, therefore, pronounced sentence -of death against every officer who absented himself from his colours -without permission, and confiscation of his property for the relief of -the widows and orphans of soldiers in his parish. Soldiers were made -liable to the like penalty; any person who harboured a deserter was to -be punished by confiscation of his property, and the same penalty was -denounced against all magistrates who suffered deserters to remain -within their jurisdiction. But all who, within fifteen days, should -present themselves to the nearest authority in order to rejoin the -army, were exempted from the pains in this decree. - -♦A FEW ENGLISH STRAGGLERS BUTCHERED BY THE FRENCH CAVALRY.♦ - -Four days after the murder of San Juan, and the dispersion of his army, -two divisions of French cavalry, under Milhaud and Lasalle, entered -Talavera. They found the body of the Spanish General still on the -gibbet, and this murder furnished Buonaparte with a new subject of -invective against the Spaniards; though this, and the thousand deaths, -and all the untold crimes, and all the unutterable miseries with which -the peninsula was filled, were the consequences of his own single -conduct, the fruits of his individual wickedness. Lasalle fell in -with sixteen Englishmen upon the road, stragglers from General Hope’s -detachment, and it was related in the bulletins[39] of Buonaparte, as -an exploit worthy of remembrance and commendation, that a division of -French cavalry, falling in with sixteen Englishmen who had lost their -way, put them to the sword. This was but a small part of the force -which was destined to proceed in this direction. As soon as Madrid had -been delivered up, Lefebvre was ordered to advance from Valladolid -towards Lisbon. First he advanced to Segovia, which he entered -unresisted. The people were dispirited by the panic and flight of their -armies; but it should not be forgotten for their exculpation, that the -more generous and heroic spirits, having flocked to their country’s -standard among the foremost levies, had already received their crown -of martyrdom, or were clinging to the wreck of the two great armies of -the north and the centre, or were consummating the sacrifice of duty -in Zaragoza. In one place only between Valladolid and the capital did -this part of the French army experience any opposition. The pass of -Guadarrama was open to them: General Hope had been stationed there, -but was recalled by Sir John Moore, and there were no native troops -to supply his place. But when the enemy descended ♦THE FRENCH TAKE -POSSESSION OF THE ESCURIAL.♦ upon the Escurial, and proceeded to take -possession of that palace, the magnificent monument of a victory which -Spain had achieved over France in open, honourable war, and in a fair -field, they found the peasantry assembled to defend the seat and -sepulchres of their kings. Undisciplined as they were, ill-armed, and -with none to direct their efforts, they stood their ground till they -were overpowered by practised troops, superior in numbers as well as -in arms; and the French, after the slaughter of these brave peasants -before the gates, took up their quarters in the palace of the Philips. -He who founded that stately pile, could he then have beheld from his -grave what was passing around him, would have seen the consequences of -that despotic system which he and his father established upon the ruins -of the old free constitution of Spain. - -It was a noble feeling which led these peasants to sacrifice themselves -in defence of the Escurial, and the action did not pass unnoticed by -those able and enlightened Spaniards whose patriotic writings at this -time did honour to themselves and to their country. “Nothing,” said Don -Isidro de Antillon, “is more worthy of public interest, and nothing -will more excite the admiration of posterity, than a deed like this. -If indeed we had only armies to oppose to Buonaparte, infallibly we -should become his slaves; the victory would be the usurper’s beyond all -resource. But it is the collective strength of our inhabited places, -the defence of our walls, the obstinate and repeated resistance of -the people in the streets and gateways, along the roads and upon the -heights, wherever they can cut off or annoy the detachments of the -enemy, ... the universal spirit of insurrection, now become as it -were the very element of our existence; this it is which disconcerts -his plans, which renders his victories useless, and after a thousand -vicissitudes and disasters, will finally establish the independence and -the glory of Spain.” - -♦EXCESSES OF THE FRENCH.♦ - -Lefebvre entered Madrid on the 8th of December. Buonaparte reviewed his -division in the Prado, and dispatched it to Toledo, while Sebastiani -with another division marched for Talavera. In that city, by the 19th, -about 25,000 French were assembled, including 5000 cavalry. The wiser -inhabitants fled before their arrival, preferring the miseries of -emigration to the insults and atrocities which they must otherwise -have endured: for the exaction of heavy contributions, which reduced -half the people to beggary, was the least evil those towns endured -that fell under the yoke of the French. Every where the soldiers were -permitted to plunder; no asylum could secure the women from their -unrestrained brutality; churches and convents were profaned with as -little compunction as dwelling-houses were broken open; and in many -instances, the victims were exposed naked in the streets. The Spanish -government exclaimed loudly against these enormities. “In other times,” -they said, “war was carried on between army and army, soldier and -soldier; their fury spent itself upon the field of battle; and when -courage, combined with fortune, had decided the victory, the conquerors -behaved to the conquered like men of honour, and the defenceless people -were respected. The progress of civilization had tempered the evils of -hostility, till a nation which so lately boasted that it was the most -polished in the world, renewed, in the 19th century, the cruelty of the -worst savages, and all the horrors which make us tremble in perusing -the history of the irruptions of the barbarians of old. Like tygers, -these enemies make no distinction in their carnage, ... the aged, the -infants, the women, ... all are alike to them, wherever they can find -blood to shed.” - -This appeal could be of no avail against a tyrant who, in the very -origin of the war, had shown himself dead to all sense of justice, -humanity, and even of honour, which sometimes supplies their place; -nor against generals and officers who could serve him in such a cause. -Such men could be taught humanity only by the severest retaliation. The -language which the government addressed to their own subjects might be -more effectual. “What resource have you,” said they, “in submission -and in cowardice? If by this abasement you could purchase a miserable -existence, that perhaps with base minds might exculpate you. But you -fly to your houses to perish in them, or to be idle spectators of -the horrors which these ruffian soldiers are preparing for you! Yes! -wait for them there, and they will not tarry long ere they come and -shed before your eyes the blood of the innocent victims whom you will -not defend. Old fathers, wretched mothers, prepare to receive your -daughters released from the arms of an hundred barbarians only when -they are in the act of death! or if they recover life, to curse it in -the bitterness of unextinguishable shame; tell them to reproach those -cowardly husbands, those base lovers, who are content to live, and see -them plunged in this abominable infamy. But they will not be suffered -to live; hand-cuffed and haltered, they will be dragged out of their -country; they will be made soldiers by force, though they would not -become so from honour and a sense of duty; there they will be exposed -in the foremost ranks to the fire of the enemy; there they will not be -able to fly; ... the toil, the danger, and death will be theirs; the -glory and the spoil will be their conquerors’, and the crowns which -they win will be for the tyrant, the cause of all this misery.” - -♦GALLUZO COLLECTS THE FUGITIVES IN EXTREMADURA.♦ - -It had been happy for Spain if the government had always acted as -energetically as it wrote; but it should be remembered in justice to -the Spaniards, that the dispersion of the troops was in many instances -an act of self-preservation, so utterly were they left without supplies -of food or clothing, by the inexperience and incompetence of every -military department. Even against the testimony and the reproaches of -its own government, the Spanish nation stands acquitted. Never did -men suffer more patiently, or fight more bravely, than Blake’s army. -There was no want of courage at Tudela; and of the remains of the army -which fought there, a large proportion was at this very time defending -Zaragoza with a heroism unexampled in modern times, upon any other -soil. Wherever, indeed, a new army was to be collected, soldiers were -not wanting. After San Juan’s death, Galluzo was appointed to the -command; he took his post at the bridge of Almaraz to defend the left -bank of the Tagus; and in a few days had collected about 8000 soldiers, -... many of them were without arms, ... most of them barefooted, -and now unhappily accustomed to flight and desertion. Nevertheless -they assembled; for every man felt individually brave, and it was -only the want of discipline, which, by preventing them from feeling -confidence collectively, made panic contagious in the moment of danger. -The province of Extremadura immediately provided money for these -troops; this province, though the least populous in the peninsula, -had particularly distinguished itself by its exertions; it had raised -and equipped, wholly at its own expense, 24,000 men, and had supplied -ammunition and arms of every kind from Badajoz to the other provinces. - -♦HE PREPARES FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE TAGUS.♦ - -There are four bridges between Talavera and the confluence of the -Tietar with the Tagus; the Puente del Arzobispo, or the Archbishop’s, -the Puente del Conde, or the Count’s, the bridge of Almaraz, and the -Puente del Cardinal, or the Cardinal’s. With his present feeble and -inefficient force Galluzo had no other means of protecting Extremadura -than by breaking down, or defending these bridges; if he could effect -this, the province would be secure from an attack on the side of -Talavera. Almaraz was the most important of these points; here he -planted ten pieces of cannon and two mortars, and stationed 5000 -men. The more surely to prevent the enemy from winning the passage -he mined the bridge; but so firmly had this noble pile been built, -that when the mine was fired, the explosion only served to injure it -without rendering it impassable. Don Francisco Trias was sent with -850 men to the Puente del Arzobispo; on his way he met the engineer, -who had previously been dispatched to break it down, but who had been -prevented from attempting it by the enemy, so that this bridge was -already in their power. Trias, therefore, took his position with the -view of checking the incursions of the French on this side, and ordered -Don Antonio Puig, with such assistants as he could procure from the -magistrates of Talavera la Vieja, to destroy the Puente del Conde, and -provide for the defence of that point, and of three fords upon the same -part of the river. When this officer arrived he had neither a single -soldier under his command, nor arms for the peasantry; the latter -want was soon supplied; the peasantry were zealous, and some of the -stragglers joined him. - -The bridge of the Cardinal was assigned to the keeping of a battalion -of Walloon Guards and a squadron of the volunteers of Extremadura, -under Brigadier Don Francisco Durasmiel. Galluzo also stationed his -reserve at Jaraicejo, under Brigadier Don Josef Vlazquez Somosa, and -sent another field officer to Truxillo to collect and organize the -stragglers who might either voluntarily join him, or be detained by -the patroles. While the General was making these dispositions for -the defence of the province, the Junta of Badajoz made the greatest -exertions to supply the wants of this new army, and its efforts were -well seconded by the Extremaduran people. Half a million of reales -was raised in loans and free gifts within a week; all the cloth of -Torremocha and of other clothing towns was applied to the use of the -army, ... no other work was carried on in the monastery of Guadalupe -than that of making earthen vessels for their cookery; and commissaries -were sent to the sixteen villages nearest the bridge of Almaraz to see -that rations of bread for 5000 men were daily delivered there. These -measures were so effectual, that the troops were soon comfortably -clothed, and after the first day they had no want of any thing. - -♦THE FRENCH CROSS THE RIVER.♦ - -It was, however, scarcely to be hoped that so small and ill-compacted -a force could maintain its ground, in a country which offered them no -advantages for defence against such an army as the French had assembled -in Talavera. After some skirmishes with the advanced guard at Almaraz, -and some slight attacks upon the Puente del Conde, which were designed -chiefly to keep the Spaniards on the alarm, and divert their attention -from the side where the real attack was intended, Sebastiani crossed -the Puente del Arzobispo on the 24th of December, and attacked Trias -in front and on his right flank with superior numbers. The Spaniards -did not yield till after a vigorous resistance; and then retreated by -the Sierra to Castanar de Ibor. On the same day, about two hours after -noon, the Puente del Conde was attacked, and the fords. The bridge was -bravely defended by Don Pablo Murillo, whose distinguished talents -were now first displayed. Puig guarded the fords, and they repelled -the enemy every where till night; when, being informed of the defeat -of Trias, and that Sebastiani had proceeded by Peralera de Garbin and -Bohonal towards Almaraz, Puig perceiving that he must be taken in the -rear if he continued in his present position, retreated to Peralera de -Garbin behind the French, and from thence to Castanar de Ibor. - -♦GALLUZO RETREATS TO JARAICEJO.♦ - -The news of these disasters reached Galluzo at night. Immediately -he apprehended that the object of the enemy, who were marching by -Valdecasa, Valdecañas, and other points, to Romangordo and Miravete, -was to cut off the retreat of his whole division. To prevent this he -ordered all the artillery, except four pieces, which formed a battery -on the left of the bridge, to retire with the main force to Jaraicejo, -for which place he himself set off at midnight with his Aide-de-camps -and the cavalry, leaving three companies in charge of the remaining -battery under Captain Don Xavier de Hore. This officer was attacked -on the following morning by the French; the battery was ill-placed, -and Hore perceived that the ammunition-carts were within reach of the -enemy’s fire. He ordered them to be removed behind a bank which would -shelter them; ... the muleteers were no sooner out of his sight, than -they cut the traces, and fled with their beasts, imitating the conduct -of some infantry who took to flight. The enemy soon made themselves -masters of the bridge and the battery, and secured some prisoners, ... -though but few; for before the French could lay planks over the broken -bridge, and pass in sufficient number, most of the Spaniards effected -their escape, and afterwards rejoined the General at Miajadas. - -♦DISPERSION OF HIS ARMY.♦ - -Galluzo’s first thought was to make a stand at Jaraicejo, and with this -intent he dispatched orders to General Henestrosa to join him from -Truxillo with all the troops which he had collected, and requested -the Junta to supply him with as large a force of armed peasantry as -possible. But no sooner did he learn that the bridge of Almaraz had -been forced, than he gave up this purpose, and resolved to fall back -upon Truxillo, apprehending that the enemy might intercept his retreat. -His apprehension degenerated into panic, when false intelligence was -brought him that the French had entered Deleitosa, a village something -less than eight miles to the south-east. This intelligence was followed -by other reports equally false and more alarming, which the knavish -and the traitorous invented, and the fearful and the suspicious easily -believed. The retreat had been begun in perfect order, but the army, -before it reached Truxillo, was in a state of total disorganization. -Galluzo, confounded at the first approach of danger, (for if he had -deliberately resolved to attempt resistance, the pass of Miravete would -have been the place which he would have chosen, after the bridge was -forced,) called a council of war; it was agreed that the defence of -Extremadura was no longer possible, and that he should retreat into -Andalusia. A chapel, which had been converted into a powder magazine, -was now blown up, that it might not fall into the hands of the enemy. -The explosion, and the preparations which were made for further flight, -excited the utmost terror in the inhabitants of Truxillo, and their -lamentations increased the confusion and alarm of the soldiers. It now -became a rout; ... most of the troops deserted, plundering the towns -and villages through which they passed. Those who still followed the -General were no longer under any restraint; they went through Miajadas, -Medellin, and Quintania, and in four days reached Zalamea, above an -hundred miles from Jaraicejo. Here it had been appointed to halt, and -here Galluzo found himself with not more than a thousand men. Nothing -could be worse than the conduct of the men during their flight; ... -some sold their muskets, ... some threw them away, ... houses were -broken open, and upon one individual a piece of church plate was found, -... a species of robbery which excites peculiar horror in Spain. The -officers, instead of endeavouring to restrain these excesses, were some -of them active themselves in pillage; it is probable, indeed, that had -they done their duty, the men would have discharged theirs; for those -officers to whom the more difficult task of bringing off the artillery -had been entrusted, and who were therefore picked men, effected their -object: though without an escort, they lost only two pieces of cannon, -and carried seventeen to Miajadas, ... from whence part were sent to -Badajoz, the rest followed Galluzo to Zalamea. Trias also effected a -far more dangerous retreat than his commander in good order. He set -forward from Castanar for Fresnedoso, and when within a mile of the -place, learnt that the French were there, having won the bridge of -Almaraz. He had now to tread back his steps, and endeavour to reach -Jaraicejo. After a day’s march he found that the French were there -also, and making for Truxillo, again discovered the enemy in possession -of the place to which he was bound. Nevertheless he preserved -discipline in his little troop, and that preserved confidence; instead -of losing his men by desertion, he collected stragglers as he went, and -arrived at Zalamea with a larger force than Galluzo himself had brought -there. - -♦GALLUZO IS SUPERSEDED BY CUESTA.♦ - -Before the incapacity of Galluzo was thus decidedly manifested, it had -been in agitation to remove him from the command, and appoint Cuesta -in his place. This General, as an arrested person, followed the Junta -on their retreat from Aranjuez. It so happened, that while he was at -Merida, some soldiers belonging to the scattered army of Extremadura -gathered together in that city, and the owner of the house in which -Cuesta lodged persuaded them to demand him for their leader, as it were -by acclamation. The Junta of Merida upon this sent up a representation -to the Central Junta, requesting that Cuesta might be appointed to -the command. It was replied, that this ought not to be done without -the approbation of the Junta of Badajoz, which had made such signal -exertions in the patriotic cause, and was not willing to supersede -Galluzo, whom it had appointed. But now, after this disorderly flight, -he was immediately deprived of the command, and put under arrest, and -Cuesta was nominated to succeed him. Cuesta’s errors were overlooked, -because no doubt of his motives was entertained; and at a time when -the cry of treachery once raised against a commander was sufficient to -break up an army, it was an object of considerable importance to find -a leader in whom the men would confide. At this moment the whole of -Extremadura to the very walls of Badajoz was open to the enemy, and the -Junta trembled for Seville. Brigadier Don Josef Serrano Valdenebro was -sent with as many men as he could collect to guard Santa Olaya and El -Ronquillo, in the western passes of the Sierra Morena, and co-operate -with Cuesta in covering Andalusia on that side. These means of defence -would have been as ineffectual as they were feeble, if Buonaparte had -not thought it of more importance at this time to drive the English out -of Spain, than to pursue his victories in the south. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -CAMPAIGN OF THE BRITISH ARMY UNDER SIR JOHN MOORE. - - -♦1808.♦ - -♦BUONAPARTE REPROACHES AND INSULTS THE ENGLISH.♦ - -In all the bulletins and proclamations of Buonaparte the English were -held up to the Spaniards for indignation and contempt: they were a -people, he said, who fomented war every where, and distributed arms -like poison, ♦14TH BULLETIN.♦ but who shed their own blood only -for their own direct interest. At this time it is probable that he -sincerely despised the English as a military nation. ♦GAZETA DE MADRID, -DEC. 18.♦ Can any thing be more ridiculous, it was asked, than that -England should pretend to struggle with her land forces against France? -♦DO. DEC. 24.♦ she will realize the fable of the frog swelling itself -to rival the ox, till it burst. “The day,” said Buonaparte, “wherein -we succeed in seeing these English will be a day of jubilee for the -French army. Oh, that they may dye with their blood this continent, -which they have desolated with their intrigues, their monopolies, and -their frightful selfishness! Oh, that they might be met with to the -number of 80,000 or 100,000 men instead of 20,000! that English mothers -might feel the evils of war, and the English government cease to sport -with the ♦14TH BULLETIN. 12TH BULLETIN.♦ lives and blood of the -continental nations. All the evils, all the plagues, which can afflict -the human race, come from London.” He represented the Spaniards as -complaining that the English had given them arms, powder, and clothing, -but had sent troops only to excite ♦14TH BULLETIN.♦ them, lead them -astray, and forsake them in the hour of danger, when 40,000 British at -Espinosa or Tudela might have balanced the fortune of the war.... That -number of British troops would at either place have turned it. - -Great Britain possessed at that time men, means, and generals equal to -any service; but the nation did not yet understand its own strength, -nor had the government yet learnt either to direct it wisely, or to -make exertions commensurate to the end whereat they aimed. The lessons -which books and history might teach had been neglected, and experience -therefore was to be purchased at a heavy price. - -♦THE BRITISH ARMY FROM PORTUGAL ENTERS SPAIN.♦ - -As soon as the campaign in Portugal was ended, Sir Hew Dalrymple began -to prepare for entering Spain: on the 6th of October Sir John Moore -received his appointment to the command; the preparations meantime had -not been relaxed, and in eight days afterward part of the troops were -in motion. Difficulties and doubts had occurred at the very outset. -The infantry were to go either by sea or land at the Commander’s -discretion; the voyage at that season was thought too precarious; and -the Junta represented, that if they went by sea, half the army would -be unable to leave the coast for want of necessaries, there being -scarcely means at Coruña for forwarding 10,000 men who were to land -there under Sir David Baird, and join the Commander wherever he should -appoint. The land-journey therefore having been chosen, the Spanish -Commissary-General was consulted concerning the means of subsisting -the army on the great road by Elvas; but the quantity of meat which -was required astonished him; and he computed that in three months all -the oxen in the country would be consumed, and very few hogs left. -There was no want of food in the north of Portugal, but it was said -that artillery could not be transported across the mountains. British -officers were sent to examine the roads, and they confirmed this -assertion of the natives. It was ascertained when too late, that bad -as the ways were, they were practicable for cannon; but in consequence -of this error, it was deemed necessary to divide the army, and this -led to serious evils. General Hope, with the artillery, cavalry, and -four regiments of foot, was to go by the Madrid road; General Paget, -with two brigades, by Elvas and Alcantara. The rest of the army moved -through Almeida; two brigades, under General Beresford, by way of -Coimbra; three, under General Fraser, by Abrantes, crossing the Tagus -there, and recrossing at Villa Velha, ... a point which, in former -wars, has been considered the key to Lisbon. These were to unite at -Salamanca, and General Hope and Sir David Baird to join them either -there or at Valladolid. - -If the people of England had been required to name the general who -should be employed on this important occasion, Sir John Moore would -certainly have been their choice, so generally was he respected as -an officer and as a man. ♦FORMER SERVICES OF SIR JOHN MOORE.♦ He was -born at Glasgow in 1760. From the eighteenth to the twenty-third year -of his age he was on the continent with his father (a physician and a -distinguished man of letters, then travelling with the young Duke of -Hamilton), and soon afterwards rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel -in the army. He served with distinction in Corsica, the West Indies, -the Helder expedition, and in Egypt; had often been wounded, and -given proofs of professional skill as well as of personal gallantry, -for he was fond of his profession, and had studied it well. But the -constitution of his mind led him to look at the dark rather than -the hopeful aspect of things; and it was his farther misfortune to -have imbibed that exaggerated opinion of the French as a military -people, the ability of their Generals, and the consummate wisdom of -their Emperor, which the enemies of government in England were always -labouring to produce, for the purpose of humbling the spirit of their -country. - -♦HIS CARE TO MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE.♦ - -Before the troops began their march Sir John Moore warned them in -his general orders that the Spaniards were a grave, orderly people, -extremely sober, but generous, and easily offended by any insult -or disrespect; he exhorted them to accommodate themselves to these -manners, to meet with equal kindness the cordiality wherewith they -would be received, and not shock by their intemperance a people worthy -of their attachment, whose efforts they were come to support in the -most glorious cause. His resolution to maintain order and proper -discipline was farther evinced by punishing a marauder upon the march -with death: the offender was one whose character gave no hope of -amendment, and the General took that opportunity of declaring his -determination to show no mercy to plunderers or marauders, in other -words, to thieves and villains. Farther to gratify the Spaniards, the -army, upon entering Spain, were ordered to wear the red cockade in -addition to their own. - -♦ILL PROSPECT OF AFFAIRS WHEN HE ARRIVES AT SALAMANCA.♦ - -On Nov. 13, Sir John arrived with his advanced guard at Salamanca. -Before he entered the city, he learnt the defeat of the Extremaduran -army at Burgos, and on the second night after his arrival, was awakened -by an express, with news that the French had possession of Valladolid, -... twenty leagues distant. He had only three brigades of infantry -with him, and not a single gun. His first thought was to fall back -upon Ciudad Rodrigo; but he soon learnt that the French had retired to -Palencia, and that none of their infantry had advanced beyond Burgos: -he therefore sent orders to Generals Baird and Hope, to concentrate -their divisions, and join him with all speed. Every day now brought -with it intelligence of new disasters. Blake’s army was dispersed, -and Buonaparte might either turn his force against Castaños, or march -against the English, to prevent their junction. He, meantime, placed -nearly in the centre, between two divisions of his army, which were -approaching from different points, was compelled to remain inactive. -Perceiving what he thought the supineness of the Spanish government, -and indignant at discovering the weakness of the Spaniards, he began to -despair of their cause. He saw nothing around him but an inactivity, -which he mistook for torpor and indifference. They had not, he said, -shown themselves a wise or a provident people; their wisdom was not a -wisdom of action. Yet still he felt that they were a fine people; that -they had a character of their own, quite distinct from that of any -other nation; and much, he thought, might have been done with them. He -erred in thinking that they would not do much for themselves. - -♦SIR DAVID BAIRD ARRIVES AT ASTORGA.♦ - -Sir David Baird had formed a like opinion. The expedition under his -command reached Coruña on the 13th of October; and such were the -idle forms and the negligence of the Spanish authorities, that the -troops were kept on ship-board till an order for their landing could -be received from the Central Junta. This General had been accustomed -to an Indian army, with its train of slaves and sutlers, elephants -and palanquins; he had now to march through a country where it is not -without difficulty that a party of travellers can obtain food, and -which had already been drained by its own troops; and his commissaries -were not only inexperienced in the business of their department, but -ignorant of the language of the people. Dividing his army into small -detachments, which followed each other at considerable distance, -he arrived at Astorga, Nov. 19th, and there learning the defeat of -Blake’s army, and anticipating that of Castaños’s, he consulted with -his general officers, and informed Sir John Moore of their unanimous -opinion, that he ought not to advance till his whole force was -assembled there, which would not be before the 4th of December. Sir -John Moore’s opinion of the hopelessness of affairs was thus confirmed -by Sir David Baird. “I see my situation,” he said in his journal, “as -clearly as any one, that nothing can be worse; yet I am determined -to form the junction of the army, and to try our fortune. We have no -business here as things are; but, being here, it would never do to -abandon the Spaniards without a struggle.” - -♦SIR JOHN MOORE RESOLVES TO RETREAT UPON PORTUGAL, AND EMBARK FROM -LISBON.♦ - -It was not long before intelligence arrived that Castaños was defeated, -and his army dispersed. ♦NOV. 28.♦ This event the British Commander had -expected; it had always been his opinion that the south of Spain ought -to have been the scene of action; that Cadiz, not Coruña, should have -been chosen for the disembarkation of the English army, and Seville or -Cordoba the place of their junction. He now determined to retreat upon -Portugal.... “Thus,” he said, in a letter to the English ambassador, -Mr. Frere, “he should fall back upon his resources, cover a country -where there was a British interest, act as a diversion in favour of -Spain, if the French detached a force against him, and be ready to -return to the assistance of the Spaniards, should circumstances again -render it eligible. That such circumstances would occur he had no -expectation. The French, he thought, would have little more to do to -subdue the country than to march over it, though, after the conquest, -they might have troublesome subjects.” And, in his letter to Sir David -Baird, ordering him to fall back upon Coruña, and sail from thence for -the Tagus, he directed him to write immediately to England, and order -that transports might be sent to Lisbon; “they will be wanted,” said -he; “for when the French have Spain, Portugal cannot be defended.” He -had written a few days before this to Lord Castlereagh, saying, that -he had ordered a depôt of provisions, for a short consumption, to -be formed at Almeida, and perhaps the same should be done at Elvas; -in that case, the progress of the enemy might be checked, while the -stores were embarking at Lisbon, and arrangements made for taking off -the army. Beyond this, the defence of Lisbon or of Portugal should -not be thought of. In communicating his resolution of retiring to the -British government, he wrote in the same spirit of utter despondency. -“If the French,” said he, “succeed in Spain, it will be vain to attempt -to resist them in Portugal. Portugal could not be defended against a -superior enemy; the Spaniards, however, might rally in the south, and -the English might still be of use, if they were landed at Cadiz. But -it was impossible to be very sanguine on this subject, after what had -been seen.” - -♦HE ASKS THE OPINION OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR.♦ - -When this intention of retreating was made known to the army at -Salamanca, murmurs against it were heard in every quarter, and from -men of all ranks. Even the staff officers lamented the resolution of -their Commander. In his letter to Mr. Frere, written before the defeat -of Castaños was known, Sir John Moore had proposed as a question, what -the British army should do, in case of that event; whether he should -retreat upon Portugal, or march upon Madrid, and throw himself into -the heart of Spain, thus to run all risks, and share the fortunes of -the Spanish nation? “This movement,” he said, “would be one of great -hazard, as his retreat to Cadiz or Gibraltar must be very uncertain, -and he should be entirely in the power of the Spaniards; but perhaps it -was worthy of risk, if the government and people of Spain were thought -to have still sufficient energy, and the means to recover from their -defeats.” “The question,” said Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere, “is not -purely a military one. It belongs at least as much to you as to me -to decide upon it. Your communications with the Spanish government, -and the opportunities you have had of judging of the general state of -the country, enable you to form as just an estimate of the resistance -that is likely to be offered. You are perhaps better acquainted with -the views of the British cabinet; and the question is, what would -that cabinet direct, were they upon the spot to determine? It is -of much importance that this should be thoroughly considered; it is -comparatively of very little, on whom shall rest the greatest share -of responsibility. I am willing to take the whole, or a part; but I -am very anxious to know your opinion.” Mr. Frere knew that what the -Spanish government most deprecated was, a retreat of the English upon -Lisbon. It would sink the hearts of the whole country, and would make -them believe that England, after an ineffectual effort, had relapsed -into the old limited system of protecting Portugal. If, therefore, -a retreat were determined upon, as absolutely necessary, he thought -the army should fall back upon Galicia, and the strong country about -Astorga. But he said, in his reply to the General, that Leon and the -two Castilles (with the exception of La Mancha and the city of Madrid) -were the provinces least distinguished for a military, patriotic, or -provincial spirit in all Spain: the people had been passive during -the late events, and had seen their country successively occupied by -the strongest party. It was difficult to blame them: living in open -villages, in vast plains, without arms and without horses, they had -neither the means of defence or escape. That country must necessarily -belong to the party which was superior in cavalry; ... yet even there -there was no want of a right feeling; the towns were abandoned at the -approach of the enemy; not a single magistrate had been brought over to -take the oath of allegiance to the Intruder, nor had the French been -able to enlist a single soldier. The other provinces were possessed -by the most ardent and determined spirit. There was no doubt of the -people. The government was new, and had hitherto been too numerous to -be very active; but there was hope that that inconvenience would soon -be remedied. “They are resolute,” said Mr. Frere, “and I believe every -man of them determined to perish with the country. They will not at -least set the example, which the ruling powers and higher orders of -other countries have exhibited, of weakness and timidity.” - -♦MR. FRERE WISHES HIM TO ADVANCE FOR THE DEFENCE OF MADRID.♦ - -Great advantages, the ambassador thought, would result from advancing -speedily to cover Madrid. It was a point of great moment for effect -in Spain, and still more in France, and in the west of Europe. The -people of the town were full of resolution, and determined to defend -it, in spite of its situation; and nothing could be more unfavourable -to the claim of the Intruder than a siege of the capital. The first -object of the English, therefore, he thought, should be to march -there, and collect a force capable of resisting the French, before -farther reinforcements arrived from France. There were reports that the -resistance to the conscription had been much more obstinate than usual, -and a pastoral letter of the Bishop of Carcassone seemed to prove that -these reports were not wholly without foundation. An advantage obtained -over the French now would be doubly valuable, inasmuch as it would -render a conscription, for a third attempt upon Spain, infinitely -difficult, if not impracticable. But if, with their present forces, -they were allowed to retain their present advantages, and to wait the -completion of the conscription, they would pour in forces, which would -give them immediate possession of the capital and central provinces, -and the war would then be reduced to an absolute competition between -the two countries, which could stand out longest against the waste of -population. - -If, however, Mr. Frere said, this view of the subject should not appear -sufficiently clear or conclusive to the Commander-in-chief, to induce -him to take this step, which he, the Ambassador, was well convinced -would meet with the approbation of his Majesty’s government, he would -venture to recommend retaining the position of Astorga. A retreat -from thence to Coruña (as far, said he, as an unmilitary man may be -allowed to judge of a country which he has travelled over) would be -less difficult than through Portugal to Lisbon; and we ought in that -position to wait for the reinforcements of cavalry from England: the -army would thus be enabled to act in the flat country, which opens -immediately from that point, and extends through the whole of Leon and -Old Castille.... Before this letter arrived, the General’s resolution -had been taken, in consequence of the news of Castaños’s defeat. It -was not shaken by the reasoning of the Ambassador, whose opinion he -had asked, and he waited only for the junction of General Hope, to -commence his retreat on Portugal. - -♦1808. DECEMBER. - -TWO SPANISH GENERALS SENT TO CONFER WITH SIR JOHN MOORE.♦ - -The Junta had wished it had been possible for Sir John Moore to have -conferred personally with them at Aranjuez, or with the military -council at Madrid, and he himself had formed the same wish, believing -that unless prompt and efficacious measures were taken, the defeat -of the Spanish armies and the ruin of their cause were inevitable. -But as this could not be, the Captain-General of Granada, with -another officer, selected for his reputation and military experience, -were deputed to consult with him at Salamanca. These Generals, in -representing the resources of the Spaniards, enumerated the force under -San Juan, and relied upon the pass of Somosierra; but Colonel Graham -had just arrived before them with news that the pass had been won; and -Sir John considered them personally as weak old men, and officially -as having no information upon which any plan could be concerted. -Mistaking, as he did, the spirit of the nation, and undervaluing its -strength, he gave no ear to their urgent desire that he would form -a junction with Romana, and thereby draw off the enemy from Madrid, -nor to their declaration that his retreat, if he persisted in that -intention, would immediately occasion the destruction of Spain. - -♦MORLA AND THE MILITARY JUNTA URGE HIM TO ADVANCE.♦ - -On the 5th of December, a dispatch arrived from Castelfranco and Morla, -informing him that about 25,000 men, of the central army, were falling -back on Madrid; that 10,000 from Somosierra were coming thither; and -that nearly 40,000 would join them. With that number of troops, the -French army, which had presented itself, was not to be feared. But -the Junta, apprehending an increase of the hostile forces, hoped he -would be able to unite with their army, or fall on the rear of the -enemy; and they did not doubt that the rapidity of his movements would -be such as the interests of both countries required. This letter was -written on the second, and the men who signed it had then determined -to betray their country, ... but though they might have wished and -designed to draw on the British army to its destruction, the proposal -that it should advance came not from them alone, but from the civil -and military Junta also, and was such as true Spaniards would have -given. While Sir John was considering this letter, Colonel Charmilly, -a French emigrant in the British service, and denizened in England, -arrived, with dispatches from Mr. Frere. Colonel Charmilly was in -Madrid on the night of the first, when the inhabitants were working by -torch-light at the trenches, breaking up the streets, and barricading -the houses. He had seen the Duque del Infantado, who told him there -were provisions and ammunition in Madrid; that more than 30,000 men had -that day enlisted themselves as volunteers; and that it was of material -importance to the common cause that the British commander should make -a diversion, which would compel the French to divide their forces, and -thus afford some relief to Madrid. This he requested Charmilly to -communicate to Sir John Moore, as he himself had been an eye-witness of -the spirit of the people, and the preparations which they were making -for resistance. By another Grandee he was requested to say to Sir John -Moore, that he must make use of this moment to save Spain, by making -conditions with the Junta for a better government; but especially that -he should require the Spanish army to be put under the orders of the -British Commander-in-chief for the time being, as it had been under -Lord Peterborough. - -♦COL. CHARMILLY SENT TO SIR JOHN MOORE BY THE DUQUE DEL INFANTADO AND -MR. FRERE.♦ - -When Charmilly reached Talavera, on his way, he found that Mr. Frere -had just arrived there, following the Central Junta, who were retiring -from Aranjuez to Badajoz. To him he communicated what had passed -with the Duque del Infantado; and the Ambassador requested him, as a -colonel in the British service, to take charge of a letter to Sir John -Moore, urging him to suspend his retreat, as a measure which would -have the worst effect upon the Spanish cause, and be of the greatest -injury both to Spain and England. But thinking that, having begun the -retreat, Sir John might suppose himself engaged to go on with it, Mr. -Frere entrusted Colonel Charmilly with a second letter, to be delivered -in case the General persisted in his determination. The purport of -this letter was to request that the bearer might be examined before a -council of war; and the reason for this measure was, that the decision -of a council of war would exonerate the Commander-in-chief from the -responsibility by which he might otherwise feel himself fettered. -Charmilly reached Salamanca while Sir John was deliberating upon the -dispatch from Morla and Castelfranco. He delivered the Ambassador’s -first letter. The state of Madrid, Mr. Frere said, so much exceeded -every thing which he had ventured to say of the spirit and resolution -of the people, that he could not forbear representing to the General, -in the strongest manner, the propriety, not to say the necessity, -of supporting the Spanish people by all the means which had been -entrusted to him for that purpose. “I have no hesitation,” he added, -“in taking upon myself any degree of responsibility which may attach -itself to this advice, as I consider the fate of Spain as depending -absolutely, for the present, upon the decision which you may adopt. -I say, for the present; for such is the spirit and character of the -country, that, even if abandoned by the British, I should by no means -despair of their ultimate success.” Having read this letter, and -heard Charmilly’s communication, Sir John Moore gave him no reason to -suppose that the intention of retreating would be given up. He retired, -however, to reflect upon what he had heard. His instructions directed -him to receive the representations both of the Spanish government and -the British Ambassador with the utmost deference and attention: ... -both deprecated his retreat. Charmilly had been an eye-witness of -the preparations which were making in Madrid, and accounts confirming -his report came from various quarters. He was persuaded that a great -improvement in the public affairs had taken place, and that it was not -becoming him to fly at such a time; and he wrote, that night, to Sir -David Baird, telling him to suspend his retrograde march till he heard -again, and to make arrangements for returning to Astorga, should it be -necessary. - -♦SIR JOHN MOORE RESOLVES TO ADVANCE.♦ - -Still the rooted feeling of his heart was despondency. In this very -letter he expressed his fear that the spirit of resistance had arisen -too late, and that the French were now too strong to be resisted in -that manner. All this, he said, appeared to him very strange and -unsteady; yet if the spirit of enthusiasm did arise, and the people -would be martyrs, there was no saying, in that case, what a British -force might do. In the morning he wrote a second letter, ordering Sir -David to return to Astorga. “We must be at hand,” said he, “to aid and -take advantage of whatever happens. The wishes of our country and our -duty demand this of us, with whatever risk it may be attended.” But he -added, “I mean to proceed bridle in hand; for if the bubble bursts, and -Madrid falls, we shall have a run for it.” These were ominous words. -It was apparent that he had no confidence in the patriotism of the -Spaniards, nor in his own means of resisting the French, however strong -the country; it was apparent also, that, while these impressions -weighed upon him, he looked on with apprehension to the opinion of -the English public, and that in deference to that opinion he was -sacrificing his own. - -While Sir John was dispatching these instructions, it was not known at -Salamanca that he had changed his intention of retreating: officers -and men alike were delivering their opinions loudly, and speaking -of another investigation. Charmilly hearing this, and being equally -ignorant of the determination which had been formed, supposed that his -second letter was necessary, and accordingly delivered it. The General, -not perceiving the intent for which it was written, and feeling like a -high-spirited officer who thought himself injured, tore the letter in -pieces, and gave vent to his indignation in violent language. Part of -his anger fell upon Charmilly, and, on the following day, he ordered -him to quit Salamanca. Charmilly respectfully represented that he had -not deserved such treatment. The General replied that he did not mean -to give him the smallest offence; but he repeated the order, and it was -obeyed. Sir John Moore, in his resentment for what he conceived the -improper interference of the Ambassador, soon, however, recollected -what was due to him as the King’s minister. He told Mr. Frere, -therefore, that he should abstain from any remarks on the two letters -delivered by Colonel Charmilly, or on the message which accompanied -them. “I certainly,” said he, “did feel and express much indignation -at a person like him being made the channel of a communication of that -sort from you to me. Those feelings are at an end, and I dare say -they never will be excited towards you again. If M. Charmilly is your -friend, it was, perhaps, natural for you to employ him; but I have -prejudices against all that class, and it is impossible for me to put -any trust in him.” He informed the Minister that every thing should be -done, for the assistance of Madrid and the Spanish cause, that could -be expected from such an army as he commanded, ... but he could not -make a direct movement on Madrid, because the passes of Guadarrama and -Somosierra were in the hands of the French, and, besides, he was much -too weak, until joined by Sir David Baird. - -♦NEWS OF THE SURRENDER OF MADRID. - -DEC. 7.♦ - -On the following day, Sir John received a letter from the Junta of -Toledo, telling him they intended to re-unite the dispersed armies -there, and defend the city to the last. He replied, that if the -Spaniards acted up to such sentiments, there could be no doubt of their -ultimate success, whatever temporary advantages the French might gain; -and he sent a British officer to reside at Toledo, and concert measures -for its defence. On the 8th, he informed Sir David Baird that he should -move a corps on the 10th to Zamora and Toro, and ordered him to push -on his troops, by brigades, to Benevente. But, on the 9th, Colonel -Graham, whom he had dispatched to Morla and Castelfranco, returned from -Talavera, with tidings that these men had surrendered Madrid. The -number of the French there was computed at between 20,000 and 30,000 -men, and it was said that they remained at the Retiro, not having -taken possession of the city, in consequence of the temper of the -inhabitants. Another part of the French army was engaged in besieging -Zaragoza. From Toledo the news was equally discouraging: Victor no -sooner approached than it was surrendered to him. These circumstances -did not induce the British General to alter his plan: his object was to -threaten the French communications, draw their attention from Madrid -and Zaragoza, and thus favour any movements which might be projected -by the armies forming on the south of the Tagus. If no advantage was -taken of it, and no efforts made, he saw that the French might turn -against him what portion of their force they pleased. That they would -be able to do this he expected; and he believed that nothing which -his army could effect would be attended with any other advantage than -the character which might be won for the British arms. He looked, -therefore, to a retreat, as an event which would soon be unavoidable; -in his dispatches home, dissuaded the government from sending out -reinforcements, and desired that transports might be ready, at Lisbon, -and at Vigo, to receive the troops; being fully persuaded that the -efforts of England could be of no avail, and that it would be necessary -to evacuate the peninsula. - -♦CORRESPONDENCE WITH ROMANA.♦ - -Having determined, in this inauspicious state of mind, upon advancing, -he wrote to Romana, who was then at Leon, collecting and refitting -the remains of Blake’s army. Sir John complained to him that he had -been put in no communication with any of the Spanish armies, had been -kept perfectly in the dark with respect to their movements, the plans -of their generals and their government, and that while his army was -on the march to assemble and unite itself, he had been left exposed, -without the least support. Therefore, though his wish had always been -to co-operate with the Spaniards, it became necessary for him, finding -that he was left to himself, to think of himself alone. Under that -feeling he had ordered the corps at Astorga to fall back on Coruña, -and meant himself to retire upon Portugal, there to be ready for the -assistance of Spain whenever their affairs were better managed, and an -opportunity offered for doing them any good. Perhaps this opportunity -had now occurred; and as his retreat had been reluctant, so he had -stopped it the moment a chance of acting to advantage presented itself. -His wish now was to unite with the Marques, for whose character he -had the highest respect, and who would always find him ready to -undertake whatever was practicable for the service of the Spanish -nation. The account which Romana gave of his army in reply was far from -encouraging. He had 20,000 men under arms, but they were almost all -without haversacks, cartridge boxes, and shoes, and at least two-thirds -were without clothing, from head to foot. Their spirits however -were good, and if they were well fed they would do their duty. Their -dispersion in Biscay had been wholly owing to the want of subsistence. -He should not doubt of uniting with Sir John, and concerting a decisive -attack upon the troops which surrounded Madrid, were it not for a -division of 8000 or 10,000 men, extending from Sahagun to Almanza, -whose apparent object was to check his army. As long as they remained -in that position, he could not abandon his, because it would leave them -a free way into Asturias; they would take possession of the country -from whence he drew large supplies, and they would threaten the passage -into Galicia. A combined movement with Sir David Baird might oblige -them to fall back upon Reynosa, and then it would not be difficult to -form a junction. - -♦FIRST SKIRMISH AT RUEDA.♦ - -From the beginning Sir John Moore had thought so poorly of the -Spaniards, that this account of the force with which he was to -co-operate could make no alteration in his views. It was perfectly -understood by him that he must stand, or fall, by his own means. He -left Salamanca on the 12th. On the same day, Lord Paget, with the -principal part of the cavalry, marched from Toro to Tordesillas; and -General Stuart surprised and cut off a party of French who were posted -at Rueda. This was the first encounter between the British and French -in Spain; and the prisoners declared it was universally believed -that the English army had retreated. On the 14th, when Sir John was -at Alaejos, a packet of letters, from the head-quarters of the French -army, was brought to him. Some peasantry had killed the officer who -had them in charge. Among them was a letter from Berthier to Marshal -Soult, directing him to take possession of Leon, drive the enemy into -Galicia, and make himself master of Benevente and Zamora. He would have -no English in front, it was said; for every thing evinced that they -were in full retreat. A movement had been made to Talavera, on the -road to Badajoz, which must compel them to hasten to Lisbon, if they -were not already gone; and when they had retired, the Emperor thought -Soult could do whatever he pleased. It appeared from this letter, that -Soult had two divisions with him at Saldaña; that Junot was collecting -another at Burgos; and that another, under Mortier (Duke of Treviso), -had been ordered to march against Zaragoza. - -♦HEAD-QUARTERS REMOVED TO TORO.♦ - -Sir John had intended to march to Valladolid, but seeing that Soult -was stronger than had been represented, he thought it better to move -to Toro, and unite his army there, Sir David Baird doing the same at -Benevente, from whence the two corps might be joined, either by a -forward or flank movement, and strike a blow against Soult, before -that General should be reinforced. While the head-quarters were at -Toro, a member of the Junta arrived there with Mr. Stuart. After the -manner in which Colonel Charmilly had been dismissed, Mr. Frere had -little reason to hope that any thing would induce Sir John Moore to -alter his determination of retiring from the country in despair. The -Spanish Government ♦THE COMMAND OF THE SPANISH ARMIES OFFERED TO SIR -J. MOORE.♦ had, however, pressed him to make one effort more: if that -determination were persisted in, they said, it would bring on the most -dreadful consequences. The measures which alone could save Portugal -and Spain would be completely disconcerted, and England would have -afforded them succour only to make them rely on an effective aid, and -then to withdraw it at the critical moment when it was most needed. In -reality, the enemy at this moment exposed himself to ruin by dividing -his army to cover such an extended line. Romana would join Sir John -Moore with 14,000 men, and the Junta had taken such measures that -within a month 30,000 would be raised in Leon, Galicia, and Asturias. -Mr. Frere inclosed this note to the British Commander, and reminding -him of the immense responsibility with which he charged himself in -adopting a measure which must be followed by immediate if not final -ruin to our ally, and by indelible disgrace to the country with whose -resources he was entrusted, expressed a hope that Mr. Stuart, who was -personally esteemed by the General, would by that advantage be enabled -to urge this argument with the warmth of regard. “I am unwilling,” -he pursued, “to enlarge upon a subject in which my feelings must be -stifled, or expressed at the risk of offence; which, with such an -interest at stake, I should feel unwilling to excite. But this much I -must say, that if the British army had been sent abroad for the express -purpose of doing the utmost possible mischief to the Spanish cause, -with the single exception of not firing a shot against their troops, -they would, according to the measures now announced as about to be -pursued, have completely fulfilled their purpose.... That the defence -of Galicia should be abandoned, must appear incredible.”... This letter -arrived too late to have any influence upon Sir John’s movements; he -had advanced, but it was with a heavy heart: and when the Deputy from -the Junta, D. Francisco Xavier Caro, at this time offered him the -command in chief of the Spanish armies, he refused it. He would not -have done this if he had had any hope of acting with success against -the enemy, or any intention of making a stand against them: for at this -time he learnt that Romana was beginning to retire on Galicia, and felt -how inconvenient it was that the army which was to co-operate with -him should be independent of him. He therefore wrote to the Marques, -saying, he had looked for the assistance of such part of his corps as -was fit to move; and had expected also that the road to Coruña would -have been left open for the British army, as that by which it must -receive its supplies, and the only one by which it must retreat, if -compelled so to do. Romana replied, that he should have had no thought -of retreating had it not been for the intelligence which he received -from Sir D. Baird; that he was ready to act with Sir John; and that -this was the moment, not for retreating, but for trying what could be -done against the enemy, and drawing him from the capital. - -♦JUNCTION WITH SIR D. BAIRD FORMED.♦ - -The junction with Sir D. Baird was formed at Mayorga on the 20th; the -united force amounting to something more than 28,000 men, of whom -2450 were cavalry, with 50 pieces of artillery. The cavalry under -Lord Paget were pushed forward, and having learned that some of the -enemy’s cavalry were posted at Sahagun, Lord Paget endeavoured to -cut them off. The alarm was given, and they had time to form in a -favourable position; but they were out-manœuvred, charged, overthrown -in a moment, and dispersed in every direction, with the loss of many -killed, and 157 prisoners, including two Lieutenant-Colonels. In this -affair about 400 of the 15th Hussars encountered nearly 700 French; -and the British felt and proved their own exceeding great superiority. -Head-quarters were advanced to Sahagun on the 21st. The weather was -severe; the roads bad, and covered with snow; and as the troops had -suffered from forced marches, they halted there for a day, and there a -co-operation with Romana was finally concerted, the Marques engaging to -move with from 9000[40] to 10,000 men, being that part of his force -which was sufficiently clothed and armed to take the field. Pitiable -as their condition appeared when they were compared to troops so -admirably equipped as the English, it was, nevertheless, evident, even -to a desponding observer, that they might be brought into action as -auxiliaries, to occupy part of the enemy’s force, and to complete his -destruction in case of victory. - -♦THEY ADVANCE AGAINST M. SOULT.♦ - -According to the information which Romana could obtain, Soult’s corps -consisted of about 9000 infantry and 1000 horse; but that General, -apprehending that some attempt would be made against him, had applied -for reinforcements, and without waiting for them, called to his -assistance the nearest troops; he had thus brought together about -18,000 men, who were posted behind the river Carrion. Every arrangement -was made for attacking him, and orders were issued accordingly, ... -never more welcome to a British army. The convents in Sahagun were -prepared for the reception of the wounded; and the soldiers confidently -anticipated a glorious victory. Their general was less sanguine. “The -movement I am making,” he said to Mr. Frere, “is of the most dangerous -kind. I not only risk to be surrounded every moment by superior -forces, but to have my communication with Galicia intercepted. I wish -it to be apparent to the whole world, as it is to every individual of -the army, that we have done every thing in our power in support of -the Spanish cause, and that we do not abandon it until long after -the Spaniards had abandoned us.” The truth is, that nothing had -been done; but he was disgusted with the Spanish Government, and he -had no faith in the people: his own judgement would have led him to -fall back from Salamanca; and he only advanced because he knew what -would be the feelings of the English nation, if its army had retired -without attempting any thing. Offended with Mr. Frere, for having -given his opinion, when he himself had asked it, he did not deem the -suggestion of that Minister, as to making a stand at Astorga, worthy -of consideration. It was at once rejected, as futile; and he advanced -against this detachment of the French, “bridle in hand,” as he himself -said, and expecting to “have a run for it,” ... not thinking that any -possible benefit could result from a victory, but seeking a reason -which might appear valid to the people of England for abandoning the -peninsula, and for leaving Spain and Portugal to their fate.... “It -was necessary to risk this army,” he said, “to convince the people of -England, as well as the rest of Europe, that the Spaniards had neither -the power nor the inclination to make any efforts for themselves. -With respect to the cause, it will probably have no effect. Even if I -beat Marshal Soult, it will be attended with no other effect than the -character it will attach to the British arms.” - -At the hour appointed, the whole force was under arms; the right column -had begun its march, and the rest were in high spirits, expecting -the word of command: ... just at this time came a letter from Romana, -with intelligence ♦THE FRENCH ENDEAVOUR TO SURROUND THE BRITISH ARMY.♦ -that the French were advancing from Madrid, either to Valladolid or -Salamanca; and information to the same purport was received by other -messengers, and also, that considerable reinforcements ♦DEC. 23.♦ had -arrived at Carrion from Palencia. Orders were immediately issued that -the troops should go back to their quarters, and by daybreak next -morning be again under arms. “In my life,” says one who was present, -“I never witnessed such an instantaneously-withering effect upon any -body of living creatures! A few murmurs only were heard, but every -countenance was changed, and they who, the minute before, were full of -that confidence which ensures victory, were at once deprived of all -heart and ♦SIR J. MOORE BEGINS HIS RETREAT.♦ hope.” The next morning -General Hope fell back to Mayorga, on the road to Benevente, with his -own division and with General Fraser’s. Sir David Baird was ordered -to pass the river Ezla at Valencia de San Juan: on Christmas-day the -Commander-in-chief followed General Hope, with the reserve and the -light brigades; and the cavalry, under Lord Paget, followed the reserve -on the 26th. When Sir John Moore apprized Romana that he should fall -back, he told him that if he were pursued he should stop and offer -battle: and in a second communication from Sahagun he said, that if he -were pressed after crossing the Ezla, he should have no objection to -try an action. But he had made up his mind to lose some of his baggage, -and not to fight, if he could avoid it. Astorga was to be his rallying -point: there he informed Romana he should stand, as his retreat from -thence, if necessary, would be secure, and he should be in the way to -receive the supplies and the reinforcements which he expected from -England. At the worst, he could defend himself, and, with Romana’s -aid, defend Galicia. “You may rest assured,” he added, “that I shall -not retreat a foot beyond what is necessary to secure my supplies from -being intercepted.... You will find no inclination in me to abandon -the Spanish cause.” But his dispatches from Benevente, on the 28th, -show that this intention, if it had ever been seriously entertained, -was soon abandoned; and as for the reinforcements, he had already -countermanded them in his feeling of despair. His force, he said, when -he reached Astorga, would be about 27,000; Romana could not have above -8000. The troops moving against him he estimated at not less than -50,000; and it was said that Buonaparte himself was coming, with 10,000 -of his guards. His real purpose was not to stop longer at Astorga -than to secure the stores, and then retreat to Villa Franca, where he -had been told there was a position. Romana had intimated to him, some -time ago, his intention of retiring into Galicia by this route, but -Sir John begged it might be left open to the English, being the only -communication they had for their retreat or supplies. - -From the 22d to the 24th, Soult received such reinforcements as made -his army superior to the British. Junot, with the army which had been -transported from Portugal to France, had advanced to Palencia, and -threatened their right flank. Buonaparte was hastening from Madrid, -with his imperial cavalry, and all the disposable force in that -quarter. The force under Lefebvre was counter-ordered from the road -to Badajoz, and directed toward Salamanca. The retreat of the British -upon Portugal was thus cut off. Of the numbers advancing against him -Sir John Moore was not informed; and so little idea was there of flying -when he began his retreat, that it was determined to carry off the -prisoners; and they were accordingly stowed in covered waggons. A thaw -came on the day when they first fell back; on the following it rained -without intermission: the soil in that part of the country is a heavy -loam, and the roads were above a foot deep in clay. The proclamations -of the French travelled faster than the British army: these were, as -usual, full of promises which would not be fulfilled, and menaces which -would. They were come, they said, to deliver Spain; to emancipate the -people from the yoke of a tyrannical nobility and a fanatic priesthood. -All persons who remained quiet in their houses, or who, having forsaken -them, speedily returned, should receive no injury; but otherwise, -whatsoever belonged to them should be confiscated. Unhappily, the -conduct of our people now began to give effect to these hand-bills. -The soldiers were indignant ♦ILL CONDUCT OF THE TROOPS.♦ with the -Spaniards for their apparent supineness; they were exasperated by the -conduct of some poor wretches, whose carts had been pressed to carry -the sick and wounded, and who, as many of them as could, had taken -their mules, and run away in the night, because the movements of a -retreating army exposed themselves to imminent danger, and their beasts -to certain destruction. Weary and disheartened, in want of rest and -food, disappointed in their confident hopes of victory, and indignant -at turning their backs upon an enemy whom they would so eagerly have -met in the field, it was a relief for them to vent these feelings, -in the shape of anger, upon the only objects within their reach. In -this temper they began to plunder and commit havoc wherever they went; -and the officers, many of whom already murmured at the rapidity of -the retreat, and were discontented with the total silence which the -Commander-in-chief maintained respecting his future measures, did not -exert themselves as they ought to have done, to prevent these excesses. - -♦PASSAGE OF THE EZLA. - -DEC. 26.♦ - -Sir David Baird, who took the shorter line to Astorga, by way of -Valencia de S. Juan, effected his march without molestation. The sick -and wounded, following the same track, halted at the latter place, to -pass the night. Hardly had they been provided with the necessary food, -and laid to rest, before the alarm was sounded, and they were again -hurried into the waggons. The night was cold, misty, and exceeding -dark, and the Ezla was to be crossed some little distance from the -town. They were not provided with pontoons. The ford is dangerous, -because of the rapidity of the stream, occasioned by two narrow banks -of shingles, which form an angle in the middle; and at this time the -river was fast rising, from the melting of the snow upon the mountains. -A serjeant’s guard had been left by Sir David on the opposite bank, to -assist the waggons in passing, and skuttle two ferry-boats, when they -had effected their passage. They kindled a fire with grass and rushes, -for the sake of its light, but the materials were wet, and the wind -soon extinguished it. A Spanish muleteer attempted to guide them over -the ford: his mule tripped in the mid stream, he was thrown, and saved -by a soldier, when just in the act of sinking. Perilous, however, as -the ford was, the passage was accomplished, without other loss than -that of some baggage-waggons, which broke down. - -♦GENERAL ORDERS ISSUED AT BENEVENTE.♦ - -Sir John Moore, meantime, with the other division of the army, reached -Benevente, and there found it necessary to issue general orders, -♦DEC. 27.♦ which reflected severely upon the conduct both of his men -and officers. “The misbehaviour of the column which had marched by -Valderas exceeded,” he said, “what he could have believed of British -soldiers. He could feel no mercy towards officers who neglected, in -times like these, essential duties, nor towards soldiers who disgraced -their country, by acts of villany towards the people whom they were -sent to protect.” Alluding then to the discontent which was manifested -at the hurry of the retreat, and the mystery which was thrown over -their proceedings, he said, “it was impossible for the General to -explain to his army the motives of the movements which he directed; -he could, however, assure them, that he had made none since he left -Salamanca which he did not foresee, and was not prepared for; and, as -far as he was a judge, they had answered the purposes for which they -were intended. When it was proper to fight a battle he would do it, -and he would choose the time and place which he thought most fit. In -the meantime, he begged the officers and men to attend diligently to -discharge _their_ parts, and leave to _him_, with the general officers, -the decision of measures which belonged to them alone.” Strong as this -language was, it had no effect, and the havoc which had been committed -at Valderas was renewed at Benevente. The castle there is one of the -finest monuments of the age of chivalry; we have nothing in England -which approaches to its grandeur: Berkley, Raby, even Warwick and -Windsor are poor fabrics in comparison. With Gothic grandeur, it has -the richness of Moorish decoration; open galleries, where Saracenic -arches are supported by pillars of porphyry and granite; cloisters, -with fountains playing in their courts; jasper columns and tesselated -floors, niches, alcoves, and seats in the walls, over-arched in various -forms, and enriched with every grotesque adornment of gold and silver, -and colours which are hardly less gorgeous. It belonged to the Duke -of Ossuna; and the splendour of old times was still continued there. -The extent of this magnificent structure may be estimated from this -circumstance, that two regiments, besides artillery, were quartered -within its walls. They proved the most destructive enemies that had -ever entered them: their indignant feelings broke out again in acts of -wanton mischief; and the officers, who felt and admired the beauties -of this venerable pile, attempted in vain to save it from devastation. -Every thing combustible was seized, fires were lighted against the -fine walls, and pictures of unknown value, the works, perhaps, of the -greatest Spanish masters, and of those other great painters who left -so many of their finest productions in Spain, were heaped together as -fuel. The archives of the family fortunately escaped. - -♦AFFAIR OF CAVALRY ON THE EZLA.♦ - -The soldiers had, however, here an opportunity of displaying a spirit -more becoming them as ♦DEC. 28.♦ Englishmen. Soon after the rear of -the army had marched into the town, an alarm was given that the enemy -were on the opposite heights. In an instant all was on the alert; -every man hastened to his place of rendezvous; the cavalry poured -out of the gates: ... the plain in the opposite direction was covered -with fugitives, and the streets were filled with women bewailing their -fate, and calling upon the Saints and the Virgin for protection. The -French, seeing with what alacrity they would be encountered, looked -at our men from the heights, and retired. It was ♦DEC. 29.♦ towards -evening, and as the enemy were so near, orders were given to destroy -the bridge. This was effected about daybreak the following morning; -and it was supposed that their progress was for a while impeded. The -troops again continued their retreat, and the whole of the infantry -and heavy artillery had departed, when intelligence arrived that the -French were again appearing, and that their cavalry were in the act -of passing the Ezla: ... they had found a ford about three hundred -yards below the bridge. Lord Paget and General Stewart were still in -the town. The picquets of the night, under Lieutenant-Colonel Otway -and Major Bagwell, were sent down; the cavalry were ordered to repair -to their alarm posts; and many volunteers came forward. Lord Paget -hastened to the spot: he found four squadrons of imperial guards -already formed and skirmishing with the picquets; other cavalry were -in the act of passing. The 10th Hussars were sent for: as soon as they -arrived, General Stewart placed himself at the head of the picquets, -and charged the enemy. The French gave way, and repassed the ford -more expeditiously than they had crossed it. They formed again on the -other side, and threatened a second attempt; but three pieces of -horse artillery, which now came up, were stationed near the bridge, -and opened a fire upon them, that did considerable execution. About -seventy prisoners were taken; among them General Lefebvre Desnouettes, -Commander of the imperial guard of cavalry. The loss of the enemy could -not be ascertained: it was variously guessed, from 60 to 200. Ours was -about 50 in killed and wounded. It was reported that Buonaparte was on -the heights during this action. - -♦SIR JOHN MOORE REACHES ASTORGA.♦ - -The ardour of the French was manifestly damped by this fresh proof of -British valour; and they continued their pursuit at such respectful -distance, that the rear of the army, which had been engaged with -them, reached Bañeza ♦DEC. 30.♦ that night unmolested. The next day -the Commander-in-chief reached Astorga. This was the rallying point, -and here they found about 5000 men of Romana’s army. That army was -literally half naked and half starved; a malignant typhus fever -was raging among them, and sixty or seventy were sent daily to the -hospitals. About this number, however, were fit for service. Romana -arrived there the same day. The first intimation that the French were -advancing to interpose between Portugal and the British army had -been received from him; but it was his opinion that that information -ought to have produced no change in Sir John Moore’s intentions. The -intended attack, he thought, ought still to have been made; Soult -might have been beaten in time to fall upon the corps which was -coming to reinforce him, and by the success which prompt and vigorous -measures would have ensured, they should have become masters of Leon -and Castille. To his utter astonishment he now found that there was -no intention of making a stand at Astorga, part of the British army -being already on the way to Villa Franca, and a regiment of cavalry all -that was left on the side of Bañeza. He went therefore to the British -Commander, and represented to him the propriety of facing the enemy -where they were, a point from whence they had always a secure retreat -by the passes of Manzanal and Foncebadon, ... passes so strong that a -small force might maintain them against any numbers. He represented -to him also, that the park of artillery was at Ponferrada, where also -the hospitals were established, and there were magazines of corn; that -in Villa Franca there were more than 2000 sick, with hospital stores -and depôts of arms, and therefore it was of the utmost consequence to -defend the Bierzo. But Sir John Moore replied, that he had determined -upon retiring into Galicia, because his troops required rest. He -desired that the high road of Manzanal might be left to him, saying, -he would defend that and the principal entrance to Galicia by Villa -Franca; and that Romana might take the Foncebadon pass, and enter by -way of the Val de Orras and Puebla ♦HONOURABLE CONDUCT OF ROMANA AND -HIS ARMY.♦ de Sanabria. And here a proof of Spanish magnanimity was -given by these half armed, half naked, and half famished men, for such -they literally were. A malignant fever was raging among them, and -long fatigue, privations, and disease, made them appear more like an -ambulatory hospital than an army. Under such circumstances it might -have been supposed they would have sought to secure their retreat under -protection of the British to Coruña and Ferrol. But Romana and his -forlorn band were too high-minded to attach themselves as a burden upon -those allies with whom they had so lately expected to co-operate in -honourable and hopeful enterprise; and they assented without hesitation -to the British General’s desire. Romana only requested that the British -troops might no longer be permitted to commit disorders which even in -an enemy’s country ought never to be allowed; it must have been painful -indeed for Sir John Moore to have heard of such excesses, and still -more painful to feel, that in a retreat so hasty as this was intended -to be, it was impossible to prevent them. - -♦SIR JOHN MOORE PURSUES HIS RETREAT.♦ - -The troops had been assured, at Benevente, that they were not falling -back upon Coruña, but that their march was only to secure a more -favourable position: ... no affirmations could make the soldiery -believe this: and when Sir John Moore reached Astorga, and issued -his orders, it was too manifest that they were not retreating, but -flying, before the enemy. Ammunition waggons were burnt here, and -an entire depôt of entrenching tools abandoned, so that the army -was thus deprived of a most important means of impeding the enemy’s -progress. The position at Villa Franca, which the Commander-in-chief -had formerly mentioned in his dispatches, was no longer thought of. -Two brigades under General Craufurd, were detached, by way of Orense, -to Vigo, to which port Sir John had ordered empty transports to be -sent for him, supposing it to be the best point of embarkation. This -detachment preceded Romana in the line which he expected was to have -been left for him; and when he and his forlorn band, after halting -only one night, took their way toward Orense, they found the country -stripped of the means of subsistence upon which they had reckoned. -General Fraser and his division were immediately sent forward, with -orders to proceed to Lugo; he was followed by General Hope and Sir -David Baird, and their instructions were to make forced marches to the -coast. “With respect to me and the British troops,” said the Commander, -in his official letter, “it has come to that point which I have long -foreseen.... From a desire to do what I could, I made the movement -against Soult: as a diversion, it has answered completely; but as there -is nothing to take advantage of it, I have risked the loss of the army -for no purpose. I have no option now but to fall down to the coast -as fast as I am able.... We must all make forced marches, from the -scarcity of provisions, and to be before the enemy, who, by roads upon -our flanks, may otherwise intercept us.” - -It appears evident, from these expressions, that Sir John Moore was -not well informed of the nature of the country through which he was -about to retreat. Westward of Astorga, two great ♦THE BIERZO.♦ ranges -of mountains trend from north to south: Puerto del Rabanal, Cruz de -Ferro, and Foncebadon, are those of the eastern branch; those of the -western are the Puerto del Cebrero, Puerto del Courel, and Puerto -del Aguiar; they meet, on the south, with the Sierra de Sanabria, -the Sierra de Cabrera, and the Montes Aquilianos. The tract which -these mountains enclose is called the Bierzo: from summit to summit -it is about sixteen leagues from north to south, and about fourteen -from east to west. The whole waters of this amphitheatre have but one -opening; they are collected into the river Sil, and pass, through a -narrow gorge, into the Val de Orras, in Galicia.... The centre is a -plain of about four square leagues. There is scarcely in Europe a more -lovely tract of country, certainly no where a more defensible one. The -main road, one of the finest in Europe, is that of Manzanal; that of -Foncebadon also leads into the Bierzo; there is no third ingress, and -from Villa Franca toward Coruña the only way is that of the Puerto -Cebrero; both the former passes lead along defiles, where, as Romana -observed three months before this miserable retreat, a thousand men -might stop the march of twenty times their number: and beyond Villa -Franca there is no lateral road. Sir David Baird’s army had travelled -this road; they supposed that it could not possibly be intended to -fall back beyond that point. But the Commander saw no security till -he should reach the coast; there he hoped to find transports ready, -or to take up some defensible position till they arrived. The same -difficulties which affected him must affect his pursuers. It was not -probable that all the numbers which were now marching against him -would follow him the whole way; and once on the coast, it was his -determination not to be molested by any thing like an equal force: ... -“it is only while retreating,” said he, “that we are vulnerable.” His -sole object now was to bring off the army, ... to effect this he had -already destroyed great part of the ammunition and military stores, and -now left behind many of the sick. - -♦DISORDERS COMMITTED BY THE TROOPS.♦ - -The mountain-tops were covered with heavy clouds, and the roads -knee-deep in snow. Provisions, in a country where the natives are not -rich enough at any time to lay by a store, can never be abundant, and -what there were, had already been exhausted by the repeated march -of troops, English and Spaniards. The little order with which such -food as could be found was issued out, occasioned waste, and thereby -increased the evil. The men, half famished, half frozen, and altogether -desperate, were no longer in any subordination. They forced their way -into the houses where their rations should have been served, seized -it by force, frequently spilling the wine, and destroying more than -they could carry away. This was not all: ... pillage could not be -prevented. Houses and villages were burning in all directions; but when -they thus acted as enemies, they were treated as such; and many of them -were put to death by the peasantry, in revenge, or in self-defence. - -♦BUONAPARTE STOPS AT ASTORGA.♦ - -Buonaparte pursued in person no farther than Astorga: he left Marshal -Ney with 18,000 men to keep that part of the country in subjection; and -assigned to Marshal Soult, with 23,000, what he called the “glorious -mission of destroying the English army, ... pursuing them to their -point of embarkation, and driving them into the sea.” Marshal Soult’s -was an easy task: he had only to follow the English just close enough -to keep them at the pace at which they set out, and not come near -enough to make them turn and stand at bay; fatigue would do his work -more surely than the sword. From Astorga to Villa Franca del Bierzo -is fifteen leagues, about sixty English miles; the road for the first -four leagues is up the mountain, but through an open country. Having -reached the summit of Foncebadon, you enter into some of the strongest -passes in Europe. It would scarcely be possible for an invading army to -force their way here, against a body of determined men. These passes -continue between two and three leagues, nearly to the village of Torre; -from thence, through Benvibre and Ponferrada, nothing can be finer than -the country, and the circle of mountains which binds it in. But never, -in the most melancholy ages of Spanish history, had a more miserable -scene ♦1809. JANUARY.♦ been represented, than was now to be witnessed -here. The horses of the retreating army began to fail, and this, in -great measure, for want of shoes and shoe-nails. There was no want of -iron to hammer new ones: there are iron-works near Villa Franca, and -enough might have been procured, had there been time allowed. As soon -as these noble animals foundered, they were shot, lest the enemy should -profit by them. The rain continued pouring, ... the baggage was to be -dragged, and the soldiers were to wade through half-melted snows, ... -the feet of the men as well as of the beasts began to fail, ... more -waggons were left behind, ... more ammunition destroyed along the way; -and when the troops reached Villa Franca, they were in such a state, -that several experienced officers predicted, if this march against time -were persevered in, a fourth of the army would be left in the ditches, -before it was ♦JAN. 2.♦ accomplished. More magazines and carriages -were here destroyed. Some of the men abandoning themselves now, as -knowing that if they proceeded they must die of cold, hunger, and -weariness; they got into the wine cellars, and, giving way to desperate -excess, were found dead when the French entered the town. When the -General marched with the reserve from Benvibre, he left a detachment -to cover the town, while parties were sent to warn the stragglers of -their danger, and drive them out of the houses, ... for the place -was filled with them, near a thousand men of the preceding divisions -having remained there, all abandoned to despair, and most of them to -drunkenness. A few were prevailed upon to move on; the greater number -were deaf to threats, and insensible to danger, till the rear-guard was -compelled to march. A small detachment of cavalry still covered them, -and did not quit the town till the enemy approached, and then the road -was filled with stragglers, armed and unarmed, mules, carts, women, and -children.... Four or five squadrons of French cavalry compelled the -detachment in the rear to retire, and pursued them closely for several -miles, till General Paget, with the reserve, repulsed the pursuers. As -the French dragoons galloped through the long line of these wretched -stragglers, they slashed them with their swords to the right and left, -... the men being so insensible with liquor that they neither attempted -to resist nor get out of the road. Some of these men having found their -way to the army, mangled as they were, were paraded through the ranks, -to show their comrades the miserable consequence of drunkenness at such -a time. - -♦SKIRMISH AT CACABELOS.♦ - -The Spaniards at Villa Franca would not believe that the French were -advancing; through so strong a country, and in so severe a season, they -thought it was impossible. Sir John Moore, however, well knew that he -was pursued, and he was afraid of halting, lest the enemy should get in -his rear, and intercept him at Lugo; an apprehension which could not -have been entertained, had he been acquainted with the country. The -troops, therefore, were hurried on: the artillery and head-quarters -went foremost; General Baird’s column, and the cavalry, under Lord -Paget, covered the rear. The advanced guard of the enemy, under General -Colbert, were close at their heels: Merle’s division joined them on -♦JAN. 3.♦ the 3d, and on the afternoon of that day they ventured to -attack the rear-guard at Cacabelos. They were repulsed by the dragoons -and riflemen. General Colbert received a ball in his forehead, and -fell; he was an officer of great promise, and of so fine a person, that -Canova is said to have called him the modern Antinous. Having thus once -more shown the enemy what they could do in battle, the rear of the -army, reluctantly and almost broken-hearted, continued their retreat. - -♦RETREAT CONTINUED FROM VILLA FRANCA.♦ - -From Villa Franca to Castro is one continued ascent up Monte del -Cebrero for about fifteen miles, through one of the wildest, most -delightful, and most defensible countries in the world. The road is -a royal one, cut with great labour and expense in the side of the -mountain, and following all its windings; ... for some part of the -way it overhangs the river Valcarce, a rapid mountain stream, which -falls into the Burbia near the town, and afterwards joins the Sil, -to pass through the single outlet in the gorge of the Bierzo. Oaks, -alders, poplars, hazels, and chestnuts grow in the bottom, and far up -the side of the hills: the apple, pear, cherry, and mulberry are wild -in this country; the wild olive, also, is found here; and here are -the first vineyards which the traveller sees on his way from Coruña -into the heart of Spain. The mountains are cultivated in some parts -even to their summits, and trenches are cut along their sides, for -the purpose of irrigating them. Even those writers whose journals -were written during the horrors of such a flight noticed this scenery -with admiration. It was now covered with snow: ... there was neither -provision to sustain nature, nor shelter from the rain and snow, nor -fuel for fire, to keep the vital heat from total extinction, nor -place where the weary and foot-sore could rest for a single hour in -safety. All that had hitherto been suffered was but the prelude to -this consummate scene of horrors. It was still attempted to carry on -some of the sick and wounded: the beasts which drew them failed at -every step; and they were left in their waggons, to perish amid the -snow. “I looked round,” says an officer, “when we had hardly gained -the highest point of those slippery precipices, and saw the rear of -the army winding along the narrow road.... I saw their way marked by -the wretched people who lay on all sides expiring, from fatigue and -the severity of the cold: ... their bodies reddened in spots the white -surface of the ground.” The men were now desperate: excessive fatigue, -and the feeling of the disgrace there was in thus flying before the -enemy, excited in them a spirit which was almost mutinous: ... a few -hours’ pause was what they desired, an opportunity of facing the -French, the chance of an honourable and speedy death, the certainty of -sweetening their sufferings by taking vengeance upon their pursuers. A -Portugueze bullock-driver, who had faithfully served the English from -the first day of their march, was seen on his knees amid the snow, with -his hands clasped, dying in the attitude and act of prayer. He had at -least the comfort of religion in his passing hour. The soldiers who -threw themselves down to perish by the way-side gave utterance to far -different feelings with their dying breath: shame and strong anger were -their last sentiments; and their groans were mingled with imprecations -upon the Spaniards, by whom they fancied themselves betrayed, and upon -the generals, who chose rather to let them die like beasts than take -their chance in the field of battle. That no horror might be wanting, -women and children accompanied this wretched army: ... some were frozen -to death in the baggage-waggons, which were broken down, or left upon -the road for want of cattle; some died of fatigue and cold, while their -infants were pulling at the exhausted breast: ... one woman was taken -in labour upon the mountain; she lay down at the turning of an angle -rather more sheltered than the rest of the way from the icy sleet which -drifted along; ... there she was found dead, and two babes, which she -had brought forth, struggling in the snow: ... a blanket was thrown -over her, to cover her from sight, ... the only burial which could be -afforded, ... and the infants were given in charge to a woman who came -up in one of the bullock-carts, ... to take their chance for surviving -through such a journey. - -♦TREASURE ABANDONED.♦ - -While the reserve were on this part of the road, they met between -thirty and forty waggons filled with arms, ammunition, shoes, and -clothing, from England, for Romana’s army. There was no means of -carrying them back; ... such things as could be made use of were -distributed to the soldiers as they passed, and the rest were -destroyed. Indeed, the baggage which was with the army could not be -carried on: nearly an hundred waggons, laden with shoes and clothes, -were abandoned upon this ascent. The dollars, too, could no longer be -dragged along: had the resolution of sacrificing them been determined -upon in time, they might have been distributed among the men: in this -manner, great part might have been saved from the enemy, and they who -escaped would have had some little compensation for the hardships -which they had undergone: ... they were now cast over the side of -the precipice, in hopes that the snow might conceal them from the -French: ... many men are supposed to have been lost, in consequence of -having dropped behind, for the hope of recovering some of this money. -Dreadful as this march appeared to those who beheld the wreck of the -army strewing its line of road, it was perhaps still more so for them -who performed it in a night stormy and dark, wading through sludge -and snow, stumbling over the bodies of beasts and men, and hearing, -whenever the wind abated, the groans of those whose sufferings were not -yet terminated by death. - -From the summit of this mountain to Lugo is nearly twelve leagues. -There are several bridges upon the way, over glens and gills, which -might have impeded the pursuit, had they been destroyed. One, in -particular, between Nogales and Marillas, is the most remarkable work -of art between Coruña and Madrid. This bridge, which is called Puente -del Corzul, crosses a deep ravine: from its exceeding height, the -narrowness of its lofty arches, and its form, which, as usual with -the Spanish bridges, is straight, it might at a little distance be -mistaken for an aqueduct. Several of those officers who knew the road -relied much upon the strength of the ravine, and the impossibility -that the French could bring their guns over, if the bridge were -destroyed. Grievous as it was to think of destroying so grand a work, -its destruction was attempted; but, as in most other instances, to no -purpose; whether the pioneers performed their office too hastily, or -because their implements had been abandoned upon the way. - -♦THE ARMY COLLECTS AT LUGO.♦ - -The different divisions had been ordered to halt and collect at Lugo. -Sir John Moore was now sensible of the impossibility of reaching -Vigo, ... the distance was double that to Coruña, the road was said -to be impracticable for artillery, and the place itself offered no -advantages for embarking in the face of an enemy. The brigades, -however, of Generals Craufurd and Alton had marched for that port; and -General Fraser, with his division, had been ordered to follow and join -them. A dispatch was sent to stop him: the dragoon who was entrusted -with it got drunk on the way, and lost the letter; and these troops, in -consequence, had proceeded a full day’s journey on their way towards -Vigo before the counter-order reached them, and they were marched back. -Thus, instead of having two days’ rest at Lugo, as had been designed, -they returned to that place excessively harassed, and with some -diminution of number, occasioned by fatigue. When the horses entered -Lugo, many of them fell dead in the streets, others were mercifully -shot; ... above four hundred carcasses were lying in the streets and -market places; ... there were none of the army who had strength to bury -them; the towns-people were under too painful a suspense to think of -performing work which it seemed hopeless to begin while the frequent -musket-shot indicated so many fresh slaughters; there therefore the -bodies lay, swelling with the rain, bursting, putrifying, and poisoning -the atmosphere, faster than the glutted dogs and carrion birds could -do their office. Here the retreating army might have rested, had the -destruction of the bridges been effected; but this attempt had been so -imperfectly executed, that the French came in sight on the 5th, and, -collecting in considerable strength, took up a good position opposite -our rear-guard, a valley dividing them. - -♦SIR JOHN OFFERS BATTLE AT LUGO. - -JAN. 6.♦ - -On the following day they attacked the outposts, opening upon them with -two Spanish pieces of ordnance, which they had taken on their march. -The attack was made with great spirit; but it was received, says an -officer, “with a steadiness which excited even our own wonder;” ... -for at the sight of the enemy, and the sound of battle, the English -recovered heart, and derived from their characteristic and invincible -courage a strength ♦JAN. 7.♦ which soon made them victorious. On the -7th another attack was made, and in like manner repelled. The prisoners -reported that Marshal Soult was come up with three divisions. Sir -John Moore, therefore, expecting a more formidable attempt, drew up -his whole force on the morning ♦JAN. 8.♦ of the 8th. It was his wish -now to bring the enemy to action; he had perfect confidence in the -valour of the troops, and perceived, also, that, unless he crippled -his pursuers, there was no hope of embarking unmolested. Order and -discipline were instantaneously restored by this resolution to fight, -and the men seemed at once to have recovered from their sufferings. -The French were not equally eager for battle; the trial which they had -made of their enemies on the two preceding days was not such as to -encourage them; and Soult was waiting for more troops to come up. The -country was intersected with inclosures, and his position was thought -too strong to be attacked by an inferior force. But, in reality, -the French at this time were less numerous than the English. Another -reason assigned for not attacking the enemy was, that the commissariat -had only provisions for two days: delay, therefore, was judged as -disadvantageous as retreat. It was afterwards known, that the French -expected to be attacked, that they had no confidence in the strength -of their position, and that their ablest officers apprehended their -advanced guard would have been cut off. They frequently spoke of this -to those English who were left in their power at Lugo, and exulted that -Sir John Moore had contented himself with offering battle, instead of -forcing them to an engagement. After waiting till the afternoon, during -a day of snow and storms, Sir John ordered large fires to be lighted -along the line, for the purpose of deceiving the enemy, and continued -his retreat during the night. - -♦RETREAT TO CORUÑA.♦ - -Before the reserve left Lugo, the General once more endeavoured to -repress the irregularity of the march. He warned the soldiers that -their safety depended entirely upon their keeping their divisions, and -marching with their regiments; and that those who stopped in villages, -or straggled in the way, would inevitably be cut off by the French -cavalry, ... “who have hitherto,” said he, “shown little mercy even to -the feeble and infirm who have fallen into their hands. The army has -still eleven leagues to march; the soldiers must make an exertion to -accomplish this: the rear-guard cannot stop; and they who fall behind -must take their fate.” These representations were ineffectual: ... it -was, indeed, impossible to obey them: many of the men were exhausted -and foot-sore, and could not keep their ranks: ... others, who had -totally broke through all discipline, left them for the love of wine, -or for worse motives. So irresistible was the temptation of liquor to -men in their state, that it was deemed better to expose them to the -cold and rain of a severe night, than to the wine-houses of Betanzos, -the next town upon their march. When the Royals reached that place, -they only mustered, with the colours, nine officers, three serjeants, -and three privates: the rest had dropped on the road; and many of -those who joined did not come up for three days. There was a memorable -instance, in this part of the retreat, of what might have been -accomplished by discipline and presence of mind. A party of invalids, -between Lugo and Betanzos, were closely pressed by two squadrons of the -enemy’s cavalry. Serjeant Newman, of the 2d battalion 43d, was among -them: he made an effort to pass three or four hundred of these poor -men, then halted, rallied round him such as were capable of making any -resistance, and directed the others to proceed as they could. This -party he formed regularly into divisions, and commenced firing and -retiring in an orderly manner, till he effectually covered the retreat -of his disabled comrades, and made the cavalry give up the pursuit. - -♦SIR JOHN IS ADVISED TO PROPOSE TERMS.♦ - -The partial actions at Lugo, and the risk to which he had been exposed -of a general one, checked Soult in his pursuit; and he was too sensible -of the danger which he had escaped, to trust himself again so near the -British, without a superior force. The British army, therefore, gained -twelve hours’ march upon him, and reached Coruña with little farther -molestation; they obtained implements from Coruña for destroying the -bridge over the Mero, and thus impeded ♦JAN. 11.♦ the enemy’s progress. -At Coruña, if the General had not represented the cause of Spain as -hopeless, they might have found reinforcements from England, which -would have enabled them to turn upon their pursuers, and take ample -vengeance for the sufferings and the shame which they had endured. But, -instead of reinforcements, he had directed that empty transports should -be sent; and, for want of due knowledge of the country, had ordered -them to Vigo, instead of Coruña. That order had been countermanded -as soon as the error was discovered; but contrary winds detained the -ships, ... happily for the honour of their country, for otherwise the -troops would have quitted Spain as fugitives. It was apparent now -that they could not escape unless they gained a battle. Coruña was a -bad position. Had they been numerous enough to have occupied a range -of hills about four miles from the town, they could have defended -themselves against very superior numbers, ... but these heights -required a larger force than the English army, of which not less than -a fourth part had been foundered by the way. Both flanks would have -been liable to be turned: it was therefore necessary to relinquish -them to the enemy, and be content with occupying a second and lower -range. Such, however, were the disadvantages of this situation, that -some of our general officers advised the Commander to propose terms to -Soult, for permitting the army to embark unmolested. In communicating -this to the Government, Sir John said he was averse to make any such -proposal, and exceedingly doubtful if it would be attended with any -good effect, ... but whatever he might resolve upon this head, the -Ministers might rest assured that he would accept no terms which were -in the least dishonourable to the army or to the country. Happily for -his own memory, upon farther consideration, he rejected the advice. It -is sufficiently disgraceful that such advice should have been given; -and deeply is England indebted to Sir John Moore for saving the army -from this last and utter ignominy, and giving it an opportunity of -displaying to the world that courage which had never forsaken it, and -retrieving the honour which, had this counsel been followed, would -irretrievably have been lost. - -♦PREPARATION FOR BATTLE.♦ - -Arrangements, therefore, were made to give the enemy battle. One -division, under General Hope, occupied a hill on the left, commanding -the road to Betanzos: the height decreased gradually to the village of -Elvina, taking a curved direction. At this village General Baird’s -division commenced, and bent to the right: the whole formed nearly a -semicircle. On the right of Sir David Baird, the rifle corps formed a -chain across a valley, and communicated with General Fraser’s division, -which was drawn up about half a mile from Coruña, near the road to -Vigo. The reserve, under General Paget, occupied a village on the -Betanzos road, about half a mile in the rear of General Hope. On the -outside of the British posts was a magazine, containing 4000 barrels of -gunpowder, which had been brought from England, and left there, while -the Spanish armies were without ammunition! It was now necessary to -blow it up: ... the explosion shook the town like an earthquake; and a -village near the magazine was totally destroyed. - -♦THE ARTILLERY EMBARKED.♦ - -The French made their appearance on the morning of the 12th, moving in -force on the opposite side of the river Mero. They took up a position -near the village of Perillo, on the left flank, and occupied the -houses along the river. Their force was continually increasing. On the -14th they commenced a cannonade, which was returned with such effect, -that they at last drew off their guns. In the evening of this day -the transports from Vigo hove in sight. Some slight skirmishes took -place the following morning. Preparations meantime were making for the -embarkation. Sir John finding that, from the nature of the ground, much -artillery could not be employed, placed seven six-pounders and one -howitzer along the line, and kept four Spanish guns as a reserve, to -be advanced to any point where they might be wanted: the rest of the -artillery was embarked. The sick and the dismounted cavalry were sent -on board with all possible expedition. A few horses also were embarked, -... but there was little time for this: most of them were completely -disabled; another slaughter, therefore, was made of them: and the beach -was covered with their bodies. Some of these animals, seeing their -fellows fall, were sensible of the fate intended for them: they became -wild with terror, and a few broke loose. - -♦BATTLE OF CORUÑA.♦ - -The preparations for embarking were completed on the morning of the -16th, and the General gave notice, that he intended, if the French did -not move, to begin embarking the reserve at four in the afternoon. -This was about mid-day. He mounted his horse, and set off to visit the -outposts: before he had proceeded far, a messenger came to tell him -that the enemy’s line were getting under arms; and a deserter arriving -at the same moment, confirmed the intelligence. He spurred forward. -Their light troops were pouring rapidly down the hill on the right -wing of the British, and the advanced picquets were already beginning -to fire. Lord William Bentinck’s brigade, consisting of the 4th, 42d, -and 50th regiments, maintained this post. It was a bad position, and -yet, if the troops gave way on that point, the ruin of the army was -inevitable. The guards were in their rear. General Paget was ordered -to advance with the reserve, and support Lord William. The enemy -opened a cannonade from eleven heavy guns, advantageously planted on -the hills. Two strong columns, one advancing from a wood, the other -skirting its edge, directed their march towards the right wing. A third -column approached the centre: a fourth advanced slowly upon the left: -a fifth remained half way down the hill, in the same direction. Both -in number and weight of guns they had a decided superiority; and they -fired with such effect from the commanding situation which they had -chosen, that the balls in their bounding reached the British reserve, -and occasioned some loss there. - -Sir David Baird had his arm shattered with a grape-shot as he was -leading on his division. The two lines of infantry advanced against -each other: they were separated by stone walls and hedges which -intersected the ground: but as they closed, it was perceived that the -French line extended beyond the right flank of the British, and a body -of the enemy was observed moving up the valley to turn it. Marshal -Soult’s intention was to force the right of the British, and thus to -interpose between Coruña and the army, and cut it off from the place -of embarkation. Failing in this attempt, he was now endeavouring to -out-flank it. Half of the 4th regiment was therefore ordered to fall -back, forming an obtuse angle with the other half. This manœuvre was -excellently performed, and they commenced a heavy flanking fire: Sir -John Moore called out to them, that this was exactly what he wanted -to be done, and rode on to the 50th, commanded by Majors Napier and -Stanhope. They got over an inclosure in their front, charged the enemy -most gallantly, and drove them out of the village of Elvina; but Major -Napier, advancing too far in the pursuit, received several wounds, and -was made prisoner, and Major Stanhope was[41] killed. - -The General now proceeded to the 42d. “Highlanders,” said he, “remember -Egypt!” ... they rushed on, and drove the French before them, till they -were stopped by a wall: Sir John accompanied them in this charge. He -now sent Captain Hardinge to order up a battalion of guards to the left -flank of the 42d. The officer commanding the light infantry conceived, -at this, that they were to be relieved by the guards, because their -ammunition was nearly expended, and he began to fall back. The General, -discovering the mistake, said to them, “My brave 42d, join your -comrades: ammunition is coming, and you have your bayonets!” Upon this, -they instantly moved forward. Captain Hardinge returned, and pointed -out to the General where the guards were advancing. The enemy kept up -a hot fire, and their artillery played incessantly on the spot where -they were standing. A cannon-shot struck Sir John, and carried away his -left shoulder, and part of the collar-bone, leaving the arm hanging -by the flesh. He fell from his horse on his back, his countenance did -not change, neither did he betray the least sensation of pain. Captain -Hardinge, who dismounted, and took him by the hand, observed him -anxiously watching the 42d, which was warmly engaged, and told him they -were advancing; and upon that intelligence his countenance brightened. -Colonel Graham, who now came up to assist him, seeing the composure of -his features, began to hope that he was not wounded, till he perceived -the dreadful laceration. From the size of the wound, it was in vain to -make any attempt at stopping the blood; and Sir John consented to be -removed in a blanket to the rear. In raising him up, his sword, hanging -on the wounded side, touched his arm, and became entangled between his -legs: Captain Hardinge began to unbuckle it; but the General said, -in his usual tone and manner, and in a distinct voice, “It is as -well as it is; I had rather it should go out of the field with me.” -Six soldiers of the 42d and the guards bore him. Hardinge, observing -his composure, began to hope that the wound might not be mortal, and -said to him, he trusted he might be spared to the army, and recover. -Moore turned his head, and looking steadfastly at the wound for a few -seconds, replied, “No, Hardinge, I feel that to be impossible.” - -As the soldiers were carrying him slowly along, he made them frequently -turn round, that he might see the field of battle, and listen to -the firing; and he was well pleased when the sound grew fainter. A -spring-waggon came up, bearing Colonel Wynch, who was wounded; the -Colonel asked who was in the blanket, and being told it was Sir John -Moore, wished him to be placed in the waggon. Sir John asked one of -the Highlanders whether he thought the waggon or the blanket was best? -and the man said the blanket would not shake him so much, as he and -the other soldiers would keep the step, and carry him easy. So they -proceeded with him to his quarters at Coruña, weeping as they went. - -General Paget, meantime, hastened with the reserve to support the right -wing. Colonel Beckwith dashed on with the rifle corps, repelled the -enemy, and advanced so far as nearly to carry off one of their cannon; -but a corps greatly superior moved up the valley, and forced him to -retire. Paget, however, attacked this body of the enemy, repulsed it, -and pressed on, dispersing every thing before him, till the enemy, -perceiving their left wing was now quite exposed, drew it entirely -back. The French then advanced upon Generals Manningham and Leith, in -the centre, and there they were more easily repelled, the ground being -more elevated, and favourable for artillery. The position on the left -was strong, and their effort there was unavailing: but a body of them -took possession of a village on the road to Betanzos, and continued to -fire from it, till Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholls attacked it, and beat -them out. Night was now closing in, and the French had fallen back in -all parts of the field. The firing, however, was not discontinued till -it was dark. - -Never was any battle gained under heavier disadvantages. The French -force exceeded 20,000 men; the British were not 15,000. The superiority -in artillery was equally great: ... the enemy had met English guns on -the way, sent off, thus late, to the patriotic armies, and these they -had turned back, and employed against the English. Our artillery was -embarked; and the Shrapnell shells, which contributed so materially to -the success at Vimeiro, were not used in this more perilous engagement. -If the moral and physical state of the two armies be considered, the -disadvantages under which our soldiers laboured were still greater: -... the French, equipped in the stores which they had overtaken upon -the road, elated with a pursuit wherein no man had been forced beyond -his strength, and hourly receiving reinforcements to their already -superior numbers; ... the English, in a state of misery, to which no -army, perhaps, had ever before been reduced till after a total defeat; -having lost their military chest, their stores, their baggage, their -horses, their women and children, their sick, their wounded, their -stragglers, every thing but their innate, excellent, unconquerable -courage. From 6000 to 7000 men had sunk under the fatigues of their -precipitate retreat. The loss in the battle did not amount to 800; that -of the [42]French is believed to have exceeded 2000. If such a victory -was gained by the British army under such circumstances, what might not -have been achieved by that army when unbroken, with all its means at -hand, in health and strength, in its pride, and in its height of hope! - -The General lived to hear that the battle was won. “Are the French -beaten?” was the question which he repeated to every one who came into -his apartment; and he expressed how great a satisfaction it was to him -to know that they were defeated. “I hope,” he said, “the people of -England will be satisfied! I hope my country will do me justice.” Then, -addressing Colonel Anderson, who had been his friend and companion in -arms for one-and-twenty years, he said to him, “Anderson, you know that -I have always wished to die this way.... You will see my friends as -soon as you can: ... tell them every thing.... Say to my mother”--But -here his voice failed, he became excessively agitated, and did not -again venture to name her. Sometimes he asked to be placed in an -easier posture. “I feel myself so strong,” he said, “I fear I shall be -long dying. It is great uneasiness ... it is great pain.” But, after -a while, he pressed Anderson’s hand close to his body, and, in a few -minutes, died without a struggle. He fell, as it had ever been his wish -to do, in battle and in victory. No man was more beloved in private -life, nor was there any general in the British army so universally -respected. All men had thought him worthy of the chief command. Had he -been less circumspect, had he looked more ardently forward, and less -anxiously around him, and on all sides, and behind, ... had he been -more confident in himself and in his army, and impressed with less -respect for the French Generals, he would have been more equal to the -difficulties of his situation. Despondency was the radical weakness of -his mind. Personally he was as brave a man as ever met death in the -field; but he wanted faith in British courage, and it is faith by which -miracles are wrought in war as well as in religion. But let it ever -be remembered with gratitude, that, when some of his general officers -advised him to conclude the retreat by a capitulation, Sir John Moore -preserved the honour of England. - -He had often said that, if he were killed in battle, he wished to be -buried where he fell. The body was removed at midnight to the citadel -of Coruña. A grave was dug for him on the rampart there, by a party of -the 9th regiment, the aides-du-camp attending by turns. No coffin could -be procured; and the officers of his staff wrapped the body, dressed as -it was, in a military cloak and blankets. The interment was hastened; -for, about eight in the morning, some firing was heard, and they feared -that, if a serious attack were made, they should be ordered away, and -not suffered to pay him their last duty. The officers of his family -bore him to the grave; the funeral service was read by the chaplain; -and the corpse was covered with earth. - -Meantime, General Hope, on whom the command devolved, passed the night -in embarking the troops. At ten o’clock he ordered them to march from -the field by brigades, leaving strong picquets to guard the ground, and -give notice if the enemy approached. Major-General Beresford, with a -rear-guard of about 2000 men, to cover the embarkation, occupied the -lines in front of Coruña. Major-General Hill, with a corps of reserve, -was stationed on a promontory behind the town. Nearly the whole -army was embarked during the night: the picquets were withdrawn and -embarked also before day, little remaining ashore at daylight except -the rear-guard and the ♦JAN. 17.♦ reserve. The French, seeing this, -pushed on their light troops to the heights of St. Lucia, which command -the harbour, got up some cannon to a rising ground, and fired at the -transports. Several of the masters of these vessels were frightened, -and cut their cables: four of them ran a-ground. The men were put on -board other ships, and these were burnt. During the night of the 17th, -and the following morning, Beresford sent off all the sick and wounded -who were in a condition to bear removal: and lastly, the rear-guard -got into the boats, no attempt being made to interrupt them. Thus -terminated our first campaign in Spain. - - -END OF VOL. II. - - - - - LONDON: - PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS. - - - - -FOOTNOTES - -[1] “Elle est sans defense et sans fortification,” said Colmenar, -writing a century ago, “fermée d’une simple muraille; _mais ce défaut -est reparé par la bravoure des habitans_.” After the proofs which the -inhabitants have given of their patriotism, this praise appears like -prophecy. - -[2] The Spaniards, by a more curious corruption, call Syracuse, -Zaragoza de Sicilia. - -[3] _Hist. Apparitionis Deiparæ supra Columnam, Beato Jacobo apud -Cæsaragustam prædicante. Ex cod. membraneo, qui in Archivo Sanctæ Maria -de Pilari asservatur._ Espana Sagrada, t. xxx. p. 426. Risco adds -to this account, the Collect, which, from time immemorial, has been -used in the Church of the Pillar. It may be added here as a curiosity -for those who are not accustomed to such things. _Omnipotens æterne -Deus, qui Sacratissimam Virginem matrem tuam inter choros Angelorum -super columna marmorea a te ab alto emissa venire, dum adhuc viveret, -dignatus est,_ _ut Basilica de Pilari in ejus honorem a Protomartyre -apostolorum Jacobo suisque sanctissimis discipulis ædificaretur; præsta -quæsumus ut ejus meritis et intercessione fiat impetrabile quod fida -mente poscimus. Qui vivas et regnas, &c._ - -The French, as may be supposed, ridicule this fable; but, it is worthy -of remark, that, in the early part of the last century, the Spanish -annalist, Ferreras, represented the story as of doubtful authority; -his book passed through the hands of the usual censors, and was -printed; and then Philip V. the first of the Bourbon dynasty in Spain, -a Frenchman by birth and education, personally interfered, commanded -Ferreras to cancel the heretical leaf, and sent the edict in which this -was decreed to Zaragoza, there to be deposited among the archives of -the Virgin’s church, in proof of his especial devotion to our Lady of -the Pillar. - -[4] “Here,” says Mr. Townsend, “I forgot all the hardships and fatigues -which we had suffered in this long journey: nay, had I travelled all -the way on foot, I would have freely done it to enjoy the sight of -these cathedrals. That which is called _El Aseu_ is vast, gloomy, -and magnificent; it excites devotion, inspires awe, and inclines the -worshipper to fall prostrate, and to adore in silence the God who seems -to veil his glory. The other, called _El Pilar_, spacious, lofty, -light, elegant, and cheerful, inspires hope, confidence, complacency, -and makes the soul impatient to express its gratitude for benefits -received.” - -[5] Laborde. - -[6] In military language, you always describe the country by the -current of water, and speak as if you were looking down the stream. It -was requisite to explain this to the court upon Whitelocke’s trial, and -therefore the explanation cannot be thought unnecessary here. - -[7] “On this simple foundation,” says Mr. Vaughan, “a regular -manufactory of gunpowder was formed after the siege, which produced 13 -arrobas of Castille per day; that is, 325 lb. of 12 ounces.” - -[8] - - Martyrum nulli, remanente vitâ, - Contigit terris habitare nostris; - Sola tu morti propriæ superstes, - Vivis in orbe, - Vivis ac pœnæ seriem retexis, - Carnis et cæsæ spolium retentans, - Tetra quam sulcos habeant amaros, - Vulnera narras. - - Prudentius Περι Στεφανων. Hym. 4. - -The poet goes on describing her torments with his usual love of -live-anatomy ... I know not whether it be possible that any person -should have survived them; but that some may be found wicked enough -to inflict equal tortures under the pretext, and others conscientious -enough to endure them for the sake of religion, has been too often -proved, and in few places more frequently than in Zaragoza itself, from -which city many an inquisitor has gone to keep company with Dacianus. -St. Engracia is invoked in diseases of the heart and the liver, in -consequence of the circumstances of her martyrdom. - - Vidimus partem jecoris revulsam, - Ungulis longe jacuisse pressis; - Mors habet pallens aliquid tuorum, - Te quoque vivâ. - -[9] The Bollandists relate this miracle with a candid admission of -doubt, because the writer, in whom they found it related, spoke upon -the testimony of others, instead of boldly asserting it on his own -authority. There are, however, testimonies in abundance, and that of -M. Bourgoing will be admitted to be decisive. “The roof,” he says, -“though very low, is certainly not smoked. They invite those who are -doubtful of it, to put a piece of white paper over one of these lamps. -I tried this experiment, and I must confess, I saw, or thought I saw, -that my paper was not blackened. I had still my doubts, but I took care -to conceal them from my bigoted conductors. I was, however, tempted to -say to them, God has not thought proper to work any striking miracle to -accelerate the end of the French revolution, or to calm the passions -which it has roused; and do you think that he would condescend to -perform here a miracle as obscure as your cavern, and as useless as -your own existence?” - -[10] _Quartel-general, Santa Engracia. La capitulation._ - -[11] _Quartel-general, Zaragoza. Guerra al cuchillo._ - -[12] It is asserted by the French, in their official account, that, -after many days fighting, they won possession of many cloisters which -had been fortified, three-fourths of the city, the arsenal, and all -the magazines; and that the peaceable inhabitants, encouraged by these -advantages, hoisted a white flag, and came forward to offer terms of -capitulation; but that they were murdered by the insurgents; for this -is the name which the French, and the tyrant whom they served, applied -to a people fighting in defence of their country, and of whatever could -be dear to them. Unquestionably, if any traitors had thus ventured to -show themselves in the heat of the contest, they would have been put to -death as certainly as they would have deserved it; and, if the thing -had occurred, it would be one fact more to be recorded in honour of -the Zaragozans; but there is no other authority for it than the French -official account, in which account the result of the siege is totally -suppressed. The circumstance, had it really taken place, would not have -been omitted in Mr. Vaughan’s Narrative, and in the accounts published -by the Spaniards. - -[13] General Thiebault says, “_On attribua d’abord ce mouvement, si -brusque et si general, à des causes peu signifiantes, à des terreurs -paniques, &c.; mais on apprit depuis qu’il tenoit à des grands projets, -et on en eut la preuve, quand on sut que dans presque toutes les -provinces il avoit été tenté ce même jour avec plus ou moins d’audace -ou de succès; et que, s’il avoit manqué à Lisbonne, il avoit (et -toujours par le moyen des prêtres) eu tout son succès à Oporto, Braga, -Chaves, ou ce jour même, une insurrection générale avoit éclaté, -fait prendre les armes contre nous à tous les habitans des provinces -d’Oporto, du Tras-los-Montes, d’une partie du Beira, et fait arrêter ou -assassiner tous les Français isolés qui s’y trouvoient._”--Relation de -l’Expédition du Portugal, p. 124. - -General Thiebault is certainly wrong. Had there been any combination -against the common enemy, the persons by whom it was concerted would -eagerly have pleaded it afterwards as a claim to honour if not to -reward. The Portugueze have preserved the most minute details of a -national insurrection so honourable to the nation, and the merit of -priority has been contested by different places: but from all that -has been published it appears, in direct contradiction to the French -general’s statement, that no combination existed, (indeed it was -impossible that it should exist,) and that no tumult broke out on -the day which he has specified as the commencement of a general and -concerted movement, except at a village of fishermen in Algarve. - -[14] Baron Thiebault ascribes the success of the insurgents, and the -loss of Faro, to the news of Dupont’s surrender, and to the landing -of troops, arms, ammunition, and money, at Faro, from the English -squadron. Not a man nor a musket had been landed from that squadron, -and the surrender of Dupont did not take place till a month afterwards! -With so little accuracy do the French relate the circumstances of their -ill success, even where no military misconduct is imputable. - -[15] Baron Thiebault represents this as a great exploit on the part of -his fellow-soldiers. He says, _Le Colonel Maransin auroit pu éviter -Beja, mais il crut devoir ramener, par un grand exemple, ce pays à -l’obeissance. Il forme ses colonnes en marchant, et sans artillerie -attaque cette ville, enceinte de hautes murailles, dont toutes les -portes étoient barricadées, dont les murs, les tours, étoient défendus -par des forces quintuples des siennes, et par des hommes qui, dans -leur fureur, defioient nos bataillons._ Who would suppose, from this -description, that these high walls and towers were in ruins, and that -they were defended by a mob of three or four thousand men, not a third -part of whom were armed with firelocks! After killing 1200 men in -action, and all who were found in arms after it, sacking the city, and -setting it on fire, it seems difficult to understand what the mercy -was which the surviving inhabitants are said to have sent to Lisbon -to solicit. According to Baron Thiebault, _un brave religieux_, after -the assault, moved all his auditors to tears, by representing to them -how much they had provoked their own misfortunes: he was consequently -deputed unanimously to implore Junot’s clemency. Junot received him -graciously, and rewarded him with a canonry; LA RECONNOISSANCE FUT -EXTREME, ... _et Beja n’en reprit pas moins les armes peu de jours -après_. In the bulletin published at Lisbon upon this occasion, and -signed by this same General Thiebault, it is said, the inhabitants -expressed their contrition by their deputy, acknowledged that they had -been justly punished, and confessed that they had been seduced by the -English! - -[16] Two persons were left alive when the French thought their accursed -work was done. One of them lingered three days before he was relieved -by death. Feliz Lourenco, the surveyor of the high road, was the other. -“He,” says Neves, (writing in 1811,) “still lives ... but in what a -condition! With his body and face disfigured by the marks of powder, -and the scars of eight and twenty bayonet wounds; ... with his left -eye struck out by a ball, the bones of his right shoulder broken, the -tendons rendered useless, and the hand paralyzed. It is from himself -that I have received the details of this frightful transaction, -of which there exists no other witness, except the murderers -themselves.”--_Historia Geral da Invasam dos Francezes em Portugal_, -_t._ iv. _p._ 42. - -[17] General Thiebault, by whom the bulletin was signed, gives a -different statement in his book (p. 155). The French loss is there -given at sixty men killed, and from 130 to 140 wounded; that of the -Portugueze as at least 4000 left upon the field. - -[18] As another example of the arts used to impose upon the Portugueze -people by the intrusive government, the following extract from the -fifth bulletin of the army of Portugal may be read with feelings -very different from what the detail in the text must excite. “On the -10th of July forty English disembarked at the foot of the village of -the Costa, to take in water and provisions. That point was defended -by only five carabineers of the thirty-first regiment of light -infantry. Notwithstanding this disproportion of numbers, these five -men, in sight of all the inhabitants, attacked the forty English, -repulsed them, forced them to abandon upon the beach all that they had -purchased, and pursued them to the sea.” Yet even this is outdone in -the same bulletin. “Three conscript lads (it is farther said), of the -sixty-sixth regiment, occupied a small post on the sea-shore, in front -of Cascaes, when they saw a boat put off from the English squadron, and -make towards them. Immediately these three lads placed themselves in -ambush, to wait till the boat should draw near: as soon as it reached -the shore they rose from their ambush, fired upon the boat, killed -the pilot (who was the master of Admiral Cotton’s ship), obliged two -English officers, and six seamen or soldiers, who were in the said -boat, to come on shore, and lay down their arms upon the beach, and -then conducted them as prisoners of war to the quarters-general of -General Solignac at Cascaes. This fact discovers a presence of mind, -a degree of intelligence, and a vigour, which do honour to the three -lads.” To complete the story, it should have been added, that the three -lads ate the eight Englishmen. - -[19] Neves relates that Kellermann demanded for his own use 50,000 -cruzados from the prior of Alcobaça at this time, letting him know, -without circumlocution, that what the French generals wanted was money. -He accepted a hundred moidores after hard bargaining. Loison heard of -this on his arrival, and, being on bad terms with Kellermann, made -him refund the money, charging the prior, if any such extortion were -practised upon him in future, to complain to him, wherever he might be. -Kellermann, however, coming there again when Loison had marched to the -south, redemanded the money, and laid on ten per cent. for interest. T. -iv. p. 82, 88. - -[20] General Thiebault says, there was an action at Montemor, in which -the Portugueze lost fifty men, and that Loison also took prisoners -there some hundred peasants, _que les lois de la guerre condamnoient à -la mort, mais qu’il se borna à desarmer et renvoya chez eux_. - -[21] General Thiebault says, that after their defeat in the field the -Portugueze wished to capitulate, but that the Spaniards shot those -persons who by timely submission would have saved the town: whereas the -fact is, that immediately after the defeat the Spaniards made the best -of their way towards their own country. During the action, he says that -several men dropt down dead, owing to the excessive heat, the blood -gushing from their ears, nose, and mouth. He is mistaken in saying that -General Leite (whom he calls Loti) fell in this action. - -[22] These facts are notorious in Portugal, and circumstantial -accounts, too horrible to be repeated, are published of them. General -Thiebault only says in his text, that there was a desperate conflict in -the streets, and that “all who were found in arms were exterminated.” -He annexes the following note: “_Si l’on ne put de suite arrêter ces -terribles représailles, si l’on ne put éviter le pillage de beaucoup -de maisons, les officiers-généraux, superieurs, et d’état-major, -parvinrent du moins à faire respecter les églises, où les femmes, -les vieillards, et les habitans paisibles s’étoient retirés, avec ce -qu’ils avoient de plus précieux; ils firent plus, ils allèrent rassurer -eux-mêmes tous ceux qui s’y trouvoient, et dès que l’ordre commença à -se rétablir, ils firent escorter les femmes jusques chez elles, afin de -les préserver de toute insulte._” P. 164. - -That there were some men of honour and humanity, who protected the -inhabitants as far as they could, must be believed for the sake of -human nature. But the Revolution and the school of Buonaparte had done -all that was possible for eradicating both humanity and honour; and -I affirm, on the testimony of the Portugueze, and of those British -officers who have had full opportunities of ascertaining the truth, -that the conduct of the French in Evora was marked with deliberate and -sportive cruelty of the most flagitious kind. Concerning the conduct of -the general officers, as respects their sense of honour, I happen to -possess some rather curious information. Loison promised the Archbishop -that his property should not be touched. After this promise, Loison -himself, with some of his officers, entered the Archbishop’s library, -which was one of the finest in Portugal; they took down all the books, -in the hope of discovering valuables behind them, they broke off the -gold and silver clasps from the magnificent bindings of the rarest part -of the collection, and in their disappointment at finding so little -plunder, tore in pieces a whole pile of manuscripts. They took every -gold and silver coin from his cabinet of medals, and every jewel and -bit of the precious metals with which the relics were adorned, or which -decorated any thing in his oratory. Loison was even seen in noon-day -to take the Archbishop’s episcopal ring from the table and pocket it. -These circumstances are stated on the authority of the Archbishop -himself. - -[23] Sir Arthur, upon the court of inquiry, begged leave, in justice -to the individuals composing this commissariat, to state, that he -did not intend to complain of want of zeal, nor of any deficiency of -exertion on their part. “The fact is,” said he, “that I wished to -draw the attention of the government to this important branch of the -service, which is but little understood in this country. The evils of -which I complained are probably to be attributed to the nature of our -political situation, which prevents us from undertaking great military -operations, in which the subsistence of armies becomes a subject of -serious consideration and difficulty, and these evils consisted in the -inexperience of almost every individual belonging to the commissariat, -of the mode of procuring, conveying, and distributing supplies.” He -requested that this explanation might stand upon the minutes. - -[24] General Thiebault affirms, that they had only 1900 in the field. -An officer who was dying of his wounds informed Sir Arthur Wellesley -that their numbers were 6000. General Thiebault asserts also, that -in a charge made by General Brenier with two companies in front of -Azambugeira, the 29th regiment having lost its colonel, and many of its -officers and men, surrendered _tout-entier_: but that _par-malheur_ -the firing did not cease, and the wreck of the regiment saved itself -by a spontaneous movement, leaving a major, eight officers, and fifty -men, in the hands of the French. There is an official test by which -the accuracy of this statement may be tried; and thereby it appears, -that only four officers were missing in this action, and that there was -no major among them. The loss of the English he states at more than -2000. The accuracy of our official lists of the killed and wounded is -among those things relating to Great Britain which a Frenchman cannot -understand. - -[25] They were cast off cavalry, purchased in Ireland; and they were -described as old, blind, and lame: some of them, it was said, had -already at this time died of age, others of work, though they had been -carefully fed: nearly a sixth part had thus perished on the way, and -of the remainder a great number were not worth the forage which they -consumed. Nine years after these poor horses had been delivered over to -the dogs and wolves, a representation was made to me in their favour, -and I feel myself bound to notice it, were it only for the singularity -of the case. I am assured that the 300 horses (which Lord Castlereagh -good-naturedly called his countrymen) were selected with the greatest -care, as well as knowledge, in horseflesh, from 1050 of which the -corps was then composed; that they were in the very best condition and -working order; they were drafts from a collection made by purchase -in 1803, (that is, five years before, and therefore not young); or -from the best and most useful horses cast from dragoon regiments, as -unfit for dragoon service generally, (the inferior description of such -cast horses having been from time to time sold); that they had been -always carefully groomed and well fed, and were in excellent condition -for common draft, the service for which they were required. From the -manner in which this representation was made to me, I have no doubt of -its truth. The horses, when they began the campaign, had probably not -recovered from the voyage; they were not accustomed to the food of the -country, and were employed in much harder work than had ever fallen to -their lot before, and upon much worse roads. And so, peace to their -memory. I must not however omit to observe, that Captain Eliot, in his -Treatise on the Defence of Portugal, says, these artillery horses, in -the brigade to which he was attached, did their duty perfectly well at -the battle of Vimeiro. - -[26] According to General Thiebault, ten guns and 1800 men; but to make -up the number of killed and wounded, he adds to the British loss, what -he takes off from the French, and says, we had more than 500 killed and -1200 wounded. - -[27] _Weel, my bra’ lads, I can gang nae farther wi’ ye a-fighting; but -Deel ha’e my saul if ye sal want music_, were his words. - -[28] They remained, according to General Thiebault, long enough to -dress 800 of their wounded upon the field, and send them all off for -Torres Vedras. The attitude of the grenadiers with which General -Kellermann had charged, the rapidity with which the infantry re-formed, -and the movements of four cavalry regiments under General Margaron, he -says, _concoururent efficacement à contenir l’ennemi. Nous restames -de cette manière, maîtres du champ de bataille, plus de trois heures -après la cessation de l’action._ It is melancholy to observe, that the -historical relations of this war which the French have published since -its termination, are, generally speaking, as little to be relied on as -their official accounts during its continuance. - -[29] General Thiebault, who was present at this council, represents -the force against them, independent of Lisbon, of 30,000 British, and -17,000 Spaniards, at more than 80,000 men, _auxquels rien ne manquoit_! -In reality, every man in Portugal was their enemy; but except animosity -and individual courage, the Portugueze at that time wanted every thing. - -[30] It is asserted by General Thiebault, that General Kellermann was -sent to feel his ground, under pretext of a conference relating to -the prisoners and wounded. Upon that General’s return he says, “_On -conçoit de quel interêt étoient les nouvelles qu’il rapportoit, et -combien elles parurent heureuses quand on sut à quel point il avoit -réalisé tout ce qu’on avoit pu esperer. Il avoit_ _été reçu avec la -plus grande distinction; il avoit eu le talent de faire prendre aux -Anglais l’initiative des propositions qu’il avoit à leur faire; sachant -parfaitement l’Anglais, il avoit suivi la partie la plus mysterieuse -de leurs conversations[31]; il s’étoit fortifié de la certitude que, -malgré l’énormité de leurs avantages, les Anglais, incertains de -l’époque de l’arrivée des renforts, qu’ils attendoient, n’étoient -pas tranquilles sur leur position: il étoit parvenu à traiter pour -la flotte Russe en même temps que pour l’armée Française, et cela -en faisant pressenter que les Russes alloient se joindre à nous: il -étoit arrivé de cette manière à demander même que nous émmenassions -la flotte Portuguese, non pour l’obtenir, mais afin d’avoir quelque -chose à céder, dans le cas où des articles d’une haute importance -seroient trop contestés; et c’est ainsi, que par autant d’habilité que -de fermeté et d’adresse, il parvint à conclure et à signer un traité -provisoire._” This statement is sent into the world with General -Kellermann’s sanction, Baron Thiebault’s _Relation_ having, as the -preface states, been read to him. General Kellermann was so successful -in this negotiation, that he can derive no additional credit from -these additions to the plain facts. With regard to the initiative, he -came declaredly to treat for an armistice preparatory to a convention -for evacuating Portugal, and he produced a paper containing the -wishes of the French Commander-in-chief; the deliberations upon his -proposal, which he is said to have overheard, were not carried on in -his presence, but in an inner room. (_Proceedings upon the Inquiry_, p. -57.) As to the demand that the French might carry away the Portugueze -fleet, the French are certainly bold askers; and in this negotiation, -as in many others, they proved that Fortune favours the bold; ... but -he must have been more than bold, who could have made such a proposal. -What was afterwards asked upon that score will appear hereafter. - -[31] Voici quelques-unes des phrases qu’il recueillit: _Notre position -est delicate--Le corps de Sir John Moore n’est pas encore arrivé à -Figuières--La bonne intelligence des Russes et des Français doit nous -donner des inquietudes_, &c. - -[32] LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL JUNTA. - - For Aragon D. Francisco Rebolledo de Palafox y Melzi, Gentleman - of the Bed-chamber, and Brigadier in the army; - D. Lorenzo Calvo de Rozas, Intendant of the army and - kingdom of Aragon. - - Asturias D. Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, Knight of the Order of - Alcantara, of the Royal Council of State, and formerly - Minister of Grace and Justice; Marques de Campo-Sagrado, - Lieutenant-General of the army, and Inspector-general - of the troops of Asturias. - - The Canaries Marques de Villanueva del Prado. - - Old Castille D. Lorenzo Bonifaz y Quintano, Prior of the holy - Church of Zamora; D. Francisco Xavier Caro, Professor - of Laws at Salamanca. - - Catalonia Marques de Villel, Conde de Darnius, a Grandee, and - Gentleman of the Bed-chamber; Baron de Sabasona. - - Cordoba Marques de la Puebla de los Infantes, a Grandee; D. - Juan de Dios Gutierrez Rabé. - - Extremadura D. Martin de Garay, Intendant of Extremadura, - and Honorary Minister of the Council of War; D. - Felix Ovalle, Treasurer of the army of Extremadura. - - Gallicia Conde de Gimonde; D. Antonio Aballe. - - Granada D. Rodrigo Riquelme, Regent of the Chancery of - Granada; D. Luiz Funes y Salido, Canon of the - holy Church of Santiago. - - Jaen D. Francisco Castanedo, Canon of the holy Church of - Jaen, Provisor and Vicar-general of that diocese; D. - Sebastian de Jocano, of his Majesty’s council, in the - _Tribunal de Contaduria Mayor_, and _Contador_ of the - province of Jaen. - - Leon Frey D. Antonio Valdes, Bailey and Grand Cross of the - Order of S. Juan, Knight of the Golden Fleece, Gentleman - of the Bed-chamber, Captain-General of the - Fleet, Counsellor of State, formerly Minister of the - Marine, and acting Minister of the Indies; the Vizconde - de Quintanilla. - - Madrid Conde de Altamira, Marques de Astorga, a Grandee, - Knight of the Golden Fleece, Grand Cross of the Order - of Charles III., First Equerry, and Gentleman of the - Bed-chamber; D. Pedro de Silva, Patriarch of the Indies, - Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III., and - formerly Camp-Marshal of the Royal Armies. - - Majorca D. Tomas de Veri, Knight of the Order of S. Juan, - Lieutenant-Colonel of the Palma Volunteers; Conde de - Ayamans, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Palma Militia. - - Murcia Conde de Florida-Blanca, Knight of the Golden Fleece, - Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III., Gentleman - of the Bed-chamber, and formerly First Secretary of - State, and acting Minister of Grace and Justice; Marques - del Villar. - - Navarre D. Miguel de Balanza; D. Carlos de Amatria, Members - of the Deputation of the kingdom of Navarre. - - Seville D. Juan de Vera y Delgado, Archbishop of Laodicea and - Coadjutor of Seville; Conde de Tilly. - - Toledo D. Pedro de Ribero, Canon of the holy Church of Toledo; - D. José Garcia de la Torre, Advocate of the Royal - Councils. - - Valencia Conde de Contamina, a Grandee, Gentleman of the - Bed-chamber; Principe Pio, a Grandee, Colonel of - Militia. - -[33] Llorente, under his name of Nellerto, (vol. i. 155,) asserts, -that when Florida-Blanca was summoned to the central Junta he left -a writing, addressed to the municipality of the city of Murcia, -protesting that he acted under fear and compulsion, and in the full -knowledge that his country was going to destruction; and adding, that -he made this solemn declaration lest King Joseph should one day treat -him as a criminal. This infamous calumny, which by its own absurdity -confutes itself, is advanced by the ex-secretary of the Inquisition -upon no better authority than that of a Madrid journal, published -under the Intruder’s government. It is so palpably calumnious, that I -should not have thought it worthy of contradiction, if it had not been -doubtfully repeated by Col. Jones in his very able Account of the War. - -[34] An account of them may be found in the notes to the Chronicle of -the Cid, pp. 141 and 418. Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr says of the present -Miquelets, that they are the best light troops in Europe (p. 54.) But -Cabañes argues that they cannot possibly be so efficient as they were -when war was carried on less scientifically, and he regrets that it was -not possible to raise regular regiments in their stead. P. i. 90. - -[35] Aun vea el hora que vos _merezca dos_ tanto. V. 2348, p. 318. Mr. -Frere proposed to read _merezcades_. - -[36] I give this remarkable story from that very meritorious journal, -‘The Plain Englishman,’ (vol. i. 294,) where it is related by the -editor on the authority of Sir Richard Keats himself. - -[37] June 14. _Se sabe de oficio que ha muerto el 26 de Mayo el Rey de -Inglaterra; y que su sucessor ha mudado todo el ministerio eligiendo -sugetos decididos por la paz._ - -[38] M. Nellerto (Llorente) kills him twice. Once on the flight of the -Intruder from Madrid, preliminarily, (t. i. p. 143); and secondly and -definitively on this occasion. T. i. p. 159. - -[39] This part of the bulletin was officially transmitted by Lord -Castlereagh to Sir John Moore, with the following instructions:--“His -Majesty cannot overlook this account, descriptive, according to the -obvious sense of it, of the murder of some unresisting stragglers of -his army, although his Majesty is disposed to disbelieve a transaction, -however sufficiently recorded, which is so utterly repugnant to the -usual laws of war, and to every principle of humanity. His Majesty -therefore desires that you will take the earliest means of ascertaining -the truth of the fact so recorded, and the circumstances under which it -was perpetrated, if perpetrated at all. If it shall upon investigation -appear to be founded, I am to desire you will cause a protest to be -made by you to the nearest head-quarters of the French army, and that -you will take such measures as shall appear to you most expedient -for the protection of the troops under your orders against conduct -so barbarous and so disgraceful.”--No such measures were taken, in -consequence of Sir John Moore’s retreat. This instruction, however, -exculpates the British government from any charge of indifference upon -the subject. - -[40] The French historian of Marshal Soult’s Campaigns in 1808–9, -affirms that Sir John Moore had 37,000 effective men, and Romana had -from 25,000 to 30,000; their united force amounting thus to more than -60,000! - -[41] He was shot through the heart, and died so instantaneously, that -the smile with which he was regarding the conduct of his men was fixed -upon his cheek. They buried him at the entrance of the bivouac which -he had occupied the preceding night; and as his brother leant forward -to look upon the body for the last time, a rifle-shot passed through -his cloak, and struck his side; its force was broken by the folds of -the cloak, otherwise the blow must have been fatal, and he would have -fallen into the grave upon his brother’s corpse. - -[42] The historian of Marshal Soult’s campaigns in 1809 states the -loss of the French at 150 killed and 500 wounded. They were successful -on all points, he says; the victory was decided, and if the action -had begun earlier, and if the ground had permitted the cavalry to -charge, _c’en était fait de cette armée Anglaise_. These are modest -mis-statements in an author who asserts that, in the hope of impeding -the French in their pursuit, the English conceived the horrible -intention of blowing up the town of Betanzos, where the inhabitants had -received them as allies; and that for this purpose they deposited six -thousand weight of powder on the ground floor of the town-house and set -fire to the four quarters of the town!! - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes - - -Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant -preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. - -Simple typographical errors were corrected; two unbalanced quotation -marks were remedied. - -Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained; occurrences of -inconsistent hyphenation have not been changed. - -The source book used many Sidenotes, printed in italics. Most match -entries in the Table of Contents, but some are either dates or -citations. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: History of the Peninsular War Volume II (of 6) - -Author: Robert Southey - -Release Date: September 30, 2019 [EBook #60387] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR, VOL 2 *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Charlie Howard, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="all"> - -<div class="sec"> -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="center">Transcriber’s Note:</p> -<p class="covernote">Cover created by Transcriber and placed in the Public Domain.</p> -<p class="center"><a href="#Transcribers_Notes">Notes at the end</a> of this eBook explain special -notation used to highlight Sidenotes.</p> -</div> - -<h1>HISTORY<br /> -<span class="xxsmall wspace">OF THE</span><br /> -<span class="larger">PENINSULAR WAR.</span></h1> - -<p class="newpage p4 center vspace">LONDON:<br /> -<span class="smaller">PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS.</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p class="newpage p4 center vspace2 large bold"> -HISTORY<br /> -<span class="xxsmall wspace">OF THE</span><br /> -<span class="larger">PENINSULAR WAR.</span></p> - -<div class="p2 poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i18">“Unto thee<br /></span> -<span class="i0">“Let thine own times as an old story be.”<br /></span> -</div> - -<div class="attrib"><span class="smcap">Donne.</span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p class="p2 center large vspace"> -BY ROBERT SOUTHEY, ESQ. LL.D.<br /> -<span class="smaller">POET LAUREATE,</span></p> - -<p class="center smaller vspace">HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY, OF THE<br /> -ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY OF HISTORY, OF THE ROYAL<br /> -INSTITUTE OF THE NETHERLANDS, OF THE<br /> -CYMMRODORION, OF THE MASSACHUSETTS<br /> -HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC.</p> - -<p class="p2 center larger">A NEW EDITION.</p> - -<p class="p2 center"><i>IN SIX VOLUMES.</i></p> - -<p class="p1 center larger">VOL. II.</p> - -<p class="p2 center vspace large">LONDON:<br /> -<span class="smaller">JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET.<br /> -<span class="smaller">MDCCCXXVIII.</span></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p class="newpage p4 b0">Ἱστορίας γὰρ ἐὰν ἀφέλῃ τις τὸ διὰ τί, καὶ πῶς, καὶ τίνος χάριν -ἐπράχθη, καὶ τὸ πραχθὲν πότερα εὔλογον ἔσχε τὸ τέλος, τὸ καταλειπόμενον -αὐτῆς ἀγώνισμα μὲν, μάθημα δὲ οὐ γίγνεται· καὶ -παραυτίκα μὲν τέρπει, πρὸς δὲ τὸ μέλλον οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ τὸ παράπαν.</p> - -<p class="p0 sigright"> -<span class="smcap">Polybius</span>, lib. iii. sect. 31. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">v</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> - -<table id="toc" summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>.</td></tr> - <tr class="small"> - <td> </td> - <td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Preparations at Zaragoza</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Description of that city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Legend of our Lady of the Pillar</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Contempt of the French for the Zaragozans</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French attempt to storm the city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_8">8</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Palafox goes out to collect reinforcements</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">General Verdier joins Lefebvre with reinforcements</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Torrero taken</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French bombard the city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Exertions of the women</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Countess Burita</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Augustina Zaragoza</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French again repulsed in an attempt to take the city by storm</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They invest the city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They form a bridge over the Ebro</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Distress of the inhabitants</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Foundling Hospital burnt</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Convent of St. Engracia</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Hospital set on fire</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">War in the streets</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Santiago Sass</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Number of the dead</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Retreat of the enemy</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">vi</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Moretti sent from Badajoz to the Spaniards at Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Difficulties of Junot’s situation</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Kellermann takes the command in Alem-Tejo</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He attempts to conciliate the Spaniards at Badajoz</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Distribution of the French troops in Portugal</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Spaniards at Porto declare against the Intruder, and march into Spain</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The lawful government restored at Porto</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Governor adheres to the French, and suppresses the insurrection</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Junot disarms and seizes the Spaniards at Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Junot’s proclamation to the Portugueze</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Festival of the Corpo de Deos at Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The procession interrupted by a panic fear</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Junot fortifies the Castle</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Edict for disarming the people</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Movements at Braga</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Insurrection at Melgaço</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Prince Regent proclaimed at Braganza</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Braganzans intimidated by the news from Porto</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Second insurrection at Porto</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Formation of a Junta in that city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Measures of the Junta</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Arrest of Cardoso</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Disturbed state of the people</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_70">70</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Junta conclude an alliance with the Junta of Galicia</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Its authority acknowledged throughout the north of Portugal</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The insurrection extends toward Coimbra</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Scheme for surprising the enemy in Coimbra</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French in that city are made prisoners</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Juiz do Povo takes the command</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Order restored there</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Preparations for defence</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Successful expedition against Figueira</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Loison ordered to march from Almeida to Porto</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_83">83</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">vii</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He turns back from Mezam Frio</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The peasantry harass his retreat</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He goes to Viseu</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Alarm at Coimbra in consequence of his movements</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He returns to Almeida</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Insurrection at Olham in Algarve</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Success of the insurgents</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Chamber of Faro issue an edict against them</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Insurrection at Faro</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French excluded from that city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">A Junta formed at Faro</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The insurrection spreads through Algarve</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French retreat to Mertola</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The people of Algarve form a treaty with Seville</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Insurrection at Villa-Viçosa</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French enter the town</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Lobo gets possession of Jurumenha</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">A French detachment sent from Mertola to Beja</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The people rise against them</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Beja sacked by the French and set on fire</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Kellermann’s proclamation to the people of Alem-Tejo</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Junot’s proclamation to the Portugueze</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">National feeling of the Portugueze</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Juiz de Fora at Marvam</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">His flight</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He returns, and seizes the town</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Insurrection at Campo-Mayor and throughout the north of the province</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Measures of the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They endeavour to avail themselves of the Clergy’s influence</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Insurrection at Thomar</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Insurrection at Leiria</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Success of the insurgents at Nazareth</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Margaron approaches Leiria</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Preparations for defence</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French enter the city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Massacre of the prisoners</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_126">126</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">viii</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Loison’s march from Almeida to Abrantes</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Language of the French Bulletins</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Loison ordered towards Coimbra</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Nazareth sacked and burnt by the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">A Junta established at Beja</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Junta of Estremoz</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">A supreme Junta formed at Evora</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Loison sent into Alem-Tejo</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He advances against Evora</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Action before that city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The city taken</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Inhumanity of the conquerors</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Alarm at Estremoz</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Loison proceeds to Elvas</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He enters Portalegre</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He is recalled towards Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Insubordination of the people at Porto</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Design of a military usurpation in that city</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The conspirators are seized</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Disturbances at Braganza</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The New-Christians plundered at Villa Nova da Foz-Coa</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Troubles at Viseu</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Riotous proceedings at Arcos de Val de Vez</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The rabble enact laws</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Communication between Alem-Tejo and the northern provinces</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">State of public feeling in England</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">An expedition ordered to the court of Portugal</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Former services of Sir Arthur Wellesley</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir Arthur lands at Coruña</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He proceeds to Porto</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He goes to the Tagus to confer with Sir C. Cotton</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Troops landed in the Mondego</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They advance to Leiria</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Joy of the Portugueze in Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_177">177</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">ix</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Measures of the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Movements of Laborde and Loison</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">General Freire separates from the English</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Motives for this separation</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Skirmish near Caldas</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Laborde takes a position at Roliça</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Roliça</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Abrantes occupied by the Portugueze</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Movements in Alem-Tejo and Algarve</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Alcacere and Setubal abandoned by the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Measures at Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Proclamation to the people of Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Preparations on board the Russian squadron</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Junction of Loison, Laborde, and Junot</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The British advance to Vimeiro</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">General Anstruther’s brigade lands</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Arrival of Sir Harry Burrard in the roads</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_202">202</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He alters the plan of the campaign</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Vimeiro</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French resolve to propose terms</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Arrival of Sir Hew Dalrymple</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He orders the army to advance</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Kellermann comes to negotiate for the evacuation of Portugal</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Terms of the armistice</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Junot returns to Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">General Freire dissatisfied with the armistice</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Difficulty concerning the Russian squadron</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Convention of Cintra</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Remonstrances of the Portugueze Commander</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Reply of Sir Hew Dalrymple</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The British flag hoisted in the forts</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Anarchy in Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French continue to plunder</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Question concerning baggage</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French endeavour to carry off articles from the Museum</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They embark horses, carriages, and pictures, which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">x</span> are recovered</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They carry off large sums in money</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Question concerning the silver in bars</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Farther instances of dishonour in the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Protests of the Monteiro Mor, and of the Juiz do Povo</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Danger of tumults in Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Temper of the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Their embarkation</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Final report of the commissioners</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_253">253</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Addresses of thanks to the British Commander</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_254">254</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Galluzo besieges Elvas</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Difficulties concerning the surrender of Elvas</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Elvas and Almeida given up</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Tumults at Porto</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_260">260</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Spanish troops at Lisbon embarked for Catalonia</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_262">262</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Intrigues of the Junta of Porto</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Council of Regency re-established</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Outcry in England against the Convention</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_267">267</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Board of Inquiry appointed</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_273">273</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Its decision</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Necessity of a provisional Government</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Castaños prevents a contest between Granada and Seville</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Plans for a Government</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Arrival of a Sicilian Prince at Gibraltar</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Ambition of the Junta of Seville</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Council of Castille advise a Central Junta</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Project of the Junta of Seville</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_284">284</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Provincial Juntas assent to it</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_289">289</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Unworthy choice of the Junta of Seville</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_290">290</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The other members unexceptionable</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_292">292</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Jovellanos refuses all offers from the Intrusive Government</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_295">295</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Aranjuez chosen for the place of meeting</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_296">296</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">xi</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Installation of the Central Junta</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_298">298</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Conduct of the Council of Castille</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_299">299</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Leonese Deputies arrested by Cuesta</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_300">300</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Cuesta’s vindication of his conduct</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Council of Castille interfere</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_303">303</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Cuesta is summoned before the Junta</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_303">303</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Declaration of the New Government</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_306">306</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Jovellanos proposes a Regency, and that a Cortes be summoned</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_311">311</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Expectations from a Cortes</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_313">313</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">State of the war in Catalonia</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_315">315</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Duhesme resolves to besiege Gerona</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Difficulties on the march</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_317">317</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Troops from Minorca land at Tarragona</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_318">318</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Barcelona blockaded</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_319">319</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Junta of Catalonia remove to the head-quarters</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_320">320</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Caldagues sent to interrupt the siege of Gerona</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_321">321</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He attacks the enemy’s batteries with success</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_321">321</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Duhesme raises the siege</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_323">323</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Unpopularity of the Commander in Catalonia</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_324">324</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Difficulties of the service</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_325">325</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Marques approaches Barcelona</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_327">327</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">British troops ordered from Sicily to Catalonia, but detained by the Commander</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_328">328</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Bilbao occupied by the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_329">329</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Difficulties in bringing the Spanish armies into the field</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_330">330</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Marques de la Romana</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_333">333</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Distribution of his troops in the Baltic</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_334">334</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Their conduct when the oath of allegiance to Joseph was proposed</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_336">336</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">An agent sent to communicate with him</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He asks for a force to cover his retreat</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_338">338</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir Richard Keats goes upon this service</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Plan for collecting the Spanish troops</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_340">340</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Romana takes possession of Nyborg</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_341">341</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The entrance of the British squadron is resisted</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_342">342</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Arrival of some of the regiments from Jutland</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_343">343</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">xii</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They leave the Isle of Funen</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_344">344</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Fate of the horses</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_345">345</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Spaniards are landed in the Isle of Langeland</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_346">346</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They sail for Gottenburg, and there embark for Spain</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_348">348</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Romana lands in England</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_349">349</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Error of the Spaniards in not appointing a commander-in-chief</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Difficulty of feeding their armies</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Bilbao taken by the French, and retaken</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_351">351</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Position of the armies in October</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_352">352</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Commissioners sent to the Spanish armies</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_353">353</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Buonaparte deeply affected by the reverses in Spain</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_355">355</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He conceals them from the French people</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_356">356</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Statement of the French Government</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_358">358</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Report of M. Champagny</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_360">360</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Second Report</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_363">363</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Report of the War-minister</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_365">365</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Suspicion of the views of Austria</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_367">367</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Message from Buonaparte to the Senate</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_368">368</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Senate approves his measures</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_369">369</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">March of the troops toward Spain</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_371">371</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Speech of Buonaparte to the troops</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_373">373</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Conferences at Erfurth</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_374">374</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Overtures of peace</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_374">374</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Reply of the British Government</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_376">376</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Reply of the Russian and French Ministers</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_378">378</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Final answer of the British Government</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_380">380</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">British Declaration</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_381">381</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Buonaparte departs for Spain</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_384">384</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a>.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Movements against Blake’s army</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_387">387</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Blake falls back to Espinosa</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_388">388</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Espinosa</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_390">390</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">xiii</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Dispersion of Blake’s army at Reynosa</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_393">393</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Buonaparte arrives in Spain</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_394">394</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Defeat of the Extremaduran army at Burgos</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_395">395</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Proclamation excluding certain Spaniards from pardon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_396">396</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Movements against Castaños</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_398">398</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Tudela</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_398">398</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Retreat of the defeated army</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_400">400</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Their deplorable condition at Calatayud</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_401">401</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They are ordered to approach Madrid</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_402">402</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Measures of the Central Junta</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_403">403</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Pass of the Somosierra forced</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_407">407</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Junta retire from Aranjuez</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_408">408</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">State of Madrid</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_409">409</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Marques de Perales murdered by the populace</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_411">411</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Duque del Infantado sent to the central army</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_411">411</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Madrid summoned</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_412">412</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Morla treats for a capitulation</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_414">414</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Speech of Buonaparte to the Deputies</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_415">415</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Surrender of Madrid</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_417">417</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Decrees issued by Buonaparte</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_419">419</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Proclamation to the Spaniards</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_420">420</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Change in Buonaparte’s views concerning Spain</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_422">422</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Retreat of the central army</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_423">423</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Lapeña succeeds to the command</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_424">424</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They reach Guadalaxara</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_425">425</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Duque del Infantado joins them</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_427">427</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Condition of the troops</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_427">427</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They retire toward the Tagus</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_429">429</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Passage of the Tagus</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_430">430</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Some of the troops mutiny</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_431">431</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Infantado chosen Commander</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_432">432</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They retire to Cuenca</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_432">432</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Arrival of the Conde de Alache’s corps</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_434">434</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Retreat of the Central Junta from Aranjuez</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_439">439</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Their address to the people of Madrid</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_440">440</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French enter Toledo</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_442">442</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Defence of Villacañas</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_444">444</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Preparations for defending the Sierra Morena</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_446">446</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">xiv</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Murder of S. Juan at Talavera</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_447">447</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Edict against deserters</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_450">450</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">English stragglers butchered by the French cavalry</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_451">451</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French take possession of the Escurial</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_452">452</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Excesses of the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_454">454</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Galluzo collects the fugitives in Extremadura</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_456">456</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He prepares for the defence of the Tagus</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_457">457</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French cross the river</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_459">459</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Galluzo retreats to Jaraicejo</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_460">460</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Dispersion of his army</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_461">461</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Galluzo is superseded by Cuesta</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_463">463</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc chap" colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a>.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Buonaparte reproaches and insults the English</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_465">465</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The British army from Portugal enters Spain</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_466">466</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Former services of Sir John Moore</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_468">468</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">His care to maintain discipline</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_468">468</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Ill prospect of affairs when he arrives at Salamanca</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_469">469</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir David Baird arrives at Astorga</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_470">470</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir John Moore resolves to retreat upon Portugal, and embark from Lisbon</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_471">471</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He asks the opinion of the British Ambassador</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_473">473</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Mr. Frere’s reply</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_475">475</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">He wishes the army to advance for the defence of Madrid</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_475">475</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Two Spanish Generals sent to confer with Sir John Moore</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_477">477</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Morla and the military Junta urge him to advance</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_477">477</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Colonel Charmilly sent to Sir John Moore by the Duque del Infantado and Mr. Frere</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_479">479</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir John Moore resolves to advance</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_481">481</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">News of the surrender of Madrid</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_483">483</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Correspondence with Romana</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_485">485</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">First skirmish at Rueda</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_486">486</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The command of the Spanish armies offered to Sir John Moore, and refused</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_488">488</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Junction formed with Sir David Baird</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_490">490</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">xv</span></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">They advance against Marshal Soult</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_491">491</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The French endeavour to surround the British army</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_493">493</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir John Moore begins his retreat</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_493">493</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Ill conduct of the troops</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_496">496</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Passage of the Ezla</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_496">496</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">General orders issued at Benevente</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_497">497</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Affair of cavalry on the Ezla</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_499">499</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir John Moore reaches Astorga</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_501">501</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Honourable conduct of Romana and his army</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_502">502</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir John Moore pursues his retreat</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_503">503</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Bierzo</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_505">505</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Disorders committed by the troops</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_506">506</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Buonaparte stops at Astorga</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_507">507</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Skirmish at Cacabelos</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_509">509</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Retreat continued from Villa Franca</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_510">510</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Treasure abandoned</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_513">513</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The army collects at Lugo</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_514">514</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir John offers battle</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_516">516</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Retreat to Coruña</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_517">517</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Sir John is advised to propose terms</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_519">519</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Preparations for battle</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_520">520</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The artillery embarked</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_521">521</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Coruña</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_522">522</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Repulse of the French</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_527">527</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Death of Sir John Moore</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_529">529</a></td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Embarkation of the army</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_530">530</a></td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<div class="main"> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 id="HISTORY" class="vspace"><span class="smaller">HISTORY</span><br /> -<span class="xxsmall">OF THE</span><br /> -PENINSULAR WAR.</h2> -</div> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IX" class="nobreak p2">CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<blockquote class="inhead"> -<p class="center">SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA.</p></blockquote> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />June.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p><span class="firstword">Important</span> as the battle of Baylen was in its -direct and immediate consequences to the Spaniards, -their cause derived greater celebrity and -more permanent strength from the defence of -Zaragoza.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Preparations at Zaragoza.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Order had been restored in that city from -the hour when Palafox assumed the command. -Implicit confidence in the commander produced -implicit and alert obedience, and preparations -were made with zeal and activity proportioned -to the danger. When the new Captain-General -declared war against the French, the troops -which he mustered amounted only to 220 men, -and the public treasury could furnish him with -no more than an hundred dollars; sixteen ill-mounted -guns were all the artillery in the place, -and the arsenal contained but few muskets.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">2</span> -Fowling-pieces were put in requisition, pikes -were forged, powder was supplied from the mills -at Villafeliche, which were some of the most -considerable in Spain, ... for every thing else Palafox -trusted to his country and his cause. And -his trust was not in vain; the Zaragozans were -ready to endure any suffering and make any -sacrifice in the discharge of their duty; the same -spirit possessed the whole country, and from all -those parts of Spain which were under the yoke -of the enemy officers and soldiers repaired to -Zaragoza as soon as it was seen that an army was -collecting there; many came from Madrid and -from Pampluna, and some officers of engineers -from the military academy at Alcala. And the -spirits of the people were encouraged by the -discovery of a depôt of fire-arms walled up in -the Aljafaria; they had probably been secreted -there in the succession war, when one party resigned -that city to its enemies, and their discovery -in this time of need was regarded by the -Zaragozans as a manifestation of divine Providence -in their favour. The defeats which their -undisciplined levies sustained at Tudela, Mallen, -and Alagon abated not their resolution; and in -the last of these actions a handful of regular -troops protected their retreat with great steadiness. -The French general, Lefebvre Desnouettes, -pursuing his hitherto uninterrupted success, -advanced, and took up a position very near -the city, and covered by a rising ground planted -with olive trees.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">3</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Description of the city.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Zaragoza was not a<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">1</a>fortified town; the brick -wall which surrounded it was from ten to twelve -feet high, and three feet thick, and in many -places it was interrupted by houses, which formed -part of the inclosure. The city had no advantages -of situation for its defence, and would -not have been considered capable of resistance -by any men but those whose courage was sustained -by a virtuous and holy principle of duty. -It stands in an open plain, which was then -covered with olive grounds, and is bounded on -either hand by high and distant mountains; but -it is commanded by some high ground called the -Torrero, about a mile to the south-west, upon -which there was a convent, with some smaller -buildings. The canal of Aragon divides this -elevation from another rising ground, where the -Spaniards had erected a battery. The Ebro -bathes the walls of the city, and separates it from -the suburbs; it has two bridges, within musket-shot -of each other; one of wood, said to be more -beautiful than any other of the like materials in -Europe; the other of freestone, consisting of -seven arches, the largest of which is 122 feet in -diameter; the river is fordable above the city. -Two smaller rivers, the Galego and the Guerva, -flow at a little distance from the city, the one on -the east, the other on the west; the latter being<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span> -separated from the walls only by the breadth of the -common road: both are received into the Ebro. -Unlike most other places of the peninsula, Zaragoza -has neither aqueduct nor fountains, but -derives its water wholly from the river. The -people of Tortosa, (and probably of the other -towns upon its course,) drink also of the Ebro, -preferring it to the finest spring; the water is of -a dirty red colour, but, having stood a few hours, -it becomes perfectly clear, and has a softness -and pleasantness of taste, which soon induces -strangers to agree with the natives in their preference -of it. The population was stated in the -census of 1787 at 42,600; that of 1797, excellent -as it is in all other respects, has the fault of not -specifying the places in each district; later accounts -computed its inhabitants at 60,000, and -it was certainly one of the largest cities in the -peninsula. It had twelve gates, four of them -in the old wall of Augustus, by whom the older -town of Salduba upon the same site was enlarged, -beautified, and called Cæsarea-Augusta, -or Cæsaraugusta; a word easily corrupted into -its<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">2</a>present name.</p> - -<p>The whole city is built of brick; even the convents -and churches were of this coarse material, -which was bad of its kind, so that there were -cracks in most of these edifices from top to -bottom. The houses are not so high as they -usually are in old Spanish towns, their general<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span> -height being only three stories; the streets are, -as usual, very narrow and crooked; there are, -however, open market-places; and one very -wide, long, and regularly built street, formerly -called the Calle Santa, having been the scene -of many martyrdoms, but now more commonly -known by the name of the Cozo. The people, -like the rest of the Aragonese, and their neighbours, -the Catalans, have been always honourably -distinguished in Spanish history for their love of -liberty; and the many unavailing struggles which -they have made during the last four centuries, -had not abated their attachment to the good principles -of their forefathers. Within the peninsula, -(and once indeed throughout the whole of Catholic -Europe,) Zaragoza was famous as the city -of our Lady of the Pillar, whose legend is still -so firmly believed by the people, and most of the -clergy in Spain, that it was frequently appealed -to in the proclamations of the different generals -and Juntas, as one of the most popular articles -of the national faith. The legend is this: when - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Our Lady of the Pillar.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the apostles, after the resurrection, separated and -went to preach the gospel in different parts of -the world, St. James the elder, (or Santiago, as -he may more properly be called in his mythological -history,) departed for Spain, which province -Christ himself had previously commended -to his care. When he went to kiss the hand of -the Virgin, and request her leave to set off, and -her blessing, she commanded him, in the name -of her Son, to build a church to her honour in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span> -that city of Spain wherein he should make the -greatest number of converts, adding, that she -would give him farther instructions concerning -the edifice upon the spot. Santiago set sail, -landed in Galicia, and, having preached with -little success through the northern provinces, -reached Cæsarea-Augusta, where he made eight -disciples. One night, after he had been conversing -and praying with them as usual on the -banks of the river, they fell asleep, and just at -midnight the apostle heard heavenly voices sing, -<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Ave Maria gratia plena!</i> He fell on his knees, -and instantly beheld the Virgin upon a marble -pillar in the midst of a choir of angels, who went -through the whole of her matin service. When -this was ended, she bade him build her church -around that pillar, which his Lord, her blessed -Son, had sent him by the hands of his angels; -there, she told him, that pillar was to remain till -the end of the world, and great mercies would -be vouchsafed there to those who supplicated for -them in her name. Having said this, the angels -transported her back to her house at Jerusalem, -(for this was before the Assumption) and Santiago, -in obedience, erected upon that spot the first -church which was ever dedicated to the Virgin<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">3</a>.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span> -Cathedral service was performed both in this -church and in the see, and the meetings of the -chapter were held alternately in each. The interior -of each was of the most imposing<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">4</a> kind. -When the elder of these joint cathedrals was -erected, Pope Gelasius granted indulgencies to -all persons who would contribute toward the -work, and thus introduced a practice which contributed -as much to the grandeur and magnificence -of ecclesiastical architecture, as to laxity -of morals and the prevalence of superstition.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Contempt of the French for the Zaragozans.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Many mournful scenes of bigotry and superstition -have been exhibited in Zaragoza; but, in -these fiery trials which Buonaparte’s tyranny was -preparing for the inhabitants, the dross and tinsel -of their faith disappeared, and its pure gold remained.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span> -The French, accustomed as they were -to undervalue the Spanish character, had spoken -with peculiar contempt of the Zaragozans. “Few -persons,” they said, “are to be seen among them -who distinguish themselves by their dress; there -is little of that elegant attire so observable in large -cities. All is serious and regular, ... dull and monotonous. -The place seems without any kind of -resource, because the inhabitants use no effort to -obtain any; ... accustomed to a state of apathy and -languor, they have not an idea of the possibility -of shaking it off<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">5</a>.” With this feeling, equally -despising the strength of the place, and the character -of the people, the French proceeded to -besiege the capital of Aragon. A party of their -cavalry entered the town on the 14th, perhaps in -pursuit of the retreating patriots; they thought -to scour the streets, but they were soon made to -feel, that the superiority of disciplined soldiers -to citizens exists only in the field.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 15.</span> -<br /><hr /> -The French attempt to storm the city.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the following morning, the French, with -part of their force, attacked the outposts upon -the canal, and, with their main body, attempted -to storm the city by the gate called Portillo. -A desperate conflict ensued. The Aragonese -fought with a spirit worthy of their cause. They -had neither time, nor room, nor necessity for -order. Their cannon, which they had hastily -planted before the gates, and in the best situations -without the town, were served by any persons<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span> -who happened to be near them; any one -gave orders who felt himself competent to take -the command. A party of the enemy entered -the city, and were all slain. Lefebvre perceived -that it was hopeless to persist in the attack with -his present force, and drew off his troops, having -suffered great loss. The patriots lost about 2000 -men killed, and as many wounded. In such a -conflict the circumstances are so materially in -favour of the defendants, that the carnage made -among the French must have been much greater. -Some part of their baggage and plunder was -abandoned in their retreat. The conquerors -would have exposed themselves by a rash pursuit, -but Palafox exhorted them not to be impatient, -telling them, that the enemy would give -them frequent opportunities to display their -courage. While he thus restrained their impetuosity, -he continued to excite their zeal. This -victory, he said, was but the commencement of -the triumphs which they were to expect under -the powerful assistance of their divine patrons. -The precious blood of their brethren had been -shed in the field of glory, ... on their own soil. -Those blessed martyrs required new victims; -let us, he added, prepare for the sacrifice!</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Palafox goes out to collect reinforcements.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Zaragozans had obtained only a respite; -defeated as he was, Lefebvre had only removed -beyond the reach of their guns; his troops were -far superior to any which they could bring against -him; and it was not to be doubted that he would -soon return in greater force, to take vengeance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span> -for the repulse and the disgrace which he had -suffered. A regular siege was to be expected; -how were the citizens to sustain it with their -brick walls, without heavy artillery, and without -troops who could sally to interrupt the besiegers -in their works? In spite of all these discouraging -circumstances, confiding in God and their -own courage, they determined to defend the -streets to the last extremity. Palafox, immediately -after the repulse of the enemy, set out -to muster reinforcements, to provide such resources -for the siege as he could, and to place -the rest of Aragon in a state of defence, if the -capital should fall. He was accompanied by -Colonel Butron, his friend and aide-de-camp; -Lieut.-Colonel Beillan, of the engineers; Padre -Basilio, and Tio Jorge. With these companions -and a small escort he left the city by the suburbs, -crossed the Ebro at Pina, and collecting on the -way about 1400 soldiers who had escaped from -Madrid, formed a junction at Belchite with Baron -Versage and some newly raised troops from Calatayud. -Their united numbers amounted to -some 7000 men, with 100 horse and four pieces -of artillery. Small as this force was, and still -more inefficient for want of discipline than of numerical -strength, Palafox resolved upon making -an attempt with it to succour the city. The -prudence of this determination was justly questioned -by some; others proposed the strange -measure of marching to Valencia: this probably -originated with some of the stray soldiers who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span> -were at liberty to seek their fortune where they -pleased, and the proposal was so well received -that a considerable party prepared to set off -in that direction, without orders. But Palafox -called them together, exhorted them to do their -duty, and offered passports to as many as chose -to leave him in the moment of danger. The -consequence of this offer was that not a man departed. -From Almunia, where he had rested a -day, he then marched towards Epila, thinking to -advance to the village of La Muela, and thus -place the invaders between his little army and -the city, in the hope of cutting them off from -their reinforcements. Lefebvre prevented this, -by suddenly attacking him at Epila, on the night -of the 23d: after a most obstinate resistance, the -superior arms and discipline of the French were -successful. The wreck of this gallant band retreated -to Calatayud, and afterwards, with great -difficulty, threw themselves into Zaragoza.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>G. Verdier joins Lefebvre with reinforcement.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The besiegers’ army was soon reinforced by -General Verdier, with 2500 men, besides some -battalions of Portugueze, who, according to the -devilish system of Buonaparte’s tyranny, had been -forced out of their own country, to be pushed -on in the foremost ranks, wherever the first fire -of a battery was to be received, a line of bayonets -clogged, or a ditch filled, with bodies. They -occupied the best positions in the surrounding -plain, and, on the 27th, attacked the city and -the Torrero; but they were repulsed with the -loss of 800 men, six pieces of artillery, and five<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span> -carts of ammunition. By this time, they had -invested nearly half the town. The next morning -they renewed the attack at both places; from the -city they were again repulsed, losing almost all -the cavalry who were engaged. But the Torrero - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Torrero taken.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -was lost through the alleged misconduct of an -artillery officer, who was charged with having -made his men abandon the batteries at the most -critical moment. For this he was condemned to -run the gauntlet six times, the soldiers beating -him with their ramrods, and after this cruelty he -was shot.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French bombard the city.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French, having now received a train of -mortars, howitzers, and twelve-pounders, which -were of sufficient calibre against mud walls, kept -up a constant fire, and showered down shells -and grenades from the Torrero. About twelve -hundred were thrown into the town, and there -was not one building that was bomb proof within -the walls. After a time, the inhabitants placed -beams of timber together, endways, against the -houses, in a sloping direction, behind which -those who were near when a shell fell, might -shelter themselves. The enemy continued also -to invest the city more closely, while the Aragonese -made every effort to strengthen their -means of defence. They tore down the awnings -from their windows, and formed them into sacks, -which they filled with sand, and piled up before -the gates, in the form of a battery, digging round -it a deep trench. They broke holes for musketry -in the walls and intermediate buildings, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span> -stationed cannon where the position was favourable -for it. The houses in the environs were -destroyed. “Gardens and olive grounds,” says -an eye-witness, “that in better times had been -the recreation and support of their owners, were -cheerfully rooted up by the proprietors themselves, -wherever they impeded the defence of -the city, or covered the approach of the enemy.” - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Exertions of the women.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Women of all ranks assisted; they formed themselves -into companies, some to relieve the -wounded, some to carry water, wine, and provisions, -to those who defended the gates. The - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Countess Burita.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Countess Burita instituted a corps for this service; -she was young, delicate, and beautiful. -In the midst of the most tremendous fire of shot -and shells, she was seen coolly attending to those -occupations which were now become her duty; -nor throughout the whole of a two months’ siege -did the imminent danger, to which she incessantly -exposed herself, produce the slightest apparent -effect upon her, or in the slightest degree -bend her from her heroic purpose. Some of the -monks bore arms; others exercised their spiritual -offices to the dying: others, with the nuns, were -busied in making cartridges which the children -distributed.</p> - -<p>Among threescore thousand persons there will -always be found some wicked enough for any -employment, and the art of corrupting has constituted -great part of the French system of war. -During the night of the 28th the powder magazine, -in the area where the bull-fights were performed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span> -which was in the very heart of the city, -was blown up, by which fourteen houses were -destroyed, and about 200 persons killed. This -was the signal for the enemy to appear before -three gates which had been sold to them. And -while the inhabitants were digging out their -fellow-citizens from the ruins, a fire was opened -upon them with mortars, howitzers, and cannons, -which had now been received for battering the -town. Their attack seemed chiefly to be directed -against the gate called Portillo, and a -large square building near it, without the walls, -and surrounded by a deep ditch; though called -a castle, it served only for a prison. The sand-bag -battery before this gate was frequently destroyed, -and as often reconstructed under the -fire of the enemy. The carnage here throughout - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Augustina Zaragoza.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the day was dreadful. Augustina Zaragoza, -a handsome woman of the lower class, about -twenty-two years of age, arrived at this battery -with refreshments, at the time when not a man -who defended it was left alive, so tremendous -was the fire which the French kept up against -it. For a moment the citizens hesitated to re-man -the guns. Augustina sprung forward over -the dead and dying, snatched a match from the -hand of a dead artilleryman, and fired off a six-and-twenty -pounder; then, jumping upon the -gun, made a solemn vow never to quit it alive -during the siege. Such a sight could not but -animate with fresh courage all who beheld it. -The Zaragozans rushed into the battery, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span> -renewed their fire with greater vigour than ever, -and the French were repulsed here, and at all -other points, with great slaughter. On the morning -of this day a fellow was detected going out -of the city with letters to Murat. It was not -till after these repeated proofs of treasonable -practices, that the French residents in Zaragoza, -with other suspected persons, were taken into -custody.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French again repulsed in an attempt to take the city by storm.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Lefebvre now supposing that his destructive -bombardment must have dismayed the people, -and convinced them how impossible it was for -so defenceless a city to persist in withstanding -him, again attempted to force his way into the -town, thinking that, as soon as his troops could -effect a lodgement within the gates, the Zaragozans -would submit. On the 2d of July, a -column of his army marched out of their battery, -which was almost within musket-shot of the -Portillo, and advanced towards it with fixed -bayonets, and without firing a shot. But when -they reached the castle, such a discharge of -grape and musketry was opened upon their flank, -that, notwithstanding the most spirited exertions -of their officers, the column immediately dispersed. -The remainder of their force had been -drawn up to support their attack, and follow -them into the city; but it was impossible to -bring them a second time to the charge. The -general, however, ordered another column instantly -to advance against the gate of the Carmen, -on the left of the Portillo. This entrance -was defended by a sand-bag battery, and by musketeers,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span> -who lined the walls on each side, and -commanded two out of three approaches to it; -and here also the French suffered great loss, and -were repulsed.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They invest the city.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The military men in Zaragoza considered these -attacks as extremely injudicious. Lefebvre probably -was so indignant at meeting with any opposition -from a people whom he despised, and a -place which, according to the rules and pedantry -of war, was not tenable, that he lost his temper, -and thought to subdue them the shortest way, -by mere violence and superior force. Having -found his mistake, he proceeded to invest the -city still more closely. In the beginning of the -siege, the besieged received some scanty succours; -yet, however scanty, they were of importance. -Four hundred soldiers from the regiment -of Estremadura, small parties from other -corps, and a few artillerymen got in. Two hundred -of the militia of Logrono were added to -these artillerymen, and soon learnt their new -service, being in the presence of an enemy whom -they had such righteous reason to abhor. Two -four-and-twenty-pounders and a few shells, which -were much wanted, were procured from Lerida. -The enemy, meantime, were amply supplied with -stores from the magazine in the citadel of Pamplona, -which they had so perfidiously seized on -their first entrance, as allies, into Spain. Hitherto -they had remained on the right<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">6</a> bank of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span> -Ebro. On the 11th of July they forced the passage -of the ford, and posted troops enough on -the opposite side to protect their workmen while -forming a floating bridge. In spite of all the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />July.</span> -They form a bridge over the Ebro.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -efforts of the Aragonese, this bridge was completed -on the 14th; a way was thus made for -their cavalry, to their superiority in which the -French were mostly indebted for all their victories -in Spain. This gave them the command -of the surrounding country; they destroyed the -mills, levied contributions on the villages, and -cut off every communication by which the besieged -had hitherto received supplies. These -new difficulties called out new resources in this -admirable people and their general, ... a man -worthy of commanding such a people in such -times. Corn mills, worked by horses, were -erected in various parts of the city; the monks -were employed in manufacturing gunpowder, -materials for which were obtained by immediately -collecting all the sulphur in the place, -by washing the soil of the streets to extract its -nitre, and making charcoal from the stalks of -hemp, which in that part of Spain grows to a -magnitude that would elsewhere be thought -very unusual<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">7</a>.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Distress of the inhabitants.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>By the end of July the city was completely invested, -the supply of food was scanty, and the -inhabitants had no reason to expect succour.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span> -Their exertions had now been unremitted for -forty-six days, and nothing but the sense of duty -could have supported their bodily strength and -their spirit under such trials. They were in -hourly expectation of another general attack, or -another bombardment. They had not a single -place of security for the sick and the children, and -the number of wounded was daily increased by -repeated skirmishes, in which they engaged for -the purpose of opening a communication with -the country. At this juncture they made one -desperate effort to recover the Torrero. It was -in vain; and convinced by repeated losses, and -especially by this last repulse, that it was hopeless -to make any effectual sally, they resolved to -abide the issue of the contest within the walls, -and conquer or perish there.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Foundling Hospital burnt. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">1808.<br />August.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the night of the second of August, and on -the following day, the French bombarded the -city from their batteries opposite the gate of -the Carmen. A foundling hospital, which was -now filled with the sick and wounded, took -fire, and was rapidly consumed. During this -scene of horror, the most intrepid exertions -were made to rescue these helpless sufferers -from the flames. No person thought of his own -property or individual concerns, ... every one -hastened thither. The women were eminently -conspicuous in their exertions, regardless of -the shot and shells which fell about them, and -braving the flames of the building. It has often -been remarked, that the wickedness of women<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span> -exceeds that of the other sex; ... for the same -reason, when circumstances, forcing them out -of the sphere of their ordinary nature, compel -them to exercise manly virtues, they display -them in the highest degree, and, when they are -once awakened to a sense of patriotism, they -carry the principle to its most heroic pitch. -The loss of women and boys, during this siege, -was very great, fully proportionate to that of -men; they were always the most forward, and -the difficulty was to teach them a prudent and -proper sense of their danger.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Convent of St. Engracia. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">August 3.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the following day, the French completed -their batteries upon the right bank of the Guerva, -within pistol-shot of the gate of St. Engracia, so -called from a splendid church and convent of -Jeronimites, situated on one side of it. This -convent was, on many accounts, a remarkable -place. Men of letters beheld it with reverence, -because the excellent historian Zurita spent the -last years of his life there, observing the rules of -the community, though he had not entered into -the order; and because he was buried there, and -his countryman and fellow-labourer, Geronymo -de Blancas, after him. Devotees revered it, even -in the neighbourhood of our Lady of the Pillar, -for its relics and the saint to whom it was dedicated. -According to the legend, she was the -daughter of Ont Comerus, a barbarian chief, in -the pay of the Romans, by whom the city of -Norba Cæsarea, (situated near the Tagus, between -the present towns of Portalegre and Alcantara)<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span> -was given him, together with its district, -for his service in recovering it from Cathelius, a -chief of the Alemanni. His daughter, Encratis, -or Encratide, (for from one of these names Engracia -has been formed) was brought up a -Christian, and espoused to a governor on the -Gallic side of the Pyrenees, to whom she was -sent with a suitable escort. Their way lay -through Cæsarea-Augusta, where the Præses, -or Governor of Spain, Publius Dacianus, the -bloodiest minister of the tenth persecution, was -at that time endeavouring to extirpate Christianity. -Engracia, either preferring martyrdom -to her unknown spouse, or imagining that her -rank would be her safeguard, visited the governor -for the purpose of interceding in behalf -of the Christians, and remonstrating against his -cruelty. Thus much of the legend is probably -fabulous; but certain it is, that a virgin of that -name was tortured under that persecution; and, -though she survived, was venerated as a<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">8</a>martyr<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span> -in that city, before the close of the century in -which she suffered. Just, however, as her claim -is to pious remembrance, her church, and the -divine honours which have been paid to her, -were procured by fraud. Angels are said to have -descended at her death, and to have officiated at -her funeral, bearing tapers and thuribules, and -singing hymns of triumph. During the Moorish -captivity, her relics disappeared; they were discovered -towards the close of the fourteenth century, -which was the great age for inventions of -this kind. There stood at that time, upon the -site of this memorable convent, an old church, -dedicated to the Zaragozan martyrs, of the tenth -persecution, and called the <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Iglesia de las Masas</i>, -in memory of an early specimen of Catholic ingenuity. -Dacianus, holding relic-worship in as -much contempt as the Christians did his idolatry, -in order to prevent them from indulging in it, -burnt the bodies of the martyrs, together with -those of some malefactors, thinking that their -ashes would be undistinguishable; nevertheless, -the Christians found their own, which had collected -together in white balls or masses, separate -from the rest. In 1389, the regular canons, to -whom the church belonged, resolved to rebuild -a part of it: in digging the foundation, two<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span> -marble chests were discovered. The lid of the -smaller was fastened down very firmly with a -sort of pitch; when this was taken off, two sets -of human bones were found in different compartments; -over the one were the words <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Lupercii -Martyris</i>, sculptured in the marble; over -the other, <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Engratiæ Virginis</i>: these latter were -of rose-colour, which was admitted as proof of -their authenticity. The larger chest contained -a great assortment of anonymous bones, ashes, -and the white masses, which had disappeared for -so many centuries. The mine was very rich; -the workmen went on till they had invented -thirteen chests, and at last, a whole pit full of -relics, not the less efficacious because it could -not be ascertained to whom they had belonged. -Seventy years afterwards, Juan II. of Aragon, -one of the wickedest and most perfidious of men, -fancied or feigned, that by St. Engracia’s intercession, -he was cured of a complaint in his eyes; -in consequence of which, he resolved to enlarge -this church, and build a monastery adjoining it -for the Jeronimites, ... an order which, during -that and the succeeding age, was in great favour -at the three courts of the Peninsula. He began -his work, but died without completing it, leaving -that charge by will to his son, Ferdinand, the -Catholic king. He continued the building, but -it was not finished till the reign of Charles the -Fifth.</p> - -<p>Both the church and convent were splendidly -adorned, but the most remarkable part of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span> -whole edifice was a subterranean church, formed -in the place where the relics were discovered, -and having the pit, or well, as it was called, in -the middle. It was divided by a beautiful iron -grating, which excluded laymen from the interior -of the sanctuary. There were three descents; -the widest flight of steps was that which was for -public use, the two others were for the religioners, -and met in one behind the three chief altars, -within the grating. Over the midst of these -altars were two tombs, placed one upon the -other in a niche; the under one containing the -relics of Engracia’s companions and fellows in -martyrdom; the upper, those of the saint herself, -her head excepted, which was kept in a silver -shrine, having a collar of precious stones, and -enclosed in crystal. The altars on either side -had their respective relics; and several others, -equally rich in such treasures, were ranged along -the walls, without the grating. The roof was of -an azure colour, studded with stars to represent -the sky. The breadth of the vault considerably -exceeded its length; it was sixty feet wide, and -only forty long. Thirty little columns, of different -marbles, supported the roof. On the stone -brink of the well, the history of the Zaragozan -martyrs was represented in bas-relief; and an -iron grating, reaching to the roof, secured it -from being profaned by idle curiosity, and from -the pious larcenies which it might otherwise have -tempted. Within this cage-work, a silver lamp -was suspended. Thirty such lamps were burning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span> -there day and night; and, though the roof was -little more than twelve feet high, it was never in -the slightest degree sullied with smoke. The -fact is certain<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">9</a>; but the useful and important -secret, by which oil was made to burn without -producing smoke, was carefully concealed; and -the Jeronimites continued till this time to exhibit -a miracle, which puzzled all who did not believe -it to be miraculous.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The hospital set on fire.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the 4th of August, the French opened -batteries within pistol-shot of this church and -convent. The mud walls were levelled at the -first discharge; and the besiegers rushing through -the opening, took the batteries before the adjacent -gates in reverse. Here General Mori, -who had distinguished himself on many former -occasions, was made prisoner. The street of St. -Engracia, which they had thus entered, leads -into the Cozo, and the corner buildings where -it thus terminated, were on the one hand the -convent of St. Francisco, and on the other the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span> -General Hospital. Both were stormed and set -on fire; the sick and the wounded threw themselves -from the windows to escape the flames, -and the horror of the scene was aggravated by -the maniacs, whose voices raving or singing in -paroxysms of wilder madness, or crying in vain -to be set free, were heard amid the confusion of -dreadful sounds. Many fell victims to the fire, -and some to the indiscriminating fury of the -assailants. Those who escaped were conducted -as prisoners to the Torrero; but when their condition -had been discovered, they were sent back -on the morrow, to take their chance in the siege. -After a severe contest and dreadful carnage, -the French forced their way into the Cozo, in -the very centre of the city, and, before the day -closed, were in possession of one half of Zaragoza. -Lefebvre now believed that he had effected -his purpose, and required Palafox to surrender, -in a note containing only these words: “Head-quarters, -St. Engracia. Capitulation<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">10</a>!” The -heroic Spaniard immediately returned this reply: -“Head-quarters, Zaragoza. War at the knife’s -point<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">11</a>!”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>War in the streets.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The contest which was now carried on is unexampled -in history. One side of the Cozo, a -street about as wide as Pall-mall, was possessed -by the French; and, in the centre of it, their -general, Verdier, gave his orders from the Franciscan -convent. The opposite side was maintained<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span> -by the Aragonese, who threw up batteries -at the openings of the cross streets, within a few -paces of those which the French erected against -them. The intervening space was presently -heaped with dead, either slain upon the spot, or - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">August 5.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -thrown out from the windows. Next day the -ammunition of the citizens began to fail; ... the -French were expected every moment to renew -their efforts for completing the conquest, and -even this circumstance occasioned no dismay, -nor did any one think of capitulation. One cry -was heard from the people, wherever Palafox -rode among them, that, if powder failed, they -were ready to attack the enemy with their knives, -... formidable weapons in the hands of desperate - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The city receives a reinforcement.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -men. Just before the day closed, Don Francisco -Palafox, the general’s brother, entered the city -with a convoy of arms, and ammunition, and a -reinforcement of three thousand men, composed -of Spanish guards, Swiss, and volunteers of Aragon, -... a succour as little expected by the Zaragozans, -as it had been provided against by the -enemy.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>P. Santiago Sass.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The war was now continued from street to -street, from house to house, and from room to -room; pride and indignation having wrought up -the French to a pitch of obstinate fury, little -inferior to the devoted courage of the patriots. -During the whole siege, no man distinguished -himself more remarkably than the curate of one -of the parishes, within the walls, by name P. -Santiago Sass. He was always to be seen in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span> -streets, sometimes fighting with the most determined -bravery against the enemies, not of his -country alone, but of freedom, and of all virtuous -principles, wherever they were to be found; at -other times, administering the sacrament to the -dying, and confirming, with the authority of faith, -that hope, which gives to death, under such circumstances, -the joy, the exultation, the triumph, -and the spirit of martyrdom. Palafox reposed -the utmost confidence in this brave priest, and -selected him whenever any thing peculiarly difficult -or hazardous was to be done. At the head -of forty chosen men, he succeeded in introducing -a supply of powder into the town, so essentially -necessary for its defence.</p> - -<p>This most obstinate and murderous contest -was continued for eleven successive days and -nights, more indeed by night than by day; for -it was almost certain death to appear by daylight -within reach of those houses which were -occupied by the other party. But under cover -of the darkness, the combatants frequently dashed -across the street to attack each other’s batteries; -and the battles which began there, were often -carried on into the houses beyond, where they -fought from room to room, and floor to floor. -The hostile batteries were so near each other, -that a Spaniard in one place made way under -cover of the dead bodies, which completely filled -the space between them, and fastened a rope to -one of the French cannons; in the struggle -which ensued, the rope broke, and the Zaragozans<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span> -lost their prize at the very moment when -they thought themselves sure of it<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">12</a>.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Number of the dead.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>A new horror was added to the dreadful circumstances -of war in this ever memorable siege. -In general engagements the dead are left upon -the field of battle, and the survivors remove to -clear ground and an untainted atmosphere; but -here ... in Spain, and in the month of August, -there where the dead lay the struggle was still -carried on, and pestilence was dreaded from -the enormous accumulation of putrifying bodies. -Nothing in the whole course of the siege so -much embarrassed Palafox as this evil. The -only remedy was to tie ropes to the French prisoners, -and push them forward amid the dead -and dying, to remove the bodies, and bring them -away for interment. Even for this necessary -office there was no truce, and it would have been -certain death to the Aragonese who should have -attempted to perform it; but the prisoners were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span> -in general secured by the pity of their own -soldiers, and in this manner the evil was, in some -degree, diminished.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Retreat of the enemy.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>A council of war was held by the Spaniards -on the 8th, not for the purpose which is too -usual in such councils, but that their heroic resolution -might be communicated with authority -to the people. It was, that in those quarters of -the city where the Aragonese still maintained -their ground, they should continue to defend -themselves with the same firmness: should the -enemy at last prevail, they were then to retire -over the Ebro into the suburbs, break down the -bridge, and defend the suburbs till they perished. -When this resolution was made public, it was -received with the loudest acclamations. But in -every conflict the citizens now gained ground -upon the soldiers, winning it inch by inch, till -the space occupied by the enemy, which on the -day of their entrance was nearly half the city, -was gradually reduced to about an eighth part. -Meantime, intelligence of the events in other -parts of Spain was received by the French, ... all -tending to dishearten them; the surrender of -Dupont, the failure of Moncey before Valencia, -and the news that the Junta of that province had -dispatched six thousand men to join the levies -in Aragon, which were destined to relieve Zaragoza. -During the night of the 13th, their fire -was particularly fierce and destructive; after -their batteries had ceased, flames burst out in -many parts of the buildings which they had won;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span> -their last act was to blow up the church of St. -Engracia; the powder was placed in the subterranean -church, ... and this remarkable place, ... -this monument of fraud and of credulity, ... the -splendid theatre wherein so many feelings of -deep devotion had been excited, ... which so -many thousands had visited in faith, and from -which unquestionably many had departed with -their imaginations elevated, their principles ennobled, -and their hearts strengthened, was laid -in ruins. In the morning the French columns, -to the great surprise of the Spaniards, were seen -at a distance, retreating over the plain, on the -road to Pamplona.</p> - -<p>The history of a battle, however skilfully -narrated, is necessarily uninteresting to all except -military men; but in the detail of a siege, -when time has destroyed those considerations, -which prejudice or pervert our natural sense of -right and wrong, every reader sympathizes with -the besieged, and nothing, even in fictitious narratives, -excites so deep and animating an interest. -There is not, either in the annals of -ancient or of modern times, a single event recorded -more worthy to be held in admiration, -now and for evermore, than the siege of Zaragoza. -Will it be said that this devoted people -obtained for themselves, by all this heroism and -all these sacrifices, nothing more than a short -respite from their fate? Woe be to the slavish -heart that conceives the thought, and shame to -the base tongue that gives it utterance! They<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span> -purchased for themselves an everlasting remembrance -upon earth, ... a place in the memory and -love of all good men in all ages that are yet to -come. They performed their duty; they redeemed -their souls from the yoke; they left an -example to their country, never to be forgotten, -never to be out of mind, and sure to contribute -to and hasten its deliverance.</p> - -<p>One of the first cares of Palafox, after the delivery -of the city, was, to establish a board of -health to provide against the effects of putrefaction, -... such was the number of French who -were left dead in the houses and in the streets. -Pamplona, whither the wreck of their army retreated, -was for many days filled with carts full -and horse-loads of wounded, who arrived faster -and in greater number than they could be lodged -in the hospitals and convents. It was equally -shocking to humanity to behold their sufferings, -and the cruel regardlessness of their comrades, -who, while these wretches were fainting for want -of assistance and of food, and literally dying in -the streets, were exposing their booty to sale, and -courting purchasers for church plate, watches, -jewels, linen, and apparel, the plunder which -they had collected in Navarre and Aragon; and -which, in their eagerness to convert into money, -they were offering at a small part of their value. -There were, however, scarcely any purchasers -except for the church plate, which was bought -for the purpose of restoring it, at the same cost, -to the churches and monasteries from whence it -had been stolen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">32</span> -The temper of the Zaragozans after their victory -was not less heroic than their conduct during -the struggle. It might have been expected that -some degree of exhaustion would have succeeded -the state of excitement to which they had been -wrought; and that the widowed, the childless, -and they who were left destitute, would now -have lamented what they had lost, or, at least, -that they themselves had not perished also. This, -however, was not so. Mr. Vaughan visited Zaragoza -a little while after the siege, and remained -there during several weeks: he saw (they are his -own impressive words) “many a parent who had -lost his children, and many a man reduced from -competence to poverty, but he literally did not -meet with one human being who uttered the -slightest complaint: every feeling seemed to be -swallowed up in the memory of what they had -recently done, and in a just hatred of the French.” -These are the effects of patriotism, aided and -strengthened by religion: its influence, thus -elevated and confirmed, made women and boys -efficient in the time of action, and the streets of -a city not less formidable to an invader than the -best constructed works of defence. Let not the -faith which animated the Aragonese be called -superstition, because our Lady of the Pillar, -Santiago, and St. Engracia, were its symbols. -It was virtually and essentially religion in its -inward life and spirit; it was the sense of what -they owed equally to their forefathers and their -children; the knowledge that their cause was as -righteous as any for which an injured and insulted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">33</span> -people ever rose in arms; the hope that -by the blessing of God upon that cause they -might succeed; the certain faith that if they -fell, it was with the feeling, the motive, and the -merit of martyrdom. Life or death therefore -became to the Zaragozans only not indifferent, -because life was useful to the cause for which -they held it in trust, and were ready to lay it -down: they who fell expired in triumph, and -the survivors rather envied than regretted them. -The living had no fears for themselves, and for -the same reason they could have no sorrows for -the dead. The whole greatness of our nature -was called forth, ... a power which had lain dormant, -and of which the possessors themselves -had not suspected the existence, till it manifested -itself in the hour of trial.</p> - -<p>When the dead were removed, and the -ruins sufficiently cleared, Ferdinand was proclaimed - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">August 20.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -with all the usual solemnities; a ceremony, -at other times attended with no other -feeling than such as sports and festivity occasion, -now made affecting by the situation of -Ferdinand himself, and the scene which surrounded -the spectators; walls blackened with -fire, shattered with artillery, and stained with - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">August 25.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -blood. The obsequies of the Spaniards who had -fallen were next performed with military honours, -and their funeral oration pronounced -from the pulpit. The brave priest Santiago Sass -was made chaplain to the commander in chief, -and Palafox gave him a captain’s commission.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">34</span> -These were times when the religion of Mattathias -and the Maccabees was required; and the -priest of the altar was in the exercise of his -duty, when defending it, sword in hand, in the -field. A pension was settled upon Augustina, -and the daily pay of an artilleryman. She was -also to wear a small shield of honour embroidered -upon the sleeve of her gown, with Zaragoza inscribed -upon it. Tio Jorge was killed during the -siege. Other persons, who had distinguished -themselves, were rewarded; and the general -reward which Palafox conferred upon the Zaragozan -people, is strongly characteristic of Spanish - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Sept. 20.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -feeling. By his own authority, and in the name of -Ferdinand, he conferred upon all the inhabitants -of the city and its districts, of both sexes and -of all ranks, the perpetual and irrevocable privilege -of never being adjudged to any disgraceful -punishment by any tribunal for any offence, except -for treason or blasphemy.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">35</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 id="CHAPTER_X" class="vspace">CHAPTER X.</h2> -</div> - -<blockquote class="inhead"> -<p class="center">INSURRECTION IN PORTUGAL.</p></blockquote> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />May.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p><span class="firstword">While</span> these events were passing in Spain, -Portugal also was convulsed by this political - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>An agent sent from Badajoz to the Spaniards at Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -earthquake. The first insurrection in Madrid -had been no sooner known at Badajoz, than an -anonymous proclamation from that city was circulated -on the Portugueze border; and a lieutenant -of the Walloon Guards, by name Moretti, -was sent to consult at Lisbon with General Carraffa -upon the means of withdrawing the Spanish -troops. Carraffa thought it too hazardous to declare - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, t. iii. 7.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -himself at that time; but though in other -respect acting altogether in subservience to -Junot, he did not make him acquainted with -the transaction, and Moretti returned in safety.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Difficulties of Junot’s situation.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Junot was now disturbed from his dreams of -royalty; yet his head lay as uneasily as if it had -worn a crown. Like the other French commanders, -when the insurrectionary movement -became general throughout Spain, he thought -it impossible that any continued or formidable -resistance could be opposed to the power of -France: but his own situation was exposed to -peculiar danger; he was farther removed from -assistance than any of the other commanders in -the Peninsula; there was an English squadron<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">36</span> -in sight, watching the course of events, and in defiance -of all his vigilance, well informed of whatever -was going on; and it was not to be doubted, -that if a favourable opportunity offered, Great -Britain would make an effort for the deliverance -of Portugal. Pursuant to his instructions from -Madrid, he had sent into Galicia the remains of -Taranco’s division, so that Carraffa’s was now -the only one which remained; some 4000 of -these were at Porto, the rest were in detachments -at Lisbon, Mafra, Santarem, and on the -other side the Tagus at Setubal, Cezimbra, and - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 66.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -other places. In the hope of exciting a national -feeling against them, and thereby counteracting -that sympathy which their common language, -manners, and religion, and now a sense of their -common interest, were producing between them -and the Portugueze, rumours were spread, that -by an arrangement made with Buonaparte, Portugal -was to be governed by Spain till its fate -should be determined at a general peace. But -this artifice failed. The Spaniards were not to -be deceived; from the time when they knew -that Ferdinand had been inveigled to Bayonne, -there was an end of all good understanding between -them and the French; and they were so -ready to engage in personal quarrels, from the -national indignation which possessed them, that -it was found necessary to confine them to their -quarters at an early hour in the evening. Care -was taken to divide them into small detachments, -and station every where with them a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">37</span> -superior number of French. Many deserted, -especially of those who were quartered beyond -the Tagus. Some made their way to the Spanish -frontiers in strong parties. The regiment of -Murcia marched for Spain in a body, in defiance -of its colonel; a detachment of 600 French was -sent from Lisbon to intercept them; they met at - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 67.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Os Pegoens; this was a case in which individual - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 287.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -strength and determination were of more avail -than military discipline; the Spaniards were victorious, -and proceeded on their way, receiving -the utmost kindness from the people, and nearly -two hundred wounded French were landed at -Lisbon.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Kellermann takes the command in Alem-Tejo.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Badajoz was the point to which the Spaniards -repaired from Alem-Tejo and the south of Portugal, -and the numbers who were collected there -made such an addition to the strength of the -garrison, that General Kellermann, who was then -at Elvas, felt himself ill at ease in the neighbourhood. -That general had taken the command in -Alem-Tejo upon Solano’s departure, and so different -was the spirit of his administration, that -one of his first measures was by his own authority -to impose an extraordinary contribution upon the -exhausted province. Evora was to pay 10,000 -<i xml:lang="es" lang="es">cruzados novos</i>, Elvas and Portalegre 8000 each, -Villa-Viçosa 6000, and other places in proportion. -The sum was exacted within six hours -after the demand: but it was restored without - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, p. 277.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -delay, in consequence of peremptory orders from -Junot, when complaint was made to him of this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">38</span> -unauthorized exaction. He was displeased with -Kellermann for presuming to levy money at his -own pleasure, and this was no time for exasperating -the people by farther acts of oppression. -Already they were in so perturbed a state, that it - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">May 22.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -was deemed expedient to order all absent bishops -and beneficed priests to return to their dioceses -and cures, and there exert themselves in preserving -order, and exhorting the people to submission. -Buonaparte had reckoned upon the good services -of the clergy; experience, he said, had shown -him that countries where there were many friars -were easily conquered; ... he was undeceived of -both errors in the Peninsula.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He attempts to conciliate the Spaniards at Badajoz.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>In the hope of reviving old animosities, and -exciting the Portugueze to act against the Spaniards, -Kellermann called out the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Ordenanças</i>, -and required the people of Elvas to take arms -for the defence of their city, which, he said, the -Spaniards, eternal enemies to the name and independence -of Portugal, were preparing to attack - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 1.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -from Badajoz. At the same time he sent a letter -to the Spaniards of that place, exhorting them -to return to their duty, and promising intercession, -and pardon and protection. No answer was -returned; he then put forth an argumentative -address to the Commandant and the Representatives -of Extremadura, asking them what end -they could propose to themselves from the revolt -in which they had blindly engaged? The House -of Bourbon had renounced all its rights to Spain; -Ferdinand was in France, and the right of appointing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">39</span> -a king for the Spaniards had been transferred - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />June.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to the Emperor. Did they wish to draw -upon themselves the evils by which France had -been ravaged during so many years? If that -country had come with glory out of a struggle -which would for ever be celebrated, it was owing -to her internal strength, her valour, and above -all the talents of that extraordinary man whom -Heaven had sent to reign over her, for her happiness, -and for the happiness of the Spaniards -also, if they chose it. Could they expect a like -issue? Would valour alone suffice to effect it? -What was their position? Half Spain had declared -for the new order of things. Their own countrymen -would take the field against them. The -French armies were in the midst of the land, -under the greatest generals, without enemies, -and abundantly supplied with all the means of -war. On their part they had only some soldiers -who had murdered their chiefs; a populace vain -of their own strength, because they had met with -no resistance; and a few miserable English, the -eternal artists of discord, active in stirring up -enemies to the French, and always ready, like -cowards, to abandon the victims of their infernal -policy. Nor was there any thing in the change -which had taken place to provoke their opposition. -At the commencement of the preceding -century Spain had called Philip V. to the throne, -for the purpose of establishing an invariable union - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 288.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -with France. The establishment upon that throne -of a prince of the new French dynasty was nothing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">40</span> -more than a consequence of the system -which Spain had then adopted, and which was -now confirmed. There was yet time to choose. -The sword was not yet drawn, the door was still -open for reconciliation, ... and he requested that -they would not close the gate of their city against -his communications. To this also no answer was -vouchsafed. He made a third effort, telling them -that he would suspend hostilities till they should -be better informed, and desiring the Junta to -meet him at the Caya, the little stream which -there divides the kingdoms. No persons were -there to meet him; and he then began to store -the forts of Elvas, and to devise plans for attacking -Badajoz, expecting, no doubt, that some of -the troops in Spain would be ordered upon that -service. Believing too that fêtes and rejoicings -would have as much effect in Portugal as in -France, he appointed a day of public thanksgiving -for the benefits which Napoleon had promised -to confer upon the Portugueze. They -were not a people to be thus deceived. Their -hearts were with the Spaniards, and so many -repaired to Badajoz, where D. Joseph Galluzo, -with great activity, was forming a camp, that -they were incorporated in a legion of foreign -volunteers, the command of which was given -to Moretti. Many artillerymen escaped thither -from Elvas; some hundred of the Portugueze -troops whom the French had ordered away for -foreign consumption, had been collected there; - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 75.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -promotion was offered to all officers of that nation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">41</span> -who should join them, and Kellermann’s vigilance -could not prevent the emigration which -took place in consequence.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Distribution of the French troops in Portugal.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>A considerable garrison was required in Elvas, -as being the strongest fortress in the kingdom, -and now of more importance because of the -hostile attitude which the Spaniards at Badajoz -had assumed. Strong garrisons were placed at -Peniche and Setubal, for fear of the English. -Almeida also had been occupied by the French. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 77.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Except the troops in that place there were no -other French in the whole north of Portugal -than the small parties stationed upon the military -road, a weak detachment at Figueira, and some -fifty men at Coimbra. The great body of the -French was collected at Lisbon, and in the adjacent -country, where, in case of sudden danger, -they might be brought to act promptly and with - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Spaniards at Porto declare against the Intruder, and march into Spain.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -effect. Porto was in possession of the Spaniards, -who had occupied it by virtue of the secret treaty -of Fontainebleau. General Bellesta, however, -upon whom the command had devolved, had been -placed under the orders of the French General -Quesnel, when the abortive kingdom of Northern -Lusitania was no longer held out as a lure to the -court of Spain. Quesnel had with him about -seventy dragoons, and a few other French, holding -military or civil situations. When news -arrived of the movements in Gallicia, Bellesta, -obeying without hesitation the voice of his country, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 6.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -arrested the French and their general, and -convoking the military, judicial, and civil authorities,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">42</span> -explained to them briefly the situation of -affairs, expressed a hope that Junot would by -that time have been seized in Lisbon, as Quesnel -was in Porto, and asked of them what course -they would pursue, ... whether they would restore -the national government, choose a Spanish -one, or remain in submission to the French? -The <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Vereador</i>, Thomas da Silva Ferras, replied, -that he, and the chamber, and the city, desired -nothing more than to be under the government -of their lawful sovereign, and required that the -royal arms might immediately be re-established. -A <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Desembargador</i> ventured to observe, that they -had no authority to determine such things, not -being representatives of the people; that they -were without arms, ... that they had no means of -resisting so terrible an enemy as the French; -and that it was better to wait till they knew what -had happened at Lisbon. Reasonable as the fear -was which this speaker expressed, a more generous -feeling prevailed, and by Bellesta’s orders -the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Sargento Mor</i>, Raymundo José Pinheiro, -went from the meeting to take the command of - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. c. 6.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the fortress of S. Joam da Foz, at the mouth of -the Douro.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The lawful government restored at Porto.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was late at night when the meeting broke -up. Raymundo called together his officers; they -bound themselves by a formal deed and solemn -oath to act for the service of their lawful Prince -against the French, and invoking the aid of Our -Lady of the Rosary, to whom that castle was dedicated, -vowed in the Prince’s name to solemnize<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">43</span> -the anniversary of that day by a festival to her -honour. At daybreak the Quinas were once -more seen flying upon the fortress, a royal salute -was fired, and returned from the castles of Queijo -and Matozinhos, the bells were rung, rockets -were discharged, and the people gave themselves -up to joy. The Spaniards without delay marched -for Coruña, taking with them their prisoners. -An English brig of war, which was cruising off -the river, hearing an unusual stir in the city, -drew near in hopes of ascertaining the cause; -Raymundo went on board, he was received with -due honours, and an officer returned to shore - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 85–91.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -with him, and was sent to Luiz de Oliveira da -Costa, who commanded at Porto during the absence -of General Bernardim Freire de Andrada.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The governor adheres to the French, and suppresses the insurrection.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Luiz de Oliveira had been present at the meeting -which Bellesta convened, and assented to -the resolution which had there been taken. -Whether his heart was with his voice on that -occasion, or whether he had submitted to the -prevailing opinion only while it was dangerous -to oppose it, the fear of the French returned -upon him, now that the Spaniards had left Porto -to its own means of defence; and instead of receiving -the English officer with open arms, he -wrote to Raymundo, calling him to account for -having opened a communication with the English -brig, and saying that he knew nothing of the -business. Raymundo replied with great spirit, -that if the governor had forgotten what passed -when the government of the Prince Regent was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">44</span> -re-established, he had not; he and his officers -had proclaimed their beloved Sovereign, he had -invited the English commander, in the Prince’s -name, to assist him; and if any person disputed -the propriety of what he had done, he would -make that person know what the power of the -royal name was, and that that port was open for -the English. Raymundo’s means, however, were -not commensurate with his will; the people of -Porto were disheartened by the departure of the -Spaniards, and the city remained to all appearance -in perfect submission to the French government, -while the Portugueze flag was flying at -S. Joam da Foz. A lieutenant-colonel, by name -Manoel Ribeiro de Araujo, now presented himself -in that fortress with an order from Oliveira -to take the command. Raymundo told him, that -if it were taken for the service of the Prince, he -was ready to resign it into his hands; but if it -were his intention to follow the French part, he -might return to the place from whence he came, -for within those walls no other name should be -acknowledged than that of the lawful sovereign, -and not a shot should be fired from them against -the English. Araujo returned in the evening -with fair words, and invited Raymundo to the -governor’s house, there to confer with him upon -the best mode of proceeding in the present critical -circumstances. The treacherous invitation was -accepted, and he had no sooner set foot within -Oliveira’s apartment than he was arrested as a -disturber of the people. The next step would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">45</span> -have been to deliver him up to the French, and -to certain death; but though he had with strange -want of circumspection walked into the snare, -neither his courage nor his presence of mind forsook -him. Oliveira, with Araujo and another -officer, went out into the varanda to give directions - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 91–97.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -concerning him; Raymundo, who was -left alone in the apartment, quietly locked the -varanda door, and lost no time in gaining a place -of concealment.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Junot disarms and seizes the Spaniards at Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Bellesta had left a letter for Junot, which the -Chamber of Porto, as soon as his departure left -them to the sense of their own weakness, dispatched -to Lisbon, with assurance of their continued -submission to the French. The news -reached him at the close of an entertainment -given by the French officers at the theatre, where, -though the Russian admiral and his officers were -present, the portrait of Buonaparte was displayed, -with the Russian flag lying among other trophies - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 292.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -at his feet. A sense of insecurity was manifested -amid their festivities; the avenues to the theatre -were occupied by armed troops, fire engines were -made ready, and all the watermen were ordered -to be at hand with their barrels full. The entertainment -continued till four in the morning, and -immediately afterward movements were observed -which indicated that some important intelligence -had arrived; couriers were sent off, troops crossed -the Tagus, and detachments marched to Mafra, -Santarem, and other places. A body of Spaniards -who were stationed in the Campo de<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">46</span> -Ourique were ordered to the Convent of S. Francisco -da Cidade, an unfinished pile of enormous -magnitude, which the French occupied as barracks, -and where a thousand men were waiting -to disarm them as soon as they should enter. -The Spaniards, when they drew nigh, suspected - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 295.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -some ill design, and fixing their bayonets, declared -they would not be quartered there. They -were allowed to return without interruption; and -in the evening they and their countrymen at -Val de Pereiro, being in all 1200, were ordered -to assemble at two in the morning, in the Terreiro -do Paço, there to embark and cross the -river on their way to Spain. Thither they repaired -joyfully, and found 3000 troops awaiting -them, with cannon placed under the arcades of -that great square, and at the mouths of the streets -which open into it; and they were summoned to -lay down their arms and baggage, and surrender. -In the course of that and the succeeding day, -the Spaniards from Mafra and other parts were -brought in as prisoners, in a condition which -excited the compassion of the people, their women -exhausted with the fatigue of marching in -the burning heat of summer, some carrying children -at the breast, and some, who were unable -to walk, tied upon the baggage carts, lest they -should be thrown off. The whole number of -Spaniards thus arrested was somewhat above -4500; they were confined in hulks upon the -Tagus. The officers were left at liberty upon -their parole; but after a few days, when several<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">47</span> -had broken an engagement, which, considering -the manner in which they had been seized, they -did not think themselves bound in honour to -observe, they were placed under the same confinement -as the men. Junot then informed his -army, in public orders, that the infamous conduct -of the Spanish General Bellesta, the revolt of -two regiments, the arrest of some of his officers -at Badajoz and at Ciudad Rodrigo, and the inability -of the Spanish commanders to control -their men, had compelled him to this severe -measure. Happily it had been executed without -shedding blood. These Spaniards were not -enemies; they should receive pay and provisions -as heretofore, and their actual situation in no -degree altered his good disposition toward them. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 99-109. -<br /> -Observador Portuguez, 300.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -He expressed his satisfaction at the conduct of -his soldiers; and said, that if the English thought -proper to make an attack, they were now fully -at leisure to receive them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Junot’s proclamation to the Portugueze.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>He addressed a proclamation also to the Portugueze, -wherein with incautious effrontery he -avowed the double treachery which had been - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 11.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -practised upon them and upon the Spaniards. -After six months of tranquillity, he said, the -peace of the kingdom had been in danger of -being disturbed by the Spanish troops, who -entered the country apparently as allies, but in -reality with the intention of dismembering it. -No sooner had he in the Emperor’s name taken -possession of the whole government, than they -had begun to show their dissent: and at length<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">48</span> -their conduct at Porto, and in other places, had -compelled him to disarm all who were within his -reach. “Portugueze,” he continued, “I have -hitherto been satisfied with your good disposition. -You have known how to appreciate the advantages -which must result to you from the protection -of Napoleon the Great. You have had confidence -in me. Continue it, and I will guarantee -your country from all invasion, from all dismemberment. -If the English, who know not -how to do any thing except fomenting discord, -choose to seek us, they will find us ready to defend -you. Some of your militia and your remaining -troops shall make part of my army to cover -your frontiers; they will be instructed in the art -of war, and if I may be fortunate enough to put -in practice the lessons which I learnt from Napoleon, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 297.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -I will teach you how to conquer.” Junot -seems at this time to have aimed at conciliating -the Portugueze soldiers, and making them act -with his army. For this purpose he announced -certain new regulations by which they were -placed upon the same footing with the French - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 14.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -as to their pay and provisions. Hitherto four-fifths -of their pay had been in paper money, which -was at a great discount; the proportion was now -reduced to two-thirds. A promise was made that -the first item in the monthly military expenses -should be for the allowance of the Portugueze -prisoners in Algiers. The manner in which it -was notified that the troops were to be under -French command, was not in the imperious tone<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">49</span> -which the Duke of Abrantes, as he styled himself, -heretofore had used; they were to form part -of the divisions, it was said, within whose districts -they were stationed; consequently the -French commanders were to include them in -their reports, and inspect and review them, to -see that they received what was their due, and -to perfect and accelerate their instruction. The - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 303.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -artillery, cavalry, engineers, and marine, were to -be immediately under the orders of the respective -French generals, who by this means would know -their force, watch over their instruction, and see -to their welfare: the intention of his majesty -being, that the Portugueze troops should be -treated in the same manner as his own in all -respects.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Festival of the Corpo de Deos at Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>But it was too late for conciliation and flattery, -after so many acts of insolent oppression: and -an accident at this time occurred to manifest - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 16.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -with what suspicious apprehensions the French -and the inhabitants of Lisbon mutually regarded -each other. The day arrived for the annual procession -of the Corpo de Deos. In the days of -Joam V. this had been the most splendid display -which the Catholic religion exhibited in Europe; -and though in latter years the management had -been less perfect, and there had been some diminution -of its splendour, it was still a spectacle -of unrivalled magnificence and riches. The -streets of the capital on that occasion, and that -only, were cleaned and strewn with fine gravel; -the houses were hung with damask; the troops<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">50</span> -in their new uniforms, the various companies -and brotherhoods, civil and religious, each with -their banners, the knights of the military orders, -and all the monks and friars of Lisbon, moved in -the procession; which was closed by the dignitaries -of the patriarchal church, the Prince in -person, and the chief persons of his court, following -the great object of Catholic adoration, which -on that day, and that day only, was actually carried -abroad. The most remarkable object in this -pompous display used to be an image of St. -George in complete armour, upon a beautiful -horse, led by a squire and supported by pages on -each side, and accompanied by the finest horses -from the royal stables, with rich housings, and -escutcheons thrown across their saddles. These -horses and the saint had formed part of the procession -from the year 1387, with one interruption -only, early in the seventeenth century, when, at -the instigation of a certain Mordomo, the Archbishop -of Lisbon excluded the horses, as thinking -it irreverent that the Real Presence should -be preceded by unreasonable creatures. St. -George’s charger alone was excepted from the -prohibition; but in the midst of the procession -that charger suddenly stopped, and could neither -be induced nor compelled to proceed; it was not -doubted that the rider had chosen this means to -manifest his displeasure at the privation of his -accustomed train; the Archbishop revoked his -order upon the spot, and when the horses were -introduced as usual, St. George consented to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</span> -move forward, and the ceremony of the day was -concluded with more than wonted satisfaction. -The profane Mordomo, however, was not forgiven; -on the following Sunday, when he was -saying mass at the saint’s altar, St. George let - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Mappa de Portugal, t. ii. 257.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -his spear drop from his hand upon the offender’s -head.</p> - -<p>The image which performed this miracle, after -appearing annually in the procession during more -than 350 years, was destroyed by fire at the time -of the great earthquake. A new one, however, -had been substituted, which succeeded to all the -honours and miraculous properties of its predecessor. -One of the finest horses which could -be found in Portugal was selected to bear the -saint in the great procession, and reserved for -that single purpose, as if any other would have -desecrated it. Junot, however, had taken St. -George’s horse for himself, and rode it every -Sunday when he reviewed his troops. And this -year, for the first time, St. George was not to -bear a part in the pageant: the reason which -the French assigned for excluding him was, that -he could not appear with his usual splendour, -because the jewels of the Cadaval family, which -he always wore in his hat on that day, had been -taken to Brazil when the court emigrated. Other -motives were imagined by the Portugueze: when -the saint returned, after the fatigues of the day, -a royal present had always been allotted him; it -was thought that the French wished to spare -themselves this expense. They were carrying<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</span> -on works within the circuit of the castle which -were designed to command the city, and render -the place defensible against the English and the -Portugueze themselves; these works were carried -on secretly, but it was part of the ceremony -that St. George should enter the castle, and in -that case his retinue would have observed what - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 257.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -was going on. Lastly, the people said that the -French did not choose to let St. George go into -public because he was an English saint.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The procession interrupted by a panic fear.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>In all other things Junot wished the Lisboners -to see that the spectacle had lost nothing of its -wonted splendour. The procession had performed -half its course when a sudden alarm arose, occasioned, -it is said, by a thief, who being detected -in some petty larceny, cried out, in the hope of -exciting confusion and effecting his escape, that -the English were crossing the bar. A general -tumult ensued; some of the French formed as if -expecting immediately to be attacked, ... others -hurried to their posts with a celerity which was -absurdly attributed to fear instead of promptitude; -a crowd rushed into the church of S. Domingos -for sanctuary, from whence the chapter -of the patriarchal church were just about to proceed -with the pix, in which the Romish mystery -of impanation, the object of that day’s superstition, -was contained. Some of the insignia which -were to form a part of the show were thrown -down and broken in the rush, and the clergy -hastened to secure themselves each where he -could. Not the mob alone, but the persons who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</span> -were to form the procession, priests, monks, ministers, -and knights, in the habiliments of their -orders, took to flight; communities and brotherhoods -forsook their banners and their crosses; -here and there only an aged friar or sacristan -was seen in whom the sense of devotion was -stronger than fear, and who remained in his place, -thinking that if he were now to die, it were best -to perish at his station and in his duty. Wherever -a door was open, the terrified people ran in, as -if flying from an actual massacre; the great -streets and the Rocio were presently deserted, -and the pavement was strewn with hats, cloaks, -and shoes, lost in the confusion. Fewer accidents -occurred than might have been expected -in such a scene; the alarm abated when it was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 306. -<br /> -Neves, iii. 256–262. -<br /> -Thiebault, 122–124.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -ascertained that the British fleet was not entering; -and when the cause of the<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">13</a>disturbance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</span> -was discovered, the broken parts of the procession -were brought together as soon as possible, -and Junot with his generals closed it, in place of -the Prince Regent and his court.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Junot fortifies the castle.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Though the tidings of the insurrection at Porto -had soon been followed by news that submission -had been restored in that city, intelligence of -insurrectionary movements or designs was now -arriving every day, and Junot thought it necessary -to take farther precautions for holding -Lisbon in subjection. The water-carriers were -employed to fill the cisterns in the Castle, which -was now strongly fortified; stores and fodder were -laid in there, it was garrisoned with 800 men, and -all the swords and small arms from the arsenal - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 24.</span> -Edict for disarming the people.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -were removed thither. An edict was issued commanding -all persons to deliver up their fire-arms, -swords, and hunting-spears, those Portugueze -alone whose legal privilege it was to wear a sword -being allowed still to retain one. If within forty-eight -hours after the publication of that edict -arms should be found in the possession of a Portugueze, -he was to be imprisoned, and fined according -to his means from 100 franks to 1000 -cruzados; if the offender were a native of Great -Britain, and delayed obedience half the time, his -fine was to be from 100 cruzados to 10,000, and -greater punishment inflicted if the case required -it: for other foreigners the same time was appointed -as for the natives, and the extent of - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 314.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -their fine was to be 2000 cruzados, but, like the -English, they were liable to any farther punishment -which the French might think proper to inflict.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">55</span> -It was the custom in Portugal, as formerly -in England, to celebrate the eve of certain -festivals, and especially those of St. John the -Baptist, and St. Peter, with bonfires: the custom -of kindling festal fires at that season of the year -is as old as the worship of the Kelts, even perhaps -before their entrance into Europe; and it -is one of the many pagan rites which Romish -Christianity adopted. The use of gunpowder -made it a dangerous custom even among a people -so little addicted to mischief as the Portugueze: -and at the pretended desire of certain pious persons, -who deemed such rejoicings incompatible -with that calm and collected state of mind which -the church required at such times, all these demonstrations -of festivity were prohibited. Any -person letting off fire-works or fire-arms, as had -been usual, making any use of gunpowder, or -kindling a bonfire, was to be imprisoned eight -days, and pay a fine proportioned to his means: -parents were made answerable for their children, -schoolmasters for their boys, masters for their -servants, tradesmen for those in their employ; -the public walk was not to be open in the evening, -and any concourse of people in the streets -was forbidden. Orders were given to clear the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 311.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Campo de Ourique immediately, though the -crops were not ripe, that troops might be encamped -there, from whence, and from the Castle, -the city would be completely under their command. -Detachments were sent north and south -to keep down a people, who were now everywhere<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">56</span> -beginning to manifest their long suppressed - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 317.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -indignation. The men marched out of -Lisbon with provisions and kettles upon their -backs, and each with a loaf fixed upon his -bayonet.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Movements at Braga.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The news of the first insurrection at Porto -produced considerable effect in the north of -Portugal before it was known that that city, -through the treachery or timidity of the persons -in power, had again submitted to the intrusive -government. At Braga the Archbishop gave -orders for taking the cover from the royal arms -upon his palace, and reciting in the service the -collect for the Prince Regent and Royal Family. -The restoration of the legitimate government -was proclaimed by the better part of the people; -but the public performance of that duty was prevented -by some of those persons who are to be -found in all countries, whose sole object is to advance -themselves, they care not by what means. -They, putting their trust in Buonaparte and his - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 124–6.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -fortune, drew up formal charges against the primate, -and dispatched them to Junot. Had the -French remained masters of Portugal, this process -would have terminated in his deposition, -perhaps in his death; ... but the fire was now -spreading on all sides, and breaking out, as in - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Insurrection at Melgaço.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Spain, every where, simultaneously. A Galician -gentleman, by name Mosqueira de Lira, having -concerted measures at the house of his brother-in-law, -who was an inhabitant of Melgaço, with -the Corregedor of that place, and with a retired<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">57</span> -magistrate, entered the town with some other -Galicians of the border and their armed followers, -on a day when the people from the adjacent -country were assembled there at a fair. -Encouraged by their appearance, the Portugueze -broke out into execrations against Napoleon -and his instruments, and proclaimed their lawful -Prince. The Quinas, which, during the usurpation, -had been covered upon all public buildings -and monuments where they had not been destroyed, -were presently exposed again to the -eyes of a people whose belief it was that Christ -himself had in person commanded the founder -of their monarchy to bear upon his shield those - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 9.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -symbols of his passion. The next day the acclamation -was performed with the same formalities as -at the commencement of a new reign, the magistrates -and persons in office taking the lead; and -the joyful inhabitants sallied out to indulge -their overflowing loyalty by repeating the scene -in the neighbouring villages. Their hilarity was -interrupted by a sudden report that a French -army had landed on the coast of Galicia, and -that a corps of that army had already arrived -at Caniza, meaning to cross the Minho, and attack -Melgaço. That town had been founded by the -first King of Portugal, and refortified by King -Diniz: his works had long since fallen to decay, -and the place was open to an enemy. The bells -rang the alarm, and the people, resolving rather -to meet the danger than to wait for it, set off -with two pieces of cannon, tumultuously, and in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">58</span> -that state of heated spirits and insubordination -which such calamitous times produce. The falsehood -of the report was soon ascertained; a fellow -then boldly proposed that they should nevertheless -march forward and collect forces, and because -the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Capitam Mor</i> ordered the countrymen to return -peaceably to their homes, this man attempted -to pistol him; the mischief was prevented by a -resolute and right-minded peasant, who seized -the ruffian and threw him to the ground. Other -indications of the disposition in the populace to -abuse their power as soon as they feel it, soon -appeared. A rumour went about that the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Juiz -de fora</i> had struck the red flag which had been -planted in the town; a tumultuous sentence of -death was passed upon him, and a party set out -to execute it. But when they approached the -town they saw the flag still flying: it was however -true that the Juiz had been advised to strike -it, because, if the French arrived, the sight of the -bloody flag might provoke them to put all to the -sword. The advice was given by an officer, and -with no ill intention, for no man exerted himself -more actively: but his military prudence on this -occasion had well nigh cost him his life, and -he only escaped by the swiftness of his horse. -Warned by these indications how dangerous any -act would be which the people could interpret -into an intention of intimidating them or checking -their ardour, the Juiz, when he received -Junot’s proclamation, communicated it to none -but those on whom he could rely; he prepared<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">59</span> -for action as well as the means of the place would -afford, and applied to the Junta of Orense for -assistance in men, arms, and ammunition. Some -troops accordingly were sent by them to Milmanda -and Cellanova, whence they might enter - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 126–135.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Portugal to assist Melgaço, whenever their assistance -was required.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Prince Regent proclaimed at Braganza.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>While the national feeling was thus displayed -in one of the remotest corners of the kingdom, -similar scenes occurred in places of more importance, -and more exposed to the vengeance -of the enemy. The post-office in the city of -Braganza was at the house of the Abbot of Carrazedo. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 11.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -A letter brought him news of the insurrection -at Porto; he read it aloud to the persons -who happened to be present; their letters -confirmed the welcome tidings, and added the -flattering expectation that by that time Junot -would have been made prisoner at Lisbon. -Readily believing what they wished, they set -up a shout of rejoicing; the news spread; the -multitude joined in exulting acclamations, and -the parties from the post-office hastened to a -church, where the governor of the province, -General Manoel Jorge Gomes de Sepulveda, -was attending a service in honour of St. Antonio. -This general, though oppressed with age -and infirmities, hesitated not as to the course -which he should pursue. He left the church to -issue such orders as were expedient without -delay. The bells of the cathedral were ordered -to strike up, and those of all the churches joined<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">60</span> -presently in expressing and heightening the -public joy. There were, however, men in authority -who had no generous hopes or feelings -to mislead their judgement on this occasion; and -they, like others of the same stamp at Braga, -thinking to obtain favour with the intrusive government, -hastened to the general, and asked -him what was the meaning of all this stir. Sepulveda -took them to the window, and showed them -the streets swarming with people, who were crying -out, The Prince and the Royal House of -Braganza for ever! the General for ever! Down -with the French! “There,” said he, “you hear -what is the meaning; ... and you may quiet -that multitude if you dare.” He illuminated his -house, which was the signal for a general illumination: -he ordered such arms as were in the city -to be made ready for service, sent to Chaves for -more, offered pardon to deserters upon their -repairing to Braganza, called upon all reduced -officers to come forward, and issued orders to -all the governors and <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Capitaens mores</i> within -his jurisdiction to proclaim their lawful Prince, -and enrol the peasantry for the service of their - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 136–141.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -country. A solemn mass was celebrated the next -day in the cathedral as a thanksgiving service, a -sermon was preached upon the occasion, and all -who were present mounted the national cockade, -the clergy wearing it upon the breast.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Braganzans intimidated by the news from Porto.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>These festive days were of short duration. The -next post, which was expected to confirm the promises -of the last, and bring news of Junot’s overthrow<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">61</span> -and capture, arrived with intelligence that -all was tranquil at Lisbon, and that Porto had -returned to subjection. It brought also circular -letters from the French government, requiring -the Portugueze to continue in obedience, and -threatening severe vengeance to all who should -disturb the public tranquillity. The danger was -now deemed as imminent as the triumph had -before seemed certain. Loison would hasten -from Almeida to punish Braganza for its revolt; -and Marshal Bessieres also, they thought, was -about to descend upon them from Castille. The -time-servers now obtained an ascendancy, and -were about to draw up a formal accusation -against Sepulveda, and the persons who had -taken the lead in this precipitate insurrection. -They proposed to him, however, that he should -join with them in a representation soliciting -pardon for the city, saying that all which had -been done, had been submitted to by him because -it was not possible at that moment to oppose -the populace, and that the illuminations and -other demonstrations of joy were only in honour -of St. Antonio. Letters were accordingly written -to this effect. Sepulveda’s object was to gain -time by dissimulation, while he took measures -for securing a retreat into Spain, unless affairs -in Portugal should take a fortunate turn; and -while he let the promoters of this submission - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 141–146.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -send his letter with their own to the post-office, -he secretly instructed the post-master not to -forward it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">62</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Second insurrection at Porto.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>As the first declaration of the people at Porto -had occasioned these movements in the north -of Portugal, so these secondary movements, reported -and exaggerated in like manner, re-acted -upon the public spirit in that city. Oliveira, -who had acted under fear of the French, was -now in fear of his own countrymen, and soon -found himself in such a situation, that he was in -danger of being regarded as an enemy by both. -On the day of the Corpo de Deos he wished the -soldiers to carry the French eagles in the procession -instead of the national banner, and this -they resolutely refused to do; the end was, that -only a few companies, without any colours, appeared -in the train. The temper of the people -was shown at this time by the groups which -collected in the streets, and the agitation which -every countenance expressed. Raymundo, consulting -at once his own safety, and the furtherance -of his country’s cause, had conveyed letters -to the city, dated from Vianna and from Valença, -saying that he was on his way to Spain, there to -solicit succours, with which he should presently -return: and the ignorant people, ready to believe -any thing, were fully persuaded that he -would soon appear at the head of a Spanish - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 97.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -army. A report, with more appearance but as -little reality of truth, accelerated the success of -his stratagem, though it was intended to intimidate -the people. The <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Juiz de fora</i> at Oliveira -de Azemeis received orders to provide rations -for a French detachment on the way from Coimbra<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">63</span> -to Porto. It was part of Junot’s policy to -alarm the people by such reports, for the purpose -of keeping them in submission. The means -of that place were not equal to the sudden demand; -the Juiz represented this to the governor -of Porto, and bread was ordered from that city, -in obedience to the requisition. A few Frenchmen, -who had concealed themselves during the -first insurrection, and re-appeared when Oliveira -restored the usurped authority, imprudently assisted -in loading the carts with loaves for this -purpose; a crowd collected at the sight, burning -with indignation; a native Portugueze artilleryman -remarked, that bread enough could be found -for the French, though not for the Portugueze; -one of the Frenchmen returned an answer which - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 163–168.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -provoked a blow; the mob immediately took -part, seized the French, and delivered them to -a guard of soldiers, who took charge of them, -without knowing for what end, or inquiring by -whose authority.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Formation of a Junta in that city.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>This second insurrection had been prepared, -though the occasion upon which it broke out -was accidental. The Portugueze flag was displayed, -Joam Manoel de Mariz brought out from -the barracks at Santo Ovidio four field-pieces -ready for service, with thirty artillerymen to -serve them; the arsenal was opened, and arms -and cartridges distributed to all who applied for -them. And Raymundo, who had concealed himself -in a country-house only two miles from Porto, -made his appearance by the convent of S. Domingos,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">64</span> -with nineteen Spaniards, armed with -blunderbusses like himself, and covered with -dust, and with their cloaks upon their backs, like -men arriving from a long march. They declared -that a Spanish army was on the way, and the -people, in full expectation of this support, prepared -to defend the city against the French. -Some guns were placed upon the bridge, others -on the heights of Villa-nova. There was some -difficulty in conveying them to the latter position; -a Dominican, who had sallied from his convent -sword in hand, and with his sleeves tucked up, -laid hold of the ropes; friars, priests, and women, -followed his example, and the work was presently -accomplished. While they were thus exerting -themselves to provide for the defence of the city, -the rabble exercised their authority in the usual -way, discharging fire-arms in the streets, beating -drums, blowing trumpets, ordering the bells to -be rung in all the churches and convents, breaking -open houses to search for Frenchmen and -suspected persons. They threw Oliveira and -many others into prison, but happily no murders -were committed. The mob were restrained in -their ferocity by the expectation that traitors -would be brought to condign punishment as soon -as the lawful authority was re-established, which -it soon would be. Till that time it was resolved -that a local and provisional government should -be formed after the manner of the Spaniards. -The authors of the movement had concerted -this, and fixed upon persons to constitute the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">65</span> -Junta; but while they were engaged in the ceremony -of nominating and appointing them, a report -arrived that the French were actually at -Grijo, within twelve miles of Porto. The question -then was, should they wait upon the defensive -on the heights of Villa-nova, or hasten -to attack them, in the hope of surprising them -by night, and finding them exhausted by a long -march? The bolder opinion prevailed; and a -volunteer party set off for Grijo, and hurried -there so fast, that they would have been in worse -condition, as well as worse order, than the enemy, -if any enemy had been there. But instead of -the French they found a few travellers on the -way from Coimbra, who assured them that there -was no rumour of the advance of any troops -along the road. Even a victory would hardly -have elevated their spirits more. This was about -daybreak; they hastened back to the city. The - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 19.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -soldiers in the Campo de S. Ovidio swore upon -their swords to defend the independence of -Portugal, their religion, and their King. A -public meeting was convoked, the bells of the -chamber rung, the soldiers led the way in military -order, with two field-pieces; the people followed -to the episcopal palace; the Bishop came forth -into the varanda, and gave the assembled multitude -his blessing; then he descended among -them, kissed their banner, and led the way to -the cathedral, there to implore the divine assistance -in their meritorious undertaking. This -done, they returned to the palace, and proceeded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">66</span> -to appoint what they called the Provisional Junta -of Supreme Government; the list which had -been prepared was shortened, as being inconveniently -numerous; eight members were appointed, -in equal numbers, from the clergy, the -magistracy, the military, and the citizens, and - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 169–176.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the Bishop was placed at their head with the -title of President Governor.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Measures of the Junta.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Bishop, D. Antonio de S. José e Castro, -immediately published a manifesto, in the name -of the Prince Regent, declaring that the French -Government was abolished and exterminated in -that country, and the royal authority restored -and to be exercised plenarily and independently -by the Provisional Junta of Porto, till the government -instituted by his Royal Highness should be -re-established. The Junta therefore gave orders, -that in all places the Prince should be proclaimed, -and the royal arms uncovered and respected as -heretofore they always had been, and now again -hereafter were to be; and they called upon all -constituted authorities to act accordingly. His -next business was to dispatch a messenger to -General Sepulveda at Braganza, requesting succours, -especially in cavalry, and an officer capable -of taking the command, whether for attack or -defence. The Visconde de Balsamam was sent -to the British brig, which was still hovering off -the bar, and a communication was thus opened -with England. Voluntary contributions were -liberally made, the pay of the soldiers was raised, -and as a measure not less popular, a <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Tribunal de<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">67</span> -Inconfidencia</i> was instituted, to take cognizance -of causes in which treason was suspected. The -prevalence of suspicion is indeed one of the -many dreadful evils in such calamitous times. -An example of this occurred before the close of - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Arrest of Cardoso.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the day. Colonel José Cardoso de Menezes -Soutomaior had been that day appointed to the -chief command, as being the senior officer. Happening -to send a messenger that evening with -letters upon public business to the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Juizes de -fora</i> at Oliveira de Azemeis and Recardaens, he -forgot to provide him with the passport which -was now necessary for crossing the bridge. The -messenger was therefore stopped by the guards, -and either from the confusion occasioned by fear, -or from a confidence of protection, refused to -declare whither he was going, or by whom he -was sent. Upon this the guards searched him, -and found the two letters. These would have -explained the matter and cleared him; but perceiving -that a third letter which he carried more -secretly about his person was in danger of being -found, he drew it out, tore it in pieces with his -teeth, and threw it over the bridge. A few -fragments were saved, but not enough to give -any indication of its contents. The messenger -was immediately arrested as a traitor, and carried -before José Cardoso, who thought at first to end -the business by desiring that the man might be -left with him, and saying that he would answer -for him. The people (for a crowd had collected -on the way) transferred at this their suspicions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">68</span> -upon Cardoso himself; and to satisfy them, he -found it necessary to open the two letters, and -thus acquaint the mob with arrangements which -it had not been intended that they should know. -But he could give no account of the paper which -had been torn; and therefore the mob, having -thrown his messenger into prison, returned to -arrest him and carry him before the Bishop. Protestations -of innocence were vain, and it was -evident that his life would be in danger on the -way; some of his friends, however, bethought -themselves of a happy stratagem; they rung the -alarm bells, and raised a cry that the enemy was -approaching. Evening was now closing; the -populace left their intended victim to go in quest -of the invaders, and passed the night in hurrying -here and there upon the false report. Cardoso -meantime got in safety to the Bishop’s -palace, and related all that had passed. As far -as he was concerned his justification was clear, -but of the third letter he could give no account. -The messenger, however, gave a plain and credible -one; he had not long since been at Lisbon, -where a Frenchman had given him this letter for -one of his countrymen in Porto; on his arrival -in that city he found that the person to whom -it was addressed had been carried away prisoner -by the Spaniards; and his intention was, when -he returned to Lisbon, to deliver it again to the -writer. He had torn it in a moment of fear, lest -he should be considered a partizan and agent of - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii, 186–192.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the French, if it were found upon him. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">69</span> -Bishop was satisfied; but he advised Cardoso -not to appear in public till this unlucky accident -should be forgotten.</p> - -<p>About noon, on the ensuing day, the alarm -bells were rung again, drums beat, trumpets -sounded, and preparations were again made for -an immediate engagement with the enemy. They -were at Os Carvalhos, it was said, eight miles -off. There was some foundation for this report. -The Juiz at Oliveira de Azemeis was in expectation -and fear of the French, and not having received -the bread from Porto which he had been -ordered to have in readiness for them, had sent -to this town and to the adjacent villages, to embargo -all that could be found. Troops and volunteers -now hurried forward with the utmost -alacrity, and in the utmost disorder. This was -a critical moment for Cardoso: if he went abroad, -to put himself at the head of the forces, as his -duty required, there was the risk of being again -accused and endangered as a traitor: if, on the -other hand, he forbore to appear, the very forbearance -would be interpreted as a proof of disaffection -to his country. After some hours of -indecision, he could not bear to remain inactive, -and incur the reproach to which it must needs -subject him at such a time, and forth he went. -He had not gone far before a poor fellow, whom -a party of <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Ordenanças</i> upon some suspicion had -seized, met him, and implored his protection. -Cardoso inquired into the case, and finding the -man innocent, gave orders to release him. His<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">70</span> -authority was disputed, and presently he himself -was reproached and seized as a traitor. Some -were for putting him to death upon the spot; -and though others insisted upon carrying him -before the Bishop, it appeared very doubtful -whether he would reach the palace alive. When -they met a priest upon the way, the mob called -upon him to confess this traitor, who was about -to die, and Cardoso himself cried out for absolution, -seeing nothing but death before his eyes. -The Bishop was convinced of his innocence, but -could neither persuade the populace, nor command -them; nor could he save Cardoso’s life by -any other expedient than that of allowing him -to be thrown into one of the worst dungeons of -a Portugueze prison. In that miserable confinement - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 192–196.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -he remained till the heat of these tumults -had abated; he was then released, and honourably -distinguished himself afterwards.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Disturbed state of the people.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Meantime Porto was in a frightful state of -insubordination. The people readily enrolled -themselves, but, as if intoxicated with joy, they -celebrated their deliverance instead of labouring -to secure it: and men who ought to have been -practising the drill, or erecting batteries and -throwing up trenches, were beating drums, ringing -the bells, and wasting powder in empty demonstrations -of bravery. The city was illuminated -during three successive nights, and they -seemed so little aware of the tremendous conflict -in which they were engaged, that they were -about to march to war as to a festival. From<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">71</span> -this delusion the Bishop roused them by an appeal -well adapted to those for whom it was intended. -“Portugueze,” he said, “in the name -of Heaven and of Jesus Christ, listen to a government -which loves you, which desires your -happiness, and is labouring for it! Their turbulence, -he told them, their insubordination, -their waste of powder, only exposed them to the -enemy, who would come upon them by surprise, -and surely destroy them, if they would not listen -to their rulers and obey orders. Strength without -order was like the bull, who, strong as he is, -is brought to the ground by a weak hand, with -the aid of dexterity and a cloak. Their endeavour -should be to be unseen and unheard, -that they might the more fatally be felt; ... to -conceal their movements, that they might strike -when the blow was not expected. The government -conjured them, by every thing which was -most sacred in heaven and earth, to subject -themselves to discipline, and obey their officers. -Where they were posted there they were adjured -to remain till the time for action arrived: they -who were first in the field would diminish the -number of the enemy when they engaged them; -the second body, when they arrived, would weaken -the French still farther; the third would complete -their destruction. But if all hurried on -tumultuously, all would be lost.” The populace -by this time had fired away so much powder, and -spent so much of their animal spirits in rioting, -and hurrying here and there upon so many false<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">72</span> -alarms, that they were disposed to listen to this -advice. Tranquillity was produced by exhaustion; -and to preserve it, order was given that -the alarm bells should not be rung till the cathedral - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 196–198.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -began, and that whenever that was necessary, -a flag should be hoisted on the tower by -day, and a torch by night, to distinguish it from -the fire-bell.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Junta conclude an alliance with the Junta of Galicia.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Subordination being now in some degree restored, -the Junta entered with alacrity upon -their arduous duties. They raised a loan, and -imposed new taxes, as the exigencies of the time -required; among others a duty of four <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">mil reis</i> -upon every pipe of wine which was exported. -Two deputies were sent to England; and an -alliance was concluded with the Supreme Junta -of Galicia, the nearest of the newly constituted -authorities in Spain; Galicia engaging first to -assist in liberating Portugal, and Portugal promising, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 199.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -after her own deliverance should be accomplished, -to co-operate in expelling the French -from every part of the Peninsula. Wild as this -promise appeared to the French, and to those -shallow statesmen by whom the French were -regarded as invincible, and the power of Buonaparte -not to be resisted, it was faithfully performed -by the Portugueze, and fulfilled to the -letter of the bond. The Junta of Porto had another -object to accomplish, more difficult, and -at that time not less important, than an alliance -with Spain. Other Juntas were now springing -up in the north of Portugal at the first hope of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">73</span> -deliverance, and unless these were induced to -acknowledge that at Porto as supreme, all plans -of defence would be frustrated by the jealousy of -contending authorities. One had been formed - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Its authority is acknowledged throughout the north of Portugal.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -at Viana on the same day; others at Torre de -Moncorvo, Miranda, and other places of less -note; all these submitted readily to the superiority -which was claimed. Braganza was not so willing -to resign its pretensions. The intrusive government -had not been re-established in that city, -notwithstanding the efforts of its adherents, and -the apparent assent of General Sepulveda. Their -penitent letters to the French ministry were -stopped at Villa Real, where the people proclaimed -their lawful Prince; and when the Braganzans, -upon tidings of the second insurrection -at Porto, formed a Junta, and required obedience -to its edicts, its authority was disowned there. -Sepulveda was so offended at this, that he sent -Brigadier Manoel Pinto Bacellar to arrest Francisco -da Silveira Pinto da Fonseca, then a lieutenant-colonel -of cavalry, who had taken the lead -at Villa Real. Bacellar acted with more prudence -than the general who sent him, and endeavoured -by amicable means to bring about a good understanding; -and Silveira, disregarding the orders -of one who had so far been found wanting, that -he had at least professed submission to the French -after having once thrown off their yoke, crossed -the Douro, to spread the revolution in the province -of Beira. Sepulveda found as little obedience -in Torre de Moncorvo and some other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</span> -Juntas in that district, when he issued a circular -order requiring that every town which was entitled -to a voice in the Cortes should send a -deputy to assist at the provincial Junta of Tras -os Montes, the title which that of Braganza had -assumed. Opposed in their pretensions on that -side, after contesting the authority of the Porto -Junta, concluding a treaty with it, and then -again disputing with it, and arraigning its measures, -the Junta of Braganza ended at length in - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 151–162. 180–185.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -obeying the advice of the Bishop of Porto, which -was repeated in strong terms by Sepulveda, and -dissolving itself.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The insurrection extends towards Coimbra.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The whole of Tras os Montes and of the province -between the rivers had now declared -against the intrusive government, and acknowledged -the Junta of Porto. The same spirit was -spreading in Beira. Aveiro declared itself, and -a plan was formed for surprising the French in -Coimbra, an undertaking of more importance -than danger. The details are curious, as showing -the disposition of the people, the insignificance -of their means, and the disorderly manner -of their proceedings. A patrole of armed peasants -had been sent out from Porto upon the -Coimbra road, to obtain intelligence of the enemy, -concerning whom nothing certain was known. -Dr. José Bernardo de Azevedo, of the order of -Avis, hearing upon what service these persons -had been sent, represented to the Junta how -little likely it was that such a set of men should -act with discretion; upon the first news of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</span> -enemy they would hurry back without ascertaining -their numbers, position, and probable movements; -or if they ventured to approach them, -would most probably fall into their hands. He - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 22.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -offered to obtain the desired information himself, -knowing the country well, and accordingly laying -aside his habit, set off with one servant on -horseback. When he arrived at Oliveira de -Azemeis, he met the greater part of the patrole -on their return in triumph; they had failed to -arrest the Juiz as they intended, but they had -caught a lawyer, and were dragging him to Porto -as a suspected person. They had however sent -four of their party forward on the Coimbra road, -in pursuance of their original object, and José -Bernardo proceeding on his journey, overtook -them at Mealhada, a village about twelve miles -from Coimbra. Exulting that they had advanced -so far without meeting the French, and encouraged -by what they heard from the people of -Mealhada, that the enemy had only a handful of -men in Coimbra, and most of them invalided, -they resolved to fall upon them, by surprise if -possible, that very day. A reformed colonel of -militia at Ois undertook to bring thirty armed - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 200–205.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -men; the people of Mealhada volunteered their -services, and the two parties were to meet at -Carquejo, half way on their march.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Scheme for surprising the enemy in Coimbra.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>When the men of Mealhada began to prepare -for their expedition, there were some whose -hearts failed them, and the contagion spread. -José Bernardo, however, by reproaching and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</span> -threatening some, encouraging and praising -others, with the seasonable administration of -fruit and wine, and the zealous help of a serjeant -of the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Ordenança</i>, mustered some thirty -peasants, with about twenty muskets, the rest -were armed with pikes and sickles and other -such instruments; and when they set off many -of the others followed, ashamed to be left behind. -The party from Ois not having arrived -when they reached Carquejo, José Bernardo -ordered his people to halt for them there, and -suffer no person to pass toward Coimbra, while -he and two others went on to reconnoitre and -form the plan of attack. He found no difficulty -in entering the city and obtaining all the information -he desired. The French soldiers in -Coimbra did not amount to an hundred men, -and of these not more than forty were capable -of service. There was a rumour that 1200 -Spaniards were on the way against them. This -the inhabitants were more likely to believe -than the French, who, relying upon their Emperor’s -fortune, the terror of the French name, -and the submission of the Portugueze, were -living to all appearance in full confidence of -security. Satisfied with this intelligence, and -without venturing to concert any co-operation -in the city, José Bernardo returned as far as the -Bridge of Agua de Maias, and sent to hasten -the march of his motley volunteers.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French in that city are made prisoners.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>When they were not far from this bridge, they -were seen by a patrole of four horsemen, two<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">77</span> -French and two Portugueze, who clapped spurs -to their horses, in order to cross the bridge before -them and give the alarm. The insurgents, -however, equally on the alert, got between them -and the bridge, and addressed them with the -<i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">quem vive</i>? Napoleon, was the answer, and two -pistols were fired upon them without effect. A -general discharge was returned, which killed two -of the patrole and mortally wounded another. -The fourth, who escaped unhurt, was a Portugueze; -he threw himself off his horse, cried out, -<i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Viva o Principe de Portugal!</i> and joined his -countrymen. The wounded man was a Frenchman: -the insurgents, with a humanity not to -have been expected at such a moment, left one -of their number to assist him, and he was afterwards -removed into the city, and there humanely -and carefully attended; but to his latest breath -he reviled the Portugueze, and the last hope -which he expressed was, that ample vengeance -would be taken for his blood. The French guard -at the gate of S. Sophia hearing the guns, and -seeing a number of men approach, fired among -them, and fled to their quarters in the College -of S. Thomas. The Portugueze followed close: -they were fired upon from the windows without -effect, for the French were too sensible of their -own weakness to make any regular defence; the -doors were forced, and they quietly laid down -their arms, and suffered themselves to be bound, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 207–212.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -happy to receive no worse treatment from such -an assemblage, ... for by this time the whole rabble -of Coimbra had collected.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">78</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Juiz do Povo takes the command.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Having thus easily succeeded, the first thought -of José Bernardo and his comrades was to obtain -the sanction and assistance of some legal authority -for their future proceedings. The courage, -and perhaps the disposition, of the magistrates -was doubted; but the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Juiz do Povo</i> was an officer -whom tumultuous times had heretofore forced -into importance, and the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Juiz do Povo</i> was now -called for. José Pedro de Jesus, a cooper by -trade, who held the office, happened to possess -a rare union of upright character, activity, and -good sense. He came forward, assumed a power -which was willingly recognized, and exercised it -in a manner which at once gratified the populace -and satisfied the wishes of cooler minds. First -he lodged the French safely in prison, then distributed -among the people the arms of those -cavalry regiments belonging to the northern -provinces, which Junot had disbanded. In the -depôt with these weapons a flag was found with -the royal arms. It was carried in triumph through -the streets, while the exulting people hastened to -uncover the shield of Portugal upon the public -buildings. The bells from all the colleges and -convents and churches of that populous city -pealed in with the acclamations of the people, -and heightened the excitement and agitation of -their spirits. Bonfires were kindled, as in old -times, in defiance of Junot’s prohibition: the -night of St. John’s had always been a festival in -Coimbra, but never before had it been celebrated -with such uproar and overflowing joy. Some -barks on the river, laden with provisions for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</span> -the French in Figueira, were seized during the -night; and in the morning it was deemed prudent -to march off the prisoners to Porto, under -a strong escort, lest the magistracy, in their fear, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 214–217.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -should release them, and again reduce the city -to submission.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Order restored in Coimbra.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>This apprehension, however, was ill founded. -The <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Juiz de fora</i> came forward to act in the -national cause; the students and lecturers formed -themselves into an academical corps; and the -Vice-Rector of the university, Manoel Paes de -Aragam Trigoso, took upon himself the civil -authority, in compliance with the wish of the inhabitants. -They would have vested the military -command in General Bernardim Freire de Andrade, -whom the Prince, before his departure -for Brazil, had appointed to the command at -Porto. Not choosing to exercise it under the -intrusive government, he was living privately -at Coimbra; but being now summoned by the -Bishop and Junta of Porto to his proper station, -he declined for that reason the present nomination. -The people next thought of D. Miguel -Pereira Forjas, but he chose rather to follow -Bernardim as his quarter-master general. They -then chose Bernardim’s brother, Nuno Freire de -Andrade, making him, however, subordinate to -Trigoso. The men who thus accepted offices of -authority discharged a most perilous duty to their -country. They were not, like their countrymen in -Tras os Montes and between the rivers, secured -in some degree by distance from the French, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">80</span> -within reach of assistance from Spain, or, if need -were, of an asylum in that kingdom. Nor would -Coimbra be like some of the smaller towns, overlooked -as unworthy of vengeance. Next to the -capital itself there was no place in Portugal where -a terrible example would so deeply impress and -intimidate the nation: it was within easy reach -of the enemy, from Almeida as well as from -Lisbon, and all military means of defence were - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 219–223.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -wanting: a few pounds of powder were all that -could be found in the city, and not one piece of -cannon.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Preparations for defence.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the other hand, more talents and enterprise, -such as the times required, might reasonably -be expected in Coimbra than in any other -of the Portugueze towns. It was a populous -and flourishing university, the only one in the -kingdom: here therefore the flower of the Portugueze -youth would be found, just at that age -when they would be most willing and fit for -service; and of that rank, and in that place, -where national and generous feelings would -have their strongest influence. If any where -heads to plan and hands to execute might be -found, it would be here. Accordingly no exertions -were wanting. Chemists made gunpowder, -geometricians directed works of defence, old soldiers -were employed, some in making cartridges, -others in training volunteers; mechanics were - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 223–225.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -set to work in whatever manner they might be -most useful; bridges were broken down, roads -broken up, means made ready for defending the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">81</span> -streets, if the enemy should enter the city, and -a strict police established.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Successful expedition against Figueira.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>When one day had been passed in these arrangements -and preparations an expedition was -planned against Figueira da Foz, a small town -and fort at the mouth of the Mondego, on the -right bank, seven leagues from Coimbra. The -French had a garrison of an hundred men there. -Forty volunteers, who were almost all students, -under the command of Bernardo Antonio Zagalo, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 25.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -a student also, set out at evening, in hope -of capturing this important point: they relied -upon increasing their numbers on the way, and -they took with them authority from the governor -to raise the country as they went. Zagalo, with -four horsemen, took the right bank, the rest of -the party the left: they met at Montemor o -Velho, and marching all night, appeared with -the reinforcements which they had gathered, -now some 3000 in number, before Figueira, at -seven in the morning. The enemy were taken -by surprise; they were dispersed about the -town, when they saw this multitude approach; -but immediately retiring into the fort, they prepared -for defence. The place might have been -easily defended against a crowd of peasants, more -of whom were armed with pikes and reaping-hooks -than with fowling-pieces, and who were -likely, upon the slightest loss or disgust, to -abandon their enterprise as precipitately as they -had engaged in it. But the French, relying too -confidently upon the submission of the Portugueze,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">82</span> -had neglected to store the fort with provisions; -and Zagalo summoned them, saying he -knew they had not food for more than four-and-twenty -hours, and that if they did not surrender -they should all be put to the sword. Contrary -to his usual policy, Junot had given the command -of this fort to a Portugueze lieutenant of -engineers; this person demurred at surrendering, -because his family were at Peniche, in the power -of the French. But, wanting either the will or -the ability to exert himself in the enemy’s service, -he remained inactive and confounded, till -the following day, when Zagalo received positive -orders from Coimbra to return immediately with -all his people. This enabled the commander to -obtain terms which might be pleaded to save his -credit; and he capitulated on condition that the -garrison should be allowed to cross the river with -their arms and knapsacks, but without powder -and ball; and to march unmolested to Peniche, -the nearest strong place in possession of the -French. Upon these terms the fort was given -up; but the peasantry searched the men when -they were embarking, and finding that some of -them had concealed a few cartridges, declared -that the conditions were broken: they themselves -were desirous of breaking them, and -therefore gladly found this pretext; and the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 226–233.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -French would have been massacred if the students -had not exerted themselves to protect -them, and lodged them safely as prisoners at -Coimbra.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">83</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Loison ordered to march from Almeida to Porto.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>A report of Loison’s sudden approach had -occasioned the order for recalling Zagalo. General -Count Loison had been sent in the latter -end of May, with 4000 troops, to Almeida, in -pursuance of positive and repeated instructions -from Murat when exercising the command in -Madrid. He was to concert his movements with -Bessieres, and, if necessary, to join him; he was to -observe Salamanca, and secure Ciudad Rodrigo, -if that were practicable. But the Spaniards were -too much awakened to be again deceived or surprised -by the French; and Loison having remained -at Almeida from the 5th of June till the -16th, received orders from Junot to march upon -Porto, take the command in that city, and keep -the northern provinces in subjection. He had -previously got possession of Fort Conceiçam. -Each party seems at this time to have been -strangely ignorant of the movements and means -of the other: Loison apprehended that an enemy’s -force might render it impossible for the French -to maintain this fort; he therefore directed General -Charlot, whom he left with the command -at Almeida, to remove thither the guns from -Conceiçam, keep it as long as he could, and destroy -the works if he should be forced to evacuate - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 17.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -it. He then began his march with two regiments -of light infantry, fifty dragoons, and six pieces of - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 148–150.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -artillery. A battalion of light infantry was to set -out from Torres Vedras, and reach Porto at the -same time.</p> - -<p>On the fourth day he reached Lamego without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">84</span> -the slightest resistance, and on the following -morning crossed the Douro by the ferry at Regoa, -and reached Mezam-frio, meaning to sleep there. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>He turns back from Mezam-frio.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -His advanced guard was on the way to Amarante, -which is only forty miles from Porto, when news -was brought him while he was at dinner that -the mountaineers were defending the pass at Os -Padroens da Teixeira; and presently a second -ill messenger arrived with intelligence that his -baggage was attacked at Regoa. These operations -had been ably planned by Silveira, and -were well executed. In so strong a country he -deemed it better to turn back than to proceed -at the risk of being surrounded by an armed -population. An ambuscade among the vineyards -at Santinho annoyed him greatly on his -way toward the Douro, and he himself was -slightly hurt. The Portugueze, when they were -dislodged, retreated to the heights; the French -took up a position for the night, and in the -morning sacked the villages of Pezo and Regoa, -where neither age, nor infirmity, nor sex, nor -childhood, were spared by them; for Loison was -one of those men after Buonaparte’s own heart, -who, being equally devoid of honour and humanity, -carried on war in the worst spirit of the -worst ages, plundering and massacring without -shame and without remorse. He now understood -that Porto, which he had expected to find -discontented indeed, but passive and in subjection, -had thrown off the yoke; that a Portugueze -officer, with whom he maintained a secret correspondence,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">85</span> -had been fain to abscond from that -city; that the disbanded soldiers had reassembled; -and that the insurgent peasantry, in such -numbers as to be truly formidable, were moving - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The peasantry harass his retreat.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -against him from all parts of the two northern -provinces. The news of his retreat was presently -known throughout the whole country between -the Tua and the Cavado; expresses and telegraphs -could not have communicated it more -rapidly than it was spread by the voluntary -bearers of good tidings. One column came from -Villa Real, one from Amarante, a third from -Guimaraens; a motlier assemblage had never -taken the field; ... the commonest weapons were -pikes and long poles armed with reaping-hooks -at the end; and there were as many abbots, -monks, friars, and parochial clergy in command, -as officers. The three columns united at Regoa, -too late to impede or molest the French in their -passage of the river. The enemy halted for part -of the night at Lamego, and resumed their retreat -at two in the morning. The Portugueze -came up with them that day at Juvantes, and -harassed them during three days. The total -want of discipline, order, and authority, rendered -their great superiority of numbers unavailing; -and after they had reached Castro d’Airo, dispersing -as irregularly as they had collected, they -gave up the pursuit, less in consequence of the -loss which they sustained in a few brisk encounters, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 235–248. Thiebault, 150–1.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -than because they were too numerous -to find sustenance, and every man was eager to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">86</span> -report the retreat of the enemy and the share he -had borne in the success. F. José Joaquim de -Assumpçam, a friar of orders gray, distinguished -himself in this expedition, by his activity, his -strength, and his unerring aim.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He goes to Viseu.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The loss on either side, in this pursuit, appears -not to have been great; the pursuers were too -disorderly and too ill armed to make any serious -impression upon the enemy, and the French -were not strong enough to act upon the offensive -with effect. They lost two pieces of artillery, -and some of their ammunition and baggage; and -a few rich uniforms which fell into the hands of -the Portugueze were suspended as trophies in -the churches of N. Senhora da Oliveira at Guimaraens, -and of S. Gonçalo de Amarante, in the -town which was under his peculiar patronage. -Being freed from his pursuers, Loison, sending -part of his force by the road of Moimenta da -Beira, which was the shorter but rougher line to -Almeida, took himself the way of Viseu. This - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Alarm at Coimbra in consequence of his movements.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -was the movement which alarmed the people at -Coimbra, and induced them to recall Zagalo from -Figueira. It was not improbable that his intention -was to march upon that important city, -and there place himself in communication with -Lisbon: his own judgement would dispose him - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 152.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to this, and indeed no fewer than five-and-twenty -dispatches, instructing him so to do, had been -sent, not one of which had reached him. But -he had received an exaggerated report of the -proceedings in Coimbra, brought by some partizans<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">87</span> -of the French, who had fled to save their -lives, on the night of the insurrection, when -their houses were broken open, during the suspension -of all order and authority. Their testimony -concerning the temper and unanimity of -the inhabitants could not be doubted; it was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 217.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -added, that they were busy in constructing formidable -works of defence, and that an auxiliary -force of 12,000 Spaniards was expected there. -Such strange events were now every day occurring, -that nothing seemed too extraordinary -to be believed; and Loison, it is thought, in -consequence of these rumours, judged it best - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>He returns to Almeida.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to change his purpose, and return to Almeida. -The Portugueze general who commanded in -Beira resided at Viseu; upon the approach of -the French he summoned the magistrates and -members of the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Camara</i>, and they determined -not to oppose a premature and unavailing resistance. -Loison, though notorious for rapacity, in -the most rapacious army that ever disgraced its -profession and its country, was at this time sensible -how desirable it was, if possible, to obtain -a character for moderation and equity. He encamped -his troops for the night without the city, -in the open space where the fairs were held, -took up his own lodging in the general’s house, -and on his departure the next day, paid for every -thing with which the men had been supplied. -He also released three or four prisoners, who, in -the late skirmishes, had fallen into his hands. -At Celorico, where an insurrectionary movement<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">88</span> -had commenced, it was suspended by the prudence -of the magistrates and the just fears of -the people, till the enemy had passed by. The -peasantry of the adjacent country were less cautious; -they appeared in arms upon the heights, -and Loison therefore sent two companies to burn -the village of Souropires. Being now within -easy reach of Almeida, and knowing that the -country about Trancoso and Guarda was in a -state of insurrection, his intention was to employ - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 152.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -himself in reducing it to submission; but here -the only one of the numerous dispatches from -Lisbon which reached its destination found him, -and, in pursuance of its orders to draw nearer -the capital, he hastened to Almeida, to make the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 249–253.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -necessary arrangements for his march. On the -way he began to sack the city of Pinhel, which -the inhabitants had deserted at his coming; but -upon the tidings that a corps from Tras os Montes -had arrived at Trancoso, and that Viseu was now -in arms, he hastened forward, and on the 1st of -July re-entered Almeida.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Insurrection at Olham.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>When Loison, upon the first apprehension of -danger, was sent to occupy Porto, General Avril -was instructed, at the same time, to take possession -of Estremoz and Evora, for the purpose -of holding Alem-Tejo in subjection, and to give -orders for securing Algarve. General Maurin -commanded for the French in this kingdom, as -it is designated, the smallest but richest province -in Portugal: owing to his illness the command -had devolved upon Col. Maransin, who received<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">89</span> -instructions to occupy Mertola as well as Alcoutim, -for guarding the Guadiana against the -Spaniards; and to protect the coast from Faro, -the greatest port in that province, to Villa Real, -the frontier town, at the mouth of the river. -Maransin, however, was not left at leisure to -do this. Junot’s proclamation, announcing the -seizure of the Spanish troops, expressing his satisfaction -with the Portugueze for their peaceable -deportment, and promising to instruct them in -the art of war, had been fixed upon the church -door at Olham, a small fishing village about four -miles from the city of Faro. The governor of -Villa Real, Col. José Lopes de Sousa, happening -to be in that village on the day of the Corpo de -Deos, as he was going into the church stopped -to see what the people were reading. The language -of that proclamation proved how little -Junot understood the character of the nation to -which it was addressed; it wounded that high -sense of national honour for which the Portugueze -are remarkable, and Lopes, giving way to an -honourable feeling of indignation, tore the paper -down, and trampled upon it; then turning to -the bystanders, exclaimed, “Ah, Portugueze, -we no longer deserve that name ... we are nothing -now!” But they answered, that they were still -Portugueze, and swore that they were ready to -lay down their lives for their religion, their -Prince, and their country. Though the impulse -had thus been given, and the determination of -the parties formed, they did not neglect the religious<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">90</span> -duties of the day, but entered the church -peaceably, and attended mass. That done, they -proclaimed the Queen and Prince Regent in the -porch, and called upon Lopes to be their general. -He without delay prepared an address to the -people, and sent for two pieces of artillery and -some powder from an island at the bar of Armona, -and from Fort Lorenzo on the bar of Faro. -These were secured before the French in Faro -could hear of the projected insurrection. Two -agents also went off to the English squadron; -the means which were at the commandant’s disposal -had probably been all disposed of to the Spaniards; -they proceeded therefore to Ayamonte, -and performed their errand with such good speed, -that on the following night they returned to - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 270–275.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Olham with 130 muskets from the Junta of that -city.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Success of the insurgents.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The greater part of Maransin’s force was stationed -at Mertola, the rest was at Tavira and -Villa Real, except 200 men at Faro. But before -the news reached Faro a larger body of fishermen -and peasantry had collected than 200 men -could with any prudence have attacked. The -French therefore sent for reinforcements from -Villa Real and Tavira. From the latter place -fourscore men embarked for Faro in three caics. -The fishermen of Olham, confident in their skill -upon the water, set out to intercept them under -Captain Sebastiam Martins Mestre, one of those -persons who had opened a communication with -the English fleet and with Ayamonte. So little<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">91</span> -were the French prepared for such an encounter, -that they surrendered without resistance, and -thus the insurgents obtained a seasonable supply -of arms. They were not long allowed to enjoy -their victory; about 200 French arrived from -Villa Real to assist their countrymen at Faro, -and they marched against Olham. The Portugueze -met them half way, and disposed an ambuscade -to receive them: their own eagerness -prevented its success; but they behaved so well -in a skirmish which ensued, that the enemy -thought it not prudent to advance. This was -the third day of the insurrection, and the people -of Faro had as yet made no manifestation in its - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Chamber of Faro issue an edict against them.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -favour. The chamber of that city had, on the -contrary, issued an edict against the insurgents, -for what it denominated a riotous and scandalous -attempt against the security of the nation, saying -that their conduct would brand the Portugueze -with the infamous stain of ingratitude, and warning -them against the severe punishment which -awaited them if they persisted in their frantic -and desperate attempt. This edict was posted -up in Olham; and it so evidently affected the -people, in whom great excitement and fatigue -had now produced proportionate exhaustion, that - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 275–281. -<br /> -Observador Portuguez, 332, 333.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Lopes and Mestre, who had been hurt in the -skirmish, thought it prudent to carry their prisoners -to Spain, and go themselves to solicit aid -from the Juntas at Ayamonte and at Seville.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Insurrection at Faro.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Maransin, not aware of their departure, and -anxious to lose no time in suppressing a spirit<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">92</span> -the consequences of which he had so much reason -to dread, sent out three pieces of cannon to -his detachment, and for want of French troops, -a party of fifty Portugueze artillerymen, under -Lieutenant Belchior Drago, an officer much more -inclined to act against the enemies of his country -than with them. Meantime the commander of -the French, having learnt that the people of -Olham were wavering, succeeded in obtaining a -conference with some of them, and proposed -terms. He promised them a free pardon, if they -would return to their obedience; said that they -should be protected in their fishery, and that -even Lopes himself should be no otherwise -punished than by forbidding him to appear in -that place. The persons to whom these conditions -were propounded listened to them willingly, -and expressed an opinion that the people -would probably assent, if the Portugueze authorities -in Faro gave their sanction to the proposals. -Some of the magistrates accordingly -went to conclude this agreement with the Prior -of Olham, a zealous Portugueze, to whom, in the -absence of Lopes and Mestre, the insurgents -looked as their proper counsellor and ruler. But -at this moment, when the French by mere authority -had nearly quelled the insurrection, the -spell was broken, and they were made sensible -that they had relied too confidently upon the -terror of their name. A few Faro-men met in -the shop of one Bento Alvares da Silva Canedo, -and determined, while the French troops were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">93</span> -absent, to raise the city against them. They -hired a fellow for a few moidores to give the -signal, by chiming the bells of the Carmo church -at a certain hour, in the manner usual in that -country when prayers are solicited for a woman -in labour. They who had concerted the scheme -sallied into the streets, and proclaimed their native -Prince; the populace gathered together at -that welcome acclamation; a colonel of artillery -joined them, and sent advice to Belchior Drago, -who immediately returned to the city with his -detachment; two of his brothers, both in the -Portugueze service, appeared in the same cause, -and the rest of the native troops without hesitation - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French excluded from that city.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -did the same. The French, when they would -have re-entered the city to restore order, found -cannon planted against them by men who knew -how to use them; and, being repulsed in two -attempts, retreated towards Tavira. Their magazines, -their military chest, and all their papers, -were taken<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">14</a>, General Maurin, sick in bed, was -necessarily left to his fate; and the populace -would have killed him in their first use and abuse -of power, if some humaner spirits had not interfered -to preserve him. The Bishop also exerted - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 333–335.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -himself to prevent this inhumanity, and had him - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 282–289.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -transferred to the episcopal palace for security.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">94</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>A Junta formed at Faro.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the following morning an assembly of the -people was held in the Alto da Esperança. The -magistrates, the Bishop and his chapter, the clergy, -the monks and friars, (who had all taken arms), -the troops and the nobles, met and solemnly proclaimed -their lawful Prince; the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Quinas</i> were -hoisted, and an oath was taken that they would -each to the last drop of his blood defend the rights -of the house of Braganza. Circular letters were -dispatched to all the towns and villages in Algarve. -The next day some instances of insubordination, -and the reasonable apprehension of an attack, -induced one of the canons to propose, and the -people to consent, to the appointment of a Junta. -The Chamber nominated seven electors for the -nobles, and as many for the people, the chapter -seven for the clergy, and the army seven for themselves. -By these electors eight members were -chosen, two for each of the four orders, and the -Conde de Castro-Marim was appointed president. -This nobleman had been governor and captain-general -of Algarve at the time of the invasion; -under the intrusive government he resided as a -private individual at Tavira, and the popular desire -of re-establishing the order of things to which -they had been accustomed, was shown in nominating -him to the presidency, as it was indeed in -all the circumstances of the insurrection throughout - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The insurrection spreads through Algarve.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Portugal. Emissaries were now sent to the -east and west: in the west there were no enemies, -and within eight-and-forty hours the acclamation -was effected in Loule, Sylves, Lagos, at the fort<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">95</span> -of Sagres, and in the little towns to the north of -Cape St. Vincent. From the east there was -reason to apprehend an attack; the enemy, who -had been compelled to retire from Faro, had retreated -to Tavira, and had been joined there by -a detachment from Mertola. But the English -squadron was in sight; and the French commander, -knowing how inadequate his whole -force was to the dangers which menaced it, -knew also that Algarve might, with little inconvenience, -be left to itself, and that his business -was to place himself in communication with the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French retreat to Mertola.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -troops in Alem-Tejo. He therefore withdrew to -Mertola, and the people of Tavira, rising as soon -as the enemy retired, harassed them on the way. -Juntas, subordinate to that of Faro, were now -formed in Tavira, and in other smaller places; a -red riband upon the right arm was assumed as -the badge of patriotism, and they who ventured -to appear without it were in no small danger -from the people; but though many persons were -insulted and menaced, and some imprisoned as -partizans of the French, the better orders exerted -their influence with such effect, that no blood -was shed. Preparations were made for defending -the passes of the mountains which divide Algarve -from Alem-Tejo; and accredited agents -were sent to Ayamonte, Seville, and Gibraltar. -Arms were without delay supplied from all these -places, and from Gibraltar a considerable quantity -of ammunition. A circumstance, however, occurred, -which seemed likely at first to occasion<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">96</span> -a misunderstanding with the Spaniards; for the -Portugueze, upon the retreat of the French, -having thrown up some works at Castro-Marim, -the Spaniards crossed the river and destroyed -them. This measure, so rash, and in appearance -so hostile, was occasioned by an apprehension -that the French might return there, which they -had made a demonstration of doing before they - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The people of Algarve form a treaty with Seville.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -abandoned Tavira. It was soon explained, when -each people had so strong an interest in being -upon the best terms with each other, and a formal - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 290–303.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -treaty was concluded with the Junta of Seville.</p> - -<p>Before the insurrection in Algarve had succeeded, -and even before it was known beyond -the mountains, the same national feeling had - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Insurrection at Villa-Viçosa.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -manifested itself in Alem-Tejo at Villa-Viçosa, -the place of all others where the national and -loyal feelings of a Portugueze would be most -elevated by local associations, having been the -residence of the Braganzan family during the -Spanish usurpation. Early in the month the inhabitants -had been exasperated by the passage of -a French escort through the town, with the contributions -that had been levied in that <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Comarca</i> -and the plate of the churches. They were farther -irritated by an order for the militia to repair to -Elvas at a time when Kellermann hoped to employ -them against the Spaniards at Badajoz. But -Elvas, where the main body of the French in -Alem-Tejo were stationed, was only four leagues -distant; there was a strong detachment still -nearer, at Estremoz, and a French company<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">97</span> -was quartered among them, in the castle: they -knew not that any movement for the recovery -of their country’s independence had been made; -nor, owing to their peculiar situation, were there -any people in Portugal by whom it could be made -with so little hope or possibility of success. Thus -they had borne oppression, and might have continued -to bear it, if their oppressors, in the -wantonness of power, had not added insult to -wrong. There was an image of N. Senhora dos -Remedios, which, after having by a supernatural -declaration of its own pleasure, changed its name, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Santuario Mariano, t. vii. 571, 579.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -made sundry voyages to and from India, and -travelled from one place to another in Portugal -during more than fourscore years, had at length -obtained a settlement at Villa-Viçosa, in a chapel -of its own, where, being in high odour for its -miraculous powers, it was visited with peculiar -devotion on its own holyday, the 19th of June, -by the people of that town, and the adjacent -country. The history of this idol might excite -a mournful smile for human weakness, not without -indignation at the systematic frauds which -have been practised upon a religious people. -The French were too irreligious to see any -thing in it but matter of mockery; and some of -the soldiers, placing themselves in a gateway -near the chapel, amused themselves with deriding -the Portugueze, who were going there to -worship, in ignorance indeed, and in delusion, -but in simplicity and sincerity of heart. Some -of the peasants resented this insult by manual<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">98</span> -force; more Frenchmen came to help their -comrades, more Portugueze to support their -countrymen; the scuffle became serious, for life -or death, ... the bell of the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Camara</i> was rung, the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 305–309.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -French retired into the Castle, and succeeded -in closing the gate, which had been so well secured -with iron in old times, that the people -were neither able to break it open, nor to hew -it in pieces. This was towards evening, and the -riot continued all night.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French enter the town.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The town was now in open insurrection. Messengers -set off to solicit succour from Badajoz, -and General Francisco de Paula Leite, who had -lately governed the province, was called upon to -take the command, which he absolutely refused, -knowing that this tumult must inevitably end -in the destruction of those who engaged in it. -Antonio Lobo Infante de Lacerda, an old officer, -and then Sargento-Mor of the militia, regarding -consequences less, set his life fairly upon the die; -he took the lead, and stationed marksmen upon -the top of the Conceiçam church, and in other -points which commanded the Castle. Owing -to these dispositions several of the French fell. -Meantime the news reached Estremoz, where -Kellermann and Avril both happened to be: -fifty dragoons, with half a battalion of infantry, -and two pieces of cannon, were immediately dispatched -to rescue their fellows. A poor countryman, -by name Ignacio da Silva, was in Estremoz -at the time; seeing their movements, he easily -divined their intention; good will gave him good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">99</span> -speed, and running the ten miles, he brought -intelligence of their march to Villa-Viçosa in -time for Antonio Lobo to make preparations -for receiving them. He stationed some forty -men, all for whom fire-arms could be found, -upon the walls, and towers, and houses, at the -entrance from the Borba road; the enemy, informed -of, or divining this design, took another -entrance. The way was soon cleared by their -field-pieces. General Avril and Colonel Lacroix -entered the town in pursuit of the routed multitude, -the bayonet was used, with little mercy -or discrimination, 200 persons were killed in the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 335.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -streets, many more in the country, twelve prisoners - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 309–315.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -were put to death as ringleaders in what -the French called rebellion, and the place was -given up to pillage for one hour.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Lobo gets possession of Jurumenha.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The messengers from this unfortunate town -had been joyfully received at Badajoz; and -Moretti, the officer who had performed the perilous -service of conferring with General Carraffa -in Lisbon, was dispatched with a corps of -Portugueze refugees which had been formed -under protection of the Spanish fortress. They -had arrived at Olivença on their way, when -Antonio Lobo arrived there also, escaping with -about a score companions from the carnage. -Instead of returning with ill news, as a man of -ordinary spirit would have done, Moretti inquired -whether some useful enterprise might -not be attempted; and they determined upon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">100</span> -getting possession of Jurumenha, knowing how -important it was that the Portugueze loyalists -should possess a place within their own border, -which had the name of being fortified, when the -French were in no condition to attack it. It -was occupied by a Portugueze garrison, but the -governor partook so little in the honourable feelings -of his nation, that he had that day seized -some fugitives from Villa-Viçosa, and sent them -prisoners to Elvas, requesting at the same time -a French garrison for his security and that of the -place. He understood the temper of his own -people; but Moretti and Lobo knew it also, and -calculated upon it. Sixteen Portugueze, concealing -their arms, entered as if upon ordinary -business; eight proceeded to seize the governor, -the others took their station in the gates, and -admitted their party just in time to point the -artillery of the place against the French, who -had been ordered from Elvas to occupy it without -delay. Moretti now obtained farther assistance -from Badajoz, and discretionary powers: on -the other hand, Kellermann sent a second party -to recover Jurumenha; but supposing the force -which defended it to be much stronger than in -reality it was, they returned without venturing -to attack it. This greatly encouraged the Portugueze, -and more than counterbalanced the effect -of their slaughter at Villa-Viçosa. Emissaries and -proclamations were sent from hence throughout - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 316–320.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the province; and the people, exaggerating the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">101</span> -importance of the place, looked to it with confidence -as a strong point of support in their own -country.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>A French detachment sent from Mertola to Beja.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The news from Algarve, spreading at the same -time, elevated their spirits; and the state of the -country soon became such, that the French couriers -were every where intercepted. Colonel -Maransin, with his troops, had now effected his -retreat to Mertola, from whence, for the purpose -of restoring a communication with Estremoz and -with Lisbon, he sent a detachment of 100 foot -and thirty dragoons to Beja. That city was originally -a settlement of the Kelts, possessed next -by the Carthaginians, afterwards the Pax Julia -of the Romans, a Moorish corruption of which -name has been euphonized to its present form. -It was taken from the Moors by the first king of -Portugal, restored from its ruins and fortified in -the thirteenth century by Affonso III. and beautified -by his son, King Diniz, with his characteristic -magnificence, of which the walls with -their forty towers, and the fine castle, bore testimony -in their ruins. Here, as in all the other -cities of Alem-Tejo, there was a melancholy air -of decay, less owing to the long and destructive -struggle with Spain, in which that province had -been the great scene of action, than to the peculiar -circumstances which depressed its agriculture, -and that inhuman persecution of the -New-Christians, by which the largest part of the -commercial capital in Portugal had either been -annihilated by confiscations, or driven out of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">102</span> -kingdom. Still, however, it contained some ten -or twelve thousand inhabitants, and was a place -of considerable importance in that thinly peopled -province. It stood on the highest part of an -elevated and extensive plain, conspicuous from -a distance, and commanding a wide prospect on -all sides, the heights of Palmella and even of -Cintra being distinctly visible. The immediate -country, where it is cultivated, is fertile, and -the situation in high repute for its salubrity. -Eventful as the history of Beja had been, it was -now to undergo as severe a calamity as any with -which it had been visited in the unhappiest ages -of Spain.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 23.</span> -<br /><hr /> -The people rise against them.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French detachment entered the city without -opposition, passed the night there, and on the -next day ordered quarters and provisions to be -made ready for the whole body of troops in Mertola, -who, they said, were about to follow them. -Their demand was received in such a manner -by the people of Beja, who were now acquainted -not only with the state of Spain, but with the -nearer events in Algarve and at Jurumenha, that -the French deemed it prudent to march out, and -take a position in the open country, not far from -the walls. This encouraged the populace; and, -like all mobs, becoming cruel as they felt themselves -strong, they murdered two soldiers whom -the French indiscreetly sent into the city for provisions. -Ignorant of their fate, the commander -supposed they had been imprisoned, and threatened, -if they were not immediately set free, to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">103</span> -release them by force. The people then riotously -demanded arms, that they might rush out -and attack the enemy. The magistrates remonstrated -with them in vain, and on the following - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 25.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -morning the Corregidor, finding that farther -delay would only endanger his own life, distributed -among them such weapons as could be -collected, and taking the safest course for himself, -set off to solicit aid from the Junta of Ayamonte, -the nearest authority by which it could -be supplied. The Provedor and the Juiz de Fora -thought it their duty to avert, if possible, the -immediate danger: they went out to the French, -entreated them not to attack the town, and promised -them supplies; the enemy were easily -entreated, because they were not strong enough -in reality for any such attempt: the magistrates -then endeavoured to make the people ratify what -they had undertaken for them; all reasoning was -in vain, and to save their own lives they left the -city. But here also private malice availed itself -of public troubles to effect its own ends; a messenger -recalled them, upon the plea that they -were wanted to give orders for collecting provisions, -in fulfilment of their agreement; for the -Corregidor having departed, there was no person -to take upon himself that business. Deceived - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 323–327.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -by this treacherous message, they returned, and -were butchered by a ferocious mob, who knew -not that they were made the brutal instruments -of individual revenge.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">104</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Beja sacked by the French, and set on fire.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>By this time, however, the ardour of the people -had so far cooled, that they no longer talked of -sallying against the French, they contented themselves -with keeping a tumultuous watch through -the night; and when the morning dawned, and -there appeared no enemy, they fancied themselves -secure. The French commander had merely retired -out of sight: his dispatches reached Mertola -at eleven on the preceding night; at midnight -Maransin, with 950 men, began his march, -and at four the next evening the united force - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 26.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -arrived before Beja. They were opposed by a -mere multitude without order, leader, or plan -of defence, every man acting for himself as he -thought best. Yet the victory was not gained -without a brave resistance, and some loss to the -assailants. According to the French account -they lost eighty in killed and wounded, while -1200 of the Portugueze were slain in the action, -and all who were taken in arms were put to - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 341. -<br /> -Neves, iii. 327–332.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -death. The worst excesses followed by which -humanity can be disgraced and outraged, and -the<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">15</a> city was sacked and set on fire.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">105</span> -In this whole merciless proceeding Maransin -acted upon his own judgement, well knowing -that such was the system which Napoleon had -laid down, and which his generals felt no reluctance -in executing. He proceeded to Evora, -and Kellermann, approving of his conduct, held -out the fate of Beja in a proclamation, as a warning - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Kellermann’s proclamation to the people of Alem-Tejo.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to the province. “Inhabitants of Alem-Tejo,” -he said, “Beja had revolted, and Beja -exists no longer. Its guilty inhabitants have -been put to the edge of the sword, and its houses -delivered up to pillage and to the flames. Thus -shall all those be treated who listen to the counsels -of a perfidious rebellion, and with a senseless -hatred take arms against us. Thus shall those -bands of smugglers and criminals be treated, who -have collected in Badajoz, and put arms into the -hands of the unhappy Lusitanians, but dare not -themselves march against us. Who, indeed, can -resist our invincible troops? Ye who have precipitated -yourselves into rebellion, prevent, by -prompt submission, the inevitable chastisement -that awaits you! And ye who have hitherto<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">106</span> -been happy or prudent enough to continue in -your duty, profit by this terrible example! Our -general in chief has not told you in vain that - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 347.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -clouds of rebels shall be dispersed before us like -the sands of the desert before the impetuous -breath of the south wind.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Junot’s proclamation to the Portugueze.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The bombastic sentence which Kellermann -thus quoted, was from a proclamation that Junot -had just sent forth, in that spirit of shameless -falsehood and remorseless tyranny which characterised -the intrusive government. He asked the -Portugueze what madness possessed them? What -reason they could have, after seven months of the -most perfect tranquillity, of the best understanding, -to take arms; ... and against whom? against -an army which was to secure their independence -and maintain the integrity of their country! Was -it their wish, then, that ancient Lusitania should -become a province of Spain? Could they regret -a dynasty which had abandoned them, and under -which they were no longer counted among the -nations of Europe? What more could they desire -than to be Portugueze, and independent? and -this Napoleon had promised them. They had -asked him for a king, who, under his all-powerful -protection, might restore their country to its -rank. At this moment their new monarch was -expecting to approach them. “I hoped,” said -Junot, “to place him in a peaceable and flourishing -kingdom; am I to show him nothing but -ruins and graves? Will he reign in a desert? -assuredly not; and you will not be any thing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">107</span> -but a wretched province of Spain. Your customs -and laws have been maintained; your holy religion, -which is ours also, has not suffered the -least insult; it is you who violate it, suffering it -to be influenced by heretics, who only wish for -its destruction. Ask the unhappy Roman-catholics -of Ireland under what oppression they -are groaning! If these perfidious islanders invade -your territory, leave me to fight them; ... -your part is to remain peaceably in your fields.” -He then attempted to soothe them, saying, that -if any abuses in the administration still existed, -every day’s experience would diminish them. -The Emperor, satisfied with the reports which -he had received of the public spirit, had graciously -remitted half the contribution. He was -fulfilling all their wishes. And would they let -themselves be dragged on by the influence of a -banditti, at the very moment when they should -be happy? “Portugueze,” said he, “you have -but one moment to implore the clemency of the -Emperor and disarm his wrath. Already the -armies of Spain touch your frontiers at every -point; ... you are lost if you hesitate. Merit -your pardon by quick submission, or behold -the punishment that awaits you! Every village -or town in which the people have taken arms, -and fired upon my troops, shall be delivered up -to pillage, and destroyed, and the inhabitants -shall be put to the sword. Every individual - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 317–320.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -found in arms shall instantly be shot.”</p> - -<p>The French had dealt largely in false promises;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">108</span> -they were sincere in their threats, and on -the very day when this proclamation was issued -at Lisbon, that sincerity was proved at Beja. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>National feeling of the Portugueze.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -But as the Portugueze had not been deceived, -neither were they now to be intimidated. Their -character had been totally mistaken by their insolent -oppressors. They, like the Spaniards, had -a deep and ever-present remembrance of their -former greatness. It was sometimes expressed -with a vanity which excited the contempt of those -who judge hastily upon that imperfect knowledge -which is worse than ignorance; more generally it -produced a feeling of dignified and melancholy -pride. The kingdom had decayed, but the degeneracy -of the people was confined to the higher -ranks, whom every possible cause, physical and -moral, combined to degrade. Generation after -generation, they had intermarried, not merely -within the narrow circle of a few privileged -families, but oftentimes in their own; uncles -with their nieces, nephews with their aunts. -The canonical law was dispensed with for these -alliances; but no dispensing power could set -aside the law of nature, which rendered degeneracy -the sure consequence. Thus was the -breed deteriorated; and education completed -the mischief. The young fidalgo was never regarded -as a boy: as soon as the robes, or rather -bandages of infancy were laid aside, he appeared -in the dress of manhood, was initiated in its forms -and follies, and it was rather his misfortune than -his fault, if, at an early age, he became familiar<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">109</span> -with its vices. When he arrived at manhood, no -field for exertion was open to him, even if he -were qualified or disposed to exert himself. The -private concerns of embellishing and improving -an estate were as little known in Portugal as -those public affairs in which the nobility of -Great Britain are so actively engaged: if not -in office, he was in idleness, and his idleness was -passed in the capital. A wasteful expenditure -made him a bad landlord, and a bad paymaster; -a deficient education made him a bad statesman; -and well was it if the lax morality which the -casuists had introduced into a corrupt religion, -did not make him a bad man. Exceptions there -were, because there are some dispositions so -happily tempered, that their original goodness -can never be wholly depraved, however unpropitious -the circumstances in which they are -placed; but men, for the most part, are what -circumstances make them, and these causes of degeneracy -were common to all of the higher class. -On the other hand, the middle classes were improved, -and the peasantry uncorrupted. Their -occupations were the same as those of their forefathers; -nor did they differ from them in any -respect, except what was a most important one -at this time, that a long interval of peace, and -their frequent intercourse with the Spaniards, -had effaced the old enmity between the two -nations, so that along the border the languages -were intermingled, and intermarriages so common, -as to have produced a natural and moral<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">110</span> -union. They were a fine, hospitable, noble-minded -race, respected most by those who knew -them best. The upper boughs were scathed, -but the trunk and the root were sound.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Their hatred of the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Their ignorance as well as their superstition, -contributed at this time to excite and sustain a -national resistance. They expected miracles in -their favour; the people of Coimbra actually -believed that a miracle had been wrought, because -when the French fired upon them from -the windows of their quarters, no person was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 210.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -hurt. Of the relative strength of nations they -knew nothing, nor of the arrangements which -are necessary for carrying on war, nor of the resources -by which it must be maintained. Spain -filled a larger space in their imagination than -France, and Portugal than either; and they were -not erroneous in believing that Spain and Portugal -together possessed a strength which might -defy the world. The threats of the intrusive -government therefore excited indignation instead -of dismay; such language addressed to -minds in their state of exaltation, was like -water cast upon a fire intense enough to decompose -it, and convert its elements into fuel -for the flames. The fate of Beja excited hatred -and the thirst of vengeance instead of fear, and -the insurrection continued to spread in the very -province where the experiment had been made -upon so large a scale of putting an end to it by -fire and sword.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Juiz de Fora at Marvam.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>A Portugueze of the old stamp, by name Antonio<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">111</span> -Leite de Araujo Ferreira Bravo, held the -office of Juiz de Fora at Marvam, a small town -about eight miles from Portalegre, surrounded -with old walls. Of the many weak places upon -that frontier it was the only one which, in the -short campaign of 1801, resisted the Spaniards -in their unjust and impolitic invasion, and was -not taken by them; and this was in great measure -owing to his exertions. When the French -usurped the government, a verbal order came -from the Marquez d’Alorna, at that time general -of the province, to admit either French or Spanish -troops as friends, and give them possession of -the place. Antonio Leite protested against this, -maintaining that no governor ought to deliver -up a place intrusted to his keeping without a -formal and authentic order: proceedings were -instituted against him for his opposition, and he -was severely reprehended, this being thought -punishment enough at that time, and in a town -where no commotion was dreamt of. When the -decree arrived at Marvam, by which it was announced -that the house of Braganza had ceased -to reign, Antonio Leite sent for the public notaries -of the town, and resigned his office, stating, -in a formal instrument, that he did this because -he would not be compelled to render that obedience -to a foreign power which was due to his -lawful and beloved Sovereign, and to him alone. -Then taking with him these witnesses to the -church of the Misericordia, he deposited his wand -of office in the hands of an image of N. Senhor dos<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">112</span> -Passos, and in the highest feeling of old times -called upon the sacred image to keep it till it -should one day be restored to its rightful possessor. -He then returned to his house, and put -himself in deep mourning. The order arrived -for taking down the royal arms. He entreated -the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Vereador</i> not to execute it, upon the plea -that the escutcheon here was not that of the -Braganza family, but of the kingdom, put up in -the reign of Emanuel, and distinguished by his - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, ii. 109–122.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -device; and when this plea was rejected, he took -the shield into his own keeping, and laid it carefully -by, to be preserved for better days.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He flies the town.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Juiz seems to have been a man who -had read the chronicles of his own country till -he had thoroughly imbibed their spirit. These -actions were so little in accord with the feelings -and manners of the present age, that they were -in all likelihood ascribed to insanity, and that -imputation saved him from the persecution which -he would otherwise have incurred. But when -the national feeling began to manifest itself, such -madness was then considered dangerous, and the -Corregidor of Portalegre received orders from -Lisbon to arrest him. Before these orders arrived -he had begun to stir for the deliverance of his -country, and had sent a confidential person with -a letter to Galluzo, the Spanish commander at -Badajoz, requesting aid from thence to occupy -Marvam; men could not be spared; and the -messenger returned with the unwelcome intelligence -that before he left Badajoz the business<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">113</span> -on which he went had transpired, and was -publicly talked of. Perceiving now that his life -was in danger, his first care was that no person -might suffer but himself, and therefore he laid -upon his table a copy of the letter which he had -written, from which it might be seen that the -invitation was his single act and deed; having -done this, he seemed rather to trust to Providence -than to take any means for securing -himself. It was not long before, looking out at -the window, he saw the Corregedor with an -adjutant of Kellermann’s and a party of horse -coming to his house. He had just time to bid -the servant say he was not within, and slip into -the street by a garden door. He had got some -distance, when the Corregedor saw him, and -called after him, saying he wanted to settle with -him concerning the quartering of some troops. -Antonio Leite knew what his real business was -too well to be thus deceived, and quickened his -pace. The town has two gates, one of which -was fastened, because the garrison was small: -toward that however he ran, well knowing that -if he were not intercepted at the other, he -should be pursued and surely overtaken. Joaquim -José de Matos, a Coimbra student, then -at home for the vacation, met him, and offered -to conceal him in his house; but the Juiz continued -to run, seeing that the soldiers were in -pursuit, dropt from the wall, escaped with little -hurt, and then scrambled down the high and -steep crag upon which it stands. Matos, thinking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">114</span> -that he had now involved himself, ran also, -and being of diminutive stature, squeezed himself -through a hole in the gate; they then fled -together toward Valencia de Alcantara, and had - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 333–337.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the satisfaction, at safe distance, of seeing a Swiss -escort come round the walls to the place where -the Juiz had dropt.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He returns, and seizes the town.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Spanish frontier being so near, their escape -was easy; but when they had been a few days at -Valencia de Alcantara, Matos determined upon -returning to his family, knowing that there was -no previous charge against him, and thinking -that the act of having spoken to the Juiz could -not be punished as a crime. In this he was mistaken. -The governor of Marvam was a worthy -instrument of the French. He not only arrested -Matos, but his father also, an old man who was -dragged from his bed, where he lay in a fit of -the gout, to be thrown into a Portugueze prison; -and a physician, whom he suspected of being -concerned in the scheme of an insurrection. This -news reached the Juiz; it was added, that his -own property had been sequestered, he himself -outlawed, and all persons forbidden to harbour -him, and that a French escort had arrived to -carry the three prisoners to Elvas. He could -not endure to think that he should be, however -innocently, the occasion of their death, and therefore -determined to attempt at least their deliverance -at any hazard. It was not difficult to find -companions at a time when all usual occupations -were at a stand, and every man eager to be in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">115</span> -action against an odious enemy. With a few -Spanish volunteers he crossed the frontier, and -there raised the peasantry, who knew and respected -him: with this force he proceeded to a -point upon the road between Marvam and Elvas; -the escort had passed, ... but he had the satisfaction -to learn that it had not gone for the prisoners, -only to bring away the ammunition and -spike the guns. This raised their spirits; they -directed their course to Marvam, climbed the -walls during the night, opened the prison, seized -the governor, and without the slightest opposition -from two hundred Portugueze troops, -whom he had just obtained from Elvas to secure -the place, and who, if they knew what was passing, -did not choose to notice it, the adventurers -returned to Valencia in triumph with their friends, -and with the governor prisoner. The Junta of -Valencia did not now hesitate, in conformity to -an order from Badajoz, to give the Juiz regular - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 26.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -assistance; he entered Marvam in triumph with -this auxiliary force, and the Prince Regent was -proclaimed there by the rejoicing inhabitants, at -the very time when Beja was in flames. A few - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Insurrection at Campo-Mayor.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -days afterwards a Spanish detachment from Albuquerque -entered Campo-Mayor with the same - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 2.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -facility. Some jealousies which arose there, as -well as at Marvam, from the inconsiderate conduct -of the Spanish officers in issuing orders as -if they were in their own territories, were put -an end to by the formation of a Junta, of which -the Spanish commander at Campo-Mayor was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">116</span> -made president. The example of these places -was immediately followed at Ouguela, Castello -de Vide, Arronches, and Portalegre; and the -insurrection thus extended throughout all that - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iii. 337–360.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -part of the province which is to the north of -Elvas.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Measures of the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Junot meantime was in a state of great anxiety -at Lisbon. It was not known what was become -of Maransin and the troops in Algarve; there -was no news of Loison; the insurrection in the -north had reached Coimbra, and was spreading -in Estremadura, and there was a report, probable -enough to obtain credit, that an expedition of -10,000 English was off the bar. He called a - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 28.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -council, at which the generals of division, Comte -de Laborde and Travot, were present, the chief -of the staff, General Thiebault, Baron de Margaron, -and other officers. The result of their -conference was, that the army should be collected -in and near Lisbon, leaving garrisons in only the -three important places of Almeida, Elvas, and -Peniche; that Setubal and the left bank of the -Tagus should be maintained as long as possible; -that when the English appeared they should -occupy in succession three positions; one from -Leiria to Ourem and Thomar; a second from - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, Relation, 128.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Santarem to Rio-Mayor, Obidos, and Peniche; -lastly, one from Saccavem to Cintra: finally, that -they should defend Lisbon till the utmost extremity, -and only leave it to retire upon Elvas, -rest the troops there, and then force their way -either to Madrid, Segovia, or Valladolid. In</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">117</span> - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />July.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -pursuance of this resolution, Kellermann was -summoned from Alem-Tejo, and courier after -courier dispatched to recall Loison from Beira. -Junot’s next measure was to put the church plate - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 321.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -which he had secured in a portable form, and for -this purpose what there was no time for coining -was melted into ingots. To counteract the -rumours, true and false, by which the Portugueze -were encouraged, it was affirmed that Napoleon -had entered Spain, and that 20,000 men had -reached the frontiers of Portugal to reinforce the -French. Alarmed and harassed by contradictory -rumours, and dreading from the temper of the -people an insurrection, which would be punished -by a massacre, many families removed from Lisbon; -those who had country estates to their -<i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Quintas</i>, the greater number to the different - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 343. n.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -places on the opposite side of the river, particularly - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 1.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Almada and Casilhas. They were however -ordered to return; every head of a family -who did not within four days obey this order was -to be arrested, and all persons were prohibited -from leaving Lisbon, unless they were provided -with a passport from the police, ... an institution -to which the Portugueze at this time applied the -name of the Inquisition. It was of importance, -the decree said, that good citizens should be -secured against the ridiculous rumours which -were promulgated, and that all notions of danger -to the city of Lisbon should be put an end to; -the French army would know how to maintain -tranquillity there. This, however, was less a measure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">118</span> -of policy than of extortion; those families -who had retired were made to pay, in proportion -to their means, for permission to remain -where they were. They who had nothing to - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 345.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -give suffered the whole inconvenience of this -oppressive law.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They endeavour to avail themselves of the clergy’s influence.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French commander tried to suppress the -national feeling by the influence of religion. In -the village of Varatojo, near Torres Vedras, there -was a famous seminary for itinerant preachers of -the Franciscan order, instituted by Fr. Antonio -das Chagas, a man remarkable alike for his genius, -for the profligacy of his youth, and the active, -austere, enthusiastic piety of his after life. Junot -sent for the Guardian of this seminary, requiring -his immediate attendance; the old man, in strict -adherence to the rule of his order, which forbade -him to travel by any other means, obeyed the -summons on foot, and arrived four-and-twenty -hours later than the time appointed. He was -then ordered to dispatch some of his preachers, -as men who possessed great authority over the -people, to Leiria and into Alem-Tejo, to preach -the duty of submission and tranquil obedience. -The Guardian excused himself by representing -that his brethren who were qualified for such a -mission were already on their circuits, and that -there were then in the seminary none but youths -engaged in preparing for the ministry, and old -men, who, being past all service, rested there - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 61–63.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -from their labours, in expectation of their release. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 2.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -The dignitaries of the patriarchal church could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">119</span> -not so well evade his commands; a pastoral -letter was obtained from them denouncing excommunication -against all persons who should, -directly or indirectly, either by writing, speaking, -or acting, encourage the spirit of insurrection -which had gone abroad. This was sent into -the provinces, with a letter from the French intendant -of police, Lagarde, in which the clergy - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 4.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -and the heads of convents were informed, that -wherever public tranquillity might be disturbed, -they would be held responsible, because no disturbance -would break out if they exerted themselves -to prevent it, as the true spirit of religion -required. The fate of Beja, he said, should be -that of every city in Portugal which should have -the guilty imprudence to revolt against the Emperor, -now the sole sovereign of that country. -And he asked the Portugueze, wherefore they -would bring upon themselves the heavy weight -of power at a moment when the Almighty authority -(such was the blasphemous expression) -thought only of putting in oblivion the rights of -conquest, and of governing with mildness? Is -it, said he, before a few handfuls of factious men - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 348–353.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -in Portugal that the star of the great Napoleon -is to be obscured, or the arm of one of his most -valiant and skilful captains to be deadened? -Deeply as the baneful superstition of the Romish -church has rooted itself in that country, the -threat of excommunication excited nothing but -contempt. The French could not derive any -assistance from ecclesiastical interference while<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">120</span> -it was remembered that they had robbed the -churches.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Insurrection at Thomar.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It is not extraordinary that the intrusive government -should have failed to deceive the -people by its addresses; but that it should have -attempted so to do; that it should have talked -of benefits intended and conferred upon a nation -on whom it had brought such wide and general -misery, and inflicted injuries as unprovoked as -they were enormous, indicated indeed an effrontery -of which none but the agents of Buonaparte -were capable. Their insolent language exasperated -the Portugueze. One of these papers -was lying upon a tradesman’s counter in Thomar, -and one of their very few partizans vindicated -the manner in which the Prince was there spoken -of, saying, that the country was now rid of him -and of the Inquisition. A Franciscan who was -present immediately took a knife from his sleeve, -and struck it through the paper into the board, -saying, that in that manner he would serve any -one who dared speak against his Prince and his -religion: and producing a pistol, he was only -withheld by force from giving murderous proof -of his sincerity. An information was laid against -him, and a party of Portugueze soldiers sent from -Abrantes to arrest him: he absconded in time, -and the Guardian of the convent, who was suspected -of favouring his escape, was taken in his -stead. Before they could carry him out of the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 3–8.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -town, the people rose and rescued him, and the -restoration of the legitimate government was proclaimed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">121</span> -with the same ceremonies as in other -places.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Insurrection at Leiria.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>About the same time a handful of students -from Coimbra, collecting volunteers as they went, -spread the insurrection at Condeixa, Ega, and -Pombal, and approached Leiria, from which city -a small party of the French retired before them. -This place was within easy reach of the enemy, -and troops, arms, and ammunition were wanting -to defend it. The people sent to Coimbra for -all, as if Coimbra could supply either: the Bishop -exerted himself to forward the preparations; and -the people mustered tumultuously with that confidence -which an ignorant multitude always feels -of its own untried strength. The French had -some small garrisons upon the coast, about twenty -miles off, in the little forts of Nazareth, S. Giam, -and S. Martinho, which communicated with each -other by telegraphs, and drew rations every day -from the adjoining country. The Juiz of Pederneira -was compelled to furnish these; in this -time of alarm he was called upon to store them -with a convenient stock beforehand, and because -this was not, and could not be done in a few -hours, they began to pillage the neighbourhood. -Provoked at this, the fishermen fell upon a - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Success of the insurgents at Nazareth.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Frenchman, who was going with dispatches from -S. Martinho to Nazareth, and murdered him, -crying, Down with the French! The sentinel -at the signal-post had the same fate ... the signal-post -was broken, and the country round about -was presently in insurrection. The enemy withdrew<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">122</span> -from S. Giam and S. Martinho, having -hastily spiked two guns at the former place, and -buried two barrels of powder. They fell back -upon a detachment under General Thomieres, -which watched the country between the Caldas, -Obidos, and Peniche. Nazareth was blockaded -by the insurgents; the report was, that a considerable -Spanish army had arrived at Leiria, -and incredible as this was, it was believed, and -gave full confidence to these ignorant and zealous -people. They sent thither for assistance, -and the Coimbra students came with a party of -peasants, those who could muster the best arms. -The cannon were brought from S. Giam, and -rendered serviceable; the two barrels of powder -were discovered; a Portugueze artilleryman -escaped from the fort to join his countrymen, -and direct their operations; and the French, -finding themselves now in serious danger, capitulated - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 5.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to save their lives. The victorious students -and their party were far advanced on their - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 14–30.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -return to Leiria, when they heard news of that -miserable city, which rendered it necessary for -them to strike into the pine forest, and conduct -their prisoners by unfrequented ways to Figueira.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Margaron approaches Leiria.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>General Margaron had been sent from Lisbon -with between 4000 and 5000 men, to check the -progress of the insurrection in Estremadura, and -learn some intelligence of Loison, from whom -nothing had been heard for a considerable time. -Though the disposition of the people was every -where the same, they were kept down by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">123</span> -presence or by the neighbourhood of the enemy, -every where within reach of the capital; and he -met with no opposition till he approached Leiria. -That city, which is the most considerable place -on the road to Coimbra, is built upon the little -rivers Liz and Lena, in a beautiful country, an -hundred miles from Lisbon. It is believed to -have been built from the ruins of Colippo, a -Lusitanian city which the Romans destroyed; -and it has been asserted, that Sertorius planted a -colony there whom he brought from Liria in -Spain. Affonso Henriquez fortified it as a strong -hold against the Moors, who then possessed Santarem, -and recovered it after they had captured -it. Some of his successors occasionally resided -there, and its fine castle was enlarged and beautified -by Queen St. Isabel, wife of the magnificent -King Diniz. At the beginning of the last -century it contained 900 houses and 2150 communicants. -Its population had increased, and -might at this time have been estimated at about -5000. The adjacent country has been made the -scene of pastoral romance by Francisco Rodriguez -Lobo, for which it is precisely adapted by -its wild yet beautiful and peaceful character.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Preparation for defence.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The people of Leiria and the peasantry who -had collected there had had little time for preparation -when they heard that the French were -approaching. They had paraded through their -streets the banner of the city, bearing for its -device a crow upon a pine tree; in memory of -one which, when Affonso Henriquez attacked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">124</span> -the city, perched there in the midst of his camp, -and clapped its wings and croaked in a manner -that was accepted as a good omen. They had -proclaimed the Prince, restored and repainted -the royal arms, and assisted at the performance -of <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Te Deum</i> in the cathedral; but school-boys -in a rebellion could not have been more unprepared -with any plan of defence, or unprovided -with means for it. They were in an open city. -They had not a single piece of cannon. Of some -800 men who were stationed at outposts and -other points of danger, scarcely a fourth part -were armed with muskets, and for these three or -four round of cartridges were all that could be -found. To persons unacquainted with the character -and condition of the Portugueze it might -appear almost incredible that resistance should -have been attempted under circumstances thus -absolutely hopeless. But the people were goaded -by insult, and stung by the feeling of insupportable -wrong. They had been wantonly invaded, ... -grievously, inhumanly, and remorselessly oppressed. -They knew that the nation was rising -against its oppressors: they felt instinctively -what the strength of a nation is; and were too - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 31–36.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -much exasperated to consider, or too little informed -to understand, that without order and -discipline numbers are of little avail, and even -courage not to be relied on.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French enter the city.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The higher orders were perfectly sensible of -their imminent danger, but they would have exposed -themselves to certain destruction if they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">125</span> -had attempted to reason with the infuriated multitude. -The magistrates therefore, and the person -who had been appointed to the command, withdrew -secretly from the city during the night, and -fled. In the morning five Frenchmen, who had -been surprised upon a marauding party, were - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 5.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -brought in prisoners. A short-lived and senseless -exultation was excited at their appearance. -At noon it was known that the enemy were close -at hand; they sent forward a peasant who had -fallen into their hands, and whom, contrary to -their custom, they had spared, to offer pardon to -the people if they would return to their obedience; -that offer being refused, they attacked -the insurgents. By their own account the resistance -was so momentary, that there was no time -for the artillery, nor for half the troops to take -part in the action. The insurgents threw away -their arms, like terrified villagers, imploring the -clemency of an irritated conqueror. From 800 -to 900 were left upon the field. The city was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>3d Bulletin. Observador Portuguez, 357. -<br /> -Thiebault, 143.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -entered on all sides. But, by their own account, -the moment the action was over, General Margaron -restrained the indignation of his troops; -their moderation was equal to their valour, and -victory was immediately followed by order. Margaron, -in a proclamation to the inhabitants, dwelt -upon his clemency. “A decree had been issued,” -he said, “commanding that every town where -the French were fired upon should be burnt, and -its inhabitants put to the sword.” They had incurred -that penalty, and his duty required him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">126</span> -to inflict it. Nevertheless he had prevented the -massacre and the conflagration; not a house, -not a cottage had been burnt; he had protected -their persons and their property, as far as was -possible under such circumstances; and instead -of seeking for the guilty, he repeated to them -his offers of peace and union. He called upon -them to learn who were their real friends, and - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, Pièces Justificatives, No. 10.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -lay aside their arms. “Leave,” said he, “the -noble task of protecting and defending you to -the soldiers of the great nation. Submit yourselves -to the power which Heaven supports, -and obey our holy church as I do, ... you in -renouncing your projects of exterminating the -French, I in forgiving all that you have done -against them.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Massacre of the prisoners. -<br /><hr /> -Neves, iv. 48.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>This is what the French relate of their conduct -at Leiria. “Sepulchres of Leiria,” exclaims the -Portugueze historian of these events, “prove ye -the falsehood with which these robbers, as cruel -as they are perfidious, have deceived the world!” -What they have not related is now to be recorded. -It is not dissembled by the Portugueze that the -defence was as feeble and as momentary as the -enemy describe it. They entered the city on all -sides, and began an indiscriminate butchery; old -and young, women and babes, were butchered, -in the streets, in the houses, in the churches, in -the fields. The most atrocious acts of cruelty -were committed, and not by the common soldiers -only. One of the superior officers related of himself, -that a feeling of pity came over him when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">127</span> -upon entering the town he met a woman with -an infant at her breast, but calling to mind that -he was a soldier, he pierced mother and child -with one thrust! Free scope was given to every - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Memoir of the early Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, p. 8.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -abominable passion; and in the general pillage -the very graves were opened, upon the supposition -that treasure might have been hidden -there, as in a place where no plunderer would -look to find it. When the slaughter in the streets -had ceased, they began to hunt for prisoners, and -all who were found were taken to an open space -before the Chapel of S. Bartholomew, there to -be put to death like the prisoners at Jaffa. The -greater number of these poor wretches fell on -their knees, some stretching their hands in unavailing -agony toward their murderers for mercy; -others, lifting them to heaven, directed their last -prayers where mercy would be found. The murderers, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 37–42.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -as if they delighted in the act of butchery, -began their work with the sword and bayonet -and the but-end of the musket, and finished it -by firing upon their<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">16</a>victims.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Loison’s march from Almeida to Abrantes.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the same day actions of the same devilish<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">128</span> -character were committed by Loison’s division -on their way from Almeida. Leaving a garrison -of 1250 men in that place, and having blown up -the works of Fort Conception, he set out towards -Lisbon, in pursuance to the orders which he had -received, with between 3000 and 4000 troops. -The next day he approached the city of Guarda; -it happened to be Sunday, and also the annual -festival of Queen St. Isabel, whose name, stripped -of all fable and idolatrous observances, deserves -always to be held in dear and respectful remembrance -by the Portugueze. The assemblage of -people was therefore much greater than at other -times; but they were assembled to keep holyday, -not to provide for their defence. A Junta -had been constituted there two days before; and -with that miscalculation of strength, or ignorance -of the state of things, which prevailed so generally -among their countrymen, they seem not to -have considered themselves as in danger of an -attack till Loison was within two miles of the -city. An old iron gun, rusty and dismantled, -and lying useless in the ruins of the castle, was -their whole artillery; ... a few peasants mounted -it upon a cart, and so carried it to a rising ground -near the road, as if the sight of it would deter -the French from advancing. According to the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Bulletin 4.<br />Observador Portuguez, 366.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -French official account, the rebels, as they insolently -styled the Portugueze, drew up in two - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 153.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -lines, having their flanks well supported, and -two pieces of cannon to protect their centre; -their lines were forced at all points, their guns<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">129</span> -taken, themselves surrounded as well as routed; -the disorder was general, the slaughter dreadful; -more than a thousand dead were left upon the -field, and Loison in pursuit of the fugitives -entered the city. The truth is, that a disorderly -multitude fled as soon as they were attacked; -and that, as all who could not escape were cut -down, the number of the slain has not perhaps -been much exaggerated. A night of licentiousness -and pillage followed, and Loison then proceeded. -The ancient and flourishing town of -Covilham escaped a similar visitation, because -it lay somewhat out of the line of his march, -and he had no time to spare. Alpedrinha, a -place containing between two and three thousand -inhabitants, was not so fortunate. On the -same day that Margaron entered Leiria, and with -as little resistance, General Charlot entered this - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 5.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -unhappy town; that General was one of the few -commanders who had hitherto obtained a character -for honour and humanity, ... here, however, -all horrible crimes and cruelties were committed; -one inoffensive old man was taken out -of the town, and burnt alive within sight and -hearing of the fugitives upon the mountains; -and the French, having carried off every thing - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 77.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -that was portable, set the place on fire. They -proceeded, plundering as they went, by Sarzedas, -Cortiçada, and Sardoal to Abrantes.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Language of the French bulletins.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French stated in their bulletin that they -had lost upon their march twenty killed, and -from thirty to forty wounded, whereas the rebels<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">130</span> -had left at least three thousand upon the different -fields of battle<a id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">17</a>. The character of the -intrusive government would be imperfectly understood -hereafter, if its language as well as its -acts were not faithfully recorded. The bulletin -which announced this statement to the Portugueze, -and to that great portion of the civilized -world in which the events of the war were -anxiously observed, proceeded to say, “this is -the mournful result of a frenzy which nothing -can justify, which nothing can excuse, and which -obliges us to multiply the number of victims who -excite sorrow and compassion, but upon whom -a terrible necessity compels us to inflict the -strokes of just vengeance. Thus it is that the -Portugueze people, blind instruments of the unfeeling -calculations of the British cabinet, destroy -with their own hands the happiness which -we with all our power were endeavouring to make -them enjoy! Thus it is that from the bosom of -tranquillity, of good order, and of repose, they -draw upon themselves the destructive scourge -of war, and bring devastation even upon the -very fields where God had given abundance! -Thus it is that deluded men, ungrateful children -as well as guilty citizens, change all the claims -which they had to the benevolence and protection -of government, for deserved misfortune -and wretchedness, ruin their families, carry desolation,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">131</span> -flames, and death, into their dwellings, -transform flourishing cities into heaps of ashes -and vast tombs, and by their fatal union draw -upon the whole country the calamities which -they provoke, which they deserve, and from -which (weak victims as they are) they cannot -escape, covering themselves with shame, and -completing her destruction. Thus it is that -no other resource remains to them than the -clemency of those whom they sought to assassinate, -... a clemency which they do not implore -in vain, when, acknowledging their crime, -they ask pardon from the French, who, incapable -of belying their noble character, are - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Bulletin 4.<br />Observador Portuguez, 368.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -always as full of generosity as of valour.” This -was the<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">18</a>language of Buonaparte’s governor in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">132</span> -Portugal! “To be the victim,” says Mr. Wordsworth, -commenting upon these things and words -at the time, in that strain of profoundest feeling -and philosophy by which his higher compositions -are so eminently distinguished, “to be the victim -of such bloody-mindedness, is a doleful lot for a -nation; and the anguish must have been rendered -still more poignant by the scoffs and insults, -and by that heinous contempt of the most -awful truths, with which the perpetrator of those -cruelties has proclaimed them. Merciless ferocity -is an evil familiar to our thoughts; but these combinations -of malevolence historians have not yet -been called upon to record; and writers of fiction, -if they have ever ventured to create passions resembling -them, have confined, out of reverence -for the acknowledged constitution of human nature, -those passions to reprobate spirits. Such -tyranny is, in the strictest sense, intolerable; not -because it aims at the extinction of life, but of -every thing which gives life its value, ... of virtue, -of reason, of repose in God, or in truth.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Loison ordered towards Coimbra.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Loison, for the sake of intimidating the country, -and thereby preventing the danger of such resistance -as he had experienced in Tras os Montes, -had sent before him a report that he had been -reinforced by 16,000 men from the army of -Marshal Bessieres; and this news was officially -transmitted to Junot by the Corregedor of -Abrantes. At first the French received the -tidings with entire belief, and with a joy proportionate -to the danger from which they now -thought themselves delivered. A comparison of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">133</span> -dates and distances occasioned some uncomfortable -doubts, and the next day advices came that -Loison had arrived at Abrantes with no other -force than his own. But even this was of no -inconsiderable importance: it relieved them from -their anxiety concerning him, it brought the -whole of their disposable force within reach and -within command, for Kellermann had now arrived -with the troops from Alem-Tejo; and Junot determined -upon striking a great blow before the -English should appear. Kellermann had been -sent to Alcobaça, where the troops under General -Thomières, who covered Peniche, and those of -Margaron (who had received the submission of -the people of Thomar, and exacted from them - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 64.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -20,000 cruzados) were to be under his orders. -Loison was now instructed to form a junction -with them and take the command; crush the -insurgents in that part of the country, march -against Coimbra, subdue and chastise that city, -thus quenching one great furnace of the insurrection, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 146.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -and return to Lisbon. Before he reached -Alcobaça part of these instructions had been fulfilled -by Thomières.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Nazareth sacked and burnt by the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>That General had advanced with a few hundred -men to Obidos, with the intention of relieving -the fort at Nazareth; but a reconnoitring party -which he sent forward to Barquinha was driven -back, four of his scouts were made prisoners and -sent on board an English vessel, and a report -that a considerable body of English had landed -there to assist the insurgents deterred him from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">134</span> -proceeding in time. The Portugueze themselves -raised this report; in reality they had applied -for aid to the English, who, some time before, -had taken possession of the Berlengs; a few -pieces of cannon were given them, but the garrison -was so scanty that no men could be spared; -and the short respite which they obtained by -deceiving the enemy would have been better -employed in providing for escape, than for a -feeble and disorderly resistance. Nine days after -their triumph Thomières proceeded against them - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 14.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -with 3000 men, in the belief that some English -had joined them. One column, under cover of -the darkness, got under the ill-served guns of -the insurgents before they were perceived; the -Portugueze fired in haste without aim and without -effect, and then took to flight. A few drunken -fellows, who had undertaken to serve the guns, -remained by them, with a woman and a few old -men, and these were put to death. The town of -Nazareth was sacked, and set on fire. The jewels -which they took from the church of N. Senhora de -Nazareth were estimated at more than £20,000; -for of the innumerable and many-named idols of -Our Lady in Portugal, this was the most celebrated. -It is the very image which, according -to the legend, St. Jerome sent from Bethlehem -to St. Augustine, and St. Augustine to his monks -at the Caulian monastery, from whence, at the -destruction of the Goths, it was brought by King -Roderick and Romano to this spot. It is said, -that during the last century the idol has sometimes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">135</span> -been visited by not less than 20,000 devotees -on the day of its festival. The enemy -then descending to the beach, burnt the lower -town, consisting of some 300 houses, of which -only four escaped the flames; they burnt also -the nets and vessels, upon which the inhabitants, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 84–87.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -being fishermen, depended for their subsistence: -they then plundered Pederneira, and set it on -fire, and returned with their booty to Alcobaça<a id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">19</a>.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>A Junta established at Beja.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Loison having taken the command, proceeded, -in pursuance of his instructions, towards Coimbra; -but he had hardly got beyond Leiria when he -was recalled, in consequence of an alteration in -Junot’s plans, which the events in Alem-Tejo -had rendered necessary. In the north of that -province the insurrection was spreading far and -wide, while Beja was in flames; and when Kellermann -marched for Lisbon, leaving only a garrison -in Elvas, it spread with equal rapidity in the -south. Beja had not been destroyed by the fire; -houses with little furniture and little wood-work -are not easily burnt. The Corregedor returned -there from Ayamonte with a supply of arms; a -Junta was formed, which assumed great authority, -and acted with unusual promptitude and vigour.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">136</span> -Men were raised, the regular taxes claimed in -the name of the rightful government, and a detachment -under Sebastiam Martins Mestre, who -had taken an active part in Algarve, was sent to -guard against the French at Setubal, by forming -a cordon to guard the river Sadam. Having -raised a few men for this purpose in the districts -of Grandolo and Santiago de Cacem, he proceeded -to Alcacer do Sal, established a Junta there, and -brought four iron guns from Melides for the defence -of this town, a point of great importance -to the province while there was an enemy’s force - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 92–95.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -at Setubal: Setubal and Palmella were the only -places which they now occupied on that side the -Tagus.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Junta of Estremoz.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Lobo meantime, leaving Moretti in Jurumenha, -formed Juntas at Borba and at Villa-Viçosa, -where he placed the palace and park upon their -former establishment. These Juntas readily acknowledged -the supremacy of Estremoz, where -one was at this time formed, which endeavoured -to make its authority recognized as supreme in -Alem-Tejo, and was supported in its pretensions -by the Spanish government at Badajoz. The -claim was admitted by all the smaller places in -the surrounding country, but not at Beja nor at -Campo-Mayor, in which latter place considerable -activity had been displayed. Instead of doubling -the soldiers’ pay, which had been rashly done -at Porto, the officers who assembled at Campo-Mayor -resolved that those whose means rendered -it possible should serve for half-pay, or without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">137</span> -pay; they raised loans and donatives, levied a -third of the rent upon the entailed estates, and -took from the property of the church contributions -in kind; and having thus acquired considerable -funds, they undertook, and for a time -sustained, the improvident expense of paying -their Spanish allies. The ready obedience shown -to its authority, when these imposts were demanded, -and the power which it derived from -the distribution of the money thus raised, gave -the Junta of Campo-Mayor exaggerated notions -of its own importance, and when tidings arrived -that a Junta of higher or equal pretensions had -been formed at Estremoz, that of Campo-Mayor -sent to propose a reciprocal alliance, as if one -sovereign power were treating with another. But -in reply a paper in the form of a decree was sent, -declaring, that the primacy of the Junta of Estremoz -should be acknowledged by all others in -the province, because of the position of that -place, and because it was a fortified town; that -the members of that Junta should have the title -of Highness, because they represented the august -person of the Sovereign; and that there should -be a subordinate Junta in every town, and one -deputy from each sent as a representative to assist -in the Supreme Junta of Estremoz. Obedience - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 92–116.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to this decree was required from Campo-Mayor, -till a Supreme Junta should be established, as it -was about to be, at Evora, whither head-quarters -were to be removed.</p> - -<p>The transfer of the supreme provincial authority<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">138</span> -to Evora was concerted by Moretti and -by the Portugueze General Francisco de Paula -Leite, who had refused to concur in the first -hasty tumult at Villa-Viçosa, but who now, when -the insurrection had become general throughout -the province, felt himself bound to resume the -charge with which the Prince Regent had intrusted - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>A Supreme Junta formed at Evora.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -him. The object of this transfer seems -to have been a persuasion, that as Evora was the -most populous city in the province, and the seat -of the Archbishop, its authority would at once -be acknowledged, and all disputes for precedency, -which might otherwise prove so prejudicial to -the common cause, would thus be terminated. -This object was effected: in other respects the -measure was incautious, and contrary to the -judgement of the most judicious inhabitants; for -when Moretti had by letter proposed it to them, -they replied, that the richest city of Alem-Tejo, -lying as it did so near Elvas, ought not to declare -itself, unless it could reckon upon a force of 8000 -men for its defence. It was not that the will was -wanting; this General Leite knew; and without -farther demur, he and Moretti and Lobo, with - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 20.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -200 foot soldiers and 100 cavalry, entered Evora. -They were received with enthusiasm; a Junta -was formed under two presidents, Leite being -one, and the Archbishop, D. Fr. Manoel do -Cenaculo Villas Boas, the other, a man then in -extreme old age, distinguished for his erudition -and his exemplary virtues. Circular letters were -dispatched to all the other Juntas in Alem-Tejo,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">139</span> -requiring a recognition, and the troops which -had been embodied were ordered to Evora. Before -the new machine of government could be - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 118–126.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -put in motion, Loison had crossed the Tagus on -his way to destroy it.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Loison sent into Alem-Tejo.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Notwithstanding the contempt with which the -French government, and its agents in Portugal, -regarded the Portugueze, Junot knew how easily -brave men might be made good soldiers, under -due instruction; and he seems to have apprehended, -that better officers would be found to -train and command them than either Portugal -or Spain at that time could supply. He apprehended -that the force in Alem-Tejo would soon -become strong enough not only to seize Setubal, -but to occupy the heights of Almada, and render -useless all the batteries on the left bank of the -Tagus; while at the same time another division -of their troops, acting higher up the river, would -co-operate with the insurgents from Coimbra. -To prevent this combination, he resolved to attack -the weaker and nearer body first. For this -purpose Loison had been recalled from Leiria, -Solignac and Margaron were placed under his -command, with 5000 men, and it was thought, -that after quelling the insurgents in Alem-Tejo, -he might send a supply of food to Lisbon, -especially of meat, ... victual Elvas, strike a blow -against the Spaniards at Badajoz, and then, recrossing -the Tagus at Santarem or Abrantes, -proceed against Coimbra; operations from which,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">140</span> -at any time, in case of need, he could speedily -turn back to join the main body of the French -at Lisbon. There was, in fact, so little combination - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 156.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -among the Portugueze at this time, that -the insurgents in the northern provinces, and -those in Alem-Tejo, knew nothing whatever of -each other’s proceedings, and the first news -which reached the latter of the insurrection at -Porto was communicated to the people of Sines -by an English frigate.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He advances against Evora.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The first tidings of Loison’s movement which -reached Evora were, that he had crossed the Tagus, -and was in full march towards that city. No -time was lost in transmitting this from Aldea -Gallega; any previous intelligence had been -rendered impossible by the secrecy with which -the French prepared their measures. Moretti -applied for reinforcements to Badajoz; orders -were sent for the forces from Campo-Mayor and -the other places in the north of the province, to -hasten to Evora, and General Galluzo was requested -to occupy the posts which would be left -unprotected by their absence; but no assistance -came from Badajoz, and Galluzo, instead of acting -as was expected, forbade the Portugueze to -leave Campo-Mayor. An advanced guard of -700 men had been stationed at Montemor o -Novo, twenty miles from the city. General -Leite ordered 400 men to reinforce this post. -They met the corps which they had been sent -to support in full retreat, the commander, not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">141</span> -knowing that succours were on the way to him, -having thought himself too weak to await<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">20</a> an -attack. Instead of deriving confidence or hope -from the meeting, they hastened to Evora, and -entered the city in alarm, exclaiming that they -were betrayed. That cry, in such miserable -times, is sure to be eagerly taken up. The -people had been assured that the French who -were coming against them did not exceed 800 -men; this had been said either in a most erroneous -policy, to keep up the spirits of the inhabitants, -by deceiving them as to the extent of their -danger; or more probably in good faith, all ranks -being credulous in believing what they wished; -the natural effect, when the truth now became -known, was to give the populace apparent ground -for believing the vague charge of treason; their -tumultuous movements were with difficulty suppressed, -and the Corregedor found himself so -marked an object of suspicion, that, in the hope -of securing himself, he secretly left the city. -Order being in some degree restored, piquets of -cavalry and patroles were stationed for the night. -In the morning a company of Miquelets arrived -from Villa-Viçosa (that term having been borrowed -from the Catalans), and the legion of -Foreign Volunteers in the Spanish service, under -Sargento-Mor D. Antonio Maria Gallego: both<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">142</span> -came by forced marches; the latter had left Jurumenha -the preceding evening, a distance of -four-and-forty miles. With these succours the -whole force collected then amounted to 1770 - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 126–131.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -men, of whom about half were regular troops, -the others being volunteers newly-raised and undisciplined.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Evora.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The city of Evora is so ancient, that fabulous -history has laid its foundation more than two -thousand years before the Christian era. Certain -it is, that it was a flourishing city in the days of -Viriatus. Sertorius chose it for his residence; -some of the buildings with which he adorned it -are still remaining, and the inhabitants are still -supplied with water by his aqueduct, which -Joam III. repaired. Cæsar made it a municipal -town, and from him it was called Liberalitas -Julia. Under the Visigoths it continued to -flourish, and Sisebut coined money there. It -was recovered from the Moors in the reign of -Affonso Henriquez, the first king, by the romantic -enterprise of Giraldo the Fearless, then -an outlaw. King Fernando rebuilt or repaired -its walls; and Cardinal Henrique founded an -university and established an Inquisition there; -but the university had been suppressed. In the -war of the Restoration it was besieged and taken -by D. Juan de Austria, but it was soon recovered, -and the Spaniards in retreating toward their own -frontier suffered one of the most signal defeats -which they sustained during that long contest. -Its population, once amounting to 40,000, had declined<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">143</span> -to about half that number at the beginning -of the eighteenth century; since which time it -had varied so little, that there had neither been -any apparent diminution nor increase. The city -was populous enough to have defeated the force -which was now marching against it, if it had -been prepared for a Zaragozan defence. There -is courage enough for any thing in the Portugueze -character; but that individual and commanding -genius was wanting by which alone the -inhabitants of a large city can be made to act -steadily with one will, and thereby capable of -heroic valour. They prepared for a military defence -in the field, which was exposing peasantry -and half-disciplined troops to certain defeat.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Action before the city. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">July 29.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>About seven in the morning the vedettes announced -that the enemy were in sight, and the -Portugueze took their ground in better order -than might have been expected, considering the -alarm and insubordination which had lately prevailed, -and the real inequality of the contest. -Their right rested upon the Mill of S. Bento, -about a mile from the city, the centre was -posted upon the hill of S. Caetano, the left -rested upon the Quinta dos Cucos. Having -reconnoitred this position, Loison directed General -Solignac to attack the enemy’s right, and -Margaron to break the centre with one part of -his brigade, while the other attacked the left; -they were to unite behind the city, occupy the -roads to Arrayolos and Estremoz, and thus cut -off the fugitives from all retreat, the cavalry<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">144</span> -being ready for pursuit upon the right and left, ... -so sure and easy a victory was anticipated. -The action began about eleven. The Portugueze -had four four-pounders in their right -wing, one three-pounder in the centre, and two -howitzers in the left; there was no want of -artillerymen, and if the other troops had understood -their business and performed their duty -like these, the event might have been doubtful; -but the cavalry could not by any exertion of -their commanders be brought into action; they -hung back and retired, while the infantry stood -their ground. When the latter were defeated, -instead of flying, as the French had expected, -in all directions, they retreated into the town. -The defeat, however, was thought so irreparable, -that General Leite and his staff made the best of -their way to Olivença, and Moretti hastened to -the Archbishop, to bid him provide for saving his -own life without delay, in the imminent danger -which threatened it. The venerable prelate -calmly told him in reply, to think of preserving -his own, which might yet be useful and honourable -to his country; for himself, he said, the -remainder of his days, few and useless as they -needs must be, did not deserve a thought. The -city had five gates, three of which had been -walled up; the breaches which time had made -in the walls had also been closed, but the walls -were old and ruinous, and the French forced -their entrance at many points, and then most of -the defendants took flight: ... Moretti and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">145</span> - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 132–138. -<br /> -Observador Portuguez 382–387. -<br /> -Thiebault, 158–165.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Spaniards to Jurumenha, the company from -Villa-Viçosa to their own town; others dispersed; -time was gained for them by the resistance -which Lieutenant-Colonel Franco made -at one of the gates, and the brave conduct of the -foreign volunteers under<a id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">21</a>Gallego, who fought -desperately in the streets, and suffered great -loss.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The city taken.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The horrors which ensued will be remembered -in Portugal while any record of past times shall -be preserved there. Though even a military pretext -was wanting for delivering up the city and -the inhabitants to the will of the soldiers, the -whole proceedings of the Portugueze and their -Spanish allies having been those of regular war, -to them it was abandoned. A resolution had -been taken in the Junta that those persons who -feared the event should provide for their safety -by retiring in time; ... from some unexplained -cause, most probably from a well-grounded fear -that any persons who attempted to remove would -be regarded as traitors by the furious populace, -few or none availed themselves of this ominous -warning; when it was too late great numbers -got over the walls, but the French horse surrounded -the city, and showed as little mercy to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">146</span> -the fugitives without, as the infantry did to the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Inhumanity of the conquerors.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -inhabitants within. The convents and churches -afforded no asylum; not those who had borne -arms alone, but children and old men, were massacred, -and women were violated and slaughtered. -The lowest computation makes the number of -these victims amount to 900. The clergy and -religioners were especial objects of vengeance: -they were literally hunted from their hiding-places -like wild beasts: eight-and-thirty were -butchered; among them was the Bishop of -Maranham. The Archbishop’s intercession with -Loison obtained only a promise that a stop -should be put to these enormities; no attempt -was made to restrain them that day, nor during -the whole night, nor till eleven on the following -morning, and then by an order of the General, -what he called the lawful pillage was declared to -be at an end; but he contented himself with - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 387. -<br /> -Neves, iv. 138–142.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -issuing the order; no means for enforcing it -were taken, and the soldiers continued their abominations -till every place had been ransacked, -and their worst passions had been<a id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">22</a> glutted.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">147</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Alarm at Estremoz.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>According to the statement of the French, -8000 of the allies were killed or wounded in the -battle and in the capture of the city, and 4000 -made prisoners, the latter being chiefly peasants. -Their own loss they stated at 90 killed, and more -than 200 wounded. The intimidation of that part -of the country which was within the immediate -reach of the victors was such as might be expected -after such a blow. At the first rumour -that reached Estremoz, the populace became ungovernable; -their first impulse was that of rage, -which would willingly have found any victim on -which to sate itself. An officer had just arrived -from Portalegre; they fancied that he had prevented -the coming of some regular troops, which -they had looked for; an attempt was made to -murder him in the hall of the Junta, whither he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">148</span> -fled for refuge, and in the presence of the members; -and there was no other means of saving -him but by concealing him from the ferocious -rabble. Presently a dispatch came, announcing -the total defeat at Evora, the capture of the city, -and the loss of every thing. Such was the temper -of the people, that it was a service of the utmost -danger to communicate this news; and the member -who attempted to read the dispatch to them -from a varanda found his life in danger, and drew -back. But it was not possible either to conceal -the fatal intelligence or to delay it. Estremoz -would assuredly be the next object of the enemy, -and Evora was only six leagues distant; if they -had hitherto dreamt of defending the town, the -fate of Evora was now before their eyes: they -knew that even the unreasonable multitude would -feel this near and imminent danger, though they -would not endure to be told of it; and the members -of the Junta determined to take measures for -immediate submission. The melancholy manner -with which they passed through the crowd confirmed -the worst apprehensions of the people; -and as they went along they spake each to those -persons on whose prudence he could rely, telling -them what had occurred, and what must now of -necessity be done; thus they thought the news -might pass from one to another with the least -danger, and every one take such measures for -himself as he deemed best. There was a cry of -treason at first, when it was seen that of the three -guns which had been mounted to defend the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">149</span> -walls, one was cast into the ditch, and the other -two sent off to Olivença. The Juiz de Fora became -the object of suspicion, and could he have -been found at that moment, would have been -murdered; ... so fickle is popular feeling, that -this very man was presently sought for as the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 145–149.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -fittest person to give counsel. A meeting was -held, and a messenger deputed to solicit Loison’s -clemency.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Loison proceeds to Elvas.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Loison received the messenger well, thinking -that severity enough had been shown to secure -the submission of Alem-Tejo. He constituted -a provisional government in Evora, at the head -of which the Archbishop was compelled to act, -and he set off for Estremoz on the fourth day - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">August 2.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -after the action. He raised no contributions -there, permitted no pillage, and paid for every -thing which the troops consumed; he also set -at liberty some of his prisoners. But when he -proceeded to Elvas he ordered two Swiss prisoners -to be shot, condemned four others to work -in chains for five years, threw the Spanish commander -Gallego into a dungeon, and condemned -the Portugueze Lieut.-Colonel Franco to death, -for bearing arms against the French. The Bishop -of Elvas interceded earnestly for this officer, and -finding all intercession vain, concluded by saying, -if this favour were refused him, he had still one -to ask, which was, that the General would sentence -him to the same fate, seeing life would be -hateful to him if he could not save his countryman -under such circumstances. Loison was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">150</span> -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />August.</span> -Neves, iv. 149, 156–158. -<br /> -Observador Portuguez, 397.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -touched at this, and revoked the order for execution. -That General has left a name in Portugal -which will be execrated to the latest generations; -here, however, is an instance which -evinces some sense of generosity, as if his heart -had not been naturally bad; but it was the tendency -of the Revolution, and of Buonaparte’s -system, to make men wicked whom it did not -find so.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Loison enters Portalegre.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The less portable part of the plunder of Evora -was sold at Elvas, a sort of fair being held for the -purpose; and many persons purchased church -vessels for the sake of restoring them to the altars -from whence they had been taken. Loison made -a movement upon Badajoz, and believing that -the troops in that city had been called off to -the Spanish armies, and that his recent success -had occasioned great consternation there, endeavoured -to introduce officers under a flag of truce, -for the purpose of observing the state of the -place; but they were refused admittance. The -commandant of Elvas, Colonel Miquel, had made -himself odious in that city, especially for executing -a German as an emissary of the Spaniards, -the main proof against him being some thirty -pieces of gold which were found in his possession. -Some fugitives from Elvas, with a few -comrades from Campo-Mayor, waylaid this commandant -as he went from the city, intending to -sleep in Fort La Lippe, for greater security; -they fired upon him and an officer in his company; -the officer escaped, but Miquel lay all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">151</span> -night upon the ground, the soldiers not venturing -to seek him in the darkness, and being -removed to Lisbon, he died there of his wounds. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>He is recalled to the neighbourhood of Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -This was some days before Loison’s arrival. That -General appointed M. Girod de Novilard of the -engineers to succeed him, and marched upon -Portalegre. The Spaniards had already retired -from thence, and the Bishop, with most of the -principal persons, withdrew also in time. The -city was plundered, and a contribution of 100,000 -cruzados demanded from the district; about -40,000 were raised, and six persons were carried -away as pledges for the remainder. He then - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 156–164. -<br /> -Thiebault, 168–172.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -marched for Abrantes, having received dispatches -which ordered him to hasten his return toward -Lisbon by that route, it being now certain that -an expedition from England was off the coast.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Insubordination of the people at Porto.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Those provinces, meantime, which had not -felt the vengeance of the French were in a state -of anarchy. The temporary dissolution of order, -even though no revolutionary opinions were at -work, produced evils little less alarming than the -actual presence of the enemy. The cry of an -inflamed multitude is always for blood. The -Intendant of Police at Porto addressed a manly -proclamation to the people, reproving them for -eagerly demanding the death of a few suspected -persons, who were already in the hands of justice, -and from whom they had nothing to fear. In -the processes against them, he said, there ought -to be nothing precipitate, nothing that could be -accused of inhumanity; he must see that all the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">152</span> -proofs of their guilt were brought forward, that -his own honour might suffer no stain. If they -were dissatisfied with him, he would gladly lay -down an office which he had never solicited; -more willingly would he accompany his son to -the army, than occupy a station for which, even -in quiet times, he should have thought himself -unqualified; and though life was dear to him, he -would rather lose it in the service of his country -than in a tumult. But mobs are as seldom capable -of reason as of compunction. It was necessary, -for the sake of preventing wider evils, to -accelerate the processes, and to promise blood. -No person, however innocent of any connexion -with the French, however distinguished for his -exertions against them, was safe from suspicion; -no place, however sacred, was secure from search. -Upon a report that a suspected person had concealed -himself in a burial-vault, it was proposed -to open all the vaults in the church till he was -found. Upon another rumour that he was concealed -in a nun’s habit in a Carmelite nunnery, -the mob proposed to break in and examine the -sisterhood. Raymundo exerted himself to prevent -this scandalous outrage. Some one charged -him also with treason, and his life was for a moment -in danger. But Raymundo, who knew -how little in such times any popularity, however -deserved, was to be trusted, had provided himself -with a crucifix in case of need. He displayed - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 209–224.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -it in this emergency, and by an exclamation -according with the display, induced the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">153</span> -rabble to join with him in a shout of loyalty, -and succeeded in dissuading them from entering -the convent.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Design of a military usurpation in that city.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Even in this early stage of popular commotions -a military usurpation is said to have been projected -by Luiz Candido Cordeiro Pinheiro Furtado, -in conjunction with Joam Manoel de Mariz. -Both were esteemed good officers; the latter was -a member of the Junta, the former offended that -he had not been nominated, and still more so -that another person had been made commander-in-chief. -They designed to erect a military Junta -under their own direction, and they proposed to -raise a corps under the name of the Loyal Porto -Legion, of which Candido was to have the command; -the officers were named, the uniform designed, -and worn by Candido with some of his associates; -he took to himself also a guard of honour, -which, from a small beginning, was gradually increased, -till at length the armed attendance with -which he always appeared in public was such as -to excite reasonable apprehension. The city was -in this state when Bernardim Freire arrived from -Coimbra to take upon himself the command. He -was received with great joy by the people; but -Luiz Candido was evidently displeased at his -coming, and Bernardim was soon apprised that -a conspiracy was formed against him and against -the Junta. He was careful therefore to keep -Candido and Mariz as much about his person -as possible. Among other precautions for -preserving tranquillity in the city, he ordered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">154</span> -the guns to be unloaded; persons were not -wanting to represent this as being done with -a treacherous design; and a priest, notorious -for irregularities, at the head of a mob seized -his bridle, and exclaimed that the people would -have no such General. A dangerous stir had -already begun, when some men of better mind -came resolutely forward; one of them felled the -priest to the ground; Bernardim spake to the -crowd in a manner which conciliated their good - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 225–229.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -will, the priest was thrown into prison, and the -day was closed with an illumination in honour of -the General.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The conspirators are seized.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Upon the arrival of D. Miguel Pereira Forjaz -to assist his brother-in-law Bernardim, an attempt -was made to establish a military Junta, in aid of -the provisional government, and as a check upon -the designs of Candido and his associates. This, -however, proved ineffectual; and they proceeded -so rapidly in organizing an armed party, that it -was deemed necessary to secure Candido and -Mariz without delay, lest the city should become -a scene of bloodshed. They were accordingly -summoned to a consultation at the Bishop’s -palace, and there arrested. Their escort, which, -as usual, had accompanied them, began to express -displeasure at this; and three of the men -entering the palace, demanded insolently that -their commander should be delivered to them; -if he were innocent, they said, they would set -him at liberty; if he were a traitor, they would -blow him to pieces from the mouth of a cannon.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">155</span> -These men were secured, and Raymundo, with -some other officers to whom this service had been -assigned, disarmed their fellows. The agitation, -however, continued the whole day, though this -was at an early hour; and it was not till after -midnight that the prisoners could be conducted -without danger of a rescue to the jail. They -were immediately proceeded against according -to the forms of Portugueze law, and the evidence -against them appeared so conclusive, that Candido -was condemned to death, and Mariz to be -degraded to Angola. The gallows accordingly -was erected, Candido was led into the oratory to -perform the last religious duties, the brethren of -the Misericordia went out to attend the execution, -and the crowd collected to witness it; when, after -a while, it was announced that the two prisoners -were removed to the fortress of S. Joam da Foz, -to be embarked for Brazil, and there placed at -the Prince’s disposal. So fickle is a multitude, -that the crowd, which a few days before had -almost mutinied because of the arrest of this -man, became riotous now because he was not -put to death. They were pacified by the personal -exertions of the Bishop and two of his -dignitaries, and by an official notification that -the Junta having pronounced sentence of death -against Luiz Candido upon full proof of a most - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 229–237.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -atrocious crime, had thought it proper to lay -the proceedings before the Prince, and remit -the criminal to his mercy.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />July.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The populace at Porto were kept in some degree<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">156</span> -of submission by the vigorous measures of -the provisional government, the respect which -was paid to the episcopal character, and by the -influence which men of property possess in a - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Disturbances at Braganza.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -flourishing commercial town. In remoter parts -the local authorities were weaker, and tumults -of the most disgraceful nature occurred. After -the provinces beyond the mountains and between -the rivers had been delivered from their -first danger, by the failure of Loison’s expedition -from Almeida, they were more seriously alarmed -from the side of Castille and Leon; and indeed -had it not been for the success of the Spaniards -in Andalusia, Junot would probably have received -powerful reinforcements from Marshal Bessieres -after the battle of Rio Seco. The first disturbances -arose at Braganza upon a rumour that this -army was approaching. The people gathered together -tumultuously, and when they learnt that -no enemies were near, directed their vengeance -against all whom they suspected; and in such -times it is in the power of any wretch, however -vile and worthless, to throw suspicion upon the -object of his envy or resentment. The Junta, in -hope of appeasing them, convoked a popular -meeting, ... the readiest means of showing them -their power, and teaching them how to abuse -it; and the result was, that most of the members -of the Junta were turned out, and such as the -mob thought fit elected in their places. A shoemaker, -and the keeper of a wine-house, who, because -he was maimed in one arm, called himself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">157</span> -<i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">o Loison Portuguez</i>, were the kings of the rabble. -The latter took upon himself the office of general, -and was actually obeyed by the troops. Their -chief vengeance was directed against the New-Christians, -for Pombal’s law (the redeeming act -of that tyrannical statesman) had not even in -half a century produced a feeling of toleration -in the populace. Any accusation, however preposterous, -was believed; they gutted the house -of one man, and threw him into prison, upon -a charge of witchcraft, for having, it was said, -made an image of General Sepulveda, and placed -it over the fire in a frying-pan. When the city had -thus continued three days under mob-rule, the -magistrates took courage from despair, arrested -the ruling demagogues during the night, and -sent them prisoners to Chaves. Troops came -from Villa Real, where Sepulveda at that time -was, and tranquillity was restored; but it was -necessary to gratify the people by making useless -preparations for defence; and the popular -opinion was, that nothing but what was right -had been done, that the persons whose property -had been destroyed, and their lives endangered, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 238–245.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -deserved the usage they had suffered, and that -the magistrates were bribed by the Jews.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The New-Christians plundered at Villa Nova de Foz-Coa.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>More serious disturbances occurred at Villa -Nova de Foz-Coa, arising from the same popular -intolerance and love of rapine. That town, one -of the most flourishing in Beira Alta, owed in -great part its prosperity to its position at the -confluence of the Coa with the Douro. A considerable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">158</span> -trade in silk, and in rice, salt-fish, and -other articles of foreign importation, brought -thither by the river from Porto, was carried on -with the adjacent country, and with the Spaniards -of the border. This trade was mostly in -the hands of persons who, because they were of -Jewish extraction, were believed by the vulgar -to be still attached in heart to the Mosaic law. -The cry of Down with the French, was coupled -here with Kill the Jews; ... their houses were -attacked, their goods plundered, their persons -abused, their lives threatened and seriously endangered, -and more than twenty of the wealthiest -families in that country reduced to utter ruin by -the complete destruction of their property. Some -of these unhappy persons effected their escape -to Moncorvo; and, because they were protected -there, and the Junta of that town endeavoured -to restore order at Villa Nova, hostilities ensued -between the two townships. The evil spread; -and if the Junta of Moncorvo had not arrested -during the night some movers of sedition in their -town, and seized also some of the ringleaders -from Villa Nova, who had crossed the Douro, -the province of Tras os Montes would soon have -suffered all the evils of civil war, exasperated by -a spirit of fanaticism, such as existed in the worst -ages of superstition and ignorance. The New-Christians -were accused of assisting the French -with money, blaspheming God, cursing the Prince, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 245–263.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -defiling the crucifix, and finally, of Manicheism! -When a judicial inquiry was afterwards instituted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">159</span> -concerning the riots, depositions to this effect -were made against them upon oath!</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Troubles at Viseu.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The troubles at Viseu, though less destructive -in their consequences, assumed a more revolutionary -character. The mob insisted upon -having a Juiz do Povo, and elected a demagogue -to that office, which had not before been -known among them, which in quiet times is useless, -and in turbulent ones dangerous. Florencio -José Correa de Mello, the general of the province, -and the Bishop, a good but timid man, instead -of refusing to acknowledge this tumultuous -and illegal appointment, ratified it by administering -an oath to the chosen favourite of the mob, -who from that moment became a person of more -authority than either Bishop or General. The -latter offended the military by refusing to double -their pay, as had been so imprudently done at -Porto; on this account they became mutinous, -and a riot broke out in the city upon an absurd -report that Loison was come to visit him. The -demagogue, who was lord of the day, obtained -from the intimidated Bishop an order for his -arrest, his house was sacked, and he and the -Juiz de Fora were thrown into prison amid the -insults of a multitude who knew not what they -did. A meeting of the people was then held, at -which the magistrates were deposed, new ones - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 263–273.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -appointed, and the Bishop was declared Generalissimo, -with Silveira, who happened to be -passing through Viseu, for his adjutant-general.</p> - -<p>Proceedings equally outrageous, and of more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">160</span> -perilous tendency, occurred in the town of Arcos -de Val de Vez. The bells in that town and in -the surrounding villages rung the alarm upon -a report that 20,000 French had landed at -Espozende, and were entering Ponte de Lima. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Riotous proceedings at Arcos de Val de Vez.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -A disorderly multitude collected, and set out in -search of the enemy; their courage was easily -roused, and soon spent; for when they had ascertained -that the report was without foundation, -and were returning home, they learnt that -a body of men from the north were in possession -of their town, and instead of hastening thither to -protect their property, and restore order, they -took to flight, each seeking a place of refuge -where he thought best. The people in fear of -whom they fled were peasantry, who, like themselves, -had set out to fight the French, in utter disorder; -hurrying along in scattered parties, some -with a soldier for their leader, some with an -abbot, provided neither with ammunition nor -bread, increasing their numbers as they went -along, and expecting that the magistrates were -to issue orders for supplying them wherever they -came. The <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Vereadores</i> exerted themselves to -feed this rabble, and be rid of them; the Juiz -de Fora, dismayed at such a visitation, and in -despair of satisfying such visitors, absconded, -and his disappearance was imputed to a consciousness -of treason. While they were seeking -him every where, an unlucky messenger entered -the town with dispatches from the Corregedor of -Barcellos, and as he happened to have lost an arm,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">161</span> -the senseless multitude took him for Loison; and -even when they had examined his papers were -still so possessed with this preposterous notion, -that they placed him in confinement. Another -messenger with letters fell into their hands, and -was seized in like manner; and they were demanding -a warrant for the apprehension of the -Juiz de Fora, when he was brought in from the -country, by an inhuman rabble, in a condition -which would have excited pity in the poor unthinking -wretches themselves who were his tormentors, -if they had beheld him separately, and -if men did not seem to be divested of all compassion -when they act in mobs. With great difficulty -they were prevailed upon not to finish -killing him, but to lodge him in prison. Presently -the thirst for blood returned, and they -ordered a young priest to go and prepare him -for death. The priest objected that he had not -yet received that order in the church which -empowered him to officiate in the sacrament of -confession; upon which they replied, that they - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 279–287.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -conferred the order. The young man then entered -the prison, and with great presence of -mind advised the Juiz to feign himself dead; -then going out, he asked the mob, with a tone -of anger, why they had sent him to confess a -man whom they had already killed? They made -no farther inquiry; ... the bells tolled for his -death, and by this artifice his life was saved.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The rabble enact laws.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The rabble now took upon themselves to reform -the state; they began by turning out the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">162</span> -members of the Camara, throwing the chairs out -of window, demolishing the seat of the Judge, -and burning the public papers. They displaced -officers, deposed two or three abbots, and nominated -a Capuchin friar to be their General. -They appointed a Junta, and made laws whereby -they abolished the recruiting system, fixed the -prices of milk, meat, and wine, prohibited the -exportation of bread, forbade all processes for -debt, suspended all law-suits during the war, abolished -the fees of the parochial priests, and were -hardly persuaded to spare the tithes, and, finally, -exempted all tenants from payment of manorial -rights; and these laws were enacted not for their -own district alone, but for the whole kingdom. -This was the only indication of a revolutionary -disposition which manifested itself during these -unhappy times. By good hap the persons whom -they had chosen to form their Junta were prudent -and well-intentioned men, who temporized -with them, and accepted an illegal authority in -the hope of restoring order. The anniversary of -a religious procession occurred at this time, and -they took advantage of it. The Host was borne -through the streets, a sermon adapted to the circumstances -was preached with good effect, and -the reformers, tired of their work, and willing to -secure what they had gained by pillage, broke -up, and returned to their own part of the country. -The people of the land then enrolled themselves, -established patroles, and subjected themselves to - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 287–293.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -good discipline; so that when a second visit of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">163</span> -the same kind was attempted, they seized the -ringleaders. Troops at length came from Viana, -and many of the criminals were apprehended and -sent prisoners to Porto.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Communication between Alem-Tejo and the northern provinces.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The authority of the provisional government -at Porto would not have been generally acknowledged, -and with so little reluctance, throughout -these provinces, if that city had not been looked -to as a capital, because of its great commercial -importance. But so little intercourse was there -between the north and south of Portugal, that -both had been in insurrection against the French -more than a month, before it was known in one -part that any resistance had commenced in the -other. Vague reports indeed were in circulation, -which could be traced to no authentic source; -but no intelligence upon which any reliance was -placed arrived in Alem-Tejo, till a student from -Coimbra, who had enlisted in the academic corps, -came to Campo-Mayor on his own concerns, and -gave a clear account of the transactions in which - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 18.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -he had borne a part. The news was immediately -dispatched to Badajoz; tidings of the battle of -Baylen reached that city at the same time; and -messengers, accredited by the governors of Badajoz -and Campo-Mayor, were sent to Coimbra, -to communicate the joyful accounts from Spain. -They were received not merely with transports -of exultation, but with as much surprise, says -the Portugueze historian of these events, as if -they had come from another world, ... in such -utter ignorance were the people of Beira of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">164</span> -what had been going on in Alem-Tejo, though -the two provinces, along an extent of some forty -miles, are only separated by the Tagus. The -messengers on their part with equal surprise -learnt that the legitimate government was restored -in Tras os Montes, and Entre Douro e -Minho. Being thus referred to Porto, thither -they proceeded; and returned from thence with -letters from the Bishop and the General to the -Archbishop of Evora and the Junta of Badajoz, -recommending the establishment of a provisional -government under the Archbishop, similar to -that at Porto, that the same system might be -pursued in the south as in the north. When they -reached Coimbra on their way, they learnt the fate -of Evora, that news having been circulated by -the French without delay. Proceeding on their -journey, when they drew near Castello-Branco -they found the roads full of fugitives, removing -with their children and families, and such goods -as they could carry away, in fear of Loison, so -far had the terror of his name extended. It was -not then known that he had marched toward -Abrantes; and the messengers, to avoid the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 197–205.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -danger of falling in with his troops, entered -Spain by Zebreira, and so proceeded to Badajoz -and Campo-Mayor.</p> - -<p>Things were in this state when a British expedition -arrived upon the north coast. General -Leite was collecting at Olivença the troops which -had escaped from Evora. The Conde de Castro-Marim -was raising and embodying forces in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">165</span> -Algarve; and the Junta of Porto were hardly -less perplexed by the perilous spirit of insubordination -which prevailed both in the city and -in the remoter parts of the provinces, than by -the deficiency of money and means for the men -who willingly came forward to serve against the -invaders. There were numbers, and courage, and -good will, but every thing else was wanting.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">166</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XI" class="vspace">CHAPTER XI.</h2> -</div> - -<blockquote class="inhead"> -<p class="center">FIRST CAMPAIGN OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN PORTUGAL. -CONVENTION OF CINTRA.</p></blockquote> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.</span>State of public feeling in England.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p><span class="firstword">These</span> transactions in Spain and Portugal excited -the deepest interest in the English people; -not so much for the hope, which had thus unexpectedly -arisen, of advantages to England, and -to the general welfare of Europe, as for the nature -of the contest, their detestation of the unequalled -iniquity by which it had been provoked, -and their sympathy in the instinct and principle -by which it was carried on. Every day seemed -lost till an army of our own should be co-operating -with men engaged in a cause so sacred, -so congenial to the feelings of a Briton. Such -was the eagerness to participate in the glorious -struggle, that the militia almost universally -offered themselves for foreign service, and the -country with one voice called for an effort equal -to the occasion. But the Government was not -prepared for such exertions. Our military operations -had never yet been carried on upon a scale -such as was now required, and since the peace -of Amiens they had been almost wholly suspended. -Though great and most essential improvements -in the army had been steadily and -unostentatiously carried into effect by the Duke<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">167</span> -of York, much remained to be done; and it -wanted that efficiency which nothing but experience -could give it. That our troops were -able to beat the enemy wherever they should -meet on equal terms, or even with considerable -advantage of numbers on the enemy’s side, no -Englishman doubted, unless he wished the enemy -success; but the public confidence went no -farther. The war had on our part so long been -almost exclusively maritime, that the army had -suffered something in reality and more in reputation. -The French, always fond of war, had -become a military people; their military establishment -was supposed to be perfect in all its -branches, their troops experienced, their officers -excellent, their commanders of the highest celebrity: -to oppose them we had generals very -few of whom had ever been tried in command, -and officers of whom the far greater number, like -their men, had never seen an enemy in the field. -A great effort, however, was now called for by -our new allies. The Spanish Juntas with which -the British Government had hitherto communicated, -preferred assistance in money and supplies -to an auxiliary force; they had a brave but undue -confidence in their own strength, and perhaps -they foresaw that mutual ill will might probably -arise between combined armies whose habits and -prejudices were widely dissimilar. What they -desired was, that a British expedition should be -employed against the French in Portugal; this -would act as a powerful diversion in favour of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">168</span> -Spain; thither we were called by the wishes and -groans of the Portugueze people; and it was -believed, that when the deliverance of that kingdom -should have been effected, a plan of co-operation -with the Spaniards might be arranged.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>An expedition ordered to the coast of Portugal.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>When the insurrection of the Spaniards began, -an armament was preparing at Cork, which, as -different prospects opened upon us, had been -supposed to be intended at one time against -Ceuta, at another for South America. Its destination -was now fixed for the Peninsula, and the -command was given to Lieutenant-General Sir -Arthur Wellesley. His instructions were, while -the fleet proceeded off Cape Finisterre, to make -for Coruña himself, and consult there with the -Provisional Government of Galicia. He was -authorized to give the most distinct assurances -to the Spanish and Portugueze people, that his -Majesty, in sending a force to their assistance, -had no other object in view than to afford them -his most unqualified and disinterested support. -In all questions respecting their provisional government, -should any such arise, he was as far -as possible to avoid taking any part; maintaining -only these principles, that no act done by Charles -or Ferdinand could be considered valid, unless -they returned to their own country, and were -absolutely free agents there; and that the entire -evacuation of the Peninsula by the French was -the only basis upon which the Spaniards should -be induced to treat. In any arrangements he -was directed to act with the utmost liberality<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">169</span> -and confidence, the object of Great Britain being -to assist the people of Spain and Portugal in restoring -and maintaining against France the independence -and integrity of their respective -monarchies.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Former services of Sir A. Wellesley.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Arthur Wellesley, fourth son of Viscount -Wellesley, Earl of Mornington, was born in the -year 1769, at Dengan Castle, in Ireland, the -seat of his ancestors. After having been a short -time at Eton, he was removed, while very young, -to the military academy at Angers; for there -was not at that time any institution in Great -Britain wherein tactics were taught, and the -youth who meant to follow the military profession -was obliged to go to France if he wished -to learn the elements of war. He obtained his -first commission about the age of eighteen, in -the 41st regiment; and after a series of exchanges -and promotions, his elder brother, afterwards -Marquis Wellesley, purchased for him the -lieutenant-colonelcy of the 33rd, in 1793. He -conducted himself in the disastrous retreat from -Holland so as to obtain much praise from military -men. In 1795 he embarked for service in the -West Indies, but being providentially driven -back by storms, his destination was altered. In -1797 he went out to India with his brother Lord -Mornington, then Governor General; there he -distinguished himself in the war against Tippoo, -and being appointed Governor of Seringapatam -after the capture of that city, and one of the -commissioners for disposing of the conquered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">170</span> -territories, he discharged his arduous duties in -such manner as to deserve and obtain the gratitude -of the conquered people. In the subsequent -war against the Mahrattas he commanded -at the battle of Assye, against an army exceeding -his own number in the proportion of ten to one; -and whose disciplined troops, under French -officers, more than doubled the British force. -The action was severe beyond all former example -in India: having won the enemy’s artillery, consisting -of an hundred pieces, which were served -with perfect skill, he had to take them a second -time with the bayonet, when men who had feigned -death rose from the ground and turned them -upon the conquerors as they pressed forward in -pursuit. The victory was decisive; the success -was followed up, and at the close of that triumphant -war a monument in honour of the battle was -erected at Calcutta; the inhabitants of that city -presented him with a sword, and his own officers -with a golden vase; the thanks of parliament -were voted him, and he was made a Knight -Companion of the Bath. He returned to England -in 1805; took his seat in the House of -Commons the ensuing year, as member for Newport -in the Isle of Wight, and in 1807 was appointed -Chief Secretary in Ireland. But his -military services were soon required; he accompanied -Lord Cathcart in the expedition -against Copenhagen, and commanded in the only -affair of importance which took place. He was -now to be tried in more arduous undertakings;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">171</span> -and such was the repute in which his talents -were held, that when the armament for the -Peninsula was placed under his command, the -opinion both of the army and of the public -entirely accorded with the choice which Government -had made.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir Arthur lands at Coruña.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Sir Arthur Wellesley, having about ten thousand -men under his command, sailed from Cork -on the 12th of July, and leaving the fleet as soon -as he had seen it clear of the coast, made sail in -a frigate for Coruña, and arrived there on the -20th. There the Junta of Galicia informed him -of the battle of Rio Seco; and that the French, -being, in consequence, masters of the course of -the Douro, were enabled to cut off the communication -between that province and the country to -the south and east. The French in Portugal -they estimated at 15,000, of whom 12,000 were -supposed to be at Lisbon; and he was told that -the Portugueze troops at Porto amounted to -10,000, and that a Spanish corps of 2000 had -begun their march for that city on the 15th, and -were expected to arrive there about the 25th. -Sir Arthur consulted with them concerning the -immediate employment of his army. They explicitly -stated that they were in no need of men, -but wanted arms, ammunition, and money: ... -this latter want was relieved by the arrival of -£200,000 from England that very day. They -strongly recommended him to employ his forces -against the enemy in Portugal, because while -that army remained unbroken the Spaniards<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">172</span> -could never make any simultaneous effort to -drive the French out of the Peninsula; and they -advised him to land in the north, that he might -bring forward and avail himself of the Portugueze -troops in that quarter.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He proceeds to Porto.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Accordingly Sir Arthur sailed for Porto, ordering -the fleet to follow him. He arrived there -the 24th, and had a conference that night with -the Bishop and the general officers. From them, -and from Lieutenant-colonel Brown, who had -previously joined them, he learnt that the regular -Portugueze troops who had been collected -amounted to 5000 men, and were posted at Coimbra; -that there were about 1200 peasants in -advance, and a corps of 2500 Portugueze and -300 Spanish infantry at Porto, besides volunteers -and peasants; but all were badly equipped and -armed, the peasantry having only pikes. It was -concerted that the 5000 should co-operate with -him, and the remainder with the Spanish corps, -then, so the Spaniards had informed him, on its -way from Galicia; and that the peasantry should -be employed, part in the blockade of Almeida, -part in the defence of Tras os Montes, which -province was supposed to be threatened by -Bessieres, in consequence of his victory at Rio -Seco. Sir Arthur stated, that he should want -cattle for draught, and for the supply of his -army; the Bishop took pen and ink, wrote down -the number which would be required, and replied -immediately that they were ready.</p> - -<p>Here Sir Arthur received a letter from Sir<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">173</span> -Charles Cotton, advising him to leave the troops -either at Porto or at the mouth of the Mondego, -and proceed to communicate with him off Lisbon. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>He goes to the Tagus to confer with Sir C. Cotton.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -The fleet accordingly was ordered to Mondego -Bay, and the general proceeded to confer -with Sir Charles. There he found dispatches -from General Spencer, stating that he had landed -his corps in Andalusia, at the request of the -Junta of Seville; but that he had resisted the -applications made to him to join Castaños, thinking -it advisable to preserve his force unbroken, -for the purpose of acting with Sir Arthur. He -had, however, consented to take up a position at -Xeres, where he might serve as a point of support -for Castaños, in case of defeat, and from -whence he could re-embark in eight-and-forty -hours: and he supposed that Sir Arthur would -begin his campaign at Cadiz, implying an opinion -that Dupont could not be defeated without -English assistance. Sir Arthur, however, being -convinced by the Junta of Galicia that his army -would be employed with more advantage to the -common cause against Junot, ordered General -Spencer to join him off the coast of Portugal, -unless he should be actually engaged in operations -which he could not relinquish without injury -to the Spaniards.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Mondego the only place where a landing could be effected.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>General Spencer represented Junot’s force as -exceeding 20,000 men: the admiral, according -to the reports of the Portugueze, estimated them -at less: Sir Arthur concluded that they were -from 16,000 to 18,000, of whom about 12,000<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">174</span> -were at Lisbon, and in its vicinity, and 2400 at -Alcobaça. Any attempt at landing in the Tagus -was considered impracticable: it would be equally -so at Cascaes: it was at all times difficult to land -an army in the small bays near the rock, and -would be now especially dangerous because of -the neighbourhood of the enemy: Peniche was -garrisoned by the French. There was therefore -no choice but to disembark in the Mondego. -Thither Sir Arthur returned. He rejoined the -fleet there on the 30th, and there he found intelligence -of the defeat of Dupont, and advice -from his own government, that he would be -reinforced immediately with 5000 men, under -Brigadier-General Acland, and afterwards with -10,000 who had been under Sir John Moore in -Sweden, the command being vested in Sir Hew -Dalrymple; but he was directed to carry into -execution without delay the instructions which -he had received, if he thought himself sufficiently -strong. He also received accounts that Loison -had been detached from Lisbon, to open the -communication with Elvas, the patriots in Alem-Tejo -having been joined by about a thousand -men from the Spanish army of Estremadura, and -being now formidable.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Troops landed in the Mondego. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">1808.<br />August.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>This latter account made him conclude that -there was no danger of being attacked by superior -numbers before his reinforcements reached -him; and he determined to land, both for the -sake of the troops, and because he knew that -the Portugueze, who were much discouraged at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">175</span> -seeing the men remain so long on board after -their arrival in Mondego Bay, would suspect -either the inclination of the English to contend -with the French, or their ability, if the landing -were still deferred. It was now found that the -Coimbra students had performed a service of real -importance in winning Figueira from the enemy; -the landing in the Mondego being so difficult, -that with all the zeal and ability of the navy, it -would have been impossible to effect it without -the cordial assistance of the Portugueze. They -began to disembark on the first of August. The -weather was so little favourable, and the surf so -high, that the whole of the troops were not -landed till the 5th, and on that day General -Spencer arrived, his corps following him the -next. He had embarked immediately upon -learning the surrender of Dupont, not waiting -for instructions. This corps was disembarked -on the 7th and 8th, on which night the whole -army were in readiness to advance: the march -of the main body was, however, delayed till the -10th, at the desire of the Portugueze general -officers. Sir Arthur conferred with them at -Montemor o Velho, and arranged the plan of -operations: he armed and inspected their troops, -recommended and superintended their organization, -and offered as large a sum as his military -funds could afford, to defray the expenses of -their equipment: this, however, was declined by -their officers. While the troops were landing, a -party of the police cavalry arrived at Coimbra,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">176</span> -having effected their escape from Lisbon. This -hazardous attempt was planned and conducted -by Eliziario de Carvalho. A serjeant, by name -Gamboa, as soon as their flight was discovered, -was dispatched to the French commander at -Santarem, with orders to intercept and make an -example of them, according to the system of the -French tyranny. Gamboa, however, with the -party under his command, followed and joined -his countrymen; and they accomplished their -dangerous march in safety.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They advance to Leiria.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Sir Arthur determined to march along the road -nearest the sea, for the sake of communicating -with the store-ships; but as this communication -must needs be very precarious, both as depending -upon the state of the surf, and also because -the army might find it expedient to strike more -into the country, arrangements were made for -taking with them sufficient stores to last till they -should reach the Tagus. The advanced guard -marched on the 9th, supported by the brigades -under Generals Hill and Ferguson. Laborde -and Thomieres had collected their corps, to the -amount of from 5000 to 6000 men, in the neighbourhood -of Leiria; they threatened the magazines -formed in that city for the Portugueze -army; and Sir Arthur was urged to advance as -speedily as possible, for the sake of preserving -them. The main body followed on the 10th: on -that day Sir Arthur received advices from Coruña, -informing him that neither Blake nor -Cuesta was in a condition to act offensively<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">177</span> -against Bessieres, nor to follow him, if he should -enter Portugal. But at the same time news arrived -of the flight of the Intruder from Madrid; -and Sir Arthur perceived that Bessieres would be -more solicitous to cover his retreat towards the -French frontier, than to attempt a diversion in -favour of Junot. At all events, there was time -enough for his operations against the latter before -Bessieres could arrive; and it was to be expected -that General Acland, or Sir John Moore, would -land before he could come up. These advices, -therefore, only determined him to follow up with -the utmost celerity the plan which he had concerted. -On the 11th the main body joined the -advanced guard at Leiria, and the next day the -Portugueze force, consisting of 6000 men, including -600 cavalry, arrived, the whole force -being now collected there. When the English -advanced guard entered that city, they found in -one of the convents the dead bodies of several -monks who had been murdered by the French; - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Early Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, p. 8.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the murderers had amused themselves with dipping -their hands in the blood of these victims, -and printing the red mark upon the wall.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Joy of the Portugueze in Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The arrival of the British troops in Portugal -had the immediate effect of putting an end to -that anarchy which had already produced so much -evil in the northern provinces. Meantime the -wildest reports were afloat at Lisbon. The miserable -people looking every where for deliverance, -believed that an army from Morocco was -coming to their aid. The trick of the egg was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">178</span> -repeated, not as before, with mysterious initials, -referring to King Sebastian, but with a distinct -annunciation that the French were speedily to -be destroyed. The egg thus inscribed was found - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, v. 67.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -upon the high altars of the Patriarchal Church: -but the former instance had led the French to -discover the easy process by which an inscription -in relief may be produced, and on the following -morning eggs with a counter prophecy, -in the same fashion, were to be seen upon the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 170.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -high altar in every church in Lisbon: at the same -time a paper was fixed up, explaining the trick. -This was fair matter of mirth for the day; but -Junot and his officers well knew that the hostile -prediction was not made now without a reasonable -and near prospect of its fulfilment; and very -soon intelligence came that the only foe of which - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, v. 62, 65.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -he stood in fear had actually disembarked. The -Portugueze commanders at Coimbra and Pombal -used their utmost endeavours that no information -of the British movements might reach the -enemy, and in this they were assisted by the -disposition of the people. But entire concealment -was not possible; ... the news came to Lisbon -at the same time from General Thomieres, -from the agents of the police, by private letters, -and by public report; and if Junot could have -doubted the accuracy of his dispatches, all doubt - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 172.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -would have been removed by the altered appearance -of the Lisbonians, who now knew that of a -truth their deliverance was at hand.</p> - -<p>Loison was immediately recalled from Alem-Tejo,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">179</span> -and Laborde, who was supposed to be the -ablest of the French generals, was sent with the -two brigades of Generals Brenier and Thomieres -to manœuvre and delay the enemy till Loison - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Measures of the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -could arrive, Travot being appointed to the command -at Lisbon in Laborde’s stead; ... this general - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 175.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -was chosen because having demeaned himself -as a man of honour and humanity, he had -deserved and obtained the respect and good opinion -of the Portugueze. The castle at Lisbon, -which had now been strongly fortified, was supplied -with more ammunition and stores. The -fowling-pieces and other weapons, which had -been delivered up in obedience to a former edict, -were broken, or rendered useless, ... the bars of -silver into which the church plate had been cast, -and the other portable plunder, packed for removal, -and deposited on board one of the Portugueze -ships of war. Whole piles of rich hangings -and vestments, the spoils of palaces and -churches, were burnt in a building erected for -the purpose near head-quarters, and in the sight -of the people, for the sake of the gold and silver -wherewith they were embroidered. In order to -counteract the excitement of hope in the citizens, -it was confidently asserted, that 20,000 -French had entered Portugal on the side of Braganza; -and for the chance, vain as it was, of -provoking their bigotry, they were reproached -as having brought a stain upon their country by -inviting heretics and Mahometans to fight against -the French, who, like themselves, professed the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">180</span> -true religion. It was indeed actually believed -by the Portugueze that the British had brought -with them a Moorish force: the Portugueze -Consul in Barbary had in fact obtained from the -Emperor of Morocco a promise of 200,000 <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">cruzados</i> -for the service of Portugal; and this may -have given occasion to a belief which was confirmed -by the appearance of the Highlanders: ... - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 402. -<br /> -Neves, v. 65, 118.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -their dress was immediately pronounced not to -be Christian, and for a time no doubt was entertained -but that these were the Moorish auxiliaries.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Movements of Laborde and Loison.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French apprehended that Sir Arthur -would move upon the Zezere and the Tagus, -for the purpose of interposing between Loison’s -detachment and their main force. Laborde therefore -proceeded by Villa Franca and Rio-Maior -to Candieiros, where he encamped; from Rio-Maior -he might either take the direction of Alcobaça, -Leiria, or Thomar, and, it was hoped, -co-operate with Loison, in case any attempt were -made to prevent their junction. Learning, however, -that the British army kept the line of the -coast, and that Loison had crossed the Tagus -without opposition, and was in no danger of being -impeded in his march, he proceeded to Alcobaça, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 175.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -where he found Thomieres. Junot had -instructed him to reconnoitre the position of -Batalha; ... the last ground, it might have been -thought, on which an invader would have risked -a battle; for there it was where Portugal, (and -then also with English aid,) had achieved her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">181</span> -own deliverance in the battle of Aljubarrota, one -of the most signal and important victories in the -age of chivalry. The country was too open for -his force, and he therefore remained at Alcobaça, -watching the movements of the enemy, -and hoping to be joined by Loison. That general, -meantime, had suffered much on his march -through Alem-Tejo, from the excessive heat and -the want of water. Though there were none to -oppose them in the field or harass them, the -French felt what it was to be in a country where -every inhabitant regarded them with a deadly -hatred. Wherever they went the towns and villages -were deserted; ... meat, wine, and even -bread, were wanting; and the persons who fell -into their hands, or perhaps remained in their -line for the purpose of deceiving them, sent them -out of their way in search of springs or rivulets, -which when they reached them were dry; ... or - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 172.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -of stagnant waters, wherein hemp was steeped, -and of which, nauseous and noisome as it was, -the men could not be prevented from drinking -greedily. Many died of heat and exhaustion on -the way; and they who from fatigue or sickness -fell behind, were killed by the peasantry.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>G. Freire separates from the English.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Loison reached Abrantes on the 9th, crossing -the Tagus by the bridge of boats at that city. -He rested there one day, and, leaving 200 men -in garrison, proceeded on the next across the -Zezere to Thomar, where he arrived on the -same day that the main body of the English -reached Leiria, the two cities being about thirty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">182</span> -miles from each other. Laborde was at Alcobaça, -six leagues from the latter city, on the -road to Lisbon. Their object had been to join -at Leiria, but in this the British army had anticipated -them; and as there was no practicable -road for carriages between Thomar and Alcobaça, -Loison could only effect a junction with -Laborde by a circuitous route to the southward, -and thus the latter general was exposed to be -attacked alone. Bernardim de Freire, the Portugueze -commander, in his former conferences -with Sir Arthur, had expressed a wish that the -British commissariat would supply his troops -with British stores during the campaign. The -impossibility of complying with so unreasonable -a demand was pointed out; and Sir Arthur observed, -that it was a new thing to require any -army landing from its ships to supply not only -its own consumption of meal, but also that of -the native army which it was come to assist. He -added, however, that he did not expect to have -occasion to call upon the country for bread during -his march towards Lisbon; but that beef, wine, -and forage would be required, all of which the -Bishop of Porto had engaged should be supplied. -Notwithstanding this explanation, General -Freire renewed the subject on his arrival -at Leiria; and, instead of pursuing his march, -the following morning, at the hour appointed, -he sent a message to the British commander, -saying, that unless the Portugueze were to be -fed by the English commissariat, he would separate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">183</span> -them from the English army, and march for -Santarem by way of Thomar; urging as his reason, -that supplies would be scarce on the straight -road, but here there was great plenty, and he -should also be in a situation to cut off the retreat -of the French from Lisbon. Freire had -voluntarily placed himself and his troops under -Sir Arthur’s command only the day preceding.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Motives for his separation.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>There was another reason for this conduct, -which he did not communicate to the British -General. A fear had come upon the Portugueze -officers during the night, that Loison, -whose arrival at Abrantes they knew, would -turn upon the northern provinces; the fate of -Beja and Evora was before their eyes, and they -trembled for Coimbra. Their apprehensions were -confirmed by the arrival that night of dispatches -from the Governor of Coimbra, communicating -to General Freire, as information of the utmost -importance, that Laborde’s orders were to amuse -the Portugueze army, in order that Loison might -pass in their rear and destroy that city; thus, the -Governor added, it had been determined in a -council of war at Lisbon, and the advice was -sent to him by a person upon whom he had -entire reliance. It is very possible that the advice -came from the French themselves, for the -purpose of deceiving him. General Freire began -now to fear not only for his own retreat, but -even that the English, if they met with a repulse, -would be cut off from the Mondego, and unable -to retire to their ships. The truth is, that he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">184</span> -was unequal to his situation, and having persons -about him of as little experience as himself, -they confused one another. Concealing from -Sir Arthur this, which was the real cause of - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, v. 79–81.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -his vacillation, he chose to separate upon the -question of supplies. The danger of the plan -was pointed out to him, but in vain: Sir Arthur -urged him, equally in vain, to co-operate with -the British army in the deliverance of Portugal, -if he had any regard to his own honour, to the -honour of his country, or of his Prince: he then -requested him to send him 1000 infantry, with -his cavalry, 250 in number, and his 400 light -troops, engaging to feed them; and this was -done. He advised him, at all events, to remain -at Leiria, or Alcobaça, or any where in the rear -of the English, that his troops might not be unnecessarily -exposed to destruction; but notwithstanding -he was now assured that the English -General had found resources in the country fully -adequate to their subsistence, he said he should -persist in his plan. Sir Arthur, considering it of -importance, on political grounds, that the Portugueze -troops should accompany his march, would -have undertaken to feed them, if he could have -relied upon his commissariat; but this, he complained, -was so ill<a id="FNanchor_23" href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">23</a>composed, as to be incapable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">185</span> -of distributing, even to the British troops, -the ample supplies which had been procured -for them. Freire’s conduct was imputed to an -opinion that the English were too weak for the -service upon which they were advancing; it was -not suspected that he had received intelligence -which alarmed him, and which he had withheld -from the British commander. He was, however, -wise enough to follow the advice which he had -at first refused, and remained at Leiria.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Skirmish near Caldas.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the 14th, Sir Arthur reached Alcobaça, -from which the French fell back the preceding -night: the next day he arrived at Caldas. Laborde -and Thomieres were now at Roliça, about -ten miles off, and their advanced posts were -within a league of the Caldas. Four companies -of riflemen were ordered to drive them back; -they were tempted to an incautious pursuit; a -superior body of the enemy endeavoured to -cut them off, and would have succeeded, had -not General Spencer come to their support. A -trifling loss was sustained in this affair, but the -village was won, and the French retired entirely -from the neighbourhood; their picquets having -been driven from Obidos.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Laborde takes a position at Roliça.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The country between the Caldas and Obidos -is a sandy level, with an open pine wood. Obidos<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">186</span> -itself stands finely upon an insulated hill, and -a little beyond a mountainous or hilly region -begins, the ascent from the low country being -abrupt and difficult. Laborde had retired thither, -knowing the strength of the ground, and expecting -to be joined there by Loison, who, he -knew, would make every exertion to effect his -junction in time. That junction had once already -been prevented by the timely arrival of the British -at Leiria, and Sir Arthur now advanced for the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">August 17.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -purpose of a second time preventing it. The -enemy were drawn up at the foot of the hill, in -front of their position; they retired to the heights, -and Sir Arthur, having reconnoitred the ground, -and seen how difficult the attack in front would -be, determined to attack both flanks. He therefore -directed Major-General Ferguson, with 3000 -men, to turn the enemy’s right, and Major-General -Hill to attack the left, while the Portugueze -troops, under Colonel Trant, by a wider -movement on that side, were to penetrate to his -rear. Meanwhile columns under Major-Generals -Crawford, Nightingale, and Fane, were to assemble -in the plain, ready to force their way up -the passes as soon as it should be seen that the -enemy were shaken. This plan, which would -have ensured success with the least possible loss, -was frustrated by some mistake in the delivery -of an order. Ferguson’s brigade was, in consequence -of this error, brought into the plain to -support the central movement; and the attack -was made in front, upon the strength of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">187</span> -position, before the enemy apprehended any -danger on the flanks or in the rear, and consequently -while they were able to apply their whole -force and undivided attention where they were -strongest.</p> - -<p>Roliça was at that time a large and beautiful -village, with more appearance of comfort and -welfare about it than was usual in Portugueze -villages. The place, with its five dependent -hamlets, contained about three hundred families, -the larger half of the population being in Roliça -itself. Most of the houses had an inclosed garden -or orchard, and the country is full of olive -grounds, vineyards, and gardens, with stone inclosures. -A little beyond Roliça is the hamlet -of N. Senhora de Misericordia, a place of fewer -houses, but of the same description: just without -this village the British artillery was well placed, -on a rising ground, where there stood some of -those strong and well-built windmills which are -common in Portugal; below were olive grounds, -and an open grove of ilex or cork, under cover -of which our troops were enabled to approach -and deploy with little loss, though the French -kept up a constant fire from the heights. Laborde -had planted his eagle on the highest point -of Monte S. Anna, near a wooden cross, which -marked the spot of some murder or accidental -death. The view from those heights is singularly -beautiful, presenting just such objects as Gaspar -Poussin delighted in painting, and in such combination -as he would have placed them; rocks and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">188</span> -hills rising in the valley, open groves, churches -with their old galilees, and houses with all the -picturesque varandas and porticos which bespeak -a genial climate; Obidos with its walls and towers -upon an eminence in middle distance, and its -aqueduct stretching across the country as far as -the eye could follow it; Monte Junto far to the -east, and on the west the Atlantic. And till the -iniquitous invasion of the country by France, -there had been something in the condition of -the people here which accorded with the loveliness -of the scene wherein they were placed. -Such as their lot was, they were contented with -it; three and even four generations were found -under the same roof: like plants, they grew, and -seeded, and decayed, and returned to earth upon -the spot where they had sprung up. If this state -of things be not favourable to commercial prosperity -and the wealth of nations, it is far more -conducive to individual virtue and happiness -than the stage by which it is succeeded.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Battle of Roliça.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Upon this beautiful ground it was that the -British troops were first to be tried against the -soldiers of Buonaparte in the Peninsula. The -strength of the enemy’s position fully compensated -for their inferiority in numbers. The -way by which the assailants had to ascend was -up ravines, rather than paths, more practicable -for goats than men, so steep, that in many parts -a slip of the foot would have been fatal, in some -parts overgrown with briars, and in others impeded -by fragments of rock. Three of these<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">189</span> -dry water-courses, which appeared the least difficult, -were attempted; that in the centre was -the most promising, and this the 9th and 29th -regiments attacked. They were protected in -their advance by the fire of our artillery. The -way would not admit more than three or four -men abreast, in no place more than six. Near -the top there was a small opening, in the form -of a wedge, overgrown at the point with a thick -coppice of myrtle, arbutus, arborescent heath, -and those other shrubs which in this part of -Portugal render the wild country so beautiful. -An ambush of riflemen had been posted here, -and here Colonel Lake, of the 29th, fell, with -many of his men. When they had reached the -summit, they were exposed to a fire from the -vineyards, while they could not form a front to -return it. The grenadier company, by a brave -charge upon that part of the enemy who were -in the open ground, won for them time to form; -and though Laborde, with great promptitude, -rallied the French as soon as they gave way, and -brought them thrice to the charge, they kept -their ground. This severe contention had continued -two hours, when Brigadier-General Fane, -with the light troops, appeared on the right, and -Major-General Hill on the left. Laborde then -deemed it necessary to abandon his first line and -retire into the hamlet of Azambugeira, which -was in the rear. Throughout the action this -General had shown that the high military reputation -which he enjoyed was well founded;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">190</span> -all his movements were judiciously planned, and -rapidly and well executed, men and officers giving -good proof of skill and courage. The superiority -of the British troops was therefore finely shown; -for, from the nature of the ground, and from -unavoidable circumstances, the force which on -our side was actually engaged was by no means -equal to that of the enemy. A gallant charge, -under Major-General Spencer, drove them from -this last position in the hamlet; the advantage -could not be followed up for want of cavalry, -and also because of the difficulty of bringing up -cannon and more troops in time. Laborde therefore, -making his last stand upon a height beyond -Azambugeira, collected his troops on the plain -ground behind, formed them into lines, and then -retired toward Torres Vedras, leaving his guns -upon the field.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Abrantes occupied by the Portugueze.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The loss of the British, in killed, wounded, -and missing, was nearly 500. The French<a id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">24</a> acknowledge -to have lost nearly 600. Laborde<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">191</span> -was slightly wounded at the beginning of the -action. Even during the action he was in hopes -that Loison might arrive; but Loison, finding -that the English were before him at Leiria, found -it necessary to take the line of Torres Novas and -Santarem, and so for Torres Vedras. The Portugueze -had anxiously watched his movements, -and no sooner was it ascertained that he had left -Thomar, than they prepared to cut off the small -garrison which he had left in Abrantes. Freire -had ordered Bacellar to get possession of that -city, with the aid of some Spanish troops under -the Marques de Valadares, who had arrived at -Castello Branco. Captain Manoel de Castro -Correa de Lacerda had been sent forward to -obtain certain intelligence of the enemy; and -he finding circumstances favourable, and adventurers -enough to join him, determined, with -three priests militant, by name Captain-Father -P. Manoel Domingos Crespo, Lieutenant-Father -Lourenço Pires, and Ensign-Father José Nicolao -Beja, to make the attempt without waiting for -the Spaniards. They collected at Villa de Rei -some three hundred men, armed with hunting-spears, -and a few with firelocks; a considerable -number of the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Ordenanças</i> joined them during -the night on the heights of Abrançalha, which -was the place appointed for their meeting; and -early on the morning of that day on which the -battle of Roliça was fought, they entered Abrantes, -leaving Ensign-Father Beja with a party of spearmen -in ambush to cut off the enemy if they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">192</span> -should attempt to fly. The French, upon the -first appearance of danger, retired into the old -castle, and fired from the windows, ... for there -was no artillery there. Upon this Father Crespo -stationed some sharp-shooters upon the roof of -S. Vicente’s church, which was opposite. The -enemy, then knowing how impossible it was to -hold out in their unprovided state, resolved to -sally, and make for the river side, where they -had four vessels laden with stores, about to fall -down the stream for Lisbon; but before they -could reach the shore, they were surrounded by -such numbers, and lost so many men, that they -laid down their arms. They who were on board -the vessels, seeing their danger, leaped into the -river; some perished in attempting to cross it, -they who reached the opposite shore were pursued -and hunted down like wild beasts; fifty-two -were killed that day, and 117 taken prisoners; -the few who escaped for the time had no place -of safety near, and fell into the hands of the -peasantry. The Corregedor-Mor at this time -met with a miserable fate. Because of the office -which he unfortunately held, the French had -made him the instrument of their exactions: the -same constitutional timidity which prevented -him from resigning his post rather than obey -their tyrannical orders, induced him now to fly, -in the unworthy hope of securing himself under -their protection. He therefore forded the river, -and hid himself in a vineyard; there a peasant -discovered him, to whom he immediately offered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">193</span> -200 milreis if he would conduct him to the -French army; the villain took the money, led -him to a solitary place, stabbed him in five places, -then robbed him, and left him to expire. On -the third day he was found by some women, -still alive, and was carried to Abrantes; no care -availed to save his life, and he died rather of -inanition and loss of blood, than from the nature - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, v. 95–105.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -of his wounds; but he was able to relate what -had passed, so that the murderer was apprehended -and brought to justice.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Movements in Alem-Tejo and Algarve.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Among the French effects which were taken -at Abrantes were about 200 hides and 1000 bags -of cotton, which the state of the intermediate -country had prevented them from sending into -France: they had carried on a gainful trade while -the communication was open. But now they -began to feel that the amount of their gains and -of their plunder was in danger. In spite of all -prohibitions and precautions, some intelligence -still found its way to Lisbon. The British squadron -and the transports had been seen from the -heights, and though the French abated nothing -of their high tone, the inhabitants were now well -assured that their deliverance was at hand. As -the only course which offered any hope of extricating -himself, Junot resolved to collect the -whole of his disposable force, and give the English -battle before their reinforcements arrived, -and before they should be ready to act on the -offensive. The only places in which he left -garrisons were Elvas, Almeida, and Peniche.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">194</span> -Setubal had hitherto been occupied by a force -under General Graindorge, who had succeeded -Kellermann in the command there. His situation -had not been tranquil, while Mestre had -taken possession of Alcacere do Sal, and an English -frigate was off the port. But Mestre was -recalled in all haste to Beja, when that city, after -the fate of Evora, apprehended a second visitation -with fire and sword. The men whom he -commanded gave on this occasion proof of that -patient and uncomplaining spirit with which the -Spaniards and Portugueze endure privations. -They started fasting and without provisions, and -after a long day’s march reached the little town -of Odivella, where no rations had been provided -for them. Mestre and his adjutant then went -from door to door, to beg bread, and with the -bread which was thus obtained they were contented -and cheerful. Aware of the alarm which -Loison’s operations had excited, Graindorge resolved -to clear the neighbourhood, and the Juntas -of Alcacere, Santiago de Cacem, and Grandola, -fled at his approach. But when Beja was relieved -from danger by Loison’s movements to the north, -Mestre, who had been dispatched toward Evora, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Alcacere do Sal and Setubal abandoned by the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -was ordered to return upon Alcacere, and the -same direction was taken by one body of men from -Algarve, and by another under Lopes from Beja. -Graindorge had now received orders to retire -with his troops to Almada; Alcacere therefore was -abandoned when the Portugueze arrived there, -and Setubal also. Setubal had been singularly fortunate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">195</span> -during a time of general rapacity. Perfect -order had been maintained there while Solano -and the Spaniards possessed it; and when Graindorge -succeeded Kellermann, a Portugueze woman, -who lived with him as his mistress, had -influence enough to prevent him from delivering -up that beautiful town to pillage, which his men -required, and which, it is said, they had been - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, iv. 173–179. -<br /> -Observador Portuguez, 291.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -promised. The Portugueze writers ought not -to have passed over in silence the name of one -who averted so much evil, and who, it may well -be believed, was more to be pitied than condemned -for her frailty.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Measures at Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>About 300 men were left at Palmella. Graindorge -had two regiments under his command at -Almada and other places on the left bank of the -Tagus. The forts at the Bugio, Trafaria, and -St. Julien, were occupied by the French, and -they had troops also at Cascaes and Ericeyra. -Sufficient force was to be left in and near Lisbon, -to keep down the inhabitants, by the presumed -aid of the Russian squadron, whose presence in -the river was of great importance to Junot at -this time. The enemy had recourse also to their -usual policy of circulating fabricated intelligence. -They affirmed, that 20,000 French had arrived -at Braganza, and they produced Badajoz Gazettes -which must have been forged for the purpose, -relating the defeat and consternation of the Spaniards, -and the rejoicings with which Joseph had -been received on his triumphant entrance into -Madrid. Few persons were deceived by these -artifices. On the 15th the Emperor Napoleon’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">196</span> -birthday was celebrated; the guns from the ships -and fortresses were fired, Junot gave a grand -entertainment to his officers, and appeared afterwards -at the Opera in state; but meantime every -thing was made ready for his departure. The -night was passed in giving orders, and at daybreak -the reserve was in motion, with the staff, -the military chest, containing a million francs, -and the most precious and portable part of their -plunder. The Comte de Bourmont, and some -other French emigrant officers who had found an -asylum in Lisbon during the horrors of the Revolution, -on this occasion joined the French -army, the Count at his own solicitation being -placed upon the staff, to fight against a government -by whose bounty they had been supported, -and a people who had hospitably received them -in their distress: and for this moral treason - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 406.<br />Thiebault, 187–8.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -they have been extolled in their own country, -with that perversion of principle and utter insensibility -to honour, which equally characterise -the schools of the Revolution, and of Buonaparte.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Proclamation to the people of Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It had been proposed to form a national guard -at Lisbon at this time, composed of all who had -any property to protect; but this was rejected, -less as being impracticable than as dangerous. -The Lisbonians had too much reason to execrate -their oppressors. Their sufferings, though not -of that kind which give a splendour to history, -and consecrate the memory of the sufferers, had -been more pitiable, for they had been long continued -and obscure. The French themselves<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">197</span> -confessed, that they knew not how the people -of Lisbon subsisted during the three months -preceding the harvest; - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 95.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -for it was known that -the consumption of food in that great city was -only one-third of what it used to be, and the -numbers who had been expelled, who had emigrated -with the court, or had found means of -following it, were not greater than that of the -foreign troops who had been introduced. Impossible -as it was to conciliate a people upon -whom they had inflicted such deep and irreparable -injuries, the French deemed it politic at this time -to take the most conciliatory measures in their -power; if the popular feeling could be repressed -or allayed only for a few days, by that time they -should either have obtained a victory over the -English, or have placed themselves by treaty -under the safeguard of British honour. With -these views Junot left a decree, that the heads -of the tribunals, and the chief persons among -the nobility and clergy, should be invited to -assist at the council of government during his -absence. He left also a proclamation to the inhabitants -of Lisbon, saying, that he was departing -from them for three or four days, to give battle -to the English, and whatever might be the event, -he should return. “I leave,” said he, “to govern -Lisbon, a general who, by the mildness and firmness -of his character, has obtained the friendship -of the Portugueze at Cascaes and Oeyras; General -Travot will, by these same virtues, obtain -that of the inhabitants of Lisbon. Hitherto you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">198</span> -have been tranquil; it is your interest to continue -so! do not stain yourselves with a horrible -crime at the moment when, without any danger -of your own, the lot of arms is about to determine -by what power you are to be governed. -Reflect for an instant upon the interests of the -three nations who are contending for the possession -of Lisbon. What the French desire is the -glory and the prosperity of the city and of the -kingdom, for this is the interest and the policy -of France. Spain wishes to invade Portugal and -reduce it to a province, that she may again make -herself mistress of the Peninsula. And England -would domineer over you for the purpose of destroying -your port and your navy, and impeding -the progress of industry among you. The English -regard the magnificence of your port with envy; -they will not suffer it to exist so near them, and -they have no hope of preserving it. They know -that a new French army has already passed your -frontiers, and that if this should not be sufficient, -another will come after it; but they will have -destroyed your naval establishments, they will -have caused the destruction of Lisbon, and this -is what they aim at, and what they desire: they -know that they cannot maintain themselves upon -the Continent; but if they can destroy the ports -and the navy of any other power, they are content. -I depart full of confidence in you. I reckon -upon all the citizens who are interested in the -preservation of public order; and I am persuaded -that it will be preserved. Call to mind the miseries<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">199</span> -which must necessarily follow, if this beautiful -city should compel my troops to enter it by force! -The exasperated soldiers would not be then to be -controlled; ... fire, sword, all the horrors of war -which are practised in a city taken by assault, ... -pillage, ... death, ... behold what you would draw - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 408.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -upon yourselves! The thought alone makes me -shudder. Inhabitants of Lisbon, avert from yourselves -these terrible calamities!”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Preparations on board the Russian squadron.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The tone of the French was somewhat altered -in their menaces. There had been no shuddering -when the fate of Beja and Evora was announced -to the people of Lisbon, nor when the -massacre at Leiria was perpetrated. Care was -taken to manifest that the French were prepared -to execute their threats if needful. The Russian -squadron, which lay at anchor in a line from -Junqueira to Boa Vista, was made ready for -action, the men being stationed at their quarters -with lighted matches; they, no doubt, apprehended -an attack from the English fleet, but - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 410.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -La Garde intimated that they would fire upon -the city in case an insurrection were attempted. -Justly apprehensive, however, for his personal -safety, this Intendant, whom, because perhaps -of his office, the people regarded with peculiar -hatred, went sometimes to pass the night on -board the Vasco da Gama, and General Travot, -though he was evidently esteemed by the people -for his mild and honourable conduct (so much -is a good name worth even in the worst times) -thought it prudent not to sleep out of the Castle.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">200</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Junction of Loison, Laborde, and Junot.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Junot went by water to Villa Franca, and -leaving Thiebault there to command the reserve, -joined Loison at Alcoentre. That General had -reached Santarem on the 13th, in a deplorable -condition. The weather was intensely hot, without -a cloud in the sky, or a breath of air stirring. -Whole companies lay down upon the way; many -died of thirst, and more would have perished if -the officers of the staff, as soon as they arrived at -that city, had not gone out with a great number -of the inhabitants carrying water to meet them; -brandy also was sent out, and carts to convey -those who were unable to proceed farther on -foot. Each of Loison’s long marches at this -time is said to have cost him not less than an -hundred men. The troops were so dreadfully -exhausted, that he was compelled to remain two -days at Santarem. On the 16th he proceeded -to Alcoentre, where Junot joined him the next -day; they then moved to Cercal, and on the day -after the action at Roliça the British army distinctly - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Early Campaigns, 18.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -saw their columns in the line of Torres -Vedras. To that place Laborde was now recalled, -who had retreated beyond it to Montachique; -he effected his junction on the 19th, and - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 190–193.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -when General Thiebault arrived with the reserve -on the 20th, the whole force which Junot could -bring into the field was collected there, in number -about 12,000 infantry, and 1200 or 1500 horse.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The British advance to Vimeiro.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Sir Arthur had not pursued Laborde after the -battle of Roliça; the line by which the enemy - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">August 18.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -retired would have led him from the sea. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">201</span> -was beginning his march for Torres Vedras on -the morrow, when he received advice that General -Anstruther was arrived on the coast. His -original intention had been to employ this General’s -brigade, and that of General Acland, in -besieging Peniche, if that should be necessary; -otherwise to land them in some of the bays near -the rock, in the rear of the enemy, while he -pressed upon their front. But the resistance -which he had experienced at Roliça, and his -disappointment of any co-operation from Freire, -induced him now to land General Anstruther’s -troops, and join them to the army. He proceeded -therefore to the village of Vimeiro, that -being the position best calculated to effect his -junction, and, at the same time, a march in advance. -Calms prevented the fleet, which was -anchored off the Berlings, from standing in, till -the evening of the 19th. The brigade was then -landed at Maceira, upon a sandy beach, at the -foot of a cliff almost perpendicular, the ascent -of which is exceedingly steep and difficult. The -landing was a measure of extreme difficulty and - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>General Anstruther’s brigade lands.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -hazard. The boats were almost always filled in -going-in by the surf, many were swamped, and -a few men perished; the disembarkation, however, -by the great exertions and skill of the navy, -was effected with less loss than might have been -expected. The French could not oppose the landing, -but, profiting by their superiority in cavalry, -they sent a body of dragoons, in the hope of attacking -the brigade on its march. Against this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">202</span> -danger due precautions had been taken. The -troops, when they had marched about three -leagues, found a detachment under General -Spencer waiting at Lourinham to receive them, -and took their place in the advanced guard.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Arrival of Sir Harry Burrard in the roads.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French cavalry were active during this and -the preceding day; they scoured the country, and -Sir Arthur could obtain no information of the -enemy, except that their position was very strong, -and occupied by their whole force. On the 20th, -at noon, it was announced that General Acland -was in the offing; and on the evening of the same -day Sir Harry Burrard, the second in command, -arrived in Maceira Roads. Sir Arthur immediately -went on board, informed him of what had -been done, and of the present state of things, and -laid before him the plan of operations upon which -he had intended to proceed. His purpose was -to march on the following morning, push his advanced -guard to Mafra, and halt the main body -about four or five miles from that place, thus -turning the enemy’s position at Torres Vedras. -He possessed as much knowledge of the ground -as good maps and scientific descriptions could -impart; Sir Charles Stuart (a man whose great -military talents had never been allowed a field -whereon to display themselves) had carefully -surveyed this part of the country when he commanded -the British troops in Portugal; it had -not escaped him, that upon this ground, in case -of serious invasion, the kingdom must be saved -or lost; and his maps and papers were in Sir<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">203</span> -Arthur’s hands. The battle would thus be fought -in a country of which he had adequate knowledge, -and he hoped to enter Lisbon with the -retreating or flying enemy. Such was the plan -which he had formed, and orders for marching -on the morrow had actually been issued, before -Sir Harry’s arrival.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He alters the plan of the campaign.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>To Sir Arthur, who had a well-founded confidence -in himself and in his troops, no prospect -could have been more encouraging; but the new -commander did not behold it hopefully. The -objections to a forward movement preponderated -in his mind; he learnt that the artillery<a id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">25</a> horses<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">204</span> -were inefficient, that our men, for want of cavalry, -were kept close to their encampments by the -enemy’s horse; and that it would not be possible -to go far into the country, because they depended -upon the ships for bread. Weighing these things, -he was not convinced that Sir Arthur’s intentions -were expedient; the decision which he was now -to make appeared to him most serious in its consequences; -he thought it was impossible to calculate -the disasters to which a check might -expose the army, and therefore he deemed it -necessary to wait for Sir John Moore’s division. -Sir Arthur had recommended that that division, -when it arrived in the Mondego, should march -upon Santarem, a position from whence it might -intercept the enemy’s retreat, whether they attempted -to make their way to Almeida or to -Elvas; but the new commander hearing on his -way of the action at Roliça, and disapproving -this arrangement, had immediately dispatched -instructions by which Sir John Moore was directed -to proceed from the Mondego, and join -him as speedily as possible in Maceira Roads. -In vain did Sir Arthur represent the precious -time that would be lost before this division could -be landed and become serviceable at Vimeiro; -the far greater utility which might be expected -from its presence at Santarem; the evil of at once -changing their operations from an offensive to a -defensive course; and of allowing the enemy to -choose their time and ground. For, situated as -the two armies now were, it was impossible to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">205</span> -avoid an action. If the British troops advanced, -they would have the advantage of acting on the -offensive; it was his opinion that they might -reach Mafra before the French could bring on -a general engagement; and in that case they -should turn the French position. But these representations -were unavailing; an inauspicious -spirit of caution prevailed. The whole plan of -the campaign was changed; and with the enemy -collected within three leagues, the army was -ordered to remain stationary, till a corps should -arrive, of which no tidings had yet been received. -In a general who commands good troops the want -of confidence is as great a fault as the excess of -it in the commander of an ill-disciplined army.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The battle of Vimeiro.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was soon seen how well Sir Arthur had -judged of the enemy’s intentions. Junot was ill -supplied with provisions; he could not venture -long to be absent from Lisbon: situated as he -was, it appeared to him that there would be less -evil in an immediate defeat, than must arise from -prolonged operations, though they should lead - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 194.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to a victory. His business, therefore, was to -bring on an action as soon as possible, and to -make the attack; and at the moment when Sir -Harry Burrard, resolving upon delay, had countermanded -the orders for advancing on the morrow, -the French were in motion.</p> - -<p>Vimeiro, a name which was now to become -memorable in British and Portugueze history, -is a village situated nearly at the bottom of a -lovely valley, about three miles from the sea, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">206</span> -screened from the sea breeze by mountainous -heights, through which the little river Maceira -winds its way. The village stands at the eastern -extremity of these heights; and on the opposite -side, separated from them by a deep ravine, are -other heights, over which the road to Lourinham -passes, a little town in the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Termo</i> or district of -which the parishes of Vimeiro and Maceira are -included. The western termination reaches the -sea-shore. As the army had halted here only -for the night, meaning to proceed early on the -morrow, they were disposed of, not as expecting -an attack, but as most convenient for the troops. -Six brigades bivouacked on the height to the -westward. The advanced guard was posted on -a hill south-east of Vimeiro, to cover the commissariat -and stores which were in the village: -this height was entirely commanded by higher -ground to the westward. The cavalry and the -reserve of artillery were in the valley, between -the hills on which the infantry were placed; and -there were picquets of observation on the hills -to the eastward.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Aug. 21.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The enemy, who had marched all night, and -whom some accidents had impeded on their way, -first appeared at eight in the morning, forming -in strong bodies upon the heights toward Lourinham, -thus threatening the advanced guard and -the left, which was the weak part of the British -position. Sir Arthur had visited the advanced -posts early in the day, and had returned to his -quarters before the first shots were exchanged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">207</span> -with the enemy’s advance. He now moved -the brigades of Generals Ferguson, Nightingale, -Acland, and Bowes, successively across the ravine -to the heights on the Lourinham road. -General Anstruther’s brigade took post on the -right of the advanced guard, and Major-General -Hill was moved nearer, as a support to these -troops, and as a reserve, in addition to which -our small cavalry force was in the rear of their -right. The French army was in two divisions, ... -the right, of about 6000 men, under General -Loison; the left, about 5000, under Laborde. -Kellermann had the reserve, which was intended -to connect the two wings, but they were too -distant from each other. General Margaron -commanded the cavalry.</p> - -<p>Laborde came along the valley to attack the -advanced guard on the eminence or table hill; -he had a column of infantry and cavalry to cover -his left flank, and on his right one regiment -marched in column to turn the defenders, and -penetrate the village by the church; but this -purpose had been foreseen, and part of the 43rd -had been ordered into the churchyard to prevent -it. The French advanced with perfect steadiness, -though exposed to a severe fire of riflemen -posted behind the trees and banks, and of seven -pieces of artillery well directed. They advanced -like men accustomed to action and to victory; -but suffering more severely as they drew nearer, -and especially from the Shrapnell shells, (then -first brought into use,) they faltered, and opened<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">208</span> -a confused fire. Still they advanced, and arrived -within a few paces of the brow of the hill, where -the 50th regiment, under Colonel Walker, with -a single company of the rifle corps on its left, -stood opposed to them. That regiment poured -upon them a destructive volley, and instantly -charged with the bayonet, and penetrated the -angle of the column, which then broke and -turned. The regiment which was entering the -village by the church, was attacked in flank by -General Acland’s brigade, then advancing to its -position on the heights; and our cavalry, poor -in number as it was, charged with effect. The -discomfiture of this column was then complete; -they fled, leaving about 1000 men on the ground, -350 prisoners, and seven pieces of artillery; and -they were pursued for nearly two miles to the -plain beyond the woody ground, where they -were supported by a reserve of horse, and where -Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, of the 20th light dragoons, -who particularly distinguished himself that -day, fell, with many of his men, overpowered by -a much superior force of cavalry. The secondary -column, under General Brenier, which was -to have supported Laborde in his attack, made a -side movement to the left, in order to cross the -ravine, and thus it was separately engaged by -General Anstruther’s brigade; and being charged -with the bayonet, was repulsed with great loss. -An aide-de-camp of Sir Arthur’s coming up to -tell this General that a corps should be sent to -his assistance, he replied, “Sir, I am not pressed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">209</span> -and I want no assistance; I am beating the -French, and am able to beat them wherever I -find them.”</p> - -<p>Loison’s attack was made nearly at the same -time as Laborde’s: it was supported by a large -body of cavalry, and made with the characteristic -and imposing impetuosity of French troops. -They drove in our light troops, but they were -checked by General Ferguson’s brigade, consisting -of the 36th, 40th, and 71st, which formed -the first line; after some close and heavy firing -of musketry, the 82d and 29th came up, and the -brigades of Generals Bowes and Acland. The -enemy were then charged with the bayonet; this -weapon is of French invention, but it was made -for British hands. They came to the charge -bravely, and stood it for a moment; ... in that -moment their foremost rank fell “like a line -of grass before the mowers.” This is not the -flourish of an historian, seeking artfully to embellish -details which no art can render interesting -to any but military readers; it is the language -of an actor in the scene, who could not call it to -mind in after-hours without shuddering; for the -very men whose superiority was thus decidedly -proved, could not speak without involuntary awe, -of so complete and instantaneous a destruction, -produced as it was, not by artillery or explosions, -but by their own act and deed, and the strength -of their own hearts and hands. The bodies of -about 300 French grenadiers were counted upon -the field, who had fallen in this charge. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">210</span> -enemy were pursued to a considerable distance, -and six pieces of cannon were taken in the pursuit. -General Kellermann made a vigorous attempt, -late in the action, to recover these from -the 71st and 82d, which were halted in a valley -where the guns had been captured. These regiments -retired a little way to some advantageous -ground, then faced about, fired, and advancing -with the bayonet, drove the French back with -great loss. Thus were they every where repulsed, -though their whole force had been engaged, -while not more than half the British army had -been brought into action.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir Harry Burrard takes the command.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Before the action began Sir Harry Burrard -and his staff left the ship; they soon heard the -firing after they were on shore, and by the time -they reached Vimeiro, which is about three -miles from the landing-place, the armies were -hotly engaged. They found Sir Arthur on the -heights, and he explained in few words to the new -Commander the position of the army, and the -measures which he had taken for beating the -enemy. Sir Harry was perfectly satisfied, and -directed him to go on with an operation which -he had so happily and so well begun. This he -did not as giving up his command for the time, -but as fulfilling one of the functions of a commander, -by directing Sir Arthur to pursue measures -which he approved, and holding himself as -responsible for the event as if the plan had been -originally his own. So far all was well. Toward -the close of the action, when the French were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">211</span> -beaten on the left, and it was evident that they -must be every where defeated, Sir Arthur went to -him, and represented that this was the moment for -advancing; that he ought to move the right wing -to Torres Vedras, and pursue the beaten enemy -with the left. By this movement upon Torres -Vedras, the French would be cut off from the -nearest road to Lisbon, or if they attempted it, -they would find themselves between two bodies -of our troops; there remained for them, as the -alternative, the circuitous route by Alenquer and -Villa Franca; ... they were dispirited, beaten, and -in confusion, absolutely, in his opinion, incapable -of forming or of appearing again in the shape of -an army, if they were followed even at a slower -rate by a victorious enemy; and this he said, -giving them full credit for discipline and great -facility in forming after having been broken. -There was plenty of ammunition in the camp for -another battle, and provisions for twelve days. -But neither these representations, urged as they -were with natural and fitting warmth, nor the -victory which was before his eyes, could induce -the new Commander to deviate from his former -opinion. He replied, that he saw no reason to -change his purpose, and that the same motives -which induced him yesterday to wait for reinforcements, -had still the same weight. At this -moment the enemy were retiring in great disorder, -and most completely disheartened by their -defeat. Sir Arthur, grieved at seeing the irrecoverable -opportunity go by, made a second attempt<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">212</span> -to convince the Commander that victory -was in his hands. General Ferguson had sent -his aide-de-camp to represent the great advantage -of advancing, ... he himself could, in fact, have -cut off a considerable body of the enemy. Sir -Arthur took the aide-de-camp to the Commander. -But this second representation was as ineffectual -as the first. His Adjutant-General, Brigadier-General -Clinton, and Colonel Murray, his Quarter-Master-General, -who had coincided in opinion -with him the preceding evening, agreed with -him now also. He had just heard from an officer -who had passed through General Freire’s troops, -such an account of them and their proceedings, -as precluded any hope of rendering them useful; -the artillery horses seemed to him inefficient; but -more especially the want of cavalry, he thought, -incapacitated the army from following up its success. -The 260 Portugueze horse which were -with us had shown themselves nearly useless; -the British were only 210 in number, and they -had suffered severely in the action, ... this was -known, though the extent of their loss had not -yet been ascertained. These difficulties preponderated -with him; he adhered still to his -determination; and Sir Arthur, whose sense of -military duty would not allow him to act in disregard -of orders, as Nelson was accustomed to -do, turned to one of his officers, and concealing -the bitterness of disappointment under a semblance -of levity, said, “Well, then, we have nothing -to do, but to go and shoot red-legged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">213</span> -partridges,” ... the game with which that country -abounds. From that moment he gave up all -hope of cutting the French off from Lisbon, inclosing -them there, or preventing them, if they -thought proper to attempt it, from protracting -the campaign by retreating upon Elvas and -Almeida.</p> - -<p>The loss of the enemy in this action was about -3000<a id="FNanchor_26" href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">26</a> killed and wounded, thirteen pieces of -artillery, and twenty-three ammunition waggons; -that of the English little more than 700 killed, -wounded, and missing. The British numbers in -the field were 16,000, of which only half had -been engaged; the French were about 14,000, including -1300 cavalry, and the whole of this force -was brought into action. General Solignac was -severely wounded; General Brenier wounded, -and left on the field. He was in danger of being -put to death by those into whose hands he had -fallen, when a Highlander, by name Mackay, -who was a corporal in the 71st, came up and -rescued him. The French General, in gratitude -for his preservation, offered him his watch and -purse; but Mackay refused to accept them. -When he had delivered his prisoner in safety to -Colonel Pack, the French General could not -help saying, “What sort of man is this? He has -done me the greatest service, and yet refuses to -take the only reward which I can at present<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">214</span> -offer him!” Brenier no doubt contrasted this -with the conduct of his countrymen, in whose -rapacities and cruelties, it appears by the testimony -of the Portugueze, that he had no share; -when, therefore, Colonel Pack replied, “We are -British soldiers, sir, and not plunderers,” he must -have deeply felt the disgrace which had been -brought upon the French character. Mackay -was immediately made a serjeant by Sir Arthur -Wellesley’s express desire; and the Highland -Society, at their next meeting, voted him a gold -medal, with a suitable device and inscription. -The piper to the grenadier company of the same -regiment, Stewart was his name, received early -in the action a dangerous wound in the thigh: -he would not, however, be carried off the field, -but, sitting down<a id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">27</a> where his comrades might -hear him, he continued playing warlike airs till -the end of the engagement. A handsome stand -of Highland pipes, with an inscription commemorating -the manner in which he had deserved -the donation, was voted him by the Highland -Society.</p> - -<p>Most of the wounded French who fell into the -conqueror’s hands were young, and of delicate -appearance, ... apparently men whose lot would -not have fallen in the army, under any other -system than that of the conscription, though, -having been forced into it, they had acquired -the worst vices which have ever disgraced and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">215</span> -degraded the profession of arms. They were -dressed in long white linen coats and trowsers, -their firelocks were about six inches longer in -the barrel than ours, their bayonets about three -shorter, the locks of their pieces much better -finished, and the pans so constructed, that the -powder was not liable to fall out, ... an accident -which at that time often happened to ours. A -chaplain of the British army, as he was endeavouring -to render assistance to some of them, -while under the surgeon’s hands, addressed himself -to one in the language of commiseration, -and uttered, at the same time, a natural expression -of regret at the horrors of war: but the -Frenchman fiercely answered him, with a mixture -of pride and indignation, that he gloried in -his wounds, and that war was the greatest happiness -of life. During the whole day the armed -peasantry prowled about the field, taking vengeance -upon every wounded or straggling Frenchman -whom they could find, for the manifold -wrongs of their country, and the aggravated injuries -which they had endured. So conscious -indeed were the prisoners of the little mercy -which they deserved at their hands, that they -dreaded lest these men should break in upon -them, and massacre them all; and a guard was -stationed to protect them. The peasantry, however, -passed the night in the field, carousing -round a large fire, recounting to each other what -they had done, and rejoicing over the day’s -work.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">216</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French resolve to propose terms.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>In withholding the army from following up -the great advantage which it had gained, Sir -Harry Burrard knew how unpopular such a determination -must be, and sacrificed his own feelings -to his judgement. He thought it not allowable -to risk much when the reinforcements which -were at hand would make the British force so -superior, that any further efforts of the enemy -must be vain, and success would be obtained -without hazard and with less loss. He erred in -judgement; but this honourable testimony was -borne to him by Sir Arthur Wellesley, the person -of all others by whom that error must have been -felt most keenly, that he decided upon fair military -grounds in the manner which he thought -most conducive to the interests of the country. -The French failed not to profit by the respite -which was thus allowed them; they formed a -rear-guard of four regiments of cavalry, and retired<a id="FNanchor_28" href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">28</a> -at leisure, no attempt being made to harass -their retreat. Junot, who is said to have exposed -himself at the close of the action so as -hardly to have been saved from the British -cavalry, summoned Generals Laborde, Loison,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">217</span> -Kellermann, and Thiebault, upon the field, and -demanded their opinions, whether the army ought -again to try the lot of arms, and if not, what -course it should pursue. They agreed that they -were neither in a condition to give battle, nor -to stand one. Their troops were harassed, discontented, -and discouraged; their ammunition -would not last three hours longer; their provisions -were failing, their horses already sinking -for want of forage. Their losses were irreparable, -whereas the enemy were looking for strong -reinforcements; and, in fine, the slightest reverse -would now leave them at the mercy of the English -and Portugueze. Nothing remained but -to preserve the best attitude they could, and -retire to Lisbon, the possession of which was -now their only safeguard. They retreated accordingly -to Torres Vedras. A second council -was held there on the morrow; and upon a full -view of the difficulties and dangers<a id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">29</a> of their -situation, and the impossibility of effecting a retreat -through so large a part of Spain as must be -traversed before they could effect a junction with -their countrymen, they resolved to try what -could be done by negotiation. General Kellermann, -therefore, was dispatched with a flag of -truce to propose a convention for the evacuation -of Portugal. Meantime Sir Hew Dalrymple had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">218</span> -arrived and taken the command of the British -army, which thus had three commanders-in-chief -within twenty-four hours.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Arrival of Sir Hew Dalrymple.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Sir Hew Dalrymple had been expressly chosen -for this command because of the zeal and judgement -which he had displayed during the whole -of those important transactions in the south of -Spain on which so much depended, and in which -he had acted upon his own responsibility. In -a private letter from Lord Castlereagh, then -minister for the war department, Sir Arthur -Wellesley was recommended to his particular -confidence, and a full persuasion expressed that -that officer’s high reputation would alone dispose -Sir Hew to select him for any service which required -great prudence and temper, combined -with much military experience; but, above all, -that the habits of communication in which Sir -Arthur had for a length of time been with his -majesty’s ministers, concerning the affairs of -Spain, would point him out as an officer of -whom it would be desirable for the commander-in-chief, -on all accounts, to make the most prominent -use which the rules of the service would -permit. Sir Hew embarked at Gibraltar on the -13th; and learnt that night from Lord Collingwood, -who was off Cadiz, that Sir Arthur’s corps -had either landed, or was about to land, in -Mondego Bay. Arriving off the Tagus on the -19th, he was informed by Sir Charles Cotton, -that Sir Arthur was proceeding along the coast. -It was not Sir Hew’s wish to supersede that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">219</span> -General in a detached command for which he -had been particularly chosen, especially when -he was now completely engaged in an enterprise -from which it was impossible to recede, -and which required all his ability to accomplish. -Under these feelings, therefore, the Commander-in-chief -resolved to proceed to Mondego Bay, -and there join the expected reinforcements when -they should land, leaving Sir Arthur meantime -to pursue and complete his own plan. Seeing, -however, on the way a number of ships under -the land, and receiving a vague account of the -action at Roliça from a sloop of war, he sent an -aide-de-camp on shore for intelligence, ordering -him to inform Sir Arthur, if he chanced to see -him, that he was proceeding to fall in with Sir -Harry Burrard and the main body, and that -though he wished to be informed of his proceedings, -he did not mean to interfere with his -command. This was on the evening of the 21st; -about midnight the boat returned, bringing intelligence -of the battle, and that Sir Harry -Burrard was in command. There was now no -room for that delicacy toward Sir Arthur, as -honourable as it was judicious, which he had -resolved to observe. His determination was immediately -taken, and in the morning the frigate -stood in for the shore.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He orders the army to advance. <span class="date">Aug. 22.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>None of the official accounts which Sir Arthur -had addressed to him had been received; he -landed therefore with no other information than -what had been thus gathered upon the way, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">220</span> -entirely unacquainted with the actual state of the -French army. When he reached the beach they -were embarking the wounded for Porto; during -the whole night the sailors had been thus employed, -wading nearly up to the middle in the -sea, and displaying as much humanity as skill. -Arriving at Vimeiro, he found the army on the -ground which it had occupied the day before, -the dead lying on the field, and the carts still -busy in removing the wounded. That ground -had not been chosen as a military position, but -merely as a halting-place, and it was now necessary -to remove from it, because of the late -action. Sir Hew therefore gave orders for -marching the next morning at daybreak toward -Lisbon by way of Mafra. Like his predecessor, -he thought that Sir Arthur had entered -upon a hazardous operation, which, unless -it obtained complete success, must end in complete -ruin, the British having no prospect of -support, nor any thing upon which to fall back -in case of disaster, so that on their part the -battle would be fought for existence, while the -enemy, in case of defeat, would lose only what -were killed or taken. But he differed from Sir -Harry Burrard in this, that he deemed it imprudent -to wait for Sir John Moore’s division, -the arrival of which was extremely uncertain, -and that he saw the necessity of pursuing active -measures. The French, he knew, must either -give him battle, for the sake of defending Lisbon, -(a chance which he was willing to take, though<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">221</span> -they were superior in cavalry, and, as he thought, -in numbers, and though they would have the -great advantage of choosing their ground;) or -they would cross the Tagus.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Kellermann arrives to propose an armistice.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Soon after mid-day an alarm was given that the -enemy were advancing to renew the attack; the -position was taken as on the preceding morning. -It proved to be a body of cavalry with a flag -of truce; and General Kellermann alighting at -head-quarters, proposed an armistice, for the purpose -of concluding a treaty for the evacuation of -Portugal by the French. Sir Hew immediately -called for his two predecessors. He himself had -no means of knowing, but from them, what the -consequences of yesterday’s battle really had -been; the responsibility was his, but for the information -upon which the agreement was to be -founded, he trusted to them, and more especially -to Sir Arthur. That General’s plans had been -completely defeated by the refusal to follow up -the victory, and by the change which Sir Harry -Burrard, before he landed, had made in the intended -destination of Sir John Moore’s corps. -Considering, therefore, that in consequence of -these errors the enemy had been allowed leisure -to resume a formidable position between the -British army and Lisbon, and could not now -by any increase of the British numbers be prevented -from crossing the Tagus, and occupying -in strength the strong place of Elvas, with its -stronger fort La Lippe, and Almeida; that the -Tagus would not for some time longer be open<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">222</span> -to the fleet, the army meantime depending upon -the ships for supplies, and that its communication -with them by the coast must at that season be -most precarious: considering also how important -it was that the troops should not be delayed by -regular sieges in Portugal, but march as soon as -possible into Spain, he thought it expedient that -the French should be allowed to evacuate Portugal -with their arms and baggage, and that -every facility for this purpose should be afforded -them. They occupied at that time, in a military -point of view, he thought, the whole of Portugal, -having every strong hold in their hands; their -present situation enabled them still to avail themselves -of those possessions, and to strengthen -them as they might think proper; and he was -of opinion that an army which had its retreat -open, and possessed such advantages, had a fair -claim to be allowed such terms. He wished, -however, to limit the suspension of arms to -eight-and-forty hours. Sir Hew preferred that -it should be unlimited, as it had been proposed; -in this he had a view to the disembarkation of -Sir John Moore’s corps, which was not forbidden -by the agreement.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Terms of the armistice.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>An armistice accordingly for the purpose of -negotiating a definitive convention was concluded -upon<a id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">30</a> these terms: That the river Sisandre<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">223</span> -should be the line of demarcation between -the two armies, and that neither of them -should occupy Torres Vedras; that the English -general should bind himself to comprehend the -armed Portugueze in the truce, and that their -line of demarcation should be from Leiria to -Thomar: that it was agreed that the French -army should in no case be considered as prisoners -of war; that all the individuals of it should be -transported to France with their arms and baggage<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">224</span> -and private property, and that they should -be deprived of no part of it whatsoever: that no -individual, whether Portugueze, Frenchman, or -of a nation allied to France, should be molested -for his political conduct, but be protected, both -in person and property, and have liberty to retire -from Portugal within a limited time, with all his -effects: that the neutrality of the port of Lisbon -should be acknowledged for the Russian fleet; -that is to say, that, when the English army and -fleet should be in possession of the city and port, -the Russian fleet should neither be disturbed -during its stay, nor stopped when it might choose -to depart, nor pursued when it had sailed, till -after the time fixed, in such cases, by maritime -law: that all the French artillery, and all their -cavalry horses, should be transported to France.</p> - -<p>A demur was, with good reason, made concerning -the baggage and private property which -the French were to carry off with them; and -Kellermann explained, that the words were only -to bear their strict grammatical meaning. The -article regarding the Russians underwent more -discussion. Sir Hew insisted, that this was a -point referable to the Admiral, and that if he -did not agree to it, it must be struck out; with -this understanding on the part of the French -negotiator that article was framed.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Junot returns to Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>While Kellermann was thus employed in the -British camp, Junot occupied the positions of -the Cabeça de Montechique and Mafra, and -hastened himself to Lisbon. On the 20th official<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">225</span> -intelligence had been published in that city that -Laborde had sustained an action with the English -army, and though he had only 2000 men, had -kept his ground against it; in the night he had -taken a position conformably to his orders, for -the purpose of joining the Commander-in-chief; -their junction had been formed, the enemy were -in a strait, and would be attacked on the morrow, -when they would be made to see what the -French could do: two English regiments had -been destroyed in the action. The people, however, -understood by reports more worthy of belief -than any official statements of the enemy, -that the English had been successful at Roliça. -The news of the battle of Vimeiro also reached -them at nightfall of the 22d; it was asserted, -not only that Junot had been defeated, but that -he was taken prisoner; the people openly congratulated -each other in the streets, and the -exultation and stir at the Ave Maria hour were -such as to indicate an insurrection. None of -the French deemed it prudent to appear, except -General Travot, who relied, and not in vain, -upon that personal good-will which he had obtained -by a conduct always humane and honourable. -At daybreak of the 23d, a letter from -Junot was published, dated from the field of -battle, at four in the afternoon. It stated that -the English had been attacked at nine o’clock -that morning, in the fortified position which they -occupied, and that in an instant they had been -dislodged from all their advanced points. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">226</span> -left of the French army had obtained from the -first complete success; their right having to take -a circuitous course, could not arrive in time to -decide the action entirely; it had continued till -two o’clock, and they should probably finish it -on the morrow. At two they had taken a position, -and were three leagues nearer the enemy -than on the preceding day. The loss of the -English had been great. “On our part,” said -Junot, “there have been 150 killed, and from -300 to 400 wounded. We are stronger now, -fresh troops having reached me ... to-morrow, -therefore ...” there the sentence was broken off, -and General Travot concluded the bulletin by -saying, that many of the enemy’s superior officers -had been killed or wounded, that the Commander-in-chief -was well, and in a few days would be in -Lisbon. He arrived, in fact, that afternoon, with -the reserve, and such of the wounded as could -be removed. A royal salute was fired from the -Castle, as if he had returned victorious; but the -countenances of the French, even the generals -themselves, belied this manifestation of success. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Neves, v. 151–154. -<br /> -Observador Portuguez, 413, 417.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -It was soon rumoured that a capitulation had -been proposed, and no doubt could be entertained -concerning this when it was known that -an English officer arrived that night in company -with Kellermann, and that a boat had been sent -off to the English fleet.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>General Freire dissatisfied with the armistice.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The British army marched on the morning -after the armistice was signed, and took a position -near the village of Ramalhal, this movement<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">227</span> -being made merely for convenience. The Portugueze -General, Bernardim Freire, visited the -Commander-in-chief there; and received a copy -of the armistice: he was dissatisfied with it, and -promised to send a confidential officer to communicate -with him thereupon. Accordingly Major -Ayres Pintode Sousa soon arrived at Sir Hew’s -head-quarters. His strongest objections related -to that article which stipulated that no persons -should be molested for their political conduct; -that being a question, he said, which it was for -the Portugueze government to decide. It appeared -evident to Sir Hew, that General Freire -was offended because there was no mention of -the Junta of Porto in the armistice. His answer -was, that the government of Portugal, to which -the decision of this point would belong, nowhere -existed; and moreover the measure was wholly -military, and admitted of no delay; he desired, -however, that General Freire would state in -writing whatever observations he had to make, -and promised that they should be most favourably -considered in the progress of the negotiation.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Difficulty concerning the Russian squadron.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>There arose a difficulty now respecting the -Russian fleet. Notwithstanding the preparations -of defence which had been made on board their -ships, the feelings of the Russians and of their -Admiral were not with the French, and all Junot’s -endeavours to make their presence available for -the increase of his own means were in vain. Sir -Arthur Wellesley had learnt, when he visited the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">228</span> -British squadron off the Tagus, that it was Admiral -Siniavin’s intention to take no part in the -contest between the two contending powers, but -claim the protection of a neutral port. It was -his opinion, that if they conducted themselves -upon this principle, they ought not to be molested, -and that it mattered not what became of -their ships, so they were not allowed to return -to the Baltic. In Sir Hew’s judgement the Admiral -was the best, if not the only judge of the -question, and to him accordingly the stipulation -in the armistice concerning them had been referred. -Sir C. Cotton refused to ratify it; and -upon this Sir Arthur recommended the Commander -to put an end to the armistice, and lose -no farther time in advancing, leaving it for Junot -to renew the negotiation if he thought proper. -The Commander was of a different opinion; good -faith, he thought, required that the Admiral’s -sentiments should be communicated to General -Junot; but he notified to him, at the same time, -that the armistice must be at an end in forty-eight -hours, and Colonel Murray, who was the -bearer of this notice, was authorized to negotiate -a convention.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Convention of Cintra.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The question concerning the Russians was adjusted -between the two Admirals. It was agreed -that the ships should be held as a deposit by -Great Britain, to be restored within six months -after the conclusion of peace between Russia and -that power; and that the men should be conveyed -to their own country at the expense of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">229</span> -the British Government, without any condition -or stipulation respecting their future services. -The definitive convention also was soon concluded. -The terms were, that the French army -should evacuate Portugal with their arms and -baggage, not be considered prisoners of war, be -furnished with means of conveyance by the English -government, and disembarked in any of the -ports between Rochefort and l’Orient, and be at -liberty to serve on their arrival. They were to -take with them all their artillery of French calibre, -with the horses belonging to it, and the -tumbrils supplied with sixty rounds per gun, all -their equipments, and all that is comprehended -under the name of property of the army; and all -individuals of the army were to be at liberty to -dispose of their private property of every description, -with full security for the purchasers. The -horses of the cavalry and of the officers were to -be embarked, those of the former not exceeding -600, those of the latter not exceeding 200; and -as the means of conveyance for horses were very -limited, facility should be given them for disposing -of those which could not be embarked. -The garrisons of Elvas, Peniche, and Palmella, -were to be embarked at Lisbon, that of Almeida -at Porto, or the nearest harbour, and British commissaries -were to provide for their subsistence -and accommodation on the march. The sick and -wounded who were not in a state to be removed -were entrusted to the British army, their expenses<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">230</span> -while they remained to be discharged -by the British Government, and reimbursed by -France. Should doubts arise as to the meaning -of any article, it was to be interpreted favourably -to the French. From the date of the ratification -of this convention, all arrears of contributions, -requisitions, or claims whatever of the French -Government against the subjects of Portugal, or -any other individuals residing in that country, -founded on the occupation of Portugal by the -French troops, should be cancelled, all sequestrations -upon their property removed, and the free -disposal of the same restored to the proper owners. -All subjects of France, or of powers in alliance -with France, domiciliated in Portugal, or accidentally -there, should be protected, their property -respected, and themselves at liberty either -to remain in the country, or to accompany the -French army. No Portugueze was to be held -accountable for his political conduct; and all who -had continued in office, or accepted it, under the -French Government, were placed under the protection -of the British commanders, and were to -sustain no injury either in their persons or property, -for it had not been at their choice to obey -the French or not: if they chose to sell their -property and remove, the term of one year should -be allowed them for that purpose. The Spanish -troops detained at Lisbon were to be given up -to the British Commander, and he engaged to -obtain from the Spaniards the release of such<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">231</span> -French subjects, as, not having been taken in -battle, nor in consequence of military operations, -were now detained in Spain.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />September.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>That this convention, considered in a military -point of view, was advantageous to Great Britain, -was the opinion of all the British Generals. -By effecting the immediate deliverance of Portugal, -it left the British army at liberty to advance -into Spain, and reach the main scene of action in -time for the great struggle which was expected -there. The details of the treaty were thought -of inferior consideration. Kellermann had declared -that the French would not submit to -severer terms, but that if such were insisted on, -they would retire to the strong fortresses in their -possession, defend themselves there till the last -extremity, and destroy Lisbon before they abandoned -it. There was no reason to think that -any compunction would withhold them from -doing this; and though it might possibly have -been prevented by bringing on an action, that -action must have been fought in the immediate -vicinity of Lisbon, perhaps in the city itself. -Motives of humanity therefore had their weight -with the Commander-in-chief in making such -large concessions to an enemy, who, if they had -met with sterner treatment, better suited to their -deserts, would presently have lowered their tone, -and been glad to accept of any terms which should -secure them a safe embarkation.</p> - -<p>The military advantages of the convention were -not over-rated; it will indeed appear hereafter<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">232</span> -that they proved greater than had been foreseen. -But some political errors were committed -in framing it; and the British Generals did not -assume that moral tone which the occasion justified, -and which the soundest policy required. -Buonaparte was designated in the armistice as -his imperial and royal majesty, although Great -Britain had never acknowledged him either as -Emperor of the French or King of Italy. Junot -was allowed to sign the convention as Duke of -Abrantes, a title to which he had no better right -than to the property which he had amassed in -Portugal by rapine. Sir Arthur Wellesley had -recommended, pending the negotiation, that -some mode should be devised “for making the -French Generals disgorge the church plate which -they had stolen.” An article had been framed -accordingly, specifying in direct terms that the -property of churches, monasteries, and palaces -should not be carried away. But this article was -withdrawn, on the repeated representations of -Kellermann that its introduction into a public -monument would be reproachful to the French -army. The Commander-in-chief, he said, was -particularly desirous it should be omitted; and -he was willing, on that condition, to pledge his -word of honour that no property of this kind -should be removed. Except in the case of some -carriages which the court had left behind, and -some beasts taken for the service of the army, -he disclaimed all knowledge of any such appropriation -of Portugueze property by the French<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">233</span> -as was imputed to them; and if there were any -officers who had thus acted, he expressed a hope -that they might reap no benefit from their misconduct. -With regard to the churches, a contribution -had been regularly levied on them for -the public service, and its produce expended; -this of course the English could not mean to -redemand. The confidence with which these -representations were urged, imposed for a time -upon honourable men, and the obnoxious article -was withdrawn upon the very ground for which -it ought to have been retained.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Remonstrances of the Portugueze Commander.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The convention was concluded on the 30th of -August, and ratified by the British Commander, -not at Cintra, from which place it has been denominated, -but at Torres Vedras. It was communicated -immediately to General Bernardim -Freire. The reply from that General was, that -he was in some measure responsible to the Provisional -Government for obtaining for the Portugueze -whatever could be useful and honourable -to the state; but there was not in the whole treaty -a single article relating to the Portugueze army. -It became therefore his duty to inquire how far -the engagement contracted with the French for -the restoration of their civil officers who were in -the hands of the Portugueze extended? if the -Provisional Government, taking advantage of his -conduct in having taken no part in these arrangements, -should order him to act in co-operation -with the Spanish army in Alem-Tejo against the -French, would the British army oppose any such<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">234</span> -intention? and if the honour and dignity of the -Portugueze nation, and the authority of the -Prince, should seem to have been compromised -by these arrangements, would the British Generals -take upon themselves to answer for it? -Ayres Pinto, when he delivered this reply, declared -that he did justice to the friendship and -loyalty of the British nation, and individually -felt himself highly honoured by the manner in -which Sir Hew had received him; “nevertheless,” -said he, “your Excellency must well know -that the public will judge of us not by our private -conduct, but by that which bears an authentic -character; and there is no other means of avoiding -the ill will of the public than by obtaining -from your Excellency a reply which may convince -the Portugueze people that the General to whom -the direction of their forces is confided, has -yielded only to urgent circumstances, and to the -absolute necessity of not compromising the army -under his command.”</p> - -<p>If the Portugueze General had not separated -from the British army, contrary to the advice -and request of Sir Arthur Wellesley, he would -of course have been a party to the negotiation. -Sir Hew, upon occasion of the armistice, had -desired him to state his sentiments fully while -the negotiations were in progress; not having -received one word of comment during that time, -he expressed his surprise at this late expostulation -on terms to which the honour of the British -Commanders was pledged, as far as their influence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">235</span> -or power could be supposed to extend -by the common and known laws of war. But -to this it was replied, that Ayres Pinto had personally -communicated the General’s objections -to the conditions of the armistice, representing -that the Portugueze army and the Government -were treated too cavalierly in this transaction; -that some notice should be taken of them, were -it only to prevent factious persons from raising -injurious reports; that the French were not -strong enough to deserve so much consideration; -and that the Portugueze were now in a -condition to demand account from them of the -robberies, rapines, depredations, murders, and -sacrileges of every kind which they had committed -in that kingdom, and which called for -exemplary vengeance. The Portugueze Commander -now poured in his representations and -complaints. It was his duty to declare, he said, -that not having been consulted on, or privy to -this negotiation, in which he supposed his country -was concerned, he considered himself exempt -from all responsibility for it. He complained -that no notice had been taken in the armistice -of the troops under the Monteiro Mor in Alem-Tejo, -nor of the Spanish army of Extremadura -which had entered that province. The British -army, he affirmed, could not, and ought not to -be considered in any other light than an auxiliary -army; as such it had been applied for by -the Provisional Government, and as such it was -still to be regarded, let its strength be what it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">236</span> -might. Under these circumstances any treaty -with the French ought to have been made in -conjunction with the Portugueze Government, -and with its full approbation. He protested -finally against the treaty in the whole and in -its separate parts, ... in the whole, because it contained -no consideration of the Prince Regent or -the Government which represented him; in its -parts, because no declaration was made that what -places, stores, and ships were to be taken possession -of should be restored to the Portugueze -Government; because it stipulated for the impunity -of individuals who had betrayed their -country; and because it made no provision for -the security of the people of Lisbon and its neighbourhood -while the French continued there.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Reply of Sir Hew Dalrymple.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>These representations were in some respects -well founded; they were mingled with futile -matter, and there was also a covert purport in -them, which Sir Hew Dalrymple perfectly understood, -of exciting a popular feeling in favour -of the Junta of Porto, that body being desirous -of prolonging and extending its authority, after -the circumstances which alone rendered it legitimate -had ceased. Leaving this question untouched, -Sir Hew replied, with a courtesy and -frankness that disarm resentment. It was not -possible, he said, to engage the existing Government -of Portugal in a negotiation purely military -in its nature, and in which no reference was -had either to the Governments of England or -of France. With regard to the indemnity for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">237</span> -political offences, it was natural that the French -should demand it; and to him it appeared that -the treaty afforded a fair occasion for remitting -punishments which, by keeping political animosity -alive, would not have tended to the tranquillity -and happiness of the country. There was -little reason to suppose that persons who had -thus rendered themselves obnoxious would venture -to remain long after the French; if they -did, they would of course be vigilantly observed, -and their future treatment would depend upon -their future conduct. It was not from any want -of personal respect to General Freire that he did -not enter into the discussion of points which it -was only incumbent on him to explain to the -Government of the country. But being aware -of the calumnies which had been disseminated -by the enemy in other countries, as now in this, -he assured his Excellency, and would use the necessary -means for giving publicity to the pledge, -that he served in Portugal as the Commander of -a force acting in alliance with the Sovereign of -that country; and therefore considered himself -bound by duty and honour to pay as strict a -regard to the interests of the Prince Regent, the -dignity and security of his Government, and the -welfare of the nation of which he was the lawful -ruler, as even his Excellency himself. But as -touching the cessions, he did not see in what -terms they could have been better framed. “The -nominal Duke of Abrantes,” said Sir Hew, “is -not the guardian of the Prince Regent’s interests;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">238</span> -and if any pledge is necessary of the pure and -disinterested views of the Sovereign I have the -honour to serve, I do not think it was through -the stipulations of a treaty with that General that -it could most properly be conveyed.” The manifest -good faith and the temper of this reply -produced their proper effect, and General Freire -expressed his satisfaction in it as promising the -most happy, prompt, and secure accomplishment -of the object at which they aimed.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The British flag hoisted in the forts.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Before the British troops entered Lisbon the -Russian Admiral wrote to Sir Hew to inquire -what flag was to be displayed when the forts on -the Tagus were delivered up, and whether, if -the Portugueze flag were hoisted, the port would -be considered neuter, and his squadron entitled -to the benefit of that neutrality. Sir Hew replied, -that if he felt authorized to interfere in a -business which had been exclusively referred to -Sir C. Cotton, he could easily anticipate the -answer which that Commander would make. -Contrary, however, to his expectation, when two -regiments were landed from the fleet, and took -possession of the ports on the river, the British -flag was hoisted. The Portugueze were naturally -hurt at this; but before their General -could offer any representation on the subject, -Sir Hew had ordered the Portugueze colours to -be displayed in its stead. The negotiation concerning -the Russian squadron had not been concluded -when the question was proposed to the -British General, and it was to settle in a summary<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">239</span> -way Admiral Siniavin’s claim to the protection -of a neutral port that the English flag had -been planted by Sir C. Cotton.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Anarchy in Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>During the negotiation Lisbon was in a dreadful -state. Those wretches who, to the reproach -of Christian states and civilized society, are bred -in the corruption of all great cities, took advantage -of the temporary dissolution of government -as they would have done of a conflagration or an -earthquake. The soldiers of the police, being -Portugueze, had almost all gone to join their -countrymen in arms; and the French while they -went the rounds, suffered robberies to be committed -in their hearing and in their sight, either -not understanding the cries for help, or not -choosing to interfere, now that their reign was -at an end. They indeed themselves were in -such danger, that they soon gave over patrolling -the streets, and fired upon those who approached -their quarters in the night. In this manner several - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Observador Portuguez, 420, 501–3. -<br /> -Neves, v. 202.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Portugueze were shot; the French venturing -upon this, not so much in the confidence -of their own strength, as in full reliance upon the -interference of the English to protect them.</p> - -<p>There had been a great error of judgement in -not following up the victory at Vimeiro; and in -the subsequent negotiations the British Generals -had taken a lower tone than the enemy expected, -or circumstances required. But they were more -censurable for having failed to manifest that moral -sense of the enemy’s conduct which individually -they felt, and yet collectively seemed for a time<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">240</span> -to have suppressed for the sake of professional -considerations and courtesy, never more unworthily -bestowed. The soldiers of Buonaparte -in Portugal had forfeited all claim to those courtesies -which honourable men will always delight -in rendering to honourable enemies. They had -disgraced their profession and their country, and -it behoved the British, for the sake of theirs, to -have testified their sense of this in the most decided -manner. But instead of shunning any -farther intercourse than was necessary for the -execution of the treaty, they entered into social -intercourse with the French, entertainments were -mutually given, and British Generals sate at Junot’s -table in company with the men who were -responsible for the horrors committed at Evora -and Leiria. They were not fully informed of -those crimes, and certainly did not believe Junot -and his people to be so thoroughly destitute of -honour as they soon found them. But proof -enough of their wickedness had been given in -public and official acts; and in thus appearing for -a time to forget the real character of the cause in -which Great Britain was engaged, a moral fault, -as well as a political error, was committed.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French continue to plunder.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Elated no doubt by this, as well as by their -success in negotiation, the French continued that -system of public and private robbery for which -they seemed to think the convention had granted -them entire impunity. General Freire complained -to Sir Hew Dalrymple that they were -plundering the treasury, the museum, public<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">241</span> -libraries, arsenals, churches, and the houses and -stores of individuals. The British commissioners -for carrying the convention into effect, Major-General -Beresford and Lord Proby, informed -him, that except the military and naval stores -there was no kind of public property which the -French intended to relinquish; that they meant -to carry off the valuables of the Prince, the -plunder of the churches, and much of the property -of individuals; that they had packed up -the royal library, and most of the articles of the -museum; that during the negotiation they had -taken a sum of about £22,000 from the <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Deposito -Publico</i>, which was in fact a robbery of individuals, -that money being deposited there till litigations -concerning it should be decided; and -that even after the terms were signed they had -actually demanded the money arising from the -revenues of the country. The merchants of Lisbon -addressed a memorial to the British Commander, -stating that Junot had exacted from -them a forced loan of two million <i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">cruzados</i>, promising -that payment should be made out of the -enormous war-contribution which he had imposed; -they had not been paid, and it was now -his intention to depart without paying them; -they therefore prayed for redress, and likewise -that some steps should be taken for recovering -their ships and property which had been unlawfully -sequestered in France.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Question concerning baggage.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>There was something absolutely comic in the -impudent persuasion of the French that they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">242</span> -might continue to pillage, and carry off what they -pleased, under protection of the British army. -They proposed to take away the Vasco da Gama -and some Portugueze frigates; the Gama, it may -be remembered, was the ship wherein they had -embarked great part of the treasure which they -had collected. The reply was, that these vessels -did not belong to them, and they were only -to carry away their individual baggage. Junot -actually demanded five ships to remove his own -personal effects. Such a demand was of course -pronounced to be inadmissible. Sir Hew declared -he would not listen to any proposal which -compromised his own honour and that of the -British nation. He perceived, that owing to the -shameless and open manner in which the French -were preparing to carry off public and private -property, popular indignation was strongly excited, -and that because of the interpretation -which they by their conduct affected to give the -convention, this feeling was little less directed -against the English than the French. He instructed -the commissioners therefore to require -the restoration of these plundered goods; “by -this means,” said he, “affording a proof to the -Portugueze nation that we at least act with good -faith, and are therefore entitled to use the necessary -measures, however vigorous, for the protection -of those obnoxious persons for whose -safety that faith is pledged.”</p> - -<p>The commissioners exercised their charge with -becoming firmness. The money taken from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">243</span> -public deposit they compelled the French to promise -to replace, ... a concession which was not -obtained till after a very long discussion. The -spoils of the museum and royal library were also - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French endeavour to carry off articles from the Museum.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -reclaimed. They had been selected, General -Kellermann said, by M. Guiffroi, a member of -the National Institute: the objection, indeed, on -the part of the English, he admitted to be well -founded; nevertheless, he observed that these -articles, consisting chiefly of specimens in natural -history, and interesting manuscripts, were, -in general, duplicates, ... that they were precious -acquisitions for the sciences; ... the sciences were -of all countries, and far from making war upon -them, we ought to promote their communication. -They wished, therefore, to select articles -of natural history at their pleasure, and to leave -for them such compensations as the English might -think proper. Of course, the British commander -returned a most decided negative, saying he -could not sell articles which were not his, and -would not allow them to be removed: and the -French general was compelled to issue a general -order, commanding all individuals of the French -army, or administration, to make restitution of -whatever they had taken from any public or private -establishment, within four-and-twenty hours.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They embark horses, carriages, and pictures, which are recovered.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was something to have wrung from them -such a confession of robbery; yet within a few -hours after this very order had been issued, -Junot’s first aide-de-camp, Colonel de Cambis, -carried off the Prince Regent’s horses from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">244</span> -royal stables, to embark them as General Junot’s -property. Having been compelled to restore -them, this same officer the next day endeavoured -in like manner to carry off two carriages belonging -to the Duke of Sussex, and it was necessary -to threaten him with being carried prisoner to -England, if he persisted in this sort of conduct. -It was ascertained that Junot had embarked a -collection of pictures from the house of the -Marques de Angeja; restitution was demanded, -and he said they had been given to him. This -was found to be false; and Junot then laid the -affair upon a relation of his who was embarked -with him, but who immediately endeavoured -to conceal himself in one of the transports. A -threat of detaining the General brought this person -back; he was ordered on shore, to give an -account of the transaction, and as he refused -to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the commissioners, -or to land, was compelled to do both, -and to produce the pictures.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They carry off large sums in money.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>But in other cases the commissioners were -bound by the letter of a treaty, in which it now -appeared that one party could not have presumed -too little upon the honour of the other, -nor one too much. All the money which these -plunderers had collected they were allowed to -carry off. Sir Hew observed, that this description -of property could never come under the provisions -of the treaty, and that it was impossible -to identify it, or prove exactly from whom it was -obtained. But Ayres Pinto had pointed out a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">245</span> -simple and satisfactory mode of proof: the French -had brought no Portugueze money with them, -consequently, whatever they possessed in it must -have been the fruits of rapine. Yet the French -carried off three months’ pay for the whole army, -in the general military chest, and, besides this, -distributed large sums to the different regiments, -to be carried off in their regimental chests. One -regiment alone was said to have taken 100,000 -crowns with it.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Question concerning the silver in bars.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French had also a great quantity of silver -in bars, into which they had reduced the pillage -of the churches and palaces, for the sake of easier -conveyance. Kellermann strenuously insisted -that the convention guaranteed to them whatever -was in their possession previous to the first -day of the truce, and declared, most positively, -that they never would concede this point. The -commissioners, on the contrary, insisted upon -the article which restricted them from carrying -off other than military and personal baggage; -and they declared that the Commander-in-chief -would never consent to any other construction. -At length they compromised the dispute: the -French, though they would not acknowledge -that, by the treaty, they were under any obligation, -proposed to pay the debts of the army with -this silver, for which purpose, they said, it had -ever been expressly intended, and agreed, that if -any remained after these debts were discharged, -it should be delivered up. The commissioners -acknowledged, that, by the convention, they could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">246</span> -scarcely require more; and Sir Hew pronounced -that the offer was fair, and might be acceded to.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Further instances of dishonour in the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The commissioners, however, were soon convinced -that concession was not the likeliest expedient -for avoiding new pretensions. The ingenuity -of man, they said, could not provide -against French cavil, and ingenuity in misconstruction; -and in consequence of the perpetual -subterfuges and false promises of Kellermann, -they insisted upon the establishment of a committee, -to inquire into all the claims presented -by the Portugueze, and to be invested with full -authority to summon persons, and to order restitution. -Property to a very great amount, both -private and public, was recovered by these means. -Information was obtained that fifty-three boxes -of indigo were embarked as part of Junot’s baggage: -the indigo was found and seized: the -French general, of course, disclaimed any knowledge -of the transaction; and the commissioners, -without hesitation, assured him that every officer -in the British army would acquit him personally -on this head, because it was impossible for him -to inspect or know what was done in his name! -A bold and well-supported attempt was made to -avoid the repayment of the money taken from -the Deposito Publico, and a compensation for -articles taken from the public magazines since the -convention, amounting in the whole to £40,000. -The justice of this demand had been acknowledged, -and immediate payment promised. Nevertheless, -it had not been made when Junot<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">247</span> -embarked, and when he was called upon to fulfil -his agreement, Kellermann pleaded that the -money remaining in the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Caisse Militaire</i> did not -amount to the £60,000, which, by the explanation -of the convention, was admitted to be a fair -military chest, and therefore he considered the -agreement to repay these sums as cancelled. The -first division of the French had already sailed, -but the commissioners applied to Sir Charles -Cotton to detain the second, and the Commander-in-chief, -till that point should be satisfactorily -settled. Even after this instance of vigour, much -litigation and discussion was permitted; and -when, at length, Kellermann yielded to necessity, -attempts were still made to put off the payment, -till no means of enforcing it should be -left. During the three last days that Junot remained -in the river, orders were repeatedly given -to the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">payeur-general</i> to pay this money, and -they were always evaded, under some frivolous -pretext; till at last the commissioners ordered -him and his baggage on shore to the arsenal, and -then the Frenchman reluctantly refunded this -part of the plunder.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Protests of the Monteiro Mor and of the Juiz do Povo.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>While the commissioners were thus recovering -from the French a part of that wealth which they -had collected by every means of oppression and -violence, the strong interference of the British -alone preserved these plunderers from the vengeance -of the people. The popular feeling was -partaken by all ranks. The Monteiro Mor, who -had now advanced to Azeitam, addressed a protest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">248</span> -to the British Admiral against the treaty, -because the Prince and his Government had not -been consulted; and because no attention had -been paid to himself, who, without any foreign -aid, had found means to expel the enemy from -the kingdom of Algarve, and pursuing them, -passing on to Alem-Tejo, and compelling them -to evacuate all their posts, had taken a position -with his army on the south bank of the Tagus. -Such fanfaronade could only detract from his -own deserts, and discredit the exertions and the -sufferings of a brave and loyal nation. He accompanied -this protest by a request, that, on -account of the robberies and atrocities which the -French had committed, the vessels employed to -carry them home might be embargoed till the -King of England and the Prince of Brazil should -have resolved on what was best for the honour -and interest of the two nations; and he required -that their baggage should be rigorously searched -by Portugueze and English commissioners, lest -they should carry away with them the booty -which they had so infamously obtained. The -Juiz do Povo also presented a protest; though the -convention had not been published, the people, -he said, knew there was no mention made in it -of the three states of the kingdom, and that it -left them without satisfaction for the crimes both -against divine and human laws, and without -vengeance for the murders, robberies, and atrocities -of every kind, which the usurpers had committed. -“Our churches stript,” said he, “the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">249</span> -royal palaces damaged, the royal treasury plundered, -the people reduced to poverty and misery, -so that the streets and squares of the capital are -rendered impassable by crowds of beggars, ... nothing -of this is taken into consideration: ... yet -the safety of kingdoms depends on not letting -their rights be invaded without punishing the -offenders, and the consequence of permitting -such crimes with impunity will occasion incalculable -misfortunes. The people and the officers -of this tribunal declare their gratitude to the generous -allies who have liberated Portugal, but -they pray for the suspension of a convention so -favourable to the French as this is said to be. It -must be invalid after the abuses and hostilities -which they have continued to commit in Almeida, -and the contribution which they have -since extorted; and this tribunal cannot consent -to the return of the enemy to France, as they -already threaten that they will come back to -destroy what they have left.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Danger of tumults in Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Such language from a magistrate whose name -was never heard but in turbulent times, increased -the popular ferment; and General Hope, who -now commanded in Lisbon, found it necessary -to issue a proclamation, prohibiting the Portugueze -from entering the city with arms, or wearing -them in the streets; and enacting that all -places where wine was sold should be shut at -six in the evening, and not opened before sunrise. -To enforce these regulations, and maintain -order, strong guards, picquets, and patroles,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">250</span> -were appointed to arrest every person who should -break the peace. Nothing but this prompt vigilance -prevented the people from gratifying their -thirst for vengeance. It is said that all the houses -in Belem in which the enemy were lodged were -marked in the course of one night, and that lists -of those Frenchmen and their adherents who were -deemed most worthy of death were posted up. -The English were loudly reproached for having -protected men who deserved the most exemplary -punishment; and there were not wanting -persons unreflecting enough to assert, that sure -as they were of the Spaniards, they could have -exacted that punishment without any necessity -for English aid. This feeling, however, was far -from general. The English character was too -well known in Lisbon, for the English name ever -to be unpopular among a people not less retentive -of kind and friendly feelings than of injuries. -When the English soldiers went to occupy the -arsenals and forts, refreshments were brought -out for them along the way, and British officers -were followed in the streets by applauding crowds; -while the hatred which was manifested towards -the French was so deep and general, that no -people could possibly have incurred it unless -they had deserved it to the utmost. Not only -did the Portugueze refuse to purchase from them -those things which they wished to convert into -money, they refused to sell them any thing, even -provisions for their hospital. If a Frenchman -ventured to appear alone, trusting to escape discovery,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">251</span> -he betook himself, upon the first suspicious -eye which was directed toward him, to an -Englishman for protection. Kellermann came -on shore one day after his embarkation to dine -with a British officer, and being recognized on -his return to the water-side, was attacked by the -mob. Our sailors defended and saved him, but -not before he had received some severe contusions. -Loison, who was a more marked object of -execration, was considered in so much personal -danger, that four battalions were bivouacked -near his quarters, and four pieces of cannon -planted there for his protection. But toward -those officers who had demeaned themselves -humanely and honourably, the people testified -nothing but respect and good-will.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Temper of the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French were not sufficiently humbled to -bear this meekly. The success which they had -obtained in negotiation, in their minds more -than counterbalanced the humiliation of their -defeat, and of their present state. They denied -that they had been defeated; they affirmed that -they had dictated the terms; and Junot continued -to occupy the royal box at the opera till -his departure. The English generals respected, -in this instance, the custom of the country, and -after the Frenchman had resigned it, left it unoccupied, -with the curtain down. But however -much the enemy might console themselves with -the confident hope of again becoming masters of -the kingdom, their pride was bitterly wounded -by the display of national feeling which met them<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">252</span> -every where, and which they considered presumptuous -in a people who were soon to be -brought again under their iron yoke. They -called it audacity in the Portugueze to wear the -national cockade, which they still chose to denominate -a badge of insurrection; and they complained -that even in their sight lamps were prepared -for illuminating the city upon their departure, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Thiebault, 219–222.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -and demanded in greater numbers than -could be supplied.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Embarkation of the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The first division of the French embarked -under protection of the second, the second and -third were protected by the British troops from -the fury of the Portugueze. Wholly to restrain -it was impossible, but no serious injury was done. -They embarked amid the curses of the people. -Nine days and nights the rejoicings continued, -not by any order from the magistracy, but by -the voluntary act of the inhabitants, whose joy -was in proportion to the misery from which they -had been delivered. It was a joy which thousands -whose fortunes had been ruined in the -general calamity, partook; and which brought -the last earthly consolation to many a broken -heart. The enemy, while they lay in the river, -were within sight of the illuminations and fire-works, -and could hear the bells with which that -great city rang from side to side. However -brave in arms, however skilful in negotiation, -they departed under circumstances more reproachful -than had ever before attached to any -army, or body of military men. As a last act<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">253</span> -of baseness, one of their general officers called -at the commissioners’ office, while they were -absent, just before he embarked, and carried off -all the papers he could collect, in the hope of -making it impossible for them to produce an -account of their proceedings. But he was driven -back to Lisbon by contrary winds, and compelled - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Final report of the commissioners.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to restore them. The commissioners concluded -the final report of their transactions by stating, -that the conduct of the French had been marked -by the most shameful disregard of honour and probity, -publicly evincing their intention of carrying -off their plundered booty, and leaving acknowledged -debts unpaid. “Finally, said they, they -have only paid what they were obliged to disgorge, -and were not permitted to carry off. The -British commissioners had represented to General -Kellermann, that whatsoever the words, it could -never be the spirit of any convention, that an -army should, as a military chest, or otherwise, -carry off public money, leaving public debts unpaid: -they had called upon him, for the honour -of the French army and nation, to act justly; -and yet, unmindful of any tie of honour or of -justice, the French army had taken away a considerable -sum in the military chest, leaving its -debts unpaid, to a very large amount.”</p> - -<p>Thus the courtesy which had been shown -toward the French Generals in the course of the -negotiation, had the effect of fixing upon them -a deeper stigma; by bringing into full view a -low chicanery, a total want of honour, and utter<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">254</span> -disregard of truth, which could not have been -suspected, if it had not been thus officially proved, -and placed upon public record. Had such charges -been advanced by the enemy against the general -officers of a British army, the strictest inquiry -would have been instituted, and no rank, no -influence, no professional merits, could have -screened the offenders. They would have been -dismissed with ignominy from the service which -they had disgraced, and for ever excluded from -all honourable society. There was a time when -the highest eulogium which the French bestowed -upon a soldier was to say, that he was without -fear and without reproach; but under the system -of Buonaparte nothing was considered reproachful -in his soldiers, provided they feared nothing -in this world or in the next.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Addresses of thanks to the British Commander.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The good faith of the British, and their real -regard for the interest and feelings of the Portugueze -nation, were now apparent. The national -flag was every where displayed, and the people -were informed by a proclamation that no time -would be lost in establishing their government -upon the basis on which the Prince had left it, -and substituting the civil for that military power -which was continued only from necessity and for -a few days. The magistrates and the clergy meantime, -and all persons who possessed authority or -influence, were called upon to co-operate in preserving -order. Addresses of thanks came from -the provinces; and the Juiz do Povo, who had -protested in the name of the people of Lisbon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">255</span> -so strongly against the convention, now for those -same people expressed their gratitude to the -British Commander, the British Sovereign, and -the British nation, requesting that their sincere -thanks for this great deliverance might be made -known to the smallest village as well as to the -throne. Such was the proud situation of the -British army at Lisbon. Some formalities had -been forgotten in the negotiation, some minor -interests had been overlooked, and the courtesies -of war had been too liberally accorded to an -enemy who should have been made to feel their -moral degradation. But the unstained honour, -the unsuspecting integrity, the open manliness, -the plain dignity of the British character, had -been manifested throughout the whole of these -transactions; and this was felt and acknowledged -by the Portugueze.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Galluzo besieges Elvas.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Difficulties which could not have been foreseen -arose concerning the delivery of Elvas. Galluzo, -who commanded the army of Extremadura, and -who had hitherto afforded no very efficient aid -to the Portugueze, thought proper at this time, -when he had been required by every civil and -military authority to begin his march towards -Castille, in contempt of those orders to enter -Alem-Tejo, and besiege Elvas, as if no treaty -for its surrender had been made. The French -Commandant, Girod de Novillars, upon this required -from the inhabitants an immediate loan -of money, to the amount of 30,000 francs, and -wine and provisions to the value of 20,000 more.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">256</span> -Drained as they had been by repeated exactions, -the people of Elvas were in no condition to obey -this demand; the Bishop and the magistrates -therefore easily obtained permission to go to the -Spanish camp, and entreat Galluzo to suspend -hostilities. That General, however, declared, -that if the French did not surrender within six -hours, he would open his fire against Fort La -Lippe, and put the whole garrison to the sword. -He had no time to lose, he said, but must hasten -to assist his fellow-soldiers in expelling the enemy -from the Peninsula; and the inhabitants must -either abandon the city, or take arms against the -French. From this dilemma they were delivered -by the French themselves, who, during the night, -withdrew into the forts, leaving about an hundred -men in the hospital. An agreement was then -made, with Galluzo’s consent, that the city should -remain neutral; and the Spaniards began an -absurd fire against Fort La Lippe, which is the -strongest fortress in Portugal. Things were in -this state when Lieutenant-Colonel Ross arrived -with letters from the French Commander, instructing -M. Girod to give up the place to him -in pursuance of the convention. A demur was -made by the Commandant, till he could send -an officer to Lisbon, and satisfy himself that the -dispatches were authentic; and difficulties less -reasonable in their kind were started both by the -Spaniards and Portugueze. Galluzo argued that -no agreement between the British and French -Generals could be binding upon him. The Spaniards,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">257</span> -he affirmed, had a right as besiegers to -take possession of Elvas, and the Spanish arms -were not to be defrauded of the splendour which -this would give them. He threatened Girod that -if any injury were offered to the city the prisoners -should be put to death, and the garrison receive -no mercy; and he insisted that they should march -out and lay down their arms, and that the place -should be entered and occupied by the Spaniards -only. In his communications with Sir Hew -Dalrymple he held rather a lower tone, saying -that certainly he should not have besieged and -cannonaded Elvas if he had known of the convention; -but it had not been thought proper to -announce it to him. He required only a joint -surrender to the British and Spanish arms, leaving -the place and the prisoners to his Excellency; -but he had heard the garrison were not to be -considered prisoners; that article, though the -opinion was that it would not be executed, occasioned -some uneasiness, and therefore he would -make them lay down their arms, and swear not -to bear them again against Spain or her allies.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Difficulties concerning the surrender of Elvas.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Galluzo was at this time upon ill terms with -the Portugueze. They complained that throughout -the struggle in Alem-Tejo he had promised -much and performed little; that the Spaniards -had acted as masters in those fortresses which -they had entered as friends, countermanded the -orders of the Portugueze General, encouraged -insubordination, appropriated to their own use -money which had been raised for the national<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">258</span> -cause, and pillaged the country as they passed -through it. On the other hand, Galluzo reproached -the Portugueze with want of activity -and energy, and with giving his people nothing -but water when they went to assist them. His -pretensions to Elvas, therefore, which under any -circumstances might have given offence, were -now peculiarly offensive; and it happened that -the Junta of Porto, who were at this time not -without hope of getting the government of the -kingdom into their own hands, had ordered General -Leite to march into Elvas and occupy it as -soon as it should be evacuated. The General -communicated their orders to Sir Hew, declaring -that he felt it his duty to obey, and laying before -him his complaints against the Spaniards. These -difficulties were surmounted by a proper mixture -of conciliation and firmness on the part of the -British Commander. The first great object was, -that British faith should be kept, and complete -protection afforded to the French garrison. For -this purpose those troops whom it was intended -to canton in Alem-Tejo were immediately ordered -thither, and stationed as near Elvas as possible. -Colonel Graham was sent to Galluzo to bring him -to reason; and if this were found impracticable, -then to proceed to Madrid, and call for the interference -of higher authorities. Colonel Ross was -instructed to bear in mind, that as the French -surrendered to no nation except the English, -neither Spanish nor Portugueze troops were to -appear when they marched out: that with respect<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">259</span> -to the Portugueze, the feelings of the nation -were to be gratified, and their flag every where -displayed under a salute; but he was to hold the -substantial power, even if he saw cause for allowing -a Portugueze General to march in with a -detachment of his men. Colonel Graham performed -his difficult mission with great ability. -Galluzo ceased from all farther interference, and -was so gratified by the temper in which this affair -had been carried on by the British Commander, -and the services which had been rendered to the -soldiers of Extremadura who had been released -at Lisbon, that he ordered the black English -cockade to be blended with the red Spanish one -in his army, to mark his gratitude, as he informed -Sir Hew, and denote the intimate alliance between -the two countries.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Elvas and Almeida given up.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>All difficulties being at length removed, the -forts were delivered up, General Leite entered -the city, and the French garrison, between 1400 -and 1500 in number, were marched to Aldea -Gallega. No insults were offered them on the -way; and they were joined by their comrades, -who, having been wounded at Evora, had been -left in that city, and treated with careful humanity -by the inhabitants. The garrison of Almeida -were not removed so easily. The Portugueze -had kept up an irregular blockade of that -fortress after Loison’s departure; they borrowed -fire-arms from the Spaniards of Ciudad Rodrigo, -and were so little scrupulous in their mode of -warfare, that a friar poisoned the water of a tank<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">260</span> -at which the cattle belonging to the garrison -used to drink. Almeida might long have defied -any efforts which the Portugueze or the Spaniards -in that quarter could have made against it; it -was, however, gladly delivered up, in conformity -to the convention, and the garrison were marched -to Porto, under a British escort, there to be embarked. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Tumults at Porto.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -On the day of their arrival, they employed -themselves in converting as much of their -plunder as possible into money: purchasers were -not wanting, and their market continued the -whole day and night, horses being the ostensible -articles. Such a traffic excited the indignation -of all but those who were profiting by it; and -that indignation was excited to the highest pitch, -when, on the following morning, as the baggage -of the French was examined at the Castle of St. -Joam da Foz, in presence of the governor and of -Sir Robert Wilson, several rich church vestments -were found in one of the boxes. The horror -which the Portugueze feel at sacrilege is perhaps -hardly conceivable by those who are not acquainted -with them. The governor himself, on -this occasion, joined the populace in their outcry, -and immediately gave orders that no vessel should -be permitted to pass the castle. The news soon -reached Porto, exaggerated as it passed from -mouth to mouth; a mob collected, bent upon -putting the French to death; and some insults -were offered the English for protecting them. -The Bishop, Sir Robert Wilson, and many officers, -Portugueze and English, used their utmost exertions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">261</span> -to quiet the tumult. They succeeded in -restoring peace at St. Joam da Foz: but the -crowd still continued on both sides the river; -and at an early hour of the morning some thousand -persons had assembled, with a determination -to attack the French on board the transports: -they placed artillery on both shores, and -mounted guns on board the ships. Fortunately -for the French, they were provided with sixty -rounds each man, and one of the transports in -which they were embarked was armed with six-pounders. -The Bishop and Sir Robert Wilson -again came down to mediate, and the latter was -employed, without intermission, from nine in the -morning till five in the afternoon in negotiating -between the French General and the populace. -It was in vain for the Frenchman to tell Sir -Robert that he was bound to see the articles of -capitulation executed to the very letter, ... that -was impossible: he had secured their lives, and -this was the utmost he could do. The mob insisted -that the French should be disembarked, -their baggage examined on shore, and that they -should leave their arms: there was no alternative, -and they were compelled to submit. No sooner -had they left the transports, than the rabble -boarded them, and began to plunder in their -turn: every thing was ransacked; the very provisions -and wearing apparel of the ship-owners -disappeared. Here, however, the tumult ended: -the more riotous of the populace retired with -their booty; the better classes were ashamed of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">262</span> -the disgrace which had thus been brought upon -them; and every possible reparation was made, -to the entire satisfaction of the British officers.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Spanish troops at Lisbon embarked for Catalonia.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>During the negotiation the French, who were -not ashamed to propose any thing, proposed that -an equal number of French prisoners should be -set at liberty, in exchange for the Spaniards -whom they had seized at Lisbon. This Sir Hew -declared to be inadmissible; the Spaniards, he -said, must be immediately set free, and not the -interests alone, but the feelings of the Spanish -nation were to be considered. He consented, -however, to obtain for them, if possible, the release -of such Frenchmen as had been arrested -in Spain during the troubles, not having been -taken in battle, or in consequence of military -operations. Humanity induced him to this; -and in communicating it to the Spanish authorities, -he relied upon Spanish generosity for -complying with his request for their deliverance. -The scene at Lisbon, when arms, horses, and -artillery were restored to the Spaniards who had -been so long detained prisoners, was one of those -spectacles at which the heart rejoices. They were -about 3800 in number, some 2000 having effected -their escape. The ceremony was made as public -and impressive as possible, and the Spanish Commander -distributed alms upon the occasion among -the poor of Lisbon, which caused a general festivity. -Applications for these troops were made -from various parts of Spain. The Junta of Galicia -required them; and some of the Spanish Generals<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">263</span> -at Madrid wished them to be embarked for Santander, -there to join Blake’s army. Castaños, to -whose judgement at this time that deference was -paid which his great services had well deserved, -was of opinion that they would be more serviceable -in Catalonia than in any other part. -For Catalonia therefore they were embarked -in British transports, and Sir Hew advanced a -loan of 90,000 dollars to purchase horses for -them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Intrigues of the Junta of Porto.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was sufficient for the British Commander -in these transactions to follow the plain dictates -of a humane and honourable mind. In settling -a civil government, and thereby putting an end -to the fearful anarchy which every where prevailed, -he had a more delicate task. The Junta -of Porto were intriguing to obtain a continuance -of their power; and under a pretext that Lisbon -would for some time be in a state of great confusion, -they made their wishes known to Sir Hew, -that the seat of the temporary government might -remain at Porto, and that deputies from the other -provinces, as they then did from the northern -ones, should repair thither to transact business -for those parts which they represented. The -Bishop also observed, that an authority had been -forced upon him, which he had accepted only in -the hope of re-establishing the government of his -lawful Prince; and that if it were thought expedient -for him to retain it till the pleasure of -the Prince was known, it must be under the condition -of remaining at Porto, from whence the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">264</span> -inhabitants would not permit him to depart, unless -by a direct order of their Sovereign. Such -an arrangement would be most beneficial to the -kingdom in its present state; and that opposition -to it which might otherwise be expected, would -be obviated if Sir Hew Dalrymple would take -upon himself to recommend it. This sort of -finesse was little likely to attain its end with a -British Commander. Sir Hew, who was better -acquainted with the state of affairs in Spain than -any other person at that time, had no such advantage -in Portugal. But in politics, as in -morals, there is a principle of rectitude which -always leads us right, and that principle he followed. -He neither lent himself to this intrigue, -nor allowed the displeasure which it naturally -excited to preponderate against the real services -which the Bishop of Porto had rendered to his -country, and the popularity which in consequence -he then possessed. He replied therefore -to the Bishop, that had there been no objection, -the Council of Regency which the Prince -had appointed at his departure, would now have -resumed their authority of course; but seeing -that some of its members were strongly suspected -of being in the French interest, he felt -himself authorized to state, that however desirous -the King his Sovereign might be to interfere -as little as possible in the internal affairs -of Portugal, it was impossible for his Majesty, -under the peculiar circumstances of the case, to -acquiesce in the return of those persons to power.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">265</span> -On the other hand, those members who had kept -aloof from the interests of the enemy, and retaining -their loyalty had retained the confidence of -the nation, had an unquestionable claim to be -reinstated in their situations. Declaring therefore -that his instructions were to take measures -for forming a Regency as soon as possible, composed -of such persons of rank, character, and -talents, as might be found ready to undertake, -and qualified to discharge, the important trust, -but with as few changes (particularly in the subordinate -departments) as might be compatible -with the public interests, in the fulfilment of -this duty he naturally addressed himself to his -Excellency and the Provisional Board of Government -at Porto. “You,” Sir Hew continued, -“have already turned your thoughts to the -great question now at issue, and are doubtless -prepared to propose measures for completing -the Council of Regency so as to merit the confidence -of the nation, and to prevent any just -cause of discontent in any other provisional -government, or other respectable description of -the people. For my own part, I have only been -able, from the information I have received since -my arrival in Portugal, to form one decided -opinion on this subject; which is, the infinite -importance to the public welfare that your Excellency -should yourself hold a distinguished -place in the proposed Regency.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Council of Regency re-established.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Bishop’s reply was, that he should readily -acquiesce in whatever might be determined upon,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">266</span> -except his own nomination to the Council; for -he, better than any other person, knew what -was necessary for the good of the public cause, -and of the northern provinces, and therefore -would not remove from the place where he had -been stationed by God and by his Prince. It -was soon, however, ascertained, that if this -Prelate could not remain at the head of the -government at Porto, he would not persist in -refusing to accept a share in it at Lisbon. Sir -Hew therefore, upon mature deliberation, and -with the best advice which could be obtained, -issued a proclamation, saying, that through the -success with which Providence had blessed the -British arms, the time was come when the re-establishment -of the Portugueze government - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Sept. 18.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -could be effected. He gave the people due -praise for the exertions which they had made -against the French; and saying that no views of -interest or of national aggrandizement could be -imputed to the liberal policy of Great Britain, -declared, that the best manner in which he could -fulfil the intentions of his Sovereign, and promote -the welfare of Portugal, was by restoring -that Council to which their Prince had delegated -his authority when he preserved his royal dignity -from the insults of an implacable enemy, and -secured his American dominions. One of that -Council had been unhappily sent away from his -country; others had incurred imputations which -rendered their restoration impossible at this time. -The three, however, who had contracted no such<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">267</span> -disability, the Monteiro Mor, D. Francisco Xavier -de Noronha, and Francisco da Cunha e Menezes, -he called upon to resume the administration, and -with them the Desembargador Joam Antonio - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Sept. 20.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Salter de Mendonça, and Brigadier D. Miguel -Pereira Forjas Coutinho, whom the Prince had -named to succeed in case of vacancies. These -persons assembled accordingly, and to fill up the -number which the act of regency appointed, -elected the Marquez daz Minas and the Bishop -of Porto. The Junta of Porto then dissolved -itself, declaring, however, that if the Regency -should again be overthrown by any new invasion -of the enemy, (which they prayed God to avert,) -or any other calamity, they should by that event -enter again upon the full exercise of the authority -which they now laid aside. The other Juntas -were in like manner dissolved: the Regency was -acknowledged throughout Portugal, and things -resumed, as far as possible, their former course.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Outcry in England against the Convention.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>While Sir Hew Dalrymple was employed in -carrying the terms of the convention into effect, -putting an end to the anarchy which prevailed, -and preparing with all possible speed to advance -into Spain, an outcry which he little expected -had arisen against him at home. The official -account of the battle reached England a fortnight -before the news of the armistice and convention: -tidings came with it that the French -had proposed to evacuate Portugal, and the news -of Junot’s unconditional surrender was looked for -as what must necessarily ensue. When the terms<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">268</span> -of the convention were received the Park and -Tower guns were fired; but the public feeling -was not in accord with this demonstration of joy, -and never was any public feeling so unanimously -and instantaneously manifested. The hopes of -the nation had been raised to the highest pitch; -their disappointment was in proportion, and it -was expressed with a violence only to be explained -by the deep and general abhorrence -which the conduct of the French in Portugal -had provoked. The capitulations of the Helder -and of Buenos Ayres were remembered as less -mortifying than the convention of Cintra. Nothing -else could be talked of, nothing else could -be thought of: men greeted each other in the -streets with execrations upon those who had -signed this detested convention; it kept them -waking at night, or disturbed their sleep, like a -misdeed or a misfortune of their own. The London -newspapers joined in one cry of wonder and -abhorrence; on no former occasion had they been -so unanimous. The provincial papers proved -that, from one end of the island to the other, the -resentment of this grievous disappointment was -the same; some refused to disgrace their pages -by inserting the treaty; others surrounded it -with broad black lines, putting their journal in -mourning for the dismal intelligence it contained; -some headed the page with a representation -of three gibbets, and a general suspended -from each, cut in wood for the occasion.</p> - -<p>What could be done? There were not wanting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">269</span> -writers who called upon government to annul -the convention. The Romans, they said, would -have done so, and have delivered up the generals -who signed it, bound and haltered, to the enemy’s -discretion. Would it be argued, that to break -the treaty would be to break our faith towards -the enemy? Why, it was so framed that it could -not be fulfilled without breaking our faith towards -each and all of our allies! We were the -allies of Portugal; and it was a breach of faith towards -Portugal, to transport this army of thieves, -ravishers, and murderers out of the country in -which they had perpetrated their crimes, and -from which they had no other possible means of -escape. We were the allies of Spain; and it -was a breach of faith towards Spain, if four-and-twenty -thousand French troops, cut off from all -succour and all retreat, should be conveyed, -under the British flag, into their own country, -with arms and baggage, that they might join the -forces with which Buonaparte was preparing to -march against the Spaniards. We were the allies -of Sweden; and it was a breach of faith towards -Sweden to carry Russian sailors through the -Swedish fleet for the purpose of manning Russian -ships against the Swedes. Were we then to -annul this treaty with our enemies, or to betray -our friends? for to this alternative our triumvirate -of generals had reduced us! No law of nations -could justify them in making such stipulations; -no law of nations therefore could justify us in -performing them. But the French, it was urged,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">270</span> -had already fulfilled their part of the convention; -they had evacuated the fortified towns, -and admitted us into Lisbon. Thus we had -already reaped the advantages, and were, in honour, -bound to carry into effect the remainder -of the treaty, which was advantageous to them. -In whatever way we acted, some loss of honour -was inevitable; but it was less disgraceful to -break the terms than to fulfil them; better that -the French should reproach us, than that they -should compliment us upon a fidelity which enabled -them to injure our allies. The blow, it -was affirmed, might have gone far towards deciding -the fate of Europe. France had lost one -army in Andalusia, and how deeply Buonaparte -felt the loss was shown by the anxiety with which -he concealed it from the French people. What -might not have been the effect of the destruction -of a second and larger army, following so close -upon that of the former! How would it have -encouraged the Portugueze, given new animation -to the Spaniards, and raised the hope and -the courage of those various states who were -suffering under the tyrant’s yoke!</p> - -<p>The conditions which had been granted to the -Russian Admiral were condemned with the same -vehement feeling of disappointment. The intimate -connexion which had so lately subsisted -between the Courts of London and Petersburgh, -and the personal regard which the British Admiral -entertained for Admiral Siniavin, had been -adduced as reasons why an agreement acceptable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">271</span> -to both nations should be concluded. Certainly -it became us to manifest every mark of personal -respect toward the Russian officers, because, -though the false policy of their government had -engaged the two countries in war, there existed -no angry feelings nor jarring interests between -them; and the wishes of both were for a renewal -of that long established intercourse which was -beneficial to both. It also behoved us especially -to show ourselves grateful for the protection -which the Russians had afforded to the English -and Portugueze refugees, and the facilities which -they had given them of effecting their escape. -These were personal favours, for which the obvious -personal return should have been to have -immediately sent home men and officers under -an engagement not to serve against us or our -allies, and to have shown towards them every -courtesy and kindness by which the evils of hostility -can be mitigated. But that personal regard -should influence the terms of capitulation, was -a thing as unheard of as the terms themselves. -“Hold in deposit!” The phrase had never before -been known in the British navy. They knew -what it was to fight their enemies; they knew -what it was to beat, capture, sink, burn, and destroy -them, according to the spirit and letter of -their instructions. This was said by the navy, -and by the nation; and the bitter reflection arose, -how would Nelson have received such a proposal!</p> - -<p>Such language as this arose from a right feeling;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">272</span> -but the disappointment of well-founded and -high-raised hopes had heated the public mind, -and disqualified it for regarding the whole transaction -dispassionately. The manner in which -the Portugueze had been overlooked in the negotiation -was aggravated in England by persons -who supported the pretensions of the Junta of -Porto; and undue stress was laid upon the neglect -of formalities which could not have been overlooked -if the Portugueze General had been acting -with the British army as he ought. There had -been one serious omission affecting the Portugueze, -which was, in not insisting upon a stipulation -that the troops of that nation who had -been sent to serve in Buonaparte’s armies should -be restored to their own country; such a stipulation -ought to have been required, though it -would undoubtedly have been broken. The other -oversights which were objected were merely frivolous, -and the manner in which, through all the -subsequent details, the feelings as well as interests -of the Portugueze had been consulted, had -already contented them, and made them grateful -for the conduct of their allies. There was another -cause which exasperated the English people: -they compared the treatment of Junot’s army -with that of Dupont’s, and were mortified by a -comparison which ought rather to have elated -them; for looking to what seemed advantageous, -and not to what was just, they did not perceive -that in deferring to a popular cry the Junta of -Seville had broken a solemn engagement. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">273</span> -strong disapprobation with which Sir Hew Dalrymple -regarded that breach of faith, acted upon -him, perhaps unconsciously, when he allowed -the French the utmost which could be claimed -upon the most liberal construction of the letter -of the treaty in their favour.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Board of Inquiry appointed.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Meetings were convened in most parts of England -to express the indignation of the people at -the convention, and call for the punishment of -those by whom it had been negotiated. The -Common Council presented an address to the -same purport, and were told in reply that it was -inconsistent with the principles of British justice -to pronounce judgement without previous investigation, -and that their interposition was not -necessary for inducing the King to institute a due -inquiry into a transaction which had disappointed -the hopes and expectations of the nation. Accordingly -the three Generals were recalled, and -a Board of Inquiry was appointed, composed of -the Earl of Moira, General Craig, Lord Heathfield, -the Earl of Pembroke, Sir George Nugent, -and Lieutenant-General Nicolls, with Sir David -Dundas for president. Their decision, after a -long and full investigation, was, that they could -not pronounce, with confidence, whether the -victory of Vimeiro ought to have been pursued -or not; but, considering the extraordinary circumstances -under which two new commanders -arrived from the ocean, and joined the army, (the -one during, and the other immediately after the -battle, and these successively superseding each<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">274</span> -other, and both the original commander, within -the space of twenty-four hours,) it was not surprising -that the army was not carried forward -until the second day after the action, from the -necessity of the generals’ being acquainted with -the actual state of things, and proceeding accordingly. -On a consideration of all circumstances, -they were of opinion, that no farther -proceeding was necessary; and, however some of -them might differ respecting the fitness of the -convention, it was their unanimous declaration, -that unquestionable zeal and firmness had been -exhibited by all the three generals.</p> - -<p>As this was, in fact, delivering no opinion at -all, the board was called upon, by the Duke of -York, as commander-in-chief, to resume its consideration -of the armistice and convention, and -pronounce decidedly whether they thought them -adviseable. The armistice was disapproved by -Earl Moira; the convention by the same nobleman, -by the Earl of Pembroke, and General Nicolls: -thus, six of the seven members approved -the armistice, and four approved the convention. -The dissentient members delivered in their reasons -for the opinion which they gave. General -Nicolls and Earl Pembroke confined themselves -to a military point of view. Earl Moira took a -wider scope, and argued ably against the moral -and political effects of the treaty. The proceedings - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Jan. 18, 1809.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -were concluded by a declaration from the -King, adopting the unanimous opinion of the -board, that no farther proceeding was necessary;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">275</span> -but expressing his disapprobation of those articles -of the convention in which stipulations were -made, directly affecting the interests or feelings -of the Spanish and Portugueze nations. That -disapprobation his Majesty had signified to Sir -Hew Dalrymple when the treaty was first laid -before him, and he repeated it, deeming it necessary -that his sentiments should be clearly -understood, as to the impropriety and danger of -the unauthorised admission, into military conventions, -of articles of such a description. Nor -could he forbear observing, that Sir Hew’s delaying -to transmit the armistice concluded on -the 22d of August, till the 4th of September, -when the ratified convention was transmitted at -the same time, was calculated to produce great -public inconvenience, and that such inconvenience -had, in fact, resulted therefrom. The King -abstained from any observations upon other parts -of the convention.</p> - -<p>Thus the whole censure fell upon Sir Hew -Dalrymple. But it was seen by the people that -the great error of judgement had been committed -at home, in not providing that the General by -whom the campaign was planned should carry it -to the end. And how often may it be observed -in history, as in private life, that the course of -events is better directed to the end desired, than -if the persons most interested in the success -could themselves have ordered it! So it was in -this campaign, which at the time so severely disappointed -the nation. A more splendid triumph<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">276</span> -might have been obtained in the field, a higher -tone might have been taken in the negotiation; -but in either of these cases Almeida and Elvas -would have been left in possession of the enemy; -and whatever efforts might have been made for -reducing them, they could easily have held out -till the dispersion of the Spanish armies. It would -then have been a great object with the French -to relieve the garrisons, and this would have -brought them to Lisbon at a time when there -were neither preparations nor means for resistance -there.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">277</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</h2> -</div> - -<blockquote class="inhead"> -<p class="hang">ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRAL JUNTA. OPERATIONS -IN CATALONIA. EMBARRASSMENTS AND -MOVEMENTS OF THE SPANISH ARMIES. ESCAPE -OF THE SPANISH TROOPS FROM DENMARK.</p></blockquote> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.</span> -<br /><hr />Necessity of a provisional government.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p><span class="firstword">When</span> Castaños was informed of Sir Hew Dalrymple’s -appointment to the command of the -British army, he declared that he regarded this -nomination as the most fortunate event of his -own life; so much advantage to the common -cause did he anticipate from their confidence in -each other, and the cordial co-operation which -would ensue. In reality that influence which -the confidence of a British commander would -have given him, might have been of the most -essential benefit to Spain at this momentous -crisis.</p> - -<p>Such was the national character, that when the -struggle commenced every man was ready to -follow in the cause of his country; but so pitiable -had been the state of education, and so successfully -had the double despotism of the government -and the inquisition shut out knowledge -from their empire, that no man was fit to lead. -There were now as many governments as there -were Juntas, each acting with little regard to -the others; and as these were every where filled<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">278</span> -by persons chosen because of their station, the -government throughout Spain was delivered, or -rather fell into the hands of the provincial nobility -and gentry, with a few clergy; a set of men -whom their general want of information, their -prejudices, and their previous way of life, in -great measure disqualified for the task to which -they were called. Among them were some persons -who had formerly been in office at Madrid; -but whatever advantage they might have derived -from habits of business, was more than counterbalanced -by the dilatory formalities acquired at -the same time, and their attachment to the old -routine with all its defects and evils. Wherever -therefore such statesmen of the old school were -found, the Juntas were less efficient than they -might have been without them. The powers -with which these bodies found themselves invested -were neither limited in extent or duration: -the people in their confidence (which at -such times is as blind as their suspicion) never -thought of proposing restrictions: and the Juntas, -when once in possession of authority, thought -only of making it as extensive, and retaining it -as long as they could. Some of them passed -decrees bestowing upon themselves the titles of -Excellencies and Highnesses, and adopted uniforms -of the gaudiest fashion. This was mere -vanity; but serious injury was done, when, with -as little decency as had been observed under the -old system, they conferred commissions and commands, -not upon those persons who had the fairest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">279</span> -claim, but upon their own friends and relations -and dependents; and thus, as the enrolment was -general, the armies were filled with officers who -had no other pretensions to rank and promotion -than what they derived from favour.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Castaños prevents a contest between Granada and Seville.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>After the great success in Andalusia, the provincial -Juntas, instead of exerting themselves to -the utmost for completing the deliverance of the -country, became jealous of each other. Where -the rival authorities were far distant, this feeling -impeded the public service; greater evils were -threatened when they bordered upon each other. -Granada at this time refused to acknowledge the -supreme authority which the Junta of Seville -assumed, and had hitherto exercised with ability -and good fortune. A warm contention ensued; -and Tilly, either from irritation, or worse motives, -proposed that a division of the Andalusian army -should be sent to enforce submission. Fortunately -Castaños was present at the meeting in -which this proposition was made; he rose from -his seat, and, striking the table, said, he should -like to see the man who dared order a division -of the troops under his command to march without -his authority! He knew no distinction of -provinces; he had the honour to command part -of the army of Spain, and never would he suffer -it to be made the instrument of civil war.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Plans for a government.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The occasion required, and therefore justified, -this prompt assumption of a power, dangerous -in its kind, and in nowise congenial to the unambitious -temper of Castaños, a man whose only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">280</span> -desire was to do his duty like a true Spaniard -under any circumstances. It proved, however, -the necessity of establishing a more legitimate -authority than as yet existed. Lord Collingwood, -in his first communications with Seville, -had advised that a general Council, Cortes, or -Congress, should be appointed, and invested with -power from the several provincial Juntas to preside -over and act in the name of the whole. The -necessity of some such arrangement became every -day more apparent. Some persons proposed to -establish a military form of government, in which -that vigour which the emergency required might -be found; some were for assembling a Cortes; -others recommended that a viceroy or lieutenant -of the kingdom should be appointed, and to this -Castaños was at one time inclined. His first -thought before the struggle began had been to -invite the Archduke Charles; but upon considering -that the invitation could not be accepted -while Austria continued at peace with France, -and that if a war between those powers took -place, the Archduke’s services would be required -at home, he then thought the Prince Royal of -the house of Naples would be the fittest person -to hold the regency till the fate of Ferdinand -should be known; and this he proposed to the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Arrival of a Sicilian Prince at Gibraltar.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Junta. The Sicilian court from the commencement -of the insurrection had directed their views -to the same object: their minister in London -had sounded the disposition of the British Government, -and found it decidedly unfavourable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">281</span> -to their schemes; and they sent a plenipotentiary -to reside at Gibraltar, for the purpose of furthering -the interests of the family. But Sir Hew -Dalrymple happened to be informed of what had -passed in London, and finding that the object of -this mission was altogether disapproved by the -British Government, and that the agent had -papers which he intended to circulate without -previously communicating their contents to him, -felt it necessary to let him know that his residence -in the garrison, under these circumstances, -might be attended with inconvenience, -and therefore he must return to Palermo for new -instructions. This was about the middle of July; -in the ensuing month, a few days before Sir Hew -left Gibraltar to take the command of the army, -Prince Leopold, second son of the King of the -Two Sicilies, with the Duke of Orleans and a -large retinue, arrived there in a British man of -war. A more ill-judged step could hardly have -been taken. Great Britain had scrupulously -avoided any thing which could have the appearance -of dictating to the Spaniards, or interfering -with them in any other way than that of giving -the most prompt and liberal support; but what -a pretext would it afford those who were ever -ready to malign the measures of England, if at -a time when the Spaniards were deliberating -concerning the settlement of their government, -a Prince who claimed the regency should be received -with royal honours at Gibraltar, and at -the very juncture when a British army arrived<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">282</span> -upon the coast! Under these embarrassing circumstances -Sir Hew acted with great firmness -and discretion. Persisting in that upright and -steady course of conduct which had in so great -a degree contributed to win the confidence of -the Spanish nation, he refused in any manner to -support pretensions which he had reason to believe -were not approved by his government; to -that government he referred the Duke of Orleans, -who accordingly resolved to go to England, and -make his representations in person; the Prince -was received into Gibraltar, and left there, when -Sir Hew went to the army; if he were chosen -Regent, any deputation duly appointed to announce -that nomination was of course to be admitted, -and considered as attached to his retinue; -but no such deputation from any local or provisional -government was to be received on such -terms.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Ambition of the Junta of Seville.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>There was at this time a report that the Junta -of Seville had declared for a regency, and were -hesitating between the Archbishop of Toledo, -as the only remaining member of the Bourbon -family in Spain, a Prince of the Neapolitan house, -and the Conde de Montijo, the most intriguing, -and then one of the most popular persons in -Spain. As this individual had no pretensions to -such a charge, except what his undeserved popularity -might give him, the report was probably -raised by himself as one means to bring about -his elevation. Some members of that Junta were -intoxicated with success; a few others cared for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">283</span> -nothing but their own interest: the latter wished -for a Regent of their own appointment, under -whose name they might possess the real power; -the former were for retaining the authority which -hitherto they had administered well, but which -ceased to be legitimate when it became apparent -that it was retained for ambitious motives. A -paper from the Junta of Murcia, which expressed -the opinion of Florida-Blanca, had forcibly pointed -out the necessity of a central government, and -the inevitable ruin which a polyarchy of independent -Juntas would bring on. It advised that -the cities which had a seat in the Cortes should -elect a council to govern in the name of Ferdinand, -and that the military affairs should be -entrusted to a council of generals. The Junta -of Seville suppressed this paper wherever their -influence extended; but a like measure was now -recommended by an authority with which the -Junta could not cope.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Council of Castille advise a central Junta.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Council of Castille had recovered some -of its lost reputation by the tardy resistance -which it opposed to the Intruder, and by exerting -itself with authority to maintain order in the -capital, after the retreat of the French. It published -a justification of its own conduct, more -elaborate than convincing, and dispatched a circular -address to the provincial Juntas, declaring - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Aug. 4.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -its readiness to co-operate with them in any -plans of defence. With respect to measures of -another kind, it said, which were necessary to -save the country, all that belonged to that Council<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">284</span> -was to excite the authority of the nation, and -assist it with its influence, advice, and knowledge. -Under circumstances so extraordinary it was not -possible to adopt at once the measures indicated -by the laws and customs of Spain; the Council -therefore would confine itself to recommending -that deputies should be appointed by all the different -Juntas, who should meet together, and, in -union with it, confer and determine upon this -important object; so that all provisions proceeding -from this common centre might be as expeditious -as the end required.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Project of the Junta of Seville.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The better spirits in the Junta of Seville prevailed -on this occasion, and that body, yielding -with a good grace to the general opinion, seemed -at the same time to direct it. They published -an address, written with the ability which distinguished -all their public papers. Hitherto, -they said, the cause of the Spaniards had been -prosperous, and nothing could frustrate their -hopes of success, except a want of union among -themselves. Their enemies were anxious to -foment divisions. Human passions, personal interests -ill understood, the ignorance, the weakness, -the blindness of men, might assist these -evil designs, destroy a beginning so glorious, and -facilitate the ruin of Spain. This they were endeavouring -to guard against, protesting, before -God and man, that they wrote nothing but what -was dictated by the love of their country, being -ready to hear the opinions of other provinces, -and to amend their own errors, whenever it should<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">285</span> -be shown that they had committed any. The -chief care should be to avoid whatever might -serve to sow disunion: of this nature were all -discussions concerning the royal house, and the -order of succession in the different families which -derived a right from it. The laws upon this -point were well known; but are we, said they, -in a situation to talk of this? Long live King -Ferdinand VII. and his august brothers, heirs -of the crown after his attested decease! Why -anticipate inquiries which could only be necessary -in default of them?</p> - -<p>The second question which agitated the people -was of a different nature: ... Was there a necessity -for creating a supreme government, which should -unite the sovereign authority of all the provinces, -till the restitution of Ferdinand to his throne? -From the beginning they had been persuaded -such a government was by all means necessary. -Many Juntas and many military commanders -had expressed their conviction of this truth, ... -a conviction arising from the necessity in every -nation of a civil government, to which the -military may be subordinate. Spain, deriving -wisdom from history, had never thought of appointing -a dictator. Her generals (and the fact -was most honourable to the Spanish name) had -been the first to acknowledge a system of things -as ancient in Spain as the monarchy itself. The -confidence of the people in the Supreme Juntas, -the abundance with which pecuniary resources -had been placed at their disposal, the heroic<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">286</span> -loyalty wherewith the army had obeyed them, -and the happy issue, thus far, of their civil -administration, and of the military enterprises -which they had directed, placed in the most -conspicuous light, and established, beyond all -doubt, this fundamental truth, and most essential -political principle. But who was to create this -supreme civil government? Who were to compose -it? Where should be its place of residence? -What the extent of its authority? How might -it be established, without producing disunion -among the different provinces? These were the -important questions to be examined.</p> - -<p>It had been said that the Cortes ought to -assemble, that the Council of Castille should -convoke them, and the whole proceedings be -executed under the authority of that tribunal. -But the Council of Castille never possessed the -right of convoking the Cortes, ... why then should -they give it that authority? Was it because it -had lent the whole weight of its influence to the -usurpation? Because it had acted in opposition to -those fundamental laws which it was established -to preserve and defend? Because it had afforded -the enemy every facility to usurp the sovereignty -of Spain, to destroy the hereditary succession of -the crown, and the dynasty legally in possession? -Because it had recognized and seated on the -throne a foreigner, destitute even of the shadow -of a title to it? What confidence could the Spanish -nation place in a government convoked by an -authority incompetent, illegal, and guilty of acts<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">287</span> -which might justly be ranked with the most -atrocious crimes against their country? But the -Council of Castille being thus excluded from all -consideration, who was to convoke the Cortes? -It was the peculiar and exclusive prerogative of -the King to summon them; the provinces would -not submit to any other authority; they would not -unite: thus, therefore, there would be no Cortes, -or, if a few deputies were to assemble, that very -circumstance would occasion divisions, the very -evil which all were anxious to avoid. The kingdom -found itself suddenly without a king and -without a government, ... a situation unknown -in its history, and to its laws. The people legally -resumed the power of appointing a government. -They created Juntas without any regard to the -cities which had votes in the Cortes. The legitimate -power was therefore deposited with the -Juntas: in virtue of that power they had governed, -and still were governing, and had been, -and still were, universally acknowledged and -obeyed. Their situation had not changed; the -danger still existed; no new authority had supervened: -the lawful authority resided entire in the -Juntas to which the people had confided it. It -was therefore incontestable that the sole and exclusive -right of electing those who were to compose -the supreme government was vested in the -supreme Juntas. And whom should they elect? -Most certainly individuals of their own body; -for they alone derived their power from the -people, and in them the nation had reposed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">288</span> -entire confidence. Hence, if there were any -province in which the military power subsisted -alone, it was absolutely necessary that a supreme -Junta should be constituted there, by which the -people might act; this being indispensable, in -order to concentrate the legitimate power of the -people; for, under present circumstances, the -government could not be legitimate, unless it -originated in their free consent.</p> - -<p>The Junta of Seville was therefore of opinion -that the supreme Juntas, meeting on the same -day, should each elect, from its own members, -two deputies; and the persons so elected, from -that moment, be acknowledged as governors-general -of the kingdom. The supreme Juntas -ought nevertheless to be continued till the termination -of the present state of things, being -invested with the internal management of their -respective provinces, but under due subordination -to the general government. They ought to -give instructions to their deputies constituting -that government, and it would be the duty of -those deputies to observe them, and to represent -and support the claims of their provinces, as far -as was consistent with the public weal. If there -were one of the Royal Family capable of presiding -in the supreme government, he, and no -other, ought to be appointed to that office; but -if there were no person of the royal blood, then -it must elect a president from its own body; and, -to obviate all danger, the presidency should be -only for such limited time as might seem best.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">289</span> -The Juntas would appoint a place for the seat -of government, which the government might -afterwards change, if it should see cause. It -ought to be at a distance from the dangers of -war, and to possess other local advantages. Seville -possessed those advantages, but had no anxiety -to be selected, and willingly sacrificed her claims. -The Junta of that city would, however, frankly -state, that, in their opinion, La Mancha was most -convenient for the seat of government, and, especially, -either the city of Ciudad-Real, or Almagro. -But this point was to be decided by the free -choice of the supreme Juntas. The paper concluded -with a brief and dignified recapitulation -of what the Junta of Seville had done for their -country, disclaiming, on their part, any affectation -or desire of superiority, and declaring, that -whatever they had done was no more than their -indispensable duty.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Provincial Juntas assent to it.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The general opinion was undoubtedly in favour -of the plan of government thus recommended; -and it is no light proof of its fitness, that schemes -the same in principle and effect should have been -suggested by persons who had no communication -with each other, and whose views were in other -respects so different. There were many in England -who thought it would have been better to -have at once convoked the Cortes, in the supposition -that there was more resemblance between -the Cortes and the English parliament -than had ever really existed, and in the generous -but mistaken hope that vigorous measures might<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">290</span> -be expected from a free legislative assembly. The -best and wisest of the Spaniards wished also for -a Cortes, and looked to it for such judicious reforms -as were conformable to the constitutional -principles of the monarchy, and suited to the -habits and feelings of the nation. But they saw -that many points must be determined before the -manner of assembling the Cortes could be adjusted, -and that the necessity of forming a central -government was immediate and urgent. The plan -therefore which the Junta of Seville proposed was -assented to without opposition. Still it was a great -object with many of the provincial Juntas to retain -their power. That of Valencia drew up secret -rules for its deputies, declaring that they were to -follow the direction of their constituents, remain -subject and obedient to them, communicate regularly -with them, and in no instance depart -from their instructions; and they reserved to -themselves the power of displacing their deputies -at pleasure. This paper was made public; and -it was known that other Juntas, that of Seville -in particular, had pursued the same mischievous -course.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Unworthy choice of the Junta of Seville.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Junta of Seville, however, did worse than -this. In electing its deputies it chose two persons -so notoriously unworthy of such a trust, -that the only motives which could be assigned for -the choice were a desire of being rid of them, or -an opinion that they would submit to any terms -for the sake of the appointment. D. Vicente -Hore was the one; he had been a creature of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">291</span> -Godoy’s, and was so sensible of the estimation in -which he was held, that he declined the charge, -knowing his life would be in danger if he appeared -in Madrid, where it was of course expected -that the Central Junta would assemble. -D. Juan de Vera y Delgado, titular Archbishop -of Laodicea, the coadjutor of Seville, was then -chosen in his place; and this was an unexceptionable -choice. It was hoped and expected that -Tilly, the other member, would follow Hore’s -example, in declining an appointment for which -he was equally disqualified; but Tilly was of a -bolder stamp. A blasted character had not prevented -him from obtaining great popularity at -Seville; and being utterly regardless of the means -by which he brought about his ends, he was ready -to venture for the highest stake in the game of -revolution. Foul facts had been proved against -him, and fouler were, upon no light grounds, -imputed. He had found it necessary to fly from -Madrid before the troubles, because he was implicated -in the robbery of a jeweller. The murder -of the Conde de Aguila was attributed to him, -because it was certain that he might have saved -the Count by the slightest interference in his -behalf. A wretch who was notoriously his creature -had been one of the most active instruments -in Solano’s death; and Reding would have been -made away with by his means before the battle -of Baylen, if the intention had not been disclosed -to Castaños, and by him prevented.</p> - -<p>This appointment was not perhaps what Tilly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">292</span> -would have chosen; for it was believed that he -had no inclination to show himself at Madrid; -but he trusted to his talents for intrigue, obtained -a monthly allowance of 500 dollars, and looked - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The other members unexceptionable.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -for those opportunities which revolutionary times -offer to insane and desperate ambition. It is to -the honour of the Spaniards, that this was the -only exceptionable person elected for the central -Junta: perhaps in no country could an equal -number of men, under similar circumstances, -have been chosen more worthy of the trust reposed -in them. To be elected to a situation of -so great responsibility, in a time of unexampled -difficulties, was no object of desire; in no instance -was the appointment solicited, and in most -it was reluctantly accepted. The persons deputed -were thirty-five<a id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">32</a> in number; of whom<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">293</span> -Florida-Blanca and Jovellanos were the most remarkable, -for the offices which they had formerly -filled, and the rank which they held in public -opinion. Both were scholars as well as statesmen, -both men of business, both high-minded -and honourable Spaniards. Florida-Blanca had -more of the spirit of his country, Jovellanos was -more influenced by that of the age. The former -had been an ambitious politician; the latter was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">294</span> -always a philosopher, in the true and virtuous -meaning of that polluted word. As the despotic -minister of an absolute king, Florida-Blanca had -used his power vigorously to uphold the dignity -of the kingdom, and improve its internal condition; -most of his measures were wise, and all -were well-intended; but if he had ever conceived -a wish to correct the abuses of the state, it had -never appeared in his actions: Jovellanos had -unwillingly accepted office, because it placed him -in a sphere uncongenial to his modest habits and -better mind, and withdrew him from the task to -which he had devoted himself, of improving his -native province. Jovellanos’s desire was to meliorate -the government and the nation by recurring -to the free principles of the old constitution; -Florida-Blanca thought that if governments were -administered as they ought to be, the strongest -must be the best. Both, without hesitation<a id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">33</a>, -obeyed the call of their country, though Florida-Blanca, -who was in extreme old age, would more -willingly have passed the short remainder of his -days in preparing and waiting for death; and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">295</span> -Jovellanos, broken down, more by the infirmities -which an unjust and cruel imprisonment had -aggravated or induced, than by the weight of -sixty-five years, desired for himself nothing in -this world but tranquillity. The former brought -with him little more than a venerable name; but -Jovellanos was in full possession of his intellectual -powers.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Jovellanos refuses all offers of the Intrusive Government.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Every effort had been made by Azanza, O’Farril, -Urquijo, Mazarredo, and Cabarrus, to engage -this excellent man in the Intruder’s service. He -had lived in habits of friendship with all these -persons, more especially with the two last. Knowing -how inaccessible he would be to all unworthy -inducements, they endeavoured to deceive him, -as they would fain have deceived themselves, -by representing that theirs was the only course -which could secure the welfare of Spain; and -that by no other means could the calamities with -which it was threatened be averted; for they -thought it absurd to imagine any effectual resistance -could be opposed to the determined ambition -of Buonaparte. His reply was, that if the -cause of their country were as desperate as they -supposed it to be, still it was the cause of honour -and loyalty, and that which a good Spaniard ought -to follow at all hazards. Jovellanos held with his -favourite author Cicero that friendship was to be -preferred to every thing except honour and virtue; -he had given proof of this by his former -conduct toward some of these friends, and they -found now, as they had then, that no considerations<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">296</span> -could ever prevail in him over the sense of -duty. It gave him no little pain that his name -should be published in the Madrid gazette as one -of Joseph’s ministers; thus to appear a traitor -even for a few days to those who knew him not, -or knew not how decidedly he had refused the appointment, -was an injury which he felt severely. -This was one of Buonaparte’s insolent acts; fallen -as Urquijo and his colleagues were, they would -not have thus outraged the feelings of a man -whom it was not possible that they could ever -cease to respect and admire. At length, the Intrusive -Government having ascertained that he -was really suffering under severe bodily infirmities, -forbore to molest him with further solicitations. -He was gradually recovering when news -of the battle of Baylen refreshed his heart, and -seemed to give him new life as well as hope. -And when his appointment to the Central Junta -was announced, though his first thought was of -the ravages which age and affliction had made -upon his debilitated frame, the sense of duty - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Jovellanos a sus Compatriotas, p. ii. art. i. 18–25.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -overcame all personal considerations, and he notified -his acceptation without delay, at the same -time declining a salary of 4000 ducats which had -been assigned him.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Aranjuez chosen for the place of meeting.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>In little more than a week he joined the deputies -for Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia, at -Madrid; and then two difficulties, which had not -been anticipated, occurred. The first related to -the instructions with which the Junta of Seville -had fettered their members; instructions wholly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">297</span> -repugnant to the principle upon which the provisional -government was formed. The inconsistency -and the evils of this measure were represented -to Castaños, who was then in Madrid -with his army; that General’s influence was never -exercised unworthily, nor withheld when it might -be useful; and in consequence of his remonstrance -the obnoxious instructions were withdrawn, -though it appeared afterwards that secret -ones to the same tenour had been substituted. -The other difficulty was concerning the place of -meeting. Jovellanos thought that no place could -be so proper as the metropolis: there, in the -palace of their kings, the Central Junta would -derive consequence and respect from the place; -they would appear at the head of the first tribunals -and chief magistracy; the public documents were -upon the spot, and any advice or assistance which -they might require at hand. The members who -were at Madrid agreed in this opinion, which was -supported also by Castaños: but the Junta of -Seville were averse to any measure which might -lessen their authority, and in this instance they -were well served by Tilly for reasons which nearly -concerned himself. He had stopped at Aranjuez, -and succeeded in persuading Florida-Blanca, who -was decidedly for fixing the government at Madrid, -that it would be convenient to hold their -first sittings where they were, and determine -there upon the forms which they should observe -in the capital. He gained time by this ... always -a great object for one who trusts to intrigue and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">298</span> -fortune. So fully persuaded however were Jovellanos -and his colleagues when they went to -Aranjuez that they should speedily adjourn to -Madrid, that they left orders for forming an -establishment there.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Installation of the Central Junta. <span class="date">Sept. 26.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The greater part of the deputies having arrived, -their installation was performed with as much -ceremony as the place and circumstances would -permit. The Archbishop of Laodicea performed -mass, and administered an oath to his colleagues, -first taking it himself, that they would preserve -and extend the holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and -Roman religion, defend their Sovereign Ferdinand, -their rights, privileges, laws, and usages, -and especially those relating to the succession -in the reigning family, promote every thing conducive -to the welfare and improvement of the -kingdom, keep secret every thing which ought -not to be divulged, maintain the laws, and resist the -enemies of the country at all hazards. The oath -having been taken, Te Deum was sung by the -barefooted friars of St. Pasqual, and the assembly -then adjourned to the hall chosen for their sittings. -Florida-Blanca was appointed president, -and his first act was to proclaim King Ferdinand -from the great gallery of the principal front of -the palace. The gates of the palace had not -been opened till now since the departure of -Charles for Bayonne; and the ceremony of thus -proclaiming Ferdinand in the favourite residence -of his ancestors, ... the scene of his own childhood, -... the spot where, six months ago, he had -been acclaimed King, ... he who was now prisoner<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">299</span> -in a foreign land, and in the power of the perfidious -tyrant who had ensnared him, ... moved -the venerable statesman to tears when he pronounced -his name, and excited feelings of grief -and indignation in the multitude, which heightened -and hallowed the enthusiasm wherewith -they repeated it.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Conduct of the Council of Castille.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Junta dispatched copies of the act and -oath of installation to the different councils and -tribunals, requiring their members to take the -same oath, and issue orders to all the subordinate -Juntas, provinces, magistrates, governors, and -viceroys, for obeying the new government, as -holding in deposit the sovereign authority for -Ferdinand, the councils continuing in the exercise -of their ordinary functions, but referring to -the Central Junta all matters exceeding their -powers, and upon which the Sovereign ought -to be consulted. Other tribunals immediately -signified their prompt and unreserved obedience; -the Council of Castille alone delayed their answer. -The mortification which they felt at not -being incorporated with the provisional government, -as they had proposed, was embittered by -a consciousness that they had forfeited all claim -to the confidence of the nation. Having, however, -almost by accident, recovered so much -authority, they strove to extend it, and after five -days returned an answer, saying that, having -given the subject their most serious consideration, -they had resolved to take the oath, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">300</span> -circulate the necessary orders that the Central -Junta should be obeyed in whatever was for the -service of the King and of the public cause. -But they added, that in discharge of their indispensable -duty, they would hereafter communicate -to the Junta the result of their consultations -for the observance and maintenance of the laws. -The reservation implied in this reply offended -the Junta, and more especially the President -Florida-Blanca, who had not been accustomed -to tolerate delay or demur under his administration; -and an answer was returned conveying reproof -in the form of admonition, which reduced -the Council of Castille to a quiet but malevolent -submission.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Leonese deputies arrested by Cuesta.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Leonese deputies had been seized by -General Cuesta on their way. One of them, the -Bayley Valdes, notified his arrest to Florida-Blanca, -who instantly perceiving what fatal consequences -must arise from any serious dispute -between the civil and military authorities, wrote -mildly to Cuesta, requesting that he would release -the deputies, prefer his charges against -them to the Junta, and leave the decision to that -body. At the same time Castaños, to whom the -judicious part of the people in Madrid looked -for some interference in their fear at this unexpected -act of military violence, addressed a -letter to the Castillian general, representing to -him calmly, but forcibly, the surprise and alarm -which this arrest had occasioned, at a time when -the great object of forming a provisional government<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">301</span> -was on the point of being happily effected; -and asking what offence the deputies had committed, -men as they were of high character, and -the Bayley Valdes distinguished for the services -which he had performed? what authority was -competent to arrest and detain them? why, if -they were delinquents, they had not been denounced -to the Juntas of their respective provinces? -why their crimes were not published in -the face of the nation, and themselves accused -before the Central Junta, then about to assemble?</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cuesta’s vindication of his conduct.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>In his answer to Castaños, Cuesta declared, -that as principal and sole chief of the provinces -of Castille and Leon, he was not bound to give -an account of his conduct to any other provincial -authority, being independent of all till a general -government or regency should be established; -nevertheless, as his Excellency apprehended some -uneasiness in the people of Madrid, and in the -whole nation, concerning this transaction, he -deemed it proper to satisfy his doubts. The -Junta of Castille having been dissolved by the -entrance of the enemy into Valladolid, he had -increased the Junta of Leon by adding to it a -deputy for every intendency or province of Castille, -and had confirmed Valdes as their president, -Valdes having promised to obey his orders in all -things, without consideration of his own rank. -But after the battle of Rio Seco, a few members -of this Junta, seeing him pursued by the French, -and forsaken by the Galician army, retired to -Ponferrada, instead of Astorga, whither he had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">302</span> -directed them to repair: and there, under the -influence of Valdes, treated clandestinely with -the Junta of Coruña, to unite with them at Lugo, -and from thence govern both Castille and Leon, -independently of the captain-general, who, indeed, -was to become subordinate to them. The Bayley -had notified this to him, and at the same time -ordered him to deliver up his cavalry to General -Blake. Instead of obeying such orders, he had -immediately annulled this fugitive Junta, and -commanded the inferior Juntas to break off all -communication with it, which they had accordingly -done, except in those parts of Leon which -were under the immediate power of the Galician -general. The fugitive Junta persisted in its pretensions, -and had elected Valdes and the Vizconde -de Quintanilla as its representatives in the -Central Junta. Let any impartial person then -say whether he had not good reason to arrest -them for insubordination! Not having been -elected by any competent authority, they were -not members of the Central Junta, and therefore -no offence had been offered to that body in arresting -them. Whenever that body should be assembled, -he would be the first person to obey it, -and submit to its high consideration the cause -of Valdes and his accomplices: till then neither -the rank of the Bayley, nor his assumed quality -of member of the Central Junta, for the provinces -of Castille and Leon, shall suffice, said the old -General, to exempt him from my jurisdiction. -The same answer he returned to Florida-Blanca,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">303</span> -and sent back the letter which that nobleman -had addressed to Valdes, saying that the prisoner -was in strict confinement, deprived of all communication.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Council of Castille interfere.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Castaños, not receiving a reply as soon as he -had expected, called upon the Council of Castille -to interfere; and that tribunal, well pleased that -its authority should be appealed to on so important -an occasion in such times, wrote in consequence -to Cuesta, remonstrating on the dangerous -tendency of his conduct. But he returned -for answer, that the imprisonment of these persons -was the best means of preventing danger, -as it would effectually preclude the contentions -which might arise if a double set of representatives -for Castille and Leon should present themselves; -that neither prudence nor justice permitted -him to overlook the infidelity, insurrection, -and insubordination of a Junta which he -had created; and that for these offences, as Valdes -was a general, he would deliver him over to be -tried by a council of war, composed of generals, -unless a sovereign regency should first be established; -in which case he would submit the -whole proceeding to their judgement, and his -own powers also, ... powers which till then he -considered independent of any other authority.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cuesta is summoned before the Central Junta.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Upon this principle, and an assumption that -the Juntas in Castille and Leon derived their -authority from him and not from the people, -Cuesta made the Junta of Valladolid, who had -assembled in Leon, send a representative to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">304</span> -Central Junta. The assembly refused to admit -him, and ordering Cuesta to set his prisoners at -liberty, summoned him also to Aranjuez, that all -parties might be heard. This was in effect removing -him from the command of his army. -Such an assertion of their power was well-timed, -for Cuesta, making no secret of his hostile intentions -against them, had declared to the British -agent, Mr. Stuart, that two measures were necessary -for the public good; first, the restoration -of the authority of the Captains General and of -the Royal Audiences, (which would have ensured -to him the continuance of his command); and, -secondly, the exercise of military influence over -the Junta, to make them elect an Executive -Council, of three or five members, each of whom -should be placed at the head of one branch of -the government, and responsible to the nation -only. But Cuesta, intemperate as he was, sincerely -desired to serve his country; and he -obeyed the summons without hesitation. Mutual -accusations were made. The Junta of Leon -reproached the General with his attempts to -maintain order at the commencement of the insurrection, -and thereby serving the Intrusive Government. -They injured themselves more than -Cuesta by this disingenuous attack; for his defence -upon that point was full and satisfactory: -what persons in authority were there throughout -Spain, he asked, who had not endeavoured to -suppress the first popular movement, knowing -how great a force the enemy had in the heart of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">305</span> -the country, ready to act any where, and not -knowing that the spirit of resistance was universal? -As soon as that spirit was fairly manifested, -he had taken the national side, had brought -armies into the field, and had done his duty faithfully, -if not fortunately. It was base indeed in -the Junta to bring against him this accusation, -which, if it had been taken up by the populace, -or his own soldiers, might so easily have occasioned -his murder. On the other hand, it was -found, that in the affair of the deputies Cuesta’s -conduct had not been distinguished by that honest -obstinacy which appeared in his own account, -and which characterised his general conduct. -He had not disapproved of the Junta’s -measures till they ordered him to send his cavalry -to Blake, a measure which all the military -men in Madrid considered of the utmost importance -at the time. His opinion of the Bayley -Valdes had been so favourable, that he had made -known his intention to have him elected as his -own colleague; and the immediate cause of this -rash and intemperate proceeding was anger that -he himself had not been chosen. So completely -had this feeling mastered him, that instead of -advancing with his army to Burgo del Osma, (as -had been resolved in a council of war at Madrid -at which he was present,) he had actually fallen -back to Segovia to gratify his resentment by -seizing Valdes. Valdes would now have terminated -the dispute by giving in his resignation: -this it was not thought proper to accept; the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">306</span> -validity of his election was admitted, and the -other points were referred to a competent tribunal, -but the course of events soon put an end -to all further proceedings.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Declaration of the Central Junta.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Central Junta, thus peaceably established, -and unanimously recognized by the nation, began -their administration with the fairest promises. -They acknowledged the national debt, and took -upon themselves the obligations contracted by -the crown, which formed the patrimony of many -families; and which they pledged themselves -punctually to pay. That portion of the revenue -which had formerly been swallowed up in the -enormous expenses of the royal household, or -engrossed by the favourite, would, they trusted, -enable them to diminish the imposts laid upon -the towns and villages; and great resources would -be found in the property forfeited by those who -had betrayed their country. The sum total of -the funds arising from these sources, from the -regular revenues, and from the donatives and -contributions of Spain and the Indies, they promised -annually to publish, with an account of its -expenditure. They would simplify, as far as possible, -the revenue system, gradually suppress useless -offices, establish economy in all the branches -of financial administration, and remove the abuses -introduced into it by the old government.</p> - -<p>The duties which they proposed to themselves, -and the benefits which they promised the people, -were farther explained in an address to the nation; -for they affirmed, it became them to inform<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">307</span> -the people of their situation, with a dignity becoming -the Spanish character; and to establish, -in a frank and generous manner, those relations -of reciprocal confidence which ought to be the -basis of every just and wise administration. A -tyranny of twenty years, exercised by the most -incapable hands, had brought them to the very -brink of perdition: the nation was alienated from -its government by hatred or contempt: every -thing favoured the perfidious plot which Buonaparte -had formed against them, when they rose -to vindicate their rights, and became at once the -admiration of Europe. Their situation was unexampled -in their history, unforeseen by their -laws, and, as it were, opposed to their habits. -Great and wonderful things they had accomplished; -but all their enthusiasm and all their -virtue were required for what remained to be -done. Their armies were naked and unprovided -with every thing. The French, collected behind -the Ebro, were expecting reinforcements, and -ravaging Upper Castille, Rioja, and the provinces -of Biscay; Navarre and Catalonia were -almost wholly in their power: they possessed -the passes, and had made themselves, by what -treachery was well known, masters of the strong -frontier fortresses, and of Barcelona. The despot -of France, deceiving, by the grossest impostures, -the slaves who obeyed him, was striving to keep -all other states in inactivity, that he might bring -the whole enormous weight of his military force -upon Spain. The continental powers were watching<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">308</span> -the issue of this first struggle, desiring to declare -themselves against the common enemy, but -proceeding with the timid circumspection which -they had learnt from past misfortunes. A confederacy -against the tyrant was evidently their -only means of preservation: for what state could -now hold relations of amity with him? who could -now give credit to the words and promises of -Buonaparte, or trust to his good faith? The fate -of Spain was at once a lesson and a warning to -Europe, ... her resolution would serve as an example, -her victories as an incentive; and the -reprobate, who had trampled under foot the principles -of justice, had placed himself in that fearful -situation, that he must either become master -of all, or perish in the struggle which he had so -wantonly provoked.</p> - -<p>But this co-operation would not be obtained till -the Spaniards had given such earnest of success -as rendered victory certain: they must therefore -call forth all their means, as if they were singly -to contend against the whole power of France. -The Junta believed it would be necessary to -maintain 500,000 men in arms, besides 50,000 -cavalry, ... a force which, however disproportionate -to their present situation, and to all former -exigencies, was not more than the present -times required. The power of their adversary -was colossal, his ambition even greater than his -power, and his existence incompatible with their -liberty. His exertions were to be estimated by -the barbarity of his character and the extremity<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">309</span> -of his danger; but they were the exertions of a -tyrant, and would be confounded, when opposed -to the constancy of a great and free people.</p> - -<p>The last government ... if that might be called -government which was one continued and monstrous -dilapidation, had exhausted all the sources -of prosperity. The resources which arose from -the revenues of the royal household, from the -enormous sums formerly devoured by the insatiable -avarice of Godoy, from his collected rapine, -and the confiscated estates, from a free -trade, a well-arranged administration of the revenue, -and regularly distributed contributions, -had already been indicated. The succours already -given so generously by England, and still -to be expected from that nation, were to be added -to these means. “But,” said the Central Junta, -“it is incumbent on us that these succours, which -have been so opportunely given, and so gratefully -received, and the effects of which have been -so beneficial, should be hereafter recognized and -recompensed with the reciprocity and decorum -which become a great and powerful nation. The -Spanish monarchy must not, in this respect, be -placed in a state of inequality and dependence -on its allies. The produce of these various means -would be great but slow, and therefore insufficient -for the urgent necessities of the state. Would -they be sufficient to furnish for a time the ordinary -supplies, discharge the great debt which -must be incurred, and maintain the formidable -army which must be kept up? If not, the government<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">310</span> -would at once have recourse to the -nation, certain, from the fidelity with which its -accounts would regularly be published, from the -necessity and notoriety of the public wants, and -the patriotism of the nation, that although to -evils so extraordinary as the present remedies as -extraordinary must be applied, its demands would -neither be disregarded through distrust, nor detested -as arbitrary.</p> - -<p>“The defence of the kingdom, and the means -of providing for it, must necessarily be the first -duty of the government; but it would fulfil only -half its duties if it attended to this alone: other -duties remained, to be the great reward of the -virtue of the Spaniards and of their sacrifices. A -little time only had passed since, oppressed and -degraded, ignorant of their own strength, and -finding no protection against these evils, neither -in the institutions nor in the laws, they had even -regarded foreign dominion as less hateful than -the wasting tyranny which consumed them. The -dominion of a will always capricious, and most -often unjust, had lasted too long: their patience, -their love of order, their generous loyalty had -too long been abused: it was time that law, -founded on general utility, should commence -its reign. This was the desire of their good -and unfortunate King Ferdinand; this was what -he pointed out, even from the captivity to which -a perfidious traitor had reduced him. The name -of their country ought no longer to be a vague -and idle word to the Spaniards; henceforward it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">311</span> -was to import to their ears and to their hearts -the sanctuary of laws, the theatre for talents, the -reward of virtue. Such a country the Junta solemnly -promised they should possess; and till -the military operations, which must at first be -slow, in order better to insure success, should -furnish the leisure necessary for this great and -solemn reform, the government would privately -prepare for it. Instead of rejecting the advice -of enlightened men, they desired and requested -it. The knowledge and illustration of their ancient -and constitutional laws; the changes which -change of circumstances rendered necessary in -their re-establishment; the reform which might -be necessary in the civil, criminal, and commercial -codes; projects for improving public education, -which was in Spain so greatly on the decline; -a system of regulated economy for the -distribution and collection of the public revenue, -... these were subjects for the investigation of wise -and thoughtful men, and on which the opinions -of such men were solicited. The Junta would -form different committees, each entrusted with -a particular department, to whom all writings on -matters of government and administration might -be addressed: so that each contributing by his -exertions to give a just direction to the public -mind, the government might be enabled to establish -the internal happiness of Spain.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Jovellanos proposes a Regency, and that a Cortes be summoned.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>These were fair professions; nor were the intentions -of the Central Junta less laudable than -their language. Tilly alone excepted, the members<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">312</span> -were upright and honourable men, worthy -to represent a nation distinguished for its high -sense of honour. But they were unacquainted -with each other, and except the President, -Jovellanos, and Garay, wholly unused to business: -for a national assembly too few, and for -an executive government too many. Jovellanos -was of opinion that they ought immediately to -appoint a regency of five persons, one of them -being a dignitary of the church, to be installed -on the first day of the ensuing year: that the -Central Junta should then be reduced to half its -original number, retaining one member only of -each deputation, for the purpose of watching over -the observance of the constitution entrusted to -the regency, and corresponding with the provincial -Juntas, which should thenceforward consist -of four members each: these were to exist -as long as the Council of Regency; and the -Central Junta of Correspondence, as it was -then to be called, only till the meeting of the -Cortes, which Jovellanos maintained ought immediately -to be announced as to assemble as -soon as the enemy should have been driven out -of Spain, or, at all events, in two years from -the present time, if the delivery of the country -should not be accomplished before. He proposed -also that the Junta, before it resigned its -powers, should appoint persons qualified for -such a task to prepare plans of reform in the -constitution, laws, finance, system of public instruction, -army, and marine; ... these plans were -to be formed under the inspection and approbation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">313</span> -of the Council of Regency and the Junta -of Correspondence, and finally submitted to the -Cortes. - -<span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />October.</span><span class="sne">♦</span> - -In delivering this advice, Jovellanos, -to remove all suspicion of any interested views, -repeated in writing the solemn declaration which -he had before made by word of mouth, that he -never would accept of any office or employment -himself; the natural and invincible repugnance -which he had ever felt for such preferment, the -bitter price which he had paid for having once -accepted it, in deference to a brother whom he -respected like a parent, and the sad sense of -decay both in his physical and moral powers, -determined him to this resolution. The only -duty which he would undertake to perform was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Jovellanos Memoria, p. ii. § 33, 34. Appendices, No. 5.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the noble one of simply delivering those opinions -which he thought most conducive to the good of -his country, in discharge of the high trust wherewith -his own province had honoured him.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Expectations from a Cortes.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Jovellanos expected the greatest benefit from a -Cortes; but he apprehended great evil if it were -hastily convoked, and without due preparation. -That party who have since assumed the appellation -of <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Liberales</i> censured him for proposing to -postpone it so long. They were then a very small, -but active, minority, consisting chiefly of physicians, -lawyers, and unbelieving priests, whose -little knowledge, exclusively derived from prohibited -French books, was worse than ignorance. -These persons were for hurrying on to a jacobinical -revolution, and were impatient for a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">314</span> -Cortes as the first great means of embodying -that democracy which they expected to govern. -But there were also many of the best of the -Spaniards who looked to the Cortes as the surest -means of delivering their country, and restoring -it to its former dignity and power; and the same -views were very generally entertained in England, -and by the British Government itself. In -fact, the assembling of a Cortes had been proposed -by our first authorized agent, Mr. Stuart, -to the Juntas of Galicia and Asturias. Some of -the difficulties which would attend it were then -perceived; the Asturians proposed that it should -assemble at Oviedo, the Galicians at Villa Franca -in the Bierzo, each Junta wishing that it should -be convoked near their own place of abode; and -for the purpose of retaining their power, they -wished to enlarge the deputation, so that all their -own members might be included. Though it was -thus seen that the measure was not so easily accomplished -as had been supposed, still the opinion -prevailed in England, that if a free legislative -assembly were established in Spain, the same -blessings would ensue as the British people enjoy -under the well-tempered constitution which has -grown with their growth, and adapted itself to -their circumstances. There are errors from which -it is painful to be undeceived. Those persons -were wiser in their generation, who, having the -recent example of France before their eyes, believed -that legislative assemblies, in countries -unaccustomed to such modes of legislation, are<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">315</span> -more to be dreaded than desired; that the reformation -which is thus begun tends to certain -anarchy; and that where great and extensive improvements -in the existing system are necessary, -the only means whereby they can be effected, -without inducing worse evils than those which -are removed, is by an upright and far-sighted -minister, under a strong government. Upon - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Florida-Blanco averse to it.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -this point Florida-Blanca judged more truly -than Jovellanos. Such, however, was the respect -with which the opinions of that admirable -man were at this time heard, that his proposal -would have been carried, if the Junta had come - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Jovellanos Memoria, p. ii. § 35.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to an immediate decision upon it; and it was -only by deferring the final discussion till Nov. 7, -being that day month, that the minority averted a -measure which shocked their prejudices as much -as it alarmed their fears.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>State of Catalonia.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Junta were at this time full of hope; they -had just confidence in the national character; and -they were elated by the enthusiastic spirit which -had manifested itself, the splendid successes which -had been obtained, the apparent inactivity of the -enemy, and the promised co-operation of Great -Britain, which had already effected the delivery -of Portugal. They had also encouraging advices -from Catalonia. After relieving Figueras, the -French dispatched a force from that fortress to -get possession of Rosas, but failed in the attempt. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">July 16.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Ill armed, and worse disciplined as they -were, the Catalans displayed that unconquerable -spirit which in all ages has distinguished them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">316</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />July.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>In no other province were such great and continued -exertions made against the invaders: and -in no other province were the people left so entirely -to their own resources. They made the -most urgent solicitations to the Junta of Seville -for a supply of artillery, which could have been -spared in abundance from the arsenals of Seville -and Cadiz, and which Lord Collingwood offered -them the means of conveying; but they could -obtain none, and were fain, therefore, to use the -trunks of trees, bored, and hooped with iron. The -want of cavalry was even more severely felt in all -the level part of the country; ... no substitute could -be found for this, nor was it possible that their -volunteers and newly-raised levies could resist the -well-disciplined horse-soldiers upon plain ground. -They had, however, been eminently successful -where the ground favoured them; and confiding -in their numbers, they occupied the right bank -of the Llobregat from San Boy to Martorell, in -order to distress the enemy in Barcelona. From -thence they were dislodged by General Lechi, -who, marching out by night with 2500 men, -forded the river in several places at daybreak, -drove them from their batteries, sacked the towns -and villages along the line, set fire to them, and -returned in triumph, bearing as trophies the banners -of the churches which had been plundered. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Duhesme resolves to besiege Gerona.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Duhesme then resolved to undertake the siege -of Gerona, having concerted it with Reille, who -was to co-operate with him from Figueras. It -was an object of great importance; for while<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">317</span> -Gerona and Hostalrich were in possession of the -Spaniards, they would be able greatly to molest, -if not wholly to interrupt, the communication by -land between Barcelona and France. Materials -of every kind were found in the well-stored -arsenals and magazines of Barcelona, and the -horses, mules, and carriages of the inhabitants -of that city were put in requisition for conveying -them. So sure of success was Duhesme, and -so exasperated by his former failure, that he is - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, p. i. 80–85.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -said to have declared he would arrive before the -city on one day, attack it the next, take it on -the third day, and on the fourth destroy it.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Difficulties on the march.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>He began his march on the 10th of July, with -about 6000 men. From Barcelona to Gerona is -a journey of twenty hours; but Duhesme had -not calculated upon the obstacles which he was -to encounter on the way. The road for two-thirds -of the distance lies always within sight of -the sea, and in great part along the coast; the -Catalans, under D. Francisco Milans, had broken -it up, and annoyed him with great activity on -his left, while an English frigate, and some -smaller vessels, brought their guns to bear upon -him from the sea; these impediments delayed -him five days between Caldetas and San Pol. -On the 19th he divided his troops; one part -crossed the wild mountains of Vallgorguina to -S. Celoni, and endeavoured by a sudden attack -to get possession of Hostalrich. Twice they attempted -to escalade it, and were repulsed with -loss by the acting governor D. Manuel O’Sulivan.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">318</span> -The other division continued the coast road, -losing many guns and much of its ammunition -there. They rejoined on the way to Gerona, -and arrived before that city on the 22nd, where -they were met on the following day by Reille - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, i. 85–87.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -with 2000 men from Figueras; but Duhesme -had suffered so much on the march, that he was -in no condition for active operations, and the -remainder of the month was employed in preparing -for the siege.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Troops from Minorca land at Tarragona.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the very day that the French General appeared -for the second time before Gerona, the -Marques del Palacio, with 4600 regular troops -from Minorca, landed at Tarragona. Many officers, -who had hitherto remained in Barcelona, -and several magistrates, escaped now from that -city to join it. The first measure of the Marques -was to strengthen the line of the Llobregat, -which the Somatenes and Miquelets, undismayed -by their late defeat, had again occupied. The -Conde de Caldagues was sent with a detachment -upon this service, and the garrison, who made a -vigorous attempt to dislodge him immediately -on his arrival, were repulsed. The Catalans were -now in high spirits, and with the assistance of -Lord Cochrane, in the Imperieuse frigate, made -a successful attack upon the Castle of Mongat, -a small fort on the coast, about nine miles from -Barcelona, which the French had strengthened, -as a point of support for their plundering incursions -to the eastward. About an hundred -prisoners were taken there, seven pieces of cannon,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">319</span> -and a considerable quantity or ammunition - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />August.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -and stores. The enemy could no longer maraud -in that direction, and feeling great present inconvenience, -began to apprehend serious consequences - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Barcelona blockaded.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -from the blockade of Barcelona: the -British cruisers watched it effectually by sea, -and in the only part of the land now open to -them, which was the mountainous country in -their immediate vicinity, between the Llobregat -and the Besos, they had to contend with an - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, p. ii. 3–25.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -armed and exasperated peasantry; for even those -persons who would have remained quiet were -driven to despair by the system of fire and sword -which Duhesme pursued.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Barcelona.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Barcelona, with its fort Monjuich, is one of -the strongest places in Europe. It is remarked -by Swinburne, that the citadel was calculated to -overawe the inhabitants at least as much as to -protect them from a foreign enemy. For this in -fact it was built, when six hundred houses were -demolished for its site; and to the same purpose -it was now applied against the family which built -it, when Buonaparte’s perfidy had made the Bourbons -as popular in Catalonia as they had been -hated there during the war of the succession. -Every house in Barcelona lies exposed to Monjuich, -which stands singly on the south-west. A -new fortress had been erected there early in -Charles the Third’s reign, and it had that completeness -and magnificence which characterised -public works in Spain. On the sea side it was -considered impregnable, so admirably had the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">320</span> -natural strength of the situation been improved -by art; and toward the land the glacis had been -sloped at an incredible expense in such a manner -that no approaches could be made under shelter. -The population of Barcelona in 1797 was 130,000, -and if the increase since had been in proportion -to that of the ten years preceding, it must have -amounted to 150,000 at this time. Yet this population, -than which a braver and nobler-minded -people were no where to be found, was kept -under control by 4000 French, Lechi having -been left with no greater force. The city was -so completely at the mercy of the citadel and -Monjuich, that the invaders had nothing to fear -from open attacks. Their only danger was from -stratagems or famine. Against the former they -were always on their guard; and it was to open -the communication for supplies and reinforcements -from France that Duhesme had undertaken -the expedition against Gerona.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Junta of Catalonia remove to the head-quarters.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Marques del Palacio arrived in Catalonia -without treasure or provisions, and there was no -government to which he could look for either. -The contributions which had been raised had -already been expended, and nothing was to be -obtained by way of loan. A temporary resource -was found in the confiscation of French property; -for in these calamitous times the numerous -French families who were settled in Spain -bore their full share in the general misery and -ruin. These funds, however, could not long -suffice; and for the better establishment of some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">321</span> -permanent system, it was agreed that the Supreme -Junta of Catalonia, which had hitherto -resided at Lerida, should remove from that inconvenient -situation, and accompany in future -the head-quarters. The Junta was newly constituted -accordingly, and the Commander-in-chief -was chosen president. The Marques would now -have marched to raise the siege of Gerona; but -such means as he would have deemed adequate -were wanting; he had no cavalry, the little which -there was in Lerida and Tarragona was unfit for -action, and perhaps he reasonably distrusted his -troops if they were led against a well-disciplined - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Caldagues sent to interrupt the siege of Gerona.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -army. Caldagues, however, was sent to harass -the enemy and interrupt the siege, with four -companies of regular troops, 2000 Miquelets and -Somatens, and three pieces of artillery. He was -joined at Hostalrich by more of these new levies, -making his whole number 4300 men, and he received -two cannon from that fortress. They -advanced to Castella, passing within sight of the -French encampment; some officers came out of - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, ii. 30–32, 52–55.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the city to confer with the Count, and a joint -attack upon the enemy’s batteries was concerted -for the following morning.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He attacks the enemy’s batteries with success.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>This was on the night of the 15th; Duhesme -had been so harassed in his operations, and so -slow in them, that though he arrived before -Gerona on the 19th of July, it was not till the -morning of August 13 that his batteries began -their fire. It was directed chiefly against the -Castle, which, like that at Barcelona, bears the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">322</span> -name of Monjuich, and which, with all the other -forts around Gerona, had been neglected, and -was in a state of great dilapidation. On the 15th -a considerable breach had been made. The garrison -was then strengthened with 900 men, who -were ordered to be ready at daybreak, and to -sally as soon as the relieving troops should be -ascending the hill of Monjuich; but instead of -waiting for this, they sallied as soon as they saw -them marching down the distant heights of St. -Miguel and Los Angeles. The execution therefore -was as rash as the plan, and certainly few -attempts in war have ever been made in which -there was so little reasonable prospect of success. -The besieging army consisted of 11,000 men, of -which 1000 were cavalry, all disciplined soldiers, -upon whom their officers could rely. There were -4700 regular troops in Gerona, who, for want of -discipline, were not to be relied on in the field; -and of the force which Caldagues had now collected, -amounting to 6000, there were but 300 -regulars. But Duhesme was at this time too -much dispirited by the general prospect of affairs -in Spain, and the reverses which he himself had -suffered, to be sensible of his own superiority, -or to profit by the errors of his opponents. One -battery was taken at the point of the bayonet in -this premature sally, and presently set on fire. -A second also was stormed; the French, who -had been driven from it, recovered it, being reinforced -by a Swiss battalion; but a column of -the Spaniards arrived in time to assist their countrymen,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">323</span> -and it was again taken, and the carriages -burnt. D. Henrique O’Donell, who held the rank -of <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Sargento Mayor</i> in the regiment of Ultonia, -distinguished himself greatly in this part of the -action. The destruction of these batteries was -the object for which Caldagues had hazarded an -attack upon an enemy so greatly superior in -strength. His own troops, meantime, drove the -French from the heights of S. Miguel to the village -of Camp-Dura; from thence they, in their -turn, were driven back to the heights, and being - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, ii. 55–62.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -there reinforced, made the enemy again give way -before them, dislodged them from Camp-Dura, -and pursued them till they crossed the river Ter -to Sarria.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Duhesme raises the siege.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Caldagues dispatched news of his victory from -the field of battle to Tarragona, saying that the -enemy’s batteries were demolished, and all the -artillery taken with which they had battered -Monjuich in breach. All that he had hoped, -and more than he could reasonably have expected, -had been obtained; and when his troops, -flushed with success, would have exposed themselves -in the plain to the French cavalry, he restrained -them, ordered them to fortify themselves -upon the heights, and exerted himself to repair -the breach in Monjuich, lest it should be attacked -in the morning. Duhesme indeed might have -recovered in the night the positions which he -had lost, so little discipline was there among the -Spaniards, and so little watch or order was observed, -notwithstanding the strict injunctions of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">324</span> -the Commander. But Duhesme appears to have -been one of those men who lose their powers of -mind when good fortune forsakes them; and Caldagues, -when day broke, and he was expecting -a formidable attack, discovered, to his astonishment, -that the enemy had disappeared. They -had fled, rather than retreated, in the night, and -in such haste, that they left several hundred barrels -of powder which they might with ease have -rolled into the river. Reille returned to Figueras -with little loss, there being no impediment in -that direction; but Duhesme, who did not venture -a second time upon the coast road, when -he reached Calella took a line between the high - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr, Pieces Justif. No. 3. Cabañes, ii. 62–81.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -mountains and the sea, throwing his artillery -down the precipices, and abandoning great part -of the baggage and stores, and even leaving the -sick and wounded who were not able to sit on -horseback. The retreat was made with such precipitation, -that Milans, who pursued, did not -come up with them till they were within seven -miles of Barcelona, on the heights of Mongat. -But Lechi being, fortunately for them, apprised -by a spy of their approach, met them there with -part of the garrison, at a time when a small Spanish -force might have completed their destruction.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Unpopularity of the commander in Catalonia.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>An outcry was raised against Palacio because -he had not intercepted the enemy in their retreat, -nor was he ever forgiven by the unreasonable -people for not having done what it was impossible -to do. When the account from the field of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">325</span> -battle reached him at Tarragona, the French were -half way to Barcelona; and before he was apprised -that they had broken up the siege, they were already -in that city. The command which he had - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, ii. 101.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -undertaken was no enviable one. The repulse -of the enemy at Valencia, their losses in Andalusia, -and the heroic defence of Zaragoza, had - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Difficulties of the service.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -raised hopes which nothing but the most brilliant -success could satisfy; the service in which -he was engaged required great steadiness and military -skill; the best of his troops were wanting -in both, and the great body of them fit only for -irregular war. The Junta of Catalonia had decreed -that an army of 40,000 men should be -raised; and because there were no officers to -command, and no time for disciplining them, -they determined that the whole force should consist - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>D. Fr. Manoel Hist. de Catalaña, l. iv. p. 90.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -of Miquelets. This class of irregular troops -was originally called<a id="FNanchor_34" href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">34</a>Almogavares; but when -they began to alter their savage appearance and -barbarous mode of warfare, they took their present -name from one of their favourite commanders, -Miquelot de Prats, a notable partizan -who attached himself to Cæsar Borgia. The -name was popular among the Catalans, the Miquelets -having distinguished themselves whenever -the country was invaded, and especially in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">326</span> -the succession war. It was intended to raise -forty <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">tercios</i> of a thousand men each, and this -might have been done in a few days, such was -the national spirit, if equipments of every kind -had not been wanting. A great bounty was given -to these Miquelets, but this prevented recruiting -for the line, and the regular troops were disgusted -at seeing that men received larger pay -for engaging in a service where they had more - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, i. 90–93.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -liberty, and were subject to less discipline. On -the other hand, the Miquelet officers received -less pay than those of the army, and were less -esteemed, their rank being only during the war. -The force which was thus defective in its constitution, -was also ill armed. Sir Hew Dalrymple, -upon whom pressing demands for arms were -made from all that side of the peninsula, could -allot but few to Catalonia; and the abundant -supplies which had been sent out by England -were dispatched to other parts, where they were -neither so much wanted nor so well bestowed; -for Barcelona was the great arsenal of the province: -50,000 firelocks had there fallen into the -enemy’s hands, whereas the manufactory at Ripoll -could furnish the Catalans with not more than -150 per week. Palacio therefore ordered pikes -or partisans to be made, with which he armed -the two foremost ranks of the Miquelets, who, -as upon the old system, were drawn up three -deep. In hands that can be trusted with the -bayonet the pike would be a weapon hardly less -efficient; but for these raw troops the want of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">327</span> -fire-arms lessened the little confidence which -they felt in themselves when they were brought -to encounter soldiers as well disciplined as armed. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, ii. 130–132.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Even the regular troops knew their own inferiority -in the art of war. They were incapable of -manœuvring in the face of an enemy; for so -greatly had their discipline been neglected while -no danger was apprehended, that they had gone -through none of the rehearsals by which soldiers - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, i. 78.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -are prepared for real action; mere drilling -seems to have been all the instruction they had -received.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Marquis approaches Barcelona. Sept. 1.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>With this force, as ill officered as it was ill provided -in all other respects, the Marques removed -his head-quarters to Villa-franca, to maintain the -line of the Llobregat, and take advantage of any -opportunity for recovering Barcelona while the -blockade was kept up. An expectation that -something would be attempted by the inhabitants -seems to have influenced the Spaniards to -this measure, otherwise ill judged. The recovery -of Barcelona was indeed an object of the greatest -importance; but weakened as Duhesme then was, -a few thousand Miquelets, with the armed population, -would have sufficed to prevent the -incursions of the garrison, and the Spaniards -should have taken their post on the Pluvia instead -of the Llobregat, with the Ter for their -second position, and Gerona and Hostalrich to - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr, 280.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -support them, ... there they could best have impeded -the efforts which the French would make -for relieving and securing to themselves the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">328</span> -strongest place in Spain. A British force might -here have rendered the most essential service. -Deputies from the Junta of Catalonia were sent -to Madrid, to consult with the Council of Generals -there upon the affairs of the province; -and in the hope of obtaining British aid one of -them proceeded to Lisbon to confer with Sir -Hew Dalrymple. All that could be done in -that quarter was effected; the Spanish troops in -Lisbon were embarked for Catalonia; and the -British Government, sensible of what might be -effected there by timely measures, ordered thither -10,000 men from the army at that time stationed - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>British troops ordered from Sicily, but detained there by the commander.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -in Sicily. But a feint of invading Sicily was made -by Murat, who had succeeded Joseph Buonaparte -as Intrusive King of Naples; and the troops were -detained in an inactive and unworthy service, -when they ought to have been co-operating for -the most important ends with one of the finest -and bravest people in the world. At no other -time or place during the whole war could such -a body of English troops have been employed to -so much effect as at this time in Catalonia. Some -petty jealousies or idle forms had hitherto deprived -the Catalans also of cavalry when it might -have been most useful. There was a regiment -of hussars in Majorca, for which the Junta repeatedly -applied, and its applications were earnestly -enforced by the British officers who were -in communication with that island; but it was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, ii. 129.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -not till after a series of frivolous and vexatious -delays that they were embarked at length in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">329</span> -beginning of October; and a detachment of them -had not reached the Llobregat more than twenty-four -hours before they were led to intercept the -enemy at S. Culgat, on their return to Barcelona -from a marauding expedition. Not expecting to -be attacked by cavalry, the French were taken -by surprise; they suffered a considerable loss, -and from that time confined their incursions -within narrower bounds. The troops from Portugal -soon afterwards arrived; reinforcements -also came from Valencia and Majorca; Palacio - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Cabañes, ii. 161.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -was removed from the command, because of the -unpopularity which he had incurred, and was -succeeded by D. Juan Miguel de Vives.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Bilbao occupied by the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The want of military knowledge and military -talent was never more severely felt in any country -than in Spain at this momentous crisis. It -could not be doubted that Buonaparte was preparing -to bring against the Spaniards that tremendous -force which none of the continental -powers had hitherto been able to withstand. If -he seemed to delay, it was only that the preparations -might be more complete; sure, meantime, -that neither Spain nor England knew at -that time how to profit by the interval, and that -very probably disunion might arise among the -Spaniards themselves, of which he might take -advantage. The French had paid dearly for the -error of dividing their forces, and advancing -where they had no point of support; they were -now in strong positions, receiving reinforcements -from time to time, and waiting in security till<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">330</span> -Buonaparte should come in person to complete -the subjugation of Spain, which they, as well as -the tyrant himself, believed could not be averted -by any human interference. About the middle of -August they sent a detachment to take possession -of Bilbao, a beautiful but defenceless city, commanded -on every side by its hanging gardens. -The inhabitants, inferior in number, ill armed, -and without any works to protect them, made a -brave resistance, in revenge for which the French -committed great enormities when they entered -the town: had they arrived a few hours later, -they would have got possession of arms, ammunition, -and money from England, which were -just entering the harbour.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Difficulties in bringing the Spanish armies into the field.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>A full sense of their danger, when the whole -wrong which was intended them was avowed, -had roused the Spaniards to their first great and -successful exertions. After their victorious troops -had entered Madrid, they were less alive to the -danger, and more sensible of the embarrassments -of their situation. Sudden efforts, directed by -the emergency which called them forth, would -no longer avail. Foresight and combination were -required for extensive operations; and these were -thwarted by selfish views, and still more by capricious -or obstinate tempers, which in this state -of general insubordination there was nothing to -restrain. The Galician army under Blake, having -the plains of Castille before them, could not advance -without cavalry in the face of an enemy -who had from three to five thousand dragoons;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">331</span> -and Cuesta would not send his cavalry to act -under Blake, because of his quarrel with that -General and with the Junta of Galicia. The -Extremaduran army, from a similar feeling of -pride, was kept vapouring before Elvas, while -it was called for by all the authorities at Madrid. -A more vexatious impediment was interposed by -the Junta of Seville. That Board had thought -proper, when the army in Andalusia was first -raised, for one of its members to accompany the -Commander-in-chief, that no injury might arise -from delay in consulting the civil authority, and -perhaps also to rid themselves of Tilly, who was -the person appointed. When, to their disgrace, -they elected this man to the Central Junta, D. -Andres Miñano was deputed to the army in his -stead, with a salary of a thousand dollars per -month; but public opinion at Seville was so -strongly expressed against this misapplication of -the public money, and supported by so many -members, especially by the Archbishop, that the -allowance was reduced one half. The whole was -a needless expense, for the Junta was still so -tenacious of their authority, that this representative -was a mere agent to execute their -pleasure, and not to determine upon his own -judgement. They sent positive orders that the -army of Andalusia should not advance beyond -Madrid; and knowing that Castaños had delivered -his opinion strongly upon the impropriety -of regarding any army as belonging to its -own province instead of the kingdom at large,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">332</span> -they let him know, that if these instructions were -disobeyed he should not be supplied with money. -At this time the French had driven the Spaniards -from Tudela, and pushed forward to Borja; the -troops which were opposed to them in that -quarter falling back upon Zaragoza. Pressing -demands for support came from Palafox: the -Generals who were at Madrid saw that the Andalusian -army ought to advance without delay, -and this it could not do without money. This -matter was taken up warmly by the British -agents at Madrid and Seville; and as the Junta -of that city had received two millions of dollars -from the British Government, a strong remonstrance -was presented to them upon their present -conduct, and they were called upon to apply -it to the public service without delay. Their -reply, which, like all their papers, was written -with great ability, would have been satisfactory, -if they had not passed over in silence their orders -that Castaños should not advance. They argued, -that after all that Andalusia had done, it was -to be expected that La Mancha and the other -provinces which the Andalusian army was gone -to protect, would provide for it while it was employed -in their service. The sums which they -had received from Great Britain had been sent -expressly to them, as other sums had to the -Juntas of Galicia and Asturias, who had neither -incurred such expenses, nor contributed such aid -to other parts of Spain. But upon this matter -they waived all discussion; ... they answered the -bills which an English agent at Madrid had negotiated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">333</span> -for the use of their army, authorized -Castaños to draw on them according to his wants, -and immediately sent forward 200,000 dollars. -This was just before the meeting of the Central -Junta: the Andalusian army was then advanced -to Soria, the Valencian under General Llamas -moved to Zaragoza, and Blake toward Miranda -upon the Ebro.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Marques de la Romana.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>One of the first things which Castaños had requested -after he had opened a communication -with Gibraltar was, that dispatches might be forwarded -to Romana, who commanded the Spanish -troops in the Baltic. He expressed the greatest -anxiety concerning him and his army, who had -been thus treacherously removed to so great a -distance from their own country, but at the same -time the fullest confidence in them and their -Commander. He judged of the men as Spaniards, -of the General by his individual character. -D. Pedro Caro y Sureda, Marques de la Romana, -was a man whose happy nature had resisted all -the evil and debilitating influences of the age -and country and rank in which he was born. -His public career was begun in the navy; but -having attained the rank of <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Capitan de Fragata</i>, -he quitted that profession for the land service, -a change not unfrequent in Spain. During the -French revolutionary war he served under his -uncle, D. Ventura Caro, who commanded on the -Biscayan frontier; and having distinguished himself -there, was made General of division in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">334</span> -army of Catalonia, under Urrutia, where he continued -to be conspicuous for his good conduct. -When that miserably misconducted war was concluded -by a scandalous peace, Romana devoted -part of his leisure to the theory of his profession, -which he was the better able to study as having -received an excellent education, and made the best -use of it. And so evenly did he steer his course, -that without in the slightest degree courting -the favour of Godoy, or sullying himself by any -condescension, he never became an object of his -persecution; a singular instance of good fortune -in those disgraceful times, or rather of what may -be effected by undeviating rectitude and good -sense. For he possessed a rare union of frankness -and perfect prudence; and while his own -breast wore no disguise, and needed none, could -read with unerring intuition the characters of -others. There was in his manners that simplicity -which is the sure indication of generosity and -goodness, and which wins confidence while it -commands respect. Spain, where honour is the -characteristic virtue of the nation, where so many -heroic and illustrious men have arisen, has never -produced a man more excellently brave, more -dutifully devoted to his country, more free from -all taint of selfishness, more truly noble than -Romana.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Distribution of his troops in the Baltic.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The force under his command consisted of -about 14,000 men. They were marched to Hamburgh -in Aug. 1807, and quartered there, along -the Elbe and at Lubeck, as part of the army under<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">335</span> -Marshal Bernadotte, then Prince of Ponte Corvo. -It was reported that this army was to invade -Sweden, in conjunction with the Danes, and the -Spanish division was put in motion accordingly -about the middle of March. But when the van-guard, -having safely crossed the Little Belt to -the Isle of Funen, was preparing for the passage -of the Great Belt, they were prevented by the -appearance of an English frigate and brig between -Nyeborg and Corsoer, at a season when it was -thought no enemy’s vessels would venture into -those seas. The remainder of the troops therefore -were of necessity ordered to halt, and were -quartered in Sleswic, till they should be able to -effect the passage. The Prince Christian Frederick, -of seventy-four guns, was sent to clear -the Great Belt of these enemies, but falling in -with the Stately and the Nassau, was captured, -after a severe action, close to the shore of Zeeland. -Bernadotte, who had crossed to that island -a few hours only before the English cruisers appeared, -was now, in order to return to his head-quarters -at Odensee, obliged to go round the -Isles of Falster and Laland, land in Sleswic, -travel to Kolding, and from thence cross the -Little Belt. Watching their opportunity, as they -could during the months of April, May, and June, -some of these troops got to the Isle of Langeland; -and some succeeded in effecting by night -the passage of the Great Belt from Funen to -Zeeland, the greater number still remaining in -Funen, or upon the coast of Jutland.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">336</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Their conduct when the oath of allegiance to Joseph was proposed.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French journals affirmed that these troops -had taken the oath of allegiance to the Intruder -with unanimous enthusiasm. No man who knew -the Spanish character believed this falsehood. -They were in a situation where they were cut off -from all communication with their own country, -and where no intelligence could reach them but -what came through the French press, or other -channels equally under the control of the French -government. Nevertheless in these garbled and -falsified accounts they saw enough to convince -them that their countrymen were not submitting -to a foreign dominion so easily as the tyrant endeavoured -to represent. This opinion was confirmed -when a dispatch arrived from Urquijo to -Romana, requiring the army to take the oath to -the Intrusive King, that dispatch being the only -paper which the courier brought; ... it was plain, -therefore, that private letters were intercepted, -and that something must have occurred of which -it was important that they should be kept in -ignorance. When the oath was proposed, it was -taken without much demur by the troops in -Jutland under D. Juan Kindelan, the second -in command. Those in Funen, with the Commander, -refused it vehemently at first, but took -it at length conditionally, that is to say, with a -protestation that it was to be null if the changes -which had occurred in Spain were not confirmed -by the general consent of the nation. The regiments -of Asturias and Guadalaxara, which were -in Zeeland, were less placable; being under the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">337</span> -immediate command of a Frenchman, General -Frerion, they attacked his house, killed one of -his aids-de-camp, and wounded another, and he -himself only escaped with life by disguising himself, -and flying to Copenhagen. The men then -planted their colours, knelt round them, and swore -to be faithful to their country.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>An agent sent to communicate with him.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The British Government meantime had not -been inactive. The first difficulty was how to -communicate with the Spanish Commander. A -Roman-catholic priest, by name Robertson, was -found willing to undertake this dangerous service, -and qualified for it by his skill as a linguist. -One Spanish verse was given him; to have taken -any other credentials might probably have proved -fatal, and there was an anecdote connected with -this which would sufficiently authenticate his -mission. During Mr. Frere’s residence as ambassador -in Spain, Romana, who was an accomplished -scholar, had recommended to his perusal -the Gests of the Cid, as the most animated and -highly poetical, as well as the most ancient and -curious poem in the language. One day he happened -to call when Mr. Frere was reading it, and -had just made a conjectural emendation in one -of the<a id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">35</a>lines; Romana instantly perceived the -propriety of the proposed reading, and this line, -therefore, when he was reminded of it, would -prove that Mr. Robertson had communicated -with his friend the British Ambassador. Mr.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">338</span> -Mackenzie was sent with Robertson to Heligoland, -there to provide means for landing him on -the continent, and to make farther arrangements -as circumstances might direct.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He asks for a force to cover his retreat.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The war with the Northern powers, and the -interdict against British goods, had given the -miserable island of Heligoland an importance at -this time which it had never before possessed. -Upon Mr. Mackenzie’s arrival, an embargo was -placed on the shipping there, and Robertson was -dispatched in a boat to land on the nearest shore; -but so vigilant a watch was kept wherever this -might have been possible, that after three days -he returned to the island, convinced there was -no hope of accomplishing his errand unless he -were provided with a passport. Fortunately a -vessel belonging to the port of Bremen had -recently been captured, and carried into Heligoland. -Mr. Mackenzie sent for the master, and -proposed to liberate him and his ship if he would -engage to procure a passport for Robertson at -Bremen. It happened to be in the man’s power -to redeem himself and his property upon these -easy terms, for he had a near relation in office in -that city. The engagement was faithfully performed; -and Robertson, whose appearance was -quite German, and who assumed the character -of a schoolmaster, found his way to Romana. -That noble Spaniard was greatly agitated at learning -the real situation of his country; the success -in Andalusia, the deliverance of Zaragoza, and -the retreat of the Intruder from Madrid, were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">339</span> -not known in England at the time of Robertson’s -departure; but he did not hesitate a moment. -Their conversation was in Latin; and Robertson -was sent back with a request that Mackenzie -would proceed to the Baltic, and procure the -assistance of as many troops as might be necessary -to cover the retreat and embarkation of the -Spaniards. Ten thousand British troops, under -Sir J. Moore, had been sent to Gottenburg in the -month of May, to co-operate with the Swedes. -It was this aid that Romana required.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir Richard Keats goes upon this service.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>This information was immediately communicated -to the British Government, and within a -week Mr. Mackenzie received letters for Sir John -Moore, directing him to employ the troops in -this service. Instead of sending these dispatches, -he thought it better to carry them, and confer -with that Commander in person, but when he -reached Gottenburg the expedition had sailed -for England. Having left Heligoland without -permission, he now attempted to return thither, -and for that purpose embarked in the packet. A -gale of wind drove it on the Danish coast. A -privateer, carrying sixteen guns, and well manned, -came out, expecting an easy capture; inferior as -the English were, both in men and guns, a fight -of four hours was supported, till the Dane put -his ship about, and the packet returned to Gottenburgh -in a shattered state. Baffled in this -intent, he thought his better course would be to -make for the fleet in the Baltic, and acquaint the -Admiral with the disposition of the Spaniards.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">340</span> -Travelling therefore with all speed to Ystad, he -there found a Swedish vessel, which conveyed -him to Sir James Saumarez’s ship the Victory; -and upon his representations Sir James, without -waiting for instructions, ordered Admiral Sir -Richard Keats, with part of his squadron, to the -Great Belt, there to act in concert with Romana. -While they were preparing, orders for the performance -of this service arrived. A Spaniard -attached to the embassy in London came out -with the dispatches, bringing letters from the Junta -of Galicia, and from individuals to Romana and -the second in command.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Plan for collecting the Spanish troops.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was of great importance that Romana’s determination -should be kept secret as long as -possible, lest the French and the Danes, who -were but too ready to have acted with them, -should overpower his dispersed forces. A young -Spanish officer crossing from Zeeland to Langeland -was taken by this squadron; the letters were -intrusted to him, he was secretly put on shore in -Langeland, and from thence crossed to Funen. -Such a messenger, it was thought, would not -excite suspicion. Admiral Keats proposed that -the troops in Funen should secure themselves in -a peninsula on the north side of that island, from -whence, if necessary, they might be removed to -the small island of Romsoe. The Danish gun-boats -would be rendered inactive if Romana was -able, and should think proper, to seize on the -town and port of Nyborg; but this the Admiral -thought would endanger the troops in Zeeland - -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">341</span> - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />August.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -and Jutland, by provoking the Danes to act as -enemies, when otherwise it might be hoped they -would be disposed secretly to favour the quiet -removal of the Spaniards, or at least to make no -serious efforts for impeding it. There was little -probability that any negotiation for their peaceable -departure would be successful, subservient -as the court of Denmark was to the policy of -France; but after the movement should have -commenced, a declaration of the honourable and -unoffending object in view might be advantageous. -The two regiments in Zeeland, it was proposed, -should attempt to force their way to the -peninsula near Corsoer; if they succeeded in -this, they might probably defend the isthmus -there, till they could be removed to the little -island of Sproe, half way between Corsoer and -Nyborg. There were four regiments in Jutland, -distributed at Aarhuus, Ebeltoft, Greenaae, Randers, -Hobroe, Mariager, and some as high as -Aalborg on the Gulf of Limefiord. Orders were -sent to these that they should take possession of -such vessels as they could find at Randers, Aarhuus, -Fredericia, and Snogoe, and make their -way to Funen.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Romana takes possession of Nyborg.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was scarcely possible that these movements -could be concerted without exciting suspicion, -prepared as the French officers and the Danish -Government were to expect some such attempt, -and especially after the manner in which the regiments -in Zeeland had expressed their national -feeling. The French Commandant in Langeland<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">342</span> -discovered that the officer who had passed from -thence to Funen had communicated with the -English ships. When Romana understood this, -he doubted not but that the French in Holstein -and Sleswic would be brought up by forced -marches; and as there were more than 3000 -Danish troops in Funen, he thought it necessary -to take possession of Nyborg without delay. The -garrison were too weak to resist, and no violence - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Aug. 9.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -or incivility was offered: the concerted signal -was then made to Admiral Keats, who had hoisted -his flag the preceding day in the Superb off that -town; and he dispatched a letter to the Governor, -assuring him, that notwithstanding the state of -war between England and Denmark, it was his -wish to abstain from every hostile and offensive -act, provided no opposition were made to the -embarkation of the Spaniards. While this was -going on, he must co-operate with those troops, -and consequently often communicate with the -town of Nyborg; but the strictest orders had -been given that all under his command should -observe the utmost civility toward the inhabitants. -If, however, the Spaniards were opposed, -he must, however reluctantly, take measures -which might occasion the destruction of -the town.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The entrance of the British squadron is resisted.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Danish garrison had yielded to circumstances; -but an armed brig and cutter, which -were moored across the harbour, rejected all the -pacific offers both of the Spaniards and English, -and even the remonstrances of their own countrymen;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">343</span> -such small vessels and boats as could -be collected were sent against them, and they -were captured after half an hour’s resistance and -some waste of lives. Romana had been careful -that no act of hostility should be committed by -his people, except what was absolutely necessary -for securing their embarkation; but some of them, -now irritated at the obstinacy with which their -friends and deliverers were opposed, fired a few -shots at the Danish ships from the batteries before -they struck. Admiral Keats then wrote a -second time to the Governor, saying, that as his -entrance into the harbour had been resisted, he -was bound by no law or usage to respect the -property of the inhabitants. The Spaniards had -occasion for some of the vessels in that port, and -unless the masters and crews would assist in -equipping and navigating them, he could not -secure them from injury; if they would, he -pledged himself to do so, and to grant them -passports to return in safety, after the short -service for which they were required should be -ended.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Arrival of some of the regiments from Jutland.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the same day that Nyborg was thus taken -possession of, the Spaniards, who were at Svendborg, -which is at the southern extremity of Funen, -got possession of some gun-boats, that might -otherwise have prevented their passage, and -crossed to Langeland. The regiment of Zamora -on the same day also arrived from Ebeltoft and -Greenaae at Middlefahrt; and starting from that -place at ten on the same night, performed the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">344</span> -march to Nyborg in twenty-one hours, a distance -of more than fifty English miles. The regiment -which made this prodigious exertion for the sake -of returning to assist in the deliverance of Spain, -was one of those which the French papers described -as having displayed the greatest satisfaction -at the accession of the Intruder! The -troops which were at Hobroe and Mariager, and -those at Aarhuus, succeeded also in embarking, -and arrived safely in the port of Nyborg. The -two regiments in Zeeland were unable to escape; -three of the battalions had previously been disarmed -for their conduct when the oath was proposed -to them, and the others were now surrounded -by Danish troops: and there still remained -three cavalry regiments and one of infantry, -in Jutland, of which, and of the officers -sent to them, no account had been received. -While the troops were embarking on board such -vessels as were in the port of Nyborg, one of -these regiments arrived.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They leave the Isle of Funen.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The British Admiral had been at first of -opinion, that if the troops in Langeland felt -themselves safe, it would be better to land all -the others there, from whence they might be removed -at leisure. The possession of Langeland -had now been secured, but Nyborg was an insecure -position; it was reported that some thousand -French had collected upon the shores of -the Little Belt; and these, with the Danes in -Funen, and the garrison of Nyborg, might seriously -impede the embarkation from that town,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">345</span> -or perhaps succeed in cutting off the rear-guard. -It was judged expedient, therefore, to spike the -guns there, and remove the troops to a neck of -land called Slipshavn, about a league distant; and -from thence they were shipped with as much expedition -as the unfavourable weather permitted.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Fate of the horses.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Two of the regiments which had been quartered -in Funen were cavalry, mounted on the -fine, black, long-tailed Andalusian horses. It -was impracticable to bring off these horses, about -1100 in number; and Romana was not a man -who could order them to be destroyed lest they -should fall into the hands of the French: he was -fond of horses himself, and knew that every man -was attached to the beast which had carried him -so far, and so faithfully. Their bridles, therefore, -were taken off, and they were turned loose -upon the beach. As they moved off, they passed -some of the country horses and mares, which -were feeding at a little distance. A scene ensued -such as probably never before was witnessed. -The Spanish horses are not mutilated, and these -were sensible that they were no longer under -any restraint of human power. A general conflict -ensued, in which, retaining the discipline -that they had learnt, they charged each other in -squadrons of ten or twenty together; then closely -engaged, striking with their fore-feet, and biting -and tearing each other with the most ferocious -rage, and trampling over those which were beaten -down, till the shore, in the course of a quarter -of an hour, was strewn with the dead and disabled.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">346</span> -Part of them had been set free on a rising -ground at some distance; and they no sooner -heard the roar of the battle than they came thundering -down over the intermediate hedges, and -catching the contagious madness, plunged into -the fight with equal fury. Sublime as the scene -was, it was too horrible to be long contemplated, -and Romana, in mercy, gave orders for destroying -them; but it was found too dangerous to -attempt this; and after the last boats quitted the -beach, the few horses that remained were seen -still engaged in the dreadful work of mutual<a id="FNanchor_36" href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">36</a> -destruction.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Aug. 11.</span> The Spaniards are landed in the Isle of Langeland.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the second morning all were safely on -board, but the wind detained them in the harbour; -and there, on the evening of that day, the -regiment from Aarhuus joined them, in four vessels, -which they had seized. The one at Randers -did not succeed in making its escape. The south -part of Langeland was in possession of the Spaniards. -As soon as the wind permitted, their -fellow-soldiers were landed there. The whole -number was about 9000 men, with some 230 - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Aug. 13.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -women and children. Stores and water were to -be laid in for their voyage to Gottenburg. The -Danish Governor, General Ahlefeldt, agreed not -to molest them, and withdrew his troops to the -northern part of the island, promising, that if -any French were known to arrive in Funen, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">347</span> -would then deliver up their arms. It was thought -necessary to demand them the ensuing day, upon a -rumour that this had occurred; and also because -a body of Danish cavalry had appeared -as if observing the Spaniards for some military -view; and because the escape of the French -Commandant had been facilitated by the General. -Some of the troops refused to obey, a detachment -was therefore marched against them -to enforce obedience, and this demonstration of -force was sufficient. They took the horses also, -having only about 200 of their own, which had -been brought from Svendborg; but they voluntarily -promised that these arms and horses, and -whatever else belonged to the Danes, should be -left upon the beach at their departure. Some -robberies, which a few of the men committed, -were instantly punished, and restitution made; -and a just price was fixed for the provisions which -were demanded: they were supplied, therefore, -without reluctance. Meat was in abundance, -but there was a difficulty in obtaining bread; -and the water lay at a distance from the shore, ... -a thousand men, and all the carriages that could -be procured, were employed in conveying it. -Their situation was still an anxious one: an -attack was to be apprehended from the opposite -port of Svendborg; it was known that the Danes -could collect as many as four-and-twenty gun-boats -there, and the channel would not admit of -frigates to defend it: a flotilla, indeed, came out -from thence one night, and kept up an idle cannonade<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">348</span> -upon the Spanish encampment. It was -reported that French troops had arrived there, -and of this no certain information could be obtained, -for not a peasant in Langeland could be -induced by the offer of any reward to go and -ascertain the fact; an instance of national honour -which may more than counterbalance the unworthy -conduct of the Danish Government at -this time. That the French were not inactive -was certain. Proclamations from Bernadotte were -introduced into the camp, endeavouring to deceive -the Spaniards with regard to the state of -affairs in their own country, to excite suspicion -of the English, and to make them arrest their -leaders; but these papers provoked only the contempt -which they deserved.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They sail for Gottenburg, and there embark for Spain. <span class="date">Aug. 18.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the sixth day after their landing Admiral -Saumarez arrived, and in three days more, every -thing being ready, the troops were re-embarked. -The arms and horses which they had taken from -the Danes were left in the batteries. Before they -departed a flag of truce was sent to Copenhagen, -requiring, on the part of their Commander, that -the regiments which were detained should be -allowed to depart. The vessels from Aarhuus, -being manned by Danes, were supplied by the -British Admiral with stores for eight days, and -released. Those from Nyborg were manned -from the fleet, and an offer was made to send -them back from Gottenburg with the crews of -two Danish vessels which had been captured, -provided the Danes would release an equal<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">349</span> -number of British prisoners in exchange. But -these measures were not met with a corresponding -temper by the Danish Government, and the -convoy was fired at as it passed the battery of -Slipshavn. They reached Gottenburg in safety; -and the Spaniards there received the first intelligence -of the successes which their countrymen -had obtained. They were landed, for the -sake of health and comfort, upon the islands in -the harbour; transports from England arrived in -a few days, and this little army then sailed for -their own country, full of ardour, ... to lay down -their lives in its defence.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />September.</span> -<br /><hr /> -Romana lands in England.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>While the convoy proceeded on its voyage -to Coruña, Romana landed in England, for the -purpose of consulting with the British Government. -It was there determined that his force -should be disembarked at Santander, to be incorporated -with the Galician army; and to avoid -all immediate difficulty concerning its support, -the existing armies in the present disorganized -state of Spain being raised and subsisted by their -respective provinces. Great Britain undertook to -pay and feed it for two months, by which time it -was supposed the Central Junta would be ready to -perform this part of its duties. These were troops -on whose discipline and courage entire reliance -might be placed; and Romana’s intention was to -triple the infantry, by forming upon each battalion -a regiment of three. And as it was designed that a -British army should advance to bear its part in -the first brunt of the great contest, the intention<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">350</span> -was, that, if possible, it should act with Romana -on the left flank, and Castaños on its right. With -both these officers it was justly thought the service -might proceed in the true spirit of confidence -and good will; the reputation of both stood deservedly -high, and their disposition was even of -more importance, when operations were to be -carried on by concert between the generals, not -by a paramount and controlling command. For, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Error of the Spaniards in not appointing a Commander-in-chief.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -by a strange error, the Spanish Government had -resolved to make the commands independent of -each other. This error seems to have been committed -less from want of judgement than in deference -to the provincial Juntas, and in fear of -offending them; yet at that time public opinion -would have supported them had they appointed -Castaños commander-in-chief.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Difficulty of feeding their armies.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was not, however, the abilities of any single -general, however pre-eminent, which could have -saved the Spanish armies, constituted as they -then were, from inevitable defeat, unless a strong -British force had been ready to have acted with -them. Preparations upon an adequate scale had -been promised and intended by the Central -Government; but when they had raised men -and embodied them, the difficulty of maintaining -them occurred, a difficulty which has at all -times been greater in Spain than in any other -civilized country. Our own commissariat was -then far from effective; for great experience, as -well as great activity and talents, are required in -the business of providing an army: it is not then<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">351</span> -to be wondered at that the Spaniards, under their -complicated embarrassments, should have been -grievously defective in this main branch of the -military art; but this was one cause why the -number of their armies fell far short of their -computed force, many young recruits returning -to their homes, when they saw how miserably -they fared in the camp. It would have been -most desirable to have followed up the first -successes with vigour, and have attacked the -enemy while the impression made upon them -by so many humiliating failures was fresh, and -before farther reinforcements should enable them -to resume the offensive. But this had not been -possible. The French were strongly posted, and -well provided with all the means of war; and -their cavalry gave them complete command of -the plains of Castille. They had ravaged the -land from Burgos to Astorga, and driven in contributions -from the very gates of the latter city. -Blake could oppose no resistance to them in that -open country without cavalry, and for want of -that essential arm was obliged to alter his intended -plan of operations, and pursue, at considerable -risk, a different course. He resolved -to take a position between Bilbao and Vitoria, -and menace the right flank and rear of the -French, while the army of Aragon should act -on their left.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Bilbao taken and retaken. <span class="date">Sept. 20.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Bilbao had remained a month in possession of -the enemy; it was then retaken by the Marques -de Portazgo, and if his advanced posts had not - -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">352</span> - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />October.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -begun to fire too soon, the garrison might have -been surprised and made prisoners. After an -action of three or four hours they effected their -retreat, losing some 400 men. But considerable -bodies of French had now passed the Pyrenees; -and Marshal Ney, who came at this time to take -the chief command till Buonaparte himself should -arrive, feigning to retreat upon Vitoria for the -purpose of deceiving Portazgo, suddenly marched -with the centre of his army upon Bilbao. The -Marquis drew off in time, without losing a man -or a gun, and took up a position at Valmaseda. -There he was joined by a detachment of the -Galician army, and Blake immediately made -preparations to recover the city; but General -Merlin, whom Ney had left to command there, -knew that the place was not tenable against a -superior force, and evacuated it on the night of -Oct. 11.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Position of the armies in October.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French force at that time amounted to -about 60,000; and the Spanish Generals knew, by -an intercepted dispatch, that 72,000 more would -enter Spain before the middle of November. The -Spaniards were nominally 130,000, but the effective -number was very far short of this. With the -left or western army Blake occupied a line from -Burgos to Bilbao. The eastern army, that of -Aragon and Valencia, under Palafox, was stationed, -part near Zaragoza, and part was as far -advanced as Sanguessa, on the left of the enemy, -outflanking them on that side, as Blake did on -the west. The head-quarters of the central army,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">353</span> -under Castaños, were at Soria; ... so that the whole -formed a crescent. The Spaniards now began to -experience the ruinous effects of that false policy -which had exaggerated their successes and their -strength, and had represented the final deliverance -of the country as an event soon and certainly -to be looked for. This delusion made the people -clamorous for the accomplishment of their expectations, -and the government itself either partook -or yielded to this impatience. The wise -precautions with which the Junta of Seville began -the war were disregarded, and the Central Junta -called upon the Generals to hasten their operations. -However strong, they said, might have -been the reasons for delay, loss of time had -already proved injurious, and must be more so -if the enemy should receive their expected reinforcements. -An end therefore must be put - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Commissioners sent to the Spanish armies.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -to this inactivity. And, as if dissatisfied with -their generals, they appointed D. Francisco -Palafox to go as their representative to the -armies, with the Marques de Coupigni and the -Conde de Montijo under him. He was to be -received with the same honours as a Captain-General -of the army, to confer with the Commanders, -concert operations with them, and -himself decide upon the plan of attack. Another -reason for this mission was, that Castaños -and Palafox differed totally in opinion concerning -the measures which ought to be pursued. -The latter was eager for action, because he believed -that every thing might be accomplished<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">354</span> -by zeal and courage; the former understood -the art of war better, and knew how little -these qualities alone were to be trusted in the -open field against an enemy strong in cavalry, -equal in numbers, and superior in discipline. -The commissioners were sent to determine between -them. Of all the measures of the Central -Junta this was the worst. It was taken a few -days before Romana arrived in Spain. Had he -been present, his authority, coming in aid of the -opinion of Castaños, which was decidedly but -warily expressed, might have prevented so preposterous -a mission, and averted the evils which -were thus precipitated.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">355</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</h2> -</div> - -<blockquote class="inhead"> -<p class="center">PROCEEDINGS OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. CONFERENCE -AT ERFURTH. PROPOSAL FOR PEACE. -BUONAPARTE ENTERS SPAIN.</p></blockquote> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.</span> -<br /><hr /> -Buonaparte is deeply affected by the reverses in Spain.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p><span class="firstword">It</span> had always been Buonaparte’s system, and -therein it was that the strength and wisdom of his -policy consisted, to ensure success, as far as the -end can be rendered certain by the employment -of adequate means. Having stripped Spain of -its best troops, introduced his armies into the -heart of the country, seized the most important -fortresses, inveigled into captivity the whole -Royal Family, and extorted from them a formal -renunciation of the crown in his favour; the -people, he thought, if they dared attempt any -partial opposition, would be effectually intimidated -by the first slaughter, and the military -executions which should follow it. His calculation -was erroneous, because the Spanish character, -and the strength of good principles, had -not been taken into the account. He had never -dreamt of a national resistance; and the defeat -of armies, till that time irresistible, affected him -the more deeply, because he felt that the measures - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr, 18.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -which had drawn on these disasters were -as infamous as he now perceived that they were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">356</span> -impolitic. The reverses which befell him in the -latter part of his bloody career he bore with the -coldest insensibility; but he was distressed by -these, and all but cast down.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He conceals them from the French people.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>But it was too late to recede; the infamy was -indelible, it remained only to secure the prize, -and this he believed there would be no difficulty -in effecting. His first care was to conceal from -the French all knowledge of the mortifying failure -his arms had experienced, till he should have secured -the subserviency of the other continental -powers, and collected fresh armies to pour into -the peninsula. His system of government was -founded upon falsehood as well as force. While -all Spain was in arms, the French papers represented -it as joyfully welcoming its new sovereign. -“The disturbances,” they said, “which broke -out in a few provinces were completely quelled: -they had been occasioned only by the common -people, who wished to pillage the rich: the disaffected -had got together some bands of smugglers, -opened the prisons, and put arms into the -hands of the felons: these wretches had committed -great excesses upon their peaceful countrymen, -but every thing was now quiet. The -captains-general, the magistrates, and the polished -part of the nation, displayed the best sentiments, -and the greatest repose and best state -of mind prevailed. At Cadiz the public tranquillity -did not experience a moment’s interruption; -the inhabitants of that interesting city had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">357</span> -resisted all the insidious offers of the English. -Throughout the peninsula, indeed, only a few -insignificant individuals had been led astray by -the spies of England. But the Council of Castille, -and the most respectable persons, had exerted -their influence with all ranks, to crush the -seeds of sedition before they should shoot forth; -and their efforts had been completely successful.” -Over great part of France and of the continent -these accounts would be believed; wherever, indeed, -a vigilant tyranny could keep out all information -except its own. But at Bayonne it -was not possible that the truth could be concealed; -and by the falsehood which was officially -circulated in that part of the country, it seems -that the general opinion there was strongly -against a war, provoked solely for the aggrandizement - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">June 8.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -of the Buonaparte family. M. Champagny -addressed a note to the prefect of the -Gironde, informing him, that the Emperor had -just received advices from his brother the King -of Holland, saying the King of England was -dead, and that the first act of George IV. had -been to make a total change of ministers. This -was not given as a report, but as an authenticated -fact, officially communicated: “and may -this event,” it was added, “be the presage of -a general peace, ... the object of the Emperor’s -wishes, to the want of which Europe is so sensible, -and which would be so advantageous to the -commerce of Bourdeaux in particular!” The -same falsehood was repeated in that number of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">358</span> -the Madrid<a id="FNanchor_37" href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">37</a> Gazette which contained Buonaparte’s -proclamation of Joseph as King of Spain -and the Indies. Buonaparte endeavoured also -to keep his allies as well as his subjects ignorant -of the real state of things. The Russian Ambassador -at Madrid could find no means of communicating -to his court an account of what was -passing in Spain, all his letters being intercepted -in France, till at the end of August, when some -British officers were in Madrid, an opportunity -was afforded him of sending his dispatches through -England; he then confided to the honour of a -hostile power what could no longer be trusted to -an unprincipled ally.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Statement of the French government.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was not till two months after the capture of -the ships at Cadiz, and five weeks after the flight -of the Intruder from Madrid, that any account -of the affairs of Spain appeared in the French - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Sept. 6.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -papers, except assurances that all was well. A -long narrative was then published, written with -the usual falsehood of the French government, -but not with its usual skill. The insurrection -was ascribed entirely to the artifices and bribes -of England, assisted by the monks and the Inquisition, -... the Inquisition, which had lent its -whole authority to the usurpation! Great stress -was laid upon the excesses which the patriots -had committed; whereas the list of persons who -were here claimed as martyrs in the Intruder’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">359</span> -cause did not equal in number the victims of one -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">noyade</i> in the Loire, scarcely exceeded that of -one day’s allowance for the guillotine in Paris. -The military detail, which was called a correct -abstract of the events of the campaign, was composed -with studied and inextricable confusion; -all order of time and place was inverted and involved, -and facts, exhibited thus piecemeal, were -still farther disguised by suppression, exaggeration, -and falsehood. At Valencia, it was said, -French intrepidity overcame every obstacle: -twenty pieces of artillery were taken; the suburbs -were carried, and the streets strewed with -dead bodies: ... this indeed was true; but they -were the bodies of the French. At Zaragoza, -fourteen cloisters, which had been fortified, three-fourths -of the city, the arsenal, and all the magazines -were in their possession. That unfortunate -city was almost ruined by fire, the bombardment, -and the explosion of mines. Not a -hint was given of the event of that memorable -siege. The loss of the fleet was not mentioned. -Dupont was so spoken of, as to make it evident, -that, if he returned to France, his life would -atone for his failure. After a series of events -which could not be described, because they ought -to be a subject of judicial inquiry, he had committed -the triple fault of suffering his communication -with Madrid to be cut off, of letting himself -be separated from two-thirds of his army, -and then giving battle in a disadvantageous position, -after a forced night-march; and, manifesting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">360</span> -an equal deficiency of political as of military -talent, he had allowed himself to be deceived -in negotiations. This unexpected event, the -numerous descents of the English upon the coast -of Galicia, (where no English had landed, except -a few officers,) and the excessive heat of -the season, had induced the King to assemble -his troops, and place them in a cooler climate -than that of New Castille, and in a situation possessing -a milder atmosphere, and better water: -therefore, he left Madrid, and the army went -into cooler cantonments. The bodies of insurgents -scarcely deserved to be mentioned: they -defended themselves behind a wall or a house; -but a single squadron of cavalry, or a battalion -of infantry, was sufficient to put many thousands -of them to the rout. “All that the English -papers have published,” said Buonaparte’s gazetteer, -“is unfounded and false. England knows -well the part that she is acting; she also knows -well what she is to expect from all her efforts. -Her only object is to involve Spain in confusion, -that she may thereby make herself mistress of -such of its possessions as best suit her purposes.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Report of M. Champagny.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>At the same time, two reports from the minister -of foreign affairs were laid before the -French senate. The first of these bore date from -Bayonne, so far back as the 24th of April. Hitherto -the modern powers of Europe had always -thought it necessary to hold forth some decent -pretext for engaging in hostilities, however -iniquitous might be the latent motives ... but the -semblance of moral decorum was now contemptuously<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">361</span> -laid aside; and in this state-paper Buonaparte -was advised to seize upon Spain, for the -purpose of carrying on the war against England -more effectually, every thing being legitimate -which led to that end. No state in Europe was -more necessarily connected with France than -Spain: she must be either a useful friend, or a -dangerous enemy; ... an intimate alliance must -unite the two nations, or an implacable enmity -separate them. Such an enmity had in old times -become habitual: ... the wars of the 16th century -proceeded as much from the rivalry of the -nations as of the sovereigns: the troubles of the -League and the Fronde had been excited and -fomented by Spain; and the power of Louis XIV. -did not begin to rise, till, having conquered -Spain, he had formed that alliance with the royal -family which ultimately placed his grandson on -the throne. That act of provident policy gave -to the two countries an age of peace, after three -ages of war: but the French revolution broke -this bond of union; and the Spanish Bourbons -must always, through their affection, their recollections, -and their fear, be the secret and perfidious -enemies of France. It was for the interest -of Spain, as well as of France, that a firm hand -should re-establish order in her affairs, now when -a feeble administration had led her to the brink -of ruin. A king, the friend of France, having -nothing to fear from her, and not being an object -of distrust to her, would appropriate all the resources<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">362</span> -of Spain to her interest, and to the success -of that common cause which united Spain -to France and to the continent. Thus would -the work of Louis XIV. be re-established. What -policy suggests, said the report, justice authorises. -The increase of the Spanish army before -the battle of Jena was really a declaration of war: -the laws of the customs were directed against -French commerce: French merchants were aggrieved, -while the ports were open to the contraband -trade of England, and English merchandize -was spread through Spain into the rest of -Europe: Spain, therefore, was actually in a state -of war with the Emperor.</p> - -<p>Even M. Champagny, however, had not the -effrontery to press this conclusion. Exclusive -of this, he said, existing circumstances did not -permit the Emperor to refrain from interfering -in the affairs of Spain. He was called upon to -judge between the father and the son. Which -part would he take? Would he sacrifice the -cause of sovereigns, and sanction an outrage -against the majesty of the throne? Would he -leave on the throne a prince who could not withdraw -himself from the yoke of England? In that -case, France must constantly keep a powerful -army on foot in Spain. Would he reinstate -Charles IV.? This could not be effected without -overcoming a great resistance, and shedding -French blood. And should that blood, of which -France was prodigal for her own interests, be -shed for a foreign king, whose fate was of no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">363</span> -consequence to her? Lastly, would he abandon -the Spanish nation to themselves, and while -England was sowing the seeds of trouble and of -anarchy, leave this new prey for England to devour? -This was not to be thought of. The -Emperor, therefore, occupied, of necessity, with -the regeneration of Spain, in a manner useful to -that kingdom and to France, ought neither to -re-establish the dethroned king, nor to leave his -son upon the throne; for in either case it would -be delivering her to the English. Policy advised, -and justice authorized him to provide for the -security of the empire, and to save Spain from -the influence of England.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Second report.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Thus was the principle, that whatever is profitable -is right, openly proclaimed by the French -government, ... a principle which the very thief, -on his career to the gallows, dares not avow to -himself. The other report from the same minister - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Sept. 1.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -was of four months later date, though the -former had plainly not been written till it was -thought expedient to publish it: for the Tyrant -needed no adviser in his conduct at Bayonne; -and if his usurpation had been passively submitted -to by the Spaniards, Spain would have -been represented as the brave and faithful ally -of France, and the new dynasty exhibited as the -reward of her loyalty, which was now to be the -means of curbing her hostile disposition. This -second report began by proposing to the Emperor -that he should communicate to the Senate -the treaties which had placed the crown of Spain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">364</span> -in his hands, and the constitution, which, under -his auspices, and enlightened by his advice, the -Junta at Bayonne, after free and mature deliberation, -had adopted, for the glory of the -Spanish name, and the prosperity of Spain and -its colonies. He had interfered with Spain, it -said, as a mediator; but his persuasive means, -and his measures of wise and humane policy, -had not been successful. Individual interests, -foreign intrigues, and the influence of foreign -corruption had prevailed. The disturbances in -Spain were occasioned by English gold. Would, -then, his Majesty permit England to say, “Spain -is one of my provinces! My flag, driven from -the Baltic, the North sea, the Levant, and even -from the shores of Persia, rules in the ports of -France?” No, never! To prevent so much disgrace -and misfortune, two millions of brave men -were ready to scale the Pyrenees, and chase the -English from the peninsula. If the French fought -for the liberty of the seas, they must begin by -wresting Spain from the influence of the tyrant -of the ocean. If they fought for peace, they -could not obtain it till they had driven the -enemies of peace from Spain. If they fought -for honour, they must promptly inflict vengeance -for the outrages committed against the French -name in Spain. The probability of meeting the -English at last, of fighting them man to man, of -making them feel the evils of war themselves, ... -evils of which they were ignorant, having only -caused them by their gold, was represented as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">365</span> -no small advantage. They will be beaten, said -M. Champagny, destroyed, dispersed, or, at least, -they will make haste to fly, as they did at Toulon, -at the Helder, at Dunkirk, in Sweden, ... wherever -the French armies have been able to find them! -But their expulsion from Spain would be the -ruin of their cause; it would exhaust their means, -and annihilate their last hope. In this contest -the wishes of all Europe would be with France!</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Report of the war-minister.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>These reports, with the two mock treaties of -Bayonne, were laid before the Senate, and, at -the same time, a report of the war-minister was -presented. France, it was said, had never possessed -more numerous or better appointed armies, -neither were they ever better kept up, or better -provisioned. Nevertheless, the events which had -taken place in Spain had occasioned a pretty -considerable loss, in consequence of an operation, -not less inconceivable than painful, of the division -under General Dupont. His Majesty had notified -his resolution of assembling more than -200,000 men beyond the Pyrenees, without -weakening either the armies in Germany or that -in Dalmatia. A levy of 80,000 was therefore -indispensable, and these could only be taken -from the four classes of the conscription of the -years 1806, 7, 8, and 9, which, exclusive of the -men who had married within those years, might -furnish 600,000. In levying 80,000, only one -conscript out of seven would be called out, and -the vacancies in the armies would thus be filled -up with soldiers of 21, 22, and 23 years of age,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">366</span> -that is, with men fit to undergo the fatigues of -war. “It is true, Sire,” said the war-minister, -“that the custom observed of late years might, -to a certain degree, induce a part of your subjects -to consider themselves released from the -duty of the conscription, as soon as they had -furnished the contingent required for the year; -and, under this point of view, what I propose -might appear to require from your people a sacrifice. -But, Sire, there is no one but knows, -that, by the words of the law, your Majesty -would be authorised to call to your standard the -whole of the conscription, not only of the last -four years, but even of the antecedent years: -and even were there question of a real sacrifice, -what sacrifice is it that your Majesty has not a -right to expect from the love of your subjects? -Who among us is ignorant that your Majesty -wholly sacrifices yourself for the happiness of -France, and that upon the speedy accomplishment -of your high designs depend the repose of -the world, the future safety, and the re-establishment -of a maritime peace, without which France -can never enjoy tranquillity? In proposing to -your Majesty to declare, that henceforth no retrospective -call shall take an antecedent conscription, -I only participate, Sire, in your paternal -wishes. I think it expedient, at the same time, -to propose to your Majesty to order out the -conscription of the year 1810, determining the -amount of it, from the present instant, at 80,000 -men ... to furnish the means, as occasion may -require, of forming camps of reserve, and of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">367</span> -protecting the coast in the spring time. This -conscription would be raised only under the apprehension -of a war with other powers, nor would -it be called out before the month of January -next.”</p> - -<p>Thus, then, it appeared that those persons -who had escaped from the conscriptions of four -years were again to stand the hazard of this -dreadful lottery, and that of the unmarried men, -between the ages of 21 and 23, one in seven was -to be sent to the armies! ... and this draught upon -the morality, the happiness, the vital strength, -the flesh and blood of the French people ... was -required, because their Corsican master had -thought proper to appoint his brother to be king -of Spain! The promise that no retrospective -conscription should again be called for, shows -plainly what the feelings of the nation were at -such a measure, when Buonaparte thought it -necessary to soothe them, by declaring, that it -was not to be repeated. This was not all: one -year’s conscription had already been anticipated, -another year was to be levied in advance, and -80,000 men, whose services, by these baleful -laws, were not due till 1810, were now to be - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Suspicion of the views of Austria.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -called forth. This was necessary, the report said, -because England and Austria were increasing -their armies; and it was an evil inseparable from -the present state of Europe, that France must increase -hers in the same proportion. A suspicion -of the intentions of Austria was now intimated.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">368</span> -Its armaments, the war-minister declared, had -often excited his solicitude. He had been told by -the minister for foreign affairs, that the best understanding -prevailed with the court of Vienna; -but though it did not belong to his department -to dive into the views and interests of states, and -explore the tortuous labyrinths of politics, it was -his duty to neglect nothing for preserving to the -French armies, at all points, that just superiority -which they ought to possess. The plan which -he had proposed would give the army of Spain -200,000 men, without weakening the other -armies; and the conscription of 1810 would increase -the armies of Germany, of the North, and -of Italy, by more than 80,000. From such a -force what could be expected but the speedy re-establishment -of tranquillity in Spain, of a maritime -peace, and of that general tranquillity which -was the object of the Emperor’s wishes? Much -blood would be spared, because so great a number -of men would be ready to shed it.... Here -the tyrant’s principle is right: and grievously -was that parsimony of strength on the part of -his mightiest enemy to be lamented, which, by -never sending a force sufficient to insure its object, -so often wasted what it sent.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Message from Buonaparte to the Senate. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">Sept. 4.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>A message from Buonaparte accompanied these -reports, when they were laid before the Senate. -He mentioned his firm alliance with Russia, and -said, that he had no doubts of the peace of the -continent, but that he ought not to rely upon -the false calculations and errors of other courts;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">369</span> -and since his neighbours increased their armies, -it was a duty incumbent upon him to increase -his: he therefore imposed fresh sacrifices upon -his people, which were necessary to secure them -from heavier, and to lead them to the grand result -of a general peace. “I am determined,” -said he, “to carry on the war with Spain with -the utmost activity, and to destroy the armies -which England has disembarked in that country. -The future security of my subjects, a maritime -peace, and the security of commerce, equally depend -upon these important operations. Frenchmen, -my projects have but one object in view ... -your happiness, and the permanent well-being -of your children; and if I know you right, you -will hasten to comply with this new call, which -is rendered necessary by the interests of the -country.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Senate approve his measures.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>In the first of Buonaparte’s three constitutions -for France, the affectation of Roman titles, and -the false taste with which they were applied to -offices essentially different, were equally to be -remarked. The name of Senate, however, was -well retained under his imperial government, just -such a Senate having existed during those disgraceful -ages of the Roman empire, when a despotism, -similar to that which he had established -in France, was degrading their country, and preparing -the way for the universal barbarism and -misery which ensued. The baseness of those -wretches who sanctioned the iniquities and cruelties -of Tiberius and Caligula was equalled by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">370</span> -obsequious senators of Buonaparte. On the day -after his message had been presented, they voted -an address, echoing the gross and palpable falsehoods -of his assertions, applauding his measures, -and appropriating to themselves, and, as far as -the crimes of a government can be imputed to -the people, to the French nation also, the guilt -of his conduct towards Spain. “Your Majesty,” -said they, “desires to defend solemn and voluntarily -concluded treaties; to maintain a constitution -freely discussed, adopted, and sworn -to by a national junta; to suppress a barbarous -anarchy, which now covers Spain with blood and -mourning, and threatens our frontier; to rescue -the true Spaniards from a shameful yoke, by -which they are oppressed; to assure to them the -happiness of being governed by a brother of your -Majesty; to annihilate the English troops, who -unite their arms with the daggers of the banditti; -to avenge the French blood, so basely shed; to -put out of all doubt the security of France, and -the peace of our posterity; to restore and complete -the work of Louis XIV.; to accomplish -the wish of the most illustrious of your predecessors, -and particularly of him who was by -France most beloved; to extend your great -power, in order to diminish the miseries of war, -and to compel the enemy of the continent to a -general peace, which is the sole object of all -your measures, and the only means for the repose -and prosperity of our country. The will of -the French people is, therefore, Sire, the same<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">371</span> -as that of your Majesty. The war with Spain -is politic, just, and necessary.”... If the transactions -which are the subject of this history had -passed in remote ages, and such a narrative as -is here presented had been preserved to us, it -would scarcely be possible, when we found the -Senate of a great nation, like France, thus solemnly -approving and ratifying the conduct of -its Emperor, not to suspect that the history had -been handed down in an imperfect state; that -some facts had been suppressed, and others distorted; -for, however credible the usurpation itself -might appear, as the act of an individual -tyrant, that it should, with its attendant circumstances -of perfidy and cruelty, be thus represented -as a just and necessary act, by a legislative assembly, -and made the ground of a national war, -is something so monstrous, that it would startle -our belief; and, for the honour of human nature, -we should hesitate before we trusted human -testimony.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>March of the troops toward Spain.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The conscription for which the tyrant called -was decreed without one dissentient voice, by -an assembly constituted for no other purpose -than that of executing his will and pleasure. His -other measures had already been taken. About -the middle of August he had ordered General -Gouvion Saint Cyr from Boulogne, to repair to -Perpignan, and there collect an army, with which -to enter Catalonia, as soon as Buonaparte himself -should enter Spain on the other side. He gave -him no other instructions than that he should<span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">372</span> -use all efforts to preserve Barcelona: “if that -place be lost,” said he, “to recover it will cost -me eighty thousand men.” The troops from -Prussia and Poland were recalled; they consisted -not of Frenchmen alone, but of Germans and -Italians, Poles, Swiss, and Dutch, Irish, and Mamalukes, -men of all countries and languages, of -all religions and of none, united into one efficient -body by the bond of discipline. They cared not -whither they were ordered, so it were only to a -land which produced the grape, ... upon what -service, or in what cause, was to them a matter -of indifference; war was their element, and where-ever -they went they expected to find free quarters, -and no enemy who could resist them. Not -a few of them when they heard, as they had so -often heard before, that they were now to give -the last blow to the tottering power of England, -believed they were about to march to England -by land through Spain; the desert, they said, -had separated them from that country when they -were in Egypt, and when they were at Boulogne -there was the sea; but they should get there -now. As soon as these troops had crossed the -Rhine, they were received with public honours -in every town along the line of their march. Deputations -came out to welcome them, they were -feasted at the expense of the municipality, and -thanked at their departure for the honour they -had conferred upon the place. This was Buonaparte’s -policy. But the conduct of the soldiers -showed what an enemy might expect from them,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">373</span> -when their own countrymen, upon whom they -were quartered, did not escape ill usage. They -treated them as they had done the Germans; -and the allied troops took the same licence which -they had seen the French exercise among an - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Rocca, 9, 12.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -allied and friendly people. Under the imperial -government every thing was subject to the sword.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Speech of Buonaparte to the troops.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Buonaparte reviewed them at Paris. “Soldiers,” -said he, “after having triumphed on the -banks of the Danube and the Vistula, you have -passed through Germany by forced marches. I -shall now order you to march through France, -without allowing you a moment’s rest. Soldiers, -I have occasion for you! The hideous presence -of the leopard contaminates the continent of -Spain and Portugal. Let your aspect terrify and -drive him from thence! Let us carry our conquering -eagles even to the pillars of Hercules: -there also we have an injury to avenge!” The -capture of the French squadron at Cadiz had -never been published in France, and this hint is -the only notice that ever was publicly taken of -it. “Soldiers,” he pursued, “you have exceeded -the fame of all modern warriors. You have placed -yourselves upon a level with the Roman legions, -who, in one campaign, were conquerors on the -Rhine, on the Euphrates, in Illyria, and on the -Tagus. A durable peace and permanent prosperity -shall be the fruits of your exertions. A -true Frenchman can never enjoy any rest till the -sea is open and free. Soldiers, all that you have -already achieved, and that which remains to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">374</span> -done, will be for the happiness of the French -people, and for my glory, and shall be for ever -imprinted on my heart.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />October.</span> -<br /><hr /> -Conferences at Erfurth.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The preparations for war were answerable to -the arrogance of this harangue. All the roads -to Spain were thronged with troops, marching -from all parts of France and its dependencies toward -the Pyrenees. While they were on their -march, Buonaparte set out for Germany, to meet -his dependent German princes, and the Emperor -Alexander, at Erfurth. Some of the performers -of the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Theatre Française</i> had orders to precede -him, that these potentates might be provided -with amusement. An opportunity was taken of -giving Alexander a momentous hint of the superiority -of his new friend: ... Buonaparte took -him to the field of Jena: a temple, dedicated -to Victory, was erected on the spot where the -French Emperor had past the night previous to -the battle: tents were pitched round it; and, -after a sumptuous breakfast, he was led over -every part of the ground which the two armies -had occupied, and left to make his own reflections -upon the spot where Prussia received the -reward of its long subserviency to France, and -of its neutrality when the fate of the continent -was upon the hazard. The immediate consequence -of the meeting was a proposal for peace -to Great Britain.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Overtures of peace from Erfurth.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>These overtures were made in the customary -diplomatic forms; but they were accompanied -by a joint letter from the Emperors of France<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">375</span> -and Russia to the King of England. Having -been brought together at Erfurth by the circumstances -of the continent, their first thought, they -said, had been to yield to the wishes and wants - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Oct. 12.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -of every people, and to seek, in a speedy pacification, -the remedy for the common miseries of -Europe. The long and bloody continental war -was at an end, and could not possibly be renewed. -Many changes had taken place, many states had -been overthrown. The cause was to be found -in the evils arising from the stagnation of maritime -commerce. Still greater changes might yet -occur, and all of them contrary to the policy of -the English nation. Peace was their interest, as -well as the interest of the continent. We unite, -therefore, said they, in intreating your Majesty -to listen to the voice of humanity, silencing that -of the passions; to seek, with the intention of -arriving at that object, how to conciliate all interests, -and by that means to preserve the powers -which still exist; and to insure the happiness of -Europe, and of this generation, at the head of -which Providence has placed us. The official -notes stated, that Russian plenipotentiaries would -be sent to Paris, there to receive the answer of -England; and that French plenipotentiaries would -repair to any city on the continent, to which the -King of Great Britain and his allies should send -theirs. It was added, that the King of England -must, without doubt, feel the grandeur and sincerity -of this conduct on the part of the two Emperors;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">376</span> -that their union was beyond the reach -of change; and that it was formed for peace as -well as for war.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Reply to the Russian minister. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">Oct. 28.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>In answer to the Russian minister, it was stated, -that however desirous his Majesty might be to -reply directly to the Emperor Alexander, the unusual -manner in which his letter was drawn up -deprived it entirely of the character of a private -and personal communication, and it was impossible -to adopt that mark of respect towards -him, without, at the same time, recognizing -titles which the King of England never had acknowledged. -This was a needless demurral. -We had sent ministers to treat with Buonaparte -since he had been Emperor of France, ... surely -this was, to all intents, an effectual recognition -of his title. It was weakening the moral strength -of our cause, to rest, even for a moment, upon a -point of punctilio. In every other respect, the correspondence -on the part of England was worthy of -the cause. An immediate assurance that France -acknowledged the government of Spain as party -to any negotiation, was declared to be absolutely -necessary: that such was the intention of the -Emperor of Russia, it was added, his Majesty -could not doubt. He recollected the lively interest -which that Emperor had always manifested -for the dignity and welfare of the Spanish monarchy, -and wanted no other assurance that he -could not have been induced to sanction, by his -concurrence, or by his approbation, usurpations,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">377</span> -the principles of which were not less unjust -than their example was dangerous to all lawful -sovereigns.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Reply to the overtures.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The letter of the two Emperors was fully and -most ably answered in an official note. The -King’s readiness and desire to negotiate a peace -on terms consistent with his own honour, and -with the permanent security of Europe, were -again declared. If the condition of the continent -were one of agitation and of wretchedness, -if many states had been overthrown, and -many more were still menaced with subversion, -it was a consolation to the King to reflect, that -no part of those convulsions could be in any -degree imputable to him. Most willing was he -to acknowledge that all such dreadful changes -were indeed contrary to the policy of Great -Britain. And if the cause of so much misery -was to be found in the stagnation of commercial -intercourse, although he could not be expected -to hear with unqualified regret that the system -devised for the destruction of the commerce of -his subjects had recoiled upon its authors or its -instruments, yet it was neither in his disposition, -nor in the character of the people over whom -he reigned, to rejoice in the privations and unhappiness -even of the nations which were combined -against him. He anxiously desired the -termination of the sufferings of the continent. -The war in which he was engaged was entered -into for the immediate object of national safety; -but, in its progress, new obligations had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">378</span> -imposed upon him, in behalf of powers whom -the aggressions of a common enemy had compelled -to make common cause with him, or who -had solicited his assistance and support in the -vindication of their national independence. The -interests of Portugal and of Sicily were confided -to his friendship and protection; and he was connected -for peace, as well as for war, with the -King of Sweden. To Spain he was not yet bound -by any formal instrument, but he had, in the face -of the world, contracted with that nation engagements -not less sacred, and not less binding upon -his mind than the most solemn treaties. He -therefore assumed, that, in an overture made to -him for entering into negotiations for a general -peace, his relations subsisting with the Spanish -monarchy had been distinctly taken into consideration, -and that the government acting in the -name of his Catholic Majesty, Ferdinand VII., -was understood to be a party to any negotiation -in which he was invited to engage.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Reply of the Russian and French ministers. <span class="date">Nov. 8.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The answer of the Russian minister was, that -the admission of the sovereigns in alliance with -England could not be a point of any difficulty; -but this principle by no means extended to the -necessity of admitting the plenipotentiaries of the -Spanish insurgents, and the Emperor Alexander -could not admit them. He had already acknowledged -King Joseph Napoleon; he was united -with the Emperor of the French; and he was -resolved not to separate his interests from those -of that monarch. But Count Romanzoff added,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">379</span> -he saw, with pleasure, that, in this difference of -opinion respecting the Spaniards, there was nothing -which could either prevent or delay the -opening of a congress; because his Britannic -Majesty had himself admitted, that he was -bound to no positive engagement with those -who had taken up arms in Spain. Count Romanzoff -did not intend to insult a British King, -by telling him he might violate his word and -honour, because he was not bound to keep them -by any formal instrument; ... but M. Champagny’s -reply was intentionally insulting. “How,” said -he, “is it possible for the French government to -entertain the proposal which has been made to -it, of admitting the Spanish insurgents to the -negotiation? What would the English government -have said, had it been proposed to them -to admit the Catholic insurgents of Ireland? -France, without having any treaties with them, -has been in communication with them, has made -them promises, and has frequently sent them -succours.” The writer did not perceive what -warning this utterly irrelevant argument held -out to the disaffected in Ireland, by thus plainly -informing them, that however Buonaparte might -promise them support, he was at all times ready -to abandon them, whenever it might suit his -views. Menacing language was then introduced. -England, we were told, would find herself under -a strange mistake, if, contrary to the experience -of the past, she still entertained the idea of contending -successfully, upon the continent, against<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">380</span> -the armies of France. What hope could she have, -especially when France was irrevocably united -with Russia? France and Russia could carry on -the war till the court of London recurred to just -and equitable dispositions; they were resolved -to do so; and the English were admonished not -to lose sight of the inevitable results of the force -of states.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Dec. 9.</span> -<br /><hr /> -Final answer of the British government.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Mr. Canning’s replies were equally decided and -dignified. To Count Romanzoff he expressed the -King’s astonishment and regret, that it should be -supposed he would consent to commence a negotiation -by the previous abandonment of the -cause of the Spanish nation, and of the legitimate -monarchy of Spain, in deference to an usurpation -which had no parallel in the history of the -world. He had hoped that the participation -of the Emperor Alexander in these overtures -would have afforded a security to him against -the proposal of a condition so unjust in its -effect, and so fatal in its example. Nor could -he conceive by what obligation of duty or of interest, -or by what principle of Russian policy, -his Imperial Majesty could have found himself -compelled to acknowledge the right assumed by -France, of deposing and imprisoning friendly -Sovereigns, and forcibly transferring to herself -the allegiance of loyal and independent nations. -If these were indeed the principles to which the -Emperor had inviolably attached himself, to which -he had pledged the character and resources of his -empire, and which he had united himself with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">381</span> -France to establish by war, and to maintain in -peace ... deeply did the King of England lament a -determination by which the sufferings of Europe -must be aggravated and prolonged: but not to -him was to be attributed the continuance of the -calamities of war, by the disappointment of all -hope of such a peace as would be compatible with -justice and with honour. To the French minister -Mr. Canning said, he was especially commanded -to abstain from noticing any of those topics and -expressions insulting to his Majesty, to his allies, -and to the Spanish nation, with which the official -note of M. Champagny abounded. The King of -England was desirous to have treated for a peace -which might have arranged the respective interests -of all the belligerent powers on principles -of equal justice, but he was determined not to -abandon the cause of the Spanish nation, and of -the legitimate monarchy of Spain; and the pretension -of France, to exclude from the negotiation -the central and supreme government, -acting in the name of his Catholic Majesty, -Ferdinand VII., was one which he could not -admit, without acquiescing in an usurpation unparalleled -in the history of the world.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>British declaration. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">Dec. 15.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>As soon as this correspondence was concluded, -the rupture of the negotiation was made known -in England, by a declaration which, while any -sense of honour remains in the English nation, -may always be recollected with pride and satisfaction. -The continued appearance of a negotiation, -it said, when peace was found to be utterly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">382</span> -unattainable, could be advantageous only to the -enemy. It might enable France to sow distrust -and jealousy in the councils of those who were -combined to resist her oppression; and if, among -the nations which were groaning under the tyranny -of French alliance, or among those which maintained -against France a doubtful and precarious -independence, there should be any who were -balancing between the certain ruin of a prolonged -inactivity and the contingent dangers of an effort -to save themselves from that ruin ... to nations so -situated, the delusive prospect of a peace between -Great Britain and France could not fail -to be peculiarly injurious. Their preparations -might be relaxed, by the vain hope of returning -tranquillity, or their purpose shaken, by the apprehension -of being left to contend alone. That -such was, in fact, the main object of France -in the proposals transmitted from Erfurth, his -Majesty entertained a strong persuasion. But -at a moment when results, so awful from their -importance, and so tremendous from their uncertainty, -might be depending upon the decision -of peace or war, he felt it due to himself to ascertain, -beyond the possibility of doubt, the views -and intentions of his enemies. It was difficult for -him to believe that the Emperor of Russia had -devoted himself so blindly and fatally to the -violence and ambition of the power with which -his Imperial Majesty had unfortunately become -allied, as to be prepared openly to abet the usurpation -of Spain. He therefore met the seeming fairness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">383</span> -and moderation of the proposal with fairness -and moderation on his part real and sincere, expressing -his just confidence that the Spanish government, -acting in the name of Ferdinand VII., -was understood to be a party to this negotiation. -The reply returned by France to this proposition -cast off at once the thin disguise, which had been -assumed for a momentary purpose, and displayed, -with less than ordinary reserve, the arrogance -and injustice of that government. The universal -Spanish nation was described by the degrading -appellation of the Spanish insurgents, and the -demand for the admission of its government as -a party to any negotiation was rejected, as inadmissible -and insulting. With astonishment, as -well as grief, he had received from the Emperor -of Russia a reply similar in effect, although less -indecorous in tone and manner. The King would -readily have embraced an opportunity of negotiation -which might have afforded any hope or -prospect of a peace compatible with justice and -with honour. He lamented an issue by which -the sufferings of Europe were prolonged; but -neither his honour nor the generosity of the -British nation would admit of his consenting to -commence a negotiation by the abandonment of -a brave and loyal people, who were contending -for the preservation of all that is dear to man, -and whose exertions, in a cause so unquestionably -just, he had solemnly pledged himself to -sustain.</p> - -<p>Such an answer was consistent with the honour,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">384</span> -the principles, and the feelings of the -British people. Buonaparte anticipated it: his - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Buonaparte departs for Spain.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -proposals might have that effect which the English -cabinet had foreseen, upon the powers -which he oppressed, and they might deceive -the French people; at least they gave a popular -topic for his sycophants in the Senate, and those -whose office it was to mislead the public mind. -He himself knew what the result must be, and had -not for a moment suspended or slackened his preparations. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Oct. 25.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Before a reply could be made to the -first overture, he returned to Paris, and, in his -address to the legislative body, informed them -that he should depart in a few days, to put himself -in person at the head of his army, and, with -God’s help (such was the expression of the blasphemer), -to crown the King of Spain in Madrid, -and plant his eagles on the forts of Spain. It -was a distinguished favour of the providence, he -said, which had constantly protected his army, -that passion had so far blinded the English -councils, as to have made them abandon the defence -of the seas, and at last produce their army -on the continent. His vaunts and his impieties -were, of course, echoed by those whom he addressed: -but their flattery was far exceeded by -the language of some deputies from the new -Italian departments, who had audience on the -same day. The destinies of the whole world, -they told him, were confided by the Almighty -to his impenetrable views, to the supreme power -of his genius, to the miraculous exploits of his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">385</span> -arms. Hence a new order of things, already -written in the books of the Eternal, was prepared -for their country. In the necessity in -which he was to overthrow, to destroy, to disperse -all enemies, as the wind dissipates the -dust, he was not an exterminating Angel; but -he was the Being that extends his thoughts, and -measures the face of the earth, to re-establish its -happiness upon a better and surer basis. He -was destined before all ages to be the Man of -God’s right hand; the Sovereign Master of all -things. Language of more idolatrous adoration -was never listened to by the frantic Caligula, nor -uttered by the infatuated followers of Sabatai -Sevi. It was not, however, too gross for the -tyrant to whom it was addressed; and he applauded -it in his reply. Immediately after this -scene he left Paris, reached Bayonne on the 3d -of November, and, five days afterwards, put himself -at the head of his army at Vitoria.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">386</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> -</div> - -<blockquote class="inhead"> -<p class="hang">BUONAPARTE ENTERS SPAIN. DEFEAT OF THE -SPANISH ARMIES. SURRENDER OF MADRID. THE -SPANIARDS ENDEAVOUR TO RALLY AT CUENCA, -AND ON THE TAGUS.</p></blockquote> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />October.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p><span class="firstword">An</span> old prophecy was at this time circulated -in Paris, importing that the disasters which would -lead to the overthrow of the French empire were -to originate in Spain. It had probably been sent -abroad in the days of Louis XIV. when his designs -upon that kingdom were first manifested, -and the resistance which they would provoke -from the powers of Europe was foreseen. The -persons by whom it was now reproduced apprehended - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Pasley on the Military Policy of Great Britain, p. 34.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -that the English would land a strong -force in the north of the peninsula, so as to cut -off the French armies from their communication -with Bayonne. Like all desponding or discontented -politicians, they overrated the wisdom -and the power of the enemy. If indeed, when -an expedition was sent to Portugal, this had been -done at the same time, the issue can hardly be -deemed doubtful. We had disciplined soldiers, -ships to transport them, and means of every kind -in abundance; but vigour was wanting in our -councils, and in offensive war we had every thing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">387</span> -to learn. It was, however, intended that an -army little short of 40,000 men should take the -field with the Spaniards; and had such an army -been in the field, under an able and enterprising -commander, subsequent events have given an -Englishman right to affirm, that no force which -could have been brought against it in one point, -would have been able to defeat it. But this intention -was frustrated as much by the precipitance -of the Spaniards as by the dilatoriness of -the British movements.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Movements against Blake’s army.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>By the latter end of October not less than -100,000 troops had crossed the Pyrenees from -the side of Bayonne, to reinforce their countrymen. -The head-quarters were at Vitoria, where -they had continued since Joseph arrived there -on his flight from Madrid. The left wing, under -Marshal Moncey, Duke of Cornegliano, was -posted along the banks of the Aragon and the -Ebro, having its head-quarters at Tafalla; Marshal -Ney, Duke of Elchingen, had his head-quarters -at Guardia; Marshal Bessieres, Duke -of Istria, at Miranda, with a garrison at Pancorbo; -Marshal Lefebvre, Duke of Dantzic, occupied -the heights of Durango, and defended -the heights of Mondragon from the threatened -attack of the Spaniards. Blake had posted the -main body of his army in front of Lefebvre’s -force, and occupied with the rest the debouches -of Villarcayo, Orduña, and Munguia. He hoped -that the Asturian General, Azevedo, would cut -off the communication between Durango and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">388</span> -Vitoria by Ochandiano, and that, by possessing -himself of the heights of Mondragon, and thus -getting in the rear of the enemy’s advanced -guard, he might be enabled to strike a great -blow. The plan was good, if it could have been -executed in time; but Blake persisted in it after -he knew that the French had received strong -reinforcements. Some trifling advantages, and -the confidence of the Spanish character, encouraged -him to this imprudence, by which he -exposed himself to be entirely cut off. It was -Buonaparte’s intention to take the advantage -which was thus offered him; and Lefebvre -therefore had been ordered to content himself -with keeping the Spaniards in check till the Emperor -should arrive; but his flanks were so much -annoyed by Blake, that this delay became inconvenient, -and on the last day of October the -French attacked him. After a long and well-contested -action of nine hours the Spaniards retreated -in good order by Bilbao and Valmaseda to -Nava, without losing colours or prisoners. No -artillery had been used, the country being too -mountainous for it. The enemy entered Bilbao -the next day; and the corps of Marshal Victor, -Duke of Belluno, arriving at this time, was directed -by Munguia and Amurrio to Valmaseda, -to fall upon the flank of the Galician army.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Blake falls back to Espinosa. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">1808.<br />November.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Blake’s intention had been to fall back till he -could concentrate his whole force; but the second -division, and a part of the Asturians under Azevedo, -had their communication cut off; and as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">389</span> -the French were strengthening themselves at -Arancadiaga and Orrantia to prevent the junction, -he prepared to attack them. They retreated -during the night of the 4th; but on the following -day a division of his army came up with 7000 -of the enemy near Valmaseda, and drove them -from thence with considerable loss. Having thus -effected the junction, he attacked the enemy -again on the 7th at Gueñes, and turned their -left wing, but his own centre was unable to -advance; and perceiving that the French had -received very considerable reinforcements that -day from Bilbao, his own men too being exhausted -by hunger and fatigue, he deemed it -prudent to retire to Espinosa de los Monteros, -where he hoped to refresh and feed his men, -and draw artillery and supplies from Reynosa. -Seldom indeed have any troops endured greater -hardships. From the 23rd of October they had -been continually in the open air, among the -mountains of Biscay, during rainy nights and -the most inclement weather: they were all without -hats, great part of them half clothed, and -barefooted, and they had been six days without -bread, wine, or spirits; indeed, without any other -supply of food than the sheep and cattle which -were to be found among the mountains. There -had been a considerable desertion among the -young recruits; but from those who remained not -a murmur was heard under all these privations: -they manifested no other wish than that the -sacrifice of their lives might contribute to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">390</span> -destruction of the enemy, and the deliverance -of Spain.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Battle of Espinosa.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The system of the French was to beat this -army down, as their increasing numbers enabled -them to do, by repeated attacks. Blake intended -to remain some days at Espinosa, for the purpose -of giving his men some rest. But having arrived -on the 9th, his rear-guard, under the Conde de -San Roman, one of the officers who had escaped -from the Baltic, was attacked on the following -day, by a far superior force. He immediately -posted his army in front of the town; Azevedo, -with the Asturians and the first division, on a -height to the left, covering the road to S. Andero; -the second division on a hill to the right; -the third and the reserve in the centre. The -van-guard was posted on a little hill close in the -rear of the centre, with six four-pounders. The -enemy were successful in their first attack, and -drove the Spaniards from a wood which they -had occupied; they returned, however, to the -charge, being reinforced with the third division, -and the action became general, except on the -left of the Spanish position. It continued for -three hours, till evening closed in; and Blake -thought the advantage was on his side, though -the enemy had gained possession of a wood and -ridge of hill in front of his centre and right. -The contest had been very severe, and a very -great proportion of the Spanish officers had -fallen, San Roman among them, and the Galician -General Riquelme, both mortally wounded. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">391</span> -men lay on their arms that night, and Victor, -who commanded in this battle, brought up fresh -troops from his rear to the ridge. At daybreak, -when the main attention of the Spaniards was -drawn towards this point, he made his great attack -upon their left, commencing it with a strong -body of sharp-shooters; they were twice repulsed; -meantime one of their large columns, -under General Maison, came up and formed in -line; the sharp-shooters, being reinforced, returned -to the charge, and General Ruffin, with -his division, attacked the centre. There the -enemy were well resisted; but on the left they -succeeded, owing, in great part, it appears, to -the system which on this and the preceding day -was practised, of marking out the officers. Azevedo, -and the two Asturian Generals who were -next in command, fell; this threw the men into -confusion, and when they saw themselves cut off -from the road to S. Andero, and that the French -were advancing to occupy a height in rear of -the town which commands the road to Reynosa, -they gave way, and nothing remained but to -order a general retreat. They had to retire by -a bridge over the Trueba and a defile; and instead -of attempting to save the guns, which -would necessarily have impeded the retreat of -the army, Blake thought it better to employ -them till the last moment; this was done with -great effect, and they were spiked when the -enemy was close to them.</p> - -<p>Blake was one of those men who would have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">392</span> -been thought worthy of the chief command if -they had never been trusted with it. His talents -were considerable; he understood the theory of -his profession well, and could plan an action or -a campaign with great ability; but he was deficient -in that promptitude and presence of mind -which are the first qualifications of a commander. -His own game he could play skilfully, but when -the adversary disconcerted it by some unexpected -movement, he was incapable of forming new dispositions -to meet the altered circumstances. By -persisting against a superior and continually increasing -force in operations which had been calculated -against an inferior one, he exposed himself -to the imminent hazard of being entirely cut -off; and by advancing so far into a country which -had been stripped of its provisions, and with no -commissariat to follow him, he exhausted his -men. Under every privation he indeed set them -an example of cheerfulness, and let them see that -he fared as hardly as themselves; but this could -not counteract the effects of inanition. They -were in a state of famine when they arrived at -Espinosa, and would have found nothing there -to relieve them if 250 mules, laden with biscuits, -had not most opportunely arrived, sent by Major-General -Leith, who was forwarding partial supplies -toward them by every possible way. But -men thus hungered, and enfeebled also by long -continued exposure to cold and rain, were ill -fitted for close action, in which much depended -upon personal strength. Another and more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">393</span> -lamentable error was, that the troops from the -Baltic, the only thoroughly disciplined part of -his force, were brought into action after the first -defeat, and exposed by single battalions to bear -the brunt of every conflict; and thus they were -sacrificed in detail, giving melancholy proof, by -the devoted courage with which they stood their -ground, of what they could have effected, if, as -a body, they had been brought into some fair -field of battle.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Dispersion of Blake’s army at Reynosa.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Blake attempted with the remains of his army -to make a stand at Reynosa; his principal magazine -and his park of artillery were there; it is -one of the strongest positions in that strong -country, and had it been occupied in time, the -event of the campaign might have been different. -But the forlorn hope of collecting his scattered -forces there was soon defeated. Victor was pursuing -him closely from Espinosa; Lefebvre from -the side of Villarcayo. And from the side of -Burgos, where a fatal blow had now been struck, -Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, marched upon -Reynosa. No alternative was left him but to -retreat toward S. Andero, and the dispersion was -so complete, that there no longer remained any -force on this side to oppose the enemy. Yet in -justice to this ill-fated army it should be said, -that no men ever behaved more gallantly, nor -with more devoted patriotism. Without cavalry, -half clothed, almost without food, they fought -battle after battle against troops always superior -in number, and whose losses were always filled<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">394</span> -up with reinforcements. Nor did any circumstance -of disgrace attend their defeat; there was -no capitulation, no surrender of large bodies, or -of strong places; the ground on which they -fought was won by the French, and that was all, -as long as any body of the Spaniards remained -together. The magazines at Reynosa now fell -into their hands, and they entered S. Andero. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Nov. 16.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -The Bishop saved himself in an English ship, -and General Riquelme expired as his men were -lifting him on board. They had borne him -thither from Espinosa; for, routed as they were, -they would not leave him to die in the hands of -the enemy. Here, and in some of the smaller -ports, the French found a considerable booty of -English goods.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Buonaparte arrives in Spain.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>When Buonaparte arrived in Spain he was not -pleased at finding that Lefebvre had opened the -campaign; his hope had been to march a strong -force in the rear of Blake’s army, and thus place -it in a situation where it must either have been -destroyed or have laid down its arms. In crossing -the mountains near Mondragon he had nearly -lost one of his favourite Generals, Marshal Lasnes, -Duke of Montebello; the ground was covered -with frozen snow, his horse fell with him, and in -attempting to rise fell on him. He was carried -to Vitoria in a state of great danger, his body -covered with those discolorations which show -that the small vessels of the skin are ruptured, -the abdomen swoln, the extremities cold, suffering -acute pain, and with all the symptoms of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">395</span> -inflammation in the intestines, from the shock -and the pressure. M. Larrey, who attended -Buonaparte in all his campaigns, had learnt a -remedy from the savages of Newfoundland, applied -by them to some sailors whose boat had -been broken to pieces and themselves dashed -by the waves upon their coast. A large sheep -having been first stunned by a blow on the neck, -was immediately flayed, the reeking skin was -sown round the Marshal’s body, while his limbs -were wrapped in warm flannels, and some cups -of weak tea were given him. He felt immediate -relief, complaining only of a painful sense of formication, -and of the manner in which the skin -seemed to attract every part wherewith it was -in contact. In the course of ten minutes he was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Larrey, Campagnes et Memoires, t. iii. 243–246.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -asleep. When he awoke, after two hours, the -body was streaming with perspiration, the dangerous -symptoms were relieved, and on the fifth -day he was able to mount on horseback and -follow the army.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Defeat of the Extremaduran army at Burgos.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Buonaparte reached the head-quarters at Vitoria -on the 8th, and immediately pushed forward -a corps under Soult against the Extremaduran -army in his front. Bessieres commanded the -cavalry, which had before proved so fatal to the -Spaniards at Rio Seco, and which had now been -greatly reinforced. This army, under the Conde -de Belveder, had been intended to support Blake, -and keep up a communication between his army -and that of Castaños. It consisted of about 13,000 -men; and their Commander, a young man, although<span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">396</span> -aware that a superior force was advancing -against him, waited for the attack in an open - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Nov. 10.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -position at Gamonal. He had with him some of -the Walloon and Spanish guards, and a few regiments -of the line; the rest were new levies, and -among them a corps of students, volunteers from -Salamanca and Leon. These youths, the pride -and the hope of many a generous family, were -in the advanced guard. They displayed that -courage which might be looked for in men of -their condition, and at that time of life: twice -they repulsed the French infantry, and when -Bessieres with the horse came upon their flank, -fell almost to a man where they had been stationed. -The loss in killed was estimated at 3000, nearly a -fourth of this brave army; the victorious cavalry -entered Burgos with the fugitives, and the city, -which was entirely forsaken by its inhabitants, -was given up to be plundered. Bessieres pursued -Count Belveder, while Soult turned aside -toward Reynosa, to complete the destruction of -Blake’s army. One corps of the French marched -upon Palencia, another upon Lerma; from the -latter place the Count retreated to Aranda; there -also Bessieres pursued, and the wreck of the army -collected at Segovia; the piquets of the French -were now upon the Douro, and their cavalry -covered the plains of Castille.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Proclamation excluding certain Spaniards from pardon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the second day after the defeat of the -Extremaduran army Buonaparte established his -head-quarters at Burgos, and issued a proclamation, -granting, in the Intruder’s name, a pardon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">397</span> -to all Spaniards who, within one month after his -arrival at Madrid, should lay down their arms, and -renounce all connexion with England. Neither -the members of the Juntas nor the general officers -were excepted: but wishing, he said, to mark -those, who, after having sworn fidelity to Joseph -Buonaparte, had violated that oath; and who, instead -of employing their influence to enlighten the -people, had only used it to mislead them: wishing -also that the punishment of great offenders might -serve as an example in future times to all those, -who, being placed at the head of nations, instead -of directing them with wisdom and prudence, -should mislead them into disorders and popular -tumults, and precipitate them into misfortunes -and war: for these reasons he excepted from this -amnesty the Dukes of Infantado, Hijar, Medina -Celi, and Ossuna, the Marques de Santa Cruz, -Counts Fernan Nunez and Altamira, the ex-Minister -of State Cevallos, and the Bishop of -S. Andero; declaring them traitors to the two -crowns of France and Spain, and decreeing that -they should be seized, brought before a military -commission, and shot. Those persons who had -sworn homage to the Intruder, compulsory as -that homage was, had unquestionably exposed -themselves to its possible consequences: they -had been forced into a situation in which the -only alternative was to become traitors to him, -or traitors to their country: but by what law or -what logic were they traitors to France, a country -to which they owed no allegiance, and with which -they had contracted no obligation?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">398</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Movements against Castaños.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>From Burgos Marshals Ney and Victor were -dispatched with their divisions to act on the rear -of Castaños, and cut off his retreat, while Lasnes, -with 30,000 men, should attack him in front. -This last remaining army of the Spaniards is represented -by the French as consisting of 80,000 -men, of whom three-fourths were armed. But -the nominal force of the conjoined armies under -Castaños and Palafox was only 65,000, and the -effective soldiers hardly more than half that -amount. Many of the Andalusian troops had -returned to their homes after the first success, -and many more had remained at Madrid, so that -though some thousands (mostly from Valencia) -had joined Castaños, his force was little more -numerous than it had been at Baylen. His own -opinion was decidedly against risking an action -in which there could be no reasonable hope of -advantage; but the commissioner, D. Francisco -Palafox, to whom the power of overruling the -General had been madly entrusted by the Central -Junta, determined that a battle should be fought, -and Castaños therefore was compelled to fight, -lest he should be stigmatized as a traitor, and -murdered by his own men, or torn to pieces by -a mob. Already the Conde de Montijo, who left -the army at this time, was every where accusing -him of treachery, because he had warmly opposed -a determination, the fatal consequences of which -he certainly foresaw.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Battle of Tudela.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The plan of the French against this army -was the same as that which they had practised -against Blake’s; they meant to rout it by a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">399</span> -powerful attack in front, and to destroy the -fugitives by intercepting them with a second -force in their flight. Their destruction was considered -to be as certain as their defeat, but Ney -was less expeditious in his movements than had -been calculated; and Castaños hearing on the -21st that this corps was advancing upon Soria, -while Lasnes and Moncey approached from the -side of Logroño and Lodosa, abandoned Calahorra -and fell back upon Tudela. On the 22d -Lasnes entered Calahorra and Alfaro, and at daybreak -on the following morning he found the -Spaniards drawn up in seven divisions, with their -right before Tudela, and their left extending -along a line of from four to five miles upon a range -of easy heights. The Aragonese, who had joined -only a few hours before by forced marches, were -on the right, the Valencians and the troops of -New Castille in the centre, the Andalusians on -the left. Their line was covered by forty pieces -of artillery. Situations were chosen by the enemy -for planting sixty pieces against them; but upon -seeing their own relative strength, and the confusion -which was observable among the Spaniards, -they preferred a more summary mode of attack. -General Maurice Mathieu, with a division of infantry, -forced the Spanish centre; and General -Lefebvre, with the cavalry, passing through, -wheeled to the left, and coming in the rear of -the Aragonese, at a time when that wing, having -withstood an attack, supposed itself victorious, -the fate of the battle was decided. At the same<span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">400</span> -time Lagrange, with his division, attacked the -left; a brave, and in some part a successful -resistance was opposed; and the action, which -began in the morning, was prolonged on this -side till darkness enabled Lapeña’s division to -fall back from Cascante to Tarazona, where the -first and third divisions were stationed, and had -not been engaged. There too the second division -arrived, which had been ordered to support -Lapeña; but though it received these orders -at noon, and the distance which it had to march -was only two leagues, either from incapacity in -the leaders, or want of order, it did not arrive till -night, after the action was decided.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Retreat of the defeated army.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>According to the French 4000 Spaniards fell -in this battle, 3000 men, 300 officers, and thirty -pieces of cannon were taken, their own loss not -amounting to 500. The right wing, dispersing -and escaping how it could, assembled again at -Zaragoza, with some of the central division also, -there to prove that their failure in the field had -not been for want of courage. As soon as the -wreck of the left had collected at Tarazona, Castaños -ordered them to begin their march by way -of Borja to Calatayud. It was midnight, and at -the moment when they were setting forward a -chapel, which served as a magazine, blew up. -Many shells went off after the explosion; this -occasioned an opinion that an enemy’s battery -might be playing upon them, and the Royal Carabineers, -in the midst of the confusion, fancying -that the chapel was occupied by the French, presented<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">401</span> -themselves sword in hand to charge it. -Presently a cry of treason was set up; it spread -rapidly; misfortune in such times is always -deemed a proof of treachery; those troops who -had not been engaged could not understand -wherefore they were ordered to retreat, and at -such an hour; a general distrust prevailed; some -corps dispersed, and they who remained together -were in a fearful state of insubordination. They -retreated however through Borja and Ricla, without -stopping in either place, and on the night of -the 25th reached Calatayud.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Their deplorable condition at Calatayud.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On that same day Maurice Mathieu entered -Borja in pursuit, ... too late to make any prisoners. -Ney arrived on the day following. He had been -ordered to reach Agreda on the 23d, which, if -he had done, the wreck of this army must have -been destroyed; but he found a pretext for delay -in the fatigue of his men, and a cause in the -pillage of Soria. The people of that city, unmindful -of the example which the Numantines -had set them upon that very ground, opened -their gates to the enemy. This did not save -them from being plundered. Their church, and -their rich wool-factors, afforded good spoil to the -French; and for the sake of this booty, and that -he might extort all he could from the inhabitants, -Ney remained there three days, not because his -men had been over-marched. But this delay -enabled Castaños to reach Calatayud. He had -thus escaped the danger of immediate pursuit, -and men and officers had leisure now to feel the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">402</span> -whole wretchedness of their situation. There -were neither magazines nor stores here; the -system of supplying the troops, which before -had been miserably incomplete, was at an end, -and the military chest, containing two million -<i xml:lang="es" lang="es">reales</i>, had been conveyed to Zaragoza. Desperate -with hunger, the men broke through all restraint, -and the inhabitants fled from their houses, -hardly less dismayed at the temper of their own -soldiers than at the vicinity of the French. The -muleteers attached to the baggage and artillery -could obtain no payment, nor food either for -their animals or themselves; such as could find -opportunity threw away the baggage, mounted -their beasts, and rode away; others abandoned -them altogether, cursing their ill fortune, and -yet glad to escape with their lives. The soldiers, -having nothing else to stay the cravings -of hunger, devoured cabbage leaves, or whatever -crude vegetables they could find, and many -literally dropped for want.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They are ordered to approach Madrid.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Here Palafox and the Aragonese army expected -that Castaños would have rallied, have -made a stand, and, acting on the offensive -as circumstances permitted, have saved Zaragoza -from a second siege, or at least have delayed -its evil day. They who formed this expectation -did not reckon upon the activity of -the enemy, and imputed to their own government -a promptitude and power which it was far -from possessing. Had the defeat of the central -army been apprehended in time, and measures<span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">403</span> -taken for supporting it, one of the first objects -would have been to have strengthened this point. -There had been no such foresight. The French -were in pursuit, and orders arrived from Morla, -who was one of the council of war, requiring -Castaños to hasten with his army to the defence -of the capital. He consulted accordingly with -the chiefs of division, and they resolved to march -by way of Siguenza; from whence they might -either repair to Somosierra, if that strong position -should still be retained, or to Madrid, if such a -movement should be more advisable. In that -direction, therefore, they recommenced their retreat, -after one day’s rest.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Measures of the Central Junta.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Central Junta, mean while, was occupying -itself with measures ill adapted to such times. -While Blake’s army was fighting, day after day, -without clothing, without food, and without reinforcements -to recruit its ranks, they passed a -decree for the establishment of a special tribunal, -to try all persons accused of treason; its object -being not more to bring such as were guilty to -deserved punishment, than to rescue from suspicion -and danger those who were unjustly -suspected; for, under the existing circumstances -of Spain, they said, the people having suffered so -much from treachery, would naturally suspect -all those whose conduct it did not fully comprehend. -The tribunal, which was composed of -members from each of the great councils of state, -was to have a jurisdiction over persons of all -ranks: but not to carry into execution any sentence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">404</span> -of death, confiscation, or dismissal from -office, till they laid the whole case before the -Supreme Junta. A certain number of its members -might carry on the ordinary business, but a -writ for the arrest of any person, or the sequestration -of his goods, must be issued by the whole. -Especial provisions were made to prevent secret -arrest, or long confinement; and the papers of -the accused were not to be detained, as soon as -it was ascertained that they contained no relation -to the matter with which he was charged. No -proceedings were to take place upon anonymous -information, nor was any informer to be admitted, -who would not consent to let his name be -known. The humanity of these provisions is in -such direct opposition to the practice of the holy -office, that it seems to have been the intention -of the framers of this tribunal to render their -state inquisition as unlike as possible to that -curse and disgrace of their country. The tribunal -was particularly charged to inquire into -the conduct of those persons who had gone as -deputies to Bayonne, or who had submitted to -the Intruder at Madrid; endeavouring carefully -to distinguish between what was compulsory and -what was their own act and deed; and proceeding -with the caution and prudence required, where, -on the one hand, the public safety was at stake, -and, on the other, the reputation of many good -and honourable citizens. And when their investigations -had established the innocence of -any one, they were to consult with the Supreme<span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">405</span> -Junta upon the means of restoring to him all the -credit and respectability which he had formerly -enjoyed.</p> - -<p>By another decree, dated on the day when -Castaños was defeated at Tudela, they resolved -that honorary militias should be formed in all -towns which were not in the scene of war, in -order to prevent disorders, and to arrest robbers, -deserters, and ill-disposed persons. A more -remarkable measure related to the Ex-Jesuits: -their banishment was repealed, and they were -permitted to return to any part of Spain, and -there enjoy their pensions. The reason assigned -was, that it was a miserable thing for them to -be expatriated, to live far from their friends -and kin, and be abandoned to the mercy of -strangers; that it was now become difficult to -furnish them with the pensions assigned to them -by the crown; and that the sums thus allotted -were so much withdrawn from the circulating -specie of the kingdom, to increase that of foreign -and even of hostile countries. This late act of -humanity to the poor survivors of an injured -community, is not at any time to be censured; -but it is extraordinary that at such a time it -should have occupied the attention of the Junta.</p> - -<p>Of these measures, all would have been unexceptionable, -and even praise-worthy, had they -been well-timed; but the Central Junta still pursued -the fatal system of deceiving the people as -to the extent and imminence of their danger.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">406</span> -They addressed a proclamation to the inhabitants -of Madrid, saying, that they had taken all the -measures in their power for defeating the enemy, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Nov. 21.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -who, continuing his attacks, had advanced to -the neighbourhood of Somosierra; and that the -number of the French there hardly amounted to -8000 men. The enthusiasm with which the soldiers -were preparing to beat the enemies of their -country, they said, and their confidence in their -valour, was not to be expressed; and the English -were ready to march from the Escurial, to reinforce -the position chosen by the able general -whom the Junta had appointed, and to support -the operations of the van, who, by that time, were -already engaged with the slaves of the tyrant.</p> - -<p>With such representations did the government -endeavour to deceive the people of Madrid, and -lull them into a feeling of security, when its duty -was, to have told them the whole extent of their -danger, and manfully roused them to those exertions -which the emergency required. But they -themselves still in some degree partook the delusion -which they inspired. Their confidence -in the Spanish character was too well founded -ever to be shaken; and they relied, with little -reflection, upon the natural strength of the country. -Their present hope was upon the pass of -the Somosierra. D. Benito San Juan, a judicious -and able officer, of high reputation, was -stationed there with the remains of the Extremaduran -army, which had with great promptitude<span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">407</span> -been reinforced. The Junta did not call to -mind with how little difficulty Vedel had forced -the stronger passes of the Sierra Morena.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Pass of the Somosierra forced.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Buonaparte continued at Aranda till the 29th, -when his head-quarters were removed to Bocaguillas, -a village upon the skirts of the Somosierra. -There he learnt that about 6000 men -were entrenched upon the heights of Sepulveda, -and that a stronger body occupied the pass. The -advanced guard was attacked without the success -which the French expected; but the Spaniards, -instead of being encouraged by this advantage, -forsook their entrenchments and dispersed. On -the following morning the enemy, under M. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Nov. 30.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Victor, attempted the pass. Sixteen pieces of -cannon had been well placed to flank the ascent, -and some attempts had been made to break up the -road; but this easy means of defence had been so -imperfectly performed, that the pass was won by a -charge of Polish lancers. They were favoured in -their approach by a thick fog; but the Spaniards -must have strangely neglected the advantage of -the ground, when they suffered a strong mountain -defile to be taken by a charge of light horse. -The men, fancying themselves betrayed, betrayed -themselves by their own fears; they threw -away their arms, and dispersed among the hills, -leaving all the artillery and baggage to the enemy. -And now the way to Madrid was open.</p> - -<p>During the series of disasters which thus rapidly -succeeded each other, there had been no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">408</span> -time for the Junta to think of removing their -residence to the capital, still less for them to -take into consideration, on the appointed day, the -plan for forming a Regency, and convoking the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Central Junta retire from Aranjuez.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Cortes. They began now to feel themselves insecure -at Aranjuez; ... already advanced parties -of the French had approached the Tagus; wherever -they went there was no armed force to -oppose them; they had appeared at Villarejo on -the 28th, on the 30th at Mostoles; and if at this -time two or three hundred horse, with a few infantry, -had pushed on to Aranjuez, they might -with perfect ease have surprised the Junta, and -by depriving Spain of its government, have inflicted - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Jovellanos’s Memorial, p. ii. § 44.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -upon it a more dangerous injury than all -which it had hitherto suffered in the field. This -opportunity was overlooked by Buonaparte; and -the Junta, sensible of their danger when the consequences -of the defeat at Tudela and the rout -at Somosierra were known, deliberated whither -to retire. Florida-Blanca, who was sinking under -the burthen of years and the anxieties of his -situation, was for removing at once to Cadiz, -and a few others agreed with him. Jovellanos, -who added to his other virtues that of perfect -calmness and intrepidity under any danger, represented -that this would be sacrificing too much -for safety; and that the honour of the government, -as well as the public service, required that -it should establish itself as near as possible to the -theatre of war. Toledo was named, and rejected, - -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_409">409</span> - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />December.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -as having nothing but its situation to defend it. -Cordoba and Seville were proposed, but liable to -the same objection; and Badajoz, which was the -place that Jovellanos advised, was chosen: the -provinces every where were open to the enemy, -but Badajoz was a strong place, from whence the -Junta might correspond with the British army, -and with that which Romana was now re-forming -in the northern provinces from the dispersed -troops of Blake and the Conde de Belveder. -There they could take measures for raising new -armies in Extremadura and Andalusia; and if the -French should overrun those provinces, which -there was now nothing to prevent them from -doing, they might thence pass through Portugal -to those northern parts where the founders of -the Spanish monarchy had found an asylum from -the Moors; and where its restorers, animated -with the same spirit, might, in like manner, Jovellanos -thought, maintain the independence of -their country. They were to halt at Toledo on -the way, and there take such measures as circumstances -might require.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>State of Madrid.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Two days before the passage of the Somosierra -orders had been given to arm and embody -the people of Madrid. The people were ready -and willing, but this measure had been too long -delayed; nevertheless a permanent Junta was -formed, to maintain order, and provide for the -defence of the capital; and the latter object was -especially entrusted to Morla and to the Marques -de Castelar. Now indeed was the time for that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">410</span> -city to have emulated Zaragoza, and the spirit -was not wanting in the inhabitants, had there -been one commanding mind to have directed -them. Priests and regulars came forward to bear -arms, and old men, and women, and boys offered -themselves for the service of their country; ... for -this purpose leaving their houses open, and their -property to take its chance, they employed themselves -in opening trenches, erecting batteries, and -barricading the streets. The pavements were -torn up, and women and children carried the -stones to the tops of the houses, to be used from -thence against the enemy. Parapets were made -on the houses, and the doors stopped with mattresses. -Whatever arms were in the possession -of individuals were brought forth, and about -8000 muskets were distributed. The troops who -were in the city, and the armed inhabitants, were -now assembled in the Prado, that they might be -distributed to their appointed stations; the first -step for establishing that order without which -all efforts in defence of the city would be ineffectual. -Great confusion prevailed, and when -the people called out for cartridges, Morla coolly -replied, that there were none. Happy had it -been for Morla, if the indignation which this -proof of negligence excited had been directed -against himself; had he then perished under the -hands of the mob, the treachery which he was -preparing would never have been known on -earth, and he would have escaped perpetual infamy. -But his character stood so high, that no</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">411</span> - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Marques de Perales murdered by the populace.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -suspicion pointed towards him. It happened -that among those cartridges which had been delivered -in the morning some were found containing -sand instead of gunpowder; they had -probably been made by some dishonest workman, -or mischievous lad; but in such a time -of feverish irritation and imminent danger, the -fact was of course imputed to a deep-laid scheme -of treason, and the Marques de Perales was the -person upon whom the crime was laid. The -Duque del Infantado was informed that a mob -was hastening toward the house of this unfortunate -nobleman, and that he and his family -were in the greatest peril. Infantado himself -seems to have thought there was guilt somewhere; -he repaired instantly to the spot, meaning -to deliver over the suspected persons to a -proper tribunal, by which they might be tried; -but before he arrived Perales<a id="FNanchor_38" href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">38</a> had been pierced -with wounds, and his dead body dragged upon a -mat through the streets, the rabble accompanying -it, and exulting in what they believed his -deserved punishment.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Duque del Infantado sent to the central army.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The permanent Junta, who held their sittings -at the post-office, as the most central point, taking -into consideration the proximity of their danger, -thought that more reliance was to be placed upon -succour from without, than on any exertions of -the inhabitants. These persons were in truth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">412</span> -unequal to the arduous situation in which they -were placed; even the example of Zaragoza had -not taught them what wonders might be effected -in a civic defence; and they did not consider, -that as the first insurrection, and the consequent -massacre at Madrid, had roused all Spain to arms, -a greater impulse would now be given if the -capital opposed a determined resistance. They -agreed therefore to content themselves with such -efforts as might prevent the enemy from instantly -forcing the town, and induce him to grant -terms of capitulation. If by this means time -could be gained for a diversion to be effected, -or a successful attempt made in their favour, it -would be well; but if not, their minds were subdued -to this. They counted upon succour from -San Juan’s troops, many of whom were now arriving, -and they dispatched Infantado to meet -the remains of the central army, and bring it - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Manifesto del Duque del Infantado, i. 10.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -with all speed to the relief of Madrid. On the -2d of December, therefore, early in the morning, -the Duke set out on this forlorn commission, -accompanied by the Duque de Albuquerque and -a small escort.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Madrid summoned to surrender.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Only an hour or two after their departure, -Bessieres, with the French cavalry, came within -sight of Madrid, and took possession of the -heights. Buonaparte arrived at noon on the -same day, being the anniversary of his coronation. -There were not more than 6000 troops in -the city, but there were ten times as many men -ready to lay down their lives in its defence; and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">413</span> -the sight of the enemy excited indignation, not -dismay. It was apparent that there was a total -want of order among the people, but that they -were in a state of feeling which might render -them truly formidable: the bells of all the -churches and convents were sounding, and from -time to time the shouts of the multitude were -heard, and the beat of drums. Preparations had -been made which evinced at once the zeal and -the ignorance of those by whom they were directed; -the batteries were so low, that it was -easy for the French to plant their guns where -they could completely command them; and they -were so near the wall, that there was scarcely -room to work them, and the men would suffer -more by the broken stones than the direct effect - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Infantado, p. 4.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -of the enemy’s shot. Buonaparte thought it -easier to force the city than he would have found -it; but though insensible to any humane considerations, -policy made him desirous of avoiding -that extremity. Such a catastrophe might -inflame the continent as well as Spain, by proclaiming -to all Europe how utterly the Spaniards -abhorred the yoke under which he had undertaken -to subject them. An aide-de-camp of -Marshal Bessieres was therefore sent to summon -the town in form; he was seized by the people, -and would have been torn to pieces if the soldiers -had not protected him. No communication could -be opened that day with those who wished to deliver -up the capital. In the evening the French -infantry came up; arrangements for an attack in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">414</span> -the morning were made by moonlight; and at -midnight a Spanish Colonel, who had been taken -at Somosierra, was sent with a letter from M. -Berthier, Prince of Neufchatel, to the Marques -de Castelar, exhorting him not to expose Madrid -to the horrors of an assault. Castelar replied, -that he must consult the constituted authorities, -and ascertain also how the people were affected -by their present circumstances before he could -give an answer; and he requested a suspension -of arms for the ensuing day.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Morla treats for a capitulation.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>This reply was sent on the morning of the 3rd. -Before it arrived an attack had been commenced -upon the Buen Retiro, the favourite palace of -Philip IV. which had been fortified with some -care, as a point from whence the city might be -commanded. Thirty pieces of cannon soon made -a breach in the walls, and the place was carried, -after a thousand Spaniards had fallen in defending -it. The other outlets which had been fortified -were won also, but the French were repulsed -from the gates of Fuencarral and Segovia. Some -shells were thrown, in the hope of intimidating -the inhabitants. In the forenoon of the ensuing -day Berthier sent in a second summons. “Immense -batteries,” said he, “are mounted, mines -are prepared to blow up your principal buildings, -columns of troops are at the entrances of the -town, of which some companies of sharp-shooters -have made themselves masters. But the Emperor, -always generous in the course of his victories, -suspends the attack till two o’clock. To<span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">415</span> -defend Madrid is contrary to the principles of -war, and inhuman towards the inhabitants. The -town ought to seek protection for its peaceable -inhabitants, and oblivion for the past.” The -firing ceased, and at five in the afternoon Morla -and D. Bernardo Yriarte came out to Berthier’s -tent. They assured him that Madrid was without -resources, and that it would be the height -of madness to continue its defence, but that the -populace and the volunteers from the country -were determined to persevere in defending it. -They themselves were convinced that this was -hopeless, and requested a pause of a few hours, -that they might make the people understand -their real situation.... Hopeless, and without resources, -when threescore thousand men were -ready to defend their streets, and doors, and -chambers! This would not have been said if -Palafox had been in Madrid.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Speech of Buonaparte to the deputies.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>These unworthy deputies were introduced to -Buonaparte, and one of those theatrical displays -ensued in which he delighted to exhibit himself. -“You use the name of the people to no purpose,” -said he; “if you cannot appease them, and restore -tranquillity, it is because you have inflamed -them, and led them astray by propagating falsehoods. -Call together the clergy, the heads of -convents, the Alcaldes, the men of property and -influence, and let the city capitulate before six -in the morning, or it shall cease to exist. I will -not withdraw my troops, nor ought I to withdraw -them. You have murdered the unfortunate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">416</span> -French prisoners who fell into your hands; and -only a few days ago you suffered two persons in -the suite of the Russian Ambassador to be dragged -through the streets, and killed, because they were -Frenchmen. The incapacity and the cowardice -of a General put into your power troops who -capitulated on the field of battle, and that capitulation -has been violated. You, M. Morla, -what sort of an epistle did you write to that -General? Perhaps it becomes you, Sir, to talk -of pillage; you, who, when you entered Roussillon, -carried off all the women, and distributed -them as booty among your soldiers. Besides, -what right had you to use such language? the -capitulation precluded you from it. See what -has been the conduct of the English, who are -yet far from piquing themselves on being strict -observers of the law of nations. They cried out -against the convention of Portugal, but they have -fulfilled it. To violate military treaties is to renounce -all civilization; it is placing generals on -a footing with the Bedouins of the desert. How -dare you then presume to solicit a capitulation, -you who violated that of Baylen? See how injustice -and ill faith always recoil upon the guilty! -I had a fleet at Cadiz, it was in alliance with -Spain, and yet you directed against it the mortars -of the city where you commanded. I had a -Spanish army in my ranks; and rather than disarm -it, I would have seen it embark on board -the English ships, and be forced to precipitate -it afterwards down the rocks at Espinosa. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_417">417</span> -would rather have seven thousand more enemies -to fight than be wanting in honour and good -faith. Return to Madrid. I give you till six -o’clock in the morning; come back at that hour, -if you have to announce the submission of the -people; otherwise you and your troops shall be all -put to the sword.” Had there been a Spaniard -present to have replied as became him in behalf -of his country, Buonaparte would have trembled -at the reply, like Felix before the Apostle.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Surrender of Madrid.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The enemy had now been three days before -Madrid, and the ardour of the people was -deadened by delay and distrust. Deserted and -betrayed as they were, they knew not in whom -to confide, and therefore began to feel that it behoved -every one to provide for his own safety. -During the night the strangers who had come to -assist in the defence of the capital, and such of -the inhabitants as had been most zealous in the -national cause, left a scene where they were not -allowed to exert themselves; and at ten o’clock -on the morning of the 5th the French General -Belliard took the command of the city. Morla’s -first stipulation was, that the catholic apostolic -Roman religion should be preserved, and no -other legally tolerated. No person was to be -molested for his political opinions, or writings, -nor for what he had done in obedience to the -former government, nor the people, for the -efforts which they had made in their defence. -It was as easy for the tyrant to grant this, as to -break it whenever he might think proper. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">418</span> -fifth article required that no contributions should -be exacted beyond the ordinary ones. This was -granted till the realm should definitely be organized; -and, with the same qualifying reserve, -it was agreed, that the laws, customs, and courts -of justice should be preserved. Another article -required, that the French officers and troops -should not be quartered in private houses nor -in convents. This was granted with a proviso, -that the troops should have quarters and tents -furnished conformably to military regulations, ... -regulations which placed houses and convents at -their mercy. The Spanish troops were to march -out with the honours of war, but without their -arms and cannon: the armed peasantry to leave -their weapons, and return to their abodes. They -who had enlisted among the troops of the line -within the last four months were discharged from -their engagements, and might return home; the -rest should be prisoners of war till an exchange -took place, which, it was added, should immediately -commence between equal numbers, rank -for rank. It was asked that the public debts and -engagements should be faithfully discharged; but -this, it was replied, being a political object, belonged -to the cognizance of the assembly of the -realm, and depended on the general administration. -The last article stipulated, that those generals -who might wish to continue in Madrid -should preserve their rank, and such as were -desirous of quitting it, should be at liberty so to -do. This was granted; but their pay was only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">419</span> -to continue till the kingdom received its ultimate -organization.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Decrees issued by Buonaparte.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Notwithstanding the formality with which the -soldiers were included in this capitulation, very -few of them remained to be subject to its conditions. -Castelar and all the military officers of -rank refused to enter into any terms, and, with -the main body of the troops and sixteen guns, -marched out of the city on the night of the 4th, -and effected their retreat. The Council of Castille, -which had already suffered the just reproaches of -their country, had now to endure the censure of -the tyrant whom they had supported while his -power was predominant, and disowned when -the tide turned against him. He issued a decree, -whereby, considering that that Council had -shown, in the exercise of its functions, as much -falsehood as weakness, and that, after having published -the renunciation of the Bourbons, and acknowledged -the right of Joseph Buonaparte to -the throne, it had had the baseness to declare -that it had signed those documents with secret -reservations, he displaced them, as cowards, unworthy -to be the magistrates of a brave and -generous nation. Care, however, was taken to -except those who had been cautious enough not -to sign the recantation. At the same time another -decree was passed, abolishing the Inquisition, -as incompatible with the sovereign -power, and with the civil authority. Its property -was to be united to the domains of Spain, -as a guarantee for the public debt. A third decree<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">420</span> -reduced the number of existing convents to -one-third. This was to be effected by uniting -the members of several convents in one; and no -novice was to be admitted or professed till the -number of religioners of either sex should be reduced -to one-third of their present amount. All -novices were ordered to quit their respective convents -within a fortnight; and those who, having -professed, wished to change their mode of life, -and to live as secular ecclesiastics, were permitted -so to do, and a pension secured to them, -to be regulated by their age, but neither exceeding -4000 reales, nor falling short of 3000. From -the possessions of the suppressed convents, a sum -was to be set apart sufficient for increasing the -proportion of the parish priests, so that the lowest -salary should amount to 2400 reales; the surplus -of this property should be united to the national -domains; half of it appropriated to guarantee the -public debt, the other to reimburse the provinces -and cities the expenses occasioned by supplying -the armies, and to indemnify the losses caused -by the war. Provincial custom-houses were -abolished, and all seignorial courts of justice; -no other jurisdiction being permitted to exist -than the royal courts; and another decree, premising -that one of the greatest abuses in the -finances of Spain arose from the alienation of -different branches of the imposts, which were, -in their nature, unalienable, enacted, that every -individual in possession, either by grant, sale, -or any other means, of any portion of the civil<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">421</span> -or ecclesiastical imposts, should cease to receive -them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Proclamation to the Spaniards.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Buonaparte now addressed a proclamation to -the Spaniards. What possible result, he asked -them, could attend even the success of some -campaigns? Nothing but an endless war upon -their own soil. It had cost him only a few -marches to defeat their armies, and he would -soon drive the English from the peninsula. -Thus, to the rights which had been ceded him -by the princes of the last dynasty, he had added -the right of conquest: that, however, should not -make any alteration in his intentions. His wish -was to be their regenerator. All that obstructed -their prosperity and their greatness, he had destroyed; -he had broken the chains which bore -the people down; and, instead of an absolute -monarchy, had given them a limited one, with -a free constitution. The conclusion of this proclamation -was in a spirit of blasphemy, hitherto -confined to the barbarous countries of Africa -or the East. “Should all my efforts,” said he, -“prove fruitless, and should you not merit my -confidence, nothing will remain for me but to -treat you as conquered provinces, and to place -my brother upon another throne. I shall then -set the crown of Spain upon my own head, and -cause it to be respected by the guilty; <em>for God -has given me power and inclination to surmount -all obstacles</em>.”</p> - -<p>But though Buonaparte had thus easily dispersed -the Spanish armies, and made himself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">422</span> -master of Madrid, his triumph was not without -alloy. He now perceived with what utter ignorance - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Change in Buonaparte’s views concerning Spain.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -of the national character he had formed -the scheme of this usurpation, and he complained -of having been deceived, when, in reality, he had -turned a deaf ear to all who would have dissuaded -him from his purpose. Till he arrived at Madrid, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>De Pradt, 180.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the people, as well as the armies, had disappeared -before him; the towns and cities were abandoned - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Rocca, 24, 55.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -as his troops approached. Twelve months before -there was no other country wherein his exploits -were regarded with such unmingled admiration; -they had a character of exaggerated greatness -which suited the Spanish mind, and as he had -always been the ally of Spain, no feeling of -hostility or humiliation existed to abate this -sentiment: now, it was not to be disguised from -himself that he was universally detested there -as a perfidious tyrant. But policy, as well as -pride, withheld him from receding; unless he -went through with what he had begun, he must -confess himself fallible, and let the world see -that his power was not equal to his will, and -then the talisman of his fortune would have -been broken. He had committed the crime -and incurred the odium; wherefore then should -he not reap the benefit, and secure the prize, -not for a brother, whom he began to regard with -contempt as the mere puppet of his pleasure, but -for himself? This was a feeling which he did -not conceal from those who possessed his confidence; -and Joseph, and the unworthy ministers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">423</span> -who had abased themselves to serve him, were -made to perceive it, by the manner in which -Napoleon, regardless even of appearances, issued -edicts in his own name, as in a kingdom of his - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>De Pradt, 222, 225.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -own. The obstinacy of the Spaniards in refusing -to acknowledge his brother, he thought, -would give him ere long a pretext for treating -the country as his own by right of conquest. -Meantime no interval was to be allowed them -for collecting the wreck of their forces to make -another stand.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Retreat of the central army.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Three days before the battle of Somosierra, -Castaños, with his broken army, recommenced -their retreat from Calatayud. Some ten miles -west of that city, near the village of Buvierca, -the high road to Madrid passes through a narrow -gorge, where the river Xalon has forced or found -its way between two great mountain ridges. -When D. Francisco Xavier Venegas, with the -rear-guard, consisting of 5000 men, reached this -place, he found instructions from the Commander-in-chief, -requesting him to suspend his -march, and take measures for defending the pass, -on which, he said, the safety of the other divisions -depended; and he desired him to place -the troops whom he selected for this purpose -under such officers as would volunteer their services, -promising to reward them in proportion -to the importance and danger of the duty. Venegas -was too well aware of its importance to -trust the command to any but himself, and he -replied, that he would halt there till the rest of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">424</span> -the army was beyond the reach of pursuit. Early -on the 29th the French came up, 8000 in number, -under Mathieu. They commenced an attack -at eight o’clock, which continued for eight -hours: the Spaniards suffered severely; but they -maintained the pass, and they effectually disabled -this part of the French army from pursuing. On -the evening of the following day the army reached -Siguenza with all the artillery which they took -with them from Tarazona, notwithstanding the -bad state of the roads and the fatigue of the -men, who had been allowed no rest upon this -last march. Here Castaños received a summons -from the Central Junta, and resigned the command -to Don Manuel de Lapeña.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Lapeña succeeds to the command.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The situation to which this general succeeded -was deplorable. The artillery had indeed been -saved, and the pass of Buvierca most gallantly -maintained; nevertheless the army had suffered -during its retreat from all the accumulated evils -of disorder, insubordination, nakedness, and cold, -and hunger, and fatigue. Sometimes when the -rear-guard had been on the point of taking food, -the enemy came in sight, and the ready meal was -abandoned to the pursuers; this, though it was -the effect as much of panic in the soldiers as of -any want of conduct in their commanders, gave -new cause for dissatisfaction and distrust. The -men themselves were ready to fly at sight of -the French, because they suspected their leaders, -yet they accused their leaders of treachery for -not always turning and making head against the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">425</span> -enemy, ... not reflecting, that the officers in like -manner, though from a different motive, could -place no confidence in their men. Many dropped -on the way, overmarched, or foundered for want -of shoes; others turned aside because they considered -the army as entirely broken up: they -were ready to die for their country, but it was -folly, they thought, to squander their lives, and, -under the present circumstances, their duty was -to preserve themselves, and recover strength for -future service. The loss at Buvierca, too, had -been considerable. Before they reached Siguenza -the four divisions had thus been wasted down to -8000 men.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They arrive at Guadalaxara.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was on the evening of the last day of November -that they reached this point. Here message -after message arrived, requiring them to -hasten with all possible speed to Somosierra. -They set forward again the following day, the -infantry by Atienza and Jadraque, the horse and -artillery by Guadalaxara, in order to avoid the -bad roads, leaving the river Henares on their -right. This plan was soon changed; advices -reached them in the middle of the night at Jadraque, -that the pass of Somosierra had been -lost. It was now determined that the whole -army should march for Guadalaxara, for the defence -of Madrid; information of this movement -was dispatched to the Marques de Castelar, in -that city; and persons were sent, some to ascertain -the position of the enemy, others to learn -whither San Juan had retreated, in order that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">426</span> -some operations might be concerted with him. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Dec. 2.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -The next day, when the foremost troops entered -Guadalaxara, they found some detached parties -of the enemy in the town, whom they drove out: -the first and fourth divisions, the horse and the -artillery, arrived there that night; here the news -was, that Madrid was attacked, and the continual -firing which was heard confirmed it. Poor -as the numbers were which they could carry to -the capital, they were eager to be there; and if -Madrid had been protected, as it might have -been, by a British army, or defended as the inhabitants, -had it not been for treachery, would -have defended it, 8000 men, who stood by their -colours under so many hopeless circumstances, -would have brought an important succour. The -inhabitants relied with great confidence upon this -reinforcement; ... they expected hourly that these -brave men would appear, and take post beside -them at their gates, and in their streets; and -one of the most successful artifices by which -the traitors who made the capitulation depressed -their zeal, was by reporting that a second battle -had been fought, in which the army of the centre -had been entirely defeated by Marshal Ney, so -that no possible succour could be expected from -it. At the very time when this falsehood was -reported, a part of this brave army was only nine -leagues from Madrid, impatient to proceed to its -assistance. They were, however, compelled to -remain inactive the whole of the next day, waiting -for the second and third divisions and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">427</span> -van, which did not come up till the day following.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Duque del Infantado joins them.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On that day the Duque del Infantado joined -them, having passed safely through the advanced -posts of the French by favour of a thick fog. A -council of war was held; the urgent danger of -the capital was represented by the Duke, and -low as his hopes had fallen, when he saw the deplorable -state to which the remains of the army -were reduced by fatigue and hunger, it was nevertheless -determined that an effort should be made, -not to attack the besiegers, for this would have -been madness, but to collect as large a convoy of -provisions as they could, and endeavour to enter -with it under cover of the night by the Atocha -gate. The Duke, however, knew but too well -the situation of the metropolis; and at his suggestion -a letter was sent to the French General -who commanded before the walls, reminding him -that a great number of French were in the hands -of the Spaniards, and would be held responsible -with their lives for any ill treatment which might -be offered to the inhabitants of Madrid. Both -the officer and the trumpet were detained prisoners -by Buonaparte’s orders.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Condition of the troops. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">Dec. 4.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The troops were now mustered, and it was -then perceived what they had lost in number, -and how severely they had suffered during this -fearful retreat. From 6000 to 7000 infantry, -and about 1500 cavalry, were all that could be -brought together; men and horses alike exhausted -by fatigue and hunger; many indeed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">428</span> -had fallen and perished by the way. Here for -the first time they found something like relief, -great numbers not having tasted bread for eight -days: they had now sufficient food, and there -was cloth enough in the manufactory there to -supply every man with a <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">poncho</i>, the rude garment -of the Indians about Buenos Ayres, which -the Spaniards have adopted for its simplicity and -convenience. Meantime the French were collecting -in their neighbourhood; they occupied -Alcala and the adjoining villages, and some skirmishes -took place at Meca. Buonaparte had -been informed of their movements, and as soon -as Madrid capitulated, Bessieres was dispatched -to Guadalaxara with a considerable force of horse, -and Victor followed with infantry. The first -business of Lapeña was to disencumber himself -of his superfluous artillery, for they had brought -off no fewer than sixty pieces of cannon. Forty -of these, to preserve them from the enemy, were -sent across the Tagus at Sacedon, and these were -safely forwarded to Carthagena. The van, under -Venegas, which had saved the army at Buvierca, -arrived on the night of the 4th. Its losses had -been replaced by drafts; the post of honour and -of danger had been assigned it during the whole -of this retreat, and it continued to cover the -movements of the other divisions. Two of them -were leaving Guadalaxara when it arrived, the -second and third followed the next noon, in two -columns, proceeding by two roads to Santorcaz: -this division began to follow them, but before it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">429</span> -was out of one gate, the advanced guard of the -enemy entered at another.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They retire towards the Tagus.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Venegas perceived the importance of a position -to the south of the city, lying directly between the -two roads to Santorcaz, and he immediately, -occupied it. The battalions (<i xml:lang="es" lang="es">tercios</i>) of Ledesma -and Salamanca, which formed the rear of the third -division, perceived his intention, and turned back -and joined him; their commanding officers, D. -Luis de Lacy and D. Alexandre de Hore, being -ambitious of bearing part in the action which -they expected. The French were in great force -opposite on the right bank of the Henares; some -of their detachments forded both on the right -and left of the Spaniards’ position; but light -troops had been stationed on both the flanks, -who skirmished with them, and repelled them -till night. The position was judged too formidable -in front to be attacked, and the main body -of the French halted during the whole evening, -not choosing to cross the river. Having thus -obtained time for the army to perform its march, -which was all he hoped or wanted, Venegas -broke up three hours after the darkness had -closed, and continued his retreat in good order -without the loss of a single man. The Commander -now took up a position at Santorcaz, a -little village about two leagues east of Alcala, -between the rivers Henares and Tajuna. There -he learnt the fate of Madrid. The French now -evacuated Alcala, and extended themselves along -the heights at the back of Meca, and along the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">430</span> -banks of the Jarama, pushing their advanced -parties to Arganda, Morata, and other places in -that neighbourhood. The plan of Lapeña and -his officers under these circumstances was, to -cross the Tagus at Aranjuez, and take shelter, -if necessary, among the mountains of Toledo. -With this intent they marched to Villarejo de -Salvanes. A few poor soldiers, who dropped behind -at Nuevo-Bastan, were sabred by the French -with that cruelty which at this time so frequently -characterised and disgraced their armies.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Passage of the Tagus.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the 6th, when they were about to proceed -to Aranjuez, tidings came that the French were -in possession of that place, and this was confirmed -by an express from General Llamas, who had -vainly attempted to resist the enemy there with -a few armed peasantry, and a few soldiers who -had escaped from Madrid. New difficulties now -presented themselves to the remnant of this -harassed army. To look towards Toledo was become -hopeless: it was equally hopeless to make -for Andalusia, for the French General, Ruffin, as -soon as he had obtained possession of Aranjuez, -crossed the Tagus, and, pushing on as far as -Ocaña, cut off their retreat in that direction. -Nothing remained but to cross the Tagus by -boats at Villamanrique, Fuenteduenas, Estramera, -and other places where there were ferries, -and make for the Sierras of Cuenca. There it -was hoped they might be able to rest, rally the -stragglers, and again unite in numbers sufficient -to take vengeance for all their sufferings. Hazardous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">431</span> -as it was to cross the river in this manner, -with an enemy so near at hand, it was effected -with rare good fortune; the French had not -foreseen the attempt, and not a man nor a gun -was lost. Having gained the left bank of the -river, they hastened on their retreat, and head-quarters -were established on the 7th at Belinchon. -The second division, under General Grimanest, -which crossed at Villamanrique, was the only one -which was endangered. This having effected the -passage, took up a position at Santa Cruz, between -Aranjuez and Ucles, where it was attacked on -the night of the 8th by a corps of Bessieres’ division, -under General Montbrun. Finding themselves -unable to maintain the position against a -force which was superior to their own, they -abandoned it before they sustained any loss.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Some of the troops mutiny.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The first and fourth divisions mutinied on their -march to Yedra, where they were to be stationed. -This was ascribed to the intrigues of some traitorous -agents, as well as to the unprincipled ambition -of a few officers, desirous, in these times -of insubordination, to exalt themselves by flattering -the soldiers and slandering their commanders. -It was easy to inflame the men, who imputed all -their misfortunes to treason, and were already in -a state of great insubordination. They insisted -upon marching to Madrid, that they might attack -the enemy there; an artillery officer was at -their head; and the guns were planted to prevent -the troops from proceeding in the direction -where they had been ordered. A difference of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">432</span> -opinion among themselves prevented the execution -of this mad purpose; some were for -hastening to Despeñaperros, to take their post -in the passes of the Sierra Morena for the defence -of Andalusia. This afforded opportunity -for the General to reason with them, and pacify -them for a while. In consequence of this circumstance, -the difficulty which daily increased -of subsisting the troops, their increasing wants, -and the rapid desertions which were naturally -occasioned by privations, want of hope, and total -relaxation of discipline, Lapeña assembled his general -officers at Alcazar de Huete. The Duque -del Infantado, and Llamas, who had joined them -at Villarejo, were present at this council, and it -was determined, on Lapeña’s proposal, that the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Infantado chosen commander. -<span class="date">Dec. 9.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Duque should take the command. One reason -for appointing him was, that he was president of -the Council of Castille, and in that character was -entitled to require provisions and all things necessary -from the people, ... such being the respect -paid to the old authorities and established forms, -even at a time when necessity might have superseded -all laws, as paramount to all.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They retire to Cuenca.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>No command was ever accepted under more -painful and disheartening circumstances. The -troops were in a state of mutiny: the enemy -within three leagues, preparing to complete their -destruction; they had neither stores, supplies, -nor treasure, nor other means of obtaining any -than by the obedience which the people might -pay to his authority; and upon any panic which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">433</span> -might seize the soldiers, or any suspicion that -should arise among them, the General would be -the first victim; it had too fatally been proved, -that no character, however unimpeached, no -services, however eminent, afforded any protection -against the ferocity of a deluded multitude. -With a full sense of these dangers, the Duke -accepted a command which it might have been -even more dangerous to refuse. His rank, his affable -manners, the part which he had taken against -the Prince of the Peace, and the share which he -was supposed to have had in bringing about the -downfall of that worthless minion, had made him -one of the most popular persons in Spain; and -though he had lost something by accompanying -Ferdinand on his miserable journey to Bayonne, -still he stood high in the opinion of the nation. -The new appointment was announced to the -army in a short proclamation; and the Central -Junta ratified it afterwards, approving Lapeña’s -resignation, and dispensing with an informality, -which the dangerous and peculiar state of things -rendered prudent. The immediate good which had -been expected from this measure was produced; -for the soldiers confided in their untried General, -and order was re-established among them. On -the 10th they entered Cuenca, there concluding -a retreat of nearly four hundred and fifty miles. -The position of that city enabled them to receive -supplies from La Mancha, Valencia, and Murcia; -there they rested for a while, discipline was restored,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">434</span> -and three persons, who had been most -active in the mutiny, were brought to trial and -executed. The troops were clothed, funds were -raised for paying and supporting them, and hospitals -established. The stragglers having recovered -that strength, for want of which they -had fallen behind, rejoined their corps; new -levies were raised; and it was manifest that, notwithstanding -all their disasters, notwithstanding -the mighty power of the enemy, the treachery -of some leaders, and the misconduct of others, -which had been hardly less injurious, the spirit -of patriotism was still unimpaired, and the people, -by whom alone a country is to be saved, had not -abated one jot of heart or hope.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Arrival of the Conde de Alache’s corps.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Five days after their arrival they were joined -by a corps which it was supposed had been cut -off among the mountains of Rioja. The history -of its escape is equally honourable to the men -and to the Conde de Alache D. Miguel Lili, -who conducted them. They formed originally -a part of the army of Old Castille, under the -Conde de Cartaojal, which had been broken up -after the position of Logroño was lost. At the -end of October, Castaños stationed it along the -skirts of the Sierra de Cameros, extending from -in front of Logroño to Lodosa; the last division -of this force, which formed the left flank of the -army, was posted at Nalda under Lili. During -the first three weeks of November, this division -sustained repeated and almost daily attacks; varying<span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">435</span> -its position as circumstances required, and -having, like Blake’s army, to endure the severest -privations; nevertheless it carried off fourteen -pieces of artillery, from Nalda to Ausejo and -Calahorra, in sight of the French, and by roads -which had been thought impracticable. On the -night of the 21st, Lili received intelligence that -a considerable force of the enemy had moved -from Logroño towards Ausejo; the next day he -learnt that the Spaniards, who were stationed -there and at Tudelilla, had fallen back upon their -right, and that 5000 French infantry and 1000 -horse had moved from Najara, giving out that -they were going for Calahorra. He was thus -in imminent danger of being surrounded. Immediately -he left the banks of the Iregua, and -fell back to Venta de Codes, four leagues in the -rear of Nalda, where, in the course of the night, -a messenger from Cartaojal reached him with -instructions written at Tudelilla, on the 21st, -saying, that the French were in great force at -Ausejo, and that Castaños ordered him to retreat -by the Sierra to Agreda, whither Cartaojal himself -was going with all his troops to oppose the -French on the side of Almazan.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Nov. 23.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>For Agreda, therefore, Lili began his march -at daybreak. By two in the afternoon he had -reached Villar del Rio, five leagues from the -place which he had left, eight from that to which -he was bound; but here he met intelligence of -fresh disasters and new dangers. Agreda, it was -said, had already been abandoned by the Spaniards;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">436</span> -1200 French cavalry, with a small body -of foot, were on their way to that town from -Soria, which had opened its gates to the enemy; -other columns from Soria and from Almazan -were to follow in the same direction. Fugitives -now arrived every hour, with tidings that the -enemy were sacking one place, or approaching -another, all their parties tending to the one point -of Agreda. Lili perceived, that if Cartaojal had -not already retired from that town, he inevitably -must, and that for himself, if he continued his -march, it would be to run into the midst of his -enemies. He did not hesitate, therefore, to disobey -orders which would have involved him in certain -destruction; and, acting upon his own judgement, -he marched the next morning in a contrary -direction, to Lumbreras, and the day afterwards -to Montenegro, thinking that a more defensible -point, and for the sake of receiving certain intelligence -from the side of Agreda. The report -that that town had been evacuated on the 23d -was premature; and Lili received a letter from -Cartaojal, written from thence on the 24th, and -regretting that he had fallen back to Lumbreras -upon erroneous information; to have joined him -at Agreda, he said, was the proper movement, -and almost the only means of safety; but it was -no time to consider what might have been done, -and, as things were, he must now follow his -own discretion, with that zeal which it was not -doubted he possessed. Whatever regret Lili -might have felt at receiving this reproof, was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">437</span> -effectually counteracted by the report of the -messenger who brought it; for at the very moment -when Cartaojal dispatched him, news arrived -that the enemy were beginning to attack -the town. In fact, he was compelled speedily -to abandon it, and, marching by way of Borja to -Calatayud, joined the wreck of the army of the -centre, and accompanied them in their retreat.</p> - -<p>Perilous as Lili’s situation now was, he had -yet to receive intelligence of events which rendered -it more desperate. On the 27th he learned -at Salas de los Infantes, by some stragglers who -had escaped from the action at Burgos, that that -capital was now in the hands of the French. His -spies brought him information, that the Intruder -was with a great force at Aranda; that the enemy -occupied all the bridges and fords of the Duero; -and that the Somosierra was threatened: finally, -to crown the distressing news of the day, a full -account reached him of the battle of Tudela. On -every side he was surrounded; to move in any -direction seemed equally perilous, and he was -utterly ignorant what course had been taken by -the relics of the army which he wished to join. -In these difficulties his first measure was to march -to Canales, four leagues from Salas, where, in -the very centre of the mountains, he might hope -to remain concealed from the enemy, or resist -them to the best advantage if he were attacked. -There, amid those difficult and inclement heights, -from whence the Arlanza flows toward Lerma, -the Duero toward the plains of Castille, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">438</span> -Tiron, the Najerilla, and the Iregua toward -Rioja, he remained six days. During this time -he obtained sufficient intelligence of the movements -of the French to direct his own, and then -proceeded towards New Castille, in search of -Castaños’s broken army. On the 5th he reached -Quintanar de la Sierra, on the 6th San Leonardo. -His men travelled the whole of the following day -and night, and crossed the Duero at Berlanja. -On the 9th they entered Atienza, and here the -information which they found served only to occasion -new perplexity; for here Lili learned that -the central army had passed through, and been -pursued by the French; that they had afterwards -abandoned Guadalaxara and the heights of Santorcaz: -of their farther movements nothing was -known. Lili, however, considering all circumstances, -was convinced that they must have retreated -upon Cuenca, and he directed his march -towards the same point. On the 11th, at daybreak, -he crossed the great road from Zaragoza -to Madrid, at an opportune and happy hour, -passing between the last division of the French -and their rear-guard, then on the way from Calatayud; -and on the day that the Duke del Infantado -reached Cuenca, he arrived at Villar de -Domingo Garcia, from whence, on the 16th, he -passed to the head-quarters of the Commander. -During this whole retreat, which was over a tract -of nearly four hundred miles, through the most -difficult and untravelled ways, this corps had -constantly been surrounded by the enemy, who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">439</span> -were seldom more than ten or twelve miles distant -from them. Food they had none, but what -they could procure upon the way; most of the -men were barefoot, many of them nearly naked, -but their spirits never failed.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Retreat of the Central Junta from Aranjuez.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>If ever during the contest there was a time -when Spain might have been irretrievably subjected, -it was now, if a dissolution of the government -had taken place. The Central Junta had -been slow in perceiving the danger, but when it -came upon them they acted with promptitude -and wisdom. Before they left Aranjuez a commission -of six members was appointed to transact -business during their journey, and official -intelligence of their removal was communicated -to the foreign ministers. Their escort was so -insufficient, that a small body of cavalry might -have surprised them; they travelled in parties, -but assembled at Talavera; three members were -left there to collect and re-organize the soldiers -who were coming in great numbers to that point. -From thence proceeding to Truxillo, there they -again met, dispatched orders to the provinces, -and sent some of their own members to those -places where they might be most useful. That -city afforded an opportunity of reconsidering -where they should fix their abode, whether at -Badajoz, as had been determined, or at Cordoba, -the road to either place being open: Seville was -preferred to either, and they assembled there on -the 17th of December. Before this removal it had -been concerted by Jovellanos, with some members<span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">440</span> -of the Royal Council and of the Council of the -Indies, that eleven members of the former, and -nine of the latter, including their presidents, -should follow the Central Junta, and with two -members from each of the other tribunals, form -a <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Consejo reunido</i>, or united Council. The other -members were commanded to leave Madrid, and -retire either to their own places of abode in the -provinces, or whither they would, there to receive -their salaries, assist the government with their -advice and services when called upon, and promote -by all means in their power the national -cause. Too many of these persons were found -wanting in the hour of trial, some in weakness -submitting to the Intruder rather than endure -the ills of honourable poverty, others taking an -active and infamous part in his service. The proposed -Council was formed of those who repaired -to Seville; and those who, from whatever cause, -arrived at a later time, found from the Junta an -indulgence which would not have been granted -them by the people, less charitable, and perhaps -less just; they were received with respect, and -their salaries continued to them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Their address to the people of Madrid.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The agents of the Intruder knowing how desirable -for their views it would be to bring the -national government into disrepute, reported -that the Junta had sanctioned and approved the -capitulation of the capital. This the Junta contradicted -in a manly proclamation, and they exhorted -the inhabitants of Madrid to bear in mind -that the temporary occupation of their buildings<span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">441</span> -by the enemy was of little moment, while he was -not master of their hearts. “Continue to resist -him,” said they, “in the very bosom of your -families; place no confidence in the promises of -the French; remember that they have promised -happiness to every people, and have made every -people miserable. Keep alive your hope, retain -your fortitude, and your deliverance will be glorious -in proportion to the greatness of the danger -which you have encountered.” They made no -attempt to conceal the extent of their disasters; -but they attributed them to the inexperience of -their troops, and denied that the monarchy was -comprehended within the narrow precincts of the -metropolis. “Were you to believe the enemy,” -said they, “our armies have vanished like the -smoke of the battle, and Spain has neither forces -wherewith to oppose her invaders, nor authority -to regulate her councils, nor resources to save her -from destruction. All this is false. The government -which has been chosen by the people never -attracted more respect, never felt more strongly -the strong principle of union, and never found -more ardour in the public cause. The provinces -have redoubled their exertions at its voice, and -new enlistments, new contributions, and new -sacrifices have already filled the void occasioned -by our losses.” A splendid instance of patriotism -in one of the nobles was at this time made public; -the Duke of Medina Sidonia, whose property had -just been confiscated in Madrid by the intrusive -government, had from the commencement of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">442</span> -struggle made a free gift every month of 2500 -dollars, in addition to his share of the public -burthens, and to various donations of necessaries -for the army.</p> - -<p>While the Junta was making exertions which -were well seconded by the zeal of the people, -the whole of those extensive plains, which form -the centre or table-land of Spain, lay at the mercy -of the invaders. On the 11th of December Victor -had his detachments in Aranjuez and in Ocaña; - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French enter Toledo.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -on the 19th he occupied Toledo. The surrender -of this ancient and famous city, after its professions -of determined patriotism, was one of -those circumstances for which the Spaniards -were reproached, by those who had depreciated -their exertions, and despaired of their cause. -Yet if the Toledans did not signalize themselves -by heroic sacrifices, like the Zaragozans, there -was no want of a right spirit, nor had they been -deficient in their duty. In the spring of the preceding -year Dupont and Vedel entered that city -with their divisions, and raised a most oppressive -contribution. But no sooner had they proceeded -on their way to Andalusia, than a Junta was -formed, consisting of the most respectable citizens: -they could not raise forces themselves, -being surrounded by the enemy, and having no -military means; but they ordered as many of the -districts in that kingdom as could exert themselves -to act under the instructions of the Junta -of Badajoz; they contributed large sums of -money; and they refused obedience to four<span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">443</span> -successive orders which enjoined them to proclaim -the Intruder, though it was announced, -that, if they continued in their disobedience, -5000 French would come, and perform the ceremony -sword in hand. The evacuation of Madrid -relieved them from this danger. And when the -victorious army of Castaños was on its way to -the capital, Toledo supported 10,000 men of that -army for three weeks, made a donation of 300,000 -reales to them on their departure, equipped many -of their officers, and clothed a great proportion of -the men. This was not all. In two months it -raised and equipped two regiments of infantry, -and a corps of 700 horse; for which funds were -raised by a subscription, all persons, from the -archbishop to the poorest peasant, contributing -according to their means. The university also -raised a corps of students; and after the siege of -Zaragoza the pectoral of the archbishop, valued -at 150,000 reales, was converted into money to -relieve the inhabitants of that heroic city. After -the defeat at Burgos, the Toledans applied to -government for arms to defend their walls. This -was the mode of warfare to which the Junta, if -they had rightly understood the nature of their -own strength, should have resorted; and this -system of defence was advised by the English -ambassador, Mr. Frere, than whom no man -judged more generously, nor more wisely, of -the Spanish character and the Spanish cause. -But this essential precaution had been neglected; -and when the Toledans applied for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">444</span> -artillery and ammunition, disaster followed so -close upon disaster, that there was no leisure -for attending to their request, urgent as it was. -What then could be done? They sent off their -moveable property to Seville; 12,000 swords also -were dispatched to the same place, from that -fabric which for so many centuries has been -famous, and which probably owes its original -celebrity to workmen from Damascus. The -Junta, the legitimate authorities, and all the -most distinguished inhabitants, left the city; -neither the threats nor promises of the Intruder -could induce them to return: they retired to the -free part of the peninsula, submitting to poverty -with that dignified composure which resulted -from the consciousness of having discharged -their duty. This was the fate of the parents, -while their sons, in the corps of students, fought -and bled for the independence of Spain. It is -plain, therefore, that though the gates of Toledo -were opened to the enemy, that same spirit still -existed within its walls which, during the war -of the Commons of Castille, rendered it the last -hold of Spanish liberty.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Defence of Villacañas.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>From Toledo, from Aranjuez, and from Ocaña, -parties of French cavalry overran the open and -defenceless plains of lower La Mancha, foraging -and plundering the towns and villages with impunity -as far as Manzanares. The La Manchans, -relying, like the government, too confidently -upon the resistance which regular armies and -the modes of regular warfare could oppose to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_445">445</span> -such a military power as that of France, had -made no preparations for defending themselves; -some places were deserted by the inhabitants; all -left open to the enemy, who scoured the country -at their pleasure. The little townlet of Villacañas -afforded a single and honourable exception. -A party of 60 horse entered it on the night of -the 20th of December, being a detachment from -a much larger force which had quartered itself -in Tembleque. The people caught up such arms -as they could find, and drove the invaders out; -they began immediately to dig trenches and throw -up barricadoes, ... the adjoining peasantry came -to their assistance, ... a few persons of high quality -fled; but, with these few exceptions, the utmost -zeal and alacrity were displayed by all ranks, -and ready obedience was paid to some old soldiers, -who took upon themselves the command. -During five successive days the French renewed -their attacks, and were constantly repulsed; their -plundering parties had no artillery with them, -and the means of defence, therefore, as long as -the Spaniards took care not to expose themselves -to a charge of horse in the open country, were -equal to those of attack. Weary at length of repeated -failures, and unwilling to incur farther -loss in an object of no other value than what the -plunder of the place might be worth, the French -desisted from any farther attempts, and Villacañas -remained safe and uninjured, while all the -country round was ransacked. The example was -deservedly thought of such importance, that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">446</span> -whole details of this little siege were published -by the government in an extraordinary gazette. -Whatever contributions were due to the state -by the inhabitants of this townlet were remitted -to them, and those persons who had taken the -lead were rewarded by other privileges. “This,” -said the government, “is the kind of war which -our perfidious enemy feareth most, and which is -the most advantageous for ourselves. Let the -people of every village arm themselves, entrench -themselves in their very houses, break up the -roads, lay ambushes upon every height and pass, -intercept his provisions, cut off his communications, -and make him perceive that at every step -he will find the most obstinate resistance. Thus -we shall waste his forces; thus we shall show to -the world that a great and generous nation is -not to be insulted with impunity, not to be conquered -when it fights for its king, for its liberty, -and for its religion.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Preparations for defending the Sierra Morena.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Meantime the Juntas of Ciudad Real, (the -capital of Upper La Mancha,) and of the four -kingdoms of Jaen, Granada, Cordoba, and Seville, -which compose the province of Andalusia, formed -a Central Assembly in La Carolina, where two -deputies from each province met to consult upon -speedy measures for fortifying the gorge of Despeñaperros, -this pass of the Sierra Morena being -considered as the Thermopylæ, where the progress -of this new barbarian might be withstood. -Here an army was necessary, and there was none: -the Marques de Palacio was sent by the Supreme<span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">447</span> -Junta to form one under his command. The -Juntas of Andalusia and La Mancha raised new -levies; and officers and men who had deserted -from the central army, many of them scattering -alarm and sedition where they fled, re-entered -into this new establishment. The marine battalions -and brigades of artillery were ordered -hither from Cadiz, leaving only 300 men in that -city, besides the volunteers. Fourteen pieces of -cannon had been fortunately stopped at Manzanares, -on their way to Madrid. These were -now mounted upon the works which were thrown -up to defend this important position. Another -road also, by which the enemy might have passed -the Sierra, was occupied by a detachment of 500 -men. Before the middle of December, 6000 foot -and 300 horse had assembled at La Carolina, and -their number increased daily. But it was not -towards the Sierra Morena that Buonaparte was -looking; his attention was chiefly fixed upon the -English army, and the road by which he thought -to reach Andalusia was through Extremadura, -hoping to overtake the Supreme Junta in their -flight; having reached them at Truxillo, his -armies might divide, one marching to take possession -of Lisbon, the other to take vengeance -for Dupont at Seville and Cadiz.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Murder of San Juan at Talavera.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>There was no force in Extremadura which -could oppose any obstacle to this plan. When -the pass of Somosierra was lost, San Juan, who -commanded there, cut his way sword in hand -through a squadron of Poles, and by by-roads<span class="pagenum" id="Page_448">448</span> -reached Segovia, where he found the troops who -had retired from Sepulveda. From thence he -marched to Guadarrama, united with the Extremaduran -troops under General Heredia, and descended -to the Escurial, because he was without -provisions in the pass. There they received -orders to hasten to Madrid, and enter that city -by the gate of Segovia. On the way exaggerated -reports were spread of the strength of the enemy; -suspicion increased the insubordination of the soldiers; -the artillery and baggage-men forsook their -charge and fled, and several corps broke up. The -whole of Heredia’s van-guard dispersed in this -manner, in spite of all San Juan’s efforts to detain -them; they would rally, they said, at Talavera: -this word went through the army, and served as -a pretext for every one who chose to fly. The -two generals had only a handful of men with -them when they approached Madrid, and then -they discovered that the city had been betrayed. -No other course remained for them than to repair -to Talavera, in the hope of rallying what -would still form a considerable force. The rabble -of the army, sufficiently faithful to their appointment, -bent their way to that city, plundering as -they went along; and there San Juan met them, -unhappily for himself. The wretches who had -been foremost in subverting discipline, and instigating -the troops to break up, began to apprehend -punishment if the army should again -assume a regular form; and this was likely to -be the case immediately, for many thousands<span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">449</span> -(many having escaped from Madrid) were now -collected there, and the government had already -begun to take measures for re-equipping them. -It was easy for these villains to raise a cry against -San Juan: all men knew the importance of the -position at Somosierra; but there were few who -knew with what insufficient means the general -had been supplied. Mobs never reason, least of -all when they are under the influence of fear; -and the Spanish troops had suffered so much -from incapacity, that when any person was denounced -as a traitor, it seemed like a relief to -themselves, and an act of justice to their country, -to vent their vengeance upon him. The cry -against San Juan became general: a friar went -at the head of a party to the convent of the -Augustines, where he had taken up his quarters, -and they cried out that they were come to put - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Dec. 7.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Benito San Juan to death. San Juan attempted -to expostulate, but in vain. He drew his sword -to defend himself, and immediately he was -pierced with their bullets. The rabble dragged -the body to a gibbet, and hung it there; next -they sought for Heredia, that they might kill -him also; but he eluded their search. As soon -as their fury was allayed, the instigators of these -excesses secured themselves by flight; and the -troops, who had been misled, perceived the consequences -of their lawless conduct. If San Juan -had indeed been a traitor, they felt that they -ought to have delivered him up to the proper -tribunal; ... by taking vengeance into their own -hands they had made themselves obnoxious to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">450</span> -laws. Whom too could they trust, whom were -they to obey? Instead, therefore, of forming a -new army, as they had designed, at Talavera, -they dispersed again, not having now any rallying -place appointed, but each man going whither -he thought best. Some took the road to Andalusia, -some to Avila: the Extremadurans, who -were the most numerous, went to their homes.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Edict against deserters.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The dispersion of the soldiers called forth a -severe edict. It began by stating, that the martial -laws of Spain had affixed no punishment for -officers who deserted their colours or stations, it -never having been supposed that men of such -rank could possibly be guilty of such a crime. -But now it had unhappily been seen that many -officers, forgetful of all honour and duty, had -fled, scattering disorder and terror wherever they -went, and pretending treason in their generals -as an excuse for their own conduct; whereas -they themselves had been the worst enemies of -their country, by abandoning their generals in -the most critical moments. The Junta, therefore, -pronounced sentence of death against every -officer who absented himself from his colours -without permission, and confiscation of his property -for the relief of the widows and orphans -of soldiers in his parish. Soldiers were made -liable to the like penalty; any person who harboured -a deserter was to be punished by confiscation -of his property, and the same penalty was -denounced against all magistrates who suffered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">451</span> -deserters to remain within their jurisdiction. But -all who, within fifteen days, should present themselves -to the nearest authority in order to rejoin -the army, were exempted from the pains in this -decree.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>A few English stragglers butchered by the French cavalry.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Four days after the murder of San Juan, and -the dispersion of his army, two divisions of French -cavalry, under Milhaud and Lasalle, entered Talavera. -They found the body of the Spanish General -still on the gibbet, and this murder furnished -Buonaparte with a new subject of invective against -the Spaniards; though this, and the thousand -deaths, and all the untold crimes, and all the unutterable -miseries with which the peninsula was -filled, were the consequences of his own single -conduct, the fruits of his individual wickedness. -Lasalle fell in with sixteen Englishmen upon the -road, stragglers from General Hope’s detachment, -and it was related in the bulletins<a id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">39</a> of -Buonaparte, as an exploit worthy of remembrance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">452</span> -and commendation, that a division of French -cavalry, falling in with sixteen Englishmen who -had lost their way, put them to the sword. This -was but a small part of the force which was -destined to proceed in this direction. As soon -as Madrid had been delivered up, Lefebvre was -ordered to advance from Valladolid towards Lisbon. -First he advanced to Segovia, which he -entered unresisted. The people were dispirited -by the panic and flight of their armies; but it -should not be forgotten for their exculpation, that -the more generous and heroic spirits, having -flocked to their country’s standard among the -foremost levies, had already received their crown -of martyrdom, or were clinging to the wreck of -the two great armies of the north and the centre, -or were consummating the sacrifice of duty in -Zaragoza. In one place only between Valladolid -and the capital did this part of the French army -experience any opposition. The pass of Guadarrama -was open to them: General Hope had -been stationed there, but was recalled by Sir -John Moore, and there were no native troops -to supply his place. But when the enemy descended - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French take possession of the Escurial.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -upon the Escurial, and proceeded to -take possession of that palace, the magnificent -monument of a victory which Spain had achieved -over France in open, honourable war, and in a -fair field, they found the peasantry assembled to -defend the seat and sepulchres of their kings. -Undisciplined as they were, ill-armed, and with -none to direct their efforts, they stood their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_453">453</span> -ground till they were overpowered by practised -troops, superior in numbers as well as in arms; -and the French, after the slaughter of these -brave peasants before the gates, took up their -quarters in the palace of the Philips. He who -founded that stately pile, could he then have -beheld from his grave what was passing around -him, would have seen the consequences of that -despotic system which he and his father established -upon the ruins of the old free constitution -of Spain.</p> - -<p>It was a noble feeling which led these peasants -to sacrifice themselves in defence of the Escurial, -and the action did not pass unnoticed by those -able and enlightened Spaniards whose patriotic -writings at this time did honour to themselves -and to their country. “Nothing,” said Don -Isidro de Antillon, “is more worthy of public -interest, and nothing will more excite the admiration -of posterity, than a deed like this. If -indeed we had only armies to oppose to Buonaparte, -infallibly we should become his slaves; -the victory would be the usurper’s beyond all -resource. But it is the collective strength of our -inhabited places, the defence of our walls, the -obstinate and repeated resistance of the people -in the streets and gateways, along the roads and -upon the heights, wherever they can cut off or -annoy the detachments of the enemy, ... the universal -spirit of insurrection, now become as it -were the very element of our existence; this it -is which disconcerts his plans, which renders his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">454</span> -victories useless, and after a thousand vicissitudes -and disasters, will finally establish the independence -and the glory of Spain.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Excesses of the French.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Lefebvre entered Madrid on the 8th of December. -Buonaparte reviewed his division in the -Prado, and dispatched it to Toledo, while Sebastiani -with another division marched for Talavera. -In that city, by the 19th, about 25,000 -French were assembled, including 5000 cavalry. -The wiser inhabitants fled before their arrival, -preferring the miseries of emigration to the insults -and atrocities which they must otherwise -have endured: for the exaction of heavy contributions, -which reduced half the people to -beggary, was the least evil those towns endured -that fell under the yoke of the French. Every -where the soldiers were permitted to plunder; -no asylum could secure the women from their unrestrained -brutality; churches and convents were -profaned with as little compunction as dwelling-houses -were broken open; and in many instances, -the victims were exposed naked in the streets. -The Spanish government exclaimed loudly against -these enormities. “In other times,” they said, -“war was carried on between army and army, -soldier and soldier; their fury spent itself upon -the field of battle; and when courage, combined -with fortune, had decided the victory, the conquerors -behaved to the conquered like men of -honour, and the defenceless people were respected. -The progress of civilization had tempered -the evils of hostility, till a nation which so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">455</span> -lately boasted that it was the most polished in -the world, renewed, in the 19th century, the -cruelty of the worst savages, and all the horrors -which make us tremble in perusing the history -of the irruptions of the barbarians of old. Like -tygers, these enemies make no distinction in -their carnage, ... the aged, the infants, the women, -... all are alike to them, wherever they can find -blood to shed.”</p> - -<p>This appeal could be of no avail against a -tyrant who, in the very origin of the war, had -shown himself dead to all sense of justice, humanity, -and even of honour, which sometimes -supplies their place; nor against generals and -officers who could serve him in such a cause. -Such men could be taught humanity only by the -severest retaliation. The language which the government -addressed to their own subjects might -be more effectual. “What resource have you,” -said they, “in submission and in cowardice? If -by this abasement you could purchase a miserable -existence, that perhaps with base minds might -exculpate you. But you fly to your houses to -perish in them, or to be idle spectators of the -horrors which these ruffian soldiers are preparing -for you! Yes! wait for them there, and they will -not tarry long ere they come and shed before -your eyes the blood of the innocent victims whom -you will not defend. Old fathers, wretched -mothers, prepare to receive your daughters released -from the arms of an hundred barbarians -only when they are in the act of death! or if<span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">456</span> -they recover life, to curse it in the bitterness of -unextinguishable shame; tell them to reproach -those cowardly husbands, those base lovers, who -are content to live, and see them plunged in -this abominable infamy. But they will not be -suffered to live; hand-cuffed and haltered, they -will be dragged out of their country; they will -be made soldiers by force, though they would -not become so from honour and a sense of duty; -there they will be exposed in the foremost ranks -to the fire of the enemy; there they will not be -able to fly; ... the toil, the danger, and death will -be theirs; the glory and the spoil will be their -conquerors’, and the crowns which they win will -be for the tyrant, the cause of all this misery.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Galluzo collects the fugitives in Extremadura.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It had been happy for Spain if the government -had always acted as energetically as it wrote; -but it should be remembered in justice to the -Spaniards, that the dispersion of the troops was -in many instances an act of self-preservation, so -utterly were they left without supplies of food -or clothing, by the inexperience and incompetence -of every military department. Even against -the testimony and the reproaches of its own government, -the Spanish nation stands acquitted. -Never did men suffer more patiently, or fight -more bravely, than Blake’s army. There was no -want of courage at Tudela; and of the remains -of the army which fought there, a large proportion -was at this very time defending Zaragoza -with a heroism unexampled in modern times, -upon any other soil. Wherever, indeed, a new<span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">457</span> -army was to be collected, soldiers were not wanting. -After San Juan’s death, Galluzo was appointed -to the command; he took his post at -the bridge of Almaraz to defend the left bank -of the Tagus; and in a few days had collected -about 8000 soldiers, ... many of them were without -arms, ... most of them barefooted, and now -unhappily accustomed to flight and desertion. -Nevertheless they assembled; for every man felt -individually brave, and it was only the want of -discipline, which, by preventing them from feeling -confidence collectively, made panic contagious -in the moment of danger. The province -of Extremadura immediately provided money for -these troops; this province, though the least -populous in the peninsula, had particularly distinguished -itself by its exertions; it had raised -and equipped, wholly at its own expense, 24,000 -men, and had supplied ammunition and arms of -every kind from Badajoz to the other provinces.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He prepares for the defence of the Tagus.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>There are four bridges between Talavera and -the confluence of the Tietar with the Tagus; -the Puente del Arzobispo, or the Archbishop’s, -the Puente del Conde, or the Count’s, the bridge -of Almaraz, and the Puente del Cardinal, or -the Cardinal’s. With his present feeble and inefficient -force Galluzo had no other means of -protecting Extremadura than by breaking down, -or defending these bridges; if he could effect -this, the province would be secure from an attack -on the side of Talavera. Almaraz was the -most important of these points; here he planted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_458">458</span> -ten pieces of cannon and two mortars, and -stationed 5000 men. The more surely to prevent -the enemy from winning the passage he -mined the bridge; but so firmly had this noble -pile been built, that when the mine was fired, -the explosion only served to injure it without -rendering it impassable. Don Francisco Trias -was sent with 850 men to the Puente del Arzobispo; -on his way he met the engineer, who had -previously been dispatched to break it down, -but who had been prevented from attempting it -by the enemy, so that this bridge was already in -their power. Trias, therefore, took his position -with the view of checking the incursions of the -French on this side, and ordered Don Antonio -Puig, with such assistants as he could procure -from the magistrates of Talavera la Vieja, to -destroy the Puente del Conde, and provide for -the defence of that point, and of three fords upon -the same part of the river. When this officer -arrived he had neither a single soldier under his -command, nor arms for the peasantry; the latter -want was soon supplied; the peasantry were -zealous, and some of the stragglers joined him.</p> - -<p>The bridge of the Cardinal was assigned to the -keeping of a battalion of Walloon Guards and a -squadron of the volunteers of Extremadura, under -Brigadier Don Francisco Durasmiel. Galluzo -also stationed his reserve at Jaraicejo, under Brigadier -Don Josef Vlazquez Somosa, and sent -another field officer to Truxillo to collect and -organize the stragglers who might either voluntarily<span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">459</span> -join him, or be detained by the patroles. -While the General was making these dispositions -for the defence of the province, the Junta -of Badajoz made the greatest exertions to supply -the wants of this new army, and its efforts were -well seconded by the Extremaduran people. Half -a million of reales was raised in loans and free -gifts within a week; all the cloth of Torremocha -and of other clothing towns was applied to the -use of the army, ... no other work was carried -on in the monastery of Guadalupe than that of -making earthen vessels for their cookery; and -commissaries were sent to the sixteen villages -nearest the bridge of Almaraz to see that rations -of bread for 5000 men were daily delivered there. -These measures were so effectual, that the troops -were soon comfortably clothed, and after the first -day they had no want of any thing.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French cross the river.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was, however, scarcely to be hoped that so -small and ill-compacted a force could maintain -its ground, in a country which offered them no -advantages for defence against such an army as -the French had assembled in Talavera. After -some skirmishes with the advanced guard at Almaraz, -and some slight attacks upon the Puente -del Conde, which were designed chiefly to keep -the Spaniards on the alarm, and divert their attention -from the side where the real attack was -intended, Sebastiani crossed the Puente del Arzobispo -on the 24th of December, and attacked -Trias in front and on his right flank with superior -numbers. The Spaniards did not yield till after<span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">460</span> -a vigorous resistance; and then retreated by the -Sierra to Castanar de Ibor. On the same day, -about two hours after noon, the Puente del Conde -was attacked, and the fords. The bridge was -bravely defended by Don Pablo Murillo, whose -distinguished talents were now first displayed. -Puig guarded the fords, and they repelled the -enemy every where till night; when, being informed -of the defeat of Trias, and that Sebastiani -had proceeded by Peralera de Garbin and Bohonal -towards Almaraz, Puig perceiving that he must -be taken in the rear if he continued in his present -position, retreated to Peralera de Garbin -behind the French, and from thence to Castanar -de Ibor.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Galluzo retreats to Jaraicejo.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The news of these disasters reached Galluzo -at night. Immediately he apprehended that the -object of the enemy, who were marching by Valdecasa, -Valdecañas, and other points, to Romangordo -and Miravete, was to cut off the retreat of -his whole division. To prevent this he ordered -all the artillery, except four pieces, which formed -a battery on the left of the bridge, to retire -with the main force to Jaraicejo, for which place -he himself set off at midnight with his Aide-de-camps -and the cavalry, leaving three companies -in charge of the remaining battery under Captain -Don Xavier de Hore. This officer was attacked -on the following morning by the French; the -battery was ill-placed, and Hore perceived that -the ammunition-carts were within reach of the -enemy’s fire. He ordered them to be removed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_461">461</span> -behind a bank which would shelter them; ... the -muleteers were no sooner out of his sight, than -they cut the traces, and fled with their beasts, -imitating the conduct of some infantry who took -to flight. The enemy soon made themselves -masters of the bridge and the battery, and secured -some prisoners, ... though but few; for -before the French could lay planks over the -broken bridge, and pass in sufficient number, -most of the Spaniards effected their escape, and -afterwards rejoined the General at Miajadas.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Dispersion of his army.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Galluzo’s first thought was to make a stand at -Jaraicejo, and with this intent he dispatched -orders to General Henestrosa to join him from -Truxillo with all the troops which he had collected, -and requested the Junta to supply him -with as large a force of armed peasantry as -possible. But no sooner did he learn that the -bridge of Almaraz had been forced, than he gave -up this purpose, and resolved to fall back upon -Truxillo, apprehending that the enemy might -intercept his retreat. His apprehension degenerated -into panic, when false intelligence was -brought him that the French had entered Deleitosa, -a village something less than eight miles -to the south-east. This intelligence was followed -by other reports equally false and more alarming, -which the knavish and the traitorous invented, -and the fearful and the suspicious easily -believed. The retreat had been begun in perfect -order, but the army, before it reached Truxillo, -was in a state of total disorganization. Galluzo,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_462">462</span> -confounded at the first approach of danger, (for -if he had deliberately resolved to attempt resistance, -the pass of Miravete would have been the -place which he would have chosen, after the -bridge was forced,) called a council of war; it -was agreed that the defence of Extremadura was -no longer possible, and that he should retreat -into Andalusia. A chapel, which had been converted -into a powder magazine, was now blown -up, that it might not fall into the hands of the -enemy. The explosion, and the preparations -which were made for further flight, excited the -utmost terror in the inhabitants of Truxillo, and -their lamentations increased the confusion and -alarm of the soldiers. It now became a rout; ... -most of the troops deserted, plundering the towns -and villages through which they passed. Those -who still followed the General were no longer -under any restraint; they went through Miajadas, -Medellin, and Quintania, and in four days -reached Zalamea, above an hundred miles from -Jaraicejo. Here it had been appointed to halt, -and here Galluzo found himself with not more -than a thousand men. Nothing could be worse -than the conduct of the men during their flight; -... some sold their muskets, ... some threw them -away, ... houses were broken open, and upon one -individual a piece of church plate was found, ... -a species of robbery which excites peculiar horror -in Spain. The officers, instead of endeavouring -to restrain these excesses, were some of them -active themselves in pillage; it is probable, indeed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_463">463</span> -that had they done their duty, the men -would have discharged theirs; for those officers -to whom the more difficult task of bringing off -the artillery had been entrusted, and who were -therefore picked men, effected their object: -though without an escort, they lost only two -pieces of cannon, and carried seventeen to Miajadas, -... from whence part were sent to Badajoz, -the rest followed Galluzo to Zalamea. Trias also -effected a far more dangerous retreat than his -commander in good order. He set forward from -Castanar for Fresnedoso, and when within a mile -of the place, learnt that the French were there, -having won the bridge of Almaraz. He had now -to tread back his steps, and endeavour to reach -Jaraicejo. After a day’s march he found that the -French were there also, and making for Truxillo, -again discovered the enemy in possession of the -place to which he was bound. Nevertheless he -preserved discipline in his little troop, and that -preserved confidence; instead of losing his men -by desertion, he collected stragglers as he went, -and arrived at Zalamea with a larger force than -Galluzo himself had brought there.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Galluzo is superseded by Cuesta.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Before the incapacity of Galluzo was thus decidedly -manifested, it had been in agitation to -remove him from the command, and appoint -Cuesta in his place. This General, as an arrested -person, followed the Junta on their retreat from -Aranjuez. It so happened, that while he was at -Merida, some soldiers belonging to the scattered -army of Extremadura gathered together in that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464">464</span> -city, and the owner of the house in which Cuesta -lodged persuaded them to demand him for their -leader, as it were by acclamation. The Junta of -Merida upon this sent up a representation to the -Central Junta, requesting that Cuesta might be -appointed to the command. It was replied, that -this ought not to be done without the approbation -of the Junta of Badajoz, which had made -such signal exertions in the patriotic cause, and -was not willing to supersede Galluzo, whom it -had appointed. But now, after this disorderly -flight, he was immediately deprived of the command, -and put under arrest, and Cuesta was -nominated to succeed him. Cuesta’s errors were -overlooked, because no doubt of his motives was -entertained; and at a time when the cry of treachery -once raised against a commander was sufficient -to break up an army, it was an object of -considerable importance to find a leader in whom -the men would confide. At this moment the whole -of Extremadura to the very walls of Badajoz was -open to the enemy, and the Junta trembled for -Seville. Brigadier Don Josef Serrano Valdenebro -was sent with as many men as he could collect -to guard Santa Olaya and El Ronquillo, in the -western passes of the Sierra Morena, and co-operate -with Cuesta in covering Andalusia on -that side. These means of defence would have -been as ineffectual as they were feeble, if Buonaparte -had not thought it of more importance at -this time to drive the English out of Spain, than -to pursue his victories in the south.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">465</span></p> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XV" class="vspace">CHAPTER XV.</h2> -</div> - -<blockquote class="inhead"> -<p class="center">CAMPAIGN OF THE BRITISH ARMY UNDER SIR -JOHN MOORE.</p></blockquote> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.</span> -<br /><hr /> -Buonaparte reproaches and insults the English.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p><span class="firstword">In</span> all the bulletins and proclamations of Buonaparte -the English were held up to the Spaniards -for indignation and contempt: they were a people, -he said, who fomented war every where, and distributed -arms like poison, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>14th Bulletin.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -but who shed their -own blood only for their own direct interest. At -this time it is probable that he sincerely despised -the English as a military nation. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Gazeta de Madrid, <span class="date">Dec. 18.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Can any thing -be more ridiculous, it was asked, than that England -should pretend to struggle with her land -forces against France? - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Do. Dec. 24.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -she will realize the fable -of the frog swelling itself to rival the ox, till it -burst. “The day,” said Buonaparte, “wherein -we succeed in seeing these English will be a day -of jubilee for the French army. Oh, that they -may dye with their blood this continent, which -they have desolated with their intrigues, their -monopolies, and their frightful selfishness! Oh, -that they might be met with to the number of -80,000 or 100,000 men instead of 20,000! that -English mothers might feel the evils of war, and -the English government cease to sport with the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>14th Bulletin. -<br /> -12th Bulletin.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -lives and blood of the continental nations. All -the evils, all the plagues, which can afflict the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_466">466</span> -human race, come from London.” He represented -the Spaniards as complaining that the -English had given them arms, powder, and -clothing, but had sent troops only to excite - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>14th Bulletin.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -them, lead them astray, and forsake them in the -hour of danger, when 40,000 British at Espinosa -or Tudela might have balanced the fortune of -the war.... That number of British troops would -at either place have turned it.</p> - -<p>Great Britain possessed at that time men, -means, and generals equal to any service; but -the nation did not yet understand its own -strength, nor had the government yet learnt -either to direct it wisely, or to make exertions -commensurate to the end whereat they aimed. -The lessons which books and history might teach -had been neglected, and experience therefore was -to be purchased at a heavy price.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The British army from Portugal enters Spain.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>As soon as the campaign in Portugal was ended, -Sir Hew Dalrymple began to prepare for entering -Spain: on the 6th of October Sir John Moore received -his appointment to the command; the preparations -meantime had not been relaxed, and in -eight days afterward part of the troops were in -motion. Difficulties and doubts had occurred at -the very outset. The infantry were to go either -by sea or land at the Commander’s discretion; -the voyage at that season was thought too precarious; -and the Junta represented, that if they -went by sea, half the army would be unable to -leave the coast for want of necessaries, there -being scarcely means at Coruña for forwarding<span class="pagenum" id="Page_467">467</span> -10,000 men who were to land there under Sir -David Baird, and join the Commander wherever -he should appoint. The land-journey therefore -having been chosen, the Spanish Commissary-General -was consulted concerning the means of -subsisting the army on the great road by Elvas; -but the quantity of meat which was required -astonished him; and he computed that in three -months all the oxen in the country would be -consumed, and very few hogs left. There was -no want of food in the north of Portugal, but it -was said that artillery could not be transported -across the mountains. British officers were sent -to examine the roads, and they confirmed this -assertion of the natives. It was ascertained when -too late, that bad as the ways were, they were -practicable for cannon; but in consequence of -this error, it was deemed necessary to divide the -army, and this led to serious evils. General -Hope, with the artillery, cavalry, and four regiments -of foot, was to go by the Madrid road; -General Paget, with two brigades, by Elvas and -Alcantara. The rest of the army moved through -Almeida; two brigades, under General Beresford, -by way of Coimbra; three, under General -Fraser, by Abrantes, crossing the Tagus there, -and recrossing at Villa Velha, ... a point which, -in former wars, has been considered the key to -Lisbon. These were to unite at Salamanca, and -General Hope and Sir David Baird to join them -either there or at Valladolid.</p> - -<p>If the people of England had been required to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_468">468</span> -name the general who should be employed on -this important occasion, Sir John Moore would -certainly have been their choice, so generally -was he respected as an officer and as a man. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Former services of Sir John Moore.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -He was born at Glasgow in 1760. From the -eighteenth to the twenty-third year of his age -he was on the continent with his father (a physician -and a distinguished man of letters, then -travelling with the young Duke of Hamilton), -and soon afterwards rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel -in the army. He served with -distinction in Corsica, the West Indies, the -Helder expedition, and in Egypt; had often -been wounded, and given proofs of professional -skill as well as of personal gallantry, for he was -fond of his profession, and had studied it well. -But the constitution of his mind led him to look -at the dark rather than the hopeful aspect of -things; and it was his farther misfortune to have -imbibed that exaggerated opinion of the French -as a military people, the ability of their Generals, -and the consummate wisdom of their -Emperor, which the enemies of government in -England were always labouring to produce, for -the purpose of humbling the spirit of their -country.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>His care to maintain discipline.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Before the troops began their march Sir John -Moore warned them in his general orders that the -Spaniards were a grave, orderly people, extremely -sober, but generous, and easily offended by any -insult or disrespect; he exhorted them to accommodate -themselves to these manners, to meet<span class="pagenum" id="Page_469">469</span> -with equal kindness the cordiality wherewith -they would be received, and not shock by their -intemperance a people worthy of their attachment, -whose efforts they were come to support -in the most glorious cause. His resolution to -maintain order and proper discipline was farther -evinced by punishing a marauder upon the march -with death: the offender was one whose character -gave no hope of amendment, and the General -took that opportunity of declaring his determination -to show no mercy to plunderers or marauders, -in other words, to thieves and villains. Farther -to gratify the Spaniards, the army, upon entering -Spain, were ordered to wear the red cockade -in addition to their own.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Ill prospect of affairs when he arrives at Salamanca.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On Nov. 13, Sir John arrived with his advanced -guard at Salamanca. Before he entered the city, -he learnt the defeat of the Extremaduran army -at Burgos, and on the second night after his -arrival, was awakened by an express, with news -that the French had possession of Valladolid, ... -twenty leagues distant. He had only three -brigades of infantry with him, and not a single -gun. His first thought was to fall back upon -Ciudad Rodrigo; but he soon learnt that the -French had retired to Palencia, and that none of -their infantry had advanced beyond Burgos: he -therefore sent orders to Generals Baird and -Hope, to concentrate their divisions, and join -him with all speed. Every day now brought -with it intelligence of new disasters. Blake’s army -was dispersed, and Buonaparte might either turn -his force against Castaños, or march against the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_470">470</span> -English, to prevent their junction. He, meantime, -placed nearly in the centre, between two -divisions of his army, which were approaching -from different points, was compelled to remain -inactive. Perceiving what he thought the supineness -of the Spanish government, and indignant -at discovering the weakness of the Spaniards, he -began to despair of their cause. He saw nothing -around him but an inactivity, which he mistook -for torpor and indifference. They had not, he -said, shown themselves a wise or a provident -people; their wisdom was not a wisdom of action. -Yet still he felt that they were a fine people; that -they had a character of their own, quite distinct -from that of any other nation; and much, he -thought, might have been done with them. He -erred in thinking that they would not do much -for themselves.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir David Baird arrives at Astorga.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Sir David Baird had formed a like opinion. -The expedition under his command reached -Coruña on the 13th of October; and such were the -idle forms and the negligence of the Spanish authorities, -that the troops were kept on ship-board -till an order for their landing could be received -from the Central Junta. This General had been -accustomed to an Indian army, with its train of -slaves and sutlers, elephants and palanquins; he -had now to march through a country where it is -not without difficulty that a party of travellers -can obtain food, and which had already been -drained by its own troops; and his commissaries -were not only inexperienced in the business of -their department, but ignorant of the language<span class="pagenum" id="Page_471">471</span> -of the people. Dividing his army into small -detachments, which followed each other at considerable -distance, he arrived at Astorga, Nov. -19th, and there learning the defeat of Blake’s -army, and anticipating that of Castaños’s, he -consulted with his general officers, and informed -Sir John Moore of their unanimous opinion, that -he ought not to advance till his whole force was -assembled there, which would not be before the -4th of December. Sir John Moore’s opinion of -the hopelessness of affairs was thus confirmed by -Sir David Baird. “I see my situation,” he said -in his journal, “as clearly as any one, that nothing -can be worse; yet I am determined to -form the junction of the army, and to try our -fortune. We have no business here as things are; -but, being here, it would never do to abandon -the Spaniards without a struggle.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir John Moore resolves to retreat upon Portugal, and embark from Lisbon.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>It was not long before intelligence arrived -that Castaños was defeated, and his army dispersed. - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Nov. 28.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -This event the British Commander had -expected; it had always been his opinion that -the south of Spain ought to have been the scene -of action; that Cadiz, not Coruña, should have -been chosen for the disembarkation of the English -army, and Seville or Cordoba the place of -their junction. He now determined to retreat -upon Portugal.... “Thus,” he said, in a letter to -the English ambassador, Mr. Frere, “he should -fall back upon his resources, cover a country -where there was a British interest, act as a diversion -in favour of Spain, if the French detached<span class="pagenum" id="Page_472">472</span> -a force against him, and be ready to return to -the assistance of the Spaniards, should circumstances -again render it eligible. That such circumstances -would occur he had no expectation. -The French, he thought, would have little more -to do to subdue the country than to march over -it, though, after the conquest, they might have -troublesome subjects.” And, in his letter to Sir -David Baird, ordering him to fall back upon -Coruña, and sail from thence for the Tagus, he -directed him to write immediately to England, -and order that transports might be sent to Lisbon; -“they will be wanted,” said he; “for when -the French have Spain, Portugal cannot be defended.” -He had written a few days before this -to Lord Castlereagh, saying, that he had ordered -a depôt of provisions, for a short consumption, -to be formed at Almeida, and perhaps the same -should be done at Elvas; in that case, the progress -of the enemy might be checked, while the -stores were embarking at Lisbon, and arrangements -made for taking off the army. Beyond -this, the defence of Lisbon or of Portugal should -not be thought of. In communicating his resolution -of retiring to the British government, -he wrote in the same spirit of utter despondency. -“If the French,” said he, “succeed in Spain, it -will be vain to attempt to resist them in Portugal. -Portugal could not be defended against a superior -enemy; the Spaniards, however, might -rally in the south, and the English might still -be of use, if they were landed at Cadiz. But it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_473">473</span> -was impossible to be very sanguine on this subject, -after what had been seen.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>He asks the opinion of the British Ambassador.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>When this intention of retreating was made -known to the army at Salamanca, murmurs against -it were heard in every quarter, and from men of -all ranks. Even the staff officers lamented the -resolution of their Commander. In his letter to -Mr. Frere, written before the defeat of Castaños -was known, Sir John Moore had proposed as -a question, what the British army should do, in -case of that event; whether he should retreat -upon Portugal, or march upon Madrid, and throw -himself into the heart of Spain, thus to run all -risks, and share the fortunes of the Spanish nation? -“This movement,” he said, “would be -one of great hazard, as his retreat to Cadiz or -Gibraltar must be very uncertain, and he should -be entirely in the power of the Spaniards; but -perhaps it was worthy of risk, if the government -and people of Spain were thought to have still -sufficient energy, and the means to recover from -their defeats.” “The question,” said Sir John -Moore to Mr. Frere, “is not purely a military -one. It belongs at least as much to you as to -me to decide upon it. Your communications -with the Spanish government, and the opportunities -you have had of judging of the general -state of the country, enable you to form as just -an estimate of the resistance that is likely to be -offered. You are perhaps better acquainted with -the views of the British cabinet; and the question -is, what would that cabinet direct, were they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_474">474</span> -upon the spot to determine? It is of much importance -that this should be thoroughly considered; -it is comparatively of very little, on whom -shall rest the greatest share of responsibility. I -am willing to take the whole, or a part; but I -am very anxious to know your opinion.” Mr. -Frere knew that what the Spanish government -most deprecated was, a retreat of the English -upon Lisbon. It would sink the hearts of the -whole country, and would make them believe -that England, after an ineffectual effort, had relapsed -into the old limited system of protecting -Portugal. If, therefore, a retreat were determined -upon, as absolutely necessary, he thought -the army should fall back upon Galicia, and the -strong country about Astorga. But he said, in -his reply to the General, that Leon and the two -Castilles (with the exception of La Mancha and -the city of Madrid) were the provinces least distinguished -for a military, patriotic, or provincial -spirit in all Spain: the people had been passive -during the late events, and had seen their country -successively occupied by the strongest party. It -was difficult to blame them: living in open villages, -in vast plains, without arms and without -horses, they had neither the means of defence -or escape. That country must necessarily belong -to the party which was superior in cavalry; ... -yet even there there was no want of a right -feeling; the towns were abandoned at the approach -of the enemy; not a single magistrate -had been brought over to take the oath of allegiance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_475">475</span> -to the Intruder, nor had the French -been able to enlist a single soldier. The other -provinces were possessed by the most ardent and -determined spirit. There was no doubt of the -people. The government was new, and had hitherto -been too numerous to be very active; but -there was hope that that inconvenience would -soon be remedied. “They are resolute,” said -Mr. Frere, “and I believe every man of them -determined to perish with the country. They -will not at least set the example, which the ruling -powers and higher orders of other countries have -exhibited, of weakness and timidity.”</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Mr. Frere wishes him to advance for the defence of Madrid.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Great advantages, the ambassador thought, -would result from advancing speedily to cover -Madrid. It was a point of great moment for -effect in Spain, and still more in France, and in -the west of Europe. The people of the town -were full of resolution, and determined to defend -it, in spite of its situation; and nothing could -be more unfavourable to the claim of the Intruder -than a siege of the capital. The first object of -the English, therefore, he thought, should be to -march there, and collect a force capable of resisting -the French, before farther reinforcements -arrived from France. There were reports that -the resistance to the conscription had been much -more obstinate than usual, and a pastoral letter -of the Bishop of Carcassone seemed to prove that -these reports were not wholly without foundation. -An advantage obtained over the French -now would be doubly valuable, inasmuch as it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_476">476</span> -would render a conscription, for a third attempt -upon Spain, infinitely difficult, if not impracticable. -But if, with their present forces, they -were allowed to retain their present advantages, -and to wait the completion of the conscription, -they would pour in forces, which would give -them immediate possession of the capital and -central provinces, and the war would then be -reduced to an absolute competition between the -two countries, which could stand out longest -against the waste of population.</p> - -<p>If, however, Mr. Frere said, this view of the -subject should not appear sufficiently clear or -conclusive to the Commander-in-chief, to induce -him to take this step, which he, the Ambassador, -was well convinced would meet with the approbation -of his Majesty’s government, he would -venture to recommend retaining the position of -Astorga. A retreat from thence to Coruña (as -far, said he, as an unmilitary man may be allowed -to judge of a country which he has travelled over) -would be less difficult than through Portugal to -Lisbon; and we ought in that position to wait -for the reinforcements of cavalry from England: -the army would thus be enabled to act in the -flat country, which opens immediately from that -point, and extends through the whole of Leon -and Old Castille.... Before this letter arrived, the -General’s resolution had been taken, in consequence -of the news of Castaños’s defeat. It was -not shaken by the reasoning of the Ambassador, -whose opinion he had asked, and he waited only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_477">477</span> -for the junction of General Hope, to commence -his retreat on Portugal.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1808.<br />December.</span> -<br /><hr /> -Two Spanish Generals sent to confer with Sir John Moore.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Junta had wished it had been possible -for Sir John Moore to have conferred personally -with them at Aranjuez, or with the military -council at Madrid, and he himself had formed -the same wish, believing that unless prompt and -efficacious measures were taken, the defeat of -the Spanish armies and the ruin of their cause -were inevitable. But as this could not be, the -Captain-General of Granada, with another officer, -selected for his reputation and military experience, -were deputed to consult with him at Salamanca. -These Generals, in representing the -resources of the Spaniards, enumerated the force -under San Juan, and relied upon the pass of Somosierra; -but Colonel Graham had just arrived -before them with news that the pass had been -won; and Sir John considered them personally -as weak old men, and officially as having no information -upon which any plan could be concerted. -Mistaking, as he did, the spirit of the -nation, and undervaluing its strength, he gave no -ear to their urgent desire that he would form a -junction with Romana, and thereby draw off the -enemy from Madrid, nor to their declaration that -his retreat, if he persisted in that intention, would -immediately occasion the destruction of Spain.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Morla and the Military Junta urge him to advance.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the 5th of December, a dispatch arrived -from Castelfranco and Morla, informing him that -about 25,000 men, of the central army, were -falling back on Madrid; that 10,000 from Somosierra<span class="pagenum" id="Page_478">478</span> -were coming thither; and that nearly -40,000 would join them. With that number of -troops, the French army, which had presented -itself, was not to be feared. But the Junta, apprehending -an increase of the hostile forces, -hoped he would be able to unite with their army, -or fall on the rear of the enemy; and they did -not doubt that the rapidity of his movements -would be such as the interests of both countries -required. This letter was written on the second, -and the men who signed it had then determined -to betray their country, ... but though they might -have wished and designed to draw on the British -army to its destruction, the proposal that it -should advance came not from them alone, but -from the civil and military Junta also, and was -such as true Spaniards would have given. While -Sir John was considering this letter, Colonel -Charmilly, a French emigrant in the British service, -and denizened in England, arrived, with -dispatches from Mr. Frere. Colonel Charmilly -was in Madrid on the night of the first, when the -inhabitants were working by torch-light at the -trenches, breaking up the streets, and barricading -the houses. He had seen the Duque del Infantado, -who told him there were provisions and ammunition -in Madrid; that more than 30,000 men -had that day enlisted themselves as volunteers; -and that it was of material importance to the -common cause that the British commander -should make a diversion, which would compel -the French to divide their forces, and thus afford<span class="pagenum" id="Page_479">479</span> -some relief to Madrid. This he requested Charmilly -to communicate to Sir John Moore, as he -himself had been an eye-witness of the spirit of -the people, and the preparations which they were -making for resistance. By another Grandee he -was requested to say to Sir John Moore, that he -must make use of this moment to save Spain, by -making conditions with the Junta for a better -government; but especially that he should require -the Spanish army to be put under the -orders of the British Commander-in-chief for the -time being, as it had been under Lord Peterborough.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Col. Charmilly sent to Sir John Moore by the Duque del Infantado and Mr. Frere.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>When Charmilly reached Talavera, on his way, -he found that Mr. Frere had just arrived there, -following the Central Junta, who were retiring -from Aranjuez to Badajoz. To him he communicated -what had passed with the Duque del Infantado; -and the Ambassador requested him, as -a colonel in the British service, to take charge -of a letter to Sir John Moore, urging him to -suspend his retreat, as a measure which would -have the worst effect upon the Spanish cause, -and be of the greatest injury both to Spain and -England. But thinking that, having begun the -retreat, Sir John might suppose himself engaged -to go on with it, Mr. Frere entrusted Colonel -Charmilly with a second letter, to be delivered in -case the General persisted in his determination. -The purport of this letter was to request that the -bearer might be examined before a council of -war; and the reason for this measure was, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_480">480</span> -the decision of a council of war would exonerate -the Commander-in-chief from the responsibility -by which he might otherwise feel himself fettered. -Charmilly reached Salamanca while Sir John was -deliberating upon the dispatch from Morla and -Castelfranco. He delivered the Ambassador’s -first letter. The state of Madrid, Mr. Frere -said, so much exceeded every thing which he -had ventured to say of the spirit and resolution -of the people, that he could not forbear representing -to the General, in the strongest manner, -the propriety, not to say the necessity, of supporting -the Spanish people by all the means -which had been entrusted to him for that purpose. -“I have no hesitation,” he added, “in taking -upon myself any degree of responsibility which -may attach itself to this advice, as I consider -the fate of Spain as depending absolutely, for the -present, upon the decision which you may adopt. -I say, for the present; for such is the spirit and -character of the country, that, even if abandoned -by the British, I should by no means despair of -their ultimate success.” Having read this letter, -and heard Charmilly’s communication, Sir John -Moore gave him no reason to suppose that the -intention of retreating would be given up. He -retired, however, to reflect upon what he had heard. -His instructions directed him to receive the representations -both of the Spanish government -and the British Ambassador with the utmost deference -and attention: ... both deprecated his -retreat. Charmilly had been an eye-witness of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_481">481</span> -the preparations which were making in Madrid, -and accounts confirming his report came from -various quarters. He was persuaded that a great -improvement in the public affairs had taken -place, and that it was not becoming him to fly -at such a time; and he wrote, that night, to Sir -David Baird, telling him to suspend his retrograde -march till he heard again, and to make arrangements -for returning to Astorga, should it be necessary.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir John Moore resolves to advance.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Still the rooted feeling of his heart was despondency. -In this very letter he expressed his -fear that the spirit of resistance had arisen too -late, and that the French were now too strong to -be resisted in that manner. All this, he said, -appeared to him very strange and unsteady; yet -if the spirit of enthusiasm did arise, and the -people would be martyrs, there was no saying, -in that case, what a British force might do. In -the morning he wrote a second letter, ordering -Sir David to return to Astorga. “We must be -at hand,” said he, “to aid and take advantage of -whatever happens. The wishes of our country -and our duty demand this of us, with whatever -risk it may be attended.” But he added, “I -mean to proceed bridle in hand; for if the -bubble bursts, and Madrid falls, we shall have a -run for it.” These were ominous words. It was -apparent that he had no confidence in the patriotism -of the Spaniards, nor in his own means -of resisting the French, however strong the -country; it was apparent also, that, while these<span class="pagenum" id="Page_482">482</span> -impressions weighed upon him, he looked on -with apprehension to the opinion of the English -public, and that in deference to that opinion he -was sacrificing his own.</p> - -<p>While Sir John was dispatching these instructions, -it was not known at Salamanca that he had -changed his intention of retreating: officers and -men alike were delivering their opinions loudly, -and speaking of another investigation. Charmilly -hearing this, and being equally ignorant of the -determination which had been formed, supposed -that his second letter was necessary, and accordingly -delivered it. The General, not perceiving -the intent for which it was written, and -feeling like a high-spirited officer who thought -himself injured, tore the letter in pieces, and -gave vent to his indignation in violent language. -Part of his anger fell upon Charmilly, and, on -the following day, he ordered him to quit Salamanca. -Charmilly respectfully represented that -he had not deserved such treatment. The General -replied that he did not mean to give him -the smallest offence; but he repeated the order, -and it was obeyed. Sir John Moore, in his resentment -for what he conceived the improper -interference of the Ambassador, soon, however, -recollected what was due to him as the King’s minister. -He told Mr. Frere, therefore, that he -should abstain from any remarks on the two -letters delivered by Colonel Charmilly, or on the -message which accompanied them. “I certainly,” -said he, “did feel and express much indignation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_483">483</span> -at a person like him being made the -channel of a communication of that sort from you -to me. Those feelings are at an end, and I dare -say they never will be excited towards you again. -If M. Charmilly is your friend, it was, perhaps, -natural for you to employ him; but I have prejudices -against all that class, and it is impossible -for me to put any trust in him.” He informed -the Minister that every thing should be done, -for the assistance of Madrid and the Spanish -cause, that could be expected from such an army -as he commanded, ... but he could not make a -direct movement on Madrid, because the passes -of Guadarrama and Somosierra were in the hands -of the French, and, besides, he was much too -weak, until joined by Sir David Baird.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>News of the surrender of Madrid. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">Dec. 7.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the following day, Sir John received a -letter from the Junta of Toledo, telling him -they intended to re-unite the dispersed armies -there, and defend the city to the last. He -replied, that if the Spaniards acted up to such -sentiments, there could be no doubt of their ultimate -success, whatever temporary advantages -the French might gain; and he sent a British -officer to reside at Toledo, and concert measures -for its defence. On the 8th, he informed Sir -David Baird that he should move a corps on the -10th to Zamora and Toro, and ordered him to -push on his troops, by brigades, to Benevente. -But, on the 9th, Colonel Graham, whom he had -dispatched to Morla and Castelfranco, returned -from Talavera, with tidings that these men had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_484">484</span> -surrendered Madrid. The number of the French -there was computed at between 20,000 and -30,000 men, and it was said that they remained -at the Retiro, not having taken possession of the -city, in consequence of the temper of the inhabitants. -Another part of the French army -was engaged in besieging Zaragoza. From Toledo -the news was equally discouraging: Victor -no sooner approached than it was surrendered to -him. These circumstances did not induce the -British General to alter his plan: his object was -to threaten the French communications, draw -their attention from Madrid and Zaragoza, and -thus favour any movements which might be projected -by the armies forming on the south of the -Tagus. If no advantage was taken of it, and no -efforts made, he saw that the French might turn -against him what portion of their force they -pleased. That they would be able to do this he -expected; and he believed that nothing which -his army could effect would be attended with -any other advantage than the character which -might be won for the British arms. He looked, -therefore, to a retreat, as an event which would -soon be unavoidable; in his dispatches home, -dissuaded the government from sending out reinforcements, -and desired that transports might -be ready, at Lisbon, and at Vigo, to receive the -troops; being fully persuaded that the efforts of -England could be of no avail, and that it would -be necessary to evacuate the peninsula.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Correspondence with Romana.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Having determined, in this inauspicious state<span class="pagenum" id="Page_485">485</span> -of mind, upon advancing, he wrote to Romana, -who was then at Leon, collecting and refitting -the remains of Blake’s army. Sir John complained -to him that he had been put in no communication -with any of the Spanish armies, had -been kept perfectly in the dark with respect to -their movements, the plans of their generals and -their government, and that while his army was -on the march to assemble and unite itself, he had -been left exposed, without the least support. -Therefore, though his wish had always been to -co-operate with the Spaniards, it became necessary -for him, finding that he was left to himself, -to think of himself alone. Under that feeling he -had ordered the corps at Astorga to fall back on -Coruña, and meant himself to retire upon Portugal, -there to be ready for the assistance of -Spain whenever their affairs were better managed, -and an opportunity offered for doing them any -good. Perhaps this opportunity had now occurred; -and as his retreat had been reluctant, so -he had stopped it the moment a chance of acting -to advantage presented itself. His wish now -was to unite with the Marques, for whose character -he had the highest respect, and who would -always find him ready to undertake whatever -was practicable for the service of the Spanish -nation. The account which Romana gave of his -army in reply was far from encouraging. He had -20,000 men under arms, but they were almost all -without haversacks, cartridge boxes, and shoes, -and at least two-thirds were without clothing,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_486">486</span> -from head to foot. Their spirits however were -good, and if they were well fed they would do -their duty. Their dispersion in Biscay had been -wholly owing to the want of subsistence. He -should not doubt of uniting with Sir John, and -concerting a decisive attack upon the troops -which surrounded Madrid, were it not for a division -of 8000 or 10,000 men, extending from -Sahagun to Almanza, whose apparent object was -to check his army. As long as they remained -in that position, he could not abandon his, because -it would leave them a free way into Asturias; -they would take possession of the country -from whence he drew large supplies, and -they would threaten the passage into Galicia. -A combined movement with Sir David Baird -might oblige them to fall back upon Reynosa, -and then it would not be difficult to form a -junction.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>First skirmish at Rueda.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>From the beginning Sir John Moore had -thought so poorly of the Spaniards, that this account -of the force with which he was to co-operate -could make no alteration in his views. -It was perfectly understood by him that he must -stand, or fall, by his own means. He left Salamanca -on the 12th. On the same day, Lord -Paget, with the principal part of the cavalry, -marched from Toro to Tordesillas; and General -Stuart surprised and cut off a party of French -who were posted at Rueda. This was the first -encounter between the British and French in -Spain; and the prisoners declared it was universally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_487">487</span> -believed that the English army had retreated. -On the 14th, when Sir John was at -Alaejos, a packet of letters, from the head-quarters -of the French army, was brought to him. -Some peasantry had killed the officer who had -them in charge. Among them was a letter from -Berthier to Marshal Soult, directing him to take -possession of Leon, drive the enemy into Galicia, -and make himself master of Benevente and Zamora. -He would have no English in front, it -was said; for every thing evinced that they were -in full retreat. A movement had been made to -Talavera, on the road to Badajoz, which must -compel them to hasten to Lisbon, if they were -not already gone; and when they had retired, -the Emperor thought Soult could do whatever -he pleased. It appeared from this letter, that -Soult had two divisions with him at Saldaña; -that Junot was collecting another at Burgos; -and that another, under Mortier (Duke of Treviso), -had been ordered to march against Zaragoza.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Head-quarters removed to Toro.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Sir John had intended to march to Valladolid, -but seeing that Soult was stronger than had been -represented, he thought it better to move to -Toro, and unite his army there, Sir David Baird -doing the same at Benevente, from whence the -two corps might be joined, either by a forward -or flank movement, and strike a blow against -Soult, before that General should be reinforced. -While the head-quarters were at Toro, a member -of the Junta arrived there with Mr. Stuart. After<span class="pagenum" id="Page_488">488</span> -the manner in which Colonel Charmilly had been -dismissed, Mr. Frere had little reason to hope -that any thing would induce Sir John Moore to -alter his determination of retiring from the -country in despair. The Spanish Government - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The command of the Spanish armies offered to Sir J. Moore.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -had, however, pressed him to make one effort -more: if that determination were persisted in, -they said, it would bring on the most dreadful -consequences. The measures which alone could -save Portugal and Spain would be completely -disconcerted, and England would have afforded -them succour only to make them rely on an -effective aid, and then to withdraw it at the -critical moment when it was most needed. In -reality, the enemy at this moment exposed himself -to ruin by dividing his army to cover such -an extended line. Romana would join Sir John -Moore with 14,000 men, and the Junta had taken -such measures that within a month 30,000 would -be raised in Leon, Galicia, and Asturias. Mr. -Frere inclosed this note to the British Commander, -and reminding him of the immense responsibility -with which he charged himself in -adopting a measure which must be followed by -immediate if not final ruin to our ally, and by -indelible disgrace to the country with whose -resources he was entrusted, expressed a hope -that Mr. Stuart, who was personally esteemed -by the General, would by that advantage be enabled -to urge this argument with the warmth of -regard. “I am unwilling,” he pursued, “to enlarge -upon a subject in which my feelings must<span class="pagenum" id="Page_489">489</span> -be stifled, or expressed at the risk of offence; -which, with such an interest at stake, I should -feel unwilling to excite. But this much I must -say, that if the British army had been sent abroad -for the express purpose of doing the utmost -possible mischief to the Spanish cause, with the -single exception of not firing a shot against their -troops, they would, according to the measures -now announced as about to be pursued, have -completely fulfilled their purpose.... That the defence -of Galicia should be abandoned, must appear -incredible.”... This letter arrived too late to -have any influence upon Sir John’s movements; -he had advanced, but it was with a heavy heart: -and when the Deputy from the Junta, D. Francisco -Xavier Caro, at this time offered him the -command in chief of the Spanish armies, he refused -it. He would not have done this if he -had had any hope of acting with success against -the enemy, or any intention of making a stand -against them: for at this time he learnt that -Romana was beginning to retire on Galicia, and -felt how inconvenient it was that the army which -was to co-operate with him should be independent -of him. He therefore wrote to the Marques, -saying, he had looked for the assistance of such -part of his corps as was fit to move; and had -expected also that the road to Coruña would -have been left open for the British army, as that -by which it must receive its supplies, and the only -one by which it must retreat, if compelled so to -do. Romana replied, that he should have had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_490">490</span> -no thought of retreating had it not been for the -intelligence which he received from Sir D. Baird; -that he was ready to act with Sir John; and that -this was the moment, not for retreating, but for -trying what could be done against the enemy, -and drawing him from the capital.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Junction with Sir D. Baird formed.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The junction with Sir D. Baird was formed at -Mayorga on the 20th; the united force amounting -to something more than 28,000 men, of whom -2450 were cavalry, with 50 pieces of artillery. -The cavalry under Lord Paget were pushed forward, -and having learned that some of the enemy’s -cavalry were posted at Sahagun, Lord Paget endeavoured -to cut them off. The alarm was given, -and they had time to form in a favourable position; -but they were out-manœuvred, charged, -overthrown in a moment, and dispersed in every -direction, with the loss of many killed, and 157 -prisoners, including two Lieutenant-Colonels. -In this affair about 400 of the 15th Hussars encountered -nearly 700 French; and the British -felt and proved their own exceeding great superiority. -Head-quarters were advanced to Sahagun -on the 21st. The weather was severe; -the roads bad, and covered with snow; and as -the troops had suffered from forced marches, -they halted there for a day, and there a co-operation -with Romana was finally concerted, -the Marques engaging to move with from 9000<a id="FNanchor_40" href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">40</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_491">491</span> -to 10,000 men, being that part of his force which -was sufficiently clothed and armed to take the -field. Pitiable as their condition appeared when -they were compared to troops so admirably -equipped as the English, it was, nevertheless, -evident, even to a desponding observer, that they -might be brought into action as auxiliaries, to -occupy part of the enemy’s force, and to complete -his destruction in case of victory.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>They advance against M. Soult.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>According to the information which Romana -could obtain, Soult’s corps consisted of about -9000 infantry and 1000 horse; but that General, -apprehending that some attempt would be made -against him, had applied for reinforcements, and -without waiting for them, called to his assistance -the nearest troops; he had thus brought together -about 18,000 men, who were posted behind the -river Carrion. Every arrangement was made for -attacking him, and orders were issued accordingly, -... never more welcome to a British army. -The convents in Sahagun were prepared for the -reception of the wounded; and the soldiers confidently -anticipated a glorious victory. Their -general was less sanguine. “The movement I -am making,” he said to Mr. Frere, “is of the -most dangerous kind. I not only risk to be -surrounded every moment by superior forces, -but to have my communication with Galicia intercepted. -I wish it to be apparent to the whole -world, as it is to every individual of the army, -that we have done every thing in our power in -support of the Spanish cause, and that we do not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_492">492</span> -abandon it until long after the Spaniards had -abandoned us.” The truth is, that nothing had -been done; but he was disgusted with the Spanish -Government, and he had no faith in the -people: his own judgement would have led him -to fall back from Salamanca; and he only advanced -because he knew what would be the feelings -of the English nation, if its army had retired -without attempting any thing. Offended with -Mr. Frere, for having given his opinion, when -he himself had asked it, he did not deem the -suggestion of that Minister, as to making a stand -at Astorga, worthy of consideration. It was at -once rejected, as futile; and he advanced against -this detachment of the French, “bridle in hand,” -as he himself said, and expecting to “have a run -for it,” ... not thinking that any possible benefit -could result from a victory, but seeking a reason -which might appear valid to the people of England -for abandoning the peninsula, and for leaving -Spain and Portugal to their fate.... “It was necessary -to risk this army,” he said, “to convince -the people of England, as well as the rest of -Europe, that the Spaniards had neither the power -nor the inclination to make any efforts for themselves. -With respect to the cause, it will probably -have no effect. Even if I beat Marshal -Soult, it will be attended with no other effect -than the character it will attach to the British -arms.”</p> - -<p>At the hour appointed, the whole force was -under arms; the right column had begun its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_493">493</span> -march, and the rest were in high spirits, expecting -the word of command: ... just at this time -came a letter from Romana, with intelligence - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The French endeavour to surround the British army.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -that the French were advancing from Madrid, -either to Valladolid or Salamanca; and information -to the same purport was received by other -messengers, and also, that considerable reinforcements - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Dec. 23.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -had arrived at Carrion from Palencia. -Orders were immediately issued that the troops -should go back to their quarters, and by daybreak -next morning be again under arms. “In -my life,” says one who was present, “I never witnessed -such an instantaneously-withering effect -upon any body of living creatures! A few murmurs -only were heard, but every countenance -was changed, and they who, the minute before, -were full of that confidence which ensures victory, -were at once deprived of all heart and - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir J. Moore begins his retreat.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -hope.” The next morning General Hope fell -back to Mayorga, on the road to Benevente, -with his own division and with General Fraser’s. -Sir David Baird was ordered to pass the river -Ezla at Valencia de San Juan: on Christmas-day -the Commander-in-chief followed General Hope, -with the reserve and the light brigades; and the -cavalry, under Lord Paget, followed the reserve -on the 26th. When Sir John Moore apprized -Romana that he should fall back, he told him -that if he were pursued he should stop and offer -battle: and in a second communication from -Sahagun he said, that if he were pressed after<span class="pagenum" id="Page_494">494</span> -crossing the Ezla, he should have no objection -to try an action. But he had made up his mind -to lose some of his baggage, and not to fight, if -he could avoid it. Astorga was to be his rallying -point: there he informed Romana he should -stand, as his retreat from thence, if necessary, -would be secure, and he should be in the way -to receive the supplies and the reinforcements -which he expected from England. At the worst, -he could defend himself, and, with Romana’s aid, -defend Galicia. “You may rest assured,” he -added, “that I shall not retreat a foot beyond -what is necessary to secure my supplies from -being intercepted.... You will find no inclination -in me to abandon the Spanish cause.” But his -dispatches from Benevente, on the 28th, show -that this intention, if it had ever been seriously -entertained, was soon abandoned; and as for the -reinforcements, he had already countermanded -them in his feeling of despair. His force, he -said, when he reached Astorga, would be about -27,000; Romana could not have above 8000. -The troops moving against him he estimated at -not less than 50,000; and it was said that Buonaparte -himself was coming, with 10,000 of his -guards. His real purpose was not to stop longer -at Astorga than to secure the stores, and then -retreat to Villa Franca, where he had been told -there was a position. Romana had intimated to -him, some time ago, his intention of retiring into -Galicia by this route, but Sir John begged it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_495">495</span> -might be left open to the English, being the -only communication they had for their retreat or -supplies.</p> - -<p>From the 22d to the 24th, Soult received such -reinforcements as made his army superior to the -British. Junot, with the army which had been -transported from Portugal to France, had advanced -to Palencia, and threatened their right -flank. Buonaparte was hastening from Madrid, -with his imperial cavalry, and all the disposable -force in that quarter. The force under Lefebvre -was counter-ordered from the road to Badajoz, -and directed toward Salamanca. The retreat of -the British upon Portugal was thus cut off. Of -the numbers advancing against him Sir John -Moore was not informed; and so little idea was -there of flying when he began his retreat, that it -was determined to carry off the prisoners; and -they were accordingly stowed in covered waggons. -A thaw came on the day when they first -fell back; on the following it rained without intermission: -the soil in that part of the country -is a heavy loam, and the roads were above a foot -deep in clay. The proclamations of the French -travelled faster than the British army: these were, -as usual, full of promises which would not be fulfilled, -and menaces which would. They were -come, they said, to deliver Spain; to emancipate -the people from the yoke of a tyrannical nobility -and a fanatic priesthood. All persons who remained -quiet in their houses, or who, having forsaken -them, speedily returned, should receive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_496">496</span> -no injury; but otherwise, whatsoever belonged -to them should be confiscated. Unhappily, the -conduct of our people now began to give effect -to these hand-bills. The soldiers were indignant - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Ill conduct of the troops.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -with the Spaniards for their apparent supineness; -they were exasperated by the conduct of -some poor wretches, whose carts had been pressed -to carry the sick and wounded, and who, as many -of them as could, had taken their mules, and run -away in the night, because the movements of a -retreating army exposed themselves to imminent -danger, and their beasts to certain destruction. -Weary and disheartened, in want of rest and -food, disappointed in their confident hopes of -victory, and indignant at turning their backs -upon an enemy whom they would so eagerly -have met in the field, it was a relief for them to -vent these feelings, in the shape of anger, upon -the only objects within their reach. In this -temper they began to plunder and commit havoc -wherever they went; and the officers, many of -whom already murmured at the rapidity of the -retreat, and were discontented with the total -silence which the Commander-in-chief maintained -respecting his future measures, did not -exert themselves as they ought to have done, to -prevent these excesses.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Passage of the Ezla. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">Dec. 26.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Sir David Baird, who took the shorter line -to Astorga, by way of Valencia de S. Juan, -effected his march without molestation. The -sick and wounded, following the same track, -halted at the latter place, to pass the night.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_497">497</span> -Hardly had they been provided with the necessary -food, and laid to rest, before the alarm -was sounded, and they were again hurried into -the waggons. The night was cold, misty, and -exceeding dark, and the Ezla was to be crossed -some little distance from the town. They were -not provided with pontoons. The ford is dangerous, -because of the rapidity of the stream, -occasioned by two narrow banks of shingles, -which form an angle in the middle; and at this -time the river was fast rising, from the melting -of the snow upon the mountains. A serjeant’s -guard had been left by Sir David on the opposite -bank, to assist the waggons in passing, and skuttle -two ferry-boats, when they had effected their passage. -They kindled a fire with grass and rushes, -for the sake of its light, but the materials were -wet, and the wind soon extinguished it. A Spanish -muleteer attempted to guide them over the -ford: his mule tripped in the mid stream, he was -thrown, and saved by a soldier, when just in the -act of sinking. Perilous, however, as the ford -was, the passage was accomplished, without other -loss than that of some baggage-waggons, which -broke down.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>General orders issued at Benevente.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Sir John Moore, meantime, with the other -division of the army, reached Benevente, and -there found it necessary to issue general orders, - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Dec. 27.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -which reflected severely upon the conduct both -of his men and officers. “The misbehaviour of -the column which had marched by Valderas exceeded,” -he said, “what he could have believed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_498">498</span> -of British soldiers. He could feel no mercy -towards officers who neglected, in times like -these, essential duties, nor towards soldiers who -disgraced their country, by acts of villany towards -the people whom they were sent to protect.” -Alluding then to the discontent which was -manifested at the hurry of the retreat, and the -mystery which was thrown over their proceedings, -he said, “it was impossible for the General -to explain to his army the motives of the movements -which he directed; he could, however, -assure them, that he had made none since he -left Salamanca which he did not foresee, and -was not prepared for; and, as far as he was a -judge, they had answered the purposes for which -they were intended. When it was proper to fight -a battle he would do it, and he would choose the -time and place which he thought most fit. In -the meantime, he begged the officers and men -to attend diligently to discharge <em>their</em> parts, and -leave to <em>him</em>, with the general officers, the decision -of measures which belonged to them alone.” -Strong as this language was, it had no effect, -and the havoc which had been committed at -Valderas was renewed at Benevente. The castle -there is one of the finest monuments of the age -of chivalry; we have nothing in England which -approaches to its grandeur: Berkley, Raby, even -Warwick and Windsor are poor fabrics in comparison. -With Gothic grandeur, it has the richness -of Moorish decoration; open galleries, where -Saracenic arches are supported by pillars of porphyry<span class="pagenum" id="Page_499">499</span> -and granite; cloisters, with fountains playing -in their courts; jasper columns and tesselated -floors, niches, alcoves, and seats in the walls, over-arched -in various forms, and enriched with every -grotesque adornment of gold and silver, and -colours which are hardly less gorgeous. It belonged -to the Duke of Ossuna; and the splendour -of old times was still continued there. The extent -of this magnificent structure may be estimated -from this circumstance, that two regiments, besides -artillery, were quartered within its walls. -They proved the most destructive enemies that -had ever entered them: their indignant feelings -broke out again in acts of wanton mischief; and -the officers, who felt and admired the beauties of -this venerable pile, attempted in vain to save it -from devastation. Every thing combustible was -seized, fires were lighted against the fine walls, -and pictures of unknown value, the works, perhaps, -of the greatest Spanish masters, and of -those other great painters who left so many of -their finest productions in Spain, were heaped -together as fuel. The archives of the family fortunately -escaped.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Affair of cavalry on the Ezla.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The soldiers had, however, here an opportunity -of displaying a spirit more becoming them as - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Dec. 28.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -Englishmen. Soon after the rear of the army -had marched into the town, an alarm was given -that the enemy were on the opposite heights. -In an instant all was on the alert; every man -hastened to his place of rendezvous; the cavalry -poured out of the gates: ... the plain in the opposite -direction was covered with fugitives, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_500">500</span> -the streets were filled with women bewailing -their fate, and calling upon the Saints and the -Virgin for protection. The French, seeing with -what alacrity they would be encountered, looked -at our men from the heights, and retired. It was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Dec. 29.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -towards evening, and as the enemy were so near, -orders were given to destroy the bridge. This -was effected about daybreak the following morning; -and it was supposed that their progress was -for a while impeded. The troops again continued -their retreat, and the whole of the infantry and -heavy artillery had departed, when intelligence -arrived that the French were again appearing, -and that their cavalry were in the act of passing -the Ezla: ... they had found a ford about three -hundred yards below the bridge. Lord Paget -and General Stewart were still in the town. The -picquets of the night, under Lieutenant-Colonel -Otway and Major Bagwell, were sent down; the -cavalry were ordered to repair to their alarm posts; -and many volunteers came forward. Lord Paget -hastened to the spot: he found four squadrons -of imperial guards already formed and skirmishing -with the picquets; other cavalry were in the -act of passing. The 10th Hussars were sent for: -as soon as they arrived, General Stewart placed -himself at the head of the picquets, and charged -the enemy. The French gave way, and repassed -the ford more expeditiously than they had crossed -it. They formed again on the other side, and -threatened a second attempt; but three pieces<span class="pagenum" id="Page_501">501</span> -of horse artillery, which now came up, were stationed -near the bridge, and opened a fire upon -them, that did considerable execution. About -seventy prisoners were taken; among them General -Lefebvre Desnouettes, Commander of the -imperial guard of cavalry. The loss of the enemy -could not be ascertained: it was variously guessed, -from 60 to 200. Ours was about 50 in killed and -wounded. It was reported that Buonaparte was -on the heights during this action.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir John Moore reaches Astorga.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The ardour of the French was manifestly -damped by this fresh proof of British valour; -and they continued their pursuit at such respectful -distance, that the rear of the army, which -had been engaged with them, reached Bañeza - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Dec. 30.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -that night unmolested. The next day the Commander-in-chief -reached Astorga. This was the -rallying point, and here they found about 5000 -men of Romana’s army. That army was literally -half naked and half starved; a malignant typhus -fever was raging among them, and sixty or -seventy were sent daily to the hospitals. About -this number, however, were fit for service. Romana -arrived there the same day. The first intimation -that the French were advancing to interpose -between Portugal and the British army -had been received from him; but it was his -opinion that that information ought to have produced -no change in Sir John Moore’s intentions. -The intended attack, he thought, ought still to -have been made; Soult might have been beaten -in time to fall upon the corps which was coming<span class="pagenum" id="Page_502">502</span> -to reinforce him, and by the success which prompt -and vigorous measures would have ensured, they -should have become masters of Leon and Castille. -To his utter astonishment he now found that there -was no intention of making a stand at Astorga, -part of the British army being already on the way -to Villa Franca, and a regiment of cavalry all that -was left on the side of Bañeza. He went therefore -to the British Commander, and represented -to him the propriety of facing the enemy where -they were, a point from whence they had always -a secure retreat by the passes of Manzanal and -Foncebadon, ... passes so strong that a small force -might maintain them against any numbers. He -represented to him also, that the park of artillery -was at Ponferrada, where also the hospitals were -established, and there were magazines of corn; -that in Villa Franca there were more than 2000 -sick, with hospital stores and depôts of arms, -and therefore it was of the utmost consequence -to defend the Bierzo. But Sir John Moore replied, -that he had determined upon retiring into -Galicia, because his troops required rest. He -desired that the high road of Manzanal might be -left to him, saying, he would defend that and the -principal entrance to Galicia by Villa Franca; and -that Romana might take the Foncebadon pass, -and enter by way of the Val de Orras and Puebla - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>Honourable conduct of Romana and his army.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -de Sanabria. And here a proof of Spanish magnanimity -was given by these half armed, half -naked, and half famished men, for such they -literally were. A malignant fever was raging<span class="pagenum" id="Page_503">503</span> -among them, and long fatigue, privations, and -disease, made them appear more like an ambulatory -hospital than an army. Under such -circumstances it might have been supposed they -would have sought to secure their retreat under -protection of the British to Coruña and Ferrol. -But Romana and his forlorn band were too high-minded -to attach themselves as a burden upon -those allies with whom they had so lately expected -to co-operate in honourable and hopeful -enterprise; and they assented without hesitation -to the British General’s desire. Romana only -requested that the British troops might no longer -be permitted to commit disorders which even in -an enemy’s country ought never to be allowed; -it must have been painful indeed for Sir John -Moore to have heard of such excesses, and still -more painful to feel, that in a retreat so hasty as -this was intended to be, it was impossible to prevent -them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir John Moore pursues his retreat.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The troops had been assured, at Benevente, -that they were not falling back upon Coruña, -but that their march was only to secure a more -favourable position: ... no affirmations could make -the soldiery believe this: and when Sir John -Moore reached Astorga, and issued his orders, it -was too manifest that they were not retreating, -but flying, before the enemy. Ammunition waggons -were burnt here, and an entire depôt of -entrenching tools abandoned, so that the army -was thus deprived of a most important means of -impeding the enemy’s progress. The position<span class="pagenum" id="Page_504">504</span> -at Villa Franca, which the Commander-in-chief -had formerly mentioned in his dispatches, was -no longer thought of. Two brigades under -General Craufurd, were detached, by way of -Orense, to Vigo, to which port Sir John had -ordered empty transports to be sent for him, -supposing it to be the best point of embarkation. -This detachment preceded Romana in the line -which he expected was to have been left for -him; and when he and his forlorn band, after -halting only one night, took their way toward -Orense, they found the country stripped of the -means of subsistence upon which they had -reckoned. General Fraser and his division were -immediately sent forward, with orders to proceed -to Lugo; he was followed by General Hope -and Sir David Baird, and their instructions were -to make forced marches to the coast. “With -respect to me and the British troops,” said the -Commander, in his official letter, “it has come -to that point which I have long foreseen.... -From a desire to do what I could, I made the -movement against Soult: as a diversion, it has -answered completely; but as there is nothing to -take advantage of it, I have risked the loss of -the army for no purpose. I have no option now -but to fall down to the coast as fast as I am able.... -We must all make forced marches, from the -scarcity of provisions, and to be before the enemy, -who, by roads upon our flanks, may otherwise intercept -us.”</p> - -<p>It appears evident, from these expressions,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_505">505</span> -that Sir John Moore was not well informed of -the nature of the country through which he was -about to retreat. Westward of Astorga, two great - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span>The Bierzo.<span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -ranges of mountains trend from north to south: -Puerto del Rabanal, Cruz de Ferro, and Foncebadon, -are those of the eastern branch; those of -the western are the Puerto del Cebrero, Puerto -del Courel, and Puerto del Aguiar; they meet, -on the south, with the Sierra de Sanabria, the -Sierra de Cabrera, and the Montes Aquilianos. -The tract which these mountains enclose is called -the Bierzo: from summit to summit it is about -sixteen leagues from north to south, and about -fourteen from east to west. The whole waters -of this amphitheatre have but one opening; they -are collected into the river Sil, and pass, through -a narrow gorge, into the Val de Orras, in Galicia.... -The centre is a plain of about four square -leagues. There is scarcely in Europe a more -lovely tract of country, certainly no where a -more defensible one. The main road, one of -the finest in Europe, is that of Manzanal; that -of Foncebadon also leads into the Bierzo; there -is no third ingress, and from Villa Franca toward -Coruña the only way is that of the Puerto Cebrero; -both the former passes lead along defiles, -where, as Romana observed three months before -this miserable retreat, a thousand men might -stop the march of twenty times their number: -and beyond Villa Franca there is no lateral road. -Sir David Baird’s army had travelled this road; -they supposed that it could not possibly be intended<span class="pagenum" id="Page_506">506</span> -to fall back beyond that point. But the -Commander saw no security till he should reach -the coast; there he hoped to find transports ready, -or to take up some defensible position till they -arrived. The same difficulties which affected him -must affect his pursuers. It was not probable -that all the numbers which were now marching -against him would follow him the whole way; -and once on the coast, it was his determination -not to be molested by any thing like an equal -force: ... “it is only while retreating,” said he, -“that we are vulnerable.” His sole object now -was to bring off the army, ... to effect this he had -already destroyed great part of the ammunition -and military stores, and now left behind many -of the sick.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Disorders committed by the troops.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The mountain-tops were covered with heavy -clouds, and the roads knee-deep in snow. Provisions, -in a country where the natives are not -rich enough at any time to lay by a store, can -never be abundant, and what there were, had -already been exhausted by the repeated march -of troops, English and Spaniards. The little -order with which such food as could be found -was issued out, occasioned waste, and thereby -increased the evil. The men, half famished, half -frozen, and altogether desperate, were no longer -in any subordination. They forced their way -into the houses where their rations should have -been served, seized it by force, frequently spilling -the wine, and destroying more than they -could carry away. This was not all: ... pillage -could not be prevented. Houses and villages<span class="pagenum" id="Page_507">507</span> -were burning in all directions; but when they -thus acted as enemies, they were treated as such; -and many of them were put to death by the peasantry, -in revenge, or in self-defence.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Buonaparte stops at Astorga.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Buonaparte pursued in person no farther than -Astorga: he left Marshal Ney with 18,000 men -to keep that part of the country in subjection; -and assigned to Marshal Soult, with 23,000, what -he called the “glorious mission of destroying the -English army, ... pursuing them to their point of -embarkation, and driving them into the sea.” -Marshal Soult’s was an easy task: he had only -to follow the English just close enough to keep -them at the pace at which they set out, and not -come near enough to make them turn and stand -at bay; fatigue would do his work more surely -than the sword. From Astorga to Villa Franca -del Bierzo is fifteen leagues, about sixty English -miles; the road for the first four leagues is up -the mountain, but through an open country. -Having reached the summit of Foncebadon, you -enter into some of the strongest passes in Europe. -It would scarcely be possible for an invading -army to force their way here, against a -body of determined men. These passes continue -between two and three leagues, nearly to the -village of Torre; from thence, through Benvibre -and Ponferrada, nothing can be finer than the -country, and the circle of mountains which binds -it in. But never, in the most melancholy ages -of Spanish history, had a more miserable scene<span class="pagenum" id="Page_508">508</span> - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">1809.<br />January.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -been represented, than was now to be witnessed -here. The horses of the retreating army began -to fail, and this, in great measure, for want of -shoes and shoe-nails. There was no want of -iron to hammer new ones: there are iron-works -near Villa Franca, and enough might have been -procured, had there been time allowed. As soon -as these noble animals foundered, they were -shot, lest the enemy should profit by them. The -rain continued pouring, ... the baggage was to be -dragged, and the soldiers were to wade through -half-melted snows, ... the feet of the men as well -as of the beasts began to fail, ... more waggons -were left behind, ... more ammunition destroyed -along the way; and when the troops reached -Villa Franca, they were in such a state, that several -experienced officers predicted, if this march -against time were persevered in, a fourth of the -army would be left in the ditches, before it was - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Jan. 2.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -accomplished. More magazines and carriages -were here destroyed. Some of the men abandoning -themselves now, as knowing that if they -proceeded they must die of cold, hunger, and -weariness; they got into the wine cellars, and, -giving way to desperate excess, were found dead -when the French entered the town. When the -General marched with the reserve from Benvibre, -he left a detachment to cover the town, -while parties were sent to warn the stragglers of -their danger, and drive them out of the houses, -... for the place was filled with them, near a thousand -men of the preceding divisions having remained<span class="pagenum" id="Page_509">509</span> -there, all abandoned to despair, and most -of them to drunkenness. A few were prevailed -upon to move on; the greater number were deaf -to threats, and insensible to danger, till the rear-guard -was compelled to march. A small detachment -of cavalry still covered them, and did not -quit the town till the enemy approached, and -then the road was filled with stragglers, armed -and unarmed, mules, carts, women, and children.... -Four or five squadrons of French cavalry compelled -the detachment in the rear to retire, and -pursued them closely for several miles, till General -Paget, with the reserve, repulsed the pursuers. -As the French dragoons galloped through -the long line of these wretched stragglers, they -slashed them with their swords to the right and -left, ... the men being so insensible with liquor -that they neither attempted to resist nor get out -of the road. Some of these men having found -their way to the army, mangled as they were, -were paraded through the ranks, to show their -comrades the miserable consequence of drunkenness -at such a time.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Skirmish at Cacabelos.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The Spaniards at Villa Franca would not believe -that the French were advancing; through -so strong a country, and in so severe a season, -they thought it was impossible. Sir John Moore, -however, well knew that he was pursued, and he -was afraid of halting, lest the enemy should get -in his rear, and intercept him at Lugo; an apprehension -which could not have been entertained, -had he been acquainted with the country.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_510">510</span> -The troops, therefore, were hurried on: the artillery -and head-quarters went foremost; General -Baird’s column, and the cavalry, under Lord -Paget, covered the rear. The advanced guard -of the enemy, under General Colbert, were close -at their heels: Merle’s division joined them on - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Jan. 3.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the 3d, and on the afternoon of that day they -ventured to attack the rear-guard at Cacabelos. -They were repulsed by the dragoons and riflemen. -General Colbert received a ball in his -forehead, and fell; he was an officer of great promise, -and of so fine a person, that Canova is -said to have called him the modern Antinous. -Having thus once more shown the enemy what -they could do in battle, the rear of the army, -reluctantly and almost broken-hearted, continued -their retreat.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Retreat continued from Villa Franca.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>From Villa Franca to Castro is one continued -ascent up Monte del Cebrero for about fifteen -miles, through one of the wildest, most delightful, -and most defensible countries in the world. -The road is a royal one, cut with great labour -and expense in the side of the mountain, and -following all its windings; ... for some part of -the way it overhangs the river Valcarce, a rapid -mountain stream, which falls into the Burbia -near the town, and afterwards joins the Sil, to -pass through the single outlet in the gorge of the -Bierzo. Oaks, alders, poplars, hazels, and chestnuts -grow in the bottom, and far up the side of -the hills: the apple, pear, cherry, and mulberry -are wild in this country; the wild olive, also, is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_511">511</span> -found here; and here are the first vineyards -which the traveller sees on his way from Coruña -into the heart of Spain. The mountains are cultivated -in some parts even to their summits, and -trenches are cut along their sides, for the purpose -of irrigating them. Even those writers whose -journals were written during the horrors of such -a flight noticed this scenery with admiration. It -was now covered with snow: ... there was neither -provision to sustain nature, nor shelter from the -rain and snow, nor fuel for fire, to keep the vital -heat from total extinction, nor place where the -weary and foot-sore could rest for a single hour -in safety. All that had hitherto been suffered -was but the prelude to this consummate scene of -horrors. It was still attempted to carry on some -of the sick and wounded: the beasts which drew -them failed at every step; and they were left in -their waggons, to perish amid the snow. “I -looked round,” says an officer, “when we had -hardly gained the highest point of those slippery -precipices, and saw the rear of the army winding -along the narrow road.... I saw their way marked -by the wretched people who lay on all sides expiring, -from fatigue and the severity of the cold: -... their bodies reddened in spots the white surface -of the ground.” The men were now desperate: -excessive fatigue, and the feeling of the -disgrace there was in thus flying before the enemy, -excited in them a spirit which was almost mutinous: -... a few hours’ pause was what they desired, -an opportunity of facing the French, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_512">512</span> -chance of an honourable and speedy death, the -certainty of sweetening their sufferings by taking -vengeance upon their pursuers. A Portugueze -bullock-driver, who had faithfully served the English -from the first day of their march, was seen -on his knees amid the snow, with his hands -clasped, dying in the attitude and act of prayer. -He had at least the comfort of religion in his -passing hour. The soldiers who threw themselves -down to perish by the way-side gave -utterance to far different feelings with their -dying breath: shame and strong anger were -their last sentiments; and their groans were -mingled with imprecations upon the Spaniards, -by whom they fancied themselves betrayed, and -upon the generals, who chose rather to let them -die like beasts than take their chance in the field -of battle. That no horror might be wanting, -women and children accompanied this wretched -army: ... some were frozen to death in the baggage-waggons, -which were broken down, or left -upon the road for want of cattle; some died of -fatigue and cold, while their infants were pulling -at the exhausted breast: ... one woman was taken -in labour upon the mountain; she lay down at -the turning of an angle rather more sheltered than -the rest of the way from the icy sleet which -drifted along; ... there she was found dead, and -two babes, which she had brought forth, struggling -in the snow: ... a blanket was thrown over -her, to cover her from sight, ... the only burial -which could be afforded, ... and the infants were -given in charge to a woman who came up in one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_513">513</span> -of the bullock-carts, ... to take their chance for -surviving through such a journey.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Treasure abandoned.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>While the reserve were on this part of the -road, they met between thirty and forty waggons -filled with arms, ammunition, shoes, and clothing, -from England, for Romana’s army. There was -no means of carrying them back; ... such things -as could be made use of were distributed to the -soldiers as they passed, and the rest were destroyed. -Indeed, the baggage which was with -the army could not be carried on: nearly an -hundred waggons, laden with shoes and clothes, -were abandoned upon this ascent. The dollars, -too, could no longer be dragged along: had the -resolution of sacrificing them been determined -upon in time, they might have been distributed -among the men: in this manner, great part -might have been saved from the enemy, and -they who escaped would have had some little -compensation for the hardships which they had -undergone: ... they were now cast over the side -of the precipice, in hopes that the snow might -conceal them from the French: ... many men are -supposed to have been lost, in consequence of -having dropped behind, for the hope of recovering -some of this money. Dreadful as this march -appeared to those who beheld the wreck of the -army strewing its line of road, it was perhaps -still more so for them who performed it in a night -stormy and dark, wading through sludge and -snow, stumbling over the bodies of beasts and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_514">514</span> -men, and hearing, whenever the wind abated, -the groans of those whose sufferings were not yet -terminated by death.</p> - -<p>From the summit of this mountain to Lugo is -nearly twelve leagues. There are several bridges -upon the way, over glens and gills, which might -have impeded the pursuit, had they been destroyed. -One, in particular, between Nogales -and Marillas, is the most remarkable work of -art between Coruña and Madrid. This bridge, -which is called Puente del Corzul, crosses a -deep ravine: from its exceeding height, the -narrowness of its lofty arches, and its form, -which, as usual with the Spanish bridges, is -straight, it might at a little distance be mistaken -for an aqueduct. Several of those officers -who knew the road relied much upon the -strength of the ravine, and the impossibility -that the French could bring their guns over, -if the bridge were destroyed. Grievous as it -was to think of destroying so grand a work, its -destruction was attempted; but, as in most -other instances, to no purpose; whether the -pioneers performed their office too hastily, or -because their implements had been abandoned -upon the way.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The army collects at Lugo.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The different divisions had been ordered to -halt and collect at Lugo. Sir John Moore was -now sensible of the impossibility of reaching -Vigo, ... the distance was double that to Coruña, -the road was said to be impracticable for artillery, -and the place itself offered no advantages<span class="pagenum" id="Page_515">515</span> -for embarking in the face of an enemy. -The brigades, however, of Generals Craufurd -and Alton had marched for that port; and General -Fraser, with his division, had been ordered -to follow and join them. A dispatch was sent -to stop him: the dragoon who was entrusted -with it got drunk on the way, and lost the letter; -and these troops, in consequence, had proceeded -a full day’s journey on their way towards Vigo -before the counter-order reached them, and they -were marched back. Thus, instead of having -two days’ rest at Lugo, as had been designed, -they returned to that place excessively harassed, -and with some diminution of number, occasioned -by fatigue. When the horses entered Lugo, -many of them fell dead in the streets, others -were mercifully shot; ... above four hundred -carcasses were lying in the streets and market -places; ... there were none of the army who -had strength to bury them; the towns-people -were under too painful a suspense to think of -performing work which it seemed hopeless to -begin while the frequent musket-shot indicated -so many fresh slaughters; there therefore the -bodies lay, swelling with the rain, bursting, -putrifying, and poisoning the atmosphere, faster -than the glutted dogs and carrion birds could do -their office. Here the retreating army might -have rested, had the destruction of the bridges -been effected; but this attempt had been so imperfectly -executed, that the French came in -sight on the 5th, and, collecting in considerable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_516">516</span> -strength, took up a good position opposite our -rear-guard, a valley dividing them.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir John offers battle at Lugo. -<br /><hr /> -<span class="date">Jan. 6.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>On the following day they attacked the outposts, -opening upon them with two Spanish pieces -of ordnance, which they had taken on their march. -The attack was made with great spirit; but it was -received, says an officer, “with a steadiness which -excited even our own wonder;” ... for at the sight -of the enemy, and the sound of battle, the English -recovered heart, and derived from their -characteristic and invincible courage a strength - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Jan. 7.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -which soon made them victorious. On the 7th -another attack was made, and in like manner -repelled. The prisoners reported that Marshal -Soult was come up with three divisions. Sir John -Moore, therefore, expecting a more formidable -attempt, drew up his whole force on the morning - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Jan. 8.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -of the 8th. It was his wish now to bring the -enemy to action; he had perfect confidence in -the valour of the troops, and perceived, also, -that, unless he crippled his pursuers, there was -no hope of embarking unmolested. Order and -discipline were instantaneously restored by this -resolution to fight, and the men seemed at once -to have recovered from their sufferings. The -French were not equally eager for battle; the -trial which they had made of their enemies on -the two preceding days was not such as to encourage -them; and Soult was waiting for more -troops to come up. The country was intersected -with inclosures, and his position was thought too -strong to be attacked by an inferior force. But,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_517">517</span> -in reality, the French at this time were less -numerous than the English. Another reason -assigned for not attacking the enemy was, that -the commissariat had only provisions for two -days: delay, therefore, was judged as disadvantageous -as retreat. It was afterwards known, -that the French expected to be attacked, that -they had no confidence in the strength of their -position, and that their ablest officers apprehended -their advanced guard would have been -cut off. They frequently spoke of this to those -English who were left in their power at Lugo, -and exulted that Sir John Moore had contented -himself with offering battle, instead of forcing -them to an engagement. After waiting till the -afternoon, during a day of snow and storms, Sir -John ordered large fires to be lighted along the -line, for the purpose of deceiving the enemy, -and continued his retreat during the night.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Retreat to Coruña.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Before the reserve left Lugo, the General once -more endeavoured to repress the irregularity of -the march. He warned the soldiers that their -safety depended entirely upon their keeping -their divisions, and marching with their regiments; -and that those who stopped in villages, -or straggled in the way, would inevitably be cut -off by the French cavalry, ... “who have hitherto,” -said he, “shown little mercy even to the feeble -and infirm who have fallen into their hands. The -army has still eleven leagues to march; the soldiers -must make an exertion to accomplish this: -the rear-guard cannot stop; and they who fall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_518">518</span> -behind must take their fate.” These representations -were ineffectual: ... it was, indeed, impossible -to obey them: many of the men were exhausted -and foot-sore, and could not keep their ranks: ... -others, who had totally broke through all discipline, -left them for the love of wine, or for -worse motives. So irresistible was the temptation -of liquor to men in their state, that it was -deemed better to expose them to the cold and -rain of a severe night, than to the wine-houses -of Betanzos, the next town upon their march. -When the Royals reached that place, they only -mustered, with the colours, nine officers, three -serjeants, and three privates: the rest had -dropped on the road; and many of those who -joined did not come up for three days. There -was a memorable instance, in this part of the -retreat, of what might have been accomplished -by discipline and presence of mind. A party -of invalids, between Lugo and Betanzos, were -closely pressed by two squadrons of the enemy’s -cavalry. Serjeant Newman, of the 2d battalion -43d, was among them: he made an effort to pass -three or four hundred of these poor men, then -halted, rallied round him such as were capable -of making any resistance, and directed the -others to proceed as they could. This party he -formed regularly into divisions, and commenced -firing and retiring in an orderly manner, till he -effectually covered the retreat of his disabled -comrades, and made the cavalry give up the -pursuit.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_519">519</span></p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Sir John is advised to propose terms.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The partial actions at Lugo, and the risk to -which he had been exposed of a general one, -checked Soult in his pursuit; and he was too -sensible of the danger which he had escaped, to -trust himself again so near the British, without -a superior force. The British army, therefore, -gained twelve hours’ march upon him, and -reached Coruña with little farther molestation; -they obtained implements from Coruña for destroying -the bridge over the Mero, and thus impeded - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Jan. 11.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -the enemy’s progress. At Coruña, if the -General had not represented the cause of Spain -as hopeless, they might have found reinforcements -from England, which would have enabled -them to turn upon their pursuers, and take ample -vengeance for the sufferings and the shame which -they had endured. But, instead of reinforcements, -he had directed that empty transports -should be sent; and, for want of due knowledge -of the country, had ordered them to Vigo, instead -of Coruña. That order had been countermanded -as soon as the error was discovered; but -contrary winds detained the ships, ... happily for -the honour of their country, for otherwise the -troops would have quitted Spain as fugitives. It -was apparent now that they could not escape -unless they gained a battle. Coruña was a bad position. -Had they been numerous enough to have -occupied a range of hills about four miles from -the town, they could have defended themselves -against very superior numbers, ... but these heights -required a larger force than the English army, of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_520">520</span> -which not less than a fourth part had been -foundered by the way. Both flanks would have -been liable to be turned: it was therefore necessary -to relinquish them to the enemy, and be -content with occupying a second and lower range. -Such, however, were the disadvantages of this situation, -that some of our general officers advised -the Commander to propose terms to Soult, for -permitting the army to embark unmolested. In -communicating this to the Government, Sir John -said he was averse to make any such proposal, -and exceedingly doubtful if it would be attended -with any good effect, ... but whatever he might -resolve upon this head, the Ministers might rest -assured that he would accept no terms which -were in the least dishonourable to the army or -to the country. Happily for his own memory, -upon farther consideration, he rejected the advice. -It is sufficiently disgraceful that such -advice should have been given; and deeply is -England indebted to Sir John Moore for saving -the army from this last and utter ignominy, and -giving it an opportunity of displaying to the -world that courage which had never forsaken -it, and retrieving the honour which, had this -counsel been followed, would irretrievably have -been lost.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Preparation for battle.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>Arrangements, therefore, were made to give -the enemy battle. One division, under General -Hope, occupied a hill on the left, commanding -the road to Betanzos: the height decreased gradually -to the village of Elvina, taking a curved<span class="pagenum" id="Page_521">521</span> -direction. At this village General Baird’s division -commenced, and bent to the right: the -whole formed nearly a semicircle. On the right -of Sir David Baird, the rifle corps formed a -chain across a valley, and communicated with -General Fraser’s division, which was drawn up -about half a mile from Coruña, near the road -to Vigo. The reserve, under General Paget, -occupied a village on the Betanzos road, about -half a mile in the rear of General Hope. On the -outside of the British posts was a magazine, containing -4000 barrels of gunpowder, which had -been brought from England, and left there, while -the Spanish armies were without ammunition! -It was now necessary to blow it up: ... the explosion -shook the town like an earthquake; -and a village near the magazine was totally -destroyed.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>The artillery embarked.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The French made their appearance on the -morning of the 12th, moving in force on the -opposite side of the river Mero. They took up -a position near the village of Perillo, on the left -flank, and occupied the houses along the river. -Their force was continually increasing. On the -14th they commenced a cannonade, which was -returned with such effect, that they at last drew -off their guns. In the evening of this day the -transports from Vigo hove in sight. Some slight -skirmishes took place the following morning. -Preparations meantime were making for the embarkation. -Sir John finding that, from the nature -of the ground, much artillery could not be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_522">522</span> -employed, placed seven six-pounders and one -howitzer along the line, and kept four Spanish -guns as a reserve, to be advanced to any point -where they might be wanted: the rest of the -artillery was embarked. The sick and the dismounted -cavalry were sent on board with all -possible expedition. A few horses also were -embarked, ... but there was little time for this: -most of them were completely disabled; another -slaughter, therefore, was made of them: and the -beach was covered with their bodies. Some of -these animals, seeing their fellows fall, were sensible -of the fate intended for them: they became -wild with terror, and a few broke loose.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><span class="sne">♦</span>Battle of Coruña.<span class="sne">♦</span></div> - -<p>The preparations for embarking were completed -on the morning of the 16th, and the General -gave notice, that he intended, if the French -did not move, to begin embarking the reserve at -four in the afternoon. This was about mid-day. -He mounted his horse, and set off to visit the -outposts: before he had proceeded far, a messenger -came to tell him that the enemy’s line were -getting under arms; and a deserter arriving at -the same moment, confirmed the intelligence. -He spurred forward. Their light troops were -pouring rapidly down the hill on the right wing -of the British, and the advanced picquets were -already beginning to fire. Lord William Bentinck’s -brigade, consisting of the 4th, 42d, and -50th regiments, maintained this post. It was a -bad position, and yet, if the troops gave way on -that point, the ruin of the army was inevitable.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_523">523</span> -The guards were in their rear. General Paget -was ordered to advance with the reserve, and -support Lord William. The enemy opened a -cannonade from eleven heavy guns, advantageously -planted on the hills. Two strong columns, -one advancing from a wood, the other skirting -its edge, directed their march towards the right -wing. A third column approached the centre: -a fourth advanced slowly upon the left: a fifth -remained half way down the hill, in the same -direction. Both in number and weight of guns -they had a decided superiority; and they fired -with such effect from the commanding situation -which they had chosen, that the balls in their -bounding reached the British reserve, and occasioned -some loss there.</p> - -<p>Sir David Baird had his arm shattered with a -grape-shot as he was leading on his division. -The two lines of infantry advanced against each -other: they were separated by stone walls and -hedges which intersected the ground: but as -they closed, it was perceived that the French line -extended beyond the right flank of the British, -and a body of the enemy was observed moving -up the valley to turn it. Marshal Soult’s intention -was to force the right of the British, and -thus to interpose between Coruña and the army, -and cut it off from the place of embarkation. -Failing in this attempt, he was now endeavouring -to out-flank it. Half of the 4th regiment was -therefore ordered to fall back, forming an obtuse -angle with the other half. This manœuvre was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_524">524</span> -excellently performed, and they commenced a -heavy flanking fire: Sir John Moore called out -to them, that this was exactly what he wanted -to be done, and rode on to the 50th, commanded -by Majors Napier and Stanhope. They got over -an inclosure in their front, charged the enemy -most gallantly, and drove them out of the village -of Elvina; but Major Napier, advancing too far -in the pursuit, received several wounds, and was -made prisoner, and Major Stanhope was<a id="FNanchor_41" href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">41</a> killed.</p> - -<p>The General now proceeded to the 42d. -“Highlanders,” said he, “remember Egypt!” ... -they rushed on, and drove the French before -them, till they were stopped by a wall: Sir John -accompanied them in this charge. He now sent -Captain Hardinge to order up a battalion of -guards to the left flank of the 42d. The officer -commanding the light infantry conceived, at -this, that they were to be relieved by the guards, -because their ammunition was nearly expended, -and he began to fall back. The General, discovering -the mistake, said to them, “My brave -42d, join your comrades: ammunition is coming, -and you have your bayonets!” Upon this, they -instantly moved forward. Captain Hardinge returned, -and pointed out to the General where<span class="pagenum" id="Page_525">525</span> -the guards were advancing. The enemy kept up -a hot fire, and their artillery played incessantly -on the spot where they were standing. A cannon-shot -struck Sir John, and carried away his left -shoulder, and part of the collar-bone, leaving -the arm hanging by the flesh. He fell from -his horse on his back, his countenance did not -change, neither did he betray the least sensation -of pain. Captain Hardinge, who dismounted, and -took him by the hand, observed him anxiously -watching the 42d, which was warmly engaged, -and told him they were advancing; and upon -that intelligence his countenance brightened. -Colonel Graham, who now came up to assist -him, seeing the composure of his features, began -to hope that he was not wounded, till he perceived -the dreadful laceration. From the size -of the wound, it was in vain to make any attempt -at stopping the blood; and Sir John consented -to be removed in a blanket to the rear. -In raising him up, his sword, hanging on the -wounded side, touched his arm, and became -entangled between his legs: Captain Hardinge -began to unbuckle it; but the General said, in -his usual tone and manner, and in a distinct -voice, “It is as well as it is; I had rather it -should go out of the field with me.” Six soldiers -of the 42d and the guards bore him. Hardinge, -observing his composure, began to hope that the -wound might not be mortal, and said to him, -he trusted he might be spared to the army, and -recover. Moore turned his head, and looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_526">526</span> -steadfastly at the wound for a few seconds, replied, -“No, Hardinge, I feel that to be impossible.”</p> - -<p>As the soldiers were carrying him slowly along, -he made them frequently turn round, that he -might see the field of battle, and listen to the -firing; and he was well pleased when the sound -grew fainter. A spring-waggon came up, bearing -Colonel Wynch, who was wounded; the -Colonel asked who was in the blanket, and being -told it was Sir John Moore, wished him to be -placed in the waggon. Sir John asked one of -the Highlanders whether he thought the waggon -or the blanket was best? and the man said the -blanket would not shake him so much, as he and -the other soldiers would keep the step, and carry -him easy. So they proceeded with him to his -quarters at Coruña, weeping as they went.</p> - -<p>General Paget, meantime, hastened with the -reserve to support the right wing. Colonel Beckwith -dashed on with the rifle corps, repelled the -enemy, and advanced so far as nearly to carry -off one of their cannon; but a corps greatly superior -moved up the valley, and forced him to -retire. Paget, however, attacked this body of -the enemy, repulsed it, and pressed on, dispersing -every thing before him, till the enemy, perceiving -their left wing was now quite exposed, -drew it entirely back. The French then advanced -upon Generals Manningham and Leith, -in the centre, and there they were more easily -repelled, the ground being more elevated, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_527">527</span> -favourable for artillery. The position on the left -was strong, and their effort there was unavailing: -but a body of them took possession of a village -on the road to Betanzos, and continued to fire -from it, till Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholls attacked -it, and beat them out. Night was now closing -in, and the French had fallen back in all parts of -the field. The firing, however, was not discontinued -till it was dark.</p> - -<p>Never was any battle gained under heavier disadvantages. -The French force exceeded 20,000 -men; the British were not 15,000. The superiority -in artillery was equally great: ... the enemy -had met English guns on the way, sent off, thus -late, to the patriotic armies, and these they had -turned back, and employed against the English. -Our artillery was embarked; and the Shrapnell -shells, which contributed so materially to the -success at Vimeiro, were not used in this more -perilous engagement. If the moral and physical -state of the two armies be considered, the disadvantages -under which our soldiers laboured -were still greater: ... the French, equipped in the -stores which they had overtaken upon the road, -elated with a pursuit wherein no man had been -forced beyond his strength, and hourly receiving -reinforcements to their already superior numbers; -... the English, in a state of misery, to which -no army, perhaps, had ever before been reduced -till after a total defeat; having lost their military -chest, their stores, their baggage, their horses, -their women and children, their sick, their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_528">528</span> -wounded, their stragglers, every thing but their -innate, excellent, unconquerable courage. From -6000 to 7000 men had sunk under the fatigues of -their precipitate retreat. The loss in the battle -did not amount to 800; that of the<a id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">42</a>French is -believed to have exceeded 2000. If such a victory -was gained by the British army under such -circumstances, what might not have been achieved -by that army when unbroken, with all its means -at hand, in health and strength, in its pride, and -in its height of hope!</p> - -<p>The General lived to hear that the battle was -won. “Are the French beaten?” was the question -which he repeated to every one who came -into his apartment; and he expressed how great -a satisfaction it was to him to know that they -were defeated. “I hope,” he said, “the people -of England will be satisfied! I hope my country -will do me justice.” Then, addressing Colonel -Anderson, who had been his friend and companion -in arms for one-and-twenty years, he said -to him, “Anderson, you know that I have -always wished to die this way.... You will see my -friends as soon as you can: ... tell them every -thing.... Say to my mother”—But here his voice<span class="pagenum" id="Page_529">529</span> -failed, he became excessively agitated, and did -not again venture to name her. Sometimes he -asked to be placed in an easier posture. “I feel -myself so strong,” he said, “I fear I shall be -long dying. It is great uneasiness ... it is great -pain.” But, after a while, he pressed Anderson’s -hand close to his body, and, in a few minutes, -died without a struggle. He fell, as it had ever -been his wish to do, in battle and in victory. -No man was more beloved in private life, nor -was there any general in the British army so universally -respected. All men had thought him -worthy of the chief command. Had he been -less circumspect, had he looked more ardently -forward, and less anxiously around him, and on -all sides, and behind, ... had he been more confident -in himself and in his army, and impressed -with less respect for the French Generals, he -would have been more equal to the difficulties -of his situation. Despondency was the radical -weakness of his mind. Personally he was as -brave a man as ever met death in the field; but -he wanted faith in British courage, and it is faith -by which miracles are wrought in war as well as -in religion. But let it ever be remembered with -gratitude, that, when some of his general officers -advised him to conclude the retreat by a capitulation, -Sir John Moore preserved the honour of -England.</p> - -<p>He had often said that, if he were killed in -battle, he wished to be buried where he fell.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_530">530</span> -The body was removed at midnight to the citadel -of Coruña. A grave was dug for him on the -rampart there, by a party of the 9th regiment, -the aides-du-camp attending by turns. No coffin -could be procured; and the officers of his staff -wrapped the body, dressed as it was, in a military -cloak and blankets. The interment was -hastened; for, about eight in the morning, some -firing was heard, and they feared that, if a serious -attack were made, they should be ordered away, -and not suffered to pay him their last duty. The -officers of his family bore him to the grave; the -funeral service was read by the chaplain; and -the corpse was covered with earth.</p> - -<p>Meantime, General Hope, on whom the command -devolved, passed the night in embarking -the troops. At ten o’clock he ordered them to -march from the field by brigades, leaving strong -picquets to guard the ground, and give notice if -the enemy approached. Major-General Beresford, -with a rear-guard of about 2000 men, to -cover the embarkation, occupied the lines in front -of Coruña. Major-General Hill, with a corps of -reserve, was stationed on a promontory behind -the town. Nearly the whole army was embarked -during the night: the picquets were withdrawn -and embarked also before day, little remaining -ashore at daylight except the rear-guard and the - -<span class="sni"><span class="sne">♦</span><span class="date">Jan. 17.</span><span class="sne">♦</span></span> - -reserve. The French, seeing this, pushed on -their light troops to the heights of St. Lucia, -which command the harbour, got up some cannon -to a rising ground, and fired at the transports.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_531">531</span> -Several of the masters of these vessels were frightened, -and cut their cables: four of them ran -a-ground. The men were put on board other -ships, and these were burnt. During the night -of the 17th, and the following morning, Beresford -sent off all the sick and wounded who were -in a condition to bear removal: and lastly, the -rear-guard got into the boats, no attempt being -made to interrupt them. Thus terminated our -first campaign in Spain.</p> - -<p class="p2 center">END OF VOL. II.</p> - -<p class="p4 center">LONDON:<br /> -<span class="small">PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS.</span></p> -</div> - -<div class="sec"> -<div class="chapter"><div class="footnotes"> -<h2 id="FOOTNOTES" class="nobreak p1">FOOTNOTES</h2> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="fnanchor">1</a> “Elle est sans defense et -sans fortification,” said Colmenar, -writing a century ago, -“fermée d’une simple muraille; -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">mais ce défaut est reparé par la -bravoure des habitans</i>.” After -the proofs which the inhabitants -have given of their patriotism, -this praise appears like prophecy.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="fnanchor">2</a> The Spaniards, by a more curious corruption, call Syracuse, -Zaragoza de Sicilia.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="fnanchor">3</a> <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Hist. Apparitionis Deiparæ -supra Columnam, Beato Jacobo -apud Cæsaragustam prædicante. -Ex cod. membraneo, qui in -Archivo Sanctæ Maria de Pilari -asservatur.</i> Espana Sagrada, -t. xxx. p. 426. Risco adds to -this account, the Collect, which, -from time immemorial, has been -used in the Church of the Pillar. -It may be added here as a curiosity -for those who are not accustomed -to such things. <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Omnipotens æterne -Deus, qui Sacratissimam Virginem -matrem tuam inter choros -Angelorum super columna marmorea -a te ab alto emissa venire, -dum adhuc viveret, dignatus est,</i> -<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ut Basilica de Pilari in ejus honorem -a Protomartyre apostolorum -Jacobo suisque sanctissimis -discipulis ædificaretur; præsta -quæsumus ut ejus meritis et intercessione -fiat impetrabile quod -fida mente poscimus. Qui vivas -et regnas, &c.</i> -</p> -<p> -The French, as may be supposed, -ridicule this fable; but, it -is worthy of remark, that, in the -early part of the last century, the -Spanish annalist, Ferreras, represented -the story as of doubtful -authority; his book passed -through the hands of the usual -censors, and was printed; and -then Philip V. the first of the -Bourbon dynasty in Spain, a -Frenchman by birth and education, -personally interfered, commanded -Ferreras to cancel the -heretical leaf, and sent the edict -in which this was decreed to -Zaragoza, there to be deposited -among the archives of the -Virgin’s church, in proof of his -especial devotion to our Lady of -the Pillar.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="fnanchor">4</a> “Here,” says Mr. Townsend, -“I forgot all the hardships -and fatigues which we had suffered -in this long journey: nay, -had I travelled all the way on -foot, I would have freely done it -to enjoy the sight of these cathedrals. -That which is called -<i xml:lang="es" lang="es">El Aseu</i> is vast, gloomy, and -magnificent; it excites devotion, -inspires awe, and inclines the -worshipper to fall prostrate, and -to adore in silence the God who -seems to veil his glory. The -other, called <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">El Pilar</i>, spacious, -lofty, light, elegant, and cheerful, -inspires hope, confidence, -complacency, and makes the -soul impatient to express its gratitude -for benefits received.”</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="fnanchor">5</a> Laborde.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="fnanchor">6</a> In military language, you always -describe the country by the -current of water, and speak as -if you were looking down the -stream. It was requisite to explain -this to the court upon -Whitelocke’s trial, and therefore -the explanation cannot be -thought unnecessary here.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="fnanchor">7</a> “On this simple foundation,” -says Mr. Vaughan, “a regular -manufactory of gunpowder -was formed after the siege, which -produced 13 arrobas of Castille per -day; that is, 325 lb. of 12 ounces.”</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="fnanchor">8</a> -</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Martyrum nulli, remanente vitâ,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Contigit terris habitare nostris;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Sola tu morti propriæ superstes,<br /></span> -<span class="i8">Vivis in orbe,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Vivis ac pœnæ seriem retexis,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Carnis et cæsæ spolium retentans,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Tetra quam sulcos habeant amaros,<br /></span> -<span class="i8">Vulnera narras.<br /></span> -<span class="i0"><br /></span> -</div> - -<div class="attrib2">Prudentius Περι Στεφανων. Hym. 4. -</div></div> -</div> - -<p> -The poet goes on describing -her torments with his usual love -of live-anatomy ... I know not -whether it be possible that any -person should have survived -them; but that some may be -found wicked enough to inflict -equal tortures under the pretext, -and others conscientious enough -to endure them for the sake -of religion, has been too often -proved, and in few places more -frequently than in Zaragoza itself, -from which city many an -inquisitor has gone to keep company -with Dacianus. St. Engracia -is invoked in diseases of -the heart and the liver, in consequence -of the circumstances of -her martyrdom. -</p> - -<div class="poem-container"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Vidimus partem jecoris revulsam,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Ungulis longe jacuisse pressis;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Mors habet pallens aliquid tuorum,<br /></span> -<span class="i6">Te quoque vivâ.<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn1"><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="fnanchor">9</a> The Bollandists relate this -miracle with a candid admission -of doubt, because the writer, in -whom they found it related, -spoke upon the testimony of -others, instead of boldly asserting -it on his own authority. -There are, however, testimonies -in abundance, and that of M. -Bourgoing will be admitted to -be decisive. “The roof,” he -says, “though very low, is certainly -not smoked. They invite -those who are doubtful of it, to -put a piece of white paper over -one of these lamps. I tried this -experiment, and I must confess, -I saw, or thought I saw, that my -paper was not blackened. I had -still my doubts, but I took care -to conceal them from my bigoted -conductors. I was, however, -tempted to say to them, God has -not thought proper to work any -striking miracle to accelerate the -end of the French revolution, or -to calm the passions which it has -roused; and do you think that -he would condescend to perform -here a miracle as obscure as your -cavern, and as useless as your -own existence?”</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="fnanchor">10</a> <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Quartel-general, Santa Engracia. -La capitulation.</i></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="fnanchor">11</a> <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Quartel-general, Zaragoza. -Guerra al cuchillo.</i></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="fnanchor">12</a> It is asserted by the French, -in their official account, that, -after many days fighting, they -won possession of many cloisters -which had been fortified, three-fourths -of the city, the arsenal, -and all the magazines; and that -the peaceable inhabitants, encouraged -by these advantages, -hoisted a white flag, and came -forward to offer terms of capitulation; -but that they were murdered -by the insurgents; for this -is the name which the French, -and the tyrant whom they served, -applied to a people fighting in -defence of their country, and of -whatever could be dear to them. -Unquestionably, if any traitors -had thus ventured to show themselves -in the heat of the contest, -they would have been put to -death as certainly as they would -have deserved it; and, if the thing -had occurred, it would be one fact -more to be recorded in honour of -the Zaragozans; but there is no -other authority for it than the -French official account, in which -account the result of the siege is -totally suppressed. The circumstance, -had it really taken place, -would not have been omitted in -Mr. Vaughan’s Narrative, and in -the accounts published by the -Spaniards.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="fnanchor">13</a> General Thiebault says, “<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">On -attribua d’abord ce mouvement, si -brusque et si general, à des causes -peu signifiantes, à des terreurs -paniques, &c.; mais on apprit -depuis qu’il tenoit à des grands -projets, et on en eut la preuve, -quand on sut que dans presque -toutes les provinces il avoit été -tenté ce même jour avec plus ou -moins d’audace ou de succès; et -que, s’il avoit manqué à Lisbonne, -il avoit (et toujours par le moyen -des prêtres) eu tout son succès à -Oporto, Braga, Chaves, ou ce -jour même, une insurrection générale -avoit éclaté, fait prendre -les armes contre nous à tous les -habitans des provinces d’Oporto, -du Tras-los-Montes, d’une partie -du Beira, et fait arrêter ou assassiner -tous les Français isolés -qui s’y trouvoient.</i>”—Relation de -l’Expédition du Portugal, p. 124. -</p> -<p> -General Thiebault is certainly -wrong. Had there been any combination -against the common -enemy, the persons by whom it -was concerted would eagerly have -pleaded it afterwards as a claim -to honour if not to reward. The -Portugueze have preserved the -most minute details of a national -insurrection so honourable to the -nation, and the merit of priority -has been contested by different -places: but from all that has been -published it appears, in direct -contradiction to the French general’s -statement, that no combination -existed, (indeed it was -impossible that it should exist,) -and that no tumult broke out on -the day which he has specified as -the commencement of a general -and concerted movement, except -at a village of fishermen in Algarve.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="fnanchor">14</a> Baron Thiebault ascribes the -success of the insurgents, and -the loss of Faro, to the news of -Dupont’s surrender, and to the -landing of troops, arms, ammunition, -and money, at Faro, from -the English squadron. Not a man -nor a musket had been landed -from that squadron, and the surrender -of Dupont did not take -place till a month afterwards! -With so little accuracy do the -French relate the circumstances -of their ill success, even where -no military misconduct is imputable.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="fnanchor">15</a> Baron Thiebault represents -this as a great exploit on the part -of his fellow-soldiers. He says, -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Le Colonel Maransin auroit pu -éviter Beja, mais il crut devoir -ramener, par un grand exemple, -ce pays à l’obeissance. Il forme -ses colonnes en marchant, et sans -artillerie attaque cette ville, enceinte -de hautes murailles, dont -toutes les portes étoient barricadées, -dont les murs, les tours, -étoient défendus par des forces -quintuples des siennes, et par des -hommes qui, dans leur fureur, -defioient nos bataillons.</i> Who -would suppose, from this description, -that these high walls -and towers were in ruins, and -that they were defended by a -mob of three or four thousand -men, not a third part of whom -were armed with firelocks! After -killing 1200 men in action, and -all who were found in arms after -it, sacking the city, and setting -it on fire, it seems difficult to -understand what the mercy was -which the surviving inhabitants -are said to have sent to Lisbon -to solicit. According to Baron -Thiebault, <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">un brave religieux</i>, -after the assault, moved all his -auditors to tears, by representing -to them how much they had provoked -their own misfortunes: he -was consequently deputed unanimously -to implore Junot’s clemency. -Junot received him graciously, -and rewarded him with -a canonry; <span class="smcap smaller">LA RECONNOISSANCE -FUT EXTREME</span>, ... <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">et Beja n’en -reprit pas moins les armes peu -de jours après</i>. In the bulletin -published at Lisbon upon this -occasion, and signed by this same -General Thiebault, it is said, the -inhabitants expressed their contrition -by their deputy, acknowledged -that they had been justly -punished, and confessed that they -had been seduced by the English!</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="fnanchor">16</a> Two persons were left alive -when the French thought their -accursed work was done. One -of them lingered three days before -he was relieved by death. -Feliz Lourenco, the surveyor of -the high road, was the other. -“He,” says Neves, (writing in -1811,) “still lives ... but in what -a condition! With his body and -face disfigured by the marks of -powder, and the scars of eight -and twenty bayonet wounds; ... -with his left eye struck out by -a ball, the bones of his right -shoulder broken, the tendons -rendered useless, and the hand -paralyzed. It is from himself -that I have received the details -of this frightful transaction, of -which there exists no other witness, -except the murderers themselves.”—<i xml:lang="pt" lang="pt">Historia -Geral da Invasam -dos Francezes em Portugal</i>, -<i>t.</i> iv. <i>p.</i> 42.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17" class="fnanchor">17</a> General Thiebault, by whom -the bulletin was signed, gives a -different statement in his book -(p. 155). The French loss is -there given at sixty men killed, -and from 130 to 140 wounded; -that of the Portugueze as at least -4000 left upon the field.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18" class="fnanchor">18</a> As another example of the -arts used to impose upon the -Portugueze people by the intrusive -government, the following -extract from the fifth bulletin -of the army of Portugal may be -read with feelings very different -from what the detail in the text -must excite. “On the 10th of -July forty English disembarked -at the foot of the village of the -Costa, to take in water and provisions. -That point was defended -by only five carabineers of the -thirty-first regiment of light infantry. -Notwithstanding this -disproportion of numbers, these -five men, in sight of all the inhabitants, -attacked the forty English, -repulsed them, forced them -to abandon upon the beach all -that they had purchased, and -pursued them to the sea.” Yet -even this is outdone in the same -bulletin. “Three conscript lads -(it is farther said), of the sixty-sixth -regiment, occupied a small -post on the sea-shore, in front of -Cascaes, when they saw a boat -put off from the English squadron, -and make towards them. -Immediately these three lads -placed themselves in ambush, to -wait till the boat should draw -near: as soon as it reached the -shore they rose from their ambush, -fired upon the boat, killed -the pilot (who was the master of -Admiral Cotton’s ship), obliged -two English officers, and six seamen -or soldiers, who were in the -said boat, to come on shore, and -lay down their arms upon the -beach, and then conducted them -as prisoners of war to the quarters-general -of General Solignac -at Cascaes. This fact discovers -a presence of mind, a degree of -intelligence, and a vigour, which -do honour to the three lads.” To -complete the story, it should have -been added, that the three lads -ate the eight Englishmen.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19" class="fnanchor">19</a> Neves relates that Kellermann -demanded for his own use -50,000 cruzados from the prior -of Alcobaça at this time, letting -him know, without circumlocution, -that what the French generals -wanted was money. He -accepted a hundred moidores after -hard bargaining. Loison heard -of this on his arrival, and, being -on bad terms with Kellermann, -made him refund the money, -charging the prior, if any such -extortion were practised upon -him in future, to complain to -him, wherever he might be. Kellermann, -however, coming there -again when Loison had marched -to the south, redemanded the -money, and laid on ten per cent. -for interest. T. iv. p. 82, 88.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20" class="fnanchor">20</a> General Thiebault says, there -was an action at Montemor, in -which the Portugueze lost fifty -men, and that Loison also took -prisoners there some hundred -peasants, <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">que les lois de la guerre -condamnoient à la mort, mais qu’il -se borna à desarmer et renvoya -chez eux</i>.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21" class="fnanchor">21</a> General Thiebault says, that -after their defeat in the field the -Portugueze wished to capitulate, -but that the Spaniards shot those -persons who by timely submission -would have saved the town: -whereas the fact is, that immediately -after the defeat the Spaniards -made the best of their -way towards their own country. -During the action, he says that -several men dropt down dead, -owing to the excessive heat, the -blood gushing from their ears, -nose, and mouth. He is mistaken -in saying that General -Leite (whom he calls Loti) fell -in this action.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_22" href="#FNanchor_22" class="fnanchor">22</a> These facts are notorious in -Portugal, and circumstantial accounts, -too horrible to be repeated, -are published of them. -General Thiebault only says in -his text, that there was a desperate -conflict in the streets, and -that “all who were found in -arms were exterminated.” He -annexes the following note: “<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Si -l’on ne put de suite arrêter ces -terribles représailles, si l’on ne -put éviter le pillage de beaucoup -de maisons, les officiers-généraux, -superieurs, et d’état-major, -parvinrent du moins à faire respecter -les églises, où les femmes, -les vieillards, et les habitans paisibles -s’étoient retirés, avec ce qu’ils -avoient de plus précieux; ils firent -plus, ils allèrent rassurer eux-mêmes -tous ceux qui s’y trouvoient, -et dès que l’ordre commença -à se rétablir, ils firent -escorter les femmes jusques chez -elles, afin de les préserver de toute -insulte.</i>” P. 164. -</p> -<p> -That there were some men of -honour and humanity, who protected -the inhabitants as far as -they could, must be believed for -the sake of human nature. But -the Revolution and the school -of Buonaparte had done all that -was possible for eradicating both -humanity and honour; and I -affirm, on the testimony of the -Portugueze, and of those British -officers who have had full opportunities -of ascertaining the -truth, that the conduct of the -French in Evora was marked -with deliberate and sportive -cruelty of the most flagitious -kind. Concerning the conduct -of the general officers, as respects -their sense of honour, I happen -to possess some rather curious -information. Loison promised -the Archbishop that his property -should not be touched. -After this promise, Loison himself, -with some of his officers, -entered the Archbishop’s library, -which was one of the finest in -Portugal; they took down all -the books, in the hope of discovering -valuables behind them, -they broke off the gold and silver -clasps from the magnificent bindings -of the rarest part of the collection, -and in their disappointment -at finding so little plunder, -tore in pieces a whole pile of manuscripts. -They took every gold -and silver coin from his cabinet -of medals, and every jewel and -bit of the precious metals with -which the relics were adorned, -or which decorated any thing in -his oratory. Loison was even -seen in noon-day to take the -Archbishop’s episcopal ring from -the table and pocket it. These circumstances -are stated on the authority -of the Archbishop himself.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_23" href="#FNanchor_23" class="fnanchor">23</a> Sir Arthur, upon the court of -inquiry, begged leave, in justice -to the individuals composing this -commissariat, to state, that he -did not intend to complain of -want of zeal, nor of any deficiency -of exertion on their -part. “The fact is,” said he, -“that I wished to draw the attention -of the government to this -important branch of the service, -which is but little understood in -this country. The evils of which -I complained are probably to be -attributed to the nature of our -political situation, which prevents -us from undertaking great -military operations, in which the -subsistence of armies becomes a -subject of serious consideration -and difficulty, and these evils -consisted in the inexperience of -almost every individual belonging -to the commissariat, of the -mode of procuring, conveying, -and distributing supplies.” He -requested that this explanation -might stand upon the minutes.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_24" href="#FNanchor_24" class="fnanchor">24</a> General Thiebault affirms, -that they had only 1900 in the -field. An officer who was dying -of his wounds informed Sir Arthur -Wellesley that their numbers -were 6000. General Thiebault -asserts also, that in a charge -made by General Brenier with -two companies in front of Azambugeira, -the 29th regiment having -lost its colonel, and many of -its officers and men, surrendered -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">tout-entier</i>: but that <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">par-malheur</i> -the firing did not cease, and the -wreck of the regiment saved itself -by a spontaneous movement, -leaving a major, eight officers, -and fifty men, in the hands of -the French. There is an official -test by which the accuracy of -this statement may be tried; and -thereby it appears, that only four -officers were missing in this -action, and that there was no -major among them. The loss of -the English he states at more -than 2000. The accuracy of our -official lists of the killed and -wounded is among those things -relating to Great Britain which -a Frenchman cannot understand.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_25" href="#FNanchor_25" class="fnanchor">25</a> They were cast off cavalry, -purchased in Ireland; and they -were described as old, blind, and -lame: some of them, it was said, -had already at this time died of -age, others of work, though they -had been carefully fed: nearly a -sixth part had thus perished on -the way, and of the remainder -a great number were not worth -the forage which they consumed. -Nine years after these poor horses -had been delivered over to the -dogs and wolves, a representation -was made to me in their favour, -and I feel myself bound to notice -it, were it only for the singularity -of the case. I am assured that the -300 horses (which Lord Castlereagh -good-naturedly called his -countrymen) were selected with -the greatest care, as well as knowledge, -in horseflesh, from 1050 of -which the corps was then composed; -that they were in the very -best condition and working order; -they were drafts from a collection -made by purchase in 1803, (that -is, five years before, and therefore -not young); or from the best -and most useful horses cast -from dragoon regiments, as unfit -for dragoon service generally, -(the inferior description of such -cast horses having been from time -to time sold); that they had been -always carefully groomed and -well fed, and were in excellent -condition for common draft, the -service for which they were required. -From the manner in -which this representation was -made to me, I have no doubt of -its truth. The horses, when they -began the campaign, had probably -not recovered from the voyage; -they were not accustomed to the -food of the country, and were -employed in much harder work -than had ever fallen to their lot -before, and upon much worse -roads. And so, peace to their -memory. I must not however -omit to observe, that Captain -Eliot, in his Treatise on the -Defence of Portugal, says, these -artillery horses, in the brigade to -which he was attached, did their -duty perfectly well at the battle -of Vimeiro.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_26" href="#FNanchor_26" class="fnanchor">26</a> According to General Thiebault, -ten guns and 1800 men; -but to make up the number of -killed and wounded, he adds to -the British loss, what he takes -off from the French, and says, -we had more than 500 killed and -1200 wounded.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_27" href="#FNanchor_27" class="fnanchor">27</a> <em>Weel, my bra’ lads, I can -gang nae farther wi’ ye a-fighting; -but Deel ha’e my saul if ye -sal want music</em>, were his words.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_28" href="#FNanchor_28" class="fnanchor">28</a> They remained, according to -General Thiebault, long enough -to dress 800 of their wounded -upon the field, and send them -all off for Torres Vedras. The -attitude of the grenadiers with -which General Kellermann had -charged, the rapidity with which -the infantry re-formed, and the -movements of four cavalry regiments -under General Margaron, -he says, <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">concoururent efficacement -à contenir l’ennemi. Nous -restames de cette manière, maîtres -du champ de bataille, plus de trois -heures après la cessation de l’action.</i> -It is melancholy to observe, -that the historical relations -of this war which the French -have published since its termination, -are, generally speaking, as -little to be relied on as their official -accounts during its continuance.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_29" href="#FNanchor_29" class="fnanchor">29</a> General Thiebault, who was -present at this council, represents -the force against them, independent -of Lisbon, of 30,000 -British, and 17,000 Spaniards, at -more than 80,000 men, <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">auxquels -rien ne manquoit</i>! In reality, -every man in Portugal was their -enemy; but except animosity -and individual courage, the Portugueze -at that time wanted -every thing.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_30" href="#FNanchor_30" class="fnanchor">30</a> It is asserted by General -Thiebault, that General Kellermann -was sent to feel his ground, -under pretext of a conference -relating to the prisoners and -wounded. Upon that General’s -return he says, “<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">On conçoit de -quel interêt étoient les nouvelles -qu’il rapportoit, et combien elles -parurent heureuses quand on sut à -quel point il avoit réalisé tout ce -qu’on avoit pu esperer. Il avoit</i> -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">été reçu avec la plus grande distinction; -il avoit eu le talent de -faire prendre aux Anglais l’initiative -des propositions qu’il avoit -à leur faire; sachant parfaitement -l’Anglais, il avoit suivi la -partie la plus mysterieuse de leurs -conversations<a id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">31</a> ; il s’étoit fortifié de -la certitude que, malgré l’énormité -de leurs avantages, les Anglais, -incertains de l’époque de l’arrivée -des renforts, qu’ils attendoient, -n’étoient pas tranquilles sur leur -position: il étoit parvenu à traiter -pour la flotte Russe en même -temps que pour l’armée Française, -et cela en faisant pressenter -que les Russes alloient se joindre -à nous: il étoit arrivé de cette -manière à demander même que -nous émmenassions la flotte Portuguese, -non pour l’obtenir, mais -afin d’avoir quelque chose à céder, -dans le cas où des articles d’une -haute importance seroient trop -contestés; et c’est ainsi, que par -autant d’habilité que de fermeté -et d’adresse, il parvint à conclure -et à signer un traité provisoire.</i>” -This statement is sent into the -world with General Kellermann’s -sanction, Baron Thiebault’s <cite>Relation</cite> -having, as the preface -states, been read to him. General -Kellermann was so successful -in this negotiation, that -he can derive no additional -credit from these additions to -the plain facts. With regard to -the initiative, he came declaredly -to treat for an armistice preparatory -to a convention for evacuating -Portugal, and he produced -a paper containing the -wishes of the French Commander-in-chief; -the deliberations -upon his proposal, which -he is said to have overheard, -were not carried on in his presence, -but in an inner room. -(<cite>Proceedings upon the Inquiry</cite>, -p. 57.) As to the demand -that the French might carry -away the Portugueze fleet, the -French are certainly bold askers; -and in this negotiation, as in -many others, they proved that -Fortune favours the bold; ... but -he must have been more than -bold, who could have made such -a proposal. What was afterwards -asked upon that score will appear -hereafter.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_31" href="#FNanchor_31" class="fnanchor">31</a> Voici quelques-unes des phrases -qu’il recueillit: <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Notre position est delicate—Le -corps de Sir John Moore -n’est pas encore arrivé à Figuières—La -bonne intelligence des Russes et -des Français doit nous donner des -inquietudes</i>, &c.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote p2"> - -<p class="fn2 b0"><a id="Footnote_32" href="#FNanchor_32" class="fnanchor">32</a></p> -<p class="p0 center larger">LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL JUNTA.</p> - -<table id="junta" class="p1" summary="Members of the Central Junta"> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">For Aragon</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Francisco Rebolledo de Palafox y Melzi, Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, and Brigadier in the army; D. Lorenzo Calvo de Rozas, Intendant of the army and kingdom of Aragon.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Asturias</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, Knight of the Order of Alcantara, of the Royal Council of State, and formerly Minister of Grace and Justice; Marques de Campo-Sagrado, Lieutenant-General of the army, and Inspector-general of the troops of Asturias.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Canaries</td> - <td class="tdl">Marques de Villanueva del Prado.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Old Castille</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Lorenzo Bonifaz y Quintano, Prior of the holy Church of Zamora; D. Francisco Xavier Caro, Professor of Laws at Salamanca.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Catalonia</td> - <td class="tdl">Marques de Villel, Conde de Darnius, a Grandee, and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber; Baron de Sabasona.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Cordoba</td> - <td class="tdl">Marques de la Puebla de los Infantes, a Grandee; D. Juan de Dios Gutierrez Rabé.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Extremadura</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Martin de Garay, Intendant of Extremadura, and Honorary Minister of the Council of War; D. Felix Ovalle, Treasurer of the army of Extremadura.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Gallicia</td> - <td class="tdl">Conde de Gimonde; D. Antonio Aballe.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Granada</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Rodrigo Riquelme, Regent of the Chancery of Granada; D. Luiz Funes y Salido, Canon of the holy Church of Santiago.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Jaen</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Francisco Castanedo, Canon of the holy Church of Jaen, Provisor and Vicar-general of that diocese; D. Sebastian de Jocano, of his Majesty’s council, in the <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Tribunal de Contaduria Mayor</i>, and <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Contador</i> of the province of Jaen.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Leon</td> - <td class="tdl">Frey D. Antonio Valdes, Bailey and Grand Cross of the Order of S. Juan, Knight of the Golden Fleece, Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, Captain-General of the Fleet, Counsellor of State, formerly Minister of the Marine, and acting Minister of the Indies; the Vizconde de Quintanilla.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Madrid</td> - <td class="tdl">Conde de Altamira, Marques de Astorga, a Grandee, Knight of the Golden Fleece, Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III., First Equerry, and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber; D. Pedro de Silva, Patriarch of the Indies, Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III., and formerly Camp-Marshal of the Royal Armies.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Majorca</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Tomas de Veri, Knight of the Order of S. Juan, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Palma Volunteers; Conde de Ayamans, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Palma Militia.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Murcia</td> - <td class="tdl">Conde de Florida-Blanca, Knight of the Golden Fleece, Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III., Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, and formerly First Secretary of State, and acting Minister of Grace and Justice; Marques del Villar.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Navarre</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Miguel de Balanza; D. Carlos de Amatria, Members of the Deputation of the kingdom of Navarre.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Seville</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Juan de Vera y Delgado, Archbishop of Laodicea and Coadjutor of Seville; Conde de Tilly.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Toledo</td> - <td class="tdl">D. Pedro de Ribero, Canon of the holy Church of Toledo; D. José Garcia de la Torre, Advocate of the Royal Councils.</td></tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Valencia</td> - <td class="tdl">Conde de Contamina, a Grandee, Gentleman of the Bed-chamber; Principe Pio, a Grandee, Colonel of Militia.</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_33" href="#FNanchor_33" class="fnanchor">33</a> Llorente, under his name of -Nellerto, (vol. i. 155,) asserts, -that when Florida-Blanca was -summoned to the central Junta -he left a writing, addressed to -the municipality of the city of -Murcia, protesting that he acted -under fear and compulsion, and -in the full knowledge that his -country was going to destruction; -and adding, that he made -this solemn declaration lest King -Joseph should one day treat him -as a criminal. This infamous -calumny, which by its own absurdity -confutes itself, is advanced -by the ex-secretary of -the Inquisition upon no better -authority than that of a Madrid -journal, published under -the Intruder’s government. It -is so palpably calumnious, that -I should not have thought it -worthy of contradiction, if it had -not been doubtfully repeated by -Col. Jones in his very able Account -of the War.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_34" href="#FNanchor_34" class="fnanchor">34</a> An account of them may be -found in the notes to the Chronicle -of the Cid, pp. 141 and 418. -Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr says of -the present Miquelets, that they -are the best light troops in Europe -(p. 54.) But Cabañes argues -that they cannot possibly -be so efficient as they were when -war was carried on less scientifically, -and he regrets that it -was not possible to raise regular -regiments in their stead. P. i. 90.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_35" href="#FNanchor_35" class="fnanchor">35</a> <span xml:lang="es" lang="es">Aun vea el hora que vos <i>merezca dos</i> tanto</span>. V. 2348, p. 318. -Mr. Frere proposed to read <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">merezcades</i>.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_36" href="#FNanchor_36" class="fnanchor">36</a> I give this remarkable story -from that very meritorious journal, -‘The Plain Englishman,’ -(vol. i. 294,) where it is related -by the editor on the authority of -Sir Richard Keats himself.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_37" href="#FNanchor_37" class="fnanchor">37</a> June 14. <i xml:lang="es" lang="es">Se sabe de oficio -que ha muerto el 26 de Mayo el -Rey de Inglaterra; y que su sucessor -ha mudado todo el ministerio -eligiendo sugetos decididos -por la paz.</i></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_38" href="#FNanchor_38" class="fnanchor">38</a> M. Nellerto (Llorente) kills -him twice. Once on the flight -of the Intruder from Madrid, -preliminarily, (t. i. p. 143); and -secondly and definitively on this -occasion. T. i. p. 159.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_39" href="#FNanchor_39" class="fnanchor">39</a> This part of the bulletin -was officially transmitted by Lord -Castlereagh to Sir John Moore, -with the following instructions:—“His -Majesty cannot overlook -this account, descriptive, according -to the obvious sense of it, of -the murder of some unresisting -stragglers of his army, although -his Majesty is disposed to disbelieve -a transaction, however -sufficiently recorded, which is so -utterly repugnant to the usual -laws of war, and to every principle -of humanity. His Majesty -therefore desires that you will -take the earliest means of ascertaining -the truth of the fact so -recorded, and the circumstances -under which it was perpetrated, -if perpetrated at all. If it shall -upon investigation appear to be -founded, I am to desire you will -cause a protest to be made by you -to the nearest head-quarters of -the French army, and that you -will take such measures as shall -appear to you most expedient for -the protection of the troops under -your orders against conduct so -barbarous and so disgraceful.”—No -such measures were taken, in -consequence of Sir John Moore’s -retreat. This instruction, however, -exculpates the British government -from any charge of indifference -upon the subject.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_40" href="#FNanchor_40" class="fnanchor">40</a> The French historian of -Marshal Soult’s Campaigns in -1808–9, affirms that Sir John -Moore had 37,000 effective men, -and Romana had from 25,000 -to 30,000; their united force -amounting thus to more than -60,000!</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_41" href="#FNanchor_41" class="fnanchor">41</a> He was shot through the -heart, and died so instantaneously, -that the smile with which -he was regarding the conduct of -his men was fixed upon his -cheek. They buried him at the -entrance of the bivouac which -he had occupied the preceding -night; and as his brother leant -forward to look upon the body -for the last time, a rifle-shot -passed through his cloak, and -struck his side; its force was -broken by the folds of the cloak, -otherwise the blow must have -been fatal, and he would have -fallen into the grave upon his -brother’s corpse.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p class="fn2"><a id="Footnote_42" href="#FNanchor_42" class="fnanchor">42</a> The historian of Marshal -Soult’s campaigns in 1809 states -the loss of the French at 150 -killed and 500 wounded. They -were successful on all points, he -says; the victory was decided, -and if the action had begun earlier, -and if the ground had permitted -the cavalry to charge, <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">c’en -était fait de cette armée Anglaise</i>. -These are modest mis-statements -in an author who asserts that, in -the hope of impeding the French -in their pursuit, the English conceived -the horrible intention of -blowing up the town of Betanzos, -where the inhabitants had -received them as allies; and that -for this purpose they deposited -six thousand weight of powder -on the ground floor of the town-house -and set fire to the four -quarters of the town!!</p></div> -</div></div> - -<div class="chapter"><div class="transnote"> -<h2 id="Transcribers_Notes" class="nobreak p1">Transcriber’s Notes</h2> - -<p>Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant -preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.</p> - -<p>Simple typographical errors were corrected; two unbalanced -quotation marks were remedied.</p> - -<p>Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained; occurrences -of inconsistent hyphenation have not been changed.</p> - -<p>The source book used many Sidenotes, printed in italics. 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