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diff --git a/old/60391-0.txt b/old/60391-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d916ad1..0000000 --- a/old/60391-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,15774 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Peninsular War Volume VI (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 VI (of 6) - -Author: Robert Southey - -Release Date: September 30, 2019 [EBook #60391] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR, VOL 6 *** - - - - -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_. - -Superscripts are indicated as ^o, ^r, or ^{er}. - -Other notes will be found at the end of this eBook. - - - - - 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. VI. - - - LONDON: - JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET. - - MDCCCXXXVII. - - - - -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 OF THE SIXTH VOLUME - - - CHAPTER XLI. - - (CONTINUED.) - - Page - - Duran enters Soria 1 - - Members of the Junta of Burgos seized by the French and put to - death 2 - - Circumstances of the execution 4 - - Treatment of their bodies 5 - - Retaliatory executions 6 - - El Manco 7 - - Mutual retaliations 7 - - Guerrilla exploits 8 - - Intercepted letters from the Intruder 9 - - Sir Rowland Hill’s expedition against the bridge of Almaraz 12 - - Ballasteros defeated at Bornos 16 - - Lord Wellington advances into Spain 16 - - Salamanca 17 - - The Tormes 18 - - The allies enter Salamanca 18 - - Siege of the forts there 19 - - Marmont moves to relieve them 21 - - Surrender of the forts 24 - - Marmont falls back upon the Douro 25 - - Lord Wellington advances to that river 26 - - The Douro 27 - - Marmont reinforced by General Bonnet 28 - - Lord Wellington retires before him 29 - - Battle of Salamanca 33 - - Proceedings of Sir Home Popham on the coast of Biscay 41 - - - CHAPTER XLII. - - Appeal of the Intruder to the Spaniards 47 - - State of Madrid 48 - - Measures of the Intruder before the battle of Salamanca 49 - - Advance of the allies 50 - - Affair at Majalahonda 51 - - The enemy retire from Madrid 51 - - The allies enter 52 - - The new constitution proclaimed there 52 - - The Buen Retiro 53 - - Surrender of the Retiro 56 - - The constitution sworn to 56 - - General Foy’s movement 58 - - Measures of police at Madrid 59 - - Lord Wellington’s situation 61 - - Anglo-Sicilian army 62 - - Majorcan division 63 - - The expedition arrives on the coast of Catalonia 64 - - Defeat of the Spaniards at Castalla 65 - - The expedition lands at Alicante 66 - - The French fall back to the Xucar 66 - - They withdraw from Santander 67 - - And are driven from Bilbao 67 - - State of the Galician army 67 - - The French break up the siege of Cadiz 68 - - Movement of General La Cruz Mourgeon and Colonel Skerrett upon - Seville 69 - - Brigadier-General Downie 69 - - The French driven from Seville 71 - - Rejoicing in that city 73 - - Honours rendered to Lord Wellington 74 - - St. Teresa appointed co-patroness of Spain 74 - - Lord Wellington commander-in-chief of the Spanish armies 77 - - His situation at Madrid 77 - - He moves toward Burgos 79 - - The French withdraw from Valladolid 79 - - The allies advance to Burgos 80 - - Burgos 81 - - The allies enter Burgos 85 - - Castle of Burgos 86 - - The horn-work on St. Miguel’s taken 87 - - Failure in assaulting the first line 89 - - A second assault fails 90 - - A third by daylight proves successful 91 - - Major Cocks 93 - - The second line assaulted with ill success 95 - - Movement of the French in the North 95 - - Ballasteros refuses to act under the British commander 96 - - He is exiled to Ceuta 97 - - General Maitland gives up the command of the Anglo-Sicilian army 98 - - Unsuccessful attempt upon Denia 99 - - The French prepare to march from the South against Lord - Wellington 99 - - Castle of Chinchilla taken by them 99 - - They begin their march 100 - - Lord Wellington raises the siege of Burgos 101 - - Retreat from Burgos 101 - - Disorder during the retreat 102 - - The allies halt 104 - - Sir Rowland Hill retreats from the Xarama 106 - - State of Madrid 107 - - The allies withdraw from Madrid 107 - - The French enter 108 - - Junction of the retreating armies 109 - - Junction of the French armies 110 - - Lord Wellington retreats to Salamanca 111 - - And from thence to the Agueda 112 - - Sufferings of the army 112 - - Sir Edward Paget made prisoner 114 - - Lord Wellington reaches Ciudad Rodrigo 115 - - The French retire to the Tormes 116 - - Castle of Alba de Tormes evacuated 116 - - Lord Wellington’s circular letter to the commanding officers of - battalions 117 - - - CHAPTER XLIII. - - Opinions of the opposition 122 - - Marquis Wellesley calls for inquiry 122 - - Lord Grenville 124 - - Mr. Ponsonby 125 - - Mr. Freemantle 125 - - Mr. Whitbread 125 - - Motion of thanks to the armies 127 - - Sir F. Burdett 127 - - Marquis Wellesley moves for a committee 129 - - Earl Grey 131 - - Earl of Liverpool 132 - - Earl Bathurst 132 - - Lord Holland 133 - - Lord Wellington goes to Cadiz 133 - - Arrangements concerning the Spanish armies 134 - - Lord Wellington goes to Lisbon 135 - - Relaxed discipline of the Portugueze army 135 - - Buonaparte withdraws troops from Spain 137 - - Exactions of the French 138 - - Longa’s movements in the North 138 - - Mina’s movements 140 - - Caffarelli recalled from Spain 141 - - Clausel endeavours to hunt Mina down 141 - - Renovales made prisoner 143 - - Castro de Urdiales taken by General Foy 143 - - Enormities committed there by the French 144 - - Marshal Soult called from Spain 145 - - The Intruder goes to Valladolid 145 - - Anglo-Sicilian army 146 - - Sir John Murray takes the command 146 - - Defeat of Elio’s corps 147 - - Suchet marches against the Anglo-Sicilian army 147 - - Battle of Castalla 149 - - Lord Wellington opens the campaign 153 - - The left of his army crosses the Douro 153 - - Affair near Salamanca 154 - - Passage of the Ezla 157 - - Sir Rowland Hill crosses the Douro 159 - - The French abandon Burgos 161 - - The Ebro 162 - - Passage of the Ebro 163 - - The French fall back upon Vittoria 163 - - Vittoria 165 - - Battle of Vittoria 166 - - Sir Thomas Graham proceeds against General Foy 175 - - The French driven from Tolosa 176 - - Foy retreats into France 177 - - Passages is surrendered 178 - - Castro abandoned by the enemy 178 - - Pancorbo taken 179 - - Clausel retires to Zaragoza 179 - - Preparations for the siege of Pamplona 180 - - - CHAPTER XLIV. - - Expedition from Alicante 181 - - Col de Balaguer taken by the Anglo-Sicilian army 182 - - The expedition lands near Tarragona 183 - - Suchet’s movements for the relief of that place 185 - - Sir John Murray raises the siege 186 - - Suchet approaches Col de Balaguer and retires again 188 - - Sir John re-lands the troops 189 - - Lord W. Bentinck takes the command 190 - - Fort at Col de Balaguer demolished 190 - - Unsuccessful movements of the Spaniards in Valencia 191 - - The expedition returns to Alicante 192 - - Suchet’s measures after the battle of Vittoria 192 - - Lord Wellington undertakes the siege of S. Sebastian’s 193 - - Clausel retreats into France by way of Jaca 193 - - Duran invites Mina to act with him for the deliverance of - Zaragoza 194 - - Affair before Zaragoza 195 - - Second sally of the French 197 - - Duran arrives before the city 197 - - The French withdraw from the city, leaving a garrison 198 - - Suchet draws off the remaining garrisons in Aragon 201 - - Duran enters Zaragoza 202 - - Mina takes the command 203 - - The Aljaferia surrendered 204 - - Conduct of the Zaragozans during their captivity 204 - - S. Sebastian’s 207 - - Distribution of the allied army 208 - - Siege of S. Sebastian’s 210 - - Convent of S. Bartolomé taken 211 - - The batteries open 213 - - Unsuccessful assault 214 - - The siege suspended 217 - - Soult appointed Commander-in-chief 218 - - His address to the troops 219 - - Critical situation of the allied army 220 - - Soult’s movements for the relief of Pamplona 221 - - Battles of the Pyrenees 222 - - Siege of S. Sebastian’s resumed 230 - - Preparations for assaulting the town 233 - - Soult moves for its relief 234 - - Assault of the town 234 - - Sir James Leith wounded 238 - - Sir Richard Fletcher slain 239 - - The town taken 239 - - The French defeated in their attempt to relieve it 241 - - Siege of the castle 244 - - Excesses committed in the town 246 - - The garrison surrenders 247 - - - CHAPTER XLV. - - The remains of Romana’s army return from the North 251 - - Lord W. Bentinck invests Tarragona 251 - - Suchet raises the siege 253 - - The French abandon Tarragona 254 - - Plans proposed to Suchet by Soult 254 - - Suchet surprises the allies at the pass of Ordal 256 - - The Anglo-Sicilians retreat 257 - - The command devolves upon Sir William Clinton 258 - - Position of the armies in the Pyrenean frontier 261 - - Levy ordered in France for Soult’s army 262 - - Speech of M. Regnaud de S. Jean Angely 262 - - Of the Comte de Beurnonville 262 - - Lord Wellington’s orders upon entering France 263 - - Passage of the Bidassoa 264 - - The Bidassoa 265 - - Attack of the French position 266 - - Conduct of the French peasantry 270 - - Pamplona surrendered 272 - - Soult’s position on the Nivelle 274 - - Battles of the Nivelle 278 - - The allies cantoned between that river and the sea 287 - - S. Jean de Luz 288 - - Discipline observed by the allies 289 - - The inhabitants return to their homes 290 - - Bayonne 291 - - Passage of the Nive 292 - - Soult takes a defensive position 306 - - The allies wait in their cantonments for better weather 307 - - Marshal Beresford restores the colours of certain Portugueze - militia regiments 308 - - Conduct of the Spanish and Portugueze soldiers at Dantzic 309 - - Ill conduct of the Spanish government towards Lord Wellington 310 - - Change of Regency 310 - - Proceedings in Parliament 311 - - Lord Grenville’s speech 312 - - Marquis Wellesley 314 - - Lord Liverpool 315 - - Mr. Charles Grant 316 - - Mr. Whitbread 318 - - Mr. Canning 320 - - Mr. Whitbread 325 - - Militia allowed to volunteer for foreign service 325 - - Lord Holland 326 - - Terms offered by the allies to Buonaparte 328 - - Buonaparte treats with Ferdinand 329 - - Conference between Comte de Laforest and Ferdinand 329 - - Treaty concluded at Valençay 334 - - Duque de San Carlos sent to the Regency 335 - - Secret instructions from Ferdinand 337 - - Macanaz sent to Valençay 338 - - Zayas and Palafox released 339 - - Palafox sent to the Regency 340 - - Reply of the Spanish government 340 - - Measures of the Cortes 341 - - - CHAPTER XLVI. - - Buonaparte’s speech to his council 344 - - Proceedings of the French government 345 - - Comte Dejean 345 - - Regnaud de S. Jean d’Angely 345 - - Lacepède 346 - - Buonaparte’s speech to the Legislative Assembly 347 - - British regulations for trading with the captured French ports 347 - - Injury done by destroying the woods in this part of the Pyrenees 350 - - Movements in the month of January 352 - - False reports circulated by the French government 353 - - The Duc d’Angoulême goes to Lord Wellington’s army 354 - - Rochejaquelein comes to the British camp 355 - - Lord Wellington refuses to send an expedition to the coast of - Poitou 357 - - Suchet fails in an attempt to surprise a British corps 358 - - The German troops in Barcelona disarmed 359 - - Troops withdrawn from Suchet’s army 359 - - Failure of an attempt against the enemy at Molins del Rey 360 - - Farther drafts from Suchet’s army 361 - - He retires to Gerona 361 - - Van Halen opens a correspondence with Eroles 363 - - He deserts from the French army 363 - - His scheme for recovering certain places 364 - - The deceit tried at Tortosa 365 - - It fails there 367 - - Attempt at Lerida 368 - - And at Mequinenza, where it succeeds 369 - - Success at Lerida 370 - - And at Monzon 372 - - The three garrisons made prisoners 373 - - Suchet dismantles Gerona and other places 374 - - State of Lord Wellington’s army 375 - - Operations are renewed 376 - - Preparations for crossing the Adour 378 - - The Adour 379 - - Passage of the Adour 381 - - Entrance of the flotilla 386 - - A bridge carried over the Adour 389 - - Passage of the Gaves 391 - - Orthes 392 - - Battle of Orthes 394 - - The French driven from Aire 399 - - Soult draws nearer the Pyrenees 400 - - The allies enter Pau 401 - - Deputies arrive from Bourdeaux 402 - - The Duc d’Angoulême proceeds thither with Marshal Beresford 402 - - The Landes 403 - - The Buonapartists withdraw from Bourdeaux 404 - - The Duc enters, and the white flag is hoisted there 405 - - Failure of the negotiations at Chatillon 407 - - Soult’s proclamation 409 - - Admiral Penrose enters the Gironde 411 - - Proceedings at Valençay 414 - - Ferdinand set at liberty 416 - - His arrangement with Marshal Suchet 418 - - He writes from Gerona to the Regency 420 - - Ferdinand goes to Zaragoza 420 - - Soult resumes the offensive 421 - - He retreats upon Tarbes 422 - - Farther retreat to Toulouse 422 - - Passage of the Garonne 424 - - Toulouse 426 - - Soult’s position there 428 - - Battle of Toulouse 430 - - Soult retires from Toulouse 437 - - The allies enter 438 - - Louis XVIII proclaimed there 439 - - Sally of the French from Bayonne 439 - - Sir John Hope taken prisoner 441 - - The French repulsed 442 - - Suchet and Soult acknowledge the new government 444 - - Disposition of Ferdinand on his return 446 - - Impolitic measures of the Cortes 447 - - Cardinal Bourbon’s reception by Ferdinand 452 - - Elio meets the King 453 - - Ferdinand enters Valencia 453 - - The officers swear fidelity to him 455 - - General Wittingham’s advice 456 - - Memorial of the Serviles 457 - - Stone of the Constitution removed 458 - - Ferdinand’s declaration 459 - - He enters Madrid 465 - - Subsequent conduct of the people and of the government 466 - - Lord Wellington returns to England 467 - - He takes his seat in the House of Lords 468 - - The Lord Chancellor’s speech 468 - - The House of Commons congratulate him on his return 469 - - He returns thanks to the House 469 - - The Speaker’s speech 470 - - Conclusion 471 - - - - -HISTORY - -OF THE - -PENINSULAR WAR. - - - - -CHAPTER XLI. - -(CONTINUED.) - -GUERRILLAS, AND THEIR EXPLOITS. SIR ROWLAND HILL’S SUCCESS AT ALMARAZ. -BATTLE OF SALAMANCA. - - -♦MAY, 1812. - -DURAN ENTERS SORIA.♦ - -At this time, when nothing could be expected from the Spanish armies, -the Guerrillas acted in larger bodies than before, and engaged in -more difficult enterprises than they had yet undertaken. Duran having -obtained a plan of the fortifications of Soria from an architect who -resided there, resolved upon attacking that city as an important post, -from whence the French commanded a considerable extent of country. -Soria, which stands on the Douro, near the supposed site of Numantia, -and contained about 1,100 families in the middle of the last century, -is surrounded by an old wall eighteen feet in height and six in -thickness, to which some works adapted to a more modern art of war -had been added; the suburb also had been fortified, and the castle -strengthened. He approached the city by a circuitous route (during a -most tempestuous night of wind ♦MARCH 18.♦ and snow, which froze as -it fell,) and reaching it at daybreak scaled the walls, forced the -suburb, and obtained possession of the city. The enemy retired into the -castle, and Duran prepared to besiege it, setting fire to four convents -to clear the way for his operations. - -The adventurers had arrived in fortunate time, for the morrow was -St. Joseph’s day, when a ball and supper were to have been given in -honour of the Intruder for his name’s sake, and the delicacies which -had been prepared for this occasion served to regale these unexpected -and unwelcome visiters. Battering-rams were employed with great effect -against the old walls, that the city might no longer afford protection -to the French; the public money was seized, great quantities of grain -and biscuit dispatched by all the means of transport which could be -found, and a contribution levied upon the inhabitants, for hitherto -they had contributed nothing to the national troops, being under -the yoke of the French, and thinking it evil enough to pay what the -invaders exacted; but the Guerrillas admitted of no such excuse: they -supposed the people to be rich because it was a trading city, and many -who had formerly been rich proprietors dwelt there; the contribution, -therefore, was not likely to be lightly imposed. Duran enrolled also -such men as he thought fit for service, ordered others who might have -been serviceable to the enemy to leave the city, and retreated himself -without loss, when a detachment arrived from Aranda to the succour of -the garrison. - -♦MEMBERS OF THE JUNTA OF BURGOS SEIZED BY THE FRENCH AND PUT TO DEATH. - -MARCH 21.♦ - -This enterprise led to a tragedy characteristic of the spirit in which -the war was carried on on both sides. The French, who had come in time -to save the castle of Soria, obtained intelligence that the Junta of -Burgos were in a village called Grado; and there, under the guidance of -a Spanish traitor, Moreno by name, a party of 450 horse, making a march -of fourteen leagues in less than four-and-twenty hours, surprised them -early in the morning. Some twenty soldiers with their commander were -found fast asleep, and made prisoners, as were three members of the -Junta and the secretary of the Intendency: but more persons escaped -than were taken, though the enemy set every house on fire, with the -intention of burning those who might have hidden themselves. As soon -as the news was known, Duran and the Junta of Soria sent to the French -commander in that city, reminding him that the prisoners taken there -had been treated with humanity, and threatening reprisals if the -persons who had now been captured should be put to death. This was of -no avail. The vice-president of the Junta, D. Pedro Gordo, who was the -parochial priest of Santibañez, was inhumanly scourged by Moreno, ... -perhaps from some impulse of private enmity: the prisoners were then -conducted to Aranda, from whence the soldiers contrived to effect their -escape. Navas, the secretary of Gordo, and the two other members of -the Junta, D. Jose Ortiz de Covarrubios, and D. Eulogio Jose de Muro, -with a young lad, son of the former, were sent in irons to Soria, -there to be tried by the criminal Junta of that ♦APRIL 2.♦ city. The -trial, which took place during the night, occupied five hours, all the -formalities of justice being observed; and the boy, whom because of his -youth it would have been monstrous to condemn, was acquitted: the other -four were sentenced to death, and four priests were ordered immediately -to attend them; but no more time was allowed than was necessary for -bringing together and forming the soldiers who were to conduct them to -the place of execution. - -The different behaviour of the sufferers was such as deeply to affect -the spectators. Ortiz was greatly moved at the thought of leaving his -son fatherless and destitute; ♦CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE EXECUTION.♦ but -overcoming that emotion with a Spaniard’s feeling, he commended the -boy to God as the orphan’s Father, and called upon the Lord to receive -his soul as a victim for his religion and his country. The priest -held a crucifix in one hand as he went to execution, and beat his -breast incessantly with the other; and while tears of ardent devotion -streamed down his cheeks, implored with a loud voice forgiveness for -his own sins and for those of the people. Muro, who was a much younger -man than either, was of a weak constitution, still further weakened -by the fatigues he had undergone in the performance of his duties; so -that what with ill treatment, and what he had suffered during twelve -days’ imprisonment, there seemed to be an entire prostration of his -strength; faintings and cold sweats succeeded each other, and it was -thought he would expire before he could reach the place where he was -to be put to death. He had asked earnestly for a crucifix; the priest -who attended him not knowing for what service he had been summoned -had improvidently left his house without one; he gave him therefore -in its stead a rosary, with a medal attached to it, on which was the -image of Our Lady of the Pillar. Muro had studied in the university -of Zaragoza, where it is said he had never omitted, for a single day, -to visit and adore the tutelary idol of that city; and this trifling -circumstance, which at any other time would have appeared to him light -as air, acted upon him now in a manner that might seem miraculous or -incredible to those who cannot comprehend the force of imagination and -the strength of a believing mind; for no sooner had he seen what image -the medal bore, than, as if by an influx of divine support, he put -off all weakness and proceeded to the place of death with a firm step -and a cheerful countenance, and ejaculations of jubilant devotion. -When they came to the foot of the hill on the top of which they were -to suffer, “Up, brothers!” he exclaimed, “up! let us ascend this our -Mount Calvary, where it is vouchsafed to us that we should imitate our -Redeemer! I pray and trust that this hour our offences shall be blotted -out by virtue of the blood which on his holy Calvary he shed for our -sins.” In this spirit he knelt down upon the fatal spot, raised his -eyes to heaven, and presented his breast to the soldiers. The Spaniards -compared the circumstances of this man’s death with what the French -themselves had related of Marshal Lasnes, how after he had received his -mortal wound, a visit from Buonaparte comforted and for a while revived -him: “Let patron,” said they, “be compared with patron, client with -client, and cause with cause!” - -♦TREATMENT OF THEIR BODIES.♦ - -The bodies of these victims were suspended from the gallows till -the following day, when the French gave orders that they should be -taken down and buried. But the execution had been an act of impolitic -severity: after Duran’s recent visit the national cause would not -have been popular in Soria, unless the national feeling had been thus -provoked; and that feeling was now manifested in a manner which the -invaders had not looked for. The clergy, the nobles, the different -brotherhoods of the city, and the people assembled: the bodies were -carried to the church of St. Salvador in procession, with a long line -of tapers, and a most numerous attendance; they were then dressed -in grave clothes with becoming decency, that of the priest in his -sacerdotal habits. So public and ostentatious a funeral was considered -by the French an insult to their authority; soldiers, therefore, were -sent to interrupt it, and some of the attendants were compelled to -carry the bodies back to the gallows and hang them there again, the -priest in his alb, the others in their shrouds; there they remained -many days, and what the birds and the dogs had left was then buried at -the foot of the gallows. - -♦RETALIATORY EXECUTIONS.♦ - -When D. Jose O’Donell, who commanded what was called the 2nd and -3rd army then in Murcia, received official intelligence of these -executions, he wrote to Duran, as acting commander in Aragon and Soria, -and instructed him to put to death ten prisoners, without distinction -of rank, for each of the four victims, first apprising the nearest -French commandant that he had received these orders, and should -act upon them unless such reparation were made as might be deemed -proportionate to the offence. Without waiting for such instructions, -the Merino had exacted vengeance upon a larger scale. Having defeated -a considerable body of the French who had marched from Aranda, to -collect requisitions, killed and wounded some 150 and taken about -500 prisoners, he put 110 of them to death, twenty of these being in -reprisals for each member of the Junta of Burgos; the others, at the -rate of ten for each of his own people whom the French had executed. -The other prisoners were marched into Asturias where opportunity might -be found for embarking them; but all the officers, twelve in number, -including the lieutenant-colonel, their commander, were reserved to be -shot unless General Rey, who commanded at Burgos, would rescue them -from that fate by delivering the traitor Moreno into the Merino’s -hands. The unhappy prisoners are said to have addressed a letter -to Rey, entreating him to save their lives by complying with this -proposal, for they well knew that in these cases the Spaniards never -failed to execute what they threatened. The issue has not been related, -but may easily be guessed, as it was scarcely possible that the -French commander should so far break his faith with a Spaniard in the -Intruder’s service as to deliver him to certain death. - -♦EL MANCO.♦ - -There were no persons whom the Spaniards regarded with such hatred -as those who had forsaken the national cause, and entered into the -Intruder’s service. Albuir, known as a Guerrilla chief by the name of -El Manco, had taken this course, and became therefore a special object -of vengeance to his countrymen: it is the only instance of any man -who had acquired celebrity as a Guerrillero becoming a traitor, while -in the officers of the army such cases were not unfrequent: this was -because the regular officers were men, who, having entered the service -either as a matter of course or of compulsion, felt severely the -poverty of the government, and often had little else to do than to talk -of its errors, complain of its abuses, and speculate upon its hopeless -condition; whereas the Guerrilla leaders led a life of incessant -activity and animating hope, and most of them were impelled to that -course by a strong feeling either of their country’s injuries or of -their own. - -♦MUTUAL RETALIATION.♦ - -At this time Lord Wellington’s successes had animated the Spaniards -with a hope of deliverance, and made the French more intent upon -extirpating those persons who, by keeping up the national spirit in -what they deemed the subjected provinces, occupied a large part of -the invading force. They attempted to surprise the Junta of Aragon, -as they had that of Burgos, and a detachment from Palombini’s troops -nearly effected this at Mochales, in the lordship of Molina: the Junta -escaped, but the enemy sacked the village, stripped the women in the -market-place, and hung the alcalde and two other persons; in reprisals -for whom, Jabarelli, the late commandant at Calatayud, and ten other -prisoners, were shot by the Spaniards. Vicente Bonmati, the leader -of a Guerrilla party, had been put to death at Petrel, in Valencia, -with circumstances of peculiar cruelty; the French having tied his -hands, transfixed them with a bayonet, and then parading him through -the streets, pricked him with their bayonets till he died. Upon -this the Camp Marshal Copons, provincial commandant-general in that -kingdom, gave orders to shoot the first prisoner who should be taken, -and informed the nearest French commandant, that for every other such -execution twenty prisoners should be put to death. Such reprisals were -but too characteristic of a vindictive people, capable of inflicting -as well as enduring anything; but they were evidences also of that -high-mindedness which the Spaniards retained in their lowest fortune; -never abasing themselves, never submitting to the insolent assumption -of authority, nor for a moment consenting that might should be allowed -to sanction injustice. Their parties, meantime, acquired a confidence -from their own experience, and from the success of their allies. ♦MAY -5. GUERRILLA EXPLOITS.♦ Mendizabal appeared before Burgos, and drove -the enemy from the monastery of Las Huelgas and the hospital del Rey. -Duran entered Tudela ♦MAY 28.♦ by escalade, and destroyed a battering -train of artillery which had been brought thither from Zaragoza, with -the intent, he supposed, of laying siege to ♦MAY 30.♦ Ciudad Rodrigo. -The Empecinado attacked the French in Cuenca; they withdrew from it in -the night, and he destroyed their fortifications there, and set fire -to the Inquisition. Mina received information that a strong convoy was -about to set forth from Vittoria for France, escorting some prisoners -taken from Ballasteros. He determined to intercept them upon the plains -of Arlaban, which had been the scene of one of his most successful -exploits in the preceding year; and in order to deceive the enemy, -he wrote letters which were thrown into their hands, declaring his -intention of marching upon the river Arga, to form a junction at the -foot of the Pyrenees with two of his battalions. The enemy, ♦APRIL 9.♦ -supposing that this dreaded commander was far distant, began their -march: his orders were, after one discharge to attack with the bayonet, -and that no soldier should touch the convoy on pain of death till -the action was ended. It was of no long duration; the vanguard were -presently slaughtered; the centre and the rear, consisting of Poles and -of Imperial Guards, made a brave but unavailing resistance: from 600 -to 700 were slain, 500 wounded, and 150 taken, with the whole convoy, -and about 400 prisoners set at liberty. M. Deslandes, the Intruder’s -private secretary, was in the convoy; he got out of his carriage, and -endeavoured to escape in a peasant’s dress, with which it seems he -had provided himself, in anticipation of some such danger; but this -disguise cost him his life, which would have been saved had it been -known in time who he was. His wife, an Andalusian lady, with two of her -countrywomen, who were married to officers in the enemy’s service, fell -into Mina’s hands. Very few would have escaped if the French had not -erected a fort at Arlaban, in consequence of their last year’s loss, -and this served as a protection for the fugitives. - -♦INTERCEPTED LETTERS FROM THE INTRUDER.♦ - -Some letters from the Intruder were found upon his secretary. One was -to Buonaparte, reminding him how, when he returned to Spain at his -desire twelve months before, his Imperial Majesty had told him, that -at the worst he could quit that country in case their hopes should -not be realised, and that then he should have an asylum in the south -of the empire. “Sire,” said he, “events have deceived my hopes; I -have done no good, and I have no hopes of doing any. I entreat your -Majesty, therefore, to let me resign into your hands the right to -the crown of Spain, which four years ago you deigned to transfer to -me. I had no other object in accepting the crown than the happiness -of this vast monarchy, and it is not in my power to effect that. I -entreat your Majesty to receive me into the number of your subjects, -and to believe that you will never have a more faithful servant than -the friend whom nature has given you.” There were other letters of -the same date to his wife, whom he had left in Paris, and who was to -deliver that which he had written to the Emperor only in case the -decree for uniting to France the provinces beyond the Ebro should have -been published; otherwise she was to await his farther directions. In -another letter to her he said, that if the Emperor made war against -Russia, and thought his presence in Spain could be useful, he would -remain there, provided that both the military and civil authority were -vested in him; otherwise his desire was to return to France. Should -there be no Russian war, he would remain with or without the command, -provided nothing were exacted from him which could make it believed -that he consented to a dismemberment of the monarchy: provided also -that troops enough and territory enough were left him, and that the -monthly loan of a million, which had been promised, were paid. In that -case he would remain as long as he could, thinking himself as much -bound in honour not to quit Spain lightly, as he should be to quit it, -if, during the war with England, sacrifices were required from him -which he neither could nor ought to make, except at a general peace, -for the good of Spain, of France, and of Europe. A decree for uniting -to France the provinces beyond the Ebro, if it arrived unexpectedly, -he said, would make him depart the next day; and if the Emperor should -adjourn his projects till a time of peace, he must supply him with -means of subsistence during the war. But if he inclined either to his -removal, or to any of those measures which must cause him to remove, -it was then of great consequence that he should return to France on -kindly terms with the Emperor, and with his sincere and full consent; -and this was what reason dictated to him, and what was more conformable -to the situation of the miserable country over which he had been made -king, and to his own domestic relations. In that case, he asked from -the Emperor a domain in Tuscany, or in the south, some three hundred -leagues from Paris. The course of events, and the false position in -which he found himself, so contrary, he said, to the rectitude and -loyalty of his character, had greatly injured his health: he was -growing old; nothing but honour and duty could detain him where he was, -and his inclination would drive him away, unless the Emperor explained -himself in a different manner from what he had hitherto done. There -was also a letter to his brother Louis, expressing a hope to see him -one day in good health, and with the happiness which arises from a -good conscience.... That happiness the intrusive king Joseph might -well envy! It is little excuse for him that he was more weak than -wicked, and in mere weakness had consented to be made the instrument -of his brother’s insatiable ambition. Even in these letters, where he -manifested a full sense of his humiliating situation, no consciousness -is expressed of its guilt. For the sake of his own credit, and no -doubt of his own personal safety, he protested against any immediate -dismemberment of Spain; but he would have been contented to serve his -brother’s purpose, by nominally retaining the kingdom, till a pretext -could be found for dismembering it at a general peace. - -But how long he should retain it depended upon something more than the -will and pleasure of Napoleon Buonaparte, and this he was soon made to -apprehend. ♦SIR ROWLAND HILL’S EXPEDITION TO THE BRIDGE OF ALMARAZ.♦ -Lord Wellington was not about to remain idle with his victorious -army; he prepared for offensive operations, and the first step was to -interrupt the communication between the armies of Soult and Marmont. -All the permanent bridges on the Tagus below that of Arzobispo had been -destroyed; and the only way which was practicable for a large army was -by a bridge of boats at Almaraz, in the line of the high road, where -the noble bridge erected in Charles the Fifth’s time, at the city of -Plasentia’s cost, had been demolished. For the protection of this -important post, the French had thrown up strong works on both sides of -the river: they had formed a flanked _tête-du-pont_ on the left bank, -riveted with masonry and strongly intrenched; and on the high ground -above it they had constructed a large and strong redoubt, called Fort -Napoleon, with an interior intrenchment, and a loop-holed tower in its -centre; here they had mounted nine pieces of cannon, and had garrisoned -it with between 400 and 500 men. On the right bank, there was a redoubt -called Fort Ragusa, in honour of Marshal Marmont, of the same strength -and construction, except that the tower had a double tier of loopholes; -this flanked the bridge, and between the redoubt and the bridge there -was a flêche. For farther security, the invaders had fortified an old -castle commanding the Puerto de Miravete, about a league distant, being -the only pass for carriages of any kind by which the bridge could be -approached. A marked alteration of climate is perceptible upon crossing -the narrow mountain ridge over which the road here passes. Coming from -Castille, the traveller descends from this ridge into a country, where, -for the first time, the gum-cistus appears as lord of the waste, ... -the most beautiful of all shrubs in the Peninsula for the profusion -of its delicate flowers, and one of the most delightful for the rich -balsamic odour which its leaves exude under a southern sun; but which -overspreads such extensive tracts, where it suffers nothing else to -grow, that in many parts both of Portugal and Spain it becomes the very -emblem of desolation. The old castle stood at little distance from the -road, on the summit of the sierra: the French had surrounded it by a -lower _enceinte_, twelve feet high; they had fortified a large _venta_, -or travellers’ inn, upon the road, and had constructed two small works -between the inn and the castle, forming altogether a strong line of -defence. - -Sir Rowland Hill, to whom this important service had been intrusted, -broke up from Almandralejo on the 12th of May, with part of the 2nd -division of infantry, and six of the 24-pounder iron howitzers which -had been used against Badajoz. The Marquis de Almeida, who was a -member of the Junta of Extremadura, accompanied them, and from him and -from the people, Sir Rowland received the most ready and effectual -assistance which it was in their power to bestow. On the morning of the -16th they reached Jaraicejo, an old and decayed town, about eight miles -from the summit of the pass; and on the same evening they advanced in -three columns ... the left, under Lieutenant-General Chowne, toward -the castle of Miravete; Sir Rowland himself, with the right under -Major-General Howard, toward a pass through which a most difficult and -circuitous footpath leads by the village of Romangordo to the bridge; -and the centre, under Major-General Long, along the high road, to the -Puerto. The artillery was with the centre: both the flank columns were -provided with ladders, and it was intended that both should escalade -the forts against which they were directed; but the difficulties of the -way were such, that it was found impossible for them to reach their -respective points before daybreak: as the enemy, therefore, could not -be taken by surprise, Sir Rowland judged it best to defer the attack -till they should be better acquainted with the position and nature of -the works; and the troops bivouacked on the sierra. It was found that -the castle, because of its peculiar situation, could not be carried -without a long operation: a false attack therefore was directed to be -made upon it by Lieutenant-General Chowne, and Sir Rowland, with the -right, and the 6th Portugueze caçadores (about 2,000 men in all), on -the evening of the 18th began to descend by the mountain path which -he had originally proposed to take. They were provided with twelve -scaling-ladders of sixteen feet in length; and he relied, as in this -case he well might do, upon the valour of the troops, to supply the -want of artillery. Although the distance was little more than six -miles, the way was so difficult, that notwithstanding all the exertions -of officers and men the head of the column did not arrive near the fort -till it was break of day, and it was two or three hours later before -the rear came up; but during this time the troops were completely -concealed by the hill, and the feint against the castle had induced the -enemy to believe that the bridge forts would not be attacked till the -pass should have been forced, and a way made for the guns. - -♦MAY 19.♦ - -Could the attack have been made before day, it was intended that the -_tête-du-pont_ should have been escaladed, and the bridge destroyed at -the same time that Fort Napoleon was assaulted; but well knowing how -much depended upon celerity, Sir Rowland did not wait till the troops -who were appointed to this part of the operations could come up; with -the first battalion of the 50th and one wing of the 71st, he escaladed -the fort in three places nearly at the same time. At first a determined -resistance was made, but the enemy soon slackened their destructive -fire: they took to flight as soon as the assailants were on the top of -the parapet; they abandoned the tower, and were driven at the point of -the bayonet through their entrenchment, and through the _tête-du-pont_, -and across the bridge. The commander of Fort Ragusa on the opposite -bank, with a cowardice rarely shown among French officers, but with a -selfish disregard for the soldiers which was too common among them, -cut the bridge, in consequence of which many leaped into the river -and perished, and 259 were made prisoners, including the governor -and sixteen officers; and acting with further folly in his fear, he -evacuated his own fort, which was perfectly safe from any attack, and -retired with his garrison to Naval Moral, three leagues off, for which -he was brought to summary trial at Talavera and shot.... Both forts -were entirely destroyed by the conquerors, and the whole apparatus of -the bridge, and the stores, which were in such abundance as to prove -that this point had justly been considered a most important station by -the enemy. The loss in this signal enterprise was, two officers and 31 -men killed, 13 and 131 wounded. - -The garrison ought to have been prepared for such an attack; for -Marmont had apprehended it, and in that apprehension had marched -a detachment to the Puerto del Pico, with the view of reinforcing -Talavera in case the bridge should be lost. Sir Rowland retired by -Truxillo to his former position in front of Badajos; and on the -second day after his success, a division of the central army, under -General d’Armagnac, crossed the Tagus by the Puente del Arzobispo, -to relieve the isolated garrison at Miravete. Both Soult and Marmont -had put their forces in motion as soon as they were informed of Sir -Rowland’s march: the latter arrived upon the Tagus too late to prevent -the evil, and without the means of repairing it; the former, when he -found that the allies had passed Truxillo on their return, gave up -the hope of intercepting them. He returned to Seville, and, regarding -with uneasy apprehension the enterprising spirit of an enemy whom he -had once affected to despise, gave directions for strengthening the -line of the Guadalete, lest a force should be landed at St. Roque’s -or at Algeziras, and endanger his communication with the besieging -army before Cadiz. Bornos, as the most important point upon the line, -was fortified with great care. Ballasteros ♦BALLASTEROS DEFEATED -AT BORNOS.♦ thought to interrupt the progress of the works, and -accordingly brought all the force he could muster, consisting of about -6,000, to attack the French division there of 4,500 under General -Corroux. Collecting his troops at La Majada de Ruiz, and marching from -thence early in the afternoon of one day, he succeeded in fording the -Guadalete unperceived ♦JUNE 1.♦ at dawn on the next. The attack was -made bravely, but, with the usual ill fortune and ill discipline of a -Spanish army, some mistake led to confusion, and confusion was followed -by panic: the French were not strong enough to pursue them beyond the -river, and Ballasteros retired with the loss of about 1,000 killed and -wounded, and half as many prisoners, ... a fourth of his whole force. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON ADVANCES INTO SPAIN.♦ - -Meantime Badajoz had been fully supplied; the means of transport which -had been used for that service were then employed in storing Ciudad -Rodrigo; a month’s consumption for the whole army was deposited there; -the bridge at Alcantara was repaired for a readier communication with -Sir Rowland’s corps; and on the 13th of June the army broke up from -its cantonments on the Agueda. On the 16th they came up with the -enemy, about six miles from Salamanca, on the Valmusa, and there was a -skirmish with their cavalry; in the evening the French withdrew across -the Tormes, and the army bivouacked within a league of Salamanca. - -♦SALAMANCA♦ - -When the earliest accounts of Spain begin, Salamanca was already a -considerable place, and known by a name little different from what it -bears at present. It fell to decay after the Moorish conquest, but was -re-peopled at the same time with certain other towns upon the Tormes, -by the Leonese in the 10th century, after the great battle of Simancas: -in the 13th King St. Ferdinand removed thither the university from -Palencia. It soon became one of the most flourishing seats of learning -in Christendom, and continued to be so till Spain rejected the light -of the reformation. In its best days it is said to have contained no -fewer than 8,000 native students, and 7,000 from foreign countries: -when the present war began, the number little exceeded 3,000, among -whom a few Irish were the only foreigners. The population consisted of -some 3,400 families: it had once been much greater. But Salamanca was -still an important and a famous place: popular fiction had made its -name familiar to those who are unacquainted with its history; while -to the antiquary, the historian, and the philosopher, it is a city -of no ordinary interest. The Roman road, which extended from thence -to Merida, and so to Seville, may still be traced in its vicinity: -its bridge of twenty-seven arches, over the Tormes, is said to be in -part a Roman work. The Mozarabic liturgy is retained in one of its -churches. Its cathedral, though far inferior to some of the older -edifices, whether of Moorish or Gothic architecture, in Spain, is a -large and imposing structure. Twenty-five parish churches are enclosed -within its walls, twenty convents of monks or friars, eleven of nuns: -these, with its numerous colleges, give it an imposing appearance from -without, and a melancholy solemnity within. Nowhere, indeed, were -there more munificent endowments for education, and for literature, -and for religion; and nowhere could be less of that happy effect which -the benefactors in their piety had contemplated: the philosophy which -was taught there was that of the schoolmen, the morality that of the -casuists, the religion that of the Inquisition. It is a popular belief -in Spain, that the Devil also has his college at Salamanca, where -students of the black art take their degrees in certain caverns, every -seventh being left with him, in earnest of the after-payment to which -they all are bound. - -♦THE TORMES.♦ - -The city stands in a commanding situation on the right bank of the -Tormes, a river of considerable magnitude there, which rises near -the Sierra de Tablada in Old Castille, and falls into the Douro on -the Portuguese frontier, opposite Bemposta. The country round is -open, without trees, and with a few villages interspersed, in which -the houses are constructed of clay. On the left of the river there -are extensive pastures, on the right a wide and unenclosed corn -country. The pastures are common, and the arable land occupied after a -manner not usual in other parts of Spain: it is cultivated in annual -allotments, and reverts to the commonalty after the harvest. - -♦THE ALLIES ENTER SALAMANCA.♦ - -Marmont had apprehended this advance of the allies, and had applied -for reinforcements without effect. He showed some cavalry and a small -body of infantry in front of the town, and manifested an intention -of holding the heights on the south side of the Tormes; but in the -evening of the 16th the enemy withdrew over the river, and the allies -bivouacked within a league of Salamanca. The French retired from that -city during the night, leaving some 800 men in the fortifications -which they had constructed there. These works commanded the bridge; -the left column of the allied army therefore crossed at the ford of -El Campo, a league below the city, the centre and the right at the -ford of Santa Martha. The utmost joy was expressed by the inhabitants -when the English entered, and women crowded to thank Lord Wellington -and bless him for their deliverance. Some aching hearts there were -among those who had connected themselves by marriage, or by looser -ties, with the enemies of their country, but the general feeling was -that of perfect and grateful joy; for though this city had suffered -none of the immediate evils of war, its consequences had been severely -felt there. During the three years of its captivity the French had -demolished thirteen of its convents and twenty-two of its twenty-five -colleges; the people had been compelled to labour upon works erected -for their own subjugation; and the last act of the enemy before they -left the city, was to set fire to such houses as obstructed the defence -of their works, ... consisting of a fort and two redoubts. For the same -reason they had previously demolished the Convent of St. Augustine, -the colleges of Cuenca and ♦SIEGE OF THE FORTS THERE.♦ Oviedo, and the -magnificent King’s College. The fort was formed out of the Convent of -St. Vicente, a large building in the centre of the angle of the old -wall, on a perpendicular cliff over the Tormes. The windows had been -built up and loop-holed; on both sides it was connected by lines of -works with the old wall. There was a fascine battery in a re-entering -angle of the convent, not enclosed by these lines, and this was -protected by a loop-holed wall, with a palisade in front. ♦COL. JONES’S -SIEGES. 158–9.♦ The demolition of so many substantial edifices supplied -timber of the best quality, and in abundance, for gates, drawbridges, -palisades, and splinter proofs; and the whole was well flanked in -every part. The ground to the south, which was toward the bridge, -fell by a steep descent: at the bottom was a small stream flowing to -the Tormes; and on the opposite bank the convents of San Cayetano -and La Merced had been converted with great skill into two redoubts, -with well-covered perpendicular escarpes, deep ditches, and casemated -counterscarps; they were also full of bomb-proofs, made by supporting -a roof horizontally and vertically with strong beams, and covering it -with six feet of earth. These works were seen at once to be far more -respectable than Lord Wellington had expected to find, his information -amounting to little more than that some convents had been fortified. -It was necessary to reduce them before the army could advance, but -the means of attack had been provided on this inadequate knowledge: -they consisted of only four iron eighteen-pounders and four 24-pounder -iron howitzers, with an hundred rounds for each. The engineers had -only 400 intrenching tools, without any stores; there were present -three engineer officers, with nine men of the corps of royal military -artificers; and the works were soon found to be even more formidable -than they appeared. - -♦JUNE 17.♦ - -The sixth division broke ground before the fort. The left wing of the -army moved to Villares de la Reyna, a league in advance of Salamanca; -the right and centre bivouacked on the Tormes, near Santa Martha, on -the right bank. Lieutenant-Colonel Ponsonby’s brigade followed the -retiring enemy, and skirmished with them for two leagues. A battery was -erected for breaching the main wall of the fort. It was nearly full -moon; little could be done therefore during the first night. An attempt -to blow in part of the counterscarp opposite to the intended breach, -was frustrated by the vigilance of a dog; and an attempt at mining it -failed also, the party being ordered to withdraw in consequence of the -loss sustained by a plunging fire from the top of the convent. On the -second night two batteries were completed: they opened the following -morning, and beat down part of the wall; but the enemy’s musketry -fired with great effect from loopholes in the upper windows, and -their fire was more than ordinarily destructive, because of the large -openings of the embrasures which were necessary for such short pieces -as the howitzers. More ammunition was sent for to Almeida. Early on -the third day, the lower part of the convent wall, three feet and a -half thick, was pierced through, and at a single shot half the length -of that face of the building came down, bringing the roof with it, -and laying the interior open: the men were seen firing through the -loopholes at the moment of its fall, and they of course were buried in -the ruins. Carcasses were then fired into the convent, to set it on -fire, but the enemy’s precautions prevented them from taking effect. - -♦MARMONT MOVES TO RELIEVE THEM.♦ - -Marmont at this time moved forward from Fuente Sabuco, making the -most display of the force which he could then bring together: it was -estimated at about 16,000 men. He advanced as if with a determination -of giving battle, firing artillery the whole way to give the forts -notice of his approach. Lord Wellington immediately formed the allied -army upon the heights: his left, where the rains had formed a deep -ravine, rested on a chapel; his centre was in the village of S. -Christobal de la Cuesta, and his right on another eminence in front -of Castellanos de los Moriscos.... The advanced posts retired before -the enemy with little loss; there was a considerable cannonade on -both sides; the enemy’s cavalry were dislodged by our guns from the -position in which they had halted; and Marmont, after manœuvring for -some time in front of the position, took up ground in the plain below -it, near the village of Villares, and just out of cannon-shot, his -right resting upon the great road to Toro, his left in Castellanos de -los Moriscos. The allies were under arms at daylight, expecting an -attack. In the course of the day the French received reinforcements, -but not sufficient to justify them in bringing on an action, scarcely -in exposing themselves ♦JUNE 21.♦ to one. Both armies remained quiet -in front of each other, the allies on the heights, the French close -under their position, occupying Castellanos de los Moriscos in force, -and having a considerable bivouac between that village and another on -their right: both villages were soon completely unroofed for firewood, -and there were wells in both, whereas the allies were badly off for -wood and water, which were brought to them in insufficient supply from -Salamanca. There was not a tree on the position; but the midsummer sun -was less powerful than it usually is in that country, and the troops -did not suffer from heat. - -During the night, the French occupied an eminence on the right flank -of the allies. Sir Thomas Graham was directed to dislodge them. The -58th and 61st carried the hill immediately, and drove them from the -ground with considerable loss. The enemy’s troops got under arms, -expecting a general attack, but they made no attempt ♦JUNE 23.♦ to -regain the hill. They retired in the night, and on the following -evening posted themselves with their right on the heights near Cabeza -Vellosa, their left on the Tormes at Huerta, their centre at Aldea -Rubia, their object in this movement being to communicate with the -garrison. Lord Wellington therefore changed the front of his army, -placing the right at S. Martha, and the advanced posts at Aldea Lingua; -and he sent Major-General Bock’s brigade of heavy dragoons across the -river in order to observe the fords. By this time a battery which had -been opened on the Cayetano redoubt had beaten down the palisades -and injured the parapet; and when night closed 300 men from the 6th -division were ordered to attack it by escalade. The undertaking was -difficult, and the men seemed to feel it. Major-General Bowes went -forward with the storming party; he was wounded, returned to the attack -as soon as his wound was dressed, and was then killed. The enemy made -so resolute a resistance, that only two ladders were reared against the -redoubt, and no one mounted them: 120 men were killed or wounded in -this unsuccessful attempt. On the following evening a truce was made -for removing the killed and wounded; till then the French would neither -allow them to be removed, nor remove them themselves. - -♦JUNE 24.♦ - -There had been a report on the preceding afternoon, that the enemy had -crossed at Huerta. Lord Wellington was on the hill at Aldea Lingua by -daybreak. It was certain that they had made some movement, but the -morning was so foggy that nothing could be seen. Soon Major-General -Bock’s brigade was heard skirmishing, and from their fire it was -evident that they were losing ground. The French had crossed about two -in the morning in considerable force; and when the fog cleared General -Bock was seen retiring in the best order before superior numbers, who -had also the advantage of having artillery with them. Lord Wellington, -upon the first certainty that the enemy had passed the Tormes, ordered -the 1st and 7th divisions, under Sir Thomas Graham, to cross and take -up a position to the right in front of Santa Martha, and Major-General -Le Marchant’s brigade of cavalry was sent to support General Bock; the -rest of the army he concentrated between Castellanos de los Moriscos -and Cabrerizas, keeping the advanced posts at Aldea Lingua. The French, -who had crossed with 10,000 infantry and fourteen squadrons of horse, -gained possession of Calvarasa de Abaxo; but seeing the disposition -which was made for their reception, they did not venture upon an -attack. About three in the afternoon they began to withdraw, and -before night they had repassed the river to their former position. The -allies also recrossed. - -Both armies remained quiet during the following day, but on the next -night a communication was carried along the bottom of the ravine -between the redoubts and the fort, and a piquet was lodged under the -gorge of S. Cayetano. On the morrow a supply of ammunition ♦SURRENDER -OF THE FORTS.♦ arrived, and red-hot shot were then fired against San -Vicente. By the third shot the roof of a large square tower on the -convent was set on fire and consumed; but the conflagration did not -spread, and during the day wherever fires broke out they were speedily -extinguished. The inhabitants said that the powder in the fort was well -secured; but no activity on the enemy’s part could long counteract -the means of destruction which were now employed. Hot shot were fired -during the whole night: by ten in the morning the convent was in -flames. At the same time a breach had been effected in the gorge of S. -Cayetano: the troops were formed in readiness for assaulting it, when -a white flag was hoisted there, and the commanding officer offered -to surrender that and the other redoubt in two hours, which time he -asked for that he might represent his situation to the commandant in -San Vicente. Lord Wellington offered him five minutes to march out, in -which case he should preserve his baggage; but it presently appeared -that he was only negotiating for the sake of gaining time, as in -fact he could not venture without the commandant’s sanction to carry -into effect the capitulation which he had offered. He was ordered, -therefore, to take down his white flag. The commandant meantime sent -out a flag of truce, and proposed to surrender San Vicente in three -hours: five minutes were allowed, and as at the expiration of that -short term there was no appearance of their coming out, both redoubts -were stormed, and carried with little resistance. The troops moved -forward against the fort: a few shot were fired from it, by which six -men were killed or wounded; but with that the resistance ended: the -enemy even helped the Portuguese caçadores into the work, and Lord -Wellington allowed them to march out with the honours of war, but to -be prisoners of war, the officers retaining their personal military -baggage, and the soldiers their knapsacks. There were 36 pieces of -cannon in the forts, with large depôts of clothing, and military stores -of every kind: these were consigned to the Spaniards, and the works -were destroyed. The prisoners were somewhat more than 700; the loss of -the besiegers about 450. - -♦MARMONT FAILS BACK UPON THE DOURO.♦ - -Marmont commenced his retreat at midnight, as if, said the Spaniards, -he had only come thither to witness the capture of his fort, and see -the illumination made by it when on fire. At daylight their column was -nearly out of sight, and their rear-guard moving off the ground. During -this tarriance the French, considering that part of Spain no longer as -a subjected but as a hostile country, had acted in the same spirit of -disgraceful barbarity as had rendered their name execrable in Portugal; -and when they departed they left the villages of Castellanos de los -Moriscos, Huerta, Babila Fuente, Villoria, and Villaruela in flames: -where they did not burn the villages they sacked the houses, and -murdered those who had ventured to remain in them; and where they did -not trample down the standing corn, they set fire to it. The popular -feeling had been strongly manifested during the operations against the -forts: not only were all necessaries and accommodations for the wounded -abundantly supplied, but women of all ranks offered their services to -attend on them. High mass was performed this day in the Cathedral, -at which Lord Wellington and most of the general officers attended. -Lord Wellington gave a dinner in Salamanca, and the Junta a ball in -the evening; but some of the principal inhabitants absented themselves -because they were partisans of the French, and others from a prudential -fear, lest the enemy should return and again obtain possession of the -city. - -♦JUNE 29. LORD WELLINGTON ADVANCES TO THE DOURO.♦ - -The French withdrew their garrison from Alba de Tormes, and retired -towards the Douro in three columns ... one upon Toro, and the others -upon Tordesillas. The allies broke up the next day, following their -march, and encamped upon the Guarena. On the morrow Marmont had -collected his force, as if with an intention of making a stand on -the right bank of that river; his rear was on the hills in front of -Alaejos: they moved off before the advanced guard could come up. The -allies bivouacked every night in an open country, without a tree to -shade them, and where it was necessary to seek for wood at the distance -of several miles, the inhabitants frequently using straw for fuel. -The enemy continued to fall back toward the Douro, closely followed -by one who would let no opportunity escape him. On the 2nd of July -their cavalry were on the plain toward Tordesillas, and they had a -considerable force of infantry in Rueda; but they were compelled to -withdraw from thence, and the town was occupied by the advance of -the allied army. On the following day, this part of the army was -ordered into the plain, as if with a view of attacking Tordesillas; -while the left column, strengthened by the brigades of Generals Bock -and Le Marchant, moved on Pollos, where there is a ford. There was -some cannonading on the part of the enemy there, and an affair of -light troops; and some of the allies passed the river, but they were -withdrawn at night: it was then seen that there was no intention of -forcing the passage, and orders were given for the distribution of -the army. Lord Wellington fixed his head-quarters at Rueda. The French -occupied Tordesillas in force: they had a considerable bivouac in the -rear of that town, and the bridge there was fortified. - -After the recapture of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos, Marmont could not -be surprised that the forts at Salamanca fell, even if he had known -with what scanty means they had been attacked; and as he had not been -brought to action, his army took credit to themselves for having braved -a superior force. The French had lost much of their confidence in -battle against the English, but they still relied upon their skill in -manœuvring; and Marmont, knowing that he should soon have the advantage -in numbers, availed himself of all the opportunities which the nature -of the country afforded him for gaining time. ♦THE DOURO.♦ He was in -possession of the line of the Douro. That river rises in the Sierra -de Orbion, in Old Castille, issuing from a large and deep tarn, high -on the mountain: passing the site of Numancia, it comes to Soria, and -so to Berlanga, Osma, and Santesteban de Gormas: in this part of its -course its banks are remarkable for the jessamine with which they are -profusely clothed. Having left Aranda, it passes by the Cistercian -monastery of Valbueno, a place denoting by its name the happy -circumstances of its position, and where the monks used to account -among the goodly things which had fallen to their lot the barbel and -trout with which the Douro supplied them. The Pisuerga, having already -received the Arlanza and the Carrion, joins it by Simancas; and though -it brings the larger body of water to the junction, loses its name -there. The Douro then makes for Tordesillas: for the first ten leagues -of its way its course is s. s. w., then westward till it reaches this -old city, where it bends to the southward for a few leagues, passing -S. Roman de Hornija, the now obscure burial-place of Chindasuintho, -one of the most powerful of the Wisigoth kings; then it resumes its -western course, waters Toro and Zamora, cities of great name in the -Spanish annals, and having collected all the rivers of Leon on its way, -enters Portugal. Of all the rivers in the Peninsula, the Douro has the -longest course. From its junction with the Pisuerga, till it receives -the Tormes on the frontier of Portugal, it flows through a wide valley, -the right bank for the most part skirting the heights. The French were -in possession of all the ♦COLONEL JONES’S ACCOUNT OF THE WAR, 2. 100.♦ -bridges, and from the mouth of the Pisuerga to Zamora there is but one -point favourable for passing an army from the left in presence of an -enemy: that point is three leagues above Toro, at Castro Nuño, where -there is a good ford, a favourable bend in the river, and advantages of -ground. There could be little hope, therefore, of striking an efficient -blow against Marmont so long as he kept his force concentrated behind -the Douro, and it was in his power to cross the river at any of its -bridges or fords whenever he might think that opportunity invited. - -♦MARMONT REINFORCED BY G. BONNET.♦ - -But the French, according to the barbarous system which Buonaparte -pursued, were without magazines, and trusted to their command of the -country for subsistence: Marmont therefore had this anxious object -to distract his attention; and the Guerrillas were actively employed -both upon his flanks and rear in intercepting his supplies, and in -occupying troops who would otherwise have reinforced him. Two parties -under Sorniel and Bourbon, with 700 cavalry were on the right; D. -Julian Sanches, with 500, on the left; while Porlier displayed his -usual activity on the side of Asturias; and Mina and Duran in Navarre -and Aragon: on that side their efforts were effectual: but General -Bonnet joined him from the north, and increased his force to 47,000 -men, thus making it numerically superior to that of the allies. Lord -Wellington’s situation was at this time an anxious one: he had counted -upon the aid which the Gallician army might have given him in occupying -some of the enemy by besieging Astorga; in that undertaking, however, -they were more dilatory than had been intended; and he was now aware -that the force intended to co-operate with him by acting upon the -eastern coast was upon so small a scale, that he could place little -hope upon it, and no reliance. The French suffered at this time nothing -for want of magazines or means of transport, because they took what -they wanted, and preyed upon the country. The British Government would -not, even in an enemy’s territories, carry on war upon so inhuman and -iniquitous a system; but it exposed its army to privations, and its -general to perplexities and difficulties which might have paralysed -any weaker mind than Lord Wellington’s, by the parsimony with which it -apportioned his means. When he advanced from Salamanca, there were but -20,000 dollars in the military chest: the harvest was abundant, but how -was bread to be obtained without money? ... and the same want would be -felt in bringing his supplies from Ciudad Rodrigo, and other places in -the rear of that fortress. The very difficulty of removing his wounded -to the frontier of Portugal was sufficient to deter him from seeking an -action on the Douro. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON RETIRES BEFORE HIM.♦ - -On the 15th and 16th, Marmont concentrated his troops between Toro and -San Roman: two divisions crossed the bridge at Toro on the evening of -the 16th, and Lord Wellington moved the allies that night to Fuente -la Peña and Canizal, intending to concentrate them on the Guarena. -But it was ascertained next day, that during the night the enemy had -repassed the bridge, and destroyed it after them; then making forced -marches to Tordesillas, which is six leagues above Toro, crossed again -there, and early on the morning of the 18th were on the Trebancos. -Marmont might well applaud himself both for the celerity and the -skill of these movements: he had marched forty miles; had opened his -communication with the army of the centre, which was then moving from -Madrid to support him; and by advancing in force on Castrejon he -endangered the light and 4th divisions, with Major-General Anson’s -brigades of cavalry, which there had not been time for calling in. -The enemy commenced a very heavy cannonade against the cavalry; they -were scattered about in squadrons, and so escaped without much loss; -and immediate measures had been taken to provide for their retreat -and junction. The troops at Castrejon maintained their posts till the -cavalry joined them; then they retired in perfect order to Tordesillas -de la Orden, and thence to the Guarena, having the enemy’s whole army -on their left flank or in their rear; and the French getting possession -of the heights above that river, before the allies had crossed, brought -forty guns to bear upon them, under the fire of which they joined the -army on the left bank. Four streams which unite about a league below -Canizal, form the Guarena: the French crossed at Castrillo, a little -below the junction, and manifested an intention to press upon the left -of the allies; with this view they endeavoured to occupy a ridge above -Castrillo, but Lieutenant-General Cole’s division advanced to meet them -with the bayonet; they gave way; the cavalry charged, General Carrier -and between 300 and 400 men were made prisoners, and one gun taken. -In the course of the day, the allies lost about 100 in killed, 400 -wounded, and 50 prisoners; but the check which Marmont received made -him more circumspect in his movements. - -The allies took up a position for the night on the Guarena, from -Castrillo on the left, to beyond Canizal on the right. The enemy -occupied the opposite side of the valley with their whole force. Both -armies ♦JULY 19.♦ remained quiet till two in the afternoon of the -following day, when the French withdrawing all their troops from the -right marched by Tarrazona, as if with an intention of turning the -right of the allies. Counter-movements were consequently made; the -artillery fired at the enemy’s advance, and in that dry season the -corn took fire in several places, and burnt for a mile in extent. Lord -Wellington expected a battle on the plain of Vallesa in the morning, -and made every preparation for it; the men bivouacked in two lines -in order of battle, and stood to their arms at daybreak, ready to -receive an attack; but as soon as it was light, the enemy were seen -moving in several columns to their left, on Babilafuente; the allies -made a correspondent movement to the right: at any moment either -commander might have brought on a general action; but it was a game -of skill in which they were engaged, not of hazard. Marmont’s march -was estimated at five leagues, that of the allies at four, being in -the inner circle; they moved in parallel lines, frequently within -half cannon shot. The enemy encamped that night at Babilafuente and -Villamela; the allies at Cabeza Vellosa, the 6th division and a brigade -of cavalry being upon the Tormes at Aldea ♦JULY 21.♦ Lengua. On the -following day, the French crossed that river by the fords near Alba -and Huerta, and moved by their left towards the road leading to Ciudad -Rodrigo. In the evening the allies crossed also, part by the bridge at -Salamanca, part by the ford of Santa Martha. A dreadful storm came on -of thunder and lightning with heavy rain; the different divisions of -infantry were seen by the lightning marching to their ground, their -muskets reflecting the flashes. The 5th dragoon guards had just got -to their ground; many of the men had lain down; their horses were -fastened together by their collars for the night, but terrified by the -lightning, they set off full gallop and ran over the men, eighteen of -whom were hurt; and two and thirty horses were lost, having probably -gone to the enemy’s lines. - -It was evident from Marmont’s manner of manœuvring, that he did not -mean to attack the allies, unless at such advantage as might seem to -render his success certain; and it seemed not less evident, that by -pursuing this system, turning their flank and keeping possession of -the heights, he would drive them to the frontier if they continued -to act upon the defensive. All the stores which were at Salamanca -were ordered to the rear of the army, and the inhabitants were in the -utmost consternation, apprehending, not without good apparent reason, -that they should presently be brought under the yoke of the French -again. Lord Wellington had placed the troops in a position, the right -of which was upon one of two heights called the two Arapiles; and the -left on the Tormes below the ford of Santa Martha. The enemy had still -a large corps above Babilafuente, on the right of the river; for this -reason, the 3rd division and Brigadier-General D’Urban’s cavalry were -left on the same side at Cabrerizos; and Lord Wellington thought it -not improbable, that when Marmont should find in the morning that the -allies were prepared for him on the left of the Tormes, he would alter -his plan, and manœuvre by the other bank. In the course of the night -he was informed that the cavalry and horse-artillery of the army of -the north had arrived at Pollos to join Marmont, and that they would -effect a junction with him the next day, or the day after at latest. -During the night the enemy took possession of Calvarasa de arriba, -and of a height near that village called Nuestra Señora de la Peña; -the allied cavalry were in possession of Calvarasa de abaxo, which is -between three and four miles from the upper village, and near the river. - -♦JULY 22. BATTLE OF SALAMANCA.♦ - -The last night’s storm had not cleared the atmosphere, and the morning -rose threateningly, in clouds. The French were early in motion, and -from the manner in which they marched and countermarched their troops, -it was impossible to divine what might be their intention. Soon after -daylight detachments from both armies attempted to gain the yet -unoccupied Arapiles hill; but the enemy had been concealed in the woods -nearer that point, and their infantry were discovered on the summit -when the allies were in the act of advancing to it: their detachment -was also the strongest. By occupying this point they materially -strengthened their own position, and were the better enabled to annoy -that of the allies. Early in the day the light troops of the 7th -division and the 4th _caçadores_ of General Pack’s brigade were engaged -with the enemy on the height of N. Señora de la Peña, which they gained -and kept through the day. But the possession of the farther Arapiles by -the French made it necessary for Lord Wellington to extend the right of -his army to the heights behind the village of that name, and to occupy -that village with the 4th division under Lieutenant-General Cole. -Doubtful as Marmont’s intentions still were, the British commander -judged that his objects were on the left of the Tormes, and therefore -he ordered the 3rd division and D’Urban’s cavalry from the other bank, -and placed them behind Aldea Tejada. - -During these movements the French kept up a heavy cannonade and fire -of light troops. The day, meantime, had cleared. Their force was -formed in columns of attack in rear of the Arapiles hill, the left -resting upon an extensive wood; thence they could either by a rapid -march interpose between Lord Wellington and Ciudad Rodrigo, or wait an -opportunity for debouching from behind the Arapiles, and separating -the corps of his army. Marmont was too skilful a tactician himself -not to perceive that all his movements were watched by one who well -knew how to counteract them; nevertheless, hoping to deceive his -antagonist, he marched a strong force to the right and formed columns -of attack opposite the 5th division, which was in rear of the village -of Arapiles. Lord Wellington soon perceived that nothing serious was -intended by this manœuvre, and returned to direct the operations of -his right, which he now threw back to that side of the Arapiles, -forming nearly a right angle with that which he had occupied in the -morning. About two in the afternoon the French Marshal perceiving -that his last demonstration had produced no effect, pushed forward -his columns rapidly to the left, with the intent of turning the right -flank of the allies, and interposing between them and Ciudad Rodrigo. -Till now the operations of the day had induced a belief in the British -army that it was intended only to meet manœuvre by manœuvre, and to -continue their retreat as soon as it was night. Indeed the army of the -centre, with the Intruder at its head, was on the way to join Marmont -within three days’ march, and a considerable body of cavalry and horse -artillery was still nearer. But Lord Wellington had anxiously been -looking for the opportunity which was now presented him: he was at -dinner when information was brought him of this movement, which was -made under cover of a heavy cannonade, and accompanied with skirmishers -in his front and on his flank, and with a body of cavalry who made -the British dragoons and light troops give way before them. But the -generals of division had either misunderstood or ill executed their -commander’s intentions, and they weakened their line by dangerously -extending it: Lord Wellington at once perceived this; he rose in such -haste as to overturn the table, exclaiming, that Marmont’s good genius -had forsaken him: in an instant he was on horseback, and issued his -orders for attack. - -The right he reinforced with the 5th division, placing it behind the -village of Arapiles, on the right of the 4th, and with the 6th and 7th -in reserve. These having taken their stations, he ordered Major-General -Pakenham to move forward with the 3rd and General D’Urban’s cavalry, -and two squadrons of the 14th light dragoons under Lieutenant-Colonel -Hervey, in four columns, to turn the enemy’s left on the heights, -while Brigadier-General Bradford’s brigade, the 5th division, under -Lieutenant-General Leith, the 4th, under Lieutenant-General Cole, and -the cavalry under Sir Stapleton Cotton, should attack them in front, -supported in reserve by the 6th and 7th under Major-Generals Clinton -and Hope, and D. Carlos d’España’s Spanish division; Brigadier-General -Pack, with the 1st and 16th Portuguese regiments, was to support the -left of the 4th division, by attacking the hill which the enemy held. -The first and the light divisions occupied the ground on the left of -the Arapiles in reserve. - -As soon as the formation was effected, the attack commenced from the -right. Major-General Pakenham moved along a valley at a quick rate, -crossed the extended left of the enemy, almost before they were -aware of his intention, drove them back in confusion and overthrew -everything before him. Brigadier-General D’Urban’s Portugueze cavalry -and Lieutenant-Colonel Hervey’s squadrons of the 14th, supported him in -the most gallant style, defeated every attempt which was made upon his -flank, cut in upon the enemy’s broken infantry, and put numbers of them -to the sword. The attack in front was made with equal ardour: the fifth -division had been exposed for about an hour to a continued and heavy -cannonade; no orders were ever more welcome to the soldiers who were -stretched on the ground to avoid its effects, than those which bade -them advance against the enemy. The distance was more than a mile, up -a steep height crowned by twenty pieces of cannon, and their left had -to pass through the village which formed a considerable obstruction; -they advanced in perfect order, not firing a shot till they had gained -the summit, from whence the guns which had annoyed them were hastily -withdrawn, nor till they had received the fire of the enemy, who were -formed into squares to resist them. When they were within some thirty -yards the word was given to fire and charge; this instantly threw -the squares into disorder; the heavy cavalry coming up on the right -increased their confusion; they fled then, and in their flight fell in -with the remains of their extreme left, flying before Major-General -Pakenham’s division. Lieutenant-General Leith was severely wounded -in the act of breaking into the squares. Pakenham and the cavalry -constantly bringing up their right, so as to outflank the points on -which the French attempted to make a stand, drove them from one height -to another and made above 3000 prisoners. The 4th and 5th divisions -acquiring in like manner strength upon the enemy’s flank in proportion -as they advanced, carried height after height, till at length the -enemy’s left rallied on their centre; and on the last height, after its -crest had been gained, one division of their infantry charged Cole’s -division, which, after a severe contest, in which Cole was wounded, -gave way. - -This temporary success was owing to the failure of Pack’s attack -upon the Arapiles; it was bravely made, but the Portugueze failed to -carry it against the disadvantage of such strong ground; the attempt, -however, was not without some good effect, for it occupied troops who -would otherwise have been engaged against General Cole in his advance, -and who were not now at leisure to oppose him, till, notwithstanding -this temporary success, it was too late. Beresford, who happened to be -on the spot, directed a brigade of the 5th division, which was in the -second line, to change its front, and bring its fire on the enemy’s -flank; while thus engaged he was wounded. Three British generals had -thus been disabled, and in a most successful charge against a body of -infantry, Major-General Le Marchant was killed, at the head of his -own brigade. Lord Wellington now ordered up the 6th division under -Major-General Clinton. That division marching under a heavy fire -deployed at the foot of a hill, and beginning then to fire regular -volleys, suffered severely as it advanced; it was vigorously attacked -by a body of cavalry which had been concealed behind the Arapiles, -and for some minutes the contest appeared doubtful; but when Clinton -was enabled to form his two right battalions into line, and charge, -the French again lost heart, and abandoned the important point which -they had till then maintained. Their right still resisted, having -been reinforced by the troops who now withdrew in good order from the -Arapiles, and by those who had fled from the left. - -They re-formed and took up their ground with equal promptitude and -skill almost at right angles to their original front, the infantry -along the crest of the hill in line, supported by heavy close columns -in reserve, the cavalry in masses on their flanks, and the artillery -posted at the advanced knolls, so as to sweep the whole face of the -height. The 1st and light divisions were ordered against these, with -two brigades of the 4th, to turn their right, while the 6th supported -by the 3rd and 5th, attacked the front. Clinton advanced up the rocky -and steep height inline, without firing a shot, and under a murderous -fire of musketry and artillery: but he charged with the bayonet, drove -them from a commanding conical eminence, and captured two guns. Their -flank was attacked at the same time; and then, beaten at all points, -they fled through the woods towards the Tormes, cavalry, infantry, -and baggage all mixed together. The defeat was complete, and so would -have been the destruction, if darkness had not opportunely covered -their flight. Lord Wellington, with the 1st and light divisions, and -Major-General William Anson’s brigade of the 4th, and some squadrons of -cavalry under Sir Stapleton Cotton, pursued them towards Huerta and the -fords of the Tormes, as long as any of them could be found together; -but night soon put an end to the pursuit, and enabled great numbers who -had been taken prisoners to escape. A sentinel mistook Sir Stapleton -Cotton in the dark for an enemy, fired, and wounded him. - -This memorable battle, which lasted from three in the afternoon till -ten at night, took place within sight of the city; the ground with its -heights rising gradually one behind another, forming, as it were, a -fine theatre for such a spectacle. On the part of the allies, nearly -5000 were killed and wounded. General Le Marchant’s loss was greatly -regretted: he was a native of Guernsey, who having served in the -light dragoons under the Duke of York in the years 1793 and 1794, -applied himself with zeal and ability to the study of his profession, -introduced the Hungarian sword exercise into the British army, and drew -up a manual for the use of the cavalry, which was published by the -war-office. The royal military college was in great measure planned -by him; he was appointed lieutenant-governor of that institution, and -discharged the duties of the office till 1811, when he could no longer -retain it, being promoted to the rank of Major-General. He then joined -the army in Portugal in command of a brigade, but had not been long -in that country, when the unexpected death of his wife rendered it -necessary that he should return to England for the arrangement of his -domestic affairs: that mournful business having been performed, he -rejoined the army, and shortly afterwards fell, being in the 47th year -of his age. His eldest son, who was an ensign in the guards, was at his -side when he fell. The Prince Regent manifested with proper munificence -his sense of General Le Marchant’s worth, by granting a pension of £300 -to that son, £100 to each of three younger sons, and £120 to each of -his five daughters.... The loss of the French was very great; besides -the dead and wounded, they left 7000 prisoners on the field. Eleven -guns and two eagles were taken: it is said that more than ten were -captured, but that there were men base enough to conceal them, and sell -them to persons at Salamanca, who deemed it good policy as well as a -profitable speculation, to purchase them for the French. Marmont was -disabled early in the action, Bonnet also was wounded, and the command -then devolved upon General Clausel, who was wounded also, but not so as -to incapacitate him. Generals Ferey, Desgraviers, and Thomieres were -killed. - -At break of day, the pursuit was renewed with the same troops, and with -Major-General Bock and Anson’s brigades, which had joined them during -the night. The first and light divisions were ordered to the ford of -Huerta, Lord Wellington having supposed that the enemy must make their -passage there, because the castle at Alba de Tormes was occupied -by the Spaniards; but the troops who garrisoned it had, without his -knowledge, been withdrawn, so that Clausel, making a most rapid march -during the night, crossed the river there without molestation. Having -crossed in pursuit, the cavalry came up with the enemy’s rear-guard of -horse and foot between Garci Hernandez and Peñarandilla: a detachment -from the 11th and 16th dragoons charged their cavalry, which fled, and -left the infantry to their fate. Major-General Bock, then, with the -heavy brigade of the King’s German legion, attacked them, when posted -upon a hill in square, and in what is described as one of the finest -charges that was ever seen, rode completely through them. The whole -body, consisting of three battalions, were made prisoners, the brigade -losing in the charge 30 killed and nearly 50 wounded. In the course of -the day, the enemy were joined by 1200 cavalry belonging to the army of -the north, who, though too late to be of any greater service, covered -the retreat of their centre to Peñaranda de Bracamonte: one column -went by Macotora; the other which had crossed the Tormes at Encina and -Huerta moved on El Campo and Cebolla. They had their head-quarters at -Flores de Avila, ten leagues from the field of battle, for a few hours -on the second night, and hastened from thence by Arevalo, towards -Valladolid. Their dead were found in many places by the road-side, and -their stragglers met with as little mercy from the peasantry as they -had been accustomed to show; yet many of their rear-guard were taken -without arms, having thrown them away as impediments in their flight. - -The pursuit was continued on the 24th; but the enemy made exceedingly -long marches, and had little to encumber them while hastening to their -resources both in men and means, and the pursuers having to bring -up their supplies far from behind could not keep up an equal pace. -On that day they only came up with the rear-guard, which hastened -away at their approach. On the following the advance halted for the -army to close up; Colonel Arentschild’s brigade entered Arevalo; and -a non-commissioned officer’s patrol captured two officers and 27 men -of Joseph’s own cavalry, in Blasco Sancho, between Arevalo and Avila. -The Intruder had reached that place, hastening with the army of the -centre to join Marmont upon the Tormes; he was met there with tidings -of the defeat, and then turned towards Segovia, as if retreating upon -Madrid: soon however receiving fuller advices, he endeavoured to divert -the pursuers by threatening an advance upon their flank. The routed -army, meantime, whose movements were conducted with great ability -by Clausel, concentrated themselves on the right bank of the Douro, -between Puente de Duero and the other bridge at Tudela de Duero; they -crossed the river as soon as the allies advanced towards them, hastened -to Valladolid, and making no tarriance there, continued their retreat -to Burgos. Lord Wellington entered Valladolid on the 30th amid the -acclamations of the people. There he discontinued the pursuit, and -prepared to march against the Intruder, with the intention of either -bringing him to action, or driving him from Madrid. - -♦PROCEEDINGS OF SIR HOME POPHAM ON THE COAST OF BISCAY.♦ - -Meantime, a squadron under Sir Home Popham which sailed from Coruña, -to co-operate with the Guerrillas, and occupy the enemy upon the side -of Biscay, rendered all the service which had been expected from -it. Sir Howard Douglas and General Carrol embarked in the Venerable -with Sir Home. They arrived off Lequeitio on the 18th of June, where -the French had possession of a hill-fort, commanding the town, and -strong enough to resist any body of infantry; they had also 200 men -fortified in a convent within the town, and into this the garrison -retired when the Pastor D. Gaspar Jauregui arrived with his party to -act in concert with the squadron. The convent might have been destroyed -by the ships, but the town must in that case have suffered also; it -was determined, therefore, to attack the fort, which was so situated -that the enemy thought it quite inaccessible to cannon. They knew not -what British seamen are capable of on shore. At a time when the sea -broke with such violence against the rocks at the foot of the hill, -that it was doubtful whether a boat could reach the land, Lieutenant -Groves succeeded in landing a gun there. It was hove up for a short -distance by a moveable capstan; but this was too tedious an operation, -and it was dragged to the summit by six and thirty pair of oxen, 400 -of the Pastor’s men, and 100 seamen, headed by the Honourable Captain -Bouverie. It was immediately mounted; the first shot was fired at -four in the afternoon, and so well was it served, that by sunset a -practicable breach was made. The Guerrillas volunteered to storm; -they were repulsed in the first attempt, but succeeded in the second, -and such of the enemy as escaped on the opposite side got into the -convent. In the course of the evening the sea had abated, a landing was -effected upon the island of S. Nicholas, from whence the convent could -be battered without damage to the town; three carronades were planted -there; at dawn, a 24-pounder was brought to the east side of the town, -within 200 yards of the convent, and another was in the act of being -landed upon the island to bombard it, when the French commandant beat -a parley, and surrendered with 290 men. The Guerrillas had lost 50 in -killed and wounded, not a man belonging to the squadron was hurt. The -muskets, stores, and three small guns, which were found there were -given to the Pastor. Two 18-pounders in the fort were rendered useless; -the fort itself was demolished and the convent blown up. The next -morning a column of 1100 men were seen which had arrived within two -leagues of Lequeitio, but hearing from the peasantry that the English -had disembarked 2000 men, they retired. Some intercepted letters were -now transmitted to Sir Home, by which the commandant at Guernica was -instructed to prepare rations for a French general and 2600 of the -Imperial Guards. - -The squadron was now to have co-operated in an attack upon Bilbao, -but the wind proved unfavourable for getting round Cape Machichago, -and part of the ships fetched the anchorage of Bermeo. The enemy had -retired from that place, leaving a small magazine of provisions ♦JUNE -23.♦ in a fortified convent; these were distributed to the poor; and -the battery on the hill and all the fortified places which the French -had occupied were destroyed: the works at Plencia were in like manner -demolished, and the batteries on each side of the ♦JUNE 24.♦ inlet -below the bar of the Ybeyzabal, or Narrow River, the beautiful and -tranquil stream which forms the port of Bilbao: on one side were the -castle of Galea, and the batteries of Algorta and Begona; on the other -the batteries of El Campillo, Las Quersas and Xebiles. Early on the -following morning some parties of the enemy entered the destroyed -batteries of Algorta, but retired upon the squadron’s making a -disposition to stand up the inlet; they then formed in the plain, and -were found to consist of 2000 men at Algorta, while 400 were sent to -Puerta Galetta. Three of the British sloops closed with the fort there, -silenced it, and drove them from thence. It was supposed that this was -the corps for which rations had been ordered at Guernica, and that it -had been thus drawn off from its original destination. - -♦JULY 2.♦ - -The squadron then made for Guetaria; two companies of marines were -landed for the purpose of reconnoitring the place, previous to an -intended attack, but the Guerrillas who were expected to co-operate -were engaged with the enemy in a different quarter; parties of the -French were seen crossing the hills; the intention, therefore, was -relinquished, ♦JULY 6.♦ and the marines re-embarked without loss. -Sir Home then sailed for Castro, where Sir George Collier had landed -a company of marines to assist Longa in a concerted attack. Longa -was there at the time and place appointed; more marines were landed, -and guns with hearty exertions of well-directed skill were drawn up -heights that might have seemed inaccessible to men less earnest in -their duty. They were placing them in a battery to the east of the -town, when 2500 of the enemy appeared on the heights of S. Pelayo; -the parties upon this were re-embarked, and Longa found it necessary -to change his ground, after which he sustained an action, in which -no advantage was gained over him. Somewhat disheartened by this, the -French marched into the town that evening, and were driven out of it -on the morrow by the fire of the squadron: they then took post on -the hills, and under favour of the night retired towards Laredo. The -castle then surrendered with 150 men, and having been put in a state of -defence, was garrisoned by ♦JULY 10. JULY 11.♦ the marines and Spanish -artillerymen of the Iris. Their next attempt was a combined attack -upon Puerta Galleta, which was abandoned because the enemy were found -to be in greater strength than had been expected; the French on their -part failed equally in endeavouring to recover Castro. Their moveable -column had now been drawn by a feint to Santona; from thence it could -not reach Guetaria in less than four days; another attempt therefore -was made upon that place in concert with the Pastor, and with one of -Mina’s battalions. The latter, after two days’ severe march, did not -arrive till it was too late; for when the enemy’s guns on one side had -been silenced, ♦JULY 19.♦ and a battery was ready to open upon them -on the other, intelligence was received that a considerable body of -French troops was hastening thither by forced marches. The Guerrillas -maintained a brave action against them, till the superiority of the -enemy’s numbers was ascertained, and made it necessary for them to -retreat; but this action prevented the re-embarkation of the British in -time, so that two guns were in consequence destroyed, and 32 men made -prisoners. - -These operations of Sir Home Popham’s squadron were of service in many -ways. Troops were thus occupied who would otherwise have joined Marmont -before the battle of Salamanca; the corps which relieved Guetaria was -recalled from that direction, and Caffarelli was prevented from sending -the infantry who were to have assisted in driving the English into -the Tagus. The ports which were liberated lost no time in conveying -supplies to the free parts of the kingdom, and vessels from them -arrived daily at Coruña laden with corn and wine. And the Guerrillas, -as well as the regular troops of Spain, received a countenance and -support which enabled them to hold towards the enemy the language -of confident hope. Renovales, who was Commandant-General in Biscay, -addressed a letter to the French Governor of Bilbao, General Roquet, -remonstrating against the cruelties which General Mouton had committed -with his column: “for the security of a fortress,” he said, “or to -prevent an insurrection, the rules of military precaution might render -it proper to put some few persons of respectability in confinement, -but that cottages and private dwellings should be outraged, and that -peaceable persons should be tortured by stripes, by the bayonet, and -by fire, was what no laws of war could justify. The Spaniards were a -people who might be softened by generosity though not subdued by it; -but if this system of terror were persisted in towards them, ... if it -were still to be war at the knife’s point, the Biscayans, instead of -yielding a foot to him, would meet him half way in such warfare. Four -and twenty officers were in his hands, and should suffer for the next -act of cruelty on the part of the French. He concluded by assuring -Roquet that the day was not far distant when Bilbao would be delivered, -and that he, Renovales, would then, at the head of 10,000 Biscayans, -fulfil his duty as he had hitherto done, and first of all towards -himself. - - - - -CHAPTER XLII. - -LORD WELLINGTON ENTERS MADRID. THE FRENCH RETIRE FROM ANDALUSIA. SIEGE -OF BURGOS, AND RETREAT OF THE ALLIES. - - -♦JULY, 1812.♦ - -Buonaparte could keep the French people ignorant of the course which -events had taken in Portugal and Spain; but even the vigilance of his -military tyranny could not prevent the Spaniards from knowing that the -allies, having driven out the French from the one kingdom, had entered -the other, and had recovered the two strong places of Ciudad Rodrigo -and ♦APPEAL OF THE INTRUDER TO THE SPANIARDS.♦ Badajoz. Fresh appeals -were made by the Intrusive Government to the fears and jealousies -of a people whom they had now began to apprehend it would be found -impossible to subdue. “What would it avail them,” it was asked, “if -they were to set up Infantado, or the Empecinado, or Ballasteros, or -any other of their countrymen for king? Wherefore should they persist -in an obstinate and unavailing resistance after the Bourbon dynasty -had been extinguished by that great man whom Providence had appointed -to regenerate Spain, and who for their happiness had selected Joseph -to reign over them? Why did they not rally round his throne?” The -Spaniards only ridiculed such appeals; and the French themselves, in -derision, called Joseph King of the Highways, as one whose authority -extended no farther than his patrols and armies could enforce it. His -was indeed a miserable condition; the brother, of whose wicked will -he had, in despite of his own understanding and heart, consented to -become the instrument, regarded him with displeasure, because he had -met with a resistance which was not to be overcome; the nation upon -which he had been insolently intruded, regarded him with deeper hatred -than perhaps had ever before been co-existent with the feeling of -sincere contempt; the army by which alone he was scarcely supported -despised him, and the French generals kept up towards him a semblance -of respect. - -♦STATE OF MADRID.♦ - -But odious as the usurpation was everywhere, it was rendered peculiarly -so at Madrid, by the presence of the Intruder and of his ministers. -Being the seat of the Intrusive Government, more of those traitors were -collected there who had made the miseries of their country a means -for their own advancement; and as the commanders in other parts cared -little for the necessities of the court, heavier imposts were exacted -from the inhabitants, at the very time when a remission of taxes was -announced in edicts, which, if intended to be executed, were never -carried into effect. The duties payable upon the entrance and exit of -wheat, rice, and pulse of every kind, were repealed by a decree, but -continued to be exacted as before, and at the same time, new duties -were imposed upon wine, oil, meat and vegetables. A loan of 20 million -reales was soon exhausted, a contribution of eight millions was then -demanded from the trading part of the people; and an equivalent -proportion was taken in kind from the occupiers of land. Eight per -cent. upon the value of houses were first required, then ten, and -then fifteen; the poorest artisan was compelled to take out an annual -license for the exercise of his calling; even the water carriers were -subjected to this tax. Having collected a great quantity of grain, -the Government sold it at a price more suited to its own wants than -to the condition of the people: the hospitals were crowded with sick -and starving poor; and of the persons who died during the first six -months of this year, two-thirds perished in consequence of misery and -want. Patient endurance was all that the people of Madrid could oppose -to their oppressors; but they lived in firm belief that the day of -deliverance would come, believed every rumour of success on the part of -their countrymen and their allies, and with the same determined will, -discredited whatever was related of their reverses. They looked upon -the account of Ballasteros’s defeat at Bornos as so much exaggerated -that it was unworthy of belief; and with more reasonable incredulity -when it was reported that Marmont had totally defeated the allies -and taken 20,000 prisoners, while the French and their partisans -congratulated each other upon the news, they required dates and -details, and assured themselves that it was nothing more than one of -the enemy’s customary falsehoods. - -♦MEASURES OF JOSEPH BEFORE THE BATTLE OF SALAMANCA.♦ - -Indeed, before the battle of Salamanca, it was made sufficiently -apparent by circumstances which the French were unable to conceal, that -however confidently they might expect some great success, they had -as yet obtained none. The garrison at the Puerto de Miravete, which -had been relieved after the destruction of the bridge at Almaraz, -was withdrawn now, the Puente del Arzobispo was abandoned, and they -withdrew also from Talavera, which was immediately entered by the -Medico. Most of their garrisons at the same time withdrew from La -Mancha, and they were followed by those miserable people, who, having -accepted offices, whether high or low, under the Intrusive Government, -dared not remain without French protection in any place where they were -known. Exertions were made for fortifying Toledo; and in the works -which were carried on for the same purpose at the Retiro, the people of -Madrid saw unequivocal proof, that the French apprehended at least the -possibility of an advance of the allies upon the capital. To prevent -that danger, they had thus collected their forces from all quarters, -thinking then to attack Lord Wellington with such superior numbers as -would render success certain: but Joseph and M. Jourdan were too slow -in moving from Madrid, and meantime Marmont had been too confident -of his strength and of his skill. If he had delayed his passage of -the Tormes only for two days, till the army of the centre should have -joined, the enemy persuaded themselves that Lord Wellington could -not have escaped from utter defeat, and that that victory would have -secured the entire conquest of Spain. - -♦ADVANCE OF THE ALLIES.♦ - -The event could not be kept secret at Madrid; every one knew what -no one dared publish; and while false intelligence was sedulously -spread abroad by the Intrusive Government, and the police was more -than ordinarily active in arresting suspected persons, every one -congratulated his friends and neighbours upon a victory the extent of -which was magnified in proportion to their hopes. They entertained no -doubt but that Marmont had been killed, and his whole army destroyed. -Lord Wellington moved from Cuellar on the 6th of August, leaving -General Clinton’s division there, and General Anson’s brigade of -cavalry to observe the line of the Douro. He arrived at Segovia on -the 7th, and at S. Ildefonso on the 8th, the beautiful summer retreat -of the kings of Spain: there he halted one day that the right of -the army might have time to come up. The passage of the Guadarama -mountains was effected without opposition. Brigadier-General d’Urban, -with the Portugueze cavalry, the first light battalion of the German -Legion, and Captain M’Donald’s troop of horse artillery, drove in on -the morning of the 16th, about 2000 French cavalry; they moved toward -Naval Carnero, and returned from thence in the evening with the -Intruder himself, to make a reconnoissance. D’Urban formed the ♦AUGUST. -AFFAIR AT MAJALAHONDA.♦ Portugueze cavalry in front of Majalahonda, -and ordered them to charge the enemy’s leading squadrons, which -seemed too far advanced. The Portugueze pushed on, but unexpectedly -disgraced themselves; their officers set them a brave example, but -in vain, and the Visconde de Barbacena, who behaved remarkably well, -was taken prisoner; the men turned about shamefully, fled through the -village, and left the guns behind them which had been moved forward -for their support. M’Donald’s troop exerted themselves to bring them -off, but owing to the rough ground, one carriage was broken, two -were overturned, and thus the three fell into the enemy’s hands. The -German dragoons who had been formed behind the village rallied the -fugitives, charged the enemy, and stopped their progress, but suffered -considerable loss. In this affair, about 200 men were killed, wounded, -or taken, and 120 horses. The left of the allied army being not three -miles distant, two brigades of horse and foot moved forward to support -the troops in advance; the French retired as soon as they saw them, and -withdrew during the night, leaving the guns. The piquets of the allies -took post that evening on the mountains, in sight of Madrid. - -♦THE ENEMY RETIRE FROM MADRID.♦ - -The enemy, who from Madrid had been looking through telescopes toward -the passes of the Guadarama, had seen D’Urban’s detachment on the -evening of the 9th. Orders were then given and revoked by the resident -members of the Government, with the precipitation of fear: it was -determined to abandon the capital on the following morning, and the -adherents of the Intruder prepared in all haste for their departure; -some selling their goods for any price that could be obtained for them, -others, intrusting them to the care of their friends, and not a few -soliciting the compassion of those who had been found faithful to their -country. The families of these unhappy men were objects of compassion -even to the populace, notwithstanding the indignation which was felt -at the men themselves, who bitterly repented now, not so much their -guilt as their short-sightedness in supposing that they had taken the -stronger side. The troops under whose protection they retired would -have saved them from any outrage or insult if any had been intended; -but they had not proceeded far from the gates before many of them -were plundered by these protectors. Two of Joseph’s ministers entered -Madrid with a strong escort the next day, for the supposed purpose of -destroying papers, and securing effects which could not be carried away -in the hurry of the removal. They retired in the evening, and on the -morning of the 12th all the troops who remained shut themselves up in -the Retiro. The shops which, during the two preceding days, had been -closed were then opened, and Madrid became a scene of such joy as had -never been witnessed ♦THE ALLIES ENTER.♦ in the days of its proudest -prosperity. Soon after middle day the allies began to enter through -streets so crowded with gratulating multitudes, that the officers who -were on horseback at the head of their men, could scarcely make their -way, and scarcely keep their seats, so eagerly did the Spaniards press -to shake hands with them, as if nothing but an English mode of greeting -could make their exultation and their hearty welcome sufficiently -intelligible. - -♦THE NEW CONSTITUTION PROCLAIMED.♦ - -Madrid had lost more than two-thirds of its inhabitants since its -occupation by the French, but an influx of people from all the -surrounding country now filled it as if there had been no depopulation; -and amid this multitude, on the following day, the new constitution was -proclaimed by D. Carlos de España, who was appointed governor of the -capital and province, ... a charge for which no one could be better -qualified by clearness of judgment, and promptitude in executing what -he saw to be right. Their acclamations were hushed as soon as they knew -what they were called upon to hear; and the deep silence with which -they listened to the constitutional act was interrupted only by the -enemy’s cannon from the Retiro, which seemed rather like a salute in -honour of the ceremony, than an enemy’s artillery employed in defence -of their last hold in the capital. The act was received with exultant -delight; young minds and generous ones, whose natural ardour enabled -them to believe what they eagerly desired, persuaded themselves that -the Spaniards had now established their freedom as well as achieved -their independence; the happy days of Athens and of Sparta, they said, -seemed to be restored; and the people of Madrid already appeared like -a nation accustomed to liberty, and to deliberate concerning their own -interests. - -♦THE BUEN RETIRO.♦ - -On that evening Lord Wellington invested the Retiro, where Marshal -Jourdan, with little prudence, had left a garrison of 1700 men. At -the eastern extremity of Madrid, Philip II. had a small palace, or -rather house of retreat, pleasantly situated by the Prado or public -walk, on a rising ground, and immediately adjoining the convent of S. -Geronimo. Philip IV. took a fancy to the site; and Olivares, whose -chief object seemed to be that of amusing his royal master at whatever -cost, purchased adjacent land enough for a large palace, with its -gardens and a park four miles in circuit; and such enormous sums were -lavished upon the edifice and the grounds, that the additional imposts -which were required for this expenditure, or artfully, perhaps, imputed -to it, were one of the causes which provoked the revolt in Catalonia, -and occasioned the separation of Portugal from the Spanish monarchy. -The palace contained a theatre, spacious itself, and opening into the -gardens, which might thus be made upon occasion a continuation of the -scene; in this theatre the master-pieces of the Spanish drama were -represented before a court who delighted in dramatic literature; and -Ferdinand VI. gratified his dear Queen Barbara’s hereditary love of -music, with Italian operas, performed under Farinelli’s direction. -Formerly the Buen Retiro contained a large collection of pictures by -the greatest masters of Italy, Spain, and the Low Countries; many -of these were transferred to other palaces when this began to be -neglected, and the French had now made spoil of the rest. But there -were ceilings painted by Luca Jordano, which were not removable; and -in a compartment of that in the great saloon, Spain was pictured, -ruling the terrestrial globe, ... a dream of ambition which her kings -of the Austrian line had entertained, which the craftiest as well -as the wildest heads among the Romish clergy encouraged, and which -many circumstances seemed to concur in favouring, when, under the -blessing of Providence, the Dutch, by their patriotic and religious -virtue, averted that evil from the world. Two other noted works of -art were still to be seen in the Buen Retiro; one, remarkable for its -design, was a bronze statue of Charles V. trampling upon the Spirit of -Reformation which lay, personified as Heresy in chains, at his feet; -the other, which for the surpassing skill of the sculptor was even -more remarkable, was an equestrian statue of Philip IV. cast by Pietro -Tacca of Florence, weighing, it is said, not less than nine tons, -and yet supported only by the hind legs, the horse being in the act -of galloping. Within the precincts of the palace were many pavilions -which used to be assigned to the courtiers when the court resided -there. The gardens were of that formal style in which art allows as -little as possible of nature to be seen, ... where water is brought at -great expense to spout from fountains and fill circular fish-ponds, -the gardener exercises his topiary genius upon trees and shrubs, and -humble evergreens are compelled to grow in fantastic patterns, like -a vegetable carpet. The park was a thick wood, with broad avenues, a -central pond having a pavilion in its centre, and a large piece of -water at its termination, on which gilded gondolas awaited the king’s -pleasure when he was disposed to take the diversion of fishing, his -retinue beholding the sport from the little pavilions which decorated -its sides. Like all the other palaces of the kings of Spain, the Buen -Retiro was a place in which a meditative beholder was forcibly reminded -of the vanity of human greatness. Those kings, above all other European -sovereigns, had been loved and reverenced by their people; their -palaces were among the wonders of the modern world, and no expenditure, -no efforts of ingenuity and art had been spared in embellishing their -summer retreats: but these things had been grievously compensated, -not alone by the never-ending anxieties of state, and the gloom of -disappointed ambition, but by a more than ordinary share of the -afflictions incident to human nature, coming upon themselves or their -families, ... maladies of body and of mind alike incurable and painful; -... madness, fatuity, weak intellects, ... conscious of their weakness, -and of the awful responsibility in which their birth had placed them, -... morbid consciences, and broken hearts. - -After the accession of Charles III. the Retiro ceased to be a royal -residence, and part of its buildings were converted into a royal -manufactory of porcelain. Its park, however, continued to be a -fashionable promenade, the more agreeable, because carriages were not -allowed to enter; but the French had now made it a depôt for their -artillery stores, the victims whom they arrested for political offences -were confined there, and they had fortified it as a military post, but -with less judgment than their engineers had displayed on any other -occasion. ♦SURRENDER OF THE RETIRO.♦ The outer line was formed by the -palace, the museum, and the park wall, with flèches thrown out in part -to flank it; the second was a bastioned line of nine large fronts, but -with no outworks except a ravelin and a lunette; the interior was an -octagonal star fort, closely surrounding what had been the porcelain -manufactory. The garrison was far too small for the outer enceintes, -and Marshal Jourdan had therefore left written orders, that if they -were seriously attacked, they should confine their defence to the star -fort, which, however, itself would be rendered nearly indefensible if -the manufactory were destroyed. A copy of this order was found, and on -the night of the 13th, Major-General Pakenham drove in their posts from -the Prado and the botanical garden, made them retire from the outer -enceintes, broke through the wall in many places, ♦AUGUST 14.♦ and -established his troops in the palace. In the morning arrangements were -made for driving them from the bastioned lines, and for battering the -manufactory; but the governor saw that resistance was useless, and he -surrendered. The number of prisoners taken there and in the hospital -amounted to 2500, and there fell into the hands of the allies 189 -pieces of cannon, and above 20,000 stand of arms, with a great quantity -of ammunition and stores of all kinds. The eagles also of the 13th and -51st regiments were found there, and sent to England. - -♦THE CONSTITUTION SWORN TO.♦ - -The inhabitants of Madrid, who looked upon this strong hold of their -oppressors as a Bastille, were desirous of thronging thither to see -the place where so many of their countrymen had been sacrificed; but -this was not permitted, both the British commander and the Spanish -authorities seeking as much as possible to prevent any thing which -might excite the vindictive feelings of the people. That same day, -the churches in every parish were opened for administering the oath -of fidelity to the new constitution; and multitudes crowding thither -with an eagerness which might well have excited apprehension of its -stability, swore to they knew not what. Napoleon, it was said, had -promised to regenerate them, and they were regenerated; for through -his means, who had intended nothing less, the Spaniard had been -converted from a slave to a citizen; the superstitious had thrown off -his prejudices, the coward his fears, the credulous his credulity; the -idle had become industrious, the selfish man generous, and the reckless -one had learned to think. While those who knew little of history and -less of human nature exulted thus in the persuasion, that the habits -of a whole people might be changed as lightly as an inconsiderate man -changes his opinion, and that inveterate evils may suddenly be cured -by legislation as if by miracle, and leave no scar behind; the general -joy was kept up by fast following tidings from all parts of successes, -which, though little more than the necessary consequences in most -instances of the battle of Salamanca and the occupation of Madrid, were -considered each by the multitude as an important achievement in itself. -On the same day that the Retiro was surrendered, the French withdrew -from Toledo to join the army of the centre, with which the Intruder -was retreating towards Valencia: they destroyed their artillery, and -all the ammunition which they could not carry; and hardly had they -left the city before the Abuelo’s party entered, and the bells rung, -and the squares and streets were illuminated. ♦AUGUST 16.♦ Guadalaxara -was attacked by the Empecinado, and after a vain resistance, above 700 -French were made prisoners there. The enemy retired from Logroño, and -Duran hastened thither and destroyed its outer fortifications, its -fort, and its inquisition. A detachment was sent from Zaragoza to bring -away the garrisons from Tarrazona and Borja, and destroy the works -there. - -♦GEN. FOY’S MOVEMENT.♦ - -General Foy, with 6000 infantry and 1200 horse, part of Marmont’s army, -now under his command, moved from the neighbourhood of Valladolid -with the intent of raising the blockade of Toro and Zamora, and the -siege of Astorga. The garrison at Tordesillas, consisting of 250 men, -had previously surrendered to ♦AUGUST 17.♦ Santocildes. The Spaniards -retired from before Toro at their approach, in good order and with -little loss; the enemy bringing off their garrison, were then joined -by another body of equal force, and proceeded towards Astorga; 300 of -their cavalry were sent forward to that city, but when they entered -it they found that the Spaniards had withdrawn, and had marched the -garrison, consisting of 1200 men, prisoners towards Coruña: for -Castaños knowing that a force was advancing which his army was in no -condition to meet, had successfully employed the easy artifice of -representing to ♦AUGUST 18.♦ the commander that relief was impossible, -and resistance hopeless, and thus he had induced him to ♦AUGUST 21.♦ -surrender. Foy was at Baneza, half way between Benevente and Astorga, -when he received this mortifying intelligence; he then turned back to -the Ezla, and marched upon Carvajales, thinking to surprise the Conde -de Amarante, who with the militia of Tras-os-Montes, then serving -voluntarily beyond their own frontier, was blockading Zamora; the Conde -retreated ♦AUGUST 29.♦ without loss, and the French general bringing -off the garrison marched for Tordesillas. - -Some of the traitors who had made themselves conspicuous in the -Intruder’s service, fell into the hands of ♦MEASURES OF POLICE AT -MADRID.♦ their countrymen at Guadalaxara; others who were conscious -that they had been weak rather than wicked, and that in submitting to -him for their own good, they had not aggravated the crime by injuring -those who had persisted in their duty, presented themselves voluntarily -to the newly constituted authorities in Madrid, thinking it better to -take the chance of mercy, than to fly they knew not whither, without -resources, without friends, and without the consolation which those -who act righteously find in their own hearts. There were writers on -this occasion who cried for vengeance in a most ferocious spirit. -They called upon the people of Madrid to prepare graves for their -guilty countrymen who had thus presented themselves at the foot of -the gallows! They advised them to go to the governor, and with one -voice require justice upon these wretches, as what the nation was -entitled to demand; ... the sword for some, chains for others, and -strict confinement till the conclusion of the war for those who were -suspected, and who, if they were left at large, might act as secret -agents for the French. This atrocious language failed of its intended -effect, for the presence of the allied troops maintained order; and a -vigilant police had been established, not for the oppression of the -people, but for their security. - -No needless severity was used. D. Carlos d’España made known by -an edict, that persons of both sexes in that capital carried on -a correspondence with those unhappy Spaniards who had followed -the French, and that in this manner they supplied the enemy with -intelligence; all such communication, therefore, was prohibited -to all persons, on pain of being brought before a council of war, -and condemned irremissibly to suffer the punishment appointed for -spies. The families of the fugitives, and of those who had enriched -themselves by the purchase of what the Intrusive Government called -national goods, were ordered to remain in their houses under the -word of three respectable sureties, and not to leave them except for -the purpose of attending their religious duties; but their wives -and daughters were advised to retire into a convent, as the course -which consisted best with their own honour, and with that of their -husbands and fathers, for whom they might there offer up their prayers, -supplicating Providence to bring them in its mercy back to the path of -duty which they had forsaken. - -How to deal with the _juramentados_, as those Spaniards were called who -had entered into Joseph’s armies, was a question which now became of -great importance. Hitherto it had been possible to execute the rigour -of the law, and put to death those who were taken in arms against -their country; but the tide having now turned, it might reasonably -be expected that they would eagerly desert a cause in which they had -never heartily engaged; and the policy of thus recruiting the Spanish -army, instead of driving these men to despair, was so evident, that -Alava, immediately on the occupation of Madrid, issued a proclamation, -as commissary for the Government, inviting them to accept the free -pardon which the Cortes had offered them on the publication of the new -constitution. Great numbers in consequence came over. Another measure -of the Intrusive Government, which was not less obvious and dangerous -in its possible results, than the scheme of raising a Spanish force -to be employed in the subjugation of Spain, was that of selling or -otherwise disposing of confiscated houses and lands, and thus binding -the new possessors to their allegiance by the only tie which they would -not be likely under any circumstances to break. They had contrived thus -to connect with the French interest many who would have been unwilling -or unable to purchase property of this description; for under pretext -of embellishing the capital, they pulled down about a fourth of it, and -by way of compensating the owners of the demolished dwellings, assigned -among them in exchange the houses of those who adhered to the national -cause. This policy the Cortes met by a timely decree, declaring all -purchases of confiscated estates null, and empowering the rightful -owners to enter upon them whenever the fortune of war should permit, -and authorising them to exact from the intrusive proprietors the mean -profits, and the amount of any waste which they might have committed. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON’S SITUATION.♦ - -Lord Wellington was now enjoying the highest reward which can fall to -the lot of a successful commander. He was living in a palace, the most -magnificent in Europe, from which he had driven an Usurper; and the -blessings of the people accompanied him wherever he went. The municipal -authorities gave a bull-fight in his honour, and when he appeared in -the royal box, the air rung with the repeated shouts of not less than -12,000 spectators. He could not walk abroad by daylight because of -the pressure of the multitudes who gathered round him; even in the -dark when he went into the Prado, though he and his suite were dressed -in blue great coats in hopes of escaping notice, they were generally -recognized and followed by crowds, the women pressing to shake hands, -and some even to embrace them. Welcomed as he was with overflowing joy -by a grateful people as their deliverer, his satisfaction would have -been complete, if the same difficulties with which he had struggled -since the commencement of the war had not still impeded his plans; -for he was still embarrassed by the want of adequate means, and -disappointed in his hopes of co-operation. He was without money. -The United States of America had declared war against Great Britain, -with no just cause, nor even plausible pretext for hostilities. Lord -Wellington received the news of this declaration immediately after the -battle of Salamanca. The troops in Portugal depended in great measure -for corn upon the importation from America to that country; and he -deemed it necessary, without delay, to make large purchases at Lisbon, -that the subsistence of the army might not be endangered. But this -required a great expenditure, the effect of which was now severely -felt, for no pecuniary resources were to be found in Madrid. The -inhabitants fed the garrison, and the produce of the sequestered ♦COL. -JONES’S ACCOUNT OF THE WAR, 2. 122.♦ and crown lands was readily given -up to the allies, on promise of future payment; but when money was -required for the military chest, a few thousand dollars were all that -could be procured upon the most unquestionable security, and of this -sum much was in base coin. - -♦ANGLO-SICILIAN ARMY.♦ - -Lord Wellington had counted with as much confidence as he ever allowed -himself to place upon arrangements which were not wholly under his own -control, on the promised co-operation of an expedition to the eastern -coast. The most urgent solicitations from that part of Spain for aid -had long been disregarded by the British Government; and the Catalans, -who of all the Spaniards made the greatest and most persevering -exertions in their own defence, had been left from the commencement -of the struggle until this time with no other help than occasional -supplies of money and arms, scantily apportioned, and the assistance -of a few ships of war. And now, when the strong fortresses, one after -another had fallen, and the British Government at length resolved -to withdraw part of its troops from Sicily, where the intrigues of -that poor kingdom, and the expectation of chances in Italy which -were little likely to occur, and of little importance if they had -occurred, had unduly detained them; only 6000 men were detached from -Sicily, without cavalry, and a considerable number of them consisting -of such foreigners as could be enlisted in the Mediterranean. -Lieutenant-General Maitland was appointed to the command, and they -sailed in company with a squadron from the Mediterranean fleet under -Rear-Admiral Hallowell. The common opinion was that they were destined -for Corfu, because heavy artillery was embarked with them. - -♦MAJORCAN DIVISION.♦ - -The Majorcan division of Spanish troops which was to co-operate with -them, was supposed to be in a more efficient state than any of the -Spanish armies. This division had been raised upon the suggestion of -General Whittingham, Majorca being a safe place, where they might be -properly trained before they were brought into the field; but the -materials were not so unexceptionable as the design. Some 250 Germans -who had been made prisoners with Dupont’s army, were taken from the -island of Cabrera as volunteers; though, if free-will had influenced -them, they would, like the Swiss, have entered the Spanish service upon -the first opportunity, instead of remaining two years in that miserable -place of confinement. Majorca itself supplied so few willing soldiers, -that criminals who had been transported thither from Catalonia and -Valencia were enlisted, ... fellows of such a description, that those -who were not deemed capable of service were kept in prison: discipline, -however, and equitable treatment, of which even bad men are sensible, -made them better than was expected. Cuesta sent to this division all -who were discharged from the hospitals; and as runaways from the -routs in Valencia and Murcia could be collected or caught, they were -shipped for Majorca, and incorporated in this hopeful force. No -officer however was appointed without secret and strict inquiry into -his character. Other difficulties, which might not so probably have -been anticipated, impeded the equipment of this division. The plan -was unpopular in the island, the more so, perhaps, because it was set -on foot by an Englishman who was also invested with the command. Upon -Cuesta’s death, the situation of affairs was critical; the authorities -withheld all supplies from the troops, who were also threatened as well -as insulted in pasquinades: convents had been converted into barracks -for their use, and this may possibly have been one cause of offence. An -agreement had been concluded with the Dey of Algiers for a supply of -horses, but it was broken off for want of money, the Superior Junta of -Majorca disregarding all orders from the Regency. The institution of a -military academy was another cause of dislike, owing to the habits of -insubordination which prevailed in Majorca, as in every other part of -the Spanish dominions. By prudent conduct, however, impediments were -removed, and dislike softened or overcome; the troops were clothed -and armed by Great Britain, and their hospital supplied: and when the -expedition from Sicily called for them at Palma, 4500 men embarked, in -a state of efficient discipline. - -♦JULY 24. - -THE EXPEDITION ARRIVES ON THE COAST OF CATALONIA.♦ - -The fleet made for the eastern coast of Spain, and on the first of -August anchored in the bay of Blanes, at the mouth of the Tordera. The -enemy occupied Tosa, and had a redoubt there which covered the town -and protected the coast. On that and the following day demonstrations -of landing were made; but upon an interview with Eroles, it was found -that any such measure would be worse than useless, with so inadequate -a force. That able Spaniard saw that it was better for the Catalans -to be left as they had so long been to their own exertions, than to -give the French an opportunity of bringing superior numbers against -a British expedition: and it was agreed that the best service which -such a force could then perform was to secure the city of Alicante, at -that time endangered in consequence of a defeat which Joseph O’Donell -♦DEFEAT OF THE SPANIARDS AT CASTALLA. JUNE 21.♦ had suffered in its -vicinity. He had endeavoured to drive the vanguard of Marshal Suchet’s -army, under General Harispe, back upon the Xucar, from the line which -it occupied at Castalla and Ibi, and other points of the mountainous -country; but as usual, when the Spaniards were brought forward in -regular war, against well-disciplined and well-commanded troops, some -of the officers either misunderstood their orders or executed them -ill, and some of the men losing courage as soon as they lost hope, -threw into confusion those who were braver than themselves; their -loss amounted to 4000 men, being little less than the whole number -which they attacked, and they left more than 10,000 muskets in their -flight. Suchet, who was the most enterprising and successful of all -the French generals in Spain, would have taken advantage of this -shameful defeat, and endeavoured to obtain possession of Alicante, if -the force at his disposal ♦AUGUST.♦ had not been greatly diminished. -Buonaparte had withdrawn all the Poles in his service from the -peninsular, for the Russian campaign; and this deprived him of six -thousand of his best troops, at a time when his army was otherwise -greatly weakened by sending succours to Caffarelli in Navarre, and by -the increased exertions which it was necessary to make against Duran -and the Empecinado, Villacampa and Bassecourt. Before the battle of -Salamanca the Intruder, in his dreams of triumph, informed Suchet that -he must prepare for marching towards Madrid, and then accompanying him -to the Tagus; and he ordered him to form a camp of 8000 men between -Albaceyte and San Clemente; such a force it was impossible for him to -spare; he could not venture to weaken himself further than by detaching -1500 men to Requeña and Cuenca, to relieve General Darmagnac, and he -represented to Joseph that he could not move for Madrid with one of his -divisions, unless he received orders to evacuate Valencia. The last -orders from Paris were to direct all his efforts to the preservation of -the countries under his command, and to keep his force concentrated. -General Maitland knew less of Marshal Suchet’s actual strength than of -his relative superiority to any force that could be brought against -him; the best course, therefore, seemed to be that upon which he -resolved; to secure the important fortress and port of Alicante, -both as a place of arms from whence future operations might be -undertaken, and as a rallying point for the wreck of Joseph O’Donell’s -army. Thither ♦THE EXPEDITION LANDS AT ALICANTE.♦ accordingly the -Anglo-Sicilian expedition sailed: contrary winds and bad weather -retarded it some days upon the passage, but on the evening of August -the 9th they anchored in the harbour, and on the following day the -troops were landed. - -The French who were in sight of the fortress retired upon this, and -formed their line in Chichona, Ibi, Castalla, Biar, and Villena. But -Suchet saw that this position would not be tenable against General -Maitland’s corps; ♦THE FRENCH FALL BACK TO THE XUCAR.♦ he concentred -his divisions, therefore, about St. Philippe; fixed his head-quarters -in that city; threw up field-works there, and upon the high road -from Valencia to Madrid; and constructed a bridge of boats over the -Xucar, near Alberique, which he secured with a _tête-du-pont_. His -intention was not to fall back without fighting, provided the allies -should attack him only in front, and were not too greatly superior in -numbers. But the superiority was soon on his own side: the allies took -the field on the 14th, and occupied the country from which the enemy -retired; on the 18th they received intelligence that the Intruder with -the force which he could bring together was about to join the army of -Valencia, and then it became necessary for General Maitland to fall -back to his position in front of Alicante. - -The expedition which was to have effected a diversion in the east of -Spain, was thus for the time rendered useless, not having been upon a -sufficient scale to accomplish the purpose for which it was designed. -Meantime the squadron on the north-east coast proceeded successfully, -acting in concert with some of the ablest Guerrilla ♦THE FRENCH -WITHDRAW FROM SANTANDER. AUGUST 2.♦ leaders. Caffarelli found it -prudent to withdraw his garrisons from Torrelavega and Santander, lest -they should be made prisoners; the latter place was entered by Porlier; -the constitution was proclaimed there while salutes of joy were fired -by the Spanish troops and the British vessels; ♦THEY ARE DRIVEN -FROM BILBAO.♦ and Renovales made good his word to General Rouget by -driving him from Bilbao, and defeating him in an attempt at recovering -it. There also the constitution was proclaimed. The _Te Deum_ was -performed in Santiagos church, and the Cid Campeador in the theatre; -and all the unmarried men from the age of 17 to 45, were enrolled for -Mendizabal’s army. On that side there had been no want of exertion, and -no disappointment; but the Gallician army, from which more might have -been looked for, considering the resources of the province, served for -little more than to manifest the gross incapacity or negligence with -which ♦STATE OF THE GALLICIAN ARMY.♦ affairs of the greatest moment -were conducted: nominally it amounted to 30,000 men, and nearly that -number were supposed to be mustered, paid and fed, and yet 11,000 -infantry and 350 horse were all that Santocildes had under his command, -and these were badly disciplined and miserably equipped. - -♦THE FRENCH BREAK UP THE SIEGE OF CADIZ. - -AUGUST 20.♦ - -On the night of the eighth day after the entrance of the allies into -Madrid, the news of that event reached Cadiz, where it excited among -the inhabitants the joyful hope of being speedily delivered from the -blockade: and deeper emotions in those exiles who had left their houses -and families in the metropolis. On the 24th the French broke up the -siege; they threw shells during the preceding night; those which were -filled with lead and discharged from howitzers with a velocity of about -2000 feet per second, ♦SIR HOWARD DOUGLAS’S NAVAL GUNNERY, P. 61.♦ -ranged to the astonishing distance of three miles. They burst their -guns by overcharging them, placing their muzzles one against another -and exploding them by means of portfires and trains; and thus almost -the whole of their artillery between Chiclana and Rota, consisting -of 600 pieces, were rendered unserviceable. Many, however, were left -uninjured for the Spaniards to take possession of, as well as thirty -gun-boats, and a great quantity of stores. The necessity of this -retreat had been foreseen by Soult as soon as he was informed of the -battle of Salamanca. Before that action he had been meditating another -attack upon Tarifa, as a place from whence he could easily communicate -with Tangiers and the Barbary coast, and thus secure supplies for -feeding the army under his command. Sir Rowland Hill’s movements -withdrew him from this project: and after Marmont’s defeat he prepared -to abandon Seville, but to hold the Carthusian convent there, which he -occupied as a citadel. Strong working parties were employed in adding -to its defences, while at the same time the French packed up their -public documents and their private plunder for removal. But on this -occasion the Spaniards were on the alert. - -♦MOVEMENT OF LA CRUZ MOURGEON AND COL. SKERRETT UPON SEVILLE.♦ - -As early as the middle of August the enemy had blown up the Castle of -Niebla, and retired from the whole county of that name; and on the very -day that they broke up from before Cadiz, Camp Marshal D. Juan de la -Cruz Mourgeon, in concert with Colonel Skerrett, judged it advisable to -make a forward movement on Seville, and for this purpose to force the -corps of observation at San Lucar la Mayor, consisting of 350 cavalry -and 200 foot. Brigadier-General Downie was second in command of the -Spanish force. This officer was born in Stirlingshire, and commenced -his military career by accompanying Miranda in his first expedition -to Venezuela, an adventure for which those foreigners who were taken -in it paid the forfeit of their lives. He joined Sir J. Moore’s army -as Assistant Commissary-General, was with Sir Arthur Wellesley in the -campaign of 1809, and in the ensuing year, having entered the Spanish -service, raised, with the approbation of his own government, the loyal -legion of Extremadura and was appointed Colonel-Commandant thereof. -The legion was armed and clothed by the British Government, and he -revived in it the old Spanish costume, ... or something resembling it; -and several of the young nobility are said to have entered it on that -account. By this and by his character, which in some respects resembled -their own, he made himself popular among the Spaniards; insomuch -that the Marquesa de Conquista, the representative of the Pizarros, -presented him with the sword of her ancestor, the famous, or infamous, -conqueror of Peru. - -They marched from Manzanilla with 800 men, consisting of the 1st -regiment of guards, the 87th, and a Portugueze regiment, accompanied -by 600 Spanish troops: the Spaniards attacked on the right, the British -and Portugueze on the left: the enemy were driven through the streets, -leaving some killed, wounded, and prisoners, and the allies took post -at San Lucar without the loss of a man. Leaving his advance in that -town, and the British and Portugueze on the right bank of the river San -Lucar, the Spanish general returned to Castilleja del Campo, being the -place whither the persons from whom he received intelligence directed -their communications. Various and contradictory accounts were brought -thither on the morning of the 26th concerning the intentions of the -enemy in Seville; but in the afternoon he received positive information -that Soult, with the greater part of his force, was about to move by -way of Alcala upon Marchena. Arrangements were immediately made, that -the troops should collect at San Lucar, and after two hours’ rest -there, proceed towards Seville at three on the following morning, in -the hope that by this movement they might accelerate the retreat of -the French, and save Seville from being plundered. On arriving at -Espartinas, they ascertained that Soult had left the city with 5000 -foot and 500 horse. General Mourgeon, upon this, sending out some -Guerrillas to cover his flanks, proceeded, and arrived on the heights -♦AUGUST 27.♦ of Castilleja de la Cuesta, immediately above Seville, at -six in the morning. The French, occupied some olive grounds close to -the village, and some forty infantry garrisoned the redoubt of Santa -Brigida from which the guns had been withdrawn. They were driven from -the olive grounds into the plain, where for awhile the cavalry, 100 in -number, protected the retreat of the foot, some 150: but they were so -pressed by the Spanish vanguard and annoyed by an English field-piece, -that they took to flight, and many of the men were made prisoners. The -redoubt was attacked at the same time, with more bravery than judgment, -and the Spaniards sustained some loss; the columns then advanced into -the plain, by which the redoubt was turned and its communication cut -off: and Colonel Skerrett ordered it to be masked by a detachment of -Portugueze. - -♦THE FRENCH DRIVEN FROM SEVILLE.♦ - -The Spaniards then made a detour to the right, in order to reach -the bridge of Triana by the road of S. Juan de Alfarache, and thus -intercept the retreat of the enemy and prevent them from cutting or -burning the bridge. Skerrett, meantime, advanced a field-piece to -keep in check the enemy’s fire at one of the gates opposite; and -after allowing time for the Spanish column to arrive, the British and -Portugueze advanced to the attack in front, the cavalry and artillery -at a gallop, supported by the grenadiers of the guards and the infantry -following. The enemy abandoned the gate: the British and Portugueze -entered the suburb, and advanced near to the bridge as rapidly as -possible; they were checked at the turn of the street by a fire of -grape-shot and musketry; the grenadiers advanced to their support; the -Spanish cavalry under D. José Canterac, (whom Mourgeon, foreseeing the -necessity, had ordered to leave the column and hasten straight through -the suburb, arrived at this point of time,) and the allies, drove every -thing before them. They advanced to the bridge under a heavy fire. The -enemy had retired from the plain in three columns, with two pieces -of artillery and 200 horse; and had taken a position with the river -on their right, and their rear resting on the suburb: two guns were -brought to bear on them by Captain Roberts of the artillery; they were -driven from their position, and then made a stand upon the bridge, -which they hoped to defend long enough to gain time for destroying -it. Downie with his legion twice attempted to force a passage, and was -twice repulsed, and each time wounded. In a third attempt he leaped -over the chasm which the enemy had then made; and at the same moment -a grape-shot shattered his cheek-bone and destroyed one of his eyes. -He fell from his horse, stunned by the wound; when his recollection -returned he found himself a prisoner, but in time to throw Pizarro’s -sword among his own people. On their part the attack was kept up with -so much spirit, aided as they now were by some guns well placed and -well-worked, that the enemy could not extend the breach which they -had made: and the inhabitants, even while their fire continued, set -all the bells ringing, displayed hangings from their balconies as for -a festival, hastened to the bridge and laid planks across the chasm, -and enabled their deliverers to pass. The French then retired to the -Triunfo and there again made a stand; but soon retreated through the -city, and leaving it by the Puerta Nueva and the Puerta de Carmona, -took the direction of Alcala. They left there two pieces of artillery, -many horses, much baggage, and some two hundred prisoners. The -deliverers could make no speed in pursuing them, for the streets were -crowded with rejoicing multitudes, and their previous exertions as -well as their want of cavalry would have made it imprudent to continue -the pursuit. Downie was treated with great barbarity by his captors. -Miserably wounded as he was, he was tied upon the carriage of a gun, -and in that condition dragged along with them in their retreat; and -this is said to have been done by General Villatte’s direction. Having -taken him some forty miles, and not expecting him to survive, they left -him in a hut, taking however, his parole not to serve again in case of -recovery, till he should have been regularly exchanged. - -By this well-timed enterprise, Seville was saved from the contribution -which would have been exacted from it, and the devastation which was -threatened. A division of French troops, about 7000 in number, from the -blockade of Cadiz, passed by during the following night; they meant to -have taken up their quarters there; but supposing that it was occupied -by Sir Rowland Hill’s force, they had no inclination to encounter such -an enemy, and moved hastily to their right, on Carmona. Ballasteros had -hung upon their flank from Ronda, and continued to harass them till -they reached Granada. From thence Soult concerted his movements with -Suchet and the Intruder. Sir Rowland meantime was ordered to the Tagus -with his corps, there to connect its operations with the main body of -the allied army, and the British troops from Cadiz were embarked for -Lisbon. - -♦REJOICINGS AT SEVILLE.♦ - -On the second day after the deliverance of Seville, the constitution -was proclaimed there in the Plaza de S. Francisco with the same success -as in other parts of Spain. A bull fight also was exhibited, for the -twofold purpose of gratifying the people in what to the disgrace of the -Spaniards was their favourite diversion, and of raising money for the -troops. Among other rejoicings, the Inquisition prepared to celebrate -a thanksgiving festival; but General Mourgeon intimated to them that -he had no authority to re-establish them, and that they would not be -suffered to appear as a corporate body. By the retreat of the French -from Andalusia, a large and populous, and most productive province -reverted to the legitimate government: but, though its resources were -thus increased, there was little ground for hoping that they would be -directed with more ability than in the early part of the struggle. -There was the same generous and devoted sense of duty to their country -in individuals; the same strong spirit of nationality in the great -body of the people; but on the part of the government there were the -same embarrassments to contend with; the same inexperience which the -frequent changes in administration allowed no time for curing, and the -same incapacity which no experience could cure. The ablest heads were -more intent upon carrying into effect their own theories of political -reformation, than of devising means to complete the deliverance of the -country. The indiscretion with which they hurried on measures that -the people were wholly unprepared for, provoked a strong resistance -in the Cortes itself; and the obstinate bigotry of the one party was -not more manifest than the presumptuous confidence, and the political -intolerance of the other. A jealousy of the English prevailed even in -persons whose hatred of the French could not be doubted; and in some -it seemed to acquire ♦HONOURS RENDERED TO LORD WELLINGTON.♦ strength -in proportion to the celebrity which Lord Wellington had obtained; -the people however rendered justice to his merits, as in such cases -they will always do when they are not artfully misled; the Great Lord -was the appellation which they commonly gave him, and no indication -was wanting of that national gratitude which he so well deserved. The -Regency had conferred upon him the order of the Golden Fleece; and -through their hands the Condessa de Chincon, D. Maria Teresa de Borbon, -presented him with the collar of the order, which had belonged to her -father the Infante D. Luiz; that it had been her father’s, she said, -was the only thing which made it valuable to her; but for its intrinsic -value it was a princely present. - -♦ST. TERESA APPOINTED CO-PATRONESS OF SPAIN.♦ - -A subject not less characteristic than curious had been brought -before the Government. The barefooted Carmelites in Cadiz presented a -memorial, stating that Philip III. and the Cortes of 1617, had chosen -St. Teresa for patroness and advocate of Spain, under the Apostle -Santiago, that the nation in all its emergencies might invoke her, -and avail itself of her intercession. At that time the saint had only -been beatified; but her canonization shortly afterwards took place, -and then the Cortes of 1626 published the decree, which was confirmed -by Pope Urban VIII., without prejudice to the rights of Santiago, St. -Michael the Archangel, and the most Holy Virgin. Jealous, nevertheless, -of the imprescriptible rights of their own saint, the chapter of -Compostella exerted their influence at Rome with such success, that -the decree was suspended against the wishes both of the King and -Cortes. That wish, however, continued in the royal family; and Charles -II., in a codicil to his will, declaring that he had always desired -to establish the co-patronship of St. Teresa for the benefit of his -kingdom, charged his successors to effect it. The Carmelites now -urged that at no time could it more properly be effected than at the -present, when her potent patronage was needed against invaders, who -sowed the seeds of impiety wherever they carried their arms. This -memorial was referred to a special ecclesiastical commission; and in -conformity to the opinion of that commission the Cortes elected St. -Teresa patroness and protectress, under Santiago, of those kingdoms; -decreed that her patronship should forthwith take effect; enjoined -all archbishops, bishops, and prelates, to see that the correspondent -alterations should be made in the ritual for the saint’s day; and -required the Regency to give orders for printing, publishing, and -circulating this decree. The community of the barefooted Carmelites -then returned thanks for this appointment of their Mother the Saint. -“It was a decree,” they said, “which would fill all the natives -of those kingdoms with consolation and hope, and they flattered -themselves that from that moment Spain would experience the powerful -intercession of its new protectress.” “My great Mother, S. Teresa -de Jesus, Co-patroness of the Spains!” exclaimed the prior, in an -address which was printed among the proceedings of the Cortes, “the -very idea makes me eternally bless the law that sanctions it. This has -been a business of much time, an affair of some ages, a work of many -and mighty hands; but the glory of completing it has been reserved -for the fathers of the country, for the congress of lights, for your -majesty the Cortes, which has been the glorious instrument of this work -of the Eternal. And it was fitting that the country of heroes should -have the heroine of nations at its head, who like another mother of -the Maccabees should encourage its sons to triumph and to glory. This -Deborah is not less sage than she who judged Israel, not less valiant; -and the Baraks who will come forward under her protection will not be -intimidated by danger. She is not a Moabitess to pervert the armies of -Israel. She is a Jael who will destroy the forces of _Sennacherib_; -a Semiramis, who will overthrow the hosts of the sanguinary Cyrus. -At the sight of this fortunate Esther, Spain would lift her head and -conceive higher hopes. The unanimous consent of the whole nation, the -vows of the Spaniards of both hemispheres, would rise to heaven, and -uniting themselves at this moment with the intercessions of their great -Co-patroness, form that imperious voice which commands the winds and -the tempests, rules the seas, makes itself felt in the dark regions of -the abyss, and ascending the eternal mountain of the Lord, puts aside -the decree of extermination that threatens us, substitutes for it that -of our aggrandizement and elevation, and brings a blessing upon those -judicious, prudent, ♦DIARIO DE LAS CORTES, T. 14. PP. 56, 94, 96, 103.♦ -and sage Mordecais, whose wise resolution has been the cause of this -portent.” In this language did the descendants of the Prophets who -dwelt on Mount Carmel, the children of the great Teresa, offer upon -the altar of gratitude the incense of their respect and veneration to -the Cortes! - -While one set of unbelievers promoted this act of superstition, and -another condescended to it, a decree of more consequence was obtained -from the Spanish Government, which had become sensible that the war -must now be carried on upon one plan of operations, under the direction -of a single mind, and that a mind equal to the ♦LORD WELLINGTON -APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE SPANISH ARMIES.♦ emergency had been -manifested in Lord Wellington. The Cortes therefore conferred upon him -the command in chief of the Spanish armies, during the co-operation -of the allied forces in the defence of the peninsula; and the Marquis -signified his acceptance of the charge, subject to the Prince Regent’s -approbation, “the delay of obtaining which,” he said, “would not -impede his operations, because, upon all occasions on which he had -communicated with the Generals and Commandants of the Spanish troops, -he had received from them the utmost attention, and all the assistance -which they could afford him.” The Prince’s consent was not delayed; -and in signifying it, his Royal Highness expressed his satisfaction in -the measure, as considering it to be a just and signal proof that the -Spanish nation rightly appreciated the military talents and reputation -of Lord Wellington, and that the Cortes had taken a comprehensive view -of the manner in which the war ought to be conducted. - -♦HIS SITUATION AT MADRID.♦ - -Lord Wellington meantime had more reason to be satisfied with the -approbation of his own Government, than with the support that it -afforded him. Successful as his campaign had thus far been, there -had been a loss of time in it, for want of means, and that want had -occasioned much to depend upon the chance of circumstances; whereas, -had there been an adequate force under his command, the results would -have depended as far as possible in war, upon his own sagacity, and -the superiority of British troops. An additional force of 15,000 men, -with which to have covered the northern frontier during the siege -of Badajoz, would have enabled him to fulfil his first intention of -marching upon Seville, after the fall of that fortress; the campaign -might then have been commenced two months earlier, and time would have -remained, after having freed the south of Spain, for operations in the -centre and north. Having been compelled to abandon that intention, -lest Marmont should recover Ciudad Rodrigo and overrun the north of -Portugal, he had succeeded to his utmost hopes in the plan which he -had of necessity adopted, not of choice. After that success, the -want of adequate means left him as little choice as before. To have -marched into Valencia against the collected armies of Soult, Suchet, -and the Intruder, would have rendered it impossible to keep up his -communications with Portugal; and except on that communication he could -have no safe dependence for supplies. There was moreover the weighty -consideration that the yellow fever had broken out in Murcia, and had -approached so near to Alicante, that the most rigorous precautions -were deemed necessary for preserving that part of the country from -the contagion. But independent of all other considerations, he had -neither sufficient troops to attack the united forces in the south, -nor sufficient money to subsist his army beyond Madrid. Of the 70,000 -dollars which he had borrowed there, he was obliged to make over half -to the Portugueze, for the relief of their pressing necessities; and he -had raised the loan on condition of repaying it at the expiration of a -month. By acting in the north he should keep open his communication and -his retreat; and in the north also the reinforcements, which after the -tidings of his success he was sure would be expedited by all possible -exertions, might join him before the enemy could move against him with -their combined forces, from all quarters. The Intruder had with him -14,000 men, Suchet had 28,000 disposable in the field, and the army -of the south, under Soult, consisted of 55,000; in all 97,000: in the -north, there were the army of the north 10,000 strong, and the remains -of Marmont’s army, now under Clausel, estimated at 25,000. Against this -force, which had resumed its activity, it was resolved to act; and to -this determination there was the farther motive, that if the Galician -army were put in possession of Burgos, the castle there might enable it -to make a stand upon that front, and with the assistance of a British -and Portugueze corps to hold the army of Portugal in check while he -should be engaged in active operations in the south. The castle would -thus become a _tête-de-cantonment_ to this corps of observation, and -the French when deprived of it would not possess any strong post on the -great line of communication between France and the interior of Spain, -this castle commanding the only good road for artillery, and for the -movement of convoys. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON MOVES TOWARD BURGOS.♦ - -Accordingly, on the 1st September, Lord Wellington departed from -Madrid, leaving the two divisions which were most in need of rest in -garrison there. Sir Rowland was ordered to the Xarama, so to cover the -capital on that side; and Ballasteros was requested to join him, in -case Soult, whose retreat from Andalusia was not yet known, should move -on Madrid; otherwise to be in readiness for acting upon the Marshal’s -line of march. The troops collected at Arevalo, moved from thence on -the 4th, and on the 6th crossed the Douro at the fords of Herrera and -♦THE FRENCH WITHDRAW FROM VALLADOLID.♦ El Abrojo; the enemy withdrew -from Valladolid at their approach, crossed the Pisuerga, blew up the -centre arch of the bridge, and retired along the right bank of that -river to Dueñas. Some skirmishing took place in front of that town, -and the cavalry picket drove the enemy out, and established themselves -there on the night of the 10th. On the following day, Lord Wellington -entered Palencia, where the English as usual were received with joyful -acclamations, and where the new Constitution was proclaimed. From -thence he communicated with Santocildes, and there learned from him to -how small a force the Galician army amounted, and how little that force -could be relied on. With all Lord Wellington’s experience of Spanish -co-operation, he had not expected this; knowing both the ability and -good-will of Castaños, he hoped to have found the army in a state of -such efficiency that he might have stationed it at Burgos in a few -days, and then without loss of time have returned to Madrid, there -to prepare for the contest which might be expected in that quarter. -The Galician army joined at Pampaliega on the 16th; the 11,000 of -whom it consisted were then separated into three divisions, and each -was directed to march in rear of a British division, no doubt being -entertained but that they would behave well if they were not exposed to -heavy attacks of the enemy’s cavalry. - -♦THE ALLIES ADVANCE TO BURGOS.♦ - -The allies now moved up the beautiful valley of the Pisuerga, from -Valladolid, along the right bank of the river, to the place where it -receives the Arlanzon; and then along both banks of the Arlanzon, up -its valley towards Burgos. It is a tract of country in which nature -seems to invite human industry, and man has not been negligent in -profiting by the advantages of soil and climate and running waters. -Every inch of the valley is cultivated, and the hills are on both sides -covered with cornfields and vineyards. The country is as strong also -in a military point of view as it is fertile; out of the high road in -the valley the way is continually interrupted by rivulets and deep -ditches: the hills on either side afford admirable flanks for the -movements of an army, and there are heights from the river to the hills -on either side for strong defensive positions. The French General was -not a man to overlook this advantage, and the enemy were found on the -16th strongly posted with their left on the Arlanzon and their right -on the mountains. Lord Wellington made arrangements to turn their -position; but they decamped during the night, and in the morning their -whole army was seen retiring in five columns along the valley, and the -hills on either side. They were estimated at about 18,000 infantry and -more than 2000 horse, and their line of baggage was longer and closer -than men who had served in India had ever seen with an Indian army; -for they had pressed all the cattle in the country, and left nothing -transportable for any marauders who might follow them. Clausel entered -Burgos on the evening of the 17th; Marmont and Bonnet, who were still -incapacitated by their wounds, had left that city a few days before. -Caffarelli came thither from Vittoria to confer with him: a council of -war was held that night; at two in the morning the French commenced -their retreat, and by ten o’clock they had left the city and the -suburbs. - -♦BURGOS.♦ - -Fabling authors have ascribed the foundation of Burgos to an imaginary -King Brygus, and mistaken antiquaries have endeavoured to identify -its site with that of the one or other Augostobriga, both having -been far distant. The earliest authentic accounts speak only of some -scattered habitations in this well-watered part of the country, till, -at the latter end of the ninth century, D. Diego Rodriguez, Count of -Castile, better known in Spanish history as Diego Porcelos, erected -a castle there by order of Alfonso III., and founded a frontier town -under its protection, which, from the old Burgundian word for a -fortress, obtained the name of Burgos. The castle was built upon a hill -which commands the rich plain watered by the rivers Arlanzon, Vena, -and Cardenuela: in former times it was of great strength and beauty, -cresting the summit of the hill, and towering above the houses, which -in those times covered the slope; but when the succession to the throne -of Castile was disputed by Alfonso V. of Portugal, against Ferdinand -and Isabella, in right of his wife Juana, the castle took part with -that injured and most unfortunate princess, and firing upon the city, -destroyed the best street, which was upon the descent: after this, the -lower ground was built upon, and the castle was left standing alone -upon the heights. During the sixteenth century, Burgos was the mart -through which the whole interior trade with the ports in the Bay of -Biscay was carried on, and from whence the Segovian cloth was sent to -all parts of Europe. Its population was then from 35,000 to 40,000, -exclusive of foreigners, who were many in number; it had been reduced -to 8000 or 9000, the place having declined after the seat of government -was fixed at Madrid. Most of the Spanish cities may be traced to much -higher antiquity; many exceed it in size; but there are few which are -connected with so many of those historical recollections in which -the Spaniards seem above all other nations to delight. It was the -birthplace of Count Ferran Gonzalez, and of the Cid Campeador; the -former used to knight his warriors in St. Lorenzo’s church. A beautiful -triumphal arch has been erected to his honour upon the site of the -dwelling in which he was born; and his statue, with those of the two -judges, Nuño Rasurez, and Layn Calvo, Diego Porcelos, the Cid, and the -Emperor Charles V., adorns the gate of St. Maria, which opens upon one -of the bridges. - -Our Edward I. was knighted by his brother-in-law, Alfonso the Wise, -in S. Maria de las Huelgas, a nunnery founded by Alfonso V. and -his English Queen Leonor, within sight of the city. Its church was -preferred by the Castilian kings for the performance of any remarkable -ceremony, the place for which was not prescribed; three kings therefore -in succession were crowned there, and it was long a place of interment -for the royal family. Except that at Fulda, no other nunnery ever -possessed such privileges, or was so largely endowed. The cathedral, -than which there is no more elaborate or more magnificent specimen of -what may be called monastic architecture, was founded in 1221, by King -St. Ferdinand and the Bishop Maurice, (who is said to have been an -Englishman, either by birth or blood,) about 150 years after the see -of Oca had been removed thither: among the relics which were shown, -there was a handkerchief of the prophet Elijah, and a lock of Abraham’s -hair, and one of St. Apollonia’s innumerable teeth. Two short leagues -from the city is the monastery of St. Pedro de Cardeña, a far older -foundation than the cathedral; where, from the time that two hundred -of its monks were massacred by the Moors the pavement used on the -anniversary of their martyrdom to sweat blood, till that blood, which -through so many centuries had cried for vengeance, was appeased by -the final subjugation of the misbelievers. There the Cid lies and his -wife Ximena: some of the French officers at the commencement of this -treacherous invasion used to visit the church and spout passages from -Corneille’s tragedy over their tomb. There too lie his daughters, D. -Elvira and D. Sol; and his father Diego Laynez; and his kinsman Alvar -Fañez Minaya, and his nephew Martin Antolinez, and Martin Pelaez, the -Asturian, names which will be held in remembrance as long as chivalrous -history shall be preserved. And before the gate of the monastery the -Cid’s good horse Bavieca lies buried, and Gil Diaz his trusty servant, -by the side of that good horse, which he had loved so well. - -But of objects of antiquity or veneration, that on which the people of -Burgos prided themselves most was a miraculous crucifix in the convent -of St. Augustine, which a merchant of that city, on his homeward -voyage from Flanders, found at sea, floating in a chest shaped like -a coffin. The learned have concluded, upon a comparison of dates and -circumstances, that it is the identical image which was carved by -Nicodemus, and carried from Jerusalem to Berytus; where, being again -nailed and pierced by unbelieving Jews in the 8th century, blood issued -from its wounds, and miraculously healed both Jews and Christians of -their diseases. When Berytus fell under the yoke of the Saracens, the -Christians, to save it from farther profanation, coffined it thus -carefully and committed it in faith to the waves. Strong, however, as -the circumstantial evidence for this identity was admitted to be, many -persons piously preferred believing that it was no work of human hands, -but had been sent from heaven, in order that there should be on earth -one perfect resemblance of our crucified Saviour. They supported this -opinion by the alleged and admitted fact, that no one has ever been -able to ascertain of what material the image is made: the flesh, they -say, is so elastic that it yields like that of a living body to the -touch, and resumes its natural rotundity when the pressure is removed; -the head moves to whatever side it may be inclined, and the arms, if -they are unfastened, fall like those of a corpse; and the hair, and -beard, and nails, seem not as if they were carved, or fixed there, but -as if they grew. Volumes have been published filled with authenticated -accounts of the miracles which this crucifix has performed. Kings, -nobles, and prelates, have vied with each other in enriching the -chapel wherein it is placed. So many lamps have been presented, that -they are said literally to have hid the vault of the chapel, covering -its whole extent; and of these the meanest were of massive silver. -On each side of the altar stood thirty silver candlesticks, each -taller than the tallest man, and heavier than many men could lift. The -candlesticks upon the altar were of massive gold; between them were -gold and silver crosses, set with precious stones; and crowns rich with -pearls and sparkling with diamonds were suspended over the altar. Above -the altar the miraculous crucifix is placed, behind three curtains -embroidered with jewellery and pearls. It was shown only to persons -of great distinction, and not to them till after many ceremonies, and -till they had heard two masses: bells were then rung to give notice -that all who were present must fall upon their knees, while the sacred -curtains were undrawn. The great captain Gonsalvo de Cordoba, when he -would have ascended to inspect it closely, was overcome with sudden -awe, and withdrew, saying he would not tempt the Lord. And Isabella, -the Catholic Queen, for whom one of the nails which fastened the -image to the cross was taken out, that she might enshrine it among -her relics, fainted when she saw the arm drop; and when she came to -herself, repenting of her intention, as though such piety had partaken -of the sin of sacrilege, ordered the nail to be reverently replaced.... -It is a relief for those whose thoughts have been long employed upon -the wickedness and the sufferings of their fellow-creatures, if their -attention can sometimes be drawn away by such examples of their -weakness and their credulity. - -♦THE ALLIES ENTER BURGOS.♦ - -When the enemy withdrew from Burgos they were joined by 9000 infantry -of the army of the north under General Souham, who took the command, -and retiring to Briviesca halted there in a strong position. On the -morning of the 18th the allies took possession of the heights to -the north-west of the castle, and entered the city, where they were -received with the usual acclamations. But this was no day of joy to the -inhabitants: the garrison, who from their fort completely commanded -both the city and the suburbs, opened a fire of musketry and grape into -the principal streets, and burned the houses which were nearest them; -and on the other hand the Guerrillas began to plunder, as if it were -an enemy’s town of which they had taken forcible possession. Alava, -by threats, by blows, and by unremitting exertions, restored order at -last; and his efforts were not a little assisted by a rumour which -he caused to be spread among them, that the French were returning in -great force: these marauders then took to their heels, and a Spanish -battalion was posted in the city, and a battalion of _caçadores_ in the -suburbs. - -♦CASTLE OF BURGOS.♦ - -On the following day the castle was invested. One division remained -on the left of the Arlanzon; part of the army forded it, and marched -round the heights of St. Miguel; their advance drove the enemy from -three detached flêches which they were constructing, to see into the -hollows on the side of the hill, and took possession of such parts as -were under cover. The remainder of the army was advanced on the high -road in front of Monasterio to cover the attack. Upon reconnoitring -the castle it was found much stronger than had been expected: it was -a lofty building, built with the solidity of old times, flanked with -small round towers, and its roof sufficiently strong to bear guns of -large calibre which the French had placed upon it. The keep had been -converted into a casemated battery; the lower part of the hill had -been surrounded by an uncovered scarp wall of difficult access, and -between these defences two lines of field-works had been constructed, -thickly planted with cannon, and encircling the hill. The garrison -under General Du Breton consisted of nearly 3000 men, well provided -with stores of all kinds. It was apparent that approaches against them -must be carried on regularly: the most sanguine entertained no hope -of succeeding in less than seven or eight days; nor would that hope -have been entertained if the deficiency of means had been considered, -unless an undue reliance had been placed upon military courage in -circumstances where skill and science are of far more avail. The -siege establishments of the army had been deficient in all the former -sieges, in all which, therefore, success had been dearly purchased; -but here there was not even the skeleton of an establishment. There -were five officers of engineers, but not a sapper or miner; and only -eight men of the royal military artificers, to whom 81 artificers of -the line were added. The artillery consisted of three 18-pounders, -and five 24-pounder iron howitzers, with 300 rounds of ammunition for -each, and 15 barrels of powder. The engineers’ stores were scanty in -proportion; but in a store which the enemy had left in the town a -considerable number of entrenching tools were found. Lord Wellington -had no other means within his reach when he moved from Madrid. He had -no means of transporting more guns and ammunition from Madrid, or from -Ciudad Rodrigo, to Burgos. The Intruder and the French armies had swept -Castille of all the mules and horses upon which they could lay hands; -and if some might still have been purchased at high prices, there was -no money to pay for them in the military chest. - -♦THE HORN WORK ON S. MIGUEL’S TAKEN.♦ - -On the side toward the country the castle was commanded by the heights -of S. Miguel, which are separated from it by a deep ravine. The summit -is about the same level as the upper works of the castle, at a -distance of 300 yards. On this height the enemy had nearly completed -a large horn work: the branches were not perfect: the rear, on the -advance of the allies, had been closed by an exceedingly strong -palisade; and in front they had begun to throw up three flêches, from -which they had now been driven. As a preliminary to any attack, it was -necessary to win the horn work. The arrangements for this were, that -two parties should march that night, one upon each salient angle of the -demi-bastions, enter the ditch, the counterscarp being unfinished, and -escalade them, under protection of 150 men, who were to march direct -on the front of the work, halt at the edge of the ditch, and keep up a -continued fire on those who defended the parapet.... A third storming -party under the Honourable Major Cocks was to march round the rear of -the work, and endeavour to force in at the gorge. This plan was better -arranged than executed. The covering party began to fire as soon as -they were put in motion, and continued firing as they advanced, till -they reached the ditch where they ought to have begun their fire: -by that time so many of their men had been killed and wounded that -the rest dispersed. The attack on both semi-bastions was not more -fortunately conducted: the ladders were not long enough for the face -of the work; ... and the troops, remembering the murderous character -of the former sieges which they had witnessed rather than their -eventual success, hung back. Major Cocks lost in advancing nearly half -his party by the fire of the castle, but he found that the garrison -of the horn work neglected the gorge, being fully occupied with the -attack in front. He therefore with little opposition got over the -palisades and entered the body of the work with about 140 men: these he -divided, posting one-half on the ramparts to ensure the entry of the -co-operating force in front, and with the other he formed opposite the -gateway, in the hope of making the garrison prisoners: they were about -500 in number, under a _chef de bataillon_, and had his support been -brought up in time there was every probability of his capturing them; -but the French running from their works, mere weight of numbers did -for them as much as determined courage could have done; they literally -ran over this little party and escaped into the ♦COL. JONES’S ACCOUNT -OF THE SIEGES, P. 191.♦ castle. Their loss did not exceed 70 men, that -of the assailants amounted to 420, including six officers killed and -fifteen wounded. - -Such a beginning, though successful, was not likely to give the troops -confidence. And it was now found, ... which could not be understood -by a ground-plan of the works, nor indeed be exactly ascertained till -they were in possession of St. Miguel’s hill, ... that although this -hill commanded from its narrow side that on which the enemy’s works -were erected, it was itself commanded by the terrace of the castle. The -breadth of St. Miguel’s is parallel to the length of the castle-hill, -and consequently St. Miguel’s is outflanked by the castle-hill; and as -the surrounding ground is so low as to be completely overlooked, and -commanded by that hill, it was impossible to erect batteries on any -spot except the narrow ridge, which was not only out-flanked by the -opposite height, ♦FAILURE IN ASSAULTING THE FIRST LINE.♦ but commanded -by it. Trenches however were now opened to secure a communication -with the horn work, and afford cover for the men; batteries were -erected; and in order to save the troops from unnecessary fatigue, Lord -Wellington resolved to assault the outer line, on the night of the -22nd, without waiting to form a breach in it. A party of Portugueze -were to advance from some houses in the suburb close to the wall, -cut down the palisades, and take the line in flank and rear, while a -British party were to advance under a ridge of ground, and escalade -the wall in front. The houses afforded cover to the one party, the -ridge to the other, until the moment of attack. But no serious attack -was made; the Portugueze were checked by a fire from a guard-house on -the line, and could not be induced to enter the ditch: the British -planted their ladders, and the officers mounted, but very few men -followed them. Major Lawrie of the 79th, who commanded this party, was -killed. Captain Frazer Mackenzie was struck down by a blow on the head; -he recovered himself, mounted a second time, and was shot through the -knee. The enemy, whose attention was not diverted by any other attack, -mounted the parapet, and fired down upon the assailants, who stood -crowded in the ditch unable now to advance, and still unwilling to -retire. Lord Wellington was watching the attack from the hill of St. -Miguel, under a fire of musketry, grape-shot, and shells; and when he -saw that the Portugueze did nothing, and that the party in front made -no progress, he ordered the attempt to be relinquished, after the loss -of about three hundred and thirty men. The wounded were brought in in -the morning during an hour’s truce. - -♦A SECOND ASSAULT FAILS.♦ - -The original plan was now resumed of working up to the wall, and mining -under it. The enemy placed two or three guns behind a projecting -palisade, which was so close as perfectly to secure them, and from -whence they did great execution. As there were neither sappers, miners, -nor pioneers, the engineer officers were obliged not only to direct -every operation, but to stand by and instruct the working parties; and -while thus employed, Captain Williams was killed. It seemed miraculous -that any of these valuable officers escaped. The enemy could not now -but have discovered that the besiegers were miserably provided with -artillery, and that they had no ammunition to spare; nevertheless they -began to prepare their second line for an obstinate defence. On the -evening of the 29th the miners hit upon the foundation of the wall, -mined it, and charged the mine with twelve barrels of powder. At -midnight it was sprung, and threw down the wall. Three hundred men were -in readiness for storming: a serjeant and four men, the advance of a -party of twenty who were to lead the way, mounted without opposition, -for the enemy were panic-stricken: they remained some minutes on the -top of the breach before the French, perceiving that they were not -supported, took courage and drove them down. The officer in command of -the first advance did not discover the breach, ... he returned into -the parallel, reporting that the mine had failed, and the storming -party, in consequence of this error, was withdrawn. After this, Lord -Wellington determined to have no more night attacks. - -♦A THIRD BY DAYLIGHT PROVES SUCCESSFUL. - -OCT. 4.♦ - -A supply of gunpowder having been obtained from Sir Home Popham’s -squadron, a second mine was completed: the first breach was rendered -practicable, and the explosion which made the second was the signal for -assaulting both. Immediately before the explosion, and while in the -act of communicating that all was ready, Lieutenant-Colonel Jones of -the engineers was severely wounded, an officer whose Journals of the -Sieges, and whose general Account of the War have been the most useful -as well as the most trust-worthy of the printed authorities from which -the present history has been composed. About an hundred feet of the -wall were thrown down by the explosion: the storming party, instead -of being composed of detachments from different regiments, consisted -of the 24th regiment, supported by the working and covering parties -in the trenches, a reserve of 500 men having also been formed in the -parallel. This assault was made in the face of day. The officer who led -the left party was at the foot of the old breach before the smoke had -cleared away, and he was the first man on the top of it; and the dust -had scarcely subsided before the troops had gained the summit of both -breaches, and driven the enemy into their covered way, and behind their -new palisades. During the night the besiegers established themselves -in both breaches, and along the wall to the left of them, and began -an approach towards the second line of works. But the rains now began -to set in heavily; and on the following afternoon 300 of the garrison -made a sortie from their covered way, gained possession of the first -breach, and retained it long enough to ruin the lodgment and carry off -the tools. They did not get possession of the second breach, nor of the -parallel along the parapet: but the advantage which they had gained -was sufficient to encourage them, and to lessen the confidence of the -besiegers, who could not but perceive that they were struggling against -all advantages of situation, and with means the most inadequate. The -enemy could not depress their guns so as to bear upon the new works, -but they kept up a constant fire of musketry upon them, and from time -to time rolled large shells down the steep glacis, and these either -carried away the gabion where the men were breaking ground in the -night, or lodging against it and bursting, blew it to pieces. The rain -was now so heavy that much time was daily expended in draining and -keeping the communications up the steep banks and breaches practicable. -The garrison meantime were never idle: they had now disabled two of the -three 18-pounders; and making another sortie at two in the morning of -the 8th, from the covered way with 400 men, they surprised the advanced -covering party, drove the remainder from the parallel of the outer -line, and once more levelled the work and ♦MAJOR COCKS KILLED.♦ carried -off the tools. Major Cocks was killed in a charge to regain it: he was -shot through the body when ascending the breach, by a French infantry -man close to him: the ball entered on the right side between the fourth -and the fifth rib, passed through the great artery immediately above -the heart, and so out at the left side, breaking the left arm. Major -Cocks was a young officer of the highest promise. He was the eldest -son of Lord Somers, and by the demise of his maternal grandfather, -in possession of a large landed estate; but preferring the military -profession to the peaceful enjoyment of good fortune, and to the -pursuits whereto his station in society invited him, he devoted himself -to the study of that profession with an ardour, of which an ordinary -observer would not, from his mild manners and habitual composure, have -supposed him capable. Entering early into the service, and leaving -his regiment in England, he joined the army at Lisbon in the spring -of 1809, for the purpose of acquiring the Portugueze and Spanish -languages. He was in the south of Spain when the French attempted -to surprise Cadiz, and he it was who gave Alburquerque the first -information of their movements, by which timely advice that magnanimous -Spaniard was enabled to prevent their design and throw himself into -the place. He read much, and let no opportunity pass unimproved of -perfecting by practice the knowledge which he acquired from books: -and thus he had distinguished himself on so many occasions, that the -promotion which his rank and fortune might have commanded was not more -rapid than his conspicuous merit had deserved. When the dispatches -relating the capture of the horn work on S. Michael’s reached home, his -commission as Lieutenant-Colonel was immediately sent out; but before -these dispatches arrived in Spain, his career was closed. On the day -preceding his death he was field-officer of the trenches: the day was -very wet, and he went round to every sentry to see that the orders were -clearly understood, ... a duty generally left to the serjeant who posts -them, and not often attended to by a subaltern having only a picket -of twenty men; but Major Cocks never spared himself, and never left -anything which depended upon him undone. The death of such a man (for -such men are rare) was justly regarded in the army as a national loss. -He was buried in the camp ground of his regiment near Bellema, Lord -Wellington, Sir Stapleton Cotton, Generals Anson and Pack, with the -whole of their staffs, attending his funeral, and the officers of the -79th (his own regiment) and of the 16th light dragoons. - -After this second successful sortie, no further attempt was made to -push the works between the outer and second line: a third breach was -effected with the view of making a flank attack at the moment of -assaulting the second line in front; but when it was made, it could not -be stormed for want of musket ammunition. The enemy attempted to repair -it during the night, but were several times driven in. A small supply -of powder having now been received from Santander, the howitzers were -put in battery; but the 24-pound shot were nearly expended, and for the -18-pounders the 16-pound shot fired by the enemy were collected and -made to serve: when the embrazures were opened, the guns could not be -run in on account of the weather, and one of the batteries was silenced -in half an hour by the enemy’s fire. By the 18th, a sufficient opening -had been made in an exposed part of the second line; and the church of -St. Roman, which was near the second line, had been mined. The ♦THE -SECOND LINE ASSAULTED WITH ILL SUCCESS.♦ assault was made by daylight; -the works were immediately carried with very little loss, and some of -the German legion escaladed the third line; but they were few, and were -presently driven back, for the course of the siege had taken confidence -from the besiegers and given it to the besieged; and when the guards -gained the parapet, the garrison rallied on the _terre plein_ of the -work, and assembled in force, then advanced, and drove the assailants -back completely from the line. The mine under the church did little -injury to it; but it so alarmed the enemy, that they exploded their own -mines, which destroyed the greater part: the troops lodged themselves -in the ruins, and a communication was carried to this point during the -night. A convoy of heavy artillery and ammunition was now on its way -from Santander, and the castle might then have been reduced in a few -days, without further loss; but it was now too late, and after that -failure all circumstances induced Lord Wellington to think only of -retreat. - -♦MOVEMENTS OF THE FRENCH IN THE NORTH.♦ - -On the day of that failure, the enemy were joined at Breviesca by -the army of observation from Alava, and the remainder of the army -of the north. This force considerably outnumbered that which Lord -Wellington could bring against them, and in cavalry they were greatly -superior. They made a show of coming on in front; and in consequence, -the covering army moved up near Quintana-palla, and was joined by -most of the besieging corps. On the 20th they advanced in force, -drove in the pickets, and obtained possession of Quintana-palla; but -Sir Edward Paget drove them back, and recovered the place, and they -then desisted from their offensive movements. Intelligence which Lord -Wellington had reason to expect arrived on the following day, that the -united forces of the enemy in the south were in motion. Ballasteros, -who had hitherto, if with little success and no great ♦BALLASTEROS -REFUSES TO ACT UNDER THE BRITISH COMMANDER.♦ skill, displayed the most -indefatigable activity, had in a mood of sullen resentment at the -appointment of Lord Wellington to the chief command, ceased to molest -the enemy. He had hung upon the flanks of Soult’s army, and harassed -it as far as Granada, with more effect than in any of his former -enterprises, because the enemy were dispirited and on their retreat; -but upon receiving instructions to obey Lord Wellington’s orders, he -took no farther measures for annoying the French, refused to act in -concert with Sir Rowland Hill, according to the plan which the British -Commander had laid down, and remained obstinately inactive at the most -critical time. At length he published a letter to the minister at war, -saying, that from the time when the French treacherously seized the -four fortresses, he had spared no efforts for raising the nation, and -that no person had contributed more to the event of the second of May -than himself, without which events, Spain would not have been in its -present state. From that time he had never laid aside his arms, and -had resisted all solicitations which the foreigners had made him to -the prejudice of his country, ... inexorable in being a Spaniard and -nothing but a Spaniard, and that his countrymen should be so, like -him: this having been his principle, without any regard to his own -fortune, he had always found the nation ready to support it in every -sense. “And now he was surprised,” he said, “to see that the English -General, Lord Wellington, was by a resolution of the Cortes appointed -Commander-in-Chief of the Spanish armies; those armies, thousands -upon thousands of whose companions in arms were in the grave, having -fallen in defending the reputation of their country, were observing -what would be his conduct on this occasion; and he should not consider -himself worthy of being an Aragonese, if he did not represent to the -government, that he could not condescend to a determination which -disparaged the Spanish name.” He spoke of the English as a nation to -whom the Spaniards were bound by true friendship and fair dealing, but -of whose fair promises and bad faith no one could give more information -than the then president of the Regency, the Duque del Infantado. “Was -Spain,” he asked, “like the petty kingdom of Portugal, that the command -of its armies should be intrusted to a foreigner? Had its revolution -begun like that of Portugal? Had it not still resources of its own? -Had it not generals, officers, and soldiers, who still supported the -honour which they had inherited from their forefathers; and who in -the present war had made both English and French know that they were -nothing inferior to them in discipline or in courage, and that they -had chiefs of their own who knew how to lead them to victory? Finally, -he required that the opinion of the soldiers and of the people should -be taken upon this matter; if they condescended to the appointment, -he should renounce his employments, and retire to his own house, thus -manifesting, that he had only the honour and the welfare of his country -in view, not any ambitious or interested end.” - -♦HE IS EXILED TO CEUTA.♦ - -Ballasteros was a rude, intrepid, enterprising, and persevering -soldier of fortune, handsome in person, strong in body, and of a -hale constitution; very useful as a partizan at the head of 4000 or -5000 men, but incapable of conducting any extensive operations with -a regular army. Before the appointment of Lord Wellington took place -he was in no good humour with the Government, and the Government on -its part as little pleased with him. With some better parts of the -national character, he partook in no slight degree of its boastfulness, -and entertaining a most exaggerated notion of his own merits, made no -scruple of saying that Ballasteros had done more for Spain than all -her other chiefs put together, and that in spite of the Government, -Ballasteros, unassisted and discouraged, would continue to do more than -the favourites of the Regency, whose pockets were filled with doubloons -by the English. But though he had a large party among the lower orders -in Cadiz, and some of his regiments were much attached to him, he -overrated his own importance as greatly as his own deserts; he was -unpopular in the provinces and disliked by his officers: and when the -Government put him under arrest for thus defying its authority, marched -him under an escort to Malaga, and sent him from thence to Ceuta as an -exile, not a hand, and scarcely a voice was raised in his defence. Some -seditious writings indeed were published in his favour at Cadiz, but -they produced no effect. The loss of an active partizan was regretted, -and the error of an honest, though obstinate and wrong-headed man; but -the army and the nation concurred in condemning him, and in approving -the promptitude and decision with which the Government had acted. - -Meantime, in consequence of this inactivity, in dereliction of -all duty, on Ballasteros’s part, and of the inefficiency of the -Anglo-Sicilian army, Marshal Soult and Suchet were enabled, without -any impediment, to concert their operations with the Intruder, and -carry them ♦GEN. MAITLAND GIVES UP THE COMMAND OF THE ANGLO-SICILIAN -ARMY.♦ into effect. General Maitland’s health gave way under the -anxieties of his situation, so that it became necessary for him to -return to Sicily. Major-General William Clinton was sent from thence -to take the command in his stead, and till his arrival, it devolved -upon Major-General John Mackenzie. That general made an attempt to -seize the castle of Denia by a _coup-de-main_: from its strength and -its position on commanding ground close to the sea it might have -easily been maintained against the enemy, and would have afforded -great opportunity for annoying ♦UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT UPON DENIA.♦ -him. Major-General Donkin, Quarter-Master-General of this army, was -intrusted with the enterprise; it failed, but the men and guns which -had been landed were re-embarked with ♦THE FRENCH PREPARE TO MARCH FROM -THE SOUTH AGAINST LORD WELLINGTON.♦ little loss. Knowing that nothing -was to be apprehended from this army in its present state, Marshals -Jourdan, Soult, and Suchet, held a counsel in presence of the Intruder, -at Fuente la Higuera. They had feared at one time that it might have -been necessary to abandon Valencia: that apprehension was removed, and -they now believed that, as the long and brave resistance which had been -made by the garrison at Burgos had given the army of Portugal time to -recover strength and to unite with the troops in the north, nothing -more was required for restoring their affairs, than that the armies -of the south and the centre should co-operate with it, for the double -purpose of beating Lord Wellington, and re-establishing the Intrusive -government at Madrid. It was not deemed necessary to take any part of -Suchet’s forces for this service; the state of Aragon and Catalonia on -the one hand, and the presence of the Anglo-Sicilian expedition on the -other, made it dangerous to weaken him. - -At the point where the roads from Alicante and Valencia ♦CASTLE OF -CHINCHILLA TAKEN BY THE FRENCH.♦ to Madrid join, stands the little -castle of Chinchilla; it was in possession of the Spaniards, and -while the Intruder was reconnoitring it one day with a telescope, -a shot from an eight-pounder passed close by him. This place the -French besieged; it was ably defended by the Governor D. Juan Antonio -Cearra, who was a lieutenant-colonel of engineers: but the enemy were -not scrupulous as to any means which could accelerate their success; -and during a night’s truce they erected a battery of eight guns, in -the most advantageous situation; by this battery the works were much -injured, and the garrison considerably reduced in number; and of twenty -artillerymen, ♦OCT. 9.♦ there only remained eight to work the guns, -when some of these men were struck dead by lightning, many more, and -among them the governor, wounded by it, and the works so shaken, that -it became necessary to surrender. The enemy’s preparations ♦THEY BEGIN -THEIR MARCH.♦ were complete soon after this obstacle was removed; and -on the 16th of October, the Intruder set out from Valencia towards the -Tagus, with Marshals Jourdan and Soult at the head of 70,000 troops, -10,000 being cavalry. Lord Wellington received intelligence of this -from Sir Rowland Hill on the 21st, and the same advices informed him -that the Tagus was already fordable by individuals in many places, and -was likely soon to be so for an army. As long as the Tagus remained -unfordable, Sir Rowland’s position was tolerably secure; but when the -river fell, it became too hazardous for him to maintain an advanced -position near Madrid in front of an enemy so greatly superior. It -was necessary that Lord Wellington should move towards him, lest the -corps under his own command should be insulated in consequence of the -movements which Sir Rowland might find himself compelled to make. He -determined therefore to fall back upon the Douro, so as to afford Sir -Rowland a point upon which to return, and by uniting their forces, to -secure a retreat into Portugal. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON RAISES THE SIEGE OF BURGOS.♦ - -This resolution was executed as promptly as it was formed. He instantly -raised the siege, and filed his whole army in the night of the 21st -under the walls of the castle and over the bridge, which was closely -enfiladed by its artillery; a bold and unprecedented manœuvre, which -military men adduce as a proof that the march of troops cannot be -stopped by the fire of artillery in the night. The allies moved in -silence and good order; but a party of Guerrillas, regardless of -discipline, then, as at all times, put their horses to their speed, -and the clatter which they made alarmed the garrison. A fire was -consequently opened from the guns which were directed on the bridge, -and the first discharge was most destructive; but the gunners then -lost the range and direction, and their farther fire served only to -quicken the speed of the carriages. Every thing was brought away in -this retreat except the three disabled guns, and the eight pieces -of the enemy which had been taken in the horn-work. The loss of the -allies during the siege amounted to 24 officers and 485 men killed; -68 officers and 1487 men wounded ♦RETREAT FROM BURGOS.♦ and missing. -The enemy did not begin to follow till late on the ensuing day; 10,000 -of their troops encamped that day on the south of Burgos, and on the -morrow at noon they came up in force with the retreating army. Sir -Stapleton Cotton detained them for above three hours at the passage -of the Hormaza, in front of Celada del Camino; they were twice -charged there by Major-General Anson’s brigade with great success, -and the rear-guard continued to fall back in the best order, till the -Guerrillas on their left were driven in and came flying upon them, four -or five of the enemy’s squadrons being mixed with them in pursuit. In -the confusion which ensued, the French were mistaken for Spaniards, -and, favoured by that mistake, they fell upon the flank and rear of -the allies. Some loss was sustained, and Lieutenant-Colonel Pell, of -the 16th dragoons, was taken prisoner, having had his horse shot. A -very superior body of cavalry, in which the enemy were strong, now -came up, and the allied cavalry fell back hastily, lest they should -be surrounded; but having crossed a wide and deep ditch by a narrow -bridge, the brigades of Major-Generals Bock and Anson charged their -pursuers when only part had filed over: in this they were repulsed, -hardly pressed, and forced upon the infantry rear-guard of German light -troops under Colonel Halkett; that officer formed his troops in four -squares, and the men behaving, as that legion ever did, admirably, -repulsed the enemy in several charges, and checked the ♦THE ALLIES -CROSS THE PISUERGA.♦ pursuit. The right of the army crossed the -Pisuerga that afternoon at Torquemada, and the left at Cordovilla, -where head-quarters were established that night. - -The army continued its march on the 24th towards ♦DISORDERS DURING -THE RETREAT.♦ the Carrion. Throughout the north of Castille, which is -a great wine country, the wine is stowed either in caves dug in the -hill sides, or excavated in the earth, the soil from the excavation -being formed into a mound over them, and the entrance appearing like -the chimney of a subterraneous dwelling. These cellars were now filled -with new wine; the soldiers broke into them during the night, and it -was not without the greatest exertions that the officers in the morning -could put their battalions in march. The enemy, however, after their -yesterday’s repulse were less pressing; and the whole army having that -day marched twenty miles, took up its ground behind the Carrion with -its right at Dueñas and its left at Villa Muriel; and here the brigade -of guards which had disembarked at Coruña joined them. The retreating -army did not exceed 20,000 men; the French displayed above thirty; -they were confident also in the superiority of their cavalry, in that -country the most efficient force; and as it is their national character -to be easily elated, they might well be elated now at having baffled -Lord Wellington before so poor a fortress as the castle at Burgos, -and compelled him who had driven Massena out of Portugal, and routed -Marmont at Salamanca, to retreat before them. English soldiers are -neither lightly elated, nor soon cast down; they keep their courage -on a retreat, for that never gives way; but they become disdainful -of control when they have no opportunity of wreaking their wrathful -feelings upon the enemy who is in pursuit, and insubordination is -then the sin which most easily besets them. This was already felt, -though as yet they had suffered little, and though the retreat was so -deliberately made, and with so firm a face toward the enemy, that the -men lost none of their confidence in their Commander. - -The army halted on the 25th, and measures were taken for impeding the -pursuit. A battalion of the royals was posted at Palencia, to cover -the operations for destroying the bridges over the Carrion at that old -city; but the French assembled there in such force that the commanding -officer being attacked and overpowered, found it necessary to retire -upon Villa Muriel, and the bridges were left uninjured for the pursuers -to pass. Two other bridges over the same river at Villa Muriel and at -Dueñas were mined, that they might be exploded on the enemy’s approach, -and one in like manner over the Pisuerga at Tariago. The two former -were successfully exploded, that at Villa Muriel under a fire of -grape-shot from the enemy; but they discovered a ford there, and passed -over a considerable body both of horse and foot. A false report that -the enemy had already crossed at Tariago, delayed the commencement of -the work there; the French came up before it was completed; it was -exploded prematurely, and consequently to no effect; their cavalry -galloped over and made the party prisoners. This enabled them to push -a corps on the right into contact with the posts on the Carrion; their -passing at Palencia made it necessary for Lord Wellington to change the -front of his army, and this second success rendered his farther retreat -difficult, and even precarious. Major-Generals Pringle and Barnes -were therefore ordered to attack those who had crossed the Pisuerga; -the Spanish troops co-operated in this, and the enemy were driven -across the river with considerable loss. Neither could they maintain -themselves upon the Carrion after having forded at Villa Muriel; the -Spaniards who were employed to dislodge them, faltered in the charge, -and Alava, while leading them on and in the act of encouraging them, -fell badly wounded: the fall of this gallant leader did not inspire -them with more courage, but the Brunswickers were then ordered to -advance; those brave men ran into the village without firing a shot; -the Spaniards took heart and followed them, and the French withdrew; -and the fifth division under General Oswald advancing against their -main body, compelled it to recross. - -♦OCT. 26. THE ALLIES HALT.♦ - -The next day the allies retreated sixteen miles without molestation, -and crossed the Pisuerga at Cabezon del Campo; the bridge there was -barricadoed and mined, and the army halted in its rear. The ruined -bridges at Dueñas and Villa Muriel had impeded Souham’s movements, -so that he did not approach till evening; he then halted his whole -army ♦OCT. 27.♦ on the right bank of the Pisuerga. The morning of the -27th was foggy, but when the mist cleared, their whole force was seen -encamped at about three miles’ distance. They brought up two brigades -of artillery and cannonaded the town, with little other harm than that -of severely wounding Lieutenant-Colonel Robe of the artillery. Being -opposed to a superior fire, they made no farther attempt in front, but -made considerable detachments to their right, through Cigales, with -a view of getting possession of the bridge at Valladolid, and thus -interposing in the rear of the retreating army. Lord Wellington had an -opportunity of seeing their whole force from a high ground, and saw -that they were in very great strength. On the 28th they extended their -right still farther, and endeavoured in the morning to force the bridge -over the Douro at Simancas, which was defended by Colonel Halkett, with -his brigade of the 7th division, while the Earl of Dalhousie, with the -remainder of the division, defended the bridge at Valladolid. Halkett -being hard pressed blew up the bridge, and disappointed them of their -passage there; at the same time he sent the Brunswick Oels regiment -to Tordesillas, whither the enemy detached troops in the evening, -and where also the bridge over the Douro was destroyed in time. Lord -Wellington sent orders to the Brunswickers to take post on its ruins, -in such manner as to prevent them from repairing it; and breaking up -from the Pisuerga, he crossed the Douro on the 29th, by the bridges of -Puente Douro, and Tudela, both which, and that at Quintanilla also, -were blown up, and subsequently those at Toro and Zamora. The pursuers -that evening displayed more enterprise than they had hitherto shown; -they passed a body of men in the night of the 29th, by swimming the -Douro near Tordesillas, and these gallant fellows falling upon the -guard who had been left in a tower on the south end of the bridge, -and looked for no attack on that side, surprised and overpowered -them, and immediately fell to work to restore the communication. Lord -Wellington was apprised of this in time, or it would have frustrated -all his former precautions; he marched his army early on the morrow, -and posted them on the heights, between Rueda and Tordesillas, -immediately opposite and near the bridge: the bridge by this time had -been nearly repaired, but the French had made no attempt to pass; and -in that position, which he strengthened with batteries, Lord Wellington -remained from the 30th till the 6th of November, the enemy meantime -extending along the river from Toro to Valladolid. He thus obtained the -double object of resting the troops, and gaining time for Sir Rowland -Hill’s movements; for, ... though his first view had been in falling -back upon the Douro to afford Sir Rowland a point upon which to retire -when he should no longer be able to maintain an advanced position in -front of Madrid, against the very superior force which would be brought -against him, ... having seen the strength of Souham’s army, it had -become necessary to order Sir Rowland to break up from the Xarama, for -the purpose of securing his own retreat. - -♦SIR ROWLAND HILL RETREATS FROM THE XARAMA.♦ - -Sir Rowland was an officer upon whom Lord Wellington might always -rely with the most perfect confidence. He expected such orders, -and receiving them on the 29th, intended to begin his march on the -following morning; but the mine which should have destroyed the Puente -Larga, on the Xarama, failed; and the enemy, who had collected a large -body between that bridge and Aranjuez, immediately made an attack -upon the allied post there. They were repulsed by Colonel Skerrett -with considerable loss on their part, and that of some forty men on -ours: this affair delayed the march of Sir Rowland’s right till the -evening, the enemy however made no subsequent attempt to molest him, -farther than by picking up such stragglers as fell behind for the sake -of plundering and drinking; and these were numerous. The army marched -all night and reached Madrid on the following morning. That capital -presented ♦STATE OF MADRID.♦ a melancholy scene: it was known that -these allies could make no attempt to defend it, and that their retreat -would be followed by the entrance of the enemy; and two days before, -when the Military and Provisional Government were about to transfer -their authority to the _Ayuntamiento_, that body dissolved itself, -regardless of its duty. Upon this, the Regidor D. Pedro Baranda, -who had been on the point of resigning his office, came bravely and -honourably forward to take himself the charge from which they had -shrunk, and summoning persons to his aid who had been in authority -when the French withdrew, began to take measures for averting the -evils which there was so much cause to apprehend. The letters in the -post-office were sent off to Avila, lest they should be seized by the -enemy, and many persons brought into danger by their contents. And to -prevent the excesses which must be expected, if on the entrance of the -enemy the prisons should be thrown open, the alcaydes were called upon -to deliver in ♦NOVEMBER.♦ a list of those persons who were imprisoned -for disloyalty to the national cause, and they were set at liberty -while there yet existed an authority which could restrain them from -acts of immediate vengeance. - -♦THE ALLIES WITHDRAW FROM MADRID.♦ - -There were large depôts of provisions in the Retiro and in the convent -of Monserrate, which the allied army had no means of carrying with them -in their retreat, and orders were therefore given that they should be -burnt. The municipality requested that they might rather be disposed of -either by sale, or as a loan, for the inhabitants and the hospitals; -it was not at the commissary’s discretion to accede to this proposal; -but instead of destroying the stores, the people in the immediate -vicinity were invited to help themselves there. It seemed, indeed, -in this retreat, that in the economy of an army the English had yet -every thing to learn: the troops were at this time scantily provided -with food, their line of supply had been along the valley of the Tagus, -the arrangements for changing its direction failed, and before the -men effected their junction with Lord Wellington’s army, the sweet -acorns which they found in the wood formed no slight part of their -subsistence. The works at the Retiro were destroyed before the troops -withdrew from Madrid, and the artillery there was rendered useless: -their departure resembled that of the French in this respect, that -they were accompanied by a considerable number of Spaniards, for whom -it would have been dangerous to place themselves at the mercy of the -Intrusive Government; but such persons were objects of commiseration -and respect to their countrymen, not of contempt and execration. - -While the allies retired leisurely towards the pass of ♦THE FRENCH -ENTER.♦ the Guadarrama, a French officer presented himself on the -afternoon of November 1, at the bridge of Toledo, announcing on the -part of General Drouet, that King Joseph would enter on the morrow with -his army, and requiring that a deputation should go out to meet and -welcome him. On the morrow, accordingly, the _Ayuntamiento_ went forth -accompanied by some of the parish priests, of the titular nobility, -and of those who held office under the Intruder. Baranda briefly -represented the peaceable conduct of the inhabitants, and expressed to -Joseph’s minister of the Interior, that his only wish was to retire to -his own house, where he might consult his own health, and look after -his own affairs. This permission was easily obtained, as the French -presently re-established the former functionaries; but on the 6th, the -municipality were informed that circumstances rendered it necessary -for the troops to leave the capital for some days; and that, in the -meantime, they must take upon themselves the charge of preserving -tranquillity. Baranda was then summoned from his short retirement, and -required again to act as President of the _Ayuntamiento_. At two on the -afternoon of the 7th, the troops departed to reinforce Marshal Soult, -who had followed Sir Rowland’s movements; and in less than two hours -after their departure, Lieutenant-Colonel Mondedeu, the commandant of a -Guerrilla party, entered; on the morrow, the Medico arrived with part -of his band, the Empecinado’s division on the following day, and on -the 11th, the Camp Marshal Bassecourt with some of his troops. Fewer -disorders were committed than might have been expected under such -circumstances, and those chiefly by peasants and deserters, who thought -to take advantage of the sort of interregnum in which the capital was -left; but the officers caused these offenders to be arrested, and -exerted themselves to prevent excesses. But the inhabitants were told -that, as the human means of effecting with God’s blessing their own -deliverance, they must contribute towards the support of the soldiers -as much as their necessities could spare; and it may be supposed that -this contribution was exacted with less compunction on the one part, -and submitted to with less unwillingness on the other, because both -well knew that when the French returned, the locust would devour what -the palmer-worm had left. - -On the 6th Sir Rowland reached Arevalo, which is ♦JUNCTION OF THE -RETREATING ARMIES.♦ about 80 miles from Madrid; the troops had suffered -much from the weather, more from the gross ill management on the -part of the commissariat and the staff, and not a little from their -own irregularities, moral discipline having long been disregarded -in modern armies. He was now in communication with Lord Wellington, -and was instructed to continue his march by Fonteveros upon Alba de -Tormes. By this time Lord Wellington’s army had been recruited by -rest, and the enemy had rendered the bridges passable at Toro and at -Tordesillas: he broke up therefore from his position in front of the -latter city before daylight, leaving the fires burning: that day he -fell back to Torrecilla de la Orden, continued his march the following -day, and on the 8th took up the position which he had twice before -occupied in front of Salamanca. Sir Rowland crossed the Tormes the -same day at Alba, occupied that town and castle with Major-General -Howard’s brigade, and stationed a Portugueze division on the left of -the Tormes, under Major-General Hamilton, to support them. They were -not followed during their retreat from the Douro; the enemy halted to -collect provisions ♦JUNCTION OF THE FRENCH ARMIES.♦ and bring up their -detachments, and the armies of Portugal and the north then formed -their junction with those of the south, and of the centre under Soult -and the Intruder: their united force amounted to not less than 80,000 -foot and 12,000 horse, being the whole of their disposable force in -Spain, and it was believed that they had with them not fewer than 200 -pieces of cannon. The allies had 48,000 foot and 5000 horse. On the -9th the enemy drove in the piquets in front of Alba, and Major-General -Long was obliged to withdraw his brigade through that town on the -following morning. The enemy then, who were directing their main -efforts against the right of the allies, approached their position on -the Tormes, and prepared to force a passage. They attacked the troops -in Alba with twenty pieces of cannon, and bringing up 15 squadrons and -a considerable force of infantry threatened an assault, their light -troops advancing close to the walls which had been hastily thrown up. -They continued their fire from two o’clock till darkness had closed; -but they made no impression on the brave troops who were opposed to -them, and therefore they did not repeat the attempt. The intermediate -time till the 14th they employed in reconnoitring the fords, and the -position which Lord Wellington occupied in front of Salamanca; and on -the 14th they commenced the passage at three fords, about two leagues -above Alba, near Lucinas. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON RETREATS FROM SALAMANCA.♦ - -Lord Wellington immediately broke up from St. Christoval, ordered the -troops to move towards Arapiles, and as soon as he had ascertained the -direction of the enemy’s march from the fords, moved with a division -of infantry and all the cavalry he could collect to attack them; but -they had already crossed in too great force. The wind at this time blew -strong, and a thick rain rendered all objects indistinct at little -distance; Lord Wellington, nevertheless, under cover of a cannonade, -reconnoitred their position, and saw that they were too strongly posted -at Mozarbes to be attacked. In the evening therefore he withdrew the -troops from the neighbourhood of Alba, having destroyed the bridges, -and leaving only a Spanish garrison of 300 men in the castle, into -which the remains of an old palace had been converted. During the -night, and in the course of the ensuing morning, he moved the greater -part of the troops through Salamanca, and placed Sir Edward Paget, with -the first division of infantry on the right, at Aldea Tejada, to secure -the passage there over the little river Zunguen, in case the movements -of the French on his right flank should compel him to make choice -either of giving up his communications with Ciudad Rodrigo or with -Salamanca. The inhabitants of that city were some preparing for the -worst, and others helplessly expecting it, yet with a lingering hope -that another battle upon that ground which had proved so destructive to -Marmont’s army might once more deliver them. Lord Wellington himself -had this possibility in mind, and did not order the commissariat -and hospital stores to be removed from Salamanca till the movements -of the French rendered it certain that, notwithstanding their great -superiority in numbers, they would not venture to bring on a general -action. They fortified their position at Mozarbes, and sent out bodies -of horse and foot towards their left, to act upon the communications -of the allies with Ciudad Rodrigo. This was a sure game; they were -too strong and too strongly posted for Lord Wellington to think of -attacking them; nothing therefore remained for him but to retreat upon -his resources; and this was the more necessary because the men were -nearly exhausted with the fatigues of so long and arduous a campaign; -there was little regard to discipline among them, except when in the -immediate presence of an enemy, and the horses were dying of exhaustion -and for want of forage. - -♦RETREAT TO THE AGUEDA.♦ - -On the 15th the army was put in motion to retire, in three columns, -observing, as well as the country would allow, parallel distances. Sir -Rowland commanded the first, Sir Edward Paget the centre, the third -consisted of the Spanish army. They crossed the Zunguen, passed the -left flank of the enemy’s position, and encamped that night in the -olive-grounds, on the Vamusa, one of the smaller rivers which find -their way into the Tormes. The weather was most unfavourable, and the -way sometimes over stony and ploughed grounds, sometimes over swampy -or inundated low lands. The ♦SUFFERINGS OF THE ARMY.♦ troops arrived -at their halting places greatly fatigued. They were without shelter of -any sort; it was impossible to kindle fires because of the heavy and -incessant rain; and they were still farther dispirited by finding that -the supplies had been forwarded to Ciudad Rodrigo. Bread for three days -in advance had been issued to them as usual, but English soldiers are -seldom provident, and when such demands were made upon their strength, -the natural means of supporting and recruiting it could never be more -needful. There was no provender for the horses, the bark of trees and -sprigs of wild briar were the only and miserable substitutes that could -be found. The French never displayed less vigour than at this time; -the overweening contempt which they had once affected for the British -troops had been so thoroughly corrected, that they made no attempt to -overwhelm an enemy greatly inferior in number, and retreating under -circumstances of great difficulty and distress. They only sent a -body of cavalry with light artillery in pursuit; and these contented -themselves with picking up stragglers and such baggage as fell behind. -The army bivouacked on the 16th in a wood about two leagues from -Tamames; the ground in many places was covered with water, but the rain -ceased, and some biscuit was issued. The day’s march had been most -painful, over such heavy ground that at every step the horses sunk -to the fetlock, and the men to their ancles; but while the men were -filling their havresacks with sweet acorns, which they rejoiced to meet -with, in the want of other food, the horses now and then picked up a -little grass. - -The 17th was another wet and misty day; the army left its bivouack -at six; an extensive wood lay before them: the enemy now followed -close upon their rear, and the light companies were ordered to extend -themselves through the wood for the purpose of protecting the flanks -and the baggage. This service was not easily to be performed against -so great a force of cavalry as was now harassing the movements of a -disorderly army. Wherever the way was through the woods, the officers -as well as men carried on a successful warfare against the herds -of swine which at that season are turned there to feed upon the -acorns; the Spaniards, it is said, began; the wretched state of their -commissariat was their excuse, and the allies had the same excuse -for following the example; and so eagerly was it followed, that the -continued firing of musquetry on all sides, often occasioned an -apprehension that the piquets were warmly engaged, and even that the -army was surrounded. This occurred so often that it produced incaution -at last, and the enemy’s fire was mistaken for pig-shooting. Owing -to the badness of the roads, and the swollen state of the rivulets, -there was an interval of about a mile between ♦SIR EDWARD PAGET MADE -PRISONER.♦ two of the infantry divisions. Sir Edward Paget, who -commanded the centre column, rode to the rear, alone, for the purpose -of discovering the cause of this interval: a body of the enemy’s -cavalry meantime had entered between these divisions; they had pursued -a troop of Portugueze horse from the left flank: the firing had been -ascribed to the pig-shooters, and Sir Edward falling in with the French -was made prisoner, being without support: they might have done much -hurt had they been more enterprising or more aware of their advantage. -At this time the troops were descending upon the little village of -S. Muñoz, in a valley between two hills; the Huebra which runs into -the Douro has its course along this valley, a deep and rapid stream; -both hills are covered with oaks, and the declivity on both sides is -difficult and steep. The troops when they had forded were formed in -open columns on the heights, and halted. A fog came on early in the -afternoon, under cover of which the enemy got possession of a hill upon -the right of the British line; they brought up some mountain guns, -and commenced a fire upon the rear-guard, consisting of the light -division, under Major-General Alten, while it was fording the river. -Some loss was sustained by them. The guns of Major Macdonald’s troops -of horse-artillery returned their fire successfully, but during the -cannonade he was severely wounded. The enemy’s cavalry followed as soon -as the division had crossed, and began to hem them in; and though the -troops formed in squares, they succeeded in charging them in the low -ground. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON REACHES CIUDAD RODRIGO.♦ - -There was now some appearance that an action might be brought on; the -men were sufficiently eager for this, they longed to revenge themselves -upon the French for the privations and sufferings of their retreat; -they made no doubt of beating them, and they anticipated with hungry -eagerness the pleasure of taking their supplies. As Lord Wellington -came to pass the column in review, the word, “here he comes,” passed -along, and carried with it sure confidence to every heart, ... that -confidence which before the works at Burgos could not be felt, being -given in the field as fully as it was deserved. But the French also -knew that the British commander and his troops might justly rely upon -each other, and they would not hazard a battle. The cannonade was -continued on both sides till evening closed. The men bivouacked as -usual on the wet ground, their cloaks and blankets soaked with rain; -but the rain had ceased, it was a moonlight night, and they had the -satisfaction of knowing that another day’s march would bring them to -Ciudad Rodrigo, beyond which the enemy could not follow them, and where -their privations would be at an end. Between three and four in the -morning they moved from their bivouack; the enemy followed them that -day only with their cavalry. Lord Wellington’s head-quarters were in -Ciudad Rodrigo that night, and on the 19th and 20th the army entered -the Portugueze frontier, crossing the Agueda. The loss during this -retreat of about 240 miles amounted to 196 killed, 663 wounded, 421 -missing, and 280 horses; many of the men who had been returned as -missing afterwards came in; but others, among whom were some valuable -officers, died in consequence of the fatigues and hardships which they -had endured. - -♦THE FRENCH RETIRE TO THE TORMES.♦ - -The enemy retired as soon as the allies had reached Ciudad Rodrigo, -and they withdrew from the Tormes also as soon as the castle of Alba -was surrendered. The Spanish Governor Don José de Miranda held out -there with great gallantry, and made more than a hundred prisoners in -some well-directed ♦CASTLE OF ALBA DE TORMES EVACUATED.♦ sallies. Some -characteristic correspondence passed between him and the French; they -required him to surrender and rely upon their generosity, otherwise he -must expect to be treated with the utmost rigour; he in reply spoke of -his duties as a soldier, and boasted of his brilliant garrison. The -French allowed him an hour for returning a second answer, and bade him -tremble if it were a refusal; in his reply he bade them do their duty -as he should perform his, and told them that if the fortune of war -should be in their favour, his numerous prisoners, who had been treated -in the best manner, would be the victims. In this strain, but in -letters which increased in length, and became more and more courteous, -the correspondence was continued from the 14th of November till the -24th, on the night of which Miranda left the fortress in the hands -of Lieutenant D. Nicolas Soler, with 20 men, the prisoners and the -sick; and informing the French commander, in his last communication, -that this officer was instructed to deliver up the place, he with the -remainder of the garrison effected their escape, making their way -through many dangers, but with little loss, to the Puerto del Pico. - -As soon as it was ascertained that the enemy had withdrawn from the -Tormes, Lord Wellington distributed the troops in winter cantonments, -the left being retired to Lamego, and the right thrown forward as ♦LORD -WELLINGTON’S CIRCULAR LETTER TO THE COMMANDING OFFICERS.♦ far as Baños -and Bejar, to hold the passes. He then addressed a circular letter -to the commanding officers of battalions, for the purpose of drawing -their attention in a very particular manner to the state of discipline -of the troops. “The discipline of every army,” he said, “after a long -and active campaign, becomes in some degree relaxed, and requires the -utmost attention on the part of the generals and other officers to -bring it back to the state in which it ought to be for service; but I -am concerned to have to observe, that the army under my command has -fallen off in this respect in the last campaign in a greater degree -than any army with which I have ever served, or of which I have ever -read. Yet this army has met with no disaster; it has suffered no -privations which but trifling attention on the part of the officers -could have prevented, and for which there existed no reason whatever -in the nature of the service; nor has it suffered any hardships -excepting those resulting from the inclemencies of the weather at a -time when they were most severe. It must be obvious, however, to every -officer that from the time the troops commenced their retreat from the -neighbourhood of Burgos on one hand, and from Madrid on the other, the -officers lost all command over their men. Irregularities and outrages -of all descriptions were committed with impunity, and losses have been -sustained which ought never to have occurred. Yet, the necessity for -retreat existing, none was ever made in which the troops made such -short marches; none on which they made such long and repeated halts; -and none on which the retreating armies were so little pressed in the -rear by the enemy. We must look therefore to some cause besides those -resulting from the operations in which we have been engaged. I have -no hesitation in attributing these evils to the habitual inattention -of the officers of the regiments to their duty as prescribed by the -standing regulations of the service, and by the orders of this army. - -“I am far from questioning the zeal, still less the gallantry and -spirit of the officers; and I am quite certain that as their minds -can be convinced of the necessity of minute and constant attention, -to understand, recollect, and carry into execution the orders which -have been issued for the performance of their duty, and that the -strict performance of their duty is necessary to enable the army to -serve the country as it ought to be served, they will in future fix -their attention to these points. Unfortunately the inexperience of the -officers has induced many to conceive that the period during which -an army is on service is one of relaxation from all rule, instead of -being, as it is, the period during which, of all others, every rule -for the regulation and control of the conduct of the soldier, for the -inspection and care of his arms, ammunition, accoutrements, necessaries -and field equipments, and his horse and horse appointments, for the -receipt and issue, and care of his provisions, and the regulation of -all that belongs to his food and the forage for his horse, must be most -strictly attended to by the officer of his company or troop, if it is -intended that an army, a British army in particular, shall be brought -into the field of battle in a state of efficiency to meet the enemy on -the day of trial. - -“These are the points then to which I most earnestly entreat you to -turn your attention, and the attention of the officers under your -command, Portugueze as well as English, during the period in which -it may be in my power to leave the troops in their cantonments. The -commanding officers of regiments must enforce the orders of the army -regarding the constant inspection and superintendence of the officers -over the conduct of the men of their companies in their cantonments; -and they must endeavour to inspire the non-commissioned officers with -a sense of their situation and authority; and the non-commissioned -officers must be forced to do their duty, by being constantly under the -view and superintendence of the officers. By these means the frequent -and discreditable recourse to the authority of the provost, and to -punishments by the sentence of courts-martial will be prevented, and -the soldiers will not dare to commit the offences and outrages of which -there are too many complaints, when they know that their officers, -and their non-commissioned officers, have their eyes and attention -turned towards them. The commanding officers of regiments must likewise -enforce the orders of the army regarding the constant, real inspection -of the soldiers’ arms, ammunition, accoutrements and necessaries, in -order to prevent at all times the shameful waste of ammunition, and the -sale of that article, and of the soldiers’ necessaries. With this view -both should be inspected daily.” - -He proceeded to say that he had frequently observed during the late -campaign with how much more ease and celerity the French soldiers -cooked their food than the British. This disadvantage on our part, -he said, must be ascribed to the same cause as the other evils which -he lamented, “the want of attention in the officers to the orders of -the army and to the conduct of their men, and the consequent want of -authority over their conduct. Certain men of each company should be -appointed to cut and bring in wood, others to fetch water, and others -to get the meat, &c. to be cooked: and it would soon be found if this -practice were duly enforced, and a particular hour for serving the -dinners, and for the men dining, named, as it ought to be, equally as -for the parade, that cooking would no longer require the inconvenient -length of time which it had lately been found to take, and that the -soldiers would not be exposed to the privation of their food at the -moment when the army may be engaged in operations with the enemy.” He -concluded by repeating that the great object of the general and field -officers must be to get the captains and subalterns of the regiments -to understand, and to perform the duties required from them, as the -only mode by which the discipline and efficiency of the army could be -restored and maintained during the next campaign. - -This letter excited no little surprise in the nation, mortifying and -disgraceful as the faults were which were thus openly and manfully -exposed. But it was not more severe than the occasion called for. -No retreat had ever been conducted with greater military skill; and -nothing but that skill, and the reputation which the British troops -had established for themselves under its direction, could have saved -the army from the consequences of the ignorance or neglect of duty in -many of the officers, and the insubordination of the men, which was a -consequence of such neglect or ignorance. The circumstances of that -retreat justified the whole severity of Lord Wellington’s remarks, -and would more evidently have done so, if the sufferings of the army -had been more broadly stated; for though the marches had indeed been -short, and the halts long and frequent, no army which was not flying -from an enemy, but retreating before it, in strength, ever suffered so -much from exposure, and hunger, and exhaustion. Nothing could be more -judicious than his orders during the whole retreat, and nothing more -irregular than the way in which they were carried into effect; and -this, though in part owing to casual and unavoidable obstructions on -the way, arose in a far greater degree from negligence and incapacity. -Sometimes divisions were moved too soon, more frequently too late, -and kept standing on wet ground, in the rain, for two hours, perishing -with cold, waiting the order to move. Their clothes were seldom dry -for six hours together, and during the latter part of the retreat -continually wet; sometimes they were bivouacked in a swamp, when better -ground was near: they lay down upon the wet ground, fell asleep from -mere exhaustion, were roused to receive their meat, and had then no -means of dressing it, ... the camp-kettles had been sent on, or by some -error were some miles in the rear, or the mules which carried them had -foundered on the way; and no fire could be kindled on wet ground, with -wet materials, and under a heavy rain. The subalterns threw the blame -upon their superiors, and these again upon theirs, all complaining -of incompetence in some of the general officers, and carelessness or -supercilious neglect in some of the staff. But the intended effect -was produced. That something was deficient in the equipments of the -army was perceived, and in part remedied. Alas! no one observed that -there was an utter want of that discipline by virtue of which Cromwell -conquered, which rendered the Swedes invincible under their great -Gustavus, and to which the Prince of Parma owed little less than to his -own military genius, admirable as that was. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIII. - -OPERATIONS DURING THE WINTER AND SPRING. BATTLE OF VITTORIA. - - -♦NOVEMBER, 1812. - -OPINIONS OF THE OPPOSITION.♦ - -Lord Wellington’s failure at Burgos, and his consequent retreat to -the Agueda, gave the Whigs a last opportunity of repeating their -predictions, that the war in the Peninsula must prove unsuccessful, -and they availed themselves of it with unabated confidence. The more -rancorous radicals insulted the nation for the hopes which had been -entertained, exulted in the reverses which they magnified, and reviled -the ministers and the General, ... the ministers both for having -continued the war, and for “starving” it; Lord Wellington both for -inactivity and for rashness, for doing too little and too much, for -wasting time at Madrid, and for attempting a siege with such inadequate -means, that nothing but the most profuse expenditure of blood could -afford even a forlorn hope of its succeeding. Even when the events -of the Russian campaign made it evident that the formidable tyranny -against which we had so long contended must soon be overthrown, the -opposition, as well as the revolutionists, turned away their eyes from -the prospect. - -♦MARQUIS WELLESLEY CALLS FOR INQUIRY.♦ - -Parliament met at the latter end of November. In the Prince Regent’s -speech it was stated, that the southern provinces of Spain had been -delivered in consequence of the battle of Salamanca; and that, though -it had been necessary to withdraw from the siege of Burgos and to -evacuate Madrid, the effort of the enemy for rendering it so had -occasioned sacrifices on his part, which must materially contribute -to extend the resources and facilitate the exertions of the ♦NOV. -30.♦ Spaniards. On this occasion, Marquis Wellesley called upon the -Peers, to inquire whether the system which had hitherto been pursued -was founded upon just and extended principles; whether an able and -efficient exertion of our resources had been made; whether such means -as the country possessed had been fully employed; and whether the -result had been such as the nation had a right to expect from the -possession of those means, and the right application of them. He wished -it were possible to fix in the minds of their lordships something like -a definite and precise object, as the issue of the contest in the -Peninsula. In his mind, the only legitimate object was, the expulsion -of the French armies from Spain; and the war had been carried on in -a way totally inadequate to the production of that result. The plan -which of all others all mankind must reprobate, was that of employing -our resources with a view rather to what might be spared in expense, -than to what might be effected by exertion: thus exposing the sinews -of our strength to hourly danger, and bearing hard upon our finances, -yet effecting neither economy nor success, but falling dead as it were -between both. A vast expense of blood and treasure had been lavished, -without accomplishing any one definite object. The best assistance we -could afford to Russia was by carrying on the war in Spain upon a broad -and extensive scale; it had not been so carried on, and he charged -upon that system, therefore, a defection from the cause of Russia. He -did not mean to dispute that the last campaign had been beneficial to -Spain; but his objection was, that those benefits were imperfectly -secured, and that they could not expect them to be permanent. - -♦LORD GRENVILLE.♦ - -Lord Grenville repeated and persisted in his old opinion, that the -deliverance of Spain was beyond the utmost means of this country to -effect; and that it was cruel and base to embark the population of -that country in so hopeless a cause, merely for the sake of a little -temporary advantage. The ministers had not advanced one step in -the accomplishment of this object; and this third advance into the -interior of Spain had, by its failure, proved the correctness of the -data on which his opinion was founded. Their boast of having delivered -Andalusia was an empty boast: no one doubted that the deliverance -was more than temporary, and that the French could not re-occupy the -provinces whenever they pleased. It was the want of means, the failure -of supplies and resources, which had led to the unproductive results of -all their exertions. The blame did not lie with the Spaniards, but with -those who encouraged the hopes which they had no right to entertain: -the fault was with the English ministers, who in their ignorance -overrated the condition of Spain, and anticipated more from her than -she could by possibility perform. He asked also, why ministers, with -a revenue of one hundred and five millions, or more, by estimate, -extorted by means the most grinding and oppressive from a suffering -people, were yet unable to supply Lord Wellington’s military chest? -The difficulty arose from their incapacity, not from the deficient -resources of the country, much as they had been drained. They might -diminish by one half the income of every individual in this country, -with as little effect or promise of ultimate success as had attended -those plans which led them to circulate a vile and adulterated currency -in paper coin throughout the nation. When such had been its effects, -why not at this moment stop the contest in Spain? - -♦MR. PONSONBY.♦ - -In the House of Commons, Mr. Ponsonby said, it was useless to carry -farther an unprofitable contest; it was useless to waste the blood and -the treasures of England for an unattainable object; it had been proved -that the power of England was not competent to drive the French out of -the Peninsula. - -♦MR. FREEMANTLE.♦ - -Mr. Freemantle was decidedly of opinion, that by the battle of -Salamanca we had gained nothing but glory; that the deliverance of -Spain was no nearer its accomplishment than when Lord Wellington -was posted at Torres Vedras, and that our prospects at the present -moment were not nearly so bright as at the commencement of the last -session, ... at which time his declared opinion had been, that we could -entertain no rational prospect of making any impression upon ♦MR. -WHITBREAD.♦ the enemy in Spain. Mr. Whitbread’s tone upon that subject -was somewhat modified; he admitted that the situation in which we now -stood in Spain was glorious beyond example, in so far as related to the -achievements of our armies, though with respect to the expulsion of the -French, we were not so near our object as some people supposed. There -was this difference between an offensive and a defensive war; that an -offensive war ought always to be a war of spirit. When vigorous efforts -therefore were to be made in Spain, there ought to be no limit to that -vigour. Let an application therefore be made to the Prince Regent, -to know from him whether the greatest possible use had been made by -ministers of the means with which they were intrusted for carrying on -the war, before coming to a decision on the merits of ministers, or -the probability of the war being in future carried on with success. He -was far from wishing to refuse them the means necessary for carrying -it to a successful issue; but feeling for the people who were groaning -under accumulated burdens and threatened with the Chancellor of the -Exchequer’s financial abilities, he thought the last resources of -the country ought not to be granted without security for their being -properly applied. Under all these circumstances, he was desirous of -imploring the Prince Regent to take into consideration, whether or not -it was at present possible to bring about a pacification. Buonaparte -was on his retreat to his resources, his force not annihilated, -though certainly in great danger, and this was what the House were -to congratulate themselves on, and for which they were to go to the -Prince Regent with an address on the prosperous state of the country! -If the situation of affairs on the continent was good for any thing, -it was this, that the Emperor of France having failed in his object, -an opportunity was now offered when it would not be inglorious, and -when it would certainly be highly useful to propose to the enemy -some arrangement for peace. Buonaparte was at present in a perilous -situation, and every exertion ought to be made, by taking advantage -of it to procure a peace. But a feeling seemed to pervade the minds -of certain persons, that peace should not be concluded with that man, -... a feeling which he wished to eradicate from this country: for, in -the probable course of events, we should be obliged to make peace with -him. Let him therefore be sent to openly and manfully! The fate of the -mission would be speedily known; and the issue would be a conviction on -the mind of every one, whether a permanent and honourable peace could -be procured or not. - -♦MOTION OF THANKS TO THE ARMIES. SIR FRANCIS BURDETT.♦ - -When a motion for thanks to Lord Wellington and his army for the battle -of Salamanca was brought forward, Sir Francis Burdett said, he was far -from wishing; invidiously to detract from the merits of men who had -devoted their exertions to the service of their country, or to withhold -from them any recompense that it was in the power of Parliament to -bestow: but when he heard the battle of Salamanca represented as -having been equal in importance to the battle of Blenheim, and to -other great battles which had completely changed the aspect of the -whole affairs of Europe, he could not suffer such delusions to go -forth uncontradicted, ... delusions which were calculated to plunge -the country, under the direction of the same persons, still more -deeply in a destructive and ruinous war: for after their boasted and -over-praised victories, we were still as far from our object as ever. -What! were we to suffer the French troops to recover from the effect -of their discomfiture and exhaustion, and to wait until the tide of -good fortune which had attended us flowed back on its source? Were -we to be satisfied with a retreat? Yet, where now was the Marquis of -Wellington? In what direction were we to look for the glorious results -of the campaign? In what manner was the diminution of the French -power in Spain evinced? Nothing seemed to have resulted from all our -advantages but calamity and distress; and it followed, therefore, -that either Lord Wellington was not entitled to the praise which the -House was called upon to bestow, or that the fault of our failure was -attributable to the gross negligence and imbecility of the ministers. -Lord Castlereagh, Sir Francis pursued, in the plenitude of his -satisfaction, had not confined himself to Spain, but had travelled out -of his course, and taken the House to Russia, where in the destruction -of from 200,000 to 300,000 human beings, in the burning of Moscow, -and in the devastation of an immense tract of Russian territory, he -found new causes of congratulation, new sources of national pride and -gratitude! Would he be equally inclined to consider it a matter of -triumph, if Buonaparte (which in his opinion was more than probable) -should extricate himself from his perils, and after having found good -winter-quarters, return to the contest with renovated ardour in the -spring? Could he believe it possible that Russia could continue such -a contest, and undergo a repetition of similar dreadful experiments -and sacrifices? Supposing he marched to Petersburgh, which seemed to -be his ultimate intention, would the same mode of defence as at Moscow -be adopted? Would Russia burn Petersburgh too? He for one could not -greatly admire the magnanimity of burning that, the preservation of -which ought to have been fought for; nor could he see the shining -character of the Emperor Alexander, who was not, like the Emperor of -the French, personally sharing in the dangers of the war. He could not -subdue the conviction which arose in his mind on viewing all these -things, of the utter impossibility of the Emperor of Russia’s feeling -any exultation whatever: on the contrary, he thought that unfortunate -individual must be oppressed by a view of the irreparable calamities to -which himself and his people had been, and were ♦DEC. 7.♦ likely still -further to be, exposed. Farther than this, when a grant was moved to -the Marquis of Wellington, Sir Francis said, he did not wish to divide -the House upon it, but he wished to move, that the consideration of -the grant should be deferred till some inquiries had been made into -the late extraordinary campaign. Lord Wellington’s victories had none -of the characteristics which distinguished those of Marlborough. It -had been observed, and by military men too, that he had brought his -army into difficulties, but that his men had fought him out of them -again; and that in the capture of the fortresses which he had won, a -waste of life was to be complained of. The cause of Spain appeared to -him infinitely more hopeless than it was at the commencement of the -campaign, ... the case of the Peninsula more deplorable than ever. - -♦M. WELLESLEY MOVES FOR A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY. - -MARCH 12.♦ - -Marquis Wellesley moved for a committee to inquire into the conduct -of the war in the Peninsula. “My Lords,” said he, “what secret cause -amidst the splendid scene that has been exhibited in the Peninsula, -... what malign influence amidst the rejoicings and acclamations of -triumph, has counteracted the brilliant successes of our arms, and has -converted the glad feelings of a just exultation into the bitterness -of regret and disappointment? With an army in discipline and spirit -superior to any that had ever been assembled, uniting in itself -qualities so various, as never to have entered into the composition -of any other such assemblage of force; ... with a general, pronounced -by the whole world to be unsurpassed in ancient or modern times; the -pride of his country, the refuge and hope of Europe; ... with a cause -in which justice vied with policy, combining all that was ardent in the -one motive, with all that was sober in the other; ... with the eyes of -Europe fixed on our movements; ... with the admiration of the world -excited by our achievements: ... how is it that our hopes have been -raised only to be frustrated? How is it that we have been allowed to -indulge in expectation of an approaching completion of success, only -to behold the utter disappointment of our wishes? Why has a system -of advance suddenly and inevitably been converted into a system of -retreat? When victory actually sprung from the bosom of retreat, why -was the glorious victor compelled to relapse into his retrogression? -Why has it happened that we have seen the great conqueror who chased -the French armies from the plains of Salamanca, pursued in his turn, -by those whom he had conquered, over those plains which had been the -scene of his former triumphs? Why, in conclusion, has a system of -offence shrunk into a system of defence, and what is the reason that -our military operations in the Peninsula have ended where they began? - -“I should be lost to every feeling of honour, and to every sense -of duty to the country, if I did not state that the effect of this -campaign altogether has been not to approximate you towards your -object, but to remove you from it; and that this calamity has arisen -from the insufficiency of those means which, by a small addition, -might have been rendered effective. I maintain, that the object we had -in view, (the only honest object ... the only great object ... which -we could pursue, or hope to obtain by our operations in Spain,) was -the expulsion of the French, or, at least, a considerable diminution -of their power, with a view to the freedom of the people, and the -independence of the Spanish monarchy. This was, certainly, the main -object which we ought to have contemplated; the ultimate object of the -British nation was, certainly, by the deliverance of the peninsula of -Spain, to lay a solid foundation for the establishment of a permanent -and honourable peace. - -“What I have contended is, that the efforts we have made have not been -equal to the resources of the country; that they have not been such as -the magnitude, the infinite importance of the cause demanded, and as -the favourableness of the opportunity particularly called for; that we -have not made even a faint approximation to the object of the war, the -expulsion of the French from the Peninsula; but that the French have -been enabled, by our reverses, to consolidate their power in Spain, -and to systematize the moral and military subjugation of the country. -We ought to have called forth all our resources, ... and we have made -no extraordinary sacrifices; we ought to have strained every nerve at -this momentous crisis, ... and we have remained little better than -idle spectators of the fate of Spain. We have been deterred by petty -objections; by calculations of expense, which are but as dust in the -balance.” - -♦EARL GREY.♦ - -Earl Grey supported the motion for a committee, saying, that the -great objects of the campaign had not been realized, but that, on -the contrary, there had been a complete failure, ... a great and -lamentable failure; and that it was one of the most important duties -of that house, in cases of ill success, to vindicate the interests -of the country, by visiting with its severest censure the causers of -the misfortune. Aware as the ministers were, he said, of the state -of Europe, and knowing, as they must have known, the effect that at -such a crisis would have been produced by a vigorous and decisive -effort in the Peninsula, it was their bounden duty to have provided -Lord Wellington with ample means for carrying through his enterprising -projects, and crowning them with brilliant and unqualified success. -Nothing had happened which induced him to repent of his opinion, that -the efforts of the Spanish people could alone enable them to withstand -the overwhelming power of France. This sentiment he had uttered -under the supposition that no other power would stand up against the -French Emperor, and that that Emperor would not depart from the unity -of council and of action, by which his greatest successes had been -achieved. And, indeed, if with such a commander and such an army as -ours, and at a time when the army of France in the north had met with -disasters, greater than which never fell upon a host assembled for the -purposes of injustice and ambition, ... if under these circumstances -we had achieved so little in Spain, what would have been the issue, if -one-tenth only of the forces employed against Russia had been turned -against us? The time had called for exertion, and the exertions had -failed, ... failed almost entirely as to their great object: the French -were left in possession of the best parts of Spain; and we had not -advanced in any degree, considering the effects of the last campaign -upon the minds of the Spaniards, to the accomplishment of our object. -Such was the case, and it called loudly for inquiry. - -♦THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL.♦ - -To these assertions the Earl of Liverpool replied, that the campaign -which had been thus represented as a failure and a defeat, was, in -fact, the most brilliant that had been achieved by British arms in any -period of our history. They had been seeking as a great object, that -the whole force of Spain should be placed under the command of Lord -Wellington, and that object had at length been accomplished. Every -exertion that could be made had been made, for sending out troops to -the Peninsula and for supplying them there, and the success of the -war was indisputable. Portugal had been rescued from the enemy, and -placed in a state of security, and now one-third of Spain was relieved -from their presence. Spain and Portugal had set the example which -Russia had followed, with the great advantage of having a government -in full activity to direct all its strength. The example thus set and -thus followed would have an effect among the other nations of Europe, -would rouse their spirit, animate their exertions, and teach them -in what manner to resist oppression, ... teach them that an united -nation, determined to resist an invader, could not ♦EARL BATHURST.♦ -be conquered! ... Earl Bathurst argued to the same purpose, saying, -that something had been effected, if the views of England were what -Marquis Wellesley had powerfully described them to be at the beginning -of the war in Spain, ... first, to create a diversion in favour of -our allies; secondly, to encourage resistance in other countries, by -showing its effects in Spain; and thirdly, to prevent the commercial -and military means of that country from falling into the hands of our -enemy. Those had been the views of England, those were the views of -the present Government, and those views had been forwarded by the last -campaign. And Lord Wellington was satisfied with the conduct of the -administration during that campaign, ... a declaration which had not -been sought for by the ministers, but which he had voluntarily made. - -In these debates the Whigs manifested the same disposition to magnify -our reverses and depreciate our success, and the same propensity -for predicting discomfiture and disgrace which had characterized -their conduct during the whole struggle. The feeling with which they -continued to regard Buonaparte, notwithstanding his ♦APRIL 2. LORD -HOLLAND.♦ inordinate ambition and his remorseless tyranny, was farther -exhibited by Lord Holland, when, upon presenting some petitions for -peace, he expressed his trust that ministers entertained no chimerical -notions of wresting from France what she had acquired during the last -twenty years, nor of humiliating the great prince who now ruled that -country; and his willingness to believe that they had not neglected -the opportunity which the successes of Russia afforded for opening a -negotiation! But they better understood their duty to their allies, and -to Europe, and to their country; and being instructed by experience -as well as encouraged by sure hope, they spared no efforts now for -enabling Lord Wellington to open the ensuing campaign with means which -♦LORD WELLINGTON GOES TO CADIZ.♦ should render success certain. Lord -Wellington went to Cadiz at the close of the year, to make arrangements -with the Spanish ministers for the co-operation of the Spanish -armies. A deputation from the Cortes was sent to compliment him on -his arrival; he paid his respects, in consequence, to that assembly; -expressed his thanks in a brief and modest speech, for the different -marks of honour and confidence which he had received from it; and said, -that not the Spaniards alone looked to it with hope, but the whole -world was concerned in the happy issue of their vigorous endeavours to -save Spain from general destruction, and to establish in that monarchy -a system founded upon just principles, which should promote and secure -the prosperity of all the citizens, and the greatness of the Spanish -nation. In reply, the president complimented him upon his victories, -which had been celebrated, he said, like those of the Genius of Good -over the Genius of Evil. The Cortes did not now hope or trust for new -triumphs from the Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo, they looked upon them as -certain; and looked, not only that the Spanish and allied armies under -such a leader would drive the French beyond the Pyrenees, but that, if -it should be needful, they would pitch their victorious tents upon the -banks of the Seine; it would not be the first time that the Spanish -lions had trampled on its banks upon the old fleur-de-lys of France. - -♦ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CO-OPERATION OF THE SPANISH ARMIES.♦ - -It was arranged that 50,000 Spanish troops should be placed at his -disposal. The army under Castaños formed part of these; it consisted -of what had formerly been called the 5th, 6th, and 7th armies, now -comprehended under the name of the fourth: Castaños was to hold also -the captaincies-general of the province of Extremadura, Old Castille -and Leon, Galicia and Asturias. There was to be an army of reserve -in Andalusia under the Conde de Abisbal, and an army of reserve in -Galicia. The other armies were that of Catalonia, which was the first; -of this Copons held the command: he was also captain-general of that -province, and of that part of Aragon which was on the right of the -Ebro; the second, which Elio, captain-general of Valencia, Murcia, and -New Castille, commanded; and the third (formerly the fourth) under the -Duque del Parque, who was also charged with the captaincies-general of -Jaen and Granada. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON GOES TO LISBON.♦ - -From Cadiz, Lord Wellington repaired to Lisbon. Triumphal arches -were erected in all the towns through which he passed, from Elvas to -the Tagus. The ships, the troops, and the people of Lisbon, received -him with such honours as he deserved; greater could be paid to no -man; and there was a general and voluntary illumination during three -successive nights. A drama was composed to celebrate his victories, and -represented in his presence at the royal theatre of San Carlos, where -all the boxes were decorated with angels bearing crowns and shields, -on which the initials of Lord Wellington were inscribed; _O Nome_, -“The Name,” was the title of the piece, and it was preluded by a hymn -in honour of the Prince of Brazil, and the exhibition of his portrait -under a canopy. The scene then represented the Elysian fields, where, -in the pitiable style of operatic invention, Glory, and Posterity, and -Camoens, and the Great Constable, Nuno Alvares Pereira, with sundry -other Lusitanian worthies, recitatived in praise of Lord Wellington, -Lord Beresford, and the Portugueze and British armies; and down came -angels and genii presenting illuminated scrolls, inscribed with the -names of his victories. - -♦RELAXED DISCIPLINE OF THE PORTUGUEZE ARMY.♦ - -The Portugueze army was, at this time, reproved by Lord Beresford for -its want of discipline during the late retreat, in terms not less -severe than those of Lord Wellington’s letter. Certain officers were -suspended for scandalous neglect and total disregard of their duties: -and it was stated, that, in every instance, complaints had been made -by the commandants of corps or brigades, of inactivity and want of zeal -in the officers of all those corps which had suffered extraordinary -loss during the retreat. That such losses were occasioned by the -negligence of the officers was proved by the fact, that other corps -in the same marches, and under the same circumstances, difficulties, -and privations, had none of their men missing; the officers of those -corps were named with due praise. Marshal Beresford added, he deemed -it important to remind the army, that with all the reasons which he -had (and he was happy to say that he had every reason) for praising -the conduct of the Portugueze officers, when they were in presence of -an enemy, and exposed to fire, valour, nevertheless, was not the only -thing needful; firmness and constancy were equally so for supporting -the reverses, and fatigues, and privations, to which a military life is -subject; and if the officers did not yield under such circumstances, -the soldiers certainly would not; for no soldier, and especially -no Portugueze soldier, ever would be backward in any thing when -his officer set him an example; nor would ever commit any fault or -manifest any discontent, so long as he saw his officer doing his duty -under the same circumstances, and setting him an example of courage, -firmness, and constancy. One of the army surgeons had been brought -before a court-martial for neglecting the sick and wounded under his -care, while they were in the hospital at Madrid. He was sentenced to a -month’s imprisonment, and the loss of a month’s pay. Marshal Beresford, -in confirming the sentence, expressed his disapprobation of it; a -punishment so little in proportion to the crime, he said, was not -likely to impress persons who had neither the proper feelings of men or -of Christians; for what could be more horrible, than to see men who had -been wounded in the service of their Prince and of their country, or -whose health had been broken in that service, neglected by one who had -received rank, honour, and pay, for the express intent of making him -more attentive in his treatment of them? What could be worse than that -such a person should be found preferring his own ease, or interest, or -temporary convenience, to his duty towards his God, and his Prince, and -his fellow-creatures, and leaving them either to perish through his -neglect, or to fall into the hands of the enemy? - -♦JANUARY.♦ - -The consequences of the retreat were severely felt; in January, more -than a third of the British army were on the sick list, fever being -the principal disease, which want of clothing had, with fatigue, -contributed to produce, and want of cleanliness to propagate. In -personal appearance and in clothing, the British troops were at this -time much worse than the Portugueze. But supplies of every kind, as -well as large reinforcements, were received during the winter, no time -being lost, and no care neglected. The infantry had suffered so much -from want of cover, that they were now provided with tents, three for -each company, and these were borne by the animals which used before to -carry the camp kettles, tin kettles being substituted for iron ones, -... one to six men, and light enough for the men to carry it by turns -on their knapsacks. Tents were not thought necessary for the cavalry, -because not being either heated or exhausted so much in their marches, -they were better able to stand the cold at night. - -♦BUONAPARTE WITHDRAWS TROOPS FROM SPAIN.♦ - -While the British force in the Peninsula was increased, and the Spanish -rendered more available than it had been in any former campaign, that -of the French was weakened; the enormous loss which Buonaparte had -suffered in Russia, and the obstinate ambition with which he kept -large garrisons in the north of Germany, rendering it necessary for -him to withdraw troops from Spain. From 10 to 20,000 repassed the -Pyrenees; not fewer than 140,000 were still left, ... good troops, -well-officered, and under commanders of high reputation and approved -skill. But both officers and men had had their confidence abated; -the generals felt that even the resources of the conscription were -exhaustible; and as little hope, when they considered the present -state of their Emperor’s fortunes, could be entertained of subjugating -the Spaniards, the object upon which all seemed to be most intent was -that of enriching themselves by plunder, while it was still in their -power ♦EXACTIONS OF THE FRENCH.♦ to do so. M. Suchet left scarcely one -picture of any value in Valencia, either in the convents, churches, or -private houses; and that city was thus deprived of the finest works of -Juanes, ... works which, precious as they are, were there enhanced in -value by the local and religious feeling with which his fellow-citizens -regarded the productions of their saintly painter. There and everywhere -contributions were imposed and exacted in a manner which made it -apparent that the Intrusive government treated them now not as subjects -who were to be taxed, but as enemies from whom all that could be -extorted was to be taken. Their operations on the side of New Castille -and Leon were at this time confined to periodical circuits for the -purpose of enforcing the payment of contributions. On the side of the -Tagus they fortified the right bank of the river, repaired the Puente -del Arzobispo, and occupied Almaraz, though they did not restore the -bridge there. - -♦LONGA ACTS SUCCESSFULLY AGAINST THE ENEMY. - -NOV. 28.♦ - -Meantime the Spaniards were not idle. Longa surprised General Fromant -in the valley of Sedano, when returning to Burgos with the requisitions -which he had collected, and with sixty respectable householders whom -he was taking away as hostages for the contribution: the hostages were -rescued, Fromant with about 700 of his men killed, and nearly 500 -taken prisoners. A party of the enemy had entered Bilbao, these also -he surprised, and they suffered the loss of 200 men; then making for -Salinas de Anaña, which was the strongest hold of the French in that -district, he besieged it with 2500 men and five pieces of artillery, -and after three days, the remainder of the garrison, consisting of -250, surrendered at discretion. This so dismayed the enemy that they -abandoned Nauclares and Armiñon, which he was proceeding to attack, and -both fortresses were demolished by his orders. His next object was the -Fuerte del Cubo de Pancorbo, a post of importance for its situation, -and for the care with which it had been strengthened; here too the -garrison were made prisoners and the fort demolished. Caffarelli -meantime was vainly besieging Castro, where he suffered some loss, and -found it necessary to give up the attempt, that he might check Longa -in his career of success. That active partizan was now threatening -Breviesca; he eluded Caffarelli and Palombini when they moved against -him, and retreating to Zovalina, there to refresh his troops, ordered -his retreat so well that they were uncertain what direction he had -taken; Caffarelli therefore reinforced his garrisons, and repairing to -Vittoria himself, left Palombini at Poza with 3000 foot and 300 horse -to protect the high road, and be ready to act against Longa. ♦FEB. 13.♦ -But while a third of that force was detached to levy contributions, -Longa surprised the remainder at daybreak: their collected plunder and -some 300 prisoners fell into his hands, and they suffered a further -loss of between two and three hundred in killed and wounded. The -approach of their detachment, and of a large body on its way from -Burgos to Vittoria, then rendered it necessary for him to retire. - -While Longa thus harassed the enemy in the north of ♦MINA’S MOVEMENTS.♦ -Spain, Mina was assailing them with his wonted activity in Navarre -and Aragon. The English landed two 12-pounders for him in the Deva, -together with clothing, ammunition, and other things of which he was in -need; 600 of his men were ready to receive and escort these. The French -endeavoured to intercept them, and were repulsed in the attempt; and -Mina was no sooner possessed of the guns than he attacked the enemy -in Tafalla, where they had a garrison of 400 men. General ♦FEB. 11.♦ -Abbé moved to relieve it with all the disposable force from Pamplona; -but he was beaten back by a part of Mina’s force which had been left -to observe that city, and on the fifth day of the siege the garrison -surrendered as prisoners of war. The wounded he sent under an escort -to Pamplona; destroyed the fort at Tafalla, and the works, ... also a -Franciscan Convent, and an old palace in which the French might have -established a garrison; and he demolished in like manner two other -such edifices at Olite, that the road might be clear between Pamplona -and Tudela. From Tafalla he proceeded to Sos in Upper Aragon, a fort -which the enemy had occupied more than three years, and fortified -sufficiently as long as the Spaniards could bring no guns against it. -They were on the point of surrendering after a four days’ siege, when -General Paris arrived from Zaragoza and carried off the garrison, -leaving the fort half ruined: Mina completed its demolition, and by -this enterprise laid open the road between Pamplona and Jaca. Shortly -after, Fermin de Leguia, who was under ♦FEB. 20.♦ his orders, ventured, -without instructions, upon an adventure which was executed as boldly -as it ♦MARCH 11.♦ was designed. With only fifteen men, being the whole -of his party, he approached the castle of Fuenterrabia in the night, -scaled the wall with one man by the help of spikes and ropes which -supplied the place of a ladder, surprised the sentinel, got possession -of the keys, opened the gates for his men, and took eight artillerymen -prisoners, while the remainder of the garrison, who dreamt of no -danger, were sleeping in the town. He then spiked the guns, threw into -the sea all the ammunition which he could not carry away, set fire to -the castle, and though pursued by the enemy retreated without loss. -Mina was heard of next at Lodosa, where he attacked a detachment of -1000 French, few of whom ♦MARCH 29. CAFFARELLI RECALLED FROM SPAIN.♦ -escaped, 635 being made prisoners. Caffarelli had at this time been -called to France, giving up the command in the north to Clausel; that -able general hoped to signalize himself by destroying an indefatigable -enemy who had baffled the efforts of all his predecessors; and this -was the first proof which he made of that enemy’s ability. Mina -next attempted to intercept a convoy which was going from Tolosa to -Pamplona; the convoy was alarmed in time, but the attempt led to an -affair with Abbé’s force, in which the French retired with the loss of -full 300 men. - -♦CLAUSEL ENDEAVOURS TO HUNT MINA DOWN.♦ - -Clausel had left a considerable garrison in Puente la Reyna, well -fortified for the sort of war which they might have to sustain; and -an advanced post of 50 men at Mendigorria, in an old church of S. -Maria, which they had fortified. While he was in pursuit of Mina from -Estella, and Abbé from Pamplona, their skilful antagonist led them to -suppose that he was in the valley of Berrueza, ... then making a rapid -counter-march with one of his regiments, appeared in Mendigorria. The -garrison at Puente outnumbered him both in horse and foot, but they -did not ♦APRIL 21.♦ venture to interrupt him in his operations; and -he set fire to the church. The French had no other resource than to -ascend the tower, and fire upon them from thence. He sent a trumpet -to offer terms, but they would not allow him to approach, either in -the confident expectation of being succoured from Puente, or because -they were confounded by the situation in which they found themselves; -for the smoke and the flames distressed them so dreadfully, that in -the course of half an hour, they prepared to let themselves down by -ropes; but Mina ordered ladders to the roof of the church, from whence -they descended, and were made prisoners. The Guerrilla chief, now -Camp-Marshal in the regular service, took credit to himself for sparing -their lives when by the laws of war they had placed them at his mercy: -by this time indeed both the invaders and the Spaniards in Navarre -had found it their interest to revert to the humanities of civilized -warfare. His own hospital was in the valley of Roncal, and from the -combined movements of Clausel and Abbé he inferred that it was their -intention to deprive him of that retreat, the only one which there was -for his wounded and invalids. Not being strong enough to resist the -force which was now brought against him, he removed all who were in a -condition to bear removal, and left the others to the enemy’s mercy, -calling to mind no doubt with satisfaction his own recent conduct -at Tafalla and Mendigorria: as he had hoped, the men were humanely -treated by General Abbé, though the hospital effects were destroyed, -and Isaba, which had been deserted by its inhabitants, was set on -fire, and 150 houses burnt. Clausel employed the months of April and -May in endeavouring to hunt this formidable enemy down, of whom in an -intercepted letter to the Intruder, he said, that he would be Lord of -Navarre unless it were occupied by a corps of from 20 to 25,000 men; -because when he was weak he always avoided an action, and fell upon -detachments when he was sure of victory. In the course of this attempt -the loss which his own men sustained from fatigue far exceeded any that -he inflicted upon Mina’s hardy troops, who were intimately acquainted -with the country, and accustomed to the hair-breadth scapes of such -campaigns. At no time, however, was so much apprehension entertained -for Mina’s safety, though he himself relied with his wonted confidence -upon his resources and his fortune, now too not without certain -knowledge that his pursuers would soon be called off to a contest which -for them would be of a far more serious kind. - -♦RENOVALES MADE PRISONER.♦ - -On the side of Biscay the enemy were more successful; they surprised -and captured Renovales, with six of his officers, at Carvajalez de -Zamora; and Castro, from which Caffarelli had been repulsed, was taken -by General Foy, after a siege of eighteen days. The Governor Don Pedro -Pablo Alvares ♦CASTRO DE URDIALES TAKEN BY GEN. FOY.♦ discharged his -duty to the utmost, and the Lyra, Royalist, and Sparrow sloops of war, -and the Alphea schooner, under Captain Bloye, assisted in the defence. -Foy brought all the force which he could collect against it, and -proceeded as if he hoped to strike the province as well as the garrison -with terror, ... for he offered no terms, and seemed determined to -take the place by storm, let it cost what it would. When he had made a -breach wide enough to admit twenty men abreast, he turned his guns on -the town and castle, and threw shells incessantly at the bridge that -connected the ♦MAY 11.♦ castle with the landing-place, hoping thus to -cut off the retreat of the garrison, which at the commencement of the -siege consisted of 1200 men. At noon the enemy entered in great numbers -through the breach and by escalade in various parts; the garrison when -they could no longer defend the town retreated into the castle, the -ships’ boats were in readiness to receive them, and they were embarked -by companies under a tremendous fire of musquetry, two companies -remaining to defend the castle, till the last gun was thrown into the -sea. Every soldier was brought off, and many of the inhabitants, and -landed at Bermeo on the following day. The town was burnt. Foy indeed -acted in the spirit of ♦ENORMITIES COMMITTED THERE BY THE FRENCH.♦ his -Portugueze campaign; as he had offered no terms he showed no mercy, -but when the town was entered put the defenders to the bayonet without -distinction. It had been well if the wickedness of the enemy had ended -there; but in one of their unsuccessful attacks many of their men had -been pushed down a ravine by their fellows while pressing forward to -the charge, the bridge by which they expected to cross having been -destroyed by the English; and because the inhabitants had not informed -them of the destruction of this bridge, they butchered men and women, -sparing none, and inflicting upon them cruelties which nothing but a -devilish nature could devise. - -Little attempt was made on the enemy’s part to annoy the allies -during the winter and spring. Foy, with 1500 infantry and 100 horse, -had endeavoured, in February, to surprise the post at Bejar, but was -promptly repulsed; and the French in the same month advanced from -Orbigo and Castro Gondoles as far as Astorga and Manzanal in one -direction, and to the Puebla de Sanabria and Mombuey in another, -the Gallician army retreating before them, and then resuming their -former position when the enemy in their turn had retired. Much greater -activity was shown in plundering the inhabitants; and this kind of war, -wherein there could be no resistance, was carried on so shamelessly, -that the Intruder, it was said, deemed it necessary to call one of the -generals to account. - -Clausel was of opinion that an error had been committed in not -concentrating their forces more upon the Ebro, which might have been -done, he said, without abandoning Castille, and this error, he feared, -they should find cause to repent. But the Intruder’s council had -determined upon taking the Douro for their line of defence; and with -this view they threw up works on the right bank at every assailable -point, relying, as Soult had formerly done at Porto, upon the security -which that deep ♦M. SOULT CALLED FROM SPAIN.♦ and rapid river might -afford them. Marshal Soult had been called away in March to take part -in the campaign in Germany. The head-quarters of what had been his -army were removed from Toledo to Madrid early in April, and Toledo was -abandoned; but troops were kept at Illescas, and reconnoissances made -by the cavalry towards Escalona, the Alberche, and Añobes del Tajo, -apprehending some movement of Sir Rowland’s army in this direction. -The ♦THE INTRUDER GOES TO VALLADOLID.♦ Intruder, leaving that capital -to which he was never to return, removed his court, or rather his -head-quarters, to Valladolid, where the Palace Gardens were put in -order for his recreation, and some defensive works constructed. On -the 11th of April, General Hugo, who had been left with the command -in Madrid, informed the _Ayuntamiento_ that the troops were about to -depart, and that they must take measures for preserving tranquillity -and guarding the public buildings, civil and military. The most -precious articles in the cabinet of natural history were sent off, with -whatever else could be removed from the other public establishments, -and all arrears of contribution were exacted with the utmost rigour. -Beasts enough were not left in Madrid for the scavengers’ use, so that -the inhabitants were ordered to collect the sweepings of the streets -into the squares, and there burn what used to be carried into the -country for manure. The people of that poor capital had always clung to -the hope of deliverance with a strength of belief which characterizes -the nation, and in the movements of their oppressors they now saw -reasonable ground for expecting that it could not be long delayed. - -♦ANGLO-SICILIAN ARMY.♦ - -The pride of the French too had been at this time abated on the -eastern coast, where Suchet had hitherto boasted of success in all -his undertakings. Major-General William Clinton arrived at Alicante -in November to take the command from which his health had compelled -General Maitland to retire; and notwithstanding the difficulties which -were opposed by a false point of honour, by a jealousy as ill-founded -as it was ill-timed, and perhaps by treasonable intentions, he -succeeded in obtaining consent to garrison the castle with British -troops. In December a reinforcement of 4000 men, British and foreign, -arrived from Palermo, under Major-General James Campbell, who by -seniority superseded General Clinton in the command, which he was to -hold till the then hourly expected arrival of Lord William Bentinck -from Sicily. But Lord William was detained by political circumstances -in that island, where the hopeless attempt had been undertaken of -improving a government before any improvement has been effected either -in those who are to govern or be governed; and, ♦SIR JOHN MURRAY TAKES -THE COMMAND.♦ as no end could be seen to this delay, Lieutenant-General -Sir John Murray was sent out from England to command the allied forces -in that part of Spain. Feeble as that allied force was, and inert as -its feebleness had compelled it to be, it had yet employed Suchet’s -attention during the autumn and winter. - -That general had his head-quarters for the most part at San Felippe, -between Alicante and Valencia, and about three leagues from the Xucar. -Some trivial affairs were all that occurred, till Sir John Murray soon -after his arrival took the army out of its cantonments, apparently -with the view of making the French marshal fall back and concentrate -his forces on that river. After an unsuccessful attempt at surprising -an enemy’s detachment in the populous village of Alcoy, he moved -forward and took up a position near the town of Castalla, where in the -preceding summer Don Joseph O’Donnell had sustained a severe defeat. -While Sir John made ♦DEFEAT OF ELIO’S CORPS.♦ this movement on the -right, General Elio with a separate Spanish corps of 12,000 men moved -on the left to Yecla, Villena, and the flat country in that direction. -There was an old castle in Villena, and Elio garrisoned it with 800 of -his best troops. Suchet was not a man to lose any opportunity which -was presented him: he saw that one of Elio’s divisions had taken post -at Yecla, within reach of Fuente-la-Higuera, where his own advance was -placed, and too far from that of the allies which was at Villena, 25 -miles distant. During the night he collected the flower of his army -at Fuente-la-Higuera, and marched with one division, the cavalry and -the reserve, upon Villena, while, with the other part of his force, -General Harispe proceeded rapidly to Yecla, ♦APRIL 12.♦ unseen by the -Spaniards. At break of day he came in sight of them; they retreated -from one position to another, but were out-manœuvred and beaten, and -after losing some four or five hundred men, 1200 laid down their arms. - -♦SUCHET MARCHES AGAINST THE ANGLO-SICILIAN ARMY.♦ - -On the afternoon of the same day, Suchet was seen advancing within a -few miles of Villena, which is about two leagues to the westward of -Castalla. Sir John Murray immediately withdrew the Majorcan division -from Alcoy, and concentrating his force, occupied the strong position -of Castalla. His left, consisting of that division, was placed on the -rocky and almost inaccessible hills south of the town, ... the range -terminating there. Major-General Mackenzie’s division, and the 58th -regiment from Lieutenant-General Clinton’s occupied the town, and the -ground to the right; here and in front of the castle some redoubts -and batteries had been constructed. The remainder of the position -was covered by a strong ravine which rendered it almost inaccessible -on that side; and there Lieutenant-General Clinton was stationed, -supported by three battalions of General Roche’s division as a column -of reserve. The position was well taken. The second battalion of the -27th foot, the 1st Italian regiment, and the Calabrian free corps, had -on the first alarm been pushed forward beyond Villena, under Colonel -Adam, and with them a detachment of cavalry commanded by Colonel Lord -Frederick Bentinck. The object of this movement was to observe the -enemy’s motions: it brought on a cannonade, and the French endeavoured -to break in upon our troops, and enter Villena pell-mell with them; but -Colonel Adam, following his instructions, fell back upon Biar without -loss. Sir John, being now assured that Suchet meditated a serious -movement, urged General Elio to withdraw his 800 men from Villena, -where the castle, in its imperfect state of defence, was not tenable -against such an enemy; but the Spanish general was not to be persuaded. -The French entered Villena that evening, pushing their light troops -beyond ♦APRIL 12.♦ it towards Biar; and on the morrow the commandant -surrendered at the first summons, and he and his battalion were made -prisoners of war. - -In the afternoon, Suchet advanced in force towards Biar; which village -is situated at the entrance of a strong pass, in a range of hills -running nearly parallel with the position of the allies. About four -o’clock he commenced a serious attack upon Colonel Adam’s detachment. -That officer’s orders were to fall back upon Castalla, but to dispute -the pass; and this he did for five hours against a very superior force, -with the utmost gallantry and skill; till being overpowered by numbers, -and having both flanks turned, he retreated then to the pass, and took -the place which had been allotted to him in the position, on the high -ground to the left of Castalla, having in this unequal conflict both -inflicted and sustained very considerable loss. Two mountain guns fell -into the enemy’s hands; they could not be brought off, because they -were disabled; Colonel Adam therefore directed Captain Arabin to fight -them to the last, and then abandon them. Before day closed, the French -were seen in great force on the road to Biar, and on the hills opposite -the position; but darkness prevented any farther operations for ♦BATTLE -OF CASTALLA. APRIL 13.♦ the night. At daybreak they were perceived -in great numbers along the defile of Biar, and in the plain ground -which separates it from the hills near Castalla; and in the course of -the morning they posted several large masses of infantry, as if in -preparation for a decided attack. Their success against Elio’s corps -had increased their confidence; and they had accustomed themselves to -speak of this army as composed of the rabble of the allied nations, and -to talk of driving them into the sea. - -About one, they pushed forward a large column of cavalry to the village -of Onil, about two miles in front of Castalla, and this movement was -continued parallel to the front of the allies, until nearly opposite -the right of the position. Sir John Murray had foreseen this: the -ground was unfavourable for cavalry, and no notice was taken of the -movement. Three masses of infantry at the same time moved rapidly from -their right, crossed the plain ground in front of the pass, and with -a gallantry, which, in the words of the British general, entitled -them to the highest praise, commenced an attack on the centre and the -left. The left had been weakened; for about an hour before the attack, -General Whittingham had been ordered, with the three regiments which -he had in position there, to make a reconnoissance upon the enemy’s -right flank; but this was the key of the position; and the consequence -of thus weakening it might have been disastrous if Colonel D. Julian -Romero had not opportunely arrived there with two regiments from -Alcoy. Upon this point, from whence more than half its force had been -withdrawn, the main attack was made; and notwithstanding the difficult -approach to it, the assailants gained ground. The Spaniards, who had -expended all their cartridges, were observed to be retiring, and the -enemy moving in considerable force to the left of our centre. The -moment was critical. Just as the assailants had gained the summit, -Colonel Adam, whom they were proceeding to attack in front, prevented -them, and giving them no time to recover breath after the exertion of -such an ascent, charged and overthrew their column, killing, wounding, -or taking prisoner, during the pursuit, almost every man opposed to -his brigade. The Spaniards resumed their ground. Whittingham too had -no sooner apprehended the intention of the enemy, than he returned -with all speed, and arrived in time to take part in the action, in -which, and in the pursuit, the Spaniards distinguished themselves. -The total failure of the enemy here seemed to be felt along their -whole line of attack; they retreated every where. The cavalry, which -had now advanced toward the front of the allies, fell rapidly back on -perceiving this unexpected reverse, and entered the defile in such -confusion, that had the advantage been vigorously pursued, a signal -victory might, in all likelihood, have been obtained. Suchet, having -united his broken battalions with those which he kept in reserve, took -up a hasty position at the entrance of the defile. Sir John Murray, -still retaining the height, moved a considerable part of his army into -the plain, and formed it in front of the enemy, within cannon-shot, his -right flank covered with the cavalry, his left resting on the hills. In -this state, Marshal Suchet thought that the English did not choose to -make an attack, and Sir John Murray, that the French did not choose to -wait for one; ... for the line of the allies was scarcely formed when -the enemy began their retreat, and continued it through the night, the -action terminating at dusk with a distant cannonade. - -The French had 18,000 infantry in the field, and 1600 cavalry: the -allies were not much inferior in infantry; but greatly so in horse. The -loss of the allies was 670 killed, wounded, and missing, the greater -number of the killed being Spaniards: 800 of the enemy were left dead -in front of the line which they had attacked: no prisoners were taken -except such as were wounded; but Suchet sent 2000 of Elio’s soldiers -prisoners to Tortosa on their way to France, and represented that his -success on the one part of the operations balanced his failure on the -other. If this had been the case numerically, which it was not, it was -far otherwise in reputation. He had suffered a mortifying defeat; but -what must most have tended to console him for it was, his satisfaction -at perceiving that there was no intention on the part of the allies -to pursue their victory. He retreated that night to Villena through -Biar, where he left many dead and dying. Sir John, on the following -day, marched his army in two columns to Alcoy, hoping (though with -little confidence in that hope) that he might force the strong pass of -Albayda, and reach the intrenched position of the enemy at S. Felippe -before they could; this he thought better than a direct pursuit, -because the road which the French had taken was favourable for cavalry, -and he was greatly inferior in that arm. In the vicinity of Alcoy he -remained till the 17th, and then advanced with the whole army into the -open country, to the foot of the Albayda pass, about a league in front -of Alcoy. But this being a lateral movement, made after the enemy had -so far the start as to have passed all that was perilous for him, and -got into a strong country, with his forces collected and restored to -order, was an unimportant demonstration which had no effect; and he -returned after it to his position at Castalla. - -Marshal Suchet had not been more successful in machinations of another -kind. Before the battle of Castalla, an Italian regiment in the -Anglo-Sicilian army had been corrupted, and would have betrayed its -post in an attack concerted with that view, if a timely discovery had -not been made. A scheme also had been formed for delivering Alicante -into his hands; but this also was detected, and three of his emissaries -suffered death for it at Alcoy. Frey Assensio Nebot, known as a -Guerrilla chief, by the name of _El Frayle_, the Friar, had more than -any other partizan annoyed the French in Valencia. His party was well -organized, and provided with a regularity which was seldom to be found -in the regular Spanish armies: so rigorous were the measures employed -against him, that women were put to death for supplying him with means -and intelligence; and at length it was affirmed, that three criminals -who had been condemned to capital punishment obtained their lives, and -the promise of a good reward, on condition of presenting themselves -to the Friar as volunteers, and taking an opportunity to assassinate -him. Mr. Tupper, who had been the British consul at Valencia, and whose -zealous services were never wanting to the common cause, obtained -information of this villany, and the Friar was thus put upon his guard. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON OPENS THE CAMPAIGN.♦ - -Lord Wellington was now prepared to open the campaign, and, for the -first time, with such means as enabled him to act in full confidence -of success. If the Anglo-Sicilian army should not achieve any signal -service, he was yet assured that it would give sufficient employment to -Suchet, so that the Intruder could look for no support from that side. -The British force under his command consisted of 48,000 effective men; -the Portugueze of about 28,000; the Galician of 18,000. The enemy were -not inferior in number, and could more surely rely upon the whole of -♦MAY.♦ their troops; but the change in their Emperor’s fortune and in -their own had been such, that they looked only to a defensive campaign, -and trusted to their strong position on the Douro. In the middle of -May Lord Wellington put his troops in motion. The cavalry which had -wintered in the neighbourhood of Coimbra began their movement at the -end of April: they went by the way of Porto to Braga, where they rested -some days, and proceeding to Braganza, reached that place, which was -the point of union for the left of the army, on the 22d of May. The -left of the army under Sir Thomas Graham crossed the Douro in Portugal, -between Lamego and the frontier. The siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in the -preceding year could not have been undertaken unless that river had -been rendered navigable far above the point to which the Portugueze -barks formerly ascended: it had now been opened as high as to the -mouth of the Agueda; and boats had been quietly collected at different -points, without exciting any suspicion that they were ♦THE LEFT OF THE -ARMY CROSSES THE DOURO.♦ designed for the passage of the troops. Five -divisions of infantry and two brigades of cavalry were thus placed upon -the right bank of the Douro, while the enemy supposed that they had -only to guard against an attempt from the left. The difficulties of -the march were indeed very great; most of the roads are so narrow that -carriages could barely pass between the thick walls which bounded them; -and the mountain streams had their course in ravines, from whence the -ascent is so laborious that sixty men could not without great exertion -enable the horses to drag the artillery up. Nevertheless, hope and -ardour overcame all difficulties; and the advantage which the troops -derived from being provided with shelter was sensibly felt: out of a -division of 6000 men, there were but 120 sick after a march of 250 -miles, through such a country. When these were far on their way, Lord -Wellington, with two divisions of British infantry, a Portugueze one -under the Conde de Amarante, a Spanish one under Morillo, and some -corps of cavalry, advanced from Ciudad Rodrigo by the direct road to -Salamanca; the remainder of the army under Sir Rowland Hill moved upon -the same point by Alba de Tormes. - -The line of their retreat in November was still too evidently marked -by the skeletons of the poor animals who had been worked to death in -that cruel service. A division of infantry under General Villatte had -been left in Salamanca, with some artillery, and three squadrons of -horse. They evacuated the city upon the approach of the allies, but -they lingered too long upon ♦MAY 26. AFFAIR NEAR SALAMANCA.♦ the -high ground in its vicinity. When Lord Wellington was within half a -league of Salamanca, he and his staff got upon a rocky height which -commanded a full view of the city and adjacent country. Below him were -his own videttes, and beyond them those of the enemy, each supported -by piquets. To the right were the Arapiles, a name known only in -topography before, but which had now a place in military history; and -in the same direction, but more behind him, the heads of two columns, -forming Sir Rowland’s division, were seen on two nearly parallel roads. -Through a glass, the enemy were observed drawn up; two battalions and a -squadron to the right of the city, near a ruined convent; two squadrons -on the Tormes, near the bridge; half a squadron guarding the ford, -about a mile above the city, near S. Martha; ... and behind the city a -battalion in reserve. Villatte having barricadoed the bridge and the -principal communications throughout the town, seemed to have thought -himself sure of an easy retreat. The 1st German hussars, favoured by -ground which concealed them from the enemy, inclined toward the ford, -while the 14th light dragoons, keeping beyond the reach of fire, edged -along the left bank of the river. The enemy appeared in some confusion, -but remained stationary, as if waiting for something; and beyond the -city, in the direction of Miranda de Duero and Zamora, their piquets -were withdrawing, and mules and baggage joining them from all sides. -It was now nearly ten in the forenoon, and the day very hot. The head -of Sir Rowland’s right column, which consisted of cavalry, and a troop -of horse artillery, under General Fane, were within two miles of S. -Martha, marching for the ford: the enemy now began to move, first in -the direction of Toro, but presently, as if wavering, bending to their -right, they kept close to the Tormes, in the direction of Arevalo; and -retired rapidly, but in good order, when Fane with his six squadrons -had crossed the river. It was well for them that this cavalry was -already jaded by a long march; but the horse artillery, as soon as, -owing to the ravines and the intricacies of the ground, it could be -brought into use, opened upon them with great effect, every shot going -through their crowded ranks. They retired with extreme rapidity, but -in excellent order, and the artillery pursued as quickly as a very deep -country, occasionally intersected with hollow roads, would allow. When -the enemy came to Aldea Lengua, there was an opportunity of attacking -them with every probability of forcing them to lay down their arms; but -strict orders had been given not to pass a ravine just by that village; -and the moment (never to be regained in war) went by. When orders came -to proceed, it was just too late; the pursuit however was continued, -and some three miles beyond the village a charge was attempted by two -squadrons, but feebly, for the horses were now far spent; the enemy -formed into squares, and repulsed them by a volley, though with little -loss. The pursuit was continued about three miles farther. Some of the -French were taken, being unable to march farther from fatigue; and -many threw away their knapsacks, and sacks full of biscuit, and of -corn, but no troops under such circumstances could have behaved better; -... and some proofs were given of what better deserves to be called -ferocious intrepidity than courage. One of their men who was severely -wounded attempted to destroy himself; and another obstinately refusing -to surrender when it was not possible for him to escape, compelled -those who would fain have saved his life to cut him down. The affair -ended in front of Aldea Rubia; a corps of infantry and cavalry retiring -from Alba, when threatened by Major-General Long and by Morillo’s -division, joined the enemy here; and Lord Wellington, as his infantry -had not come up, recalled the troops from the pursuit. Above fourscore -of the French lay dead on the road, and many fell among the standing -corn: some 200 were made prisoners; and some baggage, ammunition, and -provisions, with Villatte’s coach, were taken. - -♦PASSAGE OF THE EZLA.♦ - -During the two following days, Lord Wellington established the troops -which had marched from the Agueda and Extremadura Alta between the -Tormes and the Lower Douro. On the 29th he left Salamanca, and reached -Miranda de Duero. The enemy had destroyed all the bridges upon the -river except that at Zamora. Opposite Miranda there is a ferry, where -this deep and rapid stream is from 80 to 100 yards wide, and the rocks -on either side from 400 to 500 feet high. When it is so swoln that the -ferry is impracticable, the only way by which travellers can cross is -after the old Peruvian manner, in a sort of hammock or cradle, fastened -to a rope, which is secured upon two projecting points of rock, about -thirty feet above the ordinary level of the ♦FLOREZ ESP. SAGRADA, T. -16, P. 3.♦ water. Here Lord Wellington crossed, and on the following -day joined Sir Thomas Graham’s corps at Carvajales on the Ezla. This -river, which upon good grounds is believed to have been the Astura -of the ancients, and in Leon is called the Rio Grande, descends from -the Puertos de Asturias, passes by Mansilla to Benevente, near which -town it receives the Cea from the east, and the larger river Orbigo -from the west, and enters the Douro below Zamora. At daybreak on -the 31st the troops began to ford: the enemy so little apprehended -danger on that side, that they had only a piquet there, and thus no -opposition was offered to a very difficult and perilous passage. The -ford was intricate; the water nearly chin deep; the bottom rough and -stony; and the stones large and loose. The hussar brigade began the -passage, entering in a body; and as it was supposed that a village on -the opposite hill was occupied by the enemy, and as it was necessary -that some infantry should cross to support the advance of the hussars, -each dragoon had a soldier holding by his stirrup. But this impeded -the horses: alarmed both by, the stream and the unsafe footing, they -became unmanageable and plunged forward: the men, who before could -scarcely keep their feet against the force and weight of the stream, -lost at once their footing and their hold; they were plunged into the -water, their knapsacks overweighed them and kept them on their backs, -and in this manner they struggled at the mercy of the current. There -were, fortunately, three or four small islands just at this part; -and by these most of the officers and men were stopped, but several -valuable lives were lost. The hussars exerted themselves with exemplary -humanity to assist the infantry, and one of their corporals lost his -own life in the performance of this generous duty. In this way the 51st -and the Brunswick Oel’s corps, as well as the cavalry, passed. Their -orders were to ascend the hill and take the village: the enemy’s piquet -were made prisoners. A pontoon bridge was then thrown across, and the -remainder of the corps passed over. - -♦JUNE.♦ - -The French seem now for the first time to have comprehended Lord -Wellington’s plan, and found themselves out-manœuvred by an enemy to -whom they had hitherto allowed no credit for any thing except courage, -and that only because they had been so often beaten by them that it -was no longer for their own credit to deny it. No sooner were they -menaced by the advance of the columns than they destroyed the bridge -at Zamora, and retired from that city and from Toro. Both cities -were entered by the allies; and at daybreak on the first of June the -hussar brigade under Colonel Grant came up near Toro with the enemy’s -rear-guard, who retired rapidly to the village of Morales, in the -direction of Tordesillas. After having been cannonaded by two guns, -which were all that could be brought up in time through the deep sandy -roads, the French formed behind the village. The hussars passed on -both sides of the village, and instantly charged them; upon which they -made off with all speed for a little bridge across a marshy bottom, -faced about there, being supported by some guns belonging to their -infantry, and stood a charge. They were worsted in it, but passed the -bridge; part of the 10th hussars pursued, and Captain Lloyd advancing -with great spirit, but few followers, was taken: they were again -pressed, and retired hastily on the infantry, losing more than 200 -prisoners in these affairs, and so many in killed and wounded, that -the 16th regiment of dragoons was almost destroyed. Captain Lloyd was -ill-treated by his captors; they beat him and rifled him, but left -him in their retreat. Though the fighting was almost in the street of -Morales, the Spaniards were now so accustomed to sights of war, that -within ten minutes after the firing had ceased the women were spinning -at their doors, and the little children at play as if nothing had -happened. - -♦SIR ROWLAND HILL CROSSES THE DOURO. - -JUNE 3.♦ - -Lord Wellington halted at Toro, that the light division and the troops -under Sir Rowland might cross the Douro by the bridge there, that his -rear-guard might come up, and that the Galician army should unite -itself with his left. The whole of the allied force was now on the -right side of the Douro: leaving then half the reserve-ammunition -near Zamora to spare the horses (which were already suffering), he -proceeded: the French, whose force was distributed between Valladolid, -Tordesillas, and Medina, retiring as he advanced, their rear crossing -at the Puente de Duero, on the same day that the allies accomplished -their first object in the campaign, by uniting on the right side of -that river. The enemy now concentrated their force behind the Pisuerga: -there also there was strong ground for defence; but abandoning that -also when Lord Wellington manœuvred on their right, they withdrew -behind the Carrion. The Intruder quitted Palencia on the 6th, and the -greater part of his troops early on the following morning, after a -night passed in the fear of close pursuit. When Lord Wellington entered -that city, flowers were thrown upon him from the windows, and a shower -of roses from the upper gratings of a nunnery. The enemy had not left a -morsel of bread, nor a drop of wine in that city: and when they hastily -retired from a bivouac near Tordesillas, leaving it to be occupied by a -part of Sir Rowland’s corps, the fuel which the troops found collected -there consisted of doors, window-frames, tables, and drawers, from the -houses in the neighbourhood. - -From the Ezla to Palencia the troops had marched through one continued -track of corn, where villages were so thinly scattered, that it -seemed unaccountable where the cultivators were to be found. The land -was generally in wheat, with a fair proportion of barley, and here -and there a crop of vetches and clover. They moved generally by two -roads, and on each side of each at least twenty yards were trampled -down. The horses were fed on green barley nearly the whole march. The -intention of the British Government was to pay the inhabitants for -whatever the army must of necessity take from them; and on the part -of the Government, the full payment was in fact made: but little of -that payment reached the poor people to whom it was due. For want of -specie, the commissaries could pay upon the spot only in bills; to the -peasantry these were worth no more than what the land-sharks who follow -in the wake of an army chose to offer for them; and in this iniquitous -manner large fortunes were amassed, ... a species of roguery which many -of the Portugueze (though as a people the Portugueze are eminent for -probity) were not slow in learning. - -♦THE FRENCH ABANDON BURGOS.♦ - -The army crossed the Carrion on the 7th, following an enemy who seemed -undetermined where to make a stand. On the 12th, Lord Wellington found -it necessary after such rapid movements to halt his left, while the -right under Sir Rowland advanced to reconnoitre the strength of the -French, and the position which they had taken up near Burgos, where -great pains had been taken to strengthen the fortifications of the -castle. They were posted in considerable force on the heights to -the left of the Hormaza, with their right above the village of that -name, and their left in front of Estapar. Part of the allied force -flanked them on their right, another marched against the heights of -Hormaza, the remainder threatened those of Estapar; without waiting -to be attacked they were dislodged, and retreated hastily for Burgos, -suffering considerable loss from the horse artillery, and losing a gun -and some prisoners, but retreating in the best order. More presence of -mind indeed was shown by them hitherto in presence of the enemy, and -in action, than in their counsels. They posted themselves on the left -of the Arlanzon and of the Urbel, which were then greatly swoln with -rains: but in the night they retreated into the city, and hurrying from -it, blew up the castle early in the morning, about an hour after the -Intruder had left it. They seemed to have been aware that there was no -longer any hope of recovering their ascendancy, and to have intended to -bring upon the city a destruction which should prevent the inhabitants -from rejoicing in their deliverance. But the hurry, and fear, and -confusion, with which their preparations were made defeated this -malignant purpose. Several mines failed; some which were primed did not -explode; others were so ill managed that they blew the earth inwards: -and as the explosion took place some hours sooner than was intended, -the destruction which was intended for their enemies fell in part upon -themselves. Many of their men who were lingering to plunder perished as -they were loading their horses with booty in the streets and squares, -and three or four hundred were blown up in the fort. Above 1000 shells -had been placed in the mines: the explosion was distinctly heard at the -distance of fifty miles; and the pavement of the cathedral was covered -with the dust into which its windows had been shivered by the shock. -The town escaped destruction owing to the failure of so many of the -mines, but the castle was totally destroyed, ... gates, beams, masses -of masonry, guns, carriages, and arms lying in one heap of ruins; ... -some of the mines had laid open the breaches, and exposed the remains -of those who had fallen during the siege. - -♦THE EBRO.♦ - -The object of the enemy now was to occupy a position behind the Ebro, -blocking up the great road by placing a garrison in the castle of -Pancorbo, and calling to their assistance the corps from Biscay, -Navarre, and Aragon. But Lord Wellington, repeating the manœuvre which -had before so perfectly succeeded, had already sent his left column to -effect its passage in a quarter from whence they apprehended no danger. -The Ebro rises in the mountains of Santillana, its principal source -being at the northern extremity of Old Castille, towards the Asturian -frontier, near a town which from that cause is called Fontibre. The -Sierra de Oca prevents it from trending westward, like the other -great rivers of Spain; and at Miranda de Ebro, the point at which the -Intruder had instructed the different divisions of his army to make -for with all speed, it appears nearly as large a stream as at Tortosa, -though in the course of the intervening sixty leagues it receives many -and large rivers, one of them the Aragon, of such magnitude, that it -is called the husband (_el varou_) of the Ebro. While the remainder -of the army were pushing the enemy back ♦PASSAGE OF THE EBRO BY THE -ALLIES.♦ upon Burgos, the left column had been detached to effect its -passage above Frias by the bridges of S. Martin and Rocamunde: the -road thither had been deemed impracticable for carriages, and on that -supposed impracticability the enemy relied; but the confidence of the -British General was partaken by his army, and well seconded by them in -all ways; exertions which nothing but zeal and eager hope could have -accomplished were made; and the artillery was lowered down the steep -banks of the river where there were none to offer any resistance. The -French had calculated not without reason on the line of the Ebro, if -they had had foresight or been allowed leisure to occupy it. The road -begins to descend the mountains about three miles from the right bank, -and for more than half that way winds down a continued defile, which -admits only eight or ten men abreast, and being withal tremendously -steep, is so paved that horses can scarcely keep their feet there. -Another such defile, and of greater length, is to be passed on the -opposite side. A few ditches cut across the route, a few trees placed -as barricadoes, a rock blown up to block the pass, a hundred or two -of men to defend it, and to roll stones from the crags and precipices -above, might have stopped any force that attempted the passage. The -left column crossed on the 14th, the remainder of the army on the 15th, -at the same points and by the Puente de Arenas, and on the following -day they moved to the right, in the direction of Vittoria. - -♦THE FRENCH FALL BACK UPON VITTORIA.♦ - -They knew at this time little of the enemy, not even who commanded -their united force, whether Marshal Jourdan or General Gazan, the -Intruder’s command being of course merely nominal; it was thought -that their intention was to have given battle upon the main road, -near Briviesca; but this alone was certain, that their plans had -been disconcerted by Lord Wellington’s movements and sudden advance, -and that they were in that state of irresolution which prepares even -the best soldiers for defeat. On the 16th and 17th they assembled a -considerable force near Espejo, composed of troops which had been -employed against Longa and Mina, and of others detached from the main -body of their army. They had also a division of infantry, with some -cavalry, at Frias, to observe the movements of the allies after the -passage of the Ebro. These detachments, in all about 16,000 men, moved -on the 18th, those from Frias upon S. Millan, and those from Espejo -upon Osma. The light division, under Major-General Alten, drove them -from S. Millan, and cut off the brigade of their rear-guard, of whom -it killed and wounded many, took 300 prisoners, with a considerable -quantity of baggage, and dispersed the rest among the mountains, ... -from thence to be brought in by the peasants and the guerrillas. Sir -Thomas Graham arrived at Osma at the same time with the enemy’s corps; -they were considerably superior in numbers, nevertheless they retired -as soon as an intention was shown of attacking them: presently they -returned briskly, as if to become assailants in their turn, but their -reception was not such as to encourage them, and they once more retired -towards Espejo, and being followed thither, withdrew to the heights. -The enemy’s head-quarters were that day at Pancorvo. During the night -they moved from thence towards Vittoria; and on the following day their -rear-guard was found strongly posted, having its right covered by the -village of Subijana, and its left upon the heights in front of ♦JUNE -19.♦ Pobes. The light division attacked them in flank on the right, Sir -Lowry Cole with the 4th in front, and they were driven back upon their -main force, of which a view was then obtained, but no correct judgment -could be formed of its numbers, because they were in part concealed by -the mountains, and a thick rain was falling during the whole day. On -that night they took up a position in front of Vittoria. - -♦VITTORIA.♦ - -This city, which is now the capital of the province of Alava, and -stands in a valley, bounded on one side by a part of the Pyrenees, -and on the other by a range of bold though inferior mountains, was -founded in 1181 by Sancho VII. of Navarre, a king distinguished by the -appellations of the Wise and the Valiant. There had been a village -called Gasteiz on the site; Sancho thinking it a good situation for a -fortress which might check the incursions of his Castillian neighbours -♦GARCHAY, L. 24, CAP. 13. PP. 187–8.♦ on that side, rebuilt, peopled -and fortified it, and gave his new town the name of Victoria, in -memorial of some now forgotten victory obtained in that vicinity over -them. Juan II. of Castille made it a city. It is now divided into the -old and new towns, the latter being the larger and better part of what -in peaceful times was a populous, industrious, and prosperous place, -containing more than a thousand houses, and twice that number in the -suburbs. - -♦POSITION OF THE FRENCH ARMY.♦ - -In front of this city the enemy had taken their position, under the -nominal command of the Intruder, but actually commanded by Marshal -Jourdan, as the Major-General of the army. Their left rested upon -the heights which terminated at the Puebla de Arlanza; and they had -a reserve in rear of their left, at the village of Gomecha: their -centre extended along a range of strong heights on the left bank of -the Zadorra, its right resting on a circular hill that commands the -valley to which that river gives name; this hill they had covered with -infantry, flanked and defended with several brigades of guns; their -right was in advance of the river, above the village of Abechuco, -to defend the passage. This position, extending about eight miles, -covered the three great roads which from Bilbao, Logroño, and Madrid, -converge upon Vittoria; it crossed also the main road to Bayonne, upon -which immense convoys were seen, moving towards France with the last -harvest and the last gleanings of their plunder. The city was filled -with others awaiting their turn for departure. It is remarkable that, -within sight of this ground, the battle of Najara was fought, in which -Edward the Black Prince, acting as the ally of a bad man, defeated -the best troops of France under their most distinguished leader -Bertram du Guesclin, who was come in support of a worse. It is also -remarkable that the Prince of Brazil, before the battle of Vittoria was -fought, should have conferred the title of Duque da Victoria upon Lord -Wellington. - -Lord Wellington halted his columns on the 20th, in order to close them -up, for since reaching the Ebro they had necessarily been extended, -because of the nature of the country: only the 6th division was left -at Medina de Pomal to cover the march of supplies from the rear. -That day he made a close reconnoissance of the enemy’s position in -every part, with the determination of attacking them on the following -morning, if they should continue there. There was little disparity -of numbers between the two armies, each having from 70 to 75,000 -men. Lord Wellington instantly perceived that the position, though -in most respects well chosen, was too confined, that it showed an -inconsiderable front, and was liable to be taken in flank. - -♦BATTLE OF VITTORIA.♦ - -At daybreak on the 21st of June the allied army was put in motion. The -right under Sir Rowland, consisting of the second British division, the -Conde de Amarante’s Portugueze division, and Morillo’s Spanish corps, -was to commence the action by attacking the heights of La Puebla, -upon which the enemy’s left rested. Sir Thomas Graham with the left, -composed of the 1st and 5th divisions, Generals Pack and Bradford’s -brigades of infantry, Generals Bock and Anson’s brigades of horse, -and Longa’s Spanish division, was directed to turn their right by a -wide movement, and, crossing the Zadorra, to cut off their retreat -by the road to Bayonne. As soon as either of these corps should be -in a situation to manœuvre on the other side the river, the centre, -consisting of the 3d, 4th, 7th, and light divisions, in two columns, -was to advance, and the whole then push forward on the city, and attack -it simultaneously in front and in flank, ... whereby the French would -be compelled either to abandon it and their precious convoys, or risk -a battle in the hope of preserving them. The Spaniards, under Morillo, -began the action, and attacked the heights with great gallantry; their -leader was wounded, but remained in the field; the enemy stood firm, -and made great efforts to retain their ground, perceiving when too -late, that they had neglected to occupy it in sufficient strength. -Strong reinforcements were sent from their centre to its support, so -that Sir Rowland found it necessary to detach thither, first, the 71st -regiment, and the light infantry battalions of Major-General Walker’s -brigade, and successively other troops; the contest was very severe, -and the loss considerable. Here the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Cadogan was -mortally wounded, an officer, in Lord Wellington’s words, “of great -zeal and tried gallantry, who had acquired the respect and regard of -the whole profession, and of whom it might have been expected, that -if he had lived he would have rendered the most important services -to his country.” At length the enemy were driven at the point of the -bayonet from these heights; and under the cover which the possession of -this ground afforded, Sir Rowland crossed the Zadorra at La Puebla, -passed the difficult defile, two miles in length, which is formed by -the heights and the river, and then attacked and won the village of -Sabijana de Alva, which covered the left of the enemy’s lines. They -on their part made repeated attempts to regain this important point, -and with that hope drew from their centre a considerable force; again -and again they endeavoured to recover the village, but their efforts, -though bravely and perseveringly made, were unsuccessful. - -The difficult nature of the country delayed the communication between -the different columns, and it was late before Lord Wellington knew that -the 3d and 7th divisions, under the Earl of Dalhousie, had arrived at -their appointed station. The 4th and the light divisions, however, -crossed the Zadorra immediately after Sir Rowland had gained possession -of Sabijana, the former at the bridge of Nanclares, the latter at the -Tres Puentes; almost at the same time the Earl of Dalhousie’s column -arrived at Mendonza, and the 3rd division, under Sir Thomas Picton, -charged and took the bridge higher up, and crossed and was followed by -the 7th. These bridges the enemy ought to have destroyed, but from the -beginning of the campaign a want of foresight had been manifested in -all their operations, though when in action their generals displayed -the habitual promptitude of experienced commanders. The four divisions -which had now crossed, and which formed the centre of the allied army, -were destined to attack the heights on which the right of the enemy’s -centre was placed, while Sir Rowland should move forward from Sabijana -to attack the left. The French had lined those heights with artillery, -which opened on the allies as soon as they attempted to advance from -the river, and with so destructive a fire that it became necessary for -them to halt and bring two brigades of guns to oppose it. Meantime the -contest was maintained at Sabijana with great obstinacy; the enemy -feeding their attacks from a wood, in which their troops were assembled -in great force. But when a brigade which Sir Rowland had detached along -a range of mountains to turn their flank appeared, and at the same time -Sir Thomas Picton approached their front, they gave over their attempts -to recover the village, and began to think rather of retreat than of a -successful resistance. And when Sir Thomas pushed on to take the large -circular hill in flank, while the fourth division moved simultaneously -upon the village in the centre, their whole force prepared to fall back -upon the town, retreating before the allies could close, but keeping -up a hot fire from their artillery. The third division first came in -contact with their columns, and by a gallant attack captured 28 of -their guns which they had not time to draw into the road. The other -divisions pressed them in front. At this moment both the winning and -the losing game were played with equal skill, “the allies advancing -by echellons of battalions, in two or three lines, according ♦COLONEL -JONES’S ACCOUNT, 2. 158.♦ to the nature of the ground; and the French -retiring before them in the most orderly manner, and taking advantage -of every favourable opportunity to make a stand.” And here it happened, -that General Colville’s brigade, which was on the left of the centre, -and most in advance, became, by an accident of the ground, separated -from its support; the enemy, who lost no opportunity in action, -attacked it with a far superior force, but the brigade stood firm, -though out of 1800 men it lost 550. - -While the right and the centre, following up their success, were -pushing the enemy back upon Vittoria, the left was advancing upon -that town by the high road from Bilbao. Sir Thomas Graham with that -column had been moved on the preceding evening to Margina, and had -then so considerable a round to make, that it was ten o’clock before -he began to descend into the plain. General Giron with the Spanish -army had been detached to the left under a different view of the -state of affairs; but having been recalled and reached Orduña on -the yesterday, he marched from thence in the morning so as to be -in readiness to support Sir Thomas Graham, if his support should -be required. The enemy had a division of infantry and some cavalry -advanced upon the Bilbao road, resting their right on some strong -heights covering the village of Gamarra Mayor, and both that village -and Abechuco were strongly occupied as _têtes-du-pont_ to the bridges -over the Zadorra at those places. The heights were attacked both in -front and flank by Brigadier-General Pack’s Portugueze brigade, and -Longa’s Spanish division, supported by Major-General Anson’s brigade -of light dragoons, and the 5th division of infantry, all under the -command of Major-General Oswald; and they were carried, both Spaniards -and Portugueze behaving admirably. Longa then with little resistance -got possession of Gamarra Menor, and the larger village of the same -name was stormed and taken by Brigadier-General Robinson’s brigade of -the 5th division, which advanced under a heavy fire of artillery and -musketry without firing a shot: the enemy suffered severely there, -and lost three pieces of cannon. Sir Thomas Graham then proceeded to -attack the village of Abechuco with the 1st division; they formed a -strong battery against it, under cover of which Colonel Halkett’s -brigade advanced to the attack, supported by General Bradford’s -brigade of Portugueze infantry. Three guns and a howitzer were taken -on the bridge here, and the village was carried. While the contest at -Abechuco continued, the enemy seeing their communication with Bayonne -threatened, marched a strong body to their right in the hope of -recovering Gamarra Mayor: they were driven back in confusion; made a -second attempt, and were again repulsed, for Sir Thomas had loop-holed -the houses in front of the bridge, placed artillery to flank the -approach, and stationed several battalions concealed along the walls, -and their fire repelled the enemy upon a third advance. But the French -had two divisions of infantry in reserve upon the heights on the left -of the Zadorra; Sir Thomas, therefore, could not cross the river with -such a corps in front, till the troops which had moved upon the centre -and the left of the French should have driven them through Vittoria. -About six in the evening this was done, and the corps which held him -in check retreated then lest it should be taken in rear. The left then -crossed the Zadorra, took possession of the high road to Bayonne, and -forced the right as well as the left centre of the enemy back into -the Pamplona road; and now they were unable to hold any position long -enough for drawing off their artillery and baggage. In the expressive -language of an officer who bore his part in the victory, “they were -beaten before the town, and in the town, and through the town, and -out of the town, and behind the town, and all round about the town.” -Every where they had been attacked, every where beaten, and now every -where were put to utter rout. They themselves had in many actions -made greater slaughter of a Spanish army, but never in any instance -had they reduced an army, even of raw volunteers, to such a state of -total wreck. Stores, baggage, artillery, every thing was abandoned; -one gun and one howitzer only were they able to carry off, and the -gun was taken before it could reach Pamplona. 151 pieces of brass -ordnance on travelling carriages were taken; more than 400 caissons, -more than 14,000 round of ammunition, and nearly two millions of -musket-ball cartridges. The loss on the part of the allies consisted -of 501 British killed, 2808 wounded: 150 Portugueze and 89 Spaniards -killed, 899 and 466 wounded, ... the total loss not amounting to 5000. -The French acknowledged a loss of 8000, ... unquestionably it was -greater; not more than a thousand prisoners were taken; for so soon -as they found themselves irretrievably defeated, they ran, and never -did brave soldiers when beaten display more alacrity in flight. Having -abandoned all their ammunition waggons, they had not powder to blow up -the bridges; had this been done, the pursuit would have been greatly -impeded; attempts were made to break them up with pick-axes, and in -this they partly succeeded in several places. But the country was too -much intersected with ditches for cavalry to act with effect in a -pursuit; and infantry who moved in military order could not at their -utmost speed keep up with a route of fugitives. Yet, precipitate as -their flight was, they took great pains to bear off their wounded, and -dismounted a regiment of cavalry to carry them on. And they carefully -endeavoured to conceal their dead, stopping occasionally to collect -them and throw them into ditches, where they covered them with bushes. -Many such receptacles were found containing from ten to twenty bodies. - -The Intruder, who now appears for the last time upon the stage of -his everlasting infamy, narrowly escaped. The tenth hussars entered -Vittoria at the moment that he was hastening out of it in his carriage. -Captain Wyndham with one squadron pursued, and fired into the carriage, -and Joseph had barely time to throw himself on his horse and gallop off -under the protection of an escort of dragoons. The carriage was taken, -and in it the most splendid of his trinkets, and the most precious -articles of his royal plunder. Marshal Jourdan’s staff was among the -trophies of the field; it was rather more than a foot long, and covered -with blue velvet, on which the imperial eagles were embroidered; and -it had been tipped with gold; but the first finder secured the gold -for himself. The case was of red morocco with silver clasps, and -with eagles on it, and at either end the Marshal’s name imprinted in -gold letters. Lord Wellington sent it to the Prince Regent, and was -gracefully presented in return with the staff of a Field-Marshal of -Great Britain. The spoils resembled those of an Oriental rather than -of an European army; for the Intruder, who in his miserable situation -had abandoned himself to every kind of sensuality, had with him all -his luxuries. His plunder, his wardrobe, his sideboard, his larder, -and his cellar, fell into the conqueror’s hands. The French officers, -who carried the pestilential manners of their nation wherever they -went, followed his example as far as their means allowed, and thus -the finest wines and the choicest delicacies were found in profusion. -The wives and mistresses of the officers had gathered together in one -house, where they were safe, and from whence they were sent in their -own carriages with a flag of truce to Pamplona. Poodles, parrots, -and monkeys, were among the prisoners. Seldom has such a scene of -confusion been witnessed as that which the roads leading from the field -of battle presented; ... broken down waggons stocked with claret and -champagne, others laden with eatables dressed and undressed, casks of -brandy, apparel of every kind, barrels of money, books, papers, sheep, -cattle, horses, and mules, abandoned in the flight. The baggage was -presently rifled, and the followers of the camp attired themselves in -the gala dresses of the flying enemy. Portugueze boys figured about -in the dress coats of French general officers; and they who happened -to draw a woman’s wardrobe in the lottery, converted silks, satins, -and embroidered muslins, into scarfs and sashes for their masquerade -triumph. Some of the more fortunate soldiers got possession of the -army chest, and loaded themselves with money: “Let them,” said Lord -Wellington, when he was informed of it; “they deserve all they can -find, were it ten times more.” The camp of every division was like a -fair; benches were laid from waggon to waggon, and there the soldiers -held an auction through the night, and disposed of such plunder as had -fallen to their share to any who would purchase it. Even dollars became -an article of sale, for they were too heavy to be carried in any great -numbers; eight were offered for a guinea, ... guineas which had been -struck for the payment of the troops in Portugal, and made current -there by a decree of the Regency, being the gold currency. The people -of Vittoria had their share in the spoils, and some of them indemnified -themselves thus for what they had suffered in their property by the -enemy’s exactions. - -The city sustained no injury, though the French were driven through -it, and though great part of the battle might be seen from every -window. Nothing could be more mournful than its appearance that night, -... a lantern at every door, and no one in the streets. It was the -first place where the allies had found that the inhabitants were -French in feeling. Two days of heavy rain impeded the pursuit; but -that rain saved many houses from the flames, for the French wreaked -their vengeance upon every thing which they could destroy in their -flight. Every house at which the pursuers arrived had been gutted by -the fugitives, every village set on fire, and the few inhabitants who -had not taken flight in time had met with no mercy; at every step the -allies found havoc, and flames, and misery, the dying and the dead. -Such was the panic among the fugitives, that, finding the gates of -Pamplona closed, they attempted to force their way over the walls, and -did not desist till they were opposed by a serious fire of cannon and -musketry. A council of war was held there, in which it was resolved -to blow up the works and abandon the place; with this intent they -destroyed ammunition and tore down palisades from the outworks. But -the Intruder knew that the possession of so strong a fortress would in -some degree cover his flight; and the last act of his usurped authority -was to order that every article of food and fuel should be taken from -the Spaniards who were within reach. By the rigorous execution of this -order, the quantity in the town was more than doubled; and having left -a garrison there, the flying force continued their way to the Pyrenees. -Their rear was still in sight of Pamplona, when the right and centre of -the allies were checked in their pursuit by a fire from the walls. - -♦SIR T. GRAHAM PROCEEDS AGAINST G. FOY.♦ - -Sir Thomas Graham with the left of the army was ordered to march by -Puerto S. Andrian upon Villa Franca, in the hope of intercepting -General Foy, who occupied Bilbao after the atrocities which he had -committed in Castro. The orders were not received till the 23rd, when -the weather and the ways in consequence were so bad, that only a small -part of the column could pass the mountain that day; and it was not -till the 24th that Sir Thomas, with Major-General Anson’s brigade of -light dragoons, the light battalions of the German legion, and two -Portugueze brigades could march from Segura, the rest of the troops -not having come up. The roads were so slippery with the rain, and in -many places so steep, that horses could scarcely keep their feet, or -the infantry make any progress. This allowed Foy time to withdraw -the troops from some of the military stations there, and with his -collected force he began his retreat into France. The allies came to -the junction of the roads from Bilbao and from Vittoria to Bayonne just -as the enemy’s rear had passed it. The French occupied in force some -strong ♦JUNE 24.♦ ground on the right of the Oria, in front of the -village of Olaverria, about a mile and a half from Villa Franca; they -were dislodged from thence, and allowed the pursuers to take possession -of the town, meaning to make their stand at Tolosa. During the night, -Longa’s corps joined Sir Thomas, and the advance of General Giron’s. -On the following morning the enemy evacuated Celequiz, and took up a -very strong position between that place and Tolosa, covering the road -to Pamplona. Longa was then directed to march by Alzo upon Lizara -in order to flank his left, while General Mendizabel was requested -to dispatch some battalions from Aspeytia to flank his right, which -rested upon a mountain with an inaccessible ravine in front. The French -were driven from the summit of a hill lying between the Pamplona and -Vittoria roads, on the right of the allies, by a very skilful attack of -Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, and the possession of this important point -enabled the assailants to act on the Pamplona road. In the course of -the afternoon the Spaniards arrived at their ♦THE FRENCH DRIVEN FROM -TOLOSA.♦ destination, and between six and seven a general attack was -made, one column advancing upon the Vittoria road, another on the left; -General Bradford driving the enemy in on their front by the Pamplona -road, and Longa still more on the right from the side of the mountains, -turning, and forcing from very strong positions, all their posted -bodies on the right of the town. Still they held the town; and it was -found much more capable of defence than had been represented; this -was generally the case with their fortified posts, so prone were the -Spaniards to report things always according to their hopes; the walls -had been loop-holed, and new towers erected to flank it. The Vittoria -gate was barricadoed and the Pamplona one on the bridge; both were -flanked by convents and other large buildings which the enemy occupied; -the place was nowhere open, and a strong wood block-house had been -constructed in the Plaza, of so much importance had it been deemed. A -nine-pounder was brought up close to the Vittoria gate, under cover -of the light battalions’ fire; the gate was burst open: at the same -time, the walls were attacked and gained under a considerable fire, and -about half an hour after night closed, the enemy forsook the place, -flying from every point, and the troops entered amidst the _vivas_ of -the inhabitants, who had fully expected to have been plundered that -night by the retreating enemy. The British officer who first entered -thought they were in some danger from their deliverers, considering -the mixed composition of the troops, and how likely it was that some -parties away from their regiments might take advantage of the darkness -and the confusion. He advised them therefore to shut their doors, -and, to the credit of the troops, it must be added, that no outrage -or excess was committed. Longa and the German legion passed on, and -formed immediately beyond the town. The loss of the allies on this and -the preceding day amounted to about 400. Sir Thomas Graham was struck -during the attack by a musket-ball; the hurt was not serious, and he -attempted to conceal it, but could not, and was obliged to dismount. - -♦JUNE 26.♦ - -On the morrow one brigade was placed on the Pamplona road, and another -on the Bayonne, each about a league from Tolosa; a third occupied -Alegria, and Sir Thomas then halted two days to ascertain ♦FOY RETREATS -INTO FRANCE.♦ the advance of Lord Wellington on his right. Foy had -retreated to Anduain, where he destroyed the bridge; but he now knew -himself to be no longer safe within the Spanish territory, and lost -no time in making his way into France. A brigade of the Galician army -attacked his rear-guard on the Bidassoa at Irun, and drove them over -the bridge. They still maintained a strong stone block-house there, -which served as a head to the bridge, and some loop-holed houses on -the Spanish side of the river. General Giron sent for some Spanish -artillery to dislodge them; an ♦JUNE 30.♦ English brigade of nine -pounders was sent from Oyarzun to act with it; the French then found -it necessary to abandon their post, and they blew up the block-house -and burnt the bridge. In all these affairs no troops could have -behaved better than the Spanish; and General Giron, with a natural -and becoming feeling, had been very desirous that this last exploit -should fall to their part. The garrison at Passages, 150 in number, -♦PASSAGES IS SURRENDERED.♦ surrendered on the same day to Longa, and -on the following the garrison of Guetaria, being blockaded by land, -evacuated the town and fort, ♦CASTRO ABANDONED BY THE ENEMY.♦ and went -by sea to St. Sebastian. Castro de Urdiales, the scene of General Foy’s -atrocities, had been abandoned the day after the battle of Vittoria, -the British squadron having cut off the garrison from all supplies by -sea, and the Spaniards by land. A British vessel heaving opportunely in -sight, the commandant withdrew precipitately, without destroying his -artillery and powder, or injuring the castle. A few old women were the -only survivors in the town, and their tale of the barbarities which -the French and Italian troops had committed there is too dreadful for -recital; there is, however, a satisfaction in recording that fourteen -of the perpetrators were among the prisoners taken at Bilbao, and were -deservedly put to death. The garrison got by sea to Santona, that and -St. Sebastian being the only points which the enemy now occupied upon -that coast. The French had left 700 men in Pancorbo, a post commanding -a ravine through which the high road ♦PANCORBO TAKEN.♦ from Burgos -to Vittoria passes. The Andalusian army of reserve, under the Conde -de Abisbal, was on its way to join the main force. Lord Wellington -requested him to make himself master of the town and lower works, and -blockade, as closely as he could, the castle, which is situated on a -high rock. Abisbal assaulted and took the town and the fort of Santa -Marta on the 28th; and cutting off the garrison in the castle from the -spring which supplied them with water, compelled them to surrender two -days afterwards, when in all other respects they were well provided for -a regular defence. - -♦CLAUSEL RETIRES TO ZARAGOZA.♦ - -General Clausel’s corps, consisting of part of the army of the north, -and one division of the army of Portugal, 14,000 in all, had been -recalled from its operations against Mina to join the collected force -of the Intruder. Coming in a direction which none of the fugitives had -taken, he approached Vittoria the day after the battle, and finding -that city in possession of Major-General Pakenham’s division, which -had just arrived there, and having no means of communicating with the -routed army, he retired immediately towards Logroño. There he halted, -hoping to obtain information whereby to direct his movements; and -Lord Wellington thinking there was some prospect of intercepting his -retreat, moved three divisions towards Tudela, and the 5th and 6th from -Vittoria and Salvatierra towards Logroño. Clausel, who was at this -time harassed by the indefatigable Mina, and by Don Julian Sanchez -with his regiment of cavalry, left Logroño on the 24th, taking with -him the garrison of that place, and marching on the left bank of the -Ebro, crossed it by the bridge at Lodosa, and reached Calahorra on the -following day. On the next he arrived at Tudela; but the Alcalde of -that city informed him that the allies were on the road to meet him, -upon which he marched toward Zaragoza, taking with him this garrison -also. - -♦PREPARATIONS FOR THE SIEGE OF PAMPLONA.♦ - -Sir Rowland meantime following the main body of the defeated army -on their retreat over the Pyrenees, dislodged them from every point -which they attempted to hold, and obtained possession of the passes -of S. Esteban, Donna Maria, Maya, and Roncesvalles. It was now Lord -Wellington’s intention to besiege Pamplona: with this intent the heavy -guns and stores for the siege were brought from Santander to Deba, a -little town to the westward of S. Sebastian’s: there they were landed, -and cows and bullocks had been collected for transporting them to the -trenches: but the intelligence which Lord Wellington received from the -Anglo-Sicilian army rendered it necessary to give up this intention, -and every thing therefore was reshipped. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIV. - -OPERATIONS OF THE ANGLO-SICILIAN ARMY. RECOVERY OF ZARAGOZA. SIEGE OF -ST. SEBASTIAN. BATTLES OF THE PYRENEES. - - -♦1813.♦ - -♦EXPEDITION FROM ALICANTE.♦ - -It was part of Lord Wellington’s plan that Marshal Suchet should be -engaged on the eastern coast by the Anglo-Sicilian army, and thus -prevented from sending assistance to the French in Aragon and on the -upper Ebro. His position upon the line of the Xucar was too strong to -be attacked in front by the force under Sir John Murray’s command, -or acting in concert with him; and a movement by Requeña and Utiel -upon their right flank, and by Tortosa and Lerida towards the rear, -seemed as hazardous as it would have been circuitous and difficult. -A naval expedition remained for consideration; and if a vigorous -attack were made either upon Tarragona or Rosas, Suchet’s attention -must necessarily be drawn thither, so that he could give no aid to -the armies in the north, and must leave the open part of the kingdom -of Valencia to the Spaniards. Tarragona was preferred as the point -of attack, and Sir ♦APRIL 14.♦ John was instructed to embark with -that view. If he should succeed in his attempt against that place, an -establishment would be secured on the coast north of the Ebro, so as -to open a communication with the Spanish army in Catalonia: but this -was a question of time and means, and if Suchet should be strong enough -in Catalonia to frustrate the attempt, Sir John was directed in that -case to return immediately, and land as far north in the kingdom of -Valencia as he could, ♦JUNE.♦ and there join with the right of the -Spanish armies, to assist them in profiting by the opportunity which -Suchet’s absence and the withdrawal of a considerable part of his force -from the Xucar might be expected to afford. - -The expedition was to have been kept secret; but the preparations which -were made at Alicante for the embarkation of a considerable corps could -not be concealed, and Suchet was speedily informed of them. Already he -had apprehended, by a movement of the Spaniards from La Mancha upon -Cuenca, and of Villacampa from the frontiers of Aragon upon the upper -Guadalaviar, that it was intended by a combined operation to compel him -to evacuate Valencia; but as at that time Clausel’s activity relieved -him from any inquietude with regard to Mina, he was enabled to withdraw -a division from Aragon, and to place Pannetier’s brigade between -Tortosa and Valencia, that he might direct it upon whatever point -should be threatened, without leaving the line of the Xucar exposed. - -♦COL DE BALAGUER TAKEN BY THE ANGLO-SICILIAN ARMY.♦ - -By the end of May the expedition, consisting of 700 cavalry, and 14,600 -infantry, including Whittingham’s division of 5000, and above 4000 -Italians, had embarked, and on the last day of that month the fleet, -commanded by Rear-Admiral Hallowell, sailed from Alicante. It was seen -from Valencia; and the French troops from the side of Tortosa were -instructed to be ready for moving whithersoever the debarkation might -call them. After a very favourable passage, the fleet anchored on the -evening of the 2nd in the port of Salon, within sight of Tarragona. -The soldiers who had been ordered to hold themselves in readiness to -land were put into the boats, but the surf ran so high that Admiral -Hallowell pronounced the attempt too dangerous, and therefore they -returned to the ships. But before the fleet came to anchor a brigade, -under Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost, was judiciously detached to get -possession of the fort at Col de Balaguer, that point commanding -the only road by which artillery could be brought to the relief of -Tarragona. General Copons, who had been apprized of the expedition, -occupied Reus at that time, and sent two battalions, at first, to -co-operate in the attack upon this fort, and afterwards two more in -consequence of some movements from Tortosa. The attack was vigorously -pressed. On the 5th the place was battered in breach; on the 7th a -magazine exploded; the garrison, consisting of 80 men, were intimidated -by this, and the commandant capitulated. On this side, therefore, no -succours could now reach Tarragona, which is about six leagues from Col -de Balaguer, except by a circuitous march of three days, through a very -difficult country: there was a pass indeed by which the place might be -approached, but it was not practicable for artillery. - -♦THE EXPEDITION LANDS NEAR TARRAGONA.♦ - -Meantime the debarkation had been effected on the 3rd, in broad day, -and with an order, a precision, and a rapidity, peculiar to the English -in their naval operations. Having reconnoitred the fortress, Sir John -Murray determined upon ♦M. SUCHET’S MEM. 2, 311.♦ attacking it on the -western side, which was the weakest, and that on which stores might -most conveniently be brought up to the batteries. General Bertoletti, -who commanded in Tarragona, did not confine himself within the -walls; he occupied the Fuerte Real, and the ruins of the bastion of -St. Carlos, which, though, like all the external works, it had been -demolished, presented still an imposing appearance; and great exertions -were made for repairing it. These works were between 350 and 400 yards -from the body of the place, to the southward, and nearer the sea, the -approach being exceedingly difficult, and covered by the fire of the -town. But they were thought to be the key of the place, and that if -the besiegers could establish themselves there, Tarragona must fall -in three days. Accordingly two batteries were begun on the evening of -the 4th, and on the morning of the 6th they opened their fire with -good effect; another was erected during the night, and on the morning -of the 8th the commanding engineer reported that a practicable breach -in the Fuerte Real had been made; but he requested that it might not -be stormed, because its immediate possession could be turned to no -account, and to retain it would cost the lives of many men. The fire -therefore was continued only to prevent its re-establishment. Meantime, -when the weather would permit, the artillery and engineer horses, and -the cavalry and artillery stores, were landed, and the operations -of the engineers were so far advanced that two heavy batteries were -constructed to enfilade the place. The city was then summoned to -surrender; but as none of the batteries were as yet within 500 yards -of the place, and the fire of the besieged had been very superior to -that of the besiegers, General Bertoletti would not listen to the -summons. On the 11th, the commanding officer of engineers reported that -he was perfectly prepared to push the siege with vigour; and according -to Sir John Murray’s order, Major-General Sir William Clinton, who -had that day been left in temporary command of the siege, resolved to -storm the Fuerte Real at nine that night. Accordingly a disposition -for the assault was made, and arrangements for distracting the enemy’s -attention by a simultaneous show of attack along the whole of his -front, aided from the side of the sea by the bomb-vessels and gun-boats. - -Marshal Suchet meantime, leaving General Harispe with the command -on the Xucar, had made for ♦SUCHET’S MOVEMENT FOR THE RELIEF OF -TARRAGONA.♦ Tortosa by forced marches with one division, his reserve, -and a brigade of cavalry: and before his arrival he had dispatched -orders for the garrison of that place to secure the Col de Balaguer; -but the fort there was taken before any attempt to succour it was made, -and he could therefore bring with him no artillery in his attempt to -raise the siege of Tarragona. He had directed also Generals Decaen and -Maurice Mathieu to march for the relief of the place. On the side of -Tortosa all due precautions had been taken, by getting possession of -the fort which absolutely commanded that singular pass. On the other -side, Sir John Murray had ordered General Whittingham to see if the -road could by any means be broken up or impeded, ... but in an open -country this was found impracticable in any part, except at a point -near the sea, and within two miles of Tarragona. When Whittingham was -at Torre de Embarra upon this investigation, Manso, who had 2000 men at -Vendrell, came there to inform him that Decaen, from Hostalric and the -country beyond it, would arrive that night at Barcelona, where there -would then be a force of 12,000 foot and 400 horse, disposable for the -relief of Tarragona. This information General Whittingham communicated -to Sir John Murray on the 9th, observing that the enemy might advance -to succour that place, in two columns, one by the road along the -coast, the other by the heights, upon the left of the besieging army; -the Spanish division, which formed the left, would thus be exposed in -flank to a superior force, and in a position that was commanded by the -heights, and had the fortified city in its rear: and he suggested to -Sir John that he should leave General Copons with the Catalan army to -cover the siege, while he, with the British troops and the Majorcan -division, marched immediately upon Villa Franca to attack Decaen; that -General would have advanced beyond Villa Franca; victory, considering -the number and the quality of the allied troops, would not be doubtful, -and it would decide the contest in Catalonia; and after driving him -from Molins de Rey, and destroying the stone bridge over the Llobregat, -by which bridge alone artillery could be brought across that river, -there would be time to return and encounter Marshal Suchet. - -♦SIR JOHN MURRAY RAISES THE SIEGE.♦ - -To this suggestion Sir John paid no regard; but late in the evening -of the 11th, when every thing was ready for an immediate assault upon -the Fuerte Real, he received intelligence that Suchet was advancing -with 12,000 men from the side of Tortosa, and Decaen with 8000 from -Barcelona; upon which he determined immediately to raise the siege, and -with such haste as to abandon all the heavy artillery, ammunition, and -stores that had been landed. He thought it would have been an useless -waste of the lives of British soldiers to assault a work which, if -carried, must, in his opinion, have been abandoned the next day: he -placed no reliance upon the Spaniards under Copons, who had not more -than 8500 disposable men, and those without pay, discipline, artillery, -or means of subsisting, and whom he considered totally incapable of -acting in the field. He distrusted his own foreign troops, who worked -slowly at the siege, with great unwillingness, and with so little -steadiness, that it had required an additional party of 200 British -soldiers to carry to the batteries the ammunition which one of their -parties threw away when they came under fire. The French too, he -thought, had all advantages; they had fortresses in every direction to -furnish them supplies, to retire upon if they wished to avoid an action -till they could bring together more troops, or to cover them if they -were defeated; whereas he was in the open field, without any point -of support, or of retreat, except to the ships: and how serious an -operation would it be to embark an army in an open bay, and on a beach -where he had learned by experience that it was impossible to disembark -in any but the lightest boats! Three days at least would be required to -complete this re-embarkation. He decided, therefore, upon beginning it -without delay. - -Admiral Hallowell strongly remonstrated against abandoning the -artillery, and engaged to bring off every thing, if Sir John would -only give him the night from the 12th to the 13th; but that commander -gave ear to less hopeful counsels, most unfortunately for himself. For -public opinion loudly condemned his conduct; it became the subject of -a court-martial; and though the sentence acquitted him upon all other -charges, it pronounced that he had committed an error of judgment in -abandoning his artillery, when it might have been brought off. The -embarkation was commenced at daybreak. At first some of the valuable -stores were sent off, but orders were given to abandon them. Great part -of the infantry were put on board during the day in full view of the -besieged, who crowded on the ramparts to behold what they were unable -to understand. Sir John himself embarked early in the evening; but it -was not till near midnight that the 1st division, under Sir William -Clinton, who was left in command of the troops on shore, moved to the -beach; and so completely were the enemy deceived as to its movements, -by the piquets of this division having been kept at their advanced -stations till darkness had closed, that not a man ventured without -the walls, and not a shot was fired during the night, except from the -ramparts, nor did any enemy show himself to molest the embarkation. -The cavalry of the Majorcan division were embarked on the morning of -the 13th, by means of a mole constructed for the purpose, about two -leagues from the town; but the other cavalry and a great part of the -field artillery were ordered by land to the Col de Balaguer, whither -Sir John Murray repaired in the Bristol early on the 13th, and where -the whole armament was directed to assemble. - -♦SUCHET APPROACHES COL DE BALAGUER, AND RETIRES AGAIN.♦ - -While the allies were thus re-embarking with discreditable -precipitance, two other armies thought it necessary in consequence of -this movement to retreat also, in equal haste, ... General Copons from -the vicinity of Reus to the mountains, lest he should be exposed to a -combined attack from Decaen and the garrison of Tarragona; and Decaen -himself to Barcelona, apprehending that the allies had raised the siege -for the purpose of bringing him to action. On the evening of the 13th -an enemy’s detachment was seen advancing by the piquets in front of the -fort at Col de Balaguer, and judging that this might be the advance of -Suchet’s force, Sir John ordered part of the infantry to be re-landed -as it arrived from Tarragona, in order to cover the embarkation of -the cavalry and field-artillery, which had reached that point in the -course of the day. He was not mistaken in this judgment, ... Marshal -Suchet having found the way by the mountains impracticable, thought to -force his way by the Col, expecting to reduce the fort with as little -difficulty as the allies had done; and on the 14th he presented himself -there on the road from Tortosa with the main body of his army. He found -a battalion in position covering the fort; but, to his astonishment, -he also discovered the British fleet at anchor between the Col and -Hospitalet. His light troops and skirmishers extended themselves along -the hills, and approached within cannon-shot of the fort. But he found -it impossible to advance, so completely was the road on that side -commanded by the fort and by the judicious station taken by the ships -of war, which could anchor there close to the shore; and it was equally -impossible for an army to remain there many hours, there being no water -within many miles. He found it necessary, therefore, to retire the -same evening to the village of Perillo, not knowing what had occurred -at Tarragona, alarmed as well as surprised at what he had seen, and -holding himself prepared to follow the movements of the fleet. - -♦JUNE 15. SIR JOHN RE-LANDS THE TROOPS.♦ - -On the following morning he made a second movement on Valdellos, as -if intending to attempt the mountain road. As soon as Sir John Murray -was informed of this he apprehended that it was Suchet’s intention to -turn the position which the allies occupied, and enter the plain of -Tarragona in their rear; upon which the farther embarkation of the -cavalry was suspended, and nearly the whole of the infantry were put -on shore. He also sent a strong division, and all the cavalry, under -Major-General Mackenzie, to observe the enemy’s motions, and attack -them if they should attempt to press farther forward. They remained -on the 16th nearly in the same position; but intelligence came that -a column was in march from the side of Tarragona, and as this would -have rendered General Mackenzie’s situation extremely critical, he was -ordered to retire to Hospitalet, and accordingly retreated thither in -the course of the night. Sir John now determined to take up a position -in the plain, between the high ground of the Col and the sea, and this -was done on the 17th. The left rested on the hills, which are almost -inaccessible on that side; the ground in front, though level, was -impracticable for cavalry, because it is intersected from the hills to -the sea with gullies and deep ravines caused by the winter rains. The -right extended to the shore, and was greatly protected by the gun-boats -and the fire of the shipping. In this strong position he had resolved -to wait the enemy’s attack, but in the forenoon it was ascertained -that they had retired on both sides, Suchet toward Tortosa, and Decaen -toward Barcelona, after throwing supplies into Tarragona. Sir John then -assembled a council of war, in which it was concluded that as nothing -farther in the way of offensive operations could be attempted by the -army in its then state, and as no advantage could be expected from -remaining where they were, and acting defensively, the most advisable -measure was to re-embark and return to Alicante, there to re-equip the -army. - -♦LORD W. BENTINCK TAKES THE COMMAND.♦ - -In the afternoon of this busy day Lord William Bentinck, who had -long been looked for, arrived from Sicily to take the command. The -Mediterranean fleet, under Sir Edward Pellew, came with him, having -quitted its station off Toulon in the hope of assisting the operations -against Tarragona, either by its presence there, or by making a show of -landing at and attacking Rosas. Lord William on assuming the command -confirmed the opinion of the council of war, and ordered the troops to -be immediately re-embarked. The weather being such as to raise a high -surf, rendered this very difficult; nevertheless by great exertions on -the part of the navy, every thing was got on board by ♦FORT AT COL DE -BALAGUER DEMOLISHED.♦ the midnight of the 19th. At the same time the -fort at Col de Balaguer, having been dismantled and ruined, was blown -up; and on the ensuing day, Admiral Hallowell and the Anglo-Sicilian -army made sail for Alicante from their bootless expedition, and Sir -Edward Pellew returned with the Mediterranean fleet to his wonted -station. - -The explosion of the fort announced to the French that the English had -abandoned all thought of any further operations in lower Catalonia, ... -much to Marshal Suchet’s relief, who while they remained there deemed -it necessary to observe their movements, and yet felt ♦UNSUCCESSFUL -MOVEMENTS OF THE SPANIARDS IN VALENCIA.♦ that he was wanted upon -the Xucar. General Elio’s army, joined by that which Ballasteros -had formerly commanded, but was now under the Duque del Parque, had -endeavoured to take advantage of his absence with so large a part of -his force. On the 11th they had attacked General Harispe’s rear-guard, -under General Mesclop, when on the road from S. Philippe to its -position on the Xucar, but were repulsed at the village of Rogla with -some loss, and Elio himself was for a little while in the enemy’s -hands, but he had the good fortune to escape without being recognized. -The French then pursued their march without farther molestation to the -bridge over the Xucar. On the 13th the Spaniards presented themselves -in force there, and while a cannonade was kept up on that side, the -Duque del Parque attacked Alcira by the two roads of Carcagente and of -Gandia. General Habert let their principal column approach the suburb, -then charged it at the moment when it began to deploy, threw it into -confusion, routed it with the loss of 400 killed and more than 600 -prisoners; and this in time for repairing to support his left on the -Gandia road, and there also to defeat the assailants. Notwithstanding -this success, General Harispe was far from feeling secure in his -position. He informed Marshal Suchet that there were in his front not -less than 28,000 of the least bad Spanish infantry, and from 2000 to -3000 cavalry in a good state; this, he said, the prisoners agreed in -affirming, and the intelligence was not of a kind to make them feel -more secure than they ought to be. The departure of the expedition -from Balaguer Roads after the total failure of its object enabled -the Marshal to hasten back towards the Xucar, and he did this with -the more speed, because there was a report that its intention was to -intercept him on his way to Valencia, by landing either at Puerto -de los Alfaques, ♦THE FLEET SUFFERS ON ITS RETURN TO ALICANTE.♦ or -at Castellon de la Plana. But the fleet had no other object in view -than that of returning to Alicante, and in this it suffered much from -storms. Eighteen transports were driven on the Alfaques; the troops -were taken out, and fifteen of the vessels were got off, but the others -were lost. - -♦SUCHET’S MEASURES AFTER THE BATTLE OF VITTORIA.♦ - -On landing at Alicante, Lord William received intelligence of the -battle of Vittoria. Suchet had apprehended no such tidings. Buonaparte -seems to have entertained till the last a blind persuasion that his -schemes of ambition in Spain and every where else must finally be -successful, and the instructions which he had sent to the Marshal -were that he should endeavour to gain time, and lose no ground, till -the affairs of the north should be finished, when, if it were then -necessary, dispositions would be made in favour of the armies in Spain. -The Marshal, however, knew that he must lose no time in retiring -from Valencia; that province therefore was delivered by the battle -of Vittoria, as Andalusia had been by the battle of Salamanca. He -thought to retain upon it a hold which would enable him at any time -to return by leaving a garrison of 1200 men in Murviedro, stored for -twelve months, the place having been materially strengthened during the -eighteen months which had elapsed since the French obtained possession -of it: 500 men were also left in Peñiscola, 120 in Denia, and as many -in Morella, that little fort commanding a mountain-road, by which a -corps of infantry without cannon could at any time re-enter Valencia -from Aragon. Looking forward therefore to the probable resumption of -their conquests, with the hopefulness which characterizes the French -character, and with the confidence which he might justly feel in his -own ability of improving all circumstances to the best advantage, -he commenced his retreat with the less reluctance because Clausel -apprized him that he had arrived at Zaragoza with 14,000 men, and would -establish himself ♦SUCHET’S MÉMOIRES, 2, 310–324.♦ upon the Gallego, -in readiness either to co-operate with the army of Aragon, or with the -Intruder, if the army on that side should resume the offensive. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON UNDERTAKES THE SIEGE OF ST. SEBASTIAN.♦ - -A junction between Clausel and Suchet was what Lord Wellington -apprehended as soon as he heard that the expedition against Tarragona -had failed, and that consideration made him at once give up his -intention of laying siege to Pamplona. Unwelcome as the tidings -were, this change of purpose may have compensated for the failure, -... Pamplona ♦JULY.♦ being so much stronger than it was at that time -supposed to be by the allies, and the British army still so defective -in its engineer’s department, that the siege might probably have proved -unsuccessful. Resorting therefore to the surer method of blockading a -city, which there was reason to believe was not provided for a long -siege, he intrusted that service to the Spaniards, and ordered works -to be thrown up on every side, to prevent the escape of the garrison, -and to cut them off from all supplies; and he determined to besiege St. -Sebastian’s, where farther means of attack could be obtained by sea. -The service was intrusted to Sir Thomas Graham, with 10,000 men. - -♦CLAUSEL RETREATS INTO FRANCE BY WAY OF JACA.♦ - -But the failure in Catalonia was soon compensated by the events which -took place in Aragon. Clausel, not waiting for Marshal Suchet’s -movements, nor to consult with him, left his artillery at Zaragoza, and -made for France by way of Jaca. The Spaniards supposed that his chief -motive was the desire of securing the riches which he had amassed. -Mina was marching upon the same point with a far inferior force, in -the hope of intercepting some of this booty, when he ♦DURAN INVITES -MINA TO ACT WITH HIM FOR THE DELIVERANCE OF ZARAGOZA.♦ received orders -which suspended his progress. Duran at the same time, as commandant in -Lower Aragon, was instructed to take such opportunity as might offer -for acting against the enemy in Zaragoza. This veteran, who was then at -Ricla, sent Colonel Tabuenca to inform Mina of Clausel’s retreat, and -to confer with him upon a plan of speedy operations for the recovery -of that capital, where there were no other troops remaining than a -not numerous garrison, and against which he should immediately move. -Tabuenca was then with his regiment at Borja; Mina was supposed to be -at Gallud: not finding him there, Tabuenca hastened to Pedrola; but -there he found D. Julian Sanchez, who directed him to look for Mina at -Alagon; and from Alagon Cruchaga directed him to Las Casetas, and there -at one in the morning Tabuenca arrived and found him. Upon delivering -his dispatches, he stated that General Duran had selected him to be the -bearer, because, being a native of Zaragoza, and having been present -during both sieges, he could give him the fullest local information, -upon which their combined operations might be concerted. Mina replied, -that their forces were not sufficient for such an enterprise. He had -approached the city, he said, upon an assurance that the enemy had -evacuated it; but an intercepted letter had just been brought him, in -which the governor, General Paris, ordered the garrisons on the left of -the Ebro to maintain their posts, because succours were on the way to -them from Marshal Suchet. - -Tabuenca had not expected such a reply. He represented that the united -force of the two divisions amounted to from 10,000 to 12,000 infantry, -and 1500 horse; that the garrison did not at the utmost exceed 5000, -including invalids; that when with that number so wide a circuit was -to be covered, various false attacks might distract their attention, -and an entrance be effected where they least apprehended it: and that -when once the Spaniards should have set foot upon the walls, they might -count upon as many brave soldiers as there were men of Zaragoza. The -reinforcements which the governor looked for were, he said, far off, -and could not, if time were made good use of, arrive till they would be -useless. There was more reason to fear that Clausel might march back; -but even in that case they could maintain themselves in Zaragoza. Paris -could not defend the city, if he were vigorously assailed: and though -he might bring off the garrison by the bridge over the Ebro, the French -could not carry off their booty. Mina replied, that he had only three -regiments of infantry on the right of the Ebro, and cavalry was of -little use; but in the morning he expected information from the place, -and would then determine whether to remain or to retire. Tabuenca -observed, that the regiments on the left bank would not be useless if -they were made to approach, and that the cavalry might be dismounted; -and he requested him at least to bring down the regiments which he had -at Alagon and Pedrola, that the enemy’s attention might thus be drawn -toward Las Casetas, when Duran came with his division, as he would do, -to Maria or Cadrete. To this Mina consented. - -♦JULY 8.♦ - -Early in the morning, Tabuenca’s regiment, which had followed him, -arrived at the Puente de la ♦AFFAIR BEFORE ZARAGOZA.♦ Claveria, where -he joined it, and proceeded on the right of the canal of Tauste toward -the Puente de la Muela, meaning to give the men some rest there, while -he went in search of Duran. They had scarcely been an hour upon the -way, when a fire of musketry was heard on the left toward Las Casetas, -and an orderly of Mina’s came in all haste to recall them, because the -enemy had attacked him. Tabuenca, confiding in his own knowledge of the -ground, represented to Mina, that instead of obeying this order, it -would be better that he should occupy the Puente de la Muela, whereby -he should divert the enemy’s attention, if, as might be expected, -more troops should issue out, and at the same time secure that point -in case Duran should make for it. Mina approved of this suggestion. -The alarm had been occasioned by a body of horse, some 150 in number, -who had been sent on an exploring party; they were charged by Mina’s -cavalry, and compelled to retreat with all speed; but other bodies -presently sallied to their support, and one of about 1000 foot and -100 horse made for the Puente de la Muela. Tabuenca, who had with him -about 1400 men, quickened his pace and anticipated them; and seeing -this they halted, hesitated, and then fell back. Their main force -advanced against Mina upon the road to Las Casetas; troops also came -to his support, and his men behaved with their wonted gallantry. The -enemy were superior both in horse and foot, and when the body which -had been disappointed in their intention of occupying the bridge of -La Muela joined them, the Navarrese could with difficulty keep their -ground; but Tabuenca hastening with part of his men, approached the -enemy on their left flank, under cover of some olive yards, and opened -upon them a fire as opportune as it was unexpected; taking advantage -of the movement which this occasioned among them, Mina charged with -such effect, that they retreated hastily till they were under the fire -of their works. Mina then encamped his troops between the Casetas and -the heights of La Bernardona, ... he had now with him 4000 foot and -1500 horse; and Tabuenca regarding this affair as a preliminary to the -recovery of Zaragoza, ordered his regiment to march immediately upon -the Casa Blanca and the Torrero, while he took the same course with -the detachment which had been engaged. These posts, which had been so -obstinately disputed in the former sieges, were abandoned by the French -at their approach; and the Spaniards entered them, rejoicing in their -success, and in being enabled to rest, after a march of four-and-twenty -hours, during which they had had no other refreshment than a hasty meal -at Grisen. - -♦SECOND SALLY OF THE FRENCH.♦ - -Between four and five in the afternoon the French sallied a second -time and in greater force. They attacked Mina’s division, which was -supported by D. Julian Sanchez with his Castilian lancers; but while -thus engaged, Tabuenca, leaving just troops enough in the works which -he had taken to cover his retreat should that be necessary, attacked -the enemy on their left and in their rear, and the result was that they -were driven into the city, leaving some two hundred killed. Mina’s loss -in killed and wounded amounted in ♦DURAN ARRIVES BEFORE THE CITY.♦ the -course of the day to 115; Tabuenca’s to 28. Duran arrived after the -affair, just as evening was closing; that morning, as he was about to -march from Muel for Cadrete, he was informed that a French detachment -had gone from Zaragoza to bring off the garrison of Almunia which a -party of his troops were blockading; and he was preparing to intercept -them when a dispatch from Tabuenca made him hasten with all speed to -the more important scene of action. Early on the morrow, Mina and -Julian Sanchez came to confer with him in the Casa Blanca, and Duran -proposed that they should assault the city on the following night: -the wall, he said, might be escaladed at many points; the enemy’s -attention might be distracted by false attacks, and they were sure -of assistance from within. This veteran had frequently distinguished -himself by assaulting towns that were imperfectly fortified; Mina was -less accustomed to such service, and more disposed to watch for and -profit by any opportunity that might be offered him in the field: he -was of opinion that they ought to remain before the city and collect -thither the remainder of their forces; and in that opinion he persisted -when Duran on the following evening renewed the proposal: for he judged -rightly, that by a little delay success would be rendered more certain, -and obtained at less cost of life. - -♦THE FRENCH WITHDRAW FROM ZARAGOZA.♦ - -D. Julian Sanchez removed with his lancers that evening to the -Casa Blanca. The enemy allowed no one to go out of the gates: they -had suffered too much in the two sallies of the preceding day to -venture upon a third; and their vigilance was such that eager as the -inhabitants were to communicate with those through whom they expected -now to obtain the deliverance for which they so long offered up their -prayers, they could convey no intelligence: neither, indeed, was it -easy for them to determine what were the intentions of the French; for -though they had their plunder packed up for removal and the carriages -laden with it, and though they mined the stone bridge over the Ebro, -they made at the same time other demonstrations, which were intended -to show that it was not their purpose to abandon the city. A little -before eight in the evening two guns were fired, which were the signal -for a general movement, ... coaches, carts, and sumpter beasts were -collected about the Puerta del Angel, and the troops began to file over -the stone bridge. This movement was succeeded by stillness, and just -before midnight the bridge was blown up. Duran was presently informed -by his outposts where the explosion had been, and that the French had -abandoned the city; immediately he sent D. Julian Sanchez and Tabuenca -to ascertain what damage had been done to the bridge, and whether -it were possible to pursue the enemy: he charged them also to give -immediate directions for rendering it passable, and not to enter the -city unless it should be absolutely necessary, nor suffer any soldier -to enter it, that there might be no opportunity for any of those -excesses which on such occasions were so likely to be committed; for -the same purpose he posted guards at all the gates. The _Ayuntamiento_ -however deemed it best, that Sanchez should enter with his lancers, and -with a patrol of the citizens maintain order: the principal streets -were presently illuminated, the people waiting for no orders or -concert, but acting with one common feeling; and the Coso was crowded -to see the entrance of the deliverers. - -Duran had lost no time in apprizing Mina of what had occurred, and -requesting to see him that they might arrange their joint entrance. -The _Ayuntamiento_, between one and two in the morning, came to the -Casa Blanca, bringing the keys to Duran, and informing him that the -enemy had left about 700 men in the Aljaferia, whose presence, they -added, could not prevent him from entering Zaragoza and giving the -inhabitants a day of jubilee. Duran replied, that he waited for General -Mina to enter with him; but Mina neither appeared, nor any messenger -from him, till about seven in the morning, when, passing by the Casa -Blanca, without alighting, or turning aside to the building in which -the _Ayuntamiento_ and Duran were awaiting him, he sent a chaplain -to inform the old general that he was going on to the Torrero. Not -a little surprised at this, they all went out in hope of speaking -with him, but it was too late; and when one of the _Ayuntamiento_ was -deputed to seek him at the Torrero, and let him know that they were -waiting for him, he was not found there. The forenoon was far advanced -before he, with some of his chief officers, approached the Puerta -Quemada, where Duran with his division and the _Ayuntamiento_ were -expecting them; his cavalry was at that time fording the Ebro; and -merely saying to Duran that he was about to pursue the enemy with them, -he rode away. Even noble minds are not always free from infirmity, and -this conduct was ascribed to a jealous desire of engrossing to himself -the glory of having delivered Zaragoza; for which reason he did not -choose to enter with Duran, who was an older camp marshal, and as such, -and also as commandant-general of Lower Aragon, must have entered at -the head of the troops. But if this unworthy feeling existed, there -were fairer motives that mingled with it; he thought it better that -his infantry should remain encamped than that they should be quartered -in the city; and the pursuit of General Paris was certainly an object -of no trifling importance. Two of Mina’s regiments thinking that they -were following Paris toward Leciñena, fell in with him unexpectedly, -and were attacked by him in the rear, and found it necessary to take -up a position, first upon a height near that place, and then near -the Ermita de Magallon. The French, whose business should then have -been rather to secure themselves by a rapid retreat, than to seek for -trivial advantages, lost some time in vainly endeavouring to dislodge -them. Giving up the attempt, at last they took the road to Alcubierre; -the Spaniards then pursued, harassed their rear, and compelled them to -abandon, at the foot of the mountain there, the greater part of the -coaches, _calesas_, and carts, laden with spoil which they had brought -from Zaragoza. Paris meantime accelerated his retreat, and effected -it, but not without losing the greater part of his convoy, all his -artillery, and considerable numbers in killed and wounded, and some -fifty prisoners, of whom about twenty were Spanish traitors. Mina -arrived with his cavalry after the spoil had been taken, and when it -was too late to continue the pursuit. - -♦SUCHET DRAWS OFF THE REMAINING GARRISONS IN ARAGON.♦ - -Paris’s orders had been to make for Mequinenza if he were compelled to -leave Zaragoza; this he found impossible, and was glad to effect his -escape by Huesca and Jaca. Marshal Suchet, after leaving a garrison -of 4500 men in Tortosa, under Baron Robert, moved toward the frontier -of Aragon, with the double view of saving Paris, and of enabling a -detachment to rejoin him which he had sent to destroy the castles at -Teruel and Alcañiz, and bring off the garrisons. The detachment having -arrived at Caspe, Suchet pushed his columns to Fabera, and had now -his army on the right bank of the Ebro ... having its right at Caspe, -its centre at Gandessa, and its left at Tortosa. Here he received -intelligence that Paris was driven upon Jaca; that Clausel, who had -moved down from Jaca with a view of securing Zaragoza, finding it -too late, had again retreated, and retiring still further, had taken -a position with his corps upon the frontier of France, and that the -whole of Aragon was lost. Nothing remained for him but to draw off -the garrisons of Zuera, Gurrea, Anzanigo, Ayerbe, Huesca, Belchite, -Fuentes, Pina, Bujaraloz and Caspe, and to think only of combining his -operations with General Decaen for maintaining Catalonia. He crossed -the Ebro therefore at Mequinenza, Mora, and ♦JULY 15. SUCHET’S -MÉMOIRES, 2, 329–331.♦ Tortosa; and in passing between Hospitalet and -Cambrils, was cannonaded by the English fleet. To maintain the line of -the lower Ebro after the deliverance of Aragon was impossible; it was -equally so to feed his army in the sterile environs of Tortosa, where -he was also in danger of having the defiles in his rear occupied by the -enemy, who might come by sea, and interpose between him and the strong -places in Catalonia; he determined therefore upon moving on Reus, -Valls, and Tarragona. - -♦DURAN ENTERS ZARAGOZA. - -JULY 10.♦ - -Meantime Duran, manifesting no displeasure at the discourtesy which -had been shown towards him, made his entrance into Zaragoza. His first -business was to march through the rejoicing streets to the church of -Our Lady of the Pillar, and here offer up thanksgiving; his second -was to lay siege to the castle. The heavy artillery of his division -was sent for, and approaches regularly made; and the Zaragozans, -after having so often seen the Spaniards who had been made prisoners -in Aragon or Valencia, marched through their streets, had now the -satisfaction of seeing a French garrison brought prisoners thither in -their turn from La Almunia, where they had surrendered to a detachment -of the Sorian division. During the first days of the siege, Mina, -finding it in vain to pursue General Paris, returned, and took up his -quarters with his troops in the suburb; and this was supposed to be a -farther indication of jealousy towards Duran, because by remaining on -that side of the Ebro which appertained to his own district of Upper -Aragon, he was not under his command; it was deemed more strange that -he took no part whatever at this time in the operations of the siege, -but left it wholly to be carried on by the Sorian division; in fact, -he was daily expecting to be appointed to the command of the whole -province. Before that appointment arrived, intelligence came that -Suchet had advanced to Fabara and Caspe; upon which he crossed the -bridge, began his retreat to Las Casetas and to Alagon, and sent orders -to Tabuenca to follow him with his regiment: Tabuenca replied that he -was under General Duran’s command, and could not leave Zaragoza without -his orders. And Duran, as soon as he was informed of this, sent to -Mina, saying he could not allow the regiment of Rioja to accompany -him in his retreat (a retreat of which he was no otherwise informed -than by the orders which had been sent to its colonel), because being -determined to defend the city, he required its presence, and indeed -he requested the support of some of his troops also; for if the enemy -should advance to Zaragoza, which he did not expect, the retreat of the -Spanish troops would have a most prejudicial effect upon the public -mind; the two divisions were strong enough to meet the French and give -them battle, and this they ought to do; but for himself, with his -single division, he could defend the city. This indeed Duran at that -juncture could well have done; but if the alternative had been to meet -Suchet in the field, or to retreat, the course which Mina followed, in -pursuance of his usual system, would have been unquestionably the most -judicious. - -♦MINA TAKES THE COMMAND.♦ - -It was soon ascertained that Suchet had retreated, upon which Mina -returned to Zaragoza; he then took up his quarters in the city, and the -siege of the Aljaferia was carried on jointly by the two divisions; -and on the fourth day after his return, the commission which he had -looked for arrived, appointing him Commandant-General of all Aragon. -The same day brought orders for Duran to join the army of Catalonia, -leaving, however, such regiments as Mina might think proper to detain. -Mina took two out of four regiments, and one of three squadrons of -cavalry; with the remainder Duran departed for Catalonia, leaving to -Mina the reputation of effecting the deliverance of Zaragoza, which -certainly was not due to him, and was not needed for one who had -rendered more signal services to his country, when its fortunes were -at the lowest ebb, than any other individual. Duran was remarkable -among all the partizans who distinguished themselves in this war for -the ♦RECONQUISTA DE ZARAGOZA, PP. 23–84.♦ discipline which, as an -old officer, he introduced among his troops, and which he maintained -by means that made him equally respected and beloved. Father, or -grandfather, were the appellations by which they called him, and which -he deserved by the care which he manifested on all occasions for them. -On ♦THE ALJAFERIA SURRENDERED.♦ the second day after his departure a -redoubt was blown up, in which the commanding officer of the artillery, -and 28 men who were in garrison there, perished. This was said to have -been his own act; and it was said also that another artillery officer -intended to set fire to the powder-magazine, but was prevented by the -soldiers, who with their besiegers must otherwise have been destroyed, -and with them no small part of the city. The motive assigned for this -insane desperation was resentment against the commandant of the place -for determining to capitulate, though the works had sustained little -injury, and were abundantly provided for a long defence. Immediately -after this the garrison surrendered. - -♦CONDUCT OF THE ZARAGOZANS DURING THEIR CAPTIVITY.♦ - -Thus, after four years of captivity, Zaragoza was delivered from its -detested enemies. During the greater part of that time no tidings -but those of ill fortune had reached the Zaragozans, ... the defeat -of their armies, the capture of one strong hold after another, some -having yielded through famine, others to the strength and skill of the -besiegers, and more having been basely or traitorously given up. And -though they well knew that the journals of the Intrusive Government, -like those in France, were conducted upon a system of falsehood, -suppressing every thing which could not be made appear favourable -to Buonaparte’s views, they could not doubt the substance of these -tidings, nor, in some of the worst cases, the extent of the national -loss. The prisoners who were taken in Blake’s defeat before Murviedro, -and the still greater number who surrendered with him at Valencia, -had been marched through the streets of Zaragoza, in the depth of -winter, and in a condition which would have moved any soldiers to -compassion except those of Buonaparte and of the generals whom he -employed in Spain: without shoes and stockings, foot-sore, half naked, -half famished, they were driven and outraged and insulted by an enemy -who seemed, together with the observances of civilized war, to have -renounced the feelings of humanity. At such times the Zaragozans, -without distinction of rank or sex, crowded about their unfortunate -countrymen to administer what consolation they could, to weep over -them, and to share with them their own scanty supplies of clothing -and of food. On such occasions, too, all the respectable families, as -if by one consent, kept days of mourning and humiliation[1], each in -their houses: and more earnest prayers were never offered up than they -breathed in bitterness of soul for the deliverance of their injured -country, and for vengeance upon their merciless and insolent oppressors. - -At the time of the deliverance, and long after, the city and its -environs bore miserable vestiges of the two sieges. Ruined houses were -to be seen far and near on every side, and the broken walls of what -once had been fertile inclosures. Some streets were merely ruins; -in others, the walls of the houses were literally covered with the -marks of musket-balls, and in some places large holes had been made -in them by the numbers which had struck there. Most of the churches -and convents were nothing but heaps of ruins; the Capuchin’s convent -had been so totally demolished, that only a solitary cross remained to -mark the spot where it had stood. Nothing had been repaired except the -Aljaferia and such of the fortifications as the French re-fortified for -their own security. Much of this material destruction was reparable; -but precious monuments of antiquity had been destroyed, ... precious -libraries and precious manuscripts, which never could be replaced; and -upon most of the inhabitants irreparable ruin had been brought. The -loss of life which had been sustained there may be summed up: broken -fortunes and broken hearts are not taken into the account; but the -sufferers had the proud and righteous satisfaction of knowing that they -had not suffered in vain. The two sieges of Zaragoza, that in which -it was overcome, not less than that which it successfully resisted, -contributed more than any other event to keep up the national spirit -of the Spaniards, to exalt the character of the nation, and to excite -the sympathy and the admiration of other countries. And the good will -not pass away with the generation upon whom the evil fell. There is no -more illustrious example of public virtue in ancient or modern history -than this of Zaragoza. Such examples are not lost upon posterity; -and such virtue, as it affords full proof that the Spanish character -retains its primitive strength, affords also the best ground for hope, -not only that Spain may resume its rank in Christendom as a great and -powerful kingdom, but also that the Spaniards may become, religiously -and politically, a free and enlightened nation; not by the remote -consequences of a sudden and violent revolution, which always brings -with it more evils than it sweeps away, but by the progress of wisdom -and truth, working their sure though slow effect in God’s good time, -among a patient, thoughtful, and devout people. - -♦ST. SEBASTIAN’S.♦ - -Aragon having now been wholly delivered from the enemy, no attempt -could be made from that side to relieve Pamplona; the blockade of that -city was safely intrusted to the Spaniards, who were now becoming -an efficient part of the allied armies; and meantime the siege of -St. Sebastian’s was made Lord Wellington’s immediate object. St. -Sebastian’s, which is the most important town in Guipuzcoa, stands -at the mouth of the little river Urumea, on a peninsula between two -arms of the sea, and at the foot of a high hill. A bay forms its port, -which has been widened and deepened, but is still small and shallow, -and so insecure in certain winds, that ships have been driven from -their anchors there; yet to this port the town owes its origin, and -its fortifications, which were first erected to protect the shipping. -Close at hand, on the side towards France, is the capacious harbour -of Passages, surrounded by mountains, with an entrance between the -rocks so strait, that only a single ship can pass, and that only -by towing; formerly it served for ships of the line, but under the -mal-administration of later years it had been neglected, and was now so -far filled up, that none but small craft and vessels of 200 or 300 tons -came in: for this reason, probably, the Caraccas Company, whose port it -had been, removed to St. Sebastian’s. There also the entrance is very -narrow, being confined between two moles. The town contains from 600 to -700 houses, in twenty streets, all which are paved with large smooth -stones, and several of them long, broad, and straight: the suburbs were -more extensive, and the whole population was estimated at 13,000. - -Few places present a more formidable appearance; the only land approach -is over a low sandy isthmus, occupied by one front of fortification, -and this narrow road is commanded by the castle; but on the left flank -there are considerable sand-hills some 600 or 700 yards distant, which -completely enfilade and take in reverse the front defences. Those -which cross the isthmus are a double line of works, with the usual -counterscarp, covered way, and glacis; but those which run lengthways -consist only of a single line, and trusting to the waters in their -front to render them inaccessible, are built without any cover. The -northern line is from top to bottom quite exposed to the sand-hills; -the Urumea, which washes the town on that side, is fordable for some -hours before and after low water, and the tide recedes so much that -during that time there is a considerable space left dry by which -troops can march to the foot of the wall. Yet the wall had been left -uncovered, though Marshal Berwick had availed himself of this defect -when he attacked the place in 1719, and by effecting a breach there had -made the garrison retire into the castle. In the revolutionary war, St. -Sebastian’s was taken by the French without resistance; for though the -troops would have done their duty in defending it, the inhabitants, -rather than endure the horrors of a siege, allowed the magistrates, -some of whom were timid and others traitorous, to surrender. - -♦DISTRIBUTION OF THE ALLIED ARMY.♦ - -After the battle of Vittoria, Jourdan had thrown a garrison of -between 3000 and 4000 men into the place. The conduct of the siege -was intrusted to Sir Thomas Graham, and the fifth division, under -Major-General Oswald, consisting of Major-Generals Hay and Robinson’s -British brigades, and Major-General Spry’s Portugueze, were employed -in carrying it on. The first division, under Major-General Howard, -consisting of the 1st and 2nd brigades of guards under Colonel Maitland -and Major-General Stopford, with the brigades of the German legion, -and Lord Aylmer’s, were in position covering the great road between -Irun and Oyarzun, and supporting Don Manuel Freyre’s Spanish corps -which crowned the heights of S. Marzial and guarded the line of the -Bidassoa from the Crown Mountain to the sea. Giron and Longa kept up -the communication with the left of the centre at Vera: this consisted -of the 7th and light divisions, under the Earl of Dalhousie and Baron -Alten ... the former posted in the pass of Etchalar, the latter on -the mountain of S. Barbara, and in the town of Vera. The right of the -centre, commanded by Sir Rowland, occupied the valley of Bastan, and -with Major-Generals Pringle and Walker’s brigades of the 2d division, -under Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir William Stewart, guarded the -passes of Maya. The Conde de Amarante, with Colonel Ashworth and -Brigadier-General Da Costa’s Portugueze brigades, held the minor passes -of Col d’Ariette and Col d’Espegas on the right, leading also into -the valley of Bastan. Another Portugueze brigade of this division, -under Brigadier-General Campbell, occupied a strong position between -the valleys of Aldudes and Hayra, keeping communication on its left -through the Port de Berdaritz with the valley of Bastan, and through -the Port d’Alalosti on its right, with the right wing of the army, in -the pass of Roncesvalles. The 6th division, under Major-General Pack, -occupied S. Estevan, and formed the reserve of the centre, ready to -support the troops at Maya or at Etchalar. The right wing covered the -direct approaches to Pamplona from St. Jean de Pied-de-Port: in its -front Major-General Byng’s brigade of the 2d division guarded the -passes of Roncesvalles and Orbaicete; Morillo, with a division of -Spanish infantry supporting the latter post; Sir Lowry Cole, with the -4th division, was in second line, at Biscarret, in rear of the pass -of Roncesvalles. The 3rd division formed the reserve under Sir Thomas -Picton, and was stationed at Olaque. This was the distribution of the -allied army, guarding the passes of the Western Pyrenees, and covering -the blockade of Pamplona and the siege of S. Sebastian’s. As the best -means of saving time and labour in that siege, it was determined to -follow Marshal Berwick’s mode of attack, breach the exposed wall from -the sand-hills, and storm it as soon as the breach should be made -practicable, trusting by quick movement to pass through the fire of the -front line of works. - -♦SIEGE OF S. SEBASTIAN’S.♦ - -When the troops appointed for the siege arrived in sight of the place, -the whole of the works and of the castellated hill appeared to be in -motion, so busily were the enemy every where employed in strengthening -their defences. The Spaniards, who were previously blockading the -place, could offer little interruption to them, because they had no -artillery; but serious operations were now to commence, and the French, -though they neither distrusted their own skill, nor that every possible -exertion would be made for their relief, knew that all that skill and -all those exertions would be called for. As a preliminary measure, it -was necessary for the besiegers to drive the garrison from a post which -they occupied, about 700 or 800 yards in advance of the town, formed by -the convent of S. Bartolomé, and an unfinished redoubt, adjoining it, -on the extremity of the steep hill towards the river, and from a small -circular work which they made with casks on the causeway. Approaches -were made, and batteries erected in the course of the night, between -the 13th and 14th of July, with a celerity that surprised the French; -and in the morning the guns opened upon the side of the convent. It was -soon beaten down, ... the chapel, with its organ and costly adornments, -was laid open, and demolished, and the roof fell in; but the French -were not driven from the ruins. A false attack was made to ascertain -whether they intended to maintain an obstinate resistance there; the -troops carried it farther than their orders directed, and were fain -to return with some loss. It was then attempted to drive the garrison -out by means of red-hot shot; the Portugueze were less expert at -this service than they had shown themselves in the field, they fired -shot which had not been half heated, and frequently missed the whole -building. Beams and whatever else was combustible from the neighbouring -houses were used for heating the furnace; and at length the convent -was set on fire in several places, but the garrison succeeded in -extinguishing the flames as often as they broke out. The enemy, -meantime, kept up from the town an incessant fire of shot and shells -upon the batteries. After 2500 eighteen-pound shot and 450 ♦CONVENT OF -S. BARTOLOMÉ TAKEN.♦ shells had been fired at the convent, it was found -that the French were not to be dislodged by any other means than by the -bayonet. Accordingly two columns were formed, one under the direction -of Major-General Hay, on the right, to cross the ravine near the river, -and attack the redoubt; the left, under Major-General Bradford, to -attack the convent. Major-General ♦JULY 17.♦ Oswald commanded. The -attack was begun about ten in the forenoon: the enemy in the convent -were not aware of it till it was made; but the movement was perceived -from the town and castle; troops were sent to reinforce the garrison, -and a heavy fire was opened upon the assailants; ... it was soon -discontinued, because they came to close quarters, and it must then -have proved equally destructive to both parties. The reinforcement was -not of more advantage, for thinking to take one body of the assailants -in the rear, they were encountered and charged by another, and driven -upon the convent, where the garrison had already been overpowered, -and those who escaped were driven with the fugitives from the works -down the hill, through the village of S. Martin’s, immediately below, -which the enemy had burnt. The impetuosity of the pursuers could not be -restrained; their directions not to pass the village were disregarded; -they followed the French to the foot of the glacis, and suffered on -their return. The garrison behaved gallantly, and lost 250 men; the -loss of the allies amounted to 70. A fire from the town was kept up -upon this post for twenty-four hours; and most of the dead with which -the ground between it and the town was strewn, remained unburied -there during the remainder of the siege, so great was the danger in -collecting them, each party being jealous of the approach of an enemy -to their works, even upon such an office. - -Two batteries were thrown up during the night in a situation to -enfilade and take in reverse the defences of the town. This in the -loose sand was a most difficult work, and the fire of the enemy was -directed with great precision to interrupt it; four sentinels were -killed in succession through one loop-hole. The only eminence from -whence artillery could be brought to bear directly on the town, though -still about a hundred feet below it, was above the convent, and almost -adjoining its walls. Here a battery was erected; the covered way to -it passed through the convent, and the battery itself was constructed -in a thickly-peopled burial-ground. A more ghastly circumstance can -seldom have occurred in war; ... for coffins and corpses in all stages -of decay were exposed when the soil was thrown up to form a defence -against the fire from the town, and were used indeed in the defences; -and when a shell burst there, it brought down the living and the dead -together. An officer was giving his orders, when a shot struck the -edge of the trenches above him; two coffins slipped down upon him with -the sand, the coffins broke in their fall, the bodies rolled with him -for some distance, and when he recovered he saw that they had been -women of some rank, for they were richly attired in black velvet, and -their long hair hung about their shoulders and their livid faces. The -soldiers, in the scarcity of firewood, being nothing nice, broke up -coffins for fuel with which to dress their food, leaving the bodies -exposed; and till the hot sun had dried up these poor insulted remains -of humanity, the stench was as dreadful as the sight. - -The village of S. Martin, or rather its ruins, were now occupied, and -approaches were struck out there ♦THE BATTERIES OPEN.♦ to the right -and left. On the 20th the batteries opened, and early in the evening -the enemy abandoned the circular redoubt. The next day a flag of truce -was sent with a summons to the governor, but not received. Meantime -a parallel across the isthmus had been begun; in cutting it, the men -came upon a channel level with the ground, in which a pipe was laid for -conveying water into the town. The aqueduct was four feet high, and -three feet wide. Lieutenant Reid of the engineers ventured to explore -it, and at the end of 230 yards, he found it closed by a door in the -counterscarp, opposite to the face of the right demi-bastion of the -horn-work. It was thought that if a mine were formed at this point, -the explosion would throw up earth enough against the escarp, which -was only twenty-four feet high, to form a way over it; and accordingly -sand-bags and barrels of powder were lodged there. - -The service of the breaching battery was severe; the enemy of course -directed every disposable gun against it, and their shells repeatedly -blew up every platform there, and dismounted the guns. The seamen -who assisted them did their duty nobly, as they always did; but with -characteristic hardihood disregarded all injunctions tending to their -own preservation, till many of them had suffered. Three of their -officers and sixteen of their men were killed and wounded there in the -course of three ♦UNSUCCESSFUL ASSAULT.♦ days. By mid-day of the 22nd, a -breach had been made about 600 feet long, and, as it seemed, perfectly -practicable, the wall being entirely levelled. It was strongly advised -that this should be stormed on the following morning, as early as the -light and the tide would admit; instead of this, orders were given to -make another breach to the left in a more oblique part of the wall; -one sure disadvantage of delay being that the time employed in making -the second breach would be well used by the enemy in intrenching the -first. After battering this second point for some hours, information -was received from a civil engineer who was well acquainted with the -place, that the wall to the right of the breach ♦JULY 24.♦ was a toise -thinner than elsewhere; thither therefore the guns were directed, and -before the night of the 23rd, a practicable breach was made there -also. Great part of the town had already been ruined by the fire; it -was at this time in flames, and the frequent crashing of houses was -heard amid the roaring of the artillery. Before daybreak the trenches -were filled with troops for storming and for supporting the assault, -which was ordered for four o’clock; the batteries were to continue -their fire upon the second breach till the moment of attack, and then -all available guns were to be directed so as to restrain the enemy’s -flanking fire from two towers, ... which, though much injured, were -still occupied, ... or otherwise to assist as occasion might be -perceived. All was in readiness, when about an hour after daybreak the -order was countermanded, upon a misconception that because the houses -at the back of the breach were on fire, the troops would not be able -to advance after they should have gained the summit. The remainder of -the day was spent in widening the second breach; time at this juncture -was of such value that it was hoped the delay might only be for twelve -hours, and the assault made at four in the evening; but it was thought -a more important consideration that there would then be but few hours -of daylight, and therefore the following morning was appointed. - -Major-General Hay’s brigade formed the column of attack; Major-General -Spry’s Portugueze brigade, Major-General Robinson’s, and the 4th -_Caçadores_ of Brigadier-General Wilson’s, were in reserve in the -trenches, the whole under the direction of Major-General Oswald. The -attack was made an hour before, instead of after daylight, because -the tide was returning, and was already two feet deep under the wall -where the ground is dry at low water. But some confusion was probably -occasioned by the darkness; and the chance of success would have been -greater if the arrangements had been made known to more of those -officers who were to take part in executing them. The distance of the -uncovered approach from the trenches to the breach was about 300 yards, -over rocks covered with sea-weed, and intermediate pools of water, and -in the face of an extensive front of works; the breach was flanked by -two towers: the fire of the place was yet entire, and when the troops -rushed from the trenches, it was presently seen that the French were -not unapprized of the intended attempt, and that they had lost no -time in making their preparations for defence; every gun which looked -that way from the castle, and from the hill, was brought to bear upon -the assailants, and from all around the breach they were flanked and -enfiladed with a most destructive fire of grape and musketry. Blazing -planks and beams were thrown transversely across the walls and on the -breach; and stones, shot, shells, and hand grenades, were showered upon -the allies with dreadful effect. - -At this time the mine was sprung, and with as much effect as had been -intended. It brought down a considerable length of the counterscarp and -glacis, and astonished the enemy so greatly, that they abandoned for -awhile that part of the works. When the Portugueze who were to take -advantage of this hastened to the spot, there were no scaling-ladders, -... an officer ran to the foot of the breach, in hope the engineers -there might be provided with them; ... if he had but one ladder, he -said, he could post his whole party in the town: ... but ladders had -not been needed here, and not thought of for the point where they might -be required. The enemy had thus time to recover from their surprise; -and the Portugueze, standing their ground with soldier-like fidelity, -were miserably sacrificed, nearly the whole of this party being killed -before the order for recalling them arrived. - -Meantime Lieutenant Jones of the engineers with an officer and nine -men of the first royals, gained the top of the great breach; and men -were rushing up to follow them, when the enemy sprung a mine in one -place, and in another drew the supports from under a false bridge, -thus blowing up some of the assailants, and precipitating others upon -the spikes which had been fixed below. The men who were at the foot -of the breach were then panic-stricken; they, as well as the French, -remembered that in such situations the victory is not to the brave or -the strong, if superior skill is opposed to courage and strength: they -ran back, ... it was impossible to rally them, and they suffered much. -The intention was, that another column should pass in the rear of the -first, between it and the sea to the second breach, and storm it; but -the discomfiture of the first party prevented this, and none of these -reached their destination. The whole was over before morning had fairly -opened, and in the course of an hour, 45 officers and above 800 men -were killed, wounded, or missing. - -The river prevented any immediate communication, so that at the -batteries it was thought that hardly anything more than a false alarm -had taken place, till, as day dawned, they discovered through their -glasses the bodies of officers and men in the breach, and under the -demi-bastion and retaining wall. Presently one or two of the enemy -appeared on the breach, and a serjeant came down among the wounded, -raising some, and speaking to others. The firing which had been -continued occasionally on the breach was then stopped; more of the -French appeared; a kind of parley took place between them and the men -at the head of the trenches; and half an hour’s truce was agreed on for -the purpose of removing the wounded and the dead; but so jealous were -the French that they would not allow the dead who were nearest them -to be approached; some of the wounded they carried into the town, and -others were borne by their soldiers into the British lines. While the -troops were yet under arms, not knowing whether another attack might -be ordered, a British officer saw one of his Portugueze soldiers start -off, and reproved him for so doing, when after awhile the man returned; -but the Portugueze replied, scarcely able to command his voice or -restrain his tears as he spake, that he had only been burying his -comrade, ... and in fact it appeared that with no other implement than -his bayonet and his hand, he had given his poor friend and countryman a -soldier’s burial in the sand. The officers who fell in this attack were -buried together, each in a shell, in one grave, in a garden near the -encampment. - -♦THE SIEGE SUSPENDED.♦ - -Lord Wellington came over from Lesaca on the same day about noon, -and determined upon renewing the attack; the second breach was to be -completed, the demi-bastion thrown down, and fresh troops appointed for -another assault. But the ammunition was now running low; and upon his -return that night he received intelligence of movements on the enemy’s -part in the Pyrenees, which made him forthwith dispatch orders for -withdrawing the guns from the batteries and converting the siege into a -blockade. - -♦SOULT APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.♦ - -Marshal Soult had been sent back from Germany as Lieutenant of the -Emperor, and Commander-in-chief of the French armies in Spain. Of all -the French Generals employed in the Peninsula, he had obtained the -highest reputation; and undoubtedly no one could be better entitled to -the praise of those authors who write history, with a mere military -feeling, reckless of all higher considerations. That _impassibility_ -which he considered as one of the first essentials for a general in -such a war, and of which proof had been given in his proclamations -and his acts, recommended him to Buonaparte not less than his great -ability. The remains of the armies of Portugal, of the centre and of -the north, were united; their ranks, which had so often been thinned, -were filled by a new conscription; and the whole being re-formed into -nine divisions of infantry, was called the army of Spain; the right, -centre, and left, were under Generals Reille, Drouet, Compte d’Erlon, -and Clausel; the reserve, under General Villatte: there were two -divisions of dragoons under Generals Treillard and Tilly, and a light -division under General Pierre Soult. In the expectation of success -every exertion had been used to increase the strength of their cavalry, -though of little use in the Pyrenees, that the war might be once more -carried beyond the Ebro; and with the same view a large proportion -of artillery was provided. The decree which appointed Marshal Soult -bore date on the first of July; he took the command on the 13th, -and his preparations were forwarded with the ability, activity, and -hopefulness by which the French are characterized in such ♦HIS ADDRESS -TO THE TROOPS.♦ things. He issued an address to his troops, containing -more truth than was usually admitted into a French state paper, -because the truth in that place could not possibly be concealed; but -it was sufficiently coloured with artful misrepresentations and with -falsehood. “The armies of France,” it said, “guided by the powerful -and commanding genius of the Emperor Napoleon, had achieved in Germany -a succession of victories as brilliant as any that adorned their -annals. The presumptuous hopes of the enemy had thus been confounded; -and the Emperor, who was always inclined to consult the welfare of -his subjects, by following moderate counsels, had listened to the -pacific overtures which the enemy made to him after their defeat. But -in the interim, the English, who, under the pretence of succouring -the inhabitants of the Peninsula, were in reality devoting them to -ruin, had taken advantage of the opportunity afforded them. A skilful -leader,” said Marshal Soult, “might have discomfited their motley -levies; and who could doubt what would have been the result of the -day at Vittoria if the general had been worthy of his troops? Let us -not however,” he continued, “defraud the enemy of the praise which is -their due. The dispositions and arrangements of their general have -been prompt, skilful, and consecutive; and the valour and steadiness -of his troops have been praiseworthy. Yet do not forget that it is to -the benefit of your example they owe their present military character; -and that whenever the relative duties of a French general and his -troops have been ably fulfilled, their enemies have commonly had no -other resource than in flight.” In one part of this address Marshal -Soult rendered justice to Lord Wellington; but this latter assertion -strikingly exemplifies the character of the vain-glorious people whom -he was addressing. He himself had been repulsed by a far inferior -British force at Coruña; had been driven from Porto, and defeated in -the bloody field of Albuhera. He was addressing men who had been beaten -at Vimeiro, beaten at Talavera, beaten at Busaco, beaten at Fuentes -d’Onoro, routed at Salamanca, and scattered like sheep at Vittoria. -They had been driven from Lisbon into France; and yet the general who -had so often been baffled addressed this language to the very troops -who had been so often and so signally defeated! “The present situation -of the army,” he pursued, “is imputable to others: let the merit of -repairing it be yours. I have borne testimony to the Emperor of your -bravery and your zeal. His instructions are to drive the enemy from -those heights which enable them arrogantly to survey our fertile -valleys, and to chase them across the Ebro. It is on the Spanish soil -that your tents must next be pitched, and your resources drawn. Let the -account of our successes be dated from Vittoria, and the birth-day of -the Emperor be celebrated in that city.” - -♦CRITICAL SITUATION OF THE ALLIED ARMY.♦ - -Lord Wellington’s situation had not during the whole war been so -critical as at this time. He had two blockades to maintain, and two -points to cover, sixty miles distant from each other, in a mountainous -country, where the heights were so impassable that there could be no -lateral communication between his divisions. His force was necessarily -divided in order that none of the passes might be left undefended, but -the enemy could choose their point of attack, and bring their main -force to bear upon it; thus they would have the advantage of numbers; -and they had the farther advantage, that a considerable proportion of -their troops, all who had belonged to the army of the north, had been -accustomed to mountain warfare, in which the British and Portugueze had -had no experience. - -♦SOULT’S MOVEMENTS FOR THE RELIEF OF PAMPLONA.♦ - -Soult’s first object was to relieve Pamplona, which could only -be relieved by some such great effort as he intended; whereas S. -Sebastian’s, as long as the garrison could maintain themselves there, -had always the possibility of receiving supplies along the coast. With -this view he collected a convoy of provisions and stores at St. Jean -de Pied-de-Port. Meantime the hostile forces, though each within their -own frontier, were encamped in some places upon opposite heights, -within half cannon-shot; and their sentries within 150 yards of each -other. Hitherto with the Spaniards and Portugueze it had been, in the -ever-memorable phrase of Palafox, war at the knife’s edge; but that -national contest, in which the aggressors had treated courtesy and -humanity with as much contempt as justice, was at an end; it was a -military contest now, and the two armies offered no molestation to -each other in the intervals of the game of war. The French, gay and -alert as usual, were drumming and trumpeting all day long; the more -thoughtful English enjoying the season and the country, looking down -with delight upon the sea and the enemy’s territory, and Bayonne in -the distance, and sketching in the leisure which their duties might -allow the beautiful scenery of the Pyrenees. The right of the allied -army was at Roncesvalles, the sacred ground of romance, where in the -seventeenth century a spot was shown as still reddened with the blood -of the Paladins; and where Our Lady, under some one of her thousand and -one appellations, may perhaps still continue to work miracles in the -chapel wherein they were interred. From that pass, and from the pass of -Maya, the roads converge on Pamplona; and Soult made his arrangements -for attacking both on the same day in force, ... for doing which he had -the great advantage that Lord Wellington was at the opposite extremity -of the line, near S. Sebastian’s. - -♦BATTLES OF THE PYRENEES.♦ - -Accordingly, on the 24th, he assembled the right and left wings of his -army, with one division of his centre, and two divisions of cavalry, -at St. Jean de Pied-de-Port; and on the 25th (the same day that the -unsuccessful assault upon S. Sebastian’s was made) he began his -operations, and in person, with about 35,000 men, attacked General -Byng’s post at Roncesvalles. Sir Lowry Cole moved up to his support -with the 4th division; and they maintained their ground obstinately, -against very superior numbers, though with considerable loss. But in -the afternoon the enemy turned their position; and Sir Lowry deemed it -necessary to withdraw in the night, and marched accordingly to Lizoain, -in the neighbourhood of Zubiri. General Drouet, with 13,000 men, was to -force the position of Maya: early in the morning he manœuvred against -each of the four passes, and against the Conde de Amarante’s division, -which was posted on the right. Under cover of these demonstrations, -he collected his main strength behind a hill immediately in front of -the pass of Aretesque, and from thence about noon made a sudden and -rapid advance, favoured by a most unexpected chance. Two advanced -videttes, who had been posted on some high ground to give timely notice -of an enemy’s approach, had fallen asleep during the heat of the day; -the French were thus enabled to advance unseen, and the piquet had -scarcely time to give the alarm before the enemy were upon them. The -light infantry companies of the second brigade sustained the attack -with great steadiness; when they were overpowered, the 34th and 50th -regiments came up, and afterward the right wing of the 92d; for as -the other passes were not to be left unguarded, troops could only be -brought from them by successive battalions, as the need became more -urgent. Opposed as they thus were to very superior forces, the 32d lost -more than a third of its numbers, and the 92d battalion was almost -destroyed. The allies retired slowly, defending every point as succours -enabled them to make a stand, but still over-matched; till, about six -in the evening, Major-General Barnes’s brigade of the 7th division came -to their support; then they recovered that part of their post which -was the key of the position, and might have reassumed their ground; -but Sir Rowland, having been apprized that Sir Lowry Cole must retire, -deemed it necessary to withdraw them during the night to Irurita. They -had been engaged seven hours, and lost four guns and more than sixteen -hundred men. - -During the whole of the following day, the enemy remained inactive -beyond the Puerto de Maya. On that day Sir Thomas Picton, who, as soon -as he was informed of Soult’s movements, had crossed to Zubiri with his -division, moved forward to support the troops at Lizoain, and assumed -the command there as senior officer. The enemy’s whole force advanced -against them early in the afternoon, and they retired skirmishing to -some strong ground, which they maintained, in order of battle, till -night closed. Generals Picton and Cole concurred then in opinion that -the post of Zubiri would not be tenable for so long a time, as it would -be necessary for them to wait there. Early on the 27th, therefore, they -began to retreat still farther, and took up a position to cover the -blockade of Pamplona. The garrison of that fortress had been informed -by some deserters from the Walloon guards that Soult, with a powerful -army, was advancing victoriously to their relief, and that relief was -certain. Their hopes were raised to the highest pitch; the firing was -only five miles distant. The state of things appeared so critical to -Abisbal, that he prepared to raise the blockade, and spiked some of -his guns; and the enemy sallied, got possession of several batteries, -and took fourteen pieces of cannon, before Don Carlos d’España could -repulse them. The position which the retreating troops took to cover -the blockade had its right in front of the village of Huarte, extending -to the hills beyond Olaz, and its left on the heights in front of the -village of Villalba, the right of this wing resting on a height which -covered the road from Zubiri and Roncesvalles, and the left at a chapel -behind Sorauren, on the road from Ostiz. Morillo’s division of Spanish -infantry was in reserve, with that part of Abisbal’s corps which was -not engaged in the blockade; and from the latter two regiments were -detached to occupy part of the hill by which the road from Zubiri was -defended. The British cavalry under Sir Stapleton Cotton were placed -on the right, near Huarte, being the only ground on which cavalry -could act. The river Lanz runs in the valley which was on the left -of the allies, and on the right of the French, in the road to Ostiz. -Beyond this river is a range of mountains connected with Ligasso and -Marcalain, by which places it was now necessary to communicate with the -rest of the army. - -Lord Wellington arrived as these divisions were taking up their ground; -and shortly afterwards Soult formed his army on a mountain between the -Ostiz and the Zubiri roads, the front of the mountain extending from -one road to the other. One division he placed on a bold height to the -left of the Zubiri road, and in some villages in front of the third -division, where he had also a large body of cavalry. The same evening -he pushed forward a corps to take possession of a steep hill on the -right of General Cole’s division: it was occupied by a Portugueze -battalion and a Spanish regiment; these troops defended their post -with the bayonet, and drove the enemy back. Seeing the importance -of this point, Lord Wellington reinforced it with the 40th and with -another Spanish regiment, so that the further efforts of the French -there were as unsuccessful as the first; but they took possession of -Sorauren, on the Ostiz road, whereby they acquired the communication by -that road; and they kept up a fire of musketry along the line till it -was dark. - -In the morning General Pack’s division arrived. Lord Wellington then -directed that the heights on the left of the valley of the Lanz should -be occupied, and that this division should form across the valley in -rear of the left of General Cole’s, resting its right on Oricain, and -its left upon the heights. They had scarcely taken the position in the -valley when they were attacked in great force from Sorauren: the enemy -advanced steadily to the attack; but the front was defended from the -heights on their left by their own light troops, and from the height -on the right, and on the rear, by the 4th division and a Portugueze -brigade; and the French were soon driven back, with great loss, by the -fire in their front, both flanks, and rear. This was a false move from -which Soult never recovered: with a view of extricating his troops from -the situation in which they were now placed, he attacked the height on -which the left of the 4th division stood, and where the 7th _Caçadores_ -were posted, at an _ermida_, or chapel, behind Sorauren. Momentary -possession was obtained of it; but the _Caçadores_ returned to their -ground, supported by Major-General Ross at the head of his brigade, -and the enemy were driven down. The battle now became general along -the whole of these heights, but only in one point to the advantage of -the French, which was where a battalion of Major-General Campbell’s -Portugueze regiment was posted; that battalion was overpowered, it -gave way immediately on the right of Ross’s brigade: the French then -established themselves on the line of the allies, and Ross was obliged -to withdraw from his post. Upon this, Lord Wellington ordered the 27th -and 48th to charge, first that body of the enemy which had established -itself there, and then those on the left. Both charges succeeded; the -enemy were driven back: the 6th division at the same time moved forward -nearer to the left of the 4th; the attack upon this front then ceased -entirely, and was but faintly continued on other points of the line. -Every regiment in the 4th division charged with the bayonet that day, -and the 40th, 7th, 20th, and 23rd, four different times. Their officers -set them the example, and Major-General Ross had two horses shot under -him. The events of that day abated Marshal Soult’s confidence, and made -him feel how little he could expect to succeed against such troops -and such a commander. He no longer thought of dating his report of -the operations from Vittoria, and celebrating the Emperor Napoleon’s -birth-day in that city; and he sent back his guns, his wounded, and -great part of his baggage, to S. Jean de Pied-de-Port, while they could -be sent in safety. - -On the 29th both armies remained quiet in their positions, each -expecting the result of its combinations. Sir Rowland had been ordered -to march upon Lizasso by Lanz, and the Earl of Dalhousie from San -Esteban upon the same place; both arrived there on the 28th, and Lord -Dalhousie’s division came to Marcalain, thus assuring Sir Rowland’s -communication with the main body. Marshal Soult’s manœuvres were now -baffled, for the allies were become one army; but he saw one chance for -victory still remaining, and he was not a man to let any opportunity -escape him. Drouet’s corps, before which Sir Rowland had retired, -followed his march, and arrived at Ostiz on the 29th. Thus the French -force also became one army. The Marshal thought his position between -the Arga and Lanz was by nature so exceedingly strong, and so little -liable to attack, that he might without apprehension withdraw from it -the bulk of his troops. Occupying, therefore, still the same points, -but drawing on to his left the troops which were on the heights -opposite the third division, he reinforced Drouet with one division, -and during the night of the 29th occupied in strength the crest of the -mountain opposite to the 6th and 7th divisions, thus connecting his -right in its position with the force which had been detached to attack -Sir Rowland, his object being thus to open the Tolosa road, turn the -left of the allies, and relieve St. Sebastian’s, now that he had failed -in the attempt for the relief of Pamplona. - -On the morning of the 30th his troops were observed to move in great -numbers toward the mountains on the right of the Lanz, with what intent -Lord Wellington at once perceived, and determined to attack the French -position in front. He ordered Lord Dalhousie to possess himself of the -top of the mountain opposite him, and turn their right, and Sir Thomas -Picton to cross the heights from which the French division had been -withdrawn, and from the Roncesvalles road turn their left, and he made -his arrangements for attacking them in front, as soon as the effect -of these movements on both flanks should appear. In every point these -intentions were effected. Lord Dalhousie with General Inglis’s brigade -drove them from the mountains: Major-General Pakenham who had the -command of the 6th division, Major-General Pack having been wounded, -then turned the village of Sorauren, and Major-General Byng’s brigade -attacked and carried the village of Ostiz. Sir Lowry Cole attacked -their front, when their confidence in themselves as well as in their -ground had thus been shaken, the French were then compelled to abandon -a position which Lord Wellington declared to be one of the strongest -and most difficult of access that he had ever seen occupied by troops. - -While these operations were going on, and in proportion as they -succeeded, troops were detached to support Sir Rowland. Late in the -morning the enemy appeared in his front, and made many vigorous -attacks, while Drouet manœuvred upon his left: every attack was -repulsed, and the allies maintained their ground, till Drouet, by a -more distant movement, ascended the ridge, and came absolutely round -their left flank; Sir Rowland then leisurely retired about a mile to a -range of heights near Eguarras, and repelled every attempt to dislodge -him from that strong ground. Lord Wellington meantime pursued the -enemy after he had driven them from their position on the mountain, -and at sunset he was at Olaque, immediately in the rear of their -attack upon Sir Rowland. Their last hope had failed, and, withdrawing -from Sir Rowland’s front during the night, they retreated with great -ability through the pass of Doña Maria, and left two divisions there -in a strong position to cover their rear in the pass. Sir Rowland -and Lord Dalhousie were ordered to attack the pass; they moved by -parallel roads; and the enemy, closely pressed by the 7th division, -were ascending the hill in great haste, when Sir Rowland arrived at -the foot of the pass, not in time to cut off any part of their rear. -Both divisions ascended the hill, each by its own road; and the -French took up a strong position at the top of the pass, with a cloud -of skirmishers in front. On the left, which was Sir Rowland’s side, -the attack was led by Lieutenant-General Stewart with Major-General -Walker’s brigade; they forced the skirmishers back to the summit of the -hill, but coming there upon the main body, found it so numerous and -so strongly posted, that they deemed it necessary to withdraw till the -7th division should come into closer co-operation. They had not long to -wait for this: General Stewart was wounded, and the command devolved -upon Major-General Pringle; he renewed the attack on that side, while -Lord Dalhousie pressed the enemy on the other; both divisions gained -the height about the same time, and the enemy, after sustaining a very -considerable loss, retired; they were pursued for some way down, but -a thick fog favoured them, and prevented the allies from profiting -further by the advantage they had gained. Lord Wellington meantime -moved with Major-General Byng’s brigade and Sir Lowry Cole’s division -through the pass of Velate upon Irurita, thus turning their position -on Doña Maria. A large convoy of provisions and stores was taken by -Major-General Byng ♦AUGUST 1.♦ at Elizondo. The pursuit was continued -during the following day in the vale of Bidassoa. Byng possessed -himself of the valley of Bastan and the position on the Puerto de Maya; -and at the close of the day the different divisions were re-established -nearly on the same ground which they had occupied when their operations -commenced, eight days before. The enemy had now two divisions posted on -the Puerto de Echalar, and nearly their whole army behind that pass; -and Lord Wellington resolved to dislodge them by a combined attack -and movement of the 4th, 7th, and light divisions, which had advanced -by the vale of the Bidassoa towards the frontier. The 7th, taking a -shorter line across the mountains from Sumbilla, arrived before the -4th. Major-General Barnes’s brigade was formed for the attack, advanced -before the others could co-operate, and with a regularity and gallantry -which, Lord Wellington says, he has seldom seen equalled, drove the -two French divisions from the formidable heights which they vainly -endeavoured to maintain. Major-General Kempt’s brigade of the light -division likewise drove a very considerable force from the rock which -forms the left of the pass; and thus no enemy was left in the field, -within this part of the Spanish frontier. During these operations the -loss of the allies amounted to 6000 in killed, wounded, and missing; -that of the French exceeded 8000. On both sides great ability had been -manifested; seldom indeed has the art of war been displayed with such -skill, and upon such difficult ground. To guard against the repetition -of so formidable an effort on the enemy’s part, the positions which the -allies occupied were strengthened by redoubts and intrenchments. While -the main scene of action lay in the neighbourhood of Pamplona, that -portion of the enemy’s force which had been left to observe the allies -on the great road from Irun, attacked Longa, who occupied that part -of the Bidassoa and the town of Vera with his division. He repulsed -them with great loss; and it was not the least of the discouraging -reflections, which could not but occur to the enemy after the failure -of all these well-planned and well-attempted endeavours, that the -Spanish troops had now become as efficient as the Portugueze. - -♦SIEGE OF ST. SEBASTIAN’S RESUMED.♦ - -During these eventful days the guns had been withdrawn from the -batteries before St. Sebastian’s, and, with all the stores, embarked -at Passages, and the transports had been sent to sea; but a blockade -was kept up, and the guard continued to hold the trenches. The vigilant -enemy made a sortie on the morning of the 27th, and carried off between -200 and 300 Portugueze and English from the trenches prisoners into -the town. Want of foresight on the part of the besiegers allowed them -this opportunity, for some of the guns of the left embrasures had, in -apprehension of such an attempt, been arranged so as to take the enemy -in flank; and those guns were withdrawn with the others. On the 3rd -the French surprised a patrol in the parallel and made them prisoners: -but Soult’s defeat was known ♦AUGUST 6.♦ now; the stores were re-landed -at Passages, and Sir Thomas Graham waited only for the arrival of more -artillery and ammunition from England to recommence the siege. The -infantry meantime rested on its arms; and the cavalry, who longed to -eat the green maize (which was prohibited), kept their horses in good -exercise in looking for straw. The 17th was Buonaparte’s birth-day; -three salutes were fired from the Castle of St. Sebastian’s on the eve -preceding, as many at four in the morning, and again at noon; and at -night the words “_Vive Napoleon le Grand_” were displayed in letters of -light upon the castle: ... it was the last of his birth-days that was -commemorated by any public celebration. The expected artillery arrived -at Passages on the 18th. That little town had never in the days of its -prosperity, when it was the port of the Caraccas Company, presented -a scene so busy, nor while it lasted so gainful to the inhabitants -and peasantry of the surrounding country. The market for the army was -held here, which they supplied with necessaries, the produce of the -land; and which at this time wanted nothing wherewith England could -supply it, so frequent now and so easy was the intercourse. Here the -reinforcements were landed, which, now that the British government had -caught the spirit of its victorious general, were no longer limited -by parsimonious impolicy. When the horses were to be landed they were -lowered from the transports into the sea, and guided by a rope as they -swam to shore; but this sudden transition from the extreme heat of the -hold to the cold water proved fatal to several of them. - -The garrison of St. Sebastian’s employed the time which the blockade -afforded them so well, in strengthening their defences and adding new -ones, that when the allies had to recommence the siege, the place was -stronger than before. The plan now determined on was to lay open the -two round towers on each end of the first breach, and connect it with -the second breach, which was to the right, add to it another on the -left, and demolish a demi-bastion to the left of the whole, by which -the approach was flanked. A mortar battery was also erected for the -purpose of annoying the castle across the bay. Sailors were employed -in this, and never did men more thoroughly enjoy their occupation. -They had double allowance of grog, as their work required; and at -their own cost they had a fiddler; they who had worked their spell in -the battery went to relieve their comrades in the dance, and at every -shot which fell upon the castle they gave three cheers. Little effect -was produced by this battery, because of its distance. Between it and -the town is the island of St. Clara, high and rocky, about half a mile -in circumference, which the French occupied; it was deemed expedient -to dislodge them and take possession of it, because the season was -approaching when ships might be obliged to leave the coast, and this -spot facilitated the enemy’s communication with their own country. -The only landing-place was under a flight of steps, commanded by a -small intrenchment on the west point of the island, and exposed to the -whole range of works on the west side of the rock and of the walls; -the garrison, consisting of an officer and twenty-four men, were thus -enabled to make such a resistance, that nineteen of the assailants were -killed and wounded. The island however was taken, and the garrison made -prisoners. - -The actual siege recommenced on the 24th; and at the following midnight -the enemy made a sortie, entered the advanced part of the trenches -and carried confusion into the parallel; but when they attempted to -sweep along its right, a part of the guard checked them, and they -retired into the town, taking with them about twelve prisoners. The -batteries opened on the morning of the 26th. On the night of the 27th -another sortie was tried; but experience had made the besiegers more -vigilant, and it was repulsed before the slightest mischief could be -done. Nothing that skill and ingenuity could devise was omitted by the -garrison; they repaired by night as far as possible the injury which -had been done in the day; cleared away the rubbish; and at the points -at which the batteries were directed, let down large solid beams to -break the force of the shot. But in this branch of the art of war, the -means of attack are hitherto more efficient than those of defence; and -in the course of the 29th the enemy’s fire was nearly subdued. They -lost many men by our spherical case shot; and they attempted to imitate -what they had found so destructive, by filling common shells with small -balls, and bursting them over the heads of the besiegers; but these -were without effect. On the night of the 29th there was a false attack -made with the hope of inducing the enemy to spring the mines, which it -was not doubted that they had prepared; they fired most of their guns, -but the end was not answered, for no mine was exploded. - -♦PREPARATIONS FOR ASSAULTING THE TOWN.♦ - -Men were now invited to volunteer for the assault, such men, it was -said, “as knew how to show other troops the way to mount a breach.” -When this was communicated to the 4th division, which was to furnish -400 men, the whole division moved forward. The column of attack -was formed of the 2nd brigade of the 5th division, commanded by -Major-General Robinson, with an immediate support of 150 volunteers -from the light division, 400 from the first, and 200 from the 4th; and -with the remainder of the 5th division in reserve, the whole under the -direction of Sir James Leith. Sir James had been severely wounded in -the battle of Salamanca, and his constitution still felt the effects of -the Walcheren fever; but leaving England as soon as he was sufficiently -recovered to discharge his duties, he arrived at S. Sebastian’s on -the 29th, and resumed the command of his division in the trenches, -Major-General Oswald, who had held it during his absence, resigning -it and acting as a volunteer. As the breaches now appeared to be -practicable, the assault was ordered for eleven o’clock on the forenoon -of the 31st, being the time of low water; and to prepare debouches for -the troops, three shafts were sunk at the advanced sap on the right, -for the purpose of breaking through the sea wall, which was of masonry, -four feet thick and ten feet above the high water mark; they were sunk -eight feet below the surface, and each loaded with 540 pounds of powder. - -♦SOULT MOVES FOR ITS RELIEF.♦ - -Marshal Soult, meantime, as soon as he knew that the siege had been -recommenced, leaving one division in front of the British light -division, and another in front of the 7th, moved the rest of his army -to the camp at Urogne, with the obvious intention of making an attempt -to relieve the place. Under that expectation all the troops of horse -artillery were ordered to march, and the artillery not employed in -the siege was sent to the front. The eve of the assault was therefore -a time of more than usual anxiety; for if either the assault should -fail, or Soult should succeed, the situation of the allies would be -rendered critical. In the course of the day the wood and rubbish of -the right breach took fire, and a mine near it exploded; and in the -afternoon five small mines within the town were blown up by ♦ASSAULT OF -S. SEBASTIAN’S.♦ the falling of a shell. The evening closed in with a -storm of thunder and lightning and heavy rain. Two hours after midnight -the three mines were sprung, and completely effected the purpose of -blowing down the sea wall; the etonnoirs were immediately connected; -a good passage out for the troops was thus formed, and the farther -object was attained of securing all the works in their rear from any -galleries which the enemy might have run out in that direction. In the -morning there was such a fog, and the smoke in consequence hung so, -that nothing could be seen; but about nine o’clock a gentle sea-breeze -began to clear the mist, and the sun soon shone forth. Sir Thomas -Graham, having completed the arrangements with Sir James Leith, left -him to command the assault, and crossed the Urumea to the batteries -of the right attack, from whence all might be distinctly seen, and -orders for the fire of the batteries immediately given, according to -circumstances. Sir James held it as an article of his military belief -that British troops could not fail in any thing which they undertook. -He now took the opinion of the chief engineer, Sir Richard Fletcher, as -to the spot from whence he could best overlook and direct the desperate -service of the day; the place they fixed on was upon the beach, about -thirty yards in advance of the debouche from the trenches; and there, -without any cover or protection whatever, they both took their stand; -for it was a maxim with him that however brave the troops, and however -devoted the officers, the example of those in command was, beyond every -thing, essential. - -About eleven o’clock the advanced parties moved out of the trenches, -and the enemy almost immediately exploded two mines, for the purpose -of blowing down the wall to the left of the beach, along which the -troops were advancing to the breach; the passage between the wall and -the water was narrow, and they expected, by the fragments of masonry -which would be thrown down, to obstruct the line of march. This intent -failed; but about twenty men were crushed by the ruins of the wall. -The garrison, as on the former assault, were perfectly prepared; and -from the Mirador battery, and the battery del Principe, on the castle -hill, they opened a fire of grape and shells upon the columns. The -forlorn hope, consisting of an officer and thirty men, fell to a man; -the front of the columns which followed were cut off, as by one shot; -and the breach, when the assailants reached it, was presently covered -with their bodies; many of those who were ascending it were thrown -down by the bodies of those above them, the living, the wounded, and -the dead, rolling together down the ruins. From the Mirador and Prince -batteries, from the keep of the castle, from the high curtain to -the left of the breach, and from some ruined houses in front, about -forty yards distant, which were loop-holed and lined with infantry, a -concentrated fire was kept up; a line of intrenchment had been carried -along the nearest parallel walls; this was strongly occupied, and -it entirely swept the summit of the breach; and, in addition to all -this, the horn-work flanked and commanded the ascent. The tower of -Amesquita, on the left of the breach, was the only available point of -defence which had not been manned; overlooked it could not have been -by such engineers as those who conducted the defence: undoubtedly -they considered the means which they had provided to be more than -sufficient, and that no courage, however desperate, could in the face -of them carry a breach which, upon all rules of art, was actually -impracticable. That every art of defence which science and experience -could devise would be practised was expected; it was known, also, that -the garrison were as little deficient in confidence as in numbers, -and that they had stores in abundance; but if there had been even a -suspicion that the ground at the point of attack was what it was now -found to be, it is certain that the assault, under such circumstances, -would never have been ordered. - -Nothing, in fact, could have been more fallacious than the external -appearance of the breach. Up to the end of the curtain it was as -accessible, quite to the terre-plein, as it seemed to be; but there the -enemy’s situation was commanding, and the ascent itself was exposed -to the horn-work: but this was the only point where it was passable, -and there only by single files. Except on this point, there was a -perpendicular fall from fifteen to twenty-five feet in depth, along -the back of the whole breach, extensive as it was. Houses had been -built against the interior of the wall; these were now in ruins; and -there was no way of descending, except here and there by an end wall -which remained standing; but the very few who could by this means get -into the streets were exposed to an incessant fire from the opposite -houses. During the suspension of the siege, every possible preparation -had been made by the enemy, with the advantage of knowing the point -which would be attacked; so that they had a great number of men covered -by intrenchments and traverses in the horn-work, on the ramparts of -the curtain, and in the town itself opposite the breach. The most -determined courage was displayed by the troops, who were brought -forward in succession from the trenches to this place of slaughter. -Military duty was never discharged with more entire devotion than it -was at this time both by officers and men. No man outlived the attempt -to gain the ridge. The slope of the breach afforded shelter from -musketry; but the nature of the stone rubbish rendered it impossible -for the working parties to form a lodgement there, notwithstanding -their utmost exertions, and the troops were exposed to the shells and -grape from the batteries of the castle; and on the way to the breach -so severe and continuous a fire was kept up that Sir James Leith was -obliged to send directions for removing the dead and the dying from the -debouches, which were so choked up as to prevent the passage of the -troops. - -♦SIR JAMES LEITH WOUNDED.♦ - -A plunging shot struck the ground near the spot where Sir James was -standing, rebounded, struck him on the chest, and laid him prostrate -and senseless. The officers near thought certainly that he was killed; -but he recovered breath, and then recollection, and resisting all -entreaties to quit the field, continued to issue his orders. Sir -Thomas Graham meantime accepted the offer of a part of Major-General -Bradford’s Portugueze brigade to ford the river and assist in the -assault. The advance of a battalion under Major Snodgrass, and of -a detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel M’Bean, was made rapidly and -firmly, under a very heavy fire of grape, along the beach and over a -creek knee-deep. They got over, but not without great loss, and bore -their part in what Sir Thomas Graham began now to think was an all -but desperate attempt: and desperate it must have proved, if, upon -consulting with Colonel Dickson, who commanded the artillery, he had -not ventured to direct that the guns should be turned against the -curtain. A heavy fire was immediately directed there, passing only a -few feet above the heads of our own troops, and it was kept up with a -precision of practice beyond all example. The troops who were employed -in the assault were astonished at hearing the roar of cannon from -behind them; they saw the enemy swept from the curtain; a few of their -own men were brought down also by the first discharge: the second made -the intent fully intelligible; its effect upon the enemy was visible, -and a great effort was then ordered to gain the high ridge at all -hazards. - -At this time a shell burst near Sir James Leith, tore off the flesh -of his left hand, and broke the arm in two places; still he continued -to give directions, till, fainting from loss of blood, he was carried -from the field. Major-General Hay succeeded to the command. Almost ♦SIR -RICHARD FLETCHER SLAIN.♦ immediately afterwards, and nearly on the -same spot, Sir Richard Fletcher talking to General Oswald, was killed -by a musket-ball, which struck him in the spine of the neck. This was -a great loss to his friends and his country: he was of such amiable -qualities, as well as of such sterling worth, that no man was ever more -respected and loved; and that his professional talents were of the -highest order had been shown by the lines of Torres Vedras. - -♦THE CITY TAKEN.♦ - -As Sir James Leith was carried through the trenches to the rear, he -met the remaining part of his division pressing forward to execute his -orders; and the men of the 9th regiment, recognizing their general, -promised him not to desist from their exertions until the place should -be taken. Just as they arrived at the breach, a quantity of cartridges -exploded behind one of the traverses of the curtain; the fire of the -artillery had occasioned this; and it caused some confusion among the -enemy, who already apprehended that the tide of fortune was turning -against them. The narrow pass was now gained and maintained; hats were -waved from the _terre-plein_ of the curtain; the troops rushed forward -and drove the enemy down the steep flight of steps near the great -gate leading from the works into the town. The troops on the right of -the breach about the same time forced the barricadoes on the top of -the narrow line wall, and found their way into the houses that joined -it. In many places it was necessary to apply scaling-ladders before -the men could get down. At the centre of the main breach there was an -excavation below the descent, and a barricado at some feet farther -back; here, therefore, any who should have descended would have been -inclosed as a mark for the enemy, till the way was cleared for them by -a flanking fire from a round tower on the right, which took the French -in reverse. The French themselves were inclosed in a barricado between -that tower and the right breach, and their dead lay there heaped upon -each other. The contest was still maintained from barricadoes in the -streets, and by firing from the houses; till between four and five in -the afternoon, the enemy were driven from their last defence in the -town, except the Convent of S. Teresa, and retired into the castle. -By that time the town was on fire in many places; and, to add to the -horrors of a place taken by assault, the vindictive enemy fired upon it -from their upper defences, and rolled their shells into it. - -About three in the afternoon, the day, which had been sultry, became -unusually cold; the sky was overcast, and between the blackness of the -sky, the rain, and the smoke, it was as dark as a dusky evening; but -when darkness would in its natural course have closed the town was -in flames. A dreadful night of thunder and rain, and wind succeeded; -and it was made far more dreadful by man than by the elements. It is -no easy task for officers, after the heat of an assault, to restrain -successful troops who are under no moral restraint; and on this day so -many officers had perished that the men fancied themselves exempt from -all control. They sacked the place, and gave way to such excesses that -if the French could have suspected the state of drunkenness to which -men so excellently brave in action had reduced themselves, they might -very probably have retaken part of the town, if not the whole. The loss -of the assailants amounted to nearly 1600 British and 800 Portugueze -killed and wounded; 700 of the garrison were made prisoners. - -♦THE FRENCH DEFEATED IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO RELIEVE IT.♦ - -On the morning of the assault the French made a second effort for -the relief of S. Sebastian’s. Three divisions of Spaniards, under -General Freyre, occupied the heights of S. Marcial on the left of the -Bidassoa, and the town of Irun, thus covering the road to the besieged -fortress. The position was exceedingly strong, the front and the left -being covered by the river, and their right resting on the Sierra de -Haya. They were supported by the first division of British infantry, -under Major-General Howard, and by Lord Aylmer’s brigade on the left, -and in the rear of Irun; and by Longa’s division near the Sierra in -rear of their right. Still farther to secure them, Lord Wellington, -knowing that during the 29th and 30th the enemy were assembling a -large force at Vera, moved two brigades of the 4th division to the -left of the Sierra, and occupied the heights on the right of that -mountain, between the convent of S. Antonio and Vera; and Lezaca with a -Portugueze brigade, to prevent it from being turned in that direction. -On the 30th also he moved Major-General Inglis’s brigade to the bridge -of Lezaca, and gave orders for the troops in the Puertos of Etchalar, -Zugarramundi, and Maya, to attack the enemy’s weakened post in front of -their positions. - -Before daylight on the 31st the enemy crossed the Bidassoa with a -very large force, two divisions by a ford in front of the left of the -Spaniards, while a third, under protection of batteries which they had -thrown up during the night, were constructing a bridge over the river, -about three quarters of a mile above the high road. The two divisions -immediately attacked the Spaniards along the whole front of their -position on the heights of S. Marcial. The attack was made with that -confidence which the French had always felt when the Spaniards were -opposed to them in regular action; but the boldness with which they -commenced it was ill maintained; for the Spaniards waited firmly till -the assailants had nearly reached the summit of the steep ascent, then -charged them with the bayonet whilst in column, and instantly broke -them. As often as the French repeated the attack so often were they -driven back, some of them even across the river, where many in their -haste lost the direction of the ford and perished. The division which -had been pushed across the Bidassoa to protect the construction of the -bridge, made a subsequent attempt on the right of the Spaniards, with -no better success. But as the course of the river was immediately under -the heights on the French side, and a considerable bend in that part -of the stream was flanked by their batteries, the Spaniards could not -prevent the pontooners from completing their work; and in the afternoon -the enemy marched over a considerable body, which, with the divisions -who had crossed at the fords, made another desperate attack upon the -Spanish position. Lord Wellington, who pronounced the conduct of the -Spaniards on this day to have been equal to that of any troops whom he -had ever seen engaged, appeared in front of their line at the moment -when the French advanced to this last attack. He was received with loud -and repeated shouts, and the men, proud of supporting in his sight -the character which they felt that they had this day deserved, again -beat back the assailants. They showed themselves indeed so capable of -defending their post without assistance, that the two British divisions -were not brought into action, the nature of the ground being such that -they could not be employed on the flanks of the enemy’s corps. When the -French were at length convinced that all their efforts were in vain, -they took advantage of a violent storm and the darkness which came on -with it, to retire hastily from this front. Many took to the river -in their fear, to sink or swim if they should miss the fords; and in -this attempt so many were seen to perish, the river being swoln by the -storm, that latterly the fugitives crowded to the bridge, and at last -pressed upon it in such numbers, that it sunk beneath their weight, and -most of those who were passing at the moment were lost. - -About the same time that the enemy commenced their operations on this -side, a very strong body of their infantry crossed the Bidassoa, in two -columns, by the fords below Salon, in front of the position occupied by -the 9th Portugueze brigade. Major-General Inglis moved with his brigade -to their support, and finding he could not maintain the heights between -Lezaca and the river, withdrew to those in front of the convent, -protecting there the right of the Spanish army, and at the same time -the approach by Oyarzun to S. Sebastian’s. Major-General Kempt meantime -moved a brigade of the light division to Lezaca, by which he kept -the enemy in check; and the Earl of Dalhousie was directed likewise -to support Major-General Inglis; but being engaged at the Puerto de -Zugarramundi, he could not begin his march till late in the afternoon, -nor arrive before the ensuing morning, when the operations were at an -end. For the enemy, when they found that Major-General Inglis was in -a position from which they could not dislodge him, and knew that they -had completely failed at the heights of San Marcial, felt that their -situation on the Spanish side of the Bidassoa was becoming every moment -more critical, and retired during the night. But the river had then -so risen, and was still rising so fast, that the rear of their column -was obliged to cross by the bridge at Vera: and to effect this, they -attacked the posts of the light division about three in the morning. -If a sufficient force could have been spared for guarding this point, -a very considerable part of Soult’s army might have been taken. -The bridge was not wide enough for more than three or four to pass -abreast, and a continual fire was poured upon it from the walls of a -neighbouring convent, so that they were believed to have lost not less -than a thousand men in passing. The loss of the allies on this day -amounted to 400 killed, about 2060 wounded, and 150 missing, nearly -1600 of these being Spaniards. The brunt of the action had fallen upon -them; and in this respect it was a day of great importance, because it -made the French feel their own growing inferiority, and apprehend that -San Marcial would teach the Spaniards the same confidence in themselves -which the Portugueze had learned at Busaco. Among the British officers -who fell was Captain Douglas of the 51st: he is thus mentioned in a -work wherein so many crimes have been recorded, because his brother -officers bore this testimony to him, that he was the only man they knew -of whom they could truly say there was nothing in him in the slightest -degree approaching to a vice. The men of his company carried him off -the field, made his grave carefully, and gave him a soldier’s burial -with all the marks of respect which they could bestow. - -The effort on Soult’s part had been great, and was deemed so by Lord -Wellington, for a Portugueze brigade was withdrawn from the besieging -corps during the assault. As soon as the town had been carried, ♦SIEGE -OF THE CASTLE OF S. SEBASTIAN’S.♦ preparations were made for reducing -the castle. The enemy still held the convent of S. Teresa, the garden -of which, inclosed as usual in such establishments with a high wall, -reached a good way up the hill, toward their upper defences; and from -thence they marked any who approached within reach of fire, so that -when a man fell, there was no other means of bringing him off than -by sending the French prisoners upon this service of humanity. The -town presented a dreadful spectacle both of the work of war and of -the wickedness which in war is let loose. It had caught fire during -the assault, owing to the quantity of combustibles of all kinds which -were scattered about; the French rolled their shells into it from the -castle; and while it was in flames, the troops were plundering, and -the people of the surrounding country flocking to profit by the spoils -of their countrymen. The few inhabitants who were to be seen seemed -stupified with horror; they had suffered so much, that they looked with -apathy at all around them, and when the crash of a falling house made -the captors run, they scarcely moved. Heaps of dead were lying every -where, English, Portugueze, and French, one upon another, with such -determination had the one side attacked and the other maintained its -ground. Very many of the assailants lay dead on the roofs of the houses -which adjoined the breach. The bodies were thrown into the mines and -other excavations, and there covered over so as to be out of sight, -but so hastily and slightly that the air far and near was tainted; and -fires were kindled in the breaches to consume those which could not be -otherwise disposed of. The hospital presented a more dreadful scene, -... for it was a scene of human suffering; friend and enemy had been -indiscriminately carried thither, and were there alike neglected; ... -on the third day after the assault many of them had received neither -surgical assistance, nor food of any kind; and it became necessary to -remove them on the fifth, when the flames approached the building: -much of this neglect would have been unavoidable, even if that humane -and conscientious diligence, which can be hoped for from so few, had -been found in every individual belonging to the medical department, -the number of the wounded being so great; and little help could be -received from the other part of the army, because it had been engaged -in action on the same day. ♦EXCESSES COMMITTED IN THE CITY.♦ The -hideous circumstances of war were indeed at this time to be seen in S. -Sebastian’s, divested of its pomp: and to a thoughtful mind its actual -horrors were less painful than the brutal insensibility with which they -were regarded by men whose nature, originally bad, had been worsened -by their way of life. Great exertions were made to stop the excesses -which at such times are to be expected; but the utmost exertions can do -little among troops who believe themselves privileged by the occasion -to break loose from the restraints of military discipline, and who are -not more fearless of death than they are, while in health and strength, -of judgment. The town was sacked: had it been an enemy’s town, it could -not have suffered more from its captors. Sentries were placed at all -the outlets to make the plunderers lay down their booty, but all that -could be secreted about the person was carried off; and the Spaniards -of Passages and other places were ready, as at a fair, to purchase the -spoils of their countrymen. A reproach was brought upon the British -name. The French seized the opportunity of endeavouring to fix upon -their enemies the same odious imputation which they themselves were -conscious of having deserved; they accused the British of setting fire -to the town, indiscriminately murdering friend and foe, and pillaging -the place under the eyes of their officers, who made no attempt to -restrain them. These charges were brought forward by that party in -Spain who, without inclining in ♦SEPTEMBER.♦ the slightest degree -toward the French, manifested on all occasions their jealousy and their -envious dislike of England; and they added the farther calumny, that -the captors had plundered the churches, and, by giving way to excess of -every kind, lost the favourable time for following up their success -and taking the castle. All was false, except that great excesses had -been committed: the difference between the conduct of the British at -S. Sebastian’s, and that of the French at Porto, Tarragona, and other -places, being this, that the crimes which the former perpetrated -were checked as soon as they could be by the officers, acknowledged -by the generals as evils which they had not been able to prevent, -severely condemned by them, and punished: those of the French had been -systematic and predetermined; the men were neither checked nor reproved -by their generals; and so far were the generals from receiving any -mark of disapprobation from their government, that the acts themselves -were ostentatiously proclaimed in bulletins and official reports, in -the hope of intimidating the Portugueze and Spaniards, and without any -sense of shame. - -♦THE GARRISON SURRENDERS.♦ - -Preparations were immediately made for reducing the castle, the plan -being to erect batteries on the works of the town, and breach the Queen -batteries, the Mirador, and the keep. On the 3rd, some discussion -concerning a surrender was entered into with General Rey, which he -broke off when it was required that the garrison should lay down their -arms and become prisoners of war. These terms the general knew he -could obtain at the last moment, and possibly he still entertained -some hope of holding out till another effort could be made for his -relief; as, even after he had retired into the castle, some artillery -and ammunition reached him there from France, it being impossible, -upon such a coast, and when the ports were so near, entirely to cut -off the communication. The Convent of S. Teresa was taken on the 5th: -by this time the flames, which continued still to spread, had driven -the troops from their more advanced stations, and made them retire to -the ramparts. By the evening of the 7th, the roofs of such houses and -steeples as remained unburnt were prepared ♦SEPT. 8.♦ for musketry; -and on the following morning nearly sixty pieces of ordnance opened on -the castle. With great exertions, directed by Captain Smith, of the -navy, guns were got up the steep scarp of the islet of S. Clara, and -there mounted on a battery, which the sailors manned. The wall of the -Mirador was so hard, that the balls at first split upon striking it; -nevertheless, it was peeled by the continual fire, and was beginning to -come down, when the white flag was hung out. All the enemy’s batteries -were at that time utterly demolished, those on the sea line alone -excepted; the guns dismounted, the carriages knocked to pieces, and -the castle in ruins. There were no barracks, nor any covering for the -troops except holes, which had been excavated in every nook and corner, -to serve for them as splinter-proofs; and of these many were filled -with water, much rain having fallen during the preceding week: but for -the prisoners, who were in the hands of the garrison, there was no -shelter, and many of them were killed by the fire of their friends. -The French general might have obtained credit for an act of generous -humanity, and of policy as well, if he had released these prisoners, -sending a trumpet with them to declare his reasons for so doing, and -to express his reliance upon British honour that an exchange should be -allowed for them; for this no doubt would have been agreed to, though -the advantage was so manifestly to the enemy. - -General Rey, on displaying the white flag, said he would send officers -to confer on the terms of surrender. Sir Thomas Graham replied, no -others would be offered than what had already been stated; the garrison -must lay down their arms, and be made prisoners of war. During the -whole siege they had lost about 2400 men, and they had now eaten all -their horses. Yielding of necessity now, they were especially anxious -that they should be under British protection, be embarked at Passages -as the nearest port, and conveyed directly to England; and this was -promised. One article requested that the _Commissaire de Guerre_, -having with him the widow and the two daughters of his brother, who had -died at Pamplona, might be allowed to return with them to France, he -being their chief support. General Rey was indignant that an article -about women should appear in the capitulation of such a garrison, and -after such a defence; and this he expressed coarsely, as if a soldier -disparaged his character by showing any consideration for humanity! - -♦SEPT. 10.♦ - -On the 10th, the Portugueze were formed in the streets of the ruined -city; the British on the ramparts. The day was fine, after a night of -heavy rain. About noon the garrison marched out at the Mirador gate. -The bands of two or three Portugueze regiments played occasionally; -but altogether it was a dismal scene, amid ruins and vestiges of fire -and slaughter: a few inhabitants were present, and only a few. Many -of the French soldiers wept bitterly, there was a marked sadness in -the countenances of all, and they laid down their arms in silence. -Colonel S. Ouary, the commandant of the place, had been uniformly -attentive to the officers who had been prisoners. When this kindness -was now acknowledged, he said that he had been twice a prisoner in -England; that he had been fifty years in the service, and on the 15th -of the passing month he should have received his dismission: he was -now sixty-six, he said, an old man, and should never serve again; and -if he might be permitted to retire into France, instead of being sent -to England, he should be the happiest of men. Sir Thomas Graham wrote -to Lord Wellington in favour of the kind-hearted old man, and it may -be believed that the application was not made in vain. Captain Sougeon -was recognized at this time, who, on the day of the first assault, had -descended the breach to assist our wounded: “There,” said he, pointing -to his men, “are the remains of the brave 22nd; we were 250 the other -day, now not more than 50 are left.” Lord Wellington, upon being -informed of his conduct, sent him to France. Eighty officers and 1756 -men were all the remains of the garrison, and of these 25 officers and -512 men were in the hospital. - - - - -CHAPTER XLV. - - OPERATIONS OF THE ANGLO-SICILIAN ARMY. THE ALLIES ENTER FRANCE. - PASSAGE OF THE BIDASSOA, THE NIVELLE, AND THE NIVE. TREATY - BETWEEN BUONAPARTE AND FERDINAND, AND CONSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS - OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT. - - -♦1813.♦ - -♦THE REMAINS OF ROMANA’S ARMY RETURN FROM THE NORTH.♦ - -During the siege of S. Sebastian’s, some few hundred men, the remains -of Romana’s army, who had not been able to effect their escape from -the North, when their magnanimous general and their comrades went to -take part in their country’s struggle, and most of them to perish in -it, returned to Spain. The resistance to Buonaparte’s tyranny, which -the Spaniards and Portugueze had begun, had prepared the way for the -deliverance of the continent, and thus eventually restored them to -their native land. - -♦LORD W. BENTINCK INVESTS TARRAGONA.♦ - -The Anglo-Sicilian army had no sooner returned to Alicante from its -ill-conducted expedition against Tarragona, than every exertion was -used for enabling it to take the field, and profit by the retreat of -the enemy from Valencia. Lord William Bentinck entered that capital -on the 9th of July, and leaving General Elio to observe Murviedro, -proceeded with his own troops, and such of the Spaniards as he could -♦AUGUST.♦ find means of providing with subsistence, for in this -essential point there was the greatest difficulty. Having arrived at -Vinaroz, he detached a corps under Lieutenant-General Sir William -Clinton by sea to Tarragona, in the hope of preventing the enemy from -dismantling that fortress, if such should be their intention. When -the fleet arrived off Tarragona, a French force was discovered in -its vicinity; but there were no indications of any such purpose. The -detachment, therefore, landed at the Col de Balaguer; and there, Lord -William, having crossed the Ebro at Amposta on flying bridges, joined -him with the advance of the army, some cavalry, and artillery; the -whole then moved forward to the village of Cambrils, and on the first -of August they invested Tarragona: that operation was well performed, -and cover was obtained three hundred yards nearer than the most -advanced point which had been occupied during the previous attack. -Preparations were now observable in the place for its destruction; but -it was evident that the ♦COL. JONES’S ACCOUNT, V. 2. 201.♦ garrison -could not effect this in the presence of the allied army, unless -Marshal Suchet came in force to cover the operation. That general -was at Barcelona; his troops were at Villafranca and at Villanova de -Sitges, being thus divided to lessen the difficulty of subsisting -them; and his advance was at Arbos and at Vendrell: sometimes he -seemed to be menacing a movement against the allies, and sometimes -preparing for a farther retreat. Lord William, with such an enemy in -such force so near, would not expose himself to a failure like that -of Sir John Murray; and he deferred beginning the siege and landing -his heavy artillery, till the Duque del Parque’s army should come up, -and Sarsfield with his Catalan troops. The Duque joined on the third; -the Catalans were actively employed upon the right flank of Suchet’s -divisions, cutting off his supplies; and on the 7th they surprised a -battalion who were guarding the mills at S. Sadurni, and occasioned -them a loss of 200 men. Sarsfield joined on the 11th. But as the -appearance of the allies before Tarragona prevented the garrison from -demolishing the works, so on the other hand it gave Marshal Suchet time -for bringing together as large a force as he thought the occasion -required. The British general, like Generals Maitland and Murray before -him, felt all the difficulties of his situation; he was conscious that -his ill-composed army was far from being efficient in proportion to -its numerical strength; he had no means of feeding the Spanish part of -that army if the enemy should manœuvre upon his flank, so as to cut -off the supplies which they obtained from the country; he had found -it impracticable to throw a bridge over the Ebro; and should he be -compelled in his present situation to retreat, the ships could not -take off more than a third of his forces. But while the prudence of -remaining in that situation became a serious question, preparations for -breaking ground were carried on. - -♦SUCHET RAISES THE SIEGE.♦ - -Suchet meantime acting as if he were opposed to a much greater force, -had waited till Generals Decaen, Maurice Mathieu, and Maximien Lamarque -could join him with 8000 men belonging to the army of Catalonia; with -this accession his numbers were estimated at from 27,000 to 30,000. -They effected their junction at Villafranca on the 14th. The first -attempt was by the coast road; but Admiral Hallowell effectually -checked this movement, by stationing his troops as close as possible -to the low sandy shore in front of the Torre del Barra. On the ensuing -morning Lord William was informed that a large body of the French were -advancing through the inland country by the Col de Santa Christina; -and in the evening a sharp skirmish took place between the advance of -hussars and the cavalry under Colonel Lord Frederick Bentinck, which he -sent forward to observe their motions: in this the Brunswick hussars -distinguished themselves, repulsing the enemy and making several -prisoners. Suchet advanced rapidly beyond the Gaya that day, while -Decaen advanced upon Valls and the Francoli. Lord William did not deem -it prudent to risk a general action before Tarragona; at nightfall, -therefore, he commenced his retreat, and when day broke the whole army -was out of sight of the city; the British, Germans, and Sicilians, -covering the road towards Tortosa, took up a position near Cambrils. -Sarsfield occupied Reus; and the Duque del Parque was directed to -proceed to the Col de Balaguer, where, if Suchet should push the -retreating army so as to make a general action necessary, it was -intended to await his attack. But the French commander had no such ♦THE -FRENCH ABANDON TARRAGONA.♦ purpose; his present object was to bring off -the garrison from Tarragona, and to demolish its fortifications, so -that they might afford no support to the allies. On the night of the -18th the works were blown up; and Marshal Suchet then withdrew for ever -from a place where, by the premeditated atrocities which were committed -at its capture, he has fixed upon his memory an indelible stain. The -demolition was effectual: the artillery consisted of about 200 pieces -of brass ordnance and 46 iron mortars; 50 of the former were left -uninjured; and he did not tarry long enough to destroy the quantity of -warlike stores which he had not the means of removing. Sarsfield on the -following day took possession of the city. - -♦PLANS PROPOSED TO SUCHET BY MARSHAL SOULT.♦ - -Suchet soon fell back upon the line of the Llobregat, having drained -the plain of Villafranca of its resources. In a country thus exhausted, -General Copons declared it was not possible to provide for the whole -Spanish force under Lord William’s command; and in consequence of this, -and upon erroneous information that part of the French troops had been -detached to aid Marshal Soult, the British general, conformably to an -arrangement made with Lord Wellington, sent the Duque del Parque, with -the 4th Spanish army, to Zaragoza; and he reinforced the corps, then -employed under Elio, in the blockade of Tortosa. Early in September he -concentrated the greater part of his remaining force at Villafranca. -At this time Marshal Soult had proposed to Suchet that he should cross -the Pyrenees with the whole disposable force of the armies of Aragon -and Catalonia, and unite with him at Tarbes and at Pau, for the purpose -of re-entering Spain together by Oleron and Jaca, and making another -effort for the relief of Pamplona. A different project was offered -to his consideration by the minister at war, ... that he should as -much as possible occupy the enemy upon the Ebro: in either case a -reinforcement of conscripts was to be counted on. The difficulties in -the way of the first plan were soon perceived by Soult himself to be -insurmountable; and Suchet represented the danger of drawing after him -the Anglo-Sicilian army into the southern departments of France, which -were defenceless. But as a practicable though a perilous operation, he -offered to advance between the Ebro and the Pyrenees, with 70 pieces of -field and 30 of mountain artillery, to meet Soult, who might debouche -from Jaca with his infantry and cavalry, but without cannon. But for -this two things were necessary, ... that he should have conscripts to -place in the garrisons, and that before he marched from Catalonia he -should defeat the Anglo-Sicilians. - -Lord William’s numbers were not equal to those which could be brought -against him, the want both of provisions and means of transport having -obliged him to leave Whittingham’s division at Reus and Valls; but -he had no suspicion that Suchet would advance against him. His army -was posted at Villafranca and in the villages in its front, as far -as the mountains on the Llobregat; the advance, under Colonel Adams, -consisting of the 27th British regiment, one Calabrian and three -Spanish battalions, with four mountain guns, occupied the pass of -Ordal, on the main road, about ten miles in their front, and the same -distance from the enemy’s posts on the Llobregat. The pass was so -strong that Lord William was without any apprehension of its being -forced, especially as he thought the probable point of attack ♦SUCHET -SURPRISES THE ALLIES AT THE PASS OF ORDAL.♦ would be by turning his -left at Martorell and San Sadurni, where Copons was posted. Nor, -indeed, was it likely Suchet would have confined himself to the front -attack of a position which was strong there, but open on both flanks, -unless, because such an attack was improbable, he thought the enemy -might be taken there by surprise, before they had strengthened the post. - -Accordingly, having concerted his plans with General Decaen, he -collected the divisions of Harispe and Habert, with his cavalry at the -bridge of Molins del Rey, and at eight o’clock on the night of the -12th moved for the pass. The allies were reposing in position, when -about midnight their piquets were rapidly driven in, and they were -presently attacked in force. An old work which commanded the main road -was well defended by the Calabrians, till they were driven from it by -the repeated attacks of superior numbers; they rallied then about sixty -paces in rear of it, behind some old ruins, and there, in conjunction -with the Spaniards, who were close on their left, stood their ground -some time longer. But in a night attack the assailants, acting upon -ground with which they were well acquainted, and on a concerted plan, -had greatly the advantage over a very inferior force who were taken by -surprise. Colonel Adams and the two officers next in succession to him -were badly wounded, and obliged to quit the field; owing to the changes -this occasioned, the regular directions were interrupted, and the -ground in consequence was disputed much longer than it ought to have -been against a force so greatly superior, both British and Spaniards -maintaining it so resolutely that the right and the centre were nearly -destroyed in their position. The Calabrian corps on the left fell back -along the hills, and endeavoured to reach San Sadurni, which Manso -occupied with his brigade. Their hope was to rejoin the army by the -road leading from thence to Villafranca; but after crossing the river -Noya, in front of San Sadurni, they were attacked by a considerable -column, and forced back toward the Barcelona road: they succeeded, -however, in making their way to Sitges, and there effected their -embarkation on the following night. The guns were taken by the enemy, -but most of the fugitives joined Manso. - -♦THE ANGLO-SICILIANS RETREAT.♦ - -As soon as the attack was known at head-quarters, Lord William put the -army in motion to sustain his advance; but before any reinforcements -could reach the spot, the French had carried every point, and it -remained for him then either to retreat without loss of time, or give -battle to an enemy superior in numbers and flushed with success, upon -ground which afforded no advantage of position. He determined therefore -upon retiring; Major-General Mackenzie, with the 2d division, covered -the retreat during the most difficult part of its execution, to the -village of Monjoz; Sarsfield moved to the left of Villafranca, by the -hilly and woody country on that side; and the British, Germans, and -Sicilians, took the main road by the villages of Monjoz and Arbos. -Marshal Suchet expected that Decaen would arrive before Villafranca in -time to co-operate with him, and force the allies to an action; but -that general had to cross the Llobregat and the Noya, and was delayed -also in the defiles by Manso, and by the Calabrese, with whom he fell -in when they were making for San Sadurni. His own cuirassiers and -dragoons, under General Meyer, pressed with very superior numbers, -near Monjoz, upon the cavalry under Lord Frederic Bentinck, who -covered the retreat, and some sabre strokes were exchanged between -the two leaders. At length a most timely and vigorous charge was -made simultaneously by Lord Frederic with the 20th dragoons, under -Lieutenant-Colonel Hawker, and the Sicilians, and by Lieutenant-Colonel -Schrader with the German hussars, by which the enemy were driven back, -and so completely checked, that they made no farther attempt upon the -retreating army; so it reached Vendrells that evening, without any -loss. During the night it retired to Altafulla, and on the evening -following took up its ground in front of Tarragona, as the nearest -protecting situation; the Spaniards, under Sarsfield, moving upon Reus. -The ruins of Tarragona could have afforded little support if the allies -had not been better protected by their own strength, and by the opinion -which Suchet had learned to entertain of them. He advanced no farther -than Villafranca in pursuit; and after exacting a contribution from the -distressed inhabitants, returned to Barcelona. - -♦THE COMMAND DEVOLVES UPON SIR WILLIAM CLINTON.♦ - -At this time the uneasy state of affairs in Sicily, and the ill success -of political changes there, as premature as they were well intended, -rendered it necessary for Lord William Bentinck to repair thither, -and the command of the army devolved upon Lieutenant-General Sir -William Clinton. That general was left with an inadequate force, and -under discouraging circumstances, to attend to objects which were of -no inconsiderable importance to the common cause. He had to provide -against the likelihood of Suchet’s availing himself of his late success -to relieve or to withdraw his garrisons in Valencia or on the Ebro; and -he had to occupy the attention of that able commander so as to prevent -him from sending any considerable detachment to take part in Soult’s -operations against Lord Wellington. It was found impracticable to -construct a bridge upon the Ebro as low down as Amposta; and if it had -not been so, he could not have spared troops enough from other more -important services, to protect it against the sallies of the strong -garrison in Tortosa. The best course therefore which he could pursue -seemed to be that of repairing the defences of Tarragona, as far as -time and means permitted, so as to render it a point of support. Well -was it for the Anglo-Sicilian army that, notwithstanding the credit -it had lost by Sir John Murray’s precipitate retreat, and the recent -loss which it had sustained at Ordal, it had yet impressed Marshal -Suchet with a most respectable opinion of its ability in the field; -skilful as he was, nothing but that opinion withheld him from acting -vigorously against it when he had it so greatly at advantage. His -disposable force at this time was not short of 25,000 men, with a large -body of cavalry; better troops he could not desire; and their supplies -were protected by the possession of several important fortresses, all -which were garrisoned well. The Anglo-Sicilian army amounted barely to -12,000 effective men, including a small body of cavalry; about half of -these were British and Germans, the remainder Italians and Sicilians in -British pay, on whom, though they were not ill-disciplined, the same -confidence could not be placed in the presence of an enemy. There were -about 11,000 Spanish troops whose services General Clinton might have -commanded, if there had been means for rendering them available, but -they were in a state almost of destitution; without pay, ill-clothed, -and worse fed; and he had no control (as his predecessors had had) over -the first Spanish army, which army also was prevented by its wants -from taking the field, except occasionally, and then from keeping -it, except for a very short time. With the commander of that army, -General Copons, and with the other leaders, the best understanding -prevailed; nor indeed were there among all the Spaniards better men -or more distinguished officers than some of them, ... the names of -Manso and Eroles will be held in honour as long as the Catalans -retain any of that national spirit by which they are so honourably -distinguished. They might be expected to check any movement of the -enemy on the side of Lerida, or towards Tarragona; and to interrupt -their communication with France along the inland road, by which their -supplies were principally brought; but direct co-operation was not to -be looked for where there was no unity of command, and ... on the one -part ... all but a total want of means. Even the troops in British -pay suffered great privations, their communication with the depôts at -Malta and Gibraltar being interrupted because of the plague. But the -tide of the enemy’s fortunes had now turned; and all difficulties were -met cheerfully by the allies, in the sure hope that their perseverance -would soon be crowned with success. As soon as arrangements were made -for restoring the works at Tarragona, and for supplying as far as -possible the Spaniards who were attached to the Anglo-Sicilian army, -head-quarters were established at Villafranca; the troops which had -been cantoned at Reus, Valls, and other places in the environs of -Tarragona, were ordered to occupy an advanced line of cantonments: -a force, consisting of cavalry, with some field artillery, and -Sarsfield’s Spanish division of about 5000 infantry, were stationed -at Villafranca; the enemy’s movements on the Llobregat were narrowly -observed; and the remainder of the allied troops (with the exception -of those who carried on the works at Tarragona) were so distributed, -that, upon any emergency, they could be assembled at Villafranca in -four-and-twenty hours. - -Meantime, on the opposite side of the peninsula, an ♦POSITION OF THE -ARMIES ON THE PYRENEAN FRONTIER.♦ interval of seeming inactivity had -followed the capture of S. Sebastian’s; but the time, though marked -by no military movements, was busily employed in preparing for them, -by closing up the troops, replacing the ammunition, and re-organizing -those divisions which had suffered most. The opposing armies were in -sight of each other. There was something mournful as well as impressive -to a thoughtful mind in the contrast between the stupendous scenery of -the Pyrenees and the diminutive appearance of field-works, and large -armies upon such a theatre: “the little huts, and the less beings who -inhabited them,” might have been overlooked as mere specks in the -prospect, had it not been for the more mournful knowledge that these -tens of thousands were collected there for life or for death; one party -having been sent thither by the wicked will of an individual drunk -with ambition, and the other brought there by the duty and necessity -of resisting his lust of power. The troops who covered the blockade -of Pamplona suffered severely from wet and cold, and were unavoidably -subject to privations from which their more fortunate comrades near the -coast were exempt. When the clouds opened they could see the fertile -country of the enemy beneath them, in sunshine. During the weeks of -hard, irksome duty, passed thus in a situation where exertion and -enterprise were not required, but in their stead continual vigilance -and patience, desertions became frequent; they were most numerous, as -might be expected, among the Spaniards, because they were in their own -country; and least, in a remarkable degree, among[2] the Portugueze. - -It was now no longer in Buonaparte’s power to allot conscripts by -the hundred thousand for the consumption ♦LEVY ORDERED IN FRANCE FOR -SOULT’S ARMY.♦ of his war in the Peninsula. A levy of 30,000 was -all that could be ordered to reinforce Soult’s army; “the armies of -Spain, it was admitted, having been compelled to yield before ♦SPEECH -OF M. REGNAUD.♦ superior numbers, and the advantages which the enemy -drew from their maritime communications, needed reinforcement; for -England, while in the north of Europe it lavished its intrigues and -its promises, was not less lavish in the south of its resources and -sacrifices. The proposed levy, however, raised in the departments -adjacent to the Pyrenees, would suffice to stop the successes upon -which the enemy were congratulating themselves too soon; it would -suffice for resuming the attitude which became France, and for -preparing the moment when England should no longer dispose of the -treasures of Mexico, for the devastation of both the Spains!” This -was the language of M. Regnaud de St. Jean d’Angely in an official -speech; and the senator, M. le Comte de Beurnonville, making a report -in the name of a special commission, spake in the same strain, ... a -strain that becomes doubly curious when compared with the events which -were so soon to follow. “England,” said he, “who intrigues much and -hazards little, has not dared to compromise her land forces by sending -them to combat in the north of Germany, and uniting them with the -Russian and Prussian phalanxes; she feared reverses which she could not -but foresee, and which for her would be irreparable. In this thorny -conjuncture, and that it might have the air of doing something for the -powers whom it had set to play, the cabinet of London had preferred -mingling the English troops with the Spanish and Portugueze _bands_, -being sure that it could withdraw them without inconvenience, according -to its interest. Hence that sudden augmentation of its force, which -had determined our armies to a retrograde movement; and these _bands_, -encouraged by some ephemeral successes, have carried their audacity -so far as to invest the places of S. Sebastian’s and Pamplona.” ... -Buonaparte’s ministers never thought proper to inform the senate that -these _bands_ soon carried their audacity a little farther, and took -them both. “The proposed levy,” it was added, “would enable the French -armies of the Peninsula to resume their ancient attitude.” - -♦OCTOBER. - -LORD WELLINGTON’S ORDERS UPON ENTERING FRANCE.♦ - -The orator, and the special commission for whom he spake, were -mistaken: it was England who resumed her ancient attitude, ... who -re-asserted and resumed her military superiority upon that ground -where her Plantagenets had displayed it. Her victorious armies were -at this time preparing to plant their banners in France, leading thus -the way to the general invasion of what the French in the pride of -their military strength had called the sacred territory. As soon, -indeed, as the enemy had been driven beyond the Pyrenees, the army -had looked forward to this with all the pride of the military spirit, -and of excited national feeling: the Spaniards and Portugueze talked -of retribution and revenge; and among the British, the question was -discussed whether or not they were to be freebooters. That question -was answered by Lord Wellington in the general order which he issued -as soon as the troops encamped among the Pyrenees. “The commander of -the forces,” said he, “is anxious to draw the attention of the officers -of the army to the difference of the situation in which they have been -hitherto, among the people of Portugal and Spain, and that in which -they may hereafter find themselves, among those of the frontiers of -France.” After observing that every military endeavour must thenceforth -be used for obtaining intelligence, and preventing surprise, he -proceeded to say that, notwithstanding the utmost precautions were -absolutely necessary, as the country in front of the army was the -enemy’s, he was particularly desirous that the inhabitants should be -well treated, and private property respected, as it had been till that -time. The officers and soldiers of the army, said he, must recollect, -that their nations are at war with France solely because the Ruler of -the French nation will not allow them to be at peace, and is desirous -of forcing them to submit to his yoke; and they must not forget that -the worst of the evils suffered by the enemy in his profligate invasion -of Spain and Portugal have been occasioned by the irregularities of -the soldiers and their cruelties, authorized and encouraged by their -chiefs, towards the unfortunate and peaceful inhabitants of the -country. To revenge this conduct on the peaceable inhabitants of France -would be unmanly and unworthy of the nations to whom the commander -of the forces now addresses himself; and at all events would be the -occasion of similar and worse evils to the army at large, than those -which ♦GENERAL ORDERS, JULY 9, 1813.♦ the enemy’s army have suffered -in the Peninsula, and would eventually prove highly injurious to the -public interest. - -♦PASSAGE OF THE BIDASSOA.♦ - -Though it was not possible to act on the offensive upon a great scale, -till Pamplona should have surrendered, Lord Wellington determined with -the left wing of his army to cross the Bidassoa, and dislodge the enemy -from some strong ground which they occupied on the right of that river -as an advanced position; the key to it being the high steep mountain -called La Rhune, which fronts the passes of Vera and Etchalar. Mount -La Rhune is a remarkable spot; and its possession had been obstinately -contested in the campaign of 1794, because its summit served as a -watch-tower from whence the whole country between Bayonne and the -Pyrenees might be observed. The mountain itself is within the French -territory, but there is a chapel, or, in Romish language, a hermitage, -on its summit, which used to be supported at the joint expense of the -villages of Vera in Spain, and of Sarré, Ascain, and Urogne, in France; -people of different nations, and hostile feelings, being there drawn -together by the bond of their common faith.... The right of the army -being at Roncesvalles and Maya, could at any time descend from its -commanding situation into France. - -♦THE BIDASSOA.♦ - -The Bidassoa, a river not otherwise remarkable than as forming the -boundary of two great kingdoms, rises on Mount Belat, flows down the -valley of Bastan, and, spreading into a broad stream after it has -passed Irun, enters the Bay of Biscay between the Point of Figueras -(a rocky promontory in which Mount Jaysquibel terminates) and the -heights on the French side. Mount Jaysquibel, which extends along the -coast from Passages to this point (its highest elevation being about -1700 feet), is separated from the chain of the Pyrenees by a broad -valley, along which the Vittoria road passes; at its foot stands the -old and melancholy town of Fontarabia, ... a name which Milton has made -familiar to English ears; the river rising sixteen feet there, and -forming a tide harbour, washes the ruins of its walls, which were blown -up in the war of 1794; but when the tide is out there is a considerable -extent of sand on both sides of the stream. The little town of Andaye, -famed for its brandy, is on the French shore opposite. The bridge, -which the enemy had destroyed in their retreat, is about a mile from -Irun, and a little below it is the Isle of Pheasants, better known by -its later name from the Conference held there in 1660, which brought -in its consequences so many evils, not upon Spain alone, but upon the -greater part of Europe. Between this island and the mouth of the river -three fords had been discovered: Spanish fishermen had been employed in -this service, and they performed it so well, as if pursuing the while -their ordinary occupation, that the French sentries on the opposite -bank never suspected their intent. - -♦ATTACK OF THE FRENCH POSITION.♦ - -A stronger position as to all natural advantages can hardly be imagined -than that which the allies were to attack, after they should have -crossed the Bidassoa; the French had strengthened it by redoubts, by -_abattis_, and intrenchments at every knoll; the paths were hardly -practicable; it was laborious work even for an unarmed man to reach -points which were now to be assailed in the face of an enemy perfectly -prepared. But it was necessary to advance from a country where the -nature of the ground rendered it difficult to support the troops; and -where supplies for many of the corps were carried to the mountain -encampments on the heads of men and women, long strings of whom were -to be seen toiling up the steep and slippery ascents. Preparations -for the attack were made on the 6th, and the troops were under arms -and in motion soon after midnight. The tents were left standing, that -the enemy might discover no signs when dawn appeared of the intended -movement. It was a stormy night, with thunder and lightning, and some -rain, ... the rain not enough in any way to impede or increase the -difficulties of the attempt, and the storm in other respects favouring -it; for it moved in the same direction as the troops, and prevented -the enemy from hearing the noise of the artillery and pontoon train. -The storm was succeeded by an extraordinary sultry heat, what little -wind there was feeling like the breath of an oven. The 1st and 5th -divisions, with Wilson’s Portugueze brigade, were to cross the river in -three columns below, and one above, the bridge, and carry the French -intrenchments about and above Andaye; and General Freyre, with the -Spaniards, was to cross in three columns at the higher ford, and turn -the enemy’s left by carrying their intrenchments on the Montagne Verte, -and on the heights of Mandale. The troops arrived at their appointed -stations without having been noticed; and every thing thus far had -been so fortunately performed, that the enemy did not begin to fire -till the heads of the columns were nearly half over, when a rocket -was discharged from the steeple at Fontarabia, as the signal for the -simultaneous advance of the troops above. - -Every thing succeeded perfectly. The 5th division was the first that -set foot on the French soil; they advanced under a brisk fire from the -enemy’s piquets, against the line which was hastily forming on the -nearest range of hills. The first came presently up, and the enemy -were driven from the works. Freyre was equally successful on his side; -the Spaniards rushed down the mountain, forded the river, and carried -the Montagne Verte. The affair began at eight, and at nine it was seen -that the huts of the mountain post had been set on fire and abandoned. -Meantime Baron Alten, with the light division, and with Longa’s, -attacked and forced the intrenchments on the Puerto de Vera; and Giron, -still farther on the right, attacked their position on Mount La Rhune. -The light division drove them from redoubts, and intrenchments, and -abattis, such, in the words of a distinguished officer then present, -“as men ought to have defended for ever;” and the Spaniards, in like -manner, carried every thing before them, till they reached the foot of -the rock on which the hermitage stands, which on that side presents a -craggy cliff, though on the other it is accessible by a gentle slope. -Even that post the Spaniards made several attempts to carry by storm, -which failed only because it was impossible to ascend there; the enemy, -therefore, remained in possession of the hermitage that night, and of -a rock on the same range of mountains with the right of the Spanish -troops. ♦BATTY’S CAMPAIGN IN THE WESTERN PYRENEES, P. 28.♦ In all -other parts the firing had ceased early in the afternoon, here it was -kept up till late at night; and the conical outline of the mountain -was seen far and wide by the light of this awful illumination. Some -time elapsed on the following morning before the fog cleared away -sufficiently for Lord Wellington to reconnoitre Mount La Rhune, the -prominent mountain there, towering above its neighbours; he perceived -that it was least difficult of access on its right, and that the -attack might advantageously be connected with that on the enemy’s -works in front of the camp of Sarré. Accordingly, he ordered the army -of reserve to concentrate to their right: Giron at the same time -attacked the post on the rock, and won it most gallantly; his troops -followed up their success, and carried an intrenchment upon a hill -which protected the right of the camp: the enemy immediately evacuated -all their works in order to defend the approaches to their camp, and -these posts were occupied by detachments which Lord Dalhousie sent -from the 7th division through the Puerto de Etchalar for this purpose. -Giron then established a battalion on the enemy’s left upon Mount La -Rhune. Night, opportunely for the enemy, prevented farther operations; -they retired under cover of the darkness both from the hermitage and -the camp, and the allied armies pitched their tents in France. The -British loss in these two days was 579 killed, wounded, and missing; -that of the Portugueze 233; that of the Spaniards 750. Sir Thomas -Graham, having thus established within the French territory the troops -who had so often been distinguished under his direction, resigned the -command to Lieutenant-General Sir John Hope, who had arrived from -Ireland the preceding day, and departed himself to take a command in -the Low Countries. As soon as the left of the allied army had made -this important movement, the enemy moved General Paris’s division from -Oleron to the neighbourhood of St. Jean de Pied-de-Port, and on the -night of the 12th they surprised and carried a redoubt in front of the -camp of Sarré, taking prisoners a piquet of forty Spaniards, and one -hundred pioneers. The redoubt was farther from the line, and from the -ground from whence it could be supported, than Lord Wellington had -supposed when he gave orders for occupying it; he left it, therefore, -now in their possession. On the following morning they made an attack -upon the advanced posts of the Andalusian army, hoping to regain the -works which they had constructed in front of the camp; but they were -repulsed with little difficulty. - -The country which was now occupied by the contending armies had been -well disputed in the years 1793 and 1794, during the heat of the French -revolution, and men whose names afterwards became conspicuous served at -that time in both armies: Mendizabal and the high-minded Romana among -the Spaniards; among the French, Latour d’Auvergne; Moncey, one of the -few French Marshals who brought no reproach upon himself by rapacity or -cruelty; and Laborde, who will be remembered in Portugal for both, and -for having been the first French General whom Lord Wellington defeated. -In that war the Spaniards fought with the manifold disadvantage of -having a wretched administration, an ill-disciplined and worse provided -army, and a revolutionary spirit showing itself in some of their own -countrymen; yet they made a longer and sturdier resistance in the -Pyrenees than the French displayed when it was now their turn to -defend the passes and protect their own country from invasion. But, -honourable as it was for the armies of England, Portugal, and Spain -thus to have driven the enemy from Lisbon and Cadiz to the Pyrenees, -and pursued him into his own territories, the spirit in which that -invasion was undertaken was not less honourable to the allied nations -than the success of their arms. The French, indeed, as soon as they -apprehended that their own country must soon become the seat of war, -spoke with horror of what might be expected from the Portugueze and -Spaniards, remembering then with uneasiness, if not with shame and -remorse, the atrocities which they themselves had committed. Their hope -was that the peasantry would rise, and carry on that kind of war which -within the Peninsula had been found so destructive to the invaders; -and no endeavour was omitted for exciting them to such a course. -But a circumstance had happened to check this spirit upon its first -manifestation, a few days before the passage of the ♦CONDUCT OF THE -FRENCH PEASANTRY.♦ Bidassoa. The Portugueze, when they surprised and -took a French piquet on the side of Roncesvalles, were fired at by the -peasantry: they took fourteen of them, and these men were immediately -marched to Passages, there to be embarked for England as prisoners -of war. This treatment had the effect of intimidating the people, -while it awakened no spirit of vengeance, because it was perceived to -be nothing more than what was strictly just. That spirit might have -been roused if Lord Wellington had not by timely severity effectually -checked the license which the troops were but too ready to have taken, -and from which it had not been possible to protect the Spaniards in the -Pyrenean valleys. The French peasantry did not forsake their houses -when the allies crossed the Bidassoa. The inhabitants of the large -village of Urogne did not leave it till the battle approached, and -then they collected in an adjoining field; but they dispersed as soon -as flames broke out among their dwellings; for the troops who entered -it began to plunder ... they set several houses on fire, and drank to -such excess that, had the enemy been on the alert, he might easily have -captured or destroyed them. Some of the officers were more culpable -than the troops, for they used no exertions to prevent the outrages -which they saw. Lord Wellington, as soon as he was informed of this -misconduct, republished his former orders, and accompanied them with a -severe reprimand, declaring his determination not to command officers -who would not obey his orders, and of sending some of them, who had -been thus grossly unmindful of their duty, to England, that their names -might be brought under the notice of the Prince Regent. - -It was now seen how much the moral conduct and character of an army -depends upon its general. Lord Melville once made the monstrous -assertion in Parliament that the worst men were the fittest for -soldiers. His strong understanding should have taught him better, if -his heart had failed to do so; and he was properly rebuked for it -by the Duke of Gloucester, who observed, that the men who had the -strictest sense of their personal duties were those who served their -country with most patience and most fidelity in war. But Mr. Wyndham’s -hope of recruiting our armies with men of a better description than -those who used to be forced or inveigled into it, or driven by -desperation to enlist, had not been realized, and the want of moral and -religious training was still left to be supplied by military discipline -... as far as that could supply it. Lord Wellington enforced that -means; and it is not the least of his many and eminent merits, that he -made such means effectual, without bringing upon himself any reproach -for undue severity. After the excesses at Urogne, not an inhabitant was -to be seen in the French territory; they had withdrawn more because -of these outrages, than in obedience to the injunctions of their -own government. But a proclamation was issued in French and Basque, -assuring them that their persons and property should be respected. Some -necessary examples of justice upon those who ventured to violate orders -so emphatically repeated, convinced the inhabitants that they might -trust to the word of the British general; and, after those examples -had been made, never, perhaps, since the days of the great Gustavus, -was such excellent discipline observed in an enemy’s country. Even -the Portugueze and Spaniards, whom it might have been thought almost -impossible to restrain from giving way to that desire of vengeance -which had been so wantonly, cruelly, and insolently provoked, obeyed -the injunction of the great commander who had beaten their invaders out -of Portugal and Spain, and demeaned themselves with such good order and -humanity, that the French often said their own armies were the foes -whom they dreaded. - -♦PAMPLONA IS SURRENDERED.♦ - -Two pontoon bridges, and one bridge of boats, were laid over the -Bidassoa immediately after the passage had been effected; and works -were thrown up to strengthen the position, in which Lord Wellington now -waited for the surrender of Pamplona, that he might advance with his -whole strength. That city, the modern capital of Navarre (Olite, now a -miserably decayed place, was the ancient one), was the great bulwark -against the French on that side. Lord Wellington trusted to a sure -blockade for reducing it. Its wells supply it abundantly with water; -and it was provided with a corn-mill, the largest in existence of its -kind, to be worked by hand or by horses, and setting in motion four or -five grindstones of such dimensions that four-and-twenty loads of wheat -could be ground by each in a day. When corn began to fail for this -well-constructed mill, and there was little prospect of relief after -the failure of Soult’s great effort in the Pyrenees, the governor -made a bold attempt to obtain subsistence from the very force which -blockaded him: he sent to Don Carlos d’España, requiring him to furnish -7000 rations daily for the inhabitants of the city, whom, he said, he -could no longer afford to feed. Don Carlos, who knew that the French -general had, with characteristic effrontery, included his troops in -this estimate, replied, that, unless the inhabitants were fed as well -as the garrison, while any food lasted, he should hold the governor -responsible for their treatment, and would strictly inquire into this -when the place should be surrendered, as it must. When the stores were -nearly exhausted it was reported and believed that the enemy intended, -as they had done at Almeida, to blow up the works, and endeavour to -effect their escape: the attempt would have been far more hazardous; -but it is said to have been prevented by an intimation from Don Carlos, -that if the place were thus injured he would put the governor and all -the officers to death, and decimate the men. Towards the end of October -they proposed to surrender, on condition of being allowed to march into -France with six pieces of cannon; their second proposal was, that they -should march thither under an engagement of not serving against the -allies for a year and a day. Don Carlos replied, that he had orders not -to grant them a capitulation on any terms excepting that they should be -prisoners of war; and to this they declared they would never submit. -Upon these terms, nevertheless, on the last day of October, they -surrendered, being 4000 in number; and the Spanish general, setting an -example of proper determination on such an occasion, refused to grant -these till he had ascertained that none of the inhabitants had perished -during the blockade either through ill-treatment or for want. - -♦MARSHAL SOULT’S POSITION ON THE NIVELLE.♦ - -Marshal Soult, meantime, was receiving a considerable reinforcement -of conscripts. Papers in all the languages of the allies were thrown -into the outposts, and distributed wherever it was likely they might be -found, inviting deserters, and denouncing vengeance if France should -be invaded: the whole French nation, it was said, was in arms, and -if the English and Spanish and Portugueze should set foot upon their -territory, they should meet with nothing but death and destruction. -Some expectation the French commander placed upon the hardships to -which the troops must be exposed, at that season, in the Pyrenees, upon -the weather, and in consequence the increased difficulty of supplying -the allied armies. Forage, indeed, had become so scarce that some of -the cavalry were reduced to graze their horses, which of course could -not long have been kept in condition without better food. The cattle -brought for the consumption of the troops through a great part of Spain -arrived in a jaded and lean condition, ... those which lived to reach -the place of slaughter, ... for the roads along which they had been -driven might easily be traced by their numerous carcasses, ♦NOVEMBER.♦ -lying half-buried or unburied by the way-side, ... sad proofs of the -wasteful inhumanity of war! The weather had been more stormy than was -usual even on that coast and at that season. The transports at Passages -were moored stem and stern in rows, and strongly confined by their -moorings; yet they were considered in danger even in that land-locked -harbour: some were driven forward by the rising of the swell, while -others, close alongside, were forced backward by its fall, so that -the bowsprits of some were entangled in the mizen-chains of others. -The cold on the mountains was so intense that several men perished. -A piquet in the neighbourhood of Roncesvalles was snowed up: the -parties who were sent to rescue it drove bullocks before them as some -precaution against the danger of falling into chasms, and the men were -brought off; but the guns could not be removed, and were buried under -the snow in the ditch of the redoubt. Soult, since his failure in the -Pyrenees three months before, had been fortifying a formidable line of -works in them. The right rested upon the sea in front of S. Jean de -Luz, and on the left of the Nivelle; the centre on La Petite Rhune, and -the heights behind the village of Sarré; the left, consisting of two -divisions of infantry, under General Drouet, was on the right of the -river, on a strong height behind the village of Ainhoue, and on the -mountain of Mondarin, which protected the approach to that village. -Two divisions, under Generals Foy and Paris, were at St. Jean de -Pied-de-Port. This position described half a circle through Irogne, -Ascain, Sarré, Ainhoue, Espelette, and Cambo, the centre projecting -very much at Sarré. La Petite Rhune, though overtopped by the greater -hill of the same name, from which it is separated by a narrow valley, -is a very high ridge: from the sea to its foot the enemy’s front was -covered by a range of works: the ridge itself was strongly fortified; -and a range of high steep hills, extending from thence to Ainhoue, was -defended by a chain of redoubts near enough to protect each other. The -enemy’s centre was in great force upon this range; and there was a -strong corps in the village of Sarré, which was protected by a regular -closed work with ditch and palisades. Their left was thrown back, at -nearly an acute angle, upon Espelette. - -♦PASSAGE OF THE NIVELLE.♦ - -The first intention was to turn this position, by advancing Sir -Rowland’s corps from Roncesvalles through St. Jean de Pied-de-Port; -this movement would turn the sources of the Nive, threaten Soult’s -rear, and compel him, it was thought, to abandon his works, and retire -beyond Bayonne; but this plan was given up upon full consideration, -Soult’s line being so short, and the road behind it so good, that he -might have it in his power to fall upon Sir Rowland with a superior -force, or to attack Sir John Hope when it would be difficult to -reinforce either; or he might retire untouched, and keep his army in -a condition to continue active and harass the allies in their winter -quarters. Lord Wellington resolved, therefore, to strike at the centre -of his position, strong as it was, and at the same time to attack the -heights of Ainhoue, which were its immediate support on the left. With -this view Sir Rowland had been ordered, as soon as Pamplona should -fall, to move leftward, into the valley of Bastan, and the cavalry to -close up his rear in readiness for supporting the right of Beresford’s -corps at Maya. - -The enemy, fully expecting an attack, were always under arms at -daybreak, and remained in their redoubts till nightfall; and they -improved every day’s delay, which the state of the weather afforded -them, in strengthening their works, strong as the labour of three -months had already made them. The rain, indeed, continued so many days, -and so heavy, that many persons began to fear it would be impossible -for them to move; and Lord Wellington, with all his just confidence -in himself and in the troops which he commanded, could not but feel -how easily human strength and military skill might be baffled by -the elements. The weather cleared on the 4th; and on the 7th he met -Sir Rowland, Marshal Beresford, and all the chiefs of the right and -centre at Urdache, from whence he reconnoitred Ainhoue closely, and -pointed out the mode by which that part of the position was to be -attacked. The object was to force their centre, and establish the -army in rear of their right; and the attack was to be made by columns -of divisions, each led by the general officers commanding it, and -each forming its own reserve. Sir Rowland directed the movements of -the right, consisting of the 2d and 6th divisions, under Sir William -Stewart and Sir Henry Clinton, Sir John Hamilton’s Portugueze, and -Morillo’s Spanish division, Colonel Grant’s brigade of cavalry, a -brigade of Portugueze artillery under Lieutenant-Colonel Tulloh, and -three mountain guns under Lieutenant Robe. Marshal Beresford directed -the right of the centre, with the 3rd, 7th, and 4th divisions, under -Major-General Colville, Camp-Marshal Le Cor and Sir Lowry Cole. Giron -was to act on his immediate left with the Andalusian army of reserve. -Baron Alten’s light division, with three mountain guns, and Longa’s -corps, was to attack La Petite Rhune; Sir Stapleton Cotton to follow -the movement of the centre, with General Alten’s brigade of cavalry, -and three brigades of British artillery. Freyre, with the Galician -army, was to move from the heights of Mandale toward Ascain, prevent -the enemy from detaching troops from thence to the support of others, -and take advantage of any movement which they might make from their -right toward their centre; and Sir John Hope was to act along the -remainder of their line to the sea. - -The 8th was the day intended for the attack, but the state of the roads -prevented the artillery and some of Sir Rowland’s brigade from coming -up; it was postponed therefore till the 10th. This opened with so clear -and beautiful a moonlight morning, that it was scarcely perceptible -when daylight began to predominate; and men who had served in India -were reminded of an Indian sky. Lord Wellington was on horseback at -five, and reached the point of attack at six: he found Sir Lowry Cole’s -division at its post, with 18 pieces of cannon at the head of the -column: it was on a sloping ridge, which ends in a high point above -the village of Sarré; and on that point was the redoubt which he was -to attack, and which had been made with the greatest care, having a -deep ditch, an _abattis_ in front, and _trous de loup_, so named from -their resemblance to the pit-falls in which wolves are taken. Giron -was close on his left, and Le Cor on the right, both in valleys. Lord -Wellington, Beresford, Sir Lowry, General Colville, and other staffs, -were in a little grove, which covered them, about 600 yards from the -redoubt, walking about till it was light enough to commence the attack. -Sir Lowry then drove in the enemy’s piquets, and the horse artillery -were enabled to gain the ridge, and open in front of the grove within -400 yards of the redoubt: their fire in return rattled through the -branches: Colonel Ross dashed forward, and opened six guns within 300 -yards, which riddled the curtain: the French, however, stood firm, -till after about an hour’s firing they saw the Spaniards moving to -their rear, and the infantry advancing with ladders to escalade them; -they then leaped over the parapet and ran: ... they were about 300, of -whom some twenty were taken in the ditch, and not more than eight or -ten killed. The artillery was then rapidly advanced against the next -redoubt on the right, and that cost only about a quarter of an hour, -for it was abandoned with discreditable precipitation. - -By this time the troops were advancing with great celerity over most -difficult ground. Lord Wellington moved on to the first redoubt, from -whence he could direct the movements of the Spaniards, and of the 3rd, -7th, and 4th divisions; one of those bursts of cheering which electrify -the hearers indicated his presence. Beresford advanced with the 3rd -and 7th, while the Spaniards attacked the village of Sarré by its -right, and Sir Lowry turned its left. Downie commanded the battalion -of Spaniards to whom this service was assigned, while Giron remained -in the valley with a brigade which was to support the light division; -and as in that situation it might not be seen when the village was -carried, Downie, as a signal, said he would send his aide-de-camp to -toll the church bell. He made the attack with great spirit: the enemy -in front of the village made a show of more determination than they -kept up, and they rushed from their second line as if ashamed of having -too hastily given up the first; but after some skirmishing they retired -to the second, and thence from the redoubts and heights cannonaded the -assailants. Downie carried the village most gallantly, and the bell -tolled. Sir Lowry meantime attacked and carried the works on the low -hills in the rear of Sarré, and there halted for orders. - -Baron Alten, meanwhile, was equally successful in his operations. -He had formed the light division before daylight, in a ravine -separating the great and little La Rhune, and within 300 yards of the -intrenchments with which the face of La Petite Rhune was covered. -Rushing from thence as soon as the day opened, the troops forced -line after line: the enemy did not wait in their redoubts to be -assaulted; and the assailants having carried all the works, and formed -without farther opposition on the summit of the hill, were crossing -the valley to attack the right of the high range behind Sarré, when -Lord Wellington reached the point which Sir Lowry had gained. The -preliminary attacks having thus succeeded, the whole moved forward -against the intrenched range of heights which formed the strongest -part of the enemy’s position. The Spaniards on Giron’s left were not -sufficiently alert to support the light division: it was not for some -time that the guns could be got up over most difficult ground: part -of the 95th, who had gained the first high point, were attacked and -obliged to retire; and the enemy had the advantage till the Spaniards, -quickened by messages from Lord Wellington, came up; the French then -gave way, and the lower ridge, in the centre of the position opposite -to our two central columns, was immediately occupied. The Prince of -Orange, who was with Lord Wellington that day, was then sent to Marshal -Beresford, desiring him to attack that part of the high range in his -front, while Sir Lowry should at the same time assail it on his side. - -It was now about ten o’clock, and before this simultaneous effort -could be made there was time to look at the position which was about -to be attacked. The mountain extends about twelve miles from Ascain -to Mondarin; only one valley intersects it, which is that through -which the Nivelle flows; but there are several dips in the range; -every higher point had its redoubt, and in the intervals the enemy -were formed in great strength, some in lines, some in columns, with -sharp-shooters half way down the hills. A friend of Lord Wellington’s -said at the time to Sir George Murray, that he should expect a very -difficult task here, if he had not seen the amazing superiority of our -troops in the attack on Sarré. Sir George replied, “It is impossible to -say how that position may be defended; it is very formidable, but we -probably shall get it very easily; when the French see the red coats -they know we are determined to carry our point, and they never dispute -it long.” The troops justified this brave confidence; six columns began -to ascend, with a chain of sharp-shooters in their front; and never -could greater intrepidity be displayed than that with which the British -and Portugueze advanced against strong works, or solid columns at the -top of steep ascents, where they were frequently obliged to use their -hands as well as feet in climbing. When they approached a redoubt, they -halted a few minutes to take breath: a party was sent to turn it: the -sharp-shooters went close up, and another party went straight at it in -front, with as much confidence as if to charge a regiment on a plain: -when they got within twenty or thirty paces, the enemy uniformly fled, -and the assailants being out of breath, could overtake but few of them. -Most of these redoubts had a glacis, with an _abattis_ in front, which -gave them time to get off. From one large one, which was attacked by -the 21st Portugueze regiment, the garrison continued to fire till the -assailants jumped into the ditch; then the French hastened out at the -rear with all alacrity. - -Lord Wellington ascended in the interval between the 7th and 4th -divisions. Just as he reached the summit of the range at one of its -dips, Beresford and Colville, with the 3rd division, had carried a -very high hill, crowned with a strong stockaded redoubt, which was, in -fact, the key of the position, and looked down upon the whole range on -both sides. The 40th suffered here from having pushed on too fast. The -allies were now gaining the upper ridge on all sides, and the artillery -attempted to follow: Ross’s troop was the only one which succeeded, and -that by two hours’ of the utmost exertion, and by partly making a road. -Sir Lowry, with the 4th division, reached the top at a lower part: -two brigades of the enemy were formed upon a height on his left; and -beyond them, on a very high point above Ascain, was a large and strong -redoubt, manned by a battalion of infantry. The light division was -toiling up the hill to the right of this work, and the Spaniards to the -left. Sir Lowry attacked the brigades: there were two generals at their -heads; but when the assailants came near, the French fired five or six -rounds in rather an unsoldier-like hurry, and then moved hastily off, -leaving the redoubt to its fate. Downie, seizing a colour, and waving -it as he advanced on horseback at the head of his battalion, led on -his men: they went against it gallantly, in spite of their officers, -who behaved ill: the light division commenced an attack upon it, in -which Colonel Barnard was wounded; and the 52nd lost a good many men -here, before Lord Wellington’s orders for desisting and summoning the -garrison could arrive. While this attack continued, the troops under -Beresford got so far in the rear of the redoubt, that it was impossible -for the garrison to retreat. They proved to be the first battalion of -the 88th regiment, nearly 600 strong: their colonel had been promoted -for his defence of S. Christoval’s, at the first siege of Badajoz: he -hesitated, parleyed, and requested to confer with his officers, and -subsequently with the non-commissioned officers; but it was in vain -to resist, and there was no way to escape; so they surrendered, and -laid down their arms on the glacis. Some of the men expressed their -indignation in coarse and indecent language at finding themselves -prisoners; and one serjeant, in particular, who wore the cross of the -Legion of Honour, cursed his fortune, that after being present in -the battles of Austerlitz and Wagram, he should now be captured in a -redoubt! - -While these operations were going on in the centre, Sir Henry Clinton, -with the 6th division, having driven in the enemy’s piquets on both -banks of the Nivelle, crossed that river, covered the passage of Sir -John Hamilton’s Portugueze division, and ascended the hill in line, -scarcely firing a shot. The enemy were formed on the top of the hill, -as on a fine parade, in front of their huts, and with strong redoubts -on both flanks. The first party in its eagerness pushed on too fast, -and was driven back; but as the support came near they dashed forward -again; and the enemy, having thrown away their fire, went off in great -confusion, abandoning redoubts, camp, and all. Sir William Stewart’s -division carried a work on a parallel ridge in the rear. Morillo, by -attacking the enemy’s posts on the slopes of Mondarin, and following -them towards Itzatce, covered the advance of the whole to the heights -behind Ainhoue. Sir Rowland then forced the enemy to retire from those -heights towards the bridge of Cambo on the Nivelle; and Sir William -Stewart drove a division from Mondarin into the mountains toward -Baygorri. By two o’clock the allies had gained possession of the whole -of the position behind Sarré and Ainhoue. - -The enemy, who had been in front of our centre, were now retiring -along the road to St. Pé, a village on the Nivelle, between three and -four miles distant. The nature of the country rendered it impossible -to cut them off; and Lord Wellington was obliged to wait an hour, -that the troops might take breath, and to see that the operations on -the right had succeeded; and that the 6th division, after carrying -the works in its front, had inclined to the left, and closed upon the -third. This having been ascertained, about three o’clock he directed -the 7th and 3rd divisions (being the right of the centre) to move by -the left of the river upon St. Pé, and the 6th by the right upon the -same place; while the 4th and light divisions, with Giron’s reserve, -held the heights above Ascain, covering the movement on that side, -and Sir Rowland covered it on the other. The Nivelle is from twenty -to thirty yards wide, rapid like a mountain stream, and not fordable; -there is a stone bridge at St. Pé, a wooden one half a mile lower -down, and a stone one about the same distance still lower, at the -village of Ayan. The first of these bridges was eagerly contested; -but, after some severe skirmishing, the allies effected the passage of -all three. Lord Wellington halted upon the heights above St. Pé; and, -having occupied the bridges and the villages, waited there for reports -from the right and left. During the whole day he could distinctly -hear, and generally see, the firing on the right, Sir Rowland’s -quarter; but the projecting base of La Rhune entirely prevented him -from seeing what passed on Sir John Hope’s side; and a steady breeze, -setting towards the sea, prevented any sound from reaching him in that -direction. But on that side there could be no anxiety, for it was not -intended to be the scene of serious action; and what service was to -be performed there, was performed well. The French had constructed a -redoubt round the ruins of a small chapel on a hill, and connected it -with the defence of Urogne by intrenchments, and a strong _abattis_. -From this work, which formed a sort of advanced post to their right -wing, Sir John Hope drove them, and from Urogne, and pushed forward -the 5th division to the inundation which covered the intrenchments -in front of Ciboure, and those protecting the heights in advance of -Fort Socoa. The enemy were kept in expectation here that this position -would be assaulted; and they were menaced in their intrenchments, which -covered the heights behind Urogne, and extended along the hills in the -direction of Ascain: that village they abandoned in the afternoon, and -Freyre took possession of it. As soon as Lord Wellington had received -the reports, he gave orders for attacking the heights behind St. Pé: -they were of difficult access, through vineyards, and were crowned -with woods; and the enemy had a considerable force there: during the -intervals of severer action, the sharp-shooters had been warmly engaged -in the village, and along the river; and shrapnells had been thrown at -the heights with visible effect from Ross’s brigade. The 3rd division -now crossed near the village, the 6th advanced upon its right, and the -7th attacked the left of the heights; the brunt of the action on this -side was borne by this division. The 51st and 68th regiments, light -troops, scoured a wood in full cry, like a pack of hounds, and drove -out a large body of sharp-shooters, whom they drove up the hills, but -with so much eagerness as to leave their support behind. Instantly -upon this advantage being presented, a strong column moved from behind -the hill, and attacked them: the enemy were led by a general officer -on horseback, and behaved with more spirit than they had shown in -any other part of the engagement. The two regiments, if they had not -been two of the best, must have been cut to pieces; but though they -were very weak in numbers, and were driven back, they formed in close -order, and in the most gallant manner retook the hill. This was the -last business of the day. The three divisions took post on the heights -beyond St. Pé; thus establishing themselves in the rear of the enemy’s -right; and the remainder of the army rested on the ground which they -occupied, the evening being so far advanced that no further movement -could be made. - -♦NOV. 11.♦ - -Lord Wellington was on the heights above St. Pé before daylight; the -morning was hazy, and it was noon before he received the reports which -enabled him to put the troops in motion. During the night the enemy had -abandoned all their works and positions in front of St. Jean de Luz, -and knowing no time was to be lost, lest the divisions at St. Pé should -interpose between them and Bayonne, retired upon Bidart, destroying -all the bridges on the lower Nivelle. Sir John Hope followed with the -left, as soon as he could cross the river; but it was mid-day before -he could repair the bridge which connects Ciboure with S. Jean de Luz, -and construct a flying bridge to expedite the passage of the troops. -The 5th division passed here, part with the artillery by the bridge, -part by fords close above the town; the first, with Wilson’s Portugueze -brigade, by a ford about a mile higher up, and broad enough for the men -to cross by platoons. It rained most heavily; the water was deep, the -opposite bank muddy, and the shore swampy ground: but no opposition -was offered, and the men, elated by the signal success of yesterday, -were in high spirits. The centre moved forward about a league, and the -right made a corresponding move, which was as far as the state of the -roads, after so violent a fall of rain, would allow. Soult showed about -16,000 men at Bidart all day. The army bivouacked a second night. On -the following morning Lord Wellington was again in front of the centre -at daybreak, but a thick fog enveloped every thing; it was noon before -it cleared, and he then learned that the enemy had retired during the -night into an intrenched camp, in front of Bayonne. - -By these operations, in which the allies lost little more than 500 -killed, and less than 2400 wounded, the French were driven from -positions strong in themselves, and which they had been fortifying with -great skill and great labour for six months: 51 pieces of cannon, 1500 -prisoners, and 400 wounded, were taken. Soult had full 70,000 men; but -though there was no flight, nor any thing like a rout, no determined -spirit of resistance was manifested; they fought like brave men, but -dispirited ones, and in several instances their officers used every -endeavour to bring them on in vain. They had relied upon the difficulty -of the ground, not dreaming that artillery could be brought to act -against them over rivers and rocks and mountains; and indeed, the -allies were beholden for their success, in no slight degree, to the -extraordinary skill and activity with which this part of the service -was directed by Colonel Dickson. Mountain-pieces on swivel carriages, -harnessed on the backs of mules which had been trained for the purpose, -were conveyed to the ridges of the mountains, and brought to bear on -the French from positions which they had considered inaccessible for -guns.... The foot and horse-artillery were alike active and expert; and -the artillerymen dragged their cannon with ropes up steep precipices, -or lowered them down, wherever they could be employed with most effect. -Generals Byng and Kempt were wounded: Colonel Lloyd of the 94th, an -officer of great promise, and who had frequently distinguished himself, -was killed. - -♦THE ALLIES CANTONED BETWEEN THE NIVELLE AND THE SEA.♦ - -The weather, which continued wet, without intermission, from the -11th to the 18th, rendered the cross roads so bad, and the streams -so formidable, that Lord Wellington could not follow up his success -as he would otherwise have done. He placed the army, therefore, in -cantonments between the Nivelle and the sea; but as the enemy were -concentrated in great numbers round Bayonne, two miles only in their -immediate front, a defensive line was formed against any sudden -advance. It commenced at the sea on the left, in rear of Biaritz, -passed over the main ridge of heights, and crossed the high road, -near a country house belonging to the mayor of that little town. The -front of this part of the line was protected by the two small lakes -of Chuhigue and Rousta; the high road passes across a valley between -them, and here was the most advanced line of sentinels guarding the -left wing; from thence it followed the right bank of the valley, in -front of Arcangues, and coming there upon the Nive, near a chateau -belonging to Garat (one of the contemporary historians of the French -revolution, and himself an actor in it), it was thrown back along the -left of that river by Arrauntz, Ustaritz, Larressore, and Cambo; -from which latter place the enemy, who occupied a tête-de-pont there, -withdrew their posts on the 18th, and blew up the bridge. Head-quarters -were at St. Jean de Luz, ♦ST JEAN DE LUZ.♦ a town which dates its decay -from the peace of 1763, when France was deprived of its possessions in -North America. The Nivelle divides it from Ciboure (a smaller town), -spreading just above both into a beautiful bay, and forming an island -where it spreads, which is connected by bridges with both. The bay -terminates on the north-east by a rocky point of land, on which a -battery called Fort St. Barbe was erected, and on the opposite side -is the harbour of Socoa, defended by a martello tower. Between these -points the bay is nearly a mile in width, and on both sides a pier had -been begun, which it was intended to have carried so nearly across, -as only to have left a sufficient entrance, and thus to have afforded -safe anchorage on this stormy coast, where it is grievously needed. -When the Spanish fleet was wrecked here in 1627, the dead who were cast -up on the immediate shores filled ninety-six carts. On that occasion -the inhabitants of St. Jean de Luz behaved with exemplary kindness -to the survivors; and it was proposed in the Spanish council that, -as a becoming acknowledgment, its ships and merchants should enjoy -a perpetual exemption from all duties in Portugal, whither they ♦D. -FRANCESCO MANOEL. EPANAPHORAS, P. 256.♦ traded largely for salt: I wish -it could be added, that such a proof of national gratitude had been -given. During the action of the 10th, a naval demonstration was made -opposite Fort Socoa, by four of Sir George Collier’s squadrons: the -swell would not admit of a close approach, but they came near enough -for one of them to be struck by some shot from the sea-batteries. - -♦DISCIPLINE OBSERVED BY THE ALLIES.♦ - -The inhabitants of St. Jean de Luz had mostly remained in their own -houses, shutting themselves up there to abide their fate, in dread -of invaders whom they had been taught to consider as being equally -rapacious and merciless. There was still a disposition in the allied -troops to take that license which brutal spirits promise themselves -in war; but, during the action of the 10th, two offenders had been -hanged, each upon the nearest tree to the spot where his crime was -committed, with a paper upon his breast declaring for what offence -this summary justice had been executed. Such severity was equally -politic and just; and the allies soon acquired as good a character -for their conduct toward the inhabitants as for their behaviour in -the field. The people were the more sensible of this, because it was -strikingly contrasted with the predatory habits in which their own -troops had long been licensed, and which those troops had not laid -aside when they were driven within the French frontier. Marshal Soult -would gladly now have withheld them from courses which he had so long -permitted or encouraged; and just at this time an instance occurred -in which he endeavoured to strike terror by a wholesome example. When -they were quitting St. Jean de Luz, a woman complained to an officer -whose company was quartered there, that the men, expecting to depart, -were beginning to plunder her house: he gave no ear to her entreaties -that he would restrain them, and the woman at length, in her emotion at -seeing her goods thus given up to spoil, exclaimed, that “if those who -ought to be their defenders would not protect them, the English might -as well be there at once.” “Oh!” said the officer, “if you are a friend -to the English, you shall see how I will protect you!” and immediately -he set fire to her house himself. A _gendarme_ who was present took -the woman’s part, and declared that though he could not take the -officer into custody, nor prevent him by force, he would report the -circumstance to the Marshal: he did so; and the officer, who was a -captain of infantry and a member of the Legion of Honour, was brought -to a court-martial, condemned, and shot. - -♦THE INHABITANTS RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.♦ - -But it was too late for Marshal Soult to correct the inveterate habits -of men who, during all their campaigns in the Peninsula, had been -supported by a predatory system; and though most of the people, and -especially the villagers, forsook their houses at the approach of the -allies, yet, when proclamations were issued in French and in Basque -(which is the language of these parts), assuring them that their -persons and property should be respected, and when they understood that -British discipline would afford them a security which it was in vain to -hope for amid their own armies, they returned. The French authorities -endeavoured in vain to dissuade them; the general wish was expressed so -strongly, that at length no farther impediment was opposed to it than -that of forbidding them to carry back anything with them. Above 3000 -persons came back to St. Jean de Luz and the neighbouring places before -the end of November, and as many more passed through the line of the -allied outposts, in one day early in December, on their return; ... -among them were several young men, escaping in women’s clothes from the -conscription. - -The weather had prevented Lord Wellington from passing the Nive, as -he intended to have done, immediately after having forced the French -position, and the army in consequence occupied only the confined -space on the left of that river; while the enemy profited by all the -resources of the country on its right, and had a free communication -between Bayonne and St. Jean de Pied-de-Port. They occupied an -intrenched camp in front of Bayonne, about twelve miles from S. Jean -de Luz, and this position they had been fortifying with provident care -from the time of their defeat at Vittoria. Bayonne ♦BAYONNE.♦ obtained -its present name in the twelfth century, till when it was called -Lapurdum, as when the cohort of Novempopulania had its head-quarters -there. This ancient city, which during three centuries belonged to our -Plantagenet kings, is memorable in military history for the invention -of the bayonet, a weapon that in its name indicates the place of its -origin, and that, in British hands, has proved more destructive than -any other to the nation by which it was invented. In the war of the -French revolution this city would not have been tenable against a -single division of an enemy’s army: the war of the intrusion made it -immediately a place of great importance, as a depôt for the French; -and therefore it was well fortified, to secure it against a sudden -attack from the English, before the possibility of any more serious -danger had been contemplated. It stands at the junction of the Nive -with the Adour; the latter a great river, and the former not fordable -for several miles up: the city is on the left of the Adour, the citadel -on the other side. The position which Marshal Soult occupied was under -the fire of the fortress; the right resting on the Adour, and covered -in front by a morass, formed by a rivulet which falls into that river. -The right of the centre rested upon the same morass, and its left upon -the Nive; the left was between the Nive and the Adour, resting on -the latter river and defending the former, and communicating with a -division of the army of Catalonia, under General Paris, at St. Jean de -Pied-de-Port. The roads from that place, and from St. Jean de Luz to -Paris, pass through Bayonne; and these are the only paved roads, all -the others are so bad as to be impracticable in winter. The enemy had -their advanced posts, from their right, in front of Anglet, and toward -Biaritz; and they had a considerable corps cantoned in Ville-Franche -and Monguerre. - -♦DECEMBER. - -PASSAGE OF THE NIVE.♦ - -As soon as the weather and the state of the roads allowed, preparations -were made for crossing the Nive. On the 8th of December Lord Wellington -moved the troops out of their cantonments. The preceding day had -brought intelligence that Hanover was delivered from the French, -... and that the Dutch also had risen against their oppressors, and -asserted their independence. With this news to encourage them, at which -even the French people appeared to rejoice, because it gave them a -hope of peace, which could only be obtained by the total defeature of -Buonaparte’s ambitious schemes, the allies recommenced their operations -on the morrow. Sir Rowland, with the right of the army, was to cross -at Cambo, and Beresford to support him by passing Sir Henry Clinton’s -division at Ustaritz: the bridges at both places had been destroyed. -The river, dividing into two branches, forms an island of considerable -extent opposite Ustaritz; our piquets had previously occupied this, and -here a pontoon bridge was thrown across during the night. The bridge -at Campo had been hastily and insufficiently repaired, so that very -few succeeded in getting over its broken slope. There were fords above -and below; the lower was good enough for cavalry, but ten men were -drowned in attempting it; the upper one, therefore, was chiefly used -by the infantry, ... and it was no easy passage, the left bank being -steep, and the water rising at the time, in consequence of renewed -rain. At both places, however, it was effected with little opposition, -and the enemy were immediately driven from the right bank. The troops, -advancing then through swampy meadow-land and very deep roads, soon -found themselves on the high road from St. Jean de Pied-de-Port; and -the French retired skirmishing, being followed and pressed; those -opposite Cambo were nearly intercepted by Sir Henry Clinton. The enemy -now assembled in considerable force upon a range of heights running -parallel with the Adour, keeping Ville-Franche upon their right; and -they kindled fires, as if intending to remain there. A galling fire -was kept up from the detached houses of this village; but houses, -village, and heights were carried by the 8th Portugueze regiment, the -9th Caçadores, and the light battalions of the 6th division; and the -French, after one or two hasty volleys, retired. The advance of the -allies had been so much impeded by the condition of the ground, that -by this time evening had closed; and Lord Wellington contented himself -therefore with the possession of the ground that he occupied. - -This had been a day of great fatigue for the left wing of the army. -At one in the morning the drums had beat to arms; and, after a -most toilsome march through heavy rain, the first division, under -Major-General Howard, was assembled by daybreak at the Plateau of -Barouillet, in advance of Bidart. At dawn the rain ceased; and the -5th division, under Major-General Hay, supported by the 12th light -dragoons, was seen crossing the valley which separates the hilly ground -of Biaritz from that of Bidart; its right in communication with the -first, and its left extending to the sea-coast. At eight o’clock the -whole line of light troops commenced their fire; those of the enemy -contested every hedge and bank which afforded them shelter, and from -whence they could take deliberate aim; but a fire of shells from the -artillery, who posted themselves on the eminences along the whole line, -assisted greatly in dislodging them. The whole line gradually advanced, -and the enemy retreated before them to Anglet, not venturing to await -their approach. About one the first division gained the heights on the -right of the chaussée, opposite to Anglet, the light infantry driving -the enemy down the slopes to their intrenched camp. The 5th division -made equal progress, sweeping the country between Anglet and the sea as -far as the banks of the Adour, and occupying with its light infantry -the Bois de Bayonne, a large pine-wood which covers the whole space -on the left of that river, between the intrenched camp and the sea. -General Alten, meantime, made a corresponding advance with the light -division, between the left wing and the Nive; they drove the enemy from -behind the deep morass which ♦BATTY’S CAMPAIGN, PP. 83–5.♦ covered -their advanced posts in front of Bassussarry, and compelled them to -retreat to their intrenched camp near the Chateau de Marrac, ... that -castle to which, in the first act of this great drama, Ferdinand had -been decoyed by Buonaparte. - -As the movements on this side were intended only to favour the -operations on the right, Sir John Hope’s instructions were to return -to his cantonments, and to commence retiring thither at six in the -evening, unless a countermand should arrive. It began again to rain -heavily in the afternoon; and the troops, supposing they were to remain -on the ground which they had gained, lighted, not without difficulty, -their bivouac fires; but the weather was far too bad for them to remain -in such exposed situations; and at the appointed time they began their -march back toward their several cantonments, the 5th division forming -the rear guard. By this time it was quite dark; even the main road -had been completely broken up by the passage of artillery, and of so -many troops; the hollow ways were knee-deep in mud: one little drummer -stuck fast in it, and was obliged to be lifted out and carried for some -distance by two soldiers; many of the men were so completely exhausted -that they sunk down by the way-side; and before they reached the place -of rest, they had been little less than four-and-twenty hours on foot, -and during the greater part of that time in a heavy winter’s rain. - -On the morning of the 10th Sir Rowland found that the enemy on his -side had retired into their intrenched camp, on the right of the Nive. -He established himself, therefore, in the position intended for him, -with his right on the Adour, his left on the heights of Ville-Franche, -above the Nive, and his centre across the chaussée at the village of -St. Pierre. Marshal Beresford’s troops were again drawn to the left of -the Nive; and Sir Rowland communicated with the centre of the army, by -a bridge which had been laid over that river. Morillo’s division was -placed at Urcuray, and Colonel Vivian’s brigade of light dragoons at -Hasparren, to watch Paris’s movements, who, upon the passage of the -Nive, had retired towards St. Palais. - -Thus the allied army formed a sort of crescent, which was intersected -by a river, and along which the communications were exceedingly bad. -On any part of this bending line Marshal Soult could direct an attack -with his main force; and, if he should be repulsed, there was a secure -retreat for him within his intrenched camp. Supposing, therefore, that -the allies would have their principal strength on the right of the -Nive to support Sir Rowland, he left just troops enough to occupy the -works opposite to that General’s position, and with the rest of his -army moved at daybreak against Sir John Hope, expecting to overpower -the left wing by numbers. The 5th division occupied the Plateau of -Barouillet, having General Campbell’s Portugueze brigade in its front, -on the high road. Baron Alten, with the light division, was posted at -Arcangues, about two miles to the right. Both were on strong ground; -but there was no defensive connexion between them, except along a range -of hills, which projected too much to be occupied otherwise than by -small posts; and between Barouillet and Arcangues there is a broad -valley, which was left almost without defence, because it was thought -that Marshal Soult would not attempt to advance in this direction, with -posts of such strength upon either flank. - -The enemy advanced in two strong columns; one by the great road -attacked the posts of the 5th division, and drove them back upon their -support on the Plateau of Barouillet. The other, coming forward by -the Plateau of Bassussarry, threw out a strong line of _tirailleurs_, -supported by battalions, against the light division at Arcangues; but -the main body pushed on a little way beyond the left flank of the -light division, and sent forward columns to attack the right of the -5th, denoting thus an intention of penetrating between, and in rear -of the two divisions. Soult knew not at how great advantage he had -taken the allies: the 5th division had been separated during the last -night’s dismal march, the ammunition mules were not forthcoming, and -when the piquets were driven in, there was hardly a round left. There -was nothing to be done but to hold their ground as well as they could -till more troops and ammunition should arrive. Not more than eight or -ten guns could be brought into action, because of the nature of the -ground, ... there being a low thick wood to the right, and close to -the road; and on the left a rugged heath, intersected with gullies and -ravines. The French brought more pieces into play, and served them with -more than usual vivacity; for they knew their own great superiority -of numbers, and were elated with the hope of getting to S. Jean de -Luz, which was the great depôt of the allies. Sir John Hope, who was, -with his staff, in the thickest of the fight, encouraging the troops -by his example, received a severe contusion on his shoulder, and a -hurt on his leg; and a ball went through his hat: ... it was believed -that, at one moment, nothing but his extreme gallantry saved the -troops from utter confusion. Major-General Robinson, who commanded the -second brigade of this division, was severely wounded, and carried -off the field. The contest still continued, ebbing and flowing, till -the enemy pushed through the wood in front of Barouillet, and through -a large field and orchard on its right, in such force as to drive -back Campbell’s Portugueze brigade, and Robinson’s, which supported -it; and, penetrating thus beyond the front of the position, they were -rapidly following up their success, when a Portugueze battalion on -the left flank boldly moved forward on the road, and wheeled into the -rear of the wood; at the same time the 9th British regiment, under -Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, which was on the extreme right, faced -about, and, uniting with the Portugueze, charged the French columns in -their rear, ... a movement as unexpected as it was bold and well-timed. -It gave the enemy a severe check at this point, and some hundred -prisoners were taken. This was between two and three in the afternoon. -By this time a considerable number of troops had arrived in detail; the -brigade of guards, who had been ordered from St. Jean de Luz to support -the 5th division, arrived just after the enemy had been thus checked; -and Lord Wellington, hastening from the right wing where all was quiet, -came to the scene of action. He was very much exposed this day, and -unavoidably so, for there was no eminence from whence the whole field -could be seen; the wood intercepted the sight, and it was necessary -for him to ride from point to point. The enemy, checked though they -had been, persisted in the action, and it continued till nightfall; -the firing gradually ceasing as the evening closed, and the troops, -after very severe loss on both sides, remaining on the ground which -they had occupied in the morning. The remainder of the left wing having -been brought up from its cantonments, the first division relieved the -fatigued troops; and the 7th took post in rear of the position, to -support either of the defensive corps. - -Meantime the attack upon the light division at Arcangues had been -maintained with great animation and perseverance. The enemy were -repulsed in all their efforts to dislodge these troops from their -defences of the churchyard and the chateau; but they retained at night -the Plateau of Bassussarry, in the immediate front of Arcangues, which -joins that of Barouillet, before the mayor’s house. The issue of the -day had greatly disappointed Marshal Soult, whose utmost efforts had -been completely defeated by a comparatively small part of the ♦TWO -GERMAN REGIMENTS ESCAPE FROM THE FRENCH ARMY.♦ allied forces, and with -great loss. He suffered a further loss during the night. There were -with him the two German regiments of Frankfort and Nassau Usingen: -every possible means had been taken for concealing from their officers -the state of affairs in Germany; nevertheless, they discovered that -Germany had thrown off the yoke. The French government had been -apprehensive of this, and, in consequence, had recently altered its -conduct towards them; instead of being treated with disrespect, as -men who had no government which could protect them, they now found -themselves the objects of marked attention; and were newly clothed, and -received pay up to the last six months, when a year and half’s was due -to the greater part of the French army. Marshal Soult, however, under -various pretences, had long kept them in the rear. But in the action -of this day they were in advance, in Villatte’s division; and that -General being severely wounded, the division was for a while without -any special commander. The officer in command of the Nassau regiment -was a Bavarian, but had been educated in Hanover, and for some years -in the Hanoverian guards. Not only had the news from Germany reached -him, but means had also been found for conveying to him the orders of -his sovereign; he now took advantage of the first opportunity which -had offered, and proposed to the Colonel of a French regiment, that -his corps, with the two Nassau battalions, and one of the Frankfort, -should occupy a height a little in advance of where they then were. -The advice, though proposed with a view of going over to the allies, -offered some feasible advantage, and was agreed to without suspicion. -As it was growing dark, and the roads were intricate, it was further -proposed, that the battalions should file to their ground by different -routes. The German officers were apprized of the intention, except -those of the second Frankfort battalion, to which no communication -could be made, its commander being badly wounded in the action. A -Frankfort officer now made his way to the outposts of our 4th division, -in the centre of the allies, and announced the intended defection, -requiring a General officer’s word of honour that they should be well -received, and sent to Germany: no General being on the spot, Colonel -Bradford gave his word: means were immediately taken to apprize the -three battalions, and they came over in a body, 1300 men; the French -not discovering their intention till just when it was too late to -frustrate it. On the morrow the Colonel wrote to General Villatte, -thanking him for the attentions which he had received whilst under his -command; but stating that in obedience to their King’s orders, his -troops had quitted the service of France to return to that of their own -country. Their women and their sick, who were left behind, he commended -to the General’s humanity; and said that his brother officers and -himself freely gave up their personal baggage in performing an act -prescribed by their duty. This officer seems to have united a just -moral feeling to a proper sense of military honour; and he rejoiced -that he had been able to bring off those battalions, without being -compelled to fire on the French, in company with whom they had served -so long. - -♦DEC. 11.♦ - -In the morning the 5th division was brought a little forward, beyond -the wood, and the advanced skirmishers were soon within forty or fifty -yards of each other: the light troops drove in the enemy’s piquets, -and the most advanced sentries were again pushed forward to their own -line. On this side, and also at Arcangues, there was some skirmishing -during the forenoon, but with little advantage on either side: about -noon the firing was suspended, the weather brightened, unarmed parties -were sent out to cut wood for cooking, and the men received their -rations. But about two there was a stir in the enemy’s lines; they -were seen cutting gaps in the fences for the passage of artillery; -presently they attacked in great force, along the Bayonne road, driving -in the piquets, and the hill in front of Barouillet again became the -scene of contest. The soldiers who had gone in front to cut fuel ran -hastily back when they heard the cry of “to arms,” that they might get -themselves armed and accoutred; and the French, seeing them run toward -the rear, thought they had taken panic, and set up loud cheers, as if -they had now only to pursue their favourable fortune. But their whole -left wing was promptly formed in perfect order. A feint attack was made -upon Arcangues, to cover a serious one upon the Plateau Bassussarry. -Lord Wellington’s orders were, that the piquets, in case of any serious -effort, should be withdrawn from the hill in front, but that the -position in front of Barouillet should be maintained: great efforts -were made, and the enemy every where were repulsed, Sir John Hope, as -on the yesterday, encouraging his men wherever there was most danger. -During these two days he was struck three times; and all his staff had -either themselves or their horses wounded. Lord Wellington is said to -have requested that he would consider of what consequence he was to -the army, and not expose himself so much. When darkness closed, the -two armies were in the same position which they had occupied on the -preceding night. - -The fifth division, which, after one day’s severe exertion in the -worst weather, had borne the heat of the action in the two following -ones, was relieved by the first, as soon as it became so dark that the -enemy could not perceive and take advantage of any change in their -disposition. The night was again rainy, and in posting the sentries -at some parts, it was not easy, because of the darkness, to avoid -interfering with the French piquets. ♦DEC. 12.♦ The weather cleared -toward morning; drums and trumpets were heard at intervals along the -enemy’s line; and at sunrise their staff officers were seen riding -in all directions. Soult showed three or four divisions; and at ten -some severe skirmishing began, which continued till three, being -chiefly confined to the wood and the immediate ground about the house -of Barouillet. The loss was not great, but it fell chiefly on the -guards: Captain Watson, the adjutant of the 3rd guards, observed in -the morning that “plenty of laurel grew round that house to deck the -graves of those who should fall,” ... and he was one of the first. -Lord Wellington, foreseeing Soult’s intention, moved the 4th and 7th -divisions to the rear of the light division and of the first, where -they might afford support to either. But Marshal Soult, when he found -how fully the allies were prepared, did not deem it prudent to make -any further effort on this side, where he had tried his fortune -skilfully, bravely, and perseveringly, but without success. The -skirmishing therefore ceased in the afternoon, and the enemy retired -entirely within their entrenched camp that night. - -The last four days had been most harassing to the troops, exposed as -they had been, and continually under arms; but the fifth day of these -multiplied actions proved more murderous than any of the foregoing. -During the night Soult passed a large force through Bayonne, with -the intention of making a most formidable attack upon the right wing -of the allies. Sir Rowland was aware of his movements, and prepared -accordingly. His position was about a league from Bayonne, in the -form of a crescent, extending about four miles from the Adour to the -Nive. Major-General Pringle’s brigade, consisting of the 28th, 34th, -and 39th regiments, formed the left, stationed on a ridge of hilly -ground extending from Ville-Franche toward Bayonne, and bounded on -one side by the Nive, and on the other by large mill-dams in a deep -hollow, which separates it from the heights of Monguerre. Major-General -Byng’s brigade, consisting of the 31st, 57th, and 68th, formed the -right, posted also on a long ridge, in front of the village of Vieux -Monguerre, which had the Adour on its right, and mill-dams in like -manner on its left, separating it from the heights in the centre. -Brigadier-General Ashworth’s Portugueze brigade occupied the centre -ridge opposite the village of St. Pierre. The ground was favourable, -because it admitted of only one or two points of attack, one of which -was by the main road. - -It was a clear frosty morning, but the ground so wet, and the road so -heavy in that deep and rich soil, that the horses were knee-deep in -stiff mud and clay. Soon after eight o’clock, the allied outposts on -the great road were attacked by _tirailleurs_ in great numbers, and -the French columns advanced close in the rear. Soult showed that day -about four divisions; and these, drawn up in two lines and supporting -columns, appeared, from the confined ground on which they acted, more -numerous than they were. They advanced up the long slope in front of -the centre position, their column extending a good way on either side -of the road; at the same time a large body moved against the left of -the centre, up the hollow way, its right resting upon the mill-dams. -Sir Rowland, as soon as the enemy’s intention of piercing the centre -was manifest, brought Major-General Barnes’s brigade forward from the -heights of Petit Monguerre, and stationed it on the right of Ashworth’s -Portugueze. He moved also the whole of Byng’s brigade, except one -regiment, and the light companies of the others, to support the right -of the centre, and Brigadier-General Buchan’s Portugueze brigade from -behind Ville-Franche, to support its left. These troops arrived just at -the time when they were most needed; four guns of Lieutenant-Colonel -Ross’s troop, and Lieutenant-Colonel Tulloch’s brigade of Portugueze -artillery, were also moved up in aid of the centre, and kept up a -steady but cautious fire, all possible exertions being used meantime -for bringing them a supply of ammunition. The light companies which had -gone forward in support of the piquets were borne back by weight of -numbers upon the main line, and the French established themselves upon -a height close to the position; and here the heat of the contest lay, -this post being repeatedly won and lost, till Barnes’s brigade, with -the 92nd Highlanders, and Ashworth’s Portugueze, made a final charge, -and drove the enemy down. The artillery fired this day with dreadful -effect, and the main road was in many places literally running with -blood. - -On the right a feint only was made, before which the battalion that -had been left there retired from Vieux Monguerre to the heights in its -rear; but, ascertaining from thence that the enemy on this side were -not in force, they re-entered the village, and made some prisoners -there. But on the left centre the columns which had advanced up the -hollow way made a powerful attack; and though the 71st and part of -the 92nd were sent to aid the Portugueze there, the enemy, by dint -of superior force, won an important part of the position in front -of Ville-Franche. Two Portugueze regiments opportunely arrived. Sir -William Stewart directed the one to turn the right flank of the -attacking columns, while the other attacked the enemy in front, -charging them with the bayonet; and this was decisive in that quarter. -A hot fire of _tirailleurs_ was kept up meantime upon Major-General -Pringle’s brigade, with a view of preventing it from aiding the centre; -but that General, occupying a line at right angles to theirs, caused -them considerable loss by a well-directed flanking fire. - -Foreseeing such an attack on Sir Rowland, Lord Wellington had provided -against it by requesting Marshal Beresford to reinforce him with the -6th division, which had crossed the Nive accordingly at daylight that -morning; and he sent also for the fourth and two brigades of the third, -and formed them in reserve. The expected coming of the 6th division -gave Sir Rowland great facility in making his movements; but before -its arrival he had completely repulsed the enemy, the troops under his -immediate command being about 13,000 men, and the force by which they -were attacked little, if at all, short of twice that number. The allies -kept their ground; ... their purpose, therefore, was effected. Soult’s -troops, when beaten back, had the city and the intrenched camp in -their immediate rear, and retired under cover of their guns placed in -position. They remained in great force in front of that camp, and kept -up a warm cannonade upon the centre; but the officers could not induce -their men again to renew attacks which they had found so destructive. -Sir William Stewart then directed Major-General Byng to unite his -brigade and attack the enemy upon the opposite bank of the mill-stream, -in front of the height of Vieux Monguerre. Byng did this in the most -gallant style, carrying the colours of the 66th himself, and planting -them, under a hot fire of musketry and artillery, in their position. -The third regiment crossed the mill-stream to co-operate in the attack; -the brigade then drove the enemy down, and Buchan’s Portugueze arrived -to aid in finally repulsing them. About four o’clock the action -terminated in a continued skirmishing: at night the enemy retired -within their camp. - -The loss of the allies during these five days, in killed, wounded, and -missing, amounted to 5029, of whom 302 were officers: nearly half the -loss fell upon the Portugueze, upon whom, indeed, as much reliance was -now placed as upon the British themselves. The last day was the most -destructive: Generals Barnes, Le Cor, and Ashworth, and nearly the -whole of the staff and aides-de-camp of Sir William Stewart, and of -Generals Barnes and Byng, were wounded. The French return made their -loss 1314 killed and 4600 wounded. They fought well in this long series -of actions, far better than they had done in defending their position -upon the Nivelle; and this can only be explained by the different -feeling with which men, and especially men of the French temperament, -are animated when standing on their defence, from that which excites -them when they are themselves the assailants. Marshal Soult, who was -never wanting in ability, never displayed more than on this occasion. -The often repeated effort cost him his best troops, and forced upon -him the mortifying conviction that, brave as they were, and admirably -disciplined, they were nevertheless inferior to their opponents: for -all circumstances here had been in his favour; the points of attack -were at his own choice, and wherever he attacked he brought into the -field a greatly superior force; yet every where he had been defeated. -Not ♦SOULT TAKES A DEFENSIVE POSITION.♦ venturing, therefore, again -to repeat a trial in which he had so often failed, though he had at -this time 50,000 infantry and 6000 cavalry, he cantoned his army in a -defensive position, having its right on the camp round Bayonne, its -centre spread along the right of the Adour, to Port de Lanne, and its -left along the right of the Bidouse, from its confluence to St. Palais, -posting two divisions of cavalry on the left of that place, and a weak -division, under Harispe, at St. Jean de Pied-de-Port. That General had -been withdrawn from Suchet’s army for this service, because, being a -native of the valley of Baigorry, and having distinguished himself -as a partizan in the Pyrenees, in the years 1794 and 1795, it was -supposed that he might raise some irregular corps of his countrymen, -and turn against the allies that system of guerrilla warfare which -had proved so destructive to the invaders in Spain. Marshal Soult -apprehended that Bayonne would be invested; and therefore he made -Port de Lanne, which is on the Adour, eighteen miles above that city, -his principal depôt, laying down a bridge there, and protecting it by -strong works; and he lined the right of the river with redoubts armed -with heavy cannon. He intrenched Hastingues, and covered Peyrehorade -with a _tête-de-pont_, for the defence of the Gave de Pau; and in -like manner secured the passages over the Bidouse at Guiche, Bedache, -and Came. He also strengthened the fortifications of St. Jean de -Pied-de-Port and Navarreins, and intrenched Dax as an entrepôt for -stores and reinforcements from the interior; thus omitting no measure -of precaution which a just estimate of his enemy’s strength seemed to -require. - -♦THE ALLIES WAIT IN THEIR CANTONMENTS FOR BETTER WEATHER.♦ - -The weather, by impeding for a while any advance on the part of the -allies, allowed him time for this. Lord Wellington waited till it -should become more favourable, having obtained possession of a large -tract of country, and being in a situation from whence to resume his -operations with advantage, as soon as the season might permit. Upon -first entering France he had circulated among the inhabitants those -general orders in which he enjoined his troops to respect their persons -and property, accompanying them with a brief proclamation to the -people. He had given, he said, and would enforce these positive orders -for preventing those evils that might otherwise be looked for as the -ordinary consequences of an invasion, which they knew was the result -of their own government’s invasion of Spain, and of the victories of -the allied armies. He requested them to apprehend and bring before him -any person who, disobeying these instructions, might offer them any -injury; and, on their side, he required them to remain in their houses, -and take no part in the war of which their country was now to be the -scene. Great injury must inevitably be endured by the inhabitants of -any country upon which that visitation falls; but none was suffered -now which could be prevented by vigilant discipline, founded upon just -views of policy and a strict sense of justice. On the morning after -the line of the Nivelle had been forced, a peasant was brought before -Lord Wellington, having been taken near the British outposts: the man’s -simple account of himself was, that he was going to drive his sheep to -Bayonne; upon which he was told that he might go where he pleased, -and take his sheep where he pleased too. When the French saw that the -peasantry were thus treated, ... that the very few who were taken in -arms were shipped off, like other prisoners, for England, ... and that -marauders were brought to summary punishment, they perceived that their -invaders were as equitable as they were brave, and that the word of a -British general was sacred. - -♦NOV. 28.♦ - -The guerrilla troops, whom it would have been more difficult to -restrain, were kept upon their own frontier. The discipline of the -Portugueze was as good as that of the English. Marshal Beresford, when -he commended them in one of his orders for their excellent conduct -at the line of the Nivelle, expressed his particular satisfaction -with their behaviour in their quarters and towards the inhabitants in -general. They had proved, he said, their superiority over the French -troops in the field of battle; and they had shown, also, to the French -people that they were not less superior to those troops in humanity and -in their whole deportment, whereby, as well as by their discipline and -courage, they did honour to their country. The Portugueze were not less -gratified by another order which Marshal Beresford issued after the -passage of the Nive. He had deemed it necessary, in the spring of the -preceding year, to deprive certain militia regiments of their colours, -till ♦MARSHAL BERESFORD RESTORES THE COLOURS OF CERTAIN PORTUGUEZE -REGIMENTS. DEC. 29.♦ they should have redeemed their character in -the presence of the enemy; this, he said, they had had no opportunity -of doing, the war having happily been removed far from their own -country: but regiments raised in the same parts of Portugal, composed -of their brethren and other near kinsmen, and in which, in fact, many -of the very men who, in the said militias, had incurred this disgrace, -were now serving, had, in the late series of victories, demeaned -themselves so gallantly, that they had re-established the character -of their respective provinces; wherefore in justice he ordered that -their colours should be restored. Their misconduct, he added, had -proceeded not from want of courage, but from insubordination, ... and -that, too, not the effect of wilful disobedience, but arising from -habits of undue familiarity between the officers and the men, owing -to which, the latter were not prepared to render prompt obedience -when it was indispensable. He reminded the officers, therefore, how -necessary it was that they should obtain the respect of their soldiers -by treatment at the same time just, impartial, gentle, and firm; -and observed that the provincial governors would see the necessity -henceforth of recommending, for commissions in the militia, persons -who were qualified by their means and by their ♦CORREIO BRAZILIENSE, -T. 12, P. 306.♦ local respectability. Marshal Beresford understood the -national character. The Portugueze were in no slight degree gratified -by this: they were proud of the military reputation which they had now -established, and not less deservedly of that national feeling which -they had manifested under every circumstance ♦CONDUCT OF SPANISH AND -PORTUGUEZE SOLDIERS AT DANTZIC.♦ of good or evil fortune. A signal -example of this feeling was given shortly afterwards by a battalion -of Portugueze and Spaniards, composed of men who had been entrapped -into the enemy’s service before the commencement of the struggle -in their own country. They formed part of the garrison of Dantzic -when the allies besieged it; and, knowing that the besiegers were in -alliance with Spain and Portugal, no threats or inducements could -prevail upon them to bear arms in defence of the city: in consequence -of this firm refusal, the French commander compelled them to work -upon the fortifications; but they had their reward; and when the -place surrendered, they were maintained at the expense of the Russian -government till they could be transported to England on their way home. - -♦ILL CONDUCT OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT TOWARD LORD WELLINGTON.♦ - -The Spanish government had shown no want of gratitude to Lord -Wellington in conferring upon him honours and rewards; but while in -such things they conformed to the national sentiment, their conduct -sometimes manifested a want of that frank and generous confidence -which ought to have been given in as full measure as it was deserved. -In direct breach of the engagement made with him when he accepted -the command of the Spanish armies, they had superseded Castaños, and -made other changes, not only without his advice and concurrence, but -contrary to his wishes, and in disregard of his remonstrances: and -this might have produced the most injurious effect, if the war had -not speedily been transferred to the enemy’s country. Libels were -circulated imputing sinister views to England, because some of its -troops still remained at Cadiz and at Carthagena; and the government -allowed these libels to circulate without taking any means for -counteracting the impression which the calumny was intended to produce. -Lord Wellington withdrew the troops as soon (after their presence had -ceased to be necessary there) as he could obtain the Prince Regent’s -orders; and, in notifying this to the British ambassador, he stated -the circumstances under which those fortresses had been garrisoned -at the request ♦NOVEMBER. CHANGE OF THE REGENCY.♦ of the Spanish -government itself; expressed his surprise that the existing government, -knowing these facts, should yet have allowed such calumnies to pass -uncontradicted, and requested that his letter might be published. The -Regency was, indeed, at this time the mere instrument of the Cortes, -which had displaced the late regents by a summary vote, for demurring -to enforce an impolitic decree that the clergy scrupled to obey. -Cardinal Bourbon, Don Pedro Agar, and Don Gabriel Ciscar were appointed -in their stead to a station which possessed only a nominal authority, -the Cortes, under the dictation of a party more ardent than wise, -having now arrogated to itself the whole actual power. - -A whimsical proof had recently occurred of the readiness with which -certain Spaniards accredited any imputation, however absurd, upon the -intentions of the British government. A foolish paragraph had appeared -in some Irish newspaper, saying, that Lord Wellington deserved to be -made King of Spain; and that some of the grandees had offered to raise -him to the throne! This found its way to Spain; and the Duques of -Ossuna and Frias, the Visconde de Gante, and the Marques de Villena, -published forthwith a letter to inform the world, that they neither -did, nor would, acknowledge any other King than Ferdinand VII.; ... -that they detested and abhorred the very idea of any usurper ruling -over the Spaniards; ... and that they were persuaded that the other -grandees, as soon as this statement should come to their knowledge, -would hasten, in like manner, to give a public testimony of their -principles and their fidelity. - -♦PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.♦ - -Parliament met early in November, under more auspicious circumstances -than at any time since the baneful commencement of the French -revolution. England, which had stood alone in the contest against the -most formidable military power that had ever existed in the civilized -world, was now in alliance, not with the Spaniards and Portugueze -alone, but with Russia, Prussia, Austria, Sweden, Bavaria, and Holland. -Buonaparte had been driven back over the Rhine; and a British army, -after beating the French from the lines of Torres Vedras to the -Pyrenees, had passed that boundary and entered France. Upon this -occasion some of those statesmen who had been most decided in their -opposition to government acknowledged the wisdom, and rejoiced in -the success of that policy which they had formerly condemned. ♦LORD -GRENVILLE. NOV. 4.♦ “Upon this grand question,” said Lord Grenville, -“all party conflicts must be swallowed up and lost; it is the cause -of no party, of no set of individuals, but of the whole nation joined -in sentiment and in action to effect a great and glorious purpose. -Internal tranquillity,” he said, “might be considered as the first, -and external peace as the second, blessing that any power under -Heaven could confer upon a people; but what we desired and expected -was the real blessing of peace, not the empty name; not the shadow, -but the substance. Too long did deluded Europe, by temporary and -partial truces, by concession following concession, purchase from the -insatiable enemy a precarious quiet, a troubled sleep, furnishing to -her foe the very means of his aggression, and of her own subjugation. -The time, my lords, is now arrived (and I rejoice that I have lived to -see the hour) when the walls of a British parliament may again re-echo -a sound formerly held sacred in this country, and upon the observance -of which, I will venture to assert, depends the hope of the restoration -of peace to Europe; ... I allude to the old-fashioned tenet, now -almost forgotten, of a balance of power in Europe; and I offer up my -thanks, with humble gratitude, to the Supreme Disposer of events, that -after so long a period he has permitted me to behold my native land in -such a commanding situation, as to be able again to pursue that which -ought to be the only legitimate object of foreign policy, I mean, the -establishment and preservation of a balance of power in Europe. Now, -then, let Great Britain resume her ancient policy: let her once more -perceive that the only mode by which the independence of the great -commonwealth of Europe can be secured, is not by perpetual peace (for -that is the visionary dream of visionary men), but by the maintenance -of this balance, by which, even in war itself, the weak will find -refuge from oppression. Whatever plans may be suggested, having this -in view, I shall meet with the most earnest wish to find that they are -compatible with the interests of the country. I cannot be ignorant of -the difficulties that may be opposed: I do, however, fervently hope, -nay, I believe, that they may be surmounted. Do me not the injustice of -believing that these opinions are the result merely of the exultation -felt in consequence of recent and unexpected events. Undoubtedly such -events are calculated to warm the heart of every individual who feels -not only for the natural rights of man, but for the independence of -nations; but those with whom I have been in the habit of confidential -communication know my deliberate opinion, that the existence of such a -confederation as has now been formed, of itself irresistibly calls upon -Great Britain to employ all her energies, and devote all her exertions -to the success of a common and a glorious cause. I was prepared to -add an exhortation, that as the chances of war must necessarily be -precarious, you would prepare yourselves to meet with firmness those -disasters which human foresight could not predict, and which human -wisdom could not prevent. Even now, under circumstances that might -seem almost to justify the confidence of certainty, I offer that -exhortation. If in the course of human events (although I see little -cause to fear) any unforeseen calamity should unfortunately occur, -remember the glorious cause in which you are engaged; it may for an -instant damp your hopes, but let it not damp your ardour or shake your -resolution. Be assured, my lords, of this, ... (I hope you are already -assured of it,) that there is for this country no separate safety, no -separate peace! There is neither safety nor peace for England, but -with the safety and peace of Europe; ... as for continental Europe, -it is equally true, that an indissoluble union, a firm confederation -with this country can alone secure for all liberty, tranquillity, and -happiness, ... can alone obtain peace, now almost beyond the memory -of living man. The plain duty of this country, placing its trust -in Providence, is to improve by every possible exertion the bright -prospect that lies before us. With the energies of Great Britain duly -applied, ultimate success may be confidently anticipated; we may now -look forward to the speedy accomplishment of that great purpose for -which we have already sacrificed, performed, and endured so much, ... -and for which we are still ready to sacrifice, perform, and endure.” - -♦MARQUIS WELLESLEY.♦ - -In the same spirit, Marquis Wellesley declared, that the satisfaction -he felt in the events which had now changed the destinies of Europe -was with him a principle and not a sentiment. “It was not so much,” he -said, “because those events had raised the military reputation of this -country and of our allies, that they had the highest value in his eyes, -but because they were the natural result of wise and cautious measures, -executed with the greatest degree of vigour; and displaying a wisdom -of combination and prudence of plan which could not fail ultimately -to be rewarded with the success by which they were attended. He would -not dwell on former errors; but he would not hesitate to say that the -glorious successes which had lately crowned our arms in Spain, and -the arms of our allies in the north of Europe, were to be traced to -the long train of persevering councils persisted in by the government -of this country. Though those councils had not always immediately -produced the results that were expected, they were not the less the -cause of what had ultimately taken place. While we were exerting -ourselves in a struggle apparently hopeless, at that moment the public -councils of this country were of the utmost importance to European -liberty; for opportunity was thus given to the rest of Europe to -re-consider their former errors, and to learn that great lesson which -the example of Britain afforded them. Nothing could be more true than -the last words which that great statesman, Mr. Pitt, ever delivered -in public, that England had saved herself by her firmness, and other -nations by her example. What a satisfactory and consoling reflection -was it for us, that from this fountain the sacred waters of gladness -and glory had flowed; ... that to the persevering spirit of this -country it was owing that other nations were at last animated to deeds -worthy of the cause in which they were engaged, and of the example -which was set them!” - -♦LORD LIVERPOOL.♦ - -Lord Liverpool rejoiced that on this great occasion a spirit of -unanimity prevailed in the British parliament. “We had seen,” he said, -“during the preceding twenty years, coalitions whose size promised -strength, crushed by the power of the enemy: what was it then which had -given this irresistible impulse to the present? The feeling of national -independence, that feeling which first arose in the Peninsula, gave -the war a new character, and afforded grounds to hope not only for -the deliverance of that country, but of the rest of Europe. There had -before been wars of governments, but none like this between nations; -and all our principles of policy and prudence must have been belied -if the issue of the present confederacy had not been very different -from that of any of the former ones. They had before them examples of -perseverance unexampled in any other cause than that of liberty; they -had seen the least military nations of Europe become formidable, and -successfully resist the best disciplined troops of France. Small as -Portugal was, the establishment of the Portugueze army had been of the -greatest consequence, as the foundation of the success of the allied -armies in the Peninsula; and as it gave, in addition to the general -national feeling, a military tone, under the influence of which the -Portugueze troops have been raised to an equality with the British. He -was advancing no paradox, but a truth which was felt and admitted on -the continent, when he said that the success of the peninsular cause -gave new life to the suffering nations of Europe.” - -♦MR. C. GRANT.♦ - -This theme was pursued in the House of Commons with great eloquence -by Mr. Charles Grant. “If,” said he, “we had shown a dastardly spirit -at the commencement of these troubles, where now would have been the -deliverance of Europe? There will be no prouder page in history than -that which tells of this struggle and its victorious result, ... which -tells that at a time when the foundations of the world seemed to be -shaken, when all former constitutions were swept away, rather as if by -a sudden whirlwind than by any of the ordinary means of destruction, -... there was yet one nation, which, reposing under the shade of a -happy constitution, proud of its ancient liberties and worthy to defend -them, dared to measure its strength at one time against the unnatural -energies of a frantic democracy, at another time against the gigantic -resources of the most tremendous despotism that ever scourged the -world. If, after this narration, history were obliged to add that in -this struggle at last we fell, but that we fell gloriously, with our -arms in our hands and our faces to the foe, even this would have been -no mean praise: but, thank God, history will be called, not to lament -the fall of British greatness, but to celebrate its renewed exploits -and its living triumphs.... It is to the theatre of these triumphs, -it is to that soil which but lately seemed incapable of producing a -single effort, that the moralist of after-ages will resort for examples -when he denounces the fall of unhallowed greatness. There too will -the patriot look for lessons of enthusiasm and disinterested virtue; -and this is the glorious feature of the present war. I have heard it -observed of America, that her conduct has dispelled those classical -associations which we have been accustomed to indulge of republican -virtue and republican excellence. The remark was not more eloquently -than justly made. But if we are obliged to give up that class of -associations, I perceive with exultation that there is another which we -may now cherish with additional fondness; I mean, those associations -which enforce the belief of instinctive patriotism, of unbidden -enthusiasm in the cause of virtue, of the grandeur of self-devotion, -of the magnanimity of great sacrifices for great objects, for honour, -for independence. We must all recollect with what delight we imbibed -these sentiments at the fountains of classical learning, and followed -them out into action in the history of great men and illustrious -states. But of late there seems to have crept into this nation a sort -of spurious and barren philosophy, of which it was the object to decry -these associations, to represent them as the illusions of ignorance, or -frenzy, or falsehood, to curb the original play of nature, to inculcate -coldness and selfishness upon system, and to substitute in the place of -all that formed the delight of a higher philosophy, a spirit of lazy -deliberation, conducted by apathy, and ending therefore in meanness -and dishonour. It was this philosophy which taught that it is not only -more prudent, but more conformable to the laws of our being, for every -man in time of danger to reason before he followed the promptings of -true courage; to make it a matter of calculation whether his country -be worth saving before he draws the sword in her defence; to reduce -it to a question of algebra, or a problem in geometry, whether he -should resist the efforts of tyranny, or bow before the yoke! The sleep -which seemed to have spread over Europe gave too much countenance to -these pernicious maxims; but the hour has at length come which has -exposed their fallacy, and rescued human nature from such calumnies. -The experience of the few last years has confuted that heartless and -bloodless system, the miserable abortion of a cold head and depraved -imagination, which never wakened one noble thought, nor inspired one -generous action. The experience of the few last years has proved that -those high sentiments which we were taught to respect are not false -and visionary; but that they are founded upon whatever is deepest -and purest in the human character. It has proved that true reason is -never at war with just feeling; that man is now what he was in those -distant ages, ... a creature born indeed to act upon principle, but -born also to act upon strong passions; and that he never acts more -nobly, more wisely, more worthily of himself, than when he acts upon -the prompt persuasion of grand passions, sublimed and directed by lofty -principles.” - -♦MR. WHITBREAD.♦ - -Even Mr. Whitbread felt it necessary to say, that the proud exultation -which then was manifested throughout the nation was hailed by no one, -in the House or in the country, with more enthusiastic feelings than by -himself; and that he gave credit to the ministry, and to him who was -at the head of it, till cut off by the dreadful deed which every one -deplored, “for the great and steady confidence which they had placed -in the talents and genius of our great commander,” ... that confidence -for which Mr. Whitbread and the party with whom he acted had so often, -so confidently, and so contemptuously reproached them! He insisted, -however, that the deliverance of Europe had not been brought about by -following Mr. Pitt’s policy; and that if the counsels of Mr. Fox had -been listened to, the carnage of the present campaign would not have -been necessary. “And,” said he, “I am particularly glad to observe the -explicit terms of the Prince Regent’s speech, in which it is distinctly -avowed that no disposition is entertained to require from France -sacrifices of any description inconsistent with her honour or just -pretensions as a nation. I sincerely hope this feeling pervades the -whole alliance; an alliance with which I am not inclined to quarrel, -as I have been with former ones, for it is promoted and cemented by a -feeling of common danger and necessity, and not purchased and raised up -to oppress France. It has arisen from the keen and indignant sentiment -which the grinding oppression of France herself has excited; and it -holds out a memorable lesson to the governments of Europe. France, -in the course of her career since the revolution, disturbed and -overthrew the ancient monarchies, upon the pretext of their tyranny and -despotism; but when those states passed under the power of France, who -was to liberate them, they found themselves subjected to a despotism -still more odious, to a thraldom still more insupportable. The Emperor -of that country is now in a condition to which, I firmly believe, -nothing but his own restless and gigantic ambition could have reduced -him: I hope the alliance will profit from this. I do not pretend to -know what were the terms proposed to France before the termination of -the armistice; but I sincerely hope that now, in the moment of success, -the same terms will still be offered.” ... At this there was a general -murmur through the House.... “I am not surprised,” he continued, “at -hearing this murmur: perhaps I am misunderstood. What I mean to say is, -and that I will maintain, that whatever terms may have been proposed to -France at that time, as a basis upon which negotiations for peace might -take place, I hope the same basis will now be offered, ... or else I -see no conclusion to which the war can come.” - -♦MR. CANNING. - -NOV. 17.♦ - -Mr. Canning was not present during this debate, but he took the first -opportunity that presented itself for delivering his sentiments. “If,” -said he, “in the present state of this country and of the world, those -who, during the course of the tremendous and protracted struggle, on -various occasions, called upon Parliament to pause, to retard its too -rapid and too rash advance, and to draw back from the task it had -unwisely undertaken to perform, ... if those persons have manfully -and honourably stepped forward to join their congratulations to the -joyful acclamations of the nation, and to admit the present to be -the period favourable for a mighty and decided effort, how much more -grateful must it be to those who, at no time during the struggle, -have lifted up their voices in this place, excepting to recommend -and to urge new exertions, ... to those who, when the prospects were -most dreary and melancholy, insisted that there was but one course -becoming the character and honour of Great Britain, ... a persevering -and undaunted resistance to the overwhelming power of France! To an -individual who, under the most discouraging circumstances, still -maintained that the deliverance of Europe (often a derided term) was -an object not only worthy of our arms, but possible to be achieved, it -must be doubly welcome to come forward and vindicate his share in the -national exultation. If, too, on the other hand, there have been those -who, having recommended pacification when the opportunity was less -favourable, are now warranted, as undoubtedly they are, in uttering -the same sentiments, in the confidence that the country will sympathize -with them, it is natural for those who, under other circumstances, -have discouraged the expectation of peace, and have warned the nation -against precipitate overtures, now to be anxious to embrace this -occasion of stating their sincere conviction and their joy (as strongly -felt by them as by others) that, by the happy course of events during -the last year, and by the wise policy we shall now pursue, peace may -not, perhaps, be within our grasp, but is at least within our view. It -is impossible to look back upon those times when the enemy vaunted, -and we perhaps feared, that we should have been compelled to sue for -peace, without, amid all the ebullition of joy, returning thanks to -that Providence which gave us courage and heart still to bear up -against accumulating calamity. Peace is safe now, because it is not -dictated; peace is safe now, for it is the fruit of exertion, the child -of victory; peace is safe now, because it will not be purchased at the -expense of the interest and of the honour of the empire: it is not the -ransom to buy off danger, but the fruit of the mighty means which we -have employed to drive danger from our shores. I must, with heartfelt -delight, congratulate my country, that, groaning as she has done at -former periods under the heavy pressure of adverse war, still ‘peace -was despaired of, for who could think of submission?’ Her strength, -her endurance have been tried and proved by every mode of assault -that the most refined system of hostility could invent, not only by -open military attacks, but by low attempts to destroy her commercial -prosperity: the experiment has been made, the experiment has failed; -and we are now triumphantly, but not arrogantly, to consider what -measures of security should be adopted, or on what terms a peace should -be concluded. - -“But has this country gained nothing by the glorious contest, even -supposing peace should be far distant? Is it nothing to Great Britain, -even purchased at so large a price, that her military character has -been exalted? Is it no satisfaction ... no compensation to her ... to -reflect that the splendid scenes displayed on the continent are owing -to her efforts? that the victories of Germany are to be attributed to -our victories in the Peninsula? That spark, often feeble, and sometimes -so nearly extinguished as to excite despair in all hearts that were not -above it, ... that spark which was lighted in Portugal, which was fed -and nourished there, has at length burst into a flame that has dazzled -and illuminated Europe. At the commencement of this war, our empire -rested upon one majestic column, our naval power. In the prosecution -of the war, a hero has raised another stupendous pillar of strength to -support our monarchy, ... our military pre-eminence. It is now that we -may boast not only of superiority at sea, but on shore; the same energy -and heroism exist in both the arms of Great Britain: they are rivals -in strength, but inseparable in glory. Out of the calamities of war -has arisen a principle of safety, that superior to all attacks, shall -survive through ages, and to which our posterity shall look forward. -Compare the situation of England with her condition at the renewal of -the war! Were we not then threatened by the aggressions of an enemy -even upon our own shores, ... were we not then trembling for the safety -and sanctity even of our homes? Now contemplate Wellington encamped -on the Bidassoa! I know that a sickly sensibility leads some to doubt -whether the advance of Lord Wellington was not rash and precipitate. -I cannot enter into that refinement which induces those who affect to -know much to hesitate upon this subject: I cannot look with regret -upon a British army encamped upon the fertile plains of France: I -cannot believe that any new grounds for apprehension are raised by an -additional excitement being afforded to the irritability of the French -people: I foresee no disadvantage from entering the territories of our -enemy not as the conquered but the conquerors! I cannot regret that the -Portugueze are now looking upon the walls of Bayonne ‘that circle in -those wolves’ which would have devastated their capital, ... that the -Portugueze now behold planted on the towers of Bayonne the standard -which their enemy would have made to float upon the walls of Lisbon! -I cannot think it a matter of regret, that the Spaniards are now -recovering from the grasp of an enemy on his own shores, that diadem -which was stripped from the brow of the Bourbons to be pocketed by a -usurper! I cannot think it a matter of regret that England formerly -threatened with invasion is now the invader, ... that France instead -of England is the scene of conflict! I cannot think all this matter of -regret; and of those who believe that the nation or myself are blinded -by our successes, I entreat that they will leave me to my delusion, and -keep their philosophy to themselves. - -“Our enemy,” the accomplished orator pursued, “who enslaved the press -and made it contribute so importantly to his own purposes of ambition, -endeavoured to impress upon other nations a belief that Great Britain -fought only to secure her own interests, and that her views were -completely selfish. That illusion is now destroyed, and the designs of -this country are vindicated. We call on all the powers with whom we -have been or are at war to do us justice in this respect: above all -we claim it of America! I ask her to review her own and the policy of -this country. Now she can behold Buonaparte in his naked deformity, -stripped of the false glory which success cast around him; the spell of -his invincibility is now dissolved; she can now look at him without -that awe which an uninterrupted series of victories had created. -Were she now to survey him as he is, what would be the result? She -would trace him by the desolation of empires, and the dismemberment -of states. She would see him pursuing his course over the ruins of -men and of things: slavery to the people and destruction to commerce, -hostility to literature, to light, and life, were the principles -upon which he acted. His object was to extinguish patriotism, and to -confound allegiance; to darken as well as to enslave; to roll back the -tide of civilization; to barbarize as well as to desolate mankind. -Then let America turn from these scenes of bloodshed and horror, and -compare with them the effect of British interference! She will see -that wherever this country has exerted herself, it has been to raise -the fallen and to support the falling; to raise, not to degrade the -national character; to rouse the sentiments of patriotism which tyranny -had silenced; to enlighten, to reanimate, to liberate. Great Britain -has resuscitated Spain, and re-created Portugal; Germany is now a -nation as well as a name; and all these glorious effects have been -produced by the efforts and by the example of our country. If to be the -deliverers of Europe; if to have raised our own national character, not -upon the ruins of other kingdoms; if to meet dangers without shrinking, -and to possess courage rising with difficulties, be admirable, surely -we may not unreasonably hope for the applause of the world. If we have -founded our strength upon a rock, and possess the implicit confidence -of those allies whom we have succoured when they seemed beyond relief, -then I say that our exertions during the last year, and all our efforts -during the war, are cheaply purchased; if we have burdened ourselves, -we have relieved others; and we have the inward, the soul-felt, the -proud satisfaction of knowing that a selfish charge is that which, -with the faintest shadow of justice, cannot be brought against us.” - -♦MR. WHITBREAD.♦ - -This speech was wormwood to Mr. Whitbread; he animadverted in reply -upon what he termed the overweening self-complacency with which Mr. -Canning talked of the share we had had in giving a decisive turn to the -aspect of affairs in the North; it was the conduct of this country, he -asserted, which had enabled Buonaparte to proceed as he had done in -his unprincipled career: Great Britain had made Buonaparte, and he had -undone himself. “If there were no broad and definite outline previously -laid down,” he said, “and firmly adhered to, as to the demands on the -part of the allies, or the concessions on that of France, which were -to form the groundwork of a general peace, he would venture to predict -that before long some one or other of the allies would make a separate -treaty founded on its own views or interests. And if we attempted -blindly to push our advantages too far, he feared we should rouse -the same irresistible power in France which in 1793 had repelled the -combined attacks of all Europe, which had since led on the Emperor of -the French to his conquests, and which might again turn the tide of -success against us.” - -♦MILITIA ALLOWED TO VOLUNTEER FOR FOREIGN SERVICE.♦ - -In pursuance of these opinions, Mr. Whitbread, when a bill was brought -in for allowing three-fourths of any militia regiment to volunteer for -foreign service, moved to insert in the preamble to the bill, that -this was for bringing the war to a speedy and happy termination, and -obtaining the blessings of peace upon terms of reciprocity, honour, and -security, to all the belligerent powers. What he meant by reciprocity -between some of those powers he would have found it difficult to -explain; ... but the proposed insertion was negatived as unnecessary, -and Mr. Whitbread neither opposed the bill, nor the supplies voted for -carrying into effect the engagements of this nation with its ♦LORD -HOLLAND. DEC. 20.♦ allies. Lord Holland approved of the confidence -which was thus placed in ministers. “Although,” he said, “great part of -the happy results of this war might be justly attributed to a powerful -popular impulse, and to that infatuation on the part of the enemy, -which, thank God, always attended the long abuse of power, ... yet it -must be felt that a great deal of the merit is to be attributed to -the conduct of the government of this country. If the sentiments of -an individual,” he pursued, “are of consequence enough to arrest your -attention, it must be in your Lordships’ recollection that I always -approved of the interposition and interference of ministers in the -cause of Spain. The merit of such policy appears, and ever has appeared -to my judgment, quite indisputable, and must now indeed be universally -admitted; for, aided by the uncommon genius of Lord Wellington, that -policy has produced the most important results. It has driven the enemy -from that country which he had so long and so unremittingly oppressed. -It has presented a most encouraging and impressive example to Europe -of what a people excited by oppression were capable of achieving. It -has changed the whole character of the war, by making it a war of the -people. But a still farther advantage has arisen out of this policy. -A most atrocious calumny had become current in Europe, that the -government of this country was always ready to distribute its subsidies -with a view to embroil the nations of the continent, while it kept its -own people aloof from the contest. No such impression can ever again -prevail in Europe. The calumny has been effectually refuted by the -policy we have pursued with respect to Spain; for there we have not -only given our money but our men; there we have given our money, not -to excite the people but to enable them to act, and we have seconded -their exertions by a powerful army. - -“In declaring my approbation of ministers in consequence of their -moderate language and conduct, that approbation is, of course, founded -upon a hope and confidence, that the very different language which -appears in certain publications has in no degree their sanction or -countenance. Sounding a violent and barbarous war-whoop through -the country, abounding in coarse, vulgar, virulent epithets, these -publications complete their abominable character by excitements to -assassination. Although the French ruler has rendered himself so odious -by his conduct, yet it must be admitted that he is a great military -commander, still at the head of a great nation; and is it fitting -that the press of this country should become the means of advising -the assassination of such a man, ... nay, of exhorting to the deed? -and what else can be meant by the repeated declaration, that no peace -can be concluded while this individual lives? The French ruler is no -doubt ambitious, inordinately ambitious; but if it were resolved that -no peace should be made with France while it was under the government -of an ambitious man, when, I would ask, could peace be expected? The -meaning, however, of all the publications I have referred to, may be -to recommend the restoration of the Bourbon family; but the attempt -at such a measure would be totally inconsistent with the professed -moderation and policy of ministers. That restoration might be good; -but it would be preposterous to look for the success of such an -object through the intervention of foreign armies; and it would be -opposite to the policy and principle of ministers to engage in any such -undertaking.” - -Alluding then to the just remark of Lord Grenville, that one great -advantage resulting from the recent changes on the continent was, that -it afforded an opportunity for restoring the balance of power, “I must -be allowed,” said Lord Holland, “to say, that the re-establishment and -maintenance of that balance can never consist in, nor depend upon, -particular divisions of territory, so much as upon the existence of a -general feeling among the European states, that it is the interest of -each to preserve the independence of each and all. Such is the feeling -which gave birth and cement to the present confederacy; and therefore I -wish that such a confederacy may continue to exist in peace as well as -in war. I esteem the principle of this confederacy, because it appears -solicitous to preserve the interest of all, without gratifying the -peculiar interest of any one; and upon that principle I would rather -leave France with such possessions as should make her feel an interest -in the common object of the confederacy, than transfer from her to any -other state any possessions which might be likely to withdraw that -state from the general feeling which it is the interest of peace and -Europe to improve and strengthen.” - -♦TERMS OFFERED BY THE ALLIES TO BUONAPARTE.♦ - -It was well for Great Britain and for the continent that Buonaparte -was not contented with such terms of peace as the allies, with a -generosity which had neither the character of wisdom nor of justice, -would a little before this have granted him. Even when he had been -driven over the Rhine, they would, according to their own declaration, -have left France more powerful than she had ever been under her kings, -if he would have consented to give up Italy. Out of Germany and out of -the Peninsula he had been beaten; but they would have allowed France -to remain with the whole of the Netherlands, and with the Rhine for -her boundary, if vain-glory and a blind confidence in his fortune -had not still demented Buonaparte. But he declared that he would -not under any circumstances abandon Italy; and they who ought not, -under any circumstances, now to have negotiated with him, prepared to -enter France. On his part he collected the largest force that that -exhausted country could supply, to resist the impending invasion; and -as it thus became an object of great importance for him to bring to -his assistance Suchet’s army, and the troops who were shut up in the -remaining garrisons in Valencia and Catalonia, he thought this might be -effected by dictating a treaty to ♦BUONAPARTE TREATS WITH FERDINAND.♦ -his prisoner, Ferdinand. Accordingly he sent the Comte de Laforest to -Valençay, to negotiate with that poor Prince, saying, that under the -existing circumstances of his empire and his policy, he wished at once -to settle the affairs of Spain; that England was encouraging Jacobinism -and anarchy there, for the purpose of destroying the nobility and the -monarchy, and erecting a republic; that he could not but grievously -feel the destruction of a neighbouring state, connected by so many -maritime and commercial interests with his own; that he desired to -remove every pretext for English interference, and to re-establish -those ties of friendship and good neighbourhood by which Spain and -France had been so long connected; and therefore he had sent the Comte -de Laforest under a feigned name, to whom his Royal Highness might give -entire credit in all that he should propose. - -♦CONFERENCE BETWEEN COMTE DE LAFOREST AND FERDINAND.♦ - -The Comte accordingly presented himself under the name of M. Dubois, -in order that the negotiation might be kept secret, because, if the -English were to discover, they would use every means for frustrating -it. The Emperor, he represented, had done all he could in Bayonne to -accommodate the differences which then existed between father and son; -but the English had marred every thing; they had introduced Jacobinism -into Spain, where the land was laid waste, religion destroyed, the -clergy ruined, the nobility crushed, the marine existing only in name, -the colonies dismembered and in insurrection, and, in fine, everything -overthrown. Those islanders desired nothing but to change the monarchy -into a republic; and yet, to deceive the people, they put the name -of his Royal Highness at the head of all their public acts. Moved by -these calamities, and by the lamentations of all good Spaniards, the -Emperor had chosen him for this important mission, because of his long -experience, for he had been more than forty years in the diplomatic -career, and had resided in every court; but, as there were so many -persons who knew him, he requested that the Spanish princes on their -part would contribute to keep the affair secret. Ferdinand had at this -time none with whom to consult, except his brother and his uncle, who -were both as inexperienced in business as himself. He replied, that -so unexpected a proposition required much reflection; he must have -time for considering it, and would let him know the result. Laforest, -without waiting for this, obtained an audience on the following day, -and then said, that if his Majesty accepted the kingdom of Spain, which -the Emperor wished to restore to him, they must concert means for -getting the English out of that country. To this Ferdinand replied, -that he could make no treaty, considering the circumstances in which -he was placed at Valençay, and indeed could take no measures without -the consent of the nation, as represented by the Regency. The old -diplomatist made answer, it certainly was not the intention of the -Emperor that his Majesty should do the slightest thing which might be -contrary to the wish of Spain; but in this case it would be necessary -that he should find means of ascertaining it. Ferdinand then said -that, during five years and a half, for so long he had been absent from -his own country, he had known nothing more of the state of affairs than -what he read in the French newspapers. Those papers, Laforest affirmed, -exhibited the true state of things; and he made a speech of some length -to prove what Ferdinand was not so devoid of penetration as to believe. -He concluded in words to this effect: “He who is born to a kingdom -has no will of his own; he must be a king, and is not like a private -individual, free to choose for himself that way of life which he may -think most agreeable. And where is he who, when a kingdom is offered -him, would not instantly accept it? Yet, withal, if he who should be a -king were to say, ‘I renounce all dignity from this time, and, far from -seeking honours, desire only to lead a private life;’ in that case the -affair becomes of a different kind. If, therefore, your Royal Highness -is in this predicament, the Emperor must have recourse to other -means; but if, as I cannot but believe, your Royal Highness thinks of -receiving the sceptre, the indispensable preliminary must be to settle -the principal bases of the negotiation upon which afterwards to treat, -and for this purpose to appoint a Spaniard, one of those who are at -this time in France.” Ferdinand calmly replied that this required -consideration. Upon this Laforest observed, that when a kingdom was to -be received, there was not much to consider, reasons of state being -the sole rule of conduct. But Ferdinand made answer, that he was far -from agreeing with him in that maxim; it was his belief that nothing -required greater consideration, and he would take time to deliberate -upon it. - -Ferdinand could not have acted with better judgment at this time, if -he had had the ablest statesmen to advise him. In fact, the straight -course was the sure one; for, though he had been kept in complete -ignorance of all recent events, the very circumstance of this proposal -was proof sufficient that Buonaparte’s fortune had failed, and that -his motive for giving up his pretensions to Spain was that he was no -longer able to support them. On the morrow, he said to the ambassador -that, having maturely reflected upon what had been proposed, he must -repeat that he could do nothing, and treat of nothing, in his present -situation, without consulting with the nation, and of course with the -Regency. “The Emperor,” said he, “has placed me here; and if he chooses -that I should return to Spain, he it is who must consult and treat with -the Regency, because he has means of doing this, and I have not; or he -must afford me means, and consent that a deputation from the Regency -should come hither, and inform me concerning the state of Spain, and -propose to me measures for rendering it happy: any thing which I may -then conclude here with his Imperial Majesty will be valid. And it is -the more necessary that such a deputation should come, because there -is no person in France whom I could fitly employ in this affair.” -Laforest replied at some length, endeavouring to persuade him that the -English and Portugueze governed Spain, and that their intention was to -place the house of Braganza upon the Spanish throne, beginning with his -sister, the Princess of Brazil. He also pressed Ferdinand to declare -whether, when he returned to Spain, he meant to be the friend or the -enemy of the Emperor? This was presuming upon the weakness of the -person whom he addressed; but Ferdinand was not wanting in presence of -mind on this occasion. “I esteem the Emperor highly,” he replied, “but -I never will do any thing that may be injurious to my people and their -welfare; and upon this point I now finally declare that nothing shall -make me alter my determination. If the Emperor chooses that I should -return to Spain, let him treat with the Regency, and when that is done, -and I am assured of it, I will sign the treaty; but for this it will -be necessary that a deputation should come here and inform me of every -thing. Report this to the Emperor, and tell him, also, that this is -what my conscience dictates to me.” - -♦NOV. 21.♦ - -Ferdinand expressed himself to the same effect in a letter, which on -the morrow he delivered into Laforest’s hands. “I am still under the -protection of your Imperial Majesty,” he added, “and still profess -the same love and respect of which you have had so many proofs. If -your Majesty’s system of policy, and the actual circumstances of your -empire, will not allow of your conforming to this course, I shall then -remain quietly and willingly at Valençay, where I have now passed five -years and a half, and where I shall remain for the rest of my life, if -God has so appointed it. It is painful to me, Sire, to speak in this -manner to your Majesty, but conscience compels me to it. I have as much -interest for the English as for the French, but, nevertheless, I must -prefer the interest and happiness of my own nation to every thing. Your -Imperial and Royal Majesty will see, I hope, in this nothing more than -a new proof of my ingenuous sincerity, and of the affection which I -bear towards you. If I should promise any thing to your Majesty, and -afterwards be obliged to act in opposition to it, what would you think -of me? you would say that I am inconstant, and you would despise me, -and dishonour me with all Europe.” - -When Laforest received this letter from Ferdinand, he observed, that -his Royal Highness desired nothing but what was very just; but he asked -whether he designed to treat with the Emperor before he had consulted -with the Regency, or after? if after, it would occasion much delay; -if before, when the business was once concluded with the Emperor, -the Regency would instantly do whatever he thought fit. But if his -intention in returning to Spain was to continue the war with France, -the Emperor would choose rather to keep him in his power, and carry on -the war upon its present footing. Ferdinand replied, that surely either -the ambassador had not understood him, or he himself must have failed -in expressing himself with sufficient clearness. “My declarations,” -he pursued, “amount to this, that I marry myself to neither power. -If the interest of Spain requires that I should be the friend of the -French, I will be so; but if it requires that I should be the friend -of the English, their friend I shall be; and, finally, if this should -not suit the Emperor, the Infantes and I will remain well pleased -where we are at Valençay. In acting thus I do no otherwise ♦ESCOIQUIZ, -IDEA SENCILLA, &C., PP. 83, 100.♦ than the Emperor himself would do -were he in my place[3].” From this resolution Ferdinand was not to be -dissuaded, and Laforest accordingly returned with this reply. - -♦TREATY CONCLUDED AT VALENÇAY. - -DEC. 11.♦ - -Upon his return, Buonaparte dispatched the Duque de S. Carlos to -Valençay to negotiate, on Ferdinand’s part, with Laforest; and a treaty -was easily concluded to this effect, that the Emperor of the French -recognized Ferdinand and his successors as Kings of Spain and of the -Indies, according to the order established by the fundamental laws of -Spain; and that he recognized the integrity of the Spanish territory -as it existed before the war, and would deliver up to the Spaniards -such provinces and fortified places as the French still occupied in -Spain: Ferdinand obliging himself, on his part, to maintain the same -integrity, and that also of the adjacent isles and fortified places, -and especially Minorca and Ceuta; and to make the English evacuate -those provinces and places, the evacuation by the French and English -being to be made simultaneously. The two contracting powers bound -themselves to maintain the independence of their maritime rights, -as had been stipulated in the treaty of Utrecht, and observed till -the year 1792. All Spaniards who had adhered to King Joseph were to -re-enter upon the honours, rights, and privileges which they had -enjoyed, and all the property of which they might have been deprived -should be restored to them; and to such as might choose to live out of -Spain, ten years should be allowed for disposing of their possessions. -Prisoners on both sides were to be sent home, and also the garrison -of Pamplona, and the prisoners at Cadiz, Coruña, the Mediterranean -islands, or any other depôt which might have been delivered to the -English, ... whether they were in Spain, or had been sent to America -or to England. Ferdinand bound himself to pay an annual sum of thirty -millions of reales to Charles IV., his father, and, in case of his -death, an annuity of two millions to the Queen, his widow. Finally, a -treaty of commerce was to be formed between the two nations, and till -this could be done, their commercial relations were to be placed upon -the same footing as before the war of 1792. - -♦S. CARLOS SENT TO THE REGENCY. DEC. 8.♦ - -The next step was to notify this treaty to the actual government of -Spain. Accordingly Ferdinand addressed a letter to the Regency, being -the first communication which he had been permitted to hold with his -own country since his entrapment. “Divine Providence,” he said, “which -in its inscrutable wisdom had permitted him to pass from the palace -of Madrid to that of Valençay, had granted to him the blessings of -health and strength, and the consolation of never having been for a -moment separated from his beloved brother and uncle, the Infantes, Don -Carlos and Don Antonio. They had experienced in that palace a noble -hospitality; their way of life had been as agreeable as it could be -under such circumstances; and he had employed his time in the manner -most suitable to his new condition. The only intelligence which he had -heard of his beloved Spain was what the French gazettes supplied; these -had given him some knowledge of the sacrifices which the nation had -made for him; of the magnanimous and unalterable constancy manifested -by his faithful vassals, of the persevering assistance of England, -the admirable conduct of its general-in-chief, Lord Wellington, and -of the Spanish and allied generals who had distinguished themselves. -The English ministry had publicly declared their readiness to admit -propositions of peace, founded upon his restitution; nevertheless, -the miseries of his kingdom still continued. He was in this state -of passive but vigilant observation, when the Emperor of the French -spontaneously made proposals to him, founded upon his restitution, and -the integrity and independence of his dominions, without any clause -which would not be compatible with the honour and glory and interest -of the Spanish nation. Being persuaded that Spain could not, after the -most successful and protracted war, conclude a more advantageous peace, -he had authorized the Duque de S. Carlos to negotiate in his name with -the Comte de Laforest, whom the Emperor Napoleon had nominated as -plenipotentiary on the part of France; and he had now appointed the -Duque to carry this treaty to the Regency, in proof of the confidence -which he reposed in them, that they might ratify it in their usual -manner, and send it back to him after this necessary form without loss -of time. How satisfactory,” he concluded, “is it for me to stop the -effusion of blood, and to see the end of so many evils! and how do I -long to return and live among a people, who have given the universe -an example of the purest loyalty, and of the noblest and most generous -character!” - -This letter seemed to leave the Regency no power of deliberation, -but simply to require that they should ratify the treaty. But in -fact, Ferdinand, if he had any such wish, had no such expectation; -and he had penetration enough to see that the course of events which -had compelled Buonaparte to treat with him upon such terms, must -in their consequences restore him to his kingdom; even though the -Regency should, as he supposed, refuse to ratify it, because of their -engagement with the allied powers. He gave the Duque, therefore, -♦SECRET INSTRUCTIONS FROM FERDINAND.♦ secret verbal instructions to -inquire into the spirit of the Regency and the Cortes; and if he -should find them loyal and well affected to his royal person, ... -not, as he suspected, tainted with infidelity and Jacobinism, ... he -was then to let the Regency know, but in the greatest confidence, his -royal intention that the treaty should be ratified, if it could be -done without injury to the good faith which Spain owed to the allied -powers, or to the public weal; but that he was far from requiring -this if it were otherwise. Should the Regency be of opinion, that -without compromising these points, the treaty might be ratified, upon -an understanding with England temporarily, and until his return to -Spain should in consequence be effected, upon the supposition that -he, without whose free approbation it could not be complete, would -not ratify it when at liberty, but would declare it to have been -constrained and null, and moreover as being injurious to the nation; -in that case he wished them so to ratify it, because the French could -not reasonably reproach him, if, having acquired information concerning -the state of Spain, which had been withheld from him in his captivity, -he should refuse to confirm it. But if the Duque should discover that -the spirit of Jacobinism prevailed in the Regency and the Cortes, he -was then simply to require that the treaty should be ratified; for this -would ♦ESCOIQUIZ, 108–10.♦ not prevent the King from continuing the war -after his return, if the interest and good faith of the nation should -so require. This intention, however, was to be kept profoundly secret, -lest, through any treachery, it should be made known to the French -government. - -♦MACANAZ SENT TO VALENÇAY.♦ - -With these instructions the Duque departed, travelling under the -assumed name of Ducós, that his mission might not be suspected. -Laforest remained at Valençay, still under a false name, and keeping -out of sight, in the same part of the castle which Ferdinand and the -Infantes inhabited; and before the Duque’s departure, Don Pedro de -Macanaz was sent thither by Buonaparte to continue the conferences with -this diplomatist. However much the Regency, or rather the Cortes (for -the Regency was now the mere organ of its pleasure) might be surprised -when the treaty was communicated to them, they were not unprovided -♦JAN. 8.♦ for such an event. The Regency accordingly expressed in reply -their joy upon seeing the King’s signature, and being assured of his -good health, and of that of the Infantes, and of the noble sentiments -which he cherished for his dear Spain. “If,” they said, “they could -but ill express their own satisfaction, still less could they the joy -of that noble and magnanimous people who had sworn fidelity to him; -nor the sacrifices which they had made, were making, and still would -make, till they should see him placed upon the throne of love and -justice which they had prepared for him: they must content themselves -with declaring to his Majesty that he was the beloved and the desired -of the whole nation. It was their duty to put him in possession of a -decree passed by the Cortes on the 1st of January, 1811; so doing, they -were excused from making the slightest observation upon the treaty, in -which his Majesty had the most authentic proof that the sacrifices made -by the Spaniards for the recovery of his royal person had not been made -in vain. And they congratulated him upon seeing that the day was now -near when they should enjoy the inexpressible happiness of delivering -up to him the royal authority which they had preserved for him in -faithful deposit during his captivity.” The decree which accompanied -this letter was that by which the Cortes enacted that no treaty which -the King might conclude during his restraint and captivity should be -recognized by Spain. - -♦ZAYAS AND PALAFOX RELEASED.♦ - -Some delay had taken place in the Duque de S. Carlos’s journey, owing -to the removal of the Cortes from Cadiz to Madrid just at that time. In -the interim, Buonaparte, who was now as desirous to withdraw his troops -from the Peninsula as, in evil hour for himself, he had once been of -introducing them there, sought to accelerate that object. He released -Zayas and Palafox, who had been kept close prisoners at Vincennes, -and sent them to Valençay. Escoiquiz soon followed them; and Laforest -proposed that orders should be given by the Regency, immediately after -the ratification, for a general suspension of hostilities, humanity -requiring that all useless expenditure of blood should be avoided. -The Emperor, he said, had appointed Marshal Suchet his commissioner -for executing that part of the treaty which related to evacuating the -fortresses; and it now depended upon the Spanish government alone -to expedite this business, and effect the release of prisoners; the -generals and officers should proceed by post to their own country, and -the soldiers be delivered upon the frontier as fast as they arrived -there. This being assented to by Macanaz and Escoiquiz, ♦PALAFOX SENT -TO THE REGENCY. DEC. 23.♦ on Ferdinand’s part, it was determined that -Palafox should be sent to communicate it to the Regency, bearing with -him a duplicate of the Duque’s commission, in case any accident might -have happened to him upon the way; and also a letter in which Ferdinand -expressed his persuasion that the Regency had by this time ratified -the treaty. But Palafox had secret instructions to see the English -ambassador at Madrid, express to him how grateful the King felt for -the exertions of the British government in his favour, and communicate -to him, in secrecy, the King’s real intention in thus negotiating with -Buonaparte, in order that that government, far from resenting such a -proceeding, should contribute to its fulfilment. The ♦REPLY OF THE -SPANISH GOVERNMENT. 1814. JAN. 28.♦ Regency replied to this second -communication by referring to their former reply; they added, that “an -ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary had now been named, on -his Majesty’s part, for a congress in which the allies were about to -give peace to Europe. In that congress, they said, the treaty would -be concluded; and it would be ratified not by the Regency, but by his -Majesty himself, in his own royal palace of Madrid, whither he would -be restored to occupy, in the most absolute liberty, a throne rendered -illustrious by the heroic sacrifices of the Spaniards, and by his own -sublime virtues. And they expressed their satisfaction in the thought -that they should soon deliver up to his Majesty the authority wherewith -they were intrusted, ... a charge of such weight that it could rest -only upon the robust shoulders of a monarch who, by re-establishing -the Cortes, had restored to freedom an enslaved people, and driven the -ferocious monster, Despotism, from the throne of Spain.” - -♦MEASURES OF THE CORTES.♦ - -The Spanish government would have acted thus far prudently in its -communication with Ferdinand, if it had abstained from this empty -language: but the _Liberales_, as the ruling party called themselves, -were, some, vain of their talents, others confident in the uprightness -of their intentions, and all alike ignorant of their weakness. If the -abler leaders of this party had not proceeded so far as they desired -and perhaps designed, they were yet conscious that they had proceeded -farther than their functions warranted and than Ferdinand would -sanction. They held, therefore, a secret sitting of the Cortes, and -deliberated upon the measures to be taken in case the King should pass -the frontiers. It was proposed, by a commission appointed to report -upon this emergency, that he should not be considered as being free, -nor should obedience be rendered him, until he should have sworn to -the Constitution in the bosom of the Cortes; that the Generals on the -frontiers should send expresses to the government with all speed, as -soon as they obtained any tidings of his probable coming; that if he -were accompanied by any armed force, that force should be repulsed, -according to the laws of war; should it consist of Spaniards, they -were to lay down their arms, and those who had been carried prisoners -into France licensed to return each to his home; whatever General -might have the honour of receiving the King being to supply him with -a guard suitable to his royal dignity and person. No foreigner should -be allowed to accompany him, not even as a domestic or servant; no -Spaniard who had filled any office, received any pension, or accepted -any honour from Buonaparte or from the Intruder. The Regency should be -charged to fix the route by which the King should proceed to Madrid; -and the President of the Regency, as soon as he arrived in Spain, -should set out to meet and accompany him with a proper retinue, and -present him with a copy of the Constitution, that so his Majesty, -having made himself acquainted therewith, might, upon full deliberation -and with entire consent, take the oath which it prescribed. Having -reached the capital, he should proceed straight to the Cortes, there to -take the said oath, with all the ceremonies and solemnities enjoined: -this done, thirty Members of that assembly should attend him to the -palace, where the Regency should resign the government into his hands; -on the same day the Cortes should prepare a decree for making known to -the nation the solemn act by which, and in virtue of the oath which -he should then have sworn, the King had been constitutionally placed -upon the throne; and this decree should be presented to the King by a -deputation, that it might be published with all due formalities. The -opinion of the Council of State upon this proposition was required -within four-and-twenty hours. - -♦FEB. 1.♦ - -The Council was of opinion that the King ought not to exercise any -authority till he should have taken the oath before the Cortes. They -thought that a deputation should be appointed to meet him, and inform -him concerning the state of affairs and of public opinion, both as to -the eternal and sworn hatred of Napoleon, and the observance of the -Constitution. One member of the Council advised that the deputation -should consist of members of the Cortes, two of whom in rotation should -accompany the King in his coach till he arrived at the palace; and -also that all the soldiers who had been prisoners in France should -be detained upon the frontier, and all the King’s attendants also, -till they should have taken the oath. “It must be believed,” said the -Council, “that if Napoleon sends Ferdinand to Spain, it can only be for -the purpose of laying a new snare for us, and making him the instrument -of his iniquitous schemes, and rendering him, perhaps, odious to a -nation which now longs for his presence, ... it must be with the design -of fomenting a civil war, in which he may be entrapped, seduced, and -compelled to take a part; that the attention of the allies may thus -be distracted, and the progress of their operations be delayed. Now, -therefore, more than ever Spain stands in need of that energy which -hitherto she has displayed against the common enemy; now it is that -she must manifest to the King how much she has done for his sake, and -how much she loves him; but at the same time how much she loves the -Constitution, and abhors the tyrannical disturber of the world. And, -therefore, it is now more than ever of importance that efforts should -be redoubled for maintaining our armies upon a good footing, and -co-operating more effectually for the destruction of that monster.” - -In this transaction Buonaparte acted towards Ferdinand with good faith, -because he had no interest in acting otherwise; so he could extricate -his garrisons he cared not now what might become of Spain. Ferdinand -conducted himself with as much prudence and as little duplicity as -could be expected in his situation. The Liberales miscalculated their -strength; their measures implied a distrust of the King; and if he -inferred from their language, that, under all its professions of -respectful and affectionate loyalty, a defiance was couched there in -case he should hesitate to recognise the new order of things, he was -not mistaken in its purport and intent. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVI. - - PROCEEDINGS IN FRANCE. THE DUC D’ANGOULEME GOES TO LORD WELLINGTON’S - ARMY. LERIDA, MEQUINENZA, AND MONZON RECOVERED BY STRATAGEM. - PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR. BATTLE OF ORTHES. THE ALLIES RECEIVED AT - BOURDEAUX. BATTLE OF TOULOUSE. SORTIE FROM BAYONNE. RESTORATION - OF FERDINAND. CONCLUSION. - - -♦1814.♦ - -Buonaparte had returned to France breathing vengeance. He sent before -him two-and-twenty standards taken in the course of his German -campaign; and he announced to his Council of State, in troubled and -passionate language, the extent of his danger, and his determination -of opposing and overcoming it by the most ♦BUONAPARTE’S SPEECH TO HIS -COUNCIL.♦ violent efforts. “Wellington,” said he, “is in the south, the -Russians threaten the northern frontier, Austria the south-eastern, ... -yet, shame to speak it, the nation has not risen in mass to repel them! -Every ally has abandoned me: the Bavarians have betrayed me!... Peace? -no peace, till Munich is in flames! I demand of you 300,000 men; I will -form a camp at Bourdeaux of 100,000, another at Lyons, a third at Metz: -with the remnant of my former levies, I shall have 1,000,000 of men in -arms. But it is men whom I demand, full-grown men; not these miserable -striplings who choke my hospitals with sick, and my highways with their -carcases.... Give up Holland? rather let it sink into the sea! Peace, -it seems, is talked of, when all around ought to re-echo with the cry -of war!” - -♦NOVEMBER. - -PROCEEDINGS OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.♦ - -Accordingly the obsequious senate placed, in official form and phrase, -300,000 conscripts at the disposal of the minister of war: they were -to be taken from the men who had been liable to the conscription in -former years, as far back as 1806, with an exception however in favour -of those who should have been married prior to the publication of this -decree; half this number were immediately to take the field, the others -to be held in reserve, and brought forward in case the eastern frontier -should be invaded. Comte Dejean, who ♦COMTE DEJEAN.♦ addressed the -senate upon this measure, said that painful as it was thus to call upon -classes who had formerly been free from the conscription, circumstances -now required such a measure: by this means men would be ranged under -the French eagles, who united strength with courage, and could support -the fatigues of war; while the younger conscripts would have time in -garrisons and in armies of reserve to acquire vigour for seconding the -sentiments which inspired them. “The cry of alarm,” said Regnaud de S. -Jean d’Angely, ♦REGNAUD DE S. JEAN D’ANGELY.♦ “and of succour, sent -forth by our sons and brethren in arms, still gloriously combating upon -the banks of the Rhine, has resounded upon the Seine and the Rhone, the -Doubs and the Gironde, the Moselle and the Loire, the mountains of Jura -and of the Vosges, the Alps and the Pyrenees. All true Frenchmen are -already prepared to meet the wants of their country, ... to meet the -dangers and sacrifices which must prevent other dangers and sacrifices -far more frightful, both for their extent and for the humiliation which -must accompany them. If the coalesced armies could penetrate beyond the -Pyrenees, the Alps, or the Rhine, then the day of peace could not shine -upon France; there could be no peace till we should repulse the enemy, -and drive him far from our territory. Noble sons of our dear France! -generous defenders of our glorious country! you, who close the entrance -of France against the English, the Russians, and their allies, you -shall not be left without support in the holy and honourable struggle -to which you have devoted yourselves. A little while, and numerous -battalions of men, mighty in strength and in courage, will come to aid -you in again seizing upon victory, and in delivering the French soil.” - -♦COMTE LACEPÈDE.♦ - -“Your Majesty,” said Comte Lacepède, “who knows better than any one -the wants and the sentiments of your subjects, know that we desire -peace. But all the nations of the continent are in greater need of it -than we are; and if, notwithstanding the wishes and interest of more -than 150 millions of souls, our enemies should think of presenting to -us a sort of capitulation, their expectations will be deceived; the -French people show by their devotement and their sacrifices that no -nation ever better understood their duties toward their country, their -honour, and their sovereign.” To this Buonaparte made answer, ... “It -is but a year since all Europe was with us; all Europe marches against -us now: this is because the opinion of the world is directed by France -or by England. We should have every thing to fear, were it not for the -energy and the power of the nation. Posterity will say that if great -and critical circumstances offered themselves, they were not superior -to France and to me.” His heart was hardened, or he might now have made -peace upon terms which would speedily have enabled him again to disturb -the world; but his spirit was unbroken; and his abilities were never at -any time so signally displayed, as in making head against the dangers -which were about to beset him on all sides. It was no longer possible -to keep the people in ignorance of the real state of things: the press, -which hitherto under his tyranny had been employed in deceiving them, -was made use of now to excite them, by declaring the whole truth as -respected the danger, but suppressing it upon all other points: the -allies were charged with breach of faith and inordinate ambition, they -were represented as all seeking their own aggrandizement; and the -Emperor Napoleon as struggling alone against them, for the honour and -the interests ♦BUONAPARTE’S SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.♦ of -France. He himself addressed the legislature to the same effect, ... -“Brilliant victories,” said he, “have illustrified the French arms in -this campaign; unexampled defections have rendered those victories -useless. Every thing has turned against us. France itself would be in -danger were it not for the energy and unanimity of the French. I have -never been seduced by prosperity; adversity will find me superior to -its attacks. Often have I given peace to nations when they had lost -all.... From part of my conquests I have erected thrones for kings -who have abandoned me. I had conceived and executed great designs for -the prosperity and happiness of the world. A monarch and a father, -I know what peace adds to the security of thrones and of families. -Negotiations have been set on foot. I hoped that the congress would by -this time have met; but delays, which are not attributable to France, -have deferred the moment which is called for by the wishes of the -world.” When Buonaparte said this, he had no hope of peace, no desire -for it, no intention of making any such concessions as would render it -possible. - -♦BRITISH REGULATIONS FOR TRADING WITH THE CAPTURED FRENCH PORTS.♦ - -As yet none of the other allied armies had passed the frontier; -but Lord Wellington was established in France, where, taking into -consideration the necessity of fixing the bases upon which the trade -with the ports of French Navarre to the south of the Adour should be -regulated, he published a proclamation, declaring that those ports -were ♦DEC. 18.♦ open to all nations who were not at war with any of -the allied powers, and fixing a duty of five per ♦DEC. 31.♦ cent. _ad -valorem_ upon all articles, except grain and salt, and stores for the -use of the army. An order of council was also published in England, -permitting British ♦JAN. 14.♦ vessels to trade with these and such -other French ports as might be under the protection, or in the military -occupation of his Majesty’s arms. To this then were the decrees of -Berlin and Milan come at last! The tyrant who had endeavoured to shut -the ports of all Europe against British ships and British merchandise, -and at one time had well nigh accomplished his barbarous and -barbarizing purpose, saw England now regulating the commerce of his own -ports, and levying duties in France, ... not after his example, with -blind and merciless rapacity, but upon those principles of moderation -and equity, on which her power has been raised, and by which her -prosperity is supported. Three years had not elapsed since the official -journal of Buonaparte’s government had said, that instead of defending -Portugal and Cadiz, Great Britain’s efforts would soon be required for -the defence of Gibraltar; that Spain having been conquered foot by foot -was on the point of being entirely subjected; that Wellington’s mode -of defending Portugal had been by abandoning the fortresses and laying -waste the country, and God grant, said the Moniteur, that he may one -day defend England in the same manner! “Our continental system,” said -the official journalist, “is completed; it diminishes your receipts by -crippling your commerce, and increases your expenses by obliging you -to keep armies in Lisbon and Sicily. In the meantime the French army, -according to our fundamental law, lives on the country in which it is -making war, and only costs us the pay which it would do at home.” - -“The credit which sustained the colossal power of Great Britain,” -said Buonaparte to his Legislative Body in the summer of 1811, “is no -more. Her allies are either lost or destroyed. She ruins all whom she -would subsidize; she exhausts her own people in useless efforts. But -the struggle against this modern Carthage will now be decided on the -plains of Spain; the peace of the continent will not be disturbed; -England herself shall feel the evils which during twenty years she has -inflicted on the continental nations. A clap of thunder shall put an -end to the affairs of the Peninsula, seal the fate of her armies, and -avenge Europe and Asia by terminating this second Punic ♦DECEMBER.♦ -war.” With what feelings must Buonaparte now have reflected upon these -bootless boasts! - -With as little satisfaction too could he reflect upon the result of -that fundamental principle of his military system, by which his armies -were made to live on the countries wherein they were making war. The -principle of the British commander was to demand nothing from the -inhabitants, and to seize nothing; not a single ration was required -from them; they were paid on the spot for every thing which they -brought, while Soult’s army drained the adjoining provinces by its -requisitions, and his soldiers were rendered at once formidable and -odious to their own countrymen by the insolent and lawless habits which -they had acquired in the Peninsula. The passage of the Nive had put the -allies in possession of a large tract of country singularly fertile; -they obtained great part of their forage from it; and the right wing by -its position on the left of the Adour, commanded the navigation of that -river, and often intercepted the enemy’s supplies. In that deep soil, -and in a season of continued rain, it was not possible for the army to -advance, an individual indeed could with difficulty make his way any -where but on the paved road; ... it was hardly thought bad walking if -the waters were not more than knee-deep. ♦INJURY DONE BY DESTROYING THE -WOODS IN THIS PART OF THE PYRENEES.♦ One of those unforeseen effects -which frequently arise when man interferes upon a large scale with the -works of nature, has rendered this country liable to inundations in -winter and spring, and to drought in summer. About the middle of the -seventeenth century a speculator[4] undertook to supply the French -government with ship timber from the Pyrenees; to effect this it was -necessary for him to increase the waters of the two rivers, or, as -they are there called, _Gaves_ of Pau and Oleron; and by turning into -them the course of numerous rivulets, he doubled the volume of the -latter stream, and increased the current of the Adour so much that a -50-gun ship could cross the bar of Bayonne with less difficulty than -before that time was experienced by a vessel with ten guns. He expended -300,000 crowns upon this scheme, succeeded in it, and ruined his -family. But permanent evil was occasioned to the country: for when the -mountains were clothed with woods, the snow which was collected there -melted gradually under their shade, and fed the streams during the -whole year; afterwards, when the snow was exposed to the sun and rain, -the streams poured down in torrents, rendering the rivers destructive -during the winter and spring, and scarcely supplying water enough in -summer for navigation. - -While the allies waited in their cantonments till the season should -allow them to recommence their operations, telegraphic signal stations, -to guard against surprise, were formed on the churches of Guethary, -Arcangues, and Vieux Monguerre, and these communicated with one upon -a high sand-hill, on the north side of St. Jean de Luz, near the -entrance from the Bayonne road: so that notice of any hostile movement -might almost instantaneously be communicated to the head-quarters. -Works were thrown up in front of the left, as the most assailable -part of the line, at Bidaut, at Arcangues, and almost on every knoll. -On such occasions it was that unavoidable injury was done to the -inhabitants. If a chateau unfortunately stood where it was deemed -expedient to fortify it, every part was pulled down that did not serve -for the purposes of defence; and all the noble trees around it were -felled, while the owner looked on, a sad and helpless spectator of the -ruin. These were cases of individual hardship; nothing could be more -honourable to the British character than the extreme care which was -taken to prevent all avoidable injury, and this was acknowledged by -the people with equal surprise and thankfulness. No army ever behaved -better even in its own country than the British army at this time in -France, and this was owing to Lord Wellington’s regulations. There -was another part of the British general’s conduct which attracted the -notice and commanded the respect of the French people; he regularly -attended divine service, with all his staff, not in the church, but -on the sandy beach, the brigade of guards forming a square there. The -service of Christmas-day[5] was performed there, on a bright frosty -day, not a breath of wind stirring, and no extraneous sound but that of -a high surf breaking at least half a mile from the shore, and flashing -in the sunshine. - -♦MOVEMENTS IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY. - -1814.♦ - -Towards the end of December the floods carried away the bridges -which had been thrown over the Nive, but they were soon replaced. A -detachment was sent towards Hasparren to clear the country in the -rear of the right wing of the enemy’s cavalry under Paris; and on new -year’s day a small island in the Adour, near Monguerre, was taken from -the French without opposition. At this time Clausel was assembling a -considerable force on the Gave de Oleron; on the third he drove in -the cavalry piquets between the Joyeuse and the Bidouze, and attacked -the posts of Major-General Buchan’s Portugueze brigade on the former -river, near La Bastide, and those of the third division in Bouloc. The -enemy turned the right of the Portugueze brigade on the heights of -La Costa, and established two divisions there and on La Bastide, on -the Joyeuse, with the remainder of their force on the Bidouze and the -Gave. The centre and right of the allies were immediately concentrated -and prepared to move; Lord Wellington reconnoitred the enemy the next -day, and would have attacked them on the ensuing, if the weather and -the swelling of the rivulets had not occasioned a day’s delay. But on -the 6th the attack was made by the 3rd and 4th divisions, supported -by Buchan’s Portugueze brigade of General Le Cor’s division, and the -cavalry under Major-General Fane; the enemy were dislodged without -loss on our side, and the troops resumed their former positions. Mina -was at this time with three battalions at Bidarray and St. Etienne -de Baygorey, observing the movements of the enemy from St. Jean de -Pied-de-Port. The people of the vale of Baygorey had distinguished -themselves in the war of 1793 by their brave opposition to the Spanish -troops; that spirit had been transmitted to the present generation, -and it was called into action by their countryman Harispe, one of the -most active of the French generals. They were the only peasantry who -manifested any disposition to act against the allies; by their aid, -with that of Paris’s division, and such troops as could be spared from -the garrison of St. Jean, Harispe ♦JAN. 12.♦ moved against Mina, and -compelled him to retire into the valley of Aldudes. - -♦FALSE REPORTS CIRCULATED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.♦ - -These were the only military movements on this side during the month -of January; and the state of affairs here was disguised as much as -possible from the French people; Buonaparte persisting to the last in -that system of falsehood by which he had so long flattered and deluded -them. It could not, indeed, be concealed that Lord Wellington’s army -was wintering in France, though by what train of events it should -have arrived there the French were left to guess. But it was affirmed -that he had been defeated in the actions before Bayonne with the loss -of 15,000 men; that he now thought of nothing more than intrenching -himself within his own lines; that Clausel had assumed an attitude -which alarmed him; ... that his situation was becoming more and more -critical; ... that the misunderstanding between the Spanish and English -troops increased every day; ... that the British commander began to -fear lest the part of the French army which remained in the camp at -Bayonne might cut off his retreat; in fine, that the allies were filled -with consternation, and that while they were suffering from want of -provisions, their convoys were wrecked upon the coast of the Landes -department, and supplied the French with beef and clothing, and with -packages of pressed hay, which were sent to Bayonne, and there served -out to Marshal Soult’s cavalry. - -♦THE DUC D’ANGOULÊME GOES TO LORD WELLINGTONS ARMY.♦ - -But while the Moniteur, in its official articles, dwelt thus upon -a chance shipwreck, and attempted, in its usual strain, to deceive -the French people, that part of the nation who remembered what had -been the state of France before its baneful revolution regarded the -progress of the British arms with secret satisfaction, because it -offered a hope of the restoration of the Bourbons, and of that peace -and security which could be obtained by no other means. The Bourbons -themselves thought it was now time for them to take advantage of the -course of events, and remind France that by putting an end to their -unmerited exile she might put an end to her own multiplied calamities. -The Duc d’Angoulême, therefore, with the Duc de Guiche, Comte Etienne -de Damas, and Comte d’Escars, sailed from England for Passages, and -proceeded to St. Jean de Luz. But as the allied powers, whether wisely -or not, had as yet held out no encouragement to the hopes of this royal -family, Lord Wellington could receive him with no public honours. -Many of the inhabitants, however, hastened to pay their court to him; -and the mayor of this little town, expressing to him a hope that the -calamities which France had so long endured would soon be terminated -by peace, observed, that peace could no otherwise be guaranteed than -by the word of their legitimate sovereign; and requested his Royal -Highness to convey to the king an assurance of cordial allegiance -from the municipality and people of that place. Deputations were also -sent to him from the neighbouring communes; and, before his arrival, -a circumstance had occurred which more unequivocally manifested the -disposition of the people. There was an emigrant officer in the British -army whose family estates were in the neighbourhood of Pau; a native -of that part of the country came to St. Jean de Luz charged by the -tenants of those estates to tell him how much they wished to live again -under their own old laws and customs, and how happy they should be -once more to pay their rents to their old master. The Duc, under the -name of the Comte de Pradelles, lived with the utmost privacy, as the -circumstances required; but he addressed a proclamation to the French -army, and agents were not wanting to circulate it. He called upon them -to rally round the _fleurs-de-lys_, which he was come, he said, to -display once more in his dear country; and he guaranteed, in the name -of the king, his uncle, their rank and pay to those who should join -him, and rewards proportionate to their services. “Soldiers,” he said, -“it is the descendant of Henri IV.; ... it is the husband of a princess -whose misfortunes are unequalled, but whose only wishes are for the -prosperity of France; ... it is a prince who, forgetting, in imitation -of your king, all his own sufferings, and mindful only of yours, throws -himself now with confidence into your arms!” - -♦ROCHEJAQUELEIN COMES TO THE BRITISH CAMP.♦ - -A movement such as this address was intended to excite had already -begun, but it was among men who had been trained in better principles -than the soldiers of the revolution. An agent of Louis XVIII. had -arrived at Bourdeaux, and had found in that city the Marquis de la -Rochejaquelein, whom it was part of his commission to see, and say -to him that the king depended upon him for La Vendée. Rochejaquelein -is one of the redeeming names that appear in the black and bloody -history of the French revolution. The present Marquis had succeeded -to the title, the principles, and the virtues of his brother, who, in -the first Vendean war, had addressed his soldiers in these memorable -words: “_Si j’avance, suivez-moi; si je recule, tuez-moi; si je meurs, -vengez-moi_[6]!” “If I advance, follow me; if I falter, kill me; if I -fall, avenge me!” He now went through Anjou and Touraine, and awakened -that spirit which the National Convention had not been able, even by -its most atrocious barbarities, to suppress. A scheme was formed for -delivering Ferdinand from Valençay; but the person who was to have -headed the enterprise died at the time when it should have taken -place; and, indeed, no advantage could have been derived from it then, -if it had succeeded. Rochejaquelein’s designs were suspected, and M. -Lynch, the mayor of Bourdeaux, who was then at Paris, warned him, by -an express that orders were given for arresting him, and bringing him -dead or alive before Savary, Buonaparte’s worthy minister of police. -He escaped to Bourdeaux, and while remaining there in concealment, -heard that the Duc d’Angoulême was with the English army. Upon this he -determined immediately to repair to him, and receive his orders; but -before he set out upon this most hazardous adventure he requested an -interview with M. Lynch, who was just then returned from the capital. -That magistrate, who was always a loyalist at heart, foresaw the -speedy overthrow of Buonaparte, and had already given his word to the -Polignacs (then in confinement), that if Bourdeaux declared for the -king, he would be the first to mount the white cockade; this promise -he now renewed to Rochejaquelein, and charged him to assure the Duc -of his devoted services, and that he would deliver to him the keys of -the town. After many difficulties and dangers, the Marquis succeeded -in getting on board a ship bound, with a license, to S. Sebastian’s; -and, escaping from a storm by which several vessels were wrecked on the -coast, he landed at Passages, and hastened to St. Jean de Luz. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON REFUSES TO SEND AN EXPEDITION TO THE COAST OF POITOU.♦ - -When the Duc heard his report of the state of feeling in La Vendée, of -the general opinion which prevailed in France, and of the disposition -which there was to receive him in Bourdeaux, he declared that nothing -should now make him forsake that country in which he had found subjects -who were still so faithful. Without delay, accompanied by the Duc de -Guiche, Rochejaquelein proceeded to Lord Wellington, who was then at -Garitz; he assured him that Bourdeaux would declare for the Bourbons -as soon as a British force should approach it; and, as the means of -effecting a powerful diversion in aid of that loyal city, he proposed -that the British General should send one or two vessels and a few -hundred men to land him by night upon the coast of Poitou, escort -him some two leagues into the interior, and then leave him there: -while they re-embarked and drew the attention of the troops, he would -pursue his way alone, and raise once more that loyal race who had -exerted themselves so dutifully, and suffered so severely, in the -most frantic and ferocious times of the revolution. Lord Wellington -listened with great interest to these representations; but he doubted -whether the feelings of the people towards the royal family were what -Rochejaquelein believed them to be; and he did not think himself -authorized to detach even a small force upon an expedition such as -♦MÉMOIRES DE LA MARQUISE DE LA ROCHEJAQUELEIN, PP. 513–28.♦ was -proposed, when he had no instructions from his own government, and -moreover when he was on the eve of great operations, ... for he was now -preparing to pass the Adour. - -♦SUCHET FAILS IN AN ATTEMPT TO SURPRISE A BRITISH CORPS. - -DECEMBER.♦ - -On the side of Catalonia, meantime, all went on favourably for the -allies; for if they were too weak to obtain any advantages for -themselves, the enemy was weakened to a greater degree, in consequence -of the progress of the war in other quarters. Marshal Suchet made one -vigorous attempt in the beginning of December to surprise the corps -at Villafranca, where the British head-quarters were established. He -made a forced night march in this hope with about 15,000 men; but -timely information had been obtained. Sarsfield’s division, which was -stationed there, retired across the country to the left; the British -cavalry and artillery fell back about eight miles along the main road -to Arbos, where there was a strong position, and whither General -Mackenzie moved his division to their support; and Suchet, having -failed in his intention, retired from Villafranca on the afternoon -of the same day, and returned to the Llobregat as rapidly as he had -advanced. The wants of the Spanish army had now become so pressing -that it was necessary to send Sarsfield’s cavalry to the rear, where -it might be possible for them to subsist, his infantry being sometimes -upon the shortest allowance, and without any sure prospect of even -that insufficient dole for more than two or three days. His troops -must from sheer destitution have quitted the field had it not been for -the merchants of Villa-nueva, who, at his earnest persuasion, but on -their own credit, and at their own risk, supplied them with provisions -from the imports which arrived at that port. Not a murmur meantime -was heard from the men; nor did they evince the slightest feeling -of discontent or jealousy when they saw the Anglo-Sicilian troops, -forming part of the same army, duly supplied, while they themselves -were hungered. Only if the greater strength of the British soldiers -appeared, when they were engaged together in the public works, a -Spaniard would sometimes quietly say, “Give us your rations, and you -shall see us work as well as you do.” - -After the Nassau battalions had passed over to Lord Wellington’s camp, -immediate advice had been dispatched to Sir William Clinton; and the -information was with due secrecy communicated to the officer who -commanded the Nassau troops in Catalonia; but this person preferring -what he considered his military obligations to his national duty, -delivered the papers into General Habert’s hands, who had succeeded -Maurice ♦THE GERMAN TROOPS IN BARCELONA DISARMED.♦ Mathieu in the -command at Barcelona. The French would, perhaps, have been better -pleased if he had followed the example of his better-minded countrymen; -for that German feeling which the officer had renounced existed among -the men, and it was deemed necessary to disarm them all, 2400 in -number, thus weakening the army of Catalonia, and bringing upon it -this additional inconvenience, that the men of whose services it was -deprived were to be supported as prisoners, and guarded also. This -officer was mortally wounded a few weeks afterwards in a sally from -Barcelona. - -♦TROOPS WITHDRAWN FROM SUCHET’S ARMY.♦ - -Suchet’s force was still farther weakened by the withdrawal of 2000 -of his Italian troops; he then proposed to the French government, -as a measure of expediency, that they should dismantle the city of -Barcelona, and content themselves with occupying the citadel and -Fort Monjuic, whereby 5000 of the garrison would be disposable for -service; but his advice was rejected, the possession of Barcelona -being deemed necessary for the support of the army in Catalonia. About -the same time two strong battalions of Spaniards were detached from -the Anglo-Sicilian army, at the pressing request of General Roche, -to assist him in blockading Murviedro. Tarragona had now been so far -repaired as to be in a defensible state; but such was the exhausted -condition of the province that no stores of any kind could be obtained -from it for the Spanish authorities. ♦FAILURE OF AN ATTEMPT AGAINST THE -ENEMY AT MOLINS DEL REY. JANUARY.♦ While both armies were withheld -from undertaking any important operation by the diminution of strength -on both sides, and by the increasing difficulties of obtaining supplies -on the part of the Anglo-Sicilians, a plan was concerted between -Sir William Clinton and Manso for attacking the enemy’s cantonments -at Molins del Rey and the adjoining villages on the Llobregat: Sir -William was to move with 8000 men upon the Barcelona road and attack -them in front, while Manso should post himself upon the strong ground -in the rear of Molins del Rey, close to the only road by which they -could retire. Copons had assented to this project, and agreed to -lend Manso and his brigade for this service, both the men and their -commander being worthy of all confidence. ♦JAN. 17.♦ The enterprise -failed, because Copons, without making any communication to the English -General, instead of sending Manso, chose to go himself with a larger -force, set off two hours later than the time which had been agreed -upon, and finally appeared on the right flank of the enemy instead -of in the rear; meantime the force from Villafranca having arrived -at the hour appointed, the French, who, if there had been the same -punctuality on the other side, must have been taken by surprise, were -able to effect their retreat over the Llobregat by the stone bridge -near Molins, which was well fortified. Upon the first alarm Suchet -dispatched troops to support General Pannetier, who was in command -there, and manœuvred in the hope of decoying the allies to a dangerous -advance: but Sir William was too wary to incur any unwise risk, when -the object of his movement had been disappointed. Had Manso been left -to execute what had been concerted with him, Pannetier’s division must -in all likelihood have been captured. - -♦FARTHER DRAFTS FROM SUCHET’S ARMY.♦ - -A few days afterwards Marshal Suchet received positive orders from -Paris to dispatch for Lyons with the least possible delay two-thirds -of his cavalry, from 8000 to 10,000 foot, and fourscore field-pieces. -He renewed his representations concerning Barcelona, saying, he should -delay till the latest minute his departure from the vicinity of that -city, in the hope of farther instructions; and he advised that, as -the mission of the Duque de S. Carlos had produced no good effect, -Ferdinand should be sent to Barcelona, with an understanding that -France put him in possession of the fortified places, in reliance -upon his honour for sending the garrison home. Meantime he appointed -Habert to the command of Lower Catalonia, the division of the Lower -Ebro being under General Robert, who commanded in Tortosa; that General -was assured that he should soon be delivered, either by succour or by -the conclusion of peace; but at the worst, he was instructed, when -his provisions should fail, which would be before the end of April, -to make for Lerida, collect his troops there, and by a rapid march -through the mountains proceed to Benasque, and so into France. No -farther ♦HE RETIRES TO GERONA.♦ advices having reached him by the first -of February, Marshal Suchet moved with the remains of his army to the -neighbourhood of Gerona; and when, in the course of another fortnight, -instructions came to act as he had advised with regard to Barcelona, -it was too late, the allies having immediately upon his removal -blockaded that city. - -♦ONE OF HIS AIDES-DE-CAMP OPENS A CORRESPONDENCE WITH EROLES.♦ - -A greater mortification awaited him. Eroles, in the month of November, -when confined by a dangerous illness at Manresa, received information -from one in whom he had reason to place entire confidence, that a -Spanish officer, by name D. Juan de Halen, who was then one of Suchet’s -aides-de-camp, was desirous of being restored to the service of his -country, under his protection. Eroles replied that this was not to be -hoped for, unless the officer could make some signal reparation for -the injury which he had done to the Spanish name; but that in waiting -till this could be effected, he might give proof of his sincerity and -earnest of his intentions by communicating such useful information as -his situation about Suchet’s person enabled him to obtain. Van Halen -replied as if he felt himself wounded by being expected to act the part -of a spy: there was not much difficulty in overcoming this objection; -and he found means of transmitting intelligence from time to time, -and, among other papers, a copy of Suchet’s cipher. The more important -communications were not intrusted to writing, but made orally, through -the person by whom this correspondence was opened. - -♦VAN HALEN.♦ - -Juan Van Halen, as may be inferred from his name, was a Spaniard of -Flemish or Brabantine descent. He was a native of the Isle of Leon, -and born in 1789. After some years of active service in the navy, he -was employed in the engineers; and as an officer in that corps bore -a part at Madrid in the tragedy of the 2nd of May. Escaping from the -capital, he joined Blake’s army after the battle of Rio-seco, and was -sent by him to Ferrol; when that place was surrendered, he took the -oath of fidelity to the Intruder, and afterwards held a commission in -his body guards. He had the good fortune subsequently to be employed -in other parts of Europe, and was at Paris when Buonaparte’s reverses -in Germany rendered it no longer doubtful that the part in which -he had engaged must finally be the unsuccessful one. A friend and -countryman, who had come to the same unpleasant conviction, advised -him to forsake the sinking cause; but Van Halen, in his own words, -“could not think of prostrating himself at the feet of the throne and -of his country, unless he could bear with him the testimony of some -such service as might make him worthy of being received in the arms of -Spanish generosity and gratitude, not in those of indulgence, or of -♦RESTAURACION DE LAS PLAZAS, &C. P. 12.♦ strict justice.” So getting -leave from the then expelled Intruder to solicit employment in Spain, -he obtained from the Duc de Feltre an appointment upon Suchet’s staff, -and provided himself with credentials to Eroles, and also with a letter -of recommendation to Sir Rowland Hill. - -♦HE DESERTS FROM THE FRENCH ARMY.♦ - -After carrying on a correspondence with Eroles for about two months, -and arranging with him a plan for attacking some of the places which -the French held on the left of the Llobregat, it was agreed that he -should come over to the Spaniards and put the design in execution; and -hoping both to render service to the cause in which he now embarked, -and to conceal the fact of his own desertion, leaving Barcelona in the -night, he led away with him from the ♦JAN. 17.♦ neighbourhood of that -city two squadrons of cuirassiers, to whom he produced a forged order -of the Marshal’s that they should follow him on a secret expedition. -His intention was that Eroles should intercept them, and make them and -himself prisoners: but the messenger, whom he had dispatched two days -before to apprise the Baron of his movements, fell in with a party of -hussars belonging to the Anglo-Sicilian army, who were scouring the -road to Moncada, and was detained by them; and when Van Halen came to -the place appointed, and found that the scheme had failed, nothing -remained for him but to provide for his own safety by escaping as soon -as he could. Thus his desertion became notorious, and all the plans -which had been formed upon the supposition of keeping it secret were -frustrated. - -♦HIS SCHEME FOR RECOVERING CERTAIN PLACES.♦ - -But Van Halen’s disposition was turned to perilous intrigues and -enterprises: he now conceived a design of recovering some strong -places by stratagem; and Eroles remembering the _Rovirada_ by which -Figueras had been surprised, and being himself of an adventurous -spirit, entered readily into his views, and went with him to General -Copons, whose head-quarters were then at Vich. Copons was not without -difficulty induced to give his consent, and they then proceeded to -Xerta, where Don Josef Sans, who commanded the force before Tortosa, -had his head-quarters. This place was so strictly blockaded that it -was certain no tidings of Van Halen’s desertion could have reached it; -and to induce a belief in other quarters that he had left Catalonia, -bills upon Madrid and other places at a distance had been taken up -for him. He had possessed himself not only of Suchet’s cipher, but of -the handwritings which it was necessary to counterfeit; and letters -were now written as from the Marshal, informing General Robert the -commander that the exigencies of the Emperor’s affairs compelled -him to withdraw all his garrisons from that side of the Llobregat; -that Colonel D’Eschalard of his staff was gone to Tarrasa, there to -conclude the treaty for evacuating them; and that he must be prepared -to depart with his equipage and field-artillery as soon as orders to -that effect should reach him. It was added, that the Emperor had been -pleased to honour him with the grand-cross of the Imperial Order of the -Reunion, and upon this the Marshal offered him his congratulations. -An unlucky peasant was found, who undertook, in the character of a -spy of Suchet’s, to carry this forged dispatch into the town. So few -communications, without a strong escort, escaped the vigilance of the -Catalans, that whenever a single messenger was sent, the letter ... -written in the smallest compass and in the fewest words ... used to -be inclosed in lead, and swallowed by the bearer. Van Halen was well -acquainted with all the details of such transactions. If the enemy sent -a spy out from one of their fortresses, they usually made a sally, -and thus brought him out unobserved, and set him on his way; but the -messenger who was to make his way in, approached in the darkness, and -made a certain signal with a flint and steel. The peasant, though -carefully instructed upon this as upon all other points, forgot this -important part of his instructions, and in consequence was wounded -by the sentinel: the first part of his errand, however, was not the -less performed; the dispatch was delivered to General Robert, and no -suspicion being entertained of the stratagem, the man was sent to the -hospital, and there carefully attended. But the answer which he should -have delivered into the hands of his employers was sent by another -person, and consequently not received by those who were expecting it. - -♦THE DECEIT TRIED AT TORTOSA.♦ - -Having learnt what had befallen their messenger, Eroles and Van Halen -proceeded with their device. A Spanish officer was sent with a letter -from Sans, saying he had just received a copy of a treaty signed at -Tarrasa by the Spanish and French commanders-in-chief in Catalonia, -agreeing upon an armistice of fifteen days for the evacuation of the -places named in the treaty, Tortosa being one; he inclosed a letter -with D’Eschalard’s signature, which it was pretended had accompanied -it, and in which it was stated that the chef d’escadron, Van Halen, -one of the Marshal’s aides-de-camp, would speedily arrive with full -instructions. The garrison were on the point of making a sally -when the officer arrived: the news of the armistice spread; a free -communication in consequence took place with the advanced posts of the -Spaniards, and on the next morning General Robert sent out Colonel -Plique to make arrangements for evacuating the place; at the same -time he liberated some soldiers who had lately been surprised and -made prisoners. The Colonel accordingly came at the hour appointed; -Van Halen presented himself in his aide-de-camp’s uniform, and the -Spanish Captain Daura, as having accompanied him from the Llobregat, -delivered a letter from Copons. Plique desired to be left alone with -Van Halen, whose instructions he was authorized to receive, in case the -Spanish commander should not permit him to enter the town. He inquired -of him concerning the state of affairs which had reduced the Emperor -to sacrifice these places, and Van Halen briefly related the series -of reverses which rendered it necessary to withdraw from Spain 30,000 -men, leaving only garrisons in Barcelona, Gerona, and Figueras. The -Marshal, he said, was before Barcelona, waiting impatiently ♦FEBRUARY.♦ -for their arrival, that he might begin his march: his desire was that -no man should be left in the hospitals if he could safely be removed; -that General Robert should bring away all the artillery he could, and -include the public money with his own to avoid all difficulty upon that -score: for himself, he added, he must proceed with the same orders to -Murviedro and Peñiscola. Plique inquired if the English assented to -the armistice, and was assured that they did. He then asked if the -only favour which the Emperor had bestowed upon their garrison was that -of granting the grand-cross to General Robert, the Marshal, he said, -when he withdrew from Valencia, having promised to recommend several -officers for promotion. Van Halen told him he had understood that two -Generals of Brigade were made, M. Plique himself he believed being -one, and M. Jorry, then at Murviedro, the other. The Colonel appears -to have been completely deceived; but he was instructed to invite -Brigadier Sans to a repast before the town should be evacuated, and to -request that he would send officers of artillery to take possession of -the magazines, and that he would allow the aide-de-camp to return with -him into the town, and take up his quarters there. This, Sans said, he -was positively enjoined not to permit; all he could allow was that M. -Van Halen, accompanied by a Spanish officer, should present himself at -the Puente de Jesus, and confer there with General Robert. When they -reached the bridge, Robert did not come out, but he sent the chief of -his staff, with several officers, and one company, and they renewed the -request that Van Halen might enter; this of course was refused, and in -case an attempt had been made to seize him, Eroles with a body of horse -was near at hand. A letter was sent in, inclosing a copy of the forged -treaty, and the parties then separated. Van Halen suspected that the -deceit had been discovered; still, however, he carried it on, and wrote -to Robert, saying, ♦IT FAILS THERE.♦ that as the officers had urged -him to do, he should have evaded the presence of the Spanish Colonel, -had he not been strictly ordered by Marshal Suchet to do nothing which -could tend to interrupt the good understanding during the armistice; -and being now obliged to communicate without delay his orders in -Murviedro and Peñiscola, he was deprived of the honour of seeing him. -General Robert answered this by a letter to Sans, regretting that he -had not accepted his invitation. Van Halen’s letter, he said, gave -him no satisfactory notion either of his proceedings or those of his -government; and unless he conferred with Van Halen in the fortress, he -should not observe the armistice, but renew hostilities that afternoon, -and continue them till this aide-de-camp, whom he must see, returned -from Murviedro. - -♦ATTEMPT AT LERIDA.♦ - -It was known afterwards that a spy during the preceding night had -entered the town, and his letters made General Robert immediately -suspect the stratagem: disappointed of getting Van Halen into his -hands, and of taking the Spanish officers in a counter-snare, he took -the only vengeance in his power, by putting to death the wounded -peasant who had brought the first forged letter. Eroles, meantime, not -discouraged by this failure, lost no time in trying the same artifice -elsewhere. Mequinenza had hitherto only been observed by part of one -regiment; and the garrison, though reduced in number, made incursions -for many leagues round, by which means they had laid in stores of -provision for eighteen months, and kept the surrounding country in -continual alarm. Eroles, on his way from Xerta towards Lerida, sent his -adjutant, Don Antonio Mazeda, with Don José Antonio Cid, a member of -the provincial deputation of Catalonia, to raise the Somatenes, and by -this means cut off all communication with the place; and he dispatched -before them a peasant with such another letter as that which at first -had imposed upon General Robert. He halted that night a day’s journey -from Lerida, having in his company Don Juan Antonio Daura, who forged -the signatures, Van Halen, and Lieutenant Don Eduardo Bart, who spoke -French so perfectly, that he was able to personate a French officer. -Here they parted company, the two latter making for Torres del Segre, -a place on the river of that name, six leagues from Mequinenza, and -three from Lerida; there they remained in secret, coming out only at -night to confer with Eroles, learn from him the state of affairs, and -copy such papers as were required, none of which were forwarded till -they had been examined by each of the party most carefully. The Baron -himself proceeded to the blockading force before Lerida, and appearing -there as Commandant-General of the blockade of that place, Monzon and -Mequinenza, he reviewed the troops, inspected their posts, and made -♦FEB. 9.♦ dispositions for straitening the blockade; meanwhile the -forged orders were sent in by a trusty agent to the governor, General -Lamarque. Hither the spy from Mequinenza returned, bringing with him -the reply of Baron Bourgeois, the governor, to Marshal Suchet, in which -he acknowledged the receipt of his orders, said that he was preparing -to obey, inclosed the returns of his force, the state of the military -chest and the magazines, and thanked the Emperor for the grand-cross -with which he had been pleased to honour him; the same messenger -brought also a letter from Mazeda, saying that he had strictly -blockaded the place. The reply from the governor of Lerida was in like -manner brought him, and he thus obtained the exact returns which he -wished, and understood also that both commandants were ready to fall -into the snare. - -♦AND AT MEQUINENZA, WHERE IT SUCCEEDS.♦ - -He then set out for Mequinenza, with 300 foot and 40 horse, including -a company of Mina’s division, which he met upon the way, and ordered -to follow him. Van Halen was instructed to join him by a different -road, which he did, in sight of the fortress, Eroles having first sent -in dispatches, signed in D’Eschalard’s name, and sealed with the seal -of the staff, informing the governor of the pretended armistice, and -stating that the two aides-de-camp, Van Halen and Captain Castres, -would go round to the fortresses with the necessary orders; he -accompanied this with a letter in his own name, announced the arrival -of an officer from Marshal Suchet, and requested to be informed what -number of officers the French Commandant would bring out to confer -with this officer in his presence, that he might present himself -with an equal number; coming himself, if the Commandant came, or -deputing one of his chief officers, if General Bourgeois should think -proper to act by delegate: in either case, his troops should be drawn -out at an equal distance with those of the French from any central -point which the Commander might please to name. Time and place were -accordingly appointed, and Van Halen in his French uniform, and Bart -as his orderly, went to the conference without an escort, and with an -effrontery which prevented all suspicion. Van Halen presented a letter -as from Suchet, in which the Marshal was made to say how painfully -he felt the circumstances which compelled him to give orders for -evacuating places wherein, at the cost of so many sacrifices, they had -planted their victorious banners. But unexampled defections had forced -the Emperor to this measure; and his object now was, to preserve these -brave garrisons, and place them once more in the first rank of his -bayonets. His aide-de-camp was charged with verbal communications. Van -Halen acted his part perfectly; and having arranged everything for the -march of the troops, who were to evacuate the place on the following -noon, Eroles hastened with his subtle agent to Lerida, there to repeat -the stratagem. - -♦SUCCESS AT LERIDA;♦ - -The news that Mequinenza was recovered had already spread; but none of -the circumstances were known, and the better to deceive the French, it -was now necessary to deceive the Spaniards also. Eroles, therefore, -issued an order of the day, stating that Mequinenza was that day to be -evacuated, and that Lerida and Monzon were to be given up by the same -treaty; and commanding the Spaniards not to molest the French during -the twelve days’ truce, but to treat them with that generosity which -characterized the Spanish nation. He had approached the blockading -force amid the rejoicings of the people, who gathered round him on his -way. General Lamarque’s suspicions were completely disarmed; and when -he requested that Van Halen might be allowed to enter the place and -confer with him, because his own orders did not permit him to go beyond -a certain distance from it, Van Halen, relying upon his courage and -his strength of countenance, ventured in. The governor met him on the -bridge, and they retired into an adjoining house, where, after some -searching questions, he produced a dispatch received, as he said, by -an emissary who had recently arrived, in which the Marshal approved -of some proposals for the further security of the place, and held -out a hope of succouring him in the course of a few weeks. Van Halen -answered by a reference to the date of his own letter, and the recent -events which had produced an alteration in the Marshal’s views. The -conversation turned upon the Spanish Generals, and the circumstances -of the blockade; and Van Halen took occasion to represent that Eroles -seemed hurt by the General’s declining to communicate with him in -person, when he, in proposing such a meeting, had gone beyond the line -of his instructions from General Copons. The French General, upon this, -not to be outdone in ♦FEB. 14.♦ courtesy, sent to offer a meeting; and -went accordingly beyond his own advanced posts with his treacherous -companion. At this interview everything was arranged, and three o’clock -on the following afternoon was fixed upon as the hour for evacuating -the city. Van Halen was invited to return with the General, and be his -guest that night; but he pleaded the necessity of hastening to Monzon -as his excuse, and thither he departed with a Spanish escort. - -♦AND AT MONZON.♦ - -Monzon had been besieged by part of Mina’s troops since the end of -September, to the great distress of the inhabitants, who were under -the guns of the fortress. The besiegers attempted to mine the rock on -which it was placed. There was but one man belonging to the engineers -in the place, and he was a simple miner; but, being a man of great -ability, the commandant and the garrison confided in him; and the -♦SUCHET, 2. N. PP. 371, 372.♦ works which were executed under his -direction were so skilfully devised, that they baffled all the attempts -of the assailants, and they had in consequence converted the siege -into a blockade. Here Van Halen had two difficulties to overcome with -the Commandant: a report had reached him that there was a Spaniard at -this time with Eroles who had served as aide-de-camp to Suchet; and, -the place being held under the orders of the governor of Lerida, he -could not surrender it, without sending to receive his instructions. -The suspicion which the report ought to have excited seems to have been -removed by the confidence with which Van Halen presented himself. And -the second objection was easily disposed of: the false aide-de-camp, -though he might reasonably judge that the real purport was to discover -whether or not there was any fraud in the business, knew that Lerida -had by this time been delivered up; he prevailed upon the blockading -force, therefore, to let an officer pass with this commission, and -required the Commandant to hold himself in readiness for marching -as soon as he should return. The officer accordingly arrived before -Lerida on the night after its surrender. Eroles affected anger when he -heard his errand, and declared that, if there were any further delay, -the treaty as it respected Monzon should be annulled, and he would -march against it and reduce it to ashes. The officer, finding him in -possession of Lerida, was confounded, made what excuse he could for -his superiors, and faithfully promised that Monzon should be given up -immediately on his arrival there; and this was done. - -♦THE THREE GARRISONS MADE PRISONERS.♦ - -Monzon was at this time stored for seven months, Mequinenza for -eighteen, and Lerida for two years. By the recovery of these places, -40,000 inhabitants were saved from the miseries of a siege, and -6000 Spanish troops were rendered disposable for other service. The -navigation of the Ebro, the Cinca, and the Segre was restored, and the -most fertile part of Catalonia delivered, Aragon secured, and a direct -communication opened with Lord Wellington’s army. The next business -was to secure the garrisons who had been thus deceived, amounting -to more than 2300 men. As soon as Eroles had taken measures for -preserving order in Lerida, which, under such circumstances, required -extraordinary care, he set out with two battalions of infantry and 200 -horse in the rear of the French, Colonel Don Josef Carlos having gone -before them with an equal force. The intention was to intercept them in -the defiles of Igualada; but they made a forced march, and frustrated -this part of the plan. Upon this, lest they should succeed in effecting -a junction with the troops in Barcelona, part of the blockading army -was sent for; and when they arrived at Martorell, they found themselves -surrounded there. General Lamarque was then informed that he had been -deceived by a stratagem of war; and that nothing remained for him but -to lay down his arms, give up the public treasure, and to submit to -fortune. Eroles expressed his personal esteem for the General, and -his sorrow that the misadventure should have fallen upon him; he -promised that the officers should be sent to Tarragona, and receive -every attention which could alleviate their imprisonment; and he -observed, that the General himself could not but in his heart approve -a stratagem by which so much bloodshed and misery was prevented, as -must have attended the reduction of these places, whether by siege or -by blockade. Lamarque upon this asked if Van Halen was a Spaniard; and -Bourgeois remarked upon the answer, that in truth he had rendered a -great service to his country. The former said he had been dreaming for -the last five days, and hardly knew if he were yet awake.[7] - -Chagrined as Marshal Suchet was by the success of what, though he might -justly deem it treachery in the agent, he could not but consider to be -an allowable stratagem on the part of an injured, enterprising, and -ever active enemy, ... it was even more mortifying for him immediately -afterwards to make overtures, by order of ♦SUCHET DISMANTLES GERONA AND -OTHER PLACES. SUCHET, 2, 374.♦ the minister at war, to General Copons -for evacuating all the places which he yet retained, Figueras only -excepted; and to find the allies so confident of speedily obtaining -them unconditionally that his proposals were disregarded, in retiring -from the vicinity of Barcelona he had destroyed his works at the -bridge of Molins del Rey, and in the pass of Moncada, and at Mongat; -he now found it necessary to demolish the fortified posts at Besalu, -Olot, Bascara, Palamos, and other smaller places; and even to dismantle -Gerona, evacuate it, and retire with the remains of his army to the -neighbourhood of Figueras. Jaca, too, about the same time was compelled -to surrender to a part of Mina’s army. - -♦STATE OF LORD WELLINGTON’S ARMY.♦ - -On the Biscayan coast Santona was the only place which still remained -in the enemy’s power; the garrison were blockaded; but they contrived -to get supplies by sea, sometimes by successful runners from the -opposite side of the bight, sometimes by capturing traders that -approached too near, for they had one or two armed vessels in the -port; but more by means of smugglers, who ran in for the sake of a -good market, and in the spirit of their illicit occupation cared not -with whom they dealt. The British depôts had been removed from Bilbao -and S. Sebastian’s; and, notwithstanding the stormy season, the army -was always abundantly supplied, except with fodder; when this failed, -bruized furze was used: the horses ate it with avidity, and kept in -excellent condition. The men, during this inaction, suffered more; some -of the corps were very sickly; and one regiment, which lost many men by -a fever, was sent into the rear, both for change of air, and that it -might be removed from intercourse with the rest of the army. The rain -sometimes rendered it difficult to communicate with the more distant -corps: a Portugueze brigade belonging to Sir Rowland was once four -days without bread or meat, a rivulet, small at other times, being so -swoln as to become impassable. But in general, money was the scarcest -article: dollars, which were exchanged at so low a rate after the -spoils at Vittoria, sold now for eight shillings each. - -♦OPERATIONS ARE RENEWED.♦ - -The disposition of the French towards the Bourbons could at this time -be so little doubted, that though the allies did not yet openly support -their claims, dies were made to cut out fleurs-de-lys for scarfs, to be -worn on the arms of those who might be willing to declare in favour of -the old loyal cause. During the weeks of inactivity which the season -occasioned, preparations were made for crossing the Adour, investing -Bayonne, and carrying the war into the heart of France. The snow on the -lower range of the Pyrenees had visibly lessened on the 6th, and in -the course of a week had wholly disappeared. On the 14th of February, -Sir Rowland put the right of the army in motion, drove in the enemy’s -piquets on the Joyeuse river, attacked Harispe’s position at Hellete, -and compelled him to retire with loss towards St. Martin. That General -then took up a strong position in front of Garris, on the heights of Le -Montagne, where he was joined by troops from the enemy’s centre, and -by Paris with his division, who, having commenced their march toward -the interior of France, had been recalled because of the danger in this -quarter. On the same day the detachment of Mina’s troops in the valley -of Bastan advanced upon Baygorrey and Bidarrey, and blockaded St. Jean -de Pied-de-Port, Sir Rowland having cut off the direct communication -of the enemy with that fort. On the ♦FEB. 15.♦ morrow, Morillo, after -driving in their advanced posts, was ordered to move toward St. Palais, -by a ridge parallel to that on which they had taken their position, -that he might turn their left, and cut off their retreat upon that -road by the bridge of St. Palais, while the second division under Sir -William Stewart should attack in front. The day was far gone before -the attack could be commenced, and the action lasted till after night -had closed: the position, though remarkably strong, was carried -without much loss on the first effort; many gallant attempts were -made to recover it, and as gallantly resisted; the struggle was more -obstinate in the darkness than it had been while daylight lasted, and -the French being encountered in all their charges with the wonted -resolution of British troops, more men were bayoneted than usual in -proportion to the numbers engaged. The enemy at length gave up the -contest, and retired with considerable loss, leaving ten officers and -about 200 men prisoners; but they reached St. Palais before Morillo -could arrive, and crossed the Bidouze during the night, and destroyed -the bridges. The right of the centre made a corresponding movement -with the right wing on these two days, and the allied posts were this -evening on the Bidouze. The bridges were repaired; Sir Rowland crossed -the next day, and on the following drove the enemy across the Gave de -Mouleon. They attempted to destroy the bridge at Arriverete, as if it -were their intention to dispute the passage, but time was not allowed -them to complete its destruction; and a ford having been discovered -above the bridge, the 92nd, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, -crossed there, covered by the fire of Captain Beane’s troop of horse -artillery, which was advantageously placed; this regiment made a -gallant attack upon two battalions of French infantry in the village of -Arriverete, and drove them out with much loss. The enemy retired in the -night across the Gave d’Oleron. Sir Rowland’s posts were established -on that Gave the next day; and the French took up a position in the -neighbourhood of Sauveterre, where they were reinforced. The position -was very strong, and covered in front by a broad and rapid river; but -it seemed now as if no position, however advantageous, could give the -French confidence; they had been driven during the last four days from -a country of peculiar difficulty, where frequent rivers afforded them -great opportunities for defending it; and when Marshal Soult understood -with how little success it had been defended, he directed his whole -attention to that side, destroyed all the bridges over the Adour, which -were not protected ♦FEB. 22.♦ by Bayonne, left that place to its own -resources, and, concentrating his forces behind the Gave de Pau, fixed -his head-quarters at Orthes. - -♦PREPARATIONS FOR CROSSING THE ADOUR.♦ - -During these operations the left wing of the army continued to observe -Bayonne, with the 4th division, also, which occupied the heights of -Monguerre, communicating with the left on the Nive, and resting its -right on the Adour, and thus preventing the enemy from drawing any -supplies for the fortress from that side of the river. Preparations had -been made for passing that river, and for throwing a bridge over it, -both below Bayonne, ... enterprises so difficult, that though Soult had -witnessed the passage of the Douro, he seems not to have apprehended -that they would be attempted. His attention had now been withdrawn -from that side by Sir Rowland’s movements; the 4th division moved to -the right to support that larger part of the allied army which was now -assembled on the Gave d’Oleron; the 5th replaced it in the position -of Monguerre, and was itself replaced by Lord Aylmer’s brigade of the -first, and the Portugueze under Colonel Campbell: thus making room for -Freyre’s Spanish division, which had been cantoned within their own -frontier, and now, to the dismay of the inhabitants, re-entered France. -The people lamented the departure of the English, and dreaded the -arrival of the Spaniards; and knowing their vindictive spirit, and the -long provocation which it had received, they expressed their earnest -hopes that some English authorities might be left for their protection. - -♦THE ADOUR.♦ - -Adour is like Gave, a name common to many rivers in the Pyrenees, both -simply meaning water in some of those primeval languages, the remains -of which are still widely preserved in the appellations of rivers and -mountains. The greater and noted streams, into which the others are -received, has its sources in the county of Bigorre, under the Pics -du Midi and d’Espade, two of the highest mountains in the chain; it -passes by Campan, Bagnères, Montgaillard, and Tarbes, and begins to be -navigable near Grenade, a small town in the little county of Marsan; -having been joined by the Douze on its right below Tartas, it inclines -to the southwest from its junction, passes Acqs, and then holds an -almost southerly course to meet the Gave de Pau, which brings with its -own waters those of the Gave d’Oleron, into which the Gave de Mauleon -has been received. The Adour is then joined by the Bidouze, and lastly -by the Nive. Formerly it made a turn to the northward, after that -junction, at Boucaut, below Bayonne, and held for about six leagues -a slow and winding way, parallel with the coast, before it entered -the sea at Cape Breton, its direct course having apparently been -obstructed by an accumulation of sand. But towards the latter part of -the sixteenth century, Louis de Foix, whose water-works at Toledo were -then among the wonders of machinery, and who built the lighthouse at -the mouth of the Garonne, (the Smeaton and the Telford of his age,) -opened the present channel, ... an arduous undertaking, in which he -was more than once foiled. His intent was, by erecting a dam across -the river at its curvature, to force it into a straighter line, and -make it clear a way for itself through the sands: the river again and -again swept away his embankments, but he, with a just confidence in -his own theory, persevered in the attempt; at length, on the day of St. -Simeon and St. Jude, in the year 1579, such torrents poured down from -the ♦PIERRE DE MARCA. HISTOIRE DE BEARN, P. 28.♦ Pyrenees, that Bayonne -was in danger of being destroyed by an inundation; the Adour took then, -with its increased weight of water, a straight course, and the engineer -was rewarded for all his anxieties by beholding the complete triumph of -his art. The Bayonnese, however, ascribed the whole ♦THUANUS, L. 80. T. -3. P. 619.♦ merit, not to him, but to the two joint Saints of the day, -and appointed a commemorative thanksgiving to be celebrated annually -from that time forth upon their festival. An excellent port would now -have been formed in the Adour, if the constant tendency of the sea to -throw up a bar at its entrance could have been overcome. With this view -the French government constructed massive stone embankments on both -sides, from Boucaut to the sea; it was hoped that by thus confining -the stream, its current, which at ebb tide runs about seven miles an -hour, would with its own force and weight of water keep always a clear -channel; but the effect was only to remove the bar somewhat farther, -without lessening the difficulty or the danger of the entrance. These -were so great, that the enemy at this time relied on them. They had the -Sappho corvette anchored so as to flank an inundation which protected -the right of their intrenched camp; they had many armed boats on the -Adour, above the town, to protect the convoys of provision which came -down the river, and sometimes succeeded in getting in; the mountain -guns of the allies, which were the only ones that could be removed, -now and then exchanged shots with these: below Bayonne they had some -gun-boats in the bend of the river, by the village of Boucaut, -stationed there, as it seemed, to strengthen their intrenched camp by -a flanking fire; but the only precaution that the enemy had taken to -impede the passage, was that of removing the signal-staff on the left -bank, which marked the line for vessels to steer by, in making for the -mouth of the river. - -♦PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.♦ - -A number of Spanish _chasse-marées_ had been collected at Socoa for -forming a bridge; materials also were ready for a boom to protect it. -The naval part of the operation was under Admiral Penrose’s direction, -and the 21st was the day appointed for the attempt; but the weather -proved unfavourable, and it was not possible for the vessels and -their convoy to get out of Socoa. Sir John Hope, however, would not -delay his movement, and resolved to attempt the passage without naval -co-operation; the troops, it was thought, might be towed over upon -rafts formed of pontoons, and carrying about 100 men each. On the -evening of the 22nd, the troops were ordered to be in readiness for -marching at midnight; they had with them a brigade of 18-pounders, and -a rocket detachment which had arrived at Passages a few days after -the passage of the Nive. There was a prejudice in the army against -this weapon, which had hitherto not been used in the field; the -opinion seems to have been, that if it had been an efficient means of -destruction, it would sooner have been borrowed from the East Indian -nations. Lord Wellington, however, was willing that they should be -tried; and some experiments which were made at Fontarabia gave reason -for supposing that they might be found useful on the Adour. The -direction of this new arm was assigned to Sir Augustus Fraser, but the -trial was to be made under all the disadvantages of inexperience; for -the corps was composed of men hastily brought together, and entirely -ignorant of the arm they were to use; and the rockets themselves were -equipped in five different ways, and consequently liable to as many -failures. Altogether the enterprise was one of no ordinary hazard; -the entrance of the river was frequently impracticable, and always -perilous; its width where it was to be bridged was 270 yards, and the -tide and the ripple were there so formidable as to preclude the use of -anything smaller than decked vessels of twenty or thirty tons burthen; -the navigation from Socoa was uncertain; and there were the corvette -and the flotilla of gun-boats to assist a garrison which consisted -of more than 10,000 men. Yet even those who fully understood the -difficulties of the operation had nevertheless full confidence that it -would succeed. - -Soon after midnight the troops were in motion; when within a short -distance of Anglet, they turned by a crossroad toward the coast, -marching in strict silence along the skirts of the enemy’s outposts. -It was a dark night, the road narrow, deep in mud, and with ditches -on either side; one of the 18-pounders was drawn too near the edge -in the darkness, the side of the road gave way under its weight, -and it sunk into the ditch, dragging the near horses after it. This -delayed the march for some time, till, by the greatest exertions, the -gun was drawn up out of the deep mud; but no ill consequence arose -from this mischance; the enemy were not on the alert, and the troops -arrived before daylight on the sand-hills which border the coast from -the vicinity of Biaritz to the mouth of the Adour: the tract between -these hills and the intrenched camp is almost wholly covered by the -pine-wood called the Bois de Bayonne. At daybreak, two light battalions -of the German legion patroled through the wood, and dislodged the -enemy’s piquets, which retired from thence, and from the village of -Anglet, into the intrenched camp. The first brigade of guards, under -Colonel Maitland, debouched from the wood near the place where the -signal-staff, known by the name of the _Balise Orientale_, had stood, -which was on a high sand-hill nearly opposite Boucaut. The ground here -could not be reconnoitred till the enemy’s piquets were driven in; and -this of course was avoided till the last moment, that no alarm might -be given. It had been supposed that the guns might be brought within -700 or 800 yards of the Sappho, and that they might sink her, lest she -should be employed against the bridge; but, when they had been brought -with great labour through the deep sandy ground, it was necessary to -place them where they were sheltered from the guns of the intrenched -camp, and this was in a situation 1500 yards from the corvette. There -they were placed in battery, and the brigade was posted behind some -sand-hills, close to the marsh which protected the front of the camp. -Don Carlos d’España meantime made a demonstration on the heights above -Anglet, to prevent the enemy from detaching any troops. - -As soon as the French saw the brigade debouching from the pine-wood -they commenced a cannonade against it from their gun-boats. This had -been foreseen; the rocket-corps had, therefore, been divided into -three parties, one of which went, with the first division, towards -the mouth of the Adour, and the other two accompanied the 18-pounders -to be employed against the flotilla. There were twelve boats to -assist the Sappho; but when a few rockets had been discharged, the -terrified sailors took to their oars, and made all speed up the river; -the effect, indeed, of these weapons was most terrific; they dashed -through the water like fiery serpents, and pierced ♦BATTY’S CAMPAIGN, -P. 119.♦ the sides of the boat, burning apparently even under water -with undiminished force. The guns meantime opened upon the corvette, -and fired about 400 rounds at her, some toward the conclusion with hot -shot. This failed to set her on fire; and when the three-coloured flag -was shot from the flag-staff, the enemy presently nailed it to the -mast-head; but after some hours the French retired from the contest, -under the protection of the citadel, their captain having been killed, -and 34, out of a crew of 40 men, killed or wounded, ... sacrificed, as -it should seem, in a display of courage which could be of no avail. -The action had served as a spectacle for the inhabitants of Bayonne, -who came out from the promenade which skirts the river, to witness, -and apparently to enjoy it, ... the day being remarkably fine, and -the action itself, with all its circumstances, as described by an -eye-witness, more resembling some festival display than the dreadful -reality of war; the spectators, too, thought themselves at safe -distance, till one poor fellow came rashly within range of the guns, -and had his head carried off by a shot which passed completely through -the corvette. - -That vessel had not been destroyed, but the attack on it, and the other -demonstrations in front of the intrenched camp, had the desired effect -of occupying the enemy’s whole attention; a bend which the Adour makes -on the seaward side of the town, and the pine-wood, which extended -almost close to its banks, prevented them from seeing the movements of -the allies on that side, and they kept little watch there, because they -apprehended no danger. But meantime the whole of the first division, -except the brigade of guards which accompanied the artillery that -attacked the Sappho, had marched to attempt a passage near the mouth -of the river. With this force there were eighteen pontoons and six -small boats, forty rocketeers, and an officer with a few artillerymen, -destined to spike the guns of a battery on the enemy’s side of the -water. The intention was, to construct six rafts, each upon three -pontoons, by which, in two passages, 1200 men might be passed across -before the day should dawn; 1200 more being ready to follow, while -these held their ground, supported by twelve field-pieces from the -left bank. But, owing to the difficulty of getting the pontoons on, -it was found that only three of them could be brought to the water’s -edge before daylight; and therefore it was deemed advisable by the -officers in command to withdraw the troops behind some sand-hills, -where they were quite concealed, and collect the pontoons. Some of -the officers, meantime, before day broke, examined the shore, to see -where would be the most favourable points for putting the rafts into -the water; the sentry on the opposite bank challenged them, but no -answer was returned, and no alarm taken. Sir John Hope came to the -spot at daylight, but afterwards sent orders to attempt the passage, -at all hazards, when the tide would permit. A little before noon the -river became passable, the tide, still running out, being nearly slack. -At this time the fleet from Socoa was in sight, but at considerable -distance, and with an unfavourable though not a strong wind, rather -losing than gaining ground. The river at the point where the passage -was to be attempted appeared to be about 200 yards wide at low water. -The British made no show of men, and could only see a small piquet of -the enemy’s on the other side; this piquet appeared at a loss what to -do, and as soon as the first boats were carried to the water’s edge -on men’s shoulders, they fairly ran off, without discharging a single -shot, the piece of their advanced sentry having missed fire. The six -boats were soon on the water, each carrying only six soldiers; and the -tide coming in soon increased the labour of the passage. A rope was -passed from one side to the other, and three rafts were put together -with all speed, each carrying from 50 to 60 men; but, after two or -three passages had been effected, the tide came in with such force -that it was found impracticable to get the raft either backward or -forward from the middle of the current, where it remained tide-bound, -the united strength of all who were on board not being sufficient to -haul with any effect upon the hawser. About five o’clock they ceased -working, the few seamen whom they had, and who were all Portugueze, -being exhausted with fatigue. By that time 500 of the guards had been -ferried across, the rocketeers having been the last, with Captain Lane -of the artillery, who came out with them from England. All was at this -time quiet, and apparently the day’s work was done. But a little before -dusk the enemy pushed down two regiments from the citadel; they came -on with apparent spirit, beating the charge. Colonel Stopford posted -the guards behind some low sand-hills, with their right on the river, -and their left on a morass, the ground in their front being flanked -by the artillery on the opposite bank; but a well-directed discharge -of rockets made the French hastily retreat: the effect of this weapon -was more terrible because they had never before witnessed it, and they -retired with all speed into the citadel. - -♦ENTRANCE OF THE FLOTILLA.♦ - -The troops bivouacked that night on the ground which they occupied; -those who were in the wood felled trees and kindled fires. As soon -as the tide served more men were passed across, the pontoons being -used as row-boats, carrying fifteen men at each turn: it was bright -moonlight, the weather perfectly still, and there was no enemy to offer -any opposition. ♦FEB. 24.♦ The wind sprung up for the flotilla during -the night, and at morning it was seen, ... about threescore vessels, -including boats of all kinds, some of them near the mouth of the -river, standing off and on. The Admiral was in the Porcupine frigate: -he had been apprized, through the naval agent at Socoa, how anxiously -the entrance of the vessels for the bridge was desired. The surf had -increased in proportion as the wind became favourable; and the bar, -which extends from the right bank, nearly across the river, shifting -with the change of wind and tide, and at all times dangerous, was at -this time more than usually formidable. The agent, who set off in his -boat from Socoa as soon as he received the last night’s advices, had no -pilot on board, and mistaking the channel where he should have entered -the river, beached himself on a spit of sand; fortunate, however, -in his mishap, for the boat cleared the sand by great exertion, and -having been pulled, sails standing, over the spit, got into deep water. -One boat, which had the principal pilot on board, and therefore was -selected as the safest, led the way, and was overset, several of the -crew perished, and most of those who saved themselves were dreadfully -bruised. Captain O’Reilly, who had command of the flotilla, was on -board, and Captain Faddy (who had charge of 50 artillerymen sent in -five gun-boats), both with great difficulty escaped: a second succeeded -in reaching the beach; the larger vessels then put off, to wait the -chance of the next tide, it being, as the Admiral declared, scarcely -possible that one in fifty could then have effected the passage. Some -small boats, however, attempted it, and were swamped; what boats were -on the river were sent to pick up those who were struggling for life, -but without success; some who regained their own boats, and clung to -them, were swept off into the sea, and only one man was saved. - -Had the bar been smoother, the tide was now too low for vessels to -attempt the entrance; but a pilot was landed to the south-west of it, -that he might walk to the Adour, and make signals from within the -bar, to guide the vessels into the safer parts, supplying thus the -signal-staff which on that side had been removed, for from the sea -there appeared only one long and heavy line of surf. Meantime the -troops continued to cross as they could, about 100 yards above the -mouth of the river, some on rafts, some in a pontoon-boat which carried -only twelve at a time; and when the tide presented least difficulty, -a few cavalry by swimming. When the tide had risen sufficiently, the -vessels boldly stood in, the pilot who had been landed having set up -a halberd, with a handkerchief fixed to it, as a signal for directing -them. The master’s mate of the Lyra led the way; his boat was lost, -and himself and the whole of the crew. Several vessels shared the -same fate. One who was on the shore, close at hand, and who had been -accustomed to fields of battle, declared that he had never beheld -a scene so awful. The boats were so agitated as they attempted the -passage, sails flapping, oars apparently useless, and all steerage -lost, that it seemed as if each must inevitably be wrecked. Two vessels -were stranded, but almost all their crews were by great exertion saved. -A gun-brig also was driven ashore; Captain Elliot, of the Martial -gun-brig, was swamped in his boat; his surgeon was picked up by this -gun-boat, but upon her striking the ground the shock threw down a -24-pounder, which fell upon him and killed him. Three transport boats -with their crews were lost; every exertion was made to save those who -were struggling for life in the surf, literally within ten yards of -their countrymen on shore; but though there were men with ropes tied to -them on the beach, who spared no endeavour for assisting them, and who -when the waves retired appeared as if they were close to them, not a -soul could be saved: some who actually obtained footing on the ground -were carried back by the receding surf, and swept away for ever. But -the zeal and intrepidity of British seamen will overcome all obstacles -that are not absolutely insuperable: officers and men on this occasion -displayed gallantry which could not be surpassed, and skill which has -seldom been equalled; vying with each other they essayed the passage; -and happily the wind towards evening gradually died away, and about -thirty vessels got in. - -♦A BRIDGE CARRIED OVER THE ARDOUR.♦ - -The passage of the troops, meantime, had been continued; it was quite -dark before the last party were ferried over, and the tide was then -running out so rapidly, that the most strenuous rowing hardly prevented -the boat from being drifted out to sea. The whole of General Howard’s -division, about 6000 in number, were then on the right bank. They -bivouacked on the sand-hills where the enemy on the yester-evening -♦FEB. 25.♦ had been discomfited by the rockets. On the morrow they -advanced towards the citadel, their right flank resting on the Adour, -the left extending to the great road leading from Bayonne to Bourdeaux. -Closing in to the verge of a deep and marshy ravine, which separates -the high ground about the citadel from the surrounding country, they -cut off the enemy’s communication with the open tract to the north -of the river, and completed the investment of the fortress and its -camp; a feint attack being kept up the while on the opposite side by -Lord Aylmer’s brigade, the 5th division, and the Spaniards. By great -exertions the bridge was finished on the following day. The point fixed -upon for it was near the village of Boucaut, where the river is 270 -yards wide. It consisted of six-and-twenty _chasse-marées_, anchored -each at the bow and stern so as to resist both the ebbing and the -flowing tide; to many of these, as a substitute for anchors, the heavy -iron guns were used which had been taken in the redoubts on the Nive. -The vessels were lashed together both at bow and stern. Five cables -were stretched by capstans across these vessels from shore to shore, -and oaken planks were laid athwart upon these, and secured to the -two outer cables, so as to form a platform strong enough to bear the -passage of artillery, yet pliant enough to adapt itself to the motion -of the vessels with the tide. On the right bank the cable ends were -fastened to some of the heaviest iron guns which had been taken in -the camp of the Nivelle; on the left they were wound round capstans, -which were firmly fixed by large stakes driven into the ground; and by -these the tension of the platform could be increased or lessened as -the rise or fall of the river might require. A little way above the -bridge a boom-chain was laid down for its protection; and above this -the gun-boats were anchored, in readiness to engage those of the enemy, -should any attempt be made upon the bridge by sending them down the -river. The piers on both sides were wide enough for carriages of all -descriptions; and that on the right bank was used for the artillery, -in a part where the ♦BATTY’S CAMPAIGN, 126, 127.♦ water is admitted at -flood through apertures, and where a road could not have been formed -without great expense of labour and of time. - -This bridge was of the greatest importance, not only as affording a -communication between the troops upon both banks during the blockade -and intended siege of Bayonne, but also because it opened a way to the -_chaussées_ on the right of the river, whereby the army in its advance -towards the interior could be much more easily supplied than by the -bad roads in the exhausted country along the skirts of the Pyrenees, -and where the Gaves and other tributary streams of the Adour were to -be crossed. The inhabitants of Boucaut and of the adjacent villages -had been ordered to take up arms against the allies; they had refused; -and in consequence, the French troops upon leaving them committed some -excesses. The contrast indeed was so great between the treatment which -they experienced from their own soldiers and from the allies, that the -peasantry volunteered to repair the roads for their uninvited, but now -not unwelcome visitors. - -♦PASSAGE OF THE GAVES.♦ - -While Bayonne was thus being invested by the left wing of the army, -the two divisions which had hitherto observed that place between the -Adour and the Nive joined the main body; and Lord Wellington, as soon -as the troops were closed up, continuing his operations to the right, -made a general advance. Marshal Beresford, who had remained since Sir -Rowland’s movement with the 4th and 7th divisions and with Colonel -Vivian’s brigade on the lower Bidouze, attacked the enemy on the 23rd -in their fortified posts at Hastingues and Oyergave, on the left of -the Gave de Pau, and made them retire within their _tête-de-pont_ at -Peyrehorade. On the 24th, Sir Rowland, with the light, the 2nd, and -the Portugueze divisions, under Baron Alten, Sir William Stewart, -and Camp-Marshal Lecor, passed the Gave d’Oleron, by a ford near -Ville-nave, without opposition. Sir Henry Clinton passed in like manner -with the 6th, between Monfort and Laas; and Sir Thomas Picton with -the 3rd made demonstrations as if he would have attacked the enemy’s -position at the bridge of Sauveterre, upon which they blew up the -bridge. Morillo at the same time drove in their posts near Navarreins, -and blockaded that place, which was fortified strongly enough to -require battering-artillery for its reduction. Immediately after the -passage of the Oleron Gave, Sir Rowland and Sir Henry Clinton moved -towards Orthes, and the great road leading from Sauveterre to that -town; and the enemy retiring from Sauveterre across the Gave de Pau in -the night, destroyed the bridges upon that river, and assembled their -army near Orthes on the 25th. The allies continued to advance that -day, and on the following Beresford crossed the Gave de Pau below its -junction with that of Oleron, at some fords about four miles above -Peyrehorade; these were not discovered till after some unsuccessful -attempts, and the current there was so rapid, that the infantry of -General Walker’s division could hardly support each other against it, -and for some minutes there was reason to fear that the column would -be carried down the stream. The Marshal then moved along the high -road from Peyrehorade toward Orthes, on the enemy’s right. Sir Thomas -Picton had found a ford below the bridge of Berenx, where he crossed -with the 3rd division, and Sir Stapleton with the cavalry as Beresford -approached; the 6th and light divisions made a flank movement to -support them, and Sir Rowland occupied the heights opposite Orthes, -and the high road leading to Sauveterre, on the left bank of the Gave. -His corps advanced directly upon the bridge of Orthes, with the hope -of forcing it; but, being without artillery, and finding the approach -defended by loop-holed houses, and by a tower strongly manned against -them, they desisted from their intent. - -♦ORTHES.♦ - -Orthes, which before the territorial arrangement of France was -revolutionized, was the capital of the Senechalry of the same name, -is supposed by Scaliger to have been the ancient city of Bearum, the -Beneharnus of Antoninus, and the Benarnus of writers in a later age; -but this opinion seems to have been satisfactorily ♦RAMOND’S TR. IN -THE PYRENEES, P. 92.♦ disproved. It stands upon the Gave de Pau, there -a considerable river, and remarkable, because its accessible source -is a waterfall, higher, except one in America, than any that has ever -yet been measured; it springs from a height of 1266 feet, and being -twice broken on the way by projections of the precipice, falls upon a -bed of perpetual snow, under ♦P. DE MARCA. HIST. DE BEARN, L. 1. C. -6. § 4. 14.♦ which it works its passage. Orthes was the residence of -the Princes of Bearn during some 200 years from the middle of the 13th -century, when Gaston de Moncada built the _Chasteau Noble_ there, upon -the plan of his hereditary castle in Aragon, and in a like situation, -on an eminence commanding the town, and overlooking a wide circuit of -country. In that castle Froissart was entertained by Gaston Phebus, the -twelfth Count of Foix, and Lord of Bearn, and there he was informed -concerning the affairs of Castille, Portugal, Navarre, Aragon, Gascony, -and England, Gaston himself communicating to him what he knew, and -telling him that the history which he had undertaken to write would -be esteemed above all others, because more marvellous deeds of arms -had been done in the world within the last fifty years than in three -centuries preceding. There the good old chronicler was as happy as -splendid hospitality, and the diligent use of favourable opportunities, -could make him; the thing which he most desired being to collect -information for his great work, and having at his wish there, lords, -knights, and squires, ready and willing to inform him. In this castle -Gaston Phebus kept his treasure, and it is said to have amounted at one -time to no less a sum than three million florins, raised by taxation, -which was borne cheerfully, because he maintained order in his -dominions; neither English nor French, nor robber nor rover, harassed -his people; and he had the reputation of being as liberal as he was -just, not heralds and minstrels only, but strangers who came there -having cause to praise him for his bounty. Froissart had been in many -courts of kings, dukes, princes, earls, and great ladies, but never in -any, he says, that so well liked him as the Castle Noble of Orthes; -and he had seen many knights, kings, and princes, but none like this -Count of Foix for personage, nor of so fair form, nor so well made; -for in every thing he was so perfect, that he could not be praised too -much, loving what ought to be beloved, and hating that which ought to -be hated. Yet so accustomed were men to the most atrocious actions, -in that which was the brightest age of chivalry, that this very Gaston -committed a murder in this castle as much in violation of honour and -of hospitality, as of laws both human and divine; tortured innocent -persons to death upon mere suspicion, and with his own hands killed his -own son at the close of a frightful tragedy, of which this castle was -the scene; and the faithful historian who thus extols him has related -all these things! The ruins of the _Chasteau Noble_ are yet to be -seen, and the tower in which Gaston kept his treasure was standing in -the last century. Orthes ceased to be the residence of the Counts in -1460, when they removed their court to Pau; and their removal was not -compensated by the short-lived university which about a century after -Queen Jeanne of Navarre founded there for the Huguenots, and endowed -from the church property in her dominions. - -♦BATTLE OF ORTHES.♦ - -Here Marshal Soult had taken a strong position, extending about a mile -in length along a range of tabular heights; his right, under Reillé, -resting on them upon the high road to Dax, and occupying the village -of St. Boes; the centre, under Drouet, taking the bend of a sickle, as -the hill formed a cove, and being thus protected by the flanks; the -left, under Clausel, resting upon the town and the heights above it, -and defending the passage of the river from Sir Rowland. Villatte’s and -Harispe’s divisions, and Paris’s brigade, were formed in reserve on -high ground upon the road ♦FEB. 27.♦ to Sault de Navailles. “Thus,” in -the words of a French historian, “from 35,000 to 40,000 French troops -were collected at a point as favourable as the most skilful commander -could have chosen for ♦BEAUCHAMP’S NARRATIVE OF THE INVASION, 2. P. -52.♦ resisting the advance of an invading army.” Lord Wellington’s -arrangements were, that Beresford, with the 4th and 7th divisions, -and Colonel Vivian’s brigade of cavalry, should turn and attack the -enemy’s right; while Picton, with the 3rd and 6th, supported by Sir -Stapleton with Lord Edward Somerset’s brigade of horse, should move -along the Peyrehorade road, and attack their centre and left. Baron -Alten, with the light division, kept up the communication, and was in -reserve between these; and Sir Rowland was to force the passage of the -Gave, and turn and attack their left. - -The action commenced about nine in the morning. The 4th division, under -Sir Lowry Cole, carried the village of St. Boes, after an obstinate -resistance. Beresford then directed his efforts against two lines -of the enemy formed on the heights above it; but the troops had not -room here to deploy for the attack, the only approach being along a -narrow tongue of land, which had on either side a deep ravine, and was -completely commanded by the enemy’s guns. Sir Lowry’s division led the -way; 15 pieces of artillery played on them diagonally with full effect; -in front they were opposed by the main line of the French infantry, -and strong bodies were formed in the ravines on their flanks. Repeated -attempts were made by Major-General Ross, and by Vasconcellos’s -Portugueze brigade, till at length that brigade was completely broken, -and the remainder of the division, with a brigade of Baron Alten’s that -hastened to their assistance, with difficulty covered their retreat: -thus, on this point, the attack totally failed. - -Lord Wellington saw that it was impossible to turn this wing of the -enemy by their right, without extending his line too far; he therefore -ordered the immediate advance of the 3rd and 6th divisions, and the -7th, with a brigade of the light division, to support them by attacking -the height which the enemy occupied at the point of junction between -their right and centre. The 52nd regiment, under Colonel Colborne, -led up the hill, supported closely by the other troops both on the -right and left; and the artillery gained a knoll from whence it swept -the whole line of the enemy’s centre. It made such havoc among their -reserve masses, that the French 21st hussars were provoked to a most -daring movement for seizing it; they galloped round the hill, and, -under a heavy fire of musquetry, charged and drove back one of the -supporting battalions; then with equal courage fell upon the 42nd -Highlanders, but the Highlanders received their charge firmly, and -the hussars suffered so much in it, that they gave up this brave -though unsuccessful attempt. Meantime the allied troops were advancing -steadily, under a destructive fire: Major-General Inglis’s brigade -distinguished itself now, as it had done on all occasions, and made -a successful charge on the enemy’s left; every regiment in the 3rd -division was hotly engaged, they drove the French from every height -where they attempted to make a stand, and in spite of all resistance -gained at length the summit of the main position. There a severe -struggle ensued; on no former occasion had the enemy fought so well -when opposed to British troops; it was the only action in which they -came fairly to the bayonet; but the determination which brought them to -that sure trial could not support them in it, and, giving up all hope -now of a successful resistance, they began to retreat over the level -ground in their rear in good order, by _echellons_ of divisions, each -successively covering the other, and supported by their cavalry, which, -by a gallant charge on the 6th division, endeavoured, but in vain, to -check the pursuit. The infantry rallied upon some rising ground, and -attempted again to make a stand: the 9th hussars, under Colonel Vivian, -made them again give way. They then formed into squares, and continued -to retire still in admirable order; and, though warmly pursued, and -suffering heavily from the British guns, they took every advantage of -the numerous positions which the ground afforded. - -Marshal Soult, in whom nothing was that day wanting which could be -required of a commander in the field, was compelled to withdraw his -wings, when the centre had thus been forced, and to order a general -retreat. The wings had comparatively suffered little; and this movement -was as well conducted as all his former ones had been. But meantime -Sir Rowland had forced the passage of the Gave above the town; and -seeing the state of the action, he moved, with the 2nd division, and -Major-General Fane’s brigade of cavalry, for the great road to St. -Sever, keeping thus upon the enemy’s left, but in a direction towards -a point in their rear which would have cut off their retreat on Sault -de Navailles. Their movements quickened as soon as they perceived this -danger; and as their march was accelerated, Sir Rowland quickened his, -till the retreat became a flight; they ran, and the allies ran also, -and the race continued till the French broke so completely, that no -resemblance of a column was remaining. It was the lively expression -of an officer there present that, “in the battle they met the charge -like lions, but that the pursuit was like hare-hunting;” prisoners -were literally caught by the skirts as they ran. Could the cavalry -have acted sooner off the great road, the French army must have been -almost destroyed. They suffered greatly where any obstacle impeded -their flight; the enclosures and ditches were thickly strewn with their -killed and wounded; 2000 fugitives were picked up by the infantry, -and 12 pieces of cannon taken, and many more prisoners upon the only -opportunity which was offered for the cavalry to charge, when the -enemy had been driven from the high road by Sir Rowland. The victory, -complete as it was, might have been followed to more advantage, if -Lord Wellington had not been struck on the pommel of his sword by a -musquet-shot, and bruised so severely by the blow, that he was unable -to cross this intersected country on horseback time enough to direct -the farther movements of the divisions in pursuit: the most decisive -victory would have been dearly purchased by his loss. When it became -dusk, the army was halted in the neighbourhood of Sault de Navailles. -The loss of the allies, in killed, wounded, and missing, was somewhat -less than 2300, of whom about 600 were Portugueze; no Spaniards -were engaged that day. That of the ♦BEAUCHAMP, 2. P. 55.♦ enemy was -estimated by one of their own writers at from 14,000 to 16,000, very -much the greater part being by desertion after the rout; for the -conscripts threw down their arms, and took the opportunity of escaping -from compulsory service. Foy was severely wounded, General Bechaud -killed, and another General mortally wounded. - -♦FEB. 28.♦ - -The main body of the French army continued its retreat during the -night, and was joined at Hagetman by the garrison of Dax, and by two -fresh battalions of conscripts; it then halted behind the Adour, near -St. Sever, to re-organize itself: the allies followed them to St. Sever -on the day after the battle, and the centre advanced in three columns -with the hope of enveloping them. That which marched on the _chaussée_ -arrived at the appointed moment; but the flank columns ♦MARCH 1.♦ could -not proceed upon the unpaved roads at the pace which was required; and -thus the enemy had time to move off in the direction of Agen, escaping -an attack which they were in no condition to have withstood. Beresford -then with the light division, and with Colonel Vivian’s brigade, -passed the Higher Adour, and occupied Mont de Marsan, the principal -town in the department of the Landes, where he took a very large ♦THE -FRENCH DRIVEN FROM AIRE.♦ magazine of provisions. Here no resistance -was attempted; but at Aire, where the enemy had other magazines, a -corps was collected with the intention of making a stand to protect -their removal. Against this place, which is on the left bank of the -Adour, Sir Rowland moved upon the 2nd of March; and when his advanced -guard arrived within two miles of the town, the French were discovered -strongly posted on a ridge of hills, with their right upon the river, -thus covering the approach. Notwithstanding the strength of the post, -Sir William Stewart was ordered to attack them with the second division -along the road, and Brigadier-General Da Costa’s Portugueze brigade -about the centre of their position. The French force consisted of two -divisions; and the Portugueze, when they forced their way up and gained -the summit, found, which had not been expected, an extent of flat -ground on the top, and a strong body of the enemy completely formed -there to resist them; the Portugueze were so broken and confused that -they could regain no formation, and must have suffered accordingly, if -Sir William Stewart, having beaten back the enemy on his side, had not -dispatched his first brigade under Major-General Barnes to their timely -support. The enemy were then in their turn thrown into confusion by a -vigorous charge, nor could they after many attempts recover the ground, -but were driven from all their positions, and finally from the town, -where the magazines fell into the conqueror’s hands. Two divisions of -the French were engaged in this affair, one of them was Harispe’s, -which had not been at Orthes; their loss was very considerable: that -of the allies amounted to 20 killed and 135 wounded; among the former -was the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Hood, of the general staff, an -officer of great merit and promise. - -♦SOULT DRAWS NEARER THE PYRENEES.♦ - -At this time the French were once more favoured by the weather. Heavy -and continued rain fell during the beginning of the month, swelling -all the rivulets so as materially to impede the progress of the -allies, increasing in proportion the Adour, which was so rapid that -pontoons could not be laid upon it, and rendering it more difficult -to repair the numerous bridges which the enemy had destroyed in -their retreat; yet till this could be done, the different parts of -the army were without communication. Lord Wellington was therefore -compelled to halt; and Marshal Soult, who after his defeat at Orthes -had been forced by the movement of Sir Rowland’s corps to retire in -the direction of Bourdeaux, had leisure and opportunity to choose his -course. The divisions which had been driven from Aire retreated up both -banks of the Adour towards Tarbes, with a view, as Lord Wellington -perceived, of being reinforced by farther detachments from Marshal -Suchet’s army. This direction Soult had resolved to take, because it -was only from Suchet that he could look for any efficient aid; though -it appears that there was not that concert and clear understanding -between the two Marshals which might have been expected in men of such -experience and great ability. By thus approaching the Pyrenees he -left the way to Bourdeaux open to the allies; he, however, supposed -that Lord Wellington would not venture to advance upon that city, -but of necessity must follow his movements. In the latter conclusion -he was not mistaken; but he greatly mistook the disposition of the -French people, who now looked to the English as their liberators, -a disposition that was increased by his own conduct, and by the -licentious habits of his troops. The loss of his magazines compelled -him to impose heavy requisitions, as far as his power to collect them -extended, to the ruin of the inhabitants, while their countrymen -in other parts were enriched by the presence of an invading army, -paying for every thing at the exorbitant prices that its own demand -occasioned. His troops, therefore, in their own country were in want of -every thing, and the English were abundantly supplied. ♦BEAUCHAMP, 2. -61. BATTY’S NARRATIVE, 139.♦ The depredations and the enormities which -his men committed, though not aggravated by that fiendish cruelty which -had characterized the French in Portugal, were yet such that they were -execrated wherever they went; and the allies, in every town and village -where they entered, were welcomed as deliverers and protectors. Many -instances occurred in which our sick soldiers were taken in by some -hospitable family, and nursed with the greatest kindness. - -♦THE ALLIES ENTER PAU.♦ - -One of the enemy’s columns having been cut off from the Adour by Sir -Rowland’s rapid march upon Aire, retreated in disorder toward Pau, -the men throwing away their arms, the better to effect their escape -and facilitate their desertion. The few who reached that place were -driven out by a detachment which Lord Wellington sent thither under -General Fane to occupy it; and there the allies established a hospital -in which the _Sœurs de la Charité_ attended upon the sick and wounded -soldiers, after the manner of their exemplary order. Travellers are -still shown at Pau the chamber in which Henri IV. was born, and the -tortoise-shell in which he slept as in a cradle. The gardens which -had been his delight were remaining at the close of the 17th century; -and the walks overarched with trees, the arbours, and the evergreens, -though all neglected then, bore testimony still to the care with which -they had formerly been dressed, and to the topiary skill which had -been displayed there. Bearn, of which Pau was the capital in former -times, was one of the most favoured parts of France, and indeed of the -world, before the French revolution cut up the well-being of a whole -generation by the roots; for the division of property, and the industry -and manners of the people had combined there with all fortunate -circumstances of soil, surface, and climate, to render the inhabitants -contented and happy. - -♦DEPUTIES ARRIVE FROM BOURDEAUX.♦ - -When the news of the battle of Orthes reached St. Jean de Luz, two -deputies arrived at the same time from Toulouse, to assure the Duc -d’Angoulême that the inhabitants of that city eagerly desired the -restoration of the Bourbons. The Duc upon this repaired to Lord -Wellington’s head-quarters at St. Sever; Rochejaquelein followed -him, and they were joined there by M. Bontemps Dubarry, who came -from Bourdeaux, charged by the better part of the citizens to invite -the Duc, and to assure Lord Wellington that a British force would be -received there as friends. Lord Wellington no longer hesitated; and as -soon as Freyre’s Spanish corps, which had been stationed in reserve -near Irun, could be brought up, and every disposable body was closed -to the right, he dispatched Marshal Beresford ♦THE DUC D’ANGOULÊME -PROCEEDS THITHER WITH MARSHAL BERESFORD.♦ with three divisions toward -that important city, to drive out its inconsiderable garrison, and give -the inhabitants an opportunity of declaring for the exiled family if -such were their wish, and they chose to venture upon a measure which -might be so injurious to themselves, if Buonaparte should accept of -the peace that still was offered him. Lord Wellington still doubted -of this, even after he had determined upon making the trial; and -Rochejaquelein, when he went to receive the Duc’s last order, before -he set off with the advanced guard, found that the Duc himself seemed -to entertain the same discouraging opinion. Upon this he requested -permission to precede the English by six-and-thirty hours, and declared -that if Bourdeaux did not declare itself, his head should be ♦MÉMOIRES -DE LA MARQUISE DE LA ROCHEJAQUELEIN, P. 529.♦ responsible for the -failure. “You are certain then of your grounds,” the Duc rejoined. “As -certain,” replied Rochejaquelein, “as one can be of any earthly thing!” -The Duc then expressed his full confidence in him, and bade him go. - -♦THE LANDES.♦ - -The sandy tract which extends from Bayonne to Bourdeaux is well known -by the name of the Landes; so called, it has been supposed, because -all other ground in the adjacent country had its proper appellation -of field, meadow, marsh, wood, or other such terms according to its -produce and uses; but this region ♦GALLIA CHRISTIANA, T. 1. GLOSS.♦ -was mere land and nothing else; it is a vast plain, perfectly level, -in some parts covered with pine forests, in others only a wide waste -of sand, where the trees are so thinly scattered in the sea-like -circle, that in hot and hazy weather they have the appearance of ships -at sea. The peasant stalks over the loose sand upon high stilts, -which are found as useful here as racquets for the snow in Canada. -Uncultivated, however, and thinly peopled as this extensive tract is, -the pine forests yield a considerable revenue; the trees are regularly -tapped for turpentine, pitch is extracted from them, and candles -made from resin are in common use. While Marshal Beresford advanced -without opposition over this remarkable country, Rochejaquelein having -proceeded with the light troops as far as Langon, made his way to the -house of one of his confederates at Preignac; and from thence was -safely conducted, though the avenues were then watched by detachments -of soldiers and of _gendarmerie_, into Bourdeaux. He found that the -secret council of the royalists there, contrary alike to his wishes and -expectations, had just dispatched ♦MARCH 10.♦ a messenger to Marshal -Beresford, requesting him to delay his movement, that they might have -more time for preparing the people, and bringing the royalists from -the country round to the support of those in the town. This was at ten -on the night of the 10th; his representations how impolitic it was to -allow the timid time for considering the danger, and how desirable that -at this crisis Bourdeaux should declare itself for their legitimate -king by a spontaneous movement, inspired them with a braver spirit: and -four of their confederates were then successively sent off to meet the -Duc d’Angoulême and the English, and entreat them to expedite their -march. - -♦THE BUONAPARTISTS WITHDRAW FROM BOURDEAUX.♦ - -The battle of Orthes had already struck fear into those persons -from whom the royalists had most to apprehend; and no sooner was -it known that a British force was advancing towards Bourdeaux, -than the principal persons there who were in Buonaparte’s service -thought it hopeless to resist. The senator M. Cornudet, who was -Commissioner Extraordinary in this department, ordered all the civil -and ecclesiastical authorities to be dissolved, and every person in -the employ of government to leave the city. He gave directions for -destroying two frigates which were upon the stocks; and when it was -rumoured that this would be opposed by the people, he set fire to them -himself; and, taking with him the public chests, and as much gunpowder -and saltpetre as he could remove in haste from the public stores, he -withdrew. General Lhuillier, who had the military command, could not -collect more than 2000 soldiers; he, therefore, withdrew also. But the -Archbishop, as well as the Mayor, M. Lynch, remained and prepared to -receive the Duc d’Angoulême as the nephew of their lawful King, and the -English as his allies. Instead of finding any force to resist him on -the way, or any disposition for resistance, Marshal Beresford was met -by royalists from all parts of Medoc and Guienne, who came in crowds -to welcome the Duc. Long accustomed to adversity, the Duc himself -was not elated by this fair appearance of returning fortune; he knew -that, whatever might be the wishes of the allied sovereigns, they did -not yet consider it their policy to espouse the cause of the Bourbons, -and he requested the people not to endanger themselves by a hasty -declaration; but ♦MARCH 1.♦ notwithstanding this expressed desire, the -cry of “_Vive le Roi!_” was raised in the little town of Bazan when he -entered it. Early on the morning of the 12th, the local authorities -of Bourdeaux assembled ♦THE DUC ENTERS, AND THE WHITE FLAG IS HOISTED -THERE.♦ at the Hotel de Ville. The English hussars were beginning -to enter, when Rochejaquelein rode with all speed to meet Marshal -Beresford, and requested him to withdraw them, that the royalists might -declare themselves before he entered: of course this was instantly -done. The municipality went out to meet him; the royal guard which -had secretly been formed were instructed to assemble upon the road -with arms concealed, and their officers followed in the magistrates’ -train. As soon as Beresford arrived at the bridge of La Maye, he sent -Colonel Vivian to the Mayor, saying that he hoped to enter the city as -a friend and an ally. The Mayor met the Marshal without the gates, and -addressed him to this effect, that if he were about to enter Bourdeaux -as a conqueror, he might possess himself of the keys, which there were -no means of defending; but if he came in the name of the King of France -and of his ally, the King of England, they should then be joyfully -presented to him. Marshal Beresford replied, that his orders were to -occupy the city and to protect it; that he hoped his message had been -satisfactory, and that the city which he was about to enter was the -city of an ally inhabited by the subjects of Louis XVIII. M. Lynch, -upon this, exclaimed, “_Vive le Roi!_” cast away his scarf, and put on -the white cockade. At the same moment the white flag was displayed -from the steeple of St. Michael’s: those who were prepared with white -cockades mounted them, those who were not supplied their place with -paper; and when, about an hour afterwards, the Duc de Guiche arrived -and announced the near arrival of Monseigneur the Duc d’Angoulême, -Bourdeaux had never before witnessed so general or so generous a joy as -was then manifested. Crowds pressed round him, if they might but touch -his clothes or his horse; some cried, “He is of our blood; he was born -a Frenchman, and feels like a Frenchman!” numbers fell on their knees -and blessed him, and blessed God that they had lived to see this day; -mothers pointed him out to their children and said, “Now we shall no -longer lose all our sons in the war!” - -It was nearly two hours before the Duc could make his way through the -multitude to the cathedral. There the Archbishop at the head of the -clergy awaited him at the great door, and _Te Deum_ was performed -there amid the acclamations of the populace. M. Lynch issued a -proclamation in a strain well pitched to support the feeling which -had thus strongly been excited. “Inhabitants of Bourdeaux,” said he, -“happy circumstances have called upon the paternal magistrate of your -city to become the interpreter of your long suppressed wishes and the -organ of your interests, by welcoming in your name the nephew of Louis -XVI., whose presence has converted into allies an irritated nation -bearing the character of enemies till they reached your gates. It is -not to subjugate our country that the English, and the Spaniards, and -the Portugueze appear where they now are: they are come with united -forces into the south of France actuated by the same feelings as the -nations of the north, to destroy the scourge of Europe, and supply his -place by a monarch who will be the father of his people. The hands of -the Bourbons are undefiled with French blood; the testament of Louis -XVI. is their guide, and they renounce all thoughts of resentment: -they proclaim that clemency and tolerance are the leading features -of their conduct; and, in deploring the terrible ravages of that -tyranny which licentiousness introduced, they forget the errors caused -by the illusions of liberty. No more tyranny! no more war! no more -conscription! no more vexatious taxes! are the concise and consoling -expressions addressed to you by a Prince who has the daughter of Louis -XVI. for his consort. I am proud that you are the first who have set an -example to France. Every thing tends to assure us that our misfortunes -are about to terminate, and that national rivalry will cease with them. -It seems to have been decreed by Providence that the great commander, -who so well deserves to be entitled the Liberator of Nations, should -attach his glorious name to this glorious epoch, this memorable -consummation of all my wishes. Fellow-citizens, such are the hopes and -motives which have supported me at this trying period, and directed my -conduct, and determined me, if necessary, to sacrifice my life for you. -God is my witness, that I have no object in view but the good of my -country. Long live the King!” - -♦FAILURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AT CHATILLON.♦ - -The Royalists, by whom this most important movement was prepared and -directed, were none of those time-servers who take advantage of all -changes to forward their own fortunes, and whose professed principles -are always found to be in perfect accord with their immediate interest. -When Rochejaquelein and the Bordelais set life and fortune thus upon -the die, the Bourbons were wholly disregarded by the Allied Powers; -those powers were still negotiating with Buonaparte, ... still willing, -and, as it seemed, desirous to conclude a peace with him which should -have left him the recognized Emperor of France. He, too, giving proof -of greater military genius than could justly be inferred from his most -brilliant career of success, had made head against their invading -armies with an inferior force; and obtained advantages which raised the -hopes of his admirers, and confirmed his overweening confidence in his -own resources and strength of character. He flattered himself at this -time, and endeavoured to persuade the French people, that the allies -considered the scheme of invasion hopeless, that they were about to -withdraw from the French territory, and to dissolve their ill-compacted -league. The former conduct of those powers afforded some ground for -such expectation; but they had profited by experience, and while the -negotiations for peace were ♦MAR. 1.♦ still pending at Chatillon, -concluded a treaty among themselves which might have wakened Buonaparte -from his delusion. By this treaty, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Great -Britain, formed a league offensive and defensive for twenty years, each -binding itself not to treat separately with the enemy, and each to -keep on foot an army of 150,000 men, exclusive of garrisons, England -reserving an option to subsidize other troops in place of her own, and -agreeing to supply five millions sterling, to be divided among the -other powers for maintaining the war. Each of these contracting powers -was fully supported in this energetic policy by the spirit of its -people. But Buonaparte continued to act as if he had still only to deal -with sovereigns whom he might cajole, and statesmen whom ♦MAR. 15.♦ he -might intimidate or corrupt; and in this temper he sent his _ultimatum_ -to the congress, demanding for himself the whole line of the Rhine, -great part of that of the Waal, and the fortress of Nimeguen; Italy, -including Venice, for his son-in-law Eugene Beauharnois; indemnities -for that prince as having been Grand Duke of Frankfort, for Jerome on -the score of his kingdom of Westphalia, for Louis as Grand Duke of -Berg, ... and for Joseph the Intruder, not indeed in compensation for -Spain, but for Naples, ... from whence Buonaparte himself had moved him -to Madrid! Such demands were at once rejected, and the congress was -dissolved. - -♦MARSHAL SOULT’S PROCLAMATION.♦ - -This was subsequent to the declaration of Bourdeaux in favour of the -Bourbons; and when the news of that declaration was known in England, -some apprehensions were felt for its immediate consequences to the -persons who were principally concerned. What mercy they might expect -if Buonaparte should maintain himself upon the throne was plainly -indicated in a proclamation addressed at this time by Marshal Soult -to his troops; it was directed against the British General as well -as the Royalists, and in the spirit of one who had served the tyrant -in his schemes of iniquitous ambition, without scruple and without -remorse. “Soldiers,” said he, in this remarkable address, “there will -be no repose for us till this hostile army shall be annihilated, or -till it shall have evacuated the territory of the Emperor. It does -not suspect the dangers which surround, nor the perils which await -it; but time will teach this army, and the General who commands it, -that our territory is not invaded with impunity, and that French -honour is not with impunity insulted. The British General has had the -audacity to incite you and your countrymen to revolt and sedition! -He has dared insult the national honour: he has had the baseness to -excite the French to break their oaths, and to be guilty of perjury! -Yet a few days and those who have been capable of believing in the -sincerity and delicacy of the English will learn to their cost that -the English have no other object in this war than to destroy France by -its own instrumentality, and reduce the French to servitude like the -Portugueze, the Sicilians, and all the other people who have groaned -under their yoke. Let these deluded Frenchmen look back upon the past; -they will see the English at the head of every conspiracy, of the -overthrow of all principles, of the destruction of all establishments, -whether of greatness or of industry, for the sake of gratifying their -inordinate ambition and their insatiable avarice. Is there a single -point on the surface of the globe where they have not either by fraud -or violence brought about the ruin of the manufactories which rivalled -or surpassed their own? Soldiers, let us devote to shame and general -execration every Frenchman who shall have favoured the projects of -the enemy; there is no longer any bond between them and us! Our motto -is Honour and Fidelity. Our duty is marked out: implacable hatred -to traitors and to the enemies of the French name: interminable war -to those who would divide in order to destroy us; as well as to the -wretches who would desert the imperial eagles for any other standard! -Let us have always in our minds fifteen ages of glory, and the -innumerable triumphs which have rendered our country illustrious! Let -us contemplate the prodigious efforts of our great Emperor, and his -signal victories which will eternize the French name! Let us be worthy -of him, and that we may bequeath to our posterity without a stain the -inheritance which we have received from our fathers!” - -This proclamation was more in accord with the moral than with the -military reputation which Marshal Soult had established for himself. -It ill became him as a great General to pour out coarse and angry -invectives against his adversary; but the rancour with which he -reviled and calumniated the English, the threat of interminable war -to them, and of implacable hatred to the French loyalists, these were -in the spirit of his councils and his conduct. For he had proved -himself by his impassibility not less than by his talents, worthy of -the confidence which Buonaparte placed in him ... and of the service -in which he had been employed. But his exhortation to the French -soldiers that they should be worthy of their Emperor was superfluous: -Buonaparte’s soldiers had long been worthy of him! To this Jaffa had -borne witness: Madrid and Porto, Ucles and Tarragona were witnesses; -the wrongs, the sufferings, and the curses of all Europe testified it; -and the confederated nations, in whom the insolence and the excesses -of those soldiers had roused a feeling which no ordinary war could -have excited, and who were now moving from the Tagus and the Elbe, the -Danube and the Moskwa against the general oppressor, ... the common -enemy, ... the individual who, when he might have conferred greater -benefits upon Europe than ever sovereign before him, in ancient or -modern times, had deliberately chosen the evil part, and employed his -mighty power to bring about the worst ends by the most flagitious means. - -♦ADMIRAL PENROSE ENTERS THE GIRONDE.♦ - -But if some fears were entertained in England for the loyalists at -Bourdeaux who had not waited to declare their loyalty till the danger -would have been in delaying the declaration, a generous sympathy -also was manifested. The militia availed themselves of the act which -allowed them to volunteer for foreign service. The example was set -by the Marquis of Buckingham and Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, and they -sailed as soon as possible with 4000 men for the Gironde. Contrary -winds impeded their passage: meantime Buonaparte had ordered a division -under General Decaen to march against it by Perigueux, and Lhuillier -collected what force he could to the north of the city. But Buonaparte -and his Generals had now no force at their disposal strong enough to -put down the spirit that had shown itself; the rich raised companies -of cavalry, the artisans formed a volunteer guard for the Duc; and -Lord Wellington was now so well acquainted with the disposition of -the French people, that without any fears for Bourdeaux, he recalled -Marshal Beresford with two divisions, thinking that Lord Dalhousie with -5000 men would secure it from any attempt that could be made against -it. Admiral Penrose had hastened thither with ♦MARCH 27.♦ the Egmont, -the Andromache, and Belle Poule frigates, and some smaller vessels, -and entered the Gironde without sustaining any loss from the fire of -the forts and batteries at its mouth. There was more danger from the -difficulty of the navigation, but this also was surmounted by the -skill and the exertion of British seamen. The enemy had the Regulus -line-of-battleship, three brigs of war, and some _chasse-marées_ lying -in the river, and the squadron chased them as high as the shoal of -Talmont, where the French passed up through the narrow channel to the -north, which had been buoyed for the purpose, and then took shelter -under the strong batteries on each side of Talmont bay, the British -squadron anchoring outside the shoal. Fort de Blaye still prevented -the navigation of the Garonne; the mayor of that place would willingly -have hoisted the white flag, but though he found means of letting the -Duc know his own sentiments, he could not persuade the garrison to -take that part. While the Admiral prepared to act against it, Lord -Dalhousie, taking Rochejaquelein for his guide, crossed the Garonne, -and pushed the enemy’s parties under General Lhuillier, beyond the -Dordogne; ♦APRIL 4.♦ he then crossed that river at St. Andre de -Cubzac, with a view to the attack of the fort, but learning that -Lhuillier with 300 cavalry and 1200 foot had retired by Etauliers, he -moved on that point, intending to turn back again upon Blaye if that -General continued his retreat. Lhuillier however drew out his corps in -a large open common near Etauliers, and occupied some woods in front -of it: the woods were soon cleared; the enemy’s horse and foot gave -way and retired through the town, leaving scattered parties to shift -for themselves; some 300 prisoners were taken, including about 30 -officers, great numbers dispersed in the woods, and the conscripts took -the desired opportunity of escaping. On the preceding day a detachment -under Captain Coode, of the Porcupine, took or destroyed a numerous -♦MARCH.♦ flotilla, which had been equipped in haste, and which, before -the arrival of the British squadron, had threatened the coast of Medoc, -and Bourdeaux itself. Among the prizes was a splendid barge designed -for the Emperor when he visited that city, with his name on the stern, -and his golden eagle on the prow; this the sailors humbly requested -might be presented with their duty to the Prince Regent. Another -corps of 600 seamen and marines, under Captain Harris of the Belle -Poule, landed, marched more than fifty miles in six-and-thirty hours, -reduced and dismantled five forts, destroyed 47 pieces of cannon and 17 -mortars, and re-embarked without any loss. The Regulus and the smaller -vessels which had sought protection with it, were attacked and burnt, -and by the 9th of April the river was cleared as high up as Blaye. -General Merle held out in that fortress till the 16th; when the news -that had arrived induced the Admiral to agree to an armistice with him, -and the Gironde was then opened from its mouth to Bourdeaux. - -♦PROCEEDINGS AT VALANÇAY.♦ - -Meantime another restoration, which once might have been deemed as -little likely as that of the Bourbons in France, had taken place. -When Ferdinand and his counsellors at Valançay found that neither -San Carlos nor Palafox returned from their mission, they represented -to Laforest that the best mode of removing all difficulties would be -for the Emperor to let Ferdinand depart unconditionally, relying upon -his honour to fulfil the treaty, if the obstacles to it should not be -insurmountable. Suchet had given advice to the same effect, seeing -that at that time, when there was no longer a hope of retaining any -hold on Spain, it was of great consequence to withdraw from thence -the garrisons, and that they could be extricated only by this means. -If Ferdinand were honourable enough to restore them to their country -upon being put in possession of the places which they occupied, the -great and only advantage which was now desired would be obtained; if -he should refuse to do this, or be unable to effect it, doubtful as -it was what his authority might be, nothing would be lost, nor ever -risked by the experiment. This the French government saw; and they were -not without hope that the presence of Ferdinand in his own country -might lead to a civil war, which would have the effect of at least -embarrassing the English, and probably of impeding their operations in -Gascony. - -Ferdinand and his counsellors might have escaped from any imputation -of bad faith in this transaction, if they had not themselves claimed -credit for acting with duplicity. When they said the fulfilment of the -treaty might be relied on, if there were no insurmountable obstacles, -they well supposed that such obstacles existed in their relations to -the allied powers; “but,” says the Canon Escoiquiz, “not knowing this -of a certainty, we had a right, when treating with so perfidious a -person, to put it in doubt; and by this just dissimulation to obtain -the object of our wishes, which was the King’s liberty. Skilfully -to deceive with truth a man so false was not an evil deed, but an -excellent one; and this was our maxim[8].” They represented farther -that an unconditional liberation was of all things most likely to -conciliate Ferdinand’s entire good-will; that it would moreover make -the allied powers believe Buonaparte to be sincere in his desire of -peace, and which was of more consequence, gratify the French nation, -who had always indignantly regarded the war with Spain; that if -Ferdinand should find it impossible to confirm the peace with France, -it was not his interest that France should be dismembered, and to -prevent any such danger he would only carry on an illusive war, merely -to save appearances; that even if it were his desire to carry it on -with vigour, he must of necessity be less able to do this than the -Regency, because of the changes which his arrival in Spain could not -but produce; finally, that his farther detention would occasion the -Emperor a great and useless expense, and must also be a matter of -some anxiety, when it was so possible that he might be delivered by -the arms of the allies. Buonaparte, indeed, seems at one time to have -been sensible either of the reproach which he had brought upon himself -by his treachery toward Ferdinand, or of the likelihood that some -successful plan might be formed for his escape; and it was once his -intention to have shipped him off for Mexico, or for any other part of -the Spanish colonies which he might have preferred, with Charles IV. -and the Queen, the Infantes, his brothers, the Queen of Etruria, and -as many other members of the family as he could collect, and to have -given them large possessions there; but upon discovering that none of -those colonies were at his disposal, as he had hoped them to be, and -considering moreover that Ferdinand might easily from thence find his -way to Spain, and there protest against the validity ♦IDEA SENCILLA, -78.♦ of his renunciation, he abandoned this project. At present, -willing to be rid of him, knowing that his presence now could do him -no hurt any where, desiring to get his soldiers out of Spain, which he -had no hope of effecting by any other means, and perhaps also having a -hope that Ferdinand’s return might create new troubles in that country, -he readily assented to the proposal; and Laforest was instructed by -the first post after the receipt of his dispatch to inform Ferdinand -and the Infantes, that they were at liberty to depart unconditionally, -and that orders had been given for forwarding to them the necessary -passports. - -♦FERDINAND IS SET AT LIBERTY.♦ - -Ferdinand had endured captivity as contentedly as if his patience had -been the effect of philosophy or of religion. Nothing, however, could -have rejoiced him more than this reply; and, as if believing that his -return would be not less a matter of joy to the Regency, he determined -that as soon as the passports came, Zayas should precede him by three -or four days, and travel with all speed to notify his approach, that -preparations might be made for receiving him. This happiness was but -of six hours’ duration; for on the evening of the same day, San Carlos -arrived with the refusal of the treaty. To conceal this was impossible, -the utmost publicity having been given to it by the Spanish press; and -as it was likely to irritate Buonaparte, whose violent temper was well -known to his ministers, Laforest proposed that San Carlos himself -should be the first bearer of the intelligence, and present with it -such representations as might tend to appease him, and if possible -avert his displeasure. The Duque accordingly, who had come post from -Madrid, set off without delay, and at the same speed for Paris. -Buonaparte was then with the army in the neighbourhood of Troyes; the -ministers at Paris had withheld the passports till they should receive -fresh instructions, and not allowing the Duque to proceed, sent him -back to Valençay. Laforest, however, was of opinion that he should -repair to the Emperor’s quarters: San Carlos again departed; failing -to find, and perhaps not being able to follow him in the rapidity of -his movements, he communicated his business by letter: the course which -Laforest recommended coincided with the advice given by Suchet, in -whom Buonaparte had great confidence, and the result was that orders -were sent to Paris for forwarding the passports without delay. They -reached Valençay on the night of March 7; San Carlos arrived on the -9th; Zayas set out for Madrid the next day. He bore a dispatch to the -Regency, wherein Ferdinand said that their letter, which he had now -received by Palafox, had filled his soul with satisfaction: he saw in -it how anxiously the nation wished for his return, which he desired -not less ardently, that he might devote all his powers to the good of -his beloved subjects, to whom he was so greatly indebted on so many -accounts. Then, after notifying his speedy departure, he said that -the re-establishment of the Cortes, concerning which the Regency had -informed him, and the other measures for the good of the realm which -had been adopted during his absence, deserved his approbation, because -they were in conformity with his ♦IDEA SENCILLA, 113, 119.♦ own royal -intentions. On the following Sunday, March 13, Ferdinand and the -Infantes commenced their journey towards Perpignan. - -♦ARRANGEMENT WITH M. SUCHET.♦ - -Marshal Suchet received them in that city. His instructions from the -minister at war were, that he should send Ferdinand to Barcelona, -and cause all the places which the French still possessed in Spain -to be delivered up, taking, however, securities and precautions for -the return of the garrisons to their own country. Hence the Marshal -concluded that there was not such entire confidence placed in this -prince as might otherwise have been inferred from the manner of his -liberation. Both parties, however, were desirous of smoothing all -difficulties, which may always best be done by fair dealing; and this -was now the interest of both. San Carlos gave Suchet a full account of -the temper of the Cortes, and their determination to control the King, -or to resist him, if he should be found refractory; and he expressed -his belief that the Generals, whether they were influenced by their -fear or their opinions, would not acknowledge his authority until -they received orders from Madrid. Ferdinand’s desire was to proceed -without delay, and not to enter Barcelona, but go on to Valencia; -and he promised to expedite as much as he could the deliverance of -the garrisons in exchange for the places which they occupied. The -Marshal frankly stated the difficulty wherein he was placed by his -instructions, these being to conduct the King to Barcelona, and take -securities for the deliverance of the garrisons; he had written to -Paris, he said, for farther explanations, and till these should arrive, -it was agreed that the Infante, Don Carlos, should remain at Perpignan, -and that the King should pass the frontier without delay. Accordingly, -on the 22nd, Ferdinand re-entered his own country. The rain had so -swoln the streams, that he was detained two days at Figueras; during -this delay, the Marshal addressed a note to him, requesting that the -treatment of the French prisoners might be improved, and pressing for -the deliverance of the garrisons. An assurance was given that there -should be an immediate alteration in the condition of the prisoners, -and a promise was given respecting the garrisons, to which Ferdinand -affixed his signature. This answer was returned from Figueras, where -he was still in the hands of the French; but, that it might appear -more evidently his own free act and deed, he dated it from Gerona. -Upon receiving this, Suchet immediately dispatched orders for letting -the Infante, Don Carlos, proceed from Perpignan; thus he conferred an -obligation, by releasing a hostage whom it would have been useless to -detain; all questions concerning the fortresses and garrisons being, -as by a tacit understanding, waived on both sides, there being a third -party, without whose consent the garrison of Barcelona could not be -dismissed; for Sir H. Clinton was then with the Anglo-Sicilian army -blockading that city. A little before this time, instructions had been -received by that General to embark one portion of his troops, including -the Calabrians, ♦SUCHET, 2. 375–8.♦ for the coast of Italy, there to -be employed in an expedition under Lord William Bentinck; and with -the remainder to march, by way of Zaragoza and Pamplona, into France, -there to reinforce Lord Wellington. Sir Henry took upon himself the -responsibility of not obeying these instructions: and his conduct in so -doing was fully approved by Lord Wellington; for, if that army had been -withdrawn, the Spaniards in Catalonia could not have prevented Suchet -from collecting and bringing off the whole of his remaining garrisons. - -As soon as the waters permitted, Ferdinand proceeded towards Gerona. -General Copons had been apprized of his coming. Marshal Suchet escorted -him to the Fluvia, ♦MARCH 24. FERDINAND WRITES FROM GERONA TO THE -REGENCY.♦ The French troops were drawn up in a semicircle on one side -of the river, the Spaniards on the other; and, having crossed it amid -salutes of artillery, and the joyful sound of martial music, and the -acclamations of the surrounding inhabitants, who had flocked thither -from all sides, Ferdinand found himself then indeed free, ... in his -own country, among his own people, and a King. There was no difficulty -about his reception; his retinue consisted only of Spaniards, among -whom there were none to whom any exception could be taken, if Copons -had been disposed to offer it. The General delivered into his hands -the Regency’s letter, and the documents which accompanied it; and -when Ferdinand came the same day to Gerona, he acknowledged them in a -letter to the Regency announcing his arrival, saying that he should -make himself acquainted with the contents of their papers; meantime -he assured them that his greatest wish was to give them proofs of his -satisfaction, and of his lively desire to do every thing which might -conduce to the happiness of his subjects. It was a comfort indeed for -him, he said, to see himself in his own country, in the midst of a -nation and an army to whom he was beholden for a fidelity as constant -as it was generous. - -♦FERDINAND GOES TO ZARAGOZA.♦ - -The Cortes had regulated Ferdinand’s route; and as it was understood -that he would proceed by the line prescribed for him, which was -straight by way of Valencia, the Governors of Barcelona, Tortosa, and -Murviedro, received instructions to commit no hostilities when he -should pass. But Ferdinand was in no haste to proceed; he needed time -for consideration, and for such rest as the critical position in which -he now found himself would allow: he halted, therefore, a few days at -Gerona. On the 30th, he passed through the blockading army in front -of Barcelona, the enemy firing a salute, the allies receiving him with -all honours, and the people with every possible manifestation of joy. -It was believed that he was proceeding to Valencia; but, altering his -intention on the way, he made for Zaragoza, meaning to remain there -till he should have determined how to act. - -♦SOULT RESUMES THE OFFENSIVE.♦ - -This restoration Buonaparte regarded at this time with indifference; -but there was nothing which he dreaded so much as the progress of that -feeling which had manifested itself at Bourdeaux; for peace, upon -some terms, he thought himself always sure of obtaining, as long as -the allies forbore to take up the cause of the Bourbons. Soult saw -how likely it was that this feeling should spread from the Gironde -to the Loire, and had resolved upon carrying the war back toward the -Pyrenees, more with the view of occupying the English force at a -distance from those parts in which he knew that the existing tyranny -was borne with most impatience, than for the sake of the succours which -he could draw from Catalonia. Not being acquainted with the success -of Marshal Beresford’s movement upon Bourdeaux, he expected thus to -frustrate it, and that Lord Wellington would find it necessary to -recall all the detachments which he had sent in that direction. He -had, indeed, written to the Minister at War, saying he did not think -the British General would dare to weaken himself by sending a force -against that city. With this intention, he resumed the offensive; and, -having sent most of his encumbrances to Toulouse, moved ♦SUCHET, T. -2. PIÈCES JUSTIF, PP. 530–2.♦ by Lembege to Conchez and Viella, on -the right flank of the allies, drove in Sir Rowland’s piquets, and -made a demonstration as if intending to ♦MARCH 13.♦ attack him with -his whole force. Sir Rowland, upon this, took a position behind the -Gros Lees, extending ♦HE RETREATS UPON TARBES.♦ from Aire to Garlin, -on the road to Pau. Lord Wellington quickly moved two divisions to his -support, and prepared to concentrate the army in the neighbourhood of -Aire. Marshal Soult did not then feel himself strong enough to venture -upon an attack, and not finding his situation secure, retired in the -night toward Lembege, keeping his advanced posts toward Conchez; and -on the 15th, he halted his main body in position near Burosse, covered -by a strong rear-guard at Mascarras; but, on the approach of a single -brigade, they retired upon Vic Bigorre, not offering to maintain -their ground, though in a country peculiarly defensible. The various -detachments which Lord Wellington had sent out, and the reserves of -cavalry and artillery from Spain, did not join him till the 17th. On -the morrow the army marched; the right by Conchez, ♦COLONEL JONES’S -ACCOUNT, 2. 262.♦ the centre by Castelnau, the left by Plaisance; and -Sir Rowland drove in the enemy’s outposts upon Lembege. The French -retired in the night, but held a strong rear-guard in front of Vic -Bigorre, posted in the vineyards that encircle that town, and extend -for several miles around it. There they made a stand, with a show of -resolution which was not supported; for Sir Thomas Picton, with the 3rd -division and Major-General Bock’s Portugueze brigade, attacked them -there, dislodged, and drove them through the vineyards and through the -town. The allied army then assembled at Vic Bigorre and Rabastens, and -the enemy retired during the night upon Tarbes. - -♦FURTHER RETREAT TO TOULOUSE.♦ - -Buonaparte had rested in this city on his way to Bayonne in 1808, -when the treachery which he had plotted for the usurpation of Spain -was about to be consummated: a monument had been erected here in -commemoration of this imperial visit; and now that journey had in -consequence brought thither a victorious enemy’s army. So different, -too, were the feelings of the inhabitants toward him from what they had -been, that when Soult sent General Maransin thither before him to raise -a levy _en masse_ throughout the department, they refused to take arms. -Here, on the morning of the 20th, the French were found, having the -advanced posts of their left in the town, their right upon the heights -near the windmill of Oleac, and their centre and left retired, the -latter upon the heights near Angor. The allies marched in two columns -from Vic Bigorre and Rabastens; and Lord Wellington directed Sir Henry -Clinton, with the 6th division, to turn and attack their right, through -the village of Dour, while Sir Rowland attacked the town by the high -road. Sir Henry’s movement was completely successful: Baron Alten, -also, with the light division, drove the enemy from the heights above -Orleix: and when Sir Rowland had moved through the town and disposed -his columns for the attack, they retired in all directions. The troops -ascended the position which had been thus relinquished, thinking to -pursue their advantage; but having gained the summit, they unexpectedly -discovered a large portion of Soult’s army, formed on a parallel height -of great strength, and the body which had retreated before them, about -15,000 in number, ascending to join their comrades. This new position -could not be attacked without incurring severe loss; and to preserve -the advantages which had been obtained, it was necessary that the corps -from Rabastens should move further forward. But before this arrangement -could be completed, the evening closed, and Marshal Soult, once more -taking advantage of night to cover his movements, retired toward -Toulouse. There are two roads from Tarbes to that city, by S. Gaudens, -and by Auch; Soult retreated by the first, but having collected his -troops at St. Gaudens, crossed the country from thence to Auch. He had -previously sent off all his remaining encumbrances; and marching with -all possible celerity, that he might profit at Toulouse by the time -which he gained upon his pursuers, and destroying the bridges as he -went, he entered that city on the 24th, having suffered no other loss -during the pursuit than that of some prisoners, taken by General Fane -in an attack upon his rear-guard at St. Gaudens on the 22nd. - -♦PASSAGE OF THE GARONNE.♦ - -Once more Lord Wellington’s operations were impeded by heavy and -continued rains; he had to carry with him a pontoon train, as well as -most of his supplies; and it was not till three days after the French -army had entered Toulouse, that the allies halted on the left of the -Garonne, opposite that city. ♦MARCH 27.♦ On the following day, Lord -Wellington ordered a bridge to be laid at Portet, a village immediately -below the junction of the Ariege, and above the city. The current was -so rapid, that the sheer line could not without much difficulty be -stretched across; and when this was effected the distance was found -to be twenty-six yards more than the pontoons would cover. It was -desirable to obtain a passage above the city; for in that case Soult -must either abandon Toulouse, or lose the hope of being joined by -Suchet, now, though late in his movements, on the march to join him; -... a tardiness not imputable to that skilful commander, but to the -unwillingness with which Buonaparte consented to give up any object -of his ambition. Three days after the failure of the first attempt, a -place was found near Roques, where the river was not too wide, and the -spot in other respects favourable; here, ♦MARCH 31.♦ therefore, the -pontoons were laid down, and Sir Rowland’s corps crossed, and seized -the bridge over the Ariege at Cintegabelle; but after an anxious -trial of some hours, it was ascertained that from thence to Toulouse -there was no way passable for an army; and that till finer weather -should have hardened the roads, it would be impracticable to direct an -attack from the upper side of the town. The corps therefore repassed -the Garonne; and it then became Lord Wellington’s object to bridge the -river below the city, and attack Soult in front before he should be -reinforced. A favourable bend in the stream was discovered about two -miles above Grenade, at a point where the Garonne skirts the ♦APRIL -4TH.♦ main road: here some flanking batteries were established before -daybreak on the 4th; but owing to some accidental delay, it was five -o’clock before the first pontoon was brought to the water’s edge. A few -of the enemy’s cavalry were patrolling on the right bank, and their -whole army was within a short march: the patroles retired, and it -was expected every moment ♦SUCHET, PIÈCES JUSTIF. P. 536.♦ that some -attempt would be made to oppose the passage. Marshal Soult, indeed, had -assured Suchet that whenever the passage should be effected, he would -march and give the allies battle, whatever might be the disproportion -of his force; but of this he thought more wisely when the time came, -and his whole attention was now engaged in strengthening a position so -advantageous in itself, that with the labour and skill now employed in -fortifying it, he thought he might there safely defy even such an enemy -as Lord Wellington. The river at this point was 127 yards wide, and -exceedingly rapid; the bridge however was finished in four hours; and -just before it was completed the day became beautifully fine. The right -bank is some fifty feet high, the other considerably lower; and on that -side there was a plain of open wood, after a rise of about twelve feet. -A few men had previously been sent over in small boats, and posted in -this wood. The cavalry passed in single files, the infantry by threes, -the bands playing “British Grenadiers,” and the “Downfall of Paris,” -... not knowing that at that time Paris had indeed fallen, and the -allied sovereigns were in possession of it. Unopposed as the passage -was, it had the appearance rather of some festival display, than of an -actual military operation; the people from the neighbouring villages -had by this time collected to behold it, ... with so little fear or -dislike were the allies regarded by the inhabitants; and when the horse -artillery crossed, the peasants volunteered their aid, and pulled the -guns up the bank with all possible alacrity. - -The more concerned spectators were not without fear for the bridge; -it had been made fast by four stays to trees on either side, but the -strength of the current was such that it was soon forced into the shape -of a bow. Marshal Beresford passed with three divisions of infantry and -some cavalry; but when Freyre’s Spaniards and the light division should -have followed, the river had increased so much in height and strength, -that it was necessary to take up the platform. During the night, it -rose two feet; the rain had also recommenced; and on the morrow the -centre pontoon was removed, as a measure of precaution, and at length -the whole were taken up. The army was thus divided, the main body being -still on the left bank, and Soult, if he had thought proper, might -have attacked either flank; but he had suffered severely for such an -attempt in the battles before Bayonne, when he was more confident and -in greater strength. - -♦TOULOUSE.♦ - -The extent of Toulouse is disproportionately large with respect to its -population, being in length from north to south about two miles, and a -mile and quarter in breadth from east to west; while the inhabitants -were computed at not more than 60,000. It has little commerce, though -most favourably situated for inland communication: but it flourished -as a provincial capital: formerly it was second only to Paris in size. -The houses, and even the cathedral, are built of brick, which is very -unusual in France: the latter edifice, therefore, though remarkable for -its magnitude, is neither beautiful nor grand; for a structure composed -of such mean materials can produce no impression of grandeur, unless it -be like the pyramids in size. That cathedral boasted of possessing the -bodies of no fewer than seven Apostles, one of them being a duplicate -of Santiago. The Dorade church derived its name from a gilt image of -Notre Dame, the reputed work of St. Luke, who is better known in Roman -Catholic countries as an artist in this line, or as a painter, than by -his Gospel. The Dominicans exhibited a less doubtful relic in their -church, the body of St. Thomas Aquinas, authenticated by himself in -ghostly person, and brought to that city, after numerous adventures, -with 10,000 lighted tapers, and 150,000 people in procession. Devout -or curious persons were formerly indulged by a sight of the head, -which had been fitted to a half-body of silver; upon opening a plate -at the top, the real skull was to be seen, and, under circumstances of -special favour, kissed by adoring lips. Few places in France afford -more subject for reflective thought. It was the capital of a great -Gothic kingdom, till the last of its kings was overthrown by Clovis. -The pulpit is still preserved there from which St. Bernard preached the -crusade. Poetry flourished there in those ages when it stood most in -need of patronage and culture; and the city, under its own Counts, was -then the seat of religious liberty as well as of literature. Its Floral -Games may still remind us of the Gay Science of the Troubadours; but -the freedom of opinion and the truths of religion for which Toulouse -made so heroic and so virtuous a stand were succeeded there, as in -the Catholic Netherlands, by that victorious bigotry of the deepest -die which eats into the soul; and, down to the revolution, a festival -was yearly observed there in commemoration of the destruction of the -Albigenses. That name must ever bring with it painful reflections to -an Englishman’s mind, when he remembers the history of a papal crusade -under an English leader: and, looking to much later times, never were -blind superstition and legal iniquity seen in such accursed combination -as here, in the case of Calas; never, in human history, was a judicial -murder accomplished with circumstances of such peculiar barbarity and -injustice, ... circumstances so monstrous, that they could not be -believed, if it were possible to deny or doubt them. - -♦SOULT’S POSITION THERE.♦ - -Marshal Soult had retreated upon Toulouse less for the sake of the -abundant supplies which it afforded him, than because of the singular -advantages that its situation offered as a defensible position. The -canal of Brienne (so called after the Cardinal Archbishop of that -name), and which is broad enough for several barges to lie on it -abreast, connects the Garonne with the great canal of Languedoc about -two miles from the town, the navigation of the river being impeded -in that part of its course by a weir for the use of the corn-mills. -The whole western side is protected by the river; on the east and -north the canal covers it; and on the south, the only part which -was not covered by the river, could be approached only by roads -impassable for artillery, and was therefore so secure, that Soult, -who omitted no means of defence, deemed it wholly unnecessary to -erect any works on that side. There were formerly three bridges over -the Garonne: the single one which is left connects the city with the -Fauxbourg St. Cyprien; and the enemy had fortified that suburb with -strong field-works in front of the old walls. The walls were high, -thick enough for defence in old times, and flanked by towers. The -communication across the canal was covered by _têtes-de-pont_, defended -by various buildings which had now been fortified for that purpose, -and by artillery from the walls. East of the city is a range of bold -heights extending along the space between the canal and the river Ers; -over these heights all the roads from the eastward pass, and here -Marshal Soult had taken his position, having fortified the summit with -five redoubts, with various lines of intrenchment to support them, and -to connect the flanks of the ground with the defences of the town. The -left and centre being the points which he considered most assailable, -were thus strengthened; toward the right, where the line approached the -Ers, the river itself was sufficient defence. He flattered himself that -his determination to defend Toulouse had astounded Lord Wellington, -because four days elapsed after the passage of the river, and the -allies had undertaken nothing. But the bad weather, he said, might have -occasioned this delay; and expecting an attack, not without an ominous -feeling of its result, he wrote to Marshal Suchet, saying that, in case -of being compelled to retire, he should draw nearer to him, and that it -would be for the advantage of both, if Suchet would make a diversion by -the shortest line upon the Upper Garonne. - -Formidable as this position was, it was necessary to attack the enemy -there; Lord Wellington had no alternative, the roads from Ariege -being impracticable for artillery, and even for horse. On the 8th the -stream had subsided enough for the pontoons to be again laid down; -the head-quarters then, and General Freyre with the Spanish corps and -the Portugueze artillery, crossed the Garonne, and immediately moved -forward to the neighbourhood of the town. Colonel Vivian, with the -18th hussars, had here an opportunity of attacking some cavalry, which, -though superior in number, they drove through the village of Croix -d’Aurade, taking about 100 prisoners, and pursuing them so closely, -that they had not time to destroy the bridge over the Ers, the only one -which had been left standing, and by which it was necessary to pass -in order to attack the position; Colonel Vivian was severely wounded -in this charge. That attack was designed for the following day; but -Sir Rowland’s corps was on the left of the Garonne, in front of the -suburb St. Cyprien; the pontoon bridge was too far off for that ready -communication which might be required during the action; orders were -therefore given for moving it a league higher up, near Ausonne. Some -unexpected difficulties occurred in laying it; it was not completed -till after mid-day, and the attack was, therefore, deferred till the -following morning, being Easter Sunday: long will that Easter be -remembered at Toulouse. - -♦APRIL 10. - -BATTLE OF TOULOUSE.♦ - -Lord Wellington’s arrangements were that Marshal Beresford, who was on -the right of the Ers with the 4th and 6th divisions, should cross that -river at the bridge of Croix d’Aurade, gain possession of the village -of Montblanc, and march up the left of the Ers to turn the enemy’s -right, while the Spaniards supported by the British cavalry should -attack their front. Sir Stapleton was to follow the Marshal’s movements -with Lord Edward Somerset’s brigade of hussars; and Vivian’s brigade, -now under Colonel Arentschild, was to observe the enemy’s cavalry on -both banks of the Ers, beyond the left of the allies. On the lower part -of the canal, Picton and Baron Alten, with the 3rd and light divisions, -and the brigade of German cavalry, were to threaten the _tête-de-pont_, -and so draw the enemy’s attention to that quarter; and Sir Rowland was -to do the same on the side of St. Cyprien. - -The business of this dreadful day commenced about seven o’clock, when -Sir Thomas Picton drove in the French piquets in front of Pont Jumeau, -at the point where the Canal de Brienne joins that of Languedoc; -the action became warm here, and the enemy retiring, set fire to a -fine large chateau, in the cypress avenues of which they had sought -in vain to cover themselves. To the left of this division the light -division extended nearly to the road to Alby, by which road Freyre’s -army advanced, in two columns, and formed in front of Croix d’Aurade, -near a hill on which Lieutenant-Colonel Arentschild’s Portugueze -guns, protected by General Ponsonby’s brigade of cavalry, were -advantageously placed to cover their movements. Marshal Beresford, -with the 4th and 6th divisions, under Sir Lowry Cole and Sir Henry -Clinton, advanced also by the Alby road, turned off to their left at -Croix d’Aurade, toward the village of Montblanc, carried the village, -and proceeded up the left bank of the Ers, in three open columns, -along the foot of the heights, over difficult ground, which was much -intersected with deep ditches and hollow roads. Upon their march they -were exposed to a heavy cannonade from all the guns of the enemy’s -works; and those guns throughout the day were served with great spirit -and correctness, Toulouse having been an artillery school since the -Revolution. Beresford’s artillery was left at Montblanc because of the -badness of the roads; it was posted there on some low ground, in front -of the village, and kept up a fire upon the works on the heights of -Pujade. The Spaniards advanced in good order to assault these works, -which formed the left of the enemy’s position, and which Clausel and -Villatte occupied with their divisions, having a brigade of cavalry -in their front. They advanced across the valley with great bravery -under a most severe fire: a brigade of their own troops, and one of -British heavy dragoons, had been formed in reserve in the rear, and -Gardiner’s troop of artillery was brought up to their left to answer -the enemy’s. At first they drove before them a brigade of French, but -as they approached the intrenchment, a heavy fire of grape was poured -upon them with full effect, and to escape it they pushed forward with -inconsiderate speed, ... the nimblest outrunning their comrades, in -such disorder that before the first line arrived at a hollow road some -fifty yards in front of the intrenchment, it was completely broken. -The reserve, as if deterred rather than instructed by this error, fell -into the opposite fault, and came on so slowly as not to be near enough -for supporting them, when the French advanced against them vigorously, -and drove them down the hill, and in spite of the utmost exertions of -Freyre and the superior officers, were on the point of seizing the -bridge over the Ers, in which, if they had succeeded, Beresford’s -troops would have been isolated. But the 1st Portugueze _Caçadores_, -forming part of Baron Alten’s light division, moved opportunely to -their left, and advancing through the flying Spaniards, rallied them, -and caused the enemy to halt in their pursuit: a squadron of British -dragoons, who were still more in their rear, turned others, by striking -them with the flat side of their swords; and Lord Wellington himself, -the moment he saw them give way, galloped to the spot, and by his -personal exertions rallied about a company of them, near the cypress -trees on the Alby road. They suffered greatly in their flight, and the -consequences might have been worse if the enemy had followed up the -advantage with spirit. The great exertions of General Freyre, and of -the staff officers, Mendizabal and Barcena among others, formed them -again sooner than might have been expected after such a failure, and -they were again placed in position, from which they afterwards moved -to their left in support of the 6th division; but they were not again -brought into serious action. - -This was not the only time at which the circumstances of the day turned -in favour of the enemy. Picton saw that a great advantage might be -gained at this moment by pushing across the canal, while the enemy were -engaged so far in front; and thinking to profit by the opportunity, -having driven them within their _tête-de-pont_ at Pont Jumeau, he -attempted, contrary to his instructions, to carry it. It was not till -the assailants were on the counterscarp that they discovered the -formidable nature of the works, which had been regularly formed, and -with the greatest possible care; an assault, indeed, was impracticable; -they were exposed to a heavy fire of musketry in front, and to a -numerous artillery in their flank, and nothing but a speedy retreat -could have saved them from destruction. Lieutenant-Colonel Forbes was -killed here, and Major-General Brisbane wounded. - -Meantime Beresford was more successful. The 4th and 6th divisions moved -on till they came opposite to the points of attack assigned them; there -they halted, and formed in three lines. Sir Lowry advanced against -the extreme right of the enemy’s line, where General Leseur guarded -the heights of Montaudran with one brigade, having General Berton’s -cavalry in his front, on the road to Bordes: and Sir Henry moved up, in -front, to attack the redoubts on Mount Calvinet, which were occupied by -Harispe’s division, now considerably reinforced with the troops whom -the repulse of the Spaniards had rendered disposable for this service. -The face of the heights was irregular and steep, yet the 6th division -steadily ascended under a severe fire of artillery, to which at every -step they were exposed. A body of cavalry made many serious attacks on -their right flank when they had gained the summit: the 79th formed into -a square, received the charge, and totally routed them; and the troops -drove back everything that opposed them, carried with the bayonet the -principal redoubt on the right, and established themselves on the crest -of the position. Sir Lowry on his part, though menaced by Berton’s -cavalry on his left, and opposed by infantry in front, made his way -successfully up, and having driven the enemy from the heights beyond -the right of the intrenchment, took up ground on the left of Sir Henry -Clinton, just before noon. - -Two divisions of the allies were thus formed on the heights; but their -artillery which had been left at Montblanc was not yet brought up, -and the enemy meantime moved in force toward the points which were -now threatened. The whole face of the hill is intersected with deep -hollow roads; and the soil is a stiff heavy clay, in which at this -time horses could with difficulty move out of a ♦PRÉCIS HISTORIQUE, -P. 2. P. 61.♦ walk: the French, therefore, had laid planks from one -of their works to another, on which their artillery could rapidly be -moved wherever it was most needed. During the interval which elapsed -before Beresford’s guns arrived, they had time to effect this removal -from their left, on the heights of Pujade, to those of Calvinet; -and General Taupin’s division was moved to the same point from the -Fauxbourg S. Cyprien, (where Reille commanded with Maransin under him) -when it was perceived that no serious attack was intended ♦IB. P. 47.♦ -against that suburb. The roofs and steeples of Toulouse were at this -time covered with spectators, who, whatever their hopes and fears might -be for the issue of the battle, execrated Marshal Soult for bringing -the war thus to their own doors, and exposing a populous city to its -horrors. About one, Beresford was joined by his artillery; and the -4th and 6th divisions advanced steadily in line against the redoubts -on the heights of Calvinet. Soult thought he could overpower Sir -Henry’s division by a vigorous attack both in front and flank, before -Sir Lowry’s could come up to its support; with this view the French -pushed forward beyond their works to meet the assailants, Clausel and -Taupin against the front of the 6th division, Leseur’s brigade and -Berton’s cavalry against its flank. They could receive no support from -the fire of their intrenchments in this advance; it became, therefore, -a trial of courage; and the brave movement was as bravely met: Sir -Henry Clinton, instead of waiting to receive the attack, pushed forward -and met it with the bayonet; and his charge was a most determined -and successful one. General Taupin was killed. The French were not -only broken but routed; and General Pack’s brigade carried the two -principal redoubts and fortified houses in the enemy’s centre. They -made a desperate effort from the canal to recover these redoubts; and a -Scotch battalion, which was placed in the interior of one, was nearly -exhausted in defending it, when a brigade came in good time to their -assistance, charged the French, and drove them down the hill. The enemy -then formed their two routed divisions and General Rouget’s brigade in -a line from the heights of Pujade to Pont des Demoiselles, a bridge -over the canal on the Montaudran road; from thence they made a second -attempt in great force to recover that redoubt, which they looked upon -as the key of the position; and the English, seeing them approach, -planted their colours on the parapet in defiance. The French soldiers -never throughout the whole war displayed more courage, nor more of that -intelligence, which is their peculiar praise, than on this day; and in -no part of the action did they behave better than in this attack, where -they knew that they had support at hand, and, if need were, a sure -retreat. To that need they were driven by men who exceeded them in cool -and patient courage, a courage depending less upon excitement than upon -constitution; and after many and strenuous efforts they were finally -repulsed with great loss. - -The victorious division continued its movement along the ridge; and -the Spaniards, brought into a serviceable position, though not into -action, made a corresponding movement upon the front. The enemy did not -wait to be assaulted in their remaining works: they withdrew from them -gradually, and removed their artillery by the hollow road across the -bridge over the canal. By four o’clock the action was at an end; and -the allies, having accomplished the object of the day, were with their -artillery formed on the hills, looking down on the city; the French -occupying in strength an intermediate rising ground. Sir Rowland on his -side had done all that was assigned him; he had driven the enemy from -their exterior works in the suburb, and made them retire within the -ancient wall. This had had the intended effect of distracting them, and -keeping one of their divisions employed. - -The loss in this severe action was very great; that of the British -being in killed and wounded 2124, of the Portugueze 607, of the -Spaniards 1983, in all above 4700[9]. The brunt of the action fell on -the 6th division, which had 13 officers killed and 88 wounded. General -Pack was wounded, but remained in the field. Lieutenant-Colonel Coghlan -was killed; Mendizabal and Espalata wounded. The loss of the enemy -was not known; but from the circumstances of their position they are -believed to have suffered less than the allies: their dead lay in full -view of the city, and they asked leave on the following day to bury -them. General Lamorandiere was killed. Generals Harispe, Baurot, and -S. Hilaire were wounded and made prisoners. Only one gun was taken in -the position; the rest of the enemy withdrew in time. Soult’s force had -consisted of not less than 36,000 men, that of Lord Wellington’s was -numerically little greater. - -♦SOULT RETIRES FROM TOULOUSE.♦ - -At night every post of the French was withdrawn within their intrenched -line behind the canal. The only remaining bridge over the Ers was in -possession of the allies, and the road from that over the Garonne was -guarded by Sir Rowland: Toulouse was thus closed on three sides, and -preparations were made for completing the investment. There was a want -of ammunition, so much had been expended in the action; the reserve -therefore was ordered up from Aire and Orthes; and shot were collected -from the field of battle, the men searching for them at a fixed price. -The inhabitants had now the miseries of a blockade before them, or the -fear of having their lines forced, and the city at the mercy of an -enemy’s army. Above all, they dreaded the rockets, which it was falsely -reported would be discharged against the town; but so far was Lord -Wellington from entertaining any such purpose, that though some heavy -guns were fired from the ramparts, not a shot was directed against the -city in return. It was said that Marshal Soult hesitated what part to -take; whether to hold Toulouse, in the likelihood of obtaining some -great advantage by bringing his forces out in a mass against any part -of a line widely extended, and occupied by a force little more numerous -than his own; or, retiring toward Carcassonne, to effect a junction -with Suchet. General d’Armagnac is said to have advised this course, -in consideration of the inhabitants, and they blessed him for it; for -Soult, whom they hated, and whom they openly accused of extortion and -rapacity, followed the advice: a considerable body of his troops left -the city on the night after the battle, leaving their wounded, 1600 -in number, much of their artillery, and stores of all descriptions in -large quantities. - -♦THE ALLIES ENTER.♦ - -The allies entered Toulouse not as conquerors, but as friends and -deliverers, amid cries of “_Vivent les Anglois!_” “_Vive le Roi!_” -“_Vivent nos liberateurs!_” It was known officially at this time that -the allied armies were in possession of Paris; and, though it was -uncertain what measures might be taken with respect to the government -of France, the wishes of the people were loudly declared, and the white -flag hoisted. That same evening Colonel Cooke arrived from Paris to -inform Lord Wellington that the allied Sovereigns had declared they -would enter into no fresh negotiations with Buonaparte, because of his -bad faith; that the Senate had passed resolutions declaring he had -forfeited all right to the crown, and absolving the soldiers and the -nation from their oaths of allegiance; finally, that he had submitted -to their decree, and was permitted to retire to Elba, with the -independent sovereignty of that island. Colonel St. Simon accompanied -the British officer, charged with the same communication from the -Provisional Government to Marshals Soult and Suchet. It was in the -theatre that this news was published, for the theatre was not closed -that night: the dead were lying all around the walls; the hospitals -and many of the houses were filled with wounded, all of whom were not -yet brought in: the inhabitants themselves had been, by the mercy of -Providence, spared from the horrors of an assault, of a blockade which -would speedily have caused famine, and from the evils of fire and -sword which they had apprehended; and it was the theatre at Toulouse -that was opened, not the churches!... But the play was altered, and -Richard Cœur de Lion was represented, for the sake of its applicable -passages and songs. Nothing could exceed the cheering at these -passages, except the bursts of applause with which Lord Wellington was -received and greeted whenever he moved: only those who know the French -character, said one who was present, could imagine the excessive joy -of the people; they shouted and wept, and shouted again. In the midst -of this exultation, an unusual tumult announced something new; and a -person in black, attended by many candles, and having a paper in his -hand, appeared in one of the side boxes, struggling for room, and -endeavouring to obtain a hearing. Many minutes elapsed before even the -eagerness of their own expectation could still that vociferous audience -sufficiently for the magistrate to make himself heard; ♦LOUIS XVIII. -PROCLAIMED.♦ nor was anything then audible except that he announced the -abdication of Buonaparte, and the proclamation of Louis XVIII. - -Here it might have been hoped that the bloody account ♦SALLY OF THE -FRENCH FROM BAYONNE.♦ of this long war had closed; even this last -bloodshed might have been spared if, through some great treachery or -inexcusable neglect, there had not been either delay in sending off -tidings of the cessation of hostilities, or in impeding them upon the -road; for the courier, who was dispatched on the first of the month, -ought to have arrived a week before the battle; indeed suspicions -were expressed in the Moniteur that orders and dispatches had been -intercepted, with the view of giving Marshal Soult an opportunity -of retrieving the reputation of the French armies by fighting in a -position which he thought inexpugnable. Colonels Cooke and S. Simon -had passed through Bourdeaux, and advice was dispatched from thence -to Sir John Hope before Bayonne, while they proceeded to Toulouse. As -this advice was not official, Sir John did not think proper to notify -it officially to General Thouvenot, till he should receive orders from -Lord Wellington; but he caused it to be communicated to the French -officers at their advanced piquets, in the hope and expectation that it -might prevent any hostilities in the mean time. The intimation seems to -have produced a very different effect. On the night of the 13th, two -deserters came from the town, and gave information that the garrison -were to make a sortie in great strength early on the morrow. The first -division, upon this, was ordered to ♦APRIL 14.♦ arms at three in the -morning; and in a few minutes afterward a feint attack was made upon -the outposts in front of Anglet. But it soon appeared that the chief -effort would be on the right of the Adour. Parties from the citadel -crept up the hill on which the piquets were stationed, took them almost -by surprise, and instantly two columns rushed forward with loud cheers, -and by their numbers broke through the line of piquets between St. -Etienne and St. Bernard; another strong column advancing at the same -time against the former village. The line of outposts through this -village, and along the heights towards Boucaut, was marked by a road -worn in some places to a deep hollow way, and in others bounded by high -garden-walls, so that it was not easy to get out of it, except where -gaps at long intervals had been broken down for the passage of the -troops. The piquets, therefore, were cut off from their supports; and, -fighting with desperate animosity on both sides, heaps of slain were -found here, both French and English, mostly killed with the bayonet. -Sir John Hope, hastening with his staff, in the early part of the -attack, to St. Etienne, entered this road, as the shortest way, not -aware that great part of it was in the enemy’s possession, and that the -piquets of the right flank had fallen back when the line of outposts -had been pierced. As soon as he discovered this, he endeavoured to -retire; but having been in front himself, with his aide-de-camp, -Lieutenant Moore, and Captain Herries of the Quarter-Master-General’s -department, they were consequently the last in retiring; and before -they could get out of this hollow way, the French came up within a few -yards, and began firing. Sir John’s horse was struck with three balls, -and falling dead, brought his rider to the ground. Captain Herries and -Lieutenant ♦SIR J. HOPE TAKEN PRISONER.♦ Moore dismounted to assist -him, for his foot was under the dead horse; but the first of these -officers was instantly brought down himself severely wounded, and the -latter had his right arm shattered; the General was also wounded in -the arm; and the French coming immediately up, made them all three -prisoners. As they were carrying them to Bayonne, Sir John received a -second and severe wound in the foot, from a ball which was supposed -to come from his own piquets. Major-General Hay was in command of -the outposts for the night; and having just given directions that -the church of St. Etienne should be defended till the last, he was -killed shortly after the attack commenced. The enemy, having here a -great superiority of numbers, got into the village towards the left, -and obtained possession of the whole, except one house, which Captain -Foster of the 38th occupied with a piquet, and bravely maintained, -though the greater part of his men were killed or wounded, till a -brigade of the German Legion retook the village. - -It had been supposed that the French would make it their main object -to destroy the bridge, which would have been the only reasonable -or justifiable object of such a sortie in that state of the siege, -when neither stores nor artillery were on the ground, nor the works -commenced. To guard against this, Lord Saltoun had intrenched the -convent of St. Bernard, and with great ability converted it into a -respectable little fortress; and Colonel Maitland now formed the first -brigade of Guards on the heights above it, to charge the enemy in -flank, should he advance toward the bridge. But, though their gun-boats -came down the river, and opened a heavy flanking cannonade, no attempt -was made on the bridge by water; and it was soon perceived that they -had as little intention of attacking it by land, their efforts being -wholly directed against the centre of the countervallation opposite -to the citadel. Major-General Howard now directed Maitland to support -the right flank, and Major-General Stopford, with the 2nd brigade of -guards, to co-operate in recovering the ground between that flank and -St. Etienne; that officer was soon after wounded, and the command of -the brigade fell to General Guise. - -♦THE FRENCH REPULSED.♦ - -The night was very dark; but the French from time to time sent up blue -lights from the citadel, obtaining light enough thereby to direct -their guns, of which nearly 70 were constantly firing to support their -attack. Some of their shells and fire-balls fell upon the depôt of -fascines, and several houses also were set on fire by the same means. -These partial illuminations made the darkness deeper in those places -to which the light did not extend; and the guards when they approached -the French line could distinguish it only by the fire of musketry -from behind the hedges and walls. They were directed to lie down and -wait till orders could be communicated to the Coldstream guards, -under Lieutenant-Colonel Woodford, who were to charge simultaneously -for recovering the old position in the hollow road. Meanwhile they -kept close to the ground, for the eminence on which they were was -so exposed to the citadel, that had they stood up for a few minutes -they must have been nearly destroyed: but when the signal was given -they rose and rushed forward; the Coldstream charged on the opposite -flank at the same moment, and the contest on this part of the line was -decided by this well-combined attack: the French ran with all speed -lest their retreat should be intercepted; and they suffered from a -most destructive fire which both battalions poured upon them as they -retired over the glacis of the citadel. When also they were driven out -of St. Etienne by the German Legion, a field-piece was brought to bear -on their columns, and thirteen rounds of grape and canister were fired -at them with dreadful effect as they retreated down the great road -into St. Esprit. The moon rose toward the close of the action; and, as -day broke, French and English were seen lying on all sides, killed or -wounded, and so intermixed, that there seemed to have been no distinct -line belonging to either party. The loss was severe on both sides: -on the part of the allies 143 were killed, 452 wounded, and 231 made -prisoners; the loss of the French amounted to 913, of whom only twenty -were prisoners. - -During the short truce which took place on the outposts when the -engagement was over, the British officers expressed their regret that -so many brave men should thus uselessly have been sacrificed; and they -were justly disgusted at the heartless levity with which the French -officers affected to treat the affair, saying it had been nothing -more than a _petite promenade militaire!_ Under all circumstances it -seemed indeed to have been planned less in a military spirit than -with a feeling of bitter enmity; made as it was when the French had -reason to know that the war was at an end, ... and when, if it had -been otherwise, no object but that of the immediate slaughter could -be effected, there being no works to be destroyed, no cannon to be -spiked; and when whatever ♦BATTY’S CAMPAIGN, 158, 165.♦ loss might have -been inflicted could not have been so great as to prevent or delay the -operations of the siege. Major-General Colville, on whom the command -devolved, landed his guns, and made preparations upon a scale which, if -hostilities had been renewed, would, in all human probability, in the -course of a very few weeks have added Bayonne to the British conquests. -But no new conquest, no farther victories were needed for the honour of -the British name. The reputation of the English soldiers had not been -higher in the days of the Black Prince, nor that of a British commander -in the days of Marlborough. - -♦SUCHET AND SOULT ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEW GOVERNMENT.♦ - -Colonels Cooke and S. Simon made no tarriance in Toulouse, but -hastened on to inform Marshal Soult of Buonaparte’s deposition, and -the consequent termination of the war. The Marshal discovered no -willingness to acquiesce in the new order of things; the information, -he said, came to him without any character of authenticity, -nevertheless, inasmuch as Lord Wellington seemed persuaded of its -truth, he proposed an armistice, that he might have time to receive -from the Emperor’s government official advices, which might direct -him how to act. When Colonel Cooke returned to Toulouse with this -reply, Lord Wellington dispatched a second letter to Marshal Soult, -saying, it appeared to him that Colonel Simon had been sent to the -French Marshal by the Provisional Government of France, just as Colonel -Cooke had been to him by the British minister who was with the King of -Prussia, both bearers of official intelligence; nor could the truth -of that intelligence be doubted, nor did it require proof. Without -requiring his Excellency to come to a decision, whatever that might -be, he himself, he added, must not depart from the line of conduct -which the allied sovereigns had pursued in their negotiations at Paris; -but were he to consent to an armistice before his Excellency should -have followed the example of his companions in arms, and declared -his adhesion to the Provisional Government, he should be sacrificing -the interest not only of the allies, but of France itself, whom it -concerned so much to be saved from a civil war. Meantime Colonel S. -Simon proceeded to Marshal Suchet, whom he found at Narbonne with -about 12,000 men, all whom he could bring out of Spain. His last act -in Catalonia had been to demolish the fortifications of Rosas; Denia -and Morella had capitulated; he left garrisons blockaded in Figueras, -Hostalric, Barcelona, Tortosa, Murviedro, and Peñiscola, in which -latter place the governor with his staff, and many others, perished -by the explosion of a magazine. Marshal Suchet was far from approving -the latter movements of Marshal Soult, and from his own dispatches had -been led to believe that he could surely have maintained himself at -Toulouse. Upon Colonel S. Simon’s arrival, he assembled his superior -officers, laid the information before them, and with their unanimous -consent sent in the adhesion of the army of Aragon and Catalonia. Soult -had now no choice; the allies were moving against ♦APRIL 19.♦ him -ready to have acted if he had hesitated longer; yielding an unwilling -consent, he then acknowledged the Provisional Government, and a -convention for the suspension of hostilities was arranged. - -Thus was the war concluded, happily for all parties, even for -the French, whom nothing but such a series of defeats could have -delivered from the tyranny which their former victories had brought -upon themselves. It was by the national spirit which had first shown -itself in the Peninsula, by the persevering efforts of Great Britain -in the peninsular war, the courage of her troops, and the skill of -her great commander, that Buonaparte’s fortune had been checked at -its height, and successfully resisted, till other governments were -encouraged, and other nations roused by the example; and that power, -the most formidable which had ever been known in the civilized world, -was then beaten down. The independence of Spain and Portugal had been -triumphantly vindicated and secured; and if the civil liberties of -both countries were not restored, and firmly established upon a sure -foundation, the cause is to be found, not in any foreign influence -exercised ill, nor in the perverse disposition, nor malignant designs -of any individual or set of men, but in old evils which time had -rendered inveterate, for which there is no sudden cure, and which when -it is attempted to remove them by the knife and the cautery, must ever -be rendered worse. - -♦DISPOSITION OF FERDINAND ON HIS RETURN.♦ - -Ferdinand had returned from captivity with the belief in which he had -been trained up, that by right of birth, and by the laws and customs of -his country, he was an absolute King; and in this the great majority -of the nation entirely agreed with him. But he had been accustomed -to yield to circumstances which he could not control, feeling in -himself neither the wish nor the strength to struggle against them; -and had the general opinion been in favour of the new constitution, he -would have submitted to it, as he had to his detention at Valençay, -if with no better will, with the same apparent contentment, and the -same convenient insensibility. Certain it is that he had no intention -of overthrowing it when he arrived at Zaragoza:... “there are many -parts of it,” said he, “which I do not approve; but if any opposition -on my part were likely to cause the shedding of one drop of Spanish -blood, I would swear to it immediately.” He soon found that this was -not the national wish; that the people cared for the constitution as -little as they understood it, that they execrated the _Liberales_, -and hated the Cortes for their ♦IMPOLITIC MEASURES OF THE CORTES.♦ -sake. That assembly, indeed, had acted toward all classes with such -strange impolicy as to offend or injure all. The nobles, though the -constitution gave them not that weight in the political scale, without -which there can be no well-balanced monarchy, might nevertheless have -submitted to it without repugnance, because they possessed no authority -as an order under the old government: but their property had been -attacked; and a sweeping decree had abolished those feudal rights and -customs from which a large portion of their hereditary revenues was -derived. The clergy might have acquiesced in the suppression of the -Inquisition, if they had not been required to proclaim the triumph -of the _Liberales_, ... a triumph whereby nothing was gained for -toleration, death being still the punishment for any one who should -dare dissent from the Roman Catholic faith. The monasteries might have -been quietly reduced, as Pombal had begun to reduce them, without wrong -to the existing communities, and without offence to the feelings or -prejudices of the nation, simply by forbidding the admittance of new -members: by suppressing them the Cortes not only made the monks and -friars their enemies, but the people also, among whom the revenues -of the former were expended, and over whom the latter exercised far -greater influence than either the gospel or the laws. This measure, -indeed, would have been impolitic, even if the whole expected profit -to the treasury had accrued from it; but as a measure of finance it -was worse than a failure. Purchasers could not be found for church -property thus confiscated, in a country where the people revolted at -this species of sacrilege; the estates, therefore, were administered -for the government; and what with the excuses and opportunities which -were afforded for mal-administration and peculation, it was generally -found that the costs of management consumed the whole proceeds; -whereas a regular impost might always have been levied upon the former -possessors. The necessity of raising money to support the war was the -plea for this suppression; yet the pay of the armies was always greatly -in arrear; and it has been seen how much they suffered for want of -proper clothing and of sufficient food: such evils are always imputed -to the government under which they exist; and as the Cortes had, in -fact, assumed the government, the Cortes were as unpopular with the -soldiers as with the great body of the people. Nothing but the army -could support them if the King should refuse to take upon himself the -yoke which they had prepared for him; yet such was the infatuation of -the _Liberales_, that one of their most influential members said the -liberties of the country could never be safe if there were even four -paid soldiers and a corporal in it; and another described the army as -composed of privileged mercenaries and hired assassins. - -Yet this party courted popularity; and while they declaimed in the -hall of the Cortes fancied that they enjoyed it. The galleries were -filled with their admirers; and they had active partizans who could at -any time raise tumult enough out of doors to carry violent measures -by intimidation. The _Serviles_, as they contemptuously called those -who disapproved the new constitution, either wholly or in any of its -parts, were kept silent, some by prudence, others by this system of -terror. ♦FEB. 3.♦ One deputy ventured to say that Ferdinand, as soon as -he arrived, ought to be acknowledged as being born to all the rights -and privileges of an absolute King, and that the constitution ought -therefore to be annulled. The indignation of the _Liberales_ burst -forth at this, and of the galleries also, for the persons who attended -there had always a potential voice; the president thought it prudent -to close the doors, lest the liberal mob should be brought in to take -summary vengeance upon the indiscreet member: a vote for expelling him -was passed, and orders given for commencing a process against him, -upon a law passed in the preceding ♦AUG. 18, 1813.♦ summer, by which -any person who should affirm, either by word of mouth or by writing, -that the constitution ought not to be observed, was to be punished -with perpetual banishment, and the deprivation of all offices, pay, -and honours. Another law had been passed, on the same day, declaring, -that whoever should conspire to establish any other religion in Spain -than the Catholic-Apostolic-Roman religion, or to make the Spanish -nation cease to profess it, should be prosecuted as a traitor, and -suffer death, the established law concerning offences against the -faith remaining in full force. It was only by thus consenting to the -persecution of religious opinions that the _Liberales_ could make the -_Serviles_ concur in a law which gave them authority to persecute for -political ones! - -“Happy,” said a journalist who spoke the sentiments of the ruling -party, “happy will be the day when Ferdinand, having been restored to -his faithful subjects, may be thus addressed: Here is your throne, -preserved by the loyalty of your subjects; here is your crown, -repurchased for you by the blood of Spaniards; here is your sceptre, -which Spanish constancy replaces in your hands; here is your royal -robe, purpled with the blood of thousands who have fallen that you -might wear it! Peruse our history; inform yourself of all that the -Spaniards have done for you, and never forget that to the Spanish -people you owe everything. Never forget that you are come to be the -chief of a nation, the monarch of subjects who have abolished the -vestiges of despotism! It is the law which orders; ... the King is the -executive magistrate.... But, that such a day of jubilee may arrive, -King Ferdinand must return absolutely free, neither influenced by the -tyrant of France, nor by Spaniards who are ignorant of the state of -Spain, or who regard our institutions with dislike.” This was written -before the overthrow of Buonaparte, and before Ferdinand’s enlargement, -and perhaps before the _Liberales_ themselves apprehended the -consequence in which their own rashness must inevitably involve them. -Indifferent spectators saw clearly that either the constitution must -be modified, or that the King would make himself absolute again: and -even now, if the _Liberales_ had not been possessed with an overweening -opinion of their own strength, such a modification might have been -effected as would have given the Spaniards all the liberty which they -were willing to receive, and, indeed, all the political freedom which -those who had the sincerest wish for their improvement and their -prosperity could have desired for them. But when the last communication -from Valençay was read in the Cortes, conciliatory as it was intended -to be, and satisfactory as it ought to have been deemed, one member -took a sudden exception to the word _subjects_: “We are not subjects!” -he exclaimed. And another member, expressing his assent to the absurd -exception, said, that the Spanish people were subjects of the law -alone; but that the use of a word which he erroneously represented -as being peculiar to the ancient despotism was accounted for by -Ferdinand’s long imprisonment, and his consequent ignorance of the new -political phraseology of Spain! Meantime the most preposterous projects -were started by those who saw that such language and such opinions were -likely to occasion a struggle, and who saw no farther. Some were for -assembling an army to defend the Cortes against the King; others were -for setting him aside, and appointing his brother, the Infante Don -Carlos, to reign in his stead: and it is said that there was a party in -the Cortes who dreamed of offering the crown to Lord Wellington! - -Some of the Guerrilla chiefs are said at this time to have tendered -their services to the Cortes; and this is rendered probable by their -subsequent conduct. The Cortes is supposed to have reckoned, also, -upon Lacy’s attachment to the constitution; but the enthusiasm with -which Ferdinand was received by the troops might have shown them how -little they could expect from any declarations of the military in their -favour. When it was expected that he would proceed from Barcelona to -Valencia, Elio, with the double purpose of rendering most honour to the -King and affording most gratification to the soldiers, proposed a truce -to General Robert, in order that the troops employed in the blockade -of Tortosa might join ♦APRIL.♦ their comrades, who were assembled at -Amposta, to receive him on his way. When Ferdinand apprized them that -he had changed his route, he assigned as a reason his desire of viewing -the ruins of Zaragoza, and showing a mark of respect to that faithful -city. But the season of festivity at Valencia was rather prolonged -than retarded by this deviation; for the Infante Don Antonio proceeded -immediately thither, and his arrival kept the inhabitants in a jubilant -state till the King himself arrived. Ferdinand may have intended to -gain time by this delay for making himself acquainted with the real -state of public opinion; but the visit was probably suggested by -Palafox, without any such view: he knew that it would be creditable to -the King’s feelings, and honourable to the Zaragozans; and what could -be so gratifying to himself as to return under such circumstances to -Zaragoza, where, with a devoted heroism which had never been surpassed, -he had performed his duty to the uttermost, and won for himself a -glorious name not to be stained by calumny, and not to be obscured by -lapse of ages, while any remembrance of these times shall endure. - -♦CARDINAL BOURBON’S RECEPTION BY FERDINAND.♦ - -After tarrying some twelve days at Zaragoza, Ferdinand set out for -Valencia. On the way he was met by his uncle, Cardinal Bourbon, whom, -as President of the Regency, the Cortes had sent to meet the King, -but with a strict injunction that he was not to kiss the King’s hand, -because they deemed any such mark of homage inconsistent with their -dignity. Ferdinand had been apprized of this; and, as a first and easy -trial of his strength, when the Cardinal accosted him, he presented his -hand, and commanded him to kiss it. The old prelate, who had weakly -promised to obey the orders of the Cortes, which in his heart he -disapproved, obeyed the King with better will than grace, after he had -shown a wish to avoid the ceremony; but Ferdinand, having thus humbled -him, turned his back upon him in displeasure, and presently deprived -him of his archbishopric. - -The objection to the word subjects might have been imputed to the -folly of the individuals who started and supported it; ... but this -refusal of a ceremony which was as old as the monarchy itself, was -the act of the Cortes as a body, and might well be considered as one -more proof that they, who had so preposterously assumed the title of -Majesty for themselves, were resolved to leave the sovereign little -but his bare title. But Ferdinand had seen the disposition of the -people at Zaragoza; he had seen that all classes heartily united in -reprobating the measures of the Cortes, and that the re-establishment -of the Inquisition was one of the blessings which they expected from -his return The disposition of the ♦ELIO MEETS THE KING. APRIL 15.♦ -army was distinctly declared by Elio, who met him at Jaquesa, on the -frontiers of Aragon and Valencia, and addressed him in the name of -the second army, that army, he said, which had shed most blood, and -made most sacrifices for the deliverance of their country and their -King. “Your Majesty,” said he, “arrived in a happy hour to occupy the -throne of your fathers; and the God of Hosts, who by such strange and -wonderful ways has brought your Majesty hither to restore the monarchy -of the Spains, which Nature has given you, may He give you all the -strength of mind and body that are required for governing it worthily: -then, Sire, you will not forget the armies which have deserved so well, -those armies who, having moistened with their blood the land which they -have delivered, find themselves at this day in want, neglected, and -what is worse, outraged; but they trust that you, Sire, will do them -justice!” Elio then offered to resign his General’s staff; and upon -Ferdinand’s declining to receive it, and saying it was well placed in -his hand, the General, with ready adulation, said, “Take it, Sire, ... -let your Majesty grasp it but for a moment, and in that moment it will -acquire new worth, new strength!” The King took the staff accordingly, -and instantly returned it. Elio then requested permission to kiss his -royal hand, and in a short but studied speech, which concluded this -ominous scene, he pledged himself that 40,000 strong right arms should -be as they had been in the worst of times, the support of his throne. - -♦FERDINAND ENTERS VALENCIA.♦ - -Ferdinand entered Valencia on the following evening, drawn into the -city as he had been into every place upon the road by the joyous people -who yoked themselves to his carriage, and who testified by every -possible expression of word and deed their desire of taking the old -yoke upon themselves and upon their children. An English traveller, who -had the good fortune to be present on this memorable day, describes -their enthusiasm as bordering upon madness; he had seen before the -King’s deliverance the extreme unpopularity of the Cortes throughout -Spain, but the feeling which was now manifested surprised him by its -intensity and its eagerness, and by the sudden conversion of those who -but a few days before professed fidelity to the new constitution; those -very persons were now ready to shed their blood in Ferdinand’s cause, -that he might be restored, they said, to the full enjoyment of all the -rights which his fathers had possessed. “Long live the Absolute King!” -was the cry, “and down with the Constitution!” - -♦APRIL 17.♦ - -On the morrow the King went on foot to the cathedral, to be present at -a thanksgiving service for his restoration. The streets were lined with -soldiers; the colours of the crown regiment were lowered as he passed, -so as to be spread before him, that he might see they were stained with -blood; and Elio, who had prepared this scene, said, “I have detained -you for a sight worthy of you! The stains which you see upon this -flag are of the blood of the officer who now holds it, and who, when -covered with wounds, saved it from the enemy at Castalla. The crown -which this blood has dyed seems to say that the blood which the loyal -Spanish army has shed is that which has recovered for you your crown; -and the blood which remains in all the Spanish armies they are ready to -shed for securing you upon the throne in the plenitude of those rights -which Nature has made your portion!” Ferdinand could not have performed -his part better at that moment if he had studied it; he stooped and -kissed the flag, and announced to the standard-bearer, who had before -received no promotion for his services, that he was now promoted. In -the afternoon, after the officers had been presented and had kissed -hands, Elio, in their name and presence, renewed for the army under his -command the oath which the whole loyal Spanish nation had taken in the -year 1808, when Ferdinand was acknowledged King: the constitution was -not mentioned in his address, nor the Cortes; “this oath,” said he, -“they renew by me as their organ upon your royal hand (and he knelt -and kissed the hand at this part of his speech), and they promise your -Majesty that at the price of their blood they will preserve the throne -for you with all those rights to which the heroic Spanish ♦THE OFFICERS -SWEAR FIDELITY TO HIM.♦ nation at that time swore.” Turning then to the -officers, he asked whether these were the sentiments which animated -them? He was answered by a general acclamation of assent: many of them -burst into tears in the strength of their emotion, and some cries were -heard of death to those who did not hold such sentiments, and would not -maintain them! The time came when General Elio paid with his own life’s -blood for this and other services to the absolute cause. - -He was indeed an evil counsellor now, acting honestly and bravely, -but upon an erring judgment. Unhappily there never was a time in -which wise counsel was more needed; for if the blind, unreflecting, -generous loyalty of the nation had been rightly estimated, so as to -call forth a generous but thoughtful feeling in return, it would be -rash and presumptuous to say that things might have been settled upon -a sure foundation, but certainly much evil might have been averted, -much wickedness might have been prevented, and blood, and tears, and -misery, might have been spared. General Whittingham, who commanded the -cavalry and artillery in Aragon when the King arrived at Zaragoza, and -who accompanied him by his express orders to Valencia, was ♦GENERAL -WHITTINGHAM’S ADVICE.♦ asked in that city his opinion whether the -King should swear to the constitution or not? He replied, that the -constitution was too democratic to be in accord either with the habits -and opinions of the Spanish people, or with the laws and customs of -the Spanish monarchy; it must be modified therefore in many parts, or -there could be no hope of its duration. Yet one of its articles forbade -the slightest alteration during the space of eight years; and thus the -King, if he swore to it, must either deprive himself of all possibility -of amending it during that time, or be guilty of predetermined perjury. -He delivered it therefore as his opinion, that the King under these -circumstances could not swear to the constitution as it then existed; -but, he added, that the Cortes had deserved well both of the King and -of the country; that the King, unaccompanied by a single soldier, -should in person dissolve the Cortes, should thank them for the service -they had rendered the state, and say that it would gratify him to see -them re-elected by their constituents as members of the Cortes which he -was about to summon. - -The British ambassador, Sir Henry Wellesley, had gone to Valencia to -meet the King, and the advice which he gave was to the same effect, -that he should modify the constitution, but not annul it. This indeed -was the opinion which any Englishman who regarded the situation of -Spain with a sincere wish for the peace and prosperity and improvement -of a great and noble nation would then have formed; for this was the -straightforward course which at that golden opportunity it behoved -the King to take. But there were few Spaniards who saw this, few -who were in a state of sufficient equanimity to see it: inflamed by -strong passions, or settled in strong prepossessions which no force -of reason, no lessons of experience could shake, a small minority -were bent upon violent change, a much more powerful and now more -active party were resolved to resist all alteration, even such as was -most needed; while the great majority of the people, looking back -upon the tranquillity they had enjoyed before the war as to a golden -age, desired nothing but to return to their old habits and their old -pursuits, and relapse into their former state of happy indifference to -all political affairs. The care of the nation they were for leaving to -the government, the care of religion to the Holy Office, and the care -of their individual consciences to the priest, as implicitly as they -relied on Providence for the due return of the seasons; and it was with -these, who were the great body of his subjects, that Ferdinand, who -would have been just such a subject himself, was in perfect sympathy. -It is often seen that circumstances awaken dormant genius, and bring -latent qualities into strong action: but no circumstances can raise an -ordinary man to the level of extraordinary times, no circumstances can -give strength to a weak mind; nor can anything but the special grace of -God call forth in the heart a virtue which is not innate in it. - -The Cortes at this time repeated their solicitations that the King -would proceed to Madrid, and establish the happiness of Spain; but they -made a show of military preparations to support their own authority; -and they took upon themselves, with singular indiscretion, to regulate -the establishment of his household. But every day ♦MEMORIAL OF THE -SERVILES.♦ now diminished their numbers as well as their strength; -and more than seventy of the members sent a deputation to Valencia to -present a memorial, in which they protested against the measures of the -Cortes as having been carried by force and intimidation, and professed -for themselves, and for the provinces which they represented, fidelity -to their ancient laws and institutions. Beyond all doubt they spoke -the sense of ♦STONE OF THE CONSTITUTION REMOVED.♦ the provinces. In -most of the large towns, the _Plaza Mayor_, or Great Square, had been -new named _Plaza de la Constitucion_, and a stone with these words -engraven on it erected there; at Valencia this was removed one night, -and in the morning what is absurdly called a provisional stone of wood, -was set up in its place, with the words _Real Plaza de Fernando VII._: -this was publicly done; and the provisional stone was first borne under -Ferdinand’s window with military honours, in a long procession formed -by the populace, with officers intermixed, carrying drawn swords, and -bearing the royal flag. A stanza, composed[10] and printed for the -occasion, was soon affixed to it, denouncing, in a ferocious spirit, -vengeance upon any one who should profane it, and upon the liberal -party. - -The news of Buonaparte’s deposition, and the consequent termination -of hostilities, reached Ferdinand during his tarriance at Valencia. -Any perplexity which he might have felt (if he could be supposed to -have felt any) concerning the treaty of Valençay was thus removed, -and there was nothing to withdraw his attention from the immediate -object of resuming his absolute authority, and suppressing what he now -regarded as a mere revolutionary faction. He was delayed a week by -indisposition, which confined him to his apartment. The first thing -he did, when he was sufficiently recovered to leave the house, was -to visit all the nunneries, that the nuns might not be disappointed -in their ardent desire of seeing him; and in these visits part of -two days was employed much to the increase of his popularity, this -being at the same time an evidence, it was thought, of good-nature, -and of devout respect to the superstition of the country. When ♦BREVE -RELACION DE LOS SUCESOS EN VALENCIA.♦ these visits were concluded, he -attended an evening _Te Deum_ in the cathedral, performed by the light -of 20,000 tapers; after which he and the Infantes adored a chalice of -legendary reputation which is venerated there. Hitherto there had been -no avowal of the course which he intended to pursue; but on this day a -declaration appeared, signed ♦FERDINAND’S DECLARATION. MAY 4.♦ by the -King and by Macanaz, as Secretary of State, with special powers for -this peculiar occasion. In this memorable paper, Ferdinand, speaking -in his own person, began by briefly touching upon his accession to -the throne, and his imprisonment, at the commencement of which he had -issued, he said, as well as he could, while surrounded by force, a -decree addressed to the Council of Castille, or, in defect of it, to -any other chancellery or audience that might be at liberty, requiring -them to convoke a Cortes which should employ itself solely on the -immediate business of taking measures and raising supplies for the -defence of the kingdom, and remain permanent for other emergencies. -This decree had arrived too late; and when the Cortes of 1810 was -assembled, the states of the nobility and clergy were not summoned -to it, although the Central Junta had so directed; and the members, -after taking the oaths, “whereby,” said he, “they bound themselves -to preserve to me, as their sovereign, all my dominions, on the -very day of their installation, and for a commencement of their -proceedings, despoiled me of the sovereignty which they had just before -acknowledged, attributing it nominally to the nation, for the purpose -of appropriating it to themselves, and then dictating what laws they -pleased. Thus, without authority from province, place, or junta, and -without the knowledge of those which were said to be represented by -substitute members, they imposed upon the nation the yoke of a new -constitution, wherein almost the whole form of the old constitution -of the monarchy was changed; and, copying the revolutionary and -democratical principles of the French constitution of 1791, they -sanctioned ... not the fundamental laws of a moderate monarchy, ... but -those of a popular government, with a chief or magistrate, their mere -delegated executor, and not a King, although they gave him that name to -deceive and seduce the unwary. They carried these laws by means of the -threats and violence of those persons with whom the galleries of the -Cortes were filled; giving thus the colour of the general will to what -was in fact only the work of a faction. With the same want of liberty, -the constitution was signed and sworn to; and it was notorious to all -what had been the treatment of the respectable Bishop of Orense, and -the punishment with which others had been threatened who refused to -sign and swear to it.” - -He proceeded then to say in what manner revolutionary principles had -been diffused in journals, some of which were edited by members of the -Cortes; that king, and tyrant, and despot had been used as synonymous -terms; that the army and navy and other establishments which used -to be called royal, had been re-named national, in order to flatter -the people, who, nevertheless, in spite of these arts, retained by -their native loyalty the good feelings which always formed their -character. “Of all this,” he continued, “since I happily re-entered the -kingdom, I have been acquiring faithful information, partly by my own -observation, and partly from the public papers, in which, up to this -day, representations of my coming and of my character are circulated, -so false and infamous in themselves, that even with regard to any other -individual they would be heavy offences, worthy of severe exposure and -punishment. Such unexpected circumstances have filled my heart with -bitterness, which has only been tempered by demonstrations of affection -from all those who hoped for my arrival, that my presence might put an -end to these evils, and to the oppression in which those were held who -preserved the remembrance of my person, and desired the true happiness -of their country. True and loyal Spaniards, I promise and vow to you -that you shall not be deceived in your noble hopes! Your sovereign -wishes to be so for your sake; and in this he places his glory, ... in -being the sovereign of an heroic nation, who by immortal deeds have -gained the admiration of all, and preserved their liberty and their -honour. I abhor and detest despotism: the intelligence and cultivation -of the nations of Europe do not suffer it now; neither in Spain have -its Kings ever been despots, nor have its good laws and constitution -authorized it, though by misfortune there may have been from time to -time there, as every where, and in every thing human, abuses which no -possible constitution can entirely preclude; and these were not the -faults of the constitution, but of individuals, and the effects of -melancholy but very rare circumstances which gave occasion to them. -Yet to prevent them as far as may be by human foresight, preserving -the honour of the royal dignity and its rights (for rights it has) and -those which belong to the people, which are equally inviolable, I will -consult with the _procuradores_ of Spain and of the Indies, and in a -Cortes, legitimately assembled, composed of both, as soon as they can -be brought together, (order having been restored, and the good usages -in which the nation has lived, and which with its accord the Kings, my -august predecessors, have established,) every thing that can conduce to -the good of my kingdom shall be firmly and legitimately established, -that my subjects may live prosperously and happily under a religion and -a government closely united in an indissoluble tie, wherein and wherein -alone consists the temporal happiness of a King and a kingdom bearing -for excellence the title of Catholic. Immediate preparations shall be -made for assembling these Cortes. Liberty and security, individual and -royal, shall be firmly secured by means of laws, which, guaranteeing -public tranquillity and order, shall leave to all that wholesome -liberty, the undisturbed enjoyment of which distinguishes a moderate -government from an arbitrary and despotic one. This just liberty -all, likewise, shall enjoy to communicate their ideas and thoughts -through the press, that is, within those limits which sound reason -prescribes to all, that it degenerate not into licentiousness; for the -respect which is due to religion and to government, and that which men -ought mutually to observe towards each other, can under no civilized -government be reasonably permitted to be violated with impunity. All -suspicion, also, of any waste of the public revenues shall cease; those -which shall be assigned for the expenses required for the honour of my -royal person and family, and that of the nation which I have the glory -to govern being separated from the revenues, which, with consent of -the kingdom, may be assigned for the maintenance of the state in all -the branches of its administration. And the laws which shall hereafter -serve as a rule of action for my subjects shall be established in -concert with the Cortes; so that these bases may serve as an authentic -declaration of my royal intentions in the government with which I -am about to be charged, and will represent to all, not a despot or a -tyrant, but a King and a father of his subjects.” - -He went on to say, that having heard complaints from all parts -against the constitution, and against the measures of the Cortes, ... -considering also the mischiefs which had sprung therefrom, and would -increase if he should sanction that constitution with his consent, -... acting, moreover, in conformity to the decided and general -demonstration of the wishes of his people, wishes which were just in -themselves and well founded, he declared that he would not swear to -the Cortes, but that he annulled it, and abrogated all such of its -acts as derogated from the rights and prerogatives of his sovereignty -established by that constitution and those laws under which the nation -had so long lived. And he declared all persons guilty of high treason -who should attempt to support them, and to excite discontent and -disturbance in his dominions, whether by writing, word, or deed. The -administration was to go on under the present system till the old one -could be restored; and the political and administrative branches till -the future Cortes should have determined upon the permanent order of -this part of the government. But from the day on which this his decree -should be published and communicated to the President of the Cortes, -the sittings of that Cortes should cease; all their papers should be -delivered to the officers charged with the execution of this decree, -and deposited in the house of the _Ayuntamiento_ of Madrid, and the -room in which they were deposited be locked and sealed up; and whoever -should obstruct the execution of the decree, should be deemed guilty -of high treason, and punished with death. All proceedings pending for -any infraction of the constitution were to cease; and all persons -imprisoned for such infraction to be set at liberty forthwith. “Such,” -the King concluded, “is my will, because the welfare and happiness of -the nation require it.” - -By another decree of the same date, Ferdinand conferred upon the -capital, in testimony of his esteem and gratitude, and in earnest of -some more signal favour, the privilege of adding to its appellation of -the “right noble, loyal, and imperial town of Madrid,” that of “heroic” -also; and upon its _Ayuntamiento_ the title of “excellency.” In this -decree, also, he ordered a hundred doubloons to be distributed in each -of the parishes of Madrid, on the day when he should make his entrance; -and he regretted that circumstances did not allow him to give greater -proofs of his natural bounty. ♦FERDINAND SETS OUT FOR MADRID. MAY 5.♦ -On the following day he departed for Madrid. Such were the multitudes -who came from far and near to obtain a sight of their King, that one -continued concourse of people lined the whole way from Valencia. Every -village devised some means of displaying its loyalty; some by erecting -triumphal arches, such as their abilities could afford; others by -strewing the road with branches and flowers for miles together. The -Cortes, as he approached, could no longer dream of resistance; the -decree which abrogated their constitution and put an end to their -authority was posted in the streets of Madrid, countersigned by General -Eguia, as Captain-General of New Castille, and Political and Military -Governor of the Province, now by the King appointed; and deputations -from its Audience and its _Ayuntamiento_ went to meet him at Aranjuez, -where he halted two days, and where the rejoicing of the inhabitants, -and the illuminations which they exhibited, and the confluence of -visitors, contrasted strangely with the devastation that the French -had committed there; for they had stripped the gardens of every thing -which could be carried away, and had destroyed or mutilated the statues -and the fountains. - -♦HE ENTERS MADRID. - -MAY 12.♦ - -Such members of the Cortes as were marked for the King’s displeasure -were arrested on the night before his arrival by General Eguia. On the -13th Eguia went out with the grandees in procession, habited in the -ancient costume, to meet him. The Majorcan division lined the Prado, -from the Puerta de Atocha, at which he entered, and the Calle de Alcala -to the Puerta del Sol, ... not to overawe the people (for a corporal -and four soldiers might have repressed any discontent that appeared -that day), but to increase the pomp and splendour of the festival. In -the highest part of the Calle de Alcala, ... and no scene could be -better suited to such a pageant, ... a triumphal arch had been erected, -as imposing in appearance as if it had been of durable materials. -The balconies were hung with silk of various colours, fringed with -gold and silver; and Ferdinand made his entrance amid the salute of -cannon, and the sound of bells from all the churches, and the shouts -and acclamations of an innumerable multitude rising above all. Their -invaders had been totally defeated and expelled; their strong places -were recovered; their national independence had been gloriously -vindicated and established; the tyrant who had deceived, and outraged, -and insulted them, had been beaten from his throne; the Intruder whom -he had set over them had been hunted out of their land; their King, -... their legitimate, their popular, their beloved King was restored! -Greater joy could not have been expressed, greater happiness could not -have been felt, if that King had been in all respects deserving of the -generous enthusiasm which was that day manifested for his sake. - -♦SUBSEQUENT CONDUCT OF THE PEOPLE AND OF THE GOVERNMENT.♦ - -If Ferdinand had now performed the promises which were distinctly -made in his declaration, he might have averted much, if not all, of -the subsequent danger which he incurred, and the just reproaches -which will be attached to his name in history. It ought not to be -said that in making those promises he had no intention of fulfilling -them; for though he scrupled at no dissimulation when under duresse, -they were voluntary in this case, and the temper of the nation, then -unequivocally declared, was such, that no purpose was to be gained by -it. Ferdinand was a person of narrow mind, and his heart seems to have -been incapable of generous feeling; but he was not a wicked man, nor -would he have been a bad King if he had met with wise ministers, and -had ruled over an enlightened people. On the two important subjects of -civil and religious freedom he and the great body of the nation were -in perfect sympathy, ... both, upon both subjects, imbued with error -to the core; and the popular feeling in both cases outran his. The -word Liberty (_Libertad_) appeared in large bronze letters over the -entrance of the Hall of the Cortes in Madrid. The people of their own -impulse hurried thither to remove it; they set up ladders, forced out -letter by letter from the stone, and as each was thrown into the street -the spectators renewed their shouts of exultation. They collected as -many of the journals of the Cortes, and of the papers and pamphlets -of the _Liberales_, as could be got together; formed a procession in -which the religious fraternities, and the clergy regular and secular, -took the lead; piled up these papers in one of the public squares, -and sacrificed them there as a political _auto-da-fé_, after which -high mass was performed and _Te Deum_ sung, as a thanksgiving for -their triumph. The Stone of the Constitution, as it was called, was -everywhere removed, and replaced as it had been at Valencia. The people -at Seville deposed all the existing authorities, elected others in -their stead to all the offices which had existed under the old system, -and then required those authorities to re-establish the Inquisition. In -re-establishing that accursed tribunal by a formal act of government, -in suppressing the freedom of the press, which had been abused to its -own destruction, and in continuing to govern not merely as an absolute -monarch, but as a despotic one, Ferdinand undoubtedly complied with -the wishes of the Spanish nation. He did these things conformably to -his own misguided conscience and weak judgment, as well as to his -inclinations; and for so doing he was, by the voice of the people, a -patriotic and popular King. In all this he cannot justly be charged -with anything worse than error of judgment; fearfully injurious indeed -in its consequences, but in the individual to be pitied as well as -pardoned. But, in his treatment of the more conspicuous persons among -the _Liberales_, whom he condemned to strict and long imprisonment, -many of them for life, he brought upon himself an indelible reproach, -and incurred the guilt of individual sin. Quintana, who, more than -any other person, contributed by his eloquent writings to excite and -sustain the national spirit, and awaken the sympathy of other nations, -was one of the victims thus sentenced, and his life is said to have -been not the only one which was shortened by severe confinement. - -♦LORD WELLINGTON RETURNS TO ENGLAND.♦ - -But the peninsular war concludes with the return of Ferdinand to -Madrid; and its history may best be concluded with the return to his -own country of the General by whom it was brought to this triumphant -termination. A dukedom was conferred upon Lord Wellington, £300,000 -were voted by Parliament for the purchase of an estate suitable to -the dignity, and such an additional grant of income as made up the -annual amount of his parliamentary allowances to £17,000. ♦HE TAKES -HIS SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. JUNE 28.♦ He had not been in England -since he was raised to the peerage; and thus it happened, that when he -was introduced into the House of Lords to take his seat, his patents -of creation as Baron, Earl, Marquis, and Duke were all to be read on -the same day. No ceremony of honour was omitted on this occasion: the -Duchess his wife, and his mother, the Countess of Mornington, were -present to behold it, being seated below the throne. After the oaths -had been administered, and he had taken his seat, the Lord Chancellor -♦THE LORD CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH.♦ Eldon addressed him for the purpose -of conveying the thanks of the House, which had been voted to him on -the preceding evening, for the twelfth time. In performing this duty, -Lord Eldon said, he could not refrain from calling the attention of -his Grace, and of the noble Lords present, to a circumstance singular -in the history of that House, ... that upon his introduction he had -gone through every dignity of the peerage in this country which it -was in the power of the crown to bestow. These dignities had been -conferred upon him for eminent and distinguished services; and he -would not have the presumption to attempt to state the nature of -those services, nor to recapitulate those brilliant acts which had -given immortality to the name of Wellington, and placed this empire -on a height of military renown of which there was no example in its -history. He could not better discharge the duty which had devolved upon -him than by recurring to the terms in which that House had so often -expressed their sense of the energy, the unremitting exertions, the -ardour, and the ability with which the noble Duke had conducted the -arduous campaigns of the Peninsula, ... exertions and ability which -finally enabled him to place the allied armies in the heart of France, -fighting their way there through the blaze of victory. The glorious -result of his victories had been to achieve the peace and security of -his country; while, by his example, he had animated the rest of Europe, -and enabled her governments to restore their ancient order. The Lord -Chancellor then expressed his own satisfaction in being the instrument -of informing the Duke that the House unanimously voted their thanks for -his eminent and unremitted services, and their congratulations upon his -return to his country. - -♦THE HOUSE OF COMMONS CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS RETURN.♦ - -The House of Commons in voting their thanks had voted also that a -committee of the House should wait upon his Grace to communicate the -same, and to offer him their congratulations on his return. The Duke -in reply signified that he was desirous of expressing to the House his -answer in person. He was admitted in consequence the following day; a -chair was set for him toward the middle of the House: he came in making -his obeisances, ♦JULY 1. HE RETURNS THANKS TO THE HOUSE.♦ the whole -House rising upon his entrance. The Speaker having informed him that -there was a chair in which he might repose himself, the Duke sat down, -covered for some time, the serjeant standing on his right hand with the -mace grounded, and the House resumed their seats. The Duke then rose -and uncovered, and addressed the Speaker thus: “I was anxious to be -permitted to attend this House in order to return my thanks in person -for the honour they have done me in deputing a committee of members to -congratulate me on my return to this country; and this after the House -had animated my exertions by their applause upon every occasion which -appeared to merit their approbation; and after they had filled up the -measure of their favours by conferring upon me, at the recommendation -of the Prince Regent, the noblest gift that any subject had ever -received. - -“I hope it will not be deemed presumptuous in me to take this -opportunity of expressing my admiration of the great efforts made by -this House and by the country, at a moment of unexampled pressure and -difficulty, in order to support the great scale of operation by which -the contest was brought to so fortunate a termination. - -“By the wise policy of Parliament the government was enabled to give -the necessary support to the operations which were carried on under -my direction; and I was encouraged by the confidence reposed in me by -his Majesty’s ministers and by the Commander-in-chief, by the gracious -favour of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and by the reliance -which I had on the support of my gallant friends the general officers -of the army, and on the bravery of the officers and troops, to carry -on the operations in such a manner as to acquire for me those marks of -the approbation of this House, for which I have now the honour to make -my humble acknowledgments. Sir, it is impossible for me to express the -gratitude which I feel; I can only assure the House that I shall always -be ready to serve his Majesty in any capacity in which my services can -be deemed useful, with the same zeal for my country which has already -acquired for me the approbation of this House.” - -♦THE SPEAKER’S SPEECH.♦ - -Mr. Abbot, the Speaker, who had sat covered during this speech, then -stood up uncovered, and replied to his Grace in these words: “My Lord, -since last I had the honour of addressing you from this place, a series -of eventful years has elapsed, but none without some mark and note of -your rising glory. - -“The military triumphs which your valour has achieved upon the banks -of the Douro and the Tagus, of the Ebro and the Garonne, have called -forth the spontaneous shouts of admiring nations. Those triumphs it is -needless at this day to recount. Their names have been written by your -conquering sword in the annals of Europe, and we shall hand them down -with exultation to our children’s children. - -“It is not, however, the grandeur of military success which has alone -fixed our admiration, or commanded our applause; it has been that -generous and lofty spirit which inspired your troops with unbounded -confidence, and taught them to know that the day of battle was always -a day of victory; that moral courage and enduring fortitude which, in -perilous times, when gloom and doubt had beset ordinary minds, stood -nevertheless unshaken; and that ascendency of character which, uniting -the energies of jealous and rival nations, enabled you to wield at will -the fates and fortunes of mighty empires. - -“For the repeated thanks and grants bestowed upon you by this House, in -gratitude for your many and eminent services, you have thought fit this -day to offer us your acknowledgments: but this nation well knows that -it is still largely your debtor; it owes to you the proud satisfaction, -that amidst the constellation of great and illustrious warriors who -have recently visited our country, we could present to them a leader of -our own, to whom all, by common acclamation, conceded the pre-eminence. -And when the will of Heaven, and the common destinies of our nature, -shall have swept away the present generation, you will have left your -great name and example as an imperishable monument, exciting others -to like deeds of glory, and serving at once to adorn, defend, and -perpetuate the existence of this country amongst the ruling nations of -the earth.” - -With these honours was the Duke of Wellington received, and such -honours were never more fully deserved. Since the peace of Utrecht, -in which the interests of Europe were sacrificed by that party-spirit -which is the reproach of England, our military reputation had declined. -The American war contributed to lower us in the estimation of our -neighbours; for though the courage of our men was never found wanting -in the day of trial, the circumstances of that contest were such that, -after the first season for vigorous measures was gone by, success -became morally impossible. This was not taken into the account. The -war ended to our loss; and the disgrace which should exclusively have -attached to our councils affected our arms also. When the Duke of -York was made commander-in-chief, our military establishments were in -a wretched state; boys held commissions literally before they were -out of leading-strings; there was not a single institution in Great -Britain wherein tactics were taught; and it was in France that young -Arthur Wellesley learned the elements of war! The Duke of York soon -began a silent and efficient reform; abuse after abuse was removed, -defect after defect supplied; but these improvements were known only to -persons connected with the army; and its military character suffered -materially in the revolutionary war from causes which are neither -imputable to the commander, nor to the soldiers under him: for then -also, as in the American war, they were placed in circumstances which -rendered success impossible. The evil, however, was done. The enemy -insulted us; the continental nations were persuaded that we were not -a military people; and we, contenting ourselves with our acknowledged -maritime supremacy, were but too ready to assent to an opinion which in -its consequences must have operated as a death-sentence upon national -honour, national power, and national independence. It is not too much -to say that our army would have sunk into contempt, if the expedition -to Egypt had not thrown some splendour over the close of a most -ill-fated and ill-conducted war. But the effect which that expedition -produced upon public feeling soon passed away; and the French convinced -themselves that our success had been owing to the incapacity of their -commander, the disputes among their generals, and the universal desire -of their troops to escape from Egypt, ... any cause rather than the -true one. A second war broke out; and while the enemy obtained the most -signal victories, we had only the solitary battle of Maida to boast, -which was upon so small a scale, and so nugatory in its consequences, -that the continent never heard of it, though our disgrace at Buenos -Ayres was known everywhere. - -Meantime the French had persuaded Europe as well as themselves that -Buonaparte was the greatest military genius of ancient or of modern -times; that his generals were all consummate masters in the art of war; -and that his troops were, in every respect, the best in the world. -This opinion was more than ever prevalent when Sir Arthur Wellesley -took the command in Portugal in 1809, and began a career which, when -all circumstances are considered, may truly be said to be unparalleled -in military history. He entered upon that career at a time when the -military reputation and the military power of France were at their -greatest height; when a belief that it was impossible to resist the -commanding genius and inexhaustible resources of Buonaparte had been -inculcated in this country with pestilent activity, and had deeply -tainted the public mind. Daily and weekly, monthly and quarterly, this -poison was administered with the most mischievous perseverance in -newspapers, magazines, and reviews. Never was there an opinion more -injurious, more fatal to the honour, interest, safety, independence, -and existence of the country; yet was it propagated by writers who -were then held in the highest estimation, and they enforced it with a -zeal which arrayed their passions, and seemed to array their wishes, -as well as their intellect, on the enemy’s side; and with a confidence -which boldly affirmed that nothing but folly or madness could presume -to doubt their predictions. Suicidal as the belief was, it was the -creed of that party in the state to which these writers had attached -themselves; and no effort was omitted on their part for deadening the -hopes, thwarting the exertions, disgusting the allies, and encouraging -the enemies of their country. Our government was not influenced by such -advisers; but it was long before its exertions were commensurate with -the occasion; and during four years Lord Wellington was crippled by the -inadequacy of his means. Yet, even when thus crippled, he contended -successfully against the undivided power of France. Every operation -of the British army under his command tended to give the troops and -the nation fresh confidence in their general, and to impress upon the -enemy a proper sense of the British character. Wherever he met the -French he defeated them; whenever he found it necessary to retire for -want of numbers, or of food, or of co-operation in the Spaniards, it -was in such order, and so leisurely, as neither to raise the hopes of -the enemy, nor abate those of his army, or of his allies. After the -battle of Talavera, and the series of provoking misconduct by which -the effects of that victory were frustrated, he distinctly perceived -the course which the enemy would pursue, and, anticipating all their -temporary advantages (which yet he omitted no occasion of opposing -and impeding), he saw and determined how and where the vital struggle -must be made. The foresight of a general was never more admirably -displayed; and if there be one place in the Peninsula more appropriate -than another for a monument to that leader whose trophies are found -throughout the whole, it is in the lines of Torres Vedras that a -monument to Lord Wellington should be erected. When he took his stand -there, Lisbon was not the only stake of that awful contest: the fate -of Europe was in suspense; and they who, like Homer, could see the -balance in the hand of Jupiter, might then have perceived that the -fortunes of France were found wanting in the scale. There the spell -which bound the nations was broken; the plans of the tyrant were -baffled, his utmost exertions when he had no other foe and no other -object were defied; his armies were beaten; and Europe, taking heart -when she beheld the deliverance of Portugal, began to make a movement -for her own, ... for that spirit by which alone her deliverance could -be effected was excited. Foresight and enterprise, meantime, with -our commander went hand in hand; he never advanced, but so as to be -sure of his retreat; and never retreated, but in such an attitude as -to impose upon a superior enemy. He never gave an opportunity, and -never lost one. His movements were so rapid as to deceive and astonish -the French, who prided themselves upon their own celerity. He foiled -general after general, defeated army after army, captured fortress -after fortress; and, raising the military character of Great Britain to -its old standard in the days of Marlborough, made the superiority of -the British soldier over the Frenchman as incontestable as that of the -British seaman. - -The spirit of the country rose with its successes. England once more -felt her strength, and remembered the part which she had borne, and -the rank which she had asserted in the days of her Edwards and her -Henrys. Buonaparte had bestowed upon France the name of the Sacred -Territory, boasting, as one of the benefits conferred upon her by his -government, that France alone remained inviolable when every other -part of the continent was visited by the calamities of war. That boast -was no longer to hold good! Our victories in the Peninsula prepared the -deliverance of Europe, and Lord Wellington led the way into France. A -large portion of his army consisted of Portugueze and Spaniards, who -had every imaginable reason to hate the people among whom they went -as conquerors; they had seen the most infernal cruelties perpetrated -in their own country by the French soldiers; and it might have been -supposed, prone as their national character was to revenge, that they -would eagerly seize the opportunity for vengeance. But such was Lord -Wellington’s influence over the men whom he conducted to victory, that -not an outrage, not an excess, not an insult was committed; and the -French, who had made war like savages in every country which they had -invaded, experienced all the courtesies and humanities of generous -warfare when they were invaded themselves. In Gascony, as well as in -Portugal and Spain, the Duke of Wellington’s name was blessed by the -people. Seldom indeed has it fallen to any conqueror to look back upon -his career with such feelings! The marshal’s staff, the dukedom, the -honours and rewards which his Prince and his country so munificently -and properly bestowed, were neither the only nor the most valuable -recompense of his labours. There was something more precious than -these, more to be desired than the high and enduring fame which he had -secured by his military achievements, ... the satisfaction of thinking -to what end those achievements had been directed; ... that they were -for the deliverance of two most injured and grievously oppressed -nations; ... for the safety, honour, and welfare of his own country; -... and for the general interests of Europe and of the civilized world. -His campaigns were sanctified by the cause; ... they were sullied by -no cruelties, no crimes; the chariot-wheels of his triumphs have been -followed by no curses; ... his laurels are entwined with the amaranths -of righteousness, and upon his death-bed he might remember his -victories among his good works. - -This is the great and inappreciable glory of England in this portion -of its history, that its war in the Peninsula was in as strict -conformity with the highest principles of justice as with sound state -policy. No views of aggrandizement were entertained either at its -commencement or during its course, or at its termination; conquests -were not looked for, commercial privileges were not required. It was -a defensive, a necessary, a retributive war; engaged in as the best -means of obtaining security for ourselves, but having also for its -immediate object “to loose the bands of wickedness,” and to break the -yoke of oppression, and “to let the oppressed go free.” And this great -deliverance was brought about by England, with God’s blessing on a -righteous cause. If France has not since that happy event continued -to rest under a mild and constitutional monarchy, ... if Spain has -relapsed into the abuses of an absolute one, ... if the Portugueze -have not supported that character which they recovered during the -contest, ... it has been because in all these instances there were -national errors which retained their old possession, and national sins -which were not repented of. But the fruits of this war will not be -lost upon posterity: for in its course it has been seen that the most -formidable military power which ever existed in the civilized world -was overthrown by resolute perseverance in a just cause; it has been -seen also that national independence depends upon national spirit, but -that even that spirit in its highest and heroic degree may fail ... -if wisdom to direct it be wanting. It has been seen what guilt and -infamy men, who might otherwise have left an honourable name, entailed -upon themselves, because, hoping to effect a just end by iniquitous -means, they consented to a wicked usurpation, and upheld it by a system -of merciless tyranny, sinning against their country and their own -souls: this was seen in the Spanish ministers of the Intruder; and the -Spanish reformers, more lamentably for Spain, but more excusably for -themselves, have shown the danger of attempting to carry crude theories -of government into practice; and hurrying on precipitate changes, -from the consequences of which men too surely look to despotism for -protection or for deliverance. These lessons have never been more -memorably exemplified than in the Peninsular War; and for her own -peculiar lesson, England, it may be hoped, has learnt to have ever -from thenceforth a just reliance, under Providence, upon her resources -and her strength; ... under Providence, I say, for if that support be -disregarded, all other will be found to fail. - - * * * * * - -My task is ended here: and if in the course of this long and faithful -history, it should seem that I have any where ceased to bear the -ways of Providence in mind, or to have admitted a feeling, or given -utterance to a thought inconsistent with glory to God in the highest, -and good-will towards men, let the benevolent reader impute it to that -inadvertence or inaccuracy of expression from which no diligence, -however watchful, can always be secure; and as such let him forgive -what, if I were conscious of it, I should not easily forgive in myself. - - _Keswick, 26th March, 1832._ - - -Laus Deo. - - - - -LIST OF PUBLICATIONS - -CONCERNING THE - -PENINSULAR WAR. - - -Introduction to the History of the Revolution in Spain. By Alvaro -Florez Estrada, Attorney-General of the Province of Asturias. -Translated from the author’s manuscript by William Burdon. 8vo. - -Memoir written by General Sir Hew Dalrymple, Bart., of his Proceedings -as connected with the Affairs of Spain and the Commencement of the -Peninsular War. 8vo. - -Proceedings upon the Inquiry relative to the Armistice and Convention, -&c., made and concluded in Portugal, in August, 1808, between the -Commanders of the British and French Armies. Ordered by the House of -Commons to be printed. - -A Narrative of the Campaign of the British Army in Spain commanded by -Sir John Moore, K. B., authenticated by official papers and original -letters. By his brother, James Moore, Esq. 4to. - -Narrative of the Campaigns in Portugal and Spain under Generals Sir -Arthur Wellesley and Sir John Moore, from the landing of the troops in -Mondego Bay to the Battle of Corunna; accompanied by all the official -documents, and numerous engravings from drawings made on the spot. By -Adam Neale, M.D., Physician to the Forces. 4to. - -Letters from Portugal and Spain, written during the march of the -British troops under Sir John Moore. 8vo. - -Operations of the British Army in Spain, with broad Hints to the -Commissariat and Transport Board, and Anecdotes illustrative of the -real Spanish Character. - -A Narrative of the Circumstances attending the Retreat of the British -Army under the Command of the late Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore. -By Henry Milburne, surgeon. - -An Account of the Operations of the British Army, and of the State -and Sentiments of the People of Portugal and Spain. By the Rev. James -Wilmot Ormsby. 2 vols. 8vo. - -Observations on the Movements of the British Army in Spain. By a -British Officer. - -Narrative of the Siege of Zaragoza. By Charles Richard Vaughan, M.B., -Fellow of All-Soul’s, Oxford, and one of Dr. Radcliffe’s Travelling -Fellows from that University. - -A Narrative of the interesting Particulars attending the second Siege -of Zaragoza. Translated from the Spanish by William Buy, Esq. - -The Journal of a Regimental Officer during the recent Campaign in -Portugal and Spain under Lord Viscount Wellington. 8vo. - -A Narrative of the Campaigns of the Loyal Lusitanian Legion, under -Brigadier-General Sir Robert Wilson, Aide-de-camp to his Majesty and -Knight of the Orders of Maria Theresa and of the Tower and Sword, with -some Account of the Military Operations in Spain and Portugal during -the years 1809–1811. 8vo. - -Memoir of the Early Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington in Portugal and -Spain. By an Officer employed in his army. 8vo. - -A Narrative of the principal Events of the Campaigns of 1809–10–11 in -Spain and Portugal. By Captain Stothert. 1812. - -A Journal of the Campaign in Portugal and Spain, containing Remarks on -the Inhabitants, Customs, Trade, and Cultivation of those Countries, -from the year 1809–1812. By the late Major-General Henry Mackinnon. 8vo. - -A Narrative of the Retreat of the British Army from Burgos, in a series -of Letters, with an Introductory Sketch of the Campaign of 1812, and -Military Character of the Duke of Wellington. By George Frederick -Burroughs, Surgeon, Bristol, late Assistant Surgeon of the Royal -Dragoons. 8vo. - -Memoirs of the late Lieutenant-General Sir James Leith, G. C. B., with -a Précis of some of the most remarkable Events of the Peninsular War. -By a British Officer. 8vo. - -Relation of the Siege of Tarragona, and the storming and capture of -that city by the French, in June, 1811. By Field-Marshal Don Juan Senen -de Contrenas, Governor of that fortress at the time of the siege. -London. - -A Treatise on the Defence of Portugal, with a military map of the -country; to which is added, A Sketch of the Manners and Customs of -the Inhabitants, and principal Events of the Campaigns under Lord -Wellington. By William Granville Eliot, Captain in the Royal Regiment -of Artillery. 8vo. - -Observations on the Present State of the Portugueze Army, as organized -by Lieutenant-General Sir William Carew Beresford, K.B., Field-Marshal -and Commander-in-Chief of that Army, with an Account of the different -Military Establishments and Laws of Portugal, and a Sketch of the -Campaigns of the last and present year, during which the Portugueze -Army was brought into the field against the enemy, for the first time -as a regular force. By Andrew Halliday, M.D. 4to. - -Memoranda relative to the Lines thrown up to save Lisbon, in 1810. By -Colonel John T. Jones, R.E. 8vo. Printed for private circulation. - -Memoir of the Queen of Etruria, written by herself; an authentic -Narrative of the seizure and removal of Pope Pius VII. on the 6th of -July, 1809; with genuine Memoirs of his Journey from Rome to France, -and thence to Savona. Written by one of his attendants. Translated from -the Italian. 8vo. - -Memoirs of the Baron de Kolli, relative to his secret mission in -1810 for liberating Ferdinand VII., King of Spain, from captivity at -Valençay. Written by himself. To which are added, Memoirs of the Queen -of Etruria. Written by herself. 8vo. - -Memoirs of Ferdinand VII., King of Spain. By Don ----, Advocate of the -Spanish Tribunals. Translated from the original Spanish manuscript. By -Michael J. Quin, author of “A Visit to Spain in 1812 and 1823.” 8vo. - -The Two Minas and the Spanish Guerillas, extracted and translated -from a work “On Spain,” written by Captain H. Von Brandt, a Prussian -officer, who served in one of the Polish regiments attached to the -French army during the Peninsular War. By a British officer. 8vo. - -A Short Extract from the Life of General Mina. Published by himself. -8vo. - -Anecdotes of British and Spanish Heroism, displayed at Tarafa during -the late memorable siege of that place, &c. 1812. - -The Military Exploits, &c. &c., of Don Juan Martin Diez, the -Empecinado, who first commenced and then organized the system of -Guerilla warfare in Spain; to which is added, that Chieftain’s -celebrated Representation to the King of Spain. Translated by a general -officer. 8vo. - -The Principles of War, exhibited in the Practice of the Camp, and as -developed in a Series of General Orders of Field-Marshal the Duke of -Wellington, K.G., &c. &c. &c., in the late Campaigns on the Peninsula, -with parallel Orders of George the Second, the Duke of Cumberland, the -Duke of Marlborough, Earl of Albemarle, Lord Stair, General Wolfe, &c. -&c. &c. 8vo. - -Account of the War in Spain and Portugal, and the South of France, -from 1808 to 1814, inclusive. In two volumes. By John T. Jones, -Lieutenant-Colonel, corps of Royal Engineers. 8vo. - -Journals of the Sieges undertaken by the Allies in Spain, in the years -1811–12, with Notes. By Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel John T. Jones, &c. -8vo. - -Annals of the Peninsular Campaigns, from 1808 to 1814. By the author of -Cyril Thornton. In three vols. 12mo. - -Narrative of a forced Journey through Spain and France as a Prisoner of -War, in the years 1810 to 1814. By Major-General Lord Blayney. In two -vols. 8vo. - -An Authentic Narrative of the Invasion of France in 1814. By M. De -Beauchamp, author of the History of the War of La Vendée, &c. &c. In -two vols. 8vo. - -Campaign of the Left Wing of the Allied Army in the Western Pyrenees -and South of France, in the years 1813–14, under Field-Marshal -the Marquess of Wellington, illustrated by a detailed plan of the -operations, and numerous plates of mountain and river scenery, drawn -and etched by Captain Batty, of the first or Grenadier Guards, F.R.S., -Member of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Anne. London, 1823. 4to. - - * * * * * - -Exposicion de los Hechos y Maquinaciones que han preparado, la -Usurpacion de la Corona de España, y los medios que el Emperador -de los Franceses ha puesto en obra para realizarla. Por Don Pedro -Cevallos. Reimpreso en Malaga. 1808. - -Idea Sencilla de las Razones que motivaron el Viage del Rey Don -Fernando VII. a Bayona, en el mes de Abril de 1808, dada al publico -de España y de Europa. Por el Excmo. Señor Don Juan Escoiquiz, &c. -&c., para su justificacion y la de las demas personas que componian -entonces el Consejo Privado de S. M. contra las imputaciones vagas de -imprudencia ó ligereza divulgadas contra ellos por algunos sugetos poco -instruidos de las expresadas razones; acompañada de una noticia breve -de los sucesos y negociaciones de Valençay, hasta la vuelta de S. M. á -España. Madrid, 1814. - -Manifiesto de los Procedimientos del Consejo Real, en los gravisimos -sucesos ocurridos desde Octubre del año proximo pasado. Impreso de -orden del mismo Supremo Tribunal. En la Imprenta Real. 1808. - -Semanario Patriotico. Segundo Trimestre. La parte historica por Don -Isidoro de Antillon; la Politica por Don Josef Maria Blanco. Sevilla, -1809. - -El Español. Por Don J. M. Blanco White. 8 tom. London, 1810–14. - -Manifiesto de las Operaciones del Exercito del Centro, desde el dia 3 -de Diciembre de 1808, hasta el 17 de Febrero de 1809. Por el Duque del -Infantado. 1809. - -Prontuario de las Leyes y Decretos del Rey nuestro Señor Don José -Napoleon I. Desde el año de 1808. 3 tom. Madrid, 1810–12. - -Historia de las Operaciones del Exercito de Catalaña en la Guerra de -la Usurpacion, O sea de la Independencia de España. Campaña primera. -Por el Teniente Coronel Don Francisco Xavier Cabanes, Ayudenta Mayor -de Reales Guardias Walonas y Oficial de Estado Mayor en el Exercito de -Cataluña. Tarragona, 1809. - -Segundo Periodo de la Historia de las Operaciones del Exercito de -Cataluña en la Primera Campaña de la Guerra de la Usurpacion, O sea -de la Independencia de España. Por el Teniente Coronel Don Francisco -Xavier Cabanes, &c. Tarragona, 1809. - -Resúmen Historico del primer sitio de la Ilustre Ciudad de Zaragoza por -los Franceses, desde el 14 de Junio al 16 de Agosto de 1808. Valencia, -1809. - -Idea Historica de los Principales Sucesos ocurridos en Zaragoza durante -el ultimo sitio, recopilados, por el P. Capellan de Exercito Dr. Don -Sebastian Hernandez de Morejon, Testigo y casi victima de aquella -gloriosa catástrofe. Valencia, 1809. - -Relacion del segundo sitio de Zaragoza, por los Franceses en la ultima -guerra de España, por el Señor Baron Rogniat, Teniente General de -Ingenieros. Traducida del Frances por Pedro Ferrery Casaus. Valladolid, -1815. - -Elogio a los Ilustres defensores de Zaragoza en sus dos sitios del año -de 1808. Por un individuo de las Escuelas Pias. Madrid, 1815. - -Memorial Historico de los sucesos mas notables de armas y estado -de la salud Publica durante el ultimo sitio de la Plaza de Gerona. -Comprehende hasta 18 dias despues de entregada la Plaza al Sitiador -y Reales Ordines á favor de sus defensores. Por Don Juan Andres Nieto -Samaniego, Doctor en Medecina y en Cirurgia, &c. Tarragona, 1810. - -Cataluña Atribulada suplica al Augusto Congreso de las Cortes, en 1811, -Palma. - -Manifiesto del Duque de Alburquerque, acerca de su conducta con la -Junta de Cadiz, y arribo del exercito de su cargo a aquella Plaza. -Londres, 1810. - -Memoria de lo mas interesante que ha ocurrido en la Ciudad de Zaragoza -con motivo de haberla atacado, el Exercito Frances. Madrid, 1808. - -Traslado a toda la Nacion Española, y à los fidelisimos constantes -aliados Portugueses é Ingleses, de la correspondencia oficial y -confidencial del Teniente General Marques del Palacio, Capitan-General -de los reynos de Aragon y Valencia, y general-en-gefe del segundo -exército, &c., con el Capitan-General de los reales exércitos, y -regente del reyno Don Joaquin Blake, &c. Cadiz, 1812. - -Brebe y Sencillo Manifiesto de la gloriosa defensa del Castillo de -san Fernando de Sagunto. En contraposicion à la variedad con que se -habla de este asunto y causas porque se perdiè aquel monumento de la -antiguedad. Orihuela, 1814. - -Memorias sobre la reconquista de Zaragoza, conservacion de la Plaza, -y rendicion de su Castillo por las Tropas Españolas en Julio de 1813. -Donde se evidencia lo mucho que se equivico el autor de la comedia -titulada Zaragoza Reconquistada, por Don Francisco Espoz y Mina, como -tambien otros autores que han dado toda la gloria á este General. Las -Publica un Monge Benito del Monasterio de Arlanza, Capellan, con real -despacho que ha sido del regimiento infanteria ligera de Rioxa, que -desea que la verdad sea el mas hello adorno de la historia de nuestra -santa venganza. Madrid, 1815. - -Restauracion de las Plazas de Lérida, Mequinenza y Castillo de Monzon, -por medio de una estratagema: ocupacion de estas por una de las -divisiones del primer exército Español en los dias 13, 14 y 16 de -Febrero del año de 1814. Madrid, 1814. - -Memoria de Don Miguel Jose de Azanza y Don Gonzalo O’Farrill, sobre los -trechos que justifican su conducta politica, desde Marzo de 1808 hasta -Abril de 1814. Paris. - -Constitucion Politica de la Monarquia Española, promulgada en Cadiz a -19 de Marzo de 1812. Cadiz. - -Observaciones sobre la Historia de la Guerra de España, que escribieron -los Señores Clarke, Southey, Londonderry y Napier. Por Don José Canga -Argüelles. 2 tom. Londres, 1829. - -Documentos relativos al llamamiento, del excellentisimo Señor Don -Francisco Xavier de Castaños a servir su Plaza en consego de Estado, y -a su exoneracion del mando del Quarto exercito. Cadiz, 1813. - -Breve y sucinta Relacion en forma de Diario de los principales sucesos -acaceidos en la recepcion, permanencia y partida de su Magestad, de -la siempre leal Ciudad de Valencia, con lo que tiene relacion al 2^o. -exército en la actualidad acantonado en su regno. Valencia, 1814. - -Don Gaspar de Jovellanos, a sus Compatriotas. Memoria en que se rebaten -las calumnias divulgadas contra los individuos de la Junta Central, y -se da razon de la conducta y opiniones del Autor desde que recobro su -libertad. Con Notas y Apendices. 2 tom. Coruña, 1811. - -Impugnacion que hacen los Individuos que compusieron là Suprema Junta -Central al Manifiesto del Capitan-General Don Gregorio de la Cuesta. -Cadiz, 1812. - -Exposicion que hacen a las Cortes Generales y Extraordinarias de la -Nacion Española, los Individuos que compusieron la Junta Central -Suprema Gubernativa de la Misma, de su conducta en el tiempo de su -administration. Seccion Primera. Cadiz, 1811. - -Ramo Diplomatico ó de Relaciones Extrangeras. Seccion Segunda. - -Hacienda. Seccion Tercera. Palma, 1813. - - * * * * * - -Collecçam de Decretos, Editaes, &c. &c. &c. Lisboa, 1808. - -Observador Portuguez, Historico e Politico de Lisboa, desde o dia -27 de Novembro do anno de 1807, em que embarcou para o Brazil o -Principe Regente Nosso Senhor e toda a Real Familia, por motivo da -Invasam dos Francezes neste Reino. Contem todos os Editaes, Ordens -publicas e particulares Decretos; successos fataes e desconhecidos nas -historias do mundo; todas as Batalhas, Roubos e Usurpaçoens ate o dia -15 de Setembro de 1808, em que foram expulsos, depois de batidos, os -Francezes. Lisboa, 1809. - -Historia Geral da Invasam dos Francezes em Portugal eda Restauraçam -deste Reino, escrita por José Accursio des Neves. 5 tom. Lisboa, -1810–11. - -Compilaçam des Ordens do Dia, do Quartel-General do Exercito Portuguez, -concernantes a Organizaçam, Disciplina e Economia Militares, nas -Campanhas de 1809–15. Lisboa, 1811–15. - -Correio Braziliense, ou Armazem Literario. 1808–14. London. - -O Investigador Portuguez em Inglaterra, ou Jornal Literario Politico, -&c. 1811–14. London. - -Memorias da Villa de Chaves, na sua gloriosa revoluçàm contra à -perfidia do Tyranno da Europa; por Hum amante da Verdade, da Religiâo, -do Principe, e dos vassallos mais dignos do reconhecimento publico. -Lisboa, 1809. - - * * * * * - -Histoire de la Guerre d’Espagne contre Napoleon Buonaparte, par une -commission d’Officiers de toutes armes, établie à Madrid, auprès de -S. Ex. le Ministre de la Guerre. Traduite de l’Español, avec notes et -éclaircissemens. Par un témoin oculaire. Tome 1^{er}. Paris, 1818. - -Relation de l’Expédition du Portugal, faite en 1807–8, par le 1^{er} -Corps d’Observation de la Gironde, devenu armée de Portugal. Par le -Baron Thiébault, Lieutenant-Général. Paris, 1817. - -Mémoires sur les Opérations Militaires des Français en Galice, en -Portugal, et dans la Vallée du Tage, en 1809, sous le commandement du -Maréchal Soult, Duc de Dalmatie. Avec un Atlas Militaire. Paris, 1821. - -Relation Historique et Militaire de la Campagne de Portugal sous le -Maréchal Massena, Prince d’Essling, &c., par M. Guingret, Chef de -Bataillon, en demi-activité, et officier de l’Ordre Royal de la Legion -d’Honneur. Limoges, 1817. - -Campagne de l’Armée Française en Portugal, dans les années 1810–11, -&c., par M^r. A. D. L. G., Officier Superieur employé dans l’Etat-Major -de cette Armée. Paris, 1815. - -Précis Historique de la Guerre d’Espagne et de Portugal, de 1808–14, -contenant la réfutation des ouvrages de MM. Sarrazin et Alphonse de -Beauchamps, &c., par Auguste Carel, Chef de Bataillon, Chevalier de la -Legion d’Honneur. Paris, 1815. - -Relation du Séjour des Prisonniers de Guerre Français et Suisses, sur -le Ponton la Castille, dans la baie de Cadix, et de leur evasion le 15 -Mai, 1810. Par L. Chapuis de Lausanne, Chirurgien-Major. Lausanne, 1817. - -Mémoires d’un Officier Français Prisonnier en Espagne, ou Relation -circonstanciée de la Captivité du Corps de l’Armée Française sous les -ordres du Lieutenant-Général Dupont, &c. Par un Officier de la Garde -Royale. Paris, 1823. - -Mémoires sur la Guerre d’Espagne, pendant les années 1809–10–11. Par M. -De Naylies, Officier Superieur des Gardes-du-Corps, de Monsieur de St. -Louis, et de la Legion d’Honneur. Paris, 1807. - -Précis Historique de la Bataille livrée 10 Avril, 1814, sous les murs -de Toulouse, &c. Par C. D. Toulouse. - -Journal des Opérations de l’Armée de Catalogne en 1808 et 1809, sous le -Commandement du Général Gouvion Saint Cyr. Ou Matériaux pour servir à -l’Histoire de la Guerre d’Espagne. Par le Maréchal Gouvion Saint Cyr. -Paris, 1821. - -Mémoires du Maréchal Suchet, Duc d’Albufera, sur ses Campagnes en -Espagne, depuis 1808 jusqu’en 1824. Ecrits par lui-même. 2 tom. Paris, -1828. - -Mémoires Historiques sur la Revolution d’Espagne. Par M. de Pradt, -Archivêque de Malines. Paris, 1816. - -Mémoires pour servir à l’Histoire de la Revolution d’Espagne, avec des -Pièces Justificatives. Par M. Nellerto (Llorente). 3 tom. Paris, 1814. - -Der Feldzug von Portugall, in den Jahren 1811 und 1812, in historischer -und medizinischer-hinsicht beschrieben, von einem Arzte der -Franzosischen Armee von Portugall. Stuttgart und Tubingen, 1816. - - * * * * * - -Der Befreiungs-Krieg der Katalonier, in den Jahren 1808 bis 1814. Von -H. von Staff, Major von Koniglich Preussischen Generalstaabe. Breslau, -1821. - -Der Siebenjahrige Kampf auf der Pyrenaischen Halbinsel vom Jahre -1807 bis 1814; besonders miene eigenen Erfahrungen in diesem Kriege; -nebst Bemerkungen über das Spanische Volk und Land. Von Fr. Xav. -Regel, Grossherzogl.-Badischem Hauptmann des Carl-Friederich, -Militar-Verdienst, und des Kaiserlich-Russischen St. Wladimir-Ordens -Ritter. 3 Th. Darmstadt, 1819. - - * * * * * - -Histoire de la Guerre de la Péninsule, sous Napoleon. Par le Général -Foy. 4 tom. Paris, 1827. - -Narrative of the Peninsular War from 1808 to 1813. By -Lieutenant-General Charles William Vane, Marquis of Londonderry, -G.C.B., G.C.H., Colonel of the 10th Royal Hussars. 4to. 1828. - -History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France, -from the year 1807 to the year 1814. By W. F. P. Napier, C.B. -Lieutenant-Colonel, H.P. forty-third regiment. Vols. I. and II., 1828, -1829. - - * * * * * - -All that part of the present history relating to the events of which -General Foy has treated, or to which the histories of Lord Londonderry -and Colonel Napier have as yet extended, was printed before either of -those works appeared. - - -THE END. - - - - - LONDON: - Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS, - Stamford Street. - - - - -FOOTNOTES - - -[1] These affecting circumstances are stated in a letter written from -Zaragoza, 22d of January, 1812, to D. Mariano de Lope, a priest who -distinguished himself by his heroic conduct during both sieges. A copy -of this letter I had the honour of receiving from the Countess de -Bureta, who transmitted it to me at the time, that I might see what -were the feelings and the conduct of her fellow-citizens during their -captivity. - -[2] The weekly average of desertions I find thus curiously stated: 25 -Spaniards, 15 Irish, 12 English, 6 Scotch, and half a Portugueze. - -[3] The particulars of this negotiation are stated by Escoiquiz upon -Ferdinand’s authority, and from that king’s own papers. - -[4] The father of Baron de Lahoutan, in whose _Voyages dans l’Amerique -Septentrionale_ (Amsterdam, 1709, t. i. 149.) these facts are stated: -the consequences were related by M. Dufort, of the Gironde, in the -Legislative Assembly, 31 Aug. 1814. - -[5] As an instance of English character, it is worth stating in a -note, that an honest butcher of Slough, near Windsor, Edward Shirley -by name, sent Lord Wellington, as a Christmas present, the rump and -sirloin of a famous ox. Government forwarded the present, and with the -next dispatches Lord Wellington’s letter of thanks arrived, and was -forwarded to Slough from the secretary of state’s office by a king’s -messenger. The letter was as follows:-- - - “St. Jean de Luz, Jan. 19. - -“SIR, - -“I received the day before yesterday the sirloin and rump of beef which -you were so kind as to send me; which although it did not arrive in -time for the new year’s day, was a most welcome present for the queen’s -birthday. - -“I beg you to accept my best thanks for it; and to be assured that -I duly appreciate the patriotic motives which induced you to avail -yourself of an opportunity at the present moment of conveying to me -your sense of the manner in which I have carried into execution his -Majesty’s commands, and those of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent. - - “I have the honour to be, sir, - Your most obedient, humble servant, - WELLINGTON. - - “To Mr. Edward Shirley, butcher, - Slough, near Windsor.” - -[6] After Buonaparte’s return from Elba, the Marquis put himself at the -head of the Vendeans, repeated these words of his heroic brother, and -died, like him, in the same cause. - -[7] This statement is drawn up from the printed narrative by Van Halen, -and from a manuscript one by Eroles. Marshal Suchet’s brief account -is erroneous in stating that Tortosa was the last place at which the -stratagem was tried instead of the first. He says that Van Halen -deserted, _monté sur un cheval dérobé, et laissant à Barcelone des -dettes criardes_. (T. 2. 366.) Concerning the horse, it is not likely -that in such circumstances the adventurer would be scrupulous; but as -to his debts, he left a letter at Barcelona, saying, that there were -the arrears of his pay to liquidate them, being more by one-half than -all that he owed amounted to. - -Van Halen afterwards got into the Inquisition as a freemason and a -liberal, got out of it, published his adventures in English, went to -Brussels, headed the inhabitants in that insurrection the success -of which they have had so much reason to repent, was suspected of -treachery by the party whom he had served, thrown into prison, and -after awhile released. And there the drama of his unquiet life breaks -off. - -[8] _Bien suponiamos que lo habria, por las relaciones con las -Potencias aliadas; pero no sabiéndolo de cierto, teniamos derecho, -tratando con hombre tan perfido, para ponerlo en duda y conseguir con -este justo dissimulo el fin de nuestros deseos que era la libertad del -Rey. Engañar mañosamente con la verdad á un hombre tan falso, era una -obra no mala sino excelente: tal era nuestro maxîma._ Idea Sencilla, -114. - -[9] French exaggeration has seldom been carried farther than in -the accounts of this action. One account makes the loss of the -allies 21,000 in killed, and nearly 15,000 wounded! and the author -of the _Précis Historique de la Bataille_ takes credit to himself -for moderation and candour in reducing the number of the slain to -17,000.--P. 3. pp. 32–37. - -[10] - - Piedra immortal, que en gloria de Fernando - Hoy el brazo del justo aqui coloca, - En ti se estrelle el enemigo bando, - se estrella la nave en dura roca: - Y si algun vil ideas abrigando - Contra el Rey, te profana ó te provoca, - Que muera; y que á cenizas reducido - Sirva de exemplo al liberal partido. - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes - - -Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant -preference was found in this book. Simple typographical errors were -corrected and some unbalanced quotation marks were remedied. Other -errors of these types were not changed because the corrections were not -obvious to the Transcriber. - -Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained; occurrences -of inconsistent hyphenation have been changed only when there was a -predominant preference throughout the book. - -The spelling and accent marks of non-English words were not checked or -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. To preserve proximity with the original text, if they were -printed mid-paragraph, that is where they appear here. Depending on -the format in which you are reading this eBook, Sidenotes may be -distinguished from regular text by being shown in some combination -of italics, boldface, UPPER-CASE, enclosed in ♦DIAMOND SYMBOLS♦, -being offset into the left-margin, or in a rectangular area within -the regular text. Due to limitations of some eReaders, some sidenotes -may appear next to or below each other, depending on the width of the -screen. - -The original Table of Contents used “ib.” when the page number was the -same as the one in the previous entry. This eBook uses the actual page -numbers. - -The years in which events occurred were printed in the running heads. -In this eBook, the first occurrence of each new year has been added -to the Sidenotes by the Transcriber. Sidenote dates also have been -added at the beginning of each chapter. This does not form an unbroken -timeline, as the years in the running heads sometimes went back and -forth. - -Page 4: “beat his breast” was printed as “beast”; changed here. - -Page 45: no ending quotation mark for text beginning with “or to -prevent an insurrection.” - -Page 172: “route of fugitives” was printed as “rout” in an earlier -edition of this book. - -All six volumes of this work are available at no cost at Project -Gutenberg. 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