The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Peninsular War Volume III (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 III (of 6) Author: Robert Southey Release Date: September 30, 2019 [EBook #60388] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR, VOL 3 *** 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: Notes at the end of this eBook explain special notation used to highlight Sidenotes. HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR. LONDON: PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS. HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR. “Unto thee “Let thine own times as an old story be.” Donne. BY ROBERT SOUTHEY, ESQ. LL.D. POET LAUREATE, HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY, OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY OF HISTORY, OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF THE NETHERLANDS, OF THE CYMMRODORION, OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC. A NEW EDITION. IN SIX VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET. MDCCCXXVIII. Ἱστορίας γὰρ ἐὰν ἀφέλῃ τις τὸ διὰ τί, καὶ πῶς, καὶ τίνος χάριν ἐπράχθη, καὶ τὸ πραχθὲν πότερα εὔλογον ἔσχε τὸ τέλος, τὸ καταλειπόμενον αὐτῆς ἀγώνισμα μὲν, μάθημα δὲ οὐ γίγνεται· καὶ παραυτίκα μὲν τέρπει, πρὸς δὲ τὸ μέλλον οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ τὸ παράπαν. Polybius, lib. iii. sect. 31. CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVI. PAGE Treaty between Great Britain and Spain 1 v Surrender of Coruña 3 Situation and strength of Ferrol 5 Surrender of Ferrol 6 Exultation of the French 8 Pursuit of Romana’s army 10 Dismay in Galicia 11 Romana retreats toward Monterrey 12 Blake leaves the army 13 The French cease the pursuit 14 Buonaparte is advised that Austria is arming 15 Change in his views concerning Spain 16 He returns to France 18 His professions to the Spaniards at Madrid 19 Registers opened 24 The people of Madrid take the oath of allegiance to Joseph 25 Addresses to the Intruder 26 Edicts of the Intruder before his return to Madrid 27 His entrance into Madrid 29 Edicts against the patriots 31 Circular epistle to the clergy 32 Condition of Madrid 34 False intelligence published by the intrusive government 36 Unwillingness of the Spaniards to believe that Morla was a traitor 37 Proofs of his prior treachery 38 Morla’s letter to the Central Junta 39 His letter to the governor of Cadiz 41 Arrest and cruel imprisonment of the French at Cadiz 42 Death of Florida Blanca 43 Marques de Astorga chosen president of the Central Junta 44 Catalonia 45 Siege of Barcelona 46 St. Cyr appointed to command the French 48 He determines upon besieging Rosas 50 Dilapidated state of that fortress 52 Preparations for the siege 52 British squadron in the Bay of Rosas 54 Disposition of the Italian troops to desert 56 Attack upon Fort Trinidad repulsed 57 The French establish themselves in the town 59 Lord Cochrane arrives, and throws himself into Fort Trinidad 59 Gallant defence of the fort 60 The citadel captured, and the fort evacuated 62 St. Cyr marches to relieve Barcelona 63 He discovers a mountain path near Hostalrich 64 Indecision of General Vives 67 He marches against the French 68 Rout of the Spaniards at Llinas 68 Retreat of the Spaniards from Barcelona to the Llobregat 71 St. Cyr marches against them 72 Indecision of the Spaniards 73 The Spaniards routed and pursued to Tarragona 76 vi CHAPTER XVII. The Spaniards not discouraged by their reverses 80 Condition of Infantado’s army at Cuenca 81 Dreams of offensive operations 83 Movement against the French at Tarancon 84 Venegas falls back from Tarancon to Ucles 84 Rout of the Spaniards at Ucles 86 Cruelties committed there by the French 88 Infantado collects the fugitives 89 Retreat from Cuenca 91 Loss of the artillery 92 Infantado frustrates a movement of the enemy against the Carolina army 94 He is superseded by Cartaojal 95 Calumnies against Castaños 96 His memorial to the Central Junta 99 Conde de Montijo’s intrigues 100 Progress of the French in Castille and Leon 101 New levies raised by the Spaniards 102 Temporizing conduct of certain magistrates 103 Sir Robert Wilson 103 He raises a Portugueze legion at Porto 104 Sir Robert goes to Ciudad Rodrigo 106 He refuses to return to Porto 107 Effect of his movements 108 Part of the legion detained at Porto 109 Displeasure of the authorities there 110 Rank given him by the Spanish government 110 Proposal that British troops should be admitted into Cadiz 111 Objections of the Spanish government 112 Troops arrive in the bay 114 Mr. Frere’s representations to the Central Junta 114 Reply of the Spanish government 116 Their proposal for employing the troops 117 Conference with Mr. Frere 117 Mr. Frere requests Cuesta’s opinion 120 Cuesta’s reply 122 Close of the discussion 123 Insurrection at Cadiz 127 Confidence of the people in the English 129 Proclamation of the governor 130 Murder of D. Juan de Heredia 131 The tumult subsides 131 Proclamation of the Central Junta 132 CHAPTER XVIII. Castaños accused at Zaragoza as a traitor 135 State of public feeling in that city 136 Measures of precaution 137 None of the inhabitants leave the city 139 vii viii Supposed miracles 140 Works of defence 141 The city crowded with soldiers 144 Preparations within the city 145 Marshal Moncey reconnoitres the Torrero 145 The French appear before the city 146 They take the Torrero 146 Unsuccessful attack upon the suburbs 148 Moncey summons Palafox to surrender 149 The investment of the city completed 150 Proclamation of Palafox to the people of Madrid 152 Junot takes the command of the French 153 St. Joseph’s and the Redoubt of the Pillar taken 153 Rumours of success, and rejoicings in the city 154 An infectious disease appears in the city 155 Attempts of Lazan and Francisco Palafox to succour the city 157 Condition of the army in Catalonia 158 Reding takes the command 159 The army re-formed at Tarragona 160 Conduct of the French under St. Cyr 162 Orders to attempt the relief of Zaragoza 164 Tardiness in obeying them 166 Defeat of the peasantry 166 Alcañiz occupied by the French 166 Movements in Navarre and Aragon 167 Marshal Lasnes takes the command 167 He summons Palafox to surrender 168 The French enter the city, but with great loss 168 They establish themselves in the Trinidad Convent 171 Convents of S. Augustin and S. Monica won 171 The enemy proceed by mining 173 Progress of the pestilence 174 First talk of surrender in the city 176 The contest carried on by fire 177 Convent of Jesus in the suburb taken 179 St. Francisco taken 180 The French begin to murmur 182 Not even an attempt is made to relieve the city 183 The suburbs taken 185 The university taken 186 Palafox transfers his authority to a Junta 186 Condition of the besieged 187 Flag of truce sent to the French 189 Last efforts of the besieged 190 D. Pedro Maria Ric goes out to treat with Marshal Lasnes 192 Capitulation 194 Farther conditions asked, and refused 196 Conduct of the French 198 Treatment of the prisoners 198 Palafox compelled by threats of death to sign orders for delivering up four fortresses 201 He is sent into France 202 ix Demands of the French 203 Lasnes makes his entrance 204 Baseness of the suffragan bishop 204 Language of the French upon their triumph 206 Decree of the Central Junta 206 Address to the nation 208 Honours decreed to the inhabitants of Zaragoza 211 Falsehoods of the French government 212 CHAPTER XIX. Portugal threatened by the French 214 Preparations of the English for evacuating Lisbon 214 Address of the Portugueze Regency to the nation 215 State of public feeling at Lisbon 216 Marshal Soult ordered to enter Portugal from Galicia 218 Difficulty of providing for the French army 219 His confidence of success 220 Combined plans of the French 220 Vigo and Tuy occupied by the French 221 Preparations for crossing the Minho below Tuy 221 Failure of the attempt 223 Soult marches by way of Orense 223 Romana rouses the Galicians 224 Opinion of his strength 225 Villages burnt by the French 226 Intended plan of co-operation between Romana and Silveira 226 Difference between Marshals Soult and Ney 227 Rout of Romana’s army 228 The French remove their sick and wounded to Monterrey 229 Situation of Chaves 230 Silveira retires from Chaves 231 Some mutinous officers resolve to defend it 232 Surrender of Chaves 232 The French establish their hospital there 234 Preparations for defence at Porto 235 Advance of the French from Chaves 237 Tumults at Braga 238 General Freire murdered 240 The Portugueze routed before Braga 242 The French enter Braga 243 They appear before Porto 245 Oliveira murdered 246 The Bishop leaves the city 247 Porto taken 247 Massacre there 248 Soult remains in Porto 250 Disposition of the inhabitants 251 Marshal Soult’s views respecting the Liberals and the Jews 252 His hopes of becoming King of Northern Lusitania 254 He visits the Church of N. Senhor de Bouças 256 Chaves retaken by Silveira 260 x xi Proceedings at Coimbra 262 Colonel Trant takes a position upon the Vouga 265 Cruelties of the French 268 Positions of the French and Portugueze 269 Romana captures the garrison at Villa Franca 270 Efforts of the Galicians 273 Barrios sent into Galicia 275 The Portugueze and Galicians blockade Tuy 276 Vigo 277 The Spaniards appear before Vigo 278 Recapture of that place 279 Blockade of Tuy 283 The Portugueze recross the Minho 284 The French in Tuy relieved and withdrawn 284 CHAPTER XX. Plans of the intrusive government 286 Effect of the war upon the French soldiery 287 Temper of the Spanish generals in La Mancha and Extremadura 290 Reforms in the Spanish army 291 The Duque del Alburquerque 291 He proposes offensive operations 292 They are undertaken when too late 293 The Duke sent to join Cuesta 294 Cartaojal advances against the French 294 Rout of the Carolina army at Ciudad Real 295 Operations of Marshal Victor 295 The French cross the Puente del Arzobispo 296 Cuesta retreats from the Puerto de Miravete 297 Skirmishes at Truxillo and Miajadas 298 Junction with Alburquerque’s division 301 Cuesta offers battle at Medellin 301 Battle of Medellin 303 Misconduct of the Spanish cavalry 304 Cuesta thrown and wounded 304 Dispersion of the Spanish army 305 No quarter given 306 Escape of Alburquerque 307 The remnant of the Spanish army collect 308 Cuesta disgraces those who had behaved ill 309 The Junta act wisely and generously upon these defeats 310 Their appeal to the people 311 Tribunal of public safety 312 Correspondence on the Intruder’s part with the Junta 313 Measures for securing Badajoz 317 A crusade proclaimed there 318 Regulations concerning the ejected religioners 319 Plans of the intrusive government 320 Sir Robert Wilson’s conduct at Ciudad Rodrigo 321 Attempt to surprise that fortress 323 xii The French summon it 324 March of Lapisse to unite with Victor 325 The French enter Alcantara 325 Junction of Lapisse and Victor 327 CHAPTER XXI. Conduct of the opposition in England 328 Return of the troops from Coruña 332 The King’s speech 333 Proceedings in Parliament 334 Lord Sidmouth 334 Earl St. Vincent 335 Lord Grenville 335 Earl of Liverpool 336 Mr. Ponsonby 338 Mr. Whitbread 339 Debates on the overture from Erfurth 341 Lord Grenville 341 Lord Auckland 341 Mr. Canning 341 Lord Henry Petty 343 Mr. Whitbread 343 Mr. Croker 346 Mr. Whitbread’s speech circulated by the French government 347 Debates on the campaign in Portugal 348 Both parties agree in extolling Sir John Moore 348 Inquiry into the campaign in Spain called for 349 Lord Grenville 349 Lord Erskine 349 Mr. Ponsonby 350 Lord Castlereagh 354 Mr. Tierney 354 Mr. Canning 357 Mr. Windham 361 Sir John Moore’s dispatches 367 Mr. Frere’s correspondence with Sir John Moore 372 Earl Grey 373 Earl of Liverpool 374 Mr. Canning 377 Earl Grey 381 Expedition to the Scheldt 382 Troops sent to Portugal 384 Earl of Buckinghamshire 384 CHAPTER XXII. Feelings of the Portugueze toward the English 387 Sir Arthur Wellesley’s instructions 388 General Beresford appointed commander-in-chief of the Portugueze army 389 He begins to reform the army 390 Intercepted letter from General Kellermann to Soult 392 xiii Laborde sent to attack Silveira at Amarante 393 State of Penafiel when the French entered 394 The Bridge of Amarante 395 Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick killed in defending it 397 The French endeavour to throw a bridge over the river 398 Repeated attempts to effect the passage 399 Plan for demolishing the Portugueze entrenchments 400 The French win the bridge 401 Situation of the enemy 402 Sir Arthur Wellesley lands at Lisbon 404 He communicates his plans to Cuesta 404 Views of the Philadelphes in Marshal Soult’s army 406 The Sieur D’Argenton goes to Sir Arthur Wellesley to explain their views 409 Advance of the British army towards Porto 410 D’Argenton is arrested 411 Soult prepares to retreat from Portugal 412 The French driven from Albergaria 413 They are driven from their position at Grijo 414 Measures of Soult to prevent the passage of the Douro 415 Passage of that river 416 Deliverance of Porto 418 Soult and Loison effect a junction on their retreat 421 Sir Arthur pursues the French 422 Sufferings of the enemy in their flight 423 Loss of the French at Puente de Misarella 425 The pursuit given over at Montalegre 425 Movement of troops from Aragon 426 Reasons for not continuing the pursuit 427 Victor enters Portugal by way of Alcantara, and speedily retreats 428 Soult reaches Orense 429 Romana enters Asturias, and displaces the Junta 429 Combined movements of the French against Romana 430 Romana escapes by sea 431 Ney returns into Galicia 432 The French in Lugo relieved by Soult 433 Mahy returns to Mondoñedo 434 The French driven from Compostella 435 Combined operations of Marshals Ney and Soult in Galicia 436 Romana rejoins his army 437 Proceedings of Soult 437 Cruelties exercised by the French 439 Defeat of the French at the Bridge of S. Payo 440 The Spaniards retaliate upon the invaders 443 Soult retreats out of Galicia 443 Ferrol and Coruña evacuated by the French 444 Soult complains of certain officers 446 He recommends a plan for securing Galicia 447 Romana summoned to take his place in the Central Junta 448 He orders a monument to be erected to Sir John Moore 449 His farewell to the army 450 Address of the Central Junta to the Galicians 451 xiv xv CHAPTER XXIII. Proceedings of the French after the fall of Zaragoza 456 State of the Catalan army 457 Reding determines to act on the offensive 460 The Spaniards driven from Igualada 461 Failure of the French against the Abbey of the S. Creus 462 Reding takes the field, and collects his scattered troops 465 He is advised to retreat 466 Battle of Valls 469 The French received at Reus 472 Arrangement concerning the wounded 473 Alarm at Tortosa 474 Lazan separates his army from Reding’s command 475 Mortality in Tarragona 476 St. Cyr removes to the plain of Vicq 477 Vicq deserted by its inhabitants 480 Arrest of the persons in office at Barcelona for refusing the oath 481 Prisoners sent into France 483 Barcelona relieved by sea 484 Reding dies of his wounds 484 Peasants of the Vallés 486 Blake appointed to the command 488 Movements of the Aragonese 488 Monzon recovered by the Spaniards 490 Capture of a French detachment 491 Blake moves upon Alcañiz 492 The French withdraw 495 Suchet comes against him 496 Defeat of the French before Alcañiz 497 Anniversary of the insurrection at Valencia 499 Celebration of S. Ferdinand’s day 500 Executions in Barcelona 502 Blake advances toward Zaragoza 504 Suchet attacks the Spaniards 505 Blake retreats to Belchite 506 Flight of the Spaniards 507 Blake’s resignation not accepted 509 Commencement of the Guerillas 511 Porlier 511 The Empecinado 511 Renovales in the valleys of Roncal 512 He defeats a French detachment 512 A second party defeated 513 Proclamation of the Duque de Mahon 514 Executions and reprisals 516 Attempts to win over Renovales 517 Troops sent from Zaragoza against him 520 He capitulates for the valleys 522 Xavier Mina 523 Siege of Gerona commenced 526 xvi Jan. 19. 1809. January. Treaty between Great Britain and Spain. Surrender of Coruña. HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR. CHAPTER XVI. TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND SPAIN. SURRENDER OF CORUNA AND FERROL. SITUATION OF ROMANA’S ARMY. BUONAPARTE RETURNS TO FRANCE. PROCEEDINGS AT MADRID. OPERATIONS IN CATALONIA. Happily for the interests of Great Britain, and for its honour, which is paramount to all interests, the British government entertained more generous hopes than its General had done, and acted upon wiser views. At the very time when the Spaniards had sustained the heaviest losses, and our own army was known to be in full retreat, a treaty was signed at London between Great Britain and the Spanish nation acting in the name of Ferdinand. It proclaimed a christian, stable, and inviolable peace between the two countries, perpetual and sincere amity, and strict alliance during the war with France; and it pronounced an entire and lasting oblivion of all acts of hostility done on either side in the course of the late wars wherein they had been engaged against each other. His Britannic Majesty engaged to assist the Spaniards to the utmost of his power, and not to acknowledge any other King of Spain, and of the Indies thereunto appertaining, than Ferdinand VII., his heirs, or such lawful successor as the Spanish nation should acknowledge; and the Spanish government engaged, on behalf of Ferdinand, never to cede to France any portion of the territories or possessions of the Spanish monarchy in any part of the world. The contracting parties bound themselves to make common cause against France, and not to make peace except by common consent. It was agreed by an additional article, that as the existing circumstances did not admit of the regular negotiation of a treaty of commerce with all the care and consideration due to so important a subject, such a negotiation should be effected as soon as it was practicable; and meantime mutual facilities afforded to the commerce of both countries, by temporary regulations, founded on reciprocal utility. Another separate article provided that the Spanish government should take the most effectual measures for preventing the Spanish squadrons, in all their ports, from falling into the power of France. Before the treaty could reach Spain, the mischief against which this latter article was intended to provide had been done in the ports of Galicia. There were Englishmen at Coruña, who, when Sir John Moore was preparing to embark, doubted whether the inhabitants would protect his embarkation. In the bitterness of grief and shame they said, “should the Galicians tell us that we came into their country and by the imposing display of our well-equipped army prevented them from defending their native mountains; that they entrusted their passes to us and we abandoned them to the enemy; that disregarding any service which seemed immaterial to our own safety, we let the French occupy the approaches to their city; ... should the volunteers of Coruña tell us this (they said), and throw down their arms when they see us flying to our ships, ... we should have little right to complain of desertion or abandonment!” But the Spaniards are a more generous people than these doubts implied. Astonished indeed they were at the manner in which an army that had excited by its proud appearance the highest hopes as well as the highest admiration, had retreated through one of the strongest and most defensible countries in Europe; but severely as these hopes were disappointed, and cruelly as they suffered in consequence, they were not betrayed into one unworthy act or expression of resentment. The Governor of Coruña, D. Antonio de Alcedo, had made vigorous preparations as soon as it seemed likely that the enemy might enter Galicia. His name will be remembered as the author of a Geographical Dictionary of Spanish America, much more accurate and copious than any former work relating to those countries. It would be well for him could it be forgotten in the history of his own. While he expected that the British army would make a stand, and maintain Coruña and Ferrol at least, even if they abandoned the field, he held brave language, calling upon the inhabitants to supply stakes, beams, fascines and butts for additional works, and exhorting the women to busy themselves in providing sacks to be filled with earth. “If the French come,” said he in his proclamation, “I will take such measures that Coruña shall be not less gloriously distinguished than Gerona, Valencia, and Zaragoza. But should fortune prove adverse to us, as a chastisement from God for our sins, I will bury myself in the ruins of this fortress rather than surrender it to the enemy: thus finishing my days with honour, and trusting that all will follow my example.” Wherever in Spain a Governor was found willing to set such an example, the resolution to follow it was not wanting. Coruña is a regular fortress, and might long have held out against any means which Marshal Soult could have brought against it. But when an English army with the sea open to them for succours did not think of maintaining it, it is not surprising that the inhabitants should have despaired of making a successful resistance. Their Governor was prepared to play the traitor; he had still however honour enough left not to propose a capitulation till the last transport was beyond the enemy’s power. Terms were then easily agreed on, the one party asking only what the other would have imposed. Alcedo stipulated for a general amnesty; that all persons in office should retain their appointments on taking an oath to the Intruder; and that the military who took that oath might either continue in the service or receive their dismissal at their own option, such as refused the oath becoming prisoners of war. He himself set the example of swearing allegiance to Joseph Buonaparte; and soon in his 1 2 3 4 5 Jan. 26. Situation and strength of Ferrol. Surrender of Ferrol. Exultation of the enemy. Pursuit of Romana’s army. own person properly experienced with what fidelity the French kept their engagements, for they presently dismissed him from his government and sent him into France. Coruña and Ferrol are situated on the opposite sides of a spacious bay which receives in four deep inlets the rivers Mero, Mandeu, Eume and Juvia. Ferrol is placed in the deepest and most capacious of these inlets, and nothing which skill and expense could effect had been spared during the last half century for improving the natural advantages of the harbour, and rendering it impregnable. It had thus been rendered one of the strongest naval establishments in the world, being also one of the most commodious. To force the passage is impossible, ships having for the distance of a league to file one by one along a shore defended by forts. Equal care had been taken to protect it on the land side. There were at this time eight ships of the line in the harbour, of which three were of the largest size, ... three frigates, and a considerable number of smaller vessels. From Betanzos to Ferrol was but a march of fourteen miles farther than from Betanzos to Coruña; and it was a topic of exultation for the French, that the English in the precipitance of their flight had not marched upon Ferrol instead of Coruña, where they might have occupied a fortress strong enough to be called impregnable, and have secured the squadron. It was still fresh in remembrance that when Sir James Pulteney had landed on the coast there with a part of that army by which the French were afterwards expelled from Egypt, he deemed it more prudent to re-embark his troops without attempting any thing, than to hazard an attack against so formidable a place. It is indeed almost impossible to lay regular siege to it: the nature of the ground being such that trenches cannot be opened there. Marshal Soult found in Coruña a battering train sufficient for making a feint of besieging Ferrol; that it would not be in his power to take it he well knew; ... but he reckoned upon the pusillanimity and treason of the commanders, and upon the fortune of Buonaparte. The population was estimated at 8000, double the number in Coruña; but the peasantry from the adjacent country had flocked thither, and there were 8000 men within its walls, burning with hatred and indignation against the French, and requiring only a leader in whom they could confide. The persons in authority they suspected, and with too much reason. One of these, the admiral D. Pedro Obregon, they displaced and threw into prison; it was only removing one traitor to make room for another. D. Francisco Melgarejo, who succeeded to the command of the squadron, opened a correspondence with the enemy by water; and the military commanders, equally ready to betray their country and their trust, sent messengers round by land at the same time. Accordingly General Mermet had no sooner made a demonstration of investing the town, than the Castles of La Palma and San Martin were abandoned to him; and as the disposition of the people was of no avail against the vile purposes of their chiefs civil and military, the town was delivered up, upon the same terms as Coruña; a few additional articles being added, stipulating for the arrears of pay, as also that if resistance were made in any part of Galicia, no inhabitant of Ferrol should be compelled to serve against his countrymen. Obregon was then released from prison, and placed by the French at the head of the arsenal; he and the comrades of his treason took the oath of allegiance to the Intruder; and those persons who had been most active in arresting him and in promoting the national cause were seized and reserved for punishment. If the Central Junta had at one time dissembled the danger of the country (or rather partaken too much of that unreasoning confidence which was one characteristic of the Spaniards), they never attempted to conceal its disasters, nor to extenuate them. On such occasions their language was frank and dignified, becoming the nation which they represented. In announcing the loss of Coruña and Ferrol, they pronounced the surrender of those strong places to have been cowardly and scandalous, and promised to condemn the persons who had thus betrayed their duty, to condign punishment. The enemy meantime failed not to blazon forth their triumphs in this Galician campaign: to represent the battle of Coruña as a victory on their part was a falsehood, which all circumstances, except those of the action itself, tended to confirm; ... and the results of the campaign had been so rapid, and apparently so complete, as to excite their own wonder. Three British regiments, they said, the 42d, 50th, and 52d, had been entirely destroyed in the action, and Sir John Moore killed in attempting to charge at their head, with the vain hope of restoring the fortune of the day. The English had lost every thing which constitutes an army, artillery, horses, baggage, ammunition, magazines, and military chests. 80 pieces of cannon they had landed, they had re-embarked no more than 12. 200,000 weight of powder, 16,000 muskets, and 2,000,000 of treasure (about £83,000) had fallen into the hands of the pursuers, and treasure yet more considerable had been thrown down the precipices along the road between Astorga and Coruña, where the peasantry and the soldiers were now collecting it. 5000 horses had been counted which they had slaughtered upon the way, ... 500 were taken at Coruña, and the carcasses of 1200 were infecting the streets when the conquerors entered that town. The English would have occupied Ferrol and seized the squadron there, had it not been for the precipitance of their retreat, and the result of the battle to which they had been brought at last. Thus then had terminated their expedition into Spain! thus, after having fomented the war in that unhappy country, had they abandoned it to its fate! In another season of the year not a man of them would have escaped; now the facility of breaking up the bridges, the rapidity of the winter torrents, shortness of days, and length of nights, had favoured their retreat. But they were driven out of the peninsula, harassed, routed, and disheartened. The kingdom of Leon, the province of Zamora, and all Galicia, which they had been so desirous to cover, were conquered and subdued; and Romana, whom they had brought from the Baltic, was, with the wreck of his army, reduced to less than 2500 men, wandering between Vigo and Santiago, and closely pursued.... This was the most stinging of all the French reproaches. Wounded to the heart as we were that an English army should so have retreated, still we knew that wherever our men had been allowed to face the enemy they had beaten them; and that, however the real history of the battle of Coruña might be concealed from the French people, the French army had received a lesson there, which they would remember whenever it might be our fortune to encounter them again. But that we should have drawn such a force in pursuit of Romana, who, if he were taken prisoner, would be put to death with the forms of justice, by a tyrant who made mockery of justice, was of all the mournful reflections which this disastrous expedition excited, the most painful and the most exasperating. At this time indeed Romana’s situation might have appeared hopeless to any but a Spaniard, and few Spaniards would 6 7 8 9 10 Blake leaves the army. Dismay in Galicia. Romana retreats toward Monterry. The French cease the pursuit. Buonaparte have regarded it with such equanimity as this high-minded nobleman. In the virtuous determination of doing his duty to the uttermost, whatever might betide, he trusted Providence with the event, and gave way to no despondent or repining thought. A detachment under G. Franceschi had pursued his army after it had separated from Sir J. Moore at Astorga, and according to the French statements taken some 3000 men, and killed a great number before he entered the Val de Orras. The charge of completing its destruction was then transferred by Soult to M. Ney, and he dispatched G. Marchand’s division and a regiment of cavalry as amply sufficient for the intended service. Romana left his vanguard under D. Gabriel de Mendizabal to cover the Val de Orras, and the Riberas del Sil; ... one division was posted at Pueblo de Tribes and Mendoya, to support him if he should be attacked, and defend the bridge over the Bivey; the others were distributed where they could find subsistence, and at the same time afford support to the more advanced. The country was in a state of the utmost alarm. The Vizconde de Quintanilla, one of the deputies for Leon to the Central Junta, had been sent to Romana’s army, and disagreeing with him before the retreat commenced, had preceded him, in the hope of taking some measures which might be serviceable to the common cause. Manifest as it was that Sir J. Moore had given up that cause in his heart as hopeless, it had never been apprehended that he would retreat with such precipitation, and abandon Coruña and Ferrol to their fate; ports the maintenance of which was of so great importance to Great Britain as long as she took any part in the contest. Of all the Spaniards the Galicians had least reason to fear that the war would be brought to their own doors; and their consternation was extreme when they saw the enemy among them. Quintanilla repaired to Santiago, from which city the Archbishop had fled, having been insulted by the people, and dreading farther outrages from the insubordination which these dreadful times produced. As it seemed that nothing could be done for resisting the enemy, Quintanilla endeavoured at least to disappoint them of their expected booty, and proposed that the church plate should be removed. In such treasure that city was peculiarly rich, having been during many centuries more in vogue than any other place of pilgrimage in Europe; but his advice was rejected, upon the ground that the populace, who were suspicious of whatever was done, would not suffer it. Romana’s was a buoyant spirit, not to be depressed by any dangers. He had read the British General rightly, but his confidence in the British character was unshaken; and in the expectation that something would be attempted upon the coast, he moved one of his divisions from Mazeda to Taboada and other villages near Lugo, for the purpose of observing and harassing the enemy. This movement was ordered the day before the battle of Coruña. On the afternoon of the 17th he was apprised that 5000 French were at St. Esteban de Ribas del Sil, three leagues from Orense, and in the night advice came from Mendizabal that he had been attacked by a detachment moving upon that city. Romana reconnoitred this force; they were plainly waiting for reinforcements, but even in their present state he was not strong enough to resist them; for as soon as he entered Galicia, the whole of the new levies had dispersed: they belonged to that province, and feeling themselves within reach of home, believed with some reason that they could provide better for themselves than it was in the power of their general and their government to provide for them. At his last interview with Sir J. Moore it had been arranged that the British army should make its stand at Villafranca, and there defend the entrance into Galicia, while the Marquis should endeavour to collect and reform his troops upon the river Sil. But because this resolution, fatally for Sir J. Moore, had been abandoned, Romana’s left flank and rear were exposed to the enemy. They were at leisure to direct their efforts against him, and he saw that the only way of escape open for him was by Monterry. In that direction therefore he moved, and fixed his head-quarters on the 21st at Villaza, a league from that town, on the side of Portugal. Here, to his surprise and displeasure, he found that Blake, who had continued with the army till this day, had left it without giving him any intimation of his departure, taken with him the officers whom he could trust, and left directions for others to follow him through Portugal. The camp-marshal, D. Rafael Martinengo, was missing also: his conduct, though irregular, was afterwards honourably explained; he had gone to collect stragglers. With regard to General Blake, serving only as an individual after he had been removed from the command, he was at liberty to retire whither and when he pleased, ... but not thus, in a manner derogatory to the commander, subversive of discipline, and injurious to the army. His disappearance, and that of the officers who followed him, increased the distrust and despondency of the troops; and the reports which they spread to excuse themselves for thus withdrawing, contributed still farther to dishearten the people. “I assure your excellency,” said Romana, when he communicated this to the war minister, “that I never gave a more trying proof of patriotism, love to my King, and gratitude to the government which in his name has conferred so many honours upon me, than in taking upon myself the command of this army in such circumstances, and retaining it, though abandoned by those who ought to have assisted me. I know not wherein this patriotism consists which is so loudly vaunted ... any reverse, any mishap, prostrates the minds of these people, and, thinking only of saving their own persons, they sacrifice their country, and compromise their commander.” The next intelligence was of Sir J. Moore’s death in action with M. Soult. The first thought which occurred to Romana was that this would not have happened if they had given battle to that very Soult at Saldaña. It was his firm persuasion that if the British force and his ill-fated troops had been united in October, they might have driven the French beyond the Pyrenees. The British had now actually embarked. Coruña and Ferrol were still points of hope; and if the governors there performed their duty, he could yet render them some service in the field. With this view he moved to cover the province of Tuy; but having reached La Guironda, he learnt in the night that the French with superior forces were at hand. His troops, though well equal to the business of harassing an enemy that should be otherwise employed, would have been lost if brought to action; he returned therefore to Oimbra, with the intention, if he should be pursued, of entering Portugal, and making through Tras-os-Montes for Ciudad Rodrigo, there to refit his army, or reinforce some other with the remnant that was left. A little respite was allowed him, for the French did not think the wreck of this army of sufficient consequence to fatigue themselves by pursuing and hunting it down. Where he and his handful of fugitives were secreting themselves they knew not, and on his part Romana knew as little what was passing in other parts of Spain. Buonaparte had never appeared so joyous as when he left Madrid with the expectation of surprising Sir John Moore. He 11 12 13 14 15 De Pradt, 211. De Pradt, 207– 225. Jones’s Account of the War, vol. i. 165. advised that Austria is arming. Change in his views concerning Spain. He returns to France. Professions to the Spaniards at Madrid. had intended to go to Lisbon, and the troops had actually received orders to hold themselves in readiness for beginning their march toward that capital, but the desire of encountering a British army made him change his intention; and Lisbon was thus doubly preserved from a second subjugation, for this movement interposed between the British and Portugal, and if Sir J. Moore had retreated thither, he would have abandoned Lisbon as he did Coruña. When there was no longer a hope of overtaking the English, Buonaparte stopped at Astorga; it was more consistent with his dignity that a detachment of his army should hunt them to the coast, than that he should continue the pursuit in person. Beyond that city, therefore, he would not have proceeded, even if dispatches had not reached him there which recalled him into France. He had designs against Austria, concerning which the Emperor Alexander had been deceived at Erfurt: his intention had been to complete the easy subjugation of Spain before he began to execute these further projects of insatiable ambition; but he was informed that Austria, instead of waiting for the blow, was preparing to avail herself of the advantage which the Spanish war afforded her. The news was not unwelcome to him; for he had now entertained a new train of ambitious and perfidious thoughts, which made him desirous of leaving Spain. From Astorga he turned back to Valladolid, and remained there a few days to make his last arrangements before he returned into France. An attachment to his family was almost the only human part of Buonaparte’s character; but when any object of aggrandisement presented itself to his all-grasping desires, that attachment stood as little in his way as the obligations of truth, honour, and justice. He had been sincere in his intention of giving Spain to Joseph, while he thought it an easy gift, and one which in its results would prove beneficial to the giver. The resistance which had been made to the intrusion, and the reverses which his arms had for a time experienced, disturbed and mortified him; and in that temper of mind which escapes self- condemnation by reproaching others, he imputed to Joseph’s flight from Madrid, as a consequence, the very spirit of resistance which had rendered that measure necessary for his own preservation. For this reason there had been no cordiality at their meeting; he had treated Joseph with disrespect, as well as coldness, and leaving him in the rear, had issued edicts by his own authority, and in his own name. This had been resented by Joseph, as far as one who was the receiver of a stolen crown could resent it: having been made King, he represented it was proper he should appear to be such; to debase him was not the way of rendering him more acceptable to a proud and high-minded nation. In addition to this there was another cause of discontent between them. Whatever country Buonaparte entered, that country was made to support his army; war was to him no expense, ... the cost fell always upon his enemies or his allies. Thus he had expected to proceed in Spain; ... but even when he was master of Madrid the intrusive government had no other revenue than the duties which were paid at his gates, and Joseph, instead of paying his brother’s armies, looked to him for the maintenance of his own court. Joseph had represented also the impolicy of continuing to exasperate the people by a system of military exactions; and Napoleon, impatient of any contradiction, instantly perceived that a King of Spain, whether of the Buonaparte or the Bourbon dynasty, must have a Spanish feeling incompatible with that entire subserviency to himself which he expected and required. Having so lately and so solemnly guaranteed the integrity of Spain, and proclaimed his brother king, he could not at once subvert his own arrangements; but he avowed to M. de Pradt at this time that when he had given that kingdom, he did not understand the value of the present: follies would be committed, he said, which would throw it again into his hands, and he would then divide it into five viceroyalties. He apprehended no difficulty in this: any military opposition which could be attempted he despised, the more entirely because of the ease with which the Spanish armies had been dispersed, ... and the moral obstacles he was still incapable of appreciating. A dispatch reached him from Galicia, and upon reading it he said to those about him, “Every thing proceeds well. Romana cannot resist a fortnight longer. The English will never make another effort; and three months hence the war will be at an end.” One of the marshals hinted at the character of the people and of the country. “It is a La Vendée,” he replied; “I have tranquillized La Vendée. Calabria also was in a state of insurrection, ... wherever there are mountains there are insurgents; but the kingdom of Naples is tranquil now. It is not enough to command an army well, ... one must have general views. The continental system is not the same as in the time of Frederick; the great powers must absorb the smaller. The priests have considerable influence here, and they use it to exasperate the people: but the Romans conquered them; the Moors conquered them; and they are not near so fine a people now as they were then. I will settle the government firmly; I will interest the nobles, and I will cut down the people with grape-shot. What do they want? the Prince of Asturias? Half the nation object to him: ... besides he is dead to them. There is no longer any dynasty to oppose to me. They say the population is against us. Why Spain is a perfect solitude, ... there are not five men to a square league. Besides, if it be a question of numbers, I will pour all Europe into their country. They have to learn what a first-rate power can effect.” With this flagitious determination the remorseless tyrant returned into France. Before he left Madrid to march against the English, an address framed by the traitors of that city in the name of the magistrates and citizens was presented to him by the Corregidor. They thanked him for his gracious clemency, that in the midst of conquest he had thought of the safety and welfare of the conquered, and forgiven all which had been done during the absence of Joseph, their king: and they entreated that it might please him to grant them the favour of seeing King Joseph once more among them, to the end that under his laws that capital and the whole kingdom might enjoy the happiness which they expected from the benevolence of their new sovereign’s character. The tyrant replied to this in one of his characteristic harangues. “I am pleased,” he said, “with the sentiments of the city of Madrid. I regret the injuries she has suffered, and am particularly happy that, under existing circumstances, I have been able to effect her deliverance, and to protect her from great calamities, and have accomplished what I owed to myself and my nation. Vengeance has had its due: it has fallen upon ten of the principal culprits; ... the rest have entire and absolute forgiveness.” He then touched upon the reforms by which he thought to reconcile the Spaniards to a foreign yoke. “I have preserved the spiritual orders, but with a limitation of the number of monks: they who were influenced by a divine call shall remain in their cloisters; with regard to those whose call was doubtful, or influenced by worldly considerations, I have fixed their condition in the class of secular priests. Out of the surplus of monastic property I have provided for the maintenance of the pastors, that important and useful branch of the clergy. I have 16 17 18 19 20 21 Registers opened. The people of Madrid take the oath of allegiance to Joseph. Addresses to the Intruder. suppressed that court which was a subject of complaint to Europe and the present age. Priests may guide the minds of men, but must exercise no temporal or corporal jurisdiction over the citizens. I have annulled those privileges which the grandees usurped during times of civil war. I have abolished feudal rights, and henceforth every one may set up inns, ovens, mills, employ himself in fishing and rabbit-hunting, and give free scope to his industry, provided he respects the laws. The selfishness, wealth, and prosperity of a small number of individuals were more injurious to your agriculture than the heat of the Dog-days. All peculiar jurisdictions were usurpations, and at variance with the rights of the nation. I have abolished them. As there is but one God, so should there be in a state but one judicial power. “There is no obstacle,” he continued, “which can long resist the execution of my resolutions. But what transcends my power is this, to consolidate the Spaniards as one nation, under the sway of the king, should they continue to be affected with those principles of hatred to France which the partizans of England and the enemies of the continent have infused into the bosom of Spain. I can establish no nation, no king, no independence of the Spaniards, if the king be not assured of their attachment and fidelity. The Bourbons can no longer reign in Europe. The divisions of the royal family were contrived by the English. It was not the dethronement of King Charles and of the favourite, that the Duke del Infantado, that tool of England, had in view. The intention was, to establish the predominant influence of England in Spain; a senseless project, the result of which would have been a perpetual continental war. No power under the influence of England can exist on the continent. If there be any that entertain such a wish, the wish is absurd, and will sooner or later occasion their fall. It would be easy for me, should I be compelled to adopt that measure, to govern Spain, by establishing as many viceroys in it as there are provinces. Nevertheless, I do not refuse to abdicate my rights of conquest in favour of the king, and to establish him in Madrid, as soon as the 30,000 citizens which this capital contains, the clergy, nobility, merchants, and lawyers shall have declared their fidelity, set an example to the provinces, enlightened the people, and made the nation sensible that their existence and prosperity essentially depend upon a king and a free constitution, favourable to the people, and hostile only to the selfishness and haughty passions of the grandees. If such be the sentiments of the inhabitants, let the 30,000 citizens assemble in the churches; let them, in the presence of the holy sacrament, take an oath, not only with their mouths, but also with their hearts, and without any jesuitical equivocation, that they promise support, attachment, and fidelity to their king; let the priests in the confessional and the pulpit, the merchants in their correspondence, the lawyers in their writings and speeches, infuse these sentiments into the people: ... then will I surrender my right of conquest, place the king upon the throne, and make it my pleasing task to conduct myself as a true friend of the Spaniards. The present generation may differ in their opinions; the passions have been too much brought into action; but your grandchildren will bless me as their renovator; they will reckon the day when I appeared among you among their memorable festivals; and from that day will the happiness of Spain date its commencement. Thus,” he concluded, addressing himself to the Corregidor, “you are informed of the whole of my determination. Consult with your fellow-citizens, and consider what part you will choose; but whatever it be, make your choic...