exertion to drive the latter from the soil was made, or at least none was sustained with steadfast courage in the field. Manifestoes, decrees, and lofty boasts, like a cloud of canvas covering a rotten hull, made a gallant appearance, but real strength and firmness were nowhere to be found. The Spanish insurrection presented indeed a strange spectacle; patriotism was seen supporting a vile system of government; a popular assembly working for the restoration of a despotic monarch; the higher classes seeking a foreign master; the lower armed in the cause of bigotry and misrule. The upstart leaders secretly abhorring freedom, yet governing in her name, trembled at the democratic activity they had themselves excited. They called forth all the bad passions of the multitude, but repressed the patriotism that would regenerate as well as save. The country suffered the evils, without enjoying the benefits, of a revolution! Tumults and assassinations terrified and disgusted the sensible part of the community; a corrupt administration of the resources extinguished patriotism, and neglect ruined the armies: the peasant-soldier, usually flying at the first onset, threw away his arms and returned to his home, or, attracted by the license of the partidas, joined the banners of men who, for the most part originally robbers, were as oppressive to the people as the enemy. The guerilla chiefs would, in their turn, have been quickly exterminated, but that the French, pressed by lord Wellington's battalions, were obliged to keep in large This was the secret of Spanish constancy! Copious supplies from England, and the valour of the Anglo-Portuguese troops, these were the supports of the war! and it was the gigantic vigour with which the duke of Wellington resisted the fierceness of France, and sustained the weakness of three inefficient cabinets, that delivered the Peninsula. Faults he committed, and who in war has not ? but his reputation stands upon a sure foundation, a simple majestic structure, that envy cannot undermine, nor the meretricious ornaments of party panegyric deform. The exploits of his army were great in themselves, and great in their consequences: abounding with signal examples of heroic courage and devoted zeal, they should neither be disfigured nor forgotten, being worthy of more fame than the world has yet accorded them-worthy also of a better historian. masses. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Dissensions in the Spanish court-Secret treaty and convention of Fontaine- bleau-Junot's army enters Spain-Dupont's and Moncey's corps enter Spain—Duhesme's corps enters Catalonia Insurrections of Aranjuez and Madrid-Charles the fourth abdicates—Ferdinand proclaimed king-Murat marches to Madrid -Refuses to recognise Ferdinand as king—The sword of Francis the first delivered to the French general-Savary arrives at Madrid- Ferdinand goes to Bayonne-Charles the fourth goes to Bayonne—The fortresses of St. Sebastian, Figueras, Pampeluna, and Barcelona, treacherously seized by the French-Riot at Toledo, 230 April—Tumult at Madrid, 2d of May-Charles the fourth abdicates a second time in favour of Napoleon- Assembly of notables at Bayonne—Joseph Buonaparte declared king of Spain Council of Castile refuses to take the oath of allegiance-Supreme junta esta- blished at Seville-Marquis of Solano murdered at Cadiz, and the Conde d'Aguilar at Seville-Intercourse between Castaños and sir Hew Dalrymple- General Spencer and admiral Purvis offer to co-operate with the Spaniards Admiral Řossily's squadron surrenders to Morla—General insurrection- New French corps formed in Navarre-Duhesme fixes himself at Barcelona- Importance of that city- Napoleon's military plan and arrangements 45 First operations of marshal Bessieres—Spaniards defeated at Cabeçon, at Sego- via, at Logroño, at Torquemada—French take St. Ander_Lefebre Desnou- ettes defcats the Spaniards on the Ebro, on the Huecha, on the Xalon--First Operations in Catalonia-General Swartz marches against the town of Manresa, belloni at San Felippe, arrives at San Clemente-Insurrection at Cuenca, . Second operations of Bessieres – Blake's and Cuesta's armies unite at Benevente - Generals disagree - Battle of Rio Seco—Bessieres' endeavours to corrupt 101 Dupont marches against Andalusia, forces the bridge of Alcolea, takes Cordoba -Alarm at Seville-Castaños arrives, forms a new army-Dupont retreats to Andujar, attacks the town of Jaen-Vedel forces the pass of Despeñas Perros, arrives at Baylen-Spanish army arrives on the Guadalquivir-General Go. bert defeated and killed_Generals Vedel and Darfour retire to Carolina- General Reding takes possession of Baylen-Dupont retires from Andujar- Battle of Baylen—Dupont's capitulation, eighteen thousand French troops lay down their arms—Observations-Joseph holds a council of war, resolves ti The Asturian deputies received with enthusiasm in England - Ministers preci. pitate- Imprudent choice of agents—Junot marches to Alcantara, joined by 136 CHAPTER II. Spanish general Belesta seizes general Quesnel and retires to Gallicia-In- surrection at Oporto-Junot disarms and confines the Spanish soldiers near Lisbon-General Avril's column returns to Estremos-General Loison marches from Almeida against Oporto; is attacked at Mezam Frias; crosses the Douero; attacked at Castro d'Año; recalled to Lisbon-French driven out of the Algarves-- The fort of Figueras taken— Abrantes and Elvas threatened_Setuval in commotion—General Spencer appears off the Tagus- Junot's plan-Insurrection at Villa Viciosa suppressed_Colonel Maransin takes Beja with great slaughter of the patriots—The insurgents advance from Leria, fall back- Action at Leria—Loison arrives at Abrantes—Observations on his march--French army concentrated— The Portuguese general Leite, aided by a Spanish corps, takes post at Evora-Loison crosses the Tagus ; defeats Leite's advanced guard at Montemor-Battle of Evora—Town taken and pillaged—Unfriendly conduct of the Spaniards-Loison reaches Elvas; collects provisions ; is recalled by Junot_Observations 155 CHAPTER III. Political and military retrospect—Mr. Fox's conduct contrasted with that of his successors General Spencer sent to the Mediterranean—Sir John Moore Prudent conduct of sir Hew Dalrymple and lord Collingwood-Spencer sails to Ayamonte ; returns to Cadiz; sails to the mouth of the Tagus ; returns to Cadiz— Prince Leopold of Sicily and the duke of Orleans arrive at Gibraltar -Curious intrigue-Army assembled at Cork by the whig administration, with a view to permanent conquest in South America, the only disposable British force-Sir A. Wellesley takes the command—Contradictory instructions of the ministers—Sir John Moore returns from Sweden ; ordered to Portugal- Sir Hew Dalrymple appointed commander of the forces_Confused arrange- Sir A. Wellesley quits his troops and proceeds to Coruña–Junta refuse assist- ance in men, but ask for and obtain money-Sir Arthur goes to Oporto ; arranges a plan with the bishop; proceeds to the Tagus; rejoins his troops ; joined by Spencer; disembarks at the Mondego; has an interview with general Freire d'Andrada; marches to Leria Portuguese insurrection weak—Junot's position and dispositions Laborde marches to Alcobaça, Loison to Abrantes -General Freire separates from the British-Junot quits Lisbon with the reserve-Laborde takes post at Rorica-Action of Roriça-Laborde retreats to Montachique-Sir A. Wellesley marches to Vimiero-Junot concentrates Portuguese take Abrantes—Generals Ackland and Anstruther land and join the British army at Vimiero - Sir Harry Burrard arrives—Battle of Vimiero - Junot defeated_Sir Hew Dalrymple arrives-Armistice — Terms of it- Junot returns to Lisbon-Negotiates for a convention—Sir John Moore's troops land-State of the public mind in Lisbon—The Russian admiral negotiates separately-Convention concluded—the Russian fleet surrenders upon terms—Conduct of the people at Lisbon—The Monteiro Mor requires sir Charles Cotton to interrupt the execution of the convention—Sir John Hope appointed commandant of Lisbon; represses all disorders-Disputes between the French and English commissioners-Reflections thereupon 207 The bishop and junta of Oporto aim at the supreme power ; wish to establish the seat of government at Oporto; their intrigues ; strange proceedings of general Decken; reflections thereupon-Clamour raised against the convention in England and in Portugal; soon ceases in Portugal—The Spanish general Galluzzo refuses to acknowledge the convention ; invests fort Lalippe; his proceedings absurd and unjustifiable—Sir John Hope marches against him; he alters his conduct-Garrison of Lalippe-March to Lisbon-Embarked -Garrison of Almeida ; march to Oporto; attacked and plundered by the Portuguese—Sir Hew Dalrymple and sir Harry Burrard recalled to England -Vile conduct of the daily press_Violence of public feeling-Convention, improperly called, of Cintra-Observations--On the action of Roriça-On BOOK III. CHAPTER I. Comparison between the Portuguese and Spanish people—The general opinion of French weakness and Spanish strength and energy, fallacious_Contracted |
0 Opiniones Las opiniones no están verificadas, pero Google revisa que no haya contenido falso y lo quita si lo identifica Escribir un comentario |