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174

1809. February.

EFFECTS OF THE CAMPAIGN

CHAP. IV. armies, the submission of Madrid, the capture of Zaragoza, and the embarkation of the British, contributed to spread panic and alarm throughout the kingdom. These reached even to Lisbon. Sir John Cradock, on whom the command of the British army had devolved, made every preparation to embark his forces, whenever Victor -then at Alcantara-should advance against the capital. This movemeut, however, did not take place. Victor waited to receive intelligence of Soult; and the aspect of affairs in Portugal was soon destined to undergo a striking change.

The current of evil fortune, which had threatened to overwhelm the cause of liberty and justice in the Peninsula, did not dispose the British government to shrink from further exertions in its behalf. At the very time when the French armies were in the full career of success, a treaty was signed at London, between Great Britain and the existing government of Spain, acting in the name and on behalf of Ferdinand. By this it was stipulated that the contracting powers should make common cause against France; that Great Britain should acknowledge no sovereign of Spain but Ferdinand VII., or his lawful heirs; and the Spanish go

IN PORTUGAL AND SPAIN.

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vernment engaged never to cede to France any CHAP. IV. portion of the territory or possessions of Spain.

Eng

1809.

Notwithstanding this treaty, the Spanish go- February. vernment and people were by no means satisfied with the degree of zeal which Great Britain had manifested in opposing the invader. The Convention of Cintra had left an unfavourable impression on the people, which the subsequent operations of Sir John Moore had contributed still further to strengthen and diffuse. land, even in her most generous exertions, was considered only as pursuing a cold and selfish policy. Spain had not forgotten the base seizure and robbery of her treasure ships; and it is the natural consequence of such acts, that the offending should become to the injured nation, at once the object of suspicion and dislike.

These feelings were evinced, when, after the retreat of Sir John Moore, a corps, under Major-General Sherbrooke, was directed to proceed to Cadiz, to secure that important stronghold, and sustain the efforts of the patriotic forces in the south. The Supreme Junta, on Seville, their arrival, positively refused to admit the British within the walls of the city, alleging

Mar. 1.

176

SERVICES OF SIR ROBERT WILSON.

CHAP. IV. that, though their own feelings would have led them unhesitatingly to rely on British honour, February, yet the confidence of the people in their ally was

1809.

so entirely overthrown, that the presence of an English force could not but be productive of the worst consequences. General Sherbrooke, therefore, after much fruitless negotiation, returned to the Tagus, and the views of the British government became principally directed to the defence of Portugal.

The government of that kingdom, conscious of their own limited resources, had thrown themselves in sincerity and good faith on the protection of England. Under her influence and guidance much had been done to model and discipline the Portuguese army. General Beresford was appointed Marshal and Commander-in-chief of the whole forces of the kingdom; a body of ten thousand men had already been regimented under the direction of British officers, and half that number of recruits were in process of discipline at the different depôts.

The services rendered by Sir Robert Wilson, at the head of a small band of volunteers, gave flattering promise of what might be expected from a Portuguese army when regularly dis

REINFORCEMENT OF THE ARMY IN PORTUGAL.

177

ciplined and equipped. While affairs were at CHAP.IV. the lowest ebb in Spain, that enterprizing officer 1809. advanced to the frontier; and, acting in con- February. junction with the Spaniards beyond the Agueda, by a series of spirited and judicious movements, kept open the communication with Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida, and held in check the enemy's force in that neighbourhood. In the meanwhile the French had been forced to re-cross the Tagus; and a division of Cuesta's army, under the Duke del Albuquerque, having gained considerable advantages over Victor's force at Consuegra and Mora, the career of that leader was for a moment checked. These events tended greatly to revive the confidence of the Portuguese people. Twenty thousand of the native troops were taken into the pay of England; the raising of fresh levies went on with increased vigour; and Sir John Cradock's force having been augmented to seventeen thousand men, the people once more began to regard the future fortunes of their country with confidence and hope.

On the northern frontier, however, the prospect had been gradually darkening. On the twenty-seventh of February, Soult crossed the Minho at Orense; and a few days afterwards,

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1809. March.

ROMANA DEFEATED AT MONTERREY.

CHAP. IV. attacked Romana in the neighbourhood of Monterrey, killed and made prisoners a large portion of his army, and captured the greater part of his baggage and artillery. Soult then prepared to enter Portugal, leaving Ney in Gallicia. The French bulletins had announced that his army would cross the Minho from Tuy on the eleventh of February, and marching direct on Oporto and Lisbon, would reach the former city on the twentieth, and enter the capital by the end of the month. But though his progress was unopposed by any force but that of militia and the surrounding peasantry, his army had suffered too severely in the winter campaign, to enable him to realize the expectations of Napoleon. Provisions, too, were deficient, the hospitals were filled, and so limited were the means of overcoming the various impediments, to the immediate invasion of Portugal, that it was not till Mar. 26. the twenty-sixth of March that Soult appeared before Oporto.

His march had not been accomplished without opposition. Several engagements took place; and the peasants, flocking from all quarters, joined the militia, and demanded to be led against the enemy. This, however, was not the policy

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