"I shall be glad to hear from you and Mr. "Frere; but your messenger must be cautious, ❝and advance on information of the Enemy. "I have the honour, &c.

"JOHN MOORE."

On the 2d of December Sir John Moore received ample dispatches; all softening the losses of the Spaniards, and giving more favourable accounts of their remaining resources. Mr. Stuart was in regular communication with Morla, as is mentioned formerly. The principal part of the intelligence contained in the following letter was from him. Mr. Stuart narrates all he has heard, but with great good sense does not venture to give an opinion upon the military movements.

Charles Stuart, Esq. to Sir John Moore.

"Madrid, 30 Nov. 1808.

MY DEAR GENERAL,

"I HAVE

this moment received

your's, dated the 29th, announcing a de"termination to retire on the frontier of Portugal, in consequence of the intelligence conveyed through Mr. Vaughan respecting "the army of Castanos. I have to inform

you that two other Officers have arrived "from Arragon, by whom the Government "have received accounts somewhat more fa"vourable. Having however received nothing "from Graham, Whittingham, and Doyle, "and being equally deprived of letters from "the Sitio since they came, I cannot say to "what extent matters are retrieved. I know, "however, that the Enemy have made three "attacks on San Juan near Sepulveda, and "have been as often repulsed. And, from "the large force, particularly of cavalry, "which were engaged in the late affair at Borja and Tudela, it is impossible they can "have any thing so considerable as General Hope represents in the neighbourhood of "Valladolid and Olmedo. They have 10,000 "cavalry in Spain: 1500 are at Sepulveda.

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If, therefore, 4500 were in Valladolid, "there would remain but few on the other points they have so lately attacked. Every

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66

report brought in here states, that several "small parties are scattered in Castile, for "the purpose of obtaining provisions, gaining intelligence, and inspiring terror throughout "the province. And this accords so well "with all the positive intelligence which has

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"reached us, that I really believe it to be

"true.

“You must, however, certainly know best "the chances of effecting a junction between 666 your different divisions; and it does not be"come me to hazard an opinion on the subject. "With respect, however, to the consequences "of their distinct retrograde movements, I can " tell you, that they are very likely to produce "an effect here, not less serious than the most "decisive victory on the part of the Enemy; " and I shall, I own, be surprised if a change. "of government is not the immediate conse

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quence, when the reasons for your retreat 66 are known."

A part is here omitted, which chiefly consists of observations on the Paymaster's department. He then goes on

"I had written thus far, when I saw Morla, "who informs me, that Castanos is bringing "the greater part of his force, though he did "not say what, from Calatayud to Siguenza, "" for the purpose of effecting a junction with "San Juan. Reports from the latter add,

that the French have reinforced their corps "at Sepulveda, and that he expected to be attacked yesterday or to-day.

regiments; and on the result of the affair "about to take place, it is thought his union "with Castanos will depend. He likewise "tells me again, that he believes the Enemy "have merely small parties throughout Cas

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your

tile, not sufficient to impede the union of divisions. He declares that his report "from Olmedo merely mentioned the arrival "of thirty dragoons in that village, which "were detached from Valladolid; where he "insists that their present force is not sufficiently considerable to impede your move"ments. He added, that, according to the "declarations of prisoners, Buonaparte is at Burgos.

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"You will take all this as it is given. He "declares he speaks on official reports, and

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your own accounts will enable you to ascer"tain how far it is worthy of credit. This "much is certain, that the accounts of the Enemy are magnified, both by their own details and by the fear inspired in the "country. If it be true that Buonaparte is "at Burgos, it certainly looks like a great "effort either on the side of Somosierra or "Valladolid; though Segovia would appear

"to be his object, if his cavalry are pushed

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beyond the latter town.

"Truly yours,

"CHARLES STUART."

After perusing these alleviating details, on the authority of Morla, the following dispatch was opened.

"I HAD just written my other letter "of this date when I received a messenger "from Mr. Stuart with the communication of

a note addressed to him, but intended equally "for myself. I do not know that I can in

any way express with less offence the entire "difference of our opinions on the subject of "it, than by forwarding what I had already "written in the ignorance of the determi"nation which you had already taken.

"I have the honour, &c.

"J. H. FRERE.

As Sir John Moore's letter to Mr. Frere, previous to his knowing the defeat of Castanos,