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Mediterranean--Sir John Moore withdrawn from thence; arrives in
England; sent to Sweden--Spencer arrives at Gibraltar--Ceuta,
the object of his expedition--Spanish insurrection diverts
his attention to Cadiz; wishes to occupy that city--Spaniards
averse to it--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 arrangements made by
the ministers 169

CHAPTER IV.

Sir A. Wellesley quits his troops and proceeds to Coruña--Junta
refuse assistance 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 Roriça--Action of
Roriça--Laborde retreats to Montachique--Sir A. Wellesley marches
to Vimiero--Junot concentrates his army at Torres Vedras 187

CHAPTER V.

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

CHAPTER VI.

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 the battle of Vimiero--On the convention 236

BOOK III.