Chapter II

Internal political transactions--Factions in Gallicia,
Asturias, Leon, and Castile--Flagitious conduct of the junta
of Seville--Mr. Stuart endeavours to establish a northern
cortes--Activity of the council of Castile, proposes a supreme
government agreeable to the public--Local juntas become generally
odious--Cortes meet at Lugo, declare for a central and supreme
government--Deputies appointed--Clamours of the Gallician junta
and bishop of Orense--Increasing influence of the council
of Castile--Underhand proceedings of the junta of Seville,
disconcerted by the quickness of the Baily Valdez--Character
of Cuesta, he denies the legality of the northern cortes,
abandons the line of military operations, returns to Segovia,
arrests the Baily Valdez and other deputies from Lugo--Central
and supreme government established at Aranjuez, Florida Blanca
president--Vile intrigues of the local juntas--Cuesta removed
from the command of his army, ordered to Aranjuez--Popular
feeling in favour of the central junta, vain and interested
proceedings of that body, its timidity, inactivity, and folly,
refuses to name a generalissimo--Foreign relations--Mr. Canning
leaves Mr. Stuart without any instructions for three months--Mr.
Frere appointed envoy extraordinary, &c. 292

CHAPTER III.

Political position of Napoleon; he resolves to crush the
Spaniards; his energy and activity; marches his armies
from every part of Europe towards Spain; his oration to
his soldiers--Conference at Erfurth--Negotiations for
peace--Petulant conduct of Mr. Canning--160,000 conscripts
enrolled in France--Power of that country--Napoleon’s speech to
the senate--He repairs to Bayonne--Remissness of the English
cabinet--Sir John Moore appointed to lead an army into Spain;
sends his artillery by the Madrid road, and marches himself by
Almeida--The central junta impatient for the arrival of the
English army--Sir David Baird arrives at Coruña; is refused
permission to disembark his troops--Mr. Frere and the marquis
of Romana arrive at Coruña; account of the latter’s escape
from the Danish Isles--Central junta resolved not to appoint a
generalissimo--Gloomy aspect of affairs 315

CHAPTER IV.

Movements of the Spanish generals on the Ebro, their absurd
confidence, their want of system and concert--General opinion
that the French are weak--Real strength of the king--Marshal Ney
and general Jourdan join the army--Military errors of the king
exposed by Napoleon, who instructs him how to make war--Joseph
proposes six plans of operation--Observations thereupon 342