Chapter XLII: Section VI: Anarchy in Portugal

_Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, February 20, 1809._

“_Northern parts._--It may be difficult to manage any money-transactions in Oporto, for the populace in that town have been suffered to become the masters; and it was by an exchange of public and private property that the commissariat money has been lately secured.”

_Sir J. Cradock to Mr. Villiers, February, 1809._

“To gratify a mob, the other day, at Oporto, a guard of the sixtieth regiment was given up, and disarmed by baron Eben.”

_Captain Brotherton to sir J. Cradock, March 17, 1809, Lamego._

“Considering the tumults, and the state of effervescence of the public mind, and the blind fury of the populace--it will neither be useful nor safe to remain amongst them.”

_Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, March 26, 1809._

“The disposition is good, but the proceedings are those of an ungovernable mob, _exposed to the evil effects of designing persons_.”--“I confine myself to the north of Portugal and Oporto, for the same excesses have not taken place at this side the Douro; but the principles of insubordination, I should fear, would prevail.”--“If the confusion and anarchy that prevail at Oporto will permit a defence some exertion may be expected.”--“Ammunition has been abundantly supplied, _but no quantity would meet the consumption expended in the manner it has been in the Tras os Montes_; an attempt to save which was, I believe, the occasion of Bernadim Friere’s death.”

_Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, March 30, 1809._

“The anarchy that prevails at Oporto must, I fear, render every exertion unavailable for defence; and such is the ungovernable spirit of the populace, _that it is very difficult to say what part they might take if the proceedings of the British did not suit their views_.”

_Sir J. Cradock to Mr. Frere, March 29._

“Oporto and all its concerns, with the bishop, nominally, at its head, is in the hands of a wild ungovernable populace, _that has already committed the most cruel excesses_. I fear the same spirit exists in what is called the Portuguese army.”

_Sir J. Cradock to Mr. Frere, January 29, Lisbon._

“Without a British force in Lisbon, the authority of the regency would pass away, and the scenes of Oporto would take place here.”

_Report of captain Lawson, January 30, Lisbon._

“Last night, my servant returning from the post-office was attacked by a party of Portuguese pike-men, headed by one of their own officers, who severely wounded the horse in two places, and slightly in several places, and obliged him, the servant, to put himself under the protection of the guard at the town-major’s office, to save his own life: the outrage was committed without the slightest provocation.”

_General Langwerth to sir J. Cradock, February 1, Lisbon._

“The orderly, with the general orders, on his way to St. Julian’s, was stopped by a Portuguese sergeant and twenty men with pikes; the sergeant forced the orderly to deliver the letter containing the orders, broke it open, read the contents, and returned the enclosed receipt; the same guard stopped captain Clives, Royal Grenadier army, and lieutenants Beurman and Liners; these officers were in full uniform.”

_General Sontag’s Official Report, February 3._

“Mr. Usher, deputy purveyor, and Mr. M’Carty, interpreter, both British subjects, arrived this day from Oporto, went to Moore’s Hotel, where they were arrested and brought to the minister of police. Mr. Usher was in his British uniform.”

_Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, January 30._

“Some unpleasant incidents have lately occurred on the part of the Portuguese armed inhabitants of Lisbon towards British individuals, but I cannot persuade myself that they have proceeded from any fixed evil disposition.”--“The British army has not, in any instance, departed from the most regular discipline, and continues to manifest the greatest temper and moderation.”--“The excesses on the part of the Portuguese commence by an _uncontrolled pursuit, without any authority from the police, after all persons whom they please to call Frenchmen_, and, in their indiscriminate career, they _often attack every foreigner, and will not even abstain from_ those in our service. Those _persons seek refuge in our guard-room_, and though the guards and patroles have positive orders not to interfere under any pretext with the police, yet it is very difficult to smother the feelings of humanity when the wretched persons are flying from a furious and unauthorised rabble. _Mr. Villiers has exerted himself much with the Regency to check this disorder, and prevent the assembly of armed persons in the streets at night, who beat drums and discharge their pieces at all hours; but as yet his remonstrances have not had the desired effect._”

_Mr. Villiers to sir J. Cradock, January 30._

“Finding the people beat to arms, and paraded about the streets after dark, _on the very evening after the regency had settled that these irregularities should be restrained_, I addressed the ministers of the home department upon the subject; and as other excesses came to my knowledge, I followed up my complaint.”

_Sir J. Cradock to Mr. Villiers, January 30._

“I have, this morning, been taking such steps as appear necessary to secure our general situation from insult; and, at the same time, if practicable, not to manifest a distrust in the Portuguese nation, which, if sanctioned from head-quarters, would destroy any reason for our being here. I can assure you, every officer and soldier has received impressions that it is most difficult to act against, but I am determined to persevere in keeping the army from aggression to the last moment.”

_Sir J. Cradock to Mr. Villiers, February._

“When I reflect upon the frequent declarations of individual members of the regency, that they cannot control the populace; that there are at least seventy thousand armed inhabitants in Lisbon; that the regency dare not let them parade (their exercise has been at an end for some time, and the regency, at this moment, say they cannot look upon themselves as responsible,) it appears impossible that I should depart from the reasoning of my own mind, to meet a sensation of _I do not know whom_, and lessen the proper military appearance of our only guard. We are now beyond the power of surprise or insult, and I cannot, as my own individual act, alter the state of things. However, I never am devoted to my own way of thinking, and if you recommend the measure (the political reasoning, when the enemy is at a distance, may always be weighed against military regulation), or see any good consequences, I will immediately _order back the guns_ to their former station in the artillery barracks.”

_Marshal Beresford to sir J. Cradock, April 7, Santarem._

“I, this morning, met no less than _three expresses_, communicating to me the _horrible state of mutiny, for I can call it no less, in which the troops every where are, and the inhabitants are in equal insubordination, and they encourage each other. I find two or three regiments have marched away (to what they call to oppose the enemy)_ where they pleased, in despite of their officers and generals, who are entirely commanded by them. This you will say is a pleasing state to be in; however, we must face it, and I hope for the best result, and I am sanguine enough to look for such. Colonel Trant will shortly have a pretty strong corps, if the regiments continue thus to volunteer for him.”

_Mr. Villiers to sir J. Cradock, February 15._

“I should almost doubt whether the British subjects _could be left in safety in Lisbon_.”