Chapter II: Book XIV: Chap. I

State of political affairs—Situation of king Joseph—His
disputes with Napoleon—He resigns his crown and quits
Spain—The emperor grants him new terms and obliges him to
return—Political state of France as regards the war 120

CHAP. II.

Political state of England with reference to the
war—Retrospective view of affairs—Enormous subsidies
granted to Spain—The arrogance and rapacity of the juntas
encouraged by Mr. Canning—His strange proceedings—Mr.
Stuart’s abilities and true judgment of affairs shewn—He
proceeds to Vienna—State of politics in Germany—He is
recalled—The misfortunes of the Spaniards principally
owing to Mr. Canning’s incapacity—The evil genius of the
Peninsula—His conduct at Lisbon—Lord Wellesley’s policy
totally different from Mr. Canning’s—Parties in the
cabinet—Lord Wellesley and Mr. Perceval—Character of the
latter—His narrow policy—Letters describing the imbecility
of the cabinet in 1810 and 1811 131

CHAP. III.

Political state of Spain—Disputes amongst the leaders—Sir
J. Moore’s early and just perception of the state of affairs
confirmed by lord Wellington’s experience—Points of interest
affecting England—The reinforcement of the military
force—The claims of the princess Carlotta—The prevention of
a war with Portugal—The question of the colonies—Cisnero’s
conduct at Buenos Ayres—Duke of Infantada demanded by
Mexico—Proceedings of the English ministers—Governor of
Curaçoa—Lord Wellesley proposes a mediation—Mr. Bardaxi’s
strange assertion—Lord Wellington’s judgment on the
question—His discernment, sagacity, and wisdom shewn 146

CHAP. IV.

Political state of Portugal—Mr. Villiers’ mission expensive
and inefficient—Mr. Stuart succeeds him—Finds every thing
in confusion—His efforts to restore order successful at
first—Cortes proposed by lord Wellesley—Opposed by the
regency, by Mr. Stuart, and by lord Wellington—Observations
thereon—Changes in the regency—Its partial and weak
conduct—Lord Strangford’s proceedings at Rio Janeiro only
productive of mischief—Mr. Stuart’s efforts opposed, and
successfully by the Souza faction—Lord Wellington thinks
of abandoning the contest—Writes to the prince regent of
Portugal—The regency continues to embarrass the English
general—Effect of their conduct upon the army—Miserable
state of the country—The British cabinet grants a fresh
subsidy to Portugal—Lord Wellington complains that he is
supplied with only one-sixth of the money necessary to carry
on the contest—Minor follies of the regency—The cause of
Massena’s harshness to the people of Portugal explained—Case
of Mascarheñas—His execution a foul murder—Lord Wellington
reduced to the greatest difficulties—He and Mr. Stuart
devise a plan to supply the army by trading in grain—Lord
Wellington’s embarrassments increase—Reasons why he does not
abandon Portugal—His plan of campaign 161

CHAP. V.

Second English siege of Badajos—Means of the allies very
scanty—Place invested—San Christoval assaulted—The allies
repulsed—Second assault fails likewise—The siege turned
into a blockade—Observations 182

CHAP. VI.

General Spencer’s operations in Beira—Pack blows up
Almeida—Marmont marches by the passes to the Tagus,
and Spencer marches to the Alemtejo—Soult and Marmont
advance to succour Badajos—The siege is raised, and the
allies pass the Guadiana—Lord Wellington’s position on
the Caya described—Skirmish of cavalry in which the
British are defeated—Critical period of the war—French
marshals censured for not giving battle—Lord Wellington’s
firmness—Inactivity of the Spaniards—Blake moves to the
Condado de Niebla—He attacks the castle of Niebla—The
French armies retire from Badajos, and Soult marches to
Andalusia—Succours the castle of Niebla—Blake flies to
Ayamonte—Sails for Cadiz, leaving Ballesteros in the
Condado—French move against him—He embarks his infantry
and sends his cavalry through Portugal to Estremadura—Blake
lands at Almeria and joins the Murcian army—Goes to
Valencia, and during his absence Soult attacks his army—Rout
of Baza—Soult returns to Andalusia—His actions eulogised 195

CHAP. VII.

State of the war in Spain—Marmont ordered to take a central
position in the valley of the Tagus—Constructs forts at
Almaraz—French affairs assume a favourable aspect—Lord
Wellington’s difficulties augment—Remonstrances sent to the
Brazils—System of intelligence described—Lord Wellington
secretly prepares to besiege Ciudad Rodrigo—Marches into
Beira, leaving Hill in the Alemtejo—French cavalry take a
convoy of wine, get drunk and lose it again—General Dorsenne
invades Gallicia—Is stopped by the arrival of the allies
on the Agueda—Blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo.—Carlos España
commences the formation of a new Spanish army—Preparations
for the siege—Hill sends a brigade to Castello Branco 215

CHAP. VIII.

The garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo make some successful
excursions—Morillo operates against the French in
Estremadura, is defeated and driven to Albuquerque—Civil
affairs of Portugal—Bad conduct of the regency—They
imagine the war to be decided, and endeavour to drive lord
Wellington away from Portugal—Indications that Napoleon
would assume the command in the Peninsula observed by lord
Wellington—He expects a combined attack on Lisbon by sea
and land—Marmont and Dorsenne collect convoys and unite
at Tamames—Advance to succour Ciudad Rodrigo—Combat of
Elbodon—Allies retire to Guinaldo—To Aldea Ponte—Combat
of Aldea Ponte—The allies retire to Soita—The French
retire—Observations 229