The National Register.
London, England, 1812-02-23 00:00:00

-7-

I

i
P 4

illiemmta.);oo;eissemot-
-114

I

•••...

lIINI.

Commanders. On l*ening• to your admirable speech I
almost Lncied I heard the pages of the .11onitcur read
aloud to me. Your skill in useful misrepresentation is
fully equal to that of my Editors. I was particularly
struck with the abuse which you contrived to throw on
his Lordship, for doing so little wi:b means so ample.—
Between us, the fact was the reverse ; the superiority of
numbers vas, on every occasion, on the side of my armies.
But with a 'degree of unblushing. impudence, which I
could almost envy did I not feel myself at least your
equal on that point you c.,nputed numbers in such a man-
ner as to swell the British and Portuguese force to a grand
total of 200,000 men, with an armed population of 150,000,
whilst you reduced my troops, employed against Portu-
gal, to 60,000. Did the Committee, you exclaimed, with
a burst of exultation and pride which I hitherto fancied
none but a Frenchman could have felt, " recollect the en-
trance into Portugal of General MassENA with 60,000
men- who maintained their ground for suck a considera-
ble period of time ; whom famine alone compelled to re-
treat, and who, when they did retreat, although they
retired in the free of a superior army, and through an hos-
tile population, lost no single advantage, but maintained
themselves unbroken and untouched
How forcibly you demonstrated the importance of
Lord WELLINGTON'S conquest " In the present cam-
paign what has be .n obtained ? Ciudad Rodrigo ! a for-
tress which any army preponderating at the moment must
inevitably reduce ; the cut-works of which ware of little
avail, and required a garrison of 4000 men. The garri-
son which it contained, however, when attacked by the
British, did not exceed 1500 in number. The place was
assaulted by 12,0'30 troops, and Lord WELLINGTON
himself revealed its weakness when he acknowledged
that an attack which was intended merely as a feint
had succeeded." How admirably you contrasted with
this pitiful atchievenicut, the important ti iumphs gained
by the French Arms in another quarter of the Penin
sula ! How enthusiastically warm the praises which
you bestowed on my newly created Duke, SMUT !
In a short period this Marshal had taken Tarragona,
Murviedpl Saguntum, and Valencia ; had sent to France
47,000 prisoners, including 2000 Officers, and the Ge-
neral in Chief BeAxe, himself. Badajoz bad fallen into
the bands of MASSNA, and Lord NV eeeixo-roN, after
vainly attempting to retake it, had lost tztelre thousand
!lien at the battle of Albuera!" This last assertion was
too evidently in the French style, not to cause some
symptoms of disapprobation among the illiberal and un-
enlightened. But let not such marks of contempt, on
the part of your Colleagues afflict you. YOur conduct is
observed, as you now perceive, by beings of a higher
rank, whose praise, let it be your chief object to deserve.
How just the following remarks and how well calculated to
further my views. Wherever the English have the power
in their hands, there the Inquisition is established : where-
ver the French have the sway, there the Inquisition is
abolished. This is the sort of liberty with which we are
to favour the Spaniards, this the deliverance to be pur-
chased for them -with the treasure and blood of the people

of England."
I feel the more admiration for the sentiments which you
Lave expressed, because they are spontaneous. You have
acted on ground entirely your own. The opinion of many
inibic writers, and public speakers in your country, I can
command, as I have purchased it ; but congeniality of
ylin•i alone has led yolits to coincide with mine. This
free will ofleling I sa:Ail neither reject nor sutler to p.►ss