Star.
London, England, 1809-01-03 00:00:00

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That it immediate* releasoPfeer thousand spa- f
nish soldiers, and sent.them to the defence of Cata-
lonia; it al.;e, releancl.frorn the Portuguese fmntier
another body.oftw9 thousand Spanish troops. The I
Portuguese army also became disposable for the com-
mon cause.
To the men of war and transports which at this
season
.of the year with great difficulty could keep
their station near the coast, and on whose presence
the supplies and operations of the army depended,
the opening of the Tagus afforded an iMmediate
shelt2r.

It is further urged by the Generals as much more
than probable, that if the trierny had been required
to lay down their arms and surrender prisoners of
war, they would not have complied ; but if driven to
extremity, that they would have retired upon Lis- I
bon, reinforced by 6000 Russians, who must have
been thus compelled to share their fate ; and, in the
temporary attack of this city, much calamity and de-
struction must have ensued.
Also, that masters of the Russian fleet and of the
boats and shipping in the Tagus, the passage of the
river was ensured to them ; that they could have de-
fended for a considerable time its east bank, and pre-
vented the occupation of the Tagus by our fleet ; that
with the strong fortress of Alentejo in their posses-
sion, they could have protracted a destructive war,
to the great detriment of Portugal and the Spanish
Ilcause, by finding employment for the greater part of
the British army, for the remainder of the year, and
whose difficulties and losses in such operation must
have been very considerable.
It appears, that the forts on the Tagus were taken
possession of on the 2d of September by the British
troops; and the port was then opened to our shipping :
That on the sth, the army had its right at St.Julien's
and its left on the heights of Bellas : That on the Bth
or 9th a British corps marched into Lisbon to ensure
the tranquillity, of that city during the embarkation
of the enemy, who were all sent off (except the last
division, purposely detained) before the end of the
month, and part of the British army was then actu-
ally on its route towards the Spanish frontier.
It appears that, during the discussion, and after-
wards during the execution of the Convention, much
firmness was shewn in resisting the pretensions and
interpretations of the enemy ; every stipulation being
restricted to its fair, honourable, and grammatical
meaning, and the French not allowed to carry off,
but obliged to disgorge plunder, which they affected
to consider as private property.
It appears that pains were taken to misrepresent
and raise a clamour in Portugal against this Conven-
tion ; but when it was generally known, and its ef-
fects felt, the people of Lisbon, and of the country,
seem to have expressed their gratitude and thanks for
the benefits attending it.
It has been urged by Sir Hew Dalrymple, and al-
lowed by Major-General Spencer, that in Egypt, in
1801 (after the victory of the 21st of March, the
French having thrown their whole force into Alexan-
dria and Grand Cairo, about 10,000 men in each
place), that at the siege of Alexandria, in
August, the country was in the full possession of the
British and Turks. The garrison, , cut off from
every possibility of relief, could only have held out
some days, when a capitulation was granted to it,
September the 2d, as favourable as the Convention
of Cintra to the army of Junot (of 24,000 French,
and 6000 Russians), and perfectly similar in all the
chief articles of men, baggage, artillery, convey-
ance, Sm.; so, that the same terms hd been re-
•
viousl y granteald to the garrison of Cairoa, uncki mupch
the same circumstances. By these two Conventions,
or Capitulations, above 20,000 :French evacuated
Egypt, and the British army was left disposable for
other purpos 25.
On the whole it appears, that the-operations of
the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley, from his lazid-
ing.in Mondego Bay on the Ist of August, until the
conclusion of the action at Vimiera, the 21st of Au-
gust, were highly honourable and successful, and
such as might be expected from a distinguished Ge-
r.neral, at the head of a British army of 13,000 men,
' augmented on the 20th and 2lst to 17,000, deriving
only some small aid from a Portuguese corps (1600
men), and against whom an enemy, not exceeding
14,000 men in the field, was opposed ; and this be-
fore the arrival of a very considerable reinforcement
from England, under Lieutenant-General Sir John
Moore, which, however did arrive and join the army,
from the 25th to the SOth of August.
It appears a point on which no evidence adduced
can enable the Board to pronounce, with confidence,
whether or not a pursuit after the battle of the 21st,
could have been of : nor can the Board feel
confident to determine on the expedience of a for-
ward movement to Torres Vedras, when Sir Harry
BUrrard has stated weighty considerations against
such a measure. • Further, it is to he observed, that
so many collateral circumstances could not be known
in the moment of the enemy's repulse, as afterwards
became clear to the army, and have been repre-
sented to the Board. And considering • the e;traor-
.ciinary circumstances under which two new Com-
manding Generals arrived from the ocean, and joined
.the army (the one during; and the other immediately
after, a battle, and those successively superceding
each other, and both the original Commander within
the space 0f.24 hours), it is not surprising that the'
army was not carried forward, until the second day!
l'ilfter the action, from the necessity of the Generals
+being acquainted With the actual state of things, and
of their many, and pioceedirox accordingly.
It appears that the Convention of Cintra in all its
progress and conclusion, or at least all the principal
articles of it, were not objected to by the five distin-
guished Lieutenant-Generals of that army ; and other
General Officers who were on that service, whom we
have had-an apportunity to examine, have also eon-
owed in the great advantagesthat were immediately
gained, to the country of Portugal, to the army and
navy, and to the general service, by the conclusion
of the Convention at that time.
On a consideration -qf all -circumstances, as set forth
in this Report, we most hintiblt submit our opinion,
that no further military proceeding is necessary on
the subject. Because, howsoever some of us may
differ in our sentiments respecting the fitness of the ,
Convention in the relative situation of the two armies,
it is our unanimous declaration, that unquestionable
zeal and firmness appear throughout to have been
lezhiSited by, Lieutenant-Generals Sir Hew Dairym-
pie, Sir Harry Borrard, aud Sir Arthur Wellesley,
as will at that the ardour and gallantry of the rest of

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the. allots . soldiers, 43u ovary. occasion Juane
this expedition, have done honour to the troops, and,
reflected lustre on your Majesty's arms.
All which is most dutifully submitted.
(Signed) DAVID DV RIDAS, General.
MOlRA,Gererni.
PETER CRAY, Oencral.
Tll II:: ID, General,
Pr: AI R E,
NI2 GEN r,
0 t .Nacou.s, Lieut. Leoeral.
Judge Advocate Genecara Office, Dec. 27, ISOR.
In consequence of the folloWing letter from his
Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, to Genera/
Sir David Dundas, as President, viz,

_
December S 2, 1808.

Horse GuarJe Dec. C 5, 180 R.
Stn—The Judge Advocate General having deli-
vered to me to be laid before his Majesty, the several
papers and documents, containing all the examina-
tions and proceedings taken before the Board %of In-
quiry, of which you are the President, together with
your report and opinion upon the whole of the late
operations of his Majesty's forces in Portugal, as con-
nect:4 with the Armistice and subsequent Convention
of Cintra, I think it incumbent on me to state to you,
that although the report is fully detailed, and per-:
fectly explanatory of all the transactions as they ap-
peared in evidence before you ; yet, upon a due con-
sideration of the whole matter, it certainly appears
that your opinion upon .the conditions of the Armis-
tice and Convention, which the words of his Majesty's
warrant expressly enjoin should be strictly examined,
inquired into, and reported upon, has been altogether,
omitted.

I feel it my duty, therefore, to call yonrattention to
these two principal features of this important case, the
Armistice and Convention, and to desire that you may
be pleased to take the same again into your most setious
consideration, and subjoin to the opinion which you
have already given upon the other points submitted to
your examination and inquiry, whether, under all the
circumstances which appear in evidence before you, 'on
the relative situation of the two armies, on the 22d
of August, 1808, it is your opinion that an armistice
was advisable, and if so, whether the terms of that
armistice were such as ought to have been agreed
upon ; and whether upon a like consideration of the
relative situation of the two armies subsequent to the
armistice, and when all the British forces were landed,
it is your opinion,that a Convention was advisable,
and if so, whether the terms of that Convention were
such as ought to have been agreed upon?
I am the more desirous that you -ahold resume
the consideration of these two points, the ArMistice
and Convention, as it appears upon the face of your
Report, that a difference of opinion exists among the
Members of the Board, which may probably produce
a dissent from the majority upon these very ques-
tions. You will be pleased, therefore, to desire such
of the Members as may be of a different opinion Trcm
the majority upon these two questions, to record upon
the face of the proceedings their reaLdus for such dis-
sent.—l am, Sir, yours,

(Signed) FREDERICK
Gen. Sir D. Dundas, K. B. Commander-in-Chief.
The Board met this day at the Judge-Advocate-
General's Office, when the said letter having been
read, they agreed that the following questions should
be put to each of the Members of tne Board
APPROVE. 0 you, or do you) DisArtiton.
Lt.-Gen. Nicolls • not approve of the I Earl of Moira
Lt.-Gen.SirG. Nugent Armistice as con-
Earl of Pembroke eluded on the 22d
Lord Heathfield of Aug. 1808, in
General Craig the relative situa-
Gen. Sir D. Dundas tion of the two
armies ?
APPROVE. Do you, or do you
Lt.-Gen. Sir G. Nugent not approve of the
Gen. Lord Heathfield Convention, as
General Craig concluded upon
Gen. Sir D. Dundas the Slit of Aug.
1808, in the rela-
tive situ.ltion of
the two armies ?
(Signed) DAVID DUNDAS, President.

DISAPPROVE.
Lt.-Gen. Nicolls
Earl of Pembroke
Earl of Moira

My reason for considering the Armistice as advisa-
ble on the 22d of August was, because the enemy had
been able to retire after the battle of the 21st, and take
up a strong defensive position:
OL. /sltcou.s, L. G,
I think, considering the great increase of our force
from the first suspension of hostility to the definitive
signing of the Convention, added to the defeat the
enemy had suffered, Sir Hew Dalrymple was fully
entitled to have insisted upon more favourable terms.
OL. Nicoll.% L. G.

• I approve of the Armistice after a due consideration
of the relative situations of the two armies on the
evening of the 22d of August, but I cannot fully ap-
prove of the whole of the Convention, after a duo
consideration of the relative situation of the two ar-
mies at that time; because it does not appear to me thiit
in the progress of the negociation, sufficient stress was
laid upon the great advantages which had resulted,
or were likely to result, fi om the former succ,ssful
operations of the British army in the field, from the
considerable reinforcements which had joined it, sub-
sequent to the commencement of the negociation,
from the cause in which the British army was engag-
ed being the cause of Portugal, which gave good
reason to reckon upon the good-will, if not upon the
active assistance, of the majority of the inhabitants ;
and, also, from the unusual readiness which, as it ap-
pears to me, was manifested by General Junot to enter
into negociation, and by the French negociatcr to ac-
cede to terms as they were proposed, and to such con-
struction as Lieutenant General Sir H. Dalrymple
put upon them in some instances, where they might
have borne a difference of interpretation. I therefore
think it probable, for tile above reasons, that if less
favourable terms to the French army had been insis-
ted upon, they would have been acceded to.
PEMBROKE, Lieut. Gen.
I feel less awkwardness in obeying the order to de-
tail my sentiments on the nature of the Convention,
because that I have already joined in the tribute of
applause due in other respects to the Officers con.
cerned. My opinion, therefore, is only opposed to
their's on a question of judgment, where their talents
are likely to have so much more weight, as to render ,
the profession of my difference, even on that point,
somewhat painful. The duty is, however, imperious
on me not to disguise or qualify the deductions which
I have made during this investigation.
An Armistice simply might not have been objec-
I
tionable, because Sir Hew Dalrymple, expecting
hourly the a2riva! of S r John Nacre's division, tnikkht
see more advantage tOr himself in a short susiensioa

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