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THE

LIFE

OF

THE MOST NOBLE ARTHUR,

MARQUIS AND EARL OF WELLINGTON,

VISCOUNT WELLINGTON OF TALAVERA AND OF WELLINGTON, AND BARON DOURO OF

WELLESLEY, ALL IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, K. B.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL; MARSHAL GENERAL OF THE PORTUGUESE, AND

CAPTAIN GENERAL OF THE SPANISH ARMIES;

COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S FORCES IN THE PENINSULA; ALSO,

DUKE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO, K. C. S. &c. &c.

THE FIRST PART

BY FRANCIS L. CLARKE.

THE SECOND PART,

FROM THE ATTACK ON THE CASTLE OF BURGOS TO THE TAKING OF BORDEAUX,
BY WILLIAM DUNLAP.

NEW-YORK:

Printed and Published by Van Winkle and Wiley,

Corner of Wall and New-streets.

000000000003

1814.

7

Br 2123.154

MARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
FROM

THE BEQUEST OF
EVERT JANSEN WENDELL

1918

District of New-York, ss.

L. S.

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-fourth day of May in the thirty eighth year of the independence of the United States of America, Van Win-kle and Wiley of the said District, have deposited in this Office the title of a Book the right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit: "The Life of the Most Noble Arthur. Marquis and Earl of Wellington, Viscount Wel"lington, of Talavera and of Wellington, and Baron Douro of Wellesley, all in the County "of Somerset, K. B.; Lieutenant General: Marshal General of the Portuguese, and Captain "General of the Spanish armies: Commander in chief of his Britannic Majesty's forces in "the Peninsula: also. Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, K C S &c. &c. The first part by Francis "L. Clarke. The second part, from the attack on the castle of Burgos to the taking of "Bordeaux, by William Dunlap

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States. entitled, " An Act for the
encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Au-
thors and Proprietors, of such copies during the time therein mentioned "
And also to an

Act, entitled, "An Act, supplementary to an Act entitled. An Act for the encourage-
ment of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Authors and
Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits
thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other Prints."
THERON RUDD,
Clerk of the District Court for the District of New-York.

PREFACE.

THERE never was a question in politics, perhaps, in which there has been a greater, a more extreme difference, than on that of the war in the Peninsula; and it is not less worthy of notice, that, perhaps, there never was a greater degree of unanimity of approval than at present upon this very question.

When all Spain rose, as it were by a miracle, (for the effect was simultaneous, and without combination,) in opposition to the insidious thraldrom of France, her exertions were looked on by many in this country with coldness, and even apathy. It was supposed impossible for a degraded, and almost enslaved, population to resist, even for a moment, the military power and political machinations of him who had conquered more than half of the civilised world. All feared her eventual success, and some prognosticated, with the most determined assertions, her eternal subjugation. Yet, in the space of a few short years, how changed is the scene!—so changed, that even our most desponding statesmen venture to look forward to her restoration to her ancient

progress

rank among the kingdoms of Europe, and to her assuming. that rank accompanied with feelings of esteem and gratitude to Britain; feelings which, in future political connexions, may ultimately tend highly both to the political welfare and internal comfort of each country. To what, then, has this wonderful, this extraordinary change been owing? To what, indeed, but to the liberal and friendly assistance of this country;-to the gallantry of our troops, and to the consummate skill and approved valour of him who has so frequently led them on to glory! During the whole of this arduous, this almost unequalled contest, the gallant Wellington has unequivocally afforded grounds for the highest honours that his sovereign could shower down upon him, or his grateful country could bestow. He has, by his example, given spirit and enthusiasm, not only to his own troops, but to those of the sister kingdoms of the Peninsula. By his consummate skill, indefatigable exertions, and excellent judgment, he has foiled the best generals of France, overcome difficulties considered insuperable, and directed the exertions of Britain, and the force of her unfortunate allies, to those points where, in all cases, they were most available.

By his steadiness, and his Fabius movements, he has preserved his own strength unbroken, whilst that of his enemy was on the decline, and enabled the scattered bands of patriots to acquire both discipline and numbers, and thus to produce a hardy race of soldiers, who, as guerillas, have learned to despise French courage, and to counteract