an investigation, and the collector should be obliged to call two persons to hear, and with him determine upon the representation.

'Let this question be first tried in Lisbon and Oporto, and if it does not succeed, if really carried into execution, and if the Government there will not have an opportunity of diminishing some of the taxes, I will bear all the blame. Believe me, &c.

"His Excellency

Charles Stuart.

'I do not advert in this system to the Terço Ecclesiastico, which is made a particular regie applicable to the whole diocese, and which had better be continued.'

To Lieut. General Sir R. Hill, K.B.

'MY DEAR HILL,

• Fuente Guinaldo, 6th June, 1812. 9 A.M.

I received last night your letter of the 3rd, 2 P.M.

As Foy and Clausel have certainly moved towards Castille, I did not think it probable that Soult would move against you; however, I conclude that the enemy imagine that we have weakened you to a greater degree than we have done. Including Drouet, I do not think that Soult can assemble 25,000 men in Estremadura, unless he should abandon entirely the blockade of Cadiz, and leave Seville, and all the open country, at the mercy of Ballesteros, at the moment at which it is important to him to secure the harvest.

Reckoning the 5th, 17th, and 22nd regiments, which are still in Badajoz, I conceive that you will have not less than 19,000 British and Portuguese, besides the Conde de Penne Villemur and Morillo.

It must be observed upon this force, however, that it is not exactly of the description I should wish to see with you, and it must not be depended upon to manœuvre in presence of an enemy on ground which should not give you an advantage. It must be placed on a strong position, in which I entertain no doubt of the result of any general action. The best position in the country, in my opinion, particularly as Badajoz is now in some degree repaired, is that of Albuera. Whether the enemy attempt to turn it by the right

or by the left, there is an easy movement to the right or to the left, and the position continues equally good, and there is always an easy retreat upon Badajoz, or upon Jurumenha, or such passage of the Guadiana as it might be thought expedient to adopt. It is better at this season than any position, on the north side of the Guadiana, because it covers more country, and because the enemy cannot, without forcing the position, pretend to turn the defences of Portugal, and to enter that kingdom by the passages of the Guadiana about Jurumenha, and by the roads of Villa Viçosa, and Estremoz.

I therefore recommend the position of Albuera to your attention in the first instance, in case Soult should move into Estremadura in force. If you should determine to occupy the position of Albuera, you should appear to determine to hold the wood and the position in front of the wood towards Sta Marta, and throw up a little ground there, in order to induce the enemy to believe that you have fortified it; you will then have an opportunity of seeing his whole force in and about Sta Marta, and probably of judging on which side he proposes to manoeuvre, and you can always retire before him across the Albuera rivulet, the passages of which should, however, be well reconnaitred.

If you should find Soult inclined to manoeuvre by your right, and to enter Portugal by the roads above mentioned, you should place Morillo in Badajoz, and with the remainder of the troops cross the Guadiana, and take a position near Jurumenha.

If you should find that he intends to manœuvre by your left, you should move upon Badajoz, and take a position there, or according to circumstances, take the position of San Christoval.

If you should find Soult advancing, write to the Marques de Monsalud to throw into Badajoz all the troops lately arrived from Cadiz, and all that he can collect in the province; and likewise to General Leite at Estremoz, and desire him to collect the militia again at Elvas, and to occupy Campo Mayor and Ouguela.

I intended to have in Badajoz a supply of provisions for 5000 men for 60 days, which I intended should be made over to the commanding officer of the garrison, in case the

place should be invested, and I had ordered that 600,000 rations should be in Elvas, in order to provide for the contingency, that I might carry the operations of the campaign to the southward. Mr. Routh will let you know the progress which has been made in both those objects, and you will consider both magazines entirely at your disposal. You will recollect, however, that I believe that at present there are no other provisions in Badajoz, but Elvas is well provided. There would not be much harm done if our magazines at Elvas were reduced to 300,000 rations.

I have a letter from the Conde de Penne Villemur, of the 30th, in which he tells me that he has been ordered to move into the Condado de Niebla, and asks my consent. Tell him that I will answer his letter to-morrow, but that I think that just at present the movement would be very imprudent.

'Lieut. General

Sir R. Hill, K.B.'

Believe me, &c.

WELLINGTON.

To Lieut. General Sir T. Graham, K.B.

'MY DEAR SIR, 'Fuente Guinaldo, 7th June, 1812. 9 A.M. 'I enclose letters of the 4th and 5th from Salamanca, and one from Avila. I have one intercepted letter from Marmont to Jourdan; which I am endeavoring to decipher. It is obvious, however, from what I see in it, that both Marmont and Jourdan discovered that I intended to collect in this direction, in consequence of Hill's early return; which was certainly occasioned by Sir William Erskine's false alarm.

'I have desired the Commissary General to have delivered over to you at Almeida, 20 carts to carry six hundred 24 pounder shot; 10 carts to carry four hundred 18 pounder

shot, 10 carts to carry 60 barrels of powder, for the equipment of Dickson's howitzers; and 5 carts to carry 30 barrels of powder for the 18 pounders; and 5 spare carts for any thing else you might want. Likewise 80 bullocks to draw 4 iron 18 pounders, at ten pairs cach gun; and 5 pairs of bullocks to draw a transporting carriage loaded with ladders, which I desired Lieut. Shanahan, of the staff corps, to cut and make up at Almeida.

'I shall be obliged to you, if you will see the whole of this equipment packed and arranged; and I will speak to Colonel Framingham to send an officer and conductor over to Almeida to morrow, to take charge of it.

I beg you will fix upon the best of the transporting carriages in the fort to carry the ladders, and desire the officer of the staff to secure them upon it.

The bullocks and carts will not be at Almeida till the 9th. But they ought to be prepared as soon afterwards as possible.

Je viens d'avoir l'honneur de recevoir la lettre que votre Excellence m'a adressé le 3 Mai, qui aurait du être le 3 Juin.

Je vais marcher sur l'ennemi en Castille, et jusqu'à ce que je puisse connaitre les résultats de mon mouvement il est très important de ne pas s'affaiblir en Estremadure. Je suis sûr que la Régence n'a pas connu l'état des affaires quand elle vous a ordonné de partir pour le Condado de Niebla; et comme elle vous a ordonné de consulter mon opinion, je vous prie de n'y pas marcher, mais d'agir de concert avec le Général Hill, et d'être préparé à jeter en garnison à Badajoz les troupes du Général Morillo, en cas que ce soit nécessaire.

J'ai l'honneur d'être, &c.

Conde de Penne Villemur.

WELLINGTON.

6

To the Right Hon. Sir Henry Wellesley, K.B.

'Fuente Guinaldo, 7th June, 1812.

I have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter which I have received from the Conde de Penne Villemur, informing me that the Spanish Government have ordered him into the Condado de Niebla, if I should approve of the movement; and a copy of my answer.

'I am about to move into Castille, and I have calculated upon the Conde de Penne Villemur and General Morillo continuing in concert with Lieut. General Sir Rowland Hill, till the result of this operation shall be seen.

I think it most probable that Soult will move upon General Hill as soon as my march is known; and affairs will be in a bad situation if that General should not be in strength. I am the more anxious upon this subject, because having this day received a return of the army of the South, of the 1st of April, which has been intercepted, I see, that notwithstanding all the reports to the contrary, it consisted then of more than 56,000 effective men; from which, deducting the garrison of Badajoz, since made prisoners, it must now amount to more than 50,000 effective men. The Polish division which had been sent to France are not included in this return.

The movements of the enemy may render it necessary for Lieut. General Hill to throw a garrison into Badajoz ; and I beg to know where that garrison is to be found, if it is not for the time composed of the troops under General Morillo.

The Spanish Government have lately desired that, in case of a movement by Marshal Soult on General Ballesteros, General Hill should make a movement to divert the attention of the enemy from General Ballesteros. I have directed this movement in the notion that General the Conde de Penne Villemur would co-operate in it. It is surely better that, if it be possible, the allied troops in Estremadura should act together in a concentrated body, than that one corps of them should be in the Condado de Niebla, and another at Cordova.

'The Right Hon.

I have the honor to be, &c.

WELLINGTON.

Sir H. Wellesley, K.B.