even French discipline. At the same time, by the wellde timed rapidity of his manœuvres, when necessary, as well

of

he

50

as by their secrecy and determined purposes, he has beat all

d the calculations of the enemy, according even to their own

is confessions; a proof of which, if proof were wanting, would be found in the fact of his having taken Ciudad RODRIGO in half the time which the French general had considered possible; and thus, by its capture, connected with that of Almeida, always a military post of importance, not only formed a powerful defence for Portugal, but opened a way into the very heart of Spain.

This latter excellence of rapidity and determination was, indeed, always expected by his friends; and we shall have occasion to see, in the progress of this biography, particularly in detailing his brilliancy of thought at the glorious battle of Assye, on the plains of Hindoostan, that their expectations were well founded; but the steadiness of his other operations, the self-denial with which he has delayed to pluck the laurels which victory held out to him with open hand, are traits in his character which might have been considered as unlikely to appear, and that without derogating from the high character which he had acquired previous to his present distinguished rank in the Peninsula.

But it is to this latter part of his character that much of the success of the present contest has been owing; and it is entirely owing to it that he has been enabled to overcome the various difficulties he had to encounter, as opposed to the almost overwhelming power of France, commanded by

her best generals, with a force of British troops, even now little more than half the number of French concentrated in any one spot. For, much as the Spanish and Portuguese troops have of late improved in discipline, and much as might have, even at first, been expected from their native courage, yet Lord Wellington could not trust the safety of his army, or the ultimate success of the cause, to an absolute dependence on their almost untried exertions; he has, nevertheless, known how to avail himself even of their inefficient state with a degree of judgment and spirit happily justified by the event.

We must now close this slight sketch of the subject, with one observation on the character of our gallant fellow citisen. If we look at him, as will be exemplified in the course of this work, whether commanding, or commanded, we shall always find the same greatness of mind, whether checked in his pursuit in the moment of victory, as at Vimiera, by the orders of a superior; or prompted to delay the accomplishment of brilliant measures, where victory was certain, in order to spare the blood of his gallant comrades in arms.

INTRODUCTION.

IF it is by experience that we gain wisdom, and by a comparison of nearly similar events that we can best form an accurate judgment, it will not be irrelevant, in our introductory part, to take a slight sketch of the causes and conduct of a former war carried on by Great Britain in the Peninsula; and that, by a very curious coincidence, nearly in the very corresponding years of the preceding century. In the conduct and issue of that war, and in the conduct and probable issue of the present one, there has, indeed, been a great contrast; for there we were merely as auxiliaries, though now we have acted more immediately as principals. At that period, too, we were in opposition to that branch of the house of Bourbon whose rights we are now defending; and in our objects we were unsuccessful, though without tarnishing the honour of the British name.

When, in the year 1701, Charles II. of Spain, a

branch of the house of Austria, deceased without issuc, Philip Duke of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV. being second son of the Dauphin of France, assumed the Spanish crown, according to the will of the deceased monarch; but the Emperor of Germany having put up one of his own family as a claimant, it was considered as the interest of Great Britain to support him, in order to prevent the accession of such power to France, by her royal family thus coming into possession of the immense possessions and resources of the Spanish empire. There was also a party in Spain inimical to the French interest; and it was hoped that, by spirited measures, an Austrian prince might be established on the throne of Spain.

Charles III. the Austrian claimant arrived in England in 1703; and, in 1704, an auxiliary force of 12,000 British and Dutch troops was sent to Portugal; the English under Duke Schomberg, and the Dutch under General Fagel. King Charles imme. diately published a manifesto, setting forth his right to the crown of Spain; and on the arrival of the expedition at Lisbon, the Portuguese having already joined the grand alliance against France, the King of Portugal published a declaration in which he vindicated the claim of Charles, and gave his own reasons for taking up arms in his defence and support.

The Bourbon prince, under the title of Philip V. was not backward in preparing for hostilities, but immediately declared war against his competitor, and also against the King of Portugal and his other allies; and, having hastily assembled an army, proceeded to the Portuguese frontier, when he captured Segura, Salvatierra, and some other places.

It being understood that the Catalonians were partial to the cause of the allies, Sir George Rooke, with a British squadron, proceeded with the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt and a force of 2,500 men to Barcelona, where he landed the troops; but being disappointed in his expectations of a flattering reception and coöperation, the army was again embarked, and the squadron proceeded towards Toulon.

In June of the same year, (1704,) the Portuguese were found to be very dilatory in furnishing the proper supplies which they had promised, so that nothing could be done. There was also a great want of eordiality amongst the generals of the three nations, English, Dutch, and Portuguese, so that the Duke of Schomberg, weary of his command, was anxious to be recalled, and was superseded by Henry de Ruvigny, Earl of Galway.

The Spanish monarch in July put an end to his short campaign, on account of the heat of the wea

[2] .

were