THE DISPATCHES 312 OF FIELD MARSHAL THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, DURING HIS VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS IN INDIA, DENMARK, PORTUGAL, SPAIN, THE LOW FROM 1799 TO 1818. COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL AND AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS, BY LIEUT. COLONEL GURWOOD, ESQUIRE TO HIS GRACE AS KNIGHT OF THE BATH. VOLUME THE TENTH. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. MDCCCXXXVIII. Koninklik THE DISPATCHES ОР FIELD MARSHAL THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, IN THE PENINSULA, IN 1812-13. 'SIR, To Don J. de Carvajal, Minister of War, Cadiz. "Cadiz, 25th Dec., 1812. I have had the honor of receiving your Excellency's letter of the 24th instant, in answer to that which I had the honor of addressing you on the 4th instant. 6 The Government and Cortes have done me the honor to confer upon me the command of the Spanish armies; and at the same time that they have thus manifested to the world the confidence they repose in me, they have imposed upon me the performance of duties, for which I am responsible not only to Spain, but to my own country and to the world. It is impossible to perform these duties as they ought to be performed, unless I shall possess sufficient powers; and I request that you will inform the Government that if they do not feel themselves authorised, or have not confidence in me to trust me with the powers which I think necessary, I beg leave to relinquish the command of the Spanish armies which has been conferred upon me. I stated distinctly what the powers are which I required. First; that officers should be promoted and should be appointed to commands solely at my recommendation. In this request I do not refer to the regular regimental promotions under the 25th title of the Ordenanzas, which Orde VOL. X. B |