History of the War in Spain and Portugal, from 1807 to 1814

Front matter

HISTOK1 OF THE WAR, IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL, FROM 1807 TO 1814. BY GENERAL SARRAZIN, ONE OF THE COMMANDERS OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR; ANI> FORMERLY CHIEF OF THE STAFF IN THE CORPS OF THE PRINCE ROYAL OF SWEDE.X. ILLUSTRATED WITH A MAP OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL, EXI11B1TINO THE ROUTES OF THE TARIOVS AHMIB8. A victorious general has committed no fault in the eyes of the public ; while he, that is defeated, always becomes an object of censure, however wise his conduct may have been. Voltaire's General History, Chap. 182. &on&on : PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN, *URLIC LIBRARY, CONDU IT-STRE F,T, HANOVER-SQUARE, AND SOLD BY BELL ANn BRADFUTE, EDINBURGH* AND JOHN CUMMING, DUBLIN. 1815. B. Clarke, Printer, Well-Street, London. CONTENTS. Preface Page 7

Book I

Introduction. Buonaparte's ambition. The French enter Lisbon and Madrid. Ferdinand VII. His Firmness. Mu. rat's Severity. Engagements at Cadiz, Baylen, and Medina del Rio Secco. First Siege of Sarragossa. Battle of Vimiera. Convention of Cintra. Russian Fleet. The English Ex. pedition under General Moore. Capture of Burgos and Madrid. Retreat of the English. Engagement at Benc. vente. Battle of Corunna. Affairs of Catalonia 17

Book II

Second Siege of Sarragossa. Palafox's Heroism. Soult takes Oporto by Storm. The place is retaken by the English. Soult's Retreat to Galicia. He liberates Lugo. Sir Arthur Wellesley's Triumph. Engagements at San Payo and Bele. hite. General Cuesta. His Indecision. Battle of Tala. vera. Retreat of the Allies. Defeat of Venegas at Almon. acid. Detailed Account of the Guerillas. Engagement at Albe de Tormes. Battle of Ocana. Capture of Gerona. Faults of the Commanders . .. ..' 69

Book III

Passage of the Sierra Morena. Capture of Granada and Se. ville. King Joseph's Tardiness. Blockade of Cadiz. The A2 CONTENTS. Duke of Albuquerque. His Energy. Malaga occupied by the French. Hostalrich abandoned to them. Capitulation of Lerida and Astorga. A violent Tempest near Cadiz. Disturbances in Andalusia. Surrender of Mequinenza. Massena takes Ciudad-Rodrigo and Almeida. Battle of Bu saco. The French march to Lisbon. Arrival of the Ninth Corps. Lo»d Blaney's Imprudence. Capture of Tortosa 116

Book IV

Death of the Marquis de la R.omana. His Eulogium by Lord Wellington. Mendizabel defeated by Soult. Victory of the English at Barrosa. Death of General Ruffin. Massena's Retreat. Engagement at Sabugal. Blockade of Almeida. Badajoz besieged by the Allies. Battle of Albuera. Death of General Verle. Battle of Fuentes de Onora. Successful Temerity of the Garrison of Almeida. Faults committed by the English Commander. Junction of Soult's andMarmont's Armies. Relief of Badajoz. Siege of Tarragona. Figuieras surprized by the Catalonians. The place is retaken by Macdonald, the Marquesito, Esposymina, Abadia, and Ballasteros 160

Book V

Attack of the Castle of Niebla. Engagement at Baza. Blockade of Ciudad-Rodrigo. Junction of Dorsenne's and Marmont's Troops. Engagements at Elbodon and Aldea dc Ponte. Vain Boasting of the French Generals. Siege of St. Andero. Engagement at Arroyo del Molinos. Surrender of Fort OropcFa. Battle of Saguntum. Capitulation of the Castle. Death of General Godinot. Passage of the Guadalaviar. Capitulation of Valentia. Fine de. fence of Tarriffa. The English take Ciudad-Rodrigo by Storm. Apathy of the Galicians. Energy of the Catalonians. Peniscola is given up to the French. Heroic CONTENTS. Conquest of Badajoz. Affairs of Portugal, Andalusia, Ga. licia, and Catalonia 210

Book VI

General Hill's coup de main at Almaraz. His ability. Engagement at Bornos. Fine Manœuvre of General Con. roux. Faults committed by Ballasteros. The Allies march to Salamanca. Marinont's Maiiœuvres. Capture of the Forts at Salamanca. Lord Wellington's Movements between the Douro and the Tormes. Engagement at Castrejon. Battle of Salamanca. Clausel replaces Marmont. Engagement at La Serna, Capture of Madrid. Cowardice of the French Governor of the Re/iro. Andalusia is eva. cuated. Soult's skilful Retreat. Ballasteros is dismissed. Capture of Astorga and Valladolid. Siege of the Castle of Burgos. Heroic Defence of the Garrison. Retreat of the Allies. Marshal Soult's Circumspection when opposed to Lord Wellington 266

Book VII

General Observations. Opening of the Campaign. Battle of Vittoria. Talents of Lord Wellington. Capture of Tortosa. Engagement at Castalla. Unsuccessful Expedition against Tarragona. Justification of Sir John Murray. Siege of St. Sebastian. Battle of the Pyrenees. Capture of St. Sebastian. Faults of Lord Bentinck. Temerity of Marshal Suchet. Passage of the Bidassoa. Capitulation of Pampeluua .- 300 Biographic Memoir of Marshal Souls ;

Preface

. No historical account of the war, which Buona* parte's ambition excited between France and Spain, having yet appeared, I have collected the most interesting information respecting its principal events. The peculiar circumstances, in which I have been placed, enabled me to consult both English and French general officers, who served in Spain ; and to correct many errors of the official reports. Should there still be any inaccuracies, my eagerness to rectify them, as soon as they are sa tisfactorily pointed out to me, will be the most convincing proof that I actually believed in the truth of the accounts, on which I founded my narrative. I do not pretend to publish a complete history. My work rather consists of critical observations upon the principal military operations, that have taken place in the Peninsula, from the year 1807*

PREFACE.

. up to the Duke of Wellington's entrance into France. The particular attention, which I have bestowed on that war, makes me anxiously desire to have the early means of composing a regular history, which shall contain the requisite details concerning the force of the different armies, the description of their positions, the resources ofthe country, and the political changes that occurred during the war. As statesmen derive, from the study of history, the knowledge of nations and of their government, so ought military men to consider the study of the campaigns of great commanders, as a fruitful source of information, both in theory and practice ; because, their faults being brought to the test, and rectified by established principles, the attentive reader cannot but increase his stock of knowledge.

Such is, in fact, the course, which ought to be pursued in time of peace, for the purpose of bringing to perfection the science of war — a science, the most extensive, the most complicated, the most important, and the most noble ; since it protects the liberty, the religion, the property, the commerce, and the glory of nations. An able general has always been regarded as the firmest support of his sovereign's

PREFACE.

. IX throne ; for by his military command he becomes the true depository of the monarch's power, and the safest foundation for the hopes of his country to be built upon. I shall perhaps be asked by what title I consti tute myself the censor of the most able generals, such as Soult, Dupont, Wellington, Suchet, Mas sena, &c. I answer, that from early youth I have studied mathematics, and the art of war. In 17S6', when I had scarcely attained my sixteenth year, I was in a regiment of dragoons I served the King, the Republic, the Directory, and lastly, Buona parte, until the month of June, IS 10, when 1 went to England, and offered my services to Louis XVIII. As early as in the year 1794, I wrote, under the direction of the celebrated Kleber, an account of the first siege of Mentz, and arranged his notes on the war of la Vendee.

If the heirs of the conqueror of Heliopolis possess these manu scripts, they should give them up to government ; as they contain details of the greatest interest. Besides, the confidence, with which I have been honoured by the Frince Royal of Sweden, when chief of his staff in the French armies of Germany X

PREFACE.

. and Italy, ought to convince the intelligent reader that my opinion on any military operation, is al ways the result of a serious examination, ground ed upon the fundamental principles of the art, and the most brilliant exploits of our best generals. During my stay in London, I published Buona parte's Confession to the Abbe Maury, and two volumes of a periodical work, entitled The Philoso pher, or Historical and Critical Observations. These works have been favourably received all over Eu rope, except in France, where their circulation was rigorously prohibited. Buonaparte's Confes sion has been translated into several languages. Military men, in particular, have praised the work ; because the campaigns of the French are therein discussed according to the principles and tactics, introduced by the great Frederic, and adopted by the generals, who distinguished themselves in the late wars.

I have followed a similar plan with respect to the war in Spain and Portugal. The war in Russia and Germany, from 1812 to 1814, which I am about to publish, is written with the same impartiality, and the same zeal for the pro gress of the art.

PREFACE.

. XI A short analysis of the war between the French and the Spaniards, from 1793 to 1795, may per haps prove acceptable here. On the sixth of March, 1795, France declared war against Spain. On the twenty-third of the same month, the Court of Madrid gave orders to repel force by force. Troops were sent to the Py renees. General Don Antonio Ricardos was in yested with the command of the army, which was to invade the French province of Roussillon ; and Don Ventura Caro was entrusted with the defence of the passes of Spain on the Bidassoa. General Ricardos made a very brilliant campaign. With means scarcely sufficient to remain on the defen sive, he arrived under the very walls of Perpignan, and took possession of Bellegarde. His death was justly lamented by all good Spaniards. The French Generals Flers, Dagobert, and Doppet, who fought against Ricardos, possessed his bravery, but not his talents.

General Caro at first gained some ad vantages, which made the French apprehensive for Bayonne. His victory of the first of May, 1793, had he known how to avail himself of it, would have rendered him master of the Adour. But the

PREFACE.

. French having been considerably reinforced, he was driven back to the Bidassoa. It was in this campaign that two heroes, who have since become so illustrious, fought for the first time at Biriatou. Latour d'Auvergne, the first grenadier of France, attacked, at the head of his brave soldiers, the Marquis de la Romana, who had been entrusted with the defence of Biriatou ; but the French were repulsed. The campaign of 1794 proved a series of disasters to the Spaniards. The Count de la Union, General Ricardo's successor, was a very brave soldier, but an indifferent general. He died on the field of honour like the French General Dugommier, who had rendered victory certain by the ability of his plans, and the boldness of his attacks. Fi guieras was surrendered by treachery. Ricardos had quartered his army on the French territory, during the winter of 1793 ; and twelve months later, the very same army, commanded by General Las Amarillaz, did not think itself safe on its own ground, at a distance of sixty miles from the French frontiers. This panic of its chiefs extended also to those of tbe army of Navarra. Court

PREFACE.

. XIII intrigues had caused General Caro to be replaced by the Count de Colomera. The latter was de feated, and Spain invaded as far as Toloso, where General Moncey had his head-quarters, in the month of August, 1794. Several engagements with out-posts, in which the Spaniards frequently had the advantage over the French, proved that the soldiers of each army were as brave as their opponents; and that the misfortunes of the Spa niards were merely the consequence of incapa city on the part of their generals. The campaign of 179-5 opened in favour of the French, with the capture of Rosas. Dugommier's death had not been perceived in the French army ; because he had been succeeded by General Perig non, who possessed the confidence and attachment of the generals and soldiers under his orders. The Spanish General Las Amarillas was replaced by Don Joseph Urrutia, and the Spaniards soon observed the beneficial consequences of this change.

Their army was rapidly reorganised. It had resumed the offensive with alternate success, when the peace, signed at Basil, on the twenty-second of July, 1795) put an end to all hostilities. Prince de Cas-

PREFACE.

. tel Franco, who had succeeded Count de Colomera, in Navarra, could not prevent the possession of Vittoria by the French ; but he reorganised the army, and displayed some talents; for, with forces inferior to those of General Moncey, he succeeded in keeping the two Castiles free from French in vasion. It may even be affirmed that, had not peace been concluded, he would, by means ofthe numerous reinforcements he received at that time, have assumed the offensive, and forced the French to retreat to the Bidassoa. France had then armies on all her frontiers, and in la Vendee. Every where she was triumphant; and in 1808, Europe would have obeyed Napo leon, had he respected Spanish delicacy. The conqueror of the Austrians at Austerlitz, of the Prussians at Jena, and of the Russians at Fried land, was resisted by a loyal and intrepid people, filled with indignation at seeing themselves robbed of their legitimate sovereign.

Who will be able to solve this problem ? In 179.4 and 1795, France was on the point of giving the law to Spain and all the Continent; whilst in 1808, that self same Spain dared to resist France, whose forces, all dis-

PREFACE.

. XV posable at the time, must have crushed that country ; and in 1814, the Spaniards gave the law on the banks of the Garonne, from Bourdeaux to Tou louse ?— The French soldiers of 1S0S, were far su perior to those of 1794 and 1795, as they had the experience of war. The plans of Buonaparte were, or ought to have been, much better combined than the ravings of the Committee of Public Safety, and ofthe Directory ; and yet in 1795, the French got as far as the Ebro, and in 1814, they were pursued to the banks of the Garonne. The chief cause of an empire's triumph is to be sought for in the measures, adopted by its govern ment; which employs or neutralises at will the talents of its generals, and the disposition of its troops. Ricardos and Dugommier are, perhaps, indebted for their great reputation to that very death, which snatched them from the midst of vic tory.

At a later period they might have fallen victims to the intrigues of insidious enemies ; for merit is always envied. It was envy that removed Caro from the army of Navarra, the glory of which he had raised by sharing its dangers. Like his companions in arms, he saw with sorrow that his

PREFACE.

. XVI government acted feebly ; and his grief was un-* bounded, when he heard of the peace, concluded by his monarch, with the new French government. This loyal Spaniard had sworn not to sheath his sword, but on the day when the august house of Bourbon should be re-established on the throne of Saint Louis. He would have shared my joy, and that of all good Frenchmen, on having at length witnessed that happy event. ERRATA. l*"age 37 Line 7, 13, 23, for Castanos, read Reding. 41 — 27, Figreieres Figuieras. 54 — 24, Sicoray Sierfa. 64 — 18, Franeesch Franccschi. 81 — 24, Argento Argenson. 89 — 13, Spanish army French army in Spain 93 — 18, Tuente Fuente. 103 — 15, Ocara Ocana. 108 — 26, Taur their. 154 — 18, Semille Semelle. 178 — 22, Sewart Stewart. 221 — 30, en flagrant en flagrant delit. 248 — 12, Couz Cruz. 303 — 12, capital the capital. ■ 314 — 6, garlards garlands. 341 — 2, lost cost. .IS SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

Book I

oPAIN is situated, as it were, between Europe and Africa; for on setting aside the received geographical notions, and attending simply to facts, it must be confessed that the peninsula belongs equally to those two parts of the globe ; since its soil grows the productions of both, and its population is derived from the Goths, who came from the north, and the Saracens, who came from the south. Spain is bounded on the east by the Mediterranean Sea; on the south by the same sea, and the Straits of Gibraltar ; on the west by Portugal, and the Atlantic Ocean ; and on the north by the Bay of Biscay, and the Pyrenean Mountains. Its breadth, from north to south, is estimated at one hundred and ninety-five leagues ; and its length, from east to west, at two hundred and nineteen: B its circumference is calculated at five hundred and eighty leagues.

This rich country was known by the Phœni cians about one thousand years before the Christian æra. They established colonies in Spain. Three centuries before the same æra, Carthage conquered the finest provinces ofthe peninsula. Commerce served as a pretence for the first attempts ; but the Carthaginian generals soon joined military violence to mercantile cunning, and, in a very short time, they became masters of the provinces that bor der on the sea shore, from Cadiz up to Barce lona. Rome, the sworn enemy of Carthage, offered her protection to the Spaniards. The de struction of Saguntum, by Hannibal, avenged by the splendid victory of Scipio in the plains of Zama, caused the Romans to be favourably re ceived. But it was not long before the extortions of these new protectors rendered them as odious as their predecessors, the Carthaginians.

The Spaniards, by their courage, their sobriety, then vigour, and their indefatigable activity, shewed themselves worthy of fighting the Romans. Un willing to survive the loss of their independence, the inhabitants of Numantium followed the ex ample ot the Saguntians, and buried themselves under the ruins of their city. Though headed at first by Viriatus, and afterwards by Sertonus, both celebrated for their exploits and their talents, the unfortunate Spaniards were yet obliged to submit to the good fortune of Pompey the Great. The battle of Munda, which was gained by Cæsar over the eldest son of his illustrious rival, completed the conquest of a country, in whose genial climate, fertile soil, and rich gold and silver mines, the Romans found a very precious reward for the prodigious exertions, which they had used to re duce Carthage to submission.

Spain constituted a part of the Roman empire until the beginning of the filth century. It then be came one ofthe principal theatres of the revolutions, occasioned by the irruption of the barbarians from the north. These were destroyed by the Saracens in 712- Towards the year 1000, Sancho the Great had united the whole peninsula into one monarchy; but, by the example of Charlemagne, he divided his kingdom among his children at his death. Spain remained split into different monarchies until the year 1474, when it was again united under one sceptre, by the marriage of Ferdinand V. with Isa bella, Queen of Castile. Its population, at that time, was calculated at fourteen millions of souls. The reign of Charles V. was to Spain what the reign of Louis XIV. has since been to France. The Spaniards led the fashion in Europe; and, until about the middle of the seventeenth century, they were considered as patterns of politeness, gal lantry, erudition, loyalty, valour, and magnificence.

Francis I. having been defeated at Pavia, was a prisoner at Madrid. b3 The appointment of a French prince to the throne of Spain in 1700 roused all Europe against Louis XIV. and caused a general war, known by the name of the war for the succession of Spain ; of which I shall sketch the principal features, on ac count of their analogy with the events, that form the subject of this work. In the year 1706, Philip V. was on the brink of ruin. He was forced to raise the siege of Barce lona, and obliged to lead his army back into Spain by the road of Perpignan and Bayonne. Ciudad- Rodrigo, Salamanca, and even Madrid, had opened their gates to the allies: but the slowness and weakness of the archduke rendered all these ad vantages useless. Philip re-entered his capital. The battle of Almanza, which was gained by Berwick, in 1707. over Lord Galloway, seated that monarch firmly on his throne.

His severe treatment of Xativa, a town of the kingdom of Valentia, was justly blamed. The inhabitants had ranged themselves on the side of the archduke, his rival: the resistance they opposed to the kino's troops was marked by a courage, and devotedness, which placed the besieged on a level with the heroes of Saguntum. The town was taken bv assault, plundered, and burnt; and all the inha bitants were put to the sword. In 170S Tortosa was taken by the Duke of Orleans, in sight of Stahiemberg, the archduke's general. In 17 10 Fortune smiled upon the allies. Philip was completeiy defeated near Saragossa. Stahremberg, his conqueror, conducted the archduke to Madrid, whilst the fugitive monarch collected at Valladolid the wrecks of his army. He appeared lost, without any resource. Louis XIV. himself became a prey to the caprices of fate.

Defeated even in the. inte rior of his kingdom, he appealed to the French nation, who made great efforts, in consequence of the frankness, moderation, and nobleness of their monarch's behaviour. The haughty treatment, ex perienced by his plenipotentiaries, during the con ferences of Gertruydenberg, piqued the French, at all times so prone to maintain the honour of the throne, and to avenge the insults offered to their sovereign. The reinforcements, destined for Spain, were placed under the command of the Duke of Vendome, one of the most celebrated generals of Louis XIV. On his arrival in Spain, the grandees refused to obey him, and deliberated on the rank they should allow him. " All ranks are equal to me," was the proud answer of the worthy descend ant of Henry IV. " I came not to dispute for precedence with 3'ou— I come to prevent your be ing deprived of your lawful monarch."

Surprized at finding so much modesty combined with such transcendent merit, all the Spanish generals zea lously vied in the execution ofthe duke's orders. Vendome kept his word. He maintained Philip on the throne of Spain, and brought him back to Madrid. He took Stanhope prisoner with his army, and defeated Stahremberg in the plains of Villaviciosa. These successes dissipated Philip s alarms, and destroyed the archduke's hopes. Philip, to reward his services, offered Vendome five hundred thousand livres in gold ; but the French general re fused his offer, saying, " Sire, I am fully sensible of your generosity ; but I entreat your map. sty to distribute this gold among the brave Spa iiardaj whose valour, and attachment to your prison have, in one day, saved you so many kingdoms." What a lesson for the Cuestas, Egreias, Arrizagas, La penas, Ballasteros !

Peace was signed at Utrecht on the fifteenth of July, 1713. Barcelona, however, although eva cuated by the emperor's troops, and left to its own resources, refused to acknowledge Philip for its sovereign. The French were obliged to besiege the town ; and it was on the breach, where other sieges are ended, that this began with an obsti nacy bordering on fury. The battle raged in the streets, and even in the houses: the monks rushed with the bayonet upon the French grenadiers, and often successfully ; but at length the inhabitants of Barcelona, like those of Saragossa in 1809, were obliged to surrender at discretion, after having sus tained the most dreadful assaults. Marshal Berwick, penetrated with admiration of the heroism displayed by those intrepid Catalonians, granted them their property and their lives, in spite of the loud demands of his army, that, in conformity with the laws of war, Barcelona, taken by storm, should be treated like the unfortunate town of Xativa.

It had stood a blockade of eleven months, and a well conducted siege of two; and its conquest cost the besiegers above ten thousand men. The kingdom of Portugal is situated in the western part of the Spanish peninsula. Its length, from north to south, is calculated atone hundred and twenty-five leagues ; and its breadth, from east to west, at fifty-four. This kingdom was separated from Spain only after the expulsion ofthe Moors. The Portuguese monarchy commenced in 1 139. The brilliant period of that country was towards the end ofthe fifteenth century, under the reign of Emanuel the Great. It was at this time that Vasco de Gama opened to the Europeans the road to the East Indies, where the Duke of Albuquerque, as celebrated for his genius as for his enterprizing spirit, covered the Portuguese arms with everlasting glory.

In loSO, Portugal was again united with Spain by the death of Cardinal Henry. Philip II. tormented his new subjects with the most unheard-of vexations: but the proud Portuguese, indignant at his tyranny, reconquered their liberty, after sixty years of suffering. Don Juan IV. was proclaimed their king in 1640. During the war for the succession of Spain, Peter II. sided with the allies against Philip V. and acted an important part in the coalition. Ever since that period, the kingdom of Portugal owes its preservation, and the prosperity of its people, to the wise policy of its monarchs, whose constant efforts have been directed to deserve the protec tion and friendship ofthe British Empire. I shall not mention the war between Spain and France, which, fortunately for the two nations, was terminated by the treaty of Basil, signed on the twenty-second of July, 1795.

From the instant Buonaparte was appointed consul, he coveted the possession of the peninsula. The better to draw the King of Spain into his snares, he led him to hope for the conquest of Portugal, and its union with the Castilian monarchy. — Charles IV. anxious to preserve peace for the be nefit of his subjects, over whom he ruled more as a father than as a king, was weak enough to believe in the loyalty of the new cabinet of the Thuilleries. He blindly adopted the projects of Buonaparte, when the latter, delighted to have obtained an in fluence so useful to his designs, appeared to display great moderation in accepting the pacific proposals which the court of Portugal sent him by the Chevalier d'Aranjo. It was in consequence of Napoleon's authority that the Spanish commanderin-chief, Manuel de Godo'i, signed the treaty of peace between Spain and Portugal, on the sixth of June, 1801.

Towards the first of August, General Le Clerc, Buonaparte's brother-in-law, who com manded the auxiliary army, left Spain to return to France. The Spaniards treated the French officers and soldiers in the most friendly manner. Spain was entirely e'vacu; ted after the conclusion of a treaty of peace between France and Portugal, which was signed on the twenty-ninth of September. It is a circumstance worthy of remark, that Buo naparte, who wished to give the Spaniards a favourable opinion of his troops, had taken particular care to compose Le Clerc's army of the choicest regiments ; the soldiers were, besides, ordered, un der the most severe penalties, to treat the Spaniards with the greatest regard ; and these orders were so well obeyed, that the confident and generous Castilians appeared to regret the departure of the very Frenchmen who were soon to return, rob them of their king, and subject them to Buonaparte.

The disasters of Ulm and Austerlitz, in the year ISOo, forced Austria and Russia to quit the field of battle for a time. Notwithstanding the good harmony, which seemed to prevail between the courts of Paris and Madrid, rumours were spread, that, as soon as Buonaparte could rely on the sincerity of the amicable protestations of'Prussia and Russia, several divisions ofthe French grand army of Ger many were to be detached, under the pretence of being sent to besiege Gibraltar, but in reality to place a brother of Napoleon on the throne of Spain. In the spring of 1S06, I had my head-quarters in the Castle of Weilburgh, which belongs to the Prince of Nassau. One day, when I was convers ing with his Highness on the political and military situation of Europe, the Prince spoke ofthe possibility of making France resume her limits of the year 1789.

Austria, Prussia, and Russia, were to attack the line ofthe Rhine ; England was to land one hundred thousand men on the French side of the Channel, and march to Paris; Spain was to penetrate by the Pyrenees as far as the Loire ; Italy was to be attacked by two hundred thousand Turks. At this suggestion I exclaimed : O pul chrum caput, si cerebrum haberet ! I easily recog nised in his opinion a secret attack of his brother in-law, Prince Louis of Wurtemburg, uncle to the Emperor Alexander, who, two months before, had come from St. Petersburgh to visit the family of his consort, I observed to the Prince of Nas sau, that if Prussia did not submit to the will of France, Frederic William would be attacked and defeated; that the Russians would come too late to his assistance, as they had done the year before to co-operate with Mack : that Austria, the inve terate enemy of Prussia, would delight in seeing the latter power humbled for having so indiscreetly refused to contribute to the deliverance of Germany in 1805: that Spain was under the influence of Napoleon, who regarded King Charles merely as his first prefect, and would soon transfer the throne to one of his brothers ; that Turkey possessed nei ther the will nor the means of conquering Italy; and finally, that England, which is so powerful, so active, and so fortunate upon the seas, as well as in both the Indies, would be so long in calculating the expense of a march to Paris, that it would no longer be possible to perform it successfully, whenever the expedition should be definitively resolved upon.