tonous language necessary to be used for the sake of perspicuity in military topography, by observing, that, if they expect a complete statistical or commercial account of the country, they will not find it in this treatise, but are referred to authors better qualified than myself to inform them on those heads; neither will they be gratified with the description of flowery meads or overhanging precipices, whose summits crowned with castles. seem to bid defiance to the storm. I write but as a soldier, and from military memoranda.

In the chapters where I have treated of the manners, customs, &c. of the Portuguese, it has been with a view of enabling those, who are, or may be hereafter employed in Portugal, and have not perhaps had an opportunity of visiting the different provinces, to judge of their resources, and also of the dispositions of their inhabitants, which it behoves them to study.

In order to render this work the more useful to such officers as may so far honour it, as to make it their companion in this or any

future campaign in Portugal, I have added a table of the coins most commonly current in the country, with the rate of exchange for bills drawn on England; also a military map, compiled chiefly from the Carta Militar, published under the authority of the French, when in possession of Portugal. The directions of the principal serras, or mountains, and small rivers, which in that are entirely omitted, I have taken from the best maps I have been able to procure, and in some instances endeavoured to correct them by my own observations. As it would have crowded a lap on so small a scale, I have omitted a number of inferior places which are not on the different rutes, or are in themselves insignificant. It will be seen, that in some cases a scale has not been so much attended to as could be wishea, but this is in a great degree obviated, by making the distances with figures, indicating the umber of leagues at which they are usually computed by the in habitants.

With these preliminary observations, I offer my first essay to the world; trusting to the candour of my brother officers as to the mili

tary opinions I have presumed to hazard, and to the more enlightened fraternity of critics, as to the performance of this little treatise in general; the materials for which were collected during the active scenes of a campaign, and at a period when the greater part of my time was engaged by my professional avocations.

To the second edition of this work, I have made considerable additions, which I have been induced to do, from the very different light the campaign of 1810 has thrown upon the subject. Five plates are likewise added, four of them explanatory of the principal actions which have been fought sce the commencement of the campaigns in Portugal; and the fifth from an actual survey of Lisbon. These I had rot time to get engraved for the first tion; the map has likewise undergone me few alterations.

of the environs

TREATISE

ON THE

DEFENCE OF PORTUGAL.

CHAPTER I.

Geographical Description, and general Topography of the Kingdom of Portugal.

THE kingdom of Portugal, situated in the

westernmost part of the continent of Europe, is comprehended between Lat. 42° 10′ and 37° 2′ N. an extent of about 362 miles in its greatest length,* from Melgasso on the

* General Dumouriez, in his Treatise on Portugal, gives it an extent of 340 in length, and 140 in breadth.-Guthrie places Portugal between Lat. 37° and 42° N. and 7° and 10° W. Lon.; he gives it an extent of 300 miles in length, and 100 in breadth, containing 32,000 square miles; but it is evidently greater. The latitudes and longitudes I have given, are taken from the maps of Jefferys and Faden, and if correct will speak for themselves.

B

Minho to the coast near Faro; and in its greatest breadth from Campo Mayor, Lon. 6° 55′ W. to the coast near Mafra, Lon. 9° 25′ W. it is about 174 miles. It is bounded on the north by the province of Galicia, in Spain on the east by Leon, Spanish Estremadura, and Andalusia; and on the west by the Atlantic ocean.

Geographers divide Portugal into two departments, the north and the south. The former, comprehending the provinces of Entre Douro e Minho, anciently called Lusitania, Tras os Montes, and Béira;* the latter, Estremadura, Alemtejo, and the kingdom of Algarve. But in order to shew more clearly the practicability of defending Portugal, and for the sake of military operations, I have followed the plan laid down by Frederick the Great; that of making rivers the natural boundaries of certain departments; and have divided it into three districts. 1st. The northern, including Entre Douro e Minho and Tras os Montes. 2dly. The southern, com

Béira is subdivided into Béira Alta and Béira Baxa or Upper and Lower Béira.