humble the House of Austria:" and in this he was no doubt, as has since appeared, sincere. It could not be any part of his policy to annihilate a barrier so convenient and necessary, against the power of the Russians, growing every day, by the natural progress of population and improvement, in so vast an empire, greater and greater. The Austrian minister, on the part of his court, disclaimed all hostile designs against France, and explained the increase of the military force complained of, by the general necessity that all the powers of Europe now felt themselves to be under, of proportioning the scale of their standing armies to that of their neighbours. The Austrians persevered in their military preparations.---Orders were transmitted from Paris to the members of the confederation of the Rhine, to call out their respective quotas, which, when assembled, would be very powerful. Of the German troops of this confederation, 80,000 were taken into the pay of France, clothed in the uniform of French soldiers, and sent into France to garrison the towns quitted by French regiments sent to reinforce the French army in Spain. In this manoeuvre it was his object to render it impossible for the German princes to revolt from him to Austria, while at the same time he stationed a force in France better for some of his purposes, such as that of enforcing the conscription, than that which it replaced; in as much as Germans would not be so likely, as the French regiments, to sympathise and coalesce with the people. But whatever might be the inclinations, or the attempts of the Germans, they

were not to be considered as formidable, if the emperor of the North, as Buonaparte had effect d to style him, should abide by his engagements. Alexander, at this moment, held in his hand the balance of Europe, the fate of many nations, their condition, whether as independent states, or as submissive provinces of a great and domineering empire, probably for many centuries! Into whichsoever of the scales the Czar should throw his weight, that must inevitably preponderate. To confirm and fix the resolution of Alexander was a matter of the last importance, and what Buonaparte did not think it prudent to commit to the agency of any of his ministers. He determined to have a personal interview with the emperor of the North; on whose mind it would appear he was perfectly confident he should maintain an ascendant. For on the 11th of September be addressed, in print, his soldiers as follows: "Soldiers, after triumphing on the borders of the Danube, and the Vistula, you traversed Germany, by forced marches; you are now with the same celerity to traverse France.

Soldiers, I declare that I have need of you. The hideous leopard contaminates, by its presence, the territory of Spain and Portugal, Let your faces strike him with terror, and put him to flight; let us carry our victorious eagles even to the pillars of Hercules. There we have an affront to revenge.

"Soldiers, you have surpassed in renown, all the warriors of modern times. You have equalled the Roman Legions, who in one campaign triumphed on the Rhine, the Euphrates, Illyrium, and the Tagus.

A durable

A durable peace and permanent prosperity shall be the reward of your exploits. No good Frenchman can enjoy a moment's repose, so long as the sea is not free and open.

Soldiers, all that you have already achieved, or that remains yet to be done for the happiness of the French people, and for my glory.-Be assured, that the remembrance of so great services shall remain for ever engraven on my heart." When the French army perfectly sensible that the French people were in a situation the most wretched, they were reminded by this harangue that the true motive of their ruler was his own glory. It is humiliating to human nature, to think that hundreds of thousands of armed men, should hear such language, and perhaps even feel a pride in extending, by prolonged fatigue, at the risk of their lives, and by the sacrifice of their country, the glory of a fortunate and inhuman usurper! The place appointed for a meeting and conference between Alexander and Napoleon, was Erfurth, a city in the circle of the lower Rhine, belonging to the electorate of Mayence. They met here on the 27th of September. But the order of time calls our attention for the present, to the efforts of the patriots with their allies in Portugal, springing from the same cause, going hand in hand, and having the same object in view, with those of their neighbouring and kindred Spaniards.

The inhabitants of Lisbon, overawed by the army of Junot, were restrained at first from expressing their joy, otherwise than in private and confidential conversation. The public voice of Portugal was first heard at Oporto. This town, besides the circumstance of being situate at a considerable distance from the force under Junot, possessed another advantage. It had been occupied by about three thousand Spanish troops, who before their departure to join the patriotic. standard in Spain, took the French general under whose orders they were, and all his staff, prisoners, and delivered up the government of the city to Lewis D'Oliveda, who had filled that office before the arrival of the French. The treachery of this mau, his attachment to the French, and the measures he took for restoring the authority of the French, rouzed the indignation and rage of the people to such a pitch, that he found it impossible to avert their threatened vengeance otherwise than by yielding up his authority. They rose, 18th of June, in one body, broke open the depots of stores, and having supplied themselves with arms, proceeded to destroy every vestige of French power, and to imprison every person suspected of being in their interest. The bishop of Oporto, who, with most of the other priests, had been incessant in his efforts to rouse the people to arms,* appointed governor of the city, and

was

the

the most vigorous measures were adopted for defending it against any force. General Loison, with about 3,000 men, advanced against the insurgents as far as Amirante; but on being made acquainted with the determined spirit of the people of Oporto, he retreated on Lisbon. Nearly the whole of the northern provinces of Portugal, rose in arts against the French. The south of Portugal was restrained from coming forward so generally, or in so open a manner, by their vicinity to the army of Jepot, and also by a strong and numerous French party among themselves. Notwithstanding the terror, however, of Junot, a friendly intercourse, as has been above notred, was maintained between Lisbon and sir Charles Cotton.

As soon as Junot received certaiu intelligence of the Spanish insurrection, he ordered the Spanish troops to be disarmed, aud put on board the bulks in the Tagus.

The French being expelled from the northern provinces of Portugal, and the authority of the prince regent re-established, provisional juntas were formed, similar in their character, and functions to those of Spain. Of these, that of Oporto exerted itself with the most zeal and effect, in heightening and directing the patriotic enthusiasm of the people, and in the establishment of such orders and

regulations as were required by the peculiar circumstances of the country. Oporto, in this respect, was the Seville of Portugal The junta having taken such measures for raising and supporting an army as circumstances admitted, naturally looked for support and assistance to England: nor were their hopes disappointed. An army, under the command of sir Arthur Wellesley, destined for Portugal, where it ultimately landed, was, in the first instance, offered to the Spaniards. This army, consisting of about 10,000 men, set sail from Cork, on the 12th of July, and arrived at Corunna on the 20th. The battle of Medina del Rio Seco, had taken place a few days before, and the Spaniards were retreating fast in different directions: one division of them adhering to Cuesta, proceeded to Salamanca; another, under general Blake, made for the mountains. In consequence of this intelligence, combined with his instructions, sir Arthur Wellesley offered the as sistance of the force under his command to the junta of Gallicia. The junta replied, that they did not want men, and that they wished for nothing from the British government except_money, arms, and ammunition. But they expressed their firm conviction that his army might be of infinite service both to the Portuguese, and their own nation, if it were em ployed

ployed to drive the French from Lisbon. In the north of Portugal, and consequently at no great distance from Gallicia, the French were still in force. Against them, in the first place, sir Arthur might direct his attack with every probability of success, and with the certainty of relieving the province of Gallicia, if the insurrection at Oporto still existed, or could be revived when he reached that city. Sir Arthur Wellesley leaving Coruma, proceeded to Oporto. On his arrival there, the bishop, who was the governor, informed him that the Portuguese force was sufficient to deter the French from making any attacks, or if not, to repel them. Sir Arthur, however, that he might be the better enabled to judge what was best to be done, left his forces at Oporto, in order to have a conference with Sir Charles Cotton, off Lisbon; with whom he consulted about the practicability and the prudence of forcing the entrance of the Tagus, and attacking the forts in the near vicinity of that capital. In the mean time, while he was on board the Hibernia, the admiral's ship, he received a letter from general Spencer, who was then, with about 6000 men, off Cadiz. This force was destined to be employed either in co-operating with the Spanish forces under Castanos, in their operations against Dupont, or in conjunction with the expedition under Sir Arthur Wellesley. As the junta of Seville did not deem the aid of general Spencer's corps at all necessary towards the reduction of Dupont's army, and as Sir Arthur was decidedly of opiuion that his own army, and that of general Spencer, could be but of litle avail

towards the expulsion of the French from Portugal, while they acted separately, he gave orders to general Spencer to join him.

The English general, having made himself acquainted, as accurately as he could, with the numerical strength and disposition of the French army, determined to land his forces in Mondego bay, where he would be able to effect a landing, and to form his army into order, without any opposition from the enemy; while at the same time, he would be assisted and supported by the Portuguese army which had advanced to Coimbra. Before he landed the troops he received advice from the British government that 5000 men, under general Anstruther, were proceeding to join him, and that 12,000 more. under Sir John Moore, would speedily be dispatched for the same purpose. He was also informed of the surrender of Dupont, and that the army of Junot was considerably weakened by the necessity of sending about 6000 men, under general Loison, to quell an iúsurrection that had broken out in the south of Portugal. This information induced Sir Arthur to disembark his troops without delay, Soon after the disembarkation was effected, the corps under general Spencer also landed. And on the 9th of August the advanced guard arched forward on the road to Lisbon. On the 12th the army reached Legria. On the 15th the advanced guard came up with a party of the French at Obidos, where a slight action took place, occasioned principally by the eagerness of the British to attack and pursue the enemy. On the 16th the army halted, and on the next day the

general

general came to the determination of attacking the French under general Laborde at Roleia.

Roleia is situated on an eminence, having a plain in its front, at the end of a valley which commeuces at Caldas, and is closed to the southwards by mountains which come in contact with the hills forming the valley on the left. In the centre of the valley, and about eight miles from Roleia, is the town and old Moorish fort of Obidos, from whence the enemy's piquets had been driven on the 15th. From that time the French had posts in the hills on both sides of the valley, as well as in the plain in front of the main army, which was posted on the heights opposite to Roleia; its right resting upon the hills, its left, on which was a windmill, and the whole covering four or five passes into the mountains on their rear. Their force amounted to about 6000, of which about 500 were cavalry, with five pieces of cannon. And there was some reason to believe that general Loison, who was at Rio Major on the 16th, would join general Laborde by his right in the course of the night. The plan of attack was formed accordingly, and the army breaking up from Caldas on the 17th, was formed into three columns; the right destined to turn the enemy's left, and penetrate into the mountains in his rear; the left to ascend the hills at Obidos, to turn all the posts on the left of the valley, and also watch the motions of Gen. Loison; the centre column to

attack general Laborde's position in front. The enemy was defeated, but retreated in good order. By this victory the road was cleared to Lisbon. On the day after the battle the Britishi army moved to Lourinha, to protect the landing aud facilitate the junction of the troops under general Anstruther; and on the 21st they resumed their march.

General Junot, having been informed of the large reinforcement expected under the command of Sir John Moore, determined to attack the British army before the reinforcement should arrive. For this purpose he left Lisbon with nearly the whole of the forces under his command, and came up with Sir Arthur on the morning of the 21st of Aug. A hard fought battle+ ensued. The French, with fixed bayonets, attacked the British with their usual impetuosity. They were driven back by our troops with the bayonet. They renewed their at tacks, in different columns, again and again, and were as often driven back with cooler intrepidity and greater strength of arm. At last they fled from the charge. In this battle the French lost 13 pieces of cannon, 23 ammunition waggons, and about 3000 in killed, wounded, and missing. One general officer was wounded and taken prisoner, and another was killed. Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to nearly a thousand.

1

After the dispositions for the battle of Vimeira had been made, Sir H. Burrard arrived at the scene of