THE 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 



For the YEAR 1809. 



THE 



HISTORY 



OF 



EUROPE. 



CHAP. I. 



General Instructions to Sir John Moore, before he set out on his March 

 to Spain. — Plan of Leading a British Army into the Heart of Spai?i. 

 — By tvhomjbrmed. — The British Ministry deplorably ignorant both of 

 the French Force in Spain, and the real State of that Country. — The 

 French concentrated behind the Ebro. — The whole of their Force in 

 Cantonments and Garrisons. — Exaggerated Accounts of the Enthusiasm 

 of the Spaniards.— Fond Credulity of the British Ministry on that Sub- 

 ject, and, in Consequence of this, the most romantic Projects. — Thefatter- 

 ing Expectations of Co-operation held out to Sir John Moore utterly dis- 

 appointed. — Central Junta of Spain. — Their Character, incredible 

 Weakness and Folly. — Traitors among them. — False Intelligence of 

 the Approach of the French in great Force to Salamanca. — Measures 

 announced by Sir John Moore under the Impression of this to the Junta 

 of that Place. — Amazing Apathy and Indifference to public Affairs 

 and the Fate of the Country.^ Tardy and deficient Supplies to our 

 Army. — The Situation of Sir David Baird, who had landed in Gal' 

 licia, materially affected by the Defeat of the Spanish Army of the North. 

 — Design of Sir John Moore to take a Line of Positions on the 

 Duero — Frustrated by the total Defeat of General Castanos — By this 

 the British General determined to retreat on Lisbon — This Plan of 

 Retreating abandoned, and why — False and treacherous Intelligence 

 Vol. LI, B transmitted 



