182 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



the same spirit, had not some in- 

 sidious arts been employed to ex- 

 cite alarm, and produce their dis- 

 persion. There is nothing, it is 

 true, so striking in the conduct of 

 new and undisciplined levies (and 

 in none more than that of the 

 Spaniards, both in this and the 

 preceding campaign) as the proofs 

 they exhibit of courage on some 

 occasions, and cowardice on others. 

 Yet it is scarcely credible that a 

 whole ai-my should have taken to 

 their heels, without having made 

 the least show of resistance, with- 

 out treachery. General Blake, 

 wrung with grief and ansietj', in 

 liis dispatches to the junta, spoke 

 of the base cowardice of his army 

 in the terms it deserved. He vin- 

 dicated his own character and 

 conduct, and observed, that nei- 

 ther can the circumstances that 

 give rise to a panic fear be fore- 

 seen, nor its contagion prevented, 

 by a general. In some instances, 

 parties of Spaniards, making their 

 escape from the dangers of the 

 field before the issue of the bat- 

 tle in which they had been en- 

 gaged, were received by their 

 countrymen, as we have had oc- 

 casion to notice, without any 

 marks of displeasure or disrespect; 

 but the fugitives of Belshite were 

 treated, and every where spoken 

 of, with ridicule and contempt.* 

 The Spaniards, in their precipi- 



tate flight from Belshite, not only 

 abandone.l their baggage, but 

 threw down their arms. The 

 regiment of Valencia rallied about 

 two leagues from the field, or 

 rather what was designed for the 

 field of battle, and attempted to 

 make a stand, and defend them- 

 selves : but they were soon dis- 

 persed or cut down by the enemy's 

 hussars. Nine pieces of cannon, 

 immense quantities of provisions, 

 stores, and ammunition, fell into 

 the hands of the French, together 

 with 3,000 prisoners. Afterthissad 

 disaster, general Blake quitted Ar- 

 ragon, and, at a distance from the 

 enemy, employed himself with great 

 diligence, in disciplining his army. 

 The corps or armies of the 

 French generals Victor and Se- 

 bastiani, after long retrograde 

 marches : the former on the shores 

 of the Tagus the other through 

 the deserts of Castille, had united 

 their forces, as above observed, at 

 a short distance from Toledo. 

 Their united force, with ihe re- 

 inforcement brought by King Jo- 

 seph from Madrid, has been com- 

 puted variously, from 34 or 40 to 

 50,000 ; the command of the 

 whole united army was, of course, 

 exercised in the name of King 

 Joseph. It was stationed in the 

 neighbourhood of Talavera del 

 Reyna, and along the banks of 

 the river Alberche, 



In 



* In the correspondence of the marqiiis of Wellesley with Mr. Canning, secretary 

 tor foreign affairs, printed and laid before parliament in May, 1809, we find a letter 

 from Sir Arthur to his brother, the marquis, dated at Deleytosa, 8th of August, 

 J 809, from which the following is an extract: "I am of opinion that an effort should 

 immediately be made for clotluiig the Spanish troops in a national uniform. The 

 adoption of this measure would put a stop to the custom which, I am sorrv to say, 

 so generally prevails, of their throwing down their arms and accoutrements, dis- 

 persing, and betaking themselves to flight, on pretence of their being, not soldiers, 

 but snnply peasants." If they were understood to be soldiers, deserters, and fugi- 

 tives fi-om the army. Sir Arthur thinks their danger would be increased, from the 

 indignation and resentment of their countrymen.' 



