HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



13 



the chains of calamity, happened 

 by pure ill-luck, and without the 

 smallest degree of blame to the 

 wisest and best, but most unfortu- 

 nate of administrations. We were 

 required to believe in the fitness of 

 those, who had pronounced upon 

 each others incapacity. It was 

 from discord at home, and disgrace 

 abroad, that we were to infer wis- 

 dom and good conduct. 



We had seen now, in the course 

 of the first campaign in Spain, our 

 army had suffered more than it 

 could have suffered in a country 

 decidedly hostile : that it was re- 

 ceived with jealousy and unwilling- 

 ness, and that its presence, instead 

 of rousingthe Spaniards to greater 

 efforts, by an increased prospect 

 of success, seemed only to chill 

 whatever enthusiasm might have 

 been supposed to exist among 

 them before. Instead of gratitude 

 and enthusiasm, all we met with 

 was a bare preference of England 

 to France, in a choice of evils ; a 

 mere inclination to expel their in- 

 vaders, if it could be done without 

 the expense and trouble of adopt- 

 ing the necessary means. All we 

 obtained from them was the gra- 

 cious, though somewhat tardy per- 

 mission of the Supreme Junta, to 

 waste as many lives, and as much 

 treasure as we pleased in their de- 

 fence. Sir John Moore was or- 

 dered to advance, and make com- 

 mon cause with the Spanish nation. 

 He did advance, but the Spanish 

 nation seemed to dwindle away as 

 he approached ; and of all those 

 numerous armies of patriots, on 

 which he was taught to rely, not 

 one ever appeared, unless indeed 

 that name was to be bestowed on 

 a few miserable bands of fugitive 

 peasants, who crossed his way, in- 



terrupted his march, and encum- 

 bered him with fresh difficulties. 

 That general, one of the best offi- 

 cers, and ablest men this country 

 ever produced, in all he did, in all 

 he wrote, in his life, and by his 

 death, bore uniform testimony 

 against the whole system of de- 

 pending on the Spaniards, and of 

 assisting Spain, by means of an 

 army to be marched into the inte- 

 rior of the country. Be it that he 

 was over cautious, desponding, 

 guided by a pedantic attachment 

 to regular troops. Be it that he 

 admired the military genius of 

 Buonaparte, while he was slow to 

 discern that of the marquis of Ro- 

 mana. Be it that with unparallel- 

 ed coldness and scepticism, he 

 doubted the zeal of the inhabi- 

 tants of Madrid, and the unshaken 

 patriotism of Don Thomas Moria. 

 Let all the foolish objections, and 

 ridiculouscaiumniesavail, that had 

 been invented, in order to blacken 

 the memoryof that illustrious man, 

 who fell a victim to the folly and 

 impracticability of the design, in 

 which he was engaged. Setting 

 sir John Moure aside : what were 

 the opinions of all the other offi- 

 cers who served in that expedi- 

 tion ? they surely were not all in» 

 capable of forming a judgment. 

 They did not all labour, from be- 

 ginning to end, under the influ- 

 ence of invincible prejudice and 

 incurable despondency. And did 

 any of them, if they were consult- 

 ed, advise a second experiment ? 

 The opinions of some of them 

 were recorded along with those of 

 sir John Moore, and perfectly 

 coincided with his. Nay, he was 

 persuaded that one might- go yet 

 farther, and defy his majesty's mi- 

 nisters to produce the name of 



