JET. 31.] PENINSULAR WAR. 431 



Brand * showed me a letter from Graham, t who was 

 with him, dated 13th January. He states that the 

 French refused battle when offered at Lugo ; that 

 the English army is unfit for anything but fighting ; 

 harassed by all wants, and by disease from climate 

 and fatigue, and dying in great numbers. Of course 

 this is before the battles. 



" Altogether, I imagine a more disastrous affair has 

 seldom been known. 



" Buonaniti has just received a letter from the Hol- 

 lands, at Lisbon. They are to go from thence to 

 Gibraltar. This is, to be sure, just the proper time 

 for running about from port to port, and seeking any- 

 thing rather than home. I suppose they are now pre- 

 pared to believe everything, except the real presence ; 

 for their frequent disappointments seem never to un- 

 deceive them, or to lessen their faith. In haste, 



"H. BROUGHAM." 



TO THE EAEL GEEY. 



" January 24, 1809. 



" DEAR LORD GREY, I understand the despatches 

 are come, but contain nothing more than Lord Paget 

 brought. The loss of the army is great on the retreat ; 

 but its abominable conduct in plundering, murdering, 

 &c., &c., is much worse. So much for Lord Cathcart 

 and Copenhagen. This I learn from one who was 

 with the army the whole way, and an officer of rank. 



" The Spaniards, who disliked us at first, of course 



* Afterwards Lord-Dacre. t Afterwards Lord Lynedoch. 



