448 PENINSULAR WAR. [1809. 



* The whole of our misfortunes in Spain may be as- 

 cribed to the loss of the two precious months during 

 which the French were behind the Ebro, when our 

 ministers were solely occupied in discussions respect- 

 ing that blockhead Sir Hew Dalrymple. During 

 those months no communications took place with 

 Spain. I never received one line from Government, 

 and those beasts the Junta neither sought nor received 

 advice. In short, Spain was as thoroughly forgotten 

 as if it were at the bottom of the sea. I had indeed 

 been told we should not interfere in the formation of 

 the government, a determination originating in the 

 desire of ministers to shelter themselves from future 

 blame in case of misfortune, and tantamount to the 

 abandonment of a child at three years old by its 

 parents, with directions to provide for itself in what- 

 ever mode it may think most expedient/ 



" After some remarks on the necessity of our inter- 

 fering, of which he maintains the whole Spanish nation 

 would have highly approved, the letter proceeds : 



" ' Wellesley's victory is a great thing as far as 

 relates to the abstract proposition of one Englishman 

 beating two Frenchmen, but with respect to the 

 Spaniards serves only to prove them useless allies in 

 their present state. It will do little for Spain, or even 

 for the security of our army, if he is not able to ad- 

 vance to Madrid, and to direct the population of that 

 capital. Indeed he must go there if only to obtain 

 provisions, horses, &c., whether to retreat or go for- 

 ward. He will find nothing at Talavera. Marching 



