SIR JOHX MOORE 155 



means at the disposal of a great nation was required 

 to sustain the naval superiority we had gained. Large 

 armaments were fitted out. Troops constantly embarking 

 and disembarking caused a sort of tidal influx and efflux 

 of strangers, cix)wding the streets with naval and military 

 uniforms. 



The ill-fated Sir John ]\Ioore, I recollect, whose pensive 

 brow, indicative of all that was brave and noble, reflected 

 the lofty intelligence of the venerable author of " Zeluco " 

 — arrived from Sweden, whither he had been sent on 

 a futile expedition, to recruit and refresh his army 

 of 10,000 men, prior to his joining the British forces 

 at Lisbon, where the famous Convention of Cintra had 

 been latelv sio^ned. There he took the command, and 

 marched through Portugal into Spain, where, joined 

 by Sir David Baird, who had disembarked at Ferrol with 

 5,000 men from Ireland, he advanced upon Madrid. He 

 had not proceeded far before he was compelled to retreat 

 before a superior French army, commanded by Xapoleon 

 in person, with Marshals Soult and Ney, and the elite of 

 his staff. 



A battle was fought before Corunna, in which Ave 

 claimed the victory. The General-in-Chief was killed, 

 and hastily interred. The second in command was 

 severely wounded, and as hastily embarked,^ as did the 

 remains of that fine armv that had left our shores but a 

 twelvemonth before, completely equipped, and in perfect 

 order. AYhat a contrast was presented to me, when, in 



' Sir David Baird was borne to his lodgings in the High Street 

 on the shoulders of his men, seated in a wine-cask, with the 

 loss of an arm. 



