678 § Retrospect of Domestic Literature—Voyages, Ke. 
illustrative of the costume of various 
classes of the inhabitants of the countries 
which the author visited, or representing 
the most striking edifices that offered 
themselves to his notice. These are co- 
loured in imitation of drawings, and be- 
ing copied from designs taken on the. 
spot, they afford the reader nearly as - 
correct an idea of the objects deli- 
neated, as could be acquired by. actual 
observation. 
Dr. Neats’s “ Letters from Portugal 
end Spain; comprising an Account ef 
the Operations of the Armies, under Sir 
Arthur, Wellesley, and Sir John Moore, 
from the Landing of tke Troops in 
Mondego Bay, to the Battle of Corunna ;” 
display an accomplished, and superior 
mind, and are replete with interest. 
The proceedings of two British armies, 
by which the expectations of the country 
were so cruelly disappointed, are not 
indeed a grateful theme to the patriotic 
mind; but still it must be anxious to 
trace the causes of that disappointment, 
and eagerly seize any information which 
may tend to elucidate the subject. But 
exclusive of the political’ interest of the 
volume before us, its contents are va- 
Juable in many other points of view, as 
will appear irom the correct character, 
‘ which the author has himself given of 
them. The subjects, which have prin- 
cipally engaged his attenticn, are, he 
informs us, the positions and operations 
of the armies in Portugal and Spain ; 
occasional descriptions of the face of 
both countries; which descriptions, by 
the way, are accompanied with twelve 
drawings, traits of the character of the 
inhabitants; and, as might be expected, 
remarks on various! occurrences, con- 
nected with his own profession. 
Dr. Neale, accompanied the brigade 
of General Anstruther, . which landed 
on the Portuguese shore, only three days 
previous to the battle of Vimiera. Of 
that engagement, he gives an animated 
account from his own observation. It 
appears, that the opinion of the officers, 
an general, respecting the measures 
adopted, subsequently to that victory, 
very nearly corresponded with that, which 
was so loudly expressed by the ‘public 
voice at home. It is said, (observes our 
author) that had Sir Arthur W ellesley 
been permitted to follow the tendency 
of his own judgment, the campaign in 
Portugal would, in all probability, have 
terminated as gloriously for the British 
arms, as it had commenced. It is said, 
to have heen Sir Arthur’s decided opi- 
1 
nion, that the French army might have 
been pursued, in its retreat, by the five 
brigades, on the left. wing of the army; 
while the three brigades, on the right, 
ought to have been pushed on to the 
heights around Torres Vedras, .a very 
strong position, and which they must 
have reached before Junot should come 
up, with the broken remains of his 
troops. ~Had this measure been adopted, 
Junot must either have taken another, 
and circuitous read to Lisben, or he 
must have fought a second battle, in the 
defiles near Terres Vedras, which would 
most likely have ended in the entire de- 
struction of his army. In this opinion, 
Sir Arthur Wellesley was overruled by 
Sir Harry Burrard, who alledged, as rea- 
sons for his dissent, the reduced state of 
our small. body of cavalry, and the 
wretched condition of the anbilleny = 
horses. 
Yet I must. observe, that in general, 
the officers seem to regret, that “Sir Ar. 
thur Wellesley’s advice, was not follow~ 
ed; and every account which we have 
since had, respecting the miserable plight 
in which the French treops entered the 
town, after their defeat, proves the just- 
ness of the grounds upon which Sir Are 
thur had formed his decision. 
On the conclusion of the Convention 
of Cintra, the author proceeded to 
Lisbon, and, after a short residence in 
that city, set.off with the army, under 
Sir John Moore, for Spain, which he at- 
tended during the long and fatiguing 
march to Sahagun, as well asinthe ha- 
rassing and destructive retreat from that 
place toCorunna, For the details of 
these movements, and the description 
of the places visited by the Author, with 
the force which he accompanied, we 
must refer to the work itself, which pre- 
sents a dreadful picture of the_-hardships. 
sustained by our unfortunate troops, 
during this disastrous, and, we had al-. 
most said, inglorious campaign. 
We shall terminate our notice of a 
work, from which we have derived no 
inconsiderable pleasure and information, 
with transcribing one of the letters which 
will enable the reader to form some 
idea of the manner and abilities of the 
author, 
‘¢ Fearful,” says ss < that you have 
received a false i impression of the con- 
duct of the British troops towards the 
Spaniards, I could wish to lay before you 
the real state of facts, promising that. 
every possible allowance ought to be 
made for the irritation of our men’s minds, 
produced. 
