Account of the War in Spain, Portugal, and the South of France: From 1808 to 1814 Inclusive ...

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Page 305 - ... the irresistible impulse of filial duty and affection to his beloved and afflicted father leads him to dread that any act of the Regent might, in the smallest degree, have the effect of interfering with the progress of his Sovereign's recovery. ' This consideration alone dictates the decision now communicated to Mr. Perceval.
Page 310 - Nearly 2000 square miles of country remained for five months with scarcely an inhabitant ; everything it contained was devoured by the enemy, or destroyed by the season. In the space immediately bounding the positions of the two armies, not permanently occupied by either, the produce of the harvest perished, scattered over the ground, and the vintage mouldered on the stalk ; flocks of innumerable small birds (starlings), drawn to the spot by instinct, fattened unmolested on the ungathered grapes...
Page 285 - Zizandra on the ocean to Alhandra on the Tagus, was modelled into -a field of battle; mountains were scarped perpendicularly, rivers dammed, and inundations formed ; all roads favourable to the enemy were destroyed, and others made to facilitate the communications of the defenders ; formidable works were erected to strengthen and support the weak points ; whilst numerous cannon, planted on inaccessible posts, commanded the different approaches, and gave an equality of defence to the whole position.
Page 97 - Dalrymple, and of any other officer or officers, who may have held the command of our troops in Portugal, and of any other person or persons, as far as the same were connected with the said Armistice and Convention, in order that the said General Officers may report to us touching the matters aforesaid, for our better information.
Page 91 - V. It is agreed provisionally that the French army shall not, in any case, be considered as prisoners of war ; that all the individuals who compose it shall be transported to France with their arms and baggage, and the whole of their private property, from which nothing shall be exempted.
Page 263 - Gallicia. 1 am not jealous of any thing that can produce good to that Empire. My sentiments for its illustrious Sovereign are in unison with my policy. When I shall show myself beyond the Pyrenees, the frightened leopard will fly to the ocean, to avoid shame, defeat, and death.
Page 98 - At the close of the inquiry, the king, abstaining from any observations upon other parts of the convention, repeats his disapprobation of those articles; his majesty deeming it necessary that his sentiments should be clearly understood, as to the impropriety and danger of the unauthorised admission, into military conventions, of articles of such a description, which, especially when incautiously framed, may lead to the most injurious consequences.
Page 365 - ... Though Soult rushed into the thickest of the fire, and encouraged and animated his men, — though the cavalry gathered on their flank and threatened it with destruction, on went these noble regiments ; volley after volley falling into the crowded ranks of their enemy, and cheer after * " Fields far on the rear of the allies were strewed with the bodies of Polish lancers who had penetrated singly beyond the contending parties. These desperadoes galloped about in all directions, spearing the wounded...
Page 149 - - who have hitherto," said lie, " shown little mercy even to the feeble and infirm who have fallen into their hands. The army has still eleven leagues to march ; the soldiers must make an exertion to accomplish them : the rear guard cannot stop; and those who fall behind must take their fate.
Page 204 - The position was about two miles in length, extending perpendicularly from the Tagus, on which the right rested in the town of Talavera. It was partially retrenched, having an intersected and most difficult country in its front. The centre was more open ; but the left terminated favourably on a bold and commanding height, overlooking a considerable valley, which separated the left of the position from a range of rocky mountains. To the Spaniards...

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