and the Cortes, which had elevated him to the rank of a grandee of Spain, at length gave the strongest proof of their esteem and confidence by a resolution declaring him commander-in-chief of the Spanish armies. When, in consequence of this appointment, his lordship sent an order to General Ballasteros, captain - general of Andalusia, and undoubtedly one of the most zealous and active of the Spanish commanders, to move his army, that officer felt his honour so much piqued, and considered it as such a national degradation, that he declined obedience. In a letter which he addressed to the warminister on the occasion, he stated in strong terms his sense of this affront, as he understood it, to his countrymen, and concluded with saying, that if the national armies and citizens, on being asked their opinion, should agree to the nomination, he would resign his employments, and retire to his home, in order to convince the world that he was actuated by no private views, but only by a regard to honour, and the good of his country. The Regency, however, would not permit such an infraction of the obedience due to the sovereign authority by any person of whatever rank serving under it; and issued a notice acquainting the public with the discharge of Don Fr. Ballasteros from his command in the army, and the appointment, ad interim, of Don Joaquim Virues in his stead. At the same time Ballesteros was put under arrest in the midst of his army, which made no resistance, and received an order to depart for Ceuta. To obviate any unfavourable impres sion on the nation from this mea sure, the secretary at war, on October 30, read before the Cortes a memorial (which was printed) setting forth the deplorable state of the country when the Regency assumed the reins of government, and the additions which had been made to its military force during the present year, with the improvement of its prospects since the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo by Lord Wellington. It also mentioned that orders has been sent to the generals in chief of the armies to act in concert with, and in obedience to, the Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo. Such was the general state of affairs in Spain towards the close of 1812; meliorated, no doubt, by the liberation of the seat of government from a hostile blockade, and by the recovery of several of the southern provinces from the yoke of the invader; but manifestly displaying the necessity of much more vigorous and combined efforts on the part of the nation to effect the expulsion of the foe, and secure its independence, than have yet been made, even upon the supposition that the French arms shall continue to find so much occupation in other parts as to prevent any considerable recruit to their force in the Peninsula. A plan has since been opened by Lord Wellington, of a connected system of military command and operation through the whole country, which, if carried into execution, may produce effects much more considerable than can be expected from the desultory efforts of guerillas and detached parties; but whether national jea lousies lousies and prejudices will permit its adoption, seems at the present a matter of doubt. was The kingdom of Portugal during this year enjoyed that exemption from hostile devastations which had been secured by the exertions of its great defender, interrupted only by that irruption of the French into the lower Beira which was intended as a diversion in favour of Badajos, then under siege by Lord Wellington. Opportunity therefore given for the operations of agriculture, and the other means of recovery from the severe calamities it had undergone; and it cannot be doubted that the sums of money derived from English subsidies, and the expenditure of the English troops in their passage through Lisbon, materially aided the resources of the country. The assiduity of Marshal Beresford and the authority of Lord Wellington had placed the military establishment of Portugal upon a very respectable footing; and before the close of 1811 there were numbered of troops of the line and in gar rison above 54,000, of militia 58,000, and of the ordenanza, armed partly with pikes, partly with muskets, above 200,000. Of the regulars, a large proportion served with the allied army in Spain, and on various occasions acquired great credit. On February 13, the government of Portugal issued a proclamation addressed to the people in general, comparing their past and present state, and although pointing out the improvement of their condition, yet shewing the necessity of precautionary measures against such sudden inroads as might possibly be made by the enemy. Of these, they specify the three following: 1. All personscapable of bearing arms must be exercised in the use of them; and those whose age or sex unfit them for military service, must take measures by anticipation for repairing to places of security in case circumstances shall make it necessary: 2. They must carry off or conc al all money, gold, silver, or jewels which might tempt the avarice of the enemy: 3. They must carefully conceal, or if necessary destroy, all provisions that cannot be carried off, and remove cattle and carriages, in order to deprive the invader of means of subsistence and advance. That the Portuguese government did not entirely depend upon this country for defraying the expense of a war, a principal object of which was the security of that kingdom, was evinced by the assertion of Lord Liverpool when, in March, a message was brought to parliament from the Prince Regent, recommending the continuance of the subsidy paid to Portugal. His lordship said, that it would be a mistake to suppose that this subsidy of two millions sterling was adequate even to the military expenses of that country; for that its government had advanced, in addition, the sum of 1,800,0001. The treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce between Portugal and Russia, concluded at Petersburgh in 1798, now drawing to a termination, a renewal of it was agreed upon by the two parties, to remain in force til June 1815, with no other alteration than an addition to the duty on Portuguese [M 2] wines wines imported into Russia, corresponding to the additional duties since laid upon other wines. The remainder of the year offers nothing remarkable with respect to this part of the Peninsula, which, partly by the exertions of its own troops under British command, had the satisfaction to see its security from the common enemy greatly improved during the operations of this campaign, by the recovery of the strong fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos from the possession of the French, and their retreat from the other parts of its frontier. T CHAPTER CHAPTER XVII. France-Decree concerning Valencia - French occupation of Swedish Pomerania-Report by Murat-March of the Army towards Poland--Treaty with Prussia-Decree in favour of America-Napoleon arrives at Dantzic-Negociations-Treaty with Austria-Papers relative to the Differences with Russia-Advance of the French to Wilna-Polish Diet and Confederation - Riga-Alliance between England, Russia, and Sweden-Russians quit their Camp on the Duna, and French cross that River-Various Actions-Dunaberg taken-Smolensko carried by the French-Action of Valentina-Advance towards Moscow-Great Buttle of Borodino-Fren henter Moscow-Conflagration of that Capital-Enterprise of the Garrison of Riga-Alarms at Petersburgh- Advanced Guard of the French defeated-Moscow evacuated-Success of Witgenstein_at_PolotxkConspiracy at Paris-Negociations attempted with the RussiansFrench retreat-Various Actions-Davoust and Ney defeated-Dreadful sufferings of the French-Napoleon quits the army, and arrives at Paris-Addresses of the Senate and Council, and Replies-Conclusion. 1 TH THE French Emperor, on his return from his tour in the Low Countries at the latter part of 1811, was evidently meditating a grand stroke for the purpose of terminating his differences with, the court of Petersburgh in a manner conformable to that continental system which he had made the base of his policy; and the fate of the Peninsula was to be a secondary consideration in his counsels till the other object was obtained. In the mean time, he was not unmindful of that plan of attaching his generals and soldiers by rewards, at the cost of the vanquished, which has been discernible in all his wars. By a decree issued from the Tuilleries on January 21, he declares the annexation to his extra ordinary domain of effects in the province of Valencia to the amount of a principal of 200,000,000 liv. ordering at the same time that the Prince of Neufchatel shall transmit to the intendant-general of that domain a statement of the generals, officers, and soldiers of his armies in Spain, particularly in that of Arragon, who have distinguished themselves, in order that they may receive proofs of his imperial munificence. The first military operation of Napoleon which can be considered as connected with his northern projects, was the occupation of Swedish Pomerania. In January, a body of 20,000 French troops, as it is said, under General Friant, entered that province. The capi tal, tal, Stralsund, being very weakly fortified, with a small garrison, made no resistance to a colonel who was sent to take possession of it on the 26th, and who required quarters and provisions, saying, in answer to a demand of payment for the latter, "It is our custom and orders, that the country in which we are should furnish us with every thing needful." Friant entered on the following day; and when the Swedish general Peyron informed him that he should resist the occupation of the Isle of Rugen, the French general told him that he was his prisoner, and put seals on the custom-house. A body of 3000 men was drawn out with the intention of marching to Rugen over the ice; but the lieutenant who commanded a small fortress there, resolutely declaring that he would repel force by force, they were for the present remanded. The purpose of this unwarrautable seizure of Pomerania was evidently that the French Emperor might have a pledge in his hands to influence the conduct of Sweden in the approaching contest. Rugen was afterwards occupied by the French, the vessels and packets on the coast were detained for their service, and the French colours were hoisted in place of the Swedish. In February, a fleet arriv. ing off Stralsund with General Engelbrecht on board, to ascertain the state of the French troops in Pomerania, and bring back those of Sweden, no communication with the shore was permitted, and all correspondence with the general was declined by the French comAander, so that the fleet was obliged to sail back without effecting any thing. The French conservative senate held a sitting on March 10, at which the Duke of Bassano (Maret) minister for foreign affairs, delivered in a report, the sub-tance of which was an invective against the maritime policy of England, and an exposition and eulogy of all the measures taken by the Emperor for asserting the liberty of the seas, and retaliating her arbitrary measures. In this piece it is explicitly declared, that "till the British orders of council are rescinded, and the principles of the treaty of Utrecht towards neutrals are again in full vigour, the Berlin and Milan decrees will remain against those powers who allow their flags to be denationalised." A report of the minister of war follows, which begins with telling the Emperor that "the greatest part of bis Majesty's troops have been called out of the territory for the defence of the grand interests which are to ensure the preponderance of the empire, and maintain the Milan and Berlin decrees so fatal to England." Itgoes. on to state the inconvenience which have arisen from committing the. guard of the maritime places and establishments, during the absence of the troops of the line, to the fifth battalions, depots, and marine troops; and it proposes a division of the national guards into three. bands, of which the first is to be composed of all the conscripts from 1806 to 1812 who have not been called to the army, and have not since married, out of which cohorts are to be formed, constantly under arms, |