History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
The next day, December 1, was the anniversary of the Acclamation, ...
of that revolution which in 1640 had restored Portugal to the rank of
an independent kingdom, and given its crown to the rightful heir. What
a day for those inhabitants of Lisbon who loved their country, and
were familiar with the history of its better ages! The second division
was now come up, with the artillery and baggage; ... powder waggons
creaked along the streets; thousands, and tens of thousands, whom the
destruction of trade and the dissolution of government had thrown out
of employ, were wandering about the city, and the patroles and the
whole force of the police was employed in calming and controlling the
agitated multitude. The parish ministers went from house to house,
informing the inhabitants that they must prepare to quarter the French
officers, and collecting mattresses and blankets for the men. In the
midst of all this so violent a storm of wind arose[19], that it shook
the houses like an earthquake, and in the terror which it occasioned
many families fled into the open country: windows were blown in, and
houses unroofed; the treasury and arsenal were damaged, and the tide
suddenly rose twelve feet. ♦OBS. PORT. 22.♦ The troops entered Lisbon
mostly by night, and without beat of drum. On the 3rd, 11,000 men were
posted in the city, from Belem to the Grilo, and from the castle to
Arroios; and as the first fruits of that protection which the religion
of the country was to experience, all persons in the great convents
of Jesus, the Paulistas, and St. Francisco da Cidade, who had any
relations by whom they could be housed, were ordered to turn out, that
the French soldiers might be accommodated in their apartments. This
measure produced a great effect upon those who had for a moment been
deluded by the professions of the enemy. The generals of division and
brigade took possession of the houses of the principal merchants, and
of those fidalgos who accompanied the Prince.
♦FORCED LOAN REQUIRED, DEC. 3.♦
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