History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
another will come after it; but they will have destroyed your naval
establishments, they will have caused the destruction of Lisbon, and
this is what they aim at, and what they desire: they know that they
cannot maintain themselves upon the Continent; but if they can destroy
the ports and the navy of any other power, they are content. I depart
full of confidence in you. I reckon upon all the citizens who are
interested in the preservation of public order; and I am persuaded that
it will be preserved. Call to mind the miseries which must necessarily
follow, if this beautiful city should compel my troops to enter it by
force! The exasperated soldiers would not be then to be controlled; ...
fire, sword, all the horrors of war which are practised in a city taken
by assault, ... pillage, ... death, ... behold what you would draw
♦OBSERVADOR PORTUGUEZ, 408.♦ upon yourselves! The thought alone makes
me shudder. Inhabitants of Lisbon, avert from yourselves these terrible
calamities!”
♦PREPARATIONS ON BOARD THE RUSSIAN SQUADRON.♦
The tone of the French was somewhat altered in their menaces. There had
been no shuddering when the fate of Beja and Evora was announced to
the people of Lisbon, nor when the massacre at Leiria was perpetrated.
Care was taken to manifest that the French were prepared to execute
their threats if needful. The Russian squadron, which lay at anchor
in a line from Junqueira to Boa Vista, was made ready for action, the
men being stationed at their quarters with lighted matches; they, no
doubt, apprehended an attack from the English fleet, but ♦OBSERVADOR
PORTUGUEZ, 410.♦ La Garde intimated that they would fire upon the city
in case an insurrection were attempted. Justly apprehensive, however,
for his personal safety, this Intendant, whom, because perhaps of his
office, the people regarded with peculiar hatred, went sometimes to
pass the night on board the Vasco da Gama, and General Travot, though
he was evidently esteemed by the people for his mild and honourable
conduct (so much is a good name worth even in the worst times) thought
it prudent not to sleep out of the Castle. ♦JUNCTION OF LOISON,
LABORDE, AND JUNOT.♦
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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