History of the Peninsular War, Volume 3 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 3 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
all the care and consideration due to so important a subject, such
a negotiation should be effected as soon as it was practicable; and
meantime mutual facilities afforded to the commerce of both countries,
by temporary regulations, founded on reciprocal utility. Another
separate article provided that the Spanish government should take the
most effectual measures for preventing the Spanish squadrons, in all
their ports, from falling into the power of France. Before the treaty
could reach Spain, the mischief against which this latter article was
intended to provide had been done in the ports of Galicia.
♦SURRENDER OF CORUÑA.♦
There were Englishmen at Coruña, who, when Sir John Moore was
preparing to embark, doubted whether the inhabitants would protect
his embarkation. In the bitterness of grief and shame they said,
“should the Galicians tell us that we came into their country and by
the imposing display of our well-equipped army prevented them from
defending their native mountains; that they entrusted their passes to
us and we abandoned them to the enemy; that disregarding any service
which seemed immaterial to our own safety, we let the French occupy the
approaches to their city; ... should the volunteers of Coruña tell us
this (they said), and throw down their arms when they see us flying to
our ships, ... we should have little right to complain of desertion or
abandonment!” But the Spaniards are a more generous people than these
doubts implied. Astonished indeed they were at the manner in which an
army that had excited by its proud appearance the highest hopes as well
as the highest admiration, had retreated through one of the strongest
and most defensible countries in Europe; but severely as these hopes
were disappointed, and cruelly as they suffered in consequence, they
were not betrayed into one unworthy act or expression of resentment.
The Governor of Coruña, D. Antonio de Alcedo, had made vigorous
preparations as soon as it seemed likely that the enemy might enter
Galicia. His name will be remembered as the author of a Geographical
Dictionary of Spanish America, much more accurate and copious than
any former work relating to those countries. It would be well for him
could it be forgotten in the history of his own. While he expected that
the British army would make a stand, and maintain Coruña and Ferrol
at least, even if they abandoned the field, he held brave language,
calling upon the inhabitants to supply stakes, beams, fascines and
butts for additional works, and exhorting the women to busy themselves
in providing sacks to be filled with earth. “If the French come,” said
he in his proclamation, “I will take such measures that Coruña shall be
not less gloriously distinguished than Gerona, Valencia, and Zaragoza.
But should fortune prove adverse to us, as a chastisement from God for
our sins, I will bury myself in the ruins of this fortress rather than
surrender it to the enemy: thus finishing my days with honour, and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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