Second operations of Bessieres--Blake’s and Cuesta’s armies unite at Benevente--Generals disagree--Battle of Rio Seco--Bessieres’ endeavours to corrupt the Spanish generals fail--Bessieres marches to invade Gallicia, is recalled, and falls back to Burgos--Observations 101 CHAPTER VIII. Dupont marches against Andalusia, forces the bridge of Alcolea, takes Cordoba--Alarm at Seville--Castaños arrives, forms a new army--Dupont retreats to Andujar, attacks the town of Jaen--Vedel forces the pass of Despeñas Perros, arrives at Baylen--Spanish army arrives on the Guadalquivir--General Gobert defeated and killed--Generals Vedel and Darfour retire to Carolina--General Reding takes possession of Baylen--Dupont retires from Andujar--Battle of Baylen--Dupont’s capitulation, eighteen thousand French troops lay down their arms--Observations--Joseph holds a council of war, resolves to abandon Madrid--Impolicy of so doing 112 BOOK II. CHAPTER I. The Asturian deputies received with enthusiasm in England---Ministers precipitate--Imprudent choice of agents--Junot marches to Alcantara, joined by the Spanish contingent, enters Portugal, arrives at Abrantes, pushes on to Lisbon--Prince regent emigrates to the Brazils, reflections on that transaction--Dangerous position of the French army--Portuguese council of regency--Spanish contingent well received--General Taranco dies at Oporto, is succeeded by the French general Quesnel--Solano’s troops retire to Badajos--Junot takes possession of the Alemtejo and the Algarves; exacts a forced loan; is created duke of Abrantes; suppresses the council of regency; sends the flower of the Portuguese army to France--Napoleon demands a ransom from Portugal--People unable to pay it--Police of Lisbon--Junot’s military position; his character; political position--People discontented--Prophetic eggs--Sebastianists---The capture of Rossily’s squadron known at Lisbon--Pope’s nuncio takes refuge on board the English fleet--Alarm of the French 136 CHAPTER II.