Spanish general Belesta seizes general Quesnel and retires to Gallicia--Insurrection at Oporto--Junot disarms and confines the Spanish soldiers near Lisbon--General Avril’s column returns to Estremos--General Loison marches from Almeida against Oporto; is attacked at Mezam Frias; crosses the Douero; attacked at Castro d’Año; recalled to Lisbon--French driven out of the Algarves--The fort of Figueras taken--Abrantes and Elvas threatened--Setuval in commotion--General Spencer appears off the Tagus--Junot’s plan--Insurrection at Villa Viciosa suppressed--Colonel Maransin takes Beja with great slaughter of the patriots--The insurgents advance from Leria, fall back--Action at Leria--Loison arrives at Abrantes--Observations on his march--French army concentrated--The Portuguese general Leite, aided by a Spanish corps, takes post at Evora--Loison crosses the Tagus; defeats Leite’s advanced guard at Montemor--Battle of Evora--Town taken and pillaged--Unfriendly conduct of the Spaniards--Loison reaches Elvas; collects provisions; is recalled by Junot--Observations 155 CHAPTER III. Political and military retrospect--Mr. Fox’s conduct contrasted with that of his successors--General Spencer sent to the Mediterranean--Sir John Moore withdrawn from thence; arrives in England; sent to Sweden--Spencer arrives at Gibraltar--Ceuta, the object of his expedition--Spanish insurrection diverts his attention to Cadiz; wishes to occupy that city--Spaniards averse to it--Prudent conduct of sir Hew Dalrymple and lord Collingwood--Spencer sails to Ayamonte; returns to Cadiz; sails to the mouth of the Tagus; returns to Cadiz--Prince Leopold of Sicily and the duke of Orleans arrive at Gibraltar--Curious intrigue--Army assembled at Cork by the whig administration, with a view to permanent conquest in South America, the only disposable British force--Sir A. Wellesley takes the command--Contradictory instructions of the ministers--Sir John Moore returns from Sweden; ordered to Portugal--Sir Hew Dalrymple appointed commander of the forces--Confused arrangements made by the ministers 169 CHAPTER IV. Sir A. Wellesley quits his troops and proceeds to Coruña--Junta refuse assistance in men, but ask for and obtain money--Sir Arthur goes to Oporto; arranges a plan with the bishop; proceeds to the Tagus; rejoins his troops; joined by Spencer; disembarks at the Mondego; has an interview with general Freire d’Andrada; marches to Leria--Portuguese insurrection weak--Junot’s position and dispositions--Laborde marches to Alcobaça, Loison to Abrantes--General Freire separates from the British--Junot quits Lisbon with the reserve--Laborde takes post at Roriça--Action of Roriça--Laborde retreats to Montachique--Sir A. Wellesley marches to Vimiero--Junot concentrates his army at Torres Vedras 187 CHAPTER V.