Tumult in Tarragona--Reding proclaimed general--Reinforcements join the Spaniards--Actions at Bruch--Lazan advances, and fights at Castel Ampurias--He quarrels with Reding, and marches towards Zaragoza--Reding’s plans--St. Cyr breaks Reding’s line at Llacuna--Actions at Capelades, Igualada, and St. Magi--French general, unable to take the abbey of Creuz, turns it, and reaches Villaradona--Joined by Souham’s division, takes post at Valls and Pla--Reding rallies his centre and left wing--Endeavours to reach Taragona--Battle of Valls--Weak condition of Tortosa--St. Cyr blockades Taragona--Sickness in that city--St. Cyr resolves to retire--Chabran forces the bridge of Molino del Rey--Conspiracy in Barcelona fails--Colonel Briche arrives with a detachment from Aragon--St. Cyr retires behind the Llobregat--Pino defeats Wimpfen at Tarrasa--Reding dies--His character--Blake is appointed captain-general of the _Coronilla_--Changes the line of operations to Aragon--Events in that province--Suchet takes the command of the French at Zaragoza--Colonels Pereña and Baget oblige eight French companies to surrender--Blake advances--Battle of Alcanitz--Suchet falls back--Disorder in his army--Blake neglects Catalonia--St. Cyr marches by the valley of Congosto upon Vich--Action at the defile of Garriga--Lecchi conducts the prisoners to the Fluvia--St. Cyr hears of the Austrian war--Barcelona victualled by a French squadron--Observations 78 BOOK VI. CHAPTER I. Transactions in Portugal--State of that country--Neglected by the English cabinet--Sir J. Cradock appointed to command the British troops--Touches at Coruña--At Oporto--State of this city--Lusitanian legion--State of Lisbon--Cradock endeavours to reinforce Moore--Mr. Villiers arrives at Lisbon--Pikes given to the populace--Destitute state of the army--Mr. Frere, and others, urge Cradock to move into Spain--The reinforcements for sir J. Moore halted at Castello Branco--General Cameron sent to Almeida--French advanced guard reaches Merida--Cradock relinquishes the design of reinforcing the army in Spain, and concentrates his own troops at Saccavem--Discontents in Lisbon--Defenceless state and danger of Portugal--Relieved by sir J. Moore’s advance to Sahagun 112 CHAPTER II.