French retire from Merida--Send a force to Plasencia--The direct intercourse between Portugal and sir J. Moore’s army interrupted--Military description of Portugal--Situation of the troops--Cradock again pressed, by Mr. Frere and others, to move into Spain--The ministers ignorant of the real state of affairs--Cradock hears of Moore’s advance to Sahagun--Embarks two thousand men to reinforce him--Hears of the retreat to Coruña, and re-lands them--Admiral Berkely arrives at Lisbon--Ministers more anxious to get possession of Cadiz than to defend Portugal--Five thousand men, under general Sherbrooke, embarked at Portsmouth--Sir George Smith reaches Cadiz--State of that city--He demands troops from Lisbon--General Mackenzie sails from thence, with troops--Negotiations with the junta--Mr. Frere’s weak proceedings--Tumult in Cadiz--The negotiation fails 127 CHAPTER III. Weakness of the British army in Portugal--General Cameron marches to Lisbon--Sir R. Wilson remains near Ciudad Rodrigo--Sir J. Cradock prepares to take a defensive position at Passo d’Arcos--Double dealing of the regency--The populace murder foreigners, and insult the British troops--Anarchy in Oporto--British government ready to abandon Portugal--Change their intention--Military system of Portugal--the regency demand an English general--Beresford is sent to them--Sherbrooke’s and Mackenzie’s troops arrive at Lisbon--Beresford arrives there, and takes the command of the native force--Change in the aspect of affairs--Sir J. Cradock encamps at Lumiar--Relative positions of the allied and French armies--Marshal Beresford desires sir J. Cradock to march against Soult--Cradock refuses--Various unwise projects broached by different persons 142 BOOK VII. CHAPTER I. Coruña and Ferrol surrender to Soult--He is ordered, by the emperor, to invade Portugal--The first corps is directed to aid this operation--Soult goes to St. Jago--Distressed state of the second corps--Operations of Romana and state of Gallicia--Soult commences his march--Arrives on the Minho--Occupies Tuy, Vigo, and Guardia--Drags large boats over land from Guardia to Campo Saucos--Attempt to pass the Minho--Is repulsed by the Portuguese peasantry--Importance of this repulse--Soult changes his plan--Marches on Orense--Defeats the insurgents at Franquera, at Ribidavia, and in the valley of the Avia--Leaves his artillery and stores in Tuy--Defeats the Spanish insurgents in several places, and prepares to invade Portugal--Defenceless state of the northern provinces of that kingdom--Bernadim Friere advances to the Cavado river--Sylveira advances to Chaves--Concerts operations with Romana--Disputes between the Portuguese and Spanish troops--Ignorance of the generals 162 CHAPTER II.