The bishop of Oporto flies to Lisbon, and joins the regency--Humanity of marshal Soult--The Anti-Braganza party revives in the north of Portugal--The leaders make proposals to Soult--He encourages them--Error arising out of this proceeding--Effects of Soult’s policy--Assassination of colonel Lameth--Execution at Arifana--Distribution of the French troops--Franceschi opposed, on the Vouga, by colonel Trant--Loison falls back behind the Souza--Heudelet marches to the relief of Tuy--The Spaniards, aided by some English frigates, oblige thirteen hundred French to capitulate at Vigo--Heudelet returns to Braga--The insurrection in the Entre Minho e Douro ceases--Sylveira menaces Oporto--Laborde reinforces Loison, and drives Sylveira over the Tamega--Gallant conduct and death of colonel Patrick at Amarante--Combats at Amarante--French repulsed--Ingenious device of captain Brochard--The bridge of Amarante carried by storm--Loison advances to the Douro--Is suddenly checked--Observations 231 BOOK VIII. CHAPTER I. Anarchy in Portugal--Sir J. Cradock quits the command--Sir A. Wellesley arrives at Lisbon--Happy effect of his presence--Nominated captain-general--His military position described--Resolves to march against Soult--Reaches Coimbra--Conspiracy in the French army--D’Argenton’s proceedings--Sir A. Wellesley’s situation compared with that of Sir J. Cradock 262 CHAPTER II. Campaign on the Douro--Relative position of the French and English armies--Sir Arthur Wellesley marches to the Vouga--Sends Beresford to the Douro--A division under general Hill passes the lake of Ovar--Attempt to surprise Francheschi fails--Combat of Grijon--The French re-cross the Douro and destroy the bridge at Oporto--Passage of the Douro--Soult retreats upon Amarante--Beresford reaches Amarante--Loison retreats from that town--Sir Arthur marches upon Braga--Desperate situation of Soult--His energy--He crosses the Sierra Catalina--Rejoins Loison--Reaches Carvalho d’Esté--Falls back to Salamonde--Daring action of major Dulong--The French pass the Ponte Nova and the Saltador, and retreat by Montalegre--Soult enters Orense--Observations 277 CHAPTER III.