King Joseph’s return to Madrid--Del Parque’s operations--Battle of Alba de Tormes--Dispersion of the Spanish troops--Their great sufferings and patience--The Supreme Junta treat sir A. Wellesley’s counsels with contempt--He breaks up from the Guadiana and moves to the Mondego--Vindication of his conduct for having remained so long on the Guadiana--French remain torpid about Madrid--Observations 86 BOOK X. CHAPTER I. Joseph prepares to invade Andalusia--Distracted state of affairs in that province--Military position and resources described--Invasion of Andalusia--Passes of the Morena forced by the French--Foolish deceit of the Supreme Junta--Tumult in Seville--Supreme Junta dissolved--Junta of Seville re-assembles, but disperses immediately after--The French take Jaen--Sebastiani enters Grenada--King Joseph enters Cordoba and afterwards marches against Seville--Albuquerque’s march to Cadiz--Seville surrenders--Insurrection at Malaga put down by Sebastiani--Victor invests Cadiz--Faction in that city--Mortier marches against Badajos--The visconde de Gand flies to Ayamonte--Inhospitable conduct of the bishop of Algarve 101 CHAPTER II. Operations in Navarre, Aragon, and Valencia--Pursuit of the student Mina--Suchet’s preparations--His incursion against Valencia--Returns to Aragon--Difficulty of the war in Catalonia--Operations of the seventh corps--French detachments surprised at Mollet and San Perpetua--Augereau enters Barcelona--Sends Duhesme to France--Returns to Gerona--O’Donnel rallies the Spanish army near Centellas--Combat of Vich--Spaniards make vain efforts to raise the blockade of Hostalrich--Augereau again advances to Barcelona--Sends two divisions to Reus--Occupies Manreza and Villa Franca--French troops defeated at Villa Franca and Esparaguera--Swartz abandons Manreza--Is defeated at Savadel--Colonel Villatte communicates with the third corps by Falcet--Severolli retreats from Reus to Villa Franca--Is harassed on the march--Augereau’s unskilful conduct--Hostalrich falls--Gallant exploit of the governor, Julian Estrada--Cruelty of Augereau 124 CHAPTER III. Suchet marches against Lerida--Description of that fortress--Suchet marches to Tarega--O’Donnel advances from Taragona--Suchet returns to Balaguer--Combat of Margalef--Siege of Lerida--The city stormed--Suchet drives the inhabitants into the citadel and thus forces it to surrender 144 CHAPTER IV. Reflections on that act--Lazan enters Alcanitz, but is driven out by the French--Colonel Petit taken with a convoy by Villa Campa, and assassinated after the action--Siege of Mequinenza--Fall of that place--Morella taken--Suchet prepares to enter Catalonia--Strength and resources of that province 158 CHAPTER V.