Greatness of lord Wellington’s plans--Situation of the belligerents described--State of the French--Character of Joseph--Of his Ministers--Disputes with the Marshals--Napoleon’s policy--Military governments--Almenara sent to Paris--Curious deception executed by the marquis of Romana, Mr. Stuart, and the historian Cabanes--Prodigious force of the French army--State of Spain--Inertness of Gallicia--Secret plan of the Regency for encouraging the Guerillas--Operations of those bands--Injustice and absurdity of the Regency, with respect to South America--England--State of parties--Factious injustice on both sides--Difficulty of raising money--Bullion committee--Wm. Cobbett--Lord King--Mr. Vansittart--Extravagance of the Ministers--State of Portugal--Parties in that country--Intrigues of the Patriarch and the Souza’s--Mr. Stuart is appointed Plenipotentiary--His firmness--Princess Carlotta claims the regency of the whole Peninsula, and the succession to the throne of Spain 234 CHAPTER III. Lord Wellington’s scheme for the defence of Portugal--Vastness of his designs--Number of his troops--Description of the country--Plan of defence analysed--Difficulty of supplying the army--Resources of the belligerents compared--Character of the British soldier 254 CHAPTER IV. Character of Miguel Alava--Portuguese government demand more English troops--Lord Wellington refuses, and reproaches the Regency--The factious conduct of the latter--Character of the light division--General Crawfurd passed the Coa--His activity and skilful arrangements--Is joined by Carrera--Skirmish at Barba del Puerco--Carrera invites Ney to desert--Romana arrives at head-quarters--Lord Wellington refuses to succour Ciudad Rodrigo--His decision vindicated--Crawfurd’s ability and obstinacy--He maintains his position--Skirmish at Alameda--Captain Kraükenberg’s gallantry--Skirmish at Villa de Puerco--Colonel Talbot killed--Gallantry of the French captain Guache--Combat of the Coa--Comparison between general Picton and general Crawfurd 273 CHAPTER V.