Massena resumes his march--The militia close upon his rear--Cavalry skirmish near Leiria--Allies retreat upon the lines--Colonel Trant surprises Coimbra--The French army continues its march--Cavalry skirmish at Rio Mayor--General Crawfurd is surprised at Alemquer and retreats by the wrong road--Dangerous results of this error--Description of the lines of Torres Vedras--Massena arrives in front of them--Romana reinforces Lord Wellington with two Spanish divisions--Remarkable works executed by the light division at Aruda--The French skirmish at Sobral--General Harvey wounded--General St. Croix killed--Massena takes a permanent position in front of the Lines--He is harassed on the rear and flanks by the British cavalry and the Portuguese militia 340 CHAPTER IX. State of Lisbon--Embargo on the vessels in the river--Factious conduct of the Patriarch--The desponding letters from the army--Alarm--Lord Liverpool--Lord Wellington displays the greatest firmness, vigour, and dignity, of mind--He rebukes the Portuguese Regency, and exposes the duplicity and presumption of the Patriarch’s faction--Violence of this faction--Curious revelation made by Baron Eben and the editor of the Brazilienza--Lord Wellesley awes the Court of Rio Janeiro--Strengthens the authority of Lord Wellington and Mr. Stuart--The French seize the Islands in the river--Foolish conduct of the governor of Setuval--General Fane sent to the left bank of the Tagus--Lord Wellington’s embarrassments become more serious--The heights of Almada fortified--Violent altercation of the Regency upon this subject--The Patriarch insults Mr. Stuart and nearly ruins the common cause 364 CHAPTER X. Massena’s pertinacity--He collects boats on the Tagus, and establishes a depôt at Santarem--Sends general Foy to Paris--Casts a bridge over the Zezere--Abandons his position in front of the Lines--Is followed by lord Wellington--Exploit of serjeant Baxter--Massena assumes the position of Santarem--Lord Wellington sends general Hill across the Tagus--Prepares to attack the French--Abandons this design and assumes a permanent position--Policy of the hostile generals exposed--General Gardanne arrives at Cardigos with a convoy, but retreats again--The French marauders spread to the Mondego--Lord Wellington demands reinforcements--Beresford takes the command on the left of the Tagus--Operations of the militia in Beira--General Drouet enters Portugal with the ninth corps--Joins Massena at Espinhal--Occupies Leiria--Claparede defeats Silveira and takes Lamego--Returns to the Mondego--Seizes Guarda and Covilhao--Foy returns from France--The duke of Abrantes wounded in a skirmish at Rio Mayor--General Pamplona organizes a secret communication with Lisbon--Observations 377 BOOK XII. CHAPTER I.