General sketch of the state of the war--Lord Wellington objects to maritime operations--Expedition to Fuengirola--Minor operations in Andalusia--National Cortez assemble in the Isla de Leon--Its proceedings--New regency chosen--Factions described--Violence of all parties--Unjust treatment of the colonies 402 CHAPTER II. Soult assumes the direction of the blockade of Cadiz--His flotilla--Enters the Troccadero canal--Villantroys, or cannon-mortars, employed by the French--Inactivity of the Spaniards--Napoleon directs Soult to aid Massena--Has some notion of evacuating Andalusia--Soult’s first expedition to Estremadura--Carries the bridge of Merida--Besieges Olivenza--Ballasteros defeated at Castellejos--Flies into Portugal--Romana’s divisions march from Cartaxo to the succour of Olivenza--That place surrenders--Romana dies--His character--Lord Wellington’s counsels neglected by the Spanish generals--First siege of Badajos--Mendizabel arrives--Files the Spanish army into Badajos--Makes a grand sally--Is driven back with loss--Pitches his camp round San Christoval--Battle of the Gebora--Continuation of the blockade of Cadiz--Expedition of the allies under general Lapeña--Battle of Barosa--Factions in Cadiz 421 CHAPTER III. Siege of Badajos continued--Imas surrenders--His cowardice and treachery--Albuquerque and Valencia de Alcantara taken by the French--Soult returns to Andalusia--Relative state of the armies at Santarem--Retreat of the French--Massena’s able movement--Skirmish at Pombal--Combat of Redinha--Massena halts at Condeixa--Montbrun endeavours to seize Coimbra--Baffled by colonel Trant--Condeixa burnt by the French--Combat of Casal Nova--General Cole turns the French at Panella--Combat of Foz d’Aronce--Massena retires behind the Alva 450 CHAPTER IV. Allies halt for provisions--State of the campaign--Passage of the Ceira--Passage of the Alva--Massena retires to Celerico--Resolves to march upon Coria--Is prevented by Ney, who is deprived of his command and sent to France--Massena abandons Celerico and takes post at Guarda--The allies oblige the French to quit that position, and Massena takes a new one behind the Coa--Combat of Sabugal--Trant crosses the Coa and cuts the communication between Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo--His danger--He is released by the British cavalry and artillery--Massena abandons Portugal 473 CHAPTER V.