“I am not in communication with any of the Spanish generals, and neither know their plans nor those of their government. No channel of information has been opened to me, and I have no knowledge of the force or situation of the enemy, but what as a stranger I picked up.”—“I am in communication with no one Spanish army, nor am I acquainted with the intentions of the Spanish government or any of its generals. Castaños with whom I was put in correspondence is deprived of his command at the moment I might have expected to hear from him, and La Romana, with whom I suppose I am now to correspond, (for it has not been officially communicated to me,) is absent, God knows where.” 9º. History. “_Sir John’s first intention was to move upon Valladolid, but at Alaejos an intercepted despatch of the prince of Neufchatel was brought to head-quarters, and the contents were important enough to change the direction of the march. Valderas was given as the point of union with Baird._” Authority. Extract from sir John Moore’s Journal. “I marched on the 13th from Salamanca; head-quarters, Alaejos; _there_ I saw an intercepted letter from Berthier, prince of Neufchatel, to marshal Soult, duke of Dalmatia, which determined me to unite the army without loss of time. I therefore moved on the 15th to Toro instead of Valladolid. At _Valderas_ I was joined by sir David Baird with two brigades.” 10º. History. “_No assistance could be expected from Romana._”—“_He did not destroy the bridge of Mansilla._”—“_Contrary to his promise he pre-occupied Astorga, and when there proposed offensive plans of an absurd nature_.” Authorities. 1º. Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere, Dec. 12th, 1808. “I have heard nothing from the marquis de la Romana in answer to the letters I wrote to him on the 6th and 8th instants. _I am thus disappointed of his co-operation or of knowing what plan he proposes._” 2º. Colonel Symes to sir David Baird, 14th Dec. “In the morning I waited on the marquis and pressed him as far as I could with propriety on the subject of joining sir John Moore, to which he evaded giving any more than general assurances.” 3º. Extract from sir John Moore’s Journal. “At two I received a letter from Romana, brought to me by his aide-de-camp, stating that he had twenty-two thousand, (he only brought up six thousand,) and would be happy to co-operate with me.” “At Castro Nuevo sir D. Baird sent me a letter he had addressed to him of rather a later date, stating that he was retiring into the Gallicias. I sent his aide-de-camp back to him with a letter requesting to know if such was his intention, but without expressing either approbation or disapprobation. _In truth I placed no dependance on him or his army._” 4º. Sir John Moore to lord Castlereagh, Astorga, 31st December.