‘In the summer it is probable as I have before stated that the enemy will make his attacks in two principal corps, and that he will also push on through the mountains between Castello Branco and Abrantes. His object will be by means of his corps, _south of the Tagus_, to turn the positions which might be taken in his front on the north of that river; _to cut off from Lisbon the corps opposed to him_; and to destroy it by an attack in front and rear at the same time. This can be avoided only _by the retreat of the right centre and left of the allies, and their junction at a point, at which from the state of the river they cannot be turned by the passage of the Tagus by the enemy’s left_. The first point of defence which presents itself below that at which the Tagus ceases to be fordable, is the river Castenheira close to the lines.’ In the above extracts, the fordable nature of the Tagus has been pretty clearly shown, but I will continue my proofs upon that fact to satiety. _Lord Wellington to Charles Stuart, Esq._ ‘The line of operations which we are obliged to adopt for the defence of Lisbon and for our own embarkation necessarily throws us back as far as below Salvaterra on the Tagus, to which place, and I believe lower, _the Tagus is fordable during the summer_; and we should be liable to be turned or cut off from Lisbon and the Tagus if we were to take our line of defence higher upon the river.’ _Lord Wellington to general Hill, August._ ‘I had already considered the possibility that Regnier might _move across the fords of the Tagus at Vilha Velha_ and thus turn your right.’ _Lord Wellington to general Hill, October._ ‘If there are no boats, send them (the sick and encumbrances) _across the Tagus by the ford_ (at Santarem).’ _Sir Arthur Wellesley to general Hill._ ‘I have desired Murray to send you the copy of a plan we have, _with some of the fords of the Tagus_ marked upon it, but I believe _the whole river from Barquina to Santarem is fordable_.’ _Sir Arthur Wellesley to marshal Beresford._ ‘I enclose a letter which colonel Fletcher has given me, _which affords but a bad prospect of a defence for the Tagus_. I think that if captain Chapman’s facts are true his arguments are unanswerable, and that it is very doubtful whether any heavy ordnance should be placed in the batteries on the upper Tagus.’ _Sir Arthur Wellesley to admiral Berkeley._ ‘But if the invasion should be made in summer, _when the Tagus is fordable in many places_.’... ‘In the event of the attack being made _between the months of June and November_, when the _Tagus is fordable, at least as low down as Salvaterra_ (near the lines).’ _Sir John Craddock to lord Castlereagh, April._