But the poetical view of the Guerrillas must be counterbalanced by the more strictly historical view of their character. It is questionable whether these irregular levies did not produce nearly as much evil as good. Candour must confess that there was as much robbery as patriotism in the system. Amongst the leaders of the _partidas_ personal interests were too often predominant. Discipline under such a system is of course impossible, and each man’s object is naturally to secure the largest share of the plunder for himself. The leaders of the different _partidas_ were terribly jealous of each other; and one of the first exploits of Espoz y Mina, the most distinguished of all their chiefs, was to slay the leader of a Guerrilla band in his neighbourhood, because he plundered his own countrymen under the mask of patriotism: he was also, doubtless, in Mina’s way. All through Mina’s career, “he would never suffer any _partida_ but his own to be in his district.” (_Life of Mina._) The irregularity inherent in the Guerrilla system of warfare encouraged violence, license, and disregard for the rights of property. The _partidas_ were an admirable instrument for raising a whole people against the invader; but the application of the force was subsequently misdirected, and the surprise of Figueras was the only service of first-rate importance that they ever performed in Spain. Their minor exploits were, however, innumerable, and the disparaging observations of Napier, Foy, and St. Cyr, all regular military men, are to be received with caution. The course of life of the Spanish Guerrillero, commencing often as a soldier, then becoming a deserter, next flying to the mountains and turning robber, and lastly turning soldier on his own account, closely resembles the description of the Roman Spartacus by Florus:--“Ille de stipendiario Thrace miles, de milite desertor, inde latro, deinde in honore virium gladiator.... Exercitum percecidit ... castra delevit ... in primo agmine fortissimè dimicans.” (_Lib. iii. cap._ 30.) It is not intended to palliate the numerous acts of jealousy, hatred, treachery, and plunder, which our army sustained from Spanish and Portuguese allies. But many important services were rendered by the Guerrillas, and still more by the regular troops of Portugal. And, in addition to the Guerrilla chiefs, of whom I have already noticed the principal, the regular troops of Spain achieved some successes under the command of Castaños, Palafox, Reding, Blake, O’Donnel, Sarsfield, Downie (these four Generals were Irish or of Irish extraction), Albuquerque, Freyre, Ballasteros, Longa, Giron, Mendizabal, Romana and Morillo. Amongst the Portuguese officers, who distinguished themselves in these campaigns, must be noticed with praise, besides Saldanha and Terceira, the Condes of Amarante, Villareal, Das Antas and Bomfim, the Freires, Lecor, Leite, Vallongo, and Talaia. II. “And Young love sits upon a flowery knoll.”