As the French army took possession of the city, order was immediately restored. The theatres were re-opened, the shops displayed their wares, the tides of business and pleasure flowed unobstructed along the streets. Numerous deputations, embracing the most wealthy and respectable inhabitants of Madrid, waited upon the Emperor with their congratulations, and renewed their protestations of fidelity to Joseph. The Emperor then issued a proclamation to the Spanish nation, in which he said, "I have declared, in a proclamation of the 2d of June, that I wished to be the regenerator of Spain. To the rights which the princes of the ancient dynasties have ceded to me, you have wished that I should add the rights of conquest. That, however, shall not change my inclination to serve you. I wish to encourage every thing that is noble in your exertions. All that is opposed to your prosperity and your grandeur I wish to destroy. The shackles which have enslaved the people I have broken. I have given you a liberal constitution, and, in the place of an absolute monarchy, a monarchy mild and limited. It depends upon yourselves whether that constitution shall still be your law." CHAPTER VIII. THE SPANISH CAMPAIGN OF NAPOLEON. 1808-1809 Retreat of Sir John Moore and Sir David Baird.--The Spanish Deputation. --Anecdote of Napoleon.--Atrocities of the English.--Testimony of Alison.--Napoleon at Astorga.--A new Coalition.--Anxiety of the Emperor.--New Year's Wishes.--Napoleon's Response.--Magnanimity of Napoleon.--Reforms introduced.--Escape of Sir John Moore.--Efforts of the British Government.--Testimony of Alison.--Fury of the Populace. --The Siege of Saragossa.--Savagery of Armies.--Discouragement of the Spaniards.--Victory of General St. Cyr.--French Victories.--Desolations of War.--Testimony of Alison.--Joseph's mistaken Views.--The Hostility of the Allies to Napoleon personally.--Joseph's Want of Appreciation. --Character of Joseph.--Remarks of the Duke of Wellington.--Siege of Oporto.--Awful Slaughter.--Oporto Taken by Storm.--Continued Scenes of Carnage.--Napoleon's Remarks to O'Meara.--Joseph at Malaga. --Embarrassments of Joseph's Position. In less than five weeks from the time when Napoleon first placed his foot upon the soil of Spain he was master of more than half the kingdom. Sir John Moore, with an army of about 30,000 Englishmen, was marching rapidly from Portugal, to form a junction with another English army of about 10,000 men under Sir David Baird, who were advancing from Corunna. It was supposed in England that the co-operation of these highly-disciplined troops with the masses of the Spaniards who had already fought so valiantly, would speedily secure the overthrow of the French.