Letters from Portugal and Spain: Comprising an Account of the Operations of ... - Adam Neale - Google Books

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CONTENTS.

LETTER I.

Brigadier-General Anstruther's brigade arrives off Mondego. Pro-

ceeds to the Berlings. Description of these rocks. Intelligence of

the battle of Roleia. Captain Gordon is dispatched to the British

Page

Return of Captain Gordon from the British camp. Description of

Peniche. Brigadier-General Anstruther's brigade is landed, and pro-

ceeds to Vimiera. Its junction covered by Major-General Spencer.-

Description of the village of Vimiera.

Advance of the French army on the morning of the 21st. British

pickets are driven in-Centre attacked. Shrapnell Shells. French

are charged by the fiftieth regiment, and retire to the woods. Left

wing under Major-General Ferguson attacked-it repulses the enemy

with the bayonet. Appearance of the field of battle. A field hos-

pital. The armed Portuguese peasantry-their exultation at the

events of the day. A walk to Vimiera by night. The effects of

the battle as displayed at Vimiera

Poor Highland woman. Alarm at camp. Troops turn out. Arrival

of the French General Kellerman with a flag of truce. Propositions

for an armistice. Colonel Murray sets off for Lisbon. Sir John

Moore's army arrives at Maceira. Sir Charles Cotton objects to the

The field of battle of Vimiera. French modes of attack. Shrapnell

shells. Rumours at camp respecting the negotiation. Landing of

Sir John Moore's army. British army inspected by Sir Hew Dal-

The British army proceeds to Torres Vedras. Colonel Murray re-

turns from Lisbon with the definitive convention-It is ratified by

Sir Hew Dalrymple-and terminates the Campaign in Portugal.

General hospital established at Torres Vedras

A worthy Portuguese clergyman. A serious loss. Antiquity of Torres

Vedras. Its Roman origin doubtful. Convent de la Grazia.

Aqueduct. Romantic environs

Contains a journal of the proceedings of Sir Arthur Wellesley's

army, from its landing at Figueras till its arrival at Vimiera

General Kellerman and his Aid-de-camps. Conduct of the French

troops in Lisbon after the convention. Head-quarters remove from

Cintra to Oeyras. Description of the village of Cintra. Anecdote

of General Junot. Universal indignation displayed by the Portu-

guese towards the French. General Junot's dinner. Jealousy be-

tween Laborde and Junot-its origin. Junot's rank in society pre-

viously to the revolution

Royal park at Mafra. Steep defile. Magnificent appearance of the

royal convent of Mafra. Lunar mountains of Cintra. Fishing vil-

lage of Eryceira. Bridge of Chillieros. Commencement of the

grand Aqueduct of Lisbon at the village of Montelavar. Chalybeate

springs. Town of Bellas. Palace of Pombeiro. Tomb of Viriatus.

Illuminations at Belem-Lisbon. Election of the

Regency. French troops embarking

63

LETTER XI.

Village of Quelus-its royal palace. The vintage. State of the press

in Portugal-its consequences. Successful exertions of General Beres-

ford and Lord Proby. A specimen of French finesse

Mafra. A characteristic anecdote. Convent of Mafra, built by King

John V. its architecture severely censured by Murphy: general

impression grand: much injured by the French soldiery. Auricular

confession. Suburbs of Lisbon. Benefico. Aqueduct of Alcan-

Page

Departure of Sir Hew Dalrymple for England. Character of Sir Ar-

thur Wellesley: sketch of his public life

Anecdotes of the French soldiery. The rapidity of their marches.

Small value attached to the lives of soldiers by French officers. As-

sassinated in great numbers by the Portuguese peasantry. Wretched

state of the French on first reaching Lisbon. Refusal of the Bishop

of Oporto to join in the Regency
- 100

Lisbon its delightful climate. Picturesque and ever varying scenery

of the Tagus. Great inequality of the streets. General Kellermann:

his narrow escape from the fury of the Portuguese populace. Monas-

tory at Belem. The royal palace. Picture gallery. Antique statues 103

Royal museum of natural history at Ajuda. Mass of native copper.

Elastic sand-stone. Calcareous depositions in the aqueduct of Al-

cantara. Remarkabie dungeon at Belem. State of the prisons in

b

The earthquake of 1755: appearances still existing. A votive tablet in

the church of the Estrella convent. Bitumen often found in the

Tagus. Thermal springs. Generosity of the British nation in 1755

still gratefully mentioned by the Portuguese. Fine trait in a Portu-

guese nobleman
- 117

Sir John Moore's army setting off for Spain: marches in three divi-

sions. Unpopular measures adopted by the Regency. Chapel of

St. John the Baptist in the church of St. Roche. The Portuguese

The church of Mount Calvary. Road to Saccavem. Portuguese hos-
pitality. Picturesque situation of Saccavem. Salt-works on the
banks of the Tagus. Villa Franca de Xira: its origin

Village of Azambuja. City of Santarem: its antiquity; delightful si-

tuation. View over the Tagus and adjoining country

128

A festival day. Processions of monks. Mode of begging practised by

the monastic orders: its effects

Unpleasant rumours. A Portuguese preacher. The omnipotence of

the Virgin Mary. Exhortation to charity: its effects

Road from Santurem to Golegam. Olive grounds. Mode of collect-

ing the olives. Herds of swine. Rainbows. Golegam. A vene-

rable character: his hospitality. Library. Civility of the inhabit-

ants of Golegam. Village of Cardiga.
Beautiful landscape.

Flourishing village of Barquinha

Effects of the wet weather on the troops. Fine situation of Abrantes.

Delightful view from the old castle. Culture of the olive tree.

Bad construction of the windows in Portugal

Set off for Gavaon. Cross the Tagus. Appearance of Abrantes from

the opposite Alenlego side. Hospitality of Donna Helena. A

stormy night amidst the mountains. A goatherd's hovel in the vil-

lage of Marie-Cova. Gavaon. Nissa. Doctor Assissi

Romantic bridge on the Rio Nissa. Solitary chapel on the Serra de

St. Miguel. Cross the Tagus at the pass of Villa Velha. Gallant

action performed here in 1762

A ford near Villa Velha. State of the road to Ascarnadas. Castel

Branco. Thirty-second regiment. Portuguese army

Bad weather. Arrival of the fiftieth. Situation of Castel Branco. A

venerable prelate. Familiarity of servants in Portugal. Tutelar

Saints of Castel Branco

Village of Atalaya. Jews in Portugal. An accident. Val de Prazeras.

A new subject for an artist. Singular negotiation

Village of Campinha. Road to Guarda. Serra de Estrella. Castan-

beira. Belmonte. Delightful valley. Guarda

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