by the encounter of an enemy so greatly inferior in force, there will be greater occasion to display patience and cheerfulness, under such privations as the exhausted state of the country, and other circumstances, must necessarily produce.

LETTER VI.

THE BRITISH ARMY PROCEEDS TO TORRES VEDRAS.

COLONEL

MURRAY RETURNS 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.

Torres Vedras, 1st Sept. 1808.

GENERAL WELLESLEY, on the morning of the 27th, moved on from Ramalhal with his division, to occupy some heights close to this town. The main body followed on the 30th, in the contemplation, as I conceive, of the recommencement of hostilities.

Colonel Murray returned yesterday from Lisbon, with the definitive convention, which has been so long negotiating, for the evacuation of this country by the French army. It has at length been ratified, by Sir Hew Dalrymple, the Commander-in-Chief; and Lord Proby has set off for Lisbon, with the counterpart for Junot. The basis of it, according to report is, that the French shall have permission to retain their arms, and that we are to

procure ships to convey them with an unlimited quantity of baggage, to France. It therefore bears a resemblance to the treaty by which the French army was permitted to evacuate Egypt. Should it be so, it is no difficult task to foretel how it will be received in England, after the public expectation shall have been so highly raised by the brilliant victories of Roleia and Vimiera.

Some extraordinary reports are in circulation respecting the conclusion of the latter of these battles. It is said, that had Sir Arthur Wellesley been permitted to follow the tendency of his own judgment, the campaign in Portugal would, in all probability, have terminated as gloriously for the British arms as it had commenced.

It is said to have been Sir Arthur's decided opinion, that the French army ought to have been pursued in its retreat by the five brigades on the left wing of the army, while the three brigades on the right, commanded by Major-General Hill, and Brigadiers-General Fane and Anstruther, ought to have been pushed on to the heights around this town, a position very strong, and which they must have reached before Junot could come up with the broken remains of his troops. In fact, the brigades on the right were considerably nearer to Torres Vedras (as the crow flies), than the French. Had this measure been

adopted, Junot must either have taken another and circuitous road to Lisbon, or he must have fought a second battle in the defiles near this town, which would most likely have ended in the entire destruction of his army. In this opinion, Sir Arthur Wellesley was overruled by Sir Harry Burrard, who alleged as reasons for his dissent, the reduced state of our small body of cavalry, and the wretched condition of the artillery horses.

Non mihi est tantas componere lites.

Yet I must observe, that in general the officers seem to regret that Sir Arthur Wellesley's advice was not followed; and every account which we have since had respecting the miserable plight in which the French troops entered this town after their defeat, proves the justness of the grounds upon which Sir Arthur had formed his decision. All this will be known in England ere long, and will no doubt afford ample matter of speculation for your military and political quidnuncs for many days to come.

The campaign in this country may therefore be considered as now brought to a termination, and the next operations of the army in Portugal will consist in drawing a cordon round Lisbon, to superintend the embarkation of the French troops..

Report says, that we are then to direct our march towards Spain, and to give our assistance to the Spaniards.

There are two routes from hence to Lisbon: one by Cobral de Monte Garee, the other by Mafra. Sir Arthur Wellesley set off yesterday by the former, and Sir Hew Dalrymple will remove this day his head quarters to the latter.

I remain here to superintend the establishment of a general hospital, which is now indispensably requisite, as the numbers on the sick list have increased considerably within these few days. This I attribute chiefly to the torrents of rain which have fallen since the date of my last letter, and inundated the huts of the soldiers, who have had no opportunity of drying their clothes. In spite of all the silly clamour which has lately been raised against the establishment of general hospitals, their utility is great, and with men on service, undeniable. The French attempted to do without them at the beginning of the last war, but the experiment failed. Adieu.