to carry into execution, with every expedition that circumstances will permit, without awaiting the arrival of the Lieutenant-General. And should you be previously joined by a senior officer, you will, in that case, communicate to him your orders; and afford him every assistance in carrying them into execution. I am, &c. CASTLEREAGH. To Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, K. B. &c. &c. &c. No. IX. Copy of a Letter from Lord Viscount Castlereagh to Lieutenant-Ge neral Sir Harry Burrard. [Secret.] Downing Street, 21st July, 1808. SIR, HIS Majesty having been graciously pleased to select you to serve under Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple as second in command of his forces to be employed in Portugal and Spain, I am to signify to you his Majesty's pleasure that you do forthwith embark in one of his Majesty's ships* prepared for your reception at Portsmouth, and proceed off the Tagus. I enclose for your information and guidance, copies of the instructions which have been given to Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, the execution of which is to devolve upon the senior officer for the time being of the troops assembled off the coast of Portugal. As it is not probable that Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple can arrive for some time from Gibraltar to take upon himself the command of the troops in person, you will use your endeavours to carry his Majesty's commands without loss of time into effect. You will observe that the operations of the army are intended to be di rected in the first instance to the reduction of the Tagus; and secondly, to the security of Cadiz, and the destruction of the enemy's force in Anda lusia. These important objects being accomplished, it is his Majesty's pleasure that the senior officer in command of his troops do act according to cir *The Audacious. 20 cumstances, as the good of his Majesty's service and the advancement of the common cause may appear to him to require, till such time as he receives further instructions from Him for the direction of his conduct; which instructions shall be transmitted without loss of time, so soon as his Majesty's government, from the movements of the French armies, are prepared to decide in what manner the services of the British troops can be best directed for the annoyance of the enemy. I am, &c. CASTLEREAGH. &c. &c. &c. No. X. Copy of a Letter from Lord Viscount Castlereagh to Lieutenant General Sir John Moore, K. B. SIR, Downing Street, 21st July, 1809. SO soon as the troops under your orders are victualled, and in a fit state to proceed to sea, it is his Majesty's pleasure that they do proceed without delay off the Tagus. Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, who is now off that port, if not in possession of it, has been directed to transfer to any senior officer who may arrive, the instructions which he has received, in the execution of which it is his Majesty's command that such senior officer should proceed, as far as circumstances will permit, without loss of time. Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Burrard is ordered to embark forthwith for the same destination; upon joining him you will place yourself under his orders, in the absence of Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple, whom his Majesty has been graciously pleased to nominate to the chief command of his troops serving in Portugal and Spain. I write this to you in case Sir Harry Burrard should not arrive in time to proceed by the Audacious.. To Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, K. B. &c. &c. &c. I am, &c. (Signed) CASTLEREAGH. No. XI. Copy of a Letter from Lord Viscount Castlereagh to LieutenantGeneral Sir Harry Burrard. Downing Street, 2d August, 1809. SIR, I ENCLOSE for your information* intelligence received from Lieutenant-Colonel Browne and Captain Trant, of the state of affairs in the North of Portugal. I have directed Brigadier-General Stewart, with the 18th light dragoons, to call off Oporto for orders, as it is not impossible, if Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley should have landed and taken a position in the interior, that you may wish to support him with cavalry. HEREWITH I enclose for the information of Lord Castlereagh, copies of the reports which I have prepared against the arrival of Sir Arthur Wellesley, to which I have now only to add that I am established here, and fully in the confidence of the Bishop and his Military Council. Colonel Trant is also well placed at Coimbra, and by daily communications with him, I hope to be able to lay before Sir Arthur much useful information on his arrival. By various intercepted letters we know that Loison was ordered, if he found Oporto too strong for the force at Almeida, to retire upon Lisbon, which orders he proceeded to execute; upon his arrival at Santarem, he received directions to send his sick and wounded men to Lisbon by water, and with his effective force to join Laborde at Leyria; since which junction, however, the French have made a retrograde movement towards Lisbon, * 9th July, five inclosures-Ditto, one ditto. and the Patriots have advanced from Coimbra and take up a position, their right at Soure, centre at Cartano, and left at Miranda de Corvo: this forward movement has given sonte uneasiness to the Government; for, by Colonel Trant's report, the regular and militia force at Coimbra does not exceed 5000, two-thirds of which only are armed, and an armed peasantry of about 12,000; whereas the united force under Laborde and Loison cannot be less than 8000. By desire of the Bishop, I have this day dispatched a courier to Colonel Trant, urging him to restrain the dangerous impru dence of the Patriots, which may risk the safety of Oporto. It has been my utmost endeavour to forward every measure which could tend to preserve a footing in the country for the British force, and I have urged with success the necessity of providing depôts of provisions for a large army to be in readiness to be conveyed from hence by water to the point which may be fixed on by Sir Arthur Wellesley. And I beg that you will assure his Lordship, that the force on its arrival will be received with gratitude by the Government and the people, who will be ready to co-operate in any measures which Sir Arthur may recommend. Sir Charles Cotton having stationed vessels to look out for Sir Arthur Wellesley, and direct him this way, I hope that he will call here before he proceeds to Lisbon. I have to apologize for the length of the reports which I have sent to you, requesting you to glean from them such information as may be interesting to Lord Castlereagh, and I beg you will assure his Lordship, that it shall be my study to deserve the confidence he has reposed in me, by devoting® myself wholly to the objects of my mission. I am, Sir, &c. &c. Brigadier-General the Hon Charles Stewart, S. BROWN, (Enclosure.) &c. &c. &c. MEMORANDA. French musket ball cartridges, 1,103,800. Cartridges for fowling pieces, 751,252. Powder, paper, and thread to complete six millions of ball cartridges, (including the French cartridges and those for fowling pieces), and a pro. portion of lead. One million of flints for muskets. Light 3-pounders on mountain carriages, 12. Cochorn howitzers, ditto, 12. With 400 rounds for guns, and 200 rounds for howitzers. Ten brass 3-pounders, light, without carriages; but the same quantity of ammunition as above ordered for 3-pounders. Twelve thousand new pattern swords with belts, as far as they can be furnished. [Enclosure.] Figuera, Rio de Mondego, 17th July, 1808. SIR, I THINK it my duty to acquaint you, for Lord Castlereagh's information, that having with Captain Préval associated in the mission entrusted to us on the 2d of this month, communicated with Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, off the Tagus, on the 14th, and the Admiral having, under the present state of affairs in this country, recommended me to join the Patriot force collected in the northern provinces, I arrived here in that intention this day. I was further induced to adopt this measure from a persuasion that it is the Admiral's opinion that a disembarkation will take place preferably northward of the Rock of Lisbon; and, in such case, I am aware that my services will be more effectually employed with the Patriots, in endeavouring to influence an active and concerted co-operation with the Lieutenant-General's movements. Captain Préval remains with the Admiral, for the purpose of communication with Sir Arthur Wellesley on the points suggested in our instructions, should he reach the Tagus, which I have reason to suppose will not be the case, at least if fallen in with by some of the cruizers which have been detached by the Admiral, to acquaint him with the commencement of hostilities in this quarter. I annex a memorandum of the force now assembled at Coimbra, and which may be expected to march from this neighbourhood to meet the attack of the enemy, should they advance from Leyria and Thomar, where 4000 men are now stationed, under General Margaret. A partial affair took place there some days back, in which, as might be expected, the Patriots were compelled to fall back; but you are to observe, that not 1700 are absolutely armed. The enthusiasm of this country is at its height, and, no doubt, will extend to Estremadura, when Sir A. Wellesley makes his appearance; indeed it is a general opinion, that should the resistance of the |