[272] A table in the Parliamentary Papers relative to Spain and Portugal shows that the Legion received 163 recruits from this source. The 5/60th obtained a much larger number, having still over 200 Swiss with them in 1809.
[273] Wellesley to Lord Castlereagh, Sept. 9 (Well. Disp., iv. 137). In spite of Napier’s denunciation of the Bishop, Wellesley bears good witness in his favour, e.g. iv. 146.
[274] Wellesley to the Bishop of Oporto, Sept. 6: ‘I was present during the negotiation of the agreement, and by the desire of the Commander-in-chief I signed it. But I did not negotiate it, nor can I in any manner be considered responsible for its contents’ (Well. Disp., iv. 134). Wellesley to Castlereagh, Oct. 6: ‘I do not consider myself responsible in any degree for the terms in which it was framed, or for any of its provisions.’
[275] Wellesley to Mr. Stuart (Well. Disp., iv. 120). To Lord Castlereagh (iv. 118). To the Duke of Richmond (Suppl. Disp., vi. 129).
[276] Wellesley to Dalrymple (Well. Disp., iv. 138).
[277] Wellesley to Moore, Sept. 17, 1808 (Well. Disp., p. 142). Moore, as a noted Whig, was imagined not to be a persona grata at head quarters; Wellesley offers, in the most handsome way, to endeavour to smooth matters for him.
[278] This letter, written to Castlereagh from Zambujal (Well. Disp., iv. 127-32), is one of the most conclusive proofs of Wellesley’s military genius. He valued the Spanish armies at their true force. He foresaw that Bonaparte would make ‘the driving of the leopard into the sea’ a point of honour, and would send corps on corps into Spain in order to secure it. He even noted that the affairs of Central Europe, ‘of which I have no knowledge whatever,’ would be the only possible reason that might prevent the Emperor from inundating the Peninsula with his legions. He saw that the presence of the British in Leon would be the one thing that would keep the French from subduing Central Spain: a disaster in the Douro valley was the nightmare of the Emperor, as half a dozen of his dispatches show. The first news that Moore was near Valladolid drew Napoleon from Madrid in wild haste, and deferred for six months the conquest of the valley of the Guadiana.
[279] Wellesley to Moore, Oct. 8 (Well. Suppl. Disp., vi. 150, 151).
[280] The Duke of Richmond to Wellesley, Oct. 12, 1808 (Well. Suppl. Disp., vi. 633).
[281] Toreño, then acting as agent for the Asturian Junta in London, has much interesting information on this point. He saw the gibbet caricature and papers published with black edges (i. 251).