[672] ‘Abandoned from the beginning by everything Spanish, we were equal to nothing by ourselves. From a desire to do what I could, I made the movement against Soult. As a diversion it has answered completely: but as there is nothing to take advantage of it, I have risked the loss of an army to no purpose. I find no option now but to fall down to the coast as fast as I am able.... The army would, there cannot be a doubt, have distinguished itself, had the Spaniards been able to offer any resistance. But from the first it was placed in situations in which, without the possibility of doing any good, it was itself constantly risked’ (Moore to Castlereagh, from Astorga, Dec. 31).
[673] Compare Moore to Castlereagh (from Astorga, Dec. 31) with Nap. Corresp., 14,637, and with James Moore’s memoir (p. 184), and ‘T.S.’s autobiography (p. 57).
[674] These reasons will be found set forth at length in Nap. Corresp., 14,684 (to King Joseph, Jan. 11), and 14,692 (to Clarke, Jan. 13).
[675] There is a distinct allusion to the matter, however, in Fouché’s Mémoires (i. 385).
[676] For a long account of all this intrigue see the Mémoires of Chancellor Pasquier (i. 355, &c.). He says that it was discovered by Lavalette, the Postmaster-General, who sent information to the Viceroy of Italy, in consequence of which a compromising letter from Caroline Bonaparte (at Naples) to Talleyrand was seized. The reproaches which he puts into Napoleon’s mouth must, I fancy, be taken as about as authentic as an oration in Thucydides.
[677] There was also at this moment a slight recrudescence of the old agitation of the chouans in the west of France. Movable columns had to be sent out in the departments of the Mayenne and Sarthe. See Nap. Corresp., 14,871-2.
[678] This was a temporary brigade, made up of the 3rd Dutch Hussars and a provisional regiment of dragoons.
[679] 5th Dragoons and part of the regiment of Westphalian Chevaux-Légers; they belonged to the corps-cavalry of Lefebvre.
[680] The defence of Toro was headed by a stray English officer. The place was taken by D’Avenay, not by Maupetit as Arteche says. See the Mémoires of De Gonneville, i. 207.
[681] For information on these rather obscure operations consult the Mémoires of De Gonneville (of D’Avenay’s brigade) and Nap. Corresp., 14,685.