[82] Arteche (ix. 229) says that they used the breach, but La Mare, an eye-witness, says that the Trinidad gate was the point of exit. Soriano da Luz, using some Portuguese source unknown to me, says that only some Spanish sappers came down the breach slope, and they with difficulty.
[83] This was known to Wellington and Beresford on the 14th, or the night of the 13th, as is shown by Wellington, Dispatches, vii. p. 359.
[84] Less two battalions left in Badajoz as garrison, and the 100th of the Line also left with Mortier.
[85] I find in D’Urban’s diary under January 13: ‘Concurring testimony of deserters, &c., announces some general movement on the part of the enemy. Lord W. inclines to imagine that this will be a retreat, and that the retreat will be by the Mondego; to this he is inclined by Claparéde being ordered to take post at Guarda. But I have my doubts if anything like retreat has yet entered the head of Masséna.’ This is borne out by Wellington to Beresford of same day. (Dispatches, vii. 138.)
[86] Lord Liverpool to Wellington, February 20, 1811.
[87] Lord Liverpool to Wellington, September 20, 1810.
[88] Hansard for 1811, vol. xix. 397.
[89] Plumer Ward’s Diary, i. 406.
[90] Note that Perceval and Liverpool inherited the paper currency of Pitt, and were not responsible for its creation.
[91] For some curious anecdotes as to the dearth of silver change see Lord Folkestone’s speech quoted in Yonge’s Life of Lord Liverpool, i. 368.