The maire is becoming daily more unpopular. We have an account of Augereau having been defeated—which I hope rests upon better foundations; as well as private accounts from Paris of the great reduction of Bonaparte’s forces by his various rapid marches, continual fighting, and desertion. Almost the only town in this country, excepting Bordeaux, which has been active in the Royal cause is Bagnières, which has proclaimed the king; no troops of either army have passed that way.
The rest of the population in our rear are in general quietly waiting the event, and are now with a very few exceptions only on our side, because they think they see an end to the war quicker that way. But I am sure, from personal observation, that let Bonaparte be successful a little, and Lord Wellington be compelled to retreat, and let them only see the same prospect of peace by Bonaparte’s means, and three-fourths of the population would all be against us again.
The sulky maires, and other public functionaries, now all submission, would then become active enemies, and all the pensionnaires and douaniers and national landholders who are now really frightened to death, would be roused into activity. This is a picture, however, which I hope never to see realized; and if Toulouse and Lyons can be induced to enter into a common cause with Bordeaux, the events will, it is to be hoped, be far different. Had I the Duke d’Angoulême’s stake to play for, I should somehow have raised a force before this at Bordeaux, and should certainly have been over here post to enter Toulouse, and have paraded through Pau, Tarbes, &c., in the way, and tried to do something.
The only great hit he has hitherto made is to get the new prefect of the department des Landes to publish and circulate his proclamations, and sign them: this certainly is a beginning, and it is said that some have found their way into Toulouse. The maire of Galan, who was really in my opinion a Royalist, pointing to his head, asked me, speaking of the Duke d’Angoulême, whether “il y voit quelque chose là?” of which he seemed to have doubts. The lower, and older population in the villages certainly, though knowing nothing of the Bourbons, have a sort of vague wish for old times again, and therefore were friendly. The middling classes are not by any means so favourably disposed.
You have no conception of my obligation to you for sending the newspapers so regularly, and getting them forwarded in Lord Wellington’s bag. On the march in our present state, by this means I have my letters and papers sometimes almost a week before any one else; for the public bag has been lately obliged to come up, for want of transport, in a bullock-car, with one weak soldier of the guides as a guard. When we are stationary I sometimes suffer by this plan, for single papers are got a-day or two later than my letter, but now I am a great gainer, and my newspapers are in the greatest request.
Head-Quarters, Seisses, April 1st, 1814.—Here we are still in front of “the great big town where the French are,” as the Irishmen call Toulouse. The French yesterday moved about four divisions out of Toulouse after General Hill’s movement, and in the evening went back again into the town. This I believe made Lord Wellington suspect that Soult intended to try an attack upon the columns of the British who remained in front of the town on this side, and he would have wished, in my opinion, for nothing better, as we had a rising ground commanding the roads where they must make their debouches, and cannon ready placed to give them a warm reception instantly. In consequence of this expectation, Lord Wellington and his staff were off early to the front; about eleven o’clock, finding all quiet, they returned, and we remained in statu quo for the day.
I never expected that anything would be done if it depended on the French, for their game seems to be merely to endeavour to keep us on this side of the river, and to leave us to get over the difficulties as we can, and not to run any hazards by molesting us, or giving us even a fair chance by an attack on their posts. It is said that after all it is found that General Hill’s road would lead us so much round, and that the roads round that way to Toulouse would be so bad, that the plan mentioned in my letter under date of the 31st is abandoned; that in consequence General Hill will be ordered to return across the river to-night, and that the pontoons will be taken up afterwards, and an attempt made to place them lower down the river at last, and below Toulouse, which, if it succeeds, will place us at once upon the main good road to Bordeaux. Time will show whether this information of mine is correct. If this plan be practicable, it will be far better than the other. In truth the Garonne is a formidable barrier just now, when there are no fords.
The disappointment of not having Graham’s army here is very great, much worse so if the reinforcements intended for us should go that way. So much did Lord Dalhousie with his weak divisions at Bordeaux expect General Graham’s army, that I am told he has twice sent to the coast in expectation of their arrival, together with a naval expedition, on a report of some distant sails being seen. This last Gazette is a woeful contrast! The importance of that ten thousand men at Bordeaux is immense, and all agree that the country northwards would be ready to come forward and join us if we were stronger and dared advance. The weak state of our force at Bordeaux alarms them all, and keeps everything back; a naval force to co-operate and to assist against the castle of Blaye, was also expected to be ready the moment the news of our arrival at Bordeaux was received, as it must have been such a probable event. As it is Lord Dalhousie was about to make some attempt, I understand, to take a position across the Garonne, between the Dordogne and the Garonne.
I have just been told another piece of news—unpleasant if it be true. It is said that the Duke d’Angoulême’s new Préfet des Landes ordered the maire of St. Sever to proclaim Louis XVIII., and that the old maire, a prudent sly fellow, who has made much money in the Revolution, declined to do so unless by Lord Wellington’s orders, and wrote to Lord Wellington to know if he was obliged to do what he was desired. It is said that Lord Wellington replied “No,” and suspended the new préfet for giving the order. This is a most awkward state of things; each town, each maire, is allowed thus to take this strong step if they please, but there is to be no influence used, so that all prudent people naturally enough will remain quiet and do nothing, and the desperately zealous alone will act; yet so long as the conferences remain in existence, this cannot be otherwise.
Some more Spaniards are ordered up whom we are to feed also; how far they will come I know not. The siege of Bayonne is, it is understood, at last determined upon in earnest; as yet only preparation of fascines, &c., have been made. I am told now, that the horses of the brigades of artillery of General Hope’s column, are sent down to Renteria to bring up the heavy battery train and siege stores. The Guards begin to talk of more “bloody work,” but I sincerely hope not another Bergen-op-Zoom! That left column once released, would set us quite at ease here. Just now, our necessarily-divided army cannot be so efficient as from its numbers compared with the French it might be presumed to be.