[I deferred writing to you as I expected to find letters in town from Wm., which we did of 13th June.]
He wrote as usual in great spirits, but the crisis of their fate approaches. The French had completed their bridges across the Agueda, so Cd. Rodrigo was invested, but their heavy artillery had stuck in the mud near Tamames, somewhere between Salamanca and C. Rodrigo. They have three Corps d’Armée, viz.: Junot, Ney, and Regnier’s, which is opposed to Genl. Hill to the Southward. Their force he supposes to be 60 to 70,000, very sick and discontented. Much will depend on their first sweep, but if the Portuguese troops fulfil the promise they give at present, he has no doubt they shall give them a good licking. Ld. Wellington’s Hd. Qrs. were at Celorico. The front of the allied army extended from Pinhel to Guarda. Adv. gd. at Gallegos, 2 leagues from C. Rodrigo and the advanced Picket at Marialva, close to the French outposts. I saw Col. Ross yesterday. He has exchanged into the 48th; both Batts. of which are in Portugal in Genl. Hill’s Division. He had seen a letter from Ld. Wellington to one of Mrs Ross’s Brothers. He writes in great spirits. My Father likewise saw a letter yesterday from General Off. of high rank, who said that their position was an excellent one, and that the C. in. C. has made the most judicious arrangements. All this is very good as far as it goes, but I shall look for the next arrivals with much anxious impatience.
Hd. Qrs., Fornos D’Algodres, June 20, 1810.
My Dear Father,
I am sorry to tell you that the Marshal has not yet received any answer from the Government respecting the admission of Rice and Grain free of duty; and I begin to fear that their usual narrow and absurd policy opposes more obstacles to this very desirable object than was at first expected. Indeed, if so, nothing can be more absurd, as although the harvest promises very well, particularly Rice and Barley, owing to the uncommon lateness of the season, the Indian corn is in most places but just sown, and in many not yet. Much must therefore depend upon the dryness of the latter end of the Autumn, and before that I think the scarcity will be so great, that they will be forced, though late, to open their ports, and give every encouragement to importation, or starve. The men and oxen have been kept away from their agricultural pursuits, to attend the armies with their carts, and this has delayed and impeded very much the ploughing, and hoeing, and reaping, as has also in some degree the very great consumption of cattle. The moment the Marshal gets an answer I will write to you, and to Porto to Pedro Alvez, which I have not done hitherto, because in the first place I could tell him nothing decisive, and in the next, it appeared to me prudent that it should be kept quite a secret that such an allowance in point of duties was in agitation.
The weather has at last set in very hot, which I hope will increase the great sickness of the French, who have been mostly exposed to the continued rains we have had till now. Our people, both English and Portuguese, are getting into the most satisfactory state of health, having been under cover and quiet.
The Enemy continues almost in statu quo. They have completed their bridges over the Agueda at Val d’Espino, and covered them by a small tête de pont. By their means the investment of Ciudad Rodrigo is completed. Their heavy Artillery and Mortars are, I believe, still fast in the mud half-way to Salamanca, but this hot weather will now soon enable them to bring them up. After which I have no idea that Ciudad Rodrigo can hold out a fortnight, from its construction, which is completely irregular and very defective, besides being in some degree commanded at about 800 yards. This will probably be the prelude to our play, and then we shall all become actors. They seem very shy of us, and I do not believe have as yet completed their preparations, or collected a sufficient force to attack us. Their foreigners continue to desert in considerable numbers, and more would I am sure come over, but for the steps the French have taken to prevent them. Our advanced Picquets have frequent skirmishes with them, which lead to nothing but wounding a few men and horses on each side.
We went over two days ago to Francozo to inspect a Portuguese Brigade with Lord Wellington, and afterwards to Minucal (?) to see the 16th Lt. Dgns., who are in very fine order, and made a most excellent review. At Francozo we visited the Nuns. The Porteress gave Lord Wellington, etc., etc., leave to enter, and some of us rambled all over the Convent. I never saw more poverty, misery, and dirt, except indeed some of the cells which were tolerably neat. Most of the Nuns were in the Choro at prayers, and not a little astonished at seeing a large party of men appear at the door from the inside. There were some pretty girls enough, but they were so long at Prayers, that we could not stop to speak with them, and had the full and free range of their abode. This visit of the great people will furnish conversation, I dare say, for years!