Hendon, 25th Oct. 1810.
At last we have got letters from Dear William. They are of a very old date (6th Oct.) and must have been unaccountably delayed in London, as the Packet of the 8th has been long arrived and one of the 16th arrived on Monday. Poor dear fellow, he has had another dismal voyage of pain and suffering from Figueira to Lisbon, but again met with kind friends, and is, God be praised, restored to health—in one of the letters he says Jack Croft joined him as soon as he heard of his being ill at Coimbra, and accompanied him in a crowded transport of sick and wounded, sharing the floor and his bearskin, and administered to him and his fellow sufferers every comfort in his power, and on his arrival at Lisbon took the trouble off his hands of seeking for a lodging for a poor little fellow under his protection, who had lost a leg and been obliged to suffer two operations for it, but is now likely to do well. A son of Sir J. Frederick’s, Major Stanhope, saw William on the 12th at Belem. He was then so much recovered that he talked of joining the Marshal (now Sir W. B.) in a day or two. I suppose you will like to have an extract. The first part of his letter is all about my mother’s illness, as he had just received my letters acquainting him of it. He then says he has recovered his strength and looks so wonderfully fat, every one is astonished at it. “It will, however, require a fortnight or 3 weeks’ quiet sea-bathing to confirm the tone of my nerves, which have been a good deal shook by resisting a very tedious and debilitating illness in hopes of sharing in the glory of my companions: and it has been a bitter disappointment to have been in the rear during the late glorious actions, when the Portuguese troops behaved so nobly. What a pleasure it must be to the Marshal. And he deserves it, for his exertions (for which success is the best payment) and for his excellent honourable character. I believe everybody now does him justice for the honour and rectitude of his intentions. Of the movements of the army I know little, but believe they are falling back on the positions at Mafra, etc., which are entrenched and prodigiously strong. If the French press forward I think a decisive and good battle inevitable, but I do not think they will, and, if they do, I have not a doubt of the result, and Nap. will have got into a pretty scrape. If they beat us, we have equally strong positions at St Juliens, but this God forbid. For the sake of the poor natives I trust all will be well. They deserve it for their loyalty and willingness, but I really have great confidence that the infamous invader will get a complete defeat. The French left 3000 dead on the field at Busaco. How they could attempt to attack such a position I know not, nor can I conceive, except that they entirely despised the Portuguese Infantry. Inganarao says they were mistaken! but we have yet to give them better proof of it.
Clara is safe and well at Porto, and her obstinacy in staying in the Convent has caused me great anxiety—
A. E. W.
Major Elliot’s treatise on the defence of Portugal is remarkably well worth reading, and gives a very just and true and impartial account of the people and country.
Hd. Qrs., P.A., Casal Eschin, a mile to the Eastward of
Enxara dos Cavaleiros, 5 l. from Lisbon, Oct. 20, 1810.
My Dearest Father,
You will see from the date that I am quite recovered, and have joined the Army and my excellent friend the Marshal, who, to my great joy I found on my return two or three days ago, quite well notwithstanding the fatigue he has undergone, I was in such a constant fidget in Lisbon, and so uncomfortable that I could not remain any longer, particularly as the weather did not admit of my sea-bathing, which was my principal object in going to Belem.
I am much disappointed at not hearing from the family last packet. A packet is daily expected and I trust I shall be more fortunate.