[Page 210].—l. 18. Bailén: a city of the province of Jaén. Here, on July 19, 1808, the Spaniards defeated the French under General Dupont. Cf. Galdós’s story of Bailén.
l. 20. Valencia: the French evacuated this city July 5, 1813.
l. 21. Zaragoza: allusion to the heroic defense of Saragossa against the French. It was taken by them, on February 26, 1809, only when most of the defenders had perished. Cf. Galdós’s Zaragoza.
l. 23. Alcañiz: a city of Teruel. The French General Suchet was defeated here, May 23, 1809.
l. 24. Alberche: river of Toledo, flowing into the Tagus.
l. 25. Tormes: a tributary of the Duero.
l. 26. Aranjuez: town of province of Madrid. The French were defeated there, August 5, 1809.
l. 27. Gerona: capital of province of Gerona. The town was captured by the French after a desperate siege of seven months.
l. 28. Llobregat: a river of the province of Barcelona.
l. 29. Gades: i.e., Cadiz. In 1812, the year after the death of Jovellanos, the Cortes met there and proclaimed the Constitution.