Sir John Moore’s Journal, Dec. 9, 1808.
“In this part the people are passive. We find the greatest difficulty to get people to bring in information.”
Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere. Sahagun, Dec. 23, 1808.
“If the Spaniards are enthusiastic or much interested in this cause, their conduct is the most extraordinary that was ever exhibited.”
Sir John Moore to lord Castlereagh, Dec. 31, 1808, Astorga.
“I arrived here yesterday, where, contrary to his promise, and to my expectation, I found the marquis la Romana, with a great part of his troops. Nobody can describe his troops to be worse than he does, and he complains as much as we do of the indifference of the inhabitants, his disappointment at their want of enthusiasm; and said to me in direct terms, that had he known how things were, he neither would have accepted the command nor have returned to Spain. With all this, however, he talks of attacks and movements which are quite absurd, and then returns to the helpless state of his army and of the country.”
Mr. Stuart to sir John Moore, Nov. 17, 1808.
“The tranquillity of Madrid is truly wonderful.”
Sir David Baird to sir John Moore, Dec. 6.
“Destitute as we are of magazines, and without receiving even a show of assistance either from the government or inhabitants of the country, who, on the contrary, in many instances, even thwarted our plans and measures; we could not have advanced without exposing ourselves to almost certain destruction.”