Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, January 19, 1809.
“The Lusitanian legion continues to give considerable uneasiness, from its peculiar state, under present circumstances.”
Captain Morgan (Lusitanian legion) to sir J. Cradock, January 19, 1809.
“Should a retreat be adopted, sir Robert would not retire to Oporto. It is the government of a mob, of which he has had too much experience.”
SECTION III.—PORTUGUESE ARMY.
Sir J. Cradock to sir J. Moore, December 9, 1808.
“I am sorry to state that I find, as far as my limited observation reaches, the Portuguese army, and every other military concern, in the worst possible state.”
Sir J. Cradock to Mr. Villiers, December 18, 1809.
“I am sure that the state of the Portuguese army is quite misunderstood in England; and that a reliance is placed upon it for the defence of the country that is entirely without foundation. Their” (Portuguese) “ministers will avow this to you after ten minutes’ conversation.”—“Even of the reduced numbers of their men enrolled, (not amounting to twenty thousand, at the very highest computation,) to make any thing out of them, it is necessary to recur to first principles, and give them officers, arms, clothing, accoutrements, horses, &c.; and I need not say that money is wanting to effect this: and the ministers positively declare that they have none; and that no collection of their forces can take place, much less a movement to the frontier, without a supply.”—“M. Forjas, secretary to the government, in answer to a strong question from me, stated that their army have not in possession ten thousand firelocks fit for use.”
Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, December 24, 1808.