Paget and general Charles Stewart (lord Londonderry), retreated, and was wounded and made prisoner, with about seventy men, in his attempt to recross the Esla. The French again formed themselves on the opposite bank, for a desperate charge to rescue their commander, when they found their return effectually checked by the advance of five light field pieces, which opened upon them with grape shot. It has been said that Napoleon witnessed this affair from a distant position, and was humiliated to find the chasseurs of his guard unable to withstand British cavalry. This is an idle story, and still idler boast. Napoleon was at Val-de-Ras, several leagues off, and the French chasseurs fought gallantly, and retreated in good order from an overwhelming superiority of numbers.

Sir John Moore continued his retreat upon Villafranca. It was now the end of December. The weather and roads were dreadful. Baggage, ammunition, and guns, were destroyed and abandoned, and horses shot by their riders to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. The army threw aside all discipline, and the horrors of the retreat became indescribable. The men deserted their colours, abandoned themselves to pillage, and were left behind to perish by hunger, cold, drunkenness, the sabres of the enemy, or the rage and vengeance of the Spanish peasantry, infuriated by the horrible excesses of the British on their route. The superior officers lost all control, and the inferior shared the excesses of the men. But the chief officers, in the first instance, had assumed the license of opinion of a civil democracy; and the body of the

army, corrupted by their example, now committed the excesses of military anarchy. Sir John Moore unhappily lost his temper, and issued angry orders of the day, in a case demanding the sternness of Roman discipline. He paraded, by way of example, a few marauding stragglers who rejoined their ranks, cut, mutilated, and bleeding, from the sabres of the French cavalry. "I am sure that British troops never looked upon a spectacle more appalling than those few presented," says the marquis of Londonderry, in his "Narrative of the War," a work always interesting, and where the fraternal bias, or his personal admiration * did not intervene, written with frankness and good taste. After a march of twenty-five leagues in forty-eight hours, sir J. Moore arrived at Lugo on the 6th of January. The encumbered state of the roads, occasioned by the quantity of baggage, ammunition, carts, guns, and slain horses, abandoned by the British, fortunately retarded the march of the French. Napoleon having ordered marshal Soult to "drive the English into the sea," had fallen back upon Valladolid, whence he reached Paris on the 23d of January, to prepare against the storm which was gathering against him in Germany.

Sir John Moore halted his troops at Lugo from the 6th to the 9th. On the 8th, both armies prepared for action. A partial affair took place, and sir John Moore continued his retreat next morning. On the 11th, the British advanced-guard beheld the walls of Corunna and the sea, with a cry of joy like

* Lord Castlereagh was his brother, and the Duke of Wellington the "god of his idolatry."

that which burst from the Greeks in the retreat of the ten thousand. From the 12th to the 16th, sir John Moore was occupied in strengthening his position, and embarking his sick, wounded, cavalry, and part of his artillery, ready to give battle, but unmolested by the French. On the 16th, marshal Soult, being now joined by the columns of his rear-guard, attacked the British. He charged the right with great impetuosity; but was repulsed by Moore's judiciously placed reserves. Sir David Baird, who commanded the right, had his arm shot away; and sir John Moore himself, whilst directing and cheering a charge of the 42d, was mortally wounded by a cannon-ball. Sir John Hope succeeded to the command, the French were repulsed at all points, night separated the combatants, and next day the British troops were embarked for England.

The body of sir John Moore was laid in a hasty soldier's grave, with a recommendation to the enemy, who bestowed funeral honours on his remains. His last words were, that "he hoped his country would do him justice." This justice has long been rendered to his memory, in spite of the efforts of party and cabal to make him the screen, as he had been the victim, of an incapable minister.

CHAP. XV.

1809, 1810.

ENQUIRY INTO THE CONDUCT OF THE DUKE OF YORK. SIR ARTHUR WELLESLEY'S SECOND PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. -WALCHEREN EXPEDITION.

THE session of parliament was opened by commission on the 13th of January. Those parts of the king's speech which related to the compaigns in Portugal and Spain were vehemently disapproved; but the ministerial addresses were agreed to without division or amendment in both houses. Lord St. Vincent having expressed his disgust at the measures, and his contempt for the ignorance of ministers, who did not know, he said, as much of geography as a school-boy, declared that it was probably the last time he should address their lordships, wished them "a good night," and left the house. The share of ministers in the convention of Cintra, and retreat of sir John Moore, was afterwards made the subject of specific inculpatory motions, which were supported by minorities stronger in the force of truth and talent than of numbers. A domestic topic soon came before parliament, and eclipsed every other for a time.

The duke of York had obtained great and exag

gerated credit as commander-in-chief, for the improved organisation, discipline, and efficiency which he had given to the British army. His official regularity and easiness of access rendered him popular with the great mass of officers. There were, however, some disappointed or discontented spirits, -exceptions perhaps inevitable, who charged him, in pamphlets and newspapers, with allowing profligate connections, and corrupt influence to dispose of the patronage of his office. The public had not yet forgotten his unfortunate campaigns. His prodigal sensualities, embarrassments, careless temper, and weak character, gave a colour to accusations, however grossly disreputable. It was rumoured and believed that advancement in the army was made the subject of corrupt traffic by his paramours, with his participation or connivance. A discarded mistress, towards whom he had violated his promise of a paltry four hundred a year, made disclosures, true or false, of their joint traffic in the patronage of the army. Her confidant, a militia colonel and member of parliament, brought the matter before the house of commons, and the whole kingdom was occupied with the duke of York, Mrs. Clarke, and colonel Wardle. The case stated exparte by colonel Wardle was so scandalous and circumstantial, that the friends of the duke could not resist enquiry. An investigation at the bar of the house was ordered unanimously. Some, however, advised a select committee, on very different grounds. Lord Folkstone recommended it as better calculated for the ends of justice, and Mr. Wilberforce "besought the