our. Murat had expected it, and much
resented his disappointment; but Napoleon did not consider him as
possessed of the requisite prudence, and he was forced to accept the
succession to the vacant throne of Naples.

Joseph had become not unpopular in Naples, and being a peaceful man,
would gladly have remained in that humbler kingdom; but Napoleon no more
consulted the private wishes of his subaltern princes on such occasions,
than he did those of his generals in the arrangements of a campaign.

On the 24th of July (says Colonel Napier), "Joseph was proclaimed King
of Spain and the Indies, with all the solemnities usual upon such
occasions; not hesitating to declare himself the enemy of eleven
millions of people, the object of a whole nation's hatred; calling, with
a strange accent, from the midst of foreign bands, upon that fierce and
haughty race to accept of a constitution which they did not understand,
and which few of them had even heard of; his only hope of success
resting on the strength of his brother's arms; his claims on the consent
of an imbecile monarch and the weakness of a few pusillanimous nobles,
in contempt of the rights of millions now arming to oppose him."

[Footnote 58: Colonel Napier, p. 25.]

CHAPTER XXIV

Insurrection of the Spaniards and Portuguese--Their Alliance with
England--Battle of Riosecco--Joseph enters Madrid--First Siege of
Zaragossa--Dupont's March into Andalusia--The Battle of
Baylen--Dupont Surrenders--Joseph quits Madrid--Situation of
Junot--Arrival of Sir Arthur Wellesley--Battle of Rorica--Battle of
Vimiero--Convention of Cintra.

On the 4th of July the King of England addressed his Parliament on the
subject which then fixed the universal enthusiasm of his people. "I
view" (said he) "with the liveliest interest the loyal and determined
spirit manifested in resisting the violence and perfidy with which the
dearest rights of the Spanish nation have been assailed. The kingdom
thus nobly struggling against the usurpation and tyranny of France, can
no longer be considered as the enemy of Great Britain, but is recognised
by me as a natural friend and ally." It has been already mentioned that
the British commanders in the neighbourhood of Spain did not wait for
orders from home to espouse openly the cause of the insurgent nation.
The Spanish prisoners of war were forthwith released, clothed, equipped,
and sent back to their country. Supplies o