would have remained with the patriots in the south of Spain: but the
strength of the situation and the ready access to the sea and Gibraltar,
rendered all his efforts vain.

On the eastern side of Spain Suchet defeated the Spanish General
O'Donnell under the walls of Ostalric; and took afterwards that town,
Lerida, Mequineza, and Tortosa. But Valencia once more repelled the
invaders. After a bloody sally of the inhabitants Suchet withdrew from
before the walls.

It was on the Portuguese side, however, that the events of most
importance occurred. It was there that the disgraces of Vimiero and
Talaveyra must be avenged; and there accordingly Napoleon had directed
his chief force to be set in motion. Massena (Prince of Essling), second
only to himself in reputation, took the command, early in the season, of
"the army of Portugal," at least 100,000 strong, and whose commission it
was to drive the English _leopards_, and the _Seapoy General_ (as,
ignorant of the future, Buonaparte at this time called Wellington) into
the sea. To this gigantic army that leader could oppose at most 20,000
British troops; but 30,000 Portuguese had by this time been so well
trained by General Beresford, that they were held not unworthy of
fighting by the side of Englishmen. Still Lord Wellington's whole force
was barely half that of Massena: and his operations were necessarily
confined to the defensive. He had no means to prevent the French Marshal
from taking Oviedo and Ciudad Rodrigo--almost in his sight; but
commenced his retreat, and conducted it with a coolness and precision
which not a little disconcerted the pursuers. They at length ventured to
attack the English on their march. On the 27th September, 1810, they
charged in five columns, on the heights of Busaco, and were driven back
with such terrible carnage that no further assault was threatened.
Massena kept advancing, step by step, as Wellington withdrew, not
doubting that his enemy would embark as soon as he reached Lisbon, and
leave him in quiet possession of that capital and the rich country
around. His surprise was great when Lord Wellington at last halted on
the lines of the Torres Vedras, which had by this time been so
strengthened, that even in inferior hands they might have been
considered impregnable.

This formidable position, extending about twelve leagues between the sea
and the Tagus, placed the port of Lisbon and the adjacent territory in
the secure possession of th