re, Austria was
excluded as a secondary power. Thus insulted afresh, the Emperor of
Austria resolved in the course of the next year to renew the struggle
with France, though he should find himself opposed to Russia likewise. A
mysterious veil covered for a time the transactions of Erfurt; but what
transpired in relation to them and what ensued justified the conjecture
that they confirmed the conventions of the treaty of Tilsit; and that
the new dynasty in Spain was acknowledged by Russia for permitting her
to aggrandize herself in the north and the east. From Erfurt the two
emperors directed a common proposal of peace to the King of England,
accompanied by the declaration, that this step was the consequence
of the most intimate connexion of the two greatest monarchs of the
continent for war as well as for peace; but this proposal was without
effect. They were answered that, however desirous both the government
and the people might be to put an end to the miseries of war, they were
prepared to endure any extremity before they sacrificed the interest
of their allies by negociating a separate peace, and leaving Sicily,
Sweden, Portugal, and Spain to the tender mercies of Napoleoa. "The
hideous presence of the British leopards" was still to prove a terror to
Frenchmen.

OPERATIONS IN SPAIN.

Having strengthened his alliance with the Emperor of Russia, Napoleon
recalled his legions from the banks of the Niemen, the Spree, the Elbe,
and the Danube, in order to reduce Spain. Placing himself at the head
of them, he crossed the Pyrenees early in November, and the battles of
Burgos, Espinosa, and Tudela, fought under his auspices, once more placed
his brother Joseph on the throne of Spain. Napoleon, accompanied by
Joseph, again occupied Madrid; and he now sought to appease the fury
of its inhabitants and of the people in the provinces by conciliatory
measures. The promises made to the Spanish people were ample; but
he spoke to men who had no ears for his offers, On every hand the
population flew to arms, and all vowed to drive him from their land.
Even conflicting parties agreed to shake off their natural enmity to
each other, in order to effect this triumph. A guerilla warfare was now
pursued: agile bands of men appeared, and having cut off some of their
enemies, retired with equal rapidity. In the meantime a British army,
under General Moore, was marching to their aid from Portugal. When
this army had arrived at Salaman