d him to continue his
retreat. He effected his retreat in a masterly manner, before an army of
90,000 men, against which he could only oppose about 50,000, and on
the 24th of November, he fixed his head-quarters at Freynada, on the
Portuguese frontier. King Joseph now returned once more to Madrid,
while Soult, who took the chief command of the combined French armies,
established his head-quarters at Toledo, with his right wing resting on
Salamanca. A great outcry was raised against Lord Wellington in England,
on account of this retreat; but, fortunately, ministers were satisfied
with the explanation of his motives, and resolved to send him all the
assistance in their power. His lordship employed the winter months in
rendering his army more effective, that he might in the ensuing campaign
enter on a more decisive and extended course of operations. For this
purpose he proceeded to Cadiz, to make arrangements for the co-operation
of the Spanish armies, when it was settled that 50,000 troops should be
placed at his disposal. This was full proof that the Cortes still placed
confidence in him. They augured, indeed, that under the direction of so
great a leader, those troops would pitch their tents on the banks of the
Seine. The president remarked, "It would not be the first time that the
Spanish lions had there trampled on the old _fleur-de-lys_ of France."

WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND RUSSIA.

It has been seen that the Emperor of Russia had declared war against
Napoleon. Thwarted in his ambitious views upon the Ottoman empire, which
he had been led to expect would be realized from the treaty of Tilsit,
Alexander first became cool towards his brother spoliator, and then
openly broke with him. Great preparations were made on both sides for
the gigantic struggle, and Napoleon resolved to humble the czar in his
own dominions. With an army of about 800,000 men he crossed the Vistula
in June, and his onward march was a series of triumphs. The Russians
everywhere retreated before him, until he came to the plains of Moscow,
where he fought a hard battle with an army under Kutusoff, over whom he
gained a victory. Moscow now fell into the hands of the conqueror. He
entered it on the 14th of September, and took up his residence at the
Kremlin, the ancient palace of the czars. But here his triumphs ended.
The Russians had only retreated before him in order to allure him to
destruction. Their plan was to avoid a battle till the enemy sh