to employ the means placed in his hands by parliament in such a manner
as might be best calculated to reduce the extravagant pretensions of the
enemy, and facilitate the attainment of a safe and honourable peace.

{GEORGE III. 1812--1814}

AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.

The Russian campaign had operated favourably for the progress of the
British arms in Spain. The catastrophe by which it was concluded not
only prevented Napoleon from re-enforcing his marshals in Spain, But
it also obliged him to recall the best of them; and among them Marshal
Soult, whose generalship had cost Lord Wellington very serious thoughts.
Still the French in Spain were formidable. Soult left behind him 70,000
men to oppose Wellington; and there was still an army, under Suchet,
in the eastern provinces. At the opening of this year the French armies
were thus disposed:--the army of Portugal, under General Reille, was
in and around Valladolid; the army of the centre, under Drouet, was
distributed round Madrid; and the army of the south was at Toledo.
All these forces were under King Joseph, who was assisted by Marshal
Jourdan; Generals Clausel and Foy commanded separate divisions in Aragon
and Biscay. Against these forces Lord Wellington could only bring 63,000
British and Portuguese infantry and 6,000 cavalry, on whom he could
rely; for, though measures had been taken to improve the Spanish troops,
their slothfulness and indiscipline were evils which could not be
suddenly remedied; and therefore his lordship did not expect great
things from them. He commenced operations about the middle of May,
making the allied army enter Spain in three separate bodies; the left
under Sir Thomas Graham, the right under General Hill, and the centre
under his own command. The French were alarmed; and on the 1st of
June they were in full retreat before Graham. Subsequently the three
divisions of the allied army united; and Wellington was also joined by
the Spanish army from Galicia, and by a Spanish force from the south.
Thus strengthened Lord Wellington advanced towards Madrid; and as he
advanced Joseph Buonaparte again took refuge in flight. The French
army retired to Burgos; but as Wellington approached they blew up
the fortifications of the castle, and retreated to the Ebro. A strong
garrison was thrown into the fortress of Pancoros, a little in advance
of the river, and they conceived that they could defend this line;
but Lord Wellington found out a new road throu