Letters from the Peninsula, 1808-1812 |
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Common terms and phrases
able Abrantes Adieu affectionate Alemtejo Almeida Andalusia anxious arrived Artillery attack battle battle of Salamanca battle of Talavera BATTLE OF VIMIERO believe Beresford Brigade British Capt Castello Branco Cavalry Ciudad Rodrigo Coimbra command Corps DEAR FATHER DEAREST FATHER deserters doubt Douro embarked enemy enemy's England English expected fear fellow Ferguson fire force French friends garrison Genl give happy hear hope horses Infantry July killed and wounded kindest love leagues Lisbon Lord Wellington loss lost Marmont Marshal Masséna morning move never night numbers obliged Officers Packet Pinhel poor Porto Portugal Portuguese army Portuguese troops Pray prisoners Quarters received Regt retired retreat Sabugal Salamanca sent SIEGE OF BADAJOS soon sorry Soult Spain Spaniards Spanish suppose Tagus taken tell thank to-day to-morrow town Vimiero Wellesley whole William Warre wish write yesterday
Popular passages
Page 41 - How fleet is a glance of the mind ! Compared with the speed of its flight, The tempest itself lags behind, And the swift-winged arrows of light. When I think of my own native land In a moment I seem to be there; But alas! recollection at hand Soon hurries me back to despair.
Page 122 - ... art de se faire valoir'. He must really be a clever fellow, to have, with some 700 undisciplined Portuguese, checked 30,000 French, terrified them much, and at the same time covered Upper and Lower Beira, Almeida, Ciudad Rodrigo, and ensured the retreat of British detachments which the enemy never attempted to impede. Many other of his deeds, mentioned by the Hon. Member, we never heard of. He is a very good fellow as a Companion, and an able light-troop officer, and if he would not attempt to...
Page 74 - We are in very low spirits at the bad accounts from Austria. A peace in that country will decide the fate of these most undoubtedly. We may prolong the war and sacrifice many lives, but I am convinced that it will be to no purpose.
Page 122 - Nobody will deny his Talents and Courage as a Partizan, but to those who know facts, the attempt at thanks in the House are more adapted to make him appear ridiculous than to do him Honour. He can never want a trumpeter while he lives, and no man knows better the 'art de se faire valoir'.
Page 78 - ... advancement. A man could remain a captain for literally decades. William Warre, a Portuguese-born British officer, noted in 1808 that the Portuguese were '... cowards who won't fight a one-sixteenth of a Frenchman with arms, but plunder and murder the wounded ..." The following year he found the men '... well enough, very obedient, willing, and patient, but also naturally dirty and careless of their persons ... The Officers ... are detestable, mean, ignorant ...' Beresford found the army numbering...
Page 122 - Nobody will deny him courage and talents as a Partizan, but to those who know facts, the attempt at thanks in the House are more adapted to make him appear ridiculous, than to do him honour. He can never want a trumpeter while he lives, and no man better knows the art de se faire valoir.
Page 286 - I suppose there never was a more interesting or beautiful sight than that of two hostile armies of upwards of 35,000 men each moving parallel within a mile and a half of each other and often within cannon range.
Page 266 - AM and often, after either riding all day, or broiling in the sun, on a position, which has not a twig to defend us from the sun, or a drop of water but at a distance, we do not get anything to eat, or home till 9 or 10 at night, and rise again at one, so that we are all completely tired, and our faces so burnt that we cannot bear to touch them.
Page xxii - Lascases might possibljr receive communications capable of overthrowing Europe ! Yet he was sent to the Cape of Good Hope, where he was to wait several months for permission to proceed to Europe. He has been there six months, and his return is not yet spoken of. " Who had ever heard of an affectionate draught on a banking house, Or an enthusiastic order for the sale of stock?
Page 15 - I am rather for going to Spain. It is a noble service assisting a nation fighting for its independence, and it is impossible to say what a brave people fighting for liberty, and actuated at the same time by resentment for great injuries, and a bigoted attachment to ancient customs may do, if properly supported. At all events, our assisting...