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276

ALVAREZ SMITTEN WITH FEVER.

CHAP.VIII operations. All the outworks were carried, and a gallant sally of the garrison, though successful December. did not materially amend their situation.

1809.

The besiegers had how advanced close to the walls, the breaches were open, and the enemy

were evidently preparing for another assault. Dec. 4. In this state of things, the brave Alvarez became smitten with the prevailing epidemic. He resigned the command to Don Julian De Bolivar, who summoned a council to determine what measures should be adopted in the extremity to which the city had been reduced.

Dec. 10.

The meeting was of opinion that further resistance was hopeless, and it was resolved to treat for a capitulation. Marshal Augerau granted honourable terms. The garrison were to march out with the honours of war, and be sent prisoners into France, to be exchanged as soon as possible for an equal number of French prisoners then detained at Majorca, and other places. None but those who ranked as soldiers were to be considered prisoners. The French army were not to be quartered on the inhabi

tants.

The public records of the city were neither to be removed nor destroyed. The inhabitants were to be at liberty to quit Gerona, taking

CAPITULATION OF GERONA.

277

with them their property. The heroic Alvarez CHAP.VIII was to be allowed to choose any place of residence on the French frontier. He afterwards retired to Figueras, where he died.

When the garrison, reduced by famine and disease, marched out, in presence of the French army, their shrunken forms, their glazed and hollow eyes, their wan and meagre countenances, excited even the compassion of their enemies. On entering the city, it was found that most of the guns had been fired so often as to have become useless. Brass itself, observed Samaniego, had given way before the constancy of the Geronans. It may be added, that brass will be found less durable than the tribute which shall be paid, by all noble and generous spirits, to the heroism and devotion of these intrepid patriots.

After the battle of Ocana, the Central Junta displayed little of that energy which, on former occasions, had contributed to bear them through increasing difficulties. They endeavoured to

conceal from the nation the full extent of their misfortunes. The discovery of a conspiracy for a change of government contributed yet more to their alarm. They knew themselves to have

1809. December.

278

CHAP.VIII

1809.

December.

CONDUCT OF THE SUPREME JUNTA.

become unpopular with the nation. Libels were poured forth on them in all quarters; and the chief efforts of the Junta were directed rather to the maintenance of their own precarious authority, than to any measures of effective resistance to the enemy.

Yet for such measures the time imperatively called. The enemy threatened Andalusia; and it was evident that by nothing but a rapid and vigorous concentration of the national efforts could his projects be successfully opposed. Under these circumstances, the Junta issued proclamations to the people, couched in the same high tone of chivalrous patriotism which had formerly produced so animating an effect. But it was already apparent that the nation had lost confidence in the government. The Provincial Juntas had in many places resumed their authority; and Spain was probably on the verge of relapsing into the state of confusion from which the formation of the Central Junta had delivered it, when the progress of the enemy put a stop to these intestine dissensions.

So unpopular indeed had the Junta become, that no officer of reputation would consent to serve under them. In Gallicia, the Conde de

CONDUCT OF THE SUPREME JUNTA.

279

1809.

December.

Noronha had already reared the standard of re- CHAP.VIII bellion. Romana, to whom the chief command of the armies had been offered, declined its acceptance. The Duke del Albuquerque, who commanded a corps of about twelve thousand in Estramadura, was an object of fear and jealousy to the Junta. Castanos was in disgrace at Algesiras; and the chief command in Andalusia, at a crisis so important, was, almost from necessity, intrusted to the imbecile Arisaigo. Worse placed it could not be.

280

CURSORY RETROSPECT.

CHAPTER IX.

CHAP. IX.

1810.

OPERATIONS IN ANDALUSIA.

THE year had closed in Spain triumphantly for the French arms, as it had commenced. The Spanish armies had sustained a series of unparalleled defeats. The British had retired into Portugal; and the efforts of Lord Wellington were, for the present, limited to the defence of that kingdom. England had wasted her resources in a fruitless and ill-judged expedition to the Isle of Walcheren, where disease had done the work of the sword. A triumphant peace had been concluded with Austria; and the whole of the immense forces of the French empire were thus disposable for the reduction of Spain.

At Paris, Napoleon, in a speech to the senate,

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