Spanish exertions in the north

ported the left, covering the bridge of St. Anton, the wooden bridge and the bridge of boats.

At daybreak on the morning of the 22nd General Mendizabel, with part of the vanguard, proceeded to attack the column approaching by Villero, directing that the division of Iberia should meet him at Arrigorriaga. Dispositions were now made on the part of the Spaniards which seemed to ensure the destruction of that column; but the enemy, on finding them in possession of the bridge of Arrigorriaga and the roads leading to Bilboa, changed their direction; and by a most rapid march, favoured by the thickness of the woods, effected their junction with the second column, which was destined to make a simultaneous attack upon the bridge of Bolueta.

General Mendizabel with his vanguard, and Longa's division, arrived there in time to resist the enemy's attack; their principal efforts being directed to force the Boluetta bridge, which was defended in the most gallant manner. Here the French suffered considerably without gaining a foot of ground: and their efforts on the left of the line proved equally un successful; for General Renovales at the head of his brave peasant soldiers met their attack in every point.

On the left the French attempted in vain to force the two bridges of the town, and that of boats; and, night coming on, they retired to their position on the heights of St. Domingo el Morro and Begona.

.

Arrangements were now made by General Mendizabel for a combined attack on the French position; but finding that they had, upon being attacked by Renovales, who crossed the river in front of the heights of Banderos, early in the night commenced their retreat, no time was lost in pursuing them; and notwithstanding the great advantage they had in point of time, yet from the rapidity with which the division of Iberia marched, the pursuers came up with the fugitives near the town of Zornosa, and attacked the rear with such vigour, that his retreat became a con

fused

British advance to Segovia.

fused and disorderly flight; insomuch that they did not even avail themselves, as they might have done, of several strong positions which the road from Zornosa to Durango presents.

At one of the strongest of these positions, indeed, they made an effort to stand; but the gallantry of the Commandant General Longa completely checked them, for he led the attack at the head of his troops, animating them by his example; and, having charged with a few cavalry and a small body of infantry, the enemy were obliged to abandon this position, and to fly for safety to the town of Durango.

In these affairs the enemy's loss was very considerable, and many prisoners and horses were taken by the Spaniards. The enemy's force was upwards of six thousand veteran troops, commanded by skilful French generals, particularly Rouget and Duvernette; and the advantages resulting from the victory were not confined to the clearing this district of the enemy, but produced the best effects by the confi. dence with which it inspired the new raised Spanish troops.

During the whole of these operations, a constant correspondence and active co-operation was kept up by a British squadron under the command of Sir Home Popham, who proceeded from point to point, conveying arms to the Spaniards, and transporting their troops wherever their presence was thought most efficacious,

Having thus taken a view of the Spanish exertions in other parts of the Peninsula, it is proper to return to the operations of the Marquis of Wellington, who having found that the army under Marmont, so lately defeated, continued their retreat upon Burgos, in a state not likely to take the field again for some time, determined to bring Joseph Buonaparte to a general action, or force him to quit Madrid. Accordingly his Lordship moved from Cueller on the 9th of August, arrived at Segovia on the 7th, and at St. Ildefonso on

the

Unfortunate affair of the Portuguese cavalry.

the 8th where he halted one day, in order to allow the right of the army more time to come up.

No opposition was made to the passage of the troops through the mountains; and Brigadier-General D'Urban with the Portuguese cavalry, the first light battalion of the king's German legion, and Capt. Macdonald's troop of horse artillery, had been brought through the Guadarama pass as early as the 9th. The Brigadier-General then moved forward on the morning of the 11th from the vicinity of Galapagus, and supported by the heavy cavalry of the king's German legion from Torrelodonas, drove in the French cavalry, about 2000 in number, and placed himself at Majalahonda, with the Portuguese cavalry and Captain Macdonald's troop, and the cavalry and light infantry of the king's German legion at Las Royas, about three quarters of a mile distant.

The enemy's cavalry which had been driven off in the morning, and had moved towards Naval Carnero, returned about five in the afternoon of that day; and Brigadier-General D'Urban, having formed the Portuguese cavalry in front of Majalahonda, supported by the horse artillery, ordered the cavalry to charge the enemy's leading squadrons, which appeared too far advanced to be supported by the main body. The Portuguese cavalry advanced to the attack, but unfortunately turned about before they reached the enemy and they fled through the village of Majalahonda, and back upon the German dragoons, leaving behind them unprotected and unsupported, those guns of Captain Macdonald's troop, which he had moved forward to co-operate with the cavalry.

By the activity of the officers and soldiers of Captain Macdonald's troop, the guns were however, moved off; but, owing to the unfavourable state of the ground over which they were moved, the carriage of one was broken, and two others were overturnedand these three guns fell into the enemy's hands. The Portuguese dragoons, after flying through Majalahonda,

22.

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Entrance into Madrid.

Majalahonda, were rallied and reformed upon the heavy dragoons of the king's German legion, which were formed between that village and Las Royas. The German cavalry then charged the enemy, although under many disadvantages, and stopped their further progress; but this they did only after suffering considerable loss, and having Colonel Jonquieres, who commanded the brigade, taken prisoner.

At this moment the left of the army was about two miles and a half distant, at the Puente de Ratemer, on the Guadarama river, and Colonel Ponsonby's brigade of cavalry, and a brigade of infantry of the 7th division having moved forward to the support of the troops in advance, the enemy retired upon Majalahonda as soon as they observed those troops; and night having come on, they retired upon Alcorcon, leaving the captured guns at Majalahonda, where they were again taken possession of.

In this unpleasant affair of the Portuguese cavalry it was still a satisfaction to the Marquis that he was able to report that their officers had behaved remarkably well, and shewed a good example to their men, particularly the Visconde de Barbacena, who was taken prisoner. But the conduct of the brave German cavalry was particularly excellent, as well as that of Captain Macdonald's troop of horse artillery. After this partial affair, the whole army moved forward on the morning of the 12th, and its left took possession of the city of Madrid, Joseph Buonaparte having retired with the army of the centre by the roads of Toledo and Aranjuez, leaving a garrison in the Retiro.*

The

*The retiro is not a park-like enclosure adjacent to Madrid, but the ancient palace of the Spanish monarchs, and inhabited as such until the last two reigns, when Charles the Second, who completed the new palace at the western side of the metropolis, repaired thither with his court. The palace of "El Bueno Retiro" is seated rather on an eminence at the east side of the city, and is surrounded by extensive

grounds.

Reception in the capital.

The Marquis, in his public dispatches, declared it was impossible to describe the joy of the inhabitants of Madrid, upon the arrival of the British; at the same time he expressed a hope that the prevalence of the same sentiments of detestation of the French yoke, and of a strong desire to secure the independence of their country which first induced them to set the example of resistance to the usurper, would still induce them to make exertions in the cause of their country, which will be more efficacious than those formerly made.

posses

The Marquis, finding himself completely in sion of the city of Madrid, directed the operations for the investment of the Retiro to take place, which were completed on the evening of the 13th; and on that night detachments of the 7th division of infantry under the command of Major-General Hope, and of the 3rd division of infantry under the command of the Hon. Major-General Edward Pakenham, drove in the

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grounds and gardens. In this venerable, but now much mutilated, èdifice, Charles the Fifth, who was King of Spain, as well as Emperor of Germany, meditated the establishment of a universal monarchy in Eu-, rope; and his son Philip the Second, who, as far as in him lay, emu- · lated the ambitious conduct of his father, enjoyed, by vain anticipation, the imagined conquest of England !

On the removal of the court to the new palace, the Retiro, and its umbrageous walks, were neglected, and fell into consequent decay. A part of the extensive pile of buildings were afterwards converted into a royal Porcelain manufactory, called "La China;" other parts of it were allotted to the reception of a museum, and also a menagerie. Part of the gardens was also used as a botanical nursery. The whole more or less, therefore, was by the Bourbon Princes assigned to objects of public utility. The Gallic plunderers, on their obtaining possession of Madrid, instantly destroyed these works of peace and civilization, converted this once famed residence of royalty into a place of arms, or species of citadel, to menace and overawe the devoted city. Between the gardens of the Retiro, and the inclosure of Madrid, ran, in a direction north and south, the famous walks and promenades of the Prado, which have been generally esteemed the most magnificent of their kind in Europe; but now, alas! almost totally destroyed by those who may now be justly called "Les Sauvages de l'Europe!"