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THERE never was a question in politics, perhaps, in which there has been a greater, a more extreme, difference, than on that of the war in the Peninsula; and it is not less worthy of notice, that, perhaps, there never was a greater degree of unanimity of approval than at present upon this very question.

When all Spain rose, as it were by a miracle, (for the effect was simultaneous and without combination,) in opposition to the insidious thraldom of France, her exertions were looked on by many in this country with coolness, and even apathy. It was supposed im possible for a degraded, and almost enslaved popula tion to resist, even for a moment, the military powe and political machinations of him who had conquere more than half of the civilized world. All feare

her eventual success, and some prognosticated, with the most determined assertions, her eternal subjugation. Yet, in the space of a few short years, how changed is the scene!—so changed, that even our most desponding statesmen venture to look forward to her restoration to her ancient rank among the kingdoms of Europe, and to her resuming that rank accompanied with feelings of esteem and gratitude to Britain ; feelings which, in future political connections, may ultimately tend highly both to the political welfare and internal comfort of each country. To what, then, has this wonderful, this extraordinary, change been owing ? To what, indeed, but to the liberal and friendly assistance of this country ;-to the gallantry of our troops, and to the consummate skill and approved valour of him who has so frequently led them on to glory! During the whole progress of this arduous, this almost unequalled contest, the gallant Wellington has unequivocally afforded grounds for the highest honours that his Sovereign could shower down upon him, or his grateful country could bestom. He has, by his example, given spirit and enthusiasm, not only to his own troops, but to those of the sister kingdoms of the Peninsula. By his consummate skill, indefatigable exertions, and excellent judgment, he has foiled the best Generals of France, overcome difficulties considered insuperable, and directed the exertions of Britain, and the force of her unfortunate allies, to those points where, in all cases, they were most available.

By his steadiness, and his Fabius movements, he has preserved his own strength unbroken, whilst that

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of his enemy was on the decline, and enabled the scattered bands of Patriots to acquire both discipline and numbers, and thus to produce a hardy race of soldiers, who, as Guerillas, have learned to despise French courage, and to counteract even French discipline. At the same time, by the well-timed rapidity of his manœuvres, when necessary, as well as by their secresy and determined purposes, he has beat all their calculations of the enemy, according even to their own confessions; a proof of which, if proof were wanting, would be found on the fact of his having taken CIUDAD RODRIGO in half the time which the French general had considered possible; and thus, by its capture, connected with that of Almeida, always a military post of importance, not only formed a powerful defence for Portugal, but opened a way into the very heart of Spain.

This latter excellence of rapidity and determination was, indeed, always expected by his friends; and we shall have occasion to see, in the progress of this Biography, particularly in detailing his brilliancy of thought at the glorious battle of Assye, on the plains of Hindoostan, that their expectations were well founded; but the steadiness of his other operations, the self-denial with which he has delayed to pluck the laurels which Victory held out to him with open hand, are traits in his character which might have been considered as unlikely to appear, and that without derogating from the high character which he had acquired previous to his present distinguished rank in the Peninsula.

But it is to this latter part of his character that

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much of the success of the present contest has been owing; and it is entirely owing to it that he has been enabled to overcome the various difficulties he had to encounter, as, opposed to the almost overwhelming power of France, commanded by her best Generals, with a force of British troops, even now little more than half the number of French concentrated in any one spot. For, much as the Spanish and Portuguese troops have of late improved in discipline, and much as might have, even at first, been expected from their native courage, yet Lord Wellington could not trust the safety of his army, or the ultimate success of the cause, to an absolute dependence on their almost untried exertions; he has nevertheless known how to avail himself even of their inefficient state with a degree of judgment and spirit happily justified by the event.

We may than aver, without fear of contradiction, that on the valour of our troops, and on the skill of our general, (as it has been most eloquently said by one of our most exalted statesmen,) have depended the cause of Liberty in Spain, in Portugal, in Europe, nay in Britain herself, and throughout the whole Universe.

In the late brilliant campaigns, the conduct of our soldiers, too, has been unequalled, and our Parliamentary records justify that opinion which we heard a gallant general, and one well skilled in desultory warfare, and, of course, well qualified to judge, declare, "that he believed he might defy any other nation to produce soldiers so steady under arms, or so silent in a night attack." But it is not on the courage of our troops alone, that we have learned to depend; for we may add, that there is now no part of military arrange

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