overwhelmed any but a man of almost superhuman mettle swept up
against Lord Wellington for having stood inactive within the
frontiers of Portugal and never stirred a hand to aid the Spaniards.
It was not only from Spain that bitter invective was hurled upon
him; British journalism poured scorn and rage upon his incompetence,
French journalism held his pusillanimity up to the ridicule of the
world. His own officers took shame in their general, and expressed
it. Parliament demanded to know how long British honour was to be
imperilled by such a man. And finally the Emperor's great marshal,
Massena, gathering his hosts to overwhelm the kingdom of Portugal,
availed himself of all this to appeal to the Portuguese nation in
terms which the facts would seem to corroborate.

He issued his proclamation denouncing the British for the disturbers
and mischief-makers of Europe, warning the Portuguese that they were
the cat's-paw of a perfidious nation that was concerned solely with
the serving of its own interests and the gratification of its
predatory ambitions, and finally summoning them to receive the
French as their true friends and saviours.

The nation stirred uneasily. So far no good had come to them of
their alliance with the British. Indeed Wellington's policy of
devastation had seemed to those upon whom it fell more horrible
than any French invasion could have been.

But Wellington held the reins, and his grip never relaxed or
slackened. And here let it be recorded that he was nobly and
stoutly served in Lisbon by Sir Terence O'Moy. Pressure upon the
Council resulted in the measures demanded being carried out. But
much time had been lost through the intrigues of the Souza faction,