And indeed there is not any information, which we can receive upon this subject, that is so little trustworthy as that which comes from our army--or from any part of it.

The opportunities of notice, afforded to soldiers in actual service, must necessarily be very limited; and a thousand things stand in the way of their power to make a right use of these.

But a retreating army, in the country of an Ally;--harrassed and dissatisfied; willing to find a reason for its failures in any thing but itself, and actually not without much solid ground for complaint; retreating; sometimes, perhaps, fugitive; and, in its disorder, tempted (and even forced) to commit offences upon the people of the district through which it passes; while they, in their turn, are filled with fear and inconsiderate anger;--an army, in such a condition, must needs be incapable of seeing objects as they really are; and, at the same time, all things must change in its presence, and put on their most unfavourable appearances.
[21] From this number, however, must be excepted the gallant and patriotic General Ferguson.

For that officer has had the virtue publicly and in the most emphatic manner, upon two occasions, to reprobate the whole transaction.
Deeming it then not to be doubted that the British government will continue its endeavours to support its Allies; one or other of two maxims of policy follows obviously from the painful truths which we have been considering:--Either, first, that we should put forth to the utmost our strength as a military power--strain it to the very last point, and prepare (no erect mind will start at the proposition) to pour into the Peninsula a force of two hundred thousand men or more,--and make ourselves for a time, upon Spanish ground, principals in the contest; or, secondly, that we should direct our attention to giving support rather in _Things_ than in Men.
The former plan, though requiring a great effort and many sacrifices, is (I have no doubt) practicable: its difficulties would yield to a bold and energetic Ministry, in despite of the present constitution of Parliament.

The Militia, if they had been called upon at the beginning of the rising in the Peninsula, would (I believe)--almost to a man--have offered their services: so would many of the Volunteers in their individual capacity.