[The Prose Works of William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth]@TWC D-Link book
The Prose Works of William Wordsworth

PREFACE
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Sir Arthur Wellesley, before the Board of Inquiry, disallowed this supposition; affirming that Junot's army had not then reached Spain, nor could be there for some time.

Grant this: was it not stipulated that a messenger should be sent off, immediately after the conclusion of the treaty, to Buonaparte--apprising him of its terms, and when he might expect his troops; and would not this enable him to hurry forward forces to the Spanish frontiers, and to bring them into action--knowing that these troops of Junot's would be ready to support him?
What did it matter whether the British were again to measure swords with these identical men; whether these men were even to appear again upon Spanish ground?
It was enough, that, if these did not, others would--who could not have been brought to that service, but that these had been released and were doing elsewhere some other service for their master; enough that every thing was provided by the British to land them as near the Spanish frontier (and as speedily) as they could desire.
* * * * * D _( page 108)_.
This attempt, the reader will recollect, is not new to our country;--it was accomplished, at one aera of our history, in that memorable act of an English Parliament, which made it unlawful for any man to ask his neighbour to join him in a petition for redress of grievances: and which thus denied the people 'the benefit of tears and prayers to their own infamous deputies!' For the deplorable state of England and Scotland at that time--see the annals of Charles the Second, and his successor .-- We must not forget however that to this state of things, as the cause of those measures which the nation afterwards resorted to, we are originally indebted for the blessing of the Bill of Rights.
* * * * * _E_ (_page_ 159).
I allude here more especially to an address presented to Buonaparte (October 27th, 1808) by the deputies of the new departments of the kingdom of Italy; from which address, as given in the English journals, the following passages are extracted:-- 'In the necessity, in which you are to overthrow--to destroy--to disperse your enemies as the wind dissipates the dust, you are not an exterminating angel; but you are the being that extends his thoughts--that measures the face of the earth--to re-establish universal happiness upon better and surer bases.' * * * * * 'We are the interpreters of a million of souls at the extremity of your kingdom of Italy.'-- 'Deign, _Sovereign Master of all Things_, to hear (as we doubt not you will)' &c.
The answer begins thus:-- 'I _applaud_ the sentiments you express in the name of my people of Musora, Metauro, and Tronto.' * * * * * _F_ (_page_ 163).
This principle, involved in so many of his actions, Buonaparte has of late explicitly avowed: the instances are numerous: it will be sufficient, in this place, to allege one--furnished by his answer to the address cited in the last note:-- 'I am particularly attached to your Archbishop of Urbino: that prelate, animated with the true faith, repelled with indignation the advice--and braved the menaces--of those who wished to confound the affairs of Heaven, which never change, with the affairs of this world, which are modified according to circumstances _of force_ and policy.' * * * * * SUSPENSION OF ARMS _Agreed upon between Lieutenant-General_ SIR ARTHUR WELLESLEY, K.B.

_on the one part, and the General-of-Division_ KELLERMANN _on the other part; each having powers from the respective Generals of the French and English Armies_.
_Head-Quarters of the English Army_, August 22, 1808.
ARTICLE I.There shall be, from this date, a Suspension of Arms between the armies of his Britannic Majesty, and his Imperial and Royal Majesty, Napoleon I.for the purpose of negociating a Convention for the evacuation of Portugal by the French army.
ART.II.The Generals-in-Chief of the two armies, and the Commander-in-Chief of the British fleet at the entrance of the Tagus, will appoint a day to assemble, on such part of the coast as shall be judged convenient, to negociate and conclude the said Convention.
ART.III.The river of Sirandre shall form the line of demarcation to be established between the two armies; Torres Vedras shall not be occupied by either.
ART.IV.The General-in-Chief of the English army undertakes to include the Portugueze armies in this suspension of arms; and for them the line of demarkation shall be established from Leyria to Thomar.
ART.

V.It is agreed provisionally that the French army shall not, in any case, be considered as prisoners of war; that all the individuals who compose it shall be transported to France with their arms and baggage, and the whole of their private property, from which nothing shall be exempted.
ART.VI.No individual, whether Portugueze, or of a nation allied to France, or French, shall be called to account for his political conduct; their respective property shall be protected; and they shall be at liberty to withdraw from Portugal, within a limited time, with their property.
ART.VII.The neutrality of the port of Lisbon shall be recognised for the Russian fleet: that is to say, that, when the English army or fleet shall be in possession of the city and port, the said Russian fleet shall not be disturbed during its stay; nor stopped when it wishes to sail; nor pursued, when it shall sail, until after the time fixed by the maritime law.
ART.VIII.All the artillery of French calibre, and also the horses of the cavalry, shall be transported to France.
ART.IX.This suspension of arms shall not be broken without forty-eight hours' previous notice.
Done and agreed upon between the above-named Generals, the day and year above-mentioned.
(Signed) ARTHUR WELLESLEY.

KELLERMANN, General-of-Division.
_Additional Article_.
The garrisons of the places occupied by the French army shall be included in the present Convention, if they have not capitulated before the 25th instant.
(Signed) ARTHUR WELLESLEY.


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