We see, in the intercepted letter to Marshal Soult (transmitted by Sir J.M.), that the French keep accurate registers of the behaviour of the different towns; and this was, no doubt, well known throughout Spain.

Therefore to shew any signs of good-will--much more to give a kind welcome to the English (as had been done at Badajoz and Salamanca)--was, they knew, a pledge of certain punishment on any visit from the French.

So that good-will, manifested in these circumstances, was nothing less than a testimony of devotion to the cause.
Here then, the reader will say, I find granted--in the courage and the good-will of the Spaniards--all the elements of an enthusiastic resistance; and cannot therefore imagine what more could be sought for except the throwing out and making palpable of their enthusiasm to the careless eye in some signal outward manifestations.

In this accordingly we learn what interpretation we are to give to Sir J.M.'s charge:--there were no tumults on his entrance into Spain; no insurrections; they did not, as he says, 'rally round' the English army.

But, to determine how far this disappointment of his expectations tells against the Spaniards, we must first know how far those expectations were reasonable.