Let the reader consider, then, First; what army was this round which the Spaniards were to rally?
If it was known by the victory of Vimiera, it was known also to many by the Convention of Cintra; for, though the government had never ventured to communicate that affair officially to the nation, dark and perplexing whispers were however circulated about it throughout Spain.

Moreover, it must surely demand some superstition in behalf of regular troops--to see, in an army of 20,000 men, a dignity adequate to the office here claimed for it of awakening a new vigour and enthusiasm in such a nation as Spain; not to mention that an English army, however numerous, had no right to consider itself as other than a tributary force--as itself tending to a centre--and attracted rather than attracting.
Secondly; it appears that Sir J.M.has overlooked one most important circumstance;--viz.

that the harvest, in these provinces, had been already reaped; the English army could be viewed only as gleaners.

Thus, as we have already seen, Estramadura had furnished an army which had marched before his arrival; from Salamanca also--the very place in which he makes his complaint--there had gone out a battalion to Biscay which Gen.

Blake had held up, for its romantic gallantly, to the admiration of his whole army.
Yet, thirdly, it is not meant by any means to assert that Spain has put forth an energy adequate to the service--or in any tolerable proportion to her own strength.