Note 546 — Chapter I

Napoleon seems to have got the knowledge of Baird’s arrival from the London newspapers. An English brigantine, called the Ferret, ran into Santander, under the impression that it was still in Spanish hands. On board were many journals, with details about the Cintra Court of Inquiry, and about the reinforcements for Spain. Long extracts from them were reprinted in the Madrid Gazette for the second half of December. The danger of the press already existed!