Note 6 — Chapter XIX · INVASION OF PORTUGAL BY MARSHAL SOULT.

Marshal Soult’s historian represents this affair as of great importance, because it removed the impression which their failure in crossing the Minho had made upon the army. What is more curious, he finds in it a justification for their invasion of Portugal! Les Portugais avaient fait trois lieues sur les terres d’Espagne pour venir attaquer l’armée Française engagée avec les Espagnols, mouvement hostile concerté avec la Romana pour faciliter sa retraite, et qui justifiait l’entrée que nous allions faire en Portugal.—P. 106. If any thing can be more detestable than the avowed and exultant profligacy of these men during their season of triumph, it is the manner in which they have afterwards attempted to gloze over actions which public opinion (and still more the event) has made them feel are too nefarious to be openly defended.