He had witnessed the masterly
campaign of 1809, the battle of the Douro and the relentless
operations which had culminated in hurling the shattered fragments
of Soult's magnificent army over the Portuguese frontier, thus
liberating that country for the second time from the thrall of the
mighty French invader. And he knew that unless this man and the
troops under his command remained in Portugal and enjoyed complete
liberty of action there could be no hope of stemming the third
invasion for which Massena - the ablest of all the Emperor's marshals
was now gathering his divisions in the north. If Wellington were to
execute his threat and withdraw with his army, Forjas beheld nothing
but ruin for his country. The irresistible French would sweep
forward in devastating conquest, and Portuguese independence would
be ground to dust under the heel of the terrible Emperor.
All this the clear-sighted Dom Miguel Forjas now perceived. To do
him full justice, he had feared for some time that the unreasonable
conduct of his Government might ultimately bring about some
such desperate situation. But it was not for him to voice those
fears. He was the servant of that Government, the "mere instrument
and mouthpiece of the Council of Regency.
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