refused the offered co-operation of General Spencer’s corps with that of Castanos in the attack of Dupont; and the junta of Gallicia, even after the unfortunate battle of Rio Seco, did not wish Sir Arthur Wellesley to co-operate with their army under Blake. Neither the great Northern nor the great Southern army of Spain wished our direct co-operation, and each of them pointed out, that the most effectual service we could rentier Spain, was to expel the French from Portugal. This service has been rendered, but not in a manner to satisfy the first expectations of the nation. A public inquiry has been instituted into the causes of the convention by which the French were allowed to evacuate Portugal with their arms and baggage; and as far as public opinion can judge, on the evidence which has been laid before the Court of Inquiry, its result must be, that Sir Arthur Wellesley would have made the victory of Vemiera most glorious and decisive, if he had not been restrained by Sir Harry Burrard; and that by the favourable opportunity being lost, the situation of the French was so much improved, that, in the opinion of all the other lieutenant- generals, as well as Sir Hew Dalrymple, they were entitled to the favourable terms of the convention. As far as the question relates to ministers, it is now reduced to this: who was it that recommended Sir Harry Burrard to be employed, and thereby superseded Sir Arthur Wellesley in the command of our army in Portugal? Whether there has been any unnecessary delay in marching the British army from Portugal into Spain, does not as yet appear. The feeling of this nation for the cause of Spain is so general and so strong, that we may venture to say, the point upon which the merits of any administration could be now considered to turn, is, whether they had done enough for Spain? or whether it was not possible for them to have done something more than they have done? On these questions, the opinions of the ablest men in the nation will be pronounced in the approaching parliament, and in our next publication we shall be able to enter more fully into the consideration of them.
LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.
The Medical and Chirurgical Society of London will shortly publish the first volume of their Records. It will contain some very valuable contributions from practitioners of first-rate eminence in the metropolis.
Mr. George Montague’s supplement to his History of British Shells is nearly ready for publication.
The Rev.. R. Wares will shortly put to press a Dictionary of the Middle Language of England, or the Age of Shakspeare, on the plan of Johnson’s Dictionary.
Dr. C. Burney has nearly completed, at the Cambridge press, his very learned work on the Chorusses of Æschylus, and it will soon be published.
Mr. Beloe’s third volume of Anecdotes of Literature and scarce Books will appear in the course of this month.
The author of the Military Mentor is preparing for publication
