G. A. Henty 
With Moore at Corunna 

From the termination of the campaigns of Marlborough—at which

time the British army won for itself a reputation rivalled by that of

no other in Europe—to the year when the despatch of a small army

under Sir Arthur Wellesley marked the beginning of another series

of British victories as brilliant and as unbroken as those of that great

commander, the opinion had gained ground in Europe that the

British had lost their military virtues, and that, although

undoubtedly powerful at sea, they could have henceforth but little

influence in European affairs. It is singular that the revival of

Britain’s activity began under a Government which was one of the

most incapable that ever controlled the affairs of the country. Had

their deliberate purpose been to render nugatory the expedition

which— after innumerable vacillations and changes of purpose—

they despatched to Portugal, they could hardly have acted otherwise

than they did.