FRAGMENTOS DE UM ROTEIRO DE LISBOA

Como todas as grandes capitaes, Lisboa, desde que rompeu seu primeiro cinto de muralhas, tem ido absorvendo em si as povoações visinhas. Assim vemos hoje no coração da cidade os sitios onde outrora avultavam villa Quente, Valverde, villa Gallega, villa nova de Andrade e outras mais. N'esse tempo, os terrenos que constituem actualmente os seu suburbios, apenas contavam de longe em longe alguns logarejos e varias quintas. A importancia, povoação, e aformoseamentos dos arrabaldes de Lisboa datam do terremoto de 1755. Depois d'esta catastrophe, muitas familias da cidade ahi se foram estabelecer, umas levadas do terror, não querendo mais habitar no seio de grandes povoações; outras guiadas pela necessidade de se acolherem ás suas fazendas, como unica taboa de salvação depois do naufragio de suas fortunas. Desta epocha por diante começou a edificação em grande escala. Aquelles logarejos, pela maior parte, foram-se ligando uns aos outros; e em breve se uniram á propria capital por uma longa fileira de palacios, casas e jardins, que pouco a pouco foram guarnecendo as estradas por onde se communicava com as visinhas aldeias...


ler mais em ARRABALDES DE LISBOA in Archivo pittoresco, TOMO VI 1863

abbots, monks, friars in command as officers

in History of the Peninsular War By Robert Southey

“The Celtic Fringe” by Barrie Griffiths

Hi Lena,

“Wales” is indeed perfectly correct though the name for our country is actually ‘Old English’ and means “Foreigners”, which is a bit of a cheek really as we were here long before they arrived and drove us out of the land now called “England”!

We are (so we are told) together with the Irish, the Scots, and the Bretons of France, members of one of the oldest races to still survive in modern Europe. It was originally thought we were descendants of the Celts who occupied much of France and Switzerland and fought against the Romans in the early days of their rise to power. For this reason we are now known collectively as “The Celtic Fringe”, but our own legends and those of the Irish tended to indicate that we arrived in Britain by sea from the west. Modern research with DNA is now tending to confirm this, indicating that we came from northern Spain or Portugal.
Anne and I have ‘themed’ the part of our garden nearest to the house to reflect these early “Celts” who worshipped stone and water. Hence we have a couple of small pools with fountains and some standing stones (which are a common feature in our country). We decided against building a stone circle (like the one at Stonehenge), however! The two little statues represent Matholwg, a hero of Welsh legend and a young “Gwrach” (“witch”) with a baby dragon (out of sight) at her feet. The red dragon (“y ddraig goch”) is of course one of the emblems of our country and appears on our national flag.

The yellow flower at the front is known as the Welsh Poppy, and many people won’t have it in their gardens because it spreads itself everywhere. We love it however as it blooms from spring well into the summer. Anne keeps it in check by daily cutting off any dead flower heads and this has the added bonus of making it flower even more.

Hopefully I have not bored you with my brief history of “The Welsh”. Love and best wishes from us both,

Anne & Barrie

A Soldier of the 71st

ARRIVAL at Cork - Correspondence with his brother -Sails for Portugal, with an expedition under Sir Arthur Wellesley - Battle of Roleia - Description of Vimeira - Battle of Vimeira
- Behaviour of the peasants after the battle.

It was on the 25th December 1807, after an absence of seventeen months from Britain, that I landed at the Cove of Cork in Ireland. A thrill of joy ran through my whole body, and prompted a fervid inward ejaculation to God, who had sustained me through so many dangers, and brought me to a place where I might hear if my parents had pardoned me, or if my misconduct had shortened the period of their lives. The uncertainty of this embittered all my thoughts, and gave additional weight to all my fatigues. How differently did the joy of our return act upon my fellow-soldiers! - to them it was a night of riot and dissipation. Immediately on our arrival, our regiment was marched to Middleton Barracks, where we remained one month; during which time I wrote to my father, and sent him the amount of the ten doubloons I had received from the good priest. In the course of post I received the following letter, enclosed in one from my brother. It had been returned to them by the post-office at the Isle of Wight.
"Edinburgh, 5th August, 1806.
"DEAR THOMAS, "We received your letter from the Isle of Wight, which gave us much pleasure. I do not mean to add to your sorrows by any reflection upon what is past, as you are now sensible of your former faults, and the cruelty of your desertion. Let it be a lesson to you in future. It had nearly been our deaths. Your mother, brothers, and myself, searched in every quarter that night you left us; but it pleased God we should not find you. Had we only known you were alive, we would have been happy. We praise God you are safe, and send you our forgivness and blessings. The money you have sent, we mean to assist to purchase your discharge, if you will leave the army and come to us again. You say you have made a vow to remain seven years. It was rash to do so, if you have vowed solemnly. Write us on receipt of this, that I may know what course to pursue. "YOUR LOVING PARENT."

"Edinburgh, 5th January 1808.

"DEAR BROTHER, "We received your letter with joy. It has relieved our minds from much uneasiness; but, alas! he who would have rejoiced most, is no more. My heart bleeds for you, on receipt of this; but, on no account, I beseech you, think your going away caused his death. You know he had been long badly, before you left us; and it pleased God to take him to his reward, shortly after your departure. He received your letter two days before his death. He was, at the time, propped up in bed. It was a beautiful forenoon. William and myself were at his bedside; Jean and our dear mother each held a hand. Our father said in his usual manner, "My dear children, I feel the time at hand, in which I am to bid adieu to this scene of troubles. I would go to my final abode content and happy, would it please God to let me hear of Thomas; if dead, that our ashes might mingle together; if alive, to convey to him my pardon and blessings; for ere now, I feel conscious he mourns for his faults." As he spoke, your letter arrived. He opened it himself; and, as he read, his face beamed with joy, and the tears ran down his cheeks "Gallant, unfortunate boy, may God bless and forgive you, as I do." He gave me the letter to read to my mother, aloud. While I read it, he seemed to pray fervently. He then desired me to write to you, as he would dictate. This letter was returned to us again. I now send it to you under cover of this. Your mother is well, and sends you her blessings; but wishes you to leave the army, and come home. The money you sent just now, and the five pounds before, will purchase your discharge. Send us the happy intelligence you will do so. I remain, "YOUR LOVING BROTHER."

On receipt of this letter, I became unfit to do or think on any thing but the fatal effects of my folly. I fell into a lowness of spirits, that continued with me until my arrival in Spain; when the fatigue and hardship I was forced to undergo, roused me from my lethargy.
I was now more determined to remain with the army, to punish myself, than ever. This I wrote to my brother, and desired him to make my mother as comfortable as possible with the money I had sent.

We remained only one month in Middleton barracks, when we were again marched to Cork barracks, where I remained until the 27th June 1808, when I was embarked with, the troops on an expedition under Sir Arthur Wellesley, consisting of nine regiments of infantry.
We remained at anchor until the 12th July, when we set sail for the coast of Portugal, where we arrived on the 29th July, at Mondego Bay.
We began to disembark on the 1st of August. The weather was so rough and stormy, that we were not all landed until the 5th. On our leaving the ships, each man got four pound of biscuit, and four pound of salt beef cooked on board. We marched, for twelve miles, up to the knees in sand, which caused us to suffer much from thirst; for the marching made it rise and cover us. We lost four men of our regiment, who died of thirst. We buried them where they fell. At night we came to our camp ground, in a wood, where we found plenty of water, to us more acceptable than any thing besides on earth. We here built large huts, and remained four days.
We again commenced our march alongst the coast, towards Lisbon. In our advance, we found all the villages deserted, except by the old and destitute, who cared not what became of them.
On the 13th, there was a small skirmish between the French and our cavalry, after which the French retired. On the 14th, we reached a village called Alcobaco, which the French had left the night before. Here were a great many wine stores, that had been broken open by the French. In a large wine cask, we found a French soldier, drowned, with all his accoutrements.

On the morning of the 17th, we were under arms an hour before day. Half an hour after sunrise, we observed the enemy in a wood. We received orders to retreat. Having fallen back about two miles, we struck to the right, in order to come upon their flank, whilst the 9th, 29th, and 5th battalion of the 60th, attacked them in front. They had a very strong position on a hill. The 29th advanced up the hill, not perceiving an ambush of the enemy, which they had placed on each side of the road. As soon as the 29th was right between them, they gave a volley, which killed, or wounded, every man in the grenadier company, except seven. Unmindful of their loss, they drove on, and carried the intrenchments. The engagement lasted until about four o'clock, when the enemy gave way. We continued the pursuit, till darkness put a stop to it. The 71st had only one man killed and one wounded. We were manoeuvring all day, to turn their flank; so that our fatigue was excessive, though our loss was but small. This was the battle of Roleia, a small town at the entrance of a hilly part of the country.
We marched the whole of the 18th and 19th without meeting any resistance. On the 19th, we encamped at the village of Vimeira, and took up a position alongst a range of mountains.
On the 20th, we marched out of our position to cover the disembarkation of four regiments, under General Anstruther. We saw a few French cavalry, who kept manoeuvring, but did not offer to attack us.
On the 21st, we were all under arms an hour before day-break. After remaining some time we were dismissed, with orders to parade again at 10 o'clock, to attend divine service for this was a Sabbath morning. How unlike the Sabbaths I was wont to enjoy! Had it not been for the situation in which I had placed myself, I could have enjoyed it much.Vimeira is situated in a lovely valley, through which the small river Maceira winds, adding beauty to one of the sweetest scenes, surrounded on all sides by mountains and the sea, from which the village is distant about three miles. There is a deep ravine that parts the heights, over which the Lourinha road passes. We were posted on these mountains, and had a complete view of the valley below.
I here, for a time, indulged in one of the most pleasing reveries I had enjoyed since I left home. I was seated upon the side of a mountain, admiring the beauties beneath. I thought of home: Arthur's Seat, and the level between it and the sea, all stole over my imagination. I became lost in contemplation, and was happy for a time.
Soon my day-dream broke, and vanished from my sight. The bustle around was great. There was no trace of a day of rest. Many were washing their linen in the river, others cleaning their firelocks; every man was engaged in some employment. In the midst of our preparation for divine service, the French columns began to make their appearance on the opposite hills. "To arms, to arms!" was beat, at half-past eight o'clock. Every thing was packed up as soon as possible, and left on the camp ground.
We marched out two miles, to meet the enemy, formed line, and lay under cover of a hill, for about an hour, until they came to us. We gave them one volley, and three cheers - three distinct cheers. Then all was as still as death. They came upon us, crying and shouting, to the very point of our bayonets. Our awful silence and determined advance they could not stand. They put about, and fled without much resistance. At this charge we took thirteen guns, and one General.
We advanced into a hollow, and formed again: then returned in file, from the right in companies, to the rear. The French came down upon us again. We gave them another specimen of a charge, as effectual as our first, and pursued them three miles.
In our first charge, I felt my mind waver; a breathless sensation came over me. The silence was appalling. I looked alongst the line: It was enough to assure me. The steady determined scowl of my companions assured my heart, and gave me determination. How unlike the noisy advance of the French! It was in this second charge, our piper, George Clark, was wounded in the groin. We remained at our advance, until sunset; then retired to our camp ground. The ground was so unequal, that I saw little of this battle, which forced the French to evacuate Portugal.
On my return from the pursuit at Monte Video, the birds of prey were devouring the slain. Here I beheld a sight, for the first time, even more horrible; the peasantry prowling about, more ferocious than the beasts and birds of prey, finishing the work of death, and carrying away whatever they thought worthy of their grasp. Avarice and revenge were the causes of these horrors. No fallen Frenchman, that showed the least signs of life, was spared. They even seemed pleased with mangling the bodies. When light failed them, they kindled a great fire, and remained around it all night, shouting like as many savages. My sickened fancy felt the same as if it were witnessing a feast of cannibals.

Next morning we perceived a column of the enemy upon the sand-hills. We were all in arms to receive them, but it turned out to be a flag of truce. We returned to our old camp ground, where we remained three days, during the time the terms of a capitulation were arranging.
We then got orders to march to Lisbon.
On our arrival there, the French flag was flying on all the batteries and forts. We were encamped outside of the town; and marched in our guards, next day, to take possession, and relieve all the French guards. At the same time the French flag was hauled down, and we hoisted, in its stead, the Portuguese standard.
We remained in camp until the day the French were to embark. We were then marched in, to protect them from the inhabitants but, notwithstanding all we could do, it was not in our power to hinder some of their sick from being murdered. The Portuguese were so much enraged at our interference in behalf of the French, that it was unsafe for two or three soldiers to be seen alone. The French had given the Portuguese much cause to hate them; and the latter are not a people who can quickly forgive an injury, or let slip any means of revenge, however base.

Content Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002 Susan H Law and her licensors. All rights reserved.

to the right honourable Arthur this plate is most respectfully dedicated...

do sítio da biblioteca nacional de lisboa

Scenas da minha terra - Peniche

Scenas da minha terra -

Portugal 1780

explore MAP

mapa bacia Tejo

"Les femmes font les pires folies pour allumer une passion et prennent la fuite devant l'incendie"

Madame Junot herself is a little woman, with a stature indecisive between the fat and the en bon point. Her face could never have been pretty or beautiful, but piquant, original, and voluptuous, Her eyes are dark and full of fire, and her bosom, though she must be between fifty and sixty, firm and smooth as satin. So that in spite of wrinkles, rouge, and a certain air of age about the mouth, one can understand, that two years ago M. Balzac was her lover, and that, at the present moment, there are many with similar pretensions.

She has a ton bref and tant soit peu brutal, which has as much of the vivandière as the maréchale ¡n it ; but she is spirituelle, quick, and full of that kind of passion to speak, which puts a conversation at once en train. skteches of paris

"Cette femme a vu Napoléon enfant, elle l'a vu jeune homme encore inconnu, elle l'a vu occupé des choses ordinaires de la vie, puis elle l'a vu grandir, s'élever et couvrir le monde de son nom! Elle est pour moi comme un bienheureux qui viendrait s'asseoir à mes côtés, après avoir vécu au ciel tout près de Dieu !"

Ainsi parlait Honoré de Balzac de Laure Junot, duchesse d'Abrantès. Et il est vrai que peu d'existences composent un roman d'amours et d'aventures aussi mouvementé que la sienne, avec une pareille succession d'imprévus et un pareil heurt de contrastes.

Madame Junot, 1800

The Court of Napoleon Or, Society Under the First Empire; with Portraits of Its Beauties, Wits and Heroines By Frank Boott Goodrich, Jules Champagne

The King has no palace in Lisbon

in Memoirs of Napoleon, His Court and Family by Laure Junot duchesse d'Abrantès

Napoleão envia Junot para Lisboa

"Il est nécessaire que tu t'éloignes quelque temps de Paris cela est convenable pour détruire tous les bruits qui ont couru sur ma sœur et sur toi. Je défie un être au monde d'en parler encore en voyant la confiance dont je vais t investir. Tu auras à Lisbonne une autorité sans bornes. Tu ne correspondras qu'avec moi . Tu resteras toujours gouverneur de Paris. Allons mon vieil ami le bâton de maréchal est là bas.
Il lui tendit la main. Junot la saisit et pleura comme un faible enfant:
Et cependant vous m éloignez de vous, répétait il toujours"
Memoires de Madame la duchesse d'Abrantes By Abrantes, Laure Junot Abrantes:

"Livres défendus même pour ceux qui ont des permissions"

           "Mais pour donner une idée des livres qui étaient refusés à l'époque dont je parle je vais transcrire ici une liste des ouvrages refusés et refusés avec motif. J'ai cette liste par un hasard tout singulier. Les Espagnols qui la liront se rappelleront parfaitement qu'en 1805 et 1806, et même 1808, les ouvrages que je vais citer étaient encore plus qu' à l'index. J'ajouterai le motif donné par l'Inquisition.

"Livres défendus même pour ceux qui ont des permissions"
in
Memoires de Madame la duchesse d'Abrantes

Sir John William Waters

The exploring officers

Wellington got intelligence from his own well-organized service. The best of these agents were four British officers, Grant, Waters, Hay, and Cocks ; all excellent horsemen, good linguists, and, needless to say, cool heads...

in Secret Diplomacy: A Record of Espionage and Double-dealing: 1500-1815

in Studies in the Napoleonic Wars

A campanha de Sir Arthur Wellesley, Portugal 1808

a dispatch to Waters

 Lieut. General Viscount Wellington, K.B., to Lieut. Colonel Waters.

' Cortiço, 20th September, 1810.

' MY DEAR WATERS,
' I am very much obliged to you for all the information you have sent me, and I beg you will come to head quarters with Captain Goldfinch, when you please.

' Believe me, &c.; ' WELLINGTON.

in Wellington's dispatches

Souvenirs d'une ambassade et d'un séjour en Espagne et en Portugal, par Laure Junot

"Le jour où je devais entrer en Espagne on mit à ma voiture le plus singulier attelage que j'eusse jamais vu। Cet attelage était composé de sept mules n'ayant d'autre frein que la voix et la volonté de leur conducteur, elles ne tiennent à la voiture que par une simple corde"

Mémoires de Madame la duchesse d'Abrantès: ou Souvenirs historiques sur ... By Laure Junot Abrantès

Ce fut le jeudi saint de année de 1805, à quatre heures du soir, que j'arrivai devant Lisbonne. Je fus frappée d'admiration et sans me rappeler aucune des louanges qui m'avaient été répétées mille fois de Paris à Madrid, je me laissai charmer par cette magnifique et splendide décoration qui s offrit à moi. Il n'éxiste aucune ville qui présente je crois le coup d œil de Lisbonne vue en arrivant d'Espagne; cette plaine d'eau, formée par le Tage, qui est dans quelques endroits d'une lieue et demie de largeur, bordée à l'autre rive par une ville immense bâtie en amphithéâtre sur les collines qui bordent le fleuve, tandis que sa rade remplie d'une foule innombrable de vaisseaux présente une forêt de mâts portant les couleurs de cent nations différentes"

Battle of Rolissa

The Life of Arthur, First Duke of Wellington; By George Robert Gleig

Sir Waters avait été fait prisionnier par nos troupes...

«Sir Waters, colonel attaché à l'état-major de Wellington, avait été fait prisionnier par nos troupes, et comme il donna sa parole de ne point s'évader, Masséna prescrivit de lui laisser ses armes, son cheval, et de le...  »


in Mémoires du général Bon de Marbot

Passage of the Douro, 1809 may 12

(...) Then Sir John Murray, with the British cavalry, was sent off to cross the Douro some miles further up; and at dawn of day on the 12th of May, Sir Arthur with his staff, partially concealed from the unsuspicious french outposts by a bend in the river, was eagerly searching for means of crossing to the other side.
The eye of the British general rested upon a large unfinished building on the opposite shore, called a seminary. Could he find or contrive means of crossing, it would, he saw, afford a strong point d’appui for the passage of the troops.
At this moment, Colonel Waters, a zealous and adventurous staff-officer, brought the welcome intelligence that, having met a poor barber crossing in a skiff at some distance up the river, he, aided by the influence of the prior of Amarante, had persuaded the barber not only to lend his boat, but to return with them to the other side, and assist in unfastening and bringing across three barges.
This was great news. The barges were quickly reported ready, and a brief ‘Let the men cross’ gave the order for this daring enterprise.
The first detachment landed unobserved, and took quiet possession of the unfinished seminary; the second and the third were equally fortunate; but before the fourth could cross, the quick firing of the French sentinels, soon followed by the hurried roll of Soult’s drums, announced that they were discovered; and the British troops, who had hitherto been kept out of sight, crowded to the banks of the river, and greeted the French – who presently poured out of Oporto in order to attack the seminary before its defenders became too numerous – with loud shouts of exultation and defiance.
The struggle at the seminary soon became furious – deadly. Paget was wounded. Hill succeeded him, but so doubtful at one time appeared the issue that Sir Arthur, but for the remonstrances of his staff, and the reflection that Hill would do all that man could to maintain the position, would himself have crossed over.

in Chambers's Papers for the People
By William Chambers, Robert Chambers
Page 19

Where have we been? :)