The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

A colonel of the British army to his friend in Lisbon. dated Badajoz, Sept. 19, 1809.

The head quarters of the British army are in this city, My regiment is encamped about two leagues distant with the 4th division of the army, the 5th division is on our left at Campo Major—the rest extend toward Madrid. The army will certainly remain in its present position for 3 weeks, unless unforeseen circumstances influence the commander of the forces. My opinion is that we shall defend Portugal by advancing again into Spain. If we cannot fight the French in the Peninsula with Spain and Portugal at our back, we certainly cannot do it with Portugal only, in the present distracted state of that kingdom.

The British army at this moment is in a more efficient state than it has been at any period on this part of the continent. By remaining a short time here it will be still more so by the junction of many small detachments, from almost every town in Portugal. The most experienced officers of the army are of opinion that we are able to beat the collected forces of the French in the Peninsula whenever we meet them; that the disparity of numbers may not permit our profiting by the victory it cannot be contested; but that the fate of the whole Peninsula depends on the events in Germany, while the French have any army on this side the Pyrenees: but if we succeed in driving them to their own frontier, and rousing the dormant kingdom of Portugal into activity, these countries may still be free and independent for ever, in spite of the Emperor of the French, the conqueror of all the rest of the continent of Europe.

Lord Wellington or his noble brother are not men of despondent character—they are not likely to forsake Spain because in one important instance their just expectation was not answered. It is evident there still exists in the government and in the people of Spain a zeal for independence. Because the British arms proved their superiority and the army of Spain was unhurt at Talavera is there any cause for despondence? in my humble opinion the lesson is turned to great profit and I look now with as much hope to see Madrid as I did when I left Lisbon. Many Spanish regiments have been decimated and the cowards shot in view of the British soldiers.