344
LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.
meeting witli the Spanish forces, or even of detachmentsthereof. Not even a priming of a musket will I haveburnt in Spain if I can help it,
“Allow Solano to pass Badajoz ; only let him beobserved. Yourself must prescribe the very minutiae ofthe marches of my army, so as to keep them always at someleagues distance from any Spanish corps :—if the waris once begun, all the advantages to both countriesare irrevocably lost. It is good policy, reciprocal good,good negotiation, that must decide the destinies of Spain .
I beg you to avoid any explanation with Solano, or with anyother Spanish general.
“ You will despatch me two estaffettes everyday. And incase of any important event, you will send me an aid-de-camp. Send hack to me immediately the ChamberlainTournon, who delivers you this letter. You will consign tohim a detailed report of affairs.
I repeat my humble opinion of this letter having astrong tendency to shew that Napoleon had not a priori anyconcocted plan or intention of assuming the government ofSpain , but that he was drawn into the policy which headopted (highly beneficial to the Spanish people) by thestrong current of events.
I must pass over the description of all the embarrassmentsfelt by Murat, upon being implicated (by his presence) inthe usurpation of Ferdinand. Amongst other attempts atelucidation, he sent a confidential agent to wait upon theold king at Aranjuez , who returned to him with the protestof his abdication to his son, having been caused by force,This augmented his difficulties. Affairs became daily so muchmore complicated as to prognosticate tin imminent explosion.