of Jerome Bonaparte’s rule and the general hatred of the French, he effected little:  with his 2,000 followers he was finally saved by British cruisers (August).  Had the British expedition, which in the ensuing autumn rotted away on Walcheren, been landed at Stralsund, or in Hanover during the spring, it is certain that Germany would have risen in Napoleon’s rear; and in that case, the doubtful struggle which closed at Wagram might have ended very differently.[211]

All hopes for European independence centred in Wellesley and the Archduke Charles.  Although there was no formal compact between England and Austria, yet the Hapsburgs rested their hopes largely on the diversions made by our troops.  In the early part of the Peninsular campaign of 1809, these hopes were brilliantly fulfilled.  Wellesley moved against Soult at Oporto, and, by a dextrous crossing of that river in his rear, compelled him to beat a calamitous retreat on Spain, with the loss of all his cannon and stores.  The French reached Lugo an armed rabble, and were greeted there with jeers and execrations by the men of Ney’s corps.  The two Marshals themselves took up the quarrel, and so fierce were the taunts of Ney that Soult drew his sword and a duel was barely averted.[212] An appearance of concord was restored during their operations in Galicia and Asturias:  but no opportunity was missed of secretly thwarting the hated rival; and here, as all through the Peninsular War, the private jealousies of the French leaders fatally compromised the success of their arms.  Wellesley, seeing that the operations in Galicia would never decide the war, began to prepare a deadly blow at the centre of French authority, Madrid.

While Wellesley thrust a thin wedge into the heart of Spain, the Archduke Charles was overthrown on the banks of the Danube.  After drawing in reinforcements from France, the Rhenish Confederation, and Eugene’s army of Italy, the French Emperor disposed of 180,000 highly-trained troops, whom he massed in the Lobau Island, or on the right shore of the Danube.  Every preparation was made for deceiving the Austrians as to the point of crossing and with complete success.  With great labour the defenders threw up intrenchments facing the north side of the island.  But, on a thick stormy night (July 4th), six bridges of boats were quickly swung across the stream lower down, that is, on the east side of Lobau, while a furious cannonade on the north side misled their foes.  The crossing was effected without loss by Oudinot and Massena; and sunrise saw the whole French army advancing rapidly northwards, thereby outflanking the Austrian earthworks, which were now evacuated.