Autograph letter signed : Cadiz, to Sir James [Pulteney], 1809 Jan. 28.

Reporting on the situation as he finds it in Cadiz; saying..."it is really impossible to shut ones Eyes to the prospect of speedy ruin which is hanging over this Country. I arrived here from Lisbon on Monday last & was not a little surprized to find that nobody had the smallest suspicion of the danger which threatens them. The Gazettes published by authority of the Supreme Junta of Seville were filled with accounts of Victories obtained over the French, & I daresay the first thing that will rouze(?) them from their Security will be the flight of the Junta from Seville & the approach of a French Army. No precautions have been taken to remove about fourteen thousand French Prisoners in this neighborhood or to secure the Naval Stores or the Arsenal or the Men of War from falling into the Hands of the Enemy. The English here complain strongly of our Ambassador at Seville Mr. Frere who gives them no information & takes no Steps to excite the Activity of the Spaniards, but employs all his time in reading Don Quixote instead of attending to this Business. Cadiz is very strong both from its situation & from Art, but the Garrison consists solely of Volunteers & the City Militia who altho fine looking fellows & I believe very hearty in the Cause, have no Military Experience & from their former Habits of Life are incapable of bearing fatigue. As they are all of them too, Men of Property in the town, it is not impossible that to save their Houses & families they might be prevailed upon to surrender it to the French without Resistance. The Supreme Junta has neither authority nor energy. Instead of taking active & vigourous measures to defend their Country they are occupied with the most frivolous objects, & employ their time in writing [illegible] Proclamations & Edicts against Free Masons & Illuminati. In short, I think the Cause of the Spanish Patriots is quite desperate & that in a very short time Bonaparte will be in possession of the whole Peninsula except Gibraltar;" adding that he will be go to Seville shortly and from there to Gibraltar "if not prevented by the approach of the French."