Abrantes,8 June 1809 Colonel Bourke has been sent to Cuesta. It seems that all Victor’s force may not have retired but are gathering at Merida and should be brought to battle Of the three proposals to be put to Wellesley, Cuesta chose the first; the British to join the Spaniards at Merida via Elvas and Badajos, Venegas to be sent to Talavera to turn the enemy’s left (the other plans detailed) Wellesley objects to all these plans saying that they should be intercepting Victor by direct means. He wants an immediate move on Plasencia drawing off Victor and feels confident of defeating him in battle if he has only a few Spaniards. Cuesta wants the fight to be for Spain but Wellesley is reluctant to do more than confine himself to his instructions and save Portugal by driving the French from Estremadura. Romana said to be at Orense. Soult in a poor way with only 8,000 left many without arms and shoes. The French have Oviedo and Asturias but Blake has had successes against Suchet in Aragon. – From: Londonderry Estates – Additional Records Acc: 1193(D),Despatches from Charles William Stewart (1778-1854), Lord Stewart to Robert Stewart (1769-1822), Viscount Castlereagh, from the Peninsula, volume 2