Merida, 24 August 1809 The A.G. and Q.M.G. posts do not have the interest and importance they have in other armies. This is probably due to the Horse Guards’ tradition of leaving everything to the Military Secretary, an officer of inferior rank. The system obtains even on active service and the A.G. does little more than make returns etc. and filing. After trial he only stays in the post for duty’s sake though he has Wellesley’s confidence. He has been seeking a field command. Describes his relations with Wellesley. An A.G.’s task is difficult on active service if his rank is not very high and he knows he has given umbrage to some people. Wellesley has explained the utter necessity of retiring to Portugal. He will defend this to the last but it must be with British troops for, pace Beresford, the Portuguese are as untrustworthy as the Spaniards. – 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