crowds in happier times, making pilgrimages to her shrine, to implore a blessing on our harvests and shall we now leave her altars defenceless?"

s;

The character of the Spaniards of these provinces has no parallel of resemblance with the other nations of Europe. Patriotism is with them another name for religion, as it was among the ancients, where no people despaired, or confessed themselves subdued, as long as they could preserve the altars of their patron deities unharmed. The sacred ensigns of Jupiter Capitolinus, displayed in battle, led the Romans to victory. After the days of chivalry, when modern armies were again organized like those of Rome, the religious sentiment which bound the Roman soldier to his standard, was compensated among regular troops by the principle of honour. The military point of honour has made the armies disciplined on this principle attain to high excellence. But it is patriotism alone, either religious or political, that can render nations invincible.

The people of Spain were actuated only by religious patriotism. They had no practical knowledge of the discipline, or of the science of war. They soon abandoned their colours when defeated. They did not think themselves bound to maintain their promise to an enemy. But they had only one interest, and one common sentiment to avenge, by every possible expedient, the injuries their country sustained.

Among others, one of the insurgent peasants of Arragon was seized by our scouts: He was armed only with a musket, and was driving an ass before him, which carried a stock of several months' provisions. The officer who commanded the vanguard pitied the poor fellow, and commanded his

deliverance, making signs that he might fly to the mountains. The peasant took the hint; but the moment he was at liberty he loaded his gun, returned to our ranks, and took aim at his deliverer. The ball happily missed. This Spanish peasant hoped to die a martyr, for killing, as he falsely thought, one of our principal leaders. At the halt he was brought before the Colonel of the regiment. Out of curiosity we all surrounded him. One of our hussars, by a particular action, having persuaded him he was to be shot, he instantly fell on his knees, prayed to Gòd and the Virgin Mary, and courageously awaited death. He was raised up, and sent at night to head-quarters. If these men had known how to fight as they knew how to die, we would not have passed the Pyrenees so easily.

Marshal Lannes, with his corps d'armée, remained in Arragon to carry on the siege of Saragossa. The force under Marshal Ney continued, by rapid marches, to pursue the broken fragments of Castanos's army, which were retreating towards Guadalaxara and Madrid. Our van-guard, on the 28th, cut to pieces the rear-guard of the Spaniards in attempting to secure the pass of Buvierca on the Xalon.

The forced marches of our army were often prolonged after night-fall; and then, in passing nigh the squadrons of Italians, Germans, and French, we could hear them singing their national airs, to forget their fatigues, and recall, in a distant and hostile land, recollections of their native country.

When the night was far advanced, the army staid in the environs of deserted towns and villages, and then we found ourselves in want of every thing. But the soldiers were soon spread over

every quarter to forage, and in less than an hour they had transferred what yet remained in the houses of the neighbourhood to their bivouack. Around large fires, lighted at intervals, were then to be seen all the apparatus of military cookery. On one side, some were constructing barracks in great expedition, with planks thatched with leaves for want of straw. Others were erecting tents by adjusting over four stakes pieces of cloth found in the empty houses. Here and there, ornamenting the ground, were scattered sheep-skins newly flayed, guitars, pitchers, wine-vessels, monks' habits, and garments of all forms and colours. In this spot troopers were sleeping quietly all armed beside their horses. Farther on, amid piles of arms, foot-soldiers danced to the strains of barbarous music, grotesquely disguised with women's clothes.

When the army departed, the peasants descended from the neighbouring heights, and came from their hiding-places in every direction, as if they had risen from the bowels of the earth. They hastened homeward to their houses. Our soldiers could not stray an inch from the road, or halt a single step behind the columns, without running the risk of being instantly despatched by the revengeful mountaineers. We dared not here, as we did every where in Germany, form detached patroles, or send our sick without escort to the hospitals. Those of the infantry who were unable to march, followed their divisions mounted on asses. In their left hands they held their firelocks, and in the right their bayonets in place of spurs. Like the fiery steeds of ancient Numidia, these docile animals had neither saddles nor bridles.

CHAPTER III.

On the 1st of December, we took up our night's quarters in a village about a league north of Guadalaxara. Billets were assigned us, and we were about to disband, to scatter ourselves throughout our cantonment, when we were informed that some foot-soldiers of the enemy were observed flying at a distance. They appeared difficult to come at; and a few of the youngest of the troop, obtaining leave of the colonel, began, for the love of sport, to pursue them. I marked particularly as my prize, one who ran more quickly than his fellows. He wore an azure-coloured uniform, whose brilliant colour made me take him for an officer.

When he saw that he could not escape, he stopped, and waited for me behind a ditch he had cleared with dexterity. I believed he was then taking aim to fire at me; but on coming within twenty yards, he dropped his arms, doffed his hat, and with most humble reverences, in suitable attitudes, said to me, over and over- "I have the honour to salute you, Master; Master, I am your very humble servant. I stood, not less amazed at his comical appearance, than at hearing him speak French. I relieved him from his fears, by saying he should sustain no injury. He said

he was a native of Toulouse, and a professor of dancing; that he had been made to stand a fortnight in the pillory, to compel him to wear the uniform and serve in the regiment of Ferdinand VII., when the general levy took place in Andalusia; which, as he said, was altogether unsuited to his gentle disposition. I told him to go to the village where our regiment was quartered, an order he did not think proper to obey. Another Frenchman was made prisoner, who was son to a principal magistrate in the town of Pau in Bearn. He was suffered to escape a few days af terwards, lest his Spanish uniform, and the arms he carried, might be recompensed at the depôt with a musket-bullet.

Borne along by thepleasure of my ramble, and the ardour of my horse, I ascended first one hill, then another, crossed a torrent, and, after a smart ride of half an hour, arrived at a large village, which I entered. The inhabitants, perceiving me at a distance, were terrified lest I should be followed by others. The alarm soon spread, and they commenced in an instant to secure all their houses, by barricading, as usual, the door towards the street, and escaping over the walls of the court behind. Seeing that I was alone, they ventured out one by one, and came to the market-place, where I had halted. I heard several men repeat, with emphasis, the word Matar; which I conceived, as I did not understand Spanish, might be some word for expressing their wonder at the sight of a stranger. I learned afterwards that the expression means "Kill him. These Spaniards were not quite so peaceful as the inhabitants of