amorous devotees, meretricious dances and obscene songs. We lament also to hear that since the departure of the French, those in power are again making the horrors of the inquisition the instruments of their vengeance.'

During the writer's march through Portugal into Spain, a very discreditable national trait presents itself

We were frequently shewn the caps and arms of the unfortunate Frenchmen who had fallen sacrifices to the knives of this oppressed people. They told us exultingly, while they held them up, the particulars of many a bloody scene; and how often it had been repeated by the discovery and murder of some other poor stragglers. I fear that this base sort of revenge is the only one the generality of this nation are now capable of devising. I no where hear amongst them any sentiments on their release from a foreign yoke, which speak principles of a nobler kind than a merely natural joy at being relieved from insult and exaction. No grand views connected with freedom and national advantages seem to enter their heads; all they think of is the temporary escape from personal inconvenience; and I have a notion that had Napoleon's Generals acted with less rigor, and conde scended in any degree to have won the people's confidence, we should have heard that all was very quietly settled in Lusitania. But when the titles of the native nobility are assumed, and their estates se.... questrated; when the lower classes are oppressed and plundered, no wonder then that every body being injured, all should seek redress, and, fearful of their own strength, fly to the broad shield of England.'

On entering Spain at Alcantara, Sir Robert Porter says that he contemplated the proud walls of that city as a type of the brave nation we came to defend; noble in ruins, and settled on the impregnable rock of nature, determined to maintain their existence against those attacks which shook other places to their foundation.'

With such sentiments, such respect and cordiality for the inhabitants, did we enter Alcantara. But the governor proved a beasta vulgar, uncivil animal, with little power to serve us, and less inclination. He was asleep when we called on him. Indeed all seemed

asleep to the feelings we brought along with us. They received us with the coldness of men, shewing they were resolved ever to consider us as strangers, and treated us with an inhospitality they durst not have ventured had they not believed us to be friends.'

Heu! sie omnia!-with only such exceptions as confirm

the rule.

At Salamanca, we find the author's military views become very gloomy, and his ideas but too much in accordance with those which we know to have been entertained by the com mander in chief, and with the actual result. He anticipates

the

the necessity of that retreat which he yet deprecates and dreads, and he adds:

From the brave honesty of Sir John Moore, I have no doubt of his informing ministers at home of the true state of Spain; and of how shamefully the junta has misled them, by its representations of the patriotic zeal and military preparation of the nation. That the Spaniards did not continue as the junta found them was its own fault. Oppressed and outraged by the French, with a wild revenge hordes of enraged people rose in every quarter of the kingdom: their sudden and impetuous vengeance carried all before them; the veteran armies of France were destroyed, the usurper driven from his assumed capital, and the cry of restitution resounded every where. This was the sympathetic act of a whole nation; and this was the fortunate moment for a virtuous nobility to have turned it to their country's advantage Had some great spirit seized this conquering body, and guided it with the singleness of aim which actuated the soul of Pelagio, when at the head of his zealous Asturians he drove the invading Saracens over his native mountains, we should not now be shut up in Salamanca, nor would the flying Spaniards be seeking a temporary refuge in their dishonoured homes."

In a letter from Sahagun, when the army was advancing to the enemy, Sir R. Porter well observes :

'Bad as appearances may be, I have such a reliance on the prudence as well as courage of Sir John Moore, that I am certain he would not risk the tarnishing his fame, and the honour of his troops, by bringing them into a situation where either were likely to be injured. I am persuaded that the steps we are preparing to take were not determined on by him without his having conceived an idea of their necessity; that it would do still more than rescue the name of his army from the obliquy which the “ great vulgar" as well as the "small," from ignorance of the peculiar situations of the objects they arraign, are ever ready to throw upon what does not exactly meet their expectations. Not that I believe he would needlessly sacrifice a hair of any man's head who is under his command, to gain the proudest admiration which depends on the prejudging judgments of those whose voice may give popularity, but never can bestow fame. He, with every other veteran, must be aware that it is sometimes the duty of a General to risk the odium of being called too severely cautious; nay, of being stigmatized with the appellation of lukewarmpess, and a hundred epithets of the same complexion, rather than purchase acclamations at the expence of humanity; and, by a brilliant rashness, hurry his brave followers into an extremity where death is inevitable. The mob may deify such a valiant fool; but true heroism is to have the courage to refuse as well as to give battle.'

We now present a trait of a different kind, in compliment to the good sense of our countryman whom it brings forwards :

• Being

'Being now in the venerable cloisters of St. Dominique, (Salamanca) I cannot leave them without recounting an adventure which, under their hallowed roof, befel our mutual friend Captain Hearing that

a grand Te Deum was to be performed there, to invoke a blessing on the united arms of Spain and England, curiosity led him to be one of the audience. He found the holy place filled with the laity of Salamanca, besides the white brotherhood and flocks of religieuses of every rank from the neighbouring monasteries. The consecrated part of the congregation were arranged on either side of the main body of the church, clothed in all their sacerdotal attributes, and holding the sacred implements of their function. A very large standard, fringed and tasselled, and on which was painted or worked the figure of the saint, was held in the hands of a priest of the highest order. This hallowed production is never brought forth but upon the most extraordinary occasions.

Our friend, unconscious of being himself an object of any attention, was standing very composedly listening to the loud swell of the organ, and the still louder voices of the tonsured choir, when a monk approached him respectfully, and saying something relative to a standard, took his hat from him, and at the same time taking his hand. Captain -, who did not clearly understand what was said, supposed he was going to conduct him to a spot more convenient for seeing the religious ceremonies; judge, then, his surprize on finding himself not only led up to the consecrated banner of St. Dominique, but at having it placed in his grasp! At that moment the monks left him to be the supporter of their holy ensign; and a cloud of incense issuing from the surrounding censers, covered the flag and its holder. Imagine the feelings of our friend! to be thus made a partaker in papistical rite; and placed in a situation so con spicuous, and so hazardous of offending those we came to befriend, should he attempt to resist this enforced honour: however, the sudden roar of the organ, and the pealing voices of the fraternity, with the rapid advance of the marshalled corps des religieuses, interrupted his amazed cogitations, and hurried him forward like a stream, still bearing in proud array the sainted standard. Though reluctant to make one in such an exhibition, yet as he had been seized upon, and presented with the flag as a testimony of the Spanish church's amity with that of England; he would not, in common charity and prudence, but behave with all requisite decorum and respect.

I believe it was the first time that so revered an appendage of the Roman Catholic faith was entrusted to the hand of a heretic. With a grave countenance he obeyed his fate; and the procession moved on, amidst a renewed burst of sacred minstrelsy. They passed through the great entrance-made rather a long circuit of the city; entering several cloisters and consecrated places; and halting at certain spots, where the holy singing again burst forth; and our friend was occasionally enveloped from the eyes of the attendant multitude by the vast volumes of smoking frankincense which rolled around him.

After his patience and his arms were heartily fatigued by his ponderous load, the party retraced their steps, and re-entered the

church

church of St. Dominique: on gaining the original place whence the standard had started, a long prayer was said, another cloud of fragrance filled the air, and Captain resigned his sacred trust into the hands of the superior priests. His hat was given to him, and he gladly retired down the line of monks, being bowed and sung out of the church till he reached the open air. When fairly escaped from sight, he literally took to his heels, congratulating himself that an exhibition so inimical to the simplicity of his own faith had terminated without any restiveness on his side, and consequent affront on the part of our devout allies. He told me that he had the honour to precede the holy Virgin in this march, and that she brought up his rear, clad in all the costly apparel of the loom and the jeweller's shop.

-་

When I asked him how he could bring his conscience to be a partaker in this mummery, his reply was,-- I certainly would not have volunteered it: but in carrying a flag through a few streets, I neither worshipped stocks nor stones, nor subscribed to any repugnant doctrine. For peace-sake I accepted a civility paid to my country; and by my compliance, I hope I have shewn the people that we are as willing to be tolerant of their prejudices, as they have declared themselves to be of our faith."

Of the chastity of the ladies, we have already intimated that the author does not speak favourably; and in Iberia as well as in Lusitania, the tender passion is still depicted as "bearing sway," even among "the holy ones:"

On the Portuguese frontiers, the fair inhabitants of a few nun neries did not even keep a threshold between our curiosity and their seclusion. We found as free ingress into their cells as if we had been a regiment of confessors; their veils were thrown aside, their holy abstinence neglected, and adventures truly romantic ensued. I fancy more than the history of Rousseau's nun was here realised in a hundred instances; and could these lovely forsworns have seen any prospect of safety by flight, I believe many of our officers would have had a daughter of the church added to his baggage.'

Other instances are given: but this may here suffice.

In reporting the first action between the British and the. French cavalry, the author makes a representation which we most seriously recommend to our military rulers, and especially to the Colonels of our Merry-Andrew regiments of Dragoons:

Most of our brave fellows who felt the edge of the French sword were cut in the head; and that owing to the little defence which the present form of their caps allows. This circumstance shews the necessity of changing the prevailing fashion of fantastic head-dresses in the field, for the less ornamental but more useful helmets of our enemies. Whatever be the fate of this expedition, we should at least make it serviceable to us, by learning all that is to be taught by the great masters of arms, who for these twenty years have been educated

in a university of blood and victory. The deuce is in it, then, if we cannot take a lesson from them in the art of shielding the most vital parts of our persons.

Their helmets are light, excellently adapted to guard the head, and at the same time very elegant. They have brass chains which come under the chin, protecting the ears and the sides of the face from a horizontal coup-de-sabre. The men who wore furred caps at all resembling our own, had them lined within with a hoop of iron; and from the ears devolved two strong bars. Even with this heavy appurtenance their weight did not exceed that of the flimsy, but mufflike appendages that encumber the heads of so many of our soldiers. Indeed, this aukward cap of ours, by being constructed partly of pasteboard, soaks up a great quantity of wet during the violent rains of this country, and so becomes unbearably heavy and disagreeable, while it affords no protection to the wearer. At all times they can be cut down to his skull with the greatest ease. Excepting this defect, every other military appointment of our people, both for themselves and their horses, is superior to that of the French. An excellence which cannot but be perceived by them; while the late rencounters must force them to acknowledge our advantage in still more essential respects.'

Truly affecting details are given of the inconceivable misery which attended the final retreat of the army to Corunna, and of the battle at that port: but we have not room at this moment for additional extracts; and we shall find sufficient particulars of these scenes in other volumes, to which we must hereafter attend. We farther copy only one sufficiently remarkable passage:

One of the French officers, our prisoner, said to me during our retreat: "Your country and your general little know how nearly your army was becoming ours by purchase."

I answered, "No Englishman would thus sell his honour." "No, your Spanish friends."

It instantly struck me that Morla, who sold his conscience and the capital, and with that his country, was to have drawn us also into the snare ! How ought we to thank the memory of our commander that we were not thus made a prey!'

In the beginning of this article, we hinted generally at the occasional inelegance and incorrectness of Sir R. Porter's language, and we shall now specify a few instances. P. 3. I hope in heaven this may be the case.'-P. 46. No day escapes but what you witness,' &c.-P. 103. They never are fatigued with any employment more active than idleness.' (What countryman is Sir Robert ?) P. 110. They both eat and drank.. P. 122. et al. he speaks of an institution called an Enfans trouvée ; p. 112. et al. we have mervielle for merveille; and 125. &c. chanion for chanoin. False concords of noun and verb are also frequent.-Six views in acquatinta, and a plan of the battle of Corunna, illustrate the volume. MONTHLY