the river not far from the palace, and entering the town by the gate near the Inquisition, went in search of a coffee-house to breakfast, by which we avoided much of the bustle; but we were every where saluted with the cry of "Viva Espana, viva Ingletierra." The bells were ringing, and the "Calle Mayor" or High Street, exhibited throughout the day a scene of public rejoicing impossible to describe. Lord Wellington was conducted to the King's palace, where he and his personal staff were lodged... Colonel Gordon, Quarter-Master General of the army, occupied the palace of the Prince of Peace. At night there was a general and brilliant illumination, and the weather being remarkably fine, the "Calle Mayor" and the other principal streets were thronged with people. There were but few transparencies; but illuminations in Spain are rendered peculiarly striking by an immense display of rich tapestry suspended from the balconies and windows, in such a manner as to hide the whole front of the buildings, and which with the reflection of the variegated lamps pro

duces a very pretty effect. These illuminations were repeated for three nights succes sively.

14th. This morning the works of El Retiro were surrendered to the 3d and 7th divisions, and the garrison marched out prisoners of war. I obtained a billet this morning upon No. 9, Calle Sarten. Senhor Juan Inclan, my landlord, was a great politician: he asked me what was become of the famous Sir Arthur Wellesley, who commanded the English at Talaviera, and why he was not in the battle of Salamanca, when I surprized him very agreeably, by saying that Lord Wellington and Sir Arthur Wellesley were one and the same person.

On the 23d of this month I obtained promotion, in consequence of the recommendations of Commissary-General Bisset, dated from the camp of Flores de Avila, 25th July last.

25th. The siege of Cadiz, in the prosecution of which so much blood had been spilt and such extraordinary exertions used, was this day raised, and Marshal Soult with

drew into Catalonia. This event was one of the most advantageous effects resulting from the victory of Salamanca. When we advanced into Spain, the corps of Sir Rowland Hill in the south broke up from its cantonments at Almendralejo, and advanced to Zafra, in the Spanish province of Estramadura, where they sustained a series of partial conflicts with the enemy, until they received the news of our triumph at Salamanca. The journal of an officer with that army (after detailing the operations of that corps) relates the receipt of the dispatches from Salamanca in the following terms. "The news of the battle of Salamanca has been brought to us by a Spaniard, who states himself to be an eye witness to the event, and has travelled all the way hither on the same mule that he might be the first to communicate such glorious news to our gallant General and the loyal Spaniards in the South. As we had been prepared, by letters from the northern army, to hear of its retreat upon Ciudad Rodrigo, the account of the battle thus given was almost entirely discredited: and it having been intimated to the Spaniard that

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he was suspected of being a spy, he made a voluntary offer of himself to be incarcerated in the common gaol of Zafra until such time as the official account of the battle should be received by Sir Rowland Hill, when, should his information prove false, the British General might order him to be punished as a traitor. After making such an offer no one could doubt the truth of what he had related, and the same evening Sir Rowland Hill received an account of the battle from Lord Wellington. On the morning following as the troops were on the march, Sir Rowland in passing them took an opportunity of communicating the substance of the accounts he had received, which was answered by loud and long continued cheering, and when we went into bivouac a copy of the dispatch was given to each regiment, to be inserted in the regimental and companies' orderly books, and ordered to be read at the head of every regiment at the evening parade. A double allowance of grog also was issued to every individual to drink the health of Lord Wellington and his incomparable warriors," The victory of Sa

lamanca and our subsequent advance and entry into Madrid, having forced Marshal Soult to retire to Catalonia, Sir Rowland Hill, thus released from his opponent, prepared to advance to Madrid, and to unite his corps with the army there assembled.

28th.. The French army of Portugal, under General Clausel, having been considerably reinforced, advanced and obliged General Clinton to evacuate Valladolid and to repass the Douro, in consequence of which the Ist, 5th and 7th divisions were ordered to march from Madrid to join the 6th division at Arevalo; and all the cavalry excepting the ist Hussars, K. G. L. and 14th light dragoons followed the same route, so that it was fairly presumed our holiday at Madrid was nearly over. Indeed it now appeared certain that head-quarters would march in a few days.

31st. This afternoon there was a famous bull-fight at Madrid, exhibited in honour of Lord Wellington and the army, at which many thousands of individuals were present. This is a very ancient and favourite amusement of the Spaniards, being a sort of tour

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