nament, at which a fierce bull bred for the purpose is turned loose into a ring fenced round, to contend with an armed man on horseback, whose skill and dexterity in conquering the animal is highly applauded by the audience. Sometimes the fight will continue a long time, and several horses fall a sacrifice to the bull's horns. All this, however, seems to augment the entertainment; and the poor animal is pronounced a brave beast, and to have died nobly. It is a pity that these barbarous games are not exploded as irrational, at least in Christian countries. In the evening marching orders for the morning were issued.

September 1st. Head-quarters left Madrid this morning. We could not without some reluctance quit this place, where we had been very comfortable, and had received marks of great kindness and attention. At night we were put up at the Escurial, a celebrated palace of the Kings of Spain, with a chapel dedicated to St. Laurence: here are the sepulchres of the ancient Spanish monarchs

and many curiosities of great antiquity, which

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I had no opportunity of seeing. The Escurial is seated at the foot of the Sierras de Guardarama, about twenty-one miles from Madrid.

2nd. We crossed the mountains this morning, from the summit of which we had a fine view of Madrid. At night we were put up at Villar Castin, in wretched quarters as usual.

3rd. Arrived at Arevalo. General Clinton having been joined by three divisions of infantry and the cavalry from Madrid, moved again towards the Douro, and Lord Wellington resumed the command.

4th. We moved forward this morning from Arevalo to Olmeda, and halted there one day. Here a mail arrived from England with the news that Lord Wellington had been created Marquis of Wellington on account of the Battle of Salamanca.

6th. Advancing through Mojados, and by the same route as in July, we encamped this night at Boecilla.

7th. This morning, after passing the Douro, the army took possession of Valla

dolid. We experienced some little difficulty in fording the river, which was here very deep and rapid. I obtained a good billet in the suburbs of the city.

Valladolid is a city of considerable importance, possessing many privileges, and in some respects is but little inferior to Madrid. It is seated in a fine fruitful plain on the banks of the river Pisuerga, about five miles distant from the Douro: being a manufacturing town, it is both populous and wealthy. It has been remarked, that its inhabitants are attached to the French interests this may arise from its situation. upon the right bank of the Douro, and in the great military road from France, which circumstance must subject it, in times of hostility with that country, to serious inconveniences and losses: however, be this as it may, the people received the British with much cheerfulness and apparent goodwill. We halted at Valladolid two days to repair the bridges which the French had destroyed in their retreat. The Spanish army of Gallicia joined us about this time.

10th. Head-quarters moved forward this morning to Cigales, a village twelve miles from Valladolid, on the road to Burgos.

11th. We advanced to Duenas, the same as mentioned in the adventures of Gil Blas. It is a poor village, and our quarters were very bad..

12th.

Continuing to advance; we encamped this evening near Megas. A wet and stormy night.

13th. We encamped this evening upon the banks of the Pisuerga, near Cordovilla, where Lord Wellington was quartered on a poor farm-house, and the Prince of Orange in a cottage.

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14th. We advanced only a few miles and pitched our tents in a field under some willow trees.

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15th. Encamped near Pampleja. Some skirmishing between our advanced and the enemy's rear-guard kept us in a state of preparation all night.

16th. This morning the enemy having retired upon Burgos, we advanced to Frandovinez, where we encamped in a meadow, and slept upon newly-mown hay. The army

fires made a very brilliant show, and covered all the mountains.

17th. Head-quarters remained this day at Frandovinez.

18th. We marched early this morning, and moving over the mountains about 11 o'clock came in view of Burgos. The French army had retired from before the town and was retreating towards the river Ebro, leaving a strong garrison in the old castle of Burgos and in several very formidable field-works, which they had constructed upon the declivity of the hill on which the castle stands.

About 12 o'clock we were ordered to halt upon the mountain: Lord Wellington soon after passed by with a very full staff and proceeded to reconnoitre the approaches to the town. The enemy occasionally fired from the works whenever they thought any of our party within range of their shot. In the afternoon we were ordered to turn off the road and encamp in a meadow near Villal Villa,

19th. Head-quarters moved across the country to Villa Toro, where I encamped in an orchard.