not write this as an excuse for meretriciousness, but as a due qualification of the eventual tendencies of a lively nature. Then let the grizettes of Piccadilly pass muster without an anathema from hypocrisy, or the Tabernacle.

Thus common rumour is the buttress of malice, the nurse of journalists, and a common liar, from whose malignant influence none are exempt. The honor of a Moira: the courage of a Wellesley; and the heaven-directed philanthropy of a Romilly, cannot secure them from her empoisoned shafts! She rests her lever, with cruel address, upon the atom of a fact, and moves a world of character from its just basis! She blew her de ceptive clarion from the shores of Iberia, and called forth a nation to deeds of profitless adven ture, before the premises of the engagement were duly understood!

It is with the view of tearing the mask from the face of misrepresentation, and exhibiting the actual state of the public mind in Spain, that I have published the following irrefragable testimonies. If they should lead to the service of my country, by removing its fatal prejudices, I shall not have bestowed a few hours in vain.

THE

BRITISH ARMY IN SPAIN.

DEAR SIR,

You have earnestly requested me to furnish you with as correct a detail of our proceedings in Spain, during the last unfortunate military expedition in that country, as comes within my power: Being attached to an essential department in that armament, I shall candidly lay before you so much as I deem consistent with duty, and individual delicacy; and I shall fulfil this desire with an increased satisfaction, in order to refute many incorrect statements which have been offered to the Public, through the Journals of London, and more particularly the Official Bulletins of the French Government.

We sailed from Falmouth, on Sunday, Oct. 9, 1808, at noon, with a fresh breeze from N. W.There were 150 transports in company, under convoy of La Loire and Amelia frigates.

We arrived at Corunna, after a rapid and pleasant passage, on Thursday, Oct. 13th.-This was considered by all of us as one of the most happy voyages that was perhaps ever made, considering the numbers and extent of the fleet.

B

As all the Commissariat accompanied the army, we were compelled to suffer many inconveniences and privations, which would not have happened, had a portion, at least, of the Commissariat preceded the expedition.-No rafts having been provided to accelerate the landing of the horses, much confusion and loss ensued. Those noble animals were lifted from the holds of the transports, where they had been nearly suffocated by heat and fœtidity, and dropped into the sea,

"Hissing hot,"

to make the best of their way to the shore: by which sudden immersion many became diseased, and were eventually lost to the service; which would not have occurred, had an authorized person been sent previously to Corunna, to make the necessary arrangements for such a serious debarkation.

Being one, among the very few, who understood the Spanish language, I made it in some sort my business, on landing, to walk among the people of that city, and ascertain, if possible, their real sentiments towards us. I found them reserved, and, generally speaking, unwilling to talk much: it was in vain that I looked for that enthusiasm which had been so loudly insisted upon by some persons in Great Britain. They regarded us very minutely, but this survey seemed to partake less of admiration than envy. The

gay and gallant habi

liments and plumage of our battalions, formed a

八

striking contrast with their formal and impoverished costume and they frequently looked at us, and then at themselves, with no elevated sensations of delight.

But envy was not the only motive which impelled them to forget what was due to the laws of hospitality, and the sacred claims appertaining to supplicated alliance. Their avarice was a most predominant and disgusting feature in their character: the attraction of British guineas had so far superseded their consideration for British friendship, that on the second day after our arrival among them, every article of subsistence was raised fifty per cent.!

Such was our reception at Corunna! And I have strong doubts whether many of the inhabitants would not rather have seen us in any other place. At any rate, there was no cordial welcome offered, but tout a contraire; and those who so warmly invited us to this enterprize, were either not sufficiently warranted in the measure, or else we displayed an eagerness in the undertaking not exactly corresponding with governing prudence, and ran forward with an offering of kindness too precipitately. I fear that the sense of gratitude in the human breast is often proportioned to the difficulty of procuring the favor.

Having discovered, by the 18th of October, that our confidence in the most material resources of Corunna, had far exceeded what it possessed, or rather, what it was willing to advance, Lieutenant-General Sir David Baird, found it expedient

immediately to detach a confidential person to Oporto, to raise the requisite supplies.*

ROUTE FROM CORUNNA TO OPORTO.

First post-Hervas; distance four leagues; arrived at 7 P. M. Oct. 18.

Second post-St. Jago; distance six leagues; arrived at 8 A. M. Oct. 19.

Third post-Padron; distance three leagues; arrived at 7 P.M.

Fourth post-Ponte Vedra; distance six leagues; arrived at 2 P. M. Oct. 20.

Fifth post-Ponte de St. Paio; distance two leagues; arrived at 7 P. M.

Sixth post-Passed through Redondinho, to Pourinho; distance three leagues; arrived at 11 A. M.

Seventh post-Arrived at Tui, the frontier town of Spain, in Galicia, where they make the whitest and best bread in the world, and crossed the Minho to Valenca, the frontier town of Portugal, in the province of Entre Minho è Douro; and from thence I proceeded to Labruja; distance seven leagues; arrived at 9 P. M.

Eighth post-Arrived at Ponte de Lima; distance two leagues; arrived at 10 A. M.

Ninth post-Came to Barcelos; distance five leagues; arrived at 6 P. M.-Passed through an

* Quere.-Would it not have been more efficacious, in every respect, to have sent to England, in lieu of Oporto, to have gained similar advantages, without a heavy discount?