nity offered for remarks, and indeed the only thing worthy of notice was the enthusiastic manner in which we were received in all the towns and villages as we passed along beyond Talavera.-At Toledo every man, woman, and child was either in the streets, or at their windows, calling out "Viva Inglesse."—At night the town was most beautifully illuminated, and General Hill gave a ball, to which all the officers were invited, as well as the respectable part of the inhabitants.-At Yepes and Aranjuez our corps remained quiet until Marshal Soult began to approach: on the 24th of October his advance drove in our cavalry, and although far inferior in number, contrived to make some prisoners from the 9th light dragoons.

We crossed the Tagus by a bridge just finished at Aranjuez, and on the 26th, having got all over, the bridge was burned: it was, however, soon repaired by the enemy, who crossed, and we retired beyond the Arrama.-The bridge over this river was charged by the enemy's cavalry, who were repulsed with loss by the 47th regiment, and the bridge being blown up, gave us time to retire on the road to Madrid. With their usual activity they surmounted this obstacle, and were soon close at our heels.—The baggage, excepting one mule per company, was ordered away, and our confusion and irregularities commenced; many prisoners were made, particularly from the 4th division, in consequence of the soldiers falling in the rear plundering and getting drunk.-On the morning of the 31st of October, having marched all night, we found ourselves at Madrid; the Vivas were no longer to be heard, all was gloom and despair, confusion and misery.-Many of us were of opinion that Madrid would not be given up without a battle, and the whole of General Hill's corps, the 3d, 4th, and light divisions, together with Colonel Skerret's force, being then on the spot, made it look likely, yet it appears the contrary was the plan, for we left the Capital with such haste, that our stores of bread, &c. were destroyed at a moment the soldiers were badly supplied with that article, and away we went helter skelter over the passes of the Guadarama. We now could foresee that nothing was to be done until we joined his Lordship's part of the army, which we did on the 7th of November.-Our march was long and fatiguing, our clothing very bad, and the army in general scantily supplied with bread.Having crossed the river Tormes, we halted, and on the 9th the enemy shewed some of his columns in the neighbourhood of Alba de Tormes, which was occupied by the 50th, 71st, and 92d regiments.-The enemy having brought his guns to bear on the 12th, obliged these regiments to evacuate the town with some loss: they then crossed the river, and on the 14th the whole of the army occupied the ground on which the French were beaten on the 22d of July.-General Hill's corps, with the commander of the forces at our head, were about taking possession of the commanding ground of the Arapiles, when of a sudden an order was received to fix bayonets, and to load on the march; this looked as if we were to be at it instantly, although, being in rear of the hill, we could see nothing of them.-Our artillery commenced firing, and I am told did great execution on a body of the enemy's cavalry who were advancing: at night we were ordered into the wood, and at two, A. M. the French drums began making a noise; at five o'clock we went to our position, and every thing looked as if that morning was to decide the fate of the country-every man at his post, waiting with the greatest anxiety for the dawn of day, and we were not a little disappointed on its arrival to find not one Frenchman in sight.-Our situation was far too favorable for so knowing an old Fox as Soult to attack us; he therefore moved to his left, which obliged his Lordship to quit his position, in order to secure his retreat to Rodrigo, for which purpose we moved off at ten o'clock, in tremen

dous rain and bad roads: this commenced our downright misery, having to bear every description of misfortune that can happen soldiers, except that of being beaten by the enemy,-We had constant heavy rains, excessive cold and high winds, deep and bad roads, our march impeded by baggage and artillery, want of supplies, and pressed by the enemy, whose cavalry were kept in check by the guns almost every evening on our halting to bivouac, until we passed Rodrigo on the 20th. We remained six days in miserable villages in the mountains, covered with snow, and at length proceeded to this place across the Sierra de Gatta, and here we are, not knowing when we move, or where we go next.-After all I have said I fear you will rate me amongst the croakers; I shall be sorry if you do, for I really am not one; I have every confidence in the talent and judgment of Lord Wellington; what the soldiers suffered, was not, I am sure, his fault, yet some people under him deserved little less than banging; only think of men on the march, and such marches, being six days without an ounce of bread; a pound of white flour per man has been often issued instead of bread.-What is a poor fellow to do with it? Some of our Commissaries and General Officers, who suffer them to neglect their duty, should be brought to trial, for the soldiers have suffered in the late retreat (particuJarly some brigades) more than was ever known before.—What is now to be done, I have not the slightest idea.-We hear that 7,000 men on their march from France have returned, and that Soult is gone with his troops in the direction of Burgos, some say, to evacuate Spain. It appears rather strange, when all the troops in Spain fly before him, that he should take himself off quietly: I know one thing, let them call the late action a manoeuvre, or give it whatever name they please, it has cost dear; the number of prisoners taken I understand amounts to 3,000, and our cavalry is now so much reduced that they cannot be fit for any active service for months to come; the heavy regiments, in particular, are very bad—no wonder, they have been three weeks without an ounce of corn, or any thing better than cut straw, and, at times, little of that.

MOVEMENTS OF THE FIRST DIVISION, COMMANDED BY SIR E. PAGET, ON THE LATE RETREAT.

Mongualde, 2d December, 1812. THE troops employed in the siege of Burgos having received orders on the morning of the 19th of October, to be in readiness to move at a moment's warning, on the 20th at four, A. M. the whole (except Colonel Stirling's Highland, and General Pack's Portuguese brigades, which were left to blockade the castle,) marched under the walls before dawn, and proceeded to some heights about two leagues in front of Burgos; here we halted and cooked; towards evening, the enemy advancing, stood to our arms, and marched to the plain below: the first division being in advance, we formed line, the Guards in front, the Germans the centre, and a Spanish brigade in the rear. Thus each line advanced about 100 paces from each other for about two miles, when our great guns coming within range of the enemy, gave them two or three shots-they retired—we halted, and received orders to return to our former ground on the heights.-On the 21st, at seven, P. M. we were ordered to retire, and as the 1st division bad to pass the bridge at Burgos, which is completely commanded by the castle, the strictest silence was to be observed.-We arrived at Burgos about eleven, and crossed the bridge by single files without being discovered, and proceeded to Bonlier, five leagues, where we arrived about five, A. M. on the 22d-having bivouac'd about four hours, we proceeded to Aledad a

Cima, two leagues.—Our troops left in blockade of the castle retired at day-break on the 22d, and the gallant defenders regained their liberty.-On the 23d we marched to Torquemada, 8 leagues.-On the 24th, destroying the bridge over the river Pisuerga, we marched to Duenas, four leagues, and the 1st battalion 1st guards joined the division.-On the 25th, destroying another bridge over the same river, but which is considerably increased by the Carrion and Alarcon, which empty themselves into it near this place, the 5th, 6th, and 7th divisions, and a division of Spaniards were posted on the bank, and the 1st division ascended the hills which run in line with the river: the enemy passed the river in force at a ford, but were driven back with great loss by the 6th and Spanish divisions, who charged and bayonetted many mid-deep in the river; indeed the 15th French regiment of infantry was in a manner annihilated.-The 1st division manoeuvred all day on the left flank, and returned to Duenas at night.-On the 26th, marched, and again crossed the Pisuerga to Cabecon, three leagues, fortified the bridge, and halted on the 27th and 28th. During the time we halted here the enemy remained in force on the opposite bank of the river, throwing forward his advance to Valladolid; but the bridge in rear of that city being destroyed, the French contented themselves with throwing a few shots and shells into it, still pushing forward their advance on the right bank towards Tordesillas, which the enemy occupied.-Halted till the 6th of November, and marched to Castrejon, seven leagues.-On the 7th to Pituagua, six leagues.-8th to Los Villiaris, three leagues, about a league from Salamanca. Here we again put our heads into a house (for the first time since the 10th of September) and halted till the 13th, turning out every morning at daybreak, and marching to the heights the army occupied on the 20th of June.-On the 14th we marched to Salamanca, where the 3d battalion 1st guards joined from General Hill's corps; lay on our arms all day outside the city; a sharp cannonading was heard from about Los Huertes, where the enemy were crossing their old ford of the Tormes: we took up quarters in the city at night, and I had just laid down when we were ordered under arms; crossed the bridge, and proceeded to the heights we held on the 21st of July.-We had a great expectation of being engaged next morning, viz. 15th, but it turned out otherwise, for we retired to Munillia, two leagues. On 16th to La Boveda, five leagues.-17th to San Monias, 4 leagues.On the 18th to Sanctus Spiritus, five leagues.-19th to Cuidad Rodriga, four leagues.-20th to Espeja, two leagues.-Here we again got under cover, and halted while arrangements were making for winter cantonments.-I forgot to mention that General Hill's corps, the 3d division from Madrid, and the 4th from the Escurial, joined us at Salamanca.

To speak of this retreat in its true light is past my ability; it rained day and night-roads knee-deep in mud and water all the way-an enemy close to our heels, dead men, horses, mules, asses, oxen, broken-down cars, and sick without number. Lieutenant-General Sir E. Paget, who commanded our division, was taken prisoner on the 16th while reconnoitring.-The brigade of guns, commanded by Captain Chapman, attached to the 5th division, and an immense quantity of baggage, fell into the enemy's hands on the same day.

Montgaul, 6th December, 1812.

THE dismal and harassed march has ceased, and the divisions are settling themselves in their winter quarters: our friends in England, it is likely, have little idea how much we have to do when once our particular quarter is allotted to us.—A good lodging, comfortably furnished, generally receives us when going into winter

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quarters at home; here how great the difference; a brigade is huddled into a Portuguese village, of which it is not possible to convey any idea to our friends at home; but I will explain what I have to do, ere I can reach a sensation bordering on what is called comfort:-in order to have light, without sharing the inclemency of the weather, I have a frame made to a window; this frame is divided by string into squares, to which is attached oiled paper-a clumsy imitation of what we sometimes observe in carpenters' shops-this is my window:-the floor of my apartment is fortunately without holes; but that must be scraped and washed, an operation it never before has experienced.—I have next to stop up the holes in the walls of my room, and, if I can procure a little white-wash, give a similarity of appearance to what never had changed from the first formation, except by the effect of damp, and the filthy customs of the natives: plaster or white-wash is very seldom found here the roof must remain, as it serves not only to keep out the rain, but also to let out the smoke-the labor of man cannot wash the blackamoor white :---conceive now my apartment, in some degree cleared from its native filth and dungeonlike appearance; a bundle of clean straw, nicely disposed of in one corner, with two blankets, composes my bed; a rough heavy table, and a ricketty stool, finishes the catalogue of my furniture; a dirty tin lamp, with oil, lights me to bed. In regard to any other comforts, as the Portuguese have scarcely an idea beyond the brute creation, you may conceive their astonishment when they beheld me raising a little fabric in a corner of the yard; it was totally beyond their comprehension.-Now, my friends, here I am settled for winter-quarters, master of just sufficient philosophy to save a rope the trouble of ending a life at this moment of less importance to me than ever: the weather is fine and warm; should it change, and oblige me to keep within doors, without books, without any resource, but what my fancy raises, and you will allow a man's imagination must be prolific, who can, under such cir cumstances, form any thing like a lively sentiment; what a prospect! but we have one consolation, and that must serve to feed any pleasurable ideas we may endea vour to cherish, that those dear to us, are far removed from the bloody devastation of war, and enjoy the blessings it has pleased a gracious Providence to bestow on our favored country.

Mongaulde, 9th December, 1812.

We are now in quiet cantonments, recovering from our fatigue, and must therefore look to friends at home for novelty: hutted as we are, at a miserable village, in wretched bamlets, on the side of rocky mountains, there is nothing left for us to create variety but the most welcome letters from friends.—Books we cannot have, our poor worn-down mules had enough to carry; and even pen, ink, and paper are scarce articles.-We form little societies amongst ourselves; yet it requires an unusual flow of animal spirits to carry us through the day: some officers amuse themselves in shooting, there being plenty of woodcocks, partridges, hares, and rabbits; but rather a scarcity of powder and shot: to the officer who is not a sportsman, as the country around is a continuation of steep ascent and descent, and that by the most rugged roads, dangerous to the rider and unpleasant to those who walk, the pleasure arising from exercise is denied; in short, my friend, it is a deep monotonous round of insipidity, and, in defiance of the fatigues and distresses arising from our tinkering campaigns, I question whether the greater part of us would not prefer daily marches to this unmeaning banishment.

A letter has been issued in orders from the Commander of the Forces directed to the General Officers commanding divisions, containing much complaint on the re

laxation from discipline prevalent in this army, finding great fault with both officers and soldiers-no doubt it always happens so with retreating armies-and it is a most desirable object, as much as possible, to preserve the strictest attention to discipline on such trying occasions; but I cannot help thinking much of this cause for reprehension arises from the ignorance of some General Officers; nor can it be otherwise when the greater part of these gentlemen, from the rapid strides they made to obtain rank in the service, had not time to get any insight into the duties of the different gradations of rank:-there are men who never saw service, until they came flourishing out to this country as Brigadiers and Major-Generals; many who never passed through the duties of a battalion; who never even mounted a captain's guard-and are these the men to oppose to the French Generals, or to be put in competition with men, whose military merit alone has placed them at the head of regiments, brigades, and divisions? and thus, I fear, the Marquis of Wellington's letter will create great disgust; and that troops who have cheerfully encountered a campaign of uncommon duration; who have been instrumental in gaining laurels for the brow of their Chief; who have given proofs of courage, patience, and perseverance, exceeding the most sanguine expectations, will think themselves but illrequited in receiving so general, and so heavy a censure:-much may be advanced in favor of the army, and I have no doubt much will be urged in opposing censures, which are generally felt as unmerited :—the soldier will say "I have done my partI have marched hundreds of miles-I have endured hunger, thirst, cold, wet, heat, fatigue, and nakedness-I have encountered the enemy in the field and attacked him in his strong fortresses; and where it was possible to conquer him by courage and resolution I have done it."-To whom then does attach this censure if our endeavours are not crowned with success? Not to the soldier, for he is a ready and obedient instrument, even in the bands of those on whom he places no confidence:nor can the officer be blamed-for the old and experienced officer is neglected and ill-used, and insulted by the promotion of striplings;-rash, head-strong, ignorant, presuming boys; and surely you cannot censure the latter; they may excite pity— all this may be urged with justice.Very young men, and of course mighty young soldiers, come out to this country, and obtain high situations, nor do I fear contradiction when I assert they are incompetent to do the duty expected from them; when I assert that many General Officers are not competent to the duty of a regimental Captain:-and I beg to know what confidence can be placed in them by men who are hourly witnesses of their imbecility.

Circular Letter issued by the Marquis of Wellington to his Army, after the Retreat into Portugal, alluded to in the preceding Letters of our Correspondents.

SIR,-I have ordered the army into cantonments, in which I hope that circumstances will enable me to keep them for some time, during which the troops will receive their clothing, necessaries, &c. which are already in progress, by different lines of communication, to the several divisions and brigades. But, besides these objects, I must draw your attention, in a very particular manner, to the state of discipline of the troops. The discipline of every army, after a long and active campaign, becomes in some degree relaxed, and requires the utmost attention on the part of the General and other Officers, to bring it back to the state in which it ought to be for service; but I am concerned to have to observe, that the army under my com