neous combustion is constantly going on here, which may again prove fatal to this city.*

The Portuguese frequently talk of the generosity which the English evinced to them, after the calamity of 1755; and I have very lately heard some of the people assert, that their countrymen can never forget their benefactors. I hope they never will, least of all at the present crisis.

The better classes of Portuguese often evince some fine traits of character; traits that do honour to the human heart. I can illustrate this by an anecdote which has fallen, within these few days, under my own observation.

An English officer requested me to visit his wife, a very beautiful woman, to whom he was much and sincerely attached, not only for her own excellent qualities, but as

* Professor Link remarks-" It is particularly striking that basalt is only to be found in those two parts of Portugal, Lisbon and Cape St. Vincent, where the earthquake of 1755 was most violent; and this circumstance is thought to confirm the opinion that basalt, covering great strata of coal, furnishes materials for subterraneous fires, and thus gives rise to earthquakes and volcanoes; but it must not be forgotten that Belem, which partly stands on a basalt hill, suffered less from that earthquake than some parts of the town, evidently founded upon limestone; perhaps the basalt had at some former period been forced up from these parts by a similar convulsion; and the shocks which Lisbon has felt from time to time, are attempts of Nature to raise similar hills." See Link's Journey through Portugal. London, 180!, page 182.

the mother of three beautiful children, all in a state of infancy. On going to his quarters, I found her in the last stage of a remittent fever, a disease which has been very prevalent and fatal among our troops. I need not harass your feelings by depicting one of those scenes, which men of my profession are so often called on to witness. It was the tenth day of the fever. Her soul was on the wingand by the same evening she had breathed her last.

Her unfortunate husband, while he felt her loss as the greatest calamity that could have befallen him, strove to stifle his sufferings as he caressed his lisping babes, who demanded when their mamma would return.

With three helpless infants, in the midst of a foreign country, he was under orders to march with his regiment to Spain. Divided between a sense of public and private duty, what could he do? He was advised to apply to Sir John Moore, for leave to carry his children to England. "Never mind, His wishes could not be complied with. my dear friend," said the generous Portuguese noble in whose house he is billeted, cease to grieve, unfortunate Englishman, leave your infants with me: Behold my three daughters, they shall each discharge the duties of a mother to one of your infants, and I will be as a father to the whole." "So we will, my dear father," cried his daugh

R

ters. This was too much for Captain * hastened out of the room.

and he

I have this moment learnt that Sir John Moore has granted my friend leave to return to England, on being fully informed of his situation. He is an excellent man, much esteemed by all who have the pleasure to know him, and will carry home with him the best wishes of this Adieu.

army,

LETTER XVIII.

SIR JOHN MOORE'S ARMY SETTING OFF FOR SPAIN MARCHES IN THREE DIVISIONS.-UNPOPULAR MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE REGENCY.CHAPEL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST IN THE CHURCH OF ST. ROCHE.THE PORTUGUESE THEATRE.

Lisbon, 22d October, 1808.

I AM preparing, my dear friend, to set out for Spain, and have been engaged in purchasing animals for the carriage of my baggage. Great part of the army is already on its march; our department will follow in two days hence.

You know that Sir John Moore is chief in command of the army going into Spain; and that Sir Harry Burrard is to remain at the head of military affairs in Portugal.

The fortieth and eighty-second regiments, being rather sickly, are to remain here; all the rest of the army is in excellent condition. It appears a very long march from hence to Salamanca or Burgos, particularly as the roads in

this country are intolerably bad; but I hope that we shall make it out notwithstanding pretty well.

The army moves forward in three columns: the right, comprising the artillery and cavalry, under the command of Lieutenant-General Hope, will proceed by the route of Elvas and Badajos, towards Madrid. The left by way of Coimbra and Viseu to Almeida and Cuidad Rodrigo. While the centre will go up the right bank of the Tagus, by the way of Santarem and Abrantes, through Villa Velha, Castel Branco, and Guarda, towards Almeida and Cuidad Rodrigo. Sir John Moore's head-quarters will proceed by the central route, which is also that of the medical staff.

Several corps have been for some time cantoned in advance towards the Spanish frontiers; these will of course move on first, and as the army will proceed by single corps from town to town, the men will be by that means put under cover each night, which will be an effectual method of guarding against sickness.

The Regency here have made themselves very unpopular of late, by a singular measure of finance, the object of which is to depress the current value of the Spanish dollars, in which the British army has in general been paid. Our Paymaster-general has for some time made payments in