triple row of large beads, and medallions of saints, and from her ears depended two immense hoop rings. The poor creatures did nothing but shiver and sigh over the embers; every thing around bore the aspect of misery itself. Never was a finer opportunity for a philosopher to contrast the savage with the civilized state. Could Rousseau have risen from the grave, he must have recanted his sophistry, and acknowledged his errors! The poor Englishwomen and their children appeared like a race of celestial Houris, compared with the Mauregato females.

After passing an indifferent night, on a wooden machine, formed something like a garden-chair, I quitted Manzanal, and proceeded over the mountains towards Bembibre. The road, which was extremely steep, was for many leagues knee-deep in snow; and it was with the greatest difficulty I was able to get through it, the horse I' rode having been knocked up. After ascending for several miles, and passing the village of Sevadon, which gives' its name to this range of mountains, we reached the summit, covered with thick clouds and drifting snow, through which we waded for an hour. The road now winds down by the edges of precipices, and the most stupendous alpine crags, amid fastnesses much more wild and strong than' any I have hitherto seen, even in the mountains of Silesia, or the Alps of Moldavia and Hungary.

I cannot conceive it would be possible for any invading army to penetrate into Gallicia, if these passes were defended by a body of brave and determined men. You will yourself judge, by the inclosed sketch, which I drew on the road between Sevadon and Molina Seca. At the extremity of the pass of Fuen Sevadon, I passed through Molina Seca, and shortly after through the town of Ponferrada, or the impregnable bridge, which is placed on the confluence of two torrents, and commands the entrance to the mountains. Here are the ruins of an old castle, which appears to have been formerly exceedingly strong. Quitting Ponferrada, I soon had a view over the valley of El Bierzo, a fertile tract, shut in on each side by stupendous mountains, and finely watered by a branch of the Minho. In the midst of this vale lies the town of Bembibre, where I had intended to halt; but, to my great disappointment, I found every house occupied by part of General Fraser's division, so that I was obliged to come on to Cubillos.

Having arranged the sick in their quarters for the night, I got a billet on an old farmer here, who is tolerably civil. Here are also a great number of sick belonging to Romana's army. To-morrow I proceed to Villa Franca.Adieu.

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PASS IN THE SIERRA OF SEVAD ON, near Molina Seca.

Published June 15.1809, by Richard Phillips, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London.

LETTER XLIX.

CUBILLOS DESCRIBED.-ROAD TO CACABELOS AND VILLA FRANCA DEL BIERZO. VALCARSA RIVER.—CASTLE OF THE MARQUIS OF VILLA FRANCA.-GENERAL LE FEBVRE.-ACTION NEAR BENEVENTE.BAGGAGE TAKEN NEAR VALDERAS.-DESTRUCTION OF AMMUNITION. CELERITY OF THE RETREAT.-SURPRISE AND INCREDULITY OF THE SPANIARDS.

Villa Franca del Bierzo, 1st January, 1809.

YESTERDAY morning we quitted the village where we had passed the night. It is a beautiful spot, seated near the foot of a hill, on which stands an old convent, commanding a view over the surrounding country, which is very fertile. fertile. The road descends to a handsome bridge, of a single arch, thrown over a fine river, rolling amid rocks, and woods of chesnut-trees. Our route led us through a country fenced with hedges, and interspersed with corn and turnip fields, till we reached the village of Cacabelos,

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