marching and countermarching continually. A little before daybreak the moon rose, and we found ourselves much about where we were when darkness overtook us. We were at the bottom of a narrow valley, and in sight of the little village where we should have bivouacked. For thirty hours we had been on the march. Thus, the impossibility of obtaining guides, exposed us to a thousand unexpected and unheard of difficulties at every step of our progress. In these thinly peopled districts, where every person was against us, we scarcely found an individual to give us the least account of the enemy, either true or false.

We were apprised, but too late, that the army of Generals Castanos and Palafox had been completely routed at Tudela on the 23d. If we had arrived one day sooner at Agrida, the dispersed columns of Spaniards who were retreating to Madrid, would have been intercepted by us, and made prisoners in that city.

Our army of the left, whose movement we should have seconded, had concentrated itself on the 22d at the bridge of Lodosa. On the 23d, the Spanish army of the right was descried between the villages of Tudela and Cascante, drawn up in order of bat tle, a full league in extent. Marshal Lannes, with a division of infantry marching in close column, drove in the centre of the enemy's line. General Lefevre's cavalry immediately rushed into the breach, and by a lateral movement, surrounded the right wing of the Spaniards. Broken in one point, they could no longer manœuvre. They retreated in disorder, leaving 30 pieces of cannon, a great number of prisoners, and many dead on the field of battle..

Since the retreat of King Joseph over the Ebro

crowds in happier times, making pilgrimages to: her shrine, to implore a blessing on our harvests; and shall we now leave her altars defenceless?'

The character of the Spaniards of these provinces has no parallel of resemblance with the other nations of Europe. Patriotism is with them another name for religion, as it was among the ancients, where no people despaired, or confessed themselves subdued, as long as they could preserve the altars of their patron deities unharmed. The sacred ensigns of Jupiter Capitolinus, dis. played in battle, led the Romans to victory. After the days of chivalry, when modern armies were again organized like those of Rome, the religious sentiment which bound the Roman soldier to his standard, was compensated among regular troops by the principle of honour. The military point of honour has made the armies disciplined on this principle attain to excellence. But it is patriotism alone, either religious or political, that can render nations invincible.

The people of Spain were actuated only by religious patriotism. They had no practical knowledge of the discipline, or of the science of war. They soon abandoned their colours when defeated. They did not think themselves bound to maintain their promise to an enemy. But they had only one interest, and one common sentiment,-to avenge, by every possible expedient, the injuries their country sustained.

Among others, one of the insurgent peasants of Arragon, was seized by our scouts: He was armed only with a musket, and was driving an ass before him, which carried a stock of several months' provisions. The officer who commanded the vanVOL. II.

see no force but the military, in the countries where we had hitherto waged war. The spirit which inspired the citizens we counted a mere nothing.

On the 26th of November, Marshal Ney's corps proceeded towards Borja, by way of Cascante. General Maurice Mathieu, with a single division, took the same route a day earlier, and made several prisoners on the march. On the 27th we arrived at Alagon, a small town about four leagues distant from Saragossa, whose numerous spires we discerned at a distance.

The Arragonese, by no means disheartened by the late reverses of fortune, had determined to defend themselves in the city of Saragossa. They had not been able to surround it with regular fortifications, but they had converted every dwelling into a separate fortress: and every convent, every house required a special assault. These kinds of fortifications are of all others perhaps best calculated to prolong a siege.

Palafox with ten thousand men, whom he had preserved from the battle at Tudela, had thrown himself into the place. These identical soldiers of the army of Arragon, whom we had already vanquished in the open field almost without effort, as citizens, within the compass of this principal city, resisted us nearly a whole year.

Fifty thousand peasants rose in arms for the defence of Saragossa. From every quarter they threw themselves into the town, even through the midst of our victorious columns. They had no other fear but of arriving too late, where their hearts and their country called them. "We have been shielded for ages," they said, "by the Virgin de Pillar, mighty in miracles. We flocked in

every quarter to forage, and in less than an hour they had transferred what yet remained in the houses of the neighbourhood to their bivouac. Around large fires lighted at intervals, were then to be seen all the apparatus of military cookery. On one side, some were constructing barracks in great expedition, with planks thatched with leaves for want of straw. Öthers were erecting tents by adjusting over four stakes pieces of cloth found in the empty houses. Here and there, ornamenting the ground, were scattered sheep-skins newly flayed, guitars, pitchers, wine-vessels, monks' habits, and garments of all forms and colours. In this spot troopers were sleeping quietly all armed beside their horses. Farther on, amid piles of arms, foot-soldiers danced to the strains of barbarous music, grotesquely disguised with women's clothes.

When the army departed, the peasants descended from the neighbouring heights, and came from their hiding places in every direction, as if they had risen from the bowels of the earth. They hastened homeward to their houses. Our soldiers could not stray an inch from the road, or halt a single step behind the columns, without running the risk of being instantly despatched by the revengeful mountaineers. We dared not here, as we did every where in Germany, form detached patroles, or send our sick without escort to the hospitals. Those of the infantry who were unable to march, followed their divisons mounted on asses. In their left hands they held their firelocks, and in the right their bayonets in place of spurs. Like the fiery steeds of ancient Numidia, these docile animals had neither saddles nor bridles.

CHAPTER III.

On the 1st of December, we took up our night's quarters in a village about a league north of Guadalaxara. Billets were assigned us, and we' were about to disband, to scatter ourselves up and down in our cantonment, when we were informed that some foot-soldiers of the enemy were observed flying at a distance. They appeared dif-` ficult to come at; and a few of the youngest of the troop, obtaining leave of the colonel, commenced, for the fun of the thing, to pursue them.' I marked particularly as my prize, one who ran more quickly than his fellows. He wore an azurecoloured uniform, whose brilliant colour made me take him for an officer.

When he saw that he could not escape, he stopped, and waited for me behind a ditch he had' cleared with dexterity. I believed he was then taking aim to fire at me; but on coming within twenty yards, he dropped his arms, doffed his hat,' and with most humble reverences, in suitable attitudes, said to me, over and over-" I have the honour to salute you, Master; Master, I am your very humble servant. I stood, not less amazed at his comical appearance, than at hearing him speak French. I relieved him from his fears, by saying he would sustain no injury. He told me