third day, I was startled out of a doze by feeling swarms of disgusting creatures crawling all over my face, without having the least notion what they were. West came in soon, and I saw all was not right. He wouldn't tell me what they were, but as soon as he had relieved me from them and left the room my man told me they were from my wound. I thought that meant that mortification had set in-but again my time had not yet come. For two or three days I was quite comfortable and even in good spirits, notwithstanding that I had to be moved again. In the hall where I was quartered there was a large room like a ball room with one angular window looking into the "Place Maior" and a side window into the Calle de Zamora. Immediately opposite was a very large, handsome house in which the "Marshal," who was also wounded, was placed. On the evening of the day West found me in the horrid state I described he brought two of his professional friends to see me, and they decided to move me from the alcove I was in to the large ball room. This they performed in the kindest manner and with their own arms. There was no furniture in the room, and I was placed on a boarded stretcher, that the quantities of cold water they kept constantly pouring over my limb might run off. Several of my friends found me out, and amongst them I remember Lord Hardinge brought me Childe Harold, which I saw for the first time, and which entertained me much, more particularly as I had known Lord Byron at Cambridge. When I began I did not feel as if I could read, but it was no common work and I read it through.

'For the first week I had no fever nor any swelling, and I was to understand that there was still time to take off the limb, but that, when once it began to swell, it would be impossible. I had no hesitation in deciding to take my chance. I was young and healthy, unmarried, no children, and no great loss to any body; besides, a circumstance that had occurred a few days before had given me an opportunity of considering calmly, and when in possession of all my faculties, what I should wish to be done with me if ever it fell to my lot to be in such a state as I then found myself, and I was therefore prepared to decide at once. About the tenth day I began to lose my spirits and to feel really ill. My thigh began to swell and continued increasing in size for several days. Then the misery of being always in one position, and of not being allowed to move the limb, or stir in the least, became every day more intolerable. I sank to the most miserable state of weakness, and became so emaciated that my hip bones, my shoulder blades, and my elbow joints. came through my skin. What puzzled West a good deal was that after a month, when I had begun to show signs of mending,

and had been gaining a little strength, a great and rather sudden change for the worst took place, and I was very ill for some days. It turned out that a piece of dark cloth had come away from the wound, which I could not account for as I had on light blue overalls when I was hit. We found out, a long time afterwards, that it must have been a piece of the Hussar cloak, which was folded according to our regimental custom over the holsters. It seems the ball, after passing through the bone of the thigh, had struck against the bar in the saddle for the stirrupleather, after which it turned off, luckily for poor Ronald, through many doubles of the cloak, some little portion of which must have been over the thigh at the moment. We only found this out when I began to travel and first unfolded the cloak, which had many little windows in it.

As soon as the last splinter and this portion of the cloth came away I began to mend fast, and longed to be able to look out of the angular window on to the square. Indeed, each day brought more wants. I wanted letters from home. I wanted to see the newspapers that contained the news of the victory, and to know whether people in England thought as much of us as we did of

ourselves.

'After about six weeks I made an attempt to get up for a while, and thought I should be able to walk with crutches, but the moment my servant put me in an upright position I became giddy and fatigued, and was only too happy to lie down again; and yet, strange to say, the next morning I decided to try again, and so far succeeded as to take a couple of steps, during which time my stretcher was moved so that I could see out of the window, which gave me new life.

In another week I determined to see if I could sit on a horse, and had one prepared with pillows on the saddle. It was backed up to the great stairs in the house I was in. I had got as far as the first step, and did not anticipate any difficulty in descending on crutches with my leg hung by a sling from my neck, when I very nearly fell head foremost from top to bottom. The effort to recover myself shook me all to pieces, and I was taken back to bed. I did not dare to tell West. In a few days I tried again more cautiously and had actually got on the horse, when, to my horror, who should walk up but West! He wasted no time in scolding me, but my servants caught it." He directed them to take me back at once to my bedroom, superintended the operation, and walked off so angry that he would not speak to me. I was good for a while, but West was summoned to join the Army destined to invest Burgos, and I began to plan a journey to Madrid. I had not

VOL. LXXII-No. 425

F

yet ridden 200 yards and I felt sure I could ride 150 miles. The fact was, that before I was hit, I was so accustomed to living on horseback, that it presented itself to me as my easiest position, and it was not until I was outside the town of Salamanca that I began to think of what a folly I was committing. My thigh began to ache so much that before a mile had been accomplished I was lifted off and placed on the grass. After an hour's rest I was again put upon my pillowed saddle to return to Salamanca, but the rest of the convoy having to reach Alba de Tormes, and one of the party being a surgeon, I thought I might get so far. I was young then, and took a good deal of killing it appears, for in that miserable state I continued to move a little every day until I reached the Escurial, where I halted for a few days very ill and quite knocked up.

'I could see but little of "the wonder "; indeed I was in such constant pain my curiosity was almost cured, but I remember having had myself laid on my back on the grand staircase to gaze at the dome. As soon as I could move I set out for, and actually did reach, Madrid, whence I was ordered to England as there was no chance of my being able to do any duty for some time.'

Here this paper ends, but among the others there are a few pages which refer to the time when Colonel Synge was confined to his room in Salamanca. The story runs as follows:

'Before we advanced as far as Salamanca we had had some little skirmishing with the rear guard of the enemy, who made a show of keeping us in check. I was desired to take a squadron of cavalry, and ascertain if a river was fordable, somewhat lower down than where the Duke was then operating. I had not gone very far when, perceiving a mill a little out of my route, I left the squadron and rode across to try and procure the information from the miller. As I approached his house my attention was attracted by the figure of a female more than usually well dressed, standing outside a garden on the road I was to pass. It was so very long since my eyes had been blessed with the sight of a lady, that I stared as if something supernatural had crossed my path. I was as civil as I could be in one minute, but ended in the next by saying I must leave her. I could only point to the squadron which had halted awaiting my return. Nevertheless she said that I must stop to answer one question. She told me that she had heard that the British Army was advancing and that a battle was likely to take place in Salamanca. In dread of this she had left her house in the town and had come to conceal herself with the miller, one of her tenants. Alarmed and embarrassed at not having the advice she antici

pated from her friends, she had determined to ask a British officer if she was safe where she was for a day or two. I implored her not to judge British officers by the apparent want of feeling in her first acquaintance, for I had already stayed longer than the importance of my duty permitted.

'I advised her to stay where she was and to make herself known to the Commanding Officer of the first detachment that arrived at the mill, but that if it were possible, though from the nature of the service I was employed on it was most improbable, I would return and see how I could serve her. I then told her the name of my General, which she would find was well known, and that I was his Aide-de-Camp. In thanking me and in saying farewell, she added, "If you ever do take yonder city, which I fear is impossible, think of No. 42 Calle de Zamora, and give me an opportunity of repeating my thanks." I vowed to take the town if it were only to see her again, and having asked one question of the miller, galloped off to verify his account of the ford.

It happened that when I had been some days in the billet after my wound, I began to ask questions as to what part of the town I was in, and the name of the Calle de Zamora struck a chord. I then ventured to ask in what part of the street No. 42 was. "Oh!" said my informant, "that is exactly opposite, and Marshal Beresford, who was also wounded, is there."

'I then sent West to tell the lady that the first British officer she ever saw was opposite to her, delighted to hear she was safe at home, and that only for a wound received in taking the town for her sake, would have himself visited her in person. In a short time two smart maids asked to be admitted and were ushered in. They came on the part of the lady opposite to inform themselves of my state and ascertain whether she could be of any use. I was desperately ill at the time, but I sent back word that if I survived I would call on her whenever I could get so far. Every morning my two maidens came for their bulletin, and when at last I became so bad that there appeared little hope of me, one fine morning in walked my Dulcinea herself. Our meeting was tender. She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I her, that she did pity them. I am afraid I must own that I wished her safe at home, for I was at death's door. My watchful friend West forbade any more visits until I was out of danger, after which my inamorata began the meetings anew, until I fancied for her some name of chivalry and that I was her Knight of the Lance. But all illusion was soon to vanish. Hitherto my fair one came early, impatient to know how I had slept, but one day her visit was

postponed until after dinner, when-Oh, Dulcinea! Oh, queen of my Château en Espagne ! What have you been and gone and done? eaten at least a stone of pure garlic! Nothing less could have filled the whole room with the odour. I was cured of one of my wounds by a single breath!!! The very recollection of the garlic always prevents me from remembering any

more.'

F. ST. L. TOTTENHAM.