passed, but dared not fall out of our ranks to take possession of at the time, having a more serious duty to perform than attending to plunder,-that of first beating the enemy away from it. I certainly must confess I regarded these waggons loaded and broken down with specie, over which we were obliged to drive the foe, with a wishful eye; but honour being with a soldier preferable to riches, I relinquished the latter for the former. We were, however, amply supplied with every thing that was good, by those who had the good fortune to share in the spoil. Indeed, for my own part, I could not complain, having contrived to get a very fine young horse, belonging to the Polish Lancers, which came running in my way without a rider, completely accoutred; and a handsome quilt, which I found very useful at night. Such plenty now prevailed, that I do not suppose there was a man in the field who had not a good meal that night from the stores of the enemy, which were copiously supplied with every comfort, and now came to us so very seasonably; for, although every man had not an opportunity of partaking in the plunder, yet there was so great an abundance of every necessary brought into camp, that they were enabled to share the provision with each other. We also got a most

seasonable supply of those valuable articles-good shoes, taken from the French magazines. Our men had been constantly on the tramp for many weeks together, without having time or opportunity to get their old ones mended; indeed several of them had marched for the last few days barefooted. Not getting quite enough to supply all my men, (having the charge of a company,) I sent the remainder to exchange theirs with the dead men, many of whom were found scattered about the field with much better shoes than their living comrades had on; so that all got completely suited in this respect. We likewise obtained a good supply of salt, an article of great luxury in this part of the country, where it is very dear and scarce; and also tobacco, which could not be obtained previous to this day's victory,-a victory that crowned us with almost every desirable gift that honour and good fortune could confer.

To paint the scene that now ensued after the battle, among the troops, would be far beyond my power. Some were carousing over their spoils, others swearing at their ill-luck at not obtaining more; some dancing mad with cau-de-vie, others sharing doubloons, dollars, watches, gold trinkets, and other valuable articles.

The more rational and feeling were talking of their suffering comrades, somewhat in the following strain :

"This was a devil of a fight sure-ly! that was a woundy crack poor Barney got, wor'n't it, Joe ?”— "Ah! but poor Bill Flint got a worse: he be laid low enough, poor fellow!" "But what do you think of that fine young lieutenant of the grenadiers?" "Why, dang it, his limbs be shivered to splinters: but I hope as how I shall see the brave fellow on a timbertoe some of these odd days; for he be a damn'd good officer." "Ay! that he be; and bad luck to the French frogs, if they don't hop away too fast for us, we will pay them off for it yet but we can't help trifles; so come along, Joe! here's to ye, and let's have the old song, Our lodgings be on the cold ground.""

6

Amidst this extraordinary and novel scene, with a bottle of French brandy in one hand, some biscuit in the other, the fine large quilt thrown over me, and two fat fowls under my head, I sunk on my pillow to sleep. Morning now came, and we rose from our verdant couch, with spirits become light as air, to continue the pursuit. Our provisions being issued, we set off, completely elevated by our late success and the

defeat of the enemy. Besides their killed, wounded, and prisoners, they lost one hundred and fifty-one pieces of cannon, upwards of four hundred waggons of ammunition, all their treasure, baggage, provisions, cattle, stores, carriages, waggons loaded with bullion, magazines, horses, mules, carts; in short, every thing, to the very baton of their Field-marshal. Indeed, it was with the utmost difficulty that the Ex-king Joseph himself escaped. Greater spoils than this field produced were never, I believe, witnessed by British troops in Europe, either before or since.

CHAPTER X.

The foe, before retiring fast and far,
First slowlier fled, then rallied, then withstood;
Now flame for flame, and blood for blood, must tell
The tide of triumph ebbs that flow'd too well;
Now wrath returns to renovated strife,

And those who fought for conquest strike for life.

BYRON.

We were now in quick pursuit, and hitherto had scarcely experienced a rainy day since we left our winter-quarters. It was at this time the height of summer, and very hot; but being inured to the climate, it made little impression on us. We continued following up the fugitive forces incessantly; and about the third day the atmosphere became sultry to an almost insupportable degree: the sky appeared overcast with portending clouds, containing a great portion of electric fluid, the thunder was soon heard at a distance, and the storm gained on us rapidly, accompanied with the most vivid flashes of lightning; and it now broke over