CONVERSATIONS WITH A SPANISH LIBERAL. 203 



bearer of several millions. The whole of this immense treasure was 

 distributed by this singular being among his guerillas, who were 

 fairly gorged with gold, while for his share he only reserved a few 

 dozen pairs of silk stockings. 



" Merino's personal courage has by many been called in question ; 

 yet if a reckless exposure in the hour of danger be any proof of 

 courage, Merino certainly possesses this quality in an eminent de- 

 gree. In 1808, at the head of his soldiers, he carried by assault the 

 town of Roa. In the actions of the Venta del Angel, in that of 

 Pampliega, where he captured the whole French garrison, his fear- 

 less intrepidity elicited even the admiration of his enemies. His 

 sangfroid, too, is on a level with his bravery. Wishing to penetrate 

 the designs of his enemies, he introduced himself several times into 

 Burgos disguised as a peasant, and leading an ass laden with red 

 paper. On these occasions he gained information by which he sub- 

 sequently profited. In 1823, accompanied by only four followers, 

 Merino arrived at Ontarea. It was about half-past eight at night, 

 and taking up his quarters in the only house in this granja, he sat 

 down to supper, while his followers chatted with the people of the 

 house. He had not been there more than an hour before the place 

 was surrounded by sixty soldiers and thirty national guards. The 

 situation of the house greatly favoured his enemies. On its south 

 side there was a wall thirty feet high ; on the west no outlet ; on the 

 east the door guarded by a strong detachment, and on the north, at 

 the distance of sixty paces, a narrow bridge,, upon which were posted 

 two sentinels : it was only this last point that offered any chance of 

 escape. Accordingly, rising from table, he ordered the horses to be 

 saddled, and spurring toward the door, traverses a shower of balls, 

 and arrives by a miracle at the foot of the bridge. Here his horse 

 fell ; but recovering him in an instant, he dashes forward, and re- 

 ceives the fire of the two sentinels kills one and wounds the other, 

 and reaches in safety the other extremity of the bridge, where he 

 turned round, and vented a volley of bitter imprecations on the heads 

 of his enemies. 



" These anecdotes are sufficient to prove his personal bravery ; in 

 fact, this quality is as broadly developed in him as the barbarism of 

 his manners and the ferocity of his character. Still, it must be con- 

 fessed that his good fortune is extraordinary ; for if not impossible to 

 capture him, it appears to be almost next to it. He is always accom- 

 panied by two of the finest and best trained horses in Castile ; however 

 rapid his pace, these two animals are trained to gallop side by side. 

 When Merino perceives that the one on which he is mounted is 

 fatigued, without diminishing his speed he vaults upon the other. 

 It was thus that he escaped after his defeat at Paleuzuela, by General 

 Amor, in 1823. 



" The question that will now naturally suggest itself is, what is the 

 real object of Merino's opposition to the Queen's government, and 

 what are his views ? a question at this moment of some interest. 



" We have seen that at the period of the war of independence, Me- 

 rino took up arms to avenge the outrages that had been heaped upon 

 him. In 1821, he again took the field for a similar motive. But in 



