ANDALUSIAN SKETCHES. 



one of the five to serve, and we were immediately marched off. I 

 was a thoughtless, idle youth, and felt little disposition to pass my 

 time in my native glen, labouring in the garden. I am ashamed to 

 confess that my sorrow, so loudly expressed when I received your 

 parting embrace, quickly gave way to other feelings, and it was with 

 a light heart that I put on the uniform which was ready for us, and 

 began my new course of life. The number of men for the district 

 having been completed and assembled at Algeciras, we proceeded to 

 Cadiz, and were drafted into the different regiments of the line in 

 garrison there. I was posted to the Regimento de las Asturias, and 

 immediately applied myself to acquire a knowledge of my duty. 

 My attention was soon rewarded by promotion to cabo (corporal), and 

 which perhaps I owed not a little to my proficiency in reading and 

 writing : I shall ever feel grateful to my kind tutors, the worthy 

 friars of the Almoraima Convent. In this gay city of Cadiz we led a 

 most agreeable life until about the beginning of June, when our 

 glee was changed into consternation by the receipt of orders for my 

 regiment, as well as the others in garrison, to embark forthwith for 

 las Indias (the Indies). Nothing was heard but loud murmurs, from 

 the very colonel himself to the smallest drum-boy. I did not then know 

 what I afterwards learned, that for some time previous the seeds of 

 rebellion had been extensively sown amongst the officers of the 

 Spanish army, and that a party of intriguing politicians in the cities 

 of Madrid and Cadiz were laying plans to bring about a change of 

 government. They had gained over to their purposes a large number 

 of the field-officers and captains. The generality of the subalterns or 

 the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, knew nothing of these 

 schemes. Their antipathy to a long voyage in the scarcely sea- 

 worthy ships which had been provided for the expedition, and a 

 general dislike to the proposed object of it (an attempt to reconquer 

 the revolted states of Spanish South America), were the real causes of 

 our mutiny, for into open rebellion the garrison soon declared itself. 

 It was put down by the courage and presence of mind of our general, 

 Don Henrique O'Donel, Conde De Abisbal. Four battalions were on 

 parade in the Plaza San Antonio, obedient to our regimental officers, 

 but in rebellion against the governor. He stepped fearlessly into the 

 centre, dressed in his full uniform, and wearing the splendid deco- 

 rations of the various orders of knighthood which had been conferred 

 upon him. Uncovering his head and waving his plumed hat, he ex- 

 claimed in a loud tone of voice, " Soldados, en el nombre del Rey, digo 

 que no se embarcaran" (Soldiers, in the name of the King, I promise that 

 you shall not embark). Shouts, and loud cries of Viva el Rey, were our 

 answer. The four battalions returned to their allegiance; the re- 

 mainder of the garrison were intimidated, and the revolt for that time 

 was at an end. You will easily believe that there could not be much 

 confidence placed in us, either by Abisbal, or any of the several 

 generals who rapidly relieved each other in the command of Cadiz. 

 The regiments were distributed in the neighbouring towns, and 

 my corps went to Las Cabezas de San Juan. The revolutionary 

 party, although foiled by this occurrence, did not abandon their 

 plans. The non-commissioned officers and soldiers were gradually 



