THE BRITISH LEGION IN SPAIN. 103 



before a Spanish sentry was challenged by the latter, but, not under- 

 standing a word of Spanish, the sentry fired and wounded the poor 

 rifleman so severely that he died the next morning. This is all I have 

 to tell you at present, and little it is, as I have not yet had an oppor- 

 tunity of looking about me ; and I have only time to write this to> 

 send it by a lieutenant of Lord John Hay's vessel, who has kindly un- 

 dertaken to convey it to London, where he is going. 



LETTER II. 



Santander, October, 1835. 



** I landed here for good the day mentioned in my last for bad I 

 had better say at once, for I already detest being here. I am now 

 billeted in one of the best houses in the place, and I have a very good 

 room, and I certainly cannot complain of my accommodation, for the 

 people are exceedingly kind, and pay more attention to me than I, as 

 a stranger, have a right to expect. The officers of our regiment 

 have a mess, breakfast and dinner, at the principal hotel in the town; 

 and we each pay fourteen pistoreens (a pistoreen is ten-pence) per 

 week. For some time after we landed the weather was very fine ; 

 but it has rained incessantly for the last three days, and so we are 

 altogether as uncomfortable as we well can be. Had I known before 

 I left England what sort of life I should lead here, I never would 

 have come out; and I now really wonder how I could have left you 

 all, for I would gladly return home if I had not been so headstrong 

 in rejecting good advice, and in persevering to come out against the 

 wishes of all my friends. 



" I will now give you a sketch of the life I lead, and of the duty I 

 have to perform. In the first place, I am billeted about a mile from 

 the barracks, and every morning at five o'clock I am obliged to be 

 there and remain until six, to see the men clean the horses, and water 

 and feed them. At eight o'clock we are drilled in the sword exer- 

 cise, in marching, the facing, and the various other formations ; and 

 this lasts for two hours and a half. At twelve we have to be at the 

 stables again, and remain there an hour ; and at half past two we 

 are drilled in the platoon and lance exercise until four. At five we 

 are again at the stables ; and at nine I have to go to the barracks to 



hear the roll called. M and S are in the D. troop, and we 



each command a squad of about twenty men, and the serjeant-major, 

 for the present, commands the other. 



Last night, coming home from the barracks, it was pouring with 

 rain, and so dark that I could hardly see a yard before me. I fell 

 over a large stone and cut my arm, and hurt my right side so se- 

 verely that I could scarcely walk home. The people at my billet 

 were very kind. They would see what had happened ; and they 

 were good enough to bring me spirits to rub my side. This gave 

 me some relief; but I was in great pain all night, and I now feel it 

 whenever I cough. This morning they brought me some tea, wine r 

 and bread ; and, as there happened to be a person in the house who 

 could speak English, he came up to me to enquire whether I was much 

 hurt, and if a doctor or any of the officers should be sent for? About 

 one o'clock they invited me to dinner. I had shown them a Spanish 



