4^2 GENERAL MONTILLA. 



maica, commanded by my old friend Captain 

 Forrest. 



March 30th. Waited on General Montilla 

 at nine o'clock ; found him at breakfast : he 

 was very agreeable, spoke a good deal in Eng- 

 lish, and entered very generally into conversa- 

 tion for an hour; after which I took my leave, 

 having received an invitation to dine with 

 the General the next day, at five o'clock. — 

 Employed in writing letters. — Dined with 

 the Consul ; and in the evening rode out 

 through the barriers, which are very strong on 

 the land side, but very weak to the seaward, 

 there not being even a ditch ; and the works 

 may very easily be scaled from the sea side, 

 by landing in flat-bottomed boats — there being 

 no obstacle whatever, except a few large 

 stones, placed formerly by the Spaniards in 

 order to cause a surf, but between which boats 

 may land : the inner and outer fortifications 

 are divided by water and drawbridges. The 

 town outside the main works is half the size 

 of Carthagena. San Filipe, called also San La- 

 zaro, celebrated from the attack Admiral Ver- 

 non made on it, is close to the town, and com- 

 mands it : it is very strong, but commanded 



