et. 
SWABEY DIARY. 48 
The Ist division had left St. Sebastian blockaded by Spaniards and 
marched to join General Hill. The siege will now be resumed; an 
unsuccessful attack on a breach was made and failed, it failed because 
instead of attacking it when first practicable, time had been allowed for 
the erection of works within. 
31st July.—Still uncertain about the real history of the attack that 
took place on the 28th. 
What actually happened was as follows.—(r.A.W.) 
“As Ineutenant de ? Hmpereur, Marshal Soult, was sent to the 
Pyrenees to command the French armies in Spain and South 
of France. On July 24th, he attacked the allied post at 
Roncesvalles ; it was held during the day, but being turned 
in the afternoon, General Sir Lowry Cole withdrew in the 
night. 
The same day the position at Puerto de Maya was attacked; after 
some vicissitudes in the combat it was maintained, but the 
withdrawal of the troops from Roncesvalles compelled Sir 
Rowland Hill likewise to retire. On hearing of these en- 
gagements, Lord Wellington concentrated and reinforced 
these troops, assumed command, and on July 28th fought and 
defeated Soult at the first battle of Sorauren.”—Sce Wel- 
lington Despatches, Vol. X, p. 575, et seq. 
1st August.—The town begins to fill so much with wounded that it 
is necessary to send off all that can be moved to Bilboa. Itis said the 
allies have lost 5,000 men in the affair. 
2nd August.—In reading the French work of M. La Borde, Itinéraire 
descriptif de L’ Espagne, my vanity is nota little gratified to find the 
following passage among others, which seems written on purpose to 
confirm my estimate of the Spanish character :— 
“Un faue orgueil, resté des temps féodaux, un prejugé barbare qui 
fuisait de la guerre le seul état noble, arrétaient ses hewreuses dispositions. 
(speaking of improvements in manufactures, literary education and 
agriculture as introduced by the Moors). Illewr paraissait honteux de 
succéder dans ces occupations matérielles & lewrs ennemis vaincus. I’ habi- 
tude de la sobriété, Vorgueil de Pindépendance et de la gloire militaire, 
les empechment destimer assez le luae pour lui sacrifier la jowissance 
tranquille de la vie et les prejugés de Pamour propre. L’ Espagnol 
eut towjowrs le courage des privations mais jamais celui de travail, il a 
moins encore le pouvoir de surmonter la, honte quwil y croit attachée. 
C'est cette disposition antique et éternelle qui rendit Vexepulsion des 
étrangers si fatale al Hspagne, ete. Par une bizarrerie singuliere la 
domesticité en Hspagne parait moins déshonorante qu une profession 
quelconque. ‘ Pendant ce temps’ dit-on ‘la noblesse dort mais le com- 
merce s’ étemt,’” 
drd August.—I received so much confirmation of the different reports 
I had heard as to make me certain of considerable, if not general 
actions having taking place on the 28th and 30th, and exclusive of 
wounded, 3,000 prisoners being made on the 31st. 
