49, SWABEY DIARY. 
solitude and restriction. Breakfast in bed, get up, go toa chair, sit 
perfectly motionless until a dinner of fish and potatoes with pudding, 
no wine, yawn an hour and then go to bed. Now had I a book or 
society | might drag on, but as it is, it is literally no better than the 
Bastile. 
25th July.—A little while ago we heard of the armistice between the 
Russians and French.!' Though as yet I am not without hope that it 
may be untrue, as I should look on it as the final blow to Spain and to 
the gleam of hope that Europe has enjoyed of breaking through the 
bonds of tyranny. The circumstance of Murat’s having opened a trade 
with Sicily. affords me a glimmering of a scheme between him and 
Austria to restore the Italian States, Sardinia, etc. 
26th July.—Having been to the window by accident, I was surprised 
at the change in the shops now filled with English goods and showing 
signs of trade. This place, from its vicinity to Bilboa, was one of the 
most opulent towns of Spain, and in consequence of trade much better 
provided and more advanced in the ways of the world than I presume 
any place except the ports of the eastern coast, and Madrid. 
27th July.—Various reports about an action near Pamplona are in 
circulation. It would seem an unlikely direction for it to have taken 
place. 
28th July.—The accounts of a battle still gain ground and preserve 
their consistency. 
29th July.—The wounded began to come in, but as yet I have been 
able to learn nothing certain about what has occurred. 
30th July.—I shall not at present vouch for the circumstances, but 
it appears that Soult, having arrived in the Pyrenees, under the title’ 
of Regent of Spain, had collected all the force he could, backed by 
80,000 peasants and surprised the pass occupied by General Hill, with 
the view of penetrating to Pamplona, and I suppose of either carrying 
off the garrison or throwing in supplies. I cannot think that his 
intention was to remain, as he could bring no artillery where he made 
his attack ; nor do I suppose his army was calculated to doso. Another 
object was to raise the siege of St. Sebastian. The story goes that 
General Hill after resisting these attacks by overwhelming numbers 
was driven with the loss of camp equipage from the pass and followed 
towards Pamplona, two leagues in front of which he took up a position. 
He was joined there by the greatest part of O’Donnell’s army, and by 
other divisions of our troops. I know not which or whether all were 
there, nor do I know if Lord Wellington commanded. They were 
attacked three times, but completely defeated the enemy with it is said 
a lost of 14,060 men killed and wounded and 8,000 prisoners. Being 
cut off from the pass, many dispersed in the mountains, and some 
retreated on the Bayonne Road. 
1This was the armistice of Pleswitz concluded between Napoleon and the Russians and Prussians 
for six weeks on June 4th after the battles of Lutzen and Bautzen in May 1813. This has been 
considered a turning point in Napoleon’s career, and that had he then acceded to the claims of 
Austria or even restored her the Illyrian provinces taken in 1809, she would probably have 
remained neutral, in which case the coalition was certain of defeat.—(F.A.W.) 
