LIEUT.-GENERAL THOMAS DYNELEY, C.B., B.A. 543 
‘he is well taken care of, as I sent him to the rear with a friend of mine 
in the commissariat Cepartment. Dinner is just ready— For what I 
am going to receive the Lord’s name be praised.” I must have done 
for the day and, as I daresay you will all drink my good health, I shall 
return the compliment in a bumper. Tell my mother she need not 
now say how old I am. If asked by “ Hrghteen,’ I am 25, if by 
“Twenty-three,” I am 30. . 
December 3rd.—The report of our marching was pretty correct, for we 
were off the next morning at daylight and reached our present quarters 
late last night (the 2nd), where I am told we are to be cantoned for 
the winter. The name of the place is San Payo, I am in the priest’s 
house, the best in the town, and have every comfort I could wish, but 
T am sorry to say the town contains so little hay that I shall be obliged 
to apply to remove to another village more in the vicinity of that 
commodity. 
It is so long since I had an opportunity of writing that I am afraid 
you will begin to think I am “‘off the hooks,” but it has been completely 
out of my power even to send you a few lines had I had an opportunity 
of writing, 
I really think, if possible, it has been harder work for the horses this 
last week than the former part of the retreat. The hills are so dread- 
fully steep in this part of Portugal. In the same day’s march we have 
been obliged to put on four extra horses to get the guns uphill, and 
then unlimber and run them down by hand, it being impossible from 
the steepness to make use of the horses. 
I have this moment had a visit from a friend of mine, Mr, Gregory 
of the 4th Dragoons, on his road to Hngland. I have given in his 
charge a shawl and a pair of shoes. As I have at last got a conveyance 
for one set and thus broken the ice, I may as well tell you that they 
are a sample of 10 of the former and 14 of the latter that I bought at 
Madrid, and have been carrying about the country ever since, not 
having been able to meet with a conveyance, but I thought it better 
not to tell you as it would only set you on the fidget until their 
arrival. When they are all safely landed in Bloomsbury Square, my 
mother will, of course, have the first choice, then I request she will let 
Miss Scott fix on a set for herself. I would send them to her myself, 
but I suppose that old-fashioned fellow “ Etiquette”? points out the 
other channel as the more proper. However, I have another sample 
of acorns (evergreens) which I picked as I rode along on “the retreat” 
which I shall send by the first safe conveyance. 
Colonel Gordon, aide-de-camp, has been gone these four or five 
days to Salamanca, about the exchange of prisoners it ig said. I know 
nothing more of it than I can collect from persons passing through. I 
expect an order to move from this place very shortly, as I have written 
to complain of the want of forage. I cannot write any more. I do 
assure you I have plenty to do, I will write when I can, but I know 
not when you will get this, but I suppose about Christmas day. Drink 
Mrs. Close’s health in a bumper. 
San Payo, December 5th. 
