120 SWABEY DIARY. 
Colonel Hlley, as well as the newspapers, might be unacquainted with 
one of Bonaparte’s artifices not at all uncongenial to the French system 
of warfare in Spain and this country. 
Certain districts are given up from whence King Joseph supplies his 
finances, these are of course where the army has the means of enforcing 
the collection of his revenue, which is generally levied in corn and other 
articles of subsistence for troops. The unfortunate Spaniards are then 
obliged to re-purchase their own produce as means of support, when 
they have done so, Marmont again seizes on their property as a supply 
for his troops. This ruinous and perfidious conduct needs no comment. 
2nd January.—This morning the mountains and valleys were covered 
with snow which continued to fall most plentifully. I had to go back 
however to Salgueiro not in a very good humour. I got there well 
drenched at 5 o’clock, being unable to ride out of a walk, which indeed 
was very fortunate in one respect, for my unfortunate mare was so ill 
that she could go no faster. During my absence Brigadier-General 
Borthwick, our new commandant, had passed a night at our quarter on 
his way to the front. As an instance showing how highly such appen- 
dages are estimated: When he landed at Lisbon he wrote to Lord 
Wellington to announce his arrival, but Lord W. I suppose thought it 
too much condescension to answer his letter, for the post seldom mis- 
carries in this country. 
Our Brigadier-General had insolence enough to turn my horses out 
of the stable to make room for his cattle, an unnecessary proof of his 
superior rank, which had I been at home would not have gone un- 
remarked 5 Sy slit eas WES dink Ais eon fe 
3rd January.—A miserable snowy day, too cold to sit still and 
too wet to go out, the last alternative I found the best. A mail from 
England bringing me no letters . . . . 
4th January.—What is called the wet season regularly set in with a 
vengeance, our horses up to their knees nearly in the water, little to eat 
and much less inclined. ‘Twenty new ones joined from Coimbra. One 
stable fell in altogether, fortunately no damage done. The men had a 
fine opportunity of learning to swim in their quarters to-day. Last 
night we had a pretty specimen of Portuguese presence of mind, the 
house was on fire and nothing but wringing of hands and cries of jfogo 
em casa were exercised to prevent its being destroyed ; fortunately our 
cook and servants were in the way and we stopped its progress without 
much damage being done ... . SV olen- -opllaers 
5th Janwary.—Another terribly wet day. Major Downman and 
Macleod came over on their way to head-quarters. Colonel Framing- 
ham and Pascoe arrived unexpectedly on their way to the Alemtejo, 
likewise Colonel Elley, Ramsay, and Stanhope on a shooting excursion, 
so that where we used to sleep two and three in a room, now we are six, 
there being no other accommodation in the town. I took refuge in the 
commissary’s quarters; it rained much in the night, and the roof only 
being tiled I was awakened and found the water dropping on my bed. 
A tarpaulin spread over all soon sent me to sleep again . . ... 
