192 SWABEY DIARY. 
hear from him that Philippon offered to capitulate at Badajos if 
he could carry away his 5000 men; he was, however, refused. The 
breaching batteries had opened, and a small hole big enough to admit 
three men had been made. It is generally understood that the French 
will not stand in the breach, but they have made the castle very strong. 
Lord W., after carrying one of the strongest outposts, sent a flag of 
truce to say that if a mine was sprung he would destroy the whole 
garrison. How far this threat will prevent bloodshed I do not know. 
2nd April—Marched to Villalba, a town, at this time of the year 
more calculated for cavalry than any in Spain. ‘The green barley and 
rye grow in the most luxuriant manner. 
There is here the most picturesque castle 1 have ever seen, but the 
Spaniards have not arrived at sufficient refinement to have a taste for 
antiquity, therefore all enquiries as to its history were fruitless. I have 
generally heard it remarked that the priesthood of this country was the 
only portion of the population who had enjoyed the benefits of education, 
but those who thus distinguish them should add—comparatively 
speaking. 
On the towers of the church the storks have built their nests, and 
on the twigs composing them the sparrows have built theirs, so that a 
stork’s nest is acomplete feathered colony, and they live in the greatest 
amity. This is the first time I have met with anything to remind me of 
a chimney sweeper, for the storks when inclined to be musical, make a 
noise with their bills, precisely like that which our black gentry make 
on May-day with their shovels. On every wall in the castle was written, 
in French, evidently by Spaniards, “‘ Vive le Rov d’ Angleterre.” 
I look on this little circumstance as a true criterion of the patriotic 
feeling of the people of this place; but itis remarkable that no blessings 
were invoked for the unfortunate Ferdinand. 
3rd April.—Notwithstanding our fancying ourselves settled, a route 
came for Santa Martha, whither we marched. No forage to be had 
when we got in. 
4th April.—To-day I resolved to give up the idea of being settled 
even fora moment; for, whilst our horses were gone a league for forage, 
an order came to march to Torre de Almendral, two leagues. We 
arrived there in the evening not having an atom of forage. All the 
infantry is falling back on Albuera, where I suppose we shall make a 
stand.} ; 
The house we left at Santa Martha belongs to a most interesting 
family, a widow and two daughters, who, on seeing the troop retiring, 
were in the utmost distress, uncertain whether they should go to the 
mountains or wait the event of the approach of the French. I did all 
I could to console them, and blushed for my own heart that it had be- 
come so familiar with distress that it did not feel so much compassion 
as it used to do. The old woman, near 80, must make her retreat on 
foot. It is not usual with all Spaniards to leave the towns on the 
French entering them. 
We have General Graham’s orders to visit the position of Albuera, 
1 Soult had approached from the south with a view to raise the siege of Badajos. 
