246 SWABEY DIARY. 
engagements. He was enthusiastic in his gratitude towards the English, 
and expressed it as the common wish of their army that Lord Welling- 
ton and English officers should command them, drawing comparisons 
between the conduct of some of their regiments under English Colonels 
and those commanded by Spaniards. 
2Ith April—Got to Villa Franca, where I found Captain Lefebure’s 
troop in high order, but things at a stand-still in this army for the 
present, Soult having retired on Cordova, and General Hill being 
joined by 5000 Spaniards. 
As we now follow the fortunes of this troop until November 10th, 
it is not out of place here to say a few words about it. 
“D” troop was formed November ist, 1793. In February 1810 
it embarked at Portsmouth for the Peninsula to relieve “A” 
troop, which had been so reduced by the severe sickness 
prevalent in the army at Merida after the retreat in 1809, 
that it was unfit to take the field. The disastrous voyage 
of a transport carrying one of the divisions of “ D” troop, 
however, caused this plan to be abandoned, and in conse- 
quence the troop found drafts for the Horse Artillery with 
the army and did not itself take the field until April 1811, 
when it joined the cavalry of Lieut.-General Hill’s corps, 
temporarily commanded by Marshal Beresford. ‘The officers 
belonging to the troop.in April 1812, were, Captain G. 
Lefebure, 2nd Captain EH. C. Whinyates, Licutenants H. 
Mallet, T. Carter, W. Dunn, with Assistant-Surgeon W. 
Ambrose.—F.A. W. 
30th April.—tIn an empty house in which I had taken refuge from 
a storm to-day, after dinner, though let it not be insinuated that 
Bacchus had any share in making the night dark, I fell into one of 
the jar-shaped pits with narrow neck and aperture used in this country 
for storing grain. I was considerably bruised, and at first thought a rib 
was broken. My situation in the hole was ludicrous enough, for it was 
quite dark, and 1 could not get out. At last a Spaniard brought by 
my cries came with a light to ascertain what had happened; he then 
got a rope, which being fastened to my body, I was hauled out, to the 
no small amusement of the bystanders and I myself joined in the laugh 
most heartily. ‘To escape so little hurt was most fortunate as the fall 
was 12 feet. 
1st May.—We have in our neighbourhood 5000 Spanish infantry 
under Morillo, and cavalry under the Conde du Penne Villamur. 
2nd May.—Rain again set in. Lord: Wellington, it is understood, is 
on his return from the north with 4 divisions, Marmont having fled 
before him. 
3rd May.—I have begun to hope my time is not unprofitably passed, 
as I now employ myself daily in the study of Spanish, and in reading some 
book or other, but books are articles which compose so small a part of 
baggage in this country that I cannot hope to improve myself much. 
