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SWABEY DIARY. 253 
been known, when unauthorized, to press animals for the sake of being 
bribed to release them, and I have often myself seen them do so. Ihave 
never yet known a public-spirited Spaniard come forward to exert 
himself for the supply of the army, and they are so blind as to prefer 
the chance of their bread, flour, etc., being embargoed, and themselves 
reduced to waut, to a general submission to the necessity by which 
they would all equally contribute. It is notorious that in the trifling 
circumstance of cutting a field of barley for the horses, the Alcalde, or 
magistrate, is bribed by the rich to spare their lands in the selection. 
29th May.—Whinyates and Bent returned from Zafra and General 
Hill re-crossed the Guadiana. 
30th May.—Rode to Almendralejo to get money, in which I failed, 
and am again penniless! Colonel Waller slept. Maxwell returned 
with me to dinner. 
dist May.—Nicosunir passed through for General Hill. Supposed 
to convey intelligence that Ballesteros had taken Soult’s military chest 
containing contributions and money from France. 
Ist June.—To-day exceedingly sultry. 
end June.—In consequence of a report coming from General Slade 
of a squadron of the Royals being attacked at Llera two leagues in 
our front, we were ordered out with the 8rd Dragoon Guards to sup- 
port them, and marched two leagues; but the enemy would not let us 
get to him so that we returned in the evening to our quarters. 
drd June-—Marched to Fuente del Maestro to be cantoned there— 
got excellent quarters. 
4th June—tThe first time in my life that the King’s birthday 
(George III.) passed without some celebration. The Spaniards have it 
I believe from good authority that Ballesteros has defeated Soult in a 
general engagement. He is retiring from Seville. 
5th June.—The heat very great, and sick list increasing. 
6th June.—Still at Fuente del Maestro. 
7th June.—Yead-quarters moved to this place. No confirmation 
appears to be received of the news about Ballesteros. 
Ballesteros had gained no success but on the contrary had been 
defeated. “ Having obtained money and supplies from Gib- 
raltar to replace the expenditure of his former expedition 
against Seville, he marched with 8000 men against Conroux, 
and that Frenchman, aware of his attention, induced him, by 
an appearance of fear, to attack an entrenched camp in a 
disorderly manner. On the Ist of June the battle took place, 
and Conroux issuing forth unexpectedly killed or took 1500 
Spaniards, and drove the rest to the hills, from whence they 
retreated to San Roque. This defeat of Ballesteros at Bornoz, 
enabled Soult to reinforce D’Hrlon, and caused the allies to 
fall back gradually towards Albuera.” Napier, Vol. V 
pp. 61 and 63, 
of) 
