418 SWABEY DIARY. 
orphan educated in an orphans’ college here, who spoke English, 
French, Italian, and German, all of which we tried, except Italian. 
The company separated at a late hour. Mr. Townsend! did not 
attend. 
[Many who have related their Peninsular adventures have given an 
account of the ball which was given to General Hill at Toledo, and 
none have forgotten to paint, however indifferently, the beauty of the 
Irish refugee sisters of an establishment appropriated for their accom- 
modation which then existed and does still I suppose remain in Toledo. 
There is a lay as well as an ecclesiastical establishment so that though 
some of the fair descendants of the Emerald Isle may have taken the 
veil the greater part are still at liberty to tread the mazy dance and 
make a weary soldier happy. One of these has been much celebrated 
not for her beauty only but for the elegance and simplicity with which 
she spoke several modern languages. 
To this fair creature I made several attempts to convey my admiration 
in set phrases in several modern tongues to her very great amusement, 
for though I had a share of knowledge of several, yet was I master 
but of few]. 
end October.—Marched to Villa Minoya, a place neither remarkable 
for the reception we met with nor the goodness of its houses. It ig 
one of the wine countries of La Mancha and the vintage was going on. 
The best road from Toledo to Consuegra is by this town and Man- 
saneque. 
drd October.—Marched as usual at 3 o’clock, two hours before day- 
light to Mansaneque, a place where we met with every demonstration 
of joy, and as the Spaniards have so few methods of showing their 
regard, I will state that in this place they offered ug chocolate etc., and 
dinner, but the warmth of the Domingo Perez people was wanting. 
Near this is Almonacid where the foolish people fought with the 
French. It is singular that common sense could not teach them that 
a plain was the very worst place to fight brave troops. 
This is their common practice, their insufferable arrogance makes 
them imagine themselves brave enough to fight anywhere, and as soon 
as the enemy shows himself they run away, and boast of having beaten 
him. 
The battle of Almonacid was fought on the 11th August, 1809. 
“A Spanish army of 25,000 men, the most efficient that had 
yet taken the field, composed of the best regiments of Spain 
and commanded by efficient officers, was routed by some 
28,000 French troops under Generals Sebastian and Dessolles 
the King being present at the end of the action.””—Napier, 
Vol. IL., p. 427. 
4th October.--Marched to Consuegra where there is a small fort, 
1 One of the English civil agents accredited to the Spanish Government.—F'.4.W. 
