SWABEY DIARY. 491 
the troops and we are obliged to seize what we want. How much less 
oppressive it would be if a regularly administered government fixed on 
an equal contribution from the individuals in each jurisdiction in 
the vicinity of our quarters and enforced its collection. Instead of 
which the only answer from the justices is, that they have nothing in 
the country, which we all know to be false, and so are obliged to rob 
the first we meet. 
L7th December.—Our unfortunate friend, poor Craster,! became 80 
ill that he would not or could not speak, and his faithful servant fell ill 
with the same complaint, that is, typhus produced by fatigue. 
L8ih December.—Incessant rain, I was nevertheless obliged to scour 
the country for forage. 
N.B.—We hired a cook who is wife to an artillery soldier, whom we 
likewise detained. Dinner very elaborate, sauces, ragofits, hashes, 
roast, boiled, and baked, not to be sneezed at. Ido not think I am 
a glutton, but there is a pleasure in entertaining one’s friends comme 
al faut. 
19th December.—My house being too cold to sit indoors one moment 
I was obliged to go out though it rained as usual. The unfortunate sick 
daily passing, notwithstanding the known and expected inclemency of 
the season, too clearly prove that humanity has no place in the 
bosom of those who are daily accustomed to the cruelties of war. As 
we might expect the unfortunate victims of this heartless system are 
left dead, and even unburied on the road side.’ 
c0th December.—Misery ever before my eyes renders this the most 
uncomfortable abode I ever inhabited. I can look without compunction 
on the field of battle, but this sort of murder is too inhuman even to 
bear thinking of. 
21st December.—Received some English newspapers. Among other 
articles, Lord Somers in supporting the motion of thanks to the Marquis 
of Wellington,’ prompted by civilities rendered to his son,‘ bears testi- 
mony to the very reverse of that exalted personage’s character. He 
says, that, “Lord Wellington is in the constant habit of having about 
1 Lieutenant W. T. Craster, 4th Regiment, 1st Commission, 27th June, 1811. 
2 66 
As the war enlarged, the increasing number of the sick and wounded pressed on the limited 
number of medical officers, and Wellington complained, that when he demanded more, the military 
medical board in London neglected his demands, and thwarted his arrangements. Shoals of 
hospital mates and students were indeed sent out, and they arrived for the most part ignorant alike 
of war, and their own profession ; while a heterogeneous mass of purveyors and their subordinates, 
acting without any military organization or effectual superintendence, continually bade defiance to 
the exertions of those medical officers, and they were many, whose experience, zeal, and talents 
would with a good institution to work upon, have rendered this branch of the service most distin= 
guished.” Napier, Vol. V., pp. 249-50. 
3 Vote of thanks moved by Lord Bathurst in the House of Lords on 31d December, 1812 ‘ That 
the thanks of this House be presented to General, the Marquis of Wellington, for his many and 
great services; more particularly for the great and decisive victory of the 22nd July last, whereby, 
the siego of Cadiz was raised, and the Andalusians rescued from the hands of the enemy.”’ Courier 
newspaper, 4th December, 1812. 
4 Major, the Honorable I. C. 8. Cocks, 79th Regiment, killed in a sortie from the Castle of 
Burgos, 8th October, 1812. He was an excellent officer, and began his service in the 16th Light 
Dragoons, In the “Diary of a Cavalry Offcor in the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns,” the 
writer, Tomkinson, who served in Cocks’ troop, gives many particulars of his soldierly qualities and 
kindness of heart. 
