580 SWABEY DIARY. 
to Famalicoa to endeavour to bring about an agreement with our com- 
plainants, and well knowing the value of money in these cases, took a 
tolerable quantity with me. The road, passing over a considerable 
part of the Estrella, was very difficult, but the business was urgent 
and my spurs not to be sneezed at. I did not delay much to admire 
the mountainous beauty of the scenery. On my arrival I found the 
principal person of the town who had been at the bottom of the 
business, and told him I was there to apologise for the conduct of a 
sergeant, and very carefully admitted all he had reported, which 
certainly was not much in the man’s favour. He seemed, however, 
to doubt and hesitate a good deal till I pulled out the money and 
offered to pay all the bullock owners; this seemed quite to open his 
heart, and he immediately exerted himself on my behalf. At last, 
through his interest, which was besides somewhat biassed by a letter I 
took with me from a colonel of Portuguese militia in whose regiment 
he had a company, I procured a letter from him to Dyneley, expressing 
his satisfaction for the reparation made, and a certificate from the 
magistrate to the same purpose. This done, he gave me a good 
breakfast in the English style, and I started homewards. On my 
return I crossed the Mondego very near its source. The scene was 
beautifully wild and romantic, and I had sufficient time to contemplate 
it owing to the mule I rode knocking up and being obliged to walk. 
I got to Mello by dusk when, lo and behold, clever; I had lost the 
certificate, the best and most formal part of the business! I always 
was a great deal more careless than other people. 
4th February.—Went over to Moimenta da Beira to tell Lord 
Dalhousie! what steps we had taken, he expressed himself very 
indignant at Lord Wellington’s severity. I confess I do not see it in 
that light, because if the latter did not act up to the letter of his orders 
where would be the security for the inhabitants in regard to payment for 
their forage, etc. It istrue that they do not, by their aid and assistance, 
merit such steps in their favour, but the prudence or imprudence of 
an act must be measured in public matters more by its policy than its 
justice. 
5th Februaryw—We forwarded to head-quarters the letter from 
Famalicoa, resting on our oars about the certificate, having merely 
stated that one had been given us. 
6th February.—W ent to Gouveia to attend the funeral of Colonel 
Collins, who died there a few days ago. He commanded the Portu- 
guese Brigade, of the 7th Division, by which he was attended to his 
grave. The ceremony was so ill-conducted by the Portuguese troops 
that the solemnity which generally is so impressive on similar 
occasions was not at all striking. He was buried in a convent garden. 
His last disorder was brain fever, but there being a post-mortem after 
his death, a ball was found that had been seventeen years under one of 
his ribs, three of which on the opposite side had been broken in storm- 
ing a fort in the West Indies. He was an excellent officer and is a 
great loss to the Portuguese service. 
1 Lieut.-General the Earl of Dalhousie, Commanding 7th Diyision, 
