SWABEY DIARY. . ddl 
7th February.—Uord Dalhousie and a large party came to meet us 
and course near Mello ; lots of cockneys, consequently no sport. 
Sth February.—Had a tolerably lengthy ride of five leagues to assist 
a foraging party. N.B.—Set down the neighbourhood of Casal Vasco 
for the best foraging district, between Celorico, Vizeu, and Coimbra. 
Ith Kebruary—Major Crespigny! dined and brought his grey- 
hounds. 
L0th February.—Went coursing, and having no cockney incum- 
brances, killed a leash of hares in great style. 
L1th Febrwary.—On inspection found still more powder stolen. We 
have the satisfaction of knowing that none of our men have mounted 
guard over it, which is not a little satisfactory. 
L2th February.—W ent with Dyneley to dine with General Barnes,’ 
whom we found to be a very hospitable pleasant fellow. He even 
wanted me to sleep in his room, but haying taken my own bed, there 
was fortunately no occasion. In appearance, he put me in mind of 
General Hay, who, by the way, notwithstanding I was an old Packham 
acquaintance, permitted me last year to sleep, wet as I was, in my 
clothes without offering me a blanket. 
4th February.—We received letters expressive of the “ Peer’s” 
satisfaction at the steps we had taken in consequence of the Famalicoa 
business. We were not of course sorry to see it terminated.® 
15th February.—Bought Newland’s chestnut horse “ Purbrook,” 
giving him my Spanish brown horse, value 80 dollars, £20, and 300 
dollars, or £75; so much for coming down with the rhino. 
16th February.—Having established a system in the way of con- 
ducting the troop business, and finding time begin to hang heavy on 
hand, I actually read a book; a history of Charles XII. of Sweden, 
which was at this moment the more interesting on account of the 
genius of the Russian government and the history of Peter the Great. 
His achievements appear almost a romance, for no one ever performed 
so much in so short a time; perhaps he was better entitled to the epithet 
‘Great’ than any other dignified person, for all his endeavours were 
characterised by having a laudable and a rational aim. It would be 
difficult to define a hero without ambition, though many have existed 
who have been great without grasping at reward. ‘To give the Czar 
the praise of having been the most useful one that ever adorned society 
would be perhaps the most just way of describing his title to greatness. 
That a man uneducated, and apparently without the means of instruc- 
tion within his reach, and certainly not called upon by any immediate 
1 Major Crespigny, 68th Regiment. 
2 Commanding a Brigade in the 7th Division. He was Adjutant-Gencral of the army at 
Waterloo. Governor of Ceylon 1824. Commander-in-Chief in India 1831. Sir Edward Barnes 
was M.P. for Sudbury. In conjunction with Admiral Sir William Bowles, he founded the Army 
and Navy Club. 
3 The supply of forage in the Peninsula was a common difficulty with commanding officers. 
Captain E. C. Whinyates wrote: “I risked so much in foraging for the troop during the time I 
had the command, that, if the Spaniards and Portuguese had not been my personal friends, or had 
reported me, I should have been tried by court-martial and most likely broke. A friend of mine 
was tried for cutting down and seizing forage, but was happily acquitted.” 
