Villa Franca, men and officers, and even horses, had generally lodged together in any hovel or barn they could possibly enter. Therefore, after arranging some business, I repaired to the house before-mentioned, belonging to a canon of the cathedral. My friends had set off, and on entering, I was accosted in an angry tone by a female, who asked me what I wanted. On explaining the motives of my visit, she retired to call her master, who soon after appeared. I now met with a very different reception indeed, from what I had been taught to expect. He began by acquainting me that a letter had just been received from the Marquis de la Romana, at Orense, informing the Junta of Lugo that the English were deserting their cause, and retiring to their ships. 1 The old man said, that nothing could be more cowardly or ungenerous than such a conduct; and that no words could express the astonishment and indignation which the knowledge of this circumstance had created in the breasts of the people of Lugo; that they were, in conséquence, determined no longer to have no longer to have any connection with us; and that the Marquis, with his handful of men, would still show what could be done by brave and determined Spaniards. 1 By way of answer to. this philippic, I mentioned the surrender of the capital, the treasons, weakness, and indecision of the Provincial Juntas, their want of union, and the small number of men in arms; but he would not listen to me. Why destroy all our bridges ?" said he, " Why shoot your poor horses? Why burn your stores and waggons, and destroy your ammunition? If you will not stay here and use those things yourselves, why not give them to us ?" I found that it would be in vain to lose time in debating the point with this violent licentiate. I therefore made a motion to be gone; but, getting between me and the door, he began an attack on the score of religion-denouncing all heretics, and telling me that our troops had profaned their cathedral; but that the Junta had placed four sol diers at the door, to prevent any more English from en tering. I now recollected, that on passing close to some -armed Spaniards near a church, one of the fellows had touched me rather rudely with the end of his bayonet, which I, at the time, thought merely accidental, and pushed on. The real cause now flashed on my mind, and praying God to forgive me for the folly of all my former unreasonable expectations in the cause of this fanatic race, I turned my back on the old man, and quitted his house.. I was more successful on my next application, being received into the house of a tradesman, where I found a fire to dry my damp clothes. At Lugo I was detained till the evening of the 8th. During this interval, Sir John Moore arrived with the reserve, and the French cavalry and light troops followed close upon their heels. I have not been able to learn any accurate particulars respecting the bridge and ravine near Constantine; but have heard that the explosion was not strong enough to effect what was intended. Be that as it may, no affair took place there. Slight skirmishing, indeed, has happened every day since we left Astorga; but nothing more. It is reported that our stragglers and rear-guard have been guilty of great irregularities, and that Sir John Moore has caused a private hussar to be shot at Villa Franca, on ****. He was, they say, one of a party of four who were accused of marauding, and the crime having been proved, they drew lots for one to die, in expiation of the offence. On the evening of the 7th, Lieutenant-General Fraser's division, which had been recalled from Sobrado, on the Vigo road, returned to Lugo, and joined the main body, which had taken up a position about four miles in front of the town, on a line of small hills, with the river Tom bago, which passes by Lugo, and is not fordable, covering their right flank. |