170
SOLDIERS.
tainly on a magnificent scale, though now for the most part neglected, and falling to ruin; nor has any work of great consequence been attempted since the independence. . . .
After various alarms and rumors in our house, concerning robbers, some true, some exaggerated, and some wholly false, we have at length procured two old Spanish soldiers of the Invalidos, who have taken up their quarters down stairs; and spend their time in cleaning their guns, making shoes, eating and sleeping, but as yet have had no occasion to prove their valor. Perhaps the fact of there being soldiers in the house will be sufficient to keep off the more ordinary robbers.
