on me the same grade, requesting still my services as aide-de-camp.
"October 20th.—Information reached us to-day that the enemy was still near us, to the number of 3,000, and in the afternoon we observed a column of about 100 men marching towards our encampment of last night. This having the appearance of a surprise, we remained this night in the village. No alarm of any kind.
"October 21st.—The morning had not dawned when I received a message from General Valdes, requiring my attendance. On my arrival he informed me that it was the united opinion of the staff-officers that a body of British troops, commanded by British officers, would prove of the greatest importance to their cause, and requested my opinion as to the possibility of obtaining them. I showed him the difficulty of the attempt, and mentioned the many obstacles thrown in the way of the expedition which had been planned for making a descent upon the South of Spain under General Torrijos in the ship Mary; nevertheless, as the war against Spanish despotism was actually begun, perhaps some persons might be found willing to make the adventure. After some conversation it was determined I should immediately go to England to make the trial, and I was accordingly required to be in attendance as soon as the necessary papers could be prepared for me.
"These arrangements were scarcely concluded, when a messenger arrived informing us of the melancholy death of Colonel de Pablo, a constitutional chief of great valour and political integrity, who was wounded the day before while leading his troops in an attack on the Royalists. This brave commander was savagely butchered by the enemy, whose prisoner he became in consequence of his wound.
"In the course of the day I took my leave of the
