God bless and take you into His Holy Keeping. M. Simmons, Lieutenant, 34th Regiment. _Journal—13th April-23rd July 1814_ [Sidenote: 1814 April 13th] Moved in a coach to Pau. Got into a billet the next day. Went to the Mayor and got a superb one upon M. Colombots. The kindness I received from this gentleman and his charming lady will never be erased from my mind. Passed my time pleasantly, visited the play, and attended their balls. The ladies pretty and handsomely dressed. [Sidenote: 1814 May 9th] On the 9th of May, with much reluctance, took my departure from Pau. Rode to Tarbes. My former landlady highly rejoiced to see me. [Sidenote: 10th] Halted. Moved forward to Rabastens, being crowded. [Sidenote: 11th] Moved on to Contal. The roads covered with Spaniards returning from prison. [Sidenote: 12th] Marched to Mirande. [Sidenote: 13th] To Auch, a very fine and large town. Halted at the inn and dined. Moved forward in the evening to a country house near Aubliet; the countrymen very civil. [Sidenote: 14th] Marched through Gimont to L'île en Jourdain. Tired of dining _à la mode Français_, so bought a fine piece of veal on my way and had it roasted. [Sidenote: 15th] Marched to the famous city of Toulouse, and met my brother. The town well built, the entrance by the west gate very pleasing. The bridge a very fine one, composed of arches over the Garronne. [Sidenote: 16th] Visited the position and redoubts carried on Easter Sunday by the English. I arrived at Toulouse and went to my brother's quarters, his battalion (the 2nd Battalion 34th Regiment) being in the town. To my agreeable surprise I found my brother, the Rifle Man, with him. We talked over battles together, and in the evening we went to the play. Some whim struck me, and I put on my brother's red jacket, and he took mine. The Colonel said, "I think Simmons looks very dark in the face to-night, much darker than I ever saw him before." The officer laughed and told him I was the Rifle Man, which afforded them much amusement, and made me acquainted with a person, who but for this freak I should not have known. [Sidenote: 19th] Marched through Castelnau to Grizolles. Dined with Captain Eaton, 2nd Battalion. [Sidenote: 20th] Joined my Battalion at Castel-sarrasin once again, and found the officers living in the gayest manner possible. The people extremely kind to us. On the 22nd passed the Garronne with a party of ladies and gentlemen to dine and dance at Belpeart. Passed a pleasant afternoon, the dinner _à la mode Français_. Plenty of eatables, but no knives or salt. [Sidenote: 26th] On the 26th passed the ferry opposite Moissac and visited the town. The French officers were jealous of the civility shown us by the people, and requested we would not visit the town any more. [Sidenote: 31st] The order having arrived for the English army to leave the country, we gave a ball and supper to the gentry, who were highly delighted with our generosity.