To return to general Heudelet’s register. The first notable discovery from this document is, that it makes no mention of an action described by me as happening on the 17th of February at Ribadavia; and therefore the reviewer says no such action happened, though I have been so particular as to mention the strength of the Spaniards’ position, their probable numbers, and the curious fact that twenty priests were killed, with many other circumstances, all of which he contradicts. Now this is only the old story of ‘_the big book which contains all that sir George does not know_.’ For, first, Heudelet’s register, being only divisional, would not, as a matter of course, take notice of an action in which other troops were also engaged, and where the commander-in-chief was present. But that the action did take place, as I have described it, and on the 17th February, the following extracts will prove, and also the futility of the reviewer’s other objections. And I request the reader, both now and always, to look at the passages quoted from my work, in the work itself, and not trust the garbled extracts of the reviewer, or he will have a very false notion of my meaning. _Extract from Soult’s General Report._ ‘The French army found each day greater difficulty to subsist, and the Spanish insurrection feeling itself sustained by the approach of La Romana’s corps, organized itself in the province of Orense. ‘The insurrection of the province of Orense, directed by the monks and by officers, became each day more enterprising, and extended itself to the quarters of general La Houssaye at Salvaterra. _It was said the corps of Romana was at Orense_ (on disait le corps de Romana à Orense), and his advanced guard at Ribadavia. ‘The 16th of February the troops commenced their march upon Ribadavia. ‘The left column, under general Heudelet, found the route intercepted by barricades on the bridges between Franquiera and Canizar; and defended besides by a party of insurgents eight hundred strong. The brigade Graindorge, arriving in the night, overthrew them _in the morning of the 17th_, and pursued them to the heights of Ribadavia, where they united themselves with a body _far more numerous_. General Heudelet having come up with the rest of his division, and being sustained by Maransin’s brigade of dragoons, overthrew the enemy and killed many. _Twenty monks at the least perished, and the town was entered fighting._ ‘The 18th, general Heudelet scoured all the valley of the Avia, where _three or four thousand insurgents had thrown themselves_, Maransin followed the route of Rosamunde chasing all that was before him.’