“Country-folk hereabout seem mightily struck with Amaze at the Ways of our Army, and everything being paid down for as it is, after the manner they’ve been handled by the French soldiers in the past. “Nov. 15th. Salamanca. “French Army reported to be advancing, and only 20 leagues off. Both Spanish Generals retiring before ’em. Question now is, whether Castanos, commanding the third Spanish division, will make any better stand. Our troops are coming up in detachments; quicker advance impossible, for lack of transport. Three brigades of Infantry here, and not one gun! I hear they can’t hope to Concentrate the whole force in less than a fortnight. Let’s hope the French may leave us alone till then. “If Castanos should run away too, some say we may ourselves be forced to retreat. But that’s not the common expectation; and Retreat is the last word that Moore will utter, without dire need. Jack of course hears more than I do, not only being Captain, and having known Sir John in private life, but also having more than one intimate friend on the Staff. Privately he tells me he does not believe Sir John to have any enormous faith in Spanish enthusiasm; but that is not known to most. “Nov. 22nd. “The way Sir John works! ’Tis enough to make laggards ashamed! Each morning regularly he’s up betimes, between three and four, and lights his own fire from the lamp kept burning in his room. Then he writes hard till eight, when the ‘Officers of the Family’ breakfast with him. Breakfast over, he sees the Generals and anyone who may have business to communicate, and issues his Orders. As he writes all his letters with his own hand, he is often at that a great part of the forenoon as well as in the early morning—till he rides out, either to reconnoitre or to review the Troops. At dinner he has commonly from fifteen to twenty officers at his table, and he is then at his best, and talks much and freely with them all. He keeps a good table, but is himself a most moderate eater, and drinks wine sparingly. Dinner over, he is again at his writing and despatches, and goes to bed, if he may, at ten, but often he is prevented. Our Chief lives indeed a life of Toil. No marvel if at times he has a worn look. “Nov. 29th. Salamanca. “Castanos has been beaten by the French at Tudela; and ’tis now pretty clear that the ‘retiring’ of the other Spanish troops meant a thorough drubbing. We hear that the Spaniards are provided with neither clothing nor shoes, arms nor ammunition, and for days together have no bread. What can be expected of them in such case? “Some fear that Retreat on our part may become needful; others scout the notion. I heartily hope we may first have a brush with the Enemy. “Dec. 10th. “At Salamanca still; tho’ ’tis now ten days since the General gave orders to make ready for Retreat. “Dec. 11th. “Hurrah! Hurrah! Moore—glorious fellow!—will _not_ retire, without giving the Spaniards one more chance.