Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1814 edition. Excerpt: ...is superb in the extreme, and consequently calculated to inspire respect in the soldiery, though the hat, edged with feathers, certainly too much resembled that ofa drum-major, and reminded me of the anecdote of a cockney sportsman, who in the confusion of a first essay, seeing some feathers waving over a hedge, Vol. i. K instantly instantly fired, and lo, shot oft' the head of a recruiting Serjeant. On our right was pointed out to us a ruined chapel, in which one of the General's aides-de-camp, with four other officers and sixty men, were attacked a few days before by the brigands, who set the chapel on fire and burnt every soul of the party. We rode to examine this ensanguined spot, in which were still seen the half consumed carcases of these victims of retaliation, who had been intercepted by a party of 11 Medico's band on their return from Madrid, whither they had escorted a convoy. This sight seemed to shock the General and his officers, who could not help expressing their detestation of the barbarous manner of carrying on the war. The General being excessively vain, both of his horse and horsemanship, in order to shew shew them off, set out on a full gallop in the deepest part of the road; though on a miserable Spanish hack, I was determined to shew off too, and getting my beast into a prancing canter, I soon passed the General, who putting spurs to his horse, at the same time that he slacked the reins, and the animal being knee deep in mud, came down, as might be expected, and rolled over his rider. The aide-de-camp and some chasseurs immediately ran to his assistance, but the miserable pickle he was in, v and his ludicrous grimaces, almost discomposed their gravity, and they could scarce refrain from laughing aloud at the bedaubed...
