HEADQUARTERS, ASTORGA,
_December 30_.
_December 30._--Start at twelve o’clock.
_December 31, Saturday._--Very cold, leagues infernally long (5 = 7),
freezes very hard. Enter the mountains, my horse weak and broken down.
Arrive at Castracontrigo at six o’clock, seven long leagues.
Hunt up the Alcalde, and desire to be taken to the curé’s house. He
proposes our waiting till daylight.
Knock up the curé. Get fire and chocolate, and lie down at seven. Rise
at ten. Breakfast and start again at twelve. Our guides tell us we
shall not arrive at La Puebla till midnight.
This is all mountainous, and snow on the ground. Arrive at seven. Taken
to the Governor’s, who secretly places a sentry over us, as I had not
shown him my passport.
_January 1, 1809, Sunday._--Go out to speak to the Governor. He is now
very civil and frank, and tells me his intelligence, which I forward to
headquarters.
Get a better house belonging to a man, who tells us afterwards that he
has devoured at a sitting seventy-two eggs with their corresponding
bread and butter.
Colonel Chabot, charged with despatches, arrives.
_January 2._--Colonel Douglas, A.Q.M.G., and York and Hutchinson arrive
on their way to the army.