e, and very often
adds tenfold to his sorrow. After the arrival of this welcome news, we
encamped for three or four days longer to give our commander time to
form his next plans. We were then ordered to Bordeaux to ship for our
isles, the Spaniards and Portuguese being sent to their own country.

CHAPTER XX.

General delight at the end of the war -- March to Bordeaux --
Kind reception of the troops by the inhabitants of the country on
the way -- Particular good fortune of Lawrence -- Great attention
on the part of his host -- A magnificent dinner -- Singular
effects of a campaign on Lawrence's taste for feather-beds -- He
tells of moving accidents, &c., &c., and excites the pity of his
hostess -- Two men sentenced to be flogged, but begged off by the
inhabitants of the town -- Arrival at Bordeaux -- Encampment on
the Garonne -- Fraternizing of the natives and the troops --
Good times in camp -- Sudden influx of skulkers, who, however,
receive but as poor a welcome as they deserve.

Things now seemed to assume an entirely different aspect, indeed to
take a new birth altogether. All were in a most joyous state, and none
more so than the Spaniards, who were always only too ready to give up
fighting. The Portuguese had always shown themselves the better race
in the field of action, but they likewise now enjoyed the thought of
returning to their own country, although it had been so pillaged. I
had many a long conversation with stragglers of both these nations
before we started on our long march, and so I had an opportunity of
studying their thoughts on the subject.

We did not seem to be in any hurry to quit the country before
everything was thoroughly arranged, and having no enemy pushing on our
rear, we were often billeted at towns and villages longer than we need
have been, which caused our march to take more time to accomplish, but
made it much more comfortable. We were generally billeted on the
inhabitants during our halts, the best billets being of course chosen
for the officers, then for the sergeants, and then for the corporals
and privates, the numbers being suited to the accommodation of the
places; but I very seldom had more than one with me besides myself.

The inhabitants could not have behaved better to us if they had been
our own countrymen; and I well remember how at the last stage where we
put up before coming to Bordeaux two of us, myself a