so being enabled to enjoy ourselves
very comfortably.

CHAPTER VI.

The troops kept in Ireland -- Ordered to Spain to fight new
opponents in behalf of their late ones -- Land in Mondego Bay and
advance to Vimeira -- A light repast interrupted by a heavy
battle -- Battle of Vimeira -- Preliminary skirmishing --
Lawrence's first experience in fighting the French -- A good
front-rank man -- Defeat of the French and advance on Lisbon --
The French evacuate the city -- Lawrence's impressions of Lisbon
-- Sir Arthur Wellesley made commander-in-chief -- The regiment
invalided for a time -- Attempt to join Sir John Moore frustrated
-- Seville -- Lawrence's first offence -- He is court-martialled
for it and flogged -- Moral reflections on the same.

We had already laid in our sea stock in preparation to start for
England, when we found ourselves disappointed of our hopes, for orders
came for us to land in Ireland; and we had to march to Cork and thence
to various other places for six months, nothing of any particular note
happening during the while; and at the end of it, orders again came
for us to embark for Portugal, to drive the French from there, and
from the Spanish dominions. Thus after we had been in open war against
the Spaniards, who for the time had been in alliance with the French,
or rather had been forced to be so, now that Buonaparte had overrun
their own country and kindled hatred against himself, these same
Spaniards had made peace with us, and sent to us for assistance to
drive him out of their country: so that we had to go and fight for the
very nation we had been a few months before opposing in Monte Video,
Buenos Ayres, and Colonia.

After we had all embarked we had still to lie in Cork Harbour, waiting
for the English fleet, and then we sailed from the Irish coast, about
twelve thousand strong, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, on the 12th of
July, 1808. We first touched at Corunna to make arrangements with the
Spaniards, and their advice being to land in Portugal, we went to
Mondego Bay, near the town of Figueras, where we landed, leaving our
baggage on board. After about five days' march we were joined by
General Spencer, and next day our advanced guard had a slight
engagement with the enemy at Rorica. Thence we marched on to Vimeira,
and were joined by Generals Anstruther and Acland with more
reinforcements, and Sir Hugh Dalrymple took the head