The journal of an Army surgeon during the Peninsular War / [by Charles Boutflower].

  • Boutflower, Charles, 1782-1844.
Date:
[1912]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The journal of an Army surgeon during the Peninsular War / [by Charles Boutflower]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/192 (page 10)
    lO [1809] Corinna are finely drawn and are perhaps faithful delineations [August] of the difference existing in the two Nations. In writing this work however I think an Englishwoman would not have tar- nished so many good Qualities (as Madame S. bestowed on Lord N.), by his unpardonable, and as appears to me his unjustifiable, inconstancy. The Character of Lucilia is in my opinion highly natural. Of the latter Avork, there has never been any difference of Sentiment as to the Ability with which it is written. Most People in reading it, however they may admire the Political ingenuity and the firmness with which he (Charles) carried into effect everything likely to conduce to the great objects of his Ambition, will I doubt not feel more interested for his less fortunate but certainly more principled Rival, Francis, the King of France; the subtle cunning & perfidy of Charles form a striking contrast to the open and* unsuspicious disposition of Francis, and whatever the former may gain of our Admiration, the latter has the Superior Merit of commanding our Esteem. The Spanish Monarch to me never appeared so dignified and great, as when cultivating his garden at his retirement at Saint Just, and I closed his History, fully deter- mined, if possible, to visit that celebrated spot during my sojourn in Spain. From the entrance of the Tagus to Lisbon is a distance of about fifteen Miles ; being obliged to beat up gave us an opportunity of more particularly observing both Shores. That on the right side furnishes little worthy of note. The left, or Lisbon side, presents a beautiful and diversified prospect, chiefly consisting of the Country Seats of the Queen, Prince Regent, and Nobility. The principal Forts in the Tagus are first a large Tower, intended as a State Prison, which stands . in the centre of the River ; higher up on the left is Fort St. Julian; and still higher on the same side is Belem Castle. At Belem Lisbon may be said to commence, notwithstanding the City is called three miles from it. Where Belem terminates, Buenos Ayres, (so called from its high & supposed healthy