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.

    180/192 (page 176)
    [1813] [Feb.] 14th. I left Pesqueira on the 2d for Lamego, where I arrived on the 4th, & where I still remain, being on Evidence on a General Court Martial sitting on Lieut. Colonel Archdale, 40th Regiment. —Lamego is a Town of considerable Population, situated near the Douro, & is a Bishop’s See; I am quartered in his Palace; he is a very unostentatious old man, but is said to be the most charitable Man alive; so greatly is he venerated that it is reported, on his death, he will be canonized. The Cathedral is handsome, but the same levity I have observed amongst the Priests in other places prevails here also. Notwithstanding the entire destruction of the French Army in the North, it does not appear that the Enemy have as yet commenced any retrograde movements. It will indeed be extra- ordinary if they maintain their present ground during the 1 ensuing Campaign. 25th. The Court Martial did not terminate till the 22d, on which day I quitted Lamego, & arrived at Pesqueira yesterday. The worthy old Bishop & myself became extremely intimate during my stay at his house; he possesses many virtues, but is extremely bigoted ; he assured me of his entire belief in the near fulfilment of a Prophecy, which states that about this time the whole world will be brought over to the true faith, which faith of course in his idea is the Catholic. This day I give over all the Papers relating to my Situa- tion in the Division to a Gentleman appointed to succeed me.—By the unsolicited kindness of Dr. McGregor I have leave of absence from the 4th Inst, for two Months to England; I will not here attempt to describe the thousand fond feelings the anticipation of revisiting that land of happiness is calcu- lated to arouse in every breast possessed of common Sensi- bility ; they are indeed inexplicable.