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.

    24/192 (page 20)
    [1809] [Nov.] and trouble of getting acquainted with those few is also to be surmounted. Another reason why I most prefer the place we are now in is its being Head-Quarters, by which means we get the earliest intelligence of any News there may be stirring. This being the day of All Saints has been observed here with much Solemnity. About eight in the morning I was attracted into the Convent of the Catalans by the sound of Female Voices. On entering I observed a great many women kneeling before an Altar, and really singing with considerable sweetness; soon after the Nuns entered a chapel behind, grated off from the Church, where mass is performed. As they brought in several Lights, I had an opportunity of observing their Coun- tenances, and to my surprise I found that they were all very old women, not one of them appearing less than sixty. They seemed to be about thirty or forty in number. They performed their devotions with considerable energy assisted by a miserable old Spinnet. Several British Officers were earnestly looking thro’ the bars of the grating, which did not at all appear to attract their attention. About nine High Mass was performed in the Cathedral, at which a great concourse of People attended of both Sexes. The Music consisted of a fine toned organ with several Violins & other Instruments. There was the usual Chorus assisted by some very good lay singers hired for the purpose. The selection was chiefly from Pleyel, & was really very well executed ; I was much pleased with it. After Mass a Sermon was preached; my knowledge of the language was just sufficient to enable me to understand that after dwelling on the Holiness of the Saints the Preaiher exhorted all to imitate them, reminding his Hearers that they had the same assistance from above, and had no greater difficulties or Passions to contend with than those whose sanctity he was recommending them to imitate. During the Service I observed much laughing & other marks of indevotion among the People, and from which the Priests themselves were by no means free. Novr. 8. In obedience to orders we marched to