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.

    45/192 (page 41)
    [March] precautionary measure the whole of the heavy Baggage has been embarked at Lisbon. The Weather continues excessively cold, and we are informed that the Snow and Frost prevail here till the middle of June. The Inhabitants say that the only tolerably fine time of the Year here is in the Months of August and September. Perhaps as a residence it is one of the most unpleasant Situations in Europe; its extreme height renders it very inconvenient for taking exercise’on Horseback, and its extreme dirtiness makes it as unpleasant to take exercise on Foot. March 3. Nothing particular has occurred within these few Days. The Enemy remains at Salamanca, and there is reason to believe they have not been reinforced. It is rumoured with some degree of confidence that they lost three thousand Men in an Attack upon Cadiz, but there are so many reports constantly going about that it is impossible to know what to believe. A few Evenings since there was some skir- mishing between a small party of our Riflemen & about two hundred French. The latter left four dead; we had not a Man hurt. nth. The Enemy continue occasionally to show them- selves ; but it does not appear that their main Body is in advance of Salamanca. It is stated that Junot has arrived there with thirty thousand men and that preparations are making for the reception of Buonaparte. The News of one Day is however generally falsified the next. We expect to know something decisive by the next Mail respecting our remainingjin this Country. As long as a British Army is in Portugal, the People have no apprehension of danger; but they say, if left to themselves, their doom at once is fixed. This being the Season of Lent, there is abundance of Fasting and Praying, but as little Devotion as at other Times. The three Days prior to Ash Wednesday there was some very beautiful Music and singing in the Cathedral ; the Organ is a remarkably good one, and one of the Priests possesses the