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.

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    [1810] Sisterhood go to take the Air. The Abbess was completely [May] taken in, and two Confessors being at hand to accompany us we were accordingly admitted. On the Door being opened the Abbess attended by Twenty Nuns presented themselves to pay their respects. As soon as we thought we had been a reasonable time in measuring distances we proposed to descend, when one of the Nuns whispered us to ask permission to see the whole of the Convent, which the Abbess at once granted. So pleased were the Sisterhood with this Visit, (the first they had ever known), that there was not a Nook, Cranny, or Corner, they did not in a whisper suggest to us to ask the Abbess to be permitted to see. In the Chapel we were favoured with some Solos and Duets executed in very superior stile and accompanied by the Organ. Being a Medical Man I was allowed to visit their Infirmary, where I saw a Nun a hundred and five years old in the possession of all her Faculties except her Sight. Not knowing I was near her, she was expressing to the Nuns who accompanied me her Surprise and Indignation that anything like a Man should be permitted to enter the Convent. We at length took our leave. The Abbess, whose Heart appears to be better than her Head, has been since made to believe it was a trick, and I fancy she will not again open the Doors on such a pretext. [June] June 2d. Everything indicates an immediate movement. An Order has been issued for each Regiment to be prepared to march at half an hour’s Notice; every Man not entirely fit for Service has been sent away, and one Day’s Provisions are kept constantly cooked beforehand. Whether this Movement will be forward or backward, to the right or left, we are in profound ignorance. The Weather has become fine, and it does not appear probable that an Engagement between the two Armies can be many Days delayed. 23d. We still remain at Guarda, and our quitting it appears to depend entirely upon the Movements of the