Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/30

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THE FOUNDING OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.


constitutional Spaniards in reaching their country and supplying us with arms, ammunition, &c., during the revolution, being satisfactorily arranged, on the 21st we proceeded to Nismes … Political feeling was rather high here. The Royalists were strong in the neighbourhood, in consequence of which a regiment of the line was stationed there, and any person who went from home after 8 o'clock at night was required to carry a lanthorn. Two travellers, Frenchmen, were put in jail on the preceding day for non-compliance with this order.…

"September 28th.— At Toulouse I met Mr. John Hutt, who was rendering his valuable services to the Spanish constitutional cause by conducting the pecuniary affairs consequent on the formation of a division to be commanded by Colonel Gurrea. From him I learned of the intrigues which a party, calling themselves patriots and lovers of liberty, were carrying on at Bayonne with the secret intention of preventing revolutionary movements.…

"September 30th.—At Bagneres we found Colonel Gurrea, who, although much annoyed by the intrigues of Mina, was moving on in the even tenour of his way, disregarding every object but the great one he had in view—the liberty of his country. "With him were the two sons of General Milans, and other Spanish officers of distinction, who were preparing for the day of arms. . . . The minor officers were all exceedingly attached to Gurrea, who had raised himself almost from the ranks by his bravery and skill. Already three fortified places had declared they only waited his approach to open their gates to him, while his knowledge of the country and the guerilla mode of warfare raised the greatest hopes from this incursion. …

"October 2nd.—Reached Bayonne. Here I found Valdes, Pinto, and a great number of Spanish officers, by whom I was heartily welcomed, and whom I was quite as pleased again to recognise.…