[K] During our stay in Altea Bay, in 1812, I was invited by the Spanish authorities in the town to assist at the proclaiming of the new constitution, and accordingly landed my officers and marines to be present at the ceremony of reading them. A few of the Spaniards cheered, as well as ourselves, and called out, “Viva Fernando Septimo;” but it appeared to me they were not very enthusiastic about it at that period; indeed they did not seem to care two straws whether they had the old or new constitution—to get rid of the French was the first object.
[L] (!) Peaks.
[M] Amongst so many new black freemen in the West Indies, of course many cases of delinquency must occur. Why not transport all troublesome and bad characters to Africa? They originally came from thence, and it would be only returning them back to their own country. Just land them on the beach at Bonny, and leave them to find their own way amongst their countrymen, or send them to Fernando Po to clear the forests and make roads, which would ventilate the island and make it more healthy.
[N] Medals were given in 1848(?) for the Peninsula wars, and to the survivors of the Battle of Trafalgar also in 1848. An English merchant, whose name I cannot remember, gave to some of those who were present at the Battle of Trafalgar (among the fortunate recipients was my father) medals, having on one side the profile of Lord Nelson, and on the reverse side the representation of the ships going into action, with the date, October 1st, 1804, and round it the memorable words signalled to the fleet: “England expects every man will do his duty.” This medal is much prized by the family, as is also the dirk previously mentioned. (M.S.L.)
[O] The revilers of our American mode of warfare should bear in mind other circumstances, viz.: that America seized the opportunity of declaring war against us at a most critical period, when we were not only making a desperate struggle for our existence as a nation, but also to liberate other powers from the iron grasp of Bonaparte, and fighting in the cause of liberty itself. That must not be forgotten on our side of the question.
[P] The rear-admiral, in the Albion, arrived on the previous evening, when Captain Ross joined with the boats of that ship in the attack on the fort by water.
[Q] Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, of the Marines, was not at the capture of Washington. He was then in Canada, and joined us at Cumberland Island previous to the attack on Fort Washington, at Point-à-Petre.
Transcriber's Note:
The following is a list of changes made to the original. The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.