Lord Wellington now finding that Toulouse would not surrender, ordered fortifications to be thrown up for the reduction of that place, but they proved to be unneeded, for in the dead of the night the French disappeared from the place and retreated in a south-easterly direction towards Villefranche. We were soon following them up, and part of our army had slight skirmishes with them, but we never again saw their main body in that part of their country, for a day or two after our move from Toulouse the news came of Buonaparte's overthrow and the proclamation of peace, Buonaparte himself having been sent to the island of Elba. This was indeed good news for most of our troops: certainly for the young officers it took away many chances of promotion, though it made death less likely as well; but ambition sometimes leads a man a long way out of his course, and very often adds tenfold to his sorrow. After the arrival of this welcome news, we encamped for three or four days longer to give our commander time to form his next plans. We were then ordered to Bordeaux to ship for our isles, the Spaniards and Portuguese being sent to their own country.
General delight at the end of the war -- March to Bordeaux -- Kind reception of the troops by the inhabitants of the country on the way -- Particular good fortune of Lawrence -- Great attention on the part of his host -- A magnificent dinner -- Singular effects of a campaign on Lawrence's taste for feather-beds -- He tells of moving accidents, &c., &c., and excites the pity of his hostess -- Two men sentenced to be flogged, but begged off by the inhabitants of the town -- Arrival at Bordeaux -- Encampment on the Garonne -- Fraternizing of the natives and the troops -- Good times in camp -- Sudden influx of skulkers, who, however, receive but as poor a welcome as they deserve.
Things now seemed to assume an entirely different aspect, indeed to take a new birth altogether. All were in a most joyous state, and none more so than the Spaniards, who were always only too ready to give up fighting. The Portuguese had always shown themselves the better race in the field of action, but they likewise now enjoyed the thought of returning to their own country, although it had been so pillaged. I had many a long conversation with stragglers of both these nations before we started on our long march, and so I had an opportunity of studying their thoughts on the subject.