juncture not so much from its original defences as from the
numerous outworks which had been lately added to it. It was along
the course of the Adour, as the reader will probably recollect,
or rather between the Adour and the Nieve, that Soult formed his
famous intrenched camp. The right of this chain of stupendous
works rested upon the city, the importance of which was
consequently much increased; and as the capture of it would have
occasioned not only the loss of a town, but the turning of the
whole position, no pains were spared in rendering it as nearly
impregnable as possible. That I may convey some notion to the
minds of others of the nature of these works, I will describe the
aspect which they presented to myself, as I rode from Anglet
towards the city.

When I had proceeded about a mile and a half beyond our advanced
posts, I found myself in front of the first line of defence.
This consisted of a battery mounting three eighteen-pounders,
upon the road, flanked by other batteries, one on each side; all
so placed as that whichsoever of them should be attacked, it
might be defended by a cross-fire from the rest. These were of
course additionally strengthened by ditches and felled trees; but
they were open in the rear; and though very formidable to an
assailing party, yet, when taken, could have been of small
service to the conquerors, being themselves exposed to the fire
of the second line. The situation of the second line, again, was
similar in every respect to that of the first, being, like it,
open in the rear, and placed under the guns of the town. Thus,
after having forced two powerful lines of defence, the besiegers
would find themselves almost as far as ever from the attainment
of their object, being then only arrived at the point where the