As it would have been considerably out of our way to go round by
the floating bridge*, permission was applied for and granted, to
pass directly through Bayonne. With bayonets fixed, band
playing, and colours flying, we accordingly marched along the
streets of that city; a large proportion of the garrison being
drawn up to receive us, and the windows crowded with spectators,
male and female, eager to behold the troops from whom not long
ago they had probably expected a visit of a very different
nature. The scene was certainly remarkable enough, and the
transition from animosity to good-will as singular as it was
sudden; nor do I imagine that it would be easy to define the
sensations of either party, on being thus strangely brought n
contact with the other. The females, indeed, waved their
handkerchiefs, whilst we bowed and kissed our hands; but I
thought I could discover something like a suppressed scowl upon
the countenances of the military. Certain it is, that in
whatever light the new state of affairs might be regarded by the
great bulk of the nation, with the army it was by no means
popular; and at this period they appeared to consider the passage
of British troops through their lines as the triumphal
entrance of a victorious enemy.

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* The bridge here alluded to was thrown across the Adour by the
Duke of Wellington at the commencement of the siege. It was
composed of a number of small fishing vessels fastened together
with cords, and planked from one to another, the whole firmly
moored about three miles below Bayonne. Whether the
daringness of the attempt, or the difficulties surmounted in