When we reached Bordeaux, which had now become a stronghold of the Royalists,
we were received by the inhabitants with a welcome which resembled what
would be shown to friends and deliverers, rather than to a foreign soldiery.
Nothing could be more gratifying and more acceptable to our feelings,
since it was the first time after our arrival on the Continent that
we met with cordiality and an apparent desire to make our quarters as
comfortable as possible. The Duc d'Angouleme had reached Bordeaux before
us, and no doubt his presence had prepared the way for all the friends
of the Bourbons. Everywhere some description of white rag was doing
duty for a Royalist banner. I lived at M. Devigne's, a rich wine-merchant
who had a family of two sons and two beautiful daughters; the latter
were, as I thought, taken remarkable care of by their maternal parent.
Here I had evidently fallen upon my legs, for not only was the family
a most agreeable one, but their hospitality was of the most generous
kind. Sir Stapylton Cotton was our frequent visitor, together with M.
Martignac, afterwards Minister of Charles the Tenth.

Here I had an opportunity of meeting some of the prettiest women of
a city famed all over Europe for its female beauty. The young ladies
were remarkable for their taste in dress, which in those days consisted
of a mantilla a l'Espagnole, and silken shawls of varied hues, so admirably
blended, that the eye was charmed with their richness of colour. The
grisettes, who were as much admired by the soldiers as were the high
dames by the officers, were remarkable for a coquettish species of apron
of a red dye, which was only to be obtained from the neighbourhood.

Of course we were all very anxious to taste the Bordeaux wines; but
our palates, accustomed to the stronger vintages of Spain, I suspect