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In the northeastern corner of Castile, known as the Rioja, Basilio Garcia, agent for the Pope's bulls in the province of Soria a man destitute of military knowledge, and remarkable only for his repulsive exterior and cold-blooded ferocity collected and headed a small body of insurgents; whilst, in other districts of the same province, several battalions of the old Royalist volunteers a loose, ill-disciplined militia, as motely and unsoldierlike in appearance as they were unsteady and inefficient in the field ranged themselves under the orders of a general-officer named Cuevillas, and of the veteran Merino.
It was a figure of commanding importance; a man rather elderly, in the uniform of a general-officer all ablaze with gold. There was a universal shock at such an apparition. The first thought of every one was that the castle had been captured by some new enemy that this was the leader, and that they all were prisoners.
Great was their surprise when they saw this "woman" tearing off her outer robe; but far greater was it when they saw the marvellous transformation of a commonplace woman into a resplendent general-officer all in blue and gold. A murmur ran through them, partly of amusement, partly of approval. One of them addressed him. Russell shook his head.
The most important changes introduced, are the determination of the age to be received into this school, which is from sixteen to twenty, the reduction of the pupils to the number of three hundred, the rank which is given them of serjeant of artillery of the first class, their pay fixed on the same footing, together with a fund of assistance for those labouring under difficulties, the obligation to wear a uniform, the establishment of a council of improvement, composed of three members of the National Institute, of examiners, of a general-officer or superior agent of each of the branches of the Public Service, of the director, and four commissioners taken from the council of instruction.
With them every man created a peer is first a hero ready made. They judge of every man's capacity for office by the offices he has filled; and the more offices, the more ability. Every general-officer with them is a Marlborough; every statesman a Burleigh; every judge a Murray or a Yorke.
I do not suggest that the money was absolutely misappropriated, but it was diverted to other military purposes, and, in the result, there was always a considerable shortage in the annual contingent. The creature comforts of the men were certainly well looked after. My particular chum at Bonaparte was the son of a general-officer, and I visited more than one barracks or encampment.
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