ttle of _Almanza_. I confess the
View somewhat affected me, tho' so long after; and brought to Mind many
old Passages. However, the Reflection concluded thus in favour of the
_Spaniard_, that we ought to excuse their Vanity in so exposing under a
_French_ General, a Victory, which was the only material one the
_Spaniards_ could ever boast of over an _English_ Army.

In this State Room, when the King first appears, every Person present,
receives him with a profound Homage: After which turning from the
Company to a large Velvet Chair, by which stands the Father Confessor,
he kneels down, and remains some Time at his Devotion; which being over,
he rising crosses himself, and his Father Confessor having with the
motion of his Hand intimated his Benediction, he then gives Audience to
all that attend for that purpose. He receives every Body with a seeming
Complaisance; and with an Air more resembling the French than the
_Spanish_ Ceremony. Petitions to the King, as with us, are delivered
into the Hands of the Secretary of State: Yet in one Particular they
are, in my Opinion, worthy the Imitation of other Courts; the Petitioner
is directly told, what Day he must come for an Answer to the Office; at
which Time he is sure, without any further fruitless Attendance, not to
fail of it. The Audience being over, the King returns through the
Gallery to his own Apartment.

I cannot here omit an accidental Conversation, that pass'd between
General _Mahoni_ and my self in this Place. After some talk of the
Bravery of the _English_ Nation, he made mention of General _Stanhope_,
with a very peculiar _Emphasis_.

"But," says he, "I never was so put to the Nonplus in all my Days, as
that General once put me in. I was on the road from _Paris to Madrid_,
and having notice, that that General was going just the Reverse, and
that in all likelyhood we should meet the next day: Before my setting
out in the Morning, I took care to order my gayest Regimental Apparel,
resolving to make the best Appearance I could to receive so great a Man.
I had not travell'd above four Hours before I saw two Gentlemen, who
appearing to be _English_, it induc'd me to imagine they were
Forerunners, and some of his Retinue. But how abash'd and confounded was
I? when putting the Question to one of 'em, he made answer, _Sir, I am
the Person_. Never did Moderation put Vanity more out of Countenance:
Tho' to say Truth, I cou'd not but think his Dress as much too plain
fo