My men have had no new ones served out to them for the past year and a half, although I have made repeated applications during the past two months." "Yes; I noticed when I walked about in the town, yesterday, that many of the troops were almost in rags, and I have no doubt there has been fraud in the clothing department, as well as in all the others." "Well, sir, as a Spaniard I lament this terrible exposure.

Blame, however, must not be laid entirely upon the military.

The supply of provisions of all kinds, of cloth for clothing, and, indeed, of everything but guns and ammunition, is in the hands of the junta of the province, and of the civil authority here.

Many of the members must be concerned in the matter, and I have no doubt that the officials here are heavily bribed to shut their eyes, and to arrange matters so that the frauds may escape attention.
"I know that once, when I proposed to the governor to examine some of the barrels of cartridges as they came in, he answered me very sharply, and told me that my business was to work the guns, and not to meddle with the duties of the storekeeper." "Then do you think, Colonel?
--" "I think nothing," the officer replied.

"The governor is the governor, and it is not for me to discuss his conduct in any way, nor even to admit the possibility of his knowing of this affair." Only two or three of the storekeepers had been arrested.