5445_0035

April 1809
An immense pile of building _ we were treated in a very handsome style by the monks, above 150 Officers dined & breakfasted with them _ I am sure it wont easily contain 10,000 troops _ the kitchen is of a tremendous size; in it is to be found every sort of convenience & [Inxwry] ; the immense profusion of fish, fowl & meat would have almost supplied the whole army; at the end of the kitchen was a fountain _ from hence
21st we marched to Batalha 3 leagues distant _ here also is another monastery, which although not so large as that at Alcobaca, is far superior in elegance & architecture; it has been 300 years in building, & is not yet finished; they shewed us the skeleton of John IV of Portugal draped in Royal robes _ the Chapel here is beautiful, but not to be compared to that at Alcobaca, (which is far superior to any at Lisbon or else where) _ it has two beautiful organs in it _ here we were also entertained by the monks