by John Marshall

“ My Lord.– I have the honor to report, that the French General Duhesme, came out of Barcelona on the night of the 7th inst., with a force of near 2,000 troops, 2 howitzers, and 3 field-pieces, and early the next morning occupied the heights in the rear of Badalona and Mougat, also those villages. His intention was to have surprised and surrounded the inhabitants of that part of the country, and to have forced them to repair the bridge and broken roads of Mougat, in order that he might get his artillery towards Mataro, and occupy the coast. ”

“ This has not been the case, for the guard at Mongat have generally scrupled to allow what was granted by the permit to pass, and have actually refused more than sixty-four loaves to go in a day. I shall ask, Sir, whether any man can put his hand upon his heart, and declare upon his honor, that he considers that quantity a sufficiency for the families contained in the village of Badalona, consisting of near six hundred houses ? You require the Badalonians to furnish boats for letters, despatches, or any thing that may occur for the public service, and this, without allowing sufficient to eat. ”

“ Had Captain Mundy’s persevering exertions on this coast been met by a corresponding energy on the part of the Spanish leaders, and the enthusiastic spirit of the peasantry been directed by able and active commanders, there is little doubt that the French army would have been driven, out of Catalonia. ”

“ In April 1805, when Nelson went down the Mediterranean in pursuit of the French squadron which had escaped from Toulon, the Hydra was left under the orders of the Hon. Captain Capel, to assist in protecting Sardinia, Sicily, &c. from the designs of the enemy. On Nelson’s return from the West Indies, his Lordship received a letter from Vice-Admiral Collingwood, in which we find the following mention made of the subject of this memoir – “I am exceedingly pleased with Captain Mundy of the Hydra. His vigilance and activity are exemplary; he is a clever young man.” ”

“ The bravery and success of his men on shore gave Captain Mundy an opportunity of employing the Hydra’s broadside solely on the polacres, from which a constant fire was still kept up on the land party. On gaining the battery, Lieutenant Drury advanced with the seamen and a few marines to the town, leaving the remainder of his people to retain possession of the guns, and to occupy the heights that commanded the decks of the vessels. ”

“ You require the Simotines of Badalona to leave the advanced post on the river Besos, where they are stationed between the enemy and their own houses, families, and every thing that is dear to them, and order them to serve two miles in the rear, without placing others to occupy a post one foot in advance towards the enemy from Badalona. ”

“ The activity and skill which you opposed to the enemy’s progress, when he attempted to open a communication to the eastward, renders to the Spaniards the greatest benefit, and must reduce the enemy’s force in Barcelona very much ”

“ However, observing no symptom of change in their favour, but on the contrary, that every day brings forth some fresh mark of severity towards that unfortunate people, I am inclined to suspect that this must arise from wrong and invidious representations having been made of their conduct. ”

“ My Lord. According to the orders of Vice-Admiral Thornbrough, I have sent the Cyane to Minorca, to receive any instructions or orders that may be there for me; and I take the occasion to represent to your Lordship, that on receiving information on the 30th inst. that the French troops under the Governor of Barcelona, General Lecchi, had taken possession of Mataro but two days before, I immediately shaped a course for that place; but observing a party of French erecting a battery on Mongat, I anchored the ships, and drove them from their work ”

“ His troops were transported by the Spaniards to Cabrera, an island to the southward of Majorca, producing nothing but water and a few wild goats, with no other inhabitants than the garrison of a small fort at the entrance of the haven, and occasionally a few fishermen. General Wedel and his division were more fortunate, they being allowed to return home by sea. ↑ Sir James Athol Wood, in the Pompée 74, was entrusted with the blockade of Toulon, and the command of a squadron employed on the coast of Provence in 1815. ”

“ The Simotines, indeed, had always displayed much spirit and activity, and seldom neglected an opportunity of attacking the enemy; but without the aid of regular troops, and without discipline, they could accomplish no very essential service:
“Hydra, off Barcelona, May 13, 1809. ”

“ Every night since, the boats have been in the same station, under the direction of Mr. Hawkins, and have each night killed some of the patroles, generally cavalry. The enemy have likewise lost a great number of men by the peasantry since we have been at the anchorage.
“I calculate it at 200 in killed, prisoners, wounded, and deserters, and 20 horses; and had I had at first a disposable force of 500 men, with the assistance of the Simotines, I am sure we should have increased the enemy’s loss to five times the number. The German and Italian troops desert hourly ”

“ During the preceding disturbances, occasioned by the disaffection of the lower classes, in the eastern part of Derbyshire, he accepted the command of a troop of yeomanry cavalry, in which he had previously offered to serve as a volunteer. ”

“ Victory of 100 guns; and Goliah 74, on the Mediterranean station.
The Blenheim formed part of the fleet under Sir John Jervis in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, Feb. 14, 1797; on which memorable occasion she had 12 men killed and 45 wounded. The Goliah had the distinguished honor of leading Sir Horatio Nelson’s squadron into action on the glorious 1st Aug. 1798; and during the conflict sustained a loss of 21 killed and 41 wounded [2] . On the 24th Dec. following Lieutenant Mundy was promoted to the rank of Commander, in the Transfer brig of 14 guns. ”