a list of all the members and their relations, holding sinecures, pensions, &c." After this had been modified, it was agreed to by Ministers, and a return has in consequence been lately made to parlia

ment.

Soon after this, his Lordship once more resumed the exercise of his professional talents. Having been appointed to the command of the Imperieuse, formerly La Médée of forty guns, after cruising for some time, he placed himself under the command of Lord Collingwood. The squadron was then employed in blockading the port of Cadiz, and checking the exertions of the Spaniards. But no sooner did that nation evince a wish to throw off the odious yoke of France, than the most cordial assistance was afforded.

It is not in the power of the captain of a frigate to perform much, but Lord Cochrane did every thing that could be affected by a single ship, and appears to have at once merited and acquired the praise of the commander in chief. Happening to be on the coast of Catalonia, he determined to rescue the castle of Mongal, which commands an important post between Barcelona and Gerona, from the common enemy. Accordingly, on the 31st of July, 1808, he carried that place, which was destroyed, as soon as the military stores could be delivered over to the patriots. The following is the account published by authority:

66

Copy of a letter from Vice-admiral Lord Collingwood, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels in the Mediter

ranean, to the Hon. W. W. Pole, dated on board the Ocean at Gibraltar, Aug. 27, 1808.

SIR,

I inclose for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the copy of a letter I have received from Lord Cochrane, captain of his Majesty's ship the Imperieuse, giving an account of the surrender of the Castle of Mongal (a fort on the coast of Catalonia, in possession of the French), to his Majesty's ship under his command, which his lordship had subsequently destroyed, after having delivered the principal part of the military stores to the Spanish militia.

I have great pleasure in transmitting this information to their lordships, as it points out one of the many instances in which his Majesty's ships on the eastern coast of Spain have rendered effectual aid to the patriot Spaniards, in resisting and driving the enemy out of their country, and of the zeal and indefatigable industry with which Captain Lord Cochrane engages in that service,

Captain Otway of the Montague, landed at Rosas Bay, a party of marines in aid of the Spanish peasantry, to oppose a French force which was approaching to attack that fortress on the 23d ult. and obliged the enemy to retire. I am, &c.

COLLINGWOOD.

His Majesty's ship Imperieuse, off Mongal, 31st July, 1808.

MY LORD, The Castle of Mongal, an important post, completely commanding a pass in the road from Barcelona to Gerona, which the French are now besieging, and the only one between those towns occupied by the enemy, surrendered this morning to his Majesty's ship under my command. The Spanish militia behaved admirably, in carrying an outpost on a neighbouring hill. Lieutenant Hone, with the marines, took possession of the castle, which, by means of powder, is now levelled with the ground. The rocks there are blown into the road, which in many other places is rendered impassable to artillery, without a very heavy loss of men, if they determine to repair them.

I inclose to your Lordship a list of the prisoners and of the material part of military stores; all that could be of use to the Spanish militia have been delivered to them.

Right Hon. Lord Collingwood,

Commander in Chief, &c.

I have the honour to be, &c.

COCHRANE.

One captain, one lieutenant, two serjeants, eight corporals (seven wounded), five gunners (two killed), and fifty-four soldiers. Total seventy-one.

Five cannon, eighty muskets, eighty bayonets, eighty cartouches, five hundred cannon-balls, thirteen barrels of powder, and cartridges, &c.

Copy of a letter from Rear-admiral the Honourable Sir Alexander Cochrane, K.B. Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels at the Leeward Islands, to the Hon W. W. Pole, dated on board the Belleisle, St. John's Roads, Antigua, 6th of August, 1808.

SIR,

I have great pleasure in inclosing, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the copy of a letter from Captain Beaver, of his Majesty's ship Acasta, acquainting me with the capture of a very fine French corvette, of sixteen twenty-four pounder carronades and two long sixes. It is my intention to take her into the service, and name her the Pert, until their lordships' pleasure is known. I have the honour to be, &c. ALEX. COCHRANE,

(Signed)

3. THE HON. REAR ADMIRAL

SIR ALEX. FORRESTER COCHRANE,

KNIGHT OF THE BATH, &c.

1

THE subject of this memoir was born about the year 1748. Being intended for the sea service,

which appears to have been a favourite profession in this family, he passed through all the intermediate stations of midshipman, lieutenant, and commander, and in 1782 was made post. In the course of the next year, he married the widow of a baronet, by whom he has had issue three children.

During the interval of peace that followed the conclusion of the American contest, Capt. C. spent much of his time with his family; but no sooner did a new war with France take place, than he offered his services, and was immediately employed.

In 1800, we find Captain Cochrane serving on board the fleet commanded by Admiral, now Lord Keith. Having anchored before the port of Cadiz, on the 6th of October, Don Thomas de Morla, the governor, immediately addressed a letter to the British commanders by sea and land, in which he was pleased to express his surprise at the arrival of a hostile squadron during the prevalence of a pestilential disease, which, according to him, carried off thousands of victims, and threatened not to suspend its ravages until it had cut off all those who had hitherto escaped.

"I entertain too exalted an opinion of the English people, and of you in particular," adds he, "to think that you would wish to render our condition more deplorable. However, if in consequence of the orders your Excellency has received, you are inclined to attract the execration of all nations, to cover yourself with disgrace in the eyes of the whole universe, by oppressing the unfortunate, and attacking those who are supposed to be incapable of defence; I declare to you, that the garrison under my

orders, accustomed to behold death with a serene countenance, and to brave dangers much greater than all the perils of war, know how to exhibit a resistance which shall not terminate but with their entire destruction. I hope," continues the gallant general," that the answers of your Excellencies will inform me, whether I am to speak the language of consolation to the unfortunate inhabitants, or whether I am to rouse them to indignation and revenge."

To this noble letter, worthy of the Spanish name, in 1808, and far more analogous to the character of the nation, at the present than at the period here alluded to, a joint reply was made by Sir Ralph Abercromby and Lord Keith, in which, after expressing great compassion for the deplorable state of the city of Cadiz, they observed,

"to use

"That a number of his Catholic Majesty's vessels were armed, in order to join the naval forces of the French, and to be employed in prolonging the troubles which afflict all the nations of Europe, disturb public order, and destroy the happiness of individuals. We have received orders from our sovereign," added they, every effort to defeat the projects of the common enemy, by endeavouring to take and destroy the ships of war which are in the harbour and arsenal of Cadiz. The number of troops entrusted to our command leaves but little doubt as to the success of the enterprise. We are not, however, disposed to multiply unnecessarily the evils inseparable from war. Should your Excellency therefore consent to give up to us the vessels armed or arming, in order to act against our king, and to prolong the misfortunes of neighbouring nations, your crews and officers shall be at liberty, and our fleet shall withdraw; otherwise, we must act conformably to the orders which have been given to us, and your Excellency cannot attribute to any other than yourself, the additional evils which you fear."