dined with General Goudin, and remained on shore several hours.
A gallant service subsequently performed by the Minstrel’s boats is thus described by Captain Peyton in an official letter to Sir Edward Pellew, dated Sept. 30, 1812:–
“In obedience to your orders to cruise between Denia and Valencia, for the purpose of intercepting supplies going to the enemy, I beg leave to inform yon, that on the evening of the 29th I received information of the enemy having laden six vessels with shells at Valencia for Peniscola; the weather being favorable, I conceived it practicable to bring them out, or destroy them. I despatched the boats under the direction of Lieutenant George Thomas, assisted by Messrs. Linns, Oliver, and Smith, midshipmen, for that purpose, keeping the ship close in shore for their protection. They succeeded in bringing out four of them; a fifth was in their possession, when unfortunately the wind shifted suddenly round to the S.E. in a heavy squall, when she grounded, and I am sorry to add, was retaken, with 3 of our men on board. The bravery evinced by the officers and men employed was very conspicuous. The vessels were moored head and stern to the shore, between two batteries of two 24-pounders and two mortars, with a strong garrison in the Grao[1]; their sails unbent and rudders unshipped. Our loss, with the exception of the prisoners, is only one man wounded, I hope not dangerously.”
We next find Captain Peyton commanding the Thames frigate, and assisting at the reduction of Col de Balaguer, mention of which has been made at p. 227, of Vol. II. Part I. After the raising of the siege of Tarragona, he received a letter from Rear-Admiral Hallowell, of which the following is a copy:–
H.M.S. Malta, off Balaguer, 19th June, 1813.
“Sir,– The order with which the captains, officers, and men of all descriptions, of the sciuadron under my command, engaged in these cooperations with the army upon the coast of Catalonia, and the indefatigable zeul and cheerfulness with which they performed the laborious duties that fell to their province, have been so conspicuous as to entitle them to the highc3t praise on my part.
“That greater advantages to the public cause did not result is to be lamented, but ought not, and will not, I trust, discourage in the smallest degree future exertions. It is yet early in the campaign, and further operations are projected, wherein the same unwearied perseverance, the- ↑ The strand or beach of Valencia, from which that city is distant 2½ miles.
