Transcriber’s Note: Sidenotes are shown in UPPER-CASE and enclosed in ♦DIAMOND SYMBOLS♦; italic text is enclosed in _underscores_. Other notes will be found at the end of this eBook. HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR. “Unto thee “Let thine own times as an old story be.” DONNE. BY ROBERT SOUTHEY, ESQ. LL.D. POET LAUREATE, HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY, OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY OF HISTORY, OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF THE NETHERLANDS, OF THE CYMMRODORION, OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC. A NEW EDITION. _IN SIX VOLUMES._ VOL. V. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET. MDCCCXXXVII. Ἱστορίας γὰρ ἐὰν ἀφέλῃ τις τὸ διὰ τί, καὶ πῶς, καὶ τίνος χάριν ἐπράχθη, καὶ τὸ πραχθὲν πότερα εὔλογον ἔσχε τὸ τέλος, τὸ καταλειπόμενον αὐτῆς ἀγώνισμα μὲν, μάθημα δὲ οὐ γίγνεται· καὶ παραυτίκα μὲν τέρπει, πρὸς δὲ τὸ μέλλον οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ τὸ παράπαν. POLYBIUS, lib. iii. sect. 31. CONTENTS OF THE FIFTH VOLUME. Page CHAPTER XXXIII. Marshal Macdonald succeeds Augereau in Catalonia 1 Siege of Mequinenza 2 Mequinenza taken 4 Lili appointed to the command in Tortosa 4 Tortosa 5 Preparations for the siege of that city 6 The enemy appear before it 7 O’Donell visits the city 8 Macdonald enters the plain of Tarragona 9 Affair near Tarragona 10 Macdonald retires 10 O’Donell surprises the enemy at La Bisbal 11 The enemy’s batteries on the coast destroyed 15 Captured provisions purchased for the French in Barcelona 15 Lili’s preparations for defence 16 Ferdinand’s birthday celebrated in Tortosa 17 Conduct of the French general concerning Marshal Soult’s decree 18 Successes of Eroles 20 Edict against the Junta of Aragon 22 Molina de Aragon burnt by the French 23 Bassecourt takes the command in Valencia 24 Defeat of the Valencians at Ulldecona 25 Captain Fane taken at Palamos 26 Trenches opened before Tortosa 27 O’Donell’s plan for relieving it 28