Santona and Bermeo, which necessarily occupied much time and required great labour, the country being so extremely mountainous, and the roads so bad, as to render carriage by land almost impracticable; the whole of which was happily accomplished without the loss of a man on the part of the British, and only 7 Spaniards wounded. The proceedings of the seamen and marines landed from the squadron, will be detailed in our memoir of the Hon. Captain Aylmer, who commanded the brigade on shore.
Towards the latter end of July, Captain Mends received the following letter from the Junta of Gallicia, dated on the 22d of that month:
“Sir. This Junta have the satisfaction of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of yesterday, in which you have the goodness to communicate the particulars of the expedition to Cantabria, undertaken by yourself and General Porlier, combining with his operations the activity and force of the squadron under your command. He has also made a report to this Junta, of the great attention you have been pleased to shew to his officers and people; thus giving fresh and undeniable proofs of a generous protection and support to the just cause we defend, correspondent with the noble sentiments of your nation, and magnanimity of your Sovereign.
“The Junta of Gallicia, in the name of their government and country, to which they shall make known your distinguished services, offer you in return their warmest acknowledgments, and are anxiously desirous of an opportunity of being able to give you irrefragable proofs of their gratitude, high consideration, and of that respect which you merit.
“Notwithstanding every object of this glorious expedition which was wished, could not at the time be accomplished, still the great advantages of which it has been productive are very evident, by the annoyance it has occasioned to the enemy throughout the whole of these coasts, in opening the port of Santona, and compelling him to withdraw from other points, where his progress would have occasioned greater evils.
“The threatened situation in which this kingdom of Gallicia stands in all its frontiers, does not allow the Junta, at present, completely to avail themselves of all the advantages which you and General Porlier have opened, but of which more favorable circumstances will put them in full possession. But notwithstanding the present delicate state of affairs, the Junta had determined on sending some aid and succours to Santona, which the success of the expedition has rendered unnecessary.
“The Junta particularly congratulate themselves on the prophetic eulogy which you bestow on General Porlier, and boast of having a son in him so worthy of his country, enjoying the greatest satisfaction that his achievements and military conduct have met with your approbation.
“The particular recommendation which you make of the Captain Oslara, is very strong in every sense of the word; and should he have occasion to
