1794 (Dec 9) Part letter (first page removed) to London, evidently written in Flanders but posted at Harwich with a curved "HARWICH" handstamp, charged 4d. The letter includes "It was reported Lord Moira had again resigned his command .... I see no great likelihood of our getting into winter quarters .... we have had & continue to have our own share of the business. This said honor of commanding a brigade gives me no less to do than I formerly had, I have rode 30 & 40 miles every day for these 8 days past exclusive of other duties".

1803 (Aug 16) Entire letter from Nimes to London with oval "Ship Lre / (crown) / GRAVESEND" and arrival datestamps, sent after the resumption of hostilities between France and England in May 1803. The French stopped direct mails to England in June though some mails were exchanged under a flag of truce in July, and some ship letter mails evidently continued to get through as shown by this letter. The letter includes "I have a strong hope that the occasion I now embrace offers greater certainly than usual to the fate of my letter .... every letter that was calculated to harass seems to have reached its destination. All those which were calculated to give you satisfaction have been suppressed. This is the more unaccountable as for some time there has been a strong notice stuck up at the Post Office assuring all the English that the letters go regularly". Very unusual.

1809 (Jan 9) Entire letter from Henry Buckley in Cadiz, to his parents in Saddleworth with circular "FALMOUTH PKT LRE", charged 2/9. The letter includes "preparations for war is the only thing that is carrying on here, it has been discovered that the country was completely sold to the French by some traitors at the head of affairs some of which are not in confinement and I hope they will all be found out and put to death. There are no traitors amongst the lower class of people and were they properly led Bonaparte with all his force could not conquer Spain, nor do I yet believe that he can do it. He has again got possession of Madrid but how did he get it; he bought it; it is said the French marched in without any defence being made by the inhabitants which is accounted for in this way, the Governor sold it and did not give the people arms to defend themselves with ..... this comes by the Lion frigate and it is said Don Pedro Cerallos a Spanish messenger to the Court of London is going in her".

1809 (Apr 15) Entire letter from George Cranstoun in Cadiz to his brother in Edinburgh, with "FALMOUTH / PACKET LETTER", charged 2/11. The letter includes "at this moment there is not the smallest dread of the French penetrating into this province. Cuesta would have completely defeated the enemy at Medellin had it not been for three regiments of cavalry which deserted their post at the conclusion of the battle and threw the whole army into confusion .... we are daily receiving glorious accounts from the north of Spain and we expect to hear of the complete surrender of Soult at Oporto ....". An interesting letter.

1809 (Oct.) Part letter (first page missing) from Lt. J. Gordon of the 28th Regt., to his sister in Dublin, handstamped "FALMOUTH / PACKET LETTER", charged 2/8. Gordon writes "this town is in the province of Estramadura - the most advanced post of the infantry of the army. Head Quarters are at Badajos a frontier town in Spain. Lord Wellington is very unwell, reports of his going to England for the recovery of his health. Direct to Lieut Gordon, 2nd Bn, 28th Regt Army under Lord Wellington, Spain. The postage must be paid".

1d Concession Rate. 1811 (Apr 14) Entire letter written from Galongas to Scotland prepaid at the soldiers 1d concession rate, the front signed by J. Ross, Lt. Col., the reverse endorsed "Sent by David Robertson soldier 1st Battn 52nd Regt Light Infantry", with red "FALMOUTH" handstamp and Edinburgh arrival datestamp. The letter includes "Our division was still in front and is now the furthest in Spain. 31 Days we followed them, we engaged them 5 times and beat them, the last time was on third April, they had 20,000 and we only 7000 including Portugals in our Division. I had a very narrow escape that day, our company and two men charged a howitzer and took it. The French Cavalry charged us in order to retake it again, we were extended in files and were obliged to retire to a wall 300 yards in rear for cover, I was amongst the last getting away, there was three of them after me but I got no hurt by them, I was much obliged to my heels for being nimble that day. They lost a very great number on their retreat ....". A scarce soldiers rate letter from Spain with good content, minor edge wear and splitting at left edge, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 95. (Image1)

1811 (May 14) Entire letter from General MacKinnon at Nova de Mar to his wife in Sidmouth with "LISBON / F" packet datestamp of Falmouth in green, a Sidmouth mileage mark applied upon redirection to Cheltenham. MacKinnon's letter includes "Tomorrow we start for Badajoz, a march of two hundred miles. I yesterday dined with Lord Wellington, he is for turning the French out of Spain ..... I shall tell you the conversation I had with Pakenham who has been constantly about Lord Wellingtons person in his official situation .... In 11 days we shall be at Campo Maier near Badajoz, that very place where I joined the Brigade in Dec. 1809". General MacKinnon was killed at Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812. A little splitting at folds, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 95. (Image1)

Siege of Tarifa. 1812 (Apr 18) Entire letter to England written by Captain Mitchell, Royal Artillery, from Tarifa (south of Cadiz), posted in Portsmouth. The letter includes "We have just been ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to be relieved from Cadiz and to return to Gibraltar as it had been determined that the place should be dependent on Lord Wellington and therefore garrisoned by a detachment from his army. At first we were in hourly expectation of the troops to relieve us but find now that the General in Cadiz cannot spare them at present, and that two months or even six may perhaps elapse ere they arrive ..... we may encourage a hope that the siege of Cadiz will be raised. This event may once more call us into action and will probably cause our final removal". Both Tarifa and Cadiz were besieged by the French in 1812, the towns being supplied from the sea. Ex Willcocks Collection.

1d Concession Rate. 1812 (Apr 27) Entire letter from Alburgria, Spain, sent at the 1d soldiers rate to Scotland with red "FALMOUTH" and Edinburgh datestamp, signed by Lt. Col. Manners, the reverse endorsed "From Wm Ross Sergeant 74th Regiment". The excellent contents, written over three large pages, provide a virtually non-stop account of the British advance towards Badajoz, battles fought, the killed and wounded, that have occurred since the fall of Ciudad Rodrigo, including the storming of Fort Picurina - "stormed by the covering party of the 3rd Division, our Regt. suffered much in killed and wounded on that night, the place is much stronger than was expected with a deep trench, the walls of the fort in most places 30 foot in height .... in the place was 500 men, about 300 prisoners, the rest was put to the bayonet". The subsequent attack on the citadel is described - "on the night of the 6th April ..... the 3rd Division was to scale the citadel which the enemy expects to keep three days after the town was carried, the 4th Light Division was to enter by the breach, the 3rd Division fell in ..... the attack was to be made at 10 o'clock at night, in our approach the enemy threw out fire balls, instantly on observing the army advancing opened all the guns they could bear on us. The Division rushed on and got under their guns but they greatly annoyed us with their musketry from the walls, the men employed in carrying the ladder not being able to keep up with the Regiment exposed us for a long time to the enemys fire, at last we gained our object in getting possession of the castle. The French soldiers stood by their guns until they were put to the bayonet ..... the killed & wounded on both sides was dreadful". Details of further attacks follow, and instructions on how to address a reply ensuring only 1d is paid to the Post Office. A scarce soldiers rate letter from Spain with exceptional content. Photo on Page 95. (Image1)

1813 (Oct 8) Entire letter from "Camp in front of Andaye in France" which includes "Our army has entered France. We attacked the position of the enemy on the River Bidasson yesterday morning, our infantry fought hard in the most gallant manner and forded the river in spite of the enemys entrenchments which was all carried on as I took up a position at this place", the reverse inscribed "John Michell, Captn Royal Artillery, Spain". Addressed to his wife in Portsmouth with green circular "FALMOUTH PACKT LRE", charged 2/2.