Early in July, 1808, the Commander-in-Chief received a despatch from the patriotic inhabitants of Figueiras, containing a request for assistance; in consequence of which he immediately sent the Alfred, with a detachment of marines from the squadron, to secure that post, and confer with the constituted authorities upon the best means of carrying into effect the virtuous, manly, and energetic efforts at that time generally manifested throughout the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, for the purpose of restoring the lawful governments, and emancipating those countries from French oppression. On the 9th of that month, Captain Bligh landed at the head of 500 marines, and by his zeal and ability rendered the place tenable till the arrival of the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley in Mondego Bay, where he assisted at its debarkation, with great advantages of local knowledge. He also superintended the landing of the different brigades which afterwards arrived under the Brigadier-Generals Anstruther and Acland; the former near Peniche, the latter at Maceira; and was in the glorious battle fought at Vimeira Aug. 21, on which occasion the enemy lost nearly 4,000 men, besides 21 pieces of cannon; while the British had only 720 men killed, wounded, and missing. This event, as is well known, led to the evacuation of Portugal by the French troops, and the surrender of the Russian squadron, which had been so long blocked up in the Tagus[1], and with which Captain Bligh soon after returned to England.
On the 14th Jan. 1809, Captain Bligh was appointed pro tempore to the Revenge, 74; in which ship, being on his way to join the squadron stationed off l’Orient, he fell in with and was chased by eight French line-of-battle ships, two frigates, and a brig. He, however, succeeded in forming a junction with Sir John P. Beresford, whose spirited conduct in daring them to battle, has already been noticed at p. 667. On the 28th Feb., Captain Bligh removed into the Valiant, another third-rate, employed under Rear-Admiral Stopford in the blockade of Basque Roads, to which anchorage the enemy had retired; and from whence a successful attack was made upon them by a division of Lord Gambier’s fleet, preceded by fire vessels, in the ensuing month of April.
