On the 3rd the British and Portuguese troops, commanded by Lord Wellington, defeated the French, commanded by General Messena, near Almeida, and on the 5th the same allied army defeated the French again, with great slaughter. On the 16th the combined armies of British, Spanish, and Portuguese, commanded by Sir William Beresford, defeated the French army, commanded by General Soult, at Alboera, near Badajos.

From the “Life and Times of Palmerston” we learn that in the first week of May the battle of Fuentes d’Onore was fought. The loss on both sides was considerable. The British had 200 killed, 1,208 wounded, and 294 missing. It is estimated that not fewer than 5,000 French soldiers were put hors de combat. Massena in his despatches claimed a victory, though his right to do so is by no means clear. He came to relieve Almeida, but he abandoned that object and left the British in possession of the ground from which he had attempted to drive them. After this battle Massena resigned the command of the army of Portugal, and was succeeded by Marmont.

A harder fought battle was that of Albuera, on the 16th May, when Soult came up with a force superior to the allies in numbers but inferior in discipline and daring. Had they been other than British soldiers opposed to him his victory would have been complete. As it was they kept pressing and firing as they advanced, and cheering only as British soldiers can cheer, till they drove the French up the furthest edge of the hill. In vain, says Sir W. Napier, did their reserves, joining with the struggling multitude, endeavour to sustain the fight: their efforts only increased the inemediable confusion, and the mighty mass at length giving way, like a loosened cliff, went headlong down the ascent. The rain flowed after in streams discoloured with blood, and 1,800 unwounded men, the remnant of 6,000 unconquerable British soldiers stood triumphant on the fatal field (“Life and Times of Palmerston”.) Many Oldhamers were at that battle.

Oldham has a special interest in this battle. These was hardly an Oldham pensioner of that period who had not been at Albuera, Badajos, or Salamanca. We learn (Townend) that “Lord Beresford having been compelled by the approach of Soult with the French army to raise the siege of Badajos, resolved to make a stand at the village of Albuera, between Badajos and Seville. His army amounted to 30,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry, but of these three-fourths were Spanish, Portuguese, and German troops. They had 38 guns. Soult had under his command nearly 20,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry, veteran troops, supported by 56 pieces of artillery. The battle commenced May 16th, 1811, as here stated, and after a terrific contest, in which victory wavered from one side to the other, the French were defeated. They lost 8,000, while the allies lost 7,000. The brunt of the action was borne by the English, who had only 1,500 unwounded men left, the remnant of 6,000 unconquerable British Soldiers.”

This month concluded with wet cold weather.

June 8th – A vilont storm came on of rain and hail, attended with tremendous loud cracks of thunder.

June 11th – Was intered Betty, second wife of Butterworth, weaver, of Top o’th’Moor, late of Maygate-lane.

June 19th – Died William Lee, of Chaderton Fold. He was formerly cowman to Sir Watts Horton, Bart., of Chaderton Hall. He had been a long time afflicted with rumatism. His age about 60 years.

June 9th – Last night Jesse Whitworth, of Bughard Hole, Oldham, rag gatherer, was robbed on the publick highway, High Ardwick, Manchester, of a quantity of fustian fents by one Benjamin Rushton, who was taken up the day following, and commited to the New Bailey for trial.

June 19th – Deal. This day arrived here the San Domingo, with Sir Richard John Strachan on board.

June 23rd – For several days extreem cold and severe frost in the nights, and very little sun in the day.

June 24th – This day David Dunkerley, John Stott, both of Oldham, were commited to the New Bayley on a charge of stealing ducks from Werneth Hall.

This month concluded with very fine hay weather, and the crops of hay in general where heavey.

July 2nd – Died John Whitehead, of Top-o’-th-Moor; disorder, consumption.

July 8th – A male child, 3 years old, of John Lees, of Fog-lane, was drowned.

July 13th – Died, John Hooton, the gardener at Chaderton Hall. He had been a long time sick.

July 14th – Died, Edmund Cowper, brickmaker, of near Coldhurst.

July 15th – Was married John Lees of North Moor, brickmaker. They were brother and sister in law, she widdow of the late Thomas Lees, brother of the above John Lees. The happy couple were nearly 60 years each.

July 18th – James Day, a collior, was killed by the fire damp at coalpit in Werneth. He lived in Newton-lane, and has left a wife and 5 small children.

At Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead, males and females, 36,369, decreased at Newcastle in the last 10 years, 707; Birmingham, 70,037 souls; Liverpool (exclusive of 7,000 seamen), 94,376 souls, increase last 10 years, 17,000; increased houses, 4,143.

July 24th – Manchester sessions commenced, when Benjamin Buston, for robing Jesse Whitworth, 12 months’ imprisonment, and no bill against David Dunkerley, John Stott, &c.

A short time since Edmund Schofield entered tennant at the King’s Head Public House, Oldham, William Booth, the old tennant having retired from public business.

In the conclusion of this month several farmers cut a second crop of grass, and the weather being fine, it was well got in. The crops of corn look exceedingly well. All sorts of trade is daily worse and worse, and especially hatting and weaving, and a deal of familys are in a state of actual starvation. Great numbers of weavers of lyght goods and hatters without work, and in that state lamentable must be their situation.

The industrial depression still continued for many years, with only short periods of improvement.

Since Queen Elizabeth had styled the hatters “Gentlemen Journeymen Hatters,” they had been a proud lot indeed, and would not associate with common people. Such times as these, however, must have subdued their proud spirit.

Aug 6th – A large quantity of hay belonging to Mr. Jacob Radcliff, of Whittaker Fold, Chadderton, was discovered to be on fire. Great assistance and a fire engine was immediately obtained, but the hay was in a French barn, and was consumed to ashes. Fortunately, the building escaped the ravages of the flames. The damage is supposed to be above £100. The reason of its firing was owing to its being put together before it was properly dryed.