[1] In January 1812 Merope was part of a squadron under Captain Edward Codrington in Blake operating along the north-east coast of Spain in support of Spanish forces during and after the siege of Tarragona (1811).

Codrington left Merope and Sparrowhawk at Villa Nueva to assist General Joaquín Ibáñez Cuevas, Baron d'Eroles, who planned to march on Tarragona.

Around 20 January during a battle for Villa Suca, French dragoons captured Flin, Commander James Pringle of Sparrowhawk, and Lieutenant Cattle of Blake while they were on the beach near Salon.

[2] On 29 January Codrington sent Curacoa, Merope, and Rainbow to Mataró to assist the defenders there against a French force marching from Barcelona.

The next day the three vessels observed a French force advancing on Mataró and fired on it near San Juan de Vilasar.

[3] In July 1812 Commander John Charles Gawen Roberts recommissioned Merope for patrolling the Spanish coast.