THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 RIVERSIDE
 
 A HISTORY OF THE 
 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN DRINKWATER. 
 
 [Frontispiece.
 
 7^ ■ 
 
 A HISTORY OF THE 
 
 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR 
 
 1779— 1783 
 
 WITH A DESCRIPTION AND ACCOUNT OF 
 THAT GARRISON FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES 
 
 BY JOHN DRINKWATER i5et^ane 
 
 CAPTAIN IN THE LATE SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT 
 OR ROYAL MANCHESTER VOLUNTEERS 
 
 NEW EDITION 
 
 " Volatile ferrum 
 Spargitur, arva nova Neptiinia csede rubescunt." 
 
 ViRG. 
 
 LONDON 
 JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 
 
 1905
 
 PRINTED BY 
 
 HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, I.D., 
 
 LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
 
 TO 
 
 THE KING 
 
 Sir, 
 
 When I solicited the honour of being permitted 
 to place under Your Majesty's protection the following 
 Work, I was not impressed with the idea, that the 
 excellence of the composition, but that the importance 
 of the subject, might in some degree entitle it to 
 that distinction. The History of an Event which 
 reflects so much lustre on Your Majesty's Arms, 
 could not, I apprehended, however feeble the execu- 
 tion, so properly appear under any other auspices. 
 
 That Your Majesty may never be less faithfully 
 served, nor less successful against the enemies of 
 Your Crown and People, is the sincere and fervent 
 wish of 
 
 Your Majesty's 
 
 Much obliged and most devoted 
 Subject and Servant, 
 
 JOHN DRINKWATER. 
 
 13th September, 1785.
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION 
 
 The following History (as I have presumed to call 
 it) is compiled from observations daily noted down 
 upon the spot, for my own satisfaction and improve- 
 ment, assisted by the information and remarks of 
 several respectable characters, who also were eye- 
 witnesses of the transactions therein recorded. 
 
 Disappointed in my expectations of seeing this 
 subject undertaken by an abler pen, nothing less 
 than a conviction that an accurate detail of this 
 extraordinary Siege might be useful, both in a military 
 and historical view, could have induced me, at this 
 late period, to publish. 
 
 In the prosecution of this design, one principal 
 difficulty has occurred. The work is addressed to 
 two classes of Readers : those whose principal object 
 in the perusal of it was entertainment, I apprehended, 
 might find the relation too minute and circumstantial ; 
 and that, from the insertion of many particulars, which 
 those of the Military Profession would greatly blame 
 an author for presuming to curtail or omit. 
 
 With the former, it is hoped that the necessary 
 connection of some events (which at first may appear 
 trivial) with the great business of the History, will 
 be some apolog}' ; and I have endeavoured to diversify 
 the narrative, by such Anecdotes and Observations
 
 viii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION 
 
 as will occasionally relieve or awaken the attention. 
 To the latter I shall not attempt any apology. The 
 late Siege of Gibraltar afforded many instances of very 
 singular exertions in the Art of Attack and Defence, 
 the minutiae of which cannot be without their utility 
 to those Officers who make a science of their pro- 
 fession ; and they must be sensible, that without 
 pointed exactness, this design could not have been 
 accomplished. In short, it must be remembered, that 
 the History of this Siege is not that of a Month, or 
 of a Year, but that it embraces a period of near Four 
 Years, exhibiting a series of operations perhaps 
 unparalleled. 
 
 To Major Vallotton, the Governor's first aide-de- 
 camp, and Lieutenant Holloway, aide-de-camp to the 
 Chief Engineer, I have particular pleasure in this 
 opportunity of returning thanks for the favour of 
 many kind communications ; also to other Officers 
 of Rank, whose names I have not their permission 
 to insert. I must also acknowledge having derived 
 considerable assistance, in the two introductory 
 chapters, from the History of the Herculean Straits. 
 Great additions have, however, been introduced ; and 
 I flatter myself upon the whole, that those Chapters 
 will not prove an unacceptable part of the Work, since 
 they will render it as complete a General History of 
 Gibraltar as most readers will require.
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN DRINKWATER ...... Froutispitce 
 
 Facing page 
 GIBRALTAR LOOKING WEST ....... 26 
 
 GENERAL ELIOTT (AFTERWARDS LORD HEATHFIELD) . . .48 
 
 ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE BRYDGES RODNEY . . . . -9^ 
 
 GIBRALTAR LOOKING EAST ....... II6 
 
 LARBOARD AND STARBOARD SIDES OF A BATTERING SHIP, WITH A VIEW 
 
 OF ALGEZIRAS AND PART OF THE COMBINED FLEETS . . . 266 
 
 A VIEW OF THE GRAND ATTACK UPON GIBRALTAR, SEPTEMBER 13, 1782 302 
 
 ADMIRAL THE EARL HOWE, K.G. ...... 324
 
 MEMOIR OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES OF 
 COLONEL DRINKWATER 
 
 One of the Comptrollers of Army Accounts 
 
 DRAWN UP BY HiMSELF 
 
 In 1777, Colonel Drinkwater entered the Army in the 
 72nd Regiment, or Royal Manchester Volunteers, a 
 Corps of 1,000 men, raised, in three months, at 
 the sole expense of the Town of that name, in support 
 of the Government during the American War ; and 
 with this Regiment he proceeded to Gibraltar in the 
 Summer of 1778, and served with it during the 
 memorable Blockade, Bombardment, and Siege of 
 that Garrison. 
 
 At the Peace of 1783, the 72nd Regiment was dis- 
 banded ; but before that Event took place. Colonel 
 Drinkwater purchased a company. On being placed 
 on Half Pay, he published a History of the Siege 
 of Gibraltar, which His late most Excellent Majesty 
 George III. was pleased to receive under His 
 immediate Patronage, and ever afterwards graciously 
 honoured Colonel Drinkwater by his particular notice. 
 Having completed this work, Colonel Drinkwater 
 paid the regulated Price to return on active Service, 
 and in 1787 joined the 2nd Battalion of the ist or 
 Royal Regiment of Foot, then quartered in his old 
 Garrison at Gibraltar. 
 
 During his second residence at Gibraltar, Colonel 
 Drinkwater suggested and carried into effect the
 
 xii MEMOIR OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 measures necessary for the establishment of a Garrison 
 Library, which now consists of a numerous and 
 highly valuable Collection of Literature, on all 
 subjects and in most languages, and which has since 
 become the Model for forming similar Establishments 
 in many other British foreign Garrisons. 
 
 Hostilities with Revolutionary France taking place 
 in 1793, the Royal Regiment was detached with other 
 Troops to reinforce Toulon, recently occupied by 
 the coalesced Powers ; and General O'Hara being 
 appointed Governor of that Fortress, the General 
 selected Colonel Drinkwater to officiate as his 
 MiHtary Secretary ; and he continued to act in that 
 situation under General O'Hara's Successor, Sir 
 David Dundas ; and also with Sir Charles Stuart, 
 until Corsica was annexed to the British Dominions ; 
 when Colonel Drinkwater was appointed Secretary 
 of the Military Department in Corsica, in which 
 capacity, having under his charge all the Military 
 and Extraordinary Expenditure of that Service, he 
 acted until Corsica was given up in October, 1796. 
 
 On the Evacuation of Corsica, the Viceroy, Sir 
 Gilbert Elliot (afterwards created Earl of Minto), 
 returned by Sea to England ; and Colonel Drinkwater 
 accompanying His Excellency on that occasion, was 
 so fortunate as to be present in the brilliant Action 
 of Admiral Sir John Jervis's Squadron with the 
 Spanish Fleet off Cape St. Vincent, in February, 
 1797 — the Particulars of which (to do honour to his 
 friend Commodore Nelson's distinguished conduct in 
 that Engagement) Colonel Drinkwater afterwards 
 published. 
 
 Colonel Drinkwater's official situation at Toulon 
 having given him an intimate acquaintance with the 
 public transactions on that Service, he had been 
 deputed in 1794, by His Majesty's Commissioners
 
 OF COLONEL DRINKWATER xiii 
 
 Lords Hood and Minto, to Leghorn, in order to 
 receive and investigate the numerous claims of the 
 Toulonese, for payment of Articles supplied to the 
 Coalesced Powers at Toulon. On that occasion, 
 demands to the extent of nearly ;^5o,ooo were received 
 by him ; but having discovered, in these claims, much 
 imposition and fraud. Colonel Drinkwater declined 
 proceeding in the duties of his Mission, and withdrew 
 from Leghorn ; which step eventually led to the 
 British Government being saved the Payment of 
 those Demands, Similar knowledge of the general 
 Expenditure in Corsica, led also to Colonel Drink- 
 water's being urged to superintend the arrangement 
 and settlement of the Public Accounts for that 
 Service, to which he ultimately assented ; though 
 not without great reluctance, since, to undertake this 
 duty, he felt it to be necessary, in justice to his 
 Regiment, to retire on Half Pay. 
 
 This sacrifice was, however, immediately noticed by 
 Mr. Pitt (then at the head of H.M. Government, and 
 to whom Colonel Drinkwater had been particularly 
 introduced by Lord Minto) in the appointment of 
 Colonel Drinkwater to be Commissary-General of 
 Accounts to the Army employed on the Expedition 
 to Holland in 1799, the Accounts of which Service, 
 both of Cash as well as of Provisions, Colonel 
 Drinkwater arranged for final Audit. Whilst occupied 
 in these Duties, Colonel Drinkwater was pressed by 
 Mr. Pitt to act as First Commissioner of the Board, 
 sent to the West Indies in 1800, to investigate the 
 Military and other Expenditure in that Quarter, 
 which, as well as two other offers made him by the 
 late Earl of Buckinghamshire, of Offices of consider- 
 able Trust and Respectability, he declined accepting 
 on account of his being then married and having 
 a young family.
 
 xiv MEMOIR OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 On the renewal of Hostilities with France in 1803, 
 Colonel Drinkwater deemed it his duty to take charge 
 of the Volunteer Corps of his Parish (Ealing, Middle- 
 sex), and he had afterwards the Rank of Colonel 
 given him, with the Command of a Brigade, embracing 
 the Corps of Kensington and those of the inter- 
 mediate Parishes between London and Twickenham. 
 
 In 1805, Colonel Drinkwater was named, with 
 General Sir Hildebrand Oakes, etc., to be a member 
 of the Parliamentary Commission of Military Inquiry; 
 and on Sir Hildebrand's being appointed Governor 
 of Malta, succeeded that distinguished Officer in the 
 Chair of that Board ; which Colonel Drinkwater 
 occupied for upwards of Five Years ; afifording a daily 
 and unremitting attention to the duties of that im- 
 portant and laborious investigation. On the change 
 of Administration in 1807, Colonel Drinkwater was 
 offered the Situation of Under Secretary of State in 
 the War and Colonial Department, of which he 
 thought proper to decline the acceptance, as also of 
 the offer of Knighthood. Colonel Drinkwater con- 
 tinued to preside at the Military Board of Inquiry 
 until 181 1, when His present Majesty was most 
 graciously pleased to select him as a fit person to 
 succeed Sir Willoughby Gordon in the charge of the 
 Commissariat Department, which, however, was 
 finally entrusted to Mr. Herries, the private Secretary 
 of the then Prime Minister (Mr. Perceval), and 
 Colonel Drinkwater was appointed to be one of the 
 Comptrollers of Army Accounts, in which Office he 
 has now acted upwards of Twelve Years, embracing 
 the most pressing Period of the late unparalleled 
 War. 
 
 London, 
 March, 1824.
 
 ADDITIONAL NOTE AS TO COLONEL 
 DRINKWATER 
 
 Contributed by his Grandson, C. E. Malden 
 
 Colonel Drinkwater continued to hold the office of 
 Comptroller of Army Accounts until its abolition in 
 1835, when he retired on a pension. 
 
 He was born in 1762, and was the son of a 
 medical man practising in Salford. 
 
 In 1799, he married Eleanor, daughter of Charles 
 Congleton. In 1801, he was appointed Equerry to 
 H.R.H. the Duke of Kent. 
 
 In 1837, he took the additional surname of Bethune, 
 upon his wife succeeding to the Scotch property of 
 her brother, G. Congleton-Bethune. 
 
 He died in 1844 at his residence, Thorncroft, 
 Leatherhead. Besides a son and a daughter who 
 died in his lifetime, he left two sons and three 
 daughters surviving : viz. John Elliot, Barrister-at- 
 Law of the Middle Temple, late Counsel to the Home 
 Office, and Legal Member of the Supreme Council 
 of India ; Charles Ramsa}^, an Admiral in the Royal 
 Navy, and C.B. ; Eleanor, wife of the Rev. William 
 T. Hadow, Rector of Haseley, Warwickshire; Mary, 
 wife of N. Uniacke, of Mount Uniacke, Co. Cork ; and 
 Georgina, wife of Henry Maiden, formerly Fellow of 
 Trinity College, Cambridge, and Professor of Greek 
 in University College, London.
 
 A HISTORY 
 
 SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 Gibraltar is situated in Andalusia, the most southern 
 province of Spain, The Rock is 7 miles in circum- 
 ference, forming a promontory 3 miles long ; and is 
 joined to the continent by an isthmus of low sand : 
 the southern extremity lies in 36° 2' 30'^ N. lat, and 
 in 5° 15' W. long, from the meridian of London. 
 
 Historians, from very early periods, have noticed 
 Gibraltar, or Mons Calpe, by a well-known mytho- 
 logical fiction, denominating it, and Mons Abyla, on 
 the opposite coast of Africa, the Pillars of Hercules. 
 It does not, however, appear that the hill was ever 
 inhabited by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, or 
 Romans, who, in the first ages of navigation, visited 
 the bay, and built cities in its neighbourhood ; or that 
 it ever engaged the attention of those intrepid and 
 successful barbarians who so violently subverted the 
 Roman empire, and established a new government in 
 Spain. The period when it began to be remarked 
 for the natural strength of its situation, seems well 
 ascertained to be in the beginning of the eighth 
 century, when the Saracens (then become a powerful
 
 2 THE SARACEN EMPIRE [Chap. 1 
 
 nation in the east, and along the coast of Africa) 
 invaded Spain, and soon after made themselves 
 masters of the whole country. 
 
 The Gothic kingdom, which had existed in Spain 
 for 300 years, was, previous to the invasion of the 
 Saracens, distracted with intestine divisions : the 
 nation in general were become effeminate, totally 
 neglecting the military discipline of their ancestors; 
 and their monarch Roderic, a profligate prince, not 
 a little accelerated their ruin by ravishing the daughter 
 of Count Julian, a nobleman of great wealth and 
 influence, and governor of Ceuta, in Africa. Count 
 Julian, to avenge the dishonour done to his family, 
 combined with other discontented chiefs, who had 
 long complained, and were ripe for a revolt. The 
 tyrant was, however, too powerful for whatever 
 opposition they alone could raise ; the count, therefore, 
 secretly retired with his family into Africa, and ac- 
 quainting Mousa (the Saracen governor of the western 
 provinces) with the divided state of the empire, 
 promised, if he would attempt to dethrone Roderic, to 
 assist him with his own interest, and that of his friends. 
 
 Mousa, cautious and prudent, communicated the 
 project to his sovereign the Caliph Al Walid Ebn 
 Abdalmalic, who agreed to try the practicability of it ; 
 and, to inspect more accurately the state of affairs, sent 
 over a small detachment. One hundred horse, and 400 
 foot, were accordingly embarked in the year 711, under 
 the command of Tarif Ebn Zarca, attended by Count 
 Julian, and other Gothic noblemen ; this small force 
 soon passed the Herculean Straits, and landed on the 
 coast near the present town of Algeziras, where, 
 finding no opposition, and the country almost defence- 
 less, the Saracen general ravaged the neighbouring 
 towns, and returned laden with spoils, to report the 
 success of his first expedition.
 
 725] GIBEL-TARIF 3 
 
 Mousa, elated with the flattering prospect, the 
 following year assembled an army of 12,000 men, and 
 Tarif was appointed to the chief command. Having 
 supplied himself with provisions and stores, Tarif 
 once more embarked on the rapid Strait, and landed 
 on the isthmus between Mons Calpe and the continent. 
 The object of this invasion being of a more serious 
 nature than that of the former, he determined to 
 secure a communication with Africa, by establishing 
 a post on the coast ; and, duly estimating the strong 
 natural situation of Mons Calpe, gave orders to erect 
 a castle on the face of the hill, which might answer 
 the original purpose, and also cover his retreat, in 
 case he should be unfortunate in his future operations. 
 The superior part of this once magnificent pile at 
 present remains ; and, from an inscription discovered 
 over the principal gate, before it was pulled down, 
 the period of its being finished is ascertained to be 
 about the year of our Lord 725. 
 
 Tarif, leaving a garrison at the foot of Mons Calpe 
 (which was now called by the Saracens, in compliment 
 to their general, Gibel-Tarif, or the mountain of Tarif, 
 and thence Gibraltar), marched into the country, and 
 surprised many towns, amongst which was Heraclea, 
 or Carteia, situated on the coast of the bay, about 
 four miles distant from Gibel-Tarif 
 
 King Roderic, receiving intelligence of Tarifs 
 approach, assembled a numerous body of troops to 
 oppose his progress. Both armies met, after several 
 skirmishes, near Xeres, in Andalusia, and a bloody 
 conflict ensued. The victory was for a long time 
 doubtful ; but the Gothic army being raw and un- 
 disciplined, and part disaffected and joining the 
 Saracens, Tarif at length prevailed, and by this 
 victory was soon in possession of the whole kingdom. 
 
 The Goths, or Spaniards, as we will now call them
 
 4 FERDINAND OF CASTILE [Chap. I 
 
 were driven by the rapid conquests of the invaders 
 into the provinces of Asturias, Biscay, etc., where, 
 like the ancient Britons, they maintained a strenuous 
 and respectable opposition. By degrees they reas- 
 sumed their former discipline and valour, while their 
 conquerors declined into luxury and effeminacy : they 
 made several excursions from the mountains, recover- 
 ing, after many obstinate actions, great part of the 
 northern provinces. This success encouraged them 
 to attempt the total rejection of the Arabic yoke. 
 Measures were concerted among the chiefs, to act with 
 union and with vigour. The infidels were attacked and 
 routed in successive engagements ; and the kingdoms 
 of Asturias, Galicia, Leon, Navarre, and Castile, 
 erected under different monarchs. 
 
 Gibraltar, during these transactions, increased in 
 importance, though not in an equal degree with the 
 neighbouring city of Algeziras, which had been built, 
 posterior to Gibraltar, on the opposite shore of the 
 bay, and was then become a fortress of great magnifi- 
 cence and strength. This celebrated city seems totally 
 to have obscured Gibraltar in the histories of those 
 times, since very trifling mention is made of the latter 
 till the beginning of the fourteenth century, when 
 we learn that Ferdinand, king of Castile, in the course 
 of his conquests, first took it (with a small detachment) 
 from the infidels. 
 
 Gibraltar could not at this period be very strong, 
 as it fell so easy a prey to the Christians, whose army 
 had been, and at that time was employed in the siege of 
 Algeziras. It does not, however, appear that Ferdinand 
 was equally successful in his operations against that 
 city; for we find, in the year 1316, the Moors of 
 Granada applying to the emperor of Fez for succour : 
 and, to faciHtate their reception, Algeziras and other 
 cities on the coast were put into the hands of the
 
 1333] THE MOORS VICTORIOUS 5 
 
 Africans. We may therefore conclude that Ferdinand 
 was obliged to withdraw from before Algeziras, and 
 that he afterwards directed his force against th*e 
 infidels in a more vulnerable part, which induced them 
 to apply for the assistance just mentioned. 
 
 Gibraltar continued in the possession of the 
 Spaniards till 1333, when Abomelique, son of the 
 emperor of Fez, was dispatched with further assist- 
 ance to the Moorish king of Granada, and landing 
 at Algeziras, immediately laid siege to Gibraltar, whilst 
 the Granadians were making diversions elsewhere. 
 Alonzo XL was then on the throne of Castile ; and 
 intelligence was immediately sent to inform him of 
 the descent of the Africans. He was, however, 
 prevented from marching to the relief of Gibraltar by 
 a rebellion in his kingdom, and by the approach of 
 Mahomet, king of Granada, towards his frontiers. 
 Abomelique commenced his attack on the castle 
 with great judgment and bravery, and the Spanish 
 governor Vasco Perez de Meyra defended it with 
 equal obstinacy ; but Perez having embezzled the 
 money which was advanced to victual the garrison, 
 the troops and inhabitants suffered great distress, and 
 no prospect of relief offering, he was compelled, after 
 five months' siege, to surrender. 
 
 Alonzo having quelled the rebellion, and obliged 
 Mahomet to retire, was then marching to the assistance 
 of Perez, and was advanced within a short distance of 
 Gibraltar, when he was informed of the capitulation. 
 He was resolved nevertheless to' attempt its recovery 
 before the Moors could victual and repair it : he 
 accordingly proceeded on his route, and encamped 
 before the town five days after it had surrendered. 
 Alonzo divided his army into three parts ; the main 
 body occupied the isthmus, the second he sent by 
 boats to the red sands, and the third climbed up
 
 6 ALONZO XI [Chap. I 
 
 the north of the hill above the town. Several serious 
 attacks had been made on the castle, when Mahomet, 
 king of Granada, joining Abomelique's forces, their 
 combined army encamped in the rear of the Spaniards, 
 extending across the isthmus from the bay to the 
 Mediterranean. This position hemmed in the be- 
 siegers, debarred them from foraging, and cut off their 
 communication with the country. Alonzo, though 
 thus critically situated, still maintained the siege ; but 
 at length, driven to great difficulties for want of 
 provisions, and hearing that some of his disaffected 
 subjects, taking advantage of his absence, were again 
 in arms, he hearkened to an accommodation, and was 
 permitted to retire with his army. 
 
 To be thus disgracefully compelled to raise the 
 siege did not agree with the ambitious and impatient 
 temper of Alonzo : he secretly meditated a new attack 
 whenever an opportunity should occur ; and this 
 intention was not a little strengthened by his success 
 in the year 1343-4, when Algeziras was taken, after a 
 most memorable siege. In 1349 the tumults and civil 
 wars in Africa afforded him the opportunity he waited 
 for : great preparations were therefore made for this 
 expedition, which was not esteemed of inferior conse- 
 quence to the preceding siege of Algeziras, as the 
 Moors, since the loss of that city, had paid great 
 attention to the completion of the works, and to 
 the rendering of the place considerably stronger 
 by additional fortifications ; the garrison was also 
 numerous and well provided, and of their choicest 
 troops. 
 
 Alonzo encamped before Gibraltar in the beginning 
 of 1349, and immediately laid waste the delightful 
 groves, gardens, and houses of pleasure, which were 
 erected in its neighbourhood. The siege was com- 
 menced with great bravery, and though the camp of
 
 1350] SPAIN V. MOROCCO 7 
 
 the Castilians was much harassed by the flying 
 squadrons of Granadian horse, yet the castle in the 
 course of several months was almost reduced to a 
 capitulation. At this critical period a pestilential dis- 
 order swept away numbers of the besiegers, and 
 among the rest Alonzo, who died, much lamented, on 
 the 26th of March, 1350: the Spaniards immediately 
 afterwards raised the siege. 
 
 The descendants of Abomelique continued in quiet 
 possession of Gibraltar till 1410, when Jusaf III., king 
 of Granada, availing himself of the intestine divisions 
 which prevailed among the African Moors, took 
 possession of the place. The inhabitants, however, 
 not relishing the government of their new masters, 
 unanimously revolted the following year against the 
 Granadian alcaide, drove him with his garrison out of 
 the town, and wrote to the emperor of Morocco, praying 
 to be taken again under his protection. The emperor 
 dispatched his brother Sayd, with 1,000 horse and 2,000 
 foot, to their assistance. The king of Granada, being 
 informed that Sayd had garrisoned the castle, marched 
 with an army, and sending his fleet round to the bay, 
 appeared before the place in 141 1. Sayd advanced 
 to meet him, but, being worsted in several skirmishes, 
 was obliged to retreat within the castle, and being 
 closely besieged, and reduced to great distress for w^ant 
 of provisions, was at last compelled to submit. 
 
 In 1435, Henry de Guzman, Count de Niebla, 
 formed a design of attacking Gibraltar by land and 
 sea ; but, imprudently skirmishing with the garrison, 
 from his galleys, before his son John de Guzman 
 arrived with the land forces, he was defeated, and 
 forced to a precipitate retreat ; in which confusion he 
 himself lost his life, and many. of his followers were 
 killed and drowned. 
 
 In 1462, a civil war breaking out in Granada, great
 
 8 ARMS OF THE FORTRESS [Chap. I 
 
 part of the garrison of Gibraltar was withdrawn, to 
 assist one of the competitors for the crown : the 
 governor of Tarifa had intelligence of this by a Moor, 
 who had left the town, and embraced the Christian 
 faith. An army was accordingly assembled from the 
 neighbouring garrisons, and Gibraltar was besieged. 
 The inhabitants defended it with great resolution ; 
 but, fresh troops joining the besiegers, the garrison 
 surrendered to John de Guzman, Duke de Medina 
 Sidonia (son of the unfortunate Count de Niebla), 
 who, hearing that the place was reduced to great 
 distress, hastened to the camp, and arrived just in 
 time to be present when the Moors capitulated. From 
 this period it has remained in the hands of the 
 Christians, after having been in the possession of the 
 Mahometans 748 years. The news of this conquest 
 was so acceptable to Henry IV., of Castile and Leon, 
 that he added it to his royal titles, and gave it for 
 arms, Gules, a castle, proper, with a key pendent to the 
 gate, or (alluding to its being the key to the Mediter- 
 ranean) ; which arms have ever since been continued. 
 Pedro de Porras was appointed governor; but the 
 succeeding year King Henry made a journey to 
 Gibraltar, and superseded him, giving the command 
 to Don Bertrand de la Cueva, Count Lederma, who 
 placed the trust in the hands of Stephano Villacreces : 
 the Duke de Medina Sidonia, however, afterwards 
 recovered and enjoyed it, till the reign of Ferdinand 
 and Isabella in 1502, when it was annexed to the 
 crown. 
 
 In the year 1540, Piali Hamet, one of Barbarossa's 
 captains, surprised and pillaged Gibraltar, making 
 prisoners of many of the principal inhabitants ; but 
 being met on his return by some galleys from Sicily, 
 the corsairs were all killed or taken, and the prisoners 
 redeemed.
 
 1589] SIR GEORGE ROOKE 9 
 
 In 1589, during the reign of Charles V., the forti- 
 fications of the town were modernised and several 
 additions made by Daniel Speckel, the emperor's 
 engineer ; after which the place was thought to be 
 impregnable. From this time there appears a chasm 
 in the history of the garrison till the year 1704, when 
 Gibraltar was wrested (most probably for ever) from 
 the dominion of Spain, by the English, under Admiral 
 Sir George Rooke. This officer had been sent into 
 the Mediterranean, with a strong fleet, in the spring 
 of 1704, to assist Charles, archduke of Austria, in 
 obtaining the crown of Spain ; but, his instructions 
 being limited, nothing of importance was done. 
 Sensible of the reflections that would fall on him, 
 for being inactive with so powerful a fleet, he held a 
 council of war, on the 17th of July, 1704, near Tetuan, 
 at which several schemes were proposed, particularly 
 a second attack upon Cadiz, which, however, was 
 thought impracticable for want of a sufficient body of 
 land forces. At length it was resolved to make a 
 sudden and vigorous attempt on Gibraltar. 
 
 The 2ist of the same month, the fleet arrived in the 
 bay; and 1,800 men, English and Dutch, commanded 
 by the Prince of Hesse d'Armstadt, were landed 
 on the isthmus. The prince then summoned the 
 garrison ; but the governor refusing to surrender, 
 preparations were made for the attack. By daybreak 
 on the 23rd, the ships appointed to cannonade the 
 town, under Admirals Byng and Vanderdussen, with 
 those that were destined to batter the new mole, 
 commanded by Captains Hicks and Jumper, were at 
 their several stations. The admiral made the signal 
 to begin the cannonade, which was performed with 
 great vivacity and effect, so that the enemy, in five 
 or six hours, were driven from their guns, especially 
 from the new mole head. The admiral, considering
 
 lo TAKEN BY ENGLAND [Chap. I 
 
 that by gaining that fortification the town might 
 sooner be reduced, ordered Captain Whitaker, with 
 the armed boats, to possess himself of it ; but Captains 
 Hicks and Jumper, who lay next the mole, pushed 
 ashore with their pinnaces, before the rest came up ; 
 whereupon the Spaniards sprung a mine, which blew 
 up the fortifications, killed 2 lieutenants and 40 men, 
 and wounded 60. The assailants nevertheless kept 
 possession of the work, and being joined by Captain 
 Whitaker, advanced and took a small redoubt,* half- 
 way between the mole and the town. The Marquis 
 de Salines, who was governor, being again summoned, 
 thought proper to capitulate : hostages were therefore 
 exchanged, and the Prince of Hesse, on the 24th of 
 July, 1704, took possession of the gates. 
 
 Notwithstanding the works were very strong, 
 mounting 100 pieces of ordnance, well appointed with 
 ammunition and stores ; yet the garrison, at most, 
 consisted of only 150 men, exclusive of the inhabitants. 
 The marquis marched out with all the honours of 
 war, and the Spaniards who chose to remain were 
 allowed the same privileges as they had enjoyed under 
 King Charles II. The loss of the English in this 
 attack was, 2 lieutenants, i master, 57 sailors, killed ; 
 I captain, 7 lieutenants, i boatswain, 207 sailors, 
 wounded. 
 
 The Prince of Hesse remained governor ; and as 
 many men as could well be spared from the fleet 
 were left as a garrison. Sir George Rooke afterwards 
 sailed for Tetuan, to wood and water. This being 
 performed, he steered up the Mediterranean, and on 
 the 13th of August, off Malaga, engaged the French 
 fleet, under the command of Count de Toulouse. The 
 action was long and warm ; but many of the English 
 ships, having expended a great quantity of ammunition 
 * The present 8-gun battery.
 
 1/04] REPRISALS BY SPAIN ii 
 
 in taking Gibraltar, were soon obliged to quit the 
 line ; which gave the enemy a decided superiority. 
 The engagement ended in a drawn battle ; and Sir 
 George returned to Gibraltar, where he stayed eight 
 days to refit ; and then supplying the prince with 
 what men and provisions he could spare, sailed thence 
 on the 4th of September, N.S., on his way home, 
 leaving i8 men-of-war under the command of Sir John 
 Leake, at Lisbon, to be in readiness to succour the 
 garrison, if there should be occasion. 
 
 The courts of Madrid and Paris were greatly 
 concerned at the loss of so important a fortress as 
 Gibraltar, and, considering its recovery of the last 
 consequence to the cause, the Marquis de Villadarias, 
 a grandee of Spain, was ordered to besiege, and 
 endeavour to retake it. The Prince of Hesse, apprised 
 of their intentions, and being further informed that 
 they were to be assisted by a naval force from Toulon, 
 sent advice to Sir John Leake, requesting assistance 
 and supplies. Sir John prepared for this duty ; but 
 in the meantime a fleet of French ships arrived, and 
 landed six battalions, which joined the Spanish army. 
 After disembarking their reinforcements, the French 
 squadron proceeded to the westward, leaving only 
 six frigates in the bay. 
 
 On the nth of October, 1704, the Marquis opened 
 his trenches against the town ; and soon afterwards 
 Sir John Leake arrived with 20 sail of English and 
 Dutch ships : hearing, however, that the enemy were 
 preparing to attack him with a superior force, he 
 thought it most eligible immediately to retire and 
 refit, that he might be in a better condition to supply 
 and assist the garrison, in a second expedition, for 
 which he had very prudently directed preparations to be 
 made at Lisbon in his absence. On the 25th he again 
 put to sea; and on the 29th unexpectedly entering
 
 12 A DESPERATE ENTERPRISE [Chap. I 
 
 the bay, surprised three frigates, a fire-ship, two 
 English prizes, a tartan, and a store-ship. He then 
 landed the reinforcements, and supplied the garrison 
 with six months' provisions and ammunition, at 
 the same time detaching on shore a body of 500 
 sailors to assist in repairing the breaches which had 
 been made by the enemy's fire. The arrival of the 
 admiral was very opportune and critical ; for that 
 very night the marquis had resolved to attack the 
 place by sea and land at five different points ; for 
 which purpose he had assembled 200 boats from 
 Cadiz, etc. 
 
 Though disappointed in their designs, the Spaniards 
 still entertained hopes of taking the fortress ; and 
 supposing the troops would be less on their guard 
 while the fleet was in the bay, they formed the 
 desperate scheme of surprising the garrison, though 
 the British admiral was before the town. The 31st 
 of October, 500 volunteers took the sacrament, never 
 to return till they had taken Gibraltar. This forlorn 
 party was conducted by a goat-herd to the south side 
 of the Rock, near the Cave-guard (at that time called 
 the Pass of Locust-trees). Fortune, in the beginning, 
 so far favoured the enterprise, that they mounted 
 the Rock, and lodged themselves unperceived the first 
 night in St. Michael's cave ; the succeeding night they 
 scaled Charles the Fifth's wall ; surprised and put 
 to death the guard at the Signal-house and at Middle- 
 hill, where afterwards, by ropes and ladders, they 
 got up several hundreds of the party who had been 
 ordered to sustain them ; but being discovered, a 
 strong detachment of grenadiers marched up imme- 
 diately from the town, and attacked them with such 
 spirit, that 160 of them were killed, or driven over 
 the precipice, and a colonel and 30 officers, with 
 the remainder, taken prisoners. These brave, but
 
 1704] SIR JOHN LEAKE 13 
 
 unfortunate adventurers, were to have been supported 
 by a body of French troops, and some feints were 
 to have been made below to engage the attention of 
 the garrison ; but the commanding officers disagree- 
 ing, they were left to their fortune. 
 
 Sir John Leake was not idle whilst he remained 
 in the bay, but was continually alarming the enemy 
 on their coasts. The 22nd of November he had 
 information, by one of his cruisers, that a strong 
 squadron was fitting out at Cadiz, which would be 
 soon ready for sea ; and receiving further intelligence, 
 that a convoy, fitted out from Lisbon for the relief 
 of Gibraltar, was on its way, he prepared to join it 
 off Lagos, in order to protect it past Cadiz ; but was 
 confined within the Straits by a westerly wind. The 
 prince, in the meantime, redoubled his exertions to 
 prevent the enemy's designs, who flattered themselves 
 that on the arrival of their fleet from Cadiz, Sir John 
 would be obliged to retire, and the garrison surrender 
 to their united attacks. Their fire was continued 
 with additional vivacity, many cannon in the place 
 were dismounted, and the works were materially 
 injured in different parts. 
 
 Affairs were in this situation, when part of the 
 long-wished-for succours arrived on the 7th of 
 December ; and two days following, the remainder 
 came in with near 2,000 men, with proportionable 
 ammunition and provisions. They sailed from Lisbon 
 under convoy of four frigates, and thought themselves 
 safe on discovering, off" Cape Spartel, a fleet of men- 
 of-war, under English and Dutch colours : expecting 
 to meet Sir John, with the combined fleet, at the 
 entrance of the Straits, they endeavoured to join them, 
 but fortunately were becalmed : they then hoisted out 
 their boats to tow the ships, when, perceiving the 
 men-of-war extend themselves in form of a half-moon,
 
 14 BESIEGED BY SPAIN [Chap. 1 
 
 in order to surround them, they began to suspect 
 some deception, and accordingly made a private 
 signal, which totally frustrated the enemy's measures, 
 who were thereby discovered, and, striking their false 
 colours, endeavoured to fall upon the transports ; but 
 these latter, being lighter vessels, escaped by their 
 oars, and, night coming on, steered for the bay, with 
 the loss of only two transports. It was now thought 
 no longer necessary to detain the fleet in the bay, 
 or on the coast ; especially when Monsieur Pointis 
 was so near, with a superior force. Sir John accord- 
 ingly arrived at Lisbon the latter end of the year. 
 
 The Spanish general being reinforced with a 
 considerable body of infantry, made an attack, on 
 the nth of January, 1705, with 60 grenadiers on the 
 works at the extremity of the King's lines ; but, two 
 officers and several others being killed, the rest 
 retreated. This repulse did not, however, discourage 
 him ; for, early on the succeeding day, the attack 
 was renewed by 500 or 600 grenadiers, French and 
 Walons, supported by 1,000 Spaniards, under Lieu- 
 tenant-General Tuy. Their disposition was to storm 
 a breach which had been made in the round tower, 
 at the extremity of the King's lines, and another 
 in the intrenchment on the hill. The retrenchment 
 which covered the latter breach, with part of the 
 intrenchment joining the precipice of the Rock, was 
 defended at night by a captain, 3 subalterns, 
 and 90 men ; but it was customary for the captain 
 to withdraw, with 2 subalterns and 60 men, at 
 daybreak. The round tower was defended by 180 
 men, commanded by a lieutenant-colonel. The 
 marquis, by deserters from the garrison, had obtained 
 intelligence of the strength of these posts, and con- 
 certed his attack accordingl}^ The detachment for 
 the upper breach mounted the Rock at dead of night
 
 1705] A DETERMINED ATTACK 15 
 
 and concealed themselves in the clefts till the captain 
 had withdrawn. They then advanced to the point 
 of the intrenchment, and, throwing grenades on the 
 subaltern and his party, obliged them to retreat. 
 At the same time 300 men stormed the round tower, 
 where Lieutenant-Colonel Barr made a vigorous 
 defence, though the enemy having passed the breach 
 above, annoyed him on the flank with great stones 
 and grenades : observing, however, the Spaniards 
 marching down to cut off his retreat from the town, 
 he retired, and by getting over the parapet of the 
 King's lines, descended into the covered way, where 
 the English guards were posted. By this time the 
 garrison w^as alarmed ; all the regiments assembled 
 at their proper posts; and Captain Fisher endeavoured 
 to stop the progress of the enemy with 17 men, 
 but was repulsed and himself taken prisoner. Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Moncal, at last, with 400 or 500 men, 
 charged them with such bravery, that they were 
 repulsed, and the tower was retaken after it had 
 been in their possession upwards of an hour. Soon 
 after this attack, six companies of Dutch troops, and 
 200 English soldiers, were received by the garrison, 
 with provisions and stores. 
 
 The Spaniards and French were still obstinately 
 bent on the recovery of Gibraltar. The Marquis de 
 Villadarias was superseded by the Marshal Tesse, 
 a French general ; and Monsieur Pointis was directed 
 to co-operate with the marshal in blocking up the 
 port with a powerful fleet. The marshal joined the 
 army with four fresh battalions, besides eight com- 
 panies which had been sent before. The ordnance, 
 which from constant use had been greatly injured, 
 were totally exchanged ; and the works, as they then 
 stood, were put in the best repair. 
 
 The English ministry had been informed of the
 
 i6 BLOCKADED [Chap. I 
 
 enemy's new arrangements ; and, sensible of the 
 importance of Gibraltar, ordered a reinforcement, 
 under Sir Thomas Dilkes and Sir John Hardy, to 
 join Admiral Sir John Leake in Lisbon. The junction 
 being effected, and his own fleet refitted, Sir John, 
 on the 6th of March, sailed with 28 English, 4 Dutch, 
 and 8 Portuguese men-of-war, having on board two 
 battalions. Happily for the besieged, the incessant 
 rains about this period had retarded the marshal's 
 operations, and greatly distressed Monsieur Pointis, 
 several of whose ships were forced from their 
 anchors by a strong westerly wind, and driven to the 
 eastward. He, with the remainder of his squadron, 
 was quitting the bay, when the British admiral 
 entered the Straits, and about half-past five, on 
 the morning of the loth, was almost abreast of 
 Cabrita Point. Sir John Leake, discovering five 
 sail making out of the bay, and a gun fired at them 
 from the garrison, concluded that the town was 
 safe, and immediately gave chase. Three French 
 ships of the line were taken, and Admiral Pointis's 
 ship and another run ashore and burnt. Sir John 
 afterwards looked into Malaga, where some of the 
 ships that had been driven from the harbour had 
 taken shelter ; but, hearing the report of the guns, 
 they had made the best of their way to Toulon. 
 Sir John, finding the pursuit of them in vain, returned 
 on the 19th to Gibraltar, which was now so well 
 supplied, that Marshal Tesse withdrew his troops 
 from the trenches, and formed a blockade ; drawing 
 an intrenchment across the isthmus, to prevent the 
 garrison from ravaging the country. 
 
 In the course of this siege, the enemy did not 
 lose fewer than 10,000 men, including those who 
 died of sickness, etc. The garrison lost about 400. 
 
 The Prince of Hesse remained in the place while
 
 1705] ROGER ELLIOT 17 
 
 the batteries were repaired : he made also some 
 additions to the fortifications, and left the garrison 
 much stronger than it was before the siege. The 
 prince then joined the Archduke Charles at Lisbon, 
 where the combined fleets of England and Holland 
 were assembled to support that prince in obtaining 
 the crown of Spain. 
 
 As the archduke was resolved to try his fortune 
 with the Earl of Peterborough, in Valencia and 
 Catalonia, the Prince of Hesse was sent back to 
 Gibraltar, to prepare part of the garrison to embark, 
 and soon after was followed by the fleet ; upon whose 
 arrival, in August, 1705, the archduke was received 
 by the garrison as lawful sovereign of Spain, and 
 proclaimed by the title of Charles IIL Having taken 
 on board the English guards, and three old regi- 
 ments, leaving only two new battalions in the town 
 (as there was no danger to be apprehended from 
 the enemy), they proceeded, on the 5th of August, 
 for Valencia. His majesty then appointed Major- 
 General Ramos, who had been present during the 
 siege, governor of Gibraltar ; and sent with him about 
 400 men for its greater security. General Ramos 
 afterwards resigned his government, and was suc- 
 ceeded by Colonel Roger Elliot ; during whose 
 government Gibraltar was made a free port, by a 
 special order from her majesty Queen Anne. 
 
 The following was the governor's manifesto on 
 the occasion : 
 
 " By the Hon. Roger Elliot, colonel of one of 
 her majesty's regiments of foot, and governor of 
 the city and garrison of Gibraltar. 
 
 '* Whereas her majesty of Great Britain, etc., hath 
 been graciously pleased, by her warrant to me, dated 
 19th February last, to confirm her former declara- 
 tions for the freedom of this port, and to regulate
 
 i8 A NARROW ESCAPE [Chap. I 
 
 and command me not to permit any duty or imposition 
 whatsoever to be laid or received for any ship or 
 vessel, or for any goods, wares, merchandise, or 
 provisions, imported or exported out of this port ; 
 but that the same be free and open for all ships 
 and vessels, goods, wares, merchandise, and pro- 
 visions : these are to make known and publish her 
 said majest3^'s royal will and pleasure; and all persons 
 concerned are hereby strictly required to take notice 
 thereof, not presuming to demand or receive any duty 
 or imposition whatsoever for any ship or vessel, or 
 for any goods, wares, merchandise, or provisions, as 
 they will answer the contrary at their peril. 
 
 "Given at Gibraltar, April, 1706." 
 
 Colonel Congreve was commandant before 17 14. 
 He was succeeded by Colonel Cotton. In 1720 
 Gibraltar seems to have been threatened by the 
 Spaniards. Ceuta, a Spanish fortress in Barbary, 
 had then been besieged many years by the Moors ; 
 and a formidable force, commanded by the Marquis 
 de Leda, was assembled in Gibraltar Bay, under 
 pretence of relieving it, but with a secret intention 
 of first surprising Gibraltar ; for which purpose they 
 had procured scaling-ladders, etc., etc. This arma- 
 ment was not fitted out so secretly but that the 
 British ministry had timely notice, and, suspecting 
 some finesse, dispatched orders to Colonel Kane, 
 governor of Minorca, immediately to embark a part 
 of his garrison, and repair to Gibraltar, under convoy 
 of the fleet in the Mediterranean. On his arrival he 
 found Gibraltar in a very critical situation ; the 
 garrison consisting only of three weak battalions, 
 commanded by Major Hetherington, who, except 
 Major Batteroux, was the only field-officer in the 
 place. Many officers were absent, only fourteen
 
 1/26] RENEWED ATTEMPTS BY SPAIN 19 
 
 days' provisions in the stores, and many Spaniards in 
 the town, with a fleet before its walls. Such was 
 the feeble posture of affairs when he opportunely 
 arrived with 500 men, provisions and ammunition. 
 The British commodore acted afterwards in so spirited 
 a manner, that the Marquis de Leda was obliged to 
 sail for Ceuta, though he continued of opinion that 
 the garrison might have been taken by a general 
 assault. 
 
 This scheme proving abortive, Gibraltar remained 
 unmolested till the latter end of the year 1726, when 
 the Spaniards, who had kept a watchful eye on the 
 garrison, assembled an army in the neighbourhood of 
 Algeziras. On the 20th of January following, they 
 encamped on the plain below St. Roque, and began 
 to erect a battery on the beach to protect their camp. 
 Admiral Hopson was then at anchor in the bay, with 
 a very formidable fleet ; but, as he had not received 
 any intelligence of hostilities having commenced 
 between the courts of Great Britain and Madrid, he 
 was with reluctance compelled to overlook the trans- 
 porting of provisions, artillery, and ammunition from 
 Algeziras (where they had formed their depots) to 
 the camp. Brigadier Kane, who had been a second 
 time ordered from Minorca to Gibraltar, lay also 
 under similar embarrassments with the admiral. The 
 operations of the enemy, however, tending towards 
 a direct attack upon the garrison, he thought it 
 prudent to order the Spaniards out of the town, 
 and forbid their galleys anchoring under his guns. 
 
 It must be understood that Gibraltar had under- 
 gone considerable alterations since the siege of 1705 : 
 several works had been erected on the heights above 
 the lines, which were distinguished by the name of 
 Willis's batteries ; the Prince's lines were also extended 
 to the extremity of the Rock ; and an inundation with
 
 20 THE COUNT DE LAS TORRES [Chap. I 
 
 a causeway was formed out of the morass that was in 
 front of the grand battery. 
 
 The Count de Las Torres commanded the Spanish 
 forces, amounting to near 20,000 men ; and soon after 
 his camp was formed, he advanced within reach of 
 the garrison. The brigadier thereupon dispatched a 
 parley, to desire " That he would withdraw from the 
 range of his guns, otherwise he should do his 
 utmost to force him." The count answered, " That, 
 as the garrison could command no more than they 
 had power to maintain, he should obey his Catholic 
 majesty's orders, and encroach as far as he was able." 
 Notwithstanding this insult, as war had not been 
 formally declared, the brigadier waived commencing 
 hostilities, till the Spaniards, by their proceedings, 
 should oblige him, in defence of his command. 
 
 In the beginning of February, Brigadier Clayton, 
 the lieutenant-governor, arrived with reinforcements, 
 on board Sir Charles Wager's fleet ; and a council of 
 war was immediately summoned, but the result was 
 a determination not to fire upon the Spaniards. The 
 loth of February, the enemy brought materials for 
 batteries to the old windmill, on the neutral ground ; 
 upon which the lieutenant-governor again collected 
 the sense of the admirals and field-officers ; when in 
 the second council it was unanimously agreed that 
 the Spanish general had made open war in encroaching 
 so far on the hberties of the garrison. This being 
 their opinion. Brigadier Clayton sent a parley to the 
 count, to know the reason of his breaking ground : 
 to which the count replied, that "he was on his 
 master's ground, and was not answerable to any 
 other person for his conduct." As this answer 
 directly indicated the hostile intentions of the 
 Spaniards, the lieutenant-governor, in the evening, 
 withdrew the out-guard, and the succeeding day in
 
 1726] THE SIEGE BEGINS 21 
 
 the afternoon opened the Old Mole and Willis's 
 batteries on their workmen. They persisted, never- 
 theless, in carrying on the work ; and at night a 
 large party marched down to the Devil's Tower, where 
 they immediately broke ground, and began a com- 
 munication with their other work. This party were 
 greatly annoyed in marching to their post, but 
 were soon under cover of the Rock, where the guns 
 could not be depressed to bear upon them. 
 
 Numbers of the enemy deserted to the garrison, 
 by whom, on the 17th, the lieutenant-governor was 
 informed that they were constructing a mine, in a 
 cave under Willis's, with an intention, if possible, to 
 blow up that battery. The engineers on this intel- 
 ligence reconnoitred the cave ; which, after some 
 difficulty, they discovered, with a sentry at the 
 entrance ; and a party was immediately stationed to 
 annoy the communication with musketry. On the 
 morning of the 22nd, the count opened on the garrison, 
 with seventeen pieces of cannon, besides mortars. 
 The day following Brigadier Kane left the garrison, 
 to detach a reinforcement from Minorca. In the 
 meantime Sir Charles Wager and Admiral Hopson, 
 with the fleet under their command, were constantly 
 distressing the enemy, by intercepting their homeward- 
 bound ships ; and the prizes which were brought 
 into the bay greatly benefited the besieged. The 3rd 
 of March, the enemy opened a new battery of twenty- 
 two guns on the old mole and town ; and on the 8th, 
 another of fifteen guns, bearing also upon the old 
 mole, which, it seems, proved a troublesome battery 
 to the western flank of their approaches. 
 
 The lieutenant-governor continued a constant and 
 well-directed fire from all the batteries that bore upon 
 their works : but the ordnance in general being old 
 were bursting daily on the batteries ; by which
 
 22 PROGRESS OF OPERATIONS [Chap. I 
 
 accidents the garrison experienced more casualties 
 than from all the fire of the enemy. The 27th, Colonel 
 Middleton's regiment arrived, also six companies and 
 a half of Colonel Hay's, with two engineers, a captain 
 of artillery, and several bombardiers, gunners, and 
 matrosses, with 140 recruits for the other regiments. 
 
 The admirals, the 2nd of April, formed the design 
 of bombarding Algeziras, whence the enemy were 
 constantly supplied with various articles of ammuni- 
 tion ; but the ships, after getting under way, were 
 becalmed, and obliged to come to anchor ; after which 
 the navy never gave themselves any further concern 
 about annoying them in that quarter. On the loth 
 Colonel Cosby arrived in the Solebay, with 500 men, 
 from Minorca ; and two days following the admirals 
 sailed to the westward, leaving Commodore Davies 
 behind, with six men-of-war and the sloops. Sir 
 Charles did not return during the siege. The i6th, the 
 lieutenant-governor ordered two sergeants, with ten 
 men each, to advance from the spur-guard, under the 
 Rock, and along the causeway, and alarm the enemy 
 in the trenches ; giving them directions to retire when 
 they found their guards sufficiently alarmed, when he 
 intended to salute them with grape, etc., from Willis's 
 and the lines. These orders were executed, and the 
 enemy instantly beat to arms ; but the bombardier 
 appointed to give the signal to the batteries, firing too 
 soon, the enemy saw through the design, and retired 
 without any considerable loss. 
 
 Lord Portmore, the governor, arrived on the 21st, 
 with a battalion of guards, and another of the line ; 
 also Colonel Watson, of the artillery, with several 
 noblemen as volunteers. The 26th, the count opened 
 a new battery against Willis's and the extremity of 
 Prince's lines. Their batteries now mounted sixty 
 cannon, besides mortars. In the beginning of May
 
 1726] HOSTILITIES CEASE 23 
 
 the garrison had intelligence that the enemy designed 
 an assault : precautions were accordingly taken, and 
 the guns on the lower defences loaded with grape. 
 The Spaniards added still to their approaches, and 
 raised various communications to and from their 
 advanced batteries. Towards the i6th and 20th their 
 firing abated, but their engineers proceeded in ad- 
 vancing their trenches. On the 31st a vessel arrived 
 with 375 barrels of powder from Lisbon. The 3rd 
 of June the Solebay came in, with a further supply 
 of 980 barrels of powder and 500 13-inch shells, 
 from Mahon. The firing continued till the 12th, when 
 about ten at night Colonel Fitzgerald, of the Irish 
 brigade, beat a parley, and being admitted into the 
 garrison, delivered letters to Lord Portmore from 
 the Dutch minister at the court of Madrid, with a 
 copy of the preliminaries of a general peace ; where- 
 upon a suspension of arms took place and all hostilities 
 ceased on both sides. 
 
 The garrison lost in the whole about 300 killed 
 and wounded ; and 70 cannon, with 30 mortars, burst 
 during the siege. The enemy's casualties could 
 never be ascertained. In killed, wounded, etc., it was 
 computed they lost near 3,000 men. 
 
 When Lord Portmore and the count agreed to a 
 cessation, the Spaniards of course were compelled 
 to forsake the mine under Willis's : their parties, 
 however, taking possession of it a second time, his 
 lordship considered it as a breach of the articles of 
 cessation, and represented it accordingly. The count 
 afterwards withdrew ; the works were dismantled and 
 levelled, and the troops retreated to their different 
 cantonments. 
 
 The Spaniards during this siege never made the 
 least attempt to cut off the communication by sea; 
 so that the garrison was regularly supplied with
 
 24 THE FORTRESS STRENGTHENED [Chap. I 
 
 provisions and fascines from Barbary, and had a 
 regular correspondence with England. 
 
 In 1728 the Parliament of Great Britain addressed 
 his majesty King George H., to take effectual care, 
 in the treaty then pending, to preserve his undoubted 
 right to Gibraltar and the island of Minorca. Over- 
 tures had been made by his majesty George I. to 
 restore the former to Spain, if the parliament would 
 have consented to such restitution ; but the minister, 
 finding an opposition, declined proceeding in the 
 business. In 1730 Lieutenant-General Sabine was 
 governor of Gibraltar. The Spaniards during his 
 government erected the forts and lines across the 
 isthmus, about a mile from the garrison, which 
 effectually prevent any communication with the 
 country, and, as we have experienced, are of con- 
 siderable advantage in case of a siege. The western 
 fort, called St. Philip's, entirely commands the best 
 anchorage on the side of the bay next the garrison. 
 Lieutenant-General Columbine succeeded General 
 Sabine, and he was succeeded by Lieutenant-General 
 Hargrave. 
 
 General Bland was appointed governor in 1749, at 
 which time a general relief of troops took place. The 
 establishment at that period was four battalions of 
 infantry and a company of artillery. Lord George 
 Beauclerk and the Hon. General Herbert were sever- 
 ally commandants in the absence of General Bland ; 
 and in 1755 Lieutenant-General Fowkes was deputed 
 governor. Lord Tyrawley succeeded him, in whose 
 absence the Earl of Panmure was commandant. Earl 
 Home was afterwards governor, and died there in 
 1761. During the government of this nobleman, about 
 the year 1760, an incident occurred which, as it 
 alarmed the garrison very much at that time, is 
 deserving of notice. Two British regiments had been
 
 1766] AN AMAZING CONSPIRACY 25 
 
 a very considerable time on that station, and, from 
 the continuance of the war, saw little prospect of 
 being relieved. Amongst these a conspiracy was 
 formed by some disaffected persons to surprise, 
 plunder, and massacre their officers, and in short all 
 whom they judged to be averse to their designs. 
 After securing the money which was intended for 
 the payment of the troops, they meant to purchase 
 for themselves a secure retreat, by surrendering this 
 so-much-wished-for fortress into the hands of Spain. 
 The numbers who joined the conspirators were not 
 fewer than 730. An accidental quarrel in a wine- 
 house defeated this dangerous project, and produced 
 a discovery. Reed, a private in the 7th regiment, 
 was executed on the Grand Parade as the ringleader ; 
 and ten others were condemned. 
 
 After the death of Lord Home, Colonel Tovey 
 and Major-General Parslow were each commandants, 
 till the Hon. Lieutenant-General Cornwallis was ap- 
 pointed governor. During this general's absence from 
 the garrison. Colonel Irwin was commandant ; and on 
 General Cornwallis leaving Gibraltar a second time, 
 Major-General Boyd, lieutenant-governor, commanded. 
 In this general's government the garrison was con- 
 siderably strengthened with three new bastions on 
 the sea-line, and additional improvements at the 
 southward. 
 
 In 1776 the Right Hon. General George Augustus 
 Eliott was appointed governor of that important 
 fortress, and joined his command in 1777. 
 
 In 1787 General Eliott, who had been honoured 
 in 1783 with the Order of the Bath for his glorious 
 defence of Gibraltar, returned to England, and Major- 
 General O'Hara was appointed commandant during 
 his absence.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 As the history which is to be the subject of the 
 following pages will be more in detail than the 
 preceding narrative, it may on some accounts be 
 necessary, and cannot on any, I flatter myself, be 
 disagreeable, to present the reader with a short 
 description of this celebrated Rock, and the fortifica- 
 tions which have been erected for its defence. 
 
 The promontory, or rock, at the foot of which 
 stands the town, is upwards of 1,300 feet in height ; 
 projecting into the sea several miles from the continent, 
 with which it is connected by an isthmus of low 
 sand. This appearance makes it not improbable that 
 Mons Calpe in former ages has been totally sur- 
 rounded by the sea. The north front of the peninsula, 
 which presents itself to the mainland, is of various 
 heights. The breadth of the isthmus, at the foot of 
 the rock, is about 900 yards ; but it grows con- 
 siderably wider towards the country. Across this 
 isthmus (which, with Gibraltar and the opposite 
 coast, forms the bay) the Spaniards have drawn a 
 fortified line at about a mile's distance from the 
 garrison, extending 1,700 yards, and embracing both 
 shores ; a fort of masonry is erected at each extremity, 
 mounting 23 or 24 guns each ; these forts are of 
 different forms, and are called Fort St. Philip and 
 Fort St. Barbara. The former of them commands 
 the best and the usual anchoring place of our shipping 
 and small craft, and, by forming a cross-fire with 
 
 26

 
 THE ROCK 27 
 
 F'ort St. Barbara on the neutral ground, prevents 
 all communication between the garrison and the 
 country. 
 
 The Rock, as I have mentioned before, is upwards 
 of 1,300 feet perpendicular above the level of the 
 sea ; and is separated by a ridge from north to south, 
 dividing it into two unequal parts. The western 
 front or division is a gradual slope, interspersed with 
 precipices ; but the opposite side, looking to the 
 Mediterranean, and the north front facing the Spanish 
 lines, are both naturally very steep, and totally in- 
 accessible. It is this peculiar circumstance which 
 forms the chief strength of Gibraltar. 
 
 The town is built at the foot of the north-west 
 face of the hill, and is fortified in an irregular manner. 
 The communication with it from the isthmus is by 
 a long narrow causeway (serving as a dam to an 
 inundation), which is defended by a curtain, with 
 two bastions, mounting 26 pieces of cannon, a dry 
 ditch, covered way, and glacis well mined. These, 
 with the causeway, are warmly flanked by the King's, 
 Queen's, and Prince's lines ; works cut in the rock 
 with immense labour, and scarped to be almost 
 inaccessible. Above the lines are the batteries at 
 Willis's, and others at different heights, until they 
 crown the summit of the rock, where several batteries 
 are erected for cannon and mortars. These batteries, 
 the lowest of which is upwards of 400 feet above 
 the neutral ground, mount between 50 and 60 pieces 
 of heavy ordnance, and entirely command the isthmus 
 below. Exclusive of what are here mentioned, 
 additional works of a singular nature were projected 
 in 1782, which, with others in the lines, on a similar 
 plan, that are (1789) executing under the direction 
 of Major-General O'Hara, will render Gibraltar almost 
 impregnable in that quarter. The old mole, to the
 
 28 THE MOUTH OF FIRE [Chap. H 
 
 west of the grand battery, forms also a very formid- 
 able flank, and, with the lines, a cross-fire on the 
 causeway and neutral ground. This battery has 
 been found so great an annoyance to the besiegers, 
 that, by way of distinction, it has long been known 
 under the appellation of the Devil's Tongue. Indeed, 
 the ordnance in the lines, upon the grand battery, 
 and the Old Mole, all together, exhibit so formidable 
 an appearance to a spectator on the causeway, that 
 the entrance into the garrison is called by the 
 Spaniards the Mouth of Fire. 
 
 From the grand battery, along the sea-line, looking 
 towards the bay, the town is defended by the North, 
 Montague's,* Prince of Orange's, King's, and South 
 bastions ; the line-wall or curtains between which 
 mount many cannon and mortars. Montague's, Prince 
 of Orange's and King's bastions have been erected 
 lately. The latter is a very complete piece of 
 fortification, commanding the bay from New to 
 Old Mole heads, and mounting 12 32-pounders 
 and 4 lo-inch howitzers in front, 10 guns and 
 howitzers on its flanks, and has casemates for 800 
 men, with kitchens and ovens for cooking. Monta- 
 gue's is much smaller, mounts only 12 pieces of 
 cannon, but has a casement for 200 men, communi- 
 cating with the Old Mole. In 1782 the engineers 
 began a cavalier upon this bastion for 2 guns ; but 
 it was not finished till after the grand attack in 
 
 * These bastions and the connecting curtains were so much 
 injured in the last siege, that it was thought necessary to take them 
 down, and strengthen this part of the town fortifications by an ex- 
 tensive line of new works projecting to a considerable distance into 
 the sea; the foundations of which were laid in 1788. Many officers, 
 however, doubt whether the substantial defences of Gibraltar are 
 improved by these alterations. Some additions were likewise made 
 in the same place to the grand battery and at Land Port, where they 
 were more wanted.
 
 THE SIGNAL HOUSE 29 
 
 September. Another work of this nature was like- 
 wise erected in the beginning of the blockade, for 
 5 guns, on the north bastion of the grand battery. 
 The town on the sea-line is not less protected by 
 natural defences than by fortifications. A shoal of 
 sharp rocks extends along the front far into the bay, 
 and prevents ships of large burthen from approaching 
 very near the walls. 
 
 From the south bastion (which is considerably 
 higher than the rest of the works, in order to protect 
 the town from the eminences on the red sands) a 
 curtain extends up the face of the hill, and concludes, 
 at an inaccessible precipice, the works of the town. 
 In this curtain is the South Port gate, before which, 
 and the south bastion, is a dry ditch, with a covered 
 way and glacis. At the east end, on the declivity 
 of the hill, above the gate, is a large flat bastion 
 connected with the curtain, and mounting 13 guns, 
 bearing on the bay, etc. This work is covered by 
 a demi-bastion that joins the precipice. Above the 
 precipice an old Moorish wall is continued to the ridge 
 of the rock ; in the front of which a curtain with loop- 
 holes and redans (built in the reign of the Emperor 
 Charles V., and called after his name) extends to the top, 
 effectually cutting off all communication in that quarter. 
 Between the Moorish and Charles the Fifth's walls 
 is the signal-house ; whence on a serene and clear 
 day, the guard have an unbounded view of the 
 Mediterranean, and can just observe a part of the 
 Atlantic Ocean over the Spanish mountains. Signals 
 formerly were made at this post on the appearance 
 of top-sail vessels from east and west ; but soon 
 after the commencement of the late war we discovered 
 that the Spanish cruisers were more frequently 
 informed of the approach of our friends by our signals 
 than by their own. The signals were therefore
 
 30 THE NEW MOLE [Chap. II 
 
 discontinued during the siege, but were resumed 
 after the general peace of 1783. 
 
 The above account comprehends a general de- 
 scription of the fortifications of the town, avoiding 
 too minute a detail of each work. I shall therefore 
 proceed in describing, in the same general manner, 
 the works to the southward. 
 
 From the south bastion a line-wall is continued 
 along the beach to the New Mole, where an irregular 
 fort is erected, mounting 26 guns. This line-wall is 
 divided by a small bastion of 8 guns ; and in its rear is 
 a retired work, called the Princess of Wales's lines, in 
 which are several strong batteries for the sea. Near 
 the south bastion, though without the town, is a 
 wharf called Ragged Staff, where the supplies for the 
 garrison are usually landed, being convenient from its 
 vicinity to the victualling-office and store-houses in 
 the town. The communication to this quay is by 
 spiral wooden stairs, and a drawbridge opening into 
 the covered way ; in front of which is a small work 
 of masonry mounting 2 guns. At the foot of the 
 stairs is the basin, where shipping take in water. 
 Two tanks are also appropriated to this purpose near 
 the 8-gun bastion. 
 
 Within the New Mole there is depth of water 
 sufficient for a ship of the line to lie alongside the 
 wharf and heave down. At the mole head is a 
 circular battery for heavy metal, joined to the New 
 Mole fort by a strong wall, fraised ; having a banquette 
 for musketry, with two embrasures opening towards 
 the bay. This mole, with the Old Mole at Water Port, 
 were built for the accommodation of trading vessels : 
 the former, however, is generally occupied by men-of- 
 war ; and the latter, not having more than 6 feet at 
 low water, only admits small craft to the wharfs ; 
 merchantmen of large burthen are obliged, therefore,
 
 ROSIA BAY 31 
 
 to anchor about half or threequarters of a mile 
 from Water Port, in 7 or 8 fathoms. But in time of 
 war this anchorage is commanded by the Spanish 
 forts ; they are consequently, in case of a rupture with 
 Spain, under the necessity of removing to the south- 
 ward of the New Mole, where the ground is so rocky 
 and foul that they are often in imminent danger 
 during the strong southerly winds. From the New 
 Mole fort to the north end of Rosia Bay, the rock is 
 difficult of access ; nevertheless a parapet is continued, 
 and batteries are erected, as situations dictate. The 
 works at Rosia are strong, and flank each other. 
 They are close along the beach, which is low, and 
 have a retired battery of 8 guns in the rear. 
 
 The rock continues to ascend from the south point 
 of Rosia Bay, by Parson's Lodge (behind which, upon 
 an eminence, is a new battery en barbet, on traversing 
 carriages), to Campguard, and Buena Vista ; so called 
 from the beautiful prospect which is there presented 
 to a spectator of the bay and the neighbouring king- 
 doms of Barbary and Spain. A line-wall is raised, 
 notwithstanding the rock being inaccessible, with 
 cannon at different distances. At Buena Vista there 
 are several guns en barbet, which have great command ; 
 and the hill towards Europe is slightly fortified, which 
 gives it the appearance, at a distance, of an old castle 
 repaired. The rock then descends by the Devil's 
 Bowling-green, so named from the irregularity of its 
 surface, to Little Bay. At this post, which is totally 
 surrounded with precipices, there is a barbet battery, 
 flanking the works to the new mole ; thence the rock 
 continues naturally steep for a considerable distance, 
 when the line-wall and batteries recommence, and 
 extend in an irregular manner to Europa Point, the 
 southern extremity of the garrison, though not the 
 southern point of Europe. The rock from this point
 
 32 DIRECT ATTACKS INSANE [Chap. II 
 
 is regularly perpendicular to Europa Advance, where a 
 few batteries, and a post at the Cave-guard, terminate 
 the works. The fortifications along the sea-line at 
 Europa do not, however, constitute the principal 
 strength of that part of the garrison. The retired and 
 inaccessible lines of Windmill Hill have great com- 
 mand, and, being situated within musket-shot of the 
 sea, are very formidable, and of great consequence in 
 that quarter. 
 
 The preceding description, it is hoped, will be 
 sufficiently explanatory. The new bastions on the 
 sea-line were planned and executed by, and under the 
 direction of, the chief engineer, Major-General Sir 
 William Green, Bart. Lieutenant-General Robert 
 Boyd laid the foundation-stone of the King's bastion, 
 in the absence of General Cornwallis, the governor. 
 The garrison also underwent considerable alterations 
 whilst he commanded : Windmill Hill was fortified, 
 and other changes were effected at the southward. 
 The improvements on the northern front were carried 
 on under the direction of General George Augustus 
 Eliott since he was appointed to the government. 
 The communication, or gallery leading to St. George's 
 Hall, above Farringdon's battery ; Queen's lines 
 battery, and communication ; two works of the same 
 nature, which extend under the Queen's battery 
 (Willis's*), and in the rock above Prince of Hesse's 
 bastion ; are so singularly contrived, and of so 
 formidable a nature, that all direct attacks by land, 
 henceforward, may be considered as quixotism and 
 insanity. 
 
 Before the interior part of the place is described, 
 it will not be improper to conclude the description of 
 
 * The gallery under the Queen's battery has been continued by 
 General O'Hara, and now communicates with the Prince's lines : it is 
 called the Union Gallery.
 
 THE TOWN 
 
 33 
 
 its outer works, by inserting an abstract of the guns, 
 howitzers, and mortars mounted upon the different 
 batteries. The original, from which this was copied, 
 was taken in the beginning of March, 1783. 
 
 
 CANNON. 
 
 MORTARS. 
 
 HOWIT- 
 ZERS. 
 
 Nature of Ordnance . < 
 
 32 
 
 Pounders. 
 
 24 
 
 & 18 12 9 
 
 26 
 
 4 
 
 6 & 
 3 
 
 13 
 
 Inch. 
 
 5h 
 10 8 4I 
 
 4 
 
 Inch. 
 10 8 5^ 
 
 Serviceable Ordnance, \ 
 mounted . . . / 
 
 Field Artillery . 
 
 Serviceable Ordnance, \ 
 dismounted . , J 
 
 77 
 
 
 
 132 104 70 16 
 
 0040 
 
 27 9 
 
 25 38 
 6 8 
 15 
 
 29 
 
 
 
 1 6 34 
 000 
 
 2 7 31 
 
 19 9 
 004 
 000 
 
 
 77 
 
 149 113 74 16 
 
 31 61 
 
 29 
 
 3 13 65 
 
 19 9 4 
 
 Total serviceable in the garrison, 663 pieces of artillery. 
 
 The town of Gibraltar is built on a bed of red 
 sand, similar to those eminences without South Port, 
 which originally extended from Land Port to the foot 
 of the ascent to the south barracks. The buildings, 
 before the town was destroyed in the late siege, were 
 composed of different materials, principally of tapia;* 
 though, since the English have been in possession 
 of Gibraltar, many have been built of the rock-stone, 
 plastered, and blue-washed on the outside, to break 
 the powerful rays of the sun, which otherwise would 
 be too glaring, and prejudicial to the eyes. The 
 modern houses were in general covered with tiles ; but 
 the flat terraced roofs remained in those erected by 
 the Spaniards, and in some, the mirandas or towers, 
 whence the inhabitants without removing from home, 
 
 * A cement consisting of mortar made of sand, lime, and small 
 pebbles, which being well tempered and wrought together in a frame, 
 acquires great strength and solidity. 
 
 3
 
 34 MOORISH REMAINS [Chap. II 
 
 had a beautiful and extensive prospect of the bay and 
 neighbouring coasts. 
 
 Of the buildings that are most deserving notice, 
 the old Moorish castle is the most conspicuous. This 
 antique structure is situated on the north-west side 
 of the hill, and originally consisted of a triple wall, 
 the outer inclosure descending to the water's edge : 
 but the lower parts have long since been removed, 
 and the grand battery and Water Port fortifications 
 erected on their ruins ; and the first, or upper wall, 
 would long ago have shared the same fate, had it not 
 been found of service in covering the town from the 
 isthmus, in case of a siege. The walls standing at 
 present form an oblong square, ascending the hill, 
 at the upper angle of which is the principal tower, 
 where the governor or alcaide formerly resided. The 
 ruins of a Moorish mosque, or place of worship, can 
 be traced within the walls ; as also a neat morisque 
 court, and reservoir for water : but the latter cannot, 
 without great difficulty, be discovered by a stranger. 
 A large tower on the south-east wall has long been 
 converted into a magazine for powder ; and in dif- 
 ferent places quarters were fitted up, before the late 
 siege, for officers and two companies of soldiers. 
 This castle was erected, as I have mentioned before, 
 by the Saracens or Moors, on their first invading 
 Spain ; and the present venerable remains are incon- 
 testable proofs of its magnificence whilst it continued 
 in their possession. 
 
 The other principal buildings are the convent, or 
 governor's quarters ; the lieutenant-governor's house, 
 which is a modern structure ; the admiralty house, 
 formerly a monastery of white friars ; the soldiers' 
 barracks, victualling-office, and store-house. Besides 
 these, there are the Spanish church, the atarasana, or 
 galley-house, and some other buildings, formerly of
 
 THE NAVY HOSPITAL 35 
 
 note, but now in ruins from the fire of the Spaniards 
 during the late siege.* 
 
 At the southward are the South barracks and the 
 Navy hospital. The former a stately building, 
 delightfully situated, with a parade in front, and two 
 pavilions detached ; the whole capable of quartering 
 1,200 men, and officers proportionate. The latter a 
 capacious pile, well adapted to the purpose for which 
 it was intended : it has an area in the centre, with 
 piazzas and a gallery above, by which the sick may 
 enjoy the sun, or shade, as they think proper : there 
 are apartments for 1,000 men, with pavilions at each 
 wing for the accommodation and convenience of the 
 surgeons and their attendants. This hospital was 
 originally erected for the navy, in case a British fleet 
 should be stationed in the Mediterranean ; but, on 
 the Spaniards bombarding the town in 1781, the 
 governor removed into it the sick of the garrison. 
 At some distance, in the front of the South barracks, 
 are two powder magazines, in which the supplies 
 from England are usually deposited, before they are 
 distributed to the other magazines. These last were 
 the chief, I might say almost the only buildings 
 remaining on the rock after the late siege ; and their 
 preservation was owing to their being kept in 
 constant repair by workmen purposely appointed for 
 that duty. 
 
 Beside the remains of Moorish architecture which 
 have already been mentioned, the following have been 
 esteemed not unworthy of notice. Within the town 
 we find the galley-house, and part of the Spanish 
 church : also the bomb-house, adjoining the line-wall : 
 and at the southward, ruins of Moorish buildings are 
 
 * Since the peace of 1783, the greatest part of the town has been 
 rebuilt, and (which is much to be regretted) on the old foundations 
 and plan.
 
 36 ST. MICHAEL'S CAVE [Chap. II 
 
 discernible on Windmill Hill, and at Europa. The 
 former are situated on an eminence, but no antiquarian 
 can determine to what use they were appropriated : 
 some are of opinion they were burying-vaults for 
 persons of rank ; others suppose them a prison ; 
 whilst, in the garrison, the whole is generally known 
 by the name of the Inquisition. At Europa, opposite 
 the guard-house, may be traced the remains of a 
 building erected by the Moors, but used by the 
 Spaniards as a chapel, and called Nuestra Seflora del 
 Europa. Along the water's edge, without the fortifi- 
 cation, are also several ruins of Moorish walls ; and 
 towards Europa Advance is a Moorish bath, called by 
 the garrison the Nuns' Well. It is sunk 8 feet deep 
 in the rock, is 72 feet long, and 42 feet broad, and 
 to preserve the water, has an arched roof, supported 
 by pillars. To the left of this bath is a cave, under 
 Windmill Hill, known by the name of Beefsteak Cave, 
 which was a common residence for many of the 
 inhabitants during the late siege. 
 
 The hill abounds in cavities, that serve as re- 
 ceptacles for the rain. None, however, is so singular 
 and worthy of notice as St. Michael's Cave, on the 
 side of the hill, in a line with the South barracks, 
 about 1,100 feet above the level of the sea. At the 
 entrance are the remains of a strong wall. The 
 mouth is only 5 feet wide ; but on descending a slope 
 of earth, it widens considerably, and, with the as- 
 sistance of torches, the openings of several smaller 
 caves are discovered. The outer cave is about 200 
 feet long, and 90 broad. The top appears to be 
 supported by pillars of vast magnitude, formed by 
 the perpetual droppings of petrifying water, the whole 
 bearing great resemblance to the inside of a gloomy 
 Gothic cathedral. 
 
 The several gradations in the progress of these
 
 PETRIFIED BONES 37 
 
 petrifactions are easily discovered. In some may be 
 observed small capitals, descending from the roof, 
 whilst proportionable bases rise underneath : others 
 again are formed of very small diameter ; and a third 
 class, immensely large, seem to support the roof of 
 this wonderful cavern. Visitors are generally con- 
 ducted to view this cave ; and numbers, with the 
 assistance of ropes and torches, have attempted to 
 explore the depth ; however, after descending about 
 500 feet they have been obliged to return, by the 
 gross vapours which issued from beneath. It was in 
 this cave that the Spaniards concealed themselves 
 in the siege of 1727, when a party of them, unperceived, 
 got into the garrison, at the Cave-guard, near Europa 
 Advance, but afterwards failed in their enterprise. 
 
 There are several other caves on different parts 
 of the hill, in which the water possesses the same 
 petrifying qualities. One under Middle Hill, called 
 Pocoroca, was fitted up, previous to the bombardment, 
 for the governor's reception ; but was afterwards 
 converted into a powder magazine, being very 
 convenient for the batteries on the heights. 
 
 Amongst the natural curiosities of Gibraltar, the 
 petrified bones, found in the cavities of the rocks, 
 have greatly attracted the attention of the curious. 
 These bones are not found in one particular part, 
 but have been discovered in various places at a 
 considerable distance from each other. From the 
 rocks near Rosia Bay (without the line-wall) great 
 quantities of this curious petrification have been 
 collected, and sent home for the inspection of 
 naturalists. Some of the bones are of large diameter ; 
 and, being broken with the rock, the marrow is easily 
 to be distinguished. Colonel James, in his description 
 of Gibraltar, mentions an entire human skeleton 
 being discovered in the solid rock at the Prince's
 
 38 APES [Chap. II 
 
 lines ; which the miner blew to pieces : and in the 
 beginning of the late blockade, a party of miners, 
 forming a cave at Upper All's Well, in the lines, 
 produced several bones that were petrified to the 
 rock, and appeared to have belonged to a large bird ; 
 being present at the time, I procured several fragments ; 
 but in the bombardment of 1781 they were destroyed 
 with other similar curiosities. 
 
 The hill is remarkable for the number of apes 
 about its summit, which are said not to be found in 
 any other part of Spain. They breed in places 
 inaccessible to man, and frequently appear in large 
 droves with their young on their back, on the western 
 face of the hill. It is imagined they were originally 
 brought from Barbary by the Moors, as a similar 
 species inhabits Mons Abyla, which, on that account, 
 is generally called Ape's Hill. Red-legged partridges 
 are often found in coveys ; woodcocks and teal are 
 sometimes seen, and wild rabbits are caught about 
 Europa and Windmill Hill. The garrison orders 
 forbid officers to shoot on the western side of the rock ; 
 parties, however, often go in boats round Europa Point 
 to kill wild pigeons, which are numerous in the caves. 
 
 Eagles and vultures annually visit Gibraltar from 
 Barbary, in their way to the interior parts of Spain. 
 The former breed in the craggy parts of the rock, 
 and, with the hawk, are often seen towering round 
 its summit. Mosquitoes are exceedingly troublesome 
 towards the close of summer, and locusts are some- 
 times found. The scorpion, centipedes, and other 
 venomous reptiles, abound amongst the rocks and 
 old buildings ; and the harmless green lizard and 
 snake are frequently caught by the soldiers, who, 
 after drawing their teeth, treat them with every mark 
 of fondness. 
 
 With regard to the climate of Gibraltar, the
 
 CLIMATE 39 
 
 inhabitants breath a temperate and wholesome air 
 for most part of the year. The summer months of 
 June, July, and August are excessively warm, with a 
 perpetual serene and clear sky : the heat is, however, 
 allayed, in a great measure, by a constant refreshing 
 breeze from the sea, which usually sets in about ten 
 in the forenoon, continuing till almost sunset ; and, 
 from its invigorating and agreeable coolness, is em- 
 phatically called the Doctor. The cold in winter is 
 not so excessive as in the neighbouring parts of the 
 country. Snow falls but seldom, and ice is a rarity ; 
 yet the Granadian mountains in Spain, and the lofty 
 mountains in Africa, have snow lying on them for 
 several months. Heavy rains, high winds, and most 
 tremendous thunder, with dreadfully vivid lightning, 
 are the attendants on December and January. The 
 rain then pours down in torrents from the hill, and, 
 descending with great rapidity, often chokes up the 
 drains with large stones and rubbish, and sometimes 
 does great injury to the works ; but these storms are 
 never of long duration : the sky soon; clears up ; the 
 heavy clouds disperse ; the cheering sun appears, and 
 sufficiently compensates for the horrors of the pre- 
 ceding night. It is during this season that the water 
 that serves the garrison for the ensuing summer is 
 collected. The aqueduct, which conducts it to the 
 fountain in the centre of the town, is extremely well 
 executed ; and was constructed by a Jesuit, when the 
 Spaniards were in possession of Gibraltar. It is 
 erected beneath the bank of sand, without South Port, 
 beginning to the southward of the 8-gun bastion, 
 and, collecting the rain-water that filters through the 
 sand, conducts it to the South Port, and thence to 
 the fountain. The water thus strained and purified, 
 is remarkably clear and wholesome. 
 
 The appearance of the Rock is barren and for-
 
 40 VEGETATION [Chap. II 
 
 bidding, as few trees or shrubs, excepting palmettos, 
 are to be seen on the face of the hill ; yet it is not 
 entirely destitute of vegetation ; wild herbs, of different 
 kinds, spring up in the interstices of the rocks, when 
 the periodical rains set in, and afford some trifling 
 nourishment to the bullocks, sheep, and goats that 
 browse upon the hill. The first rains generally fall in 
 September or October, and continue at intervals to 
 refresh the garrison till April or May. When they 
 cease, and the powerful rays of the sun have withered 
 the little verdure that appeared on the hill, nothing 
 offers to the eye but sharp uncouth rocks, and dried 
 palmetto bushes. The soil collected in the low 
 ground is, however, extremely rich and fertile, pro- 
 ducing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Colonel 
 James, in his elaborate history of the Herculean 
 Straits, enumerates no less than 300 different herbs 
 which are to be found on various parts of the Rock. 
 Gibraltar consequently must be an excellent field of 
 amusement to a botanist. 
 
 The garrison, before the blockade of 1779, was 
 chiefly supplied with roots and garden-stuff from the 
 gardens on the neutral ground, which, being on a flat, 
 could almost constantly (even in summer) be kept 
 in a state of vegetation. The proprietors of these 
 gardens were obliged to relinquish them in 1779, 
 when the Spaniards erected their advanced works : 
 from that period General Eliott encouraged cultivation 
 within his own limits by every possible indulgence. 
 Many plots at the southward were enclosed with 
 walls, the ground cleared of stones and rubbish, and 
 soil collected from other parts, so that with assiduity 
 and perseverance, after some time the produce during 
 the winter season was so increased as to be almost 
 equal to the consumption ; and probably, in the space of 
 a few years, the garrison may be totally independent,
 
 THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT 41 
 
 in this article, of any assistance from the neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 Gibraltar, being nearly surrounded by the sea, is 
 exceedingly well supplied with fish : the John-doree, 
 turbot, sole, salmon, hake, rock-cod, mullet, and 
 ranger, with great variety of less note, are caught 
 along the Spanish shore, and in different parts of the 
 bay. Mackerel are also taken in vast numbers during 
 the season, and shell-fish are sometimes brought from 
 the neighbouring parts. The Moors, in time of peace, 
 supply the garrison with ox-beef, mutton, veal, and 
 poultry, on moderate terms ; and from Spain they 
 procure pork, which is remarkable for its sweetness 
 and flavour. Fruits of all kinds, such as melons, 
 oranges, green figs, grapes, pomegranates, etc., are 
 brought in abundance from Barbary and Portugal : and 
 the best wines are drunk at very reasonable prices. 
 
 The present military establishment of Gibraltar 
 (ist of January, 1790) consists of six companies of 
 artillery, nine regiments of the line, and a company of 
 artificers, commanded by engineers; composing an army 
 of upwards of 4,000 men, officers included. Before the 
 late bombardment, the troops were quartered in the 
 barracks at the southward, and in quarters fitted up 
 out of the old Spanish buildings in town. The officers 
 were distributed in the same manner ; but in case of 
 reinforcements, and that government quarters were 
 not sufficient for their accommodation, billet-money 
 was allowed in proportion to rank, and the officers 
 hired lodgings from the inhabitants. 
 
 The regiments, on their arrival in the garrison, 
 are entitled to salt provisions from the stores, in the 
 following proportion : * One ration for each sergeant, 
 
 * The garrison of Gibraltar is now put on the same footing as all 
 other British garrisons abroad, in respect to rations of provisions as 
 well as rates of pay.
 
 42 THE BAY OF GIBRALTAR [Chap. II 
 
 corporal, drummer, and private, consisting of 7 lbs. of 
 bread, delivered twice a week, beef 2 lbs. 8 oz., pork 
 I lb., butter 10 oz., peas half a gallon, and groats 3 
 pints : every commissioned and warrant officer, under 
 a captain, receives 2 rations, a captain 3, a major 
 and lieutenant-colonel 4, a colonel 6. In times of pro- 
 found peace, officers generally receive a compensation 
 in money for their provisions, or dispose of them to 
 the Jews, of whom there are great numbers in the 
 garrison, who are always ready to purchase, or take 
 them in barter. The troops are paid in currency, which, 
 let the exchange of the garrison be above or below 
 par, never varies to the non-commissioned and privates. 
 A sergeant receives weekly, as full garrison pay, i 
 dollar, 6 reals, equal to C)d. sterling, per diem ; a 
 corporal and drummer, i dollar, i real, and 5 quartils, 
 in sterling about 6d. per diem ; and a private, 7 reals, 
 or d,\d. sterling per diem. Officers receive their sub- 
 sistence according to the currency : i6d. per dollar is 
 par. During the late bombardment, the exchange, 
 for a considerable time, was as high as \2d.y by which 
 those gentlemen who were under the necessity of 
 drawing for their pay, lost 6d. in every 35. : and it 
 seldom was lower than 40^. whilst the siege continued. 
 The coins current in Gibraltar are those used in Spain. 
 All accounts are kept in dollars, reals, and quartils : 
 the two former, like the pound sterling, are imaginary ; 
 the quartil is a copper coin. 
 
 The bay of Gibraltar, formed by the headlands of 
 Cabrita and Europa Points, is commodious, and seems 
 intended by nature to command the Straits : there 
 are opportunities, however, when a fleet may pass un- 
 observed by the garrison ; for such is the impenetrable 
 thickness of the mists, which usually prevail during 
 the easterly winds, that many ships have baffled the 
 vigilance of the cruisers, and gone through unnoticed ;
 
 ALGEZIRAS 43 
 
 the south-westerly winds, particularly at the equinox, 
 are also often attended with such thick and rainy 
 weather, that vessels have passed through and got 
 into the bay without being seen. 
 
 Since Gibraltar has been in the possession of the 
 English, the Spaniards have erected, in different parts 
 of the bay, several batteries and forts for the pro- 
 tection of their small craft in war, and tg prevent 
 their coast from being annoyed. At Cabrita, which is 
 a bold rocky point, are a barbet battery and watch- 
 tower, whence, during the blockade, signals of flags 
 by day, and lights at night, were made to inform the 
 Spanish cruisers at Algeziras, etc., of the approach 
 of any vessel towards the bay. These watch-towers 
 are distributed, at short distances, along the coast for 
 a considerable extent, to alarm the country, in case of 
 a visit from the Algerines, or when any other extra- 
 ordinary circumstance happens. To the northward of 
 Cabrita are two others, with a fort at the northern- 
 most tower, which is called San Garcia : the point on 
 which the latter are erected projects, with a long reef 
 of dangerous shoals and rocks, considerably into the 
 bay. The town and island of Algeziras, with their 
 batteries, then appear in view. 
 
 Algeziras lies opposite to Gibraltar, about 5^ miles 
 across the bay ; and, since the late siege, has greatly 
 increased in consequence and wealth. The town 
 was built and fortified by the Saracens about the 
 year 714, two years after their establishment at 
 Gibraltar. It is remarkable for being the place where 
 those invaders first disembarked, when they so 
 rapidly overturned the Gothic empire in Spain ; and, 
 as well as Gibraltar, was erected to preserve a 
 communication with Africa. Whilst the Moors 
 maintained their conquests, it consequently became 
 a city of great importance and strength. We find,
 
 44 FIRST USE OF CANNON [Chap. II 
 
 during the successive wars which took place between 
 the Moors and the Spaniards, Algeziras was fre- 
 quently besieged by the kings of Castile ; and when 
 Gibraltar so easily fell into the hands of the Christians 
 in 1 310, this city resisted all their efforts. At length, 
 after a most obstinate siege in 1344, Algeziras was 
 compelled to surrender to the victorious arms of 
 Alonzo XI. The siege continued twenty months, 
 and most of the potentates in Europe interested 
 themselves in the event, by sending succours to the 
 Christian besiegers. The English under the Duke 
 of Lancaster, the Earls of Derby, Leicester, Salisbury, 
 and Lincoln, particularly distinguished themselves by 
 their gallantry and conduct during this memorable 
 contest. It is worthy of remark, that cannon are 
 said to have been first made use of in this siege, 
 by the Moors against the assailants ; and the English, 
 profiting by the knowledge gained on this occasion, 
 afterwards used them at the glorious battle of Cressy. 
 The Spaniards continued masters of the town till 
 1369, when the Moors of Granada surprised the city; 
 but being unable to retain it, they demolished the 
 works, and carried away the inhabitants captive. 
 
 Whilst the Moors kept possession of Gibraltar, 
 which was now in its turn become a city of im- 
 portance, the Spaniards never attempted to rebuild 
 Algeziras ; and still less did they esteem it an object 
 worthy their attention, after Gibraltar fell into their 
 hands. The town, therefore, remained in ruins and 
 desolate, excepting a few fishermen's huts, till the 
 Spaniards, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, 
 thought proper, after the final cession of Gibraltar 
 to Great Britain, to re-people and secure it by a few 
 batteries towards the sea, which also might occasion- 
 ally protect their cruisers in time of war. Since that 
 period, from the constant intercourse and trade which
 
 TWO RIVERS 45 
 
 subsisted between it and Gibraltar before the war of 
 1779, Algeziras is become a town of some consequence 
 and wealth ; and, as a writer has justly expressed, 
 '* like a phoenix, has risen out of its own ashes, after 
 being for ages in ruins." 
 
 The New Town is built to the northward of the 
 old city (whose venerable ruins still remain), and is 
 defended to the southward by a battery of 9 or 10 
 guns, erected on an island some distance from the 
 shore. To the northward of the town is another 
 battery of 6 guns, and a little farther, on an eminence, 
 one of 22, which was raised by Admiral Barcelo, 
 when he was apprehensive of an attack from Sir 
 George Rodney in 1780. Between the island and the 
 town, small craft find tolerable shelter; but ships of 
 war, or of large burthen, anchor to the northward. 
 The lands round the town are much cultivated, and, 
 with the shipping, form, in the spring, a pleasantly 
 variegated and beautiful prospect to a spectator at 
 Gibraltar. A detachment or regiment of infantry is 
 constantly on duty here, who, with those of the 
 Spanish lines and neighbourhood, are under the 
 orders of the commandant at St. Roque. 
 
 To the northward of Algeziras are the rivers 
 Palmones and Guadaranque : the former is the broader 
 and deeper of the two, and was the principal retreat 
 of the Spanish gun and mortar boats, when they 
 wanted repairs, after bombarding the garrison. 
 Admiral Barcelo in this river also prepared the fire- 
 ships he sent over in June, 1780. On the east banks 
 of the Guadaranque, near Rocadillo Point, where 
 there is a small fort or tower, are the venerable ruins 
 of the once famous city of Carteia. This celebrated 
 place, scarcely a stone of which is now left to inform 
 posterity where it stood, is reported to have been 
 built by the Phoenicians, in the first ages of navigation,
 
 46 CARTEIA [Chap. II 
 
 when those adventurers visited the extreme parts 
 of the then known world. Historians mention it 
 under the names of Carteia, HeracHa, and Calpe 
 Carteia. When the Carthaginians became a powerful 
 nation, and aimed at the sovereignty of Spain, Carteia 
 maintained its independence for some time, till 
 Hannibal, according to Livy, stormed the city, and 
 demolished most of its works. When Scipio obliged 
 the Carthaginians to quit Spain, Carteia was a place 
 of little importance ; but the Romans finding it a 
 convenient station for their navy, the city was in- 
 creased with a Roman colony, and once more began 
 to rise into splendour and magnificence. After the 
 memorable battle of Munda, Cneius Pompey fled to 
 Carteia, but, being pursued, was obliged to leave it 
 precipitately. As the Roman empire declined, so 
 did Carteia ; and probably, soon after the irruption 
 of the Goths and Vandals, it became almost desolate 
 and waste. On the invasion of Spain by the Saracens 
 that nation undoubtedly dismantled the buildings of 
 this famous city for materials to erect Gibraltar and 
 Algeziras. The remains of a quay are still visible, 
 with some few ruins of public buildings, apparently 
 Roman ; and the country peasants, in tilling the 
 ground, often find various antique coins, which 
 curious antiquarians have not thought unworthy of a 
 place in their cabinets. 
 
 Half-way between the Guadaranque and the 
 garrison is another fort and tower, called Point Mala, 
 or Negro Point, to the northward of which is the 
 inland village of St. Roque. This is a small, insignifi- 
 cant town, though delightfully situated, at about five 
 miles' distance from Gibraltar. It was built by the 
 Spaniards, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, 
 when the garrison of Gibraltar surrendered to Sir 
 George Rooke. The Spanish commandant of the
 
 PLEASANT INTERCOURSE 47 
 
 lines generally makes it his residence ; and during 
 the siege under the Duke de Crillon, the Count 
 d'Artois and the Duke de Bourbon had apartments 
 in the town. Previous to the war of 1779 it was often 
 frequented by the officers from Gibraltar ; and in the 
 spring and summer seasons British families resided 
 there for several months, some for the benefit of their 
 health, others for pleasure. The combined army, 
 during the late siege, encamped on the plains below 
 St. Roque, and landed all their ordnance and military 
 stores a little to the westward of Point Mala, near 
 the Orange Grove. 
 
 I cannot help remarking in this place, that, among 
 the evils of the late siege, the garrison have to regret 
 the interruption of that friendly intercourse which 
 before subsisted between them and the neighbour- 
 hood, and which is now prohibited by the Spanish 
 government. When the communication was free and 
 unlimited (except in point of introducing a contraband 
 traffic in Spain), the most friendly intimacy subsisted 
 between the British military and the Spaniards 
 resident in the adjacent villages. Parties were 
 reciprocally visiting each other, and the officers con- 
 stantly making excursions into the country. These 
 excursions, with others to the coast of Barbary (which 
 in the season superabounds with various species of 
 game), were pleasing relaxations from the duties 
 of the garrison, and rendered Gibraltar as eligible a 
 station as any to which a soldier could be ordered. 
 
 On the whole, whether we consider Gibraltar as 
 commanding the entrance of the Mediterranean, and 
 consequently as capable of controlling the commerce 
 of the Europeans with the Levant ; or whether we 
 consider it as almost impregnable by nature, and 
 consequently as most susceptible of the improvements 
 of art, its situation is, perhaps, more singular and
 
 48 THE FIRST OF FORTRESSES [Chap. II 
 
 curious than that of any fortress in the world. These 
 circumstances, and the degree of consequence which 
 it confers on its possessor, in the opinion of the 
 Barbary states, have not failed to excite the attention 
 and alarm the interests of most maritime nations in 
 Europe ; and, with the multitude at least, it has always 
 been an object of political importance. Politicians, 
 however, there have been, of no inferior rank, who 
 have thought very differently of its value and utility. 
 On this delicate subject I will frankly confess my 
 inability to decide. I shall, therefore, without further 
 apology, leave these speculations to men of more 
 leisure and experience, and proceed to matters better 
 adapted to my capacity and information.
 
 GENERAL ELIOTT (AETEUWARDS LORD HEATHFIELD). 
 From the portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., in the National Gallery. 
 
 [To face p.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 Although the Spaniards had been thrice defeated in 
 their attempts to recover Gibraltar, they continued 
 to view that garrison with a jealous eye, determined, 
 if we may judge from their late conduct, to seize the 
 first eligible opportunity of wresting it, if possible, 
 from the dominion of Great Britain. 
 
 The war of 1762 was too unexpected on the part 
 of Spain, and conducted with too great success by 
 the British minister, to admit of such an enterprise 
 as the siege of Gibraltar. The period was not, how- 
 ever, far distant when the contest between Great 
 Britain and her colonies seemed to promise as favour- 
 able an opportunity as their warmest wishes could 
 have anticipated ; particularly when, in addition to 
 the civil war, they found hostilities taking place 
 between Great Britain and France. The close of the 
 year 1777, when the news of the convention of Saratoga 
 first arrived in Europe, was the period which they 
 embraced to introduce themselves into the dispute. 
 Hostilities had then been carried on for near six 
 months between Great Britain and France : Spain 
 therefore judged the opportunity favourable to offer 
 her mediation, proposing such an arrangement as she 
 must be assured would not be agreeable to the 
 principal belligerent powers. Great Britain had no 
 sooner refused her acquiescence than the court of 
 Madrid espoused the part of France ; and, on the 
 
 49 4
 
 50 SECRET PREPARATIONS [Chap. Ill 
 
 i6th of June, 1779, the Spanish ambassador, the 
 Marquis d'Almodovar, presented to the court of 
 London his hostile manifesto. 
 
 The principal design of the court of Madrid, in 
 entering into this war, was evidently the recovery 
 of Gibraltar. Before any reply was given by the 
 British ministry to their proposals for a pacification, 
 overtures had been privately made to the Emperor 
 of Morocco to farm the ports of Tetuan, Tangier, 
 and Earache, by which means Gibraltar might be cut 
 off from its principal supplies. This conduct seemed 
 to argue a confidence that her terms in the mediation 
 would be refused ; and the considerable depots of 
 military stores which were collected in her arsenals 
 undoubtedly pointed out that the siege of that garrison 
 was her first and immediate object. On the 21st of 
 June, 1779, the communication between Spain and 
 Gibraltar was closed, by an order from Madrid. 
 
 Two days previous to this event General Eliott, 
 the governor, accompanied by many field-officers of 
 the garrison, paid a visit to General Mendoza, the 
 commandant of the Spanish lines, to congratulate him 
 on his promotion. Their reception at St. Roque 
 was far from agreeable ; and it was remarked that the 
 Spanish general appeared embarrassed during their 
 stay, which might proceed from his knowledge of 
 what was to follow. The visit was short, and the 
 governor had scarcely returned to the garrison when 
 Mr. Logie, his majesty's consul in Barbary, arrived 
 from Tangier, in a Swedish frigate, with certain 
 intelligence of the intended rupture between Great 
 Britain and Spain. Mr. Logic's information pro- 
 ceeded from a Swedish brig, which on her passage 
 to Tangier had fallen in with the French fleet, of 
 about 28 sail of the line, off Cape Finisterre. The 
 master of the brig being ordered on board the
 
 1779] STATE OF THE GARRISON 51 
 
 French flagship by the Admiral, M. d'Orvilliers, haa 
 learned that they had been cruising for some time 
 in that latitude, expecting the junction of the Spanish 
 fleet from Cadiz. From the amicable assurances held 
 out by the Spaniards, we could not persuade ourselves 
 in the garrison that a rupture was so near ; but the 
 mail from the garrison being refused on the 21st of 
 June, and being acquainted at the same time that 
 the intercourse between Gibraltar and the neighbour- 
 hood was no longer to be permitted, we had sufficient 
 confirmation of Mr. Logie's intelligence. We after- 
 wards learned that the courier who brought from 
 Madrid the order to shut up the communication, had 
 been detained by accidents on the road ; otherwise it 
 was not impossible that he might have arrived during 
 General Eliott's visit at St. Roque. 
 
 As the fortress of Gibraltar after this event became 
 a little world of itself, it may not be unacceptable to 
 commence the history of the siege with a state of 
 the troops in garrison at that period, and the com- 
 manding officers of different corps. 
 
 General G. A. Eliott, Governor. 
 
 Lieutenant-General R. Boyd, Lieutenant-Governor. 
 
 Major-General de la Motte, commanding the Hanoverian Brigade. 
 
 Rank and 
 Off. Staff. S. D. File. 
 
 Artillery . . . 25 o 17 15 428 Col. Godwin, Commander of 
 
 Artillery. 
 
 i2th Regiment . . 26 3 29 22 519 Lieut. -Col. Trigge. 
 
 39th ,, . . 25 4 29 22 506 Major Kellet. 
 
 S6th ,, . . 23 4 30 22 508 Major Fancourt. 
 
 58th ,, . . 25 3 29 22 526 Lieut. -Col. Cochrane. 
 
 72nd, or R. M. v. . 29 4 47 22 944 Lieut. -Col. Gledstanes. 
 
 ^« THardenberg's . 16 13 42 14 367 Lieut. -Col. Hugo. 
 
 g-2-<Reden's . . 15 12 42 14 361 Lieut. Col. Dachenhausen. 
 
 *> (.De la Motte's . 17 16 42 14 367 Lieut. -Col. Sclippergill. 
 
 "igineers, with a Com-) „ , ^ r- ^ r^ r^u- r r- • 
 
 pany of Artificers .j ^ ° ^ ^ ^°^ Col. Green, Chief Engmeer. 
 
 Total . . 209 59 313 169 4,632 — making an army of 5,382 men. 
 
 On the communication being closed, a council ofwar
 
 52 DEFENSIVE PRECAUTIONS [Chap. Ill 
 
 was immediately summoned, to advise concerning the 
 measures to be pursued on the occasion. Preparations 
 had been privately made for the defence of the garrison 
 when intelligence was first received of the probability 
 of a war. The objects, therefore, at this time to be 
 considered were, how to procure constant supplies 
 of provisions from Barbary, and in what manner the 
 correspondence between England and Gibraltar was 
 to be conducted. Mr. Logic's presence in Barbary 
 was very essential to both these points : he conse- 
 quently returned to Tangier on the 22nd, having 
 concerted with the governor proper signals, by which 
 he might communicate intelligence across the Straits. 
 Admiral Duff also, on the 22nd, removed the men-of- 
 war under his command from their usual anchorage, 
 off Water Port (where they were liable to be annoyed 
 by the enemy's forts), to the southward, off the New 
 Mole. His force at that time consisted of the Panther, 
 of 60 guns, Captain Harvey, on. board of which was 
 the flag ; 3 frigates, two of which were on a cruise ; 
 and a sloop of war. 
 
 It is natural to suppose that the garrison were 
 not a little alarmed at this unexpected procedure of 
 the Spaniards. The northern guards were reinforced 
 and the pickets cautioned to be alert, in case of alarm. 
 Land Port barriers were shut, and an artillery officer 
 ordered to Willis's batteries, to observe the move- 
 ments of the enemy, and protect the Devil's Tower 
 guard, which was ordered to be very circumspect and 
 vigilant. 
 
 Whilst the friendly intercourse subsisted between 
 the garrison and the neighbourhood, several British 
 families and officers had permission to reside at St. 
 Roque, Los Varios, and other small villages a few 
 miles distant ; but immediately on the communication 
 being closed, General Mendoza sent them peremptory
 
 1779] AN AMERICAN PRIZE 53 
 
 orders to remove ; and the time limited for their 
 departure was so short, that some of them were 
 obHged to leave most of their effects behind. Those 
 officers whose curiosity had led them into the interior 
 parts of the country were positively refused liberty 
 to return to the garrison ; they were therefore con- 
 ducted to Cadiz, and had passports granted them 
 to leave the kingdom by other routes. Colonel Ross 
 and Captain Vignoles of the 39th, with Captain Lefanne 
 of the 56th, nevertheless contrived to join their corps, 
 by "assuming disguises, and risking the passage in 
 a row-boat from Faro (a port in Portugal) to Gibraltar ; 
 others also attempted, but unfortunately were in- 
 tercepted in their voyage. 
 
 The Childers sloop of war, on the 24th, brought in 
 two prizes from the west, one of which (an American) 
 Captain Peacock captured in the midst of the Spanish 
 fleet, then at sea. The conduct of the Spaniards 
 on this occasion was extremely ambiguous. Every 
 circumstance that fell under our own immediate ob- 
 servation convinced us that they now intended 
 hostilities against Great Britain ; and from Mr. Logie's 
 intelligence we had every cause to think that this 
 fleet was out to join the French admiral. Their 
 permitting our cruisers, therefore, to capture a friend 
 (as they might then call the Americans), under the 
 protection of their fleet, we must either consider as 
 a finesse, or suppose that they had not received orders 
 to act offensively. The Childers left two of our 
 frigates watching the motions of the Spanish fleet. It 
 was somewhat singular that a Mr. Suase (an American 
 major, who had been prisoner in the garrison a little 
 time before, along with others of his countrymen, 
 but had made his escape) and two deserters from 
 Gibraltar should be recognised through their dis- 
 guises, on board the American prize. The major was
 
 54 THE ENEMY ACTIVE [Chap. Ill 
 
 remanded to his old confinement in the Navy Hospital, 
 and the latter were punished according to their 
 deserts. 
 
 Though the motions of the enemy did not indicate 
 any immediate design of attacking the garrison, and 
 the closing of the communication might be only in 
 consequence of hostilities having commenced between 
 Great Britain and Spain, yet our intelligence, and 
 their late deceitful conduct, gave us great reason to 
 suppose that they intended some attempt on Gibraltar. 
 Depots of earth, etc., were therefore collected in 
 various places ; empty hogsheads and casks were 
 bought from the inhabitants, for the purpose of filling 
 them with earth, to strengthen and repair the fortifi- 
 cations ; and other precautions were taken for the 
 defence of the place. On the other hand, the enemy 
 employed what troops they had then on duty, in the 
 lines and neighbourhood, in drawing down cannon 
 from St. Roque, etc., to animate the forts (in which 
 few ordnance were mounted during the peace), and 
 in arranging matters to strengthen and support their 
 posts. 
 
 In the beginning of July, the Enterprise frigate, 
 Sir Thomas Rich, Bart., returned with a fleet of small 
 craft, laden with live-stock and fruit, from Tangier ; 
 in consequence of which, fourteen days' fresh pro- 
 visions were issued to the troops. The engineers 
 continued preparing materials in their departments, 
 towards completing the works of the garrison ; for 
 which purpose strong parties from the line were 
 granted them daily, under the command of overseers. 
 About 300 Jews and Genoese were also employed 
 in levelling heaps of sand, near the gardens, on the 
 neutral ground, in order that, if the enemy should 
 approach, they might not receive any protection and 
 cover from our lower batteries. The pickets of the
 
 1779] AN EMBARGO AT CADIZ 55 
 
 garrison were ready, on the grand parade, to support 
 these parties in case they had been molested ; but 
 though they were at work within half musket-shot 
 of the enemy's advanced guards in the Micquelet 
 huts, yet not the least attempt was made to disturb 
 them. 
 
 On the 3rd of July a detachment of about 180 men 
 from the British line was ordered to join the artillery, 
 to be taught the practice of the great guns. The 
 artillery in garrison were only five companies ; a 
 number not adequate to the different duties in case 
 of a siege : this reinforcement was therefore added, 
 and proved afterwards of great service in that depart- 
 ment. Three English sailors came in an open boat, 
 on the 4th, from Cadiz, and brought intelligence that 
 an embargo was laid on all English vessels in that 
 port. In the evening we observed the Spaniards 
 relieve the guards in their lines. 
 
 The Spaniards, in time of peace, always stationed 
 a regiment of cavalry at St. Roque, with another 
 regiment or detachment of infantry at Algeziras ; 
 parties from which did duty at their lines ; and no 
 additional body of troops, or ships of war, had yet 
 appeared near the garrison. On the 5th, however, 
 in the afternoon, a Spanish squadron of two seventy- 
 fours, five frigates, and other vessels, to the number 
 of eleven, hove in sight from the west, and lay-to 
 some time off the garrison. Whilst they remained 
 in this situation, the governor thought it prudent 
 to make some new disposition of the ordnance at the 
 southward, and to caution the regiments in the South 
 barracks, the 12th and 72nd, to be alert. The captain 
 of Europa guard, who, before, usually joined at retreat- 
 beating, was also ordered to his command. In the 
 afternoon three privateer cutters arrived from the 
 westward. A schooner, under Portuguese colours,
 
 S6 THE FIRST SHOT [Chap. HI 
 
 stood across from the enemy to reconnoitre the first 
 that came in, and on her return was fired upon from 
 Europa batteries, which was the first hostile shot 
 from the garrison. The enemy's squadron, in the 
 evening, drove to the eastward ; and at night the 
 Enterprise frigate arrived from Tetuan with Mr. Logie, 
 the consul. In the interval of this gentleman's depar- 
 ture from the garrison, a ship of the emperor's had 
 arrived at Gibraltar (to be repaired ; but Admiral 
 Duff being backward in granting the stores, the 
 governor thought proper to send for Mr. Logie to 
 explain to the admiral the necessity there was of 
 complying with the emperor's request. To refuse 
 such trifling assistance at that important time, he 
 considered might be productive of serious consequences 
 to the garrison. The Enterprise frigate accordingly 
 sailed to Tetuan to bring over the consul. About 
 sunset, the evening of the 5th, the frigate left Tetuan 
 to return, and was discovered by the enemy's 
 squadron, part of which immediately gave chase. Sir 
 Thomas Rich, however, from his superior knowledge 
 of the tides, escaped, though the wind was contrary. 
 When he arrived within view of the garrison, not 
 making the concerted night-signals for fear of being 
 discovered by the pursuers, the officer at Europa 
 saluted him with several shot, but fortunately they 
 did not take effect. 
 
 The following day, the 6th of July, a packet was 
 received from England, by way of Lisbon and Faro, 
 informing the governor that hostilities had commenced 
 between Great Britain and Spain. A proclamation 
 in consequence was published in the evening for 
 capturing all Spanish vessels, etc., and letters of 
 marque were granted for that purpose to the privateers 
 in the bay. Early on the morning of the 8th, a 
 soldier of Reden's deserted from the Devil's Tower
 
 1779] A SPANISH CONVOY 57 
 
 guard, and some time afterwards was followed by 
 a Serjeant of the 39th, who was one of the overseers 
 attending the inhabitants employed beyond the 
 gardens. In the evening General Mendoza, with 
 several officers, advanced from the lines as far as the 
 Micquelet huts, and, after reconnoitring about an 
 hour, returned. 
 
 The Spanish commodore continued cruising in 
 our neighbourhood till the 8th, when he stood under 
 an easy sail for the westward. Before they quitted 
 the Mediterranean they brought-to a Portuguese 
 schooner, bound from Tetuan to the garrison, and 
 made very earnest inquiries concerning the state 
 of our provisions. The 9th, the American prisoners, 
 detained at this time in the garrison, were distributed 
 amongst the privateers ; and the following day, in 
 company with the Childers sloop of war, they brought 
 in four small prizes. 
 
 Admiral Duff having received intelligence that a 
 large fleet of small vessels was to sail from Malaga 
 with wine and provisions for the Spanish grand fleet, 
 the Childers was ordered, on the nth, to cruise to 
 the eastward, and give information, by signal, when 
 they appeared, with the strength of their convoy. 
 Whilst she was on the lookout, her boat gave chase 
 to a settee, and was fired at from Fort St. Barbara, 
 which was the first hostile shot from the enemy. 
 About 1 1 o'clock the signals were made of the expected 
 Spanish convoy being in sight, and soon after, of 
 their force. Our admiral, however, only cautioned 
 the navy to be ready, and went to Windmill Hill to 
 reconnoitre them personally. About four in the after- 
 noon the convoy, consisting of about 60 sail of different 
 burthens, under charge of five xebeques, from 20 to 
 30 guns each, were abreast of Europa Point. The 
 privateers which had accompanied the Childers in
 
 58 DISAPPOINTMENT [Chap. Ill 
 
 the morning, were then towing in a prize taken from 
 the midst of their fleet ; and they, as well as the 
 Childers, kept up a smart running fire on the Spanish 
 commodore ; which was seconded at the same time 
 from the garrison batteries at the Europa Point and 
 Europa Advance. The Panther (the admiral's ship, 
 with the flag on board) and the Enterprise were still 
 at anchor ; but at sunset Sir Thomas Rich had per- 
 mission to slip, and the Panther soon after got under 
 way. On the appearance of the frigate the enemy 
 were confused, and instantly steered for Ceuta. The 
 Childers and privateers pursued, followed by the 
 frigate, and soon after by the Panther. Night was 
 now advancing apace, and in a short time we lost 
 sight of the ships. A few broadsides now and then 
 gave us hopes that our friends had come up with 
 them ; and we could not help flattering ourselves, 
 from the inferior force of the convoy, that da^^light 
 would exhibit the majority of them in our possession. 
 In the morning, however, we discovered the admiral 
 standing towards the bay with five or six small prizes, 
 and not one other of the enemy in sight : whence 
 we concluded that they had worked back to their 
 own coast, or escaped through the Straits in the 
 night whilst our ships were off Ceuta. We afterwards 
 learned that the squadron which appeared on the 5th 
 was sent to convoy this valuable fleet past Gibraltar, 
 lest the British admiral should intercept them, and 
 prevent their grand fleet from receiving these much 
 wanted supplies ; but the convoy being by some 
 unforeseen delays detained, the Spanish commodore 
 quitted the station on the 8th. 
 
 Two line-of-battle ships were observed cruising 
 behind the rock on the 13th, and at night they went 
 into Ceuta. The i6th the enemy blocked up the 
 port with a squadron of men-of-war, consisting of
 
 1779] LOGIE'S ESCAPE 59 
 
 2 seventy-fours, 2 frigates, 5 xebeques, and a number of 
 galleys, half-galleys, and armed settees : they anchored 
 in the bay, off Algeziras, and being judiciously 
 arranged, and keeping a vigilant lookout, the garrison 
 became closely blockaded. This was the first motion 
 of the enemy that discovered any direct intentions of 
 distressing or attacking Gibraltar. At night Water Port 
 guard was reinforced with a captain and ten privates. 
 Till the 1 8th of this month nothing material occurred, 
 when a small convoy of settees, etc., arrived at the 
 Orange Grove, laden with military stores, which the 
 enemy began soon afterwards to disembark. 
 
 Mr. Logie having prevailed on the admiral to grant 
 the stores necessary for repairing the emperor's 
 ship, and his presence in Barbary being absolutely 
 necessary, as well to procure provisions as to conduct 
 the correspondence between Great Britain and the 
 garrison, he returned on the 19th, on board a Moorish 
 row-galley, which had arrived from the emperor with 
 dispatches relative to the ship under repair. The 
 galley was interrupted in her return by the enemy's 
 cruisers, and detained from seven in the morning till 
 five in the afternoon, when she was permitted to 
 proceed to Tangier. During the embargo Mr. Logie 
 was concealed in a small scuttle, down the run of the 
 galle}^ having previously made up the governor's 
 dispatches, and concerted signals, in a loaf, which was 
 entrusted to a Moor, to be delivered at Mr. Logic's 
 house in Tangier, in case he himself should be dis- 
 covered, with an order for the Moor to receive a 
 gratuity if he delivered it safe. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 20th a Portuguese boat 
 arrived with fowls and charcoal from Tangier. 
 Another, attempting to come in, was taken by a 
 half-galley, and carried to Algeziras. Sixty pounds 
 of fresh beef were delivered the same day to each
 
 6o HAIR UNPOWDERED [Chap. Ill 
 
 regiment for the use of the officers ; the artillery and 
 engineers received in proportion, and the navy were 
 included in this distribution. The following day 
 orders were issued for the troops to mount guard with 
 their hair unpowdered ; a circumstance trifling in 
 appearance, but which our situation afterwards proved 
 to be of great importance, and which evinced our 
 governor's great attention and prudent foresight in 
 the management of the stores. 
 
 So superior a naval force as the enemy now had in 
 our neighbourhood alarmed Admiral Duff, who was 
 apprehensive that they would make some attempts on 
 the king's ships. Signals were therefore agreed upon 
 between the fleet and the garrison, that in case the 
 enemy should make an attack in the night, the latter 
 might afford the ships every assistance and protection. 
 Three lights in a triangle were fixed upon by the navy, 
 to distinguish them from the enemy. The 22nd the 
 navy manned their boats, and captured a settee, within 
 a short distance of the enemy's xebeques : she proved 
 of little value, but the exploit reflected great credit on 
 the party employed. The same day arrived a boat 
 with cattle, etc., from Tangier. In the course of the 22nd 
 several officers, attended by a party of men, were 
 observed tracing out ground on the plain below St. 
 Roque, apparently for a camp ; and it was remarked 
 that the Micquelets in the advanced huts on the 
 neutral ground were relieved by regular troops. 
 These Micquelets are of the same description with our 
 revenue officers, and were stationed to prevent the 
 smuggling of tobacco from the garrison into Spain. 
 
 A Portuguese boat, with letters, arrived early in 
 the morning of the 24th ; also a schooner with char- 
 coal and fruit from Tangier. Between 200 and 300 
 men landed the same day at the Orange Grove, with 
 an intention, as we conjectured, of taking charge of
 
 1779] THE STAFF 6i 
 
 the stores which the enemy were disembarking there. 
 The 25th they pitched a tent on the plain for the 
 working party employed in clearing the ground. I 
 should have mentioned, that on the 12th a Hanoverian 
 soldier deserted, and this day two of the same brigade 
 followed his example. The enemy, on the 26th, began 
 to form a camp on the plain below St. Roque, about 
 half a mile from Point Mala, and three miles from 
 the garrison. Fifty tents were pitched, and a detach- 
 ment of cavalry and infantry soon after took possession. 
 The same day the Illcrim, a Swedish frigate, which 
 had been in the bay some weeks before, arrived, 
 though opposed by the enemy. The Swedish captain 
 politely brought-to on their firing a gun ; but being 
 told he must not anchor under the walls of the 
 garrison, he resumed his course, telling them he must 
 go to Gibraltar, and they should not prevent him. 
 Some shots were exchanged, but none took effect. 
 
 The Spanish camp being daily reinforced with 
 additional regiments of cavalry and infantry, and large 
 parties being still employed in landing ordnance and 
 military stores at Point Mala, the governor thought 
 proper, on the 29th, to establish the following staff 
 officers, namely. Captains Vallotton, of the 56th 
 regiment — Patterson, of the artillery — Forch, of the 
 1 2th regiment, and Eveleigh, of the engineers, to be 
 aides-de-camp to himself, as commander-in-chief; 
 Captain Wilson and Lieutenant Buckeridge, of the 
 39th regiment, aides-de-camp to Lieutenant-General 
 Boyd; Lieutenant Weinzey, of the Hanoverian Brigade, 
 aide-de-camp to Major-General de la Motte ; Major 
 Hardy, of the 56th regiment, quartermaster-general ; 
 Captain Horsburgh, of the 39th regiment, who was 
 town-major, adjutant-general ; Captain Burke, of the 
 58th regiment, town-major ; and Lieutenant S. Wood, 
 of the 56th regiment, assistant town-major. At the
 
 62 ORGANISING ECONOMIES [Chap. Ill 
 
 same time all the horses, except those belonging to 
 field and staff-officers, were ordered to be turned out 
 of the garrison, unless the owners, on inspection, had 
 I, GOG lbs. of feed for each horse; and, to enforce the 
 latter order by example, the governor directed that 
 one of his own horses should be shot. 
 
 In the afternoon of the 30th, one of the enemy's 
 xebeques manned her yards, and fired a salute. 
 Immediately afterwards we observed she had hoisted 
 a flag at the mizen top-mast head, instead of a broad 
 pendant ; from which ceremony we concluded that the 
 naval commandant had been promoted, or that he was 
 superseded by an admiral. 
 
 In the beginning of August, the corps in garrison 
 were ordered to give in returns of their best marks- 
 men, and also of those men who had ever been 
 employed in making fascines. Those officers un- 
 married, or without families, who drew double rations 
 for two commissions, were ordered at the same time 
 to draw rations only for one commission. Two 
 Dutchmen came in on the 2nd, unperceived by the 
 enemy's cruisers, laden with rice and dried fruits : the 
 rice, and a part of the fruit, the governor purchased, 
 for the use of the troops. The enemy's camp by this 
 time was considerably increased, and we numbered 26 
 cannon behind the fort at Point Mala. 
 
 A Venetian arrived on the 5th, though fired at by 
 the enemy. She (with the Dutchmen) remained no 
 longer than was necessary to take on board some of 
 the inhabitants, who, apprehensive that the garrison 
 would be besieged, thought it eligible to seek an 
 asylum in time. Indeed, about this time scarcely a 
 boat or vessel left the port without being crowded 
 with Jews or Genoese, who preferred a residence in 
 Barbary, or Portugal, to remaining in Gibraltar, 
 where the necessaries of life became every day more
 
 1779] A STRICT BLOCKADE 6^, 
 
 scarce. Early on the 6th came in a Portuguese 
 schooner, from Tangier, with 44 bullocks, 27 sheep, 
 and a few fowls ; and two days following, another 
 arrived with onions, fruit, and eggs; the latter brought 
 letters for the governor, but no news from England. 
 From this day nothing material occurred till the loth, 
 when the enemy's cruisers captured a boat belonging 
 to the garrison. 
 
 As affairs began to wear a more serious aspect, 
 a general activity reigned throughout the garrison, 
 promoted not a little by the example of the governor, 
 who was usually present when the workmen paraded 
 at dawn of day. The engineers were busily employed 
 in putting the works at Willis's in the best repair, and 
 in erecting new batteries on the heights of the north 
 front. A considerable extent of ground above the 
 town was cleared and levelled, to encamp the different 
 regiments, in case the enemy should fire upon the 
 town. Parties were likewise detached to collect 
 shrubs, etc., from the face of the hill, for fascines ; and 
 the artillery were daily engaged in completing the 
 expense magazines with powder, ranging the different 
 ordnance, and preparing everything for immediate use 
 in their department. The navy were not less diligent. 
 A new battery for 22 guns was begun in the Navy 
 Yard, as a resource in case the enemy's operations 
 should make it necessary to lay up the ships ; and 
 the stores were removed from the New Mole to the 
 Navy Hospital. 
 
 Towards the middle of August, the motions of the 
 enemy were no longer mysterious ; every succeeding 
 day confirmed us in the opinion that their object was 
 to distress the garrison as much as possible. The 
 blockade became more strict and severe, their army 
 was in force before the place, and their present plan 
 seemed to be to reduce Gibraltar by famine. Our
 
 64 THE SUPPLY OF FOOD [Chap. Ill 
 
 stock of provisions, they concluded, was small, and 
 their squadron under Admiral Barcelo, who com- 
 manded in the bay, could prevent succours being 
 thrown in by neutral vessels ; whilst their grand fleet, 
 united with that of France, would be superior to any 
 which Great Britain could equip, in her then critical 
 situation. This scheme, every circumstance con- 
 sidered, was specious ; and, had not the garrison 
 fortunately received a supply of provisions, etc., in 
 April, 1779, the troops undoubtedly would have been 
 reduced to the greatest distress, and the place might 
 probably have been in imminent danger, before the 
 ministry could dispatch a fleet to its relief. The situa- 
 tion of the garrison was becoming every day more 
 interesting : only forty head of cattle were now in the 
 place ; and from the vigilance of the enemy, there was 
 little prospect of constant supplies from Barbary : two 
 bullocks were ordered, therefore, to be killed daily for 
 the use of the sick. The inhabitants had been warned 
 in time to provide against the calamities which now 
 impended : the standing orders of the garrison speci- 
 fied, that every inhabitant, even in time of peace, 
 should have in store six months' provisions ; yet by 
 far the greater number had neglected this precaution. 
 These unfortunate people, as they could not expect to 
 be supplied from the garrison stores, were in general 
 compelled to seek subsistence by quitting the place ; 
 some, however, were induced to weather out the 
 storm by the property they had in the garrison, which 
 was probably their all, and which they could not 
 remove with themselves. Those of this description, 
 on application, obtained leave to erect wooden huts 
 and sheds at the southward, above the Navy Hospital, 
 whither they began to remove their valuable effects, 
 etc., that they might be secure from the annoyance of 
 the enemy, in case the town should be bombarded.
 
 1779] NUMBER OF THE ENEMY 65 
 
 Fifteen or sixteen covered carts, on the 15th, 
 arrived at the enemy's camp, and unloaded timber, 
 planks, etc., at their laboratory tents. They continued 
 landing stores on the beach, which employed a great 
 number of carts to convey them to their depots ; and 
 at night we generally observed a number of lights, 
 and frequently heard a noise like that of men em- 
 ployed on some laborious duty : this might proceed 
 from dragging cannon, as we observed, on the 17th, 
 they had animated all the embrasures in Fort St. 
 Philip. 
 
 Early on the 17th, the enemy attempted to cut out 
 a polacre, which was anchored off the Old Mole ; but 
 retired on a gun being fired at them from the garrison. 
 The small craft, after this circumstance, removed to 
 the New Mole, as the men-of-war had done some 
 time before. The i8th, in the morning, two parties 
 of workmen came from the camp, and were employed 
 at Forts St. Philip and St. Barbara : covered carts 
 continued constantly going from Point Mala to the 
 laboratory tents, supposed to be laden with shot. The 
 following morning a Spaniard came in an open boat to 
 Water Port, with onions and fruit, having a pass for 
 Ceuta : he was examined by the quartermaster- 
 general, and allowed to sell his cargo and purchase 
 tobacco, but was not permitted to land : at night he 
 was ordered to return, which he did about 8 o'clock. 
 He informed us the camp consisted of between 5,000 
 and 6,000 men, which were to be immediately com- 
 pleted to 15,000. The 2oth, the enemy formed a new 
 camp, to the left of the stone quarry, under the Queen 
 of Spain's Chair : we imagined it to be intended for 
 the Catalonian troops, as they are usually encamped 
 separate from the rest of the Spanish forces. The 
 same day our marksmen were embodied into a com- 
 pany of two non-commisioned officers and 64 men ; 
 
 5
 
 66 RED-HOT SHOT [Chap. HI 
 
 and the command was given to Lieutenant Burleigh, 
 of the 39th regiment. 
 
 The enemy, on the 21st, had more men than usual 
 employed in making fascines : they likewise were very 
 busy in piling shot, and had a party at work in the 
 covered way of Fort St. Philip. A number of carts 
 daily brought shot (as we imagined) to the lines, par- 
 ticularly to Fort St. Barbara. The 23rd, the corps of 
 engineers were formed into three divisions, and several 
 officers of the line appointed to join them as assistant 
 engineers and overseers. The same day some experi- 
 ments were made with red-hot shot : this practice was 
 continued on the 25th, when some carcasses were also 
 thrown, and much approved. The 27th, we observed 
 a fascine-work begun upon the glacis, north of Fort 
 St. Philip, which afterwards proved to be a mortar 
 battery. A great number of carts continued to be 
 employed in the enemy's camp, and vast quantities of 
 stores were constantly landing beyond Point Mala. 
 In the course of the 30th, the Childers and an armed 
 schooner attempted to cut off two half-galleys becalmed 
 in the bay ; but the enemy's xebeques, getting under 
 way, obliged them to desist. At night upwards of 
 80 covered carts came down to the enemy's lines. 
 
 From the time the enemy first appeared encamped 
 before the garrison, troops had been continually join- 
 ing them from all quarters. Their camp consisted of 
 two lines (independent of the Catalonians), extending 
 from Point Mala, in an oblique direction, into the 
 country, towards the Queen of Spain's Chair. The 
 streets were in a direction nearly parallel to the 
 bottom of the bay. The guards in their lines and ad- 
 vanced posts were, as the camp increased, proportion- 
 ably reinforced ; but no act of hostility had yet taken 
 place in that quarter, though the governor continued 
 the garrison-guard at the Devil's Tower. Their forts
 
 1779] A DESERTER 67 
 
 were repaired and put in the best order of defence. 
 Laboratory tents for the artillery were pitched in front 
 of their camp, and magazines erected for military 
 stores, which were frequently brought by fleets of 
 small craft, convoyed by men-of-war from Cadiz, 
 Malaga, and other ports in the neighbourhood. 
 
 On the 5th of September a soldier of Hardenberg's 
 deserted from a working party employed in scarp- 
 ing the rock, under the lines. He was fired upon 
 from Willis's, but got off. Besides the party engaged 
 in rendering the lines inaccessible, our engineers 
 were daily strengthening them with palisades, etc. 
 Traverses were also erected along the covered way, 
 grand battery, and line-wall above Water Port, where 
 a strong boom of masts was laid, from Old Mole head 
 to the foot of Land Port glacis. About this time the 
 regiments began to practise grenade exercise. The 
 day on which the Hanoverian deserted, a Moorish 
 galley came over from Algeziras, where she had been 
 detained ten days. The crew reported that the 
 Spanish camp was very sickly. It is supposed this 
 vessel came to order home the ship which had been 
 some time repairing in the New Mole, as the following 
 day both of them left the garrison for Tangier : a 
 xebeque, however, speaking them off Cabrita Point, 
 the Moors were conducted to the Spanish admiral. 
 
 The enemy's workmen in the lines appeared at this 
 time to be about 500. They were principally engaged 
 in filling up with sand the north part of the ditch of 
 Fort St. Philip, completing the mortar battery before 
 mentioned, and raising the crest of the glacis or their 
 lines in different places. From the noise often heard 
 during the night, and the number of lights seen, we 
 judged that they worked without intermission. Two 
 waggons, drawn each by 12 mules or horses, arrived 
 at the lines on the 8th, which we conjectured brought
 
 68 A COUNCIL OF WAR [Chap. Ill 
 
 fixed ammunition. The nth, we observed that they 
 had begun several fascine-works on the crest of their 
 lines, apparently for mortar batteries ; and had raised 
 several traverses for the protection of their guard- 
 houses. Waggons and carts continued bringing fas- 
 cines and other materials to the lines from the camp. 
 The same day, a row boat, fitted out by the Jews, 
 brought in a Dutch dogger laden with wheat : a very 
 valuable supply in our situation. 
 
 The operations of the enemy now began to engage 
 our attention. They had been permitted to pass and 
 repass unmolested for some time ; but the governor 
 did not think it prudent to allow them to proceed any 
 longer with impunity. A council of war was con- 
 sequently summoned on the nth, to confer on the 
 measures to be pursued. The council consisted of the 
 following officers:— The governor, the lieutenant- 
 governor, Vice-admiral Duff, Major-general de la 
 Motte; Colonels Ross, Green, and Godwin; with Sir 
 Thomas Rich, Bart. In the evening it was reported 
 that their opinion was not to open on the enemy 
 whilst they continued within their lines : but this 
 rumour was only propagated to deceive the garrison ; 
 for on the succeeding morning, being Sunday the 12th 
 of September, the artillery officers were ordered to the 
 batteries on the heights ; and the Devil's Tower guard 
 being withdrawn, the governor opened on the enemy 
 from Green's Lodge (a battery made since the blockade 
 commenced), Willis's and Queen Charlotte's batteries. 
 Their advanced guards in the Micquelet huts, and 
 in the stone guard-houses, were in a short time com- 
 pelled to retire, and the workmen assembled in the 
 lines obliged to disperse. The covered waggons re- 
 turned to the camp without depositing their ladings ; 
 and so general a panic seized the enemy at this un- 
 expected attack, that their cavalry galloped off towards
 
 1779] FAULTY ARTILLERY 69 
 
 the camp, and for some hours scarce a person was 
 to be seen within the range of our guns. The forts 
 were too distant to be materially damaged ; and the 
 governor's intention being only to disturb their work- 
 men, the firing after a few hours slackened, and a 
 shot was only discharged as the enemy presented 
 themselves. A brass gun in the Queen's battery 
 (Willis's) run * with eight rounds. 
 
 The mortar batteries that had been discovered in 
 the enemy's lines, some few days previous to our 
 firing, had caused no small alarm amongst the in- 
 habitants ; those, therefore, who had huts in Hardy 
 Town, at the southward, immediately removed 
 their most valuable effects, fully convinced that the 
 Spaniards at night would return the fire. 
 
 That the duty of the batteries might be performed 
 with spirit, in case the enemy persisted in carrying 
 on their works, a captain, 3 subalterns, and 52 men 
 of the artillery, were ordered to take in charge Green's 
 Lodge, Willis's and other batteries on the heights. 
 The firing was continued the subsequent days, as 
 circumstances directed. The i6th, our artillery made 
 three attempts to reach the enemy's laboratory tents, 
 or artillery park (as henceforward they will be called), 
 from a sea-mortar at Willis's. The first and second 
 shell burst immediately on leaving the mortar ; the 
 third went its range, but fell a little short of the 
 fascine park. The artillery at this period used the 
 old shells, the fuses of which were in general faulty ; 
 and this was the cause that the experiment did not 
 answer on the first and second trials. We observed, 
 the same day, that the Spaniards had pitched some 
 additional tents a little beyond Point Mala : they also 
 began to erect a pier, or wharf, for the convenience 
 of landing their stores and supplies. 
 
 * i.e. melted.
 
 70 MERCIER'S EXPERIMENT [Chap. Ill 
 
 Whilst the governor kept a watchful eye on the 
 enemy's operations, molesting their workmen as much 
 as possible from Willis's, proper precautions were 
 taken in the town to render a bombardment less 
 distressing, in case they retaliated, which, indeed, 
 their preparations gave us reason to think would not 
 be long deferred. The pavement of the streets, in 
 the north part of the town, was ploughed up ; the 
 towers of the most conspicuous buildings were taken 
 down, and traverses raised in different places, to 
 render the communications more secure. The enemy 
 appeared to bear our fire very patiently in their lines ; 
 their parties continued working on the mortar 
 batteries ; the stone sentry-boxes were pulled down, 
 and the guard-houses unroofed ; a boyau, or covered 
 way, was likewise begun, to make a safe communica- 
 tion from the -lines to their camp. 
 
 Our firing was still continued ; but their parties 
 were at too considerable a distance (being near a 
 mile) to be materially annoyed by our shot ; and the 
 works being surrounded with sand, the large shells 
 sunk so deep that the splinters seldom rose to the 
 surface. An experiment was therefore recommended 
 by Captain (now Major) Mercier, of the 39th regiment, 
 namely, to fire out of guns 5|-inch shells, with short 
 fuses ; which were tried on the 25th, and found to 
 answer extremely well. These small shells, according 
 to Captain Mercier's method, were thrown with such 
 precision, and the fuses cut by calculation with such 
 exactness, that the shell often burst over the heads of 
 the enemy and wounded them before they could get 
 under cover. This mode* of annoyance was eligible on 
 several other accounts ; less powder was used, and the 
 enemy were more seriously molested ; the former was 
 
 * The enemy, we were informed, attempted this practice, but 
 never could bring it to perfection.
 
 1779] NUMBER OF THE ENEMY 71 
 
 an advantage of no small consequence, since it enabled 
 the governor to reserve, at this period, what might 
 be probably expended to the greater benefit of the 
 service on a future occasion. It will also account for 
 the extraordinary number of shells which were dis- 
 charged from the garrison. 
 
 In the afternoon of the 26th a soldier of the 72nd 
 regiment deserted from a working party out at Land 
 Port. He took refuge behind one of the Micquelet 
 huts, and, notwithstanding our endeavours to dis- 
 lodge him, remainded there till night, when it is 
 imagined he proceeded to the lines. Our firing was 
 now very trifling. The enemy continued making 
 additions to their boyau and the works in the lines ; 
 but the latter were chiefly done in the night. Indeed, 
 since our firing, their operations within our reach 
 had been principally carried on during the night, 
 at which time, or very late in the evening, they also 
 relieved their guards. 
 
 In the beginning of October the enemy's army, 
 according to our intelligence, consisted of 16 battalions 
 of infantry and 12 squadrons of horse, which, if the 
 regiments were complete, would amount to about 
 14,000 men. Lieutenant-General Don Martin Alvarez 
 de Sota Mayor was commander-in-chief We continued 
 our fire, varying as objects presented themselves. 
 
 The great command we had over the enemy's 
 operations from Green's Lodge, induced the engineers 
 to mount still higher, and endeavour to erect a battery 
 on the summit of the northern front of the rock : a 
 place therefore was levelled, and a road for wheeled 
 carriages begun at Middle Hill. The 4th, a soldier of 
 the 58th, attempted to desert from Middle Hill guard, 
 but was dashed to pieces in his descent. The artillery 
 were too impatient to have a gun mounted on the 
 summit of the rock, to wait till the new road was
 
 12 THE ROCK GUN [Chap. Ill 
 
 finished : they accordingly determined to drag a 
 24-pounder up the steep cragg}^ face of the rock ; and 
 in a few days, with great difficulty and prodigious 
 exertions, they were so successful as to get it to 
 the top. The 9th, a party of the navy attempted 
 to cut off two Spanish polacres, becalmed between 
 Algeziras and their camp. Our seamen spiritedly 
 boarded one, and were on their return with the 
 other, when two galleys from Point Mala gave chase, 
 maintaining a smart and well-directed fire as they 
 advanced, and gained so considerably on the prizes 
 that the captors were reluctantly obliged to quit 
 them, and betake themselves to their boats. The 
 Childers sloop-of-war was ordered out to protect them, 
 and fortunately was in time to stop the progress of the 
 galleys. The tiller of one of our barges was carried 
 away by a shot, but no other damage was received. 
 
 The platform on the summit of the rock was com- 
 pleted on the 1 2th; and, the gun being mounted, 
 the succeeding day we saluted the enemy's forts with 
 a few rounds of shot and shells. This gun was 
 mounted on a traversing carriage, and was distin- 
 guished by the name of the Rock Gun. From that 
 post we had nearly a bird's-eye view of the enemy's 
 lines, and, with the assistance of glasses, could dis- 
 tinctly observe every operation in their camp. In 
 the afternoon of the i6th, a servant of Mr. Davies (the 
 agent victualler of the garrison), under pretence of 
 looking for a strayed goat, obtained leave to pass 
 Land Port barrier, and immediately went over to the 
 enemy. The desertion of this man gave us some 
 concern, as probably, to ensure a favourable reception, 
 he might have taken with him some memorandums 
 of the state of our provisions. 
 
 The enemy's parties had not been remarkably 
 active in the beginning of the month ; but about the
 
 1779] LIGHT BALLS 73 
 
 17th and 1 8th, their workmen in the lines were more 
 numerous than usual, which produced a more ani- 
 mated fire from our batteries. As our artillery by 
 this time were accustomed to fire from heights, the 
 small shells did considerable execution amongst their 
 workmen, many of whom we observed were carried 
 off. On the evening of the 19th, the governor was 
 at Willis's, to see an experiment of a light ball, in- 
 vented by Lieutenant Whitham, of the artillery. It 
 was made of lead, and, when filled with composition, 
 weighed 14 lbs. 10 oz. This ball, with 4 lbs. of powder, 
 was fired at six degrees of elevation, out of a 
 32-pounder, upon the glacis of their lines : it burnt 
 well ; and the experiment would have been repeated, 
 had not a thick fog suddenly arisen. The governor 
 was at Willis's the succeeding morning, to see a 
 second : when, the fog being totally dispersed, the 
 light ball answered his expectation. The enemy, 
 during the night, had been uncommonly noisy ; but 
 when the light balls were fired, no parties were dis- 
 covered at work. Nevertheless, at daybreak, to our 
 great surprise we observed 35 embrasures opened in 
 their lines, forming three batteries; two of 14 each, 
 bearing on our lines and Willis's, and one of 7, 
 apparently for the town and Water Port. They were 
 cut through the parapet of their glacis, and situated 
 between the barrier of the lines and Fort St. Philip. 
 The embrasures were all masked, and many of the 
 merlons were in an unfinished state : the governor 
 ordered the artillery to direct their fire on these 
 works, and on the 7-gun battery in particular, where 
 they had a party finishing what was left imperfect 
 in the night.* In the afternoon, a Venetian was 
 
 * From the distance of these batteries, we did not imagine they 
 would ever materially injure the garrison ; but the cannonade and 
 bombardment of 1781 convinced us of our error.
 
 74 ENHANCED PRICES [Chap. Ill 
 
 brought-to by a gun from Europa, and came in : two 
 galleys attempted to cut her off, but in vain. 
 
 Our workmen now became exceedingly diligent; 
 new communications and works were raised in the 
 lines, which were reinforced at night with a subaltern 
 and 43 men ; the alarm-posts of the regiments were 
 also changed, and other arrangements took place. On 
 the night of the 20th, we imagined, from the noise 
 in the enemy's lines, that their carpenters were plat- 
 forming the new batteries, the merlons of which they 
 had cased and capped with fascines. Their boyau 
 now extended from the fascine park, almost to the 
 barrier of the lines. The 23rd, a prize settee, laden 
 with rice, was sent in from the eastward : she was 
 taken by a privateer belonging to Mr. Anderson, of 
 the garrison, the captain of which thought the cargo 
 would be useful to the inhabitants ; and indeed this 
 supply was truly seasonable. No vessel or boat had 
 arrived for six weeks (excepting the Venetian, on the 
 20th instant), and every article in the garrison began 
 to sell at a most exorbitant price : this trifling addition 
 of provisions was therefore well received by the 
 miserable Jews and Genoese, though the rice sold 
 for 21 dollars 6 reals per cwt., which at 40^'. sterling 
 the dollar is 3/. 125. 6d. 
 
 The enemy's artillery, on the 26th, decamped from 
 their old ground, before the right wing of their front 
 line, and took post near the Catalonians, where they 
 were reinforced with a detachment that had lately 
 joined. The following night, the Dutch dogger, which 
 had brought us the supply of wheat some weeks 
 before, sailed for Malaga : she took 73 Genoese and 
 Spanish passengers. The next day our artillery got 
 up to Middle Hill two 24-pounders, to be in readiness 
 for a new battery, which was erected below the rock 
 gun. Another 24-pounder was taken to the same
 
 1779] SMALL-POX 75 
 
 place, on the morning of the 25th. Our firing still con- 
 tinued, as the enemy's parties were daily bringing down 
 timber and other materials for their new batteries. 
 
 The 30th, an English privateer, called the Peace 
 
 and Plenty, eighteen 6-pounders, M'Kenzie, 
 
 master, attempting to get in from the eastward, ran 
 ashore half-way between Fort Barbara and the Devil's 
 Tower. Some of the crew came on shore on the 
 neutral ground ; the remainder, with the master, were 
 brought off by the admiral's boats ; and on the night 
 of the 31st she was burnt. As there was something 
 extraordinary and unaccountable in the circumstances 
 attending the loss of this vessel, I cannot resist the 
 temptation of relating them more at large. In the 
 morning she was bearing down under a fine sail and 
 leading wind, for Europa advanced guard, as two 
 xebeques were cruising off Europa Point. One of 
 the xebeques, about nine, got within shot of her : a 
 few rounds were exchanged, and the privateer was 
 apparently resolved to fight her way in ; but on a 
 sudden she altered her course, and ran ashore under 
 the enemy's guns, about 400 or 500 yards from the 
 garrison. The boatswain was killed, and several 
 others wounded from the fort, before our boats 
 arrived to their relief. 
 
 Towards the conclusion of the month, the small- 
 pox was discovered in the garrison, amongst the Jews. 
 The governor, apprehensive that it might spread 
 amongst the troops, and be attended with dangerous 
 consequences, ordered those who had never been 
 affected with that disorder, to be quartered at the 
 southward until the infection should disappear ; and 
 every precaution was taken to prevent its com- 
 municating. In the evening of the 31st, the new 
 battery below the rock gun was finished : it mounted 
 four 24-pounders, and was called the Royal battery.
 
 ^6 THE GOVERNOR'S EXPERIMENT [Chap. Ill 
 
 November was not introduced by any remarkable 
 event. The jfire from our batteries was variable, as 
 their workmen were employed. Considerable deposits 
 of fascines, with planks and pieces of timber, were 
 formed in the Spanish lines ; and other parts of their 
 glacis were raised with fascines and sand for additional 
 mortar batteries. The 3rd, the enemy began to form 
 merlons at Fort Tonara, on the eastern shore, which, 
 joined with the circumstances of their erecting two 
 fascine batteries on the beach, between Fort St. Philip 
 and Point Mala, and one near the magazine at the 
 Orange Grove, gave us reason to suppose that they 
 expected a fleet in their neighbourhood. Few work- 
 men were at this time to be seen in their lines : a 
 party was trimming up the bo3^au : and numbers 
 were employed about the landing-place in disem- 
 barking stores ; which appeared to be their chief 
 employment. 
 
 Provisions of every kind were now becoming very 
 scarce and exorbitantly dear in the garrison ; mutton 
 3s. and IS. 6d. per pound; veal 4s., pork 25. and 2s. 6d.^ 
 a pig's head 195., ducks from 14s. to 185. a couple; and 
 a goose a guinea. Fish was equally high, and vege- 
 tables were with difficulty to be got for any money ; 
 but bread, the great essential of life and health, was 
 the article most wanted. It was about this period 
 that the governor made trial of what quantity of rice 
 would suffice a single person for twenty-four hours, 
 and actually lived himself eight days on four ounces 
 of rice per day. General Eliott was remarkable for 
 an abstemious mode of living, seldom tasting anything 
 but vegetables, simple puddings, and water ; and yet 
 was very hale, and used constant exercise : but 
 the small portion just mentioned would be far from 
 sufficient for a working man kept continually em- 
 ployed, and in a climate where the heat necessarily
 
 1779] THE BUCK PRIVATEER 'j^ 
 
 demands very refreshing nourishment to support 
 nature under fatigue. 
 
 Two deserters came in, with their arms, on the 
 night of the nth. They belonged to the Walon 
 Guards, a corps in the Spanish service, composed 
 principally, if not entirely, of foreigners. The fol- 
 lowing morning they were conducted to Willis's, 
 whence they had a view of the enemy's works, which 
 they described to the governor. The Spanish army 
 were under arms on the 12th, in the front of their 
 camp, and were dismissed by corps as the general 
 passed. 
 
 The 14th, arrived the Buck cutter privateer. Captain 
 Fagg, carrying twenty-four 9-pounders. The abilities 
 and bravery of a British sailor were so eminently 
 conspicuous in the captain's conduct previous to his 
 arrival, that even our enemies could not help bestow- 
 ing on him the encomiums to which his merit entitled 
 him. About eight in the morning, the privateer was 
 discovered in the Gut, with a westerly breeze. The 
 usual signal for seeing an enemy was made by the 
 Spaniards at Cabrita Point : and Admiral Barcelo, 
 with a ship of the line, one of 50 guns, a frigate of 
 40, two xebeques, a settee of 14 guns, with half- 
 galleys, etc., etc., to the number of 21, got under way 
 to intercept her. On the first alarm a xebeque at 
 anchor off Cabrita had weighed, and stood out into 
 the Straits : the cutter nevertheless continued her 
 course ; but observing the whole Spanish squadron 
 turning the Point, she suddenly tacked, and stood 
 towards the Barbary shore : the xebeques, frigate, 
 and lighter vessels pursued, but were carried down 
 to leeward by the irresistible rapidity of the current, 
 whilst the cutter in a great degree maintained her 
 station. As it may appear very extraordinary to 
 readers unacquainted with nautical affairs, that the
 
 78 FINE SEAMANSHIP [Chap. Ill 
 
 privateer should not be equally affected by the current, 
 it may be necessary to inform them, that a cutter, or 
 any vessel rigged in the same manner, from the 
 formation of her sails can go some points nearer 
 the wind than a square-rigged vessel ; which ad- 
 vantage, on this occasion, enabled Captain Fagg to 
 turn better to windward, by stemming the current, 
 whilst the Spaniards, by opposing their broadsides, 
 were carried away to the eastward. But to resume 
 the narrative : Barcelo, who had his flag on board 
 the 74, was the last in the chase, and, perceiving his 
 squadron driving to leeward, prudently returned to 
 the Point, to be in readiness to intercept her in the 
 bay. The 50-gun ship also laid her head to the 
 current, and keeping that position, drove very little 
 in comparison with her friends. Affairs were thus 
 situated when Captain Fagg, persuaded that the 
 danger was over, boldly steered for the garrison. 
 The 50-gun ship endeavoured to cut her off from the 
 eastward, but was compelled to retire by our batteries 
 at Europa : and Barcelo got under weigh to intercept 
 her from Cabrita Point ; but finding his efforts in- 
 effectual, he was obliged to haul his wind, and giving 
 her two irregular broadsides, of grape and round, 
 followed his unsuccessful squadron to the eastward. 
 The cutter insultingly returned the Spanish admiral's 
 fire with her stern-chase, and soon after anchored 
 under our guns. 
 
 The expectations of the troops and inhabitants, 
 who were spectators of the action, had been raised 
 to the highest pitch : few doubted but she was a 
 king's vessel ; and as no intelligence had been received 
 from England for many weeks, their flattering fancies 
 painted her the messenger of good news ; probably 
 the forerunner of a fleet to their relief But what 
 was their despondency and disappointment, when
 
 1779] THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR 79 
 
 they were informed that she was only a privateer, 
 had been a considerable time at sea, and put in for 
 provisions ! Though our condition in the victualling- 
 office became weekly more and more serious, yet the 
 governor generously promised Captain Fagg assist- 
 ance. What indeed could be refused to a man by 
 whose boldness and skilful manoeuvres the port was 
 once more open, and the bay and Straits again under 
 the command of a British admiral? Only two or 
 three half-galleys returned to Cabrita Point ; the 
 rest of their squadron were driven far to leeward 
 of the rock. 
 
 Assuming the liberty of a short digression in this 
 place, it may be necessary to inform the reader of 
 the extent and breadth of the Straits of Gibraltar, 
 and acquaint him at the same time with the opinions 
 of dififerent writers concerning the perpetual current 
 that sets into the Mediterranean Sea, from the great 
 Atlantic Ocean, which has so long engaged the atten- 
 tion of many celebrated natural philosophers. 
 
 The Straits of Gibraltar (formerly known by the 
 name of the Herculean Straits) are about twelve 
 leagues in extent, from Cape Spartel to Ceuta Point, 
 on the African coast, and from Cape Trafalgar to 
 Europa Point, on the coast of Spain. At the western 
 entrance, they are in breadth about eight leagues, 
 but diminish considerably about the middle, opposite 
 Tarifa (a small fishing-town on the Spanish coast, 
 originally a place of great consequence and strength), 
 though they widen again between Gibraltar and 
 Ceuta, where they are about five leagues broad. 
 
 Philosophers, who have communicated their 
 sentiments on the extraordinary phenomenon of a 
 constant current, differ widely in accounting for the 
 disposition of that continual influx of waters, which,
 
 8o COUNTER-CURRENTS [Chap. Ill 
 
 it is natural to suppose, would, without some consump- 
 tion or return, soon overflow the boundaries of the 
 Mediterranean Sea. The ingenious Dr. Halley was of 
 opinion, that this perpetual supply of water from the 
 vast Atlantic Ocean was intended by nature to recruit 
 what was daily exhaled in vapour : others again think, 
 the waters that roll in with the centre current are 
 returned, by two counter-streams, along the African 
 and Spanish shores. That there are two counter- 
 streams is without doubt ; but their rapidity and 
 breadth bear little proportion to the principal current. 
 A third class suppose a counter-current beneath, and 
 of equal strength with the upper stream ; and this 
 opinion appears confirmed by a circumstance related 
 by Colonel James, in his description of the Herculean 
 Straits, of a Dutch ship being sunk in action by a 
 French privateer off Tarifa, which some time after- 
 wards was cast up near Tangier, four leagues to the west- 
 ward of the place where she disappeared, and directly 
 against the upper current. This hypothesis receives 
 also additional support from the repeated disappoint- 
 ments which have been experienced by many naval 
 officers, in attempting to sound the depth of the Straits 
 with the longest lines : for the opposition between the 
 currents might carry the line in such directions as to 
 defeat the intention of this experiment. 
 
 These facts seem strongly to indicate a recurrency 
 to the westward ; which, though it may not be so 
 rapid as the upper stream, yet, with the assistance of 
 the currents along the Spanish and Barbary shores, 
 and the necessary exhalations, may account for the 
 Mediterranean Sea never increasing by the constant 
 supply received from the Atlantic Ocean. The rapidity 
 of the superior current renders the passage from the 
 Mediterranean to the westward very precarious and 
 uncertain, as ships never can stem the stream without
 
 1779] PROVISIONS LANDED AND LOST 8i 
 
 a brisk Levanter, or easterly wind. Vessels, therefore, 
 are often detained weeks and sometimes months, wait- 
 ing for a favourable breeze ; in which case they find 
 a comfortable berth in the bay of Gibraltar. 
 
 To return to my narrative. 
 
 Two frigates, on the night of the 14th, joined the 
 enemy's small craft in the bay, from the west. It was 
 thought from some preparations that were made on 
 board our men-of-war the succeeding , evening, that 
 Admiral Duff intended an attempt to cut out or destroy 
 these ships : a council was held in the navy, and the 
 practicability of such an enterprise debated ; but 
 nothing was done. 
 
 The bay being again open, the night of the 19th 
 a Moorish settee came in, with 39 bullocks and a 
 few sheep : the former were so weak and poor, that 
 many of them died on the beach as soon as they were 
 landed : they were, however, a most acceptable supply. 
 The patron informed us that a vessel had sailed the 
 preceding night for the garrison, with 40 bullocks, 50 
 sheep, and 30 goats ; which we imagined was taken by 
 the galleys at the Point. The following da}^ a Swede 
 stood in for the garrison, with a signal at her fore-top- 
 gallant mast-head, by which she was known to be 
 laden with provisions, and consigned to an inhabitant. 
 Off the Point she was boarded by a row-boat, and 
 conducted immediately to Algeziras. The 23rd the 
 governor proportioned the fuel to the officers. This 
 article was now become scarce and important. The 
 coals in the garrison were few : what fuel, therefore, 
 was issued at this period, was wood from ships bought 
 by government, and broken up for that purpose, but 
 "which had so strongly absorbed the salt water, that 
 it was with the utmost difficulty we could make it 
 take fire. 
 
 A small boat arrived on the 24th, with a packet 
 
 6
 
 82 DOCTORED DISPATCHES [Chap. Ill 
 
 from Mr. Logic : this packet was landed at Mogadore 
 in South Barbary, by the Fortune sloop-of-war, 
 Captain Squires. If I rightly recollect, it was upon 
 this occasion that the following successful stratagem 
 was effected, through the fidelity of a Moor entrusted 
 by Mr. Logic to carry the dispatches to that part of the 
 coast, whence, to prevent interception, he thought it 
 prudent to send them to Gibraltar. The Spaniards, 
 acquainted with the importance of these dispatches, 
 wished to prevent them coming to our hands ; and 
 accordingly offered i,ooo cobs (about 225/. sterling) to 
 the Moor, to induce him to betray his trust, and pre- 
 tend he had been robbed on his way to the coast. The 
 faithful Moor immediately acquainted the consul with 
 the offer, who directed him to promise that he would 
 comply. In the interval Mr. Logic prepared false 
 dispatches, in ciphers, signed and dated them from St. 
 James's, and affixed a seal from the cover of a letter 
 from Lord Hillsborough to himself: these were inclosed 
 in the usual form, and directed to General Eliott. The 
 Moor received part of the bribe, and delivered up the 
 fictitious packet : Mr. Logic on his return appeared 
 much distressed by the accident, and the next evening 
 sent the real dispatches to Gibraltar. 
 
 The wind veering round to the southward, on the 
 26th Admiral Barcelo returned from Ceuta to his old 
 anchorage off Algeziras, and the port again became 
 closely blockaded. A deserter came in, on the morning 
 of the 30th, from the lines ; he belonged to the Walon 
 Guards ; and about five in the afternoon, another 
 Walon deserted to us. They fired several muskets at 
 the latter, and he turned about and returned the shot : 
 three horsemen then pursued him, but were driven back 
 by our artillery. After the first gun-fire, two more 
 came in of the same corps. 
 
 The enemy's operations continued to be confined
 
 1779] CAPTURE OF A POLACRE 83 
 
 to the completion of their batteries, and the finishing 
 of their boyau. In their camp we observed them 
 busily employed in erecting huts for the accommoda- 
 tion of their troops against the winter rains, which 
 now had begun to set in. On the other hand, the 
 governor made every necessary addition to the works. 
 Water Port covered way was doubly palisaded, and a 
 battery for three guns erected on the projecting quay ; 
 a work of masonr}^ to mount two guns, was built 
 at Ragged Staff; and traverses of casks and earth 
 were raised on the different roads, on the north front, 
 to secure the communications. Some improvements 
 were also made in the batteries and works at Europa. 
 
 December commenced with the capture of a 
 Genoese polacre, becalmed off Europa. Our sailors 
 found about 220/. in money on board, with some 
 letters, from which we learned that the enemy sus- 
 tained some loss in the lines from our fire. The 4th, 
 the enemy beat a parley, and sent in a mule (belonging 
 to Colonel Green, the chief engineer) which had 
 strayed to their lines ; an instance of politeness which 
 we did not expect. The 8th, another deserter came in ; 
 he was pursued, but we protected him. The sub- 
 sequent day we observed several men about the 
 western and eastern advanced stone guard-houses, 
 who we imagined were posted there to prevent 
 desertion. Our artillery endeavoured to dislodge 
 them with round shot, but did not succeed. The loth, 
 the enemy fired several rounds, from Fort St. Philip, 
 at our fishing-boats in the bay. Four soldiers of 
 de la Motte's regiment, quartered on Windmill Hill, 
 attempted, on the 13th, to desert ; search was, however, 
 immediately made for them, and two were retaken. 
 Those who escaped were supposed to have got down 
 by a rope-ladder, left by the party employed in cutting 
 brush-wood for fascines. The next day another of
 
 84 LOSS OF THE BUCK [Chap. Ill 
 
 the enemy endeavoured to come over to us, but, being 
 pursued by two horsemen, was cut down and secured. 
 One of the horses belonging to the pursuers was 
 killed by our fire, and the rider much bruised with the 
 fall. The succeeding day this unfortunate man was 
 executed on a new gallows, erected near their artillery 
 park, and the body, according to custom, hung till 
 sunset. 
 
 The governor, on the 19th, ordered that no guns 
 should be fired from the garrison at the enemy's 
 shipping, if the distance required more than 6° eleva- 
 tion ; except when ships were chasing or engaged. 
 On the 20th, the Buck, having refitted, sailed on a 
 cruise to the eastward. We were afterwards informed 
 that she unfortunately fell in with a French frigate, 
 which, after a few broadsides, captured the Buck ; but 
 before she could be got into port, she sunk from the 
 damage received in the action. On the night of the 
 26th, we had a most violent storm of rain, with dread- 
 ful thunder and lightning. The succeeding morning a 
 vast quantity of wood, cork, etc., was floating under 
 our walls : the rain had washed it from the banks of 
 the Palmones and Guadaranque, and it was wafted by 
 the wind over to our side of the bay. Fuel had long 
 been a scarce article : this supply was therefore con- 
 sidered as a miraculous interference of Providence in 
 our favour. 
 
 The enemy, the 27th, fired four guns from Fort St. 
 Philip : one of the shot struck the extremity of Prince's 
 lines. Whether these were fired to frighten our 
 fishermen, who were dragging their nets near the 
 farther gardens, without Land Port, or only as an 
 experiment, we could not say, as they immediately 
 ceased on our returning the fire from Willis's. The 
 day following, came in three deserters ; and the same 
 morning the Fly packet-boat arrived from Tangier,
 
 i78o] A PRIZE OF BARLEY 85 
 
 with 40 goats, fowls and eggs, but no mail : this cargo, 
 though trifling, was highly acceptable. The deserters 
 informed us that the enemy were almost overflowed in 
 their lines, from the late excessive rains : in some 
 places, particularly near the new batteries, the water 
 was two and three feet deep; and their efforts to drain it 
 off had hitherto been ineffectual. The 28th, a soldier 
 of Hardenberg's deserted down the back of the rock. 
 
 January, 1780, did not commence with any very 
 interesting events. A squadron of men-of-war passed 
 through to the west on the 2nd : it being hazy, we 
 could not distinguish of what nation they were ; but 
 many thought them Spaniards from Carthagena. On 
 the evening of the 5th, a fire broke out in the enemy's 
 camp, which, we afterwards learned, destroyed four 
 officers' marquees, and six or seven huts. The follow- 
 ing da^T-, after gun-fire, two Walons deserted to us : 
 they brought information that upwards of forty mortars 
 were mounted in the lines, and that all their batteries 
 were completed with cannon. 
 
 A Neapolitan polacre was luckily driven under our 
 guns on the 8th, and obliged to come in. On board 
 we found about 6,000 bushels of barley, a cargo 
 (circumstanced as we were) of inestimable value. The 
 bakers had long been limited to the quantity of bread 
 daily to be issued to the inhabitants, and sentries were 
 placed at the wickets where it was delivered, to 
 prevent confusion and riot. The strongest, neverthe- 
 less, had the advantage ; so that numbers of women, 
 children, and infirm persons returned to their miserable 
 habitations, frequently without tasting, for some days, 
 that chief, and perhaps necessary support of life. The 
 inhabitants were not the only sufferers in this scene of 
 distress; many officers and soldiers had families to sup- 
 port out of the pittance received from the victualling- 
 ofiice. A soldier, with his wife and three children,
 
 86 FAMINE [Chap. Ill 
 
 would inevitably have been starved to death, had not 
 the generous contribution of his corps reheved his 
 family. One woman actually died through want ; and 
 many were so enfeebled that it was not without great 
 attention they recovered. Thistles, dandelion, wild 
 leeks, etc., were for some time the daily nourishment 
 of numbers. Few supplies arriving from Barbary, 
 and there appearing little prospect of relief from 
 England, famine began to present itself with its 
 attendant horrors. Had there been a glimmering 
 hope of assistance from home, it would have enabled 
 many to support themselves under this accumulation 
 of distress ; but, alas ! we seemed entirely abandoned 
 to our fortune. 
 
 Not only bread, but every article necessary to the 
 support of life, was hard to be procured, and only to 
 be purchased at exorbitant prices. Veal, mutton, and 
 beef sold from 2S. 6d. to 4s. per pound ; fresh pork, 
 from 25. to 3s. ; salt beef and pork, is. 3^'. per pound ; 
 fowls, 185. per couple; ducks, 215.; firewood, 55. per 
 cwt. ; a pint of milk and water, 15. -i^d. Vegetables 
 were extremely scarce : a small cabbage cost is. 6^., 
 and a small bunch of the outward leaves sold for 5<af. 
 Irish butter, 2s. 6d. per pound ; eggs, 6d. each : and 
 candles, 2s. 6d. per pound. The best fish was most 
 exorbitantly dear, considering on what terms the 
 garrison had been formerly supplied. It is natural to 
 suppose, from the rock being almost surrounded with 
 the sea, that we should have a constant resource in 
 this article. The contrary was, however, the case : 
 our fishermen were foreigners, and being under no 
 regulation, they exacted, by degrees, most extravagant 
 sums for what some months before we should have 
 refused with disgust. 
 
 This extreme scarcity of provisions, it 'may well be 
 imagined, could not fail to exercise the invention of
 
 i78o] THE FIRST INCUBATOR 87 
 
 individuals. A singular mode of hatching chickens 
 was about this time successfully practised by the 
 Hanoverians ; and, as it may be acceptable to some 
 readers, the process, as communicated by a friend, is 
 here inserted. The eggs were placed, with some 
 cotton wool, or other warm substance, in a tin case of 
 such construction as to be heated either by a lamp or 
 hot water ; and, by a proper attention to the tempera- 
 ture of heat, the eggs were commonly hatched in 
 the usual time of a hen's sitting. A capon (however 
 strange it may appear) was then taught to rear them. 
 To reconcile him to this trust, the feathers were 
 plucked from his breast and belly ; he was then gently 
 scourged with a bunch of nettles, and placed upon the 
 young hatch, whose downy warmth afforded such 
 comfort to the bared and smarting parts, that he, from 
 that period, reared them up with the care and 
 tenderness of a mother. 
 
 Early in the morning of the loth, a squadron of 
 ships was seen to the east, which had passed through 
 in the night ; five were of the line, and one under 
 jury-masts : supposed to be Count d'Estaing's fleet 
 from the West Indies. The same day a soldier of the 
 58th regiment was executed for stealing : he was the 
 first man who had suffered since General Eliott had 
 been governor. The day following, the enemy fired, 
 from Fort St. Barbara, on a clergyman performing the 
 last office over the corpse of a soldier of the 72nd 
 regiment, at the burial-ground near the governor's 
 meadow. The party immediately retired, though not 
 before they had deposited their charge. As this 
 conduct convinced us that the enemy would not permit 
 us to bury our dead without the garrison, a part of 
 the red sands behind the Princess of Wales's lines was 
 appropriated to that purpose. 
 
 The 1 2th, they surprised us again with ten shot
 
 88 THE FIRST PERSON WOUNDED [Chap. Ill 
 
 from Fort St. Philip ; several came into the town, and 
 did some trifling damage amongst the buildings. The 
 inhabitants, whose alarms had not totally subsided 
 since the middle of September, when the governor 
 opened upon the enemy, were now perfectly convinced 
 they meant to return our fire ; and accordingly began, 
 on the first report of their guns, to remove themselves 
 to the southward. Some in the greatest confusion 
 endeavoured to secure their valuables in town ; but 
 the firing ceasing, the fugitives, before night, sum- 
 moned up sufficient courage to return. A woman, 
 passing near one of the houses, was slightly hurt. It 
 was singular that a female should be the first person 
 wounded by the enemy at this remarkable siege. In 
 the evening, the commanding officers had orders to 
 inform their corps that the governor was under the 
 necessity of curtailing the weekly allowance of pro- 
 visions. Disagreeable as this intelligence was, and 
 particularly when we consider the distress which 
 many experienced even with the full allowance, the 
 men received it without the smallest appearance of 
 discontent. Convinced of the necessity, they acqui- 
 esced with cheerfulness ; indeed, to do them justice, 
 in all the vicissitudes of this trying period the garrison 
 submitted, without murmuring, to every necessary 
 regulation, however unpleasing. It was fortunate for 
 many that this short allowance of provisions did not 
 continue long : nay, it remained a doubt with some 
 whether, at the time, the governor was not apprised 
 of a relief being near, and did not enact this regulation 
 solely to make trial of the disposition of his troops. 
 If so, how satisfactory a circumstance must it have 
 been to find the army under his command accord with 
 so much good humour to what might be considered as 
 a real hardship, however indispensable ! 
 
 Admiral Duff, on the 13th, gave orders to the men-
 
 i78o] ONE OF A CONVOY 89 
 
 of-war and armed vessels to be prepared, in case a 
 convoy was near, to afford every protection to any 
 straggling ships that might attempt the port before 
 the main body arrived. This caution confirmed us 
 in the opinion of a convoy being expected ; and a 
 general joy was diffused throughout the garrison at 
 the flattering, though probably distant, prospect. Two 
 days after, a brig, which with other vessels seemed to 
 be going through to the east, suddenly altered her 
 course, and, notwithstanding she was opposed by the 
 enemy, anchored under our walls. A ship with the 
 British flag, entering the bay, was so uncommon a 
 sight that almost the whole garrison were assembled 
 at the southward to welcome her in ; but words are 
 insufficient to describe their transports on being in- 
 formed that she was one of a large convoy which had 
 sailed the latter end of the preceding month for our 
 relief The distressed Jews, and other inhabitants, 
 were frantic with joy ; and the repeated huzzas from 
 all quarters for some time prevented further inquiries. 
 We afterwards learned that she had parted company 
 with the convoy in the Bay of Biscay, and off Cadiz 
 had discovered nine sail of large ships, which the 
 master concluded were Spaniards stationed there to 
 oppose their entrance. The latter part of their in- 
 formation gave us much uneasiness. The enemy, we 
 concluded, would have good intelligence of the force 
 of the British convoy. If, therefore, any opposition 
 was intended, a superior squadron would conse- 
 quently be stationed at the entrance of the Straits. 
 These reflections damped, in a great degree, the 
 pleasure we before experienced, and made us appre- 
 hensive that the relief was not so near as we at first 
 expected. The prospect of it had, however, a very 
 visible effect on the price of provisions, which immedi- 
 ately fell more than two-thirds.
 
 90 RODNEY'S SUCCESS [Chap. Ill 
 
 Since it was probable that straggling ships might 
 attempt the port before the body of the convoy 
 approached, the Childcrs sloop-of-war and armed 
 vessels were ordered to cruise in the bay to protect 
 them from the enemy's small-craft. Previous to the 
 arrival of the brig, a soldier of the 58th regiment de- 
 serted from a party employed behind the rock in 
 gathering shrubs, etc., for fascines. The i6th, a 
 Walon deserted to us, by whom we were informed 
 that the enemy had everything prepared in their lines 
 to bombard the town. At another time we should 
 have been greatly alarmed at this intelligence ; but 
 our thoughts were too much engaged with the 
 pleasing though uncertain hopes of relief to reflect 
 on the consequences of a bombardment. In the even- 
 ing our apprehensions concerning the convoy were 
 totally dispelled by the arrival of a brig laden with 
 flour, which communicated the joyful news that on 
 the 8th of January Admiral Sir George Brydges 
 Rodney had captured off the coast of Portugal, a 
 Spanish 64-gun ship, five of 32 and 28 guns, with 
 fifteen merchantmen, belonging to the Caracca Com- 
 pany, going from Bilbao to Cadiz ; and that, with a 
 fleet of twenty-one sail of the line and a large convoy 
 of merchant-ships and transports, he was proceeding 
 to our relief. Every idea of opposition at this informa- 
 tion immediately vanished ; and we anticipated the 
 flattering prospect of seeing the British flag once more 
 triumphantly displa3^ed in the Mediterranean. 
 
 The weather on the 17th was very hazy; but 
 clearing up the succeeding day, one of the prizes 
 arrived without any opposition from the enemy. The 
 midshipman who brought her in informed us, that 
 when he parted with the fleet on the i6th, Sir George 
 was engaged with a Spanish squadron off Cape St. 
 Mary's ; and that, just before they lost sight of them,
 
 i78o] ARRIVAL OF THE CONVOY 91 
 
 a ship of the Hne blew up ; but he was at too great 
 a distance to distinguish whether she was friend or 
 foe. In the evening one of the armed Caracca prizes 
 came in, but no further particulars of the engagement 
 could be learned. Our anxiety concerning the event 
 of the action was, however, removed a few hours 
 afterwards by the appearance of the convoy itself off 
 Europa. The wind, at that critical time, unfortunately 
 failed them ; and the vivid flashes of lightning, by 
 which we had discovered the fleet at the first, only 
 served to exhibit them to us driving with the current 
 to the eastward of the rock. The Apollo frigate. 
 Captain Pownall, with one or two merchantmen, 
 nevertheless got in about eleven ; and by the former 
 the governor and garrison were acquainted with 
 the agreeable tidings of a complete victory over the 
 Spanish Admiral, who, with three others of his 
 squadron, was taken : one was run ashore, another 
 blown up in the engagement, and the rest dispersed. 
 
 We now found that the plan for relieving Gibraltar 
 had been conducted at home with such secrecy and 
 prudence that the enemy never suspected that Sir 
 George meant to convoy the transports to the Straits, 
 with so strong a fleet. By their intelligence from 
 Brest, they understood he was to separate in a certain 
 latitude, and proceed with the main body of the men- 
 of-war to the West Indies. Thus deceived, they 
 concluded that the transports with their convoy would 
 fall an easy prey to their squadron, which consisted 
 of eleven men-of-war, all chosen ships from their 
 grand fleet. 
 
 At daybreak, on the morning of the 19th, the 
 enemy unmasked one of their 14-gun batteries. The 
 guns, with those in the fort, were all elevated, and 
 the lines reinforced with two regiments of infantry. 
 The governor, notwithstanding these appearances,
 
 92 KING OF SPAIN'S BIRTHDAY [Chap. Ill 
 
 ordered a royal salute to be fired at six o'clock from 
 Willis's. The Panther man-of-war was decorated, 
 and also fired a salute on account of this victory. 
 About seven the Edgar arrived, with the Phoenix 
 prize of 80 guns, having on board the Spanish admiral, 
 Don Juan de Langara y Huarte. This ship had lost 
 her mizen and main-top-masts, but seemed little in- 
 jured in the hull. The admiral, who was wounded 
 in the engagement, was conducted on shore in the 
 evening to lodgings in town, and had every attention 
 and compliment paid him which were due to his rank. 
 At night, Admiral Digby, in the Prince George 
 worked round Europa with eleven or twelve ships ; 
 but Sir George remained with the crippled prizes, and 
 with the main body of the fleet, off" Marbella, a Spanish 
 town, formerly of note, sixteen leagues to the east- 
 ward of Gibraltar. 
 
 The 20th, being the anniversary of the King of 
 Spain's birthday. Admiral Barcelo's ships were 
 decorated according to custom. When the colours 
 were struck in the evening, the flag-ship, with her 
 consort of 50 guns, was hauled close in land ; and the 
 next day a large party began to erect a battery on 
 the shore for their protection ; being apprehensive, 
 probably, of an attack from the British fleet. The 
 night of the 21st, the enemy unmasked the other 
 batteries in the lines, which again caused a general 
 disturbance amongst the inhabitants. Everything 
 seemed now prepared to fire upon the town. The 
 convoy continued beating up : but the prizes were so 
 damaged in their rigging that they could not be 
 expected to make the bay till the wind veered round 
 to the east. Early on the 22nd, several men-of-war, 
 in coming into the bay, were carried down under 
 the enemy's batteries near Point Mala, which occa- 
 sioned a general alarm in their camp. Drums beat
 
 i78o] A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT 93 
 
 to arms, and their artillery opened in an instant. 
 The boats of the fleet, however, were ordered to 
 their assistance, and the ships were towed back 
 without receiving much damage. One man was killed 
 and two wounded on board the Terrible ; all of them 
 Spanish prisoners. 
 
 Sir George, on his arrival off the coast of Barbary, 
 had sent intelligence to Mr. Logie to prepare supplies 
 for the garrison. Three vessels therefore sailed in 
 the course of the 22nd for Tetuan to bring over what 
 was at hand. The consul had provided cattle, fascines, 
 pickets, etc., in readiness for the ships when they 
 arrived ; but, to his surprise, the ships sent in the 
 hurry 'of business, under convoy of the Bedford^ were 
 transports fitted up for the reception of troops, with 
 many weeks' provisions on board ; and before the 
 berths could be removed to admit the supplies, the 
 wind came easterly, and the ships were obliged to 
 return without them. This oversight was of great 
 detriment to the garrison, as at this period we might 
 have procured fresh provisions, which with economy 
 would have served for some months. The garrison 
 vessels were afterwards sent for these articles ; but 
 after Sir George Rodney's departure, most of them 
 were detained by the vigilance of the enemy's cruisers. 
 
 We learned by the Childers, on the 23rd, that Sir 
 George was at anchor, with the prizes, in Tetuan 
 Road ; and waited only a favourable wind to join the 
 remainder of the fleet in the bay. As the town of 
 Tetuan has frequently been mentioned in the preceding 
 pages, and probably will as often occur in the course 
 of the subsequent, the reader will perhaps not be 
 displeased to find in this place a short description 
 of it. Tetuan is a very ancient town in Barbary, 
 situated to the south-east of Ceuta, about six miles 
 from the sea, on a river which meanders beautifully
 
 94 TETUAN ' [Chap. Ill 
 
 through a pleasant country ; but which has a bar at 
 the entrance, that renders it unnavigable for large 
 ships. Small vessels get up about two miles, as far 
 as Marteen, which is the quay and port of Tetuan. 
 The town is walled round with square towers at 
 different distances to flank the curtains. It is built on 
 the gentle slope of a hill : and the houses being white, 
 with flat roofs, have the appearance at a distance of 
 an encampment. The buildings are so contrived that 
 a person may go from one end of the town to the 
 other without descending into the streets, and in this 
 manner their women, by occupying the upper stories, 
 visit each other without being exposed to the sight 
 of the male sex in the streets below. 
 
 The town has a manufactory, and carries on a 
 considerable trade, principally in barter ; the road is, 
 however, so exposed towards the east, that ships 
 cannot remain there during the Levant winds. The 
 Moors exchange cattle, poultry, and fruit for other 
 articles ; and when there is a truce between the 
 powers, supply several parts of Spain with provisions. 
 The oranges of Tetuan are esteemed the largest and 
 best flavoured of any in that part of the globe. 
 
 The enemy, we imagined, were not a little alarmed 
 by the casual appearance of our ships on the morning 
 of the 22nd, as, for several days after, they were busy 
 in removing cannon from their artillery park to the 
 different batteries along the coast. At Algeziras the 
 top-masts and yards of the men-of-war were struck, 
 and the ships hauled as close in land, under the 
 protection of the new battery, as the depth of water 
 would admit. Several Spanish officers were now 
 permitted to return on their parole to Spain. The 
 24th, the Childers sailed back to Tetuan ; and soon 
 after arrived a British letter of marque from New- 
 foundland, laden with salt fish.
 
 i78o] PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY 95 
 
 Whilst the fleet remained in the bay the governor 
 and garrison were often honoured with the presence 
 of the royal midshipman, Prince William Henry;* 
 and when that youthful hero, on his return, laid his 
 early laurels at the feet of his royal father, he 
 presented, at the same time, a plan of the garrison, 
 in the relief of which he had made his first naval 
 essay. In that plan were delineated the improvements 
 which the place had undergone, and the new batteries 
 erected on the heights since the commencement of the 
 blockade. 
 
 The mention of his royal highness brings to my 
 recollection an anecdote of him, which occurred whilst 
 the fleet was in the bay. The Spanish admiral, Don 
 Juan Langara, one morning visited Admiral Digby, to 
 whose charge the prince was entrusted, and Don 
 Langara was of course introduced to his royal 
 highness. During the conference between the admirals, 
 Prince William retired ; and when it was intimated 
 that Don Juan wished to return, his royal highness 
 appeared in his character of midshipman, and respect- 
 fully informed the admiral that the boat was ready. 
 The Spaniard, astonished to see the son of a monarch 
 acting as a petty officer, immediately exclaimed, 
 " Well does Great Britain merit the empire of the sea 
 when the humblest stations in her navy are supported 
 by princes of the blood." f 
 
 * His late Majesty King William IV. 
 
 t In consequence of learning that doubts had been expressed 
 respecting the authenticity of this anecdote, the author wrote, in 1835, 
 to Sir Herbert Taylor, then private secretary to the King, and received 
 from him the following reply : — 
 
 " My dear Colonel, —I have taken the earliest opportunity of 
 submitting to the King the memorandum you left with me at St. 
 James's Palace respecting the passage at page 90 of [p. 95 of the 
 present edition] your valuable and interesting work, the ' History of 
 the Siege .of Gibraltar,' to which it refers ; and I have now the
 
 96 ARRIVAL OF RODNEY [Chap. Ill 
 
 Three of the enemy, on the 25th, deserted to the 
 garrison ; a fourth attempting to desert, was retaken, 
 and another was shot by the pursuers within musket- 
 shot of our lines. We fired from WilHs's at the horse- 
 men who followed them, and wounded two of their 
 horses. The deserters said it was reported that the 
 enemy intended bombarding the town the succeeding 
 day. For several preceding months we had reason, 
 from their operations, to think such an event not 
 improbable. Seven or eight mortar batteries had 
 been distributed along their lines, in which, according 
 to our intelligence, were upwards of forty mortars ; 
 these, with the cannon bearing on the garrison from 
 their gun batteries, amounted in all to upwards of 100 
 pieces of ordnance. They, therefore, were not un- 
 prepared for such service ; but whether the circum- 
 stance of the Spanish admiral and officers being 
 lodged in the town might not at that time in some 
 degree influence their conduct, or whether they were 
 overawed by the strong naval force in their neigh- 
 bourhood, they deferred the bombardment to a more 
 distant period. 
 
 Sir George arrived in the Sandwich from Tetuan 
 on the 25th ; and the following day the prizes and 
 remaining men-of-war were all at anchor in the bay. 
 A council of war was immediately held on the admiral's 
 arrival ; but the subject of their debates was not made 
 public. Late in the evening of the same day a New- 
 foundland vessel with fish, coming in, approached so 
 close to the enemy's coast, that our guard-boats were 
 obliged to bring her to her proper berth. 
 
 pleasure to acquaint you, by command of his Majesty, that the 
 anecdote there given is correctly stated in every respect, and there- 
 fore that any alteration of it which may have been suggested is 
 uncalled for. 
 
 "Windsor Castle, 24th of March, 1835."
 
 ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE BRYDGES RODNEY. 
 
 [To Jacc p. 96.
 
 i78o] USELESS HANDS SENT HOME 97 
 
 The Fortune sloop carried over to Point Mala, on 
 the 26th, the Spanish wounded prisoners : Admiral 
 Langara, with his suite, still remained in Gibraltar. 
 Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney landed on the 
 27th at Ragged Staff, and, after visiting the Spanish 
 admiral, dined with the governor. Prince William, 
 with Admiral Digby, etc., likewise dined at the 
 convent. The same day the governor ordered those 
 soldiers' wives and children who were not provided 
 with twelve months' provisions to prepare to leave 
 the garrison with the fleet; 250 lb. of flour, or 360 lb. 
 of biscuit, was stated as sufHcient for one person. By 
 this regulation many useless hands were sent home, 
 which would have been a vast burthen on the garrison, 
 circumstanced as we afterwards were. The evening 
 of the 28th the Childers sailed for England with 
 despatches from the admiral ; but meeting with a 
 gale of wind at west, she was compelled to return, 
 after losing her fore-yard and throwing four guns 
 overboard. At night came in a deserter from the 
 Walon Guards. 
 
 About noon, on the 29th, a large ship appeared 
 from the westward : on doubling Cabrita Point she 
 was discovered to be an enemy. Signals were 
 instantly made for the Edgar and two frigates to 
 attack her. In the meantime the Spaniard seemed 
 greatly confused, but at last worked close in land, 
 between two barbet batteries at the Point. Several 
 broadsides were exchanged between her and the 
 Edgar, whilst the frigates attacked the batteries. 
 They were, however, after some time recalled, the 
 admiral being apprehensive that they might sustain 
 greater damage from the land than the object in action 
 would excuse. The same day the second battalion of 
 the 73rd regiment, or Lord M'Leod's Highlanders, 
 commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel George M'Kenzie, 
 
 7
 
 98 A REINFORCEMENT [Chap. Ill 
 
 disembarked from on board the fleet at the New Mole, 
 and took possession of the casemates in the King's 
 bastion, etc. This regiment was intended for Minorca ; 
 but General Eliott thought proper, with the advice of 
 the admirals, etc., to detain them. Their strength at 
 this time was 30 officers, 6 staff officers, 50 sergeants, 
 22 drummers, and 944 rank and file ; an excellent 
 reinforcement in our situation, since the scurvy had 
 already begun to appear among us. Colonels Picton 
 and Mawhood, with many other officers, joined their 
 corps also by this fleet. On the night of the 29th, 
 came in three more Walons. The Minorca convoy 
 sailed on the 31st, under the Marlborough, Invincible, 
 etc. The wind changing to the east in the evening, 
 the Childers made another attempt to pass the Straits ; 
 which she effected, and carried home dispatches giving 
 authentic accounts of the preceding victory. 
 
 Sir George, when he captured the Caracca fleet, 
 judged that the cargoes of several would be useful to 
 the garrison : he therefore brought with him what 
 ships he thought would be serviceable, and landed 
 their freights along with the supplies which govern- 
 ment had sent out. A great number of guns of heavy 
 metal, and some hundred barrels of powder, were also 
 purchased from the Spanish prizes by the governor, 
 notwithstanding he had received a large supply of 
 the latter by the convoy. The artillery (whose con- 
 stant practice it was to try the strength of powder 
 on the batteries) afterwards compared the quality and 
 strength of the British and Spanish powder, and found 
 the former greatly superior. 
 
 In the beginning of February, the wind from the 
 south-west blew a strong gale, which, from the foul- 
 ness of the anchorage off Rosia Bay, etc., involved the 
 fleet in great distress. Some of them were in very 
 imminent danger of being forced upon the rocks,
 
 i78o] THE ENEMY'S SUFFERINGS 99 
 
 particularly one of the Spanish prizes, which, without 
 doubt, would have experienced that fate, if seasonable 
 assistance had not been sent her, and the wind had 
 not abated. The 3rd, Admiral Barcelo again hoisted 
 his flag and ensign, having secured his ships by a 
 strong boom, and completed the battery on the land, 
 which mounted 22 guns. Merlons were also added 
 to the fort on the island, which before was en barbef. 
 
 Three deserters came in on the 5th ; they were 
 immediately sent on board the fleet, where the others 
 had been ordered the preceding day, to take their 
 passage for England. These men gave dismal accounts 
 of the enemy's sufferings in camp, where universal 
 discontent prevailed on account of the great scarcity 
 and dearness of provisions. We little doubted the 
 truth of this intelligence : the neighbourhood of their 
 camp, from our own knowledge of the country, was 
 not capable of subsisting so large an army ; conse- 
 quently they were obliged to be supplied with pro- 
 visions, etc., from places at a distance, and these 
 resources since Admiral Rodney's arrival had been 
 cut off. Our cruisers, in truth, not only obstructed 
 these supplies, but also prevented the garrison of 
 Ceuta from receiving the refreshments from Spain 
 which their situation made necessary; and our in- 
 telligence from Barbary mentioned that that garrison 
 was in a similar, if not worse condition than their 
 opposite friends. If Sir George, therefore, had con- 
 tinued some time longer in the Mediterranean, our 
 enemies probably would have been reduced to greater 
 difficulties than we ourselves had experienced. 
 
 As the fortress of Ceuta is in some degree connected 
 with the subject of the present narrative, it may not 
 be improper to relieve the reader's attention by a 
 brief description of it. The town of Ceuta is situated 
 on the coast of Barbary, about 15 miles to the south-
 
 loo CEUTA [Chap III 
 
 ward of Gibraltar. At the time of the Romans it was 
 a town of some note, but on the decHne of that empire 
 fell, like others, to the dominion of the Goths and 
 Moors. Ceuta remained in the possession of the latter 
 till the year 1414, when John I., King of Portugal, 
 with a formidable force, surprised and took it. The 
 Moors afterwards made many attempts to recover it, 
 but in vain ; and ever since it has remained in the 
 possession of the Christians. Upon the demise of 
 Henry of Portugal, in 1578, that crown was seized 
 upon by the Spaniards ; Ceuta consequently became a 
 Spanish garrison : and when the Portuguese revolted 
 under John, Duke of Braganza, in 1640, and again 
 established themselves into a distinct kingdom, Ceuta 
 did not, with the rest of the empire, return to its 
 natural allegiance, but continued in the hands of the 
 Spaniards, by whom it has been held ever since. 
 
 Being a promontory projecting into the sea, the 
 situation of Ceuta is not much different from that of 
 Gibraltar. The town, which is built on the neck of 
 land that joins it to the continent, is strongly fortified 
 in the modern manner. The suburbs are at some 
 distance, in order to be more out of reach of the shells, 
 in case of an attack from the land ; and they extend to 
 the foot of a mountain, at the extremity of the penin- 
 sula, on which are erected a watch-tower and castle, 
 surrounded with a fortified wall, about a league in 
 circumference. The fortifications are kept in good 
 repair by slaves, who are sentenced to this punish- 
 ment from the different prisons in Spain ; and a strong 
 garrison is kept in the fortress, to prevent a surprise 
 from the Moors, who, like the Spaniards with respect 
 to Gibraltar, have a watchful eye over it. The city is 
 regularly furnished with provisions from the opposite 
 ports in Spain ; and being destitute of water, which 
 was formerly conducted by an aqueduct from the
 
 i78o] DON LANGARA RELEASED loi 
 
 neighbourhood, is supplied with that article from 
 Estepona, a small Spanish fishing-town about nine 
 leagues to the eastward of Gibraltar. 
 
 Another deserter came in on the loth of February. 
 The day following, the invalids and women embarked 
 on board the fleet. By the 12th the supplies were all 
 landed, and the rigging of the Spanish prizes being 
 repaired, the fleet prepared to return. The same day 
 a flag of truce brought over some English prisoners : 
 one of them, the master of a merchantman, which had 
 been taken in her voyage to the garrison, informed us 
 that the boom at Algeziras was a twenty-two inch 
 cable-rope, buoyed up by casks, to prevent our sending 
 fire-ships among their shipping. 
 
 The Spanish admiral having regulated with Sir 
 George Rodney everything concerning the exchange 
 and release of prisoners, was permitted on the 13th, to 
 return upon his parole into Spain. He was conducted 
 with part of his suite, in the governor's carriage, to 
 the Spanish lines, where he was received by his friends, 
 and with them proceeded on to the camp. The 
 succeeding day, the remainder of the Spanish officers 
 were taken by the Fortune sloop, and landed at the 
 Orange Grove. Lieutenant Williams, of the navy 
 (who, after taking possession of one of the Spanish 
 prizes in the action off St. Mary's, was obliged to run 
 her ashore near Cadiz, and surrender himself prisoner), 
 returned with another officer, on board the sloop, to 
 the garrison. The liberal and polite behaviour of the 
 navy and the governor to Don Langara and his 
 countrymen made a sensible and lasting impression 
 on their minds, and was confessedly of great advantage 
 to the English prisoners in Spain ; particularly to 
 those taken in our neighbourhood, who ever after- 
 wards were treated with great attention and humanity. 
 
 In the evening of the 13th, the British fleet got
 
 102 THE FLEET SAILS [Chap. Ill 
 
 under way, excepting the Edgar and the Panther ships 
 of the line, the Enterprise and Porcupine frigates, which 
 were left behind, as great part of their crews had been 
 removed to man the prizes. The enemy, on their 
 appearing in motion, immediately gave the alarm, 
 which was communicated by signals from their towers 
 along the coasts towards Cadiz. At dusk few of our 
 ships were in sight from the upper part of the hill.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 The garrison might now be considered in a very 
 perfect state of defence. The scurvy indeed had begun 
 to affect many, and threatened to become more 
 general ; but we flattered ourselves that the enemy 
 would give up their intention of starving us to a 
 surrender, and, by relaxing in their vigilance at sea, 
 might afford us an opportunity of receiving constant 
 supplies of those articles most essential to health. 
 Our stores and magazines were full ; a reinforcement 
 had joined the garrison ; and new spirits were infused 
 into the troops, since they were convinced, from the 
 powerful force sent to their relief, that they were not 
 forgotten in the multiplicity of objects which neces- 
 sarily engaged the attention of our friends at home. 
 
 Admiral Duff having returned on board the fleet to 
 England, the command of the squadron that remained 
 in the bay consequently devolved on Captain Eliott of 
 the Edgar ^ who, on the 14th of February, hoisted his 
 broad pendant as commodore. 
 
 The i6th of the same month, Admiral Barcelo re- 
 moved the boom at Algeziras, and warped out to his 
 former anchorage, immediately detaching his small 
 craft to Cabrita Point, to intercept any ships that might 
 attempt coming in. In the afternoon, the enemy 
 executed two men in camp, who, it was imagined, had 
 been retaken in attempting to desert : their bodies 
 
 103
 
 I04 SPANISH DESERTERS [Chap. IV 
 
 were not cut down until the 20th. This punishment 
 seemed, however, to have Httle effect ; for at night 
 three others came in, having swum round Fort Barbara. 
 The multitude of deserters from the Spanish lines 
 during the whole of the siege, is one of the circum- 
 stances least capable of a satisfactory explanation. 
 What could these unhappy men expect in a confined 
 and blockaded garrison, and even at a time when they 
 could not fail to be acquainted with the distress and 
 difficulties under which we laboured? The very act 
 of escaping was attended with innumerable dangers ; 
 and, should the garrison afterwards fall into the hands 
 of the enemy, they were certain to meet with the 
 severest punishment. There is, however, a kind of 
 heroism in the passions ; disgust, or resentment, will 
 prompt men to overlook dangers and difficulties, 
 which, in the line of their duty, would be esteemed 
 insurmountable. 
 
 A Venetian came in from the west, on the 21st ; she 
 spoke the British fleet all well to the west of Cape 
 St. Vincent. The subsequent day, a Dutch prize, 
 laden with flour, was sent in by the Maidstone privateer, 
 which arrived herself on the 23rd. Several other 
 vessels came in during the intermediate time to the 
 27th ; when a Spanish squadron of four line-of-battle 
 ships, two frigates, and a xebeque, joined Admiral 
 Barcelo from the west, and again blocked up the port. 
 From the patched and disorderly appearance of their 
 sails and rigging, it was conjectured that they were 
 fitted up in haste, and solely for the duty of the block- 
 ade : it gave us however some uneasiness to find them 
 again likely to adopt their former system. 
 
 At daybreak, on the preceding day, we discovered a 
 vessel at anchor off Water Port, which we fired upon, 
 supposing her to be a Spaniard : she immediately sent 
 her boat to Ragged Staff, and informed us that she
 
 i78o] NEW DISTRIBUTION OF RATIONS 105 
 
 was of Naples, and bound to London ; that she had 
 touched at Minorca, and had on board two English dis- 
 charged soldiers, and two women passengers. The 
 boat returned, and soon after went on shore at Fort 
 St. Philip, where it remained about half and hour. In 
 the evening the enemy fired a shot at the vessel ; 
 upon which she sent her boat a second time ashore : 
 we answered the shot from Willis's ; nevertheless at 
 night she went over unperceived to Algeziras. 
 
 In the beginning of March, three regiments de- 
 camped from the enemy's army, and took different 
 routes. On the night of the 2nd, two Genoese sailors, 
 who had formerly belonged to a privateer of the garri- 
 son, came over to us in a small boat from Algeziras. 
 The following day a Spanish convoy under a commo- 
 dore arrived in the bay, from the west. The governor 
 on the nth, ordered the garrison to be victualled 
 monthly (bread excepted) in the following proportion : 
 for a soldier, each first and third week, i lb. of pork, 
 2| lbs. of salt fish, which had been purchased from the 
 Newfoundland ship ; 2 pints of peas ; i lb. of flour ; 
 
 1 lb. of raisins; i lb. of rice; 5 oz. of butter; i^ pint 
 of oatmeal. Second and fourth week, i| lb. of beef; 
 
 2 lbs. of fish ; 2 pints of peas ; i lb. of rice ; 5 oz. of 
 butter; i4 lb. of wheat ; I lb. of raisins. The salt cod 
 being indifferent of its kind, and the soldiers not 
 having proper vegetables to dress with it, proved very 
 pernicious. This article continued to be delivered 
 for near seven months ; and undoubtedl}'-, in a great 
 degree, promoted that dreadful disorder, the scurv}^ 
 which had made its appearance before Sir George 
 Rodney arrived, and afterwards became very general 
 and fatal. The governor, however, in this new dis- 
 tribution, considered the hospital, whose proportion 
 of salt meat was less, more nourishing articles being 
 issued instead.
 
 io6 FIRE-SHIPS THREATENED [Chap. IV 
 
 Notwithstanding the repeated assurances from the 
 Spaniards, that the EngHsh prisoners in our neigh- 
 bourhood should be exchanged for those taken with 
 Admiral Langara, none were yet sent in agreeably 
 to that admiral's promise : Commodore Eliott was 
 therefore under the necessity of making a formal 
 demand, and to enforce it told them, if they did not 
 comply, he should expect the Spanish admiral would 
 return with the officers then upon their parole. This 
 convinced them the commodore was no longer to be 
 trifled with ; accordingly, on the 12th, about 390 British 
 seamen were received on board the Fortune sloop, 
 and distributed amongst the men-of-war, whose crews, 
 as I have mentioned before, were sent to man the 
 Spanish prizes. The same day a Moorish sloop came 
 in from Malaga, and brought intelligence that the 
 enemy had fitted up several fire-ships in the bay. In 
 the evening three of the 72nd absented themselves from 
 their corps ; search was made the succeeding day, and 
 two of them were discovered asleep in a cave, behind 
 the Sugar-Loaf Point. They had cut up their working- 
 dresses into shreds, which were tied together to favour 
 their descent down the rock ; and it is imagined the 
 following night they would have repeated their at- 
 tempt to get off". One of these men was afterwards 
 executed, but the other was pardoned. 
 
 The Fly packet arrived the 14th, with an English 
 mail. In the afternoon the Maidstone came in, with 
 a settee prize, which the captain had cut out of Malaga 
 road. A privateer, called the Alert, beat in from the 
 west on the 15th, notwithstanding an easterly wind. 
 A prize following her was taken off Cabrita Point. 
 The 17th, the enemy sent in 41 British seamen, who 
 were distributed as before. 
 
 The enemy at this time were not particularly em- 
 ployed. Some new arrangements were made in their
 
 1/80] EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS 107 
 
 artillery park ; and in their camp they were busy, 
 collecting brush-wood for fascines, which caused 
 various conjectures in the garrison concerning their 
 future operations. A salute and feu-de-joie were fired 
 in their camp on the 19th, supposed to be occasioned 
 by the birth of a son to the Princess of Asturias. 
 The night of the 23rd, the Alert sailed with dis- 
 patches for England ; and on the 29th we received 
 from the enemy more English prisoners. In the 
 course of the month the garrison lost four men by 
 desertion. 
 
 April was not remarkable for any events of moment. 
 On the 2nd, the Porcupine frigate, Sir Charles Knowles, 
 Bart., sailed to the eastward on a cruise. The 5th 
 arrived the Fly packet : she reported that a merchant- 
 man, bound to the garrison, had been obliged by a 
 north wind, when she was almost arrived in the bay, 
 to pass to the eastward, and put into Tetuan, where 
 she waited a favourable opportunity to renew her 
 attempt. The Fortune sloop, on the 6th, took over 
 to the enemy 300 Spaniards, who had been confined as 
 prisoners for some time in our Navy hospital. She re- 
 turned with nine British, and two days after took over 
 280 prisoners. The night of the 12th a sloop, with 
 two settees, came in from Tangier : the former brought 
 a packet from Mr. Logic ; and the latter, cattle, and 
 other acceptable articles. The following day we ob- 
 served the enemy forming a bridge of pontoons across 
 the mouth of the river Guadaranque. At night, the 
 Hyena frigate. Captain Thomson, arrived in thirteen 
 days from England. She was chased by the enemy's 
 cruisers, and fired at, but received very little damage. 
 The 20th, the Edgar, Commodore Eliott, and the 
 Hyena, with a privateer, sailed to the west, notwith- 
 standing the enemy's superiority in the bay. Admiral 
 Barcelo seemed to suspect their intention; for instantly
 
 io8 A SHAM FIGHT [Chap. IV 
 
 on their appearing under sail, he made a signal for his 
 squadron to pursue. The Edgar and her consort 
 were, however, out of sight before the Spaniards 
 got abreast of Cabrita Point. 
 
 Towards the conclusion of the month, the enemy 
 were more active in their camp, and sometimes in the 
 lines ; to which place they brought down a great 
 quantity of fascines. They were chiefly employed 
 in raising the boyau, and making repairs, which were, 
 however, so trifling, that our artillery did not disturb 
 them. Besides the arrivals already noted, we received 
 supplies by two or three boats from the Barbary 
 coast ; and in the course of a month, three deserters 
 came over from the enemy, one of whom swam to 
 Land Port from Tesse's battery, about halfway be- 
 tween Fort Philip and Point Mala. 
 
 May was not less barren of interesting occurrences 
 than the preceding month. Several deserters at- 
 tempted to get in, but some were so unfortunate as 
 to be overtaken by their pursuers. These wretches 
 were generally executed the succeeding day, but the 
 example did not deter others from similar attempts. 
 
 The 4th, the Fly returned with fowls, leather, and 
 fruit. Two days following, the enemy's army were 
 under arms in two divisions, and performed a sham 
 engagement. One division took post on the eminence 
 above the stone quarry, under the Queen of Spain's 
 Chair, and was attacked by the other from below. 
 After a smart cannonade, and brisk discharge of 
 musketry, the party above gave way ; but the night 
 prevented our observing the conclusion. The suc- 
 ceeding day, the Fortune received from a Spanish flag 
 of truce 47 prisoners, very few of whom were British, 
 At night small arms were discharged on the neutral 
 ground, supposed to be at some deserters who were 
 coming off. One Walon reached the barrier, and
 
 i78o] SCARCITY OF LEATHER 109 
 
 informed us that several of his comrades agreed to 
 follow him. The loth, two men were executed in the 
 Spanish camp ; probably, the same who were retaken. 
 
 Another deserter, belonging to the regiment of 
 Estremadura, came in on the nth, and was remarkable 
 for being the first native of Spain who deserted. The 
 Spanish infantry in general is raised upon a local 
 establishment. Each district is required, by an ancient 
 law called the Quinta, to furnish a certain proportion 
 of troops ; and the men are enrolled for about seven 
 or eight years' service, after which time they are per- 
 mitted to return to their respective provinces ; and 
 as the Spaniards are all strongly attached to their 
 native spot, desertion is consequently less common 
 with them than with any other troops. Most of the 
 men who deserted to us, came from those regiments in 
 their service which are composed of foreigners. 
 
 A Swede was brought-to from Europa, the 15th, 
 and obliged to come in. We were much disappointed 
 in her lading, which was salt. We had a few days 
 before received some supplies from Tangier ; and on 
 the 1 8th two boats arrived from Tetuan, with fowls 
 and oil : the latter reported that the Fly packet, which 
 had left us on the nth, was driven ashore on the 
 Barbary coast by the enemy's cruisers, who, after 
 the crew had quitted her, took possession. We were 
 much concerned at this intelligence ; for the Fly was 
 a fast sailor, and had been very fortunate in frequently 
 passing in and out unobserved. The 20th, came in 
 a Moorish sloop from Malaga, with butter, raisins, and 
 leather : the latter article was much wanted ; indeed, 
 so scarce was it become in the garrison, that several 
 officers, and most of the men, had been necessitated to 
 wear shoes made of canvas, with soles of spun-yarn. 
 
 A letter of marque arrived on the 25th from Leg- 
 horn, with wine, oil, and other articles , a very valuable
 
 no FIRE-SHIPS APPROACH [Chap. IV 
 
 cargo to the garrison. On the 30th the enemy's army 
 were again under arms. Their manoeuvres on that 
 day were the attack and defence of a convoy. Their 
 parties, as in the last month, continued arranging the 
 ordnance in their artillery park, and bringing down 
 to the lines materials for the repair of their works. 
 Our artillery, however, took little notice of them. 
 
 In the beginning of June we received some season- 
 able supplies by the arrival of three boats from Tetuan 
 and one from Tangier. By the latter we had intelli- 
 gence that the Fox packet, from Faro, and a sloop, 
 were at that place waiting an opportunity to get in ; 
 and by this, or one of the former vessels, Mr. Logie 
 gave information that the enemy had prepared several 
 fire-ships to burn our shipping in the bay. Two 
 months before, he had intimated to Commodore Eliott 
 that the Spaniards had five fire-ships in readiness 
 for immediate use ; and that they had once made an 
 attempt to send them over, but the wind failed. Re- 
 peating the intelligence, therefore, at this time, was 
 peculiarly fortunate, as the next night they attempted 
 to put in execution their design. The same day, a 
 Spanish ship of the line sailed from Algeziras to the 
 eastward. 
 
 Our naval force at this period consisted of the 
 PantJier, of 60 guns, Captain Harvey (who, since 
 Commodore Eliott's departure, commanded in the 
 Mediterranean) ; the Enterprise frigate. Captain Lesley ; 
 two armed vessels commanded by lieutenants, with 
 several armed ordnance transports, and other ships 
 belonging to merchants. On the morning of the 7th, a 
 little after midnight, the Enterprise, which was anchored 
 to the northward off" the New Mole head, discovered 
 several sail approaching her from the opposite side of 
 the bay : they were hailed, but, before satisfactory 
 answers could be received, several fireworks and
 
 i78o] THE ATTACK FRUSTRATED in 
 
 inflammable substances were thrown on board, and six 
 fire-ships suddenly appeared in the form of a crescent, 
 bearing down upon her and the ordnance ships in the 
 New Mole. Captain Lesley, with immediate presence 
 of mind, instantly fired three guns to alarm his friends, 
 and, cutting his cable, drove closer in shore. The 
 Panther and shipping, on the appearance of the enemy, 
 immediately commenced a brisk cannonade to retard 
 their progress ; and, manning their boats, the officers 
 and seamen, with their usual intrepidity, grappled 
 the ships ; and, notwithstanding the fierceness of the 
 flames, towed them, clear of our vessels, under the 
 walls, where they were afterwards extinguished. 
 Beside these six, which were intended for the New 
 Mole, three others were lighted and directed towards 
 the Panther, at anchor off" Buena Vista ; but one was 
 towed off" by the boats, and the other two were at so 
 great a distance that they drove out to sea to the 
 eastward. 
 
 The garrison was as early alarmed as the navy. 
 The drums beat to arms ; the guards were all upon 
 their defence ; and the pickets, with the different 
 regiments, assembled at their posts, and continued 
 under arms till daybreak. The artillery from the 
 batteries seconded the fire from the ships ; but the 
 darkness of the night prevented any certain knowledge 
 of the effect. The wind, which was favourable for 
 their purpose in the beginning of the night, fortunately 
 grew still when they were most in need of it. The 
 largest of them, nevertheless, which was of the size of 
 a large Indiaman, or 50-gun ship, would certainly 
 have got into the New Mole amongst the ordnance- 
 transports, had not a few bar-shot, from a 32-pounder 
 at the Mole Head, turned her round, and then the 
 current carried her into Rosia Bay. 
 
 The navy on this occasion cannot be too highly
 
 112 HONOUR TO THE NAVY [Chap. IV 
 
 commended for their courage, conduct, and alertness. 
 Their intrepidity overcame every obstacle ; and though 
 three of the ships were linked with chains and strong 
 cables, and every precaution was taken to render them 
 successful, yet, with uncommon resolution and activity, 
 the British seamen separated the vessels, and towed 
 them ashore with no other injury to themselves than 
 a few burns and bruises. The design altogether, to do 
 justice to the ingenuity of Don Barcelo, was well 
 projected, and his squadron judiciously stationed at 
 the entrance of the bay to intercept our men-of-war 
 in case they had attempted to escape from the fire- 
 ships. We afterwards were informed that Admiral 
 Barcelo proposed to Don Alvarez to draw off our 
 attention from the southward by opening his land 
 batteries on the town. Without doubt such a proceed- 
 ing would have diverted the attention of the garrison in 
 some measure from the shipping ; but as the navy had 
 the principal, nay, I may sa}^ the sole honour of oppos- 
 ing the fire-ships, their endeavours would not have 
 been less strenuous, nor of course less successful. 
 
 The hulls of the fire-ships were soon after broken 
 up and sold to the inhabitants for fuel, and proved a 
 most seasonable relief. Firing was become a more 
 important article than before, which may appear very 
 extraordinary to the reader, when he looks back to the 
 short time which had elapsed since the departure of 
 Sir George Rodney's fleet ; but it is necessary to 
 inform him that the colliers intended for the garrison 
 were too late in coming round from the Downs to join 
 at Spithead — Sir George Rodney therefore sailed 
 without them. 
 
 The morning of the 8th, arrived the Fox packet, 
 and another vessel from Faro ; and in the course of the 
 loth and 12th, four boats came in from Tetuan and 
 Tangier with various cargoes. The patrons reported
 
 i78o] ATTACK BY BOATS 113 
 
 it was current at Tangier that we killed 14 or 15 men 
 in the attack of the fire-ships, and that the Spaniards 
 had several more fire-ships ready in the bay, with 
 which it wasinot improbable they might make a second 
 attempt. Our navy were consequently very vigilant, 
 and kept a good look-out. For some weeks past we 
 had been remarkably successful in receiving these 
 small and very acceptable supplies. Their cruisers, 
 however, now began to be more alert, and appeared to 
 be stationed with better judgment. On the 15th, a 
 boat was taken coming in, but her consort escaped ; 
 and on the 20th, another arrived from Tangier, which 
 brought intelligence that a large ship, with coals and 
 butter, bound to the garrison, was captured by the 
 Spaniards two days before under the guns of Tangier. 
 The 24th, several broadsides were exchanged between 
 four of the enemy's ships, passing to Algeziras, and 
 our shipping and batteries at the southward. Some 
 few shot came ashore, but no particular damage was 
 received. ThQ Enterprise had 18 sailors burnt by the 
 explosion of some powder. 
 
 Early on the 27th, four Spanish gunboats, with a 
 xebeque and two galleys, approached under cover of 
 the night and fired upon the Panther. A brisk dis- 
 charge was, however, returned, and they soon retired. 
 One shot struck the south pavilion, and three were 
 fired through the Panther. This mode of annoyance 
 the enemy afterwards greatly improved upon. These 
 boats were strongly built, but ill finished : they had a 
 small mast inclining forward from the centre of the 
 boat, almost over the bow, upon which was hoisted 
 a latine yard and sail, which, at anchor, served as 
 an awning to the men on board. They rowed aston- 
 ishingly swift, and each carried a 26-pounder in the 
 bow. We never had a good opportunity of making 
 any satisfactory observations on them, but judged 
 
 8
 
 114 BLOWS TO BRITISH COMMERCE [Chap. IV 
 
 from their appearance that they were about 70 feet 
 long and 20 broad. 
 
 In the beginning of July, the Panther man-of-war 
 receiving upwards of 100 English prisoners from the 
 enemy, Captain Harvey sailed for England. Some 
 alterations and additions took place the same day in 
 the garrison detail. The 4th, the Fortune brought 
 over more British prisoners. We had received some 
 supplies in the course of a few days by two Moorish 
 boats, and they were followed on the nth of July 
 by one from Tangier, which informed us of a fleet 
 having been seen off that coast, and that two boats had 
 been taken coming into the bay. The fleet here 
 mentioned was the combined fleet of France and Spain, 
 which soon after captured our outward-bound East 
 and West India fleets, and carried the greater part of 
 them into Cadiz : one of the heaviest blows which 
 British commerce had ever sustained. 
 
 The recent attempt of the enemy to burn the 
 shipping and store-houses at the southward, added to 
 the intelligence which the governor had received of 
 the enemy's fleet being off Cadiz, caused him to 
 direct particular attention towards that quarter of the 
 garrison. Batteries for heavy metal were made on 
 the rock above Parson's Lodge, at Rosia ; and direc- 
 tions were given for the New Mole to be cleared of 
 shipping, that the ordnance might have more liberty 
 to play. Other alterations also took place in that 
 neighbourhood. Early on the morning of the 17th, 
 five gunboats and four galleys fired upon the Enter- 
 prise and shipping in the New Mole. One of the 
 frigate's forecastle guns was dismounted, and her fore- 
 stay cut : some shots came also on shore. 
 
 During the remainder of the month, our firing, 
 which had been continued at intervals, was brisker 
 on their parties, who were principally employed in
 
 i78o] THE FOX CAPTURED 115 
 
 forming considerable depots of fascines, casks, and 
 timber, in the lines, and in collecting brush-wood 
 from the country; they were likewise very busy in 
 disembarking stores which had lately arrived. Several 
 empty transport-vessels, in the course of this month, 
 left the garrison for England. A man of the 58th 
 regiment deserted to the enemy : one also came in 
 from the lines. 
 
 In August few incidents occurred on either side. 
 Our provisions began to be bad, and extremely offen- 
 sive. The few supplies we now received, were rather 
 luxuries than substantials : wine, sugar, oil, honey, 
 onions, and articles of the like kind, composed chiefly 
 the cargoes of those craft which arrived. Sugar was 
 risen to 2s. 6d. per pound, and everything else sold 
 in proportion. 
 
 About 10 in the forenoon of the 3rd, a settee, 
 coming in from the west, was chased by the enemy, 
 and taken into Algeziras. We imagined it was the 
 Fox packet, which we then anxiously expected with 
 an English mail ; and our conjectures afterwards were 
 confirmed. The loth, we observed the enemy laying 
 a bridge of boats across the river Palmones. Two 
 days following, a brig was boarded almost under our 
 guns, and conducted to Algeziras. It was thought 
 to be the same of which we had intelligence some time 
 before, and which was laden with a variety of articles 
 much wanted ; her capture was therefore greatly 
 lamented. The night of the 15th, six sailors deserted 
 in a boat from the New Mole. The succeeding day, 
 the Fortune sloop received from the enemy 64 prisoners. 
 Ensign Bradshaw, of the 56th regiment, and several 
 who were passengers in the brig taken on the 12th, 
 were of the number. At night, five more sailors who 
 were rowing guard, went over to the enemy. In the 
 night, of the 2Sth, a Minorquin boat came in with
 
 ii6 VARIOUS SUSPICIONS [Chap. IV 
 
 wine, tea, and sugar, in eight days. The 27th and 
 29th, a soldier and four sailors deserted to the enemy. 
 It was imagined the sailors forced with them the mid- 
 shipman who commanded the boat. Colonel Mawhood, 
 of the 72nd regiment, died on the 29th. 
 
 A small boat arrived from Barbary on the 30th, 
 with information that the Moors permitted the 
 Spaniards to capture every English vessel which took 
 refuge under the protection of their guns ; that the 
 Spaniards would not allow any boats to leave the bay 
 of Tangier, and only waited for orders from Admiral 
 Barcelo to burn and destroy what remained. This 
 intelligence very sensibly affected us. To be cut off 
 from what we had always considered our domestic 
 market, was a stroke we little expected. We waited, 
 however, more authentic proofs of this extraordinary 
 conduct, before we could implicitly believe the de- 
 fection of those whom during the present contest we 
 had considered as our firm friends. 
 
 September was as barren with respect to material 
 incidents as the preceding months. The enemy fin- 
 ished their pontoon bridge over the river Palmones 
 on the 2nd. About a week afterwards two soldiers 
 of the 56th deserted. On the 23rd, a flag of truce 
 brought over the midshipman carried off by the sailors 
 who deserted the latter end of August. The 29th, 
 a deserter came in, in the habit of a peasant : he spoke 
 several languages fluently, and said he had been a 
 sergeant in their service. Some suspicions arising, he 
 was charged to remain with part of the 58th regiment 
 at Windmill Hill. The following day we remarked, 
 that the enemy's guards in the lines, at the hour of 
 relieving, amounted to about 300 infantry, and 70 
 artillery, besides cavalry. 
 
 The situation of the garrison by this time was 
 again become very interesting. The blockade was,
 
 im 
 
 
 '^ 
 
 S 

 
 i78o] A NIGHT ALARM 117 
 
 if possible, more strict and vigilant than before. 
 Chains of small cruisers were stationed across the 
 Straits, at the entrance of the bay, and on every 
 side of the rock ; and the late disagreeable intelligence 
 from Tangier seemed now confirmed, by our never 
 having heard from that quarter during the month. 
 The little assistance we therefore received, came from 
 Minorca; but the supplies from that place were so 
 trifling, and sold at such enormous prices, that few 
 were able to purchase them. We had not been 
 favoured with a cargo of cattle for a long period, 
 and the scurvy began to gain considerable ascendancy 
 over the efforts of our surgeons. Our distresses, in 
 short, promised to be more acute and fatal than those 
 we had already experienced. 
 
 The enemy's operations on the land side had been 
 for many months so unimportant, as scarcely to merit 
 our attention. However, on the morning of the ist of 
 October, we observed they had raised an epaulment, 
 about 600 or 700 j^ards advanced from their lines. 
 The preceding night, our out-guards had been alarmed 
 with an unusual noise on the neutral ground, like 
 that of men at work : several large fires also appeared, 
 and some attempts were made to burn our advanced 
 barriers with devils, and other combustibles, which 
 were soon thrown off without taking effect : and notice 
 was given to the lines. Land Port, and other guards. 
 This alarm, however, was not general in the garrison. 
 As the morning advanced, the noise ceased ; and we 
 discovered that they had set fire to the fishermen's 
 huts in the gardens ; but when the day permitted us to 
 examine further, we observed the above-mentioned 
 work. 
 
 The epaulment was about 30 yards in extent, of 
 a simple construction, composed of chandeliers, fas- 
 cines, and a few sand-bags ; and was erected near the
 
 ii8 SPANISH ACTIVITY [Chap. IV 
 
 windmill or tower on the neutral ground, distant about 
 1,100 yards from our grand battery. The enemy's 
 guns were elevated, and batteries manned ; which, 
 with other preparations in the lines, seemed to argue 
 that they expected we should fire, and were deter- 
 mined to oppose it. These appearances, probably, 
 induced the governor not to take any particular notice 
 of their work in the day : but at night, orders were 
 sent to throw a few light balls, to discover if they 
 were making any addition. The inhabitants immedi- 
 ately took the alarm, upon being told that the enemy 
 had thrown up an advanced work, and that their 
 batteries were manned ; and at night very few remained 
 at the north end of the town. 
 
 It now seemed evident the enemy had determined 
 on a more serious attack, in case the second blockade 
 was unsuccessful ; but we were at a loss to imagine 
 what motives could influence them to act so opposite 
 to the established mode of approaching a besieged 
 garrison, by erecting a work so distant, and which had 
 no connection with their established lines. 
 
 The enemy's batteries continued to be manned till 
 the 2nd ; and in the afternoon of that day, Don 
 Alvarez, accompanied by an officer, supposed to be 
 the Count d'Estaing, who was expected in the Spanish 
 camp when the last deserter came in, visited the lines. 
 They remained three-quarters of an hour at Fort St. 
 Barbara, viewing the rock with glasses. On their 
 return they were saluted from Point Mala ; and as 
 they passed the front line of the camp, the regiments 
 turned out without arms. On the night of the 3rd, 
 a smart engagement was heard off Cabrita Point, 
 supposed to be between some vessel attempting to 
 come in, and the enemy's cruisers ; and the next 
 morning a sloop with English colours reversed was 
 observed at Algeziras.
 
 1780] PARLEYING 119 
 
 Early on the 4th, our advanced guards discovered 
 the enemy endeavouring, a second time, to fix fire- 
 faggots on our barriers. A smart discharge of musketry 
 was immediately directed from these posts, and from 
 the Queen's lines; on which they retired. At day- 
 break we observed they had carried away vast 
 quantities of vegetables from the gardens, and trampled 
 others under foot : but little, if any, addition was made 
 to the epaulment. A parley came in on the 5th ; and 
 soon after, the Fortune sloop received upwards of 
 40 British prisoners, many of whom had been taken 
 going from the garrison. In the evening of the 6th, 
 the Spanish general came to the lines, at the head of 
 the relieving guards. Soon after he arrived, the guns 
 were again elevated, and every preparation made, as if 
 they had resolved to open on the garrison. The 8th, 
 the town-major. Captain Burke, went out with a 
 parley, intending to proceed to the tower, the place 
 appointed by custom for the officers to give and 
 receive communications. When he got abreast of the 
 new work, the sentries by motions informed him he 
 must not advance. He pointed to the tower ; but 
 they continued inflexible : on his turning round, how- 
 ever, to return, one of them came up with his arms, 
 and proceeded with him to the tower, whilst another 
 ran to acquaint the officer in the lines. The messenger 
 after some time came back, and both remained appar- 
 ently as a guard over Major Burke, till the officer 
 arrived ; when, delivering his packet, the major 
 returned to the garrison. 
 
 The enemy did not appear very anxious to complete 
 the epaulment ; their parties were employed in raising 
 and finishing. the merlons of the batteries in the lines, 
 raising the merlons of Fort St. Philip with fascines, 
 and erecting a new battery near the guard-house on 
 the beach. The nth, a small settee arrived from
 
 120 A GODSEND FOR SCURVY [Chap. IV 
 
 Minorca : the patron informing us that two others 
 were standing for the rock, the navy manned their 
 boats to assist them, in case the enemy opposed their 
 entrance ; but on getting round Europa Point, no such 
 vessels appeared. A Dutch convoy was, however, 
 passing : the boats therefore boldly advanced, and 
 boarded a dogger which had got, during the fog, pretty 
 near the rock. She was-a Dane from Malaga, laden with 
 lemons and oranges, i which the governor immediately 
 purchased and distributed to the garrison. 
 
 Few articles ever arrived more seasonably than 
 this cargo of fruit. The scurvy had made dreadful 
 ravages in our hospitals, and more were daily con- 
 fined : many, however, unwilling to yield to the first 
 attacks, persevered in their duty to its more advanced 
 stages. It was therefore not uncommon, at this period, 
 to see men, who some months before were hale, and 
 equal to any fatigue, supporting themselves to their 
 posts upon crutches, and even with that assistance 
 scarcely able to move along. The most fatal conse- 
 quences, in short, to the garrison, were to be appre- 
 hended from this terrible disorder, when this Dane 
 was happily directed to our relief. The lemons were 
 immediately administered to the sick, who devoured 
 them with the greatest avidity. The salutary effects 
 were almost instantaneous : in a few days, men who 
 had been considered as irrecoverable, left their beds to 
 congratulate their comrades on the prospect of once 
 more becoming useful to their country. 
 
 Mr. Cairncross, of the 73rd regiment, a surgeon of 
 great eminence, who was present at this time and the 
 remaining part of the siege, has favoured me with the 
 following information relative to the scurvy, and 
 the mode of using this vegetable acid ; which, with 
 his permission, I insert for the benefit of those who 
 may hereafter be under similar circumstances : —
 
 i78o] THE USE OF LEMONS 121 
 
 " The scurvy which attacked the garrison of 
 Gibraltar, differed in no respect from that disease 
 usually contracted by sailors in long voyages ; and of 
 which the immediate cause seemed to be the subsisting 
 for a length of time upon salted provisions only, 
 without a sufficient quantity of vegetables, or other 
 acescent foods. The circumstance related in the 
 voyage of that celebrated circumnavigator, the late 
 Lord Anson, of consolidated fractures disuniting, and 
 the callosity of the bone being perfectly dissolved, oc- 
 curred frequently in our hospitals : and old sores and 
 wounds opened anew from the nature of the disorder. 
 
 " Various antiscorbutics were used without success, 
 such as acid of vitriol, sour crout, extract of salt, 
 essence of spruce, etc., but the only specific was fresh 
 lemons and oranges, given liberally; or when they 
 could not be procured, the preserved juice in such 
 quantities, from one to four ounces per diem, as the 
 patient could bear. Whilst the lemons were sound, 
 from one to three were administered each day as 
 circumstances directed. The juice given to those in 
 the most malignant state, was sometimes diluted with 
 sugar, wine, or spirits ; but the convalescents took it 
 without dilution. Women and children were equally 
 affected ; nor were the officers exempted from this 
 alarming distemper. It became almost general at the 
 commencement of the winter season, owing to the 
 cold and moisture ; and in the beginning of spring, 
 when vegetables were scarce. 
 
 " The juice was preserved by adding to 60 gallons 
 of expressed liquor about five or ten gallons of brandy, 
 which kept it in so wholesome a state, that several 
 casks were opened in good condition at the close of 
 the siege. The old juice was not, however, so speedily 
 efficacious as the fruit, though by persevering longer 
 in its use, it seldom failed."
 
 122 EPAULMENT STRENGTHENED [Chap. IV 
 
 The same day that the dogger was brought in, a 
 parley came from Don Alvarez, to inform the governor 
 that all intercourse or correspondence betwixt them, in 
 future, was to be conducted by flags of truce in the 
 bay ; which regulation continued till the peace was 
 notified in 1783. The 14th, two gun-boats, from the 
 orange-grove, ranged along the front of the garrison, 
 and drove in our fishing-boats ; and on the i6th they 
 again ranged off the Mackerel bank, and forced our 
 fishermen to retire. We did not much approve of 
 this conduct, as the boats, by this means, were pre- 
 vented from bringing any fish to our market. The 
 enemy continued, however, this practice at intervals 
 for some time. 
 
 The 2ist, the gun-boats fired upon the Enterprise 
 and town. Captain Lesley, not choosing to remain 
 the object of their fire, withdrew the frigate into the 
 New Mole ; where the navy, under the direction of the 
 engineers, had begun to lay a boom of masts from 
 the New Mole head to the watering-tank. This boom, 
 though it was considered a difficult operation on 
 account of the swell of the sea, was soon completed. 
 
 It was not till the night of the 21st that the enemy 
 threw sand in the front of their epaulment, to cover 
 it against our fire-balls and carcasses ; and on the 
 26th they lengthened it to the west about thirty 
 yards, and strengthened it in front with sand. The 
 night of the 28th they erected two large traverses 
 in the rear for magazines. It now presented a very 
 compact appearance, whence we concluded that it 
 was intended for a mortar battery. 
 
 Though it was generally imagined in England that 
 the garrison had been amply provided with every 
 article and necessary of life, when Sir George Rodney 
 arrived with the transports and relief from England, 
 our wants, in reality, were far from being supplied.
 
 i78o] SUPPLIES FROM MINORCA 123 
 
 In the articles of ammunition and salt provisions the 
 garrison had probably as much as they required ; but 
 of fresh provisions, wine, spirits, sugar, etc., we began 
 to find a great scarcity ; and the price of what remained 
 was consequently much enhanced. The assistance 
 we received formerly from Barbary had now been 
 suspended for several months ; the enemy seemed 
 determined to prevent our deriving support from the 
 element that almost surrounded us ; and their cruisers 
 were too numerous and vigilant to allow us to expect 
 anything from the west. Thus situated, the garrison 
 turned their eyes on the island of Minorca, whence we 
 had already received some very acceptable supplies, 
 and whose situation, from the great scope of sea room, 
 afforded a flattering probability of the boats being 
 oftener able to escape the enemy's cruisers. The 
 productions of that island are various ; and those 
 articles which it did not afford could be purchased 
 from the prizes that were daily carried thither by the 
 privateers. Several garrison boats were therefore sent 
 to Minorca, some of which returned, in the course of 
 October, laden with the wine of that island, sugar (an 
 article become exceedingly scarce), and cheese ; with 
 sometimes a few live stock. These articles were all 
 sold by auction, according to a regulation established 
 by the governor : and, though they seldom were 
 purchased by the lower ranks, yet afforded upon the 
 whole a partial relief to the garrison. 
 
 The 30th, we observed that the enemy had posted 
 an officer's guard in the Mill battery, which was the 
 name we gave to the new work. Montague's bastion 
 was therefore opened on it in the evening, and, by 
 forming a cross-fire with the batteries on the heights, 
 considerably annoyed them, and much retarded their 
 operations. The same night two soldiers of the 56th 
 and 72nd deserted from Upper AU's-well, in the lines :
 
 124 A RICOCHETTING FIRE [Chap. IV 
 
 they were sentries at the same post, and got down by 
 means of a rope ; but previous to their descent, had 
 the precaution to wet the priming of their firelocks. 
 We also lost another man by desertion in the course 
 of the month. 
 
 The governor, in the beginning of November, 
 made an arrangement of the troops, that in case the 
 enemy bombarded the garrison, each regiment might 
 know the quarters and stations which they were to 
 take up. The ist of the month was rather unpro- 
 pitious to us : an English snow* was taken to the 
 east of the rock : at night a soldier of the 56th regiment 
 deserted during a heavy shower of rain ; and the 
 following evening two others, of the 12th and 56th, 
 attempted to get off by swimming round the Old Mole 
 head ; but a few days afterwards the body of the former 
 was washed ashore near the King's bastion ; we there- 
 fore concluded his comrade had shared the same fate. 
 In the evening of the 7th a smart cannonade was heard 
 in the Straits : after it had continued for some time a 
 sudden flash appeared, and a report was heard, like the 
 blowing-up of powder. The next morning we ob- 
 served that the enemy had captured an English vessel, 
 and were at that time towing in a gun-boat, which 
 accounted for the firing and explosion. 
 
 Our fire, about the 7th and 8th, became more 
 animated ; yet the enemy almost every night made 
 some interior additions. We had observed for several 
 preceding mornings deep ruts in the sand, leading 
 from the principal barrier to the Mill battery ; which 
 led us to imagine that they brought at night heavy 
 timber and other materials from their depots in the 
 lines. The artillery were therefore ordered to direct a 
 ricochetting fire of small shells along this track. In the 
 evening of the loth a large party, followed by a 
 
 * A " snow " is a vessel with two masts — a brig.
 
 lySo] THE YOUNG SABINE 125 
 
 number of carts and mules, laden with different 
 materials, advanced along the beach from the sally- 
 port of the ditch of Fort St. Philip to the Mill battery. 
 They were perceived by the artillery at Willis's before 
 they had proceeded half-way ; and a brisk fire was 
 directed towards their route, which threw the mules 
 into confusion, and obliged some to return, after 
 having left their burthens on the beach. The batteries 
 being reinforced, the firing was continued with great 
 vivacity the whole night. The subsequent evening 
 our artillery were prepared, and immediately on the 
 party's appearing, saluted them with a warm discharge 
 of shot and shells, which seemed to have greater effect 
 than the fire of the preceding evening. This circum- 
 stance convinced us of the effect of the ricochetting fire 
 from the lower batteries, along the track from the 
 barrier ; but the enemy were not so soon driven from 
 the new track as from the former, and continued, 
 notwithstanding our fire (which must have killed and 
 wounded many of them), to bring materials in this ex- 
 posed manner till a line of communication was finished 
 from the lines. 
 
 An English armed polacre, called the Young Sabine, 
 arrived on the 12th, after a spirited engagement in the 
 bay with several armed vessels and three gun-boats. 
 The enemy attempted to board her, but were as often 
 repulsed by musketry : at length she beat them off, and 
 anchored under our guns. Her cargo was cheese, 
 hams, and potatoes ; the latter of which sold at forty- 
 three dollars per cwt., which according to forty-two 
 pence per dollar (the exchange at that time), are equal 
 to 7/. los. 6d, sterling. Other articles sold in pro- 
 portion. In the afternoon a Minorquin settee arrived 
 with the usual cargo ; a Spanish gun-boat boarded her 
 on her passage ; but the patron showing papers from 
 Majorca to the camp, the Spaniard took no further
 
 126 THE BLACK BATTERY [Chap. IV 
 
 notice than keeping her company as a convoy. The 
 Minorquin afterwards seized a convenient opportunity, 
 and shpped in. 
 
 In the course of the 14th a Minorquin tartan, 
 bound for the garrison, was taken by the enemy; the 
 crew, however, quitted her, and got ashore. The 
 enemy the same day mounted twelve guns, en barbet, 
 in the battery near the guard-house, in the vicinity of 
 Fort St. PhiUp, which we had supposed was intended 
 for mortars ; and about a week afterwards they 
 erected merlons to this work, admitting the embrasures 
 to open upon the garrison. This was called by the 
 garrison the Black battery ; and though the most 
 distant work erected against Gibraltar, was found in 
 the subsequent bombardment and siege to be one of 
 the most annoying to the garrison, as its line of fire 
 enfiladed the Town Line wall and main street, which 
 were during the siege the principal communications 
 with the northern part of the fortress. 
 
 Two nights following, the gun-boats, which were 
 now increased in number, fired upon the town and 
 shipping. Three, that directed their fire on the 
 former, were stationed off the Old Mole head, and 
 threw several shots into the town. Several men 
 were wounded in the Enterprise frigate. 
 
 The night of the 17th the enemy threw up two 
 places d'armes for musketry on the flanks of the Mill 
 battery ; the parapets formed semicircles joining the 
 battery, but afterwards extended in an oblique direc- 
 tion towards the lines. These additions appeared 
 very slight, being only a row of casks or gabions, 
 strengthened with half-chandeliers, and sand in front ; 
 covered on the top with sand-bags. The i8th we 
 were visited again by the gun-boats; in returning 
 their cannonade one of the 32-pounders on the King's 
 bastion burst, killed an artilleryman on the spot, and
 
 i78o] EXPELLED FROM THE GARDENS 127 
 
 wounded three others. The man who fired the gun 
 escaped, but was a little scorched with the powder. 
 
 A great number of mules were employed on the 
 22nd, bringing forward casks, chandeliers, and other 
 materials, from the camp. The night of the 23rd the 
 enemy began an approach from the lines to the Mill 
 battery : it consisted of fascines, with sand banked up 
 in front, and commenced near the west angle of the 
 western 14-gun battery, extending about 120 feet 
 towards the advanced guard-house in front of Fort St. 
 Philip ; the following night, notwithstanding our fire, 
 they lengthened it about 100 feet, with chandeliers 
 placed in a trench and filled with fascines. The enemy 
 endeavoured to draw our attention from this quarter 
 by another salute from the gun-boats, but in vain. As 
 it was not improbable that the gun-boats were directed 
 in their firing by the lights in the houses along the line- 
 wall, and those looking towards the bay ; orders were 
 issued " that no lights in future should appear in any 
 house, barrack or guard-house, towards the bay, after 
 seven o'clock in the evening." 
 
 We had hitherto derived occasional assistance from 
 the gardens on the neutral ground, though vast quan- 
 tities of vegetables had been removed from thence by 
 the enemy. On the 25th, however, they determined to 
 expel our people altogether from the gardens ; which 
 in the course of a few days they accomplished, not- 
 withstanding the marksmen under Lieutenant Burleigh 
 were stationed at Willis's, and in the lines, in order 
 to prevent them. 
 
 From this period, our resources in respect to vege- 
 tables depended entirely upon our own attention to 
 cultivation ; which, happily for the garrison, was 
 crowned with tolerable success, especially during the 
 winter months, at which time the produce was in- 
 creased to be almost equal to the consumption. The
 
 128 A STORM [Chap. IV 
 
 supplies from the gardens had indeed begun to fail for 
 some time before, and we soon had little reason to 
 regret their loss. We had, besides, the additional 
 satisfaction of reflecting that the enemy were now 
 cut off from a channel through which it was not im- 
 probable they had been informed of every occurrence 
 which happened in the garrison. 
 
 The 26th, a Frenchman, one of the crew of the 
 Young Sabine, deserted in a boat to the enemy. The 
 night of the 27th, the Danish dogger, which brought 
 us the cargo of lemons, sailed, and the next morning 
 we observed her at anchor off Algeziras. By the 29th, 
 the enemy had finished the second branch of the line 
 of approach, and begun the return for the third towards 
 the western beach. Our fire, as they advanced, became 
 more spirited than ever, and must have been severely 
 felt by the enemy in this exposed duty. The 30th was 
 only distinguished by the arrival of a polacre from 
 Algiers with soap, oil, wine, and candles — a very 
 valuable cargo. 
 
 December was introduced with bad weather. The 
 ist, arrived the Anglicana privateer from Smyrna, and, 
 two nights after, she continued her voyage towards 
 England. Lieutenant Gage, of the Enterprise, went 
 home passenger with dispatches. The 2nd was parti- 
 cularly stormy, with thunder and lightning, which 
 happily did not continue long, or the works of the 
 garrison might have materially suffered. The rain 
 poured down with such violence from the heights, 
 forcing with it vast quantities of rubbish, stones, and 
 loose earth, that the streets leading from the hill were 
 instantly choked up, and considerable damage was 
 done to the buildings. The enemy, notwithstanding 
 the storm, completed their third branch, and raised the 
 return towards the east. Though the storm did not 
 retard their finishing what they had begun in the
 
 i78o] TANGIER 129 
 
 evening, yet the chandeliers were very much sunk 
 in many places, v^^hich employed their parties five or 
 six of the following evenings to repair. They also 
 made some alterations in the direction of the second 
 branch, and repaired the batteries in the lines. A 
 brig arrived from Leghorn on the loth, also three 
 settees from Minorca. 
 
 From the loth, the enemy added every night so 
 considerably to the fourth branch of the approach, 
 that on the 14th at night they joined the extremity of 
 the eastern place darmes; and two nights following, 
 began a fifth branch, which on the 19th was extended 
 to the east flank of the Mill battery. Their operations 
 had not been wholly confined to completing this line 
 of communication ; a mortar battery for the sea was 
 erected to the north of Fort St. Barbara, and large 
 and small traverses were raised within both forts to 
 protect their men from our upper batteries. 
 
 About noon on the 17th, a cannonade was heard 
 towards the west. A cloud of smoke was observed 
 near Tangier, and we afterwards learned that the 
 Moors were firing a salute on account of the arrival 
 of their emperor. Three hundred and ninety rounds 
 were numbered, and it was repeated the next day. 
 The reader will probably recollect that the garrison 
 of Tangier is to us an object of some curiosity, as 
 having formerly been in the possession of the English. 
 It was ceded by the Portuguese (who had been masters 
 of it for some time) to King Charles II. as part of the 
 dowry of the Princess Catharine of Portugal, and re- 
 mained under the English dominion till 1684, when, 
 the nation refusing to pay the heavy expense attending 
 its maintenance against the repeated attacks of the 
 Moors, the fortifications were blown up and the 
 garrison ordered to abandon the town. The Moors, 
 after the place was deserted, returned, and it has ever 
 
 9
 
 130 SUPPLIES BROUGHT IN [Chap. IV 
 
 since continued in their possession. When the English 
 were masters of Tangier, the works on the land side 
 were considered as almost impregnable ; and, for the 
 accommodation of shipping, a mole of considerable 
 extent was advanced into the sea. 
 
 The present town is built at the bottom of a bay, 
 on the side of a hill overlooking the sea. The Moors 
 have, in some measure, repaired the moles, and en- 
 deavoured to restore the city to its former importance ; 
 but their efforts go slowly on towards accomplishing 
 that work. Tangier was the residence of a British 
 consul, and, in conjunction with Tetuan, in times of 
 peace, supplies Gibraltar, Cadiz, Lisbon, and other 
 ports on the coasts of Spain and Portugal with fowls, 
 beef, mutton, and fruit. It was about this time the 
 scene of some interesting transactions which will 
 shortly be related. 
 
 The enemy, on the 20th, began to erect small 
 traverses in the rear of their approach. On the 21st, 
 the Speedwell cutter, Lieutenant Gibson, arrived with 
 government dispatches, after a warm engagement 
 with the enemy off Ceuta, in which the Spaniards 
 attempted to board the cutter, but were repulsed. 
 Lieutenant Gibson was dangerously wounded in the 
 action, which was the only casualty on board. The 
 23rd, arrived a privateer brig, called the Hannah^ 
 Captain Venture, last from Lisbon. She brought 
 some excellent supplies ; and the day following, two 
 other vessels from Liverpool got in with variety of 
 provisions. The cargoes of these ships were sold by 
 auction for 300 per cent profit. 
 
 It was about this period, some letters of a curious 
 tenor were discovered in the possession of the deserter 
 who came in on the 29th of September, in the dress of 
 a peasant, and said he was a sergeant. They were 
 directed to Colonel Nugent, of the Hibernian corps,
 
 I78i] A SPY 131 
 
 in the Spanish service ; and the purport of them was — 
 " that Europa was the most ehgible place to attack 
 the garrison ; acknowledging having received several 
 sums of money, and concluding with expressing his 
 fears lest he should be discovered ; therefore desired 
 the colonel would concert some measures for his 
 escape." The man was immediately ordered into close 
 confinement, and remained a prisoner for some time, 
 till, an opportunity offering, he was sent away from 
 the garrison. We were afterwards informed by other 
 deserters that he was sent in as a spy, and liberally 
 rewarded for this hazardous service. 
 
 The enemy, having completed their approach to 
 the Mill battery, were employed in dressing the com- 
 munication and raising fascine traverses in the rear 
 for their greater protection. The 26th and following 
 nights, their carpenters braced with head-rails the 
 chandeliers, which, owing to the late rains, had given 
 way in several places. They were so very noisy 
 in this duty as to induce a brisk fire from our 
 batteries. The 30th, a settee, going from Algeziras 
 to the eastward, was becalmed off Europa, and was 
 boarded and brought in by our boats. Many private 
 letters were found on board, which mentioned the 
 considerable loss the enemy had sustained from our 
 fire. There were also a quantity of clothes, and 
 some money. The next day a settee got in from 
 Minorca. 
 
 Our carpenters, in the beginning of January, were 
 very busy in erecting stages and temporary cranes 
 in Camp and Rosia bays, and upon the line wall, 
 above the navy yard ; which led us to imagine that 
 the governor had received intelligence by the Speed- 
 well^ that a convoy might soon be expected. The 
 reason for erecting these machines so far to the south, 
 and at such a distance from the garrison store-houses,
 
 132 DEFECTION OF THE MOORS [Chap. IV 
 
 was the apprehension of being annoyed in disembark- 
 ing the provisions at Ragged Staff, etc., from the 
 enemy's advanced battery, which was now finished, 
 and reported to mount eight 13-inch mortars. These 
 precautions will appear to be very prudent and 
 essential, when the reader, on a further perusal, is 
 informed of the range and effect of the enemy's fire. 
 Some alterations were' also made in the works at the 
 New Mole. 
 
 The nth, a Spanish flag of truce, with two Moorish 
 galleys, came over from the Orange Grove, having on 
 board Consul Logie, his lady, and all the British 
 subjects who had been resident in Barbary. We had 
 long complained of a neglect in that quarter, but were 
 now convinced, to our sorrow, that such accusations 
 were premature and ungenerous. The mercenary and 
 avaricious disposition of the emperor had been bribed 
 by the Spanish ministry with a present of 100,000 cobs 
 (about ;^7, 500 sterling), and a promise of the same sum 
 annually, with the redemption of 100 African prisoners, 
 on condition that he should deliver up, for a certain 
 period, the ports of Tangier and Tetuan, and banish 
 from his dominions the consul and subjects of Great 
 Britain. Besides the present of money, and the 
 redemption of 100 prisoners, the emperor had per- 
 mission to import from Spain grain, which was so 
 remarkably scarce in Barbary, that a famine was 
 apprehended. Without this circumstance to urge as a 
 palliative for entering into a treaty with this avowed 
 and natural enemy, the emperor would, probably, 
 have found it a difficult task to persuade his subjects 
 to desert their old allies. 
 
 As this defection of the Moorish monarch was of 
 much importance to the garrison, and was in itself 
 an object not undeserving political remark, I shall 
 subjoin a short relation of some transactions previous
 
 1779] EARLIER RELATIONS 133 
 
 to this event ; with an account of the injurious treat- 
 ment which Mr. Logie and the British subjects 
 experienced before they quitted that country. 
 
 I had formerly occasion to mention, that in the 
 early part of 1779, overtures were made by the 
 Spaniards to the Moors, to farm the ports of Tangier, 
 Tetuan, and Larache. Of this General Eliott received 
 immediate information, by a confidential message from 
 the emperor of Morocco. It did not appear that the 
 emperor, in this instance, was actuated by any other 
 impulse than friendship. But since, by refusing to 
 accede to their offers, he might subject his coasts to be 
 insulted, it would of consequence be prudent to arm 
 his cruisers, in order to enable him to act on the 
 defensive : he therefore requested that the English 
 would supply him with naval stores for three new 
 vessels which he had lately built, the value of which, 
 on calculation, did not amount to fifteen hundred 
 pounds. 
 
 Such apparent disinterestedness, and so modest 
 a demand, had a proper effect with the governor, who, 
 considering the emperor's alliance of the first con- 
 sequence to the welfare of the garrison, recommended 
 to government to double the quantity of stores, that 
 they might secure his friendship. Ministers at home, 
 however, did not consider his alliance in the same 
 light with the governor and consul, as Sir George 
 Rodney arrived the January following without stores, 
 or as much as an answer : and the Spaniards (having 
 then declared war) increasing in their proposals, the 
 emperor, after repeated applications to Mr. Logie, to 
 know when he might expect the supplies he had given 
 him to understand were coming from England, at 
 length, by degrees, permitted the Spaniards to capture 
 all British vessels under the protection of his guns. 
 The consul remonstrated against such proceedings,
 
 134 MR. LOGIE INSULTED [Chap. IV 
 
 but in vain : the answer generally received was, that 
 the Spaniards had the emperor's leave ; and if they 
 chose to take him from his own house, the emperor 
 would not oppose them. 
 
 These indignities Mr. Logie was necessitated to 
 overlook. He found the Spanish influence daily gain- 
 ing ground : he had therefore no alternative, but 
 tacitly to submit to the evils of his situation. He 
 contrived, nevertheless, to acquaint General Eliott with 
 this change in their affairs. 
 
 Though there appeared little prospect of doing 
 further service to the garrison of Gibraltar by remain- 
 ing in Barbary, Mr. Logie still continued to reside 
 at Tangier. The natives were partial to the English, 
 and personally attached to him ; and these circum- 
 stances he imagined might probably be improved to 
 some advantage. 
 
 Thus matters proceeded till the beginning of October, 
 1780, when a party of the emperor's black troops, 
 which were quartered in the neighbourhood of Tangier, 
 came to Mr. Logie's house, and, being introduced, 
 informed him they had orders from their master to 
 abuse and insult him in the grossest manner ; which 
 they immediately put in execution, by spitting in his 
 face, seizing him by the collar, and threatening to 
 stab him with their daggers. 
 
 Two days after this transaction, Mr. Logie was 
 ordered to attend the emperor near Sallee. The 13th, 
 he began his journey, guarded by one of the 
 emperor's chamberlains, and a party of horse. They 
 arrived at the camp on the 20th ; and the same 
 evening Mr. Logie was ordered into the emperor's 
 presence. After various questions relative to Gibraltar, 
 to which such answers were given as were least 
 likely to please, the emperor addressed himself to 
 his troops, and a great mob that were assembled on
 
 i78o] THE ENGLISH EXPELLED 135 
 
 the occasion, saying, " the Enghsh were an avaricious, 
 proud, and headstrong people; they always attacked 
 the head : but when people came to beg, they ought to 
 crawl up by the feet. He had, however, deprived them 
 of every benefit they formerly derived from his 
 country ; " concluding with ordering the consul to be 
 taken to Sallee. Mr. Logic objected to this mandate, 
 informing the emperor he was ready to attend his 
 camp ; but that his sovereign's service did not permit 
 his trifling away his time in visiting towns. 
 
 The emperor, after this interview, seemed to relax 
 in his severity to the consul ; allowing him to return 
 to Tangier, and consoling him with the promise that 
 the British subjects should not be molested by the 
 Spaniards. The 26th of October, Mr. Logic arrived at 
 Tangier, and found the emperor had not deceived 
 him. 
 
 Affairs remained quiet till the 26th of November, 
 when an order came to fit up all the British boats, at 
 the emperor's expense, as he was determined to send 
 the English away satisfied. The consul, however, 
 anticipated his intention, by getting them completed 
 himself by the succeeding evening. The night of the 
 28th, the Spaniards, informed of the emperor's resolu- 
 tion, sent a party on shore to burn the boats. They 
 were discovered by the guards, and confined ; but in 
 consideration of a sum of money, they were the next 
 day liberated. Two days following, the consuls 
 attended to hear the emperor's orders, which were 
 brought by two of his secretaries : they expressed 
 that the emperor had sold the port of Tangier to the 
 king of Spain ; in consequence of which, every 
 Christian, except of that nation, was to quit the town 
 and bay ; awarding slavery as the punishment of 
 those who remained after the ist of January, 1781. 
 
 Mr. Logie was no sooner acquainted with this
 
 136 EMPEROR'S DISSIMULATION [Chap. IV 
 
 order, than he departed for the emperor's camp, then 
 near Tetuan, in order to represent the impossibiUty of 
 removing their property on so short a notice. He 
 arrived on the 2nd of December, but could not procure 
 an audience. The 4th, he had inteUigence from 
 Tangier, that a second order had compelled the British 
 subjects instantly to remove to Marteen. Mr. Logic 
 made several attempts to have this cruel order re- 
 versed, but in vain. He at length procured a friend 
 to mention this delicate point to the emperor, who 
 apparently relented, saying, the English should have 
 permission to remain twenty days to collect their 
 effects ; and so far flattered them, as to make them 
 believe they were not to be removed till the British 
 fleet arrived, if it might be expected soon. Mr. Logic 
 was however afterwards convinced, that the emperor 
 at this time was informed his orders had been executed, 
 as the British subjects, amounting to 109, arrived at 
 Marteen, a few miles from Tetuan, the subsequent 
 evening ; having been forced to abandon their vessels, 
 houses, and all their property ; and compelled to sub- 
 mit to the greatest imposition, for the use of camels and 
 mules, to remove their bedding and wearing-apparel. 
 The value of the effects left behind, Mr. Logic com- 
 puted to amount to upwards of 60,000/. 
 
 The heavy expense attending their removal from 
 Tangier, with their stay at Marteen, to their arrival at 
 Gibraltar, Mr. Logic was obliged to disburse ; the 
 emperor's order on the 26th of November having so 
 much imposed upon them, that they had laid out what 
 money they were possessed of, in purchasing such 
 articles as they judged would be useful at Gibraltar, 
 imagining they were to be conducted immediately to 
 that garrison. 
 
 The emperor removed on the 17th of December to 
 Tangier ; whence he usually sent, once or twice every
 
 i78i] HARDSHIPS OF THE PRISONERS 137 
 
 week, some insulting message to the consul, charging 
 the English with having cheated his ambassador, and 
 being indebted to him several thousand cobs for main- 
 taining the garrison of Gibraltar ; with others equally 
 false and abusive. 
 
 Mr. Logic, on the 26th of December, was informed 
 that the emperor had given up all the British subjects 
 as prisoners to the Spaniards, and that the succeeding 
 day they were to be removed to Algeziras. Being 
 assured of the truth of this intelligence by one of the 
 emperor's servants, he burnt all his pubhc papers, to 
 prevent their falhng into the enemy's hands. The 
 28th, the consul embarked with Mrs. Logic (who had 
 attended him through all these troubles), and about 
 20 more, on board a schooner, without being allowed 
 time to take in any refreshment for their voyage. 
 Others, under similar circumstances, were put on 
 board other vessels. They were guarded by two 
 Spanish cruisers, and for the first night put into Ceuta 
 bay : the next morning they proceeded across the 
 Straits, and about noon anchored off the Orange Grove, 
 but soon after were ordered by Admiral Barcelo to 
 moor at the entrance of the river Palmones. Here the 
 consul was detained till the nth of January following, 
 by which time an answer arrived from Madrid con- 
 cerning their future destination. 
 
 During this period, no offer was made to supply 
 them with provisions or necessaries, though the 
 Moors were permitted to purchase whatever they 
 wanted. Mr. Logic therefore applied to the French 
 Charge d'Affaires at Algeziras, who very generously 
 dispatched such articles as he judged would be most 
 acceptable. The nth, they were conducted to 
 Gibraltar. 
 
 The removal, or rather expulsion, of the British 
 subjects from Barbary, was attended with other
 
 138 EXPERIMENTS WITH MORTARS [Chap. IV 
 
 unfortunate consequences besides depriving us of 
 provisions : our connection with Portugal became after- 
 wards more precarious ; and the governor was cut off 
 from a source of information, by which he was 
 acquainted with the enemy's operations both in camp 
 and at Cadiz. Mr. Logic had always contrived to 
 procure pretty certain intelligence of the enemy's 
 motions, by those Moors who were in his interest ; for, 
 the Spaniards allowing them to bring various articles 
 to the army before Gibraltar, and the fleet at Cadiz, 
 and Mr. Logic lending them money to carry on this 
 advantageous trade, they faithfully communicated to 
 him whatever came to their knowledge. The last 
 information Mr. Logic himself was the bearer of to 
 the governor, which was, that the enemy had a 
 great number of fire-ships in the rivers, ready for 
 immediate use. 
 
 The i6th of January, a brig came in from Madeira, 
 in four days, with seventy butts of wine. The master 
 had left London with a cargo to exchange at Madeira ; 
 but a violent gale of wind had driven him to sea with 
 his cargo incomplete, and half his crew ashore. The 
 same day, the Moorish vessels which brought over 
 Consul Logic returned to Algeziras. Two days 
 following, the Tartar privateer arrived with various 
 articles from England : she brought his majesty's 
 manifesto for commencing hostilities against the 
 Dutch. 
 
 On the 19th, some experiments were made at 
 Algeziras, from two new Spanish boats, with mortars 
 on board. We had some time before learned that 
 they were preparing such vessels, and that they in- 
 tended soon to try them against the garrison. Their 
 construction was upon a plan similar to that of the 
 gun-boats : the mortars were fixed in a solid bed of 
 timber, in the centre of the boat ; and the only
 
 i78i] A SERGEANT DESERTS 139 
 
 apparent distinction was that they had long prows, 
 and braced their yards more athwart the boat when 
 they fired. 
 
 The 2ist, the sergeant commanding one of our out- 
 guards deserted to the enemy : he went towards the 
 Devil's Tower, and once stopped, as if undetermined 
 to proceed or not. He belonged to the 56th regiment, 
 and left a wife and family behind : he had always been 
 esteemed of good character, and was much confided in 
 by his officers. Some pecuniary matters were supposed 
 to be the reason of his deserting. This was the fourth 
 man which we had lost in this way within the course 
 of a month. The 28th, a ship arrived from Leghorn 
 with various articles. In her passage she picked up at 
 sea the long-boat of the Brilliant frigate. Captain Curtis^ 
 which we had been anxiously expecting for some time 
 with dispatches from England. On the 25th and 27th, 
 three of Hardenberg's brigade had deserted ; and this 
 day a rope was found near the signal-house, by which 
 we imagined the last two of them had escaped. The 
 29th and 30th, two or three settees arrived, from aloft, 
 with the produce of Minorca. By them we were in- 
 formed that the Brilliant was got safe into Mahon, 
 having been chased through the straits by the enemy's 
 cruisers in the night. 
 
 The enemy's working parties had for several weeks 
 been less numerous : their occupation was principally 
 confined to repairing the damages done by the 
 weather ; securing themselves against the eff'ects of 
 our firing, by splinter-proofs and traverses ; and col- 
 lecting depots of different materials, in various parts 
 of their lines. Their advanced patrols frequently 
 approached very near our out-posts, but seldom waited 
 a second discharge from the sentries. On our side, 
 the engineers were indefatigable in putting everything 
 in the best state of defence. The enemy, it must be
 
 I40 A MEMORIAL [Chap. IV 
 
 confessed, dealt openly in warning us, so long before- 
 hand, of their intentions ; and the governor was ex- 
 ceedingly active and diligent in preparing against 
 whatever circumstances might occur. 
 
 The I St of February we found, behind the rock, 
 the bodies of two deserters, who, in attempting to 
 escape from the garrison, had been dashed to pieces. 
 One of them was a man of the 56th, who was missing 
 the; day preceding; the other a sergeant of the 73rd, 
 who had deserted some months before. 
 
 The 3rd we observed the enemy's artillery examin- 
 ing the ordnance in their lines. The morning of the 
 8th, a deserter from a Catalonian regiment came in, 
 and reported that the enemy posted every night a 
 chain of sentries along the skirts of the governor's 
 meadow, which were constantly visited by patrols of 
 cavalry, to keep them alert ; and that a captain's guard, 
 besides artillery, mounted in the St. Carlos's battery, 
 as they called the advanced work. He said the camp 
 was well supplied with provisions, etc., but that the 
 men were sickly, and numbers of them deserted. 
 
 It was about this period that the officers in 
 Gibraltar presented a memorial, through the com- 
 manding officers of the different regiments, to the 
 governor, requesting his Excellency, as he must be 
 convinced of the truth of the contents, to support it 
 with his approbation and interest. 
 
 The memorial stated, " That the officers of his 
 Majesty's several regiments of foot, serving under his 
 Excellency's command, had been necessarily exposed 
 to a great variety of inconveniences since the com- 
 mencement of the blockade, independent of the addi- 
 tional duties which they had been required to discharge: 
 that in particular their pay, which constituted their 
 chief, if not their sole support, had, at different times, 
 suffered a great diminution by the exorbitant rate
 
 i;8i] HARD LOT OF THE OFFICERS 141 
 
 of exchange," which they stated to have fluctuated, 
 during a certain period, between 40 and 42 pence per 
 dollar, Gibraltar currency : " that every article of 
 clothing, and still more, those essential to life and 
 health, were so advanced in price, that, with the 
 strictest economy, their pay was totally inadequate 
 to the expenses absolutely indispensable in their 
 present situation : a situation which, they apprehended, 
 precluded them, in a great measure, from participating 
 with the officers at home in the extensive promotions 
 which had of late taken place in the army. They 
 therefore appealed to the paternal feelings, the justice, 
 and the humanity of his Excellency ; trusting that 
 through his recommendation and intercession, such 
 assistance and protection might be granted them, as 
 their situation and services deserved:" concluding 
 with a request, *' that his Excellency would be pleased 
 to lay their prayer, with all humility on their part, at 
 his Majesty's feet." This memorial was seconded by 
 another of a similar import ; but no official answer 
 was received to either. 
 
 It must be confessed, that under these circum- 
 stances, the situation of the officers was by no means 
 flattering. Whatever obstacles might be in the way 
 of their promotion, they could not help feeling the 
 peculiar hardship of their situation : nor was the in- 
 active and tedious service of a blockaded garrison at 
 all calculated to divert their minds, or to soothe them 
 into an acquiescence with their fortune. They re- 
 flected, with no very agreeable sensations, upon the 
 preferment which had been liberally bestowed upon 
 young officers in England ; while many subalterns 
 in Gibraltar had ten or twelve years, or upwards, 
 of strict duty and services to plead. Nay, the situa- 
 tion of some of them was peculiarly discouraging; 
 for their friends had repeatedly offered to raise com-
 
 142 MR. LOGIE GOES HOME [Chap. IV 
 
 panics to secure their rank ; but of such consequence 
 was the safety of Gibraltar esteemed by the Ministry, 
 that orders were sent to forbid any officers leaving 
 the garrison, unless replaced by others from England. 
 It is but justice to them, however, to observe that 
 they in general submitted to the evils of their situa- 
 tion without murmur or repining ; and that, preferring 
 their country's good to every partial consideration, 
 they never publicly testified their discontent, except 
 in the two respectful memorials which they presented 
 to their governor. 
 
 A privateer, on the 9th of February, arrived from 
 Mahon : she ran through ten cruisers, besides six 
 gun-boats, and was chased by a xebeque, but escaped 
 them all. The 17th, she continued her course for 
 England. Mr. Logic, who carried home dispatches, 
 was a passenger, with several other. The 19th and 
 20th, arrived two polacrc ships from the eastward. 
 
 Our supplies from the eastward were now pretty 
 regular, and the boats and vessels in general very 
 successful in their voyages. When the reader con- 
 siders the variety of difficulties and dangers attending 
 this intercourse, he cannot but admire the persever- 
 ance of these foreigners. Their vessels were generally 
 of light burthen, and open, excepting a small scuttle 
 abaft, which, with the other parts of the vessel, was 
 usually filled with part of their cargo. Their passage 
 was seldom performed in less than five days ; and 
 sometimes it exceeded ten, and fourteen. Their course 
 was all the way along the enemy's coast : and even 
 when arrived within sight of the port, the danger was 
 greater than before, from the number and vigilance 
 of the enemy's cruisers : the horrors of a Spanish 
 gaol stared them in the face, with the chance of losing 
 probably their all. One circumstance indeed was in 
 their favour ; their vessels, in the rigging, resembled
 
 i78i] WANT OF BREAD 143 
 
 those of the enemy. To the chance of deceiving 
 them they were nevertheless unwilling entirely to 
 trust : it was their custom therefore to make the rock, 
 if possible about sunset ; then strike sail, and lie-to, 
 and at night push for the bay. By manoeuvring in 
 this manner they frequently arrived safe ; and in 
 that case, it must be confessed, they were amply 
 recompensed. 
 
 The 26th, the regiments in garrison began to be 
 reviewed : after the review, each regiment marched 
 to its alarm-post, and discharged several rounds of 
 parapet firing. The 28th, a brig under Genoese 
 colours came over from Algeziras : the crew reported, 
 they had injured their mast, and put into Algeziras, 
 for another, but that the Spaniards had ill-treated them ; 
 they therefore came over to remedy their loss. To 
 this story the governor did not give implicit credit : 
 a guard of a subaltern and twelve men was sent on 
 board ; and after being for some time detained, her 
 cargo, which was fruit, was sold, and the vessel was 
 sent away. 
 
 The want of bread in the beginning of March began 
 again to be severely felt : many families had not tasted 
 any for several days. The poor soldiers, and still 
 more the inhabitants, whose finances would not allow 
 them to purchase articles from the Minorquin vessels 
 (the cargoes of which, by the way, were chiefly 
 luxuries), were in intolerable distress. Biscuit-crumbs 
 sold for lod. and is. per lb. The allowance of the 
 troops was also curtailed, and many Portuguese fisher- 
 men left the garrison for want of this article. Towards 
 the conclusion of the month, the invalids of the garri- 
 son embarked on board the Enterprise frigate, and 
 St. Fermin armed ship. The 27th the former, with 
 the Fortune sloop, sailed for Minorca; and the St. 
 Fermin was to have accompanied them, but in getting
 
 144 THE SOLDIER'S PITTANCE [Chap. IV 
 
 out of the New Mole some accident befel her, by 
 which she was detained. In the course of the month 
 several small craft arrived from Minorca : and we lost 
 two men by desertion. 
 
 The beginning of April the Spanish admiral called 
 in all his cruisers, and some movements took place in 
 their disposition, which seemed to indicate the ex- 
 pectation of a superior force. The 2nd we observed 
 their artillery arranging the mortars in the Mill bat- 
 tery, which confirmed us in the conjecture. The 
 succeeding day a British cutter called the Resolution, 
 arrived with rum, coals, and sugar, in twenty-nine 
 days, from Plymouth. The master informed us that 
 he left a fleet, which was coming to our relief, at 
 anchor in Torbay. Our joy at this news was greater, 
 if possible, than when we were told of our former 
 relief The exigencies of the garrison since Admiral 
 Rodney's departure had been as severe, if not more 
 so, than before. Since the soldier, for himself, only 
 received weekly s\ lbs. of bread, 13 oz. of salt beef, 
 18 oz. of pork, both of them almost in a state of 
 putrescence ; 2| oz. of butter, which was little better 
 than rancid congealed oil ; 12 oz. of raisins, ^ pint of 
 peas, I pint of Spanish beans, i pint of wheat, which 
 they ground into flour for puddings ; 4 oz. of rice 
 and a j of a pint of oil : what then must be the suffer- 
 ings of those who had a family of small children to 
 support out of this pittance ! or what must be the 
 distress of the inhabitants, who had no assistance 
 from the stores ! 
 
 The night of the 3rd the St. Ferniin, with the 
 Brilliants tender, which had been forced by a gale 
 of wind to put into Gibraltar, sailed for Mahon ; two 
 xebeques immediately gave chase, and, we afterwards 
 learned, captured the former. 
 
 It being observed that the enemy had stationed at
 
 i78i] A CUTTING-OUT EXPEDITION 145 
 
 Cabrita Point (though at some distance from the land) 
 a sloop and two Hght brigs, supposed to be fire-ships, 
 the captains of the privateers in the bay proposed 
 cutting out the sloop, and burning the other vessels. 
 The plan was mentioned to the governor by an 
 officer of the garrison, who had permission to take 
 with him a party of volunteers from the different 
 corps, and join in the expedition. About eleven o'clock 
 on the night of the 4th they proceeded in four boats. 
 When they set out the night was very favourable for 
 the enterprise ; but before they reached the vessels 
 the moon suddenly shone forth, and they reluctantly 
 returned. Whether the Spaniards discovered the 
 boats or not, is a matter of doubt ; it is probable they 
 did, as the next morning four gun-boats joined them 
 from Algeziras, and the sloop removed farther to the 
 southward. 
 
 The enemy, on the 5th, scaled several of their 
 ordnance in the batteries round the bay ; two frigates 
 were also placed in front of eight vessels, supposed 
 to be fire-ships: these motions convinced us that the 
 enemy were aware of the fleet which was expected. 
 The evening of the 7th the Eagle privateer, of 14 
 guns, arrived in 14 days from Glasgow : a xebeque, a 
 sloop of 14 guns, a galliot, and 11 gun-boats, engaged 
 her in the bay; but by warm fighting and good 
 seamanship she escaped. The captain informed us 
 that the fleet had sailed, and he was much surprised 
 in not finding them arrived. The following day 
 the Spanish general visited the lines and advanced 
 works. The 9th, only two xebeques and the gun- 
 boats were at Algeziras, the rest of their cruisers 
 having left the station. The nth a felucca came 
 round Cabrita with oars and with a press of sail : 
 immediately upon entering the bay she made a signal, 
 which was answered at Algeziras by an English 
 
 lO
 
 146 A CONVOY IN SIGHT [Chap. IV 
 
 ensign at the main-top-gallant mast-head. Soon after, 
 a boat went over to Ceuta, and the xebeque which 
 was stationed at the point was called in with the gun- 
 boats. In the evening many signals were made from 
 the west ; and about midnight arrived the Kite cutter, 
 Captain Trollop, with the joyful news that the convoy 
 was at the entrance of the Straits, under charge of 
 Admiral Darby, with the British grand fleet.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 At daybreak, on the 12th of April, the much-expected 
 fleet, under the command of Admiral Darby, was 
 in sight from our signal-house, but was not discernible 
 from below, being obscured by a thick mist in the 
 Gut. As the sun, however, became more powerful, 
 the fog gradually rose, like the curtain of a vast 
 theatre, discovering to the anxious garrison one of 
 the most beautiful and pleasing scenes it is possible 
 to conceive. The convoy, consisting of near a hundred 
 vessels, were in a compact body, led by several men- 
 of-war : their sails just enough filled for steerage, whilst 
 the majority of the line-of-battle ships lay-to under 
 the Barbara shore, having orders not to enter the bay 
 lest the enemy should molest them with their fire- 
 ships. The ecstasies of the inhabitants at this grand 
 and exhilarating sight are not to be described. Their 
 expressions of joy far exceeded their former exulta- 
 tions. But, alas ! they little dreamed of the tremendous 
 blow that impended, which was to annihilate their 
 property, and reduce many of them to indigence and 
 beggary. 
 
 As the convoy approached the bay, 15 gun-boats 
 advanced from Algeziras, and forming in regular order 
 under the batteries at Cabrita Point, began a smart 
 cannonade on the nearest ships, seconded by the gun 
 and mortar batteries on the land. A line-of-battle 
 
 147
 
 148 ADMIRAL DARBY'S APPROACH [Chap. V 
 
 ship and two frigates, however, soon obliged them to 
 a precipitate retreat ; and, continuing to pursue them, 
 the crews of several deserted their boats, and took 
 refuge amongst the rocks. Had our ships advanced 
 at this critical juncture and manned their boats, the 
 whole might probably have been destroyed, and the 
 garrison by that means been rid of those disagreeable 
 visitors which afterwards so harassed and annoyed 
 us ; but the frigates, having dispersed them, thought 
 no more of the bum-boats, as some naval officers con- 
 temptuously called them, and left them to be re- 
 possessed by the fugitives. 
 
 The enemy, on the land side, were far from being 
 idle spectators of this relief. On the first intimation 
 of Admiral Darby's approach, preparations, it is 
 imagined, were made in the lines, and a reinforcement 
 of artillery ordered down from the camp ; as at day- 
 break, before the fleet was well in sight, we remarked 
 that their cannon were elevated, and the sponges and 
 rammers reared against the merlons. These, with 
 other appearances, indicated an intention of opening 
 on the garrison. 
 
 Our private letters had, for some time before, men- 
 tioned that the Spaniards proposed to bombard 
 Gibraltar, if the garrison was a second time relieved ; 
 but the truth of this intelligence was doubted, it being 
 conceived that no beneficial consequences could arise 
 to them from such a cruel proceeding. We, however, 
 overlooked the predominant characteristic of the nation, 
 which, particularly in this instance, seems to have 
 influenced them more than any other motive, and 
 even to have carried them beyond that line of prudence 
 and caution, which in military affairs ought to be 
 strictly attended to. 
 
 About three-quarters past lo o'clock, the van of 
 the convoy came to an anchor off the New Mole and
 
 i78i] A VIGOROUS BOMBARDMENT 149 
 
 Rosia Bay ; and, as if this were the signal for the 
 enemy to open, a smart fire immediately commenced 
 from Fort St. Philip, followed by all the batteries 
 which bore upon the garrison. The number of ord- 
 nance bearing on the place was as follows : — The 
 King's, or Black battery (mounting 14 guns), 12 
 bearing on the garrison ; Fort St. Philip (27 guns), 
 1 1 bearing on the garrison ; Infanta's battery, of 7 
 guns; Prince's and Princess's batteries, of 14 guns 
 each ; Fort St. Barbara (2^ guns), 6 bearing on the 
 garrison ; these, with about 50 mortars, distributed 
 along their lines, and in St. Carlos's battery, amount 
 to 114 pieces of artillery; all of heavy metal, being 
 26-pounders, and 13-inch mortars. 
 
 The enemy's cannonade was instantly returned 
 from the garrison ; but our artillery had orders to 
 disregard their lines, and notice only the St. Carlos's 
 battery, which consequently soon slackened its fire. 
 The miserable and terrified inhabitants, who just 
 before were congratulating each other on the arrival 
 of the fleet, now changed their exultation to sorrow, 
 and flocked, old and young, men, women, and children, 
 in the greatest confusion, to the southward, leaving 
 their property, unsecured, to the mercy of the soldiers. 
 The shells from the St. Carlos's battery were directed 
 towards the New Mole ; the convoy, however, had 
 been warned not to anchor within the range of their 
 fire ; the shipping, therefore, were not in the least 
 molested. A settee was sunk near the watering-tank, 
 and numbers of shells fell on the Red Sands, and in 
 the neighbourhood of South Port, which added no little 
 to the alarm of the fugitives from town. The enemy's 
 other batteries were chiefly directed to Willis's, the 
 lines, and particularly the ground upon which the 
 troops were intended to have been encamped. Be- 
 tween I and 2 o'clock their firing abated, and in a
 
 150 STORES LANDED [Chap. V 
 
 short time ceased. Of this favourable cessation the 
 inhabitants availed themselves, to secure such valuable 
 property as could be expeditiously removed ; but the 
 heavier articles, which the avaricious and hard-hearted 
 hucksters had kept concealed in their stores, to bring 
 forth in small quantities when the prices suited, were 
 all destroyed in the course of the bombardment. 
 
 About 5 o'clock, the batteries of the enemy again 
 opened, and the firing continued, without intermission, 
 the remainder of the day and the succeeding night. 
 It did not, however, interrupt the disembarkation of 
 the supplies. Five hundred men, with a proportion 
 of officers, were ordered for that duty ; they were 
 afterwards considerably augmented, and such was 
 the labour and diligence of the garrison, that the 
 stores were landed, with the assistance of the navy, 
 in nine or ten days. Our casualties, on the 12th, were 
 but few ; Lieutenant Boag, of the artillery, was 
 wounded, also several non-commissioned officers and 
 privates. 
 
 The bombardment was continued the 13th, and 
 several soldiers were killed and wounded in their 
 quarters. In the course of the day, 150 men were 
 ordered to remove ammunition to the magazines on 
 the hill, and an additional number to join the party 
 employed in landing the supplies. The 14th, the 
 gun and mortar boats fired upon the shipping, but 
 were soon obliged to retire. Several barges attended, 
 having officers in them, who seemed to give directions 
 how to point their cannon. Our batteries ceased 
 firing this day, but the enemy's ordnance were kept 
 going with great vivacity. They appeared to have 
 got the exact range of the heights ; even the Royal 
 battery did not escape their shells. Ensign Martin 
 of the 39th regiment was slightly wounded with 
 splinters of stones. No arrangement for placing the
 
 i78i] THE HOUR OF SIESTA 151 
 
 troops under shelter was yet known ; and the former 
 distribution, given out in November, was totally over- 
 thrown by the extensive range of the enemy's fire. 
 Officers, however, whose quarters were damaged, 
 received marquees from the public stores, to encamp 
 at the southward ; and the distressed inhabitants were 
 accommodated with tents. 
 
 It being remarked that the enemy's fire considerably 
 abated about noon, the governor ordered the town 
 guards to assemble at 12 o'clock; by which regu- 
 lation less danger was apprehended in relieving the 
 men on duty. The night-pickets were likewise 
 ordered to occupy the casemates under the Grand 
 battery, that they might be at hand to reinforce the 
 northern guards, in case of alarm. The total strength 
 of the pickets, at this period, was 2 captains, 9 subal- 
 terns, 9 sergeants, 9 drummers, and 391 rank-and-file. 
 The cause of the cessation in the enemy's fire at noon, 
 arose from a custom, pretty general in Spain, and 
 common, I believe, in most warm climates, that of 
 indulging themselves with a meridian nap. This 
 luxury the Spaniards could not refuse themselves, 
 even in war ; and it was invariably attended to during 
 their future operations against Gibraltar.* 
 
 Vice-Admiral Darby with the ships of war con- 
 tinued cruising in sight of the rock ; the service, 
 however, requiring despatch in landing the supplies, 
 he detached Rear-Admiral Sir John Lockart Ross to 
 superintend that duty in the bay ; and the garrison 
 fatigue party was augmented to upwards of a thousand 
 
 * This will not appear so extraordinary when the reader is informed 
 that, during the insurrection of Madrid, in 1766, the insurgents, as 
 mentioned by Major Dalrymple, in his " Travels Through Spain," 
 regularly indulged themselves with their siesta, and then returned to 
 their different places of rendezvous. Their antagonists did the same ; 
 so that there seemed to be a sleepy convention, for a few hours, every 
 day, between the government and the mob.
 
 152 DRUNKENNESS [Chap. V 
 
 men, besides officers. The evening of the 14th the 
 enemy's shells were very profusely distributed ; some 
 that did not burst we examined, and on drawing the 
 fuse, found inflammable matter mixed with the 
 powder : these combustibles set fire to a wine-house 
 in the green-market, near the Spanish church, and 
 before the fire could be extinguished, four or five 
 houses were burnt to the ground. Detachments from 
 the regiments and guards in town were immediately 
 ordered to quench the flames ; but the enemy's cannon- 
 ade became so brisk, that great confusion ensued. 
 From this moment we may date the commencement 
 of the irregularities into which, through resentment 
 and intoxication, the soldiers were betrayed. Some 
 died of immediate intoxication, and several were with 
 difficulty recovered, by oils and tobacco-water, from 
 a dangerous state of ebriety. 
 
 Though riot and violence are most contrary to that 
 spirit of regular discipline which should always prevail 
 in military affairs, something may yet be urged in 
 extenuation of the conduct of the troops, which has 
 been so much the subject of reprehension amongst 
 the people interested. The extreme distress to which 
 the soldiers had been reduced by the mercenary con- 
 duct of the hucksters and liquor-dealers, in hoarding, 
 or rather concealing their stocks, to enhance the price 
 of what was exposed for sale, raised amongst the 
 troops (when they discovered the great quantities 
 of various articles in the private stores) a spirit of 
 revenge. The first and second days they conducted 
 themselves with great propriety ; but on the eve of 
 the third day, their discipline was overpowered by 
 their inebriation, and from that instant, regardless of 
 punishment, or the entreaties of their officers, they 
 were guilty of many and great excesses. The enemy's 
 shells soon forced open the secret recesses of the
 
 i78i] CAPRICE AND EXTRAVAGANCE 153 
 
 merchants, and the soldiers instantly availed them- 
 selves of the opportunity to seize upon the liquors, 
 which they conveyed to haunts of their own. Here, 
 in parties, they barricaded their quarters against all 
 opposers, and, insensible of their danger, regaled 
 themselves with the spoils. Several skirmishes 
 occurred amongst them, which, if not seasonably put 
 a stop to by the interference of officers, might have 
 ended in serious consequences. 
 
 It did not appear through all their intemperance 
 that these irregularities arose from any cause so much 
 as a spirit of revenge against the merchants. A great 
 quantity of liquor, etc., was wantonly destroyed; and, 
 in some cases, incredible profusion prevailed. Among 
 other instances of caprice and extravagance, I recollect 
 seeing a party of soldiers roast a pig by a fire made 
 of cinnamon. The offenders were at first confined 
 and reprimanded, which the governor judged would 
 have a greater effect than punishment ; but on their 
 relapsing a second time into the like disorders, he 
 was convinced his lenity was disregarded, and he 
 was therefore compelled to use more rigorous 
 measures. 
 
 I have thought proper to digress a little upon 
 this subject, not in justification of the soldiers, but 
 to acquaint the world with the truth, as some who 
 have related the occurrences of this period to their 
 friends, have omitted doing the garrison the justice 
 to annex the account of their former hardships. 
 Besides, had the troops been in the highest degree 
 abstemious, the enemy's fire would soon have de- 
 stroyed what was only the sooner consumed by their 
 extravagance ; for the inhabitants were too much 
 alarmed for the safety of their own persons, to attend 
 to the security of their effects. 
 
 I forgot to mention in its place that, previous
 
 154 DISTRIBUTION OF TROOPS [Chap. V 
 
 to the bombardment, orders had been given for 
 removing the sick in town, when the firing com- 
 menced : on the 13th, therefore, the men were con- 
 veyed to the naval hospital at the southward. 
 
 The 15th the bombardment was continued with 
 greater vivacity. Not content wnth discharging their 
 ordnance regularly, they saluted us almost every 
 instant with a volley of eight or ten cannon, besides 
 mortars. Our batteries remained silent, and the guns 
 at Willis's were drawn behind the merlons, to secure 
 them against the enemy's shot. It was observed they 
 directed a great number of shells towards the Work- 
 ing parade, and about the Victualling Office. In the 
 morning the gun-boats again attacked the ships 
 of war and transports, and the navy returned a smart 
 fire. About noon. Lieutenant Budworth of the 72nd 
 regiment, and Surgeon Chesholme of the 56th, were 
 wounded by a splinter of a shell at the door of a 
 northern casemate in the King's bastion. The former 
 was dangerously scalped, and the latter had one 
 foot taken off, and the other leg broken, besides a 
 wound in the knee. The troops in town, in the 
 afternoon began to encamp at the southward, and 
 to be regularly distributed amongst the casemates 
 in town. The following was the arrangement. To 
 the Hanoverians were allotted the bomb-proofs under 
 the grand battery, occupied by the pickets, w^hich 
 in consequence removed to Land Port gateway and 
 Prince of Hesse's casemate. The 12th, 39th, and 56th 
 regiments were ordered to possess Montague's 
 casemate with ithe Galley house and Water Port gate- 
 way : those who could not be accommodated in these 
 quarters, encamped above the South barracks and 
 Navy hospital, on the declivity of the hill : the 72nd 
 regiment totally withdrew into the King's bastion, 
 and the 58th and 73rd regiments remained in the
 
 i78i] INCREASED PRECAUTIONS 155 
 
 South barracks : the artillery and engineers were 
 disposed of on the same plan. Several days elapsed 
 before the troops were properly settled. The ground 
 on which they encamped was very steep and rugged : 
 it was necessary therefore to level it into terraces, 
 for the men to pitch their tents. The regimental 
 stores were also to be removed, and other duties 
 of a similar nature executed, before the troops could 
 be considered as properly established. 
 
 The gun-boats attacked the shipping on the i6th, 
 and endeavoured to molest the parties employed in 
 landing the provisions ; but a line-of-battle ship and 
 two frigates soon obliged them to retire. In the 
 course of the day the women and children who had 
 taken refuge with their husbands and friends in 
 the casemates in town, were ordered to remove and 
 encamp at the southward. Though this order, from 
 motives of humanity, was not strictly enforced, yet 
 it greatly relieved the men, and in a measure removed 
 our apprehensions of some infectious disorder being 
 generated from their crowded and confined situation 
 in the bomb-proof casemates. The officers were under 
 the necessity of participating with the men in these 
 unpleasant accommodations : their presence, however, 
 produced this beneficial consequence, that they often 
 prevented the men from indulging in those excesses, 
 into which otherwise they undoubtedly would have 
 entered. The same day the Queen's lines. Main, 
 New Mole, and Rosia guards, were ordered to be 
 captain's guards. 
 
 The enemy on the 17th first reached the rock 
 gun with shot from the 7-gun battery. Colonels 
 Ross, Green, and Picton were appointed the same 
 day to rank as brigadiers ; and Captain Wilson of 
 the 72nd regiment. Lieutenant HoUoway of the 
 engineers, and Captain Picton of the 12th regiment,
 
 156 PROVISIONS IN DANGER [Chap. V 
 
 were appointed their brigade-majors. Two field- 
 officers, witli a captain from each regiment, and 
 one subaltern for every fifty men, were ordered also 
 to superintend the disembarkation of provisions. In 
 the afternoon the shells of the besiegers set fire to 
 the stores in the Spanish church. Parties were in- 
 stantly detached from the main guard, 72nd regiment, 
 and other corps in town, to remove the provisions. 
 The lieutenant-governor with his aides-de-camp was 
 present, encouraging the men to perform this duty 
 with expedition. The enemy's fire at this time was 
 remarkably spirited ; nevertheless, the greater part 
 was saved by the activity of the parties. Many casks 
 of flour were brought into the King's bastion, and 
 piled as temporary traverses before the doors of 
 the southern casemates, in which several persons had 
 been killed and wounded in bed. These traverses, 
 however, did not continue long; for the men, when 
 the spoils in the town became scarce, considered 
 those barrels which the enemy's shot had pierced 
 as lawful prizes. The contents were soon scooped 
 out and fried into pancakes, a dish which they were 
 very expert in cooking ; and the upper casks, wanting 
 support from below, gave way, and the whole came 
 to the ground. Though the flour by this means was 
 in a great measure lost to government, yet the number 
 of accidents which these traverses prevented, greatly 
 overbalanced the value of the article. Traverses of 
 another nature were afterwards erected in their room. 
 The gun-boats, on the i8th, fired again upon 
 the shipping and men-of-war cruising in the bay. 
 The Minerva and Monsieur frigates had several men 
 dangerously wounded ; and the Nonsuch had her 
 mast crippled. The navy, after this attack, no longer 
 considered these boats in the same despicable light 
 as on their first entrance into the bay. In the course
 
 i78i] RUIN AT WILLIS'S 157 
 
 of the day a shell fell through the arch of the Galley 
 house, where part of the 39th and some of the 12th 
 regiments were quartered ; it killed two and wounded 
 four privates. In consequence of this unexpected 
 casualty the troops removed thence, and joined their 
 regiments at the southward. 
 
 Our batteries, especially at Willis's, by this time 
 exhibited a very disorderly and ruinous appearance. 
 The ordnance had been withdrawn when the artillery 
 ceased to fire : but the merlons were now considerably 
 damaged, and some of the cannon dismounted and 
 injured. The lines were also nearly choked up with 
 loose stones and rubbish, brought down by the shot 
 from the rock above ; the traverses along the line 
 wall were greatly injured ; and the town, particularly 
 at the northward, approached every day toward 
 complete demolition. The engineers, however, were 
 ordered to prepare materials for repairing the 
 Queen's battery at Willis's ; and parties of work- 
 men were employed in carrying up from below sand- 
 bags and other requisites for that purpose. New 
 traverses were likewise begun along the different 
 communications, higher, stronger, and at shorter 
 distances than the old ones. 
 
 The gun-boats renewed their attack, the 19th, on 
 he shipping, but were soon obliged to retreat. In 
 he course of the day the terrace storehouse was set 
 on fire. The camp-equipage of the garrison being in 
 an adjacent house, parties from the regiments in town 
 were ordered to remove them with the greatest expedi- 
 tion. The men generally received some gratuity from 
 the governor for these hazardous duties. The follow- 
 ing day, the supplies being landed, the fleet in the 
 evening prepared to return to the westward. Before 
 they weighed, their good friends the gun-boats gave 
 them a parting salute, and did some damage. By six
 
 158 NAILED TO THE MAST [Chap. V 
 
 o'clock the whole were under way. Many merchant- 
 men, freighted with merchandise and articles much 
 wanted in the garrison, returned with their cargoes ; 
 the merchants refusing to take them on account of the 
 bombardment. Great numbers of the inhabitants and 
 officers' families likewise embraced this opportunity 
 of leaving the garrison. 
 
 The impatience of the British admiral to disembark 
 the supplies, that he might not lose the opportunity 
 of the easterly wind to return from the Mediterranean, 
 had prevented the garrison from unloading the colliers 
 that had arrived with the fleet : these ships were 
 therefore scuttled in the New Mole, to be discharged 
 at leisure. The ordnance transports were also ordered 
 within the boom for the same purpose. In the course 
 of the 2oth, the Victualling Office was on fire for a 
 short time ; and at night the town was on fire in four 
 different places; but the public stores being safe, no 
 attempts were made to extinguish the flames. 
 
 The enemy's cannonade and bombardment con- 
 tinued still very brisk. The 2 1 st, forty-two rounds were 
 numbered in two minutes, between six and eight o'clock. 
 The garrison flag-staff on the Grand battery was so 
 much injured by their fire, that the upper part was 
 obliged to be cut off"; and the colours, or rather the 
 glorious remains, were nailed to the stump. The even- 
 ing of the 22nd, the combustible matter in their shells 
 setting fire to some fascines at Water Port, Lieutenant 
 Cunningham, of the 39th regiment, was wounded in 
 extinguishing them. Theifate of this young gentleman 
 may be considered as extraordinary. On examining 
 the wound, which was in the head, it appeared so 
 trifling that the surgeon judged his skull unhurt ; and 
 his seeming recovery confirmed the opinion. Some- 
 thing more than a fortnight elapsed when he com- 
 plained of a pain in his head : he immediately took
 
 i78i] MEASURES OF SEVERITY 159 
 
 to his bed, and in a short time expired. After his 
 decease a considerable counter-fracture. was discovered, 
 with a quantity of extravasated blood encircling the 
 brain. 
 
 The gun and mortar boats, on the 23rd, fired upon 
 our parties ranging the provisions at the southward : 
 260 shot and 40 shells were discharged, several of 
 which fell about the camp and powder-magazines. 
 The wife of a soldier of the 5 8th regiment was killed 
 behind the South barracks, and several men wounded. 
 The bombardment from the lines was now in some 
 degree abated, in consequence of their batteries being 
 shaken and injured by their own constant cannonade. 
 We observed during this day a number of mules, with 
 carts, bringing materials to the lines to repair them. 
 Our artillery at night annoyed them with a few rounds 
 from the batteries above Willis's. 
 
 The 24th, a shell fell at the door of a casemate, 
 under the south flank of the King's bastion, and 
 wounded four men within the bomb-proof This case- 
 mate had been appropriated as a powder-magazine for 
 the bastion, and the powder had only been removed to 
 the opposite casemate a few days previous to this acci- 
 dent. In the afternoon a soldier of the 12th regiment 
 deserted from Land Port guard, in consequence of 
 which the town guards were ordered to assemble the 
 subsequent day at 2 o'clock p.m. The enemy, how- 
 ever, not increasing their fire, as was expected, the 
 guards afterwards mounted at the usual time. 
 
 The garrison orders of the 26th expressed, that any 
 soldier, convicted of being drunk or asleep upon his 
 post, or found marauding, should be immediately 
 executed. These measures, rigorous as they may ap- 
 pear, were become absolutely necessary, and, in reality, 
 had been too long deferred. The soldiers were now 
 arrived at so high a pitch of licentiousness, that no
 
 i6o STILL MORE SUPPLIES [Chap. V 
 
 respect was paid to their officers, and scarcely obe- 
 dience to them even when on duty. Such behaviour, 
 if not curbed in time, too commonly induces very 
 serious consequences. At the same time that this 
 order was issued, the regiments quartered at the south- 
 ward were commanded, in case of alarm, to assemble 
 in two lines on the Red Sands, the British in front, 
 and the Hanoverian brigade in the rear. The troops 
 in town had their stations likewise allotted them. 
 
 In the afternoon of the 27th, a convoy of 20 
 victuallers, under charge of 4 frigates and the Fortune 
 sloop, arrived in 13 days from Minorca. It now 
 appeared that the governor did not entirely depend 
 on receiving succours from England, but thought it 
 prudent to obtain supplies from other quarters, lest 
 any accident should prevent the British fleet arriving 
 in time to his relief. Thus determined to provide 
 against fortuitous events, he had secretly ordered pro- 
 visions to be purchased from the prizes taken in the 
 Mediterranean, and carried into Port Mahon, and 
 shipped on board vessels that were hired for that 
 purpose. Captain Curtis, of the Brilliant frigate, had 
 the charge of this valuable convoy ; and the success 
 attending the enterprise demonstrates with what 
 secrecy it had been conducted. They were ignorant 
 of Admiral Darby having been in the Mediterranean, 
 and were agreeably surprised to find from the enemy 
 no opposition to their entrance. 
 
 The provisions thrown in by the British admiral 
 were not yet stored ; nor had they any further pro- 
 tection against the weather than a covering of canvas, 
 formed from the sails of the colliers that were run 
 ashore in the New Mole. Under these unavoidable 
 circumstances, it was peculiarly unfortunate that the 
 rains at this period should be unusually heavy, and of 
 long continuance. The troops also were very material
 
 i78i] EXCESSIVE RAINS i6i 
 
 sufferers from this inclemency of the weather. The 
 rain, that poured down in torrents from the face of 
 the hill, soon broke down the loose banks of earth 
 raised to cover their tents, which, being pitched on 
 the declivity of the hill, were swept away by the force 
 of the stream ; and thus the fatigued soldier, who 
 scarcely was one night out of three in bed, was fre- 
 quently exposed at midnight to a deluge of rain. 
 These misfortunes, however, taught them to provide 
 against such future accidents ; and in a few months, 
 after some labour and attention, their quarters were 
 more comfortable and secure. 
 
 The remainder of the month was remarkable for 
 excessive rains, attended with most dreadful thunder 
 and lightning, which, during the night, in addition to 
 the fire from the enemy, had an awful and tremendous 
 effect. The bombardment continued warm and well 
 supported ; but the enemy did not appear to have any 
 particular object. In the early part of the day they 
 in general fired pretty smartly : about noon their 
 batteries slackened, and from twelve till two o'clock 
 almost totally ceased : after two they recommenced, 
 and persevered till the succeeding meridian. During 
 the night they directed their fire principally to the 
 heights and lines, as probably they had information, 
 by the last deserter, that we employed, every night, 
 parties to clear and repair those works. 
 
 The morning of the 30th we discovered the gun and 
 mortar boats approaching the garrison : they took their 
 stations off the town to avoid the fire from the frigates, 
 and varied very little from their former attacks. Five 
 shot landed on Windmill Hill, which was esteemed a 
 remarkably long range. We returned a brisk and 
 well-directed fire ; and they retired. It was remarked 
 that the land batteries were in a measure silent during 
 their stay. In the evening a Hanoverian, with some 
 
 II
 
 i62 SPANISH MAGAZINE BLOWN UP [Chap. V 
 
 others, was detected marauding in a store : the party 
 was given in charge to a sentry, but the former 
 attempted to escape : the sentry called to him to stop, 
 otherwise he would fire ; and on his not complying 
 with the order, the sentry shot him dead on th^ spot. 
 A general return of casualties, etc., for every month, 
 is inserted at the conclusion. 
 
 Early on the 2nd of May, two settees arrived from 
 Algiers, laden with sheep, wine, and brandy. The 
 enemy now seemed to have given up the idea of 
 blockading us to a surrender. No cruisers had been 
 observed out since the departure of Admiral Darby. 
 In the evening a shell from the garrison fell upon 
 the eastern traverse, in the St. Carlos's battery, under 
 which was their magazine, and, communicating with 
 the powder, blew it up. The explosion was not loud ; 
 but the damage was so very considerable that the 
 ordnance were silent for several days. Our artillery 
 annoyed the enemy greatly during their confusion, 
 though they kept up a brisk discharge from the lines, 
 at the rate of 250 rounds an hour. The day following, 
 Lieutenant Willington, of the artillery, was wounded 
 at Willis's. The 5th, a soldier of the 58th regiment 
 was executed on the grand parade, at the door of the 
 store where he was detected plundering. His body 
 hung till sunset, as an example to other offenders. 
 
 The enemy's cannonade and bombardment con- 
 tinued to be wide and scattered, apparently having 
 no particular object. Shells were yet lavishly ex- 
 pended ; and, what was very singular, many of those 
 which fell blind, contained, on examination, a vast 
 quantity of sand mixed with the powder. We could 
 not otherwise account for this unusual circumstance, 
 than by supposing the powder was stolen by their 
 people in the laboratories. Other shells still scattered, 
 on their explosion, combustible matter, which, setting
 
 i78i] FASCINATED BY SHELLS 163 
 
 fire to the loose timber and wood dispersed amongst 
 the ruins of the town, greatly endangered the king's 
 stores and magazines. This induced the governor, 
 on the 6th, to publish a placard, signifying to the 
 inhabitants that such materials of this nature as were 
 not removed out of the reach of the enemy's fire, 
 would be converted to the king's use. The morning 
 of the 7th, the gun and mortar boats fired upon the 
 town and the New Mole : they stayed about an hour, 
 and then retired. We returned upwards of 400 
 rounds with great vivacity, which greatly displeased 
 the governor : " There would be no end," he said, *' of 
 expending ammunition if we fired every time they 
 came, and while they were at so great a distance : 
 in future," he ordered, " no notice to be taken of the 
 gun-boats, unless they approached within the distance 
 of grape." The 8th, Captain Fowlis, of the 73rd, was 
 wounded in the lines. 
 
 The enemy's fire was now more regular : we no 
 longer experienced the sudden fits that had induced 
 them to discharge a whole battery at a volley : it 
 amounted about this time, upon an average, to 1,500 
 rounds in the twenty-four hours. The 9th, Lieutenant 
 Lowe, of the 12th regiment, a superintendent of the 
 working-parties, lost his leg by a shot, on the slope 
 of the hill under the castle. He saw the shot before 
 the fatal effect, but was fascinated to the spot. This 
 sudden arrest of the faculties was not uncommon ; 
 several instances occurred to my own observation, 
 where men totally free have had their senses so 
 engaged by a shell in its descent, that, though sensible 
 of their danger, even so far as to cry for assistance, 
 they have been immediately fixed to the place. But 
 what is more remarkable, these men have so instan- 
 taneously recovered themselves on its fall to the 
 ground, as to remove to a place of safety before
 
 i64 LONG RANGE FIRING [Chap. V 
 
 the shell burst. The gun and mortar boats repeated 
 their visit on the nth, but fired from so respectful 
 a distance that scarcely a shot came ashore. Our 
 batteries were manned ; nevertheless, not a gun was 
 returned. Lieutenant Thornton, of the 12th regiment, 
 was wounded the same day with splinters of stones, 
 thrown up by a shot which grazed betwixt his legs. 
 
 The buildings in town at this time exhibited a 
 most dreadful picture of the effects of so animated 
 a bombardment. Scarcely a house, north of the Grand 
 Parade, was tenantable ; all of them were deserted. 
 Some few, near South Port, continued to be inhabited 
 by soldiers' families ; but in general the floors and 
 roofs were destroyed, and the walls only were left 
 standing. The governor and lieutenant-governor, 
 however, maintained their quarters, having parties 
 constantly employed in repairing the damage. Both 
 had bomb-proofs ; and the former afterwards had 
 a large tent pitched on a rising situation south of the 
 Red Sands, where, with his suite, he generally re- 
 mained during the day, returning at night to town ; 
 but the lieutenant-governor constantly resided in 
 town, having accommodations in the King's bastion. 
 
 The evening of the 12th, the gun and mortar boats 
 fired upon the garrison from off the Old Mole, seconded 
 by a very warm fire from their land batteries. Several 
 shells from the former ranged as high as the Signal 
 House, and some fell over the rock. The}^ discharged 
 180 shot and 46 shells, and then retired, throwing up 
 the usual signal of a rocket from each boat. Though 
 our batteries were manned, the garrison remained 
 silent. About the 13th, and for a few succeeding days, 
 the enemy's shells were directed for an unusual long 
 range. One fell on the forecastle of a collier in the 
 New Mole, and pierced both decks, but did not burst. 
 Two fell amongst the provisions on the New Mole
 
 i78i] SYNAGOGUE BURNT DOWN 165 
 
 parade, and another in the middle yard of the South 
 barracks ; a sphnter of the latter flew to the Navy 
 hospital. The 14th, a shell fell into the small armoury, 
 near South Port, but fortunately did little injury. The 
 17th, the Jews' synagogue and other buildings were 
 burnt down. The following day, a shell from our 
 upper batteries blew up the guard-room in the place 
 darmes of Fort Barbara. Our engineers were at this 
 time employed every night in clearing the works, filling 
 up shell-holes, and repairing the glacis and traverses 
 at Water Port. The enemy's fire at this period seldom 
 exceeded 1,000 rounds in the course of twenty-four 
 hours : their batteries were much shaken with the 
 firing, and parties were constantly bringing supplies 
 of ammunition to the lines, and different materials for 
 the repair of their works. 
 
 An attempt was made by the navy, on the 19th, to 
 cut ofT a polacre becalmed near Europa Point ; but, a 
 breeze springing up, she escaped. The gun-boats soon 
 after came out, apparently with an intention of aveng- 
 ing this affront ; but, the wind freshening, they returned. 
 The cannonade from the enemy was now principally 
 directed at our upper batteries. The rock gun, mounted 
 on the summit of the northern front, was become as 
 warm, if not warmer, than any other battery ; and 
 scarcely a day passed without some casualties at that 
 post. The gun and mortar boats, early in the morning 
 of the 20th, repeated their attack on the garrison and 
 shipping. They were arranged in two divisions, those 
 to the northward directing their fire towards the King's 
 bastion and South Port, but most of their shells broke 
 on the face of the rock ; whilst the southward division 
 annoyed the shipping and camp. Their usual signal 
 for retiring was made about a quarter past three 
 o'clock. On this occasion we returned a few shots 
 from the town batteries.
 
 i66 A SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE [Chap. V 
 
 At the commencement of the bombardment, the 
 out-guards of Bayside and Lower Forbes's had been 
 withdrawn from those barriers, and an officer's guard 
 stationed every night in the Fleche, a work erected 
 near the Inundation at the foot of Land Port glacis. 
 On the morning of the 21st, the sentries at this post 
 observed a man' advancing, with great circumspection, 
 along the causeway : instead of answering when chal- 
 lenged, he immediately dropped. Lieutenant Wetham, 
 of the 58th regiment, the officer on duty, suspecting he 
 came to reconnoitre, instantly, with the sergeant, went 
 out to seize him ; but the man rising, he pursued, and 
 was within a very short distance of securing him, 
 when he fell into a shell-hole near Bayside, and the 
 man escaped. It was imagined that curiosity had 
 prompted him to make trial of the alertness of our 
 sentries. His hat, which fell off in his retreat, his 
 firelock with bayonet, and pouch filled with 29 rounds 
 of ammunition, were hung on the palisades of the 
 barrier, and were afterwards brought in. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 22nd, a splinter of 
 a shell, which fell and burst on the Church battery, 
 ranged upwards of 200 yards, and, cutting the leaden 
 apron of the morning-gun on the South bastion, fired 
 it off. This singular circumstance, happening some 
 hours before daybreak, not a little surprised those 
 who heard the report, and were ignorant of the cause. 
 Our fire was now increased to about 150 rounds in 
 the 24 hours, the enemy's parties being engaged in re- 
 pairing the lines of approach. Their cannonade, on the 
 contrary, was reduced, upon an average, to 650 rounds. 
 
 The night of the 23rd, the gun and mortar boats 
 renewed their attack upon the camp, which, in its 
 consequences, was more dreadful than any we had 
 hitherto experienced. The silence observed by the 
 garrison during their preceding visits emboldened
 
 i78i] INACTION CAUSES DISCONTENT 167 
 
 them, on this occasion, to advance so near that we 
 could distinctly hear their officers give orders to the 
 men, who frequently cried out to us, in Spanish, to 
 " take care." During the first and second rounds, the 
 shells fell over Windmill Hill into the sea; but this 
 mistake they soon rectified, and the attack became 
 excessively smart. Two shells fell within the hospital 
 wall, and a shot passed through the roof of one of 
 the pavilions. A shell fell in a house in Hardy Town, 
 and killed Mr. Israel, a very respectable Jew, with 
 Mrs. Tourale, a female relation, and his clerk. 
 Another, from the St. Carlos's battery, fell into a 
 house near Southshed, in which were fifteen or sixteen 
 persons : the shell burst, but all escaped, except a 
 child whose mother had experienced a similar fate 
 some time before. A soldier of the 72nd regiment 
 was killed in his bed by a shot ; and a Jew butcher 
 was equally unfortunate. In all, seven were killed, 
 and twelve or thirteen wounded. The silence of the 
 garrison, when the destructive effects of this attack 
 were publicly known, caused great secret discontent 
 amongst the soldiers ; and such representations were 
 made to the governor, that he ordered the artillery 
 to return their fire when they repeated their visit. 
 
 The evening of the 27th the engineers, with a 
 strong party, repaired the Queen's battery (Willis's). 
 The new merlons were raised with sand-bags on the 
 base of the old ones, and the whole was completed 
 before morning gun-fire. The following day, a 
 squadron of Russian men-of-war passed through the 
 Straits to the west. Whilst they remained in sight, 
 the enemy increased their fire upon the garrison. 
 The same day arrived the General Murray privateer 
 and a polacre from Minorca, with wine, brandy, 
 lemons, and salt; and in the evening, the Enterprise 
 frigate, with 17 ordnance-ships and transports, sailed
 
 i68 MARAUDERS EXECUTED [Chap. V 
 
 for England. The enemy discovered them before they 
 quitted the bay, and repeated their signals towards 
 Cadiz. The garrison flag-staflf, on the Grand battery, 
 was now so mutilated, and the flag so much torn by 
 the enemy's shot, that it became necessary to erect 
 a new one, which was done the night of the 28th ; 
 and it served to engage the attention of the enemy 
 in the succeeding day's firing. 
 
 The morning of the 29th, two British frigates, the 
 Flora and Crescent^ which had conveyed the Minorca 
 ordnance-ships to Mahon, appeared from the east. 
 Captain Peere Williams, in the former, stood towards 
 the bay ; and being informed by Captain Curtis that 
 the Enterprise had sailed the preceding evening, put 
 about and followed his consort, the Crescent^ which 
 was then chasing two vessels, apparently Dutchmen, 
 under the Barbary shore ; and soon after they dis- 
 appeared, we heard a cannonade to the west, which 
 most likely proceeded from the ensuing engagement, 
 as we afterwards learned that the ships chased were 
 Dutch frigates.* At noon the same day, two artificers 
 were executed at the White Convent in Irish Town 
 for marauding ; and the following day, one of the 
 58th suffered for the same offence. The 31st, in the 
 evening, a ship under Ragusan colours, attempting 
 to get round Europa Point to proceed to Algeziras, 
 was driven under our guns, and obliged to come in. 
 She was laden with wheat and barley, bound from 
 Barcelona to Cadiz ; and her cargo was condemned 
 as a lawful prize. 
 
 The enemy's bombardment was considerably abated 
 
 * Captain Williams, in this action, took his opponent ; but the 
 Crescent, from some unfortunate accidents, was compelled to sur- 
 render to her adversary. The Crescent was, however, retaken by the 
 Flora ; but being greatly damaged, both she and the Floras prize 
 afterwards fell a prey to some French cruisers.
 
 i78i] A RICHLY LOADED GUN 169 
 
 towards the close of the month. Their objects for 
 some time were the upper batteries, and particularly 
 the Royal battery, whence they were greatly incom- 
 moded. They often attempted to reach Land Port and 
 the lines with heavy grape from the advanced mortars, 
 but it seldom ranged farther than the Inundation. 
 Our engineers, notwithstanding their fire, continued 
 making such repairs as the enemy's cannonade ren- 
 dered necessary. 
 
 About 2 o'clock, on the morning of the ist of 
 June, the gun and mortar boats saluted us as usual, 
 and wounded three or four men : they were in three 
 divisions. We returned the fire from different batteries 
 between King's bastion and Buena Vista. During 
 this attack an incident happened which I will beg 
 leave to insert. A soldier, rambling about the town, 
 accidentally found, in the ruins of a house, several 
 watches and other articles of value, of which he 
 immediately made prize ; but how to secrete them 
 afterwards was a subject that required the utmost 
 reach of his invention. He was sensible he could not 
 secure them in his quarters, as every soldier of his 
 regiment was examined on his return to his bomb- 
 proof from duty. He resolved, therefore, on a singular 
 expedient. Taking out the wad which served as a 
 tompion to a gun on the King's bastion, he lodged 
 his prize, which was tied in his handkerchief, as far as 
 he could reach, within the gun, and put the wad in 
 its former place. In times of peace he could not 
 have devised a better repository ; but, unfortunately, 
 the gun-boats coming the same evening (whilst he 
 was fast asleep in his casemate, not apprehending any 
 danger to his secreted treasure), this richly loaded 
 gun was one of the first that was discharged at the 
 enemy, and the foundation of his future greatness 
 was dispersed in an instant.
 
 I70 THE KING'S BIRTHDAY Chap. V] 
 
 The enemy's cannonade, in the beginning of June, 
 decreased to about 500 rounds in the 24 hours ; the 
 King's or Black battery (as it was called by the 
 garrison), with the two 14-gun batteries in their lines, 
 were now silent. 
 
 The morning of the 3rd the gun-boats repeated 
 their visit about the same time as before. In this 
 attack 2 sergeants, of the 12th and 58th regiments, 
 were killed, and 2 privates wounded : many shells 
 fell among the tents of the different regiments, and 
 two shot in the hospital yard. A corporal, going 
 with the relief at Land Port, had the muzzle of his 
 firelock closed, and the barrel twisted like a French 
 horn, by a shell, without injury to his person. We 
 returned the fire from the town batteries, hoping by 
 that means to direct their attention from our camp. 
 The 4th, the governor commemorated the anniversary 
 of his Majesty's birthday, by a salute at noon of 23 
 cannon, and 43 mortars, being the number of ordnance 
 that bore on the St. Carlos's battery. The fire began 
 at the rock mortar, seconded by the Old Mole, and 
 so on from right to left till the whole were discharged : 
 the enemy, indulging themselves, as usual, with a 
 siesta^ did not immediately return our fire ; but in the 
 early part of the day they had made the town pretty 
 warm, and fired twice or thrice through the royal 
 standard. 
 
 In the course of the 4th, a tartan was taken coming 
 in from the east : the crew, however, escaped to the 
 garrison in their boat. A Spanish squadron of 2 
 line-of-battle ships, 3 xebeques, and 2 bomb-ketches, 
 also arrived the same day at Algeziras, from aloft. 
 With this reinforcement, their naval force before 
 Gibraltar amounted to 2 ships of the line, 5 xebeques, 
 2 ketches, several half-galleys and armed vessels, with 
 15 or 16 gun and mortar boats. These latter were
 
 i78i] ANOTHER MAGAZINE EXPLODES 171 
 
 become so active that we could never promise our- 
 seives a night's repose without being disturbed by 
 a cannonade ; and their attacks were more vexatious 
 from the impossibihty of being able to retaliate, be- 
 cause they presented to us so small an object. When- 
 ever the alarm was given of their approach, which 
 was generally a little after midnight, the southern 
 part of the rock was in immediate commotion. Their 
 effects had been found so destructive, that all were 
 upon the look-out : the troops were ordered from 
 their tents, to places where they were covered from 
 the shot ; but the shells were directed into the most 
 sequestered recesses. Such was the terror of the 
 miserable inhabitants, that many of them fled nearly 
 naked to the remote parts of the rock ; and even 
 here they could scarcely deem themselves secure : 
 in short, no scene could be more deplorable than 
 that of their distress on these occasions. 
 
 The enemy's bombardment from the land was 
 still continued with little variation : they appeared, 
 indeed, to have no other object than the expenditure 
 of ammunition. In their camp, large parties were 
 constantly bringing brushwood for fascines from the 
 country ; and others were employed in disembarking 
 stores from small vessels which were daily arriving 
 from all quarters. 
 
 The 9th, we were alarmed with the blowing-up 
 of one of the enemy's magazines, situated at a small 
 distance from the Catalonian camp to the west of 
 the Queen of Spain's Chair. The different explosions 
 that succeeded the first resembled a continual roll 
 of fire like repeated volleys of musketry ; from which 
 circumstance we conjectured that it was their reposi- 
 tory for live shells and fixed ammunition. Their 
 drums immediately beat to arms; and the whole 
 army, consisting of 13 battalions besides cavalry.
 
 172 CORPUS CHRISTI [Chap. V 
 
 assembled in front of the camp. Parties were instantly 
 detached ; but the splinters of the shells kept them 
 for some time at a considerable distance. The shells, 
 however, at length ceased to displode : they advanced, 
 and removed powder, etc., from a neighbouring maga- 
 zine to a place southward of the fire ; where, meeting 
 afterwards in great numbers, our artillery endeavoured 
 to reach them with a large shell from Willis's ; but 
 the distance was beyond the range of a sea-mortar. 
 From the long continuance and successive loud re- 
 ports it was thought they must have sustained great 
 loss, not only of ammunition, but of men, as the 
 splinters were seen, with glasses, to range much 
 farther than the spot where the detachment first 
 assembled ; and remarkable economy was afterwards 
 observed in the article of shells. 
 
 The following day, a line-of-battle ship, proceeding 
 from Point Mala to the eastward, was fired upon from 
 the garrison, and obliged to put about and anchor at 
 Algeziras. A flag of truce came the day after to the New 
 Mole, to know the cause of our firing upon her, being 
 a Neapolitan man-of-war. The governor answered, 
 that the first shot was to bring her to ; which she not 
 obeying, every succeeding one was fired to sink her. 
 The night of the nth, the gun and mortar boats, ac- 
 cording to custom, bombarded the camp, killed a child, 
 and wounded a woman. They retired much sooner 
 than usual ; which we attributed to their having re- 
 ceived some damage, as our grape was heard to strike 
 them. We returned 96 rounds of various kinds. Their 
 land batteries, during the attack, directed their fire 
 principally towards the King's bastion, and along the 
 line-wall in town, whence, they observed, we for some 
 time past generally fired when they came over. The 
 14th being the anniversary of Corpus Christi, the 
 festival was noticed by the enemy's shipping with the
 
 i78i] PRISONERS SENT IN 173 
 
 usual flags of decoration, and the customary salutes : 
 repeated volleys were likewise discharged from the 
 lines ; which, being unexpected on our side, killed and 
 wounded several. 
 
 Though their bombardment in general, at this 
 period, scarcely exceeded 450 rounds in twenty-four 
 hours, yet the batteries at Willis's, notwithstanding 
 the recent repairs, were again greatly damaged. The 
 enemy's shot, though fired at so great a distance, 
 frequently pierced seven solid feet of sand-bag work. 
 To obviate this, strong wooden frames, called caissons, 
 were constructed of the same dimensions as the 
 merlons ; which, when well rammed with clay, and 
 covered in front and on the top with junk cut in 
 lengths for the purpose, were expected to resist better 
 than the temporary repairs that had been done during 
 the severity of the enemy's fire. The enemy also 
 adopted the same mode in capping the merlons of 
 Fort St. Barbara. 
 
 A flag of truce, on the 15th, informed us that two 
 ships had been captured leaving the garrison, and that 
 the prisoners were ready to be sent in. The Fortune 
 sloop, in consequence, the next day brought over 141 
 English and Jews, men, women, and children. It was 
 remarked that the enemy the preceding day continued 
 their bombardment during the flag of truce ; but a 
 strict cessation was observed this day, owing, as we 
 imagined, to some representations. We observed, on 
 the 20th, a new camp of 112 tents in the rear of 
 Barcelo's battery, north of Algeziras. The day follow- 
 ing, Montague's bastion was opened on the enemy, as 
 parties were repairing the St. Carlos's battery. 
 
 The bombardment now decreased daily. The fire 
 of the enemy was chiefly directed to our upper 
 batteries, for the town was almost a heap of ruins : 
 they sometimes threw a long-ranger ; but these shells
 
 174 AN ARTILLERY EXPERIMENT [Chap. V 
 
 seldom did any injury. The night of the 24th, the 
 gun-boats fired upon the camp, but at such a distance, 
 that little damage was received, though they expended 
 400 shot and 70 shells. We returned 88 rounds, prin- 
 cipally small shells, whose fuses were so accurately 
 cut, as to break just over the boats. The 27th, we 
 observed another encampment (capable of quartering 
 two battalions) at the tower between the river Palmones 
 and Algeziras. Many were of opinion that this camp, 
 with that at Barcelo's battery, was occupied by militia. 
 The gun and mortar boats again bombarded our camp 
 about midnight for two hours : they then made their 
 usual signal, and as we imagined, were gone back; 
 but soon after, they returned, and, recommencing a 
 brisker fire than before, killed and wounded 12 or 14, 
 the greatest number of which were of the 39th regiment. 
 This was the most important loss which our troops 
 had yet experienced from the gun-boats ; but we con- 
 cluded ourselves in some degree fortunate in not 
 suffering more considerably ; as most of the regiments, 
 imagining the bombardment over for the night, were 
 in bed when they returned. 
 
 The disagreeable and frequent repetition of these 
 attacks prompted the governor to adopt, if possible, 
 some expedients to annoy the enemy's camp in return. 
 The distance was conceived to be within the range of 
 shells from the Old Mole head: accordingly a 13-inch 
 sea-mortar was removed to the extremity ; and six 
 cannon, five 32-pounders and one i8-pounder, were 
 at the same time sunk in the sand behind the Old 
 Mole, and then secured with timber, etc., at different 
 degrees of elevation. These arrangements had been for 
 some time in agitation ; and being now completed, he 
 determined to make the experiment. About 10 o'clock 
 in the forenoon of the 28th, six rounds were discharged 
 from each : three of the shells burst in the enemy's
 
 i78i] FRAMES 175 
 
 camp, and one over it. The other two exploded in 
 their passage : all the shot went home. A battalion 
 of Spanish guards, happening to be under arms, were 
 greatly alarmed, and dispersed three different times : 
 at length they were assembled,.and marched off toward 
 the left. This being only intended as an experiment, 
 the artillery soon ceased firing ; but it is scarcely 
 possible to express the general satisfaction which this 
 success diffused through the garrison. The mortar 
 was loaded with from 30 lbs. to 28| lbs. of powder at 
 the usual elevation ; the 32-pounder with 14, and the 
 18 with 9 lbs. of powder ; all the latter at an elevation 
 of 42 degrees. 
 
 The governor, beside this plan of retaliation, devised 
 other schemes to cover and protect his camp, if pos- 
 sible, from future attacks. Two brigs were ordered 
 to be cut down and converted into prames, each to 
 carry 4 or 5 heavy cannon ; which were to be moored 
 between the New Mole and Ragged Staff, at such 
 distance from the w^orks as to be easily protected, and 
 yet far enough out to keep their boats at a respectful 
 distance. Artificers from the garrison assisted the 
 navy in fitting out these vessels. One of them being 
 finished previous to the before-mentioned experiment, 
 was moored at the distance of about half musket-shot 
 from the New Mole head. She was named the 
 Vanguard, mounted 2 Spanish 26-pounders, and 
 2 twelves, and was rigged like a settee. The enemy's 
 squadron, on the 29th, was reinforced with 5 
 xebeques and 2 galleys, from the east. At night 
 sailed a packet for Faro, in Portugal. 
 
 The 2nd July, additional tents were pitched at 
 the new camp near the tower, north of Algeziras. 
 About one in the morning of the 4th, the gun-boats 
 repeated their attack ; but contrary to their former 
 custom, numbers of their shot and shells fell amongst
 
 176 THE BOMBARDMENT SLACKENS [Chap. V 
 
 the shipping. The Porcupine frigate, Sir Charles 
 Knowles, Bart, and an Indiaman, each received a 
 shot ; and the Brillianfs bottom was struck with a 
 splinter of a shell, which burst under her ; but no 
 particular damage was received in the garrison, except 
 two men being slightly wounded. The governor re- 
 taliated by ordering six rounds of shot and shells to 
 be fired into their camp, from the guns and sea- 
 mortars at the Old Mole : the cannon were pointed 
 indiscriminately for the camp ; but the mortars were 
 laid for the fascine and artillery parks. One of the 
 shells set fire to a hut, and alarmed them exceedingly. 
 As the governor now determined to retaliate in this 
 manner, we were in hopes it would deter them from 
 so frequently disturbing us. 
 
 The enemy continued making gabions, and bring- 
 ing much wood into the camp : on the other hand, our 
 people were employed in repairs, and additions to the 
 works. Traverses were erected at the Royal battery, 
 and parties were employed on the north front, from 
 the rock gun to the Old Mole head. The loth, a brig 
 coming in from the east was taken by the enemy's 
 cruisers, which for some weeks past had again kept a 
 very vigilant look-out. The crew, however, escaped 
 to the rock ; and they had thrown the letters over- 
 board before they abandoned the vessel. 
 
 The bombardment, which, by almost imperceptible 
 degrees, had been decreasing, on the 12th nearly 
 ceased. The cannon in their 7 and 14-gun batteries 
 were all drawn back, to facilitate, as we imagined, 
 the repairing of the platforms and inner part of 
 the batteries. The 13th some troops at the tower 
 decamped, and in a few days afterwards a regiment 
 marched away from the Algeziras camp. The 15th 
 two settees and a brig sailed from Point Mala 
 with gabions to the west. One vessel had sailed
 
 i78i] THE TROOPS CHANGE QUARTERS 177 
 
 thence on the 13th. These materials, we conjectured, 
 were for some new works in the neighbourhood ; but 
 we were afterwards informed that they were taken to 
 Minorca, and were used in the approaches carried 
 on against St. Philip's. Their firing was now con- 
 fined to the night, and unless we provoked them, 
 scarcely ever exceeded thirty rounds. 
 
 The Spanish general visited the lines on the i8th ; 
 but a fire breaking out in his camp, he returned im- 
 mediately on its appearance. In the evening the 
 caissons for the Queen's battery being carried up to 
 Willis's, and the sand-bags brought from Pocoroca 
 clay-pit, the engineers at dusk, with a party of 380 
 men, began to re-establish the merlons ; and by the 
 morning gun-fire of the 19th the old sand-bags were 
 removed, the caissons placed, and filled with clay, 
 sand, and junk, and the battery made fit for the recep- 
 tion of artillery. The governor was present the whole 
 time, and expressed the highest approbation of the 
 diligence and activity of the party. The caissons were 
 made of oak timber, joined by strong iron bolts. 
 Whilst they were at work the gun-boats fired upon 
 the camp, and were seconded by the land batteries 
 on the town : 132 rounds were returned on the boats, 
 and 16 shells thrown into the enemy's camp. One 
 of the artillery and one of the 73rd regiment were 
 wounded. 
 
 The morning of the 20th the enemy fired a salute 
 from the lines, followed by a fcu-de-joie from the 
 army drawn up in two lines in front of their camp, 
 concluding with a grand discharge from their shipping 
 and small craft at Algeziras. The troops in garrison 
 changed quarters on the 21st: the 39th and Harden- 
 berg's regiments relieved the 72nd, and other detach- 
 ments in King's and Montague's bastions. Water Port 
 casemate, and Picket yard. The 58th, 72nd, and 73rd 
 
 12
 
 178 ATTACK BY GUNBOATS [Chap. V 
 
 regiments encamped ; the 12th regiment remained on 
 their ground, and the 56th, Reden's, and La Motte's 
 occupied the South barracks and other quarters. The 
 enemy on the same day decamped from the ground 
 north of Algeziras. Brigadier Ross sailed on the 
 night of the 22nd in a boat to Faro, in his route to 
 England ; and the following day a privateer arrived 
 in eight days from Mahon, with a packet. Two days 
 afterwards a boat arrived from Portugal. The patron 
 informed us that the army at that time before Gibraltar 
 principally consisted of militia regiments, the regular 
 troops having embarked for the West Indies : he 
 further said, that the Spanish fleet had sailed from 
 Cadiz on a cruise. Soon after this boat arrived a 
 large fleet of upwards of seventy sail appeared from 
 the west : when abreast of Europa we discovered 
 amongst them a ship of the line, two frigates, two 
 cutters, a bomb-ketch, and several armed vessels : they 
 did not display any colours. This proved afterwards 
 to be the fleet which blockaded Mahon, and conveyed 
 the troops which besieged Fort St. Philip, under the 
 command of the Due de Crillon, and captured the 
 island of Minorca. 
 
 Our camp was alarmed on the 27th with the report 
 that the gun-boats were approaching. The batteries 
 were manned, and the regiments assembled ; but the 
 enemy not appearing, they returned to quarters. The 
 signals for seeing the boats in future were ordered to 
 be a false fire, and two guns from the shipping. 
 
 August was introduced by an attack from the gun- 
 boats. They came upon us by surprise ; for we had 
 no signal from our guard-boats. This was afterwards 
 accounted for by the enemy having taken a circle ; by 
 which means our guard-boats, when they began to 
 fire, were without, and the gun-boats between them 
 and the garrison. Our fire in return was well served,
 
 i78i] VALUE OF THE FRAMES 179 
 
 and appeared to do some execution : twelve large 
 shells and fifteen shot were likewise thrown into the 
 camp from the Old Mole : several of the former burst 
 just as they fell, consequently promised to do mischief. 
 Their land batteries seconded the fire from the sea, 
 but we did not experience any casualties. Two days 
 afterwards the other prame, called the Repulse^ mount- 
 ing five 26-pounders, was moored about musket-shot 
 to the southward of the Vanguard^ and the same 
 distance from our batteries. These vessels were of 
 such annoyance to their boats, that whilst they re- 
 mained out, we never afterwards were so much 
 disturbed at the southward. 
 
 The artillery at Willis's endeavoured on the 4th to 
 set fire to the canes and weeds in the gardens ; but 
 they were too full of sap to take fire. This attempt 
 attracted a brisk cannonade for some time from the 
 enemy. Early in the morning of the 6th a shell fell 
 into a tent behind General La Motte's quarters, at the 
 southward, in which were two men of the 58th, asleep. 
 They were not awakened by its fall ; but a sergeant in 
 an adjacent tent heard it, and ran near forty yards 
 to a place of safety, when he recollected the situation 
 of his friends. Thinking the shell had fallen bhnd, he 
 returned and awakened them : both immediately rose, 
 but continued by the place, debating on the narrow 
 escape they had had, when the shell exploded, and 
 forced them with great violence against the garden- 
 wall, but miraculously did no further mischief than 
 destroying everything in the tent. 
 
 On the morning of the 7th, before the haze was 
 quite dispelled in the Gut, a signal for an enemy was 
 made by the Spaniards at Cabrita Foint. As the fog 
 dispersed we discovered at a considerable distance a 
 vessel becalmed, but rowing towards the garrison 
 with the current. Fourteen gun-boats were then
 
 i8o A SMART ENGAGEMENT [Chap. V 
 
 advancing from Algeziras to intercept her : upon 
 which Captain Curtis, of the Brilliant, ordered out 
 Sir Charles Knowles, with three barges, to endeavour 
 to get alongside, and receive any dispatches the vessel 
 might have on board, whilst he attended the towing 
 out of i\\Q,Vaiiguard and Repulse prames, to cover them 
 and protect her. Sir Charles personally executed his 
 orders, and returned with a packet for the governor. 
 The vessel by this time was about a league and a half 
 from the garrison, and the headmost gun-boat within 
 shot, advancing apparently with an intent to board ; 
 stopping, however, at the distance of a few hundred 
 yards, she poured in a discharge of round and grape 
 shot, and was immediately seconded by her consorts 
 astern. The vessel, which we now discovered to be 
 a king's sloop-of-war, returned the salute with a broad- 
 side, and musketry from her quarter-deck ; and a 
 spirited action commenced. Appearances at this 
 juncture were so greatly in favour of the Spaniards, 
 that the garrison gave up the sloop for lost. Becalmed 
 a league from the rock, and fourteen gun-boats, each 
 carrying a 26-pounder, full of men, cannonading her 
 on every side with grape and round shot ; a xebeque 
 also bearing down with a gentle breeze, were cir- 
 cumstances which seemed to preclude the possibility 
 of escape. After maintaining, however, a very warm, 
 judicious, and well-served fire, often obliging the boats 
 to retire, the westerly breeze at last reached her ; and 
 not long afterwards she was safe under our guns. 
 She proved to be the Helena sloop-of-war, 14 small 
 guns. Captain Roberts, in 14 days from England. 
 Her loss during this action was much less than could 
 have been possibly imagined, when we considered the 
 showers of grape and round shot that every instant 
 surrounded her ; she had only i killed and 2 wounded ; 
 but her upper rigging and sails were much cut and
 
 i78i] THE MYSTICAL NUMBER i8i 
 
 injured. We attributed the hull's being scarcely 
 touched to the construction of the gun-boats ; for, being 
 originally intending to annoy at a distance, their 
 cannon could not be depressed. The enemy, however, 
 did not escape so well : numbers were seen to drop 
 in the boats from the musketry of the sloop, and 
 several were towed off disabled ; which were very 
 convincing proofs that their loss was considerable. 
 
 A settee was taken on the 12th by the enemy's 
 cruisers. The crew, excepting three Jew passengers, 
 escaped to the garrison : they informed us that great 
 preparations were making in the French and Spanish 
 ports for some grand expedition : the object was, how- 
 ever, kept secret; but many at Minorca suspected 
 St. Philip's to be the place. 
 
 The enemy's bombardment, if we may now call it 
 by that name, scarcely exceeded, at this time, three 
 shells in the 24 hours, which the soldiers (conjecturing 
 that some allusion might be intended, by that super- 
 stitious nation, to the sacred Trinity) jocosely, though 
 profanely termed, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. It is 
 not indeed altogether improbable that the Spaniards 
 might entertain some bigoted respect for that mystical 
 number, and, considering the British in the light of 
 heretics, might apprehend some efficacy from it, in 
 the great work of converting the garrison to the Catholic 
 faith : at least, it is difficult, on any more reasonable 
 ground, to account for their exactly continuing to fire 
 neither more nor less, for so considerable a period. 
 
 The mention of this circumstance brings to my 
 recollection another, of a ridiculous nature, which 
 serves to demonstrate the thoughtlessness of the 
 English soldiers, who can jest in the hour of danger, 
 and indulge their prejudices at the expense of what 
 other nations, however differing in sentiment, gene- 
 rally agree to hold in a degree of respect. It is first
 
 i82 AN IMAGE COURT-MARTIALED [Chap. V 
 
 to be remembered, that, according to the articles of 
 capitulation by which the garrison was surrendered 
 to Admiral Sir George Rooke, it was stipulated that 
 the inhabitants should be tolerated in their religion : 
 the old Spanish church was therefore continued as a 
 place of worship for those of the Roman Catholic per- 
 suasion, and, as is usual in Roman Catholic churches, 
 was decorated, amongst others, with figures, as large 
 as life, of our Saviour and the Virgin Mary. 
 
 At the commencement of the firing, when the 
 soldiers were engaged in a succession of irregularities, 
 a party of them assembled in the Spanish church, to 
 carouse and be merry. In the midst of their jollity, 
 the image of the Virgin Mary was observed in the 
 ruins by one of the party, who instantly proposed, as 
 a piece of fun, to place her ladyship in the whirligig.^ 
 The scheme seemed to meet with general approbation, 
 till one, wiser than the rest, stopped them with a 
 remark, that it would ill become them, as military 
 men, and particularly Englishmen, to punish any 
 person without a trial. A court-martial consequently 
 sat, with mock ceremony ; and her ladyship was found 
 guilty of drunkenness, debauchery, and other high 
 crimes, and condemned to the whirligig, whither she 
 was immediately carried in procession. The governor 
 (who, notwithstanding the firing, regularly attended 
 the parade), at guard-mounting discovered the poor 
 Virgin in confinement ; but expressed his disapproba- 
 tion of the action, and ordered her instantly to be 
 removed to the White Convent, where, by-the-by, 
 she was by no means exempt from further insult and 
 disgrace. If a bigoted Spaniard could have beheld 
 this transaction, he probably would have thought the 
 
 ' A machine erected at the bottom of the Grand Parade, for the 
 punishment of scolding women, or others guilty of trifling mis- 
 demeanours.
 
 i/Si] A BRISK CANNONADE 183 
 
 English worse than heretics ; and would have con- 
 cluded, that their impiety could not fail to attract the 
 special vengeance of Heaven. 
 
 The night of the 15th, the gun and mortar-boats 
 bombarded our camp ; their disposition extending from 
 off Little Bay to the Old Mole head : their fire, as had 
 been the custom for some time before, was seconded 
 by a brisk cannonade from the lines, which was very 
 judiciously served. Many of their shells burst in the 
 air, over our shipping ; but the ships continued silent. 
 Our artillery retaliated from the Old Mole head, and 
 small shells were discharged from the elevated guns, 
 which seemed to answer very well. One of the 72nd 
 regiment was killed ; 2 of the artillery, and 2 of the 
 73rd, with a boy, an inhabitant, were wounded. In 
 this attack, a shell fell amongst some naval stores, in 
 a ground-ward of the Naval hospital ; and the most 
 dreadful consequences might have been expected from 
 this accident, if the fire had not been happily ex- 
 tinguished by the picket, which the governor had 
 ordered, some time before, to assemble here, to pre- 
 vent, if possible, such casualties. The other picket, 
 which mounted at the southward, was stationed for 
 the same purpose at the New Mole. 
 
 A schooner arrived from Faro on the 17th, with 
 fruit, onions, and salt. In the evening, a flag of truce 
 came from the enemy, in answer to ours of the pre- 
 ceding day. The day following, another boat arrived 
 from Faro ; she brought a packet, with some private 
 letters from Lisbon, which intimated the probability 
 of our receiving a visit from the combined fleet, then 
 cruising off Cadiz. At night several guns were heard 
 in the Gut, and a number of signals made at the point. 
 The succeeding morning, his Majesty's cutter the Kite 
 arrived from England, with duplicates of the Helena s 
 dispatches. In her passage she engaged a French
 
 i84 A DARING DESERTER [Chap. V 
 
 cutter of 20 guns, and had 3 men killed and 6 wounded. 
 The enemy's cruisers endeavoured to intercept her, 
 but were driven to leeward. A boat also arrived 
 about the same time from Portugal. 
 
 The firing from the garrison now varied according 
 as the enemy's parties presented themselves : at this 
 period they were busy in repairing Fort St. Philip, 
 and in securing their works against the approaching 
 rainy season. Our engineers were repairing the com- 
 munications and batteries at Willis's, etc. A soldier 
 of the 73rd deserted to the enemy the 25th : he had 
 been absent from his corps five days, during which 
 time he had concealed himself on the rock. Hunger 
 probably pressing him, he determined to make a bold 
 attempt to get off: accordingly, stuffing a sand-bag 
 with grass, he came to Land Port, and placing, unob- 
 served, the bag upon the spikes of the palisades, 
 jumped, unhurt, on the glacis : then running over the 
 causeway, he soon cleared Bayside barrier, and, 
 though many hundred rounds of musketry were fired 
 from Land Port and the Lines guards, he escaped. He 
 was the fourth man lost by desertion in the course of 
 six weeks. 
 
 Early the 27th, four men, who had been impressed 
 from a privateer in the bay, deserted from the Repulse 
 prame. The next morning we were visited again by 
 the gun and mortar boats ; but they scarcely stayed 
 one-third of their former time. We returned nine shot 
 and 58 shells, which, from the shrieks and piteous 
 cries we heard, must have done execution. We 
 annoyed them in camp from the Old Mole, as usual ; 
 and the artillery attempted to reach them from Willis's, 
 but in vain. In this attack a wounded matross was 
 killed by a shell in the hospital. The circum- 
 stances attending this man's case are so melancholy 
 and affecting, that I cannot pass them over in silence.
 
 i78i] AN UNFORTUNATE MAN 185 
 
 Some time previous to this event, he had been so 
 unlucky as to break his thigh : being a man of great 
 spirits, he ill brooked the confinement which his case 
 demanded, and exerted himself to get abroad, that he 
 might enjoy the benefit of the fresh air in the court of 
 the hospital : unfortunately, in one of his playful 
 moments, he fell, and was obliged to take to his bed 
 again. He was in this situation when a shell from 
 the mortar boats fell into the ward, and, rebounding, 
 lodged upon him. The convalescents and sick, in the 
 same room, instantly summoned strength to crawl 
 out on hands and knees, while the fuse was burning ; 
 but this wretched victim was kept down by the 
 weight of the shell, which, after some seconds, burst, 
 took off both his legs, and scorched him in a dreadful 
 manner : but, what was still more horrid, he survived 
 the explosion, and was sensible to the very moment 
 that death relieved him from his misery. His last 
 words were expressive of regret that he had not been 
 killed on the batteries. 
 
 The enemy's attention to the blockade seemed now 
 to be revived. Their cruisers were increased, and 
 constantly on the watch. The force in the bay at this 
 time was one ship of the line, a xebeque having a 
 broad pendant, a frigate, and five xebeques, with the 
 gun and mortar boats, and small armed craft. The 
 arrangement of these vessels for the purpose of block- 
 ading the garrison appeared to be as follows : — When 
 the wind was west, two xebeques and four gun-boats 
 anchored at Cabrita Point, cruising at night at the 
 entrance of the bay and in the straits ; when easterly, 
 the frigate, xebeques, and four gun-boats cruised some 
 between Ceuta and Europa, and others in the Gut ; 
 one xebeque was generally observed to lie-to off 
 Europa Point, at the entrance of the bay. Though 
 this disposition apparently obstructed all intercourse
 
 i86 DESIGNS ON MINORCA [Chap. V 
 
 between the garrison and our friends in Portugal and 
 Minorca, yet opportunities sometimes occurred when 
 boats shpped out unobserved, and returned with the 
 same success. 
 
 The evening of the 30th, the enemy's cannonade, 
 which, except when the boats fired on our camp, 
 seldom exceeded three shells in the 24 hours, was 
 pretty smart for an hour or two, occasioned by our 
 firing on their working parties. Such starts of 
 retaliation they were often provoked to by our 
 annoying their workmen in the batteries. 
 
 The prames had been found so useful that, in the 
 beginning of September, the navy began to fit up the 
 Fortune sloop, in order to add to their number. The 
 
 5th, a flag of truce from the enemy brought over 
 
 Pratts, an inhabitant of Gibraltar, who had been 
 taken by the Spaniards in the Fox packet, about 12 
 months before, and whom, as it was said, the enemy 
 for some time had objected to exchange. By this man 
 we were informed that the Due de Crillon, with 10,000 
 men, had landed at Minorca, and that it was reported 
 he was to be joined by a French army from Toulon. 
 The evening of the 7th, the captain at Willis's again 
 endeavoured to set fire to the weeds, etc., in the 
 gardens, which, from their height, aff'orded great 
 cover to the enemy's advanced sentries ; and in execut- 
 ing these orders a brisk cannonade was returned by 
 the enemy, which continued till daybreak. Our 
 carcasses and light balls frequently took effect, but the 
 canes were too green to be burnt to any purpose. In 
 the course of this firing, several shot from the lines, 
 ranged as far as the South barracks and New Mole. 
 Great numbers of gabions were now observed in the 
 enemy's fascine park. 
 
 The evening of the 12th, they fired a grand salute 
 from their lines and shipping and a fen-de-joie in
 
 i78i] NEW SPANISH FIELD-WORKS 187 
 
 camp. After the salute, they continued to cannonade 
 from the Hnes, though for some days before they had 
 only fired their mystical number, three, in the 24 
 hours. We imagined this salute to be on account 
 of the Due de Crillon having gained some advantage 
 at Minorca. In the course of their firing, on the 15th, 
 a circumstance happened similar to one which occurred 
 in May, and both of them may be considered as 
 extraordinary. A shell from the lines fell upon the 
 rock, above the Red Sands, and glanced off in a 
 direction nearly at right angles with its range ; it rolled 
 to the bottom of the Princess of Wales's lines, burst on 
 the platform of one of the 32-pounders, and a splinter 
 cutting the apron of the gun, fired it off. The shot 
 took away the railing at the foot of the glacis, and 
 lodged in the line-wall near Ragged Staff. 
 
 We observed on the i6th, that the enemy, during 
 the preceding night, had thrown up three banks of 
 sand in zigzags, beginning at the centre of the fourth 
 branch of approach, which seemed intended as a line 
 of direction for a new communication to the St, 
 Carlos's battery. In the evening, the governor ordered 
 the artillery to direct a brisk fire on this work, which 
 was continued till daybreak of the 17th. The enemy 
 returned the fire reluctantly, from a wish, as we 
 imagined, not to increase ours. The next morning, 
 we observed they had retained the sand thrown up 
 the preceding night with casks ; and from the materials 
 seen in the vicinity of the works, other additions 
 seemed intended to be made. At night, Crouchett's 
 howitzer battery and Montague's bastion were opened, 
 and, with Willis's, etc., were kept constantly going. 
 About midnight the gun-boats, attended by a bomb- 
 ketch, as we conjectured, came over, and, contrary to 
 their former practice, directed their fire towards 
 Willis's, the lines, and north end of the town. So
 
 i88 RECOVERY OF DONALD ROSS [Chap. V 
 
 determined were they to land their shells, that one 
 went over the rock, and many fell on the hill ; and, in 
 attempting to imitate us in bursting their shells in the 
 air, several exploded in their mortars. They stayed 
 two hours and a half, and expended 130 shells and 
 87 shot, and their land batteries were not so sparing 
 as the night before. We returned a smart fire on both 
 sea and land, and retaliated on their camp, as usual. 
 
 A shell, during the above attack, fell in an embrasure 
 opposite the King's lines bomb-proof, killed one of the 
 73rd, and wounded another of the same corps. The 
 case of the latter was singular, and will serve to 
 enforce the maxim, that, even in the most dangerous 
 cases, we should never despair of a recovery whilst 
 life remains. This unfortunate man was knocked 
 down by the wind of the shell, which, instantly burst- 
 ing, killed his companion, and mangled him in a most 
 dreadful manner. His head was terribly fractured, 
 his left arm broken in two places, one of his legs 
 shattered, the skin and muscles torn off part of his 
 right hand, the middle finger broken to pieces, and his 
 whole body most severely bruised, and marked with 
 gunpowder. He presented so horrid an object to the 
 surgeons, that they had not the smallest hopes of 
 saving his life, and were at a loss what part to attend 
 to first. He was that evening trepanned, a few days 
 afterwards his leg was amputated, and other wounds 
 and fractures dressed. Being possessed of a most 
 excellent constitution, nature performed wonders in his 
 favour, and in eleven weeks the cure was completely 
 affected. His name is Donald Ross, and he long 
 continued to enjoy his sovereign's bounty in a pension 
 of <^d. a day for life. A non-commissioned officer of 
 artillery also lost his thigh on Montague's bastion ; 
 and a private of the 12th regiment both his legs : the 
 latter died soon after the amputation was performed.
 
 i78i] INVALIDS SENT HOME 189 
 
 The morning of the i8th, a deserter from the 
 Spanish guards came in from the St. Carlos's battery. 
 He was pursued by four of the enemy, but in vain. 
 He gave information of the enemy's intention to erect 
 some new batteries. About 10 o'clock in the evening, 
 a shell from the lines fell into a house opposite the 
 King's bastion, where the town-major, Captain Burke, 
 with Majors Mercier and Vignoles, of the 39th regi- 
 ment, were sitting. The shell took off Major Burke's 
 thigh, afterwards fell through the floor into the cellar : 
 there it burst, and forced the flooring, with the un- 
 fortunate major, to the ceiling. When assistance came, 
 they found Major Burke almost buried amongst the 
 ruins of the room. He was instantly conveyed to 
 the hospital, where he died soon after the wounded 
 part was amputated, much lamented by his friends as 
 an amiable and worthy member of society, and by the 
 governor as an indefatigable officer. Majors Mercier 
 and Vignoles had time to escape before the shell 
 burst : they were nevertheless slightly wounded by the 
 splinters ; as were a sergeant of the 39th, and his 
 daughter, who were in the cellar underneath when 
 the shell entered. This house had escaped almost 
 untouched during the warmest period of the bombard- 
 ment, till this unfortunate shell fell in, which deprived 
 the garrison of this active and valuable officer. 
 
 The enemy did not increase their works the suc- 
 ceeding day, but debouched the fourth branch of the 
 approach about the centre. In the evening, the Helena 
 and Kite, with a privateer, left the bay for England, 
 and a schooner for Portugal. Lieutenant Lowe, of 
 the 1 2th, who had lost his leg, and the invalids, went 
 home in the former. Our firing was increased at night 
 by the Catalan batteries ; and Crouchett's was still 
 kept open. The 20th, Captain Fowlis, of the 73rd, 
 was appointed town-major.
 
 190 AN EFFECTIVE SALUTE [Chap. V 
 
 Our working parties were employed by the en- 
 gineers, on the 2 1 St, in repairing Princess Caroline's 
 battery, at Willis's, which," owing to the spirited be- 
 haviour and example of the officers, was cleared, the 
 caissons placed, filled, and the battery completed, 
 before night, under a most heavy fire from the enemy. 
 When the work was finished, the party desired to 
 give three cheers, but they were overruled by the 
 captain of artillery, who recommended to salute the 
 enemy with three rounds from each gun ; which was 
 immediately put in execution. The party had not a 
 man materially hurt during the warm cannonade ; but, 
 in returning to be dismissed, a sergeant of La Motte's, 
 who had braved the dangers of the day, was killed 
 by a random shot below the artillery guard. Our 
 firing continued with great vivacity on the 22nd, parti- 
 cularly with small shells from the Royal battery, 
 Willis's, and Montague's bastion. These were kept 
 going in the day ; and at night these batteries, with 
 the Catalans, Crouchett's, and batteries at the entrance 
 of the lines, were in action. The enemy, in return, 
 were not sparing of ammunition ; in the preceding 
 24 hours they fired 775 shot, and 57 shells. The 
 garrison discharged 773 rounds of different species. 
 
 The enemy's new works were erected with casks, 
 covered and retained by fascines, with sand in the 
 front. About 200 men appeared to be employed in 
 the day ; but they were often compelled to retire, our 
 ordnance was so well served and directed. The gun- 
 boats, on the morning of the 24th, visited us as usual ; 
 and it was thought that a bomb-ketch again attended 
 them. They pointed their fire principally towards 
 the Victualling Office, in town, and Willis's : some 
 shells fell in the New Mole, but few ashore at the 
 southward. We returned their fire, and retaliated 
 from the Old Mole on their camp.
 
 i78i] FORT BARBARA ON FIRE 191 
 
 Early in the morning of the 25th, the fascine cap- 
 ping of the merlons of Fort Barbara took fire from 
 the enemy's guns, and burnt extremely fierce. The 
 officer at Willis's immediately directed a brisk fire 
 on the fort, which the governor afterwards increased 
 by opening the Grand battery. The firing, however, 
 from the latter did not answer so well as was expected, 
 owing, perhaps, to the unevenness of the platforms, 
 which were of stone, and much worn. Nevertheless, 
 the enemy were obliged to evacuate the fort without 
 extinguishing the fire. At da3^break we saw only five 
 fascine merlons standing ; the other seven were all 
 destroyed, with some gun-carriages, traverses on the 
 rampart, and fascine-work in the ditch. We imagined 
 that this accident would render the fort useless for 
 some time ; but they convinced us that our conclusions 
 were premature, by firing, probably out of bravado, 
 a few shot in the course of the day, which killed one 
 of the 58th, and wounded another. In the morning, 
 about seven, the Flying-fish cutter, of 20 guns, arrived 
 with ordnance stores and intrenching tools ; she in- 
 formed us that government had engaged 20 cutters, 
 of her force, for the same purpose. A xebeque and 
 four gun-boats opposed her passage, but in vain. 
 
 The 26th, Lieutenant Clarke, of the 56th, died of a 
 decline. In the course of the day, the enemy began to 
 clear Fort Barbara, and in the evening to lay fascines 
 (a great number of which were in the neighbourhood 
 of the fort) towards repairing it. Our fire continued 
 to be well directed, and considerably annoyed them. 
 The 27th, a man was discovered near Catalan bay, 
 by the guard at Middle Hill. A party of the navy 
 immediately went round, and took him up. He proved 
 to be a deserter from the 72nd regiment ; but the wretch 
 was so famished with hunger, and so bruised in getting 
 down the rock, that his life was despaired of The
 
 192 CALLOUS TO DANGER [Chap. V 
 
 28th, the enemy capped two merlons of Fort Barbara. 
 Their parties were very diligent in making gabions 
 and fascines ; the former, we imagined, were removed, 
 as they were finished, to the lines and advanced works, 
 as we had observed several behind the fourth and fifth 
 branches of the approach. This circumstance, with 
 their unusual activity in completing others, confirmed 
 our late intelligence, that they intended additional 
 batteries near the St. Carlos's. 
 
 The firing from the garrison now exceeded 700 
 rounds in the 24 hours ; and the enemy frequently 
 returned 800, and sometimes more. Our casualties 
 consequently began again to be pretty frequent 
 amongst our parties, which, in a great measure, was 
 owing to the want of prudence in the men, who were 
 become so habituated to the enemy's fire as scarcely 
 to regard their shot ; and in fact, if a shell were at 
 their feet, it was almost necessary for the officers to 
 caution them to avoid its effects. It was really won- 
 derful to behold with what undaunted coolness they 
 persisted in their several occupations, though exposed 
 to the enemy's whole artillery : indeed, the generality 
 appeared totally callous to every sense of danger. 
 
 Both sides continued indefatigable in their opera- 
 tions. The enemy finished two or three merlons in 
 Fort Barbara, erected traverses near the tower, in the 
 rear of the new communication, and were continually 
 bringing large quantities of fascines, etc., to the lines. 
 On the other hand, our engineers caissoned the terrace 
 batteries, replaced the sand-bags before the merlons 
 of the Queen's battery, and had parties daily employed 
 in repairs. The 30th, a soldier of the 72nd lost his 
 legs by a shot from Fort Barbara, from which they 
 continued occasionally to fire. He bore amputation 
 with prodigious firmness, but died soon after, through 
 the loss of blood, previous to his being brought to
 
 i78i] BRISK FIRING 193 
 
 the hospital. This fact being represented to the 
 governor, the sergeants of the different regiments were 
 ordered to attend the hospital, to be taught by the 
 surgeons how to apply the tourniquets ; which was 
 afterwards productive of very beneficial consequences. 
 Tourniquets were also distributed to the different 
 guards, to be at hand in case of necessit}^ 
 
 The enemy for several days had made very little 
 addition to the new communication, and the third 
 return appeared still unfinished. A party of the enemy 
 was, however, discovered from Willis's, on the evening 
 of the I St of October, working to the west of the St. 
 Carlos's battery ; and they persisting in their labour, 
 our fire was increased from the batteries below, which 
 brought on a warm return. At daybreak we observed, 
 at the extremity of the new approach, a large epaul- 
 ment, of 45 gabions long, two in height, and 4 or 
 5 in breadth. On the top were several layers of 
 sand-bags, and sand was banked up to protect it 
 in front. It was situated within the western place 
 darmes of the St. Carlos's battery, towards the 
 beach, in a direction forming a very obtuse angle with 
 the front of the above battery. Our engineers im- 
 mediately agreed that this epaulment was intended 
 for mortars ; which induced the governor, in the 
 course of the 2nd, to order two embrasures (masked 
 at the Old Mole head, to cover the mortars which we 
 usually fired into their camp) to be opened, and two 
 howitzers to be kept in action from thence. At night, 
 our firing at intervals was so astonishingly brisk, that 
 the whole north front, from the rock gun to the Mole 
 head, was obscured in smoke. This fire was con- 
 tinued, with little intermission, till daybreak; and 
 though the enemy did not return it warmly, they 
 made up for their silence the succeeding day. During 
 the twenty-four hours the}'' discharged 1,263 rounds, 
 
 13
 
 194 MUTINY ON THE SPEEDWELL [Chap. V 
 
 and the preceding day 1,948 ; which to us was a proof 
 that they were considerably galled by our fire. 
 
 We had observed, for some weeks, a party of the 
 enemy erecting a building upon an eminence near 
 the stone quarry, under the Queen of Spain's Chair, 
 which at length turned out to be a signal tower ; but 
 no use was made of it till the beginning of this month, 
 when we discovered that it was intended to give in- 
 formation to their batteries in the lines when our 
 working-parties were going up the hill. On their 
 marching up, the morning of the 3rd, a signal was 
 made from the tower, and their batteries immediately 
 increased their fire on the heights : on their return in 
 the evening, the signal was repeated. This practice 
 they continued for some time. At night, the body of 
 a soldier of the 12th regiment, who attempted to swim 
 to the enemy from Water Port, was discovered float- 
 ing near the Repulse prame. The sailors on the 
 watch, imagining some large fish had got foul of their 
 cable, darted a harpoon into the body, but soon found 
 out their mistake. The succeeding morning, we ob- 
 served that the enemy had thrown up a cover from 
 the eastern shoulder of the new battery to the western 
 magazine of the St. Carlos's : they also raised a 
 shoulder on the western extremity, and erected five 
 traverses in the rear. 
 
 Our firing, on the 4th, was ordered to be dimin- 
 ished ; only Montague's and the hill batteries were 
 kept going : few shot were now used, as the enemy 
 seemed to pay little attention to them ; and we had 
 ocular proofs daily of the annoyance from the small 
 shells, which immediately made them desist, and get 
 under cover. The same day a mutiny was discovered 
 on board his Majesty's cutter, the Speedwell^ Lieutenant 
 Gibson ; and four of the ringleaders were seized and 
 confined. The plan of this conspiracy was to murder
 
 i78i] THE DEFENCE STRENGTHENED 195 
 
 the officers of the watch, cut the cable, and run away 
 with the vessel to Algeziras, where they computed 
 she would sell for a handsome sum, which was to be 
 equally divided amongst the people interested, who 
 were then to depart for England. Near half the crew 
 were concerned ; and the same evening, if the wind 
 continued favourable, the scheme was to have been 
 put in execution. Happily one of the party (I believe 
 a Spanish deserter) confessed in time to render the 
 whole abortive. It was somewhat singular that Mr. 
 Gibson had been so unfortunate, when in England, as 
 to have the cutter he then commanded run away with 
 by the crew into a French port, whilst he and his 
 officers were ashore. 
 
 The enemy, on the night of the 4th, threw up a 
 line of casks and sand, extending upwards of 60 feet 
 in a parallel line to the front of St. Carlos's. Some 
 additions were also made to the new battery. The 
 raising of the former work induced many to believe 
 that they were come at last to the determination of 
 besieging the garrison in form ; and that this, with 
 other works to be erected, would be the first parallel 
 of attack. It was a lucky circumstance, in some re- 
 spects, to have an enemy so tardy in their operations. 
 Our troops were now accustomed, by six months' 
 bombardment, to the discharge and effect of heavy 
 artillery, their firing had pointed out our weak places, 
 which the governor and engineers had been inde- 
 fatigable in strengthening, so that the garrison was 
 now really in a better state of defence than at the 
 commencement of the bombardment. In the nights 
 of the 5th and 6th, the parallel, as we called the line 
 to the east, was extended about 100 feet, and the new 
 mortar battery raised with fascines. Small traverses 
 were also made in the rear of the new approach from 
 the fourth branch.
 
 196 ECONOMIZING THE FIRING [Chap. V 
 
 The gun and mortar boats had now been absent 
 some time ; probably owing to the repairs which the 
 mortar boats necessarily demanded. On the evening 
 of the 7th they, however, renewed their visit, much 
 earlier than was customary, and stayed upwards of two 
 hours. Their shot seemed all directed at our prames, 
 whilst their shells, the fuses of which were remark- 
 ably dark, were thrown ashore. They fired about 
 300 shot and 23 shells, killed one of the 73rd, and 
 wounded two of the 12th. We returned 43 shot, 16 
 grape, and 279 shells. The 8th, two mortars were 
 mounted in the new mortar battery; and from the 
 pickets marked for the platforms, we concluded it 
 would mount eight mortars. In the afternoon a shell 
 fell into a house in town, in which Ensign Stephens, 
 of the 39th, was sitting : imagining himself not safe 
 where he was, he quitted the room to get to a more 
 secure place ; but just as he passed the door the shell 
 burst, and a splinter mortally wounded him in the 
 reins, and another took off his leg. He was conveyed 
 to the hospital, and had suffered amputation before 
 the surgeons discovered the mortal wound in his 
 body. He died about seven o'clock, much regretted 
 as a promising young officer. 
 
 The enemy's parties appearing numerous within 
 the new works, our firing from the garrison was in- 
 creased on the nth, and was as briskly returned. 
 The governor, however, ordered the artillery to be 
 less profuse in future, unless some casualty demanded 
 an additional fire ; for their loss, he was of opinion, 
 bore no proportion to our expenditure. Our small 
 shells were also decreasing very fast ; and the enemy 
 appeared too well covered with traverses in the new 
 works to be much annoyed by them. The succeeding 
 day our fire scarcely exceeded a hundred rounds ; 
 and the enemy's was equally diminished.
 
 i78i] A NEW SPANISH BATTERY 197 
 
 Their naval force before Gibraltar at this time was 
 rather insignificant, though perfectly sufficient for the 
 blockade. Most of their xebeques had left the station, 
 as we imagined, to block up Mahon ; and only one 
 line-of-battle ship, one frigate, one xebeque, and two 
 bomb-ketches, with the small craft and gun-boats, re- 
 mained in the bay. The 13th, the governor ordered 
 our lower batteries to be silent, in order to 
 prove whether the enemy could be diverted from 
 firing on the town, as their batteries, contrary to the 
 usual practice of besiegers, seemed to be guided in a 
 great measure by ours ; and the manoeuvre had the 
 desired effect. Their parties w^ere now emplo3^ed 
 chiefly in finishing the interior part of the new mortar 
 battery. 
 
 The garrison, on the 15th, fired only forty rounds; 
 and the enemy did not exceed double the number. 
 The night of the i8th, they were heard hard at work ; 
 but this circumstance produced no additional fire from 
 us, as our artillery had been limited to a certain 
 quantity since the governor ordered the firing to de- 
 crease. The subsequent morning, we observed they 
 had erected a battery, of six embrasures, joining the 
 second branch of the new communication, and bearins;- 
 on Water Port and the town, about 1,200 yards from the 
 Grand battery : onl}^ four merlons appeared finished ; 
 the other three were in a rude state, with a number 
 of fascines, pickets, and planks lying about the work, 
 and at the debouchure of the fourth branch. The 
 governor, in the morning of the 19th, ordered a warm 
 fire on the new battery, which the enemy instantly 
 returned. One of our carcasses set fire to the first 
 branch of the new approach, and it burnt for some 
 time. The following morning we found they had 
 removed the sand to extinguish the fire, and displaced 
 many of the fascines, which, with other materials, were
 
 198 HEAVY ARTILLERY FIRE [Chap. V 
 
 lying in a confused manner in the vicinity of the 
 breach. 
 
 The night of the 20th, we were visited by the 
 gun-boats ; but their stay was much shorter than 
 usual, owing to the springing up of a brisk easterly 
 wind : one of their shells slightly wounded Assistant- 
 engineer Evans. This attack, we imagined, was 
 intended to engage our attention from the land side, 
 where the eneny were heard busily at work ; it had 
 not, however, that effect, as our batteries directed an 
 additional fire, and continued it the whole night. At 
 daybreak we found they had repaired the breach 
 made by the fire, and strengthened the merlons of 
 their gun battery with gabions and sand heaped up 
 in front. 
 
 The situation of this battery aff'orded a more 
 serious appearance than any operations yet under- 
 taken by the enemy. Colonel Tovey, the command- 
 ant of artiller}^, therefore recommended to the governor 
 to open upon it, without loss of time, from such 
 heavy guns and howitzers as might be soon brought 
 to bear upon it ; assisted, at the same time, with 
 some 13-inch shells, and a few red-hot shot from 
 an i8-pounder or two. The following morning 
 the enemy had almost completed the battery ; the 
 governor was therefore induced to comply with 
 the representation of Colonel Tovey, and ordered the 
 upper batteries, etc., to be opened on the enemy's 
 works, and to continue to fire from his direction. 
 About four o'clock in the afternoon of the 22nd (a 
 captain and two subalterns, with the artillery picket, 
 manning the lower batteries) the firing commenced, 
 and was continued with unremitting spirit and 
 regularity the remainder of the evening and night. 
 The enemy, in return, discharged repeated volleys 
 from their lines ; but to little purpose. Our artillery
 
 i78i] SMALL EFFECT OF IT 199 
 
 soon drove them from the battery, which frequently 
 was set on fire by the carcasses, but extinguished. 
 On the morning of the 23rd we had the mortification 
 to find, that, notwithstanding the heavy fire kept up 
 on it in the night, five of the embrasures were masked 
 with sand-bags, to enable the whole better to resist 
 the effect of our shells. The work was nevertheless 
 considerably damaged, though not in a degree equal 
 to our expense in ammunition. The firing at noon 
 was therefore ordered to cease, as we had expended 
 1,596 shot, 530 shells (most of a heavy nature), 10 
 carcasses, and 2 light balls. It must appear almost 
 incredible, that a battery at such a distance should 
 be able to resist such heavy ordnance, without being 
 levelled to the ground ; but indeed few works were 
 ever erected so strong and compact. The St. Carlos's 
 battery was silent the whole time ; and from the lines 
 they returned 1,012 shot and 302 shells. Our loss 
 was not very great ; but on the enemy's side, many 
 were observed to fall, and several to be carried into 
 the lines ; their gallantry, we may therefore imagine, 
 cost them dear. 
 
 The succeeding night they repaired the damage 
 done by our fire, and erected two traverses in the 
 rear of the gun battery ; it is probable they were 
 working also on the platforms ; and during the two 
 following nights they strengthened it with other 
 additions. The 25th the enemy's fire was rather 
 singular. In the afternoon, about nine, their batteries, 
 for near an hour and a half, discharged repeated 
 salvos from both cannon and mortars ; not directing 
 their fire to any particular object, but scattering their 
 shot in every direction towards the garrison, and 
 bursting the shells principally in the air. In the 
 afternoon, about three, this mode of firing was 
 repeated, and continued nearly the same time. The
 
 200 THE MORTAR BOATS RETURN [Chap. V 
 
 26th, Lieutenant Vicars, of the 56th, was slightly 
 wounded in the lines. 
 
 The night of the 29th, a brisk cannonade was 
 heard towards the west ; and soon after, by the moon, 
 we discovered a cutter engaging a frigate, a xebeque, 
 and several gun-boats. The cutter answered a signal 
 made by the Brilliant at the commencement of the 
 action, by which we knew her to be a friend. After 
 the engagement had continued very warm for a 
 considerable time, the firing ceased, and she was 
 obliged to submit to so superior a force. The 
 succeeding night, the Unicorn cutter arrived, and 
 four boats from Faro ; the former informed us, that 
 she parted company with several cutters bound for 
 Gibraltar. The fruit, etc., brought in the Portuguese 
 boats, was immediately purchased by the governor, 
 for the use of the sick in the hospitals ; and some of 
 the crew were confined, being suspected to come as 
 spies. The 31st, the enemy's engineers were observed 
 placing pickets to the westward of the 6-gun battery ; 
 apparently with a view of extending that work. Since 
 our last attack upon it, the firing on both sides was 
 much diminished. In the course of the month, three 
 men deserted from the garrison. 
 
 The night of the 2nd of November, the signal was 
 made for the approach of the enemy's gun and mortar 
 boats, which for some time had not paid us the 
 regular visits they formerly did ; owing, as I have 
 remarked before, to the repairs which the boats must 
 necessarily demand ; but the Vanguard and Repulse 
 prames firing several shot, they retired. The 3rd, 
 the Fortune prame, mounting five 26-pounders, was 
 towed out, and moored to the southward of the 
 Vanguard. The next day, about seven in the evening, 
 13 gun and 6 mortar boats fired briskly upon the 
 garrison, seconded by the lines ; they stayed near an
 
 i78i] ARRIVAL OF THE PHCENIX 201 
 
 hour and a half, and threw a vast number of shells ; 
 but few were directed towards our camp. Lieutenant 
 John Frazer, of the 73rd, had his leg shot off on 
 Montague's bastion; and Lieutenant Edgar, of the 
 56th, was wounded with splinters of stones. Two 
 of the 58th and 73rd were likewise wounded. The 
 enemy continued, on the 6th and 7th, to make some 
 few alterations, and collect fascines, gabions, and 
 other materials at their lines, and various parts of 
 the approaches. The parallel they also strengthened ; 
 but the 6-gun battery still remained masked with 
 sand-bags. 
 
 As it appeared of greater consequence, at this 
 period, to annoy the enemy from the Queen's battery 
 at the Old Mole head, which formed an excellent 
 cross-fire with the other batteries, than to fire into 
 their camp, the mortars used for the latter purpose 
 were removed, and the masked embrasures at the 
 extremity, with two others adjoining, were ordered 
 to be opened, and so altered as to admit of four 
 howitzers bearing on the new battery. During the 
 night of the nth, the enemy erected an additional 
 battery of six embrasures, westward of the other, 
 where the pickets were observed at the close of last 
 month. This work was retired a few yards, but 
 joined the extremity of the shoulder of the old battery, 
 and extended almost in the same direction towards 
 the beach. It appeared very strong, and seemed to 
 be intended against the Old Mole head and Water 
 Port. 
 
 During the night of the 12th, many signals were 
 made in the Gut and along the coast. In the morning 
 we observed a cutter standing for the bay : a xebeque 
 and three gun-boats attempted to intercept her, but 
 she got in without firing a gun. She was called the 
 Phoenixy and was laden, on government account, with
 
 202 A CUTTER LOST [Chap. V 
 
 ordnance stores. Colonel Ross, who had left the 
 garrison some months before, was a passenger, and 
 returned to take the command of his regiment, the 
 72nd, or Royal Manchester Volunteers. The lieu- 
 tenant who commanded the cutter, informed us that 
 he parted company with two others, destined for the 
 garrison, on the nth; at which time one of them 
 was engaged with two of the enemy's cruisers. In 
 the afternoon some signals were made at Algeziras ; 
 and a cutter was observed standing in for the bay, 
 chased by a frigate ; whence we consequently con- 
 cluded it must be one of the two mentioned by the 
 Phosnix. At this time several gun-boats were cruising 
 off Cabrita Point and at the entrance of the bay, 
 waiting to intercept her. In the Straits the wind was 
 W., but N.W. in the bay, and not very strong. 
 About six in the evening she came up with the 
 gun-boats and an armed xebeque ; a smart engage- 
 ment immediately commenced. Whilst she was re- 
 tarded by these, a second division of gun-boats from 
 Algeziras cut her off from the garrison ; and the 
 frigate coming up, after a most vigorous and resolute 
 resistance, she struck. When she first appeared, six 
 barges were ordered from our frigates to assist her, 
 and a signal was hoisted on board the Brilliant, which 
 she answered. The boats rowed out a considerable 
 way, and, the evening being dark, found themselves 
 amongst the enemy's gun-boats, from whom, with 
 some difficulty, they extricated themselves. The sub- 
 sequent morning we had the mortification to see the 
 cutter towed into Algeziras by five gun-boats, with 
 colours flying, and other marks of exultation and 
 triumph. 
 
 The enemy about this time adopted the mode of 
 cutting the fuses of their shells, so that most of them 
 which were fired for a long range burst in the air.
 
 i/Si] UNCOMMON LONG RANGES 203 
 
 They continued their practice of making signals at 
 the tower above the Quarry, whenever our parties 
 were assembled, or appeared at work : and the shot 
 were in general better directed than before ; but their 
 effects against the works were considerably weakened 
 by pieces of junk hung over the merlons of the 
 batteries. Our workmen were chiefly employed at 
 Willis's, in repairing the Tower battery, etc., and at 
 the Old Mole. Other detachments were also engaged 
 in various duties on the north front. The night of 
 the 15th, the enemy lengthened the parallel consider- 
 ably, and, the succeeding night, made further additions. 
 In the forenoon of the i6th, a long-ranged shell, from 
 the St. Carlos's battery, burst in the air over Hardy 
 Town, and a splinter of it flew into the sea, beyond 
 Buena Vista, a distance of more than three miles. 
 Another shell fell, in the course of the morning, at 
 the foot of a wine-house, south of the barracks ; and 
 several burst high in the air over South shed. We 
 attributed these uncommon long ranges to the force 
 of the wind, which, blowing in the same direction in 
 which the shells were thrown, undoubtedly increased 
 their velocity. Mr. Tinling, assistant-engineer, was 
 wounded the same day at Willis's. A boat arrived 
 on the 1 8th from Faro: the crew were separately ex- 
 amined, before they were permitted the liberty of the 
 garrison. The patron of this boat informed us, that 
 seven cutters, destined for Gibraltar, had been taken 
 by the Spaniards. 
 
 Two deserters came in, about seven in the evening 
 of the 20th ; one a corporal, the other a private in the 
 Walon guards. The former appeared to be very in- 
 telligent, and informed us of many circumstances with 
 which we were not before acquainted. The new 
 mortar battery, he said, was called St. Paschal's ; and 
 corroborated our intelligence, that it mounted two
 
 204 ENCOURAGING NEWS [Chap. V 
 
 mortars and six elevated guns. The two 6-gun 
 batteries were named St. Martin's. He further ac- 
 quainted us, that the camp was principally composed 
 of militia regiments : that the men were much dis- 
 satisfied with their situation, and greatly harassed in 
 raising the additional batteries : that they had suffered 
 lately very severe losses from our fire ; particularly 
 instancing the 22nd and 23rd of the preceding month, 
 when 7 officers and 80 men were killed and wounded. 
 One of the latter was an engineer of rank, who died 
 three days afterwards. We had remarked, in the 
 course of the above firing, an officer to be particularly 
 active, which we now found to be this engineer : he 
 braved, for a considerable time, the dangers of the 
 day, but at length fell, and was carried off. This 
 deserter gave the governor further information, re- 
 specting the strength and arrangement of their guards ; 
 and the next morning was conducted to Willis's, where 
 he described to him various parts of the enemy's 
 works and camp. It had always been customary for 
 the governor to detain the deserters at the convent a 
 few days, till he was sufficiently informed of every 
 particular ; but these he immured so close, that, ex- 
 cepting some general information, the garrison had 
 an opportunity of learning but few circumstances, till 
 an event took place, which will presently be related. 
 
 The firing from both sides varied as objects 
 offered. Many of the enemy's shells ranged as far as 
 the South barracks ; and others, agreeably to their 
 newly adopted plan, burst in the air. The morning 
 of the 22nd, a soldier of the 58th regiment, who had 
 been missing several days, was seen to go into Fort 
 Barbara, from behind the Rock. The following day 
 the enemy mounted guns in the St. Martin's battery ; 
 and a party was employed in completing the six 
 eastern embrasures, which were now unmasked. We
 
 i78i] A COUNTER STROKE 205 
 
 kept upon them our usual fire of small shells from 
 Willis's and the upper batteries ; but the lower 
 ordnance were silent. In the course of the day the 
 governor reconnoitred the enemy's works ; and it was 
 reported that all the batteries were to be again opened 
 upon them, as soon as the four embrasures for the 
 howitzers, at the Old Mole head, were completed. 
 
 The night of the 23rd, the besiegers added to the 
 parallel a return of cask-work to the west : it appeared 
 very slight and trifling. The two succeeding days, 
 their parties were very active in finishing the batteries, 
 which, on the 26th, exhibited a perfect and formidable 
 appearance. This was the crisis which the governor 
 considered as proper to frustrate all their immediate 
 views, by destro3dng these stupendous works, the 
 construction of which had cost them such immense 
 labour and expense. By the deserters who came in 
 on the 20th instant, he was acquainted with the in- 
 activity which prevailed throughout the enemy's 
 camp, and with the strength of their advanced guards. 
 Lulled into security by their superiority of force, they 
 never suspected the garrison capable of attempting 
 so bold and hazardous a coiip-de-main. The governor, 
 however, secretly conceived this important design, 
 and never imparted his intention till the evening in 
 which it was put in execution. 
 
 The gates were no sooner shut, after first gun- 
 firing, on the evening of the 26th, than he ordered 
 a considerable detachment to assemble on the Red 
 Sands at midnight, with devils, fire-faggots, and work- 
 ing implements, to make a sortie on the enemy's 
 batteries. The general, field, and other officers to be 
 employed on this service, were convened in the 
 interim, and the disposition of attack communicated ; 
 but, lest some matters might have escaped him in the 
 multiplicity of arrangements, the governor desired
 
 206 "COUNTERSIGN: 'STEADY'" [Chap. V 
 
 every person to propose, without restraint, whatever 
 would to his or their opinion, further promote the 
 success of the enterprise. The following are the 
 heads of the orders issued on this occasion. 
 
 ^* Evening Garrison Orders. 
 
 " Gibraltar, November 26, 1781. 
 "Countersign, Steady. 
 
 " All the grenadiers and light infantry of the 
 garrison, and all the men of the 12th and Hardenberg's 
 regiments, officers, and non-commissioned officers 
 now on duty, to be immediately relieved, and join 
 their regiments : to form a detachment, consisting of 
 the 1 2th and Hardenberg's regiments complete, the 
 grenadiers and light-infantry of all the other regiments 
 (which are to be completed to their full establishment 
 from the battalion companies) ; i captain, 3 lieutenants, 
 10 non-commissioned officers, and 100 artillery, and 
 3 engineers, 7 officers, and 12 non-commissioned 
 officers, overseers, with 160 workmen from the line, 
 and 40 workmen from the artificer company. Each 
 man to have ^i^ rounds of ammunition, with a good 
 flint in his piece, and another in his pocket. No 
 drums to go out, excepting two with each of the 
 regiments. No volunteers will be allowed. The 
 whole to be commanded by Brigadier-General Ross ; 
 and to assemble on the Red Sands at 12 o'clock this 
 night, to make a sortie upon the enemy's batteries. 
 The 39th and 58th regiments to parade at the same 
 hour on the Grand Parade, under the command of 
 Brigadier-General Picton, to sustain the sortie if 
 necessary." 
 
 These were the principal orders for forming the 
 detachment. At midnight the whole were assembled, 
 and being joined by 100 sailors, commanded by 
 Lieutenants Muckle and Campbell, R.N., the detach-
 
 i78i] 
 
 PLANS AND FORCES 
 
 207 
 
 ment was divided into three columns, agreeably to the 
 following disposition : 
 
 Ltft Column. 
 Lieut.-Col. Trigge. 
 
 7and grenadiers 4 5 
 
 72nd It. infantry 4 5 
 Sailors, with an \ 
 engineer .../ 
 
 Artillery ... i 4 
 I2th regiment 26 28 
 
 58th It. infantry 3 3 
 
 d. r.&f. 
 
 o lOI 
 
 35 
 
 430 
 
 57 
 
 41 48 2 824 
 
 Centre Column. 
 
 Lieut. -Col. Dachenhausen 
 and Major Maxwell. 
 
 The Reserve. 
 
 39th grenadiers 3 
 39th It. infantry 3 
 73rd grenadiers 4 
 73rd It. infantry 4 
 Engineer with\, 
 
 workmen . . / 
 Artillery . . 2 
 
 56th grenadiers 3 
 58th grenadiers 3 
 
 s. r&f 
 
 3 57' 
 
 3 57 
 5 101 
 5 loi 
 
 14 ISO 
 
 4 40 
 3 57 
 3 57 
 
 28 40 620 
 
 Right Column. 
 Lieut.-Col. Hugo. 
 
 o. s d. r.&f 
 Reden's grena-"l 
 
 diers . ..| 3 7 o 7' 
 La Motte's gre- 1 
 
 nadiers . . ■ ■ I ^ 
 Engineer withY g 
 
 workmen ..) ^ ° ^° 
 
 Artillery . . . . 120 25 
 
 Hardenberg's \ g , 
 
 regiment . . / ^^ ^ 
 
 56th It. infantry 3 3 o 57 
 
 30 59 2 570 
 
 In these columns, Brigadier Ross, and several 
 officers who accompanied him as aides-de-camp, are 
 not included, which will explain the difference between 
 them and the annexed summary of the whole force 
 of the garrison at this time. 
 
 
 .t c 
 
 
 Total out with the sortie 133^6 6° M o 3°° 2147 4 i9i4}^^f^^;;,X°frigatS^'°" 
 Sick in hospital .. ..0001 110000028 6 557 
 Remaining in garrison 5 5 5 45 71 31 3 7 8 9 14 266 181 2,531 
 
 Total strength of the") 
 garrison before the >6 8 8 72 132 46 3 10 8 9 16 441 igx s,ooa Total strength, 5,952. 
 sortie ) 
 
 The detachment being formed in three lines, the 
 right column in the rear, and the left in the front, 
 tools for demolishing the works were delivered to the 
 workmen, and the following directions for their des- 
 tination communicated to the principal officers. 
 
 " The right column to lead and march through 
 Forbes's barrier, for the extremity of the parallel ; 
 keeping the eastern fences of the gardens close on 
 their left. The centre immediately to follow, marching 
 through Bay-side barrier, and directing their route
 
 2o8 THE ATTACK [Chap. V 
 
 through the gardens for the mortar batteries. The 
 left column to bring up the rear, marching along the 
 strand for the gun batteries. No person to advance 
 before the front, unless ordered by the officer com- 
 manding the column : and the most profound silence 
 to be observed, as the success of the enterprise may 
 depend thereon. The 12th and Hardenberg's regi- 
 ments to form in front of the works, as sustaining 
 corps ; and are to detach to the right and left, as 
 occasion may require. The reserve to take post in 
 the farthest gardens. When the works are carried, 
 the attacking troops are to take up their ground in the 
 following manner. The grenadiers of Reden's and 
 La Motte's behind the parallel ; the 39th and 73rd 
 flank companies along the front of the fourth branch ; 
 and the 72nd grenadiers and light infantry with their 
 right to the fourth branch, and left to the beach." 
 
 By the time the destination of the columns was 
 made known to the different officers, and other 
 arrangements had taken place, the morning of the 27th 
 was far advanced ; and as the moon had then nearly 
 finished her nightly course, the detachment, about a 
 quarter before 3 o'clock, began its march, by files 
 from the right of the rear line for the attack. Although 
 nothing could exceed the silence and attention of the 
 troops, the enemy's advanced sentries discovered the 
 right column before they passed Forbes's barrier, and 
 after challenging, fired upon them. Lieutenant 
 Colonel Hugo, finding they were alarmed, immedi- 
 ately formed the attacking corps, and pushed on at a 
 brisk pace for the extremity of the parallel ; there 
 finding no opposition, he took possession, and the 
 pioneers began to dismantle the works. Part ot 
 Hardenberg's regiment, which was attached to this 
 column, mistook the route of the grenadiers, owing to 
 the darkness of the morning ; and in pursuing their
 
 i78i] CAPTURE OF ST. CARLOS'S 209 
 
 own, found themselves, before they discovered their 
 error, in front of the St. Carlos's battery. In this 
 dilemma, no other alternative offered but pressing 
 forwards, which they gallantly did, after receiving the 
 enemy's fire. Upon mounting the parapet, the enemy 
 precipitately retreated, and with great difficulty they 
 descended the stupendous work, forming with their 
 left to the tower. They were thus situated, when 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Dachenhausen, at the head of the 
 39th flank companies, entered the St. Carlos's battery, 
 and naturally mistaking them for his opponents, fired, 
 and wounded several. Further mischief was, however, 
 prevented by the countersign ; and the Hanoverians 
 joined the remainder of their corps, which now formed 
 en potence, in front of the parallel. The 73rd flank 
 companies were equally successful in their attacks ; 
 and Lieutenant-Colonel Trigge, with the grenadiers, 
 and light company of the 72nd regiment, carried the 
 gun batteries with great gallantry. The ardour of the 
 assailants was irresistible. The enemy on every side 
 gave way, abandoning in an instant, and with the ut- 
 most precipitation, those works which had cost them so 
 much expense, and employed so many months to perfect. 
 When our troops had taken possession, the attack- 
 ing corps formed, agreeably to their orders, to repel 
 any attempt which the enemy might make to prevent 
 the destruction of the works, whilst the 12th regiment 
 took post in front of the St. Carlos's battery, to 
 sustain the western attack : and the reserve, under 
 Major Maxwell, drew up in the farther gardens. The 
 exertions of the workmen and artillery were wonder- 
 ful. The batteries were soon in a state for the 
 fire-faggots to operate ; and the flames spread with 
 astonishing rapidity into every part. The column 
 of fire and smoke which rolled from the works, 
 beautifully illuminated the troops and neighbouring 
 
 14
 
 210 A COMPLETE SUCCESS [Chap. V 
 
 objects, forming altogether a coiip-dml not possible 
 to be described. 
 
 In an hour the object of the sortie was fully 
 effected ; and trains being laid to the magazines, 
 Brigadier Ross ordered the advanced corps to with- 
 draw, and the sustaining regiments to cover their 
 retreat : but, by some oversight, the barrier at Forbes's 
 was locked, after the flank companies had returned ; 
 which might have proved of serious consequences to 
 Hardenberg's regiment, as they were, from that cir- 
 cumstance, under the necessity of following the 12th 
 regiment through Bayside barrier.* 
 
 Several small quantities of powder took fire whilst 
 the detachment was on its retreat ; and just as the 
 rear had got within the garrison, the principal 
 magazine blew up with a tremendous explosion ; 
 throwing up vast pieces of timber, which, falling into 
 the flames, added to the general conflagration. Al- 
 though the enemy must have been early alarmed, not 
 the smallest effort was made to save or avenge their 
 works. The fugitives seemed to communicate a panic 
 to the whole ; and, instead of annoying our troops 
 from the flanking forts, their artillery directed a ridicu- 
 lous fire towards the town and our upper batteries, 
 whence we continued a warm and well-served dis- 
 charge of, round shot on their forts and barrier. Only 
 2 officers and 16 privates were taken prisoners ; and 
 little opposition being made, very few were killed in 
 the works. The guard, from the best information, 
 consisted of i captain, 3 subalterns, and 74 privates, 
 including the artillery. 
 
 * It was not a little singular, that these two regiments, which at the 
 memorable battle of Minden had fought by each other's side, and, 
 according to the natural course of events, could never expect to meet 
 again, should be employed a second time on the same occasion, and be 
 the only entire regiments out.
 
 i78i] THE GOVERNOR'S THANKS 21 r 
 
 Thus was this important attack executed beyond 
 the most sanguine expectations of every one. The 
 event challenges greater admiration, when we reflect 
 that the batteries were distant near three-quarters of 
 a mile from the garrison, and only within a few 
 hundred yards of a besieging enemy's lines, mounting 
 135 pieces of heavy artillery. 
 
 The detachment had 4 privates killed ; Lieutenant 
 Tweedie, of the 12th regiment, with 24 non-commis- 
 sioned officers and privates, wounded ; and i missing, 
 supposed to be left wounded on the batteries. Of 
 this number, Hardenberg's regiment had 2 killed and 
 12 wounded. The ordnance spiked in the enemy's 
 works amounted to ten 13-inch mortars and eighteen 
 26-pounders. 
 
 General Eliott's anxiety on the occasion would not 
 permit, him to wait the issue within the garrison ; but, 
 acquainting the lieutenant-governor with his intention, 
 he accompanied the sortie, and expressed the highest 
 approbation of their behaviour by the following 
 public orders: that "the bravery and conduct of the 
 whole detachment, officers, sailors, and soldiers, on 
 the glorious occasion, surpassed his utmost ac- 
 knowledgments." 
 
 Although the attack was not totally exempted from 
 those little derangements which naturally attend night 
 expeditions of this nature, yet, to the honour of the 
 whole, neither musket, working-tool, nor other im- 
 plement, was left behind : a volunteer indeed of the 
 73rd regiment lost his kilt in the attack, which the 
 governor being acquainted with, promised him a 
 substitute in return ; and not long afterwards pre- 
 sented him with a commission in an established corps. 
 When our troops entered the batteries, the written 
 report of the commanding officer was found in one 
 of the splinter-proofs, which, when the guard was
 
 212 THE ENEMY DEMORALIZED [Chap. V 
 
 relieved, was intended to have been sent to the 
 Spanish general. The report expressed that "nothing 
 extraordinary had happened," which, it must be ac- 
 knowledged, the captain had been a little premature 
 in writing. 
 
 Before the detachment returned from the neutral 
 ground, Lieutenant-Colonel Tovey, of the artillery, 
 died. He was succeeded by Major Lewis in the 
 command of that department. 
 
 The night of the 27th, the enemy were alarmed 
 with an explosion in the ruins of our batteries ; and 
 immediately directed a smart discharge of musketry, 
 with round and grape-shot, toward the spot. We 
 imagined they suspected that we had made a second 
 sally, to finish the destruction of what remained ; and 
 their error probably would have continued some time, 
 had they not been undeceived by our throwing a shell 
 amongst the ruins ; after which they instantly ceased. 
 By the number of lights seen in their camp, we had 
 reason to conclude that their army assembled on the 
 alarm. The enemy had not yet thought proper to 
 take any measures toward extinguishing the flames, 
 but avenged themselves by a brisk cannonade upon the 
 town. In their camp several men were executed, who 
 probably might be some of the unfortunate actors in 
 the late disgrace. The 30th, their batteries continued 
 burning in five different places : when they ceased 
 to smoke, the works seemed completely destroyed; 
 nothing but heaps of sand remaining. Five dis- 
 mounted mortars could be seen in the St. Carlos's 
 battery from the summit of the Rock; one gun also 
 in St. Paschal's, and three in the St. Martin's. At 
 night we fired several rounds of grape at their horse- 
 patrols, which, since their late misfortune, appeared 
 more numerous than before.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 The Spaniards for several days ^appeared totally at 
 a loss how to act after their recent disgrace. Their 
 batteries continued in flames, nor were any attempts 
 made to extinguish the fire. In the beginning of 
 December, however, they seemed as if suddenly 
 roused from their reverie ; upwards .of i ,000 men 
 were at work making fascines, etc., for which purpose 
 large quantities of brushwood were collected from 
 the country. From these operations we concluded 
 that they were resolved to restore their works, when 
 sufficient materials were prepared. 
 
 The I St of December, a flag of truce brought letters 
 from the English prisoners lately captured in the 
 cutters bound to the garrison. Not a syllable was 
 mentioned by the Spanish officer of the late trans- 
 action ; nor did he even inquire whether we had taken 
 any prisoners. As we had observed the enemy to 
 post strong guards in the stone guard-houses on the 
 neutral ground, particularly in the centre one, the 
 governor ordered the artillery to endeavour to dis- 
 lodge them. Answers were returned, on the 2nd, to 
 the letters brought the preceding day : letters also 
 were sent from the prisoners taken in the sortie to 
 their friends in camp. The Spanish officer, on receiv- 
 ing the letters, appeared much surprised, put them 
 in his pocket, but was silent ; and the boats parted. 
 One of the officers taken prisoner was the Baron Von 
 Helmstadt, an ensign in the Walon guards, with the 
 
 313
 
 214 TENDING THE WOUNDED [Chap. VI 
 
 rank of captain : the other was Don Vincente Freese, 
 a lieutenant of artillery. The baron was dangerously 
 wounded in the knee, and, not without many entreaties, 
 submitted to amputation. When the surgeons first 
 informed him that this operation was absolutely 
 unavoidable, he resolutely opposed it : amputation, 
 he said, very seldom succeeded in Spain ; besides, he 
 was then betrothed in marriage to a lady, and would 
 rather risk his life than present himself before her 
 with only one leg. The governor, being told this 
 determination, immediately visited the baron, and used 
 every argument to persuade him to comply. His 
 mistress, the general said, must undoubtedly esteem 
 him the more for the honourable wound which he had 
 received in the service of his country; and, as to the 
 operation being fatal, he might almost assure himself 
 of a certain recovery, since, in the many similar cases 
 which had occurred in the garrison during the siege, 
 our surgeons had been generally successful ; and 
 to convince him by ocular proof, ordered several 
 mutilated convalescents into the room. This generous 
 attention of the governor had a powerful effect on 
 the baron, who, no longer able to resist his impor- 
 tunities, at length consented to the operation. The 
 enemy, the night of the 3rd, repaired the damage done 
 to the third branch of approach ; and did some trifling 
 work at the fourth branch. The next day a flag of 
 truce from the enemy brought letters of thanks from 
 the Spanish general, Don Martin Alvarez, and the 
 Walon guards, to the governor, for the humanity 
 shown to the prisoners taken in the batteries. In the 
 boat came some poultry for the wounded baron ; also 
 clothes and money for the officers. Their guards in 
 the lines now appeared to be about 800 infantry, with 
 100 artillery ; besides 60 or 70 cavalry for patrols. 
 The governor, on the 5 th, ordered that " no officer of
 
 i78i] HEAVY HOSPITAL LISTS 215 
 
 the line, commanding at a post, should interfere in 
 the mode of loading, pointing, or firing the cannon. 
 If at any time he judged it necessary to fire upon the 
 enemy, he was to point out the object to the artillery, 
 and submit it to their opinion, whether it was prac- 
 ticable or not." The morning of the 7th, a cutter 
 appeared from the west, and, after an obstinate action 
 with the enemy's gun-boats, was obliged to strike. In 
 this engagement we observed that the enemy had 
 made some alterations in the construction of their 
 boats, which before would not allow the guns to be 
 depressed. 
 
 Notwithstanding our fire, the enemy seemed deter- 
 mined to establish themselves at the centre stone 
 guard-house, round which, on the night of the 7th, 
 they made a trench, and also lined with fascines part 
 of the fourth branch of approach. Our firing continued 
 to vary as their operations were more or less noticed ; 
 in the day we directed it principally to parties ob- 
 served near the tower, and at night to the centre 
 guard-house ; against which they had heaped up sand, 
 and continued every evening to make other additions. 
 The garrison at this period was so extremely sickly, 
 that a hundred men were curtailed from the working 
 parties ; and the officers' servants, with others who 
 usually were exempted from these duties, were ordered 
 to assist, to lessen the fatigue of their comrades. 
 Near 700 were at this time on our hospital lists. 
 
 The Unicorn cutter sailed, in the night of the 12th, 
 with dispatches for England ; and the following 
 evening, the Phoenix^ with duplicates. 
 
 The operations of the enemy seemed now entirely 
 defensive. The western stone guard-house on the 
 beach was unroofed in the same manner as the centre 
 guard-house, and strengthened with sand ; with a 
 trench dug round at some distance in the front. We
 
 2i6 A FALSE ALARM [Chap. VI 
 
 imagined that strong guards were stationed every 
 night at these posts, to protect their remaining works. 
 The evening of the i6th, about lo o'clock, one of the 
 enemy's advanced sentries, near Bayside, fired his 
 musket ; which was taken up by others in the gardens, 
 and the alarm spread to the lines, and thence to the 
 camp. Lights were immediately observed moving 
 about, and the drums beat to arms. After some hours' 
 confusion they were calm and quiet. Their works, 
 particularly the St. Paschal's battery, continued to 
 smoke in several places, on the i8th. No ordnance 
 could now be seen in any of the batteries : their fire 
 was rather smart, but no particular object seemed to 
 engage their notice. 
 
 Brigadiers Ross and Green were appointed, in the 
 orders of the 20th, to be major-generals in the army ; 
 and the next evening General Ross sailed in a boat 
 for Faro, on his return to England. General Green 
 some time afterwards received a letter of service, and 
 Lieutenant Holloway, his brigade-major, was appointed 
 his aide-de-camp. The same day a flag of truce 
 brought over several letters, with money and clothes 
 for the prisoners. At night, the enemy extended the 
 fourth branch in the same direction, toward the western 
 stone guard-house ; and several pickets were driven, 
 and fascines laid in the ruins of the batteries, in order 
 to retain the sand, and prevent it being washed down 
 by the rains. The night of the 23rd they raised an 
 epaulment on the top of the centre guard-house, and 
 finished the first line of the new approach from the 
 fourth branch. 
 
 Two soldiers of Hardenberg's and the 72nd 
 regiment, on the 25th, attempted to desert by a rope 
 from Mount Misery : the former got down, though the 
 rope broke ; which accident was the cause of the latter 
 being re-taken. A few days after, a sergeant of the
 
 1781] DEATH OF THE BARON 217 
 
 artificers was ordered to reconnoitre the place where 
 this deserter descended ; and he got down far enough 
 to discover the unfortunate man dashed to pieces at 
 the foot of the precipice. The night of the 27th the 
 enemy made several additions to the centre guard- 
 house. The Baron Von Helmstadt being dangerously 
 ill about this period (not in consequence of the ampu- 
 tation he had undergone, but from some inward 
 malady), flags of truce were daily passing and re- 
 passing to inform his friends of his dangerous situa- 
 tion. The 28th, the baron died ; and the following 
 day his body was carried to the New Mole, accom- 
 panied by the grenadiers of the 12th regiment, with 
 the usual honours of war, where two barges waited 
 to convey it to the enemy's camp. The governor, 
 and principal officers in the garrison, with Don 
 Vincente, attended the ceremony. The fowls and 
 other refreshments sent by his friends, with the money 
 not used by the baron in his sickness, were also re- 
 turned, to the most minute article. 
 
 The enemy, on the night of the 30th, added to the 
 trench in front of the centre guard-house, which, a 
 few evenings before, they had altered from its original 
 form. Our engineers the same night erected a blind 
 of canvas, etc., in front of Princess Anne's battery 
 (Willis's), which the engineers afterwards caissoned, 
 when their fire became less warm on this new object. 
 Another was afterwards placed before the Princess 
 Amelia's, for the same purpose. The materials with 
 which the works at the northward were now repaired, 
 were collected from the coal-ships that had been run 
 ashore in the New Mole after Admiral Darby's de- 
 parture. The sides of these vessels were cut up, 
 under the direction of the engineers, into large solid 
 pieces, of such form and dimension as the purpose 
 dictated to which they were to be applied. Of these
 
 2i8 COVER FOR THE GUNS [Chap. VI 
 
 materials the batteries at Willis's were at this time 
 formed ; the angles being connected and secured by 
 strong knees and bolts having transverse pieces within, 
 which were also kneed. When the caissons for the 
 merlons were thus framed, they were filled in the 
 front with layers of junk, and sand-bags behind. The 
 height of the merlons was between lo and 1 1 feet ; 
 and the upper parts were supported by strong beams 
 across the embrasures, forming Jwods (as the engineers 
 called them) over the muzzles of the cannon : these 
 hoods were 3 feet deep, and extended about 6 feet in 
 length over the embrasures ; by which improvements 
 the guns were preserved from being broken by the 
 shells in their descent, and the artillery-men on duty 
 were well covered. The solid construction of these 
 new works, and the adoption of a similar mode in 
 repairing the other defences of the garrison, will 
 account, in a great measure, for the general casualties 
 of the troops not being so numerous as might other- 
 wise be expected ; and, to evince the permanence of 
 them, no other proof, I imagine, need be adduced, 
 than that upward of 100 shot-holes have been plugged 
 up in front of one merlon, and yet the battery was 
 not materially damaged.* 
 
 Two ordnance-ships arrived in the course of 
 December, As we are now arrived at the close of 
 the year, it may not be impertinent to insert a return 
 
 * When the enemy's proceedings afterwards rendered some altera- 
 tions necessary in the works at WilHs's, the ship timber was found 
 very useful in further securing the upper batteries, and in protecting 
 our artillery. The height of the parapets permitted the engineers to 
 erect splinter-proofs between the guns, of curved pieces of timber cut 
 from the bottom of a ship, which were placed against the breasts of 
 the merlons, and made bomb-proof by layers of sand-bags, which also 
 formed a traverse across the battery. By these additions the com- 
 munications between the ordnance were covered, and the batteries 
 well traversed against the enemy's eastern enfilade-fire.
 
 
 V 
 
 M 
 
 e 
 
 3 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Cfi 
 
 Q 
 
 a^ 
 
 Killed and dead of wounds . 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 I 
 
 108 
 
 Disabled .... 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 I 
 
 36 
 
 Wounded .... 
 
 13 
 
 22 
 
 6 
 
 359 
 
 1782] AN ACT OF HEROISM 219 
 
 of casuals, from the 12th of April to the 31st ot 
 December, 1781, that the reader may have an idea of 
 our general loss in that period. 
 
 Total. 
 
 122 
 
 46 
 
 400 
 
 The New Year's day of 1782 was remarkable for 
 an action of gallantry which is worthy of being 
 rescued from oblivion. An officer of artillery at 
 Willis's, observing a shell falling towards the place 
 where he stood, got behind a traverse for protection ; 
 which he had scarcely done, ere it fell into the tra- 
 verse, and instantly entangled him in the rubbish : 
 one of the guard, named Martin, observing his 
 distress, generously risked his own life in defence 
 of his officer, and ran to extricate him ; but, finding 
 his own efforts ineffectual, called for assistance ; when 
 another of the guard joining him, they relieved the 
 officer from his situation ; and almost at the same 
 instant the shell burst, and levelled the traverse to 
 the ground. Martin was afterwards promoted, and 
 rewarded by the governor, who at the same time told 
 him " he should equally have noticed him for relieving 
 his comrade." Several similar instances of heroism 
 occurred during the siege, all of which were equally 
 honourable to the garrison. 
 
 The enemy persevered in carrying on their works ; 
 the centre guard-house now began to assume a 
 regular figure. The ditch formed three sides of a 
 hexagon, extending to the rear in obtuse angles with 
 the front ; and the fascine parapet, joining the build- 
 ing, was lengthened each way. Materials continued 
 to be daily brought down to the lines and advanced
 
 220 A SPY PARDONED [Chap. VI 
 
 works. Their workmen were, however, considerably 
 annoyed, in repairing the fourth and fifth branches 
 of the approach, from the Old Mole head and 
 Montague's bastion. The ship St Philip's Castle, in 
 government service, arrived on the 4th from Mahon, 
 with dispatches from General Murray : on board her 
 came several prisoners taken by that general in a 
 sally made from Fort St. Philip's. The enemy en- 
 deavoured to cut her off from the bay, but could not 
 accomplish it. She returned to Minorca on the loth. 
 Since their army had landed at Minorca, the enemy's 
 attention to the eastward was visibly abated ; nor did 
 they make so many signals from the tower on the 
 Queen of Spain's Chair as had been their custom 
 formerly. The subsequent evening, our prames made 
 the signal for the approach of the gun-boats : an 
 easterly wind, however, springing up, they threw up 
 their rockets, and retired. We could not otherwise 
 account for their not firing in an easterly wind, than 
 by imagining they were apprehensive of some acci- 
 dent in their magazines, which, being in the stern 
 of the boat, might run some danger of being blown 
 up by the sparks from the discharge of their ordnance. 
 The night of the 7th, beside making additions to the 
 centre guard-house, the enemy debouched from the 
 fifth branch, and dug a trench about fifteen or twenty 
 yards towards the east. A court of inquiry, on the 
 8th, sat on Antonio Juanico, the spy who was dis- 
 covered in the Faro boat ; and some time afterwards 
 he was ordered to prepare for execution. The 
 governor, however, at last pardoned him. 
 
 The enemy, about this time, removed several guns 
 from the camp to the lines, taking others back. Most 
 of their cannon (we had reason to imagine for some 
 time past) had been greatly damaged by the firing; 
 as the shot, at periods, were observed not to fly with
 
 1782] THE ENEMY CAUTIOUS 221 
 
 the same velocity as at first. The last deserter said 
 they had spoiled three sets of guns from the com- 
 mencement of the bombardment. In the night of the 
 9th, they raised the epaulment joining the centre 
 guard-houses and opened four embrasures, two on 
 each side of the building. They were all masked with 
 fascines, and appeared solely for defence. The night 
 of the 1 2th, the enemy formed a trench from the 
 debouchure of the fifth branch, to the front of the 
 ruins of the St. Carlos's battery, toward the western 
 beach : part of it was lined with fascines. They 
 also raised a place darmes on the east flank of the 
 St. Carlos's battery, joining the fifth branch. At 
 night sailed the Henry and Mercury ordnance-ships to 
 the westward. Don Vincente Freese went passenger 
 in the former for England, with the prisoners taken 
 in our sortie, and those sent by General Murray. 
 About the 14th or 15th, the enemy raised another 
 place darmes on the west flank of the St. Carlos's 
 battery, and joining the ruins of the St. Paschal's 
 battery ; and the subsequent evening strengthened 
 and capped it with fascines. In the night, signals 
 were made in the Gut, and at daybreak two cutters 
 appeared at the entrance of the bay ; but the wind 
 blowing somewhat northerly, and dying away, they 
 were driven to leeward by the current : a frigate and 
 eleven gun-boats from Algeziras immediately gave 
 chase, and soon after they were joined by a frigate 
 and xebeque from Ceuta. The cutters finding it 
 impossible to make the bay, and observing the force 
 of their pursuers, prudently crowded sail to the 
 eastward. In the afternoon some of the gun-boats 
 got within range, and a few rounds were exchanged ; 
 but the wind freshening towards sunset, the cutters 
 evidently left the enemy considerably astern. When 
 night prevented us from continuing our observations,
 
 222 EFFECTIVE FIRING [Chap. VI 
 
 they had indeed gained such a distance, that we did 
 not in the least doubt but they would escape. 
 
 The enemy had made, for several preceding even- 
 ings, considerable additions to the centre redoubt ; 
 and on the night of the 17th, they raised a work 
 embracing each extremity of the fascine-ditch which 
 was in the front of it : this post now appeared 
 finished. They likewise raised and threw sand in 
 front of the place cTarmes, and brought vast quantities 
 of different materials to their advanced works. Their 
 firing was not at this period remarkable ; but as they 
 directed their ordnance principally among our working 
 parties on the hill, we experienced a few casualties. 
 Our batteries in return were well served ; and the 
 fire pointed to all quarters. In the morning of the 
 1 8th, just after gun-firing, signals were made from 
 the enemy's advanced works, which were repeated 
 to their camp. The batteries at the same time kept 
 up a brisk fire, all in a low direction. This gave us 
 reason to think they were apprehensive of another 
 sortie : and the following morning the four embrasures 
 in the centre redoubt were unmasked, and animated 
 with four howitzers ; and a considerable number of 
 troops left the lines soon after daybreak : all which 
 circumstances served to countenance our conjecture. 
 In the evening of the 20th, the artillery at Willis's 
 discovered a party of the enemy erecting a line of 
 communication from the fourth branch to the centre 
 redoubt. The Old Mole head and Montague's were 
 immediately opened on them in addition to the upper 
 batteries ; and we plied them so briskl}^, that the 
 party was obliged to retire about midnight, leaving 
 the work, as the morning evinced, in great confusion. 
 The subsequent night, notwithstanding our fire, they 
 raised and strengthened the new communication. In 
 this duty they were well covered by a brisk fire from
 
 1782] BURNING THE BATTERIES 223 
 
 the lines ; and which, from the repeated volleys 
 discharged, afforded room to think that their workmen 
 had suffered materially the night before. 
 
 The night of the 23rd they repaired the parapet 
 of the St. Carlos's battery nine fascines in height, and 
 began to rebuild the magazine in the rear. Great 
 quantities of fascines, etc., were in and about the 
 battery. The succeeding afternoon, about four 
 o'clock, the governor opened the lower batteries on 
 this work, and our fire was exceedingly well served 
 for some hours. The carcasses several times set fire 
 to the fascines, but the enemy as frequently extin- 
 guished it. At first their batteries returned our fire 
 sparingly ; but receiving a reinforcement of artillery- 
 men from the camp, the cannonade became warm on 
 both sides. Our lower batteries ceased in the evening. 
 The next day the governor renewed his endeavours 
 to burn these works. The carcasses were equally 
 successful as the preceding day, but their guards and 
 workmen soon extinguished the fire. The Spanish 
 lines returned the cannonade with great vivacity, 
 having in the twenty-four hours discharged 1,045 shot 
 and 83 shells : our batteries diminished their fire about 
 four in the afternoon. The carcasses used by the 
 artillery on this occasion were made of the enemy's 
 blind shells, in which were perforated three large 
 holes, and the cavity filled with composition. They 
 were found to answer extremely well ; some of them 
 burning fresh a quarter of an hour after the enemy 
 had smothered them with sand, which was the mode 
 they adopted to put them out. 
 
 We observed, on the 27th, four large piles of 
 fascines at the eastern extremity of the parallel. We 
 were not at all at a loss to guess their meaning in 
 placing these fascines to the eastward ; as it was 
 evident that they wished to draw off our attention as
 
 224 WINDMILL PULLED DOWN [Chap. VI 
 
 much as possible from the St. Carlos's battery. The 
 manoeuvre did not, however, answer. The following 
 evening, about lo o'clock, arrived the two cutters, 
 which had been pursued by the enemy's cruisers 
 to the eastward : the largest of them, called the 
 Viper, was of 460 tons burthen, mounted 28 guns, and 
 was esteemed the largest vessel of her kind ever built ; 
 the other was the Lively, of 14 guns ; both laden with 
 ordnance stores. They informed us that the evening 
 of the day they were chased through to the east, 
 several of the gun-boats got up and engaged them, 
 but were soon beaten off; at length the wind freshen- 
 ing, the boats were left astern. The breeze, they said, 
 increased to a brisk gale, which, as the gun-boats 
 were some leagues from land, might greatly distress 
 them. This conjecture appeared confirmed, by none 
 of them being observed to have returned to the bay. 
 The night of the 28th, the enemy took down half of 
 the old tower, or windmill, which they probably 
 thought was too conspicuous an object of direction 
 for our artillery in the night : they added also con- 
 siderably to the St. Carlos's battery, and made some 
 alterations in the centre redoubt, which they palisaded 
 in the rear, and within it hung a barrier gate. The 
 same night, arrived the Dartmouth Tartar cutter with 
 stores. The night of the 30th, our opponents were 
 observed very busy to the eastward of the centre 
 redoubt. We instantly opened upon them, and drove 
 them from the place. At daybreak we found they 
 had traced out a work of five sides, with a large open- 
 ing in the rear, and erected before it a screen similar 
 to ours at Willis's, but so injudiciously placed, that 
 the workmen behind were not at all concealed from 
 our upper batteries. This work was never carried 
 on ; and the screen some time afterwards was knocked 
 down, and removed. Our engineers, of whom little
 
 1782] ENGINEERS INDEFATIGABLE 225 
 
 has been mentioned for some time, were indefatigable 
 in repairing the spHnter-proofs, magazines, traverses, 
 and communications, along the north front, which 
 were damaged by the enemy's fire : the King's, 
 Queen's, and Prince's lines had likewise a share in 
 their attention. Parties were also engaged in secur- 
 ing and repairing the skeleton traverses, formed of 
 timber and sand-bags in front of the doors, windows, 
 etc., of the powder-magazines near the New Mole ; 
 and deposits of fascines, sand, and other materials, 
 were collected in different parts of the garrison. 
 
 In the beginning of February, great numbers of 
 mules continued bringing fascines, etc., to the enemy's 
 lines ; and, by the number of gabions missing from 
 their fascine park, it was thought they had concealed 
 them in different parts of the approaches for new 
 works. The St. Carlos's battery appeared nearly 
 completed : it consisted of an epaulment with two 
 shoulders ; five dodging traverses were erected in the 
 rear, and behind them two larger ones for magazines : 
 the latter, however, were not of the same form as 
 those erected before. A gate was also hung at the 
 opening of the fifth branch, and the places d'armes, 
 on each flank of the battery, seemed finished. Part 
 of the parallel joining the fifth branch, in extent about 
 40 yards, was likewise lined with fascines, and re- 
 paired. In this state were their works near the tower, 
 when, on the night of the 2nd, they restored the 
 western part of the St. Martin's battery, making only 
 five embrasures to open upon the town and Water 
 Port. Our firing was pretty smart at this period ; 
 but their artillery did not exceed 100 or 150 rounds 
 in the twenty-four hours. 
 
 In this tedious and uninteresting manner affairs 
 proceeded ; every night the besiegers making some 
 trifling addition to their advanced works. The 
 
 15
 
 226 AN IMPROVED GUN [Chap. VI 
 
 afternoon of the 7th, one of their shells set fire to 
 a magazine-box on the Queen's battery (Willis's), in 
 which were a few loaded small shells and cartridges. 
 These instantly blew up, and fired an adjoining gun, 
 but did not the smallest injury to the officers, or any 
 of the guard, though the former were close to it when 
 the accident happened. On hearing the explosion, 
 the enem}'' immediately increased their fire, and con- 
 tinued it the remainder of the evening. The enemy 
 added, on the night of the loth, another embrasure to 
 the new battery ; and two nights following, they 
 prolonged the parallel about 40 yards to the eastward. 
 Vast quantities of materials were at this time scattered 
 in various parts of their works. 
 
 The afternoon of the 15th, some practice was made 
 from a gun mounted upon a new-constructed depress- 
 ing carriage, the invention of Lieutenant Koehler, of 
 the Royal Artillery, which was highly approved of 
 by the governor and other officers present. The gun 
 was fixed in a bed of timber, the underside of which 
 was a plane parallel to the axis of the piece : from 
 this bed, immediately under the centre of gravity, 
 projected a spindle eight inches in diameter. This 
 spindle passed through a groove formed for its re- 
 ception in a plank, the upper side of which was also 
 a plane : upon this under-piece the bed and gun re- 
 coiled, being attached to it by a key passing through 
 the spindle. The bed and gun by these means were 
 at liberty to move round upon the axis of the spindle, 
 and when fired, slided upon the under plank in the 
 line directed by the groove. The under-piece was 
 then connected, by a strong hinge in front, to two 
 cheeks of a common garrison carriage, cut down to be 
 little higher than the trucks. The gun could be laid 
 to any degree of depression under 20 degrees, by a 
 common quoin resting upon the cheeks of the carriage ;
 
 1782] ITS ADVANTAGES 227 
 
 but when greater depression was necessary, two up- 
 right timbers, with indented steps, were fixed to the 
 cheeks ; by which, with the assistance of a movable 
 plank, to slide in upon the steps, and a quoin, the 
 back part of the plank, upon which the gun slided, 
 was elevated at pleasure by iron pins in the uprights ; 
 and the gun depressed to any angle above 20 and 
 under 70 degrees. 
 
 Many advantages, beside that of immediate de- 
 pression, resulted to the artillery from this invention 
 The carriage, when the gun was depressed, seldom 
 moved ; the gun sliding upon the plank to which the 
 bed was attached by the spindle, and returning to its 
 former place with the most trifling assistance. When 
 the shot was discharged, and the bed with the gun 
 had recoiled to the extremity of the groove, the 
 matross, by turning round the gun to lie horizontally 
 across the carriage (which was done with the greatest 
 facility), was also enabled to load under cover of the 
 merlon, unexposed to the enemy's fire, and avoided 
 the difficulty of ramming the shot upwards. It equally 
 allowed the gun to be fired at point blank ; and (by 
 turning the muzzle to the back part of the carriage) 
 at every elevation, to 45 degrees, but in that state did 
 not particularly excel. As to the accuracy of the de- 
 pressing shot, no further proof need be adduced, than 
 that, out of 30 rounds, 28 shot took place in one 
 traverse in the St. Carlos's battery, at the distance 
 of near 1,400 yards. 
 
 A polacre had arrived on the 15th; and on the 
 17th, came in the Flyingfish cutter, with ordnance 
 stores : the latter was opposed, and engaged in the 
 bay by a frigate, a xebeque, and three gun-boats ; but 
 got in, by perseverance and superior skill, without a 
 single man killed or wounded. At night, a party of 
 the enemy was discovered at the eastern extremity of
 
 228 A COSTLY BLUNDER [Chap. VI 
 
 the parallel ; and a brisk fire was immediately pointed 
 to the spot. At daybreak, we remarked they had 
 traced out with fascines a work (of five sides, leaving 
 the gorge open) at the west return from the parallel. 
 It appeared to be for another redoubt. About the 
 morning gun-fire, a brig was hailed from Europa, 
 and answered, " from Cork" : finding she was a friend, 
 the captain was directed to anchor at the Mole ; 
 but, imagining the ships, as before the war, remained 
 at Water Port, he passed our prames, and did not 
 discover his error till he had gone too far to return : 
 he was consequently obliged to put about, and the 
 vessel grounded at the back of the Old Mole. When 
 the enemy observed her in the morning, the Black 
 battery and Fort St. Philip directed a smart fire upon 
 her ; but though it was continued the whole day, not 
 a shot struck the hull. Captain Curtis brought away 
 the crew, and at night went with several boats, and 
 cut away her masts ; part of her cargo was also 
 removed ; but the greater portion of it was damaged 
 by the sea-water. In the evening, Water Port guard 
 was reinforced with a picket. 
 
 The enemy, on the night of the i8th, added five 
 embrasures to the gun battery, and left a space, 
 seemingly for two others. This addition made it 
 appear as if they intended the whole for one battery, 
 which before was divided into two. Great quantities 
 of materials were dispersed in various parts of their 
 works, and brushwood continued to be brought into 
 their camp from the country. The succeeding night 
 they erected an epaulment of 39 casks long, faced 
 with fascines, within the hexagon figure, at the 
 extremity of the parallel. The front work was also 
 raised, and a ditch, extending along the front of the 
 parallel to the east flank of the St. Carlos's, lined with 
 ascines. They worked also on the platforms of the
 
 1782] THE MERCURY RETURNS 229 
 
 new battery. The morning of the 20th, 10 gun-boats 
 returned to Algeziras from the east : they were 
 supposed to be the same which had chased the Viper 
 and Lively cutters. IntelHgence from Portugal 
 mentioned that several of them had been lost in the 
 gale which sprung up the same evening : we were 
 rather disappointed therefore to see so many return. 
 In the evening the Viper, Lively, and Dartmouth 
 Tartar cutters, sailed for England. About the time 
 of their departure, a traverse in the St. Carlos's was 
 set on fire by our artillery, which produced a smart 
 cannonade for some hours. The succeeding day, 
 another traverse was set on fire, and burnt for some 
 time. The enemy also behaved with great spirit on 
 these occasions. The night of the 21st they completed 
 their gun battery, which now presented to us 13 
 embrasures : they likewise repaired the damage done 
 by the fire. 
 
 About noon on the 23rd, several signals were made 
 at Cabrita Point, which brought out a frigate and a 
 xebeque from Algeziras. Soon after, we observed 
 a vessel standing into the bay with a flowing sail. 
 The xebeque passed her astern ; but the frigate bore 
 down, and appeared as if she intended to board. 
 The vessel, however, in coming abreast, threw in so 
 well-directed a broadside, that the Spaniard was 
 greatly confused, and fell astern. The frigate after- 
 wards wore, and returned the salute ; but the vessel 
 was at such a distance that no damage was received. 
 On her arrival at the New Mole, to our surprise 
 we found her to be the Mercury ordnance ship, which 
 had left the bay in January, and, as we imagined, was 
 bound to England. Several inhabitants, supposing 
 the same, had taken their passage on board her for 
 England ; and never discovered their mistake, till, 
 to their great mortification, they found, on their
 
 230 HEINGTON'S CLEVERNESS [Chap. VI 
 
 entrance into the Straits, the unpleasant shores of 
 Spain and Barbary, instead of the exhilarating coast 
 of Britain. Captain Heington, who commanded her, 
 on leaving the garrison, had secret orders to put 
 into Lisbon, where he was to take in a cargo of 
 various articles, and return, which orders he had 
 directions not to divulge to any person, lest the 
 enemy, by their emissaries, should get information 
 of the plan, and waylay him in his voyage back. 
 He accordingly put into Lisbon, and took in his 
 cargo of wine and fruit. When everything was com- 
 pleted, he pretended some further business would 
 still delay him, and pressed the passengers to embrace 
 the opportunity of the packet, and sail for England. 
 They, however, approved of their accommodation too 
 well to remove ; and Captain Heington was re- 
 luctantly obliged to bring them back to the garrison. 
 The governor did not suffer the gallant conduct of 
 Captain Heington to pass unrewarded, but generously 
 presented him with a handsome douceur, and strongly 
 recommended him to the Admiralty for promotion ; 
 which accordingly succeeded. On the afternoon in 
 which the Mercury arrived, the enemy fired a grand 
 fen-de-joie in camp, commencing with a salute from 
 the lines. They repeated the fire a fourth time ; 
 which led us to imagine they had gained some ad- 
 vantage at Minorca ; and we afterwards found that 
 our apprehensions had been too well founded. 
 
 The enemy's ships in the bay were reinforced on 
 the 24th and 25 th with a frigate, four or five xebeques, 
 and several armed settees : part of which probably 
 had been employed to block up the port of Mahon. 
 The morning of the 25th, arrived the St Ann, 
 ordnance-ship, with a supply of powder, and two 
 gun-boats, on a new construction, in frames. We 
 were informed by her that the Vernon store-ship,
 
 1/82] BAD NEWS FROM MINORCA 231 
 
 under convoy of a frigate, was on her passage for 
 Gibraltar, with ten other gun-boats on board. The 
 following morning we observed the enemy had entirely 
 new-faced the eastern epaulment, and raised it to 
 the height of eight fascines. They also worked on 
 the magazine of the St. Martin's battery, and de- 
 bouched from the centre of the parallel, throwing up 
 a trifling line extending towards the south-west. The 
 27th, four rows of ten tents each were pitched in 
 the rear of the Catalonian camp. We imagined they 
 were occupied by the artillery cadets. At night the 
 enemy added several traverses to their 13-gun 
 battery. Beside the arrivals already noted, three 
 other vessels and several boats came in in the course 
 of the month. 
 
 The I St of March a flag of truce went to the 
 enemy, in answer to one from them some days before. 
 The Spanish officer who received the packet informed 
 us that Fort St. Philip, in Minorca, had surrendered 
 on the 5th of February. The succeeding day, a 
 carcass set fire to the enemy's 13-gun battery, 
 which continued blazing for two hours. On their 
 attempting to extinguish the fire, we plied them so 
 briskly, that several were killed and most of them 
 driven from their work ; but their usual gallantry 
 at last prevailed. At night they raised a place 
 darmes at the western extremity of the 13-gun 
 battery. These defensive works demonstrated that 
 they were determined to provide as much as possible 
 against another sortie. The following night they 
 repaired the damage done by the fire. The carpenters 
 of the navy, on the 4th, laid the keel of one of the 
 new gun-boats. The 6th, six rows of tents, ten in 
 each row, were pitched in the rear of the second 
 line of the enemy's camp, near the horse-barrack. 
 A large party was also employed in making a road
 
 232 A PREMATURE EXPLOSION [Chap. VI 
 
 from the beach to the barrack, and others were 
 engaged in landing shells and different ordnance. 
 These, with other appearances, bespoke a determined 
 resolution to prosecute the siege. Our governor, 
 on the other hand, with unwearied attention employed 
 the garrison in repairing, and putting in the best 
 order of defence, the upper batteries, and other works 
 which had suffered from the continued bombardment 
 of the enemy. The bridge in the ditch at Land Port 
 was likewise pulled down, and other alterations took 
 place in that quarter. The enemy, on the 8th, raised 
 one face of the eastern redoubt several fascines in 
 height ; and from the noise heard the preceding night, 
 we imagined they also finished platforms in their 
 batteries. The day following. Lieutenant Cuppage, 
 of the Royal Artillery, was dangerously wounded 
 on the Royal battery, from a splinter of a small shell, 
 which burst immediately after being discharged from 
 the rock gun above and in the rear of the Royal 
 battery : this was the second accident of the same 
 nature. The nth a frigate and xebeque passed to 
 the west, with six top-sail vessels, supposed to be 
 part of the late Minorca garrison. The night of the 
 13th the enemy traced out a work within the western 
 place darmes of the St. Carlos's battery, apparently 
 with an intention of extending the epaulment. The 
 firing on both sides was now considerably increased ; 
 that from the enemy amounted on an average to about 
 300 rounds in the twenty-four hours. 
 
 The operations of the besiegers still continued 
 tedious. On the i6th they palisaded the gorge of the 
 centre redoubt, and on the i8th began to pitch a 
 new camp near the ground magazine on the beach. 
 At night they erected the epaulment of St. Paschal's 
 mortar battery, and raised three traverses in the rear. 
 Lieutenant White, of the 56th, was slightly wounded
 
 1782] ARRIVAL OF THE VERNON 233 
 
 on the i6th. On the night of the 20th the St. Paschal's 
 battery was raised three fascines. At night the wind 
 blew so strong a gale, that the new windmill, on 
 Windmill Hill, took fire from the violence of the 
 friction, and was burnt to the ground. The 22nd 
 the enemy made some trifling additions, and fixed a 
 barrier-gate at the extremity of the fourth branch of 
 approach. The subsequent evening, a little before 
 midnight, we were gratified with the safe arrival of 
 the Vernon store-ship, having on board the remaining 
 ten gun-boats and other materials for the garrison. 
 Some hours after, the Cerberus and Apollo frigates, 
 Captains Mann and Hamilton, with four transports, 
 having the 97th regiment on board, anchored under 
 our guns. 
 
 The Vernon's arrival may be considered as truly 
 fortunate, since no less than thirty Spanish men-of- 
 war of different force were out purposely to intercept 
 her and the Success frigate. Captain Pole, her convoy. 
 Some leagues to the westward of the Straits they 
 fell in with a 40-gun frigate, which had left our 
 (blockade) station, and was one of the above-men- 
 tioned cruisers. A warm action consequently com- 
 menced ; but the Spaniard, finding the Vernon well 
 armed, and that she boldly bore down to support 
 the Success, after an engagement of several glasses, 
 in which the Vernon had a considerable share, thought 
 proper to submit. On board the prize were found 
 papers describing the Vernon to the most minute 
 part of her rigging, at the same time mentioning 
 the officers' names who were passengers, and every 
 particular article of her cargo ; and from the prisoners 
 we learned the number of ships which were cruising 
 to intercept her. Captain Pole afterwards burned 
 the Santa Catalina, and separated from the Vernon 
 on the appearance of the Cerberus with her convoy,
 
 234 REINFORCEMENTS [Chap. VI 
 
 which he mistook for the enemy's cruisers. The 
 Vernon therefore proceeded alone for the garrison, 
 and, at the entrance of the Straits, in the evening, 
 fell in with, and indeed was surrounded by, the 
 enemy's ships ; but, happily, the sky prognosticating 
 a rough night, and she tacking at the same time they 
 did, they supposed her a friend, and stood in for the 
 high land ; and at dusk she altered her course, and 
 was soon safe in her destined port. Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Gledstanes, of the 72nd regiment, and other 
 officers, came in her as passengers, with recruits for 
 the different regiments in the garrison. The next 
 day the 97th regiment, commanded by Colonel Stanton, 
 disembarked 700 complete, and were immediately 
 quartered in Scud Hill and Rosia barracks. This 
 regiment soon after became very sickly, and, though 
 they were attended to with the greatest care by 
 the governor and officers, in a few months many 
 of them died, and the rest were of little assistance 
 to the garrison before September. 
 
 The enemy, on the night of the 24th, were dis- 
 covered, from Willis's, at work in the front of the 
 epaulment, at the eastern extremity of the parallel ; 
 a few rounds of grape, however, quickly drove them 
 under cover : they made several attempts to proceed, 
 but were as constantly obliged to retire. The suc- 
 ceeding morning we observed they had employed 
 parties in other parts of their works. The communi- 
 cation to the centre redoubt was raised, many traverses 
 were erected behind the fourth approach, and a 
 considerable quantity of fascines and other materials 
 brought down to their works. In the forenoon of 
 the 25th, the Spanish officers belonging to the Santa 
 Catalina, who were brought to the garrison in the 
 Vernon, were sent by a flag of truce into Spain on 
 their parole. In the course of the day a shot came
 
 1782] TWO SMART BOYS 235 
 
 through one of the capped embrasures on Princess 
 Ameha's battery (WilHs's), took off the legs of two 
 men belonging to the 72nd and 73rd regiments, one 
 leg of a soldier of the 73rd, and wounded another 
 man in both legs ; thus four men had seven legs 
 taken off and wounded by one shot. The boy, who 
 was usually stationed on the works where a large 
 party was employed to inform the men when the 
 enemy's fire was directed to that place, had been 
 reproving them for their carelessness in not attending 
 to him, and had just turned his head toward the 
 enemy, when he observed this shot, and instantly 
 called for them to take care ; his caution was, however, 
 too late ; the shot entered the embrasure, and had 
 the above-recited fatal effect. It is somewhat singular 
 that this boy should be possessed of such uncommon 
 quickness of sight as to see the enemy's shot almost 
 immediately after they quitted the guns. He was not, 
 however, the only one in the garrison possessing 
 this qualification ; another boy of about the same 
 age was as celebrated, if not his superior. Both of 
 them belonged to the Artificer company, and were 
 constantly placed on some part of the works to 
 observe the enemy's fire; their names were Richardson 
 and Brand ; the former was reputed to have the best 
 eye.* 
 
 The night of the 25th, the enemy extended their 
 
 * These boys were afterwards patronised by some officers of their 
 corps, and, being found quick and very intelligent, were placed in 
 the engineer's drawing-room, and eventually obtained commissions 
 in the corps of engineers. One of the works of these young men, 
 while pursuing their studies at Woolwich, was to finish the large 
 model of the Rock of Gibraltar, which formerly stood in the model- 
 room there, and was much admired for beauty of execution and minute 
 correctness. It was destroyed in the fire by which that building was 
 consumed. Richardson and Brand both died of yellow fever in the 
 West Indies.
 
 236 ENEMY'S BATTERIES COMPLETE [Chap. VI 
 
 parallel in a continued direction with the old work 
 about IOC yards, with casks and fascines, banked 
 up with sand in front. The succeeding evening, 
 we perceived several guns in the St. Martin's battery ; 
 and it was imagined, that ordnance were brought 
 forward for the other batteries. The night of the 26th, 
 they began merlons for six embrasures in the eastern 
 redoubt, two in each face opening on the Devil's 
 Tower, Lines, and Old Mole : they also lengthened 
 the parallel, and strengthened that part which was 
 raised the preceding night. The 28th, they scaled 
 several guns and mortars in the advanced batteries ; 
 and the following day, we concluded, they mounted 
 all their ordnance, as their working parties gave a 
 general huzza, and then withdrew for the day. 
 
 Our opponents at this time scarcely expended 
 more than 200 rounds in the 24 hours ; but we 
 frequently saluted them with double that number in 
 that period. The night of the 28th and 29th, the 
 enemy lined with fascines the prolongation of the 
 parallel, and erected five traverses in the eastern re- 
 doubt. Their batteries near the tower now appeared 
 to be completed ; the fourth month being just expired 
 since they had been destroyed. The 31st, being a 
 grand festival, our batteries were double manned, 
 expecting the besiegers would open their advanced 
 batteries ; but not firing, the reinforcement was re- 
 manded at noon. In the evening, about six o'clock, 
 a shell set fire to the flank of the eastern redoubt, 
 and, the flame being assisted with a brisk discharge, 
 burned rapidly for some hours : at last, however, 
 the enemy extinguished it. The succeeding morning, 
 we perceived that they had covered with sand the 
 part which had taken fire, and a number of fascines 
 were lying in great confusion about the work. The 
 same night, a boat came in from Portugal with sheep,
 
 1782] GRATES FOR HEATING SHOT 237 
 
 oranges, lemons, and fowls : two others also arrived 
 in the course of the month. 
 
 On the evening of the ist of April, a soldier of 
 the 39th regiment deserted from Land Port : several 
 hundred rounds of musketry and grape were dis- 
 charged at him, some of which it is imagined took 
 effect, as he dropped just before he got to the St. 
 Carlos's battery, and was carried into the work by 
 seven of the guard. At dusk, a volunteer of Arragon 
 came over to us : he brought his arms and some 
 necessaries, which, with other circumstances, occa- 
 sioned a suspicion of his being a spy. He reported 
 that the enemy had suffered considerably in restoring 
 their batteries ; upward of 400 being killed, and nearly 
 as many more wounded. The eastern redoubt, he 
 informed us, was called the Mahon battery. The 
 enemy, on the 2nd, began to pitch tents in rear of 
 the Walon guards ; they were afterwards increased 
 to six double rows, capable of quartering a battalion 
 of infantry. 
 
 As grates for heating shot were distributed on the 
 different northern batteries in the beginning of this 
 month, we imagined the governor intended applying 
 red-hot shot against the enemy's works, which 
 appeared now complete. We were, however, dis- 
 appointed ; they were still reserved as a bonne bouchcy 
 for the closing of the scene. 
 
 The night of the 5th, the enemy erected, at the 
 extremity of the parallel, a place darmes, of four 
 sides, one of which was the parallel lengthened, the 
 other three extending in obtuse angles to the rear. 
 The 6th, Colonel Stanton w^as appointed a brigadier- 
 general ; and Captain Blanckley, of the 97th Regiment, 
 his brigade-major. The 8th, we perceived some tents 
 pitched upon the plain beneath the ruins of Carteia ; 
 and the following day this camp was increased with
 
 238 IMPORTANT NEWS [Chap. VI 
 
 five double rows of tents : a regiment in white took 
 possession in the evening. The 9th, a regiment in 
 blue marched into the new camp, pitched the 2nd of 
 this month. The same day all the carpenters of the 
 regiments in garrison (those of the 97th Regiment 
 excepted) were ordered, with a hundred additional 
 real-men into the King's works. At night the enemy 
 made some alterations near St. Paschal's battery, 
 and strengthened the place darmes at the extremity 
 of the parallel. The loth. Lieutenant Wetham, of the 
 1 2th Regiment, was killed by a splinter of a shell, 
 marching at the head of the spur-guard up the ramp, 
 from Land Port ditch. His servant also lost his arm, 
 and the drummer had his drum broken to pieces : but 
 the rest of the guard escaped. This young officer 
 being much liked, his death was much regretted; and 
 it seemed particularly unfortunate, as the enemy only 
 fired that fatal shell, and one shot, in the earlier part 
 of the day. 
 
 A Faro boat arrived on the nth from Portugal, 
 with dispatches for the governor. A private letter, 
 sent from Lisbon by this boat, communicated to us 
 most important intelligence : it mentioned that great 
 preparations were making at Cadiz, and in the 
 Mediterranean ports, for a most vigorous attack on 
 Gibraltar; and that the Due de Crillon, who had 
 lately taken St. Philip's, was to command with 20,000 
 French and Spanish troops, in addition to what were 
 at present before the garrison ; with Monsieur d'Ar9on, 
 a French engineer of great eminence and abilities ; 
 and Admiral Don Bonaventura Moreno, with 10 sail 
 of the line, besides floating-batteries, gun and mortar 
 boats, etc., etc. The truth of this intelligence we little 
 doubted, as many circumstances now occurred daily 
 that served to confirm it. The enemj'^'s cannonade, 
 in the course of the 12th, was singular indeed : from
 
 1782] "FASTING AND PRAYER" 239 
 
 six in the morning to sunset, they fired every two 
 or three minutes a single gun or mortar ; and being 
 the anniversary of their bombardment, it appeared 
 still more extraordinary. Some jocular persons in 
 the garrison remarked, that perhaps they were com- 
 memorating the day with fasting and prayer, and by 
 their minute-guns expressing their sorrow, that so 
 many thousand barrels of powder, and rounds of 
 ammunition, should have been expended to so little 
 purpose. Their firing from the 12th gradually de- 
 creased, for about a week ; when, for a few nights, 
 they fired brisker than usual. It afterwards diminished 
 to about a hundred rounds on an average in the twenty- 
 four hours, and scarcely exceeded that number during 
 the remainder of the month. Their fascine parties 
 continued to be actively employed preparing materials 
 in their parks ; and long strings of mules were con- 
 stantly removing them to the lines and advanced 
 batteries. Throughout their camp new life seemed 
 to be infused into the troops : instead of that inactive 
 languor which had so long prevailed in all their 
 operations, every person now appeared in motion. 
 
 The morning of the i6th we remarked that the 
 enemy had repaired the eastern part of the Mahon 
 battery, which had been burnt down the latter end 
 of the preceding month. Some other trifling additions 
 were also made to this work. The 20th arrived the 
 Antigallican ordnance-ship from England. The nights 
 of the 2 1 St and 22nd the enemy's parties added some 
 further repairs to the Mahon battery : they also raised 
 a small work near the tower, and erected several 
 traverses in various parts of the parallel. The 24th 
 one of our new gun-boats, which had been launched 
 on the 1 8th, was tried with an i8-pounder on board; 
 and the practice met with the approbation of the 
 governor and officers of the navy. As a person was
 
 240 CONSTRUCTING GUN-BOATS [Chap. VI 
 
 sent out in the Vernon to superintend their con- 
 struction, the keels of several other boats after his 
 arrival were immediately laid on the stocks ; and the 
 carpenters, being now acquainted with the marks, 
 proceeded with confidence and expedition : four or 
 five more, therefore, were in great forwardness. We 
 observed about this time numbers of boats passing 
 and repassing between Algeziras and Point Mala ; 
 and two ships in the river Palmones, which we 
 imagined were fitting out as fire-ships : precautions 
 were therefore taken to render them ineffectual, in 
 case they resolved on another attempt to burn our 
 frigates. The 25th, a little before daybreak, a deserter 
 came in from the enemy : he was a native of Arragon, 
 and comrade to the last : he confirmed our information 
 from Lisbon respecting the intended attack, under 
 the command of the Due de Crillon ; adding, that they 
 had resolved to make the principal attack by sea ; for 
 which purpose large ships were to be fitted up in a 
 peculiar manner with junk, cork, etc. The new camp, 
 near Rocadillo Point, he said, was occupied by the 
 regiment of Cordova infantry, lately arrived from 
 Ceuta. 
 
 Though their camp had been considerably rein- 
 forced within the preceding six weeks, yet we could 
 not observe that they had made any addition to their 
 advanced guards, which continued to be about the 
 same number as mentioned some months before. The 
 28th they raised the merlons of the Mahon battery 
 with sand-bags. In the course of the day they 
 brought down two guns from their artillery park to 
 Fort Tonara, whither they had carried four the pre- 
 ceding day. The 30th they began laying platforms 
 in the Mahon battery : on the same day we launched 
 our second gun-boat. Seven more were on the 
 stocks.
 
 1/82] AGAINST ATTACK BY SEA 241 
 
 In the beginning of May the enemy repaired the 
 west branch of the St. Carlos's, which fell down some 
 time before, and made some alterations in the Black 
 battery. Several hundred mules came likewise with 
 clay to the lines. From seven in the evening of the 
 4th, to the same hour the succeeding afternoon, both 
 the garrison and the enemy were silent. This was 
 the first twenty-four hours in which there had been 
 no firing for the space of nearly thirteen months. 
 
 The evening of the 7th the Cerberus and Apollo 
 frigates, with four transports and four ordnance- 
 ships, sailed for England. The succeeding morning 
 we observed that three of the transports were captured, 
 and, in company with the enemy's cruisers, were then 
 turning to windward. In the afternoon of the 9th, a 
 line-of-battle ship, with seven large vessels and a few 
 polacres and tartans, arrived in the bay from the west, 
 and anchored at Algeziras. At dusk the large vessels, 
 which appeared to be the old men-of-war or galleons, 
 hauled close in shore. The governor, at night, ordered 
 a picket to reinforce Water Port guard. The enemy 
 still continued discharging about a hundred rounds 
 every twenty-four hours ; and their parties as well 
 as ours were employed in making trifling additions 
 and repairs. The arrival of the above-mentioned 
 shipping at Algeziras occasioned various conjectures ; 
 from many circumstances we had reason to imagine 
 they were intended for the attack by sea, which was 
 meditating against the garrison. The governor and 
 chief engineer's attention consequently became en- 
 gaged toward the sea-line : the beach behind the Old 
 Mole was fortified with a row of sloping palisades ; 
 Water Port gateway was well barricaded, and a 
 chevaux-de-frise ordered to be got ready to place at 
 the foot of Land Port glacis : the ramp in the ditch 
 was likewise removed ; and those batteries on the 
 
 16
 
 242 STORE-SHIPS ARRIVE [Chap. VI 
 
 sea-line, which they conceived might probably be 
 opposed to the enemy's attack, were inspected, and 
 put in the best order of defence. 
 
 The enemy, about the 12th, removed and made 
 a new arrangement of their ordnance in the forts and 
 batteries along the coasts : we supposed they were 
 changing them for others ol a larger calibre. The 
 14th several of the large ships at Algeziras struck 
 their yards and top-masts, and a great number of men 
 appeared on board them ; which movements left us 
 no longer in doubt that they were intended to be 
 fitted up as floating batteries for the grand attack : 
 this opinion was confirmed in the afternoon, by their 
 beginning to cut down the poops of two of them. 
 The subsequent day three store-ships, the Queen 
 Charlotte, Leonora, and Charles, arrived from England 
 with powder, shells, bedding, and timber. Three 
 gun-boats, on their appearance in the Gut, went from 
 the point to speak them ; but, the ships hoisting 
 French colours, and standing for Algeziras, the boats 
 were deceived, and returned : the false colours were 
 soon after struck, and British displayed ; and they 
 arrived without opposition. The new gun-boats 
 which were launched were on this occasion of parti- 
 cular service ; and before night 1,900 barrels of powder 
 were secured in our magazines. The enemy on the 
 17th opened thirteen large port-holes in the larboard 
 side of one of the ships at Algeziras, and seven in 
 another. 
 
 Their operations now in the advanced works almost 
 totally ceased ; their whole attention seemed occupied 
 by the ships at Algeziras, and by arrangements in 
 their camp. Cannon and a variety of military stores 
 were landed beyond Point Mala, and a strong party 
 was employed in erecting a large building near the 
 landing-place, which we conjectured was for an
 
 1782] READY FOR THE ATTACK 243 
 
 hospital. The firing on both sides varied as circum- 
 stances directed. Three men of the 58th regiment 
 were missing on the 19th ; and, a party being imme- 
 diately sent in quest of them, their bodies were found 
 dashed to pieces behind the Rock ; the rope by which 
 they were to have descended being many yards too 
 short. The enemy were very active about their 
 ships ; eleven port-holes were opened in the side of 
 a third; and, on the 21st, they began to strengthen 
 their larboard sides with some materials which ap- 
 peared like junk. The elasticity and resistance of 
 this article rendered it very eligible for the purpose. 
 On the land side they continued collecting brushwood 
 from all parts of the country, and had strong parties 
 at work making fascines. At the landing-place stores 
 of every species were daily disembarked. On the 
 other hand, the garrison, with unwearied assiduity, 
 made various dispositions to repel their attack. The 
 sloping palisades at Water Port by this time were 
 finished, and the gateway barricaded, excepting a 
 small passage for the wicket. To this post the 
 governor seemed particularly to attend. The inten- 
 tions of the enemy were no longer mysterious : every 
 preparation was therefore made to give them a warm 
 reception : an additional number of grates for heating 
 shot were made and distributed along the line-wall ; 
 and the navy lowered their yards and topmasts, to be 
 in readiness to act on shore at a moment's notice. 
 
 A privateer xebeque arrived on the 25th from 
 Leghorn, with a Corsican officer and 12 privates, 
 who came to offer their services as volunteers during 
 the approaching attack ; which the governor accepted, 
 and ordered them to be entertained by different 
 regiments till the others arrived, who, they informed 
 us, were on their passage. In the evening a large 
 building, to the east of the Catalonian camp, took
 
 244 SPANISH REINFORCEMENTS [Chap. VI 
 
 fire, and was totally consumed : it had formerly been 
 a barrack, but was now, as the deserters informed us, 
 a granary for forage and corn. We numbered at 
 this time upward of lOO pieces of cannon in the 
 artillery park of the enemy. The 25th the engineers 
 began to mine a gallery from a place above Farring- 
 don's battery (Willis's), to communicate through the 
 rock to a notch or projection of the rock, below Green's 
 Lodge, in which the governor proposed to make a 
 battery. The 26th, another vessel arrived from 
 Algiers, and brought letters, acquainting us that it 
 was universally believed in Spain, that the garrison, 
 from the magnitude of the preparations for the attack, 
 inevitably must be taken before the end of July. The 
 same day about noon a large fleet appeared from the 
 east, upward of 100 sail of which we observed in 
 the evening enter the bay, and anchor between the 
 river Palmones and Algeziras. The succeeding 
 morning we were enabled to make our observations 
 on them : three were large and armed, one of them 
 with a flag at her mizen : the rest were ships with 
 troops on board, and small polacres and settees, sup- 
 posed, from their appearance, to be laden with stores. 
 In the course of the 27th, 28th, and 29th, they landed, 
 it was imagined, about 12 battalions; which, calculated 
 at about 750 to each battalion, amounted to about 
 9,000 men, if the regiments were complete. As the 
 troops disembarked, they encamped in the rear of 
 the second line, extending toward the horse-barrack 
 now called Buena Vista, which, we understood from 
 the last deserters, had been fitted up for the com- 
 mander-in-chiefs quarters : others of them occupied 
 the ground on the left of the first line, and on the 
 right of the Catalonians, in an obtuse direction up 
 the hill toward the Queen of Spain's Chair. Large 
 parties were detached to land the military stores.
 
 1782] THE KING'S BIRTHDAY 245 
 
 A flag of truce came from the enemy on the 28th, 
 with a letter from Mr. Anderson, a merchant who had 
 left the garrison some days before, and had been taken 
 on his passage to Faro. Before the purport of the 
 flag was known, the governor, speaking to the officers 
 near him, said "he supposed the duke was arrived, 
 and had sent to summon the garrison ; but he should 
 give him a short answer, No, — no, and hoped the 
 gentlemen " (addressing himself to the officers present) 
 " would all support him." He had not, however, an 
 opportunity of being so spiritedly laconic. The day 
 following we perceived a new encampment between 
 the Catalonians and the left of the first line, and great 
 additions were made to those mentioned before. Six 
 of their battering-ships were now in hand, and an 
 universal activity was observed throughout their 
 camp. The firing on both sides varied very little : 
 if there were any difference in the number of rounds, 
 the garrison had the advantage. Our engineers at 
 this time were employed in repairing the damaged 
 and uneven platforms on the sea-line batteries, and 
 the artillery in disposing of the heavy ordnance where 
 they would act with greater execution and effect. 
 Scarce a day now passed but vessels of all denomina- 
 tions arrived in the bay, at the enemy's camp, the 
 generality of which seemed laden with military stores 
 and materials for the siege. 
 
 June did not commence with anything extra- 
 ordinary. The 2nd Brigadier Stanton died of a coup 
 de soleil. The enemy, the following day, pitched 
 several large tents to the southward of Algeziras, 
 for the accommodation of the workmen employed in 
 fitting up their ships. The 4th, being His Majesty's 
 birthday, the last of our new gun-boats was launched : 
 and at noon the whole fired a salute, commencing 
 with a salvo of 44 guns shotted, from the north front
 
 246 
 
 THE NEW GUN-BOATS [Chap. VI 
 
 of the garrison : the enemy's batteries instantly re- 
 turned our land-fire, and in so smart a manner as to 
 convince us they had prepared to retaliate. The 
 following are the names of the gun-boats, and ships 
 from which they were manned : — 
 
 Frotn the ^^ Brilliant" Frigate 
 
 Revetige 
 
 . one 24- 
 
 pounder 21 men 
 
 Defiance 
 
 » 24 
 
 ,, 21 „ 
 
 Resolution . 
 
 . „ 18 
 
 „ 21 „ 
 
 Spitfire 
 
 • » 18 
 
 „ 21 „ 
 
 Dreadnought 
 
 . „ 18 
 
 „ 21 „ 
 
 Thunder 
 
 • „ 18 
 
 „ 21 „ 
 
 From the 
 
 " Porcupine 
 
 ' Frigate 
 
 Europa 
 
 . one 24- 
 
 Dounder 21 men 
 
 Terrible 
 
 . „ 18 
 
 21 „ 
 
 Fury . 
 
 . „ 18 
 
 21 „ 
 
 Scourge 
 
 • „ 18 
 
 21 „ 
 
 Terror 
 
 • „ 18 
 
 21 „ 
 
 From the ^^ Speedwell" Cutter 
 Vengeance . . . one 18-pounder 21 men 
 
 On the 5th, three rows of double tents, ten in each 
 row, were pitched near Barcelo's battery, at Algeziras. 
 Mr. M'Gregor, a volunteer in the 73rd, was wounded 
 the same day by a shell, of which article the enemy's 
 artillery, within a day or two, had been more profuse 
 than usual. The 6th, Captain Wideburg, of Reden's, 
 was wounded in the Queen's lines. On the 7th, our 
 artillery practised from the King's bastion, with red- 
 hot shot, against the Irishman's brig, which was 
 stranded at the back of the Old Mole. In the first 
 round, whilst one of the artillery-men was putting in 
 the shot, the fire by some means immediately communi- 
 cated to the cartridge, and the unfortunate man was 
 blown from the embrasure in some hundred pieces : two
 
 1782] SPIRITED PREPARATIONS 247 
 
 others were also slightly wounded with the unexpected 
 recoil of the carriage. The practice after this accident 
 was discontinued. In the evening, a shell fell into 
 a quarter in town, and carried away part of a chair, 
 in which Ensign M'Kenzie, of the 73rd, was sitting : it 
 immediately burst in the room below, and lifted him 
 and the chair from the floor, without further injury. 
 
 The enemy's inactivity in their advanced batteries 
 was sufficiently compensated by their diUgence and 
 celerity at Algeziras : six ships were now in great 
 forwardness, and on the loth they began upon another. 
 Of this interval of tranquillity, as we may call it 
 (though the enemy had not quite discontinued their 
 fire), the governor took advantage, and employed it 
 with indefatigable zeal in completing the works of 
 the garrison. New batteries bearing on Water Port, 
 which appeared to be his grand object of defence, 
 were opened in the Moorish castle ; a caissoned 
 battery was also erected at Upper Forbes's and some 
 alterations made in the lines ; movable palisades, 
 with casks of earth, sand, etc., were distributed in 
 various parts along the line-wall, to be ready in case 
 a breach should be effected ; and the outworks at 
 Land Port underwent some advantageous alterations. 
 Two or three men about this time attempted to 
 desert ; but they were all retaken. 
 
 On the nth between ten and eleven o'clock, an 
 unlucky shell from the enemy fell through the splinter- 
 proof, at the door of the magazine on Princess Anne's 
 battery (Willis's), and bursting, communicated to the 
 powder, which instantly blew up. The explosion 
 was so violent as to shake the whole Rock, and throw 
 the materials on both sides an almost incredible way 
 into the sea. Three merlons on the west flank of the 
 battery, with several unfortunate men who had run 
 behind them for shelter, were forced down from the
 
 248 MIRACULOUS ESCAPES [Chap. VI 
 
 level of the platforms into the Prince's lines, which, 
 with the Queen's below, were almost filled with 
 rubbish. Another magazine near it happily escaped, 
 though the door was thrown open by the explosion. 
 Our loss by this dreadful accident was chiefly among 
 the workmen who were employed on the flank of the 
 battery: i drummer, and 13 rank and file, were 
 killed ; 3 sergeants, 3 drummers, and 9 rank and file, 
 wounded. Immediately after the report of the ex- 
 plosion, and on the appearance of the large column 
 of smoke, the enemy gave a loud huzza ; their drums 
 beat to arms in the camp ; and some persons aver 
 that their first line assembled, and were actually on 
 their march towards Fort St. Philip, but afterwards 
 returned. As the engineers, after the accident, got 
 together the remains of the party, to secure effectually 
 the magazine which had so miraculously escaped, 
 the enemy continued the cannonade the remainder 
 of the day ; and, as if fate was resolved at that 
 particular time to sport with our anxiety, in the course 
 of this firing two other shells fell upon the remaining 
 magazine, and one into the very splinter-proof in front 
 of the door. Happily the latter did not go through ; 
 for if it had, this magazine might have shared the 
 fate of its neighbour, and the whole of the batteries 
 at Willis's have probably been materially injured. 
 Princess Anne's battery, the flank of it excepted, was 
 not considerably damaged ; the caissoned merlons 
 were much shaken, and the battery filled with rubbish. 
 However, before night the whole was cleared away, 
 and several rounds fired from that battery, as well 
 as from the other batteries, to convince the enemy 
 that the misfortune was not of so much importance 
 as they probably imagined. Indeed, from so dreadful 
 an accident it was wonderful that the injury was not 
 of greater consequence.
 
 1782] XEBEQUE NEARLY CAPTURED 249 
 
 The navy, on the 13th, under the direction of the 
 engineers, began to caisson the west face of the New 
 Mole fort. About sunset, a soldier of the 58th regi- 
 ment, who had lately joined in the Vernon, deserted 
 from Land Port : at night a picket was ordered to 
 reinforce that guard. The 14th, a French frigate, 
 with 18 or 19 polacres, etc., arrived in the bay. The 
 same afternoon, a xebeque, returning to Algeziras, 
 from the east, stood in so close to the garrison, that 
 she was perplexed by the eddy-winds, and remained 
 a considerable time stationary. The garrison fired 
 upon her, and the gun-boats were manned, and rowed 
 out to attack her ; but two of the enemy's boats, 
 coming to her assistance, towed her head round ; 
 and soon after a breeze carried her out of all danger. 
 If our boats had got out a little earlier, she might 
 have been roughly handled ; and some were sanguine 
 enough to think she might have been taken. 
 
 As boats were constantly detached by the navy at 
 nightfall, to row guard at some distance from the 
 garrison, and give information of the approach of the 
 gun-boats, or any other vessels, curiosity often 
 prompted them to approach the enemy's shore ; and 
 for some preceding nights they reported, that they 
 heard, at Algeziras, a noise like that of men hard at 
 work ; whence we concluded, their impatience to finish 
 their battering ships made them embrace all oppor- 
 tunities, both by day and night. The 16th, a new 
 camp was observed between the grand magazine and 
 the Orange Grove. The battalion which occupied it 
 were supposed to be disembarked from the small 
 convoy which arrived on the 14th. At night, a noise 
 of boats was distinctly heard from our prames, at 
 some distance in the bay ; it however ceased on a gun 
 being fired towards that quarter. This circumstance 
 occasioned new signals to be appointed for the prames.
 
 250 THE FRENCH ARRIVE [Chap. VI 
 
 The 97th regiment, on the 17th, for the first time, 
 gave a picket of 40 men. The following day, 
 Hardenberg's regiment was ordered, in case of an 
 alarm, to act with the 58th at Europa, instead of 
 marching to town. In the afternoon, a French convoy, 
 of upwards of 60 sail, under 3 frigates, anchored in the 
 bay, off the Guadaranque, from the east. As most 
 of the ships had troops on board, we concluded it was 
 the French reinforcement, of which we .had received 
 previous information. It proved to ,be a detachment 
 from the French army, which had succeeded in the 
 capture of Minorca a short time before. The following 
 evening, several Spanish and French general officers, 
 with their suites, visited the lines ; where they 
 remained, excepting one general, who, accompanied 
 by an artillery-officer and an engineer, came forward 
 to the advanced works, and stood some time in front 
 of the St. Martin's battery. At this time a group ol 
 those who remained in the lines were assembled on 
 the glacis : our artillery thought proper to give them 
 a shot, which the general in the advanced works 
 probably took as a hint to retire ; for he immediately 
 pulled off his hat, and returned into the battery. 
 This circumstance served to confirm us in our con- 
 jectures that the reinforcement was French ; and it 
 was computed to be about 5,000 men. Soon after the 
 above fleet arrived, 5 gun-boats approached very near 
 the town, apparently out of bravado, to demonstrate 
 to their new friends how contemptuously they con- 
 sidered us ; but, a few rounds taking effect, they 
 retired in great confusion, and most likely paid dear 
 for their arrogance. The 20th and 21st, the Trench 
 troops disembarked, and encamped to the east of 
 the stone quarry, immediately under the Queen of 
 Spain's Chair. 
 
 As affairs were daily becoming more interesting,
 
 1782] THE DUG DE CRILLON 251 
 
 the sergeants, and such drummers of the garrison as 
 were able, were ordered, in case of alarm, to turn 
 out with firelocks and accoutrements ; which were 
 accordingly delivered to the different regiments from 
 the grand store. The governor seemed determined 
 to have no idle hands in the place at such a critical 
 time. Musicians, who before had been exempted 
 from duty, also returned to the use of the firelock 
 and shovel. 
 
 The morning of the 21st, two Genoese, formerly 
 inhabitants of the garrison, who had been taken by 
 the enemy in a settee bound for Gibraltar, made their 
 escape in a boat from a prison-ship at Algeziras. 
 They informed us that the grand attack was fixed 
 to be in September; but that all, both sailors and 
 soldiers, were much averse to the enterprise. In the 
 afternoon, two general officers again visited the lines ; 
 and we remarked their guards did not relieve at 
 their usual hour, but probably came down after 
 twilight. From the 19th to the 21st, the enemy's 
 fire daily diminished ; and on the 22nd, about five 
 in the evening, their batteries were totally silent. 
 This sudden cessation induced us to conclude that 
 the Due de Crillon had assumed the command of 
 the combined army.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 The court of Madrid, whose whole attention seemed 
 bent upon the recovery of Gibraltar, had hitherto 
 found all her attempts, whether by sea or land, 
 totally ineffectual, and the repeated disgrace which 
 her arms had suffered could not fail to mortify her 
 pride. The cruel and wanton destruction of the town 
 had tended to no other purpose than to reflect dis- 
 honour on her measures in the eye of Europe. Pride 
 and revenge, therefore, now urged her to the utmost 
 exertions of her power and skill, so that no means 
 were neglected, no expense was spared, to insure 
 success. Her treasures were lavishly expended; the 
 labour of the nation was exhausted in the magnitude 
 of the preparations ; and her whole naval and military 
 force now appeared directed to the recovery of that 
 natural and ancient appendage of the crown. 
 
 The Due de Crillon, lately returned from the 
 conquest of Fort St. Philip, who had formerly com- 
 manded at the Spanish lines before Gibraltar, and was 
 perfectly acquainted with the situation of the garrison, 
 was appointed to conduct the military force to be 
 employed in this arduous and interesting enterprise. 
 With him were joined Monsieur d'Argon (a French 
 engineer of great repute) and Admiral Moreno. The 
 former had projected a plan, which had met with the 
 approbation of his Most Catholic Majesty, for attacking 
 the place with battering ships, constructed upon such 
 principles that they were equally considered as 
 
 252
 
 1782] THE NEW ARMADA 253 
 
 impregnable and incombustible ; and, from the pro- 
 digious powers of which, Httle else was expected 
 than almost the annihilation of the garrison : the 
 latter had rendered himself equally eminent with the 
 general in the preceding conquest of Minorca. Under 
 commanders of such distinguished ability, aided by 
 every combination of force which human invention 
 could devise, we need not in the least wonder at 
 the flattering idea, universally formed by the nation, 
 of the event. 
 
 General Eliott, on the opposite side, unawed by the 
 impending storm, provided for every circumstance 
 which might occur. Though surrounded on every 
 hand with enemies, and far distant from any hopes 
 of relief and assistance, yet he reposed such con- 
 fidence in the vigorous and united exertions of 
 the little army under his command, whom he had 
 already found superior to the greatest hardships, 
 that he was not apprehensive of trusting the event 
 to the decision of that fortune, which had been so 
 often favourable to the interests of the garrison. 
 
 The 24th of June, the garrison began to practise 
 parapet-firing, with ball, at casks placed at different 
 distances in the bay. Two days following, the enemy's 
 cannon were all under metal, and their advanced 
 sentries and guards were reinforced. At Algeziras 
 they still continued to work on seven ships : and in 
 camp numerous parties were employed in landing 
 great quantities of stores, and in ranging ordnance, 
 etc., in their artillery park. Early on the morning 
 of the 27th, the captain of the Queen's lines guard 
 challenged two persons who had approached Forbes's 
 barrier ; one of whom, finding they were observed, 
 cried out in French, " Don't fire ! " after which, both 
 instantly ran away toward the lines. In their retreat, 
 one of them fell, and, his cloak coming unfolded,
 
 254 BOTH SIDES ACTIVE [Chap. VII 
 
 our sentries could distinguish that his uniform was 
 white ; which circumstance, added to that of their 
 speaking French, induced us to conclude they were 
 officers of that nation. A person of distinction, 
 supposed to be the Due de Crillon, on the 30th, 
 visited the lines and advanced works. Our artillery 
 fired a shot over him and his suite, to show them 
 that they were observed. At night, a soldier of the 
 56th, attempting to desert from the Signal House 
 guard, was dashed to pieces in his descent. The 
 next day his body was exposed as a public spectacle, 
 to intimidate others from provoking a similar fate. 
 
 In the beginning of July, the tenth ship had 
 been in hand two or three days ; and the enemy's 
 artificers were at work on the tops of those which 
 were in the greatest forwardness, placing strong 
 timbers, in form of a dos cTdne, to serve as bomb- 
 proofs. At night they raised their parallel several 
 fascines in height, and banked it up in front with 
 sand. Though the enemy's batteries had continued 
 silent since the 22nd of June, the garrison persevered 
 in a brisk discharge, directing their fire to all parts 
 of the lines, as well as the advanced works. The 
 evening of the 2nd, a party of the enemy advanced 
 to Bayside barrier ; but several rounds of grape, 
 which were fired from Willis's, soon forced them 
 to retire. The succeeding evening they again at- 
 tempted to take post there, and met with a similar 
 reception. Our navy, under the direction of an 
 engineer, about this time repaired the boom of Water 
 Port, and sunk anchors in the shallow water at the 
 back of the Old Mole. The enemy, though we 
 expected it, never molested them in this duty : in- 
 deed, they seemed too intent upon their own operations 
 to pay attention to any of ours. 
 
 The success attending our progress in the gallery
 
 1782] PRESENCE OF MIND 255 
 
 above Farringdon's battery, produced the idea of 
 making a communication from the extremity of the 
 King's to the Queen's lines ; and, on the 6th, a party 
 of miners began this new subterranean passage. 
 Early the day following, a brig, coming in from the 
 west, was taken by a xebeque and carried into 
 Algeziras. If the master of this vessel had acted 
 prudently, he might probably have escaped. On 
 his first appearance, he coasted under French colours ; 
 but being abreast of the point, and observing a felucca 
 standing out to speak him, he hoisted British, and 
 fired a shot. This circumstance spread the alarm : 
 four or five gun-boats immediately rowed out and 
 opposed her passage till a xebeque came up and run 
 her aboard. 
 
 The afternoon of the i8th, an extraordinary instance 
 of gallantry and presence of mind occurred at the 
 laboratory adjoining the South bastion. An artillery- 
 man, named Hartley, was employed in the laboratory 
 filling shells with carcass composition, and driving 
 fuses into sh ^^^ 6-inch shells. One of them, by 
 some unaccountable accident, took fire in the opera- 
 tion ; and, although he was surrounded with unfixed 
 fuses, loaded shells, composition, etc., with the most 
 astonishing coolness he carried out the lighted 
 shell and threw it where it could do little or no 
 harm, and two seconds had scarcely elapsed before 
 it exploded. If the shell had burst in the labora- 
 tory it is almost certain the whole would have 
 been blown up, when the loss in fixed ammuni- 
 tion, fuses, etc., etc., would have been irreparable, 
 exclusive of the damage which the fortifications must 
 have suffered from the explosion, and the lives that 
 might have been lost. He was handsomely rewarded 
 by the governor. The night of the loth, a soldier 
 of De la Motte's, who had been missing from the 5th,
 
 256 VARIOUS DESERTERS [Chap. VII 
 
 was discovered by the quarter-guard of that regiment 
 stealing bread from the men's tents : he was instantly 
 pursued, but could not be overtaken. The next day, 
 however, he was found concealed in a cave. Two 
 others had also been retaken within a few preceding 
 days. Such attention had been paid to scarping 
 the back of the Rock, that it was little short of mad- 
 ness in these wretches, at this period, to attempt 
 desertion. 
 
 Some experiments were made, in the beginning 
 of this month, with large stones, cut to fit the calibre 
 of a 13-inch mortar. The stones had a small hole 
 drilled in the centre which being filled with a sufficient 
 quantity of powder, they were fired with a short 
 fuse, to burst over the enemy's works ; and the 
 fragments were expected to do some damage, as well 
 as alarm their workmen. It was an unusual mode 
 of annoyance, and for its novelty was used for some 
 time, but was soon laid aside. The nth, in the 
 afternoon, four sailors, under pretence of visiting 
 some fishing-pots, deserted to the enemy. Two of 
 them were concerned in the conspiracy to run away 
 with the Speedwell cutter, as mentioned, some months 
 before. The following evening, a sergeant of the 72nd 
 regiment, who had absented himself several days 
 from his corps, and who, previous to his absence, 
 had left a letter signifying his intention to desert, 
 was retaken half-way down the Rock, between Charles 
 the Fifth's wall and Mount Misery. He was so situated 
 as to be unable to descend or return, and was at 
 length obliged to cry for assistance ; which being 
 heard by the guard at the former post, search was 
 made for the unhappy man, and he was afterwards 
 executed. 
 
 A deserter from the regiment of Bechart came in 
 on the 14th : he acquainted us that the Due de Crillon
 
 1782] EXPLODING A MINE 257 
 
 had assumed the command of the siege, and that 
 General Don Alvarez had quitted the camp ; that 
 the combined army consisted of 45 battalions of 
 infantry, including 8 French battalions, 2 battalions 
 of Spanish, and 4 companies of French artillery, 
 beside cavalry ; but, owing to desertion, their 
 numbers were considerably diminished. The batter- 
 ing-ships, he said, were to have on board French 
 artillery ; and it was reported they would be com- 
 pleted in about six weeks, the time we had calculated 
 ourselves from observations on their progress. About 
 this period additional forges for heating shots were 
 established in different parts of the garrison, with all 
 the proper apparatus. The 15th, the enemy laid a 
 boom of spars from the breakers north of the island 
 at Algeziras towards the northward : some few days 
 afterwards it was considerably lengthened, and the 
 gun-boats were ranged in front of it : a boom was 
 also placed between the island and the main land. 
 We concluded these obstructions were intended to 
 defend their battering-ships from any attempts we 
 might make to destroy them before they were com- 
 pleted. The same day an embrasure was opened in 
 the face of the Rock, communicating with the gallery 
 above Farringdon's : the mine was loaded with an 
 unusual quantity of powder, and the explosion was 
 so amazingly loud, that almost the whole of the 
 enemy's camp turned out at the report : but what 
 must their surprise have been when they observed 
 whence the smoke issued ! The original intention 
 of this opening was to communicate air to the work- 
 men, who before were almost suffocated with the 
 smoke which remained after blowing the different 
 mines ; but, on examining the aperture more closely, 
 an idea was conceived of mounting a gun to bear 
 on all the enemy's batteries, excepting Fort Barbara : 
 
 17
 
 258 GREAT NEWS OF RODNEY [Chap. VII 
 
 accordingly orders were given to enlarge the inner 
 part for the recoil ; and, when finished, a 24-pounder 
 was mounted.* 
 
 The i8th, a soldier of the 56th regiment who had 
 escaped from the quarter-guard some days before, and 
 who, it is imagined, had endeavoured to desert, 
 surrendered himself voluntarily to the main guard. 
 One of the 58th, and another of the 97th regiment, had 
 got off in the former part of the month : the dis- 
 couragement, however, which had of late attended 
 these deluded wretches, we were in hopes, would now 
 deter others from attempting to abandon their colours 
 at this critical juncture. 
 
 Our artillery, as the firing was very inconsiderable, 
 were now chiefly engaged in preparing shells and 
 carcasses to be used against the enemy's ships. The 
 engineers were also equally indefatigable in their 
 department. On the part of the besiegers, multitudes 
 of mules were constantly employed in different duties 
 in their camp, and large parties continued to land 
 military stores and powder at the Orange Grove. The 
 25th, the St Philip's Castle and Hector cutter arrived 
 from the eastward, and communicated the agreeable 
 news of the entire defeat of the French fleet in the 
 West Indies by Admiral Sir George Rodney, with the 
 capture of the Ville de Paris, and the French admiral, 
 the Comte de Grasse. In consequence of this victory, 
 a grand salute was fired at noon; and in the evening 
 a fen-de-joie, by the troops drawn up from the Grand 
 
 * This novel formation of a covered battery was afterwards ex- 
 tended, and the work was prosecuted with such success, that four, 
 if not five guns were mounted in the gallery, before the subsequent 
 September ; and in a little more than twelve months from the day the 
 engineers commenced, it was advanced to the projection of the Rock, 
 where the governor purposed to make a battery ; which afterwards 
 was effected, and is now distinguished by the name of St. George's 
 Hall.
 
 1782] THE NEW SPANISH SHIPS 259 
 
 battery to the New Mole fort. Signor Leonetti, 
 nephew to Pascal Paoli, the celebrated Corsican 
 general, with two officers, a chaplain, and 68 volun- 
 teers, came as passengers in these vessels to offer 
 their services to the governor. In the course of the 
 same day, our engineers began to fix a chevaux-de-frise 
 from the foot of Land Port glacis, adjoining Water 
 Port, to the sloping palisades on the causeway, and 
 thence to be continued across the Inundation to the 
 advanced covered-way, leading to Lower Forbes's 
 barrier. The enem}^ did not molest the party on this 
 duty ; which to us appeared very extraordinary. 
 
 A boat arrived on the 26th with two packets from 
 Faro, which mentioned that the enemy's preparations 
 for the attack would be complete by the middle of 
 August, and that all the boats along the coast in 
 the vicinity of Cadiz were already engaged to embark 
 troops for the expedition. A private letter by this 
 boat gave us some general information of the immense 
 preparations which were making, and some idea of 
 the construction of the new-invented vessels, which 
 had inspired the enemy with such confidence of 
 success. It recited, " That ten ships were to be 
 fortified 6 or 7 feet thick, on the larboard side, 
 with green timber bolted with iron, cork, junk, 
 and raw hides ; which were to carry guns of heavy 
 metal, and be bomb-proof on the top, with a descent 
 for the shells to slide off: that these vessels, which 
 they supposed would be impregnable, were to be 
 moored within half gun-shot of the walls with iron 
 chains ; and large boats with mantlets were to lie off 
 at some distance, full of troops, to assist, and be 
 ready to take advantage of occurrences : that the 
 mantlets of these boats were to be formed with hinges 
 to fall down, to facilitate their landing : that they 
 were to have 40,000 men in camp, and the principal
 
 26o NEW COVERED WAYS [Chap. VII 
 
 attack was to be made by sea, to be covered by a 
 squadron of men-of-war, with bomb-ketches, floating 
 batteries, gun and mortar boats, etc. : and that the 
 Comte d'Artois, brother to the King of France, with 
 other great personages, was to be present at the 
 attack." 
 
 Toward the conclusion of the month, our attention 
 was engaged for several nights successively by a 
 great noise on the isthmus, like that of a large body 
 of men at work : a few light balls were thrown in 
 different parts to discover whence it proceeded ; but 
 we could never discern any men, except their patrols : 
 it was therefore imagined these parties were employed 
 within the lines. The 29th, the wooden buildings 
 in the navy yard at the New Mole were taken down 
 and removed to Rosia, where they were afterwards 
 re-established on an enlarged plan. As the communi- 
 cations along the line-wall, etc., to the northward 
 were expected to be much exposed to the enemy's 
 fire when the ships were brought before the walls, 
 the engineers, about this time, began a covered-way 
 along the rampart, from Orange's bastion to the Grand 
 Parade, and thence to be continued to South Port : 
 this was done by clearing away the rubbish from the 
 old houses immediately under the works, and filling 
 others up, which also served as traverses against the 
 land batteries. Another covered-way was likewise 
 made to communicate from the Princess of Wales's 
 lines with the South barracks. The 31st, upward of 
 a hundred covered waggons came to the enemy's lines 
 from the camp, supposed to be laden with ammunition 
 and stores for the batteries. 
 
 Appearances became daily more important in the 
 month of August. The enemy's artificers were re- 
 markably diligent at Algeziras, and the cruisers 
 became more attentive to the blockade. They were
 
 1782] CORSICAN VOLUNTEERS 261 
 
 particularly suspicious of every vessel that came in 
 sight from the west ; and the gun-boats were stationed 
 out as night-cruisers ; which probably was the reason 
 why we had not been for some time visited by them. 
 In their camp every person seemed employed; and 
 their depots of fascines and pickets were very con- 
 siderable, notwithstanding the quantities continually 
 removed to the lines. Nor were we less active in taking 
 advantage of this interval : large and lofty traverses 
 were raised along the line-wall ; new communications 
 were made at Willis's ; the flank of the Princess 
 Anne's battery was rebuilt, and heavy metal mounted, 
 to bear over Water Port. The 4th, the Corsican 
 volunteers were formed into an independent corps, 
 under Signor Leonetti, who was appointed captain- 
 commandant. The company consisted of a captain 
 and captain-lieutenant, first and second lieutenants, 
 I adjutant, i chaplain, 4 sergeants, 4 corporals, 2 
 drummers, and 68 privates. They were armed with a 
 firelock and bayonet, each had a horse-pistol slung on 
 the left side, and two cartridge-boxes. The governor 
 quartered them on Windmill Hill, and committed 
 that post to their charge. 
 
 As the completing of the subterranean communi- 
 cations from the King's to the Queen's lines appeared 
 (from the difficulty at that time attending the 
 reinforcing of the latter, in case of an alarm) to be 
 an object of great importance, the governor, on the 
 5th, ordered all the miners in the different regiments 
 into the King's works, to prosecute it with greater 
 diligence, and assist in the gallery above Farringdon's, 
 which now extended 140 feet in the solid rock. The 
 same day the enemy removed the old masts out of 
 several of the battering-ships, substituting jury-masts 
 in their places. Three hulls now appeared nearly 
 finished. The evening of the 6th, the governor
 
 262 "BEATEN TO POWDER" [Chap. VII 
 
 thought proper to detach a trusty sergeant, with 
 four men, from Land Port, to a recess in the rock 
 under the Queen's lines, near Lower Forbes's, with 
 orders to advance a sentry to the barrier, who was 
 to listen attentively to what was transacting upon 
 the neutral ground ; but by no means to fire, except 
 in his own defence. This party was to withdraw 
 at the grey of the morning, that they might not be 
 observed by the enemy. 
 
 The 7th came in a deserter who had been formerly 
 in our service at Minorca. He swam from behind 
 Fort Barbara, and landed at the Devil's Tower ; near 
 which place he met a patrol of cavalry, but, throwing 
 himself on the ground, was not observed. He said 
 the duke was resolved to fire, the 25th instant ; and, 
 from the prodigious number of mortars mounted in 
 the lines, reports were industriously propagated in 
 the camp, that our ordnance would soon be silenced 
 by their superior fire, and the batteries beaten to 
 powder. He further acquainted us, that there were 
 34,000 men in camp, and but little intercourse between 
 the Spaniards and their allies, who were principally 
 new levies, and very little disciplined ; concluding 
 with a confirmation of the last intelligence, that the 
 soldiers in general so disrelished the business, that 
 many daily deserted with their arms into the country. 
 We continued to fire a few light balls at night, for 
 fear the enemy should make any addition to their 
 advanced works, which, from the immense quantity 
 of materials brought to the lines, we suspected would 
 be commenced very soon ; and, as it was apprehended 
 their advances would be made to the eastward, the 
 guns at Willis's and the heights bearing toward that 
 quarter were loaded with grape, to be more eff'ectual 
 in the execution, in case they were discovered. On 
 the nth, the 72nd regiment, which was quartered in
 
 1782] INFLUENZA 263 
 
 the bastions in town, independent of their quota 
 towards the other duties of the garrison, voluntarily 
 offered to assist in making the new covered-way 
 from the Grand Parade to Orange's bastion ; and 100 
 of them were immediately employed. The governor, 
 however, as a compensation for their zeal, ordered 
 them to be paid as real-men (that is, to receive two 
 reals each per day ; which is equal, at par, to about 
 <)d. sterling), with the addition to each man of a pint 
 of grog. 
 
 The enemy on the 13th got up the masts and 
 yards in several ships, and bent the sails of two ; 
 but, from the appearance of the whole, we did not 
 think they could be finished by the 25th. Some few 
 days before, they lined the upper port-holes of the 
 two-deckers with tin, to protect, as we imagined, 
 the cheeks of the ports from being burnt by the 
 constant firing of the cannon. In the evening, the 
 97th regiment furnished, for the first time, a working 
 party of 120 men, to remove ship-timbers from the 
 New Mole to Montague's bastion, where the engineers 
 intended to erect a cavalier for two guns. 
 
 About this time a species of influenza made its 
 appearance on board the frigates in the Mole, and 
 soon communicated with the garrison. Its general 
 symptoms were sudden pains, accompanied with a 
 dizziness in the head ; though others were affected 
 in a different manner. For several days near 100 men 
 were daily taken to the hospital ; but bleeding and 
 a night's rest usually removed it. It was attributed 
 at that time to the extraordinary heat of the atmo- 
 sphere, which was unusually warm, owing to the 
 extensive fires made by the Spaniards on the neigh- 
 bouring hills, and the stagnant state of the air ; but 
 we have since learned that it was universal over 
 Europe, and we had reason, at that time, to think
 
 264 A STUPENDOUS WORK [Chap. VII 
 
 the enemy were not less affected by it than the 
 garrison. 
 
 A general officer, supposed to be the Due de 
 Crillon, but who, it was afterwards learned, was the 
 Comte d'Artois, visited, on the 15th, the advanced 
 works ; we soon had reason to believe that his object 
 was to reconnoitre the ground, previous to entering 
 upon the succeeding additions which were made to 
 the parallel ; for, the subsequent morning at daybreak, 
 to our great astonishment, we discovered that they 
 had raised, during the preceding night, a very strong 
 and lofty epaulment, in extent about 500 yards, con- 
 necting the parallel to the eastern breach, with a 
 communication, near 1,300 yards long, extending from 
 the principal barrier of the lines to the east end of 
 the new epaulment. Their works now embraced each 
 shore of the isthmus, and fully completed the first 
 parallel. The communication, or boyau (as it was 
 distinguished by our engineers), consisted of casks 
 filled with sand, which was also thrown up in front, 
 having traverses at equal distances in the rear, made 
 of casks and fascines : but the epaulment appeared 
 to be raised entirely with sand-bags, from 10 to 
 12 feet high, with a thickness proportionable : and 
 altogether was a most stupendous work. Its purpose, 
 however, was not immediately pointed out. To 
 erect these new additions in so short a time, we 
 computed, at a moderate calculation, must have 
 employed 10,000 men, which was afterwards confirmed 
 to us by their officers : and that so numerous a party 
 should be at work within 800 yards of the garrison, 
 itself on the alert, and not be discovered, must appear, 
 to a person not present, almost incredible. We threw 
 a few light balls whilst they were at work, one of 
 which, we afterwards learned, greatly alarmed them ; 
 but, finding they were not discovered, they resumed
 
 1782] INSULT TO THE FLAG 265 
 
 their occupation, and withdrew in the morning un- 
 observed. The Spanish gazette described this parallel 
 as of 230 toises * in length ; and added, that one 
 million six hundred thousand sand-bags were used in 
 raising it. The communication, the gazette said, 
 was in length 630 toises, and formed of fascines and 
 casks. The governor at night did not order an in- 
 crease of firing on the new works : a few rounds were 
 discharged, with several carcasses and light-balls ; 
 but the latter were almost immediately extinguished. 
 
 The night of the 17th, the enemy brought a great 
 number of casks, pickets, and fascines, to the rear 
 of the eastern communication, which was raised to 
 a little extent near the barrier. They also erected 
 three epaulments with retiring flanks of sand-bags, 
 for mortar batteries in the parallel. Two were to 
 the westward, and the third to the eastward of the 
 Mahon battery. 
 
 The morning of the i8th, we observed one of the 
 battering-ships at anchor off Barcelo's battery. About 
 noon, the men-of-war at Algeziras were decorated 
 with flags, as was customary on the celebration of a 
 festival; and, what did not escape our observation, 
 the English ensign was at the maintop-gallant mast- 
 head of the admiral's ship, with the Spanish ensign 
 flying triumphantly over it. Soon after, seven barges 
 with crimson awnings rowed from Algeziras to the 
 Orange Grove, where they received on board some 
 great personages, and returned to Algeziras, escorted 
 by 15 gun-boats, which repeatedly fired salutes, as 
 did the men-of-war : on their return amongst the 
 shipping, the battering-ships hoisted their ensigns, 
 and salutes were again fired by the men-of-war. The 
 barges then proceeded to the battering-ship which was 
 anchored apart from the rest, where they remained 
 
 * A toise is equal to our fathom, or six feet.
 
 266 EXCHANGE OF COURTESIES [Chap. VII 
 
 some time ; and, on the company's quitting the ship, 
 she fired a salute of eight guns, and the boats went 
 alongside the admiral. About three, the battering- 
 ship got under way, and sailed to the northward, 
 past the flag-ship ; she endeavoured to sail back, 
 but in vain ; and was obliged to be towed to her 
 station by lo gun-boats. At six o'clock, three barges 
 only returned from the Spanish admiral to the Orange 
 Grove, and were saluted and reconducted with the 
 same ceremony as before. We now imagined that 
 the Comte d'Artois was arrived, and these compliments 
 were paid in consequence of his dining with the 
 Spanish admiral. Our firing at night was very brisk. 
 The succeeding morning we perceived that the enemy 
 had constructed nine traverses adjoining the eastern 
 part of the epaulment, and had raised the boyau with 
 fascines. The epaulment for another mortar battery 
 was likewise erected in the parallel opposite the 
 centre redoubt. At night the enemy were heard hard 
 at work : our firing was consequently increased by 
 the addition of the lower batteries ; the enemy did not 
 return a shot. 
 
 On the 19th, a small magazine blew up in the 
 enemy's camp, near Buena Vista, which set a hut on 
 fire. About noon, a flag of truce came from the duke : 
 the officer appeared to be a person of rank, as the 
 boat had a crimson awning, and the rowers were in 
 uniform. After passing and repassing several times, 
 our boat returned with a present, from the duke to 
 the governor, of ice, fruit, vegetables, etc. The officers 
 informed us that the salutes fired the preceding day 
 were in compliment to the Comte d'Artois, etc. The 
 following was handed about as a genuine translation 
 of the duke's letter on this occasion ; therefore, with- 
 out vouching for its authenticity, it is here inserted 
 to gratify the curiosity of the reader.
 
 1782] LETTER FROM DE CRILLON 267 
 
 ' ' Camp of Buena Vista, 
 "Aug. 19, 1782. 
 
 " Sir, — His Royal Highness Comte d'Artois, who 
 has received permission from the king his brother 
 to assist at the siege, as a volunteer in the combined 
 army, of which their Most Christian and Catholic 
 Majesties have honoured me with the command, 
 arrived in this camp the 15th instant. This young 
 prince has been pleased, in passing through Madrid, 
 to take charge of some letters which had been sent 
 to that capital from this place, and which are addressed 
 to persons belonging to your garrison : his Royal 
 Highness has desired that I would transmit them to 
 you, and that to this mark of his goodness and 
 attention I should add the strongest expressions of 
 esteem for your person and character. I feel the 
 greatest pleasure in giving this mark of condescension 
 in this august prince, as it furnishes me with a 
 pretext, which I have been anxiously looking for 
 these two months that I have been in camp, to assure 
 you of the highest esteem I have conceived for your 
 Excellency, of the sincerest desire I feel of deserving 
 yours, and of the pleasure to which I look forward 
 of becoming your friend, after I shall have learned 
 to render myself worthy of the honour, by facing 
 you as an enemy. His Highness the Due de Bourbon, 
 who arrived here twenty-four hours after the Comte 
 d'Artois, desires also that I should assure you of his 
 particular esteem. 
 
 " Permit me, Sir, to offer a few trifles for your 
 table, of which I am sure you must stand in need, as 
 I know you live entirely upon vegetables : I should 
 be glad to know what kind you like best. I shall 
 add a few head of game for the gentlemen of your 
 household, and some ice, which I presume will not 
 be disagreeable in the excessive heat of this climate
 
 268 THE GOVERNOR'S REPLY [Chap. VII 
 
 at this season of the year, I hope you will be 
 obliging enough to accept the small portion which 
 I send with this letter. I have the honour to 
 be, etc., 
 
 " B. B. Due DE Crillon. 
 
 " His Excellency 
 
 General Eliott, etc." 
 
 The barge which brought the letter and present 
 ranged at a short distance along the town, from off 
 the Old Mole head to Ragged Staff, where she was 
 stopped by our flag; but being thought rather too 
 near, as they might thence make what observations 
 they chose on our batteries, a shot was fired over 
 her from the Repulse prame ; upon which she rowed 
 further out in the bay, and waited at a considerable 
 distance for the return of our flag. The night of 
 the 19th, the enemy raised the semicircular parapet 
 of the place darmes joining the east flank of the 
 St. Carlos's battery, with sand-bags eight or nine 
 feet high, apparently for a battery : they also made 
 some considerable additions to the eastern works. 
 The day following, a flag of truce went from the 
 garrison with ;an answer to the duke's polite letter 
 of the preceding day : the governor's letter was re- 
 ported to be to the following purpose : 
 
 "Gibraltar, Aug. 20, 1782. 
 
 " Sir, — I find myself highly honoured by your 
 obliging letter of yesterday, in which your Excellency 
 was so kind as to inform me of the arrival in your 
 camp of his Royal Highness the Comte d'Artois, and 
 the Due de Bourbon, to serve as volunteers at the 
 siege. These princes have shown their judgment in 
 making choice of a master in the art of war, whose 
 abilities cannot fail to form great warriors. I am 
 overpowered with the condescension of his Royal
 
 1782] THE PRESENT OF FRUIT 269 
 
 Highness, in suffering some letters for persons in 
 this town to be conveyed from Madrid in his carriages. 
 I flatter myself that your Excellency will give my 
 most profound respects to his Royal Highness, and 
 to the Due de Bourbon, for the expressions of esteem 
 with which they have been pleased to honour so in- 
 significant a person as I am. 
 
 " I return a thousand thanks to your Excellency 
 for your handsome present of fruits, vegetables, and 
 game. You will excuse me, however, I trust, when 
 I assure you, that, in accepting your present, I have 
 broken through a resolution to which I had faithfully 
 adhered since the beginning of the war; and that was 
 never to receive or procure, by any means whatever, 
 any provisions or other commodity for my own private 
 use : so that, without any preference, everything is 
 sold publicly here ; and the private soldier, if he have 
 money, can become a purchaser as well as the 
 governor. I confess I make it a point of honour to 
 partake both of plenty and scarcity in common with 
 the lowest of my brave fellow-soldiers. This 
 furnishes me with an excuse for the liberty I now 
 take, of entreating your Excellency not to heap any 
 more favours on me of this kind, as in future I cannot 
 convert your presents to my own private use. Indeed, 
 to be plain with your Excellency, though vegetables 
 at this season are scarce with us, every man has got 
 a quantity proportioned to the labour which he has 
 bestowed in raising them. The English are naturally 
 fond of gardening and cultivation ; and here we find 
 our amusement in it, during the intervals of rest from 
 public duty. The promise which the Due de Crillon 
 makes, of honouring me in proper time and place with 
 his friendship, lays me under infinite obligations. 
 The interest of our sovereigns being once solidly 
 settled, I shall with eagerness embrace the first
 
 270 ADDITIONS TO THE WORKS [Chap. VII 
 
 opportunity to avail myself of so precious a treasure. 
 I have the honour to be, etc., 
 
 " G. A. Eliott. 
 
 " His Excellency 
 
 the Due de Crillon, etc." 
 
 Our artillery, on the night of the 20th, fired with 
 great vivacity from the upper and lower batteries, 
 in all directions ; for the objects now were so 
 numerous and divided, the parallel being upwards 
 of half a mile in extent, that we could not always 
 be certain where to find them employed. In the 
 morning we observed they had raised the boyau, 
 and made some alterations in the western works. 
 The enemy's operations were not now carried on in 
 the same slow manner as formerly : the duke seemed 
 determined to act with vigour, and astonish us by 
 the rapidity with which he raised his batteries. His 
 army was numerous, and his orders (if we may credit 
 report) with respect to means and materials unlimited. 
 Every exertion was therefore used to complete them 
 with expedition. Whilst our opponents were so 
 active, we were not on our parts indolent, or inatten- 
 tive to the defence of the garrison. The late additions 
 of the enemy made considerable alterations necessary 
 in the works at Willis's, etc. Our parties were there- 
 fore augmented, and employed in strengthening the 
 communications, repairing the splinter-proofs, and on 
 other important duties of the same nature. Green's 
 Lodge and the Royal battery were ordered to be 
 caissoned with ship-timber : the intrenched covered- 
 way from the Princess of Wales's lines was continued, 
 and sloping palisades placed under those parts ot 
 the line-wall, from the i-gun bastion to the New 
 Mole, which were not well flanked from above. A 
 boom of masts was likewise laid from the former 
 to the head of the watering-tank, and anchors sunk
 
 1782] A BRISK ARTILLERY DUEL 271 
 
 in the shallow water between that bastion and Ragged 
 Staff. 
 
 The afternoon of the 21st a carcass from Willis's 
 set fire to some loose fascines in the rear of the 
 Eastern boyau, which soon communicated to the 
 work itself; and the line for a considerable extent 
 was involved in the flames. On the appearance of 
 the smoke our lower batteries immediately opened, 
 and a most animated cannonade was directed from 
 the garrison. A party of the enemy endeavoured to 
 extinguish the fire ; but, finding their efforts to stop 
 its progress in vain, they gallantly pulled down the 
 line on each side to prevent the flames from spreading ; 
 which they at length effected, but not without con- 
 siderable loss from our artillery. For some time we 
 imagined the enemy would remain silent spectators 
 of the conflagration ; but an officer arriving at the 
 lines about six o'clock, their batteries instantly 
 returned the fire, seconded soon after by the new 
 13-gun battery near the Tower; the latter, how- 
 ever, after four or five discharges, was silenced 
 by the Old Mole head howitzers. Our fire was so 
 brisk and so well-served, that it exceeded theirs by 
 four to one. About half-past seven the flames burnt 
 out ; and our additional ordnance, as well as the enemy's 
 batteries, ceased. In this short firing they returned 
 743 shot and 38 shells ; and we expended in the 24 
 hours, including what were discharged on this 
 occasion, 90 barrels of powder. We had three men 
 slightly wounded. In the prior part of the day, 13 
 feluccas arrived in the bay from the east : some 
 imagined they were intended for additional gun- 
 boats ; others, for debarking troops. The 22nd, the 
 enemy had repaired the damage done by the fire the 
 preceding da}'^ ; but in the afternoon another similar 
 accident had nearly happened : a carcass was thrown
 
 272 FEARS IN HARDYTOWN [Chap. VII 
 
 into the St. Martin's battery, and took effect ; but 
 the guard exerted themselves with such activity and 
 bravery, that it was soon extinguished, although our 
 lower batteries were again open to support it. The 
 enemy were on this day totally silent. The suc- 
 ceeding night they dressed and raised the new com- 
 munication, and made some additions to the eastern 
 part of the parallel ; they were also at work in their 
 new mortar batteries ; and great quantities of 
 materials were brought down to the lines, and into 
 the advanced works. 
 
 The 24th, the inhabitants in Hardytown began 
 early to remove their bedding, etc., towards Europa ; 
 they were confident, from the information of the last 
 deserters, that the enemy would again open their 
 batteries the succeeding day, being the anniversary 
 of St. Louis ; and no persuasions could banish their 
 apprehensions. They were, however, convinced, the 
 following day, that the duke was not prepared, 
 whatever his intentions might have been some weeks 
 before. 
 
 The enemy being heard at work, on the night of 
 the 24th, drew a warm fire from our batteries. In the 
 morning we found they had raised additional traverses 
 to the sand-bag epaulment, which now presented a 
 formidable battery of 64 embrasures, divided into 4 
 batteries of 14 embrasures each, and i of 8 ; leaving 
 a space at the eastern extremity, as we concluded, for 
 mortars. The original epaulment remained entire, the 
 additional merlons joining at proper intervals the front 
 work, which served to mask the embrasures till the 
 batteries were finished. Several embrasures of the 8- 
 gun battery they had already lined with fascines. Some 
 additions were also made to the St. Carlos's battery, 
 the parapet of which was lengthened toward the west. 
 The following night the enemy, notwithstanding a
 
 1782] ORDNANCE-SHIPS ASHORE 273 
 
 warm fire from the garrison, erected three large 
 magazines, and began a fourth in the rear of the 64- 
 gun battery : they likewise lined many of the embra- 
 sures with fascines, and raised a sand-bag traverse to 
 cover the communication from the west flank of the 
 64-gun battery to the parallel. 
 
 The 26th, the Queen Charlotte, Leonora, and 
 Charles, ordnance-ships, with the St. Philip's Castle, 
 were ordered into the Mole to be run ashore till the 
 expected attack was decided. The seamen belonging 
 to the frigates were employed also about this time in 
 carrying sails and yards to erect tents for a camp at 
 Europa, where they were to be stationed when the 
 governor should think proper to order them on shore. 
 In the evening, about ten o'clock, came in a deserter, 
 an Irishman, who formerly had been in our service ; 
 he swam from the beach beyond Fort St. Philip, and 
 attempted to land at Bayside, but was fired upon by 
 their advanced sentries. He informed us it was 
 reported that the duke had intended firing on the 25th, 
 but was prevented from finishing his batteries so 
 soon as he expected by the heavy fire from the 
 garrison : that, in their endeavours to extinguish the 
 flames on the preceding 21st, the party had sustained 
 very considerable loss : a colonel and 17 men of the 
 regiment to which he belonged were killed. He 
 corroborated the intelligence, by the last deserter, 
 concerning the number of men in camp, and respecting 
 the prevalence of desertion. 
 
 We did not discover any material additions the 
 morning of the 27th : a fifth magazine was erected ; 
 also several traverses in the rear of the parallel. 
 Another of the battering-ships anchored the same 
 day off" Barcelo's battery, apart from the rest : as she 
 swung round with the tide, we had an opportunity 
 of viewing with glasses the starboard-side, which we 
 
 18
 
 274 VESSELS WITHDRAWN [Chap. VII 
 
 perceived was not closed in and finished like the 
 opposite side; the bomb-proof only extending about 
 three parts over, leaving considerable openings 
 between the strong uprights which supported it from 
 the deck, for the convenient reception of men, 
 provisions, and ammunition. We observed, the same 
 day, a great number of boats ranged along the shore 
 at Algeziras. In the afternoon, the Repulse prame 
 came into the New Mole ; and the succeeding morning 
 the Fortune and Vanguard were likewise withdrawn 
 from the bay. At night the enemy erected a number 
 of traverses in rear of their parallel and battery, and 
 finished some interior work, as they had done the 
 preceding night, though we kept up our usual fire. 
 
 The enemy's squadron was reinforced on the 28th 
 with six Spanish line-of-battle ships and a xebeque, 
 under a commodore, from the west. In the course 
 of the day, two 24-pounders were taken up the hill 
 to the gallery above Farringdon's, for the embrasures 
 already opened ; and 400 additional workmen were 
 ordered into the works. Upwards of 600 men were 
 at this time daily employed at Willis's, covering and 
 strengthening the flanks ; likewise in forming new 
 communications, with splinter-proofs, traverses, etc., 
 as the new battery enfiladed most of the old covered- 
 ways, and rendered a thorough change necessary in 
 those works, before the artillery could be properly 
 covered. The communications in town and at the 
 south were therefore discontinued, till the above were 
 put in the best state of defence and security. At dusk, 
 three sergeants were posted upon the North, King's, 
 and South bastions, to observe and report the enemy's 
 signals in camp, and along the coast. At night, a 
 deserter from the Walons came over in the same 
 manner as the last. He reported, that a very strong 
 party was ordered for work that evening; which
 
 1782] MISPLACED ARTILLERY 275 
 
 induced the governor to increase the firing from 
 Willis's, the lines, and lower batteries. He further 
 acquainted us, that we killed numbers of their work- 
 men ; and that the 15th of next month was fixed for 
 opening upon the garrison : but that all, even the 
 volunteers, were disheartened at the very thoughts 
 of the attack. Ninety pieces of cannon, he likewise 
 said, were brought into the 64-gun battery ; which 
 number was to be increased, to supply the place of 
 those which might be damaged, or over-heated. The 
 night of the 28th, the enemy raised more traverses, 
 and began communications to their magazines: 153 
 of the former were erected behind the long boyau. 
 They also worked upon the mortar batteries. 
 
 It was about this period that the Spanish 26- 
 pounders, with other guns of the same heavy nature, 
 were distributed on the sea-line in room of ordnance 
 of smaller calibre, which were mounted in their places 
 against the enemy's batteries. By this disposition 
 the duke would not have it in his power to return any 
 of the shot we fired, as his cannon were all 26-pounders ; 
 and the governor was enabled to retaliate on their 
 shipping, those shot which he had received from the 
 land ; annoying them by this means with their own 
 weapons. Toward the conclusion of the month, the 
 influenza had almost disappeared : the working parties 
 were therefore reinforced, though the heavy duty of 
 the guards would with difficulty permit it : on the 
 29th, the engineers paraded upwards of 1,700 workmen, 
 including non-commissioned officers. The enemy, 
 on the night of the 29th, raised merlons for four 
 embrasures, joining the semicircular sand-bag epaul- 
 ment, east of St. Carlos's battery. Six battering-ships 
 were at anchor off Barcelo's battery on the 30th. The 
 same day our seamen were ordered on shore, to 
 encamp at Europa. At night, the artillery, in addition
 
 276 THE ENEMY'S SQUADRON [Chap. VII 
 
 to their former fire, opened the Grand battery : it 
 did not, however, prevent the enemy from platform- 
 ing the 64-gun battery, and making further additions 
 to the mortar batteries. They also lined with fascines 
 the embrasures of the semicircular 4-gun battery. 
 Many hundred mules were still employed in bringing 
 clay and fascines to the parallel. Our fire was very 
 destructive amongst these animals, as well as their 
 workmen ; two, three, and sometimes more of the 
 former being frequently seen dead on the sands at 
 daybreak. 
 
 Our engineers, by the close of the month, had 
 extended Land Port chevaux-de-frise to the causeway, 
 and begun the other across the Inundation. Car- 
 penters were also engaged in caissoning the Royal 
 and Green's lodge batteries, and raising new traverses 
 at those posts. The enemy's squadron in the bay 
 at this period was as follows : four line-of-battle ships, 
 and one of 50 guns (on board of which was the flag), 
 two frigates, three cutters, four bomb-ketches, and 
 smaller armed vessels, were at Algeziras : two ships 
 of the line were at anchor off the Orange Grove ; and 
 a frigate, with an armed brig, was at Cabrita. To 
 these we may add the battering-ships and gun- 
 boats. Since two of the men-of-war had removed 
 nearer the enemy's camp, boats full of soldiers were 
 frequently observed going on board them ; and as 
 the guns were seen to be drawn back from the ports, 
 and suddenly run out again, whilst the troops were 
 on board, we suspected that they were practising to 
 work the guns, previous to their embarking on board 
 the battering-ships. 
 
 Affairs seemed now drawing to a crisis : and, as 
 every appearance indicated that the attack would not 
 long be deferred, the inhabitants, apprehensive of 
 the consequences, were wonderfully active in securing
 
 1/82] APPROACH OF THE CRISIS 277 
 
 places of retreat for themselves and their property. 
 The besiegers wrought hard the night of the 31st; 
 two cross-communications lined with fascines were 
 thrown up from the long boyau, leading to the 
 parallel ; one to the western flank of the 64-gun 
 battery, the other to the westward of the Mahon 
 battery. Five traverses were also erected within 
 each of the new mortar batteries, and magazines for 
 ammunition were begun near them, joining the 
 parallel. We imagined they were likewise employed 
 in bringing down ordnance to the advanced works. 
 Our artillery amused them with a brisk fire ; but 
 the governor rather objected to such a quantity of 
 powder being at this time expended, as he was of 
 opinion they were now too well covered in their 
 batteries to be much annoyed ; and we might after- 
 wards have more occasion for the ammunition. 
 
 The evening of the ist of September, a small boat 
 manned with English sailors sailed for Portugal. 
 Lieutenant Campbell, of the navy, sailed in her with 
 dispatches from the governor for England. At night, 
 the enemy erected an epaulment of sand-bags, ap- 
 parently for two guns, adjoining the west flank of 
 the Mahon battery ; and raised the new communica- 
 tions several fascines in height. Some additions 
 were likewise made to the magazines. Long strings 
 of mules still continued bringing down fascines and 
 other materials, which were deposited in different 
 parts of their works. We imagined these animals 
 also brought down shot and shells, as their piles 
 in the artillery park were considerably diminished. 
 In the garrison, our engineers were indefatigable 
 in raising defences against the enemy's formidable 
 new batteries ; and coals were distributed to the 
 grates and furnaces for heating shot. 
 
 We perceived very little alteration in the opera-
 
 278 BATTERING SHIPS SAIL [Chap. VII 
 
 tions of our opponents on the 3rd : they lined the 
 embrasures of the new 2-gun batter}^, and added to 
 the cross-communications. In the course of the day, 
 their squadron was reinforced with 2 French men- 
 of-war from the eastward, which were conducted into 
 the bay by a Spanish frigate. The 4th, the enemy 
 removed the guns from the two 14-gun batteries in 
 the lines, and dismounted most of the ordnance in 
 the mortar batteries, probably to repair the beds 
 and platforms. The removing of the cannon from 
 the former gave us no small pleasure, as we had 
 experienced more fatal effects, during their late 
 wanton bombardment and cannonade, from those 
 batteries, than from any other in their lines. The 
 guns, we supposed, were brought forward to the 
 parallel, for we observed ten in the eastern extremity 
 of the 64-gun battery. In the forenoon, sixteen boats, 
 with mantles or barricades in the bow, came from the 
 river Palmones, and anchored off the landing-place 
 beyond Point Mala : these, we concluded, were for 
 the sea-attack. About sunset, those battering-ships 
 which were finished, removed from Algeziras to the 
 Orange Grove : they appeared to sail rather heavily, 
 and used sweeps, notwithstanding the breeze. About 
 the same time, two grand salutes were fired by the 
 French men-of-war. 
 
 During the night of the 4th, the enemy's parties 
 masked the six western embrasures of the St. Martin's 
 batter}^ and raised the parapet with fascines, intend- 
 ing, as we imagined, to convert it into a mortar 
 battery, as six mortars were seen, the preceding day, 
 lying in the rear. The howitzers were also removed 
 from the centre redoubt, and some additions made 
 to the epaulment, in front of the St. Paschal's battery, 
 which was now completed for eight mortars. They 
 likewise sunk four deep excavations behind the eastern
 
 1/82] DATE OF THE GRAND ATTACK 279 
 
 boyau, as reservoirs for water, in case of fire. At 
 night, another battering-ship joined the others at the 
 Orange Grove : soon afterwards, the enemy shipped 
 powder on board them from the pier. Early on the 
 5th, a large body of men marched in a very irregular 
 manner from Algeziras to the camp. We imagined 
 they were the artificers who had been employed upon 
 the ships, and were encamped south of the tower, 
 half of which camp was now struck. During the day, 
 29 square-sailed boats arrived, under convoy of an 
 armed brig, from the west, and, with upwards of 120 
 from Algeziras, assembled in a line off Rocadillo Point, 
 at the mouth of the Guadaranque. A large floating 
 battery was also towed out and anchored at the 
 entrance of the Palmones. Toward evening, about 
 500 men, escorted by a body of cavalry, embarked from 
 the pier on board the battering-ships : the singular 
 mode of conducting them to the beach could not fail 
 to attract our notice, and to cause in us some degree 
 of surprise. About eight in the evening, a deserter 
 came in from the regiment of Naples : he reported 
 that the 8th was named for the grand attack, and that 
 all hands were actively employed in completing every- 
 thing in the several departments. 
 
 Few additions were perceived on the 6th : some 
 sand-bags were placed on the mortar battery' of the 
 St. Martin's. In the forenoon, more boats joined the 
 others at Rocadillo, from the west ; the floating battery 
 was likewise towed to the pier near Point Mala. The 
 governor, the same day, made some new arrangements 
 in the garrison detail. An additional field-officer was 
 ordered to mount in the lines, to be independent of 
 the field-officer in town ; and the field-officers of the 
 day, in future, were directed to make such disposition 
 of the guards, pickets, and ordnance in their several 
 districts, on every occasion, as appeared to be most
 
 28o AN OPPORTUNITY [Chap. VII 
 
 for the benefit of the service. A subaltern was added 
 to the New Mole guard, who was at night to be 
 detached with 20 men to the Mole head; and the 
 pickets in future were ordered to mount fully ac- 
 coutred, with ammunition complete. The 39th regi- 
 ment was also ordered to town, the battalion companies 
 to encamp in South Port ditch, and the grenadiers and 
 light infantry to be quartered in the picket-yard bomb- 
 proofs, before occupied by part of the 72nd regiment, 
 who, on this disposition, joined the rest of their 
 regiment in Montague's and King's bastions. 
 
 The enemy's works on the land side were now 
 every hour advancing to perfection ; but the duke's 
 attention toward completing them seemed so entirely 
 to engage him, as, in a great measure, to prevent 
 his taking the prudent precautions necessary for 
 their defence. The advanced batteries in the parallel 
 were either unfinished (though nearly completed) or 
 undergoing such alterations, that the materials in 
 their vicinity greatly obstructed the use of the 
 ordnance which were mounted ; and their batteries 
 in the lines (except the forts) were in a similar situa- 
 tion, the cannon, to permit the necessary repairs, 
 being totally removed from some, and the mortars 
 drawn back or dismounted in others. The forts and 
 some few mortar batteries were therefore the only 
 defences left to protect these immense works from 
 insult and attack. This state of their works presented 
 an opportunity in some respects not unlike that 
 which General Eliott had embraced in the preceding 
 year, when, by an unexpected sally, he gloriously 
 destroyed the labours of so many months. The 
 honour, however, of causing a second disgrace was 
 reserved for Lieutenant-General Boyd, the lieutenant- 
 governor, who in the forenoon of the 6th, recom- 
 mended, by letter to the governor, the immediate
 
 i;82] BOYD IN COMMAND 281 
 
 use of red-hot shot against the land-batteries of the 
 besiegers. General Eliott acquiesced in the proposal, 
 and immediately ordered Major Lewis, the com- 
 mandant of the artillery, to wait on Lieutenant- 
 General Boyd for his instructions and commands, 
 submitting entirely to him the execution of the 
 attack which he had projected. In consequence of 
 the governor's assent, preparations were instantly 
 made ; and, in a short time, everything was properly 
 arranged for the service. In the interval we must 
 not, however, omit to take notice of the enemy's 
 operations. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 7th, several gun-boats 
 were discovered off the Old Mole head retiring from 
 the garrison, which we imagined had been sounding 
 under cover of the night. The garrison orders 
 of this day contained the following arrangements : 
 " The marine brigade (which composed a corps of 
 about 900 men) to take rank on shore according to 
 the king's regulations ; Captain Curtis, as colonel, 
 with the rank of brigadier ; Captain Gibson, as 
 lieutenant-colonel ; Captain Bradshaw, as major ; 8 
 lieutenants, as captains; 18 midshipmen, as ensigns; 
 and the brigade to mount Europa Advance and Little 
 Bay guards. A picket of the line to be detached 
 every evening to the Prince's lines, and an additional 
 subaltern at the same time to Land Port. One captain 
 and 8 privates to be added to Water Port guard, 
 whence a detachment of a subaltern and 30 men 
 was to be sent, at sunset, to the Old Mole head, 
 which, at second gun-fire, was to be joined by one of 
 the captains. Twelve privates to the main guard. 
 One sergeant, 9 privates, and a gunner, to Ragged 
 Staff; detaching a sergeant and 6 men, with the 
 gunner, at retreat-beating, to the Wharf head." The 
 alarm-posts were also fixed as follows : " The 39th
 
 282 DISPOSITION OF TROOPS [Chap. VII 
 
 flank companies to take post on the North bastion 
 town ; three battalion companies of the same regi- 
 ment, the South bastion ; the remaining 5 at Ragged 
 Staff, extending toward the 8-gun bastion. The 
 72nd regiment — right, the North bastion town ; left, 
 Orange's bastion, extending as far farther from the 
 King's bastion as possible. The 73rd regiment (which 
 was quartered at the southward) to take post on the 
 left of the 72nd, toward the South bastion. Captain 
 Martin's company of artillery, the Grand battery 
 and Water Port, Captain Lloyd's company, the 
 King's and South bastions. Brigadier-General Picton 
 to command the corps in town. The Hanoverian 
 brigade, from the 8-gun bastion south to Prince 
 Edward's battery inclusive, under the command of 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Dachenhausen. The 56th regi- 
 ment, South parade. The 12th regiment. New Mole 
 parade. The 97th regiment, Rosia parade. The 
 58th regiment, in front of their encampment, de- 
 taching a flank company through the hole in the 
 wall upon Windmill Hill, to reinforce Europa Advance 
 guard." (This regiment was to receive orders from 
 Brigadier Curtis.) " The engineers and artificers in 
 two divisions, one to assemble at the Esplanade town, 
 the other at the Esplanade south." It was recom- 
 mended at the same time to the commanding officers 
 to have a sufficient reserve in case of deficiencies, 
 and to pay particular attention to the flanks and 
 redans which commanded the front of the line-wall. 
 As the above exhibits the governor's disposition 
 of the troops, it will not be improper to insert in 
 this place a detail of the guards which mounted in 
 the garrison at this period, with the strength of the 
 garrison, and men daily on duty. The strength of 
 the garrison, with the marine brigade (including the 
 officers), in September, was about 7,500 men; upwards
 
 1782] 
 
 DETAIL OF GUARDS 
 
 283 
 
 of 400 of whom were in the hospital. The number 
 daily upon duty is shown in the following abstract; 
 
 Guards.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,091 men, including otBcers. 
 
 Pickets (including the additions of the i2th) 613 ditto. 
 
 Working parties, under the chief engineer"! ,/ exclusive of the engineers 
 and the quartermaster-general ..j'^\ and overseers. 
 
 Total . . . . 3,4^o 
 
 beside many who were constantly and indispensably 
 employed as orderlies and assistants in the hospital, 
 and in other departments in the garrison. 
 
 GUARDS. 
 
 Town District 
 Governor's, or Convent gd 
 Lieut. -Governor's 
 Willis's, etc. . . 
 Flag-staff 
 Land Port 
 Grand battery 
 Water Port . . 
 Main 
 
 South Port . . 
 Castle . . 
 North line-wall 
 South line-wall 
 Artillery-magazine 
 Middle Hill .. 
 Signal House 
 Victualling OfSce 
 Patrols 
 Orderlies 
 
 Lines 
 Prince's 
 King's.. 
 Queen's 
 
 South District 
 Europa 
 
 Europa Advance 
 Little Bay 
 Ragged Staflf 
 Rosia . . 
 New Mole 
 Buena Vista .. 
 Camp . . 
 Hospital 
 Magazine 
 South Shed . . 
 Princess of Wales's 
 Windmill Hill 
 General De la Mott 
 Orderlies 
 
 Total 
 
 D ifl -Ji U Q 
 
 o 9 
 o 13 
 
 3 6 
 
 18 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 59 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 Detachments 
 
 o N.B. Grenadiers, 
 o N.B. Lt. Infantry. 
 58 
 
 . . the Spur and Flecbe. 
 ( the Lunette and 
 
 Mole Head. 
 
 Cha. Vth's wall. 
 
 Upper Forbes's, etc. 
 
 |.N. B. Marine 
 Brigade. 
 
 the Wharf. 
 Victualling tent. 
 New Mole head. 
 
 The Provost ship. 
 N.B. Corsicans. 
 
 3 9 22 64 73 23 773 18 106
 
 284 ENEMY'S WORKS DESTROYED [Chap. VII 
 
 In the evening of the 7th, a little before midnight, 
 two large lights appeared on the shore west of the 
 Orange Grove, forming a right line with our Grand 
 battery; and at the same time, two similar fires were 
 seen behind Fort St. Philip ; whence, if a line was 
 produced, it would to appearance have intersected 
 the former, about 800 or 900 yards to the north-west 
 of the Old Mole head. These unusual signals made 
 many conjecture that the enemy were sounding in 
 that quarter. A few rounds were accordingly fired 
 at intervals in that direction from the north bastion. 
 
 By the morning of the 8th, the preparations, in 
 the department of the artillery, under General Boyd's 
 directions, were completed ; and, the success of the 
 attack in a great measure depending upon embracing 
 the favourable moment, it was no longer deferred. At 
 seven o'clock, the town-guards being relieved, the firing 
 commenced from all the northern batteries which bore 
 upon the western part of the parallel, and was sup- 
 ported through the day with admirable precision and 
 vivacity. The effect of the red-hot shot and carcasses 
 exceeded our most sanguine expectations. In a few 
 hours, the Mahon battery of 6 guns, with the battery 
 of 2 guns on its flank, and great part of the adjoining 
 parallel, were on fire ; and the flames, notwithstanding 
 the enemy's exertions to extinguish them, burnt so 
 rapidly, that the whole of those works before night 
 were consumed. The St. Carlos's and St. Martin's 
 batteries, however, on this occasion escaped the fate 
 which they had formerly experienced. They were 
 nevertheless so much deranged by the breaches made 
 to obstruct the effects, of the carcasses, etc., that the 
 enemy were under the necessity of taking down the 
 greater part. 
 
 The enemy, for near an hour, continued silent 
 spectators of our cannonade. About eight, they fired
 
 1782] SPANISH VALOUR 285 
 
 a few guns from the St. Martin's battery ; and be- 
 tween nine and ten, returned our fire from Forts 
 St. Philip and Barbara, with the 7-gun battery in the 
 lines, and soon after from 8 new mortar batteries in 
 the parallel. This tardiness in returning our fire, in 
 some degree we attributed to the works being con- 
 fused with materials, and some of the batteries being 
 deficient in ammunition. It might, however, be owing 
 to want of discretionary orders, as an officer of rank 
 was observed to enter the lines about the time when 
 their cannonade became general : a reinforcement also 
 marched down from the camp. 
 
 The astonishing bravery displayed by the enemy 
 in their repeated attempts to extinguish the flames, 
 could not fail to attract our particular notice and 
 admiration. Urged on most probably by emulation, 
 they performed prodigies of valour; so that their 
 loss, under so well directed a fire, must have been 
 very considerable. The French brigade, we after- 
 wards understood, had 140 killed and wounded. If 
 the Spanish casualties bore an equal proportion, 
 their united loss must have greatly exceeded our 
 calculation. 
 
 About four o'clock in the afternoon the cannonade 
 abated on both sides, and the enemy soon after 
 were totally silent, though we continued our usual 
 fire. The garrison had two or three killed, and 
 several wounded. Lieutenant Boag, of the artillery, 
 and Ensign Gordon, of the 58th regiment, were of 
 the latter number. The former officer had been 
 wounded before : on this occasion he was pointing 
 a gun from Hanover battery in the lines, when a 
 shell fell in the battery. He had scarcely time to 
 throw himself down in an embrasure, when the shell 
 burst, and fired the gun under the muzzle of which 
 he lay. The report immediately deprived him of
 
 286 DE CRILLON'S MISTAKE [Chap. VII 
 
 hearing, and it was some time before he recovered 
 a tolerable use of that faculty. Major Martin, of 
 the same corps, had likewise a very fortunate escape 
 from a 26-pounder, which shot away the cock of his 
 hat close to the crown. I insert this anecdote, 
 because it is commonly believed, that if a cannon- 
 ball of large diameter passes so near the head of a 
 person, the wind of it is generally fatal. The major 
 was considerably stunned by the passage of the shot, 
 but experienced little further injury. In the forenoon 
 of the 8th, two more ships of the line removed to 
 the Orange Grove, followed some time afterwards by 
 22 gun and mortar boats ; and in the evening, one 
 of the French men-of-war joined them from Algeziras. 
 In the course of the day, a number of troops were 
 embarked on board such of the battering-ships as 
 were finished ; and at night, our artillery replaced 
 the ammunition in the expense magazines, which had 
 been used to such good purpose in the morning. 
 
 This unexpected insult undoubtedly precipitated 
 the duke's measures ; and by provoking him to the 
 attack, before the preparations in the other depart- 
 ments were ready to combine with him in a general 
 and powerful effort against the garrison, served 
 greatly to frustrate the enterprise. Apprehensive, 
 probably, that, elated by our good fortune, we might 
 renew our attempts finally to destroy the land works 
 which had escaped, the duke determined to avoid the 
 blow (which also might be in other respects fatal 
 in its consequences) by opening his batteries, even 
 in their unfinished state. Actuated, most probably, 
 by these motives, the embrasures of the new batteries 
 were unmasked during the night of the 8th ; and the 
 succeeding morning, at daybreak, we were surprised 
 to find every appearance in their works for firing 
 upon the garrison. Two rockets from the forts in
 
 1782] A TREMENDOUS CANNONADE 287 
 
 the lines were the signals to begin ; and the cannon- 
 ade commenced at half-past five o'clock, with a volley 
 of about 60 shells from all their mortar batteries in 
 the parallel, succeeded by a general discharge of their 
 cannon, amounting, in the whole, to about 170 pieces 
 of ordnance, all of large calibre : — a discharge, I be- 
 lieve, not to be paralleled ! * Their firing was powerful, 
 and entirely directed against our works ; but was not, 
 after the first round, altogether so tremendous and 
 destructive as we had reason to expect from such 
 a train of artillery. At intervals, from 10 to 20 shells 
 were in the air at the same moment ; but their effects 
 were not equal to the numbers expended. The town, 
 southward of the King's bastion, was little affected ; 
 but the northern front, and line-wall leading from the 
 Grand Parade to the North bastion, were exceedingly 
 warm ; and the lines and Land Port were greatly 
 annoyed by the shells from the howitzers, which were 
 distributed in various parts of their parallel. Mon- 
 tague's and Orange's bastions seemed to be the centre 
 of the enemy's cross-fire ; whilst the line-wall in their 
 vicinity and to the southward was taken a revers by 
 the shot which passed over the lines from the 64-gun 
 battery. 
 
 Not imagining, from the rough appearance of the 
 enemy's works, that they could possibly retaliate so 
 soon, the guards and pickets at the north end of the 
 garrison were for some tim.e exposed, and some 
 casualties occurred : but we soon discovered whence 
 we were chiefly annoyed, and consequently became 
 more cautious. Lieutenant Wharton, of the 73rd 
 regiment, was dangerously wounded at Land Port. 
 
 Whilst the land batteries were thus pouring forth 
 their vengeance upon the northern front, nine line-of- 
 
 * A French account of the siege gives i86 as the number of the 
 enemy's ordnance on the land side at this time.
 
 288 FIERY REPRISALS [Chap. VII 
 
 battle ships, including those under the French flag, got 
 under way from the Orange Grove, and passing along 
 the sea-line, discharged several broadsides at the 
 garrison, and particularly at a settee which had just 
 arrived under our guns from Algiers. When this 
 squadron had got round Europa Point, they suddenly 
 wore, and returning along the Europa, Rosia, and 
 New Mole batteries, commenced a regular and heavy 
 fire upon the garrison. The marine brigade and 
 artillery returned the salute till they passed, when 
 the men-of-war wore and returned to the eastward. 
 About the same time that the enemy were thus 
 amusing us at the southward, 15 guns and mortar 
 boats approached the town, and continued their fire 
 for some time ; but, the artillery giving them a warm 
 reception from the King's bastion, two of them were 
 towed off with precipitation, and the rest retired in 
 great disorder. One was thought to be very con- 
 siderably damaged ; and some imagined that her gun 
 was thrown overboard to save her from sinking. 
 
 This mode of annoying us on all sides exactly 
 corresponded with the accounts which we had 
 received of the plan of attack suggested by Monsieur 
 d'Ar^on, the French engineer, who superintended the 
 enemy's preparations. They hoped probably to 
 confound and overwhelm us, by presenting to us 
 destruction under such various forms and by the 
 enormous quantity of fire which they poured in 
 upon the garrison. The governor, however, did not 
 approve of his troops being thus subjected to be 
 harassed at their pleasure, and resolved therefore, 
 if possible, to put a stop to their sea-attacks. For 
 this purpose the furnaces and grates for heating shot, 
 at the New Mole, were ordered to be lighted : and 
 some new arrangements took place in the ordnance 
 upon Windmill Hill. Toward dusk the enemy abated
 
 1782] MEN-OF-WAR ATTACK 289 
 
 in the fire from their cannon ; increasing, however, 
 in the expenditure of shells, which, being generally 
 fired with short fuses, broke in the air. This practice 
 seemed well calculated for the purposes in view. In 
 the day, they could observe with greater certainty 
 the effect of their shot, and alter as circumstances 
 directed : the firing at night must unavoidably be less 
 depended upon : shells were therefore burst over the 
 heads of our workmen, to prevent them, if possible, 
 from repairing at night the damage received in the 
 day. It did not nevertheless obstruct the duties in 
 the department of the engineers ; and the artillery 
 were not hindered from further completing the 
 expense magazines with ammunition. The 97th regi- 
 ment was now so far recovered, as for some time to 
 assist in the fatigue duties of the garrison : and this 
 day the officers, with 100 men, were added to the 
 general roster. The town guards were also ordered 
 to assemble in South Port ditch. 
 
 The enemy's men-of-war (as we expected) repeated 
 their attack very early on the morning of the loth. 
 Each ship carried a light at her mizen-peak ; but they 
 did not approach near enough to produce much effect. 
 We received them with a well-supported fire ; and 
 the next morning observed one of them at anchor, 
 with her bowsprit unshipped, at Algeziras. The 
 remaining 8 renewed their cannonade about 9 in 
 the forenoon, and killed 2 ,of the marine brigade, and 
 wounded a sergeant of artillery and 2 others. After 
 they had passed as before, they wore ship, apparently 
 with an intention of continuing their visits, but 
 suddenly put about, hauled their wind, and anchored 
 off the Orange Grove. We were afterwards informed, 
 that the discovery of a red-hot shot on board one 
 of the ships was Ithe immediate cause of this hasty 
 manoeuvre. 
 
 19
 
 290 HEAVY GUN FIRE [Chap. VII 
 
 The enemy continued their firing from the isthmus, 
 recommencing at morning gun-fire on the loth from 
 their gun batteries. At 7 o'clock, including the ex- 
 penditure on the 8th, they had discharged 5,527 shot 
 and 2,302 shells, exclusive of the number fired by the 
 men-of-war and mortar boats. The garrison, on the 
 contrary, took no further notice of them, than to 
 return a few rounds from the terrace batteries at their 
 working parties, who ^were repairing the damage 
 done on the 8th, and completing the rest of their 
 works. In the course of the day, the Brilliant and 
 Porcupine frigates were scuttled by the navy in the 
 New Mole ; and at night the engineers, with a working 
 party, cleared the lines of rubbish, and restored those 
 traverses which had been demolished. At night, the 
 enemy's fire was under the same regulation as the 
 preceding evening. 
 
 The next morning, when our guards were re- 
 lieving, a signal was made at the tower, near the 
 quarry, under the Queen of Spain's Chair; and the 
 enemy's cannonade became excessively brisk : for- 
 tunately few casualties occurred. Their firing, when 
 this object ceased to engage them, seemed to be 
 principally directed against the obstructions at Land 
 Port, and in that part of the garrison. Many of the 
 palisades in the covered way were destroyed, and 
 the chevaux-de-frise considerably injured : artificers 
 were, however, constantly detached to repair those 
 breaches, so that the whole were kept in a better 
 state than might be expected. In the afternoon, we 
 began to conclude, that the attack with the battering- 
 ships was no longer to be deferred. Several detach- 
 ments of soldiers embarked from the camp, and others 
 were standing on the neighbouring eminences ; which, 
 with the appearance in the evening of signals like 
 those which had been observed on the night of the
 
 1782] PALISADES IN FLAMES 291 
 
 7th, led us to imagine that every preparation was 
 complete ; and the wind at that time blowing gently 
 in the bay, from the north-west, favoured our con- 
 jecture. Land Port and Water Port guards were 
 immediately reinforced, the furnaces and grates for 
 heating shot were lighted, and the artillery ordered 
 to man the batteries. 
 
 Thus prepared, we waited their appearance ; for 
 it seemed to be the general opinion, that the battering- 
 ships would advance, and be moored in the night, 
 that they might be less exposed to annoyance in this 
 duty, and open with greater effect together at day- 
 break. Our attention was, however, called off from 
 the bay to the land-side, where the enemy had set 
 fire to the barriers of Bay-side and Forbes's ; and the 
 whole of those palisades, to the water's edge, were 
 instantly involved in flames. The northern guards 
 and pickets were immediately under arms, and a 
 smart discharge of musketry was directed upon 
 several parties, which, by the light of the fire, were 
 discovered in the meadows. The enemy increasing 
 their bombardment, and nothing new happening in 
 consequence of the conflagration, the pickets and 
 guards were remanded under cover ; but the artillery 
 continued upon the batteries. We had scarcely re- 
 covered from this alarm, before the gun and mortar 
 boats, with the bomb-ketches, began to bombard the 
 northern front, taking their stations off the King's 
 bastion, extending towards Fort St. Philip. They 
 commenced about an hour after midnight; and their 
 fire, 'added to that of the land batteries, exceedingly 
 annoyed Water Port and its vicinity. The out-pickets 
 were again under arms, but providentially our loss 
 was trifling. We returned a few rounds from the 
 sea-line, but still disregarded the batteries on the 
 isthmus ; excepting when their workmen appeared,
 
 292 THE COMBINED FLEETS [Chap. VII 
 
 or were thought to be employed. Major Lewis, com- 
 mandant of the artillery, was unfortunately amongst 
 the wounded. The confinement of this active officer 
 at this critical juncture might have been highly pre- 
 judicial to the service, had not his seconds been of 
 confirmed ability and experience : owing to their 
 united exertions, the several duties in that com- 
 plicated and important department continued to be 
 conducted with efficiency and success. 
 
 When the gun-boats retired, nothing new occurred 
 till the morning of the 12th : the enemy's firing con- 
 tinued to be supported at the average of 4,000 rounds 
 in the 24 hours. About 8 o'clock, reports were 
 received from Europa guard, that a large fleet had 
 appeared in the Straits from the westward. The 
 wind was brisk, and we had scarcely time to form 
 any conjectures concerning them, ere they approached 
 the bay ; and proved to be the combined fleets of 
 France and Spain, consisting of seven 3-deckers, and 31 
 ships of 2 decks ; with 3 frigates and a number of 
 xebeques, bomb-ketches, and hospital-ships ; the whole 
 under the command of ten admirals, and a broad 
 pennant. In the afternoon, they were all at anchor 
 in the bay between the Orange Grove and Algeziras. 
 
 This great accumulation of force could not fail 
 to surprise, if not alarm, the garrison. It appeared as 
 if the enemy meant, previous to their final efforts, 
 to strike, if possible, a terror through their opponents, 
 by displaying before us a more powerful armament 
 than had probably ever been brought against any 
 fortress • 47 sail of the line, including 3 inferior 2- 
 deckers, 10 battering-ships, deemed perfect in design, 
 and esteemed invincible, carrying 212 guns ; innumer- 
 able frigates, xebeques, bomb-ketches, cutters, gun 
 and mortar-boats, and smaller craft for disembarking 
 men ; these were assembled in the bay. On the land
 
 1782] THE RIVAL CHANCES 293 
 
 side were most stupendous and strong batteries and 
 works, mounting 200 pieces of iieav}'- ordnance, and 
 protected by an army of near 40,000 men, commanded 
 by a victorious and active general, of the highest 
 reputation, and animated with the immediate presence 
 of two princes of the royal blood of France, with 
 other dignified personages, and many of their own 
 nobility. Such a naval and military spectacle most 
 certainly is not to be equalled in the annals of war. 
 From such a combination of power, and favourable 
 concurrent circumstances, it was natural enough that 
 the Spanish nation should anticipate the most glorious 
 consequences. Indeed, their confidence in the effect 
 to be produced by the battering-ships passed all 
 bounds ; and, in the enthusiasm excited by the magni- 
 tude of their preparations, it was thought highly 
 criminal, as we afterwards learned, even to whisper 
 a doubt of the success. 
 
 In drawing these flattering conclusions, the enemy, 
 however, seemed entirely to have overlooked the 
 nature of that force which was opposed to them ; for 
 though the garrison scarcely consisted of more than 
 7,000 effective men, including the marine brigade, they 
 forgot that they were now veterans in this service, 
 had been a long time habituated to the effects of 
 artillery, and were prepared by degrees for the arduous 
 conflict that awaited them. We were, at the same 
 time, commanded by officers of approved courage, 
 prudence, and ability ; eminent for all the accom- 
 plishments of their profession, and in whom we had 
 unbounded confidence. Our spirits too were not a 
 little elevated by the success attending the recent 
 practice of firing red-hot shot, which in this attack 
 we hoped would enable us to bring our labours to 
 a period, and relieve us from the tedious cruelty of 
 another vexatious blockade.
 
 294 A GOOD OMEN [Chap. VII 
 
 Before the garrison had well discovered the force 
 of their new visitors, an 'occurrence happened, which, 
 though trifling in itself, I trust I shall be excused for 
 noticing. When the van of the combined fleet had 
 entered the bay, and the soldiers in town were atten- 
 tively viewing the ships, alleging, amongst other 
 reasons for their arrival, that the British fleet must 
 undoubtedly be in pursuit ; on a sudden, a general 
 huzza was given, and all, to a man, cried out, the 
 British admiral was certainly in their rear, as a flag 
 for a fleet was hoisted upon our Signal House pole. 
 For some moments the flattering idea was indulged ; 
 but our hopes were soon damped by the sudden dis- 
 appearance of the signal. We were afterwards in- 
 formed by the guard at that post, that what our 
 creative fancies had imagined to be a flag, was an 
 eagle, which, after several evolutions, had perched a 
 few minutes on the westernmost pole, and then flew 
 away toward the east. Though less superstitious 
 than the ancient Romans, many could not help fancying 
 it a favourable omen to the garrison ; and the event 
 of the succeeding day justified the prognostication. 
 
 In the morning of the 12th, the governor reinforced 
 the pickets of the line ; nine of which, in future, were 
 stationed in town, and distributed as follows : two at 
 Water Port, two at Land Port, two in the lines, and 
 the remaining three in the picket-yard, with the 
 field-officer of the town district. The other picket 
 of the line was stationed at the southward. The 
 following return specifies the strength of the pickets 
 at this period : 
 
 sub. s. d. r. <S=J. 
 
 The artillery, and Hanoverian brigade, each corps ... i i i 39 
 
 The I2th, 39th, 56th, and 58th regiments ditto ... i 1 I 54 
 
 The 72nd and 73rd regiments . . ditto ... i i I 76 
 
 The 97th regiment . . . ditto ... i i i 56 
 
 Total: 4 captains, I of the artillery and 3 of the line 11 11 11 580
 
 1782] THE BATTERIES MANNED 295 
 
 In the evening, about dusk, a number of men were 
 observed to embark from the Orange Grove, on board 
 the battering-ships ; which, with the presence of the 
 combined fleet, and the wind blowing favourably, 
 induced us to conclude that the important and long 
 meditated attack was not long to be deferred. 
 
 The enemy's cannonade was continued, almost on 
 the same scale as the preceding days, during the night 
 of the 1 2th. The next morning we observed the 
 combined fleet had made some new arrangements 
 in their position, or moorings, and that the remaining 
 two battering-ships had joined the others at the 
 Orange Grove, where their whole attacking force 
 seemed to be now assembled. About a quarter 
 before seven o'clock, some motions were observed 
 amongst their shipping ; and soon after the battering- 
 ships got under way, with a gentle breeze from the 
 north-west, standing to the southward, to clear the 
 men-of-war, and were attended by a number of boats. 
 As our navy were constantly of opinion that the 
 battering-ships would be brought before the garrison 
 in the night, few suspected that the present manoeuvres 
 were preparatory to their finally entering on the 
 interesting enterprise ; but, observing a crowd of 
 spectators on the beach, near Point Mala, and upon 
 the neighbouring eminences, and the ships edging 
 down towards the garrison, the governor thought 
 it would be imprudent any longer to doubt it. The 
 town batteries were accordingly manned, and the 
 grates and furnaces for heating shot ordered to be 
 lighted. 
 
 Thus prepared for their reception, we had leisure 
 to notice the enemy's evolutions. The ten battering- 
 ships, after leaving the men-of-war, wore to the north ; 
 and, a little past nine o'clock, bore down in admirable 
 order for their several stations ; the admiral, in a
 
 296 THE BATTLE BEGINS [Chap. VII 
 
 2-decker, mooring about 900 yards off the King's 
 bastion, the others successively taking their places 
 to the right and left of the flag-ship, in a masterly 
 manner; the most distant being about 1,100 or 1,200 
 yards from the garrison. Our artillery allowed the 
 enemy every reasonable advantage, in permitting them 
 without molestation to choose their distance ; but 
 as soon as the first ship dropped her anchors, which 
 was about a quarter before ten o'clock, that instant 
 our firing commenced. The enemy were completely 
 moored in a little more than ten minutes, and their 
 cannonade then became in a high degree tremendous. 
 The showers of shot and shells which were now 
 directed from their land-batteries, the battering-ships, 
 and, on the other hand, from the various works ot 
 the garrison, exhibited a scene, of which perhaps 
 neither the pen nor the pencil can furnish a competent 
 idea. It is sufficient to say that upward of four 
 hundred pieces of the heaviest artillery were playing at 
 the same moment : an instance which has scarcely 
 occurred in any siege since the invention of those 
 wonderful engines of destruction.* 
 
 After some hours' cannonade, the battering-ships 
 were found to be no less formidable than they had 
 been represented. Our heaviest shells often re- 
 bounded from their tops, whilst the 32-pound shot 
 seemed incapable of making any visible impression 
 upon their hulls. Frequently we flattered ourselves 
 they were on fire ; but no sooner did any smoke 
 appear than, with the most persevering intrepidity, 
 
 JL T7 .J ( Land batteries 186 
 
 Enemy s ordnance J pj^^^j^^ ^.^^^ ^^^ 
 
 328 
 Garrison ordnance in action 96 
 
 424
 
 1782] " ROASTED POTATOES " 297 
 
 men were observed applying water, from their engines 
 within, to those places whence the smoke issued. 
 These circumstances, with the prodigious cannonade 
 which they maintained, gave us reason to imagine 
 that the attack would not be so soon decided as, from 
 our recent success against their land-batteries, we had 
 fondly expected. Even the artillery themselves, at 
 this period, had their doubts of the effect of the red- 
 hot shot, which began to be used about twelve, but 
 were not general till between one and two o'clock.* 
 The enemy's cannon at the commencement were too 
 much elevated, but about noon their firing was 
 powerful and well directed. Our casualties then be- 
 came numerous, particularly on those batteries north 
 of the King's bastion, which were warmly annoyed 
 by the enemy's flanking and reverse fire from the 
 land. Though so vexatiously annoyed from the 
 isthmus, our artillery totally disregarded their op- 
 ponents in that quarter, directing their sole attention 
 to the battering ships, the furious and spirited opposi- 
 tion of which served to excite our people to more 
 animated exertions. A fire more tremendous, if 
 possible, than ever was therefore directed from the 
 garrison. Incessant showers of hot balls, carcasses, 
 and shells of every species flew from all quarters ; 
 and, as the masts of several of the ships were shot 
 away and the rigging of all was in great confusion, 
 our hopes of a favourable and speedy decision began 
 to revive. 
 
 About noon their mortar boats and bomb-ketches 
 
 * As the ordnance portable furnaces for heating shot were not 
 sufficient in number to supply the demands of the artillery when the 
 attack was at its height, large fires were kindled of wood in the corners 
 of the nearest buildings, and shot, being thrown into these piles, were 
 soon heated red-hot. These supplies were jocularly termed by the 
 men " roasted potatoes."
 
 298 SIGNALS OF DISTRESS [Chap. VII 
 
 attempted to second the attack from the battering- 
 ships ; but, the wind having changed to the south- 
 west and blowing a smart breeze, with a heavy swell, 
 they were prevented taking a part in the action. The 
 same reason also hindered our gun-boats from flanking 
 the battering-ships from the southward. 
 
 For some hours the attack and defence were so 
 equally well supported as scarcely to admit any 
 appearance of superiority in the cannonade on either 
 side. The wonderful construction of the ships seemed 
 to bid defiance to the powers of the heaviest ordnance. 
 In the afternoon, however, the face of things began to 
 change considerably : the smoke which had been ob- 
 served to issue from the upper part of the flagship 
 appeared to prevail, notwithstanding the constant 
 application of water, and the admiral's second was 
 perceived to be in the same condition. Confusion 
 was now apparent on board several of the vessels, and 
 by the evening their cannonade was considerably 
 abated ; about seven or eight o'clock it almost totally 
 ceased, excepting from one or two ships to the north- 
 ward, which, from their distance, had suffered little 
 injury. 
 
 When their firing began to slacken, various signals 
 were made from the southernmost ships ; and as the 
 evening advanced, many rockets were thrown up, to 
 inform their friends (as we afterwards learned) of 
 their extreme danger and distress. These signals 
 were immediately answered, and several boats were 
 seen to row round the disabled ships. Our artillery, 
 at this period, must have caused dreadful havoc 
 amongst them. An indistinct clamour, with lament- 
 able cries and groans, proceeded (during the short 
 intervals of cessation) from all quarters ; and, a little 
 before midnight, a wreck floated in under the town 
 line wall, upon which were twelve men, who only, out
 
 1782] SHIPS ON FIRE 299 
 
 of three-score which were on board their launch, had 
 escaped. These circumstances convinced us that we 
 had gained an advantage over the enemy, yet we did 
 not conceive that the victory was so complete as the 
 succeeding morning evinced. Our firing was there- 
 fore continued, though with less vivacity ; but as the 
 artillery, from such a hard-fought day, exposed to 
 the intense heat of a warm sun, in addition to the 
 harassing duties of the preceding night, were much 
 fatigued, and as it was impossible to foresee what new 
 objects might demand their service the following day, 
 the governor, about six in the evening, when the 
 enemy's fire abated, permitted the majority of the 
 officers and men to be relieved by a picket of a hundred 
 men from the marine brigade, under the command of 
 Lieutenant Trentham ; and officers and non-commis- 
 sioned officers of the artillery were stationed on the 
 different batteries, to direct the sailors in the mode of 
 firing the hot shot. 
 
 •" About an hour after midnight, the battering-ship 
 which had suffered the greatest injury, and which had 
 been frequently on fire the preceding day, was com- 
 pletely in flames ; and by two o'clock in the morning 
 of the 14th, she appeared as one continued blaze from 
 stem to stern. The ship to the southward of her was 
 also on fire, but did not burn with so much rapidity. 
 The light thrown out on all sides by the flames en- 
 abled the artillery to point the guns with the utmost 
 precision, whilst the rock and neighbouring objects 
 were highly illuminated, forming with the constant 
 flashes of our cannon, a mingled scene of sublimity 
 and terror. Between three and four o'clock, six other 
 of the battering-ships indicated the efficacy of red-hot 
 shot ; and the approaching day now promised us one 
 of the completest defensive victories on record. 
 
 Brigadier Curtis, who was encamped with his
 
 300 BRITISH HUMANITY [Chap. VII 
 
 brigade at Europa, being informed that the enemy's 
 ships were in flames, and that the calmness of the sea 
 would permit his gun-boats to act, marched, about 
 3 o'clock a.m., with a detachment, to the New 
 Mole ; and, drawing up his twelve boats in such 
 manner as to flank the battering-ships, compelled 
 their boats to abandon them. As the day approached 
 and the garrison fire abated, the brigadier advanced 
 and captured two launches filled with men. These 
 boats attempted to escape, but a shot killing and 
 wounding several men on board one of them, both 
 surrendered, and were conducted to Ragged Staff. 
 The brigadier being informed by the prisoners that 
 many men were through necessity left by their friends 
 on board the ships, he generously determined to 
 rescue them from the inevitable death which seemed 
 to impend. Some of these infatuated wretches never- 
 theless, it is said, refused at first the deliverance which 
 was tendered to them, preferring the chance of that 
 death which appeared inevitable to being put to the 
 sword, which they had been persuaded would be the 
 consequence if they submitted to the garrison. Being 
 left, however, some moments to the horrors of their 
 fate, they beckoned the boats to return, and resigned 
 themselves to the clemency of their conquerors. 
 
 Whilst the navy were thus humanely relieving 
 their distressed enemy, the flames reached the 
 magazine of one of the battering-ships to the north- 
 ward, which blew up, about five o'clock, with a 
 dreadful explosion. In a quarter of an hour following, 
 another, in the centre of the line, met with a similar 
 fate. The wreck from the latter spread to a vast 
 extent, and involved our gun-boats in the most 
 imminent danger : one was sunk, but the crew were 
 saved. A hole was forced through the bottom of the 
 brigadier's boat, his coxswain killed, and the strokes-
 
 1782] THE NUMBERS SAVED 301 
 
 man wounded, and for some time the crew were 
 obscured in the cloud of smoke. After this very- 
 fortunate escape, it was deemed prudent to withdraw 
 toward the garrison, to avoid the peril arising from 
 the blowing-up of the remaining ships. The brigadier, 
 however, visited two other ships in his return, and 
 landed 9 officers, 2 priests, and 334 private soldiers 
 and seamen, all Spaniards, which with i officer and 
 II Frenchmen who had floated in the preceding 
 evening, made the total number saved amount to 357. 
 Many of the prisoners were severely and some of 
 them dreadfully wounded. They were instantly, on 
 being brought on shore, conveyed to our hospital, and 
 every remedy administered necessary for their different 
 cases.* 
 
 During the time that the marine brigade were 
 encountering every danger in their endeavours to 
 save an enemy from perishing, the batteries on the 
 isthmus (which ceased the preceding evening, most 
 likely for want of ammunition, and which had opened 
 again upon the garrison on the morning of the 14th) 
 maintained a warm fire upon the town, which killed 
 and wounded several men ; and three or four shells 
 burst in the air, over the place where their country- 
 men were landed. This ungenerous proceeding could 
 not escape the observation of the spectators in their 
 
 * The following extract from a contemporary account by a French 
 officer, who served in the besieging army, and was an eyewitness of 
 this scene, shows a generous appreciation of the efforts made by the 
 garrison to succour those with whom they had been so lately con- 
 tending : — " Je n'ai ni I'anglomanie qui exagere le m^rite de la nation 
 Britannique, ni la haine nationale qui dissimule ; mais c'est pour moi 
 une satisfaction bien douce de payer aux Anglais, liberateurs des 
 malheureux laiss6s dans les prames, le tribut d'eloges que mdritaient 
 dans ce moment leur courage et leur humanite, L'Espagne et la 
 France doivent Stre k jamais reconnoissantes de cette g6nerosit6 
 inouie."
 
 302 COMPLETE VICTORY [Chap. VII 
 
 camp, and orders probably were sent to the lines for 
 the batteries to cease, as they were silent about ten 
 o'clock. 
 
 Notwithstanding the efforts of the marine brigade 
 in relieving the terrified victims from the burning 
 ships, many unfortunate men could not be removed. 
 The scene at this time exhibited was as affecting as 
 that which had been presented in the act of hostility 
 had been terrible and tremendous. Men crying from 
 amidst the flames for pity and assistance ; others, on 
 board those ships where the fire had made little pro- 
 gress, implori-ng relief with the most expressive gestures 
 and signs of despair ; whilst several, equally exposed 
 to the dangers of the opposite element, trusted them- 
 selves, on various parts of the wreck, to the chance 
 of paddling themselves to the shore. A felucca be- 
 longing to the enemy approached from the Orange 
 Grove, probably with the intention of relieving these 
 unfortunate persons ; but, jealous of her motives, the 
 garrison suspected that she came to set fire to one 
 of the battering-ships which appeared little injured, 
 and obliged her to retire. Of the 6 ships which were 
 still in flames, 3 blew up before 11 o'clock; the other 
 3 burnt to the water's edge, the magazines being 
 wetted by the enemy before the principal officers 
 quitted the ships. The admiral's flag was on board 
 one of the latter, and was consumed with the vessel. 
 The remaining two battering-ships, we flattered our- 
 selves, might be saved as glorious trophies of our 
 success ; but one of them unexpectedly burst out into 
 flames, and in a short time blew up, with a terrible 
 report; and Captain Gibson representing it as im- 
 practicable to preserve the other, it was burnt in the 
 afternoon, under his directions. Thus the navy put 
 a finishing hand to this signal defensive victory. 
 
 During the hottest period of the enemy's cannonade,
 
 
 
 ^ 

 
 1782] HONOUR THE BRAVE 303 
 
 the governor was present on the King's bastion, whilst 
 Lieutenant-General Boyd * took his station upon the 
 South bastion, animating the garrison by their pre- 
 sence, and encouraging them to emulation. The 
 exertions and activity of the brave artillery, in this 
 well-fought contest, deserve the highest commenda- 
 tions. To their skill, perseverance, and courage, with 
 the zealous assistance of the line (particularly the 
 corps in town, the 39th and 72nd regiments), was 
 Gibraltar indebted for its safety against the combined 
 powers, by sea and land, of France and Spain ; and 
 the marine brigade, though they had not so con- 
 siderable a share in the duties of the batteries, yet 
 merit the warmest praises for their generous intre- 
 pidity in rescuing their devoted enemies from amidst 
 the flames. 
 
 Whilst the enemy were cool, and their ships had 
 received little damage, their principal objects were 
 the King's bastion, and line-wall, north of Orange's 
 bastion. Their largest ships (which were about 1,400 
 tons burden) were stationed off the former, in order 
 to silence that important battery, whilst a breach 
 was attempted by the rest, in the curtain extending 
 from the latter to Montague's bastion. If a breach had 
 been effected, the prisoners informed us that " their 
 grenadiers were to have stormed the garrison under 
 cover of the combined fleets." The private men 
 
 * It will not be improper in this place to repeat, that General 
 Boyd laid the foundation stone of the King's bastion, as it will be 
 an apology for introducing a remarkable speech of the General on 
 that occasion. In 1773, General Boyd, attended by Colonel Green, 
 the chief engineer, and many field-officers of the garrison, laid the 
 first stone of that work, with the ceremony usual on such occasions. 
 Upon fixing the stone in its place, " This,'' said the General, " is the 
 first stone of a work which I name the ' King's Bastion ': may it be as 
 gallantly defended, as I know it will be ably executed ; and may I 
 live to see it resist the united efforts of France and Spain!'
 
 304 
 
 TABLE OF CASUALTIES [Chap. VII 
 
 complained bitterly of their officers for describing the 
 battering-ships to be invulnerable, and for promising 
 that they were to be seconded by ten sail of the line, 
 and all the gun and mortar boats. They further told 
 us, that " they had been taught to believe the garrison 
 would not be able to discharge many rounds of hot 
 balls ; their astonishment, therefore, was inconceivable 
 when they discovered that we fired them with the 
 same precision and vivacity as cold shot." " Admiral 
 Moreno," they said, " quitted the Pastora, which was 
 the flag-ship, a little before midnight ; but other 
 officers retired much earlier." The loss sustained by 
 the enemy could never be ascertained ; but from the 
 information of the prisoners, and the numbers seen 
 dead on board the ships, we estimated it could not 
 be less than 2,000 men including the prisoners. The 
 casualties of the garrison, on the contrary, were 
 so trifling, that it will appear almost incredible that 
 such a quantity of fire, in almost all its destructive 
 modes of action, should not have produced more 
 effect, with respect to the loss of men. The return 
 stands thus : 
 
 SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1782. 
 
 Regiments. 
 Royal Artillery 
 1 2th Regiment 
 39th ditto 
 56th ditto 
 58th ditto 
 72nd ditto 
 73rd ditto 
 97th ditto 
 Hardenberg's ... 
 Reden's 
 De la Motte's 
 Engineers, with the 
 
 Company 
 Marine Brigade 
 
 Total 
 
 Artificer 
 
 
 Killed 
 
 
 
 Wounde 
 
 d. 
 
 0. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 r.&t. 
 
 0. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 r.&f 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 _5 
 
 o 13 
 
 5 o o 63
 
 1/82] THE ENEMY OUTPLAYED 305 
 
 Officers killed and wounded. 
 
 Artillery — Captain Reeves killed ; Captains Groves and 
 
 Siward, with Lieutenant Godfrey, wounded. 
 58th regiment — Lieutenant Wetham (who had permission 
 
 to act as an artillery officer) wounded. 
 73rd regiment — Captain M'Kenzie wounded. 
 
 The distance of the battering-ships from the 
 garrison was exactly such as our artillery could 
 have wished. It required so small an elevation 
 that almost every shot took effect ; and the cannon 
 thus elevated did not require the shot to be wadded 
 — a circumstance not unimportant, as the time, 
 which at point-blank would have been expended 
 in doubly wadding, was employed in keeping up 
 the cannonade with greater briskness. The damage 
 done to our works held no proportion with the 
 violence of the attack, and the excessive cannonade 
 which they had sustained. The merlons of the 
 different batteries were disordered, and the flank of 
 Orange's bastion was a little injured ; but the latter 
 was chiefly done by the land fire, and was not of 
 such consequence as to afford any room for appre- 
 hension. The ordnance and carriages were also 
 damaged ; but, by the activity of the artillery, the 
 whole sea-line, before night, was again in serviceable 
 order. 
 
 The enemy, in this action, had 328 pieces ot 
 heavy ordnance in play; whilst the garrison had 
 only 80 cannon, 7 mortars, and 9 howitzers in 
 opposition. Upwards of 8,300 rounds (more than 
 half of which were hot shot), and 716 barrels of 
 powder, were expended by our artillery. What 
 quantity of ammunition was used by the enemy 
 could never be ascertained. The following was 
 handed about as an authentic list of the battering- 
 ships : 
 
 20
 
 3o6 
 
 THE BATTERING SHIPS [Chap. VII 
 
 
 Names of the 
 
 Guns in 
 
 Guns in 
 
 
 
 
 Battering-ships. 
 
 use. 
 
 reserve. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Commanders. 
 
 
 'Pastora 
 
 . 21 
 
 lO 
 
 760 
 
 Rear-Admiral Buenaventura 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Moreno. 
 
 
 Tailla Piedra . . 
 
 . 21 
 
 lO 
 
 760 
 
 Prince of Nassau-Sieghen.* 
 
 6 
 
 Paula Prima , . 
 
 . 21 
 
 lO 
 
 760 
 
 Don Gayetana Langara. 
 
 
 El Rosario 
 
 • '9 
 
 lo 
 
 700 
 
 Don Francisco Xavier Munos, 
 
 
 .St. Chris toval .. 
 
 . l8 
 
 lO 
 
 650 
 
 Don Frederico Gravino. 
 
 
 'Prificipe Carlos 
 
 II 
 
 4 
 
 400 
 
 Don Antonio Basurta. 
 
 J^ 
 
 OJ 
 
 San Juan 
 
 • 9 
 
 4 
 
 340 
 
 Don Joseph Angeler. 
 
 •c^ 
 
 Paula Secunda.. 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 340 
 
 Don Pablo de Cosa. 
 
 C 
 
 O 
 
 Santa Anna 
 
 . 7 
 
 4 
 
 300 
 
 Don Joseph Goicoechea. 
 
 -Los Dolores 
 
 . 6 
 
 4 
 
 250 
 
 Don Pedro Sanchez. 
 
 142 
 
 70 5,260 
 
 N.B. — About 36 men to each gun in use, besides sailors, etc., 
 to work the ships. 
 
 The afternoon of the 14th, several thousand men 
 marched with colours from the enemy's camp to their 
 lines, and many ships in the combined fleet loosed 
 their top-sails. These motions, and the circumstance 
 of many of their boats being manned, caused various 
 speculations in the garrison. Whatever their future 
 operations might be, it was prudent to be on our 
 guard : the artillery were ordered therefore to remain 
 upon the batteries, and the furnaces for heating shot 
 to be kept lighted, lest the enemy should be prompted 
 to put all to the stake, and attempt the garrison by a 
 general attack. It was indeed afterwards rumoured, 
 that such a design had been in contemplation, but 
 was overruled by the duke, who was of opinion it 
 would be exposing the fleet and army to inevitable 
 destruction. 
 
 Notwithstanding their recent defeat, the enemy 
 continued their cannonade from the isthmus ; expend- 
 ing, during the remainder of the month, from 1,000 to 
 
 * M. d'Ar^on, the French engineer, and projector of the floating 
 batteries, embarked on board the Tailla Piedra, and quitted the ship 
 about half an hour after midnight, as he states in the Defence of his 
 plan of attack, which was published at Cadiz the following year.
 
 1/82] VALUE OF RED HOT SHOT 307 
 
 2,000 rounds in the 24 hours ; diminishing gradually, 
 and confining their shells to the night. Their opera- 
 tions on the land side were also still carried on ; and, 
 if we were able to form any conjectures at this period, 
 from their motions to the northward, their late mis- 
 fortune did not seem at all to damp their hopes of 
 succeeding against the garrison, A flag of truce went 
 on the 15th with letters from our prisoners to the 
 camp ; and about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the com- 
 bined fleet handed in their top-sails. Some hours 
 afterwards they manned their yards, and fired a grand 
 salute. We were at a loss to account for these 
 singular rejoicings.* Lieutenant M'Namara, of the 
 72nd regiment, was wounded the same day at Willis's, 
 where our working parties were employed clearing 
 away the rubbish from the batteries. 
 
 The garrison having experienced the powerful 
 efficacy of red-hot shot, and the governor thinking 
 it expedient to have a continual supply of them, the 
 engineers erected kilns (similar to those used in burn- 
 ing lime, but smaller) in various parts of the garrison. 
 They were large enough to heat upward of 100 balls 
 in an hour and a quarter; and, by this invention, 
 hot shot were, if thought necessary, kept continually 
 ready for use. Our former method of heating the 
 shot was either in the grates and furnaces made 
 for that purpose, or by piling them in a corner of 
 some old house adjoining the batteries (as was prin- 
 cipally the practice on the 13th), and surrounding 
 them with faggots, pieces of timber, and small coal. 
 By those means the artificers were enabled to supply 
 the artillery with a constant succession for the 
 
 * The following extract from the French account of the siege, already 
 quoted, may serve to explain this circumstance: — " Le 15, le Comte 
 d'Artois fit k Dom Louis de Cordova I'honneur de se rendre k son 
 bord."
 
 3o8 NEWS OF RELIEF [Chap. VII 
 
 ordnance. Answers were received in the afternoon 
 of the i6th to the prisoners' letters. At night a 
 great number of signals were made by the combined 
 fleet. Shot were therefore again ordered to be 
 heated, and the artillery cautioned to be ready to 
 man the batteries. The 39th and 72nd regiments 
 also lay fully accoutred. The same night, the sailors 
 recovered the gun-boat which had been sunk on the 
 morning of the 14th. As the prisoners informed us 
 that intelligence had been received, previous to the 
 attack of the battering-ships, that Lord Howe, with 
 the British fleet, was preparing to sail for the relief 
 of Gibraltar, the navy began to prepare to raise the 
 Brilliant and Porcupine frigates, which had been 
 scuttled in the New Mole ; but their efforts, for some 
 time, were not attended with success. 
 
 The Spanish officers, prisoners, with the French- 
 men who were taken up from the wreck upon the 
 night of the 13th, were sent to the camp on the 
 evening of the 17th. The remaining Spanish privates 
 were encamped upon Windmill Hill, and given in 
 charge to the Corsicans. Of the number who had been 
 saved from the battering-ships, were an officer, a 
 captain of marines, and 29 privates, who were 
 wounded. Most of these recovered in our hospital ; 
 but the officer, notwithstanding every assistance and 
 attention, died on the 17th. He was buried, the 
 succeeding day, with all military honours, attended 
 by the grenadiers of the 39th regiment. 
 
 When we reflected of what vast importance this 
 grand enterprise was esteemed, and what immense 
 sums had been expended in the ingenious and 
 formidable preparations, it was observed, with no 
 small surprise, by many who were present when the 
 prisoners were landed, that the majority of them 
 seemed to be past that age when the vital powers
 
 1/82] FLOTSAM AND JETSAM 309 
 
 are supposed to be in their greatest vigour. In an 
 expedition where youth and strength best promised 
 a favourable issue, this impoUtic arrangement certainly 
 could not pervade the whole ! The Spaniards, from 
 their dark complexion and meagre diet, have naturally, 
 even when young, an aged look : and yet our obser- 
 vations seemed confirmed by other indubitable facts. 
 Several bodies were thrown ashore, all of which 
 seemed advanced in years ; and one in particular ap- 
 peared, from his grey beard and lean visage, past 
 sixty. This corpse was horribly mutilated, and, with 
 the miserable objects then under the care of our 
 surgeons, convinced us, by ocular proof, of the dread- 
 ful havoc which our artillery must have made in the 
 latter part of the day. 
 
 The westerly wind, which had cast up these un- 
 fortunate men, threw also on shore many trifling 
 curiosities, and some things of value, which had 
 floated on the surface of the bay after the battering- 
 ships had blown up. Large wax candles, such as are 
 usually burnt by the Romish priests before their 
 altars ; salt provisions ; and a great number of am- 
 munition boxes, containing ten rounds of powder in 
 linen cartridges, were collected by the garrison the 
 morning succeeding the defeat. Considerable pieces 
 of mahogany, and some cedar, were saved from the 
 wrecks of those ships whose magazines did not blow 
 up, which were afterwards converted into various 
 useful articles, serving as memorials of our victory. 
 The governor had a handsome set of tables made 
 for the Convent (the holes in the cedar, where the fire 
 had penetrated, being filled up with sound wood, 
 cut in various figures, forming a beautiful contrast 
 with the burnt part), which will serve as a standing 
 monument to the guests of the transactions of that 
 glorious day.
 
 3IO A PERTINACIOUS ENVOY [Chap. VII 
 
 The enemy's fire on the 19th was warmer than the 
 few preceding days ; and, which was rather extra- 
 ordinary, it was continued whilst a flag of truce went 
 from the governor, and another returned in answer. 
 The officer who brought the Due de Crillon's answer 
 was one of his aides-de-camp the Comte de Rufigniac, 
 colonel of the French regiment de Chartres. He 
 pressed much to deliver his packet personally to the 
 governor, and offered to submit to be blindfolded, 
 provided he could be admitted into the garrison. He 
 was even so urgent as to put his foot on board our 
 boat, but was informed by the aide-de-camp that his 
 request could not be complied with. As the Count 
 would not be content with this answer, our flag was 
 obliged to return to make known his extraordinary 
 importunity to the governor, who politely excused 
 himself the honour which the Count intended him, 
 as the state of affairs would not then permit it. We 
 shall have occasion again to mention the Count before 
 the close of this work. The wind changed to the 
 east in the night of the 19th ; but the combined fleet 
 still remained at anchor in the bay. The 20th, the 
 mortar boats, which had remained inactive for some 
 time, bombarded the garrison. They seemed to be 
 attended by only four or five gun-boats, and were 
 extremely cautious in directing their fire. Three 
 shells fell in South Port ditch, amongst the 39th 
 regiment. 
 
 Some changes took place in the governor's suite 
 on the 2ist : town-major Captain Foulis was appointed 
 aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief, and Captain 
 Delhoste, of the 72nd regiment, town-major. A flag 
 of truce, the same day, brought over a letter from 
 the duke, in answer to one from the governor, of the 
 preceding day. Their boat also brought clothing for 
 the Walon prisoners. In the evening, about eight
 
 1782] READY FOR RENEWED ATTACK 311 
 
 o'clock, reports were received from the northern 
 guards, that the enemy were in motion in their 
 camp, and that troops were marching down to the 
 lines. About the same time some extraordinary- 
 signals were made by the Spanish admiral. The 
 three pickets remaining with the field-officer in town 
 were immediately detached to reinforce the captain 
 of Land Port, the lines, and Water Port, who, beside 
 their usual guards, had each two pickets with them 
 before. The 39th and 72nd regiments were again 
 ordered to lie accoutred, and the artillery cautioned 
 to be alert. By this disposition it was evident the 
 governor still expected a further attack upon the 
 garrison ; and that evening it was most to be appre- 
 hended, as it was possible that the duke by that, day 
 might receive an answer from Madrid, indicating his 
 future operations. Upward of 1,200 men being thus 
 distributed in the vicinity of the Grand battery, with 
 two regiments at hand to act as corps de reserve^ we 
 waited the further movements of the enemy. A little 
 before midnight, a soldier of the 73rd regiment, re- 
 moving rubbish from the Prince's lines, fell from the 
 extremity, and was killed. An officer with a small 
 detachment was immediately ordered from Land Port 
 to bring in the body. This was discovered by the 
 enemy's advanced parties, who opposed it by a brisk 
 discharge of musketry in regular platoons. Queen's 
 lines guard protected our party, who returned with 
 the body without any casualties. The steady and 
 animated fire supported by the enemy convinced us 
 of the strength of their advanced posts. Nothing 
 extraordinary, however, happened during the night 
 after this occurrence. 
 
 The governor still continued the party at Lower 
 Forbes's under the lines. On the night of the 23rd 
 they discovered two men near the stone sentry-box,
 
 312 THE ENEMY'S CANNONADE [Chap. VII 
 
 within the ruins of the old barrier. The sergeant's 
 orders (the reader may remember) were, not to fire 
 but in his own defence, or in case of an alarm ; but 
 observing them measuring with a chain the distance 
 between the foot of the rock and the Inundation, and 
 thinking they might be persons of some consequence, 
 and probably possessed of memorandums which might 
 discover the motives of their manoeuvres, he deter- 
 mined in this case to fire : they, in return, alarmed at 
 his preparations, suddenly appeared on the defensive ; 
 but the sergeant was so lucky as to kill the principal 
 person, and the other ran off. The body was instantly 
 brought in, but no papers of consequence were found 
 about him. He was thought to have been a volunteer. 
 The sergeant, who was a cadet in General Reden's 
 regiment, was soon afterwards promoted to a com- 
 mission ; but whether for this service, or in his tour^ 
 I cannot inform my reader. 
 
 The enemy's firing seemed now to be directed 
 under the following regulations. About five or six 
 in the morning, when the night-pickets were retiring 
 from their posts, the cannonade commenced, and 
 continued pretty brisk till noon. From twelve till 
 two o'clock there was the usual intermission ; for, as 
 I have remarked before, the Spaniards would not be 
 deprived of their customary nap, or siesta. In the 
 decline of the day they discharged more or less, as 
 their caprice dictated. About seven in the evening 
 their cannon ceased, and their mortars took up the 
 fire, continuing it till daybreak of the succeeding day. 
 The ammunition now expended was generally from 
 400 to 500, and sometimes 600 shells in the 24 hours, 
 with from 600 to 1,000 shot. The profusion of the 
 former had greatly diminished the immense piles in their 
 artillery park, and their howitzers were by no means so 
 lavish of their troublesome shells as they had been.
 
 1782] DEPARTURE OF BOATS 313 
 
 The 24th, the Brilliant frigate was raised after 
 much trouble. The same day about noon, upwards 
 of 50 boats, which had been assembled for the attack, 
 returned to the westward, and the mantlet-boats 
 retired up the river Palmones. The departure of the 
 former, with others which had left the bay the two 
 preceding days, reduced their remaining small craft 
 to a very trifling number.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Notwithstanding that we might naturally infer, from 
 the dispersion of their small craft, that the enemy- 
 had at length relinquished the hope of taking Gibraltar 
 by force of arms, yet the continuance of their cannon- 
 ade, and the presence of the combined fleets (though 
 frequent opportunities had offered for their return 
 to the westward), rendered their conduct so ambiguous 
 that we could form no idea what line they purposed 
 to pursue in their future operations. We knew a 
 relief was intended by the British fleet ; but we could 
 never imagine, if there was anything of an equality, 
 that the enemy would venture an opposition, even 
 though a victory might make them masters of 
 Gibraltar. We waited, therefore, a few days to 
 observe the movements of our adversaries, and by 
 their actions expected to solve the difficulty. 
 
 The evening of the 26th of September, the whole 
 of the combined army were under arms, formed in 
 one line (which extended about four miles and a half) 
 from the river Guadaranque to very near Fort Tonara. 
 Some persons of high rank, attended by a numerous 
 suite of cavalry, passed along the front ; and they were 
 not dismissed till after sunset. In the evening, Major 
 Horsfall, of the 72nd regiment, was wounded by a 
 splinter of a shell. At night, another of our workmen 
 in the Prince's lines fell from the extremity, and was 
 killed. A party was detached from Land Port to bring 
 in the body, and the Queen's lines and other guards 
 
 314
 
 1782] THE PORCUPINE FLOATED 315 
 
 ordered to protect them ; the enemy, however, remained 
 quiet. The 27th, their parties began to collect brush- 
 wood for fascines. This circumstance served the more 
 to increase our doubts relative to their future conduct. 
 The same day, our navy got up the Porcupine frigate ; 
 the engineers also finished the Royal and Green's 
 Lodge batteries. The former is 1,300, and the latter 
 900 feet above the level of the isthmus ; yet, notwith- 
 standing this elevation, the enemy's fire, during Don 
 Alvarez's bombardment, was found to be so galling, 
 that the engineers were under the necessity of covering 
 them with caissoned merlons. Several launches full 
 of troops were observed, on the 29th, going on board 
 the combined fleet. They were supposed to be 
 marines who had been landed from the men-of-war 
 previous to the grand attack. A flag of truce, the 
 same day, brought clothes for the prisoners. Early 
 on the morning of the 30th, a soldier of the 72nd 
 regiment deserted from the sergeant's party at Lower 
 Forbes's. His own brother was one of the guard. 
 The same day, the combined fleets were joined by 
 a line-of-battle ship. The enemy's cannonade still con- 
 tinued to be about 1,000 or 1,100 rounds of shot and 
 shells in the 24 hours. Willis's batteries, and the 
 extremity of the Prince's and Queen's lines, were much 
 damaged from the 64-gun battery. A flag of truce 
 went from the garrison with a letter, and two parcels, 
 which had been sent on the 29th, directed for persons 
 who could not be found amongst the prisoners. In 
 the evening of the 30th, the mortar-boats bombarded 
 our camp. At first we imagined they were alone, but 
 the gun-boats soon afterwards fired upon the town 
 from the northward. Two shells fell in the hospital, 
 and wounded several of the sick. Other casualties 
 also happened in the garrison. The prisoners upon 
 Windmill Hill were alarmed, on two or three shells
 
 3i6 HOWE PREPARING [Chap. VIII 
 
 falling near their camp ; and it was not without some 
 severity that their guards could keep themselves 
 within the boundaries. 
 
 Early on the ist of October, a boat came into Little 
 Bay, with a Corsican on board, who had escaped from 
 Algeziras. He had been mate of a neutral vessel ; 
 but, hearing that some of his relations were in the 
 Corsican corps, he was determined to join his country- 
 men. The intelligence which he brought was, that 
 Lord Howe only waited some reinforcements to sail 
 for the relief of Gibraltar, and that the combined fleet 
 were resolved to oppose him. Thus consoled with 
 the hope of preventing the intended succours, the 
 enemy still flattered themselves that Gibraltar must 
 of necessity submit, through the mere failure of pro- 
 visions. In the course of the day, the corpse of a 
 Spanish officer was washed ashore under our walls : 
 a purse of pistoles, and a gold watch, were found in 
 his pockets. He was buried with respect, two navy 
 officers attending the funeral ; and the following day, 
 a flag of truce delivered the watch and money, to be 
 returned to his friends. The 2nd, several men were 
 wounded by the enemy's shot, in the gallery above 
 Farringdon's, which continued to be prosecuted with 
 diligence ; and Sergeant Harrop, of the 72nd regiment 
 (a man universally noticed and admired for his 
 gallantry and conduct in the works), was killed at 
 Willis's. We observed, the same day, several boats 
 which formerly had mantlets in the bow, returning 
 from the river Palmones ; having, as we imagined, 
 undergone some alterations, to enable them to act as 
 gun-boats. In case of a visit from the latter, signals 
 were now determined upon, to intimate when the 
 artillery were to man the batteries. Two guns quick, 
 and a red flag hoisted upon a flag-staif erected on the 
 South bastion, was to be the day signal ; two guns
 
 1782] CAPTAIN CURTIS THANKED 317 
 
 quick and a light, the signal for the night. In the 
 evening, we had an opportunity of practising our new 
 signals, by the approach of the mortar-boats, which 
 bombarded the garrison for about two hours. The 
 gun-boats, though perhaps attending them, did not 
 fire. Previous to their visit, some muskets were dis- 
 charged, and some signals made amongst the fleet; 
 but we could not observe any particular movements. 
 
 In the forenoon of the 3rd, a Spanish frigate, with 
 a flag of truce at her foretop-gallant mast-head, 
 anchored within gun-shot of the Old Mole head, and 
 immediately Captain Curtis went on board her. In 
 the forenoon. Captain Curtis returned, and the frigate 
 sailed back to the fleet. The wind at the time 
 was so strong, that she was obliged to leave her 
 anchor behind ; which being mentioned to the 
 governor, orders were sent, not to fire upon the boats 
 when they returned to fish it up. The following 
 day, Captain Curtis, accompanied by the governor's 
 secretary and a naval officer, went in his barge to 
 the Orange Grove ; where a carriage waited, and 
 conducted them to Buena Vista, the duke's quarters. 
 The intention of this visit, we afterwards understood, 
 was to establish a cartel with the Spaniards for the 
 exchange of prisoners. Captain Curtis was in- 
 troduced, by the Due de Crillon, to his Royal High- 
 ness the Comte d'Artois, who thanked him, in very 
 handsome terms, for his humanity and gallantry in 
 relieving the unfortunate prisoners from the burning 
 battering-ships; requesting Captain Curtis at the 
 same time to inform the governor, that he entertained 
 the highest esteem and respect for him, for his be- 
 nevolence and liberality to the prisoners upon the 
 same occasion. Before Captain Curtis returned, which 
 was in the evening, the kilns for heating shot were 
 lighted, and other preparations made, as if some
 
 3i8 WALONS ENLISTED [Chap. VIII 
 
 attack was expected. During this correspondence, 
 the enemy's batteries observed a proper silence, in 
 respect to the flag. Captain Curtis informed us, that 
 Lord Howe, with the British fleet, was certainly on 
 his passage to the Mediterranean. The garrison did 
 not, however, feel that indescribable satisfaction and 
 pleasure on receiving this intelligence, which we had 
 experienced when Admirals Rodney and Darby were 
 announced in 1780 and 1781. A French rear-admiral, 
 in ' a 3-decker, with a frigate, and several smaller 
 armed vessels,; joined the combined fleet on the 3rd. 
 The man-of-war had many signals flying when she 
 entered the bay, which were answered by the Spanish 
 admiral. 
 
 The enemy's cannonade was still continued, with 
 such variation as their caprice dictated. The number 
 of rounds of shot and shells usually exceeded 800 in 
 the 24 hours, and sometimes amounted to 1,100 or 
 1,200. We amused them with a trifling return, directed 
 chiefly to their parties, who, to our astonishment, 
 were still forming considerable depots of fascines and 
 materials in the lines. Lieutenant Kenneth M'Kenzie, 
 of the 73rd, was wounded on the 4th, in the communi- 
 cation from the King's to the Queen's lines. Two 
 days afterwards, agreeably to a flag of truce of the 
 preceding day, the Spanish prisoners (excepting 10 
 sick in the hospital, and 59 Walons and foreigners 
 who requested to stay behind) were sent to the com- 
 bined camp. The Walons who preferred staying in 
 the garrison were embodied into those corps which 
 chose to receive them. The 39th and 58th regiments 
 entertained 10 each ; and the remainder were in- 
 corporated with the Corsican company. 
 
 Two of the enemy's engineers had been observed 
 on the 4th, picketing out a work, extending from the 
 ruins of the Mahon battery to the western beach.
 
 1782] ST. MARTIN'S AFIRE 319 
 
 crossing the north-west angle of the farthest gardens. 
 We were at a loss what to conclude from this 
 appearance of a determination still to prosecute the 
 siege. They did not, however, let us remain long in 
 suspense ; for, on the morning of the 6th, we dis- 
 covered that they had erected a strong boyau of 
 approach, extending, in the line before mentioned, 
 about 430 yards — near a quarter of a mile. It was 
 raised with sand-bags ; and from its resemblance to 
 the original epaulment of the 64-gun battery, some 
 imagined it was intended for the same purpose ; though 
 the engineers were of opinion, it was only a com- 
 munication to some additional works in embryo. 
 Although the enemy, by throwing up this extensive 
 work, gained by stealth a second advantage upon 
 the garrison, yet the governor was determined, if 
 possible, to prevent them completing it. The Old 
 Mole head howitzers, with a warm fire from the 
 heights, were opened at night upon this new object ; 
 and, as the former almost entirely enfiladed it, the 
 enemy were so much annoyed, that it was never 
 finished. The night of the 6th, they made good the 
 communication to the parallel, from the extremity of 
 the boyau, near the ruins of the Mahon battery, which 
 was left imperfect the preceding night. 
 
 The following day, the St. Martin's battery took 
 fire from the wadding or discharge of their own 
 cannon. One merlon was destroyed, and another 
 considerably damaged, before the flames were ex- 
 tinguished. We threw a few shells from below, to 
 disturb them in this duty ; but otherwise no particular 
 notice was taken of the accident. The enemy found 
 their situation so extremely warm in their new boyau, 
 that, on the night of the 7th, they threw up a strong 
 shoulder at the extremity near the beach, to protect 
 them against the flanking fire of the howitzers of the
 
 320 A NEW PLAN [Chap. VIII 
 
 Old Mole head. Our shells were nevertheless fired 
 with such judgment and dexterity as just to clear 
 the traverse, and seemed to do as much execution 
 in the interior part as before. Great quantities of 
 fascines, etc., were scattered in the rear; whence we 
 concluded they purposed working in the night, but 
 had been prevented by the vivacity of our fire. They 
 also repaired the St. Martin's battery. A flag of truce 
 brought over letters for the governor and Captain 
 Curtis on the 8th ; and, at night, a boat sailed for 
 Leghorn with a midshipman and 6 sailors, bearing 
 home dispatches from the governor. This was the 
 first boat or vessel which left the garrison after the 
 victory of the preceding month. 
 
 The enemy, about the 8th or 9th, adopted a new 
 plan for the regulation of their bombardment during 
 the night: every 10 or 15 minutes they discharged 
 5, 7, and sometimes 10 mortars at the same time, 
 directing the shells principally to the same object. 
 After a silence of the above period, they saluted 
 us with a second volley, and so on till morning 
 gun-fire. The number of rounds continued variable, 
 from 400 to 600 shots, with almost the same proportion 
 of shells, in the 24 hours. They were enabled to 
 expend these immense quantities of ammunition by 
 receiving constant supplies. The parties in the fascine 
 park appeared now to be considerably increased, and 
 an universal activity seemed still to prevail through 
 the diff'erent departments. A person, ignorant of what 
 had passed and suddenly brought to view their 
 proceedings, might therefore naturally conclude from 
 their operations, that they were elated with, and 
 following up some success, rather than depressed by 
 a defeat. On the night of the 9th, some signals were 
 made at Cabrita Point, which were answered by the 
 combined fleets, each ship showing a light.
 
 18/2] THE ST. MICHAEL CAPTURED 321 
 
 The wind blew fresh westerly on the loth ; and 
 two frigates and a cutter joined the combined fleets 
 from that quarter. In the evening, a number of 
 signals were made by the Spanish admiral, which 
 were answered by various ships in the fleet. After 
 sunset, the gale increased, and at midnight it blew 
 a hurricane, with smart showers of rain. Signal-guns 
 were repeatedly fired by the combined fleets ; and 
 from their continuance, and the violence of the wind, 
 we concluded some of them were in distress. At 
 daybreak, a Spanish two-decker was discovered in 
 a crippled state, close in shore off Orange's bastion : 
 she was under close-reefed courses, and had lost her 
 mizen topmast. Observing her danger upon an 
 enemy's lee-shore, she suddenly luffed up, and endea- 
 voured to weather the garrison : as she passed several 
 shots were fired through her from the King's bastion, 
 which killed two, and wounded two others ; and soon 
 afterwards she grounded near Ragged Staff, and 
 struck to the garrison, hoisting an English Jack over 
 her own colours. A boat from the Speedwell cutter 
 immediately took possession of the San Miguel^ or 
 St. Michael, of 72 guns, commanded by Don Juan 
 Moreno, a Chef d'Escadre. The officers and men, 
 to the number of 634 (many of whom were dismounted 
 dragoons), were immediately landed, and conducted to 
 the quarters before occupied by their friends upon 
 Windmill Hill. The governor was present when they 
 were brought ashore, and generously permitted them 
 to take their baggage unsearched, and the officers 
 their stock of fresh provisions. When the morning 
 cleared up, so as to admit of our observing the state 
 of the combined fleets, we discovered the whole in 
 great disorder. One was on shore near their grand 
 magazine ; a French ship of the line had lost her 
 foremast and bow-sprit ; one, a 3-decker, was 
 
 21
 
 322 THE FLEETS IN DANGER [Chap. VIII 
 
 missing, supposed to be driven from her anchors to 
 the eastward ; and three or four were forced half-bay 
 over (two within range of the garrison), where they 
 all seemed to be in a very precarious situation. Many 
 of the parapet boats, and other small craft, were 
 also driven on shore near the Orange Grove. If 
 the storm had continued a few hours longer, it is not 
 improbable that a 3-decker, with several other 
 ships, would have suffered the fate of the St Michael. 
 The wind, however, abated as the day advanced ; 
 and, when the swell would permit them to assist 
 the disabled ships, the boats were busily employed 
 in carrying out anchors and cables to those which 
 appeared most in distress. The garrison were not 
 idle spectators of these movements; several sea mortars 
 were soon brought to bear on the nearest ships, and 
 one was in a short time obliged to move ; but anchor- 
 ing again off Point Mala, we continued annoying her 
 with shells and red-hot shot, till she warped out of 
 our range. 
 
 The prisoners were no sooner landed from the 
 prize, than the seamen began to lighten the vessel, 
 by removing her powder ashore, and cutting away 
 the mizen-mast : but she remaining still aground, they 
 carried out anchors to prevent her going farther 
 ashore, intending to renew their exertions to warp 
 her off at high water. The St. Michael was esteemed 
 one of the best sailors in the Spanish navy. She 
 was a new ship, built at the Havannah ; very lofty 
 between decks, which were of mahogany, and her 
 beams of cedar. When the combined fleets appeared 
 in the English Channel the St. Michael was one of 
 the leading ships, and was also in the squadron which 
 fired upon the garrison the 9th of September, when 
 the Due de Crillon opened his batteries. The Spanish 
 officers informed us they had received intelligence,
 
 1782] NEWS OF HOWE 323 
 
 the preceding day, of the approach of the British 
 fleet ; which had induced Admiral Cordova to order 
 the combined fleets to He at single anchor, and prepare 
 to weigh at the shortest notice : that they were thus 
 situated when the gale came on; and, the hurricane 
 still increasing, a 3-decker, early in the morning, 
 ran foul of the St Michael and forced her from her 
 anchor : that she immediately set sail, but, as the 
 event had evinced, found it impossible to weather 
 the Rock. 
 
 The intelligence of Lord Howe being so near, 
 now, for the first time, gave us sensible pleasure ; 
 not so much on account of our personal situation, as 
 of the advantage which the enemy's recent misfortunes 
 would give his lordship over his opponents, as well 
 toward accomplishing the object of his orders, as 
 affording him a further opportunity of acting as his 
 lordship's well-known abilities might dictate. We 
 were so elated by our enemy's distress, that some 
 were so sanguine as to anticipate the most glorious 
 conclusion of the war and our own sufferings. Our 
 hopes, however, were soon depressed by the intelli- 
 gence of Lord Howe's great inferiority in number. 
 Thirty-four sail to oppose forty-two, which still re- 
 mained at anchor in the bay, gave us reason to be 
 apprehensive for the safety of the British fleet. The 
 navigation of the Straits was so precarious, that if his 
 lordship once entered the Mediterranean, he might 
 probably be prevented from returning for a considerable 
 time; and the enemy, though now distressed, might, by 
 the assistance of the camp, soon refit, and attack him 
 under every advantage. By this digression I am, 
 however, anticipating the regular narrative. In the 
 afternoon a French two-decker sailed to the eastward, 
 and soon after a settee came in from the west, and 
 fired several guns as she entered the bay. At this
 
 324 HOWE ARRIVES [Chap. VIII 
 
 time it was so very hazy in the Straits, that we could 
 not see the opposite coasts. About sunset several 
 large ships were discovered through the haze; and 
 soon after, the Latona frigate, Captain Conway, an- 
 chored under our guns, and informed us that the ships 
 in the Straits were the van of the British fleet, com- 
 manded by Lord Howe, consisting of 34 sail-of-the- 
 line, including 11 three-deckers, with 6 frigates and 31 
 ordnance transports, and a reinforcement of upward 
 of 1,600 men for the garrison. Captain Conway 
 further told us of the great anxiety which prevailed 
 at home relative to the situation of Gibraltar; and 
 that it was only off the southern coast of Portugal 
 that Lord Howe had his uneasiness removed, 
 by receiving intelligence of the enemy's complete 
 defeat. This welcome information, he said, was 
 accompanied by advice, that " the combined fleets 
 had taken their station in the bay of Gibraltar, 
 resolutely determined to prevent, if possible, the 
 intended relief" We learned that, upon receiving 
 the latter intelligence, the admirals and principal officers 
 were summoned on board the Victory ; where par- 
 ticular instructions and orders were communicated, 
 in expectation of an engagement, which was con- 
 sidered as unavoidable. 
 
 Although the enemy's signals for the approach of 
 the British fleet were made early in the afternoon, 
 yet the Spanish admiral exhibited not the least appear- 
 ance of opposition to any reinforcements being thrown 
 into the garrison. This favourable opportunity was, 
 however, lost ; owing, as Lord Howe expresses in 
 his official letter, to "the want of timely attention 
 to the circumstances of the navigation." Only four 
 or five transports reached the Rock ; the rest, with 
 the fleet, were carried by the current into the Mediter- 
 ranean. At night, or early on the 12th, Captain Curtis
 
 ADMIRAL THK EARL HOWE. 
 
 [To face p. 324.
 
 1782] PREPARING FOR ACTION 325 
 
 sailed in the Latona^ to inform Lord Howe of the 
 calamity which had befallen the enemy's fleet. At 
 noon the British fleet appeared in good order off 
 Estepona or Marbella; and the transports, with the 
 frigates, were working to windward to gain the bay. 
 As they approached the isthmus the enemy saluted 
 them from their mortars, and fired upon them from 
 behind the eastern advanced guard-house. 
 
 Whilst the British fleet, with the transports, were 
 thus critically situated, the combined fleets were 
 very active in repairing their late damages, and in 
 forming a line of battle along the shore. In the 
 evening a number of troops were embarked on board 
 them from the camp. Their xebeques, cutters, armed 
 brigs, and gun-boats, also assembled in Sandy Bay, 
 with an intention probably of picking up our straggling 
 transports. In the close of the day, however, this 
 fleet of craft returned to their main fleet. At night 
 the Panther man-of-war, and several transports, 
 anchored in the bay. 
 
 The enemy on the land-side persevered in their 
 cannonade ; and observing that the St. Michael had 
 run aground within the range of their batteries, threw 
 great numbers of shells, with an intent to destroy 
 her. Many burst over her, and some fell very near ; 
 but, as their artillery could only be directed by her 
 masts, none fell on board. They pointed their usual 
 weight of fire against our works, which the governor 
 (now that a prospect of supplies appeared) returned 
 with unusual vivacity. Their new boyau severely 
 felt the effect of our ordnance. It was considerably 
 deranged, and the enfilading howitzers at the Old 
 Mole head prevented them from strengthening it with 
 any additions of consequence. In the garrison orders 
 of the 1 2th, the following extracts from the dispatches 
 received by the governor were inserted : —
 
 326 ROYAL REWARDS [Chap. VIII 
 
 G.O. " Extract from a letter to the governor, from 
 the Right Hon. the Earl of Shelburne, principal 
 Secretary of State to his Majesty. Dated St. 
 James s, July loth, 1782. 
 
 ' I am also honoured with his Majesty's command 
 to assure you in the strongest terms, that no en- 
 couragement shall be wanting to the brave officers 
 and soldiers under your command. His royal approba- 
 tion of the past will no doubt be a powerful incentive 
 to future exertions ; and I have the King's authority 
 to assure you, that every distinguished act of emulation 
 and gallantry which shall be performed in course of 
 the siege by any, even of the lowest rank, will meet 
 with ample reward from his gracious protection and 
 favour. These his Majesty's intentions you will 
 communicate to every part of your garrison, that they 
 may be perfectly satisfied their royal master feels for 
 the difficulties they are under, admires their glorious 
 resistance, and will be happy to reward their merit," 
 
 " Extract from a letter to the governor from the 
 Right Hon. Gen. Conway, commander-in-chief 
 of his Majesty's forces. Dated August 31st, 
 1782. 
 
 ' I am now to add that I have the King's command 
 to inform you, that he is in the greatest degree 
 satisfied with the brave and steady defence made by 
 your garrison ; and his Majesty is desirous of showing 
 them every mark of his royal approbation. It is in 
 this light that his Majesty has been graciously pleased 
 to consent to granting bat and forage-money, as a 
 proper indulgence to your officers." 
 
 These extracts were perused by the garrison with 
 great satisfaction, as they demonstrated that the safety 
 of Gibraltar was esteemed a matter of the first im-
 
 1782] THE ENEMY'S FLEETS 327 
 
 portance ; and flattered us with the agreeable hopes 
 that our late services would be duly appreciated by 
 our friends and countrymen. 
 
 The British fleet, at daybreak on the 13th, was 
 still off" Marbella, with the wind at west. About 
 9 o'clock a.m. the Spanish admiral made the signal for 
 the combined fleets to weigh anchor. By i o'clock 
 the whole were under way. At three a French rear- 
 admiral, being the last of the rear division, cleared 
 the bay. Their number in all amounted to 80 sail, 
 of which the following, I believe, is an accurate 
 account : 6 three-deckers, 38 two-deckers, including 
 several fifties (total, 44 men-of-war) ; 5 frigates, 29 
 xebeques, cutters, armed ships, and brigs ; also 2, 
 imagined to be fire-ships. Notwithstanding little 
 doubt was to be entertained of the enemy's intention 
 of leaving the bay, the Panther man-of-war remained 
 at anchor with several officers of the garrison on 
 board, whom the governor had permitted to act as 
 volunteers in the expected engagement. When the 
 combined fleets had cleared the bay, they stood some 
 time to the southward, and leaving a line-of-battle 
 ship and two frigates to prevent the Panther from 
 joining her admiral, drove with the current some 
 leagues to the eastward. They then appeared to edge 
 down towards the British fleet, which was in close 
 line of battle upon a wind, with their heads to the 
 southward ; the transports, with the frigates which 
 had been beating up, falling behind them to leeward. 
 Thus were both fleets situated at the close of the 
 evening. Before the enemy had totally quitted the 
 bay. Captain Curtis landed in a small boat from 
 the Latona frigate, with 20,000/. in specie for the 
 garrison, having narrowly escaped being cut off by 
 the combined fleets. He told us the British fleet 
 were in high spirits, and impatient to engage, not-
 
 328 NAVAL TACTICS [Chap. VIII 
 
 withstanding the enemy's great superiority. When 
 the combined fleets first appeared in motion, the 
 Spanish prisoners who had been landed from the 
 St Michael were so overjo3^ed, that they could not 
 forbear expressing their ecstacies in so riotous a 
 manner as to call for some severity, to confine them 
 within the limits of their camp. 
 
 As our observations on the manoeuvres of the fleet 
 were interrupted soon after sunset, we impatiently 
 waited for the succeeding day to be spectators of the 
 action, which was now considered as impossible to 
 be avoided ; and orders were therefore given for 
 preparing several wards in the Navy hospital for the 
 reception of the wounded : but, on the dawn of the 
 14th, the fleets, to our astonishment, were some 
 leagues distant from each other ; the British being to 
 leeward in the south-east quarter, whilst the combined 
 fleets appeared in the north-east, off Estepona. In 
 the evening the British fleet could be discovered only 
 from the summit of the Rock. It seemed to the garri- 
 son that the Spanish admiral, by having the weather- 
 gage, had it in his option to bring the British fleet 
 to action if he pleased. The fleets being thus sepa- 
 rated, the Panther, about noon, endeavoured to join 
 Lord Howe, but put back for want of wind. Seven- 
 teen gun-boats came from Algeziras, apparently to 
 prevent her leaving the bay ; but observing her cast 
 anchor, they returned. 
 
 The enemy's cannonade on the land side was con- 
 tinued with great vivacity. A few days, nay, pro- 
 bably hours, were to turn the balance for or against 
 their future hopes of obtaining the grand object of their 
 wishes : they were not therefore economical in their 
 ammunition ; nor was the garrison in the least behind 
 them in the brisk use of their ordnance. Lieutenant 
 Gromley, of the Royal Artillery, was mortally
 
 1782] SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTED 329 
 
 wounded in the evening at Willis's, and died soon 
 after he was brought to the hospital. 
 
 Part of the combined fleets, in the morning of the 
 15th, was seen (though the weather was very hazy) 
 off Marbella. The British fleet was out of sight ; the 
 Panther neverthless attempted to join them. About 
 8 a.m. the wind came about to the eastward. In 
 the forenoon nine polacres sailed from the Spanish 
 camp, with troops on board for Ceuta. This brought to 
 our recollection the critical state of that garrison both 
 as to men and provisions, when Admiral Rodney 
 was in their neighbourhood in 1780; and the enemy, 
 from embracing this opportunity of sending supplies, 
 appeared not entirely to have forgotten it. About 
 noon, the British fleet was discovered in the offing, 
 to the south-east of Ceuta, standing under an easy sail 
 towards the Rock. At night the Latona, with 8 or 10 
 transports, anchored in the bay. They informed us 
 that the Biiffalo man-of-war, with the remaining 12 
 transports, had separated (by order) from the fleet, 
 but had not afterwards joined. This intelligence gave 
 us some uneasiness for their safety ; but we flattered 
 ourselves they were gone, agreeably to instructions, 
 to the Zafarine Islands, the place of rendezvous in 
 case the fleets engaged. Captain Conway, after a 
 short conference with the governor, returned in the 
 morning of the i6th to the British fleet, which was 
 cruising to the eastward of the Rock, with the wind 
 at east. The combined fleets were not in sight : we 
 concluded therefore that they were gone to Malaga 
 to make further repairs, and join those ships which 
 had been forced from the bay on the nth. Since the 
 arrival of the first transports, the garrison had been 
 busily employed in disembarking the supplies. The 
 former fleets had brought us principally provisions ; 
 this brought us only men and ammunition, which
 
 330 THE Sr.7I//C//^^Z. FLOATED [Chap. VIII 
 
 probably might, without this supply, have become as 
 scarce articles as the former had been. 
 
 The exertions of the navy not being successful in 
 floating the St. Michael, a hundred sailors were de- 
 tached on board on the 17th, to their assistance ; and 
 not long afterwards, she was anchored off the New 
 Mole. It was peculiarly fortunate that she grounded 
 on a bank of sand, though she was surrounded with 
 rocks : her bottom was therefore little injured. Sir 
 Charles Knowles, Bart, who had been formerly on 
 this station, was appointed to command her. The 
 wind had now changed to the south-west ; and, in 
 the forenoon of the same day, a British frigate 
 appeared from the west. She made a signal when 
 off Europa, which being answered by our fleet, she 
 immediately joined them. At night, the gun-boats 
 being heard in the bay, our batteries were manned 
 to receive them ; but, upon a gun being fired from 
 the St Michael, they threw up their rockets and 
 returned. Some were of opinion that they meditated 
 an attempt to cut her out. The i8th, the wind again 
 came about to the east ; and the Buffalo, with eleven 
 of the missing transports, arrived in the course of 
 the day. These ships, as we had conjectured, had 
 separated from the fleet, and were proceeding to the 
 place of rendezvous, when, not hearing any firing, and 
 the wind veering about, they returned, and were very 
 near joining the combined fleets, but discovered their 
 error time enough to rectify it. The missing vessel, 
 they informed us, had been taken by the enemy, some 
 days before, off Malaga ; and, having on board the 
 wives and baggage of the two regiments which were 
 on board the fleet, and were intended for our re- 
 inforcement, her capture greatly distressed those corps, 
 and the garrison heartily condoled with them. The 
 Latona, in her return to the fleet, chased and boarded
 
 1/82] THE FLEETS IN SIGHT 331 
 
 a vessel, which proved to be a Spanish fireship. 
 The crew, deserting her, were conducted, by two gun- 
 boats attending, to a xebeque at some distance, which 
 afterwards went into Ceuta. The prize was sent 
 into the bay. About noon, 4 or 5 men-of-war arrived 
 from the fleet, with the 25th and 59th regiments. 
 Lord Mulgrave, who commanded the disembarkation, 
 landed the troops with the greatest expedition, under 
 the hne-wall at the New Mole, Rosia and Camp bays, 
 and returned to Lord Howe off Tetuan. The two 
 regiments were encamped before 10 o'clock at night ; 
 the former behind the barracks, the latter upon Wind- 
 mill Hill. We now learned that the admiral, having 
 accomplished the object of the expedition, intended 
 to embrace the favourable opportunity of the wind, 
 and immediately return to the westward. In the 
 course of the night, the fire-ship brought in by Captain 
 Conway was purposely set on fire, and being anchored 
 apart from the shipping, blew up without doing any 
 damage. The Latona soon afterwards joined the 
 British fleet. Captain Vallotton, the governor's first 
 aide-de-camp^ embarked in her to bear home the 
 governor's public despatches. Captain Curtis also 
 went in her, to communicate information from the 
 governor to Lord Howe ; and did not return. 
 
 At daybreak on the 19th, both fleets, to our great 
 astonishment, were in sight ; the combined fleets 
 being some leagues to windward. When the British 
 fleet was abreast of Europa, Lord Howe dispatched 
 the Tisiphone fireship, with a further supply of powder 
 collected from the fleet. The British fleet afterwards 
 put before the wind, and 'stood, under an easy sail, 
 in close order to the westward. The van of the com- 
 bined fleet, composed of French ships, followed with 
 a press of canvas at some distance. By 2 o'clock p.m. 
 Lord Howe's fleet was out of sight ; but the Spanish
 
 332 BELATED NEWS [Chap. VIII 
 
 ships sailing heavily, it was night before they dis- 
 appeared. Though fully convinced of the prudence 
 of his lordship's conduct, it was no very pleasing 
 prospect for a British garrison to behold a British 
 fleet, though inferior in force, lead the enemy. At 
 night, the wind changed to the south-west ; and the 
 succeeding day, a brisk cannonade was heard from that 
 quarter. This, however, could not proceed from the 
 action which afterwards took place between the fleets, 
 as the firing was heard early in the morning. Some 
 time on the 19th, a guard of 2 subalterns and 96 men 
 was ordered from the 25th and 59th regiments on 
 board the St Michael, where they remained till she 
 was completely repaired. 
 
 Several large ships were observed, on the 20th, 
 to be anchored at some distance from Algeziras ; and, 
 as 6 or 7 were conjectured to be fireships, precautions 
 were accordingly taken, and the batteries from South 
 bastion to Europa ordered, in case of alarm, to be 
 doubly manned. The enemy, the same day, got off 
 the man-of-war which ran ashore near their grand 
 magazine. In the evening some movements were 
 observed in the French camp ; and on the succeeding 
 day most of the tents were struck. In the afternoon, 
 the resident Spanish priest was confined to his house, 
 for holding conversation with some of the prisoners 
 on Windmill Hill. The enemy's cannonade was still 
 continued, upon an average of about 500 or 600 rounds 
 in the 24 hours. They lined some part of the new 
 boyau with fascines, and raised a few traverses in the 
 rear, notwithstanding our brisk fire : they were, 
 however, prevented from making any additions of 
 consequence. On the 22nd, a polacre arrived from 
 Algiers, with intelligence from the British Consul, 
 that Lord Howe had sailed for the relief of Gibraltar. 
 Happily his lordship had effected that business, and.
 
 1782] PRICES REGULATED 333 
 
 probably, before they at Algiers were informed of the 
 British fleet having left England. 
 
 The extreme distress which the garrison had 
 experienced in the close of the years 1779 and 1780, 
 and the great profits which from the exigencies of 
 those periods had arisen to the adventurers who ran 
 the hazard of a voyage with provisions for our relief, 
 were by this time prett}^ generally known at home. 
 The favourable opportunity of a safe convoy under 
 the British fleet, prompted, therefore, many masters 
 of transports, some of whom had been in the garrison 
 before, during the war, to lay in a stock of various 
 articles, with the prospect that the distresses of their 
 friends might afford these truly humane and generous 
 patriots an occasion to sell them, on their arrival, 
 at their own price. Although these supplies were 
 most highly acceptable, yet the garrison was not at 
 this time in such absolute need of their assistance, 
 as to purchase them at those enormous prices which 
 before had been given with pleasure ; nor in justice 
 did we think, from the little risk the adventurers ran, 
 that they deserved such immense profits. A com- 
 mittee of officers from every corps assembled on the 
 23rd, to consider what measures to pursue in order 
 to prevent such impositions in future, and, as every 
 article brought to the garrison was sold at public 
 auction, it was unanimously agreed, that a certain 
 price should be fixed upon each article, allowing such 
 profit as might reasonably be thought adequate to the 
 hazard ; and, when the estimate was published, every 
 officer, I believe, pledged his honour not to exceed the 
 terms therein specified. (See App.) 
 
 The prudent and manly regulation of the committee 
 was strictly attended to for about a fortnight, but 
 it had not that immediate effect we expected ; many 
 of our generous countrymen, rather than dispose of
 
 334 NEWS OF BATTLE [Chap. VIII 
 
 their ventures for a profit of 150, and in some instances 
 300 per cent, very liberally determined not to land 
 them, but to sell them for a trifling advantage at 
 Lisbon, or elsewhere, in their way home. We should 
 nevertheless have soon got the better of their obstinacy 
 had we continued determined and consistent our- 
 selves ; but some individuals who preferred self- 
 gratification to the public good, beginning to evade 
 the agreement, the whole was cancelled and the 
 demands of the adventurers became afterwards as 
 exorbitant, if not more so than before. So little 
 dependence is there upon the adherence of a multitude 
 to any sumptuary regulations, however essential to 
 their real interest. 
 
 The mortar-boats, on the night of the 23rd, paid 
 us a visit, and did considerable damage. Their shells 
 were chiefly directed towards the New Mole. The 
 Hector cutter, in government service, was sunk by 
 a shell, and everything on board lost. Several other 
 vessels narrowly escaped the same fate. We fired 
 upon them from Willis's and the Old Mole ; but their 
 gun-boats were silent. The 24th, we observed that 
 the enemy had struck the tents of four or five batta- 
 lions, and two regiments were seen this day marching 
 along the beach. The day following some baggage 
 was observed being removed from the Duke's quarters ; 
 which gave us great hopes that his Grace was preparing 
 to leave the camp, and that matters were verging 
 towards a conclusion. In the evening a deserter came 
 in, a native Catalonian. He informed us there had 
 been an engagement between the British and combined 
 fleets, but could give us no particulars. He further 
 told us that their camp was breaking up : 16 battalions 
 had already marched away, and others were preparing 
 to decamp : that they had ceased to work in their 
 approaches; and that their night-guards consisted of
 
 1782] ENEMY'S CAMP BREAKING UP 335 
 
 4,000 men, under the command of 2 brigadier- 
 generals : concluding with acquainting us, that the 
 winter camp before the garrison was to consist of 
 20,000 men : that additional gun-boats were building 
 to harass us constantly; and that a corporal and 12 
 men were stationed in the gardens to prevent deser- 
 tion. The 26th, the tents occupied by the Duke's 
 corps 'encamped before Buena Vista were struck ; 
 which served to increase our hopes, that the prospect 
 was not far distant of an end to our fatigues. Don 
 Juan Moreno left the garrison the same day, with a 
 flag of truce. Our boat could not learn any further 
 account of the engagement ; but the officers were 
 informed, that a general peace was expected, as the 
 independence of America had been acknowledged by 
 Great Britain. 
 
 More battalions left the enemy's camp on the 27th : 
 their cannonade nevertheless was continued, and 
 several shot ranged as far as the entrance of Windmill 
 Hill ; a distance of about 5,000 yards. Their camp 
 was still decreasing on the 28th and 29th ; and we 
 judged from our observations, that about 23 battalions, 
 with a brigade of artillery, had marched into the 
 country. The last deserters said many had taken 
 their route to Cadiz. The 30th, we observed the 
 enemy had stationed a guard under the Rock near the 
 Devil's Tower. They were taken some notice of by 
 our artillery, who endeavoured to annoy them with 
 small projectiles from the summit of the northern 
 front. The Tisiphone, Captain Sandys, with five or six 
 ordnance-ships (having 160 Jews on board), sailed for 
 England early in the morning of the 31st. The same 
 day, a soldier of the 97th regiment was killed at Rosia, 
 by a long range shot from the isthmus. This shot 
 must have ranged more than two miles and a half. 
 
 Three deserters came in on the 2nd and 4th of
 
 336 LOSS OF A SLOOP [Chap. VIII 
 
 November, but could give no satisfactory information 
 relative to the action between the fleets. They said 
 the French troops had quitted the camp with the 
 Royal volunteers. The enemy's camp continued to 
 break up on the 7th and 8th ; though some of the 
 regiments, it was imagined, took possession of the 
 large building eastward of Point Mala, which had 
 been built for a hospital. On the 7th, two men-of-war 
 and a sloop (supposed to be French, from the West 
 Indies) passed to the eastward. The Spanish gun- 
 boats seemed to suspect they were enemies, and 
 intended to come in ; as they were in motion, and 
 appeared to be preparing for an attack. The 8th, 
 23 gun-boats paraded at a short distance from the 
 garrison, extending in a line ahead to the southward. 
 We expected an attack upon the Si. Michael; but, an 
 easterly wind springing up, they returned. They had 
 scarcely got back, when a signal was made at Cabrita 
 Point, and they again put about. Our attention was 
 engaged by this manoeuvre; and, upon investigating 
 the cause, we discovered a sloop standing toward the 
 garrison from the eastward. If this vessel had con- 
 tinued the course she then steered, she might un- 
 doubtedly have reached the Rock : whether, however, 
 it was owing to the westerly current off Europa, or 
 the ignorance of the crew, we could not determine ; 
 in the course of an hour she drove so ^considerably 
 to leeward as to be out of the protection of our guns, 
 and, after receiving several discharges of round and 
 grape from the gun-boats, was boarded by the enemy. 
 Sir Charles Knowles, Bart, (who since Captain 
 Curtis's departure commanded in the bay), ordered 
 several barges out to her assistance, but to no purpose. 
 A boat, with five of her crew, escaped to the garrison, 
 and informed us she was laden with sugar and tea 
 from Falmouth. Soon afterwards a Danish dogger
 
 1782] HOWE SUCCESSFUL 337 
 
 was brought to an anchor in the bay, by a gun from 
 Europa : she was laden with rice and pilchards from 
 England, A flag of truce on the 9th went with a 
 letter to the duke ; and, in the evening, another 
 brought over Ensign Lewis, of the 58th regiment, 
 with a quarter-master and a volunteer of the 25th, 
 who had been taken in the Minerva brig, with the 
 baggage, etc., ot the 25th and 59th regiments. This 
 flag also brought over other prisoners. By these 
 gentlemen, we learned that an engagement had taken 
 place between Lord Howe and Admiral Cordova, and 
 that the latter was returned into port with his fleet 
 much shattered. 
 
 After the departure of the fleets, little attention 
 was paid by the enemy to the blockade. Not one 
 cruiser was now to be seen in the Straits or to the 
 eastward, and few vessels of force were stationed at 
 Cabrita Point. The idea of gaining Gibraltar, either 
 by force or stratagem, seemed at length to be totally 
 relinquished. Their cannonade from the land never- 
 theless was continued ; but, as it gradually diminished, 
 and scarce exceeded at this time 250 rounds in the 
 24 hours, we imagined it would in a short time 
 totally cease. The St. Philip's Castle, and several 
 ordnance-ships, had left the bay the evening of the 
 8th; and, on the loth and 12th, two light vessels 
 came to Algeziras, which, from their appearance, were 
 thought to be of the latter. On the 12th, a flag of 
 truce went with a letter to the duke. Whilst it was 
 out the enemy's gun-boats commenced a smart can- 
 nonade upon the St. Michael (which was now refitted), 
 whilst their mortar-boats bombarded our camp. We 
 returned their fire, and two of the mortar-boats retired 
 very early, the others following them in about an 
 hour. Three or four shot were fired through the 
 St. Michael, but no other damage was received. Our 
 
 22
 
 338 PRISONERS RELEASED [Chap. VIII 
 
 flag returned just as the cannonade ceased. As it 
 appeared probable that the enemy might renew their 
 attacks upon the prize, Colonel Williams, who com- 
 manded the artillery, ordered more mortars to be 
 distributed along the sea-line, from the King's bastion 
 to the New Mole fort. The 15th, a regiment quitted 
 their camp ; and at night their workmen raised about 
 20 traverses in the rear of their advanced boyau, ex- 
 tending from the parallel about half the length of 
 the work. Our fire at this period was variable. The 
 day following, between 20 and 30 transports, with 
 troops on board, sailed under convoy of two frigates 
 for the westward. Their artillery also about this time 
 removed most of the ordnance from their park to the 
 landing place, where we numbered 30 cannon and 5 
 mortars, with a great quantity of shot and shells ready 
 for embarkation. The 17th, a xebeque and several 
 armed vessels and gun-boats anchored at Cabrita 
 Point, as if they had determined to renew the blockade. 
 Three days after, all the Spanish prisoners taken 
 in the St Michael (excepting a few who chose to 
 remain behind) were sent to the camp. The Spanish 
 officers, on this occasion, informed us that there had 
 been an engagement between the British and combined 
 fleets, which had ended to the advantage of the former. 
 In the evening of the 20th, a party of about 100 men 
 were seen to go from the eastern part of the enemy's 
 parallel to the back of the Rock. We could not at 
 that time account for the marching of these troops. 
 The small craft continued at Cabrita Point ; the men- 
 of-war and larger vessels being at anchor off the 
 Orange Grove. Four sail of the line and 3 frigates 
 beside xebeques, etc., were now in the bay. The 
 enemy, on the 21st and 22nd, embarked a vast quantity 
 of powder from their grand magazine on board the 
 men-of-war. Most of the spare ordnance had already
 
 1782] A PARTIAL ACTION 339 
 
 been shipped on board, and others were removing 
 daily toward the beach. 
 
 Two boats arrived on the 23rd from Portugal : they 
 brought certain intelligence of the preceding action 
 between the fleets. The particulars of this intelligence 
 were, that a partial action had taken place between the 
 British of 34 ships, and the combined fleets of 46 ships 
 of the line ; that, though the latter had the weather- 
 gage, they studiously avoided a close engagement ; and, 
 after a cannonade of several hours, hauled their wind 
 and directed their course to Cadiz. The same day 
 Lieutenant John M'Kenzie, of the 73rd, was danger- 
 ously wounded at Willis's. The enemy's fire now 
 scarcely exceeded 150 rounds. Two more boats got 
 in from Faro the night of the 26th. Our success in 
 obtaining these welcome supplies rendered the enemy 
 more vigilant and active to intercept them. Every 
 boat, even friends, which approached the Rock, raised 
 their suspicion. 
 
 Though every appearance in their camp indicated 
 that they had given up all hopes of subduing the 
 garrison by force, their parties on the isthmus con- 
 tinued to be very busy, and some evenings they made 
 additions of traverses to their works. Heavy timber 
 was also brought forward to the parallel, but for 
 what purpose we could not then imagine. Their 
 advanced parties had likewise the audacity frequently 
 to approach half-way upon the causeway from Bay- 
 side; but, the artillery having orders to scour the 
 gardens, and the neighbourhood of Bayside, with 
 grape from the Old Mole, their curiosity in a short 
 time was pretty well cooled. Toward the close of 
 this month, the enemy's fire became more faint and 
 ill-directed, whilst ours was more animated and 
 effectual. Our engineers continued to be constantly 
 engaged. The rebuilding of the whole flank of the
 
 340 AN AMAZING PROJECT [Chap. VIII 
 
 Prince of Orange's bastion, 120 feet in length, with 
 solid masonry (which was now nearly finished), in 
 the face of such powerful artillery, can scarcely be 
 paralleled in any siege. 
 
 In the beginning of December, the Achilles ordnance 
 ship, with two or three boats, arrived from England 
 and Portugal. The 6th, a Venetian ship was driven 
 by the current under the guns of Europa. We 
 fired to bring her to, and the master instantly came 
 ashore and informed us she was bound to London ; 
 but, before he could return, his vessel was boarded 
 by three gun-boats, which towed her to Algeziras. 
 The master then came into the garrison, and at night 
 was permitted to follow his vessel. The following 
 evening a German deserted to us from the Walon 
 guards. He informed us that the enemy stationed 
 every evening a guard of 300 men near the Devil's 
 Tower, where they had miners at work in a cave, 
 hoping to form a mine to blow up the north part 
 of the Rock. We paid no kind of attention at first, 
 to this intelligence, so ridiculous and even chimerical 
 the scheme appeared. Recollecting, however, that a 
 party had been observed to march that way some 
 evenings before, and remarking, upon a closer in- 
 spection, that every evening a numerous body of 
 men approached along the eastern shore toward that 
 quarter, we began to give some credit to this singular 
 information.* The above deserter also informed us 
 that the enemy had removed some ordnance from 
 the parallel, but that their guards and advanced parties 
 were still very strong. 
 
 By this period, our engineers had penetrated a 
 
 * In 1727, the besiegers formed the design of blowing up Willis's 
 batteries by a mine ; but it is imagined they found it impracticable, 
 as they never attempted to spring the mine, though the Journal of that 
 Siege mentions it was loaded.
 
 1782] MUTINY OF A BOAT'S CREW 341 
 
 considerable distance in the gallery above Farringdon's 
 battery, and had opened five embrasures to the front of 
 the Rock ; and, to have a more secure communication 
 to this singular work, a covered-way was sunk, by 
 blasting the rock from the above-mentioned battery 
 to the entrance of the gallery. The success with 
 which this work had been prosecuted, and the con- 
 siderable advantages which promised to result from 
 it when finished, induced the governor to order that a 
 similar battery, but only for two guns, should be made 
 in the rock near Crouchett's battery, above the Prince 
 of Hesse's bastion ; and the workmen had now made 
 some advances therein. On the 12th, a guard-boat 
 of the St Michael, with 2 officers and 7 sailors, went 
 over to the enemy. We afterwards learned from 
 the officers, who returned in a flag of truce, that the 
 sailors rose upon them, saying they were resolved 
 to go over to the enemy : that Lieutenant Small, who 
 commanded the boat, drew his hanger, and attempted 
 a stroke at the man who was spokesman upon the 
 occasion ; but that he was knocked down by the 
 coxswain with the tiller of the rudder; that, whilst 
 he was thus senseless, they had it in debate to throw 
 him overboard ; but, by the intercession of the young 
 midshipman, he was preserved, and, when taken 
 ashore, was some time before he recovered. 
 
 The enemy's parties under the Rock, near the 
 Devil's Tower, began now to engage our curiosity. 
 Every part of the north front was explored, to en- 
 deavour, if possible, to discover what they were about. 
 At length, on the 15th, a place was found above Green's 
 Lodge, whence we could distinguish a part of their 
 work. The communication with this post, being along 
 a level beach, was greatly exposed to our fire. When 
 their parties were discovered advancing from the east 
 flank of the 64-gun battery, our artillery at Willis's
 
 342 HOPES OF PEACE [Chap. VIII 
 
 and on the heights prepared to salute them. They 
 were permitted to approach unmolested within 200 
 or 300 yards, when a general volley was discharged 
 of cohorn-shells, with grape, seconded by the mortars 
 on the Levant battery, loaded with hand-shells, or 
 grenades, quilted together. A chance, or mine, was 
 sometimes sprung upon them from the top, when 
 they had nearly got under the Rock ; the stones from 
 which added not a little to their confusion and loss. 
 Notwithstanding that they were in this manner 
 obliged every evening to pass the gantelope of our 
 fire, they continued to bring materials, and maintained 
 their post with surprising obstinacy. Some of the 
 guard were seen frequently, in the day, to advance 
 from their cover ; a party of Corsicans, who hitherto 
 had done no other duty than guard the prisoners 
 on Windmill Hill, were ordered therefore to the 
 post above Green's Lodge, to fire wall-pieces upon 
 those that appeared from below. 
 
 A flag of truce went from the garrison on the 17th. 
 The Spanish aide-de-camp informed us that the pre- 
 liminaries of a general peace were expected to be 
 signed in the course of the month. The succeeding 
 day another flag went from the governor with letters 
 to the duke : it had scarcely returned, when 29 gun 
 and mortar-boats commenced a spirited attack upon 
 the St. Michael, and other ships, at anchor off" Buena 
 Vista. Since these boats had made a custom of firing 
 upon the garrison, we never remarked them to be 
 arranged with more judgment, or to behave with 
 greater gallantr}^, than they did on this occasion. 
 The mortar-boats composed the centre division, and 
 a division of gun-boats was arranged on each flank : 
 their line of battle extending about 2 miles. They 
 got their distance the first round, and retained it with 
 such precision, that almost every shell fell within 50
 
 1782] ATTACK ON THE ST. MICHAEL 343 
 
 yards of the St. Michael, which was the chief object of 
 their attack. The seventy-fourth shell fell on board, 
 about mid-ship ; pierced the first, and broke on the 
 lower deck ; killed 4, and wounded 1 1 sailors, 3 of them 
 mortally. After this accident. Sir Charles Knowles, 
 being apprehensive of the most fatal consequences 
 if a shell should fall into the magazine, removed the 
 powder, through the opposite port-holes, into a launch, 
 which was immediately towed under the Rock; 80 
 barrels, which could not be removed, were thrown 
 into the sea. The enemy still maintained a warm 
 fire, but, it is imagined, did not observe that any had 
 fallen on board the ship. Several shells carried away 
 ornaments and parts of her rigging : fortunately, how- 
 ever, she received no further injury. Not one shell 
 came ashore from the boats. Captain Gibson, at the 
 commencement of the action, rowed out with 8 gun- 
 boats from the New Mole, and very warmly attacked 
 their northern division. On his appearing in motion, 
 3 parapet boats advanced from the Orange Grove to 
 take our boats in flank. One of this number was, 
 however, soon disabled by the garrison, and the other 
 two joined the main body. When the enemy had 
 expended their ammunition, the mortar-boats retired, 
 and the gun-boats covered their retreat in a most 
 beautiful manner. They stood towards the Orange 
 Grove, and embarked some of their crews on board 
 the men-of-war. Three of the line-of-battle ships, two 
 frigates, and a xebeque, with several bomb-ketches, 
 and other vessels, which were all laden with military 
 stores, sailed to the westward. The enemy's land 
 batteries, as is mentioned before, were gradually 
 diminishing in their fire ; but, upon this occasion, 
 they supported the boats from the bay with a very 
 animated additional cannonade. 
 
 The remainder of the enemy's ships, laden with
 
 344 A GALE [Chap. VIII 
 
 military stores, sailed on the night of the 19th from 
 the Orange Grove to the westward. The wind con- 
 tinued easterly; and, on the succeeding night, or 
 rather the morning of the 21st, blew so strong a gale, 
 that the St. Michael was driven from her anchors 
 more than half-bay over ; every exertion was made 
 to recover her station, but all proved ineffectual ; when 
 fortunately an eddy-wind brought her about, and Sir 
 Charles Knowles was happy to run her aground 
 within the New Mole on a sand-bank south of the 
 tank. The gale was so powerful on Windmill Hill, 
 that the tents of the 59th regiment were torn from 
 the pickets, and carried a considerable distance from 
 the camp-ground. To obviate the like disagreeable 
 circumstances in future, that regiment was removed 
 to encamp in South Port ditch, opposite Sydow's 
 (formerly Hardenberg's) regiment. This arrangement 
 obliged the town-parade to be changed; and the guards 
 afterwards assembled on the Red Sands, which con- 
 tinues at this time to be the general parade. In the 
 course of the day, the St. Michael was warped into 
 deep water, and moored in the New Mole. At night 
 a deserter came in : he informed us that the enemy 
 had 20 miners at work near the Devil's Tower, pro- 
 tected by a strong guard ; that we annoyed their 
 communication with that post very much, and every 
 evening killed and wounded many men. In conse- 
 quence of this intelligence, our fire toward that quarter 
 was increased. A flag of truce, on the 20th, had in- 
 formed us that the women belonging to the 25th and 
 59th regiments were at the enemy's camp, waiting 
 more moderate weather, to be sent by water into 
 the garrison. The 22nd, they were received ; but, 
 upon their landing, they were conducted to the Naval 
 hospital, where some few of them were detained by 
 the faculty as exceptionable. Lieutenant Small, of the
 
 1782] CHRISTMAS DAY 345 
 
 navy, came over on the 23rd, in a flag of truce. He 
 told us the enemy's small craft had materially suffered 
 from the storm which had so greatly endangered the 
 St Michael. The Due de Crillon, the day following, 
 visited the parallel, and was present in the western 
 boyau, whilst an engineer picketed out a work at the 
 extremity of it, near the beach. At intervals, we could 
 now distinctly hear the explosion of the mines in the 
 enemy's cave or gallery at the Devil's Tower. Few 
 men were, however, to be seen in that neighbour- 
 hood ; though at night they continued the reliefs, and 
 brought materials as usual. 
 
 In the afternoon of the 25th, being Christmas Day, 
 we observed the gun and mortar-boats in motion, 
 and, about 4 o'clock, 18 of the former and 11 of the 
 latter advanced from Algeziras, apparently with an 
 intention of renewing their attack upon the unfor- 
 tunate St. Michael; but, 11 of our gun-boats, under 
 the personal orders of Sir Charles Knowles, opposing 
 them, the centre division of mortar-boats, and the 
 southward division, stood toward Europa, and began 
 a warm bombardment upon our camp ; throwing their 
 shells indiscriminately from Windmill Hill to South 
 Shed. Our gun-boats in this action behaved with 
 great gallantry, directing their opposition entirely 
 against the mortar-boats ; the fire of which they in 
 a great measure diverted from the shipping. A blind 
 shell, nevertheless, fell into the ward-room of the St 
 Michael; and another shell carried away the mizen- 
 mast of the Porcupine frigate, and burst in the state 
 cabin. Seven or eight shells fell within the hospital- 
 wall : one exploded in a ward, and killed and wounded 
 several of the sick. Several houses and sheds were 
 also destroyed, and others considerably injured. In 
 short, it was thought to be the warmest attack we 
 had ever experienced from the gun-boats; and our
 
 346 A NARROW ESCAPE [Chap. VIII 
 
 men, being mostly in spirits after tiieir Christmas 
 dinner, were consequently less upon their guard. One 
 was killed, and seven were wounded, in the camp. As 
 our artillery had time to prepare, the enemy's cannon- 
 ade was returned with great vivacity ; but the mortar- 
 boats and southward division had taken so judicious 
 a station, that few ordnance could be brought to bear 
 upon them. We had, nevertheless, some reason to 
 conclude their loss was superior to our own. Their 
 land batteries (with the addition of Fort St. Philip 
 and the Black battery, which had been silent some 
 time) upon this occasion, as upon the last, increased 
 their fire upon the town. We therefore had the 
 enemy upon our whole front, from Europa Point to 
 Land Port. At a quarter past six o'clock the mortar- 
 boats retired, and were covered in their retreat by the 
 gun-boats as before.* This dishonourable and cruel 
 mode of prosecuting the war, we had reason to think, 
 would be continued till a peace should put an end to all 
 hostilities. The enemy had been very industrious in 
 impressing this pleasing information on the memories 
 of the women who had been lately detained by the 
 weather in their camp. They were told, for their 
 comfort, that, as the besieging army had been re- 
 luctantly compelled to relinquish the idea of recovering 
 Gibraltar, they were determined to harass and alarm 
 the garrison by successive attacks from the gun and 
 
 * It was during this attack that the materials from which this 
 work is compiled were in the most imminent danger of being entirely 
 destroyed. A 13-inch shell from the enemy's mortar-boats, falling 
 above the camp guard, rolled along the road leading from Buena Vista 
 and entered the author's marquee, brushing the pillow of his bed, 
 and lodging closely under the corner of the bedstead ; though lighted 
 when it entered, and though its force must have been greatly spent 
 in the ricochets before it entered, the fuse luckily broke as it lodged 
 within, and the marquee, with its contents, by that fortunate cir- 
 cumstance was preserved.
 
 1/82] A VINDICTIVE CANNONADE 347 
 
 mortar-boats, which, for the purpose of having regular 
 rehefs, were to be increased in number : thus, by 
 being exposed to a revengeful enemy, the prospect 
 before us promised to be more irksome and vexatious 
 than the more interesting period which had passed. 
 
 Although the enemy's fire from the isthmus was 
 almost discontinued, the governor, towards the con- 
 clusion of December, made up for their deficiency by 
 a more animated discharge than usual ; every night 
 the whole north front appeared a continued line of 
 fire. The Devil's Tower chiefly engaged his attention : 
 their guard at this post was generally relieved about 
 seven or eight o'clock in the evening, if not prevented 
 by our fire. The work of sand-bags, which we could 
 see from one spot, was totally destroyed ; and the 
 sloping timbers which they had placed against the 
 rock to protect them from the overhead fire, were 
 much shattered by the weighty fragments of rock 
 which were hurled upon them from above. The 
 night of the 27th, the enemy opened three embrasures 
 in the epaulment at the east end of the 64-gun battery. 
 The embrasures were then masked, and, the suc- 
 ceeding evening, were faced with fascines. The night 
 of the 29th, they raised a work of sand-bags, of about 
 100 feet in extent, at the western extremity of the new 
 boyau. It was picketed out when the duke was 
 present, and extended to the rear at right angles with 
 the epaulment. The 30th, 19 gun and mortar-boats 
 came out of the river Palmones, where they generally 
 retired to repair, after firing upon the garrison. The 
 evening of the succeeding day being very calm, and 
 some movements being observed amongst them, we 
 expected they would commence the new year with 
 another visit : but we were happily disappointed. 
 Since we were sufficiently persuaded of the conduct 
 which the enemy had determined to pursue for the
 
 348 UNDER THE DEVIL'S TOWER [Chap. VIII 
 
 remainder of the war, the governor again adopted 
 the idea of retaliation : the gun mounted on Colonel 
 Williamson's elevated carriage was removed to the 
 Old Mole head, and other preparations were made to 
 annoy their camp, when the boats should renew their 
 attack. In the course of December several vessels 
 and boats arrived with stores and supplies. Others 
 likewise left the bay, and flags of truce frequently 
 passed between the governor and the duke. Their 
 purport was not, however, publicly known. 
 
 The last day of December, a party of the navy 
 fished up one of the guns from the wreck of the 
 battering-ships; and the following day, the ist of 
 January, 1783, the gun, which was of iron and a 26- 
 pounder, was drawn in procession by the British tars, 
 with a Spanish ensign, which had been taken from on 
 board one of the ships, displayed over it, and attended 
 by a band of music, playing " God save the King." * 
 
 Our observations made upon the enemy's pro- 
 ceedings at the Devil's Tower were as yet very un- 
 satisfactory, though by the enterprising activity of a 
 sergeant in the artificers, we knew that they were in 
 reality at work in a cave : for he had descended, by 
 means of ropes and ladders, so low down the face of 
 the rock as to see the mouth of the cave, and hear the 
 people converse. Early, therefore, on the morning of 
 the 4th, three of the governor's staff" went in a 
 barge, protected by two gun-boats, to reconnoitre this 
 post. Their curiosity prompted them to approach 
 nearer than was perhaps prudent, as the guard fired 
 
 * Many more of these guns were afterwards recovered from the 
 wrecks ; and most of them, being of brass, were sold ; the produce of 
 the sales, and other moneys arising from the head-money granted by 
 Parliament for the battering-ships, and the sale of the Sf. Michael 
 prize, were proportioned in shares to the garrison and marine brigade. 
 — See Appendix.
 
 1783] ATTACK FROM LAND AND SEA 349 
 
 musketry upon them, and a gun or two were dis- 
 charged from Fort Barbara. Soon after they returned, 
 the new 3-gun battery, at the east end of the 64-gun 
 battery, was unmasked, though the guns were under 
 metal. In the afternoon of the same day, the gun and 
 mortar-boats advanced in two divisions from Algeziras, 
 and when half-bay over, were joined by a third 
 division of 5 from Cabrita Point, consisting in all 
 of 33. The centre division of 16, principally mortar- 
 boats, was warmly attacked by Sir Charles Knowles, 
 with II of ours, whilst the northern division was as 
 briskly annoyed from the King's bastion. The division 
 of 12 gun-boats had the boldness to approach within the 
 range of grape, and suffered very considerably. One 
 was undoubtedly sunk by a howitzer shell, and others 
 were greatly damaged. Two of the mortar-boats were 
 also driven from the line, and several others were ob- 
 served to be in confusion. The land batteries, which 
 had been silent since the duke had visited the lines on 
 the 2nd of January, seconded the attack by sea with a 
 very animated fire. The bay being calm, and little 
 wind blowing to carry off the smoke, the appearance 
 of this attack altogether, from the extent of the front 
 engaged, was tremendous. Lieutenant Holloway, of 
 the engineers, aide-de-camp to General Green, was 
 wounded by a splinter of a shell, which fell opposite 
 to General de la Motte's quarters at the southward, 
 where the staff at the southward usually assembled 
 upon these occasions. Two men were killed, and one 
 wounded, in the garrison; but the seamen had no 
 casualties. The St. Michael also on this occasion 
 escaped ; and it was remarked not one shell fell near 
 the hospital. When the boats had expended 83 shot 
 and 206 shells, they retired : from the isthmus 578 
 shot and 102 shells were discharged in this short 
 period.
 
 350 MUSKETRY IN THE NIGHT [Chap. VIII 
 
 When our artillery had put the batteries in order, 
 a party was detached, about eight in the evening, to 
 the Old Mole ; and upward of loo rounds of red-hot 
 shot, with large and small shells, were thrown into 
 the enemy's camp : all appeared to answer, except 
 the heavy shells, the fuses of which were in general 
 too short for the range. The following morning, 
 several pieces of a gun-boat, an oar, with some bread, 
 garlic, etc., were seen floating in the bay, and gathered 
 by our boats. This served to strengthen our conjec- 
 ture of the preceding evening, that one of their gun- 
 boats had been sunk in the action. In the evening, 
 about nine o'clock, our northern guards were sur- 
 prised with a sudden discharge of musketry on the 
 causeway, and in the neigbourhood of Bayside : it 
 was immediately returned from Land Port and the 
 lines, with a few rounds of grape from Covert Port 
 battery; after which there was a dead silence. The 
 next morning a bloody hat, with several shot-holes 
 through it, was taken up near Bayside. We could 
 not otherwise account for this firing than by supposing 
 that some of the enemy, attempting to desert, had 
 been observed and pursued. One or two of our own 
 men in the Fleche were wounded by the scattered 
 grape-shot from the Covert Port battery. 
 
 The evening of the 9th, the enemy paraded with 
 only 23 boats, seemingly with an intention of re- 
 newing their attack upon the shipping and garrison ; 
 but Sir Charles appearing with his small force, his 
 opponents thought proper to retire. We were, how- 
 ever alarmed, early the next morning, by their firing 
 upon the garrison : they approached very cautiously, 
 and directed their fire towards the New Mole. Sir 
 Charles Knowles had his boats soon manned ; but 
 had not been long out before one of them was unfor- 
 tunately sunk by a splinter from one of our own
 
 1783] STILL AT THE DEVIL'S TOWER 351 
 
 shells which burst in the air. The crew were in- 
 stantly taken up by their friends, and the boat towed 
 in. The land batteries opened as before, and con- 
 tinued firing until the boats retreated. Our shipping 
 received no damage, nor were any seamen hurt ; but 
 in the garrison we had i killed and 15 or 16 wounded, 
 beside a Jew, an inhabitant. One of their shells fell 
 into the north pavilion of the South barracks, and 
 burst upon the second floor : the officers were luckily 
 out ; for the rooms, above and below, were totally 
 destroyed. When the smoke had sufficiently dis- 
 persed, we numbered 38 boats, but (as their sterns 
 were towards us) could not distinguish how many 
 carried mortars. The governor saluted their camp in 
 the evening from the Old Mole. A boat arrived on 
 the nth from Faro, with dispatches to the governor. 
 The Brilliant frigate was ordered soon afterwards to 
 be prepared for sea. 
 
 The enemy's cannonade from the land, except when 
 the gun-boats fired, was at this time so trifling that 
 it scarcely deserved the name of a continuation. Our 
 engineers were therefore employed in repairing the 
 curtain of the Grand battery, the north face and 
 flank of Montague's bastion, with the adjoining 
 curtain ; and, though the men were much exposed in 
 this duty, the enemy seldom if ever molested them. 
 Their parties continued bringing various materials 
 from the parallel to the post at the Devil's Tower. 
 We never allowed them to pass, or even appear, with- 
 out a tremendous volley of shells and grape, and 
 fragments of stones discharged from the summit of 
 the Rock. But our artillery were not solely engaged 
 with the enemy in this quarter ; every annoyance 
 that could be devised was directed against them in 
 all quarters. The ordnance, since the arrival of the 
 last dispatches from Faro, were kept in as quick
 
 352 A GUARD-HOUSE ACCIDENT [Chap. VIII 
 
 action as the metal would permit. A party of 
 Corsicans were also stationed in the lines to punish 
 their patrols, who frequently had the audacity to 
 approach within a few yards of the extremity. The 
 evenings of the i8th and 19th, the enemy played off 
 a number of rockets and other fireworks at Algeziras, 
 accompanied with several discharges of cannon. They 
 likewise saluted us from the lines with a volley of 
 shells, and 21 rounds of shot. We could not divine 
 the cause of these rejoicings. On the 25th some 
 sparks of fire communicating to an ammunition box 
 at Middle Hill guard, the contents blew up, and 
 carried away great part of the wall and guard-house, 
 bruising and burning several of the guard. The 
 engineers were immediately ordered to repair the 
 breach, and not quit the post till the works were in 
 their original state. A reinforcement of a subaltern 
 from the line, with a drum and 2 1 rank and file, was 
 ordered likewise to join that guard every evening ; 
 and other regulations relative to it were established. 
 
 On the 29th Lieutenant Angelo Raffaeli, of the 
 Corsican company, was slightly wounded in the lines. 
 In the evening, the gun and mortar-boats, in number 
 28, fired upon our shipping and the camp. They 
 took their stations off Europa and Rosia, apparently 
 determined to avoid the fire from the King's bastion 
 (which they had found so fatal to these enterprises), 
 and directed their fire principally against the Brilliant 
 frigate, which was then at anchor off Buena Vista, 
 and the St. Michael in the New Mole. Their land 
 batteries opened at the same time, directing a furious 
 cannonade into the town, and along our northern 
 front. The garrison returned their fire with great 
 vivacity, though not with their usual success. Our 
 gun-boats were also unfortunate, one of them being 
 damaged very early in the action, and obliged to be
 
 1783] PEACE! 353 
 
 towed in. We had 3 men killed, and 1 1 wounded ; 
 6 of whom were of the 59th regiment. The enemy- 
 discharged from their boats 236 shot and 225 shells ; 
 and from the isthmus, 555 shot and 245 shells; after 
 which, the former retired, and the latter were silent. 
 The next day 4 gun-boats fired upon the Brilliant, 
 en passant, but soon retired. At night, a soldier of 
 the artillery, who had been punished some time before, 
 threw himself down the precipice from the Queen's 
 battery at Willis's : he passed so quickly bj^ the men 
 on duty, that he was scarcely seen. In the course 
 of the month, one of the 25th regiment deserted, 
 and another of the 58th (who had been entertained 
 from the number that remained behind of the prisoners 
 who were taken in the battering-ships) was re-taken 
 in attempting to get away. Two boats came in also 
 from Faro, and a third was intercepted in her passage. 
 February was introduced by an animated fire from 
 the garrison. Every part of the enemy's works felt 
 the effects of our artillery. Thus affairs were pro- 
 ceeding, when, on the 2nd, letters from the Due de 
 Crillon informed the governor that the preliminaries 
 of a general peace had been signed between Great 
 Britain, France, and Spain. When the boats met, 
 the Spaniards rose up with transports of J03', and cried 
 out, " We are all friends ! " delivering the letters with 
 the greatest apparent satisfaction. They could not 
 inform us what were the terms of the peace ; which 
 occasioned some anxiety in the garrison relative to 
 the fate of Gibraltar. Previously to the boats meeting, 
 the enemy discharged about 30 rounds, but never, 
 after the letters were delivered, fired upon the garri- 
 son. Our artillery also ceased in the evening. The 
 Spaniards, the succeeding da}^, advanced from their 
 works, and conversed with our sentries in the lines, 
 expressing their satisfaction that we were no longer 
 
 23
 
 354 THE LAST SHOT [Chap. VHI 
 
 enemies. This intercourse was, however, forbidden 
 by the governor, who ordered the guards to inform 
 those who approached our works that all correspond- 
 ence of this nature was to be suspended, till official 
 accounts were received from England of the peace. 
 General Eliott answered the duke's letter on the 3rd, 
 and ordered the captain of artillery to fire an elevated 
 shot, from Willis's, over any parties which might pass 
 between their parallel and the Devil's Tower. The 
 duke, on the 5th, informed the governor that the 
 blockade by sea was discontinued ; in consequence 
 of which, a placard was published in the garrison, 
 signifying that the port of Gibraltar was again open. 
 About noon, an elevated gun was wantonly fired over 
 their works, which w^as the last shot fired in this siege. 
 
 This return of tranquillity, this prospect of plenty, 
 and relief from the daily vexations of so tedious a 
 siege, could not fail to diffuse a general joy through- 
 out the garrison. Indeed, such feelings are seldom 
 experienced ; they baffle all attempts to describe 
 them : far beyond the pleasure resulting from private 
 instances of success or good fortune, ours was a 
 social happiness ; and the benevolent sentiments acted 
 upon the heart with additional energy, on the pro- 
 spect of meeting those as friends with whom we had 
 been so long engaged in a succession of hostilities. 
 
 The duke, on the 6th, informed the governor that 
 the preliminaries had been signed the 20th of January 
 at Paris, and that Gibraltar was to remain in the 
 possession of Great Britain. From this period, 
 operations on both sides were suspended ; each party 
 anxiously awaiting official accounts from England of 
 the peace. Toward the close of the month, the duke 
 began to withdravv^ some of the ordnance from the 
 advanced batteries, and to remove materials from the 
 parallel to the camp. The garrison, on the other
 
 1783] DISPATCHES FROM ENGLAND 355 
 
 hand, were employed in making repairs, and in 
 arranging various matters, which could not before 
 be attended to. Several ships, and a number of boats, 
 arrived from England and Portugal ; so that provisions 
 became every day more abundant, and consequently 
 the prices of articles more moderate. 
 
 In the beginning of March, a schooner arrived 
 from Barbary, with a letter accompanying a present 
 of bullocks for the governor. We were ignorant of 
 the contents of the letter : but, it was imagined, the 
 subject was to request a renewal of our friendship. 
 Two officers and 24 Corsicans, who in their passage 
 to Gibraltar had been chased ashore on the coast of 
 Barbary by the Spaniards, arrived also in this boat. 
 The former informed us, that, upon the commencement 
 of the attack of the battering-ships on the preceding 
 13th of September, the Moors at Tangier repaired to 
 their mosques, imploring Heaven in behalf of their old 
 allies ; and that, on receiving accounts of the defeat of 
 the enemy, they made public rejoicing, and gave every 
 demonstration of their affection for the English nation. 
 
 When the cessation of hostilities took place, 
 parleys were almost daily passing between the 
 governor and the duke ; and the Spanish aides-de- 
 camp never omitted expressing their surprise that the 
 governor had not yet heard from England. Their 
 patience as well as ours was nearly exhausted, when 
 the long-expected frigate arrived on the loth of 
 March : but, for some time, even when she had got 
 into the bay, she kept us in suspense, by steering 
 close along the Spanish shore, and showing no colours. 
 At length, however, the British ensign was displayed, 
 and the anxious garrison saluted her with a general 
 huzza. She was the Thetis frigate, Captain Blankett ; 
 and, soon after she anchored. Sir Roger Curtis (who 
 had been knighted for his conduct on the 14th of
 
 356 THE GENERALS MEET [Chap. VIII 
 
 September) landed with dispatches for the governor. 
 The Due de Crillon sent a parley to the garrison in 
 the evening, which was answered the succeeding day. 
 The subject of this correspondence probably was to 
 appoint an interview between the generals, as, on 
 the 1 2th, his Grace, attended by his suite, came down 
 to the extremity of the western boyau, and sent an 
 aide-de-camp to inform the governor he was arrived. 
 General Eliott, attended by Lieutenant Koehler, his 
 aide-de-camp, soon afterwards rode out by Lower 
 Forbes's, and was met by the Duke on the beach, half- 
 way between the works and Bayside barrier. Both 
 generals instantly dismounted and embraced. When 
 the common salutations were over, they conversed 
 about half an hour, and then returned to their respec- 
 tive commands. The cannon in the Spanish batteries 
 were now all dismounted ; and large parties were 
 daily removing them, with ammunition, also various 
 materials, from their post at the Devil's Tower to the 
 lines and camp. As their guards were now consider- 
 ably diminished, numbers of deserters were daily 
 coming over to the garrison. They were principally 
 foreigners ; and the reason they gave was a dislike 
 to the Spanish service. 
 
 The duke, on the i8th, sent the governor a present 
 of a grey Andalusian horse. The 22nd, the St. Michael 
 man-of-war sailed for England, where she happily 
 arrived safe. The day following, the governor, 
 accompanied by General Green, the chief engineer, 
 with their aides-de-camp, met the duke in the Spanish 
 works : they were conducted by his Grace through 
 the whole, and afterwards to the cave at the Devil's 
 Tower. The governor dined with the duke at San 
 Roque, and returned in the evening. The 31st, the 
 Due de Grillon, accompanied by the Marquis de Saya, 
 Prince de Mazarano, Counts de Jamaique and de
 
 1783] THE DUKE IN GIBRALTAR 357 
 
 Serano, Don , the intendant, and Captain Tendon, 
 
 returned the visit. The governor received his Grace 
 near Forbes's ; and on entering the garrison, a salute 
 was fired of 17 pieces of cannon :from the Grand 
 battery. When the duke appeared within the 
 walls, the soldiers saluted him with a general huzza ; 
 which being unexpected by his Grace, it was said 
 greatly confused him. The reason, however, being 
 explained, he seemed highly pleased with the old 
 English custom , and, as he passed up the main 
 street, where the ruinous and desolate appearance 
 of the town attracted a 'good deal of his observation, 
 his Grace behaved with great affability. 
 
 The officers of the garrison were introduced by 
 corps to the duke, at the convent. When the artillery 
 were mentioned, he received them in the most flatter- 
 ing manner : " Gentlemen," said his Grace, address- 
 ing himself to them, " I would rather see you 
 here as friends, than on your batteries as enemies, 
 where," added he, " you never spared me." The duke 
 afterwards visited the batteries on the heights. At 
 Willis's he made some remarks on the formidable 
 appearance of the lower defences ; observing, whilst 
 he pointed towards the Old Mole battery, that, " had 
 not his opinion been overruled, he should have 
 directed all his efforts against that part of the 
 garrison." The good state of our batteries in so 
 short a period produced some compliments to the 
 chief engineer ; and, when conducted into the gallery 
 above Farringdon's battery,* his Grace was particu- 
 larly astonished, especially when he was informed of 
 its extent, which at that time was between 500 and 
 600 feet. Turning to his suite, after exploring the 
 extremity, " These works," he exclaimed, " are worthy 
 of the Romans." After dinner (at which were present 
 * Now called Windsor,
 
 358 COMPLIMENTS [Chap. VIII 
 
 the generals and brigadiers in the garrison, with 
 their suites), he passed through the camp to Europa, 
 each regiment turning out without arms, and giving 
 three cheers. The youth and good appearance of 
 the troops much engaged his attention. When his 
 curiosity was gratified in that quarter, he returned, 
 and was conducted about 8 o'clock without Land 
 Port, being saluted with 17 cannon on his departure. 
 His horse started at the flash of the guns, and almost, 
 if not entirely, unhorsed him ; but he escaped with- 
 out being hurt. The duke, in the course of the 
 conversation at dinner, paid many handsome compli- 
 ments to the governor and garrison for their noble 
 defence. " He had exerted himself (he said) to the 
 utmost of his abilities ; and, though he had not been 
 successful, yet he was happy in having his sovereign's 
 approbation of his conduct." 
 
 Before the Due de Crillon entered the garrison, 
 the Comte de Rufigniac, colonel in the French service 
 (who, the reader may remember, was very pressing 
 for admittance into the garrison some few days after 
 the defeat of the battering-ships, and who, for the 
 sole purpose of seeing the place, had remained behind 
 his brigade), was admitted into the garrison without 
 the duke's knowledge ; and, being in the Fleche at 
 Land Port when the duke was approaching from 
 Forbes's, his Grace could not avoid seeing him. 
 As he had entered without the duke's permission, 
 his Grace requested he might not see him at the 
 convent; and the count, being informed of this, 
 withdrew into the garrison, apparently much cha- 
 grined at the duke's particularity. When his Grace 
 returned, it was said, orders were given not to permit 
 the count to go back by way of the lines. The 
 following evening, however, after satisfying his 
 curiosity in the garrison, he returned.
 
 1783] HONOURS FOR HEROES 359 
 
 The 2nd of April the Due de Crillon quitted the 
 camp to repair to Madrid. He was succeeded in 
 command by Lieutenant-General the Marquis de 
 Saya, or Zaya, who had accompanied his Grace into 
 the garrison, and (what was very singular) had served 
 as an officer at the preceding siege of Gibraltar in 
 1727. Deserters still continued coming over to us, 
 and the Spaniards were emplo^^ed in removing 
 materials from the neutral ground to the lines. 
 Letters often passed between the marquis and General 
 Eliott; but, though the latter requested to pay his 
 compliments at San Roque, the etiquette observed 
 by the former (orders having been received from 
 Madrid to prevent all intercourse) would not for 
 some time permit him to receive the governor. The 
 15th of April Sir Roger Curtis sailed in the Brilliant 
 frigate on an embassy to the Emperor of Morocco : 
 he took with him, as a present, four brass 26-pounders 
 (which had been weighed from the wreck of the 
 battering-ships), with proportional ammunition. 
 
 His Majesty having been pleased to confer upon 
 the governor the Most Honourable Order of the Bath,* 
 as a mark of his royal approbation for the defence 
 of Gibraltar ; and having signified his pleasure by Sir 
 Roger Curtis, that Lieutenant-General Boyd should 
 
 * This was not the only honour conferred on the general for his 
 services in defending Gibraltar. Parliament voted him a handsome 
 pension for life; and his sovereign, on his return to Britain in 1787, 
 gave him an additional mark of his approbation by raising him to the 
 British peerage, by the style and title of Lord Heathfield, Baron 
 Heathfield of Gibraltar, with the honourable distinction of bearing, 
 in chief, with his own arms, the arms of the garrison. General Boyd 
 was also honoured with the Order of the Bath, and General Green 
 distinguished by a baronetcy. After General Eliott's elevation to the 
 peerage he was never employed on active service ; and a short time 
 afterwards he was attacked with paralysis, of which he died, at his 
 residence near Aix-la-Chapelle, aged seventy-two.
 
 36o ROYAL HONOURS [Chap. VIII 
 
 act as his Majesty's representative in investing General 
 Eliott with the insignia of the order, v^hich ceremony 
 was to be performed in as splendid and magnificent 
 a manner as the state of the garrison would permit ; 
 the engineers, soon after the arrival of the Thetis^ 
 began to erect a colonnade upon the rampart of the 
 King's bastion, that the honours might be conferred 
 where the victory was gained. By the 23rd of April 
 (St. George's Day) the colonnade was finished ; and, 
 every preparation for the ceremony being completed, 
 the governor commenced by communicating to the 
 troops the thanks of their king and country for their 
 defence of Gibraltar. Detachments from all the 
 regiments and corps, with all the officers not on duty, 
 were assembled in three lines on the Red Sands 
 at eight o'clock in the morning; and the governor 
 taking post in the centre of the second line, and 
 the usual compliments being paid, his Excellency 
 addressed himself to the garrison as follows : 
 
 " Gentlemen — I have assembled you this day, in 
 order that the officers and soldiers may receive, in 
 the most public manner, an authentic declaration 
 transmitted to me by the Secretary of State, expressing 
 the high sense his Majesty entertains of your meritori- 
 ous conduct in defence of this garrison. The King's 
 satisfaction upon this event was soon [divulged to all 
 the world, by his most gracious speech to both Houses 
 of Parliament. The House of Lords and the House 
 of Commons .not only made the suitable professions 
 in their addresses to the throne, but have severally 
 enjoined me to communicate their unanimous thanks 
 by the following resolutions : 
 
 'Die Veneris, 13 Decembris, 1782. 
 
 * Resolved, nemine dissentiente, by the Lords 
 spiritual and temporal, in Parliament as- 
 sembled, that this House doth highly approve 
 and acknowledge the services of the officers,
 
 1783] THANKS OF PARLIAMENT 361 
 
 soldiers, and sailors, lately employed in the 
 defence of Gibraltar ; and that General Eliott 
 do signify the same to them.' 
 
 'Die Jovis, 12 Decembris, 1782. 
 
 ' Resolved, nemine contradicente, that the thanks of 
 this House [Commons] be given to Lieutenant- 
 General Boyd, Major-General de la Motte, 
 Major-General Green, chief engineer ; to Sir 
 Roger Curtis, Knt., and to the officers, 
 soldiers, and sailors, lately employed in the 
 defence of Gibraltar.' " 
 
 The governor then proceeded : 
 
 " No army has ever been rewarded by higher 
 national honours : and it is well known how great, 
 universal, and spontaneous were the rejoicings 
 throughout the kingdom upon the news of your 
 success. These must not onl}^ give you inex- 
 pressible pleasure, but afford matter of triumph 
 to your dearest friends and latest posterity. As 
 a further proof how just your title is to such 
 flattering distinctions at home, rest assured, from un- 
 doubted authorit}^ that the nations in Europe and 
 other parts are struck with admiration of your gallant 
 behaviour : even our late resolute and determined 
 antagonists do not scruple to bestow the commenda- 
 tions due to such valour and perseverance. 
 
 " I now most warmly congratulate you on these 
 united and brilliant testimonies of approbation, amidst 
 such numerous, such exalted tokens of applause : and 
 forgive me, faithful companions, if I humbly crave your 
 acceptance of my grateful acknowledgments. I only 
 presume to ask this favour, as having been a constant 
 witness of your cheerful submission to the greatest 
 hardships, your matchless spirit and exertions, and on 
 all occasions your heroic contempt of every danger." 
 
 A grand feu-de-joie was then fired by the line, each 
 discharge commencing with a royal salute of 21 guns.
 
 362 THE PROCESSION [Chap. VIII 
 
 Three cheers closed the ceremony. The commander- 
 in-chief, general and field officers, afterwards with- 
 drew ; and the detachments (formed two deep) 
 marched into town, and lined the streets leading from 
 the convent, by the Spanish church and Grand Parade, 
 to the King's bastion. About half-past eleven o'clock, 
 the procession began to move in the following order : all 
 uncovered, and two deep, except the troops under arms. 
 
 Marshal. 
 
 Music, 1 2th Regiment, 
 
 Pla)'ing 
 
 " See the conquering Hero comes." 
 
 Artillery 
 
 Quarter-Master-General, and 
 
 Adjutant-General, Town-Major, 
 
 and Deputy ; 
 
 With other Staff of the Garrison. 
 
 First Division of Field Officers, 
 
 Youngest first. 
 
 Music 58th Regiment. 
 
 The Commissioner's Secretary, 
 
 Bearing on a crimson velvet cushion 
 
 The Commission. 
 
 The Commissioner's Aides-de-Camp. 
 
 Lieutenant-General Boyd, the 
 
 King's Commissioner. 
 
 The Governor's Secretary, 
 
 Bearing, on a crimson velvet cushion. 
 
 The Insignia 
 
 Of the Order of the Bath. 
 
 The Governor's Aides-de-Camp, 
 
 as Esquires. 
 
 GENERAL ELIOTT, 
 
 The Knight Elect; 
 
 Supported by Generals De la Motte 
 
 and Green. 
 
 Aides-de-camp to the Major-Generals. 
 
 Major-General Picton. 
 
 His Aide-de-camp. 
 
 The Brigadier-Generals, eldest first. 
 
 Their Brigade Majors. 
 
 Music, De la Motte's. 
 
 Second Division of Field Officers, 
 
 Eldest first. 
 
 Music, 56th Regiment. 
 
 The Grenadiers of the Garrison.
 
 1783] SIR GEORGE AUGUSTUS ELIOTT 363 
 
 No compliment was paid to the knight elect ; but, 
 as the commissioner passed, each regiment, with the 
 officers, saluted. When the procession arrived at the 
 colonnade, the general and field officers placed them- 
 selves on each side of the throne ; the artillery formed 
 under the colonnade, and the grenadiers fronting the 
 bastion, along the ;^line-wall. The proper reverences 
 being made to the vacant throne, the commissioner 
 desired his secretary Ito read the commission : which 
 being done, he addressed the knight elect in a short 
 complimentary speech, taking the riband at the con- 
 clusion, and placing it over the governor's shoulder, 
 who inclined a little for that purpose : three reverences 
 were then a second time made, and each took his seat 
 on a crimson velvet chair on each side of the throne, 
 the commissioner sitting on the right hand. The 
 governor was no sooner invested than the music 
 struck up " God save the King." The grenadiers 
 fired a volley, and a grand discharge of 160 pieces of 
 cannon was fired from the sea-line. The procession 
 then passed forward through the colonnade, and 
 returned in the same order. The detachments were 
 afterwards dismissed, and each non-commissioned 
 officer and private received a pound of fresh beef and 
 a quart of wine. The generals, with their suites, and 
 the field-officers, dined at the convent. In the evening 
 the colonnade was illuminated with different-coloured 
 lamps, and transparent paintings in the back scene : 
 and Sir George Augustus Eliott, with the lieutenant- 
 governor and principal officers of the garrison, 
 assembling at the King's bastion about nine o'clock, 
 there was a display of fireworks from the North and 
 South bastions, and the Spanish church ; the principal 
 of which were fired from the latter, being opposite 
 to the company. 
 
 Thus in festivity and with honour, ended the
 
 364 CONCLUSION [Chap. VIII 
 
 labours of the garrison of Gibraltar. During a period 
 of three years, seven months, and twelve days (that 
 is from the commencement of the blockade to the 
 cessation of arms), we had experienced a continued 
 series of watchfulness and fatigue, the horrors of 
 famine, and every harassing and vexatious mode of 
 attack which a powerful, obstinate, and revengeful 
 enemy could devise. On reviewing the transactions 
 of this period, two circumstances cannot fail to strike 
 the attentive reader ; viz. the very slow manner in 
 which the enemy proceeded in their early operations, 
 and the impossibility of maintaining so strict a 
 blockade as to prevent all communication by sea. 
 To evince these, and other circumstances not un- 
 important to military readers, I have been reduced 
 to greater accuracy and minuteness than ordinary 
 historians are obliged to observe ; and instead of the 
 acuteness of investigation, or a splendid sententious- 
 ness, I have been necessitated to pursue the narrative, 
 almost uninterruptedly, in the tedious form of a 
 journal. I have not presumed to intersperse many 
 animadversions of my own : the only merit to which 
 I can lay any claim, is that of a faithful narration 
 of facts ; and I confess I would at any time rather 
 walk in the beaten track of truth, than mislead the 
 judgment of my readers in the wilds of fancy and 
 conjecture. 
 
 A return of casualties is annexed, also the ex- 
 penditure of ammunition, both by the enemy and the 
 garrison. These papers, as well as the estimate of 
 provisions, I thought better to throw into the form 
 of an Appendix, than to interrupt the narrative by 
 their insertion.
 
 To face p. 364.
 
 ^GUuropaP^ 
 
 To face p. 364.
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 ETAT GENERAL DE L'ARMEE ESPAGNOLE ET 
 FRANgOISE EMPLOYEE AU SIEGE DE GIBRALTAR, 
 
 sous LES OKDRES DE SON EXCELLENCE LE DUC DE CRILLON. 
 
 ETAT MAJOR DE L'ARMEE ESPAGNOLE. 
 GENERAL EN CHEF LE CA.PITAINE-GENERAL DUC DE CRILLON. 
 
 des 
 
 Lieutenans-G^neraux. 
 D'Abarca, 
 
 Commandant-Gdn^ral 
 
 Ing^nieurs. 
 Le Comte de La.scy, 
 
 Commandant G^n^ral de 
 
 rArtillerie. 
 De Habor. 
 
 Le Comte de ReviUagigedo. 
 Le Marquis de CasagagigaL 
 
 Mar&haux de Camp. 
 Le Marquis de Zayas d"haut-Re- 
 
 gard, Commandant des Gardes 
 
 Wallones. 
 De Tilly, Colonel d'Artillerie. 
 De Teller, Commandt. des Gardes 
 
 Espagnoles. 
 D'Oliver, Major-G^n^ral de I'ln- 
 
 fantene. 
 Le Marquis de Mont-Hermoso, 
 
 Major-Gi5n(5ial de la Cavalerie et 
 
 Dragons. 
 De Pachecho. 
 
 Le Marquis de Branc^forte. 
 De Roca. 
 Le Marquis de Torremansana. 
 
 Brigadiers. 
 
 De Garcia de 
 
 la Mora. 
 D'AUenes. 
 D'Horces. 
 De Betchart. 
 D'Imperioli. 
 
 De Guevara. 
 De Tirrel. 
 
 Le Marquis 
 
 d'Avilles. 
 De Caro. 
 De Gourales. 
 De Lancaster. 
 De Castel 
 
 d'Oscius. 
 Le Prince de 
 
 Montfoi-t. 
 De Moya. 
 Le Marquis de 
 
 Valparaiso. 
 
 De Nova Cer- 
 
 rada. 
 De Pachecho 
 
 Giron. 
 D'Estacharia. 
 
 da 
 
 De Galazar. 
 De Gersale. 
 Druhat. 
 De Vedia. 
 Le Comte 
 
 Bussy. 
 De Gutierrer. 
 Le Baron de 
 
 Steinboi-g. 
 
 De Moron. 
 De Pinto. 
 De Font. 
 De Totosa. 
 
 De Sangro. 
 
 De Servino. 
 De Colona. 
 
 Le Due de 
 
 Montellano. 
 
 De Pignatelli. 
 Le Marquia 
 d'Alos. 
 
 INFANTERIE.* 
 
 Regimens. 
 
 c 
 4 
 
 il 
 
 4 
 
 S2 
 11 
 
 5-= 
 
 24 
 
 Q 
 
 9 
 
 o 
 '5' 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 5"' 
 
 i" 
 
 11 
 
 go, 
 0^ 
 
 1 
 28 
 
 Si 
 
 28 
 
 CO 
 
 28 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 28 
 
 1 
 
 02 
 
 168 
 
 X 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 448 
 
 3 oj 
 11 
 
 112 
 
 2 
 
 ill 
 
 Gardes Espagnoles 
 
 2184 
 
 2912 
 
 Gardes Wallones . . . . 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 24 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 — 
 
 2S 
 
 28 
 
 28 
 
 28 
 
 168 
 
 448 
 
 112 
 
 2184 
 
 2912 
 
 Saboya 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 26 
 
 71 
 
 20 
 
 572 
 
 689 
 
 Cordova 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 — 
 
 I 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 — 
 
 9 
 
 26 
 
 71 
 
 19 
 
 572 
 
 688 
 
 Burgos 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 18 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 52 
 
 142 
 
 39 
 
 1144 
 
 137T 
 
 Murcia 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 IS 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 52 
 
 142 
 
 39 
 
 1144 
 
 1.377 
 
 Altonia 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 26 
 
 71 
 
 20 
 
 572 
 
 689 
 
 Volontaires d'Aragon 
 ler. Reg. de Catalogne 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 (! 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 fi 
 
 18 
 
 86 
 
 9 
 
 321 
 
 387 
 
 •i 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 36 
 
 72 
 
 17 
 
 1680 
 
 1805 
 
 La Princessa 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 26 
 
 71 
 
 19 
 
 572 
 
 688 
 
 In aples 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 18 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 52 
 
 142 
 
 39 
 
 1144 
 
 1377 
 
 Betchart 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 « 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 — 
 
 11) 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 4.8 
 
 64 
 
 26 
 
 1054 
 
 1191 
 
 Compge. de Grenadiers 
 Cavalerie demont^e . . 
 
 2 
 
 22 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 
 
 _ 
 
 — 
 
 22 
 
 22 
 
 _ 
 
 22 
 
 44 
 
 120 
 
 22 
 
 1152 
 
 1338 
 
 •i 
 
 20 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 — 
 
 20 
 
 40 
 
 120 
 
 2V 
 
 1160 
 
 134T 
 
 Dragons do 
 
 ■i 
 
 22 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 22 
 
 22 
 
 — 
 
 2-> 
 
 
 
 — . 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 Grenads. Provinciaux 
 
 H 
 
 Hit 
 
 — 
 
 H 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 — 
 
 HO 
 
 60 
 
 — 
 
 60 
 
 120 
 
 360 
 
 60 
 
 3960 
 
 4.509 
 
 Artillerle 
 
 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 60 
 
 131 
 
 24 
 
 1126 
 
 1341 
 
 Volontaires de Crillon 
 
 35 
 
 144 
 
 154 
 
 10 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 39 
 
 30 
 
 298 
 
 298 
 
 64 
 
 298 
 
 9G2 
 
 2509 
 
 612 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 Total Infantifere 
 
 20544 
 
 24627 
 
 * In this anil the foUomng tables marked mth * the figures are not accurate ; they have remained ao 
 for 120 years, and having been unchallenged during that long period may aa well continue unchanged. 
 
 36.S
 
 366 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 CAVALBRIB ET DRAGONS. 
 
 Regimens. 
 
 Du Roi . . . . 
 De la Reine . . 
 Du Prince . . 
 De Bourbon . . 
 De Farnese . . 
 D' Alcantara . . 
 D'Algarves . . 
 De Calatrava 
 De San lago . . 
 De Mendoza 
 De Volontaires 
 De Pavie, Dragons 
 De Lusitania 
 
 Total Cavalerie, etc. 
 Do. Infanterie . . 
 
 Total g6n6ral 
 
 
 
 ,„ ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 _ 
 
 
 f5 
 
 
 
 
 ■W 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 11 
 
 o 
 
 9 
 13 
 
 t 
 S 
 
 c 
 
 3 
 < 
 
 fix 
 
 1^ 
 
 .1 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 03 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 CO 
 
 05 
 
 3 
 
 £ 
 
 1 
 
 3 S 
 
 
 
 
 ?. 
 
 
 1 
 
 _ 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 108 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 156 
 
 
 1 
 
 ,3 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 _ 
 
 4 
 
 H 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 156 
 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 28 
 
 6 
 
 164 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 156 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 108 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 108 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 108 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 _ 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 108 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 _ 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 156 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 108 
 
 1. 
 
 1 
 
 R 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 28 
 
 10 
 
 264 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 - 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 28 
 
 7 
 
 264 
 
 Ifi 
 
 7 
 
 5R 
 
 12 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 Ifi 
 
 47 43 
 
 _ 
 
 •W 
 
 110 
 
 220 
 
 46 
 
 2064 
 
 35 
 
 144 
 
 154 
 
 10 
 22 
 
 13 
 
 20 
 
 19 
 26 
 
 39 
 48 
 
 30 
 46 
 
 298 298 
 
 64 
 61 
 
 298 
 353 
 
 962 
 1072 
 
 2609 
 2729 
 
 612 
 658 
 
 20544 
 
 61 
 
 151 
 
 202 
 
 345 
 
 341 
 
 22608 
 
 ETAT MAJOR DES TROUPES FRANCOISES. 
 
 BARON FALKENSTEIN, COMMANDANT EN CHEF. 
 
 LK MARQUIS DE BOUZOLZ, COMMANDANT EN SECOND. 
 
 Etat Major. 
 
 Le Marquis de Crillon, Briga- 
 dier. 
 
 De Portal, Major-G6n^ral. 
 
 Le Baron F. le^j 
 Fort f Aides-Maj.- 
 
 Le Baron C. le ( G^n^raux. 
 Fort ) 
 
 Aides-de-Camp. 
 
 Du Baron Falckenstein :— 
 
 Le Comte de Nesla 
 Fourette. 
 
 Le Chev. de Grave. 
 
 Le Chev. de Vault. 
 
 Le Chev. de Poncet. 
 
 Le Corate d'Argoult. 
 
 Le Comte do Perigord. 
 
 Le Comte de Lost. 
 
 Le Marquis de Laillebot. 
 Du M, de Bouzolz : — 
 
 Le Marqui.s de Travanec. 
 
 Le Chev. d'Oraison. 
 
 Le Marquis de Montaigu. 
 
 De WUdemonth 1 Captain es 
 De Meimier j en second. 
 Offlciers charg^e du detail de 
 la Tranche. 
 
 Brigade Fran<;oise. 
 
 ^Le Vte. de Veneur, 
 
 Maltre de Camp, Col. 
 
 Le Marquis de Guerchy, 
 
 ditto en .second. 
 Dubourg, Lieut.-Col. 
 ^De Cappy, Major. 
 'Le Comte de Crillon, 
 
 Maltre de Camp, Col. 
 Le Vidame de Nass6, 
 
 ditto en second. 
 Le Chev. de .St. Roman, 
 
 Lieut.-Col. 
 ^De Portal, Major. 
 
 Artillerie. 
 De Goenand, Lieut. -Col. -Com- 
 mandant. 
 De Barras, Capitaine, Aide-Maj. 
 
 Gromar°de Quinten } Captnes. 
 
 C^man''^}Li'="ts. en premier. 
 
 Le Ch. d'AJphonse 1 „„ „„„„„ j 
 De Marten j en second. 
 
 ro^umier}='^^t'-"^>^'i>e. 
 
 Hommes, 130. 
 
 Le Marq. de Pulssegur, Capi- 
 taine, avec. brev. de Colonel. 
 
 Administration. 
 Intendant de Rouissi^re. 
 Commissaire de Boileau. 
 Commissaire du Demaine. 
 
 Brigade Allemande. 
 
 ^Le Comt. E. de Sparre 
 M.-de-C, Col. 
 Le Baron d'Hamilton, 
 
 M.-de-C. en second. 
 D. O. Conell, Lt.-Col. 
 ^D'Orsner, Major. 
 'Le Bai-on de Wimpffan, 
 
 M.-de-C, Col. 
 Le Baron de Nivenheim, 
 
 ditto en second. 
 De Peyrier, Lieut. -Col. 
 lO'Ghler, Major. 
 
 G^nie. 
 
 D'Ar<;on, Colonel. 
 Doria, Major. 
 De I'HUIier -) 
 
 D?ASr'7^'^P'^'^'-»- 
 De Samis J 
 Damoiseau 1 t ;„..♦»„•„. 
 D-Aumont}I'>^"^«°»°*- 
 
 Monmergue, Inspecteui' 1 vivrM 
 Demange, Directeur jvivr". 
 
 Brochel, Directeur) Thion, Premier Medecin. ) 
 
 Chaumel, .Sous Vdes Postes. Bodners, Chirurgien VHdpital. 
 
 Directeur ) Massol, second do. )
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 367 
 
 , D'Officiers 
 
 Regimens. 
 
 Brigade / De Lyonnois 
 Fraii<;oise t De Bretagne 
 Brigade / Royal Suedois 
 Allemande ( De"Bouilloii 
 
 Total Fran90is 
 
 Espagnol 
 
 Grand total 
 
 perieura. 
 
 D'HoDunes. 
 
 65 
 63 
 63 
 52 
 
 1,024 
 1,016 
 1,000 
 1,025 
 
 247 
 1669 
 
 4,0.55 
 
 27,067 
 
 lfll6 
 
 :ii,l-.'2 
 
 33,038 Officiei-s et d'hommes. 
 
 11 y^avoit un Corps dlngenieurs aux ordres de M. d'Abarca, compose de 8 Ing^nieurs en Clief, 
 12 en second, 11 ordinaires, 14 extraordinaires, 12 Ajudans. Une Compagnie de Marechaussee, de 
 40 Cavaliers, aux ordres d'un Lieut. II y a une Compagnie de Cadets, dont le Capitaine est 
 un Colonel. Les Compagnies de Sapeurs ont chacune un Capitaine, nn Lieutenan, un Sous- 
 Lieutenan. 
 
 A GENERAL RETUEN OF CASUALTIES.* 
 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Dead 
 
 i 
 
 Disabled 
 
 Wounded, 
 
 but 
 recovered. 
 
 Dead 
 
 , -3 
 
 
 of Wounds. 
 
 by Wounds. 
 
 by Sickness. 
 
 d| 
 
 Regiments. 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 • -; 
 
 s- 
 
 ta 
 
 
 rr 
 
 (h 
 
 fe 
 
 
 Si 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■ ^ 
 
 t 
 
 6:. 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 s 
 
 c5 
 
 if 
 
 s 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 •3 
 a 
 
 s 
 e 
 
 
 
 S 
 E 
 3 
 
 
 i 1 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 r? 
 
 J 
 
 
 Rank 
 and 
 File. 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 Q 
 
 1 
 
 
 Q 
 
 « 
 
 
 Royal Artillery 
 12th Regiment 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 8 2 
 
 1 
 
 105 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 34 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 1 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 2 4 
 
 7 
 
 89 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 32 
 
 3 
 
 25th 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 1 
 
 (1 
 
 13 
 
 ,1 
 
 39th „ 
 
 1 
 
 •si 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 3 5 
 
 1 
 
 44 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 37 
 
 !3 
 
 56th „ 
 
 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 i) 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 3 2 
 
 
 
 bi> 
 
 1 4 
 
 1 
 
 34 
 
 3 
 
 58th „ 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 t> 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 X 
 
 2 2 
 
 2 
 
 61 
 
 1 1 
 
 53 
 
 11 
 
 59th „ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 33 
 
 
 
 72nd „ 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 u 
 
 31 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 i<' 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 21 
 
 3 11 
 
 h 
 
 109 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 47 
 
 9 
 
 73rd „ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 '1 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 5 2 
 
 
 
 77 
 
 
 
 
 
 58 
 
 2 
 
 97th 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 33 
 
 1 6 
 
 
 
 1(16 
 
 1 
 
 Reden's Regiment . . 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 |0 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 1 1 
 
 1 
 
 33 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 De la Motte's 
 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 42 
 
 2 2 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 Sydows, formerly 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hardenberg's 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 7 
 
 2 
 
 69 
 
 U 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 Soldier- Artificer 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Company . . 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 u 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 2 3 
 
 
 
 30 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23 
 
 
 
 Marine Brigade 
 
 u 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Corsican Comp. 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 197 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 u 
 
 2 
 
 
 101 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
 3 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 T 
 
 
 120 
 
 1 
 31 46 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 773 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 505 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 7 
 
 22 
 
 43 
 
 ABSTRACT OF THE TOTAL l.OSS OF THE GARRISON. 
 
 Killed, and dead of wounds 333 
 
 Disabled by wounds (discharged) 138 
 
 Dead of sickness, exclusive of those who died of the scurvy in 1779 
 
 and 1780 .536 
 
 Discharged from incurable complaints 181 
 
 Deserted 43 
 
 Total 1231
 
 368 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 KXPENDITUEE OP AMMUNITION PROM THE GARBISON AND BY THE ENEMY.* 
 
 Garrison. 
 
 Commencing the 12th of September, 1779, and 
 ending the 3rd of February, 1783. 
 
 1779. 
 
 Sept. 12 to 30 
 October 
 November . . 
 December . . 
 
 1780. 
 
 January 
 February 
 March . . 
 April .. 
 May 
 .Tune 
 JiUy . . 
 August'. . 
 September 
 October 
 November 
 December 
 
 .January 
 February 
 March ." . 
 April . . 
 May 
 Juiie 
 -Tuly .. 
 August . . 
 September 
 October 
 November 
 December 
 
 17J2 
 January 
 
 February . 
 
 March . . . 
 
 April . . . 
 
 May . . . 
 
 June . . . 
 
 July . . . 
 
 August . . . 
 
 September . 
 October 
 
 November . 
 
 December . 
 
 January 
 February 
 
 Total .57163 1-291.51 12681 
 
 32 
 23 
 2072 
 804 
 828 
 428 
 130 
 2614 
 1722 
 509 
 C32 
 
 722 
 2617 
 3057 
 2314 
 2.315 
 20.52 
 
 228 
 5441 
 13.5.57 
 26<>4 
 1937 
 2696 
 
 2640 
 
 210 
 
 201 
 
 1116 
 
 183 
 
 03 
 
 243 
 6004 
 
 4242 
 
 87 
 346 
 221 
 2494 
 2782 
 2250 
 761 
 172 
 6228 
 11515 
 3oS' 
 7119 
 
 11052 
 7296 
 
 10302 
 2768 
 1609 
 178 
 37 
 1781 
 3262 
 6881 
 6701 
 
 12159 
 
 14176 
 1047 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 — 
 
 38 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 — 
 
 6 
 
 - 
 
 73 
 
 1 
 
 510 
 
 63 
 
 250 
 
 79 
 
 63 
 
 22 
 
 76 
 
 9 
 
 17 
 
 13 
 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 23 
 
 6 
 
 104 
 
 35 
 
 51 
 
 13 
 
 103 
 
 50 
 
 213 
 
 58 
 
 64 
 
 19 
 
 82 
 
 33 
 
 139 
 
 60 
 
 132 
 
 60 
 
 177 
 
 21 
 
 733 
 
 ,50 
 
 370 
 
 
 
 362 
 
 
 
 263 
 
 1 
 
 100 
 
 
 
 1047 
 
 3 
 
 479 
 
 215 
 
 735 
 
 12 
 
 1167 
 
 74 
 
 1422 
 
 20 
 
 3444 
 
 42 
 
 414 
 
 — 
 
 12681 
 
 926 
 
 Total 
 
 BritLsh gun-boat.^ 
 
 2vl',(i00 rounds. 
 4,72S shot. 
 
 Commencing the 12th of April, 1781, aad 
 ending the 2nd of February, 1783. 
 
 17bl. 
 April 12 to May 31 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August . . 
 
 September 
 
 October . . 
 
 November 
 
 December 
 
 1782. 
 
 January . . 
 February 
 Maixh ".. 
 Ajjril 
 May . . . . 
 Jime 
 
 July . . . . 
 August . . 
 September 
 October . . 
 November 
 December 
 
 1783. 
 
 .lanuary . 
 Februar}' 
 
 AfO'f cable to the 
 Laboratory 
 Accomits. 
 
 .Shot. Shells. 
 
 50700 
 
 8799 
 3030 
 1360 
 9320 
 15754 
 2430 
 3378 
 
 4342 
 3046 
 6828 
 3641 
 2418 
 2190 
 
 760 
 36432 
 11312 
 2897 
 1036 
 
 1067 
 65 
 
 20134 j 
 
 2643 
 698 
 184 
 760 
 2750 
 1120 
 1010 
 
 1012 
 566 
 
 1313 
 938 
 856 
 663 
 
 30 \ 
 16993/ 
 10673 > 
 3243 ( 
 19.58; 
 
 Com- 
 puted 
 
 Total 244 104 { rounds, aU of a 
 
 Spanish gun-boats 14,283 shot and shells. 
 
 205,328 
 
 258,387 
 
 The garrison expendud very near 8,000 barrels of pon der ; and the number of ordnance damaged 
 and destroyed during the siege amounted to 53. 
 
 The number of barrels (.if iiuwder expended by the enemy could never be ascertained, nor what 
 •rdnauce were destroyed.
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 369 
 
 An Estimate of the Prices fixed upon Provisions by a Committee of Officers, at 
 Gibraltar, October the 23rd, 1782. To which is annexed the price of various 
 articles, as they were sold at different Periods of the Blockade and Siege. 
 
 The sums are turned into sterling, at the average exchange of 3s. 3d. the dollar ; though the 
 Garrison exchange fluctuated between 3s, id. and 3s. Gd. 
 
 Prices limited by the Committee. 
 
 Fresh beef, veal, and mutton, per lb. 
 
 Pork, ditto . . 
 
 Ducks and fowls, per couple . . 
 
 A goose 
 
 A turkey 
 
 A pair of pigeons 
 
 Corned beef, per lb 
 
 Corned pork, ditto 
 
 Ham, ditto 
 
 Bacon and dried tongues, ditto 
 Cheese, ditto . . : 
 
 Salt butter, ditto 
 
 An egg 
 
 Pickled tripe, per lb 
 
 Potatoes, ditto 
 
 Loaf sugar, ditto 
 
 Powder sugar, ditto 
 
 Best green tea, ditto 
 
 Bohea or Souchong, ditto 
 
 Coffee, ditto 
 
 Flour, ditto 
 
 Mould caudles, ditto 
 
 Common, ditto 
 
 A hogshead of porter 
 
 Bottled porter (with bottles), per doz. 
 A hogshead of port wine 
 Port wine (with bottles), per doz. 
 Good common wine, per gallon 
 
 Inferior, ditto, ditto 
 
 Claret (with bottles), per doz 
 
 Best fish, per lb 
 
 Inferior kind, ditto 
 
 Small fry, ditto 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 (J. 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 7* 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 lOi 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 
 
 2i 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 7i 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Hi 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 lOi 
 
 
 
 
 
 7i 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 OJ 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 5 13 
 
 91 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 n 
 
 a 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 5i 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 4i 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 7J 
 
 Prices during the Blockade. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 From 2 1 to 4 10} 
 
 2 1 
 13 
 
 Round of beef, per lb. . . 
 Salt beef and pork, ditto 
 
 4 1 
 
 1 1 11} 
 
 1 10 4 
 
 2 8 9 
 9 9 
 2 11 
 13 
 
 per dozen 
 
 From 2 6 to 4 1 
 4 10} 
 
 Sold at an Auction for 
 
 rroni 2 
 „ 1 8 
 
 2 6 
 
 17 1 
 
 6 to 4 10} 
 
 From 13 
 
 Malaga wine, per bottle 
 
 ; These articles were generally 
 sold, according to their size and 
 quality, at most exorbitant rates. 
 
 2 5 6 
 
 5 9 
 2 1 
 
 4 10} 
 
 2 6 
 
 This estimate afterwards underwent some small alteration by the Committee, the wines being 
 fixed, they thought, at too low a price. Beside the articles mentioned under the head of the 
 Blockade price, the following sold in the course of the siege for the sums annexed to them :— 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 A calTs head and feet 1 14 1} 
 
 A caU's pluck 14 7} 
 
 Hind quarter, with the head and tail of an Algerine sheep . . . . 7 10 
 
 Head and feet of a sheep 14 7} 
 
 A bullock's head, without tongue 1 3 4i 
 
 24
 
 370 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 
 A bullock's heart 099 
 
 A goat's head 8 IJ 
 
 Onions, per lb 2 6 
 
 A cabbage 17} 
 
 A bunch of cabbage-leaves 005 
 
 A bunch of carrots and turnips 10} 
 
 A smaU bunch of radishes 005 
 
 A pint of milk and water 013 
 
 A lemon 005 
 
 A quill 6} 
 
 A live pig sold for 9 14 9 
 
 A largo sow in pig sold for upwards of 29(. A goat, with a young kid, both of which had been 
 jmrchased in England for los., sold in the garrison, when the latter was about twelve months old, 
 for near 12?. An English milch-cow was sold, in 1"80, for 60 guineas ; reserving to the seller a pint 
 of milk each day whilst she gave milk ; and another cow was purchased by a Jew for tiO guineas, 
 but the beast was in so feeble a condition, that she .dropped down dead before she had been 
 removed many hundred yards. If these facts were not thought sufficient to demonstrate the 
 exorbitant prices of every article in the garrison, others could be adduced of equally as surprising a 
 complexion. 
 
 The following are the proportions of the Prize-Money, as distributed to the Gar- 
 rison of Gibraltar, from the sums arising from the Head-Money granted by 
 Parliament for destroying the Battering -Ships, and the sale of the "St. 
 Michael " man-of-war. 
 
 The subsequent suras are proportions of 30,000?., which was the sum first divided. 
 
 The governor, l-16th 
 
 Lieutenant-governor 
 
 Major-general 
 
 Brigadier-general 
 
 Colonel 
 
 Lieutenant-colonel 
 
 Major 
 
 £ s. 
 
 d. 
 
 1875 
 
 
 
 937 10 
 
 
 
 468 15 
 
 
 
 267 10 
 
 
 
 156 1 
 
 u 
 
 80 16 
 
 
 
 57 15 
 
 6 
 
 Captain 43 10 1 
 
 Lieutenant 25 5 6 
 
 Second lieutenant and ensign . . 22 6} 
 
 Sergeant 369 
 
 Corporal 2 11} 
 
 Private 191 
 
 A .second Act of Parliament afterwards passed, for granting to the garrison whatever might be 
 fished up from the wrecks of the battering-ships ; and those employed in this duty proceeded with 
 such success, that brass and iron cannon, with other articles, were recovered to a considerable 
 value. 
 
 Two divisions, of 16,000!. and 8,000i., have since been distributed ; the latter of which, it is 
 imagined, will be the last.
 
 I NDEX 
 
 Abomelique, of Fez, 5 
 Alert, privateer, 106, 107 
 Algeziras, 4, 43 
 Alonzo XI., King of Castile, 5 ; 
 
 death of, 7 
 Alvarez de Sota Mayor, Don. 
 
 Martin, 71, 122, 214, 257 
 
 B 
 
 Barcelo, Admiral, 64, jy, 82, 
 99, 103, 107, 112 
 
 Battering-ships, 265, 278, 296 ; 
 destroyed, 299 
 
 Beauclerk, Lord George, 24 
 
 Bland, General, 24 
 
 Boyd, General, 25, 303 ; re- 
 commends the use of red-hot 
 shot, 281 ; deputed to knight 
 the Governor, 360 
 
 Brilliant, frigate, 290, 308, 313, 
 
 351 
 Buck, privateer, arrives, J 77 ; 
 sunk, 84 
 
 Carteia, 45 
 
 Casualties, details of, 219, 304, 
 
 Ceuta, 99 
 
 Charles III., King of Spain, 17 
 Chickens reared artificially, 87 
 Childers, sloop, 53, 57, 66, 90, 
 
 98 
 Clayton, Brigadier, 20 
 Columbine, General, 24 
 Congreve, Colonel, 18 
 CornwalHs, General, 25 
 Corsican volunteers, 259, 261 
 Cotton, Colonel, 18 
 Councils of war, 68, 96 
 Curtis, Brigadier, 282, 299 
 Curtis, Captain, 228, 317, 327, 
 
 331, 359; knighted, 355 
 
 D 
 
 D'Almodovar, Marquis, 50 
 Darby, Admiral, brings convoy , 
 146,^147 _ ., ^ 
 
 37X
 
 372 
 
 INDEX 
 
 D'Ar^on, M., 252, 288 
 
 D'Artois, Comte, 264, 266 
 
 Declaration of war, 56 
 
 De Crillon, Due, in Minorca, 
 186; assumes command be- 
 fore Gibraltar, 251, 252 ; 
 letter from, 267 ; gives news 
 of peace, 353, 354 ; meets the 
 governor, 356 ; entertained 
 on the Rock, 357 
 
 De Saya, Marquis, 359 
 
 Deserters from the British, 56, 
 67, 71, 83, 85, 90, 106, 115, 
 124, 128, 139, 184, 204, 216, 
 243, 249, 254, 256, 258, 
 
 341 
 Deserters from the Spanish, 
 T7, 82, 83, 85, 96, 99, loi, 
 104, 108, 109, 116, 189, 203, 
 237, 256, 262, 273, 334, 335, 
 
 359 
 De Guzman, Henry and John, 
 
 7 
 De Las Torres, Count, 20 
 De Leda, Marquis, 19 
 De Salines, Marquis, 10 
 De Villadarias, Marquis, 15 
 Devil's Tower, attempt to un- 
 dermine, 340, 348 
 Digby, Admiral, 92, 95, 97 
 Dilkes, Sir Thomas, 16 
 Duff, Admiral, 52, 60, 81, 88 
 
 Edgar, frigate, 97, 107 
 
 Eliott, Commodore, 103, 106, 
 
 107 
 Eliott, General G. A., 25 ; his 
 
 abstemiousness, 76 ; accom- 
 panies the sortie, 2 1 1 ; his 
 foresight, 253 ; letter to Duo 
 de Crillon, 268 ; receives 
 Royal thanks, 326 ; meets the 
 Due, 356 ; receives honours, 
 
 359-64 
 Elliot, Colonel Roger, 17 
 Enterprise, frigate, 54, 56, 58, 
 
 no, 113, 114, 122, 126, 143, 
 
 167 
 Executions, 84, 87, 108, 109, 
 
 168 
 
 Fagg, Captain, "jj 
 Ferdinand, King of Castile, 4 
 Fireships, no, 331 
 Fly, packet, lost, 109 
 Fort Barbara, on fire, 191 
 Fortune, sloop, 97, loi, 106, 
 
 107, 108, 114, 115, ii9» 143. 
 
 173 ; converted into a prame, 
 
 186, 200 
 Fowkes, General, 24 
 
 Garrison, detail of troops in, 
 51, 283 
 
 Gibraltar, early history, 1-9 ; 
 arms of, 8 ; captured by 
 Rooke, 9 ; earliest besieged, 
 19-24 ; physical characteris- 
 tics, 26, 30, 33 ; fortifica- 
 tions, 27-30, 32 ; principal 
 buildings, 34 ; animals and 
 birds, 38 ; climate, 39 ; food
 
 INDEX 
 
 373 
 
 supply, 41 ; the Bay, 42 ; 
 the Straits, 79 
 Gunboats launched, 246 
 
 H 
 
 Hardy, Sir John, 16 
 
 Hardy Town, 69 
 
 Hargrave, General, 24 
 
 Hartley, bravery of, 255 
 
 Heington, Captain, 230 
 
 Helena, sloop, 180, 189 
 
 Henry IV., King of Castile and 
 
 Leon, 8 
 Herbert, General. 24 
 Hesse d'Armstadt, Prince of, 
 
 9, 17 
 Home, Earl, 24 
 Howe, Lord, 308, 316, 324; 
 
 victorious, 337 
 
 Influenza, 263 
 Irwin, Colonel, 25 
 
 Julian, Count, 2 
 
 Jusaf III., King of Granada, 7 
 
 K 
 
 Knowles, Sir Charles, 180, 330, 
 
 336, 343, 349 
 Koehler, Lieutenant, invents 
 
 improved gun-carriage, 226 
 
 Langara, Don Juan, 95, 97, 
 
 lOI 
 
 Leake, Sir John, 11 
 
 Logic. Mr., 50, no ; arrives in 
 Gibraltar, 56 ; narrowly es- 
 capes capture, 59 ; sends 
 despatches, 82 ; prepares 
 suppUes, 93 ; captured, 132- 
 ■^7 ; returns to England, 
 142 
 
 M 
 
 Mahomet, King of Granada, 5 
 Marauder shot, 162, 168 
 Mendoza, General, 50, 57 
 Mercier, Captain, 70 
 Mercury, ordnance-ship, 229 
 Micquelets, 60 
 Minorca, supplies from, 123 ; 
 
 fall of, 230, 231 
 Moorish remains in Gibraltar, 
 
 34, 35 
 Moreno, Admiral, 304, 335 
 Morocco, relations with, 133-7 
 Mousa, 2 
 Mutinies in Gibraltar, 25, 194 
 
 O 
 
 Officers, memorial from, 140 
 O'Hara, General, 25 
 
 Panmure, Earl of, 24
 
 374 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Panther, flagship, 58, 92, no, 
 
 113, 325. 327-9 
 Parslow, General, 25 
 Peace and Plenty, privateer, 
 
 lost, 75 
 Perez de Meyra, Vasco, 5 
 Petrified bones, t,-^ 
 Piali Harriet, 8 
 Pointis, M., 14 
 Point Mala, or Negro Point, 
 
 46, 61 
 Portmore, Lord, 22 
 Prames, Vanguard and Repulse, 
 
 17s, 179, 200, 274 
 Prices of provisions, 74, y6, 86, 
 
 ii5» 143. m 
 Princess Anne's Battery, maga- 
 zine explodes, 247 
 
 R 
 
 Ramos, General, 17 
 
 Real-men, 263 
 
 Red-hot shot, 66, 198 ; grates 
 for heating, distributed, 237, 
 243 ; used against land bat- 
 teries, 284 ; against batter- 
 ing-ships, 299 ; kilns erected, 
 
 307 
 Rich, Sir Thomas, 54, 56 
 Roderick, King, 2 
 Rodney, Admiral Sir G. B., 90, 
 
 96 ; victory in West Indies, 
 
 258 
 Rooke, Sir George, captures 
 
 Gibraltar, 9 
 Ross, Donald, remarkable cure, 
 
 188 
 Ross, Sir John L., 151 
 
 Sabine, General, 24 
 
 St. Carlos's battery, blown up, 
 162 ; wrecked in the sortie, 
 210 ; restored, 225 
 
 5/. Fermin, armed ship, 144 ; 
 captured, 145 
 
 St. Michael, man-of-war, 321, 
 325, 330, 337 ; bombarded, 
 343 ; runs aground, 344 ; 
 sails for England, 356 
 
 St. Michael's Cave, 36 
 
 St. Philip's Castle ship, 220, 
 258, 273, 337 
 
 St. Roque, 46, 54 
 
 Sayd, of Morocco, 7 
 
 Scurvy, 103, 105, 117, 120 
 
 Smallpox, 75 
 
 Sortie by the garrison, 205 
 
 Speedwell, cutter, 130, 321 
 
 Spies, 131, 200, 220 
 
 Staff, Governor's, 61 
 
 Straits of Gibraltar, cross-cur- 
 rents, 79 
 
 Success, frigate, 233 
 
 Supplies, landed, 54, 59, 62, 68, 
 74, 85, 89, 94, 96, 98, 104, 
 107, 109, lis, 120, 138, 142, 
 162, 167, 183, 202, 224, 227, 
 237, 324 
 
 Tangier, 129 
 
 Tarif Ebn Zarca, 2 
 
 Tesse, Marshal, 15 
 
 Tetuan, 93 
 
 Tourniquets distributed, 193 
 
 Tovey, Colonel, 25, 198, 212
 
 INDEX 
 
 375 
 
 Tuy, General, 14 
 Tyrawley, Lord, 24 
 
 Vernon, storeship, 233 
 Von Helmstadt, Baron, 213, 
 217 
 
 W 
 
 William IV., King, as mid- 
 shipman, 95, 97 
 
 Young Sabine, polacre, 125 
 
 Printed by Hasell, Watson & Vtney, Ld., London and Avlesbury.
 
 T)A 
 
 DATE DUE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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