11(4 ■iW ai wit*
 
 (/i^STi^ 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 J
 
 THE 
 
 SIEGE 
 
 O F 
 
 GIBRALTAR, 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 «' With bold ereftive creft ! 
 
 " A mighty Eagle rear'd hisfweUing cheft; 
 •' And dauntlefs overlook'd the crowded Bay— 
 " The favor'd omen of the coming day." 
 
 By Capt. JOS. BUDWORTH, 
 
 LATE LIEUTENANT IN THE 72D, OR ROYAL MANCHESTER VOLUNTEERS IN 
 THE BENGAL ARTILLERY, AND THE NORTH HANTS MILITIA. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 A FORTNIGH-Ts RAMBLE TO THE LAKES. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 yRIJJTED FOR HOOKHAM AND CARPENTER, BOND-STREET. 
 
 1795-
 
 srZs 
 
 hrfiaP- Wr^"i I' " t" 
 
 TO 
 
 HANS SLOANE, Esq. 
 
 MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR CHRIST-CHURCH, HAMPSHIRE, 
 COLONEL OF THE NORTH-HANTS REGIMENT OF MILITIA. 
 
 £/ hac olim meminijfe juvabit. 
 
 * . ■ ■- I 
 
 Sir, 
 
 VV HEN men of confiderable landed property quit domeftic 
 cafe to buftle through the tented field ; fuch deferve well of 
 their country ; at the fame time they prove the good policy 
 of being ready to proteft the nation, and the great ftake they 
 have in it, 
 
 I have often followed you, when at the head of your fa- 
 mily of FIVE HUNDRED, and have been highly gratified at 
 the attention of the men, and the fkill in manoeuvrino- them. 
 
 a That 
 
 865'?27
 
 { iv ) 
 
 That your regiment lliould be well-dlfclplined is not aflo- 
 nifliing, when we have witnefTed the aftivity of your honejl 
 veteran, who is conftantly about them. A regiment of def- 
 peradoes may be forced into the niceft point of field pro- 
 priety ; but the greatell pride of a national militia is, the en- 
 rolling hardy friends together, and bringing the leading 
 character of the county along with them. Who, but a 
 decent race of hufbandmen, when a company had been vio- 
 lently cheated by a baker, and half the informing money of- 
 fered to them, would have fpontaneoufly faid, " We do not 
 ** profecute for momy hut for juflkej''' and modeftly declined 
 the fum tendered by the Mayor of Rochefter. I never faw 
 orie foldier in liquor during the four months I was encamped 
 with them; and I do not remember one man being abfent 
 from a roll-call during that time. Thefe fa<Els fpeak too 
 we^-1 to be commented upon, and convince us how much 
 we may depend upon this, owi virtuous national force. 
 
 When
 
 { V ) . 
 
 when the Militia was called out, I followed our mutual 
 friend, and had the luck to be in your regiment, and I ellcem 
 it a moll fortunate event, as it has made me acquainted with 
 fome valuable officers; and I have had an opportunity of 
 ftudying the native character of that moll ufeful order of our 
 fellow creatures, in the Hamppire Husbandmen. 
 
 I only left you becaufe the alarms that were afloat when 
 vou was embodied, had fubfided; but, lliould invalion or 
 necellity call forth the exertion of every Englilhman, I am 
 glad to have your promife that I Hiall be received as a vo- 
 lunteer. There is only one man tiiat I lliould give the pre- 
 ference to, but who has retired from the army. When my 
 native Town of Manchester nobly gave One Thousand 
 Men to Government, and even cloathed them until they 
 arrived at Gibraltar', they were put under the command of 
 Lieutenant Col. Gledllanes ; a finer regiment of recruits had 
 never been feen before ; and, in a very Ikort time, from the 
 
 indefa-
 
 ( vi ) 
 
 indefatigable exertions of the Colonel, tliey were completely 
 difciplined. He treated them with ftriftnefs without feve- 
 rity; humanity, without relaxing in duty ; he fo^well won 
 them, the remains (for they are fadly thinned) fpeak of him 
 as their father. Charge me with partiality — but I never 
 faw io fine a body of men, or more undaunted foldiers, than 
 the Old Royal Manchefter Volunteers ; and it Is not to be 
 wondered at, when they had fuch dlftinguifhed regiments to 
 imitate in the aid corps of the garrifon. I was the oldeli 
 man but one, in a company of one hundred ftrong, at 
 twenty-one, and it is great credit to them, and fatisfaftion 
 to their officers, to have feen them return to their Looms 
 with as much induttry, as they had fhewn alertnefs againft 
 the common enemy of Gibraltar. You, Sir, may judge 
 what that corps once was, by the appearance their country- 
 men made at Brighton encampment, where we had the 
 pleafure of feeing the Lancafhire and the Hampfhire men 
 good-humoured, and hand in hand together — in countenance 
 
 I tliey
 
 ( vii ) 
 
 they refembled the younger brothers of the Lancafliire 
 Militia. My countrymen having for an adjutant an offi- 
 cer, who entered the army the fame day I did, and 
 whofe conduct was confpicuous on every occafion ; — and I 
 know no one who is a greater honour to his native place 
 than my friend : — this young man, when a Store,* in which 
 an amazing quantity of flour was on fire from the enemy, 
 though not on duty, colleded the unemployed of the regi- 
 ment, and, in the midft of the flames and fire, faved a great 
 number of barrels ; for which, the next morning, General 
 Elliot thanked him, and gave him a handfome prefent to 
 dillribute amongfl his men ; and the garrifon may be faid to 
 be obliged, to this enterprifing young officer for a fupply of 
 bread. JulHce induces me to mention, what his modefty' 
 would never allow him to fpeak of. 
 
 * Boyd's Store near the Moorifli Caiife. 
 
 b I know
 
 ( viii ) 
 
 I know it is right, both towards Colonel Gledflanes and 
 yourfelf, to fliy, you have often in the field, and in your 
 hamane manners to the men, reminded me of him; and the 
 only reafon why I could give a preference, is a jult one — 
 Gratitude to the man who taught me to be a foldier ; and, 
 who, like yourfelf, always treated me as a friend. 
 
 - In prefenting to you this produftion of my Gibraltar idle 
 hours, I have in recolleftion the friendfliip that fubfifted 
 between you and General Elliot,'"* who, it is diftrefling 
 to think, like the invincible Marlborough, was fallen, 
 almoft to a ftate of fatuity before he died; and we have 
 heard v/ith difguft the malevolent charge him with being 
 olientatious, when, alas ! he has only a9:ed from a relaxed 
 iLatc of intellect. 
 
 * A chara(!^er, as written on the fpot, will appear in the invaluable Gentle- 
 man's Magazine. 
 
 2 I can-
 
 ( i^ ) 
 
 I cannot, good Sir, offer yon the iUidled efforts of tlic 
 clofet — I am no fcholar ; but you liave the unlaboured effa- 
 Hons of a mind that was in the mldil of the fcencs it at- 
 tempts to defcribc ; and, if it may tend to give an unadorned 
 account of an event the world was once interellcd about, it 
 will not concern me, if I Ihould be faid to fliil in the poetry. 
 
 May diffenfions in this moll: flivoured country ceafe ; may 
 we lay our (boulders to the wheel, and not forget the foil 
 we have to proteft (with all its valuables) if raihnefs iliould 
 dare to invade it : — and in due time may the errors com- 
 plained of be v/ifely corre6ted, and " God fave the King^'' 
 and happinefs to the People. 
 
 I have the honour to fubfcribe myfelf with regard and 
 cfteem. Dear Sir, 
 
 Your fiiithful obedient humble Servant, 
 
 JOS. BUDWORTH. 
 
 Sloane-Jlreet, Chelfea, 
 Nov. 17, 1794.
 
 R E F A C E. 
 
 W ALKING one morning with a gentleman, we met with another 
 who had formerly been in the army, and who was a reputed very fen- 
 fible man ; their converfation turned upon a perfon highly celebrated for 
 his poetical abilities, and after fome fignificant laughs at the fong- 
 fter's expenfe ; the once Colonel called up a look of profundity, and 
 moft folemnly declared — " / am not Jurprlfed at any thing our friend Jays 
 " or does, he mujl be mad — for he is a Poet." After fuch a declaration 
 from a man 1 had often heard of, and who has both a fufficiency of 
 fenfe and of riches to be liftened to with approbation, and, what is too 
 often the cafe, to condemn with deciiion — is it not prefuming for a 
 minor poet to dare to avow himfelf a Volunteer ? But fince I do fo, may 
 not we venture to fay, if the Nine, were to offer their choicell 
 powers to this man's head, it would h^ Jirong enough to keep them 
 ^ all out ? Yes, thou man of Bathos ! When I heard thee fo fardonically 
 abufe thy friend, whofe produdions the world approves ; I mentally 
 determined to recolle<fl thee, when I again appeared before it, and to fay, 
 i\\Qf7ieers of fenfe fiiall not keep back the errors of fancy. 
 
 c Many
 
 ( xii ) 
 
 Many pofTeffed of great learning arc not always bleft with genius to 
 enliven it, and like the charadler above would deftroy by force— thofc 
 fportive flights they have neither imagination to reach, or to approve : — 
 but the mind that rufhes into variety is pleafed to amufe— and even 
 in failing goes quietly into oblivion. 
 
 Speaking of a chara6ter of which there are many in the world, na- 
 turally leads me to another fet of men, who have no advantage of 
 abilities to plead, but who have their fneer at your Poets, and at 
 thofe who da{h in converfation, T/jefe trifles are to be known by 
 a certain working of the mufcles, that require a laugh to be relieved, 
 but they have jull fenfe enough to know, that would be too pointed: 
 while the very mode they take to hide their thoughts the more expofes 
 them; but God help them, this is the only alteration which ever 
 happens to their countenances; for when the face is left to 'w^^l^y it 
 naturally returns to its mental vacancy^ and the mind to a nothingnefs of 
 converfation it can only partake of. 
 
 But I am not writing an account of men and manners^ it is a Pre- 
 face to a Siege. I muft therefore throw off the ill nature that is 
 coming very fafl;, and return to a fubjedl, always welcome to the mind. 
 
 Thof«
 
 ( xi'i ) 
 
 Thofe of my fellow foldkrs with wliom I had tiie honour to travel 
 through the war, will have old fcenes over again : — When we fpcak of 
 tiie complaints of the Garrifon they will he reminded of fcourges, dread- 
 nil in appearances and often more deftriidlive than the enemy. When — 
 of the fuccefsful veflel furrounded by cruifers, wc know fhe always 
 owed her flifety by refolutely hugging Cabreta Point. When— but as I 
 know by myfelf, many would rather read the account of any tranfadlion 
 in profe than in verfe— .they muft be referred to the Book. 
 
 I remember I had fome thoughts of continuing it to the end of the 
 Siege y as many interefting events happened confequent to the 1 4th of Sep- 
 tember; but I found every thing after the Grand Attack only fecondary— - 
 and although of material confequence in the * Hiftory of the Siege, would 
 fink in Poetry, and leflen the impreffion the Author would wifli his 
 Readers to conceive of the Great Event. 
 
 The original of the following Verfes was deftroyed with many others, 
 when HalJ-pay founded its knell to the ambitious : and I really did not 
 expedl there had been one remembrance of them : but an ineftimable 
 Brother Officer told me a Ihort time ago, he had preferved the copy I 
 
 * Vide, my fellow foldier and friend, Capt. Drinkwatei's faithful Hiflory. 
 
 2 gave
 
 ( ^iv ) 
 
 gave to him, exprefTing a wifh to fee them; I read them with that plea- 
 fure io natural, when we unexpe<fledly meet an old Friend, and particularly 
 if it relates to an interefting period of life. I became warm as I went on. 
 I was again befieged, \ found my pen in my hand— I revifed— corrected— - 
 added— c.!id who could do otherwife, when I had to fpeak of great 
 charadiers now no more— who had been the foul of the defence and 
 the caufe of the enemies failure. Vanity i truft, neither unbecoming or 
 prefumptuous whifpers, though more than twelve moft chequered year* 
 have rolled along fince they were written— the fubjedl, ftale as it is, will 
 always meet a hearty welcome from my countrymen. 
 
 * 
 
 If there is merit, it is due to that friend of the Author's, who had fo 
 much value for him or his verfes, to fay, he would never part with them: 
 I may therefore be only faid, to have borrowed my old thoughts, and 
 tranfplantcd them with fome new ones : the foil that produced them is not 
 altered, the fame zeal always continues with thofe who love the profeflion, 
 whether capable of the mofl laborious fervicc, or from wounds or necef- 
 fity obliged to quit it ; and the Old Soldier who has it not in his power to 
 give affiflance when his Country wants it — may certainly be allowed to — 
 
 " Shoulder his crutch — and fliow how fields were won." 
 
 THE
 
 THE SIEGE. 
 
 WRITTEN IN SEPTEMBER, I782, 
 
 W HEN fam'd Iberia, with exulting fway 
 RuI'd undifturb'd : — The heroes of the Bay ! 
 Their royal flandards (emblems of their pride) 
 Wave to the wind — above the varied * tide ; 
 To that bold Cape — where Neptune s fav'rite f fon 
 From the fcar'd Gaul — th' important battle won : 
 Far to the Eaft, where % Walton s deathlefs fame 
 Gain'd ^'^ as per margin'' — an immortal name. 
 And where Gibraltar tow'ring, flands alone 
 To dim the luilre of the Spanifh throne : 
 
 * There is always an inner and an outer tide in the Gut of Gibraltar, 
 
 •j- Admiral Bofcawen. 
 
 + Vide his laconic letters ; " I have funk, taken, and deflroyed, as per margin.:' 
 
 B That
 
 ( = ) 
 
 That pillar firm, of Herculean ftory. 
 
 Of Mauritania's feats — of Britifli glory ; 
 
 Where oft the din of war has clafh'd around, 
 
 Ere the Monk's art the. dire combuftion found. 
 
 When Moor and Spaniard with invet'rate flrife 
 
 Fought for the noblefl gifts — conquell: and life; 
 
 Until proud Spain expeli'd the tawny h.oft, 
 
 To the rude confines of their barb'rous coaft ; 
 
 Forc'd them from homes, where arts enlight'ned reign'd. 
 
 To be — by ftupor, and by tyrants chain'd ; 
 
 And gave the Nations fuch apparent hate, 
 
 That feem'd to- fix it in the Book of Fate. 
 
 But, now allured by the * bribe of gold 
 
 The fiithlefs Moor, his nat'ral f hatred fold : 
 
 * The Emperor of Morocco not only refufcd to fupply the garr'ifon with any 
 jnore cattle, but ]ie permitted the Spaniards to take fome merchantmen, when at 
 ancliof in Tangier Bay ; and Conful Log'ie, whofe indefatigable attention, to 
 fupply provlfionft, every one in Gibraltar acknowledges, was not only forced to 
 tjiiil Barbary ; but the Moors fpit upon him and treated him with CA'^ery poffible 
 ignominy, though thefe ])oor wretches at tlie fame time had the gi'catett regard 
 fur him ; but it was by order of the Emperor. 
 
 'If I'hc Kings of Spain and the Emperor ^ Morocco in their coionation 
 jaath^, fwcar perpetual war againll eacii other. 
 
 2 With
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 Witli Spain agrees, that ne'er agreed before, 
 
 And fends her herds, to Calpe's fons ; no more 
 
 The perjur'd Monarchs no compundion feel, 
 
 And for a dlftant hope — the confcience fell : 
 
 Calpes Haunch fons — tho' hopelefs of fupplies, 
 
 The gilded treaty cordially defpife : 
 
 The little pittance — unreplnlng bear, 
 
 And with a foldier*s franknefs — " Share and fhare.*' 
 
 Now to my theme, and in due order plac'd, 
 Things will occur, which cannot be defac'd ; 
 And what my bufy fancy fails t' explain, 
 The faithful margin fliall in profe contain. 
 
 The fteady Spaniards with providing care, 
 Firm in refolve, as ftubborn in the war ; 
 By various ways endeavour to regain 
 What once the gem, but now the dread of Spain. 
 
 Whllit
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 Whilft the old Rock of kis own foldlers proud, 
 Triumphant rears above the neighb'ruig crowd,. 
 
 By * blockade, firfl ; — a ilarviRg bloodlefs way,. 
 When f Rodney s lee-pore vi6t'ry clear'd the Bay. 
 
 Splendid as harmlefs — pifturefque as bright, 
 The flaming :|: fire-fliips, form'd a coflly fight 
 Cloath'd, in the folemn awfulnefs of Night. 
 Whilll modefl Harvey of undaunted mind, 
 Tow'd their hot prows and left them to the wind \, 
 
 * Commenced June 21, 1779. 
 
 -j- Admiral Rodney beat Langara, and relieved the garrifon, Jan. 25, 178b-. 
 
 \ June 7, 1780. At half paft one in tl:ie evening the enemy fent nine fire- 
 fhips which did no dcflruftion, owing to the vigilance of Capt. John Harvey 
 of the Panther — they were all of them in full blaze almofl in an inliant ; one of 
 them, driving towards the Panther, the failors lield by the boat hooks, and 
 thou'rh fome of them were much fcorched, they towed it between the buoy and 
 l)ie fhip, whence it drifted into the Mediterranean ; tliofe which came on thore 
 were called " God fends," wood for cooking then fold at tive fhillings and three- 
 pence a cwt. according to the courfe of Exchange. It is in gratitude to his fer- 
 vire?, I have to add, he was- the Captain. Harvey of the Brunfwick, who fell in 
 Lord Howe's glorious victory in June, 1794. 
 
 Or 
 
 JL
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 Or fome more lucky reach 'd our rock-bound ftrand, 
 And left the welcome on th' indented fand i 
 The gaudy pageants our dull kitchens ftor'd^ 
 And cook'd the little plent^y^^ioix. the board.. 
 
 Again * th' attempt, a Britifh fleet appears. 
 And to blockade — a hopelefs profpeft wears. 
 Then from the lines their thund'ring efforts play, 
 "While Spain's f Gazette portended victory : 
 Big with deftruftion (which was never done) 
 It told the world, "^The Mountain was half won. 
 Whilfl from his front the harmlefs balls rebound, 
 The caverns anfw'ring with indignant found. 
 
 »» 
 
 Sometimes, when fleep his balmy influence fpread. 
 And threw his '' cloali^ o'er many a weary head ; 
 
 * They again attempted to blockade ; Admiral Darby relieved us April 1 2j 
 1781, on which day, on the fecond man of war dropping anchor at ten in the 
 morning, they opened their batteries upon us. 
 
 •f The Spnnith Gazettes were continually faying, " The Mountain is half 
 won." 
 
 C Whilft
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 Whilft the alert, to nightly duty true, 
 
 Guard 'gainfl: forprife — and 'gainft defertlon too : 
 
 The prowling * gun-boats waken ev'ry eye, 
 
 And to the camp, the teazing bullets fly. 
 
 Th' indignant Britons fcorn fuch paltry war ; 
 
 Talk of revenge — and hope the time — not far ; 
 
 Then to their pofts with fliould'red firelocks go, 
 
 And 'midft their comrades foon forget the foe. 
 
 But when they hear of fome poor woman {lain, 
 
 The blood of anger boils in ev'ry vein ; 
 
 One mother flying from thefe vile alarms, 
 
 Had her loll infant, torn from her fond arms : 
 
 Too young to fear — it flew to endlefs reft ; 
 
 But oh ! — the anguifli of the parent's breaft. 
 
 Such were the deeds, the gun-boats had to boaft, 
 
 Thofe who moft know them, muft deteft tliem moft ; 
 
 * Their gun and mortar-lDoats did no material niifchief to the garrifon, as 
 avowed by their Gazette ; bat as they tired indil'criininately at the eamp, the 
 holpital, and into Jew Town, whi'-h was the retreat of the inhabitants, fome 
 mm, wonicii, and children were killed and wountlcd. 
 
 Q But
 
 ( 7 ); 
 
 But the *' great mifchief," which they fay was done, 
 'Tis Hke then- pompous words, for there was none ; 
 Why — why of fuch, the virgin paper flain — 
 Too hateful to difgrace — a Briton'^ pen. 
 
 Next was the time fuperior of the kind, 
 Which mark'd the Gen'ral — and the adive mind : 
 When well-tim'd knowledge, pointed out the way, 
 While Britilli foldiers eager to obey — 
 Deftroy'd their outer-works— and then retir'd ; 
 Fear'd by that foe— -by whom they were admir'd» 
 The gallant * Ross — led on the fearlefs band, 
 And mercy Ihone— confpicuous in command. 
 
 The gentlell; manners to the hero join'd, 
 The polilli'd fcholar learnedly combin'd ; 
 
 In 
 
 * NovemTicr 27, 1781. The fortie under the command of Brigadier General 
 Rols went out at three o'clock, and cffe6tually did its duty : the author's Mule 
 prclented him with a long poem the morning alter this attack ; this fubjedl gave 
 
 Mr.
 
 ( 8 } 
 
 In courage vig'rous — In experience — old, 
 
 Amidft the foremoit — boldeft of the bold. 
 
 For fuch good * Hugo's venerable bread 
 
 That ev'ry virtue feem'd a native gueft. 
 
 Ye Rock-known vet'rans, who delight to tell 
 
 Whate'er we lov'd — or truly honour'd well ; 
 
 Let grateful mem'ry his pall worth proclaim, 
 
 And confccrate in tears — your tributes to his name^ 
 
 And you, my brother foldiers-— ever dear 
 Who breathe upon — this wonder-working fphere ? 
 My mem'ry Ihall in retrofpeft difplay 
 How hufily we pafled — the idle day. 
 Ah 1 but the numbers — now alas ! — no more, 
 Fall'n by difeafe, on peflilential fliore ; 
 
 Mr. Trumbull, an American artift, an opportunity ofdifj^laying the chafteft ikill 
 as a painter ; and from his being formerly on adlive fcrvicc, he has exprcffed 
 much military propriety in the action. — Mr. Sliarp the engraver is to produce a 
 print from it, and which tlic ful:)fcribers have been cxpedling. 
 
 * Colonel Hugo, of Field Marfhal Ilardenberg's regiment, gave up the com- 
 mand of his regiment, to have the honour, as he faid, " to lead on the Hano- 
 verian grenadiers" and he was the firfl man out of the garrifon on tlic attack. 
 
 Or
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 Or on loft Belgia's plains — or Indian coaft, 
 In bloom of life, by the infanguin'd hoft ; 
 It naught avails — peace to the martial grave, 
 The honour'd Maufoleum — of the brave. 
 
 The many groupes of officers and men 
 Told their old ftories o'er and o'er again ; 
 " Of wounded foldiers — of their worth — or not, 
 " (If they were kill'd their failings were forgot) 
 " How fome the tyrant grim — had made his own, 
 *' That bore the pangs of death without a groan. 
 *' How the '■■' fcorbutic, with corroding pain, 
 " Long'd for reviving juice — but long'd in vain ;** 
 
 * The fcurvy and the dyfentery carried off many foldiers, and if the men of 
 war's boats had not luckily taken a vefTel laden with lemons, daring tlie 
 blockade, which was becalmed behind tlie Rock, we might have been in as terri- 
 ble a fituation as the Centurion was in, during her voyage round the world. The 
 fcurvy, at that period, was raging nioft deflrudtively, and the fruit of this veflel 
 was the means of cleanfing the conftitution fo fucceisfuUy, that this fcourge was 
 never fo fevere afterwards, though it always cut a figure on the lick lift. Suck- 
 ing the juice, and rubbing the wounds with the infide fkin, was the grand, 
 reftorative, and gave many brave fellows to life and their duty, who otherwife. 
 muft have funk beneath difeafe, 
 
 D ** In
 
 ( lo ) 
 
 In frightful iliapes the black'ned poifon fpread ; 
 And on the fpr'mgs of Hfe deflru£live fed ; 
 Whilll the lax flux unmann'd the boldeft thought, 
 And whh more rapid llrides the viftim caught. 
 One forrow more in Northern climates — new, 
 That much compaflion for the fuff 'rers drew ; 
 Scarce had bright Sol his ftated journey done. 
 Ere the dim *"' eye — its vifual courfe had run ; 
 And even fire with the full force of light ; 
 Darken'd as Chaos, could not cheer — their night. 
 But when the morn unfolds the myllic chain. 
 The orbits are reftor'd to life again ; 
 
 * When this complaint made its appearance, the firft of the afflidled were 
 fuppofcd to be Malingarers, and many mounted guard, though as bhnd as beetles, 
 left they ihould be fufpecled to be lb. On the niirht the fire-fhips came, one 
 man of the company I was in, cried mofi bitterly that he could not find his 
 things ; and I knew the night before he had been on duty. The eye had no 
 particular appearance ; but when they were called by name, it feemcd vacantly 
 to turn towards the pcrfon that fpoke. This fingular malady mufl be owing to 
 poor food, as it fometimcs happens to the natives of India, who live on rice only; 
 and at this time rice was amongfl: the bcfl: nourifhmcnfs the garrifon had, but it 
 was in fuch fmall quantity, it could not alone afl'ccl the fight ; fo that we will 
 venture to add to the caulc, the dry flock -fifhj and the ftinking liiplcfs meat. 
 
 From
 
 ( " ) 
 
 From faplefs food — thefe direful fcourges come, 
 
 And fill the fick'ned mind — with longing thoughts of home. 
 
 Then of the war, and with the theme infpir'd, 
 " What work was finilh'd — or what work was fir'd ; 
 " To what new point the varied fire direft, 
 " And what the bounding howitzers efFed : 
 " The wicked * fhell that with precifion flew, 
 " The Recochet to different objefts true ; 
 " The pond'rous Thirteens— ftorming to the fky — 
 *' All — 'midft the roaring Ihot — promifcuous fly. 
 
 " Then if their laft-formM batteries were fuch, 
 *' As to annoy the Southern quarter much, 
 " Or if with vigour ply'd — the red-hot ball 
 *' Thefe ftrong epaulments would not flaming fall. 
 
 ^» 
 
 * Small fbells fired from the guns, principally to burfl over the working 
 parties. 
 
 Old
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 Old England too — would be a darling theme, 
 ** Her favor'd foil — her laws — her envied fame : 
 ** Her fleets triumphant! — riding o'er the main, 
 " Hated by France — and late the fcourge of Spain. 
 
 " A fignal for a fhip — all eyes one way— 
 *' To fee her round Cabreta — for the Bay ; 
 <' A broad-fide fir'd — fee howfhe clofely veers, 
 *' And in the wind, the ikilful pilot fleers. 
 *' Another giv'n — the pilot changes tack, 
 *• And throws the lefs-lkill'd enemy a-back» 
 *' Cabreta fires — fhe hugs the hoflile fliore, 
 '* Nor heeds the fhot that unremitting pour ; 
 ** True to the helm, fhe feels the fide-full fail, 
 " And flies befriended by the frefh'ning gale j 
 " About fhe goes — when right before the wind 
 ** She makes the Rock — and leaves her foes behind. 
 /< But when a lucklefs veffel falls a prey, 
 ** We d — n her — and are fulky all the day." 
 
 4 
 
 The
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 The next great aft by red-hot vengeance tried, 
 When Mahon's fix-gun battery was deftroy'd : 
 In fifty-fix — Minorca- rearM his fame ;■ 
 And Ferdinand — immortaliz'd his * name. 
 
 A fignal out — a Royal f Fleet appears, 
 And through the Bay in llately motion fleers,. 
 
 The 
 
 * Sept.. 8, 1782, — This is the firft time red-hot fhot-was fired from the gar- 
 ritbn ; it was at the particular requeft of General Boyd, and under his direction ; 
 but it is to be underftood, it was always the intention of the Governor to fire 
 red-hot balls upon the floating batteries : the General kept up a moft tremen-- 
 dous fire, and totally deflroyed Mahon battery, befides other damage. Prince- 
 Ferdinand recommended General Boyd foftrongly to his Majelty for his condu<5l 
 at the battle of Minden, he immediately received his firji commiffion — a Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel' in tJie Guards ; and he has done the highefi lionour to the rc- 
 eommendation. The veteran is interred in a vault ptjrpolely made for him 
 in the King's Baftion — a battery he had the honour of building, and which 
 had often witnefled his contempt of every danger. 
 
 •f' Sept.. 12, 1782. The combined fleets of France and Spain. I here take an 
 opportunity of mentioning, at the time the fhips were fweeping majeftically 
 round, ditFercnt flights of eagles hovered an amazing height above the fummit 
 of the Rock. At certain feafons this is not uncommon, but they made their j?;^ 
 appearance this year at the very hour the fleet came in. We had been given to 
 underfland that Lord Howe's fleet was expedled to relieve the garrifon ; and, 
 upon the cry of " another fleet," we turned to the fignal houfe, and what we 
 at firfl took for the fignal, proved an amazing large eagle, probably tired by his 
 
 E. * flight
 
 ( i4 ) 
 
 The crefcent form'd, the diff 'rent colours fly, 
 AVhich threat'nhig Spain beheld with anxious joy ; 
 Anxious and pleas'd — for Spain ne'er faw before. 
 The force of Bourhoii pafs Cabreta's fliore, 
 Whilll their old foes — (the God of Battle's care) 
 Dreadlefs expeft — and for th' attack prepare — 
 At anchor brought, tX\Q junk-pips, by their fide 
 In uncouth fliape — and formidable pride — 
 Seemingly big with every wiib of Spain, 
 The firmefl hope in mankind would explain. 
 
 D"" Arcon 'twas thine, whofe penetrative mind 
 Firll: form'd the whole, and then the fubftance join'd ; 
 On fuch a plan as man had never thought, 
 Th' idea built — and then purfued the plot. 
 Such pond'rous efforts in the works confpire, 
 Altho' they fail'd, thy genius we admire : 
 
 flight from a diftant part of Barbary. It remained fomc time, and I remember 
 it was faid, " Wliy fhould not tlie Britons think it an omen of vidtory, as the 
 " Romans would have done ?" and we gaily agreed to think it fo. 
 
 And
 
 ( 15 ) 
 
 And as the whole we trace — the end purfue, 
 jy Arcon * has fail'd — but credit is his due. 
 
 Thus, on the twelfth, the bufy batt'ring foe, 
 , Seem'd quite prepar'd to ftrike the threat'ned blow : 
 Boats without number, row about the Bay, 
 With foldiers full, and fome with awnings gay ; 
 A confcious hope appears in all they do, 
 And oftentation gilds \\\e fanBion d f fhow ; 
 Such as the world hath heard — but now, 'tis o'er, 
 And oftentation can avail — no more. 
 No more the junk-fliips will return falute, 
 For they are vanilli'd— -and Iberia — mute. 
 
 Where 
 
 * Monf. D' Arcon, a Frenchman, formed the idea, and tlie fl^ips were built 
 under his immediate direction. 
 
 -J~ After the battering fhips had moved to the Orange Grove to take in their 
 ammunition, they were conftantly decorating them, and firing falutes ; and it 
 would be impoflible to defcribe their grand gala day, the pageantic 12th of Septem- 
 ber. — On fhore there were various proceffions, civil, military, and eclefiaftic ; 
 bleffings and pardons were as common as words. The pricfts not only blefled 
 thole who were eoing to fight, but proiiiifed them pardon for every thing they 
 had done amifs, if they were killed : and I underiland, amongfl: their bleffings, 
 
 mercy
 
 ( i6 > 
 
 Where is the crowd, * in countlefs numbers rear'd,, 
 On the high hills : — that all alive appear'd ; 
 The forty-thoufand, with ambition fir'd ? 
 Slunk to their cells — the mighty all — retir'd ; 
 Scarce a lone foldier — does the plains afford ; 
 And Ruffet to the mountains is reilor'd. 
 
 Come, fportlve Mufe, be more than ufual kind. 
 And regulate the fullnefs of the mind ; 
 For thou waft wont — when I was yet — a boy. 
 To warm my bofom with poetic joy ; 
 
 mercy to the Heretics was not included ; but a kind of lide blow given to the 
 minds of the fuperftitious, in cafe they were viilorious, which would have made 
 the blood of all the Heretics in the garrifon of no more value, than that of one 
 of the King of Spain's pointers. If I may judge from the converfation I had! 
 with one of the Walloon guards immediately upon his landing, I can believe 
 all this. 
 
 * The number of lpc61ators was beyond calculation; the many hills were 
 like moving forefls, during the day ; and, as they knew not tlie calamity which 
 had already taken root, I do not believe there could be more chccrf. I beings 
 under heaven. On the following morning hardly a pcrfon could be ieen: 
 " The barren wildernefs had ceafed to fmile ;" they retired to their difappointr 
 mcnts; and, as a Spaniard of difiindlion afterwards faid to General Elliot; 
 *' We were neither company for ourfelvcs, or for. each other." 
 
 3 To 
 
 /
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 To make me write, what fome few would approve,. 
 
 Of youthful battles — ^i\d perhaps — of love. 
 
 But now, I've known the many charms of both, 
 
 Do not refign me to — enervate floth ; 
 
 Let me purfue, with thy affilling hand,. 
 
 I am a foldier, Mufe — thou fhalt command.. 
 
 Whilfl the grand Fleets, in crefcent order move,. 
 UnnumberM birds, in circling palHme rove ;, 
 In different flocks, on aerial pinions glide,. 
 And draw attention from the hoftile fide : 
 One Bird of Heav'n ! — The Monarch of the whole 
 Defcends : — and perch'd upon the fignal pole ; 
 '^Twas thought a fignal for a Britifli fleet ; 
 And loudeil: joy burfl forth in home-felt gxQQti. 
 But nearer feen — with bold ere£tive crefl, 
 A mighty Eagle rear'd his fwelling cheft ; 
 And dauntlefs overlook'd the crozvded Bay, 
 The favor'd omen of the coming day. 
 
 F But
 
 ( i8 ) 
 
 But to purfue — the * thirteenth in the morn, 
 The batt'ries heave — flags the gay fcenes adorn ; 
 By feven o'clock — the ten were under fail, 
 And fleer before a frefh'ned Weftera gale. 
 Bold in advance — and bravely they draw near, 
 By ten the anchors dropp'd — their broad-fides bear 
 But ere they fir'd — our cannonade began, 
 And ev'ry foldier was — an aftive man : 
 Hot from the tubes, the vengeful balls depart, 
 Stick in their beams — and rankle — to the heart ; 
 
 * September ijth, 1782. Tlie ten floating batteries had ipring? upon their 
 cables by 10 o'clock; in about half an hour one of them had two of her mails 
 fhot away, and the fire poured in from the land batteries and the junk fhips was 
 tremendous: our 13-inch and lo-inch fhells rebounded from their tops, without 
 having made any apparent imprcflion. The condu6t of the Royal Artillery was 
 on tliis, as it is upon all occations, beyond prailc ; and, notwitliftanding the 
 rapidity, and their inceflant firing of red-hot balls, not one accident happened 
 during the attack, though they were running about with them in all dire6tions. 
 Not only tlie artillery, but that part of the troops quartered at the King's Baflion 
 and the picquct guard, were as bufy as bees in fupplying ammunition, &c. and 
 Ihofe quartered at the Southward lent every aflillancc; even fome of the lick 
 fiole from the hofj^tal, and pai^ticularly a corporal who had been recently tre- 
 panned — and llicfc zealous foldiers were found in the thickcti of the fire, and 
 with relu(5tance returned to tlie hofpifal. 
 
 Whil 
 
 e
 
 ( 19 ) 
 
 While the great fhell rebounds from their flrong fides, 
 And in the troubled fea — the globe divides. 
 So ferv'd the guns- — fo quick the Artill'rifts ply, 
 It feem'd not man's — but Heav'ns artillery. 
 Fierce as when jealous Satan did rebel, 
 When the Arch-angels poifon'd- — compeers f«ll. 
 The foe prepar'd—- the fire with heat returns. 
 While ev'ry breaft with native ardour burns. 
 
 The h'lgh-fouVd * Chiefs ereB — in danger feen, 
 And who in danger always is ferene : 
 
 Darts 
 
 * General Elliot remained upon the King's Baftion the greateft part of the 
 day, againfl which three of the battering fhips dire6ted their force ; this ill- 
 judged bravery of theirs was certainly taking the bull by the horns : the governor 
 fent for his dinner and eat it on the ramparts. As he is gone to the final 
 ■" bourne," we may now fay what he never wilhed to be known in his life-time. 
 I remember, when an officer of merit withed to fell out to pay his debts, that 
 lie has advanced the money, faying, " the fervice fhall never lofe a good officer 
 '" for an hundred pounds." I have heard of his giving a handfome new-year's 
 gift to an old Quarter Mailer, who had a large family, after having reprimanded 
 him a few days before in his unfortunate manner ; and I know he has faid, that 
 he never felt anger for an inftant after he had fpoke in his way, (which we 
 all know was difagrecable enough) ; but, when any one deferved a reprimand 
 
 which
 
 ( 2° ) 
 
 Darts round the whole with comprehenfive eye, 
 Whilil through the works his pointed orders fly. 
 Sound as the Rock, th' undaunted leader's mind, 
 Yet foftly textur'd — as the moft refin'd. 
 Though boift'rous words (too ohe\\) JJjade the hour, 
 None but the great defaulter feels his power. 
 The fick — the vet'ran — and the prif 'ner knows, 
 The filent fpring — whence his rich bounty flows. 
 
 One fatal fliot (the faddeft in the day) 
 Tore from my * friend— the vital fpark away. 
 
 On 
 
 which he did not wifh to bring to extremity, he faid nothing, but then only felt 
 recollcdled difpleafurc. 
 
 I have heard of his having purchafed promotion unknown to officers, and after- 
 wards told them to " repay him when they were general officers." And what 
 officer and foldier did he ever hurt, who did not deferve it ? And has he not 
 with fuccefs applied to his Majefty for defaulters under fentence of Court Mar- 
 tials ? Thcfe are circumftances which muft liidc his difagrecable defedls ; and 
 
 we may fay, 
 
 * ' He had no fiiultS', for he is dead." 
 
 * Capt. Reeves of the Artillery was mortally wounded at four in the after- 
 noon, by a random fliot from a long ranger, after having been extremely adlive 
 in fupplying the different batteries with ammunition. This misfortune was, 
 if poffible, heightened from his buflling in the midft of danger all the day, and 
 
 he
 
 ( 21 ) 
 
 On the fame clay immortal Wolf \nz.^ flain, 
 He fhar'd the laurels of th' embattl'd plain ; 
 And on that day — the foldier firft drew breath, 
 That painful fent him to an honor'd death. 
 Mournful next eve — we follow the fad bier, 
 And take a laft adieu, with many a tear: 
 More lilent grief was never known to flow,. 
 Than at this banquet of— -afflictive woe. 
 
 When fable Night had clos'd the eye of Day, 
 Our thund'ring friends with deadly vengeance play ; 
 Serv'd from the tubes with unabating fire ; 
 While their once boafled ardour — feem'd t' expire^ 
 
 he was then gone to give direftions at a point where fhot feldom reached. He 
 was born on the 13th of Sept. ferved under Wolf at Quebec on the 13th of Sept. 
 and a ftragghng fhot took him off on the 13th of Sept. His long lervices, and 
 his particular ones on that day, were the occafion of a penfion being fettled 
 upon his daughter. He was adjutant ; and the dittrefs of the foldiers that carried 
 him to his grave^ and the officers that attended, was the befi: proof of what kind 
 of man he was. 
 
 G So,
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 So Naiure '"' fags — by weaririefs half-worn, 
 Yet, for a while a glimmer may return ; 
 Till wearlnefs and night o'erpow'r the foul, 
 And all the aftive faculties controul. 
 Such were our thoughts : — but ever certain fate, 
 Whofe influence ftrong — all mortals mull await ; 
 Long ere this time — by living iliot decreed. 
 That thefe proud batt'ries never fliould fucceed ; 
 From their torn ports a fmoth'ring fire is feen, 
 And a thick fmoke that ilTues from within — 
 The dreadful end of Bourbon s hopes proclaim ; 
 In well-earn'd laurels to Britannia s fame. 
 
 Health to the naval f Chief — to whom we owe, 
 The final grandeur of this fatal blow ; 
 
 In 
 
 * We mifconceived the reafon of this relaxation, whicli wasovvhig to the hot 
 balls rankling in inany places, and they were tr}dng to find out the concealed 
 fires. 
 
 '\- Capt. Curtis went out with his gun-boats early in the morning. When the 
 ^rA floating battery blew up, his cockfwain was killed in his barge, and three 
 
 failors
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 In whom true courage, and good conduct join, 
 
 In whom Humanity did nobly fhine. 
 
 Who gain'd the admiration of his friends, 
 
 And Bourbon's felf — the gen'rous a<El commends ; 
 
 For while the batt'ries burnt with fcorching power, 
 
 Amidft the fury of the dang'rous hour, 
 
 Carelefs of life — and aU alive — to fave 
 
 The vidim'd Spaniards from th' impending grave, 
 
 And yet, how painful to the human mind. 
 
 What muft remain a iligma — on mankind ; 
 
 What ! — No — not all the fophiftry of Spain, 
 
 Can word away — the ignominious llain. 
 
 failors wounded, bcfides one of his gun-boats funk ; after this, in the midft of 
 two other explofions, he continued to affift the wretched fufFerers, and faved 
 near 400 prifoners, fome of whom had been much wounded in the engagement. 
 Count D'Artois, on his going with a flag of truce to the Spanith camp, com- 
 plimented him in tlie name of the French nation for his humanity, which he 
 faid, " I was an eye witnefs of, and anxious for your fafety." 
 
 It is with concern I feci myfelf obliged to mention a circuniftance which is 
 but too true, though we will hope it was more from ignorance than delign ; 
 fome of their guns from the lines fired ujjon the boats while faving their coun. 
 trjTuen : the author has fome reafon to fpeak with feverity — he was at the 
 Ragged Staff during the landing of the prifoners, where a valuable Serjeant of 
 tlie 7^d Regiment had his right arm taken off by one of thofe ungrateful fliots. 
 
 I . But
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 But what — -the haughty Spaniard will not do ; 
 Witnefs, ye bafe — your murders at Peru ; 
 No wonder then — as the good naval Chief 
 Did almoft more, than man — to yield relief; 
 Her very fons — fliould fire upon the crew : 
 Deny it, Spain? — She cannot — 'tis too true. 
 
 But who could paint the grandeur of the fcene ? 
 (Words would fall fliort, but from a Milton's pen.) 
 When wifli'd Aurora op'd th' aufpicious dawn, 
 And file wed to Calpe\ fons the happy morn ; 
 When the explofions rent the trembling air, 
 And columns high in majefty appear. 
 When million dangers overfpread the fea, 
 Each Britifh heart, brave Curtis^ felt for thee. 
 Thou native fon of fair Humanity. 
 But, as that day can never be expreft, 
 <' Silence — expreflive filence" — paints the bcfl : 
 
 To
 
 ( 25 ) 
 
 To " Silence," then — which cheers the bufy thought. 
 As Reafon dictates, and as Nature taught, 
 The reft is left — Come gen'rous ** Silence" then, 
 And think the Glorious Adion o'er again. 
 
 F I N I S.
 
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