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 department. 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, 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 departure 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, &c., 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 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 Ame rican 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 11th, 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 eleven 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 afternoon 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 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 garriscu batteries at 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 permission 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 daylight 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 16th the enemy blocked up the port with a squadron of men-of-war, consisting of two seventy-fours, two frigates, five 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 Waterport guard was reinforced with a captain and ten privates. Till the 18th of this month nothing material occurred, when small convoy of settees, &c. arrived at the Orange-grove, laden with military stores, which the enemy began soon afterwards to disembark. a 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 galley, 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. Logie's house in Tangier, in case he himself should be discovered, 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 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, &c. 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 charcoal and fruit from Tangier. Between 200 and 300 men landed the same day at the Orangegrove, with an intention, as we conjectured, of taking charge of 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 detachment of cavalry and infantry soon after took possession. The same day the Illerim, 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 12th 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-Gen. Boyd; Lieutenant Weinzey, of the Hanoverian Brigade, aide de-camp to Major-Gen. de la Motte; | life became every day more scarce. Major Hardy, of the 56th regiment, Early on the 6th came in a Portuguese quartermaster-general; Captain Hors- schooner, from Tangier, with 44 bulburgh, of the 39th regiment, who was locks, 27 sheep, and a few fowls; and town-major, adjutant-general; Captain two days following, another arrived Burke, of the 58th regiment, town- with onions, fruit, and eggs: the latter major; and Lieutenant S. Wood, of the brought letters for the governor, but 56th regiment, assistant town-major. no news from England. From this At the same time all the horses, except day nothing material occurred till the those belonging to field and staff-offi- 10th, when the enemy's cruisers capcers, were ordered to be turned out of tured a boat belonging to the garrison. the garrison, unless the owners, on inspection, had 1000 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. corps 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 in garrison were ordered to give in returns of their best marksmen, and also of those men who had ever been employed in making fascines. Those officers unmarried, 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 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, &c., 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 stock of provisions, they concluded, was small; and their squadron under Admiral Barcelo, who commanded in the bay, could prevent succours being thrown in by neutral vessels; whilst their grand fleet, united with that of France, would 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 18th, 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 fol open boat to Waterport, with onions and fruit, having a pass for Ceuta: he was examined by the quartermastergeneral, 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 eight o'clock. He informed us the camp consisted of between 5000 and 6000 men, which were to be immediately completed to 15,000. The 20th, 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 company of two non-commissioned officers and 64 men; and the command was given to Lieutenant Burleigh, of the 39th regiment. be superior to any which Great Britain could equip, in her then critical situation. This scheme, every circumstance considered, was specious; and, had not the garrison fortunately received a supply of provisions, &c., 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 situation 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 Bar-lowing morning a Spaniard came in an bary: 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 specified, 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, &c., that they might be secure from the annoyance of the enemy, in case the town should be bombarded. Fifteen or sixteen covered carts, on the 15th, arrived at the enemy's camp, and unloaded timber, planks, &c., at their laboratory tents. They continued landing stores on the beach, which employed a great number of carts to convey them to their dépôts; and at night we generally observed a number of lights, and frequently heard a noise like that of men employed on some laborious duty this might proceed from dragging cannon, as we observed, on 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, particularly 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. same day some experiments 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 The |