The Spanish general being reinforced with a considerable body of infantry, made an attack, on the 11th 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 1000 Spaniards, under Lieutenant-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, three subalterns, and 90 men; but it was customary for the captain to withdraw, with two subalterns and 60 men, at daybreak. The round tower was defended by 180 men, commanded by a lieutenant-colond. The marquis, by deserters from the garrison, had obtained intelligence of the strength of these posts, and concerted his attack accordingly. The detachment for the upper breach mounted the rock at dead of night, and concealed themselves in the clefts till the captain had withdrawn.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 para pet of the King's lines, descended into the covered way, where the English guards were posted. By this time the garrison was 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. Lieutenant-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 The Marquis de Villadarias was superseded by the Marshal Tessé, a French general; and Monsieur Pointis was directed to co-operate with the marshal in blocking up the port with a powerful fleet.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 companies 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 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 at 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 menof-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 10th, was almost abreast of Cabrita Point. Sir John Leake, discovering five sail mak- | ing out of the bay, and a gun fired at them from the garrison, concluded that the town was safe, and immediately gave chace. 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 Tessé 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, &c. The garrison lost about 400. By the Hon. Roger Elliot, Colonel one of her Majesty's regiments of and Governor of the city and gar rison of Gibraltar. tain, &c. hath been graciously pleased, by "Whereas her Majesty of Great Briher warrant to me, dated 19th February last, to confirm her former declarations for the freedom of this port, and to regulate and command me not to permit be laid or received for any ship or any duty or imposition whatsoever to chandise, or provisions, imported or vessel, or for any goods, wares, merexported out of this port; but that the same be free and open for all ships and The Prince of Hesse remained in the vessels, goods, wares, merchandise, and place while the batteries were repaired: and publish her said Majesty's royal provisions: these are to make known he made also some additions to the for-will and pleasure; and all persons contifications, 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 III. Having taken on board the English guards, and three old regiments, 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 take notice thereof, not presuming to cerned are hereby strictly required 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 1714. 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, &c. &c. This armament 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 gar rison, and repair to Gibraltar, under | Prince's lines were also extended to the extremity of the rock; and an inundation with 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 briThis scheme proving abortive, Gib-gadier waived commencing hostilities, raltar remained unmolested till the till the Spaniards, by their proceedings, latter end of the year 1726, when the should oblige him, in defence of his Spaniards, who had kept a watchful command. 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 transporting of provisions, artillery, and ammunition from Algeziras (where they had formed their depôts) 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 undergone 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 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 10th 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 liberties 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 the afternoon opened the old mole and Willis's batteries on their workmen. They persisted, nevertheless, in carrying on the work; and at the Devil's Tower, where they immediately broke ground, and began a communication 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. night a large party marched down to | ziras, whence the enemy were constantly supplied with various articles of ammunition; 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 10th 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 16th, the lieutenant-governor ordered two serjeants, 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, &c. 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. 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 intelligence reconnoitered 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 mean time 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 22 guns on the old mole and town; and on the 8th, another of 15 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 accidents the garrison experienced more casualties than from all the fire of the enemy. The 27th, Col. Middleton's regiment arrived, also six companies and a half of Col. 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 Alge 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 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 16th and 20th their firing abated, but their engineers proceeded in advancing their trenches. On the 31st a vessel arrived with 375 barrels of powder from Lisbon. June the 3rd the Solebay came in, with a further supply of 980 barrels of pow der and 500 thirteen-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; whereupon 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, &c. it was computed they lost near 3000 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 provisions and fascines from Barbary, and had a regular correspondence with England. In 1728 the Parliament of Great Britain addressed his Majesty King George II., to take effectual care, in the treaty then pending, to preserve his undoubted right to Gibraltar and the island of Minorca. Overtures 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 Lieut.-Gen. 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 considerable 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. Lieut.Gen. Columbine succeeded General Sabine, and he was succeeded by Lieut.Gen. 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 severally commandants in the absence of General Bland; and in 1755 Lieut.Gen. 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 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 seventh 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. Lieut.-Gen. Cornwallis was appointed governor. During this general's absence from the garrison, Colonel Irwin was commandant; and on General Cornwallis leaving Gibraltar a second time, Major-Gen. Boyd, |