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 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 they had enjoyed under King Charles II. The loss of the English in this attack was, 2 lieutenants, 1 master, 57 sailors, killed; 1 captain, 7 lieutenants, 1 boatswain, 207 sailors, wounded. The present eight-gun battery. 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 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 18 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 mean time 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 11th 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 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 mean time, 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. a better condition to supply and assist | French troops, and some feints were to the garrison, in a second expedition, for have been made below to engage the which he had very prudently directed attention of the garrison; but the compreparations to be made at Lisbon in manding officers disagreeing, they were his absence. On the 25th he again left to their fortune. put to sea; and on the 29th unexpectedly entering 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, &c. 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 goatherd 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 immediately 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 unfortunate adventurers, were to have been supported by a body of 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 2000 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, 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, endea voured 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 accordingly 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 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-colonel. 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 et 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 regi ments 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 making 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. The Prince of Hesse remained in the place while 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 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 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 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 provisions: these are to make known and publish her said Majesty's royal will and pleasure; and all persons contake 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 |