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 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR 
 
 ITS POLITICAL RLLATION 
 
 EVENTS IN EUROPE 
 
 ORIGINAL LETTERS 
 
 FROM SIR GEORGE ELIOTT, ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD, 
 AND LORD NELSON. 
 
 FREDERIC SAYER, F.R.G.S., 
 
 CIVIL MAGISTRATE AT GIBRALTAR. 
 
 SFXOND EDITION. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY 
 1865.
 
 JOHN CIIILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.
 
 -tn 
 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL THE RT. HON. JOMTHAN PEEL, M.P., 
 
 THIS BOOK IS 
 
 MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
 
 BY 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 383^26
 
 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 TiiK re- publication of tlic " History of Gibraltar," 
 after the ])ook had long been withdrawn from circu- 
 lation, rc(|uires a few words of explanation. 
 
 It was originally brought out more than two years 
 ago, and met with a success (attributable to the interest 
 of the subject) far beyond my expectations. Before, 
 however, it had been in circulation more than a few 
 months the ])ublishing firm to whom the book had 
 been entrusted became involved in ditticulties, and 
 their stock passed into possession of the assignees. 
 
 Those who have had the smallest experience of 
 the mysteries of Basinghall Street will understand the 
 difhculties, delays, annoyances, and expenses which 
 ensue before their property can be recovered. 
 
 At length, however, through the kind assistance of 
 my present publishers, what at first appeared a hope- 
 less task has ended satisfactorily, and I have again 
 ventured to put the book before the public. 
 
 Ahnost sinuiltaneously with the publication of the 
 lirst edition, and perhaps in some degree in con-
 
 VI PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 sequence of opinions which I had myself advanced, 
 the old question was revived — " Sh all we surrend er 
 J3ikaltar ? " ~ 
 
 To the majority the proposition appeared a mis- 
 chievous absurdity, but there were Bdt a few who 
 boldly maintained that the fortress was a useless en- 
 cumbrance, involving a vast outlay of money, and 
 offering no equivalent advantage to the State, upon 
 which it was a burden. 
 
 The principal public exponents of this theory were 
 Mr Goldwin Smith, Mr Bright, and Mr Congreve. 
 
 The former embodied his views upon the subject in 
 a letter originally published in the Dally Neivs, and 
 since reprinted as an essay in the Empire. Mr 
 Bright on more than one occasion expressed his dis- 
 approbation of our policy in retaining possession of 
 the place. 
 
 The grounds upon which their arguments are based 
 are almost identical, and I venture to think they are 
 similarly fallacious. 
 
 IjTsj;, they say, the occupation of Gibraltar is of- 
 fensive to Spain, and that a completely cordial alliance 
 with that country is impossible so long as we retain it. 
 Secondly, that the fortress is no longer the key of 
 the Mediterranean ; and that Malta affords all the 
 protection our fleets and interests require in that sea. 
 And thirdj y, that by retaining it we prevent Spain 
 fi'om granting us commercial concessions which would 
 ])e of greater value to England than the mere posses- 
 sion of CiibraUar. Of these objections the first appears 
 to me to be the weakest.
 
 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. VU 
 
 At the conclusion of successful wars, all the great 
 ])Owers of Europe liave at one time or aiiotker an- 
 nexed or confiscated portions of tlie enemy's posses- 
 sions, either as an indenmity for tlie expenditure 
 incurred by the country, or in order to secure positions 
 Avliich were essential to the naval or military supremacy 
 of the nation. 
 
 The loss_of_territory is, no doubt, a natural cause 
 of humiliation, and consequently of discontent, to the 
 people who have to submit to it. But the code of 
 European political morality has not yet reached such 
 ])erfection, that the feelings, pride, or sympathies 
 of nations are taken into consideration when treaties 
 are dictated by successful powers, and it is sim[)ly 
 absurd to suggest that England should be called 
 upon to surrender one of her most important de- 
 ])endencies, which sh e hold s_by ri ght of conquest and 
 J)y_cession, because the occupation of it is supposed 
 to be a source of offence to the nation from whom 
 it was taken, and against whom it has been held 
 through three memorable sieges. 
 
 Moreover, upon this point, Spain sets ns a poor 
 example. Ceuta and IMelilla form part of the territory 
 of Morocco, just as Gibraltar is ])art of Spain. The 
 Moors are a proud and sensitive peoi)le, abhorring the 
 sight of foreigners who profess a religion hateful to 
 them, in possession of part of their coasts. 
 
 Yet Spain not only occupies three different military 
 ])ositions in ■Morocco, but she makes use of them for 
 the purposes of aggression. No doubt some political 
 economist will tell us that the Moors are a barbarian
 
 Vm PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 race, and that their national feeUngs are unworthy of 
 consideration. Indeed, Mr Goldwin Smith, while 
 deprecating the occupation of Gibraltar, suggests that 
 we might effect an exchange with Spain and take pos- 
 session of Ceuta. Thus, to keep what we won from 
 a nation in fair fight is a crime — to rob a barbarian 
 with whom we are at peace, a merit. 
 
 The second objection, that the fortress is jiolon^er 
 theJcey p_Lthe. Mediterraiiean, and that jNIalta affords 
 all the protection our fleets require in that sea, is open 
 to argument, and therefore becomes a subject of itself, 
 far beyond the hmits of a preface ; not that it is diffi- 
 cult to prove that, since the introduction of steam, 
 Gibraltar is of far greater importance to us than ever. 
 It commands (not in the limited sense of a line of 
 fire) the navigation of the narrow passage into the in- 
 land sea, and, with the exception of Algeciras, it is the 
 only safe harbour from the Atlantic to Europa Point. 
 As a coaling station alone, therefore, it is invaluable, 
 and were every gun devoted to the defence of the 
 place as a coaling harbour in time of war, our expend- 
 iture w^ould be justified. 
 
 In these days of steam fleets, a squadron sailing 
 from Plymouth to the ]\lediterranean at full speed 
 could not pass tlie Straits without a fresh supply of 
 coal. In the event, therefore, of necessity, where 
 could we su])ply the fleet with the means of entering 
 the Mediterranean and engaging an enemy ? 
 
 During the Cliniean war, the value of the place to 
 a maritiuH; power was forcibly proved. Without 
 Gibraltar the vast transport service of England must
 
 IMIKFACF- TO THK SKCONl) KDITION. 1\ 
 
 li;iv(! I)r()k('n down, for it was hero tliat lu;r luiiulrcds 
 of stoaiiicrs, passing and rc-passiiip; without intcnnis- 
 sioii, were supplied with fuel with tlio utmost expe- 
 dition, were rej)aired if (hmuigcd, and victualled if in 
 want of ])rovisions. 
 
 \\'hun we surreuder GihralLai', depend upon it we 
 shall rcsigu our supremacy iu the Alctliterranean. It is 
 the lock of the cutrance into a vast harbour ; cede it, 
 and we become subservient to the nation which holds 
 the key. 
 
 I\Ialta is a formidable fortress, but isolated in time 
 of war its position would be precarious. 
 
 Gibraltar, on the contrary, is of independent value, 
 and were Malta taken from us to-morrow, the import- 
 ance of the Rock as a naval and military post would 
 not be aflected. 
 
 The supposition that if we gave back Gibraltar, 
 Spain would grant us conuuercial concessions of vast 
 importance, must be regarded simply as an idea sug- 
 gested by the advocates of surrender. When the 
 (piestion was agitated in the press of Madrid two 
 years ago, very little was said of concession of any 
 kind, and the fiscal dogmas of Spain are not so 
 easily disturbed. 
 
 Nor indeed does it appear clear that the most liberal 
 commercial treaties with Spain would l)e equivalent 
 even to the partial surrender of our influence and 
 l)restige in the South, or for the loss of a })osition so 
 admirably adapted to the })rotection of our trade with 
 the many, countries beyond or on the borders of the 
 Mediterranean.
 
 X PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 Agreeing as I do with the Westminster Reviewer,* 
 I cannot do better than conclude in his words : — 
 
 " We hokl Gibraltar by right of conquest, the right 
 which secures to our country a vast majority of our 
 possessions, scattered as they are all over the world ; 
 and, moreover, a right which, in the present condi- 
 tion of mankind, it would be neither wise nor safe to 
 abandon. The possessor of Gibraltar must be the 
 guardian of the Mediterranean ; and Great Britain 
 would indeed be unmindful of her duty to herself and 
 to Europe were she to give up so important a station 
 to a weak State." 
 
 Frederic Sayer. 
 Marchy 1865. 
 
 * Westmimtcr Review, Article " Gibraltar." July, 1862.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 cuAr. rA«E 
 
 I. — EARLY HISTORY OF (1I15KALTAR. — M00KI8H COX- 
 QUEST OF SPAIN.^ — FIRST SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR, 
 BY FERDINAND IV. — SECOND SIEGE, BY ISMAIL 
 
 BEN FERAG 1 
 
 II. THIRD SIEGE, BY MOHAMMED IV. — KOUHTIl SIEGE, 
 
 BY ALFONSO 19 
 
 111, — SIEGE OF ALGECIRAS. — FIFTU SIEGE OF QIBBAL- 
 
 TAU, BY ALFONSO. — SIXTH SIEGE, BY YU8SEF III. 30 
 IV. — SEVENTH SIEGE, BY DON HENRY DE GUZMAN 55 
 
 V. — EIGHTH SIEGE, BY DON RODRIQO, PONCE DE LEON G2 
 VI. — NINTH SIEGE, BY THE DUKE OF MEDINA SIDONIA. 
 — THE STATE OF CASTILE AND GRANADA. — 
 TENTH SIEGE, BY MEDITERRANEAN PIRATES. 
 — THE GRAND ALLIANCE. — ELEVENTH SIEGE, 
 BY ENGLAND, GERMANY, AND THE DUTCH . . 71 
 VII. — BATTLE OF MALAGA . . . . . . 120 
 
 VIII. — TWELFTH SIEGE, BY SPAIN 128 
 
 IX. — POLITICAL EVENTS FROM A.D. 1715 TO 17*27 . . 154 
 X. — THIRTEENTH SIEGE, BY THE KINO OF SPAIN. — 
 
 ARTICLES OF PEACE . . . . • • • • 182 
 
 XI. — IRRITATING POLICY OF SPAIN. — APPREHENSIONS 
 OF THE RENEWAL OF WAR. — NEGOTIATIONS 
 AND DIPLOMATIC INTERCOURSE FROM 1727 TO 
 
 1720 215
 
 VIU 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. 
 XII.- 
 
 ^ XIII.- 
 XIY.- 
 
 XV.- 
 
 XVI. — 
 
 XVII, — 
 
 XVIII.- 
 
 XIX. 
 
 XXI.- 
 XXII.- 
 XXIII.- 
 
 -PITT S OFFER TO EESTOEE GIBEALTAB TO SPAIN, 
 
 1757. LOSS OF MINORCA. NEUTRAL POLICY 
 
 OF SPAIN 240 
 
 -PROGRESS OF EVENTS FROM 1763 TO 1779 . . 262 
 
 FOURTEENTH SIEGE. THE GARRISON RELIEVED 
 
 BY ADMIRAL RODNEY . . . . . . . . 267 
 
 NEGOTIATIONS FOR CEDING GIBRALTAR TO SPAIN. 
 
 THE "armed NEUTRALITY " . . . . 315 
 
 THE BLOCKADE CONTINUED. — RENEWAL OF THE 
 
 SIEGE, 1780 332 
 
 RELIEF OF THE GARRISON BY ADMIRAL DARBY. 
 — TREMENDOUS BOMBARDMENT, AND ITS FAIL- 
 URE. — DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMY's WORKS. 
 — ATTEMPT TO DESTROY THE BRITISH SQUAD- 
 RON BY FIRE-SHIPS. — BOMBARDMENT OF THE 
 
 ROCK. — GENERAL PEACE 346 
 
 ENDEAVOURS OF SPAIN TO OBTAIN THE RESTORA- 
 TION OF GIBRALTAR IN THE NEGOTIATIONS 
 
 FOR PEACE 40£|^ 
 
 -WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE. — ALLI- 
 ANCE BETWEEN FRANCE AND SPAIN . . . . 421 
 CONCLUDING DESCRIPTION OF GIBRALTAR — BAT- 
 TLE OF TRAFALGAR. — ENGLAND'S CLAIM TO 
 
 THE ROCK 444 
 
 MORTALITY, CLIMATE, &C. 474 
 
 •FORTIFICATIONS 489 
 
 -COMMERCE 495 
 
 APPENDIX 502
 
 Tin: iiisTonv 
 
 GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 (iiiiiiALTAR was known to tlic ancients as jMons 
 Calpo, one of the Pillars of Hercules. Ptolemy first 
 (Ictrnnincd its latitude, and the correctness of his 
 calculation is corroborated by the observations of the 
 ])resent day. The conspicuous form and isolated posi- 
 tion of this rocky promontory, "vvhich stands like 
 Nature's monument with all its rugged steeps at the 
 entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, made its name 
 familiar to ancient navigators, and we Ihid tlii' Rock 
 referred to and described by both Greek and Roman 
 writers. Pomponius Mela, who, having been born at 
 Tangier, had opportunities of becoming acquainted 
 with remarkable ])laces in the vicinity, gives a more 
 than superficial account of the wonders of the 
 mountain, its caves and precipices. Stral)0, too, has
 
 2 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 sketclied its curious form and structure. Ptolemy 
 refers to it as the " column of the inner sea." None 
 of these writers mention that Calpe was occupied by 
 any town or settlement during their times, and little 
 doubt exists that the Rock was not inhabited until 
 the Mohammedan invasion. It was not until then 
 that Gibraltar first occupied a place in the history of 
 the world. 
 
 On this Rock the first footsteps of the great 
 Moslem host were planted ; it was from here that 
 streamed the mighty armies which crushed a power- 
 ful monarchy, and establislied an infidel dynasty in 
 Spain for upwards of 800 years ; and it was from 
 here, when the might of Christian arms had again 
 revived, that the last remnant of a once glorious 
 empire took flight for the shores of Barbary. 
 
 At the beginning of the Sth century, the western 
 provinces of Africa, which had succumbed to the 
 successful arms of the Saracens, were ruled over by 
 a celebrated chief, the Wali Ibn Nosseyr. 
 
 With the exception of Ccuta, which still remained 
 attached to Spain, under the government of Count 
 Ilyan, a Christian knight, all the ports along the 
 northern coast were in the hands of the Wali ; and a 
 garrison of 10,000 men, Arabs and Egyptians, com- 
 manded by Taric Ibn Zcyad cl Nefici, was maintained 
 at Tangier. 
 
 Spain, tlien under tlic sway of the Visigoths, was 
 ruled over by Rodcric, who on the deposition of
 
 INVASION OF SPAIN BY THE SARACENS. 3 
 
 AVittiza had usurped the crown. The history of the 
 invasion of S})ain by tlie Saracens and tlie subsequent 
 catastrophes to tlie Cliristians, rcsuUing in the over- 
 throw of the Gothic dynasty and the establishment of 
 the Moorish dominion, is wrapt in the mist of fable. 
 To accept [is true the romantic narratives of the 
 Arabians or to trust to the traditions of the Christians, 
 would be equally fallacious. 
 
 llepudiating as fabulous the tale of the violation of 
 Count llyan's daughter,* we may conclude that the 
 cupidity and restless ambition of the chieftain Musa 
 Ii)n Nosseyr, encouraged by discontented traitors 
 who desired the fall of Roderic, were the causes which 
 led to the expedition that overran Spain, and eventu- 
 ally crushed one of the most powerful monarchies of 
 the world. That Ilyanf was a traitor to liis country, 
 aiul aided ]\Iusa in the accomplishment of his scheme, 
 admits of little doubt; the Count, who is referred to in 
 every narrative of the Mohammedan conquest, whether 
 of Arabian or European origin, is said to have been a 
 descendant of the Roman people, who at one time 
 
 * Called Jujian in the Spanish Histories. Sec GayangoSjVol.i. 
 
 A traditional tale is told that Eoderic havin<j; gained 
 possession of Count llyau'.s daughter by yiolence, the father, 
 goaded by revenge, planned the invasion of Spain and tlie 
 destruction of the Visigothic throne. 
 
 t llyan was a deputy from the Court of Toledo, and was 
 intrusted with tlie governuient of Ceuta, from wlienee he had 
 every opportunity of conspiring wilh tlie ]Moors. — Gayangos, 
 vol. i. p. 589. Some historians make liim a Goth and relative 
 of Ivodcric, otlicrs a Grei-k, and sonu" an iu(li'|M"iulrut prince. 
 
 1 •
 
 4 HISTORY OF GIBRALTxVR. 
 
 possessed most of the fortified towns and ports on the 
 northern coasts of Africa. 
 
 Aware of the incUnations of Musa and his ambition 
 to conquer the fertile coasts that lay beyond the 
 narrow sea, Ilyan sought an interview with the Wali, 
 and represented in rapturous strains the glories and 
 tlie riches of the fruitful land, the few miles that 
 spanned the intervening water, and the facility for a 
 successful invasion. To use the words of the Arabian 
 historian,* — " He described Andalus (Spain) as an 
 extensive kingdom, filled with treasures of all kinds, 
 whose inhabitants would make handsome slaves, a 
 country abounding in springs, gardens, rivers, and a 
 land yielding every description of fruits and plants." 
 
 ]\Iusa, secretly captivated by these allurements, 
 Avas too prudent to acquiesce until he had more cer- 
 tain proofs of the sincerity of Ilyan's intentions and the 
 reality of his descriptions. With the object, therefore, 
 of testing his honesty, he proposed that the Count 
 should first make an incursion into the opposite 
 country, at the head of his own troops. To this 
 Ilyan wilHngly assented, and collecting a few men he 
 crossed the straits in two vessels, and landed at 
 Jezirah-al-Khadra, Algcciras, from whence, after ra- 
 vaging the coasts, he returned laden with spoil on the 
 following day. Inimediately the success of this expe- 
 dition was made known, Musa wrote to the Khalif 
 entreating his permission to undertake the hivasion 
 
 * Al-M.lkkiiri. (iiiviiiigoH.
 
 I'UI'.IVVIIATIONS I'OH Tin: INVASION. !) 
 
 of Aiulaliis. Tlio Kluilif, however, was not yet con- 
 vinced of the priulcnce of tlie undcrtakinpr, imtl 
 replied to Miisa in the following words : " Let the 
 country be first explored by lii^ht troops, to ovcrrnn 
 it, aiul briiii; the; news of what it contains. He pru- 
 dent, and do not allow the Moslems to be Icjst in an 
 ocean of dangers and horrors." 
 
 To which Musa answered : " It is not an ocean, 
 l)ut only a narrow channel, whose shores are every- 
 where distinct to tlie eye." 
 
 " Never mind," rephed the Khalif, " even if it be 
 so, h;t tlu! country be first explored." 
 
 In order to carry out the instructions of the 
 Khalif, Al-\Valid, iMusa prepared an cxi)edition of 400 
 foot and 100 horse nnder command of Tarif-alu'i- 
 Zarah, a freed man and a lierber.'^' 
 
 The nund)er of men composing this expedition is 
 ditl'erently stated by the various clironiclers, some 
 writing oOO, as above; and others 1000, and even 
 more. In Sejjtendx'r, a. d. 710, Tarif set sail with 
 his followers, and landed on the opposite coast at a 
 spot which has ever since borne his name, — Tarifa. 
 
 JM-om thence he ravaged the country, j)illaging 
 a!ul murdering the inhabitants. Having collected a 
 
 * Crayangos Hays, vol. i. ])af;o 517, noto 7 : " Tarif-a])u-Zar:ili 
 has ofttMi boon i-oiit'omukHl with Tarik-lbn-Zeyail by Christian 
 lii-ttorians, notwithatandiiii; thoir beinsjjtwo distiiK-t iudividuals, 
 ami tlioir havin;]j invaded Spain at dilVercnt times. The siini- 
 lai'itv of their names led, no doubt, to the mistake."
 
 6 HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 mass of spoil, including numerous women, he returned 
 to Africa and reported his success to Musa. 
 
 The Emir, no longer doubtful of the riches to be 
 obtained from Andalus, and perceiving that success 
 had attended both the expeditions, again wrote to the 
 Khalif for permission to attempt the conquest of the 
 territory. This time the Khalif did not withhold his 
 consent, and preparations were immediately com- 
 menced for the invasion. 
 
 A fleet was collected at Ceuta* for the transport of 
 the army ; Count Ilyan providing many of the vessels. 
 
 The command of the expedition was intrusted to 
 Tarik-Ibn-Zeyad,f a native of Persia, and a freed- 
 man of Musa-Ibn-Nosseyr. The army consisted of 
 7000 men, principally Berbers and slaves, very few 
 being genuine Arabs. 
 
 Everything being prepared, the expedition crossed 
 the straits from Ceuta and landed, April 30th, 711, 
 at the foot of a mountain opposite to Ceuta, which 
 thenceforward received the name of Gcbal-Tarik, or 
 the Mountain of Tarik.j It is certain that the first 
 
 * Some say Tangier, but this is obviously an error. 
 
 t The origin of" tin's man is obscure. 
 
 X In Gayangos' translation of the narrative of Al-Makkari 
 there is the following description of Gibraltar. " Another of 
 the districts which acknowledges the jurisdiction of Seville is 
 that of Gcbal-Tarik, which stands as a lasting testimonial of 
 the conquest of Andalus (Spain) by the Moslems. This moun- 
 tain was called after Tarik, freodman of Musa-lbn-Nosseyr, 
 who was the first Moslem who landed upon it ; it is also called
 
 CAVANCiOS ACCOINT OF TIIK INVASION. 7 
 
 incursion into Spain was nuulc by Ilyan, who land- 
 ed at Algccira.s for a tow liours. Tlic second ])y 
 Tarif, who landed at the present Tarifa. The third 
 and final one by the cx[)cdition under Tarik, who 
 disembarked at Gibraltar. 
 
 Some authors assert that Tarik did not land at 
 Gibraltar, but at Algeciras ; quotinpc, in support of 
 their argument, passages from Arabian writers, in 
 which an expedition is described as disembarking on 
 Al-Jezirah. 
 
 Gebalu-ab-Fatali (the mountain of the entrance or victory). 
 Tlio aea surrounds the mountain of Gibraltar on almost every 
 side, so as to make it look like a watch-tower erected in the 
 midst of the sea, and lacing Algcciras." A certain Granadian 
 poet alludes to Gibraltar in the following distich : 
 
 " The mountain of Tarik \s like a beacon spreading its rays 
 over the seas, and rising far above the neighbouring moun- 
 tains. One would say that its face almost reaches the sky, and 
 tluit its eyes arc watching the stars in the celestial tracts." 
 
 And this is by no means exaggerated, for when travellers 
 approach it coming from Ceuta, they see it at a distance shining 
 as bright as a lamp. "I sailed once," says Abu-1-Hasan Ibu 
 ]\Iusa Ibn Said, " with my father from Ceuta to Gibraltar, 
 aiul had an opportunity of verifying the truth of this assertion. 
 When we came near the coast my father told me to look in 
 the direction of Gibraltar ; I did so, and saw the whole moun- 
 tain shining as if it were on lire." 
 
 In an Arabic MS. entitled the " Book of suiriciency on the 
 History of the Khalifs," translated by GajTingos, there occuis 
 tlic following allusion to the landing of Tarik : 
 
 " Before Tarik left Africa a largo nund)er of Vfilunteers 
 flocked under his banners. He first went to Ceuta, and having 
 embarked in vessels he cast anchor close to a mountain, which 
 received his name, and was ever since callcil (K'bal-Turik."
 
 b HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 These writers could not have been aware that Al- 
 Jezirah translated signifies " an island/' or piece of 
 land surrounded on three sides by water ; and that 
 the term is constantly applied to the whole of Spain, 
 and is even used when describing Tarifa. The mo- 
 dern Algeciras is always referred to by the Arabian 
 chroniclers as Jezirah-al-Khadra — the Green Island.* 
 
 The detailed accounts of the invasion in the Arabian 
 chronicles are very various and contradictory, though 
 there is a similarity in the description of the main 
 and most important features. 
 
 The following is an account selected from Gazan- 
 gos' translation of an Arabic Chronicle : 
 
 " Musa sent for his freedman Tarik-Ibn-Zeyad, 
 and gave him the command of 12,000 men, Arabs 
 and Berbers. He then commanded him to cross the 
 straits and invade Andalus, bidding Ilyan also ac- 
 company the expedition with his own troops. Before 
 Tarik left Africa a great number of volunteers flocked 
 under his banners; he first went to Ceuta, and having 
 embarked in vessels he cast anchor close to a moun- 
 tain, which received his name, and was ever since called 
 Gebal-Tarik, the mountain of Tarik. This event took 
 place in the year 93 of the Ilegira. 
 
 * No doubt cxiHls tli.'it Gibrallar derives its name from a 
 corriiptiou of Gcbal-Taric ; iievcrtlicloss some aiitlior.s hold a 
 dilfereiit o|)inioii. ThuH, Montero, Hint, do Gibraltar, paj];e 87, 
 trac(^H the ()ri;^in of the naiiK^ to the two Arabic words Gchal-al 
 or all, wliich ai^^nilica a k)fty mountain.
 
 t.\i;ik's addukss to his akmv. 
 
 " When Tarik was al)out to land lie found sonic of 
 \\\c Rum* jjostud on a connnodious ])art of the coast 
 where he had intended to disend)ark, who made soniu 
 show of resistance. Jkit Tarik, giving up that spot, 
 sailed otf from it at night and went towards another })art 
 of the coast, wliicli he contrived to render flat by means 
 of tlie oars and by throwing over them the saddles of 
 the horses; and in this way lie managed to effect a 
 landing unobserved by the enemy, and before they 
 were aware of it."t 
 
 Tarik had no sooner landed his army in safety 
 than lie advanced towards the interior, pillaging and 
 ravaging as he went along. Thcodomir, a chief of 
 the Goths, was at this time in the neighbourhood of 
 (iebal-Tarik with a tolerable force, and he sjieedily 
 became engaged in a series of encounters with the 
 Moors, but with no success, 
 
 Tarik contiiuicd to advance, having, it is related, 
 l)urnt his sliips in order to invest his men with the 
 courage of desperation. " lie thus," says the Arabian 
 chronicler, " addressed his army, as he led them 
 against the Christian host : ' Whither can you fly ? the 
 enemy is in your front, the sea at your back. By 
 Allah ! there is no salvation for you but in your 
 courage and perseverance. Consider your situation, — 
 
 * The original si^iiifit-ation of this word is " Eoinans," but 
 il wan used gcufrally by the Arabs when speaking of the 
 inhabitants of Spain. 
 
 t Gayangos, vol. ii. p. 17.
 
 10 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 here you are on this island like so many orphans cast 
 npon the world. You will soon be met by a powerful 
 enemy surrounding you on all sides like the infiu-iated 
 billows of a tempestuous sea, and sending against you 
 his powerful warriors drowned in steel. What can 
 you oppose to them? You have no other weapons 
 but your swords, no provisions but those that you 
 may snatch from the hands of our enemies ; . . . . do 
 not think that I impose upon you a task from which 
 I shrink myself, or that I try to conceal from you 
 the dangers attending this our expedition ; but know 
 that if you only suffer for awhile you will reap in the 
 end an abundant harvest of pleasures and enjoyments.' '* 
 
 Theodomir, defeated and disheartened, retreated 
 towards Seville, intending to form a junction with the 
 main army. At the time of Tarik's landing, Roderic, 
 king of the Goths, was in the north of Spain, quelling 
 an insurrection in the Basque provinces. Immediately 
 the news of the invasion reached him, he hastened 
 southward with a powerful army of 60,000 men. 
 Halting for a short time at Cordova to complete his 
 preparations, he advanced to meet the Moorish force, 
 wliicli had already reached the neighbourhood of Xeres. 
 
 On the lOtli July, a. d. 711, the two armies came 
 in sight of each otlier on the banks of the Guadalete 
 near Medina Sidonia.* 
 
 * Oayanpjos gives aiTi])lc reasons for his assertion that this 
 hattlo was fought near the sea, not fur from Medina Sidonia, 
 and not, as generally sii])])osc(l, in the plain of Xeres.
 
 TER1U1U,H DKVICF, OF TAIIIK. 1 1 
 
 At (lawn of day hotli cliicls ])ioparcd for ])attlc. 
 King lloduric came in tlic midst of his troops borne 
 on a litter, covered with a canopy to protect him 
 from tlic rays of tiie sun, and surrounded hy wai-riors 
 cased in steel with llutterhig pennons.* 
 
 The Moorish soldiers were differently aiTayed ; 
 tlieir breasts were covered with armour of mail, they 
 wore wliite turbans on their heads, the Arabian 
 long-bow slung across their shoulders, their swords 
 suspended to their girdles, and their long spears 
 gras[)ed in their hands. 
 
 It is related that previous to the fight commencing, 
 Roderic, anxious to obtain information of the strength 
 and character of the invaders, sent one of his men as 
 a spy on some pretence to the Moorish camp. The 
 man did as he was connnanded, reached the enemy's 
 lines in safety, and was taken before Tarik. That 
 artful chief, comprehending the object of the Christian's 
 visit, resolved upon a device to strike terror into 
 the man's heart, and to spread fear through Roderic's 
 army. He ordered the flesh of the slain to be cut up 
 piece-meal in the man's presence, and to be cooked as 
 if for food. The dead bodies were dissected, and the 
 ilesh cooked in large cauldrons, the whole operation 
 being witnessed by the territied Christian. In the mean 
 
 * All the Arabian chronicloa !ic;roe tli:it Koileric waa carrietl 
 on a throne or litter. Some add that it \Yas drawn by mnles ; 
 and others minutely describe the magnificcueo of the king's 
 dress and the JowoIh that he wore.
 
 12 . HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 time the wholesome meat of sheep and oxeli had l)een 
 secretly prepared in another part of the camp, which was 
 privily substituted for the human stew. The unfortun- 
 ate messenger was compelled to partake of the meal, 
 and doubted not that he had fed upon human flesh. 
 On the first opportunity he returned to his master, and 
 told his tale of horror, to the consternation of Roderic 
 and his army.* 
 
 The engagement commenced soon after daybreak, 
 and was continued without any decided advantage on 
 either side till nightfall. Next morning the action 
 was renewed, and lasted with unabated fury till the 
 seventh day, when the Christians gave way, fled 
 in disorder, and were pursued without mercy by the 
 relentless Moors. 
 
 Roderic disappeared in the midst of the battle, and 
 nothing was afterwards heard of him. It is said that 
 his horse, a milk-white steed, bearing a saddle of 
 gold si)arkling with rubies, was found plunged in the 
 mud of the river, leaving it to be inferred that the 
 rider had perished in the stream. The spoil when 
 collected was immense, and was divided hy Tank's 
 orders into five portions, one of which he retained, 
 and distributed the rest among his followers. 
 
 With this protracted and bloody struggle ended 
 llu; dynasty of tlie (Joths, ami for SOU years Chris- 
 tian [)()\v(;i' ill Spain. Taiik, llnslicd wtih victory and 
 
 * OayangoH, vol. i. p. 40.
 
 POSSESSED \\\ TIM, A I.MOKA VI DKS. 1.'? 
 
 success, rapidly overran the coiiiitiv, and ixnictrated 
 to Toledo the capital, wliicli he captured and sacked. 
 
 City after city surrendered to liini, and ere the year 
 had closed tlie Moorish dynasty was estal)lished.* 
 
 Passing over a hmg period of years, during \vhieli 
 we liave no autlientic history of the events tliat occur- 
 red at (Jel)al-Tarik, or in ils lu^iuhbourliood, tliougli \vc 
 know that the adjacent provinces were the scenes of 
 constant strife and connnotion, we find Gibraltar in 
 JOSC) in ])osscssion of Yuscf hen Taxfui, a Cali})h of 
 the Alnioravides.f 
 
 Unable to cope Avith the overwhelming forces 
 brought against them by Alfonso of Castile, the Spanish 
 Moors in an evil hour had implored aid from Africa. 
 Vusef, who at that time commanded the Moslem 
 troojjs in Africa, was then occupied with the siege of 
 ("euta. This chief no sooner received the invita- 
 tion than, perceiving the advantage to be gained, he 
 j)ushed across the straits with a powerful army, and 
 advanced to the assistance of his brethren.! 
 
 * The account of the Moorish expeditions into Spain is vari- 
 ously f^ivon by diflbrent aulliors. Ayala, Hist, of (Gibraltar, pa^e 
 3, confouud.s Tarik with Tarif, and transfers to the hitter the 
 glory of the conquests. Conde makes Tarik command botli 
 e.\])editions. Lafuente is more correct. t Condc. 
 
 :f CTayan«:jos, p. 27;^ v. ii. The Arabian chroniclers relate 
 that Al-mu-Tamed, the cliii'f of the Spanish IMoors, was re- 
 peatedly warned of his error in askini; aid from Africa. Said 
 one prophet, "A kinij;d()m without heirs, and one Ioul; sword, 
 (\o not tliul roiuu in the sanu' scahliard." To this Al-inu-Tained 
 replied, " i)elter be a ea;nel-dri\ei' than a driver of pi^s."
 
 14 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Alfonso, who was then in the territory of Badajoz, 
 had taken up a position with an immense army, of 
 which more than 80,000 were cavahy, at Zalacca, 
 about four leagues from the city of Badajoz. Here 
 he was met by the Moorish host under Yusef and 
 the King of Seville. A bloody encounter ensued 
 between the two foes, which ended in the rout of the 
 Christians and the destruction of their army. The 
 slaughter was enormous. 35,000 men of Alfonso's 
 force were killed, and their heads having been col- 
 lected, piles were heaped up with them, over-topping 
 the longest lances, and resembling lofty towers.* 
 
 This battle utterly destroyed the little remaining 
 power of the Christians. 
 
 It was after this event that Yusef's real intentions 
 l)ccame developed. He was not slow to perceive the 
 weakness and imbecility of the Spanish ]\Ioors, and 
 he resolved to wrest from them the glorious country 
 they possessed. 
 
 For a time his deeply-laid designs were not fully 
 matured. He returned to Africa, and being for a 
 third time called into Spain to assist in the Sacred 
 War, he landed at Algcciras, and, throwing off the 
 mask, avowed his intention to conquer the country. 
 
 He advanced with a powerful army. Tarifa, Gib- 
 r.iltar, Algcciras, surrendered themselves to his victo- 
 
 moiiiiin;^ tliat Im vvoulil r.itlicr l)o Yiisof's prisoner niid p;uard 
 hia camels ill tlic dcscrl, llian becoiiic tlic captive of Alfonso 
 iuu\ feci! ljin Hwiuo ill CaHlilu. * Condi'.
 
 FIRST SIECK BY FKRDINAND IV. 15 
 
 rious troops. Granada and Seville were taken after 
 a severe struggle, and liadajoz and Zaragoza shortly 
 after suhniitted. 
 
 Hut the Spanish Mohanunedans did not rest tamely 
 under the oppression of the usurper. Assembling all 
 the forces they could muster, they marched against 
 Algeciras and re-took it, and afterwards laid siege to 
 Cjibraltar with success. 
 
 For many subsequent years no events of import- 
 ance took place at Gibraltar, but in 1309 the Hock 
 was for the first time exposed to a regular siege. 
 During the reign of ^lohammcd III. Algeciras was 
 attacked by Ferdinand IV. King of Castile ; but 
 every effort to reduce this place proved abortive in 
 consequence of the facilities afforded by Gibraltar 
 for succouring and reheving the garrison. Unable 
 to interrupt the communication with the Rock by 
 sea, Ferdinand became aware that success before 
 Algeciras was impossible as long as the Moors held 
 possession of (iibraltar. He resolved, thiM'i'fore, to 
 dislodge them ; and abandoning for a time active 
 operations against the stubborn walls of Algeciras, he 
 directed a large ])ortion of his army under command 
 of Alonzo Perez de Guzman (el Bueno) against the 
 defences of the Rock. 
 
 The carrison at the time did not exceed 1200 men, 
 who, although unable to stand against the ovenvhelm- 
 ing forces sent against them, fought with the greatest 
 gallantry and determination. The attack was directed
 
 16 HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 principally upon two points, the north front and the 
 heights above the castle, — the Archbishop of Seville 
 and Don Juan de Nunez commanding the assaulting 
 divisions. 
 
 The courage of the besieged protracted the oper- 
 ations for a considerable time, but at length, after 
 many sanguinary engagements, the garrison surren- 
 dered. Impressed with the value of the prize, and 
 believing that, in a strategical point of view at 
 least, Gibraltar was of infinitely greater consequence 
 than Algeciras, Ferdinand consented to abandon the 
 siege of the latter city on consideration of the 
 restoration to his dominions of Quesada, Quadros, 
 and Belmar, together with an indemnity of 5000 
 gold pistoles. 
 
 Turning his attention to Gibraltar, he commenced 
 to repair the damaged fortifications, to construct new 
 defences, and to arrange the government. One of 
 his most trusted officers, Alonzo de Mendoza, was 
 appointed governor ; and with the object of 
 securing a numerous Christian population, and as 
 rapidly as possible, the King issued proclamations 
 granting special and valuable privileges to all who 
 would become inhabitants of the city. Amongst other 
 provisions, all " swindlers, thieves, murderers, or wo- 
 man escaped from her husband," who fled to Gibraltar, 
 were to be free from the punishment of death. All 
 malefactors, not traitors, residing for a year and a day 
 were to receive a free j)ardon, and no duty could be
 
 CONSPIRACY A(;A1NST MOIIAMMKl). 17 
 
 levied upon aiiv t!;()()(ls ])assiiig in or out, Tliiis 
 (iil)ialtar hccaiiii' the refuge ot" every villain from 
 llie surromulin'; neiixiiboiirhood. 
 
 The population, however, did not increase so 
 rapidly as IV'rdinand had expected. Though the 
 (li'ead of attack from the Moors no doubt deterred 
 many from isolating themselves ii])on the Rock, yet 
 the natural I'cluctance of peaceable persons to asso- 
 ciate themselves with a society of murderers, thieves, 
 and disreputable people, materially checked the pro- 
 gress of the immigration. 
 
 Mohannned had no sooner purchased peace from 
 I'erdinand IV. by the terms before alluded to, than a 
 conspiracy against his life was discovered in Granada. 
 1 lastening back to his dominions in the hope of crush- 
 ing the rebellion, he fomid the majority of the populace 
 already in arms against him, and his brother Nassir 
 Abul Cieoix proclaimed king. 
 
 Though he lost no time in reaching Granada, 
 the tide of rebellion was already turned impetuously 
 ajiainst him, and the mob infuriated at the losses he 
 had sustained in the south, and the concessions lie 
 had made to the Christians, llis minister was slain 
 before his eyes, his palace plundered, and himself 
 compelled to renounce his throne. 
 
 The effect of this revolution was to dissolve all 
 former treaties with the Christians. In l.'U2 Ferdi- 
 nand died, and was succeeded by Alonzo XL, and in 
 the same year Nassir Abul-Cieoix, who like his brother
 
 18 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 had fallen a victim to conspiracy and revolt, was re- 
 placed u|X)n the throne of Granada by Ismail ben I*^erag, 
 a religious chief, who prosecuted the war against the 
 Christians with the courage of fanaticism. In 1315 
 he laid siege to Gibraltar, but after an attack of short 
 duration he reluctantly abandoned his efforts to regain 
 the position which was already recognized as the key 
 of Spain.
 
 TllIlM) SIKCl", OF (iJIJllAI/rAK. I'.) 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 TIUllD «lE(iE OF (JlBRAl/FAH, iJV JIOJIA.M.AIF.D IV. 
 
 In the year 132t, Ismail ben Ferag was assassin- 
 ated at the ciitraiH'c to the Alliambra by Mohammed 
 of Granada, son of the Wali of Algeciras ; the cause of 
 liis death is said to have been a dispute concerning a 
 Christian maiden of great beauty, who was captured 
 at the taking of Martos. Perceiving her in the liands 
 of jNIussuhiien sokliers who were quarrelHng for her 
 possession, Ismail ordered her to be taken to his 
 harem, in spite of the efforts of Mohammed to effect 
 her rescue. The latter prince, enraged at the interfer- 
 ence of Ismail, ])lamicd his death, and stabbed him 
 mortally the following day.* 
 
 * The death of tliis prinec is described diUerently by tlie 
 Arabian clironielers, wlio narrate it tlnis : On tlie 22nd June, 
 1M2.J, Ismail marched to Martos, which he invested and took 
 after a short siege. Shortly after liis return from that expedi- 
 tion, Ismail was assassinated by a cousin named Mohammed, 
 who was the son of Ismail, better known as lSahibu-1-Jezirah 
 (the Governor of Algeciras). Mohammed had been pre.><ent at 
 the siego of Martos ; having whilst there been guilty of some 
 iiuadeiueanour, he was t^uiunumed before liis .sovereign, .who, in
 
 20 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Ismail was succeeded by his son Mohammed IV. 
 During the early part of his reign, the Christians who 
 invaded Andalusia met with unvaried success. 
 They captured Vera, Pruna, Ayamonte in succession, 
 and, with the assistance of an army from Africa, they 
 signally defeated Mohammed, taking Algeciras, Honda, 
 and Marbella. 
 
 These misfortunes, which would have been suf- 
 ficient to break the spirit of a less chivalrous prince, 
 only served to stimulate ]\Iohammed to greater efforts. 
 He besieged the fortress of Baena with success, and 
 marched his army against Gibraltar. At this time a 
 GaUician knight, Vasco Perez de Meira, was governor 
 of the fortress. He enjoyed some military reputation, 
 but he was a victim to insatiable avarice and a 
 dominant desire to amass sufficient wealth to enable 
 him to become the possessor of extensive proper- 
 ties and estates, through which he might hand his 
 name down to posterity. During his term of office as 
 governor he had embezzled the greater portion of the 
 money devoted by the king, his master, for the 
 defences of the fortress and the supply of arms, 
 ammunition, and provisions ; so that, when Moham- 
 
 \he presence of tlic nssenihled courliors, severely reproved liim 
 for liis conduct. IMoliainiiied resented llie insult, and swore 
 to revenge it. On his rctuiMi to (iranada, he walclied his 
 opportunity, and, with Ihe aid of his relatives and servants, 
 attacked and niunlered Ismail, as he was goint^ from his ])alace 
 to a temporary throne which had been crecteil lor the iniipose 
 of his admiin'sterinf^ justice 1o his suhjccts.
 
 DisTRKss f)i' Tin: cAiutisoN. :2I 
 
 iiicd aj)po;iic(l l)elbrc tin; city, tlic fortifications were 
 ill a stiiti! (){' (k'cay, only ii lew rounds of ainniu- 
 nition reiiiaiiiccl, and tlic store of provisions was almost 
 cxliaiisted, 
 
 Tlie M(jlia!innedans, aware of the uii])re[)are(l con- 
 dition of the garrison, seized iinniediately upontlie most 
 important positions of tli(> fortress. Tlie arsenal fell 
 into their hands, jiiid t hey succeeded in estal)Hshing 
 tliemselvcs upon more than one part of the Rock. 
 The small suj)ply of provisions within soon began to 
 fail, and the governor would iiave been compelled to 
 capitulate without even a show of resistance, had not 
 a vessel laden with grain been accidentally cast ashore, 
 whose cargo supplied the troops with bread for a short 
 period. During the last weeks of the siege the suf- 
 fering of the soldiers was extreme, and hunger com- 
 |)elled them to devour the leather oft' their shields. 
 Though suffering such privations, their courage re- 
 mained undaunted. A'asco de Perez, surrounded l)y 
 a tew followers, still held the castle, and though 
 resistance in the face of certain starvation was vain, 
 he held out till the very last moment. 
 
 Hut, even when compassed by these trials and 
 calamities, he was unable to free himself from the 
 cursed yoke of his ruling passion. Aware that a 
 heavy ransom would be offered for the Moorish 
 l)risoners whom he had captured, and believing 
 that the sum would be regulated eonsiderablv by 
 the condition in which tluy were delivered up, he-
 
 22 . HISTORY OF GIERALTAR. 
 
 collected them Avithiii the castle, fed them with the 
 best of the almost exhausted stores, and treated 
 them with more solicitude than he bestowed upon 
 his famished and devoted troops. 
 
 After four months and a half of extreme suffering, 
 the garrison weakened in numbers and prostrated 
 with famine and disease, Perez determined to capitu- 
 late. This he did upon favourable terms, and the 
 fortress was surrendered once more to the infidels, on 
 condition that the garrison and inhabitants should 
 march out unmolested with all their goods and 
 chattels. — a. d. 1333. 
 
 Mohammed immediately took possession, the 
 Rock having been in the hands of the Christians for 
 twenty-tAvo years. Stung with mortification, and 
 fearful of the anger of his master, Vasco de Perez 
 fled to Africa, where he remained and died in ob- 
 scurity. 
 
 Alfonso, who had up to this time been engaged in 
 quelling rebellious commotions in Castile, now hastened 
 to Gibraltar, and again took the field against his former 
 adversary. Alarmed at the warlike preparations of 
 Alfonso, Mohammed applied to the King of Fez for 
 aid, and an Afi'ican army immediately crossed the 
 straits to his assistance. 
 
 No sooner, however, had the African chief been 
 admitted with his troops into Gibraltar, than he as- 
 sumed an arrogant and offensive tone towards the 
 Spanish Mo'jis under Mohinnnied, wlio composed the
 
 ALFONSO di:tkrminks t(j kktakk the fortress. 23 
 
 parrisf)!!. Too late Moliaiimicd ])(nTcIved his error 
 ill calliiiii; to liis assistance iiicii whose eliarartcr was 
 notoriously trea('h(;rou.s and perfidious. liut his 
 critical jjosition conii)elk'd liini to avoid the fpiarrels 
 and contentions tliat were urL^cd upon him hy his 
 wily ally, and he suffered [)atii'ntly tin; uneoncealctl 
 indignities to wliicli he was subjected. 
 
 In the mean time Alfonso, who was unaware of 
 the sin-render, having collected a sufficiently powerful 
 army, marched southward, to relieve the fortress and 
 raise the siege. The Castilian Admiral Josef Tenorio, 
 at that time in Seville, was ordered to watch the 
 straits with his squadron, and letters were sent from 
 the king to Vasco Perez, entreating him to hold out 
 initil the very last extremity. Instructions were also 
 sent to the Grand blasters of Santiago, Alcantara, 
 and Calatrava to unite all their forces together, and 
 to nuirch to the assistance of the besieged. 
 
 Arrived at Vallodolid, Alfonso proclaimed his 
 intention of proceeding at once to Ciibraltar, and in- 
 vited the nobles and their dependents to accom})any 
 him on his mission against the infidels. 
 
 As he journeyed southward he borrowed large 
 sums of money from the tow^ns of Vallodolid, liurgos, 
 and ToUnhi. Having reached Seville, a royal council 
 was held, and plans concerted for the safety of (Jib- 
 raltar. Unfurtunately the opinions of the council 
 were divided, and a delay of a week ensued before 
 the expedition continued its march. In live days
 
 24 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the king reached the banks of the Giiadarete near 
 Xeres, from whence he despatched messengers to the 
 Admiral and to Vasco Perez. 
 
 After a Lapse of two days these men returned, bring- 
 ing intelhgence that the place had long since surren- 
 dered, and that the standards of the Moors floated from 
 the walls. The receipt of this disastrous news alarmed 
 but did not dishearten Alfonso. A council was again 
 assembled, and it was resolved to besiege the Rock 
 and to recover it from the enemy. The next morning 
 the army was again in motion, and in three days 
 appeared in sight of the w^alls. 
 
 Approaching the Rock, and while passing over 
 the Sierra de Carbonera (Queen of Spain's chair), 
 the king was attacked by a large body of Moorish 
 cavalry, but by a successful retrograde movement the 
 infidels were put to the rout with no quarter, and 
 1500 of them slain. On the following day the fleet 
 anchored in the bay, and arrangements were com- 
 ])lcted for the attack. It was determined, in the 
 first place, to effect a landing soutliward of the toAvn, 
 upon an undefended spot called the Red Sands, and 
 for this purpose a body of men under Rui Lopez 
 and Ternan de Mcira was embarked in some armed 
 row Ijoats, which pushed off from the fleet and 
 ])ulled towards the shore. The landing was easily 
 eHectcd, and had conunon ])rudence becni observed the 
 attack might have been successful, liut those who 
 were first ashore, elated at meeting with no resistance.
 
 UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK I ToN llir, ARSENAL. :^.J 
 
 nislu'd uj) tlic liill towards the castle without waiting 
 for tlu;ir coimatlrs, or takiii|2j any precautions to pro- 
 tect tlieir retreat. The Moors, perceiving tlu; error, 
 hurst fortli from tlie castle in overwhelming numlx-rs, 
 killed l)»)tli tlie leadi'rs and the greater portion of the 
 assailants, and drove the re iiiaiiidcr on to the shore, 
 wluic, willi the exception of some who concealed 
 themselves among the rocks, they were either slain 
 or taken prisoners. 
 
 Alfonso heheld with mortification the failure of 
 this attempt, and called a council to decide n[)on the 
 course to he a(h)pte(h Personally, he was unwilling 
 to leave his men who had been taken prisoners with- 
 out an effort to recover them ; but the critical situ- 
 ation of his army and the scarcity of his commissariat 
 dictated the necessity of a retreat. The day following, 
 therefore, the army began to retire, hut had proceeded 
 onlv a short distance when the reluctance of the king 
 to abandon the prisoners became so evident, that a 
 ])rop()sal was made by the generals to return with a 
 portion of the trt)ops, and to attempt the rescue of 
 the captives. T'he king joyfully agreed, and the 
 order was issued to countermarch on the next morning. 
 Joy spread through the army. The uieii, hitherto 
 disheartened by the unexpected failure and retreat, 
 recovered their ardour and their courage. Full of 
 hope for the future, they turned their faces once more 
 towards the Rock, determined to retrieve their late 
 reverse.
 
 20 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 A landing was again effected on the Red Sands by 
 a numerous body of men under command of Don Jaime 
 de Jerica, and the brothers Laso and Sancho de Rojas. 
 
 Profiting by experience, order was strictly main- 
 tained, and a junction effected with the party of Chris- 
 tians left behind on the former occasion, and who had 
 remained concealed and unmolested by the enemy. 
 
 Seizing upon the heights in the vicinity of the 
 castle, Alfonso prepared to lay siege to the Torre del 
 Homenage, the principal point of defence. Simul- 
 taneously, an attack Avas directed by the Admiral 
 Josef Tenorio upon the arsenal, and an attempt made 
 to burn the shipping. Though this project was un- 
 dertaken with the greatest skill and courage, it was 
 met by such determined opposition on the part of the 
 Moors, who had placed massive wooden booms across 
 the entrance to the arsenal, that the assailants were 
 driven back with the loss of two celebrated chiefs and 
 a large number of men. 
 
 After the failure of the attack by sea, Alfonso 
 directed his efforts exclusively against the Torre del 
 Homenage, whose parapets and turrets already showed 
 symptoms of destruction. Every kind of machine 
 applicable in tliose days to warfare was brought 
 against the walls. J]attering-rams were thrust against 
 the outer defences. Machines called " Cadalsos," or 
 scaflblds, were erected, similar to the vinea) of the 
 Jlomans, two or three stories in height, and running 
 oji wheels, by means of which thoy were rolled along-
 
 1)11 TK i'i/rii:s oi' Tin; i!KSir.(;i;Rs. 27 
 
 side the tower. From the uppermost staj^e heavy 
 stones and other missiles were hurled on to the 
 jiiirapets, while the soldiei-s in the stages beneath 
 attempted to undermine the walls of the defences.* 
 Powerful engines, on the ])rinciple of the catapult, 
 were (lr;iL'"L;('(l uj) on to the rugged heights which 
 overhung the castle, and attempts were made to de- 
 stroy the enemy's galleys as they lay in the arsenal, hy 
 ])itehing stones upon their decks from the rocks 
 above. 13ut the Moors covered in their vessels with 
 heavy casings of wood, and the missiles fell haniiless 
 uj)on the massive roofing. 
 
 The siege had now been carried on for sixteen 
 days without any sign of success on the part of the 
 besiegers ; and a strong easterly wind, wliich had for 
 a long time ])revailed, kept back the fleet which was 
 conveying suj)plies to the army. Provisions became 
 scarce, and the aiiny was threatened with famine. 
 To add to the diflieulties which beset Alfonso, num- 
 bers of his men began to desert, in spite of every 
 efibrt to prevent them, while many were taken pri- 
 soners, and sold as slaves to the j\Ioors at Algeciras. 
 At the same time he received intelligence of the deatii 
 of his eldest son, of internal commotions in his own 
 
 * Tlio at t ark with these machines was conducteil by Alon- 
 7.0 l\M-nan(le/- Coroncl. But though largo rewards were otrered 
 to tlic men if tliey sueeeeded in undermining tlie walls of the 
 castle, the stratagem failed through the ingenuity of the floors, 
 who poured burning pitch from tlio battlements, and set fire to 
 the Pcafl'oldincr-
 
 28 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 kingdom, and of the taking of the Castle of Bena- 
 mexi, Avith much loss to the Christians. Still even 
 under these accumulated misfortunes he prepared to 
 prosecute the siege with renewed vigour. 
 
 He ordered a narrow fosse or ditch to be cut across 
 the isthmus from the western beach to the shore of the 
 Mediterranean for the protection of his rear from at- 
 tack, and so desirous was he to free his army from the 
 perilous position in which it was placed, that he could 
 scarcely be restrained from sallying forth with his whole 
 force to bring on an engagement with the Moors, and 
 thus to risk his fate upon one decisive battle. 
 
 The monotony of the siege, which, since the sus- 
 pension of active operations, had become most irk- 
 some, was broken by an incident that roused the 
 drooping spirits of Alfonso's men, and had some in- 
 fluence upon the more speedy termination of the block- 
 ade. In order to guard against surprise the Christians 
 had posted a picket of men about two miles or more 
 from the Rock, who concealed themselves amid the 
 brushwood and watched the approaclies to the camp. 
 
 One day there came along the western beach 
 a renowned Moorish chief, accompanied by 300 
 horsemen, apparently unaware of the position of the 
 Christian detachment. As they approached the spot 
 where tlie guard was concealed, Die/- Sanchez the 
 commander fell upon them with his tr()()])s, utterly 
 routing them, and killing most of their numbers. 
 Amonirst the latter was the celebrated Arabian his-
 
 TKKMlNATroN or Till: SIKCK. 29 
 
 tori.'iii Moliaiiicil I'cii Ali, :i iialivc of Ccuta, wlio hail 
 accidentally joined the party. 
 
 Thon^rli the sufferinp^s of Alfonso's army daily 
 increased, tln' Moors were, if possible, in u more 
 niiseral)le ])osition. By sea tliey could receive no 
 provisions or assistance, and all the approaches hy 
 land were occupied by the Castilians. Both aiMiiies 
 were reduced to the utmost misery ; and proposals for 
 peace would have been received with joy on either side. 
 i*re[)arations were already being nuule for the retreat of 
 the besiegers, when a Moorish envoy ariived in the 
 Christian camp and stated that he had power to treat 
 i'oi- a cessation of hostilities with the Castilian monarch. 
 Alfonso innnediately assembled his council, who, 
 considering the peril of their ])osition, were unani- 
 mously in favour of peace, and a conference was 
 arranged to take })lace on the morrow between the 
 hostile chiefs. Shortly afterwards a truce was agreed 
 to between Alfonso, Abdul-.Malek, and the King of 
 (iranada, for four years, the latter engaging to pay 
 annually to Alfonso 10, ()()() gold doubloons; and 
 ])ermission being extended to the Moors to })urehase 
 cattle, as formerly, for the sup[)ly of the garrison 
 from the neighbouring province. Costly presents 
 were exchanged between the kings, and thus termin- 
 ated the fourth siege of ( libraltai', tlu' fortress still 
 iiMiiainiiig in possession of the infidels.* 
 
 * Avahi.
 
 30 HISTORY 01' GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Alfonso, anxious to settle the disturbances in 
 his kingdom, marched with his army towards Seville, 
 while Mohammed sent his troops back to Granada, 
 retaining only a small escort to accompany him on a 
 journey to Africa, whither he was going on a visit to 
 the King Abu-1-Hassan. 
 
 The unfortunate monarch was ignorant of a plot 
 among the soldiers of Abdul- Malek to assassinate him. 
 The ostensible cause of this treason and subsequent 
 tragedy was an offence given by Mohammed to the sons 
 of Ozmin, but the more probable reasons were jealousy 
 on the part of the African chief, and the natural 
 treachery of the African Moors. Ignorant of the fate 
 tliat awaited him, the king was pre})aring to set out 
 on his journey, accompanied only by a small escort, 
 when his murderers set upon him in a narrow defile 
 a few miles from the gates of th(; fortress, and put 
 him to death. lie was succeeded on tlie throne by 
 Yussuf ben Ismail, then 10 years of age.* 
 
 * Tlu! Arabian chroniclers tliu« describe llie dcalb of Mo- 
 liaiMiiK-d : —
 
 A1$U-L-HASSAN AND ALFONSO. 31 
 
 Tho news of Moliiininuur.s lUatli readied Alfonso 
 when lie liad proceeded but a short distance on his 
 iiuireh. I'Varfid of tlie eonseqnences, his generals 
 anxiously pressed him to liurry on to Seville ; but the 
 kinj^ perceived the danger of a forced and fatiguing 
 march, and refused to expose his army to the peril. 
 J^y easy stages, and in good order, he reached Seville, 
 where he prepared to negotiate and })rovide for the 
 safety of his kingdom with Mohammed's successor. 
 His first act was to forgive the payment of the tribute 
 agreed upon at the termination of the siege of 
 Gibraltar. 
 
 Abu-l-IIassan was at this time king of Morocco. 
 Though secretly he had designs upon Alfonso's 
 dominions, he found it desirable to maintain for the 
 present friendly relations with that monarch, and 
 anxious to propitiate him, he sent large and valuable 
 presents of gold, precious stones, elephants, and all the 
 larest treasures of Africa. But his dissinudation 
 did not continue long. In 133S he embarked 
 masses of infantry and cavalry, with provisions for a 
 campaign, and landed them at Gibraltar, though the 
 
 " Soon after tho Christians hail raitiod the siogc of Gibraltar, 
 tho Sultan INIohammed was assassinated by some African 
 olliccrs to whom ho had rendered himyelf obnoxious. As ho 
 was one day about to embark, he was assailed by a party of 
 horsemen, who lay concealed behind a projectinf^ rock, and put 
 to death. ITis mangled body, stripped of every thincj, remained 
 exposed on the <:;round, but was afterwards carried to Malaga 
 and interred in the public cemetery."— Gay angos, vol. ii.
 
 33 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 four years of truce had not yet expired. During tlie 
 time that had elapsed since the siege, the fortress had 
 been considerably strengthened, a massive wall had 
 been constructed at the foot of the Rock, surrounding 
 it on all sides, "as the halo surrounds the crescent 
 moon. * 
 
 Alfonso, aware of the coming storm, immediately 
 took measures to meet it. He called together his 
 nobles, who were at this time divided into rancor- 
 ous parties, and urged upon them the necessity of 
 smothering all private feuds among themselves in 
 order to overcome the common danger. 
 
 In October, 1339, he set out from Seville with 
 a i)owerful army, accompanied by Don Gil de Al- 
 borncz, Archl)ishop of Seville, and Don Juan 
 Manuel, and Don Juan Nunez de Lara, who at one 
 time had been conspicuous as rebels to the throne. 
 Active demonstrations were made against the Moors 
 all along his frontiers, a force was sent into the king- 
 dom of Granada, and military posts established at 
 Arcos and Xeres. At the same time a combined 
 squadron from Aragon and Portugal under Admirals 
 de Cruillas and Josef Tenorio arrived in the straits. 
 Jhit this small squadron was unable to prevent the 
 passage of troops from Africa, and large hordes of 
 Moors landed along the Spanish coast. 
 
 The first action fouglit ended in favour of the 
 Christians, and augured well for future successes. 
 
 * Al-Makk;iri'is narrative.
 
 ABDUL-MALIK SLAIN. 133 
 
 'I'hccliicf, Alxlul-Malik, ^"H '>^ .\1)H-l-lTass;in, wlu) was 
 ill possession of Al^^cciras, had inaiiitaiiictl liiiiist'lt' and 
 liis army diirin|i; the winter months by rava^nn^ tlie 
 neighbouring country. In one of these foraging 
 expeditions he met a Castilian force inider Gonzalez 
 Martin dv Oveido, Avhieli ft-ll upon his troops and 
 routed tliem witli immense loss, Abdul-Malik himself 
 being among the slain. 
 
 Enraged at this success, and determined to avenge 
 the death of his son, Abu-I-lIassan sent orders for 
 fresh levies of troops from all the African tribes, and 
 large reinforcements again crossed the straits ; the King 
 of Granada also increased his army, and a terrible strug- 
 gle was evidently at hand. It was of paramount im- 
 portance to Alfonso to maintain possession of the straits 
 by sea, and for this purpose the fleet composed of the 
 Castilian and Aragonese squadrons lay ofl' the coast. 
 
 Unfortunately, however, one of the Admirals, 
 Ciilabert de Cruillas, was imprudent enough to 
 disembark a small force on the coast of Algeciras, 
 aiul to attack a superior body of the enemy, an error 
 which deprived Alfonso of his co-operation, as he was 
 wounded severely and compelled to relinquish his 
 connunnd. 
 
 At this very t inie the fleet of Abu-1-1 lassan, consist- 
 ing of two luuidred and flfty sail, was approach- 
 ing the Bay of Gibraltar. The Castilian squadron, 
 conunanded by Josef Tenorio, nund)ered only twenty- 
 seven mfllevs in bad coiulition, and six larije ships, 
 
 3
 
 34 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 with some transports. An engagement with such 
 unequal forces could have only one result. But 
 the Admiral, knowing that his conduct was watched 
 suspiciously by those in authority at Seville, and 
 smarting under a calumnious insinuation against 
 his honour, resolved to give battle to the enemy. 
 The consequences were, as might have been ex- 
 pected, disastrous ; Tenorio, after covering himself 
 with glory, was killed, and five galleys only escaped 
 out of the whole fleet. Thus the command by sea 
 fell into the hands of Abu-1-Hassan, who hastened to 
 take advantage of his success by transporting re- 
 inforcements, arms, and provisions across the straits. 
 Alfonso did all in his power to repair this disaster. 
 He applied to the King of Portugal for assistance, and 
 a Portuguese fleet, commanded by Admiral Manuel 
 Pezano, sailed for Cadiz. He also procured 12 galleys 
 from Aragon, commanded by Pedro de Moncada, and 
 15 from Genoa. Orders were given for the repair 
 of the five ships saved from the former fleet, and the 
 wliole were placed under the command of Ortiz 
 Calderon, who took up his anchorage in Tarifa 
 bay. At this time the African army, amounting to 
 200,000 men, including 70,000 horse, was in the 
 vicinity of Tarifii. Towards the end of October, 1 310, 
 Alfonso, reinforced l)y an army under the King of 
 Portugal in person, advanced to meet the enemy. 
 Tlic S{)anish authorities make tlic Cliristian forces less 
 tlum one-fourth of the Moorisli posts, but it is pro-
 
 BATTLE or THK S \T,AT)0. 35 
 
 ])al)Ic they did not exceed G0,0()0 iiuni. On the 27th 
 October, 1340, the two armies came in sij^lit of each 
 other on the banks of the Salado, near the very sj)ot 
 wliere 500 years afterwards was fought the battle of 
 Harrossa. It was arranged that the King of Castile 
 should engage the African division, while the Portu- 
 guese army was to attack the wing under the King of 
 Oranada. The first movement was the passage of the 
 river; this was confided to Don Juan Manuel, who, 
 either through gross incapacity or cowardice, imperilled 
 the success of the advance. Fortunately, as he was 
 about to retire, reinforcements under more able leaders 
 came \\\), a bridge was quickly constructed with 
 wooden stakes, and a portion of the army crossed over 
 and held their ground in spite of every eftbrt to dis- 
 lodge them. Alfonso was everywhere distinguished 
 by his daring, and his reckless courage would have 
 caused his death had he not been checked by the 
 Archbishop of Toledo, who seized the reins of his 
 horse and held him back fiom a single-handed (on- 
 slaught upon a body of the enemy.* 
 
 The army had no sooner eftectcd the passage of 
 the river, than the garrison of Tarifa, as previously 
 arranged, sallied out and attacked the centre of the 
 African division. This movement decided the success 
 of the day ; already disheartened by the gradual 
 
 * Alfonso of Castile was savoil from death anil Jefi-at in 
 a similar manner by the Arelibisliup of Seville, at the famoua 
 haltle of Tortosa, a.ti. 1211.
 
 36 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 advance of tlie Christians, and the increasing disorder 
 in their own ranks, the Mussuhnan host gave way, 
 an irresistible panic seized the whole army, and a 
 bloody rout ensued. Innumerable prisoners Avere 
 taken, including the son of Abu-1-Hassan and the whole 
 harem. The number of slain was fabulously large. 
 The remnant of the defeated army crossed in haste to 
 Africa, Yussef fled to Marbella, and Abu-1-Hassan took 
 refuge in Gibraltar. An African historian relating 
 this memorable event, so deplorable to the Moors, 
 thus describes it: — * 
 
 " Having crossed the straits for the laudable pur- 
 pose of waging war against the infidels, and helping 
 the Moslems of Granada in their desperate struggle 
 with the Christian power, as had once been the custom 
 of his noble ancestors, as well as of almost all the 
 sovereigns of the different dynasties that ruled over 
 western Africa, Abu-1 -Hassan landed on the coast of 
 Andalus with an army amounting to upwards of 
 00,000 men, and was immediately joined by the 
 forces of Granada, under command of Abu-1-Hejaj. 
 Alas ! God Almighty, whose decrees are infallil)ly 
 executed upon his creatures, had decided in his in- 
 finite wisdom that this proud armament should be 
 dispersed like tlie dust before tlie wind, and that 
 Abu-1-IIassan himself should return to his dominions 
 vjiiKjuished and fugitive ; that the sharp-edged sword 
 of the infidel should shine over his head, and those of 
 * Narnilivc of Al-Makkari.
 
 ALFONSO MKl'OUi; AI.Cl.ClllAS. 37 
 
 liis men. AVc will not iii(|iiir(' liow it happciUMl ; l)nt 
 llie lact is, that thousands of Moslems won that day 
 tlie crown of martyrdom, that the ranks of doctors 
 and tlu'olofjjians were friji;htfully thinned, the hiw of 
 the sword heinpj executed upon tlieir throats. The 
 Sultan's own son and all his harem fell into the hands 
 of the victorious enemy, his treasures became the prey 
 of the idolaters, who from that day thought of nothing 
 sliort of subjecting the rest of Andalus to their 
 abominable rule. The battle of Tarifa was fought on 
 Monday, the 7th of Jumada, the 1st of the year 741 
 (October 21)th, 1340)." 
 
 Encouraged by the victorious result of the battle 
 of Salado, Alfonso prepared to lay siege to Algeciras ; 
 and on the 3rd August, 1342, he sat down before it 
 with 2500 cavalry and 5000 foot. 
 
 The army was commanded by Don Gil dc Al- 
 borncz, the Archl)ishop of Toledo, the Bishop of 
 Cadiz, and other distinguished men. The town was 
 carefully and strongly fortified, — the ]\Ioors having 
 always considered its possession necessary to the safe 
 keeping of Gibraltar. It was divided into two di- 
 visions — the old town and the new ; separated from 
 each other by massive walls. The city was situated 
 upon a gentle slope leading to the sea-shore, and the 
 ground in rear of the city rose rapidly to a very con- 
 siderable elevation. 
 
 The garrison consisted of 12,000 archers and 800 
 horse. The fame of the battle of Salado had bv this 
 
 yaa;;ij>G
 
 38 HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 time spread over Europe ; and the contest then waging 
 in the south of Spain had attracted the attention of every 
 Christian nation. The tide of fortune which hitherto 
 had rolled irresistibly against the Christians seemed 
 about to turn, and many valiant men, eager to de- 
 fend the cause of their religion, hurried to join the 
 fray. Henry, Duke of Lancaster, set out from England, 
 accompanied by Lord Derby and the Earls of Salisbury, 
 Lincoln, and Leicester. Numerous celebrated knights 
 arrived from France, from Italy came large bodies of 
 Genoese, who did good service ; while the King of Na- 
 varre, accompanied by a division of troops, marched 
 forward to the siege in haste. So great was the interest 
 of Europe in the annihilation of the Moorish dynasty. 
 
 Dreading the result of an attack, the Moors en- 
 deavoured by treachery to paralyze the efforts of the 
 Christians. Emissaries chosen from among desperate 
 fanatics were sent into the camp with instructions to 
 assassinate Alfonso, whose name was so terrible to 
 the Moorish host. But they were discovered and 
 put to death. 
 
 The sieG;e was worthy of the distinction of the 
 besiegers.* The Moors defended themselves with te- 
 nacious gallantry ; and the month of September had 
 nearly passed away, and the heavy autumnal lains set 
 in, witliout any signs of capitulation or distress. The 
 sufferings of llu; Cliiistinus soon connnencrd, 'J1ie 
 
 * ])iii-iMi; tliiH sic^'c the Duke of Liincaslcr was wounded 
 \)y ail ;irrtnv in (lie face.
 
 SIKUE OF Al.liKClltAS. 31) 
 
 rains fell in torrents, aiul continued until November, 
 Tlic water poured in cascades from the mountains 
 beliind. The king, whose quarters were in a small 
 hut roofed with tiles, was driven from his shelter by 
 the force of tlie waters ; and the soldiers, who were 
 exposed to all the fury of the constant tempest, suc- 
 cundK'd to cold and sickness. Nor did the besiegers 
 alone sutler. The storms that raged along the coast 
 kept back all sui)plies and assistance from the city, the 
 garrison was reduced to great privation, while the 
 Christians attacked and harassed them unceasingly. 
 
 The month of February (1343) passed away, and 
 the Moors still held out without any symptoms of 
 surrender. The trooi)s of the besiegers, weakened 
 with suffering, began to despair, and Alfonso already 
 contemplated retiring from an entoi-prise which held 
 out no ])rospect of success. Tortunately, at this 
 criticid j)eriod reinforcements arrived ; Don Juan 
 Nunez de Lara and Don Juan de Manuel reached 
 the camp with fresh troops, arms, and anniumition. 
 
 Encouraged by this addition to their strength, the 
 Christians regained hope, and the operations rapidly 
 progressed. Hitherto, the IMoors had received sup- 
 ])lies at intervals by sea, as it was found impos- 
 sible to close the entrance of the port. Perceiv- 
 ing, however, that as long as ])rovisions could be 
 thrown into the town the siege niiglit be protracted 
 and eventually unsuccessful, the king resolved to 
 blockade the port. Galleys were stationed at the
 
 40 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 entrance to protect the workmen at their work, and 
 after considerable labour a boom was constructed of 
 stakes, beams, and barrels filled Avith earth, which 
 formed an obstacle impenetrable by the enemy's ships. 
 
 Several pitched battles were fought in the open 
 fields outside the walls, where the whole force of the 
 besiegers was engaged ; but these combats were in- 
 decisive, and victory declared itself neither for one 
 side nor the other. 
 
 The siege was prosecuted with unflinching vigour, 
 and machines were constructed resembling great 
 wooden towers, which were reared against the walls, 
 loaded with armed men. These machines the Moors 
 destroyed by casting huge masses of stone upon them 
 from above, and by hurling against them, from 
 engines charged with nafta,* red-hot balls of iron, 
 which utterly destroyed them.f 
 
 Alfonso, as the year progressed, found himself 
 surrounded with difficulties. His exchequer was 
 exhausted, and the troops, especially the Genoese 
 
 * Thundering nafta. — Condo. 
 
 t In the narrative of Al-Makkari, the Arabian liistorian, 
 speaking of the siege of Aslikar, close to Baeza, mentions 
 tlie use of cannon (a. d. 1324) tlius : " As its defences were 
 strong, and ilie walls very thick, he attacked it with his largest 
 engines loaded with naptha, by means of which he threw into 
 llie phice large iron balls. One of lliese fell on Ihe toj) of 
 one of (he towers and destroyed il complelcly ; npon wliich 
 the garri.son were so terrified Ihat they instantly snrrender- 
 cd." — (jiayangos, vol. ii. page 352. Condo, Los Arabes in 
 Eupaiia.
 
 ALFONSO SURllOUNDKl) WITH DIFf ICULTIKS. 11 
 
 levies, wvYc ('laiiiorous for tluir pay. His crown was 
 already pledged for the value of the gold, and all his 
 l)rivate plate melted down to supply money for his 
 troops. ]iut even these sacrifices failed to relieve 
 him from his distress. The King of Granada had 
 ajjproaehed with a powerful army as far as the river 
 (jiuadiaro, and repeatedly threatened the rear of the 
 Christian position. Harassing skirmishes fatigued 
 the troops, and were frequently attended with severe 
 losses. Added to this, insubordination and discon- 
 tent manifested themselves among the soldiers and 
 their leaders. Fortunately at this time, when the 
 want of money was a stubborn obstacle to success, 
 the King of France sent a present of 50,000 florins, 
 to which Pope Clement VI. added a loan of 20,000. 
 AVith these resources the King was enabled to silence 
 ihe com})laints of the Genoese. Ten galleys also 
 arrived from the King of Aragon, mIicu they were 
 most urgently recpiired. 
 
 When the King of Granada had reached the river 
 Palmones, a short distance from Algeciras, he was 
 made aware of the desperate situation of the be- 
 sieged. Entreaties for succour were conveyed to him 
 during the duskiness of the night by small boats, 
 which managed to escape from the boom-bound har- 
 bour. 
 
 Influenced by these entreaties, he determined at 
 once to strike a blow, and if possible raise the siege. 
 With the object of surprising the Christian eamj), the
 
 42 . HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 attack was ordered to commence before daybreak, 
 when the enemy was least likely to expect it. 
 
 Before day had well broken the Moslems began 
 the advance, and rushed impetuously upon the ranks 
 of the besiegers. But they were met by deep and 
 impassable ditches, lined with defiant stockades, which 
 arrested their advance, and enabled the Christians to 
 mow down their troops. Finding that defeat was 
 certain they eventually retired. 
 
 During the trials and difficulties that beset him, 
 Alfonso presented a noble example to his men. He 
 shared on every occasion their dangers and privations; 
 his covering was no better than the rude roof that 
 sheltered the meanest soldier, and he fared no better 
 than his troops. 
 
 Nineteen months of privation and toil passed ere 
 his perseverance was rewarded with success. Since 
 the closing of their communication by sea the Moors 
 had become gradually disheartened. No supphcs 
 could reach the town, and starvation stared them in 
 the face. With this prospect before them, and when 
 no hope remained, they reluctantly sent emissaries to 
 Alfonso to sue for peace. The king, weary of his 
 protracted labours, readily agreed to the propositions 
 of the infidels, and preliminary conditions were exe- 
 cuted. A truce was settled for ten years, tlic King 
 of Cli-anada paying a lril)ute of 1:2, 000 doubloons 
 anmially during that period, and acknowledging him- 
 self a vassal of Castile. Algeeiras was surrendered to
 
 ALGIXIllAS SUKRLNDEUEl) TO THE CIIUISTI ANS. 43 
 
 the Christians, the garrison was set at liberty, and their 
 property protected. 
 
 On the :27tli of March, lol t, the nitilications of 
 the treaty having been exchanged, Alfonso entered 
 the city. His standard was hoisted on the walls, and 
 the celebrated siege of Algeciras, which had continued 
 for twenty months, was at an end. 
 
 Five years of the truce had scarcely expired before 
 Alfonso, wearied with a life of inactivity, and unable 
 to restrain his military inclinations, made known to 
 the Cortes his intention of again laying siege to Gib- 
 raltar. The moment was especially favourable to the 
 enterprise, for his old enemy, Abu-1-IIassan, was 
 engaged in a contest with his rebellious son for the 
 recovery of Fez ; and the King of Granada, availing 
 himself of the opj)ortunity, was occupied in attacking 
 the possessions of Abu-1-llassan, and besieging Ron- 
 da and jMarbella. 
 
 Since the siege of Algeciras the population of 
 Gibraltar had considerably increased, great numbei-s 
 of Moors who were conii)elled to leave the former city 
 when it was surrendered having migrated to the 
 lloek, glad to avail themselves of a stronghold \)yc- 
 senting such fiicilitics for a flight to Africa in case of 
 necessity. The fortifications and defences had during 
 the last few years been considerably increased and 
 strengthened ;* the walls had been repaired, a citadel 
 built, and magazines erected. 
 
 * No soouer hud Al)u-l-llassau ivJuced Gibr:iU;ir under
 
 44 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 In August, 1349, Alfonso appeared before the 
 place with his army, and having previously burnt and 
 laid waste the crops and gardens in the vicinity, sat 
 down before it. The attack, which was not long 
 delayed, commenced with great fury, every descrip- 
 tion of w^arlike machine being employed against the 
 walls. 
 
 The moment appeared to have arrived wdien the 
 Christians should once more wave their victorious 
 banners from the heights of the oft-disputed prize. 
 The Moorish force w^as comparatively small, Avhile the 
 Christian army consisted of numerous levies, well pro- 
 visioned and thoroughly equipped. The rear of the posi- 
 tion, which on former occasions had been continually 
 assailed, and which it was almost impossible to protect, 
 was now unmolested, and the king was enabled to 
 occupy his whole strength in pressing on the siege. 
 Unfortunately, his last campaign had swallowed up 
 nearly all his monetary resources, and now, when 
 victory was almost in his grasp, his efforts were 
 paralyzed by the want of means to pay his troops. 
 ]hit the man, who in another moment of trial and 
 necessity could submit even his crown and royal 
 treasures to the melters to extricate himself from the 
 difficulty, and save his army from disaster, was not 
 
 his sway, llijin lie l)o«:^an to j^ivo Lis nltcnlion to repairing its 
 buil(liii<j;s, iiicrciisin^ its foriificaiioiis, s|)(Mulinii; iinnuMise sums 
 (tf iiioiK'v ill buildinjj; lioiisos and iMa<j;azinos, aw well as a yami 
 or priiicipMl iin)S(iii(', ;iiiil crctiiiig new towers, and even a 
 eiladi'l. (Jayaiif^os, vol. ii.
 
 ALFONSO A(;A1N LAYS SIKGE TO (il HUALTAll. 1') 
 
 now likely to bo (l(;t(MT('(l by any sacrifice from pro- 
 curinir means to insure success. Gibraltar was of 
 far more value to iiini tlian the greater part of his 
 dominions, and it was with little re<j;ret tluit he 
 formed the resolution to obtain wliat he so earnestly 
 re(piircd by the sale of a portion of his territory. On 
 the 10th of January he handed over to Don Perez de 
 Guzman, the Count of Niebla, for the sum of 130, ()()() 
 maravadies, the villages of Villa Alba and Palma, 
 with all the rights, jurisdictions, and powers he pos- 
 sessed therein. With the means thus obtained, and 
 with the timely reinforcement of ten galleys from the 
 King of Aragon, he was enabled to continue the 
 siege. 
 
 Finding, however, that it would be impossible to 
 take the place by assault, Alfonso prepared to turn the 
 siege into a blockade, and to starve out the garrison. 
 With this intention he collected all his forces on the 
 isthiuus (north front), where the gardens and cemetery 
 were situated. Here he pitched his camp, consisting 
 of connnodious tents, some richly furnished for the 
 acconnuodation of the women and distinguished per- 
 sons of his retinue. The month of February, 1350, 
 arrived, and still the besieged held out. At this time 
 there appeared in the camp tliat terrible plague which 
 had already devastated Europe, and to which the Kings 
 of Leon and Estremadura had recently fallen victims. 
 
 Terrified by the well-known horrors of this dread- 
 ful pestilence, the generals and nobles were paralyzed
 
 46 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 with fear. Alfonso alone remained calm. In vain 
 he was urged by every entreaty to raise the siege, and 
 escape with his army from certain death. In vain 
 w^ere the prayers of the women and supplications of 
 his council ; his reply was characteristic of his un- 
 daunted mind. Drawing his sword and thrusting 
 himself through the crowd of suppliants that thronged 
 his door, he swore never to move from the limits 
 of his tent till Gibraltar was in possession of the 
 Christians. But his valour caused his death. On 
 the 26th of March, 1350, he was seized with the 
 plague and died, in the thirty-eighth year of his age, 
 and the twenty-seventh of his great and glorious 
 reign. His death spread grief through every Chris- 
 tian land. His many victories, his desperately con- 
 tested sieges, his renown, not only as a warrior but 
 as a wise and successful ruler, had rendered his name 
 famous throughout Europe : and not only did the 
 Christians honour his virtues and his valour ; Yussef 
 and his followers, together with his whole court, ap- 
 peared in mourning for their illustrious foe, and many 
 of the Moors went unarmed to the camp to attend 
 the funeral ceremony. 
 
 Sad and disheartened, the army prepared to return 
 to Seville, carrying with Wwm the corpse of their 
 beloved leader. The King of Granada, who by this 
 time had reached the banks of tlic Guadiaro with a 
 force intended for the relief of CJibraltar, issued 
 stringent orders that under no pretence whatever
 
 BURIAL OF ALrONSO. 47 
 
 sliould tlic Christian army be mok'stcd on its melan- 
 choly maicli. 
 
 The l)0{ly of the deceased monarcli was taken, in 
 the lirst instance, to the chapel of tlie Kings at 
 Seville, where it remained until it was interred in the 
 tomb at Cordova, by the side of the cor[)se of the 
 kinn;'s father. 
 
 Alfonso was succeeded by Don Pedro, who was 
 proclaimed King of Castile and Leon.* 
 
 Gibraltar continued in possession of the Kings of 
 Morocco ; and after the death of Abu-l-IIassan, his 
 son, who succeeded him, appointed Isa-ben-Al-Hassan 
 governor of the fortress. This AVali had no sooner 
 taken up his command than he proclaimed himself 
 King of Gibraltar. His conduct, however, was so 
 tyrannical that a rebellion was excited against him, 
 and he was compelled to take refuge in the castle 
 with his son, who was more hated than himself. En- 
 able to protect themselves, they were seized by the 
 rebels and transported, loaded with chains, to Ceuta, 
 where they both died, after being ])ut to di-eadful 
 tortures. In 1354 Yussef, King of Granada, the old 
 and valiant opponent of Alfonso, was assassinated by 
 
 * Kinij; Alfonso is thus desoribcd in Condo : " lie was of 
 llio iiiiildli.' height, but of well-proportioned figure and of dig- 
 nified appearance. His complexion was red and white ; his 
 eyes had a ti'igc of green, with a grave and serious expres- 
 sion. He was of robust person, strong, and of a healthy con- 
 stitution; very elegant and graceful in niauiicr; resolute, 
 brave, noble, and sincere."
 
 48 IIISTOPvY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 a mad-man while at prayers in the mosque of his 
 palace. 
 
 His death is thus described by the Arabian au- 
 thorities : " As Abu-1-Hejaj was performing the last 
 prostration of his prayer, a mad-man rushed upon 
 him and w^ounded him with his yataghan. The as- 
 sassin was immediately secured. The Sultan, who 
 had been mortally wounded, made some signs as if he 
 wished to speak, but after uttering a few unintel- 
 ligible words he was carried senseless to his palace, 
 where he died shortly after his arrival. The assassin 
 in the mean time was given up to the infuriated mob, 
 who murdered him and burned his body. Abu-1-Hejaj 
 was interred on the evening of Sunday within the 
 Alhambra. He left three sons ; Mohammed, who 
 succeeded him, Ismail, and Kays." 
 
 Yussef was one of the most enlightened sovereigns 
 of the Nasserite dynasty. In his days justice was 
 administered with an even hand; literature and science 
 flourished, and public order prevailed. It would be 
 impossible to enumerate all the benefits which this 
 great man bestowed upon his country. The practice 
 of religion was improved, many abuses were abol- 
 ished, a system of police instituted, and the laws 
 revised. Finally, it is to him we owe some of 
 the most splendid archilcctui-al monuments in 
 Granada.* 
 
 He was succeeded l)y his son Mohammed V. 
 
 • Gondo.
 
 ISMAIL PROCLAIM 1.1) KINC, AND MlllDERKD. I'J 
 
 This imfortuiuitc prince soon fell a victim to the 
 jealousy of his Ijrother Ismail's mother. 
 
 " Mohammed had scarcely reigned five years," 
 says the historian Ihnii-KhaKlini, " when a half 
 brother of his, named Ismail, assisted by another 
 of his relatives, revolted in Granada ; and taking ad- 
 vantage of the absence of the Sultan, who was then 
 residing at a country place out of the Alhambra, 
 scaled at night the walls of that fortress, and made 
 himself master of it, after putting to death the Vizir 
 of Mohammt'd. This took place on the 23rd of 
 August, 1359, and on the following day Ismail Abu-1- 
 Walid was proclaimed by the troops and citizens. 
 The dethroned Sultan escaped to Guadix, where he 
 established his authority." 
 
 Though we have no authentic records, it is prob- 
 able, that during these years Gibraltar was in posses- 
 sion of the kings of Granada. The firet act of Ismail 
 was to send an embassy to the King of Castile with 
 offers to renew the treaty of peace then existing 
 between the two countries. Don Pedro, happening 
 then to be at war with the people of Barcelona, readily 
 assented to the proposition. Ismail, however, did 
 not long enjoy his power. Within six months after 
 he had been proclaimed he was assassinated, together 
 with his brother Kays, by directions of tlu^ very man 
 who had raised him to the throne (a. d. 13G0). Abu- 
 Abdillah, iMohanuned VI., the murderer of Ismail, 
 was declared king, and n-igiied for about two years, 
 
 4
 
 50 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ^wlien lie was put to death in cold blood by the hand 
 of Don Pedro himself, while on a visit to that monarch 
 at Seville.* 
 
 We must turn for a moment to Mohammed V., 
 who, after he had been deposed by Ismail, passed 
 over to Africa, embarking at Marbella, and landing at 
 Ceuta in 1359. Prom thence he went to Pez, where 
 ■he was received with welcome by the king. 
 
 On the 29th of August, 1361, he returned to 
 Andalus, remaining at Guadix, whose inhabitants had 
 remained faithful to him during his absence. 
 
 He no sooner received intelligence of the death of 
 Abu-Abdillah, than he set out for Granada with the 
 intention of reclaiming his dominions. The contempt- 
 ible mob who a few years since had shouted over his 
 downfal and applauded the usuqier, now greeted him 
 with acclamation. On the 6th April, ] 362, he made 
 his triumphal entry into Granada, and was once 
 more proclaimed king. Aware of the value of an 
 alliance with Castile, and being in fear of the ruthless 
 monarch who could with his own hand assassinate an 
 unsuspecting guest, he sent Pedro, in return for the 
 head of Abu-Abdillah, presents of horses richly capa- 
 risoned, scimitars set with precious stones, and all 
 the unransomed Christian prisoners in his kingdom. 
 
 In 1369, Don Pedro, having been defeated at the 
 
 * Al)u-Ab(lillii]i is referred to by Condc and others as Abu- 
 Said, but I have followed llie reading of OayangoK, as moro 
 ]irobably correct.
 
 DESTRUCTION OF ALGECIRAS. 51 
 
 battle of Montiol, fell a victim to asstassination, a death 
 not iiiititted to his atrocious character. The Count 
 of Transtaniara seized the throne, assuming the title of 
 Henry II. At first JMohammed refused to agree to 
 any overtures for peace with the new king; he de- 
 clared war against him, and collected an army and 
 marched against Algeciras, which he found totally 
 miprotected. Knowing that he would be unable to 
 retain possession of the city if he occupied it, he 
 resolved to destroy it. This he did most effectually, 
 burning and demolishing the walls, with every house 
 and building in the place ; and to such a miserable 
 condition was this once celebrated city reduced that 
 it became in future only the habitation of a few miser- 
 able fishermen. After the destruction of Algeciras, 
 1370, a peace was concluded between Henry and the 
 King of Granada, which continued till the death of 
 the latter in 1390 or 1391. 
 
 In 1379 Henry of Castile died suddenly at a 
 banquet, and was succeeded by John I., who died in 
 1390, and was in his turn succeeded by Henry III., 
 then eleven years old. It was at this time that Mo- 
 hammed V. expired, and the throne of Granada was 
 seized by his younger son, the elder Yussuf-ben-Yus- 
 suf being imprisoned in the fortress of Salobrena. 
 Immediately after his accession a peace was renewed 
 with the Christians. However willing the two mon- 
 archs may have been to avoid hostilities, their imruly 
 subjects provoked such constant (piarrcls that the 
 
 4 •
 
 52 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 preservation of peace was hopeless. In 1405, the 
 Mohammedans attacked and took Ayamonte, and in 
 the following year a battle was fought on the 
 Guadiara, which ended in the defeat of the Christian 
 army. Several minor engagements occurred with 
 varied results, until, in 1407, Fernando, regent of 
 Castile, turned success in favour of the Christians, 
 and re-took Ayamonte with several other fortresses. 
 Tired of these harassing campaigns, both monarchs 
 agreed to a truce, and Mohammed returned to Grana- 
 da. He had scarcely arrived there when he was 
 seized with a mortal illness. Fearful, even in death, 
 that his brother who was in exile would succeed him, 
 he wrote the Alcalde of Salobrena the following letter : 
 
 "Alcalde of Salobrena, my servant, as soon as 
 Ahmed-ben-Xarac, officer of my Guards, shall deliver 
 thee this writing, thou wilt put to death the Cid 
 Yussef, my brother, and send his head by the same 
 messenger. I rely on thy zeal to serve me."* 
 
 Arrived at Salobrena,! Ahmed found Yussef play- 
 ing at chess with the Alcalde. Perceiving the troubled 
 looks of the messenger, the prince rose and demanded 
 the object of his mission. In reply he showed the 
 letter of Mohammed. The prince calmly read the fatal 
 words, and asked a few minutes' respite to bid farewell 
 to his family. This was refused. " At least then," 
 said he, " give me time to finish my game with 
 
 * Lardnor, Condr, iind IMontcro. 
 t Or Xulubauia.
 
 DEATH OF TIIK KlN(i UF GRANADA. i)0 
 
 witli the Alcalde, and perhaps I shall lose that as well 
 as my head." Yussef resumed his seat with tlie 
 i^reatest composure, and more than once corrected 
 the terrified Alcalde for the carelessness with which 
 lie moved (he pieces. The game was just concluded 
 when amounted messenger appeared at the gates to 
 announce the death of the King of Granada, and the 
 accession of Yussef III., \. d. 1408. 
 
 Released by the sudden death of his brother 
 from his ])rotracted imprisonment and threatened 
 assassination, the king repaired to Granada to enter 
 upon his government. Subjected as he had been to 
 adversity and privation, he appreciated the value of 
 peace, and with the view of renewing the truce with 
 Castile, he sent an embassy to Don Fernando with 
 proposals for a truce. The despotic conduct of the 
 tyrants who ruled in the fortress of Gibraltar had long 
 famu'd the smothered embers of rebellion among the 
 })eople. In 1 111, unable any longer to endure their 
 sufferings, the inhabitants sent to the King of Mo- 
 rocco and implored his protection, offering at the same 
 time to deliver up the city to him and to become his 
 vassals. The king, well aware of the value of Gibral- 
 tar, gladly accepted the offer, and inunediately set out 
 with his anny to take possession. When he appeared 
 at the entrance of the fortress, the gates were opened 
 by the people, and the city was occupied without a 
 strucjiirle.
 
 54 HISTOUY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Yussef no sooner heard of the occupation of Gib- 
 raltar by the African Moors than he marched to 
 retake it. He soon after invested it, and, after a 
 short siege, recovered possession of the place, which 
 remained attached to the kingdom of Granada for 
 many subsequent years.
 
 SEVENTH SlKGl:: Ol' (ilBKALTAU. .).) 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SEVENTH SIEGE. 
 
 DuiUNc. several years Gibraltar remained in the 
 undisturbed possession of the kings of Granada ; 
 until the lawless conduct of the Moors, who, under 
 protection of its fortifications, made continual incur- 
 sions into the country, pillaging and destroying the 
 ])ropcrty of the inhabitants, aroused the anger of Don 
 Henry de Guzman, second Count of Niebla, who pos- 
 sessed extensive estates in the neighbourhood. 
 
 This nobleman had sufl'ered great losses at the 
 hands of the marauders, who by their frequent ravages 
 almost put an end to the extensive and [)roductive 
 tunny fisheries established on the coast. Determined 
 to crush these systematic depredations, and actuated, 
 no doubt, by a desire to imitate the glory of his 
 gnuidt'ather, Guzman the Good, the first Christian 
 concjueror of Gibraltar, the Count resolved to besiege 
 the city. In M3(), he collected a numerous ami 
 ])owerful army, which counted among its chiefs many 
 knights from Cordova, Ecija, and Xcres. These 
 nobles brought with them troops, vessels, and pro-
 
 56 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 visions, wliicli greatly increased the efSciency of tlie 
 expedition. A number of armed vessels were also 
 got ready in tlie harbour of Sanlucar, the whole pre- 
 parations being conducted with the utmost secrecy. 
 Everything being arranged, the command of the army, 
 which numbered 2000 cavalry and many companies 
 of infantry, was bestowed upon Don Juan de Niebla, 
 the Count's eldest son. Under his orders the expe- 
 dition set sail from Bonanza and arrived in safety 
 before Gibraltar, In spite of the extent and import- 
 ance of the offensive armament, the Count had 
 imagined that the garrison was not aware of his 
 hostile intentions, and he therefore planned his 
 attack on the basis of a surprise. It was proposed 
 that one portion of the army should effect a landing 
 on the Red Sands at the foot of the western face of 
 the Rock, and instantly seize upon the city, while 
 another division attacked and occupied the heights 
 and castle from the north front. But the Moors 
 were not unprepared as De Guzman supposed. 
 Timely notice had been given them of the intended 
 assault, and both supplies and reinforcements had been 
 sent them from Africa and Granada ; the landing at 
 the Red Sands had been rendered almost impossible 
 by extensive fortifications in rear, and the whole fort- 
 ress had been })iit in a complete state of defence. 
 The Count, unaware of the difficulties opposed to 
 him, persisted in his original plan of attack, and led 
 the storming party against the city in person. The
 
 DK fll'ZMAN BLSIKCiES (i 115 HALT All. iJ / 
 
 t loops, having reached the sands in armed row-boats, 
 were permitted to disendjark without opposition, tlie 
 enemy being conscious of tlie futility of any attack at 
 that point. 
 
 The place of landing was upon a narrow strip of 
 sand washed by the sea, and faced by a high wall of 
 stone. On to this small space the besiegers crowded, 
 and the boats which had conveyed them thither re- 
 turned to the fleet. This was an error fatal to the 
 expedition, and followed by a melancholy disaster. 
 
 When the assailants attempted to advance and 
 scale the walls, the Moors crowded upon the ram- 
 parts, and hurled every kind of missile upon the 
 helpless crowd beneath. Hundreds fell, struck down 
 by the showers of stones and arrows. The mass 
 became disorganized, and resistance was vain. The 
 tide, which when they landed was on the rise, had 
 gradually surrounded the spot on which they stood, 
 and the waves already washed their feet. To retreat 
 was impossible ; and their prayers and entreaties for 
 mercy were answered only by shouts of derision 
 from the infidels, wdio crowded on the walls. The 
 attention of De Guzman, who was on board his 
 ship superintending the artillery* of the fleet, was 
 speedily called to the terrible position of his men on 
 shore. 
 
 Orders Avere given, though too late, for all the 
 
 * This Av;i3 llic first siege in wliicli nrtiUory was used 
 n-'ainst Gibraltar.
 
 58 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 boats of the squadron to go to their assistance, the 
 Count himself hastening to the rescue. By this time 
 many of the miserable creatures had sunk to rise no 
 more, and the waves were fast overcoming the ex- 
 hausted strength of the few that remained. The 
 boat in which De Guzman was soon reached the 
 spot where the drowning men were struggHng with 
 the waves, and her crew having rescued as many as 
 she was able to hold, pushed off again to the fleet. 
 They had proceeded but a few strokes when the 
 Count heard the voice of an old and valued friend 
 calling upon him in the agonies of death to return and 
 save him. De Guzman, who was as humane as he was 
 brave, steered the boat towards the drowning man, in 
 spite of the remonstrances of the crew, who saw the 
 danger. Scarcely had they reached him, and dragged 
 liim over the side in safety, when the gunwales of the 
 boat were seized by a crowd of drowning wretches 
 maddened with despair. Already overloaded, the 
 small craft capsized and sunk, carrying with her tlic 
 Count of Niebla and upAvards of forty noblemen of 
 Spain. 
 
 In the mean time, the attack from tlic north front 
 had met with no success, and Don Juan de Guzman, 
 observing that all efforts against the fortress from tlie 
 land side would be useless, was preparing to go to 
 the assistance of liis fallier, when the news of the 
 Count's death and the disasters attending the attack 
 l)y sea reached liim. Overcome by this intelligence,
 
 DEATH or 1)1, crzMAN. 59 
 
 and finding that tlic troops were dcspairliif^ and dis- 
 lieartciKMl, lie f^avo tlic order for retreat, and tlie 
 expedition retired to Vejer, ^vliile the fleet sailed for 
 San Lncar. 
 
 The body of the unfortunate Guzman was found 
 and recognized by the Moors, who, in spite of every 
 entreaty and the offers of large sums of money, re- 
 fused to restore it to the Count's son, Don Juan. It 
 was placed in a coffin and suspended from one of the 
 turrets of the castle, where it remained until the city 
 was finally captured by the Christians in 1462.* 
 
 The failure of this siege is not surprising when we 
 consider the careless manner in which the attack was 
 arranged, and the unprepared state of the expedition. 
 The idea was to capture the place by surprise and 
 sudden assault. Both the anuy and fleet were, there- 
 fore, organized under all the difficulties and disad- 
 vantages of secrecy, and no information could be 
 gained as to the strength and position of the defences 
 by means of reconnoissances, without alarming the 
 enemy. The old system of attack by landing on the 
 Red Sands was insisted upon, under the impression 
 that the defences at that point were as weak as they 
 were 100 years before, when Alfonso's troops found 
 no difficulty in gaining possession of tlie licights. 
 
 For a few years the incessant contests between the 
 Moors and Christians, which had devastated south- 
 
 * Tills was a common practice witli the Moors when they 
 p;iiiucd possession of the body of any cliicf of tlie enemy.
 
 60 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 em Spain, were suspended. But the enjoyment of 
 tranquillity was of short duration. In ] 454, Juan II. 
 of Castile died, and was succeeded by his son Henry 
 IV., surnamed the " Impotent," a distinction which he 
 appears most undoubtedly to have deserved. At this 
 time Mohammed X. was on the throne of Granada. 
 
 Anxious to preserve the truce which had existed 
 for the last few years, he sent an embassy with 
 presents to the new king, and solicited a renewal of 
 former treaties. The disposition of Henry, however, 
 did not accord with the proposals of Mohammed, 
 and the offer was rejected. As a reply to the overtures 
 for peace, an army of 30,000 men, headed by the 
 king himself, entered the Moorish dominions, devas- 
 tating and destroying everything in their path. For- 
 tunately for the Moslems Henry's character was not 
 that of a courageous prince, and the operations of the 
 army were strictly confined to ravaging the country. 
 These marauding incursions into the kingdom of 
 Granada were again repeated in 1456-7, during 
 which time the Christians took possession of Ximena, 
 Antequera, and Estepona. After various endeavours 
 to obtain a truce, an arrangement was made for the 
 cessation of hostilities, by which Mohannncd consent- 
 ed to become a fief of Castile, and to pay an annual 
 tribute of 12,000 pistoles of gold. In spite of this 
 covenant, however, it became evident that the deadly 
 and hereditary hate which existed between the infidel 
 and the Christian population was a bar to the
 
 CLOSE OF Tin: SIEGE. 01 
 
 continuance of tranqnillity. Petty strifes and con- 
 tests raged all along the frontier, until in 1402, 
 an ojiportunity favourable to the enterprise having 
 uiu'.\i)ectedly presented itself, Gibraltar was again 
 besieged.
 
 C2 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 EIGHTH SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The crescent of the Moslems, wliicli for so many 
 years had shone over Spain with the lustre of victory 
 and success, had long given indications of its depart- 
 ing glory. The Moorish dynasty, which during 750 
 years had supplanted Christianity, and instituted 
 an era of war with all its horrors, had begun to 
 show symptoms of decay, and was now rapidly 
 drifting to its final dissolution. The King of Gra- 
 nada had already lost the greater portion of his 
 dominions, and his frontiers were confined within 
 narrow boundaries. 
 
 The fortress of Gibraltar, under whose walls so 
 nuich gallant blood had flowed, and in whose defence 
 such feats of chivalry had been exhibited, was so 
 miserably garrisoned and provisioned that it offered 
 itself as a prey to the ever-watchful enemy. 
 
 In the month of August, 1 4G2, a Moor, named 
 Ali-el-Curro, who had been converted to Christianity, 
 made liis escape from the Rock and fled to Tarifa,
 
 DEFENCELESS CONDITION OF CIBllALTAK. M 
 
 wlicrc he presented liimself before the Alcalde, Alonzo 
 de Arcos. To him he represented, with every appear- 
 ance of sincerity, and with great minuteness, the 
 condition of the garrison and the weakness of its re- 
 sources. Convinced by the man's manner and protest- 
 ations of fidelity that his story was true, the Alcalde, 
 unwilling to lose so favourable an opportunity of 
 gaining military renown, resolved to attack the place 
 without delay. 
 
 Having left a small body of his troops for the 
 defence of Tarifa during his absence, he set out witli 
 80 horsemen and 120 foot-soldiers, guided by Ali-el- 
 Curro, and arrived before Gibraltar the same night. 
 Meditating an assault upon the fortress at break of 
 day, the party concealed themselves in the vicinity of 
 the Rock. In the morning, however, three soldiers 
 of the garrison were captured on guard outside the 
 walls, and from these men, by means of torture, the 
 Alcalde extracted such important information that he 
 deemed it expedient to delay the assault, and to send 
 to the districts of Xercs, ^Icdina-Sidonia, to the 
 Count of Arcos, and Don Juan de Guzman, inviting 
 them to come and assist at the capture of Gibraltar. 
 
 A large force soon began to arrive, — troops from 
 Castellar and Ximena, towns in the inunediate neigh- 
 bourhood, tirst reaching the scene of action, — followed 
 by Gonzalo de Avila with a large body of infantry and 
 400 horse. 
 
 But Alonzo de Arcos was too impatient of attack
 
 64 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 to wait until all these reinforcements arrived ; con- 
 trary to advice lie made a general assault upon the 
 city and castle, with the assistance only of the 
 troops from Ximena and Castellar. The strength 
 of his forces, however, was insufficient for the enter- 
 prise, and the project failed. The Moors valiantly 
 repulsed the storming parties, and the troops retired 
 with considerable loss. Disheartened at this defeat, 
 the army became insubordinate and discontented. A 
 council of war was held to consider upon the course 
 to be pursued. At this the majority of the chiefs 
 were in favour of immediate retreat, in spite of the 
 remonstrances of the Alcalde, and the protestations 
 of the Moor "El Curro." In the midst of their 
 deliberations, and just when the siege was about to 
 be abandoned, a deserter from the garrison made his 
 appearance in the Christian camp, and gave such 
 a deplorable description of the losses and sufferings 
 of the Moors during the late attack, that the Alcalde, 
 with the concurrence of his subordinates, determined 
 to send into the city propositions for the surrender of 
 the place. But before the messenger bearing this 
 proposal had left the camp, emissaries arrived from 
 the garrison to make overtures for peace. They 
 offered to surrender the Rock on certain conditions, 
 namely, that the garrison should march out unharmed, 
 taking with them all the goods they could carry. 
 Alon/o dc Arcos received tlic emissaries with every 
 courtesy ; but as tlie besiegers were divided into
 
 DON RODUIOO SEIZES UPON (JIBUALTAK. 05 
 
 several parties, each commanded by independent 
 eliiefs jealous of one another, it was impossible to 
 arrive at any conclusion. 
 
 A re})ly was consequently sent to the emissaries, 
 that without consulting a higher authority, these pro- 
 ])ositions could not be acceded to. The negotiations 
 were in this position when Don Rodrigo, Ponce de 
 Leon, son of the Count of Arcos, accompanied by a 
 body-guard of 300 lancers, arrived in the camp. 
 His coming was hailed with satisfaction, and the 
 state of affairs was immediately made known to him. 
 The arrival of this chief having been announced to 
 the Moors, another emissary in the person of Moham- 
 med Kab, their leader, presented himself to Rodrigo, 
 and urged upon him the former propositions for the 
 surrender of the city. Rodrigo, however, declared 
 his inability to sign any treaty until he had consulted 
 the count his father and the Duke of ]\ledina-Si- 
 donia, who at that time had not reached the camp. 
 Dissensions, however, arose among the independent 
 chiefs, which hastened the necessity of taking posses- 
 sion of the place at once. 
 
 The foundation of these disputes was a question as 
 to who had the right to receive the surrender of the 
 fortress, — each separate chief claiming the privilege. 
 Seeing that the disputes would be endless, and that 
 the present opportunity was favourable, Don Rodrigo 
 took advantage of the moment, and, without waiting 
 for the arrival of the Duke of Medina-Sidonia, or
 
 GQ niSTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 consulting the other leaders, seized suddenly upon the 
 fortress. 
 
 The Moors, unable to resist, abandoned the town, 
 but intrenched themselves in the castle, and prepared 
 to defend their position. At this time the Duke of 
 Medina arrived, intending to accept the surrender in 
 his name ; and his anger was great when he found 
 Rodrigo already established in the city. A violent 
 dispute arose between the two chiefs, each claiming 
 the right of possession ; but an arrangement was 
 ultimately arrived at, by which it was agreed that 
 both should enter the castle at the same time, and 
 hoist their standards simultaneously. Accordingly 
 the surrender of the place was accepted, and on the 
 20th August, 14C2, after a comparatively bloodless 
 siege, Gibraltar reverted to the dominion of the Chris- 
 tians. 
 
 The success of this siege, and the important event 
 of the annexation of Gibraltar to Spain, is attribut- 
 able principally to Alonzo de Arcos. It was he who 
 originated the expedition, procured the troops, and 
 animated the men by his example when they were 
 disheartened by defeat. His services were not forgot- 
 ten by the nation, and he was afterwards appointed 
 chief magistrate of Seville by the king. lie died 
 in 1477, and was buried in the vault of the Carthusian 
 monastery at Seville. On his tomb was engraved the 
 following inscription :
 
 DESCENDANTS OF ALONZO DE AlU'OS. 07 
 
 " Here lies interred tlic nmcli-lioiioiiii'd Aloiizo 
 (le Arcos of Tarifa, who recovered Gibraltar from the 
 enemies of oiu' holy faith, lie departed this life in 
 tlie year 1477, havinf]^ been a great benefactor to this 
 holy house." 
 
 Many distinguished soldiers sprang from this 
 celebrated man. Amongst others, General Alonzo 
 de Arcos, who defended Cuba against the English in 
 A. D. 1747 ; and Don Prancisco de Arcos, who dis- 
 tinguished himself at the capture of INIinorca. 
 
 The intelligence of the glorious success and sur- 
 render of the already world-renowned stronghold 
 having been sent to the king, he directed the Duke of 
 Medina-Sidonia to remain in possession of the fortress. 
 The first care of the duke Avas to provide an honour- 
 able burial for the corpse of his father, De Guzman, 
 which had been retained by the ]\Ioors after the last 
 siege. 
 
 Aware of the value of Gibraltar, King Henry did 
 not hesitate to annex it to the crown of Castile, and, 
 to the joy of the nation, this act was publicly an- 
 nounced. The Duke of Medina-Sidonia, however, who 
 from the moment of the surrender had obstinately 
 asserted his claim to the possession of the Rock, 
 showed an inclination to resist the royal decree. The 
 king, who in this instance exhibited more firmness 
 than usually marked his public acts, took every pre- 
 caution to repel the aggression of the duke, who, per- 
 
 6 •
 
 68 . HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ceiving that resistance would be vain, and unwilling to 
 enter upon an unsuccessful contest with his sovereign, 
 delivered up the fortress. 
 
 Like his predecessor, Ferdinand IV., the first care 
 of the king was to promote the increase of the Chris- 
 tian population in the city and in the neighbouring 
 district. Pedro de Porras was appointed Alcalde of 
 the town, and a royal order was issued declaring the 
 annexation of the ruined city and the district of Alge- 
 ciras to the territory of Gibraltar. This royal order, 
 dated December 15, 1462, declared, that as, "by the 
 grace and assistance of God, the city of Gibraltar was 
 taken from the Moors, enemies of our holy catholic 
 faith, and is now belonging to me and my royal 
 crown, and as the city guards the straits so that there 
 may not pass to the king or kingdom of Granada 
 assistance in men, horses, arms, nor provisions ; and 
 as the said city has but few inhabitants, and that to 
 people it I ought to bestow grace and favour on those 
 Avho choose to go and dwell there, and remain con- 
 tinually with their wives and families, so that they 
 may be the more disposed to serve me, and defend 
 and protect the said city and guard the straits ; it is 
 
 therefore by my favour, " Here follows the list of 
 
 privileges which the king was pleased to grant. No 
 sooner was this important annexation announced than 
 the measure was leceivcd with considerable dissatis- 
 faction by the neighbouring cities, more especially l)y
 
 VISIT OK KINC IIK.NKY. Ol) 
 
 the authorities of Xercs, who complained of the in- 
 justice of tlic act. No (listurl)ancc, liowever, took 
 phice, and the district of Algeciras remained connected 
 with Gibraltar. 
 
 In 1404, King Henry, desirous of becoming ac- 
 ([uainted with liis new acquisition, already famous 
 throughout Europe, set out from Seville to visit tlie 
 fortress. On his arrival, hearing that Alonzo V., King 
 of Portugal, was at Ceuta returning from his expedi- 
 tion against Tangier, he sent an invitation for him to 
 come to Gibraltar. The king accordingly crossed 
 over and was received with great cordiality. 
 
 For eight days the two monarchs remained to- 
 gether hunting in the mountains of Almoraima not 
 far from the Hock. After the departure of Alonzo, 
 Henry employed his time in arranging the future 
 government of the city, the office of Alcalde being 
 transferred from Pedro de Porras to the king's favourite 
 Beltran de la Cueva, and the lieutenancy to his cousin 
 Estevan do Villacreces, appointments which gave 
 fresh cause of complaint to the Duke of Medina, who 
 strongly protested against them. From Gibraltar the 
 king was suddenly recalled to his capital by seditious 
 outbreaks in his dominions. 
 
 For a long time he had been troubled with con- 
 spiracies and even open rebellion among his barons 
 and courtiers. A powerful party of the nobles were 
 intriguing to procure the proclamation of the Infante
 
 70 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Alfonso as Prince of Asturias and successor to the 
 throne, to the exchision of the Infanta Juana or the 
 " Beltraneja," * the pretended ofFsprmg of the kmg. 
 
 Plot upon plot was prepared to carry this project 
 into effect, until eventually Henry, unable to stem the 
 torrent of opposition, assented to the propositions of 
 the faction, and (a. d. 1465) declared Alfonso his heir, 
 thus admitting the illegitimacy of Juana. At the same 
 time it was arranged that the Infante should marry 
 the Beltraneja. 
 
 * The Infauta, was reputed to be tlie daughter of Beltran 
 de Cueva, the king's favourite.
 
 ANAUCllY TIlKOl (JUOUT CASTILK. 71 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 NINTH SIEGE. 
 
 During the few years thiit Alfonso lived, the 
 kingdom was the victim of deplorable troubles ; the 
 two factions, the partizans of Henry and the un- 
 principled protectors of the Infante, were ever at war, 
 and complete anarchy prevailed throughout Castile. 
 All government was abohshed, and the laws of the 
 country were powerless ; the highways were seized by 
 bands of brigands ; villages and towns were sacked 
 by ruthless marauders, and the inhabitants were coni- 
 ])elled to form themselves into armed bodies for the 
 protection of their lives and property. 
 
 Taking advantage of this state of confusion, the 
 Duke of jMedina applied to the Infante Alfonso for 
 letters-patent, granting to him and his heirs for ever 
 the city of Gil)raltar, with its castle, fortifications, and 
 jurisdictions, with all the rights and privileges apper- 
 taining to it. This document he succeeded in obtain- 
 ing, and no sooner was the gift and settlement decided, 
 than he ])repared to take i)ossession of the Rock by 
 force if necessary. AVith this object he assembled a
 
 72 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 considerable body of men, fully armed and equipped. 
 At this time Estevan de Villacreces, the Lieutenant- 
 Governor, was in command of the garrison. 
 
 A truce having been recently concluded with the 
 Moors, no fear was entertained by Villacreces of an 
 attack from that quarter, and the idea of any hostile 
 movement from the Christian frontier was never 
 contemplated. When the intentions of the Duke, 
 therefore, were made known to Villacreces he was 
 overwhelmed with astonishment. Though at first 
 unable to comprehend such audacity, he quickly re- 
 covered from his surprise, and immediately prepared 
 to defend his trust. He despatched letters entreating 
 succour both to the king and to his relative Don 
 Beltran de la Cueva, informing them at the same time 
 of the impending attack. 
 
 The king, completely occupied by revolutionary 
 troubles, was unable to send any assistance, but issued 
 an order desiring the inhabitants of the neighbouring 
 district to place their aid at the disposal of the Alcalde. 
 Finding that the strength of his force would be utterly 
 inadequate to the defence of the extensive boundaries 
 circling the city, Villacreces abandoned the town and 
 retired to the castle. 
 
 Arrived before the Rock, the Duke of Mcdina- 
 Sidonia ordered tlu; city to Ix; i-Acn j)ossession of, a 
 movciiKMit wliich Avas effected without ;iiiy loss, as tlio 
 royal troops offered no opposition. He then began 
 an attack upon the castle, a. d. LIGG.
 
 NINTH s>iE(;i:. 73 
 
 I'or ten moiitlis the besieged licld out with lieroic 
 courage (1 407), notwithstanding tlic repeated attacks 
 of the enemy and tlie scareity ot" provisions. Enraged 
 at the obstinacy of the defence, and resolved to con- 
 (luer, the Duke, in February, 1107, sent his son, Don 
 Enrique de Guzman, from Seville with reinforcements 
 of men, arms, and provisions. Reanhnated by these 
 l)Owerful succours the besiegers redoubled their efforts, 
 and, making good use of their artillery, several breaches 
 were opened in the walls, and the castle was eventually 
 taken by assault. Villacreces, who even in this ex- 
 tremity remained undismayed, continued to dispute 
 the advance of the enemy, and retired with his men 
 to the inner tower of the Calahorra, where, in the face 
 of innumerable difficulties and repeated assaults, he 
 maintained himself for five months. At length the 
 besieged were red\iced to the most terrible privations. 
 Grass and roots were their only food, and when these 
 were consumed they had recourse to their shoes and 
 leather girdles. His men, prostrate with despair, 
 began to desert, and thus, finding himself without 
 a bare hope of success, or a chance of relief, this 
 brave man delivered up (June, 14G7) the fortress to 
 Don Enrifpie dc Guzman, after a most memorable 
 defence. 
 
 In 1 ins, the Infante Alfonso died, and the affairs 
 of King Henry assumed for a moment a more peaceful 
 aspect. 
 
 At this time an event occurred of memorable im-
 
 74 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 portance in the history of Spain, and affecting mate- 
 rially the final expulsion of the Moorish dynasty. 
 
 Juan 11. of Aragon, a shrewd and intelligent 
 monarch, had long desired to connect his kingdom 
 with that of Castile, not resorting to the hazards and 
 miseries of conquest, but by the more peaceful policy 
 of a matrimonial alliance. It required no remarkable 
 sagacity to foresee the benefits to be derived from 
 the concentration of these two monarchies. They 
 spoke the same language, lived under the same laws, 
 sprung from the same race, and singly were unable 
 to repel the aggressions of their turbulent neighbours ; 
 while together they would form a powerful and influ- 
 ential state. 
 
 To accomplish this union, which was destined to 
 open a fresh sera in the annals of Spain, Juan formally 
 solicited the hand of Isabella of Castile for his son 
 Ferdinand, King of Sicily. 
 
 This prince, who was then about eighteen years of 
 age, was endowed with a judgment and talents far 
 beyond his years. In person he was handsome, and 
 his frame, which was muscular and well i)roportioncd, 
 was invigorated by the toils of war and chivalrous 
 exercises. Aware of the advantages which Ferdinand 
 possessed, it is not surprising that the Infanta was 
 not unwilling to accept the propositions of King 
 Juan. 
 
 But Henry and his queen, jealous of the powerful 
 support which the cause of the Infanta would receive
 
 rEllDINANI) AND ISABELLA. 75 
 
 by luT connection willi Aragon, offered every ob- 
 stacle to retard and intercept the progress of tiie mar- 
 riage negotiations. Already they had other projects 
 in contemplation : amongst them, the marriage of 
 Isabella with Alfonso of Portugal, or the Duke dc 
 lierri ; alliances not unnaturally distasteful to the 
 Infanta. Finding, however, that the proposal of the 
 King of Aragon was favourably received by Isabella, 
 Henry resorted to every species of oppression and 
 persecution to prevent the marriage. Harassed by 
 continued ill treatment, subjected to the observation 
 of spies, and virtually imprisoned in Madrigal, whither 
 she had retired pending the negotiations, Isabella 
 almost wavered in her resolve, and was on the point 
 of acceding to the wishes of her brother, when the 
 Archbishop of Toledo arrived to her assistance, both 
 with good counsel and an armed force. From her 
 j)erilous situation in Madrigal she was removed to 
 Valladolid, where she was met by Ferduiand, and the 
 iniptials were secretly performed without interruption 
 in October, a. d. 1 4G9. 
 
 To return to events at Gibraltar. In 1 40S the 
 first Duke of Medina, third Count of Niebla, died, 
 and was succeeded by his son Don llenricpie. 
 
 Anxious to secure his right to the possession of 
 Gibraltar, the young duke solicited from King Henry 
 a formal acknowledgment of the gift of the city, 
 fortress, and territory to him and his heirs for ever. 
 Unable to maintain a refusal, on tlic 3rd June, ll(il),
 
 76 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the king issued a Royal Decree, declaring the duke 
 and his heirs to hold by right for ever Gibraltar, with 
 its fortifications., boundaries, territory, and possessions. 
 In this document the declaration of the gift is pre- 
 faced by a recapitulation of the manifold services of 
 the house of De Guzman. " Bearing in mind," it says, 
 " how Don Enrique de Guzman my uncle, Conde de 
 Niebla, your grandfather, copying the fidelity and 
 good intention of his ancestors and descendants of 
 the royal race from which he sprang, Avent with all 
 his knights and retainers at his own expense to 
 besiege and attack the city of Gibraltar, then held by 
 the Moors, to redeem it to the faith and semce of our 
 Lord, and to subject it to my royal crown ; how that 
 at that siege there fell a great number of knights and 
 people of his house, and that he himself was buried 
 in the fortress of the said city ; and the same desire 
 being renewed in Don Juan de Guzman your father, 
 to conquer the said city, he finally got possession and 
 reduced it to our holy faith and to obedience to me, 
 that he peopled it, fortified it, and provided it Avith 
 supplies in case of need. — All of which being taken 
 into consideration, I do bestow . . . . " 
 
 No sooner was the marriage of Ferdinand and 
 Isabella announced than King Henry attempted to 
 secure the crown of Castile, if possible, to the licltran- 
 eja ; the effect of this scheme was a civil war of the 
 most terrible and disastrous cliaracter ; all govern- 
 ment was abolished, tlic barons of the contending
 
 DEATH or IIliNllY IV. / / 
 
 factions made wiw iiuliscriniinatcly upon one anotlicr 
 ^vitll deadly animosity, and Castile was again plunged 
 in desolation. 
 
 At length, in the year 1 1-71', death terminated the 
 reign of Jlenry IV. and put an end to the trou])les 
 that had accompanied liis rule. His character, weak 
 and helpless beyond comprehension, rendered him the 
 tool of favourites and factions, who were })erhaps more 
 responsible for the sad events of his reign than the 
 feeble-minded monarch himself. Speaking of the 
 condition of Castile at the period of the king's death, 
 a distiguished historian thus sums up his remarks : 
 
 ** Dismembered by faction, his revenues squandered 
 on worthless parasites, the grossest violations of 
 justice unredressed, public faith become a jest, the 
 treasury bankrupt, the court a brothel, and private 
 morals too loose and audacious to seek even the veil 
 of hypocrisy ; never had the fortunes of the kingdom 
 reached so low an ebb since the great Saracen 
 invasion. " * 
 
 On the 13th December, 1474, Isabella was 
 proclaimed at Segovia. During these events the 
 Duke of Medina-Sidonia, not forgetful of the im- 
 portance of Gibraltar, had occupied himself with 
 taking every precaution to preserve it in his possession. 
 Military regulations were established ; an Alcalde 
 was ai)pointed to connnand the castle, people were 
 invited to settle within the territory, lands being 
 * Prcscott, vol. i. J). 210.
 
 78 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 allotted to tliem in proportion to their means, and by 
 letters-patent from the king, all duties and im- 
 posts of any kind whatsoever were abolished. 
 
 On the accession of Ferdinand and Isabella, the 
 duke, not contented with the ample concessions of 
 King Henry, applied for and obtained the title and 
 dignity of Marquess of Gibraltar, which was con- 
 ferred upon him on the 30th September, 1478, in 
 consideration of his own merits and the services of 
 his ancestors. This act of royal favour was not lost 
 upon the marquess. During the wars that ensued 
 between Ferdinand and the Moors, de Guzman, who 
 had always warmly supported the cause of Isabella, 
 rendered signal service to the king. 
 
 The accession of Ferdinand and Isabella, and 
 the consolidation of Aragon with Castile, was the 
 signal for the destruction of the Moorish dynasty in 
 Spain. Ridding himself with all haste from his 
 troubles with Portugal, that he might act with greater 
 power against the infidels, Ferdinand, in 1489, took 
 the field at the head of 50,000 foot and 12,000 horse, 
 and with this formidable force marched against the 
 enemy. The Moors, whose power as we have seen 
 had gradually been on the wane, were utterly helpless 
 against such an overwhelming amiy. 
 
 'IV)wn after town submitted to the Christian mon- 
 arch, until scarce a city besides their long-cherished 
 capital remained to them. The two grandees, llcn- 
 rifnie do Ciu/niaii, Duke of Mcdinn, nnd the Marquis
 
 SURRENDER OF GRANADA. 71) 
 
 of Cadiz, Police^ dv Leon, siuotliercd their hitherto 
 deadly feuds and joined to crush the conuiion foe to 
 their country and rchj^ion. Vclez-Mahip;a, Comares, 
 Mahiga, Ahneria, and Aliania submitted to the 
 victorious Christians, and in 1 191 the great city 
 of Granada, the pride of Moorish Spain, was invested 
 hy 00,000 men. It would be beyond my object to 
 recount the Ijloody struggles, the many feats of 
 valour, and the famous events that marked the pro- 
 gress of this memorable siege. Worn out with 
 sickness and fomine, opposed to an overwhelming 
 force, bowed down with despair, and conscious that 
 the last link which bound together the fragments of 
 their ancient kingdom was already shattered, the 
 vanquished remnant of that once glorious dynasty 
 succumbed to the Christian arms, and with a deep 
 sigh of woe surrendered their cherished capital to 
 a triumphant enemy.* 
 
 On the 4th Januaiy, 1492, Abu Abdalla went 
 out to meet Ferdinand, and dehvercd up the keys of 
 the city. On the same day the victorious army 
 entered the gates, and the banners of Christendom 
 floated from the towers of the Alhambra. 
 
 Though Isabella, in the early part of her reign, 
 had, as we have seen, transferred Gibraltar to the 
 Duke of Medina as a gift for ever, yet she hail long 
 desired to regain that important fortress, and to annex 
 
 * In Grauada thcro is a carefully chcrisluHl spot, called to 
 lliist day, " El ultinu) siispiro del ^loro."
 
 80 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAU. 
 
 it to her dominions. With this view she opened 
 negotiations with the duke, offering in exchange 
 for the Rock the City of Utrera (Ayala). But De 
 Guzman rejected the proposition, urging that all his 
 possessions, which were of great extent, were situated 
 in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, including the 
 extensive and valuable tunny-fisheries, which had been 
 estabhshed along the coast in the vicinity. Matters 
 stood thus until he died, on the 25th of August, 
 1492, about eight months after the siege of Granada, 
 where he had been distinguished for his gallantry and 
 the assistance he had rendered to the king. 
 
 He was succeeded by his son, Don Juan, third 
 Duke of Medina-Sidonia, who instantly applied to 
 his sovereign for a renewal of the grants and privileges 
 conferred upon his father.* But this occasion ap- 
 peared to Isabella singularly opportune for the 
 recovery of Gibraltar from the De Guzraans, and she 
 therefore rephed that every other right and privilege 
 would be confirmed, provided Gibraltar were restored 
 to the Crown of Castile. Against this unexpected 
 demand the duke earnestly protested, pleading the 
 injustice of the measure, which would deprive him of a 
 possession fought for and gained by his ancestors, and 
 subsequently granted by the Crown. Isabella, anxious 
 to avoid any contest with this powerful subject, and 
 taking into consideration the loyal services of his 
 
 * J)()ii Rodrij,'o, Ponce de Leon, Duke of Cadi/,, the ancient 
 riv.'il of the I)r fliiziiiiins, died ilircc days aftcrwarda at Seville.
 
 Isabella's riioJKCT of regaining giuraltau. Si 
 
 father and his ancestors, reluctantly consented to 
 allow the duke to retain the fortress. 
 
 For 34 years Gibraltar remained under the do- 
 minion of the Duke of I\Iedina-Siclonia, and in a.d. 
 1497, when the expedition against Melilla (in Africa) 
 w[is undertaken by Ferdinand, the place became of 
 great service as a depot for provisions and munitions 
 of war. 
 
 Isabella, however, had not abandoned her long- 
 cherished project of annexing Gibraltar to the Crown. 
 In the year a.d. 1501 the question was again 
 mooted, and on this occasion without opposition on 
 the part of the duke. '' On the 22nd December, 1501, 
 a Royal Decree was promulgated at Toledo, appoint- 
 ing Garcilaso de la Vega, Knight of Castile, to be 
 Governor of Gibraltar, and ordering him to take 
 possession of the place in the King's name. In 
 January, 1502, Garcilaso arrived at the fortress, and 
 made known the object of his mission to the authori- 
 ties, who were assembled in the Orange Court-yard, 
 in front of the principal church. The Royal Decree 
 was read ordering the inunediate surrender to their 
 Majesties of the city, fortress, and district of (jii)- 
 raltar, together with all the archives and emblems 
 of justice and authority. The ceremony, accom- 
 panied by shouts of " Long live the King," was 
 solemnly performed, the wands of office were presented 
 to Garcilaso, and he forthwith took possession of the 
 castle. The kevs of all the forts, towers, and gates
 
 82 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR, 
 
 were surrendered, together with the stores, arms, and 
 ammunition, and all other articles, including the 
 wooden coffin of Henry de Guzman, the Duke of 
 Niebla, who perished under the walls of the fortress. 
 Garcilaso next assembled the magistrates of the city, 
 and authorities, and nominated Diego Lopez de Haro 
 to be his lieutenant, and alcalde of the castle." * 
 
 Following the instructions of his sovereign, all 
 officers were confirmed in the appointments which 
 they held at the time of the annexation, and Garcilaso 
 obtained from the authorities a formal acknowledg- 
 ment of the surrender of the church and city of Gib- 
 raltar, together with all its civil and military jurisdic- 
 tion, to the Crown of Castile. 
 
 At the request of the inhabitants, by whom the 
 annexation was regarded with delight, their Majesties 
 (10th July, 1502) granted a coat of arms to the city, 
 which, in consideration of Gibraltar being a fortress, 
 and the key of the Spanish dominions, consisted of a 
 castle with a golden key pendant, with the following 
 inscription, " Seal of the noble city of Gibraltar, the 
 key of Spain." f The privileges granted to the city 
 by Henry IV. were renewed, and the principal chui'ch 
 almost entirely rebuilt. 
 
 Soon after its surrender Gibraltar was made a 
 penal settlement, and groat numbers of criminals were 
 
 * Ayala. Hist, do Glibnillar. 1782. 
 t The (Iced of grant is preserved in the archives at St 
 ]^nqiie, sipined hy luM'din.'uuI and Isahclhi.
 
 DKATII OK iSAUr.LI.A. 83 
 
 sent there to assist in extending the fortifications and 
 repnirinp: tlie defences. 
 
 On the 2(>th November, 1501, Qnccn Isjibella 
 died, after a memorable and glorious reign. In her 
 ^vill appeared the following clause relating to (Jib- 
 raltar : — 
 
 " It is my will nnd desire, inasmuch as the city of 
 nil)raltar has been surrendered by Don Henry de Guz- 
 man, has been restored to the royal Crown, and been 
 inserted among its titles, that it shall for ever so re- 
 main. I ask and require of the kings, my successors, 
 that they may hold and retain the said city for them- 
 selves and in their own possession ; and that no alien- 
 ation of it, or any part of it, or of its jurisdiction, civil 
 or criminal, shall ever be made from the Crown of 
 Castile." 
 
 The Infante Juan, only son of Ferdinand and Isa- 
 bella, having died in 1497 without issue, the succes- 
 sion to the throne devolved upon the offspring * of 
 their second daughter, Juana, wife of Philip, Archduke 
 of Austria. As the young king was but an infant, 
 and the queen, Juana, of too weak a nature to 
 undertake the cares of government, Isabella had 
 ajipointcd her husband, Ferdinand, regent until 
 C'harles should attain his twentieth year. 
 
 The death of Isabella had scarcely been announced, 
 when those deplorable dissensions, which had for so 
 long a time distracted Castile, broke out again with 
 
 * The celebrated Charles Y. 
 6 •
 
 84 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 renewed violence,— Philip, the husband of Juana, 
 claiming his right to the regal title, and a share in the 
 administration of the government, an assumption 
 which was strenuously opposed by Ferdinand. 
 
 In 1506 Philip fell ill and died at Burgos, and 
 fresh difficulties arose in the settlement of a regency. 
 The queen Juana declined to act, and a council of the 
 nobles assembled to decide upon the course to be 
 adopted. 
 
 It was ultimately resolved to recall Ferdinand, 
 who had left the kingdom, and thus save the state 
 from inevitable anarchy and ruin. In 1507 that 
 prince reached Castile and assumed the regency, 
 which he retained until his death, an event that took 
 place on the 23rd of January, 151G. 
 
 During the regency of Ferdinand, Don Juan de 
 Guzman, Duke of Medina, still dissatisfied with the 
 loss of Gibraltar, again urged his claim to the fortress, 
 and even had recourse to arms. In 1506 he sent in- 
 structions from Seville to his son Enrique to besiege 
 tlic place and recover it at any risk. Timely notice 
 was sent to Gibraltar of the intended attack, and act- 
 ive measures were taken for its defence. The whole 
 population, without distinction of rank or position, was 
 called upon to take u}) arms against the besiegers, and 
 appeals for assistance were sent to the Marquis de 
 Mondijar, Captain-general of Granada, and to otlier 
 nol)les of influence. For four months the siepje con-
 
 ( IIA15M;S v. l'R(J(JLAl.Mi:i) KlN(i. 85 
 
 tinned, tlionu;]! it luul early assumed rather the 
 character of a blockade than of an active attack. 
 
 The contests l)ctwecn the two parties were few 
 and bloodless, and the losses, except from sickness, 
 insignificant. At length, seeing no symptoms of snr- 
 render, and influenced by the arguments of the Arch- 
 bishop of Seville, the duke broke u}) his camp and 
 retired from the 10th siege of Gibraltar. 
 
 On the death of Ferdinand, his grandson, Charles 
 v., eldest son of Philip and Juana, was proclaimed 
 king. In order, however, to silence the dissatis- 
 faction of some members of the Council of State, 
 who contended that Juana alone could claim the 
 Crown, both she and her son were proclaimed at the 
 same time and in the following terms : — 
 
 " Donna Juana y Don Carlos, lleyna y Rcy de 
 Castilla." 
 
 In 1519, a vacancy having occurred in the succes- 
 sion to the imperial throne of Germany, by the death 
 of Maximilian, the crown was offered to Charles, who, 
 in spite of the opposition of his rival, Francis I., king 
 of France, readily accepted it. 
 
 By no means blind to the importance of such a 
 fortress as Gibraltar, Charles speedily took measures 
 to secure its safety and increase its means of ck'Tence. 
 In 15:20, the year succeeding his accession to the im- 
 })eiial throne, he appointed Don Rodrigo Bazan eor- 
 regidor and alcalde of the Rock ; and having ilelivered
 
 86 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 to him letters containing expressions of liis apprecia- 
 tion of the loyalty and fidehty of the garrison, he or- 
 dered him to proceed from Worms, and immediately 
 enter upon his duties. Under his rule Gibraltar en- 
 joyed an immunity from those terrible disturbances 
 which had for so many years harassed the population. 
 Relieved from the miseries and barbarism of continual 
 war, the inhabitants began to tnrn their attention to 
 the improvement of the city and the restoration of the 
 public buildings. In 1528 the monastery of St Fran- 
 cisco was restored, and with the aid of a government 
 grant of land and money a magnificent friary was 
 built and endowed. In 1535 the alcalde Rodrigo de 
 Bazan was succeeded by his namesake, Don Alvaro 
 de Bazan.* 
 
 Speaking of the administration of affairs by this 
 alcalde, Ayala says : — " The town was exposed to 
 
 * There appears to be some doubt whether this was the 
 celebrated Marquis of Santa Cruz, admiral of the fleet, aud so 
 famous for hia talents and successes as a naval connnander, or 
 only a person of similar name. Ayala and Monti both say that 
 he was merely a youth of no ability, and unfit for his office. 
 Montero, on the other hand, without quoting authority, 
 identifies him with the admiral, explaining that he was per- 
 mitted to retain both commands, in consideration of his great 
 abilities and loyal services. I am inclined to follow the au- 
 thority of Ayala ; for had an able and experienced man held 
 the government of the fortress at this time, it is not probable 
 that the defences would have been permitted to remain in a 
 condition so ruinous and incomplete as tliat in which they were 
 found l)y the ])irate Turks five years afterwards, in 1510.
 
 TLRKlSll I'IRATKS. 87 
 
 any sudden attack, the wall, particularly on the south 
 side, beinjT f^i-catly dilapidated ; few artillery were 
 mounted, and the nund)er of troops and military stores 
 
 less than had been assigned to it " " The long 
 
 continuance of peace had lulled the Government into 
 too great belief of security, and the city was shortly to 
 experience the evil consequence of neglect, and to 
 suffer the misfortunes hereafter recounted." * 
 
 At the time of which we speak, the ^Mediterranean 
 was scoured by hordes of Turkish pirates, under the 
 celebrated Ilayradin Barbarossa, who, constantly land- 
 ing and devastating the various coasts, had rendered 
 themselves masters of the sea, and the terror of the 
 bordering countries. 
 
 The isolated position of Gibraltar, the weakness of 
 its defences, and the spoils that would be the reward 
 of a successful attack, had not escaped the notice of 
 these unprincipled marauders. 
 
 Being in constant communication with floors who 
 had escaped from the Rock, and Avho were well ae- 
 ([uaiiited with the defences and facility of an invasion, 
 JJarbarossa had often resolved to make the attempt. 
 Occui)ied however by other plans, he was not able to 
 put his project into execution, but his idea had long 
 been known to his followers, who, with his sanction, 
 and led by one of his most renowned captains, sailed 
 in 1510 from Algiers with the bold design of taking 
 the fortress by assault. 
 
 • Ayala. Iliat. dc Gibraltar.
 
 00 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAFv. 
 
 Don Alvaro de Bazan, the admiral of the Spanish 
 fleet, had at his earnest request been reHeved from his 
 command in 1537, and the navy was under the orders 
 of Don Bernardino de Mendoza, who, with his squad- 
 ron, was cruising near Sicily. 
 
 The pirate expedition was organized by Azenaga, 
 the viceroy of Algiers, who having conferred with 
 Barbarossa, and obtained the assistance of Dali-Hamat 
 as commander of the galleys, and of a celebrated chief, 
 Caramani, as leader of the troops, speedily fitted out 
 the fleet, consisting of sixteen sail, at a cost of 
 25,000 ducats, which sum was to be defrayed from 
 the plunder and spoils of the enemy. 
 
 Every care was taken to insure the success of the 
 enterprise : the officers were selected for their skill 
 and courage, the galleys were manned by 1000 Chris- 
 tian slaves at the oars, and 2000 soldiers to sustain 
 the attack by land. On the 20th of August, 1 540, 
 the expedition set sail, and, taking every precaution to 
 avoid the Spanish squadron, directed its course towards 
 Gibraltar. 
 
 In the mean while, intefligencc of tlic impending 
 invasion reached the garrison, l)ut, through the apathy 
 of the authorities, no measures were taken to resist 
 the attack. Despising to prepare for the repulse of an 
 unorganized horde of freebooters, the walls of the city 
 remained unprotected and o})en to the approach of an 
 enemy, whilst the castle, neglected and defenceless,
 
 TllK UOCK ATTACKKI) HV I'lUATKS. ^9 
 
 was formidahlu only fV()!a its almost impregnable 
 position. 
 
 After a cautious passage of ten days the hostile 
 fleet came in sight of the Rock, and shortly aftcr^vards 
 the pirates landed on the southern shore, where they 
 met with no opposition. The inhabitants, tcmfied and 
 unable to resist the furious energy of the bloodthirsty 
 corsairs, shut themselves up in the city, and prepared 
 as well as they were able to protect their property and 
 families. Elated with their success, the Turks ra})idly 
 advanced, pUmdering on their way the Ilemiitage of 
 the Virgin of Europa, and, passing through the district 
 of the Turba, made their way towards the castle. Here 
 the few troops left on the Rock and most of the 
 more courageous inhabitants located themselves, and 
 resolved to defend themselves to the last. Well aware 
 of the fate which awaited them, if they w^ere captured 
 or submitted to a surrender, they fought with the 
 courage of despair. In vain Caramani led his men, 
 greedy for plunder and thirsting for blood, against 
 the beleaguered Christians; his efforts were futile, and 
 the castle still held out. Enraged at the obstinacy of 
 the defence, the wretches overran the city, seizing and 
 sending on board the galleys as captives all who came 
 in their way, including several men of rank anil 
 wealth. At length, finding that there was no pros- 
 pect of overcoming the resistance, and satisfied with 
 the plunder and munbcr of prisoners they had secured.
 
 90 ■ HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 they retired to their ships and re-embarked. But 
 instead of shaping their course for Africa, they en- 
 deavoured to add to their spoils by a descent upon 
 the coast near Algeciras. Passing triumphantly across 
 the bay, they again landed at the Orange Grove, and 
 pillaged, murdered, or took prisoners all who resisted 
 them. The country along the shore "was laid waste, 
 the cattle destroyed, and the vineyards burnt. 
 
 After this havoc they became weaned with their 
 success, and prepared to embark with their plunder 
 for Algiers. But the Christians, heart-broken at the 
 loss of their relatives and friends who remained in the 
 hands of the pirates, sent a flag of truce by Alvaro de 
 Pina, to make offers of a ransom for the recovery of 
 the prisoners. It was arranged that Prancisco de 
 Mendoza, a captive of rank, should be delivered up 
 on payment of 1000 ducats, and the remainder were 
 to be released for 6000 ducats; all prisoners on either 
 side were to be surrendered, and other conditions 
 favourable to the Turks were agreed to. A long delay, 
 however, ensued in making arrangements for the pay- 
 ment of this heavy ransom, and, as it was found 
 impossible to raise the whole sum in Gibraltar, an 
 appeal for a loan was sent to the IMarquis of Tarifa. But 
 this delay suggesting an intention of treachery, the 
 Turks set sail with their captives on the 1 2th Septem- 
 ber, and proceeded on their way to Algiers. 
 
 I'ortunately Don Bernardino de Mendoza was at 
 this time in Carthagciui with his licet, and news of the
 
 TllL DEFENCES bTUENGTIIKNi;!). Ui 
 
 disasters! at Oihraltar liad already reached him. In 
 Ihe hopes of ralHiig in with tlie piratical galleys, he 
 put to sea, and soon came in sight of the Turkish 
 s(jua(!ron. A desperate engagement ensued, Cara- 
 mani was killed, Dali-llamat taken prisoner, and the 
 j)irates dispersed. 437 Turks remained in the hands 
 of the victors, and 837 Christian slaves were liberated. 
 
 It was long before Gibraltar recovered from the 
 disastrous effects of this predatory incursion. I^ut 
 the lesson was not without ultimate advantage. 
 
 On the representation of Don Alvaro de Bazan, 
 who had resumed command of the fleet, and the 
 urgent petition of the inhabitants, the Emperor 
 Charles ordered that a more complete system of de- 
 fence should be prepared as rapidly as possible. The 
 old works were strengthened and properly armed. 
 The Land Port gate was rebuilt, and a battery con- 
 structed with a deep ditch, facing the approach from 
 the north front. 
 
 In 155:2 a celebrated enghieer, Juan Bautista 
 Calvi, arrived, by direction of the Emperor, from 
 Milan, to trace out various works and carry out any 
 measures he might consider necessary for the protec- 
 tion of the fortress. Aware, from the result of the 
 recent attack by the Turks, of the defenceless con- 
 dition of the city on the south side, he projected 
 two walls, one commencing at the South Port gate, 
 and running up the Rock for a distance of 1000 feet, 
 the other springing from a scarped precipice and
 
 92 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 reaching to the summit of the hill.* By means of 
 these walls the city was entirely inclosed, and ap- 
 proach from the south rendered almost impossible. 
 
 Other works of some magnitude were planned for 
 the protection of the landing at the Red Sands, and 
 the defence of other parts of the Rock, but in con- 
 sequence of the negligence of the governor these 
 were not completed. 
 
 In 1556 the Emperor Charles V. abdicated the 
 throne, and resigned the crown into the hands of his 
 son, Philip 11. 
 
 In 1558 Gibraltar was again threatened by the 
 pirates, who still infested the coasts of the Mediter- 
 ranean. On the 8th August, five galleys, conveying 
 a number of these corsairs, approached the shore in 
 the neighbourhood of the Rock, evidently with the 
 intention of plundering and desolating the coast ; but 
 before any damage was done the enemy were repulsed 
 and the galleys driven off. In 1575, Philip II., 
 anxious to increase the strength of the fortifications, 
 sent an Italian engineer, by name "el Fratino," to report 
 upon the defences of the place. This officer, who, 
 not unlike men of science in the present day, was 
 self-opinionated and prejudiced against any work the 
 result of a rival genius, condemned the system carried 
 out by Don Juan Calvi and substituted plans of his 
 own. He ordered one of the walls already referred 
 
 * The upper wall was built subsequcutly by another 
 engineer.
 
 MOORISH DYNASTY EXrKM.KI) FROM SPAIN. 93 
 
 to to be removed, and altered the construction of tlic 
 other.* Several batteries were commenced, including 
 the liastion of Santa Cruz, now "Jumper's Bastion," 
 and that of the Rosario at South Port : another, where 
 " King's Bastion " now stands, was erected more to the 
 northward, on tlie Line wall, a portion of the curtain 
 intervening having been removed. In the centre of 
 this curtain w\ns situated an ancient Moorish gate, 
 commonly called the Gate of Algeciras. Among the 
 rich ornamental work which covered the doorway 
 was the emblem of a Key ;\ a sure proof, says 
 Ayala, of the importance which the Moors attached 
 to the possession of Gibraltar. 
 
 In 1598 the son of Philip succeeded to the throne, 
 and it was during his reign that the last remnant 
 of the Moorish dynasty was expelled from Spain. 
 Urged by an infatuated clergy and influenced by 
 the bigotry of his wife, he gave orders in 1009 
 for the expulsion of the whole Moorish race from 
 Valencia, Andalusia, New Castile, and Granada. 
 150,000 were driven from Valencia alone, and 
 transported to the opposite coast. In spite of every 
 ojiposition on their part, upwards of GUO,UOO were 
 forcibly expelled from the various provinces, and from 
 Gibraltar, where, nine centuries before, Tarik liad 
 
 * These alterations were uot carried out; but the upper 
 wall was coinpleted under this engineer. 
 
 t The key was a common emblem used by the Moors ns 
 an ornanicnt to their K^tes.
 
 94 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 landed witli his victorious host, a fleet of galleys em- 
 barked the last of the exiles, and cast them destitute 
 upon the shores of Africa. 
 
 Thus, after the lapse of 900 years from the time 
 when the battle of the Guadalete extinguished the 
 Visigothic dominion, and substituted the rule of the 
 Infidels, the last trace of the great Mohammedan 
 dynasty was swept from Spain. 
 
 During 40 years from this time (1609), no events 
 sufficiently remarkable to be separately noticed oc- 
 curred in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar. 
 
 The Turkish pirates frequently appeared hovering 
 on the coast, and often occasioned alarm to the in- 
 habitants ; but, in order to check the possibility of 
 their landing unobserved, watch-towers were erected 
 all along the shore, from the most eastern point of the 
 kingdom of Granada up to the commencement of 
 Portugal, at regular intervals. These towers are still 
 in existence, but more or less dilapidated. 
 
 Tn 1G18 the Torre del Puerto and other works, 
 including the old mole, were strengthened and repair- 
 ed. In the course of a tour of instruction through his 
 dominions King Philip visited Gibraltar, but the 
 incident is devoid of interest except for the follow- 
 ing anecdote which is related of his entrance into the 
 city. 
 
 On arriving at the Rock, the governor and civil 
 anilioritics went out to meet the king, but when 
 jittem})tiiig to enter the place with liis carriage it was
 
 I'KACK. O'i 
 
 foutul impossible to pass the narrow and tortuous 
 a])pr()acli to the gate. The king, who was in his 
 carriage, was compelled to dismount and enter the 
 garrison on foot ; while the vehicle, which was jammed 
 in the narrow way, had to be taken in pieces. This 
 untoward occurrence occasioned some sharp remon- 
 strances from the royal attendants, who expressed 
 their surprise that the entrance had not been widened 
 previous to the king's arrival, to which the governor 
 with some wit replied, "that the gate was not made 
 that carriages might come in, but that the enemy 
 might be kept out." 
 
 In 1G19, an epidemic disease of terrible virulence 
 broke out in the city and destroyed great numbers of 
 the inhabitants. It has been supposed that this 
 malady resembled in some respects the destructive 
 fevers which in after-times decimated the population. 
 
 During many years Gibraltar continued in a state 
 of trancpiillity ; the sound of war ceased, peace with 
 all its blessings had apparently established itself, and 
 the citizens were enjoying the benefits of increasing 
 civilization ; the plains, which extended over a con- 
 siderable district in the vicinity, and which but 
 yesterday were the arenas of battle and bloodshed, 
 were now trodden by numerous herds, or clothed with 
 the fruitful vine. AgricuUure tlourished, and though 
 the fields as yet afforded but a snuill supply of corn, 
 the abundant fisheries along the coasts offered a 
 ready means of exchange for wheat and grain.
 
 96 HISTORY or GIBRALTAU. 
 
 During the scarcity of bread a regulation was estab- 
 lished, that for every cart-load of fish taken from the 
 shore, one of corn or oil should be given in exchange. 
 In the city itself vast improvements were carried out, 
 buildings, pubHc and private, were restored, sub- 
 stantial edifices erected, and as a precautionary mea- 
 sure many new fortifications were traced out. But 
 scarcely had the population been lulled into a confi- 
 dence in security, when in July, 1693, the batteries 
 which had so long been silent were again engaged 
 with an enemy. 
 
 Since 1689, Spain, now in aUiance with England 
 and the Dutch, had been at war with Trance. 
 
 In the early part of the year 1693, a fleet of 400 
 merchantmen, bound to Smyrna and the Levant, 
 left England under convoy of a British and Dutch 
 squadron of 21 sail, commanded by Admiral Sir George 
 Rooke. On June 17th, when within about 60 miles 
 of Cape St. Vincent, they came in sight of the French 
 fleet, under command of Marshal Tourville. Being 
 considerably inferior to the enemy in strength and 
 numbers, the British admiral called a council of war 
 to consider what course should be taken. As the wind 
 Avas blowing fresh and westerly, and therefore favour- 
 a])lc for the escape of the merchant-fleet into Earo, 
 St Lucar, or Cadiz, it was resolved to occupy the 
 attention of the enemy till nightfall, when the 
 merchantmen miglit sail away under cover of the 
 darkness.
 
 TlIK i:N(iAGEMENT. 97 
 
 About six o'clock in tlic evening, liovvevcr, tlie 
 French lulniiral, comprehending his adversary's object, 
 brought on an engagement, by attacking with eleven 
 sail of the line the leeward division of the squadron, 
 which consisted of three Dutch men-of-war. After 
 a short but desperate engagement, the Hollanders 
 struck to superior numbers. 
 
 While this was occurring, the Dutch merchantmen, 
 taking advantage of the occasion, made all sail 
 towards Cadiz ; but being perceived, they were fol- 
 lowed by the leading ships of the enemy's fleet, an 
 error on the part of the French admiral that saved 
 the remainder of the British squadron from destruc- 
 tion. His strength being now divided, Tounallc was 
 unable to finish the action decisively before night, and 
 during the darkness the squadron, together with most 
 of the merchantmen, got away, Sir G. Rooke sailing 
 for the coast of Ireland. In the mean time those 
 vessels which had made for Cadiz, pursued by the 
 French fleet, changed their course and ran for 
 (libraltar, where they arrived on the lOth July. 
 They were closely followed by the French, but the 
 carrison, haviu"; been made aware of the state of 
 aftairs, opened fire upon the ships in chase and 
 compelled them to retire from an attempt to cut out 
 the merchantmen. 
 
 Foiled in this, the admiral commenced to bom- 
 bard the city, causing the greatest consternation 
 among the inliabitants, who fled for safety to the south
 
 98 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAK. 
 
 of tlie Rock. Several fire-sliips were launched among 
 the vessels m the bay, which destroyed 19 merchant- 
 men, and damaged some others. After continuing 
 the fire against the place for nine days, the French 
 squadron retired, the fortifications having suffered 
 very little damage. 
 
 In 1697, the Spanish arms having met with 
 many reverses, and Barcelona having surrendered to 
 the French, it was deemed advisable to conclude the 
 campaign ; and, though in fact it amounted merely to 
 an armistice, a treaty was signed at Ryswick between 
 England, France, Spain, and Holland. 
 
 In 1700 Charles II. of Spain died, leaving no 
 issue, but declaring Philip of Anjou the successor to 
 the Crown. 
 
 The accession of Philip was almost immediately 
 followed by war. Though reluctantly acknowledged 
 by AYilliam III. as the rightful heir to the throne, his 
 accession was regarded with jealousy and distrust by 
 both England and Holland ; and the fear of a coalition 
 between France and Spain, — a coalition which, con- 
 sidering the power and an^bition of Louis, would have 
 been a misfortune to Europe, — prompted the celebrated 
 alhancc between England, Austria, and liohand, in 
 1701, whicli resulted in the memorable War of the 
 Succession. This war, wliicli had for its ostensible 
 object the substitution of Charles, archduke of Austria, 
 upon the throne of Si)nin, and the preservation of the
 
 WAR HKTWKl'.N l'UAN( K AND TlIK ALLIKS. {)[) 
 
 balance of power in Europe, ceased with the Peace of 
 Utrecht, after a long and j)rofitkss campaign. 
 
 ]iut {iltliough at least one object of this prolonged 
 and bloody contest was defeated, and the peace which 
 followed was far from being creditable to the allies, the 
 j)age which these events occupy in histoiy, distinguish- 
 ed as it is by the brilliant victories of Marlborough 
 and the capture of Gibraltar, will be ever lucniorable 
 in the annals of Great Britain. 
 
 The war commenced in Italy, where the Emperor 
 attacked the French, and the outbreak of hostilities 
 was followed by the conclusion of the Grand Alliance, 
 signed on September 7th, between England, the Em- 
 l)eror, 4ind the Dutch. 
 
 The alliance against Prance and Spain had scarcely 
 been entered into when William III. died, and Queen 
 Anne succeeded to the throne. 
 
 Queen Anne, upon lici- accession to tlie throne, 
 announced, in a wise and moderate speech to her 
 Privy Council, her determination to maintain the 
 Protestant succession, and her intention to su})port 
 her allies in the war against Prance. 
 
 Vast preparations were made for the campaign, 
 ^larlborough was appointed Captain-General of the 
 forces, and to Sir George Rooke was given the office of 
 Vice- Admiral of England. 
 
 The war had continued about two years with 
 varied successes, when, in the s])ring of 1 70 I it was
 
 100 , HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 considered desirable that a demonstration should be 
 made on the Spanish frontier of Portugal by the Arch- 
 duke Charles (at that time in Holland), in conjunction 
 with the King of Portugal. With this object a fleet 
 was prepared at Spithead to convey the Archduke to 
 Lisbon, and Sir George Uooke was appointed to the 
 command. On the 12th of Pebruary the fleet set 
 sail from St. Helens, and arrived at Lisbon on the 
 25th, after a favourable passage. Pour days after 
 his arrival at Lisbon, Sir George sent a squadron 
 of 17 sail, under Admiral Dilkes, to cruise ofl" Cape 
 Spartel. On the 9th March, the admiral himself 
 went to sea, and remained cruising for a month. 
 
 About the middle of March, Admiral Dilkes, who 
 had separated from his main body, with three third 
 and two fourth rates, came up with a Spanish scjuad- 
 ron of four sail. He immediately engaged, and, after 
 a smart action, two vessels of GO guns, the Porta 
 Coeli and the St Theresa, struck. After this success 
 the admiral made for Lisbon, where he arrived on 
 the 25th March, after losing the St Theresa at the 
 entrance to the liarl)our. 
 
 Shortly afterwiu'ds Sir George Rooke also reached 
 Lisbon, and found awaiting him orders to sail through 
 the Straits of Gibraltar and to proceed to the relief of 
 Nice and Villafranca. On tlu>, otlicr liand lie was 
 urged by the entreaties of the Archduke to make for 
 Barcelona, with the troops lie liad on board under 
 Prince George of Hesse, and to take advantage of the
 
 COLXCIL OF \\.M{. 101 
 
 disaffection \vliit'li was supposed to exist among the 
 Catalans. Perplexed by these conflicting interests, 
 Sir Cieorge conmiitted the fatal mistake of endeavour- 
 ing to satisfy all jjarties. lie intimated to the Trince 
 of llessc his willingness to convey the troops to Bar- 
 celona, and to assist in any demonstration that might 
 l)e made at that place. Having arranged liis convoy, 
 he set sail, and on the ISth j\Iay arrived before the 
 town. The Dutch ships inmiediately boml)arded the 
 city, and about 2000 men were landed to join the 
 anticipated insurrection. 
 
 After remaining on shore all night, and perceiv- 
 ing no symptoms of a rising among the inhabitants, 
 the prince found himself deceived, and hastily re- 
 embarked his forces. On the 21st May, Sir George 
 Ivooke sailed away to the westward, and on his passage 
 :il)])ears to have passed the French fleet, without being 
 al)le to bring them to an engagement. 
 
 Well aware of the imputations and calumnies to 
 which he would be sid)jected if he allowed the sum- 
 mer to pass away without achieving something of im- 
 portance with the powerful armament under his com- 
 mand, the admiral, on the 17th July, when within a 
 few leagues of Tetuan, hove to the scpiadron and 
 called a Council of AVar on board the flag-ship " The 
 Koyal Catherine." This Council was attended by 
 the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, Sir George Rooke, 
 Kear-Admiral Byng, Sir Cloudesley Shovel, Sir John 
 Leake, Sir Thomas AVishart, and the Admirals of the
 
 102 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Dutch division, Collingberg, Vassenaer, and Vander- 
 dussen. 
 
 Several scliemes were proposed, amongst them a 
 second expedition against Cadiz, which was condemn- 
 ed on various grounds. After a protracted discussion 
 it was resolved to make a sudden attack npon Gibral- 
 tar, for the three following reasons : — 
 
 Eirst. Because the place was so indifferently 
 garrisoned that there was every probability of the 
 attack succeeding. 
 
 Secondly. Because the possession of such an 
 important fortress would be of infinite value during 
 the war. 
 
 Thirdly. Because the capture of the place would 
 add a lustre to the queen's arms, and would be likely 
 to dispose the Spaniards in favour of the cause of the 
 Archduke Charles. 
 
 Four days were spent in making the necessary 
 preparations, and on the 21st July the fleet, consist- 
 ing of the following vessels, anchored in the Bay of 
 Gibraltar. 
 
 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 
 
 Fl)\ 
 
 d Division. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Guns, 
 
 Men. 
 
 Commanders. 
 
 Somerset, 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 Copt. Price. 
 
 Essex 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Cnpt. Hubbard, 
 
 Triton 
 
 50 
 
 2:J0 
 
 Capt. Trevor.
 
 VESSELS COMI'()SIN(; THE ENCEISIl EEEET. 1()3 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 M.n. 
 
 ComniandciN. 
 
 Dorsetshire 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. Wliittaker. 
 
 Ranelagh 
 
 SO 
 
 553 
 
 CAdm. Ryng. 
 (Capt. Cole. 
 
 'IVirbay 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. Caldwell. 
 
 ( 'cntiirion 
 
 50 
 
 2^0 
 
 Capt Ilernc. 
 
 Kingston 
 
 (50 
 
 305 
 
 Capt. Acton. 
 
 Firm 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. AVikl. 
 
 Grafton 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Sir A. Leake. 
 
 
 Second Division. 
 
 Nassau 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Dove. 
 
 Montague 
 
 GO 
 
 305 
 
 Capt. Cleveland. 
 
 St George 
 
 90 
 
 080 
 
 Capt. Jennings. 
 
 Royal Catherine, 
 
 00 
 
 730 
 
 rAdin. Sir G. Rooke 
 (Capt. Scalcy. 
 
 Eagle 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Lord Hamilton. 
 
 Monnioutli 
 
 70 
 
 410 
 
 Capt. Baker. 
 
 Panther 
 
 50 
 
 280 
 
 Capt. Bartie. 
 
 Shrewsbury 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. Crow. 
 
 Bedford 
 
 70 
 
 410 
 
 SirT. Hardy. 
 
 Swallow 
 
 50 
 
 280 
 
 Capt. Haddock. 
 
 Suffolk 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Kitton. 
 
 Royal Oak 
 
 70 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. I'^lwes. 
 
 
 Third Division. 
 
 Kent 
 
 70 
 
 400 
 
 rAdm. Dilkcs. 
 (.Capt. Ilarman,
 
 104 
 
 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Commanders. 
 
 Cambridge 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. Lestock. 
 
 ]\Ionk 
 
 60 
 
 365 
 
 Capt. MiUs. 
 
 Leopard 
 
 50 
 
 280 
 
 Capt. Culliford. 
 
 Burford 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Rossy. 
 
 Warspite 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Loades. 
 
 Nottingham 
 
 60 
 
 365 
 
 Capt. Whittaker. 
 
 Assm-ance 
 
 66 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Hancock. 
 
 Orford 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Norris. 
 C Adm. Sir Cloudesley 
 
 Barfleur 
 
 96 
 
 710 
 
 ) Shovel. 
 (Capt. Stuart. 
 
 Namur 
 
 96 
 
 680 
 
 Capt. Mings. 
 
 Swiftsurc 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Winn. 
 
 Tilbury 
 
 50 
 
 280 
 
 Capt. Delaval. 
 
 Lenox 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Jumper. 
 
 
 Fourth Division. 
 
 Newark 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. Clark. 
 
 Antelope 
 
 50 
 
 280 
 
 Capt. Lcgg. 
 
 Boyne 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. Dursley. 
 TAdni. Sir J. Leake, 
 (.Capt. Martin. 
 
 Prince George 
 
 90 
 
 700 
 
 Berwick 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Fairfax. 
 
 Norfolk 
 
 80 
 
 500 
 
 Capt. Knapp. 
 
 Tiger 
 
 50 
 
 280 
 
 Capt. Cavendish. 
 
 Yannonth 
 
 70 
 
 41.0 
 
 Capt. Hicks. 
 
 Hampton Court 
 
 70 
 
 440 
 
 Capt. Wager.
 
 t.IBKALTAU SU.M.MONKl) TO SLRKKNDKR. 
 
 1 03 
 
 
 FRIGATES. 
 
 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Guns. Ships. 
 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Charles Galley 
 
 32 Tartar 
 
 
 32 
 
 Lark 
 
 40 Roehuck 
 
 
 40 
 
 Newport 
 
 24 Garland 
 
 FIRE-SniPS. 
 
 
 40 
 
 Hunter. 
 
 Griffin. 
 
 Vulcan. 
 
 
 Phccnix. 
 
 Firebrand. 
 
 
 
 Lightning. 
 
 Vulture. 
 
 
 
 iiosriTAL-sniPs. 
 Jefferies. Princess Anne. 
 
 BOMB VESSELS. 
 
 Hare. 
 
 Terror. 
 
 YACHT. 
 
 William and ]\Liiy. 
 
 On the evening of the same day, a body of 
 about 1800 or 2000 marines, under connnand of the 
 Prince of Hesse, were landed on the Isthmus at the 
 North I'ront, for the ])urpose of intercepting any 
 reinforcements or supplies that might be conveyed to 
 the garrison by land. A sununons to surrender was 
 next day sent to the city by the Prince of Hesse. 
 
 The Governor of Gibraltar at tliat time was Don
 
 106 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Diego de Salinas, a man of considerable energy and 
 talent, who had long been aware of the defenceless 
 state of the fortress, and who had already represented 
 to the Court of Madrid the impossibility of success- 
 fully resisting a powerful enemy, should a sudden 
 attack be made upon the place. 
 
 The garrison was miserably weak, and the fortifi- 
 cations in very bad repair. Nevertheless, the governor 
 resolved to defend it to the last extremity. On 
 receipt of the summons to surrender, a council of the 
 city magnates was assembled to deliberate upon the 
 reply that should be given. 
 
 The letter from the prince, which was to the fol- 
 lowing effect, was read to the council : — " that before 
 proceeding to the extremity of warfare he took 
 occasion to express a hope that the city would be 
 governed by a sense of justice and its true interests ; 
 that the cause in which he was engaged was alone 
 sufficient to create a desire to be employed in it, and 
 that he hoped on sight of the royal letter they would 
 obey the summons of His Majesty King Charles, as 
 might be expected from so nol)]e and loyal a city." 
 A reply was without delay agreed to and transmitted 
 to the prince in the following words : — " that having 
 taken an oath of fidelity to Don riiilip V., as their 
 natural lord and king, they would as faithful and 
 loyal subjects sacrifice their lives in the defence of 
 the city and its inhabitants, and that consequently 
 no fiu'thcr reply to the contents of the letter was
 
 PLANS FOR DEFENCE. 107 
 
 necessary." Anticipating the iniinediatc commcucc- 
 iiient of hostilities, l)e SaHnas arranged his plans of 
 defence. There were not more tlian 150 regulars 
 inside the ^valls, very few of whom were artillerymen ; 
 and the whole force that could be mustered, including 
 the armed citizens, did not exceed 500 men. Never- 
 theless, so strong was the fortress by position and 
 natural defences, that even with this feeble garrison, 
 aided by the efforts of the inhabitants, there was 
 some prospect of a prolonged though not successful 
 resistance. 
 
 The fortifications consisted at that time of a 
 strong Line wall compassing the town from north to 
 south, and terminated at either extremity by two 
 moles, the southern one termed the new, the northern 
 the old, mole. These were armed with heavy ordnance. 
 A few hundred yards north of the new mole was a 
 bastion, also heavily armed. The Line wall was 
 mounted with artillery along its whole length. 
 
 The batteries at the old mole were confided to 
 the care of 200 armed citizens, under the com- 
 mand of Don Bartolomi Castano. The new mole was 
 defended by 20 men of the militia, eight military 
 invalids, and some armed inhabitants, the whole 
 commanded by Don I'rancisco Torbio de Fuentes. 
 GO invalid soldiers, under direction of Don Diego 
 de Avila, had charge of the Land Port gate, and 
 the castle was garrisoned by 02 men, including
 
 108 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 six belonging to the artillery and six dismounted 
 cavalry.* 
 
 On the moming of the 22nd, orders were issued 
 to the ships which had been appointed to cannonade 
 the town to take up their positions before the Line 
 wall ; but the wind being contrary, they were not able 
 to get into their places. 
 
 In the mean time, in order to occupy the attention 
 of the enemy, Captain Whittaker was sent with some 
 boats to burn a Prench privateer of 1 2 guns, at the 
 old mole. 
 
 Though the reply to the summons to surrender 
 was couched in such energetic terms of refusal, Sir 
 George Rooke still believed that, awed by the presence 
 of such a powerful armament, the garrison would be 
 intimidated, and would capitulate on the commence- 
 ment of active proceedings. To test the firmness of 
 their intentions, he gave orders at day-break on the 
 23rd, for a few shots to be fired into the city, and 
 waited the result, previous to commencing the terrible 
 bombardment which he had in contemplation. The 
 fire was, however, instantly returned by the besieged, 
 upon which, signal was made by the admiral to pre- 
 pare for action. 
 
 As had been previously arranged, the attacking 
 squadron consisting of 12 third-rates, four fovn-th- 
 rates, and six ships of the Dutch, under Admirals Byng 
 
 * I^ronii, Hist, dc Oibraltar. Montcro, ib. Ayala, ib.
 
 EFFECTS OF TllK BOMBAUDMKNT. lO'J 
 
 and Vandcrdiiscn, got under weigh, and took up a 
 station extending along the Front or Line wall, from 
 the new to the old mole head. At the same time 
 Captain llieks, with the Yarmouth, Tiger, and Hamp- 
 ton Court, moved to the westward of the new mole, 
 against which point the principal attack was directed.* 
 The cannonade then commenced all along the line, 
 and was kept up with unabated fury for six hours, 
 during which time not less than 15,000 shot were 
 thrown into the town. 
 
 The intensity of the fire soon drove the enemy 
 from their guns, and the effects of the bombardment 
 ui)on the fortifications became apparent. Captain 
 Hicks, who with the Yarmouth, Tiger, and Hampton 
 Court had poured a concentrated fire into the defences 
 on the new mole, silenced the guns at the mole head 
 after a few volleys, and the enemy were compelled to 
 abandon the works at that point. Perceiving this. 
 Sir George Kooke resolved to take the defences in 
 flank, by effecting a landing on the abandoned 
 works, t 
 
 Orders were instantly sent to Captain Wliittaker 
 to arm all the boats of the fleet, to provide himself 
 with a suflicient force, and to make himself master of 
 the new mole head. | Captain AVhittaker was at this 
 
 * London Gazette. 1704. Lives of the Admiral. 
 
 t Dosjiati'li from 8ir G. Kooke. 
 
 I "The admiral, considering that by j^ainiiij,' the Ibrtifiea- 
 tiona at the soutli mole head he could of consequence reduce 
 the town, ordered Captain AVhittaker, with all the boats
 
 110 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 time in the Nottingham, 60 guns, at the northern 
 extremity of the hne, and nearly a mile from the spot 
 where he was ordered to land. Whilst he was pre- 
 paring to execute his orders as rapidly as possible, 
 the signals conveying his instructions were kept flying, 
 and were made out by Captain Hicks, who with his 
 ships was vAdthin 500 yards of the new mole head. 
 Risking the displeasure of the admiral, he resolved 
 to anticipate Captain Whittaker, and gain possession 
 of the abandoned works himself. Accordingly, the 
 pinnaces were lowered and manned with sailors and 
 marines, under command of himself and Captain 
 Jumper, of the Lennox, and the boats pushed off 
 for the shore without opposition, before Captain 
 Whittaker coidd arrive. Scarcely, however, had the 
 men set foot upon the land, when the enemy sprung 
 a mine under the ground on which they stood, 
 blowing two officers and 40 men into the air, wound- 
 ing 60, and capsizing seven of the boats.* At this 
 juncture. Captain Whittaker came up, and landing 
 with his men kept possession of the works, not- 
 
 of the fleet armed, to endeavour to possess himself of it ; whifh 
 was performed with <^rcat vigour and success by Captains 
 Hicks and Jumper, with their pinnaces and other boats. 
 
 The order Avas no sooner issued for Captain Whittaker 
 to arm the boats, than Captains Hicks and Jumper, who wero 
 nearest the mole, pushed to shore with the pinnaces, and seiz.cd 
 the fortifications before the rest could come up." — (Boyer's 
 Annals of Queen Anne.) 
 
 * IMontero describes this explosion as lia\ inji; taken place 
 at the old mole, but he is mistaken.
 
 CAPTURE OF r.IBUAITAIl. 1 I I 
 
 witlistiuuling th(j opposition of the Spaniards, wiio 
 nuido a vigorous sortie. After a moment's delay the 
 whole party advanced along the Line wall, northward, 
 towards the town, seizing on their way a small work, 
 now called Juniper's Bastion. 
 
 Overcome with terror, the men, women, and 
 children fled from the city and escaped to the south, 
 where they took refuge in the sanctuary of the Virgin 
 do Europa. The defences along the Line w'all being 
 taken in flank by the advance of Captain Whittaker's 
 party, the guns were abandoned, and the whole of the 
 south district fell into the hands of the English. 
 
 In the mean time, the marines on the Isthmus, and 
 the ships opposite the north-west face of the city, had 
 not been idle. A heavy fire had been kept up against 
 Eort Lcandro, at the old mole head, which resulted in 
 the destruction of the battery and the capture of the 
 mole. 
 
 Beaten at every point, the two principal positions of 
 defence taken, the Line wall in possession of the enemy, 
 and their artillery destroyed, the besieged saw the 
 futility of prolonging the contest. The fire from the 
 fortress ceased, a flag of truce was displayed, and the 
 governor expressed a desire to capitulate. At a 
 Council of A\ ar, articles of an honourable capitula- 
 tion were drawn up, which were forwarded to the 
 Prince of Ilesse, who signified his willingness to 
 agree to them ; and the garrison surrendered upon 
 the following conditions : —
 
 112 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Article I. 
 
 The officers and soldiers shall be allowed to march 
 out with their baggage, and the soldiers may take 
 what they can carry with them : the officers, the 
 magistrates, and gentlemen are allowed to take their 
 horses : and for those without baggage who choose to 
 depart by water vessels shall be provided. 
 
 Article 11. 
 
 Three pieces of brass cannon of different sizes 
 may be carried away, together wath twelve rounds of 
 ammunition to each gun. 
 
 Article 111. 
 
 A supply of bread, meat, and wine for six days' 
 march shall be pi'ovidcd. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 The trunks containing the baggage of the officers, 
 magistrates, and gentlemen, shall not be examined. 
 The garrison shall march out within three days : the 
 effects that cannot in that time be removed shall re- 
 main in the place to be sent for when convenient, and 
 no obstruction shall be given to the carts conveying 
 them. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 'J\) the inhabitants, soldiers, and officers, who 
 may choose to remain in Gibraltar, shall be conceded
 
 ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION. i 1 ii 
 
 tlie same privilcf^cs they had in the time of Charles II. ; 
 tlic rcli<!;ioii and all the tribunals shall remain intact 
 and without alteration, it being understood that tlie 
 oath of fidelity to II. M. Charles III., as legitimate 
 lord and king, is to l)e taken. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 All the magazines of powder and of imple- 
 ments of war are to be pointed out, — all useless arms, 
 and all the provisions that exist in the city. 
 
 From this capitulation the French and all subjects 
 of His C. Majesty are excluded. They shall remain 
 prisoners of war, and all their property wull be at the 
 disposal of the conquerors. 
 (Signed) 
 
 George, 
 
 Landgrave of Ilessc. 
 Jidy 24th, 1704. 
 
 'D' 
 
 On the 24th July, 1704, the Prince of Ilesse took 
 possession of the fortress ; the Imperial standard was 
 raised, and the Archduke Charles proclaimed as the 
 rightful owner of the city. * 
 
 * All the Spanish authors <j;ivc the 4th August, 1704, as the 
 (lay on which (Gibraltar surrendered to Kooke, and they seem 
 to have been unable to understand why all the English histo- 
 rians agree that the 24th July was tlie day on whieh the place 
 fell. Montero, Hist, de Gibraltar, page 2(55, says: 
 
 "Es singular que todo8 los historiatlorcs inglcscs del siglo 
 pasado hayau cquivoeado la fecha dc cste sitio ascguraudo haber 
 
 s
 
 114 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 But Sir George Rooke was too well aware of the 
 value of Gibraltar to the English nation as the key of 
 the Mediterranean, to acquiesce in the transfer of 
 so important a fortress to the precarious sovereignty 
 of Charles III. By his orders the Imperial banner 
 was hauled down and the royal standard of England 
 hoisted in its stead. The city was then taken posses- 
 sion of in the name of Queen Anne, and 1800 English 
 seamen were landed to occupy the place. The loss of 
 the allies in the action was two lieutenants, one mas- 
 ter, 57 sailors, killed; one captain, seven lieutenants, 
 one boatswain, 207 sailors, wounded. 
 
 The inestimable importance to Great Britain of 
 the capture of Gibraltar appears to have been little 
 appreciated at the time, and contemporary history 
 speaks of the event as of questionable advantage to 
 the nation. 
 
 Bishop Burnet, writing on the subject, says : " It 
 has been much questioned by men who understand 
 these matters well, whether our possessing ourselves of 
 Gibraltar, and our maintaining ourselves in it so long, 
 were to our advantage or not. It has certainly put us 
 to a great charge, and we have lost many men in it ; 
 
 sitlo en 21 do Julio la llegada do la escuadra a la Baliia y la 
 toina cl 21." 
 
 The apparent discre[)ancy Ih however very simply accounted 
 for by the fact that the Grefj;orian calculation was adopted in 
 Spain l)('fore the year 1701, while it was not introduced into 
 llie Entrlish calendar till loiift afterwarda.
 
 /.ETTER OF THE AUTHORITIES TO KING PHIEIP V. 115 
 
 but it seems, the Spaniards, who should know the 
 importance of the place best, think it so valuable that 
 they have been at a much greater charge, and have 
 lost many more men while they have endeavoured to 
 recover it, than the taking and keeping it has cost us. 
 And it is certain that in war, whatsoever loss on one 
 side occasions a greater loss of men or treasure to the 
 other, must be reckoned as a loss only to the side that 
 suffers most."* 
 
 It is worthy of remark that but few inhabitants of 
 the city availed themselves of the provisions of the 5th 
 article of the capitulation. Though the simple form 
 of taking the oath of allegiance to Charles III. would 
 have protected them and their properties from molest- 
 ation, the citizens with honourable resolution preferred 
 to abandon their homes, their comforts, and their for- 
 tunes, rather than submit to a foreign dominion. 
 
 On the day of the surrender the authorities and 
 town-council addressed the following letter to King 
 Philip v., announcing that they had been compelled 
 to capitulate. 
 
 " Sire, 
 
 " The loyalty with which this city 
 has served all the preceding kings, as well as your 
 Majesty, has ever been notorious to them. In this last 
 event, not less than on other occasions, it has en- 
 
 * Burnet's History of his owu Times.
 
 116 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 deavoured to exhibit its fidelity at the price of lives 
 and property, whicli many of the inhabitants have lost 
 in the combat ; and with great honour and pleasure 
 did they sacrifice themselves in defence of your 
 Majesty, who may rest well assured that we who have 
 survived (for our misfortune), had we experienced a 
 similar fate, would have died with glory, and would not 
 now suff'er the great grief and distress of seeing your 
 Majesty, our lord and master, dispossessed of so loyal 
 a city. 
 
 " Subjects, but courageous as such, we will submit 
 to no other government than that of your Catholic 
 Majesty, in whose defence and service we shall pass the 
 remainder of our lives ; departing from this fortress, 
 where, on account of the superior force of the enemy 
 who attacked it, and the fatal chance of our not hav- 
 ing any garrison for its defence, except a few poor and 
 raw peasants, amounting to less than 300, we have not 
 been able to resist the assault, as your Majesty must 
 have already learnt from the governor or others. 
 
 " Our just grief allows us to notice no other fact for 
 the information of your Majesty, but tliat all the in- 
 habitants, and each singly, fulfilled their duties in 
 their several stations ; and our governor and alcalde 
 have worked with the greatest zeal and activity, with- 
 out allowing the horrors of the incessant cannonad- 
 ing to deter them from their duties, to which they 
 attended personally, encouraging all with great devo-
 
 LF/ITKR TO I'll I LIP V. 117 
 
 tion May Divine Providence guard tlie royal 
 
 person of your Majesty, &c. &c. 
 
 " Gil)raltar, August 5tli (N. S.), 170-1." 
 
 Tlic exodus IVoni the city was an affecting and 
 melancholy spectacle. 
 
 Overwhelmed with their misfortune, houseless 
 and without resources, the faitliful citizens, both poor 
 and rich, both old and young, the vigorous and the in- 
 iirni, passed through the gate of their home, and dis- 
 persed, whither they knew not, in search of a refuge and 
 a habitation. Numbers fell by the way, victims to hun- 
 ger and fatigue ; some reached Tarifa, jNIedina-Sidonia, 
 Honda, and other towns in the neighbourhood ; while 
 many, especially the authorities, remained at St Ro- 
 que, keeping with them the archives of their ancient 
 city. During this time Sir George Rooke was occu- 
 pied in restoring traiu|uillity in the garrison, arrang- 
 ing the government, and landing a force for the pro- 
 tection of the fortress. The Prince of llesse was 
 appointed governor, with 1800 sailors and two Dutch 
 battalions under his command. 
 
 It has been the object of Spanish historians to 
 detract as much as possible from the glory of this 
 conquest, by representing the garrison and defences 
 of Gibraltar at the time of the attack to have been in 
 a state of feebleness and decay amounting to power- 
 lessness. Thouufh it is undoubtedlv true that both
 
 118 HISTORY OF GIBE ALTAR. 
 
 in numbers and effectiveness the force available for the 
 service of the guns was inadequate, yet we may be- 
 lieve that, inckiding the Spanish regulars and the sail- 
 ors from the French privateer which was burnt in the 
 Bay, there could not have been less than 200 disci- 
 plined men to man the batteries. Besides these, 
 were many merchant sailors and some militia, num- 
 bering in all not less than 200 more, exclusive of 
 those who took up arms on the day of the action. 
 
 The town consisted of 1200 houses; "and sup- 
 posing," says James, " that one man in each house 
 was able to bear arms, the garrison would have 
 consisted of 1500 men, a force sufficient to have held 
 out against the allies for a longer time than six hours, 
 though final success was not to be expected." * 
 
 But whatever may have been the circumstances 
 imder which Gibraltar fell into our hands, whether 
 through the courage of our seamen or the defenceless 
 condition of the garrison, the event was of inestimable 
 importance to Great Britain, establishing as it did 
 her power and supremacy in the Mediterranean. Yet 
 so little was the value of the conquest understood at 
 the time, that many objections were urged against 
 England keeping possession of the Rock, and the most 
 strenuous supporters of Sir George Rooke scarcely 
 ventured to urge the capture of Gibraltar as a reason 
 for granting him those rewards for his services which 
 througli i)arty feeling were so long withheld. 
 
 * TTistory of llic ircrcnlcaii Slniils, by ColoiU'l .T:vin(>s, 1777.
 
 PERSECUTION OF SIR C;E0RGE ROOKE. 119 
 
 Throuiiliont his career as an ndiuiial, lie liad 
 experienced the most bitter persecution from tlie 
 AVliif^s a circiunstance which may hv accounted for hy 
 tlie part he assumed in favour of the Tories while he 
 sat in the House. Bishop Burnet, who was his sworn 
 enemy, sedulously underrated and misrepresented his 
 services, and the reverend prelate's writings exhibit a 
 virulent malice in all his comments upon the conduct 
 of the Admiral.
 
 120 HISTOUY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER Vll. 
 
 BATTLE OF MALAGA. 
 
 On the 9tli of August, Sir George Rooke sailed 
 again with his fleet from Gibrahar, after he had pro- 
 vided for the defence and supply of the garrison. 
 The following day the Admiral came in sight of 
 the French fleet, under Count de Toulouse, High 
 Admiral of France, consisting of 52 sail and 24 
 galleys. 
 
 AVhen first descried, the enemy were about 10 
 leagues distant. A council of flag-officers was called, 
 and it was determined to lay to east of the Rock, to 
 receive and engage them. During the night, however, 
 they crept away to the eastward, and finding that they 
 were endeavouring to shun fighting. Sir George gave 
 orders to chase with press of sail. 
 
 On the 11th, one of the enemy's ships was 
 run on shore and burnt. On the morning of the 
 12th, the French fleet was out of sight, and it was 
 feared that the weather being calm they had crept 
 back to the westward witli the aid of their galleys. 
 Anotlier council of war was assembled, when it
 
 BATTLK OF MALAGA. 1 ;2 1 
 
 was resolved that if the enemy were not seen before 
 uiglit the fleet should return to Gibraltar. 
 
 On the morninp; of Sunday the 13th, the Frcncli 
 appeared in sight, off Cape Malaga, and not far from 
 shore. They immediately brouglit to in order of 
 battle, with their heads to the southward, the wind 
 easterly. The line was strongest in its centre, and 
 weakest in its van and rear. In the centre was 
 Mons. de Toulouse with the White squadron, the 
 White and Jilue led the van, and the Blue brought up 
 the rear. Each admiral had his vice and rear 
 admirals. 
 
 The British fleet consisted of 53 ships, but the 
 Swallow and the Panther, two fourth-rates, with a 
 fifth- and sixth-rate and two fire-ships, were ordered 
 to lie to windward, in case they should be required to 
 engage the enemy's fire-ships. Shortly after 1 o'clock 
 in the morning, the British fleet, with Sir George llooke 
 and Rear Admirals Byng and Dilkes in the centre, 
 Sir Cloudesley Shovel and Sir John Leake in the van, 
 and the Dutch in the rear, bore down upon the enemy 
 in order of battle. The French instantly set all their 
 sails, seemingly Avith the intention of getting the 
 weather-gage ; but Sir G. llooke ran up the signal for 
 action, and the engagement became general. The 
 Royal Catharine, flag-ship, St. George, and Shrewsbury 
 suffered severely ; but about two in the afternoon, the 
 enemy's van, which was opposed to Sir C. Shovel, 
 crave Avav. Unfortunatclv the British fleet was scantilv
 
 122 HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 supplied with ammunition, 25 rounds per gun 
 only being on board each ship, of which 10 
 rounds per gun were expended in the first hour's 
 fighting. Sir Cloudesley Shovel, in the van, closed to 
 within pistol shot of the enemy before he fired a gun, 
 when, pouring in a tremendous fire, he completely 
 broke that part of the fine opposed to him, and would 
 have captured the Admiral of the White and Blue, 
 had not the Frenchman managed to outsail him. The 
 action continued with unabated fury till nightfall, 
 when the enemy got away to leeward by aid of their 
 galleys. The loss on both sides was very heavy. The 
 Erench counted among the killed the Bailifi" of Lorrain, 
 commodore of a squadron, the Sieurs de Beleisle and 
 de Troard, five captains, seven lieutenants, and six 
 sea ensigns, — among the latter, the son of Marshal de 
 Chateau Renaud. Among the wounded were the 
 Count de Toulouse, shot in three places, Commodore 
 du Casse, the Count de Relingues, the Marquis de 
 Herhault, the Count de Cominges, the Count de 
 Phillipeaux, and 140 other officers. The total of 
 killed, wounded, and missing, was 3048. 
 
 On the side of the English the total loss was 2719, 
 — Sir Andrew Leake, one captain, four lieutenants, and 
 two warrant officers killed ; five captains, 1 3 lieuten- 
 ants, and 13 waiTant officers wounded. 
 
 During the night after the action, the two fleets 
 lay to repairing defects and i)lugging the shot holes. 
 Scarcely a spare topmast was left in the fleet, and 10
 
 THK FLKKT RKI'AIKS DEFECTS. 123 
 
 jury masts were up before the morning.* Before 
 ])rcak of day the wind sliiftcd to tlie westward, and 
 the enemy taking advantage of the breeze stood away 
 to the nortliward, followed by the confederate 
 
 * Letter from Sir Cloiulcslcy Shovel : — " Tin's brings news 
 of my health and that wo are on our way homewards : that 
 which Honds us home is a sharp engagement we have had with 
 the French. Our number of ships that fought in the line of 
 battle were pretty equal : I think they were 49 and wo 53. I 
 judge they had 17 three-decked ships and we but seven. . . . 
 We having the weather gage, gave me an opportunity of coming 
 as near as I pleased, which was within pistol shot, before 1 
 fired a gun, through which means and God's assistance the 
 enemy declined us, and were on the run in less than four hours, 
 by which time wo had little wind, and their galleys towed otf 
 their lame ships and others as they pleased. . . . The ships 
 that sulfered most in my division were the Lenox, Warspite, 
 Tilbury, and Swiftsure ; the rest escaped pretty well, and I the 
 best of all, though I never took greater pains in all my life to 
 be soundly beaten ; for I set all my sails, and rowed with 
 three boats a-liead to get alongside with the Admiral of the 
 Whhc and Blue; but he, out-sailing mo, shunned fighting 
 and lay alongside of the little ships : notwithstanding, the 
 engagement was very sharp, 1 think the like between two 
 tleets never was seen in any time. . . . After the fight we 
 were two days in sight of the enemy preparing for a second 
 engagement, but the enemy declined, and stood from us in the 
 night." 
 
 A medal was struck in Paris in commemoration of tliis 
 so-called victory. 
 
 Spain is represented sitting, her arm leaning on a pillar 
 with victory over her head ; the legend thus : 
 
 " Ora» llispanica) securitjvs." On the exergue, — 
 
 " Aiiglorum et Batavorum dasse fugata ad Malagam. xxiv. 
 Augusti. MDCCIV."— iar* of the Admirals.
 
 124 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 fleets, but without coming to an engagement. The 
 16th was hazy, and no signs of the I'rench could be 
 discovered, so Sir George Rooke, supposing that they 
 had made for Cadiz, bore away for the westward, and 
 put in to Gibraltar, where he learnt that the enemy 
 had not passed the Straits. In the meantime the 
 Count de Toulouse, finding his ships thoroughly 
 disabled, made for Toulon, where he remained many 
 months to refit. 
 
 This memorable battle was claimed as a victory 
 by both sides — though it cannot be questioned that 
 the French Admiral sailed away from his enemy the 
 day after the action and kept on his course for Toulon, 
 while Sir George Rooke continued in chase and offered 
 every temptation for a renewal of the engagement. 
 The French fleet was completely disabled, and for 
 months unfit to go to sea ; the English, on the contrary, 
 soon repaired their damages in the Bay of Gibraltar, 
 and in eight days the fleet went to sea, leaving a 
 squadron under Sir John Leake for the protection of 
 our interests in the Mediterranean. Though the 
 result of this action therefore was not decisive, the 
 advantage rested with the English ; and if there was 
 no victory to claim, it was because the French Admiral 
 was careful not to risk the chance of losing one. 
 
 After the action off" Malaga the English fleet sailed 
 for Gibraltar, wlicre it remained eight days to 
 refit. Having su[)plied the garrison with men and 
 ])rovisions, Sir George Rooke left for Englaiul, leaving
 
 wiik; and touv iuvajjuks. 1:25 
 
 Sir John Leake with 18 vessels to watch the Straits 
 and the coast of Portn^ial. 
 
 Upon his arrival at home, lie was at first received 
 witli marks of favour and gratitude, but party spirit 
 ill those days crushed all sense of justice ; and con- 
 sideration for the reputation or reward of public men 
 was smothered by political prejudice and fury. 
 
 In consequence of an injurious zeal on the part of 
 Sir G. llooke's friends, the battle of ^Malaga was com- 
 pared with the victory of Blenheim, fought in the 
 same year. Sir George belonging to the Tory party, 
 and having sat in parliament as a Tory member, a 
 spirit of rivalry at once sprang up between the 
 ])artisans of Marlborough and the friends of Rooke ; 
 the Whigs taking care to extol the services of ^larl- 
 borough, while the claims of the Admiral were sneered 
 at and disparaged. Rival addresses reached the 
 Queen from all parts of the country, and the excite- 
 ment of political rivalry spread through the nation. 
 
 In spite of every opposition, the House of Com- 
 mons passed a resolution congratulating the Queen 
 on the victory at sea, but the House of Lords re- 
 mained obstinately silent. The Commons, determined 
 to carry the point, moved another address praying 
 ller Majesty to reward the troops and seamen who 
 had so greatly distinguished themselves. 
 
 A collision between the Lords and Commons 
 seemed imminent. Rut at this critical juncture, Sir 
 George Rooke, with a magnanimity which proved far
 
 126 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 more forcibly than all his victories the greatness of his 
 character, appeased the rising clamour, by resigning all 
 his appointments and retiring into private seclusion. 
 
 Bm^net's continual falsehoods recoiled partially 
 upon his own head; for in a great debate in the 
 Lords, in 1740, the Duke of Argyle, who in former 
 times had sat in the House with him, declared that 
 " with regard to what he says against Admiral Rooke, 
 I know I have heard it from those who were present 
 that the greatest part of it is a downright lie. The 
 Bishop, it is well known, was no friend to that 
 Admiral, and therefore he easily gave credit to every 
 malicious story he heard against him." 
 
 Tor the capture of Gibraltar, one of the greatest 
 services ever rendered to this country, Sir George 
 Rooke received no reward. 
 
 When, previous to his retirement, memorials in 
 his favour were presented to the Ministry, the success 
 at Gibraltar was urged as a sufficient claim for 
 reward, in terms sufficiently apologetic to show that 
 the Government were supposed to be but slightly 
 acquainted with the value of the acquisition. 
 
 In a MS.* entitled " A Narrative of the proceed- 
 ings of Sir George Rooke," which is apparently a letter 
 in defence of his conduct addressed to one of the minis- 
 ters, the writer, after explaining why the French fleet 
 was not attacked on the voyage from Barcelona, pro- 
 ceeds to say, — " Rooke returned into the Meditcrra- 
 
 * MS. Britii^h Museum.
 
 DEFENCE Ol'' Sill (;. UOUKe's CHARACTKR. 127 
 
 iican, wlicre, pursuant to such orders as lu; liad re- 
 ceived from the Kings of Spain and Poituf:;al, to 
 attack the enemy in Andahisia, he ininiediately, in 
 ])rosecution of that design, attempt(Hl and took the 
 strong town and fortress of Gihraltar, an acquisition 
 of so great renown to llcr ^Majesty's naval strengtli 
 in those remote seas, of so much disappointment 
 and mortification to tlie Spaniards, who have always 
 reckoned that place (as it truly is) as one of the keys 
 of the kingdom, that as by their attempt to recover 
 it in the present weak state of their army, concurring 
 with the unlucky circumstances of the French king's 
 aflair, from whom alone their succours must come, their 
 frontiers may by such a division be so weakened and 
 exposed that there is fair probability that ller ^lajcsty 
 and her allies on that side may gather such fruit from 
 that fortunate action as to think it well worth record- 
 ing among the articles of praise and thanks due 
 thereby to the merits of the fleet, and therein princi- 
 pally and justly to the Commander in Chief." 
 
 Sir George Rooke survived his unjust treatment 
 only a few years. He died in 1708, in his 5bth year, 
 and was buried in the cathedral at Canterbury.* 
 
 * Autlioritios : — Lives of the Admirals, vol. iii. Letter 
 iVoiii 8ir. C. Sliovcl. Burnet's History of his own Times. 
 Quiucy, Histoire Militaire.
 
 128 HISTORY OY GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 TWELFTH SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Although the British Government had expressed 
 so little satisfaction at the capture of Gibraltar, 
 Spain was fully alive to the importance of the place, 
 and had no sooner lost it than she attempted its 
 recovery. The more certainly to attain her object, she 
 abandoned her operations on the frontiers of Portugal, 
 and, withdrawing the troops, directed the whole 
 energy of her resources against Gibraltar. The ex- 
 pedition was composed of 12,000 men, 9000 Span- 
 iards and 3000 French, the whole under the com- 
 mand of the Marquis de Villadarias, a brave and able 
 soldier. A French squadron, consisting of 12 ships- 
 of-the-line, and seven frigates, under Commodore 
 Pointe, also co-operated. 
 
 The divisions of the Spanish army were command- 
 ed by the most distinguished men in Spain, amongst 
 them General Count d'Aguilar, tlic Duke d'Ossuna, 
 tlie Conde de Pinto, and the Manpiis de Aitona. The 
 Frcncli were led by G(;neral Cavaimc. 
 
 The garrison of the fortress did not exceed 3000
 
 Tlir, roilTll'lCATlONS KXTKNDKl). 12'J 
 
 men, and many of tliesc were in an un(liscij)linc(l 
 state ; anionj^st thcin, says Ayala, many vagaljoiids 
 from S{)ain and deserters from the Spanisli army. 
 
 Since the phice had been in the hands of the 
 English some additions liad l)cen made to the 
 defences. Several bastions had been constructed, and 
 tiic Land Port gate defended with 20 pieces of cannon ; 
 a tower was armed to command the enemy's camp, 
 and the inundation, which still forms one of the most 
 formidable obstacles to an advance upon the city from 
 the north, was constructed. 
 
 On the 9th of October, 1704, the enemy opened 
 their trenches at about 400 toiscs distance from the 
 Kock, and on the 15th opened fire from a battery of 
 three guns, which destroyed the round tower. 
 
 Sir George Uookc, who did not arrive in England 
 untd the 2 Itli September, had been charged by Sir 
 John Leake, who was then at Lisbon, to represent 
 the necessity of refitting the squadron, ami providing 
 for the relief of Gibraltar should it be attacked. 
 
 Sir George lost no time in pressing these services 
 upon the Government ; and on the 30tli September, 
 Ailmirid Leake was apprized of the willingness of the 
 Admiralty to send him supplies. A letter dated 
 Windsor, 30th September, 1704,* says, — 
 
 * Egerlon ^ISS. Britisli Museum. Tlic signature to tin's 
 letter is so iuilistiuet tluil I have been unable to deei|)her it. — 
 It is dated Windsor, and is evidently offieial. 
 
 9
 
 130 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I take this opportunity to owne 
 the receipt of your letter of the 5th, 0. S., with the 
 copie of the orders you had from Sir George Rooke. 
 That letter came before Sir George Rooke, who did 
 not arrive at St Hellen's (?) till the 24th, and I took 
 care to send him one, which you enclosed for him, 
 thither. Sir George has acquainted the Prince * with 
 y^ want of Navall stores, upon which His Royal 
 Highnesse has directed the Navy board to send you a 
 hundi^ed coil of rope if possible, and as many sayles 
 for 4th and 5th rates as can be gott ready to goe 
 w'th this convoy. 
 
 " I need say nothing of the order that comes with 
 this for y"" supplying the garrison of Gibraltar, which the 
 Queen thinks it is very much for her service to keep, 
 tlio' at an expence to her, which should indeed be 
 borne by the two Kings of Spain and Portugal. 
 
 " To Sir John Leake, 
 " Lisbon." 
 
 The Admiral had scarcely received this letter, 
 before a despatch reached liim from Prince George of 
 Hesse, informing him of the situation of affairs at 
 Gibraltar.! 
 
 * Prince George of Denmark, Lord High Admiral of Eng- 
 land. 
 
 t Prince George of TTcsse to Sir John Leake, October 41 li, 
 170-i. Leake M!SS. British Museum.
 
 hKTTKll rilOM iMlINCK OF HESSE. 131 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I (Icspatcli tliis express to give 
 liis Catholic Miijt'sty and you an account of a squad- 
 ron of Frcncli shipps wliicli came into the bay this 
 evening, the number of which are 19, great and 
 small, and of the line of battle, as you will find by the 
 opinion of the sea officers herein enclosed. 
 
 " Their design is to besiege us by sea and land, 
 having on board 3000 men to put a-shoarc, and the 
 rest proportionable to that attempt ; therefore I desire 
 the favour of you to take it into consideration and to 
 make all the speed you can, and as you shall judge 
 j)roperest for the publick service and the relief of this 
 place." 
 
 Upon the receipt of this communication the Ad- 
 miral prepared to sail to the assistance of Gibraltar. 
 Ik'fore he started, the "Lark," which had been sent in 
 charge of Captain Fotherby to reconnoitre the Bay, 
 returned to Lisbon with intelligence as follows : 
 
 " Captain Fotherby 's account of the enemy at 
 Gibraltar. 
 
 " Lark. Lisbon River, 
 
 "October 8th, 170].. 
 
 "On the :30th September, in the 
 
 morning counted two-and-twentie French men-of-war 
 
 frigatts and tenders, at an anchor off of old Gibraltar:"* 
 
 * On tlic "west side of the b;iy. 
 9 •
 
 132 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 one of 90 guns, four as bigg as our 70 gun ships, and 
 nine from 66 to 50 guns, tlie rest frigatts and tenders. 
 About ten of the clock in the morn, the Rear Admiral, 
 with eight of the biggest ships, loosed their fore-top- 
 sailes in the top, the biggest ship excepted, who made 
 no signal (?) . 
 
 " At twelve at night, warped my ship out of the 
 new mould, and at one got under sail, and was chased 
 for about an hour by two ships, which came from the 
 southward. It was the opinion of most of the officers 
 there, that they did not much fear what the enemy 
 could do them, except they attacked theni at a time 
 both by sea and land, which if they did, said they, 
 they must be forced to divide their men into too many 
 parties, that they would never be off of duty, and that 
 they had provision till the beginning of December, 
 but knew not whether they meant old stile or new. 
 The prince told me one day that he was afraid if the 
 enemy should attack him both by sea and land for 
 any time, that they might want powder. The fleet 
 has landed, as our officers imagined by their way of 
 encampment, to the number of 3000 men, two of 
 which they took to be Neapolitants, out of their 
 galleys, and 1000 French marines; and as we believe 
 were landing of their cannon, but liad mounted but one 
 small piece, which fired in their camp to set their 
 watch : and everybody tlioiight they might be between 
 8000 and 9000 horse and foot. They were encamped
 
 (JAl'TAIN FOTIILUHY's ACCOUNT, 133 
 
 about a mile fiirtlicr IVoiu the town than oiii" marines 
 were when the town was taken. 
 
 "The prince had ])laiite(l all two-and-thirty 
 ])()nnders on the battery at the new mould, as also at 
 the round tower at the head of the old mould, the 
 <z;uus of the latter being earryed and carryiiiL:; to a 
 new battery whieh was making on the point of the 
 i-oek above the monastry, from which they tell you 
 they shall be able to dismount the enemy's cannon 
 when they come to batter the townc, and of mightie 
 service to them when they shall be attacked. 
 
 " Did not see but there was abundant of cheer- 
 fulness in both oifieers and souldiers, and that they 
 were resolved to hold it out as long as they had any 
 anmmnition." * 
 
 On the 2Sth of October, the enemy opened fire 
 from a battery of seven guns, directed against the 
 Bastion St Paul, with some effect, and Comit New- 
 gent, Governor of the city, was mortally wounded. 
 
 The enemy's camp rapidly increased, si\ l)attalions 
 of the French were lauded, two battalions of the 
 Duke of Anjou's guards joined the Spaniards, and an 
 artillery park was established. 
 
 I'Vom the fortress a constant and well-directed fire 
 was sustained upon the advanced works, and so active 
 was the garrison that the besiegers made but little 
 progress. 
 
 * lu E;iortou MkSS. British Museum.
 
 134 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Taking advantage of the commanding heights, 
 cannon and mortars were dragged up the steeps of 
 the Rock and brought to bear with success upon the 
 trenches below.* 
 
 On the 29th October, Admiral Leake sailed into 
 the Bay, and surprised a French squadron which lay 
 off the town. Unable to escape, the commodore ran 
 
 * " Gibraltar, October 24, 170i, N. S. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 "I have sent several accounts by different 
 ways to you about the condition of this place, which I don't 
 know if any has had the good fortune to reach your hands. . . 
 This I sent you by another conveniency, to let you know the 
 Trench, having landed six battalions and the number of 
 Spanyards being increased to eight battalions, whereof there 
 are two of the Duke of Anjou's guards, and their horse con- 
 sisting of nine squadrons, . . . and having likewise brought 
 together a good number of artillery and mortars with all the 
 nccessarys for a siege, they opened their trenches the 2l8t, at 
 night, from the furthermost mill, and when my last letter was 
 sealed they were very little advanced. . . . But since that they 
 have advanced 100 paces nearer to the towne, notwithstanding 
 wo obliged them to goe on but very slow, by our mortars 
 and cannons, having brought upon the top of the hill three 
 twelve-pounders with some long three-pounders, all brass, 
 which overlook them all. That we are in no manner of con- 
 cerne, only that wo have not powder enough for a lasting 
 
 siege. 
 
 " Geokqe, 
 
 Prince of Hesse. 
 "Sir .Tolm Leake, Kiit." 
 
 Leake MSS. Brit. Musouni.
 
 Ul'KllATlUNS Ol' THE SiliCiE. 135 
 
 liis vessels * ashore, where they were set on fire by the 
 Admiral. 
 
 Hy tliis time the trciiclies wore coii.siclcrui)ly ad- 
 vanced. Notwithstan(hng the heavy fire kept up from 
 the Rock, several offensive batteries were unmasked, 
 and a damaging cannonade was opened against the 
 Land Port gate and curtain. f 
 
 The arrival of Sir John Lcakc with his squadron 
 
 * Two men-of-war, 3G guns each ; one frigate, IG guns ; 
 one tireship, 21 ; two English prizes, and other craft. ^J'lie 
 Esfola French frigate got away, but was taken by the Swallow. 
 
 t " H. R. H. Prince George of Denmark, Lord High Ad- 
 miral of England and Ireland and of all Her Majesty's Planta- 
 tions, and Generalissimo of all Her Majesty's Forces. 
 
 " Her INIajesty having taking y"" letter of this month into her 
 consideration, together with a resolution of a Council of AVarr 
 held by you the day before at Lisbon, and the copy of tlie 
 Letters from Prince George of Hesse and Captain Fotherby of 
 the Lark dated the 23rd of last month at Gibraltar, which you 
 sent hither by the Tartar, and thinking it very much to her 
 service to j)revcnt the Towne and garrison of Gibraltar from 
 falling into the Enemy's hands ; I doc therefore in pursu- 
 ance of Her M.'s pleasure hereby direct and require you to 
 endeavour to attempt the relief of that place, in case it is 
 bcsii'ged, if it shall be thought practicable by a Council of 
 W'arr, and to take, sink, burn, or otherwise destroy all the 
 Enemy's ships that you shall meet witli. 
 
 " October 24th, 170-i. 
 
 " Geohge. 
 " To Sir John Leake, 
 "Vice Adml. of the Blue Squadron of Her Majesty's Fleet." 
 
 Ad. MSS. Brit Museum.
 
 136 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 compelled tlie besiegers to discontinue for a time 
 their operations on the western side of the north 
 front, as the guns of the fleet raked the trenches and 
 rendered them untenable. Despairing of success 
 through the slow and regular operations of a siege, 
 the enemy conceived the bold and desperate idea of 
 scaling the precipice of the Rock and falhng upon the 
 garrison by surprise. The danger and indeed hope- 
 lessness of such an enterprise must have been 
 unknown to the gallant men who volunteered to 
 attempt it. Early in November a goatherd, by 
 name Simon Susarte, a native of Gibraltar, who was 
 intimately acquainted with the paths and passes on 
 the Rock, came to the Marquis of Villadarias, and 
 made known to him the possibility of reaching the 
 summit of the hill by a pathway on the eastern side 
 but little known, and termed the " Sendadel Pastor-." 
 the Marquis, too cautious to risk the lives of his men 
 on the mere statement of the goatherd, sent an officer 
 accompanied by Susarte to examine the road. 
 
 This officer reported that the project was feasible. 
 Accordingly, on the night of the 31st October, 500 
 men, under the command of Colonel Pigucroa, were 
 selected for this forlorn hope, and having taken 
 the sacrament, marched with cautious step from the 
 advanced trenches rouiul tlie eastern side of the Rock. 
 Following their guide, the goatherd, they crept silent- 
 ly up the narrow and precijjitous track ])y the pass 
 of locust trees, and reached St Michael's cave in
 
 FAILURE OF A SUIIPUISK. l.'i? 
 
 safety. TTcrc they secreted tliemselves until inoniiiii:^. 
 Shortly before dayhreak they emerged from their con- 
 cealment and advanced to the signal station, where 
 they surprised and massacred the guard, and with 
 I he assistance of ropes and ladders succeeded in })ull- 
 ing u[) fioiu the sleep declivity on the eastern side 
 many of the party who had been left behind. In the 
 mean time the alarm was given to the garrison below, 
 who were astonished at the appearance of an enemy 
 on the very summit of the Rock. A regiment of grena- 
 diers under Prince Henry of Armstadt was ordered to 
 dislodge them. Advancing under great disadvantages, 
 having to climb up a steep and stony ascent, they lost 
 many men before they could close with the Spaniards, 
 who with an inaccessible precipice behind them, and 
 left to their fate without support, fought with despei-atc 
 energy. But courage would not avail them. Their 
 annnunilioii, which did not exceed three rounds per 
 man, soon failed them, and after losing IGO of their 
 mnnber, tlu;y surrendered unconditionally. A few, 
 including the guide Susarte, fled by the pathway \\\) 
 which they had advanced, and having reached the 
 camp in safety related the disaster. 
 
 Though it is extremely improbable that under 
 every favourable eiicumstancc this surprise would 
 have been successful, yet through the misconduct 
 of the Marquis Villadarias, its failure was insured. 
 It had been arranged that upon the morning when 
 the little band of volunteers rcaeheil the cave above
 
 138 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the summit of the hill, a vigorous attack should 
 be made from the north front and all along the line, 
 to distract the attention of the besieged, while at the 
 same time another body of volunteers was to ascend 
 the Rock and join their comrades. But a contemptible 
 misunderstanding arose between the Spanish general 
 and the French general, Cavanne, which resulted in 
 the abandonment of the gallant party and the failure 
 of the enterprise.* 
 
 Fresh batteries having been opened, the enemy 
 succeeded in destroying the Bastion of San Pedro, 
 which flanked the curtain of the Land Port gate. 
 
 To assist in making fascines, clearing away rub- 
 bish from the ditches, and dragging guns and mortars 
 up the hill-side, sailors and marines were landed from 
 the fleet. 
 
 Towards the close of November, the enemy's fire 
 
 * It is remarkable that this daring attempt is scarcely re- 
 ferred to either by the Prince of Hesse or others Avho were 
 ])resent at the siege. In a letter to Sir John Leake (then in 
 tlie bay) the Prince merely remarks that the enemy made an 
 attempt to scale the heights ; and in the " Journal of an Officer 
 who was present during tlie whole Siege " (Brit ish Museum) 
 is the following entry, dated Oct. Blst : — 
 
 " Five hundred Spaniards attacked the Middle Hill, but by 
 the diligence and bravery of our officers were soon repulsed, 
 and 200 men with their commanding officer taken ; the rest 
 were killed by our shot, or in making their escape broke their 
 necks over the rocks and precipices, which in that ])lace are 
 very many and prodigiously high. lu this skirmish Prince 
 Henry was wounded."
 
 rUlVATlONS or TIIK (iAUUISON. \'V,) 
 
 hecamc most destructive, all the guns wliich had 
 l)cen moniitcd on the heij^dits of the Rock were 
 destroyed, and ])rovisions for 11 days only re- 
 mained.* 
 
 IIaj)|)ily at this critical juncture intelligence ar- 
 rived fioin Lord Mcthuen, our and)assa(lor at Lis- 
 l)on, announcing that 2000 efiective men, with a full 
 coin})lement of oilicers, and provided with engineers' 
 tools, would sail innnediately for the Rock, and that 
 a further reinforcement of 1000 men would leave as 
 soon as ships to convey them should arrive from Ireland. 
 Moreover 500 men were ready to eml)ark at Lagos, 
 and Sir John Leake was requested to send three men- 
 of-war to take them on board. f 
 
 The promise of such ample succour raised the 
 drooping spirits of the garrison and alleviated the pri- 
 vations they endured. But disease was already rife 
 among the troops and thinned the ranks with a fatal 
 rapidity. Medicines became scarce, and the supply 
 in the hospitals on shore having become exhausted, 
 the surgeons were dependent upon the fleet for 
 drugs. IShoes too were worn out and could not be 
 replaced. Sandals were made of hay and straw. 
 
 By the Gth of December the garrison had reached 
 the extremity of want, k'W men remained lit for 
 duty, and the damaged parapets were left unrepaired. 
 
 * Prince of Hesse to Sir John Leake, Xov. 25th, ITOt. 
 t Lord Metluien to Sir John Leake, Lisbon, Nov. IGth, 
 1701. Leake :MSS.
 
 140 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Having become aware of the state of things within 
 the walls, the enemy harassed the troops incessantly, 
 day and night. The breaches were constantly attacked, 
 but, although only 1300 healthy men were available 
 for duty, the assaults were successfully repulsed. 
 
 On the 7th of December, to the inexpressible joy 
 of the garrison, nine ships came in bringing troops, 
 provisions, and munitions of war. 
 
 Off Cape Spartel they met with the Trench fleet 
 under Commodore Point(^, and had a narrow escape 
 from being captured, for the enemy hoisted English 
 and Dutch colours, a stratagem which was fortunately 
 observed before the fleet bore down upon them. 
 
 Encouraged by the reinforcements, a sally upon 
 the advanced works was projected, and carried into 
 execution on the night of the 12th with most com- 
 plete success ; a great number of gabions were de- 
 stroyed and the works demolished.* 
 
 On the 20th the garrison made another sally, 
 which is described in the foUowing letter from the 
 Prince of Ilessc.f 
 
 "By the Newcastel's sailing to join the 
 squadron under y*" comand I would not let pass so 
 good an oportunity to acquaint you how this evening 
 wc resolved to make a sally, which succeeded to our 
 
 * Journal of an Officer clurinji; tlio Siege. British Museum, 
 t Prince of IIcsHe to Sir J. Leake, Dec. 23r(l, 1701. Au- 
 lograpli, British Museum.
 
 l.KTTKR Ol' TlIK I'UINCK OT IIKSSE. Ill 
 
 expectations, l)y ruinint:; the enemy's two next trendies 
 to our pallisudoes, so tliat it will bee some days' worck 
 ])efore tliey cann make it up a^^ain ; as for tlie rest, the 
 Ix'aier and Captain Legg, I do not doubt, hath given 
 you a full aecount of our succours' hapj)y arrival, and 
 now it is hoped most of the rest is safe. I hope you 
 will j)ardon the frcedome I have taken in detaining 
 this ship soe long here for reason all the garrison 
 wanting of fresh provisions. I desired him to convoy 
 two of the transports to Tetuan which would not be 
 ready sooner. In the mean time I hope you will be 
 here soone,* that some dispositions might be taken 
 how to drive the enemy quite out of their trenches, 
 which only cann be the securer executed by good 
 assistance. Pray pardon this my ill whriting, being 
 without a Secretary. I am whit all sincerity, 
 
 " Y"" most humble sert., 
 
 " George, 
 Prince of Ilesse." 
 
 On the :20th January, 170S, the Spaniards, 
 having received reinforcements, made an attack 
 upon the work at the extremity of the King's lines 
 witli a few grenadiers, but they were repulsed with 
 the loss of two ofTiei'rs and many nuMi : next day the 
 assault was rej)eate(l with a force of (iOO men. all French 
 and Irish, supjjorted by 1000 Spaniards. The object 
 
 * Sir .Tolui liiul sailocl lor Tiisl)oii.
 
 142 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 of this attack was to storm the breach m the round 
 tower at the extremity of the King's lines, and 
 another which had been made in the intrenchment on 
 the hill ; * the latter was defended at night by a cap- 
 tain, three subalterns, and 90 men, but 60 men were 
 usually withdrawn at daybreak. The round tower f 
 was garrisoned by a lieutenant-colonel and ISO men. 
 By the means of intelHgence from deserters, the Span- 
 ish general had become aware of the strength of 
 these posts, and arranged the attack accordingly. The 
 assaulting party told off for the breach in the in- 
 trenchment on the hill succeeded in climbing the 
 Rock unobserved, and secreted themselves among the 
 stony clefts until daybreak, when the GO men had 
 as usual been withdrawn from the guard. 
 
 At sunrise they burst from their concealment, 
 assaulted the breach, and hurling hand-grenades over 
 the wall, drove back the few men that remained to 
 defend it. At the same moment 300 Spaniards 
 attacked the breach in the round tower, which was 
 gallantly defended by Lieutenant-Colonel Barr, not- 
 withstanding that the enemy having passed the upper 
 breach took him in flank, and caused him some loss by 
 throwing down heavy stones and hand-grenades. At 
 length, overwhelmed by numbers, the English were 
 compelled to abandon the tower; but by this time the 
 
 * The line of communicalioii between tlie round tower and 
 Sallo de L()l)(). 
 
 t I 8U8i)ect ilii.H was Fuvi Sun Tedro, bei'orc nieiilioncd.
 
 SUFFERINGS OF THE SPANIARDS. [['.] 
 
 garrison liad become alarmed, and 500 men, nnder 
 command of Colonel Moncal, were sent to recover the 
 position and drive out the enemy. This was easily 
 effected, and the tower was retaken, after having been 
 in possession of the Spaniards for about an hour. 
 
 Since December the besiegers had suffered terribly 
 from the incessant rains and tempestuous weather. 
 The trenches were filled with mud and water, and 
 disease of a malignant type broke out in the camp. 
 In consequence of the floods and rising of the rivers, 
 the convoys of provisions from the interior could not 
 rcarh the lines, and the soldiers endured horrible 
 sufferings. 
 
 The siege had now lasted nearly five months, and 
 in spite of the repeated assurances of the Marquis 
 Villadarias, there appeared no prospect of success. 
 Dissatisfied with the delay, and doubting the capacity 
 of his general, King Philip availed himself of the offer 
 of the French Court, and appointed jMarshal Tess^ to 
 the command-in-chief of the combined army. 
 
 On the Sth February, the JMarshal arrived before 
 Gibraltar, bringing with him a rchiforccment of 4000 
 men, which, in addition to four companies from the 
 garrison of Oran and 1000 grenadiers who had 
 arrived previously, recruited the besiegers and enabled 
 them to recommence operations with fresh ardour. 
 
 The day l)efore Marshal Tessc reached the cam]) 
 a breach had been opened by the advanced batteries 
 in the curtain-wall of the Land Port, and the Marquis
 
 144 HISTORY OF GIBRALTATl. 
 
 Villadarias, anxious to secure the honour of success by 
 some brilliant action before the Marshal could arrive, 
 gave orders to assault the place, although the practica- 
 bility of the breach was doubtful. 
 
 At daybreak 18 companies, preceded by a num- 
 ber of grenadiers, advanced against the wall, but at 
 a critical moment the French detachment gave way, 
 leaving the Spaniards to sustain the assault alone. 
 Unable to hold their ground against the terrible fire 
 from the walls and the batteries on the hill above, the 
 enemy retired in good order, leaving nearly 200 men 
 in the ditch. 
 
 * On the 28th February, the French fleet came into 
 the bay, and a combined attack by sea and land was 
 contemplated ; the arrangements were completed, and 
 a body of men was selected to land at the south of 
 the Rock, with the intention of taking the defences in 
 reverse, when fortunately a stiff gale sprung up, and 
 the scheme was frustrated. 
 
 Tess^ had no sooner arrived before the Rock than 
 he became aware of the hopeless prospects of the 
 army. The Spanish expedition was deficient in every 
 requisite to sustain so great a siege. Writing on the 
 2nd January, 1705, to the Prince of Condd, he says:* 
 
 " Here 1 am before the Pillars of Hercules ; and 
 this siege, which has been undertaken with more 
 
 * Memoires de Tesae.
 
 TKSSE's LLTTER to the I'lUNCE DE CUNUl':. 145 
 
 perseverance and spirit than means of insuring suc- 
 cess, would have been happily terminated if those 
 means had been provided. But in Spain, to use the 
 old proverb, \vc live only from day to day, and think 
 not of remedies till evils appear. I found the siege 
 indeed further advanced than I had reason to expect, 
 notwithstanding the supplies of succours to the be- 
 sieged, one instance of which I had the misfortune to 
 witness. The English set us an example in keeping 
 the sea in all seasons with as much tranquillity as 
 your swans at Chantilly. But when the breaches had 
 been rendered practicable, and only a few days were 
 required to batter down what remained, our ammu- 
 nition failed, and our useless artillery could not be 
 changed. The squadron of Baron Pointc', without 
 which the reduction cannot be completed, was detain- 
 ed by contrary whids. No convoy made their appear- 
 ance, no cannon arrived, and as a mere point of 
 honour a few shots only were fired every hour. Thus 
 the enemy had time to repair their damages, while 
 our army is almost annihilated. 
 
 " I was told on my arrival here that I should find 
 20 pieces of artillery and 300,000 pounds of powder: 
 but the cannon are still at Cadiz, and I have no in- 
 telligence of the powder which was to have been 
 forwarded from Toulon. 
 
 "If you ask why we do not raise the siege? I 
 reply, the cannon and stores cannot be carried away 
 
 10
 
 146 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 by land, and we have no means to convey them by 
 sea. In a word, notwithstanding aU the measnres 
 said to be adopted for obtaining money and other 
 requisites, they are still in the same wretched condi- 
 tion at Madrid as we are here." 
 
 Immediately Sir John Leake was made aware 
 of the arrival of Commodore Pointe in the Bay of 
 Gibraltar he set sail from Lisbon, the fleet having 
 been reinforced by a squadron of five third-rates, and 
 some sloops under Admiral Sir Thomas Dilkes, mak- 
 ing a total of 30 sail. On the 10th March about 
 half-past five in the morning the fleet came abreast of 
 Cabrita Point, the south-western extremity of the Bay 
 of Gibraltar. In the mean time Points had been 
 made aware of the approach of the squadron, and 
 being afraid to risk an action, had on the previous 
 morning sent a portion of the squadron to the east- 
 ward, intending to foflow with the rest of the ships on 
 the next day. 
 
 As Sir John Leake rounded Cabrita Point he 
 came in sight of five Prench vessels, under command 
 of the Commodore, beating for the eastward and en- 
 deavouring to round the southern point of the Rock. 
 Observing that the batteries at Europa opened on the 
 ships as they passed, he concluded that the garrison 
 was safe, and immediately gave chase to the Prcnch 
 squadron. After a short run he came up with the 
 " Arrogant," CO guns, which struck without resist- 
 ance ; he next captured the " Ardent," 50 guns, and
 
 TESSE RAISES THE SIEGE. 147 
 
 tlio "Marquis," 5G guns, ^\llilc the " iNIaguaninic'," 
 74, and tlie "Lis," 80 guns, lla^i^^-sliij) of tlif Coiii- 
 modore, were run ashore near MarhcUa and burnt. 
 Sir Jolui continued saiHng eastward, in tlic ho])c of 
 f'alhng in with the rest of the enemy's fleet, whicli 
 was making for Toulon, but failing to come up with 
 it, he returned to Gibraltar. 
 
 The French fleet having thus been dispersed, and 
 the garrison reinforced and provisioned, Marshal 
 Tessti became convinced of the futility of continuing 
 the siege, and sent Colonel Renaud of the engineers 
 to the King of France, to inform him of the hopeless- 
 ness of his position, and his intention to abandon 
 active operations, and convert the siege into a block- 
 ade. During the attack the enemy had lost not less 
 than 10,000 men, principally from disease, occasioned 
 by the wet and inclement weather and the scarcity of 
 provisions. 
 
 On the 18th April, 1705, the siege was raised, a 
 small force of Spaniards only remaining to preserve the 
 blockade.* Marshal Tess^ had from the commence- 
 ment been conscious of the hopeless cause in which 
 he was engaged. The Council of Spain were al- 
 together unable and unwilling to meet the exigences 
 of a slow and wearying siege. No master hand held 
 the helm of the government; indolence ami procras- 
 tination, the too frequent sources of disaster in Spain, 
 
 * Piiriiiu; tlu> sioj,'o the euemy tlircw 70,000 sliot and SOOO 
 slu'll iiiti) Ihe pl;u'0. 
 
 10 •
 
 148 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 left the expedition in helpless misery during a tem- 
 pestuous and inclement winter ; no money \vas forth- 
 coming to pay the troops, the munitions of war were 
 defective and scantily supplied, and orders as con- 
 tradictory as imbecile were issued to the army from 
 Madrid. 
 
 Writing to his master King Louis, a week after 
 he had raised the siege, Tess^ says : 
 
 " I received between Xeres and Seville the honour 
 of your Majesty's letter. I admire your Majesty's 
 firmness and goodness ; for if you had scolded us all, 
 beginning wdth the king, your grandson, you would 
 not have treated us according to our deserts. Never, 
 to use the old proverb, was a plough so ill harnessed 
 as this country, where everything passes without order, 
 without precaution, without decision, without money, 
 without objects ; in a word, without anything wdiich 
 is the support of states. If it was intended to ruin the 
 monarchy, nothing could have been done more to the 
 purpose. 
 
 " Your Majesty will have seen from my letters to 
 Chamillard, the strange situation of what is here 
 called war, troops, money, magazines, and prepar- 
 ations. God grant that the arrival of Orri may be a 
 remedy for so many disorders ; at least that one 
 person may be found near the King of Spain who can 
 
 give orders We have failed before Gibraltar 
 
 for want of method and ])rccaution, and of those
 
 LKTTEll OF T£SSE Tu KlNCi LULLS. 1 I'J 
 
 arrangements with which no one is better acquainted 
 than your Majesty. 
 
 "The unfortunate loss of your ships only happen- 
 ed because they do not comprehend at Madrid either 
 the effect or practicability of what they order; they 
 one day destroy what they do another. 
 
 " The general spirit of the Spaniards, even of the 
 most zealous, is to foresee nothing,* to think that 
 they arc exculpated from the misfortunes they bring 
 on themselves, by yielding to superior power. The 
 king hiuiself seems occasionally to desire that chance 
 should furnish what can only be hoped for from the 
 best-combined precautions, and his specific orders 
 have an air of obstinacy which must injure his 
 service. 
 
 " As to the funds which your Majesty commands 
 me to establish for the subsistence of the troops, 
 they have never laid before me anything but im- 
 })ossibilities ; and the troops are neither paid nor 
 recruited. In a word, sire, all things are in a miser- 
 able state." 
 
 Spanish writers blame ^larshal Tesse f for having 
 
 * In a letter to Amelot, (Meinoires do Tcsso,) bo says : 
 " I would not trust a Spaniard, however brave, with the 
 defence of a steeple ; tliey fip^bt duels, but as a body, and for 
 their country, is an idea wliich never enters their head.><." 
 
 t A note to CampbcU's Lives of the Admirals, reign of 
 Queen Anne, says, referrini:; to tbe attack on Gibraltar:
 
 150 HISTOUY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 raised the siege, and attribute to liis mal-administra- 
 tion the failure of the attack. But the only error 
 that Tess^ appears to have committed, was in not 
 suspending operations immediately he arrived before 
 the place. He found the army destitute, unpaid, ill 
 fed, and despairing. The magazines were empty, 
 the cannon useless, and sickness had struck down 
 thousands. 
 
 To prosecute an arduous siege with such an army 
 must have resulted in worse than defeat, in ruin. 
 At that moment, Spain could ill afford to leave her 
 troops to melt away before the stubborn defences of 
 an inaccessible Rock. 
 
 For a moment the French general attempted to 
 retrieve the fortune of the day, but in vain; then, 
 choosing the lesser evil, he acknowledged defeat, 
 and withdrew with the remnants of the expedition 
 from a hopeless contest. 
 
 It is remarkable that the events of this siege did 
 not open the eyes of the English cabinet to the im- 
 portance of Gibraltar. They had witnessed the im- 
 patient anxiety of Spain to effect its recovery, they 
 
 " The obstinacy of the two courts in ohlii^'iug their generals 
 to contiuuc this siege, when they were thoroughly sensible 
 that it was to no purpose, proved the ruin of their affairs in 
 Spain, at least for that campaign, and if it had not been for 
 the accident of the Earl of Galway's losing an arm by a cannon- 
 shot, which occasioned the raising of the siege of Badajo/,, 
 King rhilip in all jji-dbability had been driven out of Spain."
 
 IMPOiriANCK Ol' (HBKALTAR. [7)\ 
 
 had seen all her extensive military plans rcsif^ncd, lier 
 forces Avithdrawn from a threatened frontier, and 
 llie assistance of a powerful ally called to her aid, 
 for one grand ol)ject, the subjection of Gibraltar, 
 But although the iniuistry depreciated the value of the 
 ])osscssion, the people began to form a just estimate 
 of its importance. The gallant defence during the 
 recent siege was a military achievement that excited 
 the popular admiration, and Gibraltar became valu- 
 able in the eyes of the public, wdien its name w^as 
 associated with British gallantry and blood. It is 
 not to be forgotten that had it not been for the 
 " people," Gibraltar would now have been the strong- 
 hold of some other power. As we shall presently see, 
 it was the dread of popular indignation that deterred 
 subsccpient cabinets from bartering with Spain for the 
 restitution of the Rock. 
 
 Stanhope, whose familiarity with the secret policy 
 of the Court of iMadrid should have given him a 
 clearer judgment, did not perceive that England 
 could gain any advantage by its possession. Towns- 
 hend held a similar opinion, and even the elder Pitt 
 was willing to surrender it, had he not feared the 
 storm of public wrath. 
 
 How dearly it was prized by Spain is proved by 
 her unceasing efforts to recover it either by force of 
 arms or by diplomacy, and it is worthy of remark 
 that no single system of foreign policy was conceived
 
 152 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 by any of her most famous ministers whicli did not 
 include as one of its most important objects the 
 restoration of Gibraltar.* 
 
 The siege which had closed in 1705 destroyed 
 the hopes which Philip had cherished for the recovery 
 of the fortress by force, and when in 1711 the war 
 of the Succession ceased, and the Archduke Charles 
 acquired the throne of Germany, the Catholic King 
 resorted to the shifts and artifices of diplomacy with 
 sanguine expectations of success. 
 
 During six years after the cessation of hostilities 
 before Gibraltar, the struggle of the Succession con- 
 tinued. Amongst other enterprises in favour of the 
 archduke a second expedition was sent against Barce- 
 lona, the fleet being commanded by the famous Earl 
 of Peterborough, and the land forces by Prince 
 George of Hesse, who embarked at Gibraltar. On 
 this occasion the attack succeeded, but Prince George 
 was killed in the assault. 
 
 The death of the Emperor Joseph, in April, 1711, 
 put an end to this sanguinary campaign; and two 
 years subsequently, at the celebrated conference of 
 Utrecht, a treaty of a general peace was signed by 
 the sovereigns of England, Spain, Prance, and the 
 other allies, with the exception of Austria. 
 
 By this treaty the security of the Protestant suc- 
 
 * Vide The Forei{j;n Policy of Albcroui, liippcrda, and 
 Florida-Blanca.
 
 CONDITIONS Ol' TlIK CESSION. J j-i 
 
 cession in England was insured. The Frencli and 
 Spanish crowns were disunited, S[)ain was deprived of 
 half her possessions in Europe, and Gibraltar was 
 linally ceded to Great Britain in the following terais : 
 " The Catholic King does hereby for himself, his 
 heirs, and successors yield to the (h'own of Great Bri- 
 tain the full and entire propriety of the Town and 
 Castle of Gibraltar, together with the Port, fortifica- 
 tions, and forts belonging thereto. And he gives up 
 the said propriety to be held and enjoyed absolutely 
 with all manner of right for ever without any excep- 
 tion or impediment whatsoever." . . . "And Her 
 Britannic Majesty does consent and agree that no leave 
 shall be given under any pretence whatever either to 
 Jews or Moors to reside or have their dwelling in the 
 
 said Town of (Gibraltar And in case the possession 
 
 of Gibraltar should hereafter be alienated, it is coven- 
 anted that a preference, to the entire exclusion of all 
 other pretenders, shall be given to the Crown of 
 bpaui.
 
 154 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 1715—1727. 
 
 To unravel the mysteries which shroud the nego- 
 tiations for the surrender of Gibraltar to the Spanish 
 Crown, negotiations which in the first instance ex- 
 tended over a period of 11 years, and were conducted 
 with the greatest secresy and caution, is no easy task. 
 
 The proposal seems first to have been suggested 
 by the British cabinet to Spain in 1715, and was 
 from time to time renewed until the outbreak of hos- 
 tilities in 1720. During these 11 years scarcely a 
 single overture for the settlement of a satisfactory 
 peace was made by Spain to England which was not 
 founded upon the surrender of Gibraltar, either un- 
 conditionally, or upon the guarantee of an equivalent. 
 
 The history of the political relations of the two 
 countries during those 11 years exhibits a constant 
 train of negotiations for the restitution of the for- 
 tress, and the discussions arising from the proposals 
 were interminable. 
 
 In 1715 George 1. a})pears to have suggested to
 
 WAin,lKK I'KKI'ARATIONS OF Sl'AIN. lijy 
 
 the Court of Spain, through the medium of tlic Ue- 
 geut of France, the possibihty of the restoratiou of 
 Gibraltar upon certain conditions. 
 
 But fresli complications which arose in Europe 
 after the peace of Utrecht interrupted any negotia- 
 tions on the subject, ami the promise, or rather the 
 offer, was cancelled. 
 
 Scarcely had the treaty of Utrecht re-established 
 peace, ere Spain, guided by the ambitious hand of 
 Alberoni, alarmed all Europe by the magnitude of her 
 warlike preparations. A powerful armament was 
 organized for the invasion of Sicily, and 30,000 men 
 were successfully disembarked within a few miles of 
 Palermo. 
 
 The awakening power of Spain aroused the ap- 
 prehensions of the European powers, and rapidly hast- 
 ened the conclusion of the Quadruple Alliance. 
 
 Every effort was made to induce Spain to join the 
 treaty, but in vain. For a moment Alberoni feigned 
 compliance; but after the success in Sicily, the situation 
 of affairs rapidly assumed the gravest importance, and 
 it was agreed that no sacrifice would be too great to 
 check the aggressive spirit of Spain. At this juncture 
 it was resolved once more to try that tempting bait, 
 the restoration of Gibraltar. The offer was made, 
 tlu! only condition involved being the accession of 
 Philip to tlie (2":i<h'ui)l(> Alliance. Ihit the king, in- 
 flanu'd with the victorious news from Sicily, and in- 
 lluenced by the tempt ing promise-; of his ministers,
 
 156 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 indignantly rejected the proposal. The news of the 
 destruction of the Spanish fleet off Palermo by Ad- 
 miral Byng had not at that time reached Madrid. 
 When the intelligence arrived it created the greatest 
 consternation, and bitter were the remonstrances 
 addressed to the British Government against the 
 alleged outrage. From that moment the haughty 
 demeanour of Spain began to subside. Unable to 
 carry out his ambitious designs by force of arms 
 alone, Alberoni entered into subtle intrigues with 
 Russia and Sweden for the invasion of England, and 
 caballed against the throne of the Regent. 
 
 The plot for the subversion of the French mon- 
 archy was discovered before it could be put into ex- 
 ecution, and hostilities, disastrous to Spain, ensued ; 
 in Sicily the army suffered misfortunes and reverses, 
 the schemes for the invasion of Britain failed, and the 
 short-lived power of Spain rapidly declined. These 
 reverses were quickly followed by the downfal of 
 Alberoni, whose dismissal from Madrid in disgrace 
 was followed by the accession of Philip to the Qua- 
 druple AUiance. 
 
 Having ai length complied with the desire of the 
 allies, and renewed the peace of Europe, the first act 
 of the king was to demand the restoration of Gib- 
 raltar. The negotiation was conducted tlirough the 
 Regent, who, desirous of cementing his alliance with 
 Spain, undertook to promise that he would induce 
 England to comply with J^hilip's wishes.
 
 niOi'OSAL TO CEDE THE FOllTUESS, 157 
 
 EaQ;rr for the accomplishment of his expectations, 
 the kin^ urged the iniiuecliate cession of the fortress, 
 witli such vehemence that the EngUsh Glovernment, 
 w'liieli was not yet prepared for the surrender, was 
 compelled to renounce the obligation which Philip 
 affirmed had been contracted for its restoration. This 
 disavowal irritated the Spanish Court ; and the Re- 
 gent, reproached with faithlessness, found it expedient 
 to send an envoy to England to explain how deeply 
 he was committed to the promise of the surrender of 
 Gibraltar. The British cabinet, hitherto ignorant of 
 the favourable expectations that had been held out to 
 Spain by the Regent, was perplexed with the situa- 
 tion ; on the one hand, threatened the indignation 
 of the people if the fortress were given up ; on the 
 other, the probability of the loss of the Regent's alli- 
 ance with a war as its consequence. In this dilemma 
 the Government decided upon sounding the temper of 
 the people, by bringing forward a motion in Parlia- 
 ment relative to the restoration of the Rock. No 
 sooner was the real nature of the question understood, 
 than the proposition was met by an universal outburst 
 of indignation. 
 
 " We have made a motion," says Lord Stanhope in 
 a letter to Sir Luke Schaub, " relative to the restitu- 
 tion of Gibraltar,* to pass a bill for the purpose of 
 
 * Lord Stanliopo to Sir Luke Siluuib. Paris, ^farch 
 2Stli, 1720.
 
 158 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 leaving to the king the power of disposing of that 
 fortress for the advantage of his subjects. You 
 cannot imagine the ferment which the proposal 
 produced. The pubUc was roused with indignation 
 at the simple suspicion that at the close of a success- 
 ful war, so unjustly begun by Cardinal Alberoni, we 
 should cede that fortress. One circumstance greatly 
 contributed to excite the general indignation, namely, 
 a report, insinuated by the opposition, that the king 
 had entered into a formal engagement to restore 
 Gibraltar, which was deemed a sufficient ground to 
 attack the minister. Many libels have been published 
 to alarm the nation, and to excite them rather to 
 continue the war than cede a fortress of such im- 
 portance. We were accordingly compelled to yield 
 to the torrent, and to adopt the wise resolution of 
 withdrawing the motion ; because, if it had been 
 pressed, it would have produced a contrary effect to 
 what is designed, and would perhaps have ended in a 
 bill which might for ever have tied up the king's hands. 
 Such being the real state of this business, you will 
 endeavour to explain to the Court of Madrid tliat if 
 the King of Spain should ever wish, at some future 
 day, to treat concerning the cession of Gibraltar, the 
 only method of succeeding would bo to drop the 
 subject at present. We are much concerned that 
 France should have interfered on this occasion ; the 
 extreme eagerness which slie testified was of great 
 detriment. Some letters and memorials on that sub-
 
 PUBLIC SUSPICION AM) DISSATISFACTION. 15'J 
 
 ject sceniL'd even to threaten a rupture. The alarm 
 was indeed so strong that peoi)le bep;an to susjjeet 
 France was meditating a change of system, and made 
 (iil)rakar a pretext to adopt other measures. The 
 httle alacrity she discovered in hastening the evacua- 
 tion, her profound silence in regard to her negotiation 
 with Spain, and the extraordinary language held by 
 some persons in high estimation here, seemed to con- 
 firm these opinions, and was the cause of my coming 
 to Paris." 
 
 The publicity that the transaction had by this 
 time acquii'ed led to further and searching inquiries 
 into the exact position of England in the question, 
 and the public dissatisfaction was further provoked by 
 well-founded rumours that the king was pledged to 
 the unconditional restoration of the fortress. Seizing 
 \q)on the favom-able moment, and profiting by the 
 general excitement, the opposition* put malicious 
 
 * Three years later the opposition attempted to embroil 
 tlie Cabinet with the Spanish minister, by suj^^estinf]^ secretly 
 tliat Gibraltar might without iliffieulty be restored, and inti- 
 mating that if Townshend's administration could be removed 
 the wishes of the King of Spain would be complied with. 
 
 Pozobueno, writing to Eipperda, London, May 30, 1726, 
 says, — 
 
 " Palm further says, that Pulteney afterwards treats of the 
 restitution of Port Mahon and Gibraltar to Spain, without 
 entering into the dilRculties which he knows are made respect- 
 ing it by the ministry, raUier for their own private ends than 
 on account of the impossibility of his Britaiuiic Majesty's 
 fulGlliug his promise, which, he says, miglit be done with the
 
 160 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 reports in circulation, and encouraged the publication 
 of virulent pamphlets, with the object of rousing the 
 passions of the people. 
 
 Under these circumstances the king determined 
 upon sending Lord Stanhope to Paris, to explain to 
 the regent the impossibility of pressing the restitu- 
 tion during the existing ferment, and to urge upon 
 him the expediency of allowing the question to rest 
 for a short season at least. 
 
 The letter which Stanhope carried with him from 
 the king was firm and decided in its language ; it 
 acknowledged that an offer of cession had been made, 
 but said that the offer was dictated only by a desire 
 to avoid a rupture, and that Spain might have 
 accepted it had she then acceded to the proposed 
 conditions.* That it was now too late to revive 
 the demand, as the King of Spain had proved 
 himself the aggressor. It could never be understood 
 that a voluntary offer of this nature, to prevent war, 
 was binding as a preliminary of peace. 
 
 The king concluded by observing that he had 
 never given his consent, since the rupture, to the 
 renewal of the offer, and had received no com- 
 munication from the regent of any intention to bring 
 it forward. 
 
 consent of tlic iiaiion provided llie present ministry were 
 changed." — Walpolc Correspondence. 
 
 * Memoirs of ISir Eobert W:il|)ole, vol. i.
 
 RESENTMENT OF THE SPANISH COLUT. J (1 1 
 
 Lord stanhope's mission was entirely successful, 
 and the Regent at once consented not to press the 
 demand any further at that time. 
 
 Sir Luke Schauh, then at Madrid, was deputed to 
 appease the irritation of the Spanish Court. But this 
 was no light task. 
 
 " Gibraltar," says an eloquent historian (Lord 
 Mahon), " was a question nearly touching the Spanish 
 ])ride. It is almost incredible what deep and deadly 
 resentment had been raised in that haughty nation, 
 who had extended their conquering arms so far, to see 
 a fortress upon their own shores held and garrisoned 
 by England. They viewed it with still more bitter 
 feelings than the Trench had formerly our possession 
 of Calais, and there was scarcely a Spanish statesman 
 of this period who might not have applied to himself 
 the saying of Queen Mary, and declared that when 
 he died the word Gibraltar would be found engraven 
 on his heart."* 
 
 King George, still anxious to conciliate the 
 Spanish monarch, proposed that the question should 
 be referred to the api)roaching congress at Cambray, 
 and so desirous was the British Cabinet to close 
 satisfactorily this tedious and irritating negotiation, 
 that Lord Stanhope in the mean time laid before the 
 Lords Justices a suggestion that (ii])raltar could be 
 
 * Mahou, History of England, vol. ii. p. 192. 
 11
 
 16S5 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ceded to Spain honourably and advantageous!}^, if 
 Florida or a part of St Domingo were given as an 
 equivalent. Stanhope was convinced of the inex- 
 pediency of permitting the subject to be discussed at 
 the congress. He was aware that the Regent, though 
 apparently acquiescing in the views of England, 
 would in all likelihood support Spain in her demand 
 for Gibraltar, — "D^s que nous lui proposerons de 
 traiter avec nous," he says, " il nous proposera de son 
 cot^ la cession de Gibraltar; et si nous la lui refusons, 
 il renverra notre traite au Congr^s ou il sera sur 
 d'etre appuy^ dans cette demande par la France, etpeut- 
 ^tre encore par d'autres Puissances. Ce point done 
 doit etre d^termin^ avant que nous commencions k 
 negocier avec I'Espagne."* Urging upon Secretary 
 Craggs the advisability of obtaining a settlement of 
 the question at once, he says, — 
 
 " Reasons have induced His Majesty to order me 
 to lay before the Lords Justices, for consideration, 
 whether they ought not to profit by the strong desire 
 that the King of Spain evinces to recover Gibraltar, 
 to endeavour to obtain an equivalent advantage to our 
 
 commerce In this case it seems to His Majesty 
 
 that Gibraltar would not be regretted by us. 
 
 " The King of Spain, after having opened his mind 
 to our minister concerning the reasons that make him 
 
 * Earl Slauliopc to Socrclary Cragga, llanovcr, October 
 Ist, 1720. Lord Mal)on, Appendix.
 
 STORMY DISCUSSIONS. l(j:j 
 
 wish for Gibraltar, added some wliicli would prove that 
 the preservation of the place is of little importance to 
 us. He says that in time of peace we should have 
 the use of it without the expense, when it is in his 
 hands ; and that in time of war he could take it from 
 us with little trouble, or render the port useless to us 
 by erecting batteries on his own ground. As to the 
 use we can get out of Gibraltar in time of war, what- 
 ever it may be, it must be weighed not only against 
 the ecpiivalent that England will tiy to obtain, but 
 also remembering the certainty that by the concession 
 wi; can prevent for a long period Spain uniting her- 
 self with France to make war upon us."* 
 
 Upon the proposal for the surrender of the place, 
 with the ])roniise of an equivalent being laid before 
 the Lords Justices, it Avas met by a stormy discussion. 
 Townshend, fearfid of the temper of Parliament, w as 
 at first violently opposed to the measuj*e, but at length 
 gave his sanction, provided Honda woe the equivalent 
 granted. t 
 
 * Translated from the French. Stanhope to Craggs, Ist 
 October, 1720. 
 
 t " My Lord Townshend n'a paa ose di'sapprouver entiere- 
 ment la lettre de my Lord Stanhope. H dit memo qu'cn gros 
 il est du mrmo sentiment, mais que les equivalens qui sent 
 avaiit'L'S ne c-ontenteront pas le Parlement : et que si Ton 
 obtcnait du Koi d'Espagno un equivalent en terre, alors 
 il ne I'audrait pas balancer de ccder Gibraltar." Sir Luke 
 Schaub to Mr Wiiiiam Stanhope. Madi-id. Loudon, Jsov. 
 17th, 1720.
 
 164 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Eortunately for England Philip obstinately refused 
 to cede any equivalent whatever for the restoration of 
 the Rock ; he insisted upon his right to its possession, 
 and declined to be shackled by any condition what- 
 soever. 
 
 He asserted that his sole reason for having acceded 
 to the Quadruple Alliance w^as the promise of the 
 restitution of Gibraltar, and he complained that he 
 had been duped into agreeing to a peace which 
 had created dissatisfaction among his subjects, 
 by the offer of inducements which had proved 
 fallacious. 
 
 It was certainly true that in Spain the peace was 
 regarded as dishonourable. It was a maxim established 
 throughout the length and breadth of the land, that 
 no treaty could be honourable to the country which 
 did not include the cession of Gibraltar to Spain. 
 Indignant as the people of England were when its 
 restoration was proposed, the rage of the Spaniards 
 was no less violent when they found that it was not 
 mentioned in the treaty. 
 
 Townshcnd, to whom, on the death of Stanhope, 
 in Eebruary 1721, the management of this complicated 
 affair was confided, had scarcely had time to trace out a 
 solution of the question, when an application was re- 
 ceived from the Catholic King, stating that so turbulent 
 were liis subjects in consequence of tlic terms of the 
 peace that he requested, as an ostensible vindication
 
 LETTER OF KING GEORGE. 105 
 
 of the treaty, a letter from King George conveying a 
 promise to restore Cjlibraltar. 
 
 Acting under the advice of Townsliend and Carte- 
 ret, the king compHed with this demand, and a letter 
 couched in discreet terms was written on the 29th of 
 April : — " I no longer balance," said the king, " to 
 assure your Majesty of my readiness to satisfy you 
 with regard to your demand touching the restitution 
 of Gibraltar, upon the footing of an equivalent, promis- 
 ing you to make use of the first favourable oppor- 
 tunity to regulate this article with consent of my 
 Parliament." 
 
 When this letter was presented at Madrid by the 
 British minister it was received by a volume of objec- 
 tions ; these, w'ith one exception, were eventually over- 
 come, but the word " equivalent " wvas declared inad- 
 missible, and with such a condition the letter was 
 pronounced useless, binding it would be impossible to 
 overcome the dogged obstinacy of the king and queen, 
 the minister consented to recommend that another 
 letter should be written, in which the obnoxious clause 
 would be omitted. Urged on by the representations 
 of Townsliend, who had already adopted the views of 
 Earl Stanhope, and now regarded Gibraltar as of little 
 value to the nation. King George agreed to write a 
 second letter, believing at the same time that the 
 document, even with the clause omitted, placed the 
 affair entirely in the hands of rarlinmcnt, who might
 
 166 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 either refuse to part with Gibraltar upon any terms, 
 or demand an equivalent. But Philip viewed the 
 letter in another Kght, and in all future negotiations 
 maintained that it implied a positive promise of 
 restitution.* 
 
 For two years this letter formed the subject of a 
 bitter controversy, Philip always maintaining that 
 the promise was unconditional, the king asserting 
 that it rested with the discretion of his Parhament. 
 To overcome the obstinacy of the Spanish Court, Mr 
 Stanhope, the British Envoy at Madrid, was desired 
 to obtain an interview with Philip, and to endea- 
 vour by the force of argument to convince him of the 
 restricted terms of the promise. Accordingly Mr 
 Stanhope put himself in communication with the 
 IVIarquis de Grimaldo, w^ith whom he held a prelimi- 
 nary conference. Grimaldo recognized the reason- 
 ableness of the views of the English cabinet regarding 
 Gibraltar, and assured the minister that he held 
 
 * " King George 1st to King Philip. 
 
 " Sir,— My Brother, 
 
 " I have learnt with extreme satisfaction, 
 by meana of my ambassador at your Court, that your ]\lajesty 
 has at length resolved to remove the obstacles which have for 
 some time retarded the entire accomplishment of our union. 
 ... I do not delay in assuring your Majesty of my readiness 
 to satisfy you as regards the restitution of Gibraltar, promising 
 you that I will avail myself of the first favourable opportunity 
 of settling this point, with the intervention of my Parliament."
 
 rL'KTIli:il NEGOTIATIONS. 107 
 
 tlie same opinions on tlie (piostion, and that the 
 difficulties wiiich liad arisen owed tlieir origin not to 
 liini or any otlier of the ministry, but ])roceeded solely 
 from the king himself, whom he had never known 
 so immoveable upon any point as upon the restitution 
 of Gibraltar. 
 
 By advice of Giimaldo, Stanhope sought an audi- 
 ence with the king. At this interview the conversa- 
 tion, after relating to topics of minor importance, was 
 turned to the subject wdiich both speakers had so 
 deeply at heart. 
 
 In reply to a demand upon what terms King 
 George would enter upon a treaty, Stanhope said, 
 that the confinnation of all treaties subsisting at the 
 time of the rupture would be a sufficient basis, and 
 that the questions of Gibraltar and the equivalent 
 could be reserved for a future opportunity. To this 
 latter proposition the king instantly demurred, re])eat- 
 ing all those arguments which had so often been used 
 before, and affirming that his accession to the Quad- 
 ruple Alliance had depended solely upon the un- 
 conditional promise he had received from the Ucucnt 
 that CJibraltar should be restored. 
 
 AVhcn the British minister reminded him of the 
 pow^r of the Parliament, the king replied that if they 
 would have consented to part witli the place two 
 years before to prevent a war, he did not understand 
 why they should not be guided by the same argument 
 at that time ; that if they would not now hear of
 
 168 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 parting with Gibraltar for the sake of peace, and the 
 restoring of their commerce, he coukl not imagine 
 they would ever be prevailed upon to do so. After a 
 further discussion, in which Stanhope pointed out the 
 difficulty of complying with the king's demands while 
 the popular feeling in England was so opposed to them, 
 it was decided to refer the question to Grimaldo, and 
 a final answer was promised in a few days. When 
 this reply came it proved, as might have been 
 expected, directly unsatisfactory. It evaded the ques- 
 tion of an equivalent, and was in fact a renewal of 
 the king's resolution to demand the cession as a 
 right. 
 
 Two reasons appeared to influence the king in 
 his obstinate determination. First, the feelings of 
 the nation, to whom it had more than once been pub- 
 licly declared that Gibraltar should be restored. Se- 
 condly, the opinion he held that Parliament would 
 for the sake of British commerce eventually accede to 
 his demand. 
 
 " It is very unfortunate," says Mr Stanhope, 
 " that our hands are tied as to Gibraltar, so as not to 
 take advantage of this innnoderate desire the King of 
 Spain has to obtain it ; for were it otherwise, not- 
 withstanding the pretended promise of it, I am fully 
 persuaded we might yet sell it for double its worth, 
 ill advantages to our commerce."* 
 
 * William Staiiliopo to Sir Luke Scluiub, Madrid, Jan. 18, 
 1721.
 
 HOSTILITIES BETWEJ^N FRANCE AND SPAIN. 10!) 
 
 Towiishcnd had been of opinion that if Florida 
 wcrcoftbred as an equivalent, the popular voice would 
 not be raised against the exchange, and Stanhope was 
 instructed to sound the Spanish ministry upon the 
 question. But it was found that such a proposal 
 woidd meet with insurmountable obstacles ; the 
 Spaniards dreaded the establishment of any foreign 
 influence in their AVest Indian possessions. The sub- 
 ject was mooted by Stanhope to Grimaldo, but the 
 latter was as obstinately opposed to this measure as 
 the King of Spain was to the grant of any equivalent 
 whatever. Thus the British minister's endeavours to 
 settle this tedious and irritating question failed at all 
 points.* 
 
 During the next few years active negotiations 
 appear to have ceased, and the question was suffered 
 to slumber. 
 
 In 1725, the sudden espousal of Louis XV. with 
 Maria of Poland, and the dismissal of the Infanta 
 from Paris, brought on hostilities between France and 
 Spain ; the congress at Cambray was broken up, and 
 the negotiation regarding Gibraltar remained un- 
 settled. Six weeks had not elapsed since the depart- 
 ure of the Infanta before Europe was alarmed by the 
 announcement of a treaty between Spain and the 
 Emperor, signed on the 30th April, at Vienna. This 
 treaty contained several most important articles, but 
 
 * Coxe's Memoirs of Kings of Spain ; Memoirs of Sir R. 
 Walpolc ; Mahon's Hist, of England.
 
 170 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 another, a secret one, was concluded on the 1st of 
 May, which in substance amounted to an offensive 
 alhance. In it the Emperor pledged his good offices 
 to obtain the recovery of Gibraltar and Minorca, and 
 other engagements, aimed against the tranquilhty of 
 Great Britain, were arranged. 
 
 Before the inteUigence of the conclusion of this 
 treaty had reached Madrid, it had been openly asserted 
 at Vienna that England would be compelled to restore 
 Gibraltar, or it would be wrested from her by force. 
 Mr Stanhope was instructed to demand from Gri- 
 maldo whether this declaration was made by author- 
 ity from the King of Spain. Philip at first dis- 
 avowed the statement, and the British minister was 
 about to transmit the reply to his court, when a note 
 arrived from Grimaldo demanding the immediate re- 
 stitution of Gibraltar, with the alternative of a declar- 
 ation of war. 
 
 Unable to comprehend this sudden revolution of 
 the king's resolve. Stanhope hurried back to the palace, 
 and in an audience remonstrated against the incon- 
 sistency of such a sudden claim, and represented 
 that Parliament was not then sitting, without whose 
 sanction the question could not be discussed. 
 
 The queen sharply interrupted him : " No ! " she 
 exclaimed, " then let the king your master return in- 
 stantly to England, and summon a I'arliainent, a mea- 
 sure wo have a right to expect from his repeated 
 offers of friendship. I am fully convinced that the
 
 Tin-: SKCllKT ALLIANCE. 171 
 
 proposal would not meet with a single negative in 
 cither House. To give more weight to the demand 
 let tliis short argument be used, — cither relinquish 
 (Jibraltar, or your trade to the Indies; the question 
 will not admit of a moment's delay."* 
 
 In addition to this secret engagement in the treaty 
 of the 1st of j\Iay, Ripperda,f the envoy employed 
 by the Court of iNIadrid to negotiate the peace, was 
 assured by the Emperor that every assistance would 
 be given for the recovery of both Gibraltar and Mi- 
 norca, if necessary, by force of arms. 
 
 The existence of any understanding upon this 
 ]wint between the two Courts was afterwards distinctly 
 denied, but there is sufficient evidence to warrant the 
 belief that the information subsequently given by Rip- 
 pcrda to Mr Stanliope was in substance correct. If 
 
 * Mr Stanliopo to Lord Townshend, Aug. 6, 1725. Coxo's 
 Meins. of Kings of Spain. 
 
 t This remarkable man, whose career was marked by the 
 romance of fiction, liad no sooner concluded tlie treaty with tlie 
 Emperor than ho found himself Prime Minister of the country 
 with a Dukedom. But his sudden elevation was followed by 
 acts of ridiculous extravagance. Altogether deficient in every 
 quality that is required to make a statesman, he made himself 
 contemptible by his loud and vain-glorious boasting, while his 
 folly and insolem-e brought upon him the displeasure of all 
 parties ; and he soon had for inveterate enemies, not only all 
 the ministers, but the whole Spanish nation. Ilia i'all was as 
 rapid as his rise. One morning, lith IMay, 172(5, without any 
 previous warning, he was dismissed from olHce, and was com- 
 pelled to take refuge from an infuriated mob in the house of 
 the British Ambassador.
 
 172 HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 there was no secret article, there was, as we shall see, 
 at least a private arrangement. 
 
 The treaty of Vienna had been concluded but a 
 few months when rumours calculated to give rise to 
 alarm reached the British Government. Hints were 
 circulated that the Emperor had bound himself to 
 espouse the cause of the Pretender, and secret clauses 
 touching the restoration of Gibraltar were affirmed to 
 exist. 
 
 In February, 1726, these rumours were in part 
 confirmed by the confessions of Ripperda himself, who 
 informed Mr Stanhope that a second treaty between 
 the King of Spain and the Emperor had been con- 
 cluded, and that it would shortly be made public. 
 This treaty, he said, consisted of three particular ar- 
 ticles, besides the general one of a perpetual alliance, 
 offensive and defensive : viz. — 
 
 1st. An engagement on the part of Spain to sup- 
 port and maintain the Company of Ostend. 
 
 2nd. An engagement on the part of the Emperor 
 (as an equivalent for the former) to procure Gibraltar 
 for the King of Spain, by good offices if possible, but 
 if they prove ineffectual by open force. 
 
 3rd. The adjustment of the succours to be reci- 
 procally furnished in case of a war, viz. on the part of 
 the Emperor 30,000 men, to be actually sent by him 
 into Spain. On the part of Spain, money to be 
 sent for the payment of the like number of troops
 
 INDISCRETION OF UlIM'KllDA. 173 
 
 wheresoever the Emperor sliouUl think fit to employ 
 
 tlicm.* 
 
 Th(^ indiscretion committed by Ripperda in di- 
 vulging this important information to Stanhope is 
 inexplicable. t 
 
 The intelligence was instantly forwarded to Eng- 
 land, and also communicated by the Dutch ambassa- 
 dor to his Government. To the dismay of Ripperda, 
 it immediately became public, and formed the subject 
 of parliamentary discussion. 
 
 As the spring of 1726 advanced the situation of 
 affairs at Madrid assumed a gloomier aspect. With 
 
 * "William Stanhope to the Duke of Newcastle, Madrid, 
 Feb. 4th, 172G. Memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole, vol. ii. 
 
 t Tlie following anecdote related by Count Rottenibourg 
 to Mr AValpole furnishes additional proof of the existence of 
 secret engagements between the two Courts. 
 
 " Count llottembourg mentioned a very remarkable thing. 
 In speaking of me to their Catholic Majesties, he told them I 
 had wrote Mr Keene word, in one of my private letters, that I 
 had such an opinion of their veracity, that if it was possible to 
 ask them the question, and they would declare there was no 
 other treaty between the Emperor and Spain than that which 
 was public, I would freely own that all the measures taken by 
 England were wTong and unjustifiable. Having said this to 
 their Catholic ISrajesties, they made him no manner of answer ; 
 and, observing their countenances, the queen looked upon the 
 ground and the king coloured extremely. But Iler Catholic 
 Majesty having recovered herself, said to the king, Sir, you 
 never did make any treaty against England. The king, how- 
 ever, continued silent and said nothing." Coxe's Memoirs of 
 Kings of Spain, vol. ii. p. 338.
 
 174 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 sucli a minister as E-ipperda at the head of affairs, it 
 was impossible to conjecture what a day might bring 
 forth. Destitute of veracity, a stranger to the dictates 
 of honour, intoxicated with his rapid rise, assuming 
 an insolence that became intolerable, and guided by 
 no fixed policy, he entangled the affairs of the nation 
 in hopeless confusion. 
 
 Though placing no confidence in his promises and 
 protestations. Stanhope endeavom-ed by every means 
 to conciliate him and to avoid a misunderstanding. 
 He made use of every argument to show what reason- 
 able grounds the king his master had to be dissatis- 
 fied with the affront and injuries offered to him by the 
 secret offensive alliance, and he intimated that the 
 British nation would never submit to such an insult. 
 
 In reply, Ripperda denied that the secret treaty 
 complained of was intended to disturb the peace of 
 Europe, an assertion which he endeavoured to prove by 
 affirming that the King of Spain and the Emperor 
 were desirous of removing any bitter feelings that 
 might have been caused by the articles relating to 
 Gibraltar, and he remarked, that although the Emperor 
 had agreed to assist the Catholic King in recovering 
 that place, the terms of the treaty specified " Arnica- 
 hiliter si fieri potest." But upon being pressed by 
 Stanhope and the Dutch ambassador, he confessed 
 tliat the several articles of tlic secret alliance were 
 couched in the same hmguagc in wliich he had pre- 
 viously communicated them to the British minister.
 
 rippeuda's disclosures. 17") 
 
 After proposino: tliat the question of tlic Ostend 
 Coiiipaiiy and (jihraltar should bo referred to a 
 congress, a course repudiated ])y Stanliopc, he ended 
 by dechu'ing that nothing could induce the Emperor 
 to revoke liis j)atent given to the Ostend Company, 
 nor would the King of Spain desist from his demands 
 upon CJi])raltar. Within a month after he had made 
 this declaration Ripperda was a prisoner in Segovia. 
 
 Before leaving Madrid, and while concealed in the 
 house of the British minister, Ripperda had disclosed 
 to Mr Stanhope the plans and intrigues of the Spanish 
 Court, and, anxious to secure the protection of England 
 and to effect a safe flight from Spain, had communi- 
 cated the most private secrets of his administration. 
 
 He again gave the history of the secret alliance. 
 Whilst making these discoveries, says j\Ir Stanhope, he 
 appeared to be in the greatest agony, and cried like a 
 cliild. 
 
 When more certain intelligence of the secret 
 alliance reached England it caused the greatest in- 
 dignation ; and the subsequent disclosures of Ripperda 
 increased the agitation. It was recognized that Spain 
 had resolved to regain Gibraltar, and from the activity 
 of her preparations it was feared she would have 
 recourse to arms. But her ministers and those of 
 the Emperor still denied any such intention. In reply 
 to a query put by Mr Stanhope in September, 17:20, 
 the Marquis de la Paz assured him that — 
 
 " As for the false confidence wliich the Duke de
 
 176 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Ripperda made last winter to your Excellency, that an 
 offensive alliance had been concluded by which the 
 Emperor had expressly engaged himself for the re- 
 covery of Gibraltar, His Imperial Majesty has already 
 sufficiently endeavoured to undeceive His Britannic 
 Majesty ; the intention being only to remind His Bri- 
 tannic Majesty of the promises he has made on this 
 head, which neither His Majesty nor the Spanish nation 
 can ever renounce." 
 
 As the year wore on and the plans of Spain had be- 
 come more matured, these solemn denials were succeed- 
 ed by more honest avowals. In December, the Marquis 
 de Pozobueno, the Spanish ambassador in London, in- 
 formed the Duke of Newcastle that everything which 
 had been said to Mr Stanhope, both by word of 
 mouth and in writing, relative to the good understand- 
 ing between the two nations depending upon the im- 
 mediate restitution of Gibraltar, was true ; further, 
 that the Catholic King renewed his demand for the 
 restoration, and founded his claim upon the positive 
 promise which had been given to him. The ambassa- 
 dor continued to affirm that the cession which His Ca- 
 tliolic Majesty had previously made at the peace of 
 Utrecht had become null and void, because of the 
 infraction made in the conditions on which the English 
 garrison was permitted to remain in possession of 
 (Gibraltar ; seeing that, contrary to all the })rotcsta- 
 tions made, they had not only extended their fortifi- 
 cations, by exceeding the limits prescribed and stipu-
 
 TIIK KIN(]'s SI'F.r.ClI. 177 
 
 lilted, but liful also, contrary to the express literal 
 tenor of the treaties, permitted Jews and Moors, ene- 
 mies to the Catholic religion, to reside in the city. 
 
 The contents of this letter, which soon became 
 known, heightened the popular excitement, and when 
 Parliament met on the 17th January, 1727, the 
 King's Speech was awaited with anxiety. Its de- 
 livery realized the worst fears of the nation. 
 
 The king said : — 
 
 " I have received information on which I can en- 
 tirely depend, that the placing the Pretender upon 
 the throne of this kingdom is one of the articles of the 
 secret negotiations at Vienna ; and if time shall evince 
 that the giving up the trade of this nation to one 
 ])ower, and Gibraltar and Mahon to another, is made 
 the j)rice and reward of imposing upon this kingdom 
 a Popish Pretender, what an indignation must this 
 raise in the breasts of every Protestant Briton ! " lie 
 added, "That the Spanish minister insists upon the 
 restitution of Gibraltar," and announced that " His 
 Catholic Majesty is now making preparations to 
 attack and besiege Gibraltar." 
 
 The Speech aroused the indignation of both 
 Houses; in the Lords an address was voted saving 
 that, 
 
 " The peremptory demand of the restitution of 
 fiibraltar, which place, and the island of ]\rinorca, 
 being both of the utmost consequence to your people, 
 were yielded up by the present King of Spain him-
 
 178 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 self, and do indisputably belong to the Crown of 
 Great Britain by the most solemn treaties. . . . we 
 will to the utmost of our power enable your Majesty 
 to assert and defend your right to Gibraltar and the 
 island of Minorca, which are of the greatest import- 
 ance to the preservation of the commerce and naval 
 strength of Great Britain." 
 
 In the Commons an address was also agreed to by 
 an overwhelming majority (251 to 81). The army was 
 raised to 26,000 men, a vote was given for 20,000 
 seamen, and supplies to the amount of £3,000,000 
 Avas granted. During the debate in the Lords, the 
 king's celebrated letter to Philip, hinting at the resti- 
 tution of Gibraltar, was the subject of some discus- 
 sion. Lord Bathurst denied there was any reason for 
 a war with Spain, — that although Ripperda might have 
 dropped some indiscreet expressions, these had been 
 disavowed by His Catholic Majesty, that the Spanish 
 ambassador ascribed the present crisis to the conduct 
 of the English ministers, and mentioned that a posi- 
 tive promise had been made by the king for the restor- 
 ation of Gibraltar. 
 
 In reply. Lord Townshend aflirmed that no pro- 
 mise to cede Gibraltar had been given. 
 
 In the Commons a warm debate ensued on the 
 addi-css. Mr Ilungerford declared that he had in his 
 pocket tlie purport of the secret article in the Treaty 
 l)ctwccn Spain and the Lmperor, which stated, — 
 
 " That in case the King of Spain couhl produce a
 
 D£BATi: UN TlIK ADDUliSS. 171) 
 
 positive promise from Great Britain to restore Gibral- 
 tar, liis Imperial Maji'sty would en^aj^e to become a 
 iiicdialor aiul guarantee lor the perl'ormanee oi" such 
 promise," 
 
 .Mr Ship})en believed that some such promise had 
 been UKuh', and Sir Robert Walpole in reply said, 
 that, "7/' such a promise had been made, it was not 
 whilst he was in the administration, and he durst 
 aver that it was conditional, and made void and 
 invalid by the King of Spain's refusing to comply 
 with the conditions upon which it was made, and 
 that when the performance of these promises was 
 mentioned to him he always delivered it as his fixed 
 opinion that Gibraltar would not be given up without 
 the consent of Parliament." 
 
 This evasive and unsatisfactory statement increas- 
 ed the suspicion that the king had been induced to 
 make some promise, and on the Nth February Mr 
 Sandys moved an address to the king, praying that 
 the declaration, letter, or engagement on which was 
 founded the assertion of ^larquis de Pozobueno, 
 that a promise to restore Gibraltar existed, might be 
 produced. 
 
 Sir AVilliam Wyndham, ^Mr Hungerford, and Pul- 
 tenoy supported the motion, while ]\Ir Pelluun. Mr 
 Broderick, Mr Wal])()le, and Sir Robert opi)oscd it. 
 The motion was lost by 204 against 97.* 
 
 * Parliamojitary History. 
 12 •
 
 180 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The King's Speech gave great offence to the Court 
 of Vienna, and Mons. Pahn, the ambassador of the Em- 
 peror in London, was desired to present a memorial 
 to the king denying the truth of the assertions relative 
 to the secret alliance, and afterwards to pubhsh it to 
 the nation. 
 
 The terms of this memorial were bold and un- 
 scrupulous ; it was declared that the king had spoken 
 falsely, that the treaty of Vienna was based upon the 
 Quadruple Alliance, that no secret engagement had 
 ever existed, and that the statement relating to the 
 Pretender and Gibraltar was absolutely untrue. The 
 excitement caused by the insolence of this memorial 
 hastened the rupture between Spain and England. 
 All parties united in the condemnation of the course 
 adopted by the Emperor. 
 
 In Parliament, not a single member lifted his 
 voice in palliation of it, and even Pulteney and his 
 party joined the Government, in an address to the 
 king, expressing " the highest resentment at the 
 affront offered to Ilis most sacred Majesty by the 
 memorial delivered by ]\Ions. de Palm, the Emperor's 
 resident, and at his insolence in printing and dispers- 
 ing the same throughout the kingdom." 
 
 Palm was oi'dei'cd to quit the country, and a war 
 became inevitable. In the mean time Spain had been 
 maturing her preparations for a campaign. 
 
 An army destined i\)v the siege of GibraUar was 
 organized. Philip had always been convinced that the
 
 PREPARATIONS TO HHSIKGK (HUKALTAR. 181 
 
 fortress miglit easily he taken, hut tliis ojjinion was not 
 sluircd ])y tliose who knew its strength. The Mar- 
 (juis cle Vilhidarias, a brave and lionest soklicr, who in 
 1 705 liad been driven defeated from before its walls, 
 urged upon the king the folly of a siege, and even 
 refused to accept the conunand of the expedition. 
 The king, ii-ritatcd at this obstinacy, desired him to 
 comply witli his wishes, or resign his commission and 
 emolunuMils. The old soldier remained firm in his 
 resolve, and retired into poverty and seclusion. 
 
 The opinion of the Marquis de Villadarias was so 
 much respected and had such influence in Spain, that 
 rhili[) found a difficulty in procuring any general to 
 head his army. Numerous councils w^re held, and 
 man}' proposals made without any result, until at 
 length the Conde de las Torres, an officer distinguish- 
 ed in the war of the Succession, and then viceroy of 
 Navarre, offered his services, and boasted that in six 
 weeks he would plant the standard of Spain upon the 
 Rock. Like most Spaniards, he was a man of many 
 words but few deeds.
 
 182 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THIRTEENTH SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The hostile intentions of Spain were no sooner 
 declared, than an expedition was directed against 
 Gibraltar. Admiral Sir Charles Wager was at this 
 time with the fleet in the Mediterranean, and the 
 fortress was in charge of General Caspar Clayton, in 
 the absence of the governor, the aged Earl of 
 Portmore. 
 
 Early in January, 1727, the movements of the Span- 
 iards in the neighbourhood of the Rock aroused the sus- 
 picion of Admiral Wager, who, observing considerable 
 activity in the usually tranquil camp at St Roque, 
 sent home an express to inform the Cabinet of what 
 was occurring. Great quantities of provisions and 
 stores were brought on shi|)-board into the bay aiul 
 landed on tlie n()i'lh(;rn sliorc, guns and munitions of 
 war arrived from Cadiz, and evcrytliing assumed a 
 warlike aspect.* 
 
 * Sir C. Wager to Duke of Newcastle, Jan. 10th, 1727. 
 Kiug'tt INISS., IJi-iiish IMuisi'Uiii.
 
 SEIZURE Ol' COL. DUNBAR. 183 
 
 As cnrlv as tlic 7tli of December, i\Ir Stanhope 
 liad api)riz((l tlie authorities at (Jihrahar of the 
 (laiif^^er with wliich they were threatened. Despatches 
 to that efVect had been sent by Colonel Dunbar, who 
 was also diarjj^ed with secret information for the 
 governor and admiral. Proceeding by way of ^la- 
 laga, Dunbar there procured a vessel to carry him to 
 Gibraltar, and had proceeded four leagues on his voy- 
 age when he was pursued by a Spanish man-of-war, 
 arrested on no charge, and thrown into the conmion 
 gaol. This outrage (war was not then declared) 
 roused the indignation of our minister at Madrid, and 
 every effort was made to convince the Spanish Govern- 
 ment of the enormity of the act, and to obtain the 
 release of the prisoner. Such remonstrances, directed 
 ns they were to a Government blind to all sense of 
 right and wrong, met with no redress. The colonel 
 was still detained, and even subjected to more de- 
 grading treatment. No person was permitted to see 
 liim ; pen, ])iip(M-, and books were forbidden him ; and 
 he was ccmtined with all the rigour of a felon. lie 
 remained in prison upwards of a month, and neither 
 during that time nor subsequently was any crime 
 alleged against him.* 
 
 The despatches which Colonel Dunbar carried 
 were fortunately saved .'uul transmitted to the admi- 
 ral at GibraUar. These despatches ai)prized the 
 
 * King's MSS., British Museum. Mr IStauliopo to 
 Ailiniral llopson.
 
 184 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 authorities of the hostile attitude of the Spanish court, 
 and recommended that, as the recovery of Gibrahar 
 was the dearest object of the CathoUc King, that fort- 
 ress should be placed in a complete state of defence.* 
 
 On the 15th of December, further and more im- 
 portant information was received from Mr Stanhope, 
 to the effect that the place was to be attacked by a 
 powerful army, not through the tedious stages of a 
 siege, but by a " sudden push on the sea line and by 
 scaling ladders, encouraged by the weakness of the 
 garrison." f 
 
 At the same time it was discovered that ovens to 
 supply 23,000 men were being constructed on the 
 plain at the head of the bay. By the 25th of the 
 month, large bodies of troops had begun to assemble, 
 vast preparations were being made, and great anxiety 
 was experienced lest a general assault should at once 
 take place. Urgent appeals were addressed to the 
 admiral, begging him to land marines from on board 
 the fleet. But the Spanish army remained quiet, 
 ap])arently engaged in comi)lcting their arrangements. 
 
 On the 18th of January, information was received 
 from the consul at Malaga, that the whole of the 
 militia of the; province were under orders to set out 
 for tlic camp at St Roque, caHi man to carry a bill- 
 lux )k and hatchet instead of arms. These men were 
 
 * Stanliopo to Admiral JIopHon, December 7lli, 172G. 
 
 t Governor Kuiic lo Admiral Ilopson, Doc. 15tli, 1720.
 
 DISroNTKNT IN TllK SPANISH CAMP. 1S5 
 
 to be cmpIoNcd woikiiiji; in tlic trciu-lics, and [)ic|)ar- 
 iiig gabions and fascines. 'I'hc lieavy artillery, nearly 
 all brass, of a new and in those days formidable 
 pattern, was sent forw ard from Cadiz by land ; bnt 
 the means of transport were so inadecpiate, and the 
 loads so bad, that before the siege train had advanced 
 fonr leagues on the journey it was stuck fast in the 
 mud, and could be moved neither backwards nor for- 
 wards. 
 
 This, the commencement of misfortunes, was 
 soon aggravated by ill-concealed discontent betray- 
 ing itself in the camp ; no money Avas forthcoming 
 to pay either the officers or men, and such was 
 the state of the Spanish exchequer that even the 
 smallest and most common charges could not be 
 li(|uidatcd. * 
 
 Finding the roads impassable, the Spaniards 
 employed boats to convey their inju cannon and 
 ammunition from Cadiz to Algeciras. As many as 
 M) vessels sailed in one day. To complete the 
 siege train every available gun was taken from Cadiz, 
 and, in spite of the remonstrances of the governor, the 
 walls were stripped of heavy cannon, and old nine- 
 pounders mounted in their stead. 
 
 To swell tlie ranks of the army the garrison, too, 
 was drained, so that not sufficient men W(m-c left to 
 mount the city guards. Yet, while all these dilliculties 
 
 * British Consul, Malaga, to Adiuind Jlopson. King's 
 MSS.
 
 186 HISTORY or Gibraltar. 
 
 were arising at the very outset of the campaign, Las 
 Torres braggingly wrote to the king to say that he 
 would hand over Gibraltar whenever His Majesty 
 
 pleased.* 
 
 Early in February, the expedition, with the excep- 
 tion of the brass siege train, had approached com- 
 pletion ; 3000 peasants were called in from the 
 country to assist in cutting fascines and making huts; 
 and Las Torres, with all his staff, was indefatigable, 
 uro-inn- on the construction of batteries at the head of 
 the bay (Punta Mala), and superintending their pro- 
 gress in person. 
 
 Immediately the Government at home became 
 aware of the hostile intentions of Spain, orders were 
 sent to Minorca desiring Colonel Kane to proceed to 
 Gibraltar, and to take with him any reinforcements 
 that could be spared. Fortunately a regiment was at 
 that time embarking for England, which, by Kane's 
 instructions, sailed immediately and reached the Rock 
 early in E'ebruary. On the 14th of January, a 
 squadron of six ships, under Admiral Sir Charles 
 AVagcr, arrived from England, having on board three 
 companies of Colonel Anstruther's, eight companies of 
 ('olonel Disney's, and six of Colonel Newton's regi- 
 ment, which raised the strcngtli of the garrison to 
 about 1500 men. 
 
 On the 13th of February, 1727, the Spanish army, 
 
 • ('(.usiil C:i_vlcy, Cadiz, to Colonel K:mo, .Ian. 31, 1727.
 
 COMMKNC'EMKNT OF IlOSTl LI'l 1 KS. 187 
 
 consisting of nearly 20,000 men, marched into tlic 
 canipanicnto of San Roquc^ in the immediate vicinity 
 of tlic Rock. 
 
 (leneral Clayton had already received notice from 
 Admiral Wager that it was the intention of the 
 enemy to provoke hostilities by throwing up a battery 
 within forbidden distance of the fortress. 
 
 On the i7th, a courier arrived in the camp from 
 Madrid, bringing the king's orders for the commence- 
 ment of operations. 
 
 The Spanish expeditionary army was constituted 
 as follows : — 
 
 Commander-in-Chief, — Count de las Torres. 
 
 Lieut.-Generals, Marquis d'Alonches. 
 ^larquis de Verboom. 
 Count de Glimes. 
 Count dc Montemar. 
 Don Francisco de Ribadeo. 
 
 Eight Major- Generals. Nine Brigadier-Generals. 
 
 Names of the Ucfjimcnts. 
 
 No. of N"- of 
 
 batUilions. battalions. 
 
 Spanish Guards 3 Ratadoli 1 
 
 Valloons 3 Irish Brigade 2 
 
 Savoy 2 Voltonia 1 
 
 Granada 2 Naples 2 
 
 Badajos 1 LiimM-ick 1 
 
 Victoria 2 Corsica 1
 
 188 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 
 No. of 
 battalions. 
 
 No. of 
 battalions. 
 
 Sicily 
 
 1 
 
 Lacomeria 1 
 
 Flanders 
 
 1 
 
 Swiss 1 
 
 Antwerp 
 
 1 
 
 Trench dragoons | 
 
 Mons 
 
 1 
 
 dismounted J 
 
 17 squadrons of Cavalry. 
 Six companies of the Corps of Carbineers. 
 
 Total— Cavalry 720 
 
 Infantry 18,550 
 
 19,270 
 
 On the 22nd February, the enemy broke ground 
 by commencing a battery on the western beach, 
 which attracted the attention of General Clayton. He 
 immediately addressed the following remonstrance to 
 the Spanish general : 
 
 " Having observed this morning that your Excel- 
 lency has opened a trench in order to attack this 
 fortress, which act I hold to be contrary to the treaties 
 existing between our sovereigns, no declaration of war 
 yet having reached my knowledge, I therefore inform 
 your Excellency, that if you do not forthwith order 
 the works to cease I shall be obliged to t;ike neces- 
 sary measures in consequence. I transmit this to your 
 Excellency by my secretary, to whom I beg a reply 
 
 may be delivered. 
 
 "Caspar Clayton. 
 
 " Ciibraltar, Feb. 22n(l, 1727."
 
 LKTTKR OF COL NT LAS TOlUMlS. l^^'J 
 
 To tliis Count l;is Torres replied : 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I received your Kxeelleney's letter 
 
 of to-day's date, and regarding the trench which has 
 l)t;en opened as yon say to attack the city of Gibraltar, 
 I hereby answi-r, tliat wliiit has been done has been 
 on our own ground, to fortify those j)laces where our 
 batteries might be of good service, and as there 
 belongs nothing to that fortress beyond its fortitica- 
 tions, as appears by the very treaties your Excellency 
 alludes to ; and your Excellency having taken posses- 
 sion of the towers within oiu' jurisdiction, your Excel- 
 lency may be fully assured that unless they are im- 
 mediately abandoned, I will act in the manner your 
 Excellency insinuates to mCy acquainting you at the 
 same time that for besieging that fortress wroks less 
 distant will be constructed, as you will learn in due 
 time. 
 
 "Count las Torres. 
 
 " Campo de Gibraltar, Feb. 22nd, 1727." 
 
 This reply was accepted by General Clayton 
 as a declaration of hostilities, but, an.\ious to have 
 right clearly on his side, he withdrew the outlying 
 picquets, aiul lii-cd one shot over thr battery as a 
 signal lor the enemy to desist. After the lapse of an 
 hour, finding that the woik continued, he o})ened tire 
 from the guns at the old mole and Willis's batteries. 
 
 Although General Clayton had been informed on
 
 190 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 undoubted authority that the Spaniards intended to 
 provoke a breach of the peace by breaking ground on 
 neutral territory and by assuming a hostile attitude 
 in the vicinity of the fortress, yet he felt the heavy 
 responsibility he had assumed in firing the first shot 
 of the war. Through Admiral Sir Charles Wager a 
 report explaining his reasons for having assumed the 
 offensive was sent to the Government, and elicited the 
 following reply from the Duke of Newcastle.* 
 
 " The governor did certainly no more than his 
 duty in firing upon the Spaniards when he discovered 
 them erecting a new battery within half cannon-shot 
 of our fortifications. The king's moderation and 
 desire to avoid a rupture had been sufficiently shown 
 by suffering the enemy to go on with their former 
 works, by permitting their vessels with artillery stores 
 and provisions to pass by unmolested, and even by 
 the governor's giving their General notice, in so 
 prudent and gentle a method, tliat this last attempt 
 of his was contrary to the treaties of peace and 
 friendship subsisting between the two nations. The 
 S})aniards by persisting in it became the aggressors, 
 and far from the governor having incurred blame by 
 his using force to obstruct their finishing that battery, 
 every man who lias ilie least notion of tliosc matters 
 must allow that, had lie sufiered them to go on undis- 
 
 * Vwko of Newcastle to Sir C. Wager, ^\i\n-]\ 7tli, 1727. 
 Xinf,''H MSS.
 
 OPENINC OF TllK SlK(Ji:. 1 !) 1 
 
 turbcd with a work within the reach ol' his cannon, 
 he woukl have deserved a very severe censure." 
 
 Tlie Spiiniards opened the siege under gloomy 
 auspices. The expe(htionary army was ill-prepared 
 to carry on lahorious and extensive o])erations, the 
 artillery was deHcient, fascines, tind)er, and materials 
 for constructing the batteries were wanting, and, what 
 was of even graver consequence, diflferences arose 
 among the chiefs of the expedition. 
 
 An impression had prevailed from the very com- 
 mencement that the enterprise was quixotic, and 
 would prove disastrous ; and a memorial had been 
 addressed to the king by most of the principal officers 
 of the army, rei)resenting the folly of entering upon 
 an undertaking of such magnitude with such deficient 
 means. 
 
 Among the most dissatisfied were, the Count do 
 Glimes, Don Lucas Spinola, Don Francisco Ribadeo, 
 Don Tomas Idiacjuez, and Don Prospero Verboom, 
 chief of the artillery. These men did not conceal 
 their doubts as to the practicability of the enterprise, 
 which they ridiculed as impossible ; ;uul had it not 
 been for the conciliatory efforts of the Count of 
 Montemar, ;uid the tact and lirmness of Las Torres, 
 these disputes would have brought premature disaster 
 upon the army. 
 
 At daybreak on the morning of the :23rd, the 
 enemy opened fire upon the s([uadron in the bay.
 
 192 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 from a battery at Pimta Mala. Two shot struck the 
 " Portland," but the rest of the fleet were too distant 
 to receive any damage. 
 
 On the morning of the 22nd of February, instruc- 
 tions were issued to the army in the following general 
 order. 
 
 " Marquis Spinola, general of the day ; Rodrigo 
 Pelalta, the Marquis de la Torre, major-general of the 
 trenches ; officers of the piquet, Don Francis Carilla 
 Casabeo, Estorga and Juan Dios : — By divine assist- 
 ance this day is to be put in execution the opening 
 of our Avorks and batteries against the garrison from 
 the Devil's Tower through the centre of the sands to 
 the western beach. 
 
 " The parade of arms is to be established on the 
 eastern beach near the Genoese Cove, the men from 
 which are to communicate with each other as far as 
 the battery nearest to them, and the remainder are 
 to lie in the main trench for a guard. The troops to 
 mount in the trenches arc the battalions foUowinc; : 
 Spanish Guards . . . . 1st batt. 
 
 Valloons 1st batt. 
 
 First regt. of Granada. Fii'st regt. of Naples. 
 And the regiment of Flanders. 
 All under the conduct of Marquis Spinola. 
 
 " The said battalions arc to stand to their arms, 
 without beat of dnini, exactly at four o'clock in tlic 
 afternoon, and to march in front of the Spanish 
 brigade, and from thence to (heir respective guards
 
 Ol'KNINd OK TllK TUKNCHKS. i\)o 
 
 whereto tliey sliall he dctarlicd, and there strictly 
 ()l).servc the orders tliat shall be given them for their 
 march umler the foot of the hill. A quarter guard 
 only to be left in camp to take care of their tents. 
 
 "The (Grenadier companies are to be; foniicd in 
 front of the detachment to cover their movements. 
 1 :2i)() workmen to be warned to parade at the same 
 time at the park of artillery and there receive their 
 tools. The brigadier-general to run his trench from 
 the (jenoese Cove till he joins the situation of the 
 lirst battery. 
 
 " One colonel and 300 men to proceed from the 
 Devil's Tower to the battery, in front of them are to 
 march 100 Grenadiers. 50 French dragoons and 40 
 horse, to remain at the western beach, to observe any 
 attack that may be made." 
 
 In accordance with these instructions, the Span- 
 iards, under (ieneral Spinola, opiMicd tlie trenches on 
 the night of the 22nd, the tirst parallel rumiing from 
 the Devil's Tower on the eastern beach along the base 
 of the Rock, to the inundation. The operations were 
 carried on by five battalions of foot, a brigade of 
 engineers, ami 1000 workmen. At daybreak on the 
 23rd, the English discovered the near a})proach of the 
 (Miemy, and opened upon them Avith a heavy lire of 
 artillery, musketry, shells, and grenades. 
 
 Observing that their eastern Hank was entirely 
 unprotected. Sir Charles Wager sent the TigiM- and 
 the Durslev galley romul to the eastward of the 
 
 1.;
 
 194 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Rock, witli orders to rake, if possible, the enemy's 
 trenches. 
 
 The same night that these two vessels went to 
 their station, the Spaniards advanced 2000 men close 
 up under the northern face of the Rock, screened from 
 the batteries, but exposed to fire from the sea. When 
 day broke, these men were discovered by the ships, 
 which had already anchored off the shore. 
 
 Afraid to retreat over the open ground, they 
 huddled themselves together behind the low banks of 
 sand or crept under shelter of the projecting rocks. 
 From these hiding-places they were quickly dislodged 
 by the garrison, who from the heights above flung 
 showers of shells, hand grenades, and stones, while, 
 as they were driven from their concealment, a murder- 
 ous fire was opened upon them from the Tiger and 
 the Dursley. They at length succeeded in effecting a 
 retreat, but not until they had suffered immense losses. 
 Having thus dearly discovered his weak point, Las 
 Torres repaired his error, and threw up a powerful 
 battery of 10 guns to command the ancliorage off 
 the eastern shore. Notwithstanding the opposition of 
 the Tiger and Dursley, tlie work was quickly finished, 
 and so well was it served that in a few hours after tlie 
 guns opened tlie ships were driven off and compelled 
 to return to the bay. 
 
 The attack during this siege was directed exclu- 
 sively against the north front and defences of the Rock,
 
 COMl'LKTION 01" TIIK IIIIST TAllALM L. 11)') 
 
 fVoiii lilt; extremity (if llic old mole to A\'illis's 
 l);ittciy. 
 
 The (leleiices aloiiu' tliis line consisted of the 
 Land Port curtain, Willis's, the castle battery, north 
 bastion, and the guns on the old mole. Most of the 
 ordnance was old and worn out, and more casualties 
 occurred durim,^ the siege from the bursting of the 
 guns than from the enemy's fire. 
 
 On the 25th the first parallel was completed. 
 
 Notwithstanding the heavy fire from the fortress, 
 the Spaniards rapidly increased their works. A 
 l)attcry was constructed on the western beach, which 
 opened on the old mole head ; another of eight guns, 
 near the old wind-mill, which was directed against the 
 princij)al wall of the Land Port, and also swept a por- 
 tion of the bay; and to the left of this was a 
 most powerful work containing eight guns and 1:1 
 mortars.* 
 
 During these operations the losses on both sides 
 
 * The daily guards and pickets mountod by the garrison 
 (luring the biege averaged 1200 rank and file, stationed at tlio 
 following posts. 
 
 lioc'k Guard, Water Port, 
 
 IMiddle Hill, Land Port, 
 
 AVillis's IJattery, New INfole, 
 
 Signal House, Europa Advance, 
 
 South Port, Great Europa, 
 
 Castle Gate, Quarter Guards, 
 
 Maiu Guard, King's Lines, 
 
 Line Wall, Prince's Lines, 
 
 Esplanade Picket, Castle Picket. 
 1.} •
 
 196 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 were small. The enemy had but nine men killed in 
 the 24 hours, and the casualties within the walls were 
 insignificant. 
 
 The siege works were pressed forward with 
 remarkable rapidity; 1000 men were constantly 
 labouring in the trenches, and on the 3rd of March 
 the second parallel was completed. On the same day 
 a battery mounting 22 guns was unmasked, 200 
 paces nearer to the Rock ; and at 800 yards' distance 
 from the King's Lines a powerful mortar battery was 
 completed. 
 
 The first of these works was directed against the 
 Land Port curtain, between the bastions of San 
 Pedro and San Paul, and was commanded by the 
 Conde de Mariani,* 
 
 A steady fire was maintained by the garrison 
 and great injury was done to the enemy's })lace 
 d'armes on the western point of their works by the 
 explosion of small mines at the summit of the Rock, 
 which hurled masses of stony fragments into the in- 
 trcnchmcnts below. 
 
 The trooi)s, who had suffered but little, were busy 
 mounting ordnance and strengthening tlieir works ; 
 one officer only, Captain Holman of tlie artillery, had 
 been killed, and a few guns destroyed ; the garrison 
 working parties consisted of 1 ()()() lueii, formed into 
 
 * " Correct Journal of an Olllccr durinii; tlio Sicfjjc," liritis-li 
 MuHCum. Montero, Hist, do Gibraltar. James, Hist. Ilercu- 
 Icriii Straits (1775). Official Journal oftlic Sie-;e, Madrid, 1727.
 
 Tlir, I'l.r.KT I'lTS TO SKA. 1'J7 
 
 two divisions, one of oOO for tlic (I;iy, tlic otlicr for 
 (ho iiipjlit. These men received sixpence per diem 
 extra })ay, and were assisted by tlie .lews, wlio wen; 
 employed in taking annnnnition to tlie l)atteries and 
 clearing the ditch of the rubbish beaten down iVom 
 the ujjper works by tlie enemy's siiot ; these unfortun- 
 ate Israelites received no pjiy, and for some time were 
 utterly useless, being paralysed with terror when under 
 lire. The working parties were overlooked by officers 
 of the line, acting as assistant engineers ; the latter 
 received 25. C)d. a day, and were exempt from all 
 other duty. They were reheved every 12 hours, and 
 it was their business to see that the orders of the chief 
 engineer were properly executed. 
 
 On the last day of rel)ruary, the fieet under Sir 
 diaries Wager put to sea and sailed to tlie ^vestwar{l. 
 On the next morning, when scarcely clear of the 
 Straits, the admiral fell in with a transport bomid for 
 (libraltar, and having on boanl two companies of 
 Colonel JIaye's regiment ; fearful lest the vessel might 
 fall into the hands of the enemy's cruisers, Sir Charles 
 shifted the troops on board a man-of-war, and waited 
 a favourable o})portunity to send them fonvard. A 
 few days afterwards, while cruising outside the Straits, 
 a ])ri/e, mounting 28 guns, and lacK'U willi wine, 
 oil, bnuuly, and iron, was captured. The troops 
 were again transferred to this ship and sent on to 
 (iibraltar. 
 
 Duriuix the lirst week in .March, heavv rain set in.
 
 198 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 which damaged the trenches and hindered the works 
 of the besiegers. The enemy now began to experi- 
 ence the difficuhy of maintaining their communication 
 with the interior and regulating the arrival of sup- 
 plies. Ammunition had to come from Malaga, over 
 roads which in stormy weather were almost impassable. 
 Gunpowder was conveyed in waggons, each waggon 
 dra\\m by 10 mules. Cannon-shot manufactured 
 at Barcelona reached Malaga by sea, and from thence 
 had to be dragged across the mountains to the camp. 
 
 By the 10th of the month the batteries were 
 approached within 100 paces of the Rock, and from a 
 work mounting 12 guns a heavy and damaging fire 
 was kept up upon the north bastion and old mole. 
 At this time information was received from a deserter 
 that the enemy was attempting to run a mine into 
 the Rock under Willis's and Queen Anne's batteries. 
 The fire from these works had caused the greatest 
 annoyance to the enemy, situated as they were upon a 
 commanding height facing the north, and having an 
 extensive range over the lines and trenches. Taking 
 advantage of a natural cave, capable of holding about 
 20 men. Las Torres proposed to excavate a nunc 
 under the batteries, and thus to destroy them. 
 
 When tlie ii;itnr(; of this hiiu'stone rock is consi- 
 dered, it is impossible to exaggerate the folly of this 
 attempt. After long ami dangerous labour, the mine 
 liad advanced but a few feet, and although the work
 
 CONDITION or TllK hl'AMSll (AMI*. ID'J 
 
 was continiuul till the end of tlu^ sic^rc, it was never 
 made use of. 
 
 About the iiiuliUe oi" the inontii, the enemy tlirew 
 up another battery witliin niusket-shot of the Land 
 Port gate. 
 
 On the 17th, the Colehester inau-of-war arrived, 
 bringhiga company and a half of Colonel llayc's regi- 
 ment, and on the 20th, a frigate of 42 guns, cap- 
 tured by the Royal Oak, came in. The same day two 
 of our men-of-war and a frigate anchored on the cast 
 coast near the Tower of Chullera at tlie mouth (jf 
 the river Guadiaro, and fired upon the barges bring- 
 ing fascines to the camp. Fearing that we intended 
 to seize the post, from whence we might have set fire 
 to the stores of gabions and fascines, the Spaniards 
 sent two companies of Grenadiers and a detachment 
 of horse to prevent a landing. 
 
 By the 31st several most formidable works were 
 completed. But an entry in the oilicial journal of 
 the siege at this time shows that the Spaniards 
 were beginning to experience the ditticulties of their 
 position : — * 
 
 " Desertion," it says, " becomes very considerable, 
 the troops greatly diminished by sickness. Some 
 fresh troops are coming from Malaga to case those in 
 caiiip, who an; greatly fatigued by hard duty ; no 
 sally yet made from the town, as the constant rains 
 
 * Oiru-ial Jourual of tlie Siege, Mmlrid, 1727.
 
 200 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 have hindered the advance of our works, and it is 
 supposed they thought their artillery sufficient to check 
 our progress. We have yet dismounted only three 
 of their cannon on the curtain, and deserters say they 
 have not had above 1 5 men killed yet." 
 
 On the 7th April, the Torbay, 80 guns, came 
 into the bay, bringing Colonel Middleton's and six 
 companies of Colonel Haye's regiment. Several ord- 
 nance store-ships came under her convoy, laden with 
 provisions and bringing many officers for the garrison. 
 The same afternoon Sir C. Wager arrived with his 
 fleet. About this time a terrific storm arose, with 
 heavy rain, which destroyed much of the enemy's 
 work, carrying away the traverses, inundating the 
 trenches, and even tearing down in the mighty torrent 
 that flowed from the mountain the strongest parapets 
 of the batteries. 
 
 The effect of this deluge was disastrous to the 
 besiegers. The trenches were untenable, their guns 
 dismounted, and their cover destroyed. Por some 
 days the enemy were engaged draining the trenches, 
 repairing the damaged works, Jind labouring to cover 
 their men from the heavy Are of the mortars. Taking 
 advantage of the confusion, General Clayton ordered 
 every gun to open, and so harfissing was the fire 
 that their working ])arties were compelled to desist 
 from I;il)our by day, and carry on the saps after dark. 
 
 On tlie 21st April, the Solebay arrived with 
 four transports from Minorca, having on board Colonel
 
 ATI'KMrTKl) SORTIK. ~UL 
 
 Cosby, Lieutenant-Colonel ]\Iontii«^ne, Major I.c'iltIi- 
 ton, and a dctachincnt of eight captains, ci-rjit lieu- 
 tenants, eight ensigns, and 1^5 men to recruit the 
 garrison. 
 
 Up to tiiis time no sortie had heen made upon the 
 enemy's works, the heavy rains and consequent dani- 
 acre to the trenches, and the slackness of the fire, ren- 
 dering it unnecessary. On the 2Sth April, however. 
 General Clayton, considering that it would be possible 
 to inflict great loss on the enemy if he could induce 
 them to leave the trenches, arranged that a feint 
 attack should be made at night upon their lines, 
 while at the same time a tremendous fire should be 
 opened upon them from all the north batteries. 
 
 Accordingly, that night when the moon was full, 
 two parties of 10 men, each in charge of two sergeants, 
 left the covered way at Land Port, aiul marched, one 
 party along the western beach, the otlier under 
 the foot of the Rock. These men had orders to dis- 
 charge their fire-arms at a certain point, and then to 
 retreat as rapidly as jjossible back to the covered 
 way. 
 
 It was expected that the Spaniards hearing the 
 shots would apprehend a sortie from the garrison, and 
 would rush to ai'Uis and advance {'nnw the treuelies, 
 when upon a signal from two howitzers btlow the 
 north bastion, every gun or mortar was to open upon 
 them; imfortunately, however, the b()nd)ardicrs in 
 charge of the howitzers fired without orders, and be-
 
 20.2 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 fore the two parties under the sergeants had dis- 
 charged their pieces ; consequently, though all the 
 batteries on the Rock facing the north front poured 
 in a heavy fire, the enemy kept under cover and only 
 lost three men. 
 
 On the 1st May the Prince Frederic arrived 
 bringing Lord Portmore, Governor of Gibraltar, Lord 
 Mark Kerr, a battalion of the first regiment of Guards 
 under Colonel Guise and Colonel Clayton's regiment. 
 Several volunteers accompanied Lord Portmore, among 
 whom were Lord James Cavendish, Lord Henry 
 Beauclerck, Lord Charles Hay, and Viscount Coote. 
 The old Earl of Portmore, who for 40 years had held 
 the rank of colonel, was in England at the time the 
 siege commenced, but hearing that the operations 
 before Gibraltar were likely to be protracted, he 
 chivalrously declined to plead his age and infirmities 
 as an excuse for evading his duty, but prepared to 
 sail and take up his command. He left Portsmouth 
 in I\Iarch, in the " Prince Frederic," 70 guns, accom- 
 panied by the " Yarmouth," 70 guns, the " Torbay," 
 80, and the Pool lire-ship, and arrived, as we have seen, 
 on the 1st May. 
 
 On board the transports were 1 companies of the 
 first foot Guards (who had been drawn by lot), under 
 command of the following officers, — Colonel Price, 
 Colonel Hastings, Colonel Meyrick, Colonel Pearson, 
 Colonel Dun(;oni])c, (Jolonel Garwood, Colonel Treby, 
 Colonel Brown, Colonel Oughton, and Colonel Wil-
 
 STRENGTH Ol' Till. GAKUlSON. ;2()3 
 
 liamson. Colonel Trcl)y, it is related, did not enil)aik, 
 preferring rather to resign his eoinmission, and his 
 place was snj)plied l)y Colonel Onslow. These rein- 
 forcements raised the nnnibcr of troops in the gar- 
 rison to about 5U()() men, composed oi" the following 
 regiments. 
 
 Strength. 
 
 Gunners 2{){) 
 
 1st regiment of Guards . . . . G72 
 
 5th or General Pearce's regiment . . 432 
 
 13th or Lord Mark Kerr's . . 434 
 
 14th or General Clayton's . . . . ()4() 
 
 20th or Colonel Egerton's .. .. 415 
 
 25th or Colonel INIiddleton's . . 394 
 
 2()th or Colonel Anstruthcr's . . 390 
 
 29th or Colonel Disney's . . . . 35S 
 
 30th or Major-General Bisset's . . 379 
 
 3 Ith or Colonel llaye's .. .. 3SS 
 
 39tli or Brigadier Newton's . . 293 
 
 Detachment from INIinorca . . 4'^0 
 
 Making a total, inclusive of non-conunissioned 
 officers, of 54S1. 
 
 During the ensuing week, the enemy having com- 
 pleted four gigantic batteries, armed with the finest 
 brass artillery, a territic fire was opened all along the 
 line ; so magnificently grand was this bombardment, 
 previously imequalled in the history of artillery, that
 
 204 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 " for some time," says an eye-witness, " we seemed to 
 live in flames."* 
 
 Attempts, feeble in comparison to the resistless 
 storm of shot and shell that tore over the walls of the 
 fortress, were made to check this murderous fire in 
 vain, guns were everywhere dismounted, and as 
 quickly as they were replaced were again destroyed. 
 In vain the men with undaunted courage threw them- 
 selves upon the ramparts and worked to repair the 
 shattered parapets, the heavy shot tore away whole 
 tons of earth and buried the guns beneath the ruins. 
 Butts filled with sand and bound with fascines, w^re 
 heaped together as some covering for the artillery, 
 but they were no sooner in position than they were 
 swept away. For fom'teen days 700 shot per hour 
 w^cre thrown into the fortress, and 92 guns and 72 
 mortars were in constant play, f 
 
 To this formidable armament, the garrison could 
 oppose only 60 guns ; viz. 21 on the Grand Battery, 
 23 on the Old Mole, nine at Willis's, and five in 
 the battery at the side of the Moorish castle. There 
 were 135 mortars and cohorns in the place, but only 
 
 * Jouninl of an OHic-cr (1727). 
 
 t It is curious lo obncrve llic (Uil'cnMU'O in llic power of 
 iirlillcrv 130 yearH a^o nnd of llie cannon of the ])rcs(>nt day. 
 In 17'J7, nearly all ilie ^nms in Willis's were six-pounders, and 
 in llie journal of 1 lie sie;^^e it is ineiil ioned that a thrcc-pouuder 
 in (^ueen Anne's battery did great execution in the enemy's 
 works.
 
 FAILUKF. Ol' Tin: 1U).M IJAIID.M ENT. ~()5 
 
 a portion of these could he l)rotijz:lit to Ix'iir on the 
 cncniy's lines.* 
 
 By the 20th tlic enemy's artillery hv^nn to expe- 
 rience the effects of this rapid tiring. The brass guns 
 drooped at the muzzle, and the iron ordnance in 
 many instances burst. The Hie then slackened 
 rapidly, \nitil at length only 1!) guns were in ])lay. 
 Taking advantage of this respite the governor em- 
 ployed the garrison day and night, restoring the 
 shattered defences, clearing the ditch at Land Port, 
 filling in the breaches, and repairing the embrasures. 
 So efficiently and rapidly were these works executed, 
 that in a few days 13 new guns were ready to open, 
 and upwards of 100 mortars were brought to bear upon 
 the most formidable of the enemy's batteries. AVhile 
 the Knglish had thus successfully met the crushing 
 bombardment which had been expected to conuuand 
 a surrender, and were ])rej)aring for a final struggle, 
 the Spaniards had shot their last bolt, and found 
 themselves in a position of the greatest ditficulty and 
 danjrer. Their artillery and anuuunition had bei'u 
 recklessly exhausted. The roads of the interior were 
 impassable, and no reinforcement could n-aeh the 
 camp. I'rovisions were becoming scarce, the wea- 
 ther was inclement, and they were threatened with a 
 destructive cannonade fi'oni the fortress. Impressed 
 with tlu; hopelessness of conthming the siege, all 
 
 * Out of tlio 60 guns in position at the commencement of 
 tlie boiiibardiiK'nt 2'1 wtMv disiuountoil in seven (lavs.
 
 206 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the general officers united in a representation to 
 the Conde de Las Torres, that unless His Cathohc 
 Majesty would reinforce the army to the number of 
 25,000 men, Gibraltar could not be taken. 
 
 Observing the embarrassment of the Spaniards, 
 the governor harassed them with a fire which almost 
 equalled the terrible bombardment of the enemy. 
 A supply of ammunition opportunely arrived from 
 England, and by the end of May the guns of the gar- 
 rison had gained a complete ascendency over the 
 besiegers. 
 
 In the " Journal of an Officer, kept during the 
 Siege," are some amusing anecdotes of occurrences 
 within the walls. Referring to the expeditious 
 manner in which it was necessary to bury the dead, 
 to prevent their " being offensive or infectious," he 
 says : — 
 
 " But we had like to have been a little too hasty 
 with a private man of Colonel Clayton's regiment, 
 who going off duty fell down on the way to his 
 quarters, and seemed to all appearance dead ; a few 
 hours after which we wrapped him in a cloth or 
 blanket, or what first came to hand, as the custom 
 was, and had him away to the sands, that warm repo- 
 sitory of all his fellows. We had (hig the liole and 
 were just tumbling liiiii in, wlicn, not liking his usage, 
 he, fell a grumbling, ujjon wliicli we innuediatcly 
 opened the wra])per, and giving liini air he revived. 
 Upon this he was lugged back to the hospital, and he
 
 AN KC DOTE OF TlIK DTKr, OF \VIIAin"ON. ^2(17 
 
 lived loi- Iniir-aiid-twcnty hours after, wlicii, l)C'ing siir(3 
 of liiiu, we rccoiisigiiccl liini to liis former apartiuunt 
 and lieanl no nion^ of liiiii." 
 
 Tlie famous Duke of Wharton joined the Spaniards 
 during the siege, 
 
 " Being come to the eanip," says tlie officer, " tliey 
 persuaded liini to go into the trendies, which one (hiy 
 he ventunnl to do, having prepared himself by some- 
 thing more than his usual (piantity of hquor, and he 
 met witli an accident that determined him not to run 
 a second risk of that nature. A piece of shell took 
 liim upon his instep and laid his foot open to the 
 very heel. This was a desperate wound, and 'twas 
 once thought would have cost him his foot."* 
 
 Here is another anecdote, of a soldier more than 
 ordinarily particular regarding the disposal of his 
 remains. 
 
 " One of our private men had been so frugal as to 
 muster up ■2i)s., and he was the only one among tlie 
 deceased wlio had the favour of a coilin allowed him ; 
 he begged hard for it, indeed, with his dying breath, 
 and, the will of the defunct being fulfilled for lis. Vul., 
 his brother executor generously spent the remaining 
 25. Cnl. among his conu-ades in honour of the testa- 
 tor, lie had prayers said ovi^r him by a j)arson too, 
 being a man of substance. I lad he been a poor rogue 
 he might have beiMi slipt in without, or at most been 
 obliged to an Amen-niau for it." 
 
 * SioiTO, 1727. .Ti)urn:il of an Odurr. liritisli ^Museum.
 
 208 HISTORY OF CxIBRALTAR. 
 
 By the beginning of June the Earl of Portmore had 
 perfected his arrangements for the final bombardment 
 of the enemy's lines. 
 
 One hmidred guns were in position, and countless 
 mortars occupied commanding situations on the 
 heights. 
 
 On the 3rd of June, this mass of ordnance opened 
 upon the Spanish batteries, and so crushing was the 
 fire that not a single gun replied. Early in the day 
 the trenches were a heap of ruins, the parapets 
 were in flames, and the magazines blown up. Amidst 
 these disasters there were instances when the enemy 
 displayed a noble courage ; a rocket from Willis's 
 having set fire to Valdasor's battery, the gabions w^ere 
 soon a mass of flames, and the magazine was threat- 
 ened. The artillerymen seeing the danger fled, but 
 a ca})tain of cavalry, Juan Manrique, who was in the 
 trenches as a volunteer, called a few men together, 
 and, regardless alike of the scorching blaze and the 
 showers of grape poured in from the guns of the fort- 
 ress, rushed into the work, and heaping the loose sand 
 upon the burning parapets succeeded in smothering the 
 flames. Altliougli the first day's fire had driven the 
 enemy from the forts, the bombardment was still unre- 
 mittingly kept u]), until the whole" line of l)atterics was 
 com])l(!tely destroyed. Nunieroiis deserters found 
 their way into the fortress, and gave lamentable ac- 
 counts of the sullrrings of \\\v. tr()oj)s. Sickness was
 
 SVSTKNSIDN OF AKMS. 209 
 
 carrying ofl' its tliousiuuls, and each day iiicrtascd tin; 
 horrors of want. 
 
 Sucli was tlu' state of the bcsioprcu-s, wlion on the 
 23rd()f ,Inne a courier arrived in the canipof 8an Roquc, 
 l)ringing despatches for the Conde de his Torres and a 
 K'tterfor the Earl of Portniore, which hittcrwas conveyed 
 into the garrison by Colonel Lacy of the Irish Brigade. 
 
 At 10 at night the colonel left the advanced 
 trenches, and on being challenged replied that he had 
 despatches for the governor of the fortress, but the 
 oliicer at the guard refused to admit him, and threat- 
 ened to lire on him if he did not instantly retire. 
 Shortly afterwards he again appeared at the head of 
 the trench, beating a drum, sounding a trumpet, and 
 displaying symbols of a truce, lie was then admitted 
 into the town, when he announced the important in- 
 telligence that a suspension of hostilities had been 
 agreed to, and the preliminary articles of peace signed 
 by the plenipotentiaries of the several powers. The 
 following- nioiiiing Colonel Roche proceeded to the 
 camp at St Ro(|ue to confer with Count de las Torres, 
 and on his return to the town a suspension of arms 
 was declared, in the following terms. 
 
 Article I. 
 
 That there shall be a reciprocal suspension of 
 arms between the Spanish army and the English gar- 
 rison of Gibraltar till the preliminaries of a gem-ral 
 
 14
 
 210 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 peace (which it is hoped will be brought to a success- 
 ful issue) are ratified. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 The garrison shall continue in the town without 
 any correspondence with the Spanish troops, Avho till 
 further orders shall continue to mount the trenches 
 without committing any hostilities. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 The colonel of the guard in the trenches shall be 
 permitted to go into the town to see that no reparations 
 are made during the suspension of arms to the works 
 that are mined, and that no new intrenchments are 
 made. " ■ 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 An officer of the garrison shall have permission to 
 view the trenches, which shall remain in the condition 
 that they now are. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 No person shall be allowed to go to tlic coast of 
 Perigil, and any person so doing will be lired upon 
 both from the forts of the mountains and the trenches. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 No person whatever shall be permitted to go into 
 tl»e country without a |)ass])ort from the captain-
 
 BARBAROUS PUNISHMENT. '2]\ 
 
 ^'(iioral of the Spaiii-Ii army or of tlic licutcnant- 
 •^oneial on diitv in the tri'iichcs : and all coi-rc- 
 spondcncc siiall ho forljiddcn by sea as well as hy land. 
 
 Durint:; the propjrcss of the siege a conspiracy was 
 dotccted among some Moors and .lews within the 
 walls, to seize npon the gates, and hy a preconcerted 
 arrangement open them to the Spaniards. Narrating 
 the story of this treachery, an officer says, "Two Moors, 
 the chief agents of the Spaniards, were found guilty, 
 and were ])ut to death and aftcrvvards flayed ; their 
 skins were tlien nailed to the gates of the town, where 
 they ap})eared in the same proportion as when ahve, 
 and being large, gigantic fellows, as the IVIoors in 
 general are, they were horrid ghastly spectacles. 
 
 " The best part of them were remaining when we 
 came away. Nature had sent them into the world 
 with their hides taimed, so that the heat of the sun, 
 which is very intense at (iibi altar, conld add but 
 little to their original dusk ; but it had so hardened 
 them that they soon seemed equally solid with the gates 
 themselves. After the siege they were much lessened 
 by the curiosity of our people, who cut out a great 
 many pieces of them to bring to England, one of 
 which, to gratify our readers, may be seen at Mr 
 Warner's, the publisher of this treatise." 
 
 The losses experienced by the garrison during the 
 siege were comparatively small ; viz. — 
 
 Five officers killed aiul wounded. 
 It •
 
 212 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Rank and File. 
 
 Killed, 69 ; wounded, 207 ; died of wounds and 
 sickness, 49; Total, 361. Deserted, 17. 
 
 The casualties in the Spanish army were, — 
 Officers. 
 Killed, 15. Wounded, 42. 
 
 Rank and File. 
 Killed, 846. Wounded, 1119. 
 
 Deserted, 875. 
 Died of sickness, or invalids, upwards of 5000. 
 The ammunition expended by the garrison during 
 the siege was as follows : — 
 
 Guns. 
 
 
 Eounds. 
 
 3 2 -Pounder 
 
 3,370 
 
 24 
 
 j> 
 
 3,142 
 
 18 
 
 >> 
 
 7,063 
 
 16 
 
 » 
 
 800 
 
 12 
 
 >> 
 
 8,175 
 
 9 
 
 >> 
 
 547 
 
 8 
 
 j> 
 
 28 
 
 6 
 
 » 
 
 10,602 
 
 4 
 
 >> 
 
 11,502 
 
 3 
 
 >> 
 
 6,534 
 
 2 
 
 tt 
 
 1,181 
 
 1 
 
 >y 
 
 6 
 
 
 Total 52,950 
 
 23 mortars were rendered unserviceable ; 14 behig
 
 stiu:n(;tii of thk rock. 213 
 
 of brass, tho rest of iron. 73 guns were destroyed, 
 seven of whicli were brass. 
 
 The events of this siege esta])Hshe{l tlie fact that, 
 on the land side at least, Gibraltar was impregnable. 
 During the early part of the operations the defences 
 suffered considerably, and the liri' from tlie gariison 
 was consequently weak and comparatively hannless ; 
 but as the siege progressed, the energy of the English 
 (l(!veloped itself, and so many fresh works were pro- 
 jected and completed, so many guns mounted, and 
 such a store of annuunition collected, that, as long as 
 the enemy made no diversion by sea, any attack from 
 llie land was futile. 
 
 When the armistice was agreed to, the fortress 
 was provisioned and prepared for a prolonged and 
 \igorous defence, whereas the Spaniards, Avho had 
 long been losing heart, experienced the greatest diffi- 
 culties in maintaining their ground juul bringing up 
 their guns to reply to the fire from the Rock. 
 
 Their oi'(hiance, which was mostly of brass, 
 rapidly became \mscr\'iceable, and it was impossible 
 to replace it. Anmiunition too had been squandered, 
 and the hospitals were encund)ered with the sick who 
 had succumbed to the effects of exposure in the 
 trenches during tlic iucleiiu'ut weather. Some Span- 
 ish historians have flattered their country with the 
 assurance that tlie l)esiegiul wen' in tlie last stage 
 of starvation ami want, and tliat a hastv armistice
 
 214 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 was concluded at the earnest solicitation of the 
 Enghsh Government in order to save the garrison 
 from the alternative of a surrender. We can pardon 
 such historic fables, if we remember that when Spain 
 lost Gibraltar she was deprived for ever of the bright- 
 est jewel in her crown.
 
 NKCOTIATIONS. :2 1 
 
 CllAPTEll XI. 
 
 1727—1729. 
 
 Though hostilities ceased on the '■2'h\\ June, and 
 Spain had apparently agreed to a suspension of arms, 
 the king showed sneh an evident disinclination to 
 execute the preliminaries of peace, that upwards of two 
 years were spent in bickerings and disreputable and 
 shifty diplomacy, before the articles were finally agreed 
 to by the treaty of Seville. Every species of cpiibble 
 was raked up at Madrid to prolong the dispute. 
 
 At the commencement of the Avar, the " Prince 
 Prederic," a trading ship belonging to the South Sea 
 Company, with a valuable cargo, had been seized at 
 Vera Cruz. The restoration of this vessel was now- 
 insisted upon by England, and as steadily refused by 
 Spain. The little sore ojiened by this misunder- 
 standing soon spread to a gangrenous wound. Be- 
 sides this impediment to peace, the Spaniards refused 
 to (juit their grouml before the Rock, maintaining 
 that they were not recjuired to do so \mtil the pre- 
 liminaries had been executed. Added to this, the 
 governnuMit resorted to the mo.-t conteuij)tible devices
 
 216 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 for insulting British feelings, by intercepting corre- 
 spondence and opening despatches. Negotiations were 
 rendered more complicated by the absence of all the 
 foreign ministers from Madrid, except the Dutch Am- 
 bassador M. Vandermere, who therefore became the only 
 channel of communication with the court of Spain. 
 
 From the line of conduct pursued by Philip, 
 or rather by his queen, for throughout this transac- 
 tion she was the principal agent, and dictated the 
 course of action, it was evident that Spain had ac- 
 cepted the preliminaries, not for the purpose of end- 
 ing the war, but to gain time for the preparation of 
 greater armaments. One great object that she had 
 in view was the junction of her fleet, of which one 
 portion was at Corimna, the other at Cadiz. With 
 powerful British squadrons hovering on the coasts, 
 this junction could not be effected, but when a truce 
 had closed their guns, it would be easy to take ad- 
 vantage of the opportunity. 
 
 Towards the end of July, suspecting that all cor- 
 respondence with the government at home was inter- 
 cepted in Spain, Sir C. Wager intimated his sus- 
 picions to the Duke of Newcastle, and represented 
 the iniquity of sucli a system. At the same time he 
 wrote to Doll iM'ancisco dc Bibadeo, tlicii in connnand 
 of tli(! Sj)aiiisli caiuj), on the subject, and })roved that 
 loin- letters wliich wen; wiittcn to M. Vandermere 
 had been stoj)ped.* 
 
 * Sir C. Wager In Don I'. Kiha.Ico, July '2\, 1727.
 
 KK.MO.NSTKA.NLK Ul M li C WACLK. 1' I / 
 
 Compljiiiiiiifj of this injustice and of tlie nnreason- 
 ablo rondurt of the Spanish (lovernment, he said : — 
 
 " If it he expected not only that the garrison 
 sliould he reduced, ])ut that tlie squadron luuh'r my 
 coinniand return lionie and leave Gii)raltar besieged 
 (the relief of which was the only cause of our com- 
 ing), all the world must think that it is the most 
 extraordinary explanation of the articles that ever was 
 heard of, and I am sure will never be so understood 
 by me except I receive orders from the king my master 
 so to understand them, which I dare say I never 
 shall. And as my letters and papers are either inter- 
 cepted or stopt, or else not permitted to pass freely, 
 I cannot but suspect that His Catholic INIajesty has 
 no inclination to continue even the present cessation, 
 especially as 1 have never received from Admiral 
 Castagneta any assurance that he has received orders 
 to observe the cessation." 
 
 This remonstrance produced but slight cnect : 
 Ribadeo replied, disavowing any knowledge of the 
 alleged breaches of good faith, and insisting n])on the 
 anxiety of the king his master to com})ly punctiliously 
 with the sense of the preliminaries. A month had 
 scarcely elapsed before a fresh cause of comj)laint 
 arose, which might reasonably have resulted in a 
 renewal of hostilities. 
 
 In August Sir Charles Wager received informa- 
 tion that the Spanish fleet, taking advantage^ of the 
 armistice, had sailed from Corunna, with the intention
 
 218 HISTORY or GIBRALTAK. 
 
 of forming a junction with the squadron at Cadiz. 
 Immediately this intelHgence reached him, he sent 
 remonstrances to Ribadeo, who in reply gave the most 
 solemn assurances that the ships had gone to Cadiz 
 for the purpose of being disarmed. Notwithstanding 
 the cessation of arms, Sir Charles was in doubt whe- 
 ther he should not intercept the fleet on its passage ; 
 he contented himself, however, with cruising off Cape 
 Spartel, and sent Captain Palkingham, in the " Prince 
 Frederic," to look into the Bay of Cadiz, and watch 
 the movements of the Spanish vessels. 
 
 Captain Falkingham reported that a fleet of 19 
 sail of the line lay at anchor, including seven ships 
 from Corunna, that a French squadron of 12 sail 
 was also ready for sea, and that rumours were in 
 circulation of a secret expedition being prepared. 
 Alarmed at this intelligence. Admiral Wager again 
 Avrote to Ribadeo, reminding him of the positive assur- 
 ance which he had made upon his word of honour 
 tliat the Corunna squadron would be disarmed upon 
 its arrival at Cadiz. Too late the admiral discovered that 
 he had been duped by a premeditated and deliberate 
 falsehood, and it was in vain that he pressed uj)onthe 
 Spanish general the obligation of a plighted honour. 
 Such flimsy ties were neither recognized nor under- 
 stood, and tlie fleet remained at Cadiz, ready prepared 
 for sea.* 
 
 While the Spanish (jovcrnm(>,nt ])ursued this irritat- 
 * Corrcspnndenfc of Sir C. Wa^'cr. Kiiif^'a 1M8S.
 
 MR KLKNLS MISSION. 210 
 
 ing line of conduct before Gibraltar, the people of \]n<r. 
 land were becoming clamorous for some decisive term- 
 ination to the precarious truce. An armistice which 
 required the continuation of immcmse armaments, 
 was even more expensive to the nation than an act- 
 ive war, and siicli an oiitcrv was raised against the 
 vacillating conduct of Spain that the English cabinet 
 was driven to take prompter measures to bring about 
 the settlement of a treaty. "Witli this object Mr 
 Keene was sent to Madrid, charged witli a mission to 
 the king, while France, also anxious to heal the differ- 
 ences between the two l^ourbon courts, despatched 
 Count Kottembourg, to com})lete the reconciliation 
 between Philip and Louis, and at the same time to em- 
 ploy the influence of his good offices in arranging the 
 treaty between Spain aiul England. The general 
 instructions to the two envoys were conununicated to 
 each other, and tiiey were specially enjoined to insist 
 upon tlic tiTiiiination of the blockade of (lil)raltai-, the 
 restoration of all captures, and the distribution of the 
 property brought by the flota. 
 
 Upon their arrival in i\radrid, the feelings of the 
 Court towiirds the two countries they represented 
 were most unmistakeably declared. K()ttend)ourg was 
 instantly adinittcd to an audience, treated as a friend, 
 and encouraged in his mission. Mr Keene, on the 
 contrary was not j)cniiittcd to see the king for 
 nearly three weeks, and, when at last he delivered his 
 credentials, he Avas received with freezing coldness.
 
 220 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The king, at this time in a state of infirmity approach- 
 ing to imbeciUty, was completely under the influence 
 of the queen, whose hatred of the Enghsh knew no 
 bounds. So ungovernable were her feelings on this 
 point, that during her frequent audiences with De 
 Rottembourg, she more than once forgot the dignity 
 of her position and gave vent with unfeminine impe- 
 tuosity of manner to violent denunciations of the 
 detested nation. 
 
 For several weeks the whole conduct of the nego- 
 tiations was in the hands of the French plenipoten- 
 tiary, who, finding himself unshackled by any in- 
 terference on the part of Mr Keene, conducted the 
 business as he chose. At his first audience, and even 
 before he had alluded to the interests of England, 
 the queen displayed the violence of her hatred towards 
 that nation. Twenty times she exclaimed, repro- 
 bating the aUiance between France and England, 
 " You have sold yourselves to the English, who lord it 
 over you as your masters."* 
 
 Before proceeding to his second audience, De 
 Rottembourg had gained over the influence of the 
 cpieen's two confessors, and he had received their assur- 
 ances that everything would Ix; done for France and 
 nothing for Ijiglaiid. In liis siibsequent intemcw, 
 lie explained to tlie (|iieen the orders witli Avliicli lie 
 was charged, viz. — 
 
 * Coxe. INU'iiioirM dl" llic Kint^s of Spniii.
 
 ANIMOSITY OK THK QrKF.N. 221 
 
 First. To express the king liis master's regard 
 for tlieir Catliolic Majesties, aiul his great joy at the 
 reconcihation. Secondly, to entreat them to execute 
 the preHminaries. And tiiirdly, to assure them of the 
 king's readiness to concur in the establishment of 
 their family. 
 
 He was impatiently interrupted by Her Majesty, 
 who asked, " "What is required from us?" and upon 
 his replying, The execution of the preliminaries, 
 " What," exclaimed the queen, " do you mean by the 
 preliminary points ? " 
 
 " The restoration of the ' Prince Frederic,' and 
 the distribution of the eifects of the flota," answered 
 De Rottembourg. 
 
 " Did I not say so ? " she broke out ; " see these 
 English, these masters of the world, how they exj)lain 
 all things as they will ! " 
 
 " Were the ship your master's," she continued, 
 " he should have it, but the English shall never have 
 it." The diplomatist urged the point. 
 
 " Well," exclaimed the (picen, " who is to judge 
 of this satisfaction ? the king claims the vessel as 
 his, for a thousand contraventions of the Asiento ; the 
 English pretend that it belongs to them; let the 
 Congress decide. But if nothing more were necessary 
 than to ask, give us Gibraltar, and we will give the 
 
 vessel." 
 
 " Were Gibraltar in the hands of my master," 
 replied De Rottembourg, '^ he would sacritice it, but it
 
 222 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 is not the time to stipulate new reciprocities, after 
 the signature of the preliminaries which restored all 
 thino-s to the same situation as before 1725." 
 
 "Sir," replied the queen, "do you know why we 
 acquiesced in this date of 1725 ? " 
 
 " To facilitate the peace, by smoothing the diffi- 
 culties which could not be settled until the Congress 
 of Cambray," remarked the envoy. 
 
 " I shall give you," she rejoined, " other reasons." 
 She asked the king for the key of his casket ; he gave 
 it, and she went towards the head of the bed to open 
 it. Still searching in the casket, she continued, " You 
 in Prance are nothing but English; you were not 
 enemies to the emperor till since his alliance with my 
 husband." 
 
 At length she found a letter from the King of 
 England, promising the restitution of Gibraltar, and 
 dated the first of June, 1721. Giving it to De 
 Rottembourg, she remarked as he was reading it, 
 " Perhaps it is forged ; " on his replying that it was 
 no doubt original, she exclaimed, laughing, " I was 
 glad to furnish you with such an excuse ; sec. Sir, the 
 principal reason for admitting the terms of 1725. 
 Let your allies fulfil tlieir part, we will fulfil ours. 
 Let them restore to us what they have. With what 
 right do they come to blockiide our ports ? " 
 
 Interrupted foi- a nioiucut by De Rottembourg, 
 she continued, excitedly, " i\lr Walpole is your master 
 in I'Vancc. T wish I liiul .Mr AVnl|)()le and the
 
 NEGOTIATIONS IN IMUJCllKSS. :2:2.'i 
 
 Cardinal here, we would sec wlietlier my arguments 
 would not preponderate." 
 
 Ueturnin<^ to the suhjeet of the " Prince Frederic," 
 she proposed to put the vessel in secpiestration with 
 the King of France until the cpiestion could be 
 decided by the Congress ; and agreed to distribute 
 the effects of the flota and t(j withdraw the troops 
 from before Gibraltar when the Fnglish s(juadrons 
 retired from the coasts of America and S})ain. I)c 
 Kottembourg explained that these propositions would 
 not be satisfactory, and hinted that it was impolitic 
 to evince so little consideration for the English, who 
 were joint guarantees of the succession to the Italian 
 States, in favour of Don Carlos. At this the queen 
 exclaimed, " You arc come again to your successions. 
 I voluntarily abandon them, if Gibraltar is restored to 
 the king. You see by what I say in his presence that 
 it is his glory and his interests only that affect me."* 
 
 We must turn for a moment to the state of att'airs 
 at Gibraltar. While these negotiations were slowly pro- 
 gressing at Madrid, the ISpaniards continued to 
 assume a defiant attitude before the Rock. Notwith- 
 standing the conditions expressly laid down in the 
 articles for a suspension of arms, that no alteration 
 or rej)airs should be made in tlie batteries or tri'iiches 
 of the enemy ; the Spaniards commenced to ribuild 
 a formidable work known as Tesse's Hattery, and to 
 
 * Letter from Count Eottembourg (abridged). Coxi-'a 
 IMcnis. of the Kin<j;s of Spain.
 
 224 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 renew its armament. This act, which was a distinct 
 infraction of the terms upon which a suspension of 
 arms had been agreed to, eUcited firm but temperate 
 remonstrances from Lord Portmore and Sir Charles 
 Wager. But the Cond(^ de Montemar, then in com- 
 mand of the army, denied that any violation of the 
 treaty had been committed, and the works were con- 
 tinued. Doubting what course to pursue, unwilling 
 to be the author of a renewal of hostilities, and yet 
 believing that it was his duty to interrupt the unlawful 
 proceedings by force if necessary, the admiral wrote 
 to the Duke of Newcastle, put him in possession of 
 the facts, and asked for instructions.* In this letter 
 he expressed his belief that the Spaniards had no 
 intention of maintaining the peace ; but it was his 
 impression that they had agreed to the armistice only 
 to gain time, and having lured into their ports the 
 British merchant-shipping, to renounce the suspension 
 of hostilities and seize the vessels. 
 
 " Were it not," he said, " that they have so many of 
 our ships in their ports, nothing would hinder me from 
 firing upon them. If the Court of Spain have a sincere 
 intention to continue the cessation, and come into a 
 sure and lasting peace, as the Condd says, I should 
 be very sorry by anything that may be called rashness 
 in nio to be tlie occasion of a new breacli, but the 
 Spaniards do act in snch a manner lliat it is very dif- 
 
 * Wajjjor to Duke of Newcastle, September 17tli, 1727. 
 King's MfSS.
 
 MONTEMAR S KKrLV TU Sill C. WAUllK. 2'2:) 
 
 ficult (I believe for anybody) to guess at their inten- 
 tions. Their fiect are all kept in a seeming readiness 
 to sail, their army here, though said to be ordered into 
 (juarters, do yet continue in camp, and tliey relieve 
 their trenches every day as they have done ever since 
 the cessation, so that we are obliged to be continually 
 on our guard." 
 
 Almost at the same time that Sir Charles Wager 
 sent this letter to the Duke of Newcastle, lie wrote 
 also to the Coiide dc JMontemar, remonstrating with 
 him against the proceedings at Tcssd's battery, and 
 expressing his regret that so little disposition was 
 shown to preserve the suspension of arms. To this 
 Montcmar replied : — 
 
 " At the time that the Earl Forbes, captain of one 
 of His British Majesty's ships, arrived and delivered 
 to me the favour of your Excellency's letter, I was 
 paying my regards to you by acquainting you of my 
 
 being come to command this army One of the 
 
 principal directions 1 have from the king is to keep 
 religiously what has been agreed between the Earls of 
 Tortmorc and l)c las Torres ; and for my part I have 
 used and shall use all suitable means to preserve the 
 suspension of arms under that rule. But the said rule 
 does not forbid iiic to niaiiitaiii the l)atterii's and other 
 posts that are now on the seaside, west-ward and east- 
 ward, and which only tend to the guarding of the 
 coast that is under my care ; for as that coast is so 
 near Africa, and the insults of those people are very
 
 226 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 common upon our shore, I must take what precautions 
 are possible to hinder them. The battery of Tesse 
 was raised, as well as the others on the sea-side, west- 
 ward and eastward, 20 days before the siege of Gib- 
 raltar was begun, and at a time when the fleet under 
 your Excellency's command was in this bay, and the 
 Governor of Gibraltar had undoubtedly a suspicion 
 that we might attack his town. As a sovereign cannot 
 be hindered from fortifying his coasts, so neither your 
 Excellency nor the said governor took any notice of 
 it, because, without doubt, you both of you well 
 knew that reason, and that it was neither directly nor 
 indirectly repugnant to the 10th article of the Treaty 
 of Peace agreed between Spain and England on July 
 13th, 1713.* 
 
 "The Earl of Portmore has directed that the 
 correspondence with the town should be carried on 
 by letters carried by drums. This I have done since 
 I came to this army, and as I may take the same care 
 of this camp and coast as the Earl does of his town, I 
 beg your Excellency, when you shall hereafter have 
 anything to command me, that you would do it by 
 the means desired and directed by the said Earl, for 
 the hke shall be done on my part." f 
 
 * Our moderation and anxiety to avoid a war, by silently 
 permitting these cneroaclimcntH, were thus afterwards adduced 
 as cvidi-n('(! af!;ain8t us. 
 
 t Condr dc Montein.'ir lo Sir C. Wa<,'er. San Roque, 
 Sept. 25, 1727. King's I\1SS., British Museum.
 
 \v Acer's lkttkr to .m(jnti:.mau. '227 
 
 This equivocal and unfriendly reply, and the glaring 
 falsity of the statement re^ardiii^ tlie objects for wliich 
 Tesse's battery was re-armed, served to convince Ad- 
 miral Wapjer of the hostile intentions of the Spaniards. 
 His feelings are best expressed in iiis answer to 
 Montemar: — 
 
 " I received the honour of your Excellency's letter 
 yesterday by Colonel Lacy, and return many thanks 
 for the compliments you arc pleased to make me, both 
 in the letter and by Colonel Lacy, who, since we have 
 liail any comnuinication with the camp, has always be- 
 haved himself like a man of honour, lam sorry that sort 
 of conimunicatioii with us which has l)een carried on 
 in that manner by otticcrs since the beginning of the 
 siege, should be disagreeable to your Excellency ; I 
 am not conscious of having done anything, on my 
 part, to give any dislike, but, since you are pleased to 
 desire it may be so, I shall give your Excellency no 
 trouble at all that way, i)ut, it' I shall have anything 
 to say (which I do not foresee that 1 shall), 1 will 
 desire my Lord Portmore to do me the favour to send 
 my letters by a drum, — that way of semling letters 
 having never been practised at sea, that I know of. 
 
 " I have received the same commands from the 
 king my master as your Excellency has done from His 
 Catholic Majesty, religiously to observe the cessation 
 agreed upon between the Conde de las Torres and 
 my Lord Portmore. l^ut I perceive you expect we 
 should keep it on our ])art, when you profess you will
 
 228 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 not do the same on yours ; for I cannot but look 
 upon the repairing of Tessa's battery to be contrary 
 to that agreement, which was that no works should 
 be carried on or repaired on either side ; and I am 
 very sorry to find that you have so mean an opinion 
 of my understanding as to think that I can suppose 
 that battery to be designed against the Moors. But 
 I must repeat what I said in my letter, that as that 
 battery was erected at first (though 20 days before 
 the siege) for no other reason than to fire upon the 
 ships in the bay, thereby to facilitate the siege of 
 Gibraltar, so the repairing and re-mounting it with 
 cannon now can be for no other purpose."* 
 
 The letter went on complaining of the total dis- 
 regard of the articles of cessation, and saying that a 
 sincere desire to continue the peace alone prevented 
 Lord Portmore from resenting the conduct of the 
 Spaniards ; it called the attention of Montemar to 
 the facts that the Spanish minister had given his tvord 
 of honour that the fleet should be disarmed at Cadiz, 
 but which had not been done ; that the Spanish 
 Government took an unfair advantage of the cessa- 
 tion and brought that fleet from Corunna ; and 
 fiirtlier, that the South Sea Company's effects were 
 unlawfidly detained at Vera Cruz, and that every- 
 thing done by Spain led to the belief that some great 
 secret design was contemplated. 
 
 * Sir C. Wager to Coudo de Montemar. Gibraltar, Sept. 
 2(;tli, 1727. Kintr'B MSS.
 
 I'KOJFXT IN I'AVoni OF TlIK PRKTENDKR, 229 
 
 Tlic liittci- iiiii)rcssi<)ii, wliicli wn^ stronfjly ("iitcr- 
 taiiu'd l)()tli ])y Lord Portniore and Sir Charles Wager, 
 was still further strengthened by intelligence from the 
 Consul at Malaga, who in a secret despatch, dated the 
 21th Septend)er, reported that there were strong 
 motives for believing that there was a project in 
 course of organization at Cadiz, in favour of the Pretend- 
 er ; that six of the best sailing ships were appointed 
 for that purpose; that all the principal men of the 
 faction then in Spain, the Pretender, the Duke of 
 Ormonde, and ;i number of Irish officers, were to 
 embark in them ; that 2000 Irish troops, then before 
 Gibraltar, !!• Hel(l-[)i('('es, ami 20,000 small arms, 
 would accompany them, and that the expedition would 
 sail for Wales or some part of the British Channel.* 
 
 At Madrid, negotiations dragged wearily on, the 
 queen incessantly starting fresh dilliculties, and ex- 
 hausting every expedient to gain time. The pro- 
 ))osal to put the " Prince Frederic " in sequestration 
 with the King of France was directly declined by 
 Louis, and this comparatively trivial (juestion gave 
 rise to new complications, notwithstanding that the 
 king deprecated the violent feeling of resentment 
 which the queen exhibited towartls the Knglish, and 
 entreated that, for the sake of maintaining the peace, 
 the preliminaries might bi' innnediately executed. 
 Anxious to bring this luisatisfactory business to a 
 
 * Consul HoUoway, Malaga, to Sir C. Wn^or. King's 
 MSS.
 
 230 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 close, the English cabinet offered modified proposals, 
 which through Count Broglio, the French Ambas- 
 sador at London, were transmitted to De Rottem- 
 bourg. These propositions included the execution of 
 the preliminaries in general and the restitution of the 
 "Prince Frederic," but the question of contraband, 
 which had recently been alleged by the queen and 
 echoed by Philip, was to be left to a congress. In 
 the mean time, popular impatience in England for a 
 termination to this uncertain truce, either by the con- 
 clusion of a satisfactory peace or the renewal of the 
 war, had rapidly increased ; and the government, fear- 
 ful of the consequences, were driven to adopt a firmer 
 and more effectual policy, and, as the sequel showed, 
 with success. For a moment the queen wavered 
 between war and peace, but on the 6th of March 
 (N.S.), 1728, by an act of the Pardo, Philip acceded 
 to the demands of Great Britain, and accepted the 
 preliminaries. 
 
 On the 9th this intelligence was forwarded to 
 Gibraltar and the fleet was ordered home.* 
 
 * "Duke of Newcastle to Sir C. Wager, 
 
 " Whitehall, March 9th, 1728. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " The declaration for removing the difUculties 
 that obstructed the execution of the preliminaries being agreed 
 to by all the })o\ver8 concerned, signed by their several minis- 
 ters at Madrid, on the Gth inst. (N.S.), and the king being 
 iiifiiriiied by letters from my Lord Porlinore Ihat the Spanish
 
 Tin: coN(;iiEss at tJUi.ssu.Ns. ;2;il 
 
 Although Philip was indiiccd thus tardily to 
 cxcTutc the prcliniiiiarics, yet in the subsc(|iic'iit dis- 
 cussions respecting the settlement of a definitive 
 treaty, he still maintained his claim to the uncon- 
 ditional surrender of (iil)raltar. 
 
 TIu! difliculties which iiad attended the execution 
 of the preliminary points threatened to shackle the 
 l)roceedings of the congress at Soissons. 
 
 " I can see no daylight yet in the affairs of the 
 congress," writes Mr Poyntz, " only thus nnich, that 
 after we carry the point of Gibraltar, the Spaniards 
 will leave no stone unturned to hurt our commerce in 
 order to distress us into a compliance on the other 
 ])oint. The Queen of Spain may have other views, 
 hut the Catholic King and the true Spaniards are 
 animated against us by this shigle consideration.* 
 
 "God forbid that any British subject should think 
 of giving up Gibraltar in the present violent situa- 
 
 ibrirs wliicli wciv i-injjloycd in the siege of Gibraltar are 
 marclicd oil' I'roiii belore that place, their ainniiuiitioii and 
 other warlike stores sent away, and their batteries demolished, 
 —so that the siege may be looked upon as ellectually raised ; 
 Ilia Majesty has commanded me to signify to you his pleasure, 
 that upon the receipt of this letter you forthwith return homo 
 with His jMajesty'a whole si^uadron under your command, 
 leaving only two small ships to attend as usual the garrison of 
 Gibraltar and Port ^lahon. 
 
 "Newcastle." 
 
 * Stephen Poyntz to Lord Towushcnd. Paris, June 9th, 
 172S. iMems. of 8ir R. AValpolc.
 
 232 HISTORY 01' GIBRALTAR. 
 
 tion of things and under the rough treatment we 
 meet from Spam. 
 
 " But if the Spanish plenipotentiaries, instead of 
 demanding it peremptorily, were to set forth in an 
 amicable manner that they are ready to offer an 
 equivalent for it, and only desire a promise that the 
 consideration of this equivalent may be submitted to 
 the king and his parliament, leaving our possession in 
 the mean time on the foot of our treaties, I must o\vn, 
 in such a case, I should not think any injury done us. 
 .... Without something of this kind I fear no peace 
 can be of long duration." 
 
 In his reply to Poyntz (June 14th, 1728) Towns- 
 hend said, " What you propose in relation to Gibraltar 
 is certainly very reasonable, and is exactly conformable 
 to the opinion which you know I have always enter- 
 tained concerning that place. But you cannot but be 
 sensible of the violent and almost superstitious zeal 
 which has of late prevailed among all parties in this 
 kingdom against any scheme for the restitution of 
 Gibraltar upon any conditions whatsoever. And I 
 am afraid that the bare mention of a proposal which 
 carried the most distant appearance of laying Eng- 
 land under an obligation of ever })arting with that 
 place would be sufficient to put the whole nation in a 
 flame." 
 
 In January, 1729, ])arliamcnt met, and no treaty 
 li:i(l been concluded. Tiic king's speech admitted 
 lli;it tlie execution of the preliminaries, and the open-
 
 DKHATK ON TIIK KKSTITLTKjN OF OIIUi.M.TAli. ^'A'A 
 
 ing of file ronprross at Soissons, liiul raised liop(.'s of 
 a speedy and pjeiieral ])aeifiration, ])iit declared that 
 this tardy termination to the prolonged suspense was 
 due to the uneei-tain policy of the Court of Madrid. 
 
 While urging the cxpcdieney of concluding a 
 satisfactory peace, the king expressed his reliance 
 upon the support of the country should war become 
 inevitable. 
 
 On the 18th of March, a motion was brought 
 fonvard in the House of Lords for the production of 
 a copy of the letter containing a promise of the resti- 
 tution of Gibraltar, which had been written by 
 George I. to the King of Spain in 1721. The 
 document having been laid on the table a warm 
 debate ensued. A motion was made that the " King 
 of Spain be obliged to renounce his claim to Gibral- 
 tar and Minorca. For the honour of His ^lajcsty 
 and the presers'ation and security of the trade and 
 commerce of this kingdom, effectual care should be 
 taken in the present treaty that the King of Spain 
 do renounce all claim and ])retension to Gibraltar and 
 the island of Minorca in ])lain and strong terms." 
 
 The question was put and negatived by St to :U, 
 but a protest enumerating in three articles reasons 
 why the permanent possession of (Jibraltar should 
 be secured to the British Crown was drawn up and 
 signed by seventeen peers, headed by tlie Puke of 
 Beaufoi't. 
 
 This document declared that the ])Iace was of
 
 234 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 such importance that it should be secured by more 
 than general stipulations, that the Catholic King 
 should be compelled to make his renunciation of it 
 in words as strong as he has made his claim to it, 
 especially as our plenipotentiaries had not been able 
 to induce him to show any inclination to relinquish 
 his pretensions to it ; further, that there was every 
 reason to believe that the allies of Spain wxre anxious 
 to see it restored, and that were these decided 
 measures adopted, they would deter any "wicked 
 ministers even from the thoughts of giving it up, 
 or purchasing, by the surrender of this most valuable 
 possession, an inglorious peace." 
 
 In the Commons, Lord Malpas moved for the 
 production of the king's letter, and as in the Lords 
 an animated and bitter debate ensued. Severe reflec- 
 tions were cast upon those who had advised the king 
 to put his pen to such a document, and to this act 
 many of the members attributed the complications 
 and difficulties with which England was then sur- 
 rounded. 
 
 A resolution similar to that proposed in the 
 Lords, with the addition of the words " that all pre- 
 tensions on the })art of the Crown of Spain to the 
 said places be specifically given up," was moved, but 
 eventually negatived by 207 to 111. 
 
 The publication of this celebrated letter, the 
 (lebales in both Houses, and the violent comments
 
 WILLIAM STAMlorK's MISSKJN. 2.'J.') 
 
 ii[)on tlie wliolc tnmsactioii in the Crafl.smdu and 
 other periodicals, roused the temper of the nation. 
 AVe have seen liow throuj^liout th(! progress of the 
 negotiations relating to (lihraltar, the fear of the 
 popular indignation and the conserpient downfal of 
 the ministry alone secnicd this most valuable pos- 
 session to the IJritish Crown. As the clamour in- 
 creased and the \uieasiness regarding the intentions 
 of the cabinet extended, it became necessary to lull 
 the excitement and to reassure the peoj)le. 
 
 A special mission to Madrid was resolved upon, and 
 William Stanhope, who, from his knowledge of the 
 Spanish character, and intimate acquaintance with all 
 the technicalities of this delicate question, was admira- 
 bly fitted for the post, was requested by the Duke of 
 Newcastle to imdertake the negotiation. At first the 
 proposal was met by some diliiculties; misunder- 
 standings had arisen ])etween Stanhope and Towns- 
 hcnd, and the former considered that his pnvious 
 services had been inadequately rewarded. 
 
 The promise of a peerage, the one grand object of 
 Stanhope's ambition, decided his resolution, and he set 
 out on his mission.* 
 
 * " However, his Majesty gives your Exa'Uency leave to 
 nsHiire ^fr St:ui]u)|)c in liis name, tliat in case he will undertake 
 this cunimissiun, he will eertainly make him ii peer as soon as 
 the negotiation with Spain is over." Lord Townsheml to 
 AValpolo and Poyntz, August 12th, 1720.
 
 236 HISTORY or Gibraltar. 
 
 His instructions respecting Gibraltar were vague 
 and indefinite. Thus the Duke of Newcastle wrote 
 to him : * 
 
 " Sure it would be well if something explicit could 
 be got about Gibraltar and Port Mahon, in order to 
 please here, though it may by no means be advisable 
 to push this point so as to hinder the conclusion, if 
 it should meet with difficulties." 
 
 Again, " Get the effects of the galleons delivered 
 and the cedulas given out as asked for by us, and, if I 
 may add, the separate article agreed to." 
 
 Arrived at Madrid, Stanhope commenced his 
 task, and after a protracted and difficult negotiation, 
 a treaty, whose terms were favourable to England, was 
 signed at Seville on the 9th November, 1729. Con- 
 trary to general expectations, no mention of Gibraltar 
 occurred in this treaty ; silently the King of 
 Spain resigned his oft-repeated claims, and the 
 fortress was permitted to remain in possession of the 
 English. 
 
 Having now abandoned all hope of recovering 
 Gibraltar, the king endeavoured to isolate it as far as 
 possil)le from his dominions by constructing a powerful 
 line of works across the istlunus from the cast to the 
 western beach. 
 
 This ])roceeding was viewed with distrust in Eng- 
 
 * Duke of Newcastle to William Stanhope, July 28, 
 17LM).
 
 KTN(i IMlIl.ir's OBSTINACY, 1237 
 
 Icuul, and .Mr Kcciu', wlio was tlii-ii at Seville, was 
 directed to remonstrate against the continuaiiee of 
 the works. Ihit in this instance all opposition was 
 vain, 110 persuasion could prevail against the king's 
 obstinacy. 
 
 "As to tlie (Uniolition of the works before Gib- 
 raltar," writes Mr Keene, " I was assured if the whole 
 universe should fall upon the king to make him 
 desist, he would let himself rather be cut to j)icces 
 than consent, since he had maturely considered his 
 right to the ground ; and we might as well pretend 
 to Cadiz, in virtue of our treaties, as to the spot where 
 the line was : it was far out of point-blank cannon- 
 shot, which was all we could justly ask." 
 
 The historian Ayala gives a description of the 
 Rock subsc(pieiit to the siege of 1727, from which we 
 learn that since its cai)ture in 1704 the English had 
 made great changes and alterations in the city. The 
 profession of Protestantism was no hunger checked, 
 manners and customs hitherto exclusively Spanish 
 gave way to English habits, and the buildings of the 
 town itself were so improved and restored, that the 
 aspect of the place bore no resemblance to the Gib- 
 raltar of the S})aniards. Every other consideration 
 was set aside for the more important one of maintain- 
 ing the impregnability of the fortress ; and every 
 available spot on the Rock from which guns couUl \)c 
 brought to bear on an eiu'iny was occuj)ied l)y
 
 238 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ordnance. Few Spaniards remained in the town, and 
 the foreign population was composed principally of 
 Jews and Genoese. The Franciscan convent, situated 
 in a lovely garden near the hne-wall and commanding 
 an extensive view of the bay, was perverted from its 
 original uses and became the residence of the govern- 
 ors of Gibraltar, who have successively occupied it to 
 the present day. 
 
 To the horror of Ayala, the nunnery of Santa 
 Clara Avas converted into a barrack,* the convent 
 of San Juan de Dios into a store-house, and that of 
 the Mercenarios into a dwelling for the admiral. The 
 population at this time was about 3000 souls, exclusive 
 of the military, and consisted of 500 English, 1000 
 Jews, and many Genoese. 
 
 " The Jews," says Ayala, " for the most part, are 
 shopkeepers and brokers, as much given to cheating 
 and to lending money at exorbitant interest there as 
 their brethren are elsewhere ; they have a synagogue, 
 and openly practise the ceremonies of their re- 
 ligion, notwithstanding the conditions of the treaty 
 of Utrecht 
 
 * The friars appear to have maintained the traditional con- 
 viviality of their order. James, in his second volume, Hist, of 
 Herculean Straits, speaking of the monks of this convent, 
 says, — 
 
 " They live well, and vvill driTik freely, and enjoy the 
 fair aex : and one for his loo libidinous life vrns recalled 
 into Spain in the year one thousand seven himdred and 
 fifty-two."
 
 THE (iKNOKSK INHABITANTS. :?31) 
 
 The Genoese were eliiefly engaged in trade, fisliing, 
 and agrieultnre, espeeially gardening. In all mat- 
 ters of hortieultnre they were e.xtreniely intelligent, 
 and to this day they are the best gardeners on the 
 Rock.
 
 240 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 PITT's offer to restore GIBRALTAR, 1757. 
 
 In 1754, dispute? 'ich had long prevailed 
 between the Courts of, ice and England ripened 
 into open acts of hos lity. In North America, in 
 Nova Scotia, and on Jhio, conflicts had taken 
 
 place, in which Frencxx and English were engaged. 
 Off Newfoundland, Admiral Boscawen attacked and 
 captured two Erench men-of-war, and a powerful 
 fleet under Sir Edward Hawke was sent out from 
 Portsmouth with instructions to capture any French 
 vessel between Cape Ortegal and Cape Clear. No 
 formal declaration of war had been interchanged, but 
 the two countries seemed tacitly to understand the 
 necessity of a rupture. 
 
 The first principal operation of the war was the 
 siege of Minorca by the Erench. 
 
 During the controversies between Erance and 
 Britain, and even subseq \y to the outbreak of 
 liostilitics, Spain had evii.^cd no desire to involve 
 liersclf ill the impending strife. That she would be
 
 DF-SFdNS rrON MINORPA. 24 1 
 
 ultimately drawn into the vortex of the strugf^Ie there 
 could be no doul)!. It was therefore the natural 
 desire of both the belligerent nations to secure at all 
 hazards the promise of her alliance. Aware of the 
 value that she attached to (iibraltar and Minorca, 
 and of the jjreponderating influence the restoration of 
 eitherof those fortresses would exercise upon her policy, 
 France craftily proposed to seize upon Minorca, and to 
 offer it, together with the 'omise of co-operation in 
 the reduction of Ciibraltar, xchange for the ratifi- 
 
 cation of a treaty with Spai 
 
 In order to mislead tl .itish Ministry, and to 
 divert their attention froi wh •: was taking place in 
 the south, vast preparatio. ere ostensibly carried 
 on in the arsenals of Dunkirk' and Brest, with the 
 avowed object of a descent upon the English coast ; 
 but at the same time a powerful ileet was secretly 
 equipped and fitted out in the harbour of Toulon. 
 The destination of this armament was Minorca. 
 This island, which had been in our possession since 
 1 70S, was now weakly garrisoned, its governor, Lord 
 Tyrawley, was absent, only 2800 of the troops were 
 lit for service, ami these were connuanded by a 
 gencM'al, who, thoiigh a brave and good soldier, was 
 worn out and decrepit.* The cabinet at home, 
 })resided over bv a weak ^ud vacillating ministe;-, 
 
 • General lilakeney was «. ..fined to liis bed during tlio 
 wiiolc time tliu siego lasted. 
 
 16
 
 242 HISTORY 0¥ GIBRALTAR. 
 
 refused to give credit to the general rumour, that the 
 demonstration at Brest and Dunkirk was but a feint 
 to lure the attention of England from the descent 
 upon Minorca. Lord Tyrawley was permitted to 
 remain on leave. Thirty-live officers of the garrison were 
 absent, not a single superior officer of engineers was 
 in the place, and the supplies were inadequate to 
 a long defence. At length, but when too late, a 
 squadron consisting of 10 ships miserably equipped, 
 and utterly unfit for the service, was hastily sent from 
 Spithead, under command of Admiral Byng, to ward 
 off, if possible, the impending catastrophe. 
 
 Byng sailed from England on the 7th of April, 1756, 
 and on the 10th the French fleet, consisting of 13 
 ships-of-the-line, and a number of transports carrying 
 16,000 troops, put out from the harbour of Toulon. 
 
 On arriving at Gibraltar, Byng learnt from Com- 
 modore Edgecumbe, who had just left Minorca, that 
 the siege had commenced. His instructions gave 
 him the option of taking a battalion from the garri- 
 son at Gibraltar, to reinforce General Blakeney at 
 St Philip ; but General Fowke, then governor of 
 the Rock, refused to permit the troops to embark. 
 For this alleged disobedience of instructions, Fowke 
 was tried by court-martial, and being convicted of 
 an error of judgment was sentenced to suspension 
 fioni liis command for one year. But the mob, roused 
 to a pitch of fury by the loss of Minorca, and the 
 gross niismanagcmcnt attending it, demanded a
 
 SURRKNDKK OF MINOIUA. 2t*5 
 
 severer pimishmcnt, mikI the king, exercising his pre- 
 rogative, set aside tlie verdict of tlie court-martial, 
 and dismissed lowke from the service. Lord V;\\\- 
 niure succeeded liim as Governor of (i!il)raltar.* 
 
 Byng continued his voyage witli all haste, and 
 on the lyth of May came in sight of the French 
 fleet. On the following day a partial engagement 
 took place, and on the next morning the French 
 were not in sight. Urged by some unaccountable 
 impulse, Byng, disregarding the advantage he had 
 gained on the previous day, called a council of Avar, 
 and decided upon returning to Gibraltar, leaving 
 Minorca to its fate. 
 
 Unable to hold out against an overwhelming 
 force, the garrison, after repelling the enemy's assault, 
 agreed to capitulate upon honourable terms ; the fortress 
 of St Philip was surrendered, and the trooi)s having 
 been allowed to embark were conveyed to CJibraltar. 
 
 The loss of Minorca was followed by an out- 
 burst of uncontrollable indignation in England ; the 
 ministry were driven from power, and Byng, accused 
 of treachery by some, of cowardice by others, was 
 sacrificed to popular fury and by sentence of court- 
 martial shot. 
 
 In the midst of these turmoils Pitt succeeded to 
 office, and was called upon to form a cabinet. f He 
 
 * AVnlpole's Mcms. of George II. 
 
 t Hist, of England, from Peace of Utrecht. Coxe'a Mema. 
 of Bourbon Kings of Spain. 
 
 1G»
 
 244 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 held in his hands the destiny of his country; and 
 his energy and talents were not unequal to the 
 moment. 
 
 Up to this time Spain had still remained aloof from 
 the operations of the war. France, eager for her alli- 
 ance and co-operation, exhausted every effort of diplo- 
 macy to gain her friendship ; while England, no less 
 mindful of the advantages to be derived from an intimate 
 union with such a powerful state, and dreading the ex- 
 tension of French influence, was equally alive to the 
 necessity of pressing negotiations upon the Court of 
 Madrid. Having accomplished the capture of Minorca, 
 France lost no time in attempting to lure Spain into a 
 confederacy against England; and following the original 
 path of her policy, a proposal was laid before Spain, 
 offering the restoration of Minorca, with a promise 
 of assistance in the reduction of Gibraltar. These 
 overtures created the greatest sensation^^Jbotli ^in 
 London and Madrid. Sir Benjamin Keene, then 
 ambassador to the Court of Spain, instantly per- 
 ceived the danger of the situation, and endeavoured 
 by every means in his power to prevent the acceptance 
 of the offer. 
 
 " It would be tecHous," says Coxe,* " to develope 
 all the artifices employed by the two Courts,! or to 
 recapitulate all the letters, memorials, and representa- 
 
 * Mems. of Bourbon Kings of Spain, 
 t Vicnn.'i and Paris.
 
 FRKNCn INKLL'ENCE IN SPAIN, 245 
 
 tions with which they endeavoured to draw from tlic 
 King of Spain a tacit or partial approbation of the 
 war auMinst l']iii:;land. It must, however, be confessed 
 tliat these articles, if not innnediately successful, 
 gradually made an impression." 
 
 French intluence was gradually becoming diffused 
 through the councils of Madrid, and every stra- 
 tagem was used to create a misunderstanding between 
 Spain and England. The popular voice was in 
 favour of war, ami no opportunity of irritating the 
 English was disregarded. 
 
 French privateers countenanced by the Spanish 
 navy constantly intercepted and seized British vessels 
 carrying on trade between Barbary and Gibraltar. 
 Uemonstrances were made in vain, and when at 
 length the British admiral rescued a prize on its 
 passage into a Spanish port, the government at home, 
 only fearful of a rupture, and regardless of the con- 
 stant insult ottered to the British flag, restored the 
 vessel ami recalled the admiral. Nor was this all ; 
 a French East-Indiaman, named the Due de Pcn- 
 thievre, having been captured by a British privateer 
 off Corunna, was forced into Cadiz, while on its way 
 to Gibraltar, by stress of weather. The Vice-admiralty 
 Court of Gibraltar condemned the ])rize, but the 
 capture was pronounced illegal by the authorities at 
 Cadiz, and an order was issued for the inunediate 
 restitution of the ship. Witli this order the captain
 
 246 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 of the privateer refused to comply, and two Spanisli 
 ships of Avar were employed to compel him to 
 submit.* 
 
 Although war seemed inevitable, Ferdinand, still 
 irresolute which side to join, hung back from the con- 
 test. 
 
 Affairs were in this complicated condition, when 
 Pitt, who had regarded with alarm the sinister 
 advance of Prench influence, resolved by one bold 
 stroke to secure the friendship of Spain, and to bind 
 her in an alliance against France. The question of 
 Minorca still trembled in the balance, but there was 
 a jewel which had been torn from its setting in the 
 Spanish crown by the powerful hand of England, 
 of ten times greater value than Minorca. Gibraltar, 
 the one darling object of Spanish pride and envy, — 
 still occupied by the British, — was a rankling thorn in 
 the side of Spain, and many were the sacrifices which 
 that country would have made for its restoration. 
 
 The moment seemed favom-able for the experi- 
 ment, and, with the consent of all his colleagues, Pitt, 
 in a secret despatch, dated August 23rd, 1757, author- 
 ized Sir Benjamin Keenc to offer to Spain the cession 
 
 * It would appear that the Spaniards, not content with 
 Ihrcateninfi; the privateer witli an irresistible force, actually 
 iircd into the dei'encelesa vessel, and caused loss of life. Sir 
 Benjamin Keeno refers to tlie transaction as " the safe hut cruel 
 romhnt in the Baij of Cadiz.'''' Keenc to Mr Pitt, most secret, 
 ISIanh Gth, 1757'.
 
 PITT UFl'EUS TO UKSTOKL CilBUALTAll. 247 
 
 of Ciihraltar, on condition that she would enter into 
 an alliance at^Minst the French. This celebrated 
 desj)atch, which is said to have cost Pitt three days' 
 labour in its composition, is remarkable for the clear- 
 ness of its language, and the anxiety it evinces on the 
 part of the writer lest tlu; full meaning of the delicate 
 proposition regarding Gibraltar should not be un- 
 derstood. 
 
 The following extracts relate to the (piestion of 
 the restoration. 
 
 " Mr Secretary Pitt to Sir Penjamin Keene. 
 
 "Whitehall, Aug. 23rd, 1757. 
 
 ** Most secret and confidential. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " The most important and confidential 
 matter which I have the honoiu- of the king's com- 
 mands to open in this despatch to your Excellency, 
 and His Majesty's order and instructions herewith 
 transmitted, cannot but affect you with the deepest 
 sense of the great and })articular trust which the king 
 is most graciously pleased to repose in your known 
 experience and long-approved abilities. It is greatly 
 hoped that the state of your health will be found so 
 well restored by the late use of medicinal watei-s as 
 to leave nothing more to desire for the projjcr and 
 ablest discharge of a commission of such high mo- 
 ment, and which peculiarly demands the utmost cir-
 
 248 HISTORY 0¥ GIBRALTAR. 
 
 cumspection, vigilance, delicacy, and address. It is 
 judged tlie most compendious and sure method of 
 opening and consigning to your Excellency, with due 
 clearness and precision, the scope and end of the 
 measure, to refer you to the minute itself, unanimously 
 approved by His Majesty's servants, consulted in his 
 most secret affairs ; and containing the sum and sub- 
 stance, as well as the grounds, of the king's royal in- 
 tention in this violent and dangerous crisis. 
 
 " ' Their Lordships having taken into consideration 
 the formidable progress of the arms of France, and the 
 danger to Great Britain and her allies resulting from a 
 total subversion of the system of Europe, and more 
 especially from the most pernicious extension of the in- 
 fluence of Erance, by the fatal admission of Erench 
 garrisons into Ostcnd and Nieuport, their Lordships are 
 most humbly of opinion that nothing can so effectually 
 tend in the present unhappy circumstances to the re- 
 storation of Europe in general, and in particular to the 
 successful prosecution of the present just and neces- 
 sary war, until a peace can be made on safe and 
 honourable terms, as a more intimate union with the 
 crown of Spain. 
 
 " ' Li this necessary view their Lordships most 
 humbly submit their opinion to your Majesty's great 
 wisdom, that overtures of a negotiation should be set 
 on foot with that Court in order to engage Spain, if 
 ])()ssil)le, to join her arms to tliose of your Majesty for 
 obtaining a just and honourable peace; and, namely.
 
 I'ITt's DKSl'ATCH. '2V.) 
 
 for recovering and restoring to the Crown of England 
 the most important island of Minorca, with all tlu; 
 ports and fortresses ; as well its for re-establishing 
 some solid system in Enrope ; and inasmuch as it 
 shall be found necessary for attaining these great and 
 essential ends to treat with the ('rown of Spain con- 
 cerning an exchange of Gibraltar for the island of 
 Minorca, with the ports and fortresses, their Lordships 
 arc most humbly of an unanimous opinion that the 
 Court of Spain should without loss of time be sounded 
 with respect to their disposition ; and if the same 
 shall be found favourable, that the said negotiation 
 should be carried forward and ripened for execution 
 
 with all possible despatch and sccresy.' 
 
 .... I am now, before I close this long despatch, 
 to discharge His jMajesty's particular conunand by 
 reconunending to you in the strongest manner to use 
 the utmost precaution and circumspection in the 
 overtures of this conditional idea with regard to 
 Gibraltar, lest it should hereafter come, although 
 Spain shall decline the sole condition of such an inti- 
 macy, to be construed into a promise to restore that 
 place to His Catholic Majesty. 
 
 "And you will take especial care, through the 
 whole course of the transaction relating to Gibraltar, 
 to weigh and measure cvcmt expression with the ut- 
 most precision of language, so as to ])ut it beyond 
 the ])ossibility of the most captious and soi)liistieal in- 
 terpretation, to wrest and torture this insinuation of an
 
 250 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 exchange on the sole terms above expressed, into a 
 revival and renewal of any former pretended engage- 
 ment with respect to the cession of that place. 
 
 "And for greater and clearer indication on matters 
 of this extreme importance, I am, though unneces- 
 sarily, expressly to acquaint you that the king can in 
 no supposed case ever entertain the thought of putting 
 Gibraltar into the hands of Spain, until that Court, 
 by a junction of their arms with those of His Majesty, 
 shall actually and effectually recover and restore to 
 the Crown of England the island of Minorca, with 
 all its fortresses and harbours." * 
 
 Happily for England the offer came too late. Spain 
 was rooted to a neutral policy, and even the tempting 
 offer of Gibraltar could not purchase her aUiance. 
 Sir Benjamin Keene, an able and far-sighted diplo- 
 matist, who was intimately acquainted with the tem- 
 per of the Spanish Court, knew that the proposal 
 came too late to fulfil its object. 
 
 When the despatch reached jNIadrid, he perused 
 it with irritability and impatience ; throwing his cap 
 on the ground he exclauned, " Are they mad on the 
 other side of the water ? What can they mean ? it is 
 now too late ! " 
 
 With a foreboding heart, the ambassador proceed- 
 
 * Coxe, Kings of Spain, vol. iii. 210. Corres. of William 
 I'ilt, vol. i. p. 217.
 
 sill HKNJAMIN KKKNKS UEl'LY. 251 
 
 cd to execute his mission. He souglit and obtained 
 an interview with the Spanish minister, and during a 
 liiigthy eonvcrsation on the diflerences existing be- 
 tween the two countries adroitly and deheately hinted 
 at the restoration of (libraUar. 
 
 " The weight of the business," says Sir Benjamin,* 
 *' gained the attention it deserved. His Hvely imagin- 
 ation wanted no information of the wretched circum- 
 stances in whicli Europe was nearly overwhelmed, 
 nor did his memory want to be refreshed by my 
 recapitulating to him the noble maxims he puqwsed 
 to follow when he came into office. After running 
 through both these" subjects with great precision, he 
 re])li{>d to my insinuation relative to the conditional 
 restoration of Gibraltar with a cool politeness — ' You 
 know,' he said, ' T am a stranger in this country, 
 alone, without support or aid from any of my col- 
 leagues, whose inclinations, as well as the general 
 bent of the nation, are not, 1 believe, for entering into 
 a war against France in your favour.' I le then accused 
 j'.ngland of ruining the credit he might have had 
 with this nation if we had supported him with acts 
 of justice and attention, though we should have 
 strained a point to serve him ; a credit, he said, which 
 would have been warmly employed for the service ot 
 
 * Sir B. Kecne to Mr Pitt, iMudrid, Sept. 20, 1757. ^lost 
 poorut and couiideutial. Coxo's Mems. of tho Bourbon Kings 
 
 tif S[)aiu.
 
 25:2 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 both Crowns, iiotwitlistanding all the suspicions which 
 his birth and education might have exposed him 
 to.* 
 
 "You will blame the length of my letter if 1 
 charge it with more particulars than are necessary for 
 His Majesty to form a true idea of what has passed here. 
 I shall therefore cut short in this place, since there 
 needs no further addition to show Mr Wall's resolu- 
 tion not to charge himself with, or mention, much 
 less support, the adoption of the vigorous measures 
 which the execution of this project requires. Neither 
 did he give me the least room to think, but quite the 
 contrary, that he would take notice of it to his master 
 or his colleagues." 
 
 This despatch terminated the proceedings of this 
 attempt at negotiation, and AVall, ill in health, and 
 tired of his office, contemplated resigning his post. 
 By the command and entreaties of the king and 
 queen this step was postponed. 
 
 The last public act of the British minister. Sir 
 Benjamin Keene, was the conduct of this remarkable 
 transaction. 
 
 Worn out by the pains of a lingering malady, 
 worried by the uncertain policy of the late adminis- 
 tration, and feeling acutely the neglect with which he 
 
 •The Spanish tniiiisttT wiia a f!;entlcin:iii of" Iriyli extrac- 
 tion, ikiiiumI Wall, wlio had previously done some service to 
 Spain. In 17 17 lie was Hont from Madrid to London, to 
 negotiate a peace between the two countries.
 
 LORD TYRAWLEY's OlMMON OF (ilHKALTAR. 253 
 
 had hcL'U treated, he died within a ^hort time alter he 
 had written his despateh to Mr I'itt. 
 
 It is difficult to understand how such a states- 
 man as Pitt couUl have \)cvu induced to entertain the 
 notion of surrendering (jiil)rahar to Spain. The ecjui- 
 valent advantages to be given in exchange were no 
 (h)ul)t important, l)ut not sufficient to justify the loss 
 of the most commanding position in tlie Mediterra- 
 nean, and the forfeiture of the key of the Straits. 
 
 But it must be remembered that at this time a 
 very general im})ression prevailed, that the value of 
 the fortress had been over-estimated ; and these oi)in- 
 ions found vent in the publications of the day. The 
 expenses of the place were enormous and constantly 
 increased, and the maladministration of the local 
 government was a continual source of complaint. 
 
 The Governor of the fortress, too. Lord Tyrawley, 
 who was dissatisfied with his office, took care to under- 
 rate its importance, and to represent the heavy burden 
 it would ever be to the nation. 
 
 Writing to Fox, he says, — 
 
 " As to Gibraltar,* 1 take it for granted it will be 
 extremely quiet, for I do not see that we do ourselves 
 much good, or anybody else any hurt, by our being in 
 possession of it. If anything tempt anybody to be- 
 siege it, it will be the fatherless and motherless de- 
 
 ♦ Tliia and the following letter were written to Fo.t, who, 
 
 when ho resigned the seals, hnndod them hoth over to Pitt.
 
 254 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 fenceless state it has been suffered to run into ; all 
 which I have fully represented at home, where I 
 thought it was most proper. I would conclude from 
 all this that I hope I shall not be left in so idle a 
 
 place I hope to receive orders to return to 
 
 my staff and my regiment of guards. 
 
 " The sooner the better." * , 
 
 Again he says, — 
 
 " You will find I am not so thoroughly satisfied 
 that Gibraltar is so formidable a place as the common 
 cry thinks it ; but that it would w^ant money, time, 
 and ability in the distribution of both to make it so. 
 That Gibraltar is the strongest town in the world, that 
 one Englishman can beat three Frenchmen, and that 
 London-bridge is one of the seven wonders in the 
 world, are the natural prejudices of an English cofiee- 
 house politician. I am doing some little matters 
 here that I think add to the strength of it ; but 
 much more ought to be done that I cannot take upon 
 myself to work upon without orders. 
 
 " I really grow tolerably weary of Gibraltar, which 
 is in all respects upon the most scandalous foot that 
 ever town was, that pretends to call itself unc place 
 de guerre; though so exactly consistent with our 
 notions of this sort of things, that I assure myself it 
 will never take any other form." + 
 
 * Lord Tyrawlcy to Rt Hon. Henry Fox. Gibraltar, 
 AugUHt 20th, 1756. Private. 
 
 t Lord Tyniwlcy lo 1{1 IIoii. irenry Fox. («il)raltar,
 
 LETTER FROM LORD TVUAWLKV. ii:j:j 
 
 Writing on the :2()th September, 175G, he says, 
 " You will observe by it (a letter to Lord Harrington) 
 that I look upon Gibraltar as in a manner dismantled 
 by the last measures taken in respeet to its garrison, 
 and I thought it my duty to lay my opinion of this 
 matter before the Duke, who I am confident could 
 have no idea of things here ])eing in so sad a con- 
 dition, without such a representation as my letter 
 contains. ... I assure you I take it as no great com- 
 })linient to be left here as storekeeper of Gibraltar, . . 
 and therefore, dear Sir, I beg you will make my mind 
 easy in getting me the Duke's leave to come home."* 
 
 Au2[ust 27tli, 175G. Correspondence of William Pitt, vol. i. 
 p. 203. 
 
 • "While at Gibraltar, Lord Tyrawley ordered great addi- 
 tions to the works, with no more economy than governors are 
 apt to do who think themselves above being responsible. Lord 
 George Sackvillo caught at this dissipation, and privately 
 instigated Sir John Philips to censure the expenses. To their 
 great surprise Lord Tyrawley demanded to be heard at the 
 bar of the House in his own defence. A day was named. Ho 
 drew up a memorial, which he proposed to read to the House. 
 It attacked Lord George roundly on having avoided all 
 foreign command. Thus alarmed, Lord George got the day of 
 hearing adjourned for near a fortnight, and having underhand 
 procured the report of Skinner, who 8ur\-eyed the works at 
 Gibraltar, to be brought before the House, without mentioning 
 what it was, Mr I'ox laid open the unhandsome darkness of 
 this conduct, and Lord Tyrawley himself appeared at the bar 
 and made good by his behaviour all that luul been taken for 
 vapour before he appeared there ; for leaning on the bar he 
 browbeat Skinner, his censor, who stood on his left hand, wiili 
 such arrogant humour that the very lawyers thought themsilvis
 
 25G HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The representations of Tyrawley no doubt had 
 weight with Pitt, and led him to underrate the vakie 
 of Gibrahar. In after years, however, he became fully 
 ahve to its importance, and strenuously insisted upon 
 proper means being adopted for its safety.* But be- 
 sides the effect of Lord Tyrawley 's disparaging re- 
 ports from Gibraltar, it is not improbable that 
 Pitt was influenced in his estimate of that fortress 
 by the many virulent pamphlets and articles that 
 were published about that time, condemnatory of 
 the alleged gross mismanagement and corruption 
 that prevailed in the government of the place, and 
 exhibiting the enormous charge the maintenance of 
 the Rock imposed upon England. f 
 
 There is reason to believe that these statements 
 were partially true, although in most instances the 
 malice of the writers is evident, and the exaggeration 
 of the representations apparent. 
 
 One cause, perhaps, of the rancorous feeling 
 
 outdone in tlieir own style of worrying a culprit. He read 
 his memorial, which was well drawn, with great art and frank- 
 ness, and assumed more merit to himself than ho had heeu 
 charged with blame. Such tough game tempted few hunters. 
 Lord George was glad to waive the sport, and the House dis- 
 missed the affair." — Walpole's George IT., vol. ii. \). 29.'}. 
 
 * Vide Lord Chatham's speech on the 22nd Nov., 1770, on 
 Spanish affairs. 
 
 t Lord Bolinghroke in a despatch to Lord Porlmore, dated 
 March 21)tli, 1712, roiiipUiiiis tliat "at Gibraltar tilings have 
 hitherto been in the utmost confusion and under the loosest 
 iiianagement."
 
 MAI.-ADMIMNrUATlON AT (. I UK A I. lAU. '^-H 
 
 exliil)it('(l ill these; pa[)t'rs was tlic hatred ol iiiiHtary 
 pjovcnuiHiil 1)\ [JiTsons eiiga^fd in coinmercial pur- 
 suits. \\\\{ dissatisfaction was expressed also amongst 
 the inihtaiy ihiiiisi'lvcs. 
 
 As early as 17 1~, Colonel Bennett, of the en- 
 gineers, represented to the government at iionie the 
 wholesale system of peculation existing among the 
 authorities at Gibraltar ; and " thereby," he says, 
 " have drawn upon me tlie governor's displeasure, 
 iiiaMimeh as that he lias threatened to hang me, to 
 break my bones, and has given me the lye."* 
 
 Writing in 1749, an author says, "Colonel Con- 
 grevef set most of tin; bad exam})les which his suc- 
 cessors have too well imitated. He forced some 
 j)eople out of their houses, others on various pretences 
 out of the garrison, and then disposed of their })o>>ses- 
 
 sions Cotton I was naturally an expensive man. 
 
 lie improved upon Congreve's plans in e\ery act of 
 oppression, and had, like the tyrants of old, his dun- 
 geons and other a])paratus to drain the purses of the 
 ])()()r foreign inhabitants; .... a spirit of rebellion 
 broke out which had near dethroned him. The English 
 who are not military are few, and those not submissive 
 enough to Ik; spunged out of what they get, and are 
 therefore proi)erly discountenanced, and in their place 
 Irish Pai)ists and sneh kinds of itinerary ritr-rail" find 
 
 * ReiiiMiks oil (libraltar. MSS. British .Miiseiim. 
 t Governor in the year 1713. 
 I Governor in the year 17I(». 
 
 17
 
 258 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 cordial favour. What the place costs us in point of 
 reputation is hereby seen 
 
 " Godby followed Cotton, but retired. His suc- 
 cessor, Bowes, plundered merrily for some time as 
 Cotton's deputy, and shared the plunder with persons 
 at home 
 
 "In 1729 the emoluments of the governor were 
 calculated as follows : — 
 
 " The governor s annual perqidsites. 
 
 5000 butts of Avine 8 10,000 
 
 1000 butts of brandy and rum 9,765 
 
 1200 ships anchorage, at $3 3,600 
 
 60 Jews and Genoese porters 2,160 
 
 Christmas boxes from Jews, etc. 1,000 
 
 Permits for entering the town 1,000 
 
 Jews, hawkers, and pedlars 500 
 
 Wine licences 600 
 
 Ground rents 10,000 
 
 Mediterranean passes to foreigners 1,000 
 To occasional munerations and squeezings 2,000 
 
 As principal goat-herd 500 
 
 As cow-keo])cr and inilk-luM'd 500 
 
 As head butclier 4,000 
 
 As poulterer 500 
 
 As chief baker 1,000 
 
 l\)r\v:ird 48,125
 
 LIST OF c;ovi:iinok's I'KuquisiTKS. 259 
 
 Brought forward 8 48,125 
 
 As head gardener 500 
 
 As master fisherman 500 
 
 As tallow-chandler and coal merchant 2,000 
 
 Public jobs, wharfage, etc. 2,000 
 
 Miscellaneous 000 
 
 ■* 53,725 
 
 "Exclusive of his salary as general, and other 
 perquisites, the aggregate total emoluments of the 
 governorship of Gibraltar cannot be less than £20,000 
 per annum." 
 
 The author continues : — 
 
 "The whole art of plundering is so magically 
 conducted that it never comes to the cars of his 
 Majesty, nor is laid before the legislature. If an 
 oilicer complains, he is kicked out of the town ; if a 
 housekeeper, he is dispossessed ; if a foreigner, he is 
 dungeoned and stript ; and if a Barbary Jew, he is 
 transmitted to a brother bashaw at Tetuan, where 
 ])erhaps he is hanged outright."* 
 
 * Eeasons for giving up Gibraltar. British Museum, 
 1749. 
 
 " This is but a sliort and impcrfei-t account of the many 
 insurmountable vilhinies which are daily transacting in this 
 unhappy fortress ; was I to enumerate but a third jiart of tliem 
 it would take a volume, every page of which would draw tears 
 from the reader's eyes, if he had the least feeling or humanity. 
 What horrid outrages have there been acted ! "What scenes of
 
 260 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 These statements no doubt had foundation on fact, 
 and we can gather from them how wretchedly mis- 
 governed the fortress must have been during the first 
 half century after its capture. 
 
 The failure on the part of England to procure an 
 alliance with Spain was followed by events which 
 rapidly complicated the situation of European affairs. 
 
 In the month of August, 1758, the Queen of 
 Spain died, and in the following year Eerdinand, 
 wdiose grief since his bereavement had been poignant 
 and inconsolable, also expired. He was succeeded 
 on the throne by Charles III. 
 
 As the war between Erance and England pro- 
 ceeded, the successes of the British arms extended 
 over land and sea. A Erench fleet under De Con- 
 flans was defeated by Sir Edward Hawke, the battle 
 of Minden was gained, Quebec surrendered, and 
 Canada was conquered. 
 
 It was after these brilliant achievements, and 
 while fortune smiled upon the British cause, that 
 negotiations were again opened with Spain, and again 
 with ill success. 
 
 In 17G1 the celebrated " Eamily Compact " was 
 matured and signed by the three Bourbon monarchs, 
 by the terms of which it was agreed that the enemy 
 of either Erance or Spain should be regarded as the 
 
 misery have poor people been driven to, by Ibc iiilminaii bai-- 
 barity of a mercilcsH, cnicl, unrelenting tyrant! "What iiimilxrs 
 lias l)c ])lunderc(l under llie cloak of justice! "
 
 TIIK Tin. AT V or I'AIUS. '20 \ 
 
 enemy of both, and it was further understood that, in 
 case war continued between Enghmd and France in 
 th(; s|)rin!i; of 170:2, vSpain wonhl join in the contest 
 in conjunction witli th(! latter power. 
 
 On the 1th of January, 1702, the Jb-itish ca])inet, 
 antici})ating the intentions of Spain, declared war 
 aLi;ainst licr, and hostilities speedily commenced. 
 
 At the expiration of twi'lve months, during which 
 tlie British arms were everywhere successful, a j)eace 
 was signed at Paris on the 10th of February, 1703. 
 By this treaty Minorca, Guadaloupe, Martinico, and 
 St Lucia Mere restored to England ; Canada, Nova 
 Scotia, and Cape Ik'eton were ceded to her, and sub- 
 secpiently F'lorida was added. The rehnquishment of 
 the Ilavaimali (wliich had surrendered during the 
 negotiations), without a more vahiable erpiivalent than 
 Florida, was a blot upon this otherwise tavoiu'able 
 treaty.
 
 262 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 1763 TO 1779, 
 
 England had scarcely commenced to reap the 
 advantages of the peace before she was threatened 
 with the symptoms of rebelhon among the North 
 American Colonies. In 1705 the extension of the 
 Stamp Act to those states aroused the resentment of 
 the colonists, meetings were convened at which the 
 measure was condemned in violent language, petitions 
 and resolutions were drawn up, and, ominous for the 
 future, the formation of a Republic was suggested. 
 
 The rising chimour terrified the ministry, and by 
 the advice of Pitt the obnoxious Act was repealed 
 within twelve months after it had become law. In 
 the mean time the administration, with Lord Rocking- 
 ham at its head, was dissolved, and Pitt was again 
 called upon to form a cabinet. He accepted the 
 task, claiming for himself the Privy Seal and a peer- 
 age, with the title of Earl Chatham. 
 
 The expenses of (lie recent Scv<'n Years' War fell 
 heavily upon the ta\-|)ayers of I'higlaiid ; and any 
 measure likely to relieve the people from the bm-tlieii
 
 A.MKKICAN UKIJKLLION. 203 
 
 was rcrtfiin to ronimnnd pnpulnrity J^nd ostal)lisli the 
 position of the niinistry. Xotwitlistiuuliiij^ tlu; rorciit 
 display of temper l)y tlie colonists of Xortii America, 
 it was jiulfijed both just and politic that the colonics 
 should contribute to the levies for the [)ayment of the 
 war expenses. 
 
 The reduction of the land-tax, a measure which 
 owed its orifTjin to the oj)j)ositi()n, had deprived the 
 nnenue of £500, 000, and in an evil hour it was 
 resolved to impose upon the colonists a tax, small 
 indeed, but sufficient to kindle the greatest and most 
 successful rebellion in the history of the world. It is 
 unnecessary to recapitulate all the circumstances of 
 this sera in England's history. 
 
 No sooner had the tea-tax become law, than every 
 disposition to oppose it was evinced throughout the 
 colony. Riots and disturbances broke out, and, 
 though smothered for a moment, burst forth again 
 with greater fury. Fearful outbreaks ensued: the 
 whole country was roused, an army was raised, and 
 a terrible rebellion raged throughout the provinces. 
 
 As the civil war proceeded, disaster followed 
 disaster to the English arms, until, on the 17th Octo- 
 ber, 1777, General Burgoyne, finding himself sur- 
 rounded by the rebel forces at Saratoga, laid down his 
 arms. From the commencement of this rebi-llion the 
 American cause had received the sympathy of France, 
 who, jealous of l^ritish power, and hating the British 
 nation, had watched the progress of events with
 
 264 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 evident satisfaction. Louis XVL did not conceal 
 his desire to recognize the independence of the 
 revolutionary colonies, but, as for a long time the 
 issue of the contest remained doubtful, he was re- 
 strained by prudence from giving effect to his wishes. 
 Burgoyne's defeat, however, establishing as it did the 
 supremacy of the rebel arms, relieved the king's 
 scruples, and on the 6th February, 1778, a treaty of 
 aUiance between the two countries was signed at 
 Paris. 
 
 While England was distracted with these dissen- 
 sions in her colonies, Spain was busily engaged in 
 profiting by the respite since the peace. AVall, having 
 retired from office, had been succeeded by Grimaldi, 
 who was ably assisted by the Count D'Aranda in 
 restoring the energies of the nation. The army and 
 navy were reformed and augmented, a new system of 
 military tactics was introduced, discipline was re- 
 established, the order of the finances restored, and 
 tlie revenues re-adjusted. In secret concert with 
 France, vast prcjiarations were silently made for a 
 contest with England, while the successfnl progress 
 of the rebellion in North America whetted the ardour 
 of the two Bourbon monarchs. At length the mo- 
 ment seemed to have arrived for the destruction of 
 British power and influence;. 
 
 A\'liil(' Spain was thus diligently preparing for the 
 oi)p()itnnily wlieii she might descend u])on an on- 
 feel)l(!(l enemv, England, apart from colonial disaflec-
 
 fUITlCAh SITLATIO.N Oi" KNCiLAND. '2(')~) 
 
 tion, was a prov to faction, iinhccility, and civil 
 coniinotioM. Her prcstij^c, oiicc the terror of Kuropc, 
 had fallen to the lowest ehl), her representatives 
 al)road were openly insulted in the streets without 
 redress, and even the minor powers assumed towards 
 her an attitude of (Idiancc and contciiipt. Hated 
 and despised hy every European state, virtually with- 
 out an ally, distracted by agitation at home, and 
 engaged in an attempt to cpiell an irresistible re- 
 volution in a distant colony, the situation of England 
 was critical indeed. 
 
 No sooner was the alliance between France and 
 the rebels of North America announced, than a declar- 
 ation of war was issued by England, and hostilities 
 immediately connncnced ; 50,000 Frenchmen were 
 ready to invade the British coast, vast fleets were 
 fitted out, and a diversion was made in favour of the 
 Americans by an expedition un(Kr D'Estaing. 
 
 For a time Spain setMued disinclined to join in the 
 contest, and even made offers of negotiation between 
 the l)elligerent powers. But she never sincerely con- 
 templated peace, and the negotiation was only an 
 artifice to gain time for her linid preparations. After 
 some months delay, during which she acted the farce 
 of mediation, her arrangements were completed, and, 
 throwing aside the mask of friendship, she declared 
 war against l']ngland (177!)), and allied herself to 
 France. 
 
 The desii;ns of King Charles, long secretly enter-
 
 266 HISTORY OP GIBRALTAR. 
 
 tained, were speedily developed ; a junction was form- 
 ed between the French and Spanish fleets, a powerful 
 army, already organized, was ready to take the field, 
 and an allied attack, so powerful that it was deemed 
 irresistible, was directed against Gibraltar. 
 
 Twice within the century, Spain, at an enormous 
 sacrifice of blood and treasure, had attempted the 
 recovery of this fortress, and on each occasion she 
 had been compelled to retire with humiliation and 
 defeat. But now the moment appeared to have 
 arrived when the long-lost prize might be wrested 
 from the grasp of the enemy and restored to its 
 setting in the crown of Spain.* 
 
 * Anticipating the results of this siege, Ayala says, — " In 
 the mean time we may hope that the result of this undertaking 
 against a place so strongly fortified, but attacked by such 
 powerful forces, may correspond to the justice of the cause, to 
 the intelligence and activity of the Duke de Crillon, and to the 
 well-known valoxir of the Spanish troops."
 
 roUllTKKNTII SlKCr, OF CI liUALTAU. 207 
 
 CIlAPTl'Pv XIV. 
 
 FOURTEENTH SIECJE OE CIBUALTAK, 1779. 
 
 Since tlie siege of 17:27, the fortifications of 
 Gibraltar had been suffered to lapse ahnost into a 
 state of ruin and decay. Very few guns were 
 mounted, the parapets were in many places crum- 
 bling to dust, and the ditches at the north angle were 
 choked with rubbish. The magazines were defective, 
 the auununition was scanty, and the provision stores 
 were empty. Reports on the condition of the fortress 
 liad been constantly sent lionie, but no attention was 
 paid to the remonstrances of the successive governors. 
 At length, in 17()9, a connnission, presided over by 
 the Master-general, assembled at the Board of 
 Ordnance in Westminster, to deliberate upon the 
 defective condition of the defences. 
 
 From the evidence of a principal member of this 
 conference we gather some particulars of the state of 
 the Rock at that period.* lie tells us that most of 
 
 * Roniarlis and Observations made upon several of llio Soa- 
 ]iort.> in Spain and rranro. tlurin;^ a Journey in those Countries
 
 268 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the engineers whose opinions were asked respscting 
 the mode of fortification best adapted to the Rock, 
 proposed the adoption of Vauban's principles, while 
 the minority were for rejecting the common book 
 rules, according as the situation varied — conforming 
 their designs to the nature of the ground and to the 
 kind of attack to which each particular part would be 
 subjected. 
 
 " It was my principle," he said, " that when the 
 lower power of attack only could be exerted upon 
 any particular part, it was both needless and indeed 
 a defect of judgment to raise works whose qualities 
 were calculated to repulse the higher power of an 
 army possessed of space enough to enable them to 
 exercise and bring into play the reiterated assaults 
 peculiar to the advantages of having a great spot of 
 ground to act upon. Not such, indeed, does it appear 
 to me is the character of the new works lately 
 erected near the sea-side at Gibraltar. I apprehend 
 that the importance and situation of Gibraltar, if well 
 considered, should draw forth other modes of reason- 
 ing than such as have been frecpiently adopted with 
 respect to fortified places difterently circumstanced. 
 
 "It has usually been understood that wlien it 
 is besieged our fieet may go to its rehof, iviid if we 
 were to ])c certain tliat it will l)e attacked again us 
 
 in 17G7— 17G8. rcrronncd by Major Hugh Dcbbieg, Corps 
 of Engineers.— King's MSS. liril. IMus.
 
 SLSriC'lULS AlTiON OF I KANCK AM) Sl'AlN. ^(j'J 
 
 in the two last siopjcs (170.'), 17~7), the only iiictliod 
 by \vliich it will never he reduced, that systt-iu 
 might Ijc adhered to with some degree of coiifideiiee. 
 But wc ought not to lose sight of its distance from 
 home, separated from us by the continent of I']ur()])e, 
 that our lli'et may at some critical time have more 
 necessary and indispensable employment at home 
 than succouring places at a great distance at every 
 alarm." * 
 
 After pointing out the weakness of the defences 
 towards the southward, and showing that the grand 
 powder-magazine was situated on an eminence half 
 a mile from the town, and exposed to the sea and to 
 fire from shipping, he concludes, — 
 
 " Gibraltar is a fortress whose situation at the 
 first sight thereof convinces the beholder of its great 
 utility and consequence to Great liritain. It is the 
 key of the ]\Iediterrancan from the ocean, and the 
 strongest curb she holds over the power of her 
 enemies." 
 
 In 1770, the continuation of large armaments in 
 France and Spain had aroused the sus])ieions ami 
 excited the fears of the English ministry. 
 
 Allusions were made in both Houses of Parliament 
 
 * Tlio correctness of this ofi'iccr's judgment was afterwards 
 proved by tlie events of the siege, when the garrison was Iwice 
 bordering on starvation in consequence of no fleet being able 
 
 to sail lo their ri'Iief.
 
 270 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 to the state of the kingdom for war, and in a debate 
 on the seizure of the Falkland Islands by order of 
 the King of Spain, Lord Chatham delivered a re- 
 markable speech, in which he alluded to the defenceless 
 condition of Gibraltar. 
 
 " The third object," he said, " indispensable as I 
 conceive in the distribution of our navy, is to main- 
 tain such a force in the Bay of Gibraltar as may 
 be sufficient to cover that garrison, to watch the 
 motions of the Spaniards, and to keep open the com- 
 mmiication with Minorca. . . . But how will your 
 Lordships be astonished Avhen I inform you in what 
 manner they have provided for these great, these 
 
 essential objects ! AVe have one ship-of-the- 
 
 line at Jamaica, one at the Leeward Islands, and one 
 at Gibraltar. Yet at this very moment, for aught 
 the ministry know, both Jamaica and Gibraltar may 
 be attacked — and if they are attacked (which God 
 forbid !) they must fall. . . . 
 
 " Two regiments of 400 men each, at a time like 
 this, are sent to secure a place of such importance as 
 Gibraltar! a place which it is universally agreed 
 cannot hold against a vigorous attack from the sea, 
 if once the enemy should be so far masters of the 
 Bay as to make a good landing, even with a moderate 
 force. 
 
 " The indispensable service of the lines requires 
 at least 4000 men. Tlie ])rescnt garrison consists of 
 about 2300, so that if the relief should be fortunate
 
 DIKK Ol" MANCHESTKU's ADDRESS. '21i 
 
 cnoiigli to \rct on shore they will want SOO men of 
 their neeessary eoniplenient."* 
 
 On the lith of Decemi)er the Duke uf Man- 
 chcsiiij- (at the suggestion of Chatham) f moved an 
 address to Ills ^lajesty, praying that he would be 
 graciously pleased to send a })roper force to Gibraltar 
 for its due and efficient defence. His speech exposed 
 the insecurity of our foreign possessions and the peril 
 of our ])orts at home. His statements were confirmed 
 by Chatham, who added that he had received intelli- 
 gence I of a plan being formed to iittack Gibraltar. 
 " Having asserted," says Junius, " that it was open 
 to an attack from the sea, and that if the enemy were 
 masters of the bay the place could not make any 
 long resistance," he was answered in the following 
 words by that great statesman, the Earl of Sand- 
 wich ; " Su])posing the noble lord's argument to be 
 well founded, and supposing Gibraltar to be now un- 
 luckily taken, still, according to the noble lord's own 
 doctrine, it would be no great matter ; for although 
 
 X* Correspondence of Earl Chatham, vol. iv. p. 13. 
 
 t " I (li.ssuaJeJ calling iV)r any jjapers, but suggested address- 
 ing the Crown to quicken all necessary .succours for Gibraltar. 
 This was liked." Chatham to Lord Camden. 
 
 X " Your Ladyship and Lord Stanhope may have lieard that 
 an idea has prevailed strongly here of an attack upDU Gibral- 
 tar; some intelligence on that head having reached me, 1 made 
 use of it in the House of Lordn." Earl Chatham to Countess 
 Stanhope. Hayes, December lOlh, 1770. Pitt's Corre.^^pcnd- 
 cuce.
 
 272 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 we are not masters of the sea at present we probably 
 shall be so some time or other, and then, my lords, 
 there will be no difficulty in retaking Gibraltar." * 
 
 These discussions concerning the safety of Gib- 
 raltar soon died a natural death, and the fortress was 
 left almost defenceless to its fate. 
 
 In 1777, General George Augustus Eliott was ap- 
 pointed Governor of the Rock. This officer was born 
 in 1718, and had passed with brilliant success through 
 the school of war. In his early youth he was edu- 
 cated at Edhiburgh, from whence he went to the 
 University of Leyden, where he was celebrated for his 
 proficiency in foreign languages. His educational 
 career was completed with the study of tactics at La 
 Eere. Having attained the rank of Lieutenant-colonel, 
 he accompanied George II. to Germany, in 1743, as 
 an aide-de-camp, and was wounded at the battle of 
 Dettingen. 
 
 During the Seven Years' War he greatly distin- 
 guished himself under the Duke of Cumberland. He 
 was a man of consummate military talents, great 
 energy, and indomitable perseverance, qualities which 
 the memorable events of the war tested to the utmost, 
 and which served to guide the British arms success- 
 fully through one of the severest and most protracted 
 sieges on record. f 
 
 ^ * .Tuiiiiis, Yo]. iii. p. 21)3. 
 
 t Aiiccddlo of Sir (}. J'^liott, from Cnrlylo's INfcinoirs, p. 
 187. " Captain Lyon inlroiliiccMl nic lo liis friciuls ilio oilicers
 
 DEFENTELESS STATE OF Ilir, FOKTIIESS. '21 .\ 
 
 Eliott had IK) sooner taken up Ins eonnnaiul than 
 lie discovered the utterly defenceless state ot" the fort- 
 ress. He found tlio fortilications badly adapted to 
 the peculiar forniytiou and coutour of the Rock, and 
 observed with alarm that both magazines and stores 
 were insuificiently provided. Added to this, the gar- 
 rison was numerically inadequate to perform the 
 duties which eveu in time of peace were re(juired.* 
 
 of the Horse-guards One I must particularly mention 
 
 was Captain Ehott, afterwards Lord Heathfield, the celebrated 
 defender of Gibraltar." Captain Lyon described him as a 
 worthy and able oflicer, though singular and austere in his 
 manner, and Carlylo remarks that he should have noted him as 
 a man sour and untractable. 
 
 * On the 2nd December, 1777, the Duke of Kichmond moved 
 for the returns of the army and navy in Ireland and America. 
 Upon this occasion the Earl of Chatham, in the course of a 
 most able speech, alluded thus to Gibraltar : — 
 
 " Nothing has been oftcred which may lead to inform us of 
 the actual state of the garrisons of Gibraltar and Minorca, 
 those two very important fortresses which have hitherto en- 
 abled us to maintain our superiority in the Mediterranean, and 
 one of them (Gibraltar) situated in the very continent of 
 Spain, the best proof of our naval power, and the only solid 
 check on that of the House of Bourbon. Yet those two im- 
 portant fortresses are left to chance .... we hold them but 
 
 bv suft'erance When I had the honour to be called into 
 
 the councils of the late king, Gibraltar still remained in our 
 hands, and the war in Germany, which Parliament thought tit 
 to engage in and bind themselves to, before I came into office, 
 — though we were carrying on the most extensive operations in 
 America, though the coast of Africa and the "West Indies 
 rcijuircd a suitable force to protect them, and though these 
 kingdoms called for a proportionate army, not only to act de- 
 ls
 
 274 HISTORY 0¥ GIBRALTAR. 
 
 His anxieties were further aroused by the prevail- 
 ing rumours of an intended attack upon Gibraltar, 
 rumours which in the autumn (1777) had gained 
 such credence in England that thoi. ministry commu- 
 nicated their fears to the governor in a despatch in 
 cypher, dated September, 1777 : — 
 
 " Though the strongest assurances are received 
 from the Courts of France and Spain of their inten- 
 tions to preserve the peace at present subsisting in 
 Europe, yet the great armaments making in each of 
 
 fensively, but offensively, on the coasts of our enemies, — not- 
 withstanding all those previous services, my Lords, having the 
 counsel of that great man (Duke of Marlborough) constantly 
 in view, it determined mo that whatever demands or how much 
 soever such troops might be Avanting elsewhere, that Gibraltar 
 s houl d never want a full and adequate defenpe. I never have 
 had, my Lords, less than eight battalions to defend it.* I 
 think a battalion then was about 800 strong. So that, my 
 Lords, I affirm that Gibraltar was never trusted to a garrison 
 of less than 6000 men Gibraltar is garrisoned by Hano- 
 verians. I am told if any accident should happen to the pre- 
 sent commanding officer, tlien that the care of the fortress and 
 the command of the troops would devolve on a forcigner.f I 
 
 do not recollect his name, but this is my information I 
 
 am well authorized to say, my Lords, tliat sucli is the present 
 defenceless state of Gibraltar, that there is not a second relief 
 in case of attack, nor men sufficient to man the works wliilo 
 tliosc fatigued with ser\ ice go to refresh, eat, or sleep." 
 
 * Il!i(l the Earl of Clialliaiii I'or^'otluu tliu oH'or ul' William Pitt, to sur- 
 rendur (iibraUar to Spain in 17'J0.^ 
 t Guneral de la Motto.
 
 WARXIX(i TO THE COVKIINOR. '2 1 ) 
 
 those kingdoms, and the large llc(;t at Cadiz, which on 
 the shortest notice wonkl be ready to sail, arc circum- 
 stances that require the greatest vigilance on your 
 jKirt. I must add that a very large quantity of 
 cannon of all calibre, witii u very large cjuaiitity of 
 balls for them, are now transporting from Dunkirk to 
 Spain." * 
 
 In his reply to this warning, the governor as- 
 sured the cabinet of his never-ceasing vigilance, but 
 declared that it would be impossible to withstaiul 
 a siege with the incfticient resources he had at his 
 disposal. Conscious of the difficulty and delay that 
 would attend any attempt to carry out by corre- 
 spondence the alterations and additions which he con- 
 sidered essential for the safety of the place, Eliott 
 determined to send home a competent officer, ac- 
 quainted with the wants and condition of the garrison, 
 whose personal representations would have more 
 weight in urging the necessity of providing for the 
 security of the fortress than could be expected from 
 a tedious correspondence, f 
 
 The officer selected for this duty was Colonel 
 Green of the Engineers, a man in whom every contl- 
 
 * Townshciul to Eliott. Cypher. Ori^'inal in Colonial 
 Secretary's Odicc, Gibraltar. 
 
 t " No vigilance on my part shall bo wantinL,'. In case of 
 service the garrison must be increased considerably more than 
 
 double the present number, especially artillery-men Not 
 
 less than 8CXX) men, artillery included, will be sufTicient." — 
 Eliott to Secretary for AVar. Cypher. October, 1777. 
 
 18 •
 
 276 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 deuce was placed, and who in the after events of the 
 siege became celebrated for the talent with which he 
 conducted the system of defence. Colonel Green 
 carried with him full instructions respecting the ob- 
 jects of his mission, and was also the bearer of a 
 confidential letter to Lord Townshend from the 
 governor.* 
 
 * Gibraltar, Oct. 5tli, 1777. 
 " My Lord, 
 
 " Colonel Green will have the honour to 
 deliver this letter to your Lordship, the only officer who is, or 
 indeed ought to be, in a condition to lay before you the exact 
 state of our works, and the most minute peculiarities of this 
 singular fortress, circumstanced in so many respects different, 
 I believe, from any other in the known world. 
 
 " Col. Green, from close and repeated examination, is per- 
 fect master of the advantages to be taken from any recess or 
 protuberance of this mountain, either horizontal or vertical, 
 which grow daily more obvious, having become accessible to 
 us by the communications made and making towards such 
 parts of the Eock as may contribute to strengthen our defence. 
 Your Lordship will find by Col. Green's report tliat the King's 
 Bastioir^s now in such a state that, should a sudden and un- 
 foreseen emergency require it, with a few days' notice, we 
 might be able to place our artillery oii temporary ])lai forms, 
 the chief engineer thinking tlie rampart not yet suHlcionlly 
 settled to receive those of stone which are to remain. This 
 nol)le work being now so far advanced, I think it now the most 
 favourable opportunity for Col. Green to take your further 
 orders in the prosecution of such plans as have been or may 
 be adopted to complete our fortifications. Tliis will be a 
 tedious, expensive, but necessary work for maintaining the 
 fortress, and added to it must be many internal accommoda- 
 tions in barracks, bomb-proofs, store-houses, liosjiitals, maga-
 
 WAULlki; I'UEl'AU Vl'loNS AT CADIZ. 277 
 
 On the opening of tlie year 1778, the uneasiness 
 that had prevailed at home, since the general arming 
 of Spain and I'rance, was no longer a matter of 
 secrecy or doubt. Rumours of a secret treaty between 
 Spain and ^bjroeco were rife, and iiitelHgcnce of tlie 
 assendjlage of a constantly increasing fleet at Ferrol, 
 Cadiz, and Toulon added to the general alarm. 
 
 In lY'Ijruary Mr Hardy, British Consul at Cadiz, 
 communicated by cyplier with the governor of 
 (librahar, and gave inrormation of the vast prepara- 
 tions that were going on in tliat })()rt, — information 
 whicli was immediately forwarded to England. 
 
 Besides the large navy already assembled, ships 
 were expected from Carthagena and elsewhere. 
 3,000,000 rations were ready for issue ; all the most 
 trusted pilots were ordered to be in readiness in 24 
 hours, and the troops wTrc ever on the alert. Some- 
 thing extraordinary, said j\Ir Hardy, is in agitation, 
 and many have given their opinion that your garrison 
 is the object of attack. 
 
 General ]^]liott was naturally much disturbed at 
 this intelHgence, more es;pecially as in tlie mean 
 
 ziiu's ; with all wliirli this place, I do assure your Lordship, 
 i.s 80 very iiulillureutly provided, tliat tlie wants in nio.st of these 
 articles are by uo means supplied proj)ortionately to our 
 present garrison. I submit it, therefore, what must be our 
 situation in case of service, wlicn our force must be at least 
 tripled ? 
 
 " I have the Iionour, &c., 
 
 "G. A. Eliott."
 
 278 HISTORY OF GIBRxVLTAR. 
 
 time no reinforcements or supplies had reached the 
 garrison, nor, indeed, had he heard the intentions of the 
 government on the subject. He again urged the 
 necessity of immediately providing for the defence of 
 the fortress, and wrote pressingly to the government 
 for assistance. 
 
 Writing on the 2nd March, 1778, he says, refer- 
 ring to the arrival of a convoy without provisions, 
 " It is my duty to be very pressing with your Lordship, 
 that a supply of every kind be ordered without loss 
 of time. Our present store of beef, pork, pease, and 
 butter is scarcely the complement for five months. 
 Flour, including biscuit, three months ; oat-meal the 
 same. Pardon me, my Lord, for once more repeating 
 that no time must be lost in forwarding the supply 
 
 from England My reports are confirmed, that 
 
 the fleet at Cadiz is daily increasing, 19 first-class 
 ships ready for sea in that harbour ; nine more ex- 
 pected from Ferrol and other ports, a report current 
 that arms and cannon are preparing at Seville, and 
 10 ships of the lino expected at Cadiz from Toulon, 
 under Count d'Estaing, wlio is to command the allied 
 armament."* 
 
 In April, tlio rumour tliat tlio expedition, whose 
 preparation liad long attracted tlie attention of all 
 Europe, was destined for an attack upon Gibraltar, 
 had gained an ominous significance. It was no 
 
 * fu'iicnil Elidlt, to Sccivlai-y :it War. Colonial Secretary 'h 
 Oilicc, (Jibniltiir.
 
 GKNliUAL KLIOTt's ANXIKTY. '21 \) 
 
 loii^^cr d()ul)trul that Cadiz would bu the port ot" 
 ivndczvous for the coiuhined fleets, and that the whole 
 lbrc(! of the expedition would he concentrated in that 
 neighbourhood. The only conclusion to be drawn 
 from the disposition of the armament was, an inten- 
 tion to attack Gibraltar. 
 
 General Eliott was convinced of the justice of this 
 conclusion, and all his letters written at this time 
 speak of an attack as inuninent. He was, indeed, 
 already preparing for the danger which he felt hung 
 over the Rock. The regiments forming the garrison 
 were carefully inspected, and reported thoroughly 
 ctlicicnt, but too weak in number; — their vigour, said 
 the governor, may be depended upon. The small 
 numbers of artillery-men and the insufficiency of sup- 
 plies caused him the greatest anxiety. Pic constantly 
 addressed letters to the ministers at home, entreating 
 them to give him the power of arming the defences, 
 and forming depots of ])rovisions in case of siege ; and 
 we tind him urging the govenimcnt to maintain a 
 good understanding with the Emperor of Morocco, 
 and pointing out the inestimable value of Barbary as 
 a source of supplies for the garrison. These entrea- 
 ties — we may almost say remonstrances — appear to 
 have been scarcely noticed by the English government. 
 No convoy arrived, no prospect of relief appeared. * 
 
 * " Tlio several regiments in this garrison are good and are 
 in the most perfect order. Their vigour may bo depended 
 upon, but their numbers in proportion to the service so very
 
 280 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 In the mean time, Spain directed all her efforts to 
 secure the friendship and alliance of the Barbary 
 states. By means of bribery, and under pretence of 
 gaining satisfaction for the siege of Melilla, the Em- 
 peror of Morocco was induced to send an ambassador, 
 Ben Ottoman, to the Court of IMadrid, and through 
 the instrumentality of this personage a treaty was 
 concluded, by which Spain obtained numerous ad- 
 vantages,* 
 
 The existence of this negotiation was not unknown 
 to Eliott. On the 1 6th of April, a Jew in the service 
 of the Emperor of Morocco discovered a letter from 
 the King of Spain, in which overtures were made for 
 the speedy settlement of a treaty between the two 
 nations. The whole contents of this letter he for- 
 warded to the general. t 
 
 small, furnishing at the very utmost one relief." — Eliott to 
 Lord Grantham, April Gth, 1778. Cypher. 
 
 * "The assistance afforded by the Moorish prince would 
 appear incredible had it not been seen. He opened his ports 
 to the ships employed in the blockade of Gibraltar, ])ermitlcd 
 them to pursue and detain those of the enemy, facilitated tlio 
 transport of provisions and assistance to our camp, and iinally 
 deposited in our power part of his treasures as a pledge of liis 
 sincerity. By his friendship wo were enabled lo leave our 
 African posts with weak garrisons. Your IMajesty comprehends 
 better than any one how numerous would have been our 
 troubles, if, from omilliiig to form this connection in due time, 
 the English had instigated the emperor to undertake the JSiege 
 of Ceuta or Melilla, to disturb by his cruisers in the Straits 
 the measures taken for the blockarle of Giliraltar." — Florida 
 JJlauca's Kcjirescutation. f Vide Aj)pendi.\.
 
 DLBATi: UN tniJUALTAK AM) MINUKCA. :2>l 
 
 " Wc may look upon each otlicr as friends," said 
 tlic killer, " and, in case a treaty should be decided 
 on, we shall send our respective ambassadors to each 
 other, but I must first acquaint your Majesty that in 
 one of the articles it must be stipulated that your 
 Majesty must oblige yourself to give no assistance 
 whatever to my enemies." * 
 
 The apathy of the British government, the neglect 
 of Gibraltar, and the absence of a British fleet in the 
 MecUterranean, attracted the attention of Parliament, 
 which was at this time sitting. On the 25th May, 
 the Duke_Qf_Richmpnd brought forw\ard a motion in 
 the House of Lords, charging the IMinisters with neg- 
 lect in not having taken steps to meet the naval 
 preparations of the French and Spanish Courts. This 
 speech alluded especially to the absolute necessity of 
 having a fleet in the Mediterranean, to protect Gib- 
 raltar and Minorca, and to prevent the junction of the 
 French and Spanish navies. The Farl of Sandwich, 
 on behalf of the government, denied that such a 
 course was cither indispensable or conformable to 
 precedents ; while Lord Bristol declared that the 
 French would never have stirred or attem[)ted to 
 force the Straits if a squadron had been in the Bay of 
 Gibraltar.! 
 
 On the same day a similar motion was brought 
 
 * Trauslation of original iu Colonial ISccretary's OUk'C, 
 Gibraltar. Mutilated. 
 
 t I'arlianientarv llistorv.
 
 282 HISTORY 01' GIBRALTAR. 
 
 on in the Lower House by Sir William Meredith and 
 Lord North. Mr Fox and Mr Grenville spoke during 
 the debate, Fox declaring "that the country was 
 languishing under the torpor of a supine, senseless, 
 incapable government." 
 
 On the 16th June, 1779, the Spanish manifesto 
 was handed to King George III. by the Marquis 
 D'Almodovar, the Minister to the Court of St James's. 
 This document set forth the grounds of complaint 
 against the British government, and declared that the 
 Catholic King, entirely contrary to his wishes and 
 inclinations, felt himself " under the disagreeable ne- 
 cessity of making use of all the means which the 
 Almighty had intrusted him with, to obtain that 
 justice which he has solicited by so many ways with- 
 out being able to acquire it." The issue of this 
 manifesto was followed immediately by hostile move- 
 ments on the part of Spain. 
 
 On the 2 1st Ju no instructions reached the general 
 in command of the troops at St Roque, ordering 
 him to cut off all communication with Gibraltar. 
 Three days previous to this the governor, ignor- 
 ant of the declaration of hostilities, rode, attend- 
 ed by his staff, to pay a complimentary visit to 
 General Mendoza, who then r esided at St llofpic. It 
 is believed that the Spanish general had, at that very 
 time, a notice from the Court of Madrid in his pocket, 
 api)ri'/i!ig him of the outbreak of war; his manner
 
 DECLAIIAI ION <\\ WAIl. 2S3 
 
 and conversation durinp; tlio visit were observed to he 
 strikinj^lv embiirrassed and uncordial. On the return 
 of the party to the Rock in the evenin^^, tlic f^overnor 
 fonnd Mr Logic, his Majesty's consul at Tangier, who 
 liad arrived hi a Swedisli frigate, waiting to receive 
 liiiii with iiitelhgencc of the rupture between tlie two 
 countries. 
 
 Thougli startled by the suddenness of the news, 
 the correctness of which he had no reason to doubt, 
 General Eliott was prepared for an event which he 
 had long contemplated. For nearly two years he 
 had foreseen this crisis, and had exerted himself, 
 under the oppressive cloud of neglect, to be armed 
 for the occasion. 
 
 The government, so long deaf to his appeals, 
 had tardily and inadecpiately reinforced and pro- 
 visioned the garrison ; but the measures were but 
 half-measures, and the fortress was but ill prepared 
 to stand a powerful and lengthened siege. 
 
 The garrison was composed of ten regiments, 
 including the artillery and engineers, giving a total of 
 5382 olhcers and men. The artillery and engineers 
 nund)ered only 53-4 men, a strength greatly inferior 
 to the requirements of the batteries. The troops and 
 staff were as follows, — 
 
 (jenerai (i. A. Kliott, — (jlovernor. 
 Lieut. -General R. Boyd,— Lieut. -Governor.
 
 284 
 
 HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Major-General De la Motte, 
 Hanoverian Brigade. 
 
 Artillery 
 12 til regiment 
 39th regiment 
 56th regiment 
 58th regiment 
 72nd regiment 
 
 Rank and File. 
 
 428 
 519 
 506 
 508 
 526 
 944 
 
 Engineers & artificers 106 
 
 Col. Godwin. 
 Lieut.-Col. Trigge. 
 Major Kellett. 
 Major Fancourt. 
 Lieut.-Col. Cochrane. 
 Lieut.-Col. Gledstanes. 
 Col. Green. 
 
 Hardenberg's 
 Redens 
 
 De la Motte's 
 
 Hanoverians. 
 
 Lieut.-Col. Hugo. 
 Lieut.-Col. Dachen- 
 
 hausen. 
 Lieut.-Col. Sclippergill. 
 
 367 
 361 
 
 367 
 
 A small naval force, consisting of " the Panther," 
 three frigates, and a sloop, under Admiral Duff, lay 
 off the New Mole. 
 
 Two days after tlic governor had been to St 
 Roqne he received a despatch from General Mendoza, 
 commanding the Spanish troops in the adjoining 
 district, officially announcing the declaration of war. 
 On the receipt of this conununication a Council of 
 War was held to deliberate upon the state of affiiirs. 
 
 The first care of the governor was to ])rovidc 
 measures to secure siip})lies for the garrison, and to 
 establish a safe system of postal connnunication with
 
 C5ENKRAL KI.IOTt's I'UKl' AUATIONS lOIl DF.FKNCK. '2^') 
 
 England. I^ttli these objects were difficult to cany 
 out, oil account of tlie unceasing vigilance of the 
 enemy's cruisers, which \V(;re alretidy on the alert all 
 along the coast. 
 
 Within the fortress everytliing was placed uj)on a 
 war footing, the guards were reinforced, the fiUiid 
 Port barriers closed, pickets thrown out to watch the 
 movements of the enemy, and gabions, fascines, and 
 sand-bags prepared. 
 
 It was not until the Gth July that intelligence 
 of tlie rupture between Great Britain and Spain 
 readied Gibraltar officially from the government at 
 liome. The same day a proclamation was issued, 
 declaring all Spanish vessels lawful prizes, and letters 
 of marque were granted to numerous privateers. Ik- 
 yond the suspension of all communication with the 
 mainland, and the depredations of the enemy's cruis- 
 ers, there were as yet no ])ositive signs of an intention 
 to attack Gibraltar. Hut in all her former wars with 
 England during the present century, Spain had UKule 
 Gibraltar the first object of her ambition; and there 
 was no reason to believe that she would depart from her 
 usual policy on the present occasion. General Eliott 
 felt that his garrison was the object of attack, and 
 prepared his measures accordingly. 
 
 Active operations were counneneed 1)V the I'ng- 
 lish. Admiral Dull" having luul information that a 
 valuable scjuadron of small vessels laden with pro- 
 visions for the iirand lleet at Cadiz was about
 
 286 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 to leave Malas-a, sent the " Childers " to the eastward 
 to keep a look-out, and signal its approach. On the 
 evening of the 11th the convoy hove in sight. The 
 admiral left the Bay with the " Panther," 60 guns, 
 and the "Enterprise" frigate, intending to intercept 
 them. "^ ^ 
 
 During the night he came up with the expedition, 
 and succeeded after a few broadsides in capturing se- 
 veral of the smaller vessels laden with wine and pro- 
 visions, but the majority escaped and made their w^ay 
 to Cadiz. Two days after this skirmish a squadron, 
 under Spanish colours, came into the Bay, and having 
 taken up a judicious position off Algeciras, block- 
 aded the port of Gibraltar. 
 
 Towards the end of July large liodies of troops 
 and materiel of war began to arrive on the 
 plains below St Roque, and a camp of considerable 
 extent was prepared. The Spanish expeditionary army, 
 which had long been organized, and which from its 
 first enrolment had been destined for the siege of 
 Gibraltar, was under the command of Don Martin 
 Alvarez de Sotomayor, a general who had seen some 
 service in the wars of Italy. Uiulcr him were. Lieu- 
 tenant-generals Don Ladislaus Ilabor, and the Mar- 
 quis de la Torre, Major-general Tilly, chief of artillery, 
 the Marquis do Arellano, coniniaiidant of cavalry. 
 The army consisted of two battalions of Spanish 
 guards, two regiments of Walloons, ami other corps 
 selected from the regiments of Soria, Giiadalaxara,
 
 SCAIldTY OF IMIOVISIONS. 287 
 
 America, Catalonia, mid volunteers from Aragon and 
 Savoy. The artillery were 1000 strong, the cavalry 
 composed 12 squadrons, four of which were dragoons. 
 The whole army amounted to 13,700 men. The 
 naval force was connnanded by Don Antonio Barcelo, 
 an admiral who had gained a considerable reputation. 
 From the nioveiiunts of the enemy, and from inform- 
 ation received through the British consul at Tan- 
 gier, General Eliott concluded that it was the inten- 
 tion of the enemy to preserve a strict blockade and 
 reduce the garrison by famine. So inadequately had 
 the fortress been provisioned, that even at this early 
 period the scarcity of supplies was a cause of uneasi- 
 ness, and foreshadowed the trials and privations which 
 the troops were about to undergo. The rations of 
 both officers and men were reduced one half, only 
 40 head of cattle remained, and forage had become so 
 scarce that no person was allowed to keep a horse 
 who could not i)roduce a store of 1 000 pounds of feed. 
 The governor, initiating that admirable policy \\\\w\\ 
 marked his conduct during the siege, ordered one of 
 his own animals to be shot, as an exanq)le of self-de- 
 nial to his subordinates. Every encouragement was 
 given to the small felucca-rigged vessels to run 
 through the enemy's cruisers and bring su])])lies from 
 Barbary and the coast, while, in ordei- to jjicvcnt mo- 
 nopoly and extortion, the cargoes were in\arial)ly 
 sold at auction to the highest bidder. 
 
 By the middle of August the ])rei)arations of the
 
 288 HISTORY 01' GIBRALTAR. 
 
 enemy had become considerably advanced, their camp 
 was full of activity, earthworks were thrown up and 
 armed, and immense stores of ammunition had been 
 brought from the interior. Every succeeding day, 
 says Drinkwater, confirmed us in the opinion that 
 their object was to distress us 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.* 
 
 By the beginning of September the Spanish camp 
 was completely formed. It consisted of two lines, ex- 
 tending from Punta Mala, the point of disembarkation 
 in the Bay, in an oblique direction towards the Sierra 
 de Carbonera, or Queen of Spain's Chair. The artil- 
 lery park was nearer to the Bay, close to Punta Mala, 
 a spot which had been selected fi-om its advantages as 
 a landing-place for guns, stores, &c. In the mean 
 time the garrison had not been idle. The engineers 
 had been busily engaged scarping the too accessible 
 points at the King's Lines on the north-west face of the 
 Rock, and strengthening them with palisades. The 
 batteries open to an enfilading fire, were supplied witli 
 traverses, and a boom was thrown from the Old Mole 
 head to the foot of Land Port glacis. 
 
 Hitherto the operations of the enemy had been car- 
 ried on luidisturbed by the garrison. Port San Filipe 
 had been completed and armed, a mortar battery was 
 
 * Tliis was the orif;inal dcsij^n of llic Spauisli Court.
 
 TJIK nKSIEf:Kl) orr.N FIRF. f)N THK SPANIARDS. I^SO 
 
 nearly liiiislicd, and lar^c masses of material were 
 arriving daily at the lines, for the evident purpose of 
 ])einp; employed in tlie construction of more for- 
 midable works. At length, on the 11th September, 
 (jleneral Kliott convened a council of war, consisting 
 of General Boyd, Admiral Duff, Major-general de la 
 Motte, Colonels Ross, Green, and Godwin, and Sir 
 Thomas Rich. At this council it was resolved to open 
 tire upon the enemy, with the intention of imjx'ding 
 the advance of their works. Accordingly, on the follow- 
 ing morning * at day-break the guns in Green's Lodge 
 battery, Willis's, and Queen Charlotte's, opened upon 
 the advanced guard and the lines ; but at too great a 
 distance to inflict any material injury upon the trenches. 
 Tt had the eff'ect however of alarming their working 
 ])arties to such a degree, that they fled precipitately 
 from the lines, and for some hours did not return. 
 During the following week the firing continued, but 
 was not answeied by the Spaniards. Nevertheless, 
 every precaution was taken by the governor to render 
 the bombardment, should it take place, as harmless as 
 possible. Most of the inhabitants had long since left 
 the town and retired to the south, where, having con- 
 structed wooden huts, they lived out of reach of shot 
 in comparative safety. 
 
 The governor, foreseeing the privations the garrison 
 
 * Tlie wife of an officer disclmr{,'ed the first gvin ; General 
 Eliott, who was standinfij by, gave the word " Britons, strike 
 luniu'," as tlio signal. — AnceJVs Journal.
 
 290 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 would have to undergo on account of the scarcity of 
 provisions, ordered that a portion of the merchants' 
 stores should be set aside for the king's service. This 
 measure caused great discontent among the traders, 
 who anticipated reaping a harvest by husbanding their 
 goods and raising their prices at the expense of the 
 lives of the soldiers.* 
 
 The guns mounted in Green's Battery, f 1000 
 feet above the level of the sea, having proved most 
 destructive to the enemy's lines, attempts were 
 made to arm another battery on the very summit of 
 
 * At the opening of tlie first bombardment, and when the 
 troops were dying from famine, the stores of the merchants 
 were found full of provisions which had been hoarded up for 
 the purpose of raising prices. 
 
 t The Eock of Gibraltar runs in a direction nearly due 
 north and south ; and is entirely surrounded by sea, except at 
 its northern extremity. Here it is joined with Spain by a 
 narrow and low sandy isthmus, varying from 900 to 1750 
 yards in width. When the siege opened in 1779, a line of for- 
 tifications, threatening the Eock, ran across the'isthmus, at 
 about a mile distant from the barrier gate ; this line was bound- 
 ed by two forts, St Felipe on the proper right, and resting on 
 the bay, Santa Barbara on tlio left, touching the eastern beach. 
 The northern foce of the Eock only was opposed to these lines, 
 tlie ])riucipal batteries bearing upon them boingWillis's, Green's, 
 and Queen Anne's, situated upon a perpendicular ominejice, 
 several hundred I'eet above tlie sea level, tlic grand battery at Land 
 Port, which swept the approaclies from the north front, and 
 the fort at the extremity of 1 lie Old Mole, which was immedi- 
 ately oi)i)OHed to the guns of St ]''elipe. Tin; galleries exca- 
 vated out (if the solid rocli, wliicli now form the most remark- 
 able feature in the fortilicalion, were not then constructed.
 
 THK HOCK GUN MOUNTED. '2\)\ 
 
 the northern apex of tlic Kock. This spot was so 
 <lilK('ult to reach, even with ji;nns of small calibre, that 
 a zigzag roadway was cut out along the face of the 
 hill, lip which it was proposed to draw the cannon ; 
 but this method proved so tedious, and the officers of 
 artillery were so impatient of delay, that an attempt 
 was made to di'ag a gun up the rugged slope of the 
 hill. This feat was successfully accomplished after 
 some days' liard woik, and a 24-pounder was placed 
 in position. This piece of ordnance received the 
 name of the Rock gun ; though 1400 feet above the 
 sea, it was dismounted several times during the siege.* 
 About the middle of the month the enemy im- 
 masked three new batteries, — two, of 14 guns each, 
 bearing on Willis's, and one, of seven guns, directed 
 against the town imd water-port. The cheerless pros- 
 |)ect of the garrison, the scanty means of sustenance, 
 and the hardships the soldiers had to undergo, induced 
 some of the troops to desert, and several men got 
 away and joined the enemy unperceived. 
 
 * Tlie great Icnp^h of ranpje and tlie deep loose sand on 
 which tlie Spanish lines were thrown up neutralized the etleet 
 of the mortars ; when the shells fell they buried themselves so 
 deeply that they exploded without damaj^e. 
 
 Captain Mcrcicr of the 39th regiment obviated this evil by 
 suggesting that 5^ inch shells with short, calculated fuses 
 should be fired from guns. This ])ractice answered so satis- 
 factorily that it became general. 
 
 It is the first instance of horizontal firing with shells and 
 calculated fuses on record."] 
 
 19*
 
 292 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 As the year advanced the blockade* was kept 
 with the strictest vigilance ; the Straits were watched 
 by countless cruisers, which stretched in an unbroken 
 line from Ceuta to Cabrita and intercepted any com- 
 munications between the Rock and the Barbary coast. 
 Notwithstanding the privations which they had en- 
 dured, the garrison remained healthy, until, at the 
 end of October, some alarm was created by the out- 
 
 * Strength of enemy's fleet at Algeciras. 
 
 Vessels. Guns. Men. 
 
 1 ship 70 700 
 
 1 frigate 36 300 
 
 1 xebeque 32 250 
 
 1 ditto 28 200 
 
 
 At Ceuta. 
 
 
 1 ship 
 
 60 
 
 600 
 
 1 frigate 
 
 26 
 
 250 
 
 1 xebeque 
 
 18 
 
 200 
 
 1 ditto 
 
 20 
 
 180 
 
 1 ditto 
 
 14 
 
 Constantly cruising. 
 
 80 
 
 1 xebeque 
 
 16 
 
 100 
 
 4 small ditto 
 
 
 240 
 
 G half galleys 
 
 
 1000 
 
 G quarter ditto 
 
 
 450 
 
 20 armed boat.s 
 
 
 300 
 
 British fleet at anclior. 
 
 
 Panther 
 
 60 
 
 400 
 
 Enterprise 
 
 28 
 
 200 
 
 Cliililers 
 
 14 
 
 90 
 
 Gibraltar 
 
 12 
 
 40 
 
 Fortune 
 
 10 
 
 30 
 AncelVs Journal.
 
 TllK STMKKS IU:(<)M1. KXII ACSTKD. '2[)'6 
 
 l)ivak of siimll-pox among tlie Jews, a class of people 
 whoso liahitual filth was at all times sufficient to 
 engender any malignant disease. Precautions were 
 taken to prevent infection, and fortunately the disease 
 did not spread. The store of ])rovisions was now 
 rapidly becoming exhausted. A small cutter had 
 been captured on the '2'-h'd laden with rice, which 
 was disposed of to the Jews and Genoese at exorbit- 
 ant prices. But beyond this handful of relief nothing 
 had reached the garrison for months. Mutton cost 
 3-v. (5^/. per lb., veal is., ducks Ik. to I85. per 
 couple, and a goose could not be obtained under a 
 guinea. Fish and vegetables were equally dear, and 
 bread still scarcer. " At this time," says Drinkwater, 
 " the governor made trial what quantity of rice would 
 suffice a single person for 24 hours, and actually lived 
 himself eight days on four ounces of rice per day. 
 Sir George is remarkable for an abstemious mode of 
 living, seldom tasting anything but vegetables, simple 
 puddings, and water." * 
 
 The diary of the siege, whose dreary sameness 
 show^s how monotonously each day nuist at this period 
 have passed away, contains here and there a red letter 
 entry recording some remarkable event. Lnder the 
 
 * In Hpitc of every precaution the merchants managed to 
 conceal tlicir goods and to sell them at exorbitant prices. 
 
 Fish and Hour were tlie principal support of the inhabitants. 
 Six small fish not larger than sprats sold for two shillings. — 
 AncelVs Journal of the Sirge.
 
 294 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 head of Sunday, November 14th, wind N.W., blowing 
 fresh, is the following brief but graphic tale of the 
 gallantly and skill of an English sailor. 
 
 " Arrival — the Buck, English privateer, 
 Capt. Eag, commander." * 
 
 " An English ship having appeared this morning 
 from the westward, a red flag was hoisted on the 
 Spanish watch-towers, being the signal for an enemy. 
 Admiral Barcelo thereupon got under way with his 
 whole squadron. The sloop being abreast of Cabrita 
 Point, and very near a large xebecq, tacked and stood 
 to the southward, several xebecqs and galleys in chase 
 of her. She afterwards put about and stood for the 
 Bay, and repeated this manoeuvre again, which gained 
 her the windward gage of all of them. A 50-gun 
 ship and frigate then stretched across to cut her off 
 from Europa Point ; they also fell to leeward. Barcelo 
 then stood from Cabrita Point (where he had 
 anchored), and endeavoured to intercept the sloop, 
 but was baffled in his expectations ; she shot a-hcad 
 of him, and arrived safe in the Bay, after receiving a 
 broadside from the Spanish admiral and tlie 50-gun 
 ship (which she returned to both), besides upwards of 
 40 shot from the other vessels of tlic squadron : one 
 six-pounder only fell into her. The sloop proves to be 
 the Buck, of Folkestone, G. Eag (;onunander, 24 guns, 
 ninc-poundrrs. 
 
 * MS. Journal of tlio 8icgo. Colonial Sccretary'.s OfTice.
 
 DIFFICULTY OF TRANSMUTING DKhrATCHKS. '2'.)') 
 
 " Barcclo and his squadron all foil to leeward, 
 not being able to return to his station." * 
 
 It was a matter of no small dilHculty during this 
 strict blockade to find a means for the conveyance of 
 despatches safely to and from England. It was of the 
 first importance that these documents should run no 
 risk of falling into the enemy's hands, and all sorts of 
 shifts and devices were adopted to deceive and evade 
 the enemy's cnusers. On one occasion our consul at 
 Tangier (Mr Logic), who was always active in pro- 
 curing a channel for the transmission of despatches, f 
 undertook to convey some papers of the greatest 
 importance from Gibraltar to Ikrbary, from whence 
 they co\dd be forwarded home. The felucca in which 
 he sailed was however chased by the cruisers, over- 
 hauled, and boarded. In the mean time, Mr Logic 
 
 * Drinkwater gives this anecdote with some difTerence of 
 doseription : — 
 
 " At the entrance to the Straits Captain Fap; met with 
 three En^lisli cutters. The captain of one of tlieiu endeavoured 
 to dissuade him from an attemj)t to get into Gibraltar, yaying 
 that it was impossible. Captain Fag jocosely asked if there 
 was room for a coach and six to get in, and being answered in 
 the aiUrniative, he rolled his quid two or three times and with 
 an audible oath swore he would get in if Beelzebub himself 
 gave chase." — AncclVs Journal of the Sici/e. 
 
 f November 21th. " Four Portuguese who had been 
 privately despatched by the governor to fetch a packet from 
 Faro returned safe : they had a small boat, which was carried 
 on camels over rocks and mountains, being permitted by the 
 Moors. They landed it in a creek under Apes' llill, and stole 
 over in the niirht." — AncelVs Journal.
 
 296 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 had concealed the papers in a loaf of bread, which 
 he gave in charge of a trusty Moor, with an injunc- 
 tion to dehver it to the consulate at Tangier in case 
 he should be discovered and taken prisoner; then, 
 hiding liimself beneath the flooring of the boat, he 
 lay concealed while the vessel was searched. For- 
 tunately he was not discovered, and the felucca was 
 allowed to proceed on her way. On another occasion 
 Mr Logic's ingenuity and resource in difficulties were 
 even more remarkable. Having received despatches at 
 Tangier from England for transmission to Gibraltar, 
 he intrusted them to a faithful Moor, who was to 
 carry them across the water as he best could. The 
 Spaniards, having become aware of the consul's inten- 
 tions, offered a bribe, amounting to £220, to the Moor 
 if he would betray his trust. The man, too honest 
 to be bought even for such a sum of money, which 
 to him would have been a princely fortune, acquainted 
 the consul of the circumstance, and was desired to 
 promise the Spaniards that he would surrender the 
 papers on receipt of the reward. 
 
 In the mean time, Mr Logic prepared false de- 
 spatches in cypher, duly signed, sealed, and directed ; 
 these fictitious papers tlic Moor delivered to the 
 enemy's emissaries, and received the money in return. 
 Next day, the Spaniards being off their guard, the 
 original letters were carried by the same man to a 
 convenient part of the coast, from whence they were 
 sent over to Gibraltar.
 
 Ari'RUALUlNG 1-A.MLNE. ~'!J7 
 
 On the 27th of December the Spaniards opened 
 an experimental tire upon the extremity of the kinj^'s 
 Hnes. The garrison gardeners, who lived on the 
 North Front, were obliged to retreat within the barriers, 
 and a party of Genoese fishermen, in their hurry to 
 escape, lost their boats and tackle.* 
 
 The year ] 7S() was not ushered in by any remark- 
 able event. The constantly decreasing stock of 
 ])rovisions was however a matter of the gravest im- 
 l)()rtance, and caused the governor the greatest anxiety. 
 Tlie supplies from Barbary were meagre, and rarely 
 reached the garrison. Bread was becoming so scarce 
 that the daily rations were served out under protection 
 of a guard, and the weak, the aged, and the infirm, 
 Avho could not struggle against the hungry, impetuous 
 crowd that thronged the doors of the bakeries, often 
 returned to their miserable homes, robbed of their 
 share, t 
 
 The ordinary means of sustenance were now 
 almost exhausted, and roots, weeds, thistles, and wild 
 onions were greedily sought after and devoured by 
 the famished inhabitants. Some died of starvation, 
 
 * Ancell's Journal. 
 
 t " Bread getting very scarce, enough only for two months. 
 Tt is a terribly painful sight to see the fighting among the 
 ■[leoijlo for a morsel of bread at an exorbitant price. Men 
 wrestling, women entreating, and children crying, a jargon of 
 all languages, piteously pouring fortli their complaints. You 
 would think sensibility woidd shed a tear, and yet when we 
 are in equal distress ourselves our feelings for others rather 
 subside. — AncclVs Journal.
 
 298 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 and the terrible prospect of a famine loomed in the 
 future. To add to the despair which the contempla- 
 tion of such a fate was likely to create, the fear of a 
 bombardment, recently excited by the shots from St 
 Tehpe, was renewed by the guns from that fort again 
 opening fire on the 12th January,* and doing some 
 damage in the town. Though scarcely a dozen 
 rounds were fired, the timid inhabitants, convinced 
 that a general cannonade was about to commence, fled 
 in confusion to the south, abandoning their houses, 
 and subjecting themselves to aggravated and mi- 
 necessary privations. 
 
 On the following day all the field officers of the 
 garrison assembled, by order of the governor, at the 
 quarters of Brigadier Ross, to inquire into the con- 
 dition and quantity of the supphes remaining. The 
 result of this conference was the immediate reduction 
 of the soldiers' rations — already barely sufficient to 
 support life. No fresh meat remained, with the ex- 
 ception of an old cow, which was reserved for the 
 sick. A goose was sold for £2 ; a turkey for £4.t 
 
 * " A shot struck the parapet of the Old Mole ; a 26-pounder 
 went through the roof of Mr Quartiu's house, and drove a 
 splinter into the heel of a lady, who was walking in the street ; 
 another went through a sentry-box in Land Port covered way. 
 The enemy fired at a clergyman burying the dead." — AncelVs 
 Journal of the Siege. 
 
 t " Want of supplies severely felt. Another bakery shut 
 up. No more ilour. Salt meat even scarce, and no vege- 
 tables." — AncelVs Journal.
 
 ADMIRAL R(M)M:y\s KXI'KDITION. 2'J'J 
 
 The government at home liad long been aware of 
 the melanclioly condition of tlie garri.son at Gibraltar, 
 and several schemes for its relief had been under con- 
 sideration. Hut England's weakness at sea, and the 
 many demands for the presence of her fleets in other 
 (juarters of the globe, had hitherto frustrated all the 
 eftbrts of the ministry to send a convoy to the 
 fortress. 
 
 Early in January, 1780, however. Admiral Sir 
 (leorge Rodney, having been appointed to the com- 
 mand of the AVest Indian fleet, sailed with a powerful 
 s(piadron from Spithead, with orders to relieve Gibral- 
 tar on his way. He had been but a short time at 
 sea, when, on the Sth January, he fell in with a 
 convoy sailing from St Sebastian to Cadiz, consisting 
 of 15 merchantmen, a Ci-gun ship, four frigates, and 
 two other vessels. The whole of these he captured. 
 The greater niuuber of the ships were laden witii 
 wheat, flour, and provisions ; the remainder with bale 
 goods and naval stores. The former were sent by the 
 admiral to Gibraltar, and the latter were des})atehed 
 to England. After this fortunate success Rodney 
 continued on his voyage. But the seizure of this 
 convoy was only the prelude to a greater and iiir more 
 brilliant victory. 
 
 The admiral, having received repeated intelligence 
 that a Spanish squadron, said to consist of It sail of 
 the line, was cruising off Cape St Vincent, gave 
 notice to all the captains to i)repare for battle as they
 
 300 HISTORY OF GIBRA.LTAR. 
 
 approached that point. On the 16th January, at one 
 p.m., the Cape bearing north four leagues, the fleet 
 came in sight of the Spanish squadron under Admiral 
 Don Juan de Langara. The " Bedford " immediately 
 gave the signal for the Hne-of-battle abreast, and for a 
 general chase, to engage as the ships came up by 
 rotation, and to take the lee gage, in order to cut off 
 the enemy from their own ports. The Spaniards, 
 being inferior in force, endeavoured by every means to 
 avoid an engagement, a manoeuvre rendered more fea- 
 sible in consequence of the tempestuous weather, the 
 shortness of the day, and the danger of the coast. 
 
 At four o'clock the admiral, observing that the 
 leading ships were very near the enemy, made the 
 signal to engage and close. The four headmost 
 vessels immediately began the action, and their fire 
 was briskly returned by the enemy. At 40 minutes 
 past four one of the Spanish hne-of-battle ships 
 blew up with a dreadful explosion, and every person 
 on board perished. At six o'clock another vessel 
 struck. 
 
 The action and pursuit continued with a constant 
 fire till two in the morning, when the " Monarca," 
 flag-ship, struck to the " Sandwich," and, all firing 
 having ceased, the signal was made to heave to. 
 
 The weather continued so tempestuous, that it was 
 difficult to take possession of the captured ships, and 
 to transfer the prisoners. The British Admiral having 
 adopted the hazardous expedient of fighting to lee-
 
 l?ATTI,r. ori- (AIT. ST VINCKN'T. 'M)[ 
 
 ward of the enemy, in the vicinity of dangerous and 
 rocky shoals, with the wind on shore, many of the 
 ships were phiced in positions of imminent peril. 
 The " Royal (jieorge," " Prince George," " Sandwich," 
 and many others, were nearly lost, and had to make 
 all sail to avoid the shallows off St Lucar, nor did 
 they reach deep water until two days after the action. 
 The enemy fought with the greatest bravery at great 
 disadvantages. Don Juan de Langara was severely 
 wounded, and his ship, the " Phoenix," riddled before 
 he struck. 
 
 Six ships of the line were captured, and one, the 
 " St Domingo," 70 guns, blew up. Some of these 
 vessels afterwards ran ashore and were lost, the rest 
 were sent into Gibraltar. Arrived off Cape Spartel, 
 Rodney despatched two frigates to accjuaint the 
 consul at Tangier of his success, and to recpiest him 
 to send forward a supply of fresh provisions for the 
 garrison of Gibraltar. At sunset the same day the 
 fleet and convoy entered the Straits.* 
 
 • Eodney's Despatch. — Lives of the Admirals. 
 
 It may appear a matter of surprise that Spain should 
 have intrusted the blockade of the mouth of the Straits 
 to 80 small a force as Langara had under his command, but 
 the statement of tlie administration of Florida lihuu-a, ad- 
 dressed to King Charles 111., explains this apparently culpable 
 oversight. It was arranged that Don Louis de Cordova, with 
 10 ships, should form a junction with LanL,'ara at Cadiz, and 
 that the ileet (having received the addition oi' another vcssid 
 from Ferrol), numbering 27 sail, should cruise off Cape 
 Trafalgar. Misfortunes and mistalvcs prevented the two .sipiad-
 
 302 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The position of the starving garrison in Gibraltar 
 had, at this time, reached the cuhninating point of 
 misery. For many an anxious day the wretched 
 inhabitants had strained their eyes watching the 
 western waters of the Straits, in hope that some 
 friendly sail would bring relief, or at least some 
 tidings of succour not far distant. They had hoped 
 in vain — the cruisers of the enemy were the only 
 ships in sight. Prolonged suspense, and expectations 
 raised only to be disappointed, were followed by 
 ungovernable despair. A death occurred from actual 
 famine ; the fatal incident aroused the people to a 
 sense of the horrors of their future. Wild vege- 
 tables kept life in numbers of enfeebled bodies, and 
 the emaciated aspect of others was appalling. Such 
 was the condition of the fortress when, on the IStli 
 of January, a small brig, with English colours flying, 
 was descried off Cabrita Point, making for the east- 
 ward. 
 
 No sooner w^as it certain that the vessel was 
 indeed British, and that she was steering for the Bay, 
 than the news sped swift as thought tlirough tlie 
 garrison. Eager to satisfy themselves of the truth of 
 the intelligence, the excited populace rushed in a 
 body from the town to the southward, and crowded 
 
 rons coinbiniiig ; Cordova was oh]ip;ed to f^o into Cadiz to 
 refit ; fi)ur vchscIh on llicir way from ports in (lallicia wore 
 diHabU'd ])y JV- utonn, and lliiis Lan<2;ara was left willi only 11 
 wliipH to obstruct tlio jiassii^^'c of Kocbu-y's fleet.
 
 ARUIVAI. OF UUDNKY. 80.'i 
 
 on to Europii Point, from whence they could sec the 
 Httlo vessel out of reach of the enemy's cruisers enter- 
 ing the Buy. It was soon ascertained that she was a 
 government ship, and one of the convoy destined for 
 (jiibraltar. 
 
 At this intelligence the despairing inhabitants 
 gave vent to transports of frantic joy, cheei*s 
 and shouts rent the air, and those who yesterday 
 resigned themselves to the terrible fate of famine, 
 were now seized with the uncontrollable emotions of 
 men saved from impending death. But their san- 
 guine hopes were damped by information from the 
 master of the brig. He had parted company with the 
 grand fleet under Rodney in the Bay of Biscay, and 
 had passed at a distance the squadron of Don Juan 
 dc Langara, oft' Cape St Vincent. The strength of this 
 s(iuadron he was not able to make out, but he ex- 
 pressed his conviction that it was on the watch for 
 the British fleet. The night was spent amid tivm- 
 l)ling anxieties for the morrow, and at dawn of 
 day every eye was turned to the westward, in the 
 hope of seeing the expected flotilla. At length a sail 
 a})peared, creeping slowly for the Bay, with a light 
 westerly breeze. In a few hours she anchored safely, 
 and proved to be the brig " (Jood Design." She 
 brought news of Admiral Rodney, from the JSth 
 of January, when he had ca})tured the Carracea 
 s([uadr()u off" the coast of Portugal, l)ut the result of 
 the action oft* Cape St Vincent was still unknown.
 
 304 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Two days afterwards, the " Apollo" frigate came in, 
 bringing intelligence of the victory over the Spaniards, 
 and she was followed by the " Phoenix," one of the 
 prizes, having on board the Admiral Don Juan de 
 Langara. 
 
 On the 21st, the fleet and convoy were in sight, 
 and Admiral Digby made the Bay with the " Prince 
 George," 90,* "Invincible," "Resolution," and"Ajax," 
 seventy-fours, "Triton," "Porcupine," and "Pegasus," 
 frigates, with a number of transports laden with all 
 kinds of provisions ; one vessel, named the " United 
 Grocers," carrying the heterogeneous cargo of beef, 
 pork, butter, flour, peas, oatmeal, raisins, biscuit, 
 coals, iron hoops, and candles. f 
 
 Rodney, with the disabled prizes, drifted to the 
 
 * Prince "William (aftem^ards King of England) was at 
 this time midshipman on board the " Prince George," Admi- 
 ral Digby' s flag- ship. Drinkwater relates the following anec- 
 dote respecting him : — 
 
 " The Spanish Admiral Don Juan Langara one morning 
 visited Admiral Digby, to whose charge the prince was in- 
 trusted, and Don Langara was of course introduced to his Eoyal 
 Highness. During the conference between the admirals, Prince 
 William retired ; and wlien it was intimated tliat Don Juan 
 wished to return, H. E. H. appeared in his character of mid- 
 shipman, and respectfully infi)rmod the admiral that the boat 
 was ready. The Spaniard, astonished to see the son of a monan^h 
 acting as a warrant officer, could not help exclaiming, 'Well 
 dues Great Britain merit the empire of the sea, when the hum- 
 blest stations in her navy are sup])or(cd l)y princes of the 
 blood!"' 
 
 t MS. Journnl of the Siege. Colonial Secretary's Ollico.
 
 TIIK GAIUUSON Kl.MKVKl). 305 
 
 eastward, noar ^larlx-lla, but readied tlic Rock on tlic 
 25111 (jf the iiiontli. Tlius, wlieii reduced to the 
 extreuie, and without a prospect of being able to 
 hold out successfully against the impenetrable block- 
 ade which the enemy never fur a moment rehixcd, 
 the garrison was am})ly relieved and leinfurced with 
 troops,* anununition, and provisions.! 
 
 The advent of Rodney was the turning point in 
 the siege, for had not relief arrived when it did the 
 garrison must have surrendered. The arrival of the 
 
 * The 73r(l regiment arrived at this time, 
 t " To Sir George Brydges Kodney, Burt., Adminil of the 
 AVhite. 
 
 " Gibraltar, January 25th, 1780. 
 
 « Sir, 
 
 " I am hoiiouretl witli your letter of this day's 
 date, informing me that His Majesty's squadron under your com- 
 mand, in its way to tlie relief of this fortress, had captured a 
 C(Misidcrablc convoy, laden with provisions ; and tliat tlie same, 
 from a persuasion that the good of the public as well as the 
 accommodation of the garrison of Gibraltar would be furthered 
 thereby, are brouglit into this Bay. 
 
 " You air pleased, with the universal consent of the captors, 
 to make me a tender thereof for His Majesty's service, at a 
 price to be fairly adjusted in preference of every other consi- 
 deration whatsoever. 
 
 " I accept with the utmost gratitude and thanks this very 
 generous and noble proposal, of so much importance to his 
 Majesty's service in our present situation. 
 
 " I have the honour to be 
 
 " Your most obedient servant, 
 
 " Geouoe a. Eliott." 
 20
 
 306 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 fleet was celebrated by royal salutes, displays of flags, 
 and general signs of rejoicing ; for a moment all 
 former distresses were forgotten. The governor, 
 though apparently sharing the general gladness, was 
 anxiously occupied by some ominous movements in 
 the enemy's lines. He dreaded that the Spaniards, 
 thwarted in their scheme for the reduction of the fort- 
 ress by famine, at the very moment when victory was 
 in their grasp, would revenge themselves by ponring in 
 a terrible bombardment from the powerful batteries 
 which w^re ready to open at any moment. Since 
 the coming of the fleet, several new works had been 
 unmasked, their guns ^vere elevated, their w^orkhig 
 parties busy in the trenches, and there w^ere signifi- 
 cant symptoms of an approaching bombardment. 
 
 Mr Logic, the British Consul at Tangier, having 
 received the message sent to him by Rodney, when 
 off* Cape St Vincent, to prepare supplies, cattle, &c., 
 for the garrison, collected a considerable number of 
 bidlocks, fowls, fascines, and stores : these were ready 
 for embarkation, and awaited only the means of trans- 
 port across tlie Straits. 
 
 Tliree vessels therefore were sent over from Gib- 
 raltar under convoy of the " Bedford," but by a 
 lamentable error, which w;is not discovered till too 
 late, the naval authorities selected ships fitted for 
 troops, already full of ])rovisions, and without any 
 ('aj)acity for stowage. X'cry few of llu' live slock, :uid
 
 1)K PART IRK OV SIR (iKOR(;K ROUNKY. 3U7 
 
 ail inronsidcrahlc jxjrtioii of tin; fascines, only could 
 he taken on lioanl, Ix-lore the wind tnrned easterly, 
 and the ships Inid to retnni. This mifortnnate mis- 
 take had no small etl'ect npon the I'wtnre provision- 
 ing of the garrison, as after Rodney's departure 
 tin; Spanish cruisers regained the nuustery in the 
 Straits. 
 
 On the 13th of February, Rodney having fulfdled 
 liis instructions, and successfully relieved the garrison, 
 got uiuler weigh with his fleet, and sailed to the west- 
 ward. The departure of such an imposing naval 
 force was a great misfortune to the garrison. As long 
 as the British fleet remained in (jibraltnr Bay the 
 navigation of the Straits was open to the English 
 flag, and provisions of all kinds could readily be ob- 
 tained from Barbary. The influence, too, that the 
 presence of such a powerful scpiadron exercised upon 
 the policy of the Emperor of Morocco was productive 
 of much advantage, and delayed tliat outburst of vin- 
 dictive feeling which afterwards led to the expulsion 
 of all British subjects from Barbary, and the open 
 declaration of an alliance with Spain, lint the urgent 
 necessities of the war rendered it impossible for the 
 government to leave Rodney idle in the Mediter- 
 ranean. The combined fleets of Spain and France 
 were ill the West Indies. The islands of St Vinct-iit 
 and Grenada had been captured, an a(tit)ii without 
 decisive results had been fought between Hyroii and 
 
 20 •
 
 308 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 D'Estaing, and all the British settlements on the coast 
 of Africa had been destroyed. 
 
 The British fleet had scarcely rounded Cabrita 
 Point before Admiral Barcelo, who, on the appearance 
 of Rodney, had withdrawn his squadron within a 
 formidable boom in the harbour of Algeciras, again 
 anchored his ships in the roadstead, and renewed the 
 blockade with his cruisers. Though a skilful and 
 courageous seaman, the Spanish admiral appears to 
 have treated his prisoners with a severity and in- 
 humanity unworthy of him. In more than one 
 instance his conduct drew indignant remonstrances 
 from General Eliott.* 
 
 On one occasion a native of Gibraltar, Gasparo 
 Grande, captain of a xebeque, who had been 
 taken into Algeciras by the Spaniards, and had 
 afterwards escaped, made a statement which led 
 to a correspondence between the governor and Bar- 
 
 * " I am extremely sorry that there are allegations of Don 
 Antonio Barcelo's treating his prisoners of war in a manner 
 neither consistent with the customs of war, nor reconcilable 
 to the brave character by which that officer has always been 
 kno\\Ti to lis." Eliott to Lieut.-Gen. Alvarez de Sotomayor, 
 March 21st, 17S0. — Naval Correspondence, Colonial Secretary's 
 Office, Gibraltar. 
 
 "Tour Excellency will ndmit that not only my Court, but 
 those of all Eun)])e, are inl crested in the good treatment of 
 ])risoners of war, and that I could not do less than 1 have 
 done in the present instance." Eliott to Sotomayor, March 
 20th, 1780. — Naval Corres])()ndence, Col. Sec. Office.
 
 ILL-TREATMKNT OF UlUTISJl rill.SON KliS. 301) 
 
 cclo. (Jasparo stated that an accredited agent 
 of the Spanisli achniral had induced him by bribes 
 and other influences to go into Algeciras and give 
 information respecting the condition of the Enghsli 
 troops and defences at Giljraltar. Acceding to the 
 temptation, he went over to Algeciras, and upon his 
 arrival was immediately seized, and with his com- 
 panions thrown into prison, upon the plea that at 
 some former time he had given intelligence to the 
 I']nglish of the movements of the Spanish cruisers. 
 While in confinement the prisoners were grossly 
 ill-treated and abused. 
 
 A protest against this conduct having been sent 
 to Barcelo, he flatly denied the truth of the allega- 
 tions, but the evidence was too strong to justify Gene- 
 ral Eliott in accepting the disavowal, and he wrote to 
 Barcelo as follows -. — " You are pleased to think me too 
 generous to believe, Sh', that you would use any 
 indirect means to gain advantage to the armies of 
 your sovereign, and observe that you are very correct 
 in treating your prisoners according to the established 
 rights of nations. Give me leave then, Sir, freely to 
 ofter it as my opinion, from what has come to my 
 knowledge in the service, that it is not the custom of 
 Europe to make any distinction in the treatment of 
 those persons w'ho by the fortune of war become our 
 prisoners, on account of any act of hostility or crim- 
 inality of which they may be supposed to have been
 
 310 HISTORY 01' GIBRALTAR. 
 
 guilty prior to their being made prisoners. . . . And I 
 must request an assurance from you, sir, that in future 
 all prisoners taken by any under your command 
 shall be treated with the same humanity as is 
 customary between civilized nations, and which all 
 British officers invariably observe, as well from in- 
 clination as from the positive injunction of our 
 gracious sovereign." 
 
 And this was not the only complaint that General 
 Eliott had to bring to the notice of the Spanish 
 commander-in-chief. When the Admiral Don. Juan 
 de Langara was sufficiently recovered, he and his 
 attendants were permitted to return to Spain, on the 
 distinct understanding that there should be a mutual 
 exchange of prisoners ; but it was not until the 
 commodore of our squadron intimated his intention 
 of formally demanding the return of the admiral and 
 the Spanish officers with him on parole, that the con- 
 ditions were fulfilled. 
 
 Previous to this permission having been granted 
 to Admiral de Langara and his companions, the 
 Spanish Government* had behaved with such an entire 
 
 * Eodncy to tlic Admiralty. 
 
 " Sandwich, Gibraltar Bay, Feb. 71 li, 1780. 
 
 " I must desire you will plense 1o ac(iu;n'nl llieir Ivordships^ 
 that every atteiitit)n ])osHible lias been ])ai(l to the Spanish 
 admiral and his ollieera ; they are all extremely desirous of 
 returning to Spain upon their parole of honour ; but as I am 
 informed that a groat number of His Majesty's Hubjects are 
 now prisoners in Sj)ain 1 have declined giving them any assur-
 
 UUDNKv's J.ETTKIl TO I.AMiAKA. .iJi 
 
 absence of good faith in matters connected witli tlic 
 excliange and release of piisoners tliat Rodney had 
 l)ecn compelled to refuse the repeated entreaties of 
 the Spanish Admiral to be allowed to return to his 
 own country. In one letter he says: — 
 
 " (iihraltar, February (itli, 1780. 
 
 " Admiral Rodney [)resents his compliments 
 to Sr Don Juan de Langara, and will have great 
 pleasure in comj)lying with his desire relative to the 
 release of the three friars belonging to the C"a])U(iiiii 
 mission for the province of Cumanna, if those friars 
 ai-e in the fleet. The admiral, whose inclination is 
 ever to alleviate the misfortunes of war, by showing 
 (;very respect and attention to those brave men who 
 have done their duty to their king and country, is under 
 the necessity of informing Sr Don Juan de Langara 
 that the release of himself and the Spanish otHcers 
 entirely depends upon Spain's immediately releasing all 
 Rritish prisoners now in her ])ower. An equal number 
 of j)risoners shall be returned for those sent by Spain. 
 Humanity obliges the admiral to off*er those prisoners 
 who are now sick, if they nuiy be received by the 
 
 aiu't'H till tlio British subjofts ;iru released; and liaviiii^ received 
 yi'slerday, by the ' Shrewsbury,' from Lisbon, a U-tter from 
 His ^lajesty's Conaul-goneral in Portu>i;al, ne(|uain(in>ij me 
 that he had released 020 Spanish prisoners, and t]ionu;h frequent 
 promises had been made, he had not as yet reeeived one in 
 return. This letter from Sir .Idhn ilook has eoniirmed me in 
 the ivsolution J had before taken."
 
 312 HISTORY OF GIBRALTxVR. 
 
 Spanish General, but this shall be the last time, unless 
 an exchange takes place." 
 
 To this Langara replied, acknowledging that there 
 had been some delay on the part of the Spanish Govern- 
 ment, but repeating his assurance that every reparation 
 would speedily be made. On that assurance he and 
 his companions would have been permitted to leave ; 
 but the Spanish government continued to quibble and 
 delay, and threats alone induced them to comply with 
 their word of honour, an obligation which in Spain is 
 not completely understood. To cut the matter short, 
 Rodney, in conjunction with Eliott, gave orders for 
 the removal of the Spanish Admiral to England, but 
 on the very morning when the embarkation should 
 have taken place, a message was received from General 
 Alvarez de Sotomayor, saying that the English prisoners 
 were on their way to St Roque, and that he had re- 
 ceived positive orders from his sovereign to treat them 
 with the highest respect and attention. Upon the 
 receipt of this assurance Don Juan de Langara was 
 })ermittcd to return to Spain.* 
 
 After the departure of Rodney five vessels of war 
 only remained in the Ray, " The Edgar," " Panther," 
 " Enterprise," " Porcupine," and " Gibraltar." The 
 r(;ncwal of the blockade did not damp the reanimated 
 sj)irits of the troops ; hoj)cs were high ; it was believed 
 
 * llodiiey'H ck'Hpalchcs.
 
 OUTBREAK Ul' .SCLllVY IN (;IUUALTAU. 3 1 ii 
 
 tliat tlic worst period of sufFcriiif]^ was past ; tho stores 
 and innpjnzines were ])leiitii'ully supplied ; and I']nL,daiid 
 had sliown tliat (jlibraltar was not forgotten. Little 
 did the p;arrison suspcet tlie distress that was encir- 
 cling tlicni. 
 
 For some time before the plaee was relieved symp- 
 toms of sciiiTy had appeared both among the soldiers 
 and the inhabitants. At tirst these sym})toms had 
 caused considerable alarm, but when the convoy had 
 supplied the fortress these fears subsided, and it was 
 confidently expected that an increased and more varied 
 diet would sulxlue the tlircatenings of disease. But, 
 unfortunately, such was not the case. A few weeks had 
 scarcely passed before the reappearance of the disorder 
 in a more malignant form aroused the attention of the 
 authorities. Means were not at hand to stay its pro- 
 gress. The provisions in store, though ample, were 
 exclusively salt, and no fresh meat could be procured. 
 Lemons there were none, and fruit of every kind \\as 
 so scarce, that it was reserved for the hospitals and 
 tlie sick. 
 
 The victualling of the garrison, which to healthy 
 men would not have been injurious, was ill ada})ted to 
 checker waid oil' a tendency to scurvy. Scarcely a 
 ])lot of ground on the Rock was available for the growth 
 of vegetables, and terraces of earth were raised, 
 banked up with walls, on which small (piantities of 
 lettuces or cabbages were carefully cultured. But in
 
 314 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 spite of every care and foresight the disease advanced 
 Avith slow and certain steps, nntil it attained a terri- 
 ble virulence, and swept before it into destniction 
 ten times more olives than fell from the fire of the 
 enemy.
 
 TlIK CLMbLllLAND-IIUSSKV NE(iOTIAT10.\. 315 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Towards the close of the year 1779 a coolness, 
 arising in some measure from the failure of the French 
 invasion of England, had spmng up between the two 
 Bourbon Courts of Spain and Erance. The melan- 
 choly condition of affairs in Great Britain, the almost 
 hopeless contests in which she was engaged, and the 
 necessity of interrupthig, if possible, the amicable rela- 
 tions existing between the Courts of Paris and Madrid, 
 induced the English ministry to grasp at the opportunity 
 offered by the apparently favourable nioiiicnt to renew 
 negotiations for an alliance witli Spain. Once more 
 Gibraltar was put forward as an allurement to King 
 Charles, and as a bait to secure tlie friendship of the 
 nation. Conunodore Johnson, then in conunand of the 
 British s(piadron on tlic Lisbon station, luiving let 
 fall some hints that his govi'i-nmcnt niiglit not be in- 
 disposed to treat for an alliance with Spain, and that 
 the cession of (Jibraltar would be the basis of nego- 
 tiations, Comit Florida Blanca, tlu' Spanish minister, 
 persiiaded the king to test the feelings of the English
 
 316 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ministry by clandestine proposals. For this pur- 
 pose he procured the services of Mr Hussey, an 
 Irish priest, chaplain to the King of Spain, and 
 then residing in England. Through the instrument- 
 ality of this person negotiations were opened with 
 Mr Cumberland, Private Secretary to Lord George 
 Germaine, Minister for War. The purport of these 
 negotiations was an assurance that Spain was willing 
 to renounce the French alliance, on condition of the 
 restoration of Gibraltar, for which, however, she offer- 
 ed liberal concessions and equivalents. Impressed 
 with the inestimable importance of a pacification so 
 essential to the interests of the country, the ministers 
 considered it unwise to reject the proposal, and Mr 
 Hussey was accordingly directed to return to Madrid, 
 charged with a letter addressed to him by Lord_G. 
 Germaine, and with secret instructions, tending to a 
 mediation between the two countries. 
 
 The progress of these negotiations, alike dishon- 
 ourable to England and to Spain, is so ably and mi- 
 nutely described by Mr Cumberland, that its history 
 is best given in his own words. 
 
 " On the 5th of December, 1771), Mr Hussey took 
 his departure, and reached Madiid on tlic 21)th ; his 
 character and situation at that Court gave liim instant 
 admission to the minister, Florida Blanca. lie exhi- 
 ])ited to him the letter of Lord (icorge (iermainc, and 
 lie supported it with siicli ])rof('ssions on his own part 
 as should best enforce the authority of his errand, and
 
 NEGOTIATIONS FOR CKDINti (JllJUALTAIl To SPAIN. 317 
 
 tlic friendly disposition of this Court. He found tlie 
 minister under the unfavourable impressions which he 
 had received from Almodovar, all which he combated 
 with arguments, as well from his own obscn-ations as 
 from Lord George's instructions and conversation be- 
 fore liis depai'tiire. lii I'epcatcd interviews those 
 unfriendly im})ressions abated ; but it was objected to 
 him that indiscreet and undigested overtures for the 
 cession of Gibraltar had come from Commodore 
 Johnson through the channel of a messenger from 
 Lisbon, wdiere he was stationed ; the concealed design 
 of which was to cover an attempt to create a suspi- 
 cion and misunderstanding between that Court and 
 France. 
 
 " Notwithstanding this impediment, j\Ir Husscy 
 faithfully persisted in the puri)Oses of his undertaking, 
 and in the course of a conversation with Florida 
 Blanca, took occasion to probe him upon the sup- 
 posed engagement of Spain with France not to make 
 peace without her participation and concurrence. The 
 train took fire, as intended. Piqued at the sugges- 
 tion, the minister rushed to his cabinet, took out his 
 papers, put them into Mr Hussey's hands, declaring 
 on his honour that those engagements contained the 
 wdiole of what had been stipulated between the two 
 allied Courts, and tliat no part of these could or ever 
 should bind Spain in the manner he suggested. She 
 was free to make peace with England indejiendently, 
 but he doubted the sinceritv of the l^ritish Cabinet,
 
 318 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 and added witli emphasis, that Gibraltar must he the 
 indispensable basis of the negotiation. 
 
 " Equivalents were suggested, though without pre- 
 cision ; large pecuniary allowances for stores and 
 artillery within the Fort, privileges in trade accom- 
 modation with respect to America, and reciprocal 
 cession of territory, were thrown out in conversation. 
 In fine, a letter was written to Mr Hussey in Count 
 Florida Blanca's own hand, expressive of the like gen- 
 eral pacific disposition with that from Lord George 
 Germaine. At the same time private instructions 
 were sent to Mr Hussey, on which he was to found 
 his report to the British ministers, and he was dis- 
 missed with the stipulation that he should send back 
 an answer or return himself before the expiration of 
 February. All these proceedings His Catholic Ma- 
 jesty sanctioned with his entire approbation, and at 
 parting gave his benediction to Mr Hussey, charging 
 him to return with peace. 
 
 " On the 9th of January, 1780, Mr Hussey left 
 Madrid, and reached London on the 29th. I saw him 
 the very night of his arrival, and received from him 
 the most candid and favourable communication of the 
 various events of his visit to Madrid, with every mi- 
 nute circumstance relative to the situation of the 
 Court, the temper of the nation, and their disposition 
 towards France. No proof of his sincerity was on 
 tliis occasion withheld ; and I nuist liave been insens-
 
 CONUITIONS FOK CKSSION OF CI BKALTA R. .'i 1 !) 
 
 il)lc to tlie tnitli if T liad not yielded to the evidence 
 of so iniieli candour." 
 
 The nc}j;otiations having assumed a sufficiently 
 definite shape to be discussed by the British Govern- 
 ment, the question was brought fonvard in four separate 
 cabinet councils. " On this occasion," says Coxe,* "a 
 series of conditions appears to have been brought for- 
 ward, which were intended to form the basis of the 
 ])roj)osed acconnnodation." 
 
 "The importance of Gibraltar," it was observed, 
 " is so great, and the national vanity is so interested in 
 keeping so extraordinary a possession, that it seems 
 impossible for any ministry to give it \ip without sti- 
 pulating an ecpiivalent. It appears on a general view 
 of the subject, that as it would be very advantageous 
 to bring h^pain to a separate peace, Gibraltar might 
 be yielded on the following conditions : — 
 
 " 1st. Spain shall yield and guarantee to Great Bri- 
 tain the island of Porto Rico. 
 
 " 2ndly. She shall also yield and guarantee to Great 
 Britain the fortress of Omoa and its territory. 
 
 " 3rdly. She shall likewise yield and guarantee to 
 (jireat Britain a harbour and territory sufficient for 
 erecting a fortress in the Bay, near Oran. 
 
 " 4thly. She shall not only purchase at the full 
 ])rirc all the stores and artillery left at Gibraltai-, but 
 shall also pay, before she is ])ut in possession of it, a 
 
 * Bourbon Kings of Spain, vol. iii.
 
 320 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 sum not less tlian £2,000,000 sterling, for what lias 
 been laid out on the fortifications since Great Britain 
 first possessed it. 
 
 " 5thly. She shall make a separate peace with Great 
 Britain, shall renounce all engagements to Trance, as 
 far as they bind her to take part in this or any other war 
 against Great Britain, shall renew the treaty of Paris 
 in every particular, except such alterations as are 
 made by the above-mentioned articles. 
 
 " 6thly. She shall engage in the clearest and most 
 solemn manner not to assist the British Colonies in 
 America, nor to receive any minister or agent from 
 them, nor to suffer their ships to enter any ports in 
 the Spanish dominions. She shall agree to assist 
 Britain in reducing the colonies to obedience, or if 
 this cannot be obtained, we should at least insist that 
 Spain expressly bind herself not to harbour in her 
 dominions any subjects of the king that are deemed 
 rebels, but compel them to depart in a wreck's time 
 after the requisition shall have been made by the 
 king's ministers in His Majesty's name. This stipu- 
 lation to be mutual, and the king to make a like en- 
 gagement with regard to the rebellious subjects of the 
 Crown of Spain. 
 
 " A cessation of arms to be agreed upon as soon 
 as the above articles arc signed and ratified ; but the 
 cession of Gibraltar on our ])art and that of Porto 
 Rico on the part of S|)aiii not to take place until the 
 American rebellion is ended."
 
 ovKiiTruKs roR iM'.\cK. 321 
 
 " In the eiul," Mr (jiinbcrlaiul tells us, " it was 
 resolved that the seeretaries of state should in person 
 jointly communicate to Mr ITussey tlu; result of these 
 deliberations and the mind of the British ministry 
 towards the proposed accommodation with Spain. 
 This was (lone at the Mail of Hillsborough's house, 
 Lord Storiuont being present. Mr llussey was then 
 told he nii^dit safely state the sincere disposition of 
 the king and his ministers towards so desirable an 
 object as peace and good understanding with Spain, 
 that the war in which (ireat Britain found herself 
 engaged was totally unprovoked on her part, and its 
 conclusion was ;it all times in the breast of Spain, if 
 she chose to revert to the basis of the Treaty of 
 Paris " 
 
 AVith respect to (!ii)ialtar, not a syllable that 
 could mislead Spain into hopes upon that article, 
 which it was evident she had so much at heart, was 
 suffered to drop. On the contrary. Lord Stormont 
 (not w^ithout some vehemence of speech ami action) 
 declared to Mr llussey, "if Spain would lay before 
 him the nuip of her empire, to take his choice of an 
 e(piivalent, and three weeks to fix that choice, he 
 should not be able in that period to find in all the 
 (loiuinioiis of Spain what, in his judgment, would 
 balance the cession of Gibraltar." 
 
 Mr Hussey was further instructed to state that 
 Connnodore Johnstone had no authority whatever for 
 the hints he had thrown out regarding (Jibraltar, and
 
 322 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the cabinet "jointly and severally" disavowed the 
 overtures which had been made. This reply, so dif- 
 ferent from what he had expected, staggered Hussey. 
 Flushed with rage and irritation, he instantly sought 
 Mr Cumberland, and with ungovernable violence 
 accused the cabinet of duplicity and falsehood, and 
 inveighed in unmeasured terms against the indivi- 
 duals who he imagined had combined to dupe him. 
 Mr Cumberland attempted to reason with him iu 
 vain ; but at length, assuming an air of authority, 
 assured him that he might act as he pleased, that he 
 might, as he threatened, send his opinion of the Brit- 
 ish cabinet to Spain, but that counter-declarations 
 should go from authority by express commission ; and 
 he pointed out to him the position in which he would 
 find himself " when it was understood in Spain that 
 his want of temper had given a false colouring to 
 a transaction of such consequence." Toward the close 
 of the interview he became calmer, but remained 
 under the impression that he had been deliberately 
 duped by the cabinet. On the following day, a se- 
 cond meeting between Mr llussey and Mr Cum- 
 berland took place, when it was arranged that a letter 
 should be written to Florida Blanca, explaining the 
 situation of the negotiation, l)ut still holding out some 
 hope that tlie cession of (jibraltar might be procured. 
 This letter was written under the; {;ye of Cumbei'land, 
 who was fully aware of its contents, and who, indeed, 
 made several alterations in its composition. There
 
 MR IIUSSKY TO rLORinV BLANCA. 323 
 
 can 1)0 little doubt that the purport of this document 
 was coinnuuiicated inmicdiately to the cabinet.* 
 
 This letter was iinuiediatcly transmitted to Madrid. 
 
 It reached Florida HIanea almost sinudtaneously 
 with the news of the defeat of Don Juan de Langara and 
 the relief of Gibraltar by Rodney. These two reverses 
 acted with considerable weight upon the policy which 
 the minister intended to pursue. It was now more 
 than ever doubtfid whether Spain would gain flibral- 
 
 * Mr Hussey to Count Florida Blanca. 
 
 " Feb. 13th, 1780. 
 
 " Upon my arrival here, which was 15 days ago, I 
 reported your Excellency's instructions to me to the British 
 cabinet. Thev considered the matter AAnth assiduity for seve- 
 ral days, but the tender of Gibraltar, as a previous and indis- 
 ])ensable article of the treaty, is what the cabinet could not 
 be brought to grant. They otfer to treat upon the basis of the 
 Treaty of Paris, and then Spain may start the subject under 
 the title of Change of Territory. Great Britain will enter into 
 the negotiations in this shape, and will in the issue con- 
 vince the world of her sincerity in her wishes tor an accom- 
 modation with Spain. If your Excellency think this a suffi- 
 cient ground to open a treaty, Great Britain will appoint a 
 perscju to transact the aftair with secrecy and despatch, — Spain 
 appointing one at the same time. And if your Excellency will 
 allow me a conjecture on it as it stands, I really believe that 
 they will cede Gibraltar upon terms; but for this I have no 
 authority from the British cabinet, neither \\Titten nor verbal. 
 The cabinet here disavow having given any commission or 
 instruction to Johnstone relative to the proposals he made to 
 Spain, and they say they hope his imprudence will not obstruct 
 this negotiation." 
 
 21 •
 
 324 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 tar by force of arms, and the motive for secm-ing it 
 by negotiation received a fresh impulse. 
 
 Communications were therefore kept up by means 
 of Hussey with the British cabinet, and ultimately Mr 
 Cumberland was sent to Lisbon, where he was to 
 wait until reports favourable or unfavourable respect- 
 ing the prosperity of the negotiations could be sent to 
 him by Hussey from Madrid. If favourable, he was 
 to repair to Madrid, and conduct the transaction to an 
 issue. After a short delay at Lisbon, Mr Cumberland 
 proceeded to the Spanish Court, and had several 
 interviews with Florida Blanca. The month of June 
 had passed, and, notAvithstanding vehement profes- 
 sions of a desire for a peaceful settlement of the 
 question, no arrangement was concluded. 
 
 In July and August intelligence reached Madrid, 
 which visibly affected the demeanour and policy of 
 Florida Blanca. Exaggerated colourings of the 
 Anti-papal riots in England magnified the freaks of 
 Lord George Gordon into a general rebellion ; and 
 the downfal of the cabinet, or perhaps a more 
 serious catastrophe, was contemplated. At the same 
 time, a powerful French fleet, under d'Estaing, reached 
 Cadiz with the avowed intention of assisting Spain 
 in the conquest of Gibraltar, and l^]ngland was 
 threatened with additional opposition from the North- 
 ern Powers. 
 
 To reliiuinish the claim to Gibraltar as a basis 
 of the negotiation aj)j)care(l suicidal at such a moment,
 
 NEGOTIATIONS AKKKSTKD. 325 
 
 especially as the co-operation of France rendered its 
 reduction almost certain. Tiiflucnced by these con- 
 siderations, the tone of Florida Blanca suddenly 
 changed. Gibraltar was again insisted upon as the 
 basis of a treaty, 
 
 " Gibraltar," exclaimed the minister, " is an object 
 for which the king my master will ])r(ak the family 
 compact and every other engagement with France." 
 Upon these conditions Mr Cumberland refused to 
 treat, and Hussey was again despatched to London 
 to probe the feelings of the cabinet ; but the govern- 
 ment had decided upon arresting the negotiation, and 
 Mr Cumberland returned home.* 
 
 * Coxe says that this negotiation was at no time a govern- 
 ment measure. Literally this may be true, but it is impossible 
 to suppose that the cabinet were not aware of the transaction, 
 or that they did not give it the countenance of their support 
 in its earlier stages. 
 
 " It was proposed," says Coxe, " and continued by Lord 
 George Germaine alone, with the tacit permission of Lord 
 North, whose known jiliancy of temper was overcome by the 
 impetuosity of his colleague. . . . Mr Ilussey, when on his 
 journey to Spain, triumphantly observed to a friend that ' he 
 had Gibraltar in his pocket.' In the course of conversation, 
 he however admitted that although Lord George Germaine 
 had decidedly and explicitly expressed his readiness to agree to 
 the cession as the price of a separate peace, yet the case was 
 far othenvnse with Lord North, whom he had only once seen, 
 and then received from him the declaration that ' Gibraltar* 
 was a forbidden word which must never pass his lips." 
 
 Coxe, page 427, vol. iii., says, " The negotiation was thrown 
 info the cabinet, and a series of conditions were proposed as 
 equivalents for Gibraltar."
 
 326 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The history of this extraordinary transaction is 
 most mysterious. Originated by the commodore of 
 a coasting squadron, whom we may suppose to have 
 been entirely ignorant of the ideas of the British 
 cabinet, seriously entertained by the Spanish minister, 
 though traceable only to the table-talk of an obscure 
 individual, transmitted to England by the hands of an 
 Irish priest, and brought to the notice of the cabinet 
 through the medium of a spy, these proposals expanded 
 into a serious and remarkable negotiation, a negotiation 
 which, had it been completed upon the conditions 
 which the government demanded, would have exer- 
 cised an inconceivable influence over the destiny of 
 the world. How deeply the British cabinet were 
 committed to this measure it is impossible to con- 
 jecture ; but that it was gravely entertained, and 
 regarded as a means of freeing Britain from the 
 crisis of her perilous situation, admits of little doubt. 
 The progress of the negotiation was so sagaciously 
 conducted, that although the cession of Gibraltar was 
 known to be the basis upon which any treaty must 
 rest, the cabinet were able in their reply to the over- 
 tures for peace from Madrid to ignore altogether all 
 knowledge of any reference to such a proposal. 
 
 The conduct of Spain in the affair is less perplexing ; 
 having in view her darling object, the recovery of Gib- 
 raltar, she had entered u])on tlie conforonres witli eager- 
 ness and sincerity ; but when she beheld J^^ngland strug- 
 gling with accunnilating difficulties, and found that
 
 DUPLICITY OF I'LOIUUA BI-ANCA. 3:27 
 
 rmiice was prepared to assist her in the attempt to sul)- 
 (hic the coveted Kock fortress, she abandoned tlie idea of 
 obtaining its cession by the grant of vahiable e(puva- 
 lents, and preferred to attempt its restoration by force 
 of arms. Thus tlie Cuiuberland-llussey negotiation 
 produced at least one of the effects anticipated l)y 
 Florida Bhmca — it stimukited France to more active 
 proofs of her alhance with Spain, and forced from her 
 a zealous co-operation in the attacks upon ^Minorca, 
 Gibraltar, and Jamaica. 
 
 Whilst these negotiations between the Courts of 
 London and Madrid had been in progress, Count 
 Florida Blanca was secretly plotting with the Russian 
 minister for the formation of a confederacy hostile to 
 England. Europe had long witnessed with jealousy 
 the vast naval power of Great Britain, and Russia was 
 not mistaken when she assumed that any measure 
 calcidated to subvert that power would be readily 
 acquiesced in by other states. 
 
 The principle that a friendly or neutral flag might 
 carry on the trade, both coasting and general, of hostile 
 nations, that, in fact, free ships make free goods, had 
 never been recognized by England. The adoption of 
 such a principle would, it was expected, ruin her 
 commerce in time of war and irreparably injure her 
 marine. To establish a new naval code involving this 
 regulation was the scheme of Russia, instigated by 
 the Court of Madnd. 
 
 If we are to credit the statement of Florida
 
 328 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Blanca, this measure took its rise in the cabinet of 
 Spain; and the constant detention and seizure of neutral 
 vessels conveying English property through the Straits 
 of Gibraltar during the blockade was put forward as 
 the exciting cause. 
 
 "To deprive,"* says the Spanish minister, "our 
 enemies of every maritime alliance which might incom- 
 mode us in case of a rupture, by the order of your 
 Majesty I cultivated a good correspondence with the 
 Court of Russia. . . . 
 
 " Prance entered into similar ideas, and we not only 
 prevented Russia from uniting with England during 
 the war, but even prevailed on her to send us pur- 
 foschj two of her frigates charged with naval stores, 
 at the time when the war prevented the transport of 
 them, for the equipment of our fleet. 
 
 " We also succeeded in inducing the Empress of 
 Russia to place herself at the head of almost all the 
 neutral nations to support the honour of her flag. . . . 
 Permit me. Sire, here to touch upon an intrigue em- 
 ployed to strike this blow, which, although attributed 
 to Russia and firndy supported by her, took its rise 
 in the political cabinet of your j\Iajcsty and in the 
 
 maxim you adopted 'J^lie execution of this 
 
 article (the detention of neutral vessels carrying ene- 
 my's effects), and the facility which we possessed by 
 the blockade oi" (lil)r;illar to detain vessels conveying 
 
 * J'l(iri(l;i Bliiucii's JicpreseutatioiiH.
 
 TIIK "AUMKI) M.ITKAMTY." .'i2'J 
 
 l'nf!;lis]i property at the passaj^t* of tlic Straits, ex- 
 cited universal clamour ainon{^ the inaritiiiie neutral 
 nations. I was attacked by the ministers of Sweden, 
 Dcmnark, Holland, Russia, Prussia, Venice, Genoa, 
 and others, to put a stop to the injuries which 
 their conuuerce suffered hy the detention of so many 
 vessels." 
 
 To these remonstrances Florida Blanca replied, 
 " That if the English marine were permitted to seize 
 the Spanish cargoes when under a friendly or neutral 
 flag, Spain would imitate the example." 
 
 " The matter," he continues, " being thus prepared 
 to throw the odium, as was just, upon the English, 
 and to incite the neutral powers to the defence of their 
 flag, Russia brought forward ;ui idea, of which we 
 dexterously profited." 
 
 This idea was the celebrated " armed neutrality," 
 a confederacy which, although aimed apparently at all 
 the belligerents, affected England alone. This mea- 
 sure involved three leading principles : — that free 
 ships make free goods ; that contraband articles 
 .are only such as treaty stipulates ; and that block- 
 ades, to be acknowledged, must be stringent and 
 effective. 
 
 For a moment Russia seemed to waver in her 
 decision, whether or not to issue the declaration estab- 
 lishing this new naval code, but a previously con- 
 certed interference with some Russian vessels in the
 
 330 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Straits of Gibraltar, by the Spanish fleet, and an 
 unfortunate collision between a Dutch and English 
 squadron, determined the question.* 
 
 On the 26th of February, Queen Catharine issued 
 the celebrated declaration known as the " armed 
 neutrality." 
 
 Foreseeing in this measure the elements for the 
 subversion of the naval superiority of Great Britain, 
 the confederacy was eagerly recognized not only by 
 the neutral states, but also by the great powers of 
 Europe. Spain was the first to accede to the new 
 code, the king stating in his manifesto "that to con- 
 vince the neutral powers of his earnest desire to 
 observe the same rides in time of war which he follow- 
 ed while neuter. His Majesty conforms to all the points 
 contained in the declaration of Russia. It is, how- 
 ever, to be understood that with regard to the block- 
 ade of Gibraltar, the danger of entering subsists as 
 
 * " At length, however, two events contributed to fix the 
 resolution of the Empress. The first was the detention of 
 several Dutch ships under the protection of Admiral Bcyland, 
 who was compelled by a British squadron to strike his flag and 
 permit his convoy to be searched. The second was the con- 
 certed opposition of tlie Spanisli fleet to the passage of the 
 Straits (of Gibraltar) by some Russian ships not laden with 
 prohibited articles. Neither address nor activity was want- 
 ing to profit by the first impulse of resentment Avhich the Em- 
 press felt on this occasion." — Coxe, Bourbon Kings of Spain, 
 vol. iii.
 
 TUK "ARMID NKLTRAI.ITY." 331 
 
 determined by the fourth artiele of tlie declaration. 
 'I'liis danp;er may yet be avoick'd by neutral powers, if 
 tiiey eonform to tlie rules of prevention established by 
 His Majesty's declaration of the 13th of March last, as 
 has been communicated to the Court of Russia by his 
 minister."
 
 332 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR, 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The spring of 1780 had passed away, and the 
 enemy had not commenced active operations before 
 Gibraltar. The system of a blockade was still adhered 
 to, and, as it seemed, with prospects of success. 
 Scanty supplies only reached the garrison, and sick- 
 ness was doing its rapid work. 
 
 The small British squadron that remained in the 
 Bay, though not powerful enough to cope with Bar- 
 celo's force, had in one or two instances succeeded in 
 convoying small craft with provisions from Minorca 
 into the harbour. Jealous even of this slight relief, 
 the Spaniards determined to destroy the squadron, and 
 thus to prevent the arrival of the smallest succour. 
 
 The scheme was organized by Admiral Barcelo, 
 and the plan was well designed, but not equally well 
 executed. On a very dark and dreary night, between 
 the Oth and 7th of June, seven fire-ships full of com- 
 bustibles, supported by a crowd of row-boats and 
 galleys completely armed, set out from Algeciras.
 
 ATTACK ON TIIK lUCITlSlI SC^UADKON. 3.'i3 
 
 The expedition was covered by the Spanish 
 Sfpiadron niider Harcelo in jjcrson, and as the wind 
 and weatlicr were I'avourable everything augnred well 
 for sneeess. The preparations had been made with 
 so nuich secrecy that the British sailors had no 
 conception of their danger. 
 
 About one o'clock on the morning of the 7th, a 
 vessel was observed ap})roaching the " Enterprise," 
 which lay off the new mole head. She was instantly 
 liailed, and replied a " Provision ship from Enghmd ;" 
 the frigate hailed again but received no answer; in 
 the next moment a mass of combustililes was thrown 
 on board, and six fire-ships were seen bearing down 
 in the form of a crescent. The captain of the " En- 
 terprise" tired three guns and gave the alarm, all the 
 boats were manned, and orders were given to seize 
 and grapj)le the blazing vessels. This service was 
 ])erforme(l with the greatest gallantry amid showers 
 of shells and fire-works, and the ships were run 
 ashore in various places along the Rock. In the 
 mean time, two large vessels were seen bearing down 
 on the " Panther," but they were met with such a 
 fierce fire that they soon ignited, and were consumed 
 without doing any injury. 
 
 Immediately the alarm was raised, the batteries 
 opened and kej)t up a heavy fire uj)()n the boats and 
 galleys. Nothing could exceed the courage of the 
 seamen on this occasion. The night was so dark that 
 the fire-ships were alongside almost as soon as they
 
 334 HISTORY OT GIBRALTAR. 
 
 were in siglit, and had not the wind dropped to a 
 cahn, at the time when a breeze was wanted to carry 
 them among the squadron, no efforts could have 
 averted a catastrophe. 
 
 At day-break Barcelo's baffled squadron returned 
 to Algeciras. During the conflagration of the fire- 
 ships, the scene on the Rock was most imposing, — the 
 flames, roaring from the ports and hatches, ht up the 
 gloomy darkness for miles around, and cast a lurid 
 glare upon the rugged precipices, the shells and com- 
 bustibles spread and burst in showers, a hundred 
 guns thundered from the batteries on shore, and re- 
 echoed along the mountain-side. The stranded 
 vessels were turned to good account by the garrison ; 
 fuel was scarce, and the hulls were broken up and sold 
 for firing to the inhabitants.* 
 
 Baffled in their attempt to destroy the British 
 squadron with the fire-ships, the enemy resorted to 
 other schemes for the annoyance of the garrison. A 
 fleet of gun-boats was organized, which, under cover of 
 the dark nights, approached within gun-shot of the 
 shore and fired u})on the town and barracks. These 
 gim-l)oats were strongly constructed, felucca rigged, 
 with latine sails, aiul doubk^ l)anked for oars. Each 
 carried a 20-pounder in the bow. Under oars they 
 had great speed. 
 
 When they first came out tlie English navy 
 
 * A n\n<^\v rib, a lew feet In Icii^lli, li'tchcd nine doUiirs. — 
 A II cell .
 
 NKJllT HOMliARD.MKNTS. 330 
 
 derided and desj)i.sed these bum-boats, as tliey 
 \vere contemptuously termed; but they soon proved 
 to l)e tlie most formi(lal)le enemies tlie seamen had 
 yet had to deal with. As tliey always attacked at 
 night, and generally chose the darkest hours, it was 
 impossible, from tlie dinuiHitive and ever-changing 
 nuu'k tliey presented, to l)iing the guns to bear upon 
 them. Night after night these relentless torments 
 threw their shot into every part of the fortress, 
 driving the inhabitants from place to place without a 
 moment's rest. Even the hospitals did not escape, and 
 many of the sick were killed in their beds. These 
 constant night bombardments harassed the troops 
 more than any duty they had to perform. Some- 
 times by accident or skill the enemy got the exact 
 range of a barrack or camp, and pouring in a heavy 
 tire obliged the inmates to leave their rest and tlee 
 for shelter. At first the batteries attempted to check 
 the gun-boats, and kept u\) a constant cannonade, 
 guided by the flashes of the guns, ])ut it was soon 
 found that this uncertain firing was mere waste of 
 ammunition, and the batteries relapsed into silence.* 
 A letter from General Eliott, written in August, 
 
 * In a " Lady's Journal of tlie Siego " there ia a most 
 touchinjjf account of tlie niit^eries these };un-bout.s cau.><ed. 
 Describing her o\\ti suffering.^, she mentions how she wa.s 
 driven night after night from place to place, until at length she 
 was compelled to sleep with her children behind the rocks at 
 Europa. Even here she was not safe ; one night a round shot 
 struck the stone beneath which she was crouching.
 
 336 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 gives a view of the condition and prospects of the 
 garrison at this time,* 
 
 " Dear General, 
 
 " The vessel which carries my letter of 
 the 2:2nd inst. not sailing as intended, gives me an 
 opportunity of thanking you for your very obliging 
 letter of the 26th July (duphcate), brought by a boat 
 which arrived here yesterday in eight days from Mi- 
 norca, very properly laden both for our use and his 
 own advantage. I rather think the small boats have 
 the best chance of escaping, a thing not easy on ac- 
 count of the numberless cruisers of all sizes, from a 74 
 to a felucca, which spread across the Straits ; at pre- 
 sent our sea force can afford no protection. The 
 patrons of the vessels are not allowed to bring any- 
 thing of the provision kind for private persons, nor 
 even for the governor, everything is sold in public. 
 Before such regulations were made, at least one-third 
 of each vessel's cargo was employed for selfish pur- 
 poses ; in our situation nothing could be so mortify- 
 ing. What use the enemy {jroposes from gun-boats 
 and fire-ships I cannot conjecture ; the fortress is 
 proof against an attack d'emblde, tliongh assisted by 
 a distant bombardment, as every soldier, except those 
 on duty, will sleep in casemates or camj) out of mortar 
 reach. Where now ])laccd, even our guards lie mostly 
 
 * General EHott to Licut.-general Murray, Minorca, 
 r.ibnillar, Auj,Mist 27lli, 17S0. Colonial Socrdnry's papers.
 
 ACTIVITY OF THE KNKMY. 337 
 
 ill hoinl) pro'jfs. 'I'lic rotten jjiirt of the town may 
 sutler, hut tlic damage will not he great; in this cli- 
 mate night alarms are in no way hurtful to the troops. 
 We don't suppose Mons. de Ternay joined the Span- 
 iards. Mons. O'Reilly did not go with them, but is 
 in great favour and just made governor of Cadiz, in 
 addition to Captain-general of Andalusia, a thing 
 uncommon. 
 
 " Mons. d'Estaing, destined, as they say, for the 
 Cadiz fleet, is at Madrid, but detained by a hurt from 
 being overturned in a carriage. 
 
 " Our climate and yours, I believe, are much upon 
 a par, but you have taken a longer spell than me." 
 
 As the year (1780) advanced the sufferings of the 
 garrison increased. Provisions became scarce, the salt 
 meat turned bad, and the scurvy gained a fatal hold 
 upon the troops. In the camp the enemy were active 
 carrying large quantities of stores to their lines in 
 covered waggons, strengthening and advancing their 
 approaches, exercising their men, and adding to the 
 park of artillery. The blockade had become more im- 
 j)enetral)le than ever, countless armed cruisers swept 
 the Straits from Tarifa to Tetuan, while at night the 
 gun-boats and galleys formed a chain from Cabrita to 
 Euroj)a Point. Availing themselves of the darkness 
 of the night on the last day of September, the enemy 
 threw up a breastwork on the isthnuis, between Land 
 Port gardens and the Round Tower. This ei)aulment
 
 338 HISTORY OF GIBUALTAR. 
 
 was about 60 or 70 feet in length, and approached 
 vvithm 800 yards of the British lines. The same 
 night the huts in the garden were set on fire and 
 destroyed, and an attempt was made to burn the 
 gates at Bayside and Lower Forbes's guard-house. 
 The party told off for this service crept stealthily 
 and undiscovered up to the palisades, upon which 
 they fastened several bundles of combustibles and 
 machines constructed with 12 tubes or barrels loaded 
 with ball, which were fired by a fuze. These ma- 
 chines were so arranged as to sweep the road lead- 
 ing from the guard-house to the gates, and were in- 
 tended to explode when the troops should endeavour 
 to extinguish the flames. By an accident the fuzes 
 did not burn to the powder, and the attempt to de- 
 stroy the palisades was defeated.* 
 
 The rapid increase of scurvy, which as the autumn 
 
 * Ancell. 
 
 General l]liott to General Miirray, Minorca. Gibraltar, 
 September 30th, 1780. 
 " Dear General, 
 
 " I received your letter of the 30th August on 
 the IStli iiist. by a small vessel. 1 am much obliged to you 
 for the honey shipped I'or me ; but had it arrived, it must have 
 been sold with the rest of the cargo, as such is tlie regulation 
 made since the l)l()ckade, that nothing sliall be admitted of the 
 pruvisiou kind cither as a present or otherwise on private 
 account. Jk'fore this order, at least one-third of the vessel was 
 stowed with ])rivat(! presents and commissions, the public de- 
 prived of the benefit, and the patron of his ])r()(it."
 
 RAVAGES OF SCURVY. 339 
 
 advanced h;id hc^qiii to make threatening havoc among 
 tlic soldiers and inluihitants, now caused the greatest 
 alarm. Fresh meat and vegetables could not be pro- 
 cured, and although Rodney had supplied the stores 
 with as much as he was able, wine, lemons, brandy, 
 and sugar were already nearly exhausted. Unchecked 
 by efficient anti-scorbutics, the malady assumed the 
 most virulent type, and threatened to hasten a capi- 
 tulation which the fire of the enemy could not com- 
 mand. In this desperate position, Eliott deemed no 
 risk unjustifiable in the endeavour to obtain fresh 
 provisions. 
 
 On the 11th of October, while the boats of the 
 British scpiadron were w-aiting to the southward of 
 the Rock to conduct two Settees from Minorca into 
 the Bay, a large Dutch convoy was seen approaching 
 from the eastward, shrouded by a heavy fog. Sin- 
 Elinor out a Dodger, which in the mist had become 
 separated from the fleet, the boats bore down upon 
 her, boarded her, and carried her safely into the Bay. 
 By an almost miraculous stroke of fortune she was 
 laden with a cargo of lemons and oranges, a 
 freight which at such a crisis was of more value to 
 the garrison than tons of powder or magazines of 
 anununition. The lemons were immediately served 
 out to the craving sick, who thirsting for the precious 
 acid greedily devoured them. In a few days the 
 salutary effects of this simple juice were apparent, and 
 
 22*
 
 340 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 men who but yesterday were hopeless cripples hang- 
 ing to their crutches, returned to their duty invigor- 
 ated and restored. 
 
 Hitherto the Emperor of Morocco, though in open 
 alliance with Spain, had taken no active part against 
 the English. In August (1780), however. General 
 Eliott received information from Consul Logie that 
 the emperor had declared in form, that he would give 
 no protection to any of the powers at war, and that 
 they were at liberty to carry on hostilities among 
 each other either in his ports or upon his shores.* 
 
 This declaration was but the prelude to more 
 hostile measures.! Aware of the advantages to be 
 
 * General Eliott to Lieut.-general Murray, Gibi'altar, 
 Sept. 4tli, 1780. Colonial Secretary's papers. 
 
 " On the Both inst., Consul Logie found the means of 
 sending me a letter, to inform me that the Emperor of 
 Morocco has declared in form that he will give no protection 
 to any of the powers at war, and that they are at liberty to 
 destroy each other in his ports or on shore. Several English 
 vessels of different denominations were taken by the Spaniards 
 under the guns of H. S. Majesty's forts, both prior and 
 subsequent to this unexampled declaration." 
 
 t General Eliott to Lieut-general Murray, October 23rd, 
 1780. 
 
 " Dear General, 
 
 " On the 11th October I received your favour of 
 the IBlli Sc[)t('iiiljcr, and very much acknowledge your good 
 intentions lor our nu|)|)lics, ot" which llir little vessels that, have 
 got safe are an earnest. Cattle and poultry we don't cxijcct 
 from you ; cattle are too bulky for so long a navigation. I'oul- 
 try with us, tlio' dear, is not scarce .... The smallest vessel,
 
 HRITAI, CONDUCT OF THE MOORS. 341 
 
 gained by the possession of tlic principal })orts on the 
 nortluMii coast of Barl)aiy, the Spanish government 
 exliausted all the eftbrts of diplomacy to indnce the 
 iMiiperor of Morocco to renounce liis passive policy, 
 and to declare a more active alliance with Spain. 
 Money commanded what diplomacy failed to procure, 
 and the Spaniards having nominally purchased the 
 l)orts of Tangier and Tetuan by a payment (or rather 
 promise of payment) of £7500 annually, the Sultan 
 withdrew from his neutrality, and ordered all British 
 sui)jects to leave his dominions. This inicpiitous 
 arrangement was followed by acts of gross indignity 
 and cruelty to the English residents in the Moorish 
 ports. Mr Logic himself was attacked, whole 
 families were driven from their homes, plundered of 
 every article they possessed ; Avomen and children were 
 brutally treated, and every kind of atrocity was perpe- 
 trated by the savage barbarians. There is only too nmcli 
 reason to suppose that this iidunnan conduct owed its 
 origin to the instigation of the Spanish government. 
 The two principal ports on the northern shore 
 
 pi-()\ iiU'(l it is of a size to resist weather, is most likely to 
 escape the enemy. 
 
 " It is very seldom we hear from Barbary, wliith used to 
 he our (haiiiu'l for common news, therefore we are ignorant of 
 what {lasses in Europe, except such hints as are communicated 
 by our nciglibours. These you may suppose are all per con- 
 tra ; however the year's account is not closed yet. Let me beg 
 vou to sen<l any old jiews]>apers you have ; since July every- 
 thing will be fresh to us. Please make my best compliments 
 to Sir William Draper."
 
 342 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 having thus fallen into the hands of the Spaniards, and 
 the British Consul having been compelled to fly, all 
 communication with Barbary was cut off, and a valu- 
 able channel of intelligence closed up. 
 
 Mr Logic had established a system for the collec- 
 tion and transmission of information which had proved 
 most useful to the governor of Gibraltar ; many faith- 
 ful Moors were in his pay, and as a constant trade 
 was carried on between Barbary and the Spanish 
 camp, frequent opportunities were afforded to the 
 spies for making observations and obtaining an insight 
 into the affairs of the army. With the expulsion of 
 the consul, this source of information was destroyed. 
 
 The new year (1781) was ushered in with the 
 most gloomy prospects ; no tidings of rehef reached 
 the expectant garrison, and even General Eliott him- 
 self looked upon the future with a despairing eye. 
 
 Writing to General Murray at Minorca, on the 
 27th of March, he says, 
 
 " Gibraltar, 27th March, 1781. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " Enclosed I transmit copies of a letter 
 from Captain Leslie, commanding the ' Enterprise,' 
 with my answer, by which your Excellency will be 
 fully informed of my reasons for concurring in the 
 proposal to send the ' Enterprise' and * St Fermin' to 
 Mahon. This, thougli hazardous on my side, the 
 exigency I hope will justify, as I will freely de-
 
 eliott's letter to gen. mukuav. 343 
 
 clare to you most secretly, tliat a very little tiiiic will 
 rod lice us to the utuiost straits, and 1 fear 'tis reason- 
 able to apprehend (however detennined the inten- 
 tions may be at home) that no convoy Injui (Jreat 
 Britain can with certainty ])e depended on, consider- 
 ing the various and important services our fleet must 
 be called upon to perform in opposition to such aniia- 
 ments as threaten from every (juarter. I have there- 
 fore ventured for a time to deprive this fortress of an 
 essential part of its defence, trusting that (by throw- 
 ing in a supply of provisions, although ever so small) 
 the advantage will overbalance the risk; this first 
 step, I have taken ; but. Sir, I must have recourse to 
 you to render this step effectual for the public sei-vice, 
 by requesting your influence with the naval com- 
 mander to employ his whole squadron in coming 
 down to our relief, and allowing such provisions as 
 can be spared from the king's stores to be shipped on 
 board the kings ships — taking under his convoy 
 such trading vessels as will load with provisions 
 for our assistance. By the character of Captain 
 Curtis this service could not fall into better hands, 
 as, by description, his ambition is to distinguish 
 himself in the public cause. AVhen the service 
 is performed, there is not the least diificulty for any 
 of the ships to take the proper opportunity of return- 
 ing to Mahon. I hope and believe, both coming and 
 retiu'ning, the ships will be exposed to no danger, as 
 the enemv has onlv three bnd snilinc; fri^ntes and fi\e
 
 344 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 xebecks to the eastward, one xebeck and several 
 gun-boats in our Bay. Now 'tis hardly possible to 
 suppose these will cruise in one body, or be able to 
 assemble to distress our squadron : so much for the 
 naval department. Next, knowing well your heart is 
 warm for a friend, and still warmer for your country, 
 I beg leave to point out what occurs to me at this 
 distance as likely to advance the supplies of this 
 place. First, if you will be pleased to spare as much 
 of your provisions in store as may be done with 
 safety to the island, these to be shipt on board 
 His Majesty's ships ; then if you would order the 
 ordnance store-ship (which I take to be a stout 
 vessel) to receive and convey such provisions with 
 proper super-cargoes, as the traders are desirous to 
 send down free of all freight, I make no doubt 
 that this would be so great an inducement, that 
 probably she would be soon loaded without any addi- 
 tional burthen on government, as I conclude she is 
 still in pay. Perhaps the correspondents of Messrs 
 Anderson, Livingstone, Calling, Wardc, McKellar, 
 Smith, or Abudcrham, on this occasion may apply to 
 your Excellency for leave to be concerned, if so, per- 
 mit me to recommend them. This appears to me a 
 practicable scheme and liable to no great danger for 
 the squadron ; at all events it is to be wished some 
 attempt may be made for the national honour as well 
 us the j)rcservatioii of this garrison. These pro})osals, 
 iSir, I lay before you for consideration, desiring you
 
 ELIOTT's LKTTKR to tiKN. MLUKAV. .'M .') 
 
 would |)k'{use totally to change, alter, anieiul any or 
 every part, and substitute whatever else may better 
 conduce to this great end with the utmost expedition, 
 on which our existence depends. I herewith subjoin 
 a list of the several articK-s, any (juantity of which 
 will prove a most seasonable succour. Whatever 
 engagements your Excellency may think right to con- 
 tract for these purposes, on the publiek accompt, I 
 shall most readily fulfil."
 
 346 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 RELIEF BY ADMIRAL DARBY. 
 
 As the spring of 1781 advanced, the situation of 
 the garrison assumed the most distressing aspect. 
 The few provisions which remained were bad in 
 quahty, and having been kept too long were decom- 
 posed and uneatable. The most common necessaries 
 of life were exorbitantly dear ; bad ship biscuit, full 
 of worms, was sold at Is. a pound ; flour in not much 
 better condition at the same price ; old dried peas at 
 Is. 4d. ; salt, half dirt, the sweepings of ships' bottoms 
 and storehouses, at Sd. ; old salt butter at 2^. M. ; and 
 English farthing candles cost sixpence a-piece. Fresh 
 provisions commanded a still higher price, turkeys 
 sold at c€3 125., sucking pigs at £2 25., and £1 Is. 
 was refused for a calf's pluck. The English govern- 
 ment, aware of this condition of things, had for months 
 turned their attention to the relief of the fortress ; * 
 
 ♦ Extract from a letter from a German officer at Gibraltar, 
 December 19th, 1780.— Political Magazine, 1780. 
 
 "The Spaniards have increased their' camp at St Roque 
 ■with full five regiments of foot. They approach very near us
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR RELIEF OF THE (lARRISON. 347 
 
 1)iit the many exigencies of tho war, and the extensive 
 aiena over which the operations were spread, caused 
 so many demands upon the navy that it had hitherto 
 been impossible to provide a fleet for the succour of 
 (iibnihar. But the rehcf of the garrison was indis- 
 ])ensable, and the honour of England required that it 
 should be executed. Accordingly, during the first 
 months of the year (1781) the government made 
 extraordinary efforts to equip a squadron to convoy a 
 flotilla of merchantmen to the Rock. 
 
 The grand channel fleet, mider command of Ad- 
 mirals Darby, Digby, and Ross, was destined for this 
 service, and the preparations were hurried forward 
 with every despatch. It was divided into three 
 squadrons, and counted in all 28 sail of the line. 
 The fitting out of this fleet w^as watched with eager 
 anxiety by Fiance and Spain. In the harbour of 
 Brest lay a squadron almost equal to it in power and 
 numbers, while, at the entrance to the Straits, Don 
 Louis de Cordova was cruising with 30 Spanish sail 
 of the line. 
 
 with their works, which we demolish as fast as they build. 
 
 Admiral Don Barcelo has been reinforced with four 
 
 ships of 60 or 70 guns from Cadiz, as also with some frigates ; 
 the latter are perpetually cruising, and have taken several 
 ships for our relief; yet Dieu Mercie, we are tolerably well 
 provided. The privates have fresh victuals three times a week 
 at 2d. per pound for beef, but poultry is very dear. If 1 in- 
 dulge myself with a fowl at my own quarters, I cannot obtain 
 it under two dollars. The governor has made the officers 
 acquainted that a British fleet will soon relieve us."
 
 348 HISTORY 0¥ GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The capture of Gibraltar had now become, if it 
 had not originally been, the one darling object of 
 this war, and no sacrifice was deemed too momentous, 
 no treasures too precious, no labour too great, to 
 attain a successful end. 
 
 Though the French government had it in their 
 power to increase the difficulty of succouring Gibraltar 
 by sending the fleet from Brest under the Count de 
 Grasse to intercept Admiral Darby almost at his 
 starting-point, yet France was already so deeply en- 
 gaged with her affairs in the West Indies and North 
 America, that it w^as doubtful whether she would be 
 willing to risk her navy in an action with the English 
 fleet. Spain therefore, aware of an inferiority at sea, 
 and fearful that she might not be able to prevent sin- 
 gle-handed the relief of the fortress, thought to intimi- 
 date the British government by loud and empty 
 boasts. It was extensively published that Cordova's 
 fleet was double its actual strength, and it was pre- 
 tended that reinforcements were about to sail to its 
 assistance from Toulon and other ports. But this 
 foolish bombast failed in its anticipated effect. 
 
 On the 13th of March, 1781, the British fleet 
 set sail from St Helen's with the East and West 
 Indian convoys. They proceeded in the first instance 
 to Cork, where tlic victuallers wliich liad been got 
 ready for Gibraltar were waiting, and licre they were 
 for some time delayed by final ])re])arations. In the 
 mean time, on the 2:2nd March, Count de Grasse put
 
 luu'iisii ri,Ki;T SKTS SAii,. 349 
 
 out from Brest with 2G ships of the line, and sailed 
 for the West Indies. It is prohal)le therefore that, had 
 it not hec!! for the (h'tciitioii at Cork, the two navies 
 would have met in aelion. 
 
 The saihnji; of the French fleet, unopposed In- 
 Adniiial l)arl)y, gave rise to (piestions wliich heeanie 
 the sul)jects of some discussion hotli in and out of 
 ParHament ; one party being of opinion that the 
 destruction of l)c Grassc's force wouhl have cruslied 
 tlie (k'signs of l^'rance, and saved tlie North American 
 C'oh)nies ; wliile, on the other hand, it was put forward 
 tliat it would have been impossible to tell the exact 
 time of the sailing of the French fleet, and therefore 
 that l)e Grasse might still have escaped, and Gibraltar 
 nuist in the interim have succumbed. 
 
 On the •2bi\i March, Admiral Darby set sail from 
 Cork with the three convoys, amoimtinn; in all to 4(K) 
 sail. Having reached a certain latitude, the East and 
 W (st Indian ships were sent on their way, and the 
 Hritish tleet with 97 transports, store-ships, and vic- 
 tuallers, continued its course for Gibraltar, and before 
 the middle of April arrived off Cadiz. A vessel, hav- 
 ing been sent to examine the harbour, returned with a 
 report that the Spanish fleet was there at anchoi', and 
 showing no disposition to come out and engage. Heiiig 
 assured that he stood in no danger of being attacked, 
 the admiral sent foi'uaid llie eonvov on the 1 1 th Api'il, 
 guarded by one or two liners and some frigates. 
 
 On the morning of the l;?th, as tlu^ day broke,
 
 350 HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the fleet appeared in sight of tlie Rock, partially 
 obscured by a dense fog, whicli, as the sun rose, dis- 
 solved away, and discovered the welcome convoy 
 stretched over the entrance of the Bay. The wind 
 blew lightly from the westward, scarcely filling the 
 sails, and the flotilla advanced slowly and majestically 
 towards its anchorage. The joy of the people at their 
 supposed deliverance from the privations they had for 
 so many months been suffering, was uncontroUed. 
 As when Rodney relieved the place nearly 12 months 
 before, the inhabitants testified their gladness by 
 boisterous manifestations, so now the whole popula- 
 tion hurried from the city to welcome the arrival of 
 the convoy with shouts of exultation. Groups of 
 excited inhabitants were absorbed with the feelings 
 of the moment, and the recollection of all suffering 
 was lost in the prospect of deliverance. Little did 
 they anticipate the misery that awaited them. The 
 excitement was stifl unchecked, the shouts of joy still 
 rang through the air, when the deafening crash of a 
 hundred guns and the roaring of a storm of shot 
 aroused them from their transient dreams of happiness, 
 and left them paralysed with fear. The bombard- 
 ment, the long-threatened retribution, had commenced, 
 and the city was doomed to destruction. Gathering 
 tlicir scattered senses, the frightened creatures fled to 
 tlie southward, where under shelter of the cliff" and 
 beyond tlie range ot the fire, they huddled togetlier 
 in trembling groups. Every giui in tlio enemy's
 
 Bf).MBARDMENT OF THK RfKK. 351 
 
 lines bc'lcht'd loitli its tire, and salvo after salvo from 
 170 pieces of the heaviest metal and 80 mortars was 
 hurled against the Rock. The batteries of the fort- 
 ress replied with almost ecpial rapidity, and the very 
 mountain itself shook with the terrible explosion. In 
 a moment the town was in flames, and the crazy 
 buildings crackled and burnt like firewood. No 
 words can paint the feelings of the terrified inhabit- 
 ants during the first weeks of this bombardment. 
 
 The women and children especially were subjected 
 to the most dreadful trials and privations ; no house 
 was safe, and when at night the relentless gun-boats 
 swept the whole face of the Rock, not a single spot 
 was free from danger.* 
 
 * "April 12th. — A shell falling in Southport street blew 
 an old Genoe.se woniiin out of the window, but did not hurt 
 her beyond bruises. 
 
 " The inhabitant.s exhibit the most impetuous grief and 
 a|)prehcnHion, prefipitatcly retreating to the southward of the 
 liock for shelter, like sheep destined for the slaughter-house. 
 The liomans eount their beads and worshij) their idols. 
 
 " Very distressing to witness the situation of the inhubitanta 
 at the south ; only a thin piece of canvas to slielter them from 
 the rain, and heat, and dew." — AncelVs Journal. 
 
 E.xtracts from a "Narrative of the Siege of Gibraltar by u 
 Lady who was present on tlie spot." 
 
 " On the 12th of April last, at one o'clock in the morning, 
 an English cutter came in with news of the fleet being witiiin 
 a few U'agues of us. Extravagant was our joy, you nuiy be 
 sure ; and while friends and neighbours were congratulating 
 each other on the prospect of eating beef and mutton once 
 mure, tlie Spaniards about 11 o'clock began tlie most furitnis
 
 352 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 For six weeks this tremendous cannonade con- 
 tinued without any intermission, 56,000 shot and 
 20,000 shells were in that time thrown into the place, 
 but in spite of this heavy fire no more than 70 of 
 the garrison were killed. 
 
 The town, now deserted by the population, became 
 a prey to the excited troops. The shells breaking 
 through the buildings and bursting the walls of the 
 
 bombardment ever heard of. Terror and consternation de- 
 prived me for a moment of sense and motion. I seized my 
 children and ran with them to Montague's Bastion, which I 
 knew was bomb proof An officer of the 58th regiment met 
 me, saying, ' Por G-od's sake, madam, where are you going ? do 
 not you know that you are going nearer the enemy's fire ? ' Six- 
 and-twenty povmders flew over my head without number. 
 Fortunately I received no hurt, and I ran or rather flew into 
 the soldiers' barracks. This was no time for the indulgence of 
 pride, distinction, or even delicacy 
 
 " Notwithstanding the vigilance of the officers and non-com- 
 missioned officers, many of the men were shamefully intoxicated. 
 The town major and a party of soldiers were busily employed 
 in staving all the casks of liquor they could find in the to^^^^. 
 An order was given for all ranks of women to remove to the 
 south. I was again in terror, but was obliged to obey. My 
 husband carried my Cliarlottc, wliilc my son Jack ran by my 
 side. We got safe to the navy liospital, but when there, found 
 it so crowded with wounded soldiers, we could not procure a 
 place to lie down in, except an open gallery. I wept in silence." 
 
 " Having removed to a tent at Europa," she continuea, " my 
 husband was that night on guard, mid ] had no company but 
 my children. The S|)anish giin-boals were firing u])on us with 
 all the rage of well-directed artillery. A woman whose tent 
 was a little below mine was cut in two as slie w;is drawing on 
 lier stockings. Our servant run in and endeavoured to encoiu'-
 
 INCIDFNTS OF THE imMnAllD.Mr.NT. '.^7)'.] 
 
 store-houses, ojjciicd I lie vast accumulation of spirits, 
 j)rovisions, aiul stores which the greedy Jews and 
 other merchants had lioarded up, waiting till distress 
 should raise prices to an usurious standard. When 
 the soldiers discovered these long-secreted hoards, and 
 remembered the suffering and i)rivation they had 
 gone through lor the want of the very supplies these 
 warehouses contained, they gave unbridled license to 
 their resentment, and, regardless of })unishment, and 
 infuriated with drink, plundered without restraint. 
 
 The governor, imahle to check this defiance of 
 discipline by the more merciful modes of punishment, 
 was compelled to execute upon the spot every man 
 detected in the act of pilliiging. For a time at least 
 this arrested the crime. 
 
 Immediately the enemy opened their fire, the 
 governor removed the troops imdcr the shelter of the 
 casemated barracks. The l:2tli, 39th, and 5Cth 
 regiments occupied Montague's Bastion and Water- 
 port gateway casemates. A small camp was formed 
 
 ago me. He made a kind of breastwork of beds, trunks, mat- 
 tresses, bolsters, and whatever else he could find, and set me 
 behind them. The balls fell round me on every side. Every 
 lime the gun-boats came I dragged my poor ehildren out of 
 bed, and stood leaning with them against a rock. The tliird 
 night I was here, a ball struck the rock against whicli 1 leamd 
 and covered us witli dirt and stones. In a few minutes a shell 
 burst so near us, I had scarcely time to run out of the way. 
 It would have melted the hardest heart to see tiie women and 
 children run from the camp without a rag to cover them wheu- 
 cver tlie gun-boats approaclied." 
 
 '23
 
 354 HISTORY or Gibraltar. 
 
 above the south bari'acks, and the 72nd regiment 
 took lip their quarters in the King's Bastion. 
 
 Throughout April the Spaniards kept up an 
 unabated fire, — a fire, indeed, so rapid and powerful 
 that its efiects were almost as marked upon their 
 own batteries as upon the defences of the fortress. 
 Their embrasures were visibly shaken, the mortars in 
 many cases destroyed, and the guns, worn out with 
 the ceaseless cannonade, burst or drooped at the 
 muzzle. Within the fortress the city w^as already 
 almost entirely destroyed, scarce a house was habitable, 
 and such as were left standing were pierced with 
 shot and shell. But beyond this dilapidation, the 
 efi'ects of the fire had not been remarkable : the 
 batteries were still in serviceable condition, and the 
 loss of life had been singularly insignificant.* 
 
 * On the 22nd of May, a curious incident occurred which 
 is vouched for by the authority of Drinkwater ; early in the 
 morning, a shell fell and burst on tlie Church Battery, and one 
 of the splinters flying for more than 200 yards struck the 
 apron which covered the touch-hole of the morning gun on the 
 South Bastion, exploded the priming, and fired off the gun. 
 
 " April 15th. — Yesterday I met a soldier singing in the 
 street with uncommon glee, notwithstanding the enemy were 
 firing with prodigious warmth, 
 
 ' A soldier' .s life is a merry life, 
 l''rom care and trouble free.' 
 He ran to mo with eagerness, and presenting his bottle, cried, 
 ' D — n me if I don't like fighting, plenty of good liquor for 
 carrying away.' ' Why, Jack,' says I, * what have you been 
 about ? ' ' Faith,' says he, ' I scarce know myself I have been 
 constantly on foot and watch, half-starved and without money, 
 facing a parcel of pitiful Spaniards. I have been fighting,
 
 Tin: no MI? A in) Mi; NT ineffectual. 'if}.") 
 
 After tlic lirst few weeks of fun- tin* enemy's firo 
 slackened coiisideiahly, and it was evident tliat the 
 Spaniards had been disappointed with the effect the 
 honihanhncnt had pro(hiC('d. Ciallcd at the contempt 
 with whicli their grand attack had l)een received, they 
 lost no opportunity of harassing the troops and 
 inhabitants of the garrison, by means of the gun-boats 
 and mortar rafts ; in fact, throughout the summer they 
 resorted principally to this irritating mode of warfare, 
 until General Eliott mounted some long-range ord- 
 nance on the elevated batteries at the north front, 
 and whenever the gun-boats opened upon the town, 
 volleys of 40 to 50 rounds were thrown into the 
 camp in retaliation.* This fire, which swept the very 
 
 wheelini^, mart'lunj^, couuter-marching, sometimcH with a fire- 
 lock, soint'timos with a handspike, and now my bottle.' 
 
 " A sliell that instant burst, a piece of which knocked the 
 ])ottle out of his hand. ' Jack,' says I, ' are you not thankful to 
 (Jod for your ])roservation ? ' ' How do you mean ? ' said he ; 
 'line talking of God with a soldier whose trade and occupa- 
 tion is cutting throats ! Divinity and slaughter sound very well 
 together, they jingle like a cracked bell in the hand of a noisy 
 crier. j\[y religion is a firelock, open touch-hole, good flint, 
 wt'll-ramnied charge, and seventy rounds ; this is military 
 creed. Come, comrade, drink.' ''—AncelVs Joitnial. 
 
 * On the 1st of June, 1781, a discussion took place in the 
 House of Commons respecting the damage done to the British 
 S(iuadron by the Spanish gun-boats. ]Mr Hussey produced a 
 li'ttcr, in which it was asserted that the powder used by the 
 Spaniards was so superior in (puility that, whilst their shot 
 reached our frigates and did execution, the fire of our ships 
 fell short and did none. 
 
 Admiral Darby replied, " That if such a fact existed, he 
 
 23 •
 
 356 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 centre of the enemy's encampment, caused them very 
 great annoyance ; and at length, finding that they were 
 subjected to it only when the boats made an attack, 
 they withdrew the cause, and the city was left at night 
 in peace. 
 
 On the 9th of June, the enemy's laboratory, 
 situated under the Sierra de Carbonera (Queen of 
 Spain's chair), took fire with a tremendous explosion, 
 succeeded by the bursting of shells, which lasted for 
 nearly three hours ; the loss of ammunition was very 
 great. 
 
 Since the opening of the bombardment, the 
 blockade had been somewhat relaxed, but the cruisers 
 were still vigilant, and endeavoured to intercept even 
 the smallest vessel conveying relief to the fortress. 
 On the 6th of August, the " Helena " sloop, carrying 
 despatches, entered the Gut, and at daylDrcak had 
 almost weathered Cabrita Point with a light westerly 
 wind. Here she was discovered by the enemy, and 
 
 made no doubt it would have been reported to him. Sir Jolin 
 Eoss had performed the service in the Bay of Gibraltar, but 
 had not made any complaint of the qunlity of the powder. 
 No argument could be drawn from tlie fact of the gun-boats 
 reaching our frigates ; each of them carried a very long gun, 
 an 18 or 21 pounder, and it was the length of Ihe gun, not 
 th(^ superior quality of tlie powder, which emiMcd tlieir shot to 
 t;ik(! effect. Our guns were slioricr :uid would not carry so 
 far. The gun-boats in a cnlm op{>ratcd against our frigates by 
 means of their oars and were scctnv from ])ursuit ; but as soon 
 as a breeze sprung up, llicy were easily beat ofl." — Farlia- 
 mrnlary Dchatcs.
 
 PEIIILOLS I'OsninN ()| Tin; " HllLKNA." .'i.'jT 
 
 at the same time her perilous position was disrerned 
 ])y tlie fjiarrison. As tlic sun rose the wind fell 
 to a pi^rft'ct ciilm, and tlie crew of the sloop set to 
 rowing, hoping to escape the enemy's cruisers. Ca})- 
 tain Curtis, senior naval oilictM' on the station, who 
 since ho had taken up his conniiaiid had exhibited 
 the greatest courage and ability, seeing her danger, 
 innnediately took the " Repulse " and " Vanguard " 
 gun-boats, with all tlie boats of the squadron, to 
 assist her across the Bay. At the same time 
 it gun-boats and several launches put out from 
 Algeciras with the intention of cutting her off. 
 These boats being swifter than the others soon came 
 within half-gun-shot of the sloop, and began to 
 rake her fore and aft, nevertheless she returned the 
 lire with some effect, and still continued to use her 
 oars. In a few moments most of the enemy's gun- 
 boats had come up close alongside, and firing with 
 great rapidity, almost buried her in a storm of grape 
 and round shot. For a brief space she sustained a 
 succession of volleys without assistance, but the 
 " Re])ulse " and " Vanguard " having come within 
 range, they began a steady and destructive fire upon 
 the enemy's gun-boats, and a breeze fortunately 
 springing up at the same moment, the sloop managed 
 to reach the boats sent to her aid in spite of the 
 attempts of the Spaniards to sink her. In two hours' 
 time the enemy were driven off, and tlu> sloop was 
 lowed in saietv to the New Mole. Her masts, sails,
 
 358 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 and rigging were cut to pieces, and her hull greatly 
 damaged by shot, but, wonderful to say, only one 
 man, the boatswain, was killed.* " The bravery, the 
 coolness," says Captain Curtis in his despatch, " and 
 the judicious conduct of Captain Uoberts, do him 
 infinite honour ; his officers and men deserve the 
 highest commendation." f 
 
 As the summer advanced the enemy became less 
 active in their batteries, their fire gradually slackened, 
 and the garrison, glad of the respite, did not provoke 
 a fresh outburst from those formidable lines. Duj'ing 
 these months of comparative calm, the Spaniards 
 devoted all their energies to the completion of new 
 works and the repair of the old. Fresh parallels 
 were opened, and powerful batteries thrown up. Con- 
 fiding in their . superior strength, and never for a 
 moment supposing that the garrison would venture 
 to risk any off'ensive movement, the enemy left their 
 advanced works weakly defended, while their guards 
 were negligent and listless. Spies and deserters 
 
 * Letter from Captain Curtis to the Admiralty, dated 
 " Brilliant," Gibraltar, Aut^nist 7tli, 1781. 
 
 t Extract from a despatch from General Elliott to Lord 
 Hillsborough, August 8th, 1781. 
 
 "The particulars of Ca|)laiu Roberts' (of the ' IToleiia ') 
 gallant behaviour aiul his ship will no doubt be transmitted to 
 you by Captain Curtis, hut as lie (Captain Curtis) is not a 
 man to speak of any trausactiou so hi>;hly redounding to his 
 own honour, on my part it is an indispensable duty to inform 
 your Lordship that his zeal for the service is scarcely to be 
 paralh'led iu forwarding every operation that can in any way 
 contribute to our comfort or defeuce."
 
 Tin; CKKAT SOKTIK. 3.jU 
 
 agreed in their accounts of tlie indolent system which 
 was pursued in the caui]), and the defenceless state of 
 tlie principal fortifications. 
 
 During the few months of (piiet that Ibllowed the 
 grand bombardment, General Eliott had leisure to 
 reflect u|)()ii the many schemes he had in view for 
 arresting the formidable progress of the enemy's 
 works. At length in November, the Spaniards having, 
 with immense labour and at enormous cost, almost 
 completed the most stupendous and powerful lines of 
 Ibrtiiication, extending across the isthmus and reaching 
 nearly to the foot of the Rock, the governor determined 
 to take advantage of the false sense of security into 
 which the enemy were lulled, and to destroy by one 
 bold stroke the whole of those magnificent works,* 
 
 • In the Britisli Museum there is a eopy of an "Historical 
 Sketch of Giliraltar, 1792," copiously margined with pencil 
 notes, signed, IF. Booth, containing remarks upon the correei- 
 nesHof the letter-press, and giviuij; the writer's own impressions 
 of scenes in which he took part, deferring to the origin of the 
 sortie he says : 
 
 " General Boyd had heard through Lieutenant Seward of 
 the Koyal Artillery, my opinion of the practicability of the 
 sortie, and after consulting with me on the subject he went out 
 as far as the Devil's Tower to sec if what I had asserted was 
 true, viz. that of the approaches being without any works what- 
 ever to flank them, and that the batteries in the rear must 
 of course strike the reverse of their own works. This was 
 found to be true. The sortie was very soon after made, and 
 the troops found themselves completely covered from the firo 
 of the enemy's guns by their high and advanced parallels. My 
 assertion was that we could get under the enemy's approaches 
 clear oi' tlicir fire, those lines not beinir ilankcd bv aiivthiug."
 
 360 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The entire strength of the garrison at this time 
 was 5952 officers and men, a force barely sufficient 
 for the duties of the fortress, and certainly not so 
 numerous as to justify the hazard of heedlessly im- 
 perilHng the life of a single man. 
 
 EKott had well weighed the risk to which he 
 was about to expose not only his garrison but the 
 honour of the nation ; and he comprehended the 
 fatal consequences which must follow on defeat. His 
 plans were carefully and secretly laid, not a whisper 
 of his intentions was suffered to pass from his 
 council chamber, and the announcement of orders for 
 the execution of a sortie on the night of the 26th of 
 November fell like a thunder-clap upon the troops. 
 It was after first evening gun fire, and when the gates 
 of the fortress were closed, so that no communication 
 coidd by any possibility be made to the enemy, that 
 the instructions for a sortie upon the works of the 
 besiegers, to be made that very night, were issued in 
 the following evening garrison order : 
 
 " Gibraltar, November 26th, 1781. 
 " Countersign, ' Steady.' 
 " All the Grenadiers and Light Infantry of the 
 garrison, and all the men of the 12th and llarden- 
 bcrir's rctrimcnts, officers and non-connnissioned 
 officers, now on duty, to be innncdiatcly relieved and 
 to join tlieir regiments : to form a detachment, con- 
 sisting of the 12th, and llardcnbcrg's regiments
 
 DillKCTKJNS I'OK TllK iiURTlK. 3(ji 
 
 complete; tlu; (irciiiidiers and \A<^\\t Infantry of all 
 tlu; otluT rci^iiui'iits (which arc to i)(j coinplctcd to 
 their full estal)lishnient from the battalion companies) ; 
 one captain, three lieutenants, 10 non-commissioned 
 olliccrs, and a 100 artillery; and tliree engineers, 
 seven oliicers, and l.t2 non-commissioned oHicers, 
 overseci's ; with KiO workmen from the line (ex- 
 cepting the 12th and llardenherg's regiments), and 
 40 workmen from the Artiticer Company. Each 
 man to carry 'M') rounds of ammunition, a good Hint 
 in his piece, and another in his pocket. No drums 
 to go out, excepting two with each of the regiments. 
 No volunteers to he allowed. The whole to assemble 
 on the Red Sands at 12 o'clock this night, and to be 
 commanded by Brigadier-General Ross, for the pur- 
 ])ose of making a sortie upon the enemy's batteries. 
 The .'39th and oSth regiments to parade at the same 
 hour on the general parade, under the command of 
 Rrigadier-General Picton, to sustain the sortie if 
 necessary." 
 
 All the oflicers belonging to this detachment 
 then on guard were innnediately relieved, and every 
 preparation made enjoined in the order. 
 
 At the appointed hour everything was in readiness ; 
 the detachment was drawn up in three lines, the right 
 ci)Iunm in the rear, and the left in the front ; behind 
 all were the workmen with tools to destroy the 
 triMiches, and on the extreme left were a body of 
 naval j)ioneers from the scpiadron.
 
 362 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The force of the enemy in their lines and advanced 
 works consisted of 50 or 60 cavalry and 600 infantry, 
 composed of the Spanish and Walloon guards, artillery- 
 men, Cassadores, and light troops, besides a body of 
 armed workmen. 
 
 The Spaniards had never contemplated the pos- 
 sibility of an assault upon their works, their ap- 
 proaches were therefore undefended by any flanking 
 fire, and their batteries in rear could only play upon 
 the reverse of their advanced parallels. 
 
 Clear and stringent directions were given for the 
 guidance of the officers commanding the colmnns. 
 The right column was to lead and march through 
 Forbes 's barrier for the extremity of the parallel, 
 keeping the eastern fences of the gardens close on 
 their left. The centre to follow, inarching through 
 Bayside barrier, across the gardens, and against the 
 mortar battery. The left column to march along the 
 beach to destroy the gun batteries. The most pro- 
 found silence was to be observed. 
 
 It was not until after midnight that all these ar- 
 rangements were completed. Shortly before three 
 o'clock, when the moon had nearly set, the detachment, 
 about 2000 strong, moved forward in breathless silence 
 from the barrier gates. The right colunm, under 
 Lt.-Col. Hugo, was almost immediately discovered by 
 the advanced sentries, and the alarm was given all 
 along the line. The enemy, terrilied and dismayed, 
 rushed to arms, but the British troops in another
 
 t;LUK10L.S iu:sLLT. 303 
 
 moment were upon them, and were quickly in posses- 
 sion of tlu' principal batteries. 
 
 I'or a brief space the iSpaniards kept up a scat- 
 tered tire, but all was disorder in the trenches. An 
 irresistible panic spread amoii^ tiie men, they gave 
 way on all sides, and precipitately abandoned the whole 
 line of w orks. Never was success more complete. The 
 ])ioneers and artillerymen speedily levelled and de- 
 stroyed the stupendous parapets, the gabions and plat- 
 forms were kindled, and the tire spread with such 
 ra])idity that in half an hour two mortar batteries of 
 ten l.S-inch mortars, and three batteries of six guns 
 each, witli all the lines of approach, communication, 
 and traverses, were in flames, and soon reduced to 
 ashes. The mortars and cannon were spiked, and 
 nearly all the magazines exploded. So paralyzed was 
 the enemy, that during this terrific conflagration they 
 stood almost silent spectators of the scene. 
 
 As had been anticipated, the guns in rear could 
 not be brought to bear upon the advanced trenches, 
 and mortal's loaded with grape threw a dropping and 
 ill-directed fire upon the assaulting coUunns.* 
 
 * The inactivity of the Spanisli favalry iipon this occa.sion 
 has been I'oinim'iilod cm. Booth (Notes in llcriot's Ai-i-ount) 
 says :— 
 
 " About 40 of llie cavah-y did foinc out of ihc linos, but upon 
 secin<:f such superior forces hurried back a;^ain as fast as their 
 horses' legs could carry them. It was said they had not more 
 than 1000 men in the lines, in fact they were completely taken 
 by siu'prise."
 
 364 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 By five o'clock in the morning the troops had 
 returned within the garrison, after having completely 
 demolished the whole of the advanced works, which 
 had been perfected at an incredible cost of time, 
 labom', and expense. 
 
 Jnst as the rear column had passed the barrier 
 gates on its return, the enemy's grand magazine blew 
 up with a terrific explosion, scattering masses of tim- 
 ber and debris in all directions. The scene dming 
 the general conflagration was magnificently grand ; the 
 wdiole isthmus was one blaze of fire, and the high- 
 est peaks of the huge Rock were scarcely visible 
 through the dense atmosphere of smoke. Notwith- 
 standing the glorious result of this sortie, the loss of the 
 detachment was insignificantly small ; four privates 
 only were killed, and one officer, and 24 non-com- 
 missioned officers and privates wounded. The suc- 
 cess of this attack is mainly attributable to Brigadier- 
 General Ross, who throughout the operations displayed 
 the greatest judgment, prudence, and courage. But 
 though Ross was entrusted with the command of tlie 
 sortie. General Eliott was too deeply anxious for the 
 result to remain within the garrison, and he accom- 
 panied the troops nominally as a spectator. Ilis 
 
 Lieutenant Tweedie, 12th Kcgiment, was wounded in tlie 
 thigh by a grape shot. A pencil note in llcriol'a account of 
 the Hortic, nays : — 
 
 " This was a dropping wliol iVoiii a iiiortiir, wliicli the enemy 
 liiiil ln;i.!c(| witli i^'rapc, iKiviiig no oilier incaiis ol" iiriiig on the 
 1 rooprt in the sortie."
 
 DKSTRUfTION Ol' '1111; INTKr.NCIl M KNTS. .'iO.j 
 
 conduct, ill tlius iiiipcrillint^ liis own life, jcopanlizinj^ 
 the fiitc; of tlu' rortrcss, and interfering]; with the respon- 
 sibility of Ross, was tlic su])ject of some coinincnt botli 
 at the time and afterwards. It was affirmed to be con- 
 trary to the rules of war for a [!;eiieral to leave his garri- 
 son while a ha/ardous and doubtful attack was made 
 npoii an enemy's lines with a third of the whole force, 
 and it was reasonably asked, What would have been 
 the consecpience in this case had the 14,000 Spanish 
 troops in camp advanced against the place Mhile the 
 sortie was going on ? " What," says a critic, " did 
 General O'Hara experience by leaving his garrison ? 
 He was made prisoner, and the place (Toulon) soon 
 afterwards evacuated." 
 
 (General Ross, too, appears to have considered Gen- 
 eral I'Uiott's presence with the column as an interfer- 
 (Mice witii his coiniuand, and lie felt it implied an 
 insinuation that he was not implicitly trusted. 
 
 After the works had been carried, General Eliott 
 took up his position at a spot where the princij)al 
 defence had been made, and here the ground was 
 strewn with many bodies.* Orders were then given to 
 destroy the intrenchments. Anxious that none of the 
 wounded should by any accident ])erish in the flames 
 of the burning batteries, the governor went into the 
 
 * "Wlicn the troops entered tlie batteries, the \\Titten re- 
 jiort of the Spimiah eominandiiifj offieer was Ibuud in one of the 
 splinter proofs. It stated that " nothing extraordinary liad 
 Jiappened during the niglit." An impression sliglilly premature.
 
 366 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 trencli himself to look round before the blaze was 
 kindled. Among the bodies he found a wounded 
 oflScer, whom by his uniform he knew to be a captain 
 of the Spanish artillery. The general spoke to him 
 with all kindness, and, promising him every assistance, 
 ordered him to be removed, as the fire was now rapidly 
 spreading to the spot where he lay. But the Spaniard, 
 raising himself with difficulty, feebly exclaimed, " No, 
 Sir, no, leave me, and let me perish amid the ruins of 
 my post." In a few minutes he expired. It was 
 afterwards found that he had commanded the guard 
 of St Carlos's battery, and that when his men threw 
 down their arms and fled he rushed forward from 
 the work into the attacking column, exclaiming : — 
 " At least one Spaniard shall die honourably," and fell 
 where he was found, at the foot of his post. 
 
 The success of this sortie exceeded the utmost 
 expectations of the governor, and a disastrous blow 
 had been struck against the operations of the be- 
 siegers. For a time the Spaniards seemed prostrated 
 with the misfortune they had suffered, and no attempt 
 was made to reconstruct the damaged works ; but in 
 December they recovered from tlieir stni)or, great 
 numbers of men were employed repairing the batteries, 
 and it was evident that they intended again to assume 
 the offensive. 
 
 All affecting story is related of a S])anish officer 
 who was wounded and taken ])risoncr during tlie 
 sortie. Tlic Haron Von Ilchnstach, an ciisiLrn in the
 
 DKATH or BARON VON II KLMSTADT. iW)! 
 
 Walloon guards, was liit (laui^ciously in tlic knee, and 
 amputation beranic necessary. To this operation the 
 Haron denuuTed, ailirininf]; as one reason tliat he was 
 i)etrothed to a lady to whom he would never offer 
 himself with a mutilated liml). General Eliott, hear- 
 ing of his objections, went himself to sec him, and 
 urged him to submit to the opinions of the surgeon ; 
 |)ointing out to him that his aftianced bride would 
 receive him with the more affection for his having 
 gained an honoiu'able wound. The young otlicer 
 yielded to the persuasions of the governor, and the leg 
 was taken off. For a short time after the amput- 
 ation there was every prospect of his doing well, 
 but unfavourable symptoms set in, and on the 
 '28th of December he died of an inflammatory fever. 
 During his illness Hags of truce were daily passing and 
 repassing to inform his friends of his situation. On 
 the '2\)t\i his body was carried from the hospital to 
 the New Molct with all military honours, the Grenadier 
 company of the 12th regiment, the Governor, ■\Iajor- 
 Gencral de la Motte, and Captain Curtis, formed the 
 ])rocession, and the corpse having been laid in a boat 
 three volleys wen; fired over it. The boat, preceded 
 by a barge, in which were Sir Charles Knowles and 
 the Adjutant-General, was rowed midway across the 
 Hay, and there, being met by some Spanish officers, 
 the body was handed over to tlu^ enemy. 
 
 Towards the close of December, the enemy had 
 made considerable progress in their works, part of their
 
 368 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 approaches were restored and strong epaulments 
 raised. Notwithstanding the heavy fire from the gar- 
 rison upon their working parties, these works were 
 steadily proceeded with, and by the end of January 
 the mortar battery of St Carlos, a most formidable 
 redoubt, was almost entirely rebuilt. Throughout 
 February the enemy displayed the greatest industry 
 in the restoration of their batteries, but on the 31st of 
 March, during a fierce fire from Willis's and Mon- 
 tague's Bastion, the parapets of the IMahon Redoubt 
 ignited, and the flames were not extinguished until 
 considerable damage had been done. 
 
 In this month inteUigence was received of the 
 fall of Minorca, and General Ehott not erroneously 
 concluded that, reheved from the siege of St Philip's 
 and Mahon, Spain would devote her whole energies 
 to the conquest of Gibraltar. On the 11th of April, a 
 boat arrived from Faro with despatches for the go- 
 vernor, and a private communication containing the 
 most important intelligence. It announced that im- 
 mense preparations were in progress at Cadiz and the 
 IMeditcrranean ports for a combined and final attack 
 upon the Rock. To the Due de Crillon, the con- 
 queror of Minorca, the connnand of this important 
 operation was confided. Large reinforcements were 
 ready to march to the camp, 10 sail of the line, be- 
 sides floating batteries, gun and mortar-boats, under 
 Admiral Moreno, were to assemble at Algcciras, and 
 the most talented engineers in France and Spain had
 
 CONTEMPI.ATKD ATTAf'K I I'oN 'nil. ROCK. 3G9 
 
 been consulttul upon the best measures for the capture 
 of the place. During the month of May, tlie prepar- 
 ations for the grand event commenced in the vicinity 
 of the Rock. A large fleet of upwards of 100 trans- 
 ports entered the liay and anchored near Algeciras, and 
 9000 men were landed at the river Palmones ; vessels 
 arrived daily, laden with materials and warlike stores, 
 and marvellous exertions were made to hurry forward 
 the arrangements. 
 
 Active operations against the fortress from the 
 lines almost entirely ceased, and the whole camp was 
 occupied in preparing for the final blow which was to 
 restore to Spain the long-contested prize. 
 
 General Eliott watched the progress of these 
 preparations calmly, but with anxiety. The struggle, 
 he felt, would be a terrible one, but he was not ill- 
 prepared. His garrison now numbered GOOO hale 
 and hearty men inured to danger and fatigue, nearly 
 lOU cannon were mounted on the walls, and the stores 
 and ammunition were abundant. So celebrated had 
 the great siege become, that it now attracted the 
 interest and attention of all Europe ; distinguished 
 men of all nations flocked to this theatre of the war, 
 and a detachment of Corsicans, under command of 
 Senor Leonetti, nephew to General Paoli, tendered 
 their services to General Eliott, by whom they were 
 most gladly accepted. 
 
 King Charles, whose temper was usually so sedate, 
 shared the general ardour, and exhibited such eager- 
 
 24
 
 370 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ness for the success of the enterprise, that his first 
 question in the morning was, " Is it taken ? " and to 
 the negative he never failed to reply, " It will soon 
 be ours." 
 
 In the allied fleets and armies the excitement was 
 far greater, and he was treated as a criminal who for 
 a moment doubted of success. Spain spared neither 
 treasure nor labour to insure the victory. Experi- 
 ence had told her that all attacks by land or sea, if 
 conducted upon the regular principles of a siege, 
 must end in failure and defeat. On the land side the 
 isthmus was narrow and confined, and allowed but 
 little space for the development of the attack, while 
 the nearer the works approached the towering Rock 
 with all its powerful artillery, the greater became the 
 difficulties. 
 
 Piqued at the successful defence which for three 
 years had baffled every effort of the nation, enraged 
 at the destruction of the stupendous lines and 
 batteries on the night of the sortie, and burning with 
 the desire to wipe out the stain on the national honour, 
 the Spaniards were urged on in this last struggle by 
 all the impulses of pride, ambition, and revenge. 
 The slow and regular operations of a siege having 
 proved but labour lost against this stubborn Rock, 
 rewards were offered to tlu; most skilful engineers in 
 l']iir()|)e foi' plans to su])du(^ llie fortress. 
 
 Stimulated by tlicsc lilx'iiil offers, a thousand 
 schemes reached Madrid, some l)()ld to cxtrav.agance,
 
 THE CHEVALIER d'aRPOn's PLAN. 371 
 
 others too ludicrous to dcsonc attention. Amongst 
 tlicm, li()\\ev{M', was one, the invention of the Chevalier 
 il'Areon, of such superior merit, tliat it instantly 
 arrested the attention even of the king himself. His 
 plan consisted of a combined attack by sea and land 
 upon a scale so tremendously formidable, and assisted 
 by such ingenious inventions of art, that it held out 
 a prospect of certain success. 
 
 After a brief consideration the Court of Madrid 
 announced its unrpialified approval of the scheme, 
 and orders were at once issued for its adoption. Not 
 only was the reduction of the fortress now considered 
 certain, but so vast were the powers to be employed, 
 and so prodigious the armament to be brought 
 against the walls, that the annihilation of every stone 
 upon the Rock was not unexpected. The plan em- 
 braced two leading features ; first, a bombardment 
 from the isthmus, npon a scale hitherto unknown ; 
 secondly, an attack by sea along the whole length of 
 the Line Wall. For this ])urpose floating batteries of 
 such construction that they were to be " at once 
 incombustible and insubmergible," were to be em- 
 ployed. 
 
 Each battery was clad on its fighting side with 
 three successive layers of scpiarcd timber, three feet in 
 thickness ; within this wall ran a body of wet sand, 
 and within that again was a line of cork soaked in 
 w ater, ;uul calculated to prevent the eftects of splinters, 
 the whole being bound together by strong wooden 
 
 21 •
 
 372 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 bolls. To protect the crews from shells or dropping 
 shot, a hanging roof was contrived, composed of 
 strong rope-work netting, covered with wet hides, 
 and shelving sufficiently to prevent the shot from 
 lodging. 
 
 Not the least remarkable part of these vessels 
 was a plan for the prevention of combustion from red- 
 hot shot. A reservoir was placed beneath the roof 
 from which numerous pipes, like the veins of the 
 human body, circulated through the sides of the ship, 
 giving a constant supply of water to every part, and 
 keeping the wood continually saturated. 
 
 To form these powerful batteries, ten ships, 
 from GOO to 1400 tons burthen, were cut down to 
 the proper proportions, and upwards of 200,000 
 cubic feet of timber were used in their construction. 
 Each battery was armed with from eight to twenty 
 heavy brass cannon of new manufacture, with a 
 reserve of spare pieces. The crews varied in number 
 from 760 to 250 men. One large sail propelled each 
 ship. 
 
 Besides tliis tremendous armament which was to 
 annihilate the line of defence from the sea, ])repara- 
 tions of no less magnitude were being made for the 
 attack on the northern front. Not fewer tlian 1200 
 pieces of heavy ordnance were ready for use in the 
 artillery park, enormous (|uantitics of annuunition and 
 warlike stores were in the magazines, and the reserve 
 of gun{)owdcr alone was reported at 83,000 barrels.
 
 PRKPARATIONS FOR THK FINAL ATTACK. ri73 
 
 Tinmense works wcn^ Ix'ing liurried tornard on tlie 
 istliiHUs, of a p^randeur whicli eclipsed anything that 
 liad l)C('n previously constructed. 
 
 In '2-i hours a flying sap was thrown out with a 
 rapidity of execution iuie([ualle(l. The parallel extended 
 to a length of 230 toises, with a Boyau of 680 toiscs 
 from the place where it joined the principal barrier of 
 the lines. The construction of this Boyau required 
 one million six hundred thousand bags of sand, and 
 thousands of casks were used in forming the parallel. 
 In a single night this enormous work was raised to 
 the height of 12 feet with 18 feet of thickness, and 
 it was supposed that during the seven hours in which 
 it was erected 10,000 men were at labour. 
 
 To assist in the assault by sea, the combined fleets 
 of France and Spain, amounting to 50 sail of the 
 line, with 40 gun-boats, numerous frigates, and 50 
 mortar vessels, were to act in support. 300 boats, 
 fitted with hinged platforms at their prows, were to 
 accompany the expedition, and at the proper moment 
 to land the troops.* 
 
 The outline of the attack having been arranged, 
 the plan was drawn out by the Due de Crillon him- 
 self, and submitted for approval, first to the Court of 
 
 • " On the 13th July a soldier of the 73rd regiment 
 declared himself a prophet, and prophesied that within six 
 weeks and six days and six hours, the garrison would be 
 taken and the governor killed. He was taken to the Provost 
 Ship, there to await the expiration of the time and then be 
 flogged." — AncelVs Journal.
 
 374 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Madrid, and afterwards to the King of Trance. Sub- 
 sequently the details were very materially altered, but 
 the principle remained the same. The method 
 originally proposed was as follows : 
 
 " The plan for taking Gibraltar, presented by 
 Crillon, with the opinion of the minister, was im- 
 parted, by order of His Majesty, to France, by the hand 
 of Aranda, and it being approved of, that Court 
 offered 27 auxiliary ships. According to this plan 
 the assault will be conducted in the following manner: 
 Brigadier Don Ventura Moreno will command the 
 fire of the fleet. The vanguard of the combined 
 squadron will be commanded by Senor Cordova, and 
 among the divisions that compose it will be included 
 the 3rd of 12 fire-proof ships, which will anchor in 
 Algeciras, until Senor Alvarez completes the GO paces 
 of intrcnchment opposite the fortress. Our ships 
 will then attack ; four by the Europa Point, two by 
 the New Mole, their fire being supported by that of 
 the gun and mortar-boats and bomb-ketches, which 
 will hold themselves in readiness to su})port where it 
 may be required. At a given signal, the fire from 
 our whole line will open with that of the intrcnch- 
 ment, which will not cease until a breach shall have 
 been made at tlie Europa Point. 'J'lie battering ships 
 will not bo all()\V{Ml to c|uit their respective posts till 
 tliey require relief, and thoy will (hen retire to
 
 PLAN lOU TAKINC (HUH ALTA K. ,'375 
 
 Algccims, whence others will proceed to su|)j)ly their 
 pliiees, taking up tlic same points. The oilicer who 
 shall act counter to his orders will be removed IVoni 
 his post without its being referred to the king. The 
 Ijicacli having been made, the commander-in-cliicf, 
 the Duke de Crillon, will notify to the governor the 
 surrender of the fortress ; and should he consent to 
 the capitulation, the preliminaries will be arranged, 
 conceding to him military honours ; if he persist in 
 the defence, the operations will continue in the fol- 
 lowing manner. The fire by sea and land will protect 
 the disembarkation of our troops on the flanks of the 
 advance. The boats conveying them will be covered 
 by large planks on hinges, which on unfolding will 
 fall on the moles on the right, while on the left others 
 will rest on the transpoits that follow, in order to link 
 them to each other and adjust them to the breach, 
 binding them tinnly together, the iirst boat being 
 attached to the ground by means of grappling irons, 
 which it will carry for the j)urposc. The troops will 
 advance along these in the following order : 11 
 com})anies of Grenadiers of about 70 men each, and 
 as many more of Chasseurs, with three companies of 
 Dragoons, the whole under the coiiiniaiid of Sehor 
 Cagigal, General of the second column and his 
 subaltern officers, the Brigadier Don I'rancesco 
 Pacheco, Colonel of Seville, and Senor Aviles, Colonel 
 of Villaviciosa. Two battalions of volunteers of
 
 376 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Catalonia will form the flying troops to form a 
 support where it may be necessary, and to strengthen 
 either flank, or profiting by any opportunity the 
 enemy may ofi'er of attacking him : this corps will be 
 commanded by Brigadier Don Benito Panogo. 
 
 " The army will be formed into three divisions, its 
 right commanded by Lieutenant- General Buch, its 
 left by the Count de Cifuentes, and its centre by 
 Marshal Burghesi. The best company of Grenadiers 
 from each regiment will be detached to cover its 
 respective corps, and when the disembarkation of the 
 troops, or part of them, shall have been executed, the 
 boats carrying the fascines, powder-saucisses, gabions, 
 panniers, pickaxes, &c., will be sent forward in order 
 that they may cover themselves as the disembarkation 
 proceeds, keeping up at the same time a lively fire 
 along with the rest of the army. Detached parties 
 will scour with promptitude the Campo Nuevo in 
 order to intercept the advanced guard and to cut off 
 the retreat of the enemy to the mountain : which 
 dispositions being well concerted, the enemy will be 
 reduced to the extremity of either surrendering or 
 being destroyed. 
 
 "The squadron of Sefior Cordova will cover the 
 mouth of the Straits, and the French will place 
 itself as much within as circumstances may require. 
 200 iVIuhcletes and 200 Artillerymen more have been 
 asked for from the camp : those that are present
 
 PRKPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENCE. 377 
 
 l)oing required for the intrenchment. These have bejn 
 sent for from their respective corps." * 
 
 The fame of the siege of Gil)rahar had ere this 
 spread to the remotest corners of Europe. The Count 
 d'Artois, brother to the King of France, and the Due 
 de Bourbon, arrived in the camp in August, impatient 
 to witness the fall of the invincible fortress, and they 
 were followed by crowds of the nobility of Spain, 
 eager to join in an enterprise which it was antici- 
 pated would result in a victory most glorious to their 
 arms. 
 
 General Eliott regarded the progress of the 
 tremendous armaments without despondency. He 
 prepared for the coming storm, and made every effort 
 to meet it manfully and with success. An experiment 
 which had lately been tried with red-hot shot pro- 
 duced such effects, that he founded his hopes of 
 destroying the enemy's battering-ships almost solely 
 upon that expedient, and great numbers of furnaces 
 for heating the shot were immediately prepared and 
 placed in convenient positions within the principal 
 batteries. The defences too were thoroughly repaired, 
 the Land Port was more carefully protected, and un- 
 serviceable guns were laid across the tops of the 
 embrasures in many of the works, as a protection to 
 the artillerymen when under ffre.f 
 
 * From Spanish MSS. in British ^Museum. 
 
 t Tliia circumstance is mentioned in a letter from General
 
 378 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The arrival of the Count d'Artois in the camp 
 gave rise to an interchange of courtesies between the 
 governor and the Due de Crillon, and though the 
 two chiefs were on the eve of a great struggle for 
 the mastery, letters, couched in the most affable and 
 peaceful terms, passed between them. The count 
 having brought with him a packet of letters for some 
 officers of the garrison, the Due de Crillon took 
 advantage of the opportunity, and when the parcel 
 was sent in to the fortress, accompanied it by a letter 
 from himself to General Eliott, in which he expressed 
 the highest esteem for the governor's person and 
 character, and assured him how anxiously he looked 
 forward to becoming his friend ; at the same time he 
 offered a present of a few luxuries for the general's 
 table. In reply to this courteous note, the governor 
 returned his sincerest thanks for the gift, but begged 
 that in future no such favour might be heaped upon 
 him, as by accepting the present he had broken 
 through a rule to which he had faithfully adhered 
 since the beginning of the war, never to receive any- 
 thing for his own private use, but to partake both of 
 plenty and scarcity in common with the lowest of his 
 brave fellow-soldiers. 
 
 Towards the end of August a grand inspection of 
 
 Boyd, written sonic time afler tlio siege. lie avers that the 
 ])lan answered admirably. (Vido Correepoudenco in Colonial 
 Secretary's Oflicc.)

 
 I.MI'ATIKNCK OF THE srANlislI TllOOl'S. I'jT.) 
 
 the floating butteries took place at Algcciras, at wliicli 
 tlie French princes were present. To exhibit the ease 
 and siniphcity with whicli tliov conld be manmuvred, 
 the vessels were put tliron<2;h various movements, to 
 tiie admiration and surprise of tlie spectators. So 
 satisfactory was this trial (considered tliat it became 
 the popular opinion that 24 hours would suflice for 
 the demolition of the fortress, and the Uuc de Crillon 
 was made the subject of the greatest ridicule when 
 he cautiously hinted that 11- days might elapse ere 
 the place fell. Crillon, in fact, had noatiectionforthe 
 schemes of the Chevalier d'Ar^on, and, as we shall 
 presently see, he attributed his subsequent failure 
 almost entirely to the blind confidence that was placed 
 in the floating batteries. 
 
 As the time approached the greatest impatience 
 was manifested not only by the troops, but through- 
 out all Spain, for the commencement of the attack, 
 and so loud was the clamour for immediate action 
 that d'Ar^on was ordered to hurry on the completion 
 of the floating batteries with every despatch. 
 
 Late in August a council of war was held in 
 the camp, at which the French princes were present, 
 and it was then proposed that the connnand and di- 
 rection of the floating batteries should be confided 
 to the oilicer of the navy, Crillon taking upon him- 
 self tiie responsibility of the attack by land. Dis- 
 putes had already arisen as to the proijcr disjjositions 
 for the bond)ardment, C'rillon claiming an luulividcd
 
 380 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 authority over the whole proceedings, while the min- 
 ister of marine was anxious that the admiral should 
 direct the movements of the batteries and their mode 
 of equipment.* 
 
 When the before-mentioned proposal was con- 
 veyed to Crillon, he peremptorily refused to accede 
 to it. Nor could any decision be arrived at regard- 
 ing the most proper point of attack ; the Old Mole, 
 which at first appeared the weakest part of the fort- 
 ress, was found to be covered by the guns of the 
 principal batteries on the Rock, while the New Mole 
 presented even greater difficulties. There was another 
 matter too which became the subject of discussion 
 up to the very moment of the attack, and this was, 
 whether it would not be expedient to supply each 
 floating battery with warp-anchors, and double 
 cables, that they might withdraw in case of ac- 
 cident, f 
 
 * Florida Blanca's Eepresentation. 
 
 t " When the battery ' Paula Prima' was proved for the 
 attack, it was perceived that there was a deficiency of water for 
 preventing the effect of red-hot balls. The general and com- 
 manding ofiicers were informed of this defect, but they thought 
 so lightly of it, that Don Cayctan Langara pleasantly said ' he 
 would undertake to receive in his breast all the red-hot shot of 
 the enemy.' JSotwithstanding the pressing entreaties of Mons. 
 d' Ar9on that an essay should be made with red-hot balls 
 upon this battery before opening it against the garrison, as he 
 jipprohended that the want of a constant circulation of water 
 round the top would be found a very material defect, his re- 
 quest of an experiment was refused." — Historical Sketch of 
 Gibr.'iltar. Hcriot, 1702.
 
 DISPUTKS BETWEKN d'aR(,'(JN AND CRILLON. 3*51 
 
 These unfortunate disputes, wliicli arose at a time 
 wlien perfeet unaniniinity was most essential, hamp- 
 ered the progress of operations, and destroyed tliat 
 liarniony whieh should have existed between Crillon 
 and his subordinates. D'Ar^on especially was offended 
 and annoyed; he claimed for himself the merit of hav- 
 ing invented the machines which were to annihilate the 
 j)lace, and insisted upon his right to have the sole diiec- 
 tion of their movements. Crillon, on the other hand, 
 perceived that if the conmiand were divided, and the 
 attack should prove successful, the glory of the tri- 
 umph would be ap])ropriated by the French engineer. 
 In the many councils of war that preceded the boni- 
 l)ardment, the duke did not care to conceal his 
 jealousy of the Chevalier d'Ar^on. On one occasion, 
 deriding the propositions of the engineer, he ex- 
 claimed, " You have a fatherly love for your batteries, 
 and are only anxious for their preservation. Should 
 the enemy attempt to take possession of them, 1 will 
 burn them before his face." On another occasion, 
 when in the presence of the French princes, he said, 
 " You were sunnnoned into Spain to execute my plan 
 for the attack of Gibraltar by floating batteries. 
 Your commission is performed, the rest belongs to 
 me." * 
 
 * Lord Mahon, Hist, of England, vol. vii. p. 2SG, says, 
 " that the Due de Crillon saw little prospect of prevailing on 
 
 the land side but fixed his ho])cs on some floating bat- 
 
 teriea of new invention." Crillon ahvavs doubted the vaunted
 
 382 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 While tliese discussions and misunderstandings 
 were distracting the councils of the besiegers, a master 
 hand was guiding the preparations for the defence 
 within the fortress. Every emergency that might 
 occur was provided for, every danger that could be 
 foreseen averted, and the garrison itself reinforced by 
 a Marine Brigade of COO men under command of 
 Brigadier Curtis, In the first week of September, 
 the land works of the enemy had progressed with 
 gigantic strides, immense batteries, some containing 
 as many as 64 guns, only waited to be unmasked, 
 and long strings of mules streamed hourly into the 
 trenches, laden with shot, shell, and ammunition. 
 
 The advanced works were not, except in some in- 
 stances, yet armed, and large masses of materiel, which 
 had accumulated in their vicinity, cumbered the embra- 
 sures and rendered their parapets liable to destruction 
 by fire. Seizing upon the opportunity thus afforded by 
 the negligence of the Spaniards, General Boyd wrote to 
 the governor, recommending the use of red-hot shot 
 against these works. Though the distance was great, 
 and the effect of heated shot had not then been 
 thoroughly ascertained, Eliott acquiesced in the })ro- 
 position, and Major Lewis, conunanding the artillery, 
 was ordered to execute the attack. On the 8th of 
 September the preparations were completed, and at 
 
 powor of thoHO macliiiK'S, and li:ul no opinion of llieir efficacy. 
 — Vide liirt letter to Eliott, ^;oa7.
 
 ATTACK UPON TlIK SPANISH WORKS. 3S3 
 
 seven o'clock in tlic niornin^, tlie guards liaviiig 
 been relieved, ii tiemeiidous lire was opened from all 
 the northern batteries. Throughout the day this iiery 
 cannonade was kept up with unabated fury, liy 10 
 A. M. the Mahon battery and another work of two 
 guns were in llanies, and by five in the evening were 
 entirely consumed, with all their gun-carriages, plat- 
 forms, and magazines. The effect of the red-hot shot 
 exceeded the most sanguine expectations; the damage 
 done was extensive, and for a time irreparable, the 
 greater part of the communication to the eastern 
 parallel was destroyed, and the batteries of St Carlos 
 and St Martin so much injured that they Avere no 
 longer serviceable. At one moment the works were 
 on fire in 50 places, and the flames, lifted by the wind, 
 spread with terrible rapidity ; but by the prodigious 
 exertions of the enemy's troops, who, notwithstanding 
 the galling fire from the garrison to which they were 
 exposed, displayed a reckless intrepidity, the work 
 of destruction was arrested and many of the batteries 
 saved from ruin. Irritated at this unexpected attack 
 upon woiks which had cost him so much labour and 
 anxiety, Crillon was precipitated into a premature 
 bombardment, which, while it ex})osed to view the 
 hitherto masked batteries, and thus gave General Eliott 
 an oi)})oitnnity of preparing counter-works \\\)o]\ the 
 Rock, at the same time did considerable damage to 
 the imfinished lines. 
 
 On the morning of the iJlh September, a battery
 
 384 HISTORY OY GIBRALTAR. 
 
 of 64 guns opened at day -break, and a tremendous 
 discharge from 170 pieces of cannon announced the 
 commencement of the final bombardment. At the 
 same time a squadron of seven Spanish and two 
 French hne-of-battle ships got under way at Orange 
 Grove, and dropping slowly past the sea-line wall, 
 delivered several broadsides against the south bastion 
 and Ragged Staff, until they arrived off Europa. 
 Then, having first formed line to eastward of the 
 Rock, they attacked the batteries from the Point as 
 far as the New Mole with some energy. On the 
 following day this manoeuvre was repeated, and the 
 cannonade from the lines was renewed with all its 
 fierceness, 6500 shot and 2080 shell being thrown 
 into the fortress every 24 hours. Notwithstanding 
 this overwhelming fire the loss in the garrison was 
 exceedingly small. 
 
 On the 12th, the combined fleets of Spain and 
 France, numbering 39 ships of the line, entered the 
 Bay of Algeciras, and having formed a junction with 
 the squadron already at anchor, raised the naval force 
 to 50 ships of tlic line and two second-rates ; nine 
 vessels bore an admiral's flag. 
 
 General Eliott was conscious that the moment of 
 trial approached, and so ably had he conducted his pre- 
 parations that during the 24 hours preceding the attack 
 not a siMglc alteration had to be made, even in the 
 most iiiimitc directions that had been given to the 
 troops, ^^'cry man knew his place, each gun was
 
 FINAL IIOMUAKDMKNT COMMENCES. 385 
 
 told off for one particuliir duty, simple and efficient 
 arrangements had been made for a constant snj)ply of 
 ammunition, and every bastion was furnished with its 
 fuel and furnace for the dreaded red-hot shot. 
 
 It was during the morning of the 12th, that the 
 governor received information that the combined at- 
 tack would connnence on the following day. Cahnly 
 as this courageous man awaited the moment of trial, 
 he could not but be iniluenced by the gravest anxie- 
 ties for the result. He had witnessed the gigantic 
 armaments that were preparing for the assault ; and 
 though ignorant of the exact force which was to be 
 brought against him, he was aware that neither France 
 nor Spain had spared labour or expense to accumulate 
 a strength hitherto unknown in the history of sieges. 
 On the land he was threatened by 24G pieces of 
 cannon, mortars, and howitzers, and an army of near 
 40,000 men; while by sea 50 sail of the line, 10 
 floating batteries of a construction supposed to be 
 indestructible, with countless gun' and mortar boats, 
 and 300 smaller craft, were waiting only the signal for 
 the attack. To this enormous armament, but 7000 
 men and 90 guns could be opposed. At a council of 
 war lu'ld in the Spanish camp on the 4th of Septem- 
 l)ei-, the final details for the arrangement of the grand 
 attack had been settled, and it was decided to open 
 the bombardment on the 13th of the month. 
 
 At this council Mons. d'Ar^on vehemently pro- 
 tested against the precipitate haste with which the
 
 386 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 preparations of the floating batteries had been hurried 
 on, and vainly pleaded for a few days further delay, 
 in order that some experiments might be made upon 
 the vessels, and especially that the effectiveness of the 
 water apparatus might be tested. His arguments 
 were met by others equally cogent. Lord Howe with 
 a powerful fleet was known to be on his way to relieve 
 the fortress, and it was of vital importance that his 
 arrival should be anticipated. The season was al- 
 ready far advanced, and the works on the land side, 
 which had only just been repaired, were at ajiy mo- 
 ment exposed to a second partial destruction by red- 
 hot shot. All objections, therefore, were overruled, 
 and the day was named. 
 
 At about seven o'clock on the morning of the 13th 
 September, the enemy's fleet was observed to be in 
 motion, off the Orange Grove, and shortly afterwards 
 the ten floating batteries were under way, and with 
 a crowd of boats standing for the southward with a 
 light north-west breeze. 
 
 Shortly before ten o'clock they had reached their 
 respective stations off the line wall, and the Admiral 
 Don Bucnoventura Moreno in the " Pastora," having 
 taken up a position opposite the capital of the King's 
 Bastion, the others anchored in admirable order on his 
 right and left flanks, at about 1000 yards' distance 
 from tlu; walls of \hv, fortress.* 
 
 * NAMKH or Tin; HATTERTNQ SHIPS. 
 
 Pastora 21 KcMr-Admiriil liuciiuvfiiiura Moreno
 
 ATTACK HV IM.OATINC lUTTElUKS. 
 
 :3S7 
 
 At this time the enemy's cam]) and the suitouikI- 
 ing hills were covered with countless tliousands of 
 spectators, who liad luirried from all j)arts of iSpain 
 to witness the fall of (iihraltar. The batteries liad 
 no sooner let go their anchors than a tremendous 
 cannonade of hot and cold shot was opened upon 
 them all along the line ; at the same instant the 
 ])()nderous vessels replied from all their gvms, support- 
 ed by the fire of ISO pieces of ordnance from the 
 works on the isthnms. 
 
 Never before in the annals of war had a spectacle 
 so magnificently grand been witnessed, — 400 cannon 
 belched forth their volleys of fire at the same mo- 
 ment, the whole heaven was obscured by the curling 
 clouds of smoke which clung around the rugged 
 peaks of the rock, while the misty gloom was fitfully 
 illumined by the flashes of a thousand carcasses and 
 shells. The whole peninsula was overwhelmed with 
 a torrent of shot. 
 
 Talla Pio.lra 
 
 21 
 
 Prince of Nassau 
 
 Paula Primera 
 
 21 
 
 Don Cayeton Langara 
 
 El Rosario 
 
 10 
 
 Don Francisco ^Munoa 
 
 St Cliristoval 
 
 IS 
 
 Don Fredcrico Gravino 
 
 Principe Carlos 
 
 11 
 
 Don Ant. Basurta 
 
 San Juan 
 
 9 
 
 Don Josej)]! Aul^cKt 
 
 Paula Sejj;unila 
 
 9 
 
 Don Pablo dc Cosa 
 
 Santa Anna 
 
 7 
 
 Don Joseph Goicochea 
 
 Lo8 Dolores 
 
 G 
 
 Don Pedro Sanchez 
 
 
 112 
 
 
 Guns. 
 
 In 
 
 1 Reserve. Men. 
 
 112 
 
 
 70 52GU 
 25 •
 
 388 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Tor two hours this terrible cannonade continued 
 without intermission, and no impression had been 
 made upon the floating batteries ; so well calculated 
 was their construction to withstand the effects of ar- 
 tillery, that the heaviest shells rebounded from their 
 roofs, and the shot struck harmless on their sides. 
 Upwards of 2000 red-hot balls had been thrown 
 against them, and no symptoms of combustion ap- 
 peared, except here and there a feeble flame, which 
 ere it could spread was quenched. 
 
 At noon the enemy slackened their fire from the 
 sea for a moment, but seemingly only for the purpose 
 of amending the direction of their guns, which had 
 previously been uncertain and too high ; the pause 
 was but for an instant, and the artillery again burst 
 forth with a more powerful and better directed fire. 
 Showers of every missile swept over the walls, and 
 already the British troops, disappointed with the 
 eff'ects of the red-hot shot, and fatigued with the mid- 
 day sun, began to look gloomily upon the issue of 
 the fight. But about two o'clock sliglit wreaths of 
 flame were observed issuing from the admiral's ship, 
 and at the same time a strange confusion was re- 
 marked among tlie men on board the " Talla Picdra." 
 On board this battery was the Chevalier d'Ar^on, 
 who was present in the action as a volunteer to watch 
 tin; success of his own iiivciilions. Several red-hot 
 shot li;i(l struck tliis sliip, but one alone gave any un-
 
 TIIH I'LOATINC HATTKKI KS DKSTllOVKI). .'5S0 
 
 easiness to those on board ; to ivacli tlic smouldering 
 wood-work tlie puns were silenee(i, and the smoke 
 cloarinn; away k'ft the vessel ex})osed to such a con- 
 centrated lire, that all efforts to arrest the progress of 
 the tlanies were vain. The blaze rapidly spread, the 
 crew were seized with a panic, and, I'earl'ul of an ex- 
 plosion, turned the water into the powder magazines. 
 Thus one battery was rendered useless during the 
 remainder of the action. 
 
 In the admiral's ship the tlames were for some 
 hours subdued, and her guns continued to play upon 
 the walls till nightfall ; but the disorder which was 
 immediately visible in the Talla Piedra and the Pas- 
 tora soon affected the whole line of attack, and by 
 seven o'clock in the evening the lire from the fortress 
 had gained a commanding superiority. 
 
 At midni'^ht signals of distress were made from 
 all parts of the Bay. The admiral's ship was in 
 flames from stem to stern, and others had been set 
 on fire. The enemy now determined to abandon all 
 the ships, and those which had hitherto resisted the 
 effects of the red-hot shots were, by order of the 
 admiral, set in flames. 
 
 As the grey morning dawned the scene on the 
 waters of the Pay was sublimely terrible; masses of 
 shattered wreck, to which wvw clinirim:; the drown- 
 ing crews, floated over the troubled waves ; groans 
 and cries for help reached even to the walls, or
 
 890 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 were drowned in tlie thunders of the exploding 
 magazines, while the glaring flames of the burning 
 vessels cast a lurid hght over the awful spectacle. 
 
 At two o'clock in the morning, Brigadier Curtis, 
 who with his squadron of gun-boats lay at the New 
 Mole ready to take advantage of any opportunity to 
 harass the enemy, pushed out to the westward and 
 with great expedition formed line upon the flank of 
 the battering ships. This sudden movement com- 
 pletely disconcerted the Spaniards, who were engaged 
 in removing the crews from the vessels, and they fled 
 precipitately, abandoning the wounded and leaving 
 them to perish in the flames. As daylight appeared 
 two feluccas, which had not been able before to escape, 
 were discovered endeavouring to get away, but a shot 
 from one of the gun-boats killing five of their men, 
 they both surrendered. 
 
 Hearing from the prisoners that hundreds of 
 officers and men, some wounded, still remained on 
 board the batteries, and must certainly perish. 
 Captain Curtis, at the utmost risk of his own life, 
 made the most heroic efforts to eff'ect tlicir rescue* 
 
 * " Tliis irrnst unavoidably liave been tbeir Avretched fate, 
 liad they not been dran;ii;ed from amidst tlie flames by tbc 
 personal intrepidity of Brigadier Curtis at tbc utmost bazard 
 of bis own life, a life invaluable to His Majesty's service. 
 I'or some time I felt tbc utmost anguisb seeing bis pinnace 
 dose to one of tbe largest slii|)fl at tbo moment sbo blew 
 up." — Bliott's despalfli to Fvord Slielhounie, Gibraltar, Sept. 
 lolli, 178:3. 
 
 ^
 
 IIKUOIC CONDICT OF CLRTIS. 3'Jl 
 
 Careless of danger iroin tlie explosions which every 
 instant scattered showers of drhris aronnd him, he 
 passed from ship to ship and literally dragged from 
 the burning decks the miserable men who yet remained 
 on board. Willi the coolest intrepidity he pushed 
 his pinnace close alongside one of the largest batteries 
 at the very moment she blew up, covering the sea 
 with fragments of her wreck. For a time the boat 
 was ingulfed amid the falling ruin, and her escape 
 was miraculous. A huge balk of timber fell through 
 lur flooring, killing the coxswain, wounding others of 
 the crew, and starting a large hole in her bottom. 
 Through this leak the water rushed so rapidly that 
 little hope was left of reaching the shore, but the 
 sailors' jackets being stutfed into the aperture, the 
 hole was plugged, and the gallant men got safe to 
 land. By the heroic and humane exertions of 
 Captain Curtis and his boat's crew, 357 persons were 
 saved from a horrible death. 
 
 Whilst these disasters were occurring in the Bay, 
 the land batteries on the isthnuis never for an instant 
 slackened the tremendous lire that had been com- 
 menced on the ])revious morning ; imtil at daybreak 
 on the 1 1th the SpanianU, ha\ ing become aware of the 
 fate of their conuades on board the vessels, ordered 
 the cannonade to cease. 
 
 Captain Curtis had scarcely completed his service 
 of lunnanity before eight of the remaining shi])s blew 
 up and one only remained unconsumeil. At tirst
 
 392 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 it was hoped that she might be saved as a trophy 
 of the glorious action, but this was afterwards found 
 impossible, and she was set fire to like the rest. The 
 flag of Admiral Moreno remained flying until his 
 battery was totally destroyed. 
 
 Desperate had been the struggle and great was 
 the victory. During the hottest of the fire General 
 Eliott took his station on the King's Bastion, exposed 
 to the guns of the two most powerful battering ships 
 Nothing could exceed the coolness and courage of the 
 troops during this trying day ; the steady and in- 
 cessant fire was never allowed to slacken, the guns 
 were served, says the governor, " with the deliberate 
 coolness and precision of school practice, but the ex- 
 ertions of the men were infinitely superior." * 
 
 The furnaces for heating the shot were found to 
 be too few, and huge fires were kindled in convenient 
 corners of the streets. 
 
 An immense amount of ammunition was expended 
 on both sides ; 320 of the enemy's cannon were in 
 play throughout the day, and to these were opposed 
 only 9G guns from the garrison. Upwards of 8000 
 shot and 710 barrels of gunpowder were fired away 
 by the garrison. 
 
 When the unparalleled force of the bombardment 
 
 is considered, the casualties ainonp; tlic troops were 
 
 remarkably few, one ollic^er, two sergeants, and 13 
 
 men only were killed, and five oflicers and 03 men 
 
 * Eliott's dcHpaicli.
 
 DEFEAT OF TJIE ATTACK. 39'i 
 
 wounded. The enemy's losses, on the contrary, were 
 very great; on the floating; batteries alone, 1 173 men 
 were cither killed, wounded, or missing.* 
 
 By the evening of the 1 tth the Bay was cleared of 
 the shattered wrecks, and not a vestige of the fomiid- 
 ablc armament, which yesterday had been the hope 
 and pride of Spain, remained. 
 
 The contest was at an end, and the united strength 
 of two ambitious and powerful nations had been hum- 
 bled by a straitened garrison of GOOO effective men. 
 With the destruction of the floating batteries, the 
 siege was virtually concluded.! 
 
 * Copy of an official retui-n in Spanish. Egerton MSS. 
 
 t An account of this attack and the causes of its failure are 
 given by the Chevalier d'Aryon himself, in his " ^lemoire pour 
 servir a I'liistoire du Siege de Gibraltar, par I'auteur des 
 batteries flottantes, 1783." 
 
 Speaking of the destruction of the batteries, he says, — 
 
 " The Talla I'icdra was moored at the same time with the 
 Pastora, before ten ; the tire of the two batteries began imme- 
 diately ; that of the enemy, at first extremely brisk and con- 
 stant, slackened towards noon, but was again continued without 
 intermission till three o'clock. Among the number of red-hot 
 balls which had been extinguished one alone alarmed us. 
 
 '' Our firing began to slacken, the enemy profited by this in- 
 termission, re-commenced a still more heavy cannonade, and 
 gained a decided superiority, which frustrated all our eflbrts 
 to arrest the progress of the fiames. 
 
 " Now our apprehensions increased, and an order too pre- 
 cipitately given to wet the powder occasioned a total cessation 
 of our cannonade. 
 
 " The only resource remaining was the retreat of the float- 
 ing batteries (Talla Piedra and Paatora).
 
 394 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 In Spain the news was received with consterna- 
 tion and despair. 
 
 The thousands who on the preceding day crowded 
 upon the neighbouring hills, and with eager anxiety 
 awaited the anticipated victory, returned to their 
 homes disappointed and chagrined. They had been 
 taught to believe that the attack would be crushing 
 and invincible ; that the batteries were indestructible; 
 
 "The progress of the conflagration was extremely inconsider- 
 able. It was the same ball from which the smoke proceeded, 
 at first from the outside, and afterwards through the interior 
 joints. But this hidden fire, which could easily have been 
 suppressed by removing to a distance from the constant fire of 
 the garrison, continued in a smoking state for six hours, and 
 did not become ungovernable till after midnight. The other 
 batteries were yet entire, yet it was determined to involve them 
 in the same fate as the Talla Piedra. They were all abandoned, 
 and, as if the red-hot shot of the enemy did not do suflicicnt ex- 
 ecution, the resolution was taken to set our own vessels on fire. 
 
 " This order being badly executed, several were absolutely 
 set on fire before the crew had evacuated them, and four were 
 entire at six in the morning, after having equally resisted the 
 attempts to burn them and the red-hot shots of the enemy. 
 ***** At seven in the evening. Admiral 
 Guichcn oftered the assistance of the French squadron towards 
 preserving the batteries, and altliough affairs were in no very 
 favourable situation, it was answered that all was well, and no 
 assistance was required. 
 
 "The engineer continued on board the Talla i'iodra till 
 after midnight, when he repaired to request succour from the 
 a<liiiiral. By hi in lie was sent to the general, wlio had settled 
 till" whole plan with the (•oiiiiiiaiidcr of the (loating batteries. 
 On his ;iiTiv;iI iit licad-ijiiartcrs the gciuTal was absent, but he 
 was iiiforined uf the order given to set the whole on fire."
 
 DISAIM'OINTMKNT Ob' THK SPANIAllDS. .'39') 
 
 that the fortress must be annihihitcd by their over- 
 wlu'lmiii':; fire; but instead of these disasters they 
 liad seen every ship destroyed or sunk, witli all tlicir 
 guns, and 2000 men of their crews either killcil, 
 wounded, or taken prisoners. In tlie first moment 
 of consternation the inventor of those vast machines, 
 upon tlie success of which the whole attack depended, 
 could not restrain his poignant grief, and was led into 
 confessions which he afterwards regretted. Writing 
 to the French Ambassador, Montmorin, he said, " I 
 have burnt the temple of Ephesus ; everything is lost, 
 and through my fault. What comforts me under my 
 misfortune is that the honour of the two kings remains 
 untarnished." 
 
 At Madrid the news of the disaster was received 
 with disnuiy ; and the king, who was at the palace of 
 lldelbnso, listened to the intelligence in mute despair. 
 The recovery of Gibraltar had been his unswerv- 
 ing aim, anil with this repulse almost his last hope 
 ^vas extinguished. In Paris the intelligence was no 
 less unexpected and unwelcome ; so certain indeed 
 had the fall of the fortress been considered that a 
 dranui iUustrative of the destruction of (Jiljraltar by 
 the lloating batteries was acted nightly to applauding 
 thousands.* 
 
 It has been before remarked that the Due de 
 Crillon never held that blindly confident opinion of 
 the inventions of D'Ar^on which had tunad the 
 * Barrow's Life of Lord llowc, p. 137.
 
 396 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 heads of the two Bourbon courts. He had always 
 urged the necessity of a complete attack by sea, in 
 which the whole fleet should engage, and of which the 
 floating batteries would form an integral part. The 
 French engineer ridiculed this idea, and affirmed that 
 the ships would be destroyed before they could inflict 
 any damage upon the walls. 
 
 The result of the attack showed how completely 
 D'Ar^on was mistaken. During the day the assistance 
 of the combined fleet was urgently required, but when 
 its co-operation might have turned the tide of victory, 
 an adverse wind arose, and the vessels could not beat 
 up within range of the Rock. 
 
 The fate of the much-vaunted inventions did not 
 greatly surprise Crillon. On the day after their de- 
 struction he wrote a hurried note to General EHott, 
 in which his opinion of those machines is clearly 
 expressed. He says, — 
 
 " Les armes sont journalieres. On in'a donned de 
 mauvaises machines pour combattre un G^n^ral contra 
 lequcl on ne pent en employer de trop bonnes. Je 
 m'en suis servi parccqu'il faut obc^irc commandcs, 
 commc vous le savcz micux: que pcrsonne. Co qui et 
 (sic) doit existcr entre pcrsonnes comme nous sont les 
 bons proccs." * 
 
 The distinguished i)art which Captain Curtis had 
 taken in tlic defence of the fortress ever since he 
 
 * i\l«)iis. (If Ciilhiii i\ Mona. Elioit, au Camp do Bucna 
 ViHl;i, Scplcuiliri' 15, .17.S2. Egcrtuu MSS. Brit. MuBCum.
 
 KLIOTT S LKTTKK TO LOJll) IKJU K. .'VJ? 
 
 liad joined the command drew from Cicncral Kliott 
 commendations no less merited than sincere. Writ- 
 ing to Lord Howe on the 15th of October, he 
 says,— 
 
 " Unknown to Brigadier Curtis, I must entreat your 
 Lords]ii|) to reflect upon the unspeakable assistance 
 lie has been in the defence of this place by his advice, 
 and the lead he has taken in every hazardous enter- 
 prise. You know him well, my Lord, therefore such 
 conduct on his part is no more than you expect; 
 but let me beg of you not to leave him unrewarded 
 for such signal services. You alone can influence His 
 Majesty to consider such an officer for what he has, 
 and what he will in future deserve wherever employed. 
 If (jiibraltar is of the value intimated to me from 
 otiice, and to be presumed by the steps adventured to 
 relieve it. Brigadier Curtis is the man to whom the 
 King will be chiefly indebted for its security. Believe 
 me, there is nothing affected in this declaration on my 
 ])art. 
 
 Again, when on his return to England he was 
 created Lord lleathfield, he expressed his indignation 
 that Curtis only received the honour of knighthood 
 and a pension of £500 per annum. " It is a shame," 
 he said, "that 1 should be overloaded, and so scantv 
 a pittance be the lot of him who bore the greatest 
 share of the burthen."* Such was the unaffected 
 modesty of this great man ! 
 
 * Barrow's Life of Lord IIowo, p. 159.
 
 398 HISTORY OF Gibraltar. 
 
 When the confusion arising from their disastrous 
 defeat had subsided in the enemy's camp, a heavy 
 cannonade was again opened from their hues and 
 advanced works. The firing generally commenced 
 about five or six o'clock in the morning and continued 
 till noon, then for two hours the batteries were silent, 
 but again opened till seven o'clock in the evening, 
 when the mortars took up the fire till daybreak. 
 During the twenty-four hours 600 shells and about 
 1000 shots were thrown into the garrison. 
 
 Notwithstanding the ill success which had attend- 
 ed the combined attack, and the signal proof the 
 enemy had received of the impregnable strength of 
 the fortress, the Spaniards did not entirely despair of 
 eventually reducing the place by famine, could the 
 arrival of Lord Howe's fleet with the convoy be pre- 
 vented. 
 
 In August the English Government, being aware 
 of the vast preparations which had been making in 
 Spain for the siege of Gibraltar, had collected a fleet 
 of thirty-four sail of the line, six frigates, and three 
 fire-ships, under command of Admiral Lord Howe, 
 which was to convoy a flotilla of merchantmen with 
 relief for the garrison. 
 
 }]y tlic 11th of September, the preparations were 
 completed, and on that day Howe set sail from Spit- 
 head with 183 sail, including the convoy, under the 
 connnand of Vicc-Admirals l^arringtoii and Milbank,
 
 RKNKWKI) KITOKTS OF SPAIN. 3'.)'J 
 
 Rcar-Adniiials Hood and lliiglics, and Commodore 
 Ilotham. 
 
 Ilaiupcrcd by the didictilty of keeping tlic mcr- 
 rliaiitmcu together, and l^aliled ])y contrary winds 
 and violc;nt weatlier, Howe's passage "was unusually 
 slow and tedious. 
 
 The Spanish Government, liaving gained intelli- 
 gence of the approach of this powerful force, instjintly 
 took measures to attack the expedition before it could 
 arrive at its destination. For this purpose the com- 
 bined fleets of Spain and France which lay in the 
 harbour of Algeciras were re-inforced, and dispositions 
 were made for intercepting the British ships on their 
 passage through the Straits. 
 
 These arrangements had scarcely been completed 
 when, on the evening of the 10th October, a fresh 
 westerly wind sprung up in the Bay, and towards 
 night gradually increased in violence till it blew a 
 liurricane. Soon the enemy's vessels were in distress, 
 many were dragging their anchors, and signal guns 
 were fired for help in rapid succession. Throughout 
 the night the fury of the storm did not abate, and 
 daybreak disclosed the havoc among the squadrons at 
 Algeciras ; a ship of the line and a frigate were ashore 
 at Orange Grove, a French liner had suffered great 
 damage to her masts and rigging, and the " St 
 Michael," of 72 guns, was discovered close in shore 
 off the Orange Bastion in distress. She was immedi-
 
 400 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ately fired at, and after having lost four men she was 
 run ashore on the Une wall, and taken possession 
 of by Captain Curtis. Her commander, Admiral 
 Don Juan Moreno, and her crew of 650 men were 
 landed as prisoners. These misfortunes materially 
 affected the ulterior movements of the combined 
 fleets. In the mean time Lord Howe had on the 
 8th of the month arrived off Cape St Vincent, 
 and a frigate was sent on from thence to gain 
 information from the Consul at Earo of the enemy's 
 dispositions. Two days afterwards she returned 
 with the intelligence that the combined fleets, con- 
 sisting of nearly 50 sail, lay at anchor at Algeciras. 
 
 Upon the receipt of this news a council of war 
 was held, and clear and stringent orders were after- 
 wards issued for the guidance of the masters in charge 
 of the merchantmen, that the convoy might be con- 
 ducted safely into the harbour of Gibraltar. On the 
 11th, the fleet passed through the Straits in three 
 divisions, the third and centre squadrons in line of 
 battle a-head ; the second squadron in reserve ; the 
 Victory led a-hcad of the third s(piadron. 
 
 By sunset the van had arrived off Europa Point, 
 and before nightfall four of the transports had an- 
 chored under the guns of tlie fortress. 
 
 By an unpardonable inattention to the orders 
 they had received, the masters of the other vessels 
 failed to make the Bay, juul were driven away to the 
 eastward of the Rock. To the astonishment of Howe,
 
 RKLIKF BY LORD IIOWK. 401 
 
 will) had looked iii)oii an cngiagement as inevitable, 
 the S})aiiiards did not att(nij)t to itit(!rccpt the convoy. 
 
 During the two following; days tlic British admiral 
 was cnp;af:;cd in collecting the transports to the cast- 
 ward, and preparing for action, in case the Spaniards 
 should attack. 
 
 On the 13th the combined fleets, consisting of 41. 
 ships of the line, five frigates, and 29 xebeqiics, cut- 
 ters, and brigs, got under way and stood to the south- 
 ward, with the aj)parent intention of bearing down 
 upon Lord Howe's force. But though the Spanish 
 admiral had the weather-gauge, and notwithstand- 
 ing his fleet was greatly superior in numbers to the 
 English, he contented himself with the execution of 
 some harmless manoeuvres, and permitted the whole 
 of the transports to be conducted safely into Gibraltar 
 under the very muzzles of his guns. The stores and 
 provisions were inuncdiately landed, and two regi- 
 ments of infantry (25th and 29th) were disembarked 
 under the superintendence of Lord Mulgrave. 
 
 Having accomplished his mission and relieved the 
 fortress, Lord Howe prepared to return to England. 
 
 On the 19th of October, taking advantage of an 
 easterly wind, he formed his fleet in order of battle, 
 ami sailed through the Straits. At this time tln' coin- 
 binetl fleets were cruising a lew miles north-east of 
 Ceuta, and in view of Howe's squadron, of which they 
 had the wi'ather-gauge. 
 
 The two IKhMs remained near each other during
 
 402 HISTOKY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the niglit, and on the following morning the wind 
 having come romid to the northward, the Spaniards 
 still held the advantage, and could have closed for 
 action at any moment. It was Lord Howe's desire, 
 if possible, to avoid an engagement in the narrow and 
 dangerous waters of the Straits, and to entice the 
 enemy to accept battle in the open sea; with this 
 object he continued on his course to the westward. 
 
 At sunset on the 20th, the combined fleets, great- 
 ly superior to the EngUsh in force and numbers, came 
 up with the rear division, under Admiral Barrington, 
 and a partial action commenced, but the enemy re- 
 mained at such a respectful distance, keeping as near 
 as they could haul to the wind, that the firing was 
 comparatively harmless on both sides. The two Ad- 
 mirals de Guichen and Cordova led the enemy's van, 
 and it was apparently their intention to cut off and 
 destroy the rear division of the British fleet, but 
 though they had the superiority in force and the ad- 
 vantage of the wind, they could not be induced to 
 close, and soon after midnight the firing ceased. The 
 next morning the two fleets were still in sight, but as 
 the Spaniards evinced no disposition to renew the 
 engagement, Ilowe, whose orders did not permit 
 him to provoke the enemy, continued on his home- 
 ward voyage. 
 
 The successful passage of the British fleet through 
 the Straits, in the face of the combined forces, was 
 regarded in Madrid as a glorious victory for the
 
 Sl'ANISIl MISlU;i'IU:SKNTATIONS. 403 
 
 Spanish arms. TIr' tlespatchcs of Don Louis dc Cor- 
 (lova described the partial eiif^agenient as a complete 
 rout, and Howe was made to flee witli all press of 
 sail from his brave pursuers. 
 
 Seizing upon this exaggerated intelligence as a 
 counterpoise to the recent disastrous news from 
 Gibraltar, the government extolled the valoni- (;f the 
 navy, and spread ludicrously bombastic accounts of 
 the " glorious victory " throughout the country. Pani- 
 j)hlets descriptive of the engagement were published 
 and disseminated, in whicli the casualties of the 
 English were put down in numbers imposingly 
 enormous.* 
 
 Gibraltar having thus been again successfully 
 relieved, the Spanish government relin(piished all hope 
 of securing its possession by force of arms ; but the 
 king still fondly retained some expectation of suc- 
 ceeding by negotiation. In order to conceal the 
 actual hopelessness of the enterprise, and " to give 
 a reasonable colour to the formal j)rosecution of the 
 siege," t private instructions were sent to Crillon 
 to continue the offensive. IJut the Spanish com- 
 mander was in truth no less disheartened than the 
 
 * EfTcrton MSS. 
 
 Notwitlistatulinp; these official misrepresentations the people 
 well understood the real state of the case, ami llir followinj; 
 linos became a popular chant in Spain, 
 
 " Entre 00. EE. NX. y SS. 
 
 Se escaparou los Inglcses." 
 
 t Florida Blanca. 
 
 26 •
 
 404 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ministers of his government, and witli the exception 
 of daily attacks by gun and mortar boats, seconded 
 by a warm fire from the isthmus, active operations 
 completely ceased. 
 
 On the 2nd of February, 1783, the news of the 
 signature of the preliminaries of a general Peace 
 reached the garrison by a flag of truce, and on the 
 12th of March the gates of the fortress, which had 
 been closed for nearly four years, were once more 
 thrown open. 
 
 The announcement of the peace was received with 
 general joy throughout the garrison ; and this feeling 
 was most fully reciprocated by the disheartened and 
 weary enemy. The two chiefs, who, since they had 
 been opposed to each other as antagonists in a 
 struggle w^liich riveted the attention of all Europe, 
 had learnt to regret that they were foes, now met 
 with the cordial embrace of friendship, and no 
 opportunity was lost which could tend to obliterate 
 the remembrances of former rivalry. Friendly meet- 
 ings were interchanged between them, and all memory 
 of previous antagonism was buried in oblivion. 
 
 Being introduced to the officers of the Koyal 
 Artillery, through whose courage and ability his 
 brightest hoj)es of victory had been destroyed, Crillon 
 met them wiili praises of their noble conduct, and 
 remarked that " he would rather see them there as 
 friends than on tlicir batteries as enemies, where," he 
 added, " they never spared him."
 
 KKVIKW OV Tllli SIKCi:. -105 
 
 Olio (lay, when inspecting the immense lines of 
 fortitieation on tlic northern fare of the Rock, all of 
 which had been constructed during the progress of 
 the siege, lost in astonishment at the magnitude of 
 the works, he exclaimed, " This is indeed worthy of 
 the Romans ! " 
 
 Early in April, the Spanish camp having com- 
 menced to break up, and the lines on the isthmus 
 having ])ccn dismantled, the Due de Crillon handed 
 over his command to the Marquis de Saya, and 
 returned to Madrid. 
 
 Thus after a duration of three years, seven months, 
 and twelve days, ended this memorable siege ; a siege 
 which, in the words of Lord North, " was one of 
 those astonishing instances of British valour, disci- 
 pline, military skill, and humanity, that no age or 
 country could produce an example of." At length 
 the devoted garrison was relieved from a situation of 
 suffering, peril, and privation almost unparalleled in 
 the annals of war. 
 
 Resolved to accomplish the subjection of the fortress 
 and to regain possession of the Rock, Spain had brought 
 into the held the most stupendous armament that the 
 whole resources of the nation could produce; but find- 
 ing that even these mighty efforts were insufficient to 
 overpower the stubborn courage of the garrison, or to 
 make any visible effect upon the im])regnable defences 
 of the place, she called in the aid of a sister nation, 
 and organized a combined attack of such prodigious
 
 406 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 mao-nitude, that its success could scarcely admit of 
 doubt. But the skill, energy, and patience of one 
 brave man, seconded by the unflinching gallantry 
 of those he led, defeated even this terrible assault, 
 and utterly destroyed the ingenious and formidable 
 inventions which were to have annihilated every stone 
 of the fortress. 
 
 The losses of the garrison from all causes during 
 the siege were far less than might have been expected, 
 when it is remembered that the troops were twice on 
 the verge of famine, and that for one year and nine 
 months the enemy's bombardment continued without 
 cessation. 
 
 333 were killed or died of wounds, 319 dis- 
 charged, 536 (exclusive of those who died of scurvy) 
 were carried off by sickness, and 43 deserted. 
 
 Tor his services during this protracted and remark- 
 able defence General Eliott was at first rewarded with 
 a pension of £1500 per annum, the Order of the Bath, 
 and the thanks of both Houses of Parliament. 
 
 The ceremony of the investiture took place on the 
 23rd of April, 1783, upon the King's Bastion, the 
 post which the governor liad occui)ied on the day of 
 the final boml)ardment. The ceremonial was, by 
 order of His Majesty the King, conducted with all the 
 magnificence the garrison could afi'ord ; detachments 
 from every regiment were drawn u|) in front of the 
 dais upon which the knight elect was seated, the 
 military commissioner, Lieut. -General Boyd, delivered
 
 PUBLIC (IKAIITl 1>K TO TIIK (;AUK1S(>N. 407 
 
 n complimentary spcecli, and a salute of 100 cannon 
 tlumdc'rcd from the walls. On the same day the 
 p;cneral addressed the troo})s, and communicated to 
 them the thanks of the King and Parliament for their 
 gallant conduct throughout the siege. " No army," 
 he said, " has ever been rewarded by higher national 
 honours, and it is well known how great, universal, 
 and s})ontaneous were the rejoicings throughout the 
 kingdom upon the news of your success. These 
 nuist not oidy give you pleasure, but afford matter 
 of triumph to your dearest friends and latest pos- 
 terity. ... I most warmly congratulate you on 
 these united and brilliant testimonies of approbation, 
 amidst such numerous, such exalted tokens of ap- 
 plause ; and forgive me, faithful companions, if I 
 humbly crave your acceptance of my grateful ac- 
 knowledgments. I only presume to ask this favour as 
 having been a constant witness of your cheerful sub- 
 mission to the greatest hardships, your matchless 
 spirit and exertions, and, on all occasions, your heroic 
 contempt of every danger." 
 
 In England the rewards conferred upon (General 
 Eliott were not generally considered to be in pro- 
 portion to his services, and the intentions of the govern- 
 ment had no sooner been made public than a motion 
 was brought forward in the House of Commons by Lord 
 Maitland (Feb. 14th, 1783), praying tli:it a signal 
 mark of honour might be conferred upon the defender 
 of Gibraltar. "lie had waited," he said, "till all
 
 408 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 that ministers intended to do had been done, and he 
 now considered it his duty and that of Parhament to 
 interfere and advise the Crown to bestow a mark of 
 favour on the General more in proportion to his 
 merits." The motion was seconded by Lord Parker, 
 who compared the defence of Gibraltar with other 
 services, and w^hile admitting that the Order of the 
 Bath was an honourable distinction, averred that it 
 had been given to so many undeserving officers that 
 he believed General Eliott would decline so meagre a 
 reward, and return it with contempt. 
 
 Mr Townshend and Lord Beauchamp opposed 
 the motion on public grounds, and it was eventually 
 lost by a majority of 92 to 18. Pour years after- 
 wards tardy justice was done to this great soldier, 
 and he was raised to the peerage, with the title of 
 Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar.
 
 RENEWED .\E(i()TlATIONS. 4U'J 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 During the progress of the siege of Gibraltar, 
 negotiations for a general Peace had been opened by 
 the English Ministry under Lord Rockingham. The 
 seat of this at first secret negotiation was Paris, and 
 the agent employed, Mr Thomas Grenville, the 
 personal ally of Pox. At the very opening, however, 
 of the overtures for a pacification, a difficulty occurred 
 with Spain, which was also shared by the sister 
 Ijourbon Court, — the restoration of Gibraltar was once 
 more insisted on. Before the question could be 
 debated. Lord Rockingham died, Lord Shelbourne 
 became the head of the new Ministry, and Mr Fitz- 
 herbert replaced Mr Grenville in Paris. 
 
 The new diplomatist encountered no less dif- 
 ficulty than his ])redcce3sor in his pacific mission ; 
 and his embarrassment was aggravated by the artifices 
 of the Prench minister, the Count de Vergennes, who, 
 conscious that Gibraltar would at any time be the 
 principal obstacle in the way of an amicable arrange- 
 ment between England and Spain, was not desirous
 
 410 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 to remove a source of irritation which constantly 
 afforded an excuse for the exercise of French influence 
 over Spanish counsels. 
 
 In the war which was then raging, King Charles 
 had risked all the resources of the nation with the 
 object of recovering the greater part of those pos- 
 sessions of which his country had been deprived; 
 and he was unwilling to accede to any pacific pro- 
 posals which did not comprise the restoration of those 
 territories. 
 
 The cession of Gibraltar, then hotly besieged, was 
 absolutely insisted upon, while Oran, a third-rate port 
 on the African coast of the Mediterranean, was ofl'ered 
 as an equivalent. So certain were the Spaniards of a 
 successful termination to the siege, that the Count 
 D' Aran da, who was conducting the negotiation with 
 Mr Fitzherbert on the part of Spain, had the ef- 
 frontery to affirm that if England did not choose 
 to accept the terms offered to her, the king would 
 never close the war until Gibraltar had surrendered. 
 
 " Oran and its port," he repeatedly observed, 
 " are more than an equivalent, and therefore ought to 
 be accepted with gratitude. If ]']ngland desires peace, 
 this is the only means of procuring it, since the King 
 my master, from personal as well as political motives, 
 is fully determined never to ])ut a period to the 
 j)rcsent war till he shall have acquired Gibraltar, 
 cither by arms or negotiation." 
 
 Tills declaration met with the support of the
 
 DirLO.MATlC DIFFICULTIES. 4il 
 
 French Minister ; and Dr Franklin, who was then in 
 Paris as the accredited agent of the American Govern- 
 ment, asserted that Portsmouth coukl be as justly 
 claimed by Spain as Gibraltar by Kngland. 
 
 Whilst these diplomatic ditficultics arrested the 
 progress of the conference, intelligence of the total 
 destruction of the floating batteries and the failiu-e 
 of the grand attack upon the fortress reached 
 Paris. 
 
 This disastrous news exercised a very great in- 
 fluence upon the tone of the Spanish minister's de- 
 mands, but although the capture of Gibraltar was 
 now more than ever doubtful, its cession for an 
 equivalent was still insisted upon by Spain as the basis 
 of a peace. 
 
 In the hope of more directly influencing the Eng- 
 lish Government, an envoy was sent to London from 
 Paris to communicate personally Avith Lord Shel- 
 bourne, and to offer Porto Rico and Oran in return 
 for the restoration of the Rock. That the minister 
 was in favour of accepting this proposal there can be 
 no doubt ; and in consenting to surrender Gibraltar 
 upon such terms, he was but adopting the views of 
 Chatham, Townshend, and Stanhope. 1 1 is colleagues, 
 however, were divided in their opinion on this inn)ort- 
 ant question, and the Duke of Grafton, in particular, 
 vehemently opposed the cession on any other terms 
 than the exchange of a complete ecjuivalent. 
 
 At an interview with Lord Sht'llx^urnc (Xoveml)cr
 
 412 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 25th, 1782) on the subject of a pacific settlement 
 with Spain and France, he frankly expressed his opinion 
 of the value of Gibraltar, in opposition to the views 
 of his colleague. 
 
 " On finding this difference in our sentiments," he 
 tells us,* " I said that I was sorry to hear this from 
 him, on which Lord Shelbourne observed that I 
 never had wished that the cession of that place (Gib- 
 raltar) should stand in the way of a peace, provided 
 an equivalent was found, such as Porto Rico. I re- 
 plied. Understand me right, I shall always part with 
 Gibraltar with the greatest reluctance, though I am 
 still free to acknowledge that I think that a proper 
 peace ought not to hang on this one point, in case 
 a fair equivalent offered ; but I said that I did not 
 know sufficiently the value and circumstances of 
 the island, — to say that I considered Porto Rico to 
 be such an equivalent as would satisfy me. To this 
 his Lordship replied, that I might be assured that, on 
 the fullest inquiry, I should find, as he had, that the 
 value would exceed my expectations." 
 
 On the 3rd of December, Lord Shelbourne again 
 sent for the Duke of Grafton, and handed to him the 
 heads of the negotiation as proposed by Spain ; and 
 the next morning another message brought the Duke 
 to the minister's house. 
 
 "I went to him," says the Duke, "as soon as I 
 
 * Duke of (iraftoii's IMS. IMoiiioir.s. Vide Lord Mahon's 
 Hist, of England, vol. vii. Appeudi-x.
 
 DUKE OF Grafton's oimnion of (;njRAi/rAU. 413 
 
 had breakfasted, \\'\\\\ a liiiii rosolution to iiiaintain 
 my p;round. Jlc, in llic tirst place, inquired ol" nie 
 \vliere 1 had taken up the notion that a barren, un- 
 inhabited island was equal to or more valuable than 
 West Florida, and afterwards whether I still continued 
 in the same opinion. j\Iy answer was that I was 
 clear, from the best information on the subject, that 
 the greatest advantage, both for trade and power, might 
 be derived from Trinidad ; and that I professed an 
 indignation that Spain should succeed in having her 
 great object, Gibraltar, conceded to her, without giv- 
 ing up Trinidad, to be in addition to any cession she 
 had proposed to us." Finally, the duke absolutely 
 declined to sign the treaty in the shape originally 
 proposed, and Lord Shelbourne left him, with the re- 
 mark that however unpleasant it might be to differ 
 with him, yet he must bear it, for he was resolved to 
 stand by the King. 
 
 On the 5th of December, 17S2, Parliament met, 
 and in the speech from the throne allusion was made 
 to the gallant defence of Gibraltar. 
 
 On the same day, in the Commons, Mr Yorke 
 moved the address to the king, and in the course of 
 his speech referred to the glorious termination of the 
 siege. lie announced that a treaty had been opened 
 with the belligerent powers, and that so considerable 
 a progress had been made, that a general pacilication 
 might shortly be expected. ^Ir Bankes rose to second 
 the motion ; and. after some jireliininary remarks
 
 414 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 respecting the defence of Gibraltar, thus proceeded 
 amid the silence of the House, — " A peace is the only 
 thing that can save us ; and in making this, great 
 sacrifices must be made, for national honour is nation- 
 al faith and credit, and our debts are, at all events, 
 to be discharged. 
 
 " Our ambition is not to stand in the way of a 
 peace. We are not to hesitate about giving up this 
 place or that place merely because it has a name, or 
 has distinguished itself in a peculiar manner. If, in 
 making a peace, sacrifices are necessary, sacrifices 
 must be made. If there is any post which is kept as 
 a post of honour more than a post of utility ; if there 
 is any place which we have kept as a mark of supe- 
 riority more than as a possession of advantage, a place 
 which costs us more in keeping than it is worth ; if 
 there is a place which in particular hurts the pride of 
 the enemy, which is the object of their ambition and 
 desire ; that which would instigate them to go to war, 
 and provoke them to continue in it, — surely, that of 
 all others is the place which, in such circumstances as 
 the present, ought to be ceded." 
 
 The hint thus thrown out was plain and intelligible, 
 and was intended to sound the feelings of the House. 
 Mr Fox instantly rose to re})ly ; with all the force of 
 his eloquence he vehemently protested against the 
 surrender of the greatest fortress in the worhl. He 
 expressed his astonishment at the alarming hint which 
 had been (h*o])))ed by Mr liiuikes, and earnestly trust-
 
 Mil I'OX's OI'INION OF (Jl UIIALTAU. 415 
 
 ed that the honourable member spoke from specula- 
 tion, not from authority. The possession of Gibraltar 
 was invaluable to England, and even the American 
 Colonies might have been saved had a fleet been 
 stationed at Gibraltar to intercept the passage of 
 d'Estaing, 
 
 "A sagacious ministry," he said, " would always em- 
 ploy Gibraltar in dividing France from France, Spain 
 from Spain, and the one nation from the other .... 
 The fortress of Gibraltar was to be reckoned amongst 
 the most valuable possessions of England. It was that 
 which gave us respect in the eyes of nations ; it 
 manifested our supeiiority, and gave us the means of 
 obliging them by protection. Give up to Spain the 
 fortress of Gibraltar, and the ^Mediterranean becomes 
 to them a pool, a i)ond in which they can navigate at 
 pleasure, and act without control or check. 
 
 " Deprive yourselves of this station, and the States 
 of Europe who border on the Mediterranean will no 
 longer look to you for the free navigation of that sea ; 
 and having it no longer in your power to be useful, 
 you cannot expect alliances. 
 
 "The hon. gentleman (Mr Bankes) talks of the 
 cession of this important fortress on a principle the 
 most delusive. . . . Ambition is a vice which grows, 
 like avarice, from what it feeds on, and he must be 
 strangely ignorant of the ambition, avarice, and lust of 
 human governments, who thinks that the possession 
 of Gibraltar, because it is the ininiediate object of
 
 410 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 the Court of Spain, would prevent them from forming 
 new desires which they would endeavour to gratify 
 by new wars." 
 
 Lord North also condemned the policy of surren- 
 dering Gibraltar ; and called the attention of ministers 
 to the fact that the fortress had now been proved to 
 be invulnerable, and where, he asked, could an equiva- 
 lent be found ? 
 
 He was followed by Mr Burke, who declared that 
 " the fortress of Gibraltar was invaluable, because 
 impregnable. No other post which the Spaniards 
 could give us had that recommendation; and as a post 
 of war, a post of power, a post of commerce, and a 
 post which made us valuable to our friends and dread- 
 ful to our enemies ; that which gave us the command 
 in the district of ocean wdiere it lay, that which w^as 
 the incontestable evidence of our pre-eminence and 
 power ; that of all other places was w^hat we ought 
 with the most religious determination to maintain."* 
 
 Nor was the feeling of reluctance to part with a 
 possession so dearly won confined to the members of 
 the House ; throughout the country the pubUc voice 
 was opposed to such a sacrifice, and the jMinistry 
 quickly perceived that the surrender of Gibraltar 
 would be followed by their expulsion from power. 
 
 The proposal was consequently abandoned, and 
 the negotiation was cut short by a despatch, wrung 
 from tlie unwilling hand of Lord Shclbournc, by 
 
 * J'arliMiiicnlary Ili.siory.
 
 PRELIMINARY ARTICLES OF PEACE SKJNEI). 417 
 
 ulilcli tlie Catholic Kinp; was informed that no con- 
 ditions ivhatsocver would induct; tlic British nation 
 to cede the fortress to the Crown of Sj)ain. 
 
 At the moment this despatch readied the king lie 
 was at Aranjuez (Dec. 17S2), and great was his 
 indignation when he learnt that his hopes were again 
 blasted. In the first moment of anger he resolved to 
 ])rosecute the war with still greater vigour. D'Estaing 
 was sent for to IMadrid to discuss a plan of operations, 
 and an expedition of gigantic proportions was project- 
 ed against Jamaica.* 
 
 Preparations for this vast armament had actually 
 been commenced, when the British Government again 
 proposed preliminary articles of peace ; the cession of 
 Minorca, an island of great value to Spain, was 
 offered in lieu of Gibraltar, and other terms erpially 
 advantageous were tendered. At length, influenced 
 by the French Court, the Catholic King consented to 
 accede to these conditions, and on the 30th January, 
 1783, the preliminaries were signed. This treaty was 
 alike advantageous to Spain and dishonourable to 
 England. " Never," says Florida Blanca, " has such 
 a successful treaty been concluded for two centuries 
 past." 
 
 Minorca, next to Gibraltar the darling object of 
 the king's ambition, was restored, the two Floridas 
 were given up, and the Gulf of Mexico secured from 
 the interference of foreign power. " From the 
 
 * Florida IJhuua's Kepresentatioiis. Article 10. 
 27
 
 418 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 beginning of the war," the Spanish Minister tells us, 
 " these acquisitions and that of Gibraltar were the 
 objects principally in view," 
 
 The promulgation of these preliminaries was fol- 
 lowed by the instant downfal of the British Ministry, 
 and the accession of Fox and Lord North to power as 
 the leaders of the coalition. This change of administra- 
 tion defeated for the time every hope that Spain re- 
 tained of recovering Gibraltar, as Fox, who had always 
 steadfastly opposed the cession, immediately declared 
 that the surrender of the fortress should never be 
 allowed to become the subject of discussion. 
 
 This announcement gave the greatest offence to 
 King Charles and his minister, Florida Blanca, both 
 of whom, hoping against hope, had cherished a vain 
 belief that the place would have been restored before 
 the conclusion of the definitive treaty. 
 
 The speedy disruption of the coalition ministry 
 and the formation of another administration under 
 Pitt, who it was generally believed coincided in the 
 policy of his former colleague. Lord Shelbourne, once 
 more raised a feeble expectation at Madrid, and the 
 restoration of Gibraltar was again demanded. The 
 arrangement of the limits of the British posses- 
 sions in Honduras afforded an opi)ortunity for the 
 introduction of fresh proposals regarding the exchange 
 of the rock-fortress. Various advantages were offered, 
 and the question of the settlement of the Honduras 
 territory was purposely kept open witli v(;xntious delays.
 
 CLOSE OK NK(;()TIATI0NS. 419 
 
 It was craftily represented that Si)ain was loth to 
 grant any conunercial favours to l']ngland in those 
 seas, but it was added, " the })rosj)('ct of (jihraltar 
 may have a mighty effect on both the king and 
 people." * 
 
 Discussing this subject, Florida Blanca on one 
 occasion remarked, — 
 
 " I consider Gi])raltar as a possession which, 
 though overrated as to its solid importance and value, 
 is a per])etual thorn in the side of Spain, and a great 
 obstacle to the establishment of a complete cordiality. 
 I have turned the subject long in my mind, and can 
 see many ample equivalents in the eye of national 
 wisdom ; but there are national prejudices in England 
 which supersede all other reasonings." 
 
 At length, l)affled at every point, he acknowledged 
 the defeat of the darling project for which he had 
 toiled and plotted throughout his long administration, 
 and with mortitied pride exclaimed, — 
 
 " No British ministry of the present age will have 
 the courage to look the question fairly in the face, 
 and 1 will tliink no more of it." 
 
 Such was the termination of this the last negotia- 
 tion in which Spain engaged for the recovery of a 
 l)ossession she loved so well. For nearly a century 
 she liad exhausted all her efforts of diplomacy ; had 
 lavished untold treasure ; had sacrificed whole armies, 
 in a cause which she had ever regarded as sacred to 
 
 * Florida Blaiu-a. 
 21 •
 
 420 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 her honour. But now she felt that all was lost, her 
 armies were repulsed, her resources dissipated, her 
 diplomatists baffled. The victory still remained with 
 her enemy, and Gibraltar was sullenly rehnquished, 
 we may hope for ever, to the Crown of England.
 
 THE FK1:N( Jl REVOLUTION. 421 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 After the failure of the negotiation narrated in 
 the previous chapter, Spain seems to have abandoned 
 lier hopes of recovering Gibraltar. The fortress was 
 permitted to remain in the peaceful possession of the 
 English, and the question of its surrender was never 
 afterwards agitated. 
 
 The outbreak of the Erench Revolution, in 17S0, 
 -was followed in a few years by a declaration of war 
 between England and I'rance, and a fleet under Lord 
 Hood was sent into the Mediterranean. In the first 
 years of this campaign England and Spain acted in 
 concert. 
 
 General O'llara, tlien governor of Gibraltar, was 
 sent with some regiments of the garrison to reinforce 
 the allied troops at the siege of Toulon. Here the 
 English and the Spaniards fought side by side till 
 the evacuation of the place, an event which was hast- 
 ened by the rashness of the British conunander. Rut 
 this alliance, which followed so closely upon a pro* 
 longed and bitter contest, wherein disappointment and
 
 4:22 HISTORY ov Gibraltar. 
 
 defeat had aroused the fiery animosity of every Spaniard, 
 could not be otherwise than fragile and iUusory. 
 
 In 1796 it was snapped asunder, and an offensive 
 and defensive treaty against England was concluded 
 between France and Spain, at the Palace of St Ilde- 
 
 fonso. 
 
 As it w^as not unlikely that King Charles would 
 once more attempt, under the then favourable circum- 
 stances, to gain by force of arms the one grand object 
 of his hfe's ambition, the British Government took 
 the precaution of supplying and reinforcing Gib- 
 raltar. 
 
 A convoy was sent from Portsmouth in charge of 
 Commodore Nelson. Whilst doubhng Cape St Vin- 
 cent, a Spanish fleet of 27 sail of the line was de- 
 scried in the ofling. Nelson immediately communi- 
 cated the intelligence to Admiral Jervis, who was 
 cruising off the cape with 15 first-rates. 
 
 On the 14th of Pebruary, tlie two fleets fell in 
 with each other, and an action was fonght, which re- 
 sulted in the total defeat of the Spanish squadron. 
 
 In the spring of 1800, rumours of an intended 
 attack upon Gibraltar had gained ground, and it was 
 aflirmed that 50,000 French troops were to take part 
 in the enterprise. 
 
 At this time the waters of the Straits and the Bay 
 of Cadiz were watched by a small squadron (under 
 co!nmand of Sir .lames Saumarcii, Bart.), consisting of
 
 ACTION Ol b" AL(.KCillAS. 4:23 
 
 
 Guns. 
 
 The Cii-sar 
 
 80 
 
 „ Audacious 
 
 74 
 
 „ Hannibal 
 
 74 
 
 ,, Spencer 
 
 74 
 
 ,, Le Ponipec 
 
 80 
 
 „ Super!) 
 
 74 
 
 ,, Venerable 
 
 74 
 
 „ Thames Frigate. 
 
 
 On Saturday the 4th of July, three French ships 
 of the line and one frigate came round from Toulon 
 on their way to Cadiz, and anchored in tlie Bay of 
 Algeciras. The next day they formed in line of battle 
 under the guns of the fortress, as if expecting attack 
 from an enemy. The harbour was strongly pro- 
 tected both naturally and artificially, heavy batteries 
 raked all approaches to the Bay, and dangerous sunken 
 rocks, known only to experienced pilots, guarded the 
 entrance to the anchorage. On the mornhig of the 
 0th, signal was made from the Rock that a British 
 scjuadron of five ships und(U' Admiral Saumarez was 
 a})proaching the Bay. The scpiadron was led by the 
 " Venerable," Captain Hood. 
 
 When this ship had rounded Cabrita Boint and 
 was making the Bay, the French scpiadron was dis- 
 covered at anchor under the walls of Algeciras. Sig- 
 nal was instantly made to attack, and the scpiadron 
 bore down within half cannon-shot of the French men- 
 of-war. At half-past eight, a.m., the action began by
 
 424 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 all the batteries and ships of the enemy opening a 
 tremendous fire upon the English ; the latter rephed 
 with great energy and rapidity, compelling the French 
 vessels to haul in shore close under the guns of the 
 forts. After two hours' constant cannonade, the Caesar 
 and Pomp^e were obhged to cut cables and retreat, 
 disabled by the galling fire from the land batteries. 
 The Hannibal, however, with the rest of the squadron, 
 continued to fight, though the chance of success 
 against such odds was small. 
 
 At length, about twelve o'clock, observing that 
 the French admiral was in difficulties, Captain Ferris, 
 of the Hannibal, determined to close with him, not- 
 withstanding the danger of the channel and the over- 
 whelming fire from the walls. The manoeuvre was 
 executed with a skill and courage that astonished the 
 enemy, and a few moments would have brought the 
 ships in contact, when, unfortunately, the Hannibal 
 grounded on a reef. Being now exposed to a con- 
 centrated cannonade from all the batteries. Captain 
 Ferris was compelled to strike, after having lost 131 of 
 his crew. After this misfortune the squadron dis- 
 continued the action, and retii'ed across the Bay to 
 Gibraltar to refit. 
 
 Having taken possession of tlic Hannibal, the 
 enemy, instead of making the usual signal of a capture 
 by hoisting the French flag over the English ensign, 
 merely reversed the latter, which being und(n-stood at 
 Gil)raltar as a sign of distress, four boats put off
 
 ACTION oir AL(;ii('iUAs. 4:25 
 
 to the assistance of the ship, and upon going alongside 
 Averc taken by the enemy. 
 
 Thougli this smart and gallant action exhibited in 
 no small degree the courage and temerity of the British 
 seamen, yet it may be doubted whether Sir James 
 Saumarez was prudent in attacking even an inferior 
 force under such formidable batteries and in such a 
 dangerous harbour. 
 
 The result was a disaster for which a victory alone 
 could have compensated. Every ship of the squadron 
 was severely damaged, and 3G1 officers and men were 
 killed or wounded. 
 
 The enemy also suffered considerably; two vessels 
 lost their captains, five Spanish gun-boats were sunk, 
 and their casualties were published at 490 men.* 
 
 On the bth, the three French line-of-battle ships 
 were reinforced by a squadron of five Spanish ships 
 of the line \mder command of Don Joacpiin de 
 Moreno, a French ship of 74 guns, three frigates, and 
 a number of gun -boats. 
 
 At noon on the 12th, the whole force was observed 
 to be under way and making for the westward. By 
 evening the ships were rounding the point at Cabrita. 
 Admiral Saumarez, who during the past week had 
 been working hard to repair his damaged ships, 
 immediately made signals to chase, and, confiding in 
 the zeal and courage of his officers and men, determined 
 
 * French, Spanish, and Englisli accouuta. Vide " Gibraltar 
 Chronicle," July, 1801.
 
 426 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 to obstruct the passage of the enemy to Cadiz. It 
 was not until eight o'clock in the evening that the 
 squadron was ready to sail, and even then the 
 " Pomp^e " had to be left behind, being still without 
 her masts. The night was dark and stormy. By 
 half-past eight o'clock the ships* were clear of the 
 Bay and following in the wake of the enemy's 
 squadron. 
 
 At nine o'clock the admiral hailed the " Superb," 
 74, and directed Captain Keates to keep between the 
 enemy and the Spanish shore, and to bring the stern- 
 most ships to action. By eleven the " Superb," 
 which was a fast sailer, came up with two Spanish 
 three-deckers, the " Real Carlos " and " Hermene- 
 gildo." When within three cables length she open- 
 ed fire and poured into both ships a succession 
 of broadsides. In fifteen minutes the " Real Carlos " 
 was in flames, and Captain Keates, having ceased 
 firing upon her, took the " Superb " forward and 
 engaged the " San Antonio," 74 guns, which struck 
 after a short defence. In the meanwhile the two Spanish 
 three-deckers, liaving mistaken each other for enemies, 
 continued to light fiercely, until the " Hermcncgildo," 
 thinking to sink her adversary, ran alongside ; but at 
 that very moment the " Real Carlos " blew up with 
 a tremendous explosion, and the two vessels, with 
 their crews of 2400 men, were Inn-led to destruction. 
 
 * " C.THar," " Spencer," " Venerable," " Superb," " Au- 
 dacious," "Thames," and " Cali)e" sloop.
 
 SUliSEqUENT ENCiAGEMENT, 1:27 
 
 Only 10 souls were saved from this terrible eatas- 
 troplie. 
 
 Had the Spaniards i)een aetuated by the feelings 
 of humanity which led the captain of the " Superb " 
 to cease firing upon the " Real Carlos " when she 
 appeared in flames, this disaster, which cost the nation 
 more lives than the battle of Trafalgar, would have 
 been averted ; but the conunander of the " llermene- 
 gildo " was no sooner aware of the calamity on board 
 what he imagined to be an enemy's vessel, than he 
 sought to aggravate the misfortune by a still closer 
 cannonade. 
 
 Immediately the two three-deckers had blown uj), 
 the rest of the enemy's squadron, which had become 
 dispersed by the tempestuous weather, made all sail 
 for the westward, and when morning dawned only one 
 French ship was in sight off the shoals of Conil. 
 The " Venerable," then a-head of the English squad- 
 ron, managed with some difficulty, being baffled by a 
 failing breeze, to bring her to action, and she nnist 
 inevitably have struck had not an unlucky shot carried 
 away the mainmast of the "Venerable" at the crisis 
 of the fight. The action was fought so close in shore that 
 the mast had scarcely gone by the board when the ship 
 ran a-ground, and the fore and niizen masts had to be 
 (Mit away, leaving her a total wreck ; in this condition 
 she was towed off by the "Thames" frigate, and 
 carried s;dely into Ciibraltar. 
 
 For his brilliant services in this engagement, when
 
 423 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 with an inferior force he destroyed two of the enemy's 
 vessels and captured another, under circumstances of 
 great difficulty, Admiral Saumarez received the Order 
 of the Bath. The ceremony of investiture took place 
 at Gibraltar, on the 16th November, 1801. 
 
 On the 24th of March, 1802, His Royal Highness 
 the Duke of Kent was appointed Governor of Gib- 
 raltar, and on the 10th of May he arrived with his 
 suite and took up his command. On the 17th, 
 H. E. H. the Duke of Sussex landed from the " Mer- 
 maid " frigate, and joined his royal brother. 
 
 Almost the first pubUc duty which the governor 
 was called upon to perform was to conduct the civil 
 business of the Session as presiding judge. On that 
 occasion three Spaniards were indicted for feloniously 
 stealing goods to the value of £500 from the dwelhng- 
 place of one James Hepper. The case having been 
 clearly proved, a verdict of guilty was returned, and 
 the duke sentenced the culprits to be hanged. 
 
 By a system as pernicious as it was mistaken, the 
 salary of the governors of GilDraltar had for many 
 years been principally defrayed by the income derived 
 from wine-house licences. General O'llara was at 
 one time in receipt of £7000 per annum from this 
 source alone. 
 
 To keep up this artificial revenue, and to ease the 
 imperial treasury, every encouragement was given to 
 the establishment of pubhc-houses and the sale of 
 wines and spirituous liquors. The consequence of
 
 DUKE OF KKNT (JOVKUNOR. 420 
 
 this mischievous policy in a crowded and confined 
 «:^arrison might easily have heiMi foreseen, — the troops 
 Avere disorganized with shameless intoxication, riot 
 and debauchery reigned unchecked, and discipline 
 was almost at an end. 
 
 The Duke of Kent, himself a strict and conscien- 
 tious soldier, regarded the prevailing evil with alarm, 
 and sought to apply a remedy by striking at the root 
 of the disorder. Forgetful of his own selfish interests, 
 he endeavoured to suppress the unbridled drunken- 
 ness : the muuber of canteens and spirit shops were 
 reduced, while stringent and judicious regulations 
 were put in force for the management of licensed 
 establishments. 
 
 These admirable instructions form the basis of the 
 canteen regulations of the army at the present day. 
 
 Unfortunately these efforts for refonn were not 
 supported by the authorities either in the garrison or 
 at home. The troops, indignant at the slightest 
 interference with the habits of licentiousness, into 
 which they had been silently permitted to lapse, 
 openly defied the orders of the governor, who, unsup- 
 ])()rted either ])y his second in connnand or the ofiicer 
 luuler him, i'ound himself threatened witli a general 
 mutiny. An outbreak, indeed, did take \)hu\\ and 
 reports from the disaftected having reached home, 
 the duke was sacrificed to party feeling, ;uid recalled 
 within a year after his a])pointment. The injustice of
 
 430 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 this measure was aggravated by tlie conduct of the 
 government, who ever afterwards refused to allow any 
 investigation to be made into the circumstances which 
 led to his removal. 
 
 In 1804, Gibraltar was visited by the first of those 
 terrible epidemics * which afterwards at intervals 
 swept the Rock. A fever of a most virulent type, 
 and generally admitted to have been yellow fever, 
 broke out in the month of August, and in a few 
 weeks 5733 persons out of a population of 15,000 
 died of the disease. Subsequently on three different 
 occasions the epidemic returned with violence, and at 
 length in 1828 a commission was appointed to inquire 
 into the origin and diagnosis of the disease. f 
 
 In 1805, the rising power of Napoleon and the 
 rapid encroachments his victorious arms had made in 
 Europe, excited general alarm ; every state of the 
 continent was threatened, but it was against England 
 that the designs of the Emperor were chiefly directed. 
 Since the declaration of war in 1803 between Prance 
 and England, Nelson had been in command of the 
 Mediterranean fleet, and in the following year had 
 gone in search of the combined squadrons of France 
 and Spain, from Cadiz to the West Indies, without 
 being fortunate enough to conic u}) with them. 
 
 * A destructive fever decimated tlic population in 1619. 
 From a dcscripiion of its symptoms it is believed by some to 
 have been tlie ycllf)\v fever. 
 
 t This subject is referred to iiKirt- fully, jto.sl.
 
 MKDITATKI) Sl'ANISll ATTACK. -I:jl 
 
 In September, 1805, Collingwood,* wlio was 
 watcliiiif^ tlie waters about Cadiz, sent intelligence to 
 Nelson, who had just returned home from his unsuc- 
 cessful cruise, acquainting him that the combined 
 
 * It would appear that in August, 1805, suspicions were 
 entertained tliat llie Spaniards meditated an attack upon 
 Gibraltar; for on the 15th of that month, we find Admiral 
 Colliiii^wodd writing to General Pox at Gibraltar, on the 
 subject. 
 
 " Dreadnought, 
 "Oif Cadiz, August 15th, 1805. 
 
 " I have received the honour of your letter, informing mo 
 of the great increase in the number of Spanish troops at tlie 
 Camp of St Koque, with other circumstances, which cause a 
 well-grounded suspicion that active hostility against the 
 garrison of Gibraltar is in the contemplation of the enemy. 
 
 " I do not think it improbable that, urged by the French 
 Government, the Spanish Court may be induced to order an 
 attack, in which event every assistance which can be given by 
 the ships that can be spared from the blockade shall be ready, 
 and if. Sir, you will suggest any particular mode of employ- 
 ment for them as best tending to defeat the purpose of the 
 enemy, I will be exceedingly happy to meet your wishes. 
 
 " The Thunder-liomb is, I understand, now at Gibraltar, 
 and I will write to Bear-Admiral Knight to keep her there 
 while the prospect of attack ap|)ears near. 
 
 " For some days past the lishing-boats have not come out of 
 Cadiz, as usual ; on the receipt of your letter I thought it 
 probable they might be fitting out as gun-boats, for which they 
 are very well calculated, but from the best intelligence I can 
 get, I learn it is the men only that are impressed to fit out 
 the ships of war, to do which an extraordinary exertion is 
 making, that they may be ready to join the Carthagona ships 
 expected here the first fresh easterly wiiul." — Original in 
 INIilitary Secretary's Ofllce, Gibraltar.
 
 432 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 fleets of 35 sail of the line, under Admiral Villeneuve, 
 had put into that port. Though impaired in health, 
 the admiral instantly volunteered to join Colling- 
 wood's force, and on the 15th September he set 
 sail on board the Victory, accompanied by the 
 Ajax, Thunderer, and Euryalus. In 14 days he 
 reached the fleet, which was then cruising between 
 Cadiz and Cape St Mary's. Having made every 
 disposition and arrangement in case of attack, he 
 anxiously awaited the moment when the combined 
 forces should come out of port and engage. But 
 his enemy was in no haste to risk an action ; for three 
 weeks the ships remained at anchor in the harbour, 
 and it is probable that Villeneuve would not have put 
 to sea when he did, but for the taunts of the Spanish 
 Government and the avowed sarcasm and displeasure 
 of Napoleon at his alleged timidity. The Moniteur 
 was permitted to charge him openly with incapacity, 
 and his removal was suggested. " The French navy," 
 said that paper, " only wants a man of undaunted 
 spirit, of a cool and daring courage ; this man will be 
 found some day or other, and then people shall see 
 what our seamen can do." 
 
 In the middle of October, Villeneuve heard that 
 another officer was absolutely on liis way to supersede 
 him. Thus situated, he resolved to venture to sea, 
 notwithstanding the remonstrance of the Spanish 
 a(1iiiir;il, wlio foresaw the disastrous consecjuences 
 which must ensue.
 
 LF.TTKIl OF LOUD NKLSON. 4.'i.*i 
 
 Since he had been cruising oflf the port of Cadiz, 
 Nelson had been in constant communication with 
 (Gibraltar. It was to that harbour tliat he looked for 
 refuge or relief after the approaching action, and it 
 was there that he intended to refit his shattered ships. 
 
 On the ITtli of October, four days jjcfore his 
 death, he wrote the following letter to (jleneral Fox, 
 wlio at that time commanded in the fortress : — 
 
 " Victory. 
 "October 17th, 1805. 
 
 " j\Iy dear General, 
 
 " Lord Robert Fitzgerald landed 
 safely at Lagos on the 13th (having had a narrow 
 escape from paying a visit to his brother aml^assador. 
 Lord Elgin) to his very great joy ; but I think from 
 Mr Lloyd, of Diligents reports, that Sir Richard 
 Strachan had got sight of the Rochfort squadron. I 
 wish he was stronger, but he will certainly destroy 
 their cruise, CVsar, Namur, Hero, Courageaux, Rel- 
 lona, frigate Indefatigable ; French scpiailron, one 
 tirst-rate, four or five two-decked ships, and three or 
 four frigates, but as they have manned several prizes 
 I will hope for the best success. I am sun* that Sir 
 Richard Strachan will do all that nuui can.* 
 
 * Ou the 2iid Xovember, Sir Kichanl Stnu-han, while eniis- 
 ini; oft' Ferrol, fell in with four Freiu-h linc-of-battle ships 
 whii'h liail esenped fri)iii tlie battle of Trafal<,'ar. After a warm 
 
 28
 
 434 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 " Our friends at Cadiz, we flatter ourselves, will some 
 da}^ or other come forth, and I hope then that the 
 fleet under my command will fulfil the expectations 
 of our country. 
 
 " Your letter to the Duke of York and the others 
 you sent me I forwarded in the Admiralty packet; 
 the three regiments for your garrison may be expected 
 every moment, and I shall thank you to tell me how 
 long it will be after their arrival that the other regi- 
 ments will be embarked, that I may have a convoy 
 ready for them. 
 
 " I beg, my dear general, that you will give me 
 your commands upon all points, and it will give me 
 real pleasure to meet your wishes. Being, with the 
 greatest respect, your most faithful and obedient 
 
 servant, 
 
 " Nelson and Bronte. 
 
 "Ilonble Gen. Fox."* 
 
 On the 19th of October, the enemy sailed from 
 Cadi/ in the direction of tlie Straits, followed by 
 
 Nelson. 
 
 On the morning of the 21st the two fleets came 
 in sight, and at noon precisely the action commenced. 
 
 action, ill wliidi llic I'^rcncli suslaiiicd very heavy losses, the 
 cnciriy Hlruck. The 7\(liiiiral Diiinaiioir Ic IVlIey was wounded, 
 and the captain of" a Heveiity-roiir killed. 
 
 * Original autogra])li in Colonial iSccivtai-y'H Ollicc, (jiibral- 
 tar.
 
 MATTLK OF TU.\FAK(.AH. 4:3.") 
 
 It is unnecessary to repeat here tlie oft-told tale of 
 this celebrated combat; it is suilieient to record that 
 tiie combined navies of France antl Spain were utterly 
 destroyed, and that by this brilliant action, which in- 
 llicted a [)erniaii('nt blow u[)()ii tlie ()verl)eariii_u: policy 
 of Napoleon, England was saved liom a threatened 
 invasion. At the conclusion of the engagement the 
 shattered ships of the British fleet put into Cjibraltar 
 to refit. 
 
 On the i^'^th October the Victory, in tow of the 
 Neptune, entered the Bay, with the body of Nelson 
 on board. To preserve the corpse from decomposition 
 it had been placed in a cask filled with brandy. Dur- 
 ing the detention of the Victory at Gibraltar the 
 brandy was drawn of!', and the cask refilled with 
 spirits of wine. 
 
 In Spain cleverly manufactured reports were made 
 to represent this battle as an engagement ((iiially 
 disastrous to the English as to the allies. 
 
 One number of the Madrid Gazette published an 
 official statement of the condition of the Britisli fictt 
 after the action, according to which only 10 sail of 
 the line were fit to put to sea, and in this list were 
 included four vessels unknown to the British Navy ; 
 1 1 first-rates were described as smik or burnt, which 
 at the time the report was written wvw either nady 
 for sea in the Bay of Gibraltar or on their way to 
 England, and several vessels were reported comjdeti'ly 
 crippled, which had not been within a hundred
 
 436 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 miles of the battle. The intelligence of this victory 
 was received with joy at Gibraltar. The governor 
 instantly despatched a brief message of congratulation 
 to Collingwood, and received the following letter in 
 reply. 
 
 " Queen. 
 
 "November 1st, 1805. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I have received the honour of your 
 letter to me, and am much obliged by your (sic) for 
 your kind congratulations on the signal victory ob- 
 tained over the enemy's fleet. 
 
 " The severe gale of w4nd which we since expe- 
 rienced brought the ships both of the enemy and 
 those of the squadron into extreme danger. The 
 hulks were driven in all directions — three were 
 (fortunate enough for them) forced by the storm into 
 the entrance of the port of Cadiz, where they received 
 such assistance as enabled them to get in. The Nep- 
 tuno (one of them is since sunk), the Saint Ana, and 
 Algeciras, still afloat. But in exchange for them two 
 of the ships which came out Avith Gravina the second 
 time were dismasted, the Rayo fell into our hands 
 and is destroyed, the Indoinptable wrecked, and, I 
 am told, all perished. Under (he unfortunate circum- 
 stances which the gale rechiced us to, I found it 
 necessary to order all the captured sliips to be (de- 
 stroyed?), except two or three wliich liad sufl'ercd 
 least. I inclose to your I]xcellency a list of the shii)s
 
 rilOSI'KKlTV OF (;II!1{.\1,TAK. ll}7 
 
 Aviiirli siirrciulercd and liow tlicv inv. disposed of, 
 which I think will satisfy you tli:it tlic couibiiifd flc(;t 
 as a fleet is anniliilated. 
 
 " I continued otl" Cadiz sonic days, not only tor the 
 })Ui-j)Ose of destroying the captures, ])ut to satisfy 
 them that an English fleet was not to be driven from 
 their station by their utmost efforts ; and this cir- 
 cumstance seems to have had an effect of more sur- 
 prising them than even the battle. I sent a flag to the 
 Marquis Solano offering his wounded men to be given 
 to their care, for which he expresses himself and the 
 Spanish nation truly grateful, and in return offered 
 his hospitals and his honour for the care and cure of 
 our seamen if I had chosen to send them to him !" * 
 
 In 1 808, Gibraltar, as a free port, derived great 
 benefit from the influx of wealth and merchan- 
 dise during the revolution in Spain ; landed property 
 increased immensely in value, and an era of commer- 
 cial prosperity commenced. Since that time the Rock 
 has been undisturbed by the influences of war : the 
 intenal of peace has been devoted to the improve- 
 ment of the place, the constitution of civil laws, and 
 the emancipation of the people from military rule. 
 
 In 1830, the first charter of justice was given to 
 the city, a magistracy was established, and the ad- 
 vantage of civil liberty accorded to the inhabitants. 
 Nor have its military interests been neglected : the 
 
 * Autograi)h in Military Sccretarv's Oflk-c, (libraltar.
 
 438 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 fortifications, always strong, have been vastly extended 
 and improved, the heaviest ordnance has replaced the 
 lighter guns of former days, almost inexhaustible 
 stores have been accumulated, and immense quanti- 
 ties of ammunition crowd the magazines. The work 
 of improvement is never still; every hour of the 
 day hundreds of artificers are employed upon the 
 defences, scarping too accessible cliffs, building new 
 batteries, re-arming old ones, and strengthening weak 
 points. 
 
 It has been recently urged that England is guilty 
 of a political immorality in retaining possession of 
 Gibraltar. The views entertained by some in favour 
 of the emancipation of our colonies have led to dis- 
 cussions on the question of our legitimate right to 
 occupy certain dependencies. 
 
 The particular phase of political affairs which led 
 to and justified the capture and temporary retention 
 having passed away, it is affirmed that England has 
 no grounds for keeping Gibraltar, and that it would 
 be only an act of justice were she to restore the fort- 
 ress to Spain. 
 
 More than this ; it is suggested that the power of 
 Spain is rapidly reviving, and that ere long she may 
 become sufficiently vigorous to wrest from us what wc 
 now hold by superior force. 
 
 Arc these arguments and assuni})t ions correct ? 
 
 Has j^^ngland not only no just claim to Gibraltar, 
 bill has she been guiUy of a political sin in keeping
 
 England's ( laim io (wuKALTAii. liiO 
 
 possession of it for a ccnturv and a lialf? Docs the 
 slow iv^^eneracy of Spain justify the supposition that it 
 will produce armies and navies [)owerful enough to 
 wa^e w;ir with England and retake (Jihraltar? 
 
 'riiis fortress first fell into our hands hy ca^jturc. 
 True, it was originally surrendered to the nominal 
 sovereignty of the Archduke Charles, but seeing that 
 he had no power of himself to keep possession of it, 
 it was suffered to lapse into the hands of the English 
 without opposition. 
 
 It was because the legality of the title of posses- 
 sion thus given to England w\as doubtful that the 
 formal cession in perpetuity was insisted upon at the 
 Conference of Utrecht. 
 
 AVhen the cession was conlirnied, the Rock was 
 in the safe keeping of England ; the 10th article 
 of the Treaty of Utrecht therefore merely secured 
 the possession of the fortress to Great Britain by an 
 incontrovertible right. " The Catholic King," says 
 that article, " as regards himself and all his suc- 
 cessors, yields by this treaty to the Crown of Great 
 Britain the city and castle of (jlibraltar," &'c. &c. 
 We hold the place by virtue of legal grant, and it is 
 no argument to say that, because Spain surrendered 
 it in her weakness, slie has a right to claim it in her 
 regeneracy. 
 
 Spain surrendered Gibraltar " ahsnlulrh/, irilli all 
 manner of right for ever without any exemption or im- 
 pediment zvhatsocver." Can she now deny the gift,
 
 440 HISTORY 0¥ GIBRALTAR. 
 
 or is England called upon to restore what lias been 
 solemnly granted in perpetuity ? 
 
 But apart from tlie question of legal retention, 
 there is another consideration. The history of the 
 past century and a half shows us that not only was 
 Spain at no time strong enough to retake Gibraltar, 
 but that she was unable to hold it against attack. 
 
 Restore the fortress to her to-morrow : how long 
 would she retain it ? 
 
 Just so long as Trance might choose to leave her 
 in possession of it. 
 
 Were England to give up Gibraltar she would be 
 committing a far more serious political immorality 
 than she can be guilty of by keeping it. 
 
 She would drop the apple of discord among the 
 nations of Europe, and infallibly originate an era of 
 Avar. 
 
 Gibraltar under the English is an impregnable 
 position defying attack, and therefore not likely to be 
 assailed. Gibraltar under the Spaniards would be a 
 third-rate fortress, the ambition of every great mari- 
 time power, and the prey of the most unscrupulous. 
 
 Never since the Treaty of Utrecht has Spain claim- 
 ed Gibraltar as a right ; every demand has been put 
 forward on the footing of the grant of an equivalent. 
 
 It is true that l^itt the elder, Stanhope, and 
 Townshend, at dilt'crcnt times suggested the n-stora- 
 tion of Gibraltar, but never on the ground of illegal 
 possession.
 
 ENCiLAND's CLAIM TO (illUlALTAR. Hi 
 
 Pitt offered it only to gain wluit lie considered 
 far greater advantages. In later days his opinions 
 vastlv changed, and, as Lord Chatham, he protested 
 vehemently against the surrender of the place. Even 
 the Spanish historians do not dispute that by the 
 Treaty of Utrecht England ac(piired an incontro- 
 vertible right to CJibraltar. 
 
 Montero says, "This Treaty* was most burden- 
 some for Spain, who lost almost all her possessions in 
 l^urope. By it Philip V. ceded to Great Britain on his 
 part, and on the part of his successors, the entire right 
 of possession of Gibraltar. 
 
 " By this means the insolent and violent usurpation 
 by Admiral Rookc was rendered legitimate, and the 
 king of Great Britain could from that moment call 
 his own without a blush that magnificent fortress, 
 which had previously been wrested (arrancada) from 
 the Spanish Crown." f 
 
 To cede Gibraltar would be to renounce our free- 
 dom of navigation in the Mediterranean ; our com- 
 merce in those seas would be paralysed ; we should 
 forf(>it the safety of the overland route, depreciate our 
 power in the East, and lose all inliucnce in Morocco. 
 
 Are we called upon suddenly to make these sa- 
 crifices, which might perhaps adorn the inauguration of 
 the millcniiiuni ? 
 
 As to the second ground on which it is urged that 
 
 * Of Utrecht, 
 t Montero, Hist, do riibraltar, p. 'JOo.
 
 442 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 England ought to restore the fortress, namely, because 
 regenerated Spain will soon become powerful enough 
 to wrest it from her, — it is a visionary apprehension. 
 
 Is it to be supposed that the next century will see 
 Spain in a condition to assemble a more powerful 
 army, a more formidable artillery, a more numerous 
 navy, than she sent against Gibraltar in 1782? 
 
 Is it not on record that the siege of the Rock in 
 that year was amongst the most celebrated under- 
 takings in the history of warfare? The most dis- 
 tinguished leaders, an immense body of troops, a vast 
 siege train, and stupendous batteries aided by a 
 considerable navy, were brought against the fortress. 
 The number of shot thrown into the little city equal- 
 led the ammunition expended by the English at Se- 
 bastopol. Yet all was vain against British courage 
 and those stubborn walls. On that siege Spain 
 lavished all her treasure and resources, but she was 
 baffled. Are we to believe that she will soon be 
 in a condition to renew those mighty efforts ? 
 
 The Gibraltar of the present day is more invul- 
 ncral)lc than it has been since its walls were first 
 armed. Almost impregnable by nature, it has been 
 rendered completely so by art. 
 
 When the floating l)atterics in conjunction with 
 the armies of France and Spain attacked it in 1782, 
 there were but 100 guns mounted on the Rock. Now 
 700 ])i('f'cs of ordnance are in position. 
 
 iSpain may indeed have turned the crisis of her
 
 imu:.si:nt statk ov thk uock. 1 1:3 
 
 degeneracy, ])ut wliat time must elapse before she can 
 enter the Hsts witli tlie niilitarv and naval power of 
 England ! 
 
 No fortress in the world is in such a state of 
 defence as the Kock at the present moment ; and 
 notwithstanding the oj)inion of tlie most leanied 
 scholai-s, we may rest assured that the day is far 
 distant when regenerated Spain shall dictate to Eng- 
 land the terms of its capitulation.
 
 444 
 
 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 CONCLUDING DESCRIPTION OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The Rock of Gibraltar, which forms ahnost the 
 most southern extremity of the continent of Europe, 
 is a bold headland promontory jutting insularly into 
 the sea at the entrance to the Mediterranean. 
 
 The peninsula is of oblong form, and runs in a 
 direction nearly due north and south, for a distance 
 of about two miles and three-quarters from the main- 
 land. Its greatest breadth does not exceed three- 
 fourths of a mile, and its circumference is about seven 
 miles. 
 
 On the north it is connected with the main-land 
 by a low and sandy isthmus, which varies in breadth 
 from 950 to 1750 yards, and is nowhere 10 feet 
 above the level of the sea. The western face of the 
 hill, at the foot of which the town is built, forms a 
 rapid and rocky slope, broken here and there by an 
 abrupt precipice, at whose base the ground again 
 shelves to a level where the lower part of the city is 
 situated, and the public walks laid out. The eastern 
 side, wliich faces the Mediterranean, is an inaccessible
 
 
 
 y. v; 
 
 THE NORTH FRONT HEIGHT. 1.350 FEfT, S HOWINC THETOWN LINtSgt EMBRASURES OF UPPER GALl
 
 C0NCLLU1N(; UKSCUU'TION ol CI lULM/rAU. Mfj 
 
 cliff bare of vcgctution, and forming u series of rugged 
 precipices broken only in one spot by an immense 
 bank ot" sand i'A) feet in heigiit, the accumulation of 
 many ages, which lies heaped against the Rock under 
 the Signal Station Hill. 
 
 The northern face of the mountain rises abruptly 
 from the sandy isthmus, and towers a perpendicular 
 and unbroken cliff to the height of nearly 1400 feet, 
 terminating in a narrow apex crowned with a powerful 
 ])attery. Viewed from the isthmus the Rock is at 
 this point magnificently grand. 
 
 From its crest, just visible to the naked eye, peer 
 the muzzles of guns, almost lost to view in the aiiy 
 distance ; in an irregular line across its rocky face 
 are dotted small dark apertures, which, though in the 
 distance apparently not larger than ])igeons' nooks, 
 are the embrasures of the excavated galleries, all armed 
 with powerful cannon. 
 
 From north to south along the summit of tlie hill 
 runs a narrow, craggy, and irregular ridge, in many 
 places only a few feet in breadth. The highest point 
 ot" the Rock is about 1 130 feet above the sea level. 
 
 The Rock is composed of compact limestone or 
 grey dense marble, varied in some places by beds of 
 red sandstone, and fissures of osseous breccia. On 
 the western face, al)out half way up the mountain, is 
 a precipice which runs parallel to the ridge along the 
 siunniit,and at the base of this precipice lies a sloping
 
 446 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 plain of stratified silicious sand, known always as the 
 Red Sands. 
 
 This plain extends from the present Alameda to 
 the north-western extremity of the promontory, and 
 the town, or rather the lower portion of it, is built 
 upon this sand formation. It is the general opinion 
 of geologists that Gibraltar has undergone many 
 movements of upheaval and depression, accompanied 
 by violent ruptures of strata, landshps, and wasting 
 action of the sea during the successive ages of its 
 existence ; and so multitudinous and destructive of 
 former changes have these disturbances been, that it 
 is impossible to obtain satisfactory evidence of the 
 periods of their occurrence. 
 
 Describing the original formation of the moun- 
 tain, a geologist says :* 
 
 " Its geological history is instructive as an example 
 of the extraordinary number as well as complicated 
 nature of the movements which have caused the 
 irregularities on the surface of the earth. We 
 are apt to ascribe the presence of marine remains in 
 elevated situations to some great convulsion by which 
 they have been raised from the bottom of the sea, 
 and to suppose that they have remained subjected to 
 no changes but such as arc caused by the diurnal 
 action of the elements ; but an examination of the 
 
 * Tlie Geology of (Gibraltar, a paper read before the Geo- 
 logical Society by Jainca Smith, E8(i., F. G. S., 1844.
 
 (iKOLOCV OF <;il!l{.\l/l'Al{. 41-7 
 
 mountain of Gil)raltar toircs us to admit that it nuist 
 have undergone, not one, but nuuiy movements ])otli 
 of elevation and d('j)ression, some of them attended 
 with rupture and disloeation of strata, others witli 
 mere changes of level ; to these must be added 
 the effects of chemical agents, landslips, blown sands, 
 and the wasting action of the sea. Some of the 
 disturbances nuist have obliterated every trace of 
 preceding ones. . . We know from the marine remains 
 contained in them that the beds of limestone must 
 have been formed at the ])ottom of the sea during the 
 secondary period, in a })osition nearly horizontal, and 
 that they must have been lifted up to an angle witli 
 the horizon by some force acting from below, doubt- 
 less of an igneous nature." 
 
 The first period in the history of the Rock is that 
 in which its beds were deposited at the bottom of the 
 secondary ocean ; the second is that which followed 
 the first upheaval. 
 
 While in this condition fresh beds were deposited 
 roimd its base, during a period of long duration. 
 Whilst this operation was going on a second uphe;ival 
 took place, which tilted up the beds 19 degrees more 
 thiui thev were at first, and as this movement was oidy 
 partial and contined to tlu; southern portion of the 
 peninsula, the Rock must have bei n broken across, 
 and the line of IVactui'c may bi- seen well marked by 
 the gap and ravines which separate the middle hill 
 from the Rock (lun Height. In conse(pience of this
 
 448 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 movement, the limestone beds were placed at an in- 
 clination of 38 degrees, and the new beds were subse- 
 quently formed at an angle of 19 degrees. 
 
 Diuing the long continuance of the preceding 
 epoch the wasting action of the sea had scooped out 
 a cliff and terrace ; upon this terrace horizontal beds 
 of sand had been deposited, and upon these again 
 newer beds were deposited sloping outwards. Finally, 
 in one of the numerous changes of level to which the 
 Rock has been subjected, the whole of these sands 
 were lifted up and covered with the blown sands of 
 Catalan Bay. These sands slope against the face of 
 the eastern chff at an angle of 30 degrees. 
 
 A third upheaval still further to the southward 
 of Middle Hill again tilted the beds in that part of 
 the Rock about 19 degrees, leaving the northern and 
 middle hills as they were before, but inclining the 
 strata to the south to 57 degrees. The line of division 
 is marked by an indentation to the south of Signal 
 Station Hill. 
 
 In the Sugar-loaf Hill, or O'llara's Tower Height, 
 the fourth epoch in the history of tlie Rock is marked. 
 Here the secondary limestone, originally level, has been 
 lifted up by repeated upheavals to an angle of 57 
 degrees ; the beds formed at the base of the Rock sub- 
 sequently to the first upheaval liave been lifted up by the 
 second and third upheavals to an angle of 32 degrees. 
 Martin's Cave, sitnatcMJ on tlu; eastern face of tliis
 
 (;e()L(){;y or (jii5Iiai.taii. W.) 
 
 liill, is sca-worn, and must have been formed during 
 the period between tlic second and third uplieavals. 
 
 Still further to the southward is the extensive sea- 
 worn ])lateau of Europa Hats ; its surface is almost 
 entirely composed of bare watei'-woni rock. This 
 plateau is backed by a second range of cliffs, in the 
 front of which, at an elevation of 170 feet above tlie 
 sea, there is an oyster-])ed. From the general appear- 
 ances of the Rock, it is inferred that the whole 
 mountain up to its summit, a height of 1430 feet, has 
 been submerged subsequently to the last of the dis- 
 turbances. 
 
 This theory, extraordinary as it may ap])car, is 
 supported by the opinion of tliat eminent geologist, 
 Sir Charles Lyell.* 
 
 No general change of level has taken place during 
 the historical or probably the human period. From the 
 appearance of a cluster of fossil mussels, ^vith both 
 valves of the shells adhering, tlu' animals nmst have 
 been alive when the elevation took place. Mr Smith 
 therefore infers that it was instantaneous. 
 
 One of the most interesting fornuitions on this 
 remarkable peninsula is the osseous breccia, resem- 
 
 * "Mr Smith's paper on the Rock of Giliraltar is by far 
 the best I have seen. ... It is full of matter well thoiif^ht out, 
 and the inferences as to rising and sinking rather startling, but 
 not, I suspect, exaggerated, from what I know of the bortiers of 
 the IMcditerraneau." — Sir C. Lyell to Sir AV. Codriugton, June 
 121st, ISGO. 
 
 29
 
 450 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 blins: in character the breccia found in the limestone 
 rocks of Antibes, Nice, Pisa, and Dahnatia.* 
 
 These concretions are met with in various parts of 
 the Rock, in perpendicular fissures and open caverns. 
 They are calcareous, of a reddish brown ferruginous 
 colour, and enclose the bones of various animals. 
 Cuvier, in a list of organic remains discovered in the 
 Gibraltar breccia, enumerates the fossil elephant, 
 cave bear, ox, deer, antelope, sheep, rabbits, water- 
 rats, mice, horse, ass, snakes, birds, and land shells. 
 Of these many agree with existing species, but there 
 is no doubt that there are also bones of extinct kinds. 
 The most celebrated deposit of this concretion is at 
 Rosia, where masses of the breccia are exposed to 
 view, f 
 
 Like all compact limestones the Rock abounds in 
 caves, fissures, and pot-holes. The most celebrated 
 caves arc St Michael's and ]\Iartin's ; the former, 
 situated on the western slope, 1100 feet above the 
 
 * Edinburgh, Pliilo. Transactions, 1797. 
 
 t Mr Smith mentions that the bones of man have been 
 found in these breccia, but Major Imrie and Cuvier aihrni 
 tliat no trace of them could be foimd. 
 
 " I am satisfied tliat the formation of every variety of tlio 
 Gibraltar breccia is a subaerial process ; the rain-water perco- 
 latinf^ through the lisKures which everywhere intersect the rock 
 dissolves a certain quantiiy, but as tlie largest portion of the 
 water is evaporated before it reaches the sea, it deposits tho 
 calcareous matter upon whatever it comes in contact with, and 
 unites the whole into breccia, a ])roc('ss wliich cnnnot take 
 phice under water." — (Ecology of Gibrallar, Smith.
 
 CKNKUAI- DKSCRII'IION. \.)\ 
 
 sen, tlio latter on thu eastern clifT, under O'llara's 
 tower. Mai'tin's is sea-woiii. 'Hie extent of St 
 .MieluuTs is still unknown. .Many e.xplorations have 
 been made at various times, and, as on each occasion 
 a further point has been reached, it is impossible to 
 say where the cavern terminates. Some pei'sons have 
 atlirnied that the east ^vin(l may bo distinctly fi'lt 
 l)h)wing thronp;h the aperture at the furthest known 
 point. 
 
 The Rock can be ascencU'd on its western side 
 from various points, ami by different roads, along 
 which horses or nudes can pass. 
 
 The niouiilain is divided by the circumstances of 
 its original formation into various undulating sunuuits, 
 each of which has received a distinctive title. That 
 whicii forms the extreme north is known as the Rock 
 (iun Height, the next towards the south is MiihUc 
 Hill. The Signal Station gives a name to the centre 
 elevation, while the sugar-loaf shaped eminence at the 
 extreme south of the mountain is distinguislu'd by the 
 old ruined tower that crowns its sunuuit, and whicli 
 was built by directions of (jieneral OTlara, who in 
 1705 was Governor of Gibraltar. 
 
 The Signal Station, which, as its name implit's, is 
 a look-out iVom wlience the Straits are watched and 
 the moviMueiits of the sliipping repotted, is situated 
 upon a riilge of the hill, at an elevation of 1:250 feet 
 above the sea. The building, which consists of a 
 wooden shed and small stone tower, is occuj)icd by a
 
 452 HISTORY or Gibraltar. 
 
 detacliment of artillerymen, whose duty it is to keep a 
 constant eye upon the waters of the Straits and Bay, 
 and to report by signal upon the flag-staff, the nation 
 and character of the different vessels that steer for the 
 Bay, or pass along the Mediterranean. 
 
 A battery of four cannon is situated a few feet 
 below facing the westward, from which the morning 
 and evening guns are fired throughout the year, as a 
 notice for the opening and closing of the fortress 
 gates. 
 
 The view from this Signal Station is extremely 
 beautiful and extensive. Turning to the east you 
 stand at the brink of a rocky precipice, whose giddy 
 height is broken by a huge shelving mass of sparkling 
 sand which, springing from the shore below, rests in 
 an unbroken heap against the Hock. On the narrow 
 beach, far away down in the still depths below, and 
 washed by the waves, whose rolling crests seem to 
 break almost at the very doors, are the fishing huts 
 of Catalan Bay. 
 
 Beyond is the deep blue sea, whose azure brilli- 
 ancy pales the unclouded skies above, and reflects as 
 clearly as a mirror the outsti-etched shadows of the 
 dark mountains that range along the Spanish coast. 
 Over in Africa, far away in tlic linzy distance, and 
 l)Ui'i('(l ill rolling llcccy clouds, arc the sn()W-ca})pcd 
 ranges of tlic lofty Atlas ; ami nc;ii-ci- tlic foreground 
 again, on a prominent licadland, lies Ceuta with its 
 bleached ])nildings glistening in the sunlight. Stretch-
 
 liOTWY WD NATriJAI, IlISTOHV. 4.j3 
 
 iiiLj; to till- westward, the sliorcs of I'ai'hary riso 
 ii;ra(liially in niu^^*'(l <"liH^ and <^rey stony heights to 
 tlu! l)lc'ak suinniit of Mons Altyla, and desrciidinf^ 
 apiiii with fi;rassy imdulatiiij^ hills, and valleys green 
 with hrnshwood, recede till they arc lost in the 
 western horizon. 
 
 At tlic foot of the western slopes rest tlic Hin-ulilcd 
 waters of the (U'cp hroad Hay, Ijordcicd on the op- 
 posite coast hy the purple mountains of Ahuorainia. 
 
 Though rj!il)ra]tar has traditionally held the tith; 
 of a barren rock, its flora and vegetahlc kingdom 
 are sufficiently rich and varied to occupy the atten- 
 tion of botanists.* The western slopes arc covered 
 with patches of vegetation, the gardens are filled with 
 tropical plants, and even the rugged precipices on the 
 eastern cliffs are dotted with the fan-shaped palm. 
 On the steep declivities and in lu\uriant hedge-rows 
 the clematis, geranium, aloe, and rose, run wild ; th(^ 
 myrtle, the locust-tree, the wide-spreading bella- 
 sond)ni, a variety of the cactus tribe, the vine, the fig- 
 tree, the oVwv, almond, orange, and lemon, coucc^d 
 with their welcome leaves the barren stony boulders. 
 
 There are {■'){') species of flowering jdants and 
 ferns indigenous to the Rock; and it which are 
 cultivated or introduced. 
 
 These are classed as follows: 
 •1() species generally distributed throughout luirope. 
 
 * Vitlo Flora C'alpcn.-sis, Kclaart, i'.L.S., F.(ji.!S., iblU.
 
 454 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 58 natives of South Africa. 
 
 63 common to Europe and Africa. 
 
 174 common to South Europe and Africa. 
 
 13 confined to Spain and Barbaiy. 
 
 96 common to Em-ope, Asia Minor, and North 
 Africa. 
 
 12 confined to Europe and Asia Minor. 
 Among these are 140 species common to Great 
 Britain. 170 species are found to grow in Madeira, 
 and nearly as many in the Canary Islands. 160 
 species in Sicily, more than two-thirds in Malta, and 
 73 species are also indigenous to the Azores. One 
 plant only is peculiar to Gibraltar, viz. Iheris Gihral- 
 tarica. 
 
 Eew animals inhabit the Rock. Eoxes and rabbits 
 are numerous, and there are a few wild goats. Eagles 
 and hawks are common. The monkeys, a tribe 
 always associated with the Rock of Gibraltar, arc now 
 virtually extinct. Eormerly they were seen in troops 
 gambolling along the precipices, but their numbers 
 have gradually decreased, till but four are believed to 
 remain. Tliey are of the Barbary ape species, and it 
 has been a matter of discussion how they Avcre trans- 
 ])ortcd. The simple solution of the question seems to 
 be that they were brought over at different times from 
 the opposite coast, aiul increased in iiiiiiibers. An 
 oM paper in tlie Hritish Museum makes mention of a 
 great (jiiaiitity of these apes h:i\ iiig been sent into tlie
 
 DKbClUlTlO.N Ol TIM. ToW.N. 4.J.J 
 
 garrison in 171-0, and refers to a poll-tax to wliich 
 they were subjected. 
 
 The town or city consists of two distinct porti(jns, 
 one, which is the principal in importance, being 
 situated at the north-western base of the hill, and the 
 other at the south, on the slope under O'llara's 
 height. On the eastern side of the Rock, ensconced in 
 a sandy nook called Catalan Bay, are a few houses 
 occupied })rincipally by tishernien of Genoese origin. 
 
 The principal town, which is dignified by the title 
 of a city, extends from the Land-poit line of fortifica- 
 tions on the north, to Charles V.'s wall on the south, 
 and runs backward from the sea-wall uj) the steep 
 slope of the hill to a considerable elevation. It is 
 enclosed on every side, — on the north by the old 
 ^loorish wall and Land-port Curtain, on the west by 
 the Line-wall and sea, and on the south by the wall 
 which was erected in the reign of the Emperor 
 Charles. The connnercial portion of the city com- 
 j)rises two parallel and principal streets; one, Water- 
 port Street, which consists mainly of small shoi)s and 
 I'ctail houses; the other, L'ish Town, where are situated 
 the wholesale and merchants' stores. Both thorough- 
 fares are badly built and inconveniently narrow. 
 
 In the centre of the town is a tolerably capacious 
 space called Commercial S(piare, though the commer- 
 cial transactions are confined principally to the extor- 
 tionate transactions of the Jew pedlars, who cover the
 
 456 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 pavement with their stalls of miscellaneous articles, 
 varying from a bed to a button. 
 
 Gibraltar possesses one of the finest colonial 
 libraries in the world. It is the property of the gar- 
 rison, and was originated in 1793 by Colonel Drink- 
 water. The present building was completed in 1804, 
 under the auspices of King George III. Pitt took a 
 great interest in it. It now contains upwards of 
 26,000 volumes. 
 
 The abrupt slopes at the back of the town are 
 thickly covered with houses, built tier above tier to 
 the height of 250 feet above the sea. This district is 
 termed the hill side. At its northern extremity is 
 situated the Moorish castle, with its ancient wall, 
 which has stood without decay the assaults of time 
 and many famous sieges, though the battered ma- 
 sonry testifies that the enemy did not spare the 
 battlements. The Torre del Homenage, which in 
 all Moorish castles is the most elevated tower, is 
 still in good preservation and almost intact. It 
 is difficult to ascertain the exact date of this build- 
 ing, but from an inscription over one of the gates it 
 appears to have been finished between the years a.d. 
 725 and 742. In Gayangos' Arabic translations 
 mention is made of a fortified castle having been 
 built on the Rock at a uiiicli later ])('riod.* 
 
 * "111 tlie yciir 11(10, llic coiiiiii.'iikUt ol'tlic fisilliful, Abdu- 
 l-Mutiicn ll)ii-Ali, alter Hu])j('cliii<^' llio wliolc ot' iOasloni Africa 
 to his rule, marched to Ceuta, where he embarked for Audalus.
 
 ■f , ■. 
 
 2».a*!>^-fe ^se? 
 
 .x- ' 
 
 ■^^ ■ i. 
 
 i'# 
 
 O'HARA'S TOWN HEIGHT flCCLIFF OF WIND MILLHILL
 
 UKSClUrTION Ol' TUK TOWN. 4.")7 
 
 The Soutli Town, whirli is situated, as its iiiune 
 implies, towards the southern extremity of the Rock, 
 is formed by a small and ram])lin^ eolleetion of houses 
 which stand on the slope of the liill ])elow O'llara's 
 Tower. This suburb, which is disconnected from the 
 city by tlu^ Alameda and public gardens, contains 
 about IGOO inhal)itants. 
 
 Above the South Town, aiul looking towards the 
 African coast, is AVindmill Hill, a nearly oval plateau 
 surrounded on almost every point of its circumference 
 by precipitous heights, which sink abruptly fi'om its 
 brink on to the lower terrace level formed by Europa 
 flats. At Windmill Hill is a large barrack, casemated 
 aiul enclosed witliin a crenellated Avail which faces 
 the south. 
 
 Descending to the Hats through a staircase tower, 
 conunonly called .Jacob's Ladder, you pass through the 
 J^^uropa gate, aiul [)rocccding southward, reach the e\- 
 
 Jle landed at Grebal-Tarik (Gibraltar), which from tliat day 
 was called Gebalii-1-tatah (the inoiuitain of the entraiu-e, or 
 victory), and ordered that a strong fortress should be erected 
 on the top of it. He traced out the building with his own 
 hands, and when, after remaining for two months tlu-re and 
 l)roviding for the government of Andalus, Abdii-l-Mumen 
 ri'turned to his African dominions, lie a|)i)ointed his son Abu- 
 Said, then Governor of Granada, to superintend the building, 
 and report its progress to him. One of the architi'cts employed 
 was lliiji-Ya'ysh, the geometrician. This Ya'ysh, who was 
 an excellent engineer, is said to have constructed some wonder- 
 l"ul mai-hines during his residence at (Jcbal-Tarik, and anu)ng 
 others a large wind-mill, which stood on the very top of the 
 mountain." — Gavangos. Xiu'nitive of Al-Makkari, p. lUl.
 
 458 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 treme southern point of the Rock, on which is placed 
 the Hght-house. Exactly opposite stands Ceuta, dis- 
 tant about 11 miles. Following the road which here 
 turns sharply to the north and leads along the 
 eastern face of the Rock, a straggling and dilapidated 
 building appears on the left, overhung with steep 
 dark cliffs, which shield this summer residence 
 of the governor from the burning rays of the mid- 
 day sun. From hence the road leads on to va- 
 rious batteries, which to the stranger are forbidden 
 ground, and terminates at a spot called Europa 
 Advance, near the mouth of Monkeys' cave, where 
 some guns are mounted. Further than this it is im- 
 possible to pass. The rock beyond forms a series of 
 projecting and tremendous precipices, undermined 
 with vast caverns, into which the sea rolls with thun- 
 dering peals. 
 
 The j)opulation of Gibraltar, according to the cen- 
 sus of 1860, was 25,179, including military, con- 
 victs, and aliens. The gross civil population was 
 17,G47, iiichidiiig foreigners visiting the garrison for 
 periods varying from tlircc days to one year. The 
 total number of resident inliabitants was 15,1()7. 
 Tliere were 15,107 persons to tlie square mile. The 
 gross civil population was composed of the following 
 races :— 
 
 British <)05 
 
 Natives i)S()2 
 
 Native Jews . . . . l:iS5
 
 rolMLVTlON. 
 
 
 Barbarv Jews 
 
 2 10 
 
 Spaniards 
 
 1892 
 
 (joiioese 
 
 782 
 
 Portuguese . . 
 
 525 
 
 Italians 
 
 90 
 
 Prcnch 
 
 5:3 
 
 Germans 
 
 27 
 
 floors 
 
 9 
 
 OtluT nations 
 
 23* 
 
 459 
 
 For the safety of the fortress, to obviate an in- 
 discriminate influx of ])eo})lc, and for the mainte- 
 nance of order in tlie garrison, strict regulations 
 are in force respecting the admission of foreigners 
 into the city. Each entrance Ijv which strangers can 
 arrive is su})crintcnded by two police inspectors, who, 
 when a foreigner asks admission, enter his name, 
 nation, and occupation in a book, and givcliini a ticket 
 of entrance valid for one day only. A\ ith this ticket 
 he may remain without molestation for twenty-four 
 hours, but if he intends to ])rolong his visit he nuist 
 go to the police office, where he obtains what is termed 
 a bond. This bond, which answers, under a penalty 
 of £10, for his good behaviour, must be signed by 
 some respectable native householder, after Avhich it is 
 taken by tlie ap})licant himself to the police magis- 
 trate, who decides whether a permit of temporary' resi- 
 dence shall be granted or not. Tlii'se ])ermits seldom 
 
 * This rt'tuni is; taken tVum the Census of iSJrt.
 
 460 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 exceed a period of 30 days or two months, but they 
 can be renewed if necessary. If the apphcant fails to 
 comply with the terms on which the permit was 
 granted, he is turned out of the garrison. 
 
 The average number of strangers Avho enter the 
 garrison during a month on daily ticket for the pur- 
 pose of trading and bringing supplies is 29,700 ; the 
 majority of these are Spaniards. The fixed popula- 
 tion of Gibraltar is of such a peculiar character that it 
 is absolutely necessary to admit into this confined and 
 crowded town a considerable number of foreigners. The 
 natives are for the most part idle, dissolute, and phleg- 
 matic ; there are but few skilled artisans among them, 
 and their demands for wages are exorbitant. Domestic 
 seiTice is almost entirely supplied by foreigners, the 
 natives being quite unfitted for such duties. It 
 would be difficult to instance a single possession un- 
 der the British Crown where the material for general 
 and domestic labour is worse tlian in Gibraltar. 
 
 Among the foreigners, the Portuguese, the Genoese, 
 and natives of Gallicia, are intelligent and hardworking 
 people, and even the Andalusian, when working in 
 competition with the " native," is a useful individual. 
 
 The admission of foreign labour into the town is 
 watched witli a jealous eye by tlie inhabitants. Nor 
 is tliis repugnance to competition confined to the lower 
 classes ; an idea appears to prevail tliat a native 
 birtliriglit, liowever ])r('('arious, carries with it the pri- 
 vik;ge of protection, and tliat free trade, in any otlier
 
 CHARACTKR OF POPULATION. 4G1 
 
 sense than that of nionopoHzing the market, is (juite 
 inadniissihle. 
 
 The Jews forui a hirge item in the population. It 
 is an old adage that trade Avill always flourish where 
 Israelites dwell ; so, here they give life to commerce 
 and carry on extensive transactions with foreign ports. 
 Their industry and pertinacity are remarkable, and 
 the Gibraltar Jew is by no means behind his fellows 
 in other qualities peculiar to his race. 
 
 The Moors, so lawless among their native -wilds, 
 are here, strange to say, the most orderly and obedient 
 of the whole popiUation. They invariably confonn to 
 the laws and regulations, are always decent and 
 respectful, and, in fact, set an example to their neigh- 
 bours.* 
 
 In Gibraltar every article of consumption is exor- 
 bitantly dear and generally of inferior quality. The 
 scale of pi-ices is nearly double that of Malta and Corfu, 
 house rent is ruinous, the rate of wages is excessive, and 
 the character of the servants lazy and independent, to a 
 degree that an experience of them alone can realize. 
 
 There are 42 schools in Gibraltai', attended by 
 3015 scholars ; five are devoted to Protestant pupils, 
 of whom there are 333. Twenty are supported by 
 the Roman Catholic community, and educate 16G0 
 
 * If these few observations upon the characteristics of the 
 popuhation appear meagre and superficial, it must be remem- 
 bered that obvious reasons prevent tlie author from entering 
 more into detail.
 
 462 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 children. Two, belonging to the Wesley ans, are at- 
 tended by 178 scholars, and the Plebrews have three 
 schools for 173 children. Besides these there are 10 
 private schools, where no particular religious doctrine 
 is inculcated. It is satisfactory to remark that educa- 
 tion is progressing, the total number of scholars having 
 considerably increased of late years. 
 
 The peculiar formation of Gibraltar, its steep and 
 rocky slopes, its dry and unfruitful soil, and the very 
 narrow limits adapted to cultivation,* preclude the 
 possibility of producing supplies of any kind sufficient 
 for the maintenance of the inhabitants. The popula- 
 tion is therefore entirely dependent upon imported 
 produce, and in consequence the price of provisions 
 varies very considerably, according to the time of 
 year, the state of the weather, and the condition of the 
 country from which the principal supplies are brought. 
 At the north-western extremity of the town is 
 situated a commodious market, open to natives and 
 foreigners alike, and where every encouragement is 
 given to importers. Here may be seen dealers of every 
 class and clime. The Spaniard in his quaint costmne, 
 the Moor, sleepy and abstracted, wrapped in his 
 burnous, and scowling on the infidel, whose money ho 
 grasps with greed. The Jew, from Barbary, from 
 Algiers, or Spain bargaining with frantic gcsticula- 
 
 * Tlie totiil nunibcM- of acres !i])i)lic:il)l»' to cult ivatioii, aiul 
 now occupied as garden ground, glacis bearing grass, i)ul)lio 
 walks, etc., is 79.
 
 SUPPLY OF MEAT. 103 
 
 tions for the value of a fiirthiiifj, and the wily native, 
 who secretly curses the free trade that rohs him of 
 the enormous profits which monopoly would enable 
 him to ac([uiri' in idleness. 
 
 The supply of meat throughout the year is gener- 
 ally sufficient, though in siumiicr it is of inferior 
 quality. Beef is brought from Andalusia, Gallicia, 
 and Barbary. From southern Spain and Gallicia the 
 bullocks arc transported alive and slaughtered as 
 required, but the fiscal laws of ^lorocco prohibit the 
 exportation of live cattle,* and the meat, rudely 
 cut into quarters by Moorish butchers, is conveyed in 
 feluccas from Tangier. In the summer months 
 Gibraltar is almost entirely dependent upon Barbary 
 for the supplies of beef; and notwithstanding the 
 disgusting mode in which the animals are slaughtered, 
 and the passage across the Straits in closely-packed 
 boats, the meat is tolerably good and clieap.f 
 
 * A special contract exists with the oMoorish Government, 
 which permits a certain number of live cattle to be exported 
 from Tangier annually for the use of the troops at Gibraltar. 
 
 t The following is a return of the number of cattle slaugh- 
 tered in Gibraltar from Feb. 1st, 18G0, to January 31st, LSGl. 
 
 Bullocks, 1275. Co\v8, 2o3. Calves, bl. iShcep, 07 11. 
 
 Lambs, 327. 1 
 
 'otal 8G77. 
 
 
 
 Ecof 
 
 Average p, 
 Summer. 
 d. 
 A\ peril). 
 
 rices. 
 
 Winter. 
 
 7 per lb 
 
 IVlutton 
 
 t 
 
 
 6h 
 
 Veal 
 
 C. 
 
 
 S 
 
 Lamb 
 
 i 
 
 
 G
 
 464 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The beef from southern Spain is poor, and much 
 inferior to what is brought from Morocco, but the 
 Galhcia bullocks are as fine as the generality of beasts 
 in England. They are imported in London steamers, 
 which call at Corunna during the winter. 
 
 Great quantities of poultry are brought from the 
 Morocco ports ; they are conveyed in long cylindrical 
 baskets of cane-work open at both ends, but secured 
 by cord nettings. Each basket will contain nearly 
 two dozen live fowls. 
 
 The number and variety of fish which were at 
 one time caught in the neighbouring waters have 
 rendered the market famous, but the supply has 
 diminished during late years. Still many strange 
 inhabitants of the deep may be seen flapping their 
 uncouth flanks on the salesmen's stalls, side by side 
 with others of delicate beauty. The tunny, once so 
 celebrated as the source of immense wealth to the 
 coast proprietors, and as an article of food for the 
 lower classes, is now scarce, and is caught only in 
 small numbers. Soles, turbot, John Dorees, mackerel. 
 Sardine, mullets of both classes, gurnard, anchovy, 
 and bonito, are still plentiful. But with the exception 
 of the John Dorees and turbot, the fish lack flavour 
 and firmness, and caimot be compared to what are 
 caught in more northern seas. 
 
 Though the tunny fisheries, as a source of wealth 
 and food, have long been extinct, some particulars of
 
 TLN.NV FISH KK IKS. 10 3 
 
 llu'ir fonncr iuiiu;nitii(l(^ and importance may be not 
 iiiiint('rL'stin<;. l-'oniicrly tlu; fish abounded in the 
 iii'iirhl)()iii-iiig waters, w liicli were carefully |)res(;rve(l, 
 and rented at enormous prices. 
 
 The right oi' fishing along the coasts around 
 Gibraltar belonged exchisively, in 1558, when the 
 tunny were miraculously numerous, to the Duke of 
 Medina Sidonia, whose descendants for many years 
 subsequently retahied the privilege. It is related 
 that in the year 155S, 110,152 fish were taken, 
 which yielded a revenue of 80,000 ducats, and as the 
 average take of fish was over 100,000 annually, it is 
 easy to understand the value of the property. 
 
 The tunny caught along these shores were cele- 
 brated in ancient times in Rome and Greece, and the 
 coins of Cadiz and Carteia were conmionly stampeil 
 with an image of the fish. Ayala, writing towards 
 the close of the last century, mentions the rapid 
 declhie of the fisheries, and refers to Conil, on the 
 coast near Cadiz, as the only spot where in his time 
 the ()ccu})ation was extensively carried on. 
 
 At that ])ort there existed an establishment 
 regularly provided with the necessary ap])aratus, and 
 a captain, who with his assistants superintended the 
 department and directed the operations. Ijion the 
 watch-toweis along the coast experienced fishermen 
 were stationed to observe the approach of the shoals, 
 and report by signal the direction they were taking. 
 
 30
 
 466 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The men on shore, acting according to this informa- 
 tion, launched their boats, laden Avith their semicircular 
 nets, which, when the moment was favourable, were 
 cast in rear of the tunny, and rapidly hauled in shore, 
 while the frightened shoal was driven into the meshes 
 by shouts and splashes. 
 
 Until the middle of the last century, no free 
 market was established in Gibraltar ; the garrison was 
 supplied exclusively by contractors who were under 
 the orders of the governor. This system led to gross 
 abuses, an extensive method of robbery prevailed, till 
 at length the corruption had reached to such a pitch, 
 that stringent instructions were issued by the govern- 
 ment for the regulation of the markets. 
 
 A contributor to the Gentleman s Magazine for 
 March, 1757, acquaints us that when he was at 
 Gibraltar, " the governor permitted but one butcher to 
 exercise his calling in the garrison, and that in return 
 for this monopoly, His Excellency's table was 
 furnished with meat gratis, while the officers could 
 not obtain even a quarter of mutton without first 
 offering its equivalent to the governor. Nay," con- 
 tinues the writer, " if by great favour he had given 
 leave to any officer of the garrison to keep a cow, a 
 goat, or a sow, lie would then forbid them to kill 
 anything without first obtaining his permission for it, 
 and threatened to break an officer and diaplain of the 
 garrison for disobedience, because each of them had 
 killed a sucking pig without his knowledge or con-
 
 rilKi: MAUKKT KSTAIJJ.l.SllKl). 1(57 
 
 sent, so tliiit, tlii'ou^^li \hv. avari.H; or iicnrlcct of the 
 butcher, mutton luis been so searec that \vhat our 
 servants wouUl not eat in I'^n^jland sold for a ])istole 
 a quarter, and onee for a nioi(K)ie ; and of tliis I am 
 very certain, tliat ])efore tlie liaj)]))- connncnccment of 
 a free market all iiil'rrior oilieers sufi'ered much for 
 \vant of fresli provisions, for I with othcis liave been 
 J 2 or 11 (lavs without tasting either beef, veal, 
 mutton, or lamb, and when it was our fortune to have 
 any from the butchery they were refuse pieces." 
 
 This state of things caused so nmch dissatisfac- 
 tion that a memorial was presented to the governor 
 protesting against it, but the complaint was looked 
 upon as a symptom of mutiny, and treated as such. 
 Fortunately, however, the affair became known in 
 Englaml, and new articles of war were sent out, and a 
 free market established. 
 
 The second section of article eleven ])r()\i(lcd 
 that "No governor or officer, comniandinu; in anv of 
 our garrisons, forts, or barracks, shall eitiier them- 
 selves exact exorbitant prices for houses or stalls let 
 out to suttlers, or shall connive at the like exaction in 
 others ; nor by their own authority or for any private 
 advantages shall they lay any duty or imposition 
 upon, nor \n\ interested in, the sale of such victuals, 
 licpiors, or other necessaries of life which are 
 brought into the gari'ison, on the jji-nalty of being 
 discharged from our service." 
 
 This percmi)tory threat of dismissal a])j)(\irs to have
 
 468 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 had very little effect upon the actions of the officials, 
 for we are told that so apprehensive was the governor 
 of that day lest arms and ammunition should be intro- 
 duced into the garrison " in the bellies of live cattle or 
 the crops of fowls, that he would not allow either to 
 come ashore without a permit, which was oftener 
 refused than granted." 
 
 His Excellency appears to have been especially 
 careful to secure the choicest fish, and with that view 
 no person was permitted to purchase any from the 
 importers or fishermen until it had been first offered 
 to the governor, A certain Captain Preston, how- 
 ever, of Fowkes's regiment, being one day on the 
 Land-port guard, and having nothing better for his 
 dinner than pease pottage, seeing a fisherman carrying 
 a fine fat turbot into the garrison, Avas audacious 
 enough to insist upon purchasing it, though the man 
 protested that he was bound first to offer it to the 
 governor. No sooner did this act of mutiny come to 
 His Excellency's ears,than Captain Preston was placed 
 under arrest, and subsequently tried by a Court-martial. 
 Whether he was acquitted or convicted we are not 
 told, but his defence Avhcn put u])on his trial was so 
 (juaint that I have selected some extracts from it."'^ 
 
 "To the Honourable Court. 
 
 " Captain Preston of Eowkcs's. 
 " Gentlemen, 
 
 " My defence is a sort of reason- 
 
 * I find he \\;iH ciisliicivd.
 
 DEFEN'CE Ol" CAPTAIN rin.STON. [(]{) 
 
 iiii; wliicli Ix'jriiis and cuds witli the siniic sentence, 
 viz. — * Necessity lias no law.' 
 
 " Bo |)lcase(l, gentlemen, to L;ivc me liberty to 
 make a short narrativ(> : T was released off Land-port 
 p;uard, and confined for ix-rcmptorily disobeying the 
 governor's oi-ders : and by the orders of yesterday 
 this Court-martial is a})pointed to sit, and try me for 
 forcibly taking a fish from a fisliciinan at Land-port, 
 and peremptorily refusing th(3 governor's orders, 
 when delivered me by the governor's orderly sergeant, 
 and afterwards by the Town Major, who came to me ; 
 the first was Serjeant Barry of our regiment, who 
 came to me with an lunnblc service to me from the 
 governor, telling me that some of their fishermen had 
 made a complaint against me, and that the governor 
 d(>sire(l to know what it was. I returned the com- 
 pliment, and told the sergeant I had taken a turbot 
 for my dinner, having nothing else but pease pottage. 
 In a short time after, came Sergeant Jones of the 
 governor's regiment, Avith the like ceremonious com- 
 j)liment, and told inc the governor desired nie to send 
 up the turbot, but not ordered me, as he says in his 
 deposition. I returned the compliment, and told the 
 sergeant, as I had done the former, that 1 Mould keep 
 the turbot for my dinner, having nothing else but 
 })ease pottage. Not long after came the Town Major, 
 who told me he was sent by the governor to ask me 
 if I refused to obey his orders, and whether 1 thought 
 any private captain had a right to be served before the
 
 470 HISTORY or GIBRALTAR. 
 
 governor? to which I made no other reply than that 
 I had nothing but pease pottage for my dinner, and 
 would keep the fish. 
 
 " Now, gentlemen, I hope I may have leave to 
 answer the two queries, that the governor may know 
 my opinion : the first is, whether I refused to obey 
 the governor's orders ? I protest I never did refuse to 
 obey any lawful orders he has given, nor ever will ; 
 but all his orders relating to fish at Land-port, as well 
 as to the other provisions brought to the town, that 
 I have seen, are evasive and fallacious : they may seem 
 plausible at first sight, as if they were designed for 
 the good of the public, but nothing less than that ; 
 as they are purely calculated for being a sanction for 
 canying the best of the fish and other provisions to 
 the convent,* from thence to be disposed of as the 
 governor thinks fit, and are not sold in the public 
 market as they ought to be, according to his own 
 orders, which, he himself having broken through, are 
 void of course. 
 
 " The other is, whether I think any private captain 
 has a right to be served before the governor ? I do 
 not say he has, but affirm he has an equal right to be 
 served at the same time with the governor in a 
 public market ; and the king our master's servants 
 go to market as well as the cobblers, and I daresay, if 
 any of them sjiould })resunie to take IIk- meat out of 
 Ills mouth, he would not |)ut up wilh it without com- 
 
 * The reHidcncc of the governor.
 
 DEFENCE OF CAPTAIN IMUSTON. 471 
 
 |)I;iiiiiii_ii; of injustice. Mine is ii piii'nllcl case ; I liad 
 till" tiirhot for my dinner, tlu; governor wanted it, I 
 refused to give it to liini, and am in confinement for 
 
 u ***** * * 
 
 " 1 have answered these two ([ueries, and if you 
 please to observe, I make necessity my plea ; it there- 
 fore behoves me, in my own justification, to prove 
 there is a necessity, and show from whence that neces- 
 sity proceeds. 'Die first is well known to you all, 
 gentlemen, by the present scarcity and want of almost 
 everything ; and the other, I say, is from the govern- 
 or's severity ; for have not all his orders a selfish 
 view, and tendency to distress? Has he not forbid 
 bringing into town any provisions, but in such as he 
 is interested, as we plainly see ? lias he not ordered 
 all bundles and baskets to be searched at the gates 
 for beef and nuitton ? Is it not with the greatest 
 reluctancy he sutlers any cattle to be landed for the 
 use of the poor sick seamen in the hospital ? Has he 
 not in a most shameful manner bereaved the whole 
 garrison of the swine th(>y bred and fed, which have 
 always been our main supply in winter, forcibly taking 
 them away by his myrmidons of the zoca (i. e. 
 butcheiy) for little more than half their value? Has 
 he not inhumanly whipped a soldier of the regiment 
 I belong to, for killing a sluvp of his ov n, by sen- 
 tence of an illegal court created by himself, called a 
 garrison Court-martial, which deprives every com- 
 manding oiliccr of the power of ai)pointing regimental
 
 472 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Courts-martial invested in him by the 17th article of 
 war? Would he suffer so much as a sheep to be 
 brought ashore for any private family ? and did he 
 not turn away a Portuguese boat with some sheep a 
 few days ago, because he would not sell them to the 
 butchery at their own price, when he had little or no 
 provisions in the garrison ? Does he suffer any crea- 
 ture, even so much as a goose, to graze on the hill, 
 which from the very beginning has been in common, 
 for the benefit of the garrison, in order to distress us, 
 and force us to buy meat at the zoca, or starve ? Has 
 he not lately refused an offer made to him of con- 
 stantly supplying the garrison with cattle at a cheaper 
 rate than he has for some time past p * * * * 
 
 " I am well aware, gentlemen, from what has 
 been said, it may be intimated on this occasion, as 
 has been done on another, that I am troubled with a 
 spirit of mutiny ; but such a thought I utterly detest. 
 Yet I am too strongly possessed with a spirit of liber- 
 ty to bear any brunt of o})pression, and tamely suffer 
 myself to be enslaved and trampled on by a fellow- 
 subject : we may be saddled (as the term is) and hard 
 ridden too, but is that any reason we should be ridden 
 to death and devoured as the Tai'tars do their horses? 
 
 " But now, gentlemen, it is time to conclude. It 
 is tnie I took a turbot at Land-port, not in contemj)t 
 of or contrary to ai)y Inwl'iil oi'dcr, but in case of 
 necessity, when 1 lind iiolhinu:; for my dinner but 
 pense pottage : ;ni(l I solemnly declare 1 will do the
 
 DKFKNCK OF CAI'TAIN I'llKSTON. 473 
 
 sainc again, as often as I sliall Ix" in the same nii- 
 liappy circumstances, wlicn ' necessity has no law.' 
 
 " Gentlemen, what I have said in my defence I am 
 fullv persuaded will he duly considered, and of course 
 have its due wei<j:ht with yoti ! so I humbly submit 
 myself to your impartial determination."
 
 474 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 The climate of the Rock is popularly considered 
 to be pleasant and salubrious, but the high rate of 
 mortality among the population suggests either local 
 causes of disease or unhealthy atmospheric influences, 
 the situation of the town and the almost total absence 
 of sanitary precautions undoubtedly tend to raise the 
 death rate.* 
 
 The city is composed of small and crowded 
 dwellings, ill ventilated, badly drained, and crammed 
 with human beings. Upwards of 15,000 persons are 
 confined within a space covering a square mile. 
 
 Although great facilities exist for the construc- 
 tion of a com})lcte system of drainage, no comprehen- 
 sive plan has yet been ado[)ted. Main sewers have 
 been established, wliicli emj)ty themselves l)y means 
 
 * Tlic l*ul)lic llcaUIi Act docs not apply to the Colouics. 
 Here the only Miclhod of effecting the removal of nuisances is 
 liy till' IcdiouH iikhIo f)f indicliiiciil !it I lie sessions.
 
 CAUSES or DISEASE. 
 
 475 
 
 Feutral 
 
 ifirvrn i"» 
 
 DRY 
 
 ^LJif-;'- pi >i
 
 M e d 1 I <' 1- r a. n e a n Sea 
 
 f^&>. 
 
 PLAN or THK 
 
 R®(CK.TOWW AND TERBITORr. 
 
 ®F raiBlRAMlE&IR. 
 
 
 B av of (;i b [■ a 1 t a ]■
 
 (•AISI> (ir DISKASK. 17") 
 
 (){' iron pipes at sonic distance into the soa in varions 
 places along the line-wall, but the want of water ren- 
 ders them comparatively useless during the summer 
 months. In many hduses cessj)ools or accumulations 
 of night soil exist, which, through the apathv of 
 the inhabitants and the disregard for stench and 
 tilth, remain untouched for years, slow, smouldering 
 hot-beds of disease. When they are emptied, a 
 course usually resorted to in sunnner, when the fetid 
 cfHuvium overcomes the callous tenant, their contents 
 arc carried in open barrels along the streets, spreading 
 their deadly exhalations through the crowded dwell- 
 ings. Another local cause of sickness is the want of 
 water, a want which, considering the position of the 
 town, might long ago have been su})])lie(l. 
 
 From the peculiar nature of the Rock there 
 arc no springs of pure fresh water.* To many 
 houses tanks are attached, in which during the rainy 
 season tlu; water is collected, but rarely in suflicient 
 quantities to last during the sunnner drought ; in 
 
 * The tolK)\viiig ivtuni rcecntly compilcil by the pulico 
 department hHows the state of the water supply. 
 
 Number of inhabitaut.s, exelusive of aliens on .short permits, 
 
 lG.:K):i. 
 Number of houses . . . . . . . . . . 9o!) 
 
 Number of eisterns . . . . . . . . . . •')'i~ 
 
 Number of houses without water .. .. .. -1'4 
 
 Number of persona having neither well nor i-istern lU'J I 
 
 Number of persons having to buy fresh water . . o7!)i) 
 All the wells <i'i\c brackish water.
 
 470 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 many dwellings, especially among the poorer classes, 
 no such convenience exists, and the poor creatures 
 are dependent for the water they require upon the 
 hawkers who distribute it through the city in small 
 barrels carried on donkeys or mules. During some 
 seasons, such, for example, as the summer of 1860, 
 the sufferings of the poor are very great for want of 
 this necessary of life. During that summer, when 
 small-pox, the companion of uncleanliness, was dan- 
 gerously prevalent, and cholera was striking down its 
 helpless victims, water became so scarce, and rose so 
 considerably in price, that the poorer classes were in 
 numerous instances reduced for days to a quantity 
 barely sufficient to quench their thirst, much less to 
 wash away their uncleanness. From a calculation 
 lately made, it seems that nearly £3000 is annually 
 expended by the public of Gibraltar on water alone, 
 while for half that sum an efficient establishment 
 might be maintained, which would supply the re- 
 motest districts of tlie city. This supply would be aj)- 
 plicable to domestic wants only, the resources of fresh 
 water being in no way sufficient to permit of its being 
 used as an agent for flushing the drains and sewers. 
 
 For this purpose we have vast means at hand, and 
 readily available ; as salt water, which at a small ex- 
 jX'iise could \n) conveyed above the town, is as well 
 :i(l;i|)t('(i for tliat object as fresh. The peculiai' form- 
 ation of the smaller (Iwelliiigs is another enemy to 
 health; these houses consist of sfpiare or oblong
 
 i)U i:i,i,i.N(;s OF Tin; i.owi.r ( lassks. 1-77 
 
 l)uililiii{^s, enclosing aconfiiunl and ill-vciitilatcd coiirt- 
 vard or jxttio, into which tlic windows ()j)cn. Each 
 floor is cund)cicd witli a balcony, and is often occu- 
 pied by many families. In these yards clothes are 
 constantly \\w\\^ out to dry, tinis further impeding 
 ventilation. All kinds of liltii accumulate, while the 
 drain, if such a hixuiy exist, is rarely trapped or 
 ki'pt in order. 
 
 House rent is excessively higli, and the poorer 
 labouring classes are compelled to occupy dwellings 
 which are more fitted for animals than human be- 
 ings.* 
 
 Most of the patios are crowded with hnnber, 
 wjiter-butts, casks, and even animals ; whole kennels 
 of dogs and even mules and asses are sometimes ke})t 
 in these yards. Such are some of the local causes of 
 sickness, and it remains a question for intpiiry, how 
 far those causes may be considered to account for a 
 liigli and increasing rate of mortality, a[)art from any 
 atmospheric influences ? 
 
 * An observant medical man (Dr Ifenncn, F. K. S. f).) 
 writinfj; on Gibraltar in 182G, says : — 
 
 '' The ground for building is very dear and house rent 
 
 excessive So long as ground rent is high, landlords 
 
 will make the most of the space they possess, and when ava- 
 rice is in full operation upon poverty, the wretched tenants 
 will crowd together into small, dark, and ill-ventilated cellars, 
 and corners of a similar character, which, so far from giving 
 them accommodation, scarcely alVord space for them to lie 
 
 down The open street is much more desirable than 
 
 many of the lodgings of the lower orders of dibraltar."
 
 478 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 The climate of Gibraltar may be termed tem- 
 perate througliout the year. From a corrected aver- 
 age it appears that the mean temperature is 64" 5°, 
 the maximum generally occurring in July, the mini- 
 mum in February. The average fall of rain, from 
 calculations extending over 22 years, is 34* 53 inches ; 
 the smallest amount collected being 15"91 in 1841-42 ; 
 the largest, 80-70 inches, in 1855-6. Neither of 
 these years was marked by any peculiar variation in 
 the annual mortality. 
 
 In 11 years the first rains fell in October; in 
 five years in September ; in five years in Novem- 
 ber, and in one year (1841-2) as late as the 20tli 
 December. 
 
 Quoting the meteorological observations for 1859, 
 18 GO (an average year), it appears that the mean 
 temperature was 04 '9°, the mean daily range 13'8**. 
 The maximum was 9220° on the 17th July, and the 
 minimum 32'6'' on the 15th February. The maxi- 
 nuun of humidity was 979° on the 30th September, 
 the minimum '446° on the 31st August, giving an 
 extreme range of "553°. Rain fell on 92 days, total 
 (juantity 34*874 inches. During six months only 1'237 
 inches of rain were collected. During this year 
 cholera and small-pox were prevalent. 
 
 The prevailing winds are west and east ; or 
 variations of those quarters. The wind seldom blows 
 due north or south, l^'roin observations extending 
 over ten years it seems that the wind is easterly, or
 
 BANEFUL INFLUENCES OF TlIK LEVANTER. 47'J 
 
 variations of cast, on 177 days, and westerly, or 
 variations of west, Ibb days in the year. The easterly 
 winds are most prevalent in the summer months. 
 The westerly in the winter. 
 
 The influence of the wind upon the health of the 
 ])eople is a much-vexed question not easily determined. 
 Some medical men affirm that a prevalence of easterly 
 breezes is an antidote to sickness, while others declare 
 that a Levanter causes a most unwholesome atmosphere. 
 This wind which generally blows during the sunnner 
 months, when thorough ventilation and fresh air are 
 most required, is usually accompanied by a dense, 
 lowering mass of cloud, which hangs over the Rock 
 and precipitates a clammy and unpleasant moisture. 
 
 To understand the effects of this wind upon the 
 constitution, it is necessary to experience the distress- 
 iiiij; and insuff'erable feeling it creates. Its pre- 
 sence is quickly recognized. Dull, aching pains 
 creep tlirouLdi the bones, the tongue is parched and 
 drv, while the atmosphere is saturated with a stickv 
 danq)ness ; a])petite vanishes, energy leaves you, aiul 
 an oppressive languor paralyzes both mind and body. 
 And it is not man alone who suffers ; animals move 
 about unea>ily, beasts of burden weary under their 
 loads, dogs hide themselves, birds cease their song, 
 even the plants and flowers wither under the influence 
 of the distressing Levanter. 
 
 While the wind is from this (piarter meat will not 
 keep a day, persons suff'ering from sickness relapse,
 
 4S0 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 and wounds or sores refuse to heal. It is certainly 
 remarkable if these symptoms are evidence of a 
 healthy atmosphere. 
 
 During the yellow fever years, 1813, 1814, the 
 east wind prevailed for seven months out of twelve.^ 
 
 The westerly breezes blow pure and fresh from 
 the Atlantic, the air is cool and exhilarating, and both 
 body and mind are invigorated. When, after a de- 
 pressing Levanter, the wind suddenly changes, the 
 sensation is one of inexpressible relief and pleasure. 
 
 The general character of the climate is agreeable 
 during seven months of the year, viz. from November 
 until May ; the remaining five months are oppress- 
 ively hot, the air is insufferably sultry, and the east 
 wind prevails.! 
 
 * "Eight months in the year are disfigured with the 
 Levanters that blow in whirlwinds round the hill, obscure the 
 sky with mists and clouds, and render the atmosphere heavy 
 and iinsupportable ; they cause such a dampness that all the 
 furniture mildews and rots, steel and iron utensils rust, be 
 they covered ever so close, and no provisions will keep a day." 
 — Carter's Journey from Gibraltar to Malaga, 1777. 
 
 Ayala, History of Gibraltar (1780), says that the east wind 
 is the tyrant of the Straits, the west wind their liberator. 
 
 Dr Quarrier mentions that after the battle of Algiers in 
 1816, the wounded who were brought to Gibraltar did well, 
 until an cast wind set in, when the symptoms became so bad 
 that the men had to be hastily removed. Dr Hennen, too, 
 remarks that, "When the easterly wind blows, the sewers 
 througlinut the town emit the most olfensivc odours." 
 
 t Si)caking of the climate of Gibraltar, an eminent phy- 
 sician says : — 
 
 "From the middle of .November lo IMairli, tlie climate
 
 CLIMATK. 4:^1 
 
 The natives, or, as they are usually termed, the 
 " Scorpions," seem to undergo very little inconveni- 
 ence from the baking heat of the dog-days, but to 
 those who labour imder the misfortune of havintr been 
 born elsewhere, a residence during the summer montlis 
 constitutes a resemljlance to purgatory, far too sug- 
 gestive to be pleasant. 
 
 On several occasions Gibraltar has been visited by 
 very fatal epidemics of the fever type. The historian 
 Ayala refers to a virulent disease that broke out in 
 the garrison in 1G19, and carried off great numbers 
 of the inhabitants. In 1727, it is recorded that 500 
 men of the troops died of a fever, but the character 
 of the disease is not mentioned. Again, in lld^, a 
 great mortality occurred in the 48th regiment, from a 
 disorder which the medical men declared was ])re- 
 cisely the same as yellow fever. 
 
 In 1^00, the deaths from fever in the garrison 
 were 257, the average aiuiual mortality among the 
 military being only 38. These unhealthy symptoms 
 were followed in T^O i by the outbreak of a terrible 
 
 differs in nothing essential from that of England. June, July, 
 August, and September, are constantly hot, the two last sul- 
 try ; and in these months the garrison and inhabitants are 
 subject to biliou.s and putrid disorders, but new coiuits si'ldom 
 escape, and have them in a violent degree. In October and 
 November are the autumnal rains, and Huxcs and inflammatory 
 complaints then take place. Uccember and January arc com- 
 monly dry. February and March continue cold. April and 
 May are temperate and pleasant." 
 
 31
 
 482 HISTORY OP GIBRALTAR. 
 
 pestilence, which in a few weeks swept off 5733 per- 
 sons out of a population of only 15,000. Sufficient is 
 known of the symptoms and character of this disease 
 to leave no doubt of its having been the yellow fever 
 of the West Indies. 
 
 In 1810, 23 distinct sporadic cases occurred, and 
 three years later 899 persons died of the same 
 disease. 
 
 In August, 1814, it again broke out and carried 
 off 246 individuals, and again in August, 1828, it 
 re-appeared and caused 167 7 deaths. The frequent 
 and fatal recurrence of this fever in a climate not 
 remarkably unhealthy, attracted the attention of the 
 authorities, and a commission of inquiry was estab- 
 lished to detemiine whether the disease was imported, 
 or had its origin in local causes. An immense mass 
 of evidence was laid before this board, but the Presi- 
 dent and members disagreed, and no conclusion was 
 arrived at. There is no doubt however that the fever 
 originated in Gibraltar. Previous to 1804 there had 
 been symptoms of a tendency to yellow fever on the 
 Rock during the summer months, and one distin- 
 guished medical man who, in 1798, had examined 
 several cases, unequivocally pronounced the disease to 
 be the fever of the West Indies. Again, the recur- 
 rence of sporadic cases is an argument against import- 
 ation ; and, indeed, Gibrjdtar nmst be accounted 
 most singularly uiifoitunntc, if this pestilence was 
 .'iccideiitally imported on six diflerent occasions dur-
 
 ORIGIN OF MALIGNANT FKVKR8. 483 
 
 iii^ 30 years. The fact is, tliat tlicrc existed exciting 
 causes within tlie city, miinerous enough, and of a 
 character to originate niahgnant fevers, and even in 
 tlie present day many of tliese causes have not been 
 removed. 
 
 The ventilation of the town was essentially bad, 
 the drains were ill constructed, and in no instance 
 trapped, and almost every house had a gaping cess- 
 pool beneath it. During the summer, masses of 
 accumulated tilth were pent up in the sewers, and 
 horribly otlensive odours rose from the open gratings. 
 Added to this, there was never any regular and sutH- 
 cient supply of water. Investigations which were 
 made into the course of the disease in 1828, proved 
 that the fever first broke out in a district notoriously 
 filthy. In further proof of the pestilential state of 
 the atmosphere during these epidemics, it is mentioned 
 by an eminent physician that a great mortality pre- 
 vailed at the same time among animals. 
 
 During the commission of inquiry into the causes 
 of this visitation of yellow fever, the civil authorities 
 made every effort to prove that the disease was im- 
 ported and not endemic. It was felt that the pros- 
 l)erity of the conununity would be injured if it should 
 be proved that the fever originated in the city. A 
 predetermination existed that no such fatal theory 
 could be admitted. 
 
 The miUtary medical men, many of whom had 
 
 considerable experience of the disease, were excm})t 
 
 31 •
 
 484 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 from this prejudiced feeling, and submitted it as their 
 unanimous opinion that the fever originated from 
 local causes. Dr (Sir Wilham) Bmiiett, who proved 
 himself an authority upon the subject of infectious 
 fevers, completely disposed of the importation theory, 
 and effectually disproved the allegations of Sir W. 
 Pym, the president of the board of inquiry. He 
 showed very clearly that on the occasion of the out- 
 break in 1810, there was not one tittle of evidence 
 even to suggest the idea of importation, while, on the 
 contrary, the sanitary condition of the garrison was 
 sufficient to account for the prevalence of malignant 
 fevers. 
 
 The drains in the lower part of the town had but 
 little declivity, and became choked with the soil and 
 filth from the upper part. The whole surface of the 
 drains was covered with night soil, which the small 
 supply of water could not carry off, and the offensive 
 effluvia were disseminated through the whole town. 
 
 It was incontestable that the drains emitted the 
 most foul exhalations, and a lioard of medical (mili- 
 tary) officers, presided over by the Conmianding Royal 
 Engineer, reported that these exhalations were such as 
 not only to pervade most houses, but universally to 
 corrupt the atmosphere. With such prevailing local 
 causes of sickiicss it was scarcely necessary to seek 
 for the origin of this lever through far-fetched 
 t h(M)ri(;s.* 
 
 * "111 every clinu'," saya IIuihIkiIiII, " iiicii fnucy lo derive
 
 RATK OF MOKTALITV. 4^5 
 
 Meteorological variations apj)ear to liavc exer- 
 cised no intluence over the origin of these diseases ; 
 during siinuners of the cjreatest heat no fever broke 
 out, and those years were equally healthy during 
 which an excessive or inconsiderable quantity of rain 
 fell. 
 
 Considering the neglect of sanitary precautions in 
 Gibraltar at the present time, it will be fortunate if 
 the town continues to escape another visitation of 
 malignant fever. f 
 
 The mortality among the population still continues 
 far above the healthy standard, and it fluctuates in a very 
 remarkable degree. It is especially obscnable that 
 although the population has been gradually decreas- 
 ing since 1^40, the death rate has been gradually 
 increasinr/. In the first ten years, 1S40 to iS.jO, the 
 average aiuuial mortality was 401'), while in the suc- 
 
 cousolation in the idea that a disease which is considered 
 jiestilential has been brought from abroad. This belief flatters 
 the national pride. To inhabit a country which produces 
 epidemics mij^lit be deemed a humiliating circumstance, and it 
 is more satisfactory to imagine the disease is a foreign one, and 
 that its brcakini,' out has been merely the efit'ct of an accident, 
 against which it will be easy to guard in another instance. . . . 
 
 From this has arisen that remarkable facility with which 
 
 the doctrine of importation has been eagerly received by all 
 classes." 
 
 * The late Dr Baly, who visited Gibraltar in an olllcial 
 capacity in 1S54, attributed the high rate of mortality to 
 defective drainage, the want of water, and the prevalence of the 
 east wind. IIo affirmed that the state of the town was such 
 as to render it liable to an epidemic at any lime.
 
 4S6 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 ceeding ten years it rose to 484*6, being an increase of 
 83 in the annual average in ten years; though the census 
 of 1861 shows a decrease of 361 in the total population 
 since 1840. ToAvhat causes must this rapid increase 
 in mortality be ascribed ? 
 
 The statistics of 1859-60 exhibited a mortality at 
 the rate of 27 per 1000, and in 1860-61 of 32-5 per 
 1000, an average scarcely equalled in the most un- 
 healthy years, in the most pestilential fever haunts of 
 the dirtiest cities in Great Britain. 
 
 In some years the number of deaths has exceeded 
 the births. The most prevalent diseases are con- 
 sumption, affections of the pulmonary organs, and 
 fevers. Out of 548 deaths in I860, 140 occurred 
 from consumption, pneumonia, and diseases of the 
 respiratory organs.* 
 
 The mortality among children is remarkable. Out 
 of 548 deaths in 1860, 213 were children under ten 
 years of age; and out of 566 children l)orn in 1857, 
 180 died before reaching tliree years. Still-born 
 births are frequent. 
 
 Several meteorological causes have been suggested 
 as possibly having some effect upon the health of 
 
 * The average annual mortality per 1000 among the fixed 
 j)()pulation, taken from a ealfulatiou extemling over 10 years, is 
 li725. On two oecasions cliiiing those 10 years the mortality 
 exceeded 32 ])er 1000. The average mortality of Loudon 
 during the same 10 yearn was 2 tl2 per annum. 
 
 By the census of 1841, the total lixed population was 
 15,S2:3. By the censuw of 1801, it had decreased to 15,4G2.
 
 C'AUSKS OF Ki'lDKMlCS. 487 
 
 Gibraltar; it is afliniicd that heavy showers wliirh, 
 falling early in the autunni, are not followed hy 
 the steady rains, stir up stagnant tilth in the drains 
 without removing it, and thus give rise to sickness ; 
 again, the late fall of the periodical rains, or when tiu; 
 quantity is below or above the average, is put forwaid 
 as a source of disease, and excessive heat is said to 
 have an influence upon the rate of mortality. But 
 statistics show the fallacy of these suggestions. Some 
 of the most healthy seasons have been those during 
 which the thermometer has been highest. 
 
 During the yellow fever epidemics, the suniiiiers 
 were remarkably cool, and it is recorded that in 17.")0, 
 when the heat was so excessive that the inhabitants 
 during the night fancied their houses were on fire, 
 and birds forsook their nests, no epidemic took 
 place. 
 
 Neither does the rainfall appear to exercise any 
 influence over the sanitary state of the place. In the 
 year 1841-42 only 1") inches of rain fell, and the 
 mortality was not visibly affected. In 1855-50, Ml 
 inches fell, and the death rate was less than in the 
 ])receding or following years. 
 
 lUit the facts remain that tlie picseiit mortality is 
 above a healthy average, and that tlie (U'ath rate has 
 increased with a decreasing population.* 
 
 * Speaking of t lie climaU' of (I ilir;ilt;ir, i)r Ki'laart j<a\s : 
 "The climate of Gibraltar liatl been represented to me as 
 equal to any in the south of Europe, but great was my disap-
 
 488 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 pointment not to find it wliat I expected. The lieat of summer 
 is more oppressive than even the thermometrical observations 
 would indicate, owing principally to the want of a free circula- 
 tion of air, which is prevented by the height and configuration 
 of the Eock; most of the winds blowing only in certain 
 quarters of the Eock, and often when the wind is raging 
 tempestuously on the eastern side there is scarcely a breath of 
 wind in the town of Gibraltar. . . . The summer nights 
 retain nearly all the heat of the day, there not being sufficient 
 time for the Eock to become cool before the sun rises again. 
 The reflected heat from the rocky surfaces of Gibraltar is of 
 itself a great som-ce of suffering to the inhabitants."
 
 FOUTIl'ICATIONS. 4SU 
 
 CIIAPTini XXII. 
 
 FORTIFICATIONS. 
 
 The fortifications of Gibraltar arc among the 
 most famous in the world. Since the days when the 
 Moors first estal)lished themselves up)n thi'' rng^^ I 
 rock, and made it the threshold over which the great 
 African invasion passed into Spain, till the present 
 time, its defences, natural and artificial, have been 
 considered the most formidable in the universe*. 
 
 Tn the times wlicii the bow and arrow, the batter- 
 ing-ram, and the catapult were the most destructive 
 engines of war that man's ingenuity coidd invent, its 
 walls and heights withstood successfully the des- 
 perate onslaughts of barbarian hordes, and treachery 
 alone opened its gates. In later days, when war had 
 become a science, and artillery, with its still unknown 
 ])ower, had tliriist aside the rude inventions of our 
 forefathers, and established a new system in the art 
 of strategy, this impregnable Rock mocked the miited 
 eftbrts of two great nations to subdue it, though every
 
 490 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 hostile resource that the skill of the besiegers could 
 devise was employed against it. 
 
 The value of the Rock to England, a value which, 
 since the introduction of steam into the navies of the 
 world, and the necessity of protected coaling stations, 
 is doubly important, has induced the Government to 
 maintain the defences in such a state of formidable 
 perfection as to render the fortress impregnable and 
 attack futile. 
 
 Within the last few years especially a vast amount 
 of labour and expense have been lavished upon the 
 works, and the fortifications have attained a strength 
 capable of resisting the most arduous siege. 
 
 Precautionary prohibitions forbid that the fortifi- 
 cations should be described in this work. Though 
 Lord Chatham * likened the studied secret policy of 
 the engineers to the timorous ostrich which, hiding 
 from his enemy, thrusts his head into the sand and 
 fancies that the rest of his body is invisible, there can 
 l)e little doubt that it is unadvisable to enter into a 
 minute description of this celebrated fortified posi- 
 tion. I may remark, however, that the defences of 
 Gibraltar are not constructed ujjon any particular 
 system. Advantage has been taken of a natm'ally 
 strong position, and of the peculiar features of an 
 almost inaccessible rock. 
 
 Tli(! fortifications may be classed under three 
 (liflVrcnt licnds, first, a sea wall with its system of 
 * (lovcrnor in 1B20.
 
 rORTIFlCATlONS. I'Jl 
 
 curtaiii^^, flanks, and l)astions, extending at broken 
 intervals round the western base of the Roek, and 
 covering every accessible spot from the north-western 
 angle of the town to the southernmost point at 
 Eiiropa. 
 
 Secondly, the retired batteries, armed with the 
 heaviest ordnance, situated in obscure but command- 
 ing positions, with difficulty discernible from the sea, 
 and comparatively safe from the fire of shipping. 
 The most formidable of these arc Jones's battery 
 under the Moorish Castle, Gardner's above the 
 Alameda on the Upper Road, and the Civil Hospital 
 Battery over the town. 
 
 Thirdly, the excavated galleries, blasted and 
 hewn out of the solid rock on the northern and 
 north-western faces of the mountain ; the heavy 
 ordnance in these celebrated galleries commands, at 
 an elevation of 000 feet, the north front, neutral 
 ground, and pait of tlie Bay. 
 
 Every spot upon the Rock from whence a gun 
 could be brought to bear with advantage upon an 
 enemy is occupied by camion. Wandering through 
 the geranium-hedged pat lis on the hill side, or clam- 
 bering up the rugged cl ill's to the eastward, one 
 stumbles unexpectedly upon a gun of the heaviest 
 metal lodged in a secluded nook, with its anuiuuiition, 
 round shot, canister and case piled around it, ready at 
 an instant. 
 
 The shrubs and tlowcrs that t^row on the cultivateil
 
 492 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 places, and are preserved from injury with so much 
 sohcitude, are often but the masks of guns "vvhich he 
 crouched beneath, concealed within the leaves ready 
 for the port fire. Everywhere, all stands ready for 
 attack. Huge piles of shot and shell built up with 
 many thousand rounds are crowded into convenient 
 spaces screened from an enemy's fire, long rows of 
 spare guns are extended under the shelter of impene- 
 trable walls, and sentries posted at every turn 
 narrowly watch the movements of every passer by. 
 
 After midnight, military patrols occupy the streets, 
 no civihans can move out without a pass, and the 
 silence is broken only by the doleful " All's well," as 
 the cry is passed from post to post, from bastion to 
 bastion. 
 
 It may be said that in this great fortress every 
 other interest is sacrificed to its military importance. 
 Even private property is liable to confiscation upon 
 payment of compensation should the site be required 
 for a battery, a magazine, or any military work, and 
 all building leases are confined to the shortest periods. 
 
 At the northern angle of the town, Avhich faces 
 the neutral ground, and where the road from Spain 
 enters the city, the defences are complicated and of 
 immense strength. It was here that the heavy fighting 
 took place during the sieges of 1705, 1727. The walls 
 are still pock-marked with the im])rints of the storm 
 of shot tliey liave witlistood. Tiio town is entered 
 licre l)y two ways, one over a drawbridge, leading
 
 l"Uinil-lCATIONS. I'J.i 
 
 from a narrow causeway for foot passengers ami 
 horses only, the otlicr j)assing aloii^^ the edge of 
 Land-port ditcli and running under Water-port gate. 
 The grand l)attery or Land-])ort curtain sweeps 
 the approach from the north front. This battery is 
 protected by a deep (h-y ditcli, 50 feet wide, formed 
 by the erection of a ghicis before it. This glacis ex- 
 tends to the causeway and inundation. Tiie latter 
 work, which is situated between the Rock and cause- 
 way, serves as a strong protection to the city at this 
 point. It is an artificial excavation formed from an old 
 morass. It covers nine acres of ground, and is inter- 
 sected by eight transverse ditches, 12 feet deep, and a 
 line of palisades. The water is from four to six feet 
 in depth. 
 
 The most remarkable and interesting features in 
 the fortifications of Gilu-altar are the subterranean 
 excavated galleries and lines. Those termed the 
 upper galleries commence near the Moorisli Tower, 
 and, following the contour of the tortuous cliffs of 
 the Rock on its northern face, terminate at a curious 
 prominent peak or jiiiuiacle, the interior of which at 
 the sununit has Ijcen extensively excavated and hea- 
 vily armed. 
 
 The long line of galleries is pierced at interval 
 with embrasures or port lioh's bhistcd out of the 
 solid rock. Tluougii tliese rugged openings peer tlie 
 nui/.zles of tlie guns. 
 
 Below this upper line of galleiies are otlu'rs far
 
 494 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 more vast and wonderful in their construction ; these 
 too have been liewn and blasted out of the tough 
 limestone, and are of marvellous size and strength. 
 Upwards of 1350 men could find shelter in them. 
 These magnificent works are not surpassed by any in 
 the world. 
 
 On the very apex of the precipice that overhangs 
 the north front, and 1350 feet above the sea, is the 
 Rock Gun battery armed with mortars and heavy 
 ordnance. Guns were dragged up to this height 
 during the last siege, and considerable damage was 
 done to the enemy's lines from this Avork. Notwith- 
 standing its elevation above the sea, the Spaniards 
 shelled it successfully on more than one occasion. 
 
 The total number of guns now mounted on the 
 Rock is 700 : of these the greater portion are OS's 
 and 3,2's. The garrison consists of 5 GOO men.
 
 COMMKIU'K. 4'JO 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIT. 
 
 coMMKiin;. 
 
 As a coiiimcrcial station Gibraltar is rapidly siiik- 
 iiiK into insiy-niticance. Before the introduction of 
 steam, and when there was but little direct trade 
 between Barbary and Great Britain, the place acquired 
 some importance as an intermediate port of com- 
 merce ; and gained an unenviable notoriety as an 
 extensive snmggling depot. 
 
 Since it became a free port in the reign of Queen 
 Anne, until the introduction of steam, its trade pro- 
 gressed in such a remarkable degree, that in 1822 and 
 1824 the value of the imports of cotton and woollen 
 manufactures alone amounted to a million and a 
 quarter of money. Subsequently to 182 t this exten- 
 sive connnerce gradually declined. 
 
 The fiscal policy of Spain, which taught that 
 Gibraltar was a })lague-spot upon the conunercial 
 prosperity of the country, and the excessive and indeed 
 prohibitive duties levied upon all classes of English 
 manufactures exported from the Kock, soon paralyzed
 
 49G HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 fair and open trading, and originated the demoralizing 
 smuggling system. 
 
 In 1831, the value of the Manchester goods im- 
 ported "was reduced to £263,527, and a recent return 
 shows that in 1854 the worth of every class of mer- 
 chandise, including British and Irish produce, exported 
 from Great Britain to Gibraltar, was only £754,000. 
 It is at first sight remarkable that, though trade has 
 so rapidly diminished, the amount of shipping which 
 enters the port has enonnously increased. But this 
 augmentation is due to the extension of mercantile 
 transactions all through the Mediterranean, and has 
 no bearing upon the direct trade with the Rock. 
 Formerly, in the days of sailing vessels, Gibraltar 
 formed the great entrepot for goods which were 
 intended for distribution not only along the neigh- 
 bouring coasts, but to the remotest corners of the 
 Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Noav steam and 
 ships of larger tonnage carry cargoes direct to the 
 port of destination without transshipment. 
 
 In 1820, 29,775 tons of English shipping entered 
 the port ; in 1831, only 14,349 tons were registered, 
 but in 1860, the tonnage had increased to 583,647. 
 In this latter year 4400 vessels of all nations anchored 
 in the Bay, and of this number more than 1000 were 
 j)ropelled by steam. As a station of legitimate com- 
 mercial importance, Gibraltar has declined, but as a 
 ))()rt for tlu; jjrotcction and convenience of tlie nier-
 
 SLl'l'llESSlON (JF S.ML{i(.LIN(i. 4*J7 
 
 rantilc iniiriiic tradini:; with tlic Mediterranean, Spain, 
 and Morocco, it is more than ever of importance. 
 
 Tlie snuifrgHnf:^ trade, which was for so long a source 
 of constant irritation between Spain and Great liritain, 
 has now ahnost entirely ceased. It is true, that on 
 some occasions small cargoes of Manchester goods or 
 tobacco are taken as a venture, but as a trade, snmg- 
 gling has expired. Spain, however, still maintains a 
 riiiid vigilance over the sea-board in the neighbour- 
 hood of the Rock, and revenue boats are constantly on 
 the alert. The ca})tures made by these revenue cruisers 
 are not, how^ever, contined to smuggling craft alone. 
 By an unjust and untenable assumption, which Eng- 
 land has not yet ventured to dispute, Spain claims 
 the right of jurisdiction over the water of the Straits 
 within six miles of her shores, and she asserts her 
 right to board any vessel under 200 tons that sails 
 within that distance of her coasts. As the Straits 
 are on a average about twxlve, and in some places but 
 eight, miles in breadth, Spain thus claims the right 
 over more than half these waters, and virtually com- 
 mands the navigation of the Gut. In consequence of 
 the peculiar intluence of the cm-rent, the sudden 
 changes of wind, and the narrowness of the channel, 
 it is impossible for vessels navigating these Straits to 
 avoid sometimes anchoring within a short distance of 
 the Spanish coast, but if they do so they are liable 
 to be boarded by armed revenue boats at any mo- 
 ment, their contents overhauled, and their papers
 
 498 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 scrutinized, and if any discrepancy can be discovered 
 between their manifest and the cargoes, the Spanish 
 Government justify the seizure of the ship. On two 
 occasions in the last 12 months, British vessels have 
 been captured within sight of Gibraltar, and in one 
 instance within gunshot of the walls. The case of 
 the " Julian," taken in the month of October, 1859, 
 was a gross act of illegality, but it met with no 
 redress. Endeavouring to make her way to Tangier, 
 she was compelled by contrary winds to lay to with- 
 in three miles of the Spanish shore, when she was 
 boarded, seized, and taken into Algeciras as a prize. 
 There she was quickly condemned by the Admi- 
 ralty Court, and sold for the benefit of the captors. 
 There was no tangible pretext for this outrage ; 
 but information had been given to the Spanish au- 
 thorities that the ship was laden with contraband 
 of war (the Spanish army was in Africa), which on an 
 inspection of the cargo proved to be false. The 
 captors, enraged at having been thus foiled, with little 
 difficulty discovered a discrepancy in the manifest, 
 and thus a pretext was established for the seizure. 
 Another instance of illegal capture, attended with 
 greater audacity, and even more inexcusable circum- 
 stances than the last, occurred in .limuary, 1861. 
 
 On the evening of the 7th of that month, a small 
 British vessel, the " Louisa," set sail from Gibndtar 
 laden with various merchandise belonging to 19 dif- 
 ferent traders. She had Jilso on board two bales of
 
 SFfziiu: OF A HKinsn vkssii.. ■V.)\) 
 
 tobacco, wiiicli did not apjJL'ar in the manifest. Slie 
 was l)()tnid to Tctuan, a free port on the coast of Har- 
 harv, wliicli had lately come into possession of the 
 Spaniards. The vessel had scarcely cleared the Rock, 
 and was still within gunshot of the batteries, when she 
 was boarded and seized by an armed Spanish revenue 
 boat in English waters, conveyed to Algeciras, the 
 crew and passengers imprisoned, and the ship con- 
 dennied. After a vexatious delay the prisoners were 
 released, but the cargo and vessel were declared law- 
 ful j)rizes. This act of piracy, for no other term is 
 applicable to such a case, perpetrated in our own 
 waters, under the muzzles of our guns, and upon a 
 British vessel with her flag flying, caused, as may be 
 supposed, the greatest consternation among the mer- 
 cantile community, and led to firm but temperate re- 
 monstrances on the part of the local government. A 
 demand was instantly made for the restoration of the 
 ship and cargo, with full indemnity for all loss 
 incurred. At the same time the circumstance was 
 referred to the Government at home. The Span- 
 iards however obstinately refused to comply with the 
 demand put forward, iind insisted upon the legality 
 of the capture, on the groimds that the cargo contain- 
 ed two bales of tobacco not entered in the manifest, 
 and that the vessel was within the prescribed mari- 
 time fiscal zone, viz. two leagues from the Spanish 
 coast, the bay of (iibraltar itself being only five 
 
 miles in breadth. The English (Jovenunent. convinced 
 
 32 •
 
 500 HISTORY OF GIBRALTAR. 
 
 that an outrage had been committed upon the British 
 flag, and sensible of the effect that such daring seiz- 
 ures would have upon the trade in these parts, insisted 
 upon the immediate restoration of the " Louisa" and 
 her cargo, demands which were reluctantly complied 
 with to a certain extent. After a delay of nearly six 
 months the vessel was returned in an unseaworthy 
 condition, and some portion of the cargo was also 
 given up. This latter however was greatly damaged, 
 and diminished by one-half. A demand for a full 
 indemnity has been made upon the Spanish Govern- 
 ment, but it is as yet refused. 
 
 The effect of these seizures upon the trade between 
 Barbary and Gibraltar may easily be conceived. The 
 Spanish Government claim, in their own words, " That 
 any vessel, whether national or foreign, of a less 
 burthen than 200 tons, which may be found standing 
 off and on within the maritime fiscal zone (six miles) 
 with unlawful merchandise on board is liable to con- 
 fiscation."* 
 
 The trade with Morocco is carried on almost ex- 
 clusively by vessels under 200 tons, and in conse- 
 (juence of the rapid current which always sets through 
 the Straits to the eastward, the sudden changes of 
 wind, and other peculiarities in the navigation of these 
 waters, it is, in nine cases out of ten, impossible for 
 these traders to work llii-ough tlie Straits without 
 
 * lioyivl DocToo, Madrid, A])ril 17(Ii. ISfiO.
 
 l.N>ll,TS TO r.IMTlSIl VKSSr.LS. .))»! 
 
 aiiclioriiiL:; oi' laviiiij; to within the iiiaiitiiiii- jurisdic- 
 tion claiiiu'd so arl)itrarily by Spain. 
 
 It is to 1)C' remarked also tliat liritisli vessels 
 alone an; molested, the French ilaj^ beinj^ invariably 
 respected, 'i'lie impression that these insults to Kn<^- 
 land are lial)le to make, and indeed do make, uj)on 
 the merchants and traders of every clime and nation 
 who congregate in Gibraltar is marked, and detri- 
 mental to our hitherto acknowledged sui)remacy in 
 the Mediterranean, especially at a time when France 
 is pushing forward her interests on the Barbary coast 
 with gigantic strides.
 
 502 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 General Eliott to Lord Grantham. Nov. 1777. 
 {Ci/phcr.) 
 
 " My Lord, 
 
 "By my desire the Emperor's* Jew secretary 
 sent me a copy of a letter from Count Florida Blanca, 
 dated October 26th, acknowledging the receipt of a letter 
 from Sumbelljf containing compliments on the Count's 
 new appointment, professions of the Emperor's personal re- 
 gard for His Catholic Majesty, and offering satisfaction for 
 injuries, with overtures for a reconciliation. 
 
 " This the Count answers with full assurances for his 
 zeal for the Emperor, and the King's inclination to renew 
 the peace, provided His Imperial IVIajesty M'ill make the 
 proposal under his own hand, and give satisfaction for 
 public injuries. The person who sent me this letter pro- 
 mises I shall have the answer, and says mystcriouslj^, lie 
 knows the moaning of the Spanish paragraph. If this 
 place shoukl be tlircatcncd, an immcdialc and ample supply 
 of troops, artillery, ammunition, stores, and money will bo 
 wanted." 
 
 * Of Morocco. t The Emperor's Jew secretary.
 
 AITKNIMX. oO;i 
 
 General Eliott to Lord Grunthuni. A].iil 10, 1778. 
 
 {Cypher.) 
 
 "This instant I am iiif'onncd tiiat the Moorish arabas- 
 sador is returned I'rom the Freueh Court with a present (jf 
 50,000 cobs (dollars)." 
 
 Sir George Eliott to the Right Honourable Thomas 
 Townshend, Seeretary for War. 
 
 " Gibraltar, August Gth, 1782. 
 
 " As the oflTicers employed on my staff have most dili- 
 gently, faithl'ully, and eonstuntly exerted themselves witli 
 very great fatigue, and not the smallest emolument what- 
 ever, I do therefore make it my humble request that sueh 
 .stei)s may be taken as you sliall judge proper for the said 
 payment to be made, and that you would be pleased to 
 pardon my being very earnest on a subject where the in- 
 terest of so many deservnng officers is concerned, whose 
 claims are well authenticated bv their unremittinjr labours 
 and services of long continuance. My solicitude is the 
 greater on their account, as it would seem that hitherto I 
 am the oidy ])erson who luis reaped the benefit of any pe- 
 cuniary advantage from the king's most gracious favour." 
 
 Sir George PHiott to General Conway. 
 
 " Gibraltar, March IDth, 1783. 
 " Sir, 
 
 "I was favoured with yi>ur very obliging letter 
 of the 1st January, by tlie ' Thetis ' frigate, on the 
 10th inst.
 
 504 APPENDIX. 
 
 " Congratulations from you, Sir, are of the utmost 
 value ; they are not mere compliments. It has ever been 
 my good fortune to receive your countenance in the various 
 services when under your command; upon the present 
 occasion your opinion absolutely decides, so well ac- 
 quainted as you are with every part of this place, and the 
 principal works erected upon your own plan, which I 
 foretold would one day speak for themselves. They have 
 now undergone the severest tryal, and proved without a 
 fault ; hence the public owe you much. We of the gar- 
 rison are more especially indebted, as by our information 
 you first moved in the House of Commons for this great 
 national honour, their thanks; these have been made 
 known to the whole, but I propose doing it with proper 
 military form as soon as Lieutenant-General Boyd comes 
 out from an attack of the gout, as he wishes to be present. 
 
 " The adjutant- general of the forces here will have the 
 honour to deliver this letter at the same time with the Re- 
 view (?) returns. He is so perfectly intelligent, that he 
 will be able to answer fully as to any particular you please 
 to require. He is a very good soldier, and well deserves 
 any honour you shall please to bestow on him. 
 
 " He has no riches but his integrity. ... I recom- 
 mended the quarter-master-general, Major Hardy, and 
 adjutant- general for brevet rank (as customary), but re- 
 ceived no answer. The first of tlicse, Major Hardy, is of the 
 Flanders war — none ever was superior to him either in 
 courage, talents, or constant application to the most fa- 
 tiguing and difliculi iiiidertuking ever known of so long 
 duration. 
 
 " J}y his unconnnon spirit and exertion many thousand 
 pounds arc saved to the public, and perhaps the garrison 
 by liis means ni.'iy have been prcscived from mortal sick-
 
 AI'rKNDIX. '"iOj 
 
 ncss and starving by hunger. I may venture to give my 
 word of honour, this officer never made one single i>cnny 
 poniuisite public or private. The adjutant-general in his 
 line has beei\ ecpially active and disinterested. These 
 officers with a very few more will be the only ones I shall 
 personally interest myself for."* 
 
 * From Papers in Colonial Secretary's Office, Gibraltar.
 
 506 
 
 PREPARED BY LIEUTENANT WARREN, R. E. 
 FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 
 METEOEOLOGICAL OBSERVATORY, ROYAL ENGINEERS, 
 
 GIBRALTAR. 
 
 Latitude North, 36° 6' 20". Longitude West, 5° 20' 53''. 
 Height above mean-water level, 50 feet. 
 
 ABSTRACT, 
 
 Showing the total amount of rain collected during the years 1S38 — 1860, 
 
 together with the dates of the first heavy showers and heavy rains : 
 
 also the Mean Temperature from 1852 — 1860. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Date of first 
 lieavy showers. 
 
 Amount 
 collected. 
 
 Date of first 
 heavy rain. 
 
 Amount 
 collected. 
 
 Total 
 amount. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 1838-9 
 
 26 September 
 
 0-58 
 
 28 September 
 
 1-84 
 
 27-58 
 
 
 1839-40 
 
 2 September 
 
 0-11 
 
 3 October 
 
 1-51 
 
 8934 
 
 
 1840-41 
 
 29 October 
 
 0-42 
 
 3 November 
 
 1-04 
 
 31-19 
 
 
 1841-2 
 
 29 August 
 
 0-18 
 
 20 December 
 
 1-20 
 
 15-91 
 
 
 1842-3 
 
 26 September 
 
 0-94 
 
 11 October 
 
 1-77 
 
 31-02 
 
 
 1843-4 
 
 2 September 
 
 0-32 
 
 17 October 
 
 0-92 
 
 24-51 
 
 
 1844-5 
 
 22 September 
 
 0-75 
 
 22 October 
 
 1-69 
 
 45-13 
 
 
 1845-6 
 
 9 September 
 
 0-12 
 
 5 October 
 
 0-90 
 
 27-34 
 
 
 1846-7 
 
 5 October 
 
 0-10 
 
 18 October 
 
 0-90 
 
 20-36 
 
 
 
 1847-8 
 
 11 September 
 
 0-59 
 
 19 October 
 
 1-35 
 
 24-48 
 
 Moan 
 
 
 1848-9 
 
 1849-50 
 
 1850-51 
 
 24 September 
 12 September 
 16 September 
 
 0-15 
 Oil 
 
 0-47 
 
 27 September 
 4 November 
 14 October 
 
 1-85 
 2-31 
 
 4-48 
 
 35-01 
 24-66 
 28-36 
 
 tempera- 
 ture. 
 
 
 
 
 1851-2 
 
 1 October 
 
 0'4n 
 
 31 October 
 
 2-22 
 
 26-70 
 
 65-9 
 
 
 1852-3 
 
 3 October 
 
 0-43 
 
 9 October 
 
 180 
 
 34-89 
 
 63-3 
 
 
 1863-4 
 
 1 September 
 
 0-92 
 
 27 October 
 
 1-72 
 
 40 84 
 
 64-0 
 
 
 1854-5 
 1855-6 
 
 C8 August 
 *4 Scptflmber 
 7 Scptcmbor 
 
 1-72, 
 0-27 J 
 0-10 
 
 15 November 
 
 16 September 
 
 4-n 
 
 301 
 
 6()61 
 80-70 
 
 62-8 
 64-8 
 
 
 1856-7 
 
 3 September 
 
 1-72 
 
 3 September 
 
 1-72 
 
 23-50 
 
 618 
 
 
 1867-8 
 
 23 SeptcJulxT 
 
 Oil 
 
 4 November 
 
 1-22 
 
 37-33 
 
 65-8 
 
 
 1858-9 
 
 13 Scptcml)cr 
 
 0-45 
 
 20 September 
 
 3-30 
 
 28-10 
 
 64-6 
 
 
 iHr,'.t-(io 
 
 4 October 
 
 20 
 
 13 November 
 
 201 
 
 39'98 
 31-63 
 
 (i4-9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Means 
 
 61-5 

 
 Arrh.NDIX. 
 
 j()7 
 
 RETURN OF THE OCCUrATIONS 
 
 OK TIIK 
 
 FIXED rorULATIOX OF GIBRALTAR, 18G0. 
 From a Census taken 1)V tlie I'oliee Mairistrate. 
 
 Employed 
 unaor the 
 
 Local Govt. 
 
 In 
 
 Professions. 
 
 Commerce. 
 
 Trades. 
 
 132 
 
 72 
 
 G81 
 
 1297 
 
 Agriculture. 
 
 Miscellaneous. 
 
 At school. 
 
 Unemployed. 
 
 28 
 
 5565 
 
 2633 
 
 4994 
 
 Paupers. 
 
 Total fixed Population. 
 
 60 
 
 15,462 
 
 Revenue of Gibraltar for the year 1^01 . 
 £31,597 ll.v. W'L 
 £14,889 195. of tlie total revenue are derived 
 from duties on Avines and spirits, and rents of pul)he- 
 liouse liecnses.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Abdul-Malek, truce with Alfonso and the King of Granada, 29 
 Abdul-Malik, his death, 33 
 
 Abu-Abdalla delivers the keys of Granada to Terdinand, 79 
 Abu-Abdillah succeeds Ismail Abu-1-WaUd, 49 ; assassinated by Don 
 
 Pedro, 50 
 Abu-1-Hassan, King of Morocco, 31 ; lands at Gibraltar, 31 ; death of 
 
 his son, 33 ; takes refuge in Gibraltar, 36 
 Africa, western province of, ruled over by Wali Ibn Nosseyr, 2 
 Alberoni, Cardinal, his intrigues with Russia and Sweden, 156 ; his 
 
 downfall, and dismissal from Madrid, 156 
 Albornez, Don Gil de, a commander of Alfonso's army against the 
 
 Moors, 37 
 Alfonso of Castile, defeated by Yusef, 14 ; advances against Mohammed 
 IV., 22 ; determines to retake Gibraltar, 23 ; borrows money from 
 Vallodolid, Burgos, and Toledo, 23 ; his unsuccessful attack upon the 
 Rock, 25 ; truce with Abdul-Malek and the King of Granada, 29 ; 
 prepares to march against Abu-1-Hassan, 32 ; applies to the King of 
 Portugal for aid, 34 ; defeats the Mussulmen at Salado, 36 ; besieges 
 Algeciras, 37 ; reinforced, 39 ; his difficulties, 41 ; truce with the 
 Moslems, 42 ; attacks Gibraltar, 44 ; sells the villages of Villa Alba 
 and Palma, to raise money, l^ ; determines to starve tlic garrison, 45 ; 
 his death, 46 ; and burial, 47 ; succeeded by Don Pedro, 47 ; Condc's 
 account of him, 47 
 Alfonso the Infante, declared heir to King Henry, 70; his death, 73 
 Algeciras surrendered to Yusef, 14 ; retaken by the Spanish Moham- 
 medans, 16 ; attacked by Perdinand IV., 15 ; taken by tlie Christians, 
 20 ; besieged by Alfonso, 37 ; surrenders, 42 ; attacked by ^Moliaiiiuied 
 v., 51; destroyed, 51; annexed to Gibraltar, 6S ; inspection of 
 floating batteries at, by Due dc Crillon, 379 ; action off, 423 
 Ali-el-Curro, escapes from Gibraltar, 62 
 
 Alliance, tlic Grand, between England, Austria, and llollaiul, 99 
 Almodovar, Marquis d', delivers the Spanish manifesto to King George 
 III.. 282
 
 (iKMJt.VI. IM)K\'. oOO 
 
 Alonzo v., King of Portugal, visits King Henry IV. at Gibraltar, f/J 
 Alonzo de Arcos, attacks Gibraltar, 03 ; invites aid from neighbouring 
 
 princes, 03 ; appointed chief magistrate of Seville, GO ; his death, 00 ; 
 
 inscription on iiis tomb, 07 ; his descendants, 07 
 Alonzo do Mendoza, appointed Governorof Gibraltar by Ferdinand IV., 1 
 Animals, few inhabit the Rock, lot 
 Aragon, King of, aids Alfonso, 41 
 
 Aranda, Count d', conducts negotiations of peace with England, 411 
 Ar9on, Chevalier d', his scheme for the capture of Gibraltar, 371 
 " Armed Neutrality," the, 321) ; declared by Queen Catharine, 330 ; 
 
 recognized by all the great powers of Europe, 33U 
 Artillery, its lirst use against Gibraltar, 57 
 Artois, Due d', arrives in the Spanish camp before Gibraltar, 377 
 Ayamonte, attacked and taken by the Mohammedans, 52 ; retaken by 
 
 Eernando, 52 
 Azcnaga, Viceroy of Algiers, organizes a pirate expedition, 88 
 
 Baena, besieged by Mohammed IV., 20 
 
 Barbarossa, llayradiu, scours the Mediterranean, 87 ; sails from Algiers to 
 
 take Gibraltar, 87 
 Barcelo, Admiral, resumes blockade of Gibraltar, 308 ; his ill-treatment 
 
 of prisoners, 308 ; his attack on the British squadron, 333 ; its failure, 
 
 334 
 Barcelona, bombardment of, 101 ; second expedition against, 152 
 Barr, Lieut. -Colonel, defends the Round Tower of Gibraltar against the 
 
 Spaniards, 142 
 Bazan, Don Rodrigo, appointed Alcalde of Gibraltar, So ; succeeded by 
 
 Don Alvaro, 80 
 Beltran de la Cucva, appointed Alcalde of Gibraltar, 09 
 Ben Ottoman, Moorish ambassador at Madrid, 2S0 
 Boscawen, Admiral, cai)tures two Erench men-of-war off Newfoundland, 
 
 240 
 Botany of Gibraltar, 453 
 
 Bourbon, Due de, arrives in the Spanish camp before Gibraltar, 377 
 Burgoyne, General, his surrender at Saratoga, 203 
 Burke, Mr, his speech on the importance of Gibraltar, 410 
 Burnet, Bishop, his remarks on the capture of Gibraltar, 114; his hatred 
 
 of Sir George Rooke, 1 10 
 Byug, Admiral, commander of a squadron under Sir George Rooke, 
 
 108 ; destroys the Spanish tleet off Palermo, 150; despatched with a 
 
 squadron from Spithead, to relieve Minorca, 242 ; engiigemcnt with 
 
 the Erench, 243; returns to Gibraltar, 243; tried by court martial 
 
 and shot, 243
 
 510 GEXEEAL INDEX. 
 
 Cabrita point, capture of five Frencli vessels at, by Sir John Leake, 
 146 
 
 Cadiz, Bishop of, one of the commanders of Alfonso's army, 37 
 
 Calpe, Mons, Gibraltar anciently known as, 1 
 
 Calvi, Juan Bautista, arrives at Gibraltar, 91 
 
 Cambray, congress at, broken up, 169 
 
 Caramani, leader of a piratical expedition against Gibraltar, 88 ; killed, 91 
 
 Castile, King of, treaty with Mohammed V., 52 
 
 Catharine, Queen, organizes the " Armed Neutrality," 330 
 
 Cavamie, General, leader of the French army for the siege of Gibraltar, 
 128 
 
 Charles V., proclaimed King of Castile, 85 ; abdicates, and is succeeded 
 by Philip II., 92 
 
 II., death of, 98 ; succeeded by Philip of Anjou, 98 
 
 • ■ III., succeeds Ferdinand as king of Spain, 260 
 
 Clayton, General Caspar, in command of Gibraltar, 182 ; remonstrates 
 with Las Torres on the Spanish aggression, 188 
 
 Clement VI., Pope, his loan to Alfonso, 41 
 
 CUmate of Gibraltar, 480 
 
 CoUingwood, his letter to General Pox, 431 
 
 Commerce of Gibraltar, 495 
 
 Crillon, Due de, commands the final expedition against Gibraltar, 368 ; 
 his plan for the attack, 374 ; his letter to Eliott, 396 ; his secret in- 
 structions, 403 ; returns to Madrid, 405 
 
 Cruillas, Admiral de, arrives with Josef Tenorio in the Straits, 32 
 
 Cumberland, Mr, his secret negotiation with Hussey, 316 ; his descrip- 
 tion of, 316 ; interview with Hussey, 322 ; sent to Lisbon, 334 
 
 Curtis, Brigadier, his heroic conduct, 391 
 
 Darby, Admiral, commands an English fleet for the relief of Gibraltar, 347; 
 
 arrives at the llock, 350 
 Derby, Lord, joins Alfonso's army, 38 
 
 Dilkes, Admiral, his engagement with a Spanish squadron, 100 
 Duff, Admiral, commands an English squadron at Gibraltar, 284 
 Dunbar, Colonel, seized and imprisoned, 183 
 
 Eliott, General, appointed governor of Gibraltar, 272 ; account of, 272; 
 letter to Lord Townshond, 276; his preparations to defend Gib- 
 raltar, 285 ; letter to Admiral llodney, 305 ; remonstrates against 
 Admiral Barcclo's ill-treatment of prisoners, 308 ; letters to General 
 Murray, 336, 338, 340, 342; letter to Lord Howe, 397; honours 
 graiiti-d him, 406; created Lord lleathfield, 40S 
 
 England, declares war against Sp;iin, 261; iirr snccessrs, 261 ; peace,
 
 OF.NKII.VI- INDKX, ',11 
 
 201 ; declares war against France and America, 205 ; Spain declares 
 war agaiiut, 2G5 
 Estaiiif^, D', coinmnnds an American expedition, 205 ; commands a 
 I'Vcnch licet at Cadiz, 32 1 
 
 " Family Compact," the, 200 ; terms of, 200 
 
 Ferdinand IV., attacks Algcciras, 15 ; besieges Gibraltar, 15 ; abandons 
 
 Algeciras, 10; repairs and orgamzes government of Gibraltar, 10; 
 
 his death, 17; succeeded by Alouzo XI., 17 
 king of Sicily, marries Isabella of Castile, 75 ; marches 
 
 against the Moors, 7S ; his successes, 7'J ; appointed llcgent, b3 ; 
 
 his death, 81 
 
 king of Spain, his death, 200 ; succeeded by Charles 
 
 III., 200 
 
 Fernan dc Mcira, officer under Alfonso, 2i 
 
 Fernando, Regent of Castile, retakes Ayamontc, 52 
 
 Fez, king of, sends an army to aid Moliamnied IV., 22 
 
 Figucroa, Colonel, comniands a forlorn hope against Gibraltar, 130 
 
 Fish taken at Gibraltar, 464 
 
 Fitzhcrbert, Mr., British minister at Paris, 109; conducts negotiations 
 
 of peace, 410 
 Florida Blanca, Count, Spanish minister, 315; Ilussey's letter to, 323 ; 
 
 his duplicity, 327 
 Fortifications of Gibraltar described, -ISO 
 
 Fotherby, Captain, his account of the Spanish army before Gibraltar, 131 
 Fowke, General, governor of Gibndtar, 242 ; tried by court-martial, 242 ; 
 
 dismissed from the service, 243 ; succeeded by Lord I'anmure, 243 
 Fox, Mr., his opinion respecting Gibraltar, 415 
 
 General, letter from CoUingwood to, 431 ; letter from Nelson to, 433 
 
 France, intrigues with Spain for a confederacy against England, 244 ; 
 
 treaty with America, 204 
 Francisco, St., Monastery of, restored, SO 
 Franklin, Dr., American minister at Paris, 411 
 French Revolution, outbreak of, 421 
 
 Garcilaso de la Vega, ajipointed governor of Gibraltar, 81 
 Geology of Gibraltar, 4 1'J 
 
 George I. sends Lord Stanhope to Paris, 100; his letter to Philip, 105 
 Germaine, Lord George, 310; sends Ilussey to Madrid, 10 
 Gibraltar, its ancient geographical names and description, 1, 2; not in- 
 habited until the Mulianiineiian inva.sion, 2 ; det'Cribed by Al-Mak- 
 kari, 0; surrenders to Yusef ben Taxlin in lOSO, 13; besieged by 
 the Spanish Mohammcdan.s, 15; by Ferdinand IV., 15; surrenders
 
 512 GENERAL IJJDEX. 
 
 to him, 16 ; its defences repaired and government organized, 16 ; be- 
 sieged by Nassir Abul Geoix, IS ; by Mohammed IV., 20 ; its arsenal 
 taken, 20 ; surrender of the garrison, 22 ; Alfonso marches to retake 
 it, 23 ; termination of its fourth siege, 24 ; Abu-1-Hassau lands, 31 ; 
 its fortifications strengthened, 43 ; besieged by Alfonso, 44 ; delivered 
 to the King of Morocco, 53; retaken by the King of Granada, 
 53; besieged by the Count de Niebla, 57 ; its defenceless state, 63 ; 
 attacked by Alonzo de Arcos, 63 ; offer of its surrender, 64 ; besieged 
 by Don Rodrigo, 66 ; annexed to the throne of Castile, 67 ; visited 
 by King Henry, 69 ; besieged by the Duke of Medina, 72 ; surrenders, 
 73 ; re-annexed to Castile by Isabella, 81 ; surrenders, 81 ; be- 
 sieged by Don Juan de Guzman, 84 ; attacked by pirates, 89 ; its de- 
 fences repaired, 91 ; visited by Philip III., 94 ; disease, 95 ; peace and 
 prosperity, 95; bombarded by Marshal Tourville, 97; Sir George 
 Rooke resolves to attack it, 102 ; its feebleness, 107 ; its fortifications 
 and defences described, 107 ; cannonade commenced, 109 ; truce. 111 ; 
 articles of truce, 112 et seq. ; Prince of Hesse takes possession, 113 ; 
 inhabitants leave the city, 117 ; Spanish expedition against, 128 ; 
 its fortifications extended, 129 ; bombardment commenced, 129 ; the 
 siet^e, 129 et seq. ; privations in, 139 ; succour arrives, 140 ; the siege 
 raised, 147 ; ceded to England, 153 ; offered to Spain by England, 
 155; rejected by Philip, 156; its cession demanded by Philip, 156; 
 debates and discussions concerning the cession of, 157 et seq. ; Spanish 
 expedition against, 182 ; the siege commenced, 191 ; suspension of 
 arms, 209 ; Ayala's description of the Rock, 237 ; General Eowke 
 governor, 242 ; Lord Panmure governor, 243 ; offered to Spain by 
 Pitt, 246 ; Lord Tyrawley's account of, 253 ; its value underrated, 253 ; 
 mal-administration at, 257 ; remarks on its condition, 268 ; General 
 Eliott governor, 272 ; its defenceless otate, 273 ; scarcity of pro- 
 visions, 287 ; preparations of Spain against, 286 et seq. ; deserted by its 
 inhabitants, 289 ; its fortifications described, 290 ; blockaded by the 
 Spaniards, 292 ; scarcity of provisions, 293 ; relieved by Admiral Rod- 
 ney, 305 ; outbreak of scurvy, 313; again offered to Spain by England, 
 316 ; conditions of cession, 319 et seq. ; sufferings of the inhabitants, 
 337 ; ravages of scurvy, 339 ; its communications with Ikirbary cut off, 
 342; cost of provisions, 346; general bombardment, 350; sortie from, 
 362 ; its success, 363 ; preparation for a combined attack on, 368, 
 et seq. ; the attack commenced, 384, 387 ; D'Ar?on's floating batteries 
 destroyed, 389 ; llie attack defeated, 392 ; relieved by Lord Howe, 
 401 ; i)rcliminaries of peace, 40 1- ; its gates thrown open, 404 ; its 
 cession insisted on by Spain as a basis of peace, 410 ; reinforced, 422 ; 
 General O'llara governor of, 421 ; Duke of Kent governor, 428 ; 
 fever in, 430 ; prosperity in, 437 ; magistracy established, 437 ; ques-
 
 OENEU.VI- INUKX. 'tl'.i 
 
 lion of i(s detention by England, 138 ei acq. ; its present state of de- 
 fence, VM ; account of its position and strength, Uh its geological 
 history, UO el »eq. ; its botany, lai ; description of the town, 455 ; 
 its library, 456 ; its population, 458 ; police regulations, 45'J ; condi- 
 tion of labour, 4G0j its schools, 401; its market, 462; sup|)ly of 
 provisions, 463 et seq. ; tunny llsheries, 465 ; free market establislied, 
 467 ; its climate, 474, 47S ; causes of disease, 475 ; supply of water, 
 476; meteorological observations, 478; mortality by fever and its 
 CJiuscs, 481 et seq. ; its fortifications described, 489 et neq. ; its com- 
 merce, 495 ; suppression of smuggling, 497 
 
 (Jrafton, Duke of, opposes the cession of Gibraltar, 411 ; his opinion 
 of its importance, 413 
 
 Ciranada, surrenders to Ferdinand, 79 
 
 King of, advances to relieve Algeciras, 41 ; his attack on Al- 
 fonso's army, and defeat, 42 ; agrees to pay an annual tribute to Al- 
 fonso, 42 ; assassinated, 47; description of his death, 48; succeeded 
 by Mohammed V., 48 
 
 (irande, Gasparo, Barcclo's treatment of, 309 
 
 (ireen. Colonel, his mission to England, 275 
 
 (luadiara, battle on, 52 
 
 Gun-boats, used by the Spaniards against Gibraltar, 334 ; description 
 of, 335 
 
 Guzman, Don Tcrez de, buys the villages of Villa Alba and Palma from 
 Alfonso, 45 
 
 llaro, Diego Lopez de, appointed Lieutenant and Alcalde of Gibraltar, 
 82 
 
 Hawke, Sir Edward, commander of a British tieot, 240 
 
 " Helena," the, arrives at Gibraltar with despatches, 350 ; perilous 
 position of, 357 
 
 llelmstadt, Baron von, anecdote of, 306 ct srq. 
 
 Henrique, Don, Duke of Medina, in possession of Gibraltar, 77; ap- 
 pointed Manpiis, 78 ; his death, SO 
 
 Henry III. succeeds John I. as King of Granada, 51 
 
 IV. succeeds Juan 11. as King of Castile, 60; marches against 
 
 Mohammed X., 60 ; truce with, 00 ; annexes Gibraltar to the throne 
 of Castile, 07; visits Gibraltar, 69; declares Alfonso his heir, 70; 
 opposes the marriage of Isal)ella with Ferdinand, King of Sicily, 75 ; 
 assigns Gibraltar to Don llenritpie, 70; his death, 77 
 
 Hesse, Prince of, summons Gibraltar to surrender, 105; his letter to 
 the town, 100; takes possession, 113; appointed governor, 117; 
 letter from Sir John Leake, 140 ; in command of land forces in a se- 
 cond expedition against Barcelona, 152 ; lii^ death, 132 
 
 33
 
 514 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Hood, Lord, commauds a Britisli fleet in the Mediterranean, 421 
 Howe, Lord, commands British fleet, 398 ; relieves Gibraltar, 401 ; 
 
 returns to England, 401 
 Hussey, Mr, his secret negotiations with Cumberland, 316 ; goes to 
 Madrid, 316; accuses the English Cabinet of duplicity, 322 ; in- 
 terview with Cumberland, 322 ; letter to Florida Blanca, 323 
 
 Ilyan, Count, governor of Ceuta, 2 ; various accounts of his origin, 3 ; 
 his treason, 3 
 
 Invasion of Spain by Tarik, various accounts of, 7 et seq. 
 
 Isabella of Castile, her marriage with Eerdinand, King of Sicily, 75 ; 
 proclaimed queen, 77 ; attempts to regain Gibraltar, 80 ; her death, 
 S3 ; succeeded by Juana of Austria, 83 
 
 Isa-ben-Al-Hassan, governor of Gibraltar, 47 ; proclaims himself king, 
 47 ; his death, 47 
 
 Ismail ben Eerag, replaces Nassir Abul Geoix on the throne, 18 ; ass- 
 assinated by Mohammed of Granada, 19 ; succeeded by Mohammed 
 IV., 20 
 
 Ismail Abu-1-Walid deposes Mohammed \., proclaimed King of Gra- 
 nada, 49 ; his embassy to the King of Castile, 49 ; assassinated, 49 ; 
 succeeded by Abu-Abdillah, 49 
 
 Jaime de Jerica, Don, and his brothers Laso and Sancho do Rojas, 
 officers under Alfonso, 26 
 
 Jezirah-al-Khadra, Ilyan's landing and ravages at, 4 
 
 John I. succeeds Hem-y II. as King of Granada, 51 ; is succeeded by 
 Henry III., 51 
 
 Josef Tenorio, Admiral, under Alfonso, unsuccessfully attacks the arse- 
 nal of Gibraltar, 26 ; arrives in the Straits, 32 ; his death, 34 
 
 Joseph, Emperor, death of, 152 
 
 Juan II. of Castile, his death, GO ; succeeded by Henry IV., 60 
 
 of Aragon, solicits the hand of Isabella of Castile for his son, 74 
 
 Juana, the Infanta, her illegitimacy admitted, 70 
 
 • of Austria, succeeds Isabella of Castile, 83 
 
 Kcene, Mr, his mission to Madrid, 219; his reception, 219 
 
 Sir Bfiijamin, authorized by Pitt to offer the cession of Gibraltar 
 
 to Spain, 246; letter from Titt to, 247; his reply, 251 ; his death, 
 
 253 
 Kent, I)ukc of, governor of Gibraltar, 428 ; recalled to England, 429 
 
 Laiirastcr, Henry, Duke of, joins Alfonso's army before, Algeciras, 38 
 Langara, ])on Juan de, taken jirisoucr by Admiral Rodney, 301; con-
 
 OENi:il\r- INItKX. '>1'' 
 
 ditions of liis rolofuso, 310; liis reply to Rodnry, 312; rctiinis to 
 Spain, 312 
 
 Tjara, Don Juan Nunez do, reinforces Alfonso at the siege of Algeciras, 
 3<J 
 
 Leake, Sir Andrew, killed at Cape Malaga, 122 
 
 Admiral Sir John, official letter to, relative to supplies for Gib- 
 raltar, 130; despatch to, from the Prince of Ilesse, 131; arrives at 
 Gibraltar, 134; sets fire to a French squadron, 135 ; captures five 
 French vessels at Cabrita Point, UG ; returns to Gibraltar, 11-7 
 
 Leicester, Earl of, joins Alfonso's army before Algeciras, 38 
 
 Lincoln, Earl of, joins Alfonso's army before Algeciras, 33 
 
 Library of Gibraltar, 456 ; originated by Colonel Drinkvcater, 450 ; its 
 extent, 450 
 
 Logic, Mr, British Consul at Tangier, 295 ; attacked by the Moora, 341 
 
 Louis XV., espouses Maria of Poland, lO'J 
 
 Malaga, battle of, 121 
 
 Manuel, Don Juan do, arrives at Algeciras with reinforcements, 39 
 
 Manuel Pczano, Admiral, sails to the assistance of Alfonso, 34 
 
 Mariani, Conde de, otFicer in Spanish expedition against Gibraltar, 19G 
 
 Market of Gibraltar, 402 ; famous for lish, 404 
 
 Marlborough, Duke of, appointed Captain-General of the British Army, 
 99 
 
 Meat, supply of, in Gibraltar, 403 , 
 
 Medina, Duke of, arrives before Gibraltar, 00 ; in possession of it, 07 ; 
 resists the king's authority, 07 ; delivers it up to the king, OS ; applies 
 to the Infante Alfonso, 71 ; prepares to retake the Rock, 71 ; attacks 
 the castle of Gibraltar, 72 ; his death, 75 ; succeeded by his son Don 
 Henrique, 75 
 
 Mela, Pomponius, his account of Gil)niltar, 1 
 
 Mendoza, Don Bernardino de. Admiral of the Spanish fleet, 88; battle 
 with, and victory over, the pirate expedition under Caramani, 91 
 
 Mercier, Captain, his suggestion for improvements in shells, 291 
 
 Meteorology of Gibraltar, 47S 
 
 Minorca, besieged by the French, 240 ; capitulates, 243 ; offered to Spain 
 in lieu of Gibraltar, 417 
 
 Mohamed Ben Ali, Arabian historian, killed, 29 
 
 Mohammed, conspiracy against, 17 ; dethroned, 17 
 
 IV, succeeds Ismail ben Fcrag, 20 ; defeated by the Chris- 
 tians, 20 ; applies to the King of Fez for aid, 22 ; truce with Alfonso, 
 29 ; assassinated, 30 ; succeeded by Yussuf ben Isnuiil, 30 
 
 . V. succeeds Yussef, King of Granada, 48 ; deposed by 
 
 33*
 
 51G GENERAL IKDEX. 
 
 Ismail Abu-l-Walid, 49 ; his triumplial entry into Granada, 50 ; pro- 
 claimed king, 50 ; his presents to Don Pedro, 50 ; marches against 
 Algeciras, 51 ; destroys it, 51 ; his death, 51 ; succeeded by his younger 
 son, 51 
 Mohammed X. acknowledges himself a fief of Castile, 60 
 Montemar, Conde de, his letter to Sir Charles Wager, 235 
 Montero, his opinion of the Treaty of Utrecht, 441 
 Moorish dynasty, established in Spain, 13 ; expelled, 93 
 Moreno, Don Joaquin de, commander of a Spanish squadron, 425 
 Morocco, treaty with Spain, 2S0 ; Emperor of, his declaration of neu- 
 trality, 340 ; withdraws it, and declares against England, 341 
 Mortality in Gibraltar, 474 ; causes for, 475 et seq. 
 Murray, General, letters to from Eliott, 336, 338, 340, 342 
 Musa Ibn Nosseyr, his expedition against Spain, 3 et seq. 
 
 Nassir Abul Geoix, proclaimed King in Mohammed's place, 17 ; besieges 
 
 Gibraltar, 18 
 Navarre, King of, marches to the assistance of Alfonso, 38 
 Nelson, commands a convoy for the reinforcement of Gibraltar, 422 ; 
 
 defeats Spanish squadron, 422 ; joins Collingwood, 432 ; his letter to 
 
 General Fox, 433 ; his body brought to Gibraltar on board the 
 
 "Victory," 435 
 Newcastle, Duke of, letter to Sir Charles Wager, 230 
 Newgent, Count, governor of Gibraltar, killed, 133 
 Niebla, Count of, besieges Gibraltar, 56 ; his death by drowning, 58 
 
 O'Hara, General, governor of Gibraltar, 421 
 
 Oran, African port, offered as an equivalent for Gibraltar, 410 
 
 Ortez Calderon, commands the fleet under Alfonso, 34 
 
 Oveido, Gonzalez Martin de, his engagement with Abdul-Malik, 33 
 
 Palm, M., ambassador from the Emperor, his memorial (o King George, 
 
 ISO; ordered to leave England, 180 
 Panmure, Lord, governor of Gil)rallar, 243 
 Paris, Treaty of, between Britain and Spain 261 ; terms of, 261 
 Parliament, motion for the restoration of Gibraltar \o Spain, 157 ; nieds 
 
 Jan. 1729, 232 ; debate on the restitution of Gibraltar, 233 
 Paz, Marquis de la, denies the existence of a secret treaty lutween 
 
 Spain and the Emperor, 176 
 I'cdro, Don, succeeds Alfonso, 47; proclaimed King of Castile and 
 
 Leon, 47 ; murders Abu-Abdillah, 50 ; assassinated, 51
 
 OF.NKRAL INDKX. !j\~ 
 
 Pctciborougli, Earl of, conimuiulcr of an expedition against Harcclona, 
 
 152 
 Pliilip, St, fortress of, surrenders to tlic Frencli, 2 i:J 
 Philip, Arelidukc of Austria, his death, 8i 
 
 II. suceeeds Charles V., 92 ; succeeded by his son, 93 
 
 III. visits Gibraltar, 'Jt; anecdote of his visit, 95 
 
 V. letter from the inhabitants of Gibraltar to, 115; joins the 
 
 Quadruple Alliance, 150 ; demands the restoration of Gibraltar, 150 ; 
 prepares to besiege it, 181 ; accepts the preliminaries of peace, 230 
 
 Pitt, succeeds to ollicc, 21-3 ; olTers (iibraltar to Spain, 2 17 ; his let- 
 ter to Sir Benjamin Keenc, 2 17 ; becomes Lord Chatham, 202 ; his 
 speech on the condition of Gibraltar, 270 
 
 Pointe, Commodore, commander of a French squadron, 128 
 
 I'opulatiou of (Iibraltar, 458 e( seq. ; character of, 401 
 
 Portmore, Lord, arrives in Gibraltar, 202 ; remonstrates with the Span- 
 iards against the rebuilding of Tesse's Battery, 224 
 
 Porras, Pedro de, appointed alcalde of Gibraltar, OS ; superseded, 09 
 
 Poyntz, Stephen, letter to Lord Townshcnd, 231 
 
 Pozobueno, his letter to Kipperda, 159 
 
 Preston, Captain, anecdote of, 408 e/ neq. 
 
 Ptolemy, first determined the latitude of Gibraltar, 1 
 
 Quadruple Alliance, the, 155 
 
 Regent of Prance, negotiates with England for the cession of Gib- 
 raltar to Spain, 157 ; reproached with faithlessness, 157 
 
 Renaud, Colonel, his mission to the King of France, 147 
 
 Ribadeo, Don Francisco de, his commuiiicatiou with Sir Charles Wager, 
 217 
 
 Ripperda, character of, 171 ; informs Mr Stanhope of the conditions of 
 the 2nd treaty between Spain and the Emperor, 173; prisoner at 
 Segovia, 173; his disclosures to Mr Stanhope, 175 
 
 Roderic, King of Spain, 2 ; his advance against Tarik, 10 ; defeated, 12 
 
 Rodney, Admiral, sails to relieve Gibraltar, 299 ; his capture of Spanish 
 vessels, 299 ; his victory ofTCapc St Vincent, 301 ; enters the Straits, 
 301; his departure, 307; letter to the Admiralty, 310 ; to Langara, 
 311 
 
 Rodrigo, Don, arrives in the camp of Alonzo de Arcos, 05 ; besieges 
 Gibraltar, 00 
 
 Rooke, Admiral Sir George, commander of an English squadron, 90 ; 
 engagement with French fleet under Marshal Tourville, 97 ; appoint- 
 ed Vice-admiral of England, 99; bombards Barcelona, 101 ; resolves
 
 518 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 to attack Gibraltar, 102 ; takes possession, 114 ; chases the French 
 
 fleet under Count de Thoulouse, 120 ; returns to England, 121 ; 
 
 resigns his appointments, 126 ; " Narrative of his proceedings," 127 ; 
 
 his death, 127 
 Roque, St, arrival of Spanish troops at, 2S6 
 Ross, Brigadier-general, commands a sortie from Gibraltar, 3G1 
 Rottembourg, Count, his mission to Madrid, 219 ; his interviews with 
 
 the queen, 221 
 Rui Lopez, officer under Alfonso, 21 
 Ryswick, treaty of, 98 
 
 Salado, battle of, 35 ; Al-Makkari's account of it, Sfi 
 
 Salinas, Don Diego de, governor of Gibraltar, 106 
 
 Salisbury, Earl of, joins Alfonso's army, 38 
 
 Salobrena, Alcalde of, 52 ; Ahmed's mission to, 52 
 
 San Pedro, bastion of, destroyed, 138 
 
 Saumarez, Admiral, commander of an English squadron, 422 ; his attack 
 
 on the French squadron off Gibraltar, 423 ; defeats Spanish squadron, 
 
 426 et seq. ; receives Order of the Bath, 428 
 Saya, Marquis de, succeeds Due de Crillon, 405 
 Schaub, Sir Luke, his mission to the Spanish Court, 161 
 Seville, Archbishop of, saves Alfonso from death, 35 
 Shovel, Sir Cloudesley, letter from, describing battle of Malaga, 123 
 Sicily invaded by Spain, 155 
 Signal Station of Gibraltar described, 451 
 Schools of Gibraltar, 461 
 Smuggling off Gibraltar, suppression of, 497 
 Sotomayor, Don Martin Alvarez de, commander of Spanish army against 
 
 Gibraltar, 286 
 Spain under Roderic, 2; history of its invasion by the Saracens, 
 
 mythical, 3 ; Musa's expedition against, 5 ; preparation for its invasion, 
 
 6; Moorish dynasty established, 13; prepares to invade Sicily, 155 ; 
 
 hostilities with France, 169; treaty with the Emperor, 169; war 
 
 declared against, by Enu'laiid, 261 ; peace, 261 ; declares war against 
 
 England, 265 ; treaty with Morocco, 2S0 
 queen of, her hatred of the English nation, 220; interview with 
 
 Count Rottembourg, 221 ; death of, 260 
 Spartcl, Cape, engagement off, 140 
 
 Spinola, General, commander of the Spaniards in the trenches, 193 
 St Helen's, British fleet under Admifal Darby sails from, 318 
 St lldefonso, Palace of, treaty against English eoncliuicd at, between 
 
 France and Spain, 422
 
 OENEUAl. INDKX. "^19 
 
 Slaiiliopc, Lord, his letter to Sir Luke Scliaub, 157; liis mission to 
 
 Paris, lOU; proposes to cede (Jibraltar to Spain in exchange for 
 
 Florida or St Domingo, 102; death of, lOi 
 Mr, British Envoy at Madrid, 100 ; his audience with Philip, 
 
 107; his letter to Sir Luke Schaub, 108 ; his mission to Madrid, 235; 
 
 his instructions, 2'.iC> ; concludes a treaty, 230 
 Strubo, his account of Cibraltar, 1, 2 
 Succession, war of the, 'JS 
 Susarte, Simon, his offer to the Spaniards, 130 
 Sussex, Duke of, arrives at Gibraltar, 428 
 
 Taric Ibu Zeyad el Ncfici, commander of the garrison at Tangier, 2 
 Tarif-abi'i-Zarah, commander of Musa's first expedition against Spain, 5 
 Tarifa named after Tarif, 5 
 Tarik-ll)n-Z(!yad, his expedition against Spain, G ; lauds at Gibraltar, 7 '> 
 
 defeats Koderic, 12 
 Tea-tax imposed, 203 ; its eflccts, 203 
 Tesse, Marshal, supersedes Marquis Villadariasat the siege of Gibraltar, 
 
 113; his letter to the Prince de Condc, 144; el seq. ; sends Colonel 
 
 Keuaud to the King of France, 11-7 
 Theodomir, a chief of the Goths, his encounters with the Moors under 
 
 Tarik, 9 ; his retreat to Seville, 10 
 Thoulouse, Count dc, commander of the French fleet, 120 
 Toledo, capture of, by Tarik, 13 
 
 Bishop of, one of the commanders of Alfonso's army, 37 
 
 Torre del llomcnagc attacked by Alfonso, 20 
 
 Torres, Conde dc las, offers to command the expedition against Gibral- 
 tar, 181 ; his answer to General Clayton's remonstrance, 18'J 
 Toulon, departure of the French fleet from, 242 
 Tourvillc, Marshal, commander of French fleet, 90 ; engagement wilii 
 
 Sir George Rooke's squadron, 97 
 Townshcnd, Lord, takes part in the negotiation with S])aiu, 101 el seq. ; 
 
 letter from, to Poyntz, 232 
 Trafalgar, battle of, 435 ; false reports of in Spain, 435 
 Transtamara, Count of, seizes the throne of Granada as Henry II., 51 ; 
 
 dies, and is succecdrd by John I., 51 
 Treaty between Spain and the Emperor, 109 
 Tunny fisheries off Gibraltar, account of, 405 el seq. 
 Tyrawlcy, Lord, governor of Minorca, 2 H 
 
 Ulrccht, Treaty of, 152 ; conditions of, 153 
 
 Vallodoliil, Alfonso's arrival at, -'3
 
 520 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Vanderdusen, Admiral, commander of a squadron under Sir George 
 Rooke, 109 
 
 Vasco Perez de Meira, governor of Gibraltar, 20 ; surrenders it to Mo- 
 hammed IV., 22 ; his flight to Africa and death, 22 
 
 Vergemies, Couut de, French minister, 409 
 
 Villacreces, Estevan de. Lieutenant of Gibraltar, 69 ; applies to the 
 king for aid, 72 ; abandons the Rock to the Duke of Medina, 72 
 
 Vienna, treaty of, 169 
 
 Villadarias, Marquis de, commander of the Spanish fleet, 128 ; besieges 
 Gibraltar, 129 et seq. ; superseded by Marshal Tesse, 143 
 
 Villeneuve, Admiral, commander of French and Spanish fleet, 432 
 
 A^'incent, Cape St, battle off, 301 
 
 Virgin of Europa, Hermitage of, plundered by pirates, 89 
 
 Wager, Admiral Sir Charles, commander of the British fleet, 182 ; ar- 
 rives at Gibraltar with a squadron, 186 ; remonstrates with Ribadeo 
 on the interception of English correspondence by Spain, 217 
 Wali Ibn Nosseyr, the, ruler of the western provinces of Africa, 2 
 William III., death of, 99 ; succeeded by Queen Anne, 99 
 
 Yusef ben Taxfin, in possession of Gibraltar, 13 ; his victory over Al- 
 fonso, 14 ; his landing at Algeciras, 14 
 
 Yussuf ben Ismail, succeeds Mohammed IV., 30 
 
 Yussuf-ben-Yussuf, imprisoned at Salobrena, 51 ; his death commanded 
 by his brother, 52 ; his brother's death, and his succession to the 
 throne, 52; sends an embassy to Don Fernando, 52; recovers pos- 
 session of Gibraltar, 54 
 
 .inllN CIIILDS AM) SoN, rKINTlOKS.
 
 THE GIBRALTAR RONE OAVES. 
 
 It had long been known that tlic Rock of Gil)- 
 raUar abounded in caves of various descriptions, sonic 
 having their openings at the sea level, others at ele- 
 vations as high as 1000 feet. Besides these caves, 
 there are numerous fissures intersecting tlic Rock in 
 dillerent directions, many of which contain masses 
 of osseous breccia. This l)reccia had long ago been 
 examined by Cuvier, and formed tlie subject of one 
 of the most interesting papers in his " Ossemens Fos- 
 siles." From the geological formation of the Rock, 
 therefore, tliere was every reason to believe that in- 
 vestigation might at any time bring to light bone 
 caves simihar to those wliich liad long been known to 
 exist along the shores of the Mediterranean, especially 
 at Nice, Antibes, and other ^daces. 
 
 Rut a fortress is not generally the seat of scien- 
 tific enterprise, and although from time to time fresh 
 evidence was given of the existence of the relics of
 
 2 THE GIBRALTAR BONE CAVES. 
 
 remote antiquity, by the discovery of fossil remains 
 during the progress of engineering works, the sub- 
 ject attracted no attention. 
 
 At length accident supplied the place of investi- 
 gation. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1863 some works were 
 being carried on in the vicinity of the Military 
 Prison on Windmill Hill, by means of prison labour. 
 
 A large tank was being constructed, and during 
 the excavation a workman came suddenly upon a 
 quantity of loose bone earth, containing fragments 
 of human bones. 
 
 The circumstance excited attention, and an ex- 
 amination of the place was made. 
 
 At the first glance it was evident that the most 
 important results were to be expected from the dis- 
 covery, and the Governor, Sir William Codrington, 
 was immediately communicated witli. 
 
 By his permission tlic works of the tank were 
 temporarily suspended, and the labour of the mili- 
 tary prisoners under the superintendence of Mr 
 Rrouie, Governor of the Prison, was directed to the 
 excavation of the cave. 
 
 Every stroke of the pick-axe brought to light 
 objects of the greatest interest, consisting of Iiuiiimu 
 remains in abiiiidaiicc, fragments of potteiy of the 
 rudest maiuifacture, flint implements, and fossil re- 
 mjiins of (jnadrnpeds, birds, and fishes. 
 
 The collection having began to assume vast pro-
 
 THK (.inKALTAU HONK (AVKS. 3 
 
 j)()rti()iis, a icpoii of lli(3 discovery was niiido hy Sir 
 Williaiii Codriii^^oii to Sir Cliai'lcs Lycll, and in 
 Scptt-nibcr, ISO I, Professors Falconer and Bnsli Kit 
 England to make a i)ersonal examination of the cave. 
 The results of their infjuiries appear in their report, 
 from which the following extracts have been selected. 
 
 Since the discovery of the W'indinill Hill Cave, 
 others have been brought to light containing fossil 
 relics of the highest interest. 
 
 " Having devoted several months to the study of 
 the cave collections successively transmitted to us, 
 which were so carefully classified by means of dis- 
 tinctive marks, by Captain Ih'omc, the Governor of 
 the Military Prison, as to place the main facts 
 clearly before us, we were so strongly impressed 
 with their imi)ortance that we determined, on your 
 Excellency's invitation, to visit Gibraltar, and ex- 
 amine the general conditions of the cave, on the spot. 
 For the discoveries in the Windmill Hill Cave have 
 not only yielded unexpected results regarding the 
 former state and ancient animal jjopulation of the 
 Kock itself, but they further point to a land connec- 
 tion between the southern })art of the Iberian penin- 
 sula and the African continent at no very remote 
 geological epoch. 
 
 " The Kock abounds in caves which are of two 
 classes: 1st, seal)oard caves, at various heights 
 above the level of the sea, and horizontally excavjited 
 on the ancient clifis by the waves. 2nd, inland caves.
 
 4 THE GIBRALTAR BONE CAVES. 
 
 descending from the surface, and in connection with 
 great vertical fissures, by which the mass of the Rock 
 has been rent at remote epochs during disturbances 
 caused by violent acts of upheavement. Like the 
 ^veil-known cavern of St Michael's, the * Genista ' 
 Cave of Windmill Hill belongs to the second class. 
 It forms part of a great perpendicular fissure, which 
 has either been excavated or traced dowmwards to a 
 depth of upwards of 200 feet below the level of the 
 plateau of Windmill Hill. It was full of the fossil 
 remains of quadrupeds and birds, of the former of 
 which some are now wholly extinct ; others extinct 
 in Europe, and repelled to distant regions of the 
 African continent ; others either now living on the 
 Rock or in the adjoining Spanish peninsula. The 
 following is a list of the species which we have at 
 present identified : — 
 Pachydermata. 
 
 Rhinoceros, Etrusciis (?), extinct. 
 
 Rhinoceros, Leptorhiniis Equus MegarhinuSj ex- 
 tinct, abundant. 
 
 Equus, , young animals only — species 
 
 undetermined. 
 
 Sus, Prisca {?), extinct. 
 
 Sus, Scrofa, living. 
 Ruminants. 
 
 Ccrvus, ElapJms var. Barharus, fossil remains 
 abundant. 
 
 Cervus, Dama, or a nearly allied form : abundant.
 
 Tlir, (ilHHAl/rAU HONK CAVKS. 
 
 Bos, , a large form oqiiiilling the Aurochs 
 
 in size, remains few and imperfect — species 
 undc^termined. 
 
 Bos, Diiinis, abundant in the upper cliamber. 
 
 Capra, JlircuSj abundant in the u[)per cliamber. 
 
 STwo forms of Ibex, pro- 
 bably extinct, in vast 
 abundance throughout 
 the fissures. 
 
 JloDKNTS. 
 
 Lepus, Timidiis, rare. 
 
 Lepus, Ciinicidus, very abundant at all depths. 
 
 Mus, Rat Ills. 
 Carnivora. 
 
 Felis, Leojmnlus. 
 
 1\, Pardina. 
 
 F., Serval. 
 
 Ilyasna, Brunnca, now repelled in the living state 
 to Southern Africa. 
 
 Canis, Vidpcs. 
 
 Meles, Tascus Ursus, not N. /S'/?<?/fle«/5— species 
 undetermined. 
 Delphimdj:. 
 
 Phococna, Communis. 
 Birds. — Remains numerous — genera and species 
 
 undetermined. 
 Tortoise. — Rare — species undetermined. 
 Fish. — Remains numerous in the upper chambers. 
 
 " Apart from the still inunature state of the in-
 
 6 THE GIBRALTAR BONE CAVES. 
 
 vestigation, it would be quite beyond the limits 
 within which we are restricted in this communica- 
 tion for us to enter in detail upon the conclusions to 
 which the data, furnished by the fossil remains, lead. 
 We shall therefore confine ourselves to a few of the 
 more important general points. 
 
 " The Rock is now bared of natural forest trees, 
 and destitute of wild animals, with the exception of 
 the hare, rabbit, fox, badger, and a few 3Iagot 
 monkeys, the last in all probability the desccndfuits 
 of introduced animals. The fossil remains of the 
 ' Genista ' Cave establish beyond question that the 
 Rock was formerly either peopled by, or the occa- 
 sional resort of, large quadrupeds, like the elephant, 
 rhinoceros, aurochs, deer, ibex, wild horse, boar, 
 which were preyed u})on hy hyaenas, leopards, 
 African lynx and scrvai. That the remains were 
 transported by any violent diluvial agency from a 
 distance is opposed to all the evidence of the case. 
 The manner in which they were introduced into the 
 Windmill Hill Cave we believe to have been thus. 
 The surface of the Rock, and its level in relation to 
 the sea, were formerly different from what we now 
 see. The wild animals above enumerated, during a 
 long series of ages, lived and died u})()n tlie l^ock. 
 'J'hcir bones lay scattered about tlie surface, and in 
 the vast majority of instances, crund)led into dust 
 and disai)[)eare(l under the influence of exposure to 
 the sun, and other atmos])heric agencies, as con-
 
 THE niHKALTAII nONK fAVKS. 7 
 
 stantly Imppcns midi r similar circumstances at the 
 present day. Hut a certain })roportion of tlieui were 
 strewed in liollows along the line of natural drainage. 
 AMien heavy rains fell, the latter, for the time eon- 
 verted into torrents, swej)t the bones, with nuul, 
 shells, and other surface materials, iwto the fissures 
 that intercepted their course. There the extraneous 
 objects were arrested by the inequalities of the ])ass- 
 agcs, and subsccpiently soliditicd into a conghjmerate 
 nia^s by long-continued calcareous iniiltration. That 
 elephants freciuented the Rock is proved by a valu- 
 able specimen of the molar (ooth of an extinct species, 
 which we have ascertained to be Elcphas antiqiius, 
 discovered in a sea-beach on Eiu'opa Point. That 
 the hyaenas were dwellers upon the Rock is also 
 established by the fact that, in addition to numerous 
 bones, we have detected a considerable quantity of 
 CoprolUes o[ IlycEna brunnca among the 'Genista' 
 Cave relics. Some of the species nuist have peopled 
 the Rock in vast numbers. We infer upon a rough 
 estimate that we have passed through our hands 
 bones derived from at least two or three hundred in- 
 dividuals of ibex, swept into the Windmill ]Iill fis- 
 sure. In no instance h.ive we observed fossil bones 
 a1tril)utal)lc to one complete skeleton of any of the 
 larger mannnalia. 
 
 "That the Kock, now so denuded of arboreal ve- 
 getation, was then ])artial!y clothed with trees and 
 shrubs, as the corresponding limestone mountains on
 
 b THE GIBRALTAR BONE CAVES. 
 
 the opposite side of the Straits are at present, is so 
 legitimate an inference as hardly to be open to 
 rational doubt. It is now a pinch to find sufficient 
 food, at the end of the hot season, for the flocks of 
 goats which are reared on the promontory ; while it 
 is a matter of absolute difficulty to find fodder at all 
 for the few cows that are kept by some of the officers 
 of the garrison. When elephants, rhinoceros, wild 
 oxen, horse, boars, deer, &c., either peopled or re- 
 sorted to the Rock in considerable numbers, there 
 must have been abundant trees, and more or less of 
 constant green food for them. Bare exposed masses 
 of rock get intensely heated by a southern sun ; they 
 repel moisture by being thus heated, and raise the 
 mean temperature of the locality by radiation. While, 
 on the contrary, a clothing of trees and fruticose ve- 
 getation both tempers the heat, attracts moisture, and 
 greatly increases the fall of rain. We are aware that 
 your Excellency's attention has been directed to 
 planting operations on the Rock. Numerous and 
 repeated failures must be looked for at the com- 
 mencement ; but the facts above mentioned would 
 indicate that success may ultimately be attained with 
 much benefit to the station. 
 
 " The next prominent point in the cave is the cha- 
 racter of the extinct launa of Gibraltar regarded as 
 a group. Of the prevailing fossil forms which occur 
 in England, Germany, and France, as far south as the 
 nortlicrn slope of the Pyrenees and the shores of the
 
 Tin: UlBUALTAll BONE CAVliS. 9 
 
 Mediterranean, such as the Mammoth, Rhinoceros 
 tichorhinus^ Ursus Sjwkciis, Il/jccna Spda'a, not a 
 vestige has been detected among the fossil remains of 
 GibraUar. In the latter the carnivora are the most 
 significant. The three species of Fells are of African 
 affinities, and Ilijccna hrunnea^ now for the first time 
 ascertained to have existed formerly in Europe, is at 
 the present day chiefly found near the Cape of Good 
 Hope and Natal. Remains of the existing African 
 elephant have been discovered in the neighbourhood 
 of Madrid, by Don Cascano de Prado. That either of 
 these wild animals could have crossed the Straits from 
 Barbary to Europe is contrary to all probability. The 
 obvious ii'.fercnce is that there was a connection by 
 land cither circuitous or direct between the two con- 
 tinents at no very remote period, somewhere within 
 the Mediterranean area. To arrive at any further 
 evidence bearing upon this very important question 
 from the Rock of Gibraltar becomes an object of the 
 highest general and scientific interest. 
 
 " Human remains were found in great abundance 
 in the upper chambers. They appear to have be- 
 longed to between thirty and forty individuals. They 
 were accompanied by stone implements of the polished 
 stone period, broken querns, a large quantity of pot- 
 tery, marine shells of edible species, and some other 
 objects enumerated in Captain Brome's report. No 
 way of access from the surface by which these ma- 
 terials could have been introduced has been dis-
 
 10 THE GIBRALTAR BONE CAVES. 
 
 covered. But on carefully examining the ground, 
 we believe that the entrance lies somewhere under 
 the southern half of the east wall of the prison en- 
 closure. Until the aperture from the surface is dis- 
 covered, no certain conclusions can be arrived at. 
 Considering the time and labour which have been ex- 
 pended on the cavern, it would be a subject of great 
 regret if the exploration were left incomplete on this 
 important point, we would therefore venture strongly 
 to recommend that the excavations be continued 
 through the ground over which the east wall runs, 
 until the external aperture is detected. 
 
 " The human bones are of high interest in conse- 
 quence of certain peculiar characters which many of 
 them present. They appear to belong to widely 
 different epochs, although none of them of very high 
 antiquity {i. e. before the historical period). That 
 the upper chambers of the cave were ever inhabited 
 by savage man, we consider to be highly improbable. 
 It seems more likely that they were used for tlie 
 funeral rites of the dead. 
 
 " As regards the final disposal of the interesting 
 and important relics discovered in the ' Genista ' 
 Cave, a complete series ought to be deposited in 
 London, either in the British Museum or the Royal 
 College of Surgeons, but we consider it to be of still 
 higher importance that a collection should be retained 
 for Gibraltar. In the progress of the vast defensive 
 works which have been carried on during the i)ast
 
 TllK (.IIUIIALTAK BONE C'AVKS. 11 
 
 century in scari)ing and tunneling the Rock, objects 
 of Kv^h interest relating either to its Natural History 
 or Arelueology, have been brought to light, liut in 
 the great majority of cases they have either been dis- 
 regarded or lost. Instances might be cited from 
 Coloiul James's History of the Herculean Strait, 
 1771, and from ]\Iajor Laurie's Memoir on the Min- 
 eralogy of the Rock, in 1797. In IStl a laudable 
 eli'ort was nuule by the late Archdeacon Burrow to 
 establi.sh a Museum on the Rock, but after languish- 
 ing for some time, it failed from the want of proper 
 su})port. Tile relics of the collection were afterwards 
 exhibited in the Soldiers' Home, but, when that insti- 
 tution was given up, no place remained either for 
 displaying or taking proper care of the collection. 
 Some of the brightest records of the military glory 
 and pnnvess of our country are indissolubly connected 
 \\'\\h Gibraltar. A great nati(m like England can- 
 not aftbrd to neglect or disregard, without reproach, 
 whatever bears on the Natural History or Archecology 
 of so renowned a possession. That the naval and 
 military services take the liveliest interest in such 
 objects, is placed bi-yond doubt, by the United Ser- 
 vice Museum of London founded Hi)on collections 
 contributed by them from all parts of the world. 
 Rut it appears to us that the formation and main- 
 tenance of a local Museum at (iibraltar, illustrative 
 of its products and relics, ought not to fall upon the 
 garrison, who are only temporary residents, and that
 
 12 THE GIBRALTAR BONE CAVES. 
 
 it is more properly an Imperial obligation. The 
 least expensive and best mode of carrying the object 
 into effect would probably be to have a room in the 
 Library reserved for the purpose and under the man- 
 agement of the Library Committee. The only out- 
 lay would be in the construction of the apartment 
 and in the glass cases for the objects. No establish- 
 ment would be required. 
 
 " In case of any proposal of this nature being en- 
 tertained, we would venture to suggest to your Ex- 
 cellency that the collection should be strictly limited 
 to objects of local interest, having reference to the 
 Rock, the Bay, the Straits, and the immediate vicin- 
 ity. Everything from beyond these limits should be 
 excluded. A Museum of reference of this nature 
 should include : — 
 
 A Herbarmm collection of the plants yielded by 
 the Rock. 
 
 A Zoological collection of all objects, terrestrial 
 and marine, produced within the limits. 
 
 A collection of specimens and minerals of the 
 Rock. 
 
 A complete collection of the fossil remains 
 yielded by the ossiferous caves and bone breccia 
 of Gibraltar. 
 
 An Archaeological collection of coins, ])ottcry, 
 and other anticpie relics occurring within the cir- 
 cuit of tlic Bay. 
 "In illustration ofthc^ al)S()lutc need there is of a
 
 Till. (.llJKALTAll 150NE CAVKS. 13 
 
 local collection of the kind here indicated, we may 
 mention that, being anxious to fix the age of tlie 
 |)()ttei'y yiekled in such abundance by the Windmill 
 Hill Cave, no similar materials for comparison de- 
 rived from the ancient ruins of Carteia, or from points 
 in the jNIediterranean resorted to by the Phoenicians, 
 were to be found in the British Museum. The 
 proofs of the anticpiity of the human race is one of 
 the leading questions that occupy the attention of 
 educated and scientific men at the present day. 
 That lumiaii remains aiul other objects bearing upon 
 it are considered of high value, is sufficiently proved 
 by the fact that a grant of £1000 was passed for the 
 ])urchase of a collection of this kind from the valley 
 of the Verere, in the south of France, during the last 
 session of Parliament, for the British ■Museum. One 
 of the human skulls yielded by the Rock appears to 
 us to point to a still higher antiquity. In fact, it is 
 the most remarkalde and perfect example of the kind 
 now extant. In the absence of a })roperly organized 
 Museum, no record exists of the precise circum- 
 stances under which it was found ; and that it has 
 been preserved at all may be considered a happy 
 accident. It has cost us much labour, and with but 
 partial success, to endeavour to trace its history on 
 the spot where it turned up. 
 
 " Our time has been so fully occupied by the ex- 
 amination of the cave collections and collateral sub- 
 jects, that we have only been able to make a cm'sory
 
 14 THE GIBRALTAR BONE CAVES. 
 
 examination of the geology of the Rock. We en- 
 tirely agree with the opinions expressed in the ex- 
 cellent Memoir of Mr James Smith, of Jordan Hill, 
 that it bears mimistakeable evidence of having un- 
 dergone extraordinary disturbances, both of upheaval 
 and depression, during the quaternary or immediately 
 pre-modern period. But the data are complex and 
 in some instances obscure. Ts^ow that a complete 
 topographical survey of the Rock has been completed 
 on a large scale, a geological survey would be a mat- 
 ter of comparative ease, and we would submit to 
 your Excellency's consideration the expediency of an 
 application being made for the services of an assist- 
 ant upon the geological survey of England to be de- 
 puted for the purpose. The area is so compact and 
 limited, that the survey, including that of the sur- 
 rounding bay, need not occupy more than a couple 
 of months. 
 
 (Signed), " B. Ealconer, 
 
 Vice-President Royal Society. 
 
 " George Bush, 
 Secretary Linnacan Society. 
 
 " Gibraltar, Oct. 10. ISGl."
 
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