XLI.

CHAP. to soften his resentment, and even obtained a temporary protection for his fellow-fubjects; 1781. but the Spaniards still augmenting their offers, while no counter-propofal was made by the 26th Nov. British ministry, the emperor at length confented to banith the fubjects of the crown of England from his dominions. He not only continued unmoved by the intreaties and remonftrances of Mr. Logie, but increased his feverity by alienating the port of Tangier to Spain, in confequence of which the conful and all the English were made prifoners, and treated with great inhumanity, till the court of Madrid confented to their releafe.

fon.

Distress of THIS event was a fevere misfortune to the the gani- befieged garrifon, who had almost confumed the fupplies brought by Rodncy, and were reduced to the utmost distress, which the Spaniards increafed by intercepting small vessels froni Minorca and other ports, and by destroying the gardens without the lines. The scurvy made dreadful ravages, and the garrifon experienced the moft exceffive mifery.

z2th April 1781. Relieved by Darby.

FROM this extremity of wretchedness they were at length relieved by admiral Darby, who

b As a proof of the extreme distress of the garrison during this period, the following are selected from a long list of articles which had advanced to prices proportionately exorbitant. Fresh beef, yeal, and mutton 45. 10d.; corned beef as. 11 d., potatoes 2 5. 6d.; Sugar 17 s. 1 d. and buifcuit dust from 10 d. to 1 s. per pound, The hind quarter of a sheep, with the head and tail, f. 7. 1os.; a pint of milk and water 1 s. 3 d.; a living pig £. 9. 14 s. 9 d. a fow large with pigs £.20.; a goat and kid 13.; a milch cow 50 guineas, referving to the vendor a pint of milk per diem. The weekly allowance of the foldier (and many had children to maintain out of it) was 5 pounds and a quarter of bread; 13 oz. of falt beef; 13 oz. of perk, both almost in a state of putrefcence; 2 oz. and of butter, little better than rancid oil; 12 oz. of raisins; half a pint of peafe; a pint of Spanish beans; a pint of wheat, which they ground into flour for puddings; 4 oz. of rice, and a quarter of a pint of oil: the inhabitants had no afsistance from the stores.

convoyed

convoyed, with the grand fleet, near a hundred CHAP. ships laden with provifions. The garrifon had XLI. been apprised of his approach, and at day-break 1781. his fleet was defcried from the signal house, though not yet difcernible from below, by reason of a thick mist. But when the rifing fun difperfed the vapour, the anxious garrifon were gratified with the view of the whole convoy, led by feveral men of war, steering towards them in a compact body. The stores were landed in fpite of oppofition from the Spanish gun-boats and land-batteries, and Darby, having completed his tafk, failed for the Channel.

ed.

THE joy of the garrifon and inhabitants re- The town ceived, however, a fevere check; for the fleet bombardwas scarcely moored, when the Spaniards opened a fevere battery and bombardment on the garrifon and town. The fire impaired the fortifications, brought down large quantities of stone and rubbish from the rock, which blocked up the way and rendered repairs difficult, and by destroying the dwellings and warchouses, laid open those stores of provition which the merchants had amassed to deal out in scanty portions, and at exorbitant prices. The foldiery indulged in licentious plunder and wanton deftruction; drunkenness and infubordination threatened the most fatal effects, but were fuppressed by a judicious mixture of temporary forbearance, and fubfequent wholesome severity.

THE Spaniards now appeared to have renounced all thoughts of a blockade; provifions were received without restraint, and a second convoy from England, under the command of captain Curtis, quieted every apprehenfion. But the heavy cannonades, and profufe difcharges of hells, both from batteries and gun-boats, daily harraffed

XLI.

1781.

CHAP. harrassed the garrifon, while the works of the befiegers proceeded with an alarming rapidity. As a protection against the gun and mortar boats, Elliot cut down fome brigs, and converted them into prames furnished with artillery. His judicious and well directed fire did tremendous execution, blew up batteries and prostrated works; but the diligence and perfeverance of the befiegers still enabled them to continue their approaches; and notwithstanding every oppofition, their fourth line was completed, within three quarters of a mile of the walls, and so strong as to refift the fire of the garrifon.

13th Apr.

to 31st May.

FEWER lives were lost in these tremendous affaults than would naturally be imagined, as in a period of fifty days of the most violent attack on the town and garrifon, during which the enemy were computed to expend fifty-fix thousand seven hundred and fixty shot, and twenty thousand one hundred and thirtyfour shells, not more than feventy were killed and wounded. The troops were accustomed, after fix months bombardment, to the discharge and effect of heavy artillery; the firing of the enemy had fhewn the weak places in the fortification, which the governor and engineers were indefatigable in strengthenging, fo that the garrifon was in fact in a better state of defence than at the beginning of the attack.

To free himself, however, from the contiguity of the enemy, Elliot executed a bold and fortunate enterprize. Having received from a deferter correct information of the position, strength, and guards of the enemy, he ordered all the grenadiers and light infantry of the garrifon, together with the twelfth regiment, and

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1

1781,

the German regiment called Hardenberg's, to CHAP. assemble on the sands at midnight, and affail those stupendous works, the construction of which had cost so much labour and expence. With laudable prudence, the general kept his intentions profoundly fecret till after fun-fet on the evening when they were to be executed: the remaining interval was past in confultation, and the arrangement of measures for infuring fuccess. The detachment confifted of two thousand and fourteen men, befides three hundred failors; they were commanded by brigadier general Ross, but the valiant governor of the garrifon attended in perfon. Although his orders to observe profound filence were strictly obeyed, the enemy were alarmed, and their centries fired on the detachment. The British troops having now no resource but their impetuous courage, pressed refolutely forward; the Spaniards fled in every direction, and in an hour, by the induftry and judgment of the pioneers and artillery, the flames burst forth from every quarter of the works, illuminating the troops and all the furrounding objects with a grand and horrific glare. The detachment regained the fortress in safety, after laying trains to the magazines, which, throwing up large masses of timber in their explosion, augmented the conflagration. It was fingular that the Spaniards made no effort to protect their works or prevent retreat; they were fo little apprehenfive of a fortie, that the report of the commanding officer was found already written against the relief of guard, declaring

CHAP. that "nothing extraordinary" had happened.

The enemy land in Minorca.

The loss sustained by the British confifted in four privates killed, one lieutenant with twenty-four non-commiffioned officers and privates wounded, and one miffing; and great part of this cafualty was occafioned by two of the divifions firing on each other in the dark by mistake. Ten thirteen-inch mortars, and eighteen twenty-fix pounders were spiked in the works; and the deliberation and order observed were so perfect, that neither musket, working-tool, nor any other implement was loft. The fuccess exceeded the most fanguine expectation, and justified the expreffion of the general in his public orders, that "the bravery and conduct of the whole detachment, officers, failors and foldiers, on the glorious occafion, furpassed his warmest acknowledge

ments."

WHILE the Spaniards were exerting their force in unavailing attempts on Gibraltar, they alfo undertook, in conjunction with the French, the conquest of Minorca. With a combined force of fixteen thousand men, commanded by the duke de Crillon, and a fuitable train of 20th Aug. artillery, they effected a landing, and commenced the fiege of St. Philip's caftle, the principal fortrefs of the island. Their progress was not, however, commenfurate to their expectations, and the year was wasted in unfuccessful efforts.

Naval actions in the Channel.

AFTER convoying this armament, the combined fleets, amounting to seventy fail, fifty of which were of the line, and fome of the largest rate, reached the coast of England, and occupied the mouth of the Channel, from the iflands of Scilly to Ufhant. The destruction of the English marine was now confidently expected,