to heap up any more favors of the fame kind upon him, 17826 as he could not in future apply them to his own use.

The French princes arrived at the camp about the middle of Auguft; and after examining the state of the preparations by land, reviewed the new and extraordinary machines contrived by the chevalier D'Arcon: in doing it they were accompanied by all the principal commanders of both nations, whether in the land or naval fervice. The confidence afterward placed in the effect to be produced by thefe machines was extravagant; and the impatience of the combined forces both by fea and land for action became exceffive. The apprehenfion of lord Howe's arrival ferved to quicken the determinations of the Spanish court, and to accelerate the operations of the fleet and army.

While gen. Elliot obferved the gathering ftorm, he could obtain only fome general knowledge of the mighty preparations that were making. He was utterly in the dark as to the nature, construction and mode of operation of the new invented batteries. He provided however for every circumftance of danger which could be imagined, and for the reception of every enemy, whatever might be his mode of operation. Obferving that the Spanish works on the land fide were nearly completed, the general determined on trying how far a vigorous cannonade and bombardment, with red-hot balls, carcaffes and fhells, might operate to their deftruction. A powerful and well directed firing was commenced by the Sept. garrifon at seven in the morning, and supported through 8. the day with admirable skill and dexterity. By ten, two of the Spanish batteries were in flames, and by five in the evening entirely confumed, together with their gun

VOL. IV.

Y

car

1782. carriages, platforms and magazines, although the latter were bomb proof. A great part of the communications to the eastern parallel, and of the trenches and parapet for musketry were likewise destroyed, and a large battery near the bay much damaged. The enemy's works were on fire in fifty places at the fame inftant.

1

This attack appears to have been refented by the allied commanders, fo as to have precipitated their meafures. A new battery of 64 heavy cannon was opened by break of day the next morning, which with the cannon in their lines, and above 60 mortars, continued to pour their fhot and fhells upon the garrifon without intermiffion, through the whole day. At the fame time, nine fhips of the line, with fome frigates and finaller veffels, taking the advantage of the wind, paffed flowly by the works, and discharged their fhot at the fouth baftion, continuing their cannonade, until they had paffed Europa point. They then formed, and came to the attack of the batteries on Europa point, and commenced a heavy fire, which lafted till they were entirely passed.

The fmall British marine force at Gibraltar under capt. Curtis, being shut up by the fuperiority of the enemy from exertion on their proper element, was formed into a diftinct corps, under the name of the marine brigade, and Curtis held the rank and title of brigadier as their commander. The defence of the batteries on Europa point was committed to him and his corps. They difcharged their truft fo well, that having repeatedly ftruck the enemy in the firft attack, the veffels were afterward kept at a fafe distance.

The

The firing from the ifthmus was renewed on the 10th, 1782. Sept. and continued the fucceeding days, at the rate of 6500 cannon fhot and 1080 fhells, in every 24 hours. The gun and mortar boats were also added to the other instruments of deftruction. Their combined force produced little effect, either with refpect to the lofs of men in the garrifon, or the damage done to the works. At length the combined fleets arrived at Algeziras, and with thofe already on the fpot, amounted to 44 fail of the line, befide three inferior two deckers. The new invented battering veffels were likewife in readinefs. Their batteries were covered with 142 pieces of new heavy brass cannon. The Paftora, the admiral's vessel, had 21 guns mounted and 10 in referve: The Prince of Naffau's was of the fame force. Thirty-fix artillery men and volunteers from the Spanish and French armies were allotted to the fervice of each gun: thefe being exclufive of the officers and feamen who navigated the veffels, the whole number on board was estimated at between 6 and 7000 men. The The gun and mortar boats, with the floating batteries and the bomb ketches, were to carry on their attacks in every poffible direction, while the fire of the battering fhips was pointed against their deftined objects. By this mean, and by the fire of near 300 cannon, mortars and howitzers from the ifthmus, it was intended, that, every part of the works being attacked at the fame inftant, and every quarter presenting a fimilar face of danger, the refiftance of the garrifon fhould become generally ineffective, and totally unequal to the accumulated weight and force of the grand attack.

1

1782. At eight in the morning, the ten battering fhips comSept. 13. mandeded by admiral Don Buenventura Moreno, were

put in motion, and proceeded to their feveral ftations. Between nine and ten they came to an anchor, in a line from the old to the new Mole, parallel to the rock, and from 1000 to 1200 yards diftant. The admiral's fhip was ftationed opposite the king's baftion; and the others took their appointed places, fucceffively and with great regularity, to the right and left of the admiral. The furrounding hills were covered with people, as though all Spain had affembled to behold the spectacle.

The cannonade and bombardment, on all fides and in all directions, from the ifthmus, the fea, and the various works of the fortrefs, was tremendously magnificent beyond defcription. The prodigious fhowers of red-hot balls, of bombs and of carcaffes, which filled the air, and were without intermiffion thrown from the garrison, to every point of the various attacks, both by fea and land, aftonished the commanders of the allied forces; who could not conceive how gen. Elliot had been able to conftruct and manage fuch a multitude of furnaces, as they deemed neceffary for the heating of the quantity of fhot thrown. The number of red-hot balls, which only the battering fhips received in the course of the day, was eftimated at not less than 4000. The peninfula feemed at the fame time to be overwhelmed in the torrents of fire, inceffantly poured upon it.

The battering fhips were fo well conftructed for withftanding the combined powers of fire and artillery, that for feveral hours the continued fhowers of fhells and hot fhot with which they were affailed, were not capable of making any visible impreffion upon them. But about

two o'clock the admiral's fhip was obferved to smoke. 1782. The fire, though kept under, during the day light, could not be thoroughly fubdued. After a time, the Prince of Naffau's fhip was discovered to be in the fame condition. The diforder that took place in these two commanding fhips, affected the whole line of attack; and by the evening the fire from the fortrefs had gained a decided fuperiority. This fire was continued with equal vigor through the night; and by one in the morning, the two first ships were in flames, and feveral others vifibly on fire. Continual fignals to the fleet were fufficiently expreffive of their extreme distress and danger. All means were used by the fleet to afford affistance: but as it was judged impoffible to remove the battering fhips, their endeavours were only directed to the bringing off the men, A great number of boats were ac-, cordingly employed, and much intrepidity was displayed in the attempts for this purpose.

Captain Curtis, to complete the general confufion and deftruction, manned his twelve gun-boats with his marine brigade; and drew them up in fuch a manner as to flank the line of battering fhips. Each of his boats carried a 24 or 18 pounder, and by its low fire and fixed aim, was not a little formidable. The battering fhips were foon overwhelmed by the inceffant fire from the garrison, and by that of the British gun-boats, raking the whole extent of their line. The fcene was now wrought up to the highest point of calamity. The Spanish boats no longer dared to approach; but were compelled to abandon their fhips and friends to the flames, or to the mercy and humanity of a heated enemy. Several of their boats and launches had been funk before they

Y

3