of the enemy were on their march to Mahon; on which Col. Bufane's party retired into the garrifon, as did likewife a party of miners employed in fpringing a mine under the Grey Friery at Mahon, in order to fill up the road which led to the garrifon. Forty men belonging to the regiment in Gibraltar, and all the marines on board the men of war which lay in the harbour, were commanded to reinforce the garrifon, and the British fquadron, fix in number, failed out of the harbour; Capt. Scrope having firft with 140 of his men, joined the reinforcement, and fent the Defiance to fea, under the command of his lieutenant. Minorca. A party of the enemy advanced as far as Mahon, and they pofted a captain's guard at Middle Mount, which is half way between Mahon and the garrifon. They alfo towed up the prizes to Mahon, which had been taken by our men of war. In the mean time no precaution was omitted by the General for fecurity of the garrifon. Friday 23. The drum major returned having executed in due form the commiflion upon which he was difpatched. After fome fhort confultation he was conducted to the D. de Richlieu, general in chief, at Elliore, where he faw a numerous army on their march to Maho He faw alfo fix pieces of cannon, and a prince of the blood who came a volunteer upon this expedition. Upon this information the governor augmented the guards, and all was quiet for the remainder of the day. Sat. 24. We difcovered the enemy's approach by hearing their drums beat, and their morning gun fire, and foon faw their main body on their march between Middle Mount Wed. 21. The Marlbro' guard was alarmed, miftaking the Spaniards flying into the country for the enemy; numbers of thefe Spaniards were brought into the garrifon by different parties. We could now plainly perceive the enemy at Cape Mola, on the oppofite fide of the harbour, and at night we doubled our piquets, and detached them into the town of St. Philip's to unsand. St. Philip's; but fuddenly dif head all the wine cafks, which they appearing: we apprehended they had accordingly executed, fpifling the taken a circuit in order to attack wine, and bringing all the empty Marlborough fort, which is feparatcafks into the garrifon; thefe were ed from the garrifon by a creek of of infinite fervice during the ge, the fea; called St. Stephen's Cove; in erecting blinds, traverfes, and but inftead of attacking this fort, ther neceffary uses. A piquet of they encamped at about a mile and the artillery and additional gunners a half's diftance from the garrison. manned thofe batteries which were In the afternoon their fleet came in most exposed, and on this day the fight, and bore fo near that we conwhole garrifon were ferved with a cluded they would attempt to come pint of wine a man. in, but they kept cruizing all the next day round the harbour's mouth. Thursday 22. A fire-fhip was funk by Gen. Blakeney's order, which was fcarcely executed before an account arrived that the French were advancing from Elliore to Mahon; upon which the General difpatch'd the drum major of Col. Cornwallis's regiment in military form, to demand the reafon of the French king's troops landing in an hoftile manner, in his majesty's island of Monday 26. We could perceive by computation upwards of 500 of the enemy marching to Cape Mola. The Duke de Richelieu having difpatched a drummer with a letter to our governor, complaifantly fent him a prefent of dry fruit, who in return fent him back fix bottles of English beer. Tuesday 27. The enemy took pof feffion of the town of St. Philip's, and mounted a guard at Stanhope's tower. Now hoftilities commenced by a few ftraggling French, who fired from the town at fome of the country, but without hurt to any; this however provoked our men to return the fire, by which one was killed and another wounded. The French aggreffors underwent the difcipline of whpping thro' the camp for firing without orders. The French fleet having gone to the weftward, gave a small veffel from Genoa in ballaft an opportunity of coming into the harbour. We had now the first order that every perfon bearing ms fhould be ready upon any alarm; in confequence of which none undreffed or pulled off one garment. Thursday 29. All our provifions were removed to a magazine near the caftle. Friday 30. The first cannon was fired from the garrifon, at a party of the enemy who advanced to a point of land called Philippit, which ftands in the middle of the harbour fronting the garrison. We fuppofed them engineers and other officers who came to reconnoitre our works. We now received orders to fire at the enemy wherever we faw them. Saturday, May 1. The governor fent Capt. Chifell to the oppofite fide of the harbour, to examine if the enemy were erecting any works there, but perceived nothing. Our centinels who faced the town kept afmart firing all night, fuppofing great numbers of the enemy there, who gave however but three or four fhot in exchange. Sunday 2. The French Beet apapeared fome leagues to the Weft, and in the afternoon a large party of the enemy advanced with implements for erecting batteries towards Cape Mola; but our fire from the fort killing a number of their men, the reft were compelled to take fhelter behind the rocks till night fa vour'd their defign, when they be gan to erect their first battery. Monday 3. Between 2 and 3000 of the enemy were very difcernable at Cape Mola, erecting a gun and bomb batteries. The governor ordered a continual fire from the Caftle, and Queen's redoubt, which did great execution among them. A deferter from the enemy was killed on the glacis by the centinels, who feeing him fall, fuppofed he only meant to fhelter himself from the fire of the garrifon, till the contrary was found. Tuefday 4. Our cannon and mortars began to play at the enemy, which obliged them to abandon their works. Capt. Theodore, with 8 Greeks, joined us in order to do duty: and the day concluded with firing fome bombs at the enemy, as they returned to their works. Wedn. 5. Their batteries being very confpicuous, we continued a brifk firing, which did great execution among the men, and deftroyed a great part of their works: Our centinels from the Marlborough guard, killed one of their engineers, difguifed in a Spanish habit, as he was viewing the fort. Thursday 6. The enemy had f nifhed a 5 gun battery, and a 3 mortar battery; we received orders to cannonade them without intermitfion, which was executed with great. bravery from Charles fort, Cumberland battery, and Queen's redoubt but Charles fort only continued the fire during the night. Friday 7. The enemy's fleet appeared in fight, which had not been feen for two days before. They were now 24 in number, and becaufe fo encreafed we were apprehenfive they had taken fome English merchantmen, a great firing having been heard at a confiderable distance at fea. This night a party were detached into town to learn, if poflible, whether the enemy were A 2 erecting, to make his obfervations on their Tuesday 11. The firing was continued with the ufual acrimony, and we had one man wounded. Wed. 12. The French fleet came again in view, after 4 days abience. We flackened our fire upon Cape Mola, and at night hearing the enemy at work in the town, we continued a brick firing upon it; but the enemy opening a bomb battery from the Quay, we with all the vigilance and activity we were capable of, endeavoured to annoy them, till about 11, when open-. erecting any works there; when Serjeant Young and a private foldier of the Royal Welch fufileers, were made prifoners, and remained fo during the whole time of the fiege. Sat. 8. The enemy opened the two batteries already mentioned, and an inceffant fire on both fides continued the whole day. That of the garrifon killed fome of the enemy's gunners, and did otherwife great injury to their batteries; while we on our part, were not altogether excluded from the common events of war, having had one man wounded by the enemy, whofe fhot grazing another battery of the fame weight ing along the touch-hole of a loaded gun, discharged it, levelled as it was at their own battery. Accident was at this time more hurtful to us than the French; for two additional gunners from Lord Eflingham's Regiment loading a cannon not well fpunged, the piece went off and killed them both. In the night a party of the enemy advanced almost to our pallifadoes, and with undaunted bravery received and returned our fire for about 10 minutes, when they thought proper to retire. Sunday 9. They renewed their attack, with the dawn, beat down one of our embrafures on the calle, wounded one man by the fplinters of their fhells, and hot away the vine of our flag-ttaff with a cannon ball. In the night a detach'd party of about 500 men attacked Marlborough fort, who were fo bravely repulfed by a captain's guard of 50 Then only, that they retired with fome lofs, and great precipitation. Monday 10. An inceffant firing was renewed, and kept up with great refoJation on both tides; one woman only, a follower of Col. Rich's Reg. had the ill fortune to be wounded. The enemy having erected two mortar batterics in the town, our mortars and cohorns were directed to keep a continual fire upon that part of it. Lieut. Kennedy of Col. Rich's Reg. was detached by water round Cape Mola of metal, our greatly exafperated men bent the fury of another fire upon that, which made this night the hottest and moft furious engagement of any we had hitherto feen, having exchanged upwards of 500 fhells of different forts with the enemy. In all this heat of action one of our bombardiers only, with 3 foldiers on the Queen's redoubt, were wounded, and one gunner unhappily loft his leg, by one of our own mortars. Thursday 13. Two of Lord Effingham's Regiment were wounded. At night the enemy continuing their attack, a foldier of the royal Welch fufileers was killed by a plinter of a fhell. Friday 14 Our centinels having wounded a French foldier, brought him prifoner, who affirmed that the enemy were then 25,000 ftrong, that tranfports had been dispatched for reinforcements and a farther fupply of ammunition; and that it was a prevailing opinion among them, that the garrifon muft of neceflity fpeedily furrender. To this account he added, that they had loft great numbers of their foldiers and fubaltern officers; and that by our fire on the preceding night they had 34 gunners killed. This day, we had but one man of Lord Effingham's regiment wounded; at night the affaitants and affailed kept an inceffant firing; that of the enemy was but flow, however, from their batteries in town, occafione occafioned by one of their mortars being broken by our shells; but that from cape Mola was vigorous and conftant. Small parties of the enemy advancing near our western Lunette, were foon repelled and driven back by the guards. Saturday 15. One of the enemy's fhells fell on the north-counter guard among the cartridges and loaded shells, and fetting them on fire, blew up a large ftone blind, broke one carriage, and buried two guns in the ruins. This accident difconcerted us greatly. A foldier of Lord Effingham's regiment was wounded in the fhoulder. During the night, however, we kept an incef fant fire, which the enemy did not return with their ufual brifknefs, being employed in raifing a breaft work for erecting a battery oppofite the principal barrier. We also began to erect a battery just by the draw-bridge, near the N. W. raveling. Sunday 16. The French prifoner expired of his wounds, and we had one of Col. Rich's Reg. and one of the Ich fufileers wounded by the fplintors of a fhell. In the afternoon the enemy beat a parley, when an aid de camp with a drummer defir'd admittance, who being blindfolded and brought to the governor, produced fome pieces of lead bound with brafs wire, which he afferted were fired from the garrifon; and declaiming upon the cruelty of fuch a practice among Chrif tion powers, after fome fhort space was conducted back in the fame manner. No fooner was the officer returned, but the garrifon receivd the fire of the whole camp. It may be remarked, that however juft the complaint, no nation under the fun are more apt to fall into this error than the French. The governor however made all poffible, tho' fruitless enquiry, offering a reward of 100 dollars to difcover the perfon guilty of that unlawful procedure. Monday 17. The enemy began to play their 5 gun battery, oppofite the principal barrier, and not above 200 yards from our pallifadoes; they alfo opened a battery at Stanhope's tower, from both which they play'd with equal brifknefs. The garrifon obferving that the affailants opened their batteries very fast, encreated their firing with great diligence; and it may be truly faid there was no intermiflion, fave one fhort fpace, in which Mr. Boyd went to the enemy's camp with a meffage from the governor, at whofe return both fides renewed their firing till the enemy beat a parley, when an officer with a drummer came to the principal barrier, but was refufed admittance, because he would not fubmit to be hoodwinked. We had again the mortification of a fhell's falling among our cartridges, which with two barrels of powder blew up, without farther damage. We loft 2 men by this day's action, one belonging to the fufileers, the other to Cornwallis's Reg. befides 9 wounded, but night approaching. and the enemy's fire continuing, we fuftained more damage by the recoiling of a bomb than we had bitherto done from all their efforts; this bomb from Stanhop's tower recoiled from the caftle wall into a place underneath the N. W. ravelin, otherwife vacant than as the habitation of the cooper and a few others; where burtting, it fet fire to fome powder, blew up part of the ravelin, killed the cooper's wife, and almoft fuffocated the reft. Two men were killed on this night at the work. Tuesday 18. Our officers viewing the breach, perceived a fmoak iffuing from a large ftore room, which being on fire, when opened, the flame by a vent rag'd with great fury, but by the diligence of the foldiers was foon extinguished. The fmoak, however, not efcaping the enemy's obfervation, they kept a perpetual firing at the place, killed one of Ld. Effingham's Reg. and a fucceflive fhell bursting inftantaneous, tore away three men's legs, and wounded several others. There was no abatement of vigour on either fide during this whole afternoon, when he had 4 men more wounded. The garrifon garrifon made a brisk, firing from Anitruther's fort, imagining, as it afterwards proved, the enemy were erecting a new battery in the town; for having fired a 32 pounder, which beat down part of a garden wall, we difcovered the work almost finished, when Mr. Boyd vifiting this quarter, and beholding the enemy's new battery thro' the chafm, orders were given to keep a continual fire upon it with four 32 pounders, which had the defired effect; however, a little before day, they opened another battery, which if I mistake not, is called a requafee. because of the elevation of the guns, in which pofition lefs powder is requifite than usual to guns mounted level. Wednesday 19. A 13 inch hell falling in the Castle Square, made its way into an apartment, the lodgment of fome failors, by which five were unhappily buried under the ruins, and two were wounded: the humanity of the foldiers foon refcued the wounded, and recovered the dead from among the rubbish, in order for burial. Another shell fell between two barrels of powder on the fouth counter guard, which blew up, and with them one carriage and a few cartridges. We had a ferjeant belonging to the artillery and a failor wounded, both by the fplinters of a fhell. This afternoon the garrifon were in high fpirits, in full expectation of relief upon feeing the English fleet arrive from the weftward, under the command of the admirals Byng and Weft, who firing three guns to leeward, as a fignal of friendship, gave no farther proof of their being friends, nor were they of any further fervice to us; when our brave governor, impatient to hear, but could have no account from the admi ral, determined at all events to fend a boat off, and accordingly fent Mr. Boyd, with other officers, in the evening from St. Stephen's Cove where they were discovered by the enemy, who began to fire their field pieces and fmall arms at them from Turk's Mount, without injury to any. However, contrary to expectation, and to the furprize of every body lying to, made fail and went off to fea; and two Tartans belonging to the enemy chafed the boat into the harbour, neither feeing nor hearing more of the fleet. We had one man of Lord Effingham's regiment wounded this night, while working at the battery near the drawbridge. Thursday 20. Both fides kept a flow firing all the forenoon, but the afternoon a brifker action commenced, when we greatly damaged one of the enemy's batteries, by one of our largeft fhells falling into it, which burnt part of it, tho' all poffible means were ufed to prevent it; the garrifon keeping a continual fire upon that quarter from our canon, mortars, and small. arms, prevented the enemy from extinguishing the fire; and abandoning the battery they betook themselves to their small arms, and fired with exceffive fury at our men at the pallifadoes, but to very little effect. Another of our fhells falling into one of their magazines, made a great explosion, and quite deftroyed it. We had two marines and a woman belonging to the fufileers wounded this day. At night the enemy opened a bomb battery upon Turk's Mount, whence they wounded two of Lord Effingham's. regiment. We could hear the enemy all this night drawing carriages from Mahon into the upper part of the town. Friday 21. Two of Col. Cornwallis's men were wounded. In the morning the French fleet came in fight, and fteering the fame courfe which admiral Byng took, we foon loft fight of them. Two deferters entered the garrifon, bringing their arms with them from these, and not before, we had the confirmation of its being the English fleet, which we had feen on the 19th. They likewife informed us of frequent confultations held in the camp, in order to ftorm the garrifon, which defign was only fufpended thro |