you have any humanity, pray send clothing to your unfortunate prisoners in my possession. Leave it at a distance, to be taken up for them; because I will admit of no contact for the future, but such as is hostile in the most inveterate degree."

This noble reproof drew from Crillon a reply more consonant to the honour of a nobleman and a soldier, than the insidious and degrading offer of a bribe.

"Your letter places us each in our proper stations. It confirms me in the esteem I have always had for you. I accept with pleasure your last proposition."

Although the court of Versailles felt, or affected to feel, some resentment for the secrecy hitherto preserved, yet they were speedily appeased, and entered cordially into the undertaking. A reinforcement of 4,000 men was dispatched from Toulon, and requisites for a siege being transported to the island, a regular attack was commenced. On the dawn of the 6th of January, the birth-day of the dauphin, a tremendous fire was opened on the works from 150 pieces of heavy artillery. The place was, however, defended with uncommon spirit, and for a time the determined resistance of the garrison, though unequal even to guard the extensive works, balanced the vast superiority and local advantages

CHAP. 73.

1779-1782.

Oct. 16.

CHAP. 73. of the assailants. But in the midst of this 1779-1782. arduous and manly contest, their strength was rapidly diminished by the ravages of an inveterate scurvy, derived from the unwholesome air of their casemates, and the total want of vegetable aliment during a long and rigorous blockade. Accident contributed to aggravate their distresses. A shell from the besieging batteries set fire to their principal magazine, which contained the medical stores. After protracting their defence till the effective force was inadequate to furnish the ordinary guards, they were reduced to offer a capitulation.

Feb. 16.

Crillon treated the garrison with a generosity due to their bravery and firmness. Though restricted by particular orders from the king of Spain to receive them only as prisoners of war, he softened thris hard condition by granting them military honours, released a number equivalent to that of his own soldiers taken during the siege, and permitted the rest of the garrison to return to England, on the condition of not serving till they were exchanged. He acceded also to every other indulgence demanded by their chief; and when they quitted the works to pile their arms, they experienced both from the french and spanish troops the sympathy due to the brave from a generous enemy.

66

Perhaps," observes general Murray, in an

interesting and pathetic account of the surrender,

66

a more noble, nor a more tragical scene was never exhibited, than that of the march of the garrison of St. Philippe, through the spanish and french armies. It consisted of no more than six hundred old decrepid soldiers, two hundred seamen, one hundred and twenty of the royal artillery, twenty corsicans, and twenty-five greeks, turks, moors, jews, &c. The two armies were drawn up in two lines, the battalions fronting each other, forming a way for us to march through; they consisted of fourteen thousand men, and reached from the glacis to George Town, where our battalions laid down their arms, declaring they had surrendered them to God alone, having the consolation to know the victors could not plume themselves in taking an hospital.

"Such were the distressing figures of our men, that many of the spanish and french troops are said to have shed tears as they passed them; the duke de Crillon and the baron de Falkenhayn declare it is true. I cannot aver this, but think it was very natural: for my own part, I felt no uneasiness on this occasion, but that which proceeded from the miserable disorder which threatened us with destruction.

"Thanks to the Almighty, my apprehensions are now abated; the humanity of the duke de

CHAP. 73.

1779-1782.

CHAP. 73. Crillon, whose heart was sensibly touched by the 1779-1782. misfortunes of such brave men, has gone even

The

beyond my wishes in providing every thing
which can contribute to our recovery.
spanish as well as the french surgeons attend our
hospitals. We are greatly indebted to the baron
de Falkenhayn, who commands the french
troops. We owe infinite obligations to the duke
de Crillon; they can never be forgot by any of
us. I hope this young man never will command
an army against my sovereign, for his military
talents are as conspicuous as the goodness of his
heart."*

* Florida Blanca's Statement.—French and spanish accounts. -Annual Register and Gentleman's Magazine for 1781, 1782. -General Murray's letters and capitulation.Beccatini, p. 323.-Hamburgh Politisches Journal, 1782, v. 1, p. 244.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTY-FOURTH.

1781-1782.

Plan of a general attack against the british settlements in the East and West Indies-Armaments collected for the expedition against Jamaica-Memorable defeat of the french fleet under admiral de Grasse, by Rodney-Failure of the projected expedition-Capture of the Bahama isles by the spaniards-Siege of Gibraltar—Memorable attack by the floating batteries-Relief of the fortress by lord Howe.

ENCOURAGED by the capture of Mi- CHAP. 74. norca, Charles was eager to prosecute the design 1781-1782. of recovering the possessions which England had wrested from Spain. He therefore continued to press the siege of Gibraltar, and meditated the reduction of Jamaica, which, although long united to England, had never ceased to be considered as the antient patrimony of the spanish crown. He obtained the hearty co-operation of France, who was no less anxious to dismember the british colonies. A grand expedition was planned to unite the french and spanish force in reducing the West India islands, while France profited by the aid of the dutch to attack the british establishments in the east, and co-operate with