XL.

1781.

CHAP. berty, though ftruggling under all the difficulties and difadvantages generally deemed the neceffary concomitants of victory and fuccefs. What Englishman, on reading the narratives of thefe bloody and wellfought contefts, could refrain from lamenting the lofs of British blood in fuch a caufe? or from weeping on whichever fide victory might incline? To this melancholy confideration might be added, that we perceived only our natural and powerful enemies, or lukewarm and faithless friends, rejoicing in our calamities, and meditating our ultimate downfal. The motion was negatived".

18th July.

Clofe of the feffion.

THE king terminated the feffion at an unusually advanced period; thanking parliament for the faithful discharge of their duties, and expreffing his earnest defire of peace, though he would not accept that bleffing on terms inconfiftent with the honour and dignity of the crown, and the permanent interest and fecurity of the people.

11 172 to 99.

CHAPTER THE FORTY-FIRST:

1780-1791.

Attack of the French on Jersey.-Progress of the fiege of Gibraltar.-Mifery, and relief of the garrifon.-Brave fortie.The enemy land in Minorca.-Naval actions in the channeland off the Dogger Bank.-Tranfactions in the West Indies.Capture of Saint Euftatia-Demarary-Ifequibo, and Berbice.-The French fleet reinforced.-Capture of Tobago.Tranfactions in America.-Lord Cornwallis reinforced.Arnold's expedition to Virginia.-Mutiny in the American army.-Tarleton defeated at the Cowpens.-Lord Cornwallis's incurfion into North Carolina.-Royal ftandard erected at Hillsborough.-Massacre of the loyalifts. Battle of Guildford.-Lord Cornwallis invades Virginia.-Lord Rawdon defeats the enemy at Hobkirk's Hill.-Camden evacuated.— Success of the enemy in South Carolina and Georgia.—Sufpenfion of operations.-Execution of colonel Haynes.-Battle at Eutarus.-Expedition of the enemy against Portsmouth.-General Phillips ravages Virginia.-Arrival of lord Cornwallis.-His pursuit of La Fayette.-Success of Tarleton and Simcoe.-Projects of the enemy against New York. -Clinton requires troops from Virginia.-Countermands the order.-Lord Cornwallis ftations himself at York and Gloucefter.-Arrival of the French-and English fleets.-Partial action.-Arnold's expedition to New London.-York town invefted.-Progrefs of the ficge-and capitulation.-Efforts of Clinton for relief of lord Cornwallis.

E

XLI.

1781.

ARLY in 1781, the French made a fpirited at- CHAP. tempt to gain poffeffion of Jersey. The remainder of the legion which had failed in 1779, with another raised by the prince de Luxembourg, were 6th Jan. placed under the command of the baron de Rulle- Attack of court. After fuftaining fome lofs and many difficul- on Jersey.

the French

XLI.

1781.

CHAP. ties by tempeft, the baron landed with eight hundred men at the Banc des Violettes; reached during night St. Helier's, the capital, and took prifoner major Corbet the lieutenant-governor, who figned a capitulation for the whole ifland. Fortunately other officers were not infected with the fame fpirit of timidity : major Pierfon, on whom the command devolved, collected the troops, affailed the invaders, who were concentred in the market-place, wounded Rullecourt, flew a confiderable number, and compelled the remainder to furrender: but he did not survive to enjoy the fruits of his valour; almoft the last shot fired by the enemy deprived him of life, and he fell in the prime of youth, and in the moment of glory. Corbet was tried by a court-martial, and defervedly fentenced to be fuperfeded in his commiffion of lieutenantgovernor.

6th June.

Progrefs of

the fiege of Gibraltar.

1780.

7th June.

MEANWHILE the Spaniards continued to direct a great portion of their strength against Gibraltar. After the departure of admiral Rodney they attempted, by means of fire-fhips, to burn the fleet in the bay; but were repulfed by the valour and judgment of the Britifh failors, affifted by a well-directed fire from the garrifon. Notwithstanding this failure, they formed a blockade, and the probabilities of relief were diminished by a fuccefsful negotiation with the emperor of Morocco for farming the ports of Tangier, Tetuan, and Larache, from which fupplies and information had been hitherto frequently obtained. This advantage was gained by the Spaniards in confequence of a blameable negligence of the British miniftry. On the commencement of hoftilities, proposals were made to the emperor of Morocco for farming these ports, but far from acceding to a propofition fo injurious to the English, he imparted it to general Elliot, requiring

Beside the hiftories, periodical works, and gazettes, fee the Life of general Dumouriez, vol. i. p. 445.

only,

XLI.

1781.

only, as the price of his friendship, naval ftores for CHA P. three veffels, to protect his coafts against the incenfed Spaniards, the value of which did not exceed fifteen hundred pounds. Elliot, ftruck with this difinterestedness, advised the British government to double the emperor's demand, in order to retain fo valuable a friend; but he had the mortification, on admiral Rodney's arrival, to find that he brought no answer to the request. Ample time was afterward allowed for the ministry to repair their overfight; but after repeated applications to the British conful to learn the fuccefs of his applications, the Moorish monarch gradually withdrew his countenance and protection. He first permitted the Spaniards to capture British vessels within his ports, his officers answering the remonftrances of Mr. Logie, the conful, with harfhness and infult. Soon afterward the emperor commanded Mr. 10th Oct. Logie to be conducted into his prefence, and after reproaching the English nation in terms of great bitternefs, ordered him to make his abode at Sallee. The conful had the addrefs to foften his refentment, and even obtained a temporary protection for his fellowsubjects; but the Spaniards still augmenting their offers, while no counter-propofal was made by the British ministry, the emperor at length confented to banish the 26th Nov. fubjects of the crown of England from his dominions. He not only continued unmoved by the entreaties and remonftrances of Mr. Logie, but increased his severity by alienating the port of Tangier to Spain, in confequence of which the conful and all the English were made prisoners; and treated with great inhumanity, till the court of Madrid confented to their release.

THIS event was a fevere misfortune to the befieged Diftrefs of garrifon, who had almoft confumed the fupplies the garrifon, brought by admiral Rodney, and were reduced to the utmost distress, which the Spaniards increased by in`tercepting small veffels from Minorca and other ports, and by destroying the gardens without the lines. The scurvy

Y 3

CHA P. fcurvy made dreadful ravages, and the garrison experienced the most exceffive mifery".

XLI.

1781.

1781. Relieved by

Darby.

FROM this extremity of wretchedness they were at 12th April length relieved by admiral Darby, who convoyed, with the grand fleet, near a hundred fhips laden with provifions. The garrifon had been apprised of his approach, and at day-break his fleet was defcried from the fignal-house, though not yet difcernible from below, by reafon of a thick mift. 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, fteering toward them in a compact body. The ftores were landed in fpite of oppofition from the Spanish gun-boats and land batteries, and Darby, having completed his task, failed for the channel.

The town bombarded.

THE joy of the garrison and inhabitants received, however, a fevere check; for the fleet was scarcely moored, when the Spaniards opened a fevere battery and bombardment on the fortrefs 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 warehouses, laid open thofe ftores of provifion which the merchants had amaffed to deal out in fcanty portions, and at exorbitant prices. The foldiery indulged in licentious plunder and wanton deftruction; drunkenness and

As a proof of the extreme distress of the garrifon during this period, the following are felected from a long lift of articles which had advanced to prices proportionately exorbitant. Fresh beef, veal, and mutton, 4s. 104d.; corned beef, 2s. 11d.; potatoes, 2s. 6d.; Sugar, 17 s. 1 d.; and biscuit-duft from 10d. to 1 s. per pound. The hind quarter of a fheep, with the head and tail, 7 l. 10s.; a pint of milk and water, 1s. 3d; a living pig, 9l. 14s. 9d.; a fow large with pigs, 20l.; a goat and kid, 18.; 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 pork, both almost in a state of putrefcence; 2 oz. and a quarter of butter, little better than rancid oil; 12 oz. of raifins; 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 affiftance from the ftores.

infub