HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



181 



ing tliem to propose terms of 

 peace. They offered to quit Tor- 

 losa immediately on the condition 

 of being sent to Tarragona, or to 

 surrender on conditions within fif- 

 teen days, if the place should not be 

 relieved. These proposals were re- 

 jected in the most peremptory 

 manner. A fire of shells from 

 mortars and obuses was re-opened 

 on both the town and castle. The 

 miners resumed their labours. On 

 the morning of the 2nd a new bat- 

 tery, constructed with extraordi- 

 nary quickness in the covert-way 

 on the counterscarp of the ditch, 

 played at the distance of fifteen 

 fathoms from the wall, and effect- 

 ed a breach, which was enlarged 

 every hour. Three white flags 

 waved on the ramparts at the 

 same time. The firing was 

 every where continued ; in two 

 hours every thing was ready for 

 the assault ; and a column was 

 formed for mounting the breach. 



Heralds of peace presented them- 

 selves anew, but orders were given 

 that they should not be received 

 except on the CO tlition of the first 

 preliminary. This hard condition 

 was accepted ; the garrison, re- 

 duced from 9 to 8,000 men, laid 

 down their standards and arms, 

 defiled as prisoners of war, and 

 under a suitable escort were led as 

 prisoners of war to Saragossa. 

 Among the standards w«»s one pre- 

 sented by the king of Great Bri- 

 tain and Ireland, whom Suchet 

 calls "LeRoi Georges," tothecity 

 of Tortosa. The French were 

 put into possession of 177 pieces 

 of ordnance, 9,000 firelocks, and a 

 great quantity of bullets, shells, 

 and gunpowder.* The governor 

 of Tortosa was sentenced, by a 

 court-martial held at Tarragona, 

 to have his head cut off, for hav- 

 ing traitorously given up the for- 

 tress committed to his charge to 

 the enemy. 



* General Suchet to the prince of Neufchatel, major-general. Tortosa, 4lh of 

 January, 1811. » J s > 



