SIEGE OF MINORCA. 
539 
In the night the Enemy took the Prizes, that were left by the Men 
of War, up to Mahon. 
The Marshal sent back the Drummer (who had been taken to his April 23rd. 
head Quarters at Alaor, where their Encampment then extended near 
a mile ; in going and returning they blind folded him, at middle 
Mount; where they then had their advanced Guard; In his return 
before he came to Mahon, he observed several Pieces of Cannon in 
the road) with an answer; that he came to take possession of the 
Island, for the same reason that his Brittanick Majesty had taken pos¬ 
session of the French Ships (or to that, effect). The Enemy had 
lighted up fires in a line from behind middle mount to Stanhope's 
Tower, and a pretty considerable distance further off. 
The Town Guard continued in St Philip's, being now augmented to „ 24th. 
a Captain's party, The Enemy at a small distance. To day the French 
Fleet came before the Harbour from the West, and stood South East. 
The French Fleet appeared at S. E.-standing for the Harbour all „ 25th. 
the Batteries to the sea were manned to oppose them, but they tacked 
again and stood S. W. The principal Barrier and Sally port by the 
N. E. Ravelin, were this morning begun to be walled up. 
The French Fleet appeared to the S. of the harbour and remained „ 26 th. 
there till Evening, Cruising off and on; and then brought to. The 
Admiral detached 3 of his Squadron to the E. in Chace, the Wind W.; 
at night the French Fleet stood to the W. A Drummer of the Enemy's 
came in with a letter from the Duke De Richelieu relating to an 
Officer's Lady left behind at Ciudadela, and was dispatched again in 
about two hours. In the night several signal Guns were heard from 
the French Fleet, and false fires seen from them. 
Alarmed about one o'clock this Morning by a report that a Ship was „ 27th. 
attempting the harbour, but it proved false. 
The Castle brought to an Anchor under her Guns, a Ship of the Island 
from Genoua bound to Mahon, which was coming in to the harbour ; The 
Enemy marched a large party to Stanhopes Tower, about noon they 
fired small Arms from a Window, and there were some shot exchanged 
on both sides. Their Fleet appeared in sight from the West. 
The French Fleet stood from the S. West within a League of the „ 28th. 
harbour, then Tacked, stood south and lay to, till dark ; our sea Bat¬ 
teries were all Manned. The Guards began to parade this Morning in 
the Subtereanean Communications. Boats with some of the Enemy 
in them, are frequently seen passing near Quarrantine Island. To 
day we heard that the Enemy were in want of Water, and were on 
that account obliged to move their Camp. 
The Gunners were ordered to lay at the long storehouse near the „ 2 9th.. 
sea, to be ready on any alarm from that Quarter ; the French Fleet to 
the East, several Guns fired from the Enemy's Fleet at sea, in the 
night; and great lights through the Line of the French Camp. As 
we have no intelligence from the French or Minorquins, it is impos¬ 
sible to ascertain the strength of their Army, the extent of their 
Camp, or become acquainted with the progress they make. 
We fired some Cannon at a party of the Enemy reconnoitring at „ 30th. 
Philipet, who retired immediately ; the Prince of Wirtemburg was 
70 
