556 
SIEGE OF MINORCA. 
ally playing on them from the covered way of Argyle. In the after¬ 
noon the Enemy’s Battery by the old burying ground took fire, on 
which we plyed them very smartly with shells, Cannon shot and 
Musquetry; till it was extinguished, they returned us Small Arms 
from the Town to draw our fire from their battery, which was much 
torn and demolished; they opened a Battery at Stanhopes Tower, 
from which they fired several ricochet Shot; fewer shells than usual 
were thrown by them to day, and those came chiefly from Major Innes’s 
and the Turks mount above Marlborough Fort. 
The Fleet this morning is out of sight, but from the signal they 
were seen yesterday to make of descrying an Enemy, it is hoped they 
are in Chace of the French Fleet, as a Ship, supposed to be one of 
the French scouts, was discerned at the same time the signal was 
made. Several ships came in sight again from the Southward, with a 
very light breeze from the S. W. and were near three Leagues distant 
at sunset. 
May 21st Two Deserters came in from the Enemy, one of the Royal Regiment, 
the other of the Royal Italians ; one of them was drunk and would 
not own himself to be any more than a prisoner; the other informed 
us they had been lately reinforced, and were under Arms the day our 
Fleet appeared off; this night they threw many shells; their Fleet to 
the East. 
These Deserters informed us that the Enemy are in search of our 
mines, but differ with regard to the spot where they are countermining; 
they likewise informed us, that there had been an engagement between 
the two Fleets, and that ours had been worsted ; that the French Army 
now consists of near eighteen thousand. The Guards changed their 
hour of Mounting to three o’clock in the morning, in order that a 
greater number of Men, might be under Arms at the time when it is 
apprehended we are most liable to be attacked. 
„ 22 nd About sun set the Enemy fired a Feu de joye, and at the end of 
each fire gave us a general discharge from their Batteries of both Guns 
and Mortars; their small shot came into the works but did no harm; 
they threw very few shells at night. The Feu de joye was on account 
of the engagement between the French and English Fleets, the latter 
of which through the ill conduct of the Admiral was obliged to retreat 
and go back to Gibraltar; a very few of the English Ships were 
engaged, but they behaved extremely well. 
The Enemy’s fleet in sight all day close at the back of Cape Mola, 
most of them with their boats astern. 
.. 23 rd. The Enemy began to Bombard early in the Morning, fired smartly 
about daybreak, and continued the rest of the day as usual, they 
opened two more Embrazures at their Battery by the burying Ground 
to play on the Queen’s Redoubt, this Battery has now six Embrazures. 
The Enemy’s fleet in sight and very close in shore; the Enemy seen 
all this afternoon driving beasts into St Philips loaded with Fascines. 
„ 24th. The Enemy fire very moderate to day ; their fleet before the harbour. 
They Cannonaded the Queens Redoubt with two Guns from the Battery 
near the Burying ground. 
„ 25th. The Enemy threw few shells iu the Night, we fired a Carcass to 
their Battery, by the old burying ground, and gave them many shells; 
