564 
SIEGE OF MINORCA. 
In the night they fired but little from their Mortars, but threw a 
vast number of Howitzer shells, and ricochet shot. 
The Besiegers are heard drawing Carriages down from their ten 
Gun Battery into the Town. They have fired lately with smaller Can¬ 
non than formerly from that Battery, from whence it is imagined they 
have removed their heaviest Cannon from that, to the last made Battery 
in the Town. 
26 th. The Enemy kept a very warm fire this morning and so fast with 
their small Arms that they very soon silenced the Guns on the outer 
works, through the badness of the Embrazures and Merlons, which 
were almost destroyed. 
We threw a great number of shells. For about two or three nights 
past, the Enemy have crept upon the Glacis near to the Pallisadoes, a 
few at a time; where they have exchanged some shot with the Guards 
in the covered way and then stole back again. 
A Council of War was held this day at which all the Field Officers 
assisted, to concert as was said further means for the defence of the 
place, and was summoned to sit again to morrow. A breach having 
been made in the left face of the Anstruther, thought to be a practic¬ 
able one. 
The besiegers fired incessantly the whole night from all their different 
Batteries of Cannon, Mortars, and Howitzers, and chiefly directed their 
fire at the N. W. Curtain and W. Bastion of the Castle, and at the W. 
Counter Guard, N. E. Ravelin, and the Anstruther; all which are very 
much battered. 
27th. The Enemy fired a great many Howitzers and ricochet Shot, and 
continual firing of Small Arms on the outward covered way, and the 
lunettes ; the same was returned from the Garrison, with now and 
then a Cannon from the W. lunette, and other batteries j though in 
general they are almost silenced, and about Day break fired extremely 
fast from their Mortars, which they continued to do the whole Day; 
their Gun Batteries played very warmly, and they kept a Constant fire 
with their Small Arms on the Embrazures of the outworks. Major 
Godfrey of Cornwallis's wounded in the Castle square by some stones 
thrown by the fall of a shell. 
About 9 o'clock at night, the time our Guards marched into the 
covered way, they Cannonaded and Bombarded with great fury; which 
they continued to do for above an hour; between 10 and 11 after 
having ceased firing for about an hour, they made a general Assault 
from all the Saliant Angles of the Covered way with great intrepedity, 
as far as the S. W. lunette; the signal for w 7 hich was 15 Guns fired on 
board their Fleet and four shells, two thrown from the Turks Mount, 
and two from the signal house into the sea, at the same time; and 
during most part of the night, a noise was heard in Town like the 
tinkling upon some Mortars. Our numbers not being sufficient to 
defend the outward covered way, the Guards agreeable to their Orders 
retired after having given them a few rounds, into the lunettes, &c. 
They attempted with boats armed and provided with scaling Ladders, 
to enter the harbour and St Stephen's Cove, in order to storm Charles 
Fort and St Stephen's Guard; and to second the attack of the Marl- 
