THE GREAT SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR, 467 
&c., the whole three times over, a very pleasing sight.” It would have 
been less pleasing, we imagine, had the rounds been ball. 
“22nd June.—A duel 8 Pistols each between the Major and 
Adjutant, — Reet.” 
“ Ist August.—Found that the most Powder makes the shell burst 
closer and in most pieces.” 
“14th August.—Several of the Gun Boats gone to the second River, 
where they repair and careen them.” 
The hospital seems to have suffered very severely from the fire of 
the enemy’s gun boats, and there are constant entries relating the 
damage done and the casualties incurred there. Perhaps the most 
thrilling of these is related in the following extract, which is confirmed 
by Drinkwater :— 
“ 28th August.—About 1 am. came the Gun Boats, 16th time, and 
fired shells only. One fell” (in the) “ Artillery ward on the Bed of a 
man that was wounded before, and burnt for some time. He called for 
assistance but none dared give it him; it burst, carried off one Leg, 
broke the Thigh of the other, and burnt him much, he died some time 
after,” and Drinkwater adds “ His last words were expressive of regret 
that he had not been killed on the batteries”—a proper sentiment for 
a Gunner. 
The same day Captain Spilsbury writes :— 
“Verbal and private orders given out, so that Officers are stopped by 
Centries without knowing they are wrong.” 
“31st August.—An experiment—wooden Ramrods against the Sailors’ 
Rope one, but the wooden ones remain in practice.” This no doubt 
refers to rammers for the heavy guns. 
12th September.—The Shell that fell on the Magazine in the Moorish 
Castle, Hastern Side, 8.H. angle made a Hole in bursting &c. that held 
Six Thousand filled sand Bags of a Bushel each, and went six Inches 
into the old work of which the Arch &c. is 7 feet thick.” 
“16th September.—A shell fell up the Rock and roled down to the 
Northernmost Gun Princess of Wales’s Lines and bursting fired it off. 
This is the 8rd gun that has been fired in that manner since the firing 
began.” 
At times Captain Spilsbury waxes rather sarcastic, but as he hits all 
round, from the Governor downwards, we must not resent his remarks. 
Here he has a hit at the Royal Artillery. 
“27th September.—It seems the Governor has given leave to the 
Artillery to exert themselves, only instead of knocking down Fort 
Barbara, which was their first boast, to prevent them from covering 
the merlons, even which they are not able to do, two of them being 
covered already.” 
“29th September.—The Rock mortar split by a shell’s bursting in it, 
which is contrary to the given opinion. It seems Cradles are not 
sufficiently provided for the Hospital, nor places to perform Surgical 
operations in, the Wards where the sick are, are all they have, the others 
being Inhabited by Families, &c. The H. Doctors.are little better than 
