478 THE GREAT SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR. 
The near approach of the concluding act of the Great Siege is 
indicated by the entry for February 5th, 1783, which runs thus :— 
“A Flag of Truce from them, and we are given to understand there 
isa Peace.” 
“22nd Hebruary.—The Donsemployed carrying away their artillery 
from their advanced works. Writing paper, the first we have had for 
some time at 5 Reals per Quire.” One wonders whether the paper on 
which the Diary is written was some of this paper. 
On March 4th there is an entry as to the desertion of a Bombardier 
of the Artillery from Willis’s. This is the first mention of the desertion 
of an Artilleryman we have come across in the Diary. A little later 
we read :—“ ‘I'he Artillery at exercise every day, learning to march ” ; 
they had probably had more important duties to perform during the 
preceding 3 or 4 years. 
The Duce de Crillon paid a visit to the fortress on March 81st, and 
this is Captain Spilsbury’s account of it :— 
“ About 10 a.m. the Duke de Crillon came into the Garrison attended 
by 5 officers, 2 Dragoons, servants, &c., he was saluted 17 guns from 
Grand Battery, and had a Captain’s Guard. All the Officers were 
presented to him at the Convent by Corps. The men were all dressed 
as for Sunday, and the 73rd wore their Plaids &. and the streets were 
so crowded they could hardly pass, the soldiers cheering all the way he 
went. After seeing Willis’s and Ince’s Gallery, he dined at the 
Convent, and had all the Brigadiers and Staff to attend him, after which 
he went round Huropa &c., the Regiments falling in as he passed, and 
returned about 8 P.M. through Landport when the same Salute was 
fired as at his Hutrance.” 
The work in our Galleries still went on, as is shown by several entries, 
among others the following :— 
“ 19th April.—Nine Embrasures are now made in Ince’s Cave, and 
one is made under the Queen’s Battery at Willis’s, and the whole going 
on. It appears that our Ingineers have been out and seen their 
advanced works and some even into Fort Phillip, and that the Dons 
have been extremely civil, but this is done as it were underhand for the 
orders on both sides are still against the Communications being opened.” 
Two days later,we read that ‘‘ Several officers have been out to the 
Spanish works, St. Rock, Algazeras, &c.” 
For some time past we read of great preparations being made for the 
investiture of General Hliott with the Order of the Bath, and on April 
28rd, St. George’s Day, the ceremony took place and is thus described 
by Spilsbury, the whole of whose entry we give or account of its 
amusing character. 
“About 9 am. The Governor came on the Red Sands where a 
Detachment from each Corps of the Garrison was drawn up in two Lines, 
opposite the Center of which he read a Letter thanking them for their 
services and then hisown Thanks. The whole Saluted and the Artillery 
who were drawn up in Front of the Left wing fired 21 guns, and a 
Round from the Troops by way of running Fire, then the Guns as 
before, 3 running fire 3 times and then 3 cheers. 
