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the same name in lat. 36. 6. N. Long. 5. 19. W.
it is the ancient Calpe, one of the pillars of Hercu-
les, the other being Ceuta on the African coast.
It is a rocky promontory on the southern extremity
of Andalusia, from 3 to 4 m. in length, and about
half a m. in its utmost breadth. Steep in all parts
and in some perpendicular, it seemed -formed by
nature for a strong hold ; and since it became
an English fortress, it has been rendered impreg-
nable. The name, originally Gebel-Tarif, the
rock of Tarif, is derived from Tarik or Tarif
Abenzaca, general of the caliph Walid in the in-
vasion of 711, who landed here, and conquered
the town of Ileraclea at the foot of the moun-
tain. Gibraltar is joined to the main land by an
isthmus on the north which is about a mile and a
half in length : the northern front of the rock is
almost perpendicular ; the east side'is full of pre-
cipices ; and the south is so narrow and abrupt
as to be inaccessible to any enemy at sea. The
western front is also precipitous, but affords a
landing place on the level tract of ground which
forms the site of the town; and this part is pro-
tected by batteries and other strong wonts of de-
fence. The straits to which Gibraltar gives name
are supposed to commence in Spain at Cape Traf-
algar, and in Africa at Cape Spartel, between
which points they are 70 m. wride; and to end
toward the Mediterranean, beyond Gibraltar and
Ceuta ; the entire length being about 100 m. and
the narrowest part, about three leagues west of
Gibraltar, 15 m. A strong current always runs
from the ocean into the Mediterranean.
The noble bay of Gibraltar, 9 m. long and 5
broad, forms a most important naval station. On
the east are the promontory and isthmus; to the
south is the sea ; to the west and north the main
land of Spain; but the promontory wholly com-
mands the bay. |
Gibraltar was strongly fortified by the Moors
after their own manner. It was taken in 1302 by
Ferdinand II. of Castile ; regained by the Moors
in 1333; and recovered in 1462 by Henry IV.
The emperor Charles V. caused the fortification
to be reconstructed by two of the most eminent
engineers of his time. The natural and artificial
strength of the place having been thenceforth re-
garded as unquestionable by the other maritime
powers, the Spanish government seems to have
been lulled into a dangerous security respecting
it; for in August, 1704, during the war of suc-
cession. when an expedition under admiral Rooke
and prinae George of Hesse-Darmstadt suddenly
and unexpectedly appeared in the bay, this mari-
time strong hold was held only by a droWsy gar-
rison of men, who immediately surrendered.
Philip *af Anjou besieged it in October; but in
the brief interval the English had so strongly
fortified it <ss the land side, that the pass of the
isthmus was called by the Spaniards the Gate of
Fire. It wasbriefaaded with 24 ships of war by ad-
miral Povetz. tkrf received succours from'the Eng-
lishand DBtaflirSeeiunder admiral Leake. The land
blockade tsrtp-d until the peace of Utrecht. From
that time Engl&cd <UEaiued no expense or exer-
tion to render the pface wholly impregnable. An-
other siege, in 1727. frustrated by the arrival
of admiral Wager witit 11 sail of the line. Spain
offered two million* sterling for the restitution of
Gibraltar; but was ohSged to resign all title and
pretension to it in the treaty of Seville 1729.
She immediately endeavoured to diminish its ad-
vantages and deteriorate its value as a colony and
a place of commerce, by interdicting all inter-
course between it and her own territory, and by
strengthening the military lines of San Roque and
Algeziras. But the towtn and garrison could easi
ly he furnished with supplies while England re
tained the empire of the sea; and the rock itself
had^a well of fresh water, with some other resour-
ces which science and skill might daily improve.
The most strenuous efforts for its recovery were
made d mg the war of the American revolution,
when its preservation depended mainly on the
valour and constancy of its resident governor,
general Elliot. The preparatory hostile operations
were commenced in 1779, and continued during
the two following years. In June, 1782, the
duke de Crillon, commander of the Spanish army
that had taken Minorca, arrived with reinforce-
ments, and the French princes of the blood came
to be present at the siege. Their army amount-
ed to 30,000 men; and the conquest was to be
completed by ten floating batteries, impenetrable
by shot or shells, and mounted with 147 brass
and 150 iron guns. They wrere manned by
criminals, who in reward for good service, were
promised their liberty and yearly pensions of 200
livres each. The garrison had varied from 5,600
to 7,000 men. The most dreadful carnage wins to
be apprehended as the consequence of a success-
ful assault. On the 13th of September, the float-
ing bulwarks approached and opened their fire.
General Elliot, finding ordinary means of repulse
unavailing, determined to battel1 them with red-
hot shot; and while deliberating on the means of
heatiDg the balls, a German nail-smith, named
Schwankendieck, invented and* constructed a
furnace for the purpose. From this the artillery
was so well served, that in the course of the can-
nonade 4,000 red-bot balls were discharged. In
the afternoon, the chief battery and two floating
batteries began to emit smoke : the enemy were
unable to quench the fire or stop the leakage. At
one o’clock in the morning, three batteries were
in a blaze, and several others were seen to have
taken fire. Those on board in vain signalled the
Spanish fleet with rockets; no relief could be af-
forded to the batteries; all that could be attempted
was to save the men. Twelve gun-boats from the
fortress, prevented the boats of the besiegers
from landing, and at the same time poured a well
directed fire on the floating batteries. At day-
break, those on board were seen making signals
of distress and calling for help, and the besiegers
hastened to their relief, amidst continually increas-
ing danger; for the heated guns of the batteries
on fire were from time to time discharging their
shot, and occasional explosions of gunpowder
scattered destruction around. Captain Curtis and
his men, at the peril of their lives, saved 13 of-
ficers and 344 men. A grand attack on the land
side was in the mean time repulsed by general
Elliot; and a severe storm occurred, from which
the Spanish fleet sustained great damage. Next
month, an English squadron having arrived With
succours, the enemy were compelled to convert
the siege into a mere blockade, which terminat-
ed on the 20th January, 1783, when peace was
signed at Versailles.
The town of Gibraltar, situated at the foot of
the promontory, on its north-west side, suffered
severely during this attack, and was rebuilt on aa
improved plan. The houses have flat roofs and
large bow windows ; they are generally paint-
ed black, to mitigate the rays of the sun, and
are marked with a white stripe between each
story. The principal street, about a mile in |
