A Journal of the Siege of Gibraltar, 1779 - 1783. By Captain
Spilsbury, 12th Regiment. Edited by B. H. L. Frere. (Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. 10s. 6d. net.)—Captain Spilsbury was a Captain of two years' standing when the siege began. He retired in 1795, and died forty-three years later, in extreme old age as the figures seem to show,—he was Captain on active service or half-pay for sixty-six years. He seems to have been highly interested in his profession, for his manuscript contains many particulars about the fortifications, armament, &c. The Journal is amply illustrated with plans, and should be useful to any one making a regular study of the siege. Here is an entry under date September 14th, 1782 :—" About midnight our gunboats got out, and began firing on the junk ships : about 4 a.m. three of the junk ships blew up the explosion burst open doors and windows at the Naval Hospital]. About 10 a.m. two more blew up ; in short all are blown up, except two that burnt down and one (:hat there is hope
of saving The Dons kept up a heavy fire at our boats while they were saving the unfortunate objects they had left iu
the lurch It appears that the men were dying for want Of some refreshment on the [British) batteries ; some even drank
the water they washed their sponges in How differently the sailors are treated from our own people the soldiers ; they are generally served grog at their guns ; but ours were at their guns, and carrying ammunition, four and twenty hours without a bit or drop." This is not the only time when a comparison has been made to the same effect.
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