The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

LONDON, August 9.

Extract of a letter from Algeciras, July 7.

"Activity seemed to be a stranger in our camp before Gibraltar, till the Duke de Crillon assumed the command: Since that period the whole camp is daily in motion; the General is on horseback at 6 in the morning, and passes his time between the workmen, and the troops under arms, directing the former and exercising the latter in those evolutions which he foresees may be necessary in forming the grand attack, for which he cannot be ready, after all his care, before the 20th of August. The oldest soldier in the world never beheld such an immense train of artillery at any siege, as we have there; there are, at present, three batteries in forwardness, of 9 guns each, 54 pounders, for battering one particular part of the fortress, the fire to be angular, and to prevent the besieged from having a post to stand on in safety in that quarter: There are vast ovens also for heating balls, which are to be sent red hot into the garrison, in hopes of setting fire to the powder brought out of the magazines for the supply of the different batteries of the besieged. It is the intention of our General, as soon as every thing is ready, for commencing the most dreadful fire that ever was directed against any fortress, to send a flag to Governor Elliot, to offer him the most honorable terms, if he will surrender the place; but it is not expected that the English Commander will listen to any terms, till he is reduced to the last extremity; his past conduct makes us look for a desperate resistance on his part; and we are all ready to do him the justice to think, that when he does surrender, it will be after having made the most gallant defence. The Duke though he expects a refusal to his summons, is nevertheless determined to send it, that he may not be answerable for the carnage that must ensue, if Gibraltar should be stormed.--Strong as the fortress is at present, there is a moral certainty that it must fall, though the garrison should be even twice as numerous as it is; it is impossible that any garrison could long bear the fatigue consequent upon an incessant firing day & night from some hundreds of cannon and mortars, we therefore look for the fall of Gibraltar not more from the execution of our artillery, than from the state of exhaustion into which the garrison must be thrown by continual watchings, and endless labours in endeavouring to restore their demolished works. So certain are we of success, that the government of Gibraltar is already promised to the Duke of Medina Sidonia.

The instrument with which the Duke de Crillon made such dreadful havoc lately at Gibraltar, killing two hundred men there at one stroke, and totally demolishing the Bastions of Queen Anne and the Prince's Amelia, &c. is called a Couhorn. It is a kind of mortar and no new invention, having been known so long since as the reign of the Emperor Charles the 5th, but on account of the time it took in pointing and loading, and the danger attending it to those who performed this office, was then laid aside.

There are at this time between two and three hundred pieces of artillery, including mortars, in the Spanish camp before Gibraltar.

There is no secure shelter from their gun boats which annoy the garrison of Gibraltar; nor can the batteries play upon them with any certainty. It is a mere waste of ammunition to endeavour to fire upon them. Hence it is the poor soldiers are so dreadfully harassed.

Aug. 10. The attention of all Europe is now turned with infinite apprehension and solicitude to the fate of Gibraltar. On this theatre the greatest exploits are shortly expected to take place. The fame acquired by the Duke de Crillon in his siege of Minorca, on the one hand, and the tried and determined bravery of General Elliot, on the other, must produce a contest, in which every stratagem and manoeuvre in the art of war will undoubtedly be exerted on both sides. The vast armament from sea, will also not a little augment the prodigious spectacle on land; and more courage and skill are not expected, either from the English or Spanish army under their respective able Commanders, than from the British Fleet, led on to victory or death by the gallant Howe. On that bloody and important day, whenever it shall happen, may the God of battles take charge of the fate and honor of England!"