ed any Incursions from the Castle)
notwithstanding the Admiral frequently solicited the General and wrote
to him to have it done.

[_G_] This Thing, called a Bomb-Battery, was also a Mark of the Genius
and Understanding of the Engineers. It was a Platform, laid behind a
small rising Rock, open on all Sides, no Communication to it, either by
Trench, Epaulment, or any Security whatsoever, that the Enemy saw every
Man (from the Castle) that went in, or out, as they were obliged to
pass over high Ground, to come at the Battery, and then it lay quite
exposed to the _Barradera_ Battery; so that the Shot fired from thence
passed in at one End, and out at the other; and if they did no
Execution there, were sure to do some in the Camp. And as to the
Usefulness of it, and the Service that was performed by the excellent
bombardiers, every idle Spectator was a Judge; though it was oftentimes
observed, by Order, that not six Shells out of forty had done
Execution, and that, on the contrary, scarce one of forty of the
Enemy's ever missed.

[_H_] The Camp (it has been observed before) was pitched on a low Sand,
but being sheltered (as a direct Object) from the _Barradera_ Battery,
by the Rock that _St. Philip_ stood on, could not be seen, but lying in
the Line of Direction of the Shot fired from thence, at the famous
Bomb-Battery, was sure to be flanked by every Shot, which missed that,
and though it might be prudent to try Movings, on this Occasion, yet it
was a bad Example to the Soldiers, especially when the Chiefs moved off
first, and the Thing was done without regular and publick Orders;
besides the Time it took up at that Conjuncture (when more material
Works were in Hand, and the Army lessening every Day by Sickness, which
was not to be regained.) Whereas had the Encampment been formed at
first, a few Yards up in the Woods, none of the Enemy's Guns could have
been brought to bear on it, nor indeed would they have been able to
have discovered where it was; besides the great Advantage of Men's
being cool, and particularly after working; but, as it was placed,
instead of a cool Retreat, to retire to Rest, after being heated by the
warm Labour, their Tents were a hotter.

[_I_] The following Captains were also ordered upon this Expedition,
vix. Capt. _Watson_, _Coates_, _Lawrence_, _Coleby_, and _Laws_, and
all the Barges and Pinnaces of the Fleet. They went away from their
Ships about Midnight, and rowed pretty far to Leeward,