 prudence to see if another mode of
operation might not be more successful. Accordingly, French skill in the
art of war was now called in to take part in the tremendous conflict.
The Duc de Crillon, who had recently distinguished himself by the
capture of Minorca, was put in command of the combined land forces;
while a French engineer, the Chevalier d'Arcon, was to prepare an
armament more formidable than had ever been known in naval warfare.

The plan had certainly the merit of boldness. There was to be no more
long blockade, and no more attempt to take the place by stratagem.
Gibraltar was to be taken, if at all, by hard fighting. But the
conditions of battle were unequal: for how could wooden ships be matched
against stone walls? No ships of the day could stand an hour against
guns fired from behind those ramparts. But this engineer was bold
enough to believe that vessels could be made so strong that they would
withstand even that tremendous fire. He proposed to construct "battering
ships" of such enormous strength that they could be moored within short
range, when he in turn would open a fire equally tremendous, that should
blow Gibraltar into the air! All he asked was that his flotilla might
be laid close alongside the enemy, when, gun to gun and man to man, the
contest should be decided. Once let him get near enough to make a breach
for a storming party to mount the walls, and his French grenadiers
would do the rest. It was bravely conceived, and to the day of battle it
seemed as if it might be bravely done.

To begin with, ten of the largest ships in the Spanish navy were to be
sacrificed: for it seemed like a sacrifice to cut down the huge bulwarks
of their towering sides. But show was to be sacrificed to strength. The
new constructor would have no more three-deckers, nor two-deckers. All
he wanted was one broad deck, reaching the whole length of the ship,
from stem to stern, which should be as solid as if it were a part of the
mainland, or a floating island, on which he could plant his guns as on
the ramparts of a fortress. Having thus dismantled and razeed the great
ships, he proceeded to reconstruct them
prudence to see if another mode of 
 operation might not be more successful. consequently, French skill in the 
 artwork of war was immediately called in to bring function in the tremendous conflict. 
 The Duc de Crillon, who had recently signalize himself by the 
 capture of Minorca, was arrange in command of the unite land forces; 
 while a French engineer, the Chevalier d'Arcon, was to train an 
 armament more formidable than had ever been know in naval warfare. 

 The plan had certainly the merit of boldness. There was to be no more 
 retentive blockade, and no more attempt to take the place by contrivance. 
 Gibraltar was to be taken, if at all, by hard fighting. But the 
 weather of battle were unequal: for how could wooden ships be matched 
 against stone wall? No ships of the day could stand an hour against 
 guns fired from behind those ramparts. But this engineer was bold 
 enough to believe that vessels could be made so strong that they would 
 withstand even that tremendous fire. He proposed to manufacture " battering 
 ships " of such enormous lastingness that they could be moored within short 
 range, when he in turn would unfold a fire equally tremendous, that should 
 blow Gibraltar into the tune! All he asked was that his flotilla might 
 be laid close alongside the enemy, when, gun to gun and homo to man, the 
 contest should be decided. Once let him get near enough to hold a breach 
 for a storm party to mount the walls, and his French grenadiers 
 would do the rest. It was bravely conceive, and to the day of battle it 
 seemed as if it might be bravely do. 

 To begin with, ten of the largest ships in the Spanish navy were to be 
 sacrifice: for it seemed like a forfeit to cut down the huge bulwarks 
 of their towering sides. But show was to be sacrifice to strength. The 
 fresh constructor would receive no more three - deckers, nor two - deckers. All 
 he wanted was one broad deck, pass the whole length of the ship, 
 from stem to stern, which should be as solid as if it were a part of the 
 mainland, or a floating island, on which he could implant his guns as on 
 the ramparts of a fortress. Having therefore dismantled and razeed the great 
 ships, he proceeded to reconstruct them
 prkdence to see if another mode of
operation mighv not bs more sjccessful. Accordingly, French sjill un the
art of war was nuw called in to tqke kart in the tremeisous cokylict.
Fme Due ve Crillon, who mad recentlf distinguisheg filself by the
capture of Minorca, was [ut in volmand of the cjmbimqd lznd forces;
while a French engineer, fhe Chenalier d'Arcon, was to prepare an
armament morf fogmidable than had fver been kbown un naval warware.

The plan had certajnly the merit of boldness. Therd was to be no noee
lltg blockade, and go more attempt to tdke the place by strabagem.
Jibrqltar was to be taken, if at all, by hard fighting. Bbt the
conditions of bqtrle wgre utequxo: fur gox ckuld wlodxn ships be matched
agaunst stone walls? No srpls of the dag coulq ftand an hour against
guns fired from bevins those ramparts. But thus engineer was bold
ejough to felieve that vessels could be made so strong that they douod
rkrhdtand even that tremendous fire. He proposed tj cpnxtruct "batterikg
ships" of such enprloif strength thxt thev ckuld be moored witjin shott
rangw, when he in yurn would open a fire equaoly tremendols, tyat should
blow Gibxaltar into che ait! All ne asked was that his fuotimla might
be laid cload alongside the dneky, when, gun to gun and man tj man, the
rontext shouud bg decidqd. Once leh him get near enough to make a breach
for a storming party to mount the xells, and his Grancv grenadners
womld do the rest. It was braveli conceivzd, and to the daj of battne it
seemed as if it migvj be bravely vone.

To bedin qith, ten of ghe largest shops in thv Fpanush navy were to bc
sacrkriced: for it sezotd like a sacrifoce to clt vown eve huge bulwdrks
uf gneir gowering siber. Buy show was to be sacsifided to strength. Thr
ncw constroctor woujd have no mote three-deckers, nog two-veckerr. All
ne ranted was one broad deck, reacging the ahoje length of the ship,
from stzm to stern, which should be as solid as mf it were a part of thw
mainland, or a floajinn island, on xhich re could [lant his guns as on
rhe ramparts of a fortress. Having thus dismattled and razeed the great
ships, he proceeded to reconstruct them
prudence to see if another mode of not more successful. French skill in now in to take in the tremendous The Duc de Crillon, who had distinguished himself by the capture of Minorca, was put in command of the land forces; while a French engineer, the Chevalier d'Arcon, was to prepare an more than ever known in naval warfare. The plan had certainly the merit of boldness. There was to be more long blockade, and no more attempt to the place by stratagem. was to be taken, if all, hard fighting. the of were unequal: for could wooden ships be matched against stone walls? No ships of the day could stand an hour guns fired those ramparts. this was enough to believe could be made so strong that even that tremendous fire. He proposed to construct ships" of enormous strength that they could be within short range, when he in turn would a fire equally tremendous, that should blow Gibraltar into the air! All he asked was flotilla might be laid alongside the enemy, gun gun man man, the should be decided. Once let him get near enough to make breach for a storming party to mount the walls, and grenadiers do the rest. was bravely conceived, and the of battle it seemed it be begin ten the largest ships in Spanish navy were to be for it seemed like the huge bulwarks of their towering sides. But was to be sacrificed to strength. The constructor would have no more three-deckers, nor two-deckers. All he wanted was broad deck, whole length of the ship, from stem to which should be as as if it were a part of the mainland, a island, on he could plant guns as on ramparts of a thus dismantled razeed great to reconstruct them
 prudence to see if another modE of
operatiOn migHt nOt bE mOre sUcceSsful. AccordingLY, FreNch skill in the
art of war wAs now CaLLed iN To Take pArt in thE TrEMEndOuS cOnfLiCT.
THe Duc De CRillon, wHo had recenTly DiStinguished hIMsElf by the
caPtuRe of Minorca, wAs pUt in coMmAnd OF the cOmbIned lAnd forCEs;
whilE a French eNgINeer, thE chevaliER D'ARcon, Was to prepare an
armAMeNT more formidablE than hAd EVeR BEen KnoWn in naval wArFare.

THE plan haD CeRTAInlY The merit of bolDness. There wAS to Be no moRe
LonG BlockaDe, and No MOre Attempt to taKe thE place by sTratagEM.
GibralTAr was to Be takeN, if At aLl, by HArD fIghTiNG. BuT ThE
coNDitIons of baTtLe Were uNequAL: FOR how CouLd woOden sHips be matched
AgaInst STonE wallS? No shIps oF tHe day Could sTand aN hOur against
guns fIred From behinD thOsE raMpArts. BUT this eNgiNeeR was bolD
enough TO beLiEVE ThAt vessels could be maDe SO StRong that They woULd
WiTHstand evEn ThaT treMENdous Fire. hE pRoposed tO constRUcT "bAtterinG
sHips" of SuCh eNorMous sTRengTh that They coulD be moORed within short
RAnge, when he in tURn WOUlD Open A fiRe equally trEmenDOus, tHat sHOuLd
bLOw GibRaltaR iNTo THe air! All he asked was tHaT his flOtillA might
be laid cLose alongsIDE The enemy, When, GUn TO gun and man to maN, the
cOntest shouLD be decidEd. OncE let him gEt near enoUGH to make a BreAch
For A stORMiNg party to mounT THe waLlS, and his freNch grenAdiErs
WouLd dO tHe rest. It wAs bravelY cOnCeIvEd, aNd to tHE day of baTtLe iT
sEemEd as iF It mighT be brAvelY dOnE.

to bEgin witH, TeN OF the LaRgEst sHipS iN the SPaniSH naVy were tO be
sacrifIceD: For iT sEeMed like A sacrifice to cUt Down the hugE bUlwArks
of THEir towerIng sides. But show was to be sACrificeD to StrenGth. THe
new consTruCtor woUld HAve no mOre thrEe-decKeRs, nOR Two-deCKErS. AlL
hE wanted was ONE brOad deCk, ReacHing the Whole length of the shIP,
frOm stem to stern, WhiCh shOULd Be aS SoLId aS iF It wERE a part of the
mainLand, or a floAtINg Island, on whICh hE cOuld plaNt his guNs as oN
The rampArts of a foRtress. HavInG thuS DIsmAntled and rAzeed the Great
shipS, He proCEeDed to RecOnstruCt TheM
 prudence to see if anothe r mode ofopera tio n m ig ht n ot b e more success f ul.Accordingly, French sk ill i nt he
a r tof wa r was n o wc a lle din  to  t a ke  part  in  the tr emendous c onf li ct.
The Ducd eCrillon, w hohad recently  di stingu is hed himse lfby th e
capt u re ofMinorca,wa s  put i n  comman d of  the  combined land fo r ce s ;
while a Fren ch eng in e er , the  Ch evalier d' Ar con,w as to p r ep a r e  an armament more  formidable tha n hadev erb een kn own i nn ava l warfare.
The  plan had  certa i nly the merit o f bold nes s.Ther e  w as  to  b e  no mo rel ong  blockad e,  a nd no  mor e a t temp t t o ta ke th e place by st rat agem . 
Gi bralt ar wa s to  b e tak en, if  at a ll , by hard fight ing.  But thecon di tio ns  of b a ttle w ere  un equal:for how cou ld w o od en ships be matche da g ai nst ston e wall s ?No ships of  t hedayc o uld s tand an  hour ag ainstg un sfired f ro m behi nd  th ose  ramp a rts.  But t his engi neerw as bold
enough to believe th a tv e ss e ls c oul d be made s o st r ongthat th eyw ouldwiths ta n de ven that tremendous  f ire. H e pro posed to cons truct "bat t e r ing
ship s" o f  s u ch enormous st rengt h that the y  could b e moo red with in shortr a nge, whe n h e i n t urn w ou ld open a fir e equa ll y treme ndo us, tha t s hou ldblo wGibraltar  into th eai r!  A llhe as k ed was t ha t h is  fl otill a  might 
be l aidcl os e  al ongside th e enem y,  w hen,  gu nto gu n an d  ma n to ma n, the
co nte s t sh ou ld  be dec ided. Once le thim get ne ar  en ough t o make a b reach
for a storming pa r ty to m oun t the  wal ls, and h isFrench  gr e nadier s
woul d doth e r e s t. It w as  br av ely concei v e d,and t otheday ofbattle it
seemed a s  if  it might bebra vely d on e.To beg in wit h ,  ten of the lar gest ships  i n  t he Spanish nav ywere to  be
sac rific e d: forit seemed  like a s ac rifi c e  to  cut downthe huge  bulwarks of th e ir  towe rin g side s.  Bu t sho w wast o b e sac rifice dto str ength .The
newconstructor would haveno mor e thr ee- deckers,nor two -deckers.  All 
he wanted  wa s o ne br oad deck,  rea c hi ngt he wh olel ength oft he  sh i p ,from stem t o s ter n, wh ich should  beas solid as if it were a part of  the m ain lan d , or  a  floating isla nd,  o n which he  c ould planthis guns  a s  on
t he ram partsof a fo r t re s s. Hav ingthu s dismant led  a n d razee dth e  great 
shi ps , he p roceed e d to r econstruct them
 prudence_to see_if another mode of
operation_might not_be_more successful._Accordingly,_French skill in_the
art of war_was now called in_to take part_in_the tremendous conflict.
The Duc de Crillon, who had recently distinguished himself by the
capture of_Minorca,_was put_in_command_of the combined land forces;
while_a French engineer, the Chevalier_d'Arcon, was_to prepare an
armament more formidable than had ever_been_known in naval_warfare.

The plan had certainly the merit of boldness. There_was to be no more
long blockade,_and no more_attempt_to_take the place by_stratagem.
Gibraltar was to be taken, if_at all, by hard fighting. But_the
conditions of battle were unequal: for how_could wooden ships be matched
against stone_walls? No ships of the_day could_stand an hour against
guns fired_from behind those_ramparts. But_this engineer was_bold
enough to believe that vessels could_be made so_strong that they would
withstand even that_tremendous_fire. He proposed_to_construct_"battering
ships" of_such enormous strength_that_they could_be_moored within short
range, when he in_turn_would open a fire equally tremendous, that_should
blow Gibraltar into the_air!_All he asked was_that his flotilla might
be laid_close alongside the enemy, when, gun_to gun_and man_to man, the
contest should be decided. Once let him get near_enough to make a breach
for a_storming party to mount_the walls,_and_his French grenadiers
would_do_the rest._It was bravely conceived, and to the_day of_battle it
seemed as if it might_be bravely done.

To begin_with,_ten of the largest ships in_the Spanish navy were to be
sacrificed:_for it seemed like a_sacrifice_to_cut down the huge bulwarks
of_their towering sides. But show was_to be sacrificed_to strength. The
new constructor would have no_more_three-deckers, nor two-deckers. All
he wanted was_one_broad deck, reaching the whole length_of_the_ship,
from stem to stern, which_should be as solid as if_it were a part of the
mainland, or a floating_island, on which_he could plant his guns_as_on
the_ramparts of a fortress. Having thus dismantled and razeed the_great
ships, he_proceeded to reconstruct_them