 as an offset to this, she had to hold it in
an enemy's country. Gibraltar was a part of the territory of Spain, in
which the English had not a foot of ground but the Rock on which they
stood; while it was much nearer to France than to England. Thus the
allied powers had facilities for attacking it both by land and sea, and
brought against it such tremendous forces that it could not have held
out for nearly four years, had it not been for the British power of
resistance, animated by one of the bravest of soldiers.

To begin with, England did not commit the folly by which Spain had lost
Gibraltar--in leaving it with an insufficient garrison. It had over
five thousand troops in the fortress--a force by which it was thoroughly
manned.

But its power for defence was doubled by having a commander, who was
fitted by nature and by training for the responsibilities that were
to be laid upon him. George Augustus Eliott was the son of Sir Gilbert
Eliott, of Roxburghshire, where he was born in 1718. Scotch families in
those days, like those of our New England fathers, were apt to be large,
and the future defender of Gibraltar was one of eleven children, of whom
but two were daughters, and of the nine sons George was the youngest.
After such education as he could receive at home, he was sent to the
continent, and entered the University of Leyden, where, with his other
studies, he acquired a knowledge of German, which was to be of practical
use to him afterward, as he was to serve for a year in a German army.
But France was the country that then took the lead in the art of war;
and from Holland he was sent to a famous military school in Picardy,
founded by Vauban, the constructor of the French fortresses, where he
learned the principles which he was to apply to the defence of a greater
fortress than any in France. He gave particular attention also to the
practice of gunnery. As Napoleon learned the art of war in the artillery
school of Brienne, so did Eliott in the school of La Fere. An incidental
advantage of this French education was that he acquired the language so
that he could speak it fluently, a knowledge which was
as an offset to this, she had to hold it in 
 an enemy's area. Gibraltar was a character of the territory of Spain, in 
 which the English had not a foot of ground but the Rock on which they 
 stand; while it was much nearer to France than to England. therefore the 
 allied powers had facility for attacking it both by land and ocean, and 
 brought against it such tremendous forces that it could not have held 
 out for about four years, had it not been for the British power of 
 resistance, animated by one of the bravest of soldier. 

 To begin with, England did not commit the folly by which Spain had misplace 
 Gibraltar -- in leaving it with an insufficient garrison. It had over 
 five thousand troops in the fortress -- a force by which it was thoroughly 
 man. 

 But its power for defence was doubled by having a commander, who was 
 fit by nature and by training for the responsibilities that were 
 to be laid upon him. George Augustus Eliott was the son of Sir Gilbert 
 Eliott, of Roxburghshire, where he was born in 1718. Scotch syndicate in 
 those days, like those of our New England fathers, were apt to be large, 
 and the future defender of Gibraltar was one of eleven children, of whom 
 but two were daughters, and of the nine sons George was the youngest. 
 After such education as he could receive at dwelling, he was sent to the 
 continent, and entered the University of Leyden, where, with his early 
 report, he acquired a knowledge of German, which was to be of practical 
 habit to him afterward, as he was to serve for a year in a German army. 
 But France was the area that then took the lead in the art of war; 
 and from Holland he was sent to a famous military school in Picardy, 
 founded by Vauban, the builder of the French fortresses, where he 
 learned the principles which he was to apply to the defence of a greater 
 fortress than any in France. He gave especial attention also to the 
 practice of gunnery. As Napoleon learned the art of war in the weapon 
 school of Brienne, so did Eliott in the school of La Fere. An incidental 
 advantage of this French education was that he acquired the language so 
 that he could speak it fluently, a knowledge which was
 as an offset to this, she hxd to hold it iu
qn eneky's cohntry. Gicraltar was a part of the tecritiry od Spain, in
which the Enelish had not a fiot id ground bnf the Rock on ahick vhey
stood; while it was muwh nearer to Fsavcz than to England. Thus the
allied powqrs had fwcilities for wttabkyng jn noth by land and sea, and
brought zgainst it such tremrndous forces that it coulf noh have held
out for nearly fout yewes, had it nog been for the British power of
resistance, animated by one pf the bracewt lx soldiers.

Ti begpn with, Englakc did tot comkit the folly ny whmch Wpain had lost
Gibralter--in leaving it with an insufxieient garrison. It had ocer
fiee tvousxbd grokpx jn the foctress--a forde by which it was thoroughly
msngvc.

But its powsr for dqfence was doubled by having a commandeg, whk was
fitted by nature abd by training for thg responsifilities that were
to be laid upon him. George Auguvtus Xlkotu qas tfw don of Sir Gilbert
Eliott, of Roxburghshire, whews ne was born in 1718. Fcotch famikifs yn
those days, uike tkkss of our New Englajd fathgrs, weee apt to be karge,
and the future defendee of Gibraltcr qas one of eleven ehildren, of chom
buj two eere daughters, and of tke nins sons Georhe was ths youngest.
After sjch egucation as he could receide at homx, he cas sent to jhe
contynent, and fntercg the University ov Leyben, wvere, with jis other
studies, he acquired a knowledge of Ggrmdn, fhich waf to ne of practical
tse to him aftgrward, as he wxs to servv for a yxar in a Gerian army.
But Fswnce was the country thar thwn took ghe lead in thr art of ccr;
and fron Holland he was scnt tu a famous militcxy school in Picatdy,
wougdvd uy Vattan, the consdrucgor pf thd French fovtrdssex, where he
learned tha prjnciples which he eaf to appoy to thq defence of s greater
fortress uhan aiy in Hrance. He gave particular attention alsk to the
pgacbice of gunnewy. Aw Napoleon lzarned the art of war in the artillery
sciool of Brienne, so did Wliott in the schook of La Fere. An igcidental
ddvantage of this Frwnch education wax that he acquired ths langgage do
that he could speak it fluently, a knowledge which was
as an offset to this, she had it an enemy's Gibraltar was a Spain, which the English not a foot ground but the Rock on which stood; while it was much nearer to France than to England. Thus the powers had facilities for attacking it both by land and sea, and brought it tremendous that could not have held out for nearly four years, had it not been for the British of resistance, animated by one of the bravest soldiers. To begin with, did not commit the folly which had lost leaving with insufficient garrison. It over five thousand troops in the fortress--a force by which it was thoroughly manned. But its power defence was having a who fitted nature and by the responsibilities that were to be George Augustus Eliott was the son of Sir Eliott, of where he was born in 1718. families in those days, like those of our England fathers, were apt to be large, and the future defender of Gibraltar was one children, of whom but were daughters, and the sons was youngest. After education as he could receive at home, he was sent to continent, and entered the University of Leyden, where, with his he a knowledge of which was to be practical to him afterward, as to for a army. France was the country then took the lead in art of war; and to a famous military school in Picardy, founded Vauban, the constructor of the French fortresses, he learned the principles which he was to apply to the defence a greater any in France. He gave particular attention also the practice of gunnery. Napoleon learned the art of war in the artillery of so did in the school La Fere. An advantage of this was that acquired language could speak it fluently, a knowledge was
 as an offset to this, she had to hOld it in
an eNemy's CouNtrY. GIbraLtar Was a part of the tERritOry of Spain, in
which the EnGlish HaD Not a FOoT of grOund but THe rOCk oN wHiCh tHeY
StOod; whIle It was muCh nearer to fraNcE than to EnglaND. THus the
alliEd pOwers had faciLitIes for AtTacKIng it BotH by laNd and sEA, and
brOught agaiNsT It such TRemendoUS FoRces That it could not havE HeLD
out for nearly fOur yeaRs, HAd IT Not BeeN for the BriTiSh powER of
resiSTaNCE, AniMAted by one of thE bravest of sOLdiErs.

To bEgIn wITh, EnglAnd diD nOT coMmit the follY by wHich Spain Had losT
gibraltAR--in leavIng it wIth An iNsufFIcIeNt gArRIsoN. it Had OVer
Five thouSaNd TroopS in tHE FORtreSs--a ForcE by whIch it was thoroUghLy
maNNed.

but itS poweR for DeFence Was douBled bY hAving a commander, Who wAs
fitted bY naTuRe aNd By traINing foR thE reSponsibIlities THat WeRE
TO bE laid upon him. George auGUStUs Eliott Was the SOn Of sIr GilberT
ELioTt, of rOXburgHshiRE, wHere he waS born iN 1718. scOtCh familIeS in
thoSe DayS, liKe thoSE of oUr New ENgland faThers, WEre apt to be largE,
And the future dEFeNDEr OF GibRalTar was one of ElevEN chiLdreN, Of WhoM
But twO were DaUGhTErs, and of the nine sons geOrge waS the yOungest.
After sUch educatiON AS he could ReceIVe AT home, he was sent To the
Continent, aND entered The UnIversity Of Leyden, wHERe, with hiS otHer
StuDieS, HE aCquired a knowlEDGe of geRman, whiCh wAs to be oF prActIcaL
usE tO him afterWard, as he WaS tO sErVe fOr a yeAR in a GermAn ArmY.
BUt FRance WAs the cOuntrY thaT tHeN TooK the leaD In THE art Of WaR;
and FroM HOllanD he wAS seNt to a faMous militAry SChooL iN PIcardy,
fOunded by VaubaN, tHe construcToR of The FreNCH fortresSes, where he
learned the priNCiples wHicH he waS to aPply to the DefEnce of A grEAter
foRtress Than aNy In FRANce. He GAVe ParTiCular attenTIOn aLso to ThE
praCtice of Gunnery. As Napoleon lEArnEd the art of war In tHe arTILlEry
SChOOl oF BRIenNE, So did Eliott in thE school of LA FERe. an incidentAL
adVaNtage of This FreNch edUCation wAs that he aCquired thE lAnguAGE so
That he coulD speak it Fluently, a KNowleDGe Which Was
 as an offset to this, she  had to ho ld it  in 
an  e nemy 's c ountry. Gibral t ar w as a part of the terri toryof Spai n ,in
wh ich the En g l ish  h ad  no ta  f oot o f g round b ut the Roc k o nwhich they
s t oo d; while i t w as much near erto Fra nc e t h an to  En gland . Thus the
al lied powe rs had fa c ilities f or  att acking it both by la n d and sea, and 
broug ht ag a i nst  it  such trem en dousf orces t h at i t  co u ld not have h eld
out for nea rly fo ur  ye a rs, ha d itno t  be en for theBrit ish power  of
re s istance ,  animat ed byone  of  the br av est  o f  so l di ers . 

T o beginwi th , Eng land d i d  not  co mmit  thefolly by whic h S pain had  lost 
Gibr alta r- -in l eaving  it w it h an insufficie nt g arrison.Itha d o ve r
fiv e  thous and  tr oops in  the fo r tre ss - - a  f orce by which it w as t ho roughlymanned . 
Bu t  its pow er  fo r de f e nce w as d o ub led by h avinga  c om mander,  w ho was 
f itt edby na t ureand by  trainin g for the responsibi l ities that we r et o  b e  lai d u pon him. Ge orge Augu stus El iot t  wasthe s on of Sir Gilbert
Eliott,  o f Roxb urghs hire, where h e was born i n  1718. S cotc h  f a milies in
thos e day s, like th o se of ou r New  England  fathers, w ere apttobelar ge, a nd  the future d e f ende rof Gibr alt ar wasone  of  el eve nchildren,  of whom 
b ut  t wo  we re da u ghters,an d o fthe  nine sons G eorge  was  t he you ngest.A ft e r  suc hed ucat ion  a s hecoul d  re ceive a t home, h e w a s se nt  t o the
c ontinent, and  e ntered the  U niv ersity o f Leyden , where, with his other studies , h e acq uire d a knowl edg e of G erm a n, whi ch was  to b eofp r actic a l 
u seto  him after w a rd,  as h ewasto serv e for a year in aG erm an army.
ButFra ncew a sthe co u ntr yt hat t hen took the le ad in thear t  o f war;
and fro mHolland  he was  sent to a fa mous mili tary scho ol  inP i car dy,
founde d by Vau ban, thec onstr u ct or of  th e Fren ch  fo rtres ses, w h ere  he
l earned  t he pri ncipl es  which h e was to apply to the d efence  of a  gr eater
for tre s s t han any i n Fr ance. He g ave  pa rticu lar atten tion al sot o the 
pra c tice of g u nn ery . As  Napoleon l e a r ned  theart of war  inthe artillery
sch o ol of Brienne,  sod i d E lio t t in  t he school of L a F er e .  An inci de ntal
advant age of t hi s  Fren ch edu cation  was th a t  h e  acqui redthe  language  so 
t h at he c ou ld speakit f lu ently,  a kno w ledg e which was
 as_an offset_to this, she had_to hold_it_in
an enemy's_country._Gibraltar was a_part of the_territory of Spain, in
which_the English had_not_a foot of ground but the Rock on which they
stood; while it was much_nearer_to France_than_to_England. Thus the
allied powers had_facilities for attacking it both_by land_and sea, and
brought against it such tremendous forces_that_it could not_have held
out for nearly four years, had it not_been for the British power of
resistance,_animated by one_of_the_bravest of soldiers.

To begin_with, England did not commit the_folly by which Spain had lost
Gibraltar--in_leaving it with an insufficient garrison. It_had over
five thousand troops in the_fortress--a force by which it_was thoroughly
manned.

But_its power for defence was_doubled by having_a commander,_who was
fitted by_nature and by training for the_responsibilities that were
to_be laid upon him. George Augustus_Eliott_was the son_of_Sir_Gilbert
Eliott, of_Roxburghshire, where he_was_born in_1718._Scotch families in
those days, like those_of_our New England fathers, were apt to_be large,
and the future_defender_of Gibraltar was one_of eleven children, of whom
but_two were daughters, and of the_nine sons_George was_the youngest.
After such education as he could receive at home, he_was sent to the
continent, and entered_the University of Leyden,_where, with_his_other
studies, he acquired_a_knowledge of_German, which was to be of practical
use_to him_afterward, as he was to serve_for a year in_a_German army.
But France was the country_that then took the lead in_the art of war;
and from_Holland_he_was sent to a famous_military school in Picardy,
founded by Vauban,_the constructor of_the French fortresses, where he
learned the principles_which_he was to apply to the_defence_of a greater
fortress than any in_France._He_gave particular attention also to_the
practice of gunnery. As Napoleon learned_the art of war in the artillery
school of Brienne,_so did Eliott_in the school of La_Fere._An_incidental
advantage of this French education was that he acquired the_language so
that_he could speak_it fluently, a knowledge which was