_April_ the 14th, the Council of War being assembled, the General laid before the Members the real State of the Troops,[30] and declared, that he deemed it to be impracticable to go on with the Enterprize, without Assistance from the Fleet. The principal Engineer being called in, and examined, signify'd to the Council of War, the Places which he thought would be the most proper for erecting Batteries; to which he added, that no less than a Fortnight would be required for raising them, considering the many interruptions which must be expected from the Enemy, and the Sickness hourly increasing amongst the Troops; and that 1500 Men would be wanting for the proper Reliefs for that Service only; he further declared it to be his Opinion, that with the Troops now on Shore, the Siege could not be undertaken with any Probability of Success. The Admiral, without further Deliberation, going to put the Question, whether the Troops should be reimbark'd or not, Mr. _Wentworth_ declared, that he could not give his Vote, till he should be informed what Assistance they were to expect from the Fleet; who, being interrupted by the Admiral with great Heat and Passion, and not with the most polite Language, made a proper Reply; to which the Admiral not being pleased to return any Answer, immediately left the Cabbin. The Debate was afterwards decently carry'd on, and the General having repeated his Question, Sir _Chaloner Ogle_, and the other Sea Officers, who were Members of the Council of War, unanimously declared, that it would by no means, be adviseable to trust the Sailors on Shore, as they could be kept under no Command, and would soon disperse themselves in the Woods; to which Mr. _Vernon_ (who sat in the Gallery within hearing) added aloud, that some of them would soon ramble into _Carthagena_. The Admiral being returned to his Place at the Board, it was unanimously resolved to reimbark the Cannon and Land Forces with all possible Expedition. The Admiral, as President, drew up the Resolution of the Council of War, when it was observable, that he carefully avoided making the least mention of Assistance having been demanded from the Fleet. The Battery[31] of two ten inch Mortars, which was raised by Captain _Knowles_ on the Shore near to his Ship, began this Morning to Fire upon Fort St. _Lazar_, but was placed at so great a Distance as to have little or no Effect. _April_ the 15th, the Cannon, Stores and heavy Baggage, were put on Board. A Council of War of Land Officers being assembled, a Disposition was laid before them, for the Retreat,[32] which was approved of. _April_ the 16th, About Five in the Morning, the _Galicia_, commanded by Captain _Hoare_, began to canonade the Town with tolerable good Success; but he being exposed to a superior Fire, was obliged to cut her Cable; after having received several Shots in her Hull, had six Men killed, and 56 wounded, she drove upon a Shoal, and was there burnt by the Admiral's Order.