“This plan, first projected at a distance from Gibraltar, by that engineer, who, notwithstanding the issue of that famous siege, still enjoyed the reputation of a man of great talents, was afterwards matured and modified by him within sight of the fortress. But how many crosses was he doomed to experience! * * * * * * * * Scarcely any thing is known respecting it, except what relates to the ten floating batteries, which, on the 13th of September, 1782, foolishly exposed themselves to the fire of Gibraltar, and were reduced to ashes by the red-hot shot from the English batteries. This method of summing up the result of enterprises, is very convenient for indolence or malignity, but would furnish history with very erroneous elements. Enlightened by contemporary historians, her pages will inform posterity, that if this great undertaking failed, it was from a concurrence of circumstances which the genius of D’Arçon could not possibly control. One of the principal was, the hurry with which the plan was put in execution, before all the necessary preparations had been made for ensuring its success. It is well known that the ten batteries had been so constructed as to present to the fire of the fortress, one side covered with blinds three feet thick, and kept continually wet by a very ingenious contrivance. The red-hot balls were thus expected to be extinguished on the spot where they penetrated; but this first measure proved incomplete. The awkwardness of the caulkers prevented the working of the pumps, which were designed to keep up the humidity. It succeeded only on board one of them, the Talla-Piedra, and that very imperfectly. But this was not all; though the place where they were to take their stations had been but very slightly sounded, they had received instructions what course they were to pursue, in order to avoid striking, and to place themselves at a proper distance. This precaution likewise proved unavailing. Don Ventura Moreno, a brave seaman, but incapable of executing a plan, stung to the quick by a letter sent him in the evening of the 12th of September, by General Crillon, which contained this expression: ‘If you do not make an attack, you are a man without honour;’ hastened the departure of the batteries, and placed them in an order contrary to the plan which had been adopted. In consequence of this mistake, no more than two could sustain themselves at the concerted distance of two hundred fathoms. These were, the Pastora, commanded by Moreno himself, and the Talla-Piedra, on board of which, were the Prince of Nassau, and D’Arçon: but they were exposed to the fire of the most formidable battery; that of the Royal Bastion, instead of all ten being drawn up around the old mole, and receiving only sidewise the fire of that battery.