“Gibraltar, from having been made the hotbed of revolutionists of all kinds, from Torrijos downwards, has rendered every Spanish garrison near it singularly sensitive; thus the Phœnicians welcomed every stranger who pryed about the Straits, by throwing him into the sea.”--(p. 226.) “There is very little intercommunication between Algeciras and Gibraltar; the former is the naval and military position from whence the latter is watched, and the _foreigner’s_ possession of Gibraltar rankles deeply, as well it may. Here are the head-quarters of Spanish preventive cutters, which prowl about the Bay, and often cut out those smugglers who have _not_ bribed them, even from under the guns of our batteries: some are now and then just sunk for the intrusion; but all this breeds bad blood, and mars, on the Spaniards’ part, the _entente cordiale_.”--(p. 227). FOOTNOTES: [29] The last one disappeared while I was at Gibraltar. [30] This Vandalism was gazetted, and the turret termed “Stanley Tower.” [31] Afterwards, at Madrid, Don P. Gayangos referred me to Ibn Batuta as fixing the date in the fourteenth century. On consulting that traveller, I find that he spoke of repairs under Abn El Haran, who ascended the throne of Fez in 1330. An inscription which existed in the last century, and of which a fac-simile is given in Col. James’s History of Gibraltar, seems to fix the date at A.D. 750. The following is the passage from Ibn Batuta:--“A despicable foe had had possession of it for twenty years, until our lord the Sultan Abn El Haran reduced him; he then rebuilt and strengthened its fortifications and walls, and stored it with cavalry, treasure, and warlike machines.” [32] When this was told to M. Thiers, he would not believe it, till he went out and watched the balls and flags, and had the use explained to him by a boatmen of the port. [33] Napoleon in captivity, being asked if he really had the intention of attacking Gibraltar, or the hope of getting possession of it, answered, “It was not my business to relieve England from such a possession. It shuts nothing, it opens nothing, it leads to nothing,--it is a pledge given by England to France, because it ensures to England the undying hatred of Spain.” [34] The following is only suggested as a rough guess:-- Ordinary expenditure during ninety years of peace £18,000,000 Extraordinary expenditure during fifty-five years of war 22,000,000 Sieges, including expenses of fleets for its defence, vessels for its supply, loss of ships to the enemy, &c. 10,000,000 Fortifications 5,000,000 ------------ £55,000,000 ============