Thus placed under the controul of the Lord High Admiral, he was pleased to nominate Brigadier General Seymour to superintend the whole; whose peculiar duties were to observe, that the men were comfortably quartered, that the officers were attentive in their respective departments, and that the Marine Soldiers, when embarked on board of ship, were supplied with proper sea clothes, and other suitable necessaries.
During this reign also, a number of independent companies of Marines was raised for the express purpose of defending our different West India possessions, to which quarter they were sent, were embodied into three regiments, and where they remained many years.
[CHAP. III.]
In order to pave the way for the cordial reception of King Charles the III. orders were sent to Sir Cloudesley Shovel, then commanding the British Fleet in the Mediterranean, to effect what he could by conciliation, or by conquest, amongst the different dependencies of the French and Spanish monarchies, previous to the arrival of the Royal Claimant. Throughout the whole of that Admiral's instructions, much dependence was placed upon the energies of the Marine Forces under his command, and they subsequently bore a conspicuous share of the mingled services that ensued, in the cause of the House of Austria. This circumstance may evince the very high estimation in which they were held as Soldiers, although nothing materially occurred either under the command of Sir Cloudesley Shovel, or during the currency of 1703.
After many delays the Archduke arrived at Lisbon, with Sir George Rooke, upon the 25th day of February 1704, in order to concert a plan of future operations with his ally, the King of Portugal. The Admiral was enjoined to attempt nothing without the suggestion and assent of Both.
The first enterprize was against Barcelona, whither they were invited by some deputies from Catalonia, and a few leading men in the city, who gave assurances that it would declare for Charles the III. if a shew of attack only was made. Here 1600 Marines were landed, at the request and under the command of the Prince of Hesse, upon the noon of the 19th of May. This force being inadequate for the purpose, it was next day re-embarked at the instance of his Highness. Listening to the wishes of their Majesties, in conformity with his instructions, the Admiral would have attempted Cadiz; but, upon deliberation, and that there was no army to co-operate, this idea was given up.
They accordingly turned their thoughts to Gibraltar, where the Prince of Hesse was landed in the afternoon of the 21st of July, with 1800 British and Dutch Marines. Proceeding upon the decision of a Council of War, his Highness was to cut off all communication with the main land, to bombard and cannonade the place, and to reduce it to the obedience of the King of Spain.
Having established his post at some mills then near the town, he sent a summons for the Governor to surrender; who answered, that all his garrison had taken an oath of allegiance to their lawful Sovereign, King Philip the V. and that as loyal and faithful subjects, they would die in its defence.