[6]. In Hay’s ‘Western Barbary,’ chap. x., Murray’s edit., there is a very pleasing anecdote of the “half-Irish Sultan,” Mulai Yezeed, in which the name of Brown of the Royal Sappers and Miners, properly Soldier-Artificers, is introduced. To controvert a particular point to which it refers, the anecdote in an abridged form, is subjoined.
Sidi Mahomed, soon after his elevation to the throne of Morocco, about the middle of the last century, was desirous of completing the defences of Fez, and knowing the superiority of the English in engineering, he applied to the British Government for the aid of some person skilled in the art. The request was acceded to, and an experienced sergeant of the Sappers and Miners having been selected as a fit person, was placed at the disposal of his Majesty. Sidi Mahomed received him with much kindness, and allotted a suitable house for his reception. The sergeant continued in the service of the Sultan for some time after he had completed the works at Fez, and at length died, leaving his wife without issue. After his interment, the widow, who was a pretty Irishwoman, sought an interview with the Sultan, in order to obtain a pension and the means of returning to her own country. His Majesty was much struck by her fair and comely appearance, treated her with condescension and benevolence, and expressed in endearing overtures his attachment to her. Under no promises of future greatness could she be induced to relinquish the faith of her fathers for the creed of Islam, and to take an exalted station in the imperial harem. Sidi Mahomed, old as he was, was too much fascinated to yield so choice a prize on a mere question of belief, and making the fullest sacrifices to satisfy her religious scruples, the poor, friendless, Irish widow, became the Sultana of Morocco!
Corporal Brown, afterwards promoted to be sergeant, is the non-commissioned officer alluded to. He was a mason by trade, and joining the artificers on the 2nd January, 1773, he seemingly soon acquired the reputation of being an able foreman and an indispensable man. It was in 1776 he was sent to Fez, not in the middle of the century as stated in the anecdote, and he died there early in 1781. That year, or probably later, Widow Brown became the Sultana of Sidi Mahomet, and Mulai Yezeed, the reputed son of the widow by the Sultan, was then 31 years old! The age of Mulai may be gleaned from Hay’s tale, but more directly seen in Dr. Lempriere’s ‘Journey through the Barbary States.’ According to the latter author, who was at Tetuan in 1790, Mulai was the “offspring of an English renegado,” and then about 40 years of age. The Sultan died at a patriarchal age in 1790, and Mulai Yezeed succeeded him.
[7]. General Boyd, attended by General Green, the chief engineer, and many officers of the garrison, laid the foundation stone of this bastion, with the ceremony usual on such occasions. When he had finished it, he made this remarkable speech. “This is the first stone of a work which I name the King’s Bastion; may it be as gallantly defended, as I know it will be ably executed; and may I live to see it resist the united efforts of France and Spain.”—Drinkwater’s Siege of Gibraltar, p. 290, 1st edit. The desire of the worthy general was realized. He not only lived to see what he wished, but materially to assist in the operations of the siege.
[8]. To carry on the work with vigour, an opening was made in the sea-line, which, as long as it continued so, made the fortress defenceless in that part. Similar openings were made in the line some years before by a storm, which, being observed by Monsieur Crillon, who commanded at St. Roque, he proposed a scheme for an attempt on the Rock. Remembering this, the General always kept an anxious eye upon the gap; but he concealed his fears, lest they should fill the people with alarm, and the French or Spaniards with notions of invasion. He would not post any additional guards or picquets there for its protection, but gave private directions that all the guns and howitzers that could be brought into position in that part should be attended to. He, however, did not conceal his uneasiness from the Secretary of State; and in urging upon Lord Rochford the necessity for his being furnished with the means for completing the bastion, he quaintly remarked, “there is an idea of glory, my lord, in the thought of being killed in defending a breach made by the enemy, but to be knocked o' th' head in the defence of one of our own making would be a ridiculous death.”
[9]. When the Hanoverian troops left Gibraltar, the company had the best character for efficiency and utility, and its numbers therefore were not reduced.
[10]. At this bastion the company worked, by express orders, from gun-fire in the morning to gun-fire in the evening, as also on Sundays. All the work was of cut stone, and skilfully executed. A model of it, exquisitely wrought in polished stone, is in the Rotunda at Woolwich. It formerly belonged to George III. In 1820, George IV. presented it to the Royal Military Repository.
[11]. The company wanted two privates to complete.
[12]. As foreseen by the Chief Engineer, disputes soon arose between the non-commissioned officers of the company and the line, with regard to superintendence and direction. The fact having come to the Brigadier’s knowledge, he renewed, on the 10th July, 1781, his former order in a more imperative tone.
[13]. The strength of the company, including officers, when the provision supplies arrived, under Admiral Rodney, in February, 1780, and again under Admiral Darby, in April, 1781, was, on both occasions, stated to be 124. See ‘An authentic and accurate Journal of the late Siege of Gibraltar,’ pp. 22, 170.