The Seven Years War (1756-63)
Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war
St Philips, 1756 (Sant-Felip, Port Mahon, Minorca, Balearic Islands) 39°52'01"N 04°18'13"E
dated 1756Pen, brown ink on sixteen sheets of paper stitched together with blue thread; 50 numbered pages of script | 29.9 x 36.4 cm | RCIN 731072.b
A journal to accompany RCIN 731072.a. Seven Years War (1756-63).
A manuscript journal accompanying the plan at RCIN 731072.a. Its author, John Archer, describes in detail the conditions of the siege down to the final capitulation to the French. He records here [f.47] how, towards the end of the siege, ‘I was sent for: as I was afterwards inform’d: to give my opinion on the same Subject [the state of the defences], but happened to be out of the way, as I had never been consulted either by the Council of war, or chief engineer in regard to the Defence of the place, I was therefore glad it was so that I had nothing to do with its being surrendered. It appearing then that the Garrison cou’d not be repaired so as to make any tolerable defence, the Question was proposed, whether under those Circumstances it woud not be better to Endeavour to obtain an Honourable Capitulation than continue the Defence of the place. All agreed to capitulate. Except Lt Col Rufane, Captain Bastide, Major cunningham, Captain Flight. Who were for a further defence.’
John Archer (d. 1799) (author)
Watermark: Coat of arms, quarters: top left ?; top right: 3 people; bottom left: harp; bottom right: dog; all in crowned double circle with HONI SOIT [qui] MAL Y PENSE]; countermark: GR, crown above, wreath to each side, all within a circle
Mark, stamped: 786
Condition: slight brown discolouration to front and back covers
29.9 x 36.4 cm (sheet; folded to 29.9 x 18.5 cm)
Manuscript title:
Journal of the Siege / of / S.t Philips Castle, / by / John Archer Engineer Extraordinary / 1756. [top of folio 1]
Annotations:
George III heading: S.t Philips 8 May - 29 June 1756.
Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom right, black pencil:] 4. (Verso) none.
George III catalogue entry:
Philips, S.t A drawn Plan of the Attacks of S.t Philip’s Castle in the Island of Minorca, 1756. by John Archer Eng.r with a MS. Journal of the Siege by D.o.
Subject(s)
Sant-Felip, Port Mahon, Minorca, Balearic Islands (39°52'01"N 04°18'13"E)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
