d's away, the Flock will
stray_,) so that out of two or three hundred Men, that were appointed
to attend this Service, it was well if thirty were found at Work.

[_B_] When the Army landed, there were scarce any Works worth Notice
round the Castle of _St. Lazare_, but a Fascine Battery of five Guns\
on the North Side of the Hill (which was built the Year before, when
Admiral _Vernan_ bombarded the Town) and was of no Service, but in Case
of Approaches being made that Way. But as the Enemy saw the Army
(disposed to Rest rather than Work) go on slowly, they took Occasion to
improve their Time, and with unwearied Diligence set to Work, and in
three Days Time completed a four Gun Battery, and entrenched themselves
in Lines round about the Foot of the Castle, which were stronger, and
of much more Importance, than the Castle itself, and drew those Guns
off the Fascine Battery on the North Port, and mounted them in this new
Battery, and saluted the Army frequently with them, whilst they were
working on their Bomb-Battery and Lodgment for their Advanced Guards.

[_C_] It has been remarked, that neither General nor Engineer could be
prevailed on to cut off the Communication, notwithstanding the Admiral
represented the Necessity thereof, as the most sure Means to distress
the Enemy, and had sent the _Dunkirk_ to anchor off the _Boguilla_, to
prevent any Embarkation bringing Supplies by Water, as he had done the
_Falmouth_ at the grand _Baru_, on the Outside of _Passa Cavallos_
(before the taking of _Boccachica_) which effectually prevented any
Refreshments coming to the Enemy from _Tolu_, and the River _Sina_,
their principal Markets; yet nothing was of Weight enough for its being
done here, although so very easy, and the Army were complaining
heavily, for want of Refreshments, and yet suffered Supplies daily to
go into the Town. The _Boguilla_ is the Mouth of the Lake (behind
_Carthagena_) that opens into the Sea, where the Enemy kept a Guard of
about an hundred Men, and was the only Way possibly they had left for
Supplies to come to them; and though fresh Provisions were scarce in
the Camp, and would have been exceedingly beneficial to the Sick, yet
so little Pains did the Army care to take to get it, that when the
General was acquainted, that a Drove of three or four hundred Head of
Oxen were going along the Strand, he did not dispatch a Party to
intercept them, or endeavour to cut them off, not in three Hours after
he had be