Gibraltar is a free port

and has a considerable shipping trade, being an entrepot for the distribution of British manufactures. The chief export is wine. The administration is vested in the governor, who is also commander in-chief of the troops. Every precaution is taken to prevent the immigration into the town of new residents. It was ultimately taken by the Spanjards from the Moors in 1462, fortified in the European style, and so much strengthened that the engineers of the 17th century considered it impregnable. It was taken, however, after a vigorous bombardment in 1704 by a combined English and Dutch force under Sir George Rooke and Prince George of Darmstadt, and was secured to Great Britain by the peace of Utrecht in 1713. Since then it has remained in British hands, notwithstanding some desperate efforts on the part of Spain and France to retake it. In 1779, Great Britain being then engaged in a war with the United States and with France, a last grand effort was made by Spain to recover Gibraltar. The siege lasted for nearly four years. It was heroically and succe fully defended, however, by General Elliott (afterward Lord Heath field) and the garrison. Since that time, in the various British and Spanish, and also French wars, Gibraltar has only been blockaded on the land side.