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I.

PART the Indies into his own treafury: but though England ought vigilantly to fecure her trade with Spain, free from the encroachments of France or any other rival in fo beneficial a commerce; it is not lefs incumbent on Spain to avoid finking into the arms of France, whose inhabitants are not more oppofite in their manners and genius to those of the Spaniards, than a French trade is repugnant to the true intereft of the kingdom of Spain. But though the British nation was burthened with fo weighty a debt, though they were convinced it would be unavoidably aggravated by a prevention of the Spanish trade, yet they univerfally exclaimed against the long forbearance of the ministry, in permitting the Spaniards, unchaftifed, to continue their depredations; and they impatiently waited for a declaration of hoftilities, as they might publicly redress those injuries they had fo long fupinely fustained from the contumelious power and infolence of Spain.

1739.

On the 10th of July, 1739, a proclamation was iffued at London by order of the British council, alledging the Spanish depredations, the expiration of the term limitted for the payment of the 95,000l. in London, and the non-payment thereof, thereby authorizing general reprizals and letters of marque against the fhips, goods, and fubjects of the king of Spain.

THESE orders, under the royal fign manual, dated the 15th of June, had been dispatched. almost a month before their publication, to Commodore Brown, then commander of a British fquadron at Jamaica, that he might have an opportunity of making the beft ufe of them before the Spaniards could receive intelligence of, and be prepared against them, which were pub

lished

lifhed by the commodore on the 8th of Auguft, CHAP. but to little purpose, for the commodore very II. indifcreetly failed with his whole fquadron, and hovering round the Spanish coafts alarmed the 1739. inhabitants, and rendered abortive the intention of the British government in that refpect: whereas had he detached his fquadron to cruize on different stations, he might have swept the whole feas, reduced the wealth of Spain, and gained to himself an immenfe booty.

THE British miniftry now evidently forefaw the unavoidable neceffity of a Spanish war, and the general sense of the whole kingdom, pointed out to them, that the West Indies was the most proper place for profecuting it, so as to bring the differences with Spain to a fpeedy as well as happy determination; for it was there the war could be pushed with the most ease and greatest advantage, as the Spanish fettlements were then in a very defenceless condition, their fortifications impaired, their artillery neglected, their magazines unprovided, their garrifons diminished, fpiritlefs and difaffected, and the royal fund of Peruvian treasure almost exhaufted; nor were their fettlements in the Eaft Indies in a better fituation: this gave the fairest probability, that by a proper exertion of the British force in attack-. ing the distant fettlements of Spain, that the Spaniards would have been deprived of their principal resources to carry on a war, and would have been fincerely glad of embracing any moderate proposals of peace: or fuppofing the Spaniards had perfifted in their obftinacy, to refuse the falutary method of terminating differences by an amicable accommodation, if the British arms had made thofe acquifitions in the Spanish fettlements they had then a favourable opportu D 2

nity

I.

PART nity of doing, any conquefts in that country of wealth, would have enabled the crown of Great Britain to have continued the war at the Span1739. iards expence, againft them or any other power that fhould have dared to join them; nor were thefe advantageous profpects difregarded by the British miniftry, they were too obvious to escape a national knowledge, and the miniftry were obliged to coincide with fuch public and open fentiments. Accordingly feveral fchemes were projected, and deliberated upon in council, when it was refolved, that two fquadrons should be immediately equipped for two, fecret expeditions, which would have fome connection with each other; the one to be commanded by George Anfon, Efq; then captain of the Centurion, and Capt. Cornwall was intended for the command of the other the fquadron under Capt. Anfon was to have taken on board a regiment of foot, and three independent companies under Col. Bland, was to fet fail with the utmoft expedition, and to touch at no place till they came to Java-Head in the East Indies, where they were only to water, and proceed to the city of Manila in Luconia, one of the Philippine islands in poffeffion of the Spaniards. The fquadron defigned for Capt. Cornwall was to have been of equal force, and was intended to pass round Cape Horn into the South Seas, and after ranging along that part of the Spanish coaft, and attempting their fettlements, this fquadron in its return was to rendezvous at Manila, and after joining Capt. Anfon, the two fquadrons were to have acted in conjunction, and receive further orders for other confiderable enterprizes: and this scheme met with fuch general approbation, that in the beginning of September a veffel was

dispatched

dispatched to Capt. Anfon, then on a station CHAP. cruize, to order his return with his fhip to Portf mouth.

II.

THE more effectually to diftrefs the Spaniards, 1739. another squadron was destined for the West Indies, and Edward Vernon, Efq; then lately created vice admiral of the blue, from the many eminent services he had formerly done his country in that remote part of the world, was univerfally looked upon as the most proper officer for fo important a command. Though the bravery of this gallant commander, added to his thorough knowledge of the American feas, had been well manifefted to the entire approbation of the whole kingdom; yet his fidelity, diligence and bravery had been hitherto unrewarded: but notwithstanding his rank in the navy had been long neglected, though he had withdrawn from any public ftation, and with great reafon was difgufted at the miniftry; no fooner was an application made to him to undertake the command of a fquadron for the national service, but, with a behaviour equal to the antient patriots of Greece and Rome, he facrificed all his private refentments to the public welfare, and obeyed the fummons with alacrity; defiring only three or four days to fettle his family affairs. Great was the expectation of the whole kingdom, from the conduct of fo experienced and difinterested a gentleman, nor were they disappointed in their boldest wishes; for this brave commander, chearfully quitted the calm retirement of a rural life; and, like the Roman Cincinnatus, flew to establish the honour of his country; which he nobly atchieved to his own immortal reputation, the glory of his king, the perpetual fame of the naval power of Britain, and to the long and

fhameful

PART fhameful reduction of the pride of Spain. A I. squadron was accordingly equipped at Portf

mouth; and on the 19th of July the admiral 1739. received inftructions from his Britannic majefty, under his fign manual, appointing him commander in chief of all his fhips in the West Indies; and the admiral foon after arrived at Portfmouth, and took under his command the following fhips,

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THE orders given to the admiral, were "To "distress and annoy the Spaniards in the most "effectual manner, by taking their fhips and

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poffeffing himself of fuch of their places and "fettlements, as he should think it practicable "to attempt, and in convoying and protecting "the British fubjects, in carrying on an open

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