PART houfe of commons. That the heats and ani.I. "mofities which with the greatest induftry had "been fomented throughout the kingdom, had, 1739. he was afraid, been one of the chief encou"ragements to the court of Spain to hold fuch "a conduct as to make it neceffary to have re"course to arms; and the unhappy divifions "amongst his fubjects were the only hopes of "the enemies to his government: but what"ever views and projects they might form upon "that rupture, and what advantages foever

Spain might vainly promise itself from any "circumstances in the prefent fituation of af"fairs; it was in the power of his parliament, "by the bleffing of God, to defeat the one and

disappoint the other. Union among all those, "who had nothing at heart but the true interest "of Great Britain, and a becoming zeal in the "defence of his kingdoms, and in the fupport "of the common caufe of their country, with "as general a concurrence in carrying on the "war, as there had appeared for engaging in

it, would make the court of Spain repent the wrongs they had done them; and convince "those who meant the fubverfion of the prefent

eftablishment, that the British nation was de"termined and able, both to vindicate their injured honour, and to defend themfelves againft "all their open and fecret enemies both at home "and abroad."

On the 16th the house of lords prefented an addrefs to his majefty, reprefenting "The juf"tice and neceffity of the war against Spain; devoting their lives and fortunes on that occafion to the fervice of their king and country; and giving his majesty their strongest affurances, zealoufly to concur in all fuch mea

"fures

II.

fures as might enable him to carry on the war CHAP. "with that spirit and vigour which truly become And that as the war was

"the British name.

"undertaken not to gratify the views of reftlefs 1739. "ambition, but to affert and maintain the ho"nour and just right of his majesty's crown and

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kingdoms, they doubted not but thofe pow"erful motives would induce all his fubjects to undergo with chearfulness whatever was neceffary in the profecuting of it: concluding, "that they were determined at the hazard of all "that was dear to them, to fupport their king "against all his enemies, imploring the divine

66

providence to give fuccefs to his majesty's "arms, and make them the happy means of procuring a fafe and honourable peace."

66

ON the 17th the house of commons waited on his majesty with an address to the fame purpofe; to both which addreffes his majesty returned a most gracious answer.

ON the 23d a great number of lords and commons waited on his majefty with the joint refolution of both houses, whereby it was "Re"folved, that an humble addrefs be prefented "to his majesty as a dutiful return to his graci"ous defire of the advice of his parliament at "that critical and important conjuncture; and "as a farther teftimony of their firm refolution "vigorously to fupport his majesty in the profe"cution of the war against Spain, humbly to be"feech his majesty never to admit of any treaty "of peace with that crown, unless the acknow"ledgment of their natural and indubitable

right to navigate in the American feas to and "from any part of his majefty's dominions, "without being feized, fearched, vifited or stop"ped, under any pretence whatsoever, should

PART" have been firft obtained as a preliminary "thereto."

1.

THE war was entered upon with a great deal 1739. of vigour and alacrity; the national troops confifted of 17,704 effective men, but several regiments were recalled from Ireland, and the troops on the British establishment were order to be augmented to 30,000 men, for which purpose 6,000 marines were to be raised with all expedition, which together with 12,000 men remaining on the Irish establishment, 6,000 Danes to be taken into the British service if requifite, and 30,000 Hanoverians, would have compleated an army in the fpring of 80,000 men under his Britannic majefty; the navy was then manned with 12,000 failors; and foon after confifted of 129 fhips, 78 of which were of the line, and 34,562 seamen.

On the 17th of November his Catholic majefty published a declaration of war against Great Britain.

THUS was the fword reciprocally drawn by both nations; by it was to be decided, whether the Spaniards fhould continue the ufurpation of an unlimitted power in the American ocean, or whether the fubjects of Great Britain could not maintain their lawful right to a free navigation.

THE Spaniards difappointed of their American treasure through the prudent difpofition of the fleet under Admiral Haddock, were greatly impoverished; and in December the Pope figned an indulto empowering his Catholic majefty to raise two millions of crowns upon the whole clergy of Spain.

THOUGH the fcheme to attack the Spanish fettlements in the Eaft Indies, and on the coaft of the South Seas, had been fo warmly recom

mended,

II.

mended, and Capt. Anfon, on his return to CHAP. London, on the 18th of November, ordered to take four men of war and a floop under his command, to proceed on that expedition; and 1739. though other orders were iffued for victualling the fquadron; yet in the beginning of January, the captain attending the lords of the admiralty, was informed by Sir Charles Wager, that the expedition to Manila was laid afide; and for reasons with which Sir Charles, though one of the lords of the admiralty, was unacquainted. However, Sir Charles gave him information, that the expedition to the South Seas was still intended; and that the fquadron under Capt. Anfon, as their firft deftination was countermanded, fhould be employed in that fervice. And on the 10th of January he received his commiffion, appointing him commander in chief of that squadron; for which the commodore impatiently expected his inftructions and failing orders, as he well knew the dangers attending the navigation of those tempeftuous feas, and the difficulties in doubling Cape Horn at an improper season; but with which, notwithstanding all his endeavours to avoid, he was obliged to encounter, by being retarded greatly beyond the proper time for failing on fo remote and adventurous an undertaking.

On the 16th of September Captain Knowles, in the Diamond man of war, took and carried into Jamaica, a fhip with 74,000 pieces of eight, and cloathing for the garrifon of Auguftine.

On the 28th of September Admiral Vernon arrived at Antigua, where the Anglesea Capt. Reddish, Loweftoffe Capt. Drummond, and Saltash floop Capt. Swanton, were ftationed for protecting

PART protecting the trade of the Leeward Islands, and I. as the admiral's principal view at that time was

to intercept the galleons in their return, for which 1739. having reafon to apprehend himself full weak, and though all his Britannic majefty's fhips in the West Indies were under his direction, the admiral only ordered the Anglesea to compleat her proportion of provifions for three months, and to fail for Jamaica, leaving her ftation to the Loweftoffe and Saltafh for the protection of the island trade. On the 2d of October the admiral arrived at St Chriftopher's, where he was joined by Capt. Herbert, who informed him, "That the Spanish trade on the Caracca "coaft was limitted between Laguira and Porto "Cavallo; " upon this intelligence the admiral ordered Capt. Waterhous in the Princess Louifa, together with the Norwich and Strafford under his command "To make the best of his way "for the coaft of Caraccas, taking particular "care to fall in with that coaft to windward of "the port of Laguira; and if he should per"ceive any fhips to be riding there, he was "before his coming near in, to make the fig"nal for the captains, and form his scheme for "attacking them, that every one might know "how he was to execute his part of it before "their coming into the road, where they were "to use their beft endeavours to take, fink, "burn and deftroy all fuch Spanish ships and "veffels as they fhould find there and they

were further ordered to range that coaft as "far as Porto Cavallo afterwards, and endea"vour to do the fame with all Spanish ships and "veffels that they fhould meet with, and then "to make the beft of their way for Port Royal "in Jamaica." But Capt. Waterhous was far

from