'A THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES AN Impartial Reprefentation O F T H E CONDUCT Of the SEVERAL POWERS of EUROPE, Engaged in the LATE GENERAL WAR: Including a particular ACCOUNT of all the MILITARY and NAVAL OPERATIONS; FROM THE Commencement of Hoftilities between the Crowns of GREAT BRITAIN and SPAIN, in 1739, T o T H E Conclufion of the GENERAL TREATY of PACIFI- CATION at Aix LA CHAPELLE, in 1748. To which are added, LETTERS between MONSIEUR VOLTAIRE and the AU- THOR, relative to this Work, and to the SUBJECT of HISTORY in GENERAL. By R 1C HA R D R O L T. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. I. The SECOND EDITION. LONDON: Printed for S. BIRT in Ave-mary Lane, J. W A u G H and W. F N v E R in Lombard-ftreet, M, DCC. LIV. v.l To THE HONOURABLE Edward Vernon, Efq; S I R, HEN titles and prefer- ments are beftowed on other naval commanders, it is natural, while a re- gard for heroic virtue is inherent in Englilhmen, for every well-wiflier of his country, to enquire, what a 2 honours - iv DEDICATION. honours are conferred on the con- queror of Porto Bello, and the af- fertor of the antient glory of the Britifli flag? Let them reflect on the ruined caftles of Carthagena ; there the envious Spaniard will give more permanent and illuf- trious honours to the name of VERNON, than all the pompous legends of heraldry. SCIPIO is juftly admired for his continence, Cato for purity of man- ners, and Fabricius for temperance; thefe were Romans, and the prime of her city, when Rome was, in the zenith of her glory, renowned through the univerfe for virtue and liberty : yet, however celebrated in hiftory, they were not utterly deaf to the voice of ambition ; which, to have refilled, would have conveyed their names to pofterity with a brighter DEDICATION. brighter and more exalted luftre than the deftruction of Carthage, or the oppofition of Caefar and tyranny- It has been your misfortune, Sir, to live in a more degenerate age; yet you have (hewn a contempt of that ambition which fullied the glories of thefe eminent favourites of antiqui- ty : you are content to let your ac- tions bear their own teftimonial to pofterity ; and, without envy, can behold ftars, garters, and coronets, conferred on your cotemporaries. This evinces a truly great and noble mind ; a mind confcious, that having lived and laboured only for the joint fervice of prince and people, is the nobleft com- penfation of all the toil which at- tended it, and that a good name is fuperior to all titles. Therefore, in full confidence, Sir, that you de- ferve the regard of every candid a 3 Englifli- DEDICATION. Englifhman, the AUTHOR, by thus prefixing your name to the FIRST VOLUME of this work, takes a public opportunity of profeffing to the world how much he is, S I R, Your moft refpedful, obliged, and obedient fervant, R. ROLT. (7) [OME perfons of diftinftion, who encouraged this WORK, being in- formed that the publication of it had obtained me the friendfhip and correfpondence of Monfieur VOLTAIRE; I was requefted to oblige them with a fight of fome of his letters, which was accordingly done: but I have fince heard that copies have been feen in other hands, and that there is reafon to apprehend they may make a fpurious appearance in the world : to prevent which, I have followed the advice of my friends, by taking the liberty of publifhing what have been feen, in the following manner. R. ROLT. Monfieur VOLTAIRE to Mr. ROLTJ wrote in EngUJh) verbally, as follows. SIR, Potfdam i Auguft, N. S. 1750. I have received, at Potfdam, the obliging let- ter you directed to Paris ; but I have not yet received the favour of your book. The wifdom that (bines in your letter, raifes in me, more and more, the defire to read that performance. a 4 I am Monfieur VOLTAIRE to Mr. ROLT.' I am confident you have been faithful to your title, in writing impartially, as an honeft man, and a philofopher ought to do. You are cer- tainly in the right, when you aflert the privileges of mankind. 'Tis your duty to love, and to praife, the form of the Bfitiih government ; but do not believe we blame it in France. The fitu- ation of our country, the genius of our nation, and many other reafons have fubmicted us to monarchic power, mitigated by the amiable mildness of our manners, rather than by our laws. All wife men amongft us live happy under fuch a government, and admire that of Great-Britain. As to the tafk of writing a true and complete hiftory of the late war, 'tis an heavy burthen. I. hope you are well informed of all the tranfac- tions pafied in your country : all the fecrets of the back flairs at your court, are no fecret in a few years. Each party fpies, difcovers, and ex- aggerates the intrigues, and the faults, of the op- pofite party: and, from the (hock of fo many flints, fome flames of truth may 'moot, to en- lighten the mind of a wife hiftorian. But in o- ther countries, ftate-myfteries lie hid under a cur- tain that few men are able to remove. My of- fice, of the Crown's Hijlorian, intitled me to the communication of all the letters writ to the mi- nifters. Yet I am not fatisfied with fo good ma- terials : and I muft hunt again after my favou- rite game, truth, in foreign countries. I travel, like Polybius, to fee the different theatres of the war. Monfieur VOLTAIRE to Mr. ROLT. 8 war. I confult both friends and enemies. I doubt not your book, Sir, will help me very much. Your title which promifes IMPARTIALITY, (hall put me always in mind of my duty. Hif- tory muft be neither a fatire, nor an encomium ; and, I hope, a French-man, and even a gentle- man of the king's chamber, may tell open truth W..TH SECURITY. A moderate man cannot of- fend, when he will not offend ; and he may fay harm things, if he never ufes harfli words. I am at leifure ; I'll publifh my hiftory as late as I can ; but I'll read yours as foon as pofiible. J thank you, from my heart ; and am, SIR, Your moft humble obedient fervant VOLTAIRE Gentilhomme de la Cham- bre du Roy de France. Mr. R. ROLT, at Mr. HARBORNE'S Portugal Street, par la Hollande, Londres. Franco Roterdam. Mr. ROLT to Monfteur VOLTAIRE. SIR As I am unacquainted with the time of your intended continuance at Potjdam, perhaps this direction may be more expedient than by a packet through Germany. I have been juft honoured with your very o- bliging letter, and am extremely forry you have been difappointed in the reft of my volumes, which my publiftier informs me were delivered a confiderable time ago to the mafter of a Dutch vefifd bound for Rotterdam: however, I (hall take care to fend another fett as foon as poffible ; though I think, it will be more convenient to defer it till I can get the fourth volume from the prefs, which is almoft printed off, and will give me a fpeedy opportunity offending you the work com- plete. Truth and impartiality are more difficult to be found in the literary world, than honour and honefty are in the moral ; though national par- tiality may not be difcommendable , and, exclu- five of that, I flatter myfelf, I have confidently afled my duty. The generality of our nation are too creduloufly of opinion, that liberty con- fines her facred influence peculiarly to Britain ; but, when I look through the political fyftem of Europe^ reafon almoft obliges me to difient from this adopted tenet of my countrymen. I have been Mr. ROLT to Mr. VOLT AIR si been told by a nobleman, who is juftly efteem- ed the ornament of this Ifland, that of all abfo- lute monarchies, Denmark is the moft legal : but I am fenfible, from the annals of France, that the conftitution of your country is not inferior to the Danijh government ; and it (lands, as an indubitable fa<5t, that a fovereign of France may, if he pleafes, convey a portion of felicity to hrs fubjefts, equal to what is enjoyed by the fubjec"b of any one monarch in the univerfe. The con- ftitution of Britain, we are fond to believe, is more confonant to the law of reafon, and the liber- ty of nature, than the form of other legiflatures ; but I fee no fuch material difference between an abfolute regal government in France, and a mi- nifterial ariftocracy in other countries: I am glad to find the fentiments of liberty pronounced fo freely by a fubject of France ; an Englijhman can do no more : you, Sir, may fpeak bold, and open truths ; but would you think that I cannot ? or can you believe that feveral important fac~ls have been communicated to me, which I durft not adventure to promulgate ? though I have honeftly reported thofe things, which you as honeftly approved. Believe me, Sir, I have experienced, and am equally confcious with yourfelf, that the burthen of fo extenfive a hiftory is very heavy : you are infinitely more converfant with nature, men, and nations, than I am ; your years give many ad- van- j 2 Mr. Ro L T to Monfieur VOL T A i R E . vantages to your diftinguifhed genius ; but, aS I am now only twenty five years of age, do not expect my performance to be either full of fa- gacity, or elegance : I have, indeed, obtained fome little reputation here ; but I cannot flatter myfelf with the hopes of your approbation : how- ever, your candour and humanity, will accom- pany my youth and inexperience. I fhall be proud of embracing every opportunity of teftify- ing my regard for you, and, with the greateft fincerity, . - ' s:;:.3 v ,v r ':v^i;Yj_ 7-r '. -i i.i I am, :-^ nf liSfnfTTaveg S I R, Yourr obedient fervant, - . . , th. ' 75 - rjlffe R. ROLT. ( '3 ) Monfieur Voltaire to Mr. Rolf, wrote in Englijh* SIR, Berlin, 3 Augujl, N. S 1751. I Received your kind letter but yefterday, though it was dated December. Your letter expected me at Paris with your book ; and that book con- veyed from Rotterdam to Berlin, was again fent to Paris by one of my friends, while I was ramb- ling in the country , becaufe, at that time, I was ready to make a journey to Paris: So, by two miftakes, I had but yefterday your book and your letter ; and I return you many thanks for 'em both. But I had already read your cu- rious hiftory, with much pleafure. The good patriot, and the faithful hiftorian, fhine through all the work. I hope you have met with the applaufe of your country, and you ftand in no need of foreign praifes. I expofe you my own fatisfadlion ; rather than I attempt to compliment you. I cannot fay, good Sir, with what true fentiments of efteem, I am, fincerely from my heart, S I R, Your moft humble obedient fervant VOLTAIRE. A Monfieur Monfieur Richard Rolf, at Mr. Harborne's, Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn, London. franco Awfttrdam. THE PREFACE. \ICERO has judiciottfly remarked, that thefirft law of bijiory, is to advance no faljhood, andfupprefs no truth : hence it is evident, that the chief quality the public Jhould expeft in a hijlorian, is fincerity ; and that he Jhouldlet nothing efcape him which may forfeit the con- fidence of his readers. An author, dependant on a go- vernment, concerned in the events which he relates, will find bimfelf too greatly embarrajjed to reconcile, truth with flattery and particular interejls. Defpreaux, the celebrated hiftorian of France, who was nominated by Lewis XIV. jointly with Monfieur Racine, to write the bijiory of his reign, was fenfible of this diffi- culty -, and ingenuoujfy confeffed, that be knew not what reafons to alledge for the j unification of the war againft Holland in 1672: which was a boldinftance of integrity from a fubjeft of fo arbitrary a prince, at the bead of fo defpotic a government. The author of the prffent undertaking, has bn honoured with the favour The PREFACE and confidence cffome eminent perfons, who were prin- cipally concerned in many of the important events com- prized in bis work; and, as he aims at nothing but uncorrupted impartiality, doubts, not but his honeft en- deavours will obtain that enfouragement, the public never fail to confer, onfuch as labour only to advance the general ' inter eft of the nation. UNLIMITED power in one perfon, feems to lave been the firji and natural recourfe of mankind from diforder and rapine ; andfuch a government muft be acknowledged to be better than no government at all:, but all reftritt'wns of power, made by laws, or partici- pation of fovereignty, among fe-veral perfons, are ap- parent improvements made upon what began in that unlimited power ; for abfolute power in one perfon, as generally exercifed, is not indeed government, but, at left, clandeftim tyranny, fupported by tbe confederates, cr rather the favourite Jla-ves, of tbe tyrant. LIBERTTis, therefore, effentid to the bappi- nefs of men, and they who refjgn life itfelf, rather than part with it, do only a prudent aftion; but tbofe who lay it down, and voluntarily expofe them- fehes to death in behalf of their friends and country, do an heroic one : the more exalted part of our fpe- cies are moved by fuch generous impulfes as tbefe ; but even the community, the mafs of mankind, when convinced of the danger cf their civil rights, have, in all ages, and in all nations, been anxious of preferr- ing to themfelves that dear eft of all pofefficns , Liberty. This generous ardour made Greece fo hug, and fo formidably, independent ; in Row., the hve of pa- rents, .- * The P R E F A C E. rents, children, life, friends, and even glory, tbe tno/l dazling conflderation! were but fecondary pqfjlons, and in all refpefts, fubfervient to that of liberty ; other na- tions, more or kfs, have ftruggled for, though few can now boaft the enjoyment of, this divine beatitude ; but, thanks to heaven I itjlill refides iu Britain. WITHOUT liberty, even health and Jlrength, and all the advantages bejlowed on men by nature and providence, may, at the will of a tyrant, be employed to their own ruin, and that of their fellow-creatures. This liberty, among the inhabitants of Great Britain, conjijls, in their living under laws of their own mak- ing, ly their perfonal conjent, or that of their repre- fentatives ; and the perpetuity of this will be dear to every Briton, who loves the religion and laws of his country ; its worth will be revered by every man who knows the happinefs of a limited monarchy, circum- fcribed with the bulwark of falutary laws, which e- qually proteRthefubjeftfroman invqfton of the prince, and the prince from any infult of thefubjeff. THE Englijh, very juftly, indulge an opinion, that no nation excells them in gallantry, in hcnejly, in fidelity, or in any martial or facial virtue ; but too con- fident a ficurity has occafaned the fubvcrfion of many brave and fiourijhing nations ; and it is not altogether impcffible, but this may, one day, guide the ax to the very root of the Briti/h ccnjlitution. If Greece and Rome thus fell from the fummit of human grandeur, where is the country that may not unhappily fuffer the fame dedenfwn ? No people were ever more jealous of liberty, or ever longer or wore fuccefifully defended it, VOL. I. b than the PREFACE. than the antient Germans ; // may indeed be f aid, that liberty, being driven out of the bejl part of the world ly the Roman arms, took refuge on the further fide of the Rhine -, where /he had for her companions and guards, poverty, innocence, frugality, and modejly ; where, in the fajlneffes of woods and morajjes, Jhs combated 500 years againft tyranny and ambition : but fhefe bold and hardy Germans at length fubmitted to the opprejjion of Rome. The French once enjoyed the fame happinefs and privileges with England: their laws were made by reprejentatives of their own chuf- irig -, their money was not taken from them, but by their own confent ; their kings were fubjett to the rules cf law andreafon ; but now they are miferable, and all is loft ! their monarch reigns abfolute over an unfortu- nate people -, and while his court is the refidence of am- bition, luxury, voluptuotifnefs, flattery, and corruption, he will endeavour to bring all mankind under his arbi- trary fubjeclion : this has been frequently attempted, and as happily repulfed ; though it will eternally be the employment cf France, to forge manacles for the free part of Europe, which Jhe will never fail to make ufe cf, whenever her Jlrength and opulence Jhall enable her . to violate the moft Jolemn treaties, and fcatter every peflilenee cf war to accomplijh her dejlruftive purpofcs. A Claim to the Brilifo monarchy, in favour of art abjured and fugitive pretender, will be revived by the crown of France on every favourable oecafwn, till po- pery and ambition become quiet and imffenfoe neigh- bors-, and ibc powerful French, who deal out crowns The P R E F A C E. xi And kingdoms all around them, may in time, if not carefully prevented, exalt a prince on the Britifo throne, who fall aft only as the vice-roy cf France, Jhs.ll curb our necks to the yoke of tyranny, fubvert our happy laws and conftitutions, andfnatch from us every great and glorious privilege, fo nobly procured, and jo valiantly defended, by the courage, the wijdom, the lives, and fortunes, of our progenitors. But Britons! let us hope, that thefe invaluable blejjings, will defcend from us to our pojlerity, as immaculate as we received them from our ancejlors , let us point out to our de- fcendants, how we have exerted the influence of eur country, and preferved our conjlitutional freedom, at a time when the liberties of all mankind were invaded by the afpiring principles of Prance ; let us trace out what are the indelible marks of our natural and perpetual fe- curity ; let us fee what were our hearts and tempers at home ', in what bands was power lodged abroad \ and, by tracing out the dijffntions of the fever al courts of Europe, and our own unnatural divifans, let us repre- f fent to poflerity, how happily the Britifb nation have extricated themfelves, their allies, and all Europe, from the dangerous fnares, fo infidioufl) fpread for their captivity, by the artifices of France. We can neither know our fecurity, nor be fenftble of our danger, from any partial view of our condition, or from ap fearan.ces of onejide only ; but muji judge of our condi- tion, from the circumjlances of affairs of Europe in general, as well as of Great Britain in particular : therefore it is apprehended, this undertaking may be of fome advantage to the public -, efpecially, if we grant [xii The PREFACE. tie faying of Livy to fa true, " That the utility of " hiftory, furni/hes the reader with examples of all " kinds, fet before him in an impartial light, whence " he may chufe for bimfelf and country, what he ought *' to imitate ; and there he may fee, what he ought to " avoid, as being /hameful in the undertaking, and " fatal in the event" 'THESE are only arguments, tofiew thenecejpty of fuch a work, for the benefit of pojlerity: and many inftances may be given of its utility to cur cotempora~ ries ; of which it has been thought proper to mention the following, as the moft material. I'be motives that may engage a wife prince, or flat e, in a war, may be one or more of tbefe : either to check the overgrown power of Jome ambitious neighbour ; to recover what had been unjuftly taken from them; to revenue fame injury they have received-, to ajjift feme ally in ajuft quarrel -, or to defend themfdves, when they are in- vaded. 1'he foundation of the fir ft war, for ten years after the revolution, wherein the Emperor, England, find the Dutch, were principals, was, in the general view, to curb the ambitious defigns of Frame ; and, tn regard particularly to England, was to make Lewis XIV. acknowledge William III. and to recover Plud- Jbtfs Bay. ?be fucceeding war, in the reign of Queen Ann, was commenced upon the fame general motives ; in which England was the more particularly concerned^ ty France putting an indignity and affront on her ma- jefty, in granting an ajylum to the pretended Prince of Wales, and averting his claim to the crown of Eng, $fa hte war between Great Britain and Spain , was* The PREFACE. xiii was, to preferve the right of the Briti/h navigation, and to obtain fatisf action for the depredations commit- ted by the Spaniards : this, and the general war com- menced againji the heirefs of tie houfe of Aujlria, were both fomented by France ; thefirjl -with a view to ex- hauft and impoverijh the power and wealth of Britain ; and the latter, to fubjugate her Aujlrian oponent, who had long blocked up the pafjage between France and univerfal empire. The two former wars have been already copioujly related ; and as the two latter have been profecuted with the effufion of the blood of thou- fands, and continued with the expence of millions, it feems as necejjary now, as it was then, that the public Jhould be freely, and impartially, told with what juflice thefe wars were commenced', what circumjiances they were in ; after what manner they have been treated, by thofe whom they entrvfted fo many years with the difpofal of their blood and treafure ; and what are the confequences this management is like to entail upon them- felves and their pojlerity. AS to the work itfelf, if if does not give that univer- fal fatisfaRion the author would be ambitious to bcftow ; he is convinced that not the leafl imputation of flattery, or partiality, can be thrown up r n him by the dijpafftonate and unprejudiced part of mankind: though, where there isfuch little unanimity in thefentiments of men -, while prevalence of party, Jkall make one per/on commend, what another will as readily difatprove ; very precari- ous is the reputation of a writer: however, where the author has endeavci'.red to do juflice to the brave and worthy man, this be affirms, that his encomiums arife The PREFACE. anfefrom no blind adulation, but proceed from a con- vitlhninbisownbreaft, of their propriety. Certainly the public have different opinions of the Jame men, and the fame things-, many are deceived by inter eft, pre- judice, and pajjion ; fome by envy, and others by de- traction: from thefe, the deferring man, however meritorious, can never extort the leaft approbation^ and they hate to read thofe public praifes, they will not, out of fome private antipathy, beftow themfelves : but tofuch as thefe, the author recommends the objervation of a great and ancient example, in Augujlm C indignation and refentment throughout the whole Britifh nation ; the people all glowing with an unanimous refolution, to vindicate their right and freedom of 'navigation, from the in- folent and unauthorized cppreflion of the Spa- niards. To arrive at a true and perfpicuous knowledge, of the contefted matters that gave rife to the late war between Great Britain and Spain, a retrofpeclion is neceffary to fome of their former tranfadions, and to the feveral commercial treaties fubfifting between the two crowns ; and [his without any further deduc- tion of hiftorical Facts, will fufficiently ferve to illuftrate and explain the nature and foundation of all mifunderftandings and controverfies be- tween the two kingdoms. 1648. THE firft treaty with regard to navigation and commerce in the Weft Indies, was concluded atMunfter, between Philip IV. of Spain and the States General, on the goth of January, 1648 ; wherein it is ftipulated by the 5th article, " That the contracting parties, fhould retain " and enjoy their pofleffions and commerce in " America, and other places, as they then re- " fpedively held the fame." And by the 6th " article, " The fubjecls of each were forbid to * c navigate and trade in the ports and other " places poficfil'd by the other in the Weft In- " dies." There is no greater reftricYion, with refpeft to the navigation and commerce of the lubjecls of the States in thefe parts, than there is with refpect to the Spaniards , thofe feas be- ing left free and open, equally to both ; the prohibition of the one navigating and trading in the poMions of the other is mutual, with- out Engaged in the late General War. 5 out any diflinftion or refervation of a greater CHAP. preheminence, or of any liberty given to one I. preferably to the other, to ftop and vifit veflels < -v -^ in the feas of America. THE like ftate of navigation and commerce, 1667, was concluded between England and Spain, by the 8th article of the treaty made between thofe crowns the 2^d of May, 1667 ; whereby it is agreed with refpect to the two Indies, " That Spain lhall grant to England, all " that has been granted to the States General " of the United Provinces in the treaty of Mun- " fter in 1648." And in the i4th article of this treaty, it is exprefsly ftipulated, " That no f guarda cofta or (hip of war belonging to tc Spain, (hall come within cannon (hot of an " Englifh (hip, if (he meets the latter at fea ; but (hall fend their long-boat or pinnace * { to the Englifh (hip, with two or three men American governors, directing a ceflation of hoftilities and a reftitution of unjuft captures, and communicated thefe dif- patches to the Spanim minifter before they were fent, yet frequently a private packet by the fame fhip, to the fame governor, enjoined him to pay no regard to thefe memorials, but to make the beft ufe of his time and power in impoverishing the Spaniards. 1670. IN this reign the Spaniards were very inca- pable of oppofing the naval force of England fo they had no other recourfe left, than by a negotiation to fecure to themfelves, thofe valu- able advantages they reaped from their poffcffi- ons Engaged in the late General War. y ons in America. Of this they were fo defirous, CHAT .' that they very readily difcharged the Englifh I. crown of a national debt of two millions, then^-~y ^ due to Spain, to confirm by treaty, their rights in the Weft Indies. Upon fuch motives, and as the former treaty of 1667 was found liable to many altercations, a more particular treaty was executed at Madrid, the j 8th of July, 1670, " For accommodating differences, preventing " depredations, and fettling a peace in Ameri- " ca;" wherein are exprefs declarations, " That " it is always to be underftood, that the free- " dom of navigation, ought, by no manner of * f means to be interrupted, when there is no- " thing committed contrary to the true fenie " and meaning of thefe articles-," wherein there is not one word of fearch or examination, all reftriftions being general and of the fame te- nor with the Munlter treaty, that the fubjects of the one monarch Ihould not trade to the places poffcfled by the other, without particular licence ; but in cafe ftrefs of weather, or want of provifions, obliged the ftiips of either party to enter the ports of the other, they were to be treated as friends, and fupplied with every thing they wanted for their money, and to depart ac their own pleafure. YET the buccaneers ftill continued their inva- fions, and the Spanifh embafifador at the court of king Charles II. reported, that the governor and merchants of Jamaica not only encouraged, but were principally concerned in manning out the buccaneers ; and in confequence of this report, by order of the king and council, Sir Thomas Lynch, then governor of that ifland, was recalled from his government, to appear at court and an* fwer fuch articles as were prefented againft him A 4 by 8 *fke Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART by the Spanifh minifter, for maintaining pirates I. in thofe parts, to the great lofs of the fubjedls of the king of Spain ; but in 1680 he returned with a new commifllon to his government. THOUGH Capt. Morgan had received the honor of knighthood, and lived privately on the fortune he had acquired by buccaneering, he was alfo, upon a letter from the fecretary of ftate, fcnt prifoner to England *, notwithftanding he had done nothing but by commifllon from the governor and council of Jamaica, and had re- ceived their formal and publick thanks for his gallant behavior ; but without being charged with any crime, or brought to a hearing, after a confinement of three years he was difcharged. HOWEVER culpable the Spaniards thought the governors of Jamaica in iheltering the bucca- neers, after the treaty of 1670, it may be reafon- ably fuppofed, they were no further inftrumen- tal in promoting their enterprizes than permit- ting them to inhabit there, and profufely fquan- der away thofe riches for which they had fo dan- geroufly hazarded their lives : for it is certain that Mansfield, one of their leaders, after his conqueft of St. Katherine's, feeing that ifland fo pleafant, fruitful, and conveniently fituated for invading or roving on the Spanifh coafts, had an intention of forming a fettlement there ; but Sir Thomas Lynch, then governor of Jamaica, prevented it, as being too notorious a breach of the peace then fubfifting between the crowns of England and Spain. While the duke of Albe- marle was governor of Jamaica, king James II. granted a commiflion to Sir Robert Holmes, to iupprefs pirates in America ; and Sir Robert pro- cured a proclamation to be publifhed, < For " the more effectual reducing and fuppreffing " pirates Engaged in the late General War. g " pirates and privateers in America:" he alfo CHAP. appointed Stephen Lynch, Efq; to be his agent I. at Jamaica, whither he carried the before- men- tioned proclamation, and fent it to the Spanifh ports, as well to the north Tea as to Panama on the fouth Tea, .being furnifhed with paflTports from the court of Spain. And in 1698 the Scots having fettled at Darien, fortified Golden Ifland, at the bottom of the gulph, where the. ifthmus between that and the fouth feas is fo nar- row that few men might defend it againft mul- titudes, and deny all pafiage that way to the Spanifh fettlements ; but king William regard- ing the ftrict alliance he had entered into with Spain, and deeming this fettlement of the Scots a breach of it, would not fuffer his Englim fub- jecls to aflTift the new colony ; and though this was a fair opportunity of potfefling that ilthmus, and encreafmg the trade, riches and power of the Britifh empire, yet the king fent orders to his governors in the Weft Indies to grant them no fupply of provifions, the want of which ob- liged the Scots to abandon their fettlement ; and as feveral of the buccaneers were afterwards ex- ecuted as pirates, by orders of the court of Eng- land, and thereby the whole gang was extirpated. This evidently fhews, that after the treaty of 1670, the Englim miniftry were far from en- couraging the buccaneers; though probably at the fame time the governors of Jamaica exceeded their commiflions, by conniving at the defigns of thefe bold and defperate adventurers. THE kings of Spain have afiamed the fole propriety of trading to their own fettlements in America, not only from the other potentates of Europe, but even from their own fubjeds ; prohibiting any commerce in thofe parts, unlefs the io The Condud of the Powers of Europe, PART the goods are fent to Spain, and (hipped in the L galleons or flota regiftrated by his catholic ma- jefty, and fubjecled to his duties and indultos. This occafioned the Spanifli merchants in Ame- rica to give great encouragement to the traders of Jamaica, to fupply them with negroes, fluffs and other Englifh manufactures ; which, though detrimental to the Spanilh crown, as it was thereby defrauded of its duties ; yet, as the fubjects found many advantages in this clandef- tine trade, the Englifh never failed of making very profitable markets. Of this, the minifters who concluded the treaty of 1670 were fo fen- fible, that in order to preferve inviolably the friefldlhip between both nations, they made a peculiar claufe therein, " That particular offences *' (hall no way be a prejudice to this treaty, and " caufe no enmities or diffentions between the *' two nations ; but every one (hall anfwer for * what he has done, and be profecuted for contra- " vening it ; neither (hall the one have recourie to " letters of reprizals, or any other methods of the " like nature, to obtain reparation of the other, " unlefs juftice be actually denied, or unrea- **" fonable delays ufed in adminiftring the fame." DURING the reigns of Charles II. James II. William III. and queen Anne, the Spaniards never attempted to feize any Britifh veffds in America, on pretence of having prohibited goods on board in time of peace ; but the guarda codas ading under very extenfive pow- ers, and many of them being fitted out only with lucrative views, by the merchants of Spain, the Spanifli inhabitants of America, and fome- times by the governors of their fettlements there, and thefe governors being perfonally prejudiced by the trade carried on by the Englifh, repre- fented Engaged in tie late General War. 1 1 fented it at Madrid much greater than it really CHAP, was, in order to obtain com millions of reprizal ; I. alledging that the fubjects of England trafficked / in the ports and on the coafts of the Spanifh co- lonies, protected by Britifh men of war and the governors of the Britim plantations ; till at length, after repeated applications, the Spanilh miniftry gave power to the American guarda coftas, to (top and fearch all Englifh veffds they fufpected of carrying on this trade, and to con- fifcate fuch cargoes, as confifted of logwood, cocoa, or pieces of eight, as legal captures, in direct violation of the treaties of 1667 and 1670: and under this fanction, the Spaniards commit- ted the moft outrageous acts of violence on the Englifli. THIS privilege was much too unlimited ; for cocoa is the produce o r the Britim colonies, and piecei of eight the ci rrent fpecie of the Weft Indies j and as to tf.e other commodity, the Englifh feem to derive a liberty of cutting log- wood on the coafts of Honduras and Campeachy, with as much propriety as the Spaniards ; for by the 7th article in the treaty of 1670, it is fti- pulated, " Trut the crown of England (hall ** always pofll-fs in full right of fovcreignty, all " places in America, which the king of England " or his fubjects then htld or pofiefled, in fo " much that they neither can nor ought here- " after to be called in queftion." Thefe words are fufficient to remove all objections raifed by the Spaniards, as to the Britim pofTcffions in the province of Yucatan, and their right of cutting logwood in the bay of Campeachy ; for it ap- pears by the report of the lords of trade and plantations, made in confcquence of an applica- tion by the merchants to king George I. * That " the 1 2 'The Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART ce the treaty of 1670 eftablifhed a right in the I. " crown of Great Britain to the Laguna deTer- vxv^" minos, in the province Yucatan, as being c at the time of the treaty, and for fome years before, actually in the poffeflion of the Britifh " fubjeds." The Spanifh claim of orignal con- queft, on which they fo much depend, means nothing in this cafe, as it cannot extend to places they never poflefled, of which number is the Laguna deTerminos: and the Mufcheto Indians, having preferved themfelves from the Spanifh. yoke, the better to maintain their liberty, in the reign of king James II. fubmitted to the protection of the Englifh, and have ever fince retained an inviolable friendfhip to that nation, As the Mufchetoes border on the uninhabited part of Honduras, they have the beft right to the cutting of logwood there, and this right feems by their fubmiffion to be transferred to the Englifh ; fo that the Englifh right of logwood feems well grounded both in Honduras and Campeachy. 1713. AFTER the proclamation of the peace of Utrecht, or rather the declaring a fufpenfion of arms between Great Britain and Spain, the Spa- niards exercifed their violent infults on the Eng- lifh, whofe lofs, in Jefs than one year afterwards, amounted to above 200,000 pieces of eight ; for which, though they demanded fatisfaftion, they were never able to obtain the leaft ; when at the fame time, the governor of Domingo having charged the Englifh with landing at Hif- paniola, and carrying off negroes, indigo and other goods, to a great value, the governor and' council of Jamaica, ordered and made an am- ple reir^burfement to the Spanifh fufferers. 0* Engaged in the late General War; 1 3 ON acceptance of the afiiento contract by the CHAP. fouth fea company, purfuant to the treaty be- I. tween her late majefty queen Anne and king^^^v Philip V. of Spain, concluded at Madrid the 1 7 1 3* 26th of March, 1713 ; the company were there- by allowed, to introduce into the Spanifh Ame- rica, 144,000 negroes within the fpace of thirty years, to commence on March i, 1713; being 4,800 yearly, and to pay a duty after the rate of 33 } pieces of eight for every (lave. But his catholic majefty, on the company's advancing him a loan of 200,000 pieces of eight, to be repaid out of the duties of the lad ten years, at 20,000 pieces of eight yearly,, in consideration of the prompt payment of that fum, obliged the afiientifts to pay duty only for 4,000 negroes, thofe of 800 yearly being remitted. In this afiiento treaty was comprized an additional arti- cle, whereby Spain granted to the Englifh com- pany, permifiion of fending every year, during the faid thirty years, a (hip of 500 ton with merchandize for the fairs of New Spain ; on condition, that his catholic majefty fhould have a fourth of the profit of the fhip, as well as the negro treaty, and 5/. per cent, for the other three parts belonging to England. IN the year 1718, a rupture happening be- 1718. tween the crowns of Great Britain and Spain, Sir George Byng, the Britim admiral, deftroyed the Spanifh fleet in the ftreights of Medina , and the king of Spain feized all the effefts of the fouth fea company, that were any where to be found in his dominions, amounting to about 225,000 /. fterling. However, in the year 1721. 1721, a treaty was concluded at Madrid be- tween the two crowns, by which the Spanifh (hips and Britilh effects were to be reciprocally reftor- ed, 14 Vbe Conduct of the Powers of Europe, ART ed, and commerce fet on the footing of former I. treaties. *ry^ IN 1720 the Spaniards from Cuba and the continent, having committed many acts of hof- tility on the Englifh, Sir Nicholas Laws, then governor of Jamaica, and commodore Vernon^ at that time commander in chief of all his Bri- tannic majefty's (hips in the Weft Indies, - fent letters to Trinadado in Cuba, demanding fa- tisfadion from the alcades or commanding officers of that city ; but were fo far from pro- curing it, that the Spaniards made frivolous pretences of the Englifh carrying on a prohi- bited trade to their fettlements, and denied any reftitution as required by the governor and com- modore. This ufage fo exafperated the gover- nor, that foon after one of the guarda coftas being taken by the Launcefton man of war, with fifty-eight Spaniards on board, who had a little before taken off Hifpaniola, a fnow belonging to Jamaica ; the governor, alMed by his coun- cil and the commanders of the fleet, held a council of war to try the Spaniards for piracy, for which forty-three of them were convicted, condemned and executed. 1726. THE Spaniards, pretending that the fouth fea company's annual fhip practifed an illegal com- merce, by ftationing cargoes in her way, and eluding the revenues due to his catholic majefty^ had detained the Royal George, being the com- pany's affiento (hip, at Porto Bello -, and as the Spaniards were at that time meditating a com- bination with feveral European powers, for raif- ing a new war, particularly againft England j admiral Hofier, in 1726, was difpatched with a fleet to the Weft Indies, to intercept the Spa- nifh flota, or hinder them from conveying their treafure Engaged in the late General War: 1 5 treafure into Europe; which he accordingly ef- CHAP. fecled, and in fome meafure prevented the per- I. nicious confequences, of fuch a confederacy as 1 v ** the court of Spain was then endeavouring to ce- ment, purfuant to the treaty of Vienna. The arrival of this commander was alfo to demand reparation of the Spaniards, for the frequent in- fults and lofies the Englifh had fufFered by them in their navigation and trade ; for that end he failed to Porto Bello and demanded the Royal George, which was immediately delivered. WHAT has been thus enumerated, may ferve to point out the long diflentions between Eng- land and Spain, concerning the navigation and commerce in America , it is not material to en- ter into a more particular detail, of the many mifunderftandings between both nations ; let it fuffice, that complaints were grown fo numerous at the time of the treaty of Seville, October 29, 1729, that the commiflaries who were thereby 1729. appointed to examine all grievances on both fides, were allowed no lefs than three years to finifh their commiffion ; and in fix months after their report, the monarchs were reciprocally to exe- cute what they mould have decided. BY this treaty of Seville, the former treaties were renewed, and peace and perpetual union agreed on ; the Englifh never infringed this trea- ty, except fuch private adventurers as thought fie to run the rifque of a contraband or prohibited trade along the Spanifh coaft, on whom alone, according to the treaty of 1670, the guarda coftas ought to have executed their authority ; but inftead of this, they flill continued violence to the fair trader, and indifcriminately exercifed an unlimited privilege, taking many Britifh veficls, 1 6 TZtf Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART fcls, confifcating their cargoes, and ufing their I. crews with the utmoft inhumanity. Lx-VNj BUT in the year 1734, while Great Britain* J 734 to gratify the ambitious views of the Spanifh queen, was principally concerned in eftablifhing her fon Don Carlos on the throne of Naples and Sicily, to the great prejudice of the houfe of Auftria, the Spaniards then promifed reftitution for all their depredations, and fent orders to their American governors to do the Britifli nation juf- tice; nay, they even condemned and confifcated one of their guarda coftas, towards making fa- tisfaction to fome merchants, whofe (hips they had ravaged. But no fooner had Don Carlos been peaceably inverted in his regal dignity, than the Spaniards renewed their infults, and repeat- ed their outrageous hoftilities on the Englilh, not only in America, but even plundering their fhips in the Mediterranean ; which rendered the Britifli commerce fo precarious, that their merchants could not fail in fafety without the protection of a convoy. Thefe proceedings were the more atrocious, as committed during the very time the commiflaries, purfuant to the treaty of Seville, had aflembled at Madrid, where receiving com- plaints from both parties, and with a profundity of deliberation fat expeditioufly weighing them for more than feven years. 1738. THE Britifh nation, tired with the flownefs of the Spanilh commiflaries, and after many follici- tations and previous trials with the minifters of Spain, in order to accelerate their proceedings, and enforce their demands, fent a fleet into the Mediterranean under the command of admiral Haddock : this was the purpofe of fending it ; the Spaniards wre alarmed, and offered to treat; the Englifh minifters refufed to enter into any treaty, in the late General War. 17 treaty, till reparation for lodes, and fatisfa&ion CHAP. for injurie-s were firft granted by Spain ; and in- I. fluenced by the terror of a Britifh fleet, the ^ y Spaniards agreed to it, and their commiflkries proceeded to fettle what had been referred to them. THE accounts of the Englifh merchants, and their demands were carefully infpedted and al- lowed by the Spanifh commiflaries, and the firft computation of the demands of England on Spain, was 343, 277 /. including thofe feizures which had been examined by the commifTaries as well as thofe that had been fince made ; but Mr. Sterr, the Englifh commiffary, was of opinion, that fuch difallowances might be made on account of un- juit and over-rated claims, as would reduce the grofs fum to 200, oco/. as a reafonable fatisfadion for the Engli(h fufferers. But as the Englifh would not accept cedulas, offered for rtftitution, to be made in the Weft-Indies; or with affign- ments on the chamber of commerce at Seville, or on the regifler fhip, or other fhip?, or with any left fcrcuricy, than actual payment in money in a fbort time at London, the Englifli commif- fary made an abatement of 45,0007. for the prompt payment, which reduced the Englifh claim to 1 55,000 /. By the treaty of Madrid in 17:1, it is by the 5th article agreed, "That " his Britannic majefty fhould caufe to be re- " ftored to his Catholic majefcy, all the fhips " of the Spanim fleet taken by Englahd, in *' the naval battle fought in Auguft, 1718, in the feas of Sicily, with the guns, fails, rig- " ging and other equipage, in the condition they " were then in ; or elfe the value of thofe which " may have been fold at the purchafe price." And accordingly the reftitution of thefe fhips was VOL. I. B tendered iS The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART, tendered by the Englilh, to the Spaniih com- I. miflaries at Port-Mahon, where the (hips then , who finding them greatly difabled, and un- fit for fervice, refufed to take them ; and there- upon, by order of the governor of Minorca, the (hips were drawn out of the harbour and funk in the main fea ; for which the Spaniards now infifting on an equivalent, brought in a claim of i8o,ooo/. and this being flipulated by the Englifh cornmifTary at 6o,ooo/. there was then but an inconfiderable conceffion of 95,ooo/. from Spain, and the 60,000 /. to be paid by the En- glifh government for the Spanifh fhips, being onl y 155,000 /. to compenfate the great lofifes of the Englifh merchants. UPON this foundation the reciprocal fatisfac- t?on for paft damages on both fides were nego- ciated. ACCORDINGLY on the $d of January, 1739, a convention was haftily figned at one of the palaces belonging to his Catholic majefly called the pardo, by the minifters of both crowns. BY the firft article of which, " The antient " friendfhip was to IDC reUored, and two mini- " fters plenipotentiaries to meet at Madrid, in " fix weeks, finally to regulate the refpedive " pretenfions of the two crowns according to " former treaties." ', The fecond article " Refers to the fettlfng !t the limits of Florida and Carolina to the fame ;e minifters, and in the mean time things to re- ." main there, in the fame fituation." BY the third, The king of Spain promifes c to pay the agreed 95,000;. but leaves the dif- ' pute between the crown of Spain and the Eng- ^ hfh fouth fea company, to be fettled hereafter.** To "Engaged in the late General War. 1 9 To this treaty were annexed two feparate arti- CHAP. cles j by the firft of which *' Plenipotentiaries I. " are appointed on both fides, and the payment ^/^\^ ' of the 95,000 /. fixed to be made in London " in money within four months." THE fecond " Relates only to the reftoration " of two particular veflels." THIS treaty was accompanied with a declara- tion of the king of Spain, which his majefty in- fifted on as a preliminary to his figning the con- vention ; by which, *' He referves a right of " fufpending theafiiento of negroes, unlefs the *' Englifh fouth fea company, lubjecled itfelf to " pay in a fhort time the lum of 68,ooo/. " ftipulated to be due on the negroe duty." THIS convention was laid before the Britifh parliament the 8th of February following, who ordered it to be printed. Thus being produced before the public, it occasioned a general con- cern, as they apprehended it too incompatible with the Britifli honour and intercft, and accord- ingly feveral petitions were prefented to both houfcs of parliament by the lord mayor, alder- men, and common council of the city of Lon- don, the Weft India merchants of London, Briliol, Liverpool, and other places -, fetting forth, the na:ional prejudices refulting from the convention, and praying the redreis ofparlia. ment againil a treaty fo repugnant to the wifh? s and expectations of the generality of the king- dom. THESE petitions were taken into confidera- tion by both houfes of parliament , and the lords after examining Mr. Drake, Mr. Bendifh, Mr. Stert, late one of the Britifh commiflaries ac Spain, and feveral other merchants, concerning the Englifh loiTes j entered into a warm debate, B 2 and 20 Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART and through the minifterial influence came to a I refolution, " That an humble addrefs fhould be " prefcntcd to his majefty, to return him thanks " for his great care in obtaining the conven- tion/' which was accordingly prefented -, and though it was a tacit approbation of that treaty, yet their lordfhips, among other things in their addrefs, " Declared their confidence and reli- " ance, on his majefty's royal wifdom and " fteady attention to the honour of his crown, " and the welfare of his kingdoms , expeding " that in the treaty to be concluded in pur- " fuance of the convention, proper provi- " fions would be made, for the redrefs of the " grievances fojuftly complained of; and par- " ticularly that the freedom of navigation and " commerce in the American feas would be fo " effectually fecured, that they might injny un- " molefted, their undoubted right of navigat- ' ing and carrying on trade and commerce, " from one part of his majefty's dominions to " any other part thereof, without being liable " to be ftopped, vifited, or fearched, on the " open feas, or to any other violation or infrac- " tion of the treaties fubfifting between the two " crowns , the mutual obfervance thereof, and " a juft regard to the privileges belonging to " each other, being the only means ot main- " taining a good correfpondence and lading " friendfhip between the two nations.*' DON Geraldino, the Spanifti ambaffador at London, and agent for adjufting the accompts between his Catholic majefty and. the Englifh fouth fea company, after having praftifed many artifices to engage the company co comply with his extravagant demands, very fupercilioufly be- gari to try the force of menaces ; but in vain, -- Engaged in the late General War. 21 for on the id of March, the fouth fea company CHAP. came to a refolution, to pay no part of the I. 68,000 /. to the king of Spain, without his com* ing to a juft account with them for all fcizures, captures, and detentions of their mips, eflfefts and merchandize, on the rupture in 1718, which amounted to 225,0007. fterling, and the con- fifcation in 1726, to the value of 1 12,000 /. which, by the treaty of 1727, his Catholic majefty agreed to reftore, though the company afterwards received but a very trivial compenfa- tion. MR. Keen, the Britifh envoy at Madrid, hav- ing ftrongly follicited the payment of the 95,0007. ftipulated by the late convention for an indem- nification to the Britifh merchants, received fuch an equivocating and evafive anfwer, as obvioufly demonftrated, that the Spanifh miniftry paid but a very (lender regard to the convention, intending only to linger out a fruitlefs negotia- tion 1 , and (till continue to retard thofe compul- fory meafures, which they had fo long expected the crown of Great Britain would have exerted, to vindicate its naval reputation, and procure by the force of arms, that fatisfaction which was now found impoflible to be obtained by the effeft of treaty. 63 CHAP- CHAPTER II. From the proclamation of hoftilities by the court of GREAT BRITAIN againft the SPANIARDS, to the ex- pedition againft PORTO BELLO. PART "fk TOT WITHSTANDING war was the * l^J general cry throughout the Britifh nation, Sir Robert Walpole, who prefided at the head of theminiftry, ftill perfiftedin thcfe pacific meafures he had been always for maintaining. The national debt had received but an inconfiderable reduction fince the treaty of Utrecht, and at this time, amounted to above forty five millions ; a prodigious fum ! after fo long a peace : and by carrying on a war with Spain, the nation mult neceffarily be loaded with additional taxes, as alfo by flopping a trade with that kingdom, it would be deprived of the moft beneficial branch of its commerce, and be thereby the more impove- rimed. This was the tenacious argument of the miniftry to prevent a rupture with the crown of Spain, which was highly commendatory fo far as it tended to their own fecurity, as the pacific fyftem, however detrimental to trade, and inju- rious to the national honour, would afford the miniftry leifure, and opportunity for a diminu- tion Engaged in the late General War: 23 tion of this forty five millions, fuch a furprizing CHAP- incumbrance on a nation, fo long lulled in the II. bofom of tranquility. The miniltry were very fenfible, ic was too cumberfome a load to fit eafy on the neck of the people ; efpecially as it might be well apprehended, that the free revenue, had, for near twenty years, been a great deal more than fufficient for anfwering the annual expence, if the miniftry had kept up no greater armies than were neceflary, paid no unneceffary penfions, nor fitted out any ufelefs fquadrons j and that upon this calculation, for admitting, what was afTmed in the clofe of the reign of queen Ann, that 350,0007. a year was fufficient for the fupport of all the guards and garrifons requifite at home, i2O,oco/. fufficient for the ordinary of the navy, 500, ooo/. a year for the civil lift, which was affirmed by a nobleman of great diftinflion to be fufficient for that purpofe, if exempted from the deductions of ufelefs or dangerous penfions ; and if to thefe three fums, were added 520,0007. a year, for maintaining 10,000 feamen, and 300,000 /. a year, for de- fraying the expence of the office of ordnance, and for fupporting the garrifons at Gibraltar, Port-Mahon, and in the plantations, the whole neceflary annual expence of the nation would amount to no more than 1,790,0007. to which might be added 2 10,000 7. yearly for other con- tingent expences, to make up an even fum of two millions, which would have been the annual expence of the nation if difingaged from any foreign difputes. Towards difcharging of this, there would have been more that a fufficiency from the frc. j e revenue, that is, the revenue un- mortgaged for the payment of any old debt; for the land tax, at two Shillings in the pound, isgene- B 4 rally 24 The Condud of the Powers of Europe, PART rally computed at a million a year, and the I. malt tax, at 700,000 /. a year, but as there l/*V>J might be a deficiency in each of thefe annual grants, fuppofe they are both eftimated but at i, 600,000 /. a year ; and though the civil lift revenue is generally computed at a million a year, if we reckon it but at 900,000 /. they will make in the whole, 2, 500,000 /. free revenue yearly ; fo that upon this calculation for many years pad, inftead of encroaching upon the finking fund, 500,000 /. might have been added to it yearly ; and inftead of encreafing the national debt, great part of it might have been paid off, without laying any new and heavier taxes upon the people. And againft this the miniftry could be no other- wife defended, than by alledging, that if ar- mies had not been keept up, and augmented, or if fquadrons had not been fitted out as often as occafion required, the nation would have been invaded, or fome of its allies fwallowed up, and the balance of power quite overturned , but that all fuch attempts, had been prevented by fuch meafures, towards the fupporting of which, as the free revenue was deficient, it had been ne- cefiary, almoft every year, to apply fome part, or the whole of the finking fund, for the cur- rent fervices. A STAONAT ION of the Spanim trade, is one of the moft infuperabledifadvantages can be thrown upon the Britim nation, and above all things ought to be the mod carefully avoided ; for in this trade centers the moft confiderable part of the Britilh commerce, by a valuable exportation of rhe woollen manufactures, in which the real wealth of the kingdom confifts. But at the fame time, by a fufpenfion of this trade, the Spaniards could be equally affliaed, which is verified Engaged In tbe late General War. 25 verified by their national proverb, " Peace with CHAP, " England and war with the whole world:" H. For it is generally fuppofed, that the Britifli na-c-~v J tion confumes near two thirds of the exported produce of Spain ; therefore the Spaniards are dependant for the greateft part of their trade, upon a friendly intercourfe with England, which, for its woollen manufacture, tin, lead, corn and coals, receives in exchange from Spain, wine, wool, oil, foap, fruit, iron, indigo, cochineal and drugs. Though the profits of trade were fo great in favour of the Englilh, that on the balance,, their gains were fo, k extraordinary, it has been imagined the Englifh and Dutch (hared half the treafure of the plate fleet, annu- ally imported from America ; yet the confump- tion of Spanilh commodities in Great Britain, though inequivalent, was very profitable, 10,000 ton of Spanilh wines, befides brandies being an- nually imported in the Britifli dominions, which amount to the confumers to near 1,000,000 /. fterling. Befides, England is the only market for the commodities of Spain, the French are too fruitful, the northern nations too poor, and the Dutch too frugal, to riot in fuch a luxurious produce. Thus a war between Great Britain and Spain would be equally detrimental to the commerce of both nations, and fuch a conjunc- ture muft and always will contribute to the en- riching of France, at tte expence of the powers at variance; for during the'laft war, in four years time, there was landed at Breft, fix mil- lions fterling of Spanifh bullion, which France drew from its trade with Spain in the Weft In- dies ; and the great end liwis XIV. aimed at, in fetting a prince of the houfe of Bourbon on ( the Spanifli throne, was to draw the riches of the ' 2 6 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,' 'PART the Indies into his own treafury : but though I. England ought vigilantly to fecure her trade \^y^f with Spain, free from the encroachments of France or any other rival in fo beneficial a com- merce ; it is not lefs incumbent on Spain to avoid finking into the arms of France, whofe inhabi- tants are not more oppofite in their manners and genius to thofe of the Spaniards than a French trade is repugnant to the true intereft of the kingdom of Spain. But though the Britilh nation was burthened with fo weighty a debt, though they were convinced it would be una- voidably aggravated by a prevention of the Spa- nifh trade, yet they univerfally exclaimed againft: the long forbearance of the miniftry, in permit- ing the Spaniards, unchaftifed, to continue their depredations ; and they impatiently waited for a declaration of hoftilities, as they might publicly redrefs thofe injuries they had fo long fupinely fuflained from the contumelious power and info- lence of Spain. '739' ^ N tne lOt ^ ^ J u ty J 739> a proclamation was iffued at Lon'don by order of the Britifh council, alledging theSpanifh depredations, the expiration of the term limited for the payment pf the 95,ooo/. in London, and the non-payment thereof, thereby authorizing general reprizals and letters of marque againft the mips, goqds, and fubjecls of the king of Spain. THESE orders, under the royal fign manual, dated the i5th of June, had been difpatched almoft a month before their publication, to Com- modore Brown, then commander of a Britifh fquadron at Jamaica, that he might have an opportunity of making the beft ufe of them be- fore the Spaniards could receive intelligence of, and be prepared againft them, which were pub- limed Engaged in the late General War. 27 lifted by the commodore on the 8th of Auguft, CHAP. but to little purpofe, for the commodore very II. indifcreetly failed with his whole fquadron, and r A i hovering round the Spanifh coaft alarmed the J 739 inhabitants, and rendered abortive the intention of the Britifh govenment in that refpecl:: where- as had he detached his fquadron to cruize on different ftations, he might have fwept the whole feas, reduced the wealth of Spain, and gained to himfelf an immenfe booty. THE Britifh miniltry now evidently fcrefaw the unavoidable neceffity of a Spanifh war, and the general fenfe of the whole kingdom, pointed out to them, that the Weft Indies was the moft proper place for profecuting it, fo as to bring the differences with Spain toafpeedy as well as happy determination ; for it was there the war could be puttied with the moft eafe and greatefl advantage, as the Spanilh lettlements were then in a very defencelefs condition, their fortifica- tions impaired, their artillery neglected, their magazines unprovided, their garrifonsdiminifhed, fpiritlefs and difaffe&ed, and the royal fund of Peruvian treafure almolt exhaufted ; nor were their fctdements in the Eaft Indies in a better fituation : this gave the faireft probability, that by a proper exertion of the Brititifh force in at- tacking the diftant fettlements of Spain, that the Spaniards would have been deprived of their principal refources to carry on a war, and would have been fincerely glad of embracing any mo- derate propofals of peace: or fuppofing the Spa- niards had^perfifted in their obftinacy, to refufe the falutary method of terminating differences by an amicable accommodation, if the Britifh arms had made thofe acquifitions in the Spanifh fettlements they had then a favourable opportu- nity zS T^ Conduct: c/V^ Powers of Europe, PART nity of doing, any conquefts in that country of I. wealth, would have enabled the crown of Great ^v>~ Britain to have continued the war at the Spa- 1739. niards 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 efcape a national knowledge, and the miniftry were obliged to coincide with fuch public and open fentiments. Accordingly leveral fchemes were projected, and deliberated upon in council, when it was refolved, that two fquadrons fhould 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 expe- dition, and to touch at no place till they came to Java-Head in the Eaft Indies, where they were only to water, and proceed to the city of Manila in Luconia, one of the Philippine iflands . in poffcflion of the Spaniards. The fquadron defigned for Capt. Cornwall was to have been of equal force, and was intended to pafs round Cape Horn into the South Seas, and after ranging along that part of the Spanifh coaft, and at- tempting 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 fcheme met with fuch general approbation, in the beginning of September a veffel was difpatched Engaged in tbe late General War; 29 difpatched to Capt. Anfon, then on a ftation CHAP. cruize, to order his return with his fhip to II. Porrfmouth. ^ s ** THE more effectually to diftrefs the Spaniards, '739- another fquadron was deftined for the Weft Indies, and Edward Vernon, Efq; then lately created vice admiral of the blue, from the many eminent fcrvices he had formerly done his coun- try in that remote part of the world, was uni- verially looked upon as the moft 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, dili- gence and bravery had been hitherto unreward- ed : but notwithstanding his rank in the navy had been long negl?6ted, though he had with- drawn from any public ftation, and with great reafon was difgufted at the miniftry -, nofooner was an application made to him to undertake the command of a fquadron for the national fervice, but, with a behaviour equal to the antient patri- ots of Greece and Rome, he facrificed ail his private refentmtnts 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 difinte- refted a gentleman, nor were they difappointed in their boldeft wilhes -, for this brave commander, chearfully quitted the calm retirement of a rural life -, and, like the Roman Cincinnatus, flew to eftablifli 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 30 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART (bameful reduction of the pride of Spain. A I. fquadron was accordingly eq-.iipped at Portf- - v ''mouth -, and on the igi\\ of July the admiral J 739' received inftructions from his Britannic majefty, under his fign manual, appointing him com- mander in chief of all his mips in the Weft Indies; and the admiral foon after arrived at Portfmouth, and took under his command the following fhips. The fquadron for the Weft Indies: Ships Names Commanders Rate Men Guns ** CaptwaTn } 3 5~ > Princefs Louifa Waterhous 4 400 60 Worcefter P. Mayne 4 400 60 Stafford Trevor 4 400 60 Norwich Herbert 4 300 50 Total 2000 300 Defigned to cruize in the Mediterranean; Ships Names Commanders Rate Men Guns Lenox Capt. C. Mayne 3 480 70 Elizabeth Falkingham 3 480 70 Kent Durell 3 480 70 Pearl Hon. E. Legge 5 240 40 Total 1680 250 THE orders given to the admiral, were " To " diftrefs and annoy the Spaniards in the moft " effectual manner, by taking their fhips and " poffefling himfelf of fuch of their places and " fettlements, as he mould think it practicable " to attempt, and in conveying and protecting " the Britiih fubjects, in carrying on an open " and Engaged in tie late General War. 3 1 " and advantageous trade with the Spaniards in CHAP. " America." The fquadron being completely If. fitted out, and. ready for failing, on the ift of t-X^ / ^ Auguft, the admiral delivered instructions to the J 739 feveral captains, whereby they were required and directed, " Upon coming up with any Spanifh " (hips or veflels, either by fignal for chafing " from the admiral, or otherwife, to ufe their " utmoll endeavours to take, fink, burn, or . *' otherwife deftroy them. And for the better ct encourgement of the officers and feamen to do their duty, the admiral ordered the cap- ' tains to aflure them, that his Britannic ma- " jefty would have a regird to the rewarding their fervices in the diftribution of the prizes " to be taken from the Spaniards ; and that as there might be fpeedy occafion, for the fqua- * dron entering upon fervice, the captains were ordered daily to exercifc their men, both to ' great guns and fmall arms, fo as to give them * ail the experience they were able, for ena- ' bling them fuccefsfully to put his majefty's " orders in execution ; and for that purpofe they " were directed to give the ftricleft orders in " their refpedlive watches, to be careful in rriakv " ing fail in due time, to keep the whole fqua- 3 Hampton C. Com. Brown O Capt. Dent 495 7 4 Norwich R. Herbert 300 50 Worcefter Perry Mayne 400 60 Sheernefs 3 Burford V. A. Vernon 9 Capt. T. Watfon j 5 7 4 Strafford T.Trevor 400 60 Princefs Louifa T. V/aterhous 400 60 THERE were 2,495 failors on board, with 200 land forces under Capt. Newton : on the 5th the admiral failed out of Port Royal harbour with the fquadron, and proceeded towards Porto Bello, having left orders for the Diamond, Windfor and Anglefea to compleat their provifions to ten weeks and follow him to Porto Bello, off of which place, in cafe of feparation, the admiral had appointed the general rendezvous. THE fquadron being at fea, on the yth the admiral delivered his orders to the commodore and captains, appointing the following difpofitions for the attack j *' That upon making the land of " Porto Bello, and having a wind to favour them " and day-light for the attempt, to have their " Ihips clear in all refpects for immediate fervice, " and on the proper fignal to form themfelves " into the line ot battle above directed, and be- " ing formed to follow in the fame order of bat- ' ** tie to the attack in the mariner hereafter di- " re&ed. Engaged in the late General War. 45 " reeled. And as the north fhore of the har- CHAP. *' hour of Porto Bello was reprefented to the II. " admiral to be a bold fteep Ihore, on which at(/V*SJ " the firft entrance flood the caftle de Ferro, or J 739- " Iron Caftle ; Commodore Brown and the fhips " that followed were directed to pafs the fakl fore " within lefs than a cable's length, for giving the " Spaniards the warmer fire both from the muf- " ketry as well as their cannon, and then Com- " modore Brown was to fteer away for the Gloria " Caftle, and anchor as near as he could to the ' eaftermoft part of it for battering down all the " defence of it, fo as to leave room for Capt. " Mayne in the Worcefter to anchor aftern of *' him againft the weftermoft baftion of it to do c{ the fame there, who was to follow fuch further * orders as the commodore Ihould give him for to, the admiral fent the governor afhore with Capt. Knowles, whom he appointed governor of the caftle for hi Britannic majefty, and fent a garrifon along with him of five lieutenants and j 20 men, and all the boats of the fleet to land them; and by three o'clock that afternoon Capt. Knowles entered the fort with his garrifon. The fame evening Capt. Knowies fent and placed a guard upon the cuftom-houfe on the oppofite fide of the river Chagre; and Admiral Vernon went on fhore himfclf by day-break the next morning to give all necelTary orders, and found the cuftom-houfe full of goods for the lading of the galleons, fuch as guayaquil, cocoa, jefuit's bark, and Spanim wool ; and gave immediate orders for their being fpeedily (hipped off. The number of ferons and bags of goods amounted to 4,300. The two guarda cofta (loops in the river (which were all the guarda codas that were left in thofe parts) were funk juft above the cuftom-- houfe, carpenters being ordered to break up their decks and entirely deftroy them. THE cuftom-houfe being entirely cleared by. Friday the 28th, was filled with cumbuftible matter of the neighbouring huts, and fet on fire that evening, which burnt with great fiercenefs all that night. ON the 29th in the morning the brafs cannon being embarked, which were eleven guns and eleven patteraroes, and a good part of the gar- rifon ; the mines were fprung under the lower baftion, which entirely demolithed it: then two mines were fprung to blow up fome of the upper parts 64 Tfo Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART parts of the works-, afterwards all the inner build" J. ings of the caftle were fet on fire, and were burn- . v - 'ing all the night of the 29th. On the goth 1740. Vice Admiral Vernon put to fea with his fqua- dron ; and on the ift of April in the evening got to the mouth of the harbour of Porto Bello, where he was joined by the Windfor and Green- wich, juft arrived from their cruize off Carthage- na; and on the 2d was joined alfo by the Burford, which he had left to be repaired at Jamaica. ON the 5th the-admiral ordered Mr. Henry Barnfley " To take upon him the command of " the little Spanifh prize floop that had been " carreened in Porto Bello harbour, and to carry Mr. Jofnua Thomas, Purfer of the Strafford, " to England, with the packet for the govern- cc ment committed to his care, with an account " of the fuccefs of this expedition." The admi- ral, after failing from Porto Bello, received ad- vice that two Spanilh men of war bound from Ferrol, with the vice roy of the kingdom of Sr, Fee, were arrived at St. John de Porto Rico, and imagining the vice roy might probably choofe to fall in with the port of St. Martha, being within his government, before he proceeded to Carthagena ; the admiral being off the little Baru, on the 2ift ordered the Windfor, Green- wich and Burford, under the direction of Capt. Berkley " To cruize juft to windward of St. *' Martha, for intercepting the vice roy *," but the Spanifh men of war efcaped their vigilance, and fafely conducted the vice roy to Carthagena, with, 600 foldiers, defigned for reinforcing the gar- rifon of Porto Bello; while Admiral Vernon with the reft of the fquadron foon after returned to Jamaica. THE Engaged in the Jate General War. " 6$ THE admiral, both at Porto Bello and Cha- CHAP. gre, (hewed the true fpirit of his countrymen ; III. their intrepidity in attacking, their moderation ^ ^-^j in victory, their difmtereftednefsin. the ufe of it, 1740. and their honour in obferving capitulations : for this he was highly commended by the Spaniards, who found in him the true glory of his heroic countrymen, whofe courage was exceeded by no- thing but their clemency, on which alone they founded their eternal fame. THE admiral was obliged to demolim the for- tifications at Porto Bello and Chagre, as he was incapable of maintaining them through the want of a proper fupply of land forces; and had he been provided with only 2,000, he might have kept poiftfiion of Porto Bdlo and made himfelf matter of Panama, by which means he would have laid the whole coaft of Chili and Peru, and the weftern coaft of Mexico, open both to the trade and the attacks of the Britifh fubjefts ; and .by being thus pofleffed of the ifthmus of Darien, by receiving proper reinforcements, there would have been a great probability of even feizing the mines of Peru. A SCHEME having been recommended at Ja- maica to Governor Trelavvny to procure the af- fiftance of the Mofquito Indians, and diftrefs the Spaniards in Guatimala, one of the provinces of Mexico, it gained the governor's approbation ; who was alfo informed, that from the particular fuuation and trade of that part of the continent, great ad vantages and wealth mightaccrue to the undertakers. In purfuance of this reprefentation, Governor Trelawny, after having previoufly folli- cited and gained a promife of afliftance from the Mofquito nation, in October lent Lieut. Hodg- Ibn for the coaft of Honduras, with a neceflary fup- Vot. I. E ply 66 'The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, , PART ply of arms and ammunition for the Mofquito In- J. dians, who on his arrival found them aflembled, ^rxrsJ and ready for any expedition. This is a fmall 1740. but warlike body of Indians, ftrongly attached to the Britifh intereil, and perpetually at variance with the Spaniards ; and with 5coofthefc hardy men under his command, Lieutenant Hodgfon proceeded to a Spanim fettlement on Carpenter's River, about 1 20 leagues weft of Porto Bello, where they made a confiderable booty in filver and cocoa ; and as the Spaniards never entertain- ed the leaft fufpicion of fuch an enterprize, they had made no preparations to prevent the execu- tion of it, fo that if this party of men had expe- ditioufly pufhed their way, they might have plun- dered and cleftroyed all the Spanim fettlements in their pafTage, and probably have furprized the opulent town of Panama, their principal view : but the Indians, difcontented at the profpect of fo long and laborious a march, refilled to pro- ceed, and Lieutenant Hodgfon was obliged to abandon the enterprize and to return to Jamaica. Had fuch an expedition been properly conduct- ed with 1,000 able difciplined men, great ad- vantages might have attended it; for the Europe- an Spaniards act like arbitrary tyrants over the natives, both Creol Spaniards and Indians, who might be very eafily induced to revolt, and pro- mote any invafion, in a country where they are treated with the utmoft fervility and contempt ; nay, not above four years before Lieutenant Hodg- fon's expedition, 30,000 Indians who inhabited near La Vera Paz, on the borders of Honduras, actually renounced any allegiance to the Spani- ards, threw off the galling yoke of flu very, and fhewed a determined refolution to deiend their independence and liberty. Therefore, on being properly Engaged in tie late General War: 6? properly fupplied with arms, how willing and CHAP. how fond would they have been to have united III. their ftrength and efforts to rout the Spaniards o^v^o out of the country , or by altering their conditions, 1 740. to make thofe ufurping and cruel mafters, hewers of wood and drawers of water, to the very (laves they had fo defpicably ufed and ungeneroufly de- bafed? And if there once had been a confiderable infurreftion of the Guatimalla Indians, vigoroufly fupported by their neighbours the Mufquitoes, and a proper force from Jamaica, a general re- volt would ibon haveenfued throughout the whole Spanish territories, both in Mexico and Peru, which they were much inclined to, and wanted nothing but arms to recover the native freedom of their anceftors, before they fell a barbarous and wanton facrifice to the avarice of the fubjecb, and aggrandizement of the crown of Spain. Such a revolt would have been the. more eafily facili- tated, as the Indians have a traditional prophecy among them, " That a nation will, one time or " other, come and affift them to drive out the " Spaniards ;" and happy for Britain had it been effected by her afliftance, the Spanilh infolence had then been no longer fupported by the wealth of the Columbian world, that wealth for which thefe regions of undifcovered peace and fimplici- ty, were inhumanly bathed with the blood of its royal Yncas, and millions of inhabitants, and for which their pofterity would freely devote their lives to procure ample vengeance on the Spaniards: and could they fucceed in this their cardinalpafiion, revenge, thofe that affifted them would confe- quently be the favourite nation, and reap all the advantages pofleffed by the Spaniards ; for it is the Indians that cultivate the country, work in. the mines, and make all their manufactures, E 2 which 68 The Conduft of the Powers of Europe; which they could do as well if there was not a Spaniard in the country. CHAPTER IV. EUROPEAN tranfadlions between the courts of GREAT BRITAIN and SPAIN in 1740. PART YY7HILE Ad rmral Vernon was thus increaf- I. VV i n n ' s naval honours, the joyful news of e reduction of Porto Bello was fpread all over 1740. the Britifli dominions immediately after the arri- val of Capt. Rentone in London, where he de- livered the admiral's letters to the duke of New- caftle on the 1 3th of March. As fo important an acquifition was obtained by fix men of war only, with fuch an inconfiderable number of land forces, it diffuled a general joy through the whole king- dom. This enterprize being fo prudently con- dueled and fo bravely executed, the people were now fenfible of the force of the Britifh arms, di- rected by an able cemmander ; the name of Ver- non became idolized among the populace, he was looked upon as another Drake or Ruflel in England^ he was efteemed as a fecond Ra- leigh or Blake in America, and highly venerated by all ranks and conditions of men throughout the Britifh dominions. His Britannic inajefty was fo fully perfuaded of the admiral's zeal for his fervice^ Engaged In the late General War^ 69 fervice, and of his prudence and good conduct in CHAP. taking fuch meafures as Ihould the more effectu- IV. ally conduce thereto, that the king did not think "" it proper to prefcribe any particular fervice to be undertaken by the admiral, but left it entirely to his direction to ad againft the Spaniards, in fuch. manner and in fuch places as mould appear to him bed to anfwer the ends pgopofed by his majefty's former orders : his majefty alfo gave particular command to the duke of Newcaftle, to affure the admiral of his entire approbation of his conduct and behaviour (hewed in this action, and in the humanity with which he treated the inhabitants after the reduction of Porto Bello. ON the i8ch of March an addrefs was prefent- ed to his majefty by both houfes of parliament, * c Congratulating him on the fuccefs of Admiral " Vernon by entering the port and taking the " town of Porto Bello, and demolifhing and " levelling all the forts and caftles belonging " thereto, with fix fhips of war only ; and re- " prefenting that it could not fail of giving the " utmoftjoy to all his majefty's fubjects, fince it " afforded the moft reafonable hopes and expec- " tations, that it might be attended with other *' important advantages, and highly contribute " to the obtaining real and effectual fecurity of " thofejuft rights of navigation and commerce to act in a hoftile manner againft the Brhifhfub- jecls, either jointly with the Spaniards or fepa- rately, but even to concert meafures wich them for attacking Jamaica ; and when the earl of Waldegrave, the Britifh embaffador at the court of France, demanded the reafon of equipping this armament; the cardinal told him, * That " there was difference between arming and de- " daring war; and that ic was true his moft cc Chriftian majefty had promifed a neutrality, " but as unforeseen accidents might happen, it " was prudence to be prepared againft all events." To give themfclves the greater iecurity from the refentment of the crown of Great Britain, and to iritate that nation to a retaliation of injuries by a fpeedy declaration of war, the French committed a notorious contravention of the treaty of Utrecht, by repairing and refortifying the port of Dunkirk ; that port, which by this treaty they had been compelled to deftroy, which they had folemnly ftipulated never to reftore, and from which more moleftation might arife to the Britifh commerce than from all the other coafts of France, as it would enable the French to croud the channel with privateers, and purfue the Britifh merchants even to their own ports ; nor could all the re- monftrances made by the Britifli and Dutch em- bafiadors, againft fo public an infraclion of fo folemn a treaty, in the lead deter the French from continuing the work, which they com- pleted without interruption. Upon this his moft Chriftian majefty publifhed a declaration to vin- dicate the neceffity of fitting out the fleet under the 8o *The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART the marquis de Antin, and the fortifying Dun-' I. kirk and port POrient ; wherein he declares, ^v^w " That after the taking of Porto Bello and Cha- 1740. " gre, the ambafiador of Great Britain was from " that time advertifed in his rnajefty's name, that " the Englifh ought not to think that France beheld with an eye of indifference the enter- " prizes which the Englifh nation had formed in America, nor that the king would fuffer them to make any eftablifhment in the Weft Indies , that the declaration was renewed, in proportion as the preparations againft America were feen to indicate more certainly projects, of conquefts ; and the BritiQi ambafiador noc returning any anfwer on a point fo important, the king thought that he ought not any longer to defer fitting out his mips, to put himfelf in a condition of preventing a danger that be- " came every day more preffing ; alledging for ct the precautions taken at the city de 1'Orient < and Dunkirk, that they were only to hinder " any furprize from the Englifti corfairs,'* though it eventually appeared quite the reverfe. IN times of war the predominant pafiion of Englishmen is a fierce and refolute refentment againft their enemy ; ever jealous of their navat honour, they chearfully grant any fubfidies requi- fite to maintain their illuftrious character, and hold their lives and fortunes devoted to the ufe and intereft of their king and country: this makes them fond of feeing their military power exerted : but the miniftry was too timerous to gratify their wifhes, and fuftained the loudeft popular excla- mations againft their pacific conduct with a long and furprizing patience , they knew the power of France, they dreaded its alliance with Spain, and were too cautioufly endeavouring to ftifle the leaft Engaged in the late General War. Sr leaft incentives which the miniftry of Paris might CHAP, embrace to favour the Spaniards with an auxiliary IV. affillance: this, and the repeated declarations of ^ - France not to fuffer Spain to be difmantled of J 7^ her pofieffions in America, intimidated the Bri- tifh miniftry from purl'uing thofe vigorous and necefiary meafures they would otherwise have purfued. But the detention of fuch magnificent fleets, and fuch numbers of failors, indolently rid- ing in their own ports, was too apparent a foun- dation for creating a public difguft, and increaf- ing the uneafinefs which had been already openly avowed ; therefore fome expedition was neceflary to amufe the nation, and fmother their difcontent, while at the fame time the French fhould receive no provocation to arm in favour of the Spaniards ; and pofTibly with this view a fecret expedition was projected, for which a very potent fleet was af- fembled at Portfmouth, where, on the 24th of June, Sir John Norris, admiral of the red, hoift- ed his flag on board the unfortunate Victory, a firft rate of no guns, having under him Philip Civendim, Efq; admiral, and Sir Chaloner Op'e, rear admiral of the blue, and on the fth of July his royal highnefs the Duke of Cumberland em- barked with the admiral, as a volunteer in the intended expedition. The defignation of this well-appointed navy confifting of twenty-one fail of the line and three fire fhips, was varioufly conjectured , fome reported as though it was in- tended to bombard SebalYians-, others infinuatecl that a confpiracy had been difcovered in Galicia In favour ot the Englifh, and that this prefented a fair opportunity to favour an invafion on the coatls of that province , while others, with the fame uncertainty, furmifed an attempt on the Sp.mifh fquadron at Fcrrol : but whatever were VOL. -I. L the 82 *fhe Conduct of tie Powers of Europe, FART the true and real motives of fitting out fo puififant I. a fleet, the fcheme proved ineffectual and fruit- < -v ' Ids 5 for after being detained, about a week, at St I 74 Helens by contrary winds, the fleet failed from thence on the I4th of July, with the convoy and merchant fhips for Portugal and the Streights ; but meeting with hard gales of wind at S. W. wherein the Lion man of war ran foul of the Victory and carried away her bowfprit, and the Lion lofing her fore-maft, the fleet returned to Sc Helens-, and on the 2zd failed again, but were detained at Torbay for near a month, and on the i gth of September returned to Spithead i where, on his royal highnefs difembarking, an en- terprize that had engrofled the whole public at- tention, and after having drawn upon it the eyes of all Europe, thus inglorioufly completed fo' fhameful and expenfive an undertaking, without effecting any thing more than caufing four French men of war to fail from Breft, and attend the motions of the Britifh admiral ; when at the fame time there was force enough to have levelled the ftrongeft fortifications in Spain. Though if this fleet had actually failed and ravaged the coafts of Spain, it muft have been an impolitic fcheme j as it could tend only to compel the Spaniards in- to a peace, before the Britifh nation had fecured fuch advantages as thty might have reafonably expected in the Weft Indies, by a proper exer- tion of their naval power in thofe feas, where they could have defied the whole world. Such pomp and oftentation in the European feas was ufelefs ; had the Britifh fleet fcoured the feas at home, with feparate men of war, and drove away the privateer., who were preying on their trade and infeftingeven their very coafts, keeping at the fame time a fufficicnt ftrength againft any attack, Engaged in the late General War, 83 it would have b(een more fatisfactory to the mer- CHAP. can tile and general part of the nation, than any IV. ' fuccefs they could expect to have attended a de- ~- -v^. fcent on the coafts of Spain, where little advan- 1740. tage could be obtained. ON the 1 3th of Oftober his Britannic majefty arrived at St James's from his German dominions. In November the parliament met, and his ma- jefty opened the feffions with a fpeech, wherein he declared " His refolution of profecuting vigo- '* roufly the war with Spain, even though France " Ihould declare in her favour, as fome late extraor- dinary proceedings fhowed her inclination to do." The houfe of commons voted 40,000 feamen and ten new regimentsof foot and marines, for the fervice of the enfuing year, for which they grant- ed a land tax of four millings in the pound. To encourage the feamen and commanders effectually to perform their duty, a bill was patted to veft the prizes folely in the captors ; this animated the navy, for before his majefty had a confiderable fhare out of every capture taken by the men of war ; and in December the houfe of commons granted his majefty a further fupply of 200,000 /, towards the carrying on of a fecret expedition. THOUGH his Britannic majefty'sinftructions to Commodore Anfon were dated January 31, yet the commodore did not receive them from the Duke of Newcaftle, the principal fecretary of ftate, until the 28th of June, together with an additional inftruction from the lords juftices dated June 19. On the receipt of thefe, the commo- dore immediately repaired toSpithead, refolving to fail with the firft fair wind, but was difappoint- ed through the want of 300 feamen of his com- plement, which occafioned an inevitable delay, till the end of July, before this deficiency met L 2 with S 4 ^ Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART with any fupply, and that fo far Jhort of his - T negations, that inftead of 300 able failor , the u- -^ commodore's fquadron was only augmented with 1 740. , 70 men, of which 98 were marines , and to increaie his mortification, as the commodore crafted that - Colonel Eland's regiment and three mdependant companies of 100 men each were to embark as land forces on board the fquadron, he now found this difpofition was changed for 5 oc > invalids to be collected from the out-penfions of Chelfea c< leze : indeed as thefe out-penfioners are compu. ted to be generally about 2,000 in number, there was a poflibility of culling out 500 fomewhat ca- pable of difcharging their duty in this penllous enterprize; but alas! inftead of men hardy, flrong, and fit to encounter with the difficulties and fatigues fuch a fquadron muft neceffarily undergo, this was the moft aged and inhrm detachment that could be collected out of the \vhole body. The commodore was greatly de- ceived at having fuch a decrepid land force al- lotted him, and the old veterans, fenfible of t dangers they were to encounter, confcious that they muft moft of them perim through difeafcsia fuch a laborious voyage before they arrived a the fcene of adion, and without contributing ir the leaft to the fuccefs of the defign , and dilgut- ted at being thus hurried away from that repoj their former fervices for the public good had juit- ly deferred, out of the 500 no lets than 241 ferted, and thofe that came on board were load- ed with age and infirmities, moft of them being jfixty and fbme upwards of feventy, and the whc much fitter to fpend the remainder of their lives in the ferenityof peace, and the enjoyment c that exemption and tranquility from arms, grant cd by every nation to the re-ped of age worn oj Engaged in the late General War. 85 in their country's fervice, and for which the CHAP. royal mailer of thefe antient veterans, had fo IV. comfortably provided to fupport them in the de- ' * cline of life. To fupply the deficiency of the I /4- invalids which had deferted, on the 8th of Augutl, 210 marines detached from different regiments, being raw undifciplined men, came on board j and the fquadron being now fitted out in the beft manner the commodore was able to procure, he made the neceflfary preparations for failing. THIS fquadron confifted of the following five men of war, floop of war, and two victualling fhips ; Ships Names Commanders Guns Men The Centurion Gloucefter Severn Pearl Wager Tryal Sloop Com. Anfon 60 400 Capt. R. Norris 50 300 Hon. Ed. Legg 50 300 Matt. Mitchel 40 250 Dandy Kidd 28 160 Hon. J. Murray 8 100 Total 236 1510 the two victuallers were pinks, one of 400 and the other of 200 ton burden, and were to attend the fquadron, till the provifions taken on board were fo far confumed as to make room for the additional quantity the victuallers carried with them, which when taken into the men of war, the victuallers were to be difcharged. Befides the above complement of men as the (hip's crews, there were embarked on board the fquadron a- bout 470 invalids and marines, under the deno- mination of land forces, commanded by Lieute- nant-Colonel Mordaunt Cracherode. ON 86 lie Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART ON the loth of Auguft the fquadron failed I. from Spithead to St Helens, where the commo- 1 ^ 'dore was detained chiefly through the want of *740. pofitive orders for his failing, without joining company with another fleet under Sir Chaloner Ogle, until the iSth of September, when he weighed, and though the wind was unfavourable at firft, he tided it down and got clear of the channel in four days ; and after parting with the American, Turkey, and Scrdghts convoy, on the 29th, the commodore proceeded on the ex- pedition with his whole fquadron, and arrived at the ifland of Madera on the 251}} of Oiftober. The commodore, as well as the crews of the whole fquadron, could not conceal their concern at the dilatory obftrudions that prevented them from fetting out at a more feafonable time of the year ; this too was increafed by their Jong paffage to the Maderas, and they began to entertain the melancholly reflections of the extraordinary dan- ger in paffing round Cape Horn in the mod tempeftuous feafon of the year ; and were fhockr ed with the apprehenfions of all thatdifmal train of dittreflfes that afterwards happened to them, by the feparation of the fquadron, in thofe rough and ftorn-.y leas, they were then direding their courfe to. THEY continued about a week at Madera, wa- tering their fhips, and providing the fquadron with wine and other refremments, but on the 3d of November, Capt. Norris being taken ill, and de- finng to return to England for the recovery of his health, the commodore appointed Capt. Mitchd to command the Gloucester in his room, removed Capt. Kidd to the Pc-arl, and Capr Murray to the Wager, giving the command of the Engaged in the late General War. 87 the Trial (loop to Lieutenant Cheap. The next CHAP. day the commodore gave to the captains their IN. orders, < Appointing their rendezvous, in cafe of v V-* reparation, at the ifland of St Catherine's, on the 1740. " coaft of Brazil, in South America ;" and the fame day the fquadron weighed anchor from Madera, (leering their courfe for St Catherine's, ' where they arrived on the 21 ft of December , having, in their paffage, loft a great number of men, by the heat and intemperature of the warm climates, and many others were confined to their hammocks, in calentures, paft all hopes of reco- very, and fome in a very languid and fickly con- dition, afflided with fluxes or tenefmus's, attend- ant on a recovery from the calenture ; fo thac with great joy they difcovered the coaft of Brazil, where they expected refreshment and a recovery of health. Having moored the Ihips, their firft care was to get the fick men on fhore to refrefh them, the next in wooding and watering the fquadron, cleanfing the (hips, and examining and fecuring the marts and rigging. The feafon of the year growing each day lefs favourable for 4 their paflage round Cape Horn, the commodore was very defirous of leaving the ifland, but was detained in fecuring the mafts of the Trial to the 1 8th of January, when the fquadron, after bury- ing many of their men, and ficknefs (till increaf- ing, left the ifland, and failed to Port St Julian on the coaft of Patagonia. FROM the glorious fuccefles of Admiral Ver- non, the Britifh nation was convinced, how much time, and how many opportunities, had been loft in oppfefimg the Spaniards, and evidently faw what ignominy the nation had fufFered by their" former timidity. It is a lading reproach, on the conduct 88 'The Conduct of the Po wcrs of Europe, PART conduct of the acting minifters, that no land I. forces were fent with Admiral Vernon, to enable L~-V - > him to pu(h his conquefts farther by land ; and 1740. the houie of commons particularly reflected on their backwardnefs in not fupporting him from time to time with more fhips, and a conftant fup- ply of frefh (lores, provisions, and other necef- faries. Indeed the Britifh miniftry were prevailed on, with great reluctancy, to profecute the war with vigour ; but as they could neither diminifh the glory of Admiral Vernon, nor leffcn the im- portance of his enterprizes, both of which they attempted, they thought it mod prudent to join in the national acclamations, and to feem as for- ward as any in the addrefies of congratulation, affuming at the fame time great merit to them- felves, fince the admiral acted, as they faid, by their orders ; and therefore to avoid any further clamours, they pretended to be as much in ear- neft as the reft of the nation, and determined to fend the admiral a reinforcement of (hips, and a fufficient number of troops, to enable him, ft ill higher, to advance the reputation of the, Britifti arms. ACCORDINGLY the regiments of Harrifbn and Wentworth, fix regiments of marines, and fome detachments from other regiments, were ordered to embark for the Weft Indies, under the command of Lord Cathcart j at firft fix (hips only were appointed for his convoy, but upon advice that the Ferrol fquadron of twelve men of war had failed for the Weil Indies, and that the Breft and Toulon fquadrons were alfo gone there to fecure the galleons, wherein they were fo much concerned, and alfo to prevent the Britifh forces making any conqueft upon the Spa- niards, for which, they faid, they were guaran- tees Engaged in tie late General War. 89 tees by the treaty of Utrecht; this occafioned a CHAP. larger convoy for the troops under Lord Cath- IV. cart, fo as to make Admiral Vernon equal to <^>Ao thole fquadrons. This fleet aflembled at Portf- 1740. mouth, under the command of Sir Chaloner O- gle, confiding of twenty-one fail of the line, be- fides frigates and fire-fhips, with about 1.2,000 failors on board, and the feveral regiments'under the command of Lord Cathcart; and after many obflacies, failed the 26th of October. BUT though the refpeelive detonations of thefe fquadrons, under Sir Chaloner Ogle and Commo- dore Anfon, were not confidently reported in England, it appeared that the Spaniards had re- ceived true and early intelligence for what they v/ere intended ; and accordingly the Ferrol fqua- dron, of twelve men of War trom fixty to eighty guns, and three frigates, commanded by Don Rodrigo de Torres, having found an opportuni- ty of efcaping Admiral Haddock, on the 2oth of July failed for America, with 2,000 land forces on board, and uninterruptedly proceeded to ftrengthcn their fettlements in the Weft Indies; while the Britifh fleet, by being delayed to fo late a feafon of the year, fiiffered a flumeful de- tention in their harbours, and were incapable of getfing through the channel, till after the Spani- ards had put themfelves in a condition to make a vigorous refinance wherever they Ihould be at- tacked. BY the long delay put to Commodore Anton's fquadron, the Spanilh court had been well ad- vi fed of its deftmation ; and purpofely to attend their motions, and circumvent the projects of the commodore, the Spaniards fitted out a fquadron, under the command of Don Jofeph Fizarro, com- pofed of the following (hips': VOL. I. . M Ships 90 "The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART Ships Names Guns Men ^ The Afia Don Pizarro 66 700 J 74 Guipufcoa 74 700 Hermiona 54 500 Efperanza 50 450 St Eftevan 40 350 A Patache / 20 150 Total 304 2,850 THESE (hips were victualled for four months, and befides their complement of failors and ma- rines, had on board an old Spanifh regiment of foot, intended to reinforce the garrifons on the coaft of the South Seas ; and lay cruizing near Madera for three or four days in the latter end of Oclober, to prevent the expedition under Com- modore Anibn ; and had they cruized to the eaftward, inftead of the weftward, of the ifland, they might have done it with great facility, as they would have certainly fallen in with the Britifli fquadron, and obliged them to throw overboard great quantities of provifions to clear their fliips for an engagement; and this alone, without any regard to the eventual fortune of the action, would have effectually prevented their progrefs : but Pizarro not meeting with the Britifli fqua- dron, on his cruize totheleeward of the Maderas, left that ftation in the beginning of November, and fteered for the river of Plate in South A= merica. CHAP. CHAPTER V. State of theENGLisH and SPANIARDS, in the northern part of AMERICA; and GENERAL OGLETHORPE'S ex- pedition againft ST AUGUSTINE, in 1740. UPON the continent of North America, the CHAP. war alfo extended between the crowns of V, Great Britain and Spain ; where the Spaniards had t_x-*v\. Jong looked upon the Britifh fettlements, as terri- 1 740. tories difmembered from their American empire ; for the crown of Spain, pretended a right to all America, under a grant from the Pope ; and when the Englifh began to eftablifh Virginia, they not only protefted againft it, but attempted, though in vain, to diflodge them. KING Charles II. having granted a charter of the lands to the fouth of Virginia, which he erected into a province, and called Carolina ; this, under the fame vain pretence of the Pope's grant, the Spaniards oppofed, attacking and deftroying a fettlement, made by Lord Car- drofs, in the fouthern part of that province, and killing moft of his people. But the northern part improved, and encreafed greatly ; and M 2 Charles 92 'The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART Charles Town, the capital of South Carolina, I. became confiderable; though the Spaniards, ftirr- u >/ ' ing up the Indians to harrais them, they were 1740. eternally difquieted -, till in the year 17-53, his Britannic majefty divided the fouth part from the reft of Carolina, and made it a ditfinct pro- vince, under the name of Georgia , which was bounded to the N. E, and ieparated from Caro- lina, by the river Savanna, and on the S. ex- tended to the Spanifh frontiers of Florida. This country was then entirely in the poffefTion of the Indians ; and was acknowledged to them, by a treaty made by the governor and people of Ca- rolina with the Creek Indians, whereby they mu- tually agreed that neither party fhould pafs the faid river. JAMES OGLE THORPE, Efq-, one of the truf- tees of Georgia, who led the Englim colony into that province, on his arrival in 1733, con- cluded a treaty with all the cantons of the Creek Indians, by which they agreed to that colony's fettling in their part of the province of Georgia, upon certain conditions ; he alfo concluded a trea- ty with the two nations of Cherokees and Chick- affaws, relating to their part of the fame province ; and from that time the Indians never moleftcd the Englim fettlement in Carolina. MR OGLETHORPE alfo concluded a provi- fional treaty with the governor of Auguftine, 1 and general of Florida, relating to the boun- daries between the Englim and Spaniard 1 ?, till the pleafure of the two courts could be known ; by which the river St Mathea, which the Span- iards called St John's, remained the limits be- tween the two 'nations, being the fame river mentioned in the grant of Kin^ Charles II. and lies Engaged in tbe late General War. 93 lies in 30 cleg. 10 m. as the river Savanna does CHAP, in 32 deg. o m. V. WHEN the Spanifti court in 1737, ftill ag- gravated their differences with the Englifh, Don Thomas Geraldino, the Spanifh ambaflador at the court of London, prefented a memorial, demand- ing all the land to 33 deg. 30 m. N. latitude in A- merica, and required the government to order the Englifh iubjefts to withdraw , but if this could not be done, infjfting that at leaft no troops (hould be fent there, and particularly remonftrated againft the return of Mr Oglethorpe, who was then in England. At the fame time news arrived from Commodore Dent, who commanded his Britannic majefty's fhips at Jamaica ; and from Governor Bull, who commanded in Carolina ; that the Spani- ards, at the Havanna, were preparing embarkati- ons, and 3,000 men, to invade Carolina. HisBrit- annic majefly, upon this, immediately appointed Mr Oglethorpe general of his forces in Carolina and Georgia, ordered him to raife a regiment, and repair there ; where he arrived time enough to pre- vent the execution of the Spanifh defigns, though a confiderable number of their troops had already got to Auguftine. WHEN the reprizals were publifhed in America, a party of the garrifonof Auguftine came up and furprized two highlanders upon the ifland of Amelia, cut off their heads, and mangled their bodies with all the wantoning of inhumanity ; General Ogle- thorpe went immediately in purfuit of them, and with fuch expedition, that he followed them by land -and water, above a hundred miles in lefs than twen- ty-four hours, but they efcaped. However the ge- neral, by way of reprizal, paffed the river St Ma- thea, or St John's, into Florida, drove in the guards of Spanifh horfe, pofted upon that river, and ad- vanced 94 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PA RT vanced as far as a place called the Canallas , at the I. fame time fending Capt. Dunbar with a party up L -v - -> the river StMathea, to reconnoitre a fort called 1740. Pickalata, near that river, upon the lakes of Flori- da, twenty miles from the fea ; which they attack- ed, but, having no artillery, were repulfed : not- withftanding they accomplifhed the general's in- tentions, having well viewed both that place and anorher fort called St Francis, upon the fame lakes. In January, General Oglethorpe returned to Fre- derica, the chief town in the fouth of Georgia, where he met with Capt. Warren, who was lately arrived with the Squirrel man of war , and having confuhed with him, Capt. Warren went and cruiz- ed off the bar of Auguftine, whilft General Ogle- thorpe, with a detachment of troops on board of boats, and fome artillery, went up the lakes of Florida, rowing by day and failing by night, fo that he attacked the two forts of Pickalata and St Francis, and took them the fame day. From the information of the prifoners, which con- firmed the other accounts the general had of the xveak condition of Auguftine ; he fent up to Charles Town, to defire the affiftance of the people of Carolina, and to confult meafurcs with the commanders of the men of war, in order immediately to block up Auguftine, before the Spaniards could receive provifions and affiftance from Cuba ; which if executed, the place mull, in all probability, be foon reduced. AUGUSTINE is the principal town of ftrength in Spanim Florida, fituate at the mouth of the river Matanzas, about twenty leagues fouth of the river St Mathea, or St John's, the boun- dary of Georgia ; whofe inhabitants had fhewn great indications of their inclination to infeft the people of Carolina, having, by ungenerous arti- fies, Engaged in the late General War. 95 fies, been long attempting to raife an infurrec-CHAP. tion among the flaves of that province, which V. was effected in September, 1739, and twenty- ~ v -^ three of the white inhabitants maffacred in a mod J 74* cruel and barbarous manner ; but the militia en- gaging the revolters, defeated and killed, or took the greateft part of them prifoners: this, as occafioned by the inftigation of the Spaniards, created an univerfal concern through the pro- vince of fouth Carolina, for they expected no- thing Icfs than thus continually to feel the cruel- ty of the Spaniards ; they looked on St Auguft- ine, in the fame manner iheir mother country had formerly done on the African Sallee, as a den of thieves and Ruffians, and the receptacle of debtors and flaves, to -whom, by a proclama- tion publifhed at Auguftine, they had promifed freedom and protection on their defertion from the Englifh. Such a proceeding awakened the attention of all the inhabitants of Carolina; every one that had any relation, any tie of nature, every one that had a life to lofe, was fcnfibly fhocked at fuch a danger daily impending over their heads-, and to aggravate their concern, they had 'information that the remainder of the preparations made at the Havanna in 1737 for invading Carolina, were now ready for that pur- pofe : prompted by fuch ftrong incentives, the lieutenant-governor, the council, afiembly, and inhabitants of Carolina, feemed very ready to affift General Oglethorpe, on an enterprize fo promifing of fuccefs, and fo likely to deftroy all their tears from the incurfions of the Spani- ards. THE Indian nations in Georgia, having alfo been confiderably engaged in the profecution of the war, it may be proper to give feme de- icription 96 *Tbe Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART fcription of their (late and manners, for the bet- I. ter explaining of thofe actions in which they were v -J concerned ; efpecially, as this may be depended 1740. upon to be, the.moft natural and perfect account of thefe nations, than has hitherto been deliver- ed into the handsof the public. In this province there are three confiderable nations, the one called the Cherokees, inhabiting amongftthe mountains from whence the river Savanna defcends , thefe are not the moft warlike, nor of the larger ftature, but are more accuftomed to labour and live upon corn, than to procure their fuftenance by hunting , they have about 5,000 warriors or hunters ; for the Indian nations are divided into two kinds of men; thofe who they call warriors or hunters, are like the antient gentlemen in Europe, whofe fingle profeffion was arms and chace. The nexc ration is the Chickafaws, a warlike and bold people, large of ftature, patient of fatigues, and of generous and noble fentiments ; who have dif- puied the Miffifippi river with the French, and after many bloody engagements, (lill keep pof- ieflion of the banks of that river, and hinder the free communication of the French in Canada with thofe of the Louifiana. The third nation are the Indians called Creeks by ihe Englifh, be- caufe their country lies chiefly amongtt rivers, wnich the American Engiifhcall creeks ; the real mme of thefe is Ufcheiees ; their language is the lofted and moil copious of all the Indians, and looked upon to be the radical language ; for they can make themfrlves undcrftood by ahnoft all the other Indians of the continent: they are divi- ded! into three people, upper, lower, and mid- dle Creeks, the two former governed by their re- fpective chiefs, whom they honour with a royal denomination, who are, neverthelefs, in the moll material Engaged in ibe late General Wim $7 material part of their government* fubordi- CHAP* nate to the chief of the latter, who bears an V. imperial tide : their country lies between the ^ v - J Spanifti Florida and the Cherokee mountains^ i74 Ot and from the Atlantic ocean to the gulph of Mexico: they are a tall, welMimbed people* very brave in war, and are, as it were, the fpar- tans of that part of the world , being as much, refpected in the fouth, as the five nations or Iro- quois are in the north part of America; The Indi- ans look upon the end of life to be, living happU ]y ; for this purpofe their whole cuftoms are cal- culated to prevent avarice* which they fay im- bitters life, and nothing is a feverer reflection a-* mong them, than to fay* that a man loves his own : to prevent the rife and propagation of fuch a vice, they, upon the death of any Indi- an, burn all that belongs to the deceafed, that there may be no temptation for the parent to hoard up a fuperftuity of armSj and domeftic con- veniencies, their chief treafures, for his children : they ftrengthen this cuftom by a fuperft ition^ that it is agreeable to the fouls of the deceafed to burn all they leave, and that afflictions follow them whoufe any of their goods: they cultivate no more land than is neceffary for their plentiful fubfiilancej and hofpitality to Grangers j they ufe neither horfea nor plows in agriculture, but, infttad of plowing or digging, hoe their fields by common la- bour. The reft of the year they fpend in hunt- ing j and when they are injured by any other nation, as fuppofing one of their own nation to be killed, they fend to demand fatisfaftion ; but if this is refuted, they make reprizals upon the fir ft they can take of the nation that committed , the injury : and thus their wars begin ; which are very frequent, and carried on with great rage, VOL. I. N there 98 The Conduct of /& 'Powers of Europe, PART there not being any people in the world braver, I. or more dextrous in the ufe of their arms, and i-~v - J manner of fight amongft woods and mountains, 1 740- none more patient of labour, nor fwifter of foot. THESE people were, with difficulty, gained by General Oglethorpe to afiiftinthe waragainft the Spaniards, and it was fo much the harder to ac- complifh, becaufe the Creeks had frequent inter- courfe and friend fhip with them ; but the general fending them the marks of the blood jfhed by the Spaniards, and acquainting them that they had killed fome of his men on the land which the Creeks had by treaty conceeded to the Englifh, they looked upon themfelves as injured in their right of hofpitality, and fent to demand juftice from the governor of Auguftine, who ill treated their meflengers, and they then engaged in the war for the Englilh. WHEN the war broke out, there was in Geor- gia and Carolina but one regiment of regular troops, confifting of 600 men, commanded by General Oglethorpe ; and the country to be then defended was of above 400 miles extent, upon the fea coaft. In Carolina there was a militia of about 3,000 men, and the armed people of Georgia were about 1,500 ; but there being above 40,000 negroe flaves in Carolina, it was looked upon that it would be a hard talk to contain fuch a number of negroes within their duty, in cafe of an invafion from the Spaniards. Therefore Gene- ral Oglethorpe thought that the moft prudent way of defending fuch a vaft extent of country, was by attacking the Spaniards-, and the majori- ty of the afiembty of Carolina, and the greateft and moft prudent part of the people wert; of the lame opinion: for if that ftmll body of troops, were to be difperfed to defend all parts of the country, Engaged in tie late General War. 99 country, they would have been but a handful, CHAP. eafiiy fubdued in each place ; and the flaves of V. Carolina would have revolted if favoured by an < v~ invading enemy: but if they acted offenfively, I 74' the flaves would not be able, nor think 'of ftir- ring, when they faw their mafters have power to invade their enemies; the Indians would join them, and the Spaniards be prevented from at- tacking, by being forced to defend. GENERAL OGLETHORPE, in January, ac- quainted the afiembly, that if they could, by March following, join the regiments upon the river St Mathea, or St John's, with 600 white men, a troop of horfe, a troop of rangers, and 600 negroes for pioneers, with a proper train of artillery and necefiaries, as they had pro- mifed to do, there might be a probability of taking Auguftine, at leaft a certainty of hinder- ing the Spaniards from undertaking any thing againft Carolina , provided the men of war would block up the port of Auguftine from receiving fuccours by fea. THERE ftill fubfifts amongft the Spaniards in America, a ftrong party for the houfe of Auf- tria i fome of thefe were men of quality of Mexico, and at this time officers in Auguftine, fent thither becaufe they were in difgrace ; a command at that diftance being, among them, in the nature of a banifhment. General Oglethorpe had frequent intercourfe with fome of thefe prin- cipal officers, and had influenced them entirely to his intereft j and at this time received intel- ligence, by fome confiderable people in the gar- rifon of Auguftine, of the ftate and condition of the town, which was then in want of pro- vifionsj and their half gallies were gone to Cuba N 2 to The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, to fetch men and provifions, fo that the river of St Auguftine was undefended. WHEN General Ogkthorpe imparted this ma-* terial intelligence to the aflembly of Carolina, they voted to fupport him with a fum of mo- ney equal to what was wanted , but delayed fo long that the general was obliged to go up him- felf to Charles- Town, and haften them in their refolutions. CAPT. WARREN, fmce defervedly promoted to a fuperior rank in the Britifh navy, with fe- veral other commanders of the men of war on the northern ftation, came alfo into the port of Charles-Town, to confult meafures for the expe- dition ; but the aflembly, through their indo- lence and inactivity, delayed them fo long, that the month of March was already paff, before they had concluded any thing , and by the time they had paffcd their aft, and before they would let Capt. Warren and General Ogle- thorpe fet our, the man of war, who had been pofted there till Capt. Warren's return, left the nation off the bar of Auguftine, and the half gallies got into the harbour, with fuccours of pro- vifions and rmn from the Havanna; which was cer- tainly the chief thing that contributed to the pre- fcrvation of the place. Capt. Warren, not know- ing of the arrival of the gallies, went and hiy off the port of Auguftine, in order to prevent their coming in ; but in the dark of a calm night, fix half gallies came out from Auguftine, and attacked him, to his great furprize , notwirh- {landing the great fuperiority they had, by the weight of their cannon, which carried double he"fhot his guns did, the number of their men, find the advantage a calm gives to rowing vef- Engaged in the late General War. 101 fels, Capt. Warren defended himfelf beyond all CH A P. expectation or hope ; and the wind, in the V. morning, fpringing up, he funk one of the \ -v -J gallies, and drove the reft into the pore. 1 74- GENERAL OGLETHORPE fet out from Charles-Town, greatly difgufted at the dilatory proceeding of the afiembly, which was influenced by the Spanifh party, and had confined him fo long beyond the proper time for action. On his ar- rival in Georgia he immediately draughted 500 men out of his regiment, leaving the reft to take care of the coaft, raifed a company of 100 men from the highland part of the colony, two troops of rangers of 60 men each, and 100 boatmen from the other inhabitants; and croff- ing Sc John's river, with a party of his regi- ment, and fome Indians headed by Molochi, fon to Brim, late emperor of the Creeks, the Raven war king of the Cherokees, and Tooan- ahowi, nephew to king Tomo Chachi, landed in Florida on the loth of May; expecting the ar- rival of the levies and pioneers, from Carolina. They not arriving, and the firft thing necefiary to be done, being the taking of the forts that kept open the communication of the Spaniards with the country j the general, impatient of lofing time, after a march of thirty miles, invefted and took Fort Diego, lying three leagues from Augufune, amongft meadows where there were great flocks of cattle, and commanded a pafs upon the river Diego, half way between Auguftine and the river St Mathea -, after a very fmart firing for fome hours, the garrifon, con fitting of a cap- tain and fifty-feven regular troops, befides In- dians and negroes, furrendered prifoners of war, and delivered up the fort with eleven pieces of cannon. Soon after 400 men under Colonel Vander JO2 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART Vander Duflen arrived from Carolina, but no I. horfe, rangers, nor negroe pioneers ; about the L v/ ' fame time arrived a body of Cherokee Indian?, 1740. Capt. Dunbar alfo brought up a party of Chick- afaw Indians, and Capt. M'Intofhwith jooofthe Highland men, and the rangers from Georgia arrived about the fame time. IN the mean while, Commodore Pierce in the Flamborough, with Capt. Warren in the Squirrel, Capt. Fanfhaw in the Tartar pink, and Capt. Townfend in the Phenix, of 20 guns, Sir Yelverton Peyton in the Hector of 40 guns, Capt. Laws in the Spence, and Capt. Dandridge in the Woolf (loop, arrived off St Mathea, or St John's river; on whom General Oglethorpe had, with great difficulty, prevailed to come down and alfift upon the expedition. The general went on board, and upon confultation, they a- greed to anchor off Auguftine, and to attempt an entry into the harbour. The general imme- diately marched by land, and in three days ar- rived at Moofa, a fort which the Spaniards had built for the deferted negroes from Carolina, and given them fome adjoining lands: he made a forced march with a fmall detachment, by rea- fon that he received private intelligence from his party amongft the Spaniards, that he might have the town delivered to him , but the general in- fifted upon hoftages from them, before he would rifque to lend a party into the caftle to take pof- feffion of it ; this they had agreed to, and ap- pointed the place of meeting near to Coovo, in a wood, about a mile from Auguftine, and two miles from Moofa : the general went there with a felect party of men ; having flayed till the time was long over, and no perfons appearing, he went peribnally to reconnoitre as far as the works of Engaged in the late General War* 10$ of Auguftine, and found that the lines from CHAP. Coovo to the town, were all full of troops, very V. alert-, and finding the defign difappointed, but ^ v J then not knowing how, he returned to his party, ordered the Drums to beat, that thofe who had promifed him might know that he had not fail- ed on his fide, and then marched back to Moofa. Upon the breaking of the morning, the general faw that the men of war did not come into the harbour, and the provifions which were to come up did not arrive, but an excufe was made by the lieutenant colonel, who had charge to con- duct them from fort Diego i upon which the ge- neral marched back to the head quarters at Di- ego, and fent on board the men of war to know what had occafioned the difappointment of their not mattering the harbour-, when the commodore acquainted him, that there was a battery on the ifland of Anaftafia, which defended the entry, and defired he would fend a body of troops to land, under favour of the men of war, upon the ifland, and he would fend the fmall veflels into the harbour, which was too fhallow to admit of the men of war : upon which the general march- ed to the coaft, and embarked with a party of 200 men, having before fent the highlanders, rangers, and a party of Indians, under Colonel Palmer, with orders to lie in the woods near Au- guftine, and hinder their parties from coming out by land j but with pofitive orders, not to come to any general aclion, if they could avoid it; nor to lie two nights in the fame place : he alfo pofted the Carolina new raifed men, at point Cartel, which makes the mouth of the harbour over againft the ifland of Anaftafia -, and this he did, becaufe they were fafe there, being divided from Auguftine, and covered from any fally that could 104 7* Conduct of the Powers of Europe* PART could be made by the garrifon, by the river St; I. Diego, and marlhes then thought inacceflible by c v *J the Spaniards. The general came up to the com- 1740. modore, and having held a confutation, Capt. Warren very generoufly offered to land with a party of teamen ; and to prevent all difficulties of rank, the general gave him a commifiion to command his lieutenant colonel. TH E Spaniards made a difpofuion to defend the ifland , they had then about 1,100 men in the garrifon, out of which they could pafs over as many as they thought proper to the ifland j but there was not boats enough for the Englifh to land above 500 men at once : notwith Handing which, the general refolved to carry the landing; and feeing the Spaniards very advantageoufly pofted behind the fand hills, covered by the bat- tery upon the ifland and the fire from the half gallics, who lay in flioal water where the men of war could not come , hq ordered the heavy boats to (lay, and feem as if they intended to land near them, whilft he, with Capt. Warren and the pinnaces, rowed with all the fpeed they could to the fouthward for about two miles. The Spa- niards ran behind the fand hills to ftrive to pre- vent them, but before they could come up in any order, the bouts got near enough to the fhore ; the general, Capt. Warren, a party of Indians and feamen leaped into the water bread high, landed and took poffcffion of the fand hills ; the Spaniards being charged in diforder, retired in the utmoft confufion to the battery -, but being purlued, were drove out of the ba:tery into the fea, fome dickering them (elves oh board the half gallics, who retired under the cattle of Au- guftine, and the Englifti boats and fmull craft en- tered the harbour. Engaged In the late General War. 105 BEING maftersof Anaftafia, it was found that CHAP. the river which runs between that ifland and the V. cattle, near which the town lies, was too wide - v - J to batter in breach ; but the town was not fortifi- '74^ ed on the fide of the water^ the Spaniards ftrong- ly believing the ifland of Anaftafia could not be taken from them, and expecting the attack to have been from the land fide. It was then relblved to attempt to crofs the river* and land upon the town \ and what the general had faid was now evi- dently proved, that if the attempt had been be- gun before the half gallies came from Cubaj they might with eafe have landed upon that pare of the town where there was no entrenchments ; but now the half gallies were a floating battery in a wide ditch, fo that there was no poflibility of landing, without firft taking or driving them away. Many confultations palled for this pur* pofe, but none could take effeftj 'though Gene- ral Oglethorpe and Capt. Warren offered to at- tack them with the boats of the fleet. There was now little hopes but from famine j for the Spaniards who were in the Auftrian intereft and intended to deliver that place$ had been fuf- pecled if not difcovered ; perhaps by the means of an officer afterwards punifhed in England. This was one great difappointment, but the half gallies and fuccours got in from Cuba was a much greater: thirty-fix pieces of cannon, to- gether with planks for batteries, and all other necefifaries, and 400 pioneers were to have come from Carolina, but none of them arrived, only twelve pieces of cannon ; which for want of planks for batteries, being obliged to fire upon the fand, foon broke their carriages to pieces, and could not be repaired. The Spaniards on the other fide had furprized the party fent to VOL. I. O watch 106 The Condud of the Powers of Europe, PART watch them under Colonel Palmer, who had in- J. difcreetly, and againft orders, lodged themfelves, ^^ j and continued in the fort of Moofa, which the 1740. general had demolilhed purpofely that no refuge Ihould be taken in fo weak a place. Befides, the intention of this detachment was for a fcouting party, to prevent the Spaniards from driving cattle into the town, and to Ihun any engage- ment. At Moofa the Spaniards took feveral pri- foners, infulted the bodies of the dead, and a- mongft the priibners, took an Indian named Nir colaula, and delivered him over to the Yaeaffee nation to burn him alive , on which General Oglethorpe fent a drum with a mefiage to the governor from the Indian king of the Cherokees, acquainting him, that if he burnt Nicolaufa he would burn a Spanilh horfeman whom he had taken prifoner j and the general mentioned, that as the governor was a gentleman and a man of honour, he was perfuaded that he would put an end to the barbarous ufage of that country ; and from the generofity of a Spanifli gentleman, expected he would prevent infults to the bodies of the dead, and cruelties to prifoners: and he rather wiflied it, lead he fliould be forced, much againft his inclination, to retaliations, which the gover- nor muft know he was very able to make, fince his prifoners infinitely exceeded thofe of the Spaniards. Upon which the governor fubmittcd not to hurt NicolauD, though they pretended to charge him with defertion ; the Indians on both fides were agreed to be treated as prifoners of war, and an end was put to their barbarous cuf- tom, of burning the unhappy wretches that un- fortunately fell into their hands. THE general continued bombarding the place, and coming over with the regular troops from Anaftafia Engaged in the late General War. 107 Anaftafia to the land fide, pafled the Carolina CHAP. militia from Cartel to Anaftafia, fmce they could V. be there protected by the feamen ; and on the *- v -J 23d of June it was agreed, that Capt. Warren, J 740- with the boats from the men of war, the two (loops hired by General Oglethorpe, and the Carolina veflels with their militia, mould attack the halfgallies, and that upon a fignal given, General Oglethorpe fhould on the land fide attack the trenches. This, though a very defperate meafure, was purfued ; for the whole troops be- longing to the Englim, including the fearnen, were much inferior in number to the garrifon ^ and the town was covered on one fide by a cai- tle with four baftions and fifty pieces of cannon, from whence they run an entrenchment, flanked with feveral faliant angles to fort Coovo, which lay upon the river St Sebaftian ; this entrench- ment crofled the neck of land from the river Anaftafia to that of St Sebaftian, and entirely covered the town from the land. The general upon this, drew in all the ftrength he poffibly could, fent for the garrifon he had left at Diego, and being joined by them and the Creek Indi- ans, and having made a fufficient number of faf- cines, fhort ladders, provided all other necefia- ries for attacking the entrenchments, and brought up thirty-fix cohorns, he waited for the fignal, but received notice that the commodore had re- folved to delay the attack. SICKNESS had fpread among the troops, and was daily increafing, the weather being fo vio- lently hot that the moft hardy among the Indians were unable to fupport it ; and the Spaniards had made a fally with 500 men on the land fide, ex- pecting to continue the fuccefs they had gained O 2 at tfbe ConducT: of the Powers of Europe, at Moofa, but were repulfed with confide rablc Ipfs, and only two of the Englifh wounded. THE general received a mdfage from Com- modore Pcirce, that upon confutation it was re- folved, "That it was too rafh an attempt to rifk the c boats and feamen, and thtrefore he had counter- ? c manded Capt. Warren ; that many neceffaries " were wanting in the fleet, and the feafon of the ** year was fuch, that they could not ftay longeron ?' that ftation, and that the th of July was the f time they were firft limited to leave the coaft, ' which, as it was near arrived, he thought *' proper to acquaint the general, that the fleet " muft foon leave the coaft, and wiflied that he " could do him any fervice in the mean time.'* The general in vain attempted to alter this refolution ; but the ficknefs and wants increafmg every day, juftified it more and more ; nay, the Carolina boats were continually going off, and even Cap- tains of their levies privately left the fervice, and went home with boats and numbers of men. WHILST thefe things were doing, Capt. War- ren being commanded by the commodore to leave the (hore fervice and go on board his (hip, met with a number of Spanifh veflels from Cuba, bringing provifions and men to Auguftine, whom he engaged, run one of them afhore and beat her to pieces, but the reft getting into Ihoal water, made their way to Auguftine, by fome channels with which the Englifh were then un- acquainted. A party of the Creek Indians fur- prized one of the boats and brought off four pri- jbners to the general, who confefTed that there was eleven veflels and 700 men, with a great quanti- ty of provifions got into Auguftine, that they be- longed to one of them, and that there had been one more which was funk by an Englifh man of war. Engaged in the late General War. 109 war. Upon this, all hopes of taking the place CHAP. by famine ceafed ; the fquadron failed, the Ca- V. rolina troops marched away, and the general < v brought up the rear, being at that time fo ill of J 74* a fever as to be carried by men : the garrifon making a fally, were repulfed with lofs, and one of their officers of horfe taken prifoner. The general in his march back, demolimed Fort Piego, and nine other of the Spanifli forts which were placed on proper pafles to hinder the incur- fions of the Creek Indians, whereby all the plan- tations were deftroyed and laid open ; fo that the Spaniards never fince could pofTefs any thing out of the reach of the cannon of Auguftine. The general gave liberty to the foldiers and Indians to drive off the cattle and horfes, who carried away 500 of their horfes, and feveral thoufands of their cattle. THUS was the general unfortunately difap- pointed in accomplifhing fo material a fervice as the reduction of Auguftine ; which, in juftice, ought to be principally attributed to the flow and negligent fteps taken by the afiembly of Ca- rolina, who, inftead of the 600 men, and other fuccours promifed to the general to be ready in March, fent only 400, and thofe chiefly too old or too young for the ufe of arms, who arrived at the camp too late to be attended with fuccefs. In the year 1 702, Colonel Moor, then governor of South Carolina, invaded Florida with a much greater force than that commanded by General Oglethorpe ; and after he had invefted Auguft- ine for three months, was obliged to raife the fiege, becaufe the town had received a fupply of provifions, which rendered his fcheme imprac- ticable. But though General Oglethorpe was de- feated in his principal aim, he iucceeded in his other 1 jo the Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART other views, which were to intimidate the Spa- I. niards from invading Georgia or Carolina, i TV -and to give thofe provinces the feafonable and 1740. happy opportunity of enjoying their properties, free and undifturbed from the calamities and de- folation of a proud, arrogant, and revengeful enemy, for the Spaniards, inftead of making continual excurfions, dreaded the abilities of fo able a commander, and very gladly remained inactive and content with their own territories, until the year 1742, when they had collected an army, they imagined too powerful, to meet with the leaft oppofition from the Englifh, and were by their numbers encouraged to attempt an invafion on Georgia. CHAPTER VI. The Siege of C A R T H A G E N A. AFTER the demolition of Chagre, the brave Admiral Vernon was left a con fid er- able time in America without orders and fupplies, and was obliged to remain in a (late of inactivity till he could receive a necefiary reinforcement. During this interval of action, the admiral, ever induftrious to promote the intereft and trade of his country, pofted his cruizing fhips in the moft advantageous ftations for intercepting the Spanifh commerce, and attending the motions of the galleons Engaged in the late General War. in galleons and men of war at Carthagena. Having CHAP. received information that an Avizo and two VI. Dutch mips, richly laden with quickfilver and ^ v*-^ other Spanifh effects, had failed from Cadiz with I 74 a vice roy of Mexico on board, bound for La VeraCruz; the admiral, fuppofing they would probably pafs by the Havannah, on the 4th of June ordered the Worcefter and Falmouth to cruize off Cuba, for intercepting them, till the middle of July, who foon after arriving on their ftadon, discovered the Avizo and the two Dutch Ihips, and chafing, came up with and took the Avizo ; but the vice roy had juft before, very fortunately for himfelf, got on board one of the Dutchmen and make his efcape. Admiral Ver- non had now a great deal of reafon to fufpect the Spaniards were bringing a large fleet into the Weft Indies from Cadiz and Ferrol ; he therefore, on the 8th of June, got to fea in the Burford, with the Windfor, Strafford, Hampton-Court, Greenwich, Succefs, and Brig tender, to cruize in the way ; for though he imagined the Spani- ards would be greatly fuperior to him in force and numbers, he was in hopes of meeting fome of them feparated, and to procure intelligence of their intentions. After cruizing for fome time off the high land of St Martha, and leaving Capt. Dent in the Hampton-Court, and Lieutenant Broderick in the Brig tender, to cruize in that ftation to the 24th, on the iyth the admiral re- turned for Jamaica, where he arrived on the 2 1 ft, and from time to time continued his cruizes to watch the arrival of the expected Spanifh fqua- drons, and to attend the motions of the galleons; and Commodore Brown having reprefented his ill ftate of health to the admiral, on the 27th of June ii2 *the Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART June the Greenwich was ordered to carry him to I. England. < <~~> ON the 5th of September, the ftorefhips frorri J 74- England, under convoy of the Defiance and Til- bury men of war, arrived at Jamaica ; and the admiral impatiently expecting the arrival of the fleet under Sir Chaloner Ogle, with the land forces, commanded by Lord Cathcart, and a bo- dy of troops from North America, in hopes of meeting them, on the 3d of October he failed from Port Royal in the Burford, attended by the Worcester, Tilbury, Windfor, Defiance, Princefs Louifa, and Hampton-Court-, Eleanorand Succefs fire-fhips, and Alderney bomb, on a cruize offthd coaft of Hifpaniola: but on the mh he received advice by a iloop from Falmouth, bound to the bay of Honduras, that the wefterly winds had detained the fleet and tranfports with the foldiers at Spithead. This gave great inquietude to the admiral, he well knew the uncertainties and diffi- culties of getting fo large a fleet of tranfports out of the channel in a latter part of the year; he deeply dreaded the confcquence , and heartily lamented that Lord Cathcart was not fent out in the fpring of the year, the only certain feafon for eafterly winds. It is certain, even beyond dif- pute, Sir Chaloner Ogle and the land forces might have as well failed for the Weft Indies in a much earlier and more convenient part of the year; but many difappointments were thrown in the way, to retard the timely progrefs of an ex- pedition that promifed fuch vifible appearances of a fuccefsful event -, efpecially as it was to be con- ducted by fo prudent and refolutc a commander as Admiral Vernon ; and probably for this princi- pal realon of the miniftry, that as the war was begun without their concurrence, fo it fhould end Engaged in tie Ictie General War. 1 13 end without their affiftance. And to back thisCttA^ difappointment, the admiral difcovered the fame VI. day, upon examining a Spanifh lieutenant, that 1 v - the Ferrbl fquadroh, Under de Torres, arrived at *74* Porto Rico on the 9th of September, and that they failed from thence on the 25th for Cartha- gena. THE admiral (till continued his cruize, and on the 2oth, off cape Donna Maria, was joined by eight fail of tranfport (hips under convoy of the Wolf, having on board part of the North Ame- rican forces from Virginia and Philadelphia, un- der Colonel Gooch ; the fame day the admiral proceeded with them to Jamaica, leaving the Windfor to cruize for the remainder of thofe forces expected under Colonel Blakeney ; but on arriving at Port Royal, the admiral found they had got, there before, being convoyed by Capt. Cufack : fo that the whole body of troops front North America were now arrived > and confided of three battalions. Thefe troops had been little acquainted with difcipline, and were fent with a view to affift in taking poflefllon of fome of the Spanifh fetdements, where they intended to re- fide. THOUGH this was ah augmentation of the Bri- tifli force, it was too inconfiderable for the admi- ral to attempt any extraordinary enterprize. His fhips were over-mafted, and the fhrouds and rig- fing in a very bad condition ; neither could he eep the fea for want of (lores, and grew very impatient at lofing the moft proper part of the feafon for action. The arrival of Admiral de Torres at Carthagena, with fo confiderable a re- inforcement for putting that town in a good pof- ture of defence, and lengthening the Spanifh provinces, together with fo potent a fleet as the VOL. I, Snaniar^ ii4 T& e Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART Spaniards then had in the American leas; and I. no certain advice when to expect the fleet and -r v -rf tranfports under Sir Chaloner Ogle, to oppofe J 74C" the return of the Spanifh golden fleece, made fo melancholy an impreftion on the active Admiral Vernon, and fo vifibly altered the fcene of his affairs, that he hardly knew what refolution to take moft conducive for the advantage of his country ; efpecially as the Breft and Toulon fqua- drons, under the Marquis d'Antin, had joined at Port Louis, and had brought down with them i, 800 men railed in Martinique, with fome men- tion of further reinforcements expected. The Britifh admiral apprehended by the marquis ftationing himfelf to windward of Jamaica, and the French collecting all their forces there, that their views were calculated againft that ifland, whenever the Britifh fleet ihould fet out on any expedition againft the Spanim territories: in this opinion the admiral was confirmed, by fending Capt. Mayne to Leogane with a letter for his Excellency MonfieurLarnage, the French gover- nor of Hifpaniola-, for the captain dined with the commandant in the governor's abfence, was well received, but had not the lead intimation that the fquadron under the Marquis d'Antin was at Port Louis ; and as the French covertly affifted the Spaniards in every thing, added to the great frcrecy they endeavoured to preferve, this fixed the admiral in his opinion that their defigns were againft Jamaica. ADMIRAL VERNON, with the greateft mew ofreaipn, made ftrong and repeated complaints to the Britifti ministry, of his inability to ferve his king and country in that effectual manner he defired j but as he could undertake nothing of moment, he detached fuch part of his fquaJron as "Engaged in tie late General War. 115 as was fit for cruizing, to protect the Britim CHAP. trade and deftroy the Spanifli privateers , in VI. which they were very ferviceable and fuccefsful. ^ v The admiral alfo communicated his thoughts to I 74- his Excellency Edward Trelawny, Efq; gover- nor of Jamaica, of his apprehenfion of the de- figns of the French againft that ifland ; to fruf- trate which, he formed a difpcfition for fecuring his fquadron and the harbour of Kingfton, and having properly ported his fire-fhips and difabled fhips there, he made little doubt of defending it againft the Spaniards and their auxiliaries, were they all there , but as to the harbour of Port Roy- al, the admiral had no opinion of its conveni- ency to repel the fnperior force of an enemy. AFTER an increafe of impatience, Admiral Vernon at laft received advice, that the fleet and forces under the command of Sir Chaloner Ogle and Lord Cathcart, arrived at Dominica on the ipth of December ; where, on the next Day, a great lofs happened to the fervice in the death of Lord Cathcart, occafioned by a bloody flux : he was taken ill on the 8th of December, and bore it, though very painful, with the greateft pati- ence and refignation, feeming only to regret, that he was deprived of an opportunity of exert- ing his zeal and abilities for the fervice of his king and country. The death of this nobleman was a very fenfible lofs, as he went determined to co-operate with Admiral Vernon, and to be guided by him in every thing that fhould be judged for the honour and intereft of the Britifh arms. His lordmip was a very able commander, with great fpirit, honour and judgment, and had been formerly extremely commended by the il- luftrious Duke of Marlborough, as a good and gallant foldier ; and as it is natural for one brave P 2 man 1 1 6 The Conduct of the Powers of Europff, PART man to entertain an affection for another, his I. lordfhip was charmed with the fpirit, good con- L -v > duct, and difintereftednefs with which Admiral J74 O ' Vernon had begun and continued the war, with whom he determined perfectly to maintain a good understanding ; thereby promifing to him- felf, that their conjunction would make them the glorious inftruments of finifhing the war, with all the advantages the nation had expected from fo profperous a beginning ; and had heaven fpared him to have completed his wifhes in aflfifting the admiral, what might not the nation have expected from the unanimity of fu.ch able com- panders ? UPON the death of Lord Cathcart, the mili- tary command devolved upon Brigadier-General Wentworth. Sir Chaloner Ogle purfued his voyage to Jamaica, and on the 2 yth of December arriv- ed at St Chriftopher's, the place of general ren- dezvous , where he was joined by the reft of the fleet, and all the tranfports and ftore-ftiips that had been leparated from him : at the fame time he received advice from Admiral Vernon, that fifteen fail of Spanifh men of war were at Porto Bello, where the inhabitants were diligently re- pairing their ruined fortifications. On the i8th Sjr Chaloner Ogle proceeded for Jamaica ; and in his paflage between Hifpaniola and Jamaica/ feeing four fail, who proved to be French men of war, he difpatched fix of his fquadron after them ; four of them came up with the French off pape Tiberon before it was dark, and Lord Au- brey Beauclerc, who commanded in the Prince Frederick, hailing them, and the French refut- ing either tQ fend an officer on board the Englifh to fatisfy them who they were, or to lie by for ^e Engiifh officer's lending on board of them, Engaged in the late General War. 117 as the certainty could not be otherwife known; CHAP. a gun was fired to bring them too, on which an VI. engagement enfued, which lafted till morning, v v when the French hoifled their colours, and boats were fent to clear up the point who they were, in which the Englifh officers being fatisfied, nothing more pafled than reciprocal civilities, and they continued their different courfes. On the pth of January Sir Chaloner Ogle arrived in Port Roy- 174.1. al harbour with the whole fleet, and all the tranf- porcs and (lore- (hips. This re-animated Admiral Vernon ; he now found himfelf in a capacity of exerting his martial genius, he refolved to re- main no longer in a ftate of inactivity, and foon after the bulwarks of Carthagena were doomed to feel the fury of the Britifh thunder. ADMIRAL VERNON heartily condoled the lofs of fo valuable an officer as Lord Cathcart, but on his acquaintance with General Went- worth his fuccefibr, the admiral promifed to him- felf, on finding the general fincerely difpofed to fupply fo great a lofs, that his Britannic majefty's fervice would be promoted and carried on faith- fully, diligently, and refolutely, with all pofiible harmony. And on communicating their inftruc- tions, the admiral and general refolved to lofe no time in fctn'ng about the execution of them. THE determination of what enterprizes (hould be undertaken, was committed to the direction of the principal council of war, to confift of the two eldeft officers of the army, of the two eldeft ofHcers of the navy, and of the governor of Ja- maica whenever he could be prefent ; and on the loth of January, in the principal council o! war held at Spanifh-Town, at which were prelenc Ad- miral Vernon, Sir Chaloner Ogle, General Wsn- worth, 1 1 8 The Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART worth, General Guile, and Governor Trelawny, J. it was unanimoufly refolved, " That the whole L. / -' " fleet fliould proceed to windward, to obierve 1741. " the motions of the fquadron under the com- " mand of the Marquis d'Antin, which had " been for fome time at Ilifpaniola , and that " Capt. Dand ridge mould be lent before in the " Wolf floop to get intelligence." As the fleet was now thirty fail of the- line,, there was an abfolute ncccflity for forming a third divifion, and the vice admiral appointed Capt. L,eftock, an old and experienced officer, to be commodore, with a Captain under him, for commanding the third divifion. THE vice admiral, intent on getting the fleet to fea, was in a perpetual hurry in making pre- parations for fo expedient a purpofe, well know- ing that any delay would certainly defeat their bed intentions: he knew the great difficulty of wa- tering fo large a fleet in Port Royal harbour, and had previoufly provided againft any interruption on that account ; and confidering what a fickly condition many of the fhips came in, that four fKnding mails were obliged to be repaired, three naged by (hot, and one by lightning, of which two were under a neceflity of being hove out and repaired afhore, and that all the mips were to be fupplied with provifions, and many with ftores, never greater difpatch was given for get- ting a fleet- into the fea in any country, all the officers and men, in concurrence with the admi- ral, manifefting an univerfal good-will for the fuccefs of the expedition, for which all was in readinefs in lefs than a fortnight. As the fleet was fo large, and the channel fo dangerous in going out from Port Royal har- bour, the admiral gave orders for the (hips go- ing Engaged In the late General War. 119 ing out only one divffion in a day, forwarding CHAP. thofe that were to go firfl, as r,o time might be VI. Joit. Capt. Douglafs and Capt. Cleland, with ' * two bomb-ketches, were to remain till the men 1 74 I of war had all failed out, and then to proceed with the tranfports, in three" divifion?, that they might not crowd one another afhore -, the firft rendezvous was ordered off the eaft end, and by a fealed rendezvous, the next off cape Tiberon, and the bays to the northward of it. ON the 22d of January, Sir Chaloner Ogle got out with his divifion of ten fail of the line-, on the 24th Commodore Leflcck failed out with his divifion of nine fail of the line ; the vice ad- miral remaining himfelf to the lair, for giving the necefTary orders: and on the 26th, the vice admiral failed out with his divifion, confifting of eleven fail of the line , but the winds proving faint that day, he was obliged to anchor with them in the channel; and the Augufta, one of his divi- fion, fell fofar to leeward, as upon anchoring to veer upon a fhoal aftern of her, where me beat off her rudder, and having had thumped fb hardk. as to make ner very leaky, the vice admiral o&y dered her inro harbour to refit. The next day the wind continued fo faint, that the vice admi- ral was obliged to anchor with his whole divifion again, juft without the channel; but on the 28th got clear to tea without further damage to any, and joined the two divifions under Sir Chaloner Ogle and Commodore Leftock on the 3Oth off the Yellows, when the whole fleet confiftcd of the following divifions : LINE I2O PART I; 1741. The Conduft of the Powers of Europe, LINE OF BATTLE. The Princefs Amelia to lead with the ftarboard, and the Suffolk with the larboard tacks on board. Rear Admiral of the Blue, Sir CH A LONER OGLE. Frigates, &c. Ships Commanders a Princefs Amelia Hemmington 600 80 Experiment 3 Sheernefs Vefuvius Terrible Bomb Phaeton 4 Good ley Windfor York Norfolk Ruffel Shrewfbury RipoH Litchfield Jerfey Tilbury Berkley Cotes Graves Sir Cha. Ogle Capt Norris Townfend Jolley Cleland Laurence Long 400 60 400 60 600 80 615 80 600 80 400 60 300 50 400 60 400 60 Vice Admiral of the Blue, EDWARD VERNON, Efq; Squirrel Shoreham Eleanor Seahorfe Strumbolo Succefs Vulcan Cumberland AlderneyBomb Pompey Brig Tender Orford L. A.Fit2roy 480 70 Princefs Louifa Stapylton 400 60 W orcefter Perry Mayne 400 60 Chichefter Robert Trevor 600 80 Prs. Caroline Tci bay StrafFord Wey mouth Deptford Barford V.A. Vernon Capt. Watfon Gafcoigne Tho. Trevor Knowles Moftyn Griffin Commodore LESTOCK'S Divifion. Aftrea Wolf Sloop Defiance Dunkirk Lyon John Trevor Cooper Cotterel 620 80 600 80 400 66 400 60 400 60 480 70 400 60 400 60 400 60 3 Pr. Frederick Ld A.BeaucIerc 480 70 Firebrand Virgin Queen Boyne Com. Leltock Capt. Colby Hampton C. Dent Fal mouth Douglafs Montagu Chambers Suffolk Davers 1 6 480 80 300 50 60 400 480 70 THE Engaged in the late General War, 1 2 1 THE fleet was now twenty-nine (hips of the CHAP. line, befides frigates and tranfports, manned VI. with 15,000 failors ; and having on board the <^~v-^> two regiments of Harrifon and Wentworth, fix 174* regiments of marines, command by the Colonels Fleming, Robinfon, Lowther, Wynyard, Doug- las and Moreton, of 1,000 men eachj and ibme detachments from other regiments from Eng- land-, three battalions from North America, and a body of negroes from Jamaica, making in all, upwards of 12,000 men. HAVING a windward current, the whole fleet got off Cape Tiberon on the 8th of Febru- ary, being then 115 fail in company; and the fame day the vice admiral was joined by Capt. Dand ridge in the Wolf floop, whom he had lent to look into Port Louis, and on his report of " Having feen there nineteen fail of large " fhips, one having a flag at the main-top-maft *' head, and another a broad pendant flying ;" the vice admiral immediately made a fignal for general and flag officers, and communicated to them the report he had received from Capt. Dandridge : whereupon it was refolved to (leer directly to the ifle of Vache, to obferve the motions of the French, and to procure intelli- gence of their force and intentions. And this refolution was the more prudent, being founded on an abfolute neceffity, to be- fecured from an auxiliary power being left to command all the fnccours and fupplies of provifions to the fleer, as well as being left mailers of the Britifh trade ^ which, as there was the utmoft reafon to appre- hend the French would attempt, the admiral determined either to deftroy or lecure their fleet from performing that danger they teemed to be meditating. VOL. I. C I* The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, IN pUrfijance of this refblution, the vice ad- miral made the bed of his way to windward with the fleet ; and, on the I2th, got to anchor 1741. with moft of the men of war, and ibme of the tran [ports under the ifle of Vache, about two leagues to the weftward of Port Louis , the reft being working up after him. But it was after- wards difcovered, that Capt. Dandridge had been deceived in his view by the hazinefs of the weather, and that the mips in Port Louis were only merchantmen unrigged, excepting one fri- gate of forty guns, whole main-top-maft head lying in a line with the white gable end of a houie, occafioned the miftake about the flag. HOWEVER, to be certain beyond all difpute, on the 1 5th Capt. Bofcawen and Capt. Knowles, were fent by the vice admiral with a mtflage to the governor of Port Louis ; the purport of which was, that the fleet was forced by ftrong breezes into the bay, and that the admiral defired leave to wood and water. They returned with a very polite anfwer, and brought an account of the Marquis d'Antin's being failed for Europe : foon after Cape. Rentone came into the fleet, and confirmed the report that the marquis had failed with his fquadron for France on the 26th of January, being the time when the Britifh fleet were in their way to Port Louis; and being col- lected together on that occafion, without any cruizers our, was the reafon why the marquis pafied undifcovered. IT was generally apprehended, that the French fquadron was folely intended to afiift the Spani- ards in fafely convoying home their treafure ; but it afterwards appeared, by the inilruiflions that fell into the hands of Admiral Vernon, that the marquis was ordered, either jointly with the Spa- niards Engaged in the late General War. 123 niards under Rodrigo de Torres, or feparately, to CHAP. fall on the Britifh fleet; and had Sir Chaloner O- VI." gle unluckily been detained any longer, it is hardly to be doubted but they would jointly have attacked Jamaica, the favourite view they had at heart. THIS fudden retreat of the French greatly fur- prized the Britim admiral, as he could not tell what to attribute it to; whether for want of pro- vifions, or a defire to return to Europe for fome more favourable views there : but it fbon after evidently appeared, the marquis was obliged to return for want of provifions, as in his pafTage to Europe he lofc above 3,000 men, and the reft that furvived were reduced each to three ounces of bread a day, and that half worms and dirt. UPON this extraordinary occafion, the princi- pal council of war afiembled on the i6th, when it was unanimoufly refolved, " That the fleet, " after having taken in wood and water at Iros, " Tiberon, and Donna Maria bays, mould thence " proceed directly to Carthagena." ON the 1 7th the fleet failed from the ifle of Vache, and the day following came to anchor in the abovementioned bays ; where the feven fol- lowing days they were employed in watering the fhips : and detachments from the American re- giments, and from the negroes, were daily fent on more to cut fafcines and picquets, which they could not fo conveniently get where they were going, and might want on their firft arrival. ON the 23d Capt. Warren joined thefleet, and on the receipt of his intelligence, a general coun- cil of war was held the 24 r h, by the four princi- pal military and naval officers, when it was re- folved, " Vigoroufly to attack Carthagena both " by land and fea." 124 ^ e Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART ON the 25th the vice admiral weighed with the I. wholt fleet from Iros bay, being in all 124 fail , _ ,U^ when the Weymouth, Experiment, a. id Spence J74 1 ' floop, were di (patched ahead over to Carthagena, to found Punto Canoa bay, for the fafer anchor- ing the fleet. ON the 4th of March, in the evening, Admiral Vernon anchored with the whole fleet in Playa Grande, to windward of the town of Carthagena, lying between that and point Canoa -, and to har- jafs the Spaniards, the vice admiral ordered his fmall frigates and fire-lhips to gee in (Lore and lie. in a line, as if he intended a dctcent to windward of the town, which had its effect, in drawing forces that way, and fetting them at work to in- trench themfelves. THE city of Carthagena is fuuate in the lati- tude of 10 deg. 2*6 m. North, and was begun to be built in the year 1532 by Peter de Heredia j but was finifhed by Georgio Robledo about eight years after the foundation was laid. It ftands on the Spanim continent, to the eaft of the gulph of Darien, almoft directly fouth of Jamaica, and no leagues N. E. of Panama. It gives title to a confiderable government of the fame name, and is reckoned a province of New Granada, or ac- cording to fome writers, of New Andulafia, but by others is annexed to the Golden Caftile. The fituation of its port was found fo convenient for the Spanim fleets, and fuch quantities of rich merchandize were brought down near to it, by the confluence of the great rivers of Santa Mar- tha and the Magdalena ? that the town encreafed in wealth, number of people, (lately edifices, and in a jurisdiction over five or fix petty cities , till in the year 1585, it was facked by the valour of a few Englifh, under the command of Sir Francis Drake^ Engaged In the late General War. 125 Drake. But before it was perfectly repaired, CHAP. the city received a greater blow from five priva- VI. teers, led on by a difgufted Spaniard ; who fur- ^ v ^ prized the governor aflcep, feized a prodigious J 74 K treafure, and burnt the place to aflies. Yet for all this the city raifed us head again, numbered above 20,000 inhabitants, whereof 4,000 were Spaniards, the reft Mefticoes and flaves; and improved daily in riches and magnificence, till taken by the French under Monfieur de Poin- ti in 1697, who got a booty of nine millions of money. The city foon after recovered itfdf by its flouriming trade, being the firfl place the gal- leons touch at outwardbound, and of late the general ftation of the Spanifh men of war in thefe parts; and when Admiral Vernon appeared be- fore ir, was the principal, beft fortified, and moft populous city in America. TH E governor of Carthagena was thoroughly fenfible of the activity of the Britifh admiral, and expecting nothing lefs than a fiege, in conjunct- ion with Don Bias de Lezo, who commanded the Spanifh fquadron then lying in the harbour of Carthagena, made all necefiary preparations for the reception of the Britim fleet ; omitting no- thing to put the place in a good pofture of de- fence j which had a garrifon of 4,000 men, be- fides negroes and Indians. THOUGH the fea wafhes the walls of Carthage- na, the town is inaccefiible on that fide on ac- count of the furff; and De Pointi was convinced that the fea upon all this coaft is a natural invin- cible rampart, and that Carthagena is approach- able only by the lake which makes the harbour. An eminent naval officer, who ferved in the ex- pedition as engineer to Admiral Vernon, has alfo reported, that nature has fortified the dry againft any 226 The Condud of the Powers of Europe, PART any attempt by fea, the water fhoaling near a I. league off, and the harbour being plentifully noun- s' v~- ' ded with rocks ; befides the fea is very feldom I 74 I - fmooth, fo that to land is at all times very difficult. THE only entrance into the harbour is near a league to the weft of the city, between two nar- row peninfulas, one called the Tierra Bomba, which is neareft the city, and the other called the Barradera. This paffage called Boca Chica, or the little mouth, was defended on the Tierra Bomba, by a caftle called St Louis, which was a regular fquare, with four baftions, ftrong, weJl built, mounted with 82 guns and three mortars, and was capable of making a (tout defence, if well garifoned, and would have been much flronger if the glacis and counterfcarp had been finimed ; and to this were added the forts of St Philip, mounted with feven guns, the fort of St Jago mounting fifteen guns, and a fmall fort of four guns called Battery de Chamba, which ferved as redoubts to the caftle of Boca Chica. On the other fide of the mouth of the harbour, was a fafcine battery of fifteen guns, called the Barradera , and in a fmall bay on the back of that, another batrery of four guns; and facing the en- trance of the harbour, on a fmall flat ifland, ftood fort St Jofeph of twenty-one guns : from this fort to Boca Chica caftle, a boom and cables were fix- ed acrofs, fattened with three large anchors at each end ; and juft within the boom, four men of war were moored in a line, the Galicia, aboard which was theSpanifh admiral, the Africa and St Carlos, each of 66 guns, and the St Philip of 70 guns, which fpread fo far over the extent of the mouth ot the harbour, that there was not room for a (hip to pafs ahead or aftern of them -, fo that it was impofiible for (hipping to force an entrance into Engaged in the late General War. 127 into the harbour. Beyond this paflage lies the CHAP. great lake or harbour of Carthuigena, feveral VI. leagues in circumference, and land locked on all ^-v>o fides-, about midway to the town it grows nar- *74l rower, and within about a league of the city, two ifthmus's, or pointsof land, jetting out form the leffcr harbour , near the northermoft of thefe was the ftrong fortrefs of Caflillo Grand, about eight miles up the harbour, being a regular fquare with four baftions, ftrong and well built, and defended to the land by a wet ditch and glacis proper, and one face towards the fea, with a ra- veline and a double line of guns; and though there was but fifty-nine guns in the fort, there was room to mount fixty-one. Oppofite to this caftle was a horfe-fhoe battery of twelve guns, called Mancinilla : in the middle between thefe two forts, is a large fhoal with not above two or three foot water in it-, in each of thefe paffages were fhips funk acrofs, to prevent the Britifh fleet from getting by. Near three miles further up the harbour, on two flat fandy iflands or keys, ftands the city of Carthagena, and Himani its fuburbs, which are both irregular figures, but well fortified to the land with ftrong baftions at proper diftance, with lakes and morafies running round them ; the city was defended with 160 guns, and the fuburbs with 140, and the water at the head of the harbour Ihoal fo far off, that Ihips cannot approach near enough to do any ma- terial execution with their guns, which adds much to the ftrength of the place. South of the city, about a quarter of a mile from the gate of Himani, on an eminence about fifty or fixty foot high, ftands the caftle of St Lazare, which is a fquare of about fifty foot, with three demi baftions, two guns in each face, one in each flank, and 128 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART and three in each curtain , the place in hfelf is 1. trifling, but its fituation very advantageous, which V^-> overlooks all the town ; though there is a brow i 74 I of a hill about 400 yards from it that overlooks it as much, and entirely commands the fort. THE fame day as the Britifh fleet arrived before Carthagena, Vice Admiral Vernon receive;] in- telligence, from his engineer Capt. Knowles, of the obfervations he had made purfuant to his di- rections, and alfo of what new works the Spani- ards had been creeling near the entrance of the harbour : from this advice the vice admiral col- lected, that the moil probable, as well as the moft proper place to fccure a delcent in, was, in in the little bay under the command of the two forts St Philip and St Jago, where fliips could come fafely to an anchor in good ground, within lefs than a mufket mot of the fliore, and might lie to batter and command thofe two forrs, without having occafion to open the caftle of Boca Chica; in which cafe, the fire of three eighty gun mips would be fufficient for demolifhing the forts commanding the bay, and fecuring a fafe landing for the troops under the fire of their gun?, being a point of the utmoft importance for promoting the fuccefs of the expedition, as it was the very fpot on which Monficur de Pointi made his deicent when he reduced Carthagena, and begun with taking Boca Chica : and as to the northward of the faid two forts on Terra Bomba, where the Spaniards had lately erected a fafcine battery of fifteen guns, there was found to be deep water enough to approach within muf- ket fhot of the battery, but that the anchoring ground fo near in was foul and ftoney, and would cut the cables , and to anchor in clean ground would be hardly within point-blank cannon fhot : and Engaged in the late General War. 129 And it was alfo reprefented, that there was like- CHAP, wife a good little bay for a defcent under Chamba VI. battery. After procuring this information, de- < *^ figned for the berter regulating his difpofitions of I 74 I - attack, the vice admiral immediately difpatched Capt. Knowles away again to leeward with Capt. Laws, Capt. Cooper, and Capt. Rentone, to found all without Terra Bomba and the en- trance of the harbour, to know certainly how near the (hips could be brought to the fhore, and if they could find anchorage for their large fleet. General Wentworth in the mean time, accompanied by fome of the principal land offi- cers, went oh board the Lyon to reconnoitre the Town, the coaft adjoining, and the feveral forts. THE vice admiral having informed and inr flrufted Sir Chaloner Ogle, according to the intelligence he had received from Capt. Knowles, and having furnifhed him with pilots of the beft abilities and experience he could procure, and relying on the judgment and refolution of the rear admiral for the execution of his orders, di- rected him " To proceed with his whole divifion " of (hips of the line of battle for demolifhing ' the faid forts and batteries, and fcouring all c< the country between them, fo as to fecure a cc defcent for the forces in the mod: convenient * c parts of it between fort St Philip and Cham- " ba battery, which might divide the Spaniards, " the better to make a defcent at both places tunately pitched afhore under the muzzles of 174 1 - thefe guns, which immediately began to fire on them ; the fatlors were furprized at fo unexpected a reception, but recollecting that their fecurity was in their refolution, they intrepidly rumed in at the embrazures, took poficflion of the battery before the Spaniards could renew their fire, and fecured the cannon with very inconfiderable da- mage to themfclves. Thb firing alarming the Spa- niards at the larger bartery, thry turned three pieces of cannon on the platform, fired with grape fhot fo foon as the feamen advanced, which went over their heads and did them little pre- judice -, the failors inftantly rufhed on with great boldnefs and fpirit, a. id after a fmart, though Ihort refiftance, carried the bartery, fpiked up all the guns, tore up the platforms and burned them, together with the carriages, guard-houfes, and magazines, returning to their (hips with fix wounded prifoners, after fuftaining but a very inconfiderable lofs in the whole action ; and for this gallant behaviour the vice admiral rewarded every common man with a dollar a piece. This fuccefs was a great relief to the troops, as it freed them from the grcateft annoyance of their camp, and gave them an opportunity of working quiet- ly on their grand battery, which the engineers had been very flowly erecting againft the caftle ofBocaChica. Tnis battery was conftructed in a wood, to prevent the garrifon in the caftle from difcovering it before it was completed ; and though the engineers were aflifted with 500 fea- men, 250 blacks, be fides as many pioneers as Could be fpared out of the army, they had been now upwards of a week in fo negligent and tardy Engaged in the late General War. 137 a difpofition, that the battery was far from being CHAP. in a condition to incommode the cattle : this con- VI. cerned the vice admiral, who expected the engi- * v~~J neers would have feconded the fuccefs on the Bar- I 74 I - radera fide, by opening their battery againft Boca Chica, which was punctually promifed him, and he had reafon to expect, this being the lateft day appointed for it. ON the 2oth, as foon as it was day, the garri- fon of Boca Chica began to fire warmly at the bomb battery, though without doing any parti- cular damage ; but, being fenfible of the utility and advantageous fituation of the Barradera bat- tery, the Spaniards had been diligently repairing it, and on the 2ift had built up fome embra- zures and mounted two guns, with which they again played on the bomb battery ; but were foon filenced by the Ripon, ordered by the vice admi- ral to anchor as near as pofiible to it, and keep firing, to prevent any further working on the le- velled battery. THE vice admiral grew very uneafy, both from the apprehenfions of the opennefs of the road the fleet lay expofed to, and the foul ground that was daily cutting their cables-, this, augmented by the flow proceedings of the engineers, and together with intercepted intelligence that Admi- ral de Torres was arrived at the Havanna, where *j .. the French fquadron under Monfieur Rochefieulle was expected to join him, induced the vice admi- ral on the 2ift to hold another council of war with the commanders of the fleet, when they came to a refolution " To make a general at- " tack upon all the forts and batteries, to be put " in execution as foon as the wind would permit ". the (hips to move to their proper ftations." Commodore Leftock was appointed to begin the V o L. I. S attack 138 77je Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART attack with three eighty and three feventy gun I. fhips, being the moll that could be brought con^ L_ v . J veniently to batter clear of each other ; and the 1741. commodore was to be fupported by Sir Chaloner Ogle, with the additional fire of other fhips, where-evcr he could find there was room for it ; fpr which purpofe the vice admiral iflfued the ne- cefiary inflections. THE grand battery of twenty guns being ri- mmed, after clearing the wood from before it, onthe22d, about feven in the morning, began to play very brifkly on Boca Chica Cattle, as did the bomb battery and thirty mortars and co- horns planted on the platform behind the can- non , which the Spaniards returned as brifkly from the caftle, the four fhips in the mouth of the harbour, fort St Jofeph, and fome few guns from the Barradera ; fo that the work was warm on both fides. ON the 23d, purfuant to the difpofition of at- tack, Commodore Leftock in the Boyne, with the Prince Frederick, Hampton-Court, Suffolk and Tilbury, went in to batter Boca Chica caftle, and the ftiips ported there -, which were, the Ga- licia, the admiral's fhip, San Carlos, Africa, and St Philip, all mounting upwards of fixty guns ; their pofition being as advantageous as the mod prudent commander could have formed, both for oppofing any attempt that might be made by Shipping on the entrance into the harbour, or to annoy any Battery that could be raifed afhore -, and as they found no battery againft them from ihore, which was highly requifite, the Spanifh fhips failed not to play as brifkly, and did much greater damage than the caftle ; but the Boyne, tallingYo far to leeward as 10 lie expoled to the yhole fire of the Spanilh (hips and fort Sc Jofeph, was Engaged in the late General War. 139 \vas much (battered and ordered off again that CHAP. night ; the reft continued there : and the Princefs VI. Amelia, belonging to Sir Chaloner Ogle's divi-' \- J fion, having Fallen farther to leeward than was I 74 I * intended, lay fair to filence the new mounted guns on the fafcine battery, and did fo accord- ingly > which was a great prefervative to the men playing the battery againft the caftle, and thofe in the camp, as the (hot from the fafcine battery went over the hill into the camp. The Prince Frederick and Hampton-Court, fharing the fire that had been employed againft the Boyne, were alfb much (battered by morning, when the vice admiral was obliged to call them off, after many men killed and wounded, and the former having loft her commander, Lord Aubrey Beauclerc, a brave and gallant officer, who would have been an honour to his noble family and his country, being of a fedate as well as of a refolute temper. The Suffolk and Tilbury, happening to anchor well to the northward, lay fuccefsfully battering againft the breach till evening, when every thing appearing fit for an affault, they were ordered to draw off. The army in the mean time began to look on the breach as accefiible, but the general complaining they_ were galled by the Barradera battery, where the Spaniards had again mounted fix gum, which would be able to annoy them in their attack ; the vice admiral directed the Prin- cefs Amelia, Litchfield, and Shoreham, to go in and anchor as nigh it as poffible -, and about noon lent the boats of the fleet again, manned and armed, to demolifh the fafcine battery ; the men when landed were commanded by Capt. Watfon, having under him the Captains Cotes and Dennis, and thofe remaining in the boats commanded by Capr.. Cleland and Capt. Brode- S 2 ri-ck; 140 e flx Conduct of tie Powers of Europe, PART rick; who, having time and day-light for it, I. effectually performed their buGnefs, without any v -* oppofirJon : for fo foon as the Spaniards law the 1741- boats coming to land, and the (hips anchoring clofe to the battery, they deferted it : but the Captains Waribn and Cotes marched into it, fpi- ked up the guns, and entirely deftroyed the bat- tery. The teamen afterwards drew fome of their boats over a neck of land, and boarded and burnt a floop that lay there to fupply the battery with ammunition. TH E greateft part of the guns in Boca Chica cattle being now difmounted, General Went- worth went in the night of the 24th to reconnoi- tre the breach ; and judging it furmountable, re- folved to afiault it by ftorm the next evening, an hour before night: he came off in the morning and acquainted the vice admiral of his defign, who immediately made the fignal for his boats again, and rent them in to make a favourable dt- Terfion, under the chief command of his engi- neer Capt. Knowles -, who landed at the fafcine battery, and drew up his men before the time of the forces marching to attack the caftle, which contributed to throw the Spaniards into fome confuCon. General Wentworth, having made the necefiiry difpofirions, about half an hour after five, ordered the troops to move forward to af- iaolt the breach. The forlorn -hope confifted of a ierjeant and twelve grenadiers, who were im- mediately ioUowed by thirty volunteers-, next marched 260 grenad'iers, the whole then re- maining, under the command of Ueutenar.t- Colonei M'Loud, and afterwards Colonel D~ri- ci at the head of a detachment of 500 men, vi-ho kid under his direcVron feme fmali parties, carrying JcaL , pick-axes and fpades to Engaged in tie late General War. 141 to be in readinefs in cafe of necefiity: the whole CHAP. was (attained by 500 men, under the command VI. of Lieutenant-Colonel Cochrane ; and Brigadier' v^J Blakeney, the brigadier of the day, had the di- I 74 I - reclion of the attack. Upon a fignal, which was, the firing of three bombs from the mortar bat- tery, a volley of round (hot was poured in upon the breach from the great gun battery, and was immediately followed by a fecond of grape (hot; which obliging the ceminels upon the walls to put themfelves under cover, probably occafioned their not having perceived the troops, when they firft began to move to the attack : but fome time before they reached the foot of the walls, the drums in the fort beat to arms, the top of the breach was manned, the (hips began to fire with grape (hot, and feveral (hots were made from tort St Jofeph, though without doing any other execution, than the killing of one man. The commandant of the fort being at that time on board one of the (hips, the garriibn fell into con- fufion, and fled with precipitation cut of the gates as foon as the grenadiers began to mount the breach. Don Bias, the Spanilh admiral, was at this time on board the Gallicia, and to- gether with the officers and crews of all his fhips, were in the utmoft condensation at fuch a hidden and unexpected fuccefsful event. Each (hip was fcuttled ready for finking, and had a large iquare plug in the hole ; the Africa and St Caplos were funk, but the plug being not readily got out of the St Philip (he was fet on fire, while the Spa- niards in the greateft hurry betook themfelves to their boats, and that with fo much confufion, that the crew of the Galicia, having left their captain and fixty men aboard, were afraid to re- turn and carry them off, fo that they were pre- ven ted The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, vented from their intention of finking her, as there was no poffibility of efcaping. Capt. Knowles finding what confternation the Spaniards were J 74 J - in, fefolved to row the boats clofe under the lee fhore, and ftorm St Jofeph's fort from the boats ; which he did accordingly, and took poflefiion of it about ten o'clock at night, with Httle refift- ance ; the Spaniards, after firing a few guns, hav- ing abandoned it, leaving only one drunken man behind; who was to have blown it up. Capt. Cotes was left to command the fort, while Capt. Knowles and Capt. Watfon, being within the boom, rowed with the boats up to the Gallicia, boarded her$ and took the captain, a captain of marines, an enfign, and fixty men prifoners, and fecured the Spanifh admiral's flag and colours, both of which they found flying. After leaving ibme officers and men on board the Gallicia, the boats went to work on cutting the boom, and moving the Gallicia out of the channel, to make all clear for entering the harbour on the next day. THE Britifh forces were now entire matters of Boca Chica, which had it been defended equal to its ftrengthj and excellent difpofition both of the fhips and batteries^ it would have been a much harder tafk, for the fleet and army both, to have got the pofleflion of fo ftrong a fortrefs ; for the channel was as narrow and difficult of ac- cefs as can be well apprehended, defended with above 200 pieces of cannon from forts, batteries and (hips, that lay all to play upon any fhip com- ing within the compafs of a mile round , which was a convincing proof, that though the Spanifh admiral knew very well how to make a good dif- pofition, he was incapable of knowing how to make the beft defence wich it afterwards. THE Engaged in the late General War. 143 THE Britifh troops, from the time of their CHAP. encampment to the taking of Boca Chica cattle, VI. * loft about 400 men by ficknefs and the fire from'. v-^- the Spaniards ; and amongft thofe that were kil- 1741, led in the camp were Colonel Douglas, Colonel Watfon of the train, Lieutenant-Colonel Sand- ford, and Capt. Moor, the chief engineer. TH E next day after taking the cattle, being the 1 6th, the vice admiral hattened into the har- bour, to make proper difpofitions and give all necdftry orders-, but he had great difficulty to get in, as the San Carlos and Africa were funk in the channel, and the St Philip continued burning on the lee more ; fo that the vice admiral was above three hours warping through, after anchoring in the narrows, before he could get to fail up the harbour, which he did about two leagues the fame evening ; as alfo did the Bur- ford and Orford, who the next day were ordered to advance for potting themfelves acrofs the har- bour as near as they could, juft without gun-mot of Caftillo Grande, for cutting the Spaniards off from all communication by water. On the fame day the Worcefter got up to the vice admiral, who fent her to anchor clofe to a wharf where there was a good crane and a fpring of water, which he thought neceffary to fecure for the fer- vice of the fleet ; the Weymouth and Cruizer floop getting in the fame afternoon, were order- ed to dettroy the batteries at Paflb Cavallos, a creek that parts the Gra;,d Baru from the main, through which the fupplies of proviiions from Tolu and Sina were to pals, and where the Sna- niards had erected two fmali batteries, one of eight the other of four guns, which were Uemo- lifhed by the Weymouth and Cruizer -, on which the latter went up the creek, and brought away four 144 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART four large Sina hulks, being veffels dugout of a I. Iblid tree big enough to carry twenty ton, which i. * -' were very ferviceable in watering the fleet. In the I 74 I - mean time the vice and rear admirals two divifi- ons, and part of the tranfports, continued to fail and warp in as faft as conveniently they could, but were greatly retarded by blowing weather, which having forced all the f-nall fhips to take fhelter in the mouth of the harbour, they Ib choaked it up as to prevent the men of war mak- ing the defired difpatch, having anchored foul of one another -, but being all got in on the 3Oth, the fire-fhips and frigates were difpofed round the harbour to guard every pafs and creek, in order to cut off any fupplies going to the town ; while Commodore Lellock with his divifion was left at Boca Chica, with orders to re-imbark the forces and cannon as foon as poffible. THE Spaniards feeing the vice admiral and feveral mips had got into the harbour, began to expect a vifit at Caftillo Grande ; and as Manci- nilla fort lay oppofite to it, within gun fhot, and was incapable of making any great defence, they thought proper to deftroy it, left the Briiifh for- ces mould take pofleflion of it, and fo batter the caftle. BETWEEN this fort and Caftillo Grande, is a large channel that goes up into the Surgidero, another harbour or large balon before the town ; in the middle of the channel is a fhoal that di- vides it into two channels, and in order to flop the fleet, the Spaniards had moored and funk feven of their galleons and other mips on each fide the fhoa}, acrofs the mouth of the upper harbour above Caftillo Grande -, and in the chan- nel next the caftle, had moored their two re- maining men of war, the Conquiftador of fixty-fix guns, Engaged in the late General War. 145 guns, and the Dragon of fixty, and untiled CHAP. tlu-ir houfes in the caftle as if intending to dc- fend it. ON the goth Vice Admiral Vernon held a general council of war, of naval officers, when it was reiblved, " To ufe all poiTible expedition " to cut off the communication of the town on " the land fide, and to make a defcent at the " moll convenient place nearcft the town." Immediately after Sir Chaloner Ogle, and fcve- ral fhips, turned up the harbour, and anchored at a Imall diftance from Caftillo Grande, where t~i tion at tea , and the Weymouth continuing polled J74I- within piftol (hot of the fhore, kept Icouring the country to iccure the camp from any attack ; and the mortars from the ketches played both on the fort and the town: but the general could not be prevailed on to cut off the communication be- tween the town and country, by which negligence the Spaniards had uninterrupted opportunities of bringing whole herds of cattle into the town, and, at their leifure, to reinforce and fupply the garrifon of Lazar. UPOM receiving the reinforcement from the fhips, on the 8th in the afternoon, a council of war was held by the general and field officers, wherein it was refblved by the majority of the council, lt To attack thecaftleand trenches of Sc *' Lazar, without waiting for the railing of a " battery to make a breach-," which the chief en- gineer had reported, required fo large a number of men, and fo much time to cut through the woods, as in their circumftances rendered it im- practicable i and efpecially as the Spaniards were daily throwing up new work?, the council thought there was no other choice left, but ei- ther to make a bold pufh for the furprizing fort Lazar, or to return on board -, and there- fore determined, but too late, on the aflaulr, though two of the general officers diflented from this rtiblution, as judging it too rafh an undei taking without tiril making a proper breach, or nt leaft before the place had been well recon- noitred. The necefiary things for the attack could not be got in readinefs till night, and the next morning 1,200 men, under the command of Brigadier-General Guife, paraded on the ftrand, Engaged in tie late General War. 153 ftrand, where having formed, they advanced CHAP. towards the fort, conducted by three deferters ; VI. and a little before day began to mount the hill. < ,~ They begun the attack in two places, but the *?4? divifion which was to have gone up an open ac^ ceffible road which lay upon the right of the fort, was in the dark by a fatal miftake led up the center, where the afcent was very fteep and the ground broken: fome of the moil forward gain- ed the top and pufhed on to the entrenchments, but not being immediately fuftained, by reafon of the great difficulty found in mounting the hill, they were mod of them killed or wounded. Colonel Grant very gallantly afcended the hill on the left, but having immediately received a mortal wound, and the guide with feveral others being killed, Lieutenant-Colonel Hamon, th*j was completed the 25th, which took up the more 174*- time from the great thicknefs of the walls and ftrength of the cement, but was entirely demo- limed at laft, and the- fifty-nine pieces of ord- nance in it rendered unferviceable, by fpiking them up and knocking off the trunnions. The 27th in the evening, the vice admiral weighed from Caftillo Grande, to fall down to the lower parts of the harbour, to be at hand for giving the necefiary orders for facilitating the difpatch of the tranfports and ftore-mips to fea, and get- ting the remaining fortrefles completely demo- limed , leaving the Norfolk, Burford, Windfor, and Princefs Louifa, all under the command cf Capt. Graves, at Caftillo Grande, till the tranf- ports and ftore-fhips were got out to fea, and for keeping the Spaniards from any communication with Terra Bomba, where the Britifh failors were at work, and from whence they had their fupplies of water, and to remain on that fervice till further orders: Sir Chaloner Ogle was alfo left pofted in the middle of the harbour for re- ceiving their daily report, and to give any other orders he mould judge necefiary. The fame day fixteen fail of tranfports, by warping and towing got out, and proceeded to fea under convoy of the Lion, Capt. Cottrell ; the 29th the Monta- gue got to fea with the fecond divifion of tran- fports and ftore-mips, being about thirty-four fail ; and the 3Oth the Weymouth proceeded with an- other divifion of about the fame number ; as did the Torbay with General Wentworth on board, who was defirous of getting to Jamaica before the arrival of the troops, to give the neceflary orders 1 58 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART orders for their accommodation; and on the 2d I. of May the Ripon got out convoy to the laft L s~> divifion of tranfports and ftore-fhips, together 1741. with two leaky bonr.b-ketches; as did alfo on the fame day, the Suffolk, Prince Frederick, Jerfey, York, Experiment, and Elizabeth floop tender, all under the command of Capt. Davers, who as the Spaniards were much ftraitened for want of provifion?, was ordered to cruize with thefe fhips off Santa Martha for twenty days, to cut off all fupplies that way ; and then to return to Port Royal. On the 4th the Superbe and Succefs fire- fhips proceeded with the victuallers : the fame day the fort of St Joieph was entirely deftroyed by Mr Shirley ; and the day following the de- molition of Boca Chica caftle was moft effectual- ly completed, under the direction of Capt. Bof- cawen and Mr Barnes; upon which the vice ad- miral difpatched the neceffary orders to Sir Cha- lonerOgle, for drawing off the (hips from above the next morning, and afterwards fell down him- felf, leaving orders with Commodore Leftock, whofe divifion was pofted to be ferviceable in af- filling all the reft in getting out, to remain with his (hip to the laft. After having completed the demolition of the defence of the harbour, and deilroyed the lime-kilns for putting the Spaniards backward in erecting other buildings, and (hip- ping off all their (lore of lime and lime-done for the fervice of the hofpital building at Jamaica ; on the 6th Vice Admiral Vernon very civilly left the harbour, not having injured any of their dwelling houfes, or through wantonnefs gave the lead loofe to any of thofe rapacious practices of war, fo often committed and fo generally ex- pected from the refentment of an exafperated and even a victorious enemy i all excefles of this na- ture Engaged in the late General War. 159 ture being contradictory to the humanity and o- CHAP. pen courage of the Britifh admiral, and by his VI. orders carefully guarded againft, and avoided by '^^v^sj both officers and feamen : the next day Sir Cha- 1741- loner Ogle got out of the harbour with fourteen fail, and joined the vice admiral off Point Canoa on the Sth, who proceeded for Jamaica, and in his way left Capt. Mayne in the Worcefter, with the Strafford, Princefs Louifa and Lirchfiekl, to cruize to windward of Cape Tiberon till the goth, for the fecurity of the convoy with the victuallers and ftore-fhips expected from England ; and on the 1 9th the vice admiral with the fleet got into Port Royal harbour, where to his great pleafure he found the convoy with the victuallers and ftore-fhips were fafely arrived about four days before him. THUS terminated this memorable expedition, the greateft and moft expenfive that ever entered the American feas ; and which had attracted the attention and admiration of all Europe: in which the Britifh army loft about 2,500 men, that were either killed or died by ficknefs, and amongft them two colonels, five lieutenant-colonels, four majors, the chief engineer, twenty-nine captains, fifty-one firft and fecond lieutenants, five enfigns, and Dr Martin the firft phyfici- an ; and 267 men wounded. On board the fleet the lofs was very inconfiderable, excepting the death of Lord Aubrey Beauclerc. The Io1s fuftained by the Spaniards in the deftruclion of their fix men of war, fix galleons, and other veflTds in the harbour; and the forts, caftles and guns, was eftimated at above 645, ooo/. exclu- five of the damage done within the town, and the lofs of great numbers of their men ; befides the difadvantages enfuing from the demolition of the 160 be Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART the fortifications, whereby that intricate harbour 1. was no longer inacceflible, and the treafures of ^V^- / the new world tould no more be embarked with J 74 J - fafety from Gtrthagena, till the wants of Spain obliged her to comply with thofe conditions fhe had before Ib haughtily rejected. AN Expedition begun with iuch probability of a fuccelsful termination, having ended fo un- fortunately, occafioned a general dilcontent a- mong thr inhabitants of Great Britain-, while the Spanilh court removed from their anxiety of loi- ing lo important a place, ordered three days public rejoicings on fo fingular an event. It muft have been a very fenfible mortification to every honeft Englifhman, as Carthagena would have been a prize of ineftimable value , it is the jewel of America, which Cromwell was very ambi- tious to fix on the diadem of Britain : the city is fpacious and beautiful, with a rich province annex- ed to it; if the city had been taken the province muft have followed it ; a province full of valuable mines, adjoining to and communicating with other rich provinces which encompafs it: and had the Britim forces been victorious, they would have col-, lected an immenfe treafure, and would have been in pofifeffion of a ftronj; fettle men t on the wealthy part of the continent of America, which would have finifhed their difputes with Spain; for ac- cording to Cromwell's fcheme, Carthagena might have been made the Britifh emporium in A- merica, by means of which the Britifh fubjects might do that rightfully, which they had beea charged to do clandeftinely, and which gave rife. to the differences-, that is, they might have gain-, ed a direct indifputable trade with the rich part of the continent, by having a province there as well as Spain ; and to maintain any conquefts irj that Engaged in the late General War. 16 1 that opulent part of the world, was the general CHAP. Icnfe of the Britifh nation. VI. HENCE it obvioufly appears how very valuable L/VNJ fuch anacquifuion muft have been, and now much the unfuccefsful attempt of the land forces is to be regretted, for on them alone can any impu- tation of mifconduct defcend ; it would be tranf- greffing the bounds of candour and honefty, lo throw the leaft afperfions on the conduct of the commander of the fleet; who deftroyed all the Spanifh fhipping, and the forts that defended the harbour -, and not only with the greateft pro- tection landed the army, and fecured their re-im- barkation without the lofs of a man , but it is evident did every thing, and every where, con- fident with the part he bore in the expedition^ and not in the leaft derogatory to the glorious re- putation he had lately acquired ; for the very ru- ins he left behind him, will for ages remain the monumental trophies of the valour and fuccels of the naval force of Britain. WHEN the army was landed, the bufinefs fell entirely within their province ; yet the admiral fnpplied the general with feamen to raife his bat- teries, who from the beginning before Boca Chi- ca caftle, promifcd little hopes of fuccefs: no trenches were timely opened, no regular ap- proaches made to beat the Spaniards out of their works, till a great number of troops were de- ftroyed -, -but after fixtetn days the army made an attack, which might as well have been done the firft day, with as little lofs in the aifauit as when the place was taken. When Monfieur de Pointi benVgtd and took Carthagena-in the year 1697, he regulated his mea lures on more in a quite diffetfciM manner, and was crowned with a very reverfc of fortune than what happened to VOL. I. X the 1 62 'The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART the Britifh troops-, and his fuccefs was principal- I. ly owing to his conduct and prudence, for his - * ' force was very unequal to the Britifh, the French 1 74 I - commander having only a fquadron of feven men of war from eighty to thirty guns, one bomb vefiel, and nine frigates, with 2,3oofeamen and i, 800 foldiers, and thofe but very indifferently difciplined j and the Spaniards were at that time as numerous and as capable of defending the place againft the French, as they were now a- gainft the Englifh. The Britifh admiral purfued the fteps of Monfieur de Pointi, and landed the army on the very fame (pot the French comman- der had pitched upon for the fame purpofe : but the Briulh troops when landed, very widely de- parted from the difpofitions put in execution by the French forces , for De Pointi having landed his men on the 151!! of April, inftead of concert- ing a formal and tedious attack, without creel- ing any battery, made a way through the wood to the lake ; and after examining the fort, on the 1 6th marched fome ot his troops up to, and ported himielf at the foot of the counterfearp, which fo terrified the Spaniards that they imme- diately offered to capitulate, and the governor with his garrifon, confuting of 300 men, furren- dered themfelves prifoners of war, without any more than the lofs of fifty men to the French : whereas the Britifh troops loft above eight times that number before they entered the cattle. Af- ter the reduction of Boca Chica caftle, the Bri- tifh army re-imbarked on board the fleet, which tranfported them round the harbour, anu re-land- ed them nearer the town ; from whence they marched up to La Quinta, and encamping be- fore Lazar, reconnoitred and took pofleflion of La Popa j but ihe French commander, after fending Engaged in the late General War. 163 fending a party up the harbour to poflefs them- CHAP. Selves of La Popa, re-imbarked all that he had VI. brought on fhore before Boca Chica, and order- ^ v f ing the fquadron to warp through the channel, J 74i. thought it unneceflary to re-imbark the land for- ces ; and on the i8th marched them up through the country to fort Lazar, who in their way en- tered the fort of St Croix, afterwards called Caf- tillo Grande, which the Spaniards had abandon- ed : the next day the French army crofied the lake, and De Pointi on reconnoitring St Lazar, beheld with much trouble the time it muft coft if he attacked it in form, and brought his artil- lery to batter it ; but afterwards getting up to an eminencey, above all the others, perceived if he could make a way through the wood to that height, they might afterwards go upon a level from thence to the foot of the fort, all the way being covered with woods ; and that he could fix a miner to the fort if the garrifon refolved to con- tinue there. Upon this, on the aoth, he ordered his major-general to call to arms, and put the negroes to work upon cutting of a way to facili- tate the march of the troops, which were about 2,200; this was carried on half way up the hill, where dividing the way to encompafs the forr, one part of the forces marched to the right and the other to the left, and arrived at the foot of the fort in a very little time, where they made the greateft fire that was poflible ; during which time the garrifon did little execution, by reafon the befiegers made their mot upon them fo foon as they expofed their bodies to view ; and the French officers calling out for the fcaling ladders, and placing their miners, the fear of the garrifon gave them occafion to think they would be at- tacked on all fide?, which had effectually hap, X 2 enci 164 2^ Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART pened if they had not choie to retire through the I. quarter towards the gate that was taen free to *- v ' them. In this manner the French poffefled J74.I- themfelves of St Lazar, with the lofs of only one captain and five grenadiers: what a furprizing difference between that and the lofs fuftained by the Englim in the fame unfortunate attack! how melancholy the reflection between the deaths of five and five hundred ! and how reverfe the ifiue of one action to profperoufly executed, by a body of 2,200 undifciplined Frenchmen , and the un- happy event of the other, though carried on by above 5,000 Britons! DE POINT i afterwards pumed on his fuccefs, and in lefs than a fortnight obliged the town to furrender to him : the Spaniards, to the number of 2,800 lifted men, marched out with military honours, leaving the town with the inhabitants, and nine millions of money to the victorious French. HAD the Britim troops fucceeded at the attack of fort Lazar, there was the higheft probability they would have entered the town as triumph- antly as the French had done: but many, too many reafons, glare ftrongly to the world to e vince the .true caufe of fuch an ignoble difap- pointment. Certainly the Britim troops attack- ed the fort in a very different manner from the French, and they failed for want of advancing to afcend the hill to the right and left, where it was practicable, inttead of halting at the foot of a fteep part of the hill they could not afcend, and remaining there to perifh at the mercy of the Spaniards, The various turns of war are fo uncertain and precarious, as to elude the beft concerted plans of the ableft and moft vigilant commanders j while triyial accidents often lead to Engaged in the late General War. 165 the nobleft victories: and it would be an uncha- CHAP. ritable pen, that pofitively afierted the mifconduct VI. of fuch an expedition to any particular perfon ; ^ v~- but an impartial writer cannot avoid taking no- J 74 r ' tice, that General Wentworth acted very impru- dently in not confulting Admiral Vernon upon the attack, who could have advifed a proper dif- pofition being made for it, and would undoubt- edly have been ready to have given affiftance in it from the fleet: and it is certain the general never carried, nor fent, any of the officers that were to lead th*e attack, to La Popa, where he might have given them his proper directions, and they have known how to have executed his orders to the beft advantage from their own ob- fervations; who if they were directed to carry on the attack to the right and left, took a contrary road from a miftake, principally owing to their ignorance of the accefiible parts of the hill, which if they had opportunely afcended, like DePointi, and lodged their men in the Spanifh intrench- ments, they would have been under cover againft all fire from the town, and thofe in the fort would not have dared to expofe themfelves over the walls to fire upon them ; fo they would have had a fhort and eafy fap in a clay hill, to have mined under a corner of the fort and made a breach, if the garrifon would have flayed for giving them that trouble ; which it is probable they would not, but have rather chofe to abandon the fort as it was done to the French. WHEN the land army were thus circumvented in their views, and too greatly diminifhed to re- new the aflault, there was not even the leafl pot- fibilityof reducing the town by the fire from the fleet : the walls were too tenable to admit of any breach, except on the land fide, and there was i66 We Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART no hopes of ftorming it without. Indeed the I. Britim admiral fent in the Galicia, purpofely to v -^ try what effect her guns would have upon the J 74 r - walls, but found it too inconfiderable to do the Spaniards any other prejudice than deftroying their houfes : and as an uncontroverted evidence of the impracticability of (hips of war approach- ing near enough to batter the walls, De Pointi was convinced they could perform no effectual fervice ; for having ordered the Sceptre of 84 tuns, St Lewis of 64 guns, and Vermandois of o gnns, to advance and batter the city with their artillery, he found it ineffectual, their (hot only reaching the tops of the houfes: he there- fore ordered them to retire, and afterwards con- fined his endeavours folcly to the land, where the city of Carthagena is only liable to be taken. BUT the principal and moft unhappy accident that contributed to promote the ill fuccefs of the fiege of Carthagena, was occafioned by the arri- val of the land forces in America in the moft unhealthy part of the year. Every year is at- tended with one intemperate feafon that never miffes this part of the Indian coaft; when the great rains, and violent rhunder, fpread an infecti- on through the air, which fcatters a contagious diftemper, not only among fuch as are ftrangers to the climate, but even among thofe that have been long inured to it, the very natives fre- quently finding it fatal to themfelves. The vio- lence of this inclement feafon was too heavily felt by the Britifh troops, which fwept them off the more fatally as the greateft part of the army were raw and unfeafoned men, inexpert in the ufe of arms, and incapable of enduring the fa- tigues of military difcipline in a climate of fueh intempe- Engaged in the l$te General War. 167 intemperature : it was this diminiflied the army CHAP. infinitely more than the Spaniards; it was this VI. occafioned them to abandon the expedition , and < v * it was this fo greatly enfeebled the furvivors, I 74 I - that on their arrival at Jamaica, many of the principal officers, and great numbers of the men were daily perifhing, through the infirmities they had contracted on their unprofperous en- terprize. ' THE SECOND PART, IN TWO DIVISIONS, FIRST DIVISION. FROM THE Death of the Emperor CHARLES VI. On the Qth of OCTOBER, M DCC XL, TO THE End of the CAMPAIGN in MDCCXLI. SECOND DIVISION. Naval War in AMERICA and EUROPE, In M DCC XLI. . . FIRST DIVISION. CHAPTER I. From the death of the Emperor CHARLES VI. to the invafion of SILESIA; containing an examin- ation of the prerenfions of the houfes of BAVARIA and BRAN- DEN BURGH to the AUSTRIAN fuc- ceffion. H E houfe of Auftria had, for a CHAP, great number of years, uninter- ruptedly enjoyed the imperial dignity j but France, her perpe- tual competitor for power, had gradually clipped the wings of her ibaring eagle, and greatly diminifhed the grandeur of that illuftrious family , whofe declenfion had fb manifeftly aggrandized the houfe of Bourbon, as to make that monarchy a formidable enemy to the other European powers. For while the Y 2 houfe I. 172 5T& Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART houfe of Auftria fiourifhed in a condition to op- II. pofe the defigns of France, the ballance of power i v ' was preferved, and the liberty of Europe remote from the deftruction of an arbitrary and univerfal monarchy : like Rome and Carthage, while they -preierved an adequate ftrength, the mutual great- nefs of the one protected the reft of mankind from the flavery and opprefiion of the other ; but no fooner was the houfe of Auftria deprefied by the treaty of Munfter in 1648, and thereby dif- mantled of her principal ftrength on the Rhine, than Europe began to feel the force and fear the councils of France. WHEN Lewis XIV. fate upon the throne of France, it was apparent that crown, had either by the indufiry of its fubjects, the addrefs of its miniftry, or the negligence of its neighbours, arifen to that height of power (he had been long and Jaborioufly attaining. The French, for near a century had been always triumphant in their encroachments on their neighbours: from the number of their troops, their readinefs in taking the field, the remiflhefs of their enemies, joined with their manner of interpreting the fenfe of their leagues and treaties, they had always fuc- ceeded in every thing they undertook ; the long feries of their good fortune made them arrogate to themfelves the titles of intrepid and invincible ; and in this reign France was arrived to fuch an exuberance of wealth, and fuch extent of influ- ence, as made her more juftly formidable to the reft of Europe , to whom it was no lefs apparent, ^* that the defigns which wealth and power natu- rally incite, or enlarging dominion and deprefT- ing competition, had been long entertained by the French miniftry ; which as they terminated in nothing kfs than univerfal empire, in the fup- prefllon Engaged in tie late General War. 173 preffion of all the privileges, and the fubverfion CHAP. of all the governments of Europe, it was the in- I. variable and certain intereft of all the free part v -v~ of mankind to defeat. THE afpiring fpirit of the French monarch, prompted him to look on the powers of Europe as already doomed for his flaves and vaffals ; and elated with this ambitious view, in fancy great as Jupiter, he held the up-lifted bolt ready to hurl down on the heads of thofe whom he had devo- ted to deftruclion : but though providence has permitted an Alexander and a Csefar, as the in- ftruments of its own vengeance, to enflave fbme countries, and extirpate the human race in others; heaven had now too tender an eye on the prefer- vation of mankind, to fuffer the world to bow down and be trampled upon, beneath the feet of a Louis: and of this Europe fhould maintain a grateful remembrance, fince the prudent Naff- au, and the immortal Marlborough, were fent, like two guardian angels, to avert the ftroke of tyranny, and procure happinels to the world. To accomplim this great and glorious end, the plan of politics purfued by the minifters of King William, and during the reign of Queea Ann, till towards the latter end of it, when a new miniftry began to take new meafures, was, to diminifh the power of the houfe of Bourbon, then aiming at an acceffion of ftrength by uniting the Spanifh monarchy with France , and increale the power of the houfe of Auftria, as the moft efficacious method of prefervinga ballanceofpowerin Europe. IN execution of this noble plan, the Britifh na- tion, in 1688, formed an alliance with the Em- peror and the Dutch, which exifted for ten years ; when the Britifli nation, who were the foul of the confederacy, after lofing 100,000 men, and COQ- 174 We Condua of the Powers of Europe, PART contracting a debt of twenty millions, concluded II a peace with great advantage to the Empire and u^v-' Holland. This was followed by the partition treaty, whereby Naples, Sicily, and Lorrain, were to be added to the French dominions -, or if that crown mould think fit to fet afidethe treaty, upon the Spaniards refufing to accept it ; then the French would have pretenfions to the whole Spa- nifh monarchy. And fo it proved in the event ; for the then King of Spain, efteeming it an indigni- ty to have thefe his territories cantoned out into parcels by other princes, during his own life, and without his confent, rather chofe to be- queath the monarchy entire to the Duke of An- jou, a younger fon of France, becaufe he knew the natural averfion the Spaniards had ever held againft dividing their dominions. TH E Duke ot Anjou fucceeded to the monar- chy of Spain, in breach of the partition treaty , this being fo great an addition to the power of France, left no hopes of preferving the ballance of Europe ; becaufe that monarch would in ef- fect be king, while his grandfon had but the title, and thereby have a better opportunity than ever, of puriuing his defign for univerfal empire. To prevent this acceflion of power in the houfe of Bourbon, in 1702, the grand alliance was formed, between the Emperor, Great Britain, and the Dutch, in conjunction with other pow- ers, againft France and her allies, The Duke of Marlborough, at the head of 150,000 men, appeared in Flanders, and carried in his fortune the fate of Europe, and profperity of Britain : Bavaria, Tallard, and Marfin, felt him on the plains of Blenheim, where the routed army of France, after the diminution of 30,000 men, choie to throw themfelves headlong into the Da- nube, Engaged in the late General War. 175 , rather than face about upon their conque- CHAP. * ror; the triumphant columns erected there, per- I. petuate their difgrace ; the introduclion of this vie- < -v -^ torious commander into the college of the Ger- manic princes ; the loud acclamations acknowledg- ing him the deliverer of Europe abroad ; and the fweet-tuned numbers of Addifon at home; will remain to lateft pofterity, as faithful records of the feafonable affiftance of the Britifh arms at the battle of Hochftet, and the glories of that immortal day. Villeroy was defeated by the Britilh chief on the plains of Ramillies; Ven- dofme, Burgundy, and Berry, fhrunk before him at Oudenarde ; and Villars foon participa- ted the fate of his predeceflbrs. During the courfe of ten campaigns, the Britifh general be- fieged no town but what he took, attacked no army but what he routed; the chiefs at Poichiers, Creffy, and Agincourt, were now rivalled in fame ; Marlborough was every where active, and every where victorious. But the reputation of this glorious general was afterwards attacked ; the publick were debauched with impreUions of his affection for prolonging the war; he was dif- mifled: the illuftrious Ormond fucceeded him, and foon after a fufpenfion of arms' between Great Britain and France was proclaimed at the. head of both armies ; and Great Britain, after fuft- aining the expence of fixty millions, and the ef- fufion of the blood of thoufands, in conjunction with the Dutch, concluded a peace with France by the treaty of Utrecht, on the nth of April 1713 ; whereby the dreaded union of the French and Spanifh crowns was effectually prevented, by folemn renunciations from the Duke of Anjou to the throne of France, ajid from the other princes of the houfe of Bourbon to the crown of Spain. But 176 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART But the emperor, difcontented with this treaty, I {. determined to try the efTed of another campaign ; ^-v~, and the French and Spaniards, under the Duke of Berwick, bent all their revenge againfl Barce- lona , where the abandoned Catalonians were ex- pofed to all the horrors of a liege, deftruftion, famine, and mortality : it is not in the power of time to expunge this blot on the Britifh glory ; for who can name the Catalonians without a tear ? Brave unhappy people! drawn into the war by an encouragement of the maritime powers, from whom only, a nation encompafied to the land by France and Spain, could hope for relief and pro- tection ; now deferted and open to the relent- ment of an enraged prince, whofe perfon and intereft they had always oppofed , and yet ftill fo fond of their antient liberties, that though hem- med up in a neck of land by the forces of the two crowns, and clofely befieged in Barcelona, they chofe rather, like their countrymen, the fa- mous Saguntines of old, toperifo with their wives and children, than live in flavery. How reverfe their prefent fituation from what it was when thefe very Catalonians afiifted the French againft the Spanifh king! France fo far from thus aban- doning, obtained them the moft honourable con- ditions ; not a fmgle man was then hurt, either in his perfon or privilege -, but now they were left furrounded with fire and fword, combating with every calamity. Poor unfortunate Catalo- nians, worthy of a better tart! Good and graci- ous God ! to whom (hall be attributed the lofs ot this brave people ! THE Britifh nation apprehended, by this treaty, their miniftry had deviated from the plan, intended to have been purfued on the com- mencement of the war, and the Earl of Oxford, who Engaged in. tie late General War. 177 who was then the prime minifter, was impeached CHAP. for not purfuing it ; the chief article againft him I. being, that " By the peace of Urrecht, he had y < " left the power of the houfe of Auftria too " fmall in Italy and Flanders, and the kingdom " of Spain under a fort of dependence upon the *' court of France." GREAT difficulties remained unadjufted by that treaty, and much embarraffed all the affairs of Europe; yet in the following year, by the treaties of Raftadt and Baden, the emperor and France determined their differences ; and by the treaty of London in 1716, to augment the Au- ftrian power in Italy, Naples, and Sicily, were ceded to the emperor, in exchange for Sardinia, which was granted to the Duke of Savoy ; but this was not immediately complied with, and many differences fubfifted between the emperor and Spain, till long after Sir Robert Walpole began to have an influence over the Britifh coun- cils : his predeceflbrs, after entailing a debt of fifty millions upon the nation, had been puzzled with thefe difputes, and in endeavouring to ap- peafe tfiem, had already by the quadruple alliance in 1718, andfeveral fubfequent treaties and pro- ceedings, in a great degree difgufted both thofe powers. At a time therefore, when the reins of the Britifh government fell into the hands of Sir Robert Walpole, it required fuperior abilities for foreign affairs, and another turn to extricate the nation out of thefe difficult circumftances. But, contrary to that plan of politics fo effentially ne- ceffary for the Britifh nation to purfue, this mi- nifter, inftead of adhering firmly to the empe- ror, yielded to the views of Spain , and by this conduct highly provoked the emperor, which Spain obferving, took that opportunity to ac- YOL. I. Z com.- 178 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, I^ART commodate her own affairs with the imperial II. court, and for this purpofe fent a minifter pri- < v Jvately to Vienna, by whofe means treaties of peace, guaranty, and commerce, were concluded between the two courts in the beginning of the year 1725. TK E concluding of thefe treaties, and the good correlpondence thereby eitablifhed between the courts of Vienna and Madrid, gave a moft juft and reaibnable alarm to France ; as Spain had received a recent affront from this court, by fend- ing back, that very year, the infanta, who had been contracted in marriage to their young king, whom they married the fame year to the Princefs Leoziiifky, daughter of Stariiflaus the depofed King of Poland. With the utmoft reafon to dread this formidable union, the court of France, finding me could not inftil any fears into the Dutch, had recourfe to the Britim minifter, and endeavoured to fill him with dangerous .tppre- henfions from thole treaties > for this purpofe in- forming him, 'that there were fome fecret articles by which the emperor and Spain had agreed to take Gibraltar and Port Mahon, to defeat the proteftant fucceflion by reftoring the pretender, and to ruin the Bridfli trade with Spain, by granting many confiderable advantages to the Jubjccls of the emperor; reprefenting, that the only way the Britifh nation had to guard againft thefe terrible defigns, was by entering into a de- fenfive alliance with France. INFLUENCED by thefe French follicitations, Sir Robert Walpole (tumbled upon the moft un- lucky accident for the Britifh nation, finally ac- ccfTory to his own declehfion, and almoft to the ballahce of power in Europe. This was the ad- Vancing the unnatural thefis of a:neceffity to pull down. Engaged in the late General War. 179 down the pretended exorbitant power of the houle CHAP. of Auftria, and in fecuring France againft the I. attacks of the Emperor and Spain ; the one dia-< v- metrically oppofite to the honour, and the other to the intereft of Britain. Sir Robtrt apprehend- ed the peace was upon the point of being difturb- ed again, and fuffering to be impofed on by France, exerted himfeif to form a confederacy againft the emperor and Spain , and according- ly the Hanover treaty was concluded between France, Pruffia, and Great Britain, the 23d of September 1725, about four months after the treaty between the emperor and Spain, conclu- ded at Vienna. This was entirely throwing the Briti/h nation into the arms of France, and break- ing off from its old and natural connection with the houfe of Auftria ; for by a feparate article of this treaty, Great Britain engaged " In cafe war *' mould be declared by the Empire againft rian, " By this treaty the Duke of Bourbon, *' then firft minifter to the moft chriftian king, " brought to maturity what his predeceflbrs had " projected, and France at length attained what '* (he had fo long wimed, a dif-union between " Great Britain and the houfe of Auftria, for " which me had vainly expended fuch immenfe * c fums in the preceeding reign." THE prefervation of France was thus ftrongly fecured, and the houfe of Auftria deferted and confederated againft by its natural and old ally, Z 2 and The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, and without all doubt the rafhnels of this mea- fure had commenced a war, which would have ruined the ballance of power in Europe without refource ; the powers of the grand alliance being now upon the point of purfuing the destruction of each other, with the fame determined rancour which they had formerly exerted againft their common enemy the French : if the emperor had not with a happy moderation, himfelf opened a way to bring this meafure to an accommodation ; for this monarch, notwithflanding all the indig- nities that had pafled, and all the provocations he had received, ftill retained a juft fenfe both of his obligations and his intereft to cultivate the antient friend {hip of the houfe of Auftria with Great Britain, was willing to overlook all that was pafTed, and prevented one of the pretended fubjects of animofity, by agreeing to the fufpenfion of the Oftend company. Upon which a new preliminary treaty was figned at Vi- enna, in June, 1727, whereby the emperor was foon after induced to alliance with Great Britain againft Spain, and at the congrefs held at Soif- fons, the intereft of Britain was re-united with the imperial court. No fooner was this re-union Completed, but the Britifh minifter began to be as much frightened at the variance, as he had been terrified before with the union of the empe- ror and Spain ; he therefore, with a ftrange al- teration of conduct, in conjunction with France and Spain, concluded the treary of Seville, in November, 1729. The emperor was entirely un- acquainted with this treaty till it was concluded, and no wonder, for it contained an article, which has fince proved, as he always forefaw it would, Of the moft fatal confequence to his Italian do- minions : this article was the immediate admif- fion Engaged in the late General War. 1 8 r fion of 6,000 Spanifh troops into Tufcany, Par- CHAP. ma, and Placentia, to fecure the reverfion of I. thofe ftates, after the deaths of their refpective ' v-* princes, to Don Carlos , which, in the quadru- ple alliance, the emperor had confented to be done only by neutral forces, and even that very much againft his inclination ; thefe territories be- ing fiefs of the empire. SUCH preventive meafures gave France an op- portunity of influencing the Britifh miniftry, who were now upon the point of joining not only France, but of uniting with the whole houfe of Bourbon againft the emperor, and the whole Germanic body : bnt though the emperor at firft determined to refill the execution of this treaty, at length he confented to this ruinous meafure ; and with tears in his eyes, by the treaty of the i6thof March, 1731, agreed to admit a prince of the Bourbon line to ertablifh a dominion in Italy, at the expence of his own territories ; fub- mitting to make this facrifice, on condition of tuaranteeing the pragmatic fanction, being wil- ng not even yet to defpair that the Britifh na- tion would at laft be convinced of, and abandon its errors. THE Spanilh troops had not been long landed in Italy, before an alliance was formed between France, Sardinia, and Spain, to invade the Au- flrian dominions in that country , in 1733, they attacked ?he Milanefe, and foon made an entire conqueft of that duchy. THE emperor, confiding in the engagements of Great Britain to fupport the pragmatic fancti- on, had withdrawn his troops from Italy ; and as the French in 1734 had attacked him in the em- pire, and were a!fo endeavouring to bring an Ottoman army againft him, his imperial majefty found 1 82 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART found it was impoffible fof him long to make II. head alone, againft the different attacks made u,- v -.-.> and meditated upon the Empire itfelf and his he- reditary countries, and to defend his Italian pof- fefllons at the fame time. In that perilous inter- val he called upon Great Britain to execute her late treaty ; imploring her in the moft pathetic terms, not to defert an old, a faithful, and a fin- cere ally, fo ftriftly united by all the bonds of mutu- al affection and mutual fecurity, in a time of fuch imminent diftrefs, a diftrefs which the Britifli coun- cils, and his acquiefcence to them, had reduced him to. But all thefe remonftrances proving in- effedual, and the emperor procuring no afiift- ance from England, after the misfortune of fee- ing the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily ravifhed out of his cuftody, and added to the pofiefiions of the houfe of Bourbon, in exchange tor Parma, Placentia, and Tufcany, was obliged to accept of a very difadvantageous treaty of peace in 1736 ; and in this fituation did the houfeof Auftria remain with the European powers, till the year 1740. GERMANY had but lately enjoyed a Itate of tranquility, in which the houfe of Auftria had not recovered time to recruit her loffes, occafion- ed by the war with France, and the late unfuccefs- f ul alliance with Ruflia againft the Turks -, when {he was again plunged in the greateft difficulties by the death of the Emperor Charles Francis VI. THIS monarch died at his palace of Favorita, near Vienna, on the 9th of Oftober, 1740; leaving iffue only two daughters, the eldeft of which, Maria Therefa Walpurge, on the ift of February, 1726, married the Duke of Lorrain, for whom, by the fucceeding treaty of Vienna, the emperor obtained the grand duchy of Tuf- cany on the extinction of the houfe of Medicis, and Engaged in the late General War. 183 and intended to have got him defied king of CHAP. the Rorrans ; a ftep fo falutary for the repofe of J. the Empire, could not have failed anfwering the < - vJ emperor's expectation*-, in preventing any con- tentions of fucceeding to the imperial dignity 5 but the reafon that induced the emperor to defer taking fo neceflary a ftep, is attributed to his re- Jiance on the pragmatic fanction. As this imperial ordinance, or decree, fo ge- jiernlly known by the name of the pragmatic fanction, is not univerfally underftood, it may not be improper to give a fummary explication of it. Pragmatic, according to the etymology, fignifies, in one fenfe, expert, bufy, belonging to the civil courts , and in another conftruction, implies fomething that regards the matter in ge- neral, abftracted from circumftances or perfons; and in the latter fenfe, feems to have been taken by the emperors in relation to the prefent matter. This ordinance was the refuk of the Emperor Leopold's concern to avoid the fatal confequences that might probably attend the failure of male iflue in his family , for which purpofe he formed a defign, to fettle the fucceflion of his hereditary dominions in the female line, as the only way to prevent the revolutions that might otherwife hap- pen. The eldeft branch of the houfe of Auf- tria being extinct in Charles II. King of Spain, gave Leopold a favourable opportunity of com- pleting his project ; accordingly he communicated the fcheme to his two fons Jofeph and Charles, afterwards emperors, who jointly approved of it ; their father then delivered it to his minifters, who carried it through the feveral diets of the Empire, where it received all the validity thofe auguft afiTemblies could give it. Upon his death Jus elded fon fucceeded him as emperor ; and by 184 Sfik Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART by his wife Wilhelmina Amelia, daughter of II. John Frederick, Duke of Hanover, had iffue _- v - u _i only two daughters, Maria Jofepha, married at Drefden in 1719 to Auguftus, Electoral Prince of Saxony, now Elector, and King of Poland ; and Maria Amelia, married at Munich in 1722 to Charles Albert, afterwards Eleftor of Bavaria and Emperor of Germany ; who died without making any particular difpofitions in this inftru- ment. He was iucceeded by his brother Charles, and his only fon dying an infant, on the birth of the eldeft daughter Maria Thereia Walpurge in 1717, the Emperor Charles began to think of fecuring to her that fuccefTion, which in right of blood mould after his deceafe revert to the daughters of his brother. The pragmatic fanc- tion, as made by his father, was not fufficient for this purpofe; but the fame authority that made the one, and intailed the Auftrian eftates upon female iflue, could make another and con- fine the intail to his own pofterity. Accord- ingly he had another fimilar inftrument drawn up in favour of his own children, whether male or female, which was agreed to by a council held for that purpofe , fix months after, in the year 1720, it gained the approbation of the he- reditary dominions, and was fworn to by the flates and magiftrates: but other courts, fore- feeing the difficulties that might attend fuch an engagement, were not over forward to guaran- tee it. The courts of Great Britain and France, though at that time mediators between the Em- peror and King of Spain, refufed to take this iurstymip upon them, which produced the firft treaty of Vienna in 1725, between their impe- rial and catholic majefties, whereby Spain, in "confideration of the ceffion of Naples and Sicily became Engaged in the late General War.' 18^ became guarantee to the new pragmatic fane- CHAP. tion: in 1726 it was virtually guaranteed by I. Ruffia, and fome months afcer it was declared a u- - y-J public law, by a conclufion of the general: diet of the Empire. In 1731, by thefecond article of the fecond treaty of Vienna, Great Britain took on her the fame guarantee ; as did the States General, and King of Denmark in 1732, the Elector of Saxony in 1733 ; and by thelaft treaty of Vienna in 1738 France alfo confirmed it, for the furrender of Lorrain. THE princes of the empire, who oppofed the pragmatic fanction, were the Elector of Bavaria, the Elector Palatine, and the Bilhop of Freifm- gen and Ratifbon. The Elector of Bavaria founded a claim, in right of his wife, as next fucceflbr to the Auftrian dominions, if the em- peror died without iffue male ; and alfo in right of his family, laid pretenfions on the duchy of Upper Auftria, which antiently belonged to Bavaria, to the country of Tirol, and to the Marquifate of Burgau in Suabia, all poffeffed by the houfe of Auftria. The bimop being a Ba- varian prince, and both his dioceffes furround- ed by that electorate, was eafily prevailed on to oppofe the imperial ordinance ; but what view of intereft could produce the Elector Palatine to fuch an oppofition was not fo manifeft, if not to an averfion he always profefTed againft the houfe of Auftria, or elfe by his attachment to the King of France, who had declared in favour of the Prince of Sultzbach, nephew to the elector. UPOJST the death of the emperor, the Arch- 17404 Duchefs Maria Therefa, his eldeft daughter, was the fame day, conformable to the difpofition made by the pragmatic fanctton, proclaimed VOL. I. A a Queen 1 86 lie Conduct of tie Powers of Europe, PART Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Princefs of II. Tranfilvania, Arch-Duchefs of Auftria, and v <~* fucceflbr to all the provinces and hereditary do- I 74- minions of her illuftrious houfe. Thefe domi- nions confided, of the kingdom of Hungary, the kingdom of Bohemia, the principality of tTranfilvania, the duchy of Silefia, the mar- graviate of Moravia, the arch-duchy of Auf- tria, the duchies of Stiria, Carinthia, Sclavonia, Carniola, part of Croatia and Bofnia, with all Morlachia, the county of Tirol, and the bifhop- ric of Trent; in Italy, the duchies of Milan, Mantua, Parma, and Placentia, befides Tufca- ny, belonging to the grand duke ; in Germany, feveral teritories in Suabia ; and in the Low Countries, all that belonged there to the Spanifh monarchy. If extent of territories, and num- ber of fubjects, alone conftituted power, the po- tency of her Hungarian majefty would have been nothing inferior to any monarch in Eu- rope ; the area of her dominions being twice as large as that of France, including the conquered provinces, and containing fcventeen millions of inhabitants : the forces the late emperor main- tained in the year 1728, when there was a pro- found peace, were 145,000 men, but in the month of October 1733, that number was aug- mented to 180,000 ; and to fupport fo great an army, the annual revenue, collected throughout "his whole dominions, generally amounted to about nine millions and a half of pounds fler- ling. But though her Hungarian majefty fuc- ceeded to fb long a train of magnificent titles, and the actual poflefTion of two potent king- doms, and a variety of noble provinces, their wide disjunction rendered them incapable of a mutual fupport ; they were ill provided for de- fence, Engaged in the late General War. 187 Fence, impoverimed with continual taxes, and CHAP. liable to litigious claims. I. THE young queen iffued immediate orders for v^-v~-^ completing all the regiments in her fervice ; the * 74* ftates of Hungary, Bohemia, Auftria, and the other hereditary provinces, were fummoned to meet ; and a few days after, her majefty, by a public aft, aflbciated the grand duke her hu band in the regency. On the ift of December the dates of Auftria aflembled, as did the Mates of Hungary and Bohemia about the fame time ; they acknowledged her majefty as their fove- reign, and not only granted the necefiary fup- plies, but the ftates of Bohemia agreed to lend her majefty 500,000 florins. THE queen difpatched her ambafiadors to the refpective courts of Europe, notifying her ac- ceflion to the throne of Hungary, and the other hereditary dominions of the houfe of Anftria. France made the moft folemn declarations invi- olably to preferve the pragmatic fanclion ; while Saxony, Pruffia and Hanover, promifed to fup- port it, not only with their intereft, but if ne- ceflary, by the troops of their electoral domini- ons: though the Elector of Bavaria returned her majefty's letters of notification unopened, and declared his refolution of difputing the fuc- ceffion, by his ambaflador, to all the minifters then refiding at Vienna ; and for this purpofe, to his former claims, he now fet up another to the whole of her Hungarian majefty's domini- ons, under the will of Ferdinand I. With this view, the eleftor alledged, in a memorial pre- fc-nted in November 1740, by his minifter at the court of Vienna, That Ferdinand, being then ' King of the Romans, in 1546, having * married his daughter Anne to Duke Albert* A a 2 fan 1 88 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART fon of Duke William of Bavaria, a claufe was II. ',inferted in the marriage contract,* " That - v ' " the Arch-Duchefs Anne, in confideration of 1740. u her dowry, mould renounce all paternal and " maternal inheritance with this referve 5 that * e if the male defendants of the houfe of Auf- " tria, not only thofe of her father Ferdinand, " but alfo of his brother the Emperor Charles V. *' mould fail, and the fucceflion devolve to the " daughter, the faid Arch-Duchefs Anne ; and " her 'heirs, mould be admitted to inherit all " that they might pretend to, as well in regard " to the kingdom of Hungary and the provinces " depending on it, as in regard to the princi- ct palities and dominions of the houfe of Auftria." c And that by a claufe in the will of the Em- 4 peror Ferdinand he declares,* " That if his " wife, and all his Jons, mould die without law- river ,Elfe, near the Capathian mountains, after '74 1 - having granted the garrifon an honourable capi- tulation. Jabluncka is a ftrong town with a good fortrefs, and from its near fuuation to Hungary, may be juftly termed the key of Silefia into that kingdom. The Pruffiansby this acquifition, made themfelves mafters of the whole province of Sile- fia, where they had already an army of 28,550 effective men, and thofe ordered to be in readi- nefs to march thither, amounting to 5,650, \vhenjoined, would compofe an army of 34,200 men. THE rigour of the feafon prevented the Pruf- fians from carrying on their defigns againft the fortified places in Silefia; but on the joth of February his Pruffian majefty joined his army at Scheidweidnitz, where he fixed his head quarters j and after having concerted a plan for the attack of Glogaw with Prince Leopold, who command- ed the troops that formed the blockade there, on the 24tn of February, his majefty fent the prince orders to carry this plan into execution, by immediately attacking the town fword in hand. Early the next morning his highnefs fent for the commandants of the Pruffian battallions, and declared to them, that the place muft be taken the very next night. The difpofitions to be made for that purpofe was given them in writ- ing, and the captains that were to lead on the fir ft detachments were fhewed what places they were to enter at. During this interval of the attack, the Pruffians cleaned and frefh charged their arms, and made every other difpofition with the kult poffible noife: night came on ; at eight O'clock the troops began to put themfelves under Engaged in the late General War. 209 arms, and the prince, having prepared every CHAP, thing for the purpofe, ordered the troops to de- II. file from the villages, where they were quartered, < > ^ towards the town, where they arrived about ten, J 74!> with the greateft order and filence imaginable, unperceived by the garrifon. At three quarters after eleven, they all advanced very foftly to the foot of the glacis, where they arrived precifely as the clock (truck twelve. That moment the troops, leaping over the firft pallifadoes, flung themfelves into the covered way, and fpreading to the right and left, killed or difarmed every Auftrian they found there. This gave the alarm, and the Prussians were expofed to a fire from the ramparts, which at tne fame time alarmed the town ; but this did not hinder the Prufsians from pufliing on, for they inftantly defcended into the ditch, and advanced to the foot of the rampart, which was thirty-four foot high, with a flope of ten foot, and by confequence very troublefome to climb, efpecially after a Jharp froft of two days which made it very flippery footing ; not- withftanding which, and in fpite of the fire from the top, the Prufsians undertook the afcent: rrince Leopold and the Margrave Charles, with five or fix others, were the firft that got to the top of the courtine, and were foon joined by the fecoiid battalion of Prince Leopold's regiment, and four companies of grenadiers, one of which companies feized a baftion on the right, and another did the fame on the left ; whilft the prince, with the reft that had got up, marched to the gate of the caftle, which it was necefifary to break open, and a dozen carpenters were let about it , but as foon as they had made fome holes in the gate, there came a mower of bullets through from the grenadiers of the garrilbn, who VOL. I. D d had 2io The Condudt of the Powers of Europe, PART had pofted thither, headed by the Generals Wal- II. lis and Reyfki, but did not ftay long, for Prince v 'Leopold caufing the fire to be returned through J74J- the lame chafms in the gate, General Reyfki re- ceived two wounds in the rim of his belly, the grenadiers fled with all fpeed, and General Wal- lis was obliged to follow them ; then the gate was laid open, and the Prufsians entered with drums beating into the caitle, and from thence into the town. Two other attacks having been carried on at the fame time, and executed with the fame vigour and difpatch, the three detach- ments arrived together in the ftreets of the city. All the refiftance that was made in the ramparts was defeated by the Parisians, with bayonets fixed at the end of their mufquets. The con- flernation was very great among the garrifon, infomuch that four Pruisian grenadiers of Glafi- nap's regiment, which were the laft that came upon the ramparts, having miffed their compa- ny, went to the right inftead of the left, and came to the neck of a baltion where one of the Auftrian captains was ported with fifty-two men : the Prufsians, being a little furprized at firft, thought of retreating; but on a Hidden they re- folved to aft the part of ddperadoes, and at- tack them ; accordingly they pufhed on with their bayonets, and called out to the Aullrians to lay down their arms, which ftruck them with fuch a pannic, and being deceived by the dark- nefsof the night, they obeyed ; whereupon three of the grenadiers flood Gentry over them, while the fourth went to feek a reinforcement, which Jie foon found. While the Prufsian grenadiers were clearing the ramparts, the battalions enter- ed the town by the avenues which the former kad opened, and feized the governor's main guard, Engaged in tie late General War. 211 guard, with the colours, and all they found CHAP. there j and as the garrifon could afterwards II. make no refiftance, they iurrendered themielves<- v J pnfoners of war. This put an end to the whole J74 1 * affair : the Prufsians obferved fuch an exafl di cipline, that not a citizen was hurt, nor a houle plundered, which very much added to the glory of the enterprize. This mod extraordinary and glorious attempt was all performed in little more than an hours time. The lofs of the Prufsians was only about thirty or forty private men killed, and about fifty or fixry wounded, which was very inconfiderable in an alfault of this kind. The Auftrians loft about 150 men ; and the prifoners taken upon thisoccafion, were the Generals Wal- lis and Reyfki, of whom the latter was danger- oufly wounded -, three colonels, one lieutenant- colonel, two majors, eleven captains, fourteen lieutenants, eight enfigns, one adjutant, one quarter-matter, ninety-four ferjeants, and 931 foldiers, of whom 286 entered into the Pruisian fervice. The Prufsians found in the place fifty brafs cannon, a great quantity of powder, and the military cheft, with 23,000 florins in it. NOTHING but the good-will, the vivacity and obedience of the Pruisian troops, the difpofition for the whole attack, and the good order with which it was executed, could have fecured the Prufs.ians from a lofs much more confiderable ; for it is playing a defperate game to attack fword in hand, but the more fo without cannon, and even without fcaling-ladders, to affault a place regularly fortified with a good covered way, well pallifadoed, with chevaux de frife, befides s another palliiado at the foot of a rampart thirty- four feet in height, very fteep, and defended by a number of very fine pieces of ordnance ; and, D d 2 all 212 Tbe Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART all this with four battalions and eighteen com pa- ll, nies of grenadiers. Prince Leopold commanded - v - the firft attack, and the Margrave Charles the J74 1 - fecond, whofe m eafu res were fo well concerted and conducted, that the Gentries did not fee the Prufsians till they had got over the pallifadoes. It is probable, that had the garrifon difcovered the approach of the Prufsians, and taken to their arms fooner, the enterprize might have mifcar- ried , but the Prufsian forces made fuch extraor- dinary difpatch, that they were actually on the march in the ftreets, before the garrifon, who little expected fuch an attack, were in a pofture to defend their ramparts. BOTH the nobility and burghers performed homage to his Prufsian majefty, which was re- ceived by Prince Leopold and the Margrave Charles. His majefty was fo pleafed at this ex- pedition, that he ordered a treble difcharge of the artillery, and the forces in the town, and appointed Te Deum to be fung in all the church- es the funday following. THE reduction of this important place greatly facilitated the conqueft of Silefia, for Neifs and Brieg were the two only places, of confequence in Silefia, unfubjected to the power of his Prufiian majefty. THE Prufllan ftorm thus impending over the head of her Hungarian majefty, though gloomy as the fky feemed above her, and ruinous as the landfcape appeared below, there was ftill an o- pening through which a ray of hope had room to flatter and footh her difcontented mind , her dependance on the maritime powers, particular- ly his Britannic majefty, infpired her with a no- ble refolution to repel the force of her enemies, and preferve her dominions from the violation of fo Engaged in the late General War. 213 ib many invaders. For this purpofe, foon after CHAP. the furrenderof Glogaw, the Auftrian army affem- II. bled about Olmutz in Moravia, Under the com- < -v . mand of Count Neuperg ; and having received ad- I 74 I * vice that the King of Pruffia intended to attack Brieg and Niefsj it was thereupon refolved in a grand council of war, that the Auftrian army fhould march into Silefia, and endeavour to pre- vent the lofs of thofe two fortrefies. Accordingly the.army marched foon after, and his Prufllan ma- jefty being informed that they were advanced into Silefia, and marching directly towards him, he" immediately drew together all the troops he could, and made the neceflary difpofitions for a battle. ON monday the loth of April the two armies met, and engaged at Molwitz, a village about a league to the north of Neifs. The battle began about two o'clock in the afternoon, and was (harp and bloody on both fides: in the beginning the Auftrians drove back and put into diforder the left wing of the Pruffians, at which Lieutenant- General Count Schulenbourg commanded, who had the misfortune to be killed at the firft onfet ; but the confufion was foon redrefied by fome re- giments of foot fent to fupport the right wing, and by the grenadiers which his Pruffian majelty had intermixed with his horfe, upon information that the Auftrians were fuperior to him in caval- ry. The attack on the Pruffians right wing was as warm as that on the left, five iquadrons of Schulenbourg's dragoons having been almoft all deftroyed. The regiment of carabineers of Count Wartinflebin furTered alfo very much, as did the firft battalion of guards, which had fixteen offi- cers killed or wounded out of twenty-five. The action lafted till fix in the evening, when the Aulirians thought proper to retire, which they did 214 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART did in good order under the cannon of Niefs, II. leaving the field of battle to the Pruffians. The u v -J whole lofs of the Auftrians, according to the Pruf- 1 74 1 flan account, was 4,000, killed , wounded, or taken prifoners; and of the Prufsians about 600 killed, and 1,200 wounded: though the Auftrians a- greed pretty nearly with this account, as to the number they had killed and wounded, yet they reported that the Prufsians loft double the num- ber. The officers of diftiniflion killed and wounded in this battle, were, on the fide of the Prufsians, Lieutenant-General Count Schu- lenbourg, the Colonel Margrave Frederic of Brandenburg, Colonel Bork, Lieutenant Colonel Fitzgerald, the Majors Knobelfdorf and Secken- dorf, Mr Mullendorf, one of his majefty*s pages, and the mafter of the king's houfhold, killed ; Field-Marfhal Schwerin, the Lieutenant-Gene- rals Marcwitz and Kleift, Major General Mar- grave Charles of Brandenburg, the Colonels Prince William, brother to the margrave, War- tenflebin, Rochau, and Fink, the king's aid de camp, and Major Bork, wounded. And on the fide of the Auftrians, the Generals Rimer and Goldi, the Colonel Count de Lanois, killed ; Field- Marfhal Neuperg, the Generals Brown, Grune, Kaihl, Lentulus, Frankenberg, and Prince Birkenfeld, wounded. THOUGH the Auftrians were obliged to retire, and for want of horfes to leave ten pieces of can- non behind them, four of which they had taken from the Pruffians at the beginning of the action, the Pruffians had not much to boalt of; and this was confirmed by the confequences : for the Auf- trian army retired only behind the river Neifs^ where they encamped, and the King of Pruffia did not think proper to attack them a fecond time ; Engaged in the late General War. time , but after making himfelf mafter of all that CHAP. part of Silefia to the north of the river Neifs, II. he continued encamped, fometimes at one place, ' -v-*u fometimes at another, to the north of [that river ; I 74 I - and the Auftrians continued in their camp, fome- times upon the fouth, and at other times on the north fide of the fame river : fo that nothing but fkirmimes happened for a confiderable time be- tween the two armies, though they were fre- quently within a few leagues, and fometimes in fight of each other: but on the 23d of April his Pruffian majelly appeared before the town of Brieg, and the garrifon, after a (hort refinance, furrendered on honourable terms. CHAPTER III. prom the treaty of NYMPH EN- BURGH to the treaty of H A- N o v E R. WHEN France, in conjunction with Spain and Sardinia, in the year 1734, had ravimed the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily from CHAP, the emperor, and annexed thofe two powerful III. dominions to the pofifcfilons of the houfe of* v Bourbon; (he reduced the forces of the houfe of Auftria by 40,000 men, and two millions and a half of annual revenue, which were added to the oppofite icale : fhe now thought herfelf fecure, of laying the foundation of fuch debility in the houfe.. of Auftria, as would at leaft enable her 216 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART her to reduce it lower when fhe pleafed, if fhe II. fhould find occafion for it; and therefore thought c -NT -^ it more prudent to lie by, after fhe had done *74*' this, till fhe might, by the emperor's death, have opportunity to break the Auftrian Succef- fion, and avail herfclf of the affiftance of the German princes to undertake that then, which fhe had no pretence to attempt during his life; and which muft have inevitably drawn thofe very powers of Germany againft her, till that event happened. Much more Ilie could not have done without their afliftance : Ihe had fown, in all appearance, a lafting difcoment between the Empire and the Maritime Powers, difuniting the only alliance that could confine her afpiring views ; (he had it in her power to join Lor- rain to her own dominions, bringing her terri- tories above 150 miles more forward into Ger- many, and adding two kingdoms to another branch of the houfe of Bourbon : completing at the fame time, an entire influence over four Electors of the Empire, Palatine, Mentz, Triers, and Cologne ; the effects of which were after- wards vifibly feen, by the election of the Duke of Bavaria to the Imperial throne in the year 1742. She was now enabled, at a much fhorter warning, -and with a much fuperior force to a;- tack the Empire on the firft favourable oppor- tunity: and by declining any farther advantage for the prefent, fhe carried a mew of modera- tion and voluntary abftinence, which fhe knew would effectually deceive thofe who abound and ftrengthen her party, by their credulity in every x (late of Europe. Therefore,, after thus con- cluding a peace with the emperor in 1736, Ihe lay diligently improving her time for the total fubverfion of the power of the houfe of Auf- tria. "Engaged in the late General War. 217 tria. The period was arrived, France beheld CHAP. with an eye of pleafure, the prefent favourable III. opportunity of obfcuring the luftre of the Auf- ' / J trian Jine -, and advancing a poor and powerlefs '74 1 * prince, of her own nomination, to the imperial throne-, as this would leave rhe Germanic body unable to enter into any alliances with Great Britain and Holland, to obftrucl the afpiring views of her unlimitted ambition. THE annihilation of the houfe of Auftria, was the- ftrongeft foundation France could fix on, to raife her dazling fuperftruclure of univerfal monarchy ; fhe had now the mod favourable op- portunity to accompiifh her reviving hopes, and was intently engaged to fupprefs the greatnefs of her long and natural competitor. The moft potent princes of the Germanic fyftem, had time immemorially, founded pretenfions on the leve- ral parts of the Auftrian dominions j but as the Imperial crown had been fcr ages, almoft unin- terruptedly, enjoyed by the houfe of Auftria, they were deterred from averting their claims by the too formidable power of that family : and now excited by the policy, and infmuations, of France, ieizcd on the faial period of avowing their pretenfions, and difmemberjng the impe- rial houfe of Auftria of her molt confiderable pofieffions. ' The moft natural allies of the houfe of Auftria, were certainly Great Britain and the States General , the union of thefe three powers having always been the grand oppofi- tion againft the pride and ambition of France ; for which they had not only long preierved de- fenfive alliances, but in the fafety and prefer va- tion of each other, they were, even abftracledly from thefe alliances, as nearly and eflbntially concerned as in their own : yet as Great Britain ' VOL. I. E e was 2i 8 Ihe Condudi of the Powers of Europe, PART was engaged in a war with Spain, and the mini- II. ftry of London retaining an unworthy timidity - v"- J of the force and menaces of France, the mini- I 74 I - ftry of Verfailles imagined the Britifh govern- ment would be very parfimonious in their ai- fiftance to the Queen of Hungary, and dreaded little interruption in their afpiring projects, from a miniftry who had but lately given too declara- tive proofs of their pacific adminiftration. Nor did they apprehend any greater danger from the Dutch , for though this republic, by their al- liances with the houfe of Auftria, were obliged to furnim not only a limitted fuccour, but alfo their whole force in cafe of neceffity, and even to declare war with her aggreffor, yet the French rniniftry knew the ftates were much embarrafied with debts, and too intractable to be eafily in- duced to give them an increafe. In this fitua- tion the Queen of Hungary lay expofed to the envy and invidious artifices of France, for that power to plume herfelf with the fpoils of the imperial eagle, and mount with the omnipotence of ancient Rome, to the utmoft fublimity of hu- man ambition. THE French minifler at Vienna, during the difturbances in Silefia, continued to give the queen the ftrongeft affurances of the good inten- tions of his Moft Chriftian majefty ; though at the fame time the French miniftry privately, in conjunction with the Elector of Bavaria, were undermining the noble column that fupported t{ie grandeur of the houfe of Auftria. FOR this purpofe, Marfhal Belleifle had project- ed a fchemc, to advance the Elector of Bavaria into the Imperial throne, and to ftrip the houfe of Auftria of her hereditary dominions : it gain- ed the approbation of the French miniftry, and the Engaged in the late General War. 219 the marfhal fet out for Paris, authorized with CHAP. full powers, and furnilhed with large fums of III. money, to combine the electors, and other' /~*J princes of the empire, in the views of France, I74*- The marfhal, having influenced the three fpiri- tual Electors of Triers, Mentz, and CologtiCi and the Elector Palatine, to the French intereft, he arrived at Munich, and waiting on the Elec- tor of Bavaria, at his Palace of Nymphenburghj concluded a treaty there,between the French King and the elector ; whereby his majefty engaged 1 , " To get the elector acknowledged emperor, " and to affift him in cafe of oppofition with his " whole force. And in return, the elector fti- " pulated, if he came to the Imperial throne^ * c that he would never attempt to recover any " of the Imperial towns or provinces conquered emperor. But the court of Vienna inflexibly per- - I 74 I - lifted in their firft refolution, to enter into no ac- commodation, without the previous abandoning of Silefia by the Prufiians ; though at the fame time they knew, "that France and Bavaria were folliciting the alliance of Pruffia ; and this refufal was the more impolitic, as Spain and Bavaria had openly avowed their ill intentions againtl the houfe of Auftria, France was very much fufpecl:- ed, the difpofitions of Pruflla and Saxony were doubtful, and this joined to the timidity and irrefolution of the Dutch, mould have prevailed on the court of Vienna to have complied with the propolals of his Pruilian majefty, and have fecured lo powerful a confederate from France and Bavaria, THE army of his Pruflian majefty, after the furrender of Brieg, continued in the camp at Molwiu till the i4th of May, when the bag- gage, with part of the army, marched to a new camp that had been marked out at Grotkau, within a league of Neifs; and next day were fol- lowed by the king, and the reft of the army. From this march a fecond battle Was expected ; but as Count Neuperg with the Auftrian army continued in their camp on the other fide of the river Neils, and had fo fortified themfelves in that camp, that it was dangerous to attack them, the Pruflians, after flaying a few days at Grot- kau, returned to their camp at Molwitz, and from thence to a camp near the village ,of He- rinfdorff; after having made a general forage in all the villages on that fide the river, in order to deprive the Auilrians of all manner of fub- fiftance. THE Engaged in the late General War. 231 THE inconfiderable operations of the Pruflian CHAP. and Auftrian armies after the battle of Molwitz, III. feems very extraordinary ; though probably the v -v - hopes of a reconciliation with his Prufiian ma- I74 1 * jefty by the negociation of the Maritime powers, was the reafon of the Queen of Hungary's in- activity ; and perhaps the King of Pruffia was deterred from adventuring another battle, by the probability he perceived of procuring his ends, either by a compofition with that princefs, or by joining his forces with the arms of France, which he was determined to do, if her Hungarian ma- jefly retained her inflexibility with regard to his demands on Silefia : and finding all his remon- ftrances, to the court of Vienna on this head, entirely difregarded , and entertaining a fufpicion of an attack from his neighbours the Hanoveri- ans, as well as Saxons ; his Pruflian majefty had taken early precautions from being incommoded on that fide, by aflfembling an army of obferva- tion, confiding of 36,000 men, under Prince Anhalt de Deflau, who formed an encampment between Brandenbourg and Magdebourg, on the river Havel, about the beginning of May. But as nothing was attempted againft his Pruflian majefty on that fide, the army continued quiet in their camp till about the middle of Odober, when they feparated and marched into winter quarters ; all danger of an attack on that fide being then fully removed. This army was very prudently afifembled, for his Pruflian majefty had been apprized of a fcheme for forming an alli- ance between Great Britain, Mufcovy, Saxony, Holland and Hanover, for attacking and di- viding his Pruflian dominions amongft them ; and that each party was to keep what he could conquer: thisjuftly incenfed his Prufiian majefty, and The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART and he determined to protect hicnfelf by uniting II. in the intercfts of France. That fuch a project -v-.^ had been concerted, With the hopes of making '74 1 ' an addition to the electorate of Hanover, at the expence of Pruffia, and even tranfmitted to Vi- enna, where it was drawn up in the form of a treaty, is not to be contradicted j but the con- tracting parties having received certain inform- ation, that France was preparing to throw off the mafk, and that a treaty was far advanced be- tween Prulfia and France, this made the fcheme again ft Pruffia abfolutely impracticable : and on his Britannic majefty's arrival at Hanover, the warlike preparations, intended for the fupport of the Queen of Hungary, began to flacken ; and inftead of affifting her when (he was in the moft imminent danger, the march of the 12,000 Danes and Heffians was countermanded, and the embarkation of the Britifh troops for Flan- ders fufpended. THE month of Auguft was ufhered in with a a declaration from his moft Chriftian majefty, publickly difperfed about at Francfort, " That ' fome electors and princes of the empire had " made known to his majefty, as guarantee of the " the treaty of Weftphalia, their uneafmefs at " the King of Great Britain's aflembling a con- " fiderable body of troops, which might pofiibly * c be made ufe of to influence the approaching * c election of an emperor, or be employed a- " gainft fome member of the empire* That " therefore, in order to make good his engage- " ments, he had caufed fome troops to advance " towards the Rhine, to the end that they might " be ready to march in cafe of need, to the fuc- *' cour of the electors and princes who mould " claim his guaranty i and that this ftep ought " not Engaged in the late General War. 233 " not be confidered as tending to act contrary CHAP. < to the pragmatic fanction ; but as having IJJ. " folely in view the prefervation of the tranqui- v. s*i " lity of Germany and the protecting the free- J 74i' " dom of the election of an emperor." At the fame time the miniftry of Verfailles more private- ly pretended, that the fupport of the equilibri- um of Europe, was the formal reafon that en- gaged France to maintain the Elector of Bavaria in his pretenfions on the Auftrian fucceffion ; be- caufe they believed, that otherwife this equilibri- um would be entirely deftroyed ; above all, with refpecl to the liberty and independency of the German empire, if the Imperial crown Ihould be rendered hereditary in the female line of the houfe of Auftria, which would always continue to aggrandize itfclf by marriage, or otherwife, and add thereby new territories to their already fo far extended dominions. What an ungene- rous and perfidious difavowal was this, of the 9 pragmatic fanclion, to which France had acceed- ed with the utmoft folemnity? If the faith of treaties are thus unconfcientioufly difregarded and renounced, who can rely on the facred pledge of royalty ? Where is national confidence and friend- fhip to be placed ? To what remote part of the wide univerfe muft mankind refort, to find out that cement of truth and honour, which inviola- bly preferved, unites the various nations of the world in harmony, love, and peace ! Though the (landing force of France had long con fitted of 140,000 foot, and 20,000 horfe, and the in^ fantry had been lately augmented to 178,000, and the cavalry to 41,000, in all 219,000 men 3 yet great as the power of France realiy appeared, it was not fubftantially this, but the fame and o- pinion of her potency, that had fo long fupport-' VOL, J, Q or ed 234 ffic Conduct of tbe Powers of Europe, TART ed her in her ambitious views , that had enabled II. her to trample upon the rights and liberties of v ,/ i all Europe , and to fport with the moft fiicred 1741. ties of truth, and faith of treaties: it was this that encouraged her, after fo many folemn de- clarations in the laft German war that (he would acquire nothing, to grafp that mighty acquifition of Lorrain, which annually increafed her treafu- ry with a million of livres, and is capable of augmenting her armies with 30,000 men ; and it was this that induced her thus ftrenuoufly to violate her engagements to the pragmatic fancti- on, which were the very conditions of that ac- quifition ; it was this opinion of her power, that terrified every potentate in Europe into a fub- miffion to all her indignities, under the profpect of thofe chains (he was forging for all the Eu- ropean world. BUT the King of Pruflla, imagining from the behaviour of both France and Bavaria, that the latter might continue protefting, and the former profefling, but that neither of them would actu- ally attack the Queen of Hungary, unlefs he previoufly joined in an alliance with them ; and apprehending, if he did not, that he would be at laft overpowered ; this induced him to con- clude a treaty with France, dated the 28th of Auguft, to which the Elector of Bavaria, and af- terwards the King of Poland, as Elector of Sax- ony, acceeded , whereby it was agreed, " To overrun the Auftrian dominions j and on a tc partition among the conquerors, that the *' kingdom of Bohemia, with the upper Auftria *' and Tirol, ihould be given to the Duke of * { Bavaria; the upper Silefia and Moravia, to ** the ^Elector of Saxony ; and the lower Silefia, ** with the town and territory of Neils, and " the Engaged in the late General War. 235 K the town and county of Glatz, to the King CHAP. " of PrutTia." Immediately on the conclufion III. of this treaty, the French threw off the mafk; LXVNJ and the Elector of Bavaria, no longer in dread I 74 1 - of an alliance between the courts of Vienna and Berlin, which had occafioned him to lofe the whole fummer at fuch a critical conjuncture, com- menced his military operations by aflembling his forces, confiding of 30,000 men, in a camp marked out for them near Scharding, where they were loon after joined by an army of 40,000 French, under the command of the Marfhals Broglio and Bcllcifle, who had pafled the Rhine at fort Louis, and entered Bavaria : at the fame time the elector received a patent, appointing him lieutenant-general, with full power and au- thority to command the French auxiliary army in Germany, wherever there fliouLl be occafion. The elector, being thus at the head of 70,000 men, advanced towards the Danube ; and on the 3 1 ft of July, furprized and took poffefiion of Paffaw, a ilrongcity, fituate at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Iks, belonging to Cardinal Lemberg, bi(hop of that fee j which ftep, though it was no direct attack on the Queen of Hungary, yet as that city was the key from Bavaria into upper Aullria, it was a plain indication of what afterwards followed, in pur- fuance of the declaration of war made by the e- lector about the end of Auguft. ANOTHER body of French troops, confuting of 35,000 men, commanded by Marfhal Mail- Jebois, on a pretence, as guarantees to fecure thq eventual fucceftion of the duchies of Ju'.iers and Berg in favour of the young Prince of Suhz- bach, nephew to the Elector Palatine, quitted their camp at Sedan, a town of Champagne in G g 2 France , $6 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART France , and on the i9th of Auguft entered Gi- ll, vet, in the territories of Liege ; where they were augmented by a body of Palatine troops, and another of thofe of the Elector of Cologn, who had both declared to aflift the Duke of Bavaria to afcend the Imperial throne: but as the French minifter at Manheim had negotiated a treaty, which finally determined all the differences be- tween the King of Pruffia and the Elector Pala- tine, with refpect to the fucceflion of Juliers and Berg, the deftination of thefe troops remained a fecret, till they had entered fo far into Weft- phalia, as to appear on the frontiers of Hanover. By this they effected three great ends-, they di- verted all the Hanoverian forces from the affift- ance of the general caufe , they kept the Dutch in awe , and prevented the conjunction of the troops of England and of Auftria in the Low Countries, with thofe of Hanover ; and thofe of both the former with the Dutch. The views of France were, to frighten the miniftry of Hano- ver into a neutrality : the whole of the electoral forces compofed a body of no more than 26,000 men ; thefe were too inefficient to oppofe fuch a numerous army , and the King of Pruflia having another confiderable body of troops upon the o- ther fide of the Hanoverian dominions, fo conve- niently ported, that the greateft part of the e- lectorate might have been deftroyed by it in four and twenty hours : when it was too late, the miniftry found the fatal confequences of the King of Pruflia's alliance with France. IN thefe circum fiances, the minifters of Han- over were obliged to think of neutral meafures ; and towards the end of Auguft, the Biron de Bardenberg was difpatched away to Paris to ne- gociate a neutrality : but as the French were then Engaged In the late General War. 237 then folliciting the Dutch to enter into a neutral CHAP. treaty; they kept this negociation a profound III. fecret from the Dutch, becaufe if they had ac- - ^ J cepted of the neutrality offered them, it might '74 1 ' have been difficult to have obtained any fort of neutrality for Hanover, without publickly in- ferting fuch articles as would have been very dif- agreeable to the Britim nation. However fome confufed accounts of this negotiation, carrying on at Paris and Hanover, were whifpered about, perhaps artfully by the minifters of France; for the defeating of which, the Hanoverian minifter at Ratifbon, publickly declared about the 2Oth of Augutl, " That his mafter was taking fuch " meafures as would foon enable him, not only " to defend himfelf, but to act ofFenfively ; and " that he was reiblved to defend, with all his ' force, the liberty of the Germanic body." And the Britim minifter at the Hague, upon be- ing afked the queflion by fome of the ftates de- puties, even about the middle of September, de- clared " That he had received an exprefs, which " entirely contradicted 'thofe reports." Thefe public declarations made moft people believe that there was really no ground for any fuch reports ; and therefore the world was very much furpriz- ed, when they were certified by the Hanover gazette, that a convention for the neutrality of that electorate, was figncd there upon the i6th of September. As foon as the news of this furprizing event had reached Vienna, a general confter nation feized the whole court , for neither the perfidy of France, the arms of Prufiia, the preten-fions of Bavaria, the ambitious cruelty .of the Queen of Spain, nor the dread of Saxony in conjuncti- on, could have fo much alarmed or terrified the queen. 238 ^be Conduct of tie Powers of Europe, PART queen. At a time when her confederate ene- II. mies, like fo many blood-hounds, were hunting L v ' her down through her fair pofieffions , when me 3 74 I - expected a powerful diverfion to be made in her favour ; and that her troops would be enabled to meet her enemies on an equal footing -, to fee herfelf abandoned at fuch a melancholly juncture, and to find all the hopes of her hufband to the Imperial crown, who had facrificed his own he- reditary dominions to a dream of greitnefs, com- plimented away, was a reverfe of fortune fo fud- den and unprepared, as required more than the patience ot a woman to endure, and the courage of a hero to furmount. CHAPTER IV. Military operations between the FRENCH, BAVARIANS, PRUSSI- ANS, and SAXONS, againft the Queen of HUNGARY in AUSTRIA, BOHEMIA, SILESIA, and MORA- VIA; and alfo by the SPANIARDS in ITALY. DURING this time, nothing extraordina- ry happened between the Pruffian and Auftrian armies in Silefia. But his Pruffian ma- jefty, to prevent the neceffity of entering into an alliance Engaged in the late General War. 239 alliance with France, though plumed with CUC-CHAP, fuccefs, having offered to fheath the fword, and IV. determine all his difputes with the houfe of Auf- > -v J tria by an amicable treaty, upon condition of J 74 l - obtaining only what he claimed and infifted on as his right, when he firft commenced hoftilities ; and finding his follicitations for fo falutary an end, wholly frutlrated by the court of Vienna, who, to their former objections, alledged another rea- fon for not complying with the demands of the Pruflian king, which was, " That Silefia was one " of the richeft and moft fertile countries belong- ** ing to the houfe of Auftria, and from its prox- V- ' where mailers, laid the country under contribu- J 74 J tion, impofed homage, exacted oaths of allegi- ance arid fidelity ; fpreading all the terrors of war and defolarion on every fide. VIENNA took the alarm, and the very dread of a fiege produced the molt melancholly effects: the fuburbs were laid in afhes, the villas of the nobility in the neighbourhood became heaps of ruins ; even the magnificent gardens, which had been the retirement and delight of that illuftrious General Prince Eugene, fhared in the general deftruction. No beauty, either of art or nature cfcaped-, all was turned into one undiftinguiftied wafte. Thus lamentable was the piofpect from the walls of this abided capital , within, nothing but tumults, fear, and confufion, every where, except in the cabininet of the perfecuted queen ; (he there prefented the image of majefty in dif- trefs, though lenfible of calamity, yet fuperior to it; and while involved in the midft of the col- lected ftorm, fhe patiently expected a ray of fun-ihine to ditfipate the long incumbent gloom. On the approach of the confederate army, fhe had no better expedient than flight for the fecu- rity of her royal perfon ; and accompanied with her hufband the grand duke, Prince Charles his brother, and feveralof the nobility of both fexes, fhe fet out for Piefburg, the capital of Hungary i while the inhabitants of Vienna faw, with inex- preffible concern and terror, their fair fove reign quit the imperial refidence of her anceftors, in fearch of an afylum, almoft in the neighbour- hood of the Turks, to avoid the fury of her more infatiate enemies, THIS Engaged in the late General War; 241 THIS action, though fecurely, was too preci- CHAP. pitateJy undertaken -, for the Marfhal Belleifle, IV. who had projected the enterprize, and to whom v v~-J his electoral highneis had entrufted the execution I 74 I - of the military operations, had a more important point in view, the pofieffion of the kingdom of Bohemia ; which not only beftows a royal title, but alfo a vote in the dilpofal of the Imperial crown. WHILE the French and Bavarians ravaged the fair country of Auftria, and continued exact- ing heavy contributions , her Hungarian majefty was conciliating the affections of her loyal fubjects at Prefburgh, where (he made her entrance on horfeback, in an Hungarian dreis, amid the loudeft acclamations of Joy. The diet of the ftates of Hungary ,beingfoon afterconvened by her majefty, aflembled on the gift of Auguft; and the queen, feating herfelf upon a throne in the. midft of fo great an afTembly, with a firmnels above her fex, and the grace peculiar to it, af- fectingly unbofomed her forrows in the Latin tongue, and in a very pathetic manner thus reprefented to the diet her misfortunes and anxiety. " THE perplexed fituation, faid this amiable " princefs! wherein I find myfelf, by the per- " million of the divine providence, is attended " with fuch dangerous circumftances, that I fee " no hopes of extricating myfelf unlefs I am, " fpeedily and powerfully fuccoured. Aban- " doned as I am (continued the royal fufferer) " by my friends, perfecuted by my enemies, " attacked by my neareft relations, I have no *' refource left but to ftay in this kingdom, and " commit my perfbn, my children, my fcep- " tre, and my crown, to the care of my faith- VOL. I. H h " ful Vbe Conduft of the Powers of Europe, " ful fubje&s. I do not hefitate a moment to " entruft them with my all ; fuch is their loy- " alty and bravery, that they leave me no man- 1741. nef of doubt, but they will make ufe of all " their forces to defend me and themfelves *' fpeedily and manfully in this melancholy con- *' juncture.'* This moving fpeech, added to the noble air and confidence with which it was delivered, had all the effect that could be wifh- ed : the gallant Hungarians could not fee their fovereign in diftrefs, or hear the brief of her forrows without making them their own; the whole aflembly melted into tears ; all were in- flamed with rage : and though long harrafled with wars, though long fenfible of grievances, and though long divided among themfelves, they had now but one heart, one will, one voice -, unanimous was the repeated cry, " We ' will Hand by our queen, we will defend her " againft her enemies , we will facrifice our ef- " tates, and even our lives for her." The dates immediately refolved to publifli a manifefto a- gainft the Elector of Bavaria *, and afterwards eftablifhed a perpetual law for excluding that prince and his family for ever from the crown of Hungary -, a refolution and act, worthy the bra- very and refentment of fuch loyal and gallant fubjects. Accordingly the nobility mounted on horfeback, put their followers in arms, and cal- led upon the great duke to lead them againft the enemy: orders were iffued for raifing the ban of the kingdom, they repaired in crouds to the royal ftandard ; even the very peafants were infpired with. uncommon loyalty and ardour, and either chearfully contributed to the expence of the war, or voluntarily became partakers of the danger ; Engaged in the late General War. 243 danger -, fo that a potent army was foon aflem- CH A p bled in Moravia, under the grand duke. IV. DURING the time of her majefty's abfencev v J from Vienna, the inhabitants there with furprizing * 74 1 vigour and fpirit augmented the fortifications : all took arms, all were afiiduous in their exer- cife, and all were determined to defend their city and their fovereign ; fo that with the addi- tion of a few regular troops, they muftered a confiderable army within the walls of the town, and care was taken for laying in a fufficient quan- tity of provifions, ammunition, and other ftores, as would have enabled them to fuftain a long fiege : but the confederate army did not think proper to befiege a city fo well fortified, at fuch a feafon of the year , efpecially as the garrifon was afterwards augmented to 1 2,000 men, and a body of Hungarian troops, confiding of 30,000 men, under the command of Count Palfi, had afiembled in the neighbourhood. The Elector of Bavaria, after leaving 12,000 men under Count Segur to guard the banks of the river Inn, to fecure Auftria, and preferve his communica- tion with Bavaria ; towards the middle of Oc- tober turned from Vienna, and conducted his forces into Bohemia, where her Hungarian ma- jefty was collecting a numerous army to oppofe him. But to add to her misfortunes, the Elec- tor of Saxony, though he was indebted to her father for his crown of Poland, declared him- felf her enemy ; and having caufed a large body of his Saxon troops to afiemble on the frontiers of Bohemia, his Polilh majefty, on the 24th of October, publifhed a manifefto, fetting forth, '* That fince all hopes of, preferving peace in " the empire were vanifhed, and fince he per- " ceived at laft that the pragmatic fanction, by H h 2 V the 244 Vb* Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART " the mocks given to it, was become but a very II. " weak barrier ; his Polifh majefty, confidering t -v -j < that his great moderation had hitherto 1741. ' ferved only to make him neglect confiderable ' advantages, which a contrary conduct might *' have procured him ; he thought he could not, " without being wanting in his duty to himfelf, *' and doing irreparable damage to his royal ** and electoral houfe, delay any longer to ufe " the methods which the prefent conjuncture " authorized him to employ, in order to pro- * 6 cure for himfelf and his houfe as much as he e< poffibly could, of a fucceflion, which by juft *' and indifputable right and title was entirely * c due to him." And on the loth of Novem- ber, the Saxons under Count Rutowfid having joined the Bavarians and French, the whole ar- my advanced to Prague, the capital of Bohe- mia, without any refiftance ; and being then upwards of 60,000 ftrong, and as the garrifon was fmall, it was refolved to attack the city by efcalade. This was put in execution on the i4th at night, by three different attacks j and the in- habitants being of little afliftance to the defence of the place, the confederate troops fucceeded in their attempt, and made General Ogilvy, the governor, with a garrifon of 3,000 men prifo- jiers of war. WH i L E the confederate army bent their courfe p this important city, the Grand Duke of Tuf- cany, and his brother Prince Charles of Lorrain, were on their march from Moravia with an in- tention to face the confederate forces, and by one decifive blow, not only to fecure Prague, jbu; the whole kingdom. With this view the Hungarians, high jn fpirits, made an expediti- pus jpujh, ^n4 ^rrjyed within three days march Engaged in tbe late General War. 245 of the city when it was taken ; fo that if the ci- CHAP. tizens had bravely and vigoroufly afliikd the IV. garrifon in repelling the afiault, they might have <- v *J prevented the ruin and mifery afterwards brought I 74 I upon them, and probably have feen a bloody battle fought, and a compleat victory obtained by their fovereign under their walls : but when the grand duke heard that the city was taken, he wifely retired from an army fuperior to his own, little diminilhed by their conquefts, and flufhed with fuccefs, with a refolution to wait For a more favourable opportunity of attacking them. THE lots of Prague was another mortifying incident to her Hungarian majefty -, but being familiar with afflictions, fhe was become able to bear it. With a firm heart, with a tearlcfs eye, with an unaltered look of greatnefs, like theforeft oak fupremely towering over the wood, flie bore the rude ftorm, nor bowed her lofty branches to the furious blaft. To exaggerate her misfortunes, as her enemies were every where triumphant, and every where too numerous for her armies to encounter; and imagining her allies, notwithftand- ing their late folemn engagements, refolved to do nothing but negociate away the greateft part of her dominions \ her majefty was now enter- taining the melancholly reflection of retiring from Prefburgh, and fly to the utmoft bounds of Chriftendom, for a refuge from her mercilefs^ perfecutors. But France, who had lately put in action the forces of Saxony, ftill envying the- fecurity of her majefty's perfon, had employed her emiffaries at Conftantinople, to excite the Ottoman forces to augment the enemies of (he Hungarian queen. Some difputes between the Turks and the late emperor were at this time unad.- The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, unadjufted, the Porte was remarkably under the influence of France, and every thing was to be dreaded where the French councils had a I 74 1 ' prevalence. To guard againft this apparent danger was impoffible, and to truft to the faith of Turks and French emiffaries without frefh af- furances, left her Hungarian majefty a prey to her own fears. She therefore had recourfe to the only expedient in her power, which was, to Jay her cafe before the grand fignior without re- ierve, and conjure him in the moft earneft and r pathetic manner, not to take the advantage and complete her ruin. She addrefied a letter to him on this occafion, which met with the moft favourable reception : the very Turk manifefted a companion for a princels, on all fides furround- ed with calamities; declared himfelf incapable of preying on. the miferable ; forgot no one circum- ftance of refpecl: and decorum -, contributed all in his power to her confolation ; and fet fuch an example of humanity, moderation, and difin- tereftednefs, as might have adorned the glory of the beftof chriftian princes. THUS France had laborioufly endeavoured to move every power on the whole earth, where there was a probability of caufing the deftruction of the houfe of Auftria, the only power that flood between her and the virtual poffefiion of the uni- verfal empire, but was unexpectedly repulfed in her negociations with the fultan ; though as fhe was determined to place the Imperial crown on the brows of the Eleclor of Bavaria, fhe ufed all her intereft, and practifed every artifice, to de^ prefs the houfe of Auftria, and for ever to expel her from the Imperial throne. She had already fecured Hanover by a compulfory neutrality; fhe had allied Prufiia, Saxony, and Poland, in Engaged in the late General War. 247 her defign , and having fome apprehenfions from CHAP. the augmentation of the Dutch forces, notwith- IV. Handing the oppofition of the Marquis de Fene-< v- Ion, the French embafiador at the Hague, that I 74 I - the republic intended to affift the Queen of Hun-, gary , therefore to amufe the States from fuch an enterprize, the French miniftry fecretly fpirited up the King of Pruffia, as guarantee of the Prince of Orange's fucceflion, to demand from the States General the delivery of the marquifate of Terveer and Flufhing to the prince. His Prut- fian majefty alfo complained, that a fortified fluice which their high mightinefles had erected upon the Yflel, at Wefterwert in Gelderland, would be prejudicial to his territories in that neighbourhood ; and upon this head the Prufiian. minifter prefented feveral memorials to the States, threatening in his laft to ufe forcible means if the affair was not amicably accommodated ; this gave the States great uneafinefs, as fo enterprizing a prince might probably revive fome dormant claim to part of their republic : and the more to alarm them, the Elector of Cologne, at the infti- gation of France, alfo laid claim to the fortrefles of Brevoort and Bourtagne, on the confines of Overyfiel and Weftphalia, alledging they were built on the Colognian territories , this intimi- dated the Dutch from complying with the re- iterated importunities of the Queen of Hun- gary, for granting her affiftance, though the generality of the people were well affected to her intereft. BUT dill her Hungarian majefty flattered her- felf to find in her remoteft friends the Ruffians, that fuccour and relief me found impracticable among her neighbours; this me had been pro- mifed by the grand <3uchefs, regent of that em- pire, 248 Ibe Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART pire, on the termination of the differences fub- II. Ming between the court of Peterfburgh and the L -v i Porte, by a convention figned the 7th of Sep- 1741. temberj it was alfo the intereft of Ruffia to fup- port the houfe of Auftria in the full pofieffion of its antient power and grandeur, that in cafe of future wars with the Turks, the two ftates might a6l in conjunction againft the Porte : though fome eminent perfonages in Ruffia ftill retained a ftrong refentment againft the meafures purfued by the emperor, by forfaking the alliance of Ruffia, and concluding a peace with the Turks at Bel- grade, without the knowledge of the court of Peterfburgh: for when the Marquis dc Botta, envoy of the Queen of Hungary at the court of Ruffia, had ftrongly follicited the princefs regent to fend a powerful fuccour to affift her majefty, the brave count Munich, who had fo eminently diftinguifhed himfelf in the Ottoman war, oppof- ed it in council, alledging, " That her Hunga- " rian majefty was not then in fuch perplexity, " as Ruffia was when the emperor made a fepa- " rate peace with the Turks:'* but the duchefs regent perfifted in her intentions to affift her Hungarian majefty, who had here placed her laft and only confidence ; and to baffle her ex- pectations, the Marquis de la Chetardie, who then refided as the French embaflador at Peterf- burgh, ufed all his abilities to create a rupture between the courts of Ruffia and Sweden, which was foon effected ; and this, joined with the fur- prizing revolution in that empire in favour of the Princefs Elizabeth, who was immediately declar- ed emprefs and autocracy of all the Ruffias, extin- guilhed all the hopes of her Hungarian majefty from that part of the globe : for the court of Peterfburgh, with perhaps the moft cordial in- tentions Engaged in the late General War. 249 tendons in the world, was compelled to leave CHAP. her haplefs ally unfupported in the midft of her IV. enemies. v -v J THE Elector of Bavaria being in pofieffion of I 74? Prague, and the Queen of Hungary reduced to the lowed extremity, the court of France now vigoroufly put in execution the plan of promot- ing the elector to the Imperial dignity ; the mi- niftry of Verfailles had previoufly interefted the electoral princes in his favour, and his highnefs being crowned King of Bohemia at Prague on the 1 6th of December, whereby the vote of that kingdom being fupprefTed, there remained no obftacle to his advancement. AT this time the Queen of Hungary may be juftly faid to fuffer a complication of the greateft diftreffes ; yet in thefe circumftances (he did not defpair ; and providence, co-operating with the conduct of her generals, and the bravery of her troops, who were fired with almoft an enthufi- aftic zeal for the prefervatjon of their fove- reign, foon turned the wheel of fortune in her favour. THE firm conduct and heroic refolution of this gallant princefs, cannot be fufficiently ad- mired -, at a time when oppreflfed with the great- eft calamities, committing her caufe to the juf- tice of heaven, and the valour of her gallant fubjects, ftill undauntedly to fupport herfelf amid luch a feries of afflictions, evinces a foul filled with the moft exalted ideas of fortitude and magnanimity, and renders her juftly me- ritorious to fill the throne of her imperial an- ceftors, TH E Auftrian army being defeated in their de- fignsfor the relief of Prague, retired towards Bud r weis, a town fixty-five miles fouth of that capital ; VOL. I. I i and 250 22 which was done fo effectually, that about 100 were killed, and the M. de Chatillon a French brig- adier, his fon, four other officers, and ipo pri- vate foldiers taken prifoners. BUT the moft important affair was conducted by Marflial Khevenhuller, who was detached againft M. Segur, commander of the French and Bavarian forces in Auftria. On the i$th Engaged in tie lute General War. 51 of December the marfhal ordered General Count CHAP. Mercy D'Argentaiij with a body of troops, to JV. pafs the river Inn, which he happily executed w-r-v * and drove the confederates from their intrench- *74'* ments, at Sternberg, as alfo the town and caftle of Steyr. On the i4th the marfhal arrived at Emflatten, where he waited the following days for the coming up of the pontons and artillery. The i^th he marched with the army^ and on the 1 8th arrived at Hagg^ two leagues from Ens. The ipth he marched' all night, and the next morning, at break nf day, laid bridges over the Inn. The work was finifhed with wonderful difpatch, notwithftanding the fire of the French cannon 5 and then the army patted the river, the foot over the bridge, but the horfe took to the ftream. The General; Bernklau and Bernes were the firft that got over, and formed the troops into order as they came up. A large body of the confederates made a fiiew of at- tacking the Auftrians, but General Bernklau, at the head of a detachment of horfe foon difperfcd them. As the French and Bavarians had the river Steyr before them, befides an cn^rench- ment, and a line drawn between the towns of Ens and Steyr, Marihal Khevenhuller :made $. feint of attacking them on the Me: of Mathau- fen , during which time Count Mercy cjiflodged them from Steyr, after having killed and made prifoners p. great number of them ; and Count Palfi marched direftly to attack .the town o.f Ens, when the garrifon immediately dcfired capitulation, and obtained leave to retire to Lintz. Upon this Count Segur, the Prince of Tingry, Lord Clare, and General Minucei, precipitately retired with the French and Bava- rians j and Marflwl Kjhevenhuller ' detaching the I i 2 buffers The Conduct of /&' Powers of Europe, PART hufiars after them, a great number were flaifl II. and taken prifoners. The Auftrian boors, hav- i v ' ing taken up arms, cut all the French and Ba- J 74 r ' varians they met with to pieces; and the mar- ital continued in full march to overtake and give them batthe, but they retreated, and in endeavouring to fave their heavy baggage by the Danube, the greateft part of it fell into the hands of the Auftrian hufTars, who received but a flight lofs, while Baron Trenck was difpatched with 250 pandours, to take pofleflion of the pafs of Steyermarck, with orders to drive the French and Bavarians from Claus, Windifchgarten and Spital, in which three places they had 664 men, and five pieces of cannon ; wherewith they might have defended themfelves in the defiles of the mountains againft an entire army. Baron Treftck marched all night, and an hour before day fell upon the firft centinel himfelf, and tumbling him over the rock down a frightful precipice, broke his neck. He then attacked a fmall re- doubt, where he took eight prifoners, but the reft efcaping carried the alarm to the town of Claus, where the Baron followed them clofe at their heels with 50 men. It was now day-light, and as the garrifon flood looking over the walls, the Baron had his fifty men advanced clofe to the gates, threatening them with the ill confe- quences that muft attend their daring to fire a fhor, their whole army being, as he pretended, totally defeated. This fo intimidated the com- mandant and the garrifon, that they fbon agreed to capitulate, and furrendered themfelves there- upon prifoners of war. Baron Trerick then fum- moned Windiichgarten and Spital, which upon being apprized of his having taken poffeflion of ^ Claus, tenc him their keys immediately, where- by Engaged in the late General War. 253 by in the feizing of this important poft he made CHAP. twenty-two officers and the 664 men prifoners, IV. and took the five cannon, and alfo forty-eight >-v- popguns. I 74 I - ON the 26th of December the confederate troops made a feint at firft as if they intended to retreat on the fide of Wells and Lambach ; but their defign was to throw themfelves into Lintz, a ftrong and beautiful city, the capital of Upper Auftria, 105 miles weft of Vienna, which they effe&ed, and together with the garrifon they made a body of 10,000 men ; when they were immediately furrounded, and blocked up by the Auftrians : they defended themfelves with great refolution, but being deftitute of provifions, and cut off from all affiftance, Count Segur offered to capitulate, and to evacuate all the Upper Auf- tria, upon condition of having a free pafiage, and the military honours allowed them ; but Marfhal Khevenhuller infifted,,that they fhould either furrender themfelves prifoners of war, or engage to ferve no more againft the queen dur- ing the continuance of the war : and on the 1 2th of January the French and Bavarians fur- rendered upon capitulation, by which they were obliged not to ferve againft the Queen of Plun- gary for the fpace of a year. But no precaution being taken in the articles of capitulation, to fettle the rout of thefe, troops, the Auftrians, by conducting them by tedious journeys, and im- pafiable roads, occafioned the lois of the greateft part of them. THE great Turenne obferves of capitulations, that the particular place, the road to it, and the time in going ought to be ftipulated. For want of which the French and Bavarians were now at the mercy of the Auftrians, in the fame manner 54 tf#* Condu& of the lowers of Europe, PART manner as a body of 800 Engtifh were to th II. Spaniards in 1707, who being taken at Alzira . -v-"-* in Spain, only capitulated to be efcorted to Le- 1741. rida, which might have been done in a fort- night ; but the Spaniards conduced them fo far out of the way, that they were three months in going, and did not arrive at Lerida till the Spa- niards had taken poffeffion of it. TH E populace of France had a good opinion of the martial abilities of Count Segur, and ex- pelted he would have made a braver defence ; but the conduct of that general, will admit of an eafy vindication, when it is confidered, that though the troops were numerous, it put him under the greater difficulties, as there was fo fmall a quantity of provifions in the town that the troops were compelled to live upon horfe- flefli, and had been unfuccefsful in all their fal- lies ; befides, the count had received pofitive orders to prcferve the troops, from the court of Verfailles , where, on his arrival, he met with a kind reception from the king, though he was generally cenfured by the court. WHILE Marlhal Khevenhuller was befieging Ltntz, General Bernes feized the French and Bavarian great magazine at Cremfmunfter j and General Bernklau, pofting with a detachment to invade Bavaria, in his way got poffeffion of the falt-works at Gcmund, with the towns of Hall- ftadt and Ifchel, and took the garrifons, confid- ing of 400 men, prifoners -, and afterwards ob- liged the garrifon of Mathaufen to furrender at difcretion. The general foon after having fur- prized Reidi and Scharding, a town in Bavaria, fituated on the river Inn, feven miles iouth of Paffaw, opened a way for the huffars to make irrcurficms very far into the electoral territories. Count Engaged in the late General War. 255 Count Thoring, having collected a body of 8,000 CHAP. Bavarians, endeavoured todiflodge the Auftrians IV. from Scharding; but being difappointed by the < -v-J vigilance of General Bernklau, who had defeated 1741. fix companies of grenadiers with a body of horfe, which Count Thoring had fent upon that defign ; General Bernklau after leaving a necef-. iary force in Scharding, marched forwards, and joining Colonel Mentzel with the troops under his command, they proceeded together to the village of Wittich, where the Bavarians were pofted ; and having attacked them, after a brifk engagement, wherein the Bavarians loft above 3,000 men, the Auftrians obtained a complete victory, and took General Preyfmg among the prifoners. THESE fuccefies attending the arms of her Hungarian majefty, recovered Auftria, pro- cured winter quarters for her troops in Bavaria, and prefaged the glory that crowned her victo- rious troops in the following year. THE French and their allies were highly cul- pable in difuniting their army, confiftirig of re- gular and well-difciplined regiments, inftead of marching in a body to attack the Auftriajis ; who being chiefly new raifed militia, were in* capable offtanding a general battle , which it is probable the French and Bavarians might have obliged them to, had they marched to Vi- enna, where the queen returned on the ift of December attended by the whole court. To ballance the advantages the Queen of Hungary had obtained in Auftria and Bavaria, the Prufllans continued to improve their fuccek in Silefia j and Count Neuperg being obliged to withdraw the Auftrian forces to make head a- gainft the French and Pavariajis, on their enter? ing 256 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART ing into Bohemia, on the jothof September the il. King of Pruffia invefted Neifs, which furrender- ^- - / ~j ed on honourable terms the 2oth of October; and there being then no fufficient army to op- pofe his progrels, he became abfolute matter of all Silefia, and returned to Breflau, where he re- ceived homage, from the whole ftatesof the duchy of Silefia, on the 9th of November, in an affem- bly of about 400 deputies. As the proteftant religion is the moft predomi- nant in Silefia, this induced the inhabitants the more readily to acknowledge their fubmiffion to the King of Prufiia j his majefty releafed them from all rents and fervices impofed on them by the Romifh clergy, and his refufal of a free gift of 100,000 crowns offered him by the ftates, to- gether with his mild treatment and endeavours to gain the affections of the people, effectually procured him their regard and efteem ; and his majefty, after re-eftablifliing the public tranqui- lity, returned to Berlin, and in his way paid a vifit to the court of Drefden. AFTER the taking of Neifs, his Pruffian ma- jefty detached Count Leopold de DefiTau with 12,000 men, to join the Elector of Bavaria in Bohemia, who in his way befieged the city of Glatz, the capital of that country, fituated at the foot of the mountains which divide Bohemia from Silefia, roo miles eaft of Prague, and had the town furrendered to him on the pth of Janu- ary, but the caftle held out till the 27th of April, when the garrifon obtained an honourable capi- tulation, and were conducted to the Auftriaa army. The king, on his departure from the army to Breflau, left the remainder of his troops to the command of Count Schwerin, who en- tered the duchy of Moravia without: oppofition, and in tie late General War. 257 and on the i5th of December laid fiege to Ol-CnAp. mutz, the capital city, fituated on the river Mo- IV. raw, 75 miles N. of Vienna, which being fur- < / * rendered on honourable terms, the garrifon re- *74* tired to Brinn., a ftrong town 30 miles S. W. of Olmutz, which was foon after invefted by the Saxons. THE rigour of the feafon inviting the confe- derate forces to retire into winter quarters, the French cantoned themfelves along the Muldaw to the confines of Auftria, and the Saxons and Prufllans about Brinn, and Znaim, a town thirty-five miles N. W. of Vienna, and twenty miles S. of Brinn in Moravia. As the campaign terminated with an aufpicious profpecl:, in favour of the Queen qf Hungary againft the confederate army, it will be now re- quifite to fee what danger f^e was expofed to in her Italian dominions. As foon as the King of Spain had publimed his pretenfions to the Auftrian fucceflion, the Hungarian minifter at Rome, about the middle of January, demanded a paffage through the ec- clefiaftical territories for 5000 of the Queen of Hungary's troops, to march from the Milanefe to Tufcany , which his holinefs not only agreed to, but granted her majefty permiffion to levy a tenth on the revenues of the clergy, and to make ufe of all the church plate in her domini- ons, for fupporting her in her diftrefied circum- ftances. THE Spaniards macje early preparations in the fpring to fend a body of troops into Italy from Barcelona, where a great number of veflels were ready to tranfport them ; but this project met with feveral difficulties, and feemed to be entirely VOL. I. K k " neglected 258 *Tbe Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART neglected till October ; for as foon as the court of II. Madrid had received intelligence of the Hanover . y ' neutrality, the expedition wasrefumed, nineteen I 74 I - battalions of foot, and 1,200 horfe, being about 1 5,000 men, commanded by the Duke de Mon- temar, Captain-General of Spain, arrived at Bar- celona, and were conveyed by 200 fail of tranf- ports, under the convoy of fix Spanifh Gallies and three French men of war, for the coaft of Italy : but being difperfed by a ftorm, they were drove into the French ports of Provence and Languedoc -, however the fleet fuftained no lofs, and being in a few days united, they proceeded on their voyage, and arrrived at Orbitello on the coaft of Tufcany, where the army was fafely landed without any interruption from the Bririfh fleet, at that time lying in the bay of Gibraltar ; and were in expectation of being reinforced by a body of French. TH E King of the two Sicilies, awed by the Britim fleet, had hitherto profefled a neutrality, but being evidently attached to the Spanifh in- tereft, privately refolved to affift Spain againft the Queen of Hungary. TH E Minifters of France and Spain had been very follicitous at the court of Turin, to influence the King of Sardinia in the alliance againft her Hungarian majefty, and by their extenfive pro- mifes, had even engaged him to publifh a mani- fefto, declaring his rights to the duchy of Milan -, but he foon faw through the artifice ; and jealous of the Spaniards gaining any fettlempnt in Italy, he determined to efpoufe the caufe of the houfe of Auftria: to this he was the more inclined, as his queen war, fifter to the Grand Duke of Tu cany, who, for his affiftance, had made him an offer Engaged in the late General War. 259 offer of the cities of Pavia, Voghera, and Vige-CnAP. vano, with their refpeclive diftric~ts, in the Mi- IV. laneie, \vhich lay very convenient to his domini- < -v ons. Though his Sardinian majefty had an army J74 1 ' of 60,000 men ready to take the field, his fi- nances were too poor to fet him in a condition of commencing hoftilities againft the enemies of the houfe of Auftria, till he could procure a fubfidy to enable him to fupport his forces : in the mean time he abfolutely refufed a pafiage to any of the Spanifh troops through his dominions, and form- ed two camps on his frontiers, in each of which he aflfembled 10,000 men, and refolved to op- pofe the entrance of the Spaniards into this coun- try, which compelled them to run the hazard of their troops in an embarkation ; and when the French arnbaflfador demanded a pafiage through Piedmont for 15,000 troops to join the Spani- ards, his majefty alfo refufed it, declaring " He " would employ all his forces in oppofing the cc attempts of any power that mould endeavour ** to difturb the repofe of Italy j" in which he nobly adhered, with a refolution fuperior to the frowns of fortune, manifefting a magnanimity worthy the line of Eugene, and exerting all the bravery, conduct, and honour, of a valiant he- ro, and worthy prince. THE Ecclefiaftical and Venetian dates, however . difpofed to affift the Queen of Hungary, adhered to a ftricl neutrality ; but the republic of Genoa, though they had not yet declared their fenti- ments, were too much influenced by the councils of France to refufe an implicit conformity to the will and pleafure of that court, who had but lately aflifted the republic in reducing the re- volted Corficans to their obedience. Kk 2 BUT 260 The Conduct of tbe Powers of Europe, PART BUT it was too late in the year tor the Spani- II. ards to commence any military defigns ; they got t- v 'into winter quarters, waiting for a reinforcement 1741. from Spain, and the return of fpring, before they attempted any thing farther to difturb the repofe of her Hungarian majefty's Italian domi- nions. SECOND SECOND DIVISION. Containing naval tranfa&ions in A- MERICA and EUROPE, in 1741. CHAPTER I. The Expedition againft CUBA. N the return of the Britilh fleet and CHAP. forces to Jamaica, from the fiege I. of Carthagena, the remains of the t^-w army continued in a feeble and I74* languid condition ; the fhips that came out with Sir Chaloner Ogle were now generally fickly, and the whole fleet in great want of feamen, though the companies of the feafoned fhips held it tolerably healthy. This general ficknefs afforded a melancholly fcene to the furvivors of the late fatal expedition, and gave Vice Admiral Vernon the fuller employ- ment 262 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART ment to remedy all their wants and defeats, to en- II. able them to proceed on fome other, and more i- v ' profperous defign againft the Spaniards, which 1 74 1 ' he was willing to. have commenced with the ut- moft diligence their miferable condition would permit; as he knew a continuance on that in- temperate ifland, muft be attended with the to- tal lofs of the healthy and reviving men. As the vice admiral had received inftrudions in regard to the difpatching a proportionable number of his mips home, on thofe of the Spani- ards being returned to Europe, or deftroyed ; and fenlible of the danger the unmeathed eighty gun fhips, and others of the moil crazy of the ihips would run, if they were not fent home to iave a fummer's paflfage, he therefore found it neceflary, and the council of war afterwards concurred with him in opinion, that fuch fhips ought to be difpatched to England, fo as a luffi- cient force was referved, in regard to the Spanifh Squadron, under Don Rodrigo de Torres at the Havanna, and thofe under Monfieur de Roche- feuil at Hifpaniola. SEVEN of the eight eighty gun mips, the Princefs Carolina, Rufiel, Norfolk, Shrewfbury, Princefs Amelra, Torbay, and Chichefter , as alfo the Hampton-Court, Burford, Windfor, and Falmouth ; the Succefs, Eleanor, Cumberland, Terrible, and Goodley frigates, being unmeath- ed, they would have been entirely ruined by re- maining any longer on fervice in the hot cli- mates ; upon which the vice admiral ordered them to get in readinets, and proceed immedi- ately to England, under the command of Com- modore Lettock , who, having taken on board Colonel Woolf, and fome other officers affli&ed with the general infirmity contracted before Car- thage n a,' Engaged in the late General War. 263 thagena, and fuch pare of the foldiers as were CHAP. rendered unfit for fervice, foon after fet fail, I. taking under his convoy the homeward- bound < -vo fleet that had fet out with the Kennington and I74 1 - Torrington, but had returned, on account of the fiery-breeze feafon. THOUGH the departure of fo many failors, at fuch an unfeafonable time, was very inconvenient to the remainder of the fleet, it was abfolutely necefiary for the prefervation of fuch valuable fhips as were ordered to return with Commodore Leftock ; and as the vice admiral began to ap- prehend, from the conduct of General Went- worth, that a divifion would unavoidably enfue in their profecution of other enterprizes, he was in hopes of being permitted to refign the com- mand to Sir Chaloner Ogle, and was very defir- ous of returning to England with the mips he was obliged to lend under Commodore Leftock, having no difcretionary power to return at his own option, but was even perfuaded for the fervice of his country to remain contented in his ftation, however difagreeable it might be, to act in conjunction with an officer, of whofe abiiities he had little reafon to give any commendation; to this the vice admiral the more chearfully fubmitted, as he had been prefied by the Duke of Newcaftle to continue the command of this fleet ; for his grace, by a letter to the vice admi- ral, dated the 24th of May, informed him, ut mewing them, at the fame time, they mould, in great meafure, depend upon Great Britain, the chief maritime power, for the very pofleflion of their Indies. THE vice admiral and General Wentworth returned to their pofts, for giving the necefiary orders fpr proceeding on the expedition with all poffible difpatch. TThe inhabitants of Jamaica, ienfible of the abilities of the vice admiral, ancj grateful for the fervice he had done them, by or- dering his cruizers to fuch advantageous fituations for the protection of their valuable trade, and perceiving the too vifible havoc that had rjotouf- ly raged among, and diminifhed the land forces, who from 12,000 were now reduced to 3,000^ L 1 2 offered 2 68 ^be Conduct of the Powers a/" Europe, PART offered to raife a body of 5,000 negroes for the II. prefent expedition : but it was judged moft ad- L. v -> vifable, both in regard to the royal fervice, and J 74 I - to their own conveniency, to defire a (mailer number, and to have only a thoufand chofen blacks, which were immediately collected ; and the fleet, and forces, were as expeditioufly pre- pared for the enterprize. THE vice admiral, on the 25th of June, or- dered Capt. Kenton, in the Ripon, to proceed immediately to fea, and get into a proper fta- tion, for cruizing to windward of St Jago, for reconnoitring the coaft, and intercepting the Spanim trade ; and having appointed Cape Don- na Maria for the firft, and Walthenam Bay, about twelve leagues to windward of St Jago, on the ifland of Cuba, for the fecond general place of rendezvous ; the vice admiral directed the fquadron to proceed to fea, with the tranf- ports, in detachments ; on which they began to get out from Port Royal harbour on the 28th : the Suffolk, Strafford, Dunkirk, Deptford, Au- gufta, York, Briftol, Vulcan, and Litchfield, being left at Port Royal, under the command of Capt. Davers, to protect the ifland of Jamaica ; who had orders to forward the York, Deptford, and Augufta, to follow the admiral, as foon as they were in a condition for the fea. On the 1 3th of July the fleet affembled off the ifland of ^Javaffa, when the whole fcjuadron confifted of tlie following (hips ; Engaged in the late General War. LINE OF BATTLE. VICE ADMIRAL VERNON. Frigates, &c. g> Ships Commanders 2| O Shoreham Alderney 4 Chefter Long 300 50 Strombolo 3 Grafton Rycaut 480 70 Phaeton p V.A. Yemen? , R Bonetta Boyne Ctpt. Watfon5 62 $ Prs Royal 4 Worcefter Cleland 400 60 Pompey Tilbury Dent 400 60 Triton Rear Admiral Sir CHALONER OGLE. Experiment 3 Kent Mitchel 480 70 1741. Scarborough 4 Tyger Herbert 300 50 Montagu Chambers 400 60 The tranfports, and ftorefhips, confided of forty- one fail ; and the land forces, and blacks, on board the fleet, made a body of 4,000 men. THE whole fleet got into Walthenham har- bour on the 1 8th of July, being fixty-one fail in all ; where they had the pleafure to find them- felves poffefled of the fined harbour in the Wed Indies, capable of containing any number of {hipping, and fecure againd hurricanes ; which, as that dangerous part of the feafon was approach- ing, yielded the fleet a much fafer protection, than the harbour of Port Royal, againd the vi- olence of fuch dreadful encounters : to this har- bour the vice admiral immediately gave the name of Cumberland harbour; in honour of his Royal tjighnefe the Puke of Cumberland. THE 270 *tt>e Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART THE ifland of Cuba is the largeft, and far the II. mod temperate and pleafant of all the Antilles i v ' lying between i9deg. 30 m. and 23 deg. of north I 74 I - latitude, and from 293 to 304 deg. ot longi- tude, being about 230 leagues in length, and in the broadeft part 40 leagues wide, in the nar- roweft about 12 -, having Florida, and the Lu- cayos, on the north, Hifpaniola on the weft, Ja- maica and the fouthern continent on the fouth, and the gulph of Mexico on the eaft. A coun- try, redundant, not only with the neceffary con- veniences of life, but abounding even with the more delicate blefiings of nature, and is much the largeft ifland in America ; the favannas, or large open meadow lands, are fwarming with cattle, and the woods with hogs both wild and tame -, the land is good for fugar canes, which it produces, and tobacco of the beft kind in great plenty ; wheat, rice, all kind of fallet- ing, and pulfe, flourifh very plentifully, with fruit of all kinds that thofe Indies afford , the woods are full of mahogony, fuftic, Spanifh elm, cedar, and feveral other valuable kinds, alfo cotton grows wild, befides what is planted j the whole ifland, is full of fine rivers, and har- bours, fit for tranfportation ; and the town of Covery, within three leagues of St Jago, has in it one of the richeft of copper mines, on which the Spaniards are inceflantly at work. The Ha- vanna, which lies on the weftern part of the ifland, is the moft confiderable town for ftrength and opulence, and contains about half of the whole inhabitants; where the Spanifh admiral lay, at this time, with twelve fhips of the line, and 8,000 feamen. THIS admiral had been, for fome time, in the American feas, without attempting any en~ terprize Engaged in the late General War. 27 1 terprize againft the Englifh ; and his Tailors CHAP. were difpirited at the many unfortunate acci- I. dents, that had happened to him, being pre-' ^ , poflefted with an opinion, that nothing but mis- '74 1 - fortune, would attend a commander, on whom the heavens had feemed to threaten and prog- noftic deftruclion, by a variety of inaufpicious omens ; nor, conlidering the blind fuperftition of the Spaniards, does this, their opinion, afford the leaft matter of admiration : for the admiral, on his departure from Carthagena, run his (hip, the Santa Anna, a-ground, on the rocks in go- ing into the Havanna, where fhe beat off half her keel ; De Torres then hoifted his flag on board the Invincible, a new built fhip at the Havanna, and never at fea, which was foon af- terwards blown up by lightening, and in her four millions of pieces of eight ; the town was deferted by all the Spaniards, whilft the (hip was burning ; two churches were extremely da- maged by the blaft ; the admiral narrowly ef- caped in his boat, and the next fhip in which he hoifted his flag, had her main-maft carried away in a thunder- ftorm, two days after his coming on board ; which made the ftrongeft imprefii- ons, on the minds of fo weak and pufillanimous a people. ST JAGQ is the principal town in the eaftern part of the country, is the moft antient in the ifland, and generally efteemed the capital ; tho* now the governor refides at the Havanna , and only fuch of the Spaniards as have eftates on the ifland, and are contented with their pofleflions without interfering much in trade, inhabit this place ; which has a declining afpecl, and pre- ferves only the ruins of its former greatnels : yet this city has a port inferior, in its fituation, to the 272 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART the Havanna, only in trade, but much more II. commodious for privateers, as it commands the t -v . i windward paflage. Though the city is well in- i74L habited, and well fituated, for trade, it remains but in a very indifferent condition as to its forti- fications 5 for the harbour was naturally fo well fortified, as to give the Spaniards no reafon to fear any attack from the fea ; and the diftance the town lay at from any other harbour, gave them as little concern from the land quarter, where they had left their fortifications, without the lead repairation fince the commencement of the war. The towns, in general, are awed beneath the fubjection of a few wealthy Spaniards, who exercife an arbitrary power over a multitude of indigent people, that have no recourfe to any open laws, to relieve them from their unnatural and inhuman fervility ; which has depraved them to an indolent and effeminate courfe of life, making them very inclinable to throw off the heavy yoke of Spanifh flavery, and ready to embrace an opportunity of enjoying the hap- pinefs of Britim liberty. THE vice admiral, when at fea, having fo- lemnly taken the declaration of John Drake, an Englifh mariner, who had refided thirteen years upon that part of the ifland, and was, well ac- quainted with the nature of the country, and the road from Cumberland harbour to St Jago, which appeared, by that declaration, to make it eafily practicable for the army to advance to the town. For Cumberland harbour was, declared to be, about two or three miles broad, having a frefh- water river running into it on the leeward mod fide ; up which river for about a league there is four or five fathom water, and on the larboard fide the royal falina. Further up, the water Ihoals, , . Engaged in the late General Wa; 273 flioals, butinfuch a manner that the Boyne'sCHAP. long-boat could very well pafs about threeor four I. leagues, farther than which even a dtfee cannot v . J^-i pafs, being only ancle deep. About ttro leagues *74i. from the king's falina, upwards on thj ftarboard fide, were two other falirias, from wlich falinas to a village called Elleguava, contafiing about a hundred houfcs, and a fmall church it is eight leagues j where the inhabitants are lldians and mulattoes, who live by hunting anc railing of nock. This village is eleven leagues from Cum- berland harbour, thirteen leagues from St Jago, and lies in the direct road from that town to Baraccoa, which is about thirty leagues from the village. The road, from the two falinas to Elle- guava, is about two miles along the river fide ; from thence a good open road for about two leagues more, when there is a fine large favanna for about two leagues further, and the remaining two leagues is likewife good and open, with crawles, or cattle pens, frequently fcattered upon the road. From Elleguava to St. Jago, the road is for the moft part woody hills and dales ; but in the narroweft part, fo broad that ten men may very well go a-breaft ; and there arc three or four rivulets, alfo crawles or cattle pens, to be often met with in the paflage. ADMIRAL VERNON had likewife collected proper intelligence of the fituation and ftrength of the town, port, and citadel of St Jago; and m this received great afliftance from Henry Ca- velier, carpenter of an Affiento brigantine, who had been prifoner there, and employed a confi- derable time at work on the fortifications ; by whofe declaration it appeared, That at the fouth entrance of the port, on the ftarboard fide, is a low battery called the Punto, which has two VOL. I. Mm twelve 274 t ^ t Conduct of tic Powers of Europe^ PART twelve Bounders, three fix pounders, and one II. four pojnder, at the entrance below, pointing v -v * to the rOac which leads from the bay where they '74* land. Atout half way up the hill, by fteps, is another httery, called Plata Forma Grande, fronting tie fea, with eight forty-two pounders, and two eighteen pounders, with feven caves for lodging fddiers and provifions: higher up is another batery, which has two honey-comb guns, Four pounders, and a ciftern which will contain about 2 or 5,000 gallons of water. Higher up is another fmall plat-form, with a little ciftern, but no guns: above this is another plat-form, about twenty feet from the top of the hill, which has ten guns, four pounders, two of them brafs ; three of thefe guns point to the fea, all the reft to the land. Under this plat-form is the en- trance into the Morro caftle, or citadel, which is a quadrangular fort of eight guns. Above, through a gate about ten feet wide, about fixteen feet from the gate is a dry mote, about fixteen or eighteen feet wide, and as many deep ; and about fixteen feet from this mote is another, about eleven feet wide and as many deep, with a draw-bridge over each : and on the weftern fide of the harbour, oppofite to Morro caftle, was a fmall battery of five guns. ABOUT a quarter of a mile further up in the north part of the harbour, on the town fide, is the caftle Eftrella, fituate on an eminence, with a battery of eighteen pounders; and about twen- ty feet below, a fmall battery of three guns, eighteen pounders, both fronting the entrance of the port ; and on the fame level with the ten gun battery, is an angle fronting crofs the har- bour, which has (even guns, four pounders. Thb caftle may be eafily furprized, feveral paths leading Engaged in the late General War: leading to the top thereof, from which the aiCfiA cendants might fire down upon all the batteries I. or even kill the men with ftones from the top v~ and the eaftermoft fide is open, and without an; *74* defence. The Eftrella once gained, will corr mand the Punto, the weftermoft end of Plat Forma Grande, and the top of Morro caftle. AT fome further diftance to the northward c the Eftrella, is another little battery called Sant Catalina, which has two twelve pounders lyin almoft level with the water, and fronting the e: trance of the port ; this battery, with twenty mt only, may be eafily furprized and taken at ai time -, and here the Spaniards had moored a fh acrofs the harbour. THERE was allb, to the eaftward of Mor caftle, another battery of feven guns called t Aquadores, and the Spaniards had lately erecll two other fmall batteries on eminences, to gu4 the , road between Elleguava and the town. TH E narrownefs of the entrance into the lr- bour of St Jago, and the fingular difficult of ihips getting into it, occafioned by the obfl 10 - tion of the eddy wind (that comes dowr tne Morro caftle and the Eftrella, and would"^- libly drive them on the weftern more, vthout the affiftance of a cable fattened to an ar- nor on fliore, in the bight between the two ca^es) ren " ders it impoffible to attack the town I/ f ea ^ or this reafon Vice Admiral Vernon h?4 fix d on Walthenam bay, diftant eleven leagues W. S. W. from St Jago, as the neareft and moft commo- dious fituation to embark the troops, for their proceeding to march and attack the town on the land fide, where, as they did not expecl: to be furprized, the Spaniards were at preient entirely open and defencelefs. Walthenam, now Cum- M m 2 berland 2;t The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, erland harbour, is about twenty-four leagues om St Jago, and in the dry feafon of the year, hich is from October to June, the roads are PAIT II. L -V - W- -ry good, and even in the rainy feafon paffable ithout much difficulty. As Vice Admiral Vernon was pofiefied of a ood pilot for the harbour, on his arrival he loft time in making the bed ufe of him ; having tached Cape. Forrefl in the bomb- ketch, one the fire-fhips, a brigantine and floop tenders, d the bomb tender, who entered the lagoon ing up to the falinas, with part of this flotilla t evening. And by day-break on the ipth of y, Capt. Watfon was difpatched with all the ges and yawls manned and armed, to help to r the flotilla as high up as it was navigable for m ; and he returned the fame night, after ing pofted the floop as high as the upper fa- Jite, and the bomb-ketch and brig tender as h*ii as the lower falinas, juft above which was a W on entering the frefh water river, on w qh was not more than nine feet water. \DMIRAL VERNON fummoned a gene- ral >uncil of war, which aflembled, and was corned by the vice admiral, General Went- WortF\Sj r Chaloner Ogle, General Blakeney, Lowther, Colonel Cochran, Captain and Captain Cotterell. At a gene^ council of war, held on board his majefty's (hip the Cumberland, the 2oth of e XHE council having aflembled to confider * of the properefl methods of proceeding, in ' execution of the refolution of the council of way 1 Engaged in the late General War. 277 * war of the 26th of May laft, and in compli-CHAp. * ance with his majefty's general inftructions. I. AND having laid before them, by Vice Ad- v-~-v* ' miral Vernon, his majefty's inftructions; the I74 1 - * information of John Drake, in relation to the * practicability of the roads between Walthenam c and St Jago ; the information of Henry Ca- ' valier, in relation to the fituation and ftrength * of the Morro caftle, and other batteries for the * defence of the harbour of St Jago, and the practicablenefs of furprizing the Eftrella and * Catalina, by coming on the back- of them. < AND having perfbnally examined Capt. Watfon and Lieutenant Lowther, who had 4 been fent to reconnoitre the approaches to the * village of Catalina, as far as they were naviga- ' ble, and had both reported, That they found * every thing exactly to agree with the informa- f tion of John Drake. AND Capt. Rentone like wife attended; but * the council thought his opinion by letter fuffi- cient, of the impracticability of attacking the f harbour of St Jago immediately by fea. * AND the goodnefs of Walthenam harbour ? fufficiently recommending itfelf, the council taking the whole maturely into confideration, ' unanimoufly refolved' " Immediately to fet a- ' bout doing every thing in their power, to * c comply with the principal view of his majefty's V inftructions, that of pofieffing themfelves of e Spanilh territories, they expected to continue there 288 The Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART there in garrifon : and there is evidence enough II. to confirm the probability of thefe conjectures, . v*-' not only from what one of the field officers told 1741. a certain captain, now an admiral of the fleet, in their paflage from Jamaica to Cuba, which was, " That he knew the army would not even " land.*' And after the general council of war held on the 2oth of July, reported to the fame gentleman, " Thar the army would not move " from their encampment on the river fide:" but alfo from the general difagreement promot- ed between the European and American foldi- ers, for which the former were acquainted they were only hazarding their lives to procure a fet- tlement for the latter ; and indeed, to procure a fettlement was the chief purpofe for which the Americans had entered into the fervicc. CHAPTER CHAPTER II. Thepaflage of COMMODORE ANSON round CAPE HORN into the PACI- FIC OCE AN ; the taking and burn- ing of PA IT A; and the diftrefles the ENGLISH fquadron under- went in thofe feas: with the mif- fortunesof PIZARRO, the SPANISH admiral, by attempting to follow the ENGLISH fquadron round CAPE HORN. /COMMODORE ANSON on the 1 8th CHAP, V_J of January, purfued his voyage from the u < ifland of St Catherine's for Port St Julian ; and t -v^ as he was then proceeding to an hoftile, or at 1741. leaft, a defart and inhofpitable coaft, expecting a more boifterous climate to the fouthward, he ifiued orders to the captains, before their depart- ure from St Catherine's, " That in cafe of fe- " paration, the firft place of rendezvous fhould " be the bay of Port St Julian, where they were '" to take in a fupply of fait ; and if, after a itay * " of ten days, they were not joined by thecom- 1 " modore, they were then to proceed through ** the ftreights Le Maire, round Cape Horn, " VOL, I. Oo " into 290 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART " into the South Seas , where, the next place of II. 4t rendezvous was to be the ifland of Noftra Se- L v-*-*" nora de Socoro, in the latitude of 45 deg. 1741. fouth, and longitude from the Lizard 71 deg. " 12 m. weft; and from thence they were to " continue their courfe to the ifland of Juan " Fernandes, in the latitude of 33 deg. 37 m. " fouth'; where, after they had recruited their * c wood and water, they were to continue off " the anchoring place for fifty-fix days ; in which " time, if the commodore did not join them, et they were to put themfelves under the com- ' mand of the fenior officer, who was to con- l< tinue in thofe feas as long as his provifions " lafted to permit him, and to ufe his utmoft < c endeavours to annoy the Spaniards both by " fea and land ; when he was to proceed to Ma- * cao, at the entrance of the river of Canton, on the coaft of China ; and afterwards, with- *' out delay, to make the beft of his way for England." UNDER thefe orders the fquadron failed for Port St Julian : a few days after, the Pearl fepa- rated from the fquadron, when the captain died ; and on the loth of February the lieutenant faw five large mips, which he for fome time imagin- ed to be the Britifh fquadron, fo that he fuffered the commanding fhip, which wore a red broad pendant, exaftly refembling that of Commodore , Anfon, at the main top-maft head, to come within gun mot of him before he difcovered his miftake ; but then finding it not to be the Cen- turion, he hailed clofe upon the wind, and crowded from them with all his fail ; and ftand- ing crofs a ripling, where they hefitated to fol- low him, he happily efcaped. This was Pizarro's fquadron ? who had received fuch pofitive informa- tion Engaged in the late General War. 291 tion of the Britifh fquadron, and had been foCnAP. well inftructed in the form and make of the II. broad pendant of the Centurion, that he had 1 - v like to have decoyed the Pearl into the fnare of I 74'- captivity. dv the 1 8th the Britifh fquadron anchored in the bay of St Julian, where the Pearl having joined the commodore, the lieutenant informed him of what had happened fmce their feparation ; and had it not been for the abfolute neceflity the commodore was under of refitting the Tryal, this intelligence would have prevented his making any ftay at St Julian ; but as it was impofiible for the floop to proceed round the cape in her prefent condition, fome ftay there was unavoida- ble, to put her in repair, which was immediate- ly begun. During their continuance here, the commodore appointed Capt. Murray to fucceed Capt. Kidd in the Pearl, gave the Wager to Capt. Cheap, and promoted Lieutenant Saun- ders to the command of the Tryal floop: and as it was apprehended they mould certainly meet with the Spanifh fquadron in pafimg the cape, the commodore ordered the captains, " To put " all their provifions, which were in the way of " their guns, on board the Anna pink, and to " remove fuch of their guns as had formerly, Socoro, which was the firft rendezvous appointed for the fquadron ; and, hoping to meet with the difperfed fhips, he cruized for them in that fta- tion feveral days : but difappointed in his ex- pectations, and after ftruggling with more tur- bulent ftorms, and an increafe of malignant di tempers, finding their deplorable fituation allow- ed no room for deliberation, the commodore flood for the ifland of Juan Fernandes ; where, after much difappointment, and a further lofs of eighty men, they arrived on the pth of June. As the crew of the Centurion were, at that time, in an inconceivable ftate of debility, their water exhaufted, and their officers, without distinction, obliged to aflift in navigating the fhip ; in this calamitous condition, it is fcarcely credible with what joy and tranfport they viewed the land, and with how much impatience they longed for the verdure and other refrefhments then opening on their eyes: but nothing exceeded their motions, when they beheld the pleafing profpecl: of a pure living ftream, that pouered down in a tranfpar- ent cafcade, from a rock near a hundred feet high, into the fea, at a fmall diftance from the fhip. On the iit,h they entered the harbour, feeing the fame, day joined by the Tryal, who 294 2& Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART had loft thirty-four men fince their reparation, II. and fuffered hardfhips not inferior to thofe fuf- L- v ^ tained by the Centurion. But they could per- J 74*- ceive no appearance of the other part of the fquadron. THIS ifland of Juan Fernandes, is no lea- gues from the continent of Chili, and the only commodious place in thofe ieas, where Britifh cruizers can refrefh and recover their men after their paflage round Cape Horn ; and where they may remain for fome time, without alarming the Spanifh coaft: this rendered their fituation the more agreeable, efpecially as they were to wait three months, in hopes of the other Ihips joining them at the rendezvous, NOTWITHSTANDING their defire of freeing the fick from their loath fome confinement, and their own extreme impatience to get on fhore, they had not hands fufficient to prepare the tents for their reception before the i6th -, but on that, and the two following days, they were all fent on fhore, amounting to 167 perfons, befides twelve or fourteen who died in the boats, occa- fioned by the too violent preflure of the frelh air on their weak and fpiritlefs bodies; and as this was a work of confiderable fatigue to the few who were healthy, the commodore, with his ac- cuftomed humanity, not only gave his perfonal affiftance, but obliged his officers, without dif- tinftion, to participate in the labour. Though they now expected from the produce and re- fremment of the ifland, a fpeedy recovery to their infirm companions ; yet, to their great mortification, it was near twenty days after their landing, before the mortality was tolerably abat- ed ; and for the firft ten or twelve days, they bu- ried generally fix in a day, and thpie who reviv- Engaged in the late General War. 295 ed, recovered by very flow and infenfible de-CHAP. grees. On the 2ift the people on fhore difcov- II. ered a fail, but the fhip difappearing for fome days, it was the 26th before they could diftiu- guifh her to be the Gloucefter, commanded by Capt. Mitchel, whofe crew had been reduced by deaths, to lefs than fourfcore, and the remain- der afflicted with the fame painful illnefs as had happened to the crews on (hore. As there was no doubt of her being in great diftrefs, the commodore immediately ordered his boat to her affiftance, laden with frefh water, fifh and vege- tables, with which the ifland abounded, and was a very feafonable relief to the Gloucefter ; for they had been a confiderable time at the fmall allowance of a pint of frefh water to each man for twenty-four hours, and yet they had fo little left, that had it not been for this fupply, they muft foon have perifhed by the excefs of rhirft; but though the commodore fent part of his men on board the Gloucfter, to affift her in fetching the road -, yet, after an infinite fcene of trouble, me was not able to enter the bay till the 23d of July, having continued above a month, frequently and vainly attempting it. As the men were now tolerably recovered, they diligently fell to cleaning their fhips, fil- ling their water, cutting down trees, and fplitt- ing them into billets. As four fhips of the fquadron were miffing, and Capt. Mitchel hav- ing difcovered the fmall ifland called Mafa Fu- ero, lying about twenty-two leagues to the weft- ward of Juan Fernandes, and from the defcrip- tion he gave, the commodore conjecturing that fome of them might poffibly have fallen in with, and miftaken that ifland, for the place of ren- dezvous -, he thereupon ordered the Tryal thither, to 296 The Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART to be fatisfied whether any of the miffing (hips TT were there or not -, but this Hoop returned with- c-~->out bringing the leaft intelligence of any of 1741. them. In the mean time the commodore cauied to be creeled a copper oven on (bore, to bake bread for the fick 5 but it happened, that the Created part of the flour for the uie ot the fqua- dron was embarked on board the vidualler, the Anna pink ; and all June and July being paft without any news of her, flic was given over for loft, and the commodore ordered all the fhips to a fhort allowance of bread. But they were foon after relieved from this mortification, by the arrival of the Anna pink, which came to anchor in the bay on the i6th of Auguft -, though not without encountering her fhare ot the difficulties, to which the whole fquadron was expofed This veflcl was the laft that joined the commodore ; the remaining flups of the fquadron were the Severn, Pearl, and Wager ilore (hip -, the other victualler having delivered her provifions, and being difcharged before the paffaae round Cape Horn. Thefe Ihips all -un- derwent very fignal difafters -, the Severn and Pearl parted company with the fquadron ott Cape Noir, and put back to the Brazils. WHILST Cape. Cheap, in the Wager, feemed to have all the complicated extremities fuffered by the reft of the fquadron, difcharged on his own head -, for having on board a few field pieces mounted for land fervice, fome coehorn mortars, and feveral kinds of artillery, ftores, and pioneers tools, intended for the operations on more-, and as the enterprize on Baldiv.a had been refolved on for the firft undertaking of tf fquadron, the captain was extremely fohcitoi that thefe materials might be ready, if the iqua- "Engaged in the late General War. dron mould rendezvous there: and whilft the CHAP. Wager, with thefe views, was making the beft of her way to the firft rendezvous, off the ifland of Socoro, whence fhe propofed to fteer directly for Baldivia, me made the land on the i4th of May, about the latitude of 47 deg. fouth ; and the crazy condition of the Ihip, being little bet- ter than a wreck, prevented her from getting off to fea, and entangled her more and more with the land, infomuch that the next morning, at day-break, fhe ftruck on a funken rock, and foon after, bildging, grounded between two fmall iQands, at about a mufquet (hot from the fhore, and was entirely loft ; but not before the crew had fufficient time to make their efcape to land in the boats, with great part of the provi- fions. They were now on a defolate coaft, and had every dreadful fcene of horror prefented to their imaginations ; and this, their deplorable ftate, was greatly aggravated by the ungovern- able anarchy and diforder of the crew j who, fond of acting at their liberty without controul, refufed obedience to their officers, imagining that their commiffions expired with the lofs of the (hip. Hence followed thole fatal feuds, and malevolent dtfTentions, which nearly terminated in their utter ruin, and total deftruclionj for the captain, anxious for the prefervation of them all, determined, if po'fiible, to fit up the boats in the beft manner he could, and proceed to the northward , fince having with him above 100 healthy men, and having gotten fome fire arms and ammunition from the wreck, he thought he could not fail of meeting a Spanim vefTel in the neighbourhood of Chiloe or Baldivia, and doubt- ed not but they mould mafter any they en- countered with in thofe feas , in which, if they VOL. I. P p had 298 The Conduct: of the Powers of Europe, PART had fucceeded, the captain intended to proceed II. to the rendezvous at Juan Fernandes : and if they i v ~> fhould light on no prize in the way, yet he J74 1 - thought the boats alone would carry them thither. BUT however prudently this fcheme was de- figned, it was difrelifhed by the generality of the people ; for being quite jaded with the diftrefies and dangers they had already run through, and allured by the delufive hopes of returning to their native country, they could not think of continuing an emerprize, which had been al- ready attended with fo many difaftrous incidents: therefore their common, refolution was, to length- en the long-boat, and with that, and the reft of the boats, to fleer to the fouthward, (diame- trically oppofite to the fcheme propofed by their captain) to pafs through the ftreights of Magel- lan, and to range along the eaft fide of South America, till they fhould arrive at Brazil, where they expected to procure a paffrgc to Great Britain : and though this project feemed to be more hazardous and tedious than the other, yet they perfifted in it with inflexible obftinacy, not- withftanding all the remonflrances of the captain againft fo improper a proceedure, who, by his fteady oppofition to this favourite project, incur- red their diflike, and fo far leflened himfelf in their efleem as to be infulted with the mod con- temptible and . brutal fcurrility. Towards the middle of October the long-boat was nearly com- pleted, and every preparatory meafure ufed for putting to fea : but the crew, ftill apprehenfive that the captain might influence a party to over- turn their defign, laid hold of a plaufible pre- text, to fecure him from any fuch attempt ; fhis was the death of one of their midfhipmen, fatally Engaged in the late General War. 299 fatally and inadvertently committed by the cap- CHAP. tain, on a fufpicion of mutiny : on this pretence II. they confined their commander under a guard,' v J threatening to carry him a prifbner to England I 74 I to be tried for the murder ; but when they were juft ready to put to fea they releafed him -, leav- ing him, and the few that chofe to fhare his for- tunes, no other embarkation but the yawl and barge. During their ftay upon this place, which they called Wager ifland, thirty of them died, and fourfcore went off in the long-boat convert- ed into a fchooner, and cutter, to the fouth- ward on the i3th of October-, leaving nineteen with the captain, among whom were Mr Hamil- ton, lieutenant of marines -, the Honourable Mr Byron and Mr Campbell, midfhipmen ; and Mr Elliot, the furgeon ; who honourably and voluntarily chofe to accompany their commander in a country of danger and defolation. It was the 2 cjth of January before the fchooner arrived at Rio Grande on the coaft of Brazil, when by various accidents their whole number was dimi- nifhed to no more than thirty. CAPT. CHEAP, and his few faithful aflbci- ates, after the departure of their ungenerous fhipmates, propofed to pafs to the northward in the barge and yawl, though they were not able to embark till the i4th of December : but after many difficulties, and the lofs of fix of their company, they were compelled to return to Wager ifland ; where they got back about the middle of February, quite dimeartened, and dejected, with their reiterated difappointments, and almoft perifhing with hunger and fatigue. Soon after two canoes of Indians arrived at the ifland, having among them a native of Chiloe wbo fpoke a little Spanifh, and Mr Elliot the P p 2 iurgeon 300 *Tbe Condud of the Powers of Europe, PART furgeon, being capable of converting with him II. in that language, bargained with the Indian, u v~ ' that if he would carry the captain and his peo- '74i' pie to the ifland of Chiloe, in the barge, he fhould have her and all that belonged to her for his trouble : accordingly, on the 6th of March, the company, which was now reduced to eleven, embarked in the barge on this new expedition ; but, after having proceeded for a few days, the Captain, Mr Hamilton, Mr Byron, Mr Camp- bell, and Mr Elliot, being on fhore, the fix, who together with an Indian remained in the barge, put off with her to fea, and did not re- turn again ; while the captain, and the reft on Jhore, were (truck with the rnoft difmaying re- flections ; without provifions, arms, or ammuniti- on, to procure the leaft comfortable fubfiftence, to chear their defpairing minds in this defolate fitu- ation : but when they were revolving the various circumftances of this unexpected calamity, they happily perceived another canoe, at a diftance, which belonged to one of the Indians they had before feen ; and who, after being convinced of the fafety of his companion, carried them to Chiloe, where they arrived after a very compli- cated paflage by land and water, in the begin- ning of June, having buried Mr Elliot by the way, and were received and entertained by the Spaniards with great humanity; and from thence were conducted to Valpairafo, and afterwards to St Jago, the capital of Chili ; where they con- tinued above a year, when the Spaniards receiv- ing advice of a cartel being fettled between Great Britain and Spain, the Captain, Mr By- ron, and Mr Hamilton, were permitted to re- turn to Europe on board a French (hip, the other inidrhipman having changed his religion whilft Engaged in the late General War. 301 whilft at St Jago, and entered on board the CHAP. fquadron under Admiral Pizarro at Buenos II. Ayres. v v THE commodore, with the Centurion, Glou- I74 1 - cefter, Tryal, and Anna pink, continued at Juan Fernandes, in repairing their fhips and waiting for the refidue of his fcattered fquadron, until September 1740-, having now on board the Centurion only 214 men; the Gloucefter had only 82 remaining alive; and the Tryal but 39. The victualler being difcharged, and declared incapable of returning to England, the commodore purchafed the hull and furniture for 300 /. and the hands, being 16, were fent on board the Gloucefter. THESE three men of war departed from Eng- land with 961 men on board , and having loft 626, the whole of their remaining crews, exclu- five of the 16 men from the victualler which were now to be diftributed amongft the three fhips, amounted to no more than 335, with boys included -, a number greatly inefficient for the manning the Centurion alone, and barely capable of navigating all the three with theutmoft exertion of their ftrength and vigour. This un- fortunate reduction was the more terrifying, as they dreaded the purfuit of Pizarro*s fquadron, and had fome obfcure knowledge of a force to be fent out from Callao, the port of Lima, to obftruct their enterprise in the South Seas. However, in this weakly condition, the commodore deter- mined to himfelf, to fail down the coaft, and touch in the neighbourhood of Panama -, hoping to get fome correfpondence over land with the fleet commanded by Admiral Vernon : for the commodore, on his departure from England, left Sir Chaloner Ogle at Portfmouth, with a large 302 *rhe Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART large force deftined for the Weft Indies; and II. the commodore was directed, by his majefty's u y ; inftructions, " That as he might find an oppor- 1741. tunity to fend privately over land to Porto " Bello, or Darien ; he was, by that means, to " endeavour to tranfmit to any of his majefty's * c (hips or forces that fhould be on that coaft, ' * e an account of what he had done, or intended " to do ; and, leaft any fuch intelligence fhonld " fall into the hands of the Spaniards, he was v ' nant Brett to fecure hisperfon if poffible, in hopes J 74J. he fiiould then be able to treat for the ranfom of the place. About two in the afternoon the com- modore anchored in ten fathom and a half wa- ter, at a mile and half diftance from the town ; and having a more immediate intercourfe with thofe on fhore, he found they had hitherto pro- ceeded in collecting and removing the treafure without interruption ; but the Spaniards rendez- voufing from all parts of the country, having a- mongft them 200 horfe, well armed and mount- ed, with thefe they made their appearance on a hill at the back of the town, where they paraded about with much oftentation, founding their mi- litary mufic, and praclifing every art to intimi- date the Englifh to abandon the place, before the pillage was completed : but they were difap- pointed in their menaces, for the failors went on calmly as long as the day-light lafted, in fending off the treafure, with refreshments of Jive provi- fions, with which they were abundantly fupplied : however, at night the commodore fent a rein- forcement on more, and the Spaniards continu- ing quiet all night, at day-break the failors re- newed their labour in loading and fending off the boats. They were now convinced of what con- fequence it would have been if they had fecured the governor, for they found many ftore houfes full of valuable effects, which could be of no ufe to the captors ; and for which, if the governor had been in their power, in all probability they might have procured an advantageous ranfom \ but he was now too much elated with his mili- tary command, and though the commodore fent VOL. I, R r him 314 The Condud of the Powers of Europe, PART him repeated mefiages, offering to enter into a II. treaty for ranfoming the town and goods, threat^ u * ' ening too, that if the Spaniards did not conde- J74 1 - fcend to treat, he would fet fire to the town and all the ware-houfes ; yet the governor arrogantly defpifed all thefe reiterated overtures, and never defigned to return the leaft anfwer to the com- modore. This day feveral negroes deferted from the Spaniards on the hill, and afiured the com- modore that the Spaniards were increafed to a formidable number, and refolved to ftorm the town and fort the fucceeding night-, however the Englifh profecuted their work with uncon- cern till evening, when another reinforcement was fent on fhore, and Lieutenant Brett, doub- ling his guards, by his marks of vigilance, de- terred the Spaniards from their refplution, though they were at that time treble the number of Englifh on fliore^ and fenfible of their great fuperiority. HAVING finifhed fending the treafure on board the Centurion, the third morning, being the iftri of November, the boats were employed in carrying off the moft valuable part of the ef- fects remaining in the town : and the commo- dore intending to Jail in the afternoon, about ten o'clock, purfuant to his promife, fent all his prifoners, being eighty-eight, on fhore ; giving orders to Lieutenant Brett, " To fecure them " under a ftrict guard in one of the churches, *' till the men were ready to embark; and allb * to burn the whole town, except the two ** churches, which fortunately flood at fome di * tance from the houfes." Thefe orders were punctually complied with ; for Lieutenant Brett, finding great quantities of pitch, tar, and other combuftibles, fet his men immediately to dif- trib'ute Engaged in the late General War. 315 tribute the fame into houfes, fituated in different CHAP. ftreets of the town, fo that the place being at II. once fired in many quarters, the deftruclion t-/~wj might be the more violent and fudden, and the I 74i- Spaniards, after their departure, be the left able to extinguifh it. After making thefe preparati- ons, he nailed up the cannon in the fort ; and then fetting fire to the moft windward of the houfes, collected his men and marched towards the beach, where the boats waited to carry them off, which being an open place, he might have been eafily furrounded by the Spaniards ; who perceiving his retreat, detached fixty horfe to precipitate his departure; they marched down the hill with much feeming refolution, but no fooner had Lieutenant Brett ordered his men to halt and face about, than the Spaniards flopped their career, and never dared to advance a ftep further, permitting the Englifli to reach the fquadron without any moleftation. IN the mean time the fpreading flames had taken poflefllon of every part of the town, and by the proper fituation of the combuftibles, with the flightnefsof the materials of which the houfes were compofed, and their aptitude to take fire, the whole town, and all its effects, were loft in one general conflagration. THE booty made by the Englifli, though in- confiderable of what they deftroyed, amounted to above 30,000 /. fterling, in wrought plate, dollars, and other coin only ; befides rings, bracelets, and jewels of great value ; which was equally divided between the whole fquadron, as well thofe on board, as thofe who had been, con- cerned in the action, over and above the com- mon plunder, which was very great : though the Spaniards fuftained a much more infinite lofs R r 2 by 3 1 6 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART by the deftruclion of their town, and the burn- II. ing of profufe quantities of the richeft and moft L -v~ / expenfive fpecies, as broad cloth, filks, cam- I 74 I - bricks, velvets, and other very valuable effeds ; for, by a reprefentation tranfmitted to the court of Madrid, the whole lofs was efti mated at one million and a half of dollars; and this at no ex- travagant valuation. THE commodore, on his entrance into the bay, found fix Spanifh veffels at anchor ; one whereof, called the Solidad, was the fhip, which according to their intelligence, was to have fail- ed with the treafure to the coaft of Mexico, and being a good failor, the commodore refolved to add this vefiel to the fquadron, and ordered a 'Crew of ten men to navigate her, under the command of Lieutenant Hughes of the Tryal -, the other five veflels were, two fnows, a bark, and two row-gallies, 'which the Spaniards, with many others, had built at different ports, to pre- vent any defcent from the commodore in the neighbourhood of Callao, as they were fufpicious he v/ould attack the city of Lima ; but the com- modore having no occafion for thefe veflels, or- dered them to be fcutded and funk. BEING fafely joined by the detachment under Lieutenant Brett, the commodore prepared to leave the place the fame evening; and being augmented to fix fail, towards midnight weigh- ed anchor and failed out of the bay, with the Centurion and Tryal's prize, together with the Carmelo, Terefa, Carmin, and Solidad prizes ; and ftanding to the weftward, on the i6th of November in the morning, the commodore gave orders " For the whole fquadron -to fpread them- ' felves in queft of the Gloucester;" whom they difcovered and came up with the next mornino;, Engaged In the late General War. 317 morning, and found (he had taken a fmall fnow, CHAP. laden with wine, brandy, and olives, with 7,ooo/. II. in fpecie ; and alfo a barge, with double doub- / J loons and dollars on board, to the amount of I 74 r I2,ooo/. As the commodore, on infpecting the papers found on board the Carmelo, was apprized that an unfuccefsful attempt had been made againft Carthagena , and finding there was no probability of facilitating his plan againft Panama, as he was incapable of attacking the place himfelf, with fuch an inconficlerable force, he dropt all thoughts of fuch an undertaking. THE commodore being joined by the Glou- cefter and one of her prizes, came to a determi- nation, " To fteer as foon as pofiible, to the " fouthern parts of California, or to the adja- ** cent coaft of Mexico, to cruife for the Ma- " nila galleon *, which he knew was at fea, were but too apprehenfive of their difappoint- ment, neither were their hopes diffipated nor their fears abated, till the rpth of February ; when, on the return of the Centurion's barge which had been difpatched to difcover the har- bour of Acapulco, the commodore, from the information he received by fome negroes the barge had furprized in a canoe near the harbour, was fatisfied that the galleon had made her ar- rival, at Acapulco, on the pth of January, which was about twenty days before the fqua- dron fell in with the coaft : yet, from them, he was able to collect other circumftances fufficient to revive his men from their dull delpondency, to a more fanguine and joyful expectation than they had hitherto retained : this was, that the galleon had delivered her cargoe, and was tak- ing in water and provifions in order to return ; and that the Vice Roy of Mexico had ? by pro- clamation, fixed her departure from Acapulco to the 3d of March. This news was moft chear- fully received by the whole fquadron j fince it was much more eligible to feize her in her re- turn, than it would have been before her arri- val ; as the fpeices for which me had fold her cargoe would be on board, and was of much more eftimation than the actual cargoe ; and, as they were certain fhe would fall into their hands, all the crews were animated with the higheft fpirits and fluctuation of joy, on fo prof- perous an event , which afterwards happily an- fwered their wifties. Conduit of the Powers of Europe, DURING the time the Britim commodore had been encountering all the rigours and feverities ^ , of the boifterous winds and tempeftuous feas, m 1741. this remote pare of the world, from the ifland of St Catherine's round Cape Horn, through the South Seas to the weft of Acapulco ; the Spa- nifh fquadron, in purfuing him, underwent ftili a more diftreffed and unfortunate fate : for ar- riving at the river of Plate in South America, on the 5th of January 1 740, and anchoring in the bay of Maldonado at the mouth of that ri- ver, their admiral, Pizarro, fent immediately to Buenos Ayres for a iupply of provifions. While they lay here, expecting this fupply, they received advice, by the treachery of the Portu- guefe governor of St Catherine's, of the Bntiih commodore being arrived at that ifland on the 2ift of December, and of his preparing to put to fea again with the utmoft expedition. Pizar- ro, notwithftanding his fuperior force, had his reafon, perhaps even orders, for avoiding the Britifh fquadron any where Ihort of the South Seas : however he precipitately put to fea on the 22d of January, without his expected fupply ot provifions, in hopes of getting round Cape Horn before the Britilh commodore, leaving the Pataehe behind him, as unfit for fo difficult a fervice. But, notwithftanding his vigilant hafte, the Britifh fquadron had got the ftart of him by four days from St Catherine's; though, in. fome part of their paflage to Cape Horn, the two fquadrons were fo near together, that the Pearl, one of the Britidi mips approached very near to the Afia, in which was the Spamfh admiral. The Spanifh fquadron, having run the length of Cape Horn, towards the latter end of Febru- ary, ftpod to the weftward, in order to double Engaged in the late General War. 321 it; but on the 28th at night, while with this CHAP. view they were turning to windward, the Gui- II. pufcoa, Hermiona, and Efperanza, were fepa-< * rated from the admiral; and on the 7th of I 74 I - March, being the fame day the Britim fquadron had patted Streights le Maire, the whole fqua- dron was drove to the eaftward, and difperfed by a moft furious ftorm at N. W. They were afterwards, by their long detention in fueh a turbulent fea, reduced to the moft infinite dif- trefs, by fatigue, and the devaftation of famine 5 which occafioned a moft mocking mortality. On. their departure from Spain they were furnifhed with only four months provifions at (hort allow- ance ; fo that when, by the ftorms they encoun- tered with off Cape Horn, their continuance at fea was prolonged a month beyond their expec- tation, ic is inconceivable what difficulties they fuffered, and the dreadful havock that ravaged amongft them, daily fweeping off numbers of their ableft and moft hardy men : their calamity was even fo great, that rats, when they could be caught, were fold for four dollars a piece. This terrible fituation produced a confpiracy among the marines, on board the Afia, who pro- pofed to maflacre the officers and crew ; prompt- ed to this bloody refolution, merely through the motive of relieving their famifhing bodies, by appropriating the whole fhip's provifions to them- felves : but the confpirators were difcovered, and prevented in their fatal purpofe. This feparated fquadron, after fuftaining a variety of misfor- tunes, and after feveral ineffectual attempts to get round Cape Horn, were obliged to bear away for the river of Plate ; where Pizarro, in the Afia, arrived at Monte Vedio about the middle of May, after the lofs of half her crew; VOL. I. S f the 322 The Conduct of the Powers cf Europe, PART the St Eftevan was alfo enfeebled by the dimi- II. nution of 175 men, when (he anchored in the v -i bay of Barragan ; the Efperanza, a fifty gun I74 1 - fliip, was ftill more unfortunate, for out of 450, only 58 were left alive : while theGuipufcoa was driven afhore, and funk on the coaft of Brazil, having, out of 700, loft above 300 of her men ; the Hermiona foundered at fea, and her whole crew, confiding of 500 men, were every one drowned ; and the regiment of foot was reduced to fixty men ; fo that their whole lofs, in this fatal attempt, was upwards of 2,000 men. The Afia, Efperanza, and St Eftevan, after their ar- rival, were in great want of mails, yards, rig- ging, and all kind of naval ftores ; and having no fupply at Buenos Ayres, nor in any of their neighbouring fettlements, Pizarro obtained a re- mittance of 100,000 dollars from the Vice Roy of Peru, and a confiderable quantity of pitch, tar, and cordage, from the Portuguefe at Rio Janeiro ; but could procure neither mafts nor yards. The Spanifh admiral was ftill very in- tent of putting to fea in purfuit of the Britim fquadron, which he did not queftion had been as feverely handled as his own ; and to facili- tate his defign, by removing the mafts of the Efperanza into the Afia, and making ufe of what fpare mafts and yards they had on board, they made a fhift to refit the Afia, and St Efte- van : and in the October following they were preparing to put to fea, with thefe two fhips, to attempt the paflage round Cape Horn a fecond time ; but the St Eftevan, in coming down the river Plate, ran on a fhoal, and being difabled, the admiral proceeded to fea in the Afia with- out her. Having the fummer before him, and favourable winds, he expected a fortunate and fpeedy Engaged in the late General War. 323 fpeedy paffage ; but being off" Cape Horn, and CHAP. going right before the wind in very moderate II. weather, though in a fwelling Tea, by fome mif- < . conduct of the officer of the watch, the fhip roll- 1741- ed away her mafts, and was a fecond time con- ftrained to return, in great diftrefs, to the river of Plate. Thus was this well appointed fqua- dron, compofed of the flower of the Spanifh na- vy, defeated by the inclemency of the winds and leas ; while the fhips they were purfuing, rode triumphant in the fouthern ocean, enriched with the plunder of the Spanifh provinces, and waiting for that immenfe treafure they afterwards obtained in the Manila galleon, enjoying an am- ple compenfadon for their toil and bravery. CHAPTER III. Naval tranfadtions in EUROPE, in 1741. TO mew the world the potency of the naval CH A p ftrength of Britain, the Britifh miniftry jjj concerted a fecond fecret expedition, under the ,_ r _ _^ command of Sir John Norris: a great armament was appointed to affemble for this purpofe, and to facilitate the defign, on the zd of June, a vigorous prefs was made on the river Thames, which, in thirty-fix hours, by the number taken S f 2 and 324 ^be Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART and enrolled in the navy books, was 2,370 men; II. and the prefs was continued with the fame vigi- i- v ' lance, the fooner to mann the fquadron defigned J74 1 ' for this expedition. ON the 2ift of July, Sir John Norris hoifted his flag on board the Victory, and on the 2yth failed from St Helen's with a grand fleet, con- fifting of fixteen mips of the line , the Victory, Royal Sovereign, and Royal George, of 100 guns each ; St George, in which was Admiral Cavendifh, and Duke of 90 ; Cambridge of 80 ; Buckingham, Bedford, Naflau, Lenox, Eflfex, and Elizabeth, of 70 , Argyle, Afliftance, and Ruby, of 50 ; Gofport of 44 guns ; and the Blaze and Lightning fire-fhips ; having on board upwards of 8,000 failors. With this formidable armament the admiral -failed to the coaft of Spain 5 and great were the expectations of the Britifh nation, on an enterprize commenced in fo magnificent a manner. ON the 5th of Auguft the admiral, with the whole fjeet, entered the bay of Bifcay , and or- dered Capt. Harrifon, with the Argyle, to look into Ferrol, Corunna, and Redondella, which he performed in four days, taking a Spanifh brigantine, and putting four others on fhore. The captain being informed by the mafter of a Portuguefe veflel, that a {loop from New Eng- land had been carried into Camirina by a Span- ifh privateer, on the i7th he got off this harbour and Cent his boats in ; on fight of them the floop run on more ; but, after a fharp difpute, the Englifh boarded and burnt her. The i8th, Capt. Harrifon being informed by the mafter of another Portuguefe veflel, that the Spaniards had brought into Redondella a very rich fhip bale goods from London, and three or four Engaged in the late General War. 325 four other prizes-, he immediately fent for the CHAP. Gibraltar and Grampus, and came to a refoluti- HI, on, at all events, to make for this place, which v_ v -J is a fmall town and port of Gallicia, in the gulph 174 1 * of Vigo. At day-light, the next morning, he took a Spanifh bark of about forty ton, and an- other about thirty, and fetting the largeft on fire, this difcovered the Englifh to the whole country, and prevented their project of running up with French colours. About ten came in a frefh fea breeze ; the captain weighed, and with . Englifli colours proceeded up the river, having given orders to take no notice of Vigo, but pufli on: accordingly, at four in the afternoon, they got into the harbour or bafon of Redondello, anchored within piftol fhot of the ihips, and took, them all, being four, by twelve o'clock that night : the Englifh got all their prizes off under their fterns, failed out of the harbour, and joined the admiral. This plainly (hews that the Spani- ards had made little preparations to defend themfelves , and had the Englifh admiral been as active with the whole fleet, what noble actions might have been atchieved ? The Spaniards were far from being invulnerable in Old Spain, nor had they made the leaft preparations to give the Englifh any reception : there are very few har- bours in Spain, if any, which the Englifh might not have entered, and burnt every (hip in the port ; and with regard to their extenfive fea coafts, except juft in the neighbourhood of their fortified towns or camps, the Britifh failors might have landed wherever they pleafed, and plun- dered and laid wafte the country for feveral miles together, before the Spaniards could have brought a fuperior force to oppofe them. Though {he BrjtiPn nation could not have got any imme- diate 326 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART diate advantage by fuch attempts, yet by har* II. raffing their country, the Spaniards would have L y-*j been tired of the war ; they would have di- I74I- regarded the influence of France, and while the Britifh fleet in America fwept the Spanith trade before them, if they had luffered equally in Europe, fo much as to have compenfated the lofs and expences of the Britifh nation, this would have induced the haughty Spaniard to have flopped the violence of war, by a fpeedy and honourable conclufion, which would have been attended with the happieft confequences to the Britifh nation, and ought to have been the fole and principal aim of this expedition. For if, in Queen Elizabeth's time, Admiral Drake, though he had no land forces on board, landed at feverai places on the coaft of Spain, and ra- vaged the whole country : if he could enter the harbour of Cadiz and the river of Lifbon, burn- ing a great many Spanifh Ships, and this at a time when the Spaniards were more powerful than in the prefent age: if, the next year, 7,000 Englifh under the Earl of Efiex, actually took the town of Cadiz, burning, finking, or taking, every (hip in the harbour: if in the reign of Queen Anne, the Englifh forces attacked the fame place, and though, through mifconduct, they failed of fuc- cefs againft the city and harbour of Cadiz itfelf, yet they did the Spaniards great damage, and got a wealthy plunder at port St Mary's : and if the Duke of Ormond and Sir George Rooke, with the fame fleet, in its return, on the i2th of October, 1702, made the famous and fuccefsful attack upon Vigo, where they took and deftroy- ed twenty French men of war and thirteen Spa- nifh galleons! What might not the Britifh nation, who above all others are more fond to hear of fieges Engaged in tbe late General War. 327 fieges and battles in time of war, when fo great CHAP. a navy lay hovering over the Spanifh coaft, what III. might they, and what ought they not to have <^-v~^ expected from it ? For as the Spanifh trade was I 74 I * inconsiderable, and that little they had, being prevented by the ftation of Admiral Haddock, they could not be diftrefied much at Tea by the Englifh : 'it was therefore the bufinefs of the Britifh commanders, to attack them at land in Europe as well as America ; with this difference, that in Europe -they ought to have attacked without any defign to hold, and whereas in A- merica they ought to have attacked no where, but with an intention to retain their conquefts, at lead during the continuance of the war. There was a fair and open opportunity to revive the antient gloty of the Britifh flag, to convey the name of Norris to lateft pofterity, with a luf- tre equal to the reputation of Drake or Raleigh ; yes, this was a time, when the pride of Spain might have been as feverely chaftifed, as in the days of the illuftrious Queen Elizabeth: but in- ftead of any exploits worthy the character of the Englifh admiral, and fuch a well appointed fleet, after intimidating the poor Spaniards, by cruiz- ing on their coaft for fome time, the admiral difpatched the Naflau and Lenox to join Admiral Haddock ; and, leaving part of his fquadron on a cruize, on the 2 ad of Auguft returned to Spit- head, with the Victory, St George, Royal So- vereign, Duke, Cambridge, Bedford, Elizabeth, Buckingham, and the Scipio and Blaft fire- fliips, to the general diffatisfadtion of the Britifh nation. THOUGH the fleet under Sir John Norris, had ufelefsly and ignominioufly floated in the caftles of indolence, along the coafts of Spain, carry- ing 328 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART ing the Britifh lion in manaclesj even in the II. very fight of his prey : yet the valour and adti- ^"V^ vity of the Britim feamen was not every where J 74 l - extinct: this was no where more apparent, than in the actions of the gallant Capt. Ambrofe, who commanded the Rupert man of war of 60 guns, then on a cruifing ftation in the bay of Bifcay : he had taken the Sc Antonio de Padua, a pri- vateer belonging to St Sebaftians, of 16 guns and 150 men ; as alfo another privateer, called the Bifcaya, mounting ten carriage and two fwi- vel guns, with 119 rugged, able-bodied, def- perate men on board ; who had taken twenty- three Englifti prizes fmce the commencement of the war, but now, after a fmart engagement, bowed to the Britim flag, which has always dif- appointed the barbarity of ruffians, like thefe, remorfelefs in their profperity, and as impene- trably uncompaflionate to the miferies of the poor fufFerers in their power, as, on their own Bifcayan mountains, are the favage wolves, when pinched with hunger, to the unhappy traveller perifhing beneath their ferocity. Capt. Ambrofe, having brought his two prizes into Plymouth, failed again on another cruize , and on the i8th of September, as he was cruizing in the bay of Bifcay, off cape Machiacaca, in the evening, he law a fail from the maft head, to windward, which he chafed all that night and the next day, and after chafing her about feventy-three leagues, coming up with her about eleven at night, took her after lome refiftance, and brought her into Plymouth. This fhip proved to be the Duke de Vendome, the largeft privateer belong- ing to St Sebaftians, of the dimenfions of the Englifh twenty gun frigates, mounting twenty- fix carriage guns, and was manned with 202 ftout Engaged in the late General War. 329 (lout feamen, commanded by Don Martin deCnAP. Areneder, a Frenchman, as was alfo the crew III. moftly of foreign nations, and among them ^. / - nineteen Englilh, Scotch, and Irifh, who were J74 1 * taken out of the Spaniih prifon, and forced by the intendant, to proceed on the cruize. As St Sebaftian wa$ again overftocked with Britifh prizes, taken in great numbers by the Spanifh privateers ; Capr.' Ambrofe immediately proceeded to cruize on his ftation in the bay of Bifcay. On the 7th of November he faw two fail to the windward, and giving them chace, at the fame time obferved a fail to chace him, which happened to be a Spanifh privateer of twenty-four carriage and twenty fwivel guns* and 187 men, commanded by Don Francifco de L'Arrea, which had been nine days out of St Sebaftian on a fuccefslefs cruize. Capt. Am- brofe difregarding her, continued his firft chace ; and on coming up with them, did not fire, as ufual, to bring them too, to prevent giving any fufpicion of what he was to the Ihip that chaced him ; but fent his boat on board, and finding they were dutchmen, apprized them of his in- tention to deceive the privateer. Accordingly the captain reefed his fails and trimmed his (hip, and the Spaniard, fufpecting her a confort of the dutchmen, crouded fail, and by dufk was within two leagues ; when Capt. Ambrofe (hort- ened fail to wait for her, hoping fhe would run him on board, before (he perceived her miftake. When the privateer got within a mile, (he dif- covered the force of the Rupert, and hauled upon a wind : upon which Capt. Ambrofe fol- lowed her, with all the fail he could make. On * the 8th, at two o* clock in the morning, the Rupert got within gun (hot of the privateer; VOL. I. Tt but 330 2$ Spaniards, and ready to engage, the French ad- *74- 1 - miral, with his fquadron, interpofed with a flag of truce, and fent a meflfage to inform the Brit- ifli admiral, " That as the Spaniards and " French were engaged in one joint expedition, " he mud obey his orders, and could not avoid " taking them into his protection." A council of war being called on this extraordinary affair, either from the reftriction the admiral lay under by his orders, or from the fuperiority of the combined fleet, being above thirty fail, and the Englim only thirteen, it was refolved " To " proceed to Port Mahon, and wait for a rein- " forcement." But before the admiral received any, the French and Spanifh fquadrons, in con- junction, failed to Barcelona ; and from thence they fet fail again on the 24th of December, with a fecond embarkation for Italy. As the Spaniards had thus fucceeded in their principal fcheme of tranfporting an army to Italy, and in joining the French fquadron, itoc- cafioned great {peculation throughout the whole Britifh 'nation : they knew the vivacity of the ad- miral, and relied on his conduct ; nor could they tell what reafon to afcribe for it, unlefs the Han- overian treaty of neutrality , wherein they fuf- pected, it was ftipulated, that this fleet in the Mediterranean, mould continue as inactive as the troops by land, and that the Englifh admi- ral mould fuffer the Spaniards quietly to tranf- port a formidable body of forces to Italy, to overrun, ravage, and poffefs themfelves of all the dominions the Queen of Hungary had in thofe parts. CAPT. Engaged in the late General War. 337 CAPT. THOMPSON, in the Succefs man of CHAP. war of twenty guns, in his cruize on the Madeira III. ftation, took a French fhip of 300 ton, from < v -J the Havanna, laden with fugar, cochineal, and J 74i cocoa, having alio on board 180,000 dollars, iixiy bars of gold and filver, and other valuable treafure: the prize was carried to Bofton in New England, and appeared of luch eftimation, that it was reported, the fhare of the captain would be 60,000 /. and that the common failors would have at leaft 500 /. a-piece. CAPT. HERVEY, commander of the Su- perbe man of war, arrived from the Weft Indies the 25th of December at Kinfale, and brought in with him a Spanifh fhip called the Conftante, of 400 ton, twenty- four guns, and fixty-four men, which he took in his pafiage, in the lati- tude of 33deg. 20 m. longitude 65 deg. The captain was Don Francis Havre Caftilio, who came from the Caraccas bound for the Canaries, laden with cocoa and treafure to the amount of 200,000 /. THE privateering part of the war, was main- tained with great fpirit by the Englifh and Spa- niards, both in Europe and America : the Eng- lifh reaped the greateft advantage in America, and the Spaniards in Europe, where, in the fin- gle port of St Sebaftian, they had collected above a hundred prizes. The whole captures of the Britifh fhips, ieized, taken, or deftroyed by the Spaniards, fince the commencement of the war to the end of the prefent year, were 372 \ and fuppofing, upon no immoderate calculation, every fhip and cargo, one with another, to be worth 3,5OO/. the lofs would amount to i,2O2,ooo/. to which may be added 50,000 /. more, as the value of the houfes, goods, and ef- VOL. I. U u feds, 33^ 2& Conduct of the Powers o FART fe6b, of the Britifh merchants feized in Spain, II. contrary to the faith of treaties, at .the breaking i v ' out of the war ; the whole lofs in fhips, goods, I 74 I - and effects, will then appear to be 1,252,0007. To ballance this lofs, the Spanifh fhips, taken by the Englifh to the fame time, were 390 ; which, valued at 3000 /. each, make i, 170,0007. fo that the ballance of profit was, in favour of the Spaniards, 820, ooo/. on account of fhips, goods, and effects ; but, as the lofs they fuflered at Porto Bcllo, Chagre, and Carthagena, may be com- puted at 877,0007. by this deduction the Spani- ards fuftained a lofs, in the whole war, of 57,ooo/. But the Britifh nation was ftill the greater fuffer- er, by the additional lofs of the vaft numbers of feamen, taken and kept prifoners by the Spani- ards ; which was a moft grievous misfortune, confidering the fcarcity of that ineftimable part of the conftitution, and the oppreflive methods lately enforced for manning the royal navy : for allowing but twelve feamen to every merchant fhip taken, the number of Britifh feamen in the hands of the Spaniards, amounted to above 4,000; omitting the calculation of thofe that had, either with the peril of their lives efcaped from the dungeons of Spain, or fuch crews as the Spanifh privateers had fometimes fet on Ihore, when they had more prifoners than they could fafely venture to detain ; and this lofs was the more fenfibly felt, as the greateft part of thefe unfortunate men, lay either rotting and ftarving to death in the loathfome confinement of Spanifh goals, or compelled, through mere want and torture, to enlift againfl their inclinati- ons, hearts, and confcience, in that fervice ; whereby, to preferve their lives, they were obliged to alloeiate themfelves to act againft their fellow Engaged in the late General War. 339 fellow fubjects, and the intereft of that country CHAP. which is ever dear to, and infeparably folded III. round the heart of every Englifhman : while the * v J more truly Britifh, honeft, and brave feamen, I74- 1 * touched with a nobler innate love and attachment to their maternal land, ftill preferved their Eng- lifh virtue, with an inflexible refolution to with- fland the greateft temptation offered on one hand by the artifices of Spain, and the terrible fufferings they expofed them to on the other ; yet thefe highly valuable men, if they were not finally deprived of their honefty, fidelity, and allegiance ; if they ftill nobly perfevered in thofe generous fentiments of affection for their king and country, and defpifing every hardfhip, re- fifting every allurement, to encreafe the number of thofe privateers that were employed to deftroy the trade of their country ; as no cartel was fett- led for exchange of prifoners, and expecting no other redemption from the worft of imprifon- ment, if this was any longer neglected, they muft inevitably exhauft their gallant fpirits ; and, immured from the healthful breath and chear- ful light of heaven, lie feebly expiring amid the filth, vermin, and want, of Spanifh dungeons, ficknefs, and hunger. THOUGH the Spanifli prifoners, in the Britifh dominions, were no ways inferior in number to the Englifh prifoners in Spain, yet they were greatly inequivalent in worth : the Britifh mer- chants were too immediately effected by fuch a difparity , and, as the Spanifh privateers were likely to increafe it, the merchants were univer- fally concerned, that their trade ihould be fo furprizingly interrupted, from fuch fhoals of Spaniih veffels, in or near the Britifh coaft and foundings, on the very ftations where the Bricifh U u 2 men 340 The Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART men of war fhould be to protect it: their alarm II. was the greater, as the Spaniards from their late - s-~* weaknefs at fea, by fuch a number of valuable I 74 I - prizes, were encouraged and enabled to aug- ment the force of their privateers, and render the Britim navigation every day more and more precarious ; to prevent which, as no effectual fecurity was obtained from the admiralty, the merchants determined to ibllicit the afliftance of parliament. THE THIRD PART, IN TWO DIVISIONS. W****-************i********************+ FIRST DIVISION. FROM THE Election of the DUKE of BAVARIA to the IMPERIAL Throne, TO THE End of the CAMPAIGN in M DCC XLII. SECOND DIVISION. Naval War in EUROPE and AMERICA, In M DCC XLII. VA(! Tb 3 FIRST DIVISION. CHAPTER I. The Revolution in the BRITISH Miniftry. S Great Britain is the principal CHAP. machine, on which depends the j equilibrium of the ballance of Eu- u~C-^. rope; and by the regulation of 1741, its motion, in a great meafure, influences the other engines; it will be neceflary to obferve, how far the occult Jpnngs of this machine has hitherto affected the general fyftem, and how much retarded the velocity, or accelerated the flownefs of the icale. SOON after the conclufion of the Hanoverian treaty of neutrality, his Britannic majefty left his German dominions, and embarking at Helvoet- %s on the iSth of October, landed the next day at Aldborough in Suffolk, and on the day following 344 fb* Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART following arrived at St James's; on which occa- III. fion, he foon afterwards received the congratula- v v^ tions of the nobility, and the lord mayor and al- 1741. dermen of the city of London. AFTER the Britifh troops had quitted Cartha- gena, the miniftry refolved to fend another body of forces to augment the army in America : ac- cordingly four regiments of marines were raifed, and fet fail from Cork in Ireland, on the 8th of November, in forty tranfports, convoyed by four men of war and four bomb-ketches, to reinforce the army in Cuba ; but, in the fame manner as the former, thefe forces were detained too long, and fet oat greatly too late, for contributing to any material fervice in America. BEFORE the diffolution of the laft parliament, the minifterial party had a great fuperiority in the houfe of commons ; but on the new election, the general part of the nation, incenfed by the pacific conduct of Sir Robert Walpole, the prime minifter, were very ftrenuous in chufing mem- bers of another inclination ; whereby the oppofi- tion, that had long exifted to fubvert the minif- try, now effectually fucceeded: for 181 new members were returned, who had no feat in the laft parliament-, of the voters againft the conven- tion 152 were re-chofen; of the voters for it, 1 69 ; and it foon afterwards appeared that, by their numbers among the new members, the op- pofition had a majority of feventeen, exclufive of double returns. 3-, "*' ON the i ft of December the new parliament met at Weftminfter, and unanimoufly chofe the Right Honourable Arthur Onflow, Efq; for their fpeaker , which important office he had difcharg- ed with great honour and reputation in the two laft preceeding parliaments. On the 4th his ma- Engaged in tie late General War. jefty came to the houfe of peers ; and, having fig- CHAP. nified his approbation of the fpeaker of the houfe I. of commons, opened the feffions with a fpeech,' * importing, " That it was a great fatisfaction to I 74 " him to meet his parliament at a time, when, by " by means of the new elections, he might have " an opportunity of knowing the fenfe and dif- . * c pofition of his people in general from their :< reprefentatives, chofen during a ieafon which " had been attended with great variety of. inci- " dents of the higheft confequence and expect'a- " tion, and during the courfe of the Spanish war ; " a war, in itfelf juft, and neceflarily entered into " by the repeated advice of both houfes of par- make an attonement, by no lefs a facrifice than ;he lofs of his life, his eftate, his honours, and the utter ruin of his pofterity : this was the voice of the uridifcerning multitude; and had he not been defended in the manner which he was, flich a fentence, in the rage of that time, had betn in all probability his fate : though the laws mart have been more tortured to have reached him capitally, than he had ftrained his power to maintain himfelf. Among the wifer part of mankind, few were in their hearts in- clined to this extremity ; though fome, by the fatal attraction of party, might have violently, and indifcreetly, wimed to have feen that punifh- raent inflicted on the miniiler, they mult, when the Engaged in the late General Wan 359 the ferment had fubfided, have afterwards hear- CHAP. tily lamented for the man. But though the I. more moderate in the fenate, were difmclined to v v J take any fevere revenge on a miftaken man, who J 74 2 - had trefpafled upon the power in his hands, yet they were willing to concur io far, as to deprive him of any poffibility of exerting the fame again : to do this, muft be by detecting and expofing the mifmanagement of the former adminiftration, by a public enquiry into the conduct of the minifter. Jn this they gratified the voice of the nation ; but, at the fame time, determined to protect and preferve him from the rage and violence to which he was expofed. This enquiry was alfo the more neceflary, as it would be in vain for the parliament to attempt to retrieve their loft honour, by purfuing new meafures, if they did not firft cenfure the authors of the old : vain muft be their attempt to gain allies, and to convince them that they were in earned in the profecution of the war againft their enemies abroad, unlefs they firft called thofe to an account, that had been their fecret abettors and encouragers at home. ACCORDINGLY, on the 9th of March,' the Lord Vifcount Limerick moved the houfe of commons, That a committee might be ap- *' pointed to enquire into the conduct of affairs " at home and abroad, for the laft twenty years ; " but feveral of the members, who were othenvife inclined to have favoured the motion, oppofed it, becaufe they apprehended it to be too exten- five as to time, and too extenfive as to matter ; and that an inquiry for fo long a time back, was thought to be without precedent; and, if allow- ed, would be fuch a precedent, as might be of dangerous confequence in future times : another objection 360 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART objection was alfo flarted to the motion, ask III. comprehended all foreign as, well as domeftic a- L 'fairs, which muft of courfe have brought all the J 74 2 - papers relating to the foreign negociatiuns before the committee, and thereby endanger the difco- very of forne of the moft important fecrets of the governmYot to its enemies, which might be of the moft fatal confequence, now the nation was engaged in one war, and in great likelihood f being foon obliged to engage in another : and thefc reafons having great weight in the houfe, the motion, after a long debate, was rejected, by a majority 3f two. Not difcouraged with this difappointment, the fame nobleman on the 23d, made another motion, " That a committee be ** appointed., to- enquire into the conduit of Ro- ** bert Earl of Orford, during the laft ten years * of his being firft eoiruniffioner of the treafury, *' and, chancellor and; under treafurer of his ma- 41 jeft-y's exchequer : " which was carried in the affirmative.,, by a majority of feven: and the houfe. refolved, " That a committee of fecrecy, *' in number twenty-one, fhould be chofen by " balloting." TH-E committee being chofe, and the houfe having ordered.- " That chey fliould have power *' to fend for. psrfons, papers, and records, and " to examine, in the moft folemn manner, fuch * perfons.a.s t-]icy thought proper, upon the fub- * c jedfc matter of cheir inquiry i" they proceeded to bufinefs : and,, upon the 13th of April, tlie Lord Limerick, their chairman, reported to. the houfe, " That, the committee met with great *' obftruflions in their inquiry ;." for having or- dered Nicholas. Paxton, Elqi follicitor to- the treafury, Gwynn Vaughan, E'q; and MrSerope, fscretary to the treaiury, before them, for an examination, In the late General War* 361 examination, they refufed anfwering the interro- CHAP. gatories exhibited by the committee ; the two I. lirft alledging, that the laws of England did not U'-VN^ compel a man to fay any thing that might tend 174 2 - to accufe himfelf ; and the latter, in whole name all the fecret fervice money was ifiued, amount- ing to above a million, refufed to anfwer any queftion, pleading his majefty's injunctions to the contrary, and that he was not permitted to reveal any thing on that fubjeft : the committee there- fore reprefented to the houfe, " That they could " not help obferving, that this perfeverance in " refufing to anfwer, feemed to take its rife to their own dominions ; all thofe ftates upon the I 74 2 ' continent who had an intereft in the profperity of Great Britain, all its natural allies mired in it. The news no fooner arrived in Holland, than the States General, though the gold of France had corrupted their arTemblies, (hewed a more favourable difpofuion to renew the antient good underftanding, fo neceffary for checking the ambitious views of any power upon the continent. It was no fooner known in Germany, but it in- fufed new fpirit into the councils, and gave frefh courage to the arms of her Hungarian majefty ; her affairs immediately took a more favourable turn, and (he was long crowned with the mod happy advantages, and furprizing fuccefe. The King of Sardinia faw his own danger in the ruin of the houfe of Auftria, he knew that houfe had long before been abandoned by its allies, and could venture only to refufe the Spanifh troops a paffage through his territories, on their coming to invade the Auftrian dominions in Italy; but no fooner was he apprized of the revolution in the Britifh miniftry, than he difcovered a re- fblution in joining to fupport the houfe of Auf- tria. WHILE France received the news of this change with the utmoft confirmation, and trem- bled at the promifing unanimity and good con- duct of a nation io long difregarded. His Moft Chriftian majefty immediateiy called an extraor- dinary council of ftate, wherein it was refolved, " To put that kingdom in the belt poilure of ' defence, and to purfue the affairs of the ma- " rine with the utmoft diligence ;" but the mo(t certain and public proof of this change being dil- Engaged in the late General War. 3 6 9 difagreeable to the French was, that as foon as CH A P the rumour fpread abroad, their flocks fell from I 2,005 /. to 1,965* Spain began to repent her < ambitious fchemes on Italy; looked upon the 1742. troops fhe had lately tranfported thither, as a iacnfice to the refentment of Britain, thus aclu- ated by a new miniftry ; (he fliuddered for her provinces in America, and even defpaired of the Two Sicilies. The King of Pruflia wiflied he had not overawed the hero, and the Elector of ^axony that he had not engaged fo deeply with France The Duke of Bavaria, while he was leating himfelf on the imperial throne, in the very moment when he could moft have exulted m his ambition, wifhed it had been more mode- rate ; the fcene of his native country, when over-run by the victorious Marlborou^h, rofe full in view ; the fate of his exiled father ftrono-ly occurred to his memory ; and he, and all the other Germans confederated with France, re- pented them of their credulity. Nor was Swe- den lefs anxious for having confided too impli- citly in French profeffions. VOL. I. Aaa CHAP- CHAPTER II. The eledlon of the DUKE of BA-T VARIA to the Imperial throne ; and the preparations for, and pro- fecution of, the campaign in BA- VARIA. w E her Hungarian majefty was re- joicing at a revolution in the Britilh minirtry, fo favourable to her intereft; the mini- 1742. ftry of France, firm in their determination, of placing the imperial crown on the head of the Duke of Bavaria, made every effort, practifed every artifice, and neglected no opportunity, to effect a fcheme fo important to their intereft. For this purpofe the Marfhal Belleifle, one of their moft able negociators and generals, had been employed in Germany, almoft ever fince the death of the late emperor. By the alliance concluded with the Kings of Poland and Pruffia, the electoral votes of Saxony and Brandenburgh were fecured in favour of Bavaria j the fituation of the army commanded by Marfhal Maillebois, having extorted the Hanoverian treaty of neu- trality, and intimidated the Elector of Mentz, procured the votes of thofe two princes : and the ^Electors of Cologne, and the Palatinate, needed Engaged In tie late General Waf. : 371 Jo influence to promote the interefl of the CHAP Duke of Bavaria. jr THE fate of the eleaion being thus prede- < v^-i termmed, the firft thing refolved on by the 1742. United electors, was, to fufpend the vote of the Electorate of Bohemia j and the Eletfor of Han- over having, at leaft, made no oppofition to this fufpenfion, the Queen of Hungary was ex- eluded from having any (hare in the eleaion : lo that it appeared the Duke of Bavaria would e thus unanimoufly chofen by all the eleftors admitted to have a fhare in the election , though by the tenor of the golden bull, which prefcribes the ceremonies of the eledion, the choice of the emperor is confined to die majority of electoral votes. THIS imperial edict, eftablifhed in the year *356, is as much the fundamental law of the empire, as the ever glorious Magna Charta is of the liberties of England ; and, by this edict, the Elector of Mentz, as high chancellor of the em- pire, and dean of the electoral college, is oblig- ed, on the vacancy of the imperial throne, to lend his circular letters to every elector, to give them notice of the time and place of the fuc- ceeding election, which is to be three months from the date of the letters , when the eleftors are to repair in perfon, or by their deputies, to the city of Francfort on the Maine, to elect a new emperor; which, when they begin their deliberations, they are, by this edict, confined to do in thirty days, under the pain of being re- duced to bread and water, without any other nourilhment, for as long as they exceed that time. The Elector of Mentz, purfuant to this edict, on the emperor's death, ififued circular letters to all the electors ; but as an inftance that A a a 2 thp 372 he Condudt of the Powers vf Europe, PART the moft provident and falutary laws are often III. defeated in Germany, as well as other countries, L- v ' it was the 24th of January 1742 before the elec- 1742. toral college afiembled at Francfort and chofe the Duke of Bavaria to prefide on the imperial throne ; where he arrived on the gift, and fwore to the imperial capitulation, which is the chief thing that requires the mature delibera- tions of the electors ; being fuch necefiary re- ftrictions, to which, according to the exigencies of the time, and the power of the prince elected, they think proper to fubject the impe- rial dignity, as the means of fecuring the whole conftitution of the empire in their rights, with- out danger of falling under an arbitrary power *, to which, before the reign of Charles V. they were often little remote, for want of this con- tract : and therefore they afterwards obliged every v emperor to fign it before his coronation, as the condition of his election, and which he is to obferve, as the rule and ftandard of his government, during his whole reign. ON the 1 2th of February the emperor was crowned, with the ufual folemnities, by the name of Charles VII. he was afterwards re- cognized by the Pope, who, according to the antient cuftom on this occafion, granted the let- ters of difpenfation to excufe the emperor go- ing into Italy to take the two crowns of Rome and Milan, as the Popes had long looked upon, the fingle election, and the oaths ufually taken by every emperor at his coronation, to be a plenary inveftiture of all the rights and dignities of the empire, and that all the reft were but ceremonies to make the German election more folemn and public. THE Engaged in the late General Wan 373 THE ambaffador fent from Vienna, with the CHAP. deputation of the Queen of Hungary's electoral II. vote for Bohemia, was treated at Francfort with < -v~ much indecency, and her deputies at the diet J 74 2 * were even refufed the accuftomary paflports. This fufpenfion of the vote of Bohemia by the electoral college, being without the confent of the two other colleges of the diet, and the im- perial cities, gave the Queen of Hungary juft reafon to enter a folemn proteft, as me did, a- gainft fb unprecedented a proceeding, and Ib flagrant a violation of one of the moft facred and material articles contained in the golden bull 5 for if her majefty could be thus deprived of her vote at the election, and upon other occafions, as was then intended, no date of the empire, how powerful foever, could any longer find fe- curity in the fundamental laws and conftitutions of that body ; and me hoped, from the equani- mity of the electoral body, to procure a juft fa- tisfaction for the prefent injury, and fufficient fe- curity for the time to come ; referving, by her proteft, the prefervation of all her rights, againft the prejudice already done, and for the future. While France was well pleafed in her (fuccefsful fcheme of fixing an impotent prince on the throne of Germany, whole electoral princes had thus foothed the pride of their Gallic dictators. THE imperial dignity is too weighty to be fupported by any but a powerful prince -, the Duke of Bavaria is the weakeft of all the fecular electors, and therefore the more proper utenfil to be employed in the hands of France, to dimi- nifh the houfe of Auftria and the whole empire ; and his inability of fuftaining this load of gran- deur, muft always oblige him into a fervile fub- ferviency to France, while he intends to keep the tf& Conduft of the Powers of Europe, the imperial feat ; and this fubferviency muft rte- celTarily deftroy the liberties of the empire, and with it, the liberties of Europe. An Emperor of 1742. Germany has indeed a title magnificent and fu- perb, but without hereditary dominions has only the fhadow of fovereignty ; the Germanic body, confiding of the emperor, the King of the Ro- mans, the eledlors, the princes and counts, the bifhops and abbots, and the free or imperial ci- ties, all of each denomination, are feparate inde- pendant fovereignties, fubjecl; to certain regula- tions, terms, and obligations, mutually and vo- luntarily entered into, for their common fecurity and prefervation. Various have been the difqui- fitions of each of thefe parties, for the appellation - of this form of government; the civilians, who flattered the houfe of Auftria, have contended for a monarchy ; when others, employed by the princes, pleaded for an ariftocracy ; and a third fort, who live in the free and imperial cities, ap- peared advocates for a democracy. THE emperor is only the head of this great confederacy, without acquiring a foot of territo- ry, or much effectual power , he is not the arbi- ter of peace and war, nor if engaged in a quar- rel, independant of the whole Germanic body, can he demand of the ftates any afiiftance, with- out their voluntary confent and promife : his re- venues from the empire are very infignificant, and fmall is the real advantage an emperor en- joys above other princes of the empire, unlefs his own riches and force command it. The wealth, extent, and potency of the Auftrian dominions, gave that family this opportunity, and alfo vefted in their hands the only folid advantage of the im- perial dignity, by giving them the power of di pofing all fiefs, forfeited eftates, and honours, to Engaged in the late General War. 37 5 to the profit of their own children. By fuch for- CHAP. feitures, Auftria and Styria, of which Ottocar II. King of Bohemia was deprived, came into this i/VNJ family by the gift of the Emperor Rodolph ; 1742. who, from Count of Hapfburg, a fmall place in Alfatia, as one of the peculiar favourites of for- tune, in Oaober 1273, was elected to the im- perial throne, and was the firft founder of the prefent illuftrious line of the houfe of Auftria : it was this imperial right centered in them a great part of Suabia, by the death of Conradin, young- eft fon of the Emperor Frederick II. it was this brought the Duchy of Milan into the difpofal of Charles V. who, inftead of applying it to the empire, annexed it to his own hereditary domi- nions: and it was this imperial dignity advanced the luftre of the houfe of Auftria to fuch a de- gree of fplendor, as to contracl alliances with all thole potent families by which they have aug- mented their dominions, and maintained the im- perial crown, almoft hereditary in their own fa- mily, for above 200 years. So that the reaion is obvioufly apparent, why the houfe of Auftria Ihould fo earneftly contend for the imperial dig- nity ; and why France (hould endeavour to pre- vent it, as the only means of diminifhing the power of Germany, which will be always a check on the ambition of France, fo long as the imperial crown inclofes the brows of an Auftrian prince. THE new emperor had no fooner been inveft- ed with the crown, mantle, and fword of Charle- magne, the firft monarch of the weftern empire, than he revoked the Aulic council, or fupreme court of judicature, at Vienna, and eftablifbed another at Francfort, from whence the Elector pf Mentz, as chancellor of the empire, wrote to her 376 Tfoe Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART her Hungarian majefty to tranfmit the records III. and papers belonging to that council from Vi- * v f enna ; but, as the demand was indecently made, J 74 2 ' and this princefs difacknowledging the validity of the imperial election, (he refufed to comply with his requeft ; and, loon after, the imperial diet, or affembly of the ftates, was removed from Ratifbon to Francfort. THE courts of Verfailles, Berlin, and Drefden, made early preparations to attack the Auftrian forces in Bohemia and Moravia ; the miniftry of France were extremely eager to purfue the blow, and deftroy the Auftrians before they could col- lect a formidable army, fufficient to oppofe the confederate forces. To fupport the war, the dixieme, or tenth penny of the whole fubftance of every fecular fubject of France, except the princes of the blood, was ordered to be levied ; this tax, being collected with great feverity, ex- afperated the populace to fuch a degree, that the public difcontent broke out at Lyons into an open infurrection, where many thoufands of an enrag- ed multitude aflembled, and broke into the houfes of the intendant and chief magiftrates, with a refolution to make them the victims of their tumultuous rage ; but they happily efcaped, and the mob difperfed, without any effufion of blood, or committing any other acts of violence. The miniftry alfo demanded a loan of ten milli- ons of livres from the financiers, or farmers of the royal revenue ; the clergy granted his majefty a free gift of fourteen millions of livres ; many of the provinces followed their example ; and from the regulations propofed to be made, for the bet- ter collecting the public re venues, it was computed they would, this year, produce 232,000,000 of livres, or about j2,ooOjOoo fterling. DURING "Engaged in tie late General Wan 377 DURING th time of thefe important tranf-CnAp. a&ions and formidable preparations, the court of II. Vienna neglected no ftep to put the Auftrian < st armies, both in Bohemia, Moravia, and Bava- 1742. ria, in a condition of acting offenfively. The minifters, and public officers under the govern- ment at Vienna, generoufly relinquifhed a moie- ty of their falaries to enable their queen to pro- fecute the war ; their example was followed by thofe in the Auftrian Netherlands ; and this, to- gether with the fupply of 500,000 /. granted to the queen by the Britifh parliament, enabled her majefty to aflemble a numerous army in Germa- ny, and to form another in Italy, which, with the affiftance of providence, crowned her arms with * a glorious and fuccefsful campaign. THE Britifh and Auftrian minifters at the Hague, ftrongly follicited the Dutch to fend a body of troops to the afliftance of the Queen of Hungary , but the French miniftry had too much influence among the principal members of the ftates, and defeated the force of the remon- ftrances made by the Britifh and Auftrian emba fadors. Though the republic feemed content with their eftablifbment, and defiring no fort of aggrandifemenr, conceived their true intereft to confift in the prefervation of the peace and re- pofe they enjoyed, and in the quiet potfeffion of their eftates and territories : yet Marfhal Maille- bois, having pofted fo great a body of troops near the frontiers of the ftates, gave the alarm, with much inquietude, to their high mightinefles. They had made two augmentations in the ar- my, to watch over the fafety of their country and the fecurity of thtir fubjecls ; and notwith- flanding the Marquis de Fendon, ambafiador of France, had declared to them, " That the VOL I. B bb " march 37 8 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe; PART " march of thofe troops was not intended againft III. " the dominions or countries belonging to the u v~*-> " republic, nor even againft their neighbours ; " J 74 2 ' by which exprefiion the flates conceived was prin- cipally comprehended, the inhabitants of the Auftrian Netherlands, with whom they had fo ftrict an union; and though the Cardinal de Fleury had made afiurances to M. Van Hoey, the Dutch ambafiador at Paris, that this army Was never deftined directly, nor indirectly, to give umbrage or trouble to the frontiers of the republic-, yet the Hates, being fenfible of the diflimulation and perfidy of France, and appre- henfive that the army under Marfhal Maillebois, on the Lower Rhine, would fpeedily receive a reinforcement, they therefore wifely refolved on. a third augmentation, by which the forces of the republic were increafed to 100,000 men ^ their fleet was augmented by twenty-five men of war immediately put into commiffion, and twen- ty-five more ordered to be built. To defray thefe expences, the States of Holland and Weft- friefeland impofed an extraordinary tax on every wealthy fubject, whereby fuch as had a revenue from lands, trade, or any thing elfe, of 600 flo- rins a year, or upwards, to 12,000 florins a year, were to pay at the rate of one florin for each hun- dred : thofe who had the annual revenue of 12,000 florins, were to pay 300 florins a year; and thofe whofe revenue exceeded 12,000 florins a year, were to pay at the rate of fifty florins for every 2,000 they had of annual income: a law not only expedient, but provident, as it effectu- ally raifed the neceflfary fupplies for the public fervice, and exonerated the poor, without in- commoding their trade, or increaftng. the num- ber of tax gatherers. This additional augmenta- tion "Engaged in the late General War. 379 tion awaked the fufpicions of France ; and though CHAP. the Cardinal de Fleury pretended to have too II. much confidence in their High Mightineffes, to ' / -J doubt the afiurances they had given, that the J 742. augmentation of their troops did not regard France in any degree, and that the republic al- -ways intended to maintain a ftrict and conftant union with the king ; he was jealous of the Brit- ifh influence among the members of the dates, whom he daily perceived to revolt from his views, and on whom he experienced all the force of flattery, and every inducement of corruption, to preferve their adherence to the ir.tereft of France : and the cardinal having entirely devot- ed the Ambaffador Van Hoey to his fervice, that minifter made fuch artful and partial reprefenta- tions of the friendship and fincerity of the King of France, and the declarations of his miniftry, for the welfare and happinefs of the republic ; that, notwithstanding the general part of the Dutch were willing and eager to aflift the houfe of Auftria, yet, through thefe artifices of France, this afiiftance was fo long retarded, that the day when the Dutch forces fhould take the field on fuch an occafion, appeared to all mankind, as uncertain as the remoteft act prefcribed in the fartheft page of the book of fate. WHILE the Dutch were remifiively inclined from afibciating their forces in the field to op- pofe the French, the negociations of the Queen of Hungary were attended with a more favour- able afpect in Italy ; where his Sardinian majefty, jealQus of the Spaniards acquiring an Italian go- vernment, and determining to prevent any in- vafion there on the Auftrian dominions, had pro- mifed to affift her Hungarian majelly: and, though the French miniftry made very advanta- B b b 3 geous 380 We Conduct of the Powers of Europe^' PART geous propofals, to draw his Sardinian majefty III. from an alliance fo prejudicial to the intereft of ,^-v J the houfe of Bourbon, this prince honourably re- 1742. jected them all. He obferved, that no prince or Hate, whofe intereft and fafety depended upon the preservation of the ballance of power in Eu- rope, ought to look, without the deepeft con- cern, upon the complicated diftrefTes of her Hungarian majefty, and the whole houfe of Auf- tria. The rapid progrefs and fuccefs of the Pruf- fian arms ; the war between Ruflia and Sweden 5 the late fudden revolution at Peterfburgh, fo- mented by the emifiaries of France, purpofely to deprive the Queen of Hungary of any ex- pected relief from the miniftry of Ruflia , and, above all, the exorbitant power of the houfe of Bourbon, from whofe intrigues it now appeared, that all thefe public calamities took their rife s were melancholly confiderations to his Sardinian majefty , who, as a man, ddpifed the infractions of the pragmatic fanction ; as a prince, looked on himfelf as affected by fuch atrocious proceed- ings ; as a neighbour, law the probability of fall- ing the next facrifice to thefe violators of public fecurity ; as a monarch, he was jealous of a di- minution of power, aud tender of the rights and privileges of his fubjects ; and therefore, he de- termined to efpoufe the caufe of the Queen of Hungary, by oppofing the views of the houfe of Bourbon : for this purpofe he only waited the arrival of the Auftrian army, then affembling under Count Traun, to join them with a body of Piedmontefe troops, in the Milanefe. HAVING thus reprefented the political conduct of the fcveral powers at variance, it is time to trace out the military operations of a campaign, that occasioned fuch an amazing alteration in the con- Engaged in the late General War. 381 condition of her Hungarian majefiy, fo highly CHAP. advanced the reputation of her arms, and fo H. greatly reduced the power, and difpirited the \^^^j hopes, of France. 1 742. TH E late elevation of the Elector of Bavaria to the imperial throne, gave him but a fmall fhare of happinefs: amid the loud acclamations that every way approached him, in the height ,of his magnificence, he had the misfortune, with, an unavailing hand, and a perturbated heart, to .behold his electoral dominions laid open to the victorious Auftrians, conducted by the great Khe- venhuller, the moft confummate general of his age. The ftrong paflcs of the electorate had been already penetrated, feveral principal towns were reduced, and the Bavarian army defeated, during the feverity of the winter : the Auftrians were foon after advancing into the bowels of this plentiful country, without the appearance of any moleftation ; and Munich, the capital feat of the Bavarian family, fell an eafy prey to the un- refifted invaders. AFTER the taking of Lintzand Pafiau, Mar- ihal Khevenhuller continued there with the main body of the army, confifling of 10,000 men, while General Bernklau, with a detachment of 6,000 men, overran the whole country. Baron Trenck, having joined General Bernklau, with his body of pandours crofled the river Ifer, took the town of Platlingen, and laid the country, on that fide the river, under contribution ; he after- wards took the town of DeckendorfF, and fcour- ed the Upper Palatinate, the northern part of the Bavarian electorate, formerly difmembered from the Elector Palatine's dominions, on his affum- jng the title of King of Bohemia in oppofition to the 382 The Conduct of tie Powers of Europe,^ PART the emperor, in the year 1620, and transferred III. to the Duke of Bavaria. - ^ J MARSHAL THORING, with the fluttered re- *74 2 ' mains of the Bavarian army, confiding of 4,000 men, having in the beginning of February croff- ed the Danube near Neuftadt, and taken poffef- fion of the poft of Meyenburg, was purfued by General Bernklau, at the head of 1,000 dra- goons, ijOoo huflars, and 200 pandours, with an intention to diflodge the Bavarians from their poft. The Auftrians commenced their march at one o'clock in the morning, and continued it till five the next evening, when they fell in with the firft poft of the Bavarians, where there was a fquadron of huflars, commanded by Count Seflel, fupported by 200 dragoons ; who, upon their being attacked by Baron Trenck at the head of the Auftrian huflars, were foon broke, and fled In fuch fear and corifufion, that in this fkirm,ifh Baron Trenck killed and wounded twenty men with his own hand ; and, with the affiftance of eight huflars, made Count Seflel, four officers and 187 men prifoners. Upon his return tq General Bernklau with the prifoners, Baron Trenck was ordered to march with his pandours up to a village near Meyenburg, and attack the whole company of Bavarian life guards, who had thrown themfelves into that place, determining to make a defperate defence. The baron, march- ing up, attacked them with fo much fury at ten o'clock at night, that he entirely fubdued them, after killing their captain, a lieutenant, and fix men, befides feveral others wounded: the re- mainder of the company, confifting of fifty-five men, furrendered themfelves prifoners, together with their fine ftandard, wrought all in needle- work by the Eleclorefs of Bavaria. The fame night -'Engaged in tie fate General Wan ^ 383, night Count Rodolph Palfi forced a-poft of Ba- CHAP. varian infantry, and took 130 prifoners; while n. Marfhal Thoring, having information of this L - v , misfortune, made a forced march with the reft 1742, of his little army, and contrived to crofs the Da- nube the fame night, where he was in daily ex- pectation of receiving a large reinforcement from. France. GENERAL BERNKLAU, being joined by Prince Saxe Hildbouighaufen, with the Auf- trian troops from Italy, confiding of 10,000 men, marched up to Munich, the capital of Bavaria. This city is fituated on the river Ifer, 60 miles S. W. ofRatifbon, 200 W. of Vienna, looW. of Lintz, and 70 miles E. of Ulm : the city is large and elegant, and the palace exceeding any in Germany for magnificence ; but the fortifica- tions are inconfiderable, fo that the city muft al- ways admit thofe who are matters of the field ; and, when the Auftrian general fummoned it to furrender, the inhabitants immediately opened their gates to the conqueror, where Marfhal Khe- venhuller foon afterwards made his arrival from Lintz. The poor Bavarians were now in a very deplorable fituation -, the ambition of their prince had expofed them to the fevereft extremities of war ; and they daily favv their country impover- iflied, through the contributions every where ex- acted by the unmolefted Auftrians. The great Khevenhuller, who had not more bravery than humanity, commiferated the misfortunes of a wretched people, abandoned by their deluded prince, to all thofe fcenes of devaftation his fa- ther had before brought amongft them, by the fame imprudent conduct: and obltinate adherence to the views of France : but, though the Auftrian general endeavoured to mitigate the feverity they were 384 *fbe Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART were liable to fuffer, it was impoflible for him III. entirely to reftrain his foldiers from committing u v- ' ravages in a country, whofe plenty gave the 1742. ftrongeft invitations for plunder; and, if the wild Croats and Sclavonians had not been per- mitted to have gratified their avarice with impu- nity, that ardour which inflamed them to re- venge the injuries of their fovereign, had been extinguished ; and the hufiars, who procure their fubfiftance folely from the plunder they obtain, would have been difpirited and reluctant to ha- zard their lives with their ufual intrepidity, if de- prived of the profpeft of acquiring a compenfati- on for their bravery and fervice. ON the 26th of February Baron Trenck, with his pandours, was fent to attack the Bavarian garriion at Reichenhall; he arrived there the 29th, and commencing the attack, at five in the afternoon took poft within twenty paces of the wall, by a fmith's (hop : he broke down the back part of the fmith's houfe, and planted there two pieces of cannon. In the night, the baron re- ceived a reinforcement of two companies of gren- adiers of Old Konigfeck's ; whereupon he redou- bled the attack, and at length, after continuing their fire with great vivacity, the garrifon, con- fiding of 300 regular troops, befides 700 archers, under the command of Colonel Mercy, confent- cd to capitulate, and accordingly furrendered themfelves prifoners of war, on the 3Oth of March. The Auftrians had only fix men killed and fifteen wounded, and found in the town, a booty of fait to the value of 300,000 florins. THE Bavarian huntfmen, who were pofted in the windings of the river Ifer, having plundered General Hermeftein's baggage, robbed the ef- cort, confiding of forty men, and murdered the Engaged In the late General War. 385 *he captain, together with fix common foldiersjCHAP. Baron Trenck was detached, with 64 pandours II. and 400 croats, to reduce thofe hunters, who were ' / ^ now 1,200 defperate fellows, and obtain fatif- I 74-2' faflion for the damage done to Genera] HermeP tein, which amounted to 15,000 florins. The baron marched, on this dangerous expedition, in the dead of the night, from Munich to Wol- ferhaufefl ; from whence he might reach, with fhall for ever have for ^j manded by the Marfhals Broglio and Belleifle, 1742. fpread themfelvcs in Bohemia along the Muldaw, as far as the confines of Auftria : while the Saxons and Prufiians, being about 40,000 men, march- ed into Moravia*, the former mvefting Brinn, and the latter fending a detachment to befiege Glatz, a ftrong town fituate at the foot of tne mountains that divide Bohemia from Silefia, D d d 2 which 396 tte Conduct cf tie Powers of Europe, PART which was compelled to fubmit tofuperior forced III. The Auftrians, under the command of Prince u v ~> Charles of Lorrain, continued about Moravia ; J 74 2 - and the army commanded by Prince Lobkowitz, maintained themfelves in Bohemia. Upon all fides were continual fkirmifhes, but there hap- pened no material action ; though the French and Bavarians were greatly reduced by the feve- rity of the winter. WHILE Marfhal Khevenhuller was overrun- ing the electorate of Bavaria, her Hungarian ma- jefty, fpirited by the profpect of a fpeedy afiift- ance from the King of Great Britain and the King of Sardinia, was collecting a fufficient body of troops to reinforce her armies in Bohemia and Moravia. PRINCE CHARLES, though his army was too inefficient to attack either the Prufllans or Sax- ons in their entrenchments, yet often incom- moded them by the excurfions of his irregular troops, who very narrowly miffed feizing the King of Pruflia prifoner, having taken one of his general officers and one of his pages, his ma- jefty efcaping only by the fleetnefs of his horfe. His highnefs having ordered General Philibert, with a detachment of 2,000 horfe and 1000 Croats, to obferve the motions of the Saxons : the general received intelligence, that the regiment of Cofel were marching put of Wels and Oflau, and he ordered them to be immediately attacked by 500 Croats, under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Macquire, which was done with fuch vigour, that, after a refiftance that kfted an hour and a quarter, the Croats defeated the whole regiment, having killed the lieutenant- colonel, three captains, five lieutenants, five en- gns, and 340 men; taking the colonel, four cap- Engaged in the late General War. 397 fcaptains, four lieutenants, four enfigns, and iSSCnAP. men prifoners , with a booty of four pieces of III. cannon, three pair of colours, the military cheft, < and all their baggage ; the Croats having but ten men killed and eighteen wounded. As Prince Charles of Lorrain was now fulfill- ing the prediction of the glorious Eugene, who, from the regimental difdpline, diligence, and afliduky, of the young hero, foretold he would acquire the character of a complete general , the digreffion may well be pardoned, that traces the firft military rudiments of this accomplifoed prince ; thus, in his youth, renewing thofe lau- rels that his illuftrious grandfather, Charles Leo- pold, had entwined round the coronet of Lor- rain; and, in the dawn of manhood, eclipfing all the glories of France; who fnatched the palm of victory from the too ambitious King of Pruflia ; fupported the luftre of the Auftrian line ; and baffled the moft confummate and experienced generals of the prefent age. ^ THIS prince is the younger brother of the Grand Duke of Tufcany, fmce elefted Emperor of Germany, and fecon'd fon to Leopold Duke of Lorrain, and Elizabeth Charlotte, daughter to the late Duke of Orleans: he was born on the j 2th of December 1712-, during his minority he mewed a fondnefs for the martial life, and was diftinguifhed for his genius, which wanted no cultivation. He made an early appearance in the army, and, from his firft entrance into the military ftate, his affable deportment and fieady refolution, fo ingratiated himfelf with the foldiers, that he was, and not undefervedly, fti- led the delight of the army. Having paffed through all the inferior degrees in the imperial fervice, foon after the commencement of the war 398 We Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART war between the Emperor and Ruffia againft dig III. Turks, in the year 1738, Prince Charles was pre- u v -/ferred to a regiment , and, after giving eminent 1 74 2 . proofs of his gallant behaviour in the Turkifh war, was promoted to the rank of general of the artillery 5 but, upon the conclufion of the peace at Belgrade, he applied himfelf to ftudy the theory of that military art he fince reduced into practice. His highnefs was now in the 3oth year of his age, was well proportioned, neither fat nor lean, and rather tall than of a middle (lature ; genteel and affable, temperate in diet, and negligent in drefs, but his air at once difcovered the man of confequence and the foldier. He had entirely won the affections of his men, and though fome- what haughty in his behaviour to the officers, yet the dignity of his family, and the proximity of his alliance to the Queen of Hungary, mad^ them chearfully condefcend to his authority ; and this fubmiffion to their general, greatly contri- buted to the fervice of their fovereign, as the German officers unwillingly pay obedience to a general of [heir own Yank. PRINCE LOBKOWITZ was older, and had commanded with Count Wallis and Count Neu- perg in the Turkifli war, where he figrialized himielf fufficiently to mew that he was deferving of an important truft ; for though he comr roanded a third part of the German army when; the peace was concluded at Belgrade, his cha- racter was unimpeached, while Count Wallis and Count Neuperg were arrefted, by an impe- rial order, on a fulpicion of negligence in their duty. THESE princes were now to oppofe the King of Pruffia, and two of the molt diftinguifhed generals in the armies of France. His Prufiian majefty Engaged in tbe late General War. 39^ majefty was almoft a year younger than Prince CHAP. Charles ; his bravery was great, and by the af- III. " fiftance of able generals, with the beft regulated ^ v^-f troops in the world, he had rendered himfeJf one J 74 2 . of the mod formidable princes among the pow- ers of Europe. Marfhal Broglio had fpent al- moft tnreefcore years in the military fervice, and had acquired a diftinguifhed reputation when he commanded in Italy, during the late war be- tween the Emperor Charles VI. and the crown of France. Marfbal BelJeine was alfo advanced in years ; he was a nobleman of great genius, and equal ambition, and had pafed all his life in the profeflion of arms, having ftudied war as a fci- ence ; he was adive and enterprizing, and brave fometimes to excefs ; he was beloved by the fol- diers, whom he fupported from the oppreffions of inferior officers ; and was an able and experi- enced general. MARSHAL BROGLIO, having intelligence that the court of Vienna would fpeedily fend a nume- rous reinforcement to the Auftrian armies in Bohemia and Moravia, determined to get poffef- fion of the beft fortified places, for the fecurity of his army, if the Auftrians fhould happen to take the field with a fuperior force to the allies. Prague Was already tecured by a numerous garrifon of French and Bavarians; and Egra was the next formidable place that attracted the obfervation of the marfhal. This city is fituate on a river of the fame name, 75 miles weft of Prague, near the confines of die Upper Palatinate, to which it formerly pertained, and is the fecond place of confequence in Bohemia, being fortified with a double, and in fome parts, with a treble wall, and a very ftrong caftle. To reduce this city, Marfhal Broglio detached a ftrong body of French and 4oo 7&? Condud of the Powers of Europe, PART and Bavarians, under the command of Count III. Maurice of Saxe, a general who afterwards, by L -v /his noble actions, acquired a glorious reputation^ *74 2 - and was dignified for his eminent fervices with honours never before conferred on any fubject of France, excepting the immortal Turenne. Count Sdxe inverted the town on the 23d of March; the garrifon maintained a vigorous refiftance till the 1 9th of April ; when, finding it impoflible to receive any relief from the Auftrian army* they obtained a capitulation, and furrendered the town, being allowed to march out with the honours of war, four pieces of cannon, and two covered waggons, and to be conducted to PaP fau ; but with a rettridion not to bear arms a- gainft the emperor, or his allies, till ranfomed or exchanged by cartel. DURING the fiege of Egra, the Auftrian re- inforcements arrived, when Prince Charles had tinder his command an army confuting of 30,000 infantry, and 18,800 cavalry ; while Prince Lobkowitz found himfelf ar the head of 11,000 foot and 5,000 horfe. As foon as Prince Charles put his army in motion, both the Pruffians and Saxons retired out of Moravia, with great precipitation , fuf- fering confiderable lofTes in their retreat ; and what appeared very extraordinary, they moved different ways, the former towards Silefia, and the latter towards Leutmeritz, a city of Bohe- mia, fituate on the river Elbe, on the confines of Saxony, and twenty-five miles N. of Prague. This wide retreat abandoned the French and Bavarians to the mercy of the Auftrians, as they were now in danger of being attacked by the united forces under Prince Charles and Prince Lobkowitz ; but, before the Auftrians could efc fca Engaged In the late General Wan 401 fed this union, the King of Prufiiaj having re- CHAP. ceived a ftrong reinforcement of 32,000 men, III. under Prince Leopold of Anhalt DefTau, enter- ^x-'v-sj ed Bohemia, and with the utmoft celerity endea- J 74 2 voured to circumvent the motions of the Auf- trians, and prevent their junftion. His Pruffian majefty accomplifhed his intentions ; and, hav- ing advice that Prince Charles was making for Prague, the king refolved to aflemble his army at Chrudim, about forty miles S. E. of Prague; where, on the i3th of May, the Pruffian army entered the camp in three lines, and pitched their tents on the eminence of Chrudim -, hav- ing its right wing towards a village called Medlefchiitz, and the left towards the rivulet called Chrudimka : but his majefty, being in- formed that the Auftrians were encamped at Setfch and Boganow, and began to make incur- fions on the other fide the Elbe at Nimbourg, Podiebrad, and Pardubitz, where the Pruifian magazines were diftributed , and alfo that 500 of the Hungarian infantry, and about 3 or 4,000 huflars, had taken pofleflion of Czaflaw, a town thirty-five miles S. E. of Prague ; the king, imagining Prince Charles intended to cut off his provisions, and prevent his junction with the French ; or that the prince defigned to march towards Prague, where his majefty was apprized he held a fecret correfponder.ee among the prin- cipal lords and inhabitants : to frustrate fuch de- figns, his majefty, on the 1 5th of May, at the head of the van guard, confiding of ten batta- lions, ten fquadrons of dragoons, and ten fqua- dronsof huflars, marched diredly through Her- manmieftitz on the hill of Chotiebors, leaving the command of the army to Prince Leopold of Anhalt, general of foot, with orders to fol- VOL. I. Eee low 402 The Conduft of the Powers of Europe, PART low him the next day, fo foon as the waggon* III. of bread arrived. The king was fcarcely got ~v-^ to the rifing grounds of Chotiebors, when he r 74 2 * ranged his troops in a very good poft, and went out, to get intelligence of the Auftrians, with the huffars, upon an adjacent hill, where he diftinctly faw a camp, which he judged to be of nearly 7 or 8,000 men. This body of troops was the van of the Auftrian army ; who, hav- ing miflaken the Pruflian van for the body of the army, drew back in the night, and joined their whole force : on this his Pruflian majefty fent orders to Prince Leopold, to march at break of day in order to go and incamp at Chotufitz, a village near Czaflaw, and to make himfelf mafter of that town 5 when Prince Leopold fent his majefty intelligence, that he had perceived the camp of the whole Auftrian army, and that the deferters had declared that Prince Charles of Lorrain was there with all his forces : on which his majefty returned for the army on the i7th. IN the mean time Prince Charles received in- telligence of thefe motions of his Pruflian ma- jefty , and underftanding that the king was making a forced march to reach Czaflaw, he came to a refolution to attack them ; and for that purpofe quitted the camp at Willimow, left the baggage at Ranow, and on the i6th of May marched for Czaflaw, where he arrived, with the whole army, about two o'clock in the morning, and before Prince Leopold had been able to attack ir, on account of his long march, and the darknefs of the night on his arrival at Chotufitz. Prince Charles received advice that the Pruflians had pofted themfelves behind the village of Chotufitz, and that it was impoflible for them to avoid a battle: on which, without the Engaged in the late General War. 403 cfte lead repofe, he began to draw up his troops CHAP. in order of battle, and advanced in excellent or- III. ral Buddenbrock charged at the head of the Pruflian cavalry, who quite overthrew and broke the firft line of the Auftrians ; when a thick duft arofe, and hindered the Pruflians from making the beft of all their advantages. Major- General Rottenbourg penetrated through the fe- cond line of the Auftrians, and was repulfed with lofs : while the cavalry of the fecond line of Auf- trians, attacked the right wing of the Pruflians in flank, and caufed a few fquadrons to give ground. During this diforder the Auftrian horfe rallied, and attacked the Pruflian cavalry with fo violent a -mock, that they, in their turn, gave way to the force of the Auftrians, with cor.fi. Arable lofs. In the mean time, the right wing of the Auftrian infanty pierced as far as the village of Chotufitz, where the Pruflians had pofted two battalions of the regiment of Schwe- rin, which the Auftrians attacked, fet fire to the village, and even pufhed the Pruflians into their camp. This brought up the Pruflian horfe, who were followed by the Auftrian cavalry, where they engaged with the greateft obftinacy and fu- ry: the troops on all fides behaved with furpriz- ing rcfolutipn and bravery: the Prufiians, anir mated by the prefence of their royal leader, per- formed wonders-, and the Auftrians, ambitious of exerting themfelves beneath the eye of their illuftrious general, afted as became their reputa- tion. The battle was now become general , the two armies were enyelpped with fmoke and duft ; the day was obfcured ; and fcarce could the brave man tell where to direct his fword for pro- per execution : the difplofion of the mufketry at Engaged in the late General War. 40 - at once ftifled the fhouts of the vanquishers, and CHAP the groans of the vanquifhed ; fear was banilhed, HJ and nothing but zeal and ardour, for the honour <~_^ rf the day, reigned in the hearts of all the com- 1742. batants. The battle was long dubious; fortune was nov? favourable to the Auftrians, now inclin- ed to the Pruflians, and victory hovered over them m fufpence, uncertain where to beftow the wreathe of glory. At length the Auftrian caval- ry gave toy; and the Prufiian regiments of Prince William and Waldow cut the whole re- giment of Vettetz to pieces, which, however, greatly difgarnifhed the left wing of the Prufil? ns but the Auftrian infantry pufhed on very fuccefs^ fully, and entered the Pruffian camp; wher- thinking the whole army of the Pruflians fled' before them, mftead of improving this advan- tage, they imprudently fell to plunder the camp ; and neither the entreaties nor menaces of their cers, could prevail on them to defift. This gave the Prui7un infantry an opportunity 'to rally tnemfelves, and, fupported by their cavalry, they -eturned to the charge, and vigoroufly attacked the Auftrians, when they were thus unprepared for a defence : this fatal incident decided the battle: Prince Charles faw the confufion of his men, he ordered a retreat, and conduced it with lo much prudence and fl-curity, thar he ac- quired more honour in the well concerted mea- Jures for the prefervation of his men, tii'n the King of Pruffia did by maintaining the n.M of battle; who himfclf did the Auftrians the ju.tice to acknowledge, that their lofing the battle was neither for want of refolution or courao-e. THE battle lafted from eight in thTmorning till noon, when the Auftrians retired behind the rivulet of Czaflaw, where they drew up again in order 406 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, PART order of battle : they were purfued by Lieuten^ III. ant-General Jeetz, with a few battalions, and -- -V- ' Lieutenant-General Buddenbrock, with thirty J 74 2 - fquadrons, and the huffars, who did little execu- tion ; and the Auftrians refumed their march in very good order, taking the rout to their camp of Willimow. Though the Pruffians continu- ed victorious in the field, they purchafed the honour at an expenfive rate. Among the Auftrian infantry 3,000 were either killed or wounded ; but their horfe fuftained only an in- confiderable lofs, the whole, killed and wounded, not exceeding 600 men : the Major-Generals Frakenbergh and Welfh, and Colonel Fours, fell among the (lain : the Major-Generals Mar- fhil and Pallant, and the Colonels Thierhim and Livingftein, with Baron Hagenback, were the principal officers wounded, who, with 900 men, remained prifoners : the Auftrians alfo loft a few colours, with eighteen cannon, and one haubitz, which they were obliged to leave behind for want of carriages. The lofs of the Pruffians was little inferior j this chiefly fell among the cavalry, who had i ? 5Oo men killed, and 600 wounded-, the infantry fuffered lefs, having only 400 men killed, and 200 wounded : among the flain were three colonels, and one major \ and among the wounded one lieutenant-general, two major- fenerals, one colonel, four lieutenant-colonels, ve majors, Count L'Oftange, about thirty other officers of horfe, and fome of foot : the Auftrians took i, coo prifoners, and amongft them Major- -General Werdeck, who afterwards died of his wounds, and fome other officers ; they alfo car- ried off 2,000 horfes, 14 ftandards, and two pair of colours. WHILE Engaged in the late General War. 407 WHILE Prince Charles had been thus employ- CHAP ed agamft the Pruffians, Prince Lobkowitz was III very afhve in difturbing the French and Bavari- - -^ ans; and having undertaken the fiege of the 1742. caftleof Frauenberg, encamped at Sahai, to co- ver the fiege. The French marfhals refolvino; to protecl the garrifon, and the Auflrians having poffeffion of Budweis, a ftrong town fixty-two miles fouth of Prague; a body of French and Bavarians, confiding of 20,000 men, advanced towards Budweis, to cut off the communication of the Auflrians with that place, and to relieve the cattle of Frauenberg. On their approach, Prince Lobkowirz quitted the fiege, and took his cannon to Budweis. The French, on the i 4 th of May, came up and marched into the camp which had been quitted by the Auftrians ; who returned the fame day from Budweis, attacked the French about fix o'clock in the evening, and were every where fuccefsful till night parted the two armies ; but as Prince Lobkowitz fufpeded that the French intended to cut off his retreat to Budweis, he marched back in the night towards that place to prevent them : on this account the French affumed the honour of the victory, though the Auftrians did not loie 200 men, and the French loft above 500. MARSHAL BROGLIO, the next morning, made himfelf mafter of Tein, a little town abouc five miles eaft of Frausnberg, and fifty S. W. from Prague, where there was a fmall garri- fbn of Auftrians ; and afterwards encamped on each fide the river in the neighbourhood of that place. ABOUT the fame time Prince Lobkowitz fentr a detachment of Croats, under the command of General Nadafti, to attack the French garrifon The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, at Pi feck, a town on the Muldaw to the fouth oTTcin: the general fummoned the French, who ref ufed to furrender ; on which the Croats 1742. plunged through the river, fwimming with their fabres in their mouths, and fcaled the walls j which fo intimidated the garrifon, that they made little refiflance, and threw down their arms, (truck with the greateft aftonimment at the refolution of the Croats, who found fome confiderable magazines in the place. While General Nadafd was executing his orders, Prince Lobkowitz appeared before Pilfen, a ftrong town fituate on the river Catburz, forty miles S. W. of Prague, and foon obliged the garrifon to fur- render prifoners of war; where he took 2 5. offi- cers and 560 men ; as alfo nine large cannon, fix mortars, and a great quantity of provifions and provender for the men and horfes. ON the 1 6th of May Marfhal Belleifle fet out for the Pruffian camp at Chocufitz to confer with his majefty, and afterwards proceeded to Dref- den, with a view to eftablifli the two monarchs in the intereft of the Emperor and France ; be- caufe the French miniftry, deeming their alli- ance too precarious, were determined to try every efifort to preferve a confederacy, whofe dil- foliuion muft be attended with the moft fatal con- fequences to the views of the court of Verfailles. But, notwithftanding the abilities of this able ne- gociator, all his fchemes were fruftrated, all his attempts difappointed : the King of Prufiia, and Elector of Saxony, were both jealous of the views of France, and they fufpecled the court of Ver- failles had no real intention of affifting the Empe- ror, for the confer vation of the peace of the em- pire : and though France had poured her armies into the heart of Germany, under the plaufible difguife Engaged in tie late General War. 409 difguife of a guarantee of the treaties of Weftpha- CH A p. Jia, by which the conftitutional rights, liberties, III. and independence of the feveral ftates that com-' v J pofe the Germanic body are fupported , yet the I 74 2 - courts of Berlin and Drefden now looked on her preparations in a different light, conjecturing, that the fole views of her policy were founded on principles of difuniting the powers of Germany, of weakening the refpective princes that flood in the beft capacity of preferring the fecurity of the empire and preventing any defigns meditated to incroach on the limits and freedom of the 'itates; and, in particular, to debilitate the ftrength of the houfe of Auftria: they perceived, that however this was effected, whether with or widi- out the affiftance of France, her fchemes were equally accomplifhed : they were ftartled at the reflection of fuch imminent danger pointing out the fate of Germany ; they law their fecret enemy, like a peftilence, enter the bowels, and prey on the vitals of their country ; they looked through her mighty plan, and perceived that when one power was deftroyed, another muft be difmem- bered, and another attacked, till France (hould either reduce the whole body to flavery, or an- nihilation , they therefore found themfeives oblig- ed to renounce the treaty of Nymphenburgh, and recede from an alliance fo deftructive to the. liber- ties of the whole German community, fo dan- gerous to their own fecurity, and fo pernicious to the fifety, freedom, and exiftence of every monarch, prince, and ftate in Europe. FOR the arrival of this happy day, fo effenti- ally neceffary for the protection of Germany, and the ballance of the European power, the Britifh miniftry were filled with the ftrongeft wifnes ; but they knew fuch a favourable event VOL. I, Fff " garv." 1742, BY this treaty the politics of France were en- tirely eluded ; the King of Pruffia and Queen of Hungary were no longer divided ; and this was accomplifhed by the Britifh negotiations. Though neceflary as it was, the Queen of Hungary now yielded up the whole province of Silefia to his PrufTian majefty, a province 200 miles in extent, well inhabited, and furnifhing 300, coo/, annual revenue, only for his neutrality ; and if her ma- jefty, in the preceding year, had but ceded to the king the bare moiety of this duchy, {he might then have obtained his whole flrength and affiftance, in maintaining the pragmatic fanction, and all his intereft in promoting the Grand Duke of Tufcany to the imperial throne. She was now the more inclined to relinquifh fo great a part of her rights, in a confidence of future fupport from the Britifh nation, in return for this extraordinary conceflion ; and, though the King of Pruffia was readily inclined to accept of an advantage he never expected, yet he the more eagerly em- braced it, manifeftly from an apprehenfion of the iflue of J:he conteft, which grew precarious, upon the exertion of the Britifh power. France was indeed deluded by this treaty, as fhe deter- mined nothing lefs than to canton out every ter- ritory of the houfe of Auftria amongft the confe- derates; and her difappointment was increafed, when fhe found the 'Elector of Saxony alfo dil- jointed from the Nymphenburgh alliance, in purfuance of thefe preliminaries : but though, by this defertipn of Prufila and Saxony, the bal- lance of the war was turned, and at leaft 50,000 ip.en taken away from the fcale of France, yet ftll Engaged in the late General War, 41 3 all her projects were not difconcerted ; for if &e CHAP. .could not totally, yet fhe greatly, d.iminifhed IJI. .the power, pofTcffions, and revenue of the houfe v - v- j of Auftria. THIS preliminary treaty, and the ceffions thereby made, were fully renewed, confirmed, and ratified, in favour of his Pruffian majefty, by the definitive treaty of peace between the fame powers, concluded and figned at Breflau, the 28th of July following; of which preliminary and definitive treaty, his Britannic majefty gua- ranteed the execution, the firft on the 241(1 of June 1742, and the latter by the defenfive treaty of alliance, concluded between their Britannic and Prufiian majefties at Weftminfter, the i8th of November following. As foon as the notification of the preliminary treaty was made to the Elector of Saxony, his troops in Bohemia were immediately ordered to halt, till further inftructions. A negociation was fet on foot, and a peace concluded between him and the Queen of Hungary, whicfr was pro- claimed at Drelden the jythof September; and by which, the queen yielded to his Polifh ma- jefty, as Elector of Saxony, fome places in the circles of Elnbogen, Satzer, Leutmeritz, and 'jpiHUzlaw in Bohemia; in confideration whereof .the elector guaranteed to her the reft of Bohe- jnia. WHI LE thefe important negcciations were car- jying on, the French and Bavarians were left to contend by themfelves. Prince Charles of Lor- rain, after the battle of .Czaflaw, marched to- wards B'jdweis, and joined Prince Lobkowitz -in the camp at We fell, where the two armies form- _ed a body of 60,500 men ; and having, for fe- days, endeavoured in vain to bring the French e The Conduct of the Powers of Europe, French to a battle, out of their camp at Frauen- berg, at laft, upon the 5th of June in the even- ing, Prince Charles was informed that Marftial 1742. Broglio had detached a body of 5,000 men, moft of them horfe and dragoons, on the other fide of the Moldau, under the command of the Duke of Boufflers, in order to make himfelf mafter of Tein, Lomnitz, and fome other pofts in the neighbourhood of Budweis. Upon this, Prince Charles decamped that evening, and advanced towards Tein -, next morning he marched, with four battalions and fifteen fqnadrons of cuirafiiers and hufifars, to attack the Duke of BoufHers , and found the French drawn up in order of battle, advantageoufty pofted, having their infantry and fome field pieces in the center. Prince Charles himfelf attacked them at the head of the cuiraf- (iers, with fuch fury, that he foon put their in- fantry and part of their cavalry into diforder. At laft the French carabineers, fuftained by their dragoons, repulfed the Auftrian cavalry, but the Auftrians rallying, and coming a fecond time to the charge, the mock was fo great, that not only the French carabineers and dragoons, but the whole corps was broken, and fled with great precipitation, leaving behind them their cannorr, ammunition, and the greateft part of their baggage, and above 2,000 men killed or taken prifoners, and amongft the latter was the Marquis de Viilemur. Several regiments of horfe and hufiars, together with large bodies of Croats and Waradens, were immediately detached to purfue them, who killed great numbers, and took many prifoners. When Marfhal Broglio heard of this defeat, he decamped with fuch pre- cipitation, that the military cheft, and a great part pf the baggage, were left in the camp, and became the late General War. became a prey to the Auftrians, who immedi- CHAP. ately entered the camp, and foon after took the HI. fortrefies of Frauenberg, Pifeck, and other places, v ^ where the French had polled fmall garrifons to 1742* favour their retreat to Prague, which they effect- ed, in fmall parties, with the greateft confufion and timidity, and never ventured to look back, till they found themfelves under the protection of the cannon of Prague -, where they werejoined by Marlhal Belleifle, on his return from Drefden. Prince Charles foon advanced with his army to- wards Prague , and the French marmals, appriz- ed of the treaty of Breflau, endeavoured to give the ftrongeft fecurity to their army, againft the attack of the Auftrians. THIS city, fo remarkable for the extraordi- nary fiege fuftained there by the French, under the Marmals Broglio and Belleifle, is the metro* polis of Bohemia, pleafantly fituated on the large river Moldau, 150 miles N. W. of Vienna, 100 N. E. of Ratifbon, and 70 S. of Drefden. Few cities in Europe have a larger extent than Prague, which is divided into three parts, called the old, the new, and the middle city. The old city, on the eaft of the Moidau, is very populous, and foil of handfome, but old-famioned houfes; in which ftands the univerfity, one of the moft ce- lebrated in Europe : and in this quarter, great numbers of wealthy Jews have their refidence. The new city was formerly fep-arated from the, old by a wall, but now only by a ditch, into which the river can be let at pleafure. The leffer town lies on the weft of the Moldau, and joins to the old town by a bridge of fixteen arch- es, being in all 1,700 feet long, and 35 broad, with two large gates under two fpacious towers, one at each en.d, which makes this bridge one. of 416 *fi>e ConducT: of the Powers of Europe, PART of the nobleft ftructtires in the world, it being III. 400 feet longer than Weftminfter bridge, and u-v-L- 1 780 feet longer than London bridge : part of 1742. this town is built on a rifing ground, at the top of which (lands Upper Prague, where is a mag- nificent palace belonging to the crown. Prague is pleafantly furrounded by fine fields and gar- dens, and adorned with a great many elegant houfes, churches, and convents : the inhabitants are computed to be about 100,000 ; and, except- ing London, Paris, and Rome, no city has a greater concourfe of nobility and gentry, who are exceeded by none in affluence and grandeur, equalled by few in politenefs and civility to ftran- gers. The whole city is encompafled with a wall, baftions, and other works, a citadel in the new town, and a cattle in the little town, well pro- \ided with cannon, which render it as ftrong as a place of that extent can be , but it is com- manded by the hills of Ginrifnitz, about a mile from the city: though if the inhabitants had ex- erted themfelvcs when the French and Bavarians firft appeared before the city, they might have given them much trouble and difficulty , for in the year 1648, when General Koningfmark, with a numerous army, had furprized the little town, and was afterwards joined by Charles Guf- tavus Prince Palatine, with a reinforcement of 10,000 men, they in vain made many attempts on the old and new city, while nothing could overcome the refolution of the governor, who held out a confiderable time, till news came of the conclufion of a general peace. MARSHAL BROGLIO having detached 20,000 men, under the Duke de Harcourt, into Bava- ria, the French garrifon in, and army under, the walls of Prague, confided now of 24,000 of Engaged in the late General War. 417 of their moft valuable troops ; and their bed CHAP. cavalry a part of that number ; they were bufily HI. " employed in fortifying their camp, which they ^- v-^~i chofe on a very convenient fpot of ground, being 1742. a fort of peninfula, formed at the north end of the city by the winding of the river Moldau, by which the right, Jeft, and rear, were fecured againft any attack, fo that they had nothing but a narrow front to guard, and this was defended in flank by the cannon upon the ramparts of the city, as well as by the ftrong retrenchments they had raifed*in front, between the town and the river. PRINCE CHARLES and Prince Lobkowitz, with the combined armies, amounting to 60,000 men, on the 2510 of June, arrived within fight of Prague, and encamped on the hills of Gin- rifnitz, about a mile and quarter from the city ; from whence the army marched and encamped at Konigmall, nearer to Prague, where, on the 2;th, the Grand Duke of Tufcany arrived in the camp. THE appearance of the Auftrian army, con- vinced the French the force of oppofidon would be of little fervice, and they refolved to try if they could extricate themfelves by ftratagems of negociation. With this view, the French fent a trumpet to demand a conference, and the fame being granted, Marfhil Belleifle, on. the part of the French, and Count Konigfegg, on the part of the Auftrians, met at a place ap- pointed near the Auftrian head quarters, where the marlhal opened the conference, by faying, " He had inftru&ions from his court to treat of " a general peace." As fuch a propofition was expected, the count was prepared to make a pro- per reply, and anfwered, " That his fovereign, VOL. I. G g poor inhabitants felt every afflidion in a greater degree than the French: they envied the foldier they faw periming in the battle ; with them fa- mine did a more dreadful execution : helplefs, they fpun out the lad feeble thread of life, dying in heaps; multitudes of tender babes, whofe eyes had but juft gazed on the light, loft their ma- ternal nutriment, breathing out their little lives on the exhaufted bofoms now unable to yield them fuftenance -, while the frantic mothers felt thofe pangs of nature, were ftruck with that poignant anguifh, none but the parent could ever feel, none elfe could ever know ; and let life ftream from their bleeding hearts, fwifter than the gufhing tear could pace down their faded cheeks, where once reigned all the bloom of beauty, now no more charming than the wi- thered rofe, the little emblem of frail mortality. Ambition, thefe are thy honours , Lewis, thefe are thy glories , and tyrants, to thefe the eye of providence and heaven, is always open. The END of the FIRST VOLUME. BOOKS printed and fold by J. WAUGH at the Turk's Head in Lombard-ftreet. I. 'T^HE FAMILY EXPOSITOR: Or, a Parsphrafe and A Verfion of the New Teftamenc, difpofed in the Order of an Harmony : With Critical Notes, and a Practical Improvement of each Seaion. In Three Volumes 4 to Containing, Vol. I. The former part of the Hiftory of our Lord JefHs Chrift, as recorded in the Four Evangelifts Vol. II. The latter part of the Hiftory of our Lord [efffl Chrift, as recorded in the Four Evangelifts. Vol III. Thp Acts of the Apoftles : With additional Notes on the' Har- mony of the Evangelifts; and two Differ tat ions, i. On Sir Ifaac Newton's Syitem of the Harmony. 2. On the In- fpiration of the New Teftament. With proper Indexes td the Whole. By P. Doddridge, D. D. Price bound i /. i 8 i. II. 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Being the Subftance of fome Sermons preached in Carter- Lane. On Pfalm i. 14. By Thomas Newman. The Second Edition. Price bound M, Juft PubUJhed, (Price 2s.) Beautifully printed in QUARTO, CAMBRIA. p o A E I N THREE BOOKS: ILLUSTRATED WITH Hiftorical Critical & Explanatory NOTES, By RICHARD R O L T. Hellconldafyue pallidam que Pyrenen Mis remitto, quorum imagines lambunt Heder,s fequaces. Ipfe femipaganus Ad facra Vatum carmen Ajfero noflrufn. PERSIUS< %* This POEM is wrote with a defign, to give the public a reprefentation of the Antient Britons, and the moft remarkable curiofities both antient and modern, throughout the principality of Wales. The fubjedt may feem to afford but little room for the animating part of poetry, but the AUTHOR has thrown his de- fign together in fuch a manner as to receive the em- bellimments of verfe ; and, by his laborious and well- collected notes, has fo greatly affifted the poetical com- pofition, as to furnifti the moft hiftorical and concife account of Wales, and the manners, polity and language of its former and prefent inhabitants, than has hitherto been publifhed. Neither can it be alledged, that the utility of this work is too trivial to attract the attention of the public, for pofliblya great number of the Britifh fubje&s, may be hereby invited to gather a little infor- mation of fo material a tract of their native ifland as is the principality of Wales, of which the general part of the kingdom feem as entirely ignorant as they are of the late Ruffian difcoveries in the Tartarian fea. Printed for W. OWEN, Publifher, at Temple-Bar. 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