•'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:;:.3v,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 b«n 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 uprn 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<efar:
this prince, who was extremely jealous of his power,
having furprized one of his grand children reading the
life of Cato, he encouraged the boy, who wanted to
conceal the book, bidding him read on, " For Cato
" was a brave patriot, and a good man-," and
though the government of this monarch was founded
upon the ruins of the republican virtues of Cato, he
could always, with pkafure, hear his favourite poets,
Virgil and Horace, beftow theftrongejl encomiums upon
fo eminent a patriot of the common-wealth.
IT is not the true intent of hiftory, fo mucb
to load the memory of the reader with a copi-
ous collection of public records, as it is to ele?
vale his thoughts and enrich his under/landing : and
the ingenious Voltaire has delivered it as his opinion,
that hiftorians foould incorporate reflections with the
feries of events related, becauje the dry way of writing
is neither fo inftruftive or pleafmg, as when the au-
thor interfperfes a moral difquifetion, or animates the
reader by a bold and beautiful cxprfjfjion : how far the
prefent
The P R E F A C E. xy
prefent undertaking is agreeable to tbe fenthnents of
this eminent Frenchman, will be more proper to be
confidered by the reader, than aflerted by the writer.
7*0 render the work as perfpicuous as poffible, the
author has taken a method, that feemed to him the
mojl eligible, for preferring a proper connexion and
dependency throughout the iranfa£fions of every year:
for this purpofe, he has divided tbe work into feveral '
parts, every part comprizing the events of a parti-
cular year 5 thefe parts are thrown into diftinft di-
vifions, to avoid the confufjon that otherwife would
have arifen by blending tbe land and naval wars in a
promifcuous order together ; and thefe divifions are
fubdividcd into different chapters, whereby every mate-
rial atlion, independent of others, remains difentang-
led and Jlands in the mojl confpicitous fituation for
the obfervance of tbe reader ; who is alfo to take no-
tice, that tbe Englifo chronology, in beginning the
year on the 2$tb day of March, had it been purfued,
would have made it impoffible to reconcile it with tbe
dates of foreign tranjattions, becaufe mojl other nati-
ons begin the year on the ijl of January ; and there-
fore their date has been adhered to by the author.
THE
THE
'CONTENTS
OF THE
FIRST VOLUME.
FROM the commencement of hoftilities be-
tween Great Britain and Spain in 1739,
to the death of the Emperor Charles VI. in
1740. pag. i.
CHAP. I.
An introdu&ory (late of the treaties and differen-
ces fubfifting between Great Britain and Spain,
from the treaty of 1667, to the convention in
1739- pag- 3-
CHAP. II.
From the proclamation of hoftilities by the court
of Great Britain againft the Spaniards, to the
expedition againft Porto Bello. pag. 22.
CHAP. III.
The reduftion of Porto Bello and Chagre, and
Mofquito expedition againft the Spaniards.
pag. 47.
CHAP.
CONTENT?, xvi
CHAP. IV.
European tranfaftions between the courts of Great
Britain and Spain in 1740. • pag. 68.
CHAP. V.
State of the Englifh and Spaniards, in the north-
ern part of America ; and General Ogle-
thorpe's expedition againft St Auguftine ' in
1740. pag. 91.
CHAP. VI.
The fiege of Carthagena. pag. no.
PART II. In two DIVISIONS.
FIRST DIVISION.
From the death of the Emperor Charles VI. on
the 9th of October, 1740, to the end of the
campaign in 1741, pag. 169.
CHAP. I.
From the death of the Emperor Charles VI. to
the irivafion of Silefia •, containing an examin-
ation of the pretenfions of the houfes of Bava-
ria and Brandenburgh to the Auftrian fuccef-
fion. pag. 171.
C^AP. u.
from the invafion of Silefia in December 1740,
to the furrender of Brieg in 1741 •, containing
the fiege of Glogaw, and battle of Molwitz.
pag. 198.
C CHAP.
xvu
CONTENTS,
CHAP. III.
From the treaty of Nymphenburgh to the treaty
of Hanover. pag. 215.
CHAP. IV.
Military operations between the French, Bavari-
ans, Pruflians, and Saxons, againft the Queen
of Hungary, in Auftria, Bohemia, Silefia, and
Moravia ; and alfo, by the Spaniards in Italy.
pag. 238.
SECOND DIVISION.
Containing naval tranfaclions in America and
Europe, in 1741. pag. 261.
CHAP. I.
The expedition againft Cuba. ibid.
CHAP. II.
The pafiage of Comrnpdore Anfon round Cape
Hor -.. into the Pacific Ocean; the taking and
burning of Paita -, and the diftrefles the £ng-
lifh fquadron underwent in thofe feas: with
the misfortunes of Pizarro, the Spanilh admi-
ral, by attempting to follow the Englifh fqua-
dron round Cape Horn. pag. 289.
CHAP. III.
Naval tranfaftions in Europe, in 1741. pag. 323.
PART
CONTENTS, xviii
PART III. In two DIVISIONS.
FIRST DIVISION.
From the eledion of the Duke of Bavaria to the
imperial throne, to the end of the campaign in
1742. pag. 341,
CHAP. I.
The revolution of the Britifh miniftry. pag. 343?
CHAP. II.
The election of the Duke of Bavaria to the im-
perial throne; and the preparations for, and
profecution of, the campaign in Bayaria.
pag. 370.
CHAP. Ill,
Military operations in Bohemia: the battle of
Czaflaw: the reconciliation of the King of
Pruffia, and Elector of Saxony, winn the
Queen of Hungary, by the treaty of Breflaw :
and the commencement of the fiege of Prague
by the Auftrians, pag. 395.
ERRATA.
PAGE 18. L. 29. dele to. P. 23. L. 34. for that
read than. P. 30. L. 15. for Stafford read Straf-
ford. P. 32. L, 7. for of read off. P. 38. L. 7. for
order read ordered. P. 75. L. 23. dele and. P. 81.
L. 6. forpurfuing read taking. P. 85. L. 10. forout-
penfions read out-penfioners. P. 92. L. 34. for called
read call. P. 93. L. 30. for wantoning read wantonefs.
P. 119. L, 23. dele had. P. 127. L. 10. dele the laft
and. P. 135. L. 23. after him, read the. P. 147.
L. 32. for port read poft. P. 461." I* 24. for raife read
play. P< 248. L. 34. for autocracy read autocratrix.
P. 284. L. 5. dele he. P. 293. L 5. for November
read April: and L. 31. for motions read emotions.
P. 301. L. 8. for 1740 read 1-741. P. 314. L. 7. for
defigned read deigned. P. 320. for 1740 read 1741.
P. 373. L. 28. for diaators read diaator.
THE
FIRST PART:
FROM THE
COMMENCEMENT of HOSTILITIES
BETWEEN
GREAT BRITAIN and SPAIN
In M DCC xxxix.
T O T H E
Death of the Emperor CHARLES VI.
In M DCC XL.
CHAPTER I.
An introductory ftate of the treaties
and differences fubfifting between
GREAT BRITAIN and SPAIN,
from the treaty of 1667, to tne
convention in 1739.
yg FREE and unmoleftcd navi- CHAP,
gation through the feas of A. I.
merica, is an indubitable right
of the crown of England by the
Jaw of nations, immemorialiy
enjoyed, and eftablifiied by many
treaties. The violation of this right, has been the
bafis not only of the late, but many preceeding
contentions between the monarchs of Great
Britain and Spain : for the Spaniards had long
exercifed too exrenfive privileges in the feas of
America, to the manifeft detriment and preju-
dice of the Britilh trade j till at length the am-
bition of Spain was arrived to fuch an unlimic-
A * ed
4 The Condua of the Powers of Europe,'
PART ed height, and attended with fo many aggravat-
I ino- circumftances, as to diffufe a juft fpint of
*~~^> 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
<e on board, to whom the mafter or owner
*c (hall (hew his paffports and fea letters ; where-
" by not only the (hips lading, but the place
" to which (he belongs, and as well the maf-
" ter's and owner's name, as the name of the
44 (hip may appear ; by which means the quality
•' of the (hip, and her mafter or owner will be
" fufficiently known, as alfo the commodities
" (he carries, whether they be contraband or
" not; to the which paffports and fea letters,
" entire faith and credit (hall be given." And,
if it (hould appear, that prohibited goods are
on board an Englifh (hip, it is by the i5th
article of the fame treaty declared, that "Thofe
" prohibited goods are only to be feized and
" confifcated, and not the other Goods. Nei-
" ther (hall the delinquent incur any other pu-
*l nifliment, except he carry out from the do-
A 3 " minions
6 We Concha of the Powers of Europe,
PART <e minions of Spain any gold or filver, wrought
I. " or unwrought."
u— v— « ' NOTWITHSTANDING this treaty, the bucca-
neers or freebooters of America, compofed of
Englifh, French, Portuguese and Dutch, com-
mitted many piratical expeditions on the Spanifh
main -, returning to Jamaica with their plunder,
which was fo confiderable and beneficial to the
ifland, that the governors, though they did not
openly protect and encourage their undertakings,
yet were far from refufing them an afylum,
while they fpread futh a flow of treafure in the
country.
UNDOUBTEDLY the Spaniards fuftained im-
menfe lofifes from the buccaneers, for the gang
under Morgan, in their feveral expeditions,
brought to Jamaica no lefs than 950,000 pieces
of eight, befides cloth, linnen, filk, flaves and
other profitable merchandizes, to a prodigious
value.
THE Spanifh minifter prefented memorials at
the court of London, complaining of this ufage
, in America -, and though the Englifh miniftry
difpatched orders to the'u> 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 orthe 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 1713*
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 as1— 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*
J734« 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 w«re 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
only 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-
tion1, 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.je 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
'26 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^ °^ Juty» J739> 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 J739«
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
J739' 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 J739«
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-
<c dron together, and not hazard the lofir.g
" company, by their negligence." The next
day the admiral, with the whole fquadron, failed
from Portfmouth, and being at fea, on the loth
gave inftruclions to the feveral captains, " That
«« in cafe of lofing company by chafing or any
" other accident, they were to take notice,
" that the place of general rendezvous was from
" ten to fifteen leagues, N. N. W. from Cape
« Finifter."
THS
32 Tfo Conduct of the Powers of Europe.
PART THE admiral having reafbn to think, that
J. the Azogues fhips which were expected in old
— -v — J Spain, from the Weft Indies, might have receiv-
I739t ed directions to put in at the Coruna ; on the
1 5th difpatched Capt. Covi! Mayne in the Lenox,
together with the Elizabeth and Kent, under his
direction, " To cruize in fuch flation of Cape
" Finifter, as with regard to the wind he (hould
" judge moft proper, for intercepting the faid
44 Azogues (hips in their return from the W«.ft
" Indies to the Coruna, or any other part of
" Gallicia, that the captain might meet with any
" certain intelligence of their being intended for ;
*c and for that purpofe to continue their cruiz-
«' ing for thirty days, after which in cafe they
" fhould or fhould not meet with the Azogues
" Ihips, they were to return to Spithead or
" Plymouth, and to wait there for further or-
" ders, from the lords of the admiralty *," but
thefe fhips made their arrival from the Havanna,
at St. Andero, the day Admiral Vernon failed
from Plymouth. The fame day the admiral or-
dered Capt. Legge in the Pearl, " To proceed
" and cruize between Lifbon and Oporto for the
<{ fpace of one month, for the protection of
" the Britifh trade on that coaft ; and then to
" call in at Lilbon, where after a flay of ten day?,
" if necefiary, he was to convoy fuch trade as
«« were ready to fail with him to the Downs."
THE fquadron was now reduced only to the
five Ihips defigned for the Weft Indies; and
with thefe the admiral arrived at Madera on
the 22d of Auguft, where having taken in
the neceflary quantities of wine, and water, for
the ufe of the fquadron, and alfb a ftore of wine
for the hofpital in Jamaica, on the 2pth the ad-
miral delivered further inftructions to the feveral
captains,
Engaged in the late General War! 33
captains, " That in cafe of feparation by very CHAP.
" bad weather, or any other unavoidable ac- II.
'* cident, they were to make the bed of their «— — v~-^
«« way to Englifli Harbour on the ifland of An- 1719-
" tigua; and waiting there three days for the
" admiral, or further orders from him, and
" receiving none in that time, they were in
" their way, to look for him at Old Harbour in
" Monferrar, and at Back Stairs in the ifland of
'• St. Chriftopher's •, and neither meeting the
" admiral, nor orders from him there, they
" were to proceed directly to Port Royal in
" Jamaica, and wait there for his further or-
" ders-" The fame day the admiral difpatched
a letter to Commodore Brown at Jamaica, di-
recting him " To give out his orders immediately
•' for having all his majefty's fhips at that ifland^
<l put in condition to proceed to fea with the ad-
" miral as foon as pofiible -,'* and the fame night
the fquadron failed from Madera. On the 2d of
September the admiral detached the Norwich for
Barbadoes to deliver a packet from the duke of
Newcaftle to the prefident of that ifland j with
orders " To ufe his bed diligence for procuring
" the moft experienced pilot he could meet
" with there for the coait of Caraccas, and to
" endeavour to inform himfelf as particularly
" as he could, from the agent of the fouth fea
" company there, or others that might have
" frequented it, what were the ufual times for
" the (hips loading there, what were their ports
" they frequented, what fortifications they had
" for the fecurity of their refpeclive ports ; and
" in general to get the beft intelligence he could
" of all particulars relating to the courfe of the
" Spanifh trade."
VOL. I. C ON
34 ?& Conduct of tie Powers of Europe;
PART ON the 2oth of Auguft, his Catholic ma-
I. jefty publimed a manifefto vindicating his con-
W^ duct in regard to the late convention ; at the foot
J739- of which was annexed his majefty's reafons for
not paying the 95,000 /. purfuant to the ftipula-
tion, therein particularly charging the crown of
Great Britain with contravening moft of the ar-
ticles in the convention : and letters of marque
and reprizals were alfo granted to the Spaniards
againft the crown and fubjects of Great Britain.
ON the 2gd of September, Admiral Haddock
took the St. Jofeph, a rich Spanifh (hip bound
from the Caraccas, of 800 tons and 77 men ;
and on the 3d of October the fame admiral took
another rich Caracca fhip of 280 tons; the va-
lue of the two prizes amounting to feveral thou-
fand pounds ; and alfo took many other fhips
of leffer value.
Now the Britifti lyon rouzed from his apa-
thy ; the whole nation was fired with a fpifit of
refentment, well becoming the noble fentiments
of a free, brave, generous and injured people j
an univerfal abhorrence of the Spanifh barbarity
to their fellow fubje&s, filled the bread of every
honeft Englilhman with indignation, and they
loudly called for revenge.
His Britannic majefty, refolving to gratify the
unanimous defire of his fubjecls, on the i9th of
October figned a declaration of war againft
Spain ; which on the 23d was proclaimed, to the
inexpreffible fatisfaftion, and amidft the loudeft
acclamations of his fubjecls, in which no prince
ever did an aft of greater popularity.
ON the 1 5th of November the parliament af-
fembled, when his majefty went to the houfe of
peers, and opened the fefiion with a moft gracious
fpeech j importing, «« That the prefent pofture
"of
Engaged In the late General War; 35
" of affairs, had obliged him to call them to- CfcA?.
" gether fooner than had been ufual of Jate II.
" years, to have their immediate advice and ^V^
tc affiftance at that critical and important con- *739«
" juncture. That he had in all his proceedings
* with the court of Spain, afted agreeably to
* the fenfe of both houfes of parliament ; and
' therefore made no doubt but he fhould meet
' with a ready and vigorous fupport in that juft
" and necefiary war, which the repeated inju-
' ries and violencies committed by that nation
«' upon the navigation and commerce of his
;t majefty's kingdoms, and their obftinacy and
« notorious violation of the moft folcmn en-
" gagements, had rendered unavoidable. That
« he had augmented his forces by fea and land,
14 purfuant to the power given him by parlia-
' ment ; which he had done with all the mo-
:t deration that the fecurity and defence of his
«' dominions, the protection of trade, and the
«« neceflary means of diftrefiing and annoying
14 his enemies in the moft fenfible parts would
«' admit : but as thefe fervices would be varioua
«' and extenfive, they muft inevitably be at-
11 tended with great expences and fome incon-
" veniencies j which he afiured himfelf, would
1 be fuftained with fatisfadion and chearfulnef?,
" in purfuing fuch meafures as the honour and
' intereft of his crown and kingdoms, and the
•' general refentment of an injured and pro-
* voked nation, had called upon him to under-
;< take. And as in the profecution of the war
• a number of foldiers to ferve on board the
" fleet might be requifite, he had judged it
1 proper that a body of marines mould be raif-
" ed, and had directed the eftimates for that
" purpofe to bs prepared and laid before the
C 2 « houfe
36 ! tte Conduct of the Powers of Europe;
PART " houfe of commons. That the heats and ani-
I. " mofities which with the greateft induftry had
\s*V^* «« been fomented throughout the kingdom, had,
*739- " he was afraid, been one of the chief encou-
" ragements to the court of Spain to hold fuch
«' a conduct as to make it necefiary to have re-
«s courfe to arms ; and the unhappy divifions
«' amongft his fubject were the only hopes of
«4 the enemies to his government : but what-
«c ever views and projects they might form upon
44 that rupture, and what advantages foever
44 Spain might vainly promife itfelf from any
• ' circumftances in the prefent fituation of af-
44 fairs ; it was in the power of his parliament,
«« by the blefiing of God, to defeat the one and
" difappoint the other. Union among all thofe
" who had nothing at heart but the true intereft
*« of Great Britain, and a becoming zeal in the
" defencee of his kingdoms, and in the fupport
" of the common caufe of their country, with
" as general a concurrence in carrying on the
" war, as there had appeared for engaging in
" it, would make the court of Spain repent the
" wrongs they had done them ; and convince
" thofe who meant the fubverfion of the prefent
" eftablifliment, that the Britifh nation was de-
" termined and able, both to vindicate their in-
** jured honour, and to defend themfelves againft
" all their open and fecret enemies both at home
'«' and abroad-"
ON the 1 6th the houfe of lords preftnted an
addrefs to his majefty, reprefenting " The juf-
" tice and neceffity of the war againft Spain ;
44 devoting their lives and fortunes on that oc-
44 cafion to the fervice of their king and coun-
44 try; and giving his majefty their ftrongeft af-
** furance, zealoufly to concur in all fuch mea-
44 fures
Engaged in the late General Wan 37
" fures as might enable him to carry on the war CHAP.
" with that fpirit and vigour which truly become II.
" the Britim name. And that as the war was<^^^^
" undertaken not to gratify the views of reftlefs I739«
«' ambition, but to afiert and maintain the ho- „
tc nour and juft right of his majefty's crown and
" kingdoms, they doubted not but thofe pow^
" erful motives would induce all his fubjefts to
<c undergo with chearfulnefs whatever was ne-
" ceflfary in the profecuting of it : concluding,
«c that they were detemined at the hazard of all
" that was dear to them, to fupport their king
" againft all his enemies, imploring the divine
" providence to give fuccefs to his majefty's
" arms, and make them the happy means of
'* procuring a fafe and honourable peace."
ON the 1 7th the houfe of commons waited
on his majefty with an addrefs to the famepur-
pofe ; to both which addrefies his majefty return-
ed a moft gracious anfwer.
ON the 23d a great number of lords and
commons waited on his majefty with the joint
refolution of both houles, whereby it was " Re-
" folved, that an humble addrefs be prefented
" to his majefty as a dutiful return to his graci-
" ous defire of the advice of his parliament at
<c that critical and important conjuudture ; and
" as a farther teftimony of their firm refolution
** vigoroudy to fupport his majefty in the profe-
" cution of the war againft Spain, humbly to be-
" feech his majefty never to admit of any treaty
*' of peace with that crown, unlefs the acknow-
44 ledgment of their natural and indubitable
" right to navigate in the American feas to anc|
" from any part of his majefty's dominions,
«« without being feized, fearched, vifited or ftop-
11 ped, under any pretence whatfoeyerj (hould
€3 «« have
The Conduft of the Powers of Europe,
have been firft obtained as a preliminary
thereto."
THE war was entered upon with a great deal
of vigour and alacrity •, the national troops con-
fifted of 17,704 effective men, but feveral regi-
ments were recalled from Ireland, and the troops
on the Britifh eftablimment were ordered to be
augmented to 30,000 men, for which purpofe
6,000 marines were to be raifed with all expe-
dition, which together with 12,000 men re-
maining on the Irifh eftablimment, 6,000 Danes
to be taken into the Britim fervice if requifite,
and 30,000 Hanoverians, would have com-
pleated an army in the fpring of 80,000 men
under his Britannic majefty ; the navy was then
manned with 12,000 failors-, and foon after con-
fifted of 129 fhips, 78 of which were of the
line, and 34,562 feamen.
ON the 1 7th of November his Catholic majefty
publimed a declaration of war againft Great
Britain.
THUS was the fword reciprocally drawn by
both nations •, by it was to be decided, whether
the Spaniards mould continue the ufurpation of
an unlimited power in the American ocean, or
whether the fubjecls of Great Britain could not
maintain their lawful right to a free navigation.
THE Spaniards difappointed of their Ameri-
can treafure through the prudent difpofnion of
the fleet under Admiral Haddock, were greatly
impoverimed ; and in December the Pope figned
an indulto empowering his Catholic majefty to
raife two millions of crowns upon the whole
clergy of Spain,
THOUGH the fcheme to attack the Spanifli
ftttlements in the Eaft Indies, and on the coaft
of the South Seas, had been fo warmly recom-
mended,
Engaged in the late General War.
mended, and Capt. Anfon, on his return to
London, on the 1 8th of November, ordered to J^
take four men of war and a (loop under his ,,— ^
command, to proceed on that expedition ; and 1739,
though other orders were iffued for victualling
the fquadron ; yet in the beginning of January,
the captain attending the lords of the admiralty,
was informed by Sir Charles Wager, that the
expedition to Manila was laid afide ; and for
reafons with which Sir Chales, though one of
the lords of the admiralty, was unacquainted.
However, Sir Charles gave him information,
that the expedition to the South Seas was ftill
intended ; and that the fquadron under Capt.
Anfon, as their firft deftination was counter-
manded, fhould be employed in that fervice.
And on the joth of January he received his
commifiion, appointing him commander in chief
of that fquadron; for which tne commodore im-
patiently expected his inftruclions and failing
orders, as he well knew the dangers attending
the navigation of thofe tempeftuous feas, and
the difficulties in doubling Cape Horn at an inv
proper feafon ; but with which, notwithstanding
all his endeavours to avoid, he was obliged to
encounter, by being retarded greatly beyond
the proper time for failing on fo remote and ad-
venturous an undertaking.
ON the 1 6th of September Captain Knowles,
in the Diamond man of war, took and
carried into Jamaica, a fhip with 74,000 pieces
of eight, and cloathing for the garrifon of
Auguftine.
ON the 28th of September Admiral Vernon
arrived at Antigua, where the Anglefea Capt.
Reddifti, Loweftoffe Capt. Drummond, and
Saltafh floop Cap. Swanton, were Itationed for
C ^ protecting
•40 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART protecting the trade of the Leeward Iflands, and
I. as the admiral's principal view at that time was
*^V^ to intercept the galleons in their return, for which
J739- having reafon to apprehend himfelf full weak,
and though all his Britannic majefty's fhips in
the Weft Indies were under his direction, the
admiral only ordered the Anglefea to compleat
her proportion of provisions for -three months,
and to fail for Jamaica, leaving her ftation to
the Loweftoffe and Saltafh for the protection of
the ifland trade. On the 2d of Odober the
admiral arrived at St. Chriftopher's, where he
was joined by Capt. Herbert, who informed
him, " That the Spanifh trade on the Caracca
*'* coaft was limited between Laguira and Porto
«* Cavallo;'* upon this intelligence the admiral
ordered Capt. Waterhous in the Princefs Louifa,
together with the Norwich and StrafFord under
his command '• To make the beft of his way
4< for the coaft of Caraccas, taking particular
" care to fall in with that coaft to windward of
*e the port of Laguira •, and if he mould per-
" ceive any fhips to be riding there, he was
" before his coming near in, to make the fignal
" for the captains, and form his fcheme for
" attacking them, that every one might know
<c how he was to execute his part of it before
" their coming into the road, were they were
*' to ufe their beft endeavours to take, fink,
<c burn and deftroy all fuch Spanift fhips and
" veflels as they fhould find there ; and they
" were further ordered to range that coaft as
" far as Porto Cavallo afterwards, and endea,-
" vour to do the fame with all Spanifh fhips and
*« veffels that they fhould meet with, and then
*« to make the beft of their way for Port Royal
" in Jamaica." But Capt. Waterhous was far
from
Engaged in the late General War, 4*
from fuccecding to the admiral's expectations; CHAP.
for though he difcovered feventeen fail of (hips in ' II.
the port of Laguira, they were fo well defended v^-v^.
by three regular forts, that after receiving con- I7I3-
fiderable damage to the (hips, he was obliged to
retire and rejoin the admiral without effecting any
thing fignally detrimental to the Spaniards. On
the 1 5th of October the admiral in the Burford
with the Worcefter arrived at Port Royal in
Jamaica, where he was joined by Commodore
Brown in the Hampton-Court and the fquadron
under his command, fo that on this augmentation
the fleet confifted of the following mips j
Burford Ad. Vernon
Hampton-Court Com. Brown ?
Capt. Dent b
Princefs Louifa Waterhous
Worcefter Mayne
Strafford Trevor
Norwich Herbert
Sheernefs Stapylton
Windfor Berkley
Falmouth Douglafs
Blandford Burrim.
Torrington Knight
Diamond Knowles
Drake Sloop Matter
Fraternity Tender Trcnwith
The admiral immediately detached feveral of
the beft cruizers on different ftations for the pro-
tection of the ifland trade, and difpatched the
Worcefter to cruize off Cape Tiberon, and the
Blandford to cruize to windward as high up as
Cape ^.ka Vela, both on the coaft of St. Do-
mingo, to fecure the arrival of feveral (hips ex-
pected
42 We Conduft of tie Powers of Europe,
PART peeled from Great Britain and Ireland, laden
I. with naval ftores for the ufe of the fquadron.
^T^ THE factors of the South Sea company, on the
17B9- declaration of war, were detained as prisoners by
the governor of Carthagena, and the admiral in-
tending to attack fome of the Spanifli fettlements,
and wanting to procure the neceflary and beft
intelligence to promote the fuccefs of his defigns,
apprehended if he could get the releafementof the
company's factors he might obtain information of
the ftrength of the Spaniards in thofe parts, the
prefent condition of their fortifications, what mo-
tions their fhips were likely to be making, the
courfe of their trade, and in general, every thin^
the factors could think of to aflift the admiral in
diftreffing theSpaniards in their opulent provinces.
For this purpofe the admiral on the i8th of Oct.
difpatched his firft lieutenant Mr. Percival in the
Fraternity tender for Carthagena with twoSpanifh
gentlemen on board, with orders " To land Don
*' John Almanders before the town and port
" Canoa, and to deliver to him two letters from
" the admiral, the one for Don Pedro Fidalgo
*e govervor of Carthagena, and the other for
" DonBlafs de Lefo general of the galleons; but
" for the other Spanifh gentleman, Don Pedro
" Elliftagaritta, the lieutenant was not on any
" confideration to part with him, unlefsthe con-
" dition in the letters were complied with; which
" was, by the South Sea company's factors being
"' fent on board the Fraternity to return with
•' the lieutenant, in which cafe he was to put
" him on fhore ; but in failure of that, or fend-
*' ing the lieutenant no anfwer within twenty
" four hours, he was then, after having ranged
" near enough on the back of the town to dif-
** cover what (hips there was in the harbour, to
"; return
Engaged in the late General War: 43
*c return immediately to Port Royal.*' But the CHAP.
Spanilh governor refufed to releafe the Englifh II.
favors. ^— v~— J
THE admiral with the greateft vigilence and 1739-
conduct commenced hoftilities againft the Spani-
ards by taking many of their fhips ; but having
no land forces, nor a difcretionary power to raife
them in the American colonies, he was retarded
from undertaking any memorable expedition till
he was furniflied by his excellency Edward Tre-
lawny, Efq-, governor of Jamaica, with 200 fol-
diers. On receiving this weak but neceffary re-
inforcement, the admiral made the necefiary
preparations for putting to fea on an expedition
againft the Spaniards. His principal view was to
fail for and directly enter the harbour of Porto
Bello, and endeavour to deftroy all the fortifi-
cations, fo as to leave it an open defencelefs bay,
in order to prevent the Spaniards holding their
fair at all, or laying them open to future attacks if
they fhould attempt it. Admiral Vernon, tho-
roughly fenfible what advantages the Spaniards
would reap by his delaying to attack them, was
fo intent on his dtfign, that he was obliged to go
to fea much weaker than he thought neceflary
for the fervice intended, by fo many of his cruiz-
ing (hips being kept out of the reach of his or-
ders fo long. He therefore communicated his
defign to the feveral captains, and on the 3d of
November ordered Commodore Brown to wear
his diftinguifhing pendant on board the Hampton-
Court, and to be ready to proceed to fea with
the other captains on the 5th in the morning :
the whole Iquadron employed in this expedition
confided of only fix fhips of the line, in the fol-
lowing difpofition,.
Line
The Condud of the Powers of Europe,
LINE OF BATTLE.
THE Hampton- Court to lead with the flar-
board, and the Princefs Louifa with the larboard
tacks aboard, and the commodore to repeat
fjgnals.
Frigate Rate Ships Commanders Men Guns
nv» > 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 J739-
" 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
<c attacking the faid caftle: and Capt. Herbert
<c in the Norwich, after giving his fire to the
«' Iron Caftle as he paflld ir, was to make di-
«• rectly up to the caftle Sr. Jeronimo lying to
" the eaftward of the town, and anchoring as
" near as he could to ir, to batter it down ; and
" Capt. Trevor in the Strafford following the ad-
'« miral was to come to an anchor againft the
" eaftermoft part of Caftle de Ferro, and far
*c enough to the eaftward to leave room for
*« Capt. Waterhous in the PrincefsLouifa to an-
" chor aftern of him for battering the wefter-
" moft part, being to continue on that fervice to
" make themfelves maftersof it, and the young-
• ' eft officers to follow the farther orders of the
«' elder in the further profecution of the attack ;
" and if the weather was favourable for it, on
" their going in each (hip was directed, befides
" having his long-boat towing aftern, to have
^ his barge alongfide to tow the long-boats away
" with
46 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART " with fuch j)art of the foldiers as could conve-
I. " niently go in them directly on board the ad-
«— v*-'" miral, for his directing a defcent with them
1739. <« where he mould find it would mod favour the
<{ feveral attacks." And the admiral reprefented
to the feveral captains " That from the men's in-
•' experience in fervice, it was neceffary to take
" more precaution to prevent hurry and confufi-
«« on, and a fruitlefs wafte of their powder and
" fhot ; directing them all to give the ftricteft
<e orders, to the refpective officers that were to
«e command the feveral batteries, to take care
" that no gun was fired but what they, or thofe
" they particularly appointed, faw firft levelled
" and directed the firing off; and that they
" ihould flrictly prohibit all their men from hal-
<f lowing and making fuch like irregular noife,
" that would only ferve to throw themfelves into
" confufion, till fuch time as the fervice was fully
" performed and they had nothing left to do but
" to glory in their victory, which fuch confufion
" might often prevent and otherwife prove fatal
*« to them. And thofe that had the coehorn
*' mortars on board, were directed to make ufe
" of them againft the refpective forts they were
" appointed to batter and deftroy."
ABOUT the fame time the admial ordered
Capt. Stapylton in the Sheernefs for Carthagena,
" To look in on the back of the town and fee
*c whether the galleons were {till in that harbour,
" and to carefully obferve their motions ; and if
" he found them already at, or in a dilpofi-
" tion for ccming to fea, or that any men of
" war were to come to join them, then to make
*' the beft of his way for Porto Bello to give the
" earlieft advice of it he could, to prevent the
*e admiral's being furprized."
CHAP.
CHAPTER III.
The reduction of PORTO BELLO and
CHAGRE, and MOSQUITO expedi-
tion againft the SPANIARDS.
THE town of Porto Bello is fituated on the CHAP.
north fide of the famous ifthmus of Darien, m.
which running in a manner from eaft to weft be- L"V"\
teen the north and fouth feas, joins the two vaft 1739.
continents of north and fouth America. It is
about eighteen leagues from Panama, which lies
on the fouth fide of the ifthmus ; it has a commo-
dious bay about a mile deep, affording good an-
chorage and flicker for fhips, and near half a
mile broad at the mouth of the harbour. At the
entrance of the north fide of the bay on the fide
of a fteep rock flood a ftrong caftle called the
Iron Caftle, mounting 78 great guns, with a
battery beneath parallel with the water, which
mounted 22 guns ; the caftle and fort garrifoned
by 300 men. On the oppofite fide the bay, but
near a mile farther up on an afcent, ftood Caftle
Gloria, confifting of two regular baftions to the
fea, mounting 90 guns, with a curtain between
them mounting 22 guns, befides a line of eight
guns that pointed to the mouth of the harbour,
the whole defended by 400 men : a little above
this
The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
this caftle, near the other end of the town, on a
point that ran into the bay, flood fort St. Jero-
'nimo, being a kind of quadrangular redoubt,
J739- ftrongly built, well planted with cannon, and
properly defended. Under the cannon of Gloria
Caftle and FortSt Jeronimo all the fhips belong-
ing to the harbour rode at anchor ; and this de-
fence, together with the guns on the Iron Cafle,
rendered the entrance of the harbour very diffi-
cult and extremely dangerous.
AT the bottom of the harbour lies the town,
bending along the fhore like a half moon : it is
long and narrow, having two principal ftreets
befides thofe that go acrofs, with a fmall parade
about the middeof it, furrounded with pretty fair
houfes. It confifts of about 500 houfes, two
churches, a treafury, a cuftom-houfe and an ex-
change. The eaft fide is low and fwampy, and
the fea at low water leaves the fliore within the
harbour bare a great way from the houfes, which
having blackifh filthy mud (links very much, and
breeds noifome vapours through the heat of the
climate, it lying in the loth degree of north
latitude ; for this reafon it is but thinly peopled,
except at the time of the fair, which alone gives
reputation to the place, as being the market
through which all the wealth of Peru, and the
manufactures of Europe annually circulate.
THIS place was taken by the Buccaneers in
1688, but was foon refortified in a much ftrong-
er manner, had been long efteemed impreg-
nable, and was formerly told could not be taken
by a large fquadron and at lead 8,000 men, when
the Britifh {hips and failors lay rotting at the Baf-
timentos; though Admiral Vernon had afierted, in
an auguft aflembly, that he would take it with only
fix fhips of war, and to the great reputation of
the
Engaged in the late General War. 49
the Britifh arms, he now convinced the world of CHAP;
the truth of fo bold an affirmance by the reduc- III.
tion of Porto Bello with only that very force he ' /— J
had mentioned ; which he executed in the fol- I739*
Jowing manner.
ON the 20th of November, in the evening,
the fquadron came in fight of Porto Bello, having
been delayed in their pafiage by contrary winds.
There being but little wind that evening, though
a very great fwell, the admiral anchored for that
night fix leagues off the more, being apprehenfive
of driving to the eaftward of the harbour.
ON the 2ift in the morning the admiral plyed
to windward in line of battle, but the wind prov-
ing eafterly, he was obliged to confine his attack
to the Iron Fort only, clofe to which the fqua-
dron was piloted by Capt. Renton.
COMMODORE Brown in the Hampton-Court,
who led the attack, executed his part as became
an officer of experience and refolution, having
fired above 400 (hot in about 25 minutes ; and
being well followed by Capt. Herbert in the
Norwich, and Capt. Mayne in the Worcefter,
the admiral perceived that fome of the Spaniards
fled from feveral parts of the fort •, upon which
he made the fignal for the boats, in which were
about 40 failors, a company of marines and their
officers, to make the belt of their way in order to
their landing, whilft he was coming up to the
fort to batter it. The admiral luffing up as near
to the fort as he could, was welcomed with a vol-
Jey, which took place with almoft every mot:
one ftruck away the ftern of his barge, another
broke a large gun on his upper deck, a third
went through the fore-top maft, and a fourth,
pafiing through the awnings within two inches of
the main malt, "beat down the barricade of the
YOL. I. D quarter
£0 *fbe Conduct of the Powers
PART, quarter deck very near the admiral, killed three
I. men, and wounded five others, and the Spani-
vx-v^ards vainly imagined they could fink the whole
1739. fquadron \ but this was fo far from difcouraging
the Britifh feamen, that they returned the falute
in fuch a manner, that though the Spaniards fired
a few (hot amongft them they did the Engliih no
material damage afterwards, for the fire of the
admiral's fmall arms commanded the Spaniards
lower batteries and had a good effect in driving
them from thence, where they could do moft
harm, and by this means the men were alfo fe*
cured at landing, which, as the Spaniards after-
wards confefTed, was the principal occafion of
their deferring their lower batteries, the fmall
ihot from the former fhips not having reached
them, though their cannon had beat down fome
of the upper part of the fort. As the boats came
near the admiral's (hip, he called to them to go
directly on fhore under the walls of the fort in
the front of their lower batteries, though there
was no breach made . but this anfwered as was
expected, they all landed fafe except two foldiers
who were killed by fmall arms from the caftle.
In fcaling the fort walls, one man fet himfelf
clofe under an embrafure whilfl another climbed
upon his Ihoulders and entered under the mouth
of a great gun. This threw the Spaniards into fo
general a conflernation, that the officers and men
who had flood to the lower battery, threw down
their arms and fled to the upper part of the fort,
where they held up a white flag as a fignal ot
capitulating. The admiral anfwered with a
white flag ; but it was fome time before he could
flop his own men, and thofe on board the Straf-
ford Capt. Trevor which followed him, from
firing,
I*
Engaged In tie late General War. 51'
IN the mean time the feamen had climbed up CHAP.
the walls of the lower battery and ftruck the HI.
colours, and then drew the foldiers up after u— v-— J
them, to whom the Spaniards, who had retreated '739*
to the upper part of the fort, foon furrendered at
difcretion. Their number was only five officers
and 35 men out of above 300, the reft being
either killed or wounded, or having made their
efcape: they firft (hut themfelves up in a ftrong
lodgment, but upon the Englifh firing a gun
through the door, they foon opened it, and
begged for quarters.
THE fhips that went in before the admiral
were fallen to leward, fo as to be out of fight
of the Gloria Giftle ; but the admiral's fhip lying
open to this caftle, they kept firing one of their
largeft guns at him till night, but not being
within point blank, their (hot either fell fhort or
went over him, only one fhot went through the
head of his fore-top maft jufl above the rigging ;,
fo that it did no other harm.
THE admiral finding the Spaniards continued
their firing tryed fome of his lower tier at them,
which being new guns anfwered beyond expecta-
tion, carrying over the Gloria Caftle into the
town, none of the fhot falling fhort, and one of
them going through the governors houfe, fome
through other houles in the town, and one funk
a floop under the Gloria Caftle.
THIS fuccefsful beginning was attended with a
very inconfiderable lofs, there being only three
men killed and five wounded on board the ad-
miral's fhip ; the like number were killed and
wounded on board the Worcefter, and one man
had both his legs fhot off on board the Hamp-
ton-Court ; the other fhips had none killed or
wounded, and only two foldiers were fhot going
D 2 afhore,
£5 *The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART afhore, one of which died foon after of his
I. wounds.
(/V\J TnE'next morning being the 22d,the admiral
1739. went on board Commodore Brown to call the
captains to confult together, and give out the
neceffary orders for warping the (hips up the next
night in order to attack the Gloria Caftle the
night following, as it would not have been prac-
ticable to attempt it in the day time : but in this
he was prevented by the enemy's pitting up a
white flag at the Gloria Caftle, and fending a
boat with a flag of truce to the admiral, with the
governor's adjutant and a lieutenant of a man of
war, who brought the conditions figned on which,
they defired to capitulate ; which were, " That
*' the government would deliverup all the for-
" tifications, provided they might be allowed to
" march out with the honours of war, have an
" indemnity for themfelve?, the town and the
*c inhabitants, and be permitted to enjoy all the
" fliips in the harbour." This laft could by
no means be accepted, for the admiral refolved
to have all the ftiips, being the very (hips that
had done the Englifh merchants the injuries com-
plained of on thefe coafts. Accordingly the ad-
miral immediately drew up the forms on which
he would admit them to capitulation, and dif-
patched them back again, allowing them only a
few hours to take their resolution : but within the
time limited they accepted the conditions offered
them: on which «« ARTICLES OF CAPITULA-
" TION granted by Vice Admiral Vernon and
" Commodore Brown, to Don Francifco Mar-
** tines de Retez governor of Porto Bello, and
<e Don Francifco de Abarea commandant of the
" Guarda Coftas at the fame place," were pre-
pared and executed the fame day as follows.
"Engaged In tie late General War; 53
BY the firft. " The garrifon were allowed to CHAP.
** march out as defired, upon condition the king III.
** of Great Britain's troops were put into poflef- * — \r-—
" fion of Gloria Caftle before four of the clock J?39«
" that evening, and the garrifon to march out
" by ten the next morning.
44 THE inhabitants might either remove or
" remain, under a promife of fecurity for them-
*' ftlves and their effects.
2d. " THAT the Spanim foldiers might have
<c a guard if they thought it neceffary.
3d. " THAT they might carry off two can-
*' non mounted, with ten charges of powder for
4e each, and their match lighted.
4th. "THAT the gates of Gloria Caftle mould
" abfolutely be in poffeflion of the Britifli troops
44 by four of the clock; and the Spanim garrifon
" mould remain in all fufety for their perfonsand
" effects, till the appointed time for their march-
44 ing out, and to carry with them the provifions
" and ammunition neceffary for their fafety.
5th. " THAT the (hips with their apparel
'* and arms, fliould be abfolutely delivered up
" to the ufe of his Britannic majefty ; but thac
" all the officers, both foldiers and crew, mould
" have three days allowed them to retire with
" their perfonal effects ; only one officer being
" admitted on board each fhip and veffcl, to
*e take pofle(Tion for his Britannic majefty, and
" fee the articles ftrictly complyed with.
6th. " THAT provided the articles were
«* ftrictly complyed wich, and that pofTrfiion
" was given of the caftle of St. Jeronimo, in the
46 fame manner as ftipulated for the Caftle Glo-
4« ria ; then the clergy, the churches, and town
'< mould be protected, and preferved in all their
*-'. immunities and properties.
D 3
54 ^he Condud: of tie Powers of Europe,
.PART "AND that all prifoners already taken,
I. " Ihould be fet at liberty before their leaving
v^v"^ « the port."
J739- BEFORE night the admiral fentCapt. Newton,
who commanded the detachment of fold iers from
Jamaica, with about 120 of the foldiers, who
took pofTeffion of Gloria Caftle and St. Jeronimo
fort ; being the remaining fortrefles that guard-
ed the harbour; the Gloria Caftle lying juft be-
low the town, and St. Jeronimo juft above it.
THERE were in the harbour two Spanifh men
of war of 20 guns each, and a fnow ; the crews
of which, feeing the regular and bold attack
which was made on the Iron Fort, and defpair-
ing of being able to defend themfelves, fell to
plundering the town in the night of the 21 ft, and
committed great outrages on the inhabitants.
THE admiral took on board his fhips from the
feveral fortreffes forty pieces of brafs cannon, ten
brafs field pieces, four brafs mortars, and eigh-
teen brafs patteraroes ; and rendered unfervice-
able above eighty iron cannon, by knocking off
their trunnions and fpiking them up : he alfo took
on board all their (hot and ammunition, except
122 barrels of powder, which he expended in
fpringing mines, by which all the fortifications
of the town were blown up and entirely demo-
limed, and the harbour left open and defence-
Jcfs.
TEN thoufand dollars that were arrived and
defigned for paying the Spanifh troops at Porto
Bello, falling into the admiral's hands, he diftri-
buted them among the forces for their en:
couragement.
ON the 23d the admiral ordered all the cap-
tains "Not to fend any of the boats alhore, with-
" out an officer for whofe conduct they would
" be
Engaged in tie late General War. 5^
" be refponfible ; and as fecurity from plunder- CHAP.'
" ing peribns and effects was granted by the III.
" capitulation, they were ftrictly to prohibit it's \^~\r*S
" being put in practice in any fort •, and to allure I739«
" whoever attempted it, they mould not only be
" punifhed for the infraction of the capitulation,
** but be deprived of their fhare of the feveral
" captures that were fecured for a reward of
" their gallant difcharge of their duty." And
for intercepting any thing that might be coming
into or going out of the harbour without per-
miflion, the admiral gave orders " For a licu-
" tenant with a barge well manned and armed
" to be on duty on board the weftermoft fhip
ce every night, to keep guard there the whole
" night, rowing every now and then crofs the
" harbour -, and alfo a fufficient guard to be
" nightly mounted every watch to prevent fur-
«c prizes.'* The admiral, tender of the national
honour of his country, and knowing how ne-
cefiary it was for a lenient and mild ufe of his
conqueft, to cultivate a good opinion among the
Spaniards of the Britilh faith and integrity,
thereby to promote the private trade on the
coaft, and to eradicate thofe abominable notions
of Englifh heretics, villains and cruel fpoilers,
inftilled among the inhabitants by the craft and
fubtilty of the jefuits •, for this purpofe he dif-
perfed the ftricteft orders among the fquadron,
" Punctually and religioufly, inviolably to pre-
" ferve to the Spaniards, the conditions of their
«' capitulation, and the other humane conceffions
" granted to them fmce, as agreeable to the
" inclinations of his royal mafter and the nature
*e of an Englifliman."
THE admiral was joined at Porto Bello on
fhe 27th by the Diamond Capt. Knowlesi and
P4 on
$6 The Condud of the Powers of Europe,
PART on the 29th by the Windfor Capt. Berkley, and
I. the Anglefea Capt. Reddifli.
L/"V"\J THE principal engineer in the mining work
J739' was Capr. Knowles of the Diamond, afiifted by
Capt. Bofcawen ; (who defired he might ferve
in this expedition as a volunteer, his (hip the
Shoreham not being fit for the fea,) and by
Mr. Barnes, Purfer of the Worcefter, who hav-
ing been an officer in the army was very ufeful
on this occafion. Commodore Brown had the
chief direction of what was neceffary to be done
at Gloria Caftle and St. Jeronimo Fort ; and
Capt. Watfon, captain of the admiral's Ihiptook
care of the execution of all that was to be done
at the Iron Fort, where the walls of the lower
battery which confided of twenty-two guns,
were nine feet thick, and of a hard (tone, ce-
mented with fuch a fine mortar, that it was a
long work to make any impreffion in it to come
to mine at all.
ON the 6th of December Capt. Scapylton re-
turned from his cruize off Carthagena, having
taken two veflels going to that place with (tores
and provifions.
DURING the admiral's (lay at Porto Bello,
he fenx a letter to the prefident of Panama,
demanding the releafement of the factors and
fervants of the South Sea company who were
confined at that place ; in confequence of which,
the prefident of Panama fcnt an officer with
Mr. Humphrys and Dr. Wright factors, and alfo
with the fervants of the South Sea company,
who were delivered to the admiral at Porto
Bello.
THUS fell the walls of Porto Bello ; and
though the admiral was incapable of puftiing his
conqueft further up the country, yet the nati-
onal
Engaged in tbe fyfe General War^ 57
qnal benefit was very great, as the traders of CHAP.
Jamaica had now a fair opportunity to open an III.
extenfive commerce with the Spaniards, who1*. — v— ^
were fond of creeping their money over from I739*,
Panama. Mankind are at a lofs to determine
whether the conduct, the courage, or humanity
of the admiral is moft to be admired, all which
he fo peculiarly exerted, that it greatly added
to the glory of his enterprize. Nor was his be-
haviour in his private fiction, as a kind and com-
paffionate friend, lefs to be admired, which was
exemplarily inftanced to Commodore Brown ;
this commander had rendered himfelf highly
culpable by an improper ufe of his Britannic
majefty's orders for making reprizals on the Spa-
niards ; but the admiral on his arrival at Jamaica,
notwithstanding the late imprudence of the com-
modore, ftill retained a good opinion of his a-
bilities as a faithful and experienced naval officer :
incited therefore by a defire to reinftate him in
his former reputation, and influenced through that
natural generofity ever infeparable from the brave
and honeft man, and by a regardful indulgence
to an ancient friend, the admiral permitted him
to continue his rank in the fquadron, beflowed
en him the fecond place in command in the ex-
pedition againll Porto Bello, and after giving him
an opportunity of re-eftablifhing his character by
his fervices there j the more effectually to cor-
roborate him in the public efteem, the admiral
alfo permitted him to fign the articles of capitu-
lation, which he was no otherwife privileged to
do than by the indulgence of the admiral.
TH E principal point next in view was to diftrefs
the galleons even in Carthagena, by preventing
their being lupplied with any naval (lores and
provifions, of which they flood in great necefiity.
The
58 The Conduct of tie Powers of Europe;
PA RT The admiral therefore on the nth of December,
I. ordered Capt. Knowles in the Diamond cc To
(ixvv ft. accompany the fquadron till their arrival as far
J739- " to windward as Carthagena, and to cruize
" there for intercepting any fupplies, and ob-
'« ferving the galleons." On the igth the vice
admiral with his fquadron failed from Porto
Bello on his return for Jamaica; and having rea-
fon to apprehend, from the intelligence brought
by Capt. Reddifli, that the Ferrol fquadron
might be in thofe feas ; on the i^th the admiral
gave orders to all the captains, " Not on any
" confideration to hazard lofing company with
" the flag ; and that in cafe of feparation, the
" firft place of general rendezvous for twenty-
'* four hours would be under Point a Canoe -, but
" not feeing any thing of the admiral in that
tc time, they were to make the beft of their way
a for the next general place of rendezvous at
'< Port Royal." Being of? Carthagena, on the
28th the admiral fent Capt. Renton in the Spa-
ni(h fnow called the Triumph, for England, with
the agreeable news of his fuccefs at Porto Bello ;
the fquadron was afterwards difperfed by hard
gales of wind, but after fuffering in their mafts
and rigging, they at lad all joined the admiral
at Port Royal. \
1740. HAD Admiral Vernbn made no further pro-
grefs in fupporting the honour of the Britifh
arms no one could blame him, but thofe perfons
only were culpable who ought to have fent fome
land forces with him, nay did not give him fo
much as any command over the few troops that
were difperfed in feveral parts of the Weft Indies.
Whatever difficulties were thrown in his way to
retard the fuccefs of his victorious fquadron, the
admiral with a magnanimous refolution endea-
voured
Engaged in tie late General WaK 59
voured to furmount them all ; for on his return CHAP.
to Jamaica, the principal care of the admiral was III.
to equip his fleet with the utmoft expedition for
another enterprize. Having made the neceffary
preparations for putting to fea with the (hips fit
for fervice, and leaving the Hampton-Court,
Worcefter, Diamond, and Torrington at Jamai-
ca, under the command of Commodore Brown,
for the fecurity of the ifland and (hipping, with
the necefiary orders in cafe of their coming to be
attacked by any fuperior force of the enemy, in
what manner to defend them ; and alfo orders to
refit theBurford,and fend her to join his fquadron
as foon as poflible ; on the 25th of February the ad-
miral, having a defign to bombard Carthagena and
afterwards todifturb the Spaniards in Fort Chagre,
a little to the S. W. of Porto Bello, failed from
Port Royal in the StrafTord, with the Princefs Lou-
ifa, Windfor, Norwich, Falmouth, and Green-
wich men of war-, Succefs, Cumberland, Eleanor,
Alderney, Terrible, Brig, Pompey, Goadly
frigates, fire-fhips, bombs, and tenders: having a
favourable wind on the i (I of March, he got fight
of the high land of St. Martha on theSpanifti main,
and ordered Capt. Windham in the Greenwich
" To ply up in the night, and lie to windward
" of the port, for intercepting any thing that
" might be coming in there the next day/' The
admiral then bore away with an eafy fail for Car-
thagena. On the 3d in the evening, he anchor-
ed with the fquadron before the town in nine fa-
thom water, in the open bay called Pl.iya Gran-
de ; and on the 6th he ordered in all the bomb
ketches, and the fmaJl mips and tenders for co-
vering and affixing them, and continued bom-
barding till nine 1,1 the morning. The fquadron
received no damage from the town, but the
}t^-.. fhells
6o ?& Conduct of the Powers 0/ Europe;
PART fhells fell there pretty fuccefsfully, particularly
I. into the principal church, the jefuits college, the
V«rv^ cuflom-houfe, beat down feveral houfes between
1740. them, and a (hell that fell into the fouth baftion
filenced a battery of ten guns there for a long
time. The inhabitants were in the utmoft con-
fternation ; but the fquadron was too inconfider-
able to attempt giving them any further annoy-
ance : the admiral therefore on the 4th gave or-
ders to the feveral captains, " That in cafe of
*c feparation after leaving their prefent ftation off
" Carthagena, they were to make the beft of
ce their way to the next general place of ren-
" dezvous, either in the harbour of Porto Bel-
" lo, or off the mouth of the river Chagre,
<c in the bay to the eaftward of it; and on
the 9th drew off his bomb-ketches and fmali
craft, weighing with his fquadron on the loth
in the morning. After making the fignal for
the line of battle, he coafted the fhore towards
Boca Chica, and at this time made proper ob-
fervations to regulate any future defcent intend-
ed againft Carthagena ; while the Spaniards fired
at him from the three fmall caftles without Boca
Chica, but none of their fhot reached him.
Having received intelligence that Don Jofeph de
Herrera in theVizara, a Spanifh man of war, had
received orders from Don Blafs to come and join
him at Carthagena, together with the St. Juan
another Spanim man of war, and a fnow ; the
admiral on the pth ordered Capt. Berkley in the
"Windfor, with the Greenwich Capt. Wyndham,
<< To cruize off the port of Carthagena for
" twenty days, to intercept, take or deftroy the
" faid men of war, but principally to watch the
" motions of the galleons." The admiral made
fail for Porto Belloa to repair there the damage
received,
Engaged in tie late General Wan 6l
received by the fmall craft. On the i3th, being CHAP.
joined by Capt. Knowles in the Diamond, the III.
admiral ordered him " To go on board thev-**Y^/
'< Succefs firefhip, and accompanied with the I74°»
*' Brig tender to get off the mouth of the
'* Chagre, and there ufe the beft of his judg-
«* ment in getting all proper information, how
" the fort at the mouth of that river could be
" attacked, either by bombardment or canno-
" nading •, and particularly to inform himfelf
" of the foundings and depth of water there-
41 abouts, to be certain how near any of the
" (hips could approach ; and to obferve what
" convenient landing places might be near; and
'« return to the admiral as foon as conveniently
" he could, who would be making an eafy fail
«e after him to lie off the faid river, till he
" Ihould receive his information to form the fu-
" ture plan of operation on.'* The next day
the admiral anchored with his fquadron in Porto
Bello harbour, and on the 1 8th detached the
Succete and Eleanor " To cruize off the mouth
*' of the river Chagre for feven days, or till
" the fquadron mould fooner appear off there,
" for preventing the Spanifh privateer floops
•' from putting to fea from thence, or inter-
" cepting any thing that might be coming or
" going there." The Strafford and Norwich
and all the fmall veflels being watered, the ad-
miral got them out to fea on the 22d, leaving
orders with the Louifa and Falmouth «« To
" haften in compleating their watering and fol-
" low him •," but an accident in the fore-top fail
yard of his (hip the StrarTord retarding her
progrefs, he ordered Capt. Herbert in the Nor-
wich " To make all the fail he could, and en-
*' ter the harbour of Chagre before him with
•« the
*fhe Conduct of the Powers o
" the bomb-ketches and all the fire-fhips and
" tenders under his orders, and Capt. Knowles
|<C as engineer on board the bomb-ketches, for
1740. " placing them to play on the caftle of St. Lo-
" renzo, at the mouth of the river Chagre 5
«« and to cover them with his own fhip and the
" reft. The fame day Capt. Knowles got to
an anchor by three in the afternoon, and began
bombarding and cannonading that evening, by
ten at night the admiral got alfo to an anchor
with his own flhip the Straffbrd •, as did the Fal-
mouth and Princefs Louifa that followed him
the fame night. They continued bombarding
and cannonading with three fhips, firing lei-
furely only from their lower tier till Monday the
24th, when the Spaniards hung out a flag of
truce from the fort, the admiral anfwered it
from his own (hip, ftopt all things as foon as pof-
fible, and fent Capt. Knowles afhore, who foon
returned with Don Juan Carlos Gutierer de
Ranettas, caflillanor or governor of the fort, to
whom the admiral granted the following capi-
tulation.
ift. " THAT upon his Britannic majefty's
" troops being put into immediate pofleflion of
" the Fort St. Lorenzo, the caflillanor and all his
" garrifon fhould be at free liberty to march out
** without any moleftation, and retire into the
" village of Chagre or where elfe they pleafed.
2d. " THAT the inhabitants of Chagre might
" remain in all fafety in their habitations, under
" a promife of fecurity to themfelves and their
" houfes.
3d. " THAT the guarda cofia floops ihould
" be delivered up to the ufe of his Britannic ma-
" jefty in the condition they were, and the king
" of Spain's cuftom-houfe,
4th
Engaged in the late General Waf: 6 j
4th. " THAT the clergy and churches in the CHAP.
" town of Chagre fhould be protected and III.
" preferved in all their immunities.*' < — v~— '
THE capitulation being thus fettled and agreed 17^>
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 in§ 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
<c belonging to his majefty's fubjects, for the pre-
" fervation of which his majefty entered into that
" neceffary war.*' . In anfwer to which his ma-
jefty was 'moft graciouQy pleafed " To thank
" them for their dutiful congratulation on this
" fuccefs of his arms, which was fo much for the
" honour and intereft of his crown and king-
<c dom j and that the fatisfaction they expreffc;4
£3 " ia
70 lie Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART " in the meafures he had taken was very agree-
I. " able to him."
--V-— ' ON this occafion the city of London prefented
1740. an addrefs to his majefty, to congratulate him on
the glorious fuccefs of Admiral Vernon : they re-
prefented " That the execution of this import-
*' ant fervice, with fo fmall a force and with fo
" much intrepidity, would greatly redound to
«c the reputation of his majefty*s arms, and ftrike
" a terror into the enemy, who would by expe-
tc rience be convinced (whatever mifhken noti-
" ons they might have formed from England's
*' long forbearance^ that the maritime power of
" Great Britain being at length exerted, was able
" effectually to vindicate the glory of his ma-
" jefty's crown, revenge the injuries of the peo-
*' pie, and retrieve the honour of the Britifh flagj
ct alluring his majefty that they would chearfully
*' contribute to the utmoft of their abilities, in
" fuppOrt of a war fo necefTary for the protection
" of their long injured trade, and entered into
" at the unanimous defire of his majefty's fub-
*' jecls." To which addrefs his majefty was pleafed
to make anfwer, " I thank you for your congratu-
«« lation j you have no reafon to doubt but that
ct in all my meafures, as I have hitherto had, fo
" I fhall continue to have a due regard to the
*« honour and intereft of my crown and king-
" dom, and to the fafetjwland protection of all
" my fubjcas."
THE parliament voted " That the thanks of
*J both houfes fhould be tranfmitted to the ad-
*' miral for his eminent fcrvices ;" and the citi-
zens of London, as a farther mark of diftinclion,
voted him the freedom of that city, to be pre-
fented in a gold box.
THE
Engaged In the late General War. 7 r
THE parliament was now at the clofe of its laft CHAP;
fedion, and bufily engaged in granting the IV.
necefifary fupplies for the current year, the more v__ ^^
vigorously to enable his maj^fty to profecute the 1740.
war. On the commencement of the war fix new
regiments of marines were commiffioned of 1,000
men each, for the raifing of which the houfe of
commons now voted 1 1 8,ooo/. and the number of
troops on the Britifh eftablifhment for the year
1740, was ftipulated at 28,852 men, including
the invalids and the highland regiment.
His Britannic majefty intending to vifit his
German dominions, on the 1 2th of May nomi-
nated the archbifhop of Canterbury, the lord
chancellor, earl of Wilmington, lord Hervey ;
the dukes of Dorfet, Grafton, Richmond, Bolton,
Devonfhire, Montague, and Newcaftle; the earls
of Pembroke, and Iflay ; Sir Robert Walpole,
and Sir Charles Wager, to be lords Juftices
during his abfence. The next day his majefty
embarked for Holland, and landed at Helvoet-
fluys on the 24th, when he proceeded to Hanover;
and during his continuance there, his majefty
concluded a treaty of alliance with prince Wil-
liam, landgrave regent of Hefle Caflel, by which
the latter " Was to keep in readinefs 4,800
" foot and 1,200 horfe, for four years for his
" majefty's fervice, for which the landgrave was
" to have an annual fubfuly of 250,000 bank
** crowns.*'
ON the pth of April Vice Admiral Balchen
failed from Plymouth Sound, with a fquadron of
four fhips of the Jine, and (leered directly for
Cape Finifterre, where he was joined by two
other men of war cruizing off that ftation to
intercept the retnrn oftheaflbgue mips to old
Spain j but Don Pizarro the Spanilh admiral who
E 4 convoyed
72 *Tbe Conduct: of the Powers of Europe,
PART convoyed them, received intelligence by an ad'
I. vice boat of the fituation of this fquadron ; and
c^/-^. inftead of purfuing the ufual courfe from La vera
J74°* Cruz by the Madeira or Canary iflands, failed
north about by the Bahama's, then weftward till
within fight of Ireland, fo by the Lizard and the
coaft of France through the bay of Bifcay, efcap-
ing the vigilance of the EngHfh fquadrons then
cruizing off Cadiz, Cape Vincent, and Cape Fi-
nifterre, and arrived at St. Ahdero laden with an
immenfe treafure.
AT the fame time the Spaniards equipped a
ftrong fquadron under the command of Admiral
Pintado, in queft of Admiral Balchen -, and as
his force was greatly fuperior to the Englifh, the
Spaniards expected no lefs than their total defeat :
but the Spanifh admiral, either through impru-
dence or accident, never came up with the Eng-
lifh fleet, which the Spanifh court imputing to a
neglect of orders he was afterwards difgraced.
ADMIRAL Haddock, from his character and
the whole tenor of his former behaviour, had
given many fignal and inconteftable proofs of his
courage and abilities ; and was univerfally allow-
ed, worthy the important command of fo potent
a fleet as the Britim crown had then in the Me-
diterranean. This fleet had a long time blocked
up the Spanifh fquadron in the bay of Cadiz, but
on an information that the Spaniards intended to
invade the ifland of Minorca, Admiral Haddock
failed up the Mediterranean to prevent the execu-
tion of fuch a defign ; this opened the port of
Cadiz, the Spanifh fquadron confiding of nine
men of war and two frigates, on the i8ch of
March favoured by the darknefs of the night, ,
efcaped to Ferrol, and joined another fleet af-
Jembled in that port intended for the Weft
Indies,
"Engaged In tie late General War.' 73
Indies, with a confiderable number of troops and CHAP.
a large quantity of warlike (lores and provifions. IV.
THE Spaniards having drawn a great number L^VNJ
of troops together in Galicia, at firft intended by 174°-
the a;Tiftance of this fleet to make a defcent cither
in England or Ireland ; the duke of Ormond was
fent tor to undertake the command, but he ho-
nourably refuted to affift the enemies of his native
country on fo important an occafion. Thefe
troops remained on an uncertain fituation till
they were greatly diminifhed, and the Spanifti
miniftry too lately perceived the impracticability
of fuch a defign for want of all things neceflary
for fuch a purpofe, even if there had been no
Britifh fleet to oppofe their embarkation.
THE appearance of Admiral Haddock on the
coaft of Minorca, fufficiendy reprefied any ex-
pedition formed againft that ifland : the admiral
with indefatigable diligence protected the mer-
chants vefTe's from the innumerable fwarms of
Spanifh privateers in the Mediterranean, and
took two of the Spanifh tranfports bound for
Majorca, with a great number of foldiers on
board.
Itt April the Princefla, a Spanifh man of war
of feventy guns, commanded by Don Parlo Au-
guftino de Gerra, having on board 500 failors
and 200 marir.es, the firfl lieutenant and many
of them Irifhmen, was taken near the bay of
Cadiz by three Englifh men of war, after an ob-
(linate and bloody refiftance of fix hours, and
foon after the Princefla arrived at Portfmouth.
THE convoying of the Spanifh treafure from
the Indies was rendered very precarious by the
ftation of the Britifh fleets, and the finances of
Spain being reduced to a bad condition, their
warlike projects were retarded, or entirely fuf-
pended
74 ?be Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART pended, for want of money, To that his Catholic
I. majefty was obliged to demand from the college
L/"VNj of commerce at Cadiz, a loan of one million of
1740. piaftres, which the college at firft fcrupled to
comply with, but afterwards agreed to a loan of
800,000, to enable his majefty to equip the uni-
ted fquadrons of Cadiz and Ferrol, then lying in
the laft mentioned port •, on which an order was
iffued for this formidable armament to be ready
to fail at an hour's warning. The Spaniards, to
facilitate the deftination of their fleet for America,
flill publickly gave out at Madrid that a defign
was formed againft Scotland or Ireland, thereby
imagining to keep on the Britifh coafts thole
fquadrons that ought to be employed for infefting
4 the coafts of Spain.
THE inhabitants of Spain, had for fome years
been greatly oppreffed by their different miniiters,
who continued in purfuing fuch meafures as they
knew were prejudicial to the profperity and in-
tereft of the people ; and in thefe views they
obftinately perfifted to gratify the pride of their
ambitious queen. Alberoni pillaged the nation to
procure a regal eftablifhment in Sicily ; Ripperda
plundered them to gain Parma and Placentia ;
Patinho fleeced them to perform whac the others
had only projected ; and Campillo owed his re-
putation to his extorting from an already ex-
haufted people, the fupplies demanded for ex-
ecuting the plan of his predecefibr ; while the
Spaniards fuggefted the fame difmal apprehen-
fions from the politics of his fucceflbr ; for what
could they expect from the Schemes of a mini-
fter, only fupported by, and neceflarily devoted
to, the precarious and ambitious humour of a
tyrannical and imperious queen ? furely nothing
but a languid impoverilhment 3 for this princels
had
'Engaged in tie late General War. 75
had ufurped an abfolute afcendancy over his CHAP-
Catholic majefty, fhe alone handled the fceptre, IV.
and fupported the weight of royalty ; while the "-^V^^
regal hufband abandoned his dignity, fupinely i74°»
and inglorioufly to trifle away thofe important
hours, which the duty incumbent on a king,
(hould have devoted to the ftudy and promotion
of the intereft and happinefs of that people pro-
vidence had committed to his care. This un-
worthy delegation of the royal authority, did
not fail of alarming the Spaniards, by prefent-
ing before their eyes that melancholy profpect
they unavoidably expected from fo perverted an
adminiftration, and the infurmoumable lofs that
muft confequently enfue and mod fenfibly affect
them, by a deprivation of their moft beneficial
trade with Great Britain. Struck with an appa-
rent concern, at the complaints and difaffection
of the Spaniards, the court of Madrid, confci-
ous of their inability folely to fupport a war
againfl the crown of Great Britain, immediately
had recourfe to their fecret friend and ally,
and addrefling the court of France for affiftance
againft fo formidable an enemy ; and this they
might have reafonably expected, from a power
whofe views and intereft are chiefly confined to
promote a difunion and aggravate difientions be-
tween the Britifh and Spanifh monarchies ; but
though the Marquis de las Minas, the Spanifh
embaffador at Paris, ftrongly follicited the aflif-
tance of France, it was for the prefent politicly
refufed ; for the important crifis was not yet ar-
rived for the French miniftry uo throw off the
mafk of peace and friend ihip with the Britifh
nation, fufpending the blow till the wealth of
that power had been fufficiemly exhaufted and
her power diminished * 1'rke an invidious croco-
dile,
7 6 %<? Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART dile, France lay cautioufly waiting a more fa-
I. vourably opportunity to declare her enmity -, an
vxv^ affected neutrality rilled her ports with com-
J74°- merce, her provinces with plenty, and her trea-
fury with that profufion of opulence which after-
wards enabled her to maintain fuch potent ar-
mies, and make fuch valuable acquifitions, as to
threaten the fafety and endanger the liberty of
all Europe. From the Britifh conquefts in Ame-
rica, the court of Spain ftill more perceptibly
found their inequality to continue the war, with-
out the concurrence of France •, and loudly
complained at the pacific conduct of the court
of Verfailles, where the Spanifh minifter infifting
that France was bound to appear openly in the
vindication and favour of Spain, and by his
frequent repetitions on a fubject, at that time,
fo unharmonious to the ears of Cardinal de
Fleury, he was, through his influence, recalled,
and even difgraced ; a furprizing inftance of
his eminency's fuperintendency over the cabinet
of Madrid, and how abfolutely that court was
fubmifiively devoted to the policy of France.
THE defigns of the French miniftry were
too impervious to be penetrated by the Spa-
niards, their motives had a very different ten-
dency than to the fervice and intereft of Spain,
and the deluded court of Madrid was only em-
ployed and actuated by France, as a neceffary
utenfil to pave the way to that unlimited great-
nefs her ambition was ever foaring. True, in-
flamed by this ambition, France has often fpread
war and delegation round the regions of Europe ;
yet is it not lefs certain, that her neceffity has
frequently opened a fimilar fcene of havoc and
devaftation ; for when the plains of France fmile
jn the ferenity of peace, when plenty crowns her
fields,
Engaged in the late General War. 77
fields with golden harvefts, and her exuberant CHAP,
vineyards are filled with autumnal clutters, amid IV.
thefe fcenes of pleafure and abundance the poor^— v— • '
peafant can neither gratify his hunger, indulge *-74°'
his third, nor cloath his body to preferve it from
the heat of fummer, or fecure it from the incle-
mency of winter ; this gripe of poverty creates a
defire of war among the ruftics ; war, if it is not
to them as it was to the Lacedaemonians, a plea-
fure, is certainly a relief, as it frees them from
the moft parfimonious kind of diet, yields them
the military cloathing, and a fuftenance infinite-
Jy more comfortable from the royal allowance :
the merchants are never averfe to a war againft
England or Holland, as their (hips fvvarm on the
feas in much greater numbers than the French,
and give them an opportunity of increafing their
fortunes by the fuccefs of their privateers : the
nobility and gentry of France are ever arduous for
a war, as their patrimonial fortunes are generally
too (lender to fupport their quality, which receives
an additional luftre from any important command
in the army ; and the kings of France have long
founded their intereft on a vigorous and tranfienc
war; fo that war is univerfally the intereft of the
whole kingdom of France, and the fhorter its
duration the more advantageous it proves ; for
by a permanent, though fuccefsful, war, the force
of France would be reduced and the nation im-
poverilhed, as their trade is too inefficient to af-
ford the neceflfary fupplies, and by a reduction of
the royal finances the king would be unable to
maintain his army. Hence ic appears that the
views of France, both in war and peace, though
effected by different motives, terminate by the
fame caufe, neceflity. It was this necefilty com-
pelled the French to ratify the treaty of Utrecht,
no
Conduct of tie Powers of Europe,
no other, efpecially with regard to Great Britain *
for that treaty was fo far from reconciling the
'oppofite interefts of the two crowns, that every
1740. motive of competition ftill fubfifted between
them, they were ftill rivals in trade and adver-
faries in religion, and the fame effects are always
to be expected from the fame caufes. From that
day the French were induftrioufly engaged in re-
pairing the ruins of a long and deftruclive war,
in reftoring credit, and re-eftablifhing trade,
protracting their fcheme of univerfal monarchy,
till they mould be able to profecute it with vi-
gour ; and appeared wholly employed in the bu-
fmefs of traffic, and the arts of peace, that they
might lull the world in negligence, and furprize
the neighbouring powers in their fecurity with an
unexpected burftofinvafion. They found them-
felves in a condition almoft ready to ftrike the
blow for univerfal monarchy, and were only im-
peded through theapprehenfions of the formation
of too potent a confederacy to obitruct their am-
bition ; in this the court of Great Britain, the houfe
of Auftria, and the States General, were the molt
natural allies ; and therefore to feize the moft
convenient opportunity privately to diftrefs, di-
vide, amufe, and deceive thefe powers, was the
principal aim of the politics of France. Accord-
ingly, the foundation of her afpiring greatnefs
was laid by the war between Great Bricain and
Spain, which the French miniftry had indefati-
gably promoted, by encouraging the Spaniards
to continue their unjuft depredations on the Erg-
lifh in the Weft Indies, fomenting the diffentions,
and exaggerating on the differences exifting be-
tween the two crowns, and promifing the court
of Madrid afliftance and relief; which after the
departure of the marquis de lasMinas from Paris,
they
Engaged in tie late General Wai\ 79
they put in execution, by fending a ftrong fqua- CHAP.
dron from Breft and Toulon under the marquis IV.
de Antin to Martinico, one of their fettlements <— • v— J
in the Weft Indies, with fecret orders not only 174Q>
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 J7^°»
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
I74°« 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
S4 ^ 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 5oc > 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 for4
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
J74°« 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 Spaniard1?, 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 J74°*
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^ i74Ot
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, I74°'
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, J740-
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 J74°*
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 I74°»
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
J74°- 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, that1— 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
J74C" 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 I74°-
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
J74O' 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 174I
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
16°°
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 24rh, 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
J741' 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 J74K
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
I74I- 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
i74I« 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 I74I-
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
<c at once, and expofe them the more to the fire
" of the (hips; he was alfo particularly directed,
" not to fufifer any imprudent or hafty firing
" from the (hips, and to endeavour to convince
*' the men that fuch folly only ferves to em?
" bolden an enemy inftead of difcouraging
VOL. I. R " them.
The Condud of the Powers of Europe,
" them. And the rear admiral was likewife,
" in his orders in writing, to afilgn to each par-
ticular captain the poft he was to rake, and
1741. «* the orders he was to execute; and alfo to
" order his refpe&ive captains, to acquaint their
*' refpeclive (hips companies, that the whole of
" all booty to be made by land, was gracioufly
*c granted by his Britannic majefty to be dif-
" tributed among his fea and land forces, as
" fhould be agreed on by a council of war of
" fea and land officers, which had accordingly
*' met and regulated the diftribution thereof,
" and had allotted a double mare to any non-
" commiffion or warrant officer or private man
f* that might happen to be wounded in the
<£ fervice ; and the rear admiral was further di-
** reeled to aflure of a further reward from the
<< vice admiral, out of his (hare, all who mould
" eminently diftinguifli themfelves by any ex-
<e traordinary actions of prudence and bravery,
?' befides a fecured advancement proportiona-
ct ble to their zeal and refolution exerted on fo
" fignal an occafion, for the honour of the
?l crown and future prqfperity of their coun-
*' try."
AFTER ififuing thefe orders to Sir Chaloner
Ogle, and alfo that part of them as related to
the divifion of the booty to Commodore Lef-
tock •, the vice admiral aflembled a general
council of war, compofed of the four principal
officers of the army, and of the four principal
officers of the navy, who having received and
carefully weighed the reports of the general of-
ficers who had been reconnoitring the town,
and the Captains Knowles and Cooper, unani-
moufly refolved, " That Sir Chaloner Ogle
ff (hould the n,ext morning fall down with his
" divifir
Engaged in the tatt General War. 131
" divifion to the mouth of the harbour, and fend CHAP.
" three eighty gun (hips, the Norfolk, Shrewf- VI.
" bury, and Ruffe), to batter the forts of St v— -v-— <
" Philip and St Jago, while the Princefs Amelia I74I-
" fired againft the Fafcine battery, and the
" Litchfield againft the little battery of Cham-
" ba." The general afterwards aflembled a
council of war of land officers, when a difpofi-
tion was made for landing the troops, which
was, the grenadiers to be firft landed, and to
befuftained by a brigade, commanded by Briga-
dier Guife and Colonel Wolfe.
ON the 9th Sir Chaloner Ogle, having mifted
his flag on board the Jerfcy, accompanied with
General Wentworth, moved forward with his
divifion for executing the attack againft the forts
and batteries on Terra Bomba •, the vice admiral
weighed and moved after him with his divifion
and all the tranfports, leaving Commodore
Leftock with his divifion at anchor behind. The:
vice admiral embarked all the grenadiers in the
firefliips in (bore, as if he propofed landing there
that morning, but ordered them to follow him
in time, to be ready for landing that evening to
leeward. The fmall fort of Chamba fired a
few guns, but was deferted as (oon as the Ihip
ported there could take her ftation and begin
to fire. At the Fafcine battery the Spaniards
had not yet had time for getting any guns
mounted, fo there was no fire from thence ; and
at noon the Norfolk, Rufiel and Shrewfbury, be-
ing judicioufly anchored very clofe under the forts
of St Jago and Sc Philip, made fo warm a fire,
that in lefs than an hour they mattered them fuffi-
ciently, and drove every Spaniard out of them,
fo as to enable the mips to make good a defcenc
with 500 grenadiers, commanded by Lieutenant
R 2 Colonel
132 The Conduft of the Powers of Europe,
, PART Colonel Cochrane, under the walls of thofe
I. forts, who about eight o' clock took poffefiion
t- — .— — ' of both of them, \vichout having fo much as a
174I- fingle mufkct fhot fired at his men. General
Wentworrh, with Brigadier Guife and Colonel
Wolfe, attended the landing of the grenadiers,
but the brigade did not come down till the day
following, being prevented by the (hong breezes.
This fucct-fs was obtained by the lofs only of fix
men killed and wounded aboard the Norfolk
and Ruffe!, but the Shrewfbury, lying fouther-
moft, had her cable cut by theSpanifh fhor, and
before- fhe could let down another anchor, fall-
ing to leeward, drove towards the mouth of
the harbour, where fhe lay expofed to the whole
fire of the Spaniards, having two fafcine batte-
ries on the Barradera fide, the forts of Boca
Chica and Sc Jofeph, with four men of war of
fixty and ieventy guns that were moored athwart
the mou h of the harbour, all firing at her to-
gether with about 160 guns, which the Shrewf-
bury could return only with twenty-fix •, in this
fnu.ttion Capt. Townfend, who commanded her,
choie to maintain his poll, like a brave gallant
officer, rather than retire in view of the enemy,
where he lay engaged feven hours, maintaining
a very good fire from his (hip, till night com-
ing on put a flop to the Spanifh fire, when the
Shrewibury had orders to retire, after having
twenty men killed and forty wounded, fixteen
fhot between wind and water, 250 fhot in her
hull, and her mafts yards and rigging (hot all
to pieces. About nine the lame evening the
bomb ketches were curried in Ihore, and began
to play upon Boca Chica cattle. The ioth by
noon the two regiments of Harrifon and Went-
\vorth, and the fix regiments of marines landed
without
Engaged in the late General War. 133
without oppofition, and then all the boats and CHAP.
great numbers of feamen were kept conftantly VI.
employed in landing the artillery, ordnance <— — v— -J
flores, tents and baggage. After fuch a fa- '741-
vourable defcent, this luccels mould have been
pufhed forward by the land forces with all poffi-
ble vigour, as nothing could more intimidate
the Spaniards, than for part of the troops im-
mediately to have advanced and took poft upon
the upper grounds, to cover their motions and
Jay thofe of the Spaniards open to them •, and for
the whole body to be advancing after them, as
faft as they could cut their way through the
woods, to go acrofs to the infide of the harbour,
as the Spaniards fear of having their troops made
prifoners in Boca Chica, would have greatly lef-
fened their numbers in the oppofition ; and of
this General Wentworth, on the nth, was ap-
prized jointly by the vice admiral and Sir Chalo-
ner Ogle, on their perceiving the flow progrefs
of the engineers and lazinefs of the foldiers,
which could not fail of giving them uneafinefs, as
they dreaded many fatal confequences from delays.
On the 1 2th the Ludlow-Caftle got in to play on
the caftle of Boca Chica from a mortar (he had
on board; on the 131!! they began to play on
the cattle from a bomb battery on Ihore, erected
between the forts St Philip and J^go ; and on the
1 5th at noon they completed the landing of all
the artillery and ordnance ftores, and twelve
twenty-four pounders lent out of the fhips at the
general's requeir.
THE troops, during the firft three days they
were afhore, remained very inactive in forming
their encampments, {landing expofed to the vio-
lent heat of the fun on a white burning fand, and
Catching cold by the inclemency of the nighc
dews,
134 72k Conduft of the Powers of Europe,
PART dews, many of them fell fick ; whereas, had
I. they been inflantly employed to have opened
— -v— ' ground in the woods for an encampment, they
*74I- would have been maded by the trees, freed from
the burning heat of the fand, and many of them
preierved from the (hot of the Spaniards. The
camp was pitched on a low fand, and being
flickered from the Barradera battery by the rock
that fort St Philip flood on, could not be feen,
but lying in the line of direction of the mot fired
from thence by the Spaniards at the bomb bat-
tery, was often flanked by (hot that miffed the
bomb battery. Sicknefs was encreafed among
the forces on fhore, the engineers were both ig-
norant and dilatory, and nothing material was
executed : this occafioned complaints from the
vice admiral, efpecially as he had ditpofitions to
make to forward the fuccefs of the expedition,
tint were to be regulated by the operations of the
army, fuch meafures requiring pofmve informa-
tion to found them upon j and Brigadier Went-
worth returned him the melancholly account of
being little affifted by his general officers. On
fuch emergencies, whoever was guilty of delay
was guilty of treachery •, they ought to have
conudered the Spaniards had kingdoms behind
them to draw fuccours from, and that the Britifh
troops had not yet lo much as advanced to cut
off the communication of the common road from
Carchagena, a thing abfolutely neceflary •, and
as they could expect no further fuccours, all de-
Jays were very fatal, as floth and idlenefs are the
breeders of complaints and mutinous dilpofitions,
and in a climate of fuch inclemency, the certain-
root of contagious dilorders •, while brifkncfs and
activity in carrying on a fervice, produce chear-
fulnefs
Engaged in the late General War. 135
fulnefs and vivacity, the attendants of harmony CHAP.
and health. VI.
THE vice admiral, perceiving the camp to be - — •— • J
greatly annoyed by the fafcine battery on the Bar- '741-
radera fide of the harbour, employed officers to
reconnoitre it, and was forming a fcheme to at-
tack it, which was the more immediately put in
execution on receiving a complaint from the
brigadier general, of the army being much gal-
led by the fire from that battery ; for the vice
admiral held a council of war on the lyth, when
it was refolved " To attack it with 300 failors,
*' and 200 foldiers detached from thofe remain-
" ing on board the fleet." Accordingly orders
were given for all the boats of the fquadron nun-
ned and armed to be ready at midnight, with all
the barges and pinnaces of the fleet, to furprize
the B.trradera battery. The boats of each divi-
fion were put under the command of Capt. Wat-
fon, with the captains Norris and Colby under
him, and the failors when landed were to be
commanded by Capt. Bofcawen, having under
him captains Laws and Coates, and the foldiers
were under the direction of Capt. Wafhington
and Capt. Murray ; but the wind blowing too
hard at the time appointed, and all the fucceed-
ing day, the execution of the defign was retard-
ed till the i pth at night, when it was executed
with wonderful refolution and fuccefs. About
midnight the boats went away from their ihips,
and rowed pretty far to leeward to avoid bting
feen or difcovered by the noife of their oars ;
they rowed about a mile to leeward of the Bar-
radera battery, which confifted of fifteen twenty-
four pounders, and landed in a fmall fandy bay,
into which was a narrow channel between two
resfs of rocks, and a battery of five guns on the
ilrand
136 Tfte Conduft cf the Powers of Europe,
PART ftrand facing the channel, unknown to every
I. perfon in the boats. At their landing they for*
i—- v— — > tunately pitched afhore under the muzzles of
1741- 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- I74I-
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 I74I*
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 eflx 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- I74I-
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
J74J- 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
I74I- 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<he Spaniards made a (hew of preparing to re-
ceive them •, but Capr. Knowles-, being fent in
the evening to reconnoitre them, obierved they
were bufy in moving about with thirteen launch-
es, and the next morning dilcovcrcd that they
had funk the Conquiftador and Dragon, and
were removing things out of Caitiilo .Grande :
Opt. Knowlcs immediately acquainted Sir Cha-
Joncr Ogle of it, who inftaridy ordered him CQ
weigh anchor, and run in with his (hip and fire
on the caftle, to lee if they would return it ;
which he did, and the caftle making no return,
he fent his boars afhore, who rowed directly up
to the caftle and took poOciTion of it without op-
pofition. Though this caftle mounfted fifty-nine
guns, and wa5 capable of making a good de-
fence j yet the Spaniards, fhe day before, per-
ceiving the rear admiral's boats were founding,
and \veil knowing his fhips could lay their broad-
fides within piftol mot of the caftle, they thought
proper to abandon it, having (lightly fpiked up
the guns without dismounting, them or knock-
ing OIT the trunions, and thrown' their powder
into a ciftern of "water •, but molt of the guns
were got clear again, and Capt. Knowles ap-
VOL. I. : T poia.cd
146 7/je Condud of the Powers of Europe,
PART pointed governor of the caftle, with a garrifon
I. of 100 regular troops and fifty teamen. This
L — ./—— » was a molt advantageous acquifition to fliortcn
the proceedings of the army, on their re-im-
barking to re-land nearer the town, which they
could now do within a league of it, but without
being matters of Caftillo Grande, they muft have
landed at the diftance of three leagues from the
town •, fo that St Lazar was the only remaining
fort, the reduction of which was to be next under-
taken, as it covers the fouth fide of Carthagena and
commandsalltheavenues,and wasabfolutelynecef-
fary to be in the poficfiion of theBritifli troops before
they could advance a ftep to lay fiege to the town.
THE vice admiral, intending to get the bomb-
ketches in to play upon the town, on the ift of
April in the morning got to an anchor with his
own fhip clofe to Caltillo Grande, and fet fome
of his fhips at work to try to heave the mails
out of the Spanifh (hips, to make a channel over
thofe funk in deepert water, as he might get the
fquadron in and fecure a fafe defcent to the army
under the fire of their guns as near the town as
poffible ; and in the evening, by the induftry of
the gallant failors, a channel was made through
the funk wrecks, and two bomb-ketches got in,
with two frigates to cover them, commanded
by Capt. Rentone and Capt. Broderick. In the
mean while Commodore Le'ftock had completed
the re-imbarkation of the land forces, artillery
and baggage, who foon after got up the har-
bour. By ten the next morning the bomb-
ketches began to play upon the town, and fome
of the guns that were cleared at Caftillo
Grande fired on a French mip that lay up at the
head of the harbour, and had been ufed as an
hofpital fhip for the Spaniards, who fet fire to
:. her,
Engaged in the late General War. 147
her, and {he burned the greateft part of the day ; CH A P .
and the fame evening another channel having VI.
been made through the wrecks to the eaftward "- — \r- - '
of the fhoal, in the mouth of the harbour, J741/
three fire-fhips got through that channel, and
were ported to cover the defcent of the land
forces at Texar de Gracias ; who kept firing
on the Spaniards where-ever they faw them en-
deavouring to intrench themfelves. On the 3d
the Weymouth got through the weftern chan-
nel, when the town began to fire on her with-
out doing any material damage ; and the next
night fhe patted round the fhoal to the eaftern part
of the harbour. The Cruizer got in at the other
channel the 4th in the evening ; and great part
of the tranfports with the troops, being now
come up the harbour, the Weymouth, the three
firefhips and the Cruizer Ooop, being ordered to
cover the landing of the forces, warped ove-F '
the other fide of the harbour undifcovered by
the Spaniards, and were fo prudently pofted, by
the vice admiral, round the eaftern part of the
harbour, that their fire fcoured the country all
round, and drove about a hundred of the Spa-
niards from a breaft-work at the upper end of
the harbour •, and the Weymouth's guns, firing
brifkly all night with grape (hot, fcoured the
country between that and St Lazar, by which
means a fecure defcent was procured for the
army ; whofe officers had refolved, in a council
of war, " To land the troops the next morning at
" break of day, and to poficfs the port of La
" Quinta, for cutting off the communication of
" the city with the country, for covering the
" landing of the artillery, and to clear ground
" for the encampment.'* Accordingly the firft
divifion, amounting to about 1,400 men, under
T 2 tf1?
148 The Conauifl of the Powers of Europe,
PART the command of Brigadier Blakeney, about
I. two o'clock in the morning of the 5th, were
— v/~- s received by the boats of the fleet from on board
J74!' the tranfportr, and from thence went and ren-
dezvoufed aboard the Weymouth ; at about five
the general ordered Colonel Grant to move to-
wards the fhore with the grenadiers, who landed
without oppofition at Texar ds Gracias, a coun-
try houfe about two miles from Lazar, formerly
hired by the fouth fea factors ; and being im-
mediately followed by the reft of the troops,
the whole was formed in order for marching
againft the Spaniards ; who were now in the
wildeft confufion, the whole force of the town
was drawn out to oppofe the landing of the
troops, and were very impoliticly divided into
feveral bodies •, and though fome of their parties
attempted to attack the forces on their landing,
the fhips perceiving their motions fired among
them, fwept off numbers, and entirely difperfed
them. General Wentworth, at the head of the
forces, advanced through a long narrow defile,
where he had fome few men hurt by fingle (hot
from the paths and openings into the wood,
where the Spaniards had made a lodgment, but
were foon put to flight. About a mile further,
in coming out of the defile, about 600 of the Spa-
niards were perceived to be advantageoufly poft-
ed, and Teemed determined to djfpute the paflkge.
The ground over which the troops were to march
did not admit of much more than one large
pl.ir.oon in front, the lagoon lying upon the left,
and a thick copfe upon their right, into which
the general ordered a party of American fpldiers
to fall upon the rear of any fmall parties which
might be lodged there to flank them in their
roardi. The grenadiers moved forward with
Engaged in the late Genera} War.
great alacrity, and having, wirh very little lofs, CHAP.
received two fires from the Spaniards, the front VI.
platoon gave their fire at about the difta nee of ' / —
hal;-mirfket fhot, and immediately wheeled to
the right and left to make room for the next to
advance ; whence the Spaniards judging that
the whole body gave way, exprefied their joy
by a loud huzza ; but being foon convinced of
their miftake, by the fire of the following pla-
toons, they fell into diforder, and precipitately
fled towards the city: on which the general im-
mediately pofTcfTed himfelf of a convenient piece
of ground for forming the camp a fmall mile
from the caftle of St Lazar •, and in the evening
fent a party up to take poflcflion of La Popa,
which the Spaniards had abandoned. As the
hill on which this convent is fituated overlooks
the town and country for many leagues round
about, it was a moft advantageous part for ob-
ferving the motions of the Spaniards, from
whence the general, accompanied by Brigadier
Guife and the principal engineer, reconnoitred
the city ; and having at his return afltmbled a
council of war, it was debated, whether the fort
of Lazar mould not be attacked the following
night, before the Spaniards fhould have finifbed
fome works from the hill which they were then
carrying on with the utmoft diligence •, but as
no ftores were then landed from the the ord-
nance fliips, it was thought necefiary to poftpone
the attack. Perhaps this was both an unfortu-
nate and imprudent refolution, for the Spaniards
had but lately experienced the boldntfs and
courage of the Britilh troops when they con-
fufedly fled before them at La Qainta •, the ge-
nerality of them were pofit-fied with all the
Jaorrors of an approaching enemy, whom, they
knew
1 50 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART knew undauntedly intrepid; and as they were
I. now hurrying in fear and confufion, it was a
— v-— J very favourable criterion for the Britifh troops
J74I- to have affaulted them, thus, in the very heighth
of their panic ; and had the golden opportunity
been feized, it is highly to be conjectured the
Spaniards would not have dared to have defend-
ed themfelves, but that Lazar would have fell
like Boca Chica, and the Spaniards been obliged
to feek protection within their walls, where there
was the higheft probability of their furrendering
the town as they had formerly done under the
Jike circumftances to De Pointi.
ON the fixth the remainder of the eight re-
giments came on ihore, fo that before noon the
whole body of troops were landed with fuch fe-
curity, as not to have one fingle mufket-fhot
fired at them ; while all poffibie difpatch was
made in landing the artillery, ammunition, bag-
gage, provifions and military (lores. But the
troops were obliged to lie three nights upon their
arms, for the want of tents; and as they were
not feafonably provided with tools to build them,
they were expofed to all the inclemency of the
weather ; unfheltered from the fervid heat of
the fcorching fun, and the intemperature of the
chilling night dews, which enfeebled the men,
and fpread a contagious diftemper throughout
the whole camp.
THE fame fort of indolence reigned here,
with the fame prevalence, as at the camp before
Boca Chica ; the engineers having erected a bat-
tery only for three mortars, and thrown up a fmall
bread-work for the advanced guards. While
the garrifon in Lazar, perceiving how (lowly
they took occafion to improve their time in the
camp, fet to work wiih unwearied diligence,
and
Engaged in the late General War. 151
and though when the army landed, the works CHAP.
round fort Lazar were very infignificant, except VI.
a fafcine battery of five guns on the north fide of v. — v —
the hill, which was built the year before when 174°-
Admiral Vernon bombarded the town, and was
of no fervice but in cafe of approaches at fea ;
yet the Spaniards in three days time completed
a four gun battery, and entrenched themfelves
in lines round about the foot of the. caftle, which
were ftronger and of much more importance than
the caftle itfdf ; they alfo drew the guns off the
fafcine battery on the north point, and mounting
them in this new battery, frequently fired in the
camp, whilft the army were working on the
bomb battery and lodgments for the advanced
guards.
SICKNESS increafing in the camp, and the
rainy feafon approaching, Admiral Vernon, from
the flownefs of the army, was in great defpon-
dency of feeing the fuccefs of the fleet continu-
ed by the army ; he knew the Spaniards could
not (land a vigorous affault, but being convinced
they were infinitely better provided with engi-
neers than the army, he in conjunction with Sir
Chaloner Ogle, ftrongly recommended to the
general to make a vigorous pufh, as he would
thereby intimidate the Spaniards, obtain a great
prefervation to his decaying men, and bring
matters to a fpeedy iflfue: and to give the gene-
ral all afliftance in his power, the vice admiral
fupplied his deficiency of men, with a detach-
ment of Lord James Cavendifh and Colonel
Eland's regiments, that had remained aboard
the fhips as part of their complement, and a bo-
dy of fuch Americans as were fit for fervice,
which, together with the negroes, augmented
the army to about 5,000 men. Care was taken
by
152 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART by the fleet effectually to prevent any fupplies,
I. and deprive the Spaniards from any cornmunica-
- — >~—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<?
next in command, advanced no further, but
continued on the fide of the hill till they werq
ordered to retire.
THIS detachment being the flower of the. ar-
my, were almoil all cut off, and their colonel fboc
through the body ; the reft of the troops perceiv-
ing the^ difmal Daughter of their braved men,
and their officers feeing they had formed their
difpofition on an inacceffible part of the hill,
halted at the foot of it, and remained in a great
deal of irregularity ; for inftead of rufhing {word
in hand among the Spaniards in the trenches,
a full flop was made, the men flood firing in
platoons, and not one of the officers attempted
to lead them on ; thofe that had room and could
wheel off for others, did, but the greateft par;
flood and fired all their ammunition away j while
the Spaniards pouring in from the town, it being
open day-light, played fo exceedingly brifc upon,
them with grape fhot from their cannon, muf-
I, U kctry
1 54 The Condua cf the Powers of Europe,
PART ketry and grenadors, that they made a moft la-
I. memable havoc amongft the befiegers ; who
c— J— »notwithftanding faced them like lions, and had
1741. they been led on, or told what they were to
have done, the place in all probability rnuft have
furrendered to their bravery : but after pitching
upon a wrong place, and fruirlefsly exporting the
men for a facrifice to the Spaniards, between fix
and fcven the Britifh troops were ordered to re-
treat •, and to 'cover them, a referve of 500 men
was directed to advance, by which means they
retired without any further lofs, and carried off
great part of the wounded men ; having up-
wards of 600 men killed or wounded in this un-
fortunate and fatal attack, and amongft the (lain
were Colonel Grant, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomp-
fon, three captains and four lieutenants.
AFTER the mifcarriage of this attack, all hopes
Of poffcffing the town were entirely vanilhedj
the troops fickened fo furprizingly fair, that near
500 were either dead or in a very feeble conditi-
on by the I3th, and amongft the fick were al-
moft all the principal officers : upon which the
gei-.eral called a council of war, to whom it ap-
peared, that the troops were fo far from being
in a condition to offend the Spaniards, that they
had fcarcely duty-men fufficient for the ordinary
guards of the camp, and many of them in a very
languishing condition ; befidcs which they were
threatned with the want of water, all the cifterns
from whence the camp had been fupplied, being
near exhaufted : in confequence of which, it was
refolvcd on the i5th, in a genera] council of war,
compofed of fea and land officers, " To have
« the ca-non and forces re-imbarked with all
" convenient fpeed." Every thing being got
* ready on the i6th, the boats were ordered a-
ihore
Engaged in the late General War.
(hore about nine o'clock at night, and effected CHAP.
the re-imbarkation undercover of rhe (hips, with VI.
the fame dilpofidon that gave fecurity to their •- — «, — J
landing, without having a mufket fhot fired at
them. The number of troops on their landing
amounted to about 5,000, and were fo far re-
duced by the Spaniards and ficknefs, that no
more than 3,200 returned to the fhips; and
1,200 of thofe were Americans, not efteemed
fit for fervice-, and great numbers of the others
feeble, and fcarcely fit for the ordinary duty".
THE Spanifh admiral's (hip the Gallicia, was
got up to Caftillo Grande on the 8th, and Vice
Admiral Vernon, intending her for a battery a-
gainft the town, fent fixty carpenters on board
to fit her up, for fecuring the men as well as he
could from the general fire (he mult neceflarily
be expofed to. On the ifth at night Ihe was
completed, and ported, under the command of
Capt. Hore, as near the walls of the town as poffi-
b!e, anchors having been dropped for that pur-
pofe in as fhcul water as the boats could float
them •, but the fhou lings from the town ran too
far off for any effectual fervice: no [hip could be
nearer placed, nor could any re be more regu-
larly and clofely plied from a fhip, than was per-
formed by the officers and failors on board of
her, who flood the fire from three baftions, a
halt moon and a ravelin, from five in the mor-
ning till near twelve at noon, and never flagged
in their fire: but as the vice admiral faw (he
could do no material fervice igainft (lone walls at
that diftance, he fent orders to Capt. Hore, to
cut and drive before the fea breeze broad fide to
the Spaniards, as ibon as the breeze was tirong
enough ; which was not till near twelve, when
they kept driving bro^tifide, and continued their
U 2 fire
156 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART fire till they drove afhore on the fhoal, where
I. fhe foon filled with water, having twenty-two
i — v — / fhot between wind and water, and would Toon
•1741. have foundered at her anchors, if the vice admi-
ral had not ordered her off. The vice admiral
through his former experience, and by trying
this experiment with the* Gallicia, had fufficient
room to form fome general maxims upon •, which
were, in his judgment, " That no mips (hould
" ever be brought to batter againft ftone walls,
" unlefs the commanders are firft allured they
" can place their (hips within mufket fhot of
" them:" and could the Britim fleet have ap-
proached as near to Carthagena, it muft have
been inevitably furrendered ; and that they could
not, was evidently manifefted by the ftation of
the Gallicia, who was unable to come near e-
nough to batter the walls •, on which (he was or-
dered to fire over them into the town, where by
her cannonading the houfes were greatly ihat-
tered. The (hells from the bomb-ketches alib
damaged many of the houfes and fome of the
churches, particularly on the I3th at night, one
of the carcafles falling into the great church,
where was the principal mngazine of powder, fet
fire to the timber and plank that covered it, and
had like to have been a very fatal incident to
the Spaniards ; but on ringing the alarm bell,
the whole town went to work, threw fand upon
it, and ftifled the fire, which once more broke
out anew, but was afterwards totally extinguished.
- THE fea officers and iailors having been em-
ployed in getting out the mafts, anchors and
cables from fome of the funk Spanim (hips, the
fleet was foon in a condition for proceeding to fea
again: and on the 230! and 24th it was refoived
by the general council of war, " To return to
" Jamaica,
Engaged in the late General War. 1 57
" Jamaica, on account of the general ficknefs CHAP.
" in the army." Under the direction of Capt. VI.
Knowles the entire demolition of Caftillo Grande *~s~^~>*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
J74J- 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
174I- 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, J74i.
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- J74r'
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
J74r- 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, I74I-
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
<c France, that though me was not comprized
*' in the declaration of fuch war, Great Britain'
*' would ad in concert with France till fuch war
*e fhould be determined;" and by virtue of the
third article of the fame treaty, " Should, if ne-
" cefiity required, declare war upon the Em-
" pire." And thus, fays a celebrated French
hift >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 <— - v—J
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-
I74°- 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-
<e ful iflue, one of his daughters mould fucceed
ce in quality of lawful heirefs to the kingdoms
" of Hungary and Bohemia ; " * And by a
* codicil annexed to the will the 4th of Febru-
c ary 1547, he confirmed this difpofition, and
* exprefsly declared, " That in the above cafe,
" the kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia
*c mould be the inheritance of the eldeft of his
" daughters, who fhould then be living." And
the eledor infifted, that Ferdinand did not
thereby intend, that- .in cafe of failure of the
males, his daughter the Princefs Anne, who by
the death of her fitter Elizabeth was then the
eldeft, as (he likewife was at the death of her fa-
ther, mould be put behind the laft arch-duch-
cfles born at that time, and who might be ftill
jiving when the fucceffion mould lie open •, where-
fore he referved to that princefs, by the marriage
cgntrad, her hereditary right and pretenfions.
r
Engaged in the late General War. 189
as likewife to her heirs and defendants, which CHAP.
put the matter entirely out of difpute. To I.
make his title the more demonftrable, the elector < — /— *
alfo cited another article of the will, where it is 174°-
faid, " That in cafe the Emperor Charles V.
" mould alfo die without male iffue, or that af-
" ter his death his male heirs mould become ex-
" tinct ; the Auftrian dominions mould devolve
" to, and be inherited by, thofe who had a
*e right to them." And infers that it did not
appear how this could be applied to any but the
Princefs Anne, who was called to the fucceflion
not only by her right of feniority, but alfo by
the reverfion ftipulated in her marriage contract :
alledging that the kingdoms of Hungary and
Bohemia having been brought by Ferdinand in-
to the houfe of Auftria, he was confequently the
firft acquirer, and to him belonged the right and
power of difpofal of them ; this he did in fa-
vour of his eldeft daughter, married into the
houfe of Bavaria, and her lawful defcendants ;
from that eldeft daughter the houfe of Bavaria
defcends in a direct and uninterrupted line •, and
the elector infifted, that the right of this houfe
became indifputable, when it was confidered
that Ferdinand I. firmly infifted on the order
of primogeniture eftablifhed in regard to the
fucceflion of the male defcendants, and that he
followed the fame order in cafe the fucceflion
mould devolve to the females.
- THIS memorial was accompanied with a pro-
teft by the Bavarian minifter, importing " That
" the Elector of Bavaria, in conjunction with
*' fome other ftates of the Empire, had demonf-
'* trated how attentive he had been to maintain
" his rights fince the guarantee of the pragma-
** tic fanctionj and that his electoral highnefs
being
*Tbe Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
being conftant to his principles, thought him-
" felf obliged to neglect no opportunity, to fc-
" cure himfelf and his family againft the preju-
1740. « dices that might refult from the acceptance of
" the faid guaranty ; and as the arch-duchefs had
" challenged to herfelf the pofiefiion of all the
" kingdoms and dominions of the Auftrian fuc-
'« ceffion, the ele&or found himfelf indifpenfa-
" bly obliged to proteft in the moft folemn
" manner, againft the order of fuccefilon efta-
" blifhed by the pragmatic fanc~tion, fo prema-
" ture, illegal, and prejudicial to his rights ;
•' referving to himfelf, without any reftnclion,
" the maintenance of the faid rights, and thofc
" of his family.'* And on the delivery of this
memorial and proteft, the Bavarian minifter,
without taking leave, abruptly departed from
the court of Vienna.
THE Queen of Hungary being thus fenfibly
attacked in her k-gal fucceffion ; to vindicate her
right, communicated by her minifters to the
diet, and foreign courts, a declaration in anfwer
to the above memorial, whereby to invalidate
the elector's pretenfions, " That the eldeft
*' daughter of Ferdinand, and her defendants,
" ought to fucceed immediately on failure of
" the i(Tue male of the houfe of Auftria •, " her
majefty declared, fuch a claufe was fo far from
being mentioned in the will of the faid emperor,
that, quite the contrary, it fays " That the eldeft
" daughter of the Emperor Ferdinand I. who
" fhould be then alive, fhould fucceed to the
" two kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia,
41 with a preference when there were no de-
" fcendants living from her three brothers -, '*
and that her majefty, as eldeft daughter of the
Uft furvivor of the males, ought to have the pre-
ference
Engaged in tbe late General War. 191
ference of fucceinon, according to the exprefs CHAP.
difpofitions of the will ; efpecially as it is a truth I.
agreed by the civilians, that when a fucceflion is
in difpute, which does not exclude the females,
they ought to be included under the denomina-
tion or lawful defendants; and that confequent-
ly the electoral houfe of Bavaria had not the
fhadow of a pretenfion to difpute a fucceflion
with her majefty, which God, nature, and all
laws, and particularly the ufage of her archi-
ducal family fecured to her.
As the Elector of Bavaria always protefted a-
gainft the pragmatic fanction, the powers of
Europe were no ways furprized at thefe declara-
tions, nor from his own abilities were their con-
fequences to be dreaded, as his whole annual
revenue never exceeded one million fterling, and
his forces were too feeble, without affiftance, to
aflert his rights by the fword. But the court of
Munich, fince the treaty of Munfter in 164.8,
being wholly devoted to the intereft of France ;
and it being confpicuous, the court of Verfailles
had long aflifted the electoral houfe, as a falcon
fed and cherifhed only to fly at the royal eagle
of Auftria on every opportunity ; it was therefore
juftly to be fufpected, France, notwithftanding
her declaration to preferve the pragmatic fanction,
would enterfere in favour of the elector, either
in the fuccefiion, or in the election of an emperor ;
which the Elector of Mentz, as arch-chancellor
of the empire, had fixed for the i6th of Febru-
ary. The elector, during this year, was incapa-
ble of any military operations to enforce his pre-
tenfions, and contented himfelf with the refult of
the cabinet. But the tranquihty of her Hunga-
rian majefty was difturbed by a fudden and violent
ftorm from another quarter, from whence as it
was
192 The Condudt of the Powers of Europe,
PART was the lead expected, it therefore occafioned a
II. more general furprize.
— -v— J UPON the death of the late emperor, no prince
ti74O. in Europe gave greater aflurances of his refolution
to fupport the pragmatic fanction than the King
of Pruffia-, and it was univerfally believed he
would be one of the firmed friends of the houfe
of Auftria. This young monarch, on the death
of the emperor, recruited his regular troops,
and collected an army of 100,000 men. At firft
this proceeding was difregarded, becaufe all the
princes in Germany were recruiting their forces,
to preferve the empire from any occafional dif-
turbances ; and it was more particularly imagin-
ed, that his majefty was preparing to affift the
Queen of Hungary againft any attack from Ba-
varia. Far otherwife tended the views of this
enterprizing monarch -9 he found himfelf at the
head of a potent nation, with a Handing army of
80,000 complete foldiers, and an annual revenue
of two millions fterling -, and grew impatient to
manifeft his own capacity, and the power of his
arms, to the reft of Europe. In this he was neither
in want of powerful incentives, or plaufible pre-
tences. He infilled on an incontestable right, in
the royal and electoral family of Brandenburgh,
to the principalities and lordfhips of JagerndorfT,
Lignitz, Brieg, Wohlau, Beuten, Oderberg, and
other territories in the duchy of Silefia ; partly
founded upon antient pacts of fucceffion and co-
fraternity, between his predeceffors in the electo-
ral dignity, and the dukes of Silefia, Lignitz,
Brieg, and Wohlau ; as well as upon other con-
trovertible titles. For George Frederick, Duke
of Jagerndorff, having no children, by his laft
will, bequeathed that duchy, which he had a
ripht to ciifpofe of under the permiflion granted
by
Engaged in the late General War. 193
by Lewis King of Bohemia, to the Margrave CHAP.
George, who had purchafed the duchy from the I.
Lords of Schellenberg in 1524; and alfo the he- v- — v— -J
reditary lordmips of Lubfchutz, Oderberg, Beu- I74°-
ten, Tarnowitz, and other dependencies, to the
electoral houfe of Brandenburg : which on his
death defcended to Joachim-Frederic, then E-
lector of Brandenburg, who took poffeffion of
the duchy of Jagurndorf and of all its depen-
dencies; and in 1607 granted it to his youngeft
Ion, the Margrave John-George ; who, during
the troubles of Bohemia, allying himfelf with
Frederic V. Elector Palatine, engaged in a
bloody war with the Emperor Ferdinand II.
the emperor afterwards difpoffefied the margrave
of his duchy of Jagurndorf, and put him to the
ban of the empire in the year 1623; under
which he died the year following ; and his fon,
being thus deprived of his patrimony, dying in
1642, with him was extinct the appanaged
branch of Brandenburg to which Jagurndorf be-
longed. The duchy then fell, with all its de-
pendencies, to the electoral line, as an inherit-
ance which by right belonged to the males of
the family : and as his Pruflian majefty infifted,
that even the children of a vaffal, convicted of
felony, could not be deprived of the natural
right they have to the fief of which the family
has received the inveftiture, becaufe they do not
hold their right of fucceffion of the laft pofleffor,
but of the will and difpofition of the psrlon frorri
whom their fief originally defcends; and that
the laft pofTeflbr of an hereditary fief, muft tranf-
mit it to his relations of the collateral line ; there- '
fore as the houfe of Auftria had been in the pof-
iefiion and enjoyment of the duchy and revenues
VOL. I. B b almoft
194 3%e Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART almoft a hundred years, his Pruffian majefty
II. thought fit to reclaim it.
*- — * — ' As to the duchies of Lignitz, Brieg, and Woh-
*74P- lau, the antient Dukes of Lignitz, defcended
from the Piafts, were fovereigns in their domi-
nions, and governed them as a country free and
hereditary in their family, without fubje&ion to
the Kings of Poland or Bohemia, or even de-
pending on any one. But in the year 1329,
they offered in fief to John of Lutzenberg King
of Bohemia, as well their duchies and principali-
ties, as their other eftates ; declaring, as appears
by the firft letters of inveftiture, " That the offer
" was voluntary ; that they poflefled their terri-
" tories as perfonal and hereditary eftates ; and
*' intended to hold them alfo for the future as
** hereditary fiefs, preferving all their rights and
" privileges." And by other letters, granted
by King Uladiflas in the year 1511, the fiefs
and ftates of Lignitz, are declared " To be he-
" reditary and alienable ; fo that the Dukes of
" Lignitz fhould preferve their antient privileges
" to fell, mortgage, or alienate all their eftates
" and pofifeffions." Upon this Robert Frederic,
Duke of Lignitz, executed a treaty of Union and
hereditary cofraternity with Joachim the fecond,
Elector of Brandenburg, in the year 1537, fign-
e'd and confirmed by oath ; whereby the Duke
of Lignitz, by confent of the prelates, lords,
gentlemen , and other his fubjecls, agreed,
That in cafe he, or his male defendants, mould
die without ilTue male, that all his principa-
lities and eftates, and all that his defendants
fhould leave behind them, fhould belong to
the Elector Joachim and his heirs male, from
generation to generation for ever; and in fail-
ure thereof, to his brother Prince John, Mar-
Engaged in the late General War. 195
grave of Brandenburg, in Jike manner; and in CHAP.
default of them, to iuch of the Margraves of I.
Franconia who fhould fit on the electoral ^ — v — ±
throne: And that when fuch cafe fhould hap- I74°-
pen, it fhould be lawful for the Elector of
Brandenburg to put himfelf actually in pofief-
fion of the territories of Lignirz, Brieg, Woh-
lau, and all their appertenances, his houfe
" having already received the homage of them ;
" with a refervation, to render thefervices due to
" the crown of Bohemia." But on the i8ch of
May 1546, Ferdinand I. King of Bohemia,
publilhed an edict, declaring " That the Duke
" of Lignitz had not a right to make hereditary
" treaties of cofraternity •, " and the king, as
Lord Paramount of the fiefs of Silefia, annulled
and abolifhed the fame ; obliging the Duke of
Lignitz, and his two fons, to renounce the trea-
ty with the houfe of Brandenburg, though they
had confirmed it by a folemn oath, and even
forced them to acknowledge, that after the death
of the laft male of their family, the duchies and
principalities of Lignitz, Brieg* and Wohlau,
ought by right immediately to revert to the King
of Bohemia.
THIS was looked upon both by the Duke of
Lignitz and Elector of Brandenburg as unjuft ;
for that the treaty was neither prejudicial to the
crown of Bohemia, nor derogatory from the in-
feoffment of the country of Lignitz, and its ap-
purtenances. The elector maintained the validity
of the treaty, and vindicated his right, acquired
in fo lawful a manner, with a refolution to
preferve the fame to his family j and kept
the original acts, as authentic proofs of his
Bb2 THE
'The. Conduit of the Powers of Europe,
THE male line of the Dukes of Lignitz be-
coming extinct, by the death of George- William,
in the year 1675, the duchies of Lignitz, Brieg,
1.740. and Wohlau, fell to the electoral houfe of Bran-
denburg. On this occafion, the Elector Frede-
ric-William, furnamed the Great, did not ne-
glect reprefenting to the Imperial court the right
he had to the fucceflion of Lignitz ; and upon
his reiterated follicitations, the Emperor Leopold
ordered the Chancellor of Lignitz to examine
into, and lend him his opinion on the affair:
tjut the chancellor's report being difatisfactory to
the Imperial court, in the years 1685 and 1686,
endeavours were ufed for adjufting the contro-
verted rights by an agreement ; and the Imperi-
al court, to facilitate the means of obtaining it,
cpnfented to deliver to the elector the circle of
Schibus, fituated in Silefia, and the ceffions of
the Prince of Lichtenftein's pretenfions to cer-
tain lordfhips of Eaft-Friefeland, amounting to
great fums. The offer was accepted, and a trea-
ty was accordingly concluded ; but at the fame
time as this convention was made with the Elec-
tor of Brandenburg, the Imperial minifter fecret-
, ly engaged the electoral prince his fon, to pro-
rnife, that upon his coming to the regency or.
the ftates, he would reftore all that was yielded
up to the elector his father, and annul the con-
vention that had been made after fo many diffi-
culties -, and this minifter having drawn up rever-
fals, or an act of fecurity, to that purpofe, after
many importunities, obtained the electoral prince's
iiand to the faid reverfals; whereby the elector
was deceived in the acquifition of Schibus, and
his fon, by the greateft artifice and invention,
drawn into a private negotiation, to the preju-
dice of the whole electoral family. Frederic-
• '•'• William
Engaged in the late General War. 197
William dying in the year 1686, his fon Frede- CHAP.
ric HI. fucceeded him in the electorate, and af- I.
terwards became trft King of Pruffia. As foon LX-V~O
as that prince had taken poffeffion of the regen- 174°-
cy, the houfe of Auftria demanded the execution
of what was contained in the reverfals ; but the
elector acquainting his minifters of the tranfacti-
on, defired their opinion on the affair j and upon
a mature deliberation, their advice was, " That
«« the reverfals in queftion, being contrary to
** the conventions made in the houfe ofBranden-
" burg, and having been fubreptitioufly ob-
« tained, were neither binding according to
" law, nor according to natural right." It was
thus reprefented to the Auftrian miniftry, and
the reverfals demanded back again: but the
Chancellor of Bohemia, refufing to deliver them,
anfwered, " That if his electoral highnefs would
" not reftore the country of Schibus, it mould
" be re-taken by force." Some years palled
with fruitlefs follicitations, and nothing being
determined in the affair of Schibus, at length the
elector, growing weary of this whole negotiation,
in the year 1695 re-delivered the country to the
Imperialifts, on payment of an inconsiderable
lam, without any renunciation of the four princi-
palities of Jagurndorf, Lignitz, Brieg, and Woh-
lau. Therefore his Pruffian majefty affirmed,
that as foon as the houfe of Auftria re-entered on
the poffeflion of Schibus, which had been ceded
by it as an equivalent for thofe duchies in Silefia,
the royal and electoral houfe of Pruffia re-entered
alfo to the rights fbe had on thofe duchies, which
had been kept up by fucceflion •, efpecially as the
houfe of Auftris could not perform her promife
if) relation to the pretentious of the houfe of
J.ichtenftein. Anil as a further confldejation for
the
198 'The Conduct of the rowel's of Europe;
PART the Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, to reftore
II. at leaft to the houfe of Brandenburg the princi-
xv^*' palities and lordfhips in Silefia that were devolved
1740. to it, his Pruffian majefty infifted, that thofe
duchies are hereditary eftates only in the male
line, and were never tranfmitted to the females ;
befides thofe ftates had furrendered a formal
homage to the houfe of Brandenburg: and as
the electors had never been able to obtain re-
drefs, on account of the great power to which
the houfe of Auftria had arrived by fitting on
the Imperial throne ; on the declenfion of their
grandeur, his Prufllan majefty embraced the op-
portunity of afierting his rights.
CHAPTER II.
From the invafion of SILESIA in De-
cember 1740, to the furrender of
BRIEG in 1741 ; containing the
fiege of GLOGAW, and battle of
MOLWITZ,
AS there were feveral claimants to difpute
the Imperial fuccefllon, his Pruffian ma-
jcity, without conforming to the laws of the gol-
den bull, by entering his claim to any part of
Silefia, and fubmitting to the decifion of the Im-
perial
Engaged in the late General War. 199
perial diet, with the utmoft celerity aflembledCHAP.
an army at Berlin, and on the 4th of December II.
1740, entered Silefia at the head of 30,000 men, * — v— J
when his majefty made the following fpeech to I74°-
his troops:
" Gentlemen, I do not confider you as my fub-
." jects, but as my friends ; you have at all times
" given marks of unconquerable valour: I (hall
'.' be prefent at all your enterprizes, and you
" lhall fight under my direction : and as for any
*.' that mail diftinguifh themfelves, by their cou-
" rage and zeal for my fervice, I fhall reward
" them, not as a king but as a father."
THOUGH his Pruffian majefty had thus put
himfelf in a capacity of acquiring his claim in the
field, he did not neglect to obtain an accommo-
dation in the cabinet : for this purpofe, the Counc
de Cotter and the Baron de Borck, his minifters
at the court of Vienna, purfuant to his inftrucYi-
ons, grounded upon the apprehenfions of an at-
tack on the Auftrian dominions by the Electors of
Saxony and Bavaria, laid the following propofals
before her Hungarian majefty.
i ft " THAT his Pruffian majefty was ready
'* with all his forces, to guaranty the dominions
'? pofiefied by the houfe of Auftria in Germany,
" againft all invaders.
zd " FOR this end he would enter into a Uriel:
" alliance with the courts of Vienna, Ruffia, and
" the Maritime powers. v
3d " HE would ufe all hisintereft to procure
" the Imperial dignity for the Duke of Lor-
" rain, and to fupport his election againll all
" oppofers.
4th " To put the court of Vienna into a good
" ftate of defence, he would immediately fur-
** nidi it with two millions of florins.
" AND
200 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART " AND that for fuch fubftantial Cervices, his
II. <{ Prufiian majefty expected the entire and abfo-
±— -V—- » " Jute ceflion of all Silefia ; not only as his right,
174-0. " but as his reward for the toils and hazards
" which he might incur in the career that he
" was entered upon, for the fafety and glory of
** the houfe of Auftria."
THIS proportion was looked upon with equal
concern and indignation by the court of Vienna;
yet his Pruflian majefty inftru6ted the Count dc
Gotter, to be indefatigable in his endeavours to
ihduce the court of Vienna, to look with lefs pre-
judice upon the plans and views his majefty had
propofed to himfelf, for the wfclfare arid fecurity
of the houfe of Auftria •, and to reprefent to the
Duke of Lorrain, that although his majefty had
demanded the entire ceffion of Silefia, he might
perhaps make fome abatement, and content him-
felf with a part of that country •, provided the
Queen of Hungary would enter into a reafonable
and fincere accommodation with him, and to
contract ftrict engagements that might confift
with their mutual interefts. The king alfo au-
thorized the Count de Gotter to declare verbally,
that his Pruffian majefty would be very ready to
embrace every opportunity for affifting the
Queen of Hungary to maintain the grandeur
of her family, and fatisfy her for the lofs of
Silefia.
FROM this the court of Vienna inferred, that
his PrufTian majefty founded the entrance of his
troops into Silefia, upon the neceflky of guaran-
teeing the houfe of Auftria againft fome other
powers ready to fwallow it up •, and on the expe-
diency of facrificing a part of their dominions for
faving the reft : though it was evident that the
queen's dominions enjoyed a perfect tranquility
when
Engaged in the late General War. 201
when his Prufiian majefty entered them fword in CHAP.
hand. Her Hungarian majefty, in her anfwer II.
to the declarations of the Prufiian minifter, ex- <• — v— -
prefied all pofiible regard to the friendfhip of *74o«
the King of Pruflia, and was fure me could not
be reproached with having neglected any oppor-
tunity to cultivate it ; but without the lead in-
fringement of that principle fhe could not help
remarking, " That the band, by which all the
" members of the empire were united, founded
" upon the cleareft ftipulation of the golden bull,
" obliges them all, to aflift any one of them,
" who fhall be attacked in the dominions which
*« make a part in the Germanic body -, and
<{ this was in effect the fubftance of his Prufiian.
" majefty's firft propofal •, though it did not ex-
" tend fo far as the engagement refulting from
" the guaranty of the pragmatic fanction, with
" which the whole empire was charged. The
" queen gratefully acknowleged the good in-
<c tentions of his Pruflian majefty, with regard
'* to the election of the emperor ; but as the
<e election ought to be free, and to be made in
<£ the manner prefcribed by the golden bull ; fo
" fhe was of opinion, that nothing had a greater
" tendency toobftruct it, than the difturbances
" raifed in the heart of the empire. Shealledged,
<c that what his Pruffian majefty had already
" taken from Silefia, under pretence of fubfift-
" ing his troops there, added to the immenf^
" damage that reluked from the ruin of the
" country, furpaffed the two millions offered her
" majefty by the King of Pruffia. — Her mar
" jefty declared, that fhe had no manner of in-
" tendon to begin her reign by difmemberingher
" dominions, and thought herfelf obliged in
«* honour and confcience to maintain the prag-
VOL, I. C c ** matic
2O2 'The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART " matic fanftion againft any infraction of it;
II. " and from thence it followed, that fhe could
i- — *r— ' " not confent to the entire ceflion of Silefia, or of
1740. « any part of that duchy. Neverthelefs Ihe was
" ftill ready rp renew the fincereft friendlhip
" with the King of Pruflia, provided it might
** be done without fuch infra6tion ~ of the prag-
*l matic fanftion, and on the Pruffian troops
" immediately retiring from her dominions.
tc And that this, in her majefty's opinion, was
** the only method confident with equity and
" juftice, with the fundamental laws of the em-
" pire, with the public welfare, and the bal-
*' lance of power in Europe •, and was confe-
" quently the only ftep that could be conducive
*£ to the true glory of his Prufllan majefty. The
*c Queen moft earneftly intreated his Pruffian
*' majefly to embrace this method, and conjured
tc him to it by all the confederations that might
*' poflibly make an impreffion upon the heart of
*£ a great prince."
POSSIBLY the refufal of the Queen of Hun-
gary, might have been animated on the great
Confidence fhe repofed in the afllftance ot his
Britannic majefty ; fince in compenfttion for a
releafe of part of Silefia, and to the reftoration
of a part of that duchy his PrufTun majefty
had an indifputable right, the king offered
his whole force to continue her Hungarian ma-
jefly in pofTeffion of all the other dominions fhe
inherited from her father, together with his
whole intereft to fet the grand duke upon the
Imperial throne ; which was a propofal of the
htgheft confequence, and worthy of the mod
ready acceptance; but as it was then heard with
reluctance, fo the court of Vienna had afterwards
an occafion of condemning their own obftinacy,
And
Engaged in the late General War. 203
and after feeling the force of fo puiflTant an ene-CnAp,
my, at laft found themfelves obliged to purchafe II.
his friendlhip on feverer terms than what he had v — v-^j
formerly propofed. I74O-
His PrufTian majefty immediately difpatched
letters in juftifkation of his conduct to the diet at
Ratifbon, and to his minifters refiding at foreign
courts, reprefenting, " That his troops had not
" entered Silefia with any ill intention, but only
" to fecure from imminent danger his incontefti-
*' ble right to that duchy. That he had no de-
*' fign to prejudice any perfon, much lefs the
" archiducal family of Auftria, of which he
" would give convincing proofs to all the world:
*c that he would do his utmoft to maintain the
" conftitutions of the empire, and fhould be
*' glad to employ his forces to preferve the
" rights, liberties, and privileges of all its mem-
<c bers and ftates entire ; and that the empire in
" general might be fecured againft any man-
" ner of invafion, and furnimed with a worthy
" head."
TH E exercife of his Pruflian majefty*s pen did
not retard the preparations for the ufe of his
fword. As he had made a confiderable progrefs
in Silefia without any oppofition, he publifhed a
rnanifcfto, "• AfTuring the inhabitants of his fa-
" vour and good will : and thatbyreafon of the
te extinction of the male line in the houfe of Auk
" tria, that family was expofed to many fad
" events, fome of which had already manifefted
" themfelves, and others were on the point of
" burfting out like a general conflagration,
«* wherein the duchy of Silefia might happen to
«' be involved, the prefervation and profperity
" of which his majefty always had the more at
" heart, becaufe it ferved as a bulwark for his
C c 2 « fecu-
The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
fecurity, and that of his dominions in the em-
pire ; and to prevent fuch as thought they had
" a rightful claim to the hereditary dominions
1740. " Of the houfe of Auftria from invading Silefia,
' he had been obliged to march his forces into
£ this duchy, to cover it againft any attack:
4 and as by fo doing, he had no manner of in-
' tention to prejudice or difoblige the Queen of
c Hungary, with whom he had refolved, and
" earneftly wifhed, to maintain a ftrict friend -
" Ihip, as well as with all the Auftrian family,
" and after the example of his predeceflbrs to
" contribute to their true intereft and preferva-
" tion. Therefore the inhabitants of Silefia
" might be afiured, that they had no hoftility
" to fear either from him or his troops; but
" that on the contrary, they mould find the full
" effects of his royal protection and powerful
" fupport, by being maintained in the enjoy-
<c ment of their lawful rights and privileges.
" And his majefty firmly trufted, that thefe
" gracious offers and declarations, would make
" them cautious of doing or attempting any
*c thing, in any manner whatfoever againft his
sc majefty, and of undertaking any thing that
" might oblige him hereafter, againft his will,
" to have a recourfe to other meafures, which
*c might be attended with fuch fatal confe-
<c quences as they could thank none but them-
" felves for."
To oppofe the effecTs of this manifefto, the
Count Schafigotfch, director of the regency of
-Silefia, publifhed a counter declaration, " That
*c as the queen was perfuaded that the King of
" Pruflia might have been induced to take this
<c ftep by the advice of fome evil-minded perfons,
" flic hoped from the equity of that prince, that
" he
Engaged in tbe late General War. 205
ec he would not deny to withdraw his troops; CHAP.
" and that if his Prufiian majefty refufed to do II.
fo, the queen declared to her own fubje&s, LXVNJ
and to thofe of foreign powers who had any 1 74°-
mortgage upon Silefia, that fhe could not
take upon her to anfwer the evil confequences
which might refult therefrom ; protefting,
*c that {he never intended to confent to the in-
*« troducing any innovations in the duchy of Si-
" lefia."
THE Hungarian forces in Silefia were too in*
confiderable to oppofe the rapid progrefs of his
Pruffian majefty •, and as very few of the towns
were fortified, his army met with no oppofition
in their march, till they approached Great Glo-
gaw, a ftrong city on the Oder, near the con-
fines of Poland, where Count Wenceflaws Wal-
lis commanded a fmall Auftrian garrifon, and
refufed the Pruffians admittance, refolving to
defend the place to the laft extremity. There-
fore the King of Pruflia, thinking it necefiary to
get to Breflau, the capital of Silefia, as foon as
poffible, left a body of his troops under the com-
mand of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Deflau, to
form the blockade of Glogaw, and proceeded
with the main body of his army, confifting of
about 25,000 men, to Breflau. On the 22d
of December, his majefty entered that city, at-
tended by only thirty of his life-guards, where
he was received with great demonftrations of joy.
He immediately promifed the inhabitants that
they (hould enjoy all their antient privileges, par-
ticularly that of not having a garrifon in their
city ; upon condition however that his troops
fhould have a free paflage through the city, that
they fhould lodge in the fuburbs, be allowed to
ere<5t magazines there, and that the city fhould
engage
206 The Condud: of the Powers of Europe,
PART engage to receive no Auftrian garrifon : all which*
II. conditions they agreed to, and the more readily,
L— \~— ' as intimidated at the approach of Jo formidable
J74°« an army. His majefty likewife promiled his in-
dulgence and protection to the roman catholics of
the whole province of Silefia ; but neverthelefs,
when he found any large magazines of corn or
other provifions in their religious houfes, he took
the liberty to appropriate them to his own ufe,
telling the reclule devotees, " He never heard
*' that the apoftles, whofe example they pretend-
*' ed to follow, had ever any magazines." The
Pruffians triumphantly continued their march,
without any blood being fhed, till they arrived
at the fmall caftle of Octmachaw, fituated near
the river Neifs, where there was an Auftrian gar-
rifon of five complete companies of grenadiers,
in all about 250 men. A Pruffian officer was
fent to fummon the garrifon to fur render, and
having advanced too near before he ordered the
drummer to beat a parley, the Auftrians fired,
and (hot the drummer and the officer's horfe
dead upon the fpot; but after a gallant refiftance
of twenty-four hours, and the lofs of great pare
of their men, the brave Auftrians were obliged
to furrender themfelves prifoners of war. The
Pruflians in this attack loft a major of engineers,
and about forty private men. Near the fame
place, and about the fame time, there was a
iidrmifh between a party of Pruffian huffars, and
Prince Lichtenftein's regiment of dragoons, in
which the Piuffian lieutenant and feveral huffars
were cut to pieces-, and afterwards, upon the
approach of a large body of Pruffians, the Auf-
trians retired to the other fide of the river Neils,
where their troops grew daily more numerous,
by the arrival of regiracnts frcuv Hungary, Mo-
ravia,
Engaged in the late General War. 207
ravia, and Bohemia, to form an army under the CHAP.
command of Count Neuperg, to oppofe the II.
King of Pruffia ; who thereupon fent orders to v— • v— »
Berlin for the march of feveral other regiments
into Silefia.
ON the yth of January his Pruffian majefty 1741.
fummoned the town of Neifs to furrender ; but
the garrifon, inftead of complying, fired upon
the colonel and trumpeter who were fent with
the meflage : whereupon the Pruflians began to
bombard the place, which they continued for
three days •, but from the inclemency of the wea-
ther, and deep fnows, the foldiers could not
form the fiege, as the cold was too fevere to per-
mit them to live in trenches : therefore after the
bombardment they retired, and the King of
Pruffia, with his brother Prince William, fee out
for Berlin, where they arrived the i8th of the
fame month, leaving the army in Silefia to the
command of the Velt-Marmal Count Schwerin,
who upon hearing that Lieutenant-General Brown,
with a fmall body of Auftrian troops, had re-
treated towards Jagurndorf, continued his march
in purfuit of the Auftrians, and the latter having
left Jagurndorf and taken poft at Gratz upon
the river Mora, the velt-marmal attacked them
upon the i4th, and after fome fmall refinance,
patted the river, and forced the enemy into Mo-
ravia.
THE Pruffians having thus made themfelves
matters of Silefia, as far as the frontiers of Mo-
ravia, except great Glogaw, Niefs, and a few
other places, which they could not befiege dur-
ing the feverity of the winter •, they turned to-
wards the fouthernmoft part of Silefia, bordering
upon Hungary ; where, in the beginning of
February, "Major-General de la Motte, with a
con-
208 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART confiderable detachment from the Pruffian army,
II. made himfelf mafter of Jabluncka, upon the
L— -y — > river ,Elfe, near the Capathian mountains, after
'741- 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, J74!>
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 J741*
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, befidess
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
J741- 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- I74I*
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-
1 741 • 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 ; I74I-
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 '741*
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-
I74I- 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 engaged1,
" 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
<e by France, unlefs the king mould be inclined
" to reftore them ; and if fo, the elector was to
** re-imburfe his majefty forty-five millions of
" livres, for his expences in fupporting the elec-
" tion. The elector alfo promifed to renounce
" the barrier treaty, and agreed, that whatever
" conquefts France mould make in the Nether-
tc lands, me mould irrevocably keep.'* To this
treaty the Kings of Pruflia and Poland were to
be invited to accede. On which the marshal
repaired to Silefia, and congratulated his Pruffian
majefty on his fuccefles ; and as the king caufed his
army to pafs in review before the marfhal, and
treated him with high marks of diftinction, pro-
bably this interview drew his Pruffian majefty *s
inclinations to coincide with the projects of
France. The marfhal afterwards vifued the
court of Drefden, and biafled the Elector of
Saxony to his fcheme. But the court of Ver-
failles, to cover their perfidy with fomething like
E e 2 a ma&
2io The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART a mafk of decency, did not difclofe the French
II. harpy all at once j they counftlled, advifed, and
u — vr-~ ' mediated for peace fake, out of a pretended con-
'741- cern for her Hungarian majefty ; but their mod eft
propofals aimed at nothing lefs, than to portion
out the hereditary dominions of Auftria as they
pleafed ; a province to one, a province to an-
other, and to fecure a proper referve for them-
felves. Though the Queen of Hungary was def-
titute of power, (he was not void of underftand-
ing; therefore to be thus infulted under the pre-
tence of being ferved, could not fail of exciting
a proper indignation : but an impotent refent-
ment, could anfwer no other end, than toexpofe
herfelf to the inveteracy of a power, vvhofe inva-
riable maxim it has been, for the lake of intereft,
]to facrifice her moft folemn engagements. But
the meafure of her Hungarian majefty's calami-
ty was not yet full ; the Queen of Spain, like
another Semiramis in ambition, having appar-
ently refolved to be the mother of none but king?,
made it the bufinefs of her life to create new mo-
narchies, and beftow them upon her fons. To
this royal frenzy all confiderations gave way ; the
repofe of her hufband, the wealth and fafety of
her fubjecls, the foftneis of her lex, fenfe of fame,
the remonftrances of juftice, the cries of com-
panion, and whatever elfe fhould be of weight
to reftrain the extravagancies, and create the
grace and decorum, of human life. With a ma-
lignant tranfporr, therefore, (he faw the Imperial
family at the laft extremity, and the empire it-
felf without a head. It was the crifis (he had im-
patiently waited for, and had pre-d£termined to
improve to the utmoft : flic longed to faften on
the Auftrian dominions in Italy ; a country in
jtfelf defirable, cantoned out in little diftri6b?
' fubjecl:
Engaged in the late General War. 221
fubjed to continual revolutions, and at the mer-CnAP.
cy of every powerful invader. Inftigated to thefe III.
ambitious views by the court of France, thefoon-'- — v-~ r
er to accelerate the deftiny of her Hungarian ma- I74I-
jefty, the court of Spain publifhed a memorial,
alledging the pretenfions of that crown to all the
dominions pofieffed by the late emperor ; and Don
Carpentero, fecretary of the Spanifh embaffy at
Vienna, on the 8th of January delivered, to Count
Zintzendorff, a proteit, fftting forth in fubftance,
" That his Catholic majefty having a good claim
£t to the fucceffion of the late emperor, and be-
" ing refolved to maintain the lame, folemnly
<c protefted againft every thing that might be
" done contrary thereto." And on the day
following the fecretary departed from Vienna on
his return to Spain. Thus the unhappy Queen
of Hungary, before fhe had been inverted with,
the royal purple, or her head inclofed with the
golden diadem, and her hand experienced
the incumbrance of a fceptre, was, like a young
and beauteous fawn, furrounded with a troop
of wolves, all rapacious and eager to devour
fo fair a prey. Incompaffcd with enemies, the
diftreffed queen caft her eyes abroad, to feek.
that protection fhe had reafon to expect from the
good intentions of his Britannic majcfty, who
by his guarantee of the pragmatic fanclion, was
obliged to furniflv her 'with 12,000 men; and
whole predeceflfors made it their glory to hold
the ballance of power, to concenter the inrered
of half the princes of Chrtftendom, and be them-
felves the life and fpirit that animated and direel:-
£d the whole confederacy. O,i this monarch
did the heirefs of Auftria rely for conioLicion,
fuccour, arid deliverance ; and having by letter,
dated the 2o.th of December, notified the Pruf-
fiau
$22 The Conduct of tic Powers of Europe,
PART fian invafion to the Britifh court, flie received an
II. anfwer from his Britannic majefty in February
i— v-— ' following, wherein it was mentioned, «' That
1741. « there ought not to be the lead derogation
" from the faith of folemn treaties ; that his
" majefty would endeavour to perfuade the
<c King of Pruffia to defift from his hoftile en-
" terprizes ; and that if he did not, his Britan-
*' nic majefty would faithfully and religioufly
<c perform the treaties that obliged him to affift
«' the houfe of Auftria." And the Dutch,
through the follicitations of Mr Trevor, the
Britifh minifter at the Hague, having exprefled
their concurrence to promote the intentions of
his Britannic majefty in fnpporting the houfe of
Auftria ; they both advifed the Queen of Hun-
gary by friendly reprefentations, to endeavour
to prevail upon the King of Prufiia to defift
from his enterprize ; and promiied, if that mould
not fucceed, to deter him from the profecution
of it, by declaring their joint refolution to fulfil
their engagements to the court of Vienna ; and,
if neither of thofe methods fhould prove fuffici-
ent, they aflured the queen, that they would
proceed to oblige that prince by force of arms
to withdraw his troops from Silefia. The Auf-
trian minifter at London was at the fame time
informed, that his Britannic majefty was refolved
to perform his engagements to the Queen of
Hungary, as foon as a proper plan for the mili-
tary operations could be fettled ; and this aflur-
ance was repeated by the Britifh minifter at the
court of Vienna.
His Britannic majefty, further to manifeft his
attachment to the houfe of Auftria, in his fpeech
from the throne on the 8th of April, declared to
both houfes of Parliament, " That at the open-
" ins
Engaged in the late General War. 223
" ing of the feffions, he took notice to them of CHAP.
'* the death of the late emperor, and of his re- III.
** folution to adhere to the engagements he was ^- — v-—
<c under, in order to the maintaining of the bal- I74I«
*' lance of power, and the liberty of Europe, on
" that important occafion. That the afTurances he
'« received from them, in return to thiseommu-
*' nication, were perfectly agreeable to the zeal
*' and vigour which that parliament had always
*c exerted, in the fupport of the honour and in-
" tereft of his crown and kingdoms, and of the
" common caufe. That the war which had
*' fince broke out, and been carried on in part
" of the Auftrian dominions, and the various
" and extenfive claims which were publickly
" made on the late emperor's fucceflion, were
" new events that required the utmoft care and
" attention, as they might involve all Europe
" in a bloody war -, and in confluence, expofe
" the dominions of fuch princes as mould take
<c part in fupport of the pragmatic fanclion, to
" imminent and immediate danger. That the
" Queen of Hungary had already made a requi-
*' fition of the 12,000 men exprefsly ftipulated
s< by treaty; and thereupon his majefly had de-
*' mandcd of the King of Denmark, and of the
" King of Sweden, as Landgrave of Hefle Caf-
*' fel, their refpedive bodies of troops, confift-
«' ing of 6,000 men each, to be in readinefs to
'• march forthwith to the afllftance of her Hun-
" garian majefty. That his majefty was alfo
" concerting iuch further meafures, as might
** obviate and difappoint all dangerous defigns
" and attempcs that might be forming or carried
" on, in favour of any unjuft pretenfions, to the
tc prejudice of the houfe of Auftria. That in
*' this complicated and uncertain ftate of things,
*c many
224 T&e Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART " many incidents might arife, during the time,
II. *' when by reafon or the approaching conclufion
of the parliament, it might be impoffible for
his majefty to have their advice and affiftance,
" which might make it necefTary for him to
" enter into ftill larger expences for maintaining
" the pragmatic fandtion. In a juncture fo cri-
" tical, his majefty had thought it proper to lay
" thefe important circumftances before them,
" and to defire the concurrence of his parlia-
" ment, in enabling him to contribute, in the
" moft effectual manner, to the fupport of the
" Qvieen.of Hungary, the preventing, by all
" reaibnable means, the fubverfion of the houfc
*s of Auftria, and to the maintaining the liberties
" and ballance of power in Europe. And his
" majefty recommended it to his parliament, to
" grant him fuch a lupply as might be rcquifite
" for thefe ends."
ON the loth of April both houfes of parlia-
ment prefented their refpecUve add refits to his
majefty, and declared, " They were highly fen-
<c fible of his majefty's royal wifdom, in the re-
" folution he had been pleafed to declare for
" the maintenance of the pragmatic fanclion,
<c and the affiftance of the Queen of Hungary."
Both houfes affured his majefty, " That in any
" future events, which might arife from fuch an
*6 uncertain ftate of things, and which might
" make it neceflary for his majefty to enter into
" ftill larger expences in fo juft a cauJe, his ma-
" jefty might depend on their zealous and chear-
" ful concurrence, in enabling his majefty to
" contribute in the moft effectual manner to the
" fupport of the Qneen of Hungary, to prevent
" the iubverfion of the houfe of Auftria, the an-
44 tient and natural ally of the Britifh crown, to
" the
Engaged in the late General War. 225
" the maintaining the pragmatic fanclion, and CHAP.
" the liberties and bailance of Europe." And his III.
majefty alfo received the aflurances of both houfes, • — -v^— -J
*c That if any part of his dominions, although i74*«
" not belonging to the crown of Great Britain,
" Ihould be attacked or infulted by any prince
" or power, in refentment of the juft and necef-
" fary meaiures which his majefty had taken, or
" mould take, fpr maintaining the pragmatic
" fanclion •, that in juftice, and in vindication
" of the honour and dignity of the Britifii
" crown, they were determined to exert them-
" felves to the utmoft, in defending and pro-
" tecling fuch dominion from any luch attacks
" or inlults."
ON the 1 3th of April the parliament voted the
Queen of Hungary a fupply of 3 00,000 /. and
IQ,QOQ of the Britifh forces, with a train of artille-
ry, were ordered to embark for Flanders for her
affiftance. On the 6th day of May his Britannic
majefty, declaring his indentions of vifiting ,his
German dominions, nominated in council, his
grace the Arch-bifhop of Canterbury, the Dukes
of Richmond, Graf ton, Boltpn, Devonshire,
Montagu, Newcaftle, and Dorfetj the Earls of
Pembroke, Wilmington, and Jflay -, the Lords
Hervey, and Harrington ; Sir Robert Walpole,
and Sir Charles Wager, to be lords of the re-
gency in his majefty's abfence j and the fame day
his majefty embarked at Gravefend, landed in
Holland the 8th, and arrived in his Hanoverian
dominions on the i2th.
THE Queen of Hungary, from the refolutions
of the Bncifli parliament, was elated with the
profpe& of a fpeedy relief j and (he had reafon
to expccl a formidable affiftance from the court
of Ruffia, as the grand duchefs, regent of that
VOL. I. F f con-
226 The Conduit of the Powers of Europe,
PART confiderable empire, had promifed to fuccour
II. her majefty with 40^000 Tartars, Coflacks, and
" — ^ 'Calmucks, which in order to divert the King of
J74!- Pruflia, were immediately to enter into his king-
dom, and live there at difcretion, until the Pruf-
lian troops fhould retire from Silefia ; and accord-
ingly, in February ten Ruffian regiments were
lent into Courland, where they were kept in
continual readinefs to march through Poland to
the aflfiftance of her Hungarian majefty •, but the
other powers who had guaranteed the pragmatic
fan<5tion, through the artifices of the court of
France, had not made the leaft advance towards
defending and fecuring the liberties and dignity
of the Auftrian family.
SANGUINE were the expectations of the Auf-
trian miniftry, from the arrival of his Britannic
majefty in Germany ; though at the fame time
they apprehended other fchemes between France
and Bavaria, and were truly fenfible of the ap-
proaching danger from fuch an alliance. For
his Britannic majefty and the Dutch, encouraged
the queen to infift upon it, as a preliminary in
any agreement to be made between her and the
King of Pruflia, that the Prufllan troops fhould
withdraw from Silefia ; and even promifed her
hopes of their afliftance, if he refufcd to com-
ply.
IN purfuance of this and the former refolution,
the Earl of Hyndford, as minifter plenipotenti-
ary from his Brittanic to his Prufllan majefty, be-
gan his negociations with requefting the King of
PrufTia to defift from his enterprize in Silefia.
And in purfuance of this fcheme, on the i9th of
June, a memorial was prefented to his Pruffian
majefty, by the Major-General Baron de Ginck-
el, envoy extraordinary from the States General,
in
Engaged in the late General War. 227
in conjunction with the Earl of Hyndford, re- CHAP.
prefenting *« That their High Mightineffes, as III.
" well as his Britannic majefty, could not fee, ' — v— J
" but with the utmoft regret, the troubles be- I74I-
" tween their Pruffian and Hungarian majefties;
" and that they could not refrain from making
" the ftrongeft inftances to his Pruffian majefty,
" to prevail upon him to withdraw his troops
'* from Silefia, and thereby pave the way to a
*' Jafting accommodation, as well as to reftore
" peace to the empire, at a juncture when union
" was fb necefiary among powers that had any
" regard for its repofe ; and for this purpofe
" their High Mightineffes, as well as his Britan-
<c nic majefty, would employ their interceffion
" with all the ardour and affection they were
" capable of. That their High Mightineffes
<£ and his Britannic majefty, were under a ne-
" ceffity to infift ftrenuoufly on this demand,
" and to do all that lay in their power to gain
" the confent of his Pruffian majefty thereto ;
" and that nothing could be more difagreeable
*c to them, than to find themfelves obliged to
" fulfil engagements, in an affair in which his
*' Pruffian majefty and the Queen of Hungary
" were oppofite parties."
To this memorial the Count de Podeweis, by
order of his Prufsian majefty, on the 26th of
June returned an anfwer, importing, " Tha,t
** his Prufsian majefty had from time to tim,e
<c made advantageous propofals to the Queen of
" Hungary, but the king had feen with regret,
" that tar from having the leaft regard {hewn
" to them, the court of Vienna had rejected
" them with difdain j and that it would not be
" his fault, if thofe differences were no| foon
^ terminated in a proper manner •, hoping from
F f 2 " the
TJje Conduct of tfo Powers of Europe,
the friendfhip and equity of his Britannic ma-
jefty and their High MightinefTcs, that in em-
ploying their good offices to attain fo falutary
J741- ** an end, they would never fwerve from the
impartiality fuch a work required, much lefs
to exact conditions or the king, that might be
" incompatible with his honour, and the indif-
** putable rights of his royal houfe." Indeed
his Prufsian majefty was always inclined to ac-
commodate the difputes fubfifting between him
and the Queen of Hungary -, for after the battle
of Molwitz, he declared by his minifters at the
feveral courts of the empire, " That his victory
'« there had made no alteration in his affection
" to the hoafe of Auftria •, that he did not mean
" to take advantage from that fuccefs for pre-
" fcribing fuch terms as that court might think
ct too hard, but adhered to thofe which he had
•«' already made known •, and that if the Queen
" of Hungary, as he defired me might, would
" hearken to an accommodation, me would al-
<c ways find him difpofed to facilitate it as much
•* as lay in his power."' And the more to mani-
feft his intentions, his Prufsian majefty wrote a
letter with his own hand to the Queen of Hun-
gary, wherein he propofed an accommodation,
and fet down the conditions upon which he would
agree to a fufpenfion of arms •, but her Hungari-
an majefty ftill infilled upon his withdrawing his
troops, as an indifpenfible preliminary article,
and this demand being afterwards reiterated by
the Britifh and Dutch minifters, and his Prufsian
majefty being ftrongly foJlicited to join in a con-
trary intereft, with France and Bavaria, he from
that time probably began to think of purfuing o-
ther meafures.
As
Engaged in the late General War. 229
As the King of Prufsia had reduced his de- CH AP
mand at the court of Vienna, and propofed the HI.
lower Silefia, with the town of Breflaw, being left \-^s^*j
to him, either by way of mortgage or otherwife, i/4l-
in recompence of his pretenfions to the feveral
diftriclshe had claimed as his right in the duchy j
for which he would not only engage to affift the
Queen of Hungary with his whole force, for the
prefervation of the reft of the late emperor's iuc^
ceffion ; but alto to give his vote and beft affift-
ance to the grand duke, for procuring to him
the Imperial crown ; and be ready to enter into
the ftricteft engagements with her majefty, the
Maritime powers, Ruffia, and fuch other princes
as fhouid be difpofed to maintain the pragmatic
fan&ion in its full extent : and had for this pur-
pofe requefted the mediation of his Britannic ma-
jefty, who as he looked upon himfelf as a party
from his engagement to the late emperor, could
not accept of it, but willingly oftered to employ
his good offices for bringing about an accommo-
dation between princes, whofe particular inter-
efts, as well as thofe of Europe in general, re-
quired their being united ; but at the fame time
declared his fentiments to the Queen of Hungary,
that although he had long been far from advifing
the making any conceffions to the King of Pruf-
fia, whilft there were any poffible grounds to
hope to be abfc to reduce that prince to reafon
by forcible means j yet, as appearances then were,
he recommended it to the queen, to adjuft mat-
ters without the leaft lofs of time with the King
of Pruffia, upon the conditions he had laft pro-
pofed ; allo exhorting her majerty lerioudy to
endeavour to gain, at the lame time, the Elector
of Saxony, which might be pofTibly brought a-
bout by fomc fmail conceffions made him in Lu-
fatia,
230 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART fatia, being what that prince had Jong kept
II. at heart, and was in treaty about with the late
- — v*— -> emperor. But the court of Vienna inflexibly per-
-I74I- 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- I741*
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
'741' 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- J74i'
" 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 I741-
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 '741'
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
374I- 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 J74l-
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-
<c imity and other circum fiances, contributed
" more to its ftrength, than any other of the
te more diftant provinces; and that it was im-
" proper and impolitic to transfer a catholic
«' country to a proteftant prince." His majefty,
fince his engagement with France and Bavaria,
retaliated this ufage •, and in his turn, though
now ftrongly follicited by the Britifh and Dutch
minifters, rejected all offers of peace, and advanc-
ed with his army towards Neils, a town of Silefia,
forty-three miles fouth of Breflaw, whereupon
Count Neuperg, thinking his majetty intended
to befiege that place, threw a ftrong reinforce-
ment into this fortrels, and retired with his army
towards the frontiers of Bohemia.
As the Elector of Bavaria had declared war a-
gainft the Queen of Hungary, by the name of
Grand Duchefs of Tufcany, it was now p:.ib-
lickly known that he pretended to the Imp, r.al
dignity, and that the French court was ablolute-
iy determined to fupport him in his pretenfions.
The confederate army of French and Bavarians
entered the Auflrian dominions without oppofi-
pon. On the joth of September they took pof-
iefTion
24° The Condudl of the Powers of Europe,
PART feffion of Lintz, the capital of upper Auftria ;
H. and after marching to Ens, they became every
>— • V-— ' where mailers, laid the country under contribu-
J74J« 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 I74I-
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 I74I»
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
I741' 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 I74I-
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 I74?«
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 Budr
weis, a town fixty-five miles fouth of that capital ;
VOL. I. I i and
250 22<? Conduct of tbt Powers of Europe,
PART and dividing into three bodies, the one under
II. the command of the Grand Duke, another
— -v*— ' under Veldt Marflbal Count Khevenhuller, and
J74r- the other under Prince Lobkowitz, they gained
feveral advantages Over the French and Bavari-
ans. On the jith of December, the forces un-
der the Grand Duke appeared before Frauen-
berg -, and the French, who had taken that caf-
tle a few days before, abandoned it on his ap-
proach j the i gth he entered Wodain, where
he took 138 prifoners : on the i5th he marched
tt) Protiwin, and took a few prifoners with fome
baggage, and 200 bread waggons ; and hearing
that the confederates were retreating from all
parts to Piteck, a town upon the Moldaw, about
twenty milts weft of Budweis, immediately
marched thither j when part of the confederate
cavalry, with four companies of grenadiers, paf-
fed the river with a defign to reconnoitre the Auf-
trkns ; but met with fo vigorous a charge, that
they were totally routed, the four companies of
grenadiers put to the fword by the Hungarian
troops called Polities, while the French horfe
run away at the firft onfet.
PRINCE LOBKOWITZ, with his detachment,
hearing that 300 French troops, being the van
of a larger body were on their march to Teucch-
Brod, on the i6th of December ordered Caro-
Ji's regiment of huflars to attack them > 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-
J74r' 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. I74I-
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
I74I- 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 J741'
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
1741' 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 <— -v—o
fleet that had fet out with the Kennington and I741-
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,
<c That he wifhed, for the honour of his coun-
" try, for the fuccefs of his majefty's arms, and
<c for the perfecting the great work he had fo
<c glorioufly begun, of reducing the Spaniards
" in the Weil Indies, that he would not think
<c of coming home and leaving his command
" there j which, without the leaft imputation
*c upon
The Conduct of the Powers oj Europe,
upon any body, could not be fupplied by any
one, on whom his majefty, the nation, and
all the king's friends and fervants, could have
an equal dependance."
VICE Admiral Vernon was. induftrioufly em-
ployed in completing the preparatory meafures,
towards accelerating the refitting of his fleet, and
putting them in a proper condition for returning
to fea, on the further fervice of his king and
country, which was the predominant, and only,
paffion, then reigning in the bofom of this excel-
lent commander: he was impatient to retrieve
the martial glory and reputation of his natal
country, which the Spaniards had infolently vili-
fied and degraded, fmce the retreat from Car-
thagena, and which the admiral, fired with
hone ft zeal to preferve the Britifh honour, was
determined to re-eftablifh ; efpecially, as he well
knew what a prodigious fum this expedition
had coft, and how high the nation had carried
their expectations from it, which as often as he
reflected on, he was the more animated to exert
his abilities to anfwer the great view of the na-
tion, which was effectually to reduce the power
of Spain in America; and the vice admiral was
determined, to look with a juft refentment, on all
who fhould Ihew any want of their duty, in ac-
romplilhing this great and ultimate defign.
HAVING iflfued out the neceffary orders to fet
all the wheels in motion ; his next thought was
about holding a general council of war, for re-
gulating their future proceedings ; which being
propofed to the reft of the council, they accordr
ingly aflfcmbled.
Engaged in tie late General War.
AT a general council of war held at his Excd-CHAP
lency's Governor Trelawney's, at St Jago I.
de la Vaga, on the 26th of May, 1741. * — v—
PRESENT,
Vice Admiral Vernon, Sir Chaloner Ogle, Ge-
neral Wentworth, General Guife, and Gover-
nor Trelawney.
« THE council, after maturely deliberating
on their inftructions, orders, letters, intercept-
ed intelligences, and advices; and having re-
gard to the great reduction of their forces,
were of opinion, That in regard to the dimi-
nution of the forces, the fecurity of Jamaica,
the Britim trade, and of all fupplies coming
to them, and alfo the prefcrving a communi-
cation with Jamaica for their fupplies; the
only expedition, that could be thought ad-
vifable to be undertaken, was againft St Jago
de Cuba, a port of great importance to the
fecurity of the Britim trade, and cutting off
the baneful correfpondence between the Spani-
ards and Hifpaniola. And though in regard
to the general ficknefs, that fpread itfelf through
fleet and army, they were not in very good
condition for undertaking any new expedition!
yet on the atTurance given the council by Go-
vernor Trelawney, that they might rely on a
fupply from Jamaica of 1,000 of the moft fer-
vicable blacks they could raife in the ifland,
to be all chofen men, and to have proper offi-
cers; and through a fincere zeal for doing the
utmoft in their power, to anfwer the expecta-
tions of their royal matter from the great
VOL. I. LI * expence
266 lie Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART * expence of this expedition.' " It was the re-
II. '" folution of the council, to undertake this ex-
*— v— ' " pedition againft St Jago, and to pulh it for-
1741. « ward with all the difpatch the fituation of
" their affairs would admit of."
THIS refolution was figned by the two admi-
rals and both the generals, but was diflented from
by Governor Trelawney, who was of opinion,
ic That fmce the forces had been fo reduced by
" ficknefs, the remaining number ought not to
" be hazarded, but on a fervice that, if it fuc-
«c ceeded, might be of great benefit and im-
" portance to Great Britain. He could not
«c think St Jago de Cuba of confequence, while
" the Englifh were mailers at fea ; and took it
" for an inviolable maxim to be fuperiors, as
" they might be, at fea in the Weft Indies, or
" elfe poffefiions there would be a detriment,
" inflead of a benefit, to Great Britain j and
" no poffefiions, but fuch as are ufeful in com-
*' merce, are for the benefit of England. Pan-
" ama is of that nature, as it would command
" the ifthmus of Darien ; and therefore, if there
<c was force enough, with the help of the Muf-
*c quito Indians, and negroes under proper
*« officers from Jamaica, an attempt upon that
" place would be, in his opinion, moft advif-
«« able."
BUT the pofieffion of this pure, large, aud
healthy ifland of Cuba, was the univerfal cry of
the Britifh nation; all their hearts were bent
upon it j and nothing could be done in the Weft
Indies half fo acceptable as fuch an acquifition :
though Governor Trelawney might naturally
predift, that if a Britifh fettlement was obtained
m Cuba, the utility of it muft neceflarily deftroy
the
'Engaged In the late General War. 267
the trade, and reduce the value of land in Ja- CHAP.
maica ; and therefore might endeavour to dif- I.
courage an enterprize, that feemed extremely * — v~-J
prejudicial to his own government. FJis majefty J74J-
in his inftruftions, fent from Herenhaufen, the
loth of July 1740, had particularly recommend-
ed to the vice admiral, to attempt tlje Havanna,
La Vera Cruz, Mexico, Carthagena, and Pana-
ma, but of all thefe the moil defirable acquifition
was the reduction of the town and port of the
Havanna. It was now impoffible to attempt the
Havanna, becaufe Don Rodrigo de Torres was
in that port, with an equal, if not a fuperior
force to the Britifh fquadron : and therefore the
conqueft of St Jago feemed the moft preferable
to be undertaken, as that port was the rendez-
vous of the Spanim privateers ; and if the Britifh
forces were once in pofiefiion of Cuba, the whole
world would not be able to difpoffefs them again,
and they might then make peace with Spain,
without the intervention of France, giving them
almoft any thing in Europe they might defire,
£>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
J74I- 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. Watfon562° $
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
I74I- 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- '741-
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 obfl10-
tion of the eddy wind (that comes dowrtne
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/ fea » ^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
wqh 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\Sjr 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 I741-
* 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
<c the ifland of Cuba; and for advancing to at-
*' tempt to furprize and take the batteries above
<c the Morro caftle, if the approaches to them
" were found pratfticable for the forces; to get
<c up to the village of Catalina with the utmoft
*' expedition, and at all events to fecure that,
?* and a communication with Walthenam har-
" hour,
278 ¥be Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART c< hour, as a probable foundation to acquired
II. " footing in the ifland of Cuba, and waiting for
L— v~*j " further fuccours, to enable them to complete
*74*. " the reduction of it.
" AND refolved, That the general be defired
" to acquaint the refpective governors of the
" northern colonies, with their refolution to ef-
<e tablifh themfelves on Cuba, and wait for his
** rnajefty's further inftructions, and defire them
" to fend what recruits they could raife ; and to
" allure the inhabitants of their refpective colo-
" nies, that were willing to endeavour to fettle
" themfelves in Cuba, that they fhould be fure
" to meet with all pofiible encouragement.
" UNANIMOUSLY refolving, to do all joint-
*' ly in their power, to fecure a footing in this
tc ifland, till they received his majefty's further
« inftructions."
THE landing of the troops was effected with
the greateft celerity, and General Wentworth
pitched on the firft place for halting the forces
on the fide of the river, about three leagues from
the mouth of the harbour. On the 2fth the
general fent out a detachment of 100 of the
American troops and 100 negroes, with a guide,
under Major Dunfter, to reconnoitre the coun-
try ; who meeting with an advanced party of the
Spaniards of fifty men, under Capt. Don Pedro
Guarro, the Spaniards precipitately fled before
the detachment without exchanging a fliot, leav-
ing them eleven horfes, fome of their ammuni-
tion, and a good deal of jerked beef; ancl
though the Spaniards had another party of twen-
ty-five men lurking in ambufcade, they never
attempted to furprize the Englim, who continu-
ing their reconnoitre, on the 26th arrived at
Guantanamo, a houfe and favanna belonging to
Don
Engaged in the late. General War.
Bon Pedro Guarro, about fifteen leagues
St Jago, where they difcerned another houfe
about two miles and a half from Guantanamo,
over a fine favanna called Cano Vaco, where
Major Dunfter ordered fifty foldiers, flaying
himfelf at the firft houfe with the reft of the for-
ces. On the 28th in the morning, Major Dun-
(ler fet out for the village of Elleguava, leaving
fifty foldiers to take care of the houfe, and took
the other fifty from Cano Vaco, which made in
all 1 50 men ; they marched over a pretty deep
hill, and difagreeable ftoney road, entering the
village without refiftance about four o'clock Tri
the afternoon, the inhabitants having all aban-
doned it. The village {lands on a high bank,
the river running half way round it, abounding
wirh plenty of every thing but bread kind, the
plantations not being ripe. Major Dunfter being
cautious of a furprize by a fuperior force, at ib
great a diftance from the camp, without advanc-
ing any further, continued making little excurfi-
pns after the horfes, cattle, and hogs, to the 2d
of Auguft, when he returned to Guantanamo
with his detachment, where he found Colonel
Cochran and Lieutenant- Colonel Whitford, with
250 foldiers and 100 negroes; who, though
they had now 500 men, and the Spaniards no
parties confiderable enough to oppofe them,
without marching any further, ordered the
whole party to return to the camp, where they
arrived on the 4th, having in their march had
one man killed by an ambufhing party of Spa-
niards, who had alfo three men killed on their
part at the fame time. ,
As the fecurity of the army and all the tranf-
ports, depended upon the fquadron being in a
. condition to defend the harbour from any fur-
prize
280 TZe Conduct of tie Powers of Europe,
PART prize on them, which was to be dreaded, as the
II. Spaniards had fo ftrong a force fo near them at
— - v— — ' the Havanna ; Vice Admiral Vernon therefore
I74I- took the fafeft and moft prudent precautions for
their fecurity, by forming the bed difpofitions
with his fix capital mips in a line, to defend the
entrance of Cumberland harbour, having di£
patched the other part of the fquadron to block
up the harbour of St Jago, and to watch the
motions of the Spanifh admiral at the Havanna ;
and as he had procured fuch proper intelligence
for the land forces to regulate their march to St
Jago, and knowing any dilatory proceedings
would be attended with the fame fatal confe-
quences as the army had fuffered at Carthagena,
he grew impatient for a detachment of the army,
purfuant to the refolution of the council of war,
to advance and attempt to furprize the batteries
of Eftrella and Catalina, which being, as men-
tioned in the information of the guide, eafily
practicable, the vice admiral ftrongly recom-
mended to the generals ; promifing, that either
himfelf or Sir Chaloner Ogle would be off the
mouth of the harbour of St Jago, to fecond the
attempts of the army in the bed manner it was
pofiible to do. But, inftead of finding a com-
pliance with his friendly admonitions to the ge-
neral, tending only to promote the fuccefs of the
royal fervice, the vice admiral was greatly fur-
prized to find, by a letter from the general of
the 5th, that he was diffident of being able to
proceed further, and that it was impoflible for
any number of men to fubfift many days in the
part of which they were then in pofleffion ; and
that he intended calling a council of war to come
to a final refolution.
THE
Engaged in the late General War. 281
THE vice admiral immediately communicated CHAP.
this letter to Sir Chaloner Ogle, which gave them I.
both a very fenfible mortification, to find the ex- < — v-^j
pedition on the point of being abandoned, when I74I-
there was the greateft probability of crowning it
with a glorious termination. The country was en-
tirely deferted, except an inconfiderable body of
Spaniards that lay lurking up and down, without
either the power or inclination to face the Eng-
lifh ; and the flying of the women and children
to St Jago, muft increafe their fcarcity of provifi-
ons and add to their terror and confufion, which
was fo great, that the governor and principal
inhabitants were conftantly in the utmoft dread
from an attack over land ; and fo much were
they perfuaded of this, that the governor and
grandees would not truft themfelves to fleep in
the town or forts, but repaired every night into
the woods to fleep in fecurity : fo that if the
general had improved on this confirmation a-
mong the Spaniards, and ordered a chofen de-
tachment of 1,000 men, with 1,000 negroes to
have gone with them for carrying a week's pro-
vifions, and attacked the upper batteries of the
Eftrella and Santa Catalina, which they might
have done in three days, he would thereby foon
have determined the fate of St Jago: for fuch
a general confufion ha^ prepoflefied the Spani-
ards, they muft have eafily fucceeded ; which
was afterwards fupported by the intelligence pro-
cured from all the Spanifh intercepted letters.
HAD this defign been executed, as the vice ad-
miral would have been at hand to have pufhed
into the harbour, the town of St Jago, and all
the reft, would have fallen of courle ; efpecially
as the Spaniards had but little ammunition of
any fort, and the town being open, would have
VOL. I. N q been,
282 <fbe Conduct of the Powers cf Europe,
PART been under the command of the guns of the
II, fquadron. But by an unhappy fatality this op-
- — v ' portunity was neglected ; and the general, hav-
I74I- ingafiembled a council of war on the 9th, it was
refolved, " That they could not march any
'* body of their troops further into the country,
" without expofing them to certain ruin ; and
" that they were firmly of opinion, that their
" advancing with the army to St Jago, in their
" prefent circumftances, was impracticable.'*
The principal part of thefe objections, were
founded on the difficulty of marching the army
to St Jago without cannon ; which was what
the officers of the fquadron never conceived
to be necefiary, as they had always advifed a
fudden attack on the batteries, by a felect num-
ber of the choiceft troops.
ON the 1 3th a general council of war afiernb-
led, at which were prefent both the officers of
the navy and army, when the officers of the
army declared, " They thought it impraclica-
*' ble to advance further into the country:" a
circumftance extremely difagreeable to the naval
officers, and quite contrary to their opinions ;
but as their inftruclions gave no authority to the
naval officers to deliberate on the regulations of
the army by land, Vice Admiral Vernon and
Sir Chaloner Ogle, after fuggefting their opini-
ons to the land officers, and leaving with them
copies of all the evidence they had procured,
exhorted them to do the utmoft of their power
for the honour and fervice of the Britifh nation ;
and feparated without thinking any new refolu-
tions necdTary to be formed.
THE different fentiments, of the officers in the
fea and land fervice, gave Vice Admiral Vernon
the deepeft concern ; he had faithfully and dili-
gently difcharged his duty, but if his abilities hacj
beep
Engaged in the late General War. 283
been fuperior to what he had already evinced them, CHAP.
the vice admiral found how vain muft be all his I.
attempts, if unequally yoked to fuch as were to <— v— J
contribute to the execution of them; therefore, I74I*
though not acquainted with Lord Cathcart but
in his general character, no man more fincerely
mourned the lofs his majefty's fervice had in fo
valuable a commander : the vice admiral believ-
ed his fucceffor to be an honeft well-meaning
gentleman, but had feen no apparent proof to
let him in the light of an experienced general ;
and all his counfellors appeared to be actuated
by fuch general principles, as ferved to manifeft
to the vice admiral their difpoficion of return-
ing home, and fearing to furnifh occafions for
their longer refidence in a climate fo difagree-
able to their inclinations.
THOUGH the vice admiral, from the reports
made to him by feveral experienced officers, was
fully convinced of the impracticability of forc-
ing a paflage into the narrow entrance of the
harbour of St Jago, unlefs the batteries lying
above the Morro caftle had been firft furprized
and taken : yet, under a concern for having fo
little done, where nothing had appeared to op-
pofe the progrefs of fo large a force as had been
landed, and then lay quiet in their camp, he
determined to go, and perfonally view the en-
trance into the faid harbour : he failed up there
in the Orford, together with the Montagu, on
the 4th of September, and carefully reconnoitring
the harbour of St Jago, found it to be all an
iron (hore, and no anchorage off it ; and that
it was not a fafe harbour, even for a friendly
fhip to frequent ; for they muft run in clofe to
the fhore, to windward off the mouth of the
'harbour, and muft drive down clofe under the
N n 2 Morro
2$ 4 3Tfe Conduct of the Powers cf Europe,
PART Morro caftle, drop an anchor there, and then
II. warp in. Had the fcheme for attacking the
L— v—— ' town by fea appeared practicable in any light,
J74i- the vice admiral, vexed with a conduct that
feemed to him unaccountable in the general, he
would have been as refolute as any man ; but as
he muft encounter fo many difficulties, he could
not refolve to throw his majefty*s fquadron away
againft the rocks, without the leaft appearance
of fuccefs.
SICKNESS, the certain attendant of indolence
and^ inactivity in the warm climates of America,
had began to fpread among the forces in their
encampment, infomuch that they had already
loft above 200 officers ; the general acquainted
Vice Admiral Vernon, that if they fuftained
any greater diminution through their prefent
illnefs, that they would be unable even to main-
tain themfelves in their encampment : but the
admiral, acquainting him that a letter from Sir
Charles Wager had given him information that
a reinforcement of 2,000 men might be daily
expected from England, endeavoured to per-
fuade him, if he could not advance any further,
to continue in the advantageous poft he had pof-
fefied, and wait the arrival of the expected fuc-
cours, to complete the reduction of the whole,
or the eaftern part of the ifland : which, in a
general council of war, held on the 28th of
October, after declaring their inability of at-
tacking the Havanna, La Vera Cruz, Mexico,
Carthagena, and Panama, was unanimoufly re-
folved upon.
NOTWITHSTANDING this refolution, as the
army was foon after feized with a general fick-
nefs, having loft the greateft part of their num-
ber, and the furvivors daily dying, the general
fummoned
Engaged in the late General War. 285
iummoned a council of .war, confiding of the CHAP.
land officers, who met on the yth of November, I.
and declared their opinion, " That no time <* — v— — '
" ought to be loft in embarking the troops on I74I-
<c board their tranfports •, and that it might be
" done with the utmoft expedition, they thought
" all the afllftance which could be had from the
" fleet was neceflary, for which end proper ap-
" plication was without delay to be made to
" Vice Admiral Vernon." Upon which the
re-imbarkation of the troops was effected on the
2oth of November, without having a fmgle mot
fired at either the army or tranfports.
ON the 25th the general council of war affem-
bled, and having a difference in fentiments of
what was moft for the royal fervice, the land
officers determined to return with the tranfports
to Jamaica, and the naval officers refolved to pro-
ceed to meet the expected reinforcement, after
feeing the tranfports difpatched under proper
convoys; the vice admiral having before dif-
patched part of the fquadron to cruize for, and
give him notice of their arrival.
THE flotilla and tranfports having fallen down
the river, to which the vice admiral had given
the name of Augufta, in honour of her Royal
Highnefs the Princefs of Wales, proceeded to fea
on the 28th •, and the vice admiral on the 6th of
December, put to fea with his remaining fqua-
dron, confifting of eight (hips of the line, a fire-
fhip, an hofpital fhip, and two tenders, and pro-
ceeded to cruize off Hifpaniola, in expectation of
meeting the reinforcement from England.
BY thefe unhappy diffentions between the na-
val and land officers, was this important enter-
prize abandoned, with a more fhamefui afpect
on the part of the army, than their late fatal re-
pulfe
286 The Conduct of the Powers ef Europe,
PA RT pulfe before Carthagena ; a too fignal inftance hov?
II. the moft promifing attempts are eafily fruftrated,
dividing the command between land and fea
officers; which, on expeditions in this part of
the globe, muft frequently be prevented by a
diffonance in opinions. Nor did this undertak-
ing prove materially detrimental to the Spani-
ards •, no forts were demolifhed, no troops de-
feated, the country fuftained little prejudice from
irruptions, and the whole damage to the inhabi-
tants was entirely infignificant, any further than
by depopulating the country, letting tfoeir plan-
tations run to ruin, and impoverifhing them by
preventing the cultivation of the fettlements; as
alfo, by terrifying them with the thoughts of
compelling them to relinquifh their habitations ;
and by the great concourfe of people herding in
St Jago, the governor for their fubfiftance was
forced upon the wretched expedient, put in
practice by King James II. in Ireland, of coin-
ing a copper money, which he iflued for dollars
and ryals, obliging a currency of them, under
promifes that the Vice Roy of Mexico fhould
make good any lofs to accrue from the ufe of
them. Though activity was preferved in the na-
vy ; and the Worcefter, during the encampment
of the troops, took a Spanifh man of war of
twenty-four guns and 220 men ; the Defiance took
a regifter fhip of 350 tons, twelve guns, and
fifty men, laden with provifions for Carthagena -,
and the Shoreham took another regifter fhip,
with 70,000 pieces of eight on board.
TH E Spaniards were, and remained long, in
ignorance, unable to guefs what it was that kept
the army from marching on after they landed ;
and ufed to fay merrily to one another, they be-
lieved the Englifh were come Co a hunting match
in
Engaged in the late General War. 287
in their woods, and not with any hoftile defign QJAP.
againft the inhabitants. The furprizing inacti- I.
vity of the commanding officers of the army, \— — \^— J
both at Carthagena and Cuba, was no lefs mat- 174*-
ter of aftonilhment to the general part of Eng-
land : but it is perceptible enough, fuch pro-
ceedings were fupported, by the direction of
the miniftry, to avoid alarming the French j
for if they did not authorize or countenance fuch
proceedings, why did they dill continue to en-
truft the direction of the army to the fame offi-
cer ? which, otherwife, is the more amazing, as
all England knew the reafonable and avowed
diflike, the vice admiral had to his coalition
with a commanding officer, of whofe abilities it
was impoffible for him to give the lead approba-
tion : if this vifible mifconduct and imprudence,
at which the whole nation loudly repeated their
abhorrence and difguft, had not been protected
by the arms, or flickered under the wings of the
minifterial fanftion ; how is it to be reconciled
with the views of a juft, uninfluenced adminiftra-
tion, when meafures fo atrocious in their nature,
attended with the lofs of fo many men, and fuch
a profufion of money, never received the leaft
public enquiry ? when at the fame time the com-
mander of the fleet, as it was univerfally known,
was not only defirous of, but earneftly follicited
it : or elfe, if this was not the cafe, it muft be a
confederacy among the fuperior officers, who
might have been weary of fo intemperate a cli-
mate as the Weft Indies, and were very unwil-
ling to take fuch vigorous fteps, as would give
them the leaft poffibility of making acquifitions
in a country fo averfe to their inclinations ; be-
caufe, if they had taken poflfeffion of any part 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 had1—- v— •
like to have decoyed the Pearl into the fnare of I74'-
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,
<e for the eafe of their fhips, been ordered into
" the hold/*
THE Tryal being almoft refitted, as they were
directly bound for the South Seas, the commo-
dore thought it neceflary to fix the plan of his
firft operations ; and, on the 24th ot February,
a council of war was held on board the Centuri-
on, by the naval captains and Colonel Crache-
rode, when the commodore informed them,
^ That it was an article in his inftructions to en-
O o 2 *« deavour
292 %be Conduct of the Powets*o/" Europe,"
PART " deavour to fecure fome port in the South Seas,
II. " where the mips might be careened and refit-
L^-V-^J " ted;" he therefore propofed, that their firft
1741- attempt, on their arrival in the South Seas, fhould
be the attack of the town and harbour of Baldi-
via, the principal frontier of the diftric~l of Chili.
To this proportion the council unanimoufly and
readily agreed •, and, in confequence of this re-
folution, new inftruciions were given to the cap-
tains of the fquadron, by which, " They were
" directed, in cafe of reparation, to cruize off
" the ifland of Neuftra Senora de Socoro only
" ten days, from whence, if not joined by the
<c commodore, they were to proceed and cruize
" off the harbour of Baldivia ; and if, in four-
" teen days, they were not joined by the reft of
the fquadron, they were then to proceed to
the ifland of Juan Fernandes, and regulate
their further proceedings by their former or-
ders -, and as the feparation of the fquadron
might prove of the utmoft prejudice to the
cc fervice, each captain was ordered, not to
ce keep his fhip at a greater diftance than two
" miles from the Centurion."
THESE necefifary regulations being eftablimed,
and the Tryal floop being completed, the fqua-
dron weighed on the 27th of February, and flood
to fea ; and on the yth of March paffed the
flreights Le Maire, very unfortunately attempt-
ing the paffage of Cape Horn at fuch an impro-
per feafon of the year, to which they were necef-
fitated by their too late departure from England,
and which was the fatal fource of all the mif-
fortunes they afterwards encountered. For af-
ter a continual feries of the greatePc calamities,
jfrorn the feverity of the rnoft tempeftuous wea-
ther, in which the whole fquadron was feparat-
ed,
Engaged in tbe late General War. 293
ed, and their crews prodigioufly diminiihed by the CHAP.
hardfhips and fatigues they were perpetually and II.
unavoidably expofed to ; the commodore at length, v. — /— j
after furmounting the moft perilous and amazing I741.-
difficulties, on the 3oth of November, completed
his paflage round the cape, and arrived in the con-
fines of the fouthern ocean, denominated Pacific
from the equability of the feafons prevailing, and
the fecurity of the navigation carried on there ;
and, after a lofs of 200 men, the commodore
on the 8th of May, got fight of the ifland of>
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-
J74*- 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
J741- 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 I74I»
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- I741-
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
<c to ufe a cypher, that had been given him, to
" correfpond with the Britilh admiral that might
46 be in the north feas of America, or the com-
<c mander in chief of the forces." The com-
modore was acquainted, by his inftruftions, of
the deftination of the troops fent to the Weft
Indies, under the command of Lord Cathcart ;
and was ordered, that " If thofe forces fhould
" go to Porto Bello or Darien, with a defign
" to march to Panama or Santa Maria •, to
" make the beft difpofitions to aflift them in
" making a fecure fetdement, either at Panama
«c or any other proper place, and fupply them
" with cannon, or any thing elfe, to be fpared,
cc without weakening the fquadron ; and if they
<c fhould want foldiers, to reinforce them with
*' thofe on board his fquadron, with confent of
" the proper officer." And believing that Porto
Bello might be then garrifoned by Britfti troops,
the commodore hoped, on his arrival at the
Ifthmus, to procure an intercourfe with them,
either by the Indians or fome of the lucrative
Spaniards -, and flattering himfelf, that by this
means he might receive a reinforcement of men
from Porto Beilo, he was in hopes, by fettling
a prudent plan of operations with the Bridfli
commanders in the Weft Indies, even to take
Panama,
Engaged in the late General War. 303
Panama, and thereby obtain the pofieflion of CHAP.
the Ifthmus of Darien, and the treafures of II.
Pern : and had the fuccefs of the Britifn land \ — <r-~»
forces in the Weft Indies been anfwerable to the 1741*
'general expectation, thefe views v/ere certainly
the moft prudential that could have been con-
certed.
THE feafon for navigating, in this climate,
approaching ; they exerted their labour and vi-
gilance to get their mips in readinefs for the fea:
and on the 8th of September, efpying a fail to
the N. E. the Centurion immediately got aH
hands on board, and by five in the afternoon
got under fail for the chace ; but lofing fight of
the (hip, and vainly continuing the purfuit, they
determined to come back to Juan Fernandes^
and in their return, on the i3th, were agree-
ably furprized with the fight of a fail on their
weather bow, between four and five leagues dit
tant, as fhe was a Spanifh merchant fhip, in
confort with another trading veflel, which was
the fame that led the Centurion from the ifland:
and this fhip, miftaking the Centurion for her
confort, at firft bore down upon her, which in-
duced the commodore to fufpecl: fhe was a fhip
of force ; who thereupon cleared his fhip ready
for an engagement, and foon after took her
without any refiftance. The prize was called
Nueftra Senora del Monte Carmelo, command-
ed by Don Manuel Zamorra, burthen 450 ton,
having fifty-three failors, blacks and whites, and
twenty-five paflengers on board ; her cargo con-
fiding of iugar, cloth, cotton, and tobacco,
together with fome trunks of wrought plate, and
twenty-three ferons of dollars, each weighing
upwards of 200 ife averdupois; and was bound
from Callao, to the port of Yalparaifo in the
kingdom
304 lie Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART kingdom of Chili. The commodore here firft
II. learnt, from his prifoners, the force and defti-
— /— -^ nation of Pizarro's fquadron ; and had .the fatis-
J74i. faction to find, that the Spanilh admiral, after his
utmoft efforts to pafs Cape Horn, had been
forced back again into the river of Plate, with
the lofs of two of his largeft fhips.
THE next morning the Centurion, with her
prize, difcovered Juan Fernandes, and the fol-
lowing day they both came to an anchor ; but
when the Spaniards faw the Tryal, they were
prodigioufly aftonilhed, and could hardly be
perfuaded fhe came from England ; long infift-
ing, that it was impofiible fuch a fmall fliip
could make the pafifage of Cape Horn, when the
beft mips of Spain were obliged to return.
FROM the accounts of the prifoners, and
on examination of the letters found on board
the prize, it appeared that feveral other mer-
chantmen were bound from Callao, to Val-
patrafo ; on which the commodore, the very
next morning, difpatched the Tryal to cruize off
the latter port, with a reinforcement of ten
hands from on board his own (hip : and alfo,
on this intelligence, the commodore refolved to
feparate the fhips, and employ them in diftinct
cruizes ; as he would thereby increafe his chance
for prizes, and run a lefs rifque of alarming the
coaft, and occafioning a difcovery. He found
this earned of fuccefs had animated his men, and
diffipated their defpondency: this gave the com-
modore a tranfcendant pleafure, and he deter-
mined to commence fome hoftilities on the
coaft. Having fent on board the Gloucefter fix
prifoners and 23 feamen, to aflift in navigating
the fliip -, he directed Capt. Mitchel to leave the
jfland as foon as poflible, ordering him " To
" pro-
Engaged in the late General War. 305
tc proceed to the latitude of 5 deg. fouth, and CHAP.
" there to cruize off the high land of Paita, at II.
" fuch a diftance from fhore as fhould prevent ' — /— '
«' his being difcovered : on this ftation he was I74I-
" to continue till joined by the commodore ;
*' which would be, whenever it Ihould be known
" that the vice roy had fitted out the fhips at
" Callao, or on the commodore's receiving any
" other intelligence that fhould make it necef.
" fary to unite their ftrength." On delivering
thefe orders to the captain of the Gloucefter,
having completed his quantity of wood and wa-
ter, the commodore weighed anchor on the i9th
of September, in company with the prize, and
got out of the bay ; taking his laft farewel of the
ifland of Juan Fernandes, and fteering to the
eaftward, with an intention of joining the Tryal
floop in her ftation off Valparifa, leaving the
Gloucefter at anchor in the bay.
ON the 24th the Centurion met with the Try-
al, who had taken a prize called the Arranzazu,
of 600 ton, proceeding on the fame voyage,
and with much the fame cargo with the Carme-
lo, except that her filver amounted only to a-
bout 5,000 /. fterling. The Tryal foon after
had the misfortune to fpring her main maft;
and the captain and other officers reprefenting
to the commodore, that me was very leaky in
her hull, and otherwife fo defective, that if
they met with much bad weather they muft all
inevitably perifh; and, as it was impofiible to re-
fit her with the neceflary reparations, the com-
modore ordered her to be fcuttled and funk ;
and, to keep up the appearance of his force, ap-
pointed the Tryal's prize to be a frigate in the
royal fervice, manning her with the Tryal's
crew, and giving commiffiops to the captain
VOL I. Qjq and
306 The Condu.£t of the Powers oj Europe,
PART* and all the inferior officers accordingly : me was
II. mounted with twenty guns, twelve from the
- — v ' Tryal and eight that belonged to the Anna pink,
J741* and was to be called the Tryal prize. The com-
modore ordered Capt. Saunders, " After he had
" funk the Trya], to cruize off the high land of
" Valparifa, keeping it from him N. N. W.
4t at the ditlance of fourteen leagues-, to conti-
" nue on that ftation twenty-four days, and
" then, if not joined by the commodore, to
*' proceed down the coaft to Pifco or Nafca,
" where he would be certain to meet the com-
4:4 modore : " and Lieutenant Saumarez, who
commanded the Centurion's prize, was ordered
to keep company with Capt. Saunders. Thefe
orders being difpatched, the Centurion parted
from the other veflfels on the 27th of September
at nighr, directing her courfe to the fouthward,
with a view of cruizing for fome days to the wind-
ward of Valparifa ; but having an unfuccefsful
cruize, on the 6th of October the commodore
failed to leeward of the port to join the prizes:
not finding them, though he continued three or
four days where they were directed to cruize, he
proceeded down the coaft to the ifland of Nafca,
where he got on the 21 ft, and never faw the
prizes till the 2d of November; and, as they
had the like ill fuccefs, the commodore appre-
hending an embargo along the coaft, and the
equipment of a iquadron from Calloa, refolved
to haften down to the leeward of Calloa, to join
Capt. Mitchel off Paita-, that, uniting his ftrength,
they might be able to give the fhips from
Calloa a warm reception, if they dared to put
to fea. With this view he bore away the fame
afternoon, and on the 5th of November, being
advanced within view of the high land of Bar-
ranca,
Engaged in the late General War. 307
ranca, in the latitude of lodeg. 36m. fotnh, CHAP.
the next day he took the Santa Terefa dc Jefus, II.
of 300 ton, bound from Guaiaquil to Calloa, • — v— -J
with an unprofitable cargo, and forty-feven fail- I741-
ors and ten pafiengers on board. On the loth,
being near the ifland of Lobos, in the latitude
of 6deg. 27 rri. fouth, the commodore, drawing
near to the flation appointed to the Gloucefter,
made an eafy fail all night, and the next morn-
ing took a fhip called Nueftra Senora del Car-
min, commanded by Marcos Morena, a Veneti-
an, of 270 ton, bound from Calloa, laden with
feveral fpecies of merchandize, which, in their
prefent circumftances was but of little value to
the captors; yet, with refpecl to the Spaniards,
it was the moft confiderable capture made in
that part of the world, for it amounted to up-
wards of 400,000 dollars, prime cod at Panama.
The commodore received intelligence from an
Irifhman on board this prize, that a few days be-
fore, a veffel came into Paka, where the mailer
of her informed the governor, that he had been
chafed in the offing by one of the Englifli fqua-
dron, which was the Gloucefter: the governor,
fatisfied with this relation, fent away an exprefs
to acquaint the Vice Roy of Lima therewith ;
and the royal officer refiding at Paita, apprehen-
fire of an Englifh vifit, had, from the firll hear-
ing of this news, been bufily employed in re-
moving the treafure to Puira, a town within
land, about fourteen leagues diftant. The com-
modore further learnt from the prifbners, that a
very confiderable quantity of money, belonging
to fome merchants at Lima, was then lodged in
the cuftom houfe at Paita, intended to be (hip-
ped on board a veflel in that port, with the ut-
moft expedition : therefore as they were now di£
2 covered.
308 *fbe Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART covered, and the coaft would be foon alarmed,
II, the commodore refolved to endeavour to furprize
L— - v~— ' Paita, being minutely acquainted with its ftrength
1741. and condition, and being fully fatisfied there
was little danger of lofing many men in the at-
tempt. The defign was very eligible ; as, befides
the treafure it promifed, they might be fupplied
with great quantities of live provifions, which
was much wanted ; and alfo have an opportuni-
ty of releafing the prifoners, who were very
numerous, and made a greater confumption of
food than their flock was long capable of fur-
nifliing.
THE town of Paita is fituated in the latitude
of 5 deg. 12 m. fouth, on a moft barren foil,
compofed only of fand and flate, containing a-
bout 200 houfes, which are only ground floors,
the walls built of fplit cane and mud, and the
roofs thatched with leaves, which, though ex-
tremely flight, are abundantly fufficient for a
climate where rain is confidered as a prodigy,
and not fcen in many years. The inhabitants
are principally Indians, and black flaves, or at
leaft a mixed breed, the whites being very few.
* The port» though in reality little more than a
bay, is in the beft eftimation of any on that part
of the coaft ; and is a very fecure and commodi-
ous anchorage, much frequented by all veflels
coming from the north, being the ufual place
where pafiengers, from Acapulco or Panama,
bound to Lima, dif-embark. The town of Paita
is open, and its fole protection and defence was
a fmall fort of eight guns, without either ditch
or outwork ; being furrounded with a plain brick
wall: and the garrilbn confided only of one
weak company, though the town could have
.armed 300 men. rnore.
Engaged in the late General War. 309
THE commodore, immediately after taking CHAP.
the laft prize, refolved to attack Paita that very II.
night ; he was then about twelve leagues frpm v— v~*j
the fhore, far enough to prevent a difcovery, ^74I«
yet not fo diftant but he could arrive in the bay
before day-break. However, the commodore
prudently confidered that this would be an im-
proper method of proceeding, as the {hips might
be eafily feen at a diflance, even in the night,
and thereby alarming the inhabitants, give them
an opportunity of removing their valuable effects :
therefore, as the ftrength of the place did not'
require his whole force, he refolved to attempt
it with the boats only ; ordering an eighteen
oared barge and two pinnaces on that fervice :
and having picked out fifty-eight proper men to
man them, well furnimed with arms and ammu-
nition, he entrufted the command of the expe-
dition to Lieutenant Brett, gave him his necef-
fary inftructions, ordered two of the Spanifti pi-
lots to attend and conduct him to the mod con-
venient landing place, and afterwards to be his
guides on fhore, to prevent any difappointment
or confufion from the ignorance of the ftreets
and paffages of the place, which might arife
from the darknefs of the night, and, to have
the greater fecurity for the behaviour of the
guides, the commodore allured the prifoners,
they fhould be releafed at Paita if the pilots act-
ed faithfully; but, in cafe of any mifconduct or
treachery, he threatened that the pilots fhould
be inftantly (hot, and the Spaniards on board
carried prifoners to England.
DURING their preparations they were yet at
too great a diftance to be feen, the fhips flood
towards the port with all the fail they could
and about ten o'clock at nighr, being
within
The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
within five leagues of the place, Lieutenant Brett,
with the boats and detachment, put off, and ar-
rived at the mouth of the bay without being
difcovered ; though no fooner had he entered it,
than fomeof the people on board a vefiel riding
at anchor there perceived him, who inftantly
getting into their, boats, rowed towards the fort,
/homing and crying, " The Englifh, the Eng-
" lift dogs are here-,'* by which the whole
town was alarmed and in great agitation. The
lieutenant on this, encouraged his men to pull
brifkly up, that they might give the Spaniards
its little time as poflible to prepare for their de-
fence ; but before the boats could reach the
flbore, fome of the cannon in the fort were point-
ed to the landing place, and the firft mot came
whittling over the boats : this made the crew re-
double their efforts, fo that they had reached
the fhore, and were in part dif embarked, before
the fecond gun fired. As foon as the men land-
ed, they were conducted by one of the Spanifh
pilots to the entrance of a narrow ftreet, not a-
bove fifty yards from the beach, where they
were covered from the fire of the fort, and
forming, marched for the parade, which was a
large fquare at the end of this ftreet ; the fort
being one fide of the fquare, and the governor's
fioufe another. The (hours and clamours of this
animated detachment, joined with the noife of
their drums, and favoured by the gloom of
night, which never fails toincreafe the confufion
of fuch a furprize, had augmented their numbers
in the opinion of the Spaniards to at leaft 300,
by which the inhabitants were fo intimidated,
that they were much more follicitous about the
means of flight than of refiftance : fo that upon
entering the parade, Lieutenant Brett received
a
Engaged in the late General War. 311
a volley from the merchants who owned the CHAP.
treafure then in the town, and with a few others, II.
had ranged themfelves in a gallery that ran *— v— - -
round the governor's houfe ; yet that poft was I74I-
immediately abandoned upon the firft fire from
the Englifli, who were thereby left in quiet pof-
feffion of the parade.
ON this fuccefs Lieutenant Brett divided his
men into two parties, ordering one of them to
furround the governor's houfe, and if poffible to
fecure the governor, whilft he, at the head of the
other, marched to the fort, with an intent to
force it; but, on his approach, the Spaniards a-
bandoned the fort, making their efcape over the
walls, and the lieutenant, contrary to his expect-
ations, entered it without oppofition. By this
time the other party had furrounded the gover-
nor's houfe, who had elcaped half naked, with
the utmoft precipitation, leaving his wife, a
young lady of feventeen, to whom he had been
married but three or four days, behind him ;
though (he too was afterwards carried off in her
fhift by a couple of centinels, juft as the detach-
ment, ordered to inveft the houfe, arrived before
it : while the principal part of the inhabitants,
furprized in their beds, fled without putting on
their eloaths in the wildeft hurry and confterna-
tion -, fo that the few remaining in the town,
were no ways formidable enough to attempt the
leaft refiftance. Thus was the whole town and
fort of Paita, maftered in lefs than a quarter of
an hour from the firft landing, with no other
lofs than one man killed and two wounded;
though the Honourable Mr Van Kepple, fon to
the Earl of Albemarle, had a very narrow ef-
cape from a ball that lhaved his jockey cap off
dofe
312 lie Coaduft of the Powers of Europe,'
PART clofe to his temples, which however did him no
II. other injury.
— „ — » LIEUTENANT BRETT, when he had thus
1741. far happily fucceeded, placed a guard at the
fort, and another at the governor's houfe, ap-
pointing centinels at all the avenues of the town,
both to prevent any furprize from the Spaniards,
and to fecure the effects in the place from being
embezzled : his next care was to feize on the cuf-
tom houfe, where the treafure lay, and to con-
fine the fmall remains of the inhabitants in one
of the churches under a guard, except fome flout
negroes, who were employed the remaining part
of the night, to affift in carrying the treafure
from the cuftom houfe and other places to the
fort. But the failors could not be prevented
from entering the houfes in fearch of private pil-
lage, and covering their dirty trowfers and jack-
ets with the embroidered or laced habits of the
Spaniards j and thofe who came laft into the
fafhion, not finding mens cloaths fufficient, e-
quipped themfelves in womens gowns and petti-
coats, fo that their lieutenant was extremely fur-
prized when he firft faw them thus ridiculoufly
metamorphofed.
DURING the attack on the town, the com-
modore lay by with the fhips till one o'clock in
the morning, and then fuppofing the detach-
ment to be landed, he made an eafy fail, and
opened the bay about feven, where he had a
view of the town, and, through his perfpectives,
difcerned the Englifh colours hoifted on the flag-
ftafTof the fort: he then plied into the bay,
and at eleven the Tryal's boat came on board
the Centurion laden with dollars and church
plate, when the commanding officer acquainted
him of the prececding night's tranfactions with
which
"Engaged in the late General War. 3 j 3
which the commodore was thoroughly pleafed, CHAP.
only he regretted the efcape of the governor, as II.
he had particularly recommended it to Lieute- <> — v — '
nant Brett to fecure hisperfon if poffible, in hopes J74J.
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-
J741- 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 I74i-
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-
I74I- 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 I74r«
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,
<c bound to the port of Acapulco, and would
*{ not arrive there till towards the middle of
" January-," before which time, the commo-
dore imagined he could be on a proper ftation
to intercept that valuable fhip : and on impart-
ing his project, the whole crew indulged them-
felves in the mod unlimitted hopes of the ad-
vantages they thought infallibly to receive. But,
as there was a necefiity of recruiting their water,
he proceeded, for that purpofe, to the ifland of
Quibo, fituated at the mouth of the bay of Pa-
nama, in the latitude of 7 deg. 20 min. north ;
where, after burning the Solidad and Terefa in
their paflage, as they had given great delay, all
the fquadron, except the Gloucelter, arrived on
the 6th of December, and in two days complet-
ed their wood and water. On the pth they
put to fea, and kept hovering round the ifland,
in hopes of feeing the Gloucefter ; the next day
they
tfx Condud: of -the Powers of Europe,
they rook a fmall bark from Panama, which
they afterwards fcuttled and funk, and on the
1 2th were joined by the Gloucefter, who had
J74I- fprung her fore-top mad, which had difabled
her from working to windward, and prevented
her from getting up fooner with the fquadron.
The whole fquadron now flood to the weftward,
and the commodore delivered frelh inftructions
to the captains of the men of war and comman-
ders of the prizes, directing them " To ufe all
'* poffible difpatch in getting to the northward
" of the harbour of Acapulco ; where they
" were to endeavour to fall in with the land,
cc between the latitude of 18 and 19 deg. from
" whence they were to beat up the coaft, at
" eight or ten leagues diftance from the fhore,
" till they came abreaft of cape Corientes, in
" the latitude of 20 deg. 20 min. and to cruife
" on that ftation till the i4th of February -,
" when they were to depart for the middle
" ifland of the Tres Marias, in the latitude of
"21 deg. 25 min. bearing from cape Corientes
" N. W. by N. 25 leagues diftant ; and if, at
*e this ifland, they did not meet the commodore,
ct after recruiting their wood and water, they
'*• were then immediately to proceed for the
" ifland of Macao, on the coaft of China.'*
Thele orders being diflributed to the refpective
fhips, they had little doubt of arriving foon on
their intended ftation •, but by the unfavourable
irregularity of the wind, they were protracted
from obtaining fo defirable an end till the 28th
of January, when they found themfelves near
the harbour of Acapulco, in the latitude of
17 deg. 56 min.
BEING now in the track of the Manila gal-
leon, their arrival was too late to yield them any
pro-
Engaged In the late General War. 3 19
probability of meeting with this vefifel, which CHAP.
they were taught to confider as the moft opulent II.
capture that was to be made on any part of the ^— -v— J
ocean: this excited great uneafinefs, as they *74*>
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 I74I-
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
I741- 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
J741' 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 1741*
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 I74I*
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
J74l- 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 J741*
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$<? Condud of the Powers of Europe,
PART but the moon juft then going down, and it
II. coming on dark, fhe clapt upon a wind, and
- — v-*-* the man of war loft fight of her. At day-break
I74I- Capt. Ambrofe faw her, three leagues on his
bow, chafing an Englifh merchant fhip ; but,
feeing the Rupert, the privateer crowded away
again, the wind blowing hard ; Capt. Am-
brofe followed her clofe, when the wind failing,
darknefs coming on, and the privateer ufmg
oars, fhe efcaped a fecond time. The 9th Capt.
Ambrofe difcovering the privateer again about
three leagues to windward, purfued her all day,
and began to engage her at half an hour paft
midnight : the action lafted till two in the morn-
ing, when the Rupert boarding her, fhe ftruck,
and called for quarter. The privateer had twelve
men killed in the engagement, two their arms
and legs mot away, and the captain and many
more of her men dangeroufly wounded ; the
Rupert loft but one man, who tumbled over-
board in boarding the privateer. The Spaniards
were completely fitted out with a great quantity
of fmall arms, cutlafles, pole-axes, and many
more inftruments of war, but had met with no
prize in that cruize.
As a recompence for the conduct and vigi-
lance of Capt. Ambrofe, in fuppreffing the Spa-
nifh privateers, the merchants of London, in
grateful remembrance of fuch fignal and fingu-
lar fervices, prefented him with a large filver
cup, exquifitely wrought, with his arms curi-
oufly chafed on one fide, and on the other a re-
prefentation of the Rupert chafing a Spanifh pri-
:vateer. And the merchants of Briftol alfo, to
teflify their efteem for the captain, prefented
him with a piece of plate of zoo/, value, on the
fame account.
ON
Engaged in the late General War. 331
ON the i zth of October Sir John Norris fail- CHAP.
cd again in the Victory from St Helens, on a III.
third expedition ; attended by the Royal George, U/VN
Royal Sovereign, Barfleur, Neptune, Sandwich, I74I*
NaflTau, Buckingham, Newcaftle, and Portma-
hon. The fleet proceeded for the Spanifh coaft,
where their arrival alarmed the inhabitants j but
from the former inactivity of this admiral, with
a fuperior fleet, and at a more feafonable time
of the year, the Spaniards were not much terri-
fied at the approach of the Britifh fquadron
efpecially as, fince their laft vifit, they had put
themfelves into a better pofture of defence, by
repairing their fortifications, and having their
militia in readinefs pofted along the maritime
part of the country. Nor indeed had they any
reafon to be terrified -, for the admiral paraded
up and down the Spanifh coaft, as if he had
been fent only to amufe the Spaniards with the
noble appearance of a Britim fleet, as he had
formerly done, when he waited to conduct Don
Carlos, and the 6,000 Spaniards, into his Italian
dominions j and, without attempting any thing
that might contribute to his own merit or the
honour and fervice of his king and country, to
remove the Spaniards from all apprehenfion of
danger, he returned with the fquadron for Eng-
land, and arrived at Spithead on the 6th of No-
vember.
THESE feveral expeditions, carried on with
fuch confiderable force, and conducted by an
admiral who had acquired a very great reputati-
on in his naval life, took up the whole {peculati-
on of the public, and terminated to the univerfal
diflike of the people. As, certainly, nothing is
attended with a greater difficulty, than, tho-
roughly and circumftantially, to arrive at a fair
T t a and
$32 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART and undifguifed knowledge of truth-, yet ftate
II. truths, which are the very foul of hiftory, are
^ — v— ' infinitely more difficult to come at than all others.
1741. Xhofe who advifed a meafure, and thofe who
put it in execution, are perhaps the only perfons
who can oblige the nation with a precife and
genuine relation of fuch tranfactions •, but gene-
rally, both are fo deeply interefted in the repre-
fentation, that little beyond the faint glimmer-
ing of truth can be expected from them : there-
lore, for what thefe armaments were intended,
and what was the real occafion of their inactivity,
unlefs illuftrated with the ufual explanation of the
pacific fyftem of Sir Robert Walpole, to amufe
the nation with a warlike but idle appearance,
and at the fame time avoiding giving umbrage
to, and fearing the refentment of France; was
then, is yet, and perhaps for many years will
' be, abforped into the vortex of other political
arcanums.
DURING all thisfummer. Admiral Haddock
lay cruizing on his ftation in the Mediterranean,
to protect the Britim trade, and to prevent the
Spaniards from fending any reinforcements or
fupplies to their dominions in America : this the
admiral very punctually executed j he had all
along, from the commencement of the war,
given the greateft fecurity that was poflible to
be done, to the trade of the Britim fubjects: nor
can the efcape of the Cadiz and Ferrol iquadrons,
be imputed to any negligence in him ; tor it was
entirely accidental, as the Spaniards fcized the
opportunity when the admiral, in obedience
to his orders, had quitted his ftation, to ob-
ftruct any embarkation from Majorca againft
the iOand of Minorca. This fituadon of Admi-
ral Haddock to prQteft the Britifh trade, was
very
Engaged in the late General War. 333
very interefting to the merchants, and confident CHAP.
only with their fervice ; but the popularity of the III.
Britifh nation wanted the admiral to attempt v- — ^-^J
fome enterprizing ftroke on the Spaniards: and I74I-
it has been reported by a nobleman of great
knowledge and dignity, not only that the admi-
ral had no orders to make any attempt againft
the Spaniards at land, but that he had exprefs
orders to the contrary : if fb, this manifefts the
reafon why Sir John Norris rolled indolently
over thofe feas, where he had, in the earlier part
of life, loudly bellowed out the eruption of the
Britifh thunder, like a worthy commander •, and
if it was not fo, how otherwife can we account
for the furprizing inactivity of Admiral Haddock ?
Certainly the admiral might have done the Spa-
niards great damage, only with his feamen
and marines, by continually making defcents on
the open country, by plundering many unforti-
fied places, and by burning and deftroying of
the Spanifh fhips, in many of their harbours : ic
is highly probable this might have been done, and
why it was nor, requires a clue to unravel this
political labyrinth: for from the noble character
Admiral Haddock had glorioufly acquired, and
honourably fupported, not the lead imputation of
the want of courage, conduct, or a due attenti-
on to the public welfare, can b;; alledged againft
him ; it cannot be fuppofed fuch an officer, who
had manifeftly proved his love of action, would
have voluntarily continued in a ftate of indo-
lence: no, let us dojuflice to the memory of fo
brave a man, from the whole tenor of his former
behaviour, we muft, we cannot but fuppofe,
that he would willingly have acted for the ho-
nour and advantage of his country, to the ut-
moft of his ability, and that for this purpofe he
would
The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
would have ventured his Jife with pleafure. He
was a bold, prudent, and vigilant commander j
a ftate of inaction was his greateft mortification,
J741* and the continuance of it, by his retraining in-
ftructions, dejected that glorious Britifh fpirit,
which had bid defiance to all the hoft of Spain.
It is highly becoming the truth and dignity of
hiftory, to fnatch from the ftream of oblivion,
the fame and merit of every worthy and illuftri-
ous man ; to vindicate his character from the mif-
reprefentation of prejudice and calumny ; and to
paint him to pofterity, with an attitude, fuitable
to his defert and value. Thus, faithfully related,
fhall the actions of one brave man, enkindle
.emulation in the fouls of future heroes : this form-
ed a Drake and a Raleigh ; this gave a Haddock
to England ; this now yields Britain a Vernon ;
and fuch veracious reprefentations, fhall give to
the royal navy, a long, a noble, and illuftrious
train of commanders.
NOTHING further remarkable happened in
the fquadron under Admiral Haddock, than their
blocking tip the Spanifh fleet in the port of Ca-
diz, to prevent their junction with the Toulon
fquadron, and the tranfports at Barcelona, in-
tended to convey a body of forces to diftrefs the
Queen of Hungary in Italy ; till the clofe of
July ; when two Englifh men of war, accident-
ally, in the evening, fell in with three French
men of war off Cadiz, whom they took to be
regifter mips, with treafure from the Weft In^
dies, and accordingly hailed them •, but receiv^
ing no anfwer till the third time of calling, and
then a diflatisfactory one, Capt. Bar net, com-
mander of the Dragon, fired a (hot a-head \
which the Chevalier Caylus, the French commo-
dore, anfvveied with a broadfide ; on which a
fharp
Engaged In the late General War. 335
fharp engagement enfued, that lafted two hours ; CHAP.
when the French, after lofmg one of their cap-
tains, a young marquifs, and feveral of their men
killed, and feventy wounded, thought fit toceafe
firing: and Chevalier Caylns, after mutual apolo-
gies with Capt. Barnet, was obliged to put into Ma-
laga to refit, being feverely galled by the Englifh,
who had alfo their mafts and rigging greatly dam-
aged, four men killed, and fourteen wounded.
THE Britifh fquadron confifted of thirteen men
of war, befides cruizers ; with which the admiral
continued all the month of Oflober on his ftation,
between Cape St Mary's and Cadiz: his appear-
ance there, intimidated the fquadron in that port
from failing ; but in the mean time, the Spaniards
effected their embarkation from Barcelona, and
fent 15,000 men into Italy. The admiral, refolv-
ing to behave in the moft ferviceable manner for
his country, continued his cruize rather longer than,
the feafon and hurricanes, fo frequent in thofe feas,
would permit him •, but his vigilance was ineffec-
tual, for he was in November obliged to return
to Gibraltar and refit : he had but juft entered the
bay, when the Spanim fquadron, commanded by
Don Navarro, failed from Cadiz, on the 24th of
November, and pafied through the Streights,
favoured by the darknefs of the night •, yet they
did not pafs unobferved by the Englifh ; for in
the morning of the 25111, a brilk eaft wind
coming on, drove them fo far back that they
continued almoft two days in fight of Gibral-
tar, when they failed and joined the Toulon
fquadron, commanded by Monfieur de Court,
off the freights of Malaga. Admiral Haddock,
who was then repairing his fquadron, made the
beft fhift he could to purfue them, failing out of
the bay on the 2d of December, and in a few
days
33 6 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART days came up with the combined fleet in a fine
II. of battle. But when he was bearing down on the
L— s,—— > 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 J74i»
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,
I74I- 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
I74I- 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 I74
" 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-
<c liament, and particularly recommended to
" him to be carried on in America ; which had
*c been his principal care. His majefty remark-
" ed upon the impending danger that threaten-'
*c ed Europe, and more immediately fuch parts
" of the continent, as Ihould refift the formida-
<* ble powers which were confederated for the fub-
,<c verfion, or reduction, of the houfe of Auftria j
" and that if other powers, who were under the
«' like engagements with his majefty, had an-
" fwered the juft expectations they had fo fo-
*' lemnly given, the fupport of the common
<c caufe had been attended with lefs difficulty.
" He informed them, that he had, purfuant to
" the advice of his parliament, ever fmce the
" death of the late emperor, exerted himfelf in
*c the fupport of the houfe of Auftria : that he
" had endeavoured, by the mod proper and
<e early applications, to induce other powers,
" that were equally engaged with his majefty,
" and united by common intereft, to concert
" fuch meafures, as fo important and critical a
" conjuncture required; and where an accom-
V OL. I. X x « moda-
346 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART " modation Teemed to be neceflary, he labour--
Ill. " ed to reconcile- thofe princes, whofe union
«— •v-— ' " would have been the moft effectual means to
1741. « prevent the mifchiefs that had happened, and
" the bed fecurity and intereft for the fafety of
" the whole. That, although his endeavours
" had not the defired effect, he could not but
ct flill hope, that a juft fenfeof the common and
" approaching danger, would produce a more
" favourable turn in the councils of other nati-
" ons. That, in this fituation, it was incum-
" bent upon the Britifli nation, to put them-
" felves in a condition to improve all opportu-
" nities, that (hould offer, for maintaining the li-
*c berties of Europe ; and to afiift and fupport
*c their friends and allies, at fuch times, and in
<c fuch manner, as the exigency and circum-
" fiances of affairs fhould require; and to de-
" feat any attempts that mould be made againft:
" him and his dominions, or againft thofe whom
" the Britifh nation were moft nearly concerned
" for, and, in honour and intereft, engaged to-
*' fupport and defend."
ON this occafion the lords prefented an ad-
drefs to his majefty, on the 5th of the fame
month, alluring him, ** That they would vigor-
<c oufly and heartily concur in all juft and necef-
" fary meafures, for the defence and fupport of
*' his majefty, the maintenance of the ballance
*' and liberties of Europe, and the afliftance of
*' his majefty's allies.*' And on the loth, his
majefty received an addrefs from the commons,
whereby they promifed, " To grant fuch erTectu-
*' al fupplies as fhould enable his majefty, not
" only to be in a readinefs to fupport his friends
" and allies, at fuch times and in fuch manner
" as the exigency and circumftances of affairs
«• fhould
Engaged in the late General War. 347
K fhould require, but to oppofe and defeat any at- CHAP.
" tempts that mould be made againft his majefty, I.
" his crown and kingdoms, or againft thofe who, *^"V"V
'* being equally engaged with his majefty by the
<l faith of treaties, or united by common intereft
" and common danger, mould be willing to con-
M cert fuch meafures, as mould be found necefiary
«« and expedient for maintaining the bailajice of
«c Europe."
ON the 2oth of January, the merchants of Lon- 1742,
don prefented petitions to both houfes of parlia-
ment, fetting forth, " That the Britifh navigation
" and commerce had been continually cxpofed,
** both in the Mediterranean and the Weft Indies,
** to the growing infolence of the Spanifh privateers,
*' from the commencement of the war ; principally
41 owing to the neglect of properly Rationing his
*« majefty's fhips." The petition delivered to the
houfe of commons, was ordered to be heard the
27th ; and that prefented to the houfe of lords on
the 4th of February, by the petitioners or their
council. Mr Glover, the inimitable author of Le-
onidas, who opened the petition to the houfe of
commons, after having ftated the fads, proved
the allegations by witneiTes, and fummed up the
evidence, pathetically and eloquently expatiate^
upon the hardmips fuftained by the Britim mer-
chants, and the indifference, difregard, and in-
folence fhewn to them from the admiralty, upon
feveral applications ; and this he imputed to an
exprefs defign of promoting, in every fhape, that
known, original, and favourite plan, of making
the merchants uneafy with the war, in confe-
quence of what had been told them, " That it
" was their own war, and they muft take it for
" their pains." Concluding, that upon the pro-
tection of parliament, the Britim trade threw it-
X X ^ felf
348 The Conduct of tie Powers of Europe,
PART felf that day; the failor, the merchant, the ma--
III. nufacturer, were all folliciting their juftice, im-
~— v— ' ploring their powerful protection to fhield them
1742. from the malice of their enemies at home, and
from the artifices of their foreign rivals, who
were watching to take advantage of their unre-
drefifed misfortunes : hoping the parliament would
take their cafe into confideration, provide for
their future fecurity by a law, humble and pun-
ifh their oppreflbrs, reftore discipline, infufe new
ipirit and vigour into the adminiftration of the
navy, and, by their wifdom and juftice, render
the very thought of injuring the Britifh trade a-
gain, a terror to all fucceeding times. Sub-
mitting to the houfe the ways and means of ac-
complilhing thofe great and neceffary ends.
PETITIONS were alfo prefented to the parlia-
ment about the fame time, from the cities of
London, Briftol, Exeter and Glafgow, and the
towns of Liverpool, Lancafter, Biddeford, South-
ampton, and other places, upon the like occafion.
THE parliament paid a due regard to thefs
petitions, and entered into vigorous refolutiqns
for the better protection of the Britifh trade and
commerce for the future ; accordingly a number
of the fmalleft men of war were appointed to
cruize in the channel, and about the coafts, to
fecure the merchant fhips from the infults of the
Spanifli privateers.
SIR ROBERT WALPOLE, having upwards of
twenty years prefided in the Britifh cabinet, had
deeply ingratiated himfelf into the favour and
affection of his royal matter; and, from a com-
rnon fatality, infeparably Attendant on minifteri-
al dignity, had been ever ftrongly oppofed in
his adminiftration by the tory party, whom he
had deferted ; and from a,n inadvertent miftake^
com-
Engaged in the late General War. 34$
committed by the Hanover treaty in 1725, CHAP.
which tended to the depreffion of the houfe of I.
Auftria, and the advancement of France, he \ — /-^j
alfo incurred the difpleafure of fome of the prin- 1742...
cipal leaders of the whig party ; who, uniting
with the tories, from that time made perpetual
and vigorous efforts, to remove him from the
confidence of his royal patron, and to revert the
turn of the Britifh politics into their natural chan-
nel, by fupporting the houfe of Auftria, and
maintaining the ballance of Europe, againft the
power and policy of France ; and at length car-
ried it fo far, that on the i4th of February, to-
wards the clofe of the laft feffion of parliament,
Mr Sandys moved the houfe of commons to ad-
drefs his majefty, " That he would be pleafed to
" remove Sir Robert Walpole, knight of the gar-
c< ter, and member of that houfe, from his pre-
*c fence and councils for ever." The motion was
feconded by Lord Vifcount Limerick, and fupport-
ed by Lord Vifcount Cornbury, Sir John Hynde
Cotton, Sir John Barnard, Lord Vifcount Gage,
Mr Alexander Hume Campbell, Mr Pulteney,
Mr Lyttleton, Mr Gybbon, Mr Wortley, Mr
Pitt, and Alderman Heathcote. The motion
was oppofed by Lord Vifcount Tyrconnell, Mr
Bromley, Colonel Bladen, Mr Stephen Fox,
Mr Howe, and Mr Pelham. The debate con-
tinued, with abundance of fpirit, from noon till
midnight; when, the queftion being put, it was
rejected by a majority of eighty-four, the num-
ber of members prefenr, being 296. The fame
day a fimilar motion was made in the houfe of
lords, introduced by Lord Carteret, and fup-
ported by the Dukes of Bedford and Argyle j
the Earls of Weftmoreland, Berkfhire, Carlifle,
Abingdon and Halifax ; and the Lords Haver-
fharr*
3 50 *The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART (ham and Bathurft: this was oppofed by the
III. Lord Chancellor; the Dukes of Newcaftle and
c — y,— «» Devonfhire ; the Earls of Findlater and Iflay ;
I742- theBifhopofSalifbury, Lord Hervey, and Lord
Raymond ; who kept up a warm debate from
two o'clock in the afternoon till eleven at night \
but, an the queftion, the motion was rejected by
a majority of forty-nine, there being 143 lords
prefent on this grand debate, befides the Prince
of Wales, who had engaged in the oppofition a-
gainft the adminiftration, the Earls of Coventry,
Graham, Wilmington and Darnley, and the
Lords Brooke and Foley, who ftood neuter and
gave no vote.
THOUGH Sir Robert Walpole had thus re-
ceived the pleafure of difappointing his antago-
nifts, his fecurity was but of a tranfitory exiftence \
for the parliament being diffolved, the re-election
entirely defeated his power, and deftroyed his
authority, caufing a great revolution in the ad-
miniftration : and as it was productive of another
fyftem of polity, it will be very necefiary to trace
the meafures by which it was occafioned and
completed.
BY ;he treaty of Hanover, concluded in the
year 1725, Sir Robert Walpole permitted a di-
minution of the ftrength and power of the houfe
of Auftria, inftead of endeavouring to fupport
the o ly power that could maintain the ballance
of Europe ; independent of which, the Britifh
nation cannot long fubfift, without becoming a,
province to France. This incurred a vigorous
and numerous oppofition in the Britifh lenate,
againft th? meafures of an adminiftration, fo pa-
cifically deffruftive of the honour and intereft of
the kingdom, and fo confpicuoufly tending to
promote the abolition of the friendfhip and fide-
lity
Engaged in the late General War.'
Iky of Britain, with her deareft, moft natural, CH AJ»;
and cordial allies.
^ DURING the whole time of this long admi-
niftration, fince the commencement of the oppo-
iition in the year 1725, incendiary pamphlets
againft this minifter, were the numerous product
ot every week ; all aiming to defame his reputa-
tion, expofe his conduct, and vilify his integrity.
Never was a man, whofe actions, conduct, and
character, have been more earneftly and openly
canvafled and attacked ; and feldom can hifto-
ry furnifli any example, where fuch a potent
oppofition was fo long and fb formidably pro-
fecuted and refifted.
THE flow and lingering manner, in which
the war again(t Spain was conduced, had
been ftrongly reprefented to the nation, by
the political writers ; this irritated the whole
people, who confidering how long the Queen of
Hungary had been left without affiftance, when
furrounded by her enemies; and perceiving how
tardily fhe procured relief, made the loudeft ex-
clamations againft the conduct of the miniftry:
they were taught to believe, that the fpring of
this unhappy train of conduct, took its rife from
the treachery of the miniftry, abetted by a band
of corrupt mercenaries, and fupported by the
defects of a conftitution which had conveyed too
much power to the crown j none of which is true :
it was the embarraflment of the national affairs,
firft by the peace of Utrecht ; here the founda-
tion was naturally laid : and the diforders arifing
afterwards from the unfettled ftate cf Europe,
produced the quadruple alliance ; that, in pro-
cefs of time, brought on the treaty of Hanover •,
and from the treaty of Hanover, by the fatal
mifconducl of joining with France againft the
houfe
Tie Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
houfe of Auftria,* Sir Robert Walpole became
involved in fuch difficulties as he could never re-
cover ; for fince that time, this mifconduct was
1742. continued by an immutable, timid, and obftinate
character in the minifter, dill treading in the
fame difficult and tracklefs paths. But prejudi-
cial as all his future meafures were to the nation,
they were of fuch a nature, as could not be im-
puted to any corrupt engagements with any for-
eign power •, his imprudence was inimitably re-
mote from any defign to betray the honour and
intereft of his royal mafter; who had not,
throughout the whole circle of his extenfive do-
minions, a man of greater private honour or in-
tegrity, or a fubject who bore him a truer alle-
giance and a more loyal affection : the whole
mifmanagement of his adminiftration, was owing
to the unavoidable confequences of the treaty of
Hanover, and a chain of fatal circumftances,
neither derived from a greater degree of corrup-
tion, than will be found in any opulent (late upon
earth ; nor from any defects, but what are to
be met with in the purcft conftitution under
heaven.
IN this crifis of affairs, the ruin of the houfe of
Auftria appeared almoft impofllble, highly im-
probable, to prevent: the whole nation were
naturally difpoied, and fuffered, to think, that
a change of the minifter, and the introduction
of forne of the principal leaders in the oppofition,
into the chief employments, was the fole aim of
the parliament, as well as it was the utmoft object
of the wifhes of the people: they were unani-
mous for affixing the Queen of Hungary, and
in fuch a ferment, that nothing but confufion
was expected by every rational man. To avert
this confufion, ic was obvious that ths minifter
muft
Engaged in tie late General War.'
mud be removed, fdf the public would not CHAP.
engage in thofe expenfive undertakings, which I.
were the only refource left, under the conduct of <— -
the prefent admmiftration •, and there is reafon to J742
believe, that his majefly was as much convinced
of the necefiity of a revolution in the miniftry,
as Sir Robert was convinced it was high time to
prepare for it; being certain to find the royal
protection extend as far as it conftitutionally
could, to fecure his perfon from the rage and
fury of the time.
THE oppofition in the houfe of commons;
finding their afcendancy, immediately began to
experience the force of their fuperiority, which
was foon manifefted in the debates on the contra*,
verted elections for Boffiney in Cornwall, 'the
city of Weftminfter, the mire of Berwick, and
Chippenham in Wiltmire •, which,' being all de-
cided in favour of the oppofition, evidently de-
mon ftrated to Sir Robert Walpole, the declenfi-
on of his intereft, and the conclufion of his influ-
ence in the houfe of commons, who prudently
provided againft the impending blow, by retir-
ing from a place, where the majority of a fingle
vote might have fent him to the tower.
A Change of the adminiftration being now be-
come abfolutely neceffary, the equality of parties
being fuch that no bufinefs could be carried on,
this change was refolved ; and as it required fome
time to deliberate upon the firft changes, and
for thofe other members of the oppoficion, who
were to be firft taken in to be rechofen » for this
purpofe it was requifite to adjourn the houfe: ac-
cordingly, on the 3d of February, his majefty
came to the parliament, and adjourned both'
houfes to the i8th.
VOL. I. Yy Otf
3 54 ^Ttf Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART ON this occafion Sir Robert Walpole, on the
III. 8th of February, was ennobled with the title and
v — v — ' dignity of Baron of Houghton in the county of
1742. Norfolk, Vifcount Walpole, and Earl of Orford
in the county of Suffolk ; and, on the nth, re-
figned all his employments.
TH E character of a true politician may be
juftly defined to be, " A man of probity, con-
*' verfant in hiftory and law, particularly the
" law of nations; perfectly underftanding the
*c prefent ftate of affairs at home, as well as a-
" broad; and, above all, acquainted with the
*' humour of different nations, and their man-
**' ner of thinking." That Sir Robert was a
ftatefman of great abilities, cannot be refuted ;
and had his comprehenfion of foreign affairs,
been equal to his knowledge of the ftate and tem-
per of the Britifh nation, his reputation would
have been fuperior to any of his predecefibrs :
therefore, to his deficiency in the firft, may be
afcribed his reluclancy to a land war ; which he
conjectured, would be necefiarily produced by
ftrongly afiifting the houfe of Auftria: and to
his accomplifhed capacity in the latter, may be
obvioufly difcerned his reafon for avoiding a war
with Spain. In the earlier part of his admini-
ftration, he too much neglected popularity, and
always ftudied how to avoid a war, as the means
to procure the continuance and cafe of his admi-
niftration : he knew, that in war, if unfuccefP
ful, the ill fuccefs is always attributed to the mi-
nifter ; if fortunate, that it muft be unavoidably
attended with great expence, at which, in the
long continuance, the people generally murmur :
lie likewife faw, that in war, military men, and
active fpirits, mult gradually obtain fome fhare
of
Engaged in tie late General War^ 35^
of power, which he was determined wholly to CHAP.
engrofs. I.
IF a man looks through the depth of ages, ' — ^— J
and cafts an eye round the habitable world, J742»
every hour of life will demonftrate to him the
imperfection and weaknefs of human judgment ;
as alfo, the imminent danger to which mankind
are every moment expofed : an immutable uni-
formity of conduct, and a conftant equality in
temper, is really above the reach of man ; per-
fection dwells only in fuperior beings: therefore,
as every man is liable to human frailty, common
charity fliould bind all to excufe imperfections,
from which, as the wifeft and greateft of men
are not exempted, they fhould alfo meet with
the fame good-nature and remifllon as the mean-
er and inferior part of mankind ; and to this
Sir Robert Walpole was well intitled, as his
perfonal qualities were very commendable, and
worthy the character of the honourable and vir-
tuous man, always generous to a friend, never
fevere to an enemy.
On the refignation of Sir Robert Walpole,
the Duke of Newcaftle continued in his office of
principal fecretary of ftate ; Sir Robert was fuc-
ceeded by Samuel Sandys, Efq; in the office of
chancellor and under treasurer of the exchequer ;
Lord Harrington was advanced to the dignity
of an Earl, and made prefident of the council ;
Lord Carteret fucceeding him as one of the prin-
cipal fecretaries of ftate -, the Marquis of Twee-
dale was conftituted fecretary of ftate for Scot-
land, a poft which had been fupprefled during
the late adminiftration ; his grace John Duke
of Argyle was promoted to the rank of field
marftwl of his majefty's forces in South Britain,
and made matter general of the ordnance •,
Y y 2 William
3 $6 *Tbe Conduct: of the Powers of Europe,
PART William Pulteney, Efq; was appointed one of
III. the privy council : a new commiffion iffued, ap-
. — v — ' pointing the Earl of Wilmington, Sir John Rnfh-
J74-21. out, Samuel Sandys, George Compton, and
Philip Gybbon, Efqs; lords of the treafury :
foon after, the Right Honourable Daniel, Earl
of Winchelfta and Northampton; John Cock-
burne, Efq-, Lord Archibald Hamilton ; Lord
Baltimore; Philip Cavendim, Efq; George Lee,
Doctor of Laws ; and John Morley Trevor, Efq;
were appointed lords of the admiralty : the Duke
of Marlborough was made colonel of the fecond
regiment of foot guards ; Thomas Matthews,
Eiq; was made vice admiral of the red ; Ed-
ward Vernon, Efq; vice admiral of the white ;
Nicholas Haddock, Efq; vice admiral of the
blue ; Sir Chaloner Ogle, Knt rear admiral of
the red \ and Richard Leftock, Efq; rear admi-
ral of the white : his majefty alfo made a pro-
motion in his army of two lieutenant-generals,
three major-generals, and eight brigadiers.
His Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales ef-
teeming Sir Robert Walpole as a bar between the
king and the affections of his people, between
the king and foreign powers, and between the
king and himfelf, ftood in the front of the op-
pofition, and for fome years had abfented from
liis majefty ; but as the firft happy effect of the
change in the miniftry, his royal highnefs waited
on his majefty at St James's, attended by a
great concourfe of nobility, and other perfons
of dift'mction, was received in the moft gracious
and affectionate manner, and a guard was im-
mediately ordered to attend his royal highnefs
at Charlton Houfe,
THE whole nation loudly tefiified their joy
and approbation of this change in the govern-
ment j
Engaged in the late General War. 357-
ment ; they expected the national honour to be
retrieved ; and addrefles, from every part, were
fent to their reprefentatives in parliament, ex-
prefting their fatisfaction on fo feafonable an
event, and ftrongly recommending to them a
purfuit of meafures, conducive to the reftoring
and maintaining the antient conftitution, and to
concur in making the ftricteft enquiry into the
caufe of paft mifmanagements.
As the whigs, who had confederated in the
oppofition, never intended to continue an alli-
ance with the tories, any further than the re-
moval of the minifter, and an alteration in his
fyftem of politics ; they endeavoured to keep
that party from the lead in the government, and
to prevent them from engroffing any material
fliare in the adminiftration. As the choice of
thofe already preferred, had fallen principally
upon the whigs, it adminiftred matter of great
jealoufy to, and was an ill omen for the tories,
who expected nothing lefs than to be admitted
into a coalition of power ; and though his ma-
jefty had already fupplied the principal minifte-
rial pofts, with perfons who had long been mod
confided in by the people, the tories had very
juft fufpicions they, were to be deferted by thefe
gentlemen in power, and that none, or only a
few, of the tories would be permitted to prelide
in the government.
THE parliament met, purfuant to their ad-
journment, on the 1 8th of February-, and, on
the i ft of March, a motion was made in the
houfe of commons " For the repealing of the
*' feptennial act, and reftoring triennial parlia-
" merits ; " which met with violent oppositions,
and after a long debate was rejected ; though
molt of the members had been inftructed by
their
358 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe;
PART their conftituents, (Irenuoufly to infift on this as
III. a preliminary to the grant of any fupplies.
L— • -v— »J IT was now very evident, that the tories had
J742* hitherto been only fubfervient in affifting their
confederated whigs, to remove Sir Robert Wai-
pole, and pave the way to their advancement ;
from which the tories were not only generally
excluded, but had the mortification to perceive
they could not avail themfelves. This created a
party againft the new miniftry, whofe influence
was already fo firmly eftablifhed, that his grace
the Duke of Argyle, difgufted at their conduct,
on the loth of March, refigned all his employ-
ments ; and was fucceeded by the Duke of Mon-
tagu as mafter of the ordnance.
THE public were at this time unanimous for
an enquiry into the adminiftration of Sir Robert
Walpole ; the crime they imputed to him was
that of applying not only all the favours of the
crown, but even the public money towards gain-
ing a corrupt influence at elections and in parlia-
ment ; and according to their deluded fenti-
ments, he was t> 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 J742-
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
J742- 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 1742-
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
<c from a premeditated fcheme to obftruct and
«c fruftrate their enquiry; and, Ihould it pals
*' unregarded, might probably communicate
" itfelf to other perfons, whom they might have
" occafion to call before them •, and, by that
" means, render it impofilble to lay a clear ftate
" of affairs before the houfe."
MR PAXTON had been already committed to
Newgate, for his obftinate behaviour to the com-
mittee, and upon this report to the houfe, it was
refolved " That leave be given to bring in a
" bill for indemnifying fuch perfons as mould,
*' upon examination, make discoveries touching,
" the difpofition of public money, or concerning
c£ the difpofition of offices, or any payment or
" agreement, in refpect thereof, or concerning
" other matters relating to the conduct of Ro-
«6 bert Earl of Orford." This bill was drawn
up, pafled, and fent up to the lords, where a
motion was made for its being committed ; upon
which a long debate enfued, wherein it was af-
firmed, by a noble lord lately admitted into the
miniftry, to be contrary to juftice, the laws of _
nature, and the fundamental maxims of the,
VOL. I. Z z Britilh'
362 ¥he Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART Britifh conftitution, and even without precedent:
III. and, the queftion being at laft put, it was carried
in the negative, by a majority of fifty-two •, there
being 139 lords prefent, and twenty-feven prox-
ies, though no lefs than thirty-two lords, and
amongft them the moft eminent and beft efteem-
ed part of the nobility, entered their proteft a-
gainft the rejecting of this bill, becaufe they con-
ceived it might prove a dangerous precedent, of
fatal confluence to the conftitution ; fince, when-
ever the nation mould be vifited by a wicked mi-
nifter, thofe who mould have ferved him in de-
frauding and oppreffing the public, and in cor-
rupting individuals, would be furnifhed with an
excufe for refufing their evidence; their danger
would produce his fecurity, and he might enjoy,
with fafety, the plunder of his country. Nay,
they even apprehended, that the rejecting of
this bill might be underftood, by thofe who
could make any difcovery, as if that houfe de-
figned to difcourage any evidence whatfoever,
that could effect the perfon, whofe conduct the
fecret committe was appointed by the houfe of
commons to enquire into.
HOWEVER loudly the popularity of the nation
called for an enquiry, however ardently they
fought for juftice, and however eagerly they
hoped for redrefs ; they were now difappointed.
The new miniftry only wanted to expofe the mif-
conduct of the Earl of Orford ; and, when this
was done, they intended to protect him from any
danger, fuch a proceeding might naturally in-
curr, and from the open and declared vengeance
of an enraged multitude. With this view, the
new miniftry, conjunctively with the other pare
of the late oppofition, proceeded to promote an
enquiry into the conduct of the late minifter,
which
Engaged in tbe late General War.' 363
which they pufhed fo far, as to make it evident CHAP.
that he had practifed many artifices of corruption I.
to influence elections, and by making ufe of the <- — s-~J
wealth, power and places of the crown, to intro- 1742»
duce a criminal dependency in parliament, and
to Tap the conftitudon at its very foundation : for
fuch purpofes, he was difcovered to have been
guilty of a great profufion of the public money 5
and it appeared, that the money expended for fe-
cret fervice, during the laft ten years of his ad-
miniftration, amounted to 1,168,292 /. 4^. 8 kd.
more than was expended, in the fame term of
years, from the ift of Auguft 1707, to the ift
of Auguft 1717, in which laft interval of tea
years, all the circumftances occurred, which can
be urged in juftifieation of the account charged
on the Earl of Orford, fuch as a general war,
the negotiations for a general peace, two total
changes of the adminiftration, violent party drug-
les, a royal demife, the happy acceflion of the
prefent royal family, many popular commotions,
and a rebellion. This was a plain manifeftation,
as far as the enquiry extended, with whatever
difficulties and difcouragements embarrafied, that
the late minifter had made too free with his truft
on the one hand, and the conftitudon on the o-
ther: the new miniftry wanted no further or
greater accufation ; the public were made fenfi-
ble of his errors and mifmanagement ; and
though the populace wanted him to be abandon-
ed, as a victim, to their blind and outrageous
fury, the example and fate of the famous De
Wit in Holland, was too recent in the mind of
every compafiionate man, to fuffer him to ftand
unftieltered and unprotected from fo furious a
ftorm. The new miniftry faw his danger, gene-
roufly ftepped in the breach, and faved him
Z z 2 from
364 *Ebe Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART from deftruction ; for as they dreaded to found
III. their adminiftration on fteps cemented by blood,
u— v~»J it was more honourable, juft, and meritorious,
I742- to (lop fhort -, without denouncing that fentence,
or inflicting that punifhment, which, though per-
haps very many thought was due, could fix no-
thing lefs than the guilt of murder upon an ex-
afperated nation : and lefs than murder could it
hardly be if they had taken the life of that man,
when no law of the land had fubjected him to
death ; which muft have been productive of the
greateft confufion among the people 5 for, how-
ever fond Britons are to have men, who have
impaired the dignity of the nation, brought to
condign punifhment, if at one time they rafhly
wifh, and at lad behold the difmal fcene of
blood flowing on a fcaffbld, they ever after de-
teft the thought, and ftrive to exclude the me-
lancholly moment eternally from their memory.
Nor is it to be imagined that his majefty, a
prince of fuch known and univerfal clemency,
though he had thus delivered up a favourite mi-
nifter, to fatisfy the clamours of his fubjects ; it is
not to be conceived, that he, whofe royal bofom
fo tenderly feels every tie of humanity, fhould
fland an unconcerned and idle fpectator, and
willingly fuffer an old minifter, who, however
pernicious to the intereft of his country, was ever
loyally attached to the fervice of his king, to fall
unguarded before the ftorm that had been long
collecting, to fweep him away and plunge him
in eternity.
As the members of the long oppofition had
been divided •, thofe who were in power, united
by fome of the late minifterial friends, and pro-
moting others of their own, obtained a vifibie
alcendancy in the parliament: many pf the lead-
ing
Engaged in tie late General War.' 365
Ing tories were neglected by the miniftry ; party CHAP.
again began to kindle ; it grew warm ; the egg I.
of difcontent was hatched, and when the Ihell <* — /-— J
burft, another oppofition was difclofed. Whigs *742-
and tories were blended in fuch confufion, fome
in, and others out of employment, that the dif-
tinction vaniftied ; while the court, and country
intereft, were now the characteriftic denominate
ons of the contending parties.
THE other domeftic alterations, effected by
the revolution of the miniftry, were altogether
inconfiderable ; except the pafilng of a bill, to
leflen the minifterial influence in parliament,
though not in fo effectual a manner as to give
fatisfaction to the country party. In foreign af-
fairs the miniftry were very induftrious, in pur-
fuing meafures entirely oppofite to the pacific
plan, fo long and lo fatally profecuted ; they
maintained their principle of fupporting the
houfe of Auftria, and furnifhed her with effectu-
al fupplies.
THE national debt, on the gift of December
1741, amounted to 46,956,1467. of which,
i,oi2,2oo/, was encreafed fince the gift of De-
cember 1740.
THE grants, for the current fervice of the year
1742, amounted to 5,723,5367. for which
the committee of ways and means provided
6,ioo,ooo7. which was a furplus of 376,4637.
THE generality of the Britifh nation expected
the parliament, at fo remarkable a period, would
have unanimoufly exerted themfelves, to have ef-
tabliflied the moft falutary laws, to reftrain any
future minifterial influence ; but the legiflature
were more intent on protecting the Queen of
Hungary, and reftoring the ballance of Europe,
now preponderating to the force of France ;
they
366 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART they looked upon the prefervation of the houfs
III. of Auftria, to be as efientially requifite for the
L— v-^ liberty of Britain, as the fafety of the barrier
*742' towns are to the Dutch republic; they knew
there was no other way than by the fpeedy in-
terpofition of Britain, to fuftain the drooping
fpirits of the Queen of Hungary, and of her dii-
treffed and faithful fubjects, in the defperate con-
dition to which they were reduced ; and to con-
vince the Dutch, the King of Sardinia, and all
foreign powers, that fhe could and would receive
affiftance from the Britifh parliament. The form
of the Dutch government in particular, made
thern flow to refolve, and their fituation made it
defperate to engage, till they were fure of a folid
fupport : the King of Sardinia had heartily, and
generoufly, ftepped into the breach, but his cir-
cumftances were, if pofilble, ftill more critical :
the Kings of Pruffia and Poland, neither could
have ftopped, if they would, nor probably would
if they could, and muft have been hurried on
where France mould have directed, or their own
ambition have invited ; if, by the gathering of
this cloud, a ftorm had not been threatened
from the quarter of Great Britain, which might
have created both doubts and terror, as to the
event of their quarrel: this was therefore the
only way to induce them to be more moderate
and circumfpect in their proceedings.
ACCORDINGLY the parliament, on the 3d of
April, granted the fum of 500, ooo/. and voted
to fend 16,334 effective men into Flanders, for
the affiftance of the Queen of Hungary. His
Britannic majefty was io well pleafed with the
refolutions of his parliament, in protecting the
Queen of Hungary, that, the more effectually
to give her fpeedy and requifite afiiftance, the
Earl
Engaged in the late General Wan 36^
Earl of Stair, who had been lately promoted to CHAP,
the rank of field marfhal, was made commander I.
in chief of the Britilh forces defigned for Flan- <~- v-J
ders, and allb appointed ambaflador extraordi- *742*
nary and plenipotentiary to the States General,
to endeavour to concert and take, jointly with
their High Mightinefies, the proper meafures
for preferving the liberty of Europe, and re-
eftablifhing a juft ballance of power.
ON the 24th of April, his Britannic majefty
appointed the third and fourth troops of horfe
guards, the fecond troop of horfe grenadier
guards, the King's and Major-General Lego-
nier's regiments of horfe ; Honey wood's, Camp-
bell's, Hawley's, Cadogan's, Rich's, and Cope's
dragoons: three battalions of foot guards; How-
ard's, Cornwallis's, Duroure's, Pulteney's, Camp-
bell's, Peers's, Handafyd's, Hufke's, Bragg's
Ponfonby's, Johnfon's, and Bligh's regiments of
foot, being in all 16,350 men, to be embarked
as foon as poffible for Flanders, and to remain
there under the command of Lieutenant-General
Honey wood till the arrival of the Earl of Stair,
who was then to take upon himfelf the command,
having under him the Lieutenant-Generals Ho-
neywood, Earl of Dunmore, and Campbell ;
the Major- Generals Howard, Cope, Legonier,
Hawley, and Earl of Albemarle j and the Brig-
adiers Cornwallis, Earl of Effingham, Pulteney,
Bragg, Hufke, and Ponfonby.
THE Earl of Stair had already embarked on
his embafiy to Holland ; and the troops, after
pafiing in review before his majefty at Kew
Green, repaired to Deptford and Woolwich,
where they took fhipping and were iafely tranf-
ported to Flanders,
THE
j6& *The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART THE joy upon this change and difpofitiort
III. of the Britifli adminiftration, was not confined
.-— v-~> to their own dominions ; all thofe ftates upon the
I742' 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. 369
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 vemperor 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 J742*
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,
J742' 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 < — s—t
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 ; "
J742' 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 J742.
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 rifes
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-
*742' 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- I74-2'
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
<no great difficulty, the next day, Tolk and Len-
gries, places fituated on the windings of the Ifer.
Here the baron fent for intelligence, and receiv-
ed advice, that the hunters were increafed to
J, 800 men: notwithftanding this, he gave or-
ders to his men, to hold themfelves in readinefs
to march the next day ; intending to give the
hunters no further time to grow ftronger : but
the Croatian officers, intimidated at the number
of the Bavarians, entered into a confpiracy with
their 400 men, that inftead of marching to Tolk,
they mould wheel about and take the road to
Vilfhoven ; which, early in the morning, they
put in execution, and left the baron with his 64.
pandours, almoft within fight of, and furround-
ed by, i,Soo Bavarian hunters. The baron,
fenfible of the danger he was expofed to, (hewed
on this occafion a remarkable inftance of courage
and refolution; for calling his men together,
and afluming an air of fpirit, told them, " That
" as the cowardly Croatians had deferted them, •
<c the booty would be all their own; and tha;
" they had no room to be afraid, as the Bavari-
". ans they had to engage with, were only a
<e parcel of raw undifciplined peafants." This
encouraged the pandours ; the baron headed
them, and leading them along the fide pf a new
joad, fell fuddenly upon the huriters, who had
Y o L. L C c c entrench-
386 The Conduct: of the Powers of Europe;
PART entrenched themfelves in the village of Lengries,
III. The attack was fo furious and defperate, that, at
L — /-*j the firfl onfer, the pandours had two men killed
*742- and fix wounded: the baron, finding his fire
inferior to the hunters, fell upon them fword in
hand ; and, after a fhort refiftance, entirely
routed them. In the puriuir, the baron killed
five men with his own hand •, the pandours put
57 to the fword, fet fire to 36 houfes, and blew
tip 26 waggons of powder into the air, which
the garrifon of Straubingen had fent them for
their defence ; and all this was done with a very
trifling lofs among the pandours. This defeat
threw the hunters imofuch a consternation, that,
upon fummoning them the next day, they fent
the baron all their arms packed up in waggons,
together with the men that had plundered Gene-
ral Hermeftein's baggage, with part of it, an 1
petitioned all for mercy. The baron accepted
of their fubmiffion, but obliged them to pay
15,000 florins ready money, and to deliver a
large quantity of forage and wood: the baron
•alfo took 572 fine horfes, with which he foon
after arrived at Munich, where they were very
acceptable to remount the army.
WHILE MarflialKhevenhuller continued thus
victorious in the Bavarian dominions, her Hun-
garian majerty, fcnfible of the enthufiaftic fpirit
that prevailed among her troops, fent a letter to
the marfhal af Munich, together with her picture,
and that of her young fon the Arch-Duke Jofeph
Benedict: Auguftus, born the 131)1 of March
17415 the pictures were curioufly done in mi-
niature, and the letter was conceived in thefc
words •:
" You have now before your eyfs, a queen,
& fprfrken by all the world. What do you ima-
« gine
'Engaged m the late General War.' 3 87
" gine muft be the deftiny of this infant? You CHAP.
" cannot but perceive with what confidence your II.
*' fovereign commits to your charge, as to that' — v— «J
" of a faithful minifter, all her power, her for- J742«
" ces, and the whole fate of her kingdoms;
" Make ufe of this confidence, great hero, and
*c faithful vaflal, fo as not to be afraid of render-
" ing an account of your conduct to God and
" men. Let juftice be your buckler, let equity
" be the rule of your actions ; but be inexorable
" to thofe who have forfeited their oaths and
" allegiance. Tread in the foot-fteps of the
t£ great Prince Eugene, of glorious memory,
*' your predeceflbr and matter. Imitate his
" immortal example. Affure yourfelf that we
*' and our defcendants> fhall for ever have for
<c you and yours, a grateful remembrance. This
" we proteft to you, in the name of every thing
" that is dear to us ', and we wifh you continual
" fuccefs."
THE marfhal having read this letter at a full
table of the principal officers^ every one prefent,
fired by the generous example of their command-
er, with tears in their eyes, fwore to facrifice
their lives and fortunes to fupport the honour and
fecurity of their fovereign. The pictures were
afterwards expofed to the view of the foldiers,
who, though long hardened againft the foftet4
touch of nature, at this refemblance of a royal
parent, and infant prince, were awakened to all
their fears for the protection of facred majefty,
now emerging from the long incumbent gloom
of affliction : the old veteran, and the lavage
mountaineer of Carpathia, felt their ftubborn
hearts diflblve, at the melancholly reflection of
the misfortunes of their queen ; humanity gufhed
from their eyes j and the latter, in contradictioa
C C C 2 tO
388 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
to their wild and terrible appearance, fhewed
they were men i loyalty fprung from their hearts,
and animating them with refolutions of courage,
I742- evinced they were foldiers and affectionate fub-
jects: they drew, and firft kiffed their fabres,
then the pictures •, vowing an inviolable fidelity
to the originals, with reiterated cries of " Long
" live Maria Therefa:" and in their future be-
haviour, as if infpired by thefe noble thoughts,
they difcovered, on all occafions, not only
courage and refolution, but even madnefs and
fury.
THE imperial army in Bavaria, being joined
by a body of 6,000 Palatine troops, Marfhal
Khevenhuller deemed it an infringement of the
neutrality of the Elector Palatine, and leaving a
garrifon of 2,000 men in Munich, marched with
the body of his army, and laid the city of Neu-
burgh under a contribution of 200,000 florins ;
and having advice, that Marfhal Thoring had
pofted himfelf with a confiderable body of troops
in the neighbourhood of Laudlberg, with an in-
tent tO difpute the paflage of the Auftrians through
the narrow defiles thereabouts, he fent General
Bernklau with a detachment to attack them ;
who advanced to Ratifbon, a free and imperial
city, 62 miles N. E. of Munich, in purfuit of
the army under the command of Marftial Thor-
ing, who retired to Kelheim, which, on the
approach of the Auftrians, he deferted, leaving a
vaft magazine behind him. General Bernklau,
having put a garrifon in Kelheim, purfued the
Bavarian army to Ingolftadt, a town 20 miles
weft of Ratifbon, and 45 north of Munich -, and
having attacked them under the walls of that
town, the Bavarians were defeated, and 300
made prifoners, amongft whom were Count
Beau-
Engaged in the late General Waf. 389
Beaujeau and his brother, Count Prey fing, and CHAP,
the Barons Weichel and Uberaker : after which, II.
Marfhal Thoring, with the remainder of his'^-v— - -
army, haftily retired to Donawert, 25 miles J742»
W. of Ingolftadt ; where the Auftrian general
did not think proper to continue the purfuir,
and returned towards Ratifbon. This occafi-
oned the return of Marmal Thoring, who be-
fieged the Auftrians in Kelheim, but meeting
with three repulfes, and General Bernklau com-
ing up to the relief of the garrifon, the Bava-
rian general was obliged to abandon the enter-
prize ; and, about the middle of April, received;
a reinforcement of 20,000 French and Bava-
rians, commanded by the Duke de Harcourr,
who were detached from Prague, and came by
Amberg though the upper Palatinate.
UPON this junction the French and Bavarian
forces compofed an army of 30,000 men ; and
Marmal Khevcnhuller being joined by the de-
tachment under General Bernklau and the Prince
of Saxe Hildbourghaufen had an army of 24,000
men. Marmal Khevenhuller feized an advan-
tageous poft at Ortenburgh, near Pafiau •, and
detached General Bernklau to obferve the mo-
tions of the confederates •, who had detached
4,000 men to attack the Auftrian garrifon in
Munich. The Auftrian garrifon, upon intelli-
gence of their defign, quitted the city, think-
ing it untenable. The citizens, imagining all
their danger was over, began to exprefs their
loyalty by refufing admittance to a fmall body
of Auftrian hufiars, and firing upon them, kill-
ed fome of the hufiars, and took and detained
fome of their officers prifoners. But Colonel
Mentzel, at the head of a ftrong party of huf-
lars, appeared again before the city, on the 5th
of-
39° The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,'
PART of May, and fummoned the inhabitants to fur^
III. render ; which they refufed, and (hut their
— v- — ' gates ; relying on relief from the French, who
1742. were then marching up to the city. But Mar-
Ihal Khevenhuller, highly difapproving of the
refolution taken by the Auftrian officers when
they quitted Munich, fent General Bernklau and
Baron Trenck, with 5,000 men, with orders to
re-pofiefs that city. The advanced body arrived
before the town, and joined Colonel Mentzel,
while the French were yet three marches diftant.
When the Auftrians firft appeared before Mu-
nich, the inhabitants buried thirty-fix pieces of
cannon, which on their departure, they took
up and planted on the walls and towers of the
city ; and having barricadoed the gates and
broke down all the bridges, fired on this ad-
vanced party with great vivacity. The Auftri-
ans were obliged to wait that whole evening and
night, tilt all their troops came up ; and then,
by break of day, they refolved to ftorm the
town. The Auftrians marched towards that
part of the river, where the bridges had been
broke down ; and, upon their advancing, were
taken in flank by two pieces of cannon, and in
front by the hunters mufket-fhot, who were
pofted in fome houfes on the oppofite bank ; in-
fomuch, that they foon loft a confiderable num-
ber of men, and amongft the reft a captain of
grenadiers. The Auftrians, difregarding this
fire, repaired one of the bridges, and laid two
large planks on it ; which was pafled over by
the pandours, grenadiers, and carpenters ; and,
as foon as the bridge was rendered more pafifa-
ble, they were followed by the Croats and regu-
lar battalions, each under their refpe&ive offi-
cers, all ardently driving who fhould be firft.
Upon
Engaged in the late General War: <j
LTh^i^r116 lfcf' they got into a kind ofCH
fuburb called Lachel, where they caught eight
of he hunters who had galled them from The .
joules, and in requital cut them to pieces The
Auflrians were now mafters of Lachel, but had
yet no footing in the town; when Baron Trenck,
with his pandours, found a way to the elector's
'door, and got into the garden: juft as
he had broke open the other door, and was go-
ing to advance to the town walls, holding the
door half open, the citizens fired from a battery
directly oppofite to his men, with cartridge (hot;
and being only twenty-five paces from them
killed eight of the pandours: on this the baron
fattened the door again, and went the right hand
way along the wall of the elector's riding-houfe
till he came to the ditches, and took pod in an
adjacent houfe, over againft the town. Though
the bridges were broke down, yet there we°re
two boards left acrofs a rivulet that ran into the
itches, which the pandours might have eafily
got over, and by means of a window that had
been left open in one -of the tower walls, through
which it was no difficult matter to climb, th?y
might have made themfelves mafters of the town ;
but if this fcheme had -been put in execution it
would have been impoffible to have prevented
the city from being plundered : and, as Marfhal
JChevenhuller had ftriclly prohibited any out-
rages to be committed on the inhabitants, Ba-
ron Trenck ordered his men to halt, and gave
General Bernklau notice of the difpoHticns he
had made ; who came immediately running to
him, and defired the pandours to proceed no
further. General Bernklau therefore fummoned
the town to furrender ; and after a fhort con-
fultation, the bwrgomafter wiih fome of the 4-
.derrnen,
AP.
'392 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART dermen, were deputed to treat with the general
III. on the terms of a capitulation, who granted
— „ — J them the mod favourable and Jenient conditions.
*742. Though the French Abbe Roufieau, in his ac-
count of the campaigns of the French King,
has taxed the Auftrians with heavy charges of
cruelty and inhumanity to the Bavarians, it could
be with no other defign, than to frame the moft
favourable excufe for the breach of treaties fo
notorioufly violated by the French, in attacking
the Queen of Hungary, and purfuing her troops
to the confines of her Bohemian dominions ; the
conduct of the Auftrians in Bavaria was far from
deferving the fevere reflections thrown upon
them by the Abbe Roufleau •, all excefies of ra-
pine and deftruction beeing carefully and ftrictly
reftrained : the Auftrians, it is true, made large
contributions ; but in all their collections never
ihewed any extraordinary acts of feverity, other
than what are ufually enforced by armies when
in pofiefikm of a country belonging to a declar-
ed enemy ; and which the French had executed
with the utmoft rigour in Bohemia. Yet one
particular action, committed by Baron Trenck,
might probably be imputed as an inftance of
public feverity •, but, in reality, tended only to
the refentment of a private injury, and the effects
of a facetious humour ; for the affair, however
extenuated, was truly this. That nobleman,
who enjoyed a considerable eftate in Sclavonia,
had incurred the difpleafure of Auditor Sazzen-
thal ; who, in the year 1735, through the fanc-
tion of his office, took an opportunity of unjuftly
impofing upon the baron a fine of 1,700 florins,
and alfo committed him to prifon, with no other
pretence than that the baron, and his pandours,
had purfued and killed fome thieves who had
ftokn
Engaged in the late General Wai1." 393
ftolen his hunting horfes ; the baron, though CHAP.
he had not forgot, had no opportunity of re- II.
venging this injuftice on the magiftrate, till he< — v— - J
was now raifing contributions in Bavaria, where J742-
he happened to meet with a country gentleman*
at his feat, in a village four miles from Munich,
who was brother-in-law to Auditor Sazzinthal :
this gentleman, hearing the baron and his pan-
dours were Sclavonians, and thinking his relati-
on to the auditor would procure him refpect,
enquired of the baron if he was not acquainted
with him, and feemed elated with the honour of
being fo neerly allied to the auditor; little
fufpecting what a dangerous perfon he was fpeak-
ing to ; who replied, he very well knew the au-
ditor to be a great rogue, that he had treated
him very ill in fining him 1,700 florins; and
that, as feven years were fince elapfed^ he was
determined to make him, for the honour of
being his brother-in-law, repay both principal
and intereft: at firft he refufed to comply, but
the baron threatening to give him 100 lames, he
went into his clofet, and brought him 500
ducats. So that the baron was humouroufly re-
venged of tne auditor, without committing any
act contrary to the laws of war; things of that
nature being permitted in a hoftile country upon
any plaufible pretences.
THE Bavarians having received a fecond rein-
forcement from France, the confederate army
was now augmented to 40,000 men, and pitched
their camp by Neder-Altach. This obliged
Marfhal Khevenhuller to recall his troops from
Munich, and affemble all his army together near
Viifhoven, where, having thrown two bridges
over the Danube, General Bernklau was detach-
ed, with Baron Trenck and a body of 6,000
VOL. I. D d d men,
394 tt* Conduct of the Powers of Europe^
PART men, to. crofs that river, and march as far
III. as Zell, where they encamped and entrenched
- — v— — ' themfelves, within a league of the French
i/42- and Bavarians; who, after fuffering themfelves
to be harrafled by the excurfions of the Auf-
trian irregulars, marched back to DtckendorfT
towards the end of May ; and, after pitch-
ing their encampment, the Duke de Harcourt
and Marlhal Thoring, with all the French
grenadiers and picquets, and 3,000 Bavarian
horfe, advanced to Hilkerfbergh, a caftle on
the Danube, with a dcfign to feize the bridge
the Auftrians had there thrown over the river.
The garrifon, which confifted of a Prong body
of Croats, on the appearance of the French and
Bavarians, marched out of the caftle with a re-
folution to meet them ; arid, being fupported
by a reinforcement fent to their affiftance, under
the command of General Helfreich, advanced
forwards, and coming up to, attacked the con-
federates fword in hand -, and, after an obftinate
engagement, compelled the French and Bavari-
ans to retire, with the lofs of 1,000 men killed
and wounded, leaving behind them five field
pieces and a nephew of the Duke de Harcourt,
who was taken prifbner.
AFTER this action the French and Bavarians,
though fo greatly fuperior in force to the Auftri-
ans, avoided an engagement-, and as the arms
of her Hungarian majefty were victorious in Bo-
hemia, Marfhal Khevenhuller defifted from nar-
rating them, till he faw the event of the pro-
ceedings at Prague ; and continued to obferve
the motions of the French in Bavaria, as he was
intent en preventing them, or any other fuccours
of France, from penetrating into Bohemia, to
the
Engaged in tbe late General War.'
the relief of their forces, who had been pent up
and furrounded by the Auftrians, in Prague.
CHAPTER III.
Military operations in BOHEMIA: the
battle of CZASLAW: the reconci-
liation of the KING of PRUSSIA,
and ELECTOR of SAXONY, with
the QUEEN of HUNGARY, by the
treaty ofBRESLAw: and the com-
mencement of the fiege of PRAGUE
by the AUSTRIANS.
ON the clofe of the laft campaign, after the CHAP,
reduction of Prague, the French and Ba- III.
varian army, confiding of 48,000 men, com-<— >^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 ;
J742- 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 J742.
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^
*742- 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- J742«
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
r742* 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.
<ler to attack the Pruffians. -v— -
THE Auftrian army confifted of fixty-two i742«
fquadrons of horfe, thirty-fix battalions of foot,
befides the Croats, and the Seriners, four regi-
• ments of hufiars, and two regiments of Rafcians.
The Pruffian army confifted of thirty battalions
of foot, fixty fquadrons of cuiraffiers and dra-
goons, and ten fquadrons of huflars. His Pruf-
fian majefty, perceiving the Auftrians were
marching up in lines, ordered Prince Leopold
to leave his camp, to get to the rifing ground -,
to reinforce his firft line of foot -, and to leave in
the fecond line, the vacancy that was neceflary
for the ten battalions and the ten fquadrons which
the king was bringing with him. His majefty
arrived in his poft half an hour after feven m
the morning, juft as the Auftrians were approach-
ing, and formed his cavalry in the form of a
crutch, or a carpenter's fquare, on a hill; fo
that it extended with a greater front than that
of the Auftrian horfe. The Pruffian army was
all ranged in battalia, in the mod advantageous
and regular difpofition : and the Auftrians, be-
ing advanced within 2,000 paces of the Prui-
funs, the latter began to cannonade them with
their twenty- four pounders -? and, notwithltand-
ing the terrible execution of the Pruffian artil-
lery, the firft line of the Auftrians advanced in
front with the utmoft intrepidity. The Aui-
trian huflars were detached to harrafs the Prui-
fians ; but meeting with repulfe, fell back on
their body of referve, and put it in confufion :
and a regiment, which covered the left wing,
havmcr been routed at the fame time by the Prul-
fons was the occafion of difordering three
E e e 2 other
404 *fb* Conduct of tie Powers of Europe^
PART other Auflrian regiments. However the reft of
III. the line, undifmayed at this accident, advanced
with all imaginable bravery. Lieutenant- Gene-
2> 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
J742- 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 i4th
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 I742-
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 <»ou]d
ij.10 7he Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART could be effected only by a patient expectation
III. of opportunities, and a politic improvement of
u— v— — ' cafual advantages, which their ambafiador, the
*742' Earl of Hyndford, had received the ftrongeft
directions diligently to embrace, and carefully
increafe ; and who loft no opportunity, neglect-
ed no means, and fpared no affiduity in promot-
ing an accommodation between the Queen of
Hungary with the King of Fruflia and Elector
of Saxony. The court of Vienna now as fenfibly
perceived the neceflity of engaging the courts of
Berlin and Drefden to defert the confederacy
formed againft the houfe of Auftria, and were
willing to obtain their friendfhipy on much fever-
er terms than had been formerly offered by the
King of Prufiia,
THE Queen of Hungary had empowered the
Earl of Hyndford to conclude a treaty of amity
with the King of Pruffia : this nobleman clofely
attended the Pruflian camp, and having held
frequent conferences with his rnajefly, at length,
after the battle of Czaflaw* in conjunction with
Count Podewils, the Pruflian feeretary of ftate,
a feparate treaty of peace was agreed on, and
the preliminary articles figned at Breflaw on the
nth of June 1742, between her majefty the
Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, and his ma-
jefty the King of Pruffia, of which the following
were the principal articles :
By the fth article, " The Queen of Hungary
" yielded in perpetuity, and in full fovereignty,
et to the King of Pruflia and his fuecefibrs, as
" well the low as the high Silefia,. except the
" principality of Tefchen, the city of Troppauy
" and the country lying between the Opau and
** the high mountains bounding upper Silefia;
'* as alfo the lordlhip of Herrendorff, and other
" diftrids
Engaged in the late General War.' 411
•« diftricts which belong to Moravia, though CHAP.
" included by the upper Silefia. In like man- III.
*' ner her majefty yielded to the King of Pruffia, <— - -v— - J
*' the city and caftle of Glatz, and all the coun- I742»
" ty of that name. And in return, his Pruffian
" majefty renounced all pretenfions whatfoever
" on the Queen of Hungary.
BY the 6th article, " The King of Pruffia a-
" greed to preferve the catholic religion in its
" prefent ftate, as alfo the inhabitants of the
*' country in their pofleffions, liberties, rights,
" and privileges, without derogation to an en-
" tire liberty of confcience granted to proteft-
** ants, and the rights of the fovereign.
By the ;th article, " The King of Pruffia
*' charged himfelf, wholly, with the repayment
" of what was lent by the Englifh merchants on
*' the fecurity of the revenues in Silefia, by the
44 contract of London, dated the 2ift of Janu-
" ar7 J735-
BY the 8th article, " A general amnefty was
" declared on both fides, and hoftilities imm&-
" diately to -ceafe; and that fuch inhabitants of
" Silefia as mould chufe to leave the country,
«' mould be allowed five years to fell their ef-
" feds, without being fubjea to any tax or im-
4£ pofition.
AND by the nth article, " The two con-
«« trading parties agreed to comprehend in thefe
*•<• preliminaries of peace, his Britannic majefty,
*c both in his regal quality, and as Elector of
" Hanover, the Emprefs of Ruffia, the King
<" of Denmark, the States General, the houfe
/" of Wolfenbuttle, and the Elector of Saxony \
*' provided, that within fixteen days after the
*' notification of the figning of this treaty, the
*' Elector of 5axony £hould withdraw his forces
F ff 2 " fror»
4 1 2 Ibe Conduit of the Powers of Europe,
PART " from the French army in Bohemia, and out
III. " of all the dominions of the Queen of Hun-
— v >" 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
eThe 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 <? " the
4 1 8 The Conduct of the Powers of Europe,
PART " the Queen of Hungary, would hearken to no
III. " propofals of that kind, without firft confulting
c — v~— ' " her allies;" which put an end to the confe-
I742- rence. The Auftrian miniftry fuggefted fuch
overtures would be attempted, and they knew
the French would make advantageous propofals
to get delivered out of their confinement : but
how could they truft to fuch infidious offers, and
rely upon the faith of that perfidious power ! Or
how could they venture to conclude a new capi-
tulation with the very body of troops, who, had
they nor, contrary to all military honour and
rules of war, broke a late capitulation, by which
they laved their lives at Lintz a few morlths be-
fore, could not have been at Prague in that con-
juncture, to have demanded a fecond opportuni-
ty to abufe the mercy of a generous vidor ! It
might, with great reafon, be apprehended, that
the French, if they had efcaped from their em-
barraffment by accommodation, would have
looked on any fuch treaty as only a ceflation of
arms, which they had procured, as a temporary
expedient, to deceive thofe as would be weak
enough to confide in their engagements, and to
fhun one of the moft weighty blows that France
had ever felt in any fingle campaign.
WHEN Marfhai Belleifle, fo eminent a ftatef-
man, found the Auftrians were too wary to be
trapanned in his cobweb negotiations, he held
feveral other conferences with Count Konigfegg,
concerning a capitulation for the furrender of
the place : the French offered to evacuate Prague
and all Bohemia, the fortrefles of Egra and Frau-
enberg included, on permifllon of marching off
with their artillery, arms, and baggage ; but the
court of Vienna infifting they fhould furrender
prifbners of war, the conferences were entirely
broke
Engaged in tie late General War. 419
broke off, and the place being inverted on all CHAP.
fides, the trenches were opened on the 28th of Ilf.
July. v. -X^J
THE fame day General Feftititz, with a corps *742«
of 10,000 men, chiefly horfe, compofed of Hun-
garian volunteers, and the militia of that king-
dom, received orders to approach Old Prague,
in order 10 rtraiten the city on that fide, where
he ported himfelf that night. The French mar-
tial, perceiving his defign, ordered the Duke
de Grammont, and Prince Clermont, with, two
regiments of foot and feveral regiments of horfe,
being a body of 8,000 men, to prepare them-
felves and fally out on the Auflrian quarters. On
the 29th at day-break, the French advanced
with fome field pieces in their front, and found
General Feftititz, with his forces drawn up in
good order, ready to receive them, at the dif-
tance of three quarters of a mile from the fub-
urbs. As the troops commanded by General
Feftititz, were moft of them young gentlemen
who had never feen an enemy in the field before,
he thought it necefluiry to encourage them, and
rode between their ranks, exhorting them to
behave with fpirit and refolution upon this occa-
fion, for their own reputation and their national
honour. The French began the attack with
extraordinary vigour, and the fhock of their ca-
v.ilry was fo impetuous, that the right wing of
Hungarian horfe had certainly been overturned,
but for a fortunate motion made by General
Z^aczky to fuftain them. The French fell with
equal fury on the left wing, but were vigorously
refifted ; they returned thrice to the charge, but
were not able to penetrate, notwithftanding all
their efforts. The French infantry in the centre
made a terrible fire, till they were broken by
G g g 2 the
*Tbe Condud of the Powers of Europe,'
the buffers •, and then they rallied, returned to
their pods, and continued the engagement with
the greateft obftinacy imaginable. All this time
1742. the French had feme field pieces at their head,
the fire of which continued during the whole
aftion. About eight o'clock the affair became
general, and it was pad ten before it could be
difcerned where the advantage inclined. Gene-
ral Feftititz, about that time, made a motion as
if he intended to take the French in flank on the
left, which put them in diforder, and obliged
them to prefs on the cavalry and infantry in the
center. The whole body of Hungarians now
renewed the charge, making fo warm and fo
regular a fire, that the French were obliged to
retreat, and regain the fuburbs j being purfued
by the Hungarians under the very cannon of
the ramparts and retrenchments, who made a-
bout 300 prifoners, having ftrewed the field of
battle with as many of their dead bodies, while
the Hungarians had about 150 men killed, and
200 wounded ; though there is room to be iur-
prized that the lofs was not greater on both fides,
confidering that the engagement continued five
hours with incredible obftinacy, and that the laft
difcharge of the Hungarians, which decided the
affair, happened when they were clofe together.
Prince Clermont, who behaved wirh great intre.
pidity, was dangeroufly wounded in the belly ;
and the Hungarians had feveral officers killed
who diftingujfbed ;hemfdves on this occafion,
and amongll them, Lieutenant-Cplonel Sirakhy,
who commanded a body of the nobility of the
county of Eyfenberg. '
As the French concluded that General Fcfti-
t'uz would quickly take up his quarters in the
faburbs, they took the moft effectual method
they
Engaged in the late General War. 42 1
they could to prevent it, by burning them down CHAP.
to the ground; and they alfo reduced to ames III.
moft of the citizens country houfes, within a fmall <— -v—
diftance ofthe place. J742'
THE Auftrians continued polling themfelves
in the beft manner they could ; and on the I7th
of Auguft, in the evening, began a parallel, by
way of communication between their two pofts of
Schantz and Shillhorn: the j 8th three batteries
were begun, one at the left of Schantz, towards
the town, and the other two beyond Shillhorn :
about nine the fame evening, the French began
to fire from the ramparts upon the workmen,
which continued all night j while the garrifon
were preparing for another fally. In the morn-
ing, about half an hour after three, a body of
French, confifting of five brigades of foot, fix-
teen companies of grenadiers, 300 dragoons, and
300 carabineers, in all 6,000 men, commanded
by a marfhal de camp and two brigadiers, fallied
out: they divided this force in two parts, the
greater of which advanced to the right, and at-
tacked the Swedifti Schantz, where moft of the
guard had been detached to cover the different
workmen ; and, from a miftake among the Auf-
trians, the French had an opportunity of making
a very fuccefsful attempt. For when the Auftri-
ans began to break ground, their orders were
given to the fartheft advanced pofts, " Not to
" fire upon any account, but to retire as quick
" as pofilble, and acquaint the commanding
" officer if any part of the garrifon advauc-
" ed:" This order was tranfmicted from the
advanced pofts to one another afterwards,
unknown to the officer on guard •, and therefore
all the Auftrians that covered the new battery,
and were advanced before their pofts, came run-
422 TJoe Conduct of the Powers of Europe^
PART ning back full fpeecl into the Schantz, with the
III. French at their heels ; whofe fire upon the few
i— -v^— ' that remained in it, was the firft thing that a-
J742- Jarmed them, who were not above 200; fo that
the French poured immediately into it, to the
number of 3,500 men, and nailed up four pieces
of cannon and fome mortars. Mean while mod
of the different detachments, that had given way
at the firft alarm, rallied about 400 paces behind,
where there was a lieutenant-colonel with 160
men; and, juft about day-break, marched to-
wards the French, who immediately gave way
and fled into the fofle of the town, without
doing any other prejudice. On the left the
French had the fame fuccefs-, but Prince Charles's
regiment, being in battalion behind the trench,
chafed them immediately out again. The lofs fuf-
tained by the French, at both right and left, a-
mounted to fixty-one killed and wounded, and a
captain of Navarre taken prifoner : the Auftrians
had a captain taken priloner, but fuftered lefs
than the French.
THE French marflials, perceiving that their
hft fally had retarded the works of the befiegers,
judged there was no time to be loft •, and there-
fore refolved to make another with all the forces
they could fpare out of garrifon. On the 22d,
at about four in the afternoon, 12,000 French
advanced, under Marfhal Belleifle, who ap-
proached with the firft party, and ported himfelf
at the left of the Swedifh Schantz, leaving the
command of the right to the Djke de Biron.
After a defence proportioned to the numbers,
the French forced the Schantz ; and, foon afcer,
thofe who guarded the communication gave way,
it being flanked by the Schantz on the right,
which entirely commanded it; but the left of
the
Engaged in the late General War. 423
the Auftrians flood firm, nor could the Duke de CHAP.
Biron, with all his fire and intrepidity, furmount III.
their bravery, or make them relinquim one foot ' — -v —
of the foil of honour. The action continued ex-
ceeding (harp for an hour ; and the French, ani-
mated by the prefence and example of their glo-
rious marmal, exerted themfclves to admiration,
fearing nothing, and afpiring only to perilh gal-
lantly beneath the eye of their idolized command-
er ; but the Auftrian picquets, of both infantry
and cavalry, and a battalion of Merci's regiment
coming up, after a warm fire, the French were
firft repulied on the left, and afterwards chafed
out of the line of communication at the Schantz,
in prefence of their marfhal, who retired behind
the Schantz, from whence the French kept firing
a little till he was gone, the works thrown up by
the Auftrians ftrving them for a parapet. Gene-
ral Philibert, though he had two horfes Ihot un-
der him in advancing, marched forward in the
cooled manner, with part of the Auftrian cavalry,
on the left of the infantry, till he brought the
nofe of his third horfe upon the retrenchments,
behind which the French continued firing. The
Auftrians here made a terrible difcharge, paflfed
over the works, and pufhed with incredible fury
among the French j who, finding it impoffible
to refitt the torrent, retreated towards the town :
the Duke de Biron, at the fame time, felt the
fhock of the Auftrian infantry ; and, before fe-
ven, the French were chafed every where into
the fofie of the town, by an inferior force ; for
though the whole Auftrian army was ready, not
half the infantry, and but few of the cavalry, were
engaged. Sirmay's Yegiment of Hungarians fol-
lowed the French to the edge of the fofle ; but,
as the garrifon made a continual and well-ferved
fire
424 The Con dud: of the Powers of Europe,
PART fire from forty pieces of cannon on the ramparts
UI. of Prague, the Auftrians could not carry their
. — ./•— j purfuit any farther. The French, during the
1742. engagement, nailed up four half mortars, and
burned a few fafcines; but had 2,400 men killed
and wounded j the Prince de Deux Ponts receiv-
ed a fhot in his face, from a captain of Stafem-
berg's regiment, as he was calling the French
to advance •, but though he fell, the wound did
not prove mortal. The Auftrians loft 800 men,
killed and wounded ; and the Grand Duke and
Prince Charles, who highly diftinguifhed them-
felves during the whole action, were frequently
expofed to the utmoft danger -, Prince Charles
being every where active, and every where re-
markable among the foremoft of his men ; and
the Grand Duke efcaped very narrowly, hav-
ing his hat carried off by one of the cannon bul-
lets.
THIS action fo greatly harrafied and difcour-
aged the French, that they were obliged to a-
bandon all their retrenchments without the town9
and did not Teem difpofed to undertake another
attempt till the 25th ; when, being St Louis's
day, in honour of the king, they intended to
attempt a general fally, on which they depended
as their laft effort. Their defign was to force the
head quarters, and make their way through »
upon which the two Maribals, Bclleifle and Brog-
lio, put themfelves at the head of the garriibn ;
but, perceiving the Auftrian army ready to re-
ceive them, they retired into the town, without
undertaking any thing.
THOUGH the Auftrians had not yet advanced
to batter the city, the French had all the melan-
cholly profpects of a fiege before them : the mar-
fhals had received pofitive orders to maintain the
place
Engaged in the late General War. 425
place to the laft extremity} and as the city had CHAP.
no out-works, they expected a practicable breach III
would foon be made in the body of the town ; v— v— J
and then the garrifon muft either furrender 1742.
pnfoners of war, or be cut in pieces, unlefs this
cataftrophe was prevented by the arrival of the
army under Marmal Maillebois to raife the fiege j
which the garrifon were promifed, and were in.
daily expectation of.
THOUGH the French had diligently taken
every opportunity of bringing provifions into
the town ; yet, by the time of the laft fally,
they began to be in great fcarcity ; and the Auf-
trian hufiars, continually fcouring the country,
prevented the excurfions of the garrifon, having
cut 150 of them to pieces, and fo ftrongly inti- -
midated the reft, that they were afraid to ven-
ture out of the city. The French had now
2,000 men fick in their hofpitals ; the fcarcity
increafed, and hunger was fo feverely felt among
them, as to caufe fo extraordinary a defertion as
to create a fufpicion in the camp, that there
might be fome defign in it, or that they had
orders to defert.
PRAGUE, the iate flouriming and happy capi-
tal of a fpacious kingdom, with more than
100,000 citizens within its walls, was now fub-
jected to all the calamities that war and famine
could inflict: the miferable inhabitants were in
the profoundeft diftrefs, an implacable enemy
within their walls, without, their beft friends
obliged to aggravate their misfortunes, and act
with the appearance of a declared foe. Though
the befiegers, as their countrymen and fellow
fubjects, withheld the dreadful horrors of an
actual fiege; unwilling to let the murdering can-
non hurl a promifcuous deftruction alike on friend
VOL, I, H h h and
426 TZtf Concluft of the Powers of Europe,
PART and toe, alike on the innocent and the guilty;
III. yet, by no more than forming a blockade, with
L. — -v-~/ an intent to ftarve the French to a furrender, the
I742> 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.
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Improvement of each Seaion. In Three Volumes 4to
Containing, Vol. I. The former part of the Hiftory of our
Lord JefHs Chrift, as recorded in the Four Evangelifts
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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-
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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
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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
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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.
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