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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

himself who had planned them. Except in the affair of Leghorn, the interest ofthe British nation was materially concerned in every measure he took. Theenemies of Cromwell, in base aspersion of the only part of his character,probably, above reproach, propagated a rumour which obtained universal cre-dit, that the principal object he had in view, at the time of equipping thearmament in question, was the plunder of those towns in the pope’s territorywhere the principal riches were deposited. The celebrated chapel of Lorettowas said to be particularly devoted as a prize to his rapacity. The pope wasweak enough to credit the tale, and if report be true, actually caused the partialremoval, as though trembling for the safety, of the treasures in question ; butthe event fully proved, that the mind of this great, though dreadfully ambitiousman, was far superior to the contemptible advantage of pillaging a rich, thoughdefenceless place : whether the virtue was naturally inherent, or only assumedfor. the purpose, is certainly immaterial, as the result was the same, be it whichit might. Like most other usurpers, perhaps, he made an ostentatious displayof his attention to the public good, softening, by that conduct, the minds of thepeople to the indurance of his crimes, and their own slavery.

The armament under Penn proceeded to the West-Indies. It was destinedto act against Spain, not, however, in the petty and ignoble track of plunder,but to wrest from them such parts of their possessions, in that quarter, as werethought might prove advantageous to Great Britain. Hispaniola was the prize towhich the mind of the Protector had been directed. The attempt was made, andfailed, principally, as it appears, owing to party disputes, and difference of opi-nion. The failure, however, in the first object, prevented not the attention ofthe commanders in chief from being applied to a scarcely less noble object.The island of Jamaica surrendered nearly at the first summons, and has eversince continued one of the richest possessions belonging to Britain in thatquarter of the world.

The Spaniards, irritated by the disgrace as well as importance of the loss,seized, without hesitation, all the British effects they could find in their domi-nions. Admiral Montagu, afterward earl of Sandwich, was immediately de-tached for the Mediterranean, to reinforce Blake in such an extent, as shouldenable him to block up Cadiz, and retaliate severely on the Spaniards for theirtemerity, by intercepting the Spanish flota, which was then daily expected atthat port, laden with an immense treasure. The most prudent measures wereadopted to render the project successful. The British armament was divided

into

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