392

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

proper distance, were ten others of inferior dimensions and force. To preventthe approach of the enemy, a strong barricado, or boom, was laid before thevessels, and the whole of the coast defended by nine or ten castles, or batteries,all of them furnished with a prodigious quantity of heavy artillery. Suchwas the supposed impregnability of the enemy’s station, that the Spanish ad-miral vauntingly sent word to Blake, that he was prepared for the visit, andthat the latter might attack him whenever he thought proper. Blake, afterreconnoitring the enemy’s position, found, that though it would be improperto flatter himself with the hopes of carrying off the enemy’s ships, the destruc-tion of them appeared by no means impracticable. The dispositions wereaccordingly made ; and Stayner, with his division, was ordered to bear intothe bay : Blake, with the remainder of the fleet, attacking the forts and bat-teries at the same time. The enterprize was desperate, and the resistance spi-rited ; but the engagement ended in a complete victory. The Spaniards weredriven from their ships, which fell into the hands of the assailants ; but it beingfound impossible, as it was, ere the commencement of the attack, supposed it\vould be, to bring them out, the conquerors were compelled to set their prizeson fire, without a single exception. This appears to have been the death-blowto the Spanish marine ; and the surrender of Dunkirk into the hands of Crom-well completed the humiliation of the nation itself.

The death of Cromwell, at the conclusion of the year, put a period to anyfurther brilliant enterprjzes, or atchievements, but produced no relaxation inrespect to the maintenance of the navy. The equipment of ships of war, aswell as of fleets themselves, was a business so far from uncommon, that itbecame almost in daily practice, and England, notwithstanding the weaknessof her government after the death of the usurper, still continuing respectablein the eyes of Europe, was regarded as almost the general arbiter of peace orwar. These continued preparations aided, in very considerable degree, thatwonderful political change which was on the eve of taking place—the restora-tion of kingly government to Britain in the person of Charles the Second.

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