HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

87

CHAPTER THE FOURTH.

Conditions of the different Navies of Europe from the Accession of King George theFirst in 1714, to the Commencement of the War between Great Britain and Spam,1739 — Revival of the Spanish Marine by Cardinal Alberoni—The Attack ofSicily—Defeat of the Spanish Fleet by that of England, under Sir George Byng—Disgrace of the Cardinal—The fickle and weak Conduct of Philip the Fifth —Ambitious Views of the Queen — The Siege of Gibraltar undertaken by theSpaniards—the Enterprise abandoned, and Peace concluded—The subsequentDisputes between Great Britain and Spain — The Invasion of Sicily in 1734 —That of Portugal threatened soon afterxeards—The Interference of Britain, andConclusion of Peace under her Mediation — The Insolence of Spain, and Depre-dations committed by the Guar da Costas—State of the Spanish Marine in 173.9— Condition of Portugal and of France—Causes which had prevented Francefrom materially augmenting her Marine—The flourishing state of Trade andNavigation during the Peace—Reasons which produced a Diminution in the Sizeof Merchant Vessels—Enlargement of the Scale of Proportions adopted inconstructing Ships of War by Louis XIV.—His Example followed by Spain,but neglected by the United Provinces and other Countries.

1HE different nations which aspired to the character of ma itime powers had,

from their own superiority of rank, reduced to so low an ebb those Medi-

terranean States whose strength had heretofore made some of the most formidable

kingdoms tremble, that their navies might be considered as forming a part of thestate regalia, intended for show only, and not contributing either to the welfare ofcountry, or to its protection. It is a truth indelibly established, by a myriad ofhistorical instances, that some of the greatest national revolutions and events haveoriginated in causes apparently of the most trivial consequence, and have ripenedsilently into perfection, without exciting the astonishment of the world, or, per-haps, even attracting its notice. The wonderful alterations which had taken placein the Spanish marine are sufficient to form a useful lesson to mankind ot the im-propriety of national arrogance, and the baneful effects of public torpidity ; but, alterhaving passed nearly a whole century in the lowest obscurity, the pride of govern-ment appeared either roused by a reflection on'the inferior political rank whichthe country then held in Europe, or the establishment of the duke ot Anjou onthe throne by the title of Philip the Fifth had restored a degree ot energy andexertion to which it had long been a stranger. The cause of this sudden and

M 2

salutary