HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.
S9
in opposition to her hostile views. The firmness of the answer was construed intoaffront; and the cardinal, presuming, perhaps, too much on the strength of diemeasures which he had taken, resolved rather hastily to throw off the mask, andattack the Island of Sicily, which then formed a part of the dominions belongingto the duke of Savoy. When tlie exhausted state of die finances of die country,the late wretched condition of her marine, die reduced state of her army, anddie dreadful scarcity, both of naval and military stores, which liad so lately pre-vailed through every arsenal of the kingdom, are considered, the undertakingalluded to, may be unquestionably regarded as one of die greatest efforts of politi-cal boldness, and the mind of die historian, while it is directed with admirationto die exertion, feels itself somewhat divided, whether it should applaud dieattemjrt as one of the most consummate proof’s of a statesman’s ability, or condemnit as inconsiderate and rash in the extreme.
The fleet collected for tbe occasion consisted of nearly five hundred sail oftransports, having on board a formidable army, pro\ided with every requisitenecessary to render their descent effectual, and their victory certain. For the protec-tion of these vessels, a fleet accompanied them consisting of twelve ships of the line,and six others of two decks, with a number of stout frigates with lighter vessels,which, including galleys and bomb ketches, raised their number to nearly fortysail. Britain could no longer remain an inactive.spcctator of the intended mischief.Sir George Byng, afterwards created viscount Torrington, on account of the successhe met with in destroying the fleet in question, was dispatched to the Mediterra-nean, at the head of a formidable force, amounting to nearly twenty ships of the line.The contest was short, and the greater part of the Spanish armament being cithertaken or destroyed *, the cardinal had the humiliating mortification of beholding
all
* It will not be thought irrelevant, perhaps, to annex the following list, notwithstanding it hasbeen already, and perhaps more than once printed :
Men.
Guns.
St. Philipe -
- Taken
650
74
Principe d'el Asturias
— — Taken
550
70
El Real — -
— Taken
400
60
St. Lewis -
-
400
60
St. Ferdinand -
—
400
60
St. Carlos -
— Taken
400
60
Santa Isabella -
- - T aken
400
60
Santa Rosa -
- Taken
400
60
St.