92

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

chastisement gave her, had the assurance to commit a direct insult on the personof the British embassador, then resident at Madrid.

In a very short time after this, the political prospect grew still more gloomy ;the Spaniards decidedly threw off the ma*k, and commenced hostilities, by be-sieging Gibraltar in form. A little experience, however, convinced them of thearrogance of their expectations, and they were compelled to abandon the ridiculousattempt, after a fruitless and inoffensive trial, which they persevered in for fourmonths, and in which short space one half of that force, which they considered suf-ficient to ensure their conquest, had fallen victims either to disease or the effects ofthe British cannon. Foiled in this first attempt, Spain appeared seriously inclinedto save herself from experiencing a repetition of mortification, by acceding to suchterms of pacification as were, in the eyes of all Europe, considered fair andequitable. The preliminary articles of the future conclusive agreement weresigned at Paris on the 31st day of May, 1727 ; in consequence of which, ordersWere dispatched to every quarter of the world, restraining the British officers fromcommitting any farther acts of hostility.

Notwithstanding the proof which Spain had so recently received of her inabilityto effect any serious injury against Great Britain, still did the vindictive and rest-less spirit of the queen prevent, for several months, the final conclusion of theagreement. Sir Charles Wager, who commanded the British fleet sent to theStreights, soon received orders not to relax from the object of his equipment, butto continue his till then suspended hostilities, whenever opportunity should offer :while France, who during the minority of their sovereign, and the regency of thatgreat, that truly honest man, the duke of Orleans, had conducted herself with theutmost candour and impartiality towards all countries whatever, beginning atthis time to display a change of system and of principle, seemed, by the actualequipment of a squadron, far from contemptible in force, to be more thanhalf inclined to declare herself as the ally of Spain. Negotiation indeed,and the prudent advice of peisons who had immediate access to tiie queen, atlength put a final period to this long, and languid state of warfare. The whole ofthe preceding business appears of the most inexplicable kind ; and is one ofthose political enigmas which no subsequent information, or the most attentivecontemplation, will, perhaps enable posterity to develope, or account for. Spain,with a navy completely inadequate, even to a defensive war, provoked the quar-rel with a country, the peace establishment of which alone, had it been drawn

together,