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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

Immediately after the amicable termination of this dispute, the insolence ofSpain, which had long been smothering, covered with the deceitful ashes occa-sioned by its own flame, burst forth so ostensibly, as to be completely manifest,though it might not be considered dangerous. On the latter ground, its effectsappeared rather the object of cool representation, than of serious alarm. It wastreated accordingly, and, as the event proved, improperly. Various were thedepredations, numerous were the insults, extending even to injuries of the mostatrocious nature, committed against the subjects of Great Britain, by vessels fittedout under the orders and immediate direction of the Spanish government, particu-larly in the American seas. The complaints were numerous, and the murmursof the British nation continuous. Ministers, however, appeared to consider theactual commencement of hostilities against a rich and powerful country as ameasure of too much weight to be hastily entered into, and requiring somethingmore than the support of an individual injury to authorise, or render it necessary.They resorted to the customary preliminary of complaint, a species of moderationwhich increased the arrogance of an opponent, already too haughty. Remon-strance was either neglected, or, when pretendedly paid attention to, was disregardedin respect to redress, as a matter of not the least moment. The last effort of a minis-ter, who wished to invent every possible excuse for not entering into a war was thenresorted to, a convention was proposed, and, with considerable difficulty, agreed toby the British nation.. The terms, though far from agreeable to it, were acquiescedin, as in a matter of regular arbitration, where the decision was considered as bindingto both parties, however contrary the result might be to the general expectation. Ad-vantageous as they certainly were, on the mere ground of debtor and creditor, to theSpanish nation, the latter had the hardiness, or rather the folly, to refuse complyingwith it. The country lost all patience, and the war, which had so long been con-sidered as absolutely inevitable, was now on the point of bursting forth with therapidity of a volcano, long stifled in its eruptive efforts, which at length acquiressufficient strength to overcome the massive weight which had'so long restrained itsviolence.

The British navy, at this time, consisted, according to authentic documents,of thirty-eight ships of the line, actually in commission; namely, one of 90 guns,five of 80, tw'elve of 70, and twenty of 60 ; exclusive of nineteen ships of 50guns, and twenty-seven vessels of inferior rates, none of which carried less than 20.Independent of these, twenty-four other ships, of two and three decks, tw'omounting 100 guns each; as many 90; six 80; four 70; and ten 60 or 50;

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