no

HISTORY or MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

the pompous vanity of some historians have endeavoured to represent it. If ship-wreck fatally attended the Spanish armament, it scarcely proved less destructive totl at ynder Mr. Ans<?n ; bo that the whole advantage gained, appears to have beenthe mere enrichment of the few individuals who survived the fatal expedition ;and die depredations committed on a defenceless town, in a most distant quarter ofthe world, the situation of which totally precluded the inhabitants from bearingany part in the Contest, except what was impotently attempted toward their owndefence.

After the total failure of the attempt onCarthagena, the principal part of the Britisharmament returned to Europe. The Spaniards possessing at that time a marineforce in the harbour of theHavannah sufficient to counteractany attempt their enemymight make on the most important of their possessions in that quarter of the world ;they seemed little attentive to any casual impression made by a desultory expeditionin a less defensive quarter. The result proved the wisdom of their determination; forthey contrived to keep a considerable part of the British navy in constant employ-ment during the whole war, while their own ships neither suffered injury, nor en-countered the slightest risk. Similar measures adopted in other quarters, werenearly productive of similar consequences; so that, except in the instance of thePrincessa, a Spanish ship of war, mounting 70 guns, captured by three Britishvessels, nominally of the same force, but infinitely inferior, as well in equipment,as other points, the Spanish marine sustained no injury material enough to deservenotice, during the first four years of an open war against a foe so confessedly hersuperior. Wearied, however, with the continuance of a cold, defensive system,and irritated by those losses which, in spite of every precaution, her commercesustained, France w'as allured to become a party in the dispute, as much, perhaps,by a natural enmity born to England, as by the hope of pecuniary gain from theassistance rendered in the time of need. The alliance W'as productive of verytrivial advantage. A contest took place immediately after the combined forcehad quitted the harbour of Toulon ; but, notwithstanding the allied fleet wasconsiderably inferior to that of Britain, it effected its retreat from the latter,after a long, though partial contest, with loss of one ship only, the Poder, of 60guns; which the British, being unable to carry off, were compelled to seton fire. The Spanish division consisted of one ship of 114- guns, the RealInfanta ; four of 70 guns, the Constant, the Isabella, the Hercule, and theAmerique ; six of 60 guns, the Orient, the Brilliant, the Neptune, the San’Fernando, the Superbe, and the Poder; one of 54-, the Retiro; and two.

frigates..