proach, and the entrance of the harbour blocked up by several old galleons and two men-of-war that the enemy had sunk in the channel. We made shift, however, to open a passage for some ships, that favoured a second landing of our troops, at a place called La Quinta, not far from the town, where, after a faint resistance from a body of Spaniards who opposed their disembarkation, they encamped with a design of besieging the Castle of St. Lazar which overlooked and commanded the city. Whether our renowned general had nobody in his army who knew how to approach it in form, or that he trusted entirely to the fame of his arms, I shall not determine; but, certain it is, a resolution was taken in a council of war, to attack the place with musketry only. This was put in execution, and succeeded accordingly; the enemy giving them such a hearty reception that the greatest part of the detachment took up their everlasting residence on the spot. Our chief, not relishing this kind of complaisance in the Spaniards, was wise enough to retreat on board with the remains of his army, which from eight thousand able men landed on the beach, near Boca Chica, was now reduced to fifteen hundred fit for service." In all these operations there was no cordial union between the Admiral and the general. They had separate commands. Vernon, a vain man, was indifferent to any success in which he should not have the chief honour. He sent no assistance to Wentworth in the attack upon Fort San Lazaro, until the failure was irretrievable. The wet season had begun; the fleet and army were ill-provisioned; an epidemic fever raged. On the 24th of April it was determined to abandon the assault of Carthagena. The one success was paraded by Vernon in a despatch: "I believe even the Spaniards will give us a certificate that we have effectually destroyed all their castles." The fortifications were demolished. The shades of the brave men whose "carcases floated in the harbour, until they were devoured by sharks and carrion-crows," might have repeated the words of Hosier's "sad troop of ghosts: "

'Sent in this foul clime to languish,

Think what thousands fell in vain.”

Another expedition, despatched from England in September, 1740, has furnished the materials for two of the most interesting relations in our language. Walter's narrative of lord Anson's voyage, and Byron's narrative of his adventures in the ship Wager, offer as many stirring examples of courage and fortitude as any of the most exciting records of naval victories. In the qualities which these captains displayed, under severe privations and sufferings which almost forbade hope, we see upon what foundations of na.

tional character our maritime greatness has been built. When we read Smollett's description of the brutal and effeminate commanders under whom he served, we must not forget that the same age produced George Anson and John Byron. The squadron of six vessels under commodore Anson was to attack the shores of Peru, sailing round Cape Horn. It almost surpasses belief, that the only land troops which these vessels carried consisted of out-pensioners of Chelsea, old men, some wounded, all feeble. Five hundred of these were to have incumbered the squadron. Only about half sailed, the rest having deserted. In the spring of 1741, in attempting to double Cape Horn, the ships were encountered by violent hurricanes; and the Centurion, Anson's ship, was separated from her companions. To understand what were the dangers of the sea a century ago, we must turn to the fearful relation of the ravages produced in the Centurion by the scurvy. Anson had determined, under stress of weather, to make for the uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez. Before he reached this refuge on the 10th of June, two hundred of his crew had died. The Trial sloop arrived at the island, having lost two-thirds of her crew. Both ships were soon relieved of the poor out-pensioners of Chelsea, who were the first to sink under the fatal disease, which destroyed far more on ship-board than storm or battle. The Pearl and Severn, two large ships, had put back to the Brazils. The Wager was wrecked on a small desert island. Her crew were saved from drowning; but the prospect of the more terrible death of famine rendered them desperate. Byron, a stern commander, had not the one great quality of kindness by which violent men in seasons of suffering are more controlled than by harshness. They mutinied; seized the long-boat; and left their captain, with the lieutenant, the surgeon, and two midshipmen, on the desert island where the wreck took place. One of these five died. The adventures of the other four will always be read with deep interest by a maritime people. Anson remained at Juan Fernandez, with three vessels, till the autumn. His men were refreshed; his ships refitted; and he was ready for some exploit. In September they sallied forth, and secured a valuable prize. Other prizes were made, as they cruised about the island. The town of Paita was attacked by a boat's crew, and a large amount of public treasure was obtained. Anson, in the barbarous spirit of ancient times, suffered his sailors to rifle private houses and even churches, and finally burnt the town. When he took prisoners at sea he was courteous, especially to ladies. Cap. tain Basil Hall records, that after the lapse of eighty years, the kindness of Anson to his Spanish prisoners was remembered at Paita,

whilst his wanton destruction of the town was scarcely dwelt upon. Affliction came again upon the little squadron. The scurvy again broke out. The ships became leaky. The commodore could not man his prizes, and he destroyed them. The fifty-gun ship, the Gloucester, sprung a leak, and there were not hands aboard to work the pumps effectually. The crew were removed to the Centurion, and the doomed vessel was set on fire. Anson was now companionless with his good ship. After a long sojourn in Tinian, one of the Ladrone islands, where fresh meat and the fruit of the breadtree restored his crew to health, he again sailed forth in the spring of 1743 to look for Spanish galleons. On the 20th of June the Centurion met with one of these great treasure-ships. After a severe action she carried her prize into Canton, with a million and a-half of dollars. Anson returned to Spithead in June, 1744; when England was thinking of more serious matters than his losses or gains.

When Walpole, in 1738, was using all the influence of his experience to prevent England being driven into a war with Spain, he said, in the great debate upon the alleged Spanish depredations, "No man can prudently give his advice for declaring war, without knowing the whole system of the affairs of Europe as they stand at present, and how the several potentates of Europe now stand affected towards one another. It is not the power of Spain, and the power of this nation only, that we ought in such a case to consider and compare; we ought likewise to know what allies our enemies may have, and what assistance we may expect from our friends." The orators were too strong for the statesman; but the statesman saw farther than the orators. When the king opened the session of Parliament in November, 1740, he inferred that the Court of Spain" began to be sensible that they should be no longer able, alone, to defend themselves against the efforts of the British nation." He alluded to "some late extraordinary proceedings.' He said If any other power should interfere, and attempt to prescribe or limit the operations of the war against my declared enemies, the honour and interest of my crown and kingdoms must call upon us to lose no time in putting ourselves into such a condition as may enable us to repel any insults." Walpole knew, in 1738, that a war with Spain would eventually involve a war with France. The two branches of the House of Bourbon would again be in alliance. France and Spain, as he foresaw, formed a family compact. But there were other complications at the end of 1740, which were also threatening a general European conflict. To these the speech from the throne referred: "The great and unhappy event

MOTION TO REMOVE WALPOLE.

481

of the death of the late emperor opens a new scene in the affairs of Europe, in which all the principal powers may be immediately or consequentially concerned." Charles VI. died on the 20th of October. The question of the Pragmatic Sanction was now to be regarded as little more than a parchment edit, even by those who had guaranteed it. Maria Theresa, the daughter of the emperor, became the heiress of his hereditary states. The queen of Hungary, as she was styled, would have formidable rivals to the succession. A claimant to a considerable portion of her dominions would start up in the person of the prince, who, on the death of Frederick William, king of Prussia, on the 31st of May of this same year, became Frederick II. We reserve, for another chapter, the consideration of the events that gave the first indication that England would be forced into a long and exhausting war-a war not so capable of adjustment as her commercial disputes with Spain would have been, if those differences had been managed with temper and

common sense.

The threatening aspect of European affairs produced no moderation in the conduct of parties. Agreeing very slightly upon principles of government, or utterly disagreeing, there was one bond of union for some men of all sides-hatred of Walpole. Notice was given to sir Robert by Mr. Sandys, a member of no great mark, that he intended to bring forward articles of accusation against him. On the 13th of February the motion of Mr. Sandys for an address to the king to remove sir Robert Walpole from his majesty's presence and councils for ever, was prefaced by a speech in which the whole course of his administration, for a long series of years, was animadverted upon as a series of national calamities. The mover said, that he imputed every public evil to one person, because that one person had grasped in his own hands every branch of government; had attained the sole direction of affairs; monopolized all the favours of the crown, was the dispenser of all honours and preferments. It was proposed that during the debate sir Robert should retire from the House. The unfair attempt was overruled. Walpole was bitterly attacked by some; was sincerely but feebly defended by others. Shippen, his old Jacobite adversary, said this motion was only a pretence for turning out one minister, and bringing in another-he should not trouble himself with such a matter. He left the House, followed by a strong body of his friends. Walpole spoke last, and he spoke admirably. Some of the expressions of his bitter contempt of his adversaries have been preserved: "Gentlemen have talked a great deal of patriotism. A venerable word, when duly practised. I am sorry to say that VOL V.-31

of late it has been so much hackneyed about, that it is in danger of falling into disgrace. The very idea of true patriotism is lost, and the term has been prostituted to the very worst of purposes. A patriot, sir! Why, patriots spring up like mushrooms! I could raise fifty of them within the four-and-twenty hours. I have raised many of them in one night. It is but refusing to gratify an unreasonable or an insolent demand, and up starts a patriot. I have never been afraid of making patriots; but I disdain and despise ali their efforts. This pretended virtue proceeds from personal malice and disappointed ambition. There is not a man among them whose particular aim I am not able to ascertain, and from what motive they have entered into the lists of opposition." He went, step by step, through the various charges against him. More impartial judges than his accusers-those who calmly review the history of their country after a century has intervened,-will acknowledge that the great merit which, in the conclusion of his speech, he claimed for himself, is justly his due: If my whole administration is to be scrutinised and arraigned, why are the most favourable parts to be omitted? If facts are to be accumulated on one side, why not on the other? And why may not I be permitted to speak in my own favour? Was I not called by the voice of the king and the nation to remedy the fatal effects of the South Sea project, and to support declining credit? Was I not placed at the head of the Treasury when the revenues were in the greatest confusion? Is credit revived, and does it now flourish? Is it not at an incredible height, and if so, to whom must that circumstance be attributed? Has not tranquillity been preserved both at home and abroad, notwithstanding a most unreasonable and violent opposition? Has the true interest of the nation been pursued, or has trade flourished ?" The motion of Mr. Sandys was negatived by a majority of 290 against 106. A similar motion made by lord Carteret in the House of Lords was also rejected.

The Parliament was approaching its natural termination under the Septennial Act. Before it was dissolved a subsidy had been granted to the queen of Hungary, the determination having been distinctly avowed that his Britannic Majesty would support his guarantee of the Pragmatic Sanction. The measure was not unpopular in England; but Walpole's unpopularity went on rapidly increasing. Upon him was thrown the blame of the failure at Carthagena. The king had gone to Hanover, and without the knowledge of his English ministers had entered into a treaty of neutrality for his German states for one year, alarmed at those successes of Prussia against Austria which we shall have to relate.