5o3 political progrefs of Britain. Fel: 2f)V 



cf its predecefsors. The king of Spain, by his will, 

 transferred his dominions to a prince of the house of 

 Bourbon. His sixbjects consented or submitted to the 

 choice, and England, with a degree of iiisolence un- 

 matched in history, interfered in favour of an Ausi 

 trian candidate. The contest ended with her acqui- 

 sition of Minorca, and Gibraltar ; an injury to Spain 

 cf the most offensive nature. Since that period the 

 nation has always been forward to contend with us ; 

 and five wars *, begun and terminated in the fliort 

 space of sixty-five years, afsure us of their indelible 

 indignation. Nor can we be surprised at their ani- 

 mosity ; for what would an Englifhman say or feel, 

 v/ere Plymout!i and Dover fortified by a French gar- 

 rison. Happily for the species, our countrymen at 

 Oibraltar have been but seldomr attacked. Hence, in 

 a time of war, they have commonly inflicted* and suf- 

 fered far lefs mischief than must have been commit- 

 ted on both sides in a piratical expedition to the coast 

 of Peru, in desolating the plains of Hindostan, in 

 burning the flapping at St Maloes, or in storming^ 

 the pestilential ramparts af the Havannah f .. 



In 1708, we captured Minorca, and it is unnecef- 

 sary to expatiate on the monstrous expences which 

 it must have cost us during half a century, till it was 

 in 1756 surrendered to the French. On this event 

 the whole Englilli nation seemed to have run out of 

 their senses. Yet to the lofs of this fortrefs, we. 



* Viz. in 171?, in 1717, in 1759, in 1762 a-id in 1779. 



■j- The major of a Briti/h regiment who served at tliat tiege, }i.id in 

 Ms company, on his arrival at Cuba, an hundred and nine healthy men.. 

 Qt these, as he himself tola mtyfie only rtturneJ to E jrypf .. 



