CHAPTER XV
WAR AGAINST FRANCE AND SPAIN
(1739-1748)
Though the same king did not reign over both countries the same family
did. So the French and Spanish Bourbons made a Family Compact against
British sea-power. Spain promised to take away from the British all
the trading rights she had been forced to grant them in America, while
France promised to help Spain to win Gibraltar back again.
When the secret began to leak out the feeling against the Bourbons ran
high; and when a merchant skipper called Jenkins paraded London,
showing the ear he said the Spaniards had cut off him in South America,
the people clamoured for immediate war. Admiral Vernon became
immensely popular when he took Porto Bello in the Spanish Main. But he
was beaten before Cartagena. He was a good admiral; but the Navy had
been shamefully neglected by the government during the long peace; and
no neglected navy can send out good fleets in a hurry.
Still, the Navy and mercantile marine were good enough to enable
British sea-power to turn the scale against Prince Charlie in Scotland
and against the French in Canada.
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