The Attacks Upon the Spanish Main by Admiral Vernon (Classic Reprint)
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| Partner: | buecher.de |
| Hersteller: | Forgotten Books (Hart, Francis Russell) |
| Stand: | 2015-08-04 03:50:33 |
Produktbeschreibung
Excerpt from The Attacks Upon the Spanish Main by Admiral Vernon The somewhat uncertain peace brought about in Europe in 1736, largely through the efforts of Sir Robert Walpole, served to strengthen the family compact between the Bourbon courts of France and Spain and to give time for the increase of the naval forces of these countries rather than to encourage, as Walpole had hoped, a continued tranquility. The great sea power of England had made possible the development of a large English trade with Spanish America during the alliance of England and Spain in the war against France. This growing commercial supremacy of England was naturally unwelcome to Spain, and both by enforcing the limitations placed upon trading, inserted in the Treaty of Utrecht, and by annoying restrictions in the Spanish ports of America, Philip endeavored to reduce to almost a disappearing point English intercourse with the Spanish colonies. English trading vessels, always at that time partially armed, were having frequent encounters with Spanish vessels, and on neither side were the agreed upon stipulations duly respected. Walpole, more prudent than the adventurous traders of England believed consistent with the honor of his country, vainly tried to hold down the clamorers for war in Parliament. The final event which made the efforts of Walpole wholly powerless for peace was the seizure off the Spanish Main by the ship "Isabel," of an English merchant ship loaded with contraband stuffs, under Captain Jenkins. The commander of the "Isabel" appears to have treated Captain Jenkins with unusual cruelty, and, before releasing him, cut off one of his ears. In the spring of 1739, Jenkins appeared, amid great excitement, at the Bar of the House of Commons, displaying his mangled ear and telling the story of his misfortunes. The pressure was too great, Walpole had to give way, and on June 13, 1739, war was declared against Spain. Among the members of Parliament, in the opposition, violently opposed to the ministry, and equally violently urging a war of reprisal against Spain, was Captain Edward Vernon, a naval officer, who urged that an immediate expedition be sent out against Porto Bello, and vigorously asserted that the place would not only be captured, but pledged himself to take it with six ships only. In order to more clearly appreciate the bearing of the influence of Vernon upon the events of this time, and more particularly upon the expedition associated with his name, it is necessary to glance at the record of his previous career. He appears to have had an amount of influence in the House of Commons and a popular favor outside, which made it impossible for the minister to whom he was violently opposed to ignore either the plans he proposed or his own offer to command the expedition. Edward Vernon was the second son of James Vernon, Secretary of State to William III. and was born in Westminster the twelfth of November, 1684. After a thorough study of the classics and the mathematical sciences, he was allowed by his family to yield to a natural taste for the sea, and entered the navy in 1701. He was with Admiral Hopson in the "Torbay" at Vigo, the twelfth of October, 1702, and was second lieutenant on the "Resolution" in the expedition against Hispaniola, commanded by Captain Walker. Afterwards he served with distinction with Admiral Sir George Rook and with Sir Cloudesley Shovel. His first command as captain was of the "Jersey," in which he was sent to Port Royal, Jamaica, and for three years had a successful career on the West Indian station, capturing many prizes. This was followed by many years of more important commands, chiefly in the Battle, interspersed with intervals of serving in the House of Commons. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thous
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