rteen millions had been taken out of the galleons and secured
by the enemy before the attack. The rest was either taken or left in
the galleons that were burned and sunk. The goods were valued also at
twenty millions of pieces of eight, one fourth part of which was saved
by the Spaniards, nearly two parts destroyed, and the other fourth taken
by the confederates. Besides the property already mentioned, there was
a great deal of plate and goods on board belonging to private persons,
most of which was taken or lost.

The prize-money which thus fell to John Deane's share was very
considerable, and it induced him to begin setting up a castle in the
air, which he hoped to commence in a more substantial manner on his
return to England, as he expected by the time he should get there to
find Elizabeth restored to her parents, as he had left with her and
Captain Davis full directions by which they could be found.

One thing most remarkable with regard to this victory, was not only the
courage and sagacity of Sir George Rooke and the other admirals, but
their readiness to sacrifice themselves and to risk their safety to
ensure the success of the undertaking. This was shown by the way in
which they left their large ships and placed themselves on board the
smaller ones, as also by their leading the way into the midst of the
enemy, strongly posted as they were. Great credit was also due to the
land forces, for the mode in which they co-operated with the navy.
Scarcely had the action concluded, when Sir Cloudesley Shovel with a
large squadron hove in sight. The Duke of Ormond proposed to keep
possession of Vigo for Don Carlos, considering it a safe place for the
army to take up their quarters in, having a naval force to assist them.
Sir George Rooke, however, thought that it was necessary to return home
for want of stores and provisions. He left, therefore, Sir Cloudesley
Shovel, to whom was entrusted the task of fitting out the prizes. He
succeeded also in rescuing a large portion of treasure from the sunken
galleons, and he recovered the "Dartmouth," an English fifty-gun ship
which had been captured in the previous war. He also took out of some
of the French ships lying aground partially destroyed, fifty brass guns
and about sixty from the shore, and before sailing from the port he
completed the destruction of every ship that he could not bring away.

The importance of this success was very great, as not only did the
Spa