hat place, in which he found two
hundred pieces of artillery; but the country was so ruined by the
incursions of the Tartars, that the Muscovites could not subsist in it
during the winter. The czarina finding herself abandoned by the emperor,
and unable to cope with the whole power of the Ottoman empire, took the
first opportunity of putting an end to the war upon honourable terms.
After a short negotiation, the conferences ended in a treaty, by which
she was left in possession of Azoph, on condition that its
fortifications should be demolished; and the ancient limits were
re-established between the two empires.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR IN ENGLAND.

A rupture between Great Britain and Spain was now become inevitable. The
English squadron in the Mediterranean had already made prize of two
rich Caracca ships. The king had issued orders for augmenting his land
forces, and raising a body of marines; and a great number of ships of
war were put in commission. Admiral Vernon had been sent to the West
Indies, to assume the command of the squadron in those seas, and to
annoy the trade and settlements of the Spaniards. This gentleman
had rendered himself considerable in the house of commons, by loudly
condemning all the measures of the ministry, and bluntly speaking
his sentiments, whatever they were, without respect of persons, and
sometimes without any regard to decorum. He was counted a good officer,
and this boisterous manner seemed to enhance his character. As he had
once commanded a squadron in Jamaica, he was perfectly well acquainted
with those seas; and in a debate upon the Spanish depredations, he
chanced to affirm, that Porto Bello on the Spanish main might be easily
taken; nay, he even undertook to reduce it with six ships only. This
officer was echoed from the mouths of all the members in the opposition.
Vernon was extolled as a another Drake or Raleigh; he became the idol of
a party, and his praise resounded from all corners of the kingdom.
The minister, in order to appease the clamours of the people on this
subject, sent him as commander-in-chief to the West Indies. He was
pleased with an opportunity to remove such a troublesome censor from
the house of commons; and, perhaps, he was not without hope, that Vernon
would disgrace himself and his party, by failing in the exploit he had
undertaken. His catholic majesty having ordered all the British ships in
his harbours to be seized and detained, the king of Englan