igorous measures for
distressing the enemy. In a few days after his departure, the spousals
of the princess Mary were celebrated by proxy, the duke of Cumberland
representing the prince of Hesse, and in June the princess embarked
for the continent. About the same time, a sloop arrived in England with
despatches from admiral Vernon, who, since his adventure at Porto Bello,
had bombarded Carthagena, and taken the fort of San Lorenzo, on the
river of Chagre, in the neighbourhood of his former conquest. This month
was likewise marked by the death of his Prussian majesty, a prince by no
means remarkable for great or amiable qualities. He was succeeded on the
throne by Frederick his eldest son, the late king of that realm, who
has so eminently distinguished himself as a warrior and legislator. In
August, the king of Great Britain concluded a treaty with the landgrave
of Hesse, who engaged to furnish him with a body of six thousand men
for four years, in consideration of an annual subsidy of two hundred and
fifty thousand crowns.

STRONG ARMAMENT SENT TO THE WEST INDIES.

Meanwhile, preparations of war were vigorously carried on by the
ministry in England. They had wisely resolved to annoy the Spaniards in
their American possessions. Three ships of war, cruising in the bay of
Biscay, fell in with a large Spanish ship of the line, strongly manned,
and took her after a very obstinate engagement; but the Assogue ships
arrived with the treasure in Spain, notwithstanding the vigilance of
the English commanders, who were stationed in a certain latitude to
intercept that flota. One camp was formed on Hounslow-heath; and six
thousand marines lately levied were encamped on the Isle of Wight, in
order to be embarked for the West Indies. Intelligence being received
that a strong squadron of Spanish ships of war waited at Ferrol for
orders to sail to their American settlements, sir John Norris sailed
with a powerful fleet from Spithead to dispute their voyage; and the
duke of Cumberland served in person as a volunteer in this expedition;
but, after divers fruitless efforts, he was, by contrary winds, obliged
to lie inactive for the greatest part of the summer in Torbay; and,
upon advice that the French and Spanish squadrons had sailed to the West
Indies in conjunction, the design against Ferrol was wholly laid aside.
In September, a small squadron of ships, commanded by commodore Anson,
set sail for the South-Sea, in order to act a