Cuba, might have been easily
reduced; the whole treasure of the Spanish West Indies would have been
intercepted; and Spain must have been humbled into the most abject
submission. But several unfavourable circumstances concurred to
frustrate the hopes of the public. The ministry had detained sir
Chaloner Ogle at Spithead without any visible cause, until the season
for action was almost exhausted; for, on the continent of new Spain, the
periodical rains begin about the end of April; and this change in the
atmosphere is always attended with epidemical distempers which render
the climate extremely unhealthy; besides, the rain is so excessive, that
for the space of two months no army can keep the field.

ADMIRAL VERNON SAILS TO CARTHAGENA.

Sir Chaloner Ogle arrived at Jamaica on the ninth day of January; and
admiral Vernon did not sail on his intended expedition till towards the
end of the month. Instead of directing his course towards the Havannah,
which lay to leeward, and might have been reached in less than three
days, he resolved to beat up against the wind to Hispaniola, in order
to observe the motion of the French squadron, commanded by the marquis
d'Antin. The fifteenth day of February had elapsed before he received
certain information that the French admiral had sailed for Europe,
in great distress for want of men and provisions, which he could not
procure in the West Indies. Admiral Vernon thus disappointed, called a
council of war, in which it was determined to proceed for Carthagena.
The fleet being supplied with wood and water at Hispaniola, set sail
for the continent of New Spain, and on the fourth of March, anchored
in Playa Grande, to the windward of Carthagena. Admiral de Torres had
already sailed to the Havannah; but Carthagena was strongly fortified,
and the garrison reinforced by the crews of a small squadron of large
ships, commanded by don Bias de Lesco, an officer of experience and
reputation. Here the English admiral lay inactive till the ninth, when
the troops were landed on the island of Tierra Bomba, near the mouth of
the harbour, known by the name of Boca-chica, or Little-mouth, which was
surprisingly fortified with castles, batteries, booms, chains, cables,
and ships of war. The British forces erected a battery on shore, with
which they made a breach in the principal fort, while the admiral sent
in a number of ships to divide the fire of the enemy, and co-operate
with the endeavours of t