s suffered to relapse into his original obscurity. Admiral
Matthews, though he did not undertake any expedition of importance
against the maritime towns of Spain, continued to assert the British
empire at sea through the whole extent of the Mediterranean. The Spanish
army under don Philip was no sooner in motion, than the English admiral
ordered some troops and cannon to be disembarked for the security of
Villa-Franca. Some stores having been landed at Civita-Vecchia, for the
use of the Spanish forces under count Gages, Matthews interpreted
this transaction into a violation of the neutrality which the pope had
professed, and sent thither a squadron to bombard the place. The city
of Eome was filled with consternation; and the pope had recourse to
the good offices of his Sardinian majesty, in consequence of which
the English squadron was ordered to withdraw. The captains of single
cruising ships, by their activity and vigilance, wholly interrupted the
commerce of Spain; cannonaded and burned some towns on the seaside, and
kept the whole coast in continual alarm. [283] _[See note 2 N, at the
end of this Vol.]_

FRUITLESS ATTEMPTS UPON THE SPANISH SETTLEMENTS.

In the West Indies some unsuccessful efforts were made by an English
squadron, commanded by commodore Knowles. He attacked La Gueir on the
coast of Carraccas, in the month of February; but met with such a warm
reception, that he was obliged to desist, and make the best of his
way for the Dutch island Curacoa, where he repaired the damage he had
sustained. His ships being refitted, he made another attempt upon Porte
Cavallo in April, which like the former miscarried. Twelve hundred
marines being landed in the neighbourhood of the place, were seized
with such a panic, that it was found necessary to re-embark them without
delay. Then the commodore abandoned the enterprise and sailed back to
his station at the Leeward Islands, without having added much to his
reputation, either as to conduct or resolution. On the continent of
America the operations of the war were very inconsiderable. General
Oglethorpe having received intelligence that the Spaniards prepared for
another invasion from St. Augustine, assembled a body of Indians, as
a reinforcement to part of his own regiment, with the highlanders and
rangers, and in the spring began his march, in order to anticipate the
enemy. He encamped for some time in the neighbourhood of St. Augustine,
by way of a defiance; bu