utrality for
Hanover, which would have effectually secured that electorate from the
invasion of every other power but Prussia itself; and it is no strained
conjecture to suppose, that the dread of this very power was the true
source of those connexions in Germany, which entailed such a ruinous
continental war upon Great Britain.

THE FRENCH TAKE THE BLANDFORD.

Though the English continued to make reprisals upon the French, not only
in the seas of America, but also in those of Europe, by taking every
ship they could meet with, and detaining them, their cargoes, and crews;
yet the French, whether from a consciousness of their want of power by
sea, or that they might have a more plausible plea to represent England
as the aggressor, were so far from returning these hostilities, that
their fleet, which escaped sir Edward Hawke, having, on the thirteenth
of August, taken the Blandford ship of war, with governor Lyttelton on
board, going to Carolina, they set the governor at liberty, as soon
as the court was informed of the ship's being brought into Nantes, and
shortly after released both the ship and the crew. However, at the
same time, their preparations for a land war still went on with great
diligence, and their utmost arts and efforts were fruitlessly exerted
to persuade the Spaniards and Dutch to join with them against Great
Britain.

STATE OF THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH NAVIES.

In England the preparations by sea became greater than ever, several
new ships of war were put in commission, and many others taken into the
service of the government; the exportation of gunpowder was forbid; the
bounties to seamen were continued, and the number of those that either
entered voluntarily, or were pressed, increased daily, as did also the
captures from the French, among which was the Esperance, of seventy
guns, taken as she was going from Rochefort to Brest to be manned. The
land-forces of Great Britain were likewise ordered to be augmented;
several new regiments were raised, and all half-pay officers, and the
out-pensioners belonging to Chelsea-hospital, were directed to send in
their names, ages, and time of service, in order that such of them as
were yet able to serve might be employed again if wanted. The English
navy, so early as in the month of September of this year, consisted
of one ship of an hundred and ten guns, five of an hundred guns each,
thirteen of ninety, eight of eighty, five of seventy-four, twenty-ni