XIV. 1727. assembling for the siege of Gibraltar. The com- CHAP. mand was offered by Philip to the best and bravest of his generals, the Marquis de Villadarias. That veteran had headed the first attempt to recover Gibraltar in 1704; and though not successful, he had there displayed the same spirit and capacity, which had formerly saved Ceuta from the Moors, and Cadiz from the English.* His failure had convinced him, of what farther trials have since made clear to the world, that, difficult as the siege of Gibraltar must be under any circumstances, it is absolutely hopeless when the besiegers are not masters of the sea. Villadarias, therefore, positively refused the command, unless his master would provide a fleet as well as army; he was ready to resist attacks under any disadvantages, but would not flatter his sovereign, or hold out expectations which he was unable to fulfil; still less would he consent to sacrifice brave men for an impracticable object. Philip still persisting in his offer, Villadarias rather chose to resign all his employments, and to retire from the army.† He withdrew accordingly from his long services, with a glorious poverty and an unblemished reputation; and his memory deserves to be ever revered by Spain, as one of the noblest of her sons; by England, as one of her most chivalrous opponents. *He defended Ceuta in 1698, and Cadiz in 1702, and attacked Gibraltar with Marshal Tessé in 1704. (Mém. de Noailles, vol. iii. p. 275.) + Ortiz, Compendio, vol. vii. p. 404. СНАР. 1727. Philip found, however, a less scrupulous, or more sanguine General, in the Conde de Las Torres, who had formerly run before Lord Peterborough in Valencia, and who now bragged (but this was only till he saw the enemy) that in six weeks he would plant his standards on the rock of Gibraltar, and drive the heretics into the sea! His boast was, no doubt, highly admired by the Spanish Court, but was not altogether confirmed by the event. Trenches were opened before the place on the 11th of February, and all communication with it by sea or land was prohibited upon pain of death.* Gibraltar was already well provided for defence: a squadron of six men of war rode in its harbour, and protected constant supplies of fresh provisions from Tangier and Tetuan. By various reinforcements, the garrison was raised to six thousand men; and the Earl of Portmore, the Governor, though nearly fourscore years of age, resolved to conduct the defence in person, and hastened from England to his post. The besiegers threw a great quantity of bombs into the place, but with little damage, and no result. A mine on which they had formed high hopes, served only, says their own historian, to remind them of the cave of Montesinos, in Don Quixote ! t Their proceedings gave scarcely any concern or uneasiness to the garrison, while the Spanish army soon melted to half its numbers from slaughter, * Mr. W. Stanhope to the Duke of Newcastle, February 10. 1727. Appendix. + Campo Raso Coment. vol. i. p. 108. sickness, or desertion, and in four months was glad CHAP. of the slightest pretext to raise the siege. A general war seemed now inevitable. But the Emperor perceived that he was overmatched, and when he felt weakness, as is usual, he professed moderation. Russia had fallen away from him, and Prussia was again wavering; the Dutch and Swedes had openly joined the Hanover allies; and the Spaniards it appeared could not even conquer a fortress upon their own shores. In England, the cabals against the ministry, though still proceeding, had not yet been attended with effect, and could not any longer be safely awaited. Under these circumstances, Charles resolved to sacrifice Spain to his own security; and his new-born moderation was well seconded by the pacific temper of Walpole and of Fleury. After a short negotiation, through the mediation of France, the Austrian ambassador signed at Paris on the 31st of May the preliminaries of peace with England, France, and Holland. The Emperor consented to suspend for seven years the charter of the Ostend Company; to confirm all the treaties previous to 1725, and to refer any other discussions to a General Congress. Spain also was treated of, though not treated with, at Paris. The fifth article provided that Admiral Hosier should raise the blockade of Porto Bello, and the galleons be permitted to return to Spain. On the other hand, it was expected that the siege of Gibraltar should be discontinued, and the Prince Frederick restored. But though these XIV. 1727. XIV. CHAP. preliminaries were signed by the Spanish ambassador at Vienna, they were not ratified by Philip; and though he raised the siege of Gibraltar, he did not relinquish his pretensions, and the two nations still continued in a state between peace and war. 1727. The satisfaction of Walpole at seeing hostilities averted was not unmixed, for, in proportion as the foreign tempest cleared, another seemed gathering at home. By large payments, and larger promises, Bolingbroke had wholly gained over the Duchess of Kendal. She did not, indeed, openly declare against the Ministers, from whom she received a yearly pension of 7500l., besides sundry gratifications and presents; but she endeavoured to sink them in the King's opinion, and to obtain not only the complete restoration of Bolingbroke, but his accession to power. On one occasion she gave the King a memorial from her friend, drawn up, no doubt, with his usual skill, declaring that the kingdom must be inevitably ruined should Walpole continue minister; and, in conclusion, entreating an audience, that Bolingbroke might make good his assertions. This memorial, however, the King quietly put into the hands of Walpole himself. Sir Robert, whose sagacity never forsook him, observed that the cover was not sealed, and that therefore the deliverer of it must certainly have known and sanctioned its contents. On the two Turks, the King's attendants, disclaiming all knowledge of it, he went to the Duchess of Kendal, who owned the part she had acted, adding, however, some false and fri XIV. volous excuses. "I then," says Walpole, "ear- CHAP. "nestly desired the King to admit Bolingbroke to "the audience he solicited, and said, that if this "was not done the clamour would be, that I kept his Majesty to myself, and would allow none to "come near him to tell the truth."* Through this means was Bolingbroke admitted, but his representations produced no effect; and the King afterwards mentioned them slightingly to his minister, and called them BAGATELLES! But Sir Robert was not ignorant that this attack, though now warded off, would be constantly pointed anew, and that a genius so transcendent as Bolingbroke is formidable even in its wildest schemes. The influence of the Duchess of Kendal might be once repulsed, but not very long resisted; for it is almost incredible how much even the weakest mind can control and sway even the strongest by habits of access at all hours. In Walpole's own words, "as St. John had the Duchess entirely on “his side, I need not add what must, or might in time, have been the consequence." Speaker Onslow was even assured by Mr. Pelham that Walpole was so convinced of his approaching downfal, that he had determined to retire with a peerage; and was withheld by the remonstrances of the Duke of Devonshire and of *Mr. Etough's Minutes of a Conversation with Walpole, September 13. 1737. 1727. |