His death was a loss to his country which Philip, during the remainder of his reign, was never able to supply.
The long continued disputes with Britain respect ing commercial rights, both in Europe and America, at last involved the two nations in war, the first fruits of which was the capture of 400 vessels, valued at one million sterling, by Spanish privateers. The at tacks of the English were directed chiefly against the enemy's possessions in the new world; but they were repulsed with great loss before Carthagena, and also failed in an attempt upon Cuba; and their only repri sals were the taking of Porto-Bello, and the seizure of an Acapulco ship by Anson. Into this contest the other powers of Europe were drawn by the death of the emperor, the accession of his daughter Maria Theresa. almost all of them had guaranteed the Pragmatic sanction, by which this princess was declared heir of all the Austrian dominions, yet few of them were round just enough to support it. Philip, among the rest, regardless of his solemn guarantee, appeared as one of the claimants of the Austrian in heritance, not with any hope of making good his pre tensions but for the purpose of obtaining an establish ment in Italy for the Infant Don Philip. After a long and expensive war, which was prosecuted with vari ous success, Philip entered into the general negotia tions for peace; but before they were brought to a close he was carried off by a fit of apoplexy.
His successor, Ferdinand VI., concluded the ar rangements, by which Parma, Placentia, and Guastala were assigned to Don Philip; and the disputed points between Britain and Spain, which were too numerous and complicated to enter into a general treaty, were referred to a particular and separate negotiation. The pacific reign of this monarch was spent in cultivating a good understanding with Britain; and he found an able coadjutor in the upright Carjaval, while the in terests or France were supported by the marquis En sanada. The court of Madrid was the theatre where these contending powers maintained a constant rivalry, each being supported by a party in the government. The death of Carjaval, which threatened the annihila tion of the British interests, was well supplied by the appointment of General Wall, who followed the poli tics of the deceased minister, and by the disgrace of Ensanada,became the sole arbiter of these contentions. This peaceful system, however, was overturned by the death of Ferdinand.
While the other powers of Europe were engaged in war, Ferdinand had maintained a strict neutrality; but Charles III., alarmed by the successes of Britain, and more attached to France than his predecessor, was drawn into an alliance with that power, which was called the '' Family Compact." By this treaty,
the Bourbon monarchs agreed to guarantee their re spective dominions in all parts of the world, and to consider every power as an enemy, who might become the enemy of either. Spain was thus led to share in the misfortunes of her ally. The Havanna, the de pository of her treasure, and the principal magazine of her naval and military establishments in the new world, submitted to the British arms, with a booty of three millions Sterling of public property, besides nine ships of the line, and an immense quantity of stores. Manilla surrendered about the same time, and was followed by the capture of the Santissima Trinidada from that island, worth three millions of dollars.
Portugal, from her alliance with Britain, had also been forced into the war, and presented to the cupidi ty of Charles an easy and important conquest. But even here his arms were foiled, and his troops were obliged to retire within their own frontier. In this crisis the chivalry of the Spanish character was nobly displayed by the nobility of Aragon, and its ancient dependencies, rallying round the throne, and suppli cating their sovereign to accept of their services in defence of their country. " 'We pray your majesty to accept the half of our forces to carry the war into hostile countries. instead of waiting for the enemy in our own; the other half will suffice to keep them far distant from our shores, should they have the temerity to approach us. We have little concern in regard to the quality of posts which your majesty may assign us, less for the climate whither we may be sent, and none for pay. Those who seek only to establish an incontestible title to the rank of gentlemen, need no reward but an open field to display their valour, and affection for their country." But repeated disasters having exhausted the resources of the Bourbon crowns, they became sincerely solicitous for pence; and the treaty of Paris again restored tranquillity to Europe. By the retirement of General Wall, and the appoint ment of Grimaldi, a partisan or France, the influence of that power gained the ascendency in the councils of Madrid; and the commercial disputes with Britain, which still remained undecided, occasioned a degree of irritation between the two courts, which required but a spark to kindle it into a war. But while Charles waited only until he could he assured of the co-opera tion of France, the internal affairs of his own kingdom called for his undivided attention.