Two guns being fired from the other battery, which was the next for capture, put into an unaccountable confusion nearly the whole of this mixed detachment, when under the influence of a panic they retreated to the ships with precipitation.
Upon the 21st it was resolved to wipe away the disgrace of the late miscarriage, by an attack of the squadron and forces against the Castle and fascine batteries.—Four ships were destined to batter the former upon the 24th, while three others were placed against the latter. The cannonading began at eleven on the noon of that day, and was maintained with a mutual obstinacy till nine at night, when after a short interval the firing was renewed. Some of the ships having now expended all their ammunition, and others being damaged, they were ordered to slip, and to anchor without the reach of the enemy's shot.
This attack being fruitless in its object, which was to land the troops, and fatal in its consequences, by a loss of more than two hundred men, it was now deemed impracticable to push any farther enterprize, and upon the 28th, in a general consultation, it was resolved to return to Jamaica.
The extended operations of our fleets in other quarters being marked with no events in which his Majesty's Marine forces were particularly called forth, no farther details connected with my narrative appear within the annals of 1743.
[CHAP. XIII.]
Although Great Britain, as a guarantee of the balance of continental power, had, during a past period, exerted her resources in the cause of her Allies, opposed to the interests of France, although his Majesty King George the Second, in quality of Elector of Hanover, had been highly distinguished in the field at the head of these armies, still a specious cordiality continued to exist between the two nations.
Since the declaration of hostilities against Spain, our restless and intriguing neighbours enjoyed all the advantages of war, without experiencing any of its evils.
At the outset of this year, however, their projects were developed by the equipment of powerful naval armaments in their ports, and the assembling of armies upon their sea-coasts; the avowed aim of which was against the Crown and Liberties of the British Empire.