XXVII. —“Britannia’s hand
Made Earth and Ocean feel her trident stroke.”
Vide Virg. Geor. i. 13.
—“Feeble councils numbed at home the arms
Which even thus paralyzed Gaul’s legions broke.”
Under the administration of Lord Melville, the Navy of England for the first time sustained disasters in battle, and ships containing stores and money for the Peninsular army were suffered to be taken on the passage by French and American cruisers; while the despicable absurdity was witnessed of two successive investments and assaults of San Sebastian without the co-operation of a fleet.
XXVIII. “Oh, glorious rivalship!” &c.
Vide Wordsworth’s “Convention of Cintra.”
“Gibraltar’s griefs—St. Vincent’s memory rending.”
The memorable siege, in which the Spaniards were finally defeated on the 13th September, 1782.—The battle of St. Vincent, in which Jervis destroyed the Spanish fleet, 14th February, 1797.
XXIX. “Spain’s Partidas.”