glish?
Issues which we may call immense. Among the then extant Sons of Adam,
where was he who could in the faintest degree surmise what issues lay in
the Jenkins's-Ear Question? And it is curious to consider now, with what
fierce deep-breathed doggedness the poor English Nation, drawn by their
instincts, held fast upon it, and would take no denial, as if THEY had
surmised and seen. For the instincts of simple guileless persons (liable
to be counted STUPID, by the unwary) are sometimes of prophetic nature,
and spring from the deep places of this Universe!--My Constitutional
Friend entitles his next Section CARTHAGENA; but might more fitly have
headed it (for such in reality it is, Carthagena proving the evanescent
point of that sad business),

SUCCINCT HISTORY OF THE SPANISH WAR, WHICH BEGAN IN 1739; AND
ENDED--WHEN DID IT END?

1. WAR, AND PORTO-BELLO (NOVEMBER, 1739-MARCH, 1740).--"November
4th, 1739, War was at length (after above four months' obscure
quasi-declaring of it, in the shape of Orders in Council, Letters of
Marque, and so on) got openly declared; 'Heralds at Arms at the usual
places' blowing trumpets upon it, and reading the royal Manifesto, date
of which is five days earlier, 'Kensington, October 30th (19th).' The
principal Events that ensue, arrange themselves under Three Heads, this
of Porto-Bello being the FIRST; and (by intense smelting) are datable
as follows:--[_Gentleman's Magazine,_ ix. 551, x. 124, 142, 144, 350;
Tindal, xx. 430-433, 442; &c.]

"Tuesday Evening, 1st December, 1739, Admiral Vernon, our chosen
Anti-Spaniard, finding, a while ago, that he had missed the Azogue Ships
on the Coast of Spain, and must try America and the Spanish Main, in
that view arrives at Porto-Bello. Next day, December 2d, Vernon
attacks Porto-Bello; attacks certain Castles so called, with furious
broadsiding, followed by scalading; gets surrender (on the 3d);--seamen
have allowance instead of plunder;--blows up what Castles there are; and
returns to Port Royal in Jamaica.

"Never-imagined joy in England, and fame to Vernon, when the news came:
'Took it with Six Ships,' cry they; 'the scurvy Ministry, who had heard
him, in the fire of Parliamentary debate, say Six, would grant him no
more: invincible Vernon!' Nay, next Year, I see, 'London was illuminated
on the Anniversary of Porto-Bello:'--day settled in permanence as one of
the High-tides of the Calendar, it would appear. And 'Vernon's Birthday'
withal