with the Spanish West Indies by
way of Cadiz was certainly much interrupted at the beginning of
this war; but afterward it was in great measure restored, as
well by direct communication with several provinces when under
the Archduke, as through Portugal, by which a very great though
contraband trade was carried on. We were at the same time very
great gainers by our commerce with the Spaniards in the West
Indies [also contraband].... Our colonies, though complaining of
neglect, grew richer, more populous, and carried their trade
farther than in former times.... Our national end with respect
to England was in this war particularly in great measure
answered,--I mean the destruction of the French power at sea,
for, after the battle of Malaga, we hear no more of their great
fleets; and though by this the number of their privateers was
very much increased, yet the losses of our merchants were far
less in the latter than in the former reign.... It is certainly
a matter of great satisfaction that ... setting out at first
with the sight of so great a naval power as the French king had
assembled in 1688, while we struggled under such difficulties,
and when we got out of that troublesome war, in 1697, found
ourselves loaded with a debt too heavy to be shaken off in the
short interval of peace, yet by 1706, instead of seeing the navy
of France riding upon our coast, we sent every year a powerful
fleet to insult theirs, superior to them not only in the ocean,
but in the Mediterranean, forcing them entirely out of that sea
by the mere sight of our flag.... By this we not only secured
our trade with the Levant, and strengthened our interests with
all the Italian princes, but struck the States of Barbary with
terror, and awed the Sultan from listening to any proposals from
France. Such were the fruits of the increase of our naval power,
and of the manner in which it was employed.... Such fleets were
necessary; they at once protected our flag and our allies, and
attached them to our interest; and, what is of greater
importance than all the rest, they established our reputation
for maritime force so effectually that we feel even to this day
[1740] the happy effects of the fame thus acquired."[79]

It is needless to add more. Thus stood the Power of the Seas during
the years in which the French hist