with the view to snatch the crown from Philip V., and bestow it upon an archduke whom they prematurely designated Charles III.
“Spain felt she ought to resist this, but she was almost deprived of soldiers and sailors.However, money wouldbe forthcoming if only all those galleons laden with gold and silver could arrive from America. Now, towards the end of 1702, the Spaniards awaited a rich convoy which France was escorting bya fleet of twenty-three ships under the command of Admiral Chateau-Renaud, for the combined ficets’were already in the Atlantic.
“This convoy was to arrive at Cadiz, but the admiral, hearing that the English fleet was cruising in the neighbourhood, resolved to enter a French port.The Spanish officers protested against this. They wanted to be conducted into a Spanish port—if not Cadiz, Vigo, situated on the N.E. coast of Spain, and which was not blockaded.
“Admiral Chateau-Renaud was weak enough to comply, and the galleons entered Vigo Bay. Unfortunately this bay forms an open roadstead which could not be defended. It was then necessary to hurry on the discharge of the galleons before the arrival of the hostile fleet, and plenty of time was available for the operation had not a petty gen of precedence arisen.
“You are following the facts?” asked Cabtetn ‘Nemo. “ Perfectly,” I said; not knowing how all this was to be applied to me.
“ Well, then, this is what occurred, the Cadiz merchants had a privilege according to which they were to receive all merchandise which came from the West Indies. Now, to disembark ingots at Vigo was against their privileges. They, therefore, lodged a complaint at Madrid and obtained from the weak Philip V. permission for the convoy to remain in
