in those parts, and in want of help, and to assist and bring them into port. And having performed this service, the 5th instant, he ordered the two former ships to proceed to the North Sea, and look out between England and Holland, and sailing along the east coast of the Galloper, and so over near the coast of Holland, to look for Her Majesty's ships the Association, Dorsetshire, Revenge, and Russell, which were drove from their anchors at the Gunfleet in the late storm, and had not been heard of since. Having now completed what was necessary to be done by him, upon this occasion, and received His Royal Highness's leave to go to London, he struck his flag the 10th of December, and went thither, having appointed Captain Martin to proceed with the Prince George to Spithead, the first opportunity.

This was the end of the campaign of 1703, a very fatal one to our men and to our shipping; and though there had been no fighting, yet as dangerous and fatiguing as any that happened during the war. As to the sickness of the fleet, Bishop Burnet intimates, as if it had been much owing to the unwholesomeness of the provisions; and, if so, justly blames the Commissioners of the Victualling for it; and, I think, there may be some truth in it, because the sickness was amongst our men at Portsmouth, before they left England. They carried it with them to sea, and the greater part died in a few weeks after they left England; for of sixty that died in the Prince George, above one half was in the passage to Lisbon, and soon afterwards the ships' companies grew more healthy. As to the losses sustained in our shipping, it was our misfortune, but not our fault. But if nothing was done in this expedition to the Mediterranean, it was the fault of

those that sent the fleet thither so late in the year, when the Admirals had represented that nothing could be expected from the voyage. Sir Clowdisley Shovell did not leave England till the 8th of July,1 and his orders were to return in September; so that (as the Bishop observes) everything was so ill laid, as if it had been intended nothing should be done.

During the short recess between this and the ensuing campaign, Mr. Leake was not wholly disengaged from naval affairs; for by the Lord High Admiral's order, he was appointed, with some other Flag Officers, to have a consultation upon the great scarcity of seamen that had hitherto been during the war, and which had very much obstructed all our designs by sea; and to consider of means to remedy this inconvenience. Accordingly they met together the last of December, and having maturely considered the matter, they made their report thereupon to His Royal Highness, who so well approved of it, that the means proposed were afterwards carried into execution, and contributed very much to the public service. His Highness so well approved what had been done, that soon after he appointed the same Flag Officers, at a council of war, to consider how the marines might be made more useful, there being frequent disputes and misunderstandings between the marines and sea-officers. Accordingly a council of war was held the 17th of January, on board the Triumph, and the resolutions of the said council of war were afterwards established, as Rules to be observed on board Her Majesty's ships of war. Immediately after this, Vice

1 He left Spithead on 1st of July, but was held up in Soundings by contrary winds.

Admiral Leake received His Highness's orders to proceed to Portsmouth, and take upon him the command of the ships in that harbour, at Spithead, and St. Helens, causing all possible dispatch to be made in doing what might be necessary towards putting the ships there in a condition for the sea. In pursuance of which orders, he hoisted his flag on board the Prince George in that harbour the 20th of January, at which place we shall leave him till the opening of the next campaign.

CHAPTER IV

The Campaign of 1704. Vice-Admiral Leake is knighted. Convoys the transports to Lisbon. Is left with a squadron at that place. Joins the Grand Fleet. They attempt Barcelona, pursue the French Fleet, and take Gibraltar. ONE of the motives upon which the King of Portugal entered into the Grand Alliance1 was that the Archduke Charles of Austria should be declared King of Spain, and come in person into Portugal. For this end he embarked from Holland under the convoy of a squadron commanded by Sir George Rooke, who was appointed to command the fleet that was to proceed with His Majesty and the forces to Portugal. The 26th of December they arrived at Spithead; and, the King of Spain having made his compliments in person to Her Majesty at Windsor, returned to Portsmouth the 1st of January. Four days after, Sir George Rooke sailed with the fleet, but was forced back again the 20th. That same day Vice-Admiral Leake arrived at Portsmouth, and hoisted his flag on board the Prince George, to take upon him the command of the ships at that place, Spithead, and St. Helens; and to cause all possible dispatch to be made towards putting the ships there in a condition for the sea, pursuant to His Royal Highness's orders.

1 Sc. One of the stipulations made by the King of Portugal when he entered the Grand Alliance, &c.

The 1st of February Admiral Rooke having received some further orders in relation to the transportation of the forces to Portugal, and to hasten his proceeding thither, he called a council of war of Flag Officers, which consisted only of Vice-Admiral Leake of the English, and two Dutch Admirals; and they determined that, since all the transports might be ready whenever the wind should permit them to sail, it was necessary to proceed with as many ships of war for their security as could possibly be spared from other services; and that, since there would be left behind no other transports than those which were in Holland, it was judged that eight men-of-war, and such other ships of the English quota for service on the coast of Portugal as could be timely put into a condition, would be sufficient convoy for them. They also represented it to be absolutely necessary that all possible diligence should be used in sending to Lisbon the remainder of the 38 ships, which were to join the 19 Dutch, then at, and1 going to, Portugal; for there was reason to apprehend the enemy would get a strong squadron together early in the spring, and endeavour to block our ships up in the Tagus, whereby they would have it in their power to intercept all such as should be bound from England, and disappoint the whole summer's service; whereas, if the fleet rendez-voused early at Lisbon, it was judged they might be able to prevent the enemy's joining their fleets of the Mediterranean and Ocean, and perform other services on the coast of Spain.

Pursuant to these resolutions, the 5th following Sir George Rooke sailed with the King of Spain and the fleet and transports, leaving Vice-Admiral

1 Or.