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Chapter 8. The Bay of Vigo

           Indeed,theprecedingyear,theroyalhousesofHolland,Austria,andEnglandhadconcludedatreatyofallianceattheHague,withtheintentionofpluckingthecrownofSpainfromtheheadofPhilipV,andplacingitonthatofanarchduketowhomtheyprematurelygavethetitleofCharlesIII.

           "Spainmustresistthiscoalition;butshewasalmostentirelyunprovidedwitheithersoldiersorsailors.However,moneywouldnotfailthem,providedthattheirgalleons,ladenwithgoldandsilverfromAmerica,onceenteredtheirports.Andabouttheendof1702theyexpectedarichconvoywhichFrancewasescortingwithafleetoftwenty-threevessels,commandedbyAdmiralChateau-Renaud,fortheshipsofthecoalitionwerealreadybeatingtheAtlantic.ThisconvoywastogotoCadiz,buttheAdmiral,hearingthatanEnglishfleetwascruisinginthosewaters,resolvedtomakeforaFrenchport.

           "TheSpanishcommandersoftheconvoyobjectedtothisdecision.TheywantedtobetakentoaSpanishport,and,ifnottoCadiz,intoVigoBay,situatedonthenorthwestcoastofSpain,andwhichwasnotblocked.

           "AdmiralChateau-Renaudhadtherashnesstoobeythisinjunction,andthegalleonsenteredVigoBay.

           "Unfortunately,itformedanopenroadwhichcouldnotbedefendedinanyway.Theymustthereforehastentounloadthegalleonsbeforethearrivalofthecombinedfleet;andtimewouldnothavefailedthemhadnotamiserablequestionofrivalrysuddenlyarisen.

           "Youarefollowingthechainofevents?"askedCaptainNemo.

           "Perfectly,"saidI,notknowingtheendproposedbythishistoricallesson.

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