Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 4.djvu/429

A.D.1729] interruptions to their trade to the South American and West Indian colonies, which had been carried on by connivance rather than by actual permission of Spain.



There was a great fermentation in the public mind on these subjects, and the minister was accused of tamely submitting to national injuries. The nation seemed ready to rush into a war with Spain, and perhaps all the more so, that the king in his opening speech had observed that "an actual war was preferable to such a doubtful peace, but that the exchange was very easy to be made at any time."

The point, however, which excited the most indignation was that regarding Gibraltar. There was a strong feeling in the public mind that the government was willing to give up this fortress to Spain. The Spanish government was extremely urgent on the subject, declaring that there could be no peace, no truce with England, until it was surrendered.

It was recollected by the English public that Stanhope had actually offered to give it up, and it was not known whether any equivalent except the signing of the Quadruple Alliance had been demanded. When Stanhope had sounded the house of lords upon the subject, such a resentment was occasioned by the proposal, that he wrote to Sir Luke Schaub in