Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/140

 forces, to recover Milan from the King of Sicily. The last article was secret; but his Sicilian Majesty found means to come at the designs of his enemies. The first of October the King of Spain declared war against Great-Britain, and on the ninth he was followed by the Czar.

George in the mean time was not dilatory in opposing both preparations, and negotiations against those of his enemies. He no sooner arrived in England, than he dispatched orders to Milford, for a squadron of twenty ships of the line, and fourteen frigates, to be equipped with all expedition; another of ten sail, and eleven frigates, at Portsmouth; twenty line of battle ships, and nine frigates, at Hull; fifteen sail were almost ready for sea at Plymouth; nine at Cork in Ireland, and five at Lynn; in all, seventy-nine sail of the line, be-