Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/300

280 widow, whose claim he was compelled to satisfy, though the loss of the money was as nothing compared with the mortification which sunk deep into the soul of the crestfallen man as he slunk from the duke's presence chamber.

The dispute between the grand monarch and the emperor Leopold, which cost Europe ten years of war, and divided even the Spaniards into rival factions, concerned not the people of New Spain. The emperor's son was acknowledged by all as the rightful heir, and the brilliant campaigns of Marlborough caused no more excitement in the Spanish provinces than the bloodless revolution which a few years before placed William III. on the throne of England aroused among the colonies of British America. The new viceroy regulated the internal affairs of his province without difficulty, and at once made preparations to repel the attacks of foreign powers, and of corsairs who still hovered on the coast. He increased the navy, strengthened the fortifications, reënforced the garrisons with two thousand veteran troops from Spain, and appointed officers of known valor and ability to the command of the fortresses. If a less capable man than the duke of Alburquerque had now been at the head of affairs, it is probable that some serious disaster might have befallen the provinces, for evil tidings were constantly being received in the capital.

In May 1703 a despatch was forwarded to the authorities in Mexico, stating that the people of Vera Cruz were leaving that city with their effects, through dread of foreign invasion. In June of the same year the governor of Tabasco defeated the crew of a British man-of-war, many of the English being killed, and a hundred and fifty prisoners captured. In the autumn of 1704 Captain William Dampier, whose raids in Central America have already been described,