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All this while, vice-admiral Hopfon was in extreme danger; for, being clapped on board. by a French fire fhip, by which his rigging was presently fet on fire, he expected every moment to be burned; but it fortunately happened that the French veffel, which was a merchantman laden with fnuff, and made up in hafte into a fire-fhip, being blown up, the fnuff partly extinguifhed the fire, and preferved him; however, he received confiderable damage in this memorable action; for, befides the having his fore-top-maft shot by the board, one hundred and fifteen men killed and drowned, and nine wounded, most of his fails were burned and fcorched, his fore-yard burned to a coal, and his lar-board and shrouds fore and aft burned at the dead eyes, infomuch that he was forced afterwards to leave his own ship, and hoift his flag on board the Monmouth.

At the fame time, captain Bucknam, in the Affociation, laid his broad fide against a battery of feventeen guns on the other fide of the harbour; fo that, for a confiderable time, there was a continual firing of great and fmall fhot on both fides, till the French admiral, feeing the platform and forts in the hands of the victorious English, his fire-fhip spent in vain, the Bourbon taken, the boom cut in pieces, and the confederate-fleet pouring in upon him, he fet fire to his own thip, and ordered the rest of the captains under his comVOL, VIII. mand

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mand to follow his example; yet he could not be fo punctually obeyed but that several men of war and galleons were taken by the English and Dutch.

The admiral, on the seventeenth of Novem. ber, arrived fafely in the Downs, and foon after at London, laden with glory and the joyful applaufe of the people.

Her majefty having, in the mean time, thought fit to call a new parliament, to meet on the twentieth of October, Sir George was, during his abfence, chofen again a member for Portsmouth; and having taken his place in the houfe, Mr. fpeaker, pursuant to the refolution of the house, in refpect to the giving him their thanks for his fervice, delivered himself to him in this manner:

"SIR GEORGE ROOK,

"YOU are now returned to this houfe, after a moft glorious expedition Her majefty began her reign with a declaration, that her heart was truly English; and Heaven hath made her triumph over the enemies of England; for this, thanks hath been returned in a most folemn manner to Almighty God.

"There remains yet a debt of gratitude to thofe who have been the inftruments of fo wonderful a victory, the duke of Ormond, and yourfelf, who had the command of the fea and land-forces.

"In former times, admirals and generals have had fuccefs against France and Spain feparately; but this action at Vigo hath been a victory over them confederated together: you have not only spoiled the enemy, but enriched your own country: common victories bring terror to the conquered; but you brought deftruction upon them, and additional strength to England. France hath endeavoured to fupport its ambition by the riches of India; your fuccefs, Sir, hath only left them the burden of Spain, and ftript them of the affiftance of it: the wealth of Spain, and hips of France, are, by this victory, brought over to our jufter caufe. This is an action fo glorious in the performance, and fo extenfive in its confequence, that, as all times will preserve the memory of it, fo every day will inform us of the benefit.

"No doubt, Sir, but in France you are written, in remarkable characters, in the black lift of those who have taken French gold; and it is juftice done to the duke of Ormond and your merit, that you fhould ftand recorded in the registers of this houfe, as the fole inftrument of this glorious victory. Therefore this houfe came to the following refolution :

"Refolved, nemine contradicente, That the thanks of this houfe be given to the duke of Ormond, and Sir George Rook, for the great and fignal fervice performed by the na tion at fea and land, which thanks I now return you."

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To which Sir George Rook anfwered in the following terms:

MR. SPEAKER,

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"I am now under great difficulty how to exprefs myfelf upon this very occafion. think myfelf very happy, that, in zeal and duty to your fervice, it hath been my good fortune to be the inftrument of that which may deferve your notice, and much more the return of your thanks. I am extremely fenfible of this great honour, and shall take all the care I can to preferve it to the grave, and to convey it to my pofterity without spot and blemish, by a conftant affection and zealous perfeverance in the queen's and your fervice. Sir, no man hath the command of fortune, but every man hath virtue at his will; and, though I may not always be fuccefsful in your fervice, as upon this expedition, yet I may prefume to affure you, I fhall never be the more faulty.

"I must repeat my inability to exprefs myfelf upon this occafion; but, as I have a due fenfe of the honour this houfe hath been pleafed to do me, I fhall always retain a due and grateful memory of it; and, though my duty and allegiance are ftrong obligations upon me to do the best in the service of my country, yet I fhall always take this to be a particular tie upon me to do right and justice to your fervice upon all occafions."

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On the thirteenth of November, Sir George was fworn of her majesty's most honourable privy-council. Sir George was very little. at fea in 1703; he went out with a squadron of men of war in the beginning of the fummer; and having cruised in the mean time off Belle-ifle, he put the country into an unfpeakable confternation; and, after having taken many prizes coming home from the West-Indies, returned to St. Helens, that the grand fleet, under the command of Sir Cloudefly Shovel, might be the fooner ready to fail for the Streights, where they did nothing memorable; fo that Sir George was again appointed to command the fleet that was to carry the new king of Spain over to Portugal, then in alliance with us.

They encountered a moft terrible ftorm in the beginning of the year, and were put back into the Channel; however, they failed again on the twelfth of February, and, by the twenty fifth, gained the rock of Lifbon. The admiral, on board of whom the king of Spain. was, in the Royal Catharine, failed up the river, being faluted by all the forts and caftles with a triple difcharge of the cannon, ftriking their flags three feveral times before the fort. The fleet anchored below Belem, a league short of the king's palace.

All things, by the twenty-feventh, being ready for the king of Spain's reception on fhore, his majefty, on board the Royal Catharine

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