made with Spain a treaty, by which he engaged to declare war against England and Sardinia, and to support the Spanish claims in Italy, as also to Gibraltar, Mahon, and Georgia.

Open war was thus near at hand, but the declaration was still deferred.

The greatest sea fight that took place occurred while nominal peace yet existed.
[Illustration: Pl.VII.MATTHEWS.FEB., 1744., Pl.VIIa.

BYNG.
MAY, 1756.] In the latter part of 1743 the Infante Philip of Spain had sought to land on the coast of the Genoese Republic, which was unfriendly to the Austrians; but the attempt had been frustrated by the English fleet, and the Spanish ships forced to retreat into Toulon.

They lay there for four months, unable to go out on account of the English superiority.