Characteristics of the wars from 1739 to 1783 254 Neglect of the navy by French government 254 Colonial possessions of the French, English, and Spaniards 255 Dupleix and La Bourdonnais in India 258 Condition of the contending navies 259 Expeditions of Vernon and Anson 261 Outbreak of the War of the Austrian Succession 262 England allies herself to Austria 262 Naval affairs in the Mediterranean 263 Influence of Sea Power on the war 264 Naval battle off Toulon, 1744 265 Causes of English failure 267 Courts-martial following the action 268 Inefficient action of English navy 269 Capture of Louisburg by New England colonists, 1745 269 Causes which concurred to neutralize England's Sea Power 269 France overruns Belgium and invades Holland 270 Naval actions of Anson and Hawke 271 Brilliant defence of Commodore l'Étenduère 272 Projects of Dupleix and La Bourdonnais in the East Indies 273 Influence of Sea Power in Indian affairs 275 La Bourdonnais reduces Madras 276 Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748 277 Madras exchanged for Louisburg 277 Results of the war 278 Effect of Sea Power on the issue 279 CHAPTER VIII. SEVEN YEARS' WAR, 1756-1763.--ENGLAND'S OVERWHELMING POWER AND CONQUESTS ON THE SEAS, IN NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, AND EAST AND WEST INDIES.--SEA BATTLES: BYNG OFF MINORCA; HAWKE AND CONFLANS; POCOCK AND D'ACHÉ IN EAST INDIES.