The Conduct of the Court of _Spain_, tho’ it really made the Court of _Vienna_ uneasy, did not hinder the Emperor from carrying on the War against the _Turks_ with Vigour: And Heaven so prosper’d the Imperial Arms, that in 1718 Prince _Eugene_ gain’d the most signal Victory near _Belgrade_ that the Christians could have hop’d for. Soon after that Battle the victorious Troops reduc’d _Belgrade_, and at length the _Turks_ were forc’d to sue for a Peace: While every Thing seem’d to have a Tendency that way, _Spain_ put to Sea the most formidable Fleet she had ever equipp’d since that unfortunate one call’d, _The Invincible Armado_; and sent it to the Coast of _Sicily_, where it put a numerous Army on Shore, under Command of the Marquis _de Lede_. The Count _de Maffei_ Viceroy of the Kingdom for the Duke of _Savoy_, who was King of _Sicily_, made all the Resistance possible, considering the Weakness of his Army; and tho’ not able to save the Island, yet he made such a Defence as hinder’d the _Spanish_ Army from pushing its Conquests farther by giving Time to Admiral _Bing_, who commanded the _English_ Fleet, to enter the _Mediterranean_, and execute the Orders he had to attack the _Spanish_ Fleet. These Orders imported, that he was to act in a friendly manners in case that _Spain_ desisted from its Enterprizes against the Neutrality of _Italy_; but otherwise to make a vigorous Resistance. Admiral _Bing_ communicated these Orders to Cardinal _Alberoni_, who answer’d him gravely, _That he had nothing to do but to put them in Execution_. The Admiral did so with a Vengeance; for on the 11th of _August_ he gave Battle to the _Spanish_ Fleet, and intirely defeated it. As soon as the Duke Regent was inform’d of the News, he sent away a Courier to the _French_ Ambassador at _Madrid_, with Letters from the Earl of _Stairs_ to the _English_ Ambassador Earl _Stanhope_. The Design of his Royal Highness was to engage the latter to return to _Madrid_, from whence he set out on the 27th of _August_, that he might make fresh Instances there for a Peace with Cardinal _Alberoni_, who to be sure was a little stunn’d at this Reverse of Fortune. But the Earl, whether he did not meet the Courier, or whether he did not think it proper to return to _Spain_, arriv’d at _Paris_ on the 9th of _September_.