"The Governor of Buenos Ayres, who had foreseen the rupture between
Spain and Portugal, was prepared to take advantage of it so soon as it
occurred. Zeballos, having raised a force of militia, and brought
Guaranís from the "Reductions," declared war before Colonia, and
immediately laid siege to that settlement. On the second day a breach
was made; but it was not until after a siege of four weeks that the
garrison capitulated.
The Spanish commander was ere long roused by the arrival of an English
squadron of eleven sail, bent upon recovering Colonia. But the waters
of the Plate have not been fortunate for English arms. After a close
fight of four hours, the “Lord Clive” took fire, and was quickly
enveloped in flames; the other ships were obliged to get off with all
haste, and many men were drowned in endeavouring to reach the
shore. Some eighty prisoners were sent to Cordova, where they settled,
and where they are said to have introduced improvements in agriculture
and in arts."