Editing War of the Austrian Succession (section)

===Mediterranean===
[[File:Combate de Tolón.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|The Franco-Spanish fleet commanded by Don [[Juan José Navarro]] drove off the British fleet under [[Thomas Mathews]] near [[Battle of Toulon (1744)|Toulon in 1744]].]]

While Anson was pursuing his [[George Anson's voyage around the world|voyage round the world]], Spain was mainly intent on the Italian policy of the king. A squadron was fitted out at [[Cádiz]] to convey troops to Italy. It was watched by the British admiral [[Nicholas Haddock]]. When the blockading squadron was forced off by want of provisions, the Spanish admiral Don [[Juan José Navarro]] put to sea. He was followed, but when the British force came in sight of him Navarro had been joined by a French squadron under [[Claude-Élisée de Court de La Bruyère]] (December 1741). The French admiral told Haddock that he would support the Spaniards if they were attacked and Haddock retired. France and Great Britain were not yet openly at war, but both were engaged in the struggle in Germany—Great Britain as the ally of the Queen of Hungary, Maria Theresa; France as the supporter of the Bavarian claimant of the empire. Navarro and de Court went on to [[Toulon]], where they remained until February 1744. A British fleet watched them, under the command of Admiral [[Richard Lestock]], until Sir [[Thomas Mathews]] was sent out as commander-in-chief and as Minister to the Court of [[Turin]].{{sfn|Hannay|1911|p=44}}

Sporadic manifestations of hostility between the French and British took place in different seas, but avowed war did not begin until the French government issued its declaration of 30 March, to which Great Britain replied on 31 March. This formality had been preceded by [[Planned French invasion of Britain (1744)|French preparations for the invasion of England]], and by the [[Battle of Toulon (1744)|Battle of Toulon]] between the British and a Franco-Spanish fleet. On 11 February, a most confused battle was fought, in which the van and centre of the British fleet was engaged with the Spanish rear and centre of the allies. Lestock, who was on the worst possible terms with his superior, took no part in the action. Mathews fought with spirit but in a disorderly way, breaking the formation of his fleet, and showing no power of direction, while Navarro's smaller fleet retained cohesion and fought off the energetic but confused attacks of its larger enemy until the arrival of the French fleet forced the heavily damaged British fleet to withdraw. The Spanish fleet then sailed to Italy where it delivered a fresh army and supplies that had a decisive impact upon the war. The mismanagement of the British fleet in the battle, by arousing deep anger among the people, led to a drastic reform of the British navy.{{sfn|Hannay|1911|p=44}}