On the 23d of January, an embargo was laid on all English vessels in French ports, and war was officially proclaimed.

It had existed in fact for two years past.
A striking incident signalized the commencement of hostilities.

Rather a man of pleasure and a courtier than an able soldier, Marshal Richelieu had, nevertheless, the good fortune to connect his name with the only successful event of the Seven Years' War that was destined to remain impressed upon the mind of posterity.

Under his orders, a body of twelve thousand men, on board of a squadron, commanded by M.de la Galissonniere, left Toulon on the 10th of April, 1756, at the moment when England was excited by expectation of a coming descent upon her coasts.
On the 17th, the French attacked the Island of Minorca, an important point whence the English threatened Toulon, and commanded the western basin of the Mediterranean.

Some few days later, the English troops, driven out of Ciudadela and Mahon, had taken refuge in Fort St.Philip, and the French cannon were battering the ramparts of the vast citadel.
On the 10th of May an English fleet, commanded by Admiral Byng, appeared in the waters of Port Mahon; it at once attacked M.de la Galissonniere.
The latter succeeded in preventing the English from approaching land.
After an obstinate struggle, Admiral Byng, afraid of losing his fleet, fell back on Gibraltar.