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Demonftratcd and Exemplified, By Extracts from the beft WRITERS,^ French and Englijh^ who have treated of that Coloty, The WHOLE containing, befides the moft ac- curate Dcfcriptions of the PLACE, a Series of the Arguments that induced the French Court to fettle and fortify it \ the Plan laid down for mak- ing the Eftablilhment, and the great Progrefs made in Execution of that Plan: With the Reafons that induced the People of New-England to fubdue this formidable and dangerous Rival, and that (hould determine the Britijh Nation never to part with it again, on any Confideration whatever. ♦ In this Pamphlet is included all that Father Charle- voix fays of this ISLAND in his celebrated Hiftory of New-France^ lately publiihed, in Three Volumes in Quarto, and Savory^ in his Dictionary of Commerce) (a new Edi- tion of which was not long fmce publiihed^ in French lifce- wife, in Four Volume! Folio.) Alfo Additional REMARKS by the Compiler, with a MAP and PLAN from Charlevoix, and References giving a diftind Idea of the late Sieg<^. LONDON: Printed for John Brimdlby, Bookfeller to his Royal Highnefsthe Prince of Wales, at the Feathers and General-PoftOffice in J^enu Bond-Jlreet % and Sold by C. Corbett, in Fleet Jireel i « M. Cooper, in Pater-nofter-Row i and by the Bookfellers and Pamphlet Shops of London and Weftmvpr, M DCQ XL VI. ' [ Price Eighteen-Pcnc^. } T." •"•.» X I ^^ .^ •«*- ■' itll* ^i '..J r^ ^> « s J» ^w- i, . . ^ 4, i I i >. ^ i . . . i, j . I i li > rtf' ^ --'H C-- / ^■^'» 30 1 -'i M- t i .j; -t ry- l» p •< '-(« iJ • ,1 '■J'- * i t -1 •.»'-•' 4|ir* )« »^i «^->l# ^/^f^ A,':^ ^.,,^- ..../'^ .,,3, ,,.„■; ;;>^i.t;.;-' Ifi I- ...^•vx. ^ ^^i fca iwyvrti-yr?^*^!.- r* n,. ■">. T, , H. . ;! i »!»->.», To the Hon. Wm- Shirley, Efq^j Governor and Captain-General of MairachufctV- Bay^ Who projedledj . >^ .■. • ' ft , ■ 7i Robert Auckmuty, Efq-, \ His Majelly'j Mvocate^ Who perfuaded and animated; ' To Sir Wm. Pepperkll, Knt. Generalj Who commanded; To Peter Warren, Efq-^ Admiral^ Who affifted in ; And to all the brave New-England People y Who ferved at. The Enterprize againft Cape Breton : This COLLECTION, Difplaying the Greatnefs and Danger of their Undertaking — And, The vaft Importance of their Acquifition, Is Dedicated and Infcribed, As a private Specimen of Old Englijh Gratitude and Acknowledgment, (Which he hopes to fee followed by fome public National Teftimony) By their Fellow-Suhjedf^ and Brother Proteftant^ The Compiler:. • .-■ »» t,^ ^ •( k \ ' ' . •* ■ ^ ■'• ». '•■11 ...... f ,.t vi 't \ <^ ; ■ ' ' ' - » ^' <»\ :.(:! ., >>» tA. :., ■^i '•a*.?f THE ,..-.; \ \ -■H -U?i. H E v^H^iJt^ ST LAU^ tr^j) LAZ^n ACuiikXA, s B o ir Battery, the Fort, )t Bomhs ig tn 6ur cb hurt } F) o^m e Ciicu- f three', Kb made he Right } torn to n grow- demand' g accept 'ity and >;;, nvitb cafa^ rtea to L A Mild 'i4/''^9r*m4t/' ^psu 4S s^S>^^' >.]^f< r^t'/ r/-' lie. £ac« So C.R ^« jy ^^ ..*^C5^''-: ■ji^ 40 »0C mtJM 009 JiJ J^ \*S J^0n^tUU4ti S^ LA VREJS^CE 'S mAT;^€>. an^a /^la/n^y^ lA^ Cii^ a^nd^ \ J^0njHiU4iU^ ff^'^^ant^ Ji and^ii Cxty a^u^ ioTt ^ li O^ir I 5 B O IT B, Gr. ' (I ) T HE HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND of Cape Breton. NOT to go farther back than the Yeaf 1632, in order to examine more anti- ent Pretenfions, it appears from the Hiftory of New France^ by Father Charlevoix (^om which I fhall extrad great Part of the following Piece) that in that Year King Charles I. of England having confented to deliver up ^ebec, Acadia^ and the Ifland of Cape Bre- ton into the Hands of the French^ who were preparing to take the former by Force, the firfl: French Setdemcnt in that Ifland was then begun. * Our Eftablifhment there, fays the Father, was indeed at that Time but a very Trifle* Howe- ver this Port, the Fort of ^ebec furrounded with a few wretched Houfes and Barracks, two or three Cottages- in the Ifland of Montreal f as ma- [2 ]1 ny perhaps at I'adoujfac, and in fome othef Places upon the River St. Laurence^ for the Con- venience of the Fifhery and Carriage, the Be- ginning of a Habitation at the Hhree Rivers, and the Ruins of Port Royaly {ci) were all that at this Time went by the Name of New France! ^ We do not hear of this Ifle again from our French Hiflorian till 1 666, when he is only able to tell us that the Governor of ^tebec received Advice from the Sieur de la Falliere, who com- manded in IJIe Royale (/?), that he was attacked by the EngliJJ\ " This is all, fays he, that I " have been able to learn. I only know farther ** that our Ellablifhment in this Ifle was then ve- ** ry inligniiicant, and that it was entirely aban- *' don'd a few Years after." While there was Aill a Fort in this Ifland, we learn that it was called Fort St. Pierre -, but the Fortune of the Place was generally the fame'as that of Acadia^ which fell fcveral Times into the Hands of the Englip before the lafl War. As it fell with it, the fame Treaties reflorcd one and the other. Cape Breton being look'd upon as a Kind of De- pendance on Acadia, But tho' during this long Courfe of Years it lay hegledted, or very little regarded, there were not wanting Perfons who faw the Ufe it might be of, and the Advantage that might be made of its Ports, whenever there was Occafion to make a new Settlement in thofe Parts. We have reafon, at leaft, to think this, becaufe, tho' the French *, • confefs {a) Which had been demoli/hed by the E»glijh rbout twenty Years before. {b) It had not this Name till near jO Years after, tho' the Jefuit there gives it. e other he Con- the Be- lers^ and that at ancej om our nly able received 10 corn- attacked J, that I "f farther then ve- ly aban- ere was \l it was I of the Acadia^ s of the with it, other, of De- irs it lay vere not It be of, of its make a ; reafon, : French confels out twenty • the Jeftit [ 3 ] "~ confefs they made no Account of it till the Me- morial of MefT. Raudoty hereafter quoted, was pre- fented to their Miniftry, the EnglijJ^ had a true Senfe of its Value when the Negotiations of Peace were fct on Foot, which it is hardly to be prefumed they had from this Piece of the Ene- my's. But I fhall not anticipate what my Authors have to fay, whofe Words I now proceed to tranflate, throwing my own Remarks either into Notes under the Pages, or together at the End^ by Way of Eflay. Father CharlevoixV Defcription of Cape Breton [c). • * TH E Ifland of Cape Breton, called by the French IJle Royaky is iituated between the 45th and the 47th Degree of Latitude, and {d) together with the Ifland of Newfoundland, from which it is diftant only 15 or 16 Leagues, it forms the Entry of the Gulph of St. Laurence, The Streight, which feparates it from Acadia, or No'ua Scotia, is only five Leagues in Length, and one in Breadth. The French call it The Paflfage of Fronfac, but The EngliJJ:, the Streight of Canfo, The Lengch of Cape Breto?i, from North Eafl to South Weft, is not quite 50 Leagues, and its greateft Breadth, from Weft to Eaft, is not more than 33. It is of a very irregular Figure, and fo B 2 * inter* [c ) From his HiJIolre et Defcription Gtneralt de la Kouvelle France, Sec. 3 Tom. 410 Paris 1744. [d) And betwecni about sS**— 30' and 6o»— -jq' Longitude Weft from London. [ + 3 intcrfe£tcd by Lakes and Rivers, that the two principal Ports join together only by an Ifthmus of about eight hundred Paces over, which fcpa- rates the Bottom of Port Touloufe from feveral Lakes, which are called Labrador, Thefe Lakes difcharge themfelves Eaftwards into the Sea, by two Channels of unequal Magnitude, formed by the Ifland of Vederonne^ or La Boularderie, which is feven Leagues in Length. The Climate of this Ifland is nearly the fame as that of ^ebec, {e) and tho' Fogs are here more frequent, the People do not complain of an unhealthy Air. All the Lands are not good, yet they produce Trees of every Species. Here are Oaks of a prodigious Magnitude, Pines proper for Marts, and all Kinds of Timber for Carpenter's Work. The mofl common Sorts, beiides the Oak, are the Cedar, the Afh, the Maple, the Plane, and the Afpin Tree.' Fruits, efpecially Apples, Pulfe, Corn, and other Grains neceffary for Life, as alfo Hemp and Flax, are in lefs Abundance, but as good in Quality as thofe of Canada. It is obferved that the Mountains here «will bear Cultivation up to the Top, and that the ' beft (/?) Father CharUvoixt in the fame Work, makes the Climate of ^elec to be very iharp in Winter, when the Gentry ride out on Sleds over the Snow, or (Icait upon the Ice : But in general he de« fcribes it as a very defirable Spot, and pieafes himfelf with the Idea that this Capital of New France may be one Day as great, and fur- Tounded with as many Villages and Noblemens Seats as P^irit, ifae Capital of the O/i/, which he f^^ys, was for many Centuries more inconfiderable than ^ebec is at prefent.-— But according ta his own Defcription of thele French Canadans, whom he reprefents as an indolent People, not at all folicitous about making their For- tunes, it is not in the lead probable that ^ebec fhould be raifed tQ this Greatnefs \>y them ? Shall we fuppofe him then, unwittingly^ 9l Prophet in favour of the Englijh Americam^ whom he reprefenta as an induflrious thriving Peo|)le, »vho im|)rGYC every Thjjug th|5 p\\& Into tl^cii' Ifandjs } he two [flhmus :h fepa- feveral b Lakes Sea, by med by ', which he fame e here n of an lod, yet [ere are oper for penter's des the 3le, the pecially eceffary in lefs thofe of ns here that the beft Climate of ide out on ral he de- fa the Idea t, and fur- as P^irlSy Centuries ;ording ta reprefcnts their For- {B raifed to iwittingljr^ reprcfents hipg th|t [5] beft Lands are upon their foiithcrn Dcclivitlc!?, which are covered from the North and North- weft Winds by the high Hills that bound them on the Side of St. Laurence's River. All domeftic Animals, as Horfes, black Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, Goats, and Poultry, find here Provi- fions in Abundance. The Chace and the Fifliery are fufficient to nourifh the Inhabitants a good Part of the Year. Here are great Plenty of ex- cellent Mines of Pit-coal ; and as thefe Mines are ^ in the Mountains, there is no Occalion to dig un- der Ground, or be at the Expence of turning oft" Waters in order to get at them, as in fome other Countries. Lime-ftone is alfo found in this Ifland. In no Place upon the Face of the Earth is the Cod Fiftiery carried on with better Succefs, nor can greater Conveniences be found for drying the Fifli. Formerly this Ifland was full of wijS Beafts, but at prefent they arc very rare, efpeci- ally Elks. The Partridges here are almoft as large as Pheafants, and feathered very much like them. In a Word, Fiftieries of Sea Wolves, or Seals, Porpoifes, and Sea Cows, or Grampufes, might be conveniently carry'd on for the Benefit of their Oil, there being great Plenty of them. All the Ports of the Eaft Side round to the South are open, for the Space of 55 Leagues, beginning with Port Dmiphtn^ and proceeding to Port Touhufe^ which is almoft at the Entry of the Streights of Canfo^ or PafiTages of Fronfac, Every where elfe it is diflicult to find Anchorage even for fmall Veffels, either in the Bays, or between the Ifles. All the North Coaft is very high, and al- moft inaccefiible ; nor is it more eafy to go aftiorc on the Weft till you come to the Paftagc of Pronfac [6] I I l\ ii I Frojifac bcfc -mentioned, upon leaving whic * pon Port Touloufe^ formerly called St. Pcterrs. This Port lies properly between a Kind of Gulph, called Little St. Peter* s, and the Ifle of St. Peter, over-againft the Ifles of Madame, or Maurepas. From thence advancing to the South Eaft, and paffing feveral other Bays, you come to that oiGabori,ovGabaron,\hQ Entry of which, about 20 Leagues from thi Tflands of St. Peter, is League broad between illes and Rocks. One may go very near all thefe Ifles, fome of which advance a League and a Half out into the Sea. The Bay runs in two Leagues, and affords very good Anchorage. The Haven of Louisburgh, formerly Englijh Haven, is diftant from that of Gabori only a large League. It is one of the fineft [f) in all America, almoft four Leagues in Compafs, and all over about 6 or 7 Fathom deep. The An- chorage is good, and Ships may be run on Ground in the Shallows without the Hazard of loling tbcm. The Entry is not above 400 Yards acrofs, between two fmall Ifles ; and it may be known 1 2 Leagues off at Sea by Cape Lorembec, which is but a little Way diftant on the North Eaft. Two Leagues higher is Porte de la Baleine, or Whale Port, the Entry of which is difficult, be- caufe of feveral Rocks, which the Sea covers when it is agitated. Ships of above 300 Tons can- (/) A Journal lately publiih'd of the Procet dings of the New England Land Forces^ denies this, and fays Louijburgb is but an in- different Harbour for Shipping : Bat probably this Writer had not been there long enough to examine it, whereas the Jefu.t writes from th« many Years £x|>crience of his Countrymen, wliic " Y called • lind of : Ille of ame^ or e South u come which, '^eter, is . One ' which he Sea. ds very Englijh only a [) in all ifs, and 'he An- run on izard of o Yards may be wemheCy \ North kine^ or ult, be- i covers )0 Tons can- f the Nenu but an in- •r had not jfu.t write* cannot enter here, but then they ride in very i great Safety. From thence it is but two Leagues I .to the Bay of PanadoUy or Menadou^ the En- i trance of which is about a League broad, from whence it runs in about two Leagues. Almolt over-againft it is the Ifle of Scat art ^ formerly Little Cape Breton, and the Ifle of Port Char^ train, which is at moft but two Leagues in length. The Bay of Mir^ is feparated from this only by a very narrow Point of Land. The En- trance of this Bay is two Leagues over, and it runs eight Leagues into the Country. It grows narrower as one advances, and receives a great many Rivulets and fmall Streams. Large Ships may run up in it 6 Leagues, and find very good Anchorage, fheltered from the Winds. Beilides the Ifle of Scatariy here are a great many fmaller, and Rocks that are feen at a great Dil- tance, the Sea never covering them. The largefl: of thefe Rocks is called the Forillon, The Bay of Morienne is higher ftill, and fepa- rated from the Bay of Mire by Cape Bride, or Cape Burnt, A little higher is Flat JJle, or Gun- Flint IJle, direaiy in 46" 8' of Latitude. There are good Openings between all thefe Ifles and Rocks, and they may be approach'd without Danger. Advancing from thence to the North Wefl we come to Indiana, which is a good Haven, but for (mall Veflfels only. From Indiana to^Spani^ ard's Bay is two Leagues, the latter being -^ very fine Flaven. The Entrance is not a MiJt;: over ; but it enlarges as we advance inwards, and at the Diilance oi a League divides into two Branches^ which may be afccnded three leagues. [ 8 ] They arc both very good Ports, and might be made better at a fmall Expence. From this Bay to the Icfler Entrance of Labrado}' is two Leagues, and the Ifle, which fcparates the Icffcr Entrance from the Greater, is about the fame Breadth. Labrador is a Gulph, about 20 Leagues long, and three or four over where hroadeft. It is reckon'd only a League and a Half from the large Entrance of this Gulph to Port Dauphin^ or St, jifiJie's Forty and there is very fafe An- chorage among the Ifles of Cibou, A Slip of Land, or Kind of natural Mole, almoft entirely ihuts up this Port, and leaves Room for the PaHage of only one Ship at a Time. The Port is two Leagues in Circuit, and fcarcely are the Winds felt in it by the Ships, on Account of the Mountains and high Lands thajt environ it. The Shore is every where fo bold, that you may ride as near to it as you pleafe. All thefe Harbours and Ports being fo near to one another, it would be eafy to make Roads by Land between them, than which nothing would be more advantageous to the Inhabitants, who by fuch Communications would be faved the Trou- ble of going round by Sea in the Winter Seafon. While France was in PofTeflion of Acadia^ and the fouthern Coaft of Newfoundland^ no great Account was made of this Ifland. Meflieurs Raudct were the firft who perceived it did not defervc to be negledted, and even attempted to make it one of the principal Objedts of the Mi- niftry's Attention with regard to New France, In 1706. they fcnt a Memorial to Court, of which the Readej? will be pleafed to fee the Subftance here. light be his Bay is two lie Icflcr he fame rs long, :. It is om the )atiphirjy life An- Slip of entirely for the he Port are the t of the . The ay ride near to oads by would who by Trou- Seafon. Acadia^ ndy no effieurs iid not Dted to he Mi- nce. III which bftance here. I , [9] here, as it gives a good Account of what Was the State of this Colony at that Time. I may ven- ture to advance, that if this Memorial does not perfuade all thofe, who read this Narrative, that IJle Royqle is preferable to Acadia itfelf, it will at leaft convince them, that after the Ceffion of that Province, and the Port of Placentia to the Crown of England, a folid Eftablidiment in this Ifle was indifpenfably ncccflary [g), Reafom ajjigned by Mejfteurs Raudot for making an EJiabli/hment at Cape Breton, TH E two Intendants begin with fuppofing that the principal, and almoft tne fole View in raifing the Colony in Canada, was the Commerce of Furs, efpecially Beaver; which however is not true farther than with refpedt to private Perfons. But they well remark, that it ihould have been forefeen that in courfe of Time cither the Stock of Beaver would be exhaufted, or the Commodity itfelf woqld grow too com- mon; and confequently, that it wou'd not be fufficient to fupport a Colony of this Importance > that it was already, in fadt, fallen into the latter of thefe two Inconveniences, the Abun- dance of Beaver Hair having ruin'd the Trade. Private Perfons, who have nothing in view but to make Fortunes in a fhort Time, do not regard C * . thL: {g\ This Necefllty for making fuch Eftabliliment on the Side of the French was altogether as ftrong for us take it from them the' firil Opportunit)r, and Aiould b« for our keeping it, a» willappsat ftiorc clear! V a^ we proceed. I ,' [ 10] tills : They care not wliiit bccoriKS of New Ft'tmce^ when they have drawn out of it fuffici- tnt to Hve at Eafc in the Old. They obfcrve farther, that the Commerce of Beaver cou'd never fubfift more than a very li- mited Number of Inhabitants : That the Ule of this Merchandize could never be general enough to fupport and enrich an entire Colony ; and that the Confumption being certain, the Inconve- nience abovc-mention'd could not be avoided, without fiilling into die former : That for want of making thefe Obfervations, the Inhabitants of New France are attached almoft folely to this Commerce, as if they were certain that the Bea- vers would reproduce their Species as readily as the Cod-fifh in the Sea, and that the Sale of their Skins would be equal to that of the Hiid FHh : Wherefore they have made it their principal Occupation to hunt in the Woods, in order to get thefe Furs. Thefe long and frequent Voy- ages have accullom'd them to a Life of domeftic Indolence, which they find it difficult to leave, tho' their Expeditions produce but little, on Ac- count of the low Value of the Beaver. The ErigJiJb, they add, have followed aCon- diid: very different. Vv'ithout amufing thcm- fclvfs in travelling fo flir from Home, they have cultivated their Lands, eflablifli'd Manufadturcs, ertded Glufs-Houfes, open'd Mines of Iron, huiit Ships, and all along look'd on the Furs only as an accellary Article, of vvhich they made no great Account. Neceiiity, it is true, did at lall open the Eyes of the Caiicdans : They faw themfelves obliged to cultivate Flax and Hemp, to make Cloths, and verv f New fuffici- icrce of very li- Ufc of enough ly ; and nconve- ivoidcd, "or want tants of to this he Bea- radily as Sale of the faid )rincipal order to nt Voy- omeftic o leave, on Ac- aCon- thcm- ey have fl;d:ures, f Iron, urs only nade no le Eyes cbiiged hs, and verv very bad Druggets, of the Wool of their old Cloaths, mix'd with Linen Thread ; Buc tl\e long Habit they had contracted of doing no- thing, did not fuffcr them altogether to emerge from their Mifery. They have, indeed, Bread and Cattle fufficient to live on ; but many have nothing to cover themfelves with, and arc obliged to pafs the Winter, which is very long, and ve- ry fevere, with only fomc wild Goat-lkins upon their Backs. And yet the King expends every Year an hun- dred thoufand Crowns in this Colony : The Vnrs are worth about two hundred and eighty thouland Livres ; the Oil, and othe: Provifions bring in a- bout twenty thoufand Livres ; the Pcnlions upo.i the Royal Treafury, which the King gives to private Perfons, and the Revenues that tlie Bi- Ihops and Seminaries receive in Fra?ia\ amount to 50 thoufand Franks. Here we fee the wliolc Produce of New France is confined to fix hun- dred and fifty thoufand Livres : This is the Sum total it has for the Bafis of its Commerce j and it is evident, that this can never be fufficient to fup- port a Colony of twenty, or twenty-five thoufand Souls, and to fupply what flie is now obliged to draw from France, The Affairs of the Colony were formerly up- on a better Footing, and the King expended more in them. She fent into France to the Va- lue of a Million of Livres in Beaver, yet was not then fo well peopled : But Ihe has always drawn off more than Ihe was in a Condition to pay, which caufed her to lofe her Credit with the Merchants in France^ who are no longer in a Humour to fend EfFeds to tlie Merchants of CV- IHhla I! r [ 12 ] ;;tf4^ without I^ctters of Exchange, or good Se- curity. From hence, and the Lofs of Value in the Beaver, it follows, that it was necelTary to fend into France all the Money of Canada to procure Goods : So that there has been a Time, when perhaps there were not a thoufand Crdwns of Specie in the Country. This Defeat was fup- plied by Paper Money, and it is needlefs to re- peat the Inconveniences of this Money, and the Reafons there were to fupprefs it. Meflieurs Raudot^ after having thus fet forth the Condition of New France down to the Year 1706, with regard to its Commerce and general Stock, exhibit the Means v/hich they imagine may render it more flourifhing. This Colony, fay they, may make a Trade of its ProviiionS, and other Produdlions and Manufadtures which will enrich it. The Proviiions are fait Flefh, and Cod : The other Produdtions and Manufactures are, Mafts, Planks, Timber for Building, Neck- laces, Pitch and Tar, Oil of Wh'^les, Pnrpoifes, and Grampufles, Hemp and Flax 5 to which mayj be added, Iron and Copper. There wants no- thing but a Vent for all this, and the Means of a little lowering ihe Wages of the Workmen. The Difficulty upon thislaft Article pirbceeds; from the Indolence of the Inhabitants, and the Dearnefs of French Goods. At a Time when there is little Work, the Workman will do no- thing under 25 Sols a Day, becaufehe weiars Out more of his Cloths and Tools than he can be a ble to replace at a lefs Price, and at the fam Time maintain himfelf On the other Side, th^ Goods of Europe are as dear again in Canada ai they are in France, This feems exorbitant : Bui ;ood Se- l^alue in ifTary to %naaa to a Time, Crdwns wras fup- fs to re- and the fet forth the Year general imagine Colony, roviiions, s which lefh, and lufadtures 5, Neck- ^orpoiles, : lich mayj rants no- Vleans of; ;men. ptdceeds ^ , and the; me when] ill do no-j cvears duti can be a- the fame! Side, th^ Canada d ant: Bill if we confider tlie AfTurancc of 25 per Cent. (which indeed is not fo high but in time of War,) the Expence of Commiflion, Freightage, which iometimes exceeds forty Crovns a Ton, the Advance of Money, the Warehoufe-room that muft be paid to the Commiffioners^ the Non Payment of Letters of Exchange when they are due, which often happens, and the Exchange at Pa-^ ris, we (hall find the Merchant is no great Gain- er : In fadt, tliere are no rich Men in the Coun- try. The Queftion then is, how to raife the Colony of Canada, to employ all the People, every one according to his Talents, and to put private Per- fons in the Way of fubfifting, by lefTening the Price of Merchandize ? Now this End fecms at- tainable, if a Place be found out whithi&r they may carry conveniently, and at fmall Expences, their own Commodities, and where there may receive Goods from France to carry back with them. By this they will get a Part of the Freightage both Ways ; and thofe of the Inhabi- tants, who ate now funk in Idlenefs, or do no- thing but hunt, will he employ 'd in Navigation. Our two Intendants then put the Queflion, Whether this would not be prejudicial to ^rmice^ by taking away a Part of ttie Profit of her Goods? They?.nfwer, No; becaufe the Freight- age gain'd by the Inhabitants of New France, will be ii^mediately made up to Old France, in the Confumption of a greater Part of her Goods. For Example, thofe who now do nothing, and €over themfelvfes with Goat-fkins, as foon as they are empldy* with Corre* fpondents; and taking in empty Cafks at i\\t fame Place, may proceed on the FiOiery, Which Fifhery is the more eafy here, as it is carried on .in the Summer, and not in the Winter, a$ in the D Nprth [b) Ths French Writers often tilk openly of tbe ^r.gjip Uov£ of eland cibne I rade, and <:a-jary give* it ?s his Qpjnion thdt even the Dread of iiciiih would uQi deter our Sipugglers at home from running our Wool to France, ii)d bringing back their C"'n- moditic). is it npt Time we !ho'»M ihrovvolf At once the Danger and Scandal of this pernicious i'fatiUce ? r [ ^8 3 North of Europe^ where the fifliing Vcflels are obliged to ply in the Midft of Mountains of Ice, under which the Whales are often loft after they arc harpoon*d. Thus the fifhing Ships will gain both upon the Goods they carry to Cape Breton^ jind upon the Fifliery itfelf j and this double Pro^- £t will be made in lefs Time, and with lefs Ha- zard, than the (ingle Profit that is made in the North of Europe by only the Oil ex traded from the Whales; and the Money, which wc now carry to the Dutch for this Oil, will remain among ourfelves. It has been already remarked, that the Ifland of Cape Breton can furnifh, of her own Growth, abundance of Mafts, and Timber for Building, This Illand lies convenient alfo for drawing mere of the fame Sorts from Canada ; which V/culd augment the reciprocal Commerce of the two Colonies, and procure to the Kingdom a greater Facility of building Ships. The Timber may be taken up in the Ifle, without our being obliged to buy it of Foreigners. A Commerce fnay be alfo carry'd on with the Antilks Ijles in Malls and Fir-plank, which would confidera^ blv lower the Price of thofe Comjnodities, Who ^ould even hinder our building Ships ?xCape Bre^ ■ton, which might be fiipplicd from Canada •with all that was wanting in itfelf for that Pur»- fiole ? They would coil much lefs there than in Franie^ and we nviglit even fell Ships to thofc Foreigners of whom we now buy tliem. In line, there cannot be a more commodious Place to put in at, nor a more fecuie Retreat, tlian the liland of Cape Breton, for all Ships that come iiom any PiU't of jlmrica whatfoever, if they they if ^\ nies. Con 1 peri( Ifland rowth, ilding, rawing which of the iom a rimber : being imerce Tiles in ilidera* Who p€ Bre^ Canada It Puiv than in thole nodious letreat, ips that ; ever, ix they . [ '0 ] .. . . they rtiould happen to be purfued, or furpriftrd in bad Weather, or be in Want of Water, Food, or Provifions. Befides that in Time of War it might lerve for a Place to cruife from, a Place that might ruin the Commerce of New Eng^ land [c) : And with Fortifications there, which might eaiily be raifed, we might make ourfelves Mafters of the whole Cod-iifhciy, by keeping only a fmall Number of Frigates, ready to ilcp out of the Ports of the Ifland, and return into them as there might be Occalion.* The two Intendants, after having thus ict forth the Advantages of the new Eflablifliment they had projedled, applied themfelves to facilitate the Means of making it, and anfweringthe Diffi- culties that might be objedled to their Projedh They remarked iirft, That it was not proper to truft this Undertaking in the Hands of a Compa- ny, becaufe the Spirit of all Societies puflies them on getting a great deal in a little Time, on abandoning or negledling Enterprizes that do not immediately produce great Profits, on giving themfelves little Concern about laying folid Foun- dations for Eftablifhments, and on having no Re- gard to the Utility of the Inhabitants, ' to whom, they fay. We muft not give too much Advantage, if we would engage them to fettle in new Colo- nies,* What occafioned the French incorporated Companies to talk in this Manner, was the Ex- perience of thofe who till that Time had polTefs'd D 2 either [c] It was this Reafon, in all Pro' a' itily, that m )re thin any other prompted the iV^ov England Vqo^\& to th- ir Att^mpc of laii Vcar. BTT kj / C 20 ] tither the Doiriinioji of citelufive CommerGC of New France^ and the Illes of America, The Intcndants agreed, after all, that the En- tcrprife of eftablifhing Catd Breton could not be gone thro* without great Expence j but then they pretendedj hat, without making it any Expencc to the King, if thev had only certain Sums ad- Vancedj of which tne Reimblirfement might be fecured to his Majefty's Treafury, it would be ea- fy in three Years to put this Ifland in a Condition of fupporting itfelf, and becomeing in a few Years more a very confiderable Place, The Helps they manded the Loan of, and the Means they pro- pofed for reimburfing the Charge, were as follow. I * The King has no Occafion for a great Num- ber of his Ships in Time of Peace, when they either peri(h in the PortSj or only take a little Diverfion at Sea : It would be doing a public Ser- vice therefore, to find them real Occafions of go* ing Voyages. Thus the King would lofe no- thing by lending fome of his light Veffels for the Tranfportatlnfi of every Thing neceffary to make the Effablifhment in Queftion. The EfFedls, which they would bring back even the firft Year, would at lead pay the Wages of Seamen, Provi- iions, and Wear and Tear : For by taking previ- ous Meafure? their Lading back in Pit-coal, Lime-ftonC) Mails, Poles, and other Wood, might be got ready, fo as to coft nothing but the putting on board* The two following Years an Addition might be made of Planks, Split Tim- ber, Oils, dried Fifh, and other Commodities, which the Inhabitants might begin to give in Pay- ment of the Money advanced for their Eftablifh- ment,and which ought to be regarded as fo much ready T [ 2' ] I'cady Moneyj bccaufe ready Money muft be el* ven for the fame Things to Foreigners. In the mean time, the Augmentation of the Cod-fifliery would augment the King's Revenue arifmg from that Merchandize. 2. Four compleat Companies of Soldiery would be fufficient for the firft Year : But it will be nece/Tary to be particularly careful in the Choice of the Soldiers, that they are all Men of fome ufeful Trade, as Mafons, Carpenters, Smiths, Hewers of Timber, and above all La- bourers J that they ar? alfo young, adtive, heal- thy, and good Workmen. Such a Choice as this will not be difficult to make as foon as the War is over. It would be even proper to take the firft Companies from Canada^ where the Men are al- ready experienced in the making of new Efta- blifliments, and capable to inflrudt thofe that may come afterwards from France. But it feems above allindifpenfably neceflary, that theGovernorof the new Colony fhall have Power to give all the Sol- diers who may defire it leave to marry : For they will defend tne Country better in the Quality of Inhabitants, than in that of Soldiers; die Com- panies will become a Nurfery of Inhabitants, and It will not be difficult to recruit them annually, to keep them always compleat. 3. What regarded the Tranfportation of Inha- bitants, the Neceiiity of furnifliing the Colony with Provifions during the two firfl Years, the military Stores and Merchandizes neceflary to be fent thither, the Fortifications it would be requi- iite to make, die ready Money that fliould be at firft diftributed, the annual Charges, the Do- mains and Rights aqncx'd to them, the Concef- t fion§ »4 ' .1. u * . - fiohs made In favour of Communities and privafd l^erfons, the Duties of Importation and Exix)rta-^ 4ion ; all thefe wete explain'd by the two Magi- flrates, with fuch art Exadtnels, Underftanding, Perfpicuity, and Order, the whole fupportcd by folid Proofs, that nothing riiore could be wanting to demonftrate, that the King would run no hazard in advancing Money upon this Eftablifli- iTient ; that thofe Advances would no( be fo con- fiderable as might have been apprehended, and that they would be reimburfed in three Years. M. Raiidot the Son, neverthelefs, in the Year 1708, judged, that it might be more proper not to proceed fo flift, but to eftablifh the New Co- lony by little and little : To begin by fending "Troops, who (hould fet on Foot tlie Fifheryj and then to fend hired Servants and French Mariners, % Part of whom fliould become Iiijiabitants. There is great Rcafon to think that tlie War, \vhich continued fome Years after this, and em- ploy'd the whole Strength of France^ and all the Attention of the Miniftry, hinder'd his Ma- jefly's Council from purfuing fo beautiful and \vell-digefted a Projeft j a Projedt that appeared equally advantageous both to Old and New France. This however is certain, that after the CefTion of Placcntia and Acadia to the Crown of England^ the French having no Place left where they could dry their Cod, nor even pea- ceably fifh for it, but this Ifle of Cape Breton^ a Sort of Neceflity lay on them to make there a folid Eflablifhment, with Fortifications. They began by changing the Name, impofing that of Jfle Royale, or Royal Ifland, inftead of €ape Bretmi^ The next Thing deliberated on was ( 1 on [ ^3 ] ■ was the Choice of a Port, wliere it would be poper to cflablifli the General Quarters. Con^ ccniing this the Opinions were long divided be-r tween Englijh Haven and 5/. Anne% Port, \ have already faid, that the firft is one of the fin- cfl Harbours in all America ; that is alpioft fout* Leagues in Coijipafs, having Anchorage evpry where in fix or feven Fathoni of Water j th^n the Anchorage is fo good, that Ships may be run a-ground on the Shallows without H^^jard j that the Entrance is not 200 Toifes, or j2Q9 Feet over, between two fmall Ifles which ^a;i eafily defend it. Here are alfo Cod-fifli in Abun-r dance, and the Fifliery mgy be carried on from the Month of April to the pn^ of Decernber, But the Objedlions againfl this Place were^ that the Ground is barren all rpupd about it, and that it would coft iinmenfe Sums to fortify it, beca^ufe all the Material* mpfl: be fetcb'4 from a great Difi:anpe : Befides, that it had been remarked^ there was vi^ fandy Shoal in this Haven large c;>ough for more than fbrty FilhingVefieJs, I have obferv'd, that ther^ is .a very fecur.e Road before St. Anne'% Port among the Jfles fl CiboUy and that a Slip of the Main Land alinofl entirely ibuts up the Port, leaving ^ Pafllige only for one Ship at p, Tin>e. This Port, thus {hut up, is al;moft two Leaguc;s in Copipafs^ a,n4 of ^n Oval Figure, deep enough for Ships eve^y- where to ridic clo/e jto the Shor^ j that, thro* the Height of the Shores, and the Mountains whi after long Deliberation^ to remain in their Colo- nies. They were very near changing Opinion, how- ever, in 1720. Mn P^/7//> jR/V/'^fv/i being appoint- ed Governor of New England and AraJia^ was furpriz'd at his Arrival to fee the Frejich remain in the latter Province as Subjeds of the moft Chri- ftian King, (a) and that the Englijh were content to leave them in quiet, while they attempted no- E thing [a) We hare ncrer heaird but tkatihcfe Pioplr, tho* Catholic* in Religion, have demeaned thetnfelvcfc us good S 'hjcf>s of Great Sirtain. They wouldt no doubt, be g'ad co fee their own Natioa again M^fters i(i this Country { but we have had two lnil;inces« within two Years paft, that they are not incUh'd to contribute any Aflillance cowards making them fo ; for in tiie Sieges of JnnapaUs Royalt when the Canaddin French were adtAed by the Indian Nati^ 0ns, wedont End that the French of Suva Si&tia attempted to rii« in their Favour i which hid they done, perhaps the £nem'e& had been MtAen of Acadia birfore we h.iti math any AttenAj^t on Ca^e. BrefH, thing againft the Service of the Crown of £;/* gla?id', that they enjoy 'd the fame Prerogatives they had enjoy'd under their natural Sovereign j that they had their Catholic Priefls, and the free Exercife of their Religion; and that they kept up ^ kind of Correfpondence with IJle Royale. He ivas told, that the Government had thought proper to grant them all this, to prevent their re- tiring either into Canada^ or IJle Royale^ as they were permitted to do in virtue of the Treaty of Utrecht^ and even to carry off their moveable, and fell their immoveable Effeds 3 that by this means the Charge of fending over a new Colony had been faved, which muft otherwife have been done, in order to replace this j and that moreover it would have been difficult to find Inhabitants fo laborious and induftrious as thefe i That as to the reft, they had not abufed the Indulgence^ and that it was owing to them that the Savages^ in Al- liance with France, had for fom^ Time left the Englijh In Repofe. The Captain General either did not tafte thcfe Reafons, or believing that Time colild change the Nature of Things, concluded he might, wkhoutany Rifkput the French upon the lame Footing as th6 Englifh, He begun by forbidding them all Com^ nieree with IJle Royale, and afterwards let them know, that he gave them but four Months to take (a) the Oath of Fidelity to the King of £«- glandi afe Subjeds ought to do to their Sovereign. :. M. d^ («) Our French Author is probably miilaken here, and means the Oath of Abjuration, inftead of the Oath of All«>aiance, which no People certainly ^oald refufe to a Covernment they chofe to live «inder« and vtttit ^i-ote£ted by : Nor indeed is it probable they would have been left I0 qaiei as he defcribes them, if they had re fared this latter Oath^ M. de St. OvtJe, who was foon informed of ihis new Prctenfion, advertifed the Inhabitants what would be the Confequence, if they fub- inittcd to what was required of them. They had no Occafion for this Advice of the French Governor, having given an immediate Anfwer to the Captain General, as became them, That if he epdeayoqred to compel them, he would bring down the Natives upon him, who would never be forced to fuch an Qatl^ of Fidelity as would deprive them of their Paftors. (6) This Anfwer had its EfFecft; Richards did ^ot think proper to break with the Savages^ hjs Neighbovirs, at a Time when thofe o^ Kinibeki were already fo ill- inclined towards the People of Bojlon^ r^cr to run the Ha-, zard of feeing Acadia without Inhabitants ^ for St. Ovide had already concerted Meafures for facilita-r ting to the French a Retreat in the Illand of St, yohrii where a confiderable Eftahlifhment was then talked of^ and even attempted.* jt will not be foreign to our Subjeft to follow thq Fr:enrh., Au- thor a little farther, and give an Account of this Attempt, ' After the Iflc of Cape Breton, that of St. John\ which is very near it, is the largeft of all thofe in the Gulph of St. Laurence, and has even this Ad- vantage over the other, that all the Lands in it are. fertile. It is about 20 Leagues in Length, and 60. in Circumference : has a fafe and commodious Port ; and is covered with Trees of all the mod ufeful Kii^ds. No Notice, however, had been taken of this liland till after the Eftabli/hment was begun at Cafe Breton : But then the Proxi-. mity of the two Iflands. fyggeftcd the Thought, E 2 that {b) The true Jefait appears in the Original of this Paragraph, more, than wp thought it ncceiTary to follow m the T^anflatioa, C ^8 ] that they might be of great Utility one to tho other. . In 1719a Company was therefore formed, who refolved to people St. Jobtiy and to employ for that Purpofe [b) Funds more eafy at that Time to ralfe, than to preferve afterwards in the imagi-r nary Value then aflix'd to them. The Count dc St. Pierre^ Mailer of the Horfe to the Duchefs of Or leans t took this Frojedt upon him, and the King, by his Letters Patent, dated in Augufi the fame Year, granted him the Iflands of St. '^ohn and Mi f ecu in free Tenure, without judiciary Pow^ e.r, which bis Majefty referved to himfelf, Homage being to be paid to his Caftle of Louijburgh, on which it depends.— This Grant was for the Eftab- lifliment of a Cod Fishery, In yantiary the next Year, the Count de *S/, Pierre obtain 'd new Letters Patent, upon the fame Conditions, for the lilands of Magdalen and Botcn, or Ramees^ with the Ifles pdjacent, as well for the Culture of the Lands, and clearing of the Woods, as for ti.e Fifheries of Cod, Grampus^^ Porpoife, ^c. and in all Appearance he had exe- cuted his Project, if his AlTociates had beeii like himfeir. But he foon met with that Difguft aud Difcouragement which are inevitable in Societies^ ihe Members of which have not all an elevated Way of Thinking* but are united meerly by In- tereft : What will happen in all like Cafes, where every one concern'd requires an equal Part in the Diredion, happened to this Eftablifliment, When the firft Sums a(Jvanced are given without 2 pcrfedt (/'} The Author fpcaks of the MiJJlJfi^hi Stock, which by rifingr this Year to a grpat ideal Value, gave the Hint to the Bouth Zm Scheme in England the Year roUoyving. the and well the [ 29] perfed Knowledge of the Nature and Advanta-^ ges of the Place, and of the Obftacles that may be met with in the Defign ; and when there is not a Liberty of chufing proper Pcrfons for the Execution of fuch Delign, little Fruit is ever to be expeded among felfiih Undertakers. For Want of having taken the poper Meafures, the iirft Attempt did not fucceed, and as there was no Probability of proceeding on better Meafures, the Undertaking was abandoned. Upon the Conclufion of the Peace of litre ckt^ there was a great Stir about Cafe Bretc/2, then called ]JIe Royale. The French entruftcd the Ellabiifhment of it, as I faid, to Mefl'. De Cofte^. belh -ind De St. Ovide^ and the EnglifJj com-r p'aL ^ loudly that it was given up. The City oi London, in her Inftrudlions to her Members in the next Parliament, required them to demand of the Miniilers of the preceding Government, why they left Canada and the Ifland of Cape Bn- /<5;2 in the Hands of the Frr;2cii.* It appears farther from the Work of our Jefuit, that the French were very apprehcnfive during the Peace betweerj the two Nations, that if ever a War broke out again betwixt them, the People of the F jf'^'r:' Colonies, who are able to raife fixty thoux;;ud fighting Men, would attempt to get not Cup*" Breton only, but Canada, out of the Hands of the French, who could not raife five thoufand between fouitcen Years of Age and fixty : And that Faudreuil, the Governor of CV- naday acknowledged, in a Memorial laid before the Fr-nch Miniftry, that the Canadam had no Sccurit/ during the former Wars, but in the j^riendfliip of the Indian Nations, which they therefore [30] therefore Indulttioufly cultivated ; nor could cx- pedt to be faved againft any future Attempt other- wife than by their Afliftance. As to Acadia^ the Pofleffion of which was left us by the faid Treaty of Utrecht^ it appears hovf much the Country was liked by the Behaviour of the French Planters there fettled, and the In- ilance I before quoted: And what Value the Prencb Miniflry put upon it, while they had it in Pofleflion, is more fully fet forth in the Jefuit's Work, from which I have been extrad^ ing. His Words with Regard to Newfoundland^ tho entire PoiTeffion of wh ^^ was given to us by the fame Treaty, are worth ' .rting, <* The Eng-* ^' lijk, fays he, will get more by the Ceflion of ** what we there held thp" we ihall lofe : For ■^ befides that I/Ie Royale mil indemnify us in Part ** for Placentia^ all the Inhabitants of which " were tranfported to Louisburgby''t)\ok\nhs^u " tants will find themfelves more at Eafe there than ever they were in Newfoundland : Where- as the Englijh are become abfolute Mafters of an Jflajid, where they were before fure of no- thing while they had us for Neighbours,'* This Author likewife gives us the Hiilory of theReftoration of Hudfdn's-Bay by the fame Peaqe^ in which there i^ nothing remarkable, and oply mentions it fcy Way of Memorandum that Hud- fon's-Bay wa^ then reftored. What M. Savany^ Vfx his Hiftoire de Commerce^ fays of the Ifland of Cape Breton^ does not in all Refpedts agree with the Account of Father Char-, levotx : But fome Parts of his Article concerning thg « cc tlic Commerce of this Ifle will prove how righi Meff, de Raudot were in their Opinion of the Advantages that might be made of it, by fhew- ing what that Commerce adtually was in 1723* only Nine or Ten Years after the Foundation of Louisburgh^ when this Dictionary was firft pub* lifhed. I fhould have been glad to have feen this Article continued down to the Year 1742, when the laft Edition was printed. But the Edi- ' tors own they wanted Materials upon the Affairs of America, We may reafonably judge, howe- ver, that the Article of Cape Breton^ or Louif- hurgh^ might have grown to be more than three Times (a) as confiderable as we here fee it. To thisExtrad 1 fhall add two or three from our own Writers, who made their Remarks on Occalion of the Acquifition of this liland to the Crown oi Great Britain, . .;iv, - RxtraSi from Savary'x t)iHionaire de Commerce. . > TH E Colony of Louisburgb is more mo- dern than that of Loui/iana, the French not having fettled there till 17 14, after they had ceded to the Engli/h the Port of PA/- centia, and the other Pofts they held in New- foundland, by the Treaty of Utrecht, This Ifle formerly {b) belonged to France under the Name of Cape Breton, as making a Part of C^- nada^ (a) The Truth of this will apper.r in the following Extra^s ifrom Ettgii/h Writerf, who have written fince, or ;ibout ihe Tixne thrit this liland tell into the Hands of the £/>^/^. {if\ Seepage i, a? naja^ and the French haJ fortify'd k before x\it Year 1640. They afterwards abandoned it^ their EftablKhments in the Ifland of Newfound- land fufficing for their Fiflicrmen, and Merchants concerned in the Cod Filhery. But the Ccflion of Newfoundland to the Engltfh^ and the Prohi- bition to the French of making any fettled Fifliery on that Ifland, made them refume their antient Projedt of peopling the Ifland of Cape Breton : And, in order to fecure to France the Pofleflion of it hereafter, the fame Article of the Treaty of Utrecht, which took from her Flacentia, granted her Louisburgh, exprefling, " That the Ifle called Cape Breton, and all others what- foever that are fltuatcd in the Mouth and Gulph ** of St. Laurence's River, fhall for the future re- •* main to France, with entire Leave for his Moft " Chriftian Majefty to fortify one or more Pla- te (C <( ces. Thus it was from the Ruins of the French Co- lony at Newfou7jdland, and the Remains of that; of Acadia (a), ceded alfo to the Engli/b, that Cape Breton has been peopled, and that it already feems a flourifhing Colony, not only by the Cul- ture of the Lands, but chiefly by the Cod Fifh- cry. With refpedl to the latter, the Fifli are in fuch Abundance, and the Convenience of Bea- ches to dry them on arc (o many and great, thiit we flatter ourfelves this Ifle will be in no Refpettt inferior to that we have abandoned. ^ Lcuisburgh (b), which is the Name of the Ifle as («) We have before (hewn that the French in Acadia did not move «n this Occafion. ^ , j {b) In feveral Things that follow, concerning the Geography and Dei'cnption of this Ifl'.nd, M. Savary differs widely from Charle^ t'oix^ . [33 3 iphy atid I Charh- &s Weil ais 6f the Fort arid principal Cltyj tHft Foundations of which are already laid, is fituated lo Leagues from Cape Ca/?fo, in 45 Degrees of Latitude. It is about 80 Leagues in CompafS, including the little Ifle bf Mdry, which lies very hear it. The great Ifle is almoft cut in two by a Gulph^ br large Interval of Sea, Called Labrador ^ which leaves only 800 Paces of Land for an Iflhmus 16 join the two Peninf jias. The Lands about Labrador are but indifferenti yet a great deal of Litne-8tones is found in them, Thofe c St. Peter's Gulph, and the Mountains hear it, u t excellent. Mines of Pit-Coal are found in this Ifland^ which is tranfported to thfc Antilles, and fine Quarries of feveral Kinds of Marble, Specimens of which have already been fent into France, Firs, Pines, and Oaks nlaV be alfo brought from hence in Abundance, for the Building of Ships. In general (h) the Goaft^ of this Ifland are not very fafe^ cfpiecially the Charinel between the great Ifle and Ifle St. Marjf, which is very dangc- irou?. HcJre are^ however^ many good Ports, as Port de la Baleine^ Englijh Haven, Spaniard's River, and St. Anne's Haven*, which are all capa* fcious, and afford very good Anchorage. The befl of all is St. Annie's Haven^ {h) called F at voix, and all other ^Vritert : So thit we Hiay fup^of^ he mi^t noc be well informed in this Particular : But with Regard to the Trade pf the liland, aod oth.er Things of the greatelt Confequertfe, a Man who was InfpeCtdir-Gfenisral at the Cuil6m«f|bu{e of Pans ^oald not be nttich miilaktn . {a) It (^lOald have diainguidied the Eaft aUd South-Eait Coaft^ nrom the reft. \b) Tbde two Names, which he gives to the iame Port, belong to the two moft dif^itnt good Port$ in (h« whole Iflaad. Sfei tH <( emfclves, but they had the Addrefs to for- tify and people it.' Men of Pcnetratfon then forefaw that they would make of it another X)un- kirk, in order to carry on their dry Fi(hery, .^s ' they had done before at Placentia : They fore- fa v/ and foretold, that this would oblige us to k€eingfurpriz*d there. And what an Advantage muft it be, to have in our Hands a Place that was ever capable of offending us, as well as of incroaehing annually upon one of tjie ♦ rnoft profitable Ardcles of Commerce, as well as the beft Nurfery of Sailors, the Cod-Fifliery? As to the' State o^ Cape Breton and Louijhurgh in 1745, they are thus defcribed by Mr. James Giiffony who was a Gentleman Volunteer at the Reduction of them under the Subje(ftion ofGr^at Britain, ;r'^-::;:, -'^..-'v'-r:- " ■ -. '^--'^ " (^) This Place, which we have thus hap- ** pily made .our-own, may with Propriety be G *' call'd (a) See the Joiyn-il of the Siege of Cape Breton, printed for J, i^fuiboj at ihe BibU anti Sun in S:. Pt^ui'i C.hurch-yard, c< f( it C( C( (( C( «c << [42] ** caird the Key of Canada^ and North Ame> . ** The Ifland is near a hundred Miles long 5 and has feveral fine Harbours in it very com*, modious for the Filheryj whereof that at Louipurgh is the piincipal. The City is not only walled, but as it has feveral wide Trench- es and Flankers, it may properly be faid to be compleatly garrifon'd. There is likewife a very grand Battery, dire<5lly oppolite to the Mouth of the Harbour, the Ordnance where*, of confifts of above 30 Pieces of Cannon, all * 4.2 Pounders. - •» fiH^" The Ifland Battery, moreover, which is planted at the Mouth of the Harbour, is of e- qual Strength and Force. ' ". Oppofite to the Ifland Battery there is alfo a very ^At, and commodious Light-houfe, as well as a noble Harbour for the largefl Ships. ** Near the Shore and Banks, which are about 20 Leagues Diflance, there are Fifh in abun- dance. *' As to the Climate, *tis exceeding fine for cu- ring Fifli, and rendering them fit for a foreign Market. Here are Mackarel and Herrings in Plenty, both fat and large for Baits. ■ * The Land here produces veiy good Wheat, Rye and Barley j and the Meadows the befl of Grals. Befides thefe Commodities, here are fine Beach Wood and Flake, for the mutual Be- nefit of the induftrious Fifherman and Farmer. " This Port commands not only Cape-Sable Shore, Canfo, and NeivJoundlaJid ', but the *^ Gulf of St. Lawnnce, and by Confcquence, . . " Canada, .- 1 cc t( it (C cc cc cc [43] *' Canada, It is a Safeguard likewife to the whole Fifhery, as well as to foreign Veffc Is. ** I have been inform'd by a French Gentleman, that the Settlement of the Idand oi Gafpey coil his Moft Chriftian Majelly nine Millions and an Half of Money : And fince the Warcom- menc'd, the Repairs that have been made to all the feveral Batteries have been attended with great Expcnce/' ' '• Before I quit Mr. G/^;2's Piece, I muft borrow another Paflage from it^ which contains the Tcf- timony of an Enemy to the Greatnefs of the Ex- pedition of the New England People. Wc fhall have more to this Purpofe in a future Extract I am to make from the Rev. Dr. Chauncfs Ser- mon on the Occifion : But I chufe to go through with each Witnefs as I proceed. . j > ^ . " After we had marched into the City, %$ Mi*. Gibfon, I waited on a Gentleman who was inviolably attached to the King of France in Queen Anne's Wars. This Gentleman had ta- ken the New England Country Galley; he^ aflifted likewife in the taking of 70 Sa^. or Veflels more on the Cqaft of New Engla- '- ; and now, in the above-mention' d Siege, he came out of Louishurgk with .fpurfcore and feven Men, in order to prevent our Troops from landing, but was happily beat oit: Thi. Gentleman, I fav, told me, that he had not had his Cloaths off his Back,, either by Day or Night, from the firft Commencement of tk; Siege. He added moreover, that in all th^ Hillorles he had ever read^ he never met with an Inftance of fo bold and prefumptuous i n Attempt ; that it was almolt impradticabie, as Q 2 . ** ouQ cc cc cc IC cc (c cc Cc cc cc cc cc C( C( ;c <( cc cc E44 3 one would think, for only 3 or 4000 raw, ira-- difcipliri*d Men, to lay Siege to fuch a ftrong^^ well fortify 'd City, fuch Garrifons, Batter) csj©*r. •* l^br fhould any one have alkcd mc, faid he, ** what Number of Men would have been fuffi- cient to have carried on that very Entcrprize, I ihould have arifwered no lefs than thirty thou- farid. To this he fubjoined, that he never heard of, or faw' fo much Courage and Intre- pidity in fuch a Handfiil of Men (a) who regarded neither Shot nor Bombs : But what was ftill rriore furprifing than all the reft, he faid, was this, namely to fee Batteries rais'd in a Wight's Tinie, and niore particularly the Fa- fcine Battery, which was not fivt and twenty Roods from the City Wall; and to fee Guns, that were forty-^t wo Pounders, dragged by the Eriglijh from their Grand Battery, notwith- ftanding it was two Miles diflant at leaft, and the Road too very rough.'* Another Authority for the Strength of this Place, and the great Importance of it to us, we had froiii a Letter infcrted in the Papers in July lafl:, and faid to be written by one of the principal Engineers (b) employed in the Siege, This Wri- ter <( •-•* (tt) When Mr. Gihfim, in what precedes, fipeaks of Nine Milli- ons anc( a half, I fuppofe he includes all the Expcnce of tending over annually Stores and ProViiiofie, as wtll as what wa? cxpctjdcd on th« Works. ii ! ! [46] the Indies : But by depriving them of this Place" of Shelter and Security, this Station to wait for Convoy to OU France, we fhall ftand a ten times better Chance of picking them up with our Pri- vateers and Cruizers. This Advantage, though fo very conliderable, feemsto have been overlook 'd by Mr. Au ckm u t y j at leaft it is not mentioned in his Difcourfe upon the Importance of Cape Breton to the Britijb Nation, wherein the other obvious Benefits from taking it were fo lively depidled, that the New England People were excited by it to their Under- taking. I fhould be inexcufable were I to omit what this Gentleman wrC : upon the Occafion. ** This Ifland, fituated between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia^ the Englijh exchanged with the French fovPlacentia in the Treaty oi Utrecht y and, during the late Peace between the two Nations, the French^ by the Advantages of the ' Place, carried on an unbounded Fifliery, an- nually employing at leaft looo Sail, from 200 to 400 Tons, and 20,000 Men. In the Year 1730 there was aComputation made of 220,000 Quintals {a) of Fifli at Marfeilles only for a * • Market ; and communibus anftis they cure above five Millions of Quintals {b), . ? <« How . Now, to carry this Fi(h to Europe, to Market, there mud be em* pioyied 93 Sail of Sbips^ of the Burthen of 2000 Quintals each, one with the other } and each of thefe Ships have at leail 20 Men^ which are i860 Seamen. And thefe, added to the 3400 fifliermett above, make Fi've ihou/and TfWo Hundred and Sixty Men, employed at Cape Breton only in the Filhery. At Gaffay^ ^adre, and other Harbours, mentioned in the fol- lowing Eitimation, there are 5/> 5^^; yearly, which, as they come out from Franct mannM to catch their own Cargoes in Shallops, which they haul up and Idavein the Country every Winter, 'till they return the next Spring, one with another may be allowed Sixtjp Hands. And, it has always been allowed, from St. Maloes and Granville they have at leail "Three Hundred Sail of thefe Ships in this Filhery, that filh at Petit Norde^ Fijhantey Belle IJle^ and the Gulph } wh.ch will, all computed as above, (allowing thofe Ships, that fo come out to make their own Voyageft, to carry each 3000 Quintal:) be as fgilowi) : ••— At Cafe Breton At Giifpay — — At iDuadre At Port en Bafque At Le Foils IJles St. Muloc's iViea Ships. Men. - 93 ■ ■ 5260 - 6 360 6 - — 360 6 360 3 1 80 300 — iSjCOo 414 — 24,520 Quintals. |86,OGO 18,000 . 18,000 1 H,000 9-, 000 900,000 1 1 49,000 Here it may be objefted, that of the Thr^e Hundred Ships above from St. Makes, (whick t^fty xuivx upon) fomt; o.' them are fome of tlu'fe Ships above jeckon'd at Gafpcy. ^adre, b!c. Which is well known to be io. But thth, no netard ;s here had to the Shps lo empioy'd, among the reh, from iS>/ Jeande Lu%^ Bayonne^ Kattts\ Hc^vre de Grace, £5r. which go ani.u Jly into thofe Parts on the r.me Voyage ; which are a great many njore in Number than thxife Twenty- one Ships above } ai^d would, could an txadt Liit bt' ry, or Moft Veft (as they call it) from Sixteen to Tijiftnty-fMur Men each : Which carry home, upon an Average, froni Tivaity'tiua 7 houfati did Thirty Thou/and Fifl> in Number; which in»ke, on the moft moderate Ellimate,<0»r Hundred, and Fifty Sail of .Ships : And, on a'Me'diuoi, Twenty Men each, are Three Tbonfand Men, and in ihe Whole Three Million Mne Hundred ThcufandJ^es'xr^ Tale. It^hefe Ships are fitted oat in Frame for their VQya|;esen the Banks, and thece tarry 'till they are Isiden ;.unltf9 they meet wit^ aay Acci- ' dent or'Dillurbance ('n which Cafe »hey refort xo Cjape Breton for Shelter and Supplies) ; and from thence home to France. And it was, thus, frequent for them, when (bey had made their Voyages, to go into Cape Breton for W^er fCpecially, as they: had noothcr Port. Id regard to the Value of this Branch of Tcade, , it is necelTary here toobferve, that there is hereby produced a' large Quantity of "Train-oil \ which France has always an immediate Demand for. «/ borne, for their Woollen Manufactures, Lights, i^c. And with which alfo their Sugar Colonies, thatcan'c do without it, areycarJy fupply'd. It is certainly well known that they either do, or may at leaft, make One Hog/head of Sixty Gallons of Oil, clear drawn off from the Blubber, out of every hundred Quintals : of Fi(h. And ' Xhi% out of the Quantity of Fiih before-rmentioned, |will produce lAcven Thoufand Fvur Hundred »and Ninety Uog/heads of Oil. And allowing th;*t Four Thoufand Fijkes in Number arocqual to One Hun- ' dred^intals, when cur'd, ihen i^t Three Million Nine Hundred ' Thoufand Mud f/h, by the fame Rule, wiW yield Nine Hundred and '"Si'Vctity fi've Hoojhtadi cf Oil. W^hich added to the other make Tnjuel'ue Thoujiihd Four Hundred Sixty fnte Hogjheads of Train Oil, which are equal to Three ThoufandDne Hundred and Sixteen Tans and a Sluarter. - ' . /. s. 574,500: 00 -172,350: CO New, let the 1,149,000 Quint;tls of Fifli be valued only at to j. jiterling/^r Quintal, the pr: (^oll ufually at Nti^foundland, and it is worth And, to this, allow 3 j. Sterling Freight perl Qaiotalof ir, in Ewj^/^ fioitoms, 10 Murkct — $ libe"^ rime >— h--3 Aftd then the Fifli-Qnly is worth £ 74^»350= ®"? (< it (C (( cc C( :■■' And cc it i( (( C( (C f Madam, • ^ ' This Gulph 5/. Laurence^ is a Sea, or Giilph, that has the River of Canada^ and Land adjacent^ at the Weft of it, Cape Breton at the Southward, Newfcundland at the Eaftward, and the main Continent, that ftretches from Canada River, to the Northward and Eaftward. On the North of it and in the Gulph are fundry commodicus Bays, Havens, Iflands, Rivers, and Harbours ; and at all Seafons of the Year Plenty ofCod-fifh, and at particular Seafons Herrinjr, Mackarcl, Squid, Alewives. and Smelts for Bait : But the Ice n\ Winter renders its Navigation uniafe, if not alto- gether impradticable, at leaft to make Voyages of Fifli i tho* in the Summer Seafon there have been yearly Fisheries carried on at Gafpay, at the Entrance of Canada Wwqv^ and in the little Harbours f-om thence to Bay Fert^ at the Iflands of St, John's and Magdalene, at the Northward of the Gut of Canfo, in and through the Gut, and from thence along Shore at Nurlchatte^ Petit de Graf, Ifles Mecbeaux, St. Efprlt, Forchetie, Loulsburgb, Laurembeme, La Baklnc, Negamtl\ St. Jinn's, Scattcrv^ and La Bradore ; and from Galpay round the North Side of the Gulph, at the feveral convenient Ports on the Main, quite to the S freights of Bede-JJIe ; and, by an Allow- ance to the French in the Treaty of Utrecht ^ (which they have made the mojl of) in all the Harbours at the Northward of Newfotmdland that were unemploied by the Engllp, And altho*, comparatively fpeaking, there was but a fnuill Number of their Ships fiflied at Cape Breton it- [ 54 ] fclf, yet the Situation of that Ifland is fuch, they could all of them at Pleafure repair thitlicr, on any Emergency or Danger ; efpecially thofe that fifhed in the Gulph, on the Main, or thole at the North- Weft of Newfoundland^ who were all within one or two Days Sail at moft j and alfo thofe Ships that loaded with Mud-Fifli on the Banks. So that this Ifland was the Key and Protection of their whole Fifhery, and for that End wi.\s fortify'd and garrifon'd, and valued by Fraiice e- quai to any other of its Colonies. What other Ufes it might ferve for as a Port to the Eafi and Wcji India Men, and the Ships bound to Canada^ on Occafion, to refort to lor Wood and Water, to clean or repair, (^c. was not fo much in View as the iecuring and uphold- ing this Trade, the Fijhery : Which tlicy liad found the Sweets of bwfore, enough to convince them it was abfolutely iieceffLiry for' them to out- do us in it, if poflible ^ in order to which they were to fpare no Coft for the prefcnt for the gain- ing ?i future Benefit by it, when they had gained their Point. Their Conviction of the growmg Proft of tliis Branch of I'rade^ and the Hopes of one rime or other monopoIizi?ig it, at leaft fo far as refpecfted the Catholick Dominions^ made them take (uch indefatigable and jndired: Means, the laft War, to procure a Neutrality^ fo far as related to the Fijhery j that they might even then vie with us in profecuting their Voyages unmolefted, as long as the War lafted ; which they obtained by Dint of Money '^ and, on the Peace ^ in order Xojecure \i to them for the fiiture, ftuck at no Terms to obtain [5Sl oWlrt this Ifland. Which they had no Coontt! cffecfted, but immediately they began to fettle it : And a new Colony was fet on foot, to confift of Fifloermen (ml\\ and Encouragement given, Forts, ^c. built, and a Town garrifon'd, to protedt them. And the whole Nation feemed to have their Eyes on the Place ; fo that it was peopled more and more yearly ; and a Fifhery flourifh'd fo faft, that they could and did afford to under- ffli us at Foreign Markets. And for the Protedi- 011 of the Trade foto do, they had annually Ships of War fent them from France^ to vifit and fup- ply them, with Orders to proted: and defend not only their Sea-Coafts, but their Veffels on the Banks of Newfoundland^ &c, not only from In- fults yr^w us (for of that there was no Occafion) but to make and keep their Preteftfions good to the fever at Banks ^ either within or without their Line, aiwi make themfclves a Privilege^ as it were, ef Jijhijyg almoll where- they pleafedj by Force of Cujkm." " <• • What the feme Writer farther fays, with re- gard to the Advantages that may be made to arife from the keeping of Cape Breton^ fo well agrees with Mr. Auckmuty's Opinion, that I cannot excufe myfclf irom inferting it here, though it be in Part only a Repetition, with fome Enlarge- ment, of what the laft mentioned Gentleman has told us. — - After having given the State of the Fidiery here, as quoted in the long Note Pa- ges 46, 49, he proceeds thus: ** In Addition to this let up confider, that in re- gard to the Woollen Manufidiire, the Staple and Depend ance of Em>land^ in v^hich alfo the French have been vying witli us, and have now brought that c s6r that I't-ade to fuch a Pitch, as to carry it all bvef^ not only their own Dominions, (formerly obliged to Us for fine Cloaths) but to a great Advantage into Italy^ Spain^ and Turkey^ even to the great Detriment of Efiglajid ; I fay, in regard to this Branch of Trade, allow that every Man be- fbre-mention'd in the Fifhery, in his Blanket, Watch- Coat, and Rugg, Pea-jacket, ^c. con- fumes of thefe coarfer Woollens Thirty Shillings Sterling per Annum ; and at that Rate even their Confumption will be Fcrty-one Thci/fand Two Hujidred and Fifty Pounds Sterling ; which, had we the whole Fifhery to Ourfelves, muft of Gourfe be of our own ManuJaBure. ' . - -- But, befides this, all due Confideration muft be had to the Canvas, Cordage, Hooks, Lines, -Twine^ Nets, Lead, Nails, Spikes, Edge-Tools, Graplins, Anchors, ^c, &c. that Five Hundred Sixty-fcur Ships, and the Shallops to fi(h for them, muft expend at Sea and on Shore : And- allow all thefc to be BritijJ^^ and the immediate Value of this Branch of Trade to England, could file (or rather would Jloe) keep it to herfelf, will difcover itfclf of greater Confequence than any other-, not even excepting the Tobacco ; that is, than any other Trade dependent on the Plantations. Firjl, in regard to the raifing Seamen for the Royal Na- vy J Secondly, the Confumption of the Eritijl) Manufacture and Produce -, and, above all, in a certain yearly. Remittance of the Ballance of this Trade made to Fift^hnd from Spain, Portugal, Jtdly, &c. either in Specie, or in fuch Foreign Commodities as pay his Majefty a prodigious Re- venue; and this procur'd by Dint of Labour only, andfetch'd out of the Abundance of our Seas. : . Thus, I 57 ] ' Thus, fuppofing the French entirely' excluded this Fiflicry, (as may^ and muji^ be the Gafe if England keeps Cape Breton^ and allows them no longer any Privileges at Newfoundland -^ — for then they will not have any Port convenient for them, at leaft till they fortify upon the Main in the Gulph of St, Laurence^ — which, having Cape- Bret on^ we may hinder when we pleafe); and adding the Advantage of their Filhery to that of our own already ; and conlidering that the whole Papal Empire muft then depend on us Jllely for their Baccalaos, which they can't do without, which will give us almoft the whole Trade of the Mediterranean j and all the other national Advan- tages that muft arife from this Confequence j and the prefent Acquifition of Cape Breton unpeopling the French Colony there, and reducing the Gar-t rifons to his Majejly's Obedience, which muft give us all the reft; is of /V/^^' a fufHcient Compenfation for the War ; and will be fo allowed by all thofe concern'd in Trade, that know the manv Ad van- tages and Benefits that muft arife from this Branch of it only to Fngland^ by monopolizing the Whole of it. \'f- ■ v^ ^^-'^ ^ ^^ ^ But, befides the national Advantage by the Fifliery ; -^ — by the Reduction oi Cape Bre- tony and an Englifh Garrifon there, France has not any one Sea Port for the Relief of their Trading Ships, either to or from the Ea/l or JVefi JndieSy open to them any where in North Amertaiy to the Northward of the River of Mcffafippi. For Canada is qot to be look'd upon as an open Port to the Sea; it being firft Sixty oi* Seventy Leagues within Land, through the GuJph, to the Mouth of the River ; and then a great deal fur-. i I M CS8] t\ict up the River. that is impradicablc t« think of going thither for Shelter : And of Con- fcqucnce the whole Trade to and from the Weft JnaieSy &c, will be not only expos'd to our Pri- vateers from the Northern Colonies in War-Time^ yrithout any Place to retreat to, but even in Peace^ without any Sea-port they can call their own, or lay any Pretenfions now to do, in thefe Seas, any where to the Northward of Mejfajippi^ as above faid. And as to Canada itfelf, — the River is now (o much under our Command, as well as the Gulph^ that all Trade there may be very eafily flopped, ^nd all Communication cut off from them by our Ships in and out of Cape Breton, So that (without Force or Arms) in a very few Years that Colony would fall, and the whole Trade of Furs, carried on with the Indians there, coming into the Englijb Hands, Canada may be kept unablo' to fupply or furnifh them. But a happier Confequcnce than t;his will be, that, as they may be kept from fup- plying the Indians to trade, fo alfo from encou- raging them to annoy pur Frontiers : And they (the Indians) even muft become obliged to, and dependent upon Us; fo that we fhall not be in iuch continual Apprehcnlions of their H^Jlilities^ but rather may have them in as much Subjedtiqn to Us as diey have been to th- • French, To all that ia faid before in regard to Cafe Bre- ^im^ Jet it be added, that by this Acquilition we havcfecured to the Nation the Garrifon of Ana- folis Royifly and the Colony of Nova Scotia, Which, being a very rich and fertile Soil, and its Jlivers abounding with Fifh, and fettled by French C^tholicks^ th^t Nation has much regretted the Lofs on- [ 59 ] Lofs ofj and wanted to recover. Yea, and which they endeavoured to retake, by laying Siege to Annapolis^ both the laft Year, 1744 j and this pre- fent Year 17455 and would have got it, had it not been for our Expedition to Cape Breton^ which caus'd them to raife the Siege and withdraw; and by our holding Cape Breton^ we (hall keep thofc French Inhabitants at Acadia in ftridt Allegiance to his Majejiy^ or elfe oblige them to quit their Pof- feflionsj which are all Farms ^ brought to and fit for any Service immediately. Which will be ai» Encouragement to our own Subjeds to go and fet- tle there ; and alfo oblige the Cape Sable Indians^ our Enemies, either to abandon that Shore, and fly to Canada for fuch Shelter and Supply as they can fpare them. And by that Means we fhali get rid of that Tribe at leaft, if not by the fame Means, thofe alfo of the St. John'^ Tribe, which have been always troublefome to us \ as both thefc Tribes have had their Dependance entirely on Cape Breton and the French of Acadia j the latter of which have (as Neuters) been fupply'd and us'd as Subjects both by the Engfijb and French : Which we have long enough lamented the bad Confequence of, and which is now ftopt ; fo that they muft either depend entirely upon U>, and become good Subjects with us, or el(e on the French, And if the latter, they muft of Courfe retreat to Canada, (where they will help diftrefs^ rather than relieve that Colony) and leave us Neow Scotia difencumber'd both of Theijnfelves and Salvages. Had we not taken Cape Breton this Year, ani the French had taken Annapohs^ (which it's not difputcd They wquU have don?y had we been 1 2 idle) [6o] idle) the Confcquencc then would have beeni — * All the Inhabitants of Nova Scotia would have decliU'ed for the French King immediately, and the Colony at once been eftablifhed to him. And all the Cape Sable and St, John's IndianSy who af- fifled at the Siege of Annapolis with thofe of Ca- nada ^ would have been well fupply'd with Arms, Ammunition, ^c. and fet loole upon our Fron- tiers : And their Succefs have fo difpirited even thofe other Tribes that pretend to be at Peace with us, that they muft have joined wkh^them. And they together would have carried Havock, Devaftation, and Ravage, all over our Frontiers : \Vhilll: their Men of War, and PriAateers, by Sea, would have deftroy'd our Sea-Ports, and kept us in continual Alarms 3 without having it in our Power to hinder them from carrying their Conquefls from Annapolis^ along our Eaftem 5hore^ even to Cape Ann, were they fo inclined. The quiet PofTcffion of All which' for the fu- ture in a great Manner depends immediately op this Acqiiifition and Keeping of Cape Breton, (if not fortified by Ourfelves) at leaft from the FretichJ" . The laft Extra<5l I ha:ve to make is from the •S:,Tmon (a) I have feveral Times mentioned, in .which the Reverend Author, while he pioufly .and juflly afcribes our Succefs in making this great and valuable Acquifition, to the divine Pro- VideiTice j with a Flow of Eloquence that I have '£o| fqeii equall'd on the Occaiion, gives an hifto- "..■:■ ., .rical " (.?) A Sermon preach'd the 1 8th o'i^ July^ ^^^S- being the Day Tfet apart for a foream Thsnkfgiving to Almighty God, for the Ktr- jcbi^ion oi .Cape Breton, ts'r. by Charles Chuuncy, I>. D^ Paitor of » Ch.urch at h'^f^on. Bojlon ^x\\\\q\ in I'/^'i- fu- [6x1 rlcal Picture of the Preparations, Proceedings^ Accidenrs, Event, in a Word, of the whob Con- trivance and Adtion in this wonderful Affair, " It may feem ftrange, that fuch a Country as this, fo weak in Strength, fo unikilled in the Ufe of Military Weapons, fo diflrefled for want of Money, fhould make an Attempt upon fo ftrong and fenced a City as Louisburgh at Cape Breton: Nor fhould we have entertained the Thought^ if it had not been clearly pointed out to us by the Providence of God, It was appa- rently Providence that gave Rife to this important Defign ; partly, by permitting the French^ lafl Year, to take Canfo^ and invade Annapolis^ and form a Scheme to invade it again this Year; hereby opening to our View, in the clearefl Man- ner, not only the Jujiice^ but Necejpty of reduc- ing this Place> from whence v/e were expofed to fuffer fo much, both on our Sea^CoaJis, and Fron- tier-Borders : Pardy, by fending a Number of rich E^Ji-India Ships into the Harbour oiLouif- burghy for the fupply and manning of which, in their Voyage to France^ fo many of their Men, and fuch Quantities of their Stores were taken ofF^ and fo late in the Fall, as to render the Spring the Nick of I'ime (as we vulgarly fpeak) the mofl favourable Opportunity we might ever exped: for an Enterprize of this Nature : Tho' . after all, it would probably have never been un- dertaken, if the Providence of God, notvvith- .ftanding the moil prudent Steps, under good Advantages, to gain Jntelligence, had not kept us flrangely in Ignorance, both as to the vail Strength of the Place, and Number of Inhabi- tants that might fuddenly be called in to its Af- ii-ibncc. [ 60 fiftance. Many of ouf Officers and Soldiers^ who now know thefe Things, have frequently declar- ed, had they known them before, they fhould never have gone upon this Affair. And as it was by the Diredtion of Providence, we were led to form an Enterprize of fuch vafl Moment j to the fame Caufe muft it be afcribed, that fo many Things were remarkably ordered all along in favour of it, and fo as finally to bring it to an happy Iffue. It was apparently owing to a fignal Interpofi- tion in Providence, that fo many Perfons from all Parts of the Land, were fpirited to offer them- lelves willingly for this Service ; and that within two Months from the Refolution of the Govern- ment to undertake this Defign, the whole Mili- tary Force was in readinefs for Embarkation, and under Sail for the Place they were intended to go againfl. I believe I may fay, fuch ar> Armament for an Infant Province, fo voluntarily raifed, fo well fitted for their Bufinefs, and fo fpeedily dif- patched away, cannot be parallelled in Hiftory: ISfpecially, if we take into Confideration, toge- ther with our Inexperience in Affairs of this Na- ture, the confiderable Naval Force equipped ; tlie great Number of Tranfports provided j the vail Quantity of Stores procured, both for the Support of our own Men, and the Annoyance of the Enemy : And as to many of thefe necef- lary Stores, fuch as Cannon^Shot^ Shells of various Sizes, Mortars, CohornSy Hand-GranadoeSy Seal- ing'LadderSy Field-Pieces^ common Carriages for many of our Cannon, and fpecial ones accommo- dated for the Tranfportation of thofe Cannon that were to be ufed in Battery 3 I fay, as to thefe Stores, they [63] tlicy were not only to be bought, but to be made: And yet, to the Surprize of every Body, the whole Work of Preparation, which was took in hand, after the Determination of the Court, Jan, 29th, was compleated by March 21ft, when the General g?ivt his Signal for failing. . , I may, not improperly, remark here to the Honour of this Province, that the Men, fo fud- denly and ftrangely got together to go upon this Expedition, were of a different Chara<5ter from thofe, who are commonly fent upon fuch Occa- fions. They were not the Scum of the Land, idle, worthlefs Creatures, given to Prophanenefs, Intemperance, and univcrfally debauched in their Manners. A Number of fuch there might be : But for the generality, they were Men who had upon their Minds an Awe of God, and feared an Oath J they were Men induftrious in their Call- ings, and well able to provide for themfelves and Families j in a word, they were Men of Life and Spirit, animated with Love to their King and Country, and willing to venture their Xives, not fo much to ferve themfelves, as to promote the publick Good, *Tis a rare Thing for fo many Men, of fuch a Character, to be engaged in a military Enterprize : And I cannot but think, there was a fpecial Hand of Providence in it. It was owing remarkably to the Government of Providence, that the Weather was fo ordered in favour of this Enterpize. Perhaps, the oldeft Man living does not remember fo long a Course of moderate fair Weather as we were btefled with, while preparing for the Expedition. There was not the Lofs of a Day, either by Snow, R^n, 9f Qol4\ which is wonderful in this Climate, ac th^ [6+] this Time of the Year. Some, who ha"'e pre- fervcd an Account of the Weather for more than twenty Years back, have been furprized to be- hold the Difference between the Months of Fe- bruary and March, this Year, and the foregoing ones ; I'his, a continued Courfe of good Wea- ther ; thofe, as continually intermixed with Storms of SnoWy or Rain, or Severity of Cold. - And the Weather was as remarkably favoura- ble to our Defign at Cape-Breton : For, as fome have obferved in their Letters, there was fcarce ever known, among the French, fuch a Run of good Weather, as while they were laying Siege to Lotiisbttrgh ; whereas, the very Afternoon they entered the City, the Rain came on, filled their Trenches with Water, and continued for fuch a Number of Days, that they muft hii gone thro' infufferable Difficulties, and been in danger of raifing the Siege. The French themfelves took Notice of this Difpofition of Providence, and faid. It was vifible God fought for us. It was obfervably owing to Providence, that our Soldiers were preferved from the Small-Pox, as fuch Nupber^ of them were in this Town, in order to embark, when that infeBious Diftemper broke out ^mong us, theatning an univerfal Spread. And, perhaps,^ the Time was never known, when fo many Perfons, in fo many dif- ferent Parts of the Townj^ were taken ill with this Sicknefs, and it was notwithftanding flopped in its Progrefs : Which is the more worthy of fpecial Notice, becaufe, if it had prevailed, it would unavoidably have put an End to the in- tended Expedition. . i - nr ij-rt ?uv/ that [65 ] , , . Jt was owing to the wonderful Contlii(fl of a ■ kind Providence, that fo confidcrablc a military • Force, at fuch a Seafon of the Year, (hoiild be carried in Safety to the Place tliey were bound for, . without the Lofs of a Man, or meeting with the • lead Difaftcr ; and that their Dcfign fliouM be a . perfect Secret to tiic Enemy, tjU they were fur- prized with the Sight of our Fleet, going into Ckappcauroiige Bay, It was this that made way for landing our Men and Stores without Annoy- ance, unlefs from a fmall Party of the i'rnicl\ fomp of whom were taken, fome killed^ and the . reft oblig'd to flee f:)r their Lives. It was owing to the extraortlinary Favour of Providence, that the Enemy, fo foon afrcr our landing, forfook their GranJ.-Battcry ; allowiiig . us to enter and take J^olTcflion of it without the ' leaft Oppofition, This feems, on the one Hand, to be a moft fatal Miftake to thcm^ wlfich can fcarce be accounted for, unleft from a Spirit of Infatuation^ or a mighty Terror feizing their Hearts : And on the other, the leading Advan- tage put into our Hands j as it animated our Men with Life and Vigour, furniflied them with the h^aviefi Cannon made ufe ^i in th? S;egc, and en- abled them with greater Speed, and lefs Danger, tp make their Attempt on the Town „ And here was a Series oi Things r^tnarkutl); over-ruled in Providence. Not only were oi^r Men difpofed and enabjed to tranfport their Cannon (fonje of wliicli were of large Size and Weigjit) over Hills and P.ouk^, and through MoralTes, in which fometimes they funk with their Carriages fo as to be burled \\\ the Mire ^ but in Sight of the Enemy, and v/ii:!i-, 4 '^'l fft- [66] in Reach of their Shot, tlicy eredccl Batteries, mounted Guns, fixed Mortars, and foon got all Things in rcadinefs, both to cannonade and horn- b(ird the Town: And all without the Lofs of fcarce a Man. And though they were nine and forty Days befieging the Cjty, and had their near- ell advanced Battery within Icfs than l^Lirty Rods of its IVejlcrn Gati\ (as the Mv^albre has fnice been taken) and were playing from it mofl of the Time, and receiving the Enemies Fire j yet the Men (lain were but an handful, And the like fignal Prefervation they met with at their Battery by the Ligbt-Houfe, This was the greatefl Annoyance to the Enemy, and, un- der God, the greatefl Caufe of their Surrender. And the whole Time they were ereding it, and getting their heavy Cannon up the liigh and flcep Rocks, to the Amazcmept of the Enemy, they were continually play'd upon both by their Cannon and Bombs : And yet, if I remember right, there was no more than one Man llain, The whole Number indeed of Men lofl, whether by the Sword, or Sicknefs, or Difaftcr, during the Siege, did not amount to more than an hund- red and twenty. This is the Doing of the Lord^ and ought to be marvellous in our Eyes, The like has fcarce been known in the World. But beiides thefe Favours of Providence, there wrs a mofl f /> Upon thfi whole, the Redudion of Louijburgh^ confidering the immenfe Sums of Money that have been laid out by the King oi France to ren- der by on [69] ttncler it impregnable -, and confidering alfo that it was accomplifhed by inexperienced, undifci- piined Troops from New England^ is an Event truly lurprifing, and will be fpoken of as fuch at home, and handed down as fuch to the Children yet unborn. CONCLUSION. From this Cloud of Witneffes we may collc<5l j 1 . That Cape Breton, notwithdanding the Di- verfity of Accounts by difiprent Authors concern- ing the Soil, Produce, Climate, and Harbours, is, upon the Whole, a Place of conliderable Va- lue in it-felf, and reprefented as mor valuable by thofe who had bell Opportunities of examining its Condition. 2. That by its Situation, at the Mouth of the Gulph of St. Laurence, between Newfoundland and the great Filhing Bank, and the main Conti- lient of North America, and by the happy Cir- cumftance of having its Ports all open to the O- cean, this Ifland would be of incilimable Worth to the PolTeilbr, though it did of itfelf produce nothing at all. 3. That whoever are pofTefs'd of Newjoundlani and ykadia, if they have Cape Breton at the funif" Time, may comn:iand all the Fifliery of North America : But whoever have Newfoundland and Acadia, if they have not Cape Breton like- wife, can pretend only to a Share in this Fifhery, and not the be ft Share neither, if the People of another Nation, who are in Pofleilion of Cape Bretui, be better proteded and more induftrious than the Poffcirors of Newjlunduind ?