IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 14^ |2^ |2.5 1.8 1.25 1 1-4 III 1.6 ^ 6" ^ V] <^ /2 7 ^^»<>' *^.^^ % y .^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 87^4503 \4^ iV ;\ \ ^/ 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X laire s details ques du It modifier [iger une e filmage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanlts to the generosity of: Bibliothdque nationale du Quebec The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la g6n6rosit6 de: Bibliothdque nationale du Quebec Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet4 de l'exemplaire filmd, et en conformitd avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. 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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. }y errata led to snt ine pelure, apon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 [;yiiisiiiiiIli==iiiiiOiiiillfiHiin3i HI Eol Cham^x) THE GENERAL HISTORY of the Late WAR: lliliiliiii'w CONTAINING IT'S Rife, Progrefs, and Event, IN Europe, Asia, Africa, and Americ;^. AND EXHIBITING The State of the Belligerent Powers at the Commence- ment of the War -, their Interefts and Objedts in it*s Continuation i and Remarks on the Meafures, which led Great Britain to Victory and Conqueft. INTERSPERSED WITH The Characters of the able and difintereftcd Statesmen, to whofe Wifdom and Integrity, and of the Heroes, to whofe Courage and Conduft, we are indebted for that NAVAL and MILITARY Succcfs, which is not to be equalled in the Annals of this, or of any other Nation. AND WITH Accurate Defcriptions of the Seat of War, the Nature and Imj^w.tance of our Conqubsts, and of the raoft remarkable Battles by Sea and Land. . , , Illvftiated vich A Variety of He Ap^,^ Plans/ Maps; and Charts, De^i'gn&d iaii'd Engraved by-thj^ htft Jrti/is. ' 1 . 1 1 » • . VC L- 1 Htftorici eji : nequid faljit audeat dicert : nequid 'veri^ non audeat. PoLIB. By the Rev. JOHN ENTICK, And other Gentlemen. M. A. LONDON: Printed for Edward Dilly, in the Poultry; And John Millan, at Charing-Crofs. M.DCC.LXIIL /5 ! : t :; I? ' ^^m \ .1. 1 9t, ,'if i-B. lis*, ..' 1 I • w fi . 4 On Hor » ■■» J *^. *f /^ "Pf • •••.'. • •«(«•• • . , , • • * - * • « • • . • • • ' • • • < • • • • ■•V n V T O t^i^i The Right Honourabl-^ WILLIAM PITT, E% LATE One of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State ; A Man ;! I . Honoured by his Kin g, Rever'd by the _* e o p l e. Dreaded by our £ n e m i e s j Under whose Administration All ^irties united for the common Good, Confidence between the Court and Country was reftored, a refpedtable Militia was eftablifhed, the natural Strength of the Nation was exerted by Sea and Land, the Terrors of an Invafion were removed. Public Credit was carried to the greateft Height, the Britifti Arms triumphed in every Quarter of the Globe, Trade and Navigation were promoted and protected, and France was humbled, and reduced to the Neceffity of fuing for a Peace j 'm m THIS HISTORY Is moft humbly Infcribed, With a grateful Senfe of that glorious Part, which by his Wirdom, Vigour, and Firmnefs, He has aded in the Courfe of the late War, B y His moft devoted and obedient Servant^ John Entick. irif; ..(■ i; i.1*. o ^^ r^> t'^ f* ! ! ■ 4 Waj'AJti/f uuus p^C^r "V^aarue^if.-- Ca aj ^ (Tt?eati Ant Khity S;pA^iaxA *r*;!K!p*^ ^Martha JjfUUOf *I!irnudaa •#^ i:NeTr^ Accurate Map of ^/fe Sea/^ of the /ate X I'i i/i the s West Iniuks m't/i a Flail oft/ie ^ City audHarbour of ^ HAVA:N]srAH , 7i Hefcrenceg tv tAe MAP. ^Ilrlccn^ce^ed6y France A? &,STUain . -I- thifufrfdW ^<^f iAun andrMivredHf France . ^ Can^tured £^ ' O^fi/uifviA re^forfdla Spam. . ^ SiTetUraCT^land c£(ted U> France. ^ i4 - S- ^'^^ •f fl^. <5[ THE GENERAL HISTORY , O F T H E LATE WAR. The introduction. 0*<(^)**OLL the writers on the laws of na- nations lay it down, as a maxim, not to be departed from. ^^.^^^^ tiire and nations lay it down, as a ojo ?IX1? o§o That arms or force fhould never lern 0*<(i^<3**0 be employ'd, without an intention thereby to obtain an honourable and lading Peace. But, the MachiaveHan politicks, which have been Mode adopted by the enemies of our nation, and the P"''"'^^^' difturbers of the repofe of Europe, and have pre- vailed in the formation of treaties of pacification, within the prefent century, depart from that de- firable end of a juft and neceflary war j and fticw that their intention is not, in the lead, to de- cide the contentions of jarring interefts j to curb Vol. I. B the I li? ^:i«. The general history of .; t Treaty of Utrecht. jl the exceedings of ambition -, to reconcile or abate implacable hatred •, to prevent craft, double-mean- ing and infiduous conferences in negociations, nor to give fufficient fecurity for the performance of treaties. To this depravation of politicks, in the cabinets of our enemies, we may place an account of thofe prodigious fums of money, and that moft fur- prifing lofs of men, expended by Great Britain, and facrificed to ellablifli peace in Europe, and to preferve this illand and its dependencies from the power, tyranny, encroachments, dilapidations, in- trigues and perfidy of her own natural, and Europe's common enemy. The war with France, which terminated with the treaty of Utrecht, coft this nation upwards of (ixty millions in the whole, and left it fifty mil- lions in debt : befides, after repeated victories, as well as unexpedted fuccefs, put the Englilh, and their pofterity, in a worfe condition, not only than any of their allies, but even their conquer'd ene- mies. The national intereft v;as not provided for in any better mannv by the treaty of peace, con- otAix-ii- eluded at Aix-la-Chapelle. Matters rather de- ^^^' ^' volved into worfe. At Utrecht the confederates with Great Britain obtained a valuable augmenta- tion of territory*, and a barrier, againft the French, in the Netherlands : But by the treaty of Aix-la- Chapeile, which left the enormous debt of eighty millions upon the Britidi nation, their Auftrian ally was obliged to cede feveral confiderable pof- feffions. And tho* the war with Spain was avow- edK' ii (( THE LATE WAR. fedly commenced to obtain an uninterrupted navi- gation in South-America, and to procure a proper fatisfaftion for our South-Sea company ; yet the de- finitive trea was couched in fuch indefinite terms, that nothing was ftipulated with any precifenefs, but a fufpenfion of arms between the two crowns, and the re-eftablifhment of commerce, between their fubjeds reciprocally, without mentioning a word of what gave rife to the war, in regard to America. Let the treaty itfelf vouch the truth. It was on the 7th of October 1748 the Britifli, French and Dutch plenipotentiaries fign'd the ge- heral and definitive treaty at Aix-la-ChapelIe,as did the Spanifli plenipotentiaries on the 9th. In the preamble we find this remarkable fallacious expref- prefiion j *' Europe now fees the happy day fliine "' forth, that the divine providence had pointed " out for the eftablifhment of her repofe -," when it is certain, from the meafures immediately pur- fued by the French court, that war remained in their heart. However, under this deception, it is fet forth in the firji article, That there fliall be a chriftian, univerfal and perpetual peace, and a fincere and inviolable friendfiiip preferved between the contrafling parties : that no hoftilities of what nature or kind foever Ihall be permitted, on rither fide, or on any caule or pretence whatfoever ; in - duftrioufly avoiding all things foi ^he future that might any ways diilurb or alter the union efta- bliflied by this peace ^ and that they (hould ufe their utmoft endeavours to procure, on all occa- B I fionr^. ,ill I i!! The general HISTORY op fions, whatever may contribute to their mutual glory, intereft and advantage, without giving the leaft aid or alTiftance, dire6tly or indiredly, to any psrfons whomfoever, who would willingly injufe or prejudice any of the high-contradling powers whatfoever. By the third article, the treaties of Weftphalia in 1648; of Madrid in 1667, 1678 and 1679; of Ryfwick in 1697 ; of Utrecht in 1713 ; of Baden in 1714; at the Hague in 1717; of tLe quadruple alliance at London in 1 7 1 8, and the treaty of Vienna in 1738, are renewed and admitted to ferve as a bafis of the prefent treaty. By the fifth article all the parties renounce all right and claim, by what title or pretence whatfoever, to the places They mutually covenant to reftore. By the ninth .irticle his Britannic Majefty reftores Cape Breton and all the conquells made by his arms in the Eaft and Wvll Indies ; and agrees to give hoftages for the laithful performance of this covenant. By the fixtccnth article the Catholic King allows the alFiento of negroes, and the annual fhip for the fouth leas, to continue for four years. The fe- venteenth article demolilhes Dunkirk on the fea fidcy conformable to antient treaties ; and allows it to remain fortified on the land fide. By the eighteenth article we have a tiue fpecimen of French prevarication -, for, by leaving certain points or demands open, not regulated by the ple- nipotentiaries, nor infcrtcd in the prelent treaty, but to be fettled amicably, by commilTaries no- minated for that pvirpofe, on each fide, or other- wife. THE LATE WAR. wife, as it ftiall be agreed on by the interelled power? ; we fliall find that th]ti chriftian, univerfal, and perpetual peace, and fincere and inviolable friendfhip, fo artfully and pompouOy fet forth at the beginning of this treaty, is entirely enervated and expofed to the intrigue, caprice and ambition of our enemies, whenever they might want a pretence to break it. And by the nineteenth and twentieth articles all the contrafling powers gua- rantee the fuccefllon of Great Britain and the Eledoral dominions of his Britannic Majefty. Let us now enquire how conformable the French Behaviour and Spanifh monarchs behaved to thefe engage- ^,jj s'"'jj, ments, fo folemnly fign'd and ratified. France put on the mafk of fincerity, and engaged Spain to make the firft demur to the faithful execution of her part of the definitive treaty. Notwith- ftanding the advantages of the fixteenth article, which grants only four years, inftead of nine non- enjoyment of the ajfiento contradl, the Spanifh mi- niftry were now as refractory in fatisfying the de- mands of the Englifh South-Sea company % as they were before the commencement of the war •, tho* the Britifh troops and fubjefts had formally eva- cuated the ifland of Ratan. They were even fo untradable, as to rejed all the expedients ofFer'd on this fubje6l by Mr. Benj. Kcene, the Britilli minifter at their court, who made the ilrongeft follicitations for compromifmg the differences un- a Which, by their account dclivcr'd to the fecrctary of flate, amounted to the fum of 1,500,000!. B 3 adjuflcd ■ 74 Si < » > "i ■ >. ^% 'ii The general HISTORY of Spnnifh definitive convention tipon that treaty. adjufted by the definitive treaty, until the fifth of Odober 1750; when they were pleas'd to fign what they called a definitive convention. In which, after a fallacious preamble (fetting forth the defire of their refpedtive fovereigns to adjuft the difpntahle points, which at the treaty of Aix- la-Chapellc rcmain'd unfettled, in regard to their refpedive pretenfions, and to the commerce of their lubjcdls. and declaring their willingnefs to terminate all things thereunto relating, by a friendly compnfation) it was agreed to acquiefce in the following articles : I. His Britannic Majefly cedes to his Catholic Majefty his right of enjoyment of the afliento of negroes -, and of the annual fhip, during the four years ftipulated by the fixteenth article of the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. II. His Britannic Majefty, for a compenfatioi^ of 1 00,000 1. ftcrling ''j which his Catholic Ma- jefty promifes and engages to pay at Madrid, or at London, to the royal afliento company, within the term of three months or fooner, from the day of the fignature of this treaty, cedes to his Catholic Majefty all that might be due to the fai4 company in any manner, on account of the faid afliento : infomuch that this compenfation ftiall be efteemed and regarded as a full and entire fa- tisfadlion on the part of his Catholic Majefty, and ftiall extinguiOi for the prefent, for the future, ^ Inftead of 1,300,000!. demanded on a fair account by s ■I the South-Sca company and THE LATE WAR. and for ever, all rights, pretenfions, or demands, which might be form'd in confequence of the faid afllento or annual fhip, diredly or indireifbly, cither on the part of his Britannic Majefly, or on the part of the company. III. The Catholic King cedes to his Britannic Majefty all that he might demand, in confe- quence of the faid afTiento or annual fliip, as well with regard to the articles already liquidated, as thoffr, which might be eafy or difficult to liquidate ; fo that neither on one fide, nor on the other, is ever the lead mention to be made thereof. IV. His Catholic Majefty confents that the Bri- tifh lubjt6ls (hall pay no greater or other duties for the merchandizes, which they import or ex- port at the different ports of his Catholic Majefty, than thofe, which they pay'd, for the fame mer- chandize, in the time of Charles II. of Spain, re- gulated by fchedules and ordinances of the faid King, or of his predeceffors : And, tho' the Pie del Fardo was not founded upon any royal ordi- nance, his Catholic Majefty declares neverthelefs, that he wills and ordains, that it be obferved for the prefent, and the future, as an inviolable law, and that all the faid duties be levied with the fame advantage and eafe to the faid fubjedts. V. His Catholic Majefty permits the faid fub- jedls to take fait in the ifland of Tortuga, without any molertation, as they did in the time of King Charles II. VI. His Catholic Majefty confents. That the faid fubjeds ftiall not pay any other duties, than B 4 thofe 1' ■■•1 \ -' % The general HISTORY of thofe paid by the fubjcds of hi". Catholic Majelly in the fame place. VII, His Catholic Majefly grants ihe faid fub- je<5ls all the riglits, privileges, franchifes, exemp- tions and immunities vvhatfoever, which they en- joyed before the laft war, in virtue of fchedules or royal ordinances, by the articles of the treaty of peace and commerce made at Madrid in 1667. The faid fubjeds fhall be treated in Spain on the fame footing with the moil favoured nations. In confequence no nation fhall be rated at lefs duties for the merchandize they fend into or carry out of Spain by land, than the faid fubjecls pay for fuch as they import or export by fea. All the rights, privileges, franchifes, exemptions, and immunities, tli-^t are permitted to any nation, fliali be granted to the faid fubje6ls : And his Britannic Majefty confents, that the fame thing be granted and permitted to the fubjedls of Spain in the king- doms of his faid Britannic Majelly. VIII. His Catholic Majefty promifes to take all the care poflible, on his part, lo abolidi all the innovations, which have appeared to be introduced in the commerce -, and in order to avert them for the future, his Britannic Majefly promifes like- wife, on his fide, to take all polTible care to pre- vent all innovations of that kind. IX. Their Catholic and Britannic Majeflies confirm by the prefent treaty, that of Aix-la- Chapellc, and all other former treaties ; which are hereby confirmed in all their articles and claufes, excepting fuch as are derogated froni by by tl mercj articll treats name Utre( X. mandi tweet when right THE LATE W A R. -e- by the prefent treaty •, as alfo the treaty of com- meice concluded at Utrecht in 17 13, except thofe articles which are found contrary to the prefent treaty, which become abolifhed and of no force, namely, the three articles of the faid treaty of Utrecht, commonly called e:r*%^>*> -*^^ F'^ ^^ f^ ^4^'%* f'^ s^ i*'"^> kjH( J^^ kji( •^t}^^ k,i< ^? \lM)> THE - GENERAL HISTORY O F T H E LATE WAR. BOOK I. Shewing the provocations leading thereunto^ and the ?}ieans to prevent it, * TH E treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle having tied the hands of Great Britain, France imme- diately improved the prefenf moment. Her cmif- faries were difpatched throighout all the world. She re-exerted her political intrigues at Conltanti- nople, where (he procured the depofition of the Mufti, the difgrace of the Grand Vizir, and en- dangered the fafety of the Sultan, by irritating the janizaries againil all, who had recommended or favoured a pacific difpofition during the wars ot chriftendom : and (he reigned ilill predominant at Stockholm •, and renewed the fubfidy treaty with his DaniHi majeity. New alliances were fought :* fubfi- ' By promoting the marriage of the Infanta Donna Maria of Spain with Vi6lor Amadseus Maria Priiict; of Piedmont, a treaty ■t\( A. D. 1748. France's ronciuiil after the i peace- 1 '! I *4 A. D. 1748. Examples After ihc trctity of Weltph.i- lia. The general HISTORY of fubfidiary treaties were renewed : her militia well regulated and difciplined : her armies '' kept up : her fortifications repaired, and a more than ordi- nary effort was made to recruit and to eftablifh her marine " in a more refpeiflable condition, than heretofore. But what does this vary from the conftant prac- of French i\cq of the TYcnch at other times, when perhaps they had not fuch a plaufiblc defence for their breach of faith ? Not content with the acquifition of Aifacc by the treaty of Wcftphalia in 1648, under the reflriction of maintaining the privileges and liberties of ten imperial cities fituate in that extcnfive and important country ^ the French mon- arch invaded their freedom, aboliflied their privi- leges, and by force obliged them to fubmit to the laws of his own will, as foon as he found the gua- rantees of that treaty difarmed. The means by which the French got a footing in Flanders con- trary to the treaty of the Pyrenees : the wanton - a treaty was brought about between France, Spain anJ Sar- dinia, under a pretence of maintaining the peace of Italy - it was agreed to comprehend the King of the Two Sicilies, the Duke of Modena, the Republic of Genoa, and the Infant Duke of Parma and Placentia, with engagement by France and Spain to furnifh 30,000 men, fhould any of the con- trafting parties ftand in need of affiftancc. " In Sept. 1749, her forces confided of l^oooo efFcdllve men, ready for aiflion ; befides the militia. « A plan was formed by M. Rouille to have 11 » fhips of the line, 54 frigates, 22 bomb ketches and 25 fire fliips — always ready in time of peace to put to fea. Twenty milli- ons of /iircs were appropriated for this fervicejf annually. nefs Pyrcncc THE LATE W A K. 15 nefs with which Lewis XlV. violateti the treaty of A. D. JNimcj^uen ahiioll before it was dcrtniiively ligned : Ni.ncguen. and the ilory of the partition treaty, which was Pirtition abandoned by France, as foon as it was folcmnly '^'''^* ratified, arc eternal mementos of French perfidy. To thele add the condiift of Lewis XV. in regard to the pragmatic fandion, whofe guarantecfliip Pmamritic was purchafed at the extraordinary price of the ^•"^"^^'*^"' dutchy of Lorrain, annexed to the crown of France : yet upon the demife of tlie Emperor Charles VI. the armies of this perfidious nation were prepared, and adually aflifted the F-lector of Bavaria, to overturn that very treaty, and to de- throne the Auftrian heirefs, whom their King had fo lately fworn in the name of the Holy Trinity to prote6t and defend from all her enemies. And in regard to Great Britain alone, the treaty of Utrecht furniflies fufficient ideas of that nation's in- LTucclr. tentions, wLen our interefl: and their own interfere with each other. By that treaty (twelfth article) " All Nova Scot-a or Acadia, with its ancient *•" limits, and with all its dependencies, is ceded to " the crown of Great Britain." And (fifteenth " article) " The fubjeds of France, inhabitants " of Canada, and elfe where, (hall not difburb or " inoleil, in any manner whatever, the five Indian " nations, which are fubjecSt to Great Britain, '* nor its other American allies." Clear as thefe articles may feem to be, it is certain that the French never intended to fubmic to their contents. They, ever fince they thought Two oh- trade and commerce an obje6b worthy of their at- F,cndi pj . tention, have kept two capital views in fight, '"'"• 4 whenever 'i.« . I ]r H; .i'm |6 The general HISTORY op : ! "i i ■ A. D. whenever America has been the obje(5lof confide-* '"^ ' ration. The one was to extend themfelves from Canada fouthwards, through the lakes, along the back of our colonies : in order to cut off our communication with the Indian nations, and to open a communication for themfelves between the rivers Sr. Lawrence and MiQlllippi j and thus to join, as it were, their colonies of Canada and Louifiana. The other, and indeed the moft im- portant to them and moft fatal to the Lngli(h, was to gain a communication with the ocean ; the only acccfs to Canada being commonly flnit up half the year. I'herefore full of this project of American em- pire ; for, that is the aim of the French, where- ever they gain a footing i they, in defiance of the treaty of Utrecht, began, loon after its ratiHcation, to violate thofe lolemn conceflions, by large en- croachments, &c. In the year 1720, they feized upon the important pafs of Niagara, fituate in Ameiica the country of the rive Indian nations, from which they v^^re exprefly excluded by the fifteenth arti- cle •, and fortified it, with a view to defend their encroachments already made and defigned to be carried on with force upon the BritiOi empire in North America •, they being able by this ufurpa- tion to command the lakes, and at leiiure to extend themfelves to tlie Ohio, and to continue a chain of forts and fettlements down to the ivlillifTippi. I'he plm of uiurpation on the back of our co- lonies, from iiencefoi ward, went on gradually and luccclsfuUv, from v>.'ar to v-:ar. The Indians, acknow- Encronch- ments in North OF confide-* es from ong the off our and to veen the thus to ■ida and noft im- [i(h, was the only : up half rican em- i, where- ce of the tihcation, large en- ley feized ituate in Dm which i^nth arti- fend their icd to be empire in IS ufurpa- to extend a chain of Ippi. of ourco- dually and Indians, acknow- THE LATE WAk. tf acknowledged by the treaty of Utrecht to be under A. D. the dominion of the Britifh crown, were debauched Seduce the from our intereft and their allegiance, and fpirited ^"^'^"s. up to maffacre and fcalp the Englifh : So that in the year 1731 the French had the infolence to ered: the fort of Crown Point in the centre of the Five J^ationSy and adlually within the limits of the pro- vince of New York j in order more effedtually to expofe our moft valuable colonies to Indian maf- facrees and French ufurpation, and more eafily to open a communication with the great ocean, as may be feen by calling an eye upon its advantage- ous fituation for thefe purpofes. Yet fuffered to proceed without any refentment on the part of the Britilh miniftry ! The infidelity of the French j iri regard to Nova xheir Scotia or Acadia^ kept pace with their other con- ^l^''" *" *. ^ Nova Sco- du(fl in North America. This Peninfula, (as it tia or Aca- were deferted by the Britilh courtj which never thought of fettling it for the national intereft, till after the peace of Aix'a Chapelle, and where the French forefaw no refihancej whenever it fhould fuit thenri beft to make a total feizure thereof for completing their American plan of empire) laid expofed to whatever ufes they thought proper to put it* They formed a plan, during this long in- terval, to rob us of this extenfive country, when- ever they (hould be able to bring the Britilh mi- niftry into a temper to fubmit the title, giv^n us by treaty, to the uncertain determination of com- miffaries, as Ihall be fliewn hereafter ; refolved at the fame time, if they fliould not be able to carry ^^:i iia. if" Vol. I. C thcjir ■j»..s;«ti| ,*1 i i8 The GENERAL HISTORY of A. D. their point, in that way of negociation, to '^"^ ' ftrengthen themfclves upon the premifes, and to fupport a bad argument by force of arms. Such was the fituation of affairs in America, and the moft certain index of the meafures taken by the French, upon the figning of the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ; in which they gained this Angu- lar advantage, to encourage- them to proceed in their ufurpations in North America j namely. That, notwithftanding it was notorious to all the world, that the increafe of their territory and the diminution of our power, on that continent, had been the object of the French councils, ever fince the treaty of Utrecht ; and that hoftilities were commenced in thofe parts, before the war; the Weaknefs Britifli miniftry, neither availed themfelves of the Britifh mi- War to difpoffefs the French of our property ; nor, niftry. when they were negociating a peace, does it ap- pear, that they paid any regard to a point of the laft importance to Great Britain. If his Majcfty's plenipotentiaries received no inftrU(5tions on that head, it could not be owing co the want of intel- ligence ; for it is certain that repeated remon- ftrances were tranfmitted from the Governors of our colonies againft the practices of the French; which fcarce can be thought to have mifcarried ; or to have been deftroyed or negledted by them in power. BiitUhcon- Great Britain, ev«r credulous, was the only the pcau'. power that difarm.d, and could not believe any latent evil defign, in the mealures taken, by her pcrlidious neighbours, to break the peace. Even his THE LATE W A R. '9 A. D. 1749. his moft gracious Majefty, in his fpcech to both houfes of parliament on i^ June 1749, was fo thoroughly fatisfied, That he fays, " All the ** powers concerned have declared th.emfelves in " fo clear and friendly a manner, on this fubjedt, as *' leaves no room to doubt of their fincere difpoli- " tion to render the peace laiting in all parts." The failors were difcharged, the Ihips of war laid up : The fhipwrights paid off, and permitted to enter, as did our feamen, into the fervice of France and Spain. Our army was reduced to 1 8,000 men ; and, what was equally as impolitic, we had dif- gufted our late allies ; difpofed them to receive overtures from our natural enemy, and took no regard to lecure any others -, except Bavaria, which was engaged by an annual fubfidy of 40,000 1. two thirds to be paid by Great Britain, and the other by Holland, to keep 6,000 men in pay to march at the requifition of thofe powers, for fix years ; but not to be employed againft the Em- peror, nor the Empire ; with promife of in- demnification by the maritime powers, in cafe Ba- varia fhould fijffer any damage on this account. The affairs of the North, which threatened to Trouhks break out into troubles on the expedted death of i') ^'^,^ ^ North im- the King of Sweden, favoured the political con- pioved by dud of France, always ready to fnatch every ad- vantage from the quarrels of other nations, The •confequences of France's interfering in thofe trou- bles, on one fide or other, might be no lefs than the flames of a new war •, which might by treaties involve us again in connections, that would en- C 2 tirely .' ;'* .1 !.■' K"*:; 20 A.D. 1749. The general HISTORY of tirely deprive us of the benefits of peace, and of the means to refent, or provide againft the arma- ments and hoftilities of France, either in Europe or America. This feems to have been forefeen by the Britifh court ; and Colonel York, the BritifK minifter, at that time, at Paris, was ordered ' to found the Marquis of Puyfieux, the French mi- nifter, concerning the premifes, and the difpofi- tion of his royal mafter in cafe of a rupture be- tween Ruflia and Sweden. To whom that mini- fter replied in fuch terms, as left no room for doubting of the French monarch's readinefs to take a part in thofe troubles. He faid, " That as *' future events are in the hands of Providence, •* time only could difcover whether that part of " Europe was really deftined for the renewal of *' broils, and the calamities of war -, to ward oft" which his Majefty [Lewis] would negleft no means in his power. But that in cafe all his pains and endeavours ftiould prove fruitlefs, and his Majefty be called upon to fulfill his engage- ments with Sweden, h was (from his Majefty 's *' well knov/n character) needlefs to inform him [Colonel York] that he muft anfwer the de- mand with the exadlnefs and pundluality, which the execution of folemn treaties requires." A few days after (Marcii 18) appeared the following expofition of the motives, that determi- iccptuphisncd the King of Pruflia to keep his armyMn m .i( (( (( (( C( {( cc C( Why the King of Prudla army. readinefs to march on the firft warning : *' The ^ Tn the beginning of March 1749. * Then conlifting of 1 50,000 jneu, well provided. « K ec p « tl " t<| " tl (C 4( !■ M ■i. ;; ^'t- Il;i' ill; 'r r 46 A. D. i;;o. Another letter on the fame account. ^i"^ The general HISTORY or Upon this information I applied to M. St. Con- teft, and gave him a note of it, claiming them as the King's fubjedts, and demanding their liberty, and the reflitution of their cffefts, that had been unjuftly taken from them. Thefe three perfons, I find by the paper your Lordfhip has fent me, are of the number of thofe demanded of the French by Mr. Clinton, and named in M. de la Jonquiere's letter. I have wrote to a merchant at Rochelle to enquire after them, and to fupply them with money, to make their journey hither, if they are not gone ; that I may receive from them all the informations necef- fary, on my feeing M. St. Conteft next Tuefday. I will reprefent the cafe to him, in obedience to his Majefty's commands, tiiat la Jonquiere may have pofitive orders to defift from the unjuftifiable proceedings complained of; to releafe any of his Majefty's fubjeds he may ft ill detain in prifon, and to make ample reftitution of their effeds. And I fhall take care to Ihew him the abfolute ne- ccflity of fending inftrudions to their feveral Governors, not to attempt any fuch encroach- ments for the future." Accordingly Lord Albemarle, by a letter dated the 8th of March, further writes to Lord Hol- derneffe, " That he had feen M. Rouille, deli- vered to him a note of the feveral complaints he had orders to make againft M. de la Jonquiere*s condud, and told him, in general, the contents of it ; infifting, for the prefervation of a good under- I f II ' THE I. A T E WAR. 47 «nvierftanding between the two crowns, upon the A. D. peceffity of fending fuch pofitive orders to all their governors, as might effcdtually prevent, for the future, any fuch encroachments on his Ma- jefty's territories, and committing fuch violence on his fubjeds, as had been done in time pafl ; adding to this remonftrance, that he hoped, they would be taken into confideration quickly, that he might be able to give him an anfwer next week, or as foon afterwards as he pofTibly could. That M. Rouille had promifed to ufe his beften- M.Rouiiie deavours for that purpofe ; and alFured him that fj!j"jj[^* it was the intention of the court of France to prevent any difputes arifing that might tend to alter the prefent correfpondence between the two nations, and it might be depended upon that fuch orders fnould be fent to their Governors accord- ingly." At the fame time Lord Albemarle mentioned this affair to M. Rouille his Lordfhip delivered him a memorial, which among other things, com- Lord Al- plained, " Of the French encroachments on the memol-LL Ohio, and demanded that the mod exprefs orders fliould be fent to M. de la Jonquiere to defift from his unjuft proceedings, and in particular to caufe the fort, which they had undertaken to build on the river Niagara, to be immediately razed, and the French and others in their alliance, who may happen to be there, to retire forthwith j as like- wife to fet the fix Englifhmen, whom they had .made prifoners at liberty, and to make them am- ple fatisfaflion for the wrongs and lolTes they ' avc 1 r ."iisil 48 The general HISTORY of A. D. 1750. ')!,il :i|;„ iii;i have fufFered ; and laftly, that the perfons whd have committed thefe excefles, be punilhed in fuch a manner as might fervc for an example to thofe, who fhould venture on any like attempt." Though thefe remonftrances and complaints were founded upon the moft notorious adls of hof* tility ; they produced no other effect than the re- leafe of the 3 prifoners at Rochelle. No reftitution, nor reparation of damages was ever made, or in- tended by France for the lofles fuftained by the Britifh fubje6ls. And the French court were foi far from calling Jonquiere to an account, or re- ftraining him from purfuing his encroachments^ that he was encouraged to complete the ufurpa- tions he had begun on the back of all our provinces in North America : for he had prepared a confi- derable army for that fervice, and was, when death prevented him in March 1752, to execute his intentions for that purpofe : . and it might have convinced the Britilli miniftry of the infmcerity of the court of P>ance in all their anfwers to our grievances, that the blame did not reft upon M. de la Jonquiere ; for, his fuccefibr M. du Quefnc was immediately difpatched with the fame inftruc- tions ; and did not abate, in the leaft, the diligence, with which his predeceffor had fpread the terror of the French power in that vaft continent ; and car- ried their encroachments every day further and further ; confiding in their fuccefs of deceiving the Britifh court with fair promifes. Commifla- Commifiiiries were appointed, and fent to Paris well indruded and provided with irrefra- 4 gable lies ap- poiulcd THE LATE WA R. 4-9 3> rue* ence, or of car- and vino; guble proofs of his Britannic Majefty's right and A. D. title to the difputable articles, referred to their cognizance and determijiation by the definitive ii^^ll^^^ s^c. treaty ; the Lords of trade and plantations hav- ing fearched every treaty and record, both on tl*e part of England and France, that could be pro- duced equitably in that debate, by way of proof. France, which never intended to terminate an How re- affair, in which they were fure to be worfted, had France/ avoided, as much as poffible, this appointment ; and received the Engliffi commiflapes with fo much coolnefs and backwardnefs, as promifed no happy iflue to their conferences. William Shirley and William Mildmay, Efqrs. Commim- opened their commiflion at Paris, on the 21ft of ^yBiitifli September 1750, with a memorial reciting the ^P'"""^'''' twelfth article of the treaty of peace concluded at Utrecht, the nth of April 1713 ; " Whereby " the mod Chriftian King agreed, amongft other " particulars, to yield and make over by folemn " and authentic letters, or inftruments, all Nova Scotia or Acadia, with its ancient boundaries ; as alio the city of Port Royal, now called An- " napolis Royal, and all other things in thofe " parts, which depend on the laid lands, &c." And that in conformity to this treaty, the faid moil Chriftian King by his l&tters and authentic adts, figned with his own hand at Marli, dated in the month of May 1713, " did yield up forever " to the faid late Queen of Great Britain, the ** faid country of Nova Scotia or Acadia, in its ** entire, conformable to its ancient limits, as alfo Vol. I. £ *',thc (C cc i m i m ^ H ';'l-« ■:',*/ & m:Sh ■i'iM$' 1*^ if '! :| ijii •ii. 50 A.D. 1750. The general HISTORY of (C (( cc tc (( C( (( c< «c BoiinJs of Nova Sco- tia or Aca- dia dc- the city of Port Royal, now called AnnapoHs Royal, and generally all that depends on the faid lands, &c, to be poflefled for the future in full fovereignty and propriety, with all the rights acquired by him the faid King, and his fubjedls, by treaty or otherwife, by the faid Queen, and the crown of Great Britain, mak- ing over to her, to this effed, full and entire pofielTion for ever." Then the faid commififaries declared what thofc limits are, which they demanded on the part of Great Britain, as the true boundaries of the faid nianded by . • /- xt o • a v • • his Britan- temtorics 01 Nova bcotia or Acadia, m its entire, nicMajei- conformable to its anticnt limits i namely — " On " the weft towards New England, by the river *' Penobfcot, alias Pentagoet, beginning at its en- trance and from thence drawing a ftraight line northward to the river St. Lawrence, or the great river of Canada. — On the north by the *' faid river of St. Lawrence, going along the fouth fide of it to Cape Rofiers, fituated at its entrance. — To the eaft by the great gulph of St. Lawrence, from the faid Cape Rofiers, running fouth-eaftwards by the iflands of Ba- calao or Cape Breton, leaving thefe iflands at the right j and the gulph of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland, with the iflands belonging thereto, on the left, unto the Cape or Promon- tory called Cape Breton.— And to the fouth by the great Atlantic ocean, drawing to the fouth- v/eft from the faid Cape Breton, by the Cape Sable, taking in the ifland of that name, round •* about (( 4C (( ^^ <( (C (C it tc C( (( cc ce cc cc THE LATE WAR. 5» A. D. 1750. " about the bay of Fundi, which goes up eaftward •* to the country, at the entrance of the river Pe- *' noblcot, alias Pentagoet." Thefe were the limits, which they ofFer'd to prove were the ancient boundaries intended by the treaty above-mention'd : And agreeable thereto the Britiih commiflaries demanded all the lands, continents, iilands, bays, coafls, rivers and places, comprifed within the faid limits, or dependant on the faid Nova Scotia or Acadia, bounded as above, with the fovereignty, &c. which the Chriftian King, &c. ever had in the faid lands, &c. as be- longing to the crown of Great Britain, by virtue of the twelfth article of the treaty of Utrecht, without refervation or diminution •, including alfo the lands or territories wellward, between the ri' vers Penobfcot and Kennebequi, which the French had pretended, at divers times, to be a part of the faid Acadia ; tho' the faid lands did always belong to the crown of Great Britain. Then the commiflaries concluded with a de- mand. That neceflary orders Ihould be difpatched for the due execution of the faid twelfth article of the treaty of Utrecht, agreeable to the true inten- tion and fpirit of the fame, as alio for the with- drawing of all the eftabliihments made by the fub- jeds of his mod Chriftian Majefty, if any there might be within the limits, as above K On the part of France were appointed La Gal- Commifla- liflbniere and De Silhouette, who by a refcript of pJt^of^ France, » Seethe memorialf of the Engllfh and French commiiTa-^ "' *'*'^ ries, 4to. vol. I. p. 3, &c. E 2 the f si -Mi m 1 m mil I 1T '■:i'J^^ Mr 'll it ' w ■ :i- ^^ The general HISTORY of A. D. 1750. the fame date pretended and afFirm'd, That by ceding Annapolis Royal, diftindtly by itfelf, it ap- pears not to have been comprifed within the an- cient limits of Acadia, according to the moft an- cient dcfcriptions of the country, and confequcntly, that the ancient Acadia made but a part of the peninfula fo called. That the ifland of Canfeau being fituated in one of the embouchures of the gulph of St. Lawrence, could not be ceded by his Chriftian Majefty, as part of Acadia : And that nothing had been altered by the treaty of Utrecht, in regard to the limits between New France and New England, from what they were before that Limits of treaty. And by another memorial thefe French ancient A- negociators fix the ancient limits of Acadia, from cording to the extremity of la Baye-fran9oire, depuis le Cap accomS?'^ de Sainte-Marie, or le Cap Fourchu, then along the coall: as far as Cap Canfeau ". This proceeding obliged the Britiih commifTaries tuie of the to dcfccnd to particulars, and on the eleventh of F ""_!:. "^ January 1751, they deliver'd a very long memo- rial "^ concerning the limits of Nova Scotia or Acadia, to evince the truth of thofe limits, de- fcribed, and demanded^ by them, in their memo- rial of the 2 1 ft of September laft, and to demon- ftrate his Britannic Majefty's juft tide to all the lands, &c. comprehended within them, by au- thentic fa<5ts and conclufive evidence ; they being able to fupport every part of their claim, not only from feveral declarations and adls of ftate, on the part of the crown of France-, but alio. the King of Great Britain's claim. A. D. 1751. ibid, p, 10, u. Ibid. p. 13, &c, from THE LATE WAR. A.D. 1751. from the uniform poiTeflion of that crown, for many years, both before and after the treaty of Breda -, which crown, as often as it claim'd and poflcfs'd Acadia, claim'd and pofTefs'd it in that extent, and with the fame limits they demand it. The French commiflaries, in their memorial ", The evn- above-mention'd, by way of difcouragement, held o'rthe'^ ^ out a plan to fhew the difficulties, with which ^*^"'^'^' they could embroil, and the length, into which they were able to protract thefe conferences ; and thereby the little fuccefs the Englifli had to ex- pe(fl from them. They, to the loofe manner, in which they anfwered our demand of the entire country of Nova Scoti-a or Acadia, added a me- mento of the claims their mailer had on us in other places : and that the definitive treaty did hot confine their conferences to the limits of Acadia only, but empower'd them to fettle the limits of all their other colonies, and all other matters left undecided at Aix-la-Chapelle. But inftead of difcouraging, they hereby drew The fphit from the Enfflilh commiflaries the following fpi- ^i -"''^er rited declaration : " With refpedl to the bounda- " ries of any other dominions belonging to the *• two crowns in America, it is fufficient for us to fay, That the prefent difcuITion is confin'd fingly to the limits of Acadia or Nova Scotia : But Ihould any difference of opinion hereafter arife in deciding what are the limits of any other of his Britannic Majefty's territories in North cc « C( cc cc il\ com- inlilluics. * See ibid. p. u, E3 ■ml m m '■ "iil n *' Ameri- '■•■n \k 54 A. D. 1751. The general HISTORY of \m m (C (C C( America, our mafter, the King of Great Bri- *' tain,, '^'^firous on the one hand, in no inftance, " to brea in upon the rights of his neighbours, " will on the other be found ready to aflert and ** vindicate his own ^." Concluding their long memorial, which has connefted, in a mod judi- cious and impartial manner, every fad: and evi- dence eflential to the matter in qucftion, with this juft and fenfible challenge ^ : " As the poffeffion " r»f Nova Scotia or Acadia, with its ancient li- *' mits, was finally determin'd to Great Britain, by the execution of the treaty of Utrecht ; what were thofe ancient limits is the only mat- ** ter now in difpute ; and as we have afcertain'd *' the limits, with which his Majefty claims Aca- *' dia or Nova Scotia, under that treaty, and pro- *' duced our proofs of that claim, it is equally *' incumbent on the commiflaries of the court of " France to fet forth particularly the limits, " which the court of France would aflign as the *' true limits of Acadia or Nova Scotia, and to " produce their proofs in fupport of them." Thus (lood the cafe of the difputable article concerning the limits of Acadia or Nova Scotia, feemingly more embarrafs'd, by the French tena- cioufnefs, than ever ; which join'd to the com- plaint of their not having fulfilled that article of the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, concerning the de- molition of Dunkirk, prognofticated no long con- tinuance of the peace between the two crowns. y Ibid. p. 65, * Ibid. p. Si. To THE LATE WAR. To fpin thefe conferences out to the greateft length, the French commiflaries, without taking any notice of the affair of Acadia or Nova Scotia, produced on the nth of February 1751, N. S. a memorial concerning the neutral illand of St. French Lucia, only ; which is fet off with a preface or preamble to prejudice the reader in favour of the jjjf^^ ^!^^^^'j, French claim to St. Lucia and Tobago, and to to st. Lu divefl: Great Britain of all right to St. Dcminico '^'^' '^" and St. Vincent ; alledging, with a good grace, that they could produce fufficient proof of the for- mer ; and that they did not doubt, but it would be admitted. That the two nations had guaranteed the two latter to the native Caribbees, under the protedlion of France. They argue firft from priority of difcovery ; Tiieir and, laying that title down, as valid by the laws founded of nations, they attempt to prove an equal good "5^!*"^/^^" title from a pofleffion taken of any country or ifland deferted, and not reclaim*d, by the other nation, in whom was the original right of difco- very. To Ihew this to be the cafe of the ifland of St, Lucia, they affirm. That the Englifh had been driven off, and had abandoned that ifland ; havino- fuffered a maflacre by the natives : and that the French ventured their lives to fecure its pofl^eflion, and had maintain'd their footing againfl: the fa- vages, twenty years before the Englifli reclaimed any right to the faid ifland i pretending that this poffefTion had been acknowledged by feveral trea- ties : That the Englidi had made ufc of the French E 4 to ''*■ 55 '1 A. D. ' i 1751. i ■ '^if French in(Miiijiial . ■ ! concern- v5i ing their v^i ■M '■■ym '% 5^ A. D. Tfie general history of 1751. Their po- fity, to make, their peace with the favage Caribbec iflanders ; and that the French had never quitted the idand of St. Lucia; but had always kept up a I'ucceirjon of governors and commanders upon it, without any impeachment of their right •, and promife to prove thcfe aflcrtions by evidence from cotemporary hiftories, and from authentic inftruments and papers. But, with a craft peculiar to thofe, who intend liticai infi- to dcccivc, the French commifiaries put on an nuation a- . ^ . 1 ■ ,-^ bout fince- air ot uncommoH finceriry and relpect, *' defiring *' the Engliib to read this memorial and the others, " intended to be laid before them, without pre- *' judice, without partiality, with that fpirit of *' equity which ought to direft the adtions of two *' fuch great and puilTaiit nations. That being *' the only means to arrive at the truth, whofe *' difcovery would be of infinite importance for ** their reciprocal good and tranquillity, and •' which the commifiaries of each nation ought to '* make their only objc.61." * . ,:i - . How far we may admit of the fincerity of the French commifiaries in this addrefs, their candour in the recital of fadts will explain. They fupprefs the orignal difcovery of St. Lucia by the Englifh, and won't allow any account thereof, till Sir Tho- mas Warner took pofleflion of it in the year 1 626; and that by this Warner's agreement a French ad- venturer, D'Eihambuc, who divkied S[.Chriftbpher's with him, return'd to France, and obtain'd for himlelf and others a charter, not only for the ifland of St. Chriftopher, but for Barbadoes Detected. French to a light b\ liiico- veiy alfo d.;tt61:cd. » Ibid, vol. II. p. 7, &c. and THE LATE WAR. and the other neighbouring ifles, from eleven de- grees to twenty, within which parallel lies the illand of St. Lucia. Whereas it was not till the year following, that the firft public and au- thentic a6t appeared for the eftablifliment of the Engliih property of this ifland, by a charter granted to the Earl of Carlifle. This being their only proof for poflelTion and title by priority of difcovery ; their next attempt is to fliew that in the infancy of our adventures amongft thefe iflands of the new v/orld, both the Englifh and French would frequently attempt a fettlemenr, and be obliged to leave it for a nation more able than themfelves to maintain its pof- feflicn. Thus, fay they, the French tried to fettle Antigua and Montfcrrat ; but thefe firft adven- turers abandoning thefe iflands, the Engiilh en- tered upon and kept them. So in like manner, they infer, the Englifh attempted in 1639 to fettle St. Lucia, but not being able to fupport them- felves againft the native favages, they were forced to abandor* it in the year following: And the French immediately took pofTeflion of the fame. As the whole of the argument in fupport of the French claim, turns upon this principle '', let us cut it Ihort, and, after ftating the right, v/hich the King of Great Britain has to that ifland of St. Lucia, examine its validity by authentic fa(5ts, end ftridtly juft conclufions drawn from them. The Englifli commiffaries replied % with a be- i« 57 "'c A. D. i:; i-;>i. L . Al 'f'\ Ml I^' ■^'mmi :■■■ '. i-i I •l'.=i| *;■■ *> See the memorial in vol. II. p. 3, Sec, p. 45, &c. c Ibid, coming ' 'j.*-'*- '^C' ■fm-. Mi, '•■ *; ^ ?. lis 58 iV. D. 1751. Equity and fmceiity of the Eng- lilh. Anfwer c- very argu- ment of the French memorial. By flicw- ingourpri- ority of difcovcry. The general HISTORY of coming dignity. That they wcire perfectly con- vinced, that while they confidcr'd the memorial with temper, dilintereftednefs and a fpirit of equity, recommended to them by the French commifTaries, and preferved this temper, they were '^i forming to the intentions, and executing the commands of their mafter, who came into this negotiation from the motives of jullice and friendship ; delirous on the one hand, in no in- fiance to encroacii on the rights of France, der termined on the other to maintain his own ; and fenfiblc at the fame time, that in all cafes, where two ftates, at peace and in alliance, have incon- fiftent pretenfions on the fame dominion and ter- ritory, nothing is more fure to preferve that peace, and to perpetuaie the alliance, defired by both, than he bringing fuch claims to an ami- cable decifion. They then proteft againft the pretended gua- rantee of the iflands of St. Dominico and St. Vin- cent, and produce evidence that St. Lucia was difcovercd by t^ree fhips ficted out by the Earl of Cimberland in 1593, and fettled in 1605 and 1606 by a colony of Englilh, under the direiSlion of SirOlip'i Leaph : which was ftrengthen'd a few years after by another colony fent by Sir Thomas Warner, in 1626, who appointed major Judge Governor of that ifland. This dellroys the French title by priority of pofTeffion or difcovery. As to the commiffion or patent to d'Efnambuc and otiiers, it is, fay tiie EngUlli commifTaries, worded in fuch a manner as to induce a belief, that St, THE LATE WAR. 59 A. D. 1751. St. Lucia was not fo much as known to the French at that time (1626). It does not fo much as men- tion the name of fuch an ifland, which appears in the Earl of CarUfle's, under the form of an old colony ; and therefore no title can be drawn from that commifllon ; whofe filence of fuch a place ' a. fliews at leaft, if it was known to the French, that they confider'd it to belong to the Englifl; As to acquiring a right of pofTefilon by the re- By denv- moval of a prior fettlement, it is anfwer'd in this J"^.^'^'^^^- ^ Itition or cafe; That in the year 1640, in the month ofsi. L.itia. Auguft, the favage natives of St. Lucia over- powering the EngUQi colonies, killed the Gover- nor, and deftroyed all that came in their way with fire and fword. Such, as efcaped this mailacre, fled away to Montferat. Which is the forfaking or abandonment, the French chiefly found their title upon. For, it was immediately "^ after, in this very year 1640, that M. du Parquet, not without fufpicion of being a chief abettor in that bloody fcene, carried a colony of 35 or 40 eff*ec- tive people to St. Lucia, and built a fort, &c. to proteft them, and to afliire their ufurpation againft the Engli(h, mould they return with force. It is undeniably evident. That the defertion of the ifland, by the EngHfh, was not voluntary, but forc'd upon them by an unhuman maflacre, and therefore the property could not be lofl; by the flight of thofe who efcaped ; but it remained in the nation, to which they were lubjedls, to reclaim and repoflefs, when time and opportunity fliould •* Within a month. Sec ibid. p. 6;;, 71. fervc. ■yy- ^;>';1F mi mi "Ik* 6b A. D. 1751. What is the law of derelic- t:on. m The general HISTORY 01 ferve. Accordingly Lord CarliQe, in the midft of our deftraflions at home, fent over feveral Eng- lifii in the years 1644 and 1645: But neither thele, nor another armed force, fent againft thbfe iifurpers in 1657, were ab;e to make good their landing : who kept their ufurpation till the year 1664 J when Col. Carew, with a regiment of fol- diers, drove the French off, rcgain'd pofleflion, and was made Deputy-Governour of the ifland under Lord Willoiighby ^ Now, as to the law of derelidion : That fuch a law is neceffary, is nllow'd •, but then it muft be a law, eftablifhed on the confent of all nations, to prevent extenfive countries from being with- held from the common utility of all people, upon a pretence, in any one, of a right to that which they ufe not, and to prevent frequent wars being perpetually carried on in fupport of uncertain and revived titles. And this law is not to be founded upon an ad of neceffity; but upon an ad of choice and conveniency ^ Therefore, there can be no abfolute derelidion of a country, but where the laft pofleflbr leaves it voluntarily, and without any apparent necefTity. To make fuch derelidion in one people a founda- tion of right in any other coming after them, it is neceffary that the acquiefcence of the firft power under the pofleflTion of the latter, be an acquief- « Ibid. p. 73. f Pro dereljfto habetur, quod dominus ea mente abjecerit, ut id in numero rerum fiiarum efle nollt ; idcoqac fiatim do- minus ejus efle definet. Ibid. p. 83. 3 cence THE L A T E W A R. 6i qence intended voluntary and clearly manlfciled. A. D. So that a delertion, forced upon any people by an ^^^^' enemy, or a temporary acquiefcence under that cxpulfion, occafion'd by necefllty, cannot extin- guifh the right of any people to the country they fo abandon. Which was the v^ry cafe of the Englifh in the year 1640 at St. Lucia ^. And in confequence, all the argunaents drawn from a fucceffion of Governors, and bargains and falcs, &c. are of no confidcration. As to the whole of their argument we may form o^i'i^rva- rhe beft conceptions of their evidences from the the French declaration, with which the EngHlh commiffaries "^^^^ ^' wind up their reply -, " We, fay thofe commiffaries, " have gone thro' the hiftory of his Majefly's an- " tient, uniform, and clear right to the ifland of St. Lucia : We have (hewn that this right began, and was eftablifhed, by a difcovery and fettle- ment made many years before the French, upon the teftimony of their own writers, had any knowledge of the Caribbee iflahds ; and that it was uninterruptedly continued and kept up by all proper and fufficient a6ts of government, " and, in later times, it has more than once re- " ceived the final fanction of treaties , at the fame " time making it appear. That the commiffaries of France have nothing to oppofe to this right, but pretences of early difcovery and poffeffion, which their own hiltorians overturn j or, a temporary fettlement, gained by aii ufurpation, which the law of nations will not juftify i or, e Sec ibid. p. 85. *' A re- (C cc ec cc (C i\ The contended fucceflion to the government and kingdom of Arcot gave the French Governor of pietencc!^* Pondicherry a favourable opportunity to difguifc his real intentions, and to ruin the Englifh on that coaft under the name of jufticc, and of auxiliaries to an exiled family : a game, which the French court has often played in Europe, by invafions and rebelHons in Great Britain and Ireland. M. Pupleix in pofleflion of the Pretender to the king- dom of Arcot, at the time peace was concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle, and forefeeing the vaft advan- tages arifing from the improvement of fo lucky an incident, when he had no oppofition to fear from the Englifh, fettered by the faith of the late treaty, he joined the Pretender Muzapherzing with fix hundred Europeans and a train of artil- lery. The reigning Nabob was flain in the defence of -his capital : his eldeft fon fell into the hands of the French and their allies ; Mahomed AUee Cawn efcaped to Tritchinopoly; and Arcot, and the whole province, fubmitted to the arms of the invaders -, who, afraid to alarm the Englifh-too much, at once, returned to Pondicherry, till Admiral Bofcawen, who was flill on that coaft, and exprefled himfelf with great refentment againft the French Governor on this occafion, fhould fail for Europe. The Englifh fleet under that Admiral's com- mand departed for England on the 21ft of 0<5t. 1749; and next day the French and their allies took the field, and raifed contributions all over the Take t]ie iield. tHE LATE WAR. Cs the country. The French troops were comnland- A. D. ed by Mr. Law, nephew of the famous Milfifippi ' ^ ' Law. The King of Tonjore refufing to acknow- ledge the ufurper Muzapherzingj they befieged his capital, which was defended with much bravery ; till the Englifh, finding it neceflary to put a flop Oppofedhy to the progrefs of the French, and to prevent an ^ ^ "^ '^'* increafe of power in an opprefTive neighbour, that muft at laft have proved their ruin, and were folicit- ed by Mahomed Allee Cawn to alTift him in defence of his right, fent Captain Cope with a detachment from Fort St. George to Trichinopoly j who, be- ing joined '•' by a large army of horfe " under the command of Nazirzing, Vice Roy of the Deckan, obliged them to raife the fiege and to return to Pondicherry. Being reinforced with 2,000 Europeans, a nu- merous body of Sepoys, and a large train of ar- tillery under the command of M. d' Auteuil, they again took the field, and marched to feek Nazar- zing. This obliged the Englilh to fend another detachment from Fort St. George, confiding of 600 men, under the command of Captain Lawrence, who has favoured the world with this account, accompanied by Mr. Weftcott, one of the council, by way of commiflary, to manage the conduft of the allies for the intereft of his nation. Nazirzing appointed Captain Lawrence General- ilTimo of his army •, and both armies were ready to engage, when the French General's heart, begin- (' ' "> At Waldore, in February 1750. " 30,000 men, 800 cannon. Vol. I. F ning ' ! ' "TT - — ■■ it: ■f' , 66 Thl general history of A. D. 1752. French ftratngeni to defeat C( (6 ning to fail him, had recourfc to ftratagcni, in hopes of prevailing with the Englilh to ftand neuter in the time of aftion. M. d* Autcuil fent a meflenger to General Lawrence, to acquaint him. That although they were engaged in different caufes i yet it was not his defign, nor inclina- theEngiifn. tt ^JQp^ that any Europcanblood fhould be fpilt : •' but that, as he did not know the poft of the '* Englifh, he could not be blamed (hould any of *' his (hot come that way, and hurt the Englifh." To which General Lawrence fent back this anfwer : *' I have the honour of carrying the Englifh co- lours on my flag gun ; which by a proper look- out will dired where the Englifh are pofl«;d. But whatever your defign and inclination may be, I am refolved, if any fhot come my way, to return them-, though I fhould alfo be very •* loath to fpill European blood." The cannonading began, and M. d* Auteuil, like a true Frenchman, fired a fhot diredly over the heads of the Englifh : which General Lawrence ordered to be returned by three guns well pointed, to convince him, that the Englifh were not to be cajoled or terrified into a ftate of inaflivity, at fa ' critical a jundure, when a defeat of their friendly Indians would put the French in pofTefTion of all the inland country, circumfcribe the Englifli within the walls of their fea ports, and cut off their com- mercial intercourfe with the natives. MlA-arries. This refolution had its efFe(5t. M. d' Auteuil having nothing to hope for, from his flratagem to • • ket-p the Englifii inadive •, and not daring to riflv ' V the c« C(. C( iC V( ately ,v « THE LATE WAR. «7 11, m ftand 1 fent thim, Ferent iclina- fpilt : of the my of » jlifh. ifwer : ifh CO- • look- pofted. 1 may y way, p very uteuil, ^ over A^rencc minted, to be , at fo iendly of all within r com- lUteuil rem to I to rifl'; tho % A. D. 1752. the iil^ie of a battle with fuch a numerous army, fo well fupported by the Englifh, he decamped, and retreiited with his Europeans and Sepoys, ,"?": the night, leaving behind eleven pieces of heavy artillery, with part of his artillery-men, in order to conceal his real deCgn ; for, he gave out that he was marching to alarm the camp of the enemy, by night, . and would be back in the morning. Thus deferted, the French^allies were immedi- ately attacked and routed with a moft (hocking car- nage by Nazirzing i and it ?/a'« with the utmoft difficul!;y that the Englifh fa.^d fome of the French gunners from the fury of the Moors. The Englilh General comm'tted the wounded to Humanity the care of his own fu-^eons \ and provided for En^ufh. them all with a humanity and generofity becoming an Engliihman. But in return for this friendly diftin(5tion, M. Dupleix laid hold of it, by way of proof that the Englifh had broke the peace, by making them prifpners \ and wrote a long pro- tefl againfl General Lawrence for that purpole. Which the poor French artillery-men, that fur- vived, ienfible of their obligation to the Englifh, effedually confuted, by gratefully acknowledging their tender ufage of them, and confefTmg that their lives were entirely owing to the forcible interpofition of the Englifh General. Nazirzing had in his army a body of 3,000 men under the command of one M^jrarow, a kind of freebooters, and ready to execute any defpc^ rate lervice. Having completed his vidory over the forces of his native enemies, he the faml^ -f 2 nijght hi m ••'m ♦' -.! uHr ^im U III? ^^ 1 I 6S Tnt GENERAL HISTORY oP A. D. night difpatched this corps in purfuit of M. d* / >' M. Du- pUix's plot. Auteuil, whom he overtook and obliged him with great lofs to haften his march into Pondicherry. From this moment M. Dupleix, convinced he fhould never.be able to carry his point, againft the Englilh and their friendly Indians, by a fuperiority in the field, determined to try the fuccefs of in- trigue, and the bafefl: treachery. He engaged Miizapherzing to make an infidious fubmiflion to Nazirzing, that he might be always at hand to fa- cilitate rhe intended confpiracy againft the Vice Roy's life ; which M. Dupleix looked upon to be the greatell obftacle to his fuccefs. He alfo found means by fair promifes of aid and great rewards, to gain Nazirzing's prime minifter, and the Na- bobs of Cadapah and Condanore, to be parties in the treafon againft their fovereign ; while they amufed tlie Vice Roy with flattering hopes of an nccom-nodation by Ambafladors, fent with a pub- lic chara(5ler, that they might more efFe6lualIy concert mcafures with the chiefs of the confpiracy, at his court. jvitiuH to The only thing the confpirators dreaded was the i^nmlxLcu- power of the Englifli auxiliaries *, Therefore means tion. j^,j{^. ije contrived to get rid of them : which the prime minifter, the Vice Roy's favourite, under- took to bring about, without giving his mafter any fufpicion of a defign to weaken his army. He knew that the Englilh could not be prevailed with, in fuch circumftances, to leave their fetdements and frontier bounds expofed to their enemy's force i which would be the cafe, provided they ftiould ■ . • ' follow )P M.d* 11 with :rry. ced he nft the priority of in- n gaged fTion to 1 to fa- le Vice 1 to be ) found ;wards, le Na- parties lie they of an a piib- fliially piracy, vas the means ch the under- erany . He i with, sments force i fliould follow THE LATE WAR. follow \m mafter^s army to Arcot. He therefore, {o wrought upon his mafter's pafiions, that deter- mined him to take the rout of that city, and to leave the Englifh under a necefTity to return home^ At Arcot the court was fo conducted, as to gra- tify his paflions for women and hunting, and to take away his attention from bufinefs, and the dc- figns plotted againft him. In which flate of fe- curity the Vice Roy was kept, till roufed by frcHi hoftilities, which attacked the corps of Morarow, and put them to rout ; and furprized the fortrefs of Trividy, only i6 miles weft from Fort St. David. A new requifition was made by Nazirzing for a detachment of Englifh from Fort Sr. George ; who marched under the command of Captain Cope : but the Vice Roy poifoncd by his prime minifter, treated them with fuch indifference and prevarication, that they, for want of pay, were foon obliged to feparate from his army, command- ed in chief by the Nabob Mahomed Allee Cawn. As foon as the departure of the Englidi was known, the French and their allies attacked the Nabob's camp, and gained a complete vidory ; the Nabob himfelf eicaping with great difficulty. This vidory was followed with the furrendcr of the ftrong town of Gingee. The confpirators improved this lofs fo pathetically, as to make it an argument for Nazirzing to take the field in perfon to oppofe the progrefs of his enemies. Thus un- der the pretence of recovering Gingee, and chal- pfing his enemies, they brought the Vice Roy F 3 before 69 \. D. 1752. "-^■HII jfl^B ''^iHMff^ , ■ ijfitn^ . v1m| hif' i>^J f I' %m The general HrSTORY of A.D. 1752. The plot executed. I <•,'. i iji I'Si i'BI •sl Uf If ■ li\' • r !' before that town, in the teeth of the French and their allies, encamped under the cover of the guns on the ramparts. The tragical fcene here began ^ The French had agreed to attack that part of the camp occupied by the two traitorous Nabobs •, and their troops had inftru6lions to make no rc- fiftance. The Nabobs had alio perfonally engag- ed, on their part, to aflalTinate their Sovereign Nazirzing, at his firft appearance on the alarm. The attack was no fooner begun, but the two Na*. bobs made direftly for Nazirzing'* tent, and meeting him, as he came out, intreated him to mount his Elephant, and haften to punlfh the rebels. But whilft the credulous and unfortunate Prince was preparing to follow their advice, one of them {tabbed him with a poinyard, and thfi other Ihot him with a piftol. His head was im- mediately fevered from his body, fixed upon a fpear, and carried to his competitor Muzapher- zing, whom the murdered Prince had brought with him, as a ftate prifoner -, and whom the re- bels, taking the advantage of the confufion and panic of the army, placed upon the Elephant prepared for the deceafed, and proclaimed him Vice Roy of the Deckan, without any material oppofition i every friend of his country endea- vouring to provide for his own fafety, at a time they did not know, who were to be trulted. While the natives were thus employed, the French pufh- ed forward to Nazirzing's tents, where they found va(l riches in money and jewels ; out of which they railed immerife fortunes i but none To great as THB L AT E W A R. 7f as M.Duplelx'si who from this time looked upon A. D. himfclf to be the richcft fubjeft in Europe. And ^ovv m' fuch was his ambition, that in memory of this Dupicix malfacre he caufed a town to be built upon the nKnf" " fpot, called Bupleix Faiea bat^ the place of *^'*^'''^^' vifkory. ♦^ The confequences of this fuccefs to the French were moft extraordinary. The government of Arcot, with its dependencies, was given to their faft friend Chunda Saib, and Dupleix himfelf was iiis Power, aflbciated by the new Vice Roy to Ihare the go- vernment with him. " Nothing feemed now to (land in the way of the French fcheme of fuperiority, but the elcape of Mahomed Alice Cawn, wno, at the firft hearing of the aflalTination, made the beft of his way, without any attendants, and got fafe to Trichi- nopoly 1 imploring the aid of the Englifh, who fent him a ftrong detachment under Captain Cope. By this affiftance Trichinopoly was defended, this whole year : and by another detachment of about 300 Europeans and 500 Sepoys, officered by gentle- men, that had never been employed in a military capacity, under the command of Captain Clive, c.-ip^nn the city of Arcot, the capital of the province, was Jolc'' a^ff ' furprized on the ift of September. This was ""^ ''eguu. made more glorious by the defence of their con- queft i in a fiege of two months by a large army, and conduced by European engineers. At lafl: the town was aflaulted in breach, in three different places J but Clive's little garrifon beat the en^my ■^:'1 ■y.\ ..■'■'4 » January 1751. F4 off 72 A. D. 1752. The con- fpirators tlil agree and quar- rel. The general HISTORY or off with confiderabls lofs -, and the Captain taking advantage of their confufion, falUed out, and fol- lowing the blow, took all their cannon and levelled their trenches : Being immediately reinforced with a detachment from Trichinopoly, he purfued the French and their allies till he gave them a total over- throw at Cauverypauk, in the month of March 1752, and did not halt till he had reduced the Forts of Timery, Cauverypauk, Aranie and Con- jeveram. But this was not the only mortification of the enemy. The two Nabobs, that aflafiinated Na- zirzing, thinking themfelves neglcded inthedif- tribqtion of rewards, and growing jealous of the power of the Freiich and their connedion with Muzapherzing, mutined in their march to Auren- gabad, the ulual refidence of the Princes of the Peckan ; and though not flrong enough to maf- ter the French, who confified of 600 Europeans, 2,coo Sepoys and a large train of artillery under the command of M. BulTy, charged with a com- miffion to place Muzapherzing in poflelTion of his new acquired Vice Royfhip j they fell upon the flank of Muzapherzing's troops, defeated them and killed Muzapherzing himfelf •, with a great Jofs of their own party and the life of the Nabob of Condanore, one of Nazirzing's murdcjrers. From this time the war was continued with va- rious fuccefs. The French and their allies, attempt- ing to prevent Colonel Lawrence's entrance into Trichinopoly, were feverely handled, and obliged to retreat, and foon after to furrender prifoners of THE LATE WAR. 73 A.D. 1-52. war to the laid officer, who took meafures, when reinforced, to cut ofF the enemy's communica- tion with the country, from whence they were fupplied with provifion. They were commanded by Mr. Law, and according to Mr. Dupleix's account were 20,000 in all, including 600 Eu- ropeans, Topalfes and Coffrees. This was followed with the furrender of the poib of Elmiferam, after a flint refillance. But the French having, by a falfe report of a large convoy of fiores to be on a certain day at Outatour, about 15 miles from a Pagoda, where Mr. Clive had taken pod, drawn out that a6live officer with the chief part of his men, in expe(5lation to furprize it; they, advifed of his march, detached a confi- derable number from their army, with orders to march after dark, and to make their attack on the party left for defence of the Pagoda, at day light. Captain Clive not finding at Outatour any Ciptain advice of a convoy, as reported, fufpeded the re- biavuT, port as it was really intended; and therefore after ^^^^Rti^*! refrefhing his men, returned with the utrroft expe- dition, and regained his poft at the Pagoda about eleven at night ; no enemy appearing, his men went to reft, and himfelf retired to his Pallankeen. So that at four in the morning, when the French arrived before this poft, they found all quiet -, and ignorant of Captain Clive's return, they advanced, and by the help of deferters from the Englifti, thev deceived the guard left there in the morning i who having challenged them, and being anfwered friendst M ( • I ■■■ .;v/;-|-.^^-i \ Mi • ^ { pi ii'^ 1 74 A.D. 1752. 1) ii The general HISTORY of friends, were not convinced of their miftake till the Sepoys began to fire. The firing roufed the garrifon : Capt. Clive ran immediately to the place of a6lion, and was {o confufed, at firfl, that he ran amongo. the French S. poys, who were pufliing into the Pagoda, and, thinking they were endeavouring to fkreen them- fclves from an attack, repremanded them in their country language, demanding what they were firing at. A French officer cut at him with his fword ; but Mr. Clive clofing with the Frenchman, received the blow from him fo near the hilt, that it did no execution : and one of his own Sepoy officers, coming accidentally to his relief, cut the French officer down. Captain Clive thus providentially faved and dif- engaged, hurried in fearch of his own men, and found them under arms. But the French had got poffeffion of the poft. He then formed his de- tachment, marched to the Pagoda, and after fum- mons to furrender, which the French rejedled, he prepared to ftorm it. But the French made a fally, in which their officer was killed, with a few more : the reft furrendered at difcretion. The Sepoys in the French intereft, who remained with- out the Pagoda, endeavoured to efcape by flight, but were purfued by the Marratta cavalry, and cut all to pieces. The fiege of Pitchunda was undertaken; and the garrifon in three days furrendered themfelves prifoners of war. A party ^ of French, under p Thirty officers, five men, 300 fepoys, and 300 horfe. the 3 THt) LAT^ W A R^ the command of M. D'Aut€iiil,^»ere firft driven by Captain Daicon from Outatour, which the French deferred io the night, and were made prifoners, with a large qvianuty of ftore5i at Volconda by Capt. Clive, on the 2.9th of March. Such a feries of misfortunes, which had de- French de prived the French alHes of fupplies both in pro- f^'^^^^'^ ^'j^' vifions and money, determined great numbers of ^^^'''^^^'^•''< the Indian army in the French intereft to come over to us. Amongft whom was one of their Generals, Coop Saib, with a thoufand horfe, a large body of Sepoys and fourteen elephants. E,ven Chunda Saib, the grand partisan, of the French, was fo difpirited, as to throw himfelf into the hands of our allies ; who thinking it unpolitic to let fuch a dangerous man go out of their pofleflion, but not agreeing to whofe care he fhoujd be com- mitted, fome of Monagee's, the King of Tan- jore's General's people, cut off his head '^j un- known to the Englilh commander. Capt. Law, who defended Seringham, furren- dered by capitulation to the Nabob MAhomed Alice Cawn, on the fame day Chunda Saib was decolated, and Captain Dalton took poflelTion of that town, in which he found 30 pieces of cannon, ten of which were i8 and 12 pounders, the reil field pieces j two large mortars, a number of co- horns, and a great quantity of ammunition, and all kinds of warlike ftores, M. Dupleix was not eafily caft down. His M. Du- pride fupported him, and at the fame time, fays j^'j^^ '""" 1 On th^ 3d of June. 75 1 w A.D. 1 KS^' M ,11' 7 rcnch de- rtpd by i , ..I ■ *. '' '*■ 1* H. 76 A. D. 1750. : I 1 1' 'I ■I: The general HISTORY of my author % his mind wzz vJl ofrefources, Iha injuftice of his caufe never JiHuil-ed him-, and provided he could gain hi. ends, the means never gave him any concern. His council was chiefly, compofed of his own creatures, who never dif- puted what he propofed. He was married to a woman, endowed with as much fpirit, art and pride, as himfelf ; born in the country, miftrefs of all the low cunning peculiar to the natives, and well fkilled in their language. At the feafon Law was obliged to furrender, the Ihips from Old France arrived with a large reinforcement -, which, as it indicated the hoflile intentions of the French conrt, encouraged M. Dupleix to proceed with the utmoft vigour to ex-^ eclite their grand projed of dominion. And that he might not want a pretence for his hoftile con- duel, which ceaied with the life of Chunda Saib, lately beheaded, Dupleix railed up another Pre-. tender to the province of Arcot -, and that he mighc. feem to have an unbounded right to appoint, whom h^ nleafed, he gave out that the Mogul, had feni: hi.n commiflions,, declaring him Gover- nor of all this part of the Carnatick, from the river Kriftnah to the fea. Which was a mere forgery. The young Pretender was Raja Saib, the fon of Chunda Saib -, but this youth having neither mo- ney, nor intereft with his country-people, was foon obliged to refign his Nabobfliip to the Go- vernour of Velloure, whom Dupleix, by virtue of •• Col. Lawrence's Narrative^ p. 41. ■^'%y: L-., ^1 V *f »^, -' '* the' L i^ T E W / R. his p.etended commiirions from the Mogul, raifert to that dignity for a valuable confideration in hk- ney. But after trufting Dupleix with three 1; ..k of rupees, not finding any effe6t likely to en. '.*? to his own advantage from a mere title, he ftopt his hand. The French forces were now confiderably aug- mented, not only by the reinforcements from Eu- rope, but by preffing all the Tailors from the China fliips, that touched at Pondicherry, com- mitting their navigation to Lafcars. Our force was rather upon the decline. Neverthelefs the skgc of Governour of Madrafs concerted the fiegeof Gin- coilcSed gee ; a (trong place by art and nature, on the weft ^"^."'''i"- of Pondicherry, well garrifoned and well provided ; befides being moft difficult of accefs amongft mountains well fortified : which ended in a r-'*- pulfe, with confiderable lofs of men and officers. Major Kinner, who commanded the dcMchmeni', v/as wounded, and died of a fever and 'jx, be- fore he was recover'd of his hurt. This advantage fo puffed up the FiT-ch Go- M. Du- vernour, that he order'd all his forces to tak: the !il'il''Jidze field, and to march clofe to the bounds of Fort |^'"i'.i'^i St. David. Which motion alarmed the Englifh. The troops in St. David's were order'd to encamp without the walls, and Capt. Schaul's company of Swifs were fent from Madrafs in boats -, but were intercepted by a Ihip fent by M. Dupieix, carried into Pondicherry, and there detained priibners of war, in open violation of the peace * between Eng- land and France. v'f''j^|^K ' '|||«'! '^; -;]K^ A. D. •!^' '7i^. ift <|Hp ■■■■» WsBs '■ ttoops. In i'^ugufl 1752. M 5! M Such 78 The GENERAL HISTORY or ■A;D. Such an open hoftility onlyfcrved to- animate ^'^5^- thff Englifti ; as it made the French principals in theEn-^inf ^^^ Indian war, and would juftify our more vigo- on that oc* rous opei'ations againft their forces. General .Law- rence took the field before St. David's on the 7th of Aiigull with 400 Europeans, 1700 Sepoys, 4000 of the Nabob's troops and nine pieces of cannon. The French army, commanded by M. de Kerjean, nephew of M. Dupleix, confifled of 400 Europeans, 1500 feapoys and 500 cavalry, ' encamped at Trichanky Pagoda ; who being fo near, as to difcover our preparations for an attack, ftole away in the night to Bahoor •, and, feeing themfelves purfued, tiiey retreated to Villanour, within three miles of Pondicherry. But, finding it impoflible to force them to an adion, unlefs he fhould follow them into their own bounds, which he had no orders to do, the Englilh Commander had recourfe to a ftratagem, to decoy the French back again, with a fuppofition, that his retreat from their bounds was a token of fear and want of courage : and accordingly M. Dupleix fwal- lowed the bait, and by a peremptory, order ob- liged his nephew to purfue the Englifh to Bahoor, two miles fi-om fort St. David,, and to rifquc a battle. This was juft what the Englifh Commander wanted -, who on the 26th of Auguft at two in the morning, got under arms, and march'd up to the enemy's camp, and advanced filing i the French {landing their ground, till our bayonets met. Then our grenadiers puf d with fuch fury, that the Defeat the French. Ider the Ithe ich let. Ihat the \ A. D- \e ; THE LATE WAR. 79 the French threw down their arms and ran for it, leaving the Enghfli matters of the field, all their baggage, eight pieces of cannon, and all their am- munition, tumbrils and (lores, with the lofs on our fide of one officer killed, four wounded, and 78 men killed and wounded. This vidlory was followed by the furrender of its confe- fort Covelong, about 16 miles S. of Madrafs, and 1^^"" fort Chengalaput, about 40 miles from that fet- tlement; which, tho* exceeding ftrong, almoft cn- compafled by a morafs and furrounded with two walls, whole ramparts are 16 feet thick, a wet ditch fenced with ftone fixty feet wide, quite round the outward fort, and another half round the in- ner, furrendered on the firil of Auguft, to a fmall party commanded by Capt. Clive. In Europe the countenance with which the court Condua , of Spain tolerated the feizure, and fearchof Britifh °^ ^p^'" w>. *^ ' towards Ihips in the Weft Indies •, and the notorious advant- Great Bri- a^e given to the French trade in Spain,in preference to the Englilh •, and the diligence, with which the navy of Spain was order'd to be increafed -, exem- plified of how great power the influence of the French was, at that time, in the court of Spain i and that the Spanifh miniftrv were refolved, fooner or later, to join all their force with France againft Great Britain, fhould matters end in a rupture between thofe crowns, and France ftand in need of the navy and treafure of Spain, as the event has fliewn, to extricate her fjom the arms of the conqueror. Every tain. \M \' . ;•■* Vl '-^3 ii £o The general HISTORY op A. D. 1752. tas. ^i ili 11 Every packet, from the Weft Indies and our plantations, brought frcfli accounts of the ob- Barbaritics /v o- • i r • 1 of the itruction our commerce, in thole parts, met with gjuidacof- fi-om the Spanifh guarda coftas, v/hich had been civil for a while. Thefe arm'd vefiels fwarm*d on the coaft of Coracoa, and in the fummer 1752 took all vefTels, that fell in their way, without rcfpeil of perfons, amongft which was a floop be- longing to Coracoa coming from Aruba \ John Gafney, mafter of the fliip Eagle of Bofton, failed from Port Royal in Jamaica on the 20th of May ^75'^i bound for Coracoa m ballaft and five ne- groes i but meeting with tempeftuous weather, violent fquals and tornados, with calms and a flrong current weftward, was forced to the lee- ward of the ifland of Ratan, where he fell in with a Spanilb half galley of eight guns and fixty-five, men, and a floop of eight guns and fevcnty men, commanded by Don Publo Gracia Tolon, who fir'd four Ihot thro' his fails and rigging, and or- der'd him immediately to lie too. and goon board of his floop, or he would board hir. and cut him and his people to pieces. The ma ter, furniflied with proper papers to flicw he was upon a lawful trade, complied with the Don's commands. But was detain*d on board the Spaniard in a hoftile manner : and while he was kept under arreft, the Spaniards feized his boat, went on board the Eagle, then eight leagues from the fliore ; robb'd and plunder'd the fliip's ftorcs and provifions i broke locks and chefts, and in a wanton and ma- t By letter from New York, Sept. 23, 1751. licious THE LATE WAR, 81 m licious manner tore and doftroyed every thing, A. D. that did not feem of fervice to them ". But this *^^** was mild treatment compared with the cafe of Pa- trick Roney of the fiiip Diamond, who in his voyage from Port Royal in Jamaica to Charles town in South Carolina, was brought to, and boarded, off Cape Nicholas, by a Spanif^ (loop j carried into Cape Nicliolas Mole •, rummaged, plundered of 3000 1. in money, and after being obliged, by threats to have his ears cut off, to fign a paper he did not underftand, was put on board a fchooner and fent to Jamaica '^. A letter, dated July 16, this fame year, from Providence in North America, relates. That the Cool from Jamaica to cape Fear, was arrived there in diftrefs, occafioned by her ill ufage from a Spanilh guarda cofta, whicli brought her to, in the windward paflage, and after a ftri6fc fearch, finding no mo- ney on board, the Spaniards were fo exafperated, that they ufed the people with fuch cruelty, that there were only three men able to ftand the deck ; which obliged them to (leer for Providence, to get able hands to carry the vefTtl to the northward. All which depredations were approved of by the Spanilh court. • In Spain itfelf our merchants in vain infifted Behaviour upon the privilege of being treated with the fame J" i^^l^ regard, as was paid to the moll friendly nations merchants. . 1 . ; It' ' <» (I M ^M ,n i ■ ^:K'' " John Gafney's depofitlon at Kingfton in Jamaica. ^ As appears by the oaths of Patrick Roney, John Holt, and Francis Welfh, fworn before Thomas Hibbert, at King- fton in Jamaica, nth of January 1752. Vol. I. G fettle4 m 'i I J W \ III ^2 A. D. Naval pre parations The general HISTORY of kttled in her lea-ports, or elfewhere. For, ad- vantageous tariffs were made with France, and the Britiili commerce was loaded with (o much more at the cuftom-houfe, as enabled our chief rival in trade to under- fell our manufaftures and goods in the Spanifh markets. ; 1 he appointments for the marine, ""nd the mear- fiires piirllied for making it rcfpciftable, promised, i i • in a (hort time, to fulfil their wiihes. In 17^2 it the SpnniOi was confixtently given out that tlie SpaniOi navy, r.avy. befotc thc end of the winter wowld confift of 64 ihips, from 60 guns and upwards, and 28 frigates. The naval preparations were carried on in France witli fo much diligence and vigour, that, at Rochellc, it was denied a private Englifli gen- tleman the requeft to view the great dock at that port, in which only there laid, in the winter ly^U fifty fail of men of war and frigates, befides fe- vcral fliips of force upon the flocks. Thcfe accounts, it might be thought, Ihould liave awakened the BritiHi miniftry ; to take into confideration the actual ftate of th^' naval forces of France and Spain, and the continual attention of thofe powers to augment their marine, which could not poiTibly be intended againft any other nation, than Great Britain. Befides the French troops, ordered for the year 1753, which toge- ther made 211,755 men, difcovered their hoftile intentions. Yet, his Majefly at the opening of the parlia- ment, on the eleventh day of January 1753, in- formed them, by a Ipeech from the throne, " Thar. A. D. KS3' *' all cc cc «« C( (C in N m k Ibid. * Ibid. p. 271. antient :*;4 n It* ii ^ 90 A.D. ?753" The general HISTORY or antients limits demanded by Great Britain ; and by four French maps' publifhed by Dc Lifle, Bellen and d*Anville, which confine the country of New FrancQ to the northfide of the river of Canada, and mark out the limits between Acadia and New England to the weftward according to the claim of his Britannic Majefty ; and the fourth by Champlain, which carries Acadia beyond the Peninfula, and makes Pantagoet the weftern boundary of it -, they further fay. That Henne- pin in his travels marks Acadia on the continent, between New England and the river St. Lawrence: That de Fer ^ the French King's geographer, in his Atlas, makes Nova Scotia and Acadia one and the fame country; extending it to Canada northwards, and afligning the fame extent of limits to them both i terminating the weftern limit at the river Pantagoet: and that Gerdrcville' in his Atlas makes Acadia to extend from theXennebec to the ifl^nd called Perfee at the mouth of the river St, J^awrience. "* ,.»».-: Then having (hewn what little authority the piaps of Mr. Halley. Popple and Salmon are of, " the Englifh commiflaries conclude thiy part of the argument with the following obferv^twns : " That the more Ancient maps abfolutely contradifb ar^d deftroy the idea, which the French commiiraries have of the ancient limits of Acadia : that there > See Merpo^als, Vpl- I. P 271. ^ A. D. 1705. ' A. D. 1719. ■" Sec Memorials, Vol.1, p. ;7 1 V ■ 1 ■>.'■, Ma^ 9» A. D, '753- The general HISTORY or and fometimes upon the mercomiflions of the name of Acadia, rather than upon tlie full and entire fenfeof any paflage in thefe writers fully and fatis- fadorily cited. By which means books may be made to carry any appearance. *' They then pro- ceed and examine each of thcfc hiftorians by tak- ing every paragraph in queftion entire ; ' and hav- ing gone through each author diftindly, they fum up their evidence in thcfe words : *' We have •* now examined all the French hiftorians ched *' by his moft Chriftian Majefty*s commiflkries to *' eftablifh their fyftem of the ancient limits of ** Acadia, and we think ourfclvcs authorifed to fay, from this view of their feveral works, that the Sieur Deny*s commifllon in 1 654, and that clauie in particular which grants him the fedentary fiftiery on the coaft of Acadia, marks *' out the fouthern bank of the river St. Law- " rence, as the northern boundary of Acadia, *' and makes it extend as far to the weft as New *' England : That Mr. Champlain agrees with *' the Sieur Denys in the northern limit of Acadia, •* and makes Sainie Croix within the weftern limit *' of it : That Afcarbot never afligns any limits •* to Acadia, or even mentions the country : And that, therefore, one of the only two hifto- rians, from which any evidence at all can be colledted, is a very full evidence in fupport of " the whole claim of Great Britain ; and the other by afltgning the fouthern bank of the river St. (( C( C( <( C( C( i( cc 9 See Memorials, Vol. I, p. 283. ♦ Ibid. p. 285. V Lawrence «« Law " the *' Croix " Fren " finec The proof f ral part: jefty cla diftina rather t Englifli fufed ki tin' . -■* 'ill " of Ait . :| V J. h -! It sn A.D. »755- The general HISTORY of ** of their fyftem, has been dcmonftratcd to DC " deftrudtive to it, and applied in the ftronged •' manner in maintenance of the claim of Great *' Britain. And it af^pcars upon the whole, that *' the King of Great Britain, bringing no evi- ** dcnces from fources, that are not aiuhcntic, is ** fupported in his claim by every tranfaftion be- •• twecn the two crowns lor above ai century pad j " and that in claiming the country from Pantagoet ** to the River St. Lawrence, as Acadia, his Bri- •* tannic Majefty demands no more than what •' France has always received under that name irf ** the moft general reftitution ; than what, if the *' antient limits of it be determined upon mapsj ** hiftorians, the uniform decifions of the twof " crowns for above one hundred years together; *' and upon the declarations of the crown of «« France at the treaty of Utrecht itfelf, the •* crown of France mull in all eqtiity and fairnefi •* acknowledge to be a jiift claim upon the words ** of cefwn in the treaty of Utrecht." *' The French commiflkries, on the contrary^ «' are equally incapable of fuppof ting their fyftem *' and their limits upon the maps and hiftorians " th'^y cite, and upon the proceedings of govern- ment, treaties and better evidence produced by lis. They dare not abide by any poflfeflion ever taken by France in confequence of the mofl general words of reftitution ; nor by the pof- fellion of France for above an hundred years fuccelTiVely j nor by any declarations made by *• the Gj'ov/n of France at the time of the treaty *• of cc cc cc (C Diftant 1 -/d l<^;^.^Hes nboVe 'h«? rt^(^bih cf'the Ohio, c About 6(>»tagus3T<-orn't5iie MSlT^l'Ppk.^' , •'' H '2'* . '•' "Mingo's, 99 A. D. »753- " « • « • • 1 m ; '1'' S A 1 '■^'1 • V t I f I I I tro The general HISTORY oy ITI ' ■J- '||i ' ;■ ■x ' '' fe i s 1 PI A. D. Mingo's, Dclawares, &c. together, and told them, ^^^' that they had intended to be down the river, this fall, but were obliged by the inclemency of the feafon, to defer their march till the fpring, when they would certainly come with a much greater ni!]mber j and threatning them with military exe- cution, in cafe they would not remain neuter : for that they expedled to fight the Englilh three years, and did not doubt of fuccefs, and of con- quering all the lands on the Ohio. Major Mr. Walhington arrived at Verango, on the tonVam- 4^^ day of December 1753, an old Indian town vai at the ^t the mouth of French Creek on the Ohio ; where French lU- tion, and he found the French colours hoifted at a houfe, ccq) ion. £^Qj^ which they had driven Mr. John Frazer, an Englifli fubje(5l-, and met with Captain Joncaire, who was the French Commander of the Ohio ; who received him courteoufly, and referred him to the General Officer of the next fort with his letter. However Joncaire kept him at Hipper, and after the glafs had pafled about chearfully, the French Captain told him, That it was their abfolute defign to take poffeflion of the Ohio: And by G— they would do it : For, though they were fenfible the Englifh could raife two men for their one, yet they knew their motions to be too flow and dilatory to prevent any undertaking of theirs ; grounding the right of France to the river, upon a difcovery m.ade by one La Salle, about 60 years before : And agreeable to this converfa- tion, they, had jiqiL^jd all flraggling Erij^lifh traders, and had ]Qrt.iei.''s-.to".n:iake eVcry pei-fokprifoner, who > attempted attempt it : and lowing S I ] AS I chi( letter, ^ French you hac inclined to whon the evi( King n river Ol King your leti His anr\ order n- may be with to retire •, Whatev virtue o treat yc that I ai with all be expe^ that in 1 has palli lity, or, fubfiil i • t I I * ( - • « t I • I THE L AT E W AR. loi attempted to trade on the Ohio, or the waters of A. D. it : and now the Commandant returned the fol- lowing anfwer to the Governor's letter. SIR, AS 1 have the honour of commanding here in Jhc chief, Mr. Wafhington delivered to me the command- letter, which you wrote to the Commander of the ^ooTv^" French troops. I fliould have been glad, that Dinwid- you had given him orders, or that he had been inclined, to proceed to Canada to fee our General ; to whom it better belongs, than to me, to fet forth the evidence and the reality of the rights of the King my matter, to the lands fituate along the river Ohio, and to conteft the pretenfions of the King of Great Britain thereto. I fhall tranfmit your letter to the Marquis Duguifne, or du Qiiefne. His anfwer will be a law to me. And if he fhalj order me to communicate it to you. Sir, yoq may be affured, I Ihall not fail to difpatch it forth- with to you. As to the fummons you fend me to retire •, I do not think myfelf obliged to obey it. Whatever may be your inftru6lions, I am here by virtue of the orders of my General -, and, I in- treat you. Sir, not to doubt one moment, but that I am determined to conform myfelf to them with all the exadnefs and refolution, which can be expe6ted from the beft officer. I do not know that in the progrefs of this campaign, any thing has palTed, which can be reputed an a6t of hoiU- lity, or, that is contrary to the treaties, which fubfill between the two crowns j the continuation H 3 whereof m I ', I < I ,■ It ■ ' 'J-- i4 102 A. D. »793- The general HISTORY of whereof as much interefteth, and is as pleafing to us, as the Englifh. Had you been pleafed. Sir, to have defcended to particularize the fafls, which occafioned your complaint, 1 fhould have had the honour of anfwering you in the fullefi:, and, I am perfuaded, the mofl fatisfadory manner, &c. From the Fort Sur la Riviere an Bi:uf, Decem- ber 15, 1753. Legardeur deSt. Piere. Jiii'.iHi Thefe hoftljities were alio tranfmltted to the court com- - tt* • ■ j i i • • .-i plains of court oi Great JDntain : and thecumplamts agamlt thcic iiofti- ^Y^j.^^ ^gj-e exhibited in a memorial by the Earl of III ILS, With- ■' outetFeft. Albemarle tlie Britifii niiniiler at Paris : but with- out any other efrect, than delufive promifes to curb and withdraw the caules of thole complaints. And the Britifli minillry (till gave To much ear to thofe vain pretences and excufes, that they pre- vented his Majefty, at the opening of the parlia- ment on the 15th of November 1753, from tak- ing proper notice of the French condu61: towards his American fubjeds ; and permitted him to de- clare, " That the continuance of the public tran- quillity, and the genera] ftate of Europe re- mained upon the fame footing, as when they laft parted 5 and aflured them of his fteadinefs in purfuing the mofl efFc6lual meafures to pre- ferve to his people the bleflings of peace/' The Governor of Virginia was convinced other- wife; and endeavoured, v/ith a true Britifh fpirit, to prevail with the Virginians, and his neighbour- ing governments, to arm in their own defence, and to cvdl a fort on the Forks, to curb the French King's ibccch. cc cc o a merchant in London, S I R, T N the name of curiofity, what are you about Theim- in England? If we might judge of you by the amimifc- rules of good fenle and policy, I fhould imagine of thJ^*^" you to he in all the hurry of preparation for war: '°"^"' for, you will not furely fuffer the moft notorious and repeated violations of rights and treaties to go unrevenged. The French have long i5nce, commenced aflual I.oftilities againft us here; have not only entred upon our territories manu forti^ but have taken from us our forts, and ftrong holds, fuch as they were. In fliort, all our colonies arc in the utmoft hurry and confufion from the ap- proaching danger. By this fituation of our af- fairs, you, gentlemen merchants of the mother codntry, muft expeft to be in great meafure af- fected with us : For, whilft we arc fending our youth, to the repulfion of the enemy, and reco- very of our frontiers, cultivation mufl: be, and is, neglected : And without a full attention to our produce, how fliall we be able to make the proper feturns to England. What will really be the con- fequences \i W • '' ■; ( :|^ i f.i til' I" io( The general HISTORY of A. D. fequcnces of rhefe proceedings, God only knows. ^'^^' But certainly yc >ught not to be indifferent, as to the danger, L ile at prefent it is at a dif- tancc from you. It requires not a very great degree of know- ledge and judgment to comprehend, that on the fecurity and profpcrity ot the colonies, depends the prefent fiourifhin^i; condition of the mother country. The immenle quantities of goods, which are annually imported into America from l*,ngland, to the amount of fome milliuns llcrlinij -, the greater number of fhipping and hands employed in the exportation of them, make up, I doubt not, the moft confiderable part of your prefent trading intereil : and by manufacturing the ma- terials for this particular commerce, what number of individuals, nay families are wholly fupported in England !—— In fliorr, Great Britain is chiefly indebted to us, that fne makes fo rich, fo potent and refpeflable a figure in Europe. A truth that, however evident, we have reafon to fuppofe, from the tenor of their pail conduct, has not been fo obvious to your miniitry ; or, in other words, to thofe in power, whole immediate duty it was to inform themfeivcs concerning it. It does not efcape our notice here, how ready and generous England has been, and (till is, to grant fubfidies upon every paltry alarm, to fome petty German Princes, to the tune of fome hun- dreds of thoufands, merely for the fake of pre- ferving, as the minifters call it, the balance of power. How much has been done to prefer vc the light m idv to I me bn- ire- 01 vc the THE L A T E W A R. the balance of trade, or even our iindonhted lights in America, let them declare, who know it. In Ihort, and to tell the plain truth in few words, we are looked upon by your great men, as a fubjedl too low for their fublime politics *, by your country *fquires and coxcombs, as a fet of tranfports and vagabonds -, and by your boards, as unruly children, that want more to be corrected than encouraged. Thanks to their wifdom in taking fo little care of our breeding I It has been for many years pad, that the French have uninterruptedly been forming a force on the back of our colonies, from the Miflifippi to Ca- nada, by gaining over the Indians to their intereft and ereding forts at proper diftances, which might open a ready communication from north to fouth. They had a triple policy in this, (i.) hat by fecuring the alliance of the Indians, they might engrofs the peltry and fur-trade. (2.) That by fuch a chain of forts and ftrength, they might not only prevent the extenfion of our colonies, but even ftraiten and didrefs them at pleafure, (3.) That by fuch an ellablirhment and pofTeflion, they might be able to prt'Terye the back parts of America by negociation ar d treaty, whenever our minifbry might be provoked to look into our rights ; and take up the refolution of calling them to account for fuch a procedure. As far as my obfervation has gone, it has ever been through negligence and negociation, that Britain has, firfr, permitted her proper rights and advantr , u 107 A. D. «7S4« - n I .■ ■ ■I r ! ... 1, .'' ': } 111 'iH w \M I ■ \ lo8 The general HISTORY of A. D. advantages to become difputable, by fufTcring '■^ * them to be invaded, without an immediate proper refentment : and after (lie has come to the refolu- tion of aflerting them, flie has too eafily con- defcended to a treaty, and at length been con- tented, or made fatisfied, with a divifion. It is this kind of conduct, that I doubt we fliall have more reafon to be afraid of, hereafter, than we feem to be at prefent, leaft the miniftry Tnould not grant us a fubfidy. For, after all the inconve- niences which we mud inevitably go through, af- ter the great expences and lofles we muft a6lually fuffer, as well in lives, as in matters of property, before we fhall be able to regain our forts and frontiers ; if there fliould be any compofition made with the French, as to the lands on this fide the MifTifippi, it will be only protracting the evil day, and prove to be fo much blood and treafure ex- pended to little purpofe. For how can our colo- nics be ever fafe with a French enemy on their backs ? Or, whilft fuch a danger is hanging over them, what fecurity can be given to the induftri- ous, that they fliall reap the fruit of their own labours ? . To conclude, we defire to be confidered only as a petty German Prince, with relation to your liberality ; but with refpedt to the rights of the Britifti empire, and the rights of induftrious fub- je6ls, we hope to be empowered and encouraged not only to afiTert, but to recover, to defend and enjoy them in their full and juft extent, in fpite of of Fre thin (< (( C( <( cc THE LATE WAR. 109 of all the power, perfidy and ftratagem of the A. D. French, and even of the devil himfelf, (hould he '^** think fit to join them. I am. Sir, &c. &c. This feafonable and fenfible reprefentation, of the danger and importance of our American plan- tations, deferves a fcrious attention, as it contains many interefting remarks concerning the value of thole provinces to the mother-country •, the means of preierving and improving them, and the ha- zard this nation runs by every negledt to drive off encroachments, and by any compofition or divi- fion of the lands behind thofe fettlements -, which were daily extending their limits, efpecially into the fertile and delightful country of the Twightees, inhabiting the plains on the Ohio ; by a company The Ohin of merchants at London. Who have obtained a eShhed grant from the crown to fettle that trad of land '^'^1^ i^" 11 n- r- ■ exclufive under the protection of Great Britain, with an ex- light. clufive privilege of trading with the Indians on the banks of the river Ohio. This grant was made foon after the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle : and it no fooner tranfpired, j^s effect than the French Governor of Canada wrote to '" ''fs^'"'* to the the Governors ot New York and Penfylvania ; French. giving them to underftand, " That as theEnglilli inland traders had encroached on the French territories and privileges, by trading with the Indians under the protection of his Sovereigny he would feize them, wherever they (hould be found, if they did not immediately defift from that illicit pradice.** This menace not being regard- It (C (( «c «( «( - i ■m •Hi 'h ,^ < . ■ >:. ■ ''i. :«Sr A no The general HISTORY of inK'' V <■' jl A. D. »754- la regard to the In- dians. regarded, he next year caufed three Britifh traders to be arrefted. Their efFedts were confifcated and their perlbns fent, by the way of Quebec, to Ro- chelle in Oid France, and there imprifoned : As already related more at large ". This grant produced another unlucky effeft *. The new company not only negledted to gain the confent of the native Indians, on the back of the royal patent, which might have been done at a trifling expence, and what has been ufual on like occafions •, but they fent a perfon to fiirvey their country in fuch a dark myfterious manner, as gave a people, naturally jealous, too much room for fufpicion and difcontent. Which difpofed them to receive any overtures, with more willingnefs from the French, offered by way of protection. Befides, the jealoufy of the Indians was greatly heightened by the traders from Penfylvania and Virginiai, who foreiaw that they themfelves would be great lofers, in that valuable branch of traffic, from which they were ro be excluded by the royal privilege of a new monopoly. The adlion at Fort Neceflity being tranfmitted court's be- to London ; it was reprefented by the Britilli Am- haviour at . ■ , • r i the com- ballador at Fans, as an open violation or the bmlt^Fort peace. Which did not meet with the fame de- NVceflity. gj-ee. of refpc^, as on former occafions of com- plaint ; the time now nearly approaching for the French to pull off the mailc of moderation and peace. For, inftead of difavowing the conduct French n c On page 44, &c. ^. Ibid. of ,»■»«» rn ted im- the de- Dm- thc and of THE L A T E W A R. Ill of their American Commander, orders were ex- A. D. pedited for reinforcements of men and ammuni- '' tion to perfc(5t their pernicious defigns on that Continent. As all this could not be concealed fiom the inftnu-- Britilh miniftry, which was known to all the peo- JJ^^^ur rl ple ; the nation murmured greatly at their fupine ionics to inadlivity •, whofe only care of that vaft and im- one confc- portant Continent amounted to no more than fome ^^'^''^'^y- cautionary inilrudions tranfmittcd to the Gover- nors of our provinces ; and for them to unite in their own defence. The inftrudions ran thus,; " It is his Majefty's command, that in cafe the fubjefls of any foreign Prince fliould prefume to make any encroachments in the limits of his Ma- jefty*s dominions, or to erect forts on his Ma- jefty's lands, or to commit any other ad of hofli- lity ; and fliould, upon a requifitio; made to them to defift from fuch proceedings, perfift: 'n them, they fliould draw forth the armed force of tlieir refpedive provinces, and ufe their beft endeavours to repel force by force." Tlie Governors were likewife ordered to form a political confederacy. And the Governor of New York was appointed to confer with the Chiefs of the Indians, and by prefents, and other means, to keep them ilcady to the Britifli intereft. This, to be fure, was a dcflrable union, and a iiow tiicy meafure that, if cffedually executed, might have J^.'^J'^j*'"^" anfwered the intention of preventing further en- croachments ; but, fuch is the bad policy of Bri- tifli fubjeds, that they, by their ov/n contentions, fre- i ''■n% J ,■ u. ':«;.■ ':'«, If I 9'4\ I '! If'- W\ i :U !' m a ii2 The General history o^ A. D. frequently fruftrate the beft concerted meafures; ^^ Thus, when unanimity and adivity were mod ne- ceffary, the national intereft was ncgledtcd, ami obliged to give way to the religious and political difputes of the Provinces. The aflembly of Vir- ginia quarrelled with Diriwidde their Governor, about a fee he demanded for every giant he Ihould pafs for land. The Penfylvanian Reprefcntacives wafted their time in vain deliberations and vio- lent difputes with their Proprietaries, while the enemy invaded their frontiers, and fortified them- felves. New York was divided into fadions by fome men of property, but of turbulent fpirits, ■who exerted their influence to diftrefs the views and defigns of the Government. A congrefs was appointed and held for that purpofe at Albany, by Commiflioners from all the Britiih Provinces. But few Indians attended, and they behaved with fo much indifference, that, though ihey accepted of the prefents, renewed treaties, and demanded aid to drive the French from their territories, it appeared plainly, that they were gained over to the French intereft, and thought the Englifh would be obliged to deliver up their country to the French. Though they feemed to be very well pleafed with their pKcfents, which were much more confiderable than ever had been Speech of ^^'^own, they, in their Ipeech to Mr. Lancey, Lieutenant-Governor of New Yr :, fpoke with great warmth, feverely blaming the negled and indolence of our nation, and in praife of the French for their diligence and care to fortify and maintain their the Indi ans th long of a for cr THE L A T fe W A R. i'3 /,. D. 1754- to ten -7' ith Ind Ich lin 'Oil. their garrifons, while the Englilh left both their fettlements and their alHes expofed to invafion and deftrudion. They particularly recriminated upon us the defertion of our fort at Saraghtoga, in the laft war ; reprefented the dcfencelefs condi- tion of our frontier city of Albany -, and con- cluded with feafonable and rational advice to de- fend ourfelves, and to encounter the French with more fpirit and condud for the future. In this congrefs a plan was concerted, after Genem! n- k)ng debates, for executing that falutary meafure Jj'""''ii'^^^ of a general union of the Britifli colonies, and for creating a common fund to defray all military expences : and it was agreed to lay this plan be- fore his Majefly and council ; but, it was never carried into execution. During the fitting of this congrefs Mr. Shirley, Foitsim-it, Governor of MaiTachufet's bay prevailed vath the y ^flembly of his Province to build a ftrong fort near the head of the river Kennebeck, and to pro- vide 800 men for that fervice, to protefl the Province from the incurfions of the French and In- dians. In purfuance of this refolution of the af- fcmbly, Mr. Shirley, in the fummer 1754, marched with the troops to the eaftern frontier, and, with the confent of the Indians, built Fort Wellern, about 37 miles from the mouth of the river Ken- nebeck, and Fort Hallifax about 54 miles down the fame river ; of which proceedings when Go- vernor Shirley tranfmitted an account to the mi- niftry at home, he alfo reprefented the imminent danger to which Nova Scotia was expofed, from Vol. I. I the 3 c\.'c. i.)yNt\iV 01k. !■.; ■':■■ . %t^: w 114 The general HISTORY or >754- Rcmon- ftranccs a- boiit Nova Scotia. Approved of. •A- D. the encroachments and fortifications of the French, which had extended themfelves to the very neigh- bourhood of the Englilh fettlements •, and from any fudden attack, which might eafily be formed againll that Province from St. John's Ifland, Cape Breton, and Canada. This remonftrance feemed to carry fome weight : for Governor Shirley received not only the appro- bation of his Majefty and Council for the fervice he had performed on the river Kennebeck, but a command alfo to concert meafures with Mr. Lawrence, Lieutenant-Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of Nova Scotia, for at- tacking the French forts in that Province. But nothing could be done in this fervice till the next fummer; except raifing 2000 men in New Eng- land, and receiving 2000 fiands of arms from London. General It was alfo rcfolved in his Majefty's Council to appointed, appoint a Generaliffimo for the fervice of North America. This command was conferred on Ge- neral Braddock, whofe courage and military dif- cipline had recommended him, as of ability for fo great a trufl:. At the iame time orders were ifllied for raifing two regiment?, of two battalions each, in North America, to be commanded by Sir William Pepperel and Mr. Shirley, and for the embarkation of Halklet's and Dunbar's regiments of foot, to fail with all expedition with General Braddock for Virginia ; but they did not get from Ireland till the 14th of Janua- ry ^55- • Though 'W> ',J^V''^ id s \y THE LATE War. Though it was not pofTible to fix upon any plan to tinite the Provinces efFcdually, for their com- mon fafery under thefe perilous circumftances, the Gdvernors' and principal Planters repeatied their re- prefentations to the miniilry in England, of the bad' ftate of their rcfpeiflive colonies, afiuring them that they muft inevitably fall a prey to the French invaders, if not fpeedily and powerfully affi{l:ed by their mother country. And poflerity will review with aftonifliment the nec-lip-ent remif- hefs with which the Bricifn Miniftry fufFered the caufe 6f t'hofe complaints to continue, and thofe valuable territories, which make fo confiderable a part of the Britifh dominions, to remain in fo ex- pofed and defencelefs a condition. All that can be urged to exculpate fuch a neglect, is the fup- pofition. That the Provinces had a fufficient in- ternal (Irength to defend themfelves. • But, this is a fallacious way of rcafoning : for, though it be allowed, that the inhrbitants of tb.e Britifli empire on the Continent of North America, ex- ceeded the French and Canadians, at the rate of ten to one, it ought to be remembered alfo, rhar, v^'hile thefe provinces or governments continue ia feparate ftates, with fcpra-nte intereils, without any conncdion with one anotl^er, their ilrcngth is divided, and mighty one after another, fall a prey to the combined force of th.e French, Canadians and Indians. However, thouf^h the Provinces might have done more at this time for their com- mon deR^nce, than they did, that is no crccufe for the BritidT miniflrv, v/ho ougl't either to have I 2 corn- 1^5 A.D. m a -''V^ M . -,t 1 •! , ', ■; ■.■!, :■■■ ?-'^* 'I i J' ' ^ if ti6 A. D. The general HISTORY of compelled them to fubmit to fuch impofitions, at '^*^" the Jegiflature might find neceffary for their mu- tual intereft in time of danger and war ; or, to have proteded them with regular forces fent from Europe. In this they would only have imitated the ene- my, who, by every Ihip to Louilbourg and Que- bec, kept continually (ending regular troops to en- courage and to ftrengthen their fubjcds and allies. By thefe Col. Wafhington was defeated i and with the fame force the French improved that defeat, by feizing all that fine country on the Ohio, and its branches. However, Spain Teemed fo much inclined, (upon the change of her miniftry, this year, when the Marquis De la Enfenada was forced to refign to rhcpacific Mr. Wall) to maintain the peace with England, the ^court that the difputcs about our cutting logwood in the o .pain, i^^y of Honduras were amicably adjufted between the faid Mr. Wall, the Spanifh Prime Minifler, and Sir Benjamin Keene, the Britifh Ambaflador. ^"^^'■•Pi^f'f No wonder, therefore, that Mr. Pitt did after- i-egard to wards treat the Franco- Spanifh memorial, in wliich feudcd.^'^" ^^^ cutting of logwood was pretended, amongft other grievances, to be a principal article to ob- ltru£l the pacific negociations, then carrying on, between Great Britain and France, with the in- dignity fuch an after-claim deferved. And he had good reafon, from fuch a change in the con- dud of Mr. Wall towards Great Britain, to be- lieve him frenchified, and to be leeking an oppor- tunity to join the enemy of our country, under the THE LATE WAR. 117 :hc A. r. 1754- the fpecious pretence of maintaining the rights of his own nation, in a puint they had already given up and adjuftcd. This year had not yet produced any remark- Affairs in able alteration in the affairs of the northern powers, ^^^ "^"^^ ^* fo as to affe(5t the intereft of Great Britain ; though it was very certain, that no court in Europe, ever fo obfcure, had efcaped the attention of France, and being tempted to adhere to her intereft, either by promifes, threats, or fubfidies : And at the fame time reprefenting the complaints and mea- fures of Great Britain, againft their encroachments in America, in a mofl difadvantageous light. In the Eaft Indies, M. Dupleix, afTuming the Affaire j'a- port and character of an Eaftern Monarch, under Jjj'^jig^^^ his forged commiflion from the Mogul, continued the war, with all his power, to diftrefs the Britifli intereft. But notwithftanding his riches, fuperio- rity of men, and connexions with the natives, he could not, all this time, ftrike any efFeftual flroke againft our fettlements •, but, on the contra- ry, was obliged to fubmit to many difappoint- ments and rebuffs from the condudt and courage of our troops. The Britiili miniftry, during this fummer ( 1 754) had managed the national affairs without the help of a Primier, which place was laft vacated by the i^eath of Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Efq-, brother to the Hon.H'i^'n. Duke of Newcaftle, who departed this life in the ^^Z^'^^** beginning of March. And his Majefty, on the fourteenth day of Novenber opened the parlia- ment with informing them, " That the general <^-i I 3 ftate 'i ■. .J:^: mi'' • |i ii8 1 A.D |i: 1754 1 • ■ i|icvch. 'i?i .s '■i '*i 120 The general HISTORY o» •ii. A. D. archy, and to add that fine country to his own '* dominions. Thefe preparations and intentions reaching the court of Spain, the Queen mother queftioned his Grace the Archbifliop ? Who, ei- ther deceived by his inflrudtions from France, or prepared to keep the Spanifli court in a ruinous (late of fecuiity and inadivity, by the ftrongeft af- furances of his royal mafter's refolution to main- tain the faith of the late treaty, and not to invade any part of the Spanifli dominions, during the young King's minority, continued, with the moft folemn proteftations of fincerity and friendlhip, to amufe the Queen mother and her minillry, till the very nev/s of the French having invaded Flanders arrived at the court of Madrid. Thus the Marquis de Mirepoix was ordered, (whether in the fecret or not) to amufe the Britifli court, and, if pofTible, to delay, or llacken their arma- ments for America, till the French had fuflkiently llrengthened their ufurnations from Europe. It is certain Mirepoix ailed his part extremel/- well : even fo far, as when faifls were daily al- ledged to confront his pacific declarations, this. thorough-paced politician pretended to be ftruck Repairs to with aitonilhn.ent and chagrin, and to repair to couJtl'nr Verfailles to upbraid that miniftry for making him further in- the tool of their difTimulation. Itrudions. . , ^ This conduct of the French AmbafTador, has been urged in favour of his candour and fincerity : But, if we confider it with all its circumftances, and compare it with the Archbifliop of Ambrune's behaviour, in a fimilar cafe j this aftonifhment, chagrin» Keiniuks t hereon. chagri appeal that ti to obt honou gratiat greatlj accom failles umpht royal n him by ing bee other n nion th de Min Fram tween o refoluti( terminal againft fore, nc ordered fitted 01 other m tion to ferve foi De C Paris, b informec of State ihip of ; Is h THE LATE WAR. t2l A. D. '754- chagrin, rage and departure of Mirepoix, will appear to have been a concert'*d finefle to gain that time by fufpence, which they were not able to obtain by prevarication. Mirepoix's reputed honour and the pohtenefs, with which he had in- gratiated himfelf at the Britifh court, conduced greatly to fill fome of our ftatefmen with hopes of accommodating matters, by his prefence at Ver^ failles : And, at his return to London, they tri» umphed greatly at the pacific intentions of his royal mafter, which he declared were delivered to him by the King himfelf: Which aflurances, hav- ing been long dete6led of fiilfhood, could find no other means to gain credit, but on the good opi- nion the Britilh Court entertained of the Marqui'j de Mirepoix. France, ever watchful of the proceedings be- tween our King and parliament, eafily forefaw the relbUition of his Britannic Majefty, and the de- termination of the parliament to fupport him againft the French violation of treaties. There- fore, not to be behindhand, the French miniflry ordered a powerful armamei.: to be immediately Condi-aof fitted out at Breft, for North America ; and took other meafures, which prognofticated their inten- tion to ftrike fome important blow, that might jferve for a declaration of war. De Cofnc, the fecretary of our embafly at Paris, by letter dated the ift of January 1755, informed Sir Thomas Robinfon, Secretary of of State, That 17 men of war, the Admiiars (hip of 70 ^uns, were ordered to be equipped at Bred, tlu Fixncli miiiittry at this time. AD. '755' -..' ! 'M f .-i; 122 The GENERAI. HISTORY of A. D. 13refl, and that tlx* greateft part of that Heet was '"' defined tor America^ with regular troops on board. ISy another letter of the 8tli, he fpecifies the number of lliips to be 16 of the Hne, and five frigates -, and the troops to be 3000 men : and adds, that they would be ready to fail by the end of March. On the 23d, he writes, I'liat there were eight fhips more to join them from Rochfort and Rochelie, which would make in all 30 fhips of war, 20 of which were of tlie line, and would take on board 6000 forces -, and that they were working night and day to get to fea. ' By the fame hand, the minillry were informed on February 16 and 23, That M. Macnamara was to command this 'ixpedition. And in a few days aftc^ the Earl of Holdernels was informed, I'hat in all tliefe armaments there appeared a plain de- Hgn to make fcttlcments and to build forts : be- iides, that, it was given out, they refolved to aug- ment the fortifications at Louif]:)'irg, and to build more forts on the Ohio. But thole armaments wore not confined to BieH:, tcz. For Mr. Birtles our confui at Genoa, fent advice dated February 10, That the French had 24 {hips of war at Toulon, befides three on the Hocks, and one of 70 guns careening ; that they were ordered to be got fit for fea with all expedi- tion i and that the magazines and (lores were in luch order and readinefs, as to make it poflible to fend all thoie fiiips to lea in a very fliort time. Which intelligence, as well as that, which follow- ed from Mr. Banks, our confui at Carthegena, on kli- in to le. )\V- Ina, on THE LATE W A R. on tlic 1 2th of March 1755, that the Great Ad- miral of France was to iiave the chief command, and that tranfports were taken up for a great num- ber of land forces ; it fliews that they had already planned the invafion and conqueft of Minorca. On the 1 7th of March fix Ihips of the Bred fquadron got into the road : but the advices of the 25th laid, that they could not fail before the beginning of April, and that they would cndeji- vour to flip away, without noife, with fuccours for America; and that the M. nowDukeof Mirepoix's negociation was only to gain time, till the French might arrive at the places of their deftination, and be provided to declare open war. Accordingly it was difcovered that fix of the Brefl: fquadron, had failed in the night between the 17th and i8th, privately, with troops for America. Six others took their ftation in the road, and received on board a number of regular troops; among whom were many Scotch and Irifh officers. And five more Ihips were ordered to be expedited with the utmoft diligence, Our diligent Secretary at Paris further informs. That the frigate La Diane had been dii'patched and failed from Rochfort, on the 27ch of March-, to Louifbourg and Quebec, witK advife of thefe fuccours : that eight more fliips of the line were ordered to be vit!tualled and fitted for fea in two months, and that M. Macnamara, who Ivad re- figned the command of the fleet already failed, to M. de la Mothe, upon account of his great age. A. D. »755- i r 'h '- r- I ■m |: mm 124 The general HISTORY of M \ ist)i: fc" *■: '755- proclama- tion tor age, ha J received orders to fail with a fquadron on the 1 6th of March. The Britifh court thus informed, faw through the artifice of Mirepoix, and the fallacious word of his moft Chrifiian Majefty ; and entered upon fuch meafures, as they fuppofed CiTedlual to pre- vent the fatal effeds of the French armaments. A proclamation was ilTued " to encourage fea- ra^lirg fea- men to enter themfelves on board his Majefty*s "'^"* fhips of war ; offering a bounty of 30 s for every able bodied feaman, between 20 and 50 years of ajre, and 20 s. for every ordinary feaman. The fame night there was a warm prefs below bridge ; warrants for tlie fame purpofe were difpatched to the outports ; and public notice was given at Greenwich hofpital, for all the feamen, who were willing to go to fea, to give in their names, and that they Ihould not fail of the ufual encourage- For calling mcnts. Another proclamation ^ was publiflied, faiingmcn. for recalling all mailers of {hips, pilots, mariners, feamen, fliipwrights and other fea-faring men, his Majefty's natural born fubjeds, from the fer- vice of all foreign Princes and States, and prohibit- ing fuch pcrfons from entering their fervice. And Incoiirasr- this proclamation increafed the bounty for feamen fwnien? ffo^n 30 s. to 3I. and from 20s. to 2I. who fhould voluntarily enter before the loth day of March next following : and further promi fed a 1. reward to any perfon difcovering any able feamen, and 30 s. for ever ordinary fea man, who fliould fecrete On January 23, 1755; February 8. themfe for his ployed Jnl\ Sir TJ to info beginn pal obj and at which c and we ceflary the prei to augn fuch otl the gen juft righ as well may be figns, V and his faithful augmeni porting interefts dominioi exigency This affedion net as if neceliary dered a i them- •I; tHE L AT E W A R* 125 themfelves, fo that fuch feaman Ihould be taken, A. D. for his Majefty's fervice, by any fea officer, cm- ployed for raifmg men. : .i - In March 1755 his Majefty fent a meflage by ^j;(|Jf Sir Thomas Robinfon, then Secretary of State, King to to inform his parliament, " That having at the l^lnt!^ **' beginning of the feflion declared, that his princi- pal objed was to preferve the public tranquillity, and at the fame time to prcte£i thofe pojffjftons^ which conftitute one great fource of the commerce and wealth of his kingdoms ; he now finds it ne- ceflary to acquaint the houfe of commons, that the prefent fituation of affairs makes it requifitc to augment his forces by fea and land, and to take fuch other meafures, as may beft tend to preferve the general peace of Europe, and to fecure the juft rights and pofTeffions of his crown in America •, as well as to repel any attempts whatfoever, that may be made to fupport or countenance any de- figns, which may be formed againft his Majefty and his dominions; not doubting, but that his faithful commons would enable him to make fuch augmentations, and to take fuch meafures for fup- porting the honour of his crown, and the true interefts of his people, and for the fecurity of his dominions, in the prefent critical jundure, as the exigency of affairs may require." — This me/Tage was anfwered with a warm and i\o\v re- affedionate addrefs : and the mlniflry in the cabi- b^'oXhoXee net as if they were fully refolved to execute the °^ ^^'''^' ^ ' iiient. necelfary meafures in fuch a critical jun(flure, or- dered a body of forces to America, to a6l in con- I jiin6lion :>f| . *.*. i«; 1 'i'' ' i; i 11 a VI '>'.»* I !'.iV.J ■•. : ( r .;■ ; 1 J , biilextend ed to Noi America c« C( ta^ The GENERAL HISTORY of A. D. junction with the provincial ffoop^. Which on *^^^' der produced an extraordinary chuie to the mutiny bill, to render it more clear, eitenfive and ufeful for the national fervice : whercJ^n it was provided. Mutiny " That all officers and foldierd^ of jtny troops j edtrNo"rth "being muftercd and iff pay, which are or fliall " be raiied rn any of the ^itifb provinces in " America, by authority of the refpeftive governors " or governments thereof, fliall at a'll times, and " in all places,, when they happen tojoin or acft '^ in conjunction with his Majefty's BritiOj forcei,- be Jiable to martial law, and difcipline, in likd manner, to all intents and pUrpofes, as rhd " BritiHi forces are, and fliall be fubjeCl to thd " fame trial, penalties and puftiflirrtents." A General officer, who on this critical occafioiii was called up in the houfe of commons, by a fpi- rit, becoming a true patriot, exprefied himfelf in t-he following manner ; " We ikem^ faid he, ro be driven upon the edge of a- liirrh mouncain •, on every fide a dreadful and tremendous precipice : too much expence makes us bankrupts : too little* makes us flavcs. Some years ago, the French were by no means a match for the Five Nations : now they have a communication, by a range of forts, from the river St. Lawrence, in Canada, to the Ohio, near the Milfifippi. Hence it is, that' they hold our colonies between the two ends of a net, which if they tighten by degrees, they may get all of them into the body of it, and then drown them in the fca. When the fnip is fink- ing, the man at the helm in vain kys the blame A fpeech in parlia- ment by a general officer. upon t the oar we are as. our caufe ; animofi to perfc fcrvatio: So 91 by prop the lint men, w the 22d Admiral a confidi motions inllrudli( ever he ! Duke de baffador " confidi " mannc This li cnccs, fe cils, fo a and the i were con for the c other ma trade, na * Two upon THE LATE WAR. 127 lit ro on ice :" in\6 Inch ins'f of to ;hat' if a Ly Ihcn ik- imc ion upon the labourer at the oar, or, the labourer at -'^- !>• the oar, recriminates upon the man at the helm : we are all in one veflel : it is our intereft as well as our duty, to unite heartily in the common caufe ; and laying afide private ambition and animofity, to ad with alacrity and confidence, and to perform every thing in our power, for the pre- fervation, honour and happinefs of our country. So many men were provided for die lea fervicc, Admiral by proper means, that a fquadron of i:i fhips of J*';'/"{^y,^!J;^ the line, and one frigate, beai'ing in all 5,945 America. men, was got ready and failed for America, on the 22d day of April, under the command of Vice Admiral.Bofcawen. This fquadron had on board a confiderable body of land forces ^' to attend the motions of the enemy : And the Admiral's inflrudions to attack the Frencii fleer, where ever he fhould meet them, was notified to the Duke de Mirepoix. To which that poUte am- balfador replied, " That his royal mailer would Mircpyix's " conlidcr the firft gun, fired at fea in an hollile ^n thV"*^^ " manner, to be a declaration of war.'* ^^■<^"*- This language, fo reverfe to his pacific confer- Hcw it enccs, feemed to whet the refentmcnt of our coun- ,^!'''^'^ir^ viL'Oli ills oils, fo as to redouble their preparations for war : "uniftiy- and the public began to think, that the minillry were come to a refolution to fulfil their defircs for the defence of America, and to oppofe all other machinations of the French againft their trade, navigation and pollelfions -, i'o that the i Two regiments, yvMch he took up at PlymDutli. iiioneved 'r.^ m \ri ; . '(.(1 1,'., . iv :**« I «; v '■■. ;;r" ' 'hIm' I9i|! liBj'l ' ''Sli ■ » ' ill ■"1 if w i ■I 12S A. D. »755- The Frencli fquadron fcnt to N. America. Remarks on the Bii- tilh iiuni- Itry at this tiiiif. The general HISTORY of moneyed men fubfcribed 3,880,000!. immediate-» ly, inftcad of 1,000,000 L required to be railed by way of lottery* Our miniftry had certain advice ^ from M. de Cofne, That the fleet from Breft and Rochfort, confided of one Ihip of 90 guns, three of 74^ four of 70, feven of 64, one of 58, one of 50, and five of 30 guns, from Breft ; two of 64 guns, one of 50, one of 30, and one of 26 guns, from Rochfort : Together 1 8 fhips of the line, and nine frigates ; in all 27. But ten of thefe line of battle were converted into tranfports, and mounted no more than from 18 to 22 guns a piece, under the command of M. Macnamara and M. Bois de la Mothe. This united fleet had orders to be ready to fail by the i8th or 20th of April, with 11 battalions on board ; but it was wind bound, till the 3d of May : Of which M. de Cofne did not fail to give immediate notice, adding. That it was generally believed, that Macnamara*s orders were only to convoy the fliips that ferve for tranfports, to a certain diilance, and then to let them purfue their voyage without him. Here it niay be feafonablc to enquire, what was done on the part of Great Britain, befidesthe pro- ceedings in parliament, to count'-xad the vigorous meafures of our enemy ^ It is evident from all thefe advices, and from the fads themfclves, that thefe kingdoms had nothing to fear from an inva- ^ Dated the 1 5th of April 1755. fion: fion : F in the p they ha vifions, any nur army in agreed, fcent in from Dc by othe Why th( dered in under ]\ block up or Quel muft be of the ni at this til to fufFer, one floo{ America pence ar that wor probabiii rifk and the Britil very wide defence minion oJ certainly tiers at fquadron Vo L. »rHB LATE WAR. fion : For, though France had a few more fliips in the ports of Breft and Rochfort, fit for fervice, they had neither failors, nor ordnance, nor pro- vifions, nor ammunition to fit them forfeaj nor any number of vclTels capable of tranfporting an army into this ifland, as all accounts from abroad agreed, had they ever fo ferioufly meditated a de- fccnt in favour of the Pretender, as Mr. Barnhani from Dover had intimated his fulpicl^n : which, by other advices^ was treated with contempt* Why then was there not a more powerful fleet or- dered in time, not to fight the French convoy under Macnamara ir the American feas, or to block up5 or intercept their fleet at Louifbuurgh, or Quebec, but at Breft and Rochfort ? What muft be thought of fuch management, that, out of the numerous navy, which Great Britain had at this time in pay, they could fpare> or, were afraid to fufi^er, no more than 1 1 fliips of the line and one floop to defeat the French embarkation for America ♦, and to be at the extraordinary ex- pence and hazard of fending a fquadron to do that work in the American ocean, which, in all probability, could have been done with little or no rilk and much lefs expcnce, neaij the chops of the Britifli chi\nne]. Such an appointment was very wide of the utmoft exertion of our power in defence of our colonies, and to maintain, the do- minion of the feas-, when the minifl:ry, duly and certainly informed of the force under failing or- ders at Breft, confined their own ftrength to a fquadron under Mr. Boicawen, of a little more Vol. I. K than 1^9 A.D. ^;V ■>■.:•;■* 130 The general HISTORY of 8' '1 li I i U^ A. D. than half the force of the paid i-i*' enemy -, - manner of regard to the equipment ot the naval preparations at Toulon, of which they had pofi- tive advice on the 14th of April j nor to the in- telligence from Conful Banks, on the 12th of March, who gave it, as his confirmed opinion, that there would be a powerful expedition with land forces from that port. - The only ftep taken to remedy thefe egregious omiflions, or whatever you may pleafe to call them, in the Britifli politicks, was to rifk fix fhips of the line and one frigate, under Admiral Holbourne, to follow and ftrengthen Admiral Bofcawen ; who not failing till the nth of May, when the chance of his falling in with Macnamara's ftrong fqua- dron, which failed but eight days before, was againft him, the national difgufl with the miniftry daily increafed. On the 25th day of April his Majefty clofed that icfiions of parliament by a moft gracious tiiciiflioi^. fpeech, wherein he told the two houfes, " That " the zeal they had fliewn, for fupporting the ho- *' nour, rights and poflefiions of his crown, had " afforded him the greateft fatisfadlion : That his defire to preferve the public tranquility had been fmcere and uniform: That he had reli- gioufly adhered to the ftipulations of the treaty of Aix-la-Cliapelle, and made it his care not to injure or offend any power whatfocver; but thi'.t he could never entertain a thought of '' purchafing the name of peace at the expence " of fuffcring encroachments upon, or of yield- King's IpeecU at the end o f ci (C C( <( t' (C (( (t <( cc v') •mm '";' .'*i-»>il s! I'k* 111 ^; ml: r^m ■■ii . if: )l iS^ The general HISTORY or A.D. »7SS- from any preparation at Breil or its neighbouring ports. Advice In the nnean time the Lords of the Admiralty the Toulon received advice from Captain Buckle, of the Uni- fquadion. £.Qj.n, dated May 9th, in Genoa-mole, That ele- ven days before, there had been orders publifhed, by beat of drum, for failors to repair to Toulon ; and that orders were likewile fent to Toulon -, to fit out all the fliips in that harbour. But, though it was confirmed by letters to Lord Holdernefs, dated July 19th, and received on the 22d, that no fhips were fitting out at Breft; and that they were equipping with expedition nine Ihips at Toulon, with orders for the failors not to depart from thence j the Britilh miniftry con- tented themfelves, as we Ihall (hew more fully hereafter, with fending Sir Edward Hawke on the 24th of July, to cruife till September, only to en- deavour to intercept Du Guay's fquadron in its return from Cadiz •, or any fhips, which might efcape the vigilance of Mr. Bofcawen, and at- tempt to recover any port in France : His whole force being no more than twenty-one fhips of the line, and five frigates ; whereas, if there was any credit to be given to our intelligence, it was pro- bable that he might have met with Da Guay's fquadron of ten fiiips, joined by five fhips from Rochfort, ten fhips from Breft, and the ten fhips in their return from America ? By which it ap- pears that this fleet was commanded upon a very h^,ardous fervice -, and all the advices concerning the Admiral Hawke fails on a cruife. Very ha zardous. THE LATE WAR. 3^ the naval preparations in the Mediterranean were A. D. dilregarded. ^^^* The equipments in the port of Toulon, which The aima- hitherto had been carried on with more artifice, TouTon^' began now to appear openly, and to keep pace e^^iitUited. with the armaments facing the Britifh (hore ; formed merely to give umbrage to the Englifli ; and with the motion and augmentation of their troops. For, letters of the 6th of Auguft de- clare exprefly, that orders had been Tent to Tou- lon to equip, with all expedition, all the new fhips, and to get the old ones alfo in a condition for fervice ; that thefe orders were then purfued with great diligence, and that they were to take on board feveral companies of land forces, befides mariners. They further advifed, that fmce the ar- rival of two exprelles at Toulon, which ha*d caufed the holding of two extraordinary councils,, attended by the principal officers of the marine, the hands, which were at work in fitting out the nine (hips there, were doubled, and fix other Ihipa of the line put in commiflion, and ordered to be equipped with the former nine, fo as to be able to put all the fifteen fail to fea before the i8th or 20th of Auguft, and to be vidlualled only for three months. Which letter concluded : " Tho* *' the deftination ©f this fquadron is not known, ** it is generally conjeftured to be intended againft •' Gibraltar: But be that as it will, never was there •' a greater hurry in that port, than at prefent.'* At the fame time it ought to be obferved, that we had no force in thofe Teas to prevent Du Quay's K 3 fqua- 51? ! ' 1 H:t ■ ■At 'mn ■.';A';M' 134 The general HISTORY of '/))' Hi? Ma- jefty's con- dill^ in Geniiany. A. D. fquadron, which did not fail from Cadiz till the beginning of Auguft, fiom joining tlie Toulon fquadron. It cannot be fiiggefted thai, his Majefly re- mained as indolent, as this regency appeared to be ; for he was trying, abroad, every prudent meafure to obviate the difficulties that might arife, in the courfe of a war from the French againil his Ger- man dominions. To cover theie from any iiulilts and attacks, on account of their conne(^ions with Great Britain, and which already threatened the Electorate of Hanover by French magazines crcdcd in Weftphalia, under the jurifdiclion of the Elector of Cologn, and to guard againfi; the cfFecls of a fccret treaty, which he grew jealous of, and was carrying on between Vienna and Verfailies, Conclude', his Bi'itannic Majefty concluded a fubfidiary trea- *virh hTiIc ^y» ^" ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ Ji-ine, with the Landgrave of Cuiei. Flefie-Cafiel •, by which hi.s ferene Flighnefs en- gaged to hold in readinefs, during four years, a body of eight thoufand men, for his Majelty's fervice, to be employ'd, if required, upon the Continent, or in Great Britain, or Ireland ; but not; on board the fleet, or beyond the feas : And alfo, if his Britannic Majefly fliould judge it neceffary, or advantageous, for his fervice, to furnifli and join to this body of 8000 men, within fix months af- ter they fliould be demanded, four thoufand more; of v,'hich feven hundred to be horfe or dragoons, and each regiment of infantry to have two field pieces of cannon. A new the c thou* Great heark that diary thouj fore noted fhoulc frontic infant cavalr vince, At THE LATE WAR. ^35 At the fame time his Majefty propofed to re- ■'^' D* new the treaties *vith Bavaria and Saxony. But '^^* the conneflions of thefe two houfes with France, ^^V^'Z , though no bar to their receiving a fuufidy from ">' ';^*"'"« Great Britain in time of peace, would not let them hearken to any renewal, at the eve of a war with that crown. However RulTia accepted of fubfi- Treaty diary overtures for a large body of troops, which, nabe-rJu." though not carried into the form of a treaty, be- fore his Majefty leit Hanover, may be properly noted in this place, That the Emprefs of Ruflia fhould hold in readinefs in Livonia, and upon the frontiers of Lithuania, a body of forty thoufand infantry, with the necefTary artillery, and 15,000 cavalry : And alfo on the coaft of the faid Pro- vince, 40 or 50 galleys with the neceilliry crews ; to be ready to adl, upon the firft order, in his Majefty 's fervice, in cafe his Majefty 's dominions in Germany fliould be invaded on account of the interefts or difputes, which regard his kingdoms : But that neither thefe troops nor gallies were to be put in motion unlefs his Britannic Majefty, or his allies, fliould be fome where attacked. This treaty was to cxift four years, from the exchange of the ratifications. But it was unluckily inferted, in the feventh article. Thai confidering the proxi- mity of the countries wherein the diverfion in queftion will probably be made, and the facility her troops will probably have of fubfifting imme- diately in an enemy's country, flie takes upon herfelf alone, during fuch a diverfion, the fub- fiftence and treatment of the faid troops, by fea K 4 and 'Wt- "I m ■#^: ': M. it ii j isi!": I ii {i"; ^lU 136 A. D. ^755- Opcntions of the French on the Ohio continued. The general HISTORY of and land. And in the eleventh article it was fur^ ther ftipulatcd, That all the plunder, which the Ruflian army might take from the enemy, fliould belong to them. The operations of the French on the banks of the Ohio had been carried on, ail the winter, with great diligence and a(ftiviiy ; and with power- ful reinforcements from Old France : For, by ad- vice dated the 2d of January 1755, from Phila- delphia it was notihed, That about 6000 men oC.the befl troops of France, feleded and fent over upoa this particular fervice, were juft arrived at the lower fort on the Ohio, and were employed, even in that rigorous feafon, in fortifying that country. Thofe troops were fent by the way of Quebec, and from thence were feen, by the Indian traders, to crofs the lakes Ofwego and Erie, in a prodigious num- ber of battoe*;, of which the feveral Governors received notice. Nctwithllandlng this the affembly of Penfylva- nia continued as obftinate as ever, there being no probability of their granting any money towards the expence of the neceffary armaments in this time of danger ; although they were to adjourn within two days. The Governor reprefented, in the flrongefl terms, the defencelefs flate of their Province, and recommended the efl;ablilhment of a regular militia ; but to no purpofe. It was alfo obferved, that the aflivlry of the French^ in the depth of winter, was a convincing proof, that they were forming fome grand de- fign in regard to that Continent , and that it feeme4 feed Pen| the iva-! no irds ;his irn in leir of the |"g le- it M THE LATE WAR. fccmcd probable, their firft attack would be upon Pcnfylvania, as being in the center, and not only the nvAt plentiful, but the mod defencelcis and unweildy of ail his Majefty's colonies : And, having once got footing there, they might ifllic forth upon the colonies on each fide •, which had not a fingle regiment from Europe to defend them. Accordingly we find, that the- French made fuch good ufe of the time, we remained inadlive, that in the beginning of the year 1 755, they had advanced with their camps and forts within 225 miles of Philadelphia. This axrcounr, without any profpc(5t of meafures to put a flop to the encroachments of our ene- mies, filled every lover of his country with dire forebodings for the fafety of their American bre- thren : When the nation received fome glimmer- ings of better things from the difpatches of Ad- miral Bofcawen, who by letters dated ofFLouif- bourg, jn the iid of June 1755, informed the miniftry, That on the tenth of that month, the The M- Alcide, a French man of war of 64 guns, and Lys ukcn, 480 men, commanded by M. Hockquart, and thq Lys, commanded by M. Lageril, pierced for fixty- four guns, but mounting only 22, and having eight companies of land forces on board, being feperated from the French fquadron commanded by M. Bois de la Mothe, fell in with the Englifh fleet off the banks of Newfoundland, they re- fufuig to pay the ufual compliment to the Britifli flag, and, that his Majefty's Ihips, the Dunkirk and w 137 1 1 1 A. D. 1 »7SS' 1 ''^i\ ' (4 '3 I 'J ■ } ■ . lit. is" i f ii*" ( 1 '■:, ' > iU"; P ': 'i A. D. '755. Kol'cawf 11 joined by Aclm.Ilol. bourne. Mirepoix departs witho\it ce- remony. The general HISTORY of and Defiance, after an engagement of five hours, in which they fought fo clofe, that a man killed on the yard of a French man of war fell into the Dunkirk, had obliged them to ftrike, and brought them into the fleet. The Dunkirk loft 90 men. The T..ys had on board 76,0001 fterling in money to pay their troops, and eight companies of fol- diers, bclides feveral general officers and engi- neei's. He alio gave advice, that he had been joined by Rear-Admiral Holbourne, with whom he failed, the flime day, within a mile of Louif- bou: g harbour : where feeing four large (hips and fVv'O frigates lately arrived from Europe, under the command of M. du Perrier, he ftationed Rear- Admiral Plolbourne off that harbour with five or fix fhips, and proceeded to his own rendezvous, being the beft adapted for preventing M. de la Mothe's fquadron getting into the gulph of St. Lawreii-cc, had not the fogs and hard gales of winds olf appointed him, and carried them fife to Quebec, the place of their deftination. Immediately upon this, though much beneath the fanguine expectations conceived of the prowefs and flrength of Mr. Bofcawen and his fleet, the fpirit of the nation revived, and the French Am- baflJador, the Duke of Mirepoix, was ordered to depart the kingdom in twenty-four hours, and accordingly he fctout for his own countr-^ betimes in the morning of the 24th of July, to avoid the infults of the mob. The expedition againfi: thePVench in Nova Sco- tia, whirji by his Majefty'.s command, had been con- certed Shii nor that Lieu ter f( force' batt( well cc (C c «« THE LATE WAR. 139 certed between Governor Lawrence and Governor A. D. 1 7 C C Shirley was carried into execution, with the aid of I ' n n 1 3 c •" 2000 New Englandmen, and had its defired ef- tiunsinNo- fed. For by a letter * from Lieutenant- Cover- ^^ ^^°''^' nor Lawrence, our government were informed, that the French fort of Beaufejour furrendered to Lieutenant-Colonel Monkton, by capitulation, af- ter four days bombardment, before his Majefty's forces had mounted a fingle cannon npon their batteries, though that fort had twenty-fix cannon Several well m.ounted. The fame fate befel a fmall fort taken.' upon the river Gafpereau, running into the bay Verte, where the French had their principal ma- gazine for fupplying the French inhabitants, and Indians with provifions, arms and ftores of all kinds. — He proceeds, and fays, *' At Colonel Monkton's firft arrival the French had a large number of inhabitants and Indians, four hun- dred and fifty of which were polled at a block- houfe, which they had on their fide of that river Mciliiguafli, to defend the pafs of the river : Flcre they had thrown up a ftrong breaft-work of timber, for covering their men, and had cannon mounted on the block-houfe. At tliis place they made a Hand for about an hour, but were forced by our troops, with fome lofs, leaving the block-houfe and the pafs of the river, clear for our people, who marched with- out further interruption, to the ground intended for their encampment. As we had not men ^ Dated the zSthof June 1755, ^' Hallifax in Nova Scotia. ** enough 4 m it' 'fi ; t liii^^!^ t H -iii J40 A. D. The general HISTORY of cnous inve ft fort :irely, feveral got '755« t4 a^ay J g^d when the fort furrendered, there " remained 150 regulars, and about 300 inha- *' bitaots, feveral of which, with their officers, *' were wounded. We do not yet exaftly know " the number that were killed in the fort ; but " we believe their lofs has not been trifling, as " feveral laid half buried upon the parade. Co- ** lonel Monkton has new-named the fort, and *' called it Fort Cumberland.'* By this means Colonel Monkton difarmed 15,000 Acadians. And m the mean time Captain Rous, being ordered to attack the fort, the French had latejy ereded at the mouth of St. John's ri- ver, the enemy abandoned it, at the appearance of his fmall fquadron ♦, having burfted their can- non, blown up their magazine, and all the works they had raifed, as much as time would permit them to do. By means This fuccefs was greatly owing to a vigorous j^„*j]^,^"^^ refolution taken, in the beginning of this year, leioiu- by the nflembly of Maflachufet's bay in New England; which had prohibited all correfpond- C4ice with the French at Louifbourg, and, befidea the Jarge detachment of troops fent under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Monkton, above- mentioned, had fitted out three frigates and a floop, under the command of Captain Rous^ to. favour their operations, by covering the coaft. While the New Englandmen afiifted in the re-. dudlion of Nova Scotia or Acadia, which was ef- fl^ed wiih the lofs of only twenty men killed, i . and and a nians land, order promi efFeai and 1 This end o As monec meet upon t In whi agreed, redu(5li ments lake Of each, fl Mr.Sh part of their n DuQu invert ( Thei able : 1 of each and coi Mr. riage f which \ his ordc H THE LATE WAR. and about the fainc number wounded, the Virgi- nians built a fort, likewife called Fort Cumber- land, and formed a camp at WilFs Creek, in order to attack the French 6h the Ohio. Which promifed fuccefs, had;this provincial meafure been effedually backed by Major- General Braddock, and his two regiments of regulars from Ireland. This little army landed ^ai^e in Virginia before the end of February. As foon as he poflibly could, the general fum- moned the feveral Governors on that continent to meet him at Alexandria in Virginia, to confult upon the bufinefs of the approaching campaign. In which convention, after much debating, it was agreed. That for the prefervation of Ofwego, and reduftion of Niagara, Shirley's and Peperel's regi- ments (hould march to lake Ontario; on which lake one or more armed veflcls, of about 60 tons each, fhould be built to command that lake : And Mr. Shirley was charged with the execution of this part of the fervice. General Braddock undertook their next refolution, which was to attack Fort Du Qiiefne : And General Johnfon was ordered to invert Crown Point with the Provincial troops. Thefe refolutions and plans were commend- able : But Iiow far they anfwered in the execution of each, is matter of the grcateft aftoniflimcnt and concern. Mr. Braddock had neither provlfions nor car- riage for a march of fo confiderable a length, which was greatly incicafed and embarraifed by his orders to take the rout of Will's Creek ; which xoad, 141 A.D. »7S5- Fort Cum- beiland buikbythe Virgini- ans. General Braddock and his troops land iuVirginia. Summons a coanciiA tionSi >■ ■■■■■>.■•. ■km I t42 A. D. »755- Bad mea- iiues pxir- The general IIISTORY o^ road, as it was the wG»-fl provided with provifionSj more troubleibme and hazardous, and much more about, than by the way of Penfylvania •, and the fucd in his jQpg delay, occafioned by the contradors for the operations. o / ' ./ army, who had neither provided a fufBcient quan- tity of provifions for the troops, nor a competent number of carriages for the army, overturned the expedition. Mr. Braddocl fhould certainly have landed in Penfylvania : And the contra(5l for fupplying his troops would have been beft made with fome of the principal planters of that Pro- vince, who, both in regard to convenience in car- riage, and in plenty of provifions, could have performed their engagements with more eafe and puntfluality. For, fuch is the attention of the Virginians towards their flaple trade of tobacco, that they fcarce raife as much corn, as is neceflary for their own fubfiflence -, and their country being well provided with water-carriage in great rivers, an army which requires a large fupply of wheel- carriages and beads of burden, could not expedl to be furniflied with them in a place, where they are not in general ufe. But Penfylvania abounds with corn, and with moil forts of provifions, and its inhabitants carry on mod of their bufinefs with carts, waggons and horfes. Befides, had he en- camped near Franc's town, or fomewhere upon the fouth-wcll borders of this Province, his road to Fort Du Quefne would have been as pradlicable, and fifty miles nearer than from his camp at Will's Creek. This is not mere fpeculation, but what is ftrongly confirmed by fads, and from the fcafon- ' '■ fi'- '■ f tttE LATE WAR. H3 A. D. feafonable and generous afliftance of ibme gentle- men in Penfylvania, who at laft were applied to, and did make up the deficiency of the Virginian contradors, without which it was not poflible for the army to proceed. It has alfo been hinted., that much of the difap- ^}'X duct pointment in this expedition w^as owing to theGe- cd. neral himfelf, in point of condudt. I'he plan was laid, and his i'.i{lru6lions fettled, in fuch a manner, as to put him always upon his guard againft ambuf- cades, which were to be expeded in a march thro* woods, deferts and morafles. But this gentleman, placing all his fuccefs upon the fingle point of courage and difcipline, behaved in that haughty, pofitive and refcrved way, that he foon difgufted the people, over v/hom he was to command. His foldiers could not relifh his extreme feverity in matters of difcipline : And, not confidering the nature of an American battle, he fliewed fuch contempt towards the Provincial forces, becaufe they could not go through their exercife, with the fame dexterity and regularity, as a regiment of guards in Hyde- Park, that he drew upon him- felf their general refcntment. Give this General his due, it is certain that his xhe M- fervice was attended with many unforcfeen and f''^"'^'^^''* unconceivable difficulties. He was obliged to mount. march his army through a rugged, pathlefs and unknown country, a-crofs the Allegheny moun- tains, through unfrequented woods and dai ^crous defiles, rendered more dangerous by almofi every thing he had to do with tl;c Provinces, as more panic u- %,mi SI ■ . ■■.♦ $n ■d. 144 The general HISTORY ok !''■ ills march to the at- tack of Fort du A. D. particularly appears in his letters to the BritiHt- *''^*" miniflry, complaining of the negledb and difafFec- tion of all employed to fupply neceffaries for the troops, and fetting forth the continual labour and fatigue of his foldiers to cut out roads acrofs mountains and rocks of an excefTive heighth, fteep, and divided by rivers and torrents. Put all thcfe together, what was extraordinary in his condud, and what was extraordinary in the way of the fervice, there could be formed no good idea of the iffue of fuch an untoward expe- dition. He arrived fafe, and without any manifeft de- creafe of his ftrength, at Fort Cumberland, and being informed that the French, at Fort du Qiiefne, lately built on the river, near the conflux of the Monangahela, were expedling a reinforcement of 500- regular troops^ which, as it required all the expedition, he could prudently make, to prevent fuch an increafe of ftrength in the enemy, deter- mined him to pulh forward by forced marches* But the impetuofity of his temper kept him from paying that due regard to the reprefentations of his officers, and to the hazard of entering woods and thickets without reconnoitring the enemy, which proved his ruin, tcaveshis Thc General marched from Fort Cumberland &c^^:u?ortOn the 10th of June 1755^ with 1400 men, and uHT^ wkh ^^^ greateft part of the ammunition and artillery i ordcis to having, for greater diipatch, left Colonel Dunbar, with 800 men to efcort the provifions, ftores and t>agg3ge5 with as much expedition, as the nature of foliovv. dangl nd ip.d ar, nd 145 A.D. »7S5- THE LATE WAR. of the fervice would allow. Thus Braddock with ten pieces of cannon, and neceflary provifions and ammunition, marched without delay or fear of danger through the woody defert ; and arrived on the 8th of July, within 10 m'iles of Fort du Quefne ; without meeting any oppofition. He was now 40 miles encamped a-head of his c©rps of referve, under Colonel Dunbar, and mufl: cxped all the ftratagems and force of an infidious enemy j which was exprefled to him in the ftrong- eft terms, efpecially by his Colonel Sir Peter Halklet, who earneftly defired him to proceed with caution on fuch hoftile and dangerous ground, and to order the Indians, to reconnoitre, by way of fcouts or advanced guards, in cafe of an am- bufcade, for which that country was fo well adapt- ed. But, as if courage could do the whole wprk Rejeas, of a foldier, the General paid no regard to theit to'ai'i a'd- wholefome and feafonable advice. He command- ^^"* cd his men to refume their march next day, without endeavouring to inform himfelf of the fituation or difpofition of the enemy, and without detaching fcouts to preferve him from the furprizc of ambufcades, though furroundcd with woods. So isfmprized that, having proceeded with this unpardonable j" J^"' •''"* carelefsnefs through a defile of the enemy, fo art- fully concealed behind the trees and buflies, that not a man of them could be feen, his little army, about noon, was furprized by a general fire upon his front, and along his left flank : which ob- Put into ligedthe van-guard to fall back immediately upon contuiien. the main body ; and in an inilant a panic ^nd con- VoL. I. L fufioa '■ '.I i I ' ' te' <> ■ii3»i, I % J 4^ The general HISTORY of I' iS »7S5 Routed ^'^' fafion feized the regulars: who difguftcd with their commander, could not be prevailed upon, either by promifes, intreaties or commands to keep their ground ; yet fome of the officers did honour to their country by their gallant behaviour under fuch defperate circumftances. A few re- mained by their General's perfon. But moft of thofe brave officers and men, that flood till the Jaft, remained only to be facrificed to the Gene- ral's further mifcondudl. For, inftead of order- ing a retreat, when he found his men flying v/ith precipitation, till he could fcour the avenues lined by the enemyi with grape fhot, from ten pieces of cannon, he had with him ; or ordering the Indians to advance, in flanking parties, againft the hidden enemy -, he obftinately continued upon the jpot, where he firft received their fire, till/he was almofl: left alone, with his officers and men killed about him ; his obfl:inacy increafing with the danger. At laft, having had five horfes fliot under him, a mufliet fliot, through his right arm and lungs, gave him a mortal wound. He was carried off the field by the bravery of Lieutenant Colonel Gjge, and another of his officei's 5 but ful'vived only four daySi -uj .,. The eonfufiOn of the few that remained was •now turned imo a real and diforderly flight •, ind though nbt^Durlued, and no enemy in fight, they Bnjis^ge, defcrted ahd left all their . artillery, ammu«itk)n ■and baggage, . and amongft the reft the general's cabinet, a prey to the enemy ; in which the French found all Braddock's letters and inftruc- tionsj Killed. SkC. lolt. THE LATE WAR. 147 arm was nant but was dnd they itkDn iral's the truc- lionsj tions, made ufc of afterwards by their miniflry in A. D. printed memorials and manife does, to throw the '^ breach of peace upon Great Britain. It is but juftice due to the behaviour of the Behaviour Provincial troops, under Braddock, in this adlion, vinciai ^'^' to obferve, That they were not fo affeded with tioons. the panic, as the regulars i though the enemy's fire fell as heavy upon them, as upon any of the reft of the army : And, that when ' the regulars could not be prevailed upon to ftand their ground, nor to fight with brakes and bufhes lined with iwifeen deftrudion, the Provincials bravoly formed, offered to cover the fugitives, and, by advancing alone againft the Indians in the wood, prevented the regulars from being all cut off. The panic of thofe that fled infeded them with fuch terrors, that they never ftopt till they met the rear divifion-, which receiving the infedion, they all retreated without flopping, till they arrived at Fort Cumberland : Though the enemy never at- tempted to purfue, or ever appeared in fight, ei- ther in the battle, or after the defeat. The lofs of the Englifh in this unfortunate The lofs affair, amounted to 700 men, befides the bag- both f'ics." gage, artillery, &c. The officers fuffered moft in proportion •, the Indians being good marks men had picked them cut. Sir Peter Halkiet, at the head of his regiment, fell at the firft fire. The French will allow that they loft no more than 400 men, moftly Indians. Thus ended this tragical expedition, ^hofe bad confequenees to the Britifli intereft were rendered L 2 w orfe -:4 1 .■., !Vi a:' I- ■ '1 * t- 1, 1! ■ ; . ;■ f ,« ■-«. im m 148 The general HISTORY of A. D. »755- ^l*ii: Dunbar leaves the back Icttle- ments ex- pofcd. worfe by increafmg the fpirit and aftivity of our enemies, and riveting t^ Indians more firmly in the interefl of their new 'lies. On the contrary, the Indians in the Britifh intereft, defpifed us for not being able to proted: ourfelves : and fuch an univerfal panic feized on all our colonies, that they feemed, for fome time, to give up all for loft. At home great pains was taken by the public to fix the cauie of this misfortune. Some caft the whole blame upon the General j others were as fanguine againft the minillry. But a little im- partiality and cool attention, will difcover both the general and miniftry faulty. The capital mif- take was his orders to land in Virginia inftead of Pcnfylvania, for the reafons already given. Then his march would have been ihortned fix weeks and performed with lefs fatigue and expence. His obftinacy, feverity and inattention to the ad- vice of his officers, &c. his contemptuous beha- viour towards the provincials, and his negledl to reconnoitre the enemy, and to make a proper dif- pofition and ufe of his artillery on the day of action, fell heavy upon Braddock. Nothing now could prevent the outrages and encroachments of the Indians and French on the back of Virginia, Maryland and Penfylvania, ex- cept a refpedable garrifon left at Fort Cumberland, well fortified : which ought to have been done by the remains of Braddock's army ; who might have fortified themfelves againft any furprize, dur- ing the reft of the fummer, and, in the winter, would have been a fufficiejt check upon the French , ^ and and 1 prud( only I comp land, of Ai could whon mand from Ye which upon war. with with t denyir or inv THE LATE WAR. 149 and their fcalping Indians. But, inflead of fo A. D. prudent a meaiure, thu Commander in Chief left '^^^* only the lick and wounded, under the care of two companies of provincial militia, at Fort Cumber- land, and, with 1600 men, marched on the 2d Rfthes of Auguft, for Philadelphia, where their prefence 1600 men could be of no fervice. General Shiil";;, upon j?,/^'!^' whom, by the death of Braddock, the chief com- mand in America devolved, ordered thefe troops i^ ordered from Philadelphia to Albany, in New York. Yet this is the expedition and battle, upon The to Albaiiv. ich e two na- tlUlli. which the French court laid that llrefs, as to fix ^''' ii..iAf tins upon Great Britain the odium of beginning the the thit-^a war. Which invention to reproach our miniftry bcivvccn'^^ with eiving Braddock inftrudlions, inconfiftent '" D C3 ' ri( with their declaration to the French ambalfador, denying that Braddock had orders to a6l hoftilely, or invafively -, of all the inftances of French in- genuity, and of abufive groundlefs declamation, with which they have endeavoured to inodiate our nation to all Europe, there is not a more flag- rant, or a more eafily refutable one. To fay no worfe, the French difcovered a ftrong Refuted, jind immediate inclination to attack our American Provinces ; had built forts, and formed camps upon territories, from which they were excluded by treaty, md had very lately attackt and de- feated a body of Virginians, guarding their own frontiers, and demoliflied their fort. The Pro- vinces apply to their mother country for relief and defence, Braddock is fent with a fmall force to their afllftance, and with inftrudions how to be- L 3 have, 'I .1 :;l i ■»,'! .♦T'^ 1' ' i' j . V t ..h ■ i IH/ r ■ t m all 51: 150 A. D. >755- Tin: GENERAL HISTORY of have, and to purfuc incidentally the advantages of war, or to oppofe force to force, Ihould the French perfiftin their unjuftifiable extenfion of the country, they called Canaan, upon the fame mo- tive of fcif-intercft, as they had endeavoured to contrad Acadia. Such a declaration, therefore, made to the French ambaflador at London, that the deftination of the forces fent to the fuccour of our opprefled, threatned and dc^'encelefs colo- nies, in North America, had nothing in it, but what was literally and rigoroufly true, both in fad and inference, was purely pacific ; for no- thing is more univerfally allowed, than that a pre^ paration for defence and offence, is the moft fure expedient towards preferving and reftoring public peace.' That Braddock then fliould be furnifhed eventually, both with defenfive and ofFenfive in-» ftrudions, with plans of operation adapted to contingencies, was plainly matter in courfe of his expedition, and of which the French could not have the leaft reafon to complain, unlefs they would inQ-rofs to themfelves an exclufive right to invade their neighbours, or fuppofe us meek, or paflive enough not to refent their hoftilities, when they had dared us by their encroachments and for- cible entry, to defend our pofTeffions. In this fair and obvious fenfe^ what conrradidion, what prevarication, can be laid to the charge of the Englifli government, (whilft they openly fent that reinforcement to their colonies, which the pro- ceedings of the French themfelves had made an indifpcnfible meafurc ;) for their vouchfafing an aiTurance THE LATE W A R. i-r afiurance and declaration of pacific intentions ? A. D. Was this, by any conftruftion, otlier, or more, ^ than telhng them, that nothing on our part was intended to break the general peace, fliould the French c'efiil from provocations, and from giving us reafon to fupport our rights by arms, or to exa(ft fatisfa£ion for future injuries? That Brad- dock then was equipped with all the inftrudions neceflary for the moft determinate war, is not in the leaft repugnant to the moft fincere profcflions of wifhing and meaning nothing but peace. As a man, who puts on a fword, may for all that; defire nothing fo much, as not to be compelled to draw it, or to make ufe of his fencing mailer's rnftru(5iions. What rs ftill mo're liirprizing, though Virginia, DiiTrntion? Maryland and Penfylvania, were by thefe means "-Jj.),^, j-on^ feft entirely deftiture of all proteftion, from their ^"'"'•■' hofJile enemies behind them, the ufual chfputes feecween their governors, alTemblies, &c. got the better of their reafon, an J fo divided their coun- cils, that they came to no efl?eftual rcfolutions for the jHiblic fafety. It is- true Penfylva'iia was at laft dxcited to vote 50,000 1. for the defence of their weftern frontier ; but this trifling fum was ren^ d^^d abortive by the governor pofitively refufinn- tp give his allent to the aft of the alTembly for railing that fum ; becaufe they had rated the pro- prietaries eftate equal with thofe of the inhabi- tants. By which mifcarriage the Province was j],^;j left defencelefs, to the deftru6tion of many of the ^^"^^^^ poor fettlers upon the weftern- frontier. Be fides , L 4 uich 'M - 't I ) r,, M ■] '■H. ' i*r» J jr 152 The general HISTORY of A. D. Condn6l of New Yojk. fuch inaftivity and negledt of their own poflefTioas imprefied the Indians with a very contemptible opinion of the Englifh, and made them either efteem, or fear, the French invaders. " The people in Nev/ York aded more for their own and the common intereft. Their afTembly laid a prohibition upon all provifions being fent to any port, fettlement or iQarid belonging to the French, on, or adjacent to, the continent of North America : and voted 45,000 1. ibr the defence of their colony, expofed moft of any other to an in- vafion of the French, from Crown Point. With this little fupply, and the affiftance of other colo- nies to the eaft of them, together with the fmall body of troops, ordered thither by G j.eral Shiriey from Penfylvania, under Colonel Dunbar, it was Two expe- refolvcd, as the belt way to keep the enemy from invading their Province, to undertake the two expeditions, one againft the French fort, at Crown Point, the other againft Niagara, between the Jakes Ontario and Erie, as had before been con* certed with General Bradd^ck at Alexandria. The expedition againft Crown Point was com- mitted to die care of Colonel, afterwards General Johnfon, an Irifliman b) birth, but an old inha- bitant in the weftern parts of New York. He had fettled on the Mohock river, and not only acquired a conliderable eftate, but was univerfally beloved both by the Inhabitants and the neigh- bouring Indians : vvhofe language he had learnt. ditionsnio po By Wiiom ooniinand Cfl. ■ i'K.j iv- •^ Sec the .Indian fpccch, p. 112, 113. ind and wl and hi Shirley cxpedi Alb troops time, fifted ( by the HampI foon afi Albany, Lvman. and oth( Point, \ when G( George, had beer place, or Edward, and enca ali,\s Saci on each Lake in in front ; ceed to Crown I lerick. The! be in tt tr THE LATE WAR. «53 A. D. »755- and whofe affedlions he bad gained by his faithful and humane behaviour towards them. General Shirley took upon himfelf the command of the expedition againft Niagara. Albany was appointed for the rendezvous of the CanieJ troops tor both expeditions : which arrived in good tion. time, towards the end of June. This army con- fifted of near 6000 men, befidcs Indians, raifed by the government of Bofton, Connedicur, New- Hamplhire, Rhode ifland and New York, and foon after marched forward, about 60 miles from Albany, under the command of Major General Lvman. But the artillery, battoes, provifions, and other neceflaries for the attempt upon Crown Point, were not got ready till the 8th of Auguft, when General Johnfon fee out with them for Lake George, where he met and joined his army ; that Hcncni had been employed to build a fort at the landing », lives at place, on the call fide of Hudfon's ilvjr, called Fort ^^^"^ * George. Edward. He marched 14 miles more northerly, and encamped at the fouth end of ]-.ake George, ali AS Sacrament, in a very flrong fitujtion, covered on each fide by a thick woody fwamp, with the Lake in his reu and by a bread work of tvees in front ; to wait for his battoes, and then to pro- ceed to Ticondaroga, diftant 15 miles from Crown Point, which the French called Fort Fre- lerick. The Baron de DIefkau> who arrived at Que- The in- be in the fpring with Monf. de Vaudrevil, and ^l^^^""* trops to defend Canada, had inftructions to make ^^T''* hisfirft attack upon Ofwego, and to reduce it, which m ■'■''"**' AS "n I .' '■ ■ I i i'vl J54- The GENERAIy HISTORY of A.D. i: '/i3" which the French court thought to be of fingujar confequence for faciHtating their grand fcheme of forcing a way thvough our colonies to the great vvellern ocean. According to thefe inftruclions .-.r the Baron, without delay, proceeded to Montreal, .;., and detached 700 troops up the river, intending himfelf to follow and join them with the remain^ der. But in this interval the Indians alarmed the inhabitants of Montreal with an account of a nu- merous arrrjy alTembling near Lake Sacrament, , alias Lake George, for the redudion of Fore Frederick ; from whence the viflors might eafily Why he penetrate into the heart of Canada. This advice from tUem. occafioned a grand council, by which the Baron was prevailed upon with great difficulty to fuf- pend his firft intention, as diredled by his inftruc- tions, againft Ofwego, and to proceed direftly thro' ; ' Lake Champlain, for the defence of Fort Fre- derick. Where he waited fome time, expeifting that General Johnfon would advance and giva him battle. But being difappointed of his expec- tations, he embarked his men in battoes, and landed at the South Bay, about 16 miles from Johnfon's camp, intending firfl: to reduce Foit Edward at the carrying place, and then to proceed and attack the Englifli camp under General John- fon -, and refolving, if he fliould fucceed in bori* attempts, to lay wafte all our northern colonic; burn the towns of Albany and Schene<5lady :o afhes, and fo to cut off all communication vth Ofwego. This This without when ijiore, Kgcnce, my whe way of 1 lince ca with up New Y ing Plac to Coloi to call ii force ,wi infbrme that the only frc he took Blancha ly knew for the morning which i with a n in their their att ' It wa men, incl dians of c "» Situa George, r n Ontl 155 A. D. »755« THE LATE WAR. This embarkation from Fort Frederick landed without oppofition, or the leaft difcovery. But, when they were advanced fome miles from the Ihore, the fcouts brought General Johnfon intel- Hgence, that a confidcrable number ' of the ene- Rcinforce- my where on th€ir march from Ticondaroga," by to Fort way of the South Bay, towards that fortified camp, ^J^vaid. fince called Fort Edward, built and garrifoned, with upwards of 400 of the New Hampfhire and New York men, by General Lyman at the Carry- ing Place, Colonel Johnfon gave notice thereof to Colonel BlantSird, the commander, with orders to call in all his out parties, and to keep his whole force within the entrenchments. He was further informed by his fcouts, about 1.2 o*clock at night, that they had ken the enemy, about four miles only from the camp at the Carrying Place •, but he took no meafures for the fuppolt of Colonel Blanchard, till next morning •," though he.perfe6t- ly knev/ the importance of that camp's defence, for the fafety of his whole army. Early in the morning General Johnfon called a council, in which it was refolved, to detach only 1000 men, with a number of Indians, to intercept the enemy in their retreat, either as vid:o'-s, or defeated in their attempt : though they h«ci no account of the i * It was found, on their defeat, that they confifted of 2000 wen, including 200 granadiers, 8ao Canadians, the reft In»- dians of divers nations. "» Situated on the Ifthmus, between the north end of Lake George, and the fouthern part of Lake Champlain. " On the 8th of September. number ^-l-'i ^'Wi\ , ■, \ 1 'i A. D. »755. 1 ■■' ' ■ The df- tarhm?nt defeated. The general HISTORY of number or ftrength of the enemy ♦, neither could they get any certainty thereof, from the Indian fcouts ; becaufe thofe favages have no diftind words or figns, whereby to exprefs large numbers, otherwife than pointing to the (tars in the firma- ment, or to the hair of their head, which fome- timcs may denote io,goo, when at another time, itmayfignify not more than 1000, or an inferior number. • According to this refolution. Colonel Williams marched between eight and nine o'clock in the morning with 1000 men, and 200 Indians. But, the French General having been deceived, by the information of deferters from General Johnfon's camp, with an opinion of its want of cannon, and of itsdefencelefs ftate, which made it more ex- pofed and much eafier to be furprized than Fort Ed- ward, where feveral pieces of cannon were mounted, he was prevailed upon by the common voice of his troops (when he was within four miles and a half, from Fort Edward, the firft objed of this expedition) to proceed to the attack of the camp, which he expeded to be without cannon, and without lines and breall-work. Though this alteration in the enemy's rout, did in all probability favc Fort Edward •, it had like to have cut off the whole detachment, under Colonel Williams. For, Williams had not march- ed two hours, before his detachment fell into the very mouths of the French. However, the Co- lonel behaved with great gallantry and prudence, and maintained his ground for a confide rable time. did like nder rch- the Co- :nce, able iiiie. THE LATE W A R. time, till obliged by numbers to fall back. Here- upon began fome confufion : feveral companies fled, and made ;he bed of their way to the camp ; which had been already alarmed, at firfl:, by their firing in the fkirmilh, and more efFedually by the fugitives. So that the General detached Lieut. Colonel Cole with 300 frefh men, who came time enough to (lop the enemy's purfuit, and to cover the retreat of the Englifh, who otherwife might have been entirely cut off. This alarm gave Johnfon time to ftrenghthcn his front with heavy cannon, to take poflelnon of fome eminencies on his left flank, and to fix a field piece in a very ad- vantageous fituation. The French, flulhed with this advantage, pulh- ed forwards in a very regular order towards the center ; and had they attacked the camp, which was then all in confufion, it is probable, they might have fucceeded and obtained an eafy vidlory. But Providence had ordained better things for us : 1 he enemy, without any apparent reafon, inftead of attacking the breaft-work diredly, halted at about 150 yards from the camp, and began the attack at fuch a diftance with plattoon-firing, that it did no execution againft troops covered by a Itrong breaft-work ; and this ineffedtual fire fo raifed the fpirits of the Englifh forces, that, hav- ing prepared their artillery, during the time the enemy halted, (which was ferved well under the diredion of Captain Eyre) they foon difperfcd the Indians and Canadians, by a briik difcharge of grape (liot, who fled into the woods on each fide the. '57 A. D. »755- French at- tack Gen. Johnlbn's camp. m I; .n "i ... Mv , \ r i S.i ,v ^5^ A.D. Dcfcrtcd by the Indians and Cana- dians. Rcpulfed Uiid defeat- ed. TheliGtn. taken. The general HISTORY of the camp, and fought for defence fr6m the trees and bufhes, behind which they hid themfelves. The French, deferred by the Indians and Cana- dians, inftead of retreafng, as prudertce direcfbed, fell into another error. Their General, not able with his fmall number of regulars to make a clofe attack upon the front of the <:amp, which he, contrary to his intelligence, found well fortified and lined with cannon, attempted in vain to pe- netrate the breaft-work, firil on the left, and then on the right. Thefe feveral attemj^ts ferved only to weaken and difpirit his men, V;ho fuffered greatly by the fire from the camp : and they being at laft thrown into confufion. General Johnfon's men, and his Indians, about four o'clock,® without waiting for orders, jumped over their breaft-work, attacked the enemy on all fides, killed between feven and 800,'' took 30 prifoners, and dilperfed thofe, that were able to fly with the moft fpeed. Amongft the prilbners was their General, the very Baron Diefkau, who failed with the fleet from Breft, and efcaped Admiral Bofca\ven, under fa- vour of thick fogs and hard gales of wind, in his voyage to Quebec, He was found alone, dangeroufly wounded, and fupporting himfelf on the ftump of a tree, a little diftance from the field of battle. The lofs on our fide chiefly fell .^ «' On the 8th of September, 1^55. P Amongft whom was Monf. St. Pierre, who commanded all the Indians, and the moft uferul officer the French had in all their expeditions in thofc parts, and in their treaties with the Indian natives. tu: upon upon fkirm whon capta Jois fell Gene Our old chief THE LATE WAR. ^15-9 \3p0n Colonel Williams's detachment. In which A. D. fkirmifli we loft almoft 200 men killed : amongft . / " Lois on ovu whom was Colonel Williams, Major Afliley, fix captains, and many fubalterns. In the camp the lofs was very fmall, and no perfon of diftindion fell but Colonel Titcomb, who was killed. The General and Major Nichols were wounded. Our Indians mourned for the death of the brave old Hendrick our faft friend, the Sachem or chief captain of the Mohocks."* They alfo loft 40 private men. The commander at Fort Edward, getting in- Dctach- formation of the attack, which had been intended ^on i:a- againft himfelf, being turned and fallen upon ^'^^"^* General Johnfon*s camp, detached, about eight o'clock at night, 120 of the New Hampftiire re- giment, and 90 of the New York regiment, un- der the command of Captain M' Ginnes, from his garrifon to reinforce the General. But the Indians and Canadians, which had efcaped from the flaughter of the French army in the morning, having colleded thcmfelves into a body of about 400, and rendezvoufed at the place where Williams was defeated, in order to fcalp the dead left on that fpot, intercepted this detachment about four interccpt- in the mdrning. Our brave men, fays General Jj'^iJj^ '^^^^^^ Johnfon, in his letter to Governor Wentworth, "-y- fought them for near two hours, and made a con- q The other Indians, upon the approach of the French, retired fi-om the camp, and did not join General Johnfon till the battle was over; which fhews, that they were determined to join the conqueror, French or Eug'ifk. 3 fiderablc 'Ki ■V >■' ' ■ I "1". r 1 -■*. 1: . ^m:- 1 60 A. D. Pefent the enemy. " M, Dicf- kau's cha- rufter. General Jolmlbn's conduct. The general HISTORY op fiderable flaughter amongft them, and extricated themielves with the lofs of no more than two killed, 1 1 wounded and five miffing. Amongft the wounded was Captain M' Ginnes, whofc wounds proved mortal ; of which he died in a few days at General Johnfon's camp, whercunto he conduced his party. Mf >ir. le Baron de Dielkau, the French Gene- i;y^^, ^v ? wounded in his leg, and through both his hi^ T', a ♦^•'.m in years, ar experienced officer, and a perfon or high confidenition in France. He had brought 3 1 71 regular troops under his command, to Quebec, in the late fleet ; and had difpofed of them partly to garrifon Crown Point, and partly in encampments at Ticondaroga, and other advan- tageous palTes between Lake George and Crown Point. The ikirmifh Captain M' Ginnes had with the re- mains of the French army, and the certain account Gen. Johnfon had from Diefkau and the officers, in hiscuflody, of the number of regular troops encamp- ed between him and Crown Point, put him great- ly upon his guard againft a furprize, and to pro- vide the beft in his power againft a more defperate attack. This determined him not to purfue the fugitives, beyond the probability of a fafe retreat. The enemy, he was convinced, were in a difpofnion to rallv, and had reinforcements near at hand : therefore he was, watchful to maintain the advan- tages he had gained, without weakening himfelf by detaching parties in purfuitofan enemy, whom it might be dangerous to meet : and for fevcral days, till till he that tl to give ftantly upon cd and Frui merit c chief, highly of ope rying 1 Britilh Genera Fort E the lois main c and it; French it, in Genera format and m( he was fore til yield 1 camp I of the Gener to reli heedle or bn . Vo 4 THE LATE WAR. i6i till he was thoroiiglily convinced by his fcoiirs, A. D. that there appeared no intentions of the enemy ' to give him further trouble, he kept his men con- ftantly upon their arms by day, half the whole upon guard by night, and the rell laid down arm- ed and accoutred. Fruitful minds have endeavoured to leflen the Eoth Oc- merit of the tv/o Generals, that commanded in {{.nj'Jdr* chief, on this occafion. Dieflcau's condud is riiit, M. highly arraigned for departing from his tirll plan of operation, by leaving Fort Edward at t- ; Car- rying Place, and attacking the main bodv of he Britifh forces encamped under the command of General Johnfon. They fay, that the gar'-ifon of Fort Edward did not exceed four or 50*^ and that the lofs of this fort would fo have diicrefled the main camp, as to prevent its proceeding further, and its fubfill:ence where it was. So that tlr^ French might have had an opportunity to harrefs it, in its retreat. What dilTuaded the French General from his firfb opinion was, a certain in- formation that Fort Edward was well garrifoned, and mounted fevcral pieces of cannon, of which he was in want : That Ihould he be detained be- fore that fort, which could not be expecfted to yield to his fummons, its vicinity to the main camp made him liable to be put between two fires, of the cannon of the tort, and of the armiV under General Johnfon, who would certainly endeavour to relieve it: that tlie aimy laid expofed in an hcedlefs fecurity, without either cannon mounted, or bread works thrown up to prevent a furprize, . Vol. L M which 4 i I ■U'i M ■is ■.' '"*:'«i- "I ; w ■ i '■< !?, !' . "I i,^^r ;i /'; A. D. '/ •>-)' Secon(f, GL-ntral Joimlon. The GENERA!. HISTORY of which was the real cafe three days before, when thole deferters, tliat gave him the information, fled from their colours : And that it was more agreeable to the Canadians and Indians to engage an enemy in the woods, where they had no cannon, than in a fort, where their biifli- firing; could do them no fervice. Under thefe circumihinces, the mod prudent reader will allow that Deii"k".u ought to be acquitted of mifcondud, when he engaged in that attack, which, in the nature of things, promifecl him more fure fuccefs ; both in regard to the chance of the ilTue, the inclination of his whole army, and to the want of artillery, or heavy cannon to reduce the fort. As for General Johnfon. They accufe him of lofing the opportunity of totally deftroying the French army, by a too referved reflraint upon his men, whom he would not fuffer to purfue the fly- ing enemy -, and of neglecting to improve his vic- tory by advancing to the attack of the main object of his expedition at Crown Point. But there is no need of refutation or apology, more than that General himfelf furnilhes in his letter to Governor Wentworth ; which fliews plainly, that he had reafon to furpe(5l a renewal of the attack; that it was dangerous to weaken his main body by de- tachments to fcour the country ; that the paflTes to Crown Point were fo well provided with regu- lar troops and Indians, that he would find work enough for his ftrength, to force his way through them, if at all, and then could not, after fo much fatigue, and perhaps great lofs of men and am- •, . munition, THE LATE war: 163 fnunltion, hope to be in a condition to reduce ^ ^^^ Crown Point, where their chief force was lodged. ^^^' Redfons, however they may appear to the capti- ous, fufficiently commended by his Majcfty's par- liament and government : And for which fervice, the King created General Johnfon a baronet, and the parliament voted him a prefent t 5000I. in reward of iiis merit. General Johnfon apprehending that he had done (>-ncni all in his power, at a fealbn of the year, which ixtums very foon would prevent his keeping the field, ^"^''''•'* and having good reafon to think, before he re- folved upon his decamping to return home, that the enemy was in no condition to do more than remain upon the defenfive, he made the necelTary preparations to break up his camp, and returned to Albany, leaving only a fmall garrilbn of mili- tia, in a little Stockaded fort, at the higher end of Lake Georp;e, to aflert the rin;ht of his Britan- nic Majefty to the country round about. General Shirley, who took upon himfclf the Exp-ni'tlon command of the expedition againlt Niagara, did 'Jl'-^'.^^^^ not meet with the like approbation at the Britil'h court. His dilatory and defective preparations, on this occafion, at his firll fetting out promifed no great ad^'antages to the common caufe. His Gensral fuccefs chiefly depended upon an early march to ]^Q'^'•^,^^' the objcdl of his armament. But time was con - c^niUrod. fumed fo laviflily, that his firft divifion, Colonel Schuylar's New Jerfey regiment did not march from Albany till the beginning of July ; and it was near the end of that month, before Shirley's M 2 and ■u f I- jC4 The general HISTORY of '^' P' and Pcppcrers rej^iments followed ; and then they were lb dir{)iritcd by the news of Braddock's Hiameful defeat, that many of the troops deferted ; and the battocmen in particular were ftruck with Inch a pannic, tliat there could not be found enough to carry the neceflary ftores for the army. However, General Shirley fet out with his regi- ment, and, in his way to Ofwcgo from Albany, endeavoured to ftrengthen his forces, by apply- inor to the Indians of the Six Nations for their iiNCMfc of iiuxiliary aid. But very few joined his arniyj ex- ihciiuhan:; cufmrr themfelvcs, as a tradino; people, from m tiic w.ir. taking any part in the quarrel between the French and Englifli •, and infilling that Ofwego, being a ])l:icc of trade, trafnc and peace, ought not to be difturbed by either party. Under thefe dilappointments General Shirley arrived at Ofweo-o ' on the i8th of Au^uft; but the reft of his troops and the artillery did not get up there before the laft day of that month ; and fo badly provided with provifions, that it was im- poflible for them all to proceed to Niagara. He then refolved to draw out fix hundred men, and with them to attack Niagara, and to leave 1400 at Olw^'go, to prevent a furprize from the French fort Frontenac, which was very powerful, and could eafily make a defcent, a-crofs the lake On- ' About 300 miles wefl from Albany, w^ere dicre were 250 men in garrifon, under Captain Broadflrcet, befidcs wofk- men to be employed in building Hoops on the lake. Amy ar- ri> v,s ;it Ciwciro. In wint pf fvtiy tiling. tario, THE LATE W A R. i6 tario, upon Olvvego '. Hut it was tlic 2'>tli of A. i). September before provifions could be provided for '^^* fo fmall a force ; and to leave only twelve days iliort fubfiHencc for the troops left behind : And the boifterous rainy feafon having begun, which drove many of the Indians home, and made the navigation of the lake Ontario very dangerous ; it was by a council of war, after weighing all cir- cumftances, unanimoully refolvcd to defer the at- Rofolvcd tempt upon Niagara, till the next year •, and to ["J.j'jj^"'" employ the troops, then at Ofwego, in building barracks, and tv/o new forts, one on the fide of the river Onondaga, 450 yards diftant from the old fort, to command the entrance of the har- bour, by the name of Ontario Fort, and the other at the diftance of 450 yards well of the old fort, and to bear the name of Ofwego New Fort. Ihefe were wife difpofitions againft the fuperior power of the Frencii Fort Frontenac, which was too flrong for Oi'wego Fort alone. But General Shirley j^c-avc-^ tlic mar'd all the benefit of thofe councils, by march- f/Huitrv, ing on the 24th of Oflober to Albany, and leav- d 10 iiie ing no more than feven hundred men, under Co- lonel Mercer, both to garri^jn Ofwego, and to complete the two forts, not near finiflied •, and •without any poITibility of relief in cafe of a fiege by the enemy in the winter. ^ Sicuatcd on the fouth bank of the lake, confining of a flone wall, and mounted with five cannon, three or four pounders, and othcrwifc in a very bad defcncelcfs condition, tvhcn General Shirley arrived there. M 3 Gsneral crA'in^, •I.! \ .'.. !'■: M 1^5 A. D. 1755- Ocncrn.I Siurlcy iiiinmorr,' The general HISTORY of General Shirley fet out from Olwego in a whale boat on the 24th of Oflober, attended by fome battoes, and arrived at Albany on the 41 h of No- j^]i ji,^.Q^_ venibcr. On the 2d of December he, by circu- voniors vj \p_^ letters, fummoned the leveral Governors upon the Continent, as tar vveltward as Virg-nia, to meet him there, in order to form a council of war, v/hich, by his Majefty's inftru6tions to him, was to confiil of as many Governors and Field- Cflicers of his Majefty's troops, as could at- tend. This council met on the 12th, but confifted of a very fev/. Mr. Shirley laid before them his Majefry's inftru6lions to General Braddock, and then delivered his own fen timer is to the board, v/hich were, at all events, to fccure the naviga- tion of lake Ontario ; that 6000 troops iliould be employed to reduce the French forts on that lake, and 10,000 againft Crown Point : to which they agreed. There was a propofal to renew the expe- dition againft Fort du C^iefne, and to attack the French in the river Chaudiere, but that was con- fented to only conditionally, orovided it could be ¥ mi. done Without interfering with the two principal expediuons. The council then unanimoufly de- clared it to be their opinion, that it would be im- poiTible to recover and fccure his Majefty's juft rights without an additional number of regular forces, bcfidc^s thofe already upon that Continent, and, aa the Fiench were building veiTels of force at Frontcnac, they ordered a fnow, a brigandine and i Si i i ac- THE LATE WAR. 167 A. D. 1755- m?nca. and a Hoop to be built with all diligence at Fort Ofvvego. ' • As many pafiages in the American war, which ^^ll^^^^^^Jf v/ili come unde- your eye and confideration, mud North^ A- lofe their proper effed, and be rendered abftrufe and unfatistadory in regard to the right, import- ance and limits of the Britilh Empire upon the Continent of North America, it will be neceflary to give you fome account of the manner Great Britain bccam.e pofiefled of thofe territories in the new world ; to explain their benefit to their mo- ther country, and to defcribe the limits of the fc- veral provinces, and the nature of the French en- croac '■ents, with fome topographical remarks on thofe particular places, which more imme- diately come under the cognizance of this Hif- tory. To fix the original right to our poflefiions in whon liiit North America, it is neceflary to go back to the ^^.^ )-j"jf "^ age, in which the powers of Europe were firft in- Jiicovcad. fpired with the fpirit of making difcoveries in what was, at tliat time, the unknov/n world. Columbus, who firll ofi^ered his fervice to our ByCoium- Henry the Seventh, to fail in quell of a new part "^* of the globe, being neglecled in England, had alarmed Europe with his difcoveries in the fervice of Spain •, by which tenure only the Spaniards hold their iflands and that vaft extent of territory, which were, in a courfe of years and various at- tempts, difcovcred in South y\merica, from whence they drew fuch immenfe riches, as amaze the whole world. Two years after Cabot, a Vene- M 4 iiaii ■;■. ', ii! ■ < f. * ;i ,*{•»* ] i' i *. ..' P > , ii 'v. ''■■■: P i |\ II ifi ■r t' ]i 1 1 «i %. !^ 'j .1 ^i -■ i68 A. D. »755- ByCabo: The general HISTORY of tian born, but fettled at BiipLo], a maritime port, at that time of p;rcat repute in the weftern parts o' England, bein;;^ well n;iHcd in cofmography and navigation, naturally inferred from the dif- coveries made by Columbus in the fouth-weft, that there was as mueh probability of fuccefs in plough- ing the Atlantie Ocean towards the north- well, prefented a memorial to King Henry VII. letting forth, that he made no doubt, but if his Majefty would pleafe to employ him, he could make fome ufcful difcoveries, in his name, and find out iflands and countries abounding with rich com- modities, no ways inferior in value to tliofe al- ready difcovered by Columbus in the fervice of the King of Spain. King Henry VII. hearkened to the propofal, and commifiioncd John Cabot ' and his three fons" to fail in quell of unknown lands, and to annex thern to the crown of England-, with this claufe, ivhicb before this time bare been u;iknown to all ClrifiiiiaS '■ . His firfl: efuiy, as related by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, who was employed in the like fervice afterwards by Queen Elizabeth, was to difcover a north-wefc pafiage to Cathay or China i in which voyage he failed very f;ir eafl:- ward, with a quarter of the north, on the north fide of Terra de Lcibrador, rill he came into the * Sec Peter Martyr Hill. Ind. Occidcn. and Rapin. " HaddiiltVs Voyngcs, vol. III. p. 4. and Ryir.er's Fee- dcfa, A. I). 1496. ^^ This cnm.Tiiilion was dated the c;th of March, In the \ n\\ year of" lienry VII. north nortlj In hi Sebai fouthl oi b\ polTei the nl rida-,| of it,| of Ell In evide coaft bot h gics (C (( (C (C THE north latitude of fixty-fev-en degrees and a half. In his next voyage, which was made with his fon Seballian, in the year 1497, he (leered to the fouth'fide of L:ibra(ioi\ and tell in with the Ifland of Baccalaos^ whicii is Newfoundland, and took poiTelfion both of that ifland and all the coafl: of the north-eaft part of America, as far as cape Flo- rida; which he alio, by landing in fevcral parts of it, claimed in the name of his mafler the King of Ero-land. In memory of this difcovery, and by way of evidence, there was a map or chart of the whole coaft of North America, drawn by Sebaflian Ca- bot himfelf, with his pidure and this title, Effi- gies Seb. Caboti Angli, Filii Jo. Caboti, Vcne- tiani, Militis Aurati, &c. and with the follow- ing account of the difcovery above-mentioned, " In the year of our Lord 1497, J^^" Cabot, a Venetian, and his fonSebailian (with an Ens;- lifli fleet) fet out from Briftol, and difcovered that laiul, which no man had before attempted. This dilcovery v;as made on the 24th of June about live o'clock in the morning. This land he Ca.led Prima Vijla (or the fir ft feen) becaufe it was that part, of v^hich they had the firft fight from the fea. It is now called Bonavifta. The ifland, which lies out before the land, he called the Ifland of St. John., probably becaufe it was difcovered on the feltival of St. John This map was hung up in his Majefl;y's privy- gallery at Whitehall ; and, it is to be feared, the nation .,■•,'; •'■''- . ■ '■•■tl 170 The general HISTORY )F |i.;S ; A. D. nation was deprived of fnch a ^-aluabie icifliironfal ^^^' of their American title to the whole conft of NorrF America, by the fire, which deftroyed thjt gal- lery in the late King William's reign. Authors ", who confirm this account, and are more creditable, for having lived nearer the time this difcovcry was made, write that Cabot, having failed beyond the cape oi Labrador^ till he had pciTcd 58 degrees, and being Hopt in the month of July with cold and ice, turned again towards the weft, refrefhed himfclf a: Baccahios or Newfoundland> and afterwards fiiled along the c<.a{l (of the Con- tinent) unto 38 degrees, from whence he fliaped his courfe to return to Enclmd. Bv which we are aurhorized to comprehend Hudfon's B?y, with the adjacent countries and the banks of New- foundland, under the dominion of the Britifh crcwn : A territory which extends, along the fea coaft, feventeen hundred miles, in a direct line. But as Hudlbn*s Bay has not been concerned in the prefent conteft, it will fuffice to confine this fubjedt to the territory trc^cjing from Cape Charles on the fouth-eall poi.; -'Terra Labrador to Cape Florida •, including the iflands and fifhing banks upon that extenfive coaft, and by right of difco- very, as there were no Chriftian power had any fcttlement thereon, or claim thereto, or even know- Extent or his difco- vcries. icdge felTionl extent bounc In to whj feirionl the C[ cover] tors fj for w< limits, trade iift' * See Francis Lopez de Gomera, a Spaniard, in his Iliflory of the Weft Indies, hook II. c. 4. Peter Martyr. Decad. 3, ch. 6. Baplifljt Romufms in the Preface to his 3d vol. of Naviga- And Kackluit's Voyagsfi, vj^. III. Ied!>€ - o II.T'-' ''^''^.l' ™i THF LATE W A R. 171 A. D. icJge thereof, comprehending all the heathen pof- felfions and immersfe wilderncires, io uie uitooft extent of that Continent wcilward, as far as it is bounded by the South-fea. In this light it is certain the powers of Europe, to whom Henry VII. of England notified the pof- feflion he had taken of the premiies, by his captains the Cabots, father and fon, underftood this dif- covery to exclude their commiflions and naviga- tors from this coaft and thefe iflands and banks : for we read of no attempt of that fort within th^ie pii/i at- limits, till a lull of dominion, a rivdOiip in ^^"^X^ °^, . ^ tlicFrench. trade and navigation, and a natural antipathy and envy, wliich the French took up againft our na- tion, prompted them to fet a-foot new commif- fions for paring the territories and dillri6ls of ' other Chrillian nations in the nev/ world. They fucceeded mod in the Well Indies, where they got polfeflion of thofe iflands, from whence they draw fo great national refources by trade and na- vigation. Nor did they fail, in a courfe of years, to explore the coaft of North America. But with that fecrecy, as to make a ilrong lodgment in the moft obfcure part thereof, before it was probable to interrupt their operations, and to drive them off. Thus favoured by the indolence and negletfl of the Englifli, who did not pay that due regard to the improvement of their North American re- gions, they ftole up the bay and river of St. Law- rence, and fortified themfelves at Quebec, by which influence they obtained a great extent cf land, by them called Canada, and have main- tained n^ 172 The general HISTORY or ^•D. tallied that ufurpation by force, till conquered in ^^^' the pre lent war. l"he death of Ilenry VII. and the fchemes car- ried on by his fon and fucccfibr Henry VIII. to enllave his fubjeds, to fatisfy his lud, and to rob the religious foundations, by introducing a rcU- gion of his own invention ; (for he was no other- wife a Proteflant, than as he abohflied the Pope's fupremacy in England, flill retaining the worft of do6lrines, and the fpirit of perfecution againft all Ncgica of dilfenters from his fix fanguinary articles) inter- venes/ " rupted the laudable and profitable adventures, fet on foot with fo much fucccfs, for difcoverics and the fettlement of unknown countries, inha- bited only by heathens. The ifiand Newfoundland being the firft: land mentioned fouiSr'd ^" Cabot's difcovcry, v/e begin with its deicrip- tion. It is an ifland of a triangular form, about 930 miles in circumicrencc, feparated on the north, from Terra de Labrador by the ftreight of Bell- ifle, which runs north-eafl, and is about 23 miles over in i^s narrowed part. On the weft it has the gul^^h of St. Lawrence, nnd on the fouth and eaft * the weftern or great Atlantic ocean. Cape Race or Raz is the moft Ibutherly point of the ifland, and lies in 46° 45" north lat. the moft northern pOMit is in lat. 51. 30. fo that the greateft length of r,'ie ifland from north to fouth is 280 miles. And .-s Cape Raye is its moft wefterly point, in north lat. 47. ^^. the diftance between it and "Cape Ra.'e is abou<: 240 miles. 'ihh r*) 'I " THE LATE WAR. 17^ This idand abounds with fpacious and excel- A. D. lent bays and harbours; and is otherwiie well fup- '^^* plied with friffh fprings and waters. I'he pro- duce of the land, though it might be made, by induftry, to turn to fome account, is not the con- (ideration of the adventurers, whofe principal, and indeed only care is to enrich themfelves by the cod-fifli trade upon its coaft •, which fifli is ib plentiful in this fea, as to be fufficient to fupply the whole world ; including what is taken on the banks, which are vaft mountains concealed under water, as if nature had defigned them for inex- hauftible magazines of cod-lifli. Befides, from the livers of thefe fifli the adventurers draw off great quantities of train oil, of which they make a confiderable advant:iG;e. And as this navio-a- tion brings up the bell and great numbers of feamen, and there is a great demand in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy for Newfoundland iifli, an exclufive right to this trade and navigation, which v/e are intitled to by priority of difcovery, is of the greateil confequence to England -, as it ferves, at the fame time, to enrich and llrengthen ourfeives, and deprives other nations of the like means to fupply themfelves with filli, and to man their navies. The Continent, under this difcovery, 'las byTheCon- feveral grants, from time to time, been divided into a number of provinces and dilfrifts, of •v.'hich Nova Scotia is the moft callcrn fettlc- ment. Nova , i- I ■" j^ «i & I II: f:: ' I mv U m I'll A. D. Nova Sco- ti:i oi- Aca- dia. When f ift lettled by the Eiig- lini. Ceded to the French. Undcrp-ocs Icvtraj re- volutions. The general HISTORY of Nova Scotia or Acadia, as to it.s antient boun- daries has already >' been defcribed in the demand made by the Britifli cornmifiarier. upon the French King, for the f;iithful performance of that part of the treaty of Utrecht, which cedes Nova Scotia or Acadia, according to its antient boundaries to his Briiannic Majefty. This province was firft fettled by the Englifh, before the year 1602, wliich the French hiftorians allow to be two years, before their navigators fkulked up the gulph of St, Lawrence, and made a lodgment on the northern borders of this coun- try. Jn 1620 the crown granted all that part of Acadia, as far as the 48th degree of north lat. to the council of Plymouth or New England : and in the next year the council of New England re- figned to the crown all parts of their grant to the north of the river St. Croix, when it was then granted with the reft of Acadia to Sir William Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland, and by him, or his charter, named Nova Scotia, inftead ot Acadia. In 1623 all Acadia or Nova Scotia was given in marriage with King Charles the Firft's daughter to the French King. Sir David Kirk took it from the French in 1627 j but it was again ceded to France by the treaty of St. Germain. In 1 654 Cromwel reduced it. But King Charles II. in 1662, without any regard to the remonftrances of New England and his parliament, againft ad- mitting the French fo near to our colonies, deli- vered it up again j and confirmed its pofleflion to y *ec before, p. 50. France (( THE LATE WAR, ^75 A. D. »75S' ncc France by the treaty of Breda in 1667. The Nev/ Englandmen labouring under great difadvantagcs from a French neighbour in that maritime fitua- tion, laid hold of the firft opportunity of a war to force it again out of the hands of the French, and took it from them in 1690 with 700 men only. But their hopes were once more difap- pointed ; for the treaty of Refwick gave it back to France. However, the time at laft came to fix Cedcd to this poflefllon in its original right : For Nova ^."^^^ ^''^ * . . '"'" ^v the Scotia or Acadia being reduced in 17 10 by treaty of united forces from Old and New England, it was, as already largely ■" explained, confirmed to the crown of Grer" Britain by the treaty of Utrecht, " with its antient boundaries, as alfo the city of *' Port Royal, as fully as ever P>ance pofiefied ** them by treaty or other means.'* The importance of this fettlement to the French it<; import, was very confiderable. In the firfl: place, it o[x;ncd p"."(!!J ^'"'^ for them a way to the great weftern ocean from Canada, and fecured a communication between Old France and that back colony, without the delay and hazard of the navigation through the river St. Lawrence : Again, it put them in pof- fefiion of the banks on that coaC, with whofe produce they might eafily rival, if not beat Eng- land out of the cod fifhery. . An author, well acquainted v,'Ith this fubjedl, ;icm4ffts remarks, That could France have carried hsr ^^^^'"^^^^ point in her claim upon Acadia or Nova Scotia, » See befeie, p. 49, 50, ^ ?/f, 4-0. * * with 1 ^1 k^ mm -,:• K- r- 176 The general HISTORY op A. D. with the contiguous iflands and Cape Breton, fuch '''5 5- an acquifition vvoukl have made our natural ene- mies more terrible, than ever, to our colonies : bccaufe it might lecure to them a fuperioriry in the hlnery for ever, and the whole rur-trade of the northern continent : it would provide them with materials for building lljps of the greatwd force, and with excellent porib and harbours, from whence they might embaik and launch into the ccean ; inftead of the tedious and hazardous na- vigation down the river St. Lawience. So that in proportion as France fliould be deprived of thcfe advantages, Great Driiain, by retaining the polTcinon of Acadia or Nova Scotia, maintains her fupcriority in the fifliciy and in thofe feas, and preferves her colonics fiom the encroachments and threats of their enemies, or rivals in trade. France was fo fcnfible of the ruin of all her fine plans, for the extent and improvement of her Ca- .nadian colony •, and for the deftruclion of the Bri- tilh power, intcrcfl: and trade on the Continent of North America ; lliould ilic not be able by ne- gociation or force to maintain her perfidious claim to Acadia, that v/e have feen ail her policy, riches ° and ftrength employed, in this vvar, to get it once more into her actual pofieilion. Nc'.v Knfj- ^^^w England, which was be-^un to be inha- larui jiiii hitetl in the year 1606, by patent from Kino; lettled,aud . ■' ' / I tj cumpoied Jamcs I. is now compoh d of the provinces PruvSces.: ^^' ^^^^ Hampfhirc, Malfachulet's Bay, Rhode Ifland and Connecticut ; which have, in courfe of time, conf'^deratCiJ for their common fupport ,3 o againll © ® ^. ® ■j[Vi ') « •>■ r^l ■■* > _^^^ ^^^ A^Mi«w^-M»*^>^ i- « » I ' ^^ * »-^^*.>u& ^i^ mss^ifls' 2'stvjm««r^' ^^ t.- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 ■10 28 |Z5 1^ 12.2 ^1 u 144 ■ 1.1 f.-^l^ J4 1 L25||U ,.6 < 6" ► Va '>:> V / >^ '■y '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ ^ 70 Jamb s BiAY ^:^ JLy / ^liTE Y B :r.x T A's I isr\v raanuae Jleadnurul 1^1%' d 67 "■■ ^?^- ?4 K -V /•Av H TT vtj^AnjeinnaKle Sound , OcacccfCJit/ft i 1 -s^ Cfarlrr'et JsUJjrUna MTTortRoyitl fF'^Simffn Jdf.^a/ancae o A T I. A. 2\r C ^ ^ IBermudas ji laeg ^ ^.H^^ f ^undiand fj 2V- I:N'ew ^ Accur ateMAPof ^^i> ORTH America^ Bi*itilh Acquifilious sjairfd ^*i , pf . .. n' i THE LATE WAR. 177 againft the feveral attempts made by the French A. D. on their back fettlements : For, fo early as the ^^** year 161 1, the French made encroachments upon j^e^^trby' the New England patent, and endeavoured to fe- thtFicncU, cure their ufurpation by feveral forts at mount Manfel, St. Croix, and Port Royal j and were making difpofitions for further invafions, when Sir Samuel Afgall drove them off, difmantled their fortifications, and carried away both their ar- tillery and ftores *. At prefent, and for many years. New England The town abounds with trading towns, of which Bofton, "** ^"ft^"* the metropolis of the province of Maflachufet's Bay, is the firft city of all North America. It contains ten churches, and about 30,000 inhabi- tants, is built on a peninfula at the bottom of a capacious harbour, defended from the violence of the ocean by feveral iflands and rocks, that ap- pear above water -, and from an enemy by a re- gular fortrefs at the narrow entrance of the river. The chief branch ot trade in this city feems to be in fifh, which employs a vaft number of peo- ple ; but the inhabitants alfo drive a brillc trade with the Weft Indies for lumber and provifions ; and with England in mads, yards, pitch, tar, tur- pentine and flaves, and fome peltry, Befides, by taking molaflbes in return for lumber on the fugar iQands, the people of Bofton have ingrofled the Indian trade on that Continent for fpirituous liquors, and fupply the Britifli colonies in North " See Harris, Part I. p. 851. ill Edition. Vo L. I. N America 4 rm It.* » ■ -'■in •■•.■.■I, i)-,l ■i,-i;,},| .>?:* W A. D* »75S' 178 The general HISTORY ot America, the Newfoundland fifhery, and the greateft part of the commerce on the coaft of Guinea, with a kind of rum diftilled from that barter. But nothing does the induftry of the New England- men more honour, than the number of fhips built in their ports. By which they draw great fums from other countries, and have become car- riers for moft of the other colonies. They have manufadlures of hats, linnen and woollen ; and on all occafions, when called out for war, have diftinguilhed themfelves in courage; and there- fore the French have always been endeavouring to creep down upon them, and to circumfcribe both their trade and power -, which has been particu- larly manifefted by building Fort CohafiTer and Fort Frederic or Crown Point, a confiderable way within their acknowledged frontier. Thefe confederate provinces contain about 350,000 inha- bitants, including a fmall number of blacks and Indians. New York New York is the next colony to the fouth. It Swedtsand ^^s firft fettled by the Swedes, and by the name Dutch. of ;f^evv Sweden ; and afterwards the name of New Netherland was impofed by the Dutch, who got footing on the Delaware river by the help of Henry Hudfon, an Englifh commander of a Ihip, fitted out by the Dutch Eaft India company to find a nearer paflTage to China. Who, fail- ing in his difcovery by the north weft, fleered for the coaft of Florida, pufhed into the river, and made a lodgment at the place, where New York now ftands, in the year 1609. Which, in a few a- THE LATE WAR. 179 A.D. /i>' a few years, throve fo well, under the influence and aid of the United Provinces in Europe, that the Svvedes were obliged to fubmit to their jurif- didtion. But as foon as our national ftrcngth and Driven cut fpirit revived after tlie reiteration, the Englilh af- ii(^\ ' "^ ferted their right ; and the Dutch not able to refift the force fcnt to reduce them, or to drive them off, fubmitte^ to the King of England on promife of being protedled in their peribns and properties, in the year 1664. King Charles II. had granted this territory to his brother the Duke of York by letters patent, before the expedition failed ; and therefore it was immediately named New York in compliment to his Royal Flighnefs the Proprietor. This province is about 50 miles in breadth, within which compafs lies Long Ifland, on the ^p,,,, fouth of ConneiSlicur. But it extends on both i^^i^^* fides of the river Hudfon, northerly, about 200 miles, till it meets with the Iroquois or Indians of the Five Nations. Hudfon River is navigable almoft 200 miles. Hudfcn'a At it5 mouth is the ifl-md Manahatton, 14 miles ^'^''^'* long and five broad, which forms an excellent harbour, and contains the capital city, alfo named New York. In which are upwards of 8000 in- Town of habitants, who drive a good trade in corn, flour ^^^ °^ ' and other fpecies of provifions to the Weft In- dies. It is neatly built, and has four churches. At the diftance of 150 miles ftands the town of Xown of Albany, upon the fame river -, which, though ^^^^"X* not large ncr populous, is a place of great trade N 2 with u •-'';? i'" iSo The general HISTORY of A.D. •l^ ■ Iroq\iois Indians. with the Indians, who come here to barter their goods for powder and fhot, fire arms and cut- lery ware, coarfe woollen cloths and linnen, &c. And this is the place where all tranfadions and treaties are negociated between the Englifli and Iroquois -, once the moft powerful of all the hea- thens on that Continent, but fo enervated by the ufe of fpirituous liquors chiefljj, that their whole confederate nation is not able to bring above 1500 men into the field, though augmented by the Tufcornras, an Indian tribe, which was driven from the confines of Carolina, and joined in their confederacy. It is computed that the province of New York, Including Long Ifland, contains 80,000 inhabi- tants. It Ihould feem, from the fituation of Crown Point, between lakes Champlain and Sa- crament, which {lands at leaft thirty milec within the river Iroquois, that the French muft have gained over thofe Indians to their intereft, fo, at leaft, as to ftand neuter upon any breach between them and the Englifh •, which is confirmed by their anfwer to General Shirley^'s invitation to ac- company him to Niaguia ; and that they were fortifying a road, that in a little time might put them in poflelTion of Hudfon's river*, which could be eafily performed from Quebec, by the river Jlichelieu and the lake Champlain and George ; and, confequently, gain them a fettlement in the heart of our colonies, and a fafe and eafy com- munication with the wedern ocean. The Mohok Indians inhabit the country advanced from Albany. New ■fi: river om- >hok THE LATE WAR. New Jerfcy Jies in a Ibutherly direclion from New York, and is that piece of land, which is inclofed between the boundaries of New York and the river Dalaware, on the weft, about 150 miles in length, and 50 miles broad, containing about 50,000 fouls. It is fo advantageoufly fitua:ed be- tween Ncv/ York and Penfylvania, that its back fettlements have little to fear from the hoftile In- dians : and this fmall trad of land excels in grain and in all kinds of provifions and f its, particu- larly in peaches and melons. Its lorefts, which are large, abound with oak, a(h, beech, cedar, cheftnut, cyprefs, wallnut-trce, pine, faflfafras and hickery. Both this country and New York pro- duce good hemp and flax. All which commodi- ties the inhabitants fend to the markets of New York and Penfylvania, though there is a very commodious harbour, capable of receiving (hips of great burden, at Perth-Amboy, its capital, which is very thinly inhabited; though the pro- vince is fuppofed to contain about 60,000 fouls. Penfylvania ftretches foutherly from New York and New Jerfey, 250 miles in length, and 200 in breadth, having no communication with the fea, except by the mouth of the Delaware ; containing above 250,000 inhabitants, who carry on a large commerce with Europe and the Weft Indies : and the importance of this colony to its mother coun- try, may be gathered from the value of the im- ports from England, which in the year 1757 amounted to 268,4261. 6s. 6d. fterling. Phi- ladelphia, its capital, is an extraordinary large, N 3 rich .181 A. D. '755- New Jtr- Icv. Pcnfvlvs- nia. 'tmf\ Is V •r t -i '^^H^^v L l52 A. D. »755- The town ol" Pin la- Maryland. Virginia. The general HISTORY of rich and flourifliing city, built on a tongue of line), at the* conflux of the Dahiwarc and Schul- keh, two navigable rivers, in the form of a regular oblong i with bioad, fpacious and uniform ftrccts, crofj each other at right angles, leaving proper fpaces for public edifices. The houles are alfo neatly built of brick, and there are commodious docks for building of fliips. But one great mif- fortune attends this opulent and numerous people, >vhofe religious principles of Qiiakerifm, being too pacific, have encouraged the fubtle French to. hover more about their borders than fome other of their neighbours. They even ereded a fort on their property, at Lake Erie, and another at fome diftance to the fouthward of the River Au Beuf, befides other encroachments, unmolefted. Maryland, in length about I40 miles, and al- moft of the fame breadth, fpreads along the Bay of Chefapeak, bounded on the north by Pcnfylvania, on the eaft by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the fouth by the river Potowmack. Its number of white inhabitants do not exceed 40,000 : But their negro flaves are upwards of 60,000, by whofe labour they cultivate and manufa6ture 40,000 hogOieads of tobacco, which is the ftaple commo- dity of their province. Their capital is called Annapolis, beautifully fituated on the river P^- tuxent. Virginia, which is now properly^ fo called, and diftinguifhed as a province on this continent, is the next fettlement to the fouthward, bounded on ^he north, by the river Potowmack j on the eaft, by v»"'- TFE LATE W A R. |8S A. D. »75S' by the bay of Chefapcak •, on the fouth, by Ca- rolina; and without any limits to the vveftward-, though the plantations have not yet extended be- yond the Allegany mountains •, making in length about 240 miles, and in breadth not more than 200 miles. The white people in this province are computed to be 70,000, and the blacks many more ; employed chiefly as in Maryland, and raifing much the fame quantity of tobacco, which is the ftaple commodity of this province ; though Great Britain is fupplied from hence with a con- fiderable quantity of flax, hemp, iron, ftavcs, wallnut-tree and Cedar-planks ; and a good trade is carried on with the Weft Indies in lumber, pitch, tar, corn and provifions. This province abounds with vaft forefts of tim- ber, and produces plenty of corn, and every fort of fruit in great abundance and perfeftion. The Bay of Chefapeak runs from fouth to north chefa- 300 miles into the country, covered from the wefl:crn ^'^^^ ^^^' ocean by the eaft fide of Maryland, and a fmaU part of Virginia on the fame Peninfula, and re- ceiving many rivers on both fides ; as James river, York river, Rappahannock, and Potowmack. As to its towns. James Town, its antient ca- pital, is dwindled into a village i and the prefent feat of government, named Williamfburg, is nci^ ther large nor populous. The Carolinas, bounded on the north by Vir- xhe Caio- ginia, form a fliore on the weftern ocean of 400 ^'"^^' miles and upwards 5 extending in breadth near N 4 300 Ill' ' '1 .X ••a -t s 1H ■'i t 3 ■* 'i M. 1 84 The general HISTORY op A. D. »75S- 1 .•i M 4. * V i i Georgia, 300 to the lands inhabited by the Cutabaws,* Creeks/ Cherokees/ and Chickefaws.' They are divided into two provinces, the north and the fouth. North Carohna is molt populous, and carries on a very confiderable trade in tar, pitch, turpentine, flaves, fliingles, lumber, corn, peas, pork, beef, tobacco, deer- (kins, indigo, wheat, rice, bees-wax, tallow, bacon, hogs-lard, timber, &c. Its chief town is fmall and called Edenton. But the capital of South Carolina, called Charles town, is commodioufly fituated at the conflux of two navigable rivers, with a com- modious harbour ; contains about 800 houfes well built, and is well fortified. The trade of this province is much in the fame things, as in North Carolina i excepting its ftaple commodities of rice and indigo, which here are cultivated with good fuccefs. Georgia, the moft fouthern of all our fettle - mcnts on thiscoaft, extends about 60 miles along the lea fliorc, and runs almoft 300 miles from thence to the Apalachian mountains, widening in the inland parts to above 150 miles in breadth: *» They I've in the middle of our plantations, about 200 miles from Charles Town. ^ Inhabit a beautiful countrVi beginning at about 500 miles from Charles Town, and running weftward within 100 miles of the Milfiuppi; and arc accounted a brave and wife people. ^ Diftant 500 miles from Charles Town, and 200 miles from the neareft Englifh fettlement. ^ Live about 600 miles weft of Charles Town, and are a Vrave, friendly and faithful people. a But miles THE L AT E W A R, '185 But thinly inhabited. It is bounded on the fouth, A. D. by the river Attamiha, not far from the late '^^* Spanifh fort of St. Auguftine. The inhabitants raife large quantities of rice and indigo ; and have made fome progrefs in the culture of filk. Its capital is named Savannah, commodiouQy fituated The town*? on a river or the fame name, about 10 miles irom p.^|, ^nj the fea. It has another town named Augufta, Aug-nta. about 200 miles higher up that riven, navigable for large boats; at which town the° Georgians carry on a profitable trade for fkins, with the Creeks, Chickefaws, and the Cherokees, who are at prefent the mod refpedable tribes of Indians, both for number and ftrength. Let us now refume the thread of our hlftory. xhe mca- The hoftilities commenced in the North American f"":;: ^'p"":" hy the Bri- feas, as well as on that Continent, gave fuch a ^'^^ court, turn to the fpirit of the nation, which received the news with the greateil joy, as obliged the go- vernment to proceed -, it being too late to retreat. And, as the war was cxpedled to be confined tp .the fea, and to operations in North America, de- pending upon a luperiority on the ocean, they pretended to flrike fuch a ftroke, as to deprive the French at once of the means to man their fleets. But this amounted to no more than an order for our ihips of war to make reprifals upon the French, RepriiaU by taking all their fliips, wherever they Iliould be "^^^^* met i and to difpatch Sir Edward Hawke, with |S men of war,^ to wait for the French fleet, un- vL, t7 '< '"J "'' V ! are a But ' Onthcjjft of July. der •:lt k, : ti I. 1 86 A.D. »755- Adminl Hawks "s The GENtRAL HISTORY op - der the command of M. de Guay, who had put into Cadiz j and was expeded fhortly to return to Breft. Sir Edward's orders were, to cruize off Cape Finederre till the French fleet came in fight: than which no ftation could have been appointed fo favourable to the French. It was ordered upon the mere prefumption, that tht French fleet muft fail in that traft and in no other, leaving the whole Bay of Bifcay, and the Atlantic Ocean, as far as the Englilh channel, open, for the courfe of M. du Guay*s '^.ect, as wkII as for the return of the fliips from North America, which du Guay had been fent out to convoy fafe into port. Accord- ingly M. du Guay foon got intelligence of Admi- ral Hawke's fl:rength and ftation, and the pur- pofes for which he had orders to lie there : And like a fkilful feaman, the French Admiral feized the opportunity of the Englifh fquadrons confine- ment, fo far diftant from Breft ; and, departing from Cadiz, fleered direflly weft from Spain into the Atlantic Ocean, and, at a great diftance from the eoaft changing his courfe, he f "od direftly for the Lands End of England j whereby he avoided Admiral Hawke's fleer, cruifing ofl^" Cape Finefterre, arrived fafe in the Britifli chan- nel, fell in behmd it with his fquadron, and got fafe into the harbour of Breft ^ on the 3d of Sept. Upon advice of du Guay's fafe return, Adm. Hawke was called home ; where he arrived on the 29th of September. The miniftry in order « Scs the Obfervation concerning this meafare, on p. 132. THE LATE WAR. 187 A.D. to flop the clamc ir of the people, who were greatly exalperated at their imprudent condu6t on this occafion, pretended to 1:rike fome extraordi- n the Englifh fi,"oVwitr govern- ^°"^- ^"• ** pleix. It. iX ,- ■'• 1 -.m :k., ■ *Ii?*i i ,s pi 1: 190 The general HISTORY of Hoftilitles renewed. A.D. governor, and M. Dupleix, had mifcarried; the '^^^' commiffaries on our part having deteded a forgery dilcoveredT ^^ thc commifnons. Under which Dupleix pre- tended to a6t from the Great Mogul, appointing him Governor General, from the river Kriftna to the fea.** The congrefs broke up, and hoflilities con- tinued, as ufual, in the neighbourhood of Tui- chinopoly. The Englifh were in polfeflion of the town, and the enemy well encamped upon the ifland before it, with a large body of cavalry, and the river every where fordable. This fituation of the enemy was of great dif- advantagc to parties fent out for provifions and ftorcs, which could not be avoided. In the month of February 1754, they cue off a party of two captains, fix officers, 180 men rank and file, four pieces of cannon, 800 Sepoys, and about 70CO pounds of money, with a large convoy of provifions, by a party of 120 French infantry, about the fame number of deferters, a French troop of about 80, 6000 Sepoys, a large body of Maifibre cavalry, and the Marattas, making in all about 10,000, with feven pieces of cannon : And it was with great courage and condud, that another convoy efcaped the like fate, on the 12th of May following. In which fkirrnifh we loft ^ They difcovered that it was a falfe feal fix'd to the Saned or grant, called the Mogul's ; and ano:]ier had no date. Every grant from the Mogul is authenticated not only with a .fmall feal, on which is engraven the name of the Mogul, but alfo with that of his Vihers. about tHE LATE WAR. tgt A.D. 55' about 200 Sepoys, 59 private men, killed and wounded, and fix officers wounded. In this hazardous fituation, our Indian war continued the whole fummer, till it was happily concluded by an unforefeen negociation. The French Eaft India company, having great RefoUni- re afon to be difgufted with M. Dupleix's condud, f"c°cV^* which ferved to enrich himfelf, and to extend his Eaii India own power, ib far, as to make them jealous of his defign to raife himfelf to the dignity of an inde- pendent Eaftern Prince, and to eftablifh his go- vernment at their expence, and perhaps upon their ruin in thofe parts ; and dreading the confequences of a war with the Englifh. on that trading coaft, in cafe of a rupture between Great Britain and France, which they were not able to fupport •, en- deavoured to get clear of Dupleix, and toeftablifli a good harmony with the EngliQi Eaft India com- pany at the fame time : Having alfo intelligence, that the BritiH-i minidry had already * difpatched AJlr.;:T^!« Rear Admiral Vv^atfon, and Rear Admiral Pocock, ^ "■'''' with a fquadron "^ of capital fhips, and Colonel [ij'^ *'*^ Adlercroon's regiment, to fupport the Britidi in- terefl beyond the Line •, they immediately dif- patched JVl. Godeheu, with a commiflion of Com- * In Mai'ch 1754. ^ Confiiling of the Kent 70 guns, Captain Speke, with Rear Avin-iiral VVatfon on board : the Cumberland, 66 guns. Captain Harrilbn, with Rear Admiral Pocock on board ; the Tyger, 60 guns, Captain Latham ; the Salifbury, 50 guns. Captain Knowles ; the Bridgwater, 20 guns. Captain Mar- tin; and the King's Fiflicr floop, 14. guns, Captain Smith. miilary andPocock fail iov E. Indies. i^^>i '. '■' -i'- . , • '. f, iir A.D. »755- Dvipleix fupeiced- ed. M. Gode- hcu's paci- fic condu61, A cefTiitlon of holtili- ties. A provi- fional treaty be- tween the two com- panies. Tin GENERAL HISTORY of miflary General and Governor General of all theii' fettleincnts, and 1500 Europeans, and with in- ftrudions to fupercede M. Dupleix in his govern- ment, and to do his endeavours to (Irike up a provifional treaty of armftice and pacification with the governor of Fort St. George, and with the other Englifli fettle men ts on that coaft. M. Godeheu executed his commiffion with dex- terity and honour. He, on his arrival, found the Englifh fquadron upon the coaft. A truce, if pofTiblc to be gained, admitted of no delay ; and in order to conciliate a good opinion of his pacific intentions, he, immediately upon his landing, fent back he troops which M. Dupleix had flopped' in their paflage from Madrafs to Fort St. George, and detained prifoners ever fine** at Pondicherry ; and at the fame time fignified his inclination to purfuc pacific meafures, and propofed a fufpenfion of arms between the two Europeaii grand com- mercial companies. Such a fudden change in the French was highly acceptable to the Englifli. The governor and council by their difpatch and promife concurred with M. Godeheu in this work, and it was foon after "* agreed to fufpend all hoftilities : and on the 26th of December 1754, articles of a provifional treaty, and articles and ftipulations of a truc-e, were figned by Thomas Saunders, Efq-, Prefident for the honourable Eaft India company on the coaft of Coromondel and Orixa, of Fort St, ^ See before, p. '/'/* ^ On the uth of Oft. 1754: George, tHE LATE WA R. George, on the part of the Englilh united Eaft India company •, and by the Sicur Charles Robert Godeheu, CommifTary for his Moft Chriftian Ma- jefty i Conmander General of all the fettlements of the French company on both (ides the Cape of Good Hope, and at China ; Prefident of all the councils there eftablifhed, and Diredtor General of the India company of France. By the provifional treaty it was agreed in the firft article, That the two companies, Englifh and French J fhould renounce for ever all Moorilh government and dignity, and never interfere in any difference that may arife between the princes of the country.— In which article the conduft of M. Dupleix is particularly pointed at and con- demned, waofe ambition had put him upon every device of arms, of intrigue and forgery, to robe himfelf with the pageantry of an eaftern mon- arch 5 to force himfelf into the Moorifh govern- ment, and to pillage the Nabobs, &c. of their treafure ; ever fomenting difference between the Princes of the country, that he might by fome means come in for a part of the fpoil. The 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th articles, re- late to the fettlements of both nations and their dif- tri6ls. By the 8th article, it was agreed, '* That *' thefe conditions accepted on both fides, altho* they are not to be a law for a definitive treaty in Europe, fliould neverthelefs produce a truce *' between the two nations and their allies, until •' news be received in India of the anfwers made '* in Europe concerning this agreement."— -By Vol. L O th« <( C( tpj m-: A.D. »755«. ' ';!v ■t"..?; ^r ^94 A. D. «c cc (C cc «( (C tc i( (( cc \ 'A I' ' *' ill ! I36 The GENfikAL HISTORY o^ A. D. their prcfent cftablilhments and pofTcfllons ; they ^^^* may be tranfpor*- ' freely, and without any diffi* culty, from one \ *. to another, at the pleafure of the Governor, Generals, Commanders, &c. of each nation ; and all perfons adlually under th« piOte(5lion of either flag, may likewife go and come at pleafure, without being moleftcd either in their effects or perfons. Art. VIII. Trade fliall be free throughout the Carnatick, and in all the countries to the north- ward of the Coromandel coaft, for the two con- trading nations : they may fetch merchandizes from all the places in the dependance of each other, and tranfport them freely, without any reftraint, through the refpedlive jageers and territories. Art. IX. AH common enemies, or the particu- lar enemies of either nation, who Ihall come to at- tack the Englifli and French in their prefent pof- feflions, and trouble the tranquillity which is to reign in India, fliall be repulfed by the united force of the two nations, French and Englifli. Art* X. As foon as the truce is proclaimed, the mutual exchange of prifoners fliall be fet about, man for man, and means fliall be refolved on for the eafe of ihofe, which fliall not be exchanged. Alt. XL Commiflaries fliall be appointed on both fides, to examine into the infringements com- mitted by each party, or tlieir auxiliary troops or allies, and fettle the reflitution to be made of all the places taken, during the truce, againfl: the tenor of the fufpenfion of arms ; as likewife of all that may have been taken from them by the faid I auxj^liary :1i '1 '\4 THE L A T E W A R. 197 auxiliary troops, in merchandizes, efFeds, money, A. D. &c. and further to fettle in a fixed method, for a ''^^* guiJe, during the whole time of the truce, all the names, and the extent of every country, pa- ragana ", and village, under the power and in the pofleflion of the two nations, Englifli and French. Art. XII. It is agreed, that whenever, in the courfe of the truce, any complaint (hall be made by either of the faid nations of an infringement of the fourth article, the faid commiflaries on each fide appointed, (hall certify and examine the fad:, that juftice may be done accordingly to the in- jured nation, either by reflitution or reparation, according to the nature of the injury received. Done at Fort St. George, Dec. 31, 1754. Dated at Pondicherry, Dec. 26, 1754. Thefe treaties (though manifeftly mod fa ^our- Rtmaiks able to the French, as they left them at liberty to treaties! recover from the unnatural flate, into whch Du- pleix had thrown the company's affairs, by his ambition, avarice, and tyranny ; had opened a irtc trade and communication for their under- takings by fea, and left fo many eflential points to be fettled by commiflliries, with a people that are known never to determine in fuch cafes, but by the fingle argument of their own convenience and intereft) promifed the Englidi confiderable re- lief from the bur. hen and hazard of war; and they were rendered more fatisfa(^ory by the de- " Diftridl. 03 part LI re r i J, 'S-^.l .1 i •1' ■4i^' \-^'i 19S Tut GENERAL HISTORY op A- r>- parture of M. Dupliex ; who was ordered and fent to France by the firft (hips j and by the friendly condii(5l of M. De SaufHiy, commander of the French at Seringham, who, being follicited by Nauderauze, the MaiflTorcan General, with an offer of three lack of rupees, to march off and leave him at liberty to furprize Trichinopoly, in poffeffion of the Englifh, rejected the bribe with difdain. The truce But, the Sieur Godeheu being returned for thcFivndi. Europe, M. de Leyrit, his fucceffor, and M. Buf- fy, who was left at liberty, in the late treaty, to enlarge the valuable and extenfive poffeffions which the French held in the north, foon convinced the Englifh that the tranquillity was not founded upon fuch a folid bafis, as expeftedj and that while one fide of the country had laid down their arms, there was no fecurity for our extenfive concerns and interefts in other parts. For, exprefly con- trary to the ninth article of the provifional treaty it appeared very early in the year 1755, that the French were endeavouring to acquire the domi- nion of all the provinces of the Deckan °. Buf- fy demanded of Salabatzing, the poffefHon of the fort of Golconda; and Leyrit took the part of the Polygar of the Velloure, the ftrongeft fort in the province, againft his Sovereign the Nabob Mahomed Allee Cawn •, threatning, by letter to the Governor of Madrafs, and by marching 300 French, and as many Sepoys, from Pondicherry, " See the account cf the war in India, by Richard Owen C.tinbridgc, Fi'ui I'. 132. 3 ^ to id THE LATE WAR. A. D. to fiipport the rebel, and to oppofe the Englifh employed by the Nabob to colled his revenues from the tributary Princes, that held under him ■" ; our fleet having then failed upon an expedition to reduce the piratical Hate of Angria, on the Mala- bar coaft, which had for many years infefted the trade of Bombay, and greatly endangered the na- vigation of, not only the Englifh, but of the Dutch, &c. from Europe. After this furvey of the tranfadions beyond the Afr^;,,; oi feas, let us return to the ftatc of affairs at home. Emoi)e. Where, at the end of September, the admiralty lift of the royal navy exhibited a moft formidable afpe6l for our enemies to meditate upon. It con- fifted then of I (hip carrying 5 Ihips carrying 13—— 8 5 29 39 3 28 . 4 35 ' 42 1 10 guns 1 100 men 100 — 90 80 74 60 54' 50. 44' 40. -— — — 20- 3 1 carrying from 1 8 to 10 > 1000 men, each 700 600 500 480 400 iSO 300 250 250 140 100 BritilU 213 Befides a great many bomb ketches, fire ^— fliips and tenders. V Ibid. p. 117. O4 Such * ■-» » Ifei mMrA •"■'■,"■# :.i?'V ■ lit. Immn' i i' * Ml 1.'', S ''/It i' I ^ I* '300 A. D. *755- French The general HISTORY or Such a navy was fufEcicnt to oppofe the united maritime force of all Europe ; whilft that of tho French, even at the end of this year, and in- cluding the fhips upon the ftocks, amounted to no more than 6 fhips carrying 8o guns «i 74 ' I ■ , 72 * 4 . ' J ' ' - 70 • 3 , -— — _ — 64 . - 60 -— — 32 frigates 113 50 French re- monilrance '^gaind Admiral ^ofcaweii^s proceeds Anfwcred by Sir Benjamin l^eene* The French court, as foon as they heard of Adipiral Bofcawen's taking their two men of war, dreffed up a frefli remonflrance againft Great Britain to the court of Spain ; and reprefented this adion, before a declaration Of war, to be a proceeding, that threatened the very diflblution of all faith among ft nations ; with a view to draw the Spaniards, at once, into their quarrel. To which Sir Benjamin Keene the Britifh minifter to his moft Catholic Majefty confronted a ftrong memorial, importing, *' That it was well known, ^' the French fleet fent to America, carried troops, •* ammunition, and every neceflary for defending ** countries, which the French had unjuftly ufurped ** in North America, and of which the Engli(h ** claimed the property. That the rules of felf- *^ defe^qp Tile Hoii'^ E D WAKl) B O S C^ AWE N, Adiuii-al oftlieBlue Sc|iiaflroii. ^■■' t . 'If 'm I' ^^SffiB^H i K #^"fi m I 1 ' 19 r, s^w I ^H'^ Ih^h L I -^' , * {( * * t( P * fc t< n ' f] n • n ■• 1 r; • C c • fl I » . d t 5 a t t c t f THE LATE WAR. to$ (( (C •' defence authorize every nation to render fruit- A. D. •' lefs any attempt that may tend to its prejudice, ^ *' That this right had been made ufe of only in *' taking the two French fhips of war, and that the dillindion of place might be interpreted in fwour of the Englilh, feeing the two fliips *' were taken on the coaft of the countries where ** the cc>nteft arofe." Such was the difpofition or policy of the Spanifli court at this time, that they feemed fatisfied with Sir Benjamin Keene's anfwer to the French complaint \ though the French mi- Reply of nifter replied with obferving. That the hoftilities ' of the Englifh had begun in the European feas, from whence they had taken and carried a vaft number of French (hips ^ into their ports. But what is more extraordinary, the French Their pa- miniftry ftill maintained an appearance of mode- '^'^^'^ P'^- ' * * tences coa-» ration, and a defire to accommodate matters with tinued. Great Britain without coming to blows. It is certain, they were afraid of our fuperiority at fea, fhould it be let loofe upon them j and they were difappointed of their American fcheme, to fecure their pofleflion by a fuperiority of European troops^ &c. before we Ihould be ready to oppofe them. Therefore any device to curb, or to keep us in- sdtive, was the bell game they could play. So that, after we had carried the national refentment to the lengths above related, taking everv fhip Qur cruifers could meet with, and detaining both their cargoes and crews, the French miniftry, as foon as they heard one of their men of war hac^ taken at fea, and brought the Blandford man of p About 195 at this time. i =11 '>■*;■'( !:,;',J:;-j^ M 'V J'; i!:.« ■•« 202 A. D. J7S5- P.landford man of war releafed and lent iioiue. ThvPitcn XI s with an invafion. The Kin;:'s re- turn from Gtrniany. Debate'; Kboiir the ttf:it)i^s with KiifTia and II Mh (■;,lul. The GENERAL HISTORY of * war, belonging to his Britannic Majefty into Nants, with Mr. Littleton, appointed Governor of Carolina, on board -, they ordered the Governor to be fet at liberty, and fhortly after releafed both the fhip and crew. Whatever might be the mo- tive for this reftitution, whether to throw upon us the breach of faith and the commencement of the war, or to provoke us to more moderate mea- fures, it had no effeft. Our preparations for fea fervice were accelerated with incredible adivity and expedition. And the French in earned be- gan to make the beft of their cafe, in order to deprive us of the benefit of a naval war. Their preparations for a land war went on with extraor- dinary diligence : They made fure of the Emprefs Qiieen, our old ally, and marched great numbers of their troops on the coaft of the BritiHi Chan- nel, to terrify us with an invafion •, a fcheme that had often delivered them from the power of the Britifli arms, when they were not able to cope with us in open battle. In the midft of this hurry his Majefty returned from his Eledlorate, which he left on the 8th of September, and he arrived at his palace at Kcn- fi"gton on the 15th of the fame month. The firft thing his Majefty did was to finifti the treaty with Rullia, above-mentioned '', which was ratified on the thirtieth of the fame month. But when this and the treaty with Helfe Caflel came before the parliament, they were canvafled ^ Sec page 139. with THE LATE WAR. 20J A. D. »75S» C( cc with a good deal of diflike : and previous to that, the King ofPruflia taking great difguft at the feventh article in his Britannic Majefty's treaty with RufTia, which he looked upon as a menace levelled againft himfelf, declared by his minifters in all the courts of Europe, *' That he would op- Kinj^ of " pofe, with his utmoft force, the entrance of Jg",^J.'i,^j^^ any foreign troops into the Empire, under any on that oc- , ^ „ calion. pretence whatloever. This fpirited declaration by the King of Pruf- itsefFcaon fia, at a time France had erefted and filled feveral ^'^"• great magazines in Weftphalia, by permiflion of the Eledlor of Cologne, and had already marched large bodies of troops towards the frontiers of the Empire, drew overtures from that court imme- diately. The Duke de Nivernoife was fent to Berlin, and propofed a new alliance with his Pruf- fian Majefty, in order to perfuade his Majefty to retraft his declaration : and the French AmbalTa- dor's reception was fuch as made England dubi- ous of the King's refolution o abide by what he had declared. In this ambiguity his Britannic on Great Majefty dreading the fate of his Eledoral domi- ^'''''"* nions, in cafe PrufTia might be gained over by France, whofe forces on the Lower Rhine were provided with magazines, all the way to Hanover, applied alfo to the court of Pruffia, with fuch ad- vantageous propofals, as made him entirely relin- quifh all thoughts of further negociation with the Grand Monarch : Though our treaty with his Pruf- fian Majefty did not take effect till fome months after. Mis J,- 'f «* 1:0' '264 A. D. »755- Qiidcn of Hungary refufes to aid Great Britain ac- cording to treaty. *y^ m- Kational fdifcontfnt with the piiniftiy. The general HISTORY op His Britannic Majedy at the fame time de- manded the auxiliaries, which lie had a right unto by treaties, from the Emprcfs Queen. Bur, with an unprecedented ingratitude that iieirefs of the houfe of Auftria, for whofe fupport againft France in particular. Great Britain had fpent and run our nation in debt more millions than her hereditary dominions are worth, not only abfolutely refufed to perform her engagements, under the pretence that an American war was not a cafe of our alliance with h^r: But afterwards, when re- quired by England alfo, to defend her barrier towns in the Low Countries, obtained for her family by Britifh blood and treafure, on that ex- prefs condition, ITie excufed herfelf from the fer- vice, under a pretence of her fears from the King of Pruffia. The nation began to be greatly alarmed at the meafures of the court. The miniftry, notwith- ftanding the attention given, all this year, to our marine, and the lengths they had run, in making reprifals, and in commencing hoftilities in North America, were fo perplexed and difpirited with the news of Braddock's defeat, that they feemed ■wavering in their councils, and more inclined to an accommodation, than to proceed in their de^ mands of fatisfadion, and to maintain their na- tional rights, by way of arms, And his Majefty*s taking fuch a powerful army of Ruffians and Hef- fians into Britifh pay, without confent of parlia- ment, and, as it was fuggefted, having drawn upon the Treafury for a part of the money (which had THE LATE war; 105 had been particularly intended by the vote of A-I>« credit in l.ie laft feflions of parliament for the fea fervice, and to maintain our poflcflions in North America) to make good his agreement with the Landgrave of Hefle Caffel *, this created a jealoufy in the people, that it was intended to enter into fuch continental meafures, as would neceflarily deprive Great Britain of the means to diftrefs the enemy by fea, and to do herfelf juftice in America. The fpirit of the nation at this jundlure, will Remarks beft appear from the political obfervations pub- ri" 0/ tifc lifhed by the patriots. It was obferved, That the "*"°"* nation had been long under the direction of ftate cmpericks i whofe only merit had been to Ikin our wounds and palliate our diftempers. That it was now time to fearch the wound to the bottom, and to apply wholefome and regular medicaments to the almoft corrupted body : That the cure, though perhaps painful, muft be fpeedily under- gone : becaufe a delay would certainly bring on more dteadful fymptoms, and infallibly end in political death. That the nation had been long deluded by the magic found of words, and fome of the principal men had been drove from the throne by odious diftinftions and falfe imputa- tions*; whereby the rancour and animofity of par- ties had been kept up, and the Sovereign de- prived of the afliftance of fome of the ableft of his fubjeds, moll firmly attached to his perfon and family : That we were loaded with a moft heavy debt, and alarmed by imminent 'dangers from within •, and jull upon the brink of a war with ^^\ "% ,!":^r:- V i.ilS 2o5 A.D. >755- w'? fl 1 The general HISTORY of with a great, and our moft powerful enemy; the event of which might determine our being, as a free and independent nation. Therefore, that nothing lefs than a vigorous exertion of our na- tural rights, and unanimous concurrence, with the divine afliftance, in the defence of our liberties. King and country, could prevent us from finking under the weight of fuch multiplying and grow- ing evils. Docs not the voice of the people, faid they, who pay the taxes, cry loudly at prefent for a war, to reftrain the ambitious views of our perfidious ceighbours, the French ? So that let thofe, now concerned for the nation, fteer clear of the blun- ders, miftakes and malpraflices, which deprived Great Britain of the advantages expe6led in the laft war ; and make the true intereft of their coun- try, the fole objeft of their operations, and they need not doubt of giving fatisfadion to the na- tion. The intereft of this nation is fo very plain and obvious, that honefty can never miftakc it : we want no extraordinary talents to feel our own ftrength, or to know our own good. The fea is our element to fight upon, fhips are our caftles : and our marine is an over- match for all Europe. We may in fuch a war humble the Grand Mo- narch, and reduce him to fubmit to equitable terms of peace. It is as natural for Britain to truft in her fleets, as a bull in his horns, or a lion in his paws. But on the Continent France muft beggar v. I'j THE LATE \V A R. beggar us and difpofe us to accept of the condi- tions (he may pleafe to grant. As for fubfidiary forces; it was alked. What had the Britifli Empire got by the vaft fums of money paid in fubfidies to the Dutch, Saxons, Bavarians, Heflians, Hanoverians, Danes, Ruf- fians, PruiTians, Hungarians, to the King of Sar- dinia, the Duke of Wolfenbuttle, and to God knows who belides ? All of whom had taken Bri- tifh pay, within fixty years paft, without enabling us to humble one enemy, or to fecure a firm, lad- ing and equitable peace : or to fl:rike fuch terror into our enemies, that they durft not invade our property, plot againft our liberty, or to interrupt our trade, and without recovering the balance of Europe, or putting our allies out of the power of the common enemy. What then is Britain to ex- pe6l from numerous and ftill more expenfive fub- fidiary treaties ? but a national debt, which, if not timely prevented, would in the end, reduce us to beggary and contempt. Every one knows that our land forces, whether mercenaries or fub- fidiaries, have no influence upon the councils of our enemies. It is our naval force they are afraid of. It is the number of our fquadrons of (hips of war, when they are well manned and appointed, under brave, experienced and honed commanders, and not a ftanding army at home, nor a fubfidiary army abroad, that gives us a due influence at fo- reign courts. Such was the language and fenti- ments of the nation at this time. 207 A. D. »755- 1 ■ • % m ■'* ■M The toS The general HISTORY of {1 ''i. if 8J :i ,1 '' ). I'M W 1 i i«- ' ii ' m The parliament being fiimmoned to meet on the 13 th of November, the city of London ad- A.D. the city" of t^rcfled his Majefty, not with the flattery of a London, rninifterial fadion, to deceive and poifon the car of the Sovereign ; to fmother the complaints and prayers of the people, to palliate the national diftrefles, and to fkreen our enemies from juft re- venge-, but with language and fentiment, that flowed from hearts replete with truth and liberty, and intended to roufe the Britifli lion from a ftatc of dangerous fecurity, by making a tender of their lives and fortunes, to enable his Majefty to begin and carry on a juft and neceffary war againft an enemy, that is not to be bound by treaties ; nor to be fatisfied with any thing lefs, than our ruin : but who may at any time be humbled by a proper exertion of that naval force, with which Provi- dence has blefled and diftinguilhed this nation,^ and enabled it, above all others, to defend itfelf. This was followed by addrcfles of the fame import from the whole nation. His Majefty met his parliament on the 13th of November, and opened the fefllons with the fol- lowing fpeech. My Lords and Gentlemen ! The prefent critical conjundlure of affairs, and my conftant incli- nation to have the advice and afliftance of my parliament on all important occafions, have made me defirous to meet you here as early as poflible. Since your laft feflion I have taken fuch meafures as might be moft conducive to the protedtion of . our pofleffions in America, and to the regaining fuch His Ma- jcfty's fpeech at cpening' the pailia- aaent. I 1 THE LATE WAR. 209 fuch parts thereof, as had been encroached upon, and invaded, in violation of the pe^ce, and con- trary to the faith of mod folcmn treaties. — For this purpofe, the maritime power ot this kingdom has been got ready with the utmoft appUcatioa and expedition, and been principally employed. Some land forces have been fent from hence to North America ; and all proper encouragement has been given to the feveral colonies there, to exert themfelves in their own defence, and in the maintenance of the rights and pofleflions of Great Britain. With a fincere defire to preferve my people from the calamities of war, as well as to prevent, in the midft of thefe troubles, a general war from being lighted up in Europe, I have been always ready to accept reafonable and honorable terms of accomodation ; but not fuch have hitherto been propofed on the part of France. I have alfo con- fined my views and operations to hinder France from making new encroachments, or fupporting thofe already made •, to exert our right to a fatif- fadlion for hoftilities commenced in a time of pro- found peace -, and to difappoin: fuch defigns, as, from various appearances and preparations, there is reafon to think have been formed againfl: my kingdoms and dominions. — By thefe methods I have purfued the plan, which I formerly pointed out to you, and for which I had the fatisfadion to receive the ftrongeft affuranccs of your vigcmns fupport. — What other power can object to pro- ceedings fo abfolutely necclTary to our own dc- VoL. I. P fence A. D. 5 381^'' ..-•P 'f:i ■ si ■ ;'■>'■, ' rr iii]j 2IO A. D. '795' The general HISTORY of fence and fecurity ? My good brother, the King of Spain, fees with concern thefe differences -, and the part which he generoufly takes in the common welfare of F.urope, makes him earneftly wi(h the prefervation of the public tranquillity. He has alfo given afluranccs, that he will continue in the fame pacific fentiments. — In purfuing thefe great ends, I make no doubt of the vigorous and chear- ful fupport of my parliament : and that while I am engaged in this juft and national caufe, the affedlionate aflurances, which they gave me the laft feflions will be effedually made good. In confequence thereof, I have greatly increafed my naval arman-jents, augmented my land forces in fuch a manner, as might be the leaft burdenfome ; and have concluded a treaty with the Emprcfs of Ruffia, and another with the Landgrave of Hefle Caffel, -which Ihall be laid before you. His Ma- jefty concluded with obferving that the ferviccs would require large fupplies : declaring that he afked no more than Ihould be rcquifite for the effeftual carrying on of thofe mcafures, which v>ould be neceflary to fupport what has been be- gun, according to their inclination, for the fecu- rity of his kingdoms and dominions, and for the purpofes already mentioned, of an extraordinary expence made this year by him, in purfuance of the power given him by parliament; and pro- mifing that whatever Ihould be granted, Ihould be applied with the ftrideft ©economy to thofc ufes only, for which it Ihall be given. This OF he King es ; and :ommon ivifh the He hat le in the ifc great d chear- : while I .ufe, the me the »od. In afed my brces in enfome ; iprcfs of of Hefle His Ma- ferviccs that he for the which )een be- e fecu- for the rdinary lance of id pro- ihould thofc This THE LATE W A R. 2It i s This fpccch met with uncommon oppofition in -'^- D. both hoults of parliament, which appeared in the '^^^' formation of the addrefs from each houfe. The upVn 'tiie minifterial party amongft the Lords had inferted '»'.'' ''^'*'' ^^ * ^ ' ° thislpeech, in their addrefs, * That they looked upon them- felves as obliged by the ftrongefl: ties of duty, gratitude, and honour, to (land by and fupport his Majefly in all fuch wife and neceflary mea- jn the fures and engagements, as his Majefly might have J^""[^ °^ taken in vindication of the rights of his crown, or to defeat any attempts, which might be made by France, in refentment for fuch mcafures; and to affift his Majefly in difappointing or repelling all fuch enterprizes, as might be formed, noc only againfl his kingdoms, but alfo againfl any other of his dominions, though not belonging to the crown of Great Britain^ in cafe they fhould be at- tacked on account of the part, which his Majefly had taken for maintaining the efifcntial interefls of his kingdoms.' The other Lords in the oppofi- tion % headed by Lord Temple, would not agree to this infertion ; becaufe, in the firfl part of it, the wifdom of the houfe was proflituted, by en- gaging to approve of the treaties with RufCa and HefTe CafTel, which they had not feen, and which they apprehended could be of no ufe to Great Britain : and, in the fecond part, they would be guilty of the greatefl indifcretion, by confenting to meafures, which manifeflly engaged this na- tion in a continental connc(ftion for the defence of » Amongft whom, it is faid, were Lord Hallifaj:, Lord Talbot, and EarJ Powfret. P 2 Hano- :l: ■'mm 4l4 The general HISTORY of SI.' ip^ \i A. D. KSS- Hanover, that could not be fupported by Great Britain, and would be fo far from being of ad- vantage to us at fea, or in America, that, it was to be feared, might, in the end, difable the na- tion from defending itfelf in other parts of the world. — But the court party, upon putting the queflion, carried their addrefs with this infertion, by a great majority of voices againft the weight of argument. HisMajefty received this addrefs with the fol- His Ma- lowing mofl gracious anfwer : — ' My Lords ! I fvver to the g'lvc you my thanks for this dutiful and affeftionate r.'^'^f ^^°^ addrefs. I fee with the ereateft fatisfadion the the Lords. o zeal you exprefs for my perfon and government, and for the true intereft of your country ; which I am determined to adhere to. The afTurance, which you give me for the defence of my territo- ries abroad arc a ftrong proof of your affeftion for me, and regard for my honour. Nothing ihall divert me from purfuing thofe meafures, which will eflfe(5tually maintain the poflefiions and rights of my kingdoms, and procure reafonable and honourable terms of accommodation.' Debates on The addtcfs in the Houfe of Commons was the a.idrers cJrefled up with the fame zeal, gratitude and m t!ie ' ^, Houie of warm aiTurances to fupport his Majefty and his oinmons. ^Qj-^jgj^ dominions -, and with their approbation of the treaties he had made ; but not yet laid before that houfe ; and was carried, upon a divifion, by a great majority, though ftrenuoufly oppofed by feveral gentlemen in" high polls under the govern- ment i amongft whom Henry Bilfon Legge, Efq-, the hi th abl THE LATE WAR. 113 A. D. 1755- the Chancellor and Under-Treafurer of his Majefty's Exchequer, and William Pitt, Efq-, Pay-Malter of his Majefty's forces, are faid to have diftinguifhed themfelves, on the part of their country. His Majefty, when he received the addrefs of the Houfe of Commons, gave the following an- His Ma- fvver. " Gentlemen ! I thank you for this dutiful l^^f^ ""^ ' Iwer to and loyal addrefs. You may be aflured, although theii ad- I wifh for nothing more than a fafe and honour- able accommodation, I am determined to protedl and maintain the valuable and undoubted rights and pofleflions of my crown. Your afllirances, that you will affift me in the defence of my fo- reign dominions, if they fliould be attacked, on account of the meafures I am purfuing for the true intereft of thefe kingdoms, are fuch proofs of your affeflion to me, and of your regard to my ho- nour, as give me the greateft fatisfadion." How triumphant foever the court enjoyed this National advantage by a majority in parliament, the country *^^'"*^' conceived a very mean opinion of the miniftry, efpecially of Henry Fox, Efq-, who, three days before the fefiion was opened, had fucceeded Sir Mr. Fox Thomas Robinfon, in the office of one of his Ma- f.^^^^"/ 01 otatc. jefty's principal Secretary's of State, and was em- powered by his Majefty to manage his intereft in parliament. The nation's attention was imme- diately fixed upon this new minifter, and made him refponfible for the addrefTes above-mentioned, and for an intention to involve his country in a continental war, to the prejudice of our national intereft. Which difcontent was heightened very P 3 foon i '■ mi Ib^ ||Hj^ ' '^^ finB^^ ;;■' ifaBu •^.% ^funfffe. M% ;'.i;yiRa«s f ^ j5S|"ra3 i>5'"3| v,;* '..^ifijimR I'lffli ''j|^ r t -i^H^! '■, '■'mSU '^''' «-4,insjn ' ■• i*^wi -i'^^'fi'lO ' ■ ' '^"t- , ^flf •■/ ■■'^■V . J i .' ■ ,- "'f •' ' * :."■ ..••■.■>)i ; ■':H ' /f"i < U'x: 11 ■i' : I-': : Iv. ■J i 2T4 A.D. nss* The general HISTORY of foon after by a dra..ght from Ruflia, for a part of the fubfidy agreed for in the late treaty with the Czarina •, and not yet provided for by parlia- ment : and therefore it was refuted by part of the miniftry. The miniftcr took uncommon pains, even from one member's houfe to another, to divide the country party, and even to condemn in private converfation the meafures he was purfuing in par- liament, and to pledge his honour for the up- rightnefs of his intenfions, and his averfion to continental connexions. But, when no art was powerful enough to conceal the falacy of his heart, he was refolved to try what might be done by re- moving the patriots from all fhare and pofts in the government. Accordingly Henry Billon Legge, Efq-, and William Pitf, Efq-, were difmilled from their employments, fb: diftinguilhing thcmfelvcs on the part of their country, in the late parlia- mentary debate; and Sir George Lyttleton was made Chancellor of the Exchequer •. But, neither did s There was a new commiflion for the Treafury, confift- 5ng of the Duke of Newcaftle, the Earl of Darlington, Sir George Lyttleton, Thomas Hay and Robert Nugent, Efq; But fuch was the ficklcnefs of the times, that on the i6th of November the Flarl of Darlington and Mr. Hay were removed from the Treafury, and appointed Pay-Mafters-General in the room of Mr. Pitt. Earl Cower was fworn of the Privy- Council and made Keeper of the Privy-Seal ; the Duke of Marlborough made Mafter- General of the Ordnance. Lord Anfon, Sir Willani Rowley, William Ponfonby, Thomas VilKer?, Edward Bofcawen, Richard Edgecumbe, Efq; and lord Bat'^mo.n, were conftituted Lords of the Admiralty. This THE L A T E W A R. 215 did this violent fcheme anfwer his expectations. A. D. I *7 C C Neither places, penfions, nor power were the objedls of a patriotic heart. The great men, difplaccd for Patriotifm ... r J • 1 • J revived. their virtue, perlevcred in their endeavours to prevent the fatal confequences of a war, on the continent, prejudicial to our national intereft. So that, when the treaties of Ruflia and Hefle came before parliament, ihey did not receive the fanftion of thofe houfes, without very warm de- bates ; and fcem to have received the approbation qf the houfe of commons, only to prelerve his Ma- jefty's honour, and to defend thofe countries, which might be attacked merely on account of our quarrel with France. Without doors the nation rang with thefe or the Their nr. like expreflions. — The quarrel with France, at ^'' prefcnt, is not for any of thofe ruinous motives, which have kindled fo many bloody wars, in fup- port of foreign ftates 5 nor for dominion, nor ex- tent of territory ; but for extent and proteftion of trade : It is whether the trading genius of Great Britain or France fhall prevail. It is whether Great Britain or France fhall rule the main. France has taken meafures to ruin our trad^ and navigation. They have ufurped upon thofe territories, by which our naval power and our trade are fupported. What therefore have we to do ? But to prepare in time for a vigorous, and, perhaps, a long war j to keep our fleets out con- This was called the miniftry, with Mr. Fox nt the head ; but few of them were confulted in the adniiuii'ration of the moft important afiairs. P 4 ftnnrly v I ■ ' I t. ' "'A f]" pi f9 ■ i H . iiid m i2i6 A.D. »7SS- Kow evad- ed. Supplies railed by parlia- mcnt. The general HISTORY of flantly ; to fupply our people abundantly with provilions, (lores, and money •, a great deal of which muft be wanted to carry on a war in Ame- rica: and therefore, it is to be hoped, that we fhall not wantonly and unprofitably fquander it away in Germany. It is not meet we fliould take thechildrens bread and call it to the dogs. What, then, in the name of common fenfe, can be tha meaning of hireing troops in Germany, or Ruf- fia ? To pretend that they are for our afiiftance, is an impofition upon the common underftandjng of mankind, . ■ In order to quiet thefe clamours, the march of a large tfody of French troops down to their coafts, furnilhpd the miniflerial agents, with an artificial argument, to terrify the people into .a better opinion of the fublidiary treaties. They ventured to fay, that thefe fubfidiary troops were not only intended originally, but would foon be found neceffary, and imported, for the defence of our ifland, againft a French invafion, to be carried into execution by flat-bottomed boats, and fuch ridiculous, incredible veflels. But, argu- ments, that work only on our fears, and don't conciliate a confidence and affcflion, ff.ldom pre- vail in fettling the mind. yet, while the nation was agitated by the ter- rors of an invafion, and by the apprehenfions of a war in the hands of a miniftry, obnoxious for their flattery about the throne, and for their attach- ment to continental meafures, the houfe of com- mons agreed to the fupplies for the enfuing ye^r, an4 THE LATE WAR. and provided for the deficiences of the provifion for the former year. The houfe voted ' 50,000 feamen, including 9138 marines, and 34,263 fol- diers. In January following they voted ten new regiments of foot, and 11 troops of light dra- goons, befides the former. They likewife voted 298,5341. 17 s. lod. ..]. for the maintenance of forces already in our American colonies ; and 79,915 1. 6 s. od. for fix regiments of foot from Ireland, to lerve in North America ;:.»u the iLafl: Indies. 15,000!. gratuity to New England for faithful fervices, and 5000 1. to Sir William John- fon in particular. 20,000 1. to the King of Prufliai 121,4471. 2 3. 6ci. fo- Hanoverian forces. The warliJie preparations in South France be- gan about this time to attraffc the attention of all Europe. And it was with fome degree of confi- dence reprefcnted to be intended againft Minorca. But this information was totally difregarded by our miniftry, which afFeded to interpret ?\\ the motions of the French in every part of their king- dom, to bedeftined either againft the Britifhifles, or America, or againft Hanover. By inculcating and perfuading the firft report amongft the well-mean- ing people, they prepared them to acquiefce to the meafures of the court ; and by the fccond they endeavoured to reconcile the diflike the 217 A. D. 1755- : .^;'>'i ' On the 24th of November 1751;. About this time the Efperance man of war failing from Rochfort to Breft, to be completely manned was taken, with 300 men on board, and 79 guns, by the Orford, Captain Stevens, after three hours engagement, and brought into Plymouth, Fnglilh II ;,! •j ^4 t!l 2l3 A. D. »7S5- Jvl'iiifteiial conduct The general HISTORY or Englifh had to the fubfidiary forces tr *over his Majefty*s eledoral dominions. The minifter drove on Jehu like by his majority in the houfe ; and, to give the better proof of his principles, he carried fuch affairs, as under an*- other miniftry would have given him a real caufc to inveigh againft their arbitrary proceedings. For, in the ad: for the more fpeedy manning of A danger- his Majefty's navy, he had this claufe added. That added to the commiflioners impowercd under this a(5t the navy cc mighj order, wherever and whenever they *' pleafed, a general fearch to be made for fuch *' perfons (there defcribed) in order to their being *' brougkit before them to be examined : that the ** parifh and town-officers might, without any *' fuch order^ fearch for and fecure fuch perfons, " in order to convey them before the faid com- •** miffioners to be examined : and that when fuch perfon or perfons were judged by the recruiting officer to be fit for his Majefty's fervice, he or they fhould be deemed a lifted foldier, and committed to a place of fafety or to a public prifon." By a new claufe added to the ad for extending the maritime laws to America, a re- cruiting officer was impowered to enlift and detain an indented fervant, though his mafter fhould re- claim him, upon paying fo much as two juftices of the peace fliould allow. Both which claufes in the hanc^.s of a wicked and enterprizing admini- ftration might have been made fuch ule of, as would have undermined the bill of rights, and been inconfiftcnt with that fecurity, which is pro- 7, vided iC c« (( «c «c THE LATE WAR. 219 vided by our happy conftitution for the liberty of A. D. thefiibjeft. '^55* But this was not all : the very minifter, who Foreign pleaded the fupport of Hanover and our German b,3^^),t allies for taking German and Ruffian troops into jnto Eng- Britifli pay, made the terrors of an invafion, in- duftrioufly propagated for minifterial purpofes, the prop of that difgraceful, and dangerous mea- fure of calling over Hanoverian and Heflian troops to defend England from the attempts of the French : by which Hanover and Hcfle were left expofed to the danger of tlie French army, as had been fuggefted both from the throne and in the debates for the fubfidiary treaties : and Eng- land, with a powerful army of her own children, was put under the protedion of foreign troops. Mr. Fox, by a meffage from his Majefty, got both the houfes to approve of his requifition and bringing over a body of Heflian troops ", and then to ad- drefs his Majefty to bring a body of Hanoverians'' over alfo, into this kingdom. And accordingly thefe foreign troops, notwithftanding all the pre- tended fears of fome people for Hanover, &c. were landed in England'', within the courfe of one M .'V i-- m " The parliament granted for the charge of 6544 foot, with the general officers and train of artillery from Feb. 23, 1756, to Dec. 24 following, together with the fubfidy pur- fu ant to treaty, 163,3571. 9s. gd. ^ The parliament granted for the charge of 8605 foot with the general officers, train of artillery and hofpital, from May 41, 1756, to December 24 following, 121,447!. 2 s. 6d. * 8000 Heffian foot and 900 horfe, landed at Southampton, on the 15th of May, lo^ooo Hanoverians landed the 21ft of May at Chatham. month* m 220 The general HISTORY of u ) ! i A. D. month. Such expedition, and fo little need of ^^^' foreign troops to guard our coafls, created great Creates jealoufies •, and made the people of England more liiieis. afraid of their mihtary friends, than the hoftilities of an open enemy ; dreading, from the fpecimen of thofe a6ts, which llruck. at the root of the fubjc(5ls liberty, that thcfe forces might be called in to enable the miniftry to proceed to more vio- lent meafures. But under fo good and gracious a King, as then reigned, his fubje^ls had reafon to hope for better things, and thefe defpotic a6ts ferved only to bring fuch an odious adminiftration to a fudden end. Several paffages both in his Majefty's fpeech^ Pacifi niealiircs by the Frencii court. preteiuied ^^^ ^^s anlWcrs to the addrefles of his parliament, feemed to leave the French fome hopes of fuccefs by way of negociation •, if not to fettle affairs amicably, yet to amufe the Britifh court, till they might be perfedtly prepared to execute their im-? portant fchemes. We are indulged in this fuppo^ fition by that extraordinary correfpondence carried on between the two crowns, during the recefs of parliament, at Chriftmas ; which produced th? following letter, from M. Rouille minifter and fecretary of (late for foreign affairs, to Mr. Fox, fecretary of ftate to the King of England j dated Verfailles, 21ft of December. . SIR, . M. Ron- JR ^ command of the King wy majiery I have the '" VT \^^^^ honour to fend yair excellency the following nie- jnorial^ ^c, « Ihe tHE L AT E WAR. " The King is able to demonftrate to the whole iiniverfe, by authentic proofs, that it is not owing CO his Majefty that the differences relating to Ame- rica, have not been amicably accommodated.— The King, being moft fincerely defirous to main- tain the public peace, and a good underftanding •with his Britannic Majefty, carried on the nego- tiation relative to that fubjedt, with the moft un- referved confidence and good faith. The aflur- ance of the King of Great Britain's difpofition to ■peace, which his Britannic Majefty and h'"- mini- ftry were conftantly repeating both by word of mouth and in writing, were fo formal and precilJe., that the King could not, without reproaching him- felf, entertain the leaft fufpicion of the fmcerity of the court of London's intentions. It is fcarce poflible to conceive how thefe alTurances can be reconciled with the orders for hoftilities, given in Noverjnber 1754, to General Braddock, and in April 1755, to Admiral Bofcawen. The at- tack and capture, in July laft, of two of the King's ftiips in the open fea, and without a decla- ; ration of war, was a public infult to his Majefty 's 'flag; and his Majefty would have immediately "manifefted his juft refentment of fuchan irregular and violent proceeding, if he could have imagined that Admiral Bofcawen a6led by the orders of his court. For the fame reafon the King fufpended, at firft, his judgment of the piracies, that have been committed for feveral months by the Eng- lifti men of war, on the navigation and commerce of his Majeftv's fubjeds, in contempt of the'Iaw of 221 A. D. »755- .& 'i- !' i^a; /"J'-rt,*^- 1 kmb 'a.ws^^ i ?i ' .. m mm it :1 1 •i 222 The general HISTORY or A. D. of natiur.s, the faich of treaties, the ufagcs eftab- '^^^* lifhcd amcng civilized nations, and the regard they reciprocally owe to one another. The fcnti- xnents of his Uritannic Majeft' gave the King room to cxped, that at his return to London, he would dii'avow the condud of his admiralty and naval officers, and give his Majefty a fatisfadion proportioi.ate to the injury and the damage. — But feeing that the King of England, inftead of pu- nifliing the robberies committed by the Englilh navy, on the contrary encourages them, by de- manding from his fubje6ls frcfh fupplies againft France •, his Majefty would fall fhort in what he owes to his own glory, the dignity of his crown, and the defence of his people, if he deferred any longer the demanding of a fingle reparation for the outrage done to the French flag, and the damage done to the King's fubjeds. His Majefty, therefore, thinks proper to ap- ply dirediy to his Britannic Majefty, and demand from him immediate and full reftitution for the French fliips, as well men of war, as merchant- men, which, contrary to all law, and all decorum, have been taken by the Englifti navy ; and of all the officers, foldiers, mariners, guns, ftores, mer- chandize, and in general of every thing belong- ing to thefe veflels. The King will always chufe to owe to the King of England's equity, rather than to any thing elfe, that fatisfadion, which he hath a right to demand: and all the powers in Europe will un- doubtedly fee in this Hep, which he hath deter- mined THE LATE WAR. 22} mined to take, a new and ftriking proof of that A. D. invariable love of peace, which dircds all his *"^^' counfcls and refolutions. — If his Britannic Ma- jefty orders reftitution of the veflels in que(lion» the King will be difpofcd to enter into a ncgocia- tion for that further fatisfadion, which is legally due to him, and will continue dcfirous, as he hath always been, to have the difcuffions relating to America, determined by an equitable and folid accommodation. But if, contrary to all hopes, the King of England (hall refufe what the King demands, his Majelly will regard this denial of juftice, as the mod authentic declaration of war, and as a formed defign in *:he court of London, to difturb the peace of Europe." Mr. Fox fent to M. Rouille the following anfwer% dated at Whitehall, January 13, 1756, by his Majefty*s command. SIR, T Received on the 3d inftant, the letter dated the Mr. Fox 3 2 ill paft, with which your excellency honoured *"^'"^'-''^' me, together with the memorial fubjoined to it. 1 immediately laid them before the King my maf- tcr i and by his command I have the honour to inform your excellency, thav. his Majefty continues defirous of preferving the public tranquillity : but though the King will readily confent to an equi- y In French, ill becoming the firfl znlniiler of ftate in the Brililh court. tablfe •■4 * J:. ' SM '■•Till .iir m 'W t ; -m I I. 224 A. D. 1756. i i ,J Rcmnrks i 4 on this cor j ;„i, relpon- ;■'; dcnce. :'■!: ^%a^BI 1 ■ ,,■• T ; '■ |.'.;t The Bri- tifli mini- ilry's re- marks on M. Rou- ille's mc- luurial. The GENERAL HISTORY of table and folic! accommodation, his Majefty can- not grant the demand that is made of immediate and full rcfliittition of all the French veiTels, and whatever belongs to them, as the preliminary condition of any negociation ; his Majefty having taken no ftep, but what the hoftilities begun by France, in a time of profound peace, (of which he hath the moft authentic proofs) and what his Majefty owes to his own honour, to the defence of the rights and pofleflions of his crown, and the fecurity of his kingdoms, rendered juft and indifpenfible. I have the honour to be, &c. . The incongruity of this correfpondence between two nations To far engaged in hoftilities, as Great Britain and France were at this time, would not permit his Britannic Majefty to anfwer M. Rou- ilie's letter otherwife, than by his fecrctary of ftate, and; required fome method to take off the difagrecable apprehenfions, which it began to dif- fufe amongft the people, already diflatisfied with the pacific condu6l of the miniftry, and to expofe to the feveral courts of Europe, the falftiood of the imputations and fads therein contained. Therefore the miniftry caufcd remarks to be made on the principal articles of its contents -, which were publiflied and difperfed at all the courts of ■Europe. In the firft place, it is therein remarked. That whatever may have been, or are now,^the fenti- "ments of the moft Chriftian King, with regard to tbe differences concerning North America, it is unlucky. \" t ! ' ] ■■ ! • ■ ! i' ,' 1 .'( i \ 1 ■' ! ,;i 1 '^'; 1 '"'' i 1 THE LATE WAR. unlucky, that the conduct of the court of Vcr- failles, towards Great Britain, fliould correfpond fo ill to th«" difpofition, which M. Rouille's memo- rial alcribes to his moft Chriftian Majefty, and to the profefTions of good faith and unreferved con- fidence, with which, it was pretended, the negocia- tion was, on their part, carried on ^ And if it be from the courfe of this negociation, " that the authen- *' tic proofs, are to be drawn, by which the moft ** Chriftian King is able to demonftrate to the " whole world, that it is not owing to him, that " the differences in queftion have not been amica- *' bly accommodated," it may not be improper to touch upon fome parts thereof, and fhew that every fact bears witn fs to his Britannic Majefl:y's moderation. For, in the month of January i y^^y the French Ambaflador returned to London, and made great proteftations •" of his court's fincere defire, finally and fpeedily to adjuft all difputes between the two riowns concerning America: and notwithftanding the extraordinary preparations, which were known to be making at that time in the ports of France, her ambaflador propofed, " That before the ground and circumftances of the quarrel fliould be en- quired into, pofitive orders fliould be immedi- ately fent to our refpedtive governors, forbid- ding them to undertake any new e'nterprize, or proceed to any adl of hoftility ; and enjoining ct cc C( (( (C '' See the proofs produced by the commiffaries, on p. 49, Sic. and p. 84, &c. ' See page 121. Vol. I. Q « them 6 '^ 225 A. D. 1756. I:i r 1$ m I'i ■■ Siv^ \-M 126 A. D. 1756. (( (C cc cc The general HISTORY of them, on the contrary, to put things, without delay, with regard to the lands on the Ohio, on the fame footing that they were, or ought to have been, before the late war, and that the refpeflive claims fhould amicably be referred to " the commilTioners at Paris, that the two courts " might terminate the differences by a fpeedy " accommodation." The court of London immediately declared its rcadinefs to confent to the propofed ceffation of hoftilities, and that all the points in difpute might be (lifculfed and terminated by the minillers of the two crowns : but on this fpecial condition. That all the poffeflions in America fliould previ- cufly be put on the foot of the treaty of Utrecht, confirmed by that of Aix-la-Chapelle. Where- fore, the King of Great Britain propofed, " That " the poffeflion of the lands on the Ohio, fliould " be rcltored to the footing it was on, at the con- " clufion of the treaty of Utrecht, and agreeable *' to ti;e ftipuladons of the faid treaty, which " was renewed by that of Aix-la-Chnpelle ; and " more over that the other poffeffions in North " America (hould be reitored to the fame con- " dition, in which they adually were at the " figning of the faid treaty of Utrecht, and agree- " ble to the ceffions and (lipulations therein ex- " preficd -, and then the method of informing " the refpedive governors, and forbiuJing them " to undertake any new enterprize or act of hofti- *' liry, might be treated of; and the claims or " both parties referved to be Ipeedily and finally tic^uilcd in an amicable manner bcLween tlie " two C( THE LATE WAR. " two courts." That is to lay, the French fliould repair the injury done by open force, before the parties fliould enter into treaty about the claim of right;, after which the pofielTons of both parties might be fettled on the foot of a definitive agree- ment. To this equitable expedient to divert the horrors of an open war, the French ambafiador was fo far from agreeing, that he ferioufly delivered a kind of reply, which at bottom was only a repetition of his firft propofal. However, to foften the affair, he produced, at the fame time, full powers from his court to treat, conceived in very fpecious and polite terms : though the effeds were as little correfpondent thereto, as before. France, like- wife, foon after delivered a draught of a prelimi- nary convention, which was nothing more than the firfi: propofal enlarged. This, added to what was doing on the coall of France, was too plain to deceive any. Therefore, England would by no means agree to a convention, v/hich fnould leave France in poflefllon of all fhe had acquired by her violences and ufurpations -, the precife griev-Tnce Great Britain complained of: and, after the ex- piration of which, we fliould have beenjuft where we were, when that convention was figned. A draught of a counter- convention was after- wards delivered to the anibalfador, containinLT an offer of the molT: moderate terms, being confined to thofe points only, which were his Majcffy's indifpenfible right, and ellential to the fecurity of his colonies. — To this France did not vouchfafe 0^2 to 227 A. D. 1756. i »^i if.''''ij>r:il n^m ■ '*-■;'■ 'SI'-"! I *:! I ' % m ' 1 1 *' 228 A.D. 1756. The general HISTORY of to make any anfwer, and her ambafiador was autho- rifed only to hear what was faid to him about the af- fair, but to make no propofals. In fine, after a long feries of evafions, in which the ceflation of hofti- lities was continually recurred to, the ambafiador inftead of receiving inftrudtions to enter into a negociation upon the counter-convention above- mentioned, was ordered to demand, as a previous condition, that England (hould defift from three points, which made a principal part of the fub- jed in difpute, viz. I. The fouth part of the river St. Lawrence, and the lakeSj that difcharge themfelves into that river. II. The twenty leagues of country demanded along the bay of Fundi : and, III. The lands between the Ohio and Oubecho. The difcufTicns, with which this extraordinary piece was followed, and during which Jprance (huffled, at every turn, concluded with a memorial prefented by the French ambaflador, in which was treated the affairs of the iflands, as well as that of North America. This alfo was anlwered by a very ample piece, that refuted the memorial ar- ticle by article, and fully juftified the terms of the counter-convention. But the French ambaf- fador's fudden departure, about this time, pre- vented any reply. Secondly, it is remarked, that notwithftanding the meafures taken to defend our rights and pro- perty in North America, both by fea- and land, and the captures, which v/ere made in July laft, purfu- THE LATE WAR. purfuant thereunto, his Britannic Majefty's aflur- ances, of his pacific difpofition, given to France, were as honed and fincere, as they were formal and precife : and he muft have condemned him- felf, had he carried them fo far, as to endanger the poflefTions of his crown, and the fafety of his people, to purchafe the friendfliip of France. It is to no purpofe that France gives the epithet of hojlile to the orders and inftrudions given to General Braddock and Admiral Bofcawen. She would be glad to draw a veil over the hoftilities committed by France in America, from the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle to the date of thofe orders. For almoft from the very inftant of figning that treaty % and even at the opening of the commif- fion *, which in confcquence of it was eftablilhed at Paris, for the affairs of America j France dif- trufted before hand her right-, and, fetting up for the judge, as well as the party, in her own difpute, caufed the province of Nova Scotia to be invaded, and, after a feries of open hoftilities againft the inhabitants, the King's fubjefts ere(5ted three forts in the heart of that province ; and, if fhe had not been prevented, was prepared and ready to deftroy the new fettlement at Hallifax. The like hoftilities were committed, at the fame time, againft his Majefty's lands and fubjeds on the Ohio and the Indian lakes ; where, France, without any ftiadow of right, forbid the Englilh to trade, feized them by force, and fent them 229 A. D. 1756. <\v <» Seep. 22, 25, 41. • Seep. 28,33,43,45,49. as prifoners 1 1 230 f!l A. D 1756 r ;i ^M!| f , ;« i '- i- : <■ 1 '' '^' 1 ■ ]' ,1 it K* ■ ' ij: 5 c ■; ■ ' The general HISTORY op prifoners *" to France -, invaded the territories of Virginia, attacked a fort, which covers its fron- tier, and to fecure their iifurpations, ereded, with an armed force, a chain of forts on the lands they had invaded. If his M^jefly could have thought, that the governors of Canada acled hy orders of their court, lie would have been intitled to repell thefe hoflilities with that vigour, whi \ the cafe re- quired. He contented himfclf with complaining to the court of France ! but with fo little efFed]:, that the French miniflry, not fatisfied with not anfwering, gave on this occafion a very fingular inllance of their honelly : for in fpite of thefe complaints made by the Earl of Albemarle, (in confequence of an order from his Majefty) par- ticularly by an exprefs memorial delivered in May 1752^, France had afcerv;ards the modefly to alledge, that England had never complained of thefe proceedings, and confequeptly had nothing to find fault with. At laft the King's patience being worn out by the continuance of thefe violences, he found him- felf obliged to provide for the fccurity and de- fence of his fubjedts. Yet, notwithftanding the juft reafons he had for proceeding to extremities, he added, to his many years forbearance, a fignal proof of his moderation in the fmallnefs of the fuccours he fent to America, which confided only of two battalions of 500 men each, efcorted by f See p. 45, l: See this memorial r.t large on p. 45, ^c. tWQ tT\ m of fa( hi OP >ries of ■s fron- ], with ds they lat the f their 11 thefe cafe re- )laining efTedb, ith not Ingular 3f thefc ■rle, (in y) par- in May efly to ined of lothing out by d him- nd de- ng the :mitics, fignal of the d only ted by 45, ^c. tWQ THE LATE W A R. two frigates : and in the orders given to the com- manding officer, which were to diflodge the invaders of the King's territories, there is nothing in thefe fads irreconcileable with the affurances given of his Majefty's difpofition towards peace. It is the invafion made by France, and the violences that attended it, which are hojlile : and it never can be unlawful to repel an aggrellbr.. Therefore to make out the pretended infult offered to his moft Chriftian Majefty's flag, France is obliged to invert the vorder of things. She af- fedts to ke tht ronfeouence and eflfed for the t. cai:>fe', and alledges, as the principal aff'air, what was only accellliry, and proceeded from it ; tak- ing occafion from the fmall fuccours General Brad- dock carried to America, to make the fending of thofe fuccours, the rife of the troubles in that part of the world. France equips a fleet of a very alarming force, and the King, in confequence thereof, is obliged to make proportionable arma- ments. France fends that fleet to North Ame- rica, (with three times the number of troops car- ried to the fame continent by General Braddock) in order for her commanders to fupport the ads of violence already committed, and to add new ones. Now the fame law, the fame principle of de- fence, which authorifcs the refifliance of an invader, equally authorifes the preventing of the part at- tacked, from being over-powered by fo formid- able a reinforcement : it was therefore very natural to exped, that the King would provide for rhe 0^4 prorcc 231' A.D. 1756. HI li "M ■• i'fi , - ■'■» ■■■; ■■-■■■■'Ml •?1'! A. D. 1756. h' ■", » The general HISTORY or proteftion and fafety of his fubje«5ls, by hindering the landing of fo powerful an armament in North America, and endeavour to preferve his American fettlements from total ruin. The fame motive of felf-defencc hath forced the King to feize the French (hips and failors, in order to deprive the court of -France of the means of making a defcent ; with which their miniflers in all the courts of Europe have threatned Eng- land. A menace, which is the mod fignificative to England, as it ha^'h been accompanied or pre- ceded by the precipitate recall of the minifters of France at London and Hanover ; by the march and cantonment of large bodies of troops on the coafts of Flanders and the channel ; and they publicly avowed the re-eflabliihment of the port of Dunkirk ''. For the reft : it is hard to imagine why the French fhould conceive the King ought to difavow r-: 1 ^ In Augnft 1755, the Rifbank, a very ftiong battery, on the right hand fide going into the harbour, was reflored to its original flrength, or better fortified, though exprefly contrary to the ftipulations of the treaty of Utrecht and Aixla-Cha- pellc. It was built entirely new in form of a half moon, mounting 22 cannon, facing the mouth of the harbour, vv;ith embrafures for feveral more ; and many men were ftill employ- ed on that part of the fortification. On the other fide of the harbour, they were creeling a large rampart for a battery of 50 or 60 cannon, facing the fca : 2000 men were then em- ployed to finifli it with all expedition, and was to be called the Bavarian Battery. They were alfo repairing the fluices, in order to form a back water for cleaning and deepening the harbour. the THE LATE WAR. the condud of his officers, who afted by his or- ders ; or why they fliould wonder at his Majefly's demanding the neceflary fuppHes from his fubjeds to enable him to fruftrate the ambitious and unjuf- tifiable views of France. How can that court pretend to be furprifed at the ads of violence it complains of, after the court of Great Britain had, during the whole courfe of the negociation, ccnftantly rejedled the propofals made by France for a fufpenfion of arms, unlefs it were prececded by a reftitution of the pofleflions taken by open force from England ? A condition, to which the court of Verfailles would never agree. This was informing thac court very plainly, what method the King pro- pofed to take, in order to obtain his juft right. For thcfe juft and valid reafons the King rejected the peremptory demand contained in the memo- rial figned by M. Rouille : and .to avoid taking notice of the terms made ufe of in it, which Ihock common decency, his Majefty caufed a fliort and negative anfwer to be made to it, in the form of a letter, written by Mr. Fox, his fecretary of ftate : and he is the more determined not to admit what France demands, as a preliminary condition, prior to any negociation, as it appears from this very memorial, that after granting it, he would be as far as ever from obtaining an equi- table and foiid accommodation with refpedt to thQ injuries he has fuffered for feveral years. And it does not appear how his Majefty's refolution to defend his American dominions, and hinder France from 23J A. D. 1756, : -m '■i i I Ml ■•J? » -1 i: Fiivateers ordered ;ind tr,- roiiri.'jjcd b\ Fiance 234 The general HISTORY of A. D. from inruking his kingdoms, can be conftrued in" *75o* France to be a denial of juftice, and a formed defign in the King of Great Britain to difturb the peace of Europe. Britimiub- However, in confequence of that memorial and- jeJisordir- ^^, Fox's anfwer, the French Kind's orders were txi to Uc- ' o part from publifnedjat Dunkirk, for all Britifli fubjec^ls to leave his dominions, before the id of March, except fuch as might obtain his permiflion to remain. An- other cdi6t was publifhcd at the fame time, in-' viting his mofl Chrill:ian Majefty's fubjedls to iit out privateers, promifing a premium of forty livres for every gun, and as much for every man, they might take on board tlie enemy's fliips ; with a furtiier promife, that in cafe peace Ihould be conckided loon, the King would pufchafe his faid privateers at their prime cofb. Purlliant 10 the above orders, the Englifli vef- -^lTl!l'^^''' *^1s in the ieveral ports of France were feized, and their crews fent to prifon. Whatever might be the real motiVe for this correfpondence, it outwardly appeared, on the part of Britain, to be counr^^nanced by the apprehen- fions the miniftry Iiad all along entertained, and affecled to entertain, of an invafion ; and, on the part of the French to prolong our neglc6b of ar- maments for the Mediterranean ; where now they had determined to ilrike that great blow, fo long f -.nnv;.* threatened againil Great Britain. For, though ''^' '■^'' /f'.. our A<;ents, ConfuU and Amballlidors at Paris, rt int-.Ui- CarthaL^ena, Turin, &c. perpetually reprefcnted ircrte cor- . , "'^ ^ , , / / rary pre- parations vc.niri: ;ui in the ftrongpft terms the naval aud military pre sr.sciiicn. thi JiLiii long loiigli [Paris, tented pre- luions AD. 1756. THE L AT E W A R. 235 paratlons at Tovlon •, though Mr. Banks at Car- thagena had informed the miniftry, on the 27th of Auguft, that thefe preparations were exprefly making againft Minorca : the French, by their emiflaries in Holland, &c. and by their move- ments on the coafl: of the Britiili channel, and fometimes by counter orders at Toulon, endea- voured to draw off their attention from the main obje(5l. The French knowing the foible of their neighbours, to be terrified with every motion, they fhould make on the coaft of the Channel, played off their old political engine of an inva- fion fo effeflually, that they danipt the Britilh fire, which a few months before had threatened deflru6lion to the navigation of France; and made the miniftry 16 cool, that they fcemed unconcerned, what became of the important tenures of their mailer's crown in the Mediterranean. It is true that there was a report ' of the Pre- tender's being at Paris : but the fame advice re- marked, that it wanted confirmation : that an en.barkation was intended for Scotland : that the Breft Iquadron was ordered to continue in the road : that the French miniftry were extreme bufy Dunkirk jn repairing the fortifications of Dunkirk, and ^'-T'"^'^'^- that there were fixteen battalions in and about that town, befides {even companies of marines. But there could be nothing fo terrible in all thefe appearances, as to engage the whole attention of jhe Britiili miniftry, and our chief ftrength at fea, 1 idth of September, 1755. to 'lit * ;'■■'.. - * : 4' ■1. :^^ '■ . ' . ' i 1 i 1 i h I 236 A. D. 1756. No figns of an inva- ilon. Arma- ni en t5J at Toulon, and their the Flemifh garrifons had orders to be ready t^ iiarch, and the troops at Dunkirk were (till encamped, the infantry, which are the only troops for an expedition againft this ifland, had begun their march into winter quarters, and the cavalry were gone to Britany, French- Comte and Burgundy. A natural difpo- fition for covering their own coafls againft a defcenr from Britain ; but very improper to be interpreted a difpofition for invading an ifland, whofe bulwarks are the ocean, and whofe cities and towns are without walls and fortifications. Had the French ever intended to invade us, they would have kept their infantry, and not their cavalry upon the coaft. The advices in the courfe of the month of Oc- tober, confirm the armament's deftination from Toulon againft Minorca or Gibraltar. And from thofe advices it appears, with great perfpicuity, that the French obferved an exad uniformity of conduft in their ports of the Mediterranean ; fometim.es in a hurry ; at other times fhewing by way of feint, a flacknefs in their armaments, or a diftant intention ; but never lofing fight of their real objed, and making as much difpatch, as the nature of their expedition and the feafon of the year would permit. In which they difcovered great policy and oeconomy -, confounding our in- telligence, and expending no more of the public money than was neceflary, till the time of adlion flioiild ihoi nort rep( howl impJ fidesl THE LATE WAR. ihould difcover their real defign*, while in the northern provinces they induftrioufly kept up the report and appearance of an embarkation. But how could people be fo infatuated with fuch an improbability, weighing all circumftances ? Be- fides the moft penetrating intelligence received on the 20th of Odober, by Lord Holdir-^efs, ought to have redified all fuch vague ^ fuppoli- tions, founded on no better authority than hear- fay, " No court, faid that correfpondent, was " ever in a more cruel fituation than that of France, they have been led into a war by the repeated aflurances given them by the Duke de Mirepoix, That however angry the Englifli nation was, the King and his miniftry would not enter into a war. As this was credited by ', ^ Is it not amazing, that a perfon in the capacity of Ad- miral Smith, than whom nobody could be fuppof'id to under- ftand the requifites for embarkation and convoying troops, deftined for a defcent upon an ifland better, IhouId hearken to, and tranfmit to the admiralty, his own apprehenfions of the truth of, a report, which fome French emifiary had impofed upon him. That the defcent was to be made with 100,000 troops : which would require more veffels to bring them over, than all their nation could then furnifh ; and a better ftationed and equipped navy to convoy them, than the few Ihips of war at Breft and Rochfort, whofe courfe down the channel to Ca- lais and Dunkirk, m".ft be expofed to the Britifh fleets at Ply- mouth, Portfmouth, and at the mouth of the Thames. How Admiral Smith could be fo credulous on this occafion i? be- yond comprehenfion : for, about a month after, he aiTures the Lords of the Admiralry, That there was no movement in the French ports of Dunkirk, &c. that indicated an embarka- tion. 1 " the m '-i'l ill ^S* il 111 m 11 S-f **? 'vi'vf ;i Li. ' i<-':-itj I :l m ;=' I if $ 133 The general HISTORY of A. D. J756. No fear cf an inva- fion. " the French council in general, they took their " mealures, in confcqucnce, and were never more '* furprized than when the news came of our " taking the two French fhips in America." That the French King and his miniftry were greatly enraged there is not the leaft doubt. Neither fliall it be denied that an invafion of Ire- land and Scotland was propofed. But upon ex- amination, fo many difficulties arofe that it was laid afide. However it was refolvcd to ftrike fome ilroke of great confequence, to indemnify the French mercliants for the lofs of their fhips : not by a new embarkation for America, where their force was already greatly fuperior to ours, and which could not be undertaken with bad fliips, and fcarcity of artillery, men and provifions ; nor by invading Britain or Ireland ; becaufe they had neither tranfports for ftich an undertaking, nor were making other difpofitions in the northern provinces of their country, that could induce us to give credit to fuch a report •, but by fome action in the Mediterranean againlt Ibme place left unfruardcd. In the courfe of the next month, the alarm propugutta of an invafion increafed, and was rung in every mihy! '^'' ^^o<^^y's ears by the minifterial agents and emif- farles, who in this particular joined heartily in the deiufive pretences of the enemy. It appears by the intelligence received at the proper offices, that Without this terror of an invafion was founded upon no fuflui nt better authority yet, than trite accounts of the Infli brigade being quartered on the French coaft ; 4 of Invafion 1: II THE LATE WAR. of a few merchantmen detained or laid up ia A. IX Dunkirk and Calais -, of feven frigates lying vmder •'■' ' failing orders in Breft Road, for the protcdtion of their mercantile navigation, and a gafconade to invade Engl.ind with a fleet not in their power to fend to fea, and at the fame time to attack Ha- nover. Wiiereas the moft punctual and intelligible correfpondents declared. That there did not ap- pear the lead difpofition, nor was there any talk of an embarkation. For, though different plans had been propofed, they h:id all been rejected : becaufe, in the firft place, it was impoflible for them to colled a fufficient number of tranfports in one or two harbours, as woukl be ncccffarv : and becaufe the Breft fleet, was it in a condition to put to lea, could not pretend to convoy them •, for fliould that fleet meet the Englifh, either in going or returning, it would be rificing the whole trade of their country, and expofing boih their fleet and forces to ruin. Still our miniftry kept the q;reateft part of their Nival fc naval force inactive, to watch the event of urxer- '^'■i''^ '"■ tain, contradidory, and lmj)robable, reports, and paid no regard to the real armaments making at Toulon ; except we may admit i.n order for Ge- General neral Stuart to repair to his command in Minorca, ^^ ^^' given this month, to be an indicatioii of their Minorca. firlt glance tov/ards the defence of the important fortrefr. of Mahon : but even this was done with fo little grace, that the General could not pro- cure a paflilige to his command till he failed with Admiral Byng, As )rce !i' 240 . The general HISTORY oi^ A. D. As the winter advanced, the diligence in the ^"^^ ' port of Toulon flackened ; and this furnilhed va- ai^maments ^Jous conjedlurcs, as if the French were inclined a: Toulon, jq pacific meafurcs, and to lay the intended ex- m the win- r ' ^ 'Rr, pedition afide in the Mediterranean. But yet it plainly appears, in the midft of that uncertainty, that the Toulon fquadron, of twelve (hips of the line, were in fuch forwardnefs as required no greater expedition at that feafon, and might be eafily put to Tea, early in the fpring : that, in the mean time, all diligence was ufcd to recruit the land forces in Provence, and in the neighbouring provinces : that contrads were made for tranfports, and that a ftricl watch was kept to feci ire a fuffi- cient number of Tailors againft the tim :)f aiflion '. Nay, our admiralty received letters from Mar- feilles, dated the 24th of December 1755, which exprefly faid. That five frigates were ready to put to fea, and that twelve Ihips of the line were under orders to be equipped with all expedition^ and would be ready to iail in ibree iveeks, under the command of M. de la GalilTionere, all the officers being appointed : which is generally the laft ftep in the equipment of a French fquadron.. itsdcilina- Thus every particular, but the pofitive defti- to^he'car "^^^°" °^ ^^^ Toulon fquadron was known i and h:a^d, the intention to attack Gibraltar or Mahon was eafily colleded from their vi6lualling, for a fhort time, the number of troops to be embarked, and ' See Mr. Banks's Letter of the 7th of December 1755, and fever;\l other corrcii ondcuts. the fUE LATE WAR. 241 an inva- fion. the vr.riety of fmall veficls taken up for tranfports, ^- ^• \vhich were not fit to pafs into the ocean. Howe\ cr our miniftry continued to give credit Ncgicaeti to, and to fix their whole attention upon the ad- nUby. vices of the tranfadions in the north of France : from whence Lord HoJdernefs produced letters, dated from the 5th to the 15th of December, that mentioned great augmentations made to the militia of Normandy and Picardy, which already vain pre- confifted of twenty-two battalions each, and that ^^'"^'■'' "^ ' 'an inva« nothing was talked of but a declaration of war, I'l and a refolution to fix the Pretender oh the throne of England, in the March following: that 70 or 80,000 land forces were expcded to arrive^ and to be cantoned in the towns and villjges near Dunkirk, to favour a fquadron to be commanded by M. Bart, to fcour the north feas. Whence was a fquadron to be expelled fuHi- cient to face the Bririfli navy ? It could not be from Toulon, for obvious reafons» It could not be from Breft, nor from Rochfort •, becaufe advices of the firft of December, to that fame noble Lord, exprefly declared, that the fquadron in thofe ports, under M. Conflans went on very flowly -, that the Iquadron under N. Perrier confided only of five fhips of the line, and four frigates, when com- pletely equipped -, that there was but one fhip fir- ing at Dunkirk j and that there was no other mari- timedifpofition in that, or in its neighbouring ports. It muit be con^elTcd that Ibme advices, of the ninth of this md'nth, related a defign in France, to fit out every Hup, tbat could be made capable Vol. I. R to 6 '■f-A >J ■■■if i 242 The general HISTORY of A. D. 1756. 9 ii ,^4:'.,^ Remarks on all tlie intelli- gence. to keep the feas, and to divide the whole into two fleets, one at Toulon, the other at Breft; to fall with force on the Britifla fquadrons dilperfed in fmall numbers ; and in the mean time to make a powerful invafion with 50,000 men. But, next day, this formidable gafconade was knocked on the head by frefh aflurances. That France had no other views than to gain time : that there were no difpofitions on the coaft of the Britifli channel for an embarkation : that eight frigates had failed from Breft, but were employed only as convoys to merchantmen : and that there was nothing to be apprehended of immediate danger or trouble from the French on that coaft. Sum up the whole intelligence, which brings us to the conclufion of the year 1755, you will not be able to find any ground for the minifterial pannic continually dreaming of, and alarming the people with the dread of an invafion. How then ought we to account for that pafTage in his Ma- jefty's fpeech, where he informs his parliament, " That from various appearances and preparations " there was reafon to think, there have been formed *' defigns againft his kingdoms and dominions ;" except, as a noble Peer, many years at the head of the law, has taught us. We confider fuch fpeeches as the language of the miniftry, rather than the fentiments of their royal mafter : and then it may create a fufpicion, that this alarming invafion was a pure minifterial bubble, grafted upon the political condud of the enemy, in order to raife a prodigious fum of money out of the fears of the people. 3 On THE LATE WAR. 243 On the 4th of February 1756, Mr. Fox re- A. D. ccived advice, dated the 17th of January, from '"^ Mr. Birtles, Conful at Genoa, a port greatly con- noncfMi*. nefted with Toulon, That the Dukes of Riche- "^^'^^ ^^{- lieu and Mirepoix were nominated to command in Provence, and that it was whifpered, they in- tended to make a defcent from Toulon, with a body of troops *", to furprize the ifland of Mi- norca. The Lords of the admiralty, on the 20th, received an account of the ftate of the French marine as follows. At Breft 2 fhips 1 ■ 2 — — 3 3 I —■ — 8 4 of 80 guns of 74 of 70 of 64 of 50 of 34 of 30 of 24 State of the French ma- rine. In all mi :i:;f ■ i.. I '■ "pirn ''d hi 24 At Rochfort 2 fhips of 74 guns I of 70 3 of 64 7 ■■ ■ ' ■ ' of 30 In all i^ » Sixty battalions under the command of the Duke ofRichC' lieu. As the fame gentletnan wrote on the 26th of January. R 2 Ac .1 I ■" *ii *. »' 1 iliif 244 A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY of At Toulon I Ihip of 80 guns 3 7 I 4 2 of 74 of 64 of 60 of 30 of 24 In all 1 8 At Havre 2 (hips of 32 Total c^^ Minorca The ftatc of Minorca did not yet feem to be leitcd. rightly confidered and attended to by the Britilh court, who fufFered themfelves to be deluded, or were willingly engaged in the deception of a French invafion, which after Chriftmas revived with ftronger fymptoms of a determinate refolu- tion. It was currently reported from the Kague, that the troops " were to be tranfported in ° flat- bottomed boats j that M. de Bellifle was to com- mand the expedition, who was already with the Prince de Soubife making their circuit along the ReyortB of French coafl: : that 80,000 men were marcliing ihe inva- j-q Dunkirk, and that M. Perrier's fquadron was lion re- * futcd. falling down into Brefl Road. But Mr. Jofcph Cockburn, o5 tlie Hunter cutter, having ventured " One hundred Udd forty battalions, fuiu IiOid EiiHol in kis L'Jtter from Turin. • Seven or ciglit kiinJred faid M, VilkUco :u Bern. 4 into m.: " II THE LATE WAR. 245 into Breft water in his row boat, could fee no A. D. more than nine men of war of 50 guns, and un- ^^ der, and fix fail of large merchantmen. Confe- quently all this talk was calculated by the enemy only to alarm and diftrefs us. For at this very jun6lure the Breft fquadron above-mentioned failed with a convoy of troops for Canada ■*, and not upon that filly ineffectual errand to cover a fleet of flat- bottomed boats in defiance of the Britifh navy. The month of February inrreafed the light into Certain the deftination of the Toulon armament. Pofitive ajj^ntend^- advice was received '', that preparations were <^'' '"vafion * ^ of Minor- making to embark 25,000 men, with a train ofca. artillery, defigned againft Minorca : that the fliips were hove down, and that they would be ready to put to fea the middle of March '. The fame advice was confirmed very ftrongly from the Hague % And Sir Benjamin Keene, the Englifli From sir minifter at Madrid, who having given General KteneTc. Blakeney, the commanding officer at Mahon, no- tice of the French armament, and his apprehen- fions concerning its deftination, writes to Mr. Fox ^ in thefe pathetic terms : " The uneafinefs, I feel, " comes from the approach of an intended attack p See Letter in Lord Holdernefle's office, dated January 31, 1756. 1 On the 26th of February, by the Admiralty from Mar- feilivS. "■ Ibid, and Conful Birtles, from Genoa. « So early as the 1 4th of February. » On the 24th of February. R 3 *' on •■•^'*! 1 li- lit..' !"• 'i 1} n riiii.tji ^1 ISO The general HISTORY of f f 1 A. D. 1756. fliips, artillery, and warlike ftores, were then no- torioufly making in the ports of France, oppofite to the Britifh coafts, left little room to doubt of the reality of fuch a defign : that he had not only augmented his forces by fea and land, to put his kingdoms into a pofture of defence ; but that he had ordered tranfports to bring over hither a body of Hefllan troops, in order further to ftrengthen Takes no himfelf ; without taking the lead notice of the the'lntdii. ^^vices of the intelligence concerning the hoftile gence con- preparations for invading Minorca •, vhich had cerning * * , - 1 • 1 Minoica. been repeated uniformly, continually, and with greater certainty than any of the advices about the imaginary invafion of Great Britain or Ireland ; and without mentioning any meafures taken, or intended, by his miniftry, for its defence. The time of action drawing nigh, and no pre- parations of a fleet, nor of an army by the Eng- officersor-liiTi, exccpt an Order " for all the abfent officers Muidca. fi'^tn Minorca, but General Huflce, to oppofe the Duke of grand enterprize undertaken at Toulon -, the Duke Richeheu ^f Richelieu, on the road, to take the command declares liis ' fcrvicc :i- of the embarkation, declared openly, at Lyons, norca. ' that its deftination was againft Minorca, and to beOege Mahon. This intelligence was imm.ediately tranfmitted from Bern, by M. Villettes, who had all along dilcouraged the thoughts of fuch an expedition ; but now adds, That the armaments, then carry- ing on in the neighbouring provinces of Spain ^ Dated 3d of February 1756, in the war office. with ( OF then no- oppofitc doubt of not only put his ; that he r a body engthen : of the t hoftile ich had nd with ?s about Ireland ; iken, or no prc- le Eng- officers Dofe the le Duke nmand Lyons, and to mitted along ^ition ; carry- Spain with THE LATE WAR. wiih great adivity, gave him room to think that the two courts would join their force againft Mi- norca and Gibraltar. He particularly obferved. That Galifiioner.' was arrived to take upon him the comrpand of the fleet : that feven (hips of the line and five frigates were in the road ^ : that they were Ihipping 6000 bombs and 30 joo weight of bifcuit ^ : that twelve fliips of the line and five frigates would be ready to f;il by the beginning of April: that four gallics, four xebecks and fe- ven or eight other velicls, fit for iuch a fervice, were ordered to attend the fleet, and to carry the ammunition and provifions, &c. viz. 2500 oxen, 6000 rations of hay, 6000 fafcines, 1000 barrels of gunpowder, 12 cannon ^6 pounders, 24 of 24 pounders, 8 of 12 pounders, 8 mortars of 12 inches, 6 of 8 inches, befides petards, fufees, &c. th?t cloth had been bought at Marfeilles for 350 tents : that they fl:ript the fea and land, and the iflands, of their artillery and ammunition, to arm the ficL-t at Toulon •, and that all thefe fteps, and more, left no doubt, but that an attack would be made on Mahon -, and that the whole embar- kation of twenty-three battalions of foot and one of artillery would be in readinefs to fail on the fifdr of April. All which was literally true, and confirmed from all quarters. In this fituation what did theBritifli miniftry do ? They had evidence, from moft unexceptionable authorities, that there was a real armament at 251 A. D. 1756. f The leadi- nefs and apf oint- ments for the Toulon expedition. Remarks on thacon- du6l of the Britifh mi- niftry. ■i y On the firll of March. ^ On the eighth of March. Toulon 1.^ ll ■f »l I 1' i 'ill ' 252 The general HISTORY of A. D. Toulon of twelve men of war of the line, five ^^ * frigates, &c. ready to convoy a powerful army, openly acknowledged by the enemy to be defigned againft Minorca : and they could not be ignorant of the diftrcfs Mahon was in for officers, for men, for provifion?, and almoft every neceluiry to de- fend fuch a fortrels againft fo pov;erful, fkilful and enraged an enemy, and, confequently, of the danger of its falling a prey to fuch a powerful attack, for want of a fuperior fleet, to cover the Afriiaiiron ifiand from fuch an attempt. Yet this could work ac'iAdm." "O further upon the miniftry than to procure an order on the 8th of March for ten fliips of the line to hold themfelves in readinefs for the Medi- terranean. Which fquadron, on the nth, was put under the command of Admiral Byng, a good dif- ciplinarian, but never proved by any fevere fer- vice, where he had the chief command ; with an order for him to take on board the Earl of Effing- ham, General Stuart, and other officers, to the number of forty-two, and fome private men, or- dered to their refpedlive pofts and corps at Mi- norca and Gibraltar. Thefe lliips were. The Ramillies of 90 guns Culloden — 74 Buckingham — 70 Bvn;i;, i'ov ^iino:■ca. Captain — 70 Revenge — 70 Trident -64 Intrepid — 64 Lancafter 60 Kingfton — 60 Otfiancc — 60 But five I the or- MU THE LATE WAR. But the equipping of thefe ten fliips was attended with fuch diredlions, that their departure was de- layed till the 6th of April, for want of men " \ Mr. Byng being direded to haflen the fitting out of the Stirling Caftle, and to complete her com- pliment of men in preference to any other Ihip ; and retrained from meddling with the men on board the Nafiau, Torbay, ElTex, Prince Frede- rick and Greyhound, which the Secretary of the Admiralty faid, were wanted on the mojl prejfmg fervice^ viz. to try to intercept four frigates and a convoy of 40 merchantmen, drove into Havre by the Windfor ; a fervice no ways lb prf^'fling, as the relief of Minorca. "What adds to the negligence of the Britifli mi- nlftry, in regard to his Majefty's dominions in the Mediterranean, is, that no advices, ever fo well attefted and confirmed, could prevail with them, in the courfe of years fince the treaty of Aix-la- Chapelle, to fend into thofe feas, for the protection of Minorca, and the lucrative trade carried on by our merchants through the Streights, more than " Admiral Eyng writes to Mr. Clcvland, Secretary to the Admiralty, April ift, ready for failing in every refpeft, c.v- cept want of men : will take 336 men, now the regiments are all on board, to complete them. My own fiiip wants 222, 183 of them being lent to the Ludlow Caftle. The Trident h.J 78 lent to the Hampton Court and Tilbury, which fhips ve are likely to meet with. April 3d, Intrepid, Ludlow Calllc and Cambridge came but yefterday to Spit- head — ordered men imm.ediately. — Hope to fettle to-day, to be able to fet fail to St. Helen's. April 4th, wind weft, dif- ar-pointcd to laid the Intrepid ihort of complement 150 men. three 233 A.n. 1750, Hii'.v dc- iaytd. ''•i But r f f ■ ; JM '* \ 'Ii': ' ft54 A. D. 1756. The general H ISTORY of three lliips of 60, one of 50, three of 44, and a floop, to cruife on that extcnfive ftation. Stateofthe Our navv, at home, within this period, (from navy, and how em ployed. the I ft of Auguft 1755, to the 30th of April 1756'',) when the French carried on their arma- ments both by fea and land, in their fouth and north provinces, was employed only to reinforce Admiral Hawke, cruifing off Cipe Finifterre -, to form a fonadron of obl'ervation in the Downs, under Vice Admiral Smith -, another fquadron, as noted above, to cruife to the wtllv/ard of Ufhant, under Admiral Byng : and in another fquadron of 13 fliips of the line, and one frigate, ordered on the 9th of January 1756, under the command of Vice Admiral Ofborne, to convoy a grand fleet of merchantmen, and to cruife to the weftward*'. So that the whole maritime ftrength of the nation, which in the open feas would be a match for all the fliips of war in Europe, was detained from its necelTary fervice, by the policy of France and the fears of our own miniftry. Here let us leave Admiral Byng upon his n Euiope. voyage to Minorca, and enquire into the negocia- tions carrying on between Great Britain and the ^ According to the admiralty account of the ftate and con- dition of the fleet, in the feveral ports of Great Britain in January 1756, there wer:- 21 (hips of the line, and 24 frigates, ready to put to fea ; and 32 Ihins of the line, and five frigates fitthig, which were very forward : and there was aftually muftered on board thofe fliips 20,541 feamcn, .aid borne upou the books 24,853. N. B. Exclufive of what were at fea. « He returned on the 16th of February, Powers Continen tal affairs u OP 1-4, and , (from f April r arma- ith and ein force ifterre •, Downs, 3ron, as Ufhant, dron of ered on Tiand of I fleet of Iward \ nation, for all d from Ince and )on his icgocia- Ind the land con- itain in frigates, frigates aftually [no upon THE LATE W A R. '^55 Powers on the Continent, in the beginning of A. D. this year. We have ai ready cited the correfpon- *^^ * dence between the fecretaries of the two crowns of Great Britain and France. Which put an end to any further overtures from that infidious enemy. Upon this, the face of affairs began to bear an Hoftiienp- hoftile afpe6t, threatening not only this nation, Germany? but the King of Pruffia with the moft powerful efforts of arms, from France and her intereft upon the continent of Europe j the conduct of the court of Vienna having convinced his Majefty, before he left Hanover, that there was a fecret in- trigue between that court and Verfailles. As >-s Britannic Majefty was anxious for the Hanover fafety o iiis eledtorul dominions, and they were {,'" pJaucl fpecifically threatened by France, it was natural for him to provide, the beft v/ay in his power, to defeat the intentions of his enemies, and to cover his German dominions from furprize and invafion. , On the other fide, his PrufTian Majefty, without Motives ally, and fully informed of the fecret pradices and ^'^^ ^'^'^ . . J ^ J t treaty wit* deltrudlive intentions of the Czarina, and the Em- Pruflla. prefs Qiuen, and their allies on the continent, againft him ; and far from being pleafed with the French condudl in cafe of an open rupture be- tween him and thofe powers : thefe motives had, in the latter end of the year 1755, brought about a negociation for a treaty between England and Pruffia, to keep all foreign troops from entering the empire of Germany, as a meafure neccflary for the fafety of their refpe<^ive dominions j which treaty '• 'B 'i i If ■i 1 'A. * i< ^;:i:| ■ '.'rh /•■ , .:■! '■•'. >■■, (fl 1(8 t'owers liw^ c'f ,*■•(, a. If I < til 256 The general HISTORY 01? A. D. treaty was concluded and figned, on the 16th of ''^ * January 1756, and contained in fubftance. The Pnif- I. I'hat: Great Britain with her allies, and liau treaty. P Kcmarks thcicon. ruflla, fliall mutually aflill: each other, in endea- vouring to keep ail foreign troops from entering the Empire. II. That Great Britain fhall pay 20,000 1. as an indemnification for the captures of that merchan* dize, which was taken on board Prufiian bottomSj and fold during the lall: war ; and in return, that Pruflia fliall pay the Silefia loan. Whoever compares this treatyj with that made a few months before with Ruflla, though they are quite oppofite to each other, will find that they are not contradidlory, but very confiftent : for, what* ever they may appear in terms ; it is manifeft, that they are both formed to anfwer one intention, ori the part of his Britannic Majefty* The King of Prufiia's martial fpirit •, his difguft for a long time with the houle of Hanover-, his general attach-^ ment to the interefl: of France, which might dil- pofe him to become a proper inftrument to execute the projcds of the French miniftry, already pro- vided for, againit the decorate of Flanover, and its dependencies ; put the King of Great Britain, Kle(5lor of Hanover, upon nicalures to defeat any attempt to his prejudice by the aid of Pruliia. Which could not be done lb eficdually by any other means, than engaging a power iudicient to deter him, and to keep him quiet, with an army hovering over, and ready to break in upon his regal dominions, the moment his Prufiian Majelly dared in iW of 1 6 th of s, and endea- ntering 1. as art erchan* DttomSj n, that Lt made hey are hey are what* :ft, that on, on K^ing of ^ time attach.^ ht dii- xecute y pro- r, and Britain, at ajiy rul'iki. )V any ent to army E>n his ajcity ciart'd THE LATE WAR. dared to join France in the execution of the inva- fion of Hanover. This was certainly a good rca- fon for the Ruflian treaty ; and would not only have anfwer'd the end propofed by his Britannic Majefty, but completed the ruin of his Prufllan Majefty, under the Ipecious appearance of main- taining the liberties of the Empire, which was then relblved by the confederacy againft PrufTia, though not come to the knowledge of his late Majefty. But when his Majefty difcovered an in- clination in the King of PrufTia to (hake off his French connections, and to become fincerely an ally to Great Britain, and was from thence thoroughly pcrfuadcd, that his Eledoi'al domi- nions had nothing to fear from his arms, it made the treaty with Ruflia ufelcfs ; the power, whofe motions the Rufiian army was hired to watch, having become a friend. The only dread, that now appeared, was an invafion by the French ; whofe entrance into the Empire was become the fole objcft of thofe councils, which were held for the proteftion of Hanover. The beft means to pre- ferve Hanover, was to feek for, and gain an alli- ance capable of refifting any foreign power, fuch as the French, from entering the Empire. This could not be done by the Ruflian troops, which were cantoned in Lithuania and other diftant fta- tions : but might be effedually undertaken with the aid of the King of PrufTia. Therefore as the fafety of Hanover was the chief objed of thele two treaties ; and that fafety could be more ef- feftually maintained by making the enemy, of 257 A. D. 1756. Vi y;: Vol. I. whom W::; ' \ "fc ,H I . » 1 l' Ci •' . r t i > i 258 A. D. The Pi-iif- fian trciity the il'cds of :i Ger- man war. HisBjitan- nic Ivlajel"- tydemaiuK an aid of 6000 Dutch, The general HISTORY or whom we were jealous, a friend aiiu ally. *;r d co loin in keeping the French from entering the Eitn^ ire, it was a wife and good meafure. This treaty was foon perceived to contain the feeds of a German war : for, fhould the French perfiiT: in their refolution to invade Hanover, Hefle, Hanover and Pruflia would be obliged to oppofe them. In Holland, the minifters of Great Britain and France, uled their utmoft endeavours to fecure an interell with the States, for their refpedive maf- ters. The Honourable Colonel York, his Bri- tannic Majefty's ambaflador at the Hague, de- livered a memorial on the 13th of February, im- porting, ** That although his mafter had con- *' vinccd all Europe of his defire to rnaintain the general peace, that had lately fubfilled i yet he found himfelf threatened with a war be- ing kindled in his own dominions. That France *' was at that time making immenfe prt!parations *' of all kinds, particularly on the northern coaft, " which were evid^tuly defigned againfl: Great " Britain > and whicl? "he French minifters at the " feveral courts of Europe had confirmed by their *' declarations : that it was the intereft of theiv *' High Mightinefles to defend Great Britain, «' and the proteftant fucceffion in his Majefty's *' illuftrious houfe ; that his Majefty was not *' frightened by thofe threatning appearances ; but " was determined to take every precaution to pre- *' vent their efFed : and that the love he bore to ^" his people, his aticntion to their fafety, and to • . , 4 the Cl C( «( f their libci 255^ A.D. 1756. e prefervation or their liberty ana religion, " and his defn e to protect all his coafts from the " ravages of the enemy, were motives, which " obhged him to demand the 6000 men, to be *' fent over to his afliftance, which the RepubHc *' was bound to do by treaty ; and that the necef- " fary Ihipping for their embarkation would be " got ready immediately." But the French ambaffador prefented a memo- T*^*^ , French am- rial, in which he innfted that Great Britain was buiTador at the aggrelfor •, and threatened the States with the oppoa:?"° high difpleafure of his royal mafter, in cafe they jh^trequi- complied with the requificion of 6000 men made by England ; putting them in mind of their ex- pence and lofles in the lall war : and feconded his menaces with fhewing them, that there were 40,000 French troops in Flanders ready to invade their provinces. This threatning and the weight of the French penfioners in the councils of the United Provinces, who are well paid, furnifhed the Dutch with excufes for refufing, or, at lealt, for procraftinating their anfwer to this fcederal demand ; till the court of Great Britain, rather than be obliged to refent fuch a breach of reaty in. a national way, delivered them out of the em- barralTmenr, by ordering Mr. York to acquaint the Princefs Regent, That his Majefty would not infill upon his demand. We muft not quit the Dutch on this occafion, Rcir,atks without fome remarks on a condud, which Ihews 'fi^^r^Jl ' (iuct 01 the that there can be no dependance on their covenant-* Dutch. ed fa'«-h, nor any expedations of grateful returns S 2 for * m r.'' k'^''' M i6o A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY of for the innumerable favours they have received from England.— The dread of the French arms, and their inability to defend themfelves againft fo powerful an invader was their plea, to make void their engagement by treaty. But, if we fearch the hearts of thefe politicians, it will be found, that, if France had not been fo kind as to furnilh them with this excufe, they were determined to find fome other means to evade our demand.- Could the Dutch, that in the year 1745 picked out 6000 men, who, they knew, were under a capitulation not to fight the French, and fent them, at our great expence, to defend this iQand again fb that very foe, landed in North Britain, be cxpeded to a6l with fincerity and fidelity on any other like occafion ? Their dependance is en- tirely upon trade ; and as their expedtations toin- creafe their ' trade wei '^ to be attained only by an exad neutrality, it was refolved, from the mo- ment a v/ar between Great Britain and France was certain, to facrifice faith, gratitude, and every public virtue to procure a neutrality : and that they would have a6led no otherwife is evident from the rcfolutions, previous to Mr. York's declaration to Lhe Princefs Regent, delivered to the States of Holland, by the towns of Amfterdam, Dort, HutT'.em, GoLida, Rotterdam and Enckhuyfen, whicli fatly declared that England was uncontro- vertibly the aggreflbr in Europe, by feizing a con- fiderable number of French velTels ; that the threatened invafion of Great Britain did not affecft the Republic's guarantee of the proteftant fuccef- fion, 3 ':M' OF received :h arms, ^ainft fo ake void VQ r^arch e found, ) furnilh lined to demand; 5 picked under a nd fent lis ifland Britain, clity on :e is en- ns to in- f by an he mo- nce was d every id that nt from laration ates of Dort, luyfen, contro- acon- at the taffea fuccef- fion. THE LATE WAR. 261 A. D. 1756. fion, inafmuch as it was only intended to obtain reparation for the injury fuftained by the fubjedts of his mod Chriftian Majefty ; finally, that the fuc- cours demanded could not be of any advantage to the King of England •, as it appeared by the declaration of his moft Chriftian Majefty, that their granting thefe fuccours would immediately lay them under a neceflity of demanding, in their turn, afliftance from Great Britain. Such fentiments deftroy all thoughts of any fcederal aid from the Dutch, however ftridly bound by treaty and gratitude. If in cafes of fuch emergency our neareft allies can deny their alfif- tance upon the bear excufe of convenience to their own intereft ; it is time for Great Britain to with- draw its dependance from all foreign conne<5lion3, and inftt^ad of relying on the forces provided by treaties, to place its ftrength in a regular and well- difciplined militia, which we fhall find wifely and honeftly eftablilhed under the next adminiftration; and, if kept up.under due regulation, will always relieve us from the neceftity of calling in a foreign mercenary army to defend us from invafions. The Emprefs Queen had fet the Dutch an ex- Auftria ample of the fame kind of difregard to treaties p,'"^^'^^ and of ingratitude, as obferved before. But not content with departing fo much from the intc eft of that ally, which had fo often, and to its .own great detriment, laved her houfe from ruin ; (lie, on the I ft of May, figned a treaty with France, our natural enemy, and then in arms, and threat- niqg us with deftrudion. By which extraordinary S 3 revolution 1: V, mce. r> 1^1 Tm' t. •^ ^ 9 mw A.D. 1756. New {yC- tcni of po- litics in Europe. Its cauftS. Sihfia ceded to the King of Pruflin, :ind its im. poitance. Q^cen of Hungary's pr.iib^icco to recover it. Her treaty with Rul- fia. Puiand. The general HISTORY of revolution in the interefts of Europe, its whole political fyftcm alTunfied a new face •, and we find It neceflary to fhew the caufes which produced it. The reigning King of Pruflia having, in the courfe of the laft war, taken advantage of the weaknefs, to which the houfe of Auflria was then reduced, made good the claims of his family to the mou confiderable part of the dutchy of Silefia, by force of arms; and, by the treaty of Drefden, obliged the Qiieen of Hungary to cede and gua- rantee to him his conquefls in Silefia ; a fine coun- try, extending 200 miles in lengt-h, along the courfe of the iarge and navigable river Oder : a country of the moft exquifite fertility and beft cul- tivation, abounding with men, abounding with valuable manufaiflures, and yielding a clear yearly revenue of 8oo,oool. fterling. The peace wag fcarcely figned, before this Auftrian heirefs fet on foot practices to recover, what fhe had ceded in December 1745. For on May the 22d 1746, fhe entered into a league with the court of Peterf- burg, one of whofe fecret articles provides. That in cafe his Pruffian Majefly fhould attack her Ma- jefty tlie Emprefs Queen, or the Emprefs of Ruf- fia, or even the Republic of Poland, that this at- tack (hould be confidered as-a breach of the treaty of Drefden : that the right of the Emprefs Queeq to Silefia, ceded by that treaty, Ihould revive i and that the contradling powers Ihould mutually furnifh an army of 60,000 men to reinveft the Emprefs Queen with that dutchy. 1 he King of Poland v/as invited to accede to that treaty : and he at' ''• ■<,- ',' . OF IS whole we find need it. , in the ;e of the was then amily to f Silefia, Drefden, ind gua- le coun- ong the Dder : a beft cul- ig with ir yearly ace was is fet on eded in 1 1745, Peterf- That er Ma- )f Ruf. this at- treaty Queeq evive ; Lit u ally :ft the ing of • : and 1: v> THE LATE WAR. 263 A. D. 1756. he did fo far accede to it, as to fhew he perfectly agreed in his fentiments, and was willing to co- operate with the two Emprefles. But, his fitua- tion in the jaws of a formidable enemy, fhould any thing perfpire too foon, and the experience of part misfortunes, had rendered him fo wary, that he declined figning the treaty, with the confent of the parties concerned •, who agreed with his re- quell:, that he fhould have a fhare of the fpoil, on the footing of a treaty (the 1 8 th of May 1 745,) for the eventual partition of the King of PrnfTia's dominions. So that though the King of Poland, Eleftor of Saxony, was excepted, he was, to all intents and purpofes, a party to the treaty of Petcrf- burg. From this time every devife was pradlifed to intrigue^! embroil the King of PrulTia with the northern |!atln7*ioj powers i and efpecially to render him odious to ^^'=^»''i?i^''^*t the Czarina in perion. This being fully effeded, of Pmiiia. magazines and armies were prepared in Bohemia and Moravia j and the King of Poland, under the pretence of a military jimufement, raifed an army of 1 6,000 men, to fecure the important and ftrong poll of Pirna. The Emprefs Queen went fo far, as to try her intereft with Great Britain, whether fhe might depend upon any fupport from thence in cafe of need, depending much upon the diffe- rences, which had fome time fubfifted between his Britannic Majefty and the King of PrufTiJt. But they that were moft ready to help her and her family in diftrefs, could not be brought to do any thing for her ambition and revenge. This re- S 4 buff u V:' I I (^i ■ if: iii' 'i 264 A. D. 1756. Why the Qncen of Huru^aiy tlell'itcd Great Bii- her With a reaibn for throwing hcrfelf into the tain. r t^ rf arms cr trance ^ The general HISTORY of buff in England threw her into that humour, which made her refuTe her aid, when demanded, by virtue of treaty, by Great Britain : and the Biitilh aUiance with PrufTia foon after furni(hed llor piT;r- tices di.'co- vcrcd by the King clTiufiia. Thofe treaties could not be carried on withou' the knowledge of his Pruflian Majefty, who jea- lous of the Qtieen of Hungary's fincerity at the time of her ceding Silefia, watched all their mo« tions, and fpared no coft to gain perfed intelli* gence of their mod hidden defigns. Therefore, when he faw that the Emprefs Queen was refolv- ed to avail herfeif of her alliances and hei ar- maments, by means of the troubles between Eng- land and Fiance, his Maielty ordered his minifter at Vienna, to demaiid a clear explication and pro- per affurances concerning the preparations then making within her dominions: and being anfwer- ed very dryly, That flie was only taking meafures for her own fecurity, and that of her allies and friends -, the King believing himfelf no longer obliged to preferve any terms with one, that was recouiic to preparing for his ruin -, feniible of the advantage it would be to keep a ruinous war out of his own territories, and well prepared for action, he enter- ed Saxony with a powerful army. Where we lliall leave him, till w^e have taken a further view of our own affairs. Wliy the Kiii!^ cf PiuHi-i had arms. ;ii . % >:>> J'^l > *• /; ^# 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 "^'^S >" o k \m-M ' .4 I 4 m 11' -^ tTaU^rfcuJ^ Admiral of the Blue . «c >i ^Iji. THE L AT E WAR. 265 ions. The fquadron under the command of Admiral A. D. Byng being fitting out, the lords of the admi- ^' ralty ■= fent him thefe inftruftions for his condu<5l. Byng s in " Whereas the King's pleafure has been fignified ^^^'^^^ t<^ us by Mr. Fox, one of his Majefty's principal fecretaries of ftate, that upon confideration of the feveral advices, which have been received relating to the fuppofed intention of the French to attack the ifland of Minorca, a fquadron of ten (hips of the line do forthwith fail for the Mediterranean, under your command : and whereas we have appointed the fliips named in th^ margin ^ for this fervice, you are hereby required and dire<^ed immediately to put to fea with fuch of them as are ready, (leav- ing orders for the reft to follow you, as foon as poflible) and proceed with the utmoft expedition to Gibraltar. Upon your arrival there, you are to enquire, whether any French fquadron is come through the ftraitsi and if there is^ to inform yourfelf, as well as poflible, of their number and force j and if any of them were tranfporrs. And, as it is probable they may be deilined for North America, and as his Majefty's fliips named in the margin *, are either at, or going to Halifax, and are to cruife off Louifbourgh, and the mouth of the •\ , e March 30, 1756, figned Anfon, VIHiers, Rowley, Bof- cawen, Bateman, Edgecumbe and J. Cleland. N. S. The Admiral did not receive them till April the if!t, at 10 in the morning. f See before, p, I52. 8 Grafton, Sterling Caftle, Fougueux, 4th, Nottingham, Lichfield, Centurion, Norwich, 6th, Succefs, Vulture floop. Gulph . 1"' ;i 1'.' iV f-1 !ft;l IS H AD. 1756. The general HISTORY of Gulph of St. Lawrence, you are immediately to take the foldiers out of fo many fhips of your Iquad'ron as, together with the (hips at, and goitig to Halifax, will make a force fuperior tothefaid French fquadron, (replacing them with landmen 6t ordinary feamen from your other fhips) and then detach them, under the command of Rear Ad- miral Weft, dircdiang him to make the beft of his way off Louifbourjgh ; arid taking the afofe-men- tioned fhips, which he may expeft to find there,' under his command, to cruifeoff the faid place, artdthe entrance of the Gulph of St. Lawrence j itnd ufe his utmoft endeavours tdf rrtercept and feizc the aforefaid French Ihips, or any other fhips belonging to the French that may be bound to, or returning from, that part of North America. ^ If \]pon your arrival at Gibraltar, you fhall not gain intelligence of a French fiquadron having paflfed the Straits -, you are then to go on, with- out a moment's lois of time, ta Minorca : Or, ii^ in confequence of fuch intelligence, you (hall de- tach Rear Admiral Weft, as befbre direded, you are to ufe equal expedition in rep^ring thither, with the fhips, which fhall retnain with you ; and if you find any a4.tack made upon that ifland by the French, you are to ufe all poffible mearw irt your power for its relief. If you find no fuch at- tack made ; you are to proceed off Toulon, and ftationyour fquadron in the beft manner you fhall be able, for preventing any fhips getting out of that port ; or for intercepting Ind feizing any, that may get out j and you arc to exert the utmoft ^ifc: vigilance te]y to f your going he faid ndmen s) and ar Ad- : of his :-men- there; place, rence J 'pt and jr fhips jnd to, erica. * lall not having , with- Or, if, lall de- d, you hither, and nd by earn irt ijch at- ) and )u fhall out of y any, utmoft srilance THi LATE WAR. vigilance therein, and in protc6Ung Minorca and Gibraltar, from any hoftile attempt. You are alfo to be vigilant for proteAing the trade of his Majefty's fubjedts from being molefted, either by the French, or by cruifers from Morocco, or any other of the Barbary States j and for that purpolc to appoint proper convoys and cruilers. You are like wife to be as attentive, as poffible, to the intercepting and feizing, as well fhips of war and privateers, as merchant fhips, belonging to the French, wherever they may be met with, within the limits of your command. But in pur- fuance of the King's order in council, you are not to fuffer any of the ihips of your fquadron to take any French vefTels out of any port belonging to the Ottoman Empire, upon any pretence -, nor to moleft, detain or imprifon, the perfons of any of the fubje£ts of the Ottoman Empire ; and alfo not to feize and detain any French fhip or vefTel whatfoever, r^ich they (hall meet with in the Levr^nt Seas, bound from one port to another in thofe feas, or to, or from any ports of Egypt, having any effefts of Turks on board. Upon your arrival in the Mediterranean, you are to take under your command his Majefl-y's fnip's and vefTels named in the margin'', which ^re at prefent there, If any French fhips of war fhould fail from Toulon, and efcape your fquadron, and proceed out of the Mediterranean j you are forthwith to h Princefs Louifa, Portend, Deptford, Chefterficld, Dol- phin, P^cenix, Experiment, Fortune floop. fend, i6y A.D. 1756. i '' ' . m^ "f-e .n-. : 111; . ': % II? V : I I Pi i nil ■m 268 A.D. 1756. More in- Itrudions. The general HISTORY of fend, or repair yourfelf to England, with a pro- portionable part of the (hips under your com- mand : obferving that you are never to keep more lliips in the Mediterranean, than Ihall be necef- fary tor executing the fervices recommended to you. To enable you the better to perform the above- mentioned fervices, you are to take care to keep the (hips and veflels under your command in con- ftant good condition, and to have them cleaned as often as fhall be requifite for that purpofe." » By further inftrudlions ' it was ordereJ, that, (whereas the King had been pleafed to direft that the royal regiment of Fuzileers, commanded by Lord Robert Bertie, fhould ferve on board his Majefty's fhips in the Mediterranean, and that the faid regiment fhould be landed in Minorca, in cafe the governor, or commander in chief of that ifland, (hall think it necelTary for its defence ; and the governor of Gibraltar having orders, in cafe a further reinforcement fhall be neceffary at Minor- ca, to make a detachment equal to a battalion, from his garrifon j which detachment, the admi- ral, or commander in chief of his Majefly's (hips in the Mediterranean, is to convoy to Minorca, on board the men of war, or fuch tranfport veflels, as he fhall be able to provide for that purpofe -,) he fhould pay due obedience to his Majefly's aforefaid direftions, by landing Lord Robert Bertie's regi- ment, in cafe the faid iQand of Minorca ihould be ' Dated the 31ft of March :, 56, figned by Anfon, Vil- liers, Rowley and J. Cleland. attacked^ THE LATE WAR. 269 A. D. 17^6. tions. attacked, and, upon confultation with the gover- nor, the fame (hould appear to be neceflary j and not to confine himfelf to the landing that regiment only, but alfo to aflift with as many gunners and men from his fquadron, as might be ferviceable» and the fhips could pofTibly fpare-, and that he likewife fhould pay due regard to his Majefty's aforefaid pleafure, in relation to tranfport'ng a battalion from Gibraltar to Minorca. Before we proceed with the expedition, it will Remarks be proper to fpend a little attention upon thefe °" '"'^'"^• inftruflions, of whofe breach, the Honourable Mr. Byng is accufed. There is but one article in the fet of inftruflions, fo far as they regard the operations of the enemy, that can be accounted pofitive : which is the order that requires him to put to fea as foon as poflible, &c. For, though it is admitted in the introductory claufe, That fe- veral advices had been received concerning the fuppofed intentions of the French to attack the ifland of Minorca ; the next fuppofes, that their real defign was, to flip through the Straits of Gibraltar, and dired their courfe to North Ame- rica ; and makes a fuitable provifion for feparating the (quadron, and fending off fuch a part of it, under Rear Admiral Well, together with fuch a proportionable number of the Ibldiers on board, as, added to the fliips, he was fuppofed to find there, would render him fuperior to the enemy : and all the other articles hanging in like manner upon events, were accordingly to be obfcrved, or not, as circumllances agreed, or otherwife. And as the Admirars m :-S >/* .'■J Vi, At' ■■■'•ft' ■'"^eI A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY of Admirars inftruflions were, in general, founded on a perfuafion, that the French arniament at Toulon wasf dcftincd to North America j fo it was declared with the utmoft confidence, by thofe, who ought to have known better, that, for want of feamen, fix or eight fhips of the line at moft, was the greateft number the enemy could poflibly put to Tea from that port. Hence it is manifeft, That, as there was no want of early intelligence of the nature and defti- nation of the armament at Toulon, the minillryf gave no credit to it : that inftrudlions unprecife In their nature, being founded on miftakes and un- certainties, accompanied with orders, yet more unprecife and embar raffing, could not but be pro- duftive of perplexities and difficulties, in every queftion, they gave rife to i confequently of fnares and dangers in every refolution taken upon them : and that from the very different afped of things on the admiral's arrival at Gibraltar, from that, which they had been made to wear in England, a difference of conduct became abfolutely neccf- fary : and thenceforward, he was either to proceed difcretionally, or not proceed at all. — ^Infteadof fix or eight ihips of the line, he: had been inform- ed were the moft the en«:my could fend to £ea Oti the 13th of April, jufl a week after Admiral Byng failed from St. Helens ;. he now found their Toulon fquadron to confifl of 12 (hips, fcom 64 to 84 guns; four frigateis,. from 24 to. 46 j befides floops, five bomb veflelsj, ficc which had already THE LATE WA R. 271 A. D. already got poflelTion of all Minorca, except Foft St. PliUip. I'his difference in the real ilatc, as well as in the afpedt of things, will, in fome meafure, ac- count for part of that condu£l, for which Admi- ral Byng was fo feverely treated afterwards, s However, thus armed and inftruded, the Ad- Atimirai miral failed for Gibraltar in his way to Minorca, forGiinai'- pn the 6th day of April : but was kept at fea by '^'■* calms and contrary winds, till the 2d day of May, on which he arrived at Gib ar, >\here he Anivcs at received an information of the enemy's operations ajid ftrength on the ifland of Mincrca, and on that copft, very different from what he had been made to cxpefi: : and, without delay ^, iffued his in? con- orders accordingly, on the very day of his arrival, ^^' ^'"'^' for all the fhips of his fquadron to complete their provifions and water with the utmoft expedition. On the 3d the Admiral went a fhore to communi- cate to the governor of Gibraltar his orders, re- lative to a battalion, to be detached from the gar- rifon, and to be embarked on board the fquadron for the relief of Fort St. Philip. . But General Fowke the governor of Gibraltar, ccuprii having alfo received inftrudtions or orders upon J-o^'jiJu'cL this head from the war office, in three feveral let- ■«iri ^ The firft refolution of the court martial ananiraouny de» clsSres, " It does not ippear that any unneceflary delay was made by Admiral Byng, in the proceedings of thefquadroa under his command, from the time of their failing from St. Helens, on the 6tli of April, till the time of their arrival off Minorca, on the 19th of May." ters, L>v v^l li 'rA mm -.: 27« The general HISTORY of A. D. i7i6. tcrs, which either did not appear fo intelligible to him, as to warrant a precipitate compliance with the admiral's demand ; or, perhaps, new matter had arifen, which had not been fo much as fuppofed at the time of penning them, and fuch as was produdtive of difficulties hardly to be fur- mounted, he thought it his duty, in the firft Confuits place to take the opinion of the Engineers beft Engineers, ^^q^ainted with the works of Fort St. Philip, (the principal of whom had been in fervice there, and enjoyed his prefent poft, on the merit of bring- ing home a model of that fortrefs) concerning the poffibility of relieving the fame. Who, the fame Their opi- day, figned an opinion. That all circumftances con- mon. fidered, it would be extremely dangerous, if not impraflicable, to throw fuccours into it. Calls a Next day, the 4th of May, this opinion was council of fiibmitted to a. council of war, compofed of the governor and all the field officers of the garrifon, affembled to take into confideration the feveral orders above-mentioned. Thofe to Admiral Byng, have been recited at length. General Fowke pro- duced Lord Barrington's letters to him, who in his firft letter, dated March 21, 1756, writes, "That the King has ordered the royal regiment of Fuzi- leers to embark immediately for Gibraltar, and that upon their arrival, he is to make a detachment from the four regiments then in garrifon, to Minor- ca :" which implies. That if the detachment was to go, the regin.ent was to ftay. But lealt this ihould not be clear enough, the next paragraph adds, " That together with the recruits for the corps vrar. THE LATE W A R. corps in his garrifon, the faid regiment was to be difcHnbarked and quartered in the garrifon under his command: upon which faid dilembarkation, he, the faid General, in obedience to his Majef- ty*s further pleafure, was to caufe a detachment, equal to a battalion on the prefent Britifh eftab- iilhmenr, to embark for Minorca." The next letter, without tlie lead reference to, or appeal of, any part of the former, repeats the order for cauf- ing a battalion to embark on board his Majefty's fleet for the relief of the ifland of Minorca, in cafe there (hould be any likelihood of its being at- tacked." And the third letter, dated April i, only diredts him, ** to receive fuch women and children belonging to thj royal regiment of Fuzi- leers, as Admiral Byng tliould think fit to land there." As it was impoflible to form any abfoUite judg- ment upon thefe inconfiftencies ; they had recourfe to the Admiralty inflruftions delivered to Admiral Byng, dated March 31, for an explanation of their intention. Wherein it is not only fignified, That the King had been pleafed to dired, that the royal regiment of Fuzileers fliould ferve on board his Majefty's Ihips in the Mediterranean, and alfo be landed at Minorca, in cafe the faid ifland was attacked, and upon aconfultation with General Blakeney, it fhould be found neceflary : but moreover that the governor of Gibraltar had orders (only thofe above-mentioned) to make a detachment, equal to a battalion, from his garrifon, in cafe of a like neccflityYor a further reinforce- VoL. I. T ment: 6 275 A. D. m 274 A. D. 1.756. Tbeir le- loiutions. The general HISTORY op ment : and this detachment, together with the faid regiment, the Admiral was required to land in Minorca, under the reftriftions before fpeci- fied i together with what other alTiftance of gun- ners and men his (hips could poflibly fpare. But after mature deliberation upon thefe letters and inftruflions, and upon the written opinion of the engineers, and the fituation of his M3Jefty*s garrilbns and forces in the Mediterranean, the council came to this refolution. That the fending fuch a detachment, equal to a battalion, would evidently weaken the garrifon of Gibraltar, and be no ways effe(5l;.ial for the relief of Minorca : afiigning for the grounds and realbns of this re- folution, the impradicabiiity of introducing any fuccours into the place; the infufficiency of the number propofed, if thrown in, for the defence and prefervation of the ifland in its prefent condi- lion, which they apprehended to be the meaning of the letters and orders before them ; and the im- prudence of weakening the garrifon of Gibraltar, uji- neceffarily rifkingthe lofs of an additional number of his Majeftys troops, without any reafonable profpe<5fc or hope of their being any afliftance to Minorca : concluding with the following reafon : — " Becaufe the Toulon fquadron, by the beft accounts the council have received, is at leaft equal in force, if not fuperior to that under Admiral Byng : and (hould the Britiih fleet be any way weaken- ed by any engagement, or any other accident, the garrifon of Gibraltar would be expofed to imminent danger ; and as the garrifon Hands 2 "at iia * The Deptford, Princefs Loulfa, and the Fortune floop. T 2 que(lion» ' .;'n g:J„.j -'i K'f "m\ r ft* / ^ ^W^:, : 11 m ll , ' . tB^^''''^?* ' m : li m^ ^mv'|:'-^- iif M , z:^. T '^'i '• m)\ ■ » ^ " ) liV ' w L A M 276 The general HISTORY of A. D. queftion. And the if, referring to the French "^^ ' fleet's being ftill inadlive in their port, and in that cafe, direfling him to ftation his fquadron in the beft manner to prevent their getting out, was alf9' made void : fo that his prefent duty was confined to ufe all pcjftble means in his power, for the relief of the place ; at the fame time to take proper care to protect Gibraltar from any hollile attempt ; to protedt the trade of his Majefty's fubjeds in the Mediterranean, and to annoy the enemy within the limits of his command -, except, &c. therefore Ad- miral Byng, having received on board the 267 men from Gibraltar garrifon, on the 6th, and being joined by the Experiment, the Pordand and the Dolphin, and having done all in his power to fupply the wants of his fquadron, though not fully fupplied with water, a deficiency entirely owing to the infufficiency of the fprings ; he fet fail on the 8 th of May at eight in the morning, the wind eafterly. But it continuing variable, and often interrupted by calms, this fquadron could not reach the height of Palmj",, the capital of Anives off Majorca, till the i6th, where che Phoenix had Majorca. ^^^^ ^,^^ ^^^ almoft three weeks by two French men of war, that cruifed oflT that port, and retired immediately on fight of the Britifh fquadron in the Offing. The Experiment was fent in with a letter from the Admiral to the Englifh conful for intel- Jigence, which returned with the Phoenix, Capt. Harvey, who in the courfe of this war has acquir- ed great honour to his country by his naval con- du^ and perfonal courage j by whom he received advice. THE L A T E W A R. 277 advice, that the Toulon fleet, under the command A. D. of M. de la Cilifiionere, confiding of 10 fhips of 1756. the line, five frigates, and 1 80 tranfports, with Hg^inc'e of" 1 1000 land forces, h'M failed from that port on Jj^g/'^^^'''^ "the 1 2th of April; and landed in Minorca, at Ciudadella on the i8rh of the fame month. The French fleet confided of. Line of battle ihips. Le Foudroyant 84 guns. La Couronne — 74 Le Guerrier — 74 Le Redoutable 74 Le Temeraire — 74 L'Hippothame 64 Le Fier 64. Le Triton — 64 Le Lion — — • 64 Le Contant — 64 Le Sage 64 L'Orphee — 64 Frigates. La Juno 46 guns. La Rofe 30 Gracieufe 30 La Topaze 24 La Nymph 24 The Admiral before he failed for Minorca, dif- patched a letter by exprcfs to the lords of the admiralty ; in which, though it might contain no- T 3 thing ■•Ir • 1 ■ .-'■ m '^i -' ■ til it:-; III 278 A. D. 1756. Admiral Byng's firft letter fror The general HISTORY op thing but truth, his zeal for the fervice, and chagrin at the many difappointntients and delays he had met with, pronapted him to txpoftulate too freely with thofe, he knew, could have clifpatched him with more advantage and credit. He begins with a kind of acculation againft iheir dilatory orders for fitting out his fquadron : " If, faid he, I had been fo happy, as to have arrived at Mahon, rnit"ar?o^ bcforc the French had landed, I flatter myfelf, I the lords fhould have been able to prevent their getting a miraity. footing on that illand. He complained that there were no magazines in Gibraltar for fupplying his fquadron with neceflfaries ; whofe necefTities had not been fully fupplied at the time he was obliged to fail from England, and had been, greatly multi- plied in a long and tedious vpyage. In particular, he obferved, that the careening wharfs, pits and ftorehoufes were entirely decayed, fo that he Ihould find the greateft difficulty in cleaning the fliips that were foul : and this was the cafe, not only of thole that here joined him from a cruife in the Mediterranean, under Commodore Edgc- cumbe ; but even of fome of thofe carried out from Portfmouth. He then very impoliticly gave his opinion, that, if it fhould be found pradlica- ble, it would be very impolitic to throw any men into St. PhiHp*s caftle ; which could not, he faid, be faved without a land force fufficient to raife the fiege : and therefore, that a fmall reinforce- ment would only add fo many men to the number, which muft fall into the hands of the eneiny. He further faid, That it was the joint opinion of fuch 2 79 A.D. 1756. THE L A T E 'W A R. uch engineers and artillerymen in Gibraltar, who had been at Minorca, that it would be impofTible to throw any number of men into St. Philip's, if the French had ereded batteries on the two fhores near the entrance of the harbour, To as to bar all paffagc up to the fally-port of the fortrefs ; and concluded, that his own fentiments were agree- able to their opinion." This letter confifts of two parts : the former is Remarks a pofitive impeachment of the miniftry, for their ^'^'^'^°"* not fending a fleet to the afliftance of Minorca fooner, and better provided ; and for negledting, and fuflfering the magazines and wharfs at Gibral- tar, the only place for the King's fhips to careen at, and to be fupplled with necelTaries, when Ma- hon was invefl:ed, run to decay and ruin. — The latter part does as good as tell them, that they had fent him upon an impracticable fervice, and that if it mifcarried, as in all probability it was like to do, it muft be laid to their charge, who had not fent a land force to raife the fiege, as well as a fleet, that was inferior to the ene- my's. The gentlemen in the adminiftration not being ufed to be rallied by their ofiicers, and forefeeing that Minorca muft fall a prey to the French force upon it, and that its lofs would be attended widi a general clamour againft themfelves, Ihould they not be able to fix the blame elfewhere ; it feenis moft probable, that from this moment, they pnited to throw the mifcarriage, if it fliould ib happen, upon Byng alone : for which purpofc T 4 they ^ m S- '-fi ■'■■■ui\-.. i ■i^A V f t •1 n? 1.« 280 The general HISTORY of A. D. they could colled matter enough from this letter, '^ ' where he doubts of the fuccefs of his expedition. "Which they interpreted, and had it propagated, to be a certain fign that Mr. Byng would not en- deavour to relieve Fort St. Philip : and this was fo well improved from Byng's future condufl, that they effedtually transferred the blame of the lofs of Minorca from themfelves to the perfon, who had taken upon him, fo unfeafonably, to hint a difapprobation of their conduft. This ferved to amufe the people, and made a facrifice of \^San/t^ l^ J ^TarrcTrancMle \ '^ £e t ^ dfoiaria rr Jtucafyf . * ^:*dis 72-* t\r- ^^-.^ 6S 'ay^d- vccurate'MAPof^^\ IK O RCA, ""on TIFICATIOim 1 'E Jt J^ I Cal^ ZbuAjxUdetU .. 'Z3^^ ^•1 SM/UlTTUO { Calet'^'" 4J Ji^^erencex to the JPH <^ >jy*^ BrOkth Statute ■USej' Sy toaHeft'ee t,S^FA^Ctuiif' cj:Veajye^2if. ^BitnooerJi9. tWUrfi^Jt" iCAa^aa,7>f iVofZuruUt-. \Wtft2)r vl CarmeAo. icrwi SffuthXuiuitA: L Citr0^uui,7UdaubCy niliuenfJi'. o CcnJIfi^a.i.uie' ^Pender Jt". q Grand Sitn't'Sintte vTiinierShtd* %Tlit3Tunneri^ t Vu/uiUu^ OffictfiT/yiiBj u Cirme/Ue. iirtweru* CdnBaUBufox "'. >v *^ "*- SmiAtap o -MdrJit'/ti'Se/?u' ^J i J*" ^ Suptal/unU'e "^deJoMlfla' '^ CaJaAiuSefii i^''^- "-saC. j'*''';^;;*^ *^^ '^_ -T^ ■ •* "^ ^ 0' -^duct> ^ 1 <^ ■^'?":r . ^_2^^^J^ // /5 "-* ^ ^ Cm^SlL ^7i^ ~ Jt^i^ ^tott^ ''1^ n « -ifif B-; ^^^|,i 'iS^^/vaS:^ // ^^ tff- ^ ** //I fmiiMiiiiniiiimmtmirr —^ i ffi JJiuflboroi;^ iRedoubt II El ^ ir ! .> |« I h * ' f i,! ;l '', ;' ({ THE LATE WAR. 281 L y\. Ia/\ I I to reconnoitre, as clofc as polTible, the harbour's A. D. mouth, at Mahon, and the fituation both of the *^^ * enemy and their batteries •, as alfo to obferve whe- ther it were prafticable, and where, to throw any fiiccours into the caftle ; to look out for the French fquadron, and to pick up, if poflible, any of their fmall craft, for intelligence, .with proper fignals for all thefe purpofes. • . Captain Harvey was alfo charged with the fol- lowing letter to General BV keney. , Ramillies, off Minorca, May 19. S I R, "* T Send you this by Captain Harvey, of his Ma- Hi« letter * jelly's niip Phcenix, who has my orders to f'fStai convey it to you, if poflible, together with the Blakency. incloled packet, which he received at Leghorn. — I am extremely concerned to find that Captain Edgecumbe was obliged to retire to Gibraltar, with the (hips under his command, and that the French are landed, and St. Philip's Caftle is invefted ; as I flatter myfelf, had I fortunately been more timely in the Mediterranean, that I fliould have been able to have prevented the enemy's getting a footing on the ifland of Minorca. I am to acquaint you, that General Stuart, Lord Effingham and Colonel Cornwallis, with about 30 officers, and fome recruits belonging to the different regiments now in jyarrifon with you, are on board the fhips of the fquadron ; and fhall • be glad to know by the return of the officer, you will think proper to have them landed ac. The ^ I *' % I 282 A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY of The royal regiment of Kng I ifli fuzilicrs, com- manded by Lord Robert Bertie, is likcwile on board the fquadron, de^" 'ed, agreeable to my orders, to ferve on board ^eet in the Mediter- ranean, unlefs it (hould be thought neccflary, upon confultation with you, to land the regiment for the defence of Minorca: But, I muft alfo in- form you, (hould the fuziliers be landed, as they are part of the fliips compliments, the marines having been ordered by the Lords CommifTioners of the Admiralty, on board of other fliips at Portfmouth, to make room for them, that it will difablc the fquadron from adling againft that of the enemy, which 1 am informed is cruifing off the ifland : however, I ihall gladly embrace every opportunity of promoting his Majefty*s fervice in the moft effedlual manner, and ihall affifl you to diflrefs the enemy, and defeat their defigns, to the utmoft of my power. Pleafe to favour me with information, how I can be mofl effedual of fervice to you, and the garrifon j and believe me to be, &c. h w Captain Harvey had orders to deliver this let- ter, if poffible, to the General ; and as with a view to fome fuch fervice as this, a private fignal had been agreed upon between him and Captain Scroope, of the Dolphin, who was in the caftle, and had kept his boat, in order to come off, upon occafion, it was expedled that the letter would have been fafely delivered. The THE LATE WAR. 283 to 1750. The frigates above difpatchcd got round the Laire of Mahon, a fmall ifland, about half an hour before nine o'clock, and, though they met with light airs of wind, and fometimes a ftaik calm, they continued to make the bell of their •way for the harbour's mouth. About half an hour part nine the whole I'qua- dron got round the Laire alfo, with a frefn gaU- •, but foon fell in with light airs and calms, at about three miles from St. Philip's Caftle. In the mean time Captain Harvey, (landing on what pre- for the harbour's mouth, made his private fig- ^^'^(^^.^^. '" iials, but without the defired fuccefs. No return was made: no boat was feen to come off: and the enemy's fquadron appearing at the Hime time Enemy's in the fouth-eall quarter, the Admiral thought it pearsj^'" advifeabie to call in the Phcenix, and the other frigates ; bore away for the enemy, and made the general fignal to chafe. Both fquadrons made fail to each other, and Byng pre- about two in the afternoon the Admiral made the batUc. ^'^ fignal for the line of battle a- head, which for want of fufEcient wind, could not be form'd fo properly, as otherwife it might have been. His next care was to furnilh fuch of his ihips, as were fickly and ill-manned (which was the cafe of fe- vcral) with feamen from the frigates *". He or- 1 1 .'.'it r^i ■ 'tjjj^ri -ll« .,*>rt|rX 1 114 • . ' A' .} L '' The "> Thirty out of the Phoenix into the Revenge ; and twenty into the Deptford. Forty out of the Experiment into the Captain, and twenty into :he Lancafler : and out of the Dol- phin twenty into the Intrepid, twenty to the Defiance, and feventeen to the Portland. dered \.:4 :;t;r I i^i 3 " 284 The general HISTORY or A. D. 1756. dered the Phctnix, which had long before been reported unfit for fervice, and was turniflied with proper materials for llich a purpofe, to be con- verted into a fire-fhip. He alio difpofcd his fqiia- dron in line of battle, as you'll find it in the note at the bottom % according to the order he had made on the 3d of May, while he laid in the Bay of Gibraltar. Theencmy About fix in the evening the enemy advanced advancts. jn order, with twelve large fhips and five frigates ; Tacks. ^"^ ^" ^^ hour's time, at two leagues diftance, they tacked, as it did feem, to gain the weather- gage ; an advantage, which Mr. Byng would have committed a great error to lofe, and therefore this obliged him to tack alfo, and to fecure the land- wind in the morning ; being then about five leagues from Cape Mola, having flood towards the enemy ", from the time of their firft difco- ,i.i > -- \ i"?. 't n The line of battle,— and the Defiance ■The Kingfton to lead with the ftar-board with the lar-board tacks on board. Frigates CI.efterfield Phoenix to re- peat fignals Fortune Hoop 4 4 3 Experiment Dolphin to rrpf it fignal Ships KingAon Deptford Cuiloden Ramilliei Commanders .} 3 Trident 4 ! Prfs Louifa 3 Revenge Intrepid i } 3 3 3 3 4 4 Captain Buckingham Lancader Porthnd Defiance I Capt. Perry Amhurft Ward Hon. J. Byng, Efq; Capt. Gardiner Durell Noel Cornwall Young Catford Temple Weft, Efqj l ,„ Capt. Everitt J Hon. G. Edgecumbe i 66 Capt. Baird I 50 Andrews . 1 lo Number of I Guns " 60 SO 74 90 64 60 64 64 64 Men " DiTifion 400 280 6uo 780 k Admiral of the Blue. 500 400 480^ 480 480 535 520 300 400 Rear- Admiral of theRed^ Fee the third r.nd fourth Rcfolutlonsof the court-martial. very OF rc been ed with be con- is fqua- Lhe note he had the Bay ivanced rigates ; liftancc, weather- Id have ore this le land- )Ut five towards t difco- ar-board ymfion liral of the le. THE LATE WAR. 285 very, with calms and little wind j which condufl A. D. was afterwards approved of by the court-mar- '^ tial p. The enemy on fhore, having got fight of our j, ^pjn. fleet, were not negligent in contributing all in their lYy^^"''jijj. power to encourage and ftrengthen their fleet for nhnd. engagement -, and for this purpofe they difpatched 600 foldiers in two tartans to reinforce Galifllonere, in the night. The two tartans, appearing clofc to the rear of the Englifli fleet, were chafed, and one Lofe a tar- of them, with two Captains, two Lieutenants, ii"ii7rs! and about 100 foldiers, rank and file, fell into the hands of one of our frigates, that gave them chafe : the other efcaped. , The 20th, in the morning, proving hazy, the enemy's fquadron was not to be feen at day-break ; But foon after the taking of this tartan, it came in fight, to the fouth-eaft •, and Admiral Byng, about two o'clock, threw out a fignal to bear Byrg's fijr. away two points from the wind, and engage ^ "^J^J" '"' Thus, from the time of firft feeing the French fleet in the morning of the 19th of May, till our fleet weathered the French about noon the 20th, the Admiral took proper meafures to gain and keep m -Admiral the Red^ very r Fifth refolutlon of the court-martial. s See twelfth and thirteenth rcfolutions, where it is faid. That foon after the fleet was upon the lar-board-tack the Admiral made fignals for leading two points to ftar-board, which brought the wind upon or abaft the beam, and the (hips continued that courfe nearly a-head of each other, till the Ad- miral made the fignal for battle, about twenty minutes after two o'clock. the 1^. ;' vl ;■! rm i 4o" J i' : " -,'H i' •> ■ "•■;■> HI ^ J; ■ ment. 2^6 .T»E GENERAL HISTORY or A. D. the wind of the cncny, and to form and clofc ^^^^' the line of battle \ Admiral But Rear-Adipiral Wefl: perceiving it impof- condua in ^it)Ie, at fo grcat a diftance as they were then men"^^^^' ^^^"^ ^^^^ enemy, to comply with both orders, bore away with his divifion feven points from the wind, and clofing down upon the enemy, at- tacked them with fuch vigour, that the fhips, ■which oppoled him were prefently driven out of the line *. This feems to have been the critical moment, that decided the fate of Minorca, and furniihed matter for Byng's ruin. For, the other divifion not bearing down, and the enemy's cen- tre keeping their ftation, Rear- Admiral Weft durft not purfue his advantage, leaft his communica- tion with the reft of his fleet ftiould be entirely cut off. What Admiral Byng was particularly blamed for, was his order for the Deptford to quit the line, before the engagement, and for all his divi- fion to fall a-back in the beginning of the aflion, when the Intrepid's fore-topmaft was fliot away ^ For his order to the Deptford the Admiral faid, it was to make the Englifh fleet exadly equal to the enemy's, which confifted of twelve ihips of the line and five frigates : as for the other point, ' See the eighth refolution of the court-martial. s The five headmoft fhips of the enemy went awav to lee- ward, out of gun-ihot. ibid, refolution fifteenth. * A little before three o'clock. Ibid, refolution fix- teenth, though Errors of Admiral Byng. th m th hi mi or id clofc impof- re then orders, ■cm the ny, at- e fhips, out of critical ca, and le other fs cen- :ft durft minica- entirely blamed uit the is divi- a6lion, away \ il faid, ual to lips of point, ^ to lec- ion fix- hough A. I>. THE L AT £ W A R. aS; though it (hewed a good deal of care of his Ma- jefty*s fliips, to prevent their running foul or da- maging one another, it was ill-timed, and gave the cenforious world too much ground to quedion his courage, and to caft the whole blame of the mifcarriage of this day upon him alone; and an opportunity for GalifTionere to retreat with bis fleet, and repair Lis damage; and as his (hips were clean, they were foon out of reach of our fhips, which gave them chafe, being very foul and unfit for the purfuit of a nimble enemy. In this adlion it appeared, by the refolutions of Tiieconrt- the court-martial. That the van-divifion bore"eJbk£ns down properly for the fhips oppofed to them in foncem- the enemy's line, and difabled five of them : that aaion. the Intrepid, the fternmoft ihip of our van-divi- fion, after an engagement of about a qu^iter of an hour, loft her fore-topmaft a little before three o'clock : that the Revenge, the headmoft fhip of the rear-divifion bore down, after the Ihipi of the van bore down, for the Ihip oppofed to her in the enemy's line, and that (he brought up upon the weather-quarter of the Intrepid, upon the In- trepid's fore-topmaft going away ; and that (he quickly afterwards, upon the Intrepid's letting her fore-fail, bore down under the Intrepid's lee- quarter and brought up there : and that upon the fignal being made for battle, and the van putting before the wind, the Admiral in the Ramillies edged away fome joints ; and the Trident and Princcfs iff. ' a i» I' i,. > u 2gS The general HISTORY of A. D. Princefs Louifa thereby coming to windward of him, the Admiral thereupon hauled up his fore- fail, backed his mizcntop-fail, and endeavoured to back his maintop fail, to allow of their getting into their Nations, and continued in that fituation for five, fix or feven minutes. Upon which that court gave it as their opinion. That the Admiral, after the fignal was made for battle, feparated the. rear from the van-divifion, and re- tarded the rear-divifion of the Britifli fleet from clofing with and engaging the enemy, by his fiiortning fail, by hauling up his fore-fail, back- ing his mizentop-fail, and backing or attempting to back his maintop-fail, in order that the Tri- dent and Princefs Louifa might get a-head again of the Ramiliies : And further, that inftead of fhortning fail the Admiral ought to have made the Trident and Princefs Louifa's fignals to make more fail •, and that he ought alfo to have fet fo much fail himfelf, as would have enabled the Cul- loden, the worft failing (hip in his divifion, to have kept her ftation, with all her plain-fail fet, in order to have got down, with as much expedi- tion as pofTible, to the enemy, and thereby have properly fupported the van-divifion ". GaiiflTio- Having loft fight, and all hopes of feeing the nere's con- French again under M. Galifiionere, whofe beha- fured. viour on this occafion feems more unpardonable than Admiral Byng's ; his fliips being cle?n, bet- w " Sec fifteenth ♦•p twentieth refolution of the court-mar- tial. tor OF ;rard of lis fore- Lvoured r their in that Upon I, That battle, and re- It from by his , back- impting he Tri- i again lead of lade the make fet fo e Cul- on, to fail fet, expedi- )y have ing the b beha- :lonable tn. bet- urtmar- tcr THE LATE W A R. 289 ^ A.T). ter manned, carrying a greater weight of metal *, and encouraged by a place of retreat, in cafe of a defeat; the want of which was certainly a grand confideration with an Admiral., who had no other Admiral relief in cafe of a misfortune, than to return tOcoSaaf- Gibrahar, where there were neither ftores, con- ^*^'*^'^^''"' gagement. vcniencies, nor yet provifions to fupply the wants of fuch a fquadron, if difabled from keeping the fea; Admiral By Bg brought to about eight o'clock at night, to join the Intrepid, difabled and left to * The Hon. Admiral Byng'b fquadron, when he engr.g- ca ivi. X ofF Cape /e Ja Kj ; Mola amiionere .- , 20 May_ 1756. Wt of metal en the Ships Names = low mid upp men. d dec. dec. dec. lb. lb. lb. Ramillles 90 S^ 18 12 780 Culloden 7^ 32 18 600 Buckingham 68 32 18 ns Lancafter 66 1^ 18 520 Trident 64 »4 12 500 Intrepid 64 32 18 48.0 Captain 64 »4 I2 480 Revenge 64 ^4 12 /,8o Kingfton 60 »+ 9 400 Defiance 60 24 12 400 Pr/s Louira S6 24 12 400 Portland 24 J2 300 m -, I778 ss?-; Frigates —— — — Dcptford 48 280 Chefterfield 40 2 so Phcenix 22 160 Dolphin 22 160 Cxpniment 2Z 160 Total '012 1 !^R8:' M. De la Galiirionere's fquadron , when he landed the troops at Minorca 18 April, an d at the engagement with Admiral Jyng's fquadron ofF Cape Mola, 20 May, 1756. wt.ofmt. Number Total on the of men on Ships Names. board each C lo \V j lipp Sea- Sol. JL dec. dec. men. diers. 250 /hii/. lb. lb. grO Foudro5ant 8<5 5^ 24 700 it;o Soo La Couronne 74 42 24 650 ISO Soo Le Guerrier 74 42 24 6^0 ISC 2c Le Temeraire 74 42 24 6sO IsO 800 Le Redyutable 74 42 24 65c TOO 600 THipopothnme 64 36 24 500 IOC 6:0 Le Ficr 6^ 36 24 «;oc ICO 6oo Le Triton 64 36 24 <;oc ICG 6.0 Le Lion 64 36 24 Soo 100 600 Le Content 64 36 24 so. 100 600 Le Sage 6., 36 24 500 luo Ceo L'Orphee 32S 3" 24 50c 680c ICO IS so 6.0 8350 Frigates .. La Juno 46 300 300 La Roze -;o 20 250 Gracieufe 30 2^0 250 La Toper 2-4 <;2o 250 La Njmphe Total 24 98. aoc 80 ;o irsso 200 96'. Vol. 1. U the r * j1 '4 290 The general HISTORY of l^^'W i K '•'4. ' Ml ^ ill::: rsi A. D. A council of war. Qucftions Uebated. 'f:,* the care of the Chefterfield, and to refit his fhips, as fad as poflible, and continued fo all night. But next morning the enemy was quite gone, and Mahon was north- north- weft about ten or eleven leagues. He then fent cruizers in queft of the Intrepid and Chefterfield, which had parted from the reft of the fquadron in the night ; and joined him next day ; and having, from a ftate and con- dition of the fquadron, brought him in by the proper officers, found that the Captain, the In- trepid and the Defiance, (which latter had loft her Captain) were very much damaged in their mafts, the Admiral thought it proper, on the'24th, to call a council of war on board the Ramillies, before he went again to look for the enemy. This council, befides the proper naval officers % who by right are confulted upon fuch occafions, confifted alfo of feveral land officers, by the Ad- mirals particular requeft. For he defired General Stuart, Lord Effingham, Lord Robert Bertie and Colonel Cornwallis to attend, that he might col- left their opinions, upon the prefent fituation, and concerning the future operations of the fleet un- der his command. And the queftions debated, and the refolutions in this council were, as fol- low : I. Whether an attack upon the French fleet gives any profped of relieving Minorca, ^nf. It would not. II. "Whether, if there was no French fleet cruifing off Minorca, the Engli(h fleet could raife the fiege. Jnf. It could not. '':::..:. * The Admirals and Captains of all the ^ip?. Ill Whe- AH' A. D. 1756. THE L A T E W A R. 291 III. Whether Gibraltar would not be in danger by any accident that may bcfal this fleet ? Anf, It would be in danger. IV. Whether an attack with our fleet, in the prefent fl:ate of it, upon that of the French, will not endanger the fafety of Gibraltar, and expofe the trade of the Mediterranean to great hazard, Anf. That it would. V. Whether it is not mofl: for his Majefl:y*s fervice that the fleet fhould immediately proceed for Gibraltar. Anf, That it fliould proceed for Gibraltar. At this council, fays the Admiral, in his letter to Mr. Cleland, Secretary to the Admiralty, dated on board the Ramillies off Minorca, May the 25th, 1756, not the leafi: contention or doubt arofe. In the fame letter he informed the Lords of the Admiralty, that he was making the beft of his way to Gibraltar. In this adion the killed and wounded on our i-p^s in this fide were. V \ - ±.-.:\ aftion. On board the Buckingham, wounded 7 Captain Lancafter Intrepid PrincefsLouifa- Defiance Portland 30 14 39 45 •20 killed 3 9 3 14 6 Total 168 42 Whe- U 2 The- 'V' 192 The general HISTORY or nt W^^ l¥ •m '4m I ^'H 11 1 I iiJ-1 '?■ A. D. 17^6. The only perfon of diftindion amongft the flain was Captain Andrews of the Defiance, whofe (hip the Admiral gave to Captain Harvey. The killed and wounded on the fide of the French were, on board the Foudroyant Le Redoutable La Couronnc Le Tameraire Le Guerrier Le Lion Le Sage L*Orphee Le Content Le Triton L'Hipopothame Le Pier wounded 10 2 3 ^5 43 / 8 9 19 14 10 4 killed 10 5 5 2 Total 145 26 Minorca being thus given up by our fleet upon the coall, let us turn our attention to what was doing upon the ifland. The Marfhal Duke de Richelieu, who com- Fiench in- manded in chief by land, on this expedition, and vade Ml- Qq^^^ Galiflionere, who commanded the fleet, attended by the principal ofiicers of the army, had entered the city of Ciudadella without oppofition. The Englifli garrifon, not able to difpute the dif- embarkation of the troops, retired : and the ma- giftracy received the French officers with great ce- remony nai'ca. ■■ 'I THE LATE WAR. 293 cc C( lemony at their entrance j — the Marfhal teUing A. D. them, That he was not come to attack them : *^^°* but that he was lent thither for no other reafon R^cheik^u's than to obtain latisfadlion for the infults and in- ^pecdi. juries done the King his mafter by the EngHfh. He promifed them his protedion, and aflured them that he would »:ake particular care of the behaviour of his troops, Co that they Ihould com- mit no fort of violence, and pay for what they ihould buy. But he added : " beware of carry- ing on any correfpondence with the enemy -, for, if you do, you fhall be treated with the utmoft feverity." This was upon the i8th of April j and on the 19th the Marflial took pofleflion of a fmall fort, abandoned alfo by the Englifli, which ferved to cover Fornelles, a fmall port, fituate on the call fide of the ifland, at the point of a bay near a cape of the fame name. On the 20th, the Marquis du Mefnil and the Maicjifor- Marquis de Monteynard, two Lieutenant-Gene- Mahon° rals, were detached from the army with twerty- four companies of grenadiers and a royal brigade, to encamp at Mercadel, from whence they were to advance towards Mahon, in order to block up that port on the eaftern fide of the bay, whilft the main body of the army inverted Fort St. Phi- lip, and the French fleet under Galiflionere blocked Suppoitcd up the entrance of the bay of Port Mahon, with orders to give Admiral Byng's fquadrbn battle, in cafe it fliould attempt to relieve the fort. by a fleet. .rn-a-i U Wc ..H .,1, 'it- ■);; 294 A.D. 1756. Condition of Fort St, PiiJIii). Governor Blakency cenfiired. The general HISTORY op We have already fe-n that many of the prin- cipal officers were abfcnt from Fort St. Philip: for, though they had been Tent on board Admiral Byng's fleer, they were not landed. The garri- fon alfo was thought to be too weak for a long and vigorous defence of a fortrefs furrounded with fuch numerous works, againft an army, fo eafily fupplied and recruited from the fouth of France: for which reafon a reinforcement had been ordered from Gibraltar, but without its pro- per efFedt. For, the fiege was begun fome weeks before our fleet appeared upon the coaft ; and it returned to Gibraltar, with the troops on board, defigned to reinforce the garrifon of Fort St. Phi- lip. Yet Governor Blake ney has been greatly blamed for his condudl. It has been faid, that he negledled his poft, by fliutting himfelf up in his own houfe during the whole fiege, regardlefs of the command entrufl;cd to his care ; that he ought to have broke up the roads from Cuidadella and Fornelles, and pulled down the houfes in St. Philips's town : that he ought alfo to have com- pelled the natives to go into the caftle to eale the foldiers, by doing the labour of the garrifon : and that the fortrefs was not, in the whole, pro- perly defended -, and at lafl, given up without necelTity *'. This is the fubftance of the charge ; whidli, after the Governor's return to England, was art- y See a letter to the Right Hon. Lord B ' y» being an enquiry into his defence of Minorca. •• • ' fwered fw CO m long '-' THE LATE W A k. •" "fwcrcd ^ minutely by a principal officer, with the concurrence of the other officers under his com* 295 A. D. 1756. fr' mand during the fiege. In which anfwer the in^i" con- public are informed, That, as there was not one ^^^' Colonel to take the chief command, in cafe of an accident -, nor an officer between him and a Lieutenant-Colonel J and that there were forty- one Captains and Subaltern-officers belonging to the four regiments in garrifon, abfent, the Go- vcrnor, thought it moft advifeable, and bed for the ftrvice, to appoint one fixt place or ftation for him to receive intelligence from the officers commanded to go the rounds, or from any others, as circumftances and the exigencies of the fervice might require ; laying it down as a maxim, That it fhould always be known, during a fiege, where to find the Commander in Chief j and that the Go- vernor of a fortification, who, out of vain curio- iity, when the immediate fervice does not require his prefence, goes to view the out- works, or ha- zards his life, when there is no need of his at- tendance, is guilty of great imprudence. He kept two Lieutenant-Colonels, and the Aid-de- Camp to one of them conftantly going the rounds : for which they were excufed all other duty -, that' they might have no excufe for remiflhefs in this. Befides, the Fort-Major and Fort- Adjutant at-* tended the Governor as often as they could be * fpared : the Captains, at every poft, had orders '^ •,c I: * Sec a full anfwer to an infamous libel, &c. Printed fo* W% Reeve, 1757. U 4 to ■'.If ¥ 1 «i 1 / <|i-| I ; * ' 1^ It -296 A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY or to inform the Governor, by a Subaltern-officer, or a ferjeant, immediately, of every proceeding or accident that might happen under their refpcclive commands : A report was made every morning to him, by the Field-ofiicer of the day, of the particular incidents within the twenty-four hours of duty : with an account c/i the fhot and fhclls fired during that time, defcribing their particular di- redtions : and his own Aid-de-Camp was always ready to carry his orders when and where-ever re- quired. The circumference of the works being about a mile, wholly inverted by fea and land, and the approaches carried on every where, it might have been a fatal confequcnce, had theGovernor,through a vain curiofity or imprudent bravery, gone to view one part of the fortifications, while another remote part of it had been attacked 1 or had he thereby loft his life. Therefore, ic was thought moft prudent,, under thefe circumftances, to fix upon the caftle for his ftatiou to receive intel- ligence, and to give his directions and orders. Not that the caftle could be fuppofed exempt from dangler : on the contrary, the Governor was here muca expofed to the fire of the enemy's cannon and mortars ; who in a particular manner were ©bferved to level their ftiot and fliells at the body of the caftle and the Governor's houfe : But, it was from the top thereof, as from the centre of the fortrefs, he could beft and almoft inftantaneoufly view all the works and pofts under his command, and v.. THE LATE WAR. Jttid the operations, batteries, movements and approaches of the befiegers, ru During the whole fiege of fcvcnty days, the Governor never went into a bed nor t.ndreffed himfelf. Every one had accefs to him at all hours, night and day : and in the day-time he exercifed the fcrjeants and foldiers himlelf, on the public parade, in the manner of defence upon any attack of the fortifications, or fubterraneans ; until it be- came dangerous for the men, from the enemy's fhot and fbells ; and after that he continued their exercife in his own apartments, when time would permit. Thereby difcharging the duty of a good Governor, with an attention and application fel- dom to be met with in a man of eighty-two years of age. "When a place on the Continent is threatened with a fiege ; the advance of armies, and the ne- ceflTary preparations to carry the defign into exe- cution cannot be fecreted : they foon grow noto- rious, and furnifh the Governor with time to break up roads, and to remove all buildings that may cither obftrud the execution of his own batteries, or favour the approaches of the enemy. But in this cafe all the intelligence, that could be ob»- tained by the Governor, fhut up in an ifland, was, that great preparations were making in the fouth of France, which fometimes were faid to be intended againft Gibraltar, or Minorca, and fometimes againft Corfica, or againft our planta^ tions in North America, or to join the Breft fqua- dron in the invafion of Great Britain or Ireland. In 297 A. D. 1756. ■ 'w: ■ h'.] ■t ; V:tV' 2g8 A.D. 1756. The general HISTORY of In which uncertainty, having no advice, nor or- ders for his conduct from England, he would have adted very improperly to brake up roads and to remove buildings before the enemy's mo- tions fhould put their intentions out of all doubt to be levelled againft his government ; and then Governor Blakeney did all that was in the power of one in his circumftances, to do. For, as foon as it was certain * that the French were making good their landing at Ciudadella, the Governor, with the advice of the chief engineer, pulled down the engineer's own houfe, which was a fine modern building, and four windmills*, thefe being the only eredlions, fuppofcd to be of fervice to the enemy, during a fiege ; there being fuch an ef- planade between the village and the fortifications, that the houfes in St. Philip's town could do no harm t6 the befieged, but, on the contrary, they did great mifchief to the French, when beat about their eirs by the cannon-balls and (hells from the caftle. As to the roads •, the difficulty both in regard to time, and to the nature of the ground, might >5e admitted in excufe. The French landed on the 17th, and meeting with no oppofition from a land force '', that was obliged to (hut themfelves up * Genei-al Blakeney had no certainty of this Intended in- va^on of Minorca, till two days before they landed, which advice he received by a packet-boat difpatched on purpofe. From which time he made the beft preparations he could for the defence of the caille. ''. There was a fmall redoubt, with one company, at For- nelles, and a poll with five companies at Ciudadella, which the of St bn fo ifli Fr ' < THE LATE WAR. up in the fort, they took poflelTion of Mahon on the 19th of the fame month. Which was a fpace of time too fliort for removing the buildings of St. Philips town, had it been necelTary ; or to break up the roads effeftually, had they been ever fo eafy to dig up. But, the furface of the whole ifland of Minorca is fuch a hard rock, that the French could not fink entrenchments for about a mile round the fort, with the labour of thcit whole army : How then was it poffible for Go- vernor Blakeney to break up the roads for thirty miles with his fmall number of men in three days» and when they had other work and duty upon their bands, which could not be left undone. Yet, even under thefe difficulties, the Governor gave a fample of his attention to this part of duty. He did order ' the bridges to be broken down, and the roads to be broken up : and they were actually fpoiled, as much as the (hortnefs of the time, and the few men, that could be fpared, were able to execute his orders. In which, or any other la- bour or fervice, the Governor could depend upon no affiftance from the iQanders. The Spaniards, upon this occafion, refufed to join in any a(5b againft the French. The more fenfible part of them would frequently acknowledge, that their condition was greatly bettered, fmce the Englilh had pofleffion of the ifland j and that their govern- the Governor recalled, as he did all his advanced parties, as foon as the enemy began to difembark. e Major Cunningham was charged with this part of the fervice. ment 299 A. D. 1756. ! K',i ' fi '1'.'**'! 3C0 The general HISTORY of A. D. 1756. ■if- »v- ■ r J' 1/ u ment was mild and good : but fuch was the" in- fluence of the priefts, over the lower clafs cfpeci- ally, by reprefenting the Engliih to be enemies to their religion, and in a (late of damnation, or de- vils upon earth ; that it got the better of all other confiderations, and kept up their averfion to us, even to the laft. For, though the Governor if- fued out a proclamation, with a promife of pay and other encouragements, to as many as would voluntarily enter the fort, only thirteen gentle- men gave in their names •, only three of them en- tered the caftle with the Governor ; and one of them d^^ferted afterwards. And of twenty-five bakers and artificers, whom the Governor hired, at a high price, to i'erve in the caftle, and grati- fied with a prieft at the public expence, for their fpiritual duties ; fuch was the difaffe(5lion, that five or fix of them deferted over the pallifadoes ; neither could the reft have been reftrained without a proper guard always to watch them. All that the Governor could do was a<5lually performed with great diligence and circumfpe6lion. He deftroyed all the wine in the cellars of St. Philip's tov/n, to prevent any mifcarriage in his own men by drunkennefs -, and he carried the butts into the caftle to ferve for gabions and tra- verfes. He drove all the cattle he could meec with into the fort, for the benefit of the garrifon, and made fuch a provifion of wine, that there was no want of thefe neceflaries at the time of their capiLiilation. He, not in 4 condition to give the invuderii battle, walled up his ports ; he afligned every '"'A THE LATE WAR. everyparty their pofts -, placed centinels -, and or- dered every other precaution becoming the beft commander in his circumftances. At this time Commodore Edgecumbe laid at' anchor clofe under the walls of St. Philip's Caftle, with fcveral rich merchant (hips ; which mult have all followed the fate of the fortrefs, had the French fleet, as it might, have blocked them up in the harbour of Mahon. But, they were per- mitted to efcape; upon a fuppolition, that their crews would be too confiderable a reinforcement to the garrifon, whofe weaknefs the French Mar- Ihal was perfedtly acquainted with. However, when Edgcumbe failed with his fquadron, he left behind him all his marines, a detachment from Gibraltar, the whole crew of the Porcupine floop,. and the greater part of the Dolphin's, as a rein- forcement to the fort, under the immediate di- reftion and command of Captain Scroop of the Dolphin, who voluntarily offered himfelf for that fervice, and fignalized himfelf for his condudl and bravery during the fiege. As foon as this little fquadron had failed for Gibraltar, the Governor funk a floop in the chan- nel leading to the harbour. But the French fleet never attempted to approach the fort. On the 2 2d of April Governor Blakeney fent a letter by a drum to Marflial Duke de Richelieu, demanding the reafons for fuch a hoftile invafion of that ifland -, to which he received for anfwer, That he was come with intention to reduce the ifland under the dominion of his moft Chriftian Majefly, A. D. 1756. *■; • Wi'i' w I ■ ki; I .',1 "" .s J02 A.D. 1756. The general HISTORY of Majefty, by way of retaliation for the conduft of the King of England, who had fcized and de- tained Ihips belonging to the King of France and his fubjeds. It was conje^ured by the French Commander in Chief, that he (hould have very little trouble. in the reduftion of a fortrcfs, which, to all ap- pearance, was not provided with fufficient ftrengm to hold out a regular fiege : and therefore he him- felf did not come fo well provided with engineers, as the fervice afterwards did require j and, as if the bare fight of his army had been enough to ftrike terror into the handful of men immured by their Governor in Fort St. Philip, he ereded his batteries at Cape Mola, at ftich a diftance, on the other fide of the harbour, that they could do no execution, and at the fame time were mofi; ex- pofed to the fire of the caftle ; which was fo well jferved, and fo continifhl on this quarter, that it foon convinced the enemy of the vanity of their fanguine hopes of an eafy conqueft, and of the neceflity of changing their plan of attack, and to make their approaches on the fide of St. Philip's town. Where, on the 12th of May, and near the fite, from whence the Governor had removed the wind-mills, they, about nine at night, opened two bomb batteries, with great fury. The fire was inceflantly kept up on both fides, from mor- tars and cannon -, and the French raifed new bat- teries continually, where they difcovered the leaft advantage againft the fortrefs. In .. THE L AT E W A R. In this precarious fituation Governor Blakeney took the direftion of the whole defence upon himfelf. His order in writing was, " That no *' officer, of what rank foever he might be, (hould " direct a meafure of any confequence to be taken, " without being fifft communicated to him for •' his approbation." Which was punctually ob* ferved. As the works were extenfive, the befiegers much too numerous to be oppofed by open force, and the garrifon not half the number requifitq for the defence of the fort, the Governor could make no fallies 5 and was confined to fuch opera- tions, as would annoy the enemy from his batte^ ries, and to fave his people for the defciice of the place, in the laft extremity. Thus he made as much ufe as he could of the fubterraneans to ihelter his men : he ordered the guards to parade in them, and to march to and from the feveral pofts affigned them, under their covers by the commu- nications : and that part of the garrifon, not upon duty, was ordered to continue always under thof^ covers. By which prudent difpofition the garrifoii was faved, and the pofts ccnftantly fupplied ; and it was in a great meafure owing to the obedience both of officers and men under this wife difpofi- tion, that five thoufand of the enemy w^re cut off, with a Imall lofs on our fide. Having fcen that all difpofitions were made foT defence, that providence could fuggeft, or th? na- ture of the place could admit of j — let ui? ajid, ,.3 That 30a A, D. 17^6. ■ i': ' • I .■■*•■,'.*.! %c4 A. D. 1756. I The general HISTORY of • That the Governor, upwards of a year before the fiege, had ordered a furvey to be taken of the ordnance and of the (lores ; found forty cannon and upwards defedive, and had them replaced by the Board of Ordnance. He alfo had the (hot and Ihells carefully furveyed and gaged ; and find- ing the fuzees in ttore unferviceable by length of time, he ordered an equal number of empty ones to be drove ; and by ordering a number of fol- diers to be difciplined in the management of the artillery, many of them became expert gunners, and did good fervice in the defence of the place. — All which were proper attentions of a good Go- vernor. — In the time of the fiege councils of war were frequent, and the engineers always attended. The batteries of cannon and mortars were well ferved, and did great execution : but he had no miners, except fix or feven coal-heavers, or fuch like men, picked out amongfl: the regiments. On the 19th day of the month the brave gar- rifon exulted with joy at the fight of Admiral Byng's fquadron ♦, and Mr. Boyd, CommifiTary of (lores, ventured in an open boat with fix oars, down a creek called St. Steven's Cove, on the weft fide of the caflle, through a fiiower of mufket and cannon«balls, from the enemy's pofi: on the other fide, to join the Britifli fquadron, and to inform the Admiral of the condition of the gar- rifon. This boat aftually reached the open fea, but was obliged to put back by the fame way he came out, not being able to reach the fleet, which was i i!-> tHE LATE WAR. was too far diftant, and then ftretching to the fouthward, and alio chafed by two light veflels from the enemy. But no tongue can exprefs the furprize they met with next day, when the French fleet returned to their flation, off Cape Mola ; no Englilh fquadron was to be feen, and a general difcharge or feu-de-joye, in the French camp, con- firmed the report of a deferter, that Admiral Byng's fleet had been worfted, and obliged to retire by the French fquadron under M. de la Gahffionere. How far Galifiionere dould pride himfelf, or the French were intitled to the claim, of a vidtory over the Englifh fleet, by the adion on the 20th of May, is beyond all conception : for, it is no- torious, that Galifiionere ran away from Admiral Byng. The misfortune on our fide was the per- mitting the French fleet to retreat, without a ge- neral engagement, and to flee without being pur- fued, and to refume their fl:ation to block up Mahon by fea, without being molefl:ed. Ail which circumfl:ances, duly confldered, anfwered the pur- pofes of the greateft vidlory to the enemy : be- caufe the fea was fhut to the befieged, and open for every neceflTary purpofe to the befiegers. Thefe were, no doubt, fevere trials : but the garrilon, in no wife degenerated from their cou- rage : though they found themfelves abandoned by the Englifh fleet, they refolved to exert their iitmofl in their own defence, and for the glory of their country •, not without hopes, that die fleet might be reinforced, and return with fufficient Vol, I. X fl-rength 7 305 A. D. 1756. m :>;j^:>^ Ml Li , *. . J, So6 The general HISTORY of A. D. ftrength to their relief. With fuch fpirits hey '^^ * fuftained and returned the enemy's fire withotit ceafing, always ready to maintain the poft of ho- nour, and to feek for a ftation where they could do mofl execution. Neither did their vigour abate, but rather increafed with their labour and danger ; when their embrafllires and parapets were dcmoliflied, and they flood expofed to every ball and fhell from the enemy, encompafling them on every fide; who at laft were augmented, by re- inforcements, to twenty thoufand men, and were inceflantly carrying on their approaches with fixty- two battering cannon, twenty-one mortars, and four howitzers, befides fmall arms. Ihere was no refilling fuch a formidable army, without further aid. And a well appointed fleet was the only efl?edual means to fnatch the prey out of the enemy's hands: which, as it was in our power to fend, might be expedled in a very fiiort time : And the French Marlhal having in- telligence, that the court of Great Britain had dif- patched a flrong addition of one eighty gun fliip, three of fixty-four and one of fifty guns to join the fquadron under Admiral Byng : as he could not but forefee his own difgrace in the confequences of a defeat of his fleet, which would infallibly lock his army up in an ifland where he could not find fupport of any kind, and oblige him to fur- render prifoners of war : and the prolongation of the fiege being fo far beyond the time, his court was taught to exped: a fuirender of Fort St. Philip's ; that his enemies about the Ki.^g had 2 made i*j |:| OF fits hey wuhotit I of ho- ey could r vigour lOur and Dets were irery ball them on I, by re- ind were th fixty- ars, and le army, ted fleec the prey was in n a very ving in- had dif. un (liip, to join le could qiiences hdUbly uld not to fur- nejation me, his ^'ort St, 'g had made THE L A T E \V A R, so; made ufe of it to leflen his abilities in their royal ^^- ^' mailer's efteem, and were upon the point of getting ' him recalled : therefore M. Duke de RicheHeu pufhed matters with the utmoft vigour ; and having made a pradlicable breach in one of the ravelins, and confiderably damaged the other out- works on the 27th day of June, it was refolved to try the effcQs of a general afTault, in that very night. The garrifon was reduced to two thoufand five State of the hi 1 1 • 1 11 ganiiiiu at undred men at the time the general attack was the genei-a made : on the contrary, the enemy's army, which ^"^'^^* had been continually reinforced by a regiment of artillery and fupplies of troops, ammunition, &c. was ftronger than at the beginning of the fiege. On the evening of the 26th the Duke de Rich- The plan lieu called a council of war, at which were prefent ^ack. all the general officers, to whom he imparted the whole project, and received their approbation. He then proceeded to fettle their refpcdtive charges for the execution of the plan -, and took his own poll in the centre of the attacks on the left, with orders for the Count de Maillebois, the Marquis de Mifnil, and the Prince of Wirtemburg to attend him, to cive the neccfliiry diredions for the fupport and fuccefs of the attacks. It was likewilc agreed. That the fignal, for the beginning of the attack, {hould be given by firing a cannon and four bombs, from the battery near the fignal houfe. Things being thus difpoled, the artillery con- The fig- tinued to batter the forts till the 27th at ten o'clock in the evening, when they all on a fudden X 2 ceafed nal. r -n ■ IS Mr I Wmu : -"l^HK ' . it ij^^K ' " ' i ^I^kk ''■■ . 1/ ' ' i^^^^B '■■ !,. ^^^^M \x h^. *«. ,-1 Tv ^ , -ifjji ^«;t 1 J 11 ■ 'i^Jli ijlv 'V il'lifE Si 3o8 The general HISTORY of A. D. 1756. ceafed firing. Immediately the fignal of a cannon fhot and four bombs thrown into the caflle, was given, according to orders •, and M. de Monty marched againfl Stnigen and Argyle, and Meflrs. de Briqueville and de Sades, advanced fuccefTively againfl: Kane and the Queen's redoubt. The men of wars boats, with troops and fcahng ladders, went up St. Stephen's Cove, at the fime time, and attempted to carry Charles's Fort, but were bravely repulfed. Thcftonn. The befiegers behaved like heroes, difputing the ground inch by inch •, but after much execu- tion, by the fire on both fides, the Strugen or Anftruther Redoubt was taken by affault, and the Argyle and Queen's Redoubt by efcalade.— -The Argyle was blown up : and three mines were fprung under the Qiieen's redoubt, the glacis of the Anfl:ruther and Kane's Lunette, with fuch exe- cution, that they blew three companies of French grenadiers into the air. But the lofs on this oc- cafion to the garrifon was much more fatal. For, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffries, of Lord Effingham's regiment, the fecond in command, and, indeed the principal ading man in the fort, was taken prifoner, between the Strugen and Argyle, as he was hurrying with a hundred men to their relief. When he found the French in pofieffion of the redoubt, he endeavoured to retreat : but was fur- rounded and obliged to iiirrender, with fifteen of his men. Here alio Major Cunningham, who was in his company, though he had the good fortune to preferve his liberty, was fo difabled by a wound through 4 Y OF ' a cannon iflle, was de Monty id Meflrs. KcefTively The men ; ladders, ime time, but were difputing ch execu- Itrugen or t, and the ,de. — The ines were ) glacis of fuch exe- of French in this oc- tal. For, [Hngham's d, indeed was taken yle, as he leir relief, on of the t was fur- fifteen of , who was )d fortune y a wound through THE LATE WA R. 309 through his right hand with a bayonet, and by A. D. having his arm fhattered with a mufkct ball, that he was no longer able to continue on duty. Thefe three redoubts being taken, and the ene- A lodge- my in poffenion of the cannon and mortars found '^"^j^^ in them, made a lodgment inftantly in that part, which was the principal attack, and carried on the other attacks with vigour. At the fame time, the Prince de Beauvcau, to whofe charge was committed the attack againft the weftern and Ca- roline lunettes, got poflefTion of the covert way ; but, as Kane's lunette was not taken, he was ob- liged to retreat, having nailed up twelve pieces of cannon, cut down the pallifadoes, deftroyed the gun carriages, and maintained this as long as he could, in order to favour the principal attack. The impradtic ability of maintaining a fortrefs of fuch an extent, by fuch a thin garrifon, againft all thefe firings, and the combination of all thefe various attacks, fo animated the French Com- mander, that he made fure of fuccefs on the left ; and by break of day, his men being totally maf- ters of the Queen's redoubt and the forts Strugen and Argyle, they pofted 400 in the former and 2C0 in the latter : M. Richelieu and his noble at- tendants, above-mentioned, continuing all the time, as had been concerted, in the center of the attacks on the left. The brave Governor and garrifon defended Biaveiy of the bclicE- themfelves with all the intrepidity that is natural ed. to Englifhmen in time of danger. But none di- ftinguiflied themfelves more than thofe in the X 3 weftern r! \\ 'i^rti' 3IO The general HISTORY or I' I I n ^- n4 U^'ti A. D. weflern and Caroline Lunettes, where each officer '' * and foldier, emulous of glory, maintained their ground with exak^td courage ami exerted bravery, under the greatell t'itiguc, againft •» ^all iiiperior number ot' the enemy. A imicv, At day break on the 28th, the befirgers, fa- cti'las. ' mous for ftratagcm, to accomplilh what they can't perfeCl by force, beat a parley, and obtained a ccH'ation of arms under colour of burying their dead, which indeed laid in heaps about the places of adion. But the principal view of the enemy was, to fn atch an opportunity to fecuie the lodg- ments they had made, by introducing into them a confidcrablc number of troops, through a fubter- ranean palfage, which had been opened by a fliell, and not diicovercd by the befieged, till the day cleared up/, and then it was too late to difpute its poileirion with the enemy. When this was diicovercd, and it was known, that, by this pafiage under the Kane, the enemy might proceed to all the other communications of the fubterraneans communicating with all the out works, which the garrifon was not in a condition, for numbers, to defend ; the governor, during the A council cefTation of arms, held a council of war ; who thc'caluc! having duly confidercd the circumllanees of the garrifon, and of the meafures propereft to be taken, the majority declared for a capitulation. Then the governor confulted the officers of artil- lery : who all declared, that the works were in a Bid flate ihattcred, ruinous condition, and irreparable in the prtient (late of the garrifon. He alio fent for all the iiioa. run LATE WAR. 31^ A. D. 1756. the captains not upon duty; who all agreed, that the garrifon was not in a condition to fuftain an- other general attack: mat the body of the calUe was greatly fliattcred : the embraflures were beat down : that the pallifadoes were in many places broken to pieces ; that the garrifon was worn out with inceffant duty and watchings ; and that the enemy, being in poflefllon of the fubtenaneans, which communicate themfelves under all the caflle, the governor mull be obliged to defend thcfc alfo, (hould he (land another itorm, or leave the body of the place expofed to the enemy, with- out rcfiilance : for which there was not a fuOicient force under his command. Thefe confiderations and the want of intelll- Siincrnicis gence, after the difappearance of the EngliHi I'/iioiu' "' fquadron under Admiral Byng, prevailed on the governor topropofe terms of capitulation, in order to preferve the remains of his brave 2;arrifon, and the lives of a confiderable number of his Majefty's fubjeds, that were in the fort ; and which, with- out diftindion, might have been thrown away in cafe of a general ftorm : and it was happy for them that he did capitulate ; for the enemy, the very next day after the capitulation, landed 4000 men more with ammunition at Ciudadella. Yet this nieafure has not efciiped cenfure : there objeaions, was an oppofition even in the council of war. For, fome officers argued that, as the garrifon was very little *" diminilhedj was ftill in high fpi- rits, ^ The lofs of the Englifli amounted to no more than three officers killed, five wounded, and 7 1 private men killed, and X 4 326 u w '■J ,'■! M ■m 311 A. D. lit 1 The general HISTORY op fits, and in want of nothing : that, as there was no breach made by the enemy in the body of the caflle, nor a fingle cannon cre(5lcd to batter in breach : that, as the lofs of an outwork was never deemed a fufficient reafon for furrendering a for- trcfs of fuch a ftrength and importance : that, as the counterfcarp was fo well fecured by its rocky foundation, as not to be taken, otherwife than by afTaulr, which would cod the enemy more men, than in their lad attempt : that, as the counter- fcarp mud be taken before the enemy could attack the ditch, or batter in breach, and they muft have recourfe to galleries, before they could pafs the fofle, which was furnifhed with mines and counter-mines : and that, as they might hope for relief from the Englifli fleet when properly rein- forced, they could not fee the necelTity of capitu- lating i efpecially, as they held it to be the duty of a governor to defend his caftle to the laft ex^ tremity, without paying any regard to confe- quences. The capitulation " did great honour to Governor Plakeney; Marflial Richlieu declaring, in his an- fwer 326 wounded (25 of which died of their wounds) 10 died pf difc^fes, and 17 were miffing. ^ Jrticks of capitulation propofed by Lieutenant General Blahney, for his Britannic Majejiy s garrijon of the caflle of St. Fhiliiis^ in the ifiand of MiH<^rca. Article T. 'pHAT all a£ls of hoUility Ihall ceafe, until the articles pf capitulation are agreed upon and figned, I. Qra^te4« OP lere was ^ of the >atter in as never ig a for- that, as ;s rocky than by >re men, :ountclr- d attack 7 muft uld pafs [les and lope for iy rein- capitu- he duty lafl: ex- confe- overnor his an- fwer die4 pf Blakeneyt articles ir. [ ' THE L A T E W A R. 313 fwer to the fecond article, that he had been indue- A. D. ed by the brave defence made by the governor and *'^ garrifon, II. That all the honours of war fhall be granted the garrifon on their furrender, fuch as, to march out with their firelocks en their fhoulders, drums beating, colours flying, 24 charges for each man, match lighted, four pieces of cannon, and two mortars, with 20 charges for each piece, a covered waggon for the governor, and four others for the garrifon, which fhall not be fearched on any pretence. Richlieu] II. The noble and vigorous defence which the Englifh have made, having deferved all the maKcs of eftcem and venera- tion, that every military perfon ought to fhew to fuch aiJlions ; and Marfhal Richlieu being defirous alfo to fhew General Blalceney the regard due to the brave defence he has made, grants to the garrifon all tie honours of war that they can enjoy, under the circunflance of their going out for an em- barkation, to wit, firelocks on their fhoulders, drums beating, colours flying, 20 cartouches each man, and alfo lighted match; he confents likewife, that Lieutenant General Blake- ney, and his garrifon, fhall carry away all the efFedls that fhall '-elong to them, and that can be put into trunks. It would be ufe'i'^fs to them to have covered waggons j there arc pone in the jlland, therefore they are refufed. III. That all the garrifon, including all the fubje£ls of his Bri- tannic Majefly, as well civil as military, fhall have all their baggage, and efFeds fecured, with liberty of removing and (difpofing of them, as they fhall think proper. Richlieu] III. Granted, except to the natives of the Ifland, upon condi- tion that all the lawful debts of the garrifon to the Minorquins, who are to be confidered as French fubjeds, fhall be paid. IV. ^That the garrifon, including theofHcers. artificers, foldiers, Sjid pph?r fubjedls of his Britannic Majefty, with their fami' i ■MM 214 The GENERAL HISTORY of A. D. garrifon, to grant them fuch generous terms, '''^^' which intitled them to march out with all the honours lies, who fhall be willing to leave the ifland. (hall be provided with proper veilbis, and conduced to Gibraltar by the Ihortell and nioft diictt navigation : that they fliall be landed imme- diately upon their arrival, at the expence of the trown of France, and that they Ihall be fupplicd with provifions, out of thcfc that may yet be remaining in the place, at the time of its furrender, as long as they (hall remain in the ifland, and during their voyage at fea, and that in the fame proportion that they vcceive at prefent. uu<- if a greater quantity (hould be wante(j, that they (hould be fuini(hed with it at the ex- pence of the crown of France. Richlieu] IV. I'ranfport veflelb (hall be furni(hed from among thofe which are in the pay of his mott Chriftian Majefty, and proper for the military and civil garrifon of Fort St. Philip, and their families. Thefe ve(rels (hall carry them by the fafeft naviga- tion to Cibralfar, with the fliorted delay po(Bble, and fhall land theiii iiamediitely, upon condition, that after their be- ing landed, th.'fe (hips fliall be prciued with fufhcient palf- ports, that the/ may not be molefted on their return to the port of France they fliall be bouud for: and hoftages fl^iall be criven for the fafety of the tranfport veffels and their crews, who fliall embark in the firft neutral (hip that (hall come to fetch them, after the faid vfeffels ihall be returned in the port of France. The garrifon (hall alfo be fuppHed with provifions as well during their flay in the ifland, as for twelve days voyage, which fliall be taken from thofe that (hall be found in the Fort St. Philip, and diftributed on the footing, that they hai'e been ufually furniflied to the Englifli garrifon ; and if more be wanted, it fliall be furni(hed, paying for it as it (hall be agreed by commKTaries on both fides. V. That proper quarter (hall be provided for the garrifon, with an holpidl fit for the fick and wounded, whilit the tranfports are THE LATE WAR. 315 honours of war, and to be conveyed by fea to A. D. Gibraltar. And his Majeily, our late fovereign, *''^ ' who • are getting ready, which fhall not exceed a mopth, to be rec- koned from the day of figning this capitulation ; and with re- gard to thofe, who fhall not be in a condition to be tranfported, they fhall flay, and care fhall be taken of them, 'till they are in a condition to be fent to Gibraltar by another opportunity. Richlieu] V. The vefTels being ready for the tranfporting the garrifon, the providing quarters, as demanded, becomes unnccefTary; they fhall go out of the place with the leall delay, in order to proceed to Gibraltar ; and with regard to thofe, who cannot be embarked immediately, they fhall be permitted to remain ' in the ifland, and all the afTiflance they fhall want, fhall be given them for their going to Gibraltar, when they fhall be in a condition to be embarked ; a ftate of them fhall be drawn up, and the necefTary pafTports ihall be left, for a fhip to go and return ; and an hofpital fliall alfo be furnifhed for the fick and wounded, as fhall be fettled by the refpe«^ive commifTa- ries. VI. That the governor fhall not be accountable for all the houfes that fhall have been deflroyed and burnt during the fiege. Richlieu] VI. Granted for the houfes deflroyed or burnt during the ficgc ; but fcveral efFedls, and titles of the admiralty court, whii.!* have been carried into the fort, fhall be reflored, as well as the papers of the town houfc, which have been carried away by the receiver; and the papers and titles relating to the lad- ings of the French mercha'..-fhips, which have been alfo re- tained, VII. When the garrifon fhall come out of the place, no body ftiall be permitted to debauch the foldiers, to make them defert from their regiments ; and their oflicers (hall have accefa to them at all times. ••.'. ')i ''•V. H Vi| Richlieu] ^i6 A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY or who tould not be fuppofed to be ignorant of any part of the attack and defence of Fort St. Philip, not Richlieu] VII. No foldier fhall be excited to defert, and the officers fliall have an entire authority over .them to the moment of their embarkation. VIII. An exaft difcipline fliall be obferved on each fide. Richlieu] VIII. Granted. IX. That fnch of the inhabitants of the ifland, as have joined the Englilh for the defence of the place, fhall have leave to remain, and to enjoy their goods and elTedls in the ifland with- out being molefted. Richlieu] IX. General I]lakeney, and Marflial Richlieu, cannot fix or ex- tend the authority of the Kings their mailers, over their fub- jefts; it would be fetting bounds to it, to oblige them to re- ceive in their dominions, thofe whom they fliould not think proper to have fettled there. X. That all prlfoncrs of war fhall bereflored on each fide. Richlieu] X. All the prifoners that have been made during the fiege fhall bereflored on each fide, fo that when the French return thofe they have, the piquets, which were taken going to join the French fleet, the day Admiral Byng appeared before Mahon, fliall be reilored. XL That Mr. Cunningham the engineer, who a£led as a vo- lunteer during the fiege, fliall have a pafTport, and leave to go wherever his affairs require. Richlieu] XI. Granted. xir. Y OF t of any t. Philip, not fficcrs flial! at of their ave joined /e leave to (land with- it fix or ex- theirfub- ;heni to re- not think 1 fide, fiege fhall ;turn thofe o join the re Mahon, ;d as a vo- d leave to xir. THE LATE WAR. not only approved of General Blakeney's condufl; but, upon his arrival in England, ennobled "" him -, and diftinguilhed him with other particular marks of his regard and favour. This brave commander, General William Blake- ney, was a native of Ireland, and born at mount Blakeney, in the county of Limerick, A. D. 1672, XII. Upon the foregoing conditions, his excellency the lieutenant general governor confcnts, after the hoftages fliall have been Exchanged for the faithful execution of the above articles, to deliver up the place to his moft Chriftian Majefty, with all the magazines, ammunition, cannons, and mortars, except thofe mentioned in the fecond article, and to point out to the engineers all the mines, and fubterraneous works. Done at the caftle of St. Philip, the 28th of June 1756. Richlieu] XII. As foon as the foregoing articles Ihallhave been figned, the French (hall be put in poffeffion of one of the gates of St. Philip's caftle, as well as of the Forts Malborough and St. Charles, upon the hoftages being fent on both fides, for the faithful execution of the foregoing articles. The ftoccado that lu in the port {\\a\l be removed, and tlie going in and the coming out Ihall be left open, at the difpo- iition of the French, until the whole g.irrifon has marched Out, in the mean time, the commifTiiries on both fides Ihall be employed, thofe on the part of his excellency General Blakeney, in making an eftimatc of the effects in the military magazines, and others : and thofe on the part of his excel- lency the Duke of Richlieu, in receiving them ; andtnticli- ver to the EngUfii (lich part thereof, as has been agreed upon. Plans (hall alio be delivered of the galleries, mines, and other fubterraneous works. Done :;t St. Philip, the 29th of June, 1756. e By the title of Lord Blakeney, of mount Elakcncy in tbe kingdom of Ireland. the 3JT A. D. 1756. ''I ■:'l '**! (• »: :i_ '■-t| '■'jf. 'h'W pS The general HISTORY of A. D. the ancient feat of his family. He entered into '^^ * the land fervice in the beginning of Queen Ann's war, and was made an enfign by Lord Cutts at the fiege of Venlo. But he was long overlooked and negle<5led, till he found a friend in the late Duke of Richmond, by whofe inteieft he was promoted to a regiment. He ferved againft the Spaniards at Carthagena, and recomm-^nded him- felf to his late Majefty by his courage and conduct in the defence of Sterling caftle, againft the rebels and their French auxiliaries in 1745. Yet his great merit and unblemilhed charader could pro- cure nothing better for him in the decline of life, when old age bore hard upon him, than a com- mand on the ifland of Minorca, where he was obliged to relide feveral years as lieutenant go- vernor. The caftle, The articles of capitulation being figned, and the hoftages given, M. de Richlieu entered Fort St. Philip, on the 29th of June at noon : where he found 240 cannon fit for fervice •, befides 40 ruined or nailed up during the attack, 70 mortars, 700,000 Iwt. of gunpowder, 12,000 cannon balls and 15,000 bombs. The garrifon confifted of 2963 men, about 2300 of whom were military, (the reft labourers, &c.) commanded by three lieu- tenants colonels only, 23 captains, and a very few fubakerns. In the defence of this fort there were ended expended, 27,018 ftiells of different fizes, 1032 during the hand granadcs, 32,706 round fliot, 332 double headed Ihot, 959 grape ftiot, '^SZ->^Z9 pounds 13 &c. I'ln- i-endeifcd. Aminuni tion ex- fiege. ij P9 A. D. 1756. THE LATE WAR. 13 ounces of gunpowder, 73 carcaffes of 12 inches, 41 of 10 inches, and 86 fire balls. Admiral Byng, agreeable to the laft refolutlon Admiral of the council of war, which was held on board the ^y^s^'' /fr ' turn to Gi- Ramillies, on the 24th of May, gave orders for biakar. the fhips under his command to ftand to the weft- ward ; and they accordingly did fo, in the afternoon of the fame day. But, what by contrary winds, and what by the detention occafioned by the care ne- cefTary to be given to che crippled (hips, the Intre- pid being fometimes forced to be taken in tow, the iquadror, 'k1 not arrive at Gibraltar till the 19th of June ; where the Admiral found Commodore Reinfore- Broderick, who had arrived four days before, with ^*^' five Ihips of the line *", to reinforce his fquadron. By the date ^ of Commodore Broderick's in- Remuks ftrudlions or orders, it is evident, that this rein- "^"fol-ce."^ forcement was ordered, before it was pofTible for >"^"t. the miniftry to have received any advice from Admiral Byng himfelf, or any authentic intelli- gence relating to his fquadron : and by the letter fent by the Admiralty, and delivered by Captain Broderick, to Admiral Byng, at Gibraltar, which you have at the bottom of this pi^ge ^ it is alio evident, f The Prince George of 80 guns, Hampton Court, Ipf- wich. and NufTau of 64, and the Ifis, of 50 guns. s May the 17th. •> Admiralty office, May 21, 1756. S 1 R, VT V lords commiffioners of the admiralty having received certain intelligence, that the French are fitting out more fliips at TouIoHj they have thought proper to reinforce the fijuadron , ■ ' •■<\ .:-:*t ' il . -'k^ 320 A. D. 1756. Admiral Byng prepares feek the enemy. 11 The general HISTORY 0/ evident, that the neceflity of reinforcing the Admiral was known foon after his failing from England ; and therefore that, had thofe very five fliips been originally added to, inft^ad of follow- ing, his fquadron, too late, it would have given Admiral Byng fuch a fuperiority in the Mediter- ranean, that the French admiral would not have dared to wait for him. Thus reinforced, Admiral Byng refolved to re- turn in queft of the enemy, and once more to. give them battle j with this refolution, he gave immediate orders to remove the fick men in his fquadron, amounting to near icoo, into the hof- pital •, for all the captains to refit their fhips for fea with all poflible expedition, to complete their Ihips with water, to afTift the mafter-fhipwright and ftore- keeper, with as many hands as poflible, from every fhip, to carry on the fervice of the fleet •, and for the agent- vidualler to furnifli all the (hips with wine and provifions. AU thofe, with feveral other duties and fervices, were forwarded with the utmoft diligence ; and the Admiral refolved to put to fea, and to attempt the relief of Fort St. Philip, which according to fquadron under your command with the fhips named in the margin, by whom this is fent to you. Thefe (hips carry out a regiment of foldiers, and will pro- bably take more on board at Gibraltar^ if they can be fpared. I am, Sir, Your moft humble fervant, J. Clevlamd. I To the Hon. Adm. Byng, Mediterranean. the it!. THE L A T E W A R. S2I the intelligence he had received, continued dill to A. D. holdout. ^^^ ' Admiral Byng alfo difpatched a letter to the ad- miralty, containing the particulars of the late ac- tion, and of the refolutions of the council of war concerning his prefent motions. But the contents were not made public, for feveral days after its arrival, and then garbled in fuch a manner, as to throw the odium of the mifcarriage upon him, and to fupprefs thofe paflTages, which tended to his own juftification, or refledled upon the conduct of the miniftry ; eipecially in the department of the ad- miralty. For which partiality they were much blamed by the friends of the admiral, and cenfur- ed by the generality of the people. Becaufe it expofed the commander in chief entirely to the refentment of the public, without a pofTibility of exculpating himfelf ; and fuggefted llrong fufpi- cions againft the integrity of thofe, who durft not truft the people with a fight of thefe palTages in- the admiral's letter, that regarded their own con- duft, in the affair of Minorca. But this will bcfb appear from the entire letter, as it was afterwards publiflied by the admiral in his own vindication, as follows : Ramilles, off Minorca, May 25, 175^. S I R, T Have the plcafure to defire you will acquaint Admiral **• their lordfhips, that having failed from Gib- Jl^^^^'^iet- * ° ter of the raltar the 8th, I got off Mahon the 19th, having r..-- 1 May, been joined by his Majefty's fhip Phoenix, off*^^ ' Vol. I. 7 Majorca, f*-. •■V n* , 'y-^r- !*l . 1 ' -.r» ?22 The general HISTOI^Y op A. D. Majorca, two clays before, " by whomlhadtorf* " firmed tlie intelligence I received at Gibraltar, " of the ftreno;th of the French fleet, and of •* their being off Mahon. His Majefty*s colours " were ftill flying at the caftle of St. Philip, and " I could perceive feveral bomb batteries playing •* upon it from difi'erent parts ; French colours we ** faw flying on the wefl: part of St. Philip's. I " difpatchcd the Phoenix, Cheflerfield and Dol- " phin a-head, to reconnoitre the harbour's mouth, *' and Captain Harvey, to endeavour to land a " letter for General Blakeney, to let him know " the fleet was here to his afliftance, though every " one was of opinion, we could be of no ufe to *• him, as by all accounts no place was fecured for *' covering a landing, could wc have fpared any *' people. The Phoenix was alfo to make the *' private fignal between Captain Harvey and *' Captain Scrope, as this latter would undoubtedly *' come off, if it were pra6licable, having kept *' the Dolphin's barge with him i but, the enemy's *' fleet appearing to the fouth-eaft, and the wii>d *' at the fame time coming ftrong off the land, " obliged me to call thofe fhips in, before they " could get quite fo near the entrance of the har- *' bour, as to make fure what batteries or guns *' might be placed to prevent our having any " communication with the callle." Falling little wind, it was five before I could form my line, or diftinguilh any of the enemy's motions, and not at all to judge of their force more than by their numbers, which were fcventeen, and thirteen ap- pe ' !i ^ THE LATE WAR. . peared hrge. They at firft ftood towards us in a regular line, and tacked about feven, which I judged was to endeavour to gain the wind of us in the night ; fo that being late, I tacked, in order to keep the weather-gage of them, as well as to make fure of the land-wind, in the morning, be* ing very hazy and not above five leagues off Cape Mola. We tacked off towards the enemy at eleven ; and at day light had no fight of them. But two tartans with the French private fignal being clofe in the rear of our fleet, I fent the Princefs Louifa to chafe one, and made the fignal for the rear admiral, who was neareft the other, to fend fhips to chafe her ; the Princefs Louifa, Defiance, and Captain, became at a great dif- tance j but the Defiance took her*s, which had two captains, two lieutenants, and 102 private foldiers, who were fent out the day before with 600 men on board tartans to reinforce the French fleet, on our then appearing off the place. The Phoenix, on Captain Harvey's offer, prepared to ferve as a fire fhip, but without damaging her as a frigate, till the fignal was made to prime, when file was then to fcuttle her decks, every thing elfe being prepared, as the time and place allowed of. The enemy now began to appear from the mafl head i I called in the cruifers, and when they had joined me, I tacked towards the enemy, and formed the line a-head. I found the French were preparing theirs to leeward, having unfuc- cefsfully endeavoured to weather me : they were 12 brge lliips of the line, and five frigates. As y 2 foon A. D. I ! M ■■ " 'jf" 324 A. D. 1756. I III The general HISTORY or foon as I judged the rear of our fleet to be the length of their van, we tacker' all together, and immediately made the lignal r the fhips that led, to lead large, and for the Deptford to quit the line, that ours might become equal in number with theirs. At two I made the fignal to engage, as I found k was the furefl: method of ordering every fliip to clofe down on the one that fell to their lot. And here I muft exprefs my great fa- tisfa(5lion at the very gallant manner in which the rear admiral fet the van the example, by inftantly bearing down on the fliips he was to engage with his fecond, and who occafioned one of the Trench ihips to begin the engagement, which they did, by raking ours as they went down 5 I bore down on the Ihip that lay oppofite me, and began to en- gage him, after having received the fire for fome time in going down. The Intrepid " unfortu- nately" (in the very beginning) had his fore-top- maft fhot away, and as that hung on his fore-fail and backed it, he had no command of his {hip, his fore tack and all his braces being cut at the fame time, fo that he drove on the next fhip to him, and obliged that, and the (hips a head of me to throw all aback ; this oblin-ed me to do fo alio for fome minutes, to avoid their falling on board me, though not before we had drove our adverfary out of the line, who put before the wind, and had feveral fhot fired at him from his own admiral. This not only caufed the enemy's center to be un- attacked, but left the rear admiral's divifion ra- ther uncovered for fome httle time. I lent and called or > be the her, and lips that to quit number engage, ordering at fell to great fa- ^hich the inftantly age with e French ^ did, by down on 1 to en- for fome unfortu- Fore- top- fore- fail his fbip, the fame to him, f me to ) alfo for )ard me, "farv out and had admiral, be un- fion ra- lent and called THE LATE W A U. called to the fliips a-head of me to make fail on, and go down on the enemy, and ordered the Chef- terficld to lay by the Intrepid, and the Deptford to fupply the Intrepid's place. I found the enemy edged away conftantly, and as they went three feet to our one, they would never permit our clofing with them, but took the advantage of de- ftroying our rigging *, for tliough I clofed the r'»ar admiral faft, I found I could not again dole the enemy, whofe van was fairly drove from their line J but their admiral was joining them by bear- ing away. By this time 'twas part fix, and th-i enemy's van and ours were at two great a diftance to engage i I perceived fome of their Ihips ftretch- ing to the northward, and I imagined they were going to form a new line j I made the fignal for the headmoft Ihips to tack, and thofe that led be- fore with larboard tacks, to lead with the ftar- board, that I might by the firfl: keep (if poflible) the wind of the enemy, and by the fecond, be between the rear admiral's divifion and the enemy, as his had fuffered moft, as alfo to cover the In- trepid, which I perceived to be in a very bad con- dition, and whofe lofs would very greatly give the balance againft us, if they had attacked us next morning, as I expected. I brought to about eight. thar: night to join the Intrepid, and to refit our (hips as faft as ^ofiible, and continued To all night. The next morning we faw^ nothing of the enemy, though we were ftill lying to; Mahon was N. N. W. about ten or eleven leagues. I fent cruifers out to look ior the Intrepid and Chelter- Y 3 fj-'JJ» J ^-if -^ i P 3^5 \. D. 1756. ■ By* f, V.'h| '■■.|ff|| '*-lk ' ' if ,aHj, ; JJ '» fi ;.::i';-l ' "i'- m A. D. 1756. -ill. J:; ^r ."1 r ;!■ '' ( " 1 t i: The general HISTORY op field, who joined me the next day-, and having, from a (late and condition of the fquadron brought me in, found th^t the Captain, Intrepid and De- fiance (which latter has loft her captain) were much damaged in their mafts, ** fo that they were *' endangered of not being able to fecurc their " mafts properly at fea -, and alfo that the fquadron ** in general were very fickly, many killed and •* wounded, and no where to put a third of their *' number, if I made an hofpital even of the 40 ** gun ftiip, which was not eaiy at fea •," I thought it proper in this fituation, to call a council of war before I went again to look for the enemy. I de- fired the attendance of General Stuart, Lord Effingham, and Lord Robert Bertie, and Colonel Cornwallis, that I might colle6t their opinions upon the prefent fituation " of Minorca and Gi- "braltarj and make fure of protefling the latter, •' fincc it was found impra6licable to either fuc- •* cour or relieve the former with the force we ** had } for though we may juftly claim the vi6lo- ** ry, yet we are much inferior to the weight of ♦* their ftiips, though the numbers are equal •, and ** they have the advantage of fending to Minorca " their wounded, and getting reinforcements of ** feamen from their tranfports, and foldiers from ** their camp ; all which, undoubtedly has been *' done in this time that we have been laying to re- •* fir, and often in fight of Minorca -, and their •* ftiips have more than once appeared in a line ** from our maft- heads. I fend their lordftiips •* the refolution of the council of war," in which there THE L AT E W A R. there was not the leaft contention or doubt arofe. •' I hope indeed we (hall find (lores to refit us at " Gibraltar, and if I have any reinforcement, ** will not lofe a moment's time to feek the enemy " again, and once more give them battle, though ** they have a great advantage in being clean " (hips, that go three feet to our one, and therc- •* fore have the choice how they will engage us, " or if they will at all, and will never let us dole " them, as their fole view is the difabling our " (liips, in vf hich they have but too well fuccccded, " though we obliged them to bear up.'* I do not fend their lordfliips the particulars of our lofTcs and damages by this, as ii; would take me much time, and that I am willing none (liould be lofl in letting them know an event of fuch confequencc. " 1 cannot help urging their lordfhips for a rein- *' forcement, if none are yet failed, on their know- *' ledge of the enemy's ftrength in thefe feas, and " which, by very good intelligence, will in a few ** days be ftrengthened by four more larn;e (hips *' from Toulon, almoft ready to fail, if not now *' failed to join thefe.'* I difpatch this to Sir Ben • jamin Keene, by way of Barcelona, and am mak- ing the beft of my way to *' cover" Gibraltar ; from which place I propofe fending their lord(hips a more particular account. I am. Sir, Your moft humble fv^r/ant, • ' John Byng. To the Hon. John Clevland, Efqj y 4 i^7 A.D. 1756. h' t. When '- . '*,' R •J , ^: 1 il| *^ r i 328 A. D. 1756. Remarks on the inu- tilatei' paf- Ihges, niuikcd with ", The general HISfORY of "When this entire letter was publifhed by Mr* Byng's friends, it was accompanied with fome re- marks very difadvantageous to the miniftry ; Tvherein it is obferved, That the firft mutilation Concealed an allufion made to his former letter from Gibraltar, which it was apparently the in- tereft of the miniftry to keep in darkncfs. It fefims likewife intended by this omifTion, to infinu- ate that 3yng never came within light of Minor- ca, and that he was caught unexpectedly by the French. The words couid we have /pared any people would have difcovered the weaknefs of ♦^he armament , and the opinion of the officers that the landing place was covered, v/ould have ihewn the folly of thofe, who contrived the expj^ition, and fent out a weak fleet, when they might have made it ftronger by adding the fh.^is bf which the cr^ws were ufelefsly devouring their pfoviftons at pithead ; and amufed the nation with an attempt to relieve Minorca, while they fent no land forces, or noiie proportioned to the purpofe, and fent them but at a time, when they coUld not be landed. The next oVnifTion was likewife equally unfair, and equally malignant, and appears defigned part- ly to caft reproach oh the admiral, and partly to hide the faults of the miniftry. To conceal the fitnefs of Byng*s retreat, they fupprefs the damage done to the ftiips -, to conceal their own negligence, ihey omit the mention of the wounded, and the want gf an hofpitai^ipfor their reception. WMt :.. This ' TH£ L AT E W A R. ' ■ This is the firft time that a fleet was fitted for fuch an enterprize, without ftore-ftiips, fire-lhips, hofpital-fhips, or tenders •, and why this fleet was thus imperfedlly furnifhed, what reafon can be given, if the relief of Minorca was intended. The intent of this omiiTion being principally to fix upon Byng the reproach of returning without necef- fity, it may now be enquired, whether it was proper to have hazarded a fecond engagement ? No man T/as ever expeded to fight without hope of vic- tory, or without profpect of advantage, propor- tionate to the danger of defeat. Hope of victory he could have none ; the French fleet was at firft fuperi^r, and was far more fuperior after the bat- tle J profpefb of advantage was now at an end, for he could not now relieve St. Philip ; though Galiflionere had delivered up his fhips v^ithout a Ihot, it was already invefted by an adequate force, and though the fiege might have been prolonged it could not have been raifed. It is much harder to difcover why GalifTionerc fuR'ered our fhattered fliips to efcape. The next mutilation fupprefles the account of the enemies fuperiority. The Fre ich had an army from which the fleet vas fupplied with frefh men : Byng had more than looo fick, without an hofpi- tal (hip for their reception. The next pafllige omitted defcribes another ad- vant;;ge enjoyed by the French, that their fliips were dean^ to which it might have been added to the honour of our minifters, that their ftjipi were better. A clamour was raifed by the aflertion, that they ^m\ i 329 A. D. ' ■"'lu-' ' 1756. ■ ■i"'?#'*'"^'' \ ■ -mh , j t ' ■ '-^ *! \y^'\ \ - ' ■:'% ^ ■k':^ ■ ■ iri*t^ 'l.-f V': '■ -■' '■ . 1 ■ ,v« .-.I ' ' 'V '.si S30 A. IX ,ii« mi The general HISTORY or they failed tbree feet to one: sl feaman's phrafc, never dcfigncd to be underftood literally, nor ever interpreted literally before j by which nothing is implied but that they failed fafter, and had great advantage by fiiperior celerity. He hoped to find (lores to r^t him at Gibraltar ; where, in efFed, from the (late, in which he had left ir, and which was carefully concealed from the public, he had little hopes of finding them : yet this delay, which the minifters knew to be un- avoidable, was imputed to him, as a new crime. The next paragraph omitted, is the " urging *' the adnniralty to a fpeedy reinforcement, if *' none was already fent ;" a requeft which he had before made -, at the fame time " acquaint- *' ing them with the increafing ftrength of the " enemy at 1 oulon, by four large fliips -,** which circumdance, though it tends not to juftify the admiral's behaviour, gives a favourable idea of his zeal for fuccefs, and a contemptible one of thole, who, prefiding at the head of affairs, had been totally ignorant of what was preparing at Toulon, and negligent at beft of what happened to Minorca. The laft paragraph has but one word omit- ted, which, inftead of " making the beft of my " way to Gibraltar, is to f^'y^r Gibraltar j" a very material alteration ; the going to cover a place, being very different from going to a place i the one fignifying an ad of prudence, and of a fol- uier i the other, in fuch inftanccs, of flight, and of a fugitive. Was not this word premedi- , .. tately Y or phrafc, nor ever othing is had great ibraltar ; :li he had from the lem : yet be un- ' crime. " urging rmenr, if which he acquaint- :h of the i" which uftify the e idea of e one of fairs, had paring at happened )rd omit- H of my i" a very r a place, lacci the of a fol- ght, and premedi- tate! y :iO TrtE L AT E WAR. 33« tfltely left our, to prevent the afking what dan- A. D. ger Gibraltar was in, and to what part of the '^^ * letter this referred ? But, the court of London had received advice of the a6lion of the 20th of May by the way of France, with feme hints very difadvantageous to the chara6ler of Admiral Byng, and greatly im- proved afterwards to his deftrudlion : though it muft not be forgotten, that the French Admiral Galiflionere, was as highly ccnfurcd by his court, for his con du6l on the fame day -, and was fupcr* fcded, recalled, and put under arreft •, and, if he was not difgraced with the ignominy of a public exe- cution, he difappcar'd foon after, not without fufpi- cion of a violent death, upon the road to Paris. Upon thefe advices, every inftrument of the xiic whole miniftry was employed to degrade the unfortunate Jj'f^JJJ'^^j'? admiral, to reprefent him to be the/^/^ caufe of "»'»ai the national difgrace in the Mediterranean, and "^* to prepare them to caft the whole blame of the lofs of Minorca upon him, fhould it be forced to furrendef to the French. The importance of Minorca, which had been import- fo much flighted by the Britifh miniftry, was now ^"" '^^ rung in every ear. It was now reprefented to be the moft happy for us in its fituation : to be ca- pable of vail improvements -, to have the two bed ports in the Mediterranean fea ; which might make that ifland a magazine of Britifh commodi- ties, and the center of a moft extenfive commerce. This ifland, faid they, who took no effeftual mea- fures for its defence, before it was too late, fo • juilly Hi ''■§■■"] J' .f '■ .1) ' '4 '4 i^: :l m ,lt:i' ,. <- :i I ^' 532 A.D. 1756. Defcrip- tion of Minorca. Its fitua- tion. Extent. Divifion. Inhabi- tants. Mahon. N^ The general HISTORY of juftly th6 objeft of our hopes ; the trophy of our riflories -, which drew to Great Britain, the re- fpedt of Spain ; the confidence of Italy 5 and the fubmifllon of the pyratical ftates of Barbary 5 is not only loft, but loft in fuch a manner, as ftiould give every Briton a manly, rational and patriot concern. Before we quit this iHand it may be agreeable to the reader to give a defcription of it, for which we are chiefly obliged to John Armftrong, Efq; engineer in ordinary to his Majefty. This gentle- man informs us, that the ifland of Minorca lies in the Mediterranean fea, about 60 leagues S. of ^he coaft of Catalonia, and is one of thofe iflands that conftituted the ancient kingdom of Majorca ; cut and indented with a prodigious variety of creeks and inlets on the north fide, occafioned by frequent and violent northerly winds. It is up- wards of 33 miles long, and varies in breadth from eight to twelve miles, and in fome parts more : computed to contain 236 Iquare miles, and 151,040 fquare acres, It is 62 miles in circum- ference, and divided into four terminos or dif- trids i the termino of Mahon, of Alajor, the united termino of Mercadal and Fererias, and the termino of Ciudadella : which together con- tain about 28,000 inhabitants. Mahon is the feat of government, in the neigh- bourhood of S-. Philip's caftle, the only fortrefs of any confiderauon in the ifland. This city is built on an elevated fituation, and the affent from the harbour is fteep and difficult. It was formerly 2 furrounded Y OF Ky of our the re- and the irbary, is as fhould id patriot agreeable for which )ng, Efq; lis gentle- inorca lies gues S. of ofe i (lands Majorca ; ariety of ifioned by It is up- n breadth me parts niles, and n circum- >s or dif- lajor, the ;rias, and ;tlier con- :he neigh- y fortrel's bis city is Tent from formerly irrounded THE L AT £ WAR. furrounded with a wall, but at prefent the build- ings have extended themfelves into large and elegant fuburbs, beyond thofe limits. The build- ings are univerlally of free ftone, either covered with tiles, or flat-roofed and terraced. The ftreets are not paved, the native rock appearing almofl: every where : and they are generally very narrow. At the foot of the hill, on which Mahon ftands, is a fine wharf of great extent in length, and proportionably broad. The whole weilern end thereof, was fet apart for magazines of naval flores, and other ufes of his Maiefty's (hips. The water at the key is deep enough for any fhip to come as near, as it has occafion. The eafterii part of the dock is fet a part for the merchant's fervice. A little out of the town, in the way to St. Philip's, ftands a fmall convent of Carmelite friars : and about a mile below the town is Englifli Cove, the general watering place for the navy : where there is a plentiful fupply of fweet water. The harbour at this place, is near a mile over ; which is almoft its greateft breadth : half a mile lower, and about a mile ftort of Sr. Philip's, lies Bloody Ifland, whofe area contains about 12 acres, making al- moft an equal divifion of the harbour, leaving the greateft breadth and deepeft water next Mahon. On this ifland ftands a capacious hofpital belong- ing to the navy, with convenient apartments for the proper officers. Almoft oppofite to this ifland, on the Mahon fide, lie: the Oyfter Cove. This cave or cove is fcooped A. D. 1756. r »,■ V'/"! i .'-■:. . i-i //'/■*• Bloody .(:•' Oydor ■'.'Ill 1^ •rrl: ^l8 5J4 The general HISTORY or ^H;' Quarcntine Iltand. ■A. I>. fcoopcd out of the rock, with a north-eaft afpedl, '^ * and takes its name from an oyftcr-fifliery, managed by Spanifh divers, who venture ten or twelve fa- thoms, with a hammer to break oyfters from the bottom of the rock. From hence, on the left hand, in the way to St. Philip's, by water, is the Quarentine Ifland ; which is lefs than Bloody Ifland, and nearer to Cape Mola (hore. Here all veflcls from Barbary and the Levant, when thole parts are vilited by the plague, are obliged to perform quarantine. St. Philip's St, Philip's Caftle next prelents itfelf at the taftic. entrance of Mahon Harbour ; and is fuuatc on a neck of land between Mahon Harbour and St. Stephen's Cove. Its numerous works extend them- felves to the (hore on both fides. The body of the place confifts of four baftions and as many curtains, lurrounded with a deep ditch, hewn out of the folid rock, which furniflied free-ftone for the walls. The area is iliirounded with the Go- vernor's houi^?, a chapel, guard- room, barracks, dec. and in the center there is a pump to fupply the troops with rain-water from a ciftern •, and the •whole Iquare is paved. Over the flat-roof of the arched buildings is a fpacious rampart, aflbrding an extenfive profped, and the baltions are mounted with guns. The communication from the lower area to the top of the rampart is by a pair of ftairs, made likewife of fl:one, and fo wide, broad and eafy of afcenr, that mules and afies can carry burdens up to any apar;» or ft afpedl^ ^ [Tianaged i^elvc fa- rom the le way to t: Idand ; learer to Barbary ilited by ntine. f at the latc on a and St. nd them- body of as many lewn out ftone for I the Go- barracks, :o fupply i and the lings is a profped, ns. The he top of I likevvife Df afcenr, up to any apar^» TH2 L A T E W A R. apartment, and great guns can be drawn up them, when wanted. The whole body of the place is undermined \ and very ferviccable fubterraneous works arc con- trived in the rock, and communicate with one another, where necedary. Before the entrance of theCaftle is a horn-work, with other out-works to this and the red of the front ; which works are better conceived by the eye from the plan, than any words would be able to defcribc them. There is a great number of large guns mounted towards the entrance of the harbour, befidcs thofe that point to the land, which would require the fervice of a vaft many artillery-men on occafion ; as indeed the Various works demand a very con- fiderable garrifon to difputc them with an enemy. The capacious galleries, that are cut out of the rock, and extend themfelves throughout all the works, are of the utmoft advantage : for here the people are fecured from the fplinters of ftone, which in time of action would tare them to pieces, as well thofe off duty, as thofe obliged to expofe themfelves. Thefe fubterraneans afford quarters and llielter to the garrifon, impenetrable to fliot and fticlls, and not to be come at, but by cutting a way to them through the living rock ; againll which a number of countermines are provided, at proper diftances, and in fuch places as are moft cxpofed by their fituation. Jn the main ditch is a fmall powder magazine : there IS a much l;irger under the Covert-way of the 4 33i A.D. 1756. ,'t . if; .; ■■^ 3-i^ The general HISTORY of m ■'* if. m St. Stc plicn's Cove. A. D. the place ; where alio there arc ftorc-houfes iuf- '^ ' ficient for every occafion, with an hofpital near St. .Stephen's Cove. Bcfides the cKlcrn, which is liable to many accidents, there are fcveral wells within the works : and a quantity of every fpe- cies of provifions is conftantly kept up, to fupport the whole foklicry of the garrifon, in cafe of a Ccgc. On the ]\\nt of land, call of the Caftle, ftands Charlc "^ vr of little ufe. The grand battery lies dow. 3t Ji- water-edge, an! has a high Hone wall to cover the ^^unncrs, who play their ordnance through a long range of embralfures. This is the common burial-place of the garrifon. The Q^ieen's Redoubt is the moll advanced of all the works towards the country, on the fide where it Hands : Between it and the harbour are two other works. On the other fide of St. Ste- phen's Cove (lands the Marlborough. The Araval, or Suburb of St. Philip's, confifls of quarters for officers, of barracks for foldiers, a church, and, at one time, of fo many houfes inhabitted by Spaniards, that the glacis of the for- trefs almoft reached thofe buildings j which being forefcen to be favourable to an enemy, in cafe of a fiege, the houfes were cleared away to fuch a diftance as to leave a fufficient cfplanade between the village and fortifications. St. Stephen's Cove is a fmall inlet of the fea, eafily admitting boats with iilli and provifions, when the circumftances of a fiege fliall render it diffi. I! I V OF oufes fuf- 5ical near which is ral wells :vcry fpe- o lupport cafe of a le, ftands .1 battery ligh Hone ordnance This i? vanced of the fide rbour are \f St. Ste- ;, confifls • foldiers, ly houfes f the for- ich being n cafe of :o fuch a between ' the fea, rovifions, render it diffi- THE LATE WAR. difficult to :h the ifon by 337 of the A. D. it ' approacJ harbour. *75o. The Laire of Mahon, otherwifc Concy-Ifland, Lairc of is feparated from the main land by a found about ^^^'°"' two miles over, and very dangerous to lliips of burden, on account of its flioals a.id foul ground. Here are a multitude of rabbits, and no inconfi- dcrable quantity of Hilt. There is a good key at St. Philip's for fhips -, Fort Phili- and on the other fide of the harbour, a little lower ^'^ ' down, on the nanoweil; place, (lands Fort St. Philiper, in which is a fmall magazine of powder, and a guard, with a battery of guns, on a lev .i with the iurface of the water, for the defencf of the harbour. Cape Mola is a liigh land, fevered almoft fro.ii Cii-rj Mo- the ifland by Philipct Cove and a fmall b .' on ''*' the north fide, and is univcrfally efl.ecmetl capable of being rendered an almoft impregnable fortrcfs, at a moderate expence. On the elevated top of this cape is the fignal-houie, to give the ganifon due warning of Ihips and vefiels approaching from the fea. A buili hung out denotes a fmall vefiel, a ball a fliip, two or three balls two or three fhips, and a flag a fleet : thefe fignals are hoiftcd on the quarter the fliips are difcovered. Purfuing the great road to Ciudadella, made by Aiajor. Governor Kane, and called after his name, we meet with the fliire town of Aiajor, and the next in goodnefs to, Mahon and Ciudadella. This town ftands high and airy, and is tolerably well Vol. I. Z built ' Is ■ ^'i 'Iji 33^ The general HISTORY op .Mevcaila!. Mount I ./lO. u;^ •. A. D. built, with a handfome Gothic free-flone church '^ ' on an eminence. The buildings are of (lone alfo; and the ftreets very narrow and not paved. Here are alfo quarters for a regiment of foldiers ; but t!ie garrilon iifually confifts of no more than nine companies, the other being fent to the caftle of Fornelles. There is only one convent in this town, which is of Francifcan friars. Mercadal, the next fliire-town, is fituated on a hill about the center of the ifland, is a very poor place, and meanly built. A little to the eaft of which is Mount Tor or Toro, the higheft ground in the ifland : on whofc erniiience (lands a con- vent of Auguflinc fiiars, in a mod agreeable fitua- tion. About fix miles north of this mount is the caftle of Fornelles, bulk on the weftern fide of the en- trance of a lirao harbour of the fame name. This fort is fquare, faced v/ith hewn (lone, and confifts of four bailions, and as many curtains, a very little ditch, and no out- works before it. The fquare within is filled with houfes for the troops, and for laying up provifions and ammunition ; which are all ilrongly vaulted and covered with ramparrs. The fignal-houfe is fituated at Atha- lia, upon a high land on the oppofite fide of the harbour. But the duty of this fort is done by one company only, detached from Alajor. The port is large and fpacious ; but the fhoals and foul ground make it very hazardous for fliips of bur- den. Fonicllei. ■*> ^ Mount t f •■ ' i THE LATE WAR. 339 la. Mount Agatha, fo called from the chapel fitu- ^- D. ate on its fummit, dedicated to St. Agatha, Hands about four miles north- weft of Mercadal, is a Agatha. very high barren rock : on the top of which the Moors fortified themfelves, and held out againft a numerous army, long after the Chriflians had driven their countrymen from the lower parts of the ifland. The ruins of which works are fti'. to be feen j and within their I'mits there dill conti- nue two remarkable rain-water cifterns entire, containing together 2173 tons, or 547,596 wine gallons, which, at the allowance of one gallon a day would furnilh 1500 men with water for one year. Ciudadclla is the next place worthy of our it- Cludadel- tention. It was the antient capital of Minorca, till the feat of government was removed by the Englifli to Mahon. By this means it has de* clined in its trade and wealth. This town is fur- rounded by a wall, bold and of great height, built by the Moors upwards of fix hundred years ago, next the Baranco. The reft is more mo- dern, and confifts of a rampart, with a great many baftions and curtains, all of fquared free-ftone. Though the rampart is narrow at the curtains, the baftions are roomy enough ; and the parapets are all of ftone. A good ditch has been laid our, and cut to a confiderable depth in the folid rock, in fome places, with the parapet of a covered-way before it j but it is little more thaii marked in other places. Thefe works, fays Mr. Armftrong, have been flighted ever fince Minorca has been in Z 2 cur i\ 540 The general HISTORY of A. D. our hands, and the garrifon, upon an alarm, is to ^^^ ' make the bed of its way to St. Philip's Caftle, (as was the cafe in 1756) driving before it all the cattle, that are to be eafily found i and fpoiling the roads, the better to obftrufb the enemy on his march *. This antient town is built at the head of a little harbour, where coafting veflcls find (helter in a fufficient depth of water, clofe to the very walls of the town. The garrifon, which confifts of a regiment of foldiers, find the bed quarters in the ifland here. The chief buildings are the exchange, an antient ftrufture, raifed on Gothic arches of a confiderable height : The Governor's houfe, a large irregular fabric, built in the gorge of a baftion. Divine fervice is per- formed for the garrifon in the great hall of this houfe. Here is the cathedral of the whole ifland. It ftands near the center of the town, is the largefl church in the ifland, and a noble Go- thic building. Here is alfo another neat church at a little difl:ance. Near Mahon-gate ftands a convent of Auftin friars, a large edifice, with a handfome church within it. Fronting the great parade there is a Francifcan convent of friars. This building is large, but irregular. The nuns of St. Clara have alfo a convent in this town. Near the entrance of the harbour, which is about a mile from the town, ftands another chapel, de- dicated to St. Nicholas, the Popifli patron of fea- faring people-, adjacent to which are the ruins of ^ See page 300. •J.. a fmall THE L A T E W A R. 34» 1 fmall caftle, intendal formerly, but very unfit, A. D. to defend the entrance of the harbour. And u little without Mahon-gate is a convent of the order of St. Antonio ; it is a fmall houfe, but well endowed. The fjgnal on the light houfe for this fortrefs (lands about two miles north-weft, and is called Torre del Ram : from wiience, if a fleet, in time of war, approaches, the country is alarmed by a great fmoak in day-time, and by a great fire in the night. As for the court of France ; their King's man- Rejoicinas date to the Archbidiop of Paris to CmgTedeum upon the conqueft of Minorca, and his rewards bellowed upon the officers concerned in the re- du(5lion of Fort St. Philip, give a full idea of their fentiments and rejoicing on that occafion. In the mandate the French King tells the Arch- King's bilhop, That after having waited too long in vain the Aich- for the fatisfadion he had promifed himfelf from p ^'.°i' °^ the King of England's equity, as a reparation for the outrages committed by his navy upon the French fliips, to the great fcandal of all Europe ; he found himfelf obliged to have recourfe to arms, in order to avenge the honour of his crown, and to proted the commerce of his dominions. *' It is, laid he, from fuch juft motives, that in the month of April laft I fent a body of troops into " the ifland of Minorca, under the command of my Couf n, the Marllial Duke de Richelieu, with a fquadron commanded by the Marquis de la Galiflionere, Lieucenant-General of my naval armies, to drive the Engliih from a port. CC (t (( (( (C (( * :| r ;1 I I'M H ,i\ (t which 542 A.D. M m mi ru' cc cc cc cc C( cc cc cc C( The general HISTORY of " which they had feized upon through the fpirit *' of general domination, which they want to ex- *' tend over the two worlds. After a dangerous and toilfome fiege, during which the Englilh fquadron, that came up to relieve Minorca, was repulfed by mine •, and Marflial Richelieu, in confequence of a difpofition, as boldly con» trived, as it was to be rapid in its execution, at laft gave French valour its full fwing j and whillt the enemy trufted to the ftrength of their ramparts, my troops carried the out- works of Mahon byafTault, in the night betv/een the 27th *' and 28th of laft month: terror did the reft: " the garrifon was forced to capitulate, and retire " to Gibraltar •, abandoning about 200 pieces of *' cannon and 80 mortars. The fuccefs of fo *' important an enterprize, wherein my troops '" were to furmount all the obftacles, which art, afilfted by nature, can contrive for the defence of a place, muft be attributed to nothing, but the favour, which the Lord of Hofts is pleafed to grant to the juftice of my caufe : and there- fore, to render l;im a public homage of my •* thankfulnefs, and to befcech him to continue unto me his divine protection, I write you this letter; to acquaint you, that it is my intention, that you caufe Te dmm to be fung in the me- tropolitan church of my good city of Paris, " &c.'* And the vanity of tiie FrencJi nation was fed fo highly with this unprecedented and unac- countable fuccefs over the EngHfli, their antient conqiwrors, and the prefent obPacle to thofe vaft fchemes «c cc cc :>ut n favour- er as ftill i an hour n line of nAftcd of and ours he adtion I'neial all from our lot ; they :ccp clear cated ef- lofc, and licy could d did not general, J diips of ;d in the (( the THE LATE WAR. S47 ** the whole unheard of treatment I 'nvc met A, D. '* with, that neither liiey, the fleet, or myfelf " can be more aftonilhed at that particular, than ** at the whole. J. Bv>:g. The Captains and othcr.^, wlio were fupcrfcdcd PnTMier* 1111 1 • T1 ''"^ '" and oi'dcred home, on this account, were. Rear- Ku-huui. Admiral Well, Captain Gardiner of the Ramil- lies, the Admiral Byng's fix Lieutenants, Gunner and Purfer, and his Maftcr and Surgeon -, nm] Captain Gough of the Experiment, and Ciiptaiii Baflctt of the Fortunc-lloop> who had been ap- pointed by him to thole commands, occafioned by the death of Captain Andrews antl Captain Noel. Here we will leave Admiral Byng and his fel- low-prifoners to meet their deftiny -, and defer the narrative of the eOecls, this miicarriage in the Mediterranean produced at home, till v/e fhall have drawn a concile rcprefentation of the opera- tions and tranfaclions performed by our arms in diftant parts of the world. In the Kafi: Indie? we left the Britlfli fleet at /-r,-;!;; nf Bombay, preparing for an expedition againil An i^^^^^ gria, the fcourge of thofe leas -, v/hofe territories, from a nelt or pyrates, was become a lort or cm- ;. . uui'f pire, and fubfilled much in the fame manner, on that co.^ft, as the flates of Barbary, which fpran from a like original, make themfelvcs lormidabl in Europe. The r^'ii'U.i. u NIji ■i'^ -. '.1 -1 1 11 W i Is , A, D. "756. His origin, Hi.< terri tuiics. The general HISTORY of The origin of this E'aftern pyratical govern- ment, was hiid by one Conogee Angria : who having been advanced by Saha Raja, from the Ration of a private Maratta to the port of Gene- ral and Admiral in his wars with, or ratlier rebel- lion againit rhc Mogul, about one hundred years ago, and rewarded for his fervice with the govern- ment of Severndroog, he foon threw off tJK' yoke, and feizcd upon fcveral of his Prince's veflels, which he had commanded, and with which he turned an arch pyratc. His fird care was to fortify him- felf on that ifland, and to ruin the Marattas fleet, that they might have no way to attack him. However the Marattas built three forts upon the main, within lefs than point-blank fliot of his Httle territory, which was not above a mile in cir- cumference, but a rock of ftonc by nature and well fortified by arr. This did not anfwer their expedtatioiis to reduce Angria to obedience, or to reftrain him from encroaching upon their domi- nions, and interrupting the trade and navigation of thr.c coafl. For, having the fca open, and much fuperior to his country men in maritime affairs and in bravery, he left them to purfue a fruitlefs attempt againfl his fortifications, and furprized feveral of their fea-ports, and carried his conqii-fts from Tamana to Rajapore, containing fixty leagues of fea coafl, including feveral com- modiou:; harbours ■, and a diitridt of inland coun- try from 20 to 30 miles backward ; which he fe- cured by forts properly difpofed on fuch eminences, as commanded the narrow paffes and defiles. But what Y OF I govern- ria : who from the of Gene- hcY rebel - I red years e govern - the yoke, fels^which turned an -tify hini- ittas fleer, :ack him. upon the ot of his lile in cir- atiire and fwer their ncc, or to leir domi- lavigation pen, and maritime to purfue lions, and arried his :ontaining eral com- and coun- ich he fe- ;minences, files. But what THE LATE WAR. what made all his forts more formidable, they were receotacles for fugjitives, renep-adoes and va- grants of all nations. The Marattas defpairing of fuccefs by their arms, propofed to his fucceflbrs terms of accom- modation, for Angria to keep poffe-flion of his ac- quifitions, on condition that he Ihould acknow- ledge the fovercignty of the Raja, and pay him an annual tribute. To which Angria, then upon the throne of this pyratical ftatc, agreed. Angria's armaments having now no employ againft his countrymen, he bent all his force to- wards the fca, and fitted out a fleet, that made feveral confiderable captures both from the Eng- lifli, French and Dutch. Amongfl: them were the Darby, an Engliili Eaft-Indiaman, richly laden from Europe, with one hundred and fifty men ; and the Jupiter, a French fliip of 40 guns, ■with 400 flaves on board. The Prince of Ge- riah, as Angria was then called, grew fo infolent at lad that he dared to attack Commodore Lifle, in the Vigilant of 64 guns, the Ruby of 50 guns, and feveral other fFiips in company, as the Com- modore was departing from the Malabar coait. He ftiood a fiege by feven armed fliips and two bomb veflfcls, Icat by the Dutch from Batavia, with a number of land forces, and obliged them to retire without fuccefs ; and then brooking no kind of fubjedion, and prefuming on his own flrength, he threw off his allegiance to the Raja of the Marattas ; and by way of contempt or- dered the ears and nofes of the mcircno;crs fent bv his 349 A.D. 1756. Becomes ti ihiitiiryto the Mai'at- tas. ,1/ Turns liis armed vtf- lels :ig:iinft the Eiie:- hlli, Sic. Holds oiif Rebels a- gniiilt the 'Marallai. i. -H i' I ? m 550 A. D. 1756. l^enguc be- tween tlie anci Ma r.iUa<; a- giiiiill him. His fucccfs againft tiie D.Utch. Expedition againft hi in from The general HISTORY of his Sovereign to reclaim him to his obedience, to be cut off. Such a provocation infpired the Ma- rattas wiih a fpirit of vengeance, and drove them to a reioluiion to follicit the govcnuncrit of Bom- bay for aflUlancc, to attack him with their ma- rine force, v/hile he flicuid prcfs him clofe by land. Which ended in a treaty Hgncd by the Nanna or Chief of the rviarattas, and by the Go- vernor of Bombay, on the part of the company. But before tlie confederates were ready for action, which was more than a year, occafioned by tha backwardnef; or dilatory proceedings of the Ma- rattas, Angria v/vis fo elevated with his fuccefs againll three Dutch fnips, one of fifty guns, one of thirty-fix, and one of eighteen guns, the two former of which he burnt> and took the iail: ; that he had tl:e vanity to declare his expeclations to be foon fuperior to any force, tliat could be brought againft him in tlic Indian feas •, and accordingly continued to auo;ment his marine with feveral -v^fTels, and one that was to carry 40 guns. This iliev/ed the necelBty of more aflivity on the part of the confederates, to humble this com- mon enemy, already too formidable on the Ma- labar coalt : Accordingly, tlie Marattas being ready, the Protei^lor of 40 guns, the Swallow of 16 guns, and the Viper and Triumph bomb-vef- fels failed on the 2>d of March from Bombay, under the command of Commodore James, then Commander in Chief of the company's maritime force in India. This i'mall fquadron fell in, next day, with feven iail of Angvia's grabs, and eleven . .!-....>, { OF* ience, to the Ma- )ve them of Bom- heir ma- clofe by I by the the Go- ompany. )r action, J by the the Ma- s fuccefs uns, oner the two .iit; that ms to be brought rordingly feveral IS. livity on his com- the Ma- as being callow of )mb-vef- Bombay, jes, then maritime in, next id eleven galli- THE LATE WAR. 25* A.D, 1756. gallivats, offRajaporc, and chaced them to the louthward. On the fecond day, Hill continuing the chace. Commodore James wa:> joined off Choule by feven Maratta grabs and fixty galli- vats. But, as foon as this Beet got the length of Comoro Bay, the Marattas, under pretence of performing fome religious acts, not practicable on board of Ihip, according to their fuperilition, went afliore, where they dallied away thirty hours. In die mean time^Angria's fquadron got into the harboui* of Severndroog. But upon the approach of Com- modore James, who with much difficulty brought up his dilatory allies, the enemy flip their cables and put to fea, the gallivats towing their larger veflels ; and, as there was but little wind, that gave them confiderable advantage over the Englifli fnips of war. So that, though the Commodore gave them chafe it was all in vain. For the enemy threw out t^, r ' 1 he eicnpp everything to lighten their veflels with amazing ot 'us tUct. indullry and dexterity, and not only fprcad their yards with ail the fail they had, but they tried to catch every breath of air by faftning their gar- ments, quilts, and even their turbants extended on the flag-iiaves. By this manoeuvre they gained their point; whilil cur allies, the Marattas, whofe (hips are light, and built floaty for failing large and in light gales, kept all allern. Which obliged Commodore James to give over the chace, and to return to Severndroog v a fortrefs on an iiland Sevem- within mufl^et-lhot of the main land, with no ''^^^^°' more than two fathom and a half in the Firth ; firongly, but not regularly fortiiied i the greateit part ■k ' y- ■1 35-2 The GENERAL HISTORY of ill Befiegcd. ■A. D. part of the works being cut out of the folid rock, '^^ ' and the reft built with ftones ten or twelve feet fquare -, and mounts fifty-four guns on the baf- tions. On the main land there are three forts, one, the largeft, is called Fort Goa, built in the fame manner, with large fquare ftone, and mounts 40 guns. The other two, built with ftones of an irregular fhapc, mount about 20 guns each. The Commodore began to cannonade and bom- bard the Ifland Fort on the 2d of April 1755. but not being able to penetrate the walls, which were fifty f(;ct high and eighteen thick, on the fide where he made his firft attack, he moved his ftation fo, as to reach Fort Goa with his lower deck guns, while he plied Severndroog with his upper tier. By this prudent difpofition and a vi- gorous fire, the north-eaft baftion of Severndroog and part of the parapet, were laid in ruins, about noon; when a fliell fet fire to the houfes, and the Englirhfiom the round-tops, with an inceflant fire, prevented the garrifon's extinguifliing it : and the wind being northerly fpread the flames all through the fort, blew up one magazine, and caufed a general conflagration. A multitude of men, wo- men and children, ran out and endeavoured to efcape, on the other fide of the ifland, in boats; but they were taken up by the Swallow floop, ftationed to the fouthward to prevent the throw- insj in of fuccours on that fide. This enabled the Commodore to turn all his fire thenceforward upon Fort Goa : which was ferved with fuch a fevere cannonade, that the enemy was foon obliged to OF lid rock, elve feet the baf- •ee forts, It in the 1 mounts flones of each. md bom- ril 1755. Is, which , on the noved his his lower with his and a vi- /^erndroog IS, about 5, and the !lllint fire, : and the 1 through caufed a ■nen, wo- roured to in boats; )w (loop, le throw- labled the ceforward .h fuch a n obliged to THE LATE WAR. 353 A. D. 1756. to hang out a flag of truce ; But the Governor, without waiting the event of a capitulation in his neceflitous circumftances, eroded over with fome chofen Sepoys to Severndroog, where he Teemed determined to maintain his ground, till he fliould receive fuccours from Dabul, trufling in the na- tural ftrength of the place, notwithftanding the ruin it had fuftained in its walls and magazines by the bombardment. This being evident from all his anlwers to the fummons and meflages lent him, the Commodore increafed his fire, both from the (hips and from the three forts on the main, now in his poITcfllgn : under which firing a num- Stormed. ber of feamen were landed, with a determination to carry their point, who ran up refolutely to the gates of the fortrefs, and with axes opened to themfelves an entrance through the Tally port without much lofs. This conqueft was followed by the furrender ^ of s^'enJer Bancote, now called Fort Vidoria, the moil cote. ' northern port of any confequence under the domi- nion of Angria, which fubrnitted upon the Com- modore's fummons. The harbour is commodious for a trade in fait and other goods, which are Tent thither from Bombay in great quantities •, and was therefore preferred in the choice of the Eng- lifh in the diilribution of the conquells with the Marattas •, who confented that our Ealt-India company fhould quietly poflefs this fort and port for the future. The Commodore delivered " up 1 On the 8th of April. Vol. I. m On April nth. A a the IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A Y i w <: ^^^% A J 2i WJ ISO ^" li I.I 1.25 2.5 1^ us 2.2 1.4 "^IIIM 1.6 m ^ /a ^/, VI %y /A ^ *, '■^ '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ •s? :\ \ ^ i/.x 354 A. D. The general HISTORY of 1750. Atlmiral Watlbn amves at Bombay. the other fortrefles, he had refUiced, to them ; and on the 15th he was recalled, as he was anchored before, and was preparing to attack Dabul ; the feafon for adlion at fea being too far advanced. However, the Governor and Council of Bombay conceived fuch an high opinion of Commodore James's conduct and courage, and were fo ani- mated by the fuccefs under his command, that they prepared to follow the blow, in due time, againft their troublefome and dangerous neigh- bour, whofe deftrudion was refolved upon. In this fituation flood affairs between the EngliHi and their allies, and Angria, in November, when Rear-Admiral Watfon arrived with his fquadr-on at Bombay. While thefe fhips were cleaning and repairing. Commodore James was difpatched in the Prote6lor, with the Revenge and Bombay frigates, to reconnoitre Geriah, the capital of An- gria's dominions, and to found the depths of wa- ter at the entrance of the harbour : and upon his return and report, on the laft day of December the Admiral ordered the Bridgwater and King- fi flier's floop. and fome of tne Company's armed fliips, to proceed to the port of Geriah, and to cruile off^ it. Thefe were joined on the 27th of siinft An- Tjj^^^arv 17^6, bv Commodorc James in the Pro- tedor and Guardian frigate: and on the nth of February, by the Admiral and his whole fqua- dron. Sucii a formidable fleet, fo far beyond the ap- prehenfions of Angria, ftruck him with fuch ter- ror, that he abandoned his fort and threw himfelf entirely Sails a- Aivfri'iiUf- •ii.tiri 1 !'.'.>»► I '*•,;, : Of ::m ; and anchored bul i the dvanced.' ■ Bombay mmodore e fo ani- and, that iue time, .IS neigh- on, le Englifli ber, when fquadron aning and )atched in 1 Bombay tal of An- ths of wa- upon his December an'^ King- y's armed ,h, and to le 27th of n the Pro- he 1 1 th of lole fqua- id the ap- fuch ter- ;w himfelf entirely THE LATE WA R. 35S A. D. 1756. entirely upon the mercy of the Marattas, with whom he faw it was neceffary for him to purchafe a peace at any rate. And they, without regard to their treaty with the EngUlh, preferred the ad- vantages, that they hoped to reap from his riches, to every other confideraticij ; and agreed to re- ceive him under their protedlion, on condition, that they might be immediately put in pofTeflion of the fort of Geriah, in which he had hoarded up all his riches, To which Angria fubmitted, and even figned an order for that purpofe to his brother, whom he had left in command. Yet this clandeftine treaty was not carried on fo fe- cretly, but the Admiral got information of it: and, in order to defeat their union, he next day, in the morning, fent a fummons to the fort, and, receiving no anfwer, in the afternoon he marched, iih f^rt and Hood in to the harbour in two divifions, the bciieged. Bridgwater leading his Majefty's fliips the Tyger, Kent, Cumberland and Salifbury, and the com- pany's (hip, Protestor of 40 guns : the other di- vifion was made up of the company's fliips, the Revenge, Bombay grab and Guardian frigate; the Drake, Warren, Triumph and Viper bomb- ketches, led by the King's- fi flier. When this fleet had taken its fl:ation there began fuch a fire, as prefently file need both the grabs and batteries. About four in the afternoon the Refl:oration, an armed fliip, taken by Angria fome time before, from the Eafl: India company, was fet on fire by a flicll, which communicating to his whole fleet> they very foon fliared the fame fate, A a 2 Ia hi 'II :■ . 'V 35^ Tfie general history cf A. D. 17^6. In the night, having no enemy to difturb them by lea, the Admiral ordered Colonel Olive to land with all the '.roops, to prevent the Marattas entrance " into the fort : and next morning the Admiral fent a meflage to the Commander in Chief, declaring, that he would give no quarter, in cafe he would not furrender, and admit the Englifh troops into the fort, in an hour's time. "Which not being complied with, the attack was renewed with fuch vigour, about four in the af- ternoon, that the garrifon, in lefs than half an hour, hung out a flag of truce. However, the Commandant neither hauled down his colour-s 5 nor admitted the Englifh troops. This obliged the Admiral to repeat the attack, which was car- ried on with fo terrible a fire, that the garrifon cried out for mercy, and let in our troops ; being fubdued only by the terror of fo unufual a fire ; it being impoflible for the heavieft metal to make a breach in the walls of that fortrefs, whofe height and thicknefs were extraordinary -, either hewn out of the folid rock, or built of ftones ten feet in length laid endways, lofs of the The ftrength of thefe walls, within which the enemy was fafe, after they were driven from the ramparts, accounts for the fmallnefs of the num- " This was proved to be their defign, by an ofFer they made to the Captains Buchanan and Forbes of 50,000 rupees, if they would fufFer them to pafs their guard : which they rejected with indignation, and difclofed it to Colonel Clive ; whofe vigilance the Marattas found it impoflible to elude. Sec Cambridge's account of the war in India, p. 129. ber. Surren ders. Enulifli THE LATE W A R. 357 A. D. 1756. ber, that were killed ; and the inconfiderable lofs of the Eno-liili mud be attributed to their own bravery and fpirit, which foon drove the enemy from their works by the brifknefs of their fire. But the lols to the enemy was irrecoverable, of'hf enc There were found in the place 200 cannon, fix '"^'' brals mortars, and a very large quantity of pro- vifions of all kinds, befides 1 20,000 1, and up- wards, in money and effects. There were eight ketches, one fhip, a great number of fmall veflels called Gallivats, and two large fliips upon the flocks, one of 40 guns ; without any pofllbility 0^ recovering that power, by which Angria had for fo many years reigned a terror to the maritime powers of Europe, frequenting thofe feas, as well as CO his neighbouring ftates. Amongfl the pri- foners were the wife, children, and mother of i Angria-, who received the admirnl with a Hood of tears, and on their knees, with their faces to the ground. Mr. Watfon cc -^bried them wirh af- furances, that hj would be to tiiem a friend and a father. Upon hearing of which, the youngefl fon feized the admirars hand, and fobbing, faid, '* Then you fliall be my fixther." Three hundred Europeans, and a§ many Sepoys were left to guard the fort, and four of the company's veflels to de- fend the harbour. Our fuccefs on this coad was greatly checkered with our lofles in other parts of the Eaft Indies. We left " the M. I^grit and M. EufTy fceking a i • See page 19S. A a 3 I )retencc ;>'-? ' [i. ill I; 35^ The general HISTORY op A. D. J756. pretence for rekindling the war, on the coaft of Coromandel. M. BufTy's M. Bufly not getting his ends of Salabatzing, fj^rclu ^^^^ whom he demanded the polTefilon of the conda, fQ^^ q£ Golconda, under pretence of fecurity for the expences he had been at in his caufe again!* the rebels ; the haughty French man behaved at laft with iuch an air of arrogance, that the Moorifh Prince ordered him immediately to return to Pon- dicherry, with his handful of Europeans. But Bufly did not depart from the Moorifli army with- out giving (Irong hints of his intentions toaccom- plifli that by force, which he v/as not able to ac- quire by intrigue and folicitation. His march for Mafllilipatam, by the way of Hydrabad, the capital of Golconda, alarmed Sa- labatzing, who immediately wrote to the governor of Madras for an aid of troops to prevent any in- fults from this enraged and perfidious Frenchman, who committed fome diforders in the countries through which he pafied with his forces : tho' narrowly watched by a party of Maratta horfe, which hovered about his little army all the way. Bufly had with him 400 Europeans, about as many Seapoys, and he had ordered the gover- nor of Pondichcrry to reinforce him with 400 or 500 more Europeans, to be landed at MaflTulipa- tam, about 15 days march from Hydrabad ; where he arrived with a large (lock of provifions of all forts, which he took by violence from the Bazars in his march. Salabntz- jng npplies fcr aid to the Eng- Jifh, Bufiy rein ftficed» At OF coaft of batzing, 1 of the urity for ;ainft the ed at laft Moorifh I to Pori' ns. But my with- oaccom- )le to ac- i way of rmed Sa- governor It any in- nchman, countries i : tho' ta horfe, le way. about le gover- 1 400 or -lalTulipa- d J where nCions of from the At THE LATE WAR. 350 '■■ At Hydrabad Bulfy converted a large houfc into ^- ^• a fort; whereon he mounted fome great guns, '^ and prepared to defend himfelf, and to maintain i,iili('e}J'^at that ftation, in cafe of an attack ; which he had Hythvbad. reafon to exped from his injured ally, the Viceroy Salabatzing. I'he governor of Madras having notliing to fear AiH pio- from the fide of Pondicherry, fo much weakened '"'"';^^'^'^' by the large fupplies fent to Mr. BulTy from thence, agreed to alTift Salabatzing with 400 Europeans, including a train of artillery, and 400 Sepoys ; which joined to 50,000 Moorifli horfe in the Viceroy's pay, were thought fufficient to defeat the attempts of BufTy's whole army, that did not exceed loco men. ^ut when every thing h^^^, ^i^. was fettled for their rout and fubfiftence, the lofs -"^rt'O'^'^cd. of Calcutta and all the fubordinate Englifh fettle- men ts or fadories in the kingdom of Bengal, ob- liged the governor and council to drop thisexpedi- , - tion, and do the utmoft in their power to re-eftab- lifh thofe fettlements. How far the French may be fufpeded to have favoured or fuggefted that fatal cataftrophc at Cal- cutta has not yet tranfpircd : but, as it had fuch an influence upon our affairs at this critical con- juncture, it will be proper to give the following account. Bengal is the moft eafterly province of the Mo- Benfrii, .is gul's dominions in India, lies upon the mouth ^^ a,','i 4Tent ' the Ganges, extending near 400 miles in length, ,J] from E. to W. and 300 in breadth, from N. to S. annually overflowed by the river Ganges, \yhich. A -a 4 makes I. tz .fir ^ n 360 A. D. 1756. Bay of Bengal, 1 B! Mi -r ' ■ Ganges ri • MM I ver. V-:'. :m ,v. " t m • i ■f*m ^ iHi:i ^*'|f .:■ ■ i Import- ■ llMm ance of Bengal. Defcrip- tion ot Culculla. The general HISTORY of makes it one of the richeft and moft fruitful pro- vinces in that quarter of the globe. The Bay of Bengal is the largeft and deepeft in the known world ; extending from the fouth part of Coromandel to the river Huguley. In which fpace it receives the great rivers Ganges, and Guena from the weft fide, and the Aracan and Menamkiori or Avat river from the eaft fide. But Bengal, as a coaft, is fuppofed to extend only from CapePalmiras on theN. of thecoaft of Gal- . conda, to the entrance into the Ganges ; which rifes in the mountains of Nigracut, part of Great Tartary, receives many other rivers, and after a courfc of 3000 miles falls into the Gulph of Bengal by fo many mouths, that travellers are not agreed in the number of them. However the common paflage for European fliipping is up the river Hujyulev, one of the moft weftern branches. I'he richnefs and fertility of the country, and the extenfive and fafe navigation of this large river, lliew the importance of the fettlementSj within thefe limits ; and have engaged the trading companies of the maridme nations in Europe to cftablifti fadlories upon the banks of the Ganges : which will be better defcribed by the following fur- vey of the villages, &c. on each (hore, fo far, as they ferve to convey an idea of the intereft of the Englifh united Eaft India Company. The firft town worthy obfervation on the fide or the river Hugaley is Culculla, a good market for coarfe cloth, and for corn, oil, and other pro- duce of the country. A little higher is the Dutch Banklliall, ;:i A. D. 1756. THE LATE W A n. 361 Bankfhall, or place, where their fliips ride, when the currents prevent their getting up the river. From Calculla and Juanpardoa two large deep rivers run to the E.ift ; and on the weft fide there is another that runs by the baclvof Huguley ifland to Radnager, famous for manuiacliiring cotton, Radnagor. cloth afld filk romaals, or handkerchiefs : and on the fame river is grown the greateft quantity of fugar in Bengal. Ponjelly, a little market town for corn, (lands Ponjciiy. a little higher on the eaft bank of Hugulcy er, and exports more rice than any place thereon. About a league above Ponjeliy ftands a pyramid^ which ferves for a landmark or boundary of the EngliQi Eaft India company's fettlement of Cal- cutta, that is about a league higher. At Calcutta, when this difafler happened, there Calcutta, was a fort^ in which ftood the governor's houfej and convenient apartments for the fadors and writers ; magazines for their ammunition, and ftore houfes for goods and provifions ; garrifoned by two or 300 foldiers •, who were generally employ- ed in conveying the company's fhips from Patana, orPatna, loaded with falt-petre, piece goods, opium and raw filk : for, as the company hold the colony of Calcutta in fee tail of the Mogul immediately, they were under no apprehenfions of being dif- pofleiTed by an enemy ; tho' the Rajas> whole go- vernments extend along the Ganges, between Patana and Cafiinibuzzar, had fometimes interrupted that - navigation, and endeavoured by force of arms to exa6l'the payment of certain duties for ail mer- chandize. ■■\ %:,.m 'h ■ I i;:t 362 A.D. 1756. Trade of Bengal. The Eng- lidi attack- ed by the Nabob of Bengal. Why His army and pro- ceedings. The general HISTORY of chandize, that paflcil on the coaft, by or through their dominions; which extend upwards of 1000 miles. The trade of Bengal fupplics rich cargoes for fifty or fixty fliips yearly : befides what is carried in fmall vefiels to the neighbouring countries : and the article of falt-petre only is become of fo great confequence to the European powers, that every thing has been attempted by the French and Dutch to deprive the Englilh of that advantage. For which reafon it was greatly to be fufpeded that thefe rivals in trade, that were always feeking an opportunity to ruin the Englilh intereft in the Ealt Indies, had fpirited up a new Nabob of Bengal to extirpate the Englifh fadlories within his domi- nions, under various flight pretences ; of being treated with difrefpecl by Governor Drake; of a right to certain duties, which were refufed by the company, and for giving protection to fuch perfon or perfons, that had fled to him for fanc- luary. "Whatever might be the real caufe it does not fo much concern, neither does it appear, as yet, with any certainty. Intrigue on the part of the French and Dutch ; avarice and ambition of the Nabob; and fome indifcretions and negledon the part of the Englifli, are the mofl: reafonable conjedures. About the end of May 1756, Saradjot Dollah, the new Nabob, immediately upon his eft:ablifli- ment,took the field, with an army of 30,000 horfe, 30^000 foot, and between three and 400 elephants. He ili^^P Y OP through ; of I GOO irgoes for is carried ries : and f fo great iiat every nd Dutch ige. For :<5led that beking an eft in the of Bengal his domi- of being Irake; of efufed by 1 to fuch for fanc- oes not (o as yet, part of ibition of legleft on •eafonable : Dollah, eftablifh- )00 horfe, *lephants. He THE L A T E W A R. s^^ He detached about 600 men to reduce CaJTim- A. D. buzzar p, which fort *» he fummoned to furrender -, *^^ afluring them that they fhould have caufe to re- pent their rcfiftance : which not being compHcd with, and expecting a refolute and powerful oppofition, the cunning Nabob had rccourfe to ftratagem to facilitate his intentions. He ordered 20,000 men to join the 600, and propofed a truce for an amicable determination of the fubjet^ of complaint. By this means he inveigled Mr. Watts, the chief of this fadory, to his tent, un- der promife of a fafe condudt : but Mr. Watts was no (boner in his power, than he was obliged, by threats, to fign an acknowledgment of a debt to the Nabob in a large Turn of mohy. He then infifted upon Mr. Watts's fending for MeiTrs. Collet and Batfon, two of the council -, which being complied with alio, the Nabob detained both Watts and Batfon, and fent Collet to prevail on P Caffimbuzzar, about 100 miles above Huguley, and 20 leagues weft from Dacca, are faftories both Englidi and Dutch, of which, by their company's orders, the feconds of the council ought to be the chiefs. It is a large town, much fre- quented by merchants, and ftands in a very healthy and fruit- ful ifland of the Ganges, whofc inhabitants arc employed in many valuable manufactories, efpecially muflins and filks, which are naturally yellow iOi, till the natives whiten them with the afhes, which they call there, of Adam's fig-tree. Tavernier fays, that the Dutch export 7000 bales of them from hence annually ; and, except what the natives keep for themfelves, the Tartar and Mogul merchants ingrofs the reft, which is about 15,000 bales. '1 Was fmall, regularly built, mounted 60 cannon, and had about 300 men in garrilon, the ,1 , l-ti ■l! ' ! T ' il ■■\. '! • 64 ip'm m.ri The general HISTORY or factory to furrcnc 7;ir f'ui-en- clcrs. , threatening death to his *7S^' two prifoners, whom he treated with the utmoft indignity, and hurried them away to Moxouda- vat, or Muxedabad -, and dedruftion to them all, if they would force him to take it, by aflault.- CafTimbuz- This was oppofed warmly by fcveral of the gen- tlemen in the company *s fervice : but the majority of the people prevailed -, and accordingly on the 4th of June, the faftory of Caflimbuzzar was fur- rendered to the Nabob of Bengal : which was {o far from delivering the Englifh out of their dif- trefs ; that it encouraged the haughty eaftern Prince to proceed with all his force againft our principal fettlement at Calcutta. The Moors hav- ing thus got poflefllon of the fort at Caflimbuzzar without exchanging a fingle (hot, feized upon every thing ', ill treated the people ; left them fcarce a (hirt to their backs, and, a few days after, fent them alfo to Moxoudavat, the capital of bengal, to be confined in different prifons and dungeons. The Nabob difpatched near 60,000 troops, 300 elephants, and 500 cannon to reduce Calcutta, charging the commander in chief with a letter for Governor Drake ; in which he offered to accom- modate matters with the Englifh on condition, that he would pay the arrears of his duty on trade, for 15 years paft -, to defray the expence of his army, till itfhould return to Moxoudavat, as well as what it had cofl him already, and to deliver up fome Moorifh nobles, which had taken fhelter from his tyrannies, with all their effeds, in that fadtory. To Calcutta believed. i Y or ith to his he utmoft Moxouda- ) them all, aflfault.' f the gen- ie majority ;ly on the ir was fur- ich was fo f their dif- ity eaftern gainft our 4oors hav- (Timbuzzar ;ized upon left them days after, capital of rifons and oops, 300 s Calcutta, a letter for to accom- condition, ty on trade, ence of his /at, as well deliver up [helter from hat fa6tory. To THE LATE WAR. 3^5 '£ A. D. 1756. To which Mr. Drake made no reply •, but on that letter*s being repeated twice, thrice and four times, he tore it to-pieces and trampled upon it. This fo exafpe rated the Nabob, that he came in perfon with the refidue of his army, and arrived by long marches on the 17th, before Calcutta, having driven the advanced guards from the paflTes into „ the fort. The Moors were permitted to commie the greatelt excefles in the town, which they plun- dered for 24 hours, and ftript not only the houfes, but the inhabitants, without diftindlion of age or fex, and left them naked. The enemy then threw up a fmall bread work ° oppofite to the fori, and mounted two twelve pounders upon if, which fired twice or thrice in an hour ; and fo badly ferved, that it was impof- fible for them to make a breach : however, long before any real attack had been made, Mr. Drake, who declared himfelf a quaker, rcfigned the fight- ing-pod to his fecond, and under the favour of a The ^0- thick fmoak, occafioned by the ftore- houfes and vcmor flics ' totacuups. magazines fct on fire by the Moors, conveyed all the treafure he could colle<5l from the merchants, &c. and the company's books, and carried all the ladles, and the counfcUors, with him on board the fhips, which laid off in th*" Ganges i leaving Mr. Holwell behind, who laid he would day and defend the'place to the lad extremity ; though the party that fled on board had carried 100 foldiers from the garrifon with them. Mr. Holwell thus left with only a few gentle- The fort men and fome military officers, called a council of ''°''' *^'-'" Hill { or bling of ed three ide them ■age •, Ic- ind next lace gal- le Moors •s houfes, rt, galled I the baf- lodged by pwards of ive or fix day, moit killed or elf defert- make an the fliips. ang out a capitula- cai- V his ivere now t leaving which vay, and, ance giv-i. ;?ou]d fur- without end to no The THE LATE WAR. 3^1 The foldiers difpairing of fuccefs, and quite ^•^* difabled with their continual iervice, in the evening ^ * of the 19th, knocked off the lock ot the Little vered up. Gale and let in the Moors-, who I xied feveral that firftprefented themfelves •, ftripped all naked, and loading them with irons, crammed 146 into a dungeon, called the black hole, of about 18 foot fquare, with only two windows to the weftward, at eight in the evening •, out of whom next day, there were no more than twenty three left alive at fix in the morning-, the reft beinof fmothered by the excelfive heat : and their re- leafe was owing more to the avarice of the Nabob,' than to any bowels of compallion. For, being informed that there was a confiderable trealiire fecreted in the forr, entrufted to the confidence of Mr. Holwell, the barbarous tyrant was moved to order him and his companions out of the black hole. Yet this was not the end of Mr. Holwell's mifery. He, not privy to any fnch rreafure, as Mifeiics of the Nabob queftioned him about, and three of his ^Ji'/^^^J', companions, were loaded with irons, and convey- ed three miles, in a putrid fever, to the Indian camp, and there expofed to a heavy rain all night i next day brought back to Calcutta, under the intenfe heat of the fun, and embarked in an open boat, for Moxoudavat, not only without help for people in their diftrefs ♦, but treated in a «■ Occafioned by a profufe fweat on every individual, at- tended with an infatiable thirfl ; and at laft by the Intolerable fteam that arofe from the dead bodies, as well as the livin"- a> pungent and volatile as fpirits cf hartHiorn, manner. m 'H '^ -'^ i mt-h- Mm 368 The general HISTORY of A. D. manner, that would fliock a merciful reader. Ar- '^^ * rived at the city of their deftination ; they were lodged in a ftable, led captives in chains through the ftreets, and treated as the worft of criminals ; till releafed by the pity and intercefiion of the Nabob's grandmother. Mr. Watts and his com- panion in flavery received the fame grace. But hav- ing received advice, that the Englifh (hips were making fome motions to recover their fettlement and to revenge themfelves, he ordered that all the inhabitants of Calcutta fliould withdraw and quit the country within three days, under pain of hav- ing their nofes and ears cut off: fent pioneers to razf=! the town to the ground ; and wrote to the governor of Madras, that no Englifli fubjedt fhould thence forward fettle within his territory of Bengal. This was the cafe, that fo immediately required all the aid of the government of Madras to pre- vent the Englifh being driven out, and extirpated for ever from the moft lucrative trade in falt-petre tmd the other produce, and the manufactures of thofe countries watered by the Ganges -, and to pive this fervice the preference to any other. Aidfentto Accordingly it was refolved to drop the agree- ment with Salabatzing% and to difpatch 600 Europeans, and 1000 Sepoys, under the command of Captain Clive, againft the Nabob or Suba of Bengal, in order to reftore the company's factories and commerce. Bengal. ' See before, p. 359. In Y OF der. Ar- :hey were IS through criminals ; ion of the 1 his com- . Buthav- fhips were fettlemenc hat all the V and quit lin of hav- pioneers to ote to the lifh fubjed territory of ly required iras to pre- 1 extirpated falt-petre ifadlures of es -, and to ither. ) the agree- patch 600 e command or Suba of y's factories In TH£ LATE WAR. 3^9 In confequence of this refolution, Silabatzlng A. D. was under necefTity to hearken to the French terms ' ^ * r of accommodation, and to receive them into his fcrvice : and Bufly, reinforced by 500 Europeans, under Mr. Law, began the new year (1756) with The bid the conqueft of Ingeram, Baudermalanka and his'agiec- Vizagapatam, faflories belonging to the Englifh. '"^"' ;;'"^[j This having been forefeen, the greateft part of the company's efFedls were lliipped off, from the two former places, immediately upon the firft alarm of hoftilities. And as the latter was in no condi- tion to withftand 600 Europeans, 6000 Sepoys, 4000 Pikemen, and 30 pieces of cannon, which M. BulTy brought againft it, whofe garrifon con- fided of no more than 140 Europeans, and 420 Sepoys and Topafles, it furrendered by capitula- tion ; in which it was agreed, " To deliver up the cnpitnia- " place, the fortifications, the artillery, marine ^'°" °^_^'' " and military flores, arms, fhip-ftores, &c. to tam. ** the company of France ; as alfo all that fhould ** be found in the different magazines belonging " to the Englifli company ; that the chief, the *' council, and all thofe employed in the Englifh " company's iervice, the officers and all others, " both civil and military, to be prifoners of war, ** on their parole : that all the foldiers, failors and " other Europeans fhould be prifoners, as long as *' the war fliculd continue between the King of *• France and the King of England, or till they " fliould be exchanged.'* Befides the capture of thi^ place gave the French the entire pofTclTion of the coafl from Ganjam to MelTulapatani. Vo L. L B b Affairs 8 ■ Revolt and iiAirpation of Mau- phus Cawn. 370 The general HISTORY of A. D. Affairs did not fucceed much better in the '^^ * fouthern provinces of the Indies. The governor of St. George refolved to fend 1000 Sepoys and the Coffree company from Trichinopoly, under the command of Mahomed Ifouf Cawn, to re- duce the rebel Polygars, who, by the indignation of the French, had united againll: the Nabob's brother Mauphus Cawn ; had obtained feveral advantages over his troops, and had blocked up a large party in a ftrong fort, between Madura and Tinevelly. But the day before thefe troops began their march, advice came that Mauphus Cawn, had not only obtained a complete vi(^ory over the rebels, killed the general and 2000 colleries, and taken 300 horfe, and all their bagg^g^, guns, and fome ele- phants, in a battle fought within feven miles of Tinevelly •, but that he had ufurped and feized upon his brother's country ; having firfl under falie and frivolous pretences, prevailed with our Sepoys to quit the fortrefs of Madura. In North America the lolTes and difappoint- ments of the expeditions, for the defence of the Ohio, the territories yet uncultivated, and the {qz- tlements made by the Britifli fubjects on the back of our provinces, on the fouth of the bay of St. Lawrence, txpofed our colonies to the inroads and barbarities of the French and their Indian confe- derates, during the winter ; and were chiefly -dC- cribed to the appointment of improper command- ers on that continent. For, it mult be confefTed, that there wr.s a great overfight in the miniftry ; firfl:, to chufe a man for that fervice, who was totally Affairs of North A- mcrica. { OF • in the governor poys and„ y, under n, to re- g^ation of s brother Wantages rge party rinevelly. •ir march, not only :1s, killed ^kcn 300 fome ele- miles of nd feized rft under with our ifappoint- ce of the d the kt- the back ay of St. oads and m confe- hiefly af- >mmand- onfeffed, niniftry ; vho was totally THE LATE WAR. 37^ A. D. 1756. totally unacquainted with the country, to which he was fent, and with the fervice, which he was to perform : and one, whofe ralh and precipitant temper made him unqualified for a fervice, whofe fuccefi. depended upon the mod cool, wary and circumfpe6l attention and forefight : and then to fend him without a companion, equal to the pod, and to fucceed him in the chief command, in cafe of death, or other fatal accident. By the firft fault, we have feen that Braddock's expedition was rendered unfuccefsful *, and the territory on the back of Virginia and Penfylvania was particularly left expofed to the ravages of a cruel enemy : and by the fecond miftake, the chief command, upon the death of General Braddock, devolved on Ge- neral Shirley, a man, who had been worn out in oenen)! the praftice of the law, as a barriiter ; who was Jij^j^a^^r* naturally diffident, flow, and inert ; who had never feen battle, or fiege, and who had, neverthelefs, been made commander in chief of the King's armies in North America, with the appointments and pay of the great Duke of Marlborough. This points out the erroneous condud of the miniftry; but in no wife intended, as a flur on the chara6ter of Mr. Shirley, who obtained the government of Bofton by his merit j was reckoned an able politi- cian ; underftood the intereft of his country well ; had the honour of his Majefty and the welfare of his country very much at heart-, was employed in the commifllo;i to fettle the limits betvveea I' I- ^ -■': Ml » Seepage 145, &c. B b 2 England ^A.'i. A. D. 1756. ; t <>:i}^ f :*^ •I' The general HISTORY of England anc! France in North America, &:c. in ; which great truft he acquitted himfclf with hon-* our •, and from his thorough knowledge of his Britannic Majefty's title to that continent, he feems^ to have been entrufted with the affairs thereof. The miferies, to which the back fettlements were expofed, by feveral niifcarriages of the ex-' psditions carried on laft fummer, again ft Fort du Qiielhe, Niaguara and Crown Point, and the fatal eonfequences, which were forefeen would follow a want of a fuperior force, to oppofe and repel the French, and to drive them off from the Bri- tifh territories -, and that difunion and difagree- ment, which ffill continued amongft the provinces, about raifing neceffary fupplies of mcr* and money, for the common fafety, greatly alarmed thofe, who were neareft the feat of danger, and pioduc- ed feveral fpirited remonftrances to their rulers, and inftructions to their reprefentatives, fetting vinces moiV forth. That wlicn they faw the views of an ambi- daS^.r. ° tious potent Prince, extended in defiance and in open violation of the moft folemn treaties with the native Indians, and the crown of Great Bri* tain •, and his fubjedls feizing lands undoubtedly within his Majefty's grants, fortifying themfclves thereon, affifted by all the native forces of Canada, and large numbers of veteran foldiers from France, opening thereby a fliort and eafy paffage to our own back fettlements : that, when tney refledled, that thefe intruders ar^ the avowed enemies of our trade, liberty, property, laws and religion, the utter extirpation of *yhich, can only fatisfy them: when Remon- ftrances of the pro THE LATE WAR. 373 i OF I, &c. in /ith hon- ge of his , he feems hereof, ettlements of the ex-' ft Fort du d the fatal uld follow and repel n the Bri- .1 cUfagree- I provinces, md money, lied thofe, md pioduc- Seir rulers, ves, fetcing )f an ambi- ance and in reaties with Great Bri- ndoubtedly themfclves of Canada, om France, fifage to our refleded, mies of our ;ligion, the ,tisfy them: whcii when they confidered that this appears to be the ^- ^' grand leading ftroke in all their ambitious views, and the only way to bring about an arbitrary and tyrannical empire, and introduce a bloody and per- fccuting religion, ihroughoMt all the continent of North America : to fuccecd in which they ob- ferved them to a6t in one uniform manner, guided by one ready council, all diredled to one fi>.'ed and unalterable point •, their ftrcngth confifting in union, and their profpe(51: of fuccefs founded on the prefent unhappy disjointed ftate of our colo- nies ; which appears fo evident to our Indian allies, that fdf-prefervation has induced many of their warriors to go over to the French, believing ei- ther that our circumftances are defperate, or that we are an eafy, effeminate and daftardly people, and confequently not to be relied on, being doubtful that the Englifh would not make any provifion againft the impending dangers. They could not forbear being alarmed at a fituatjon fo fliocking to every true fubjed of Great Britain : and that it was with the utmoft concern they had feen thofe evils, from fmall beginnings, rife by degrees to the moft threatning dangers ; and that they could not help attributing their monftrous growth to the private views, inadion, irrefolu- tion, and dilunion of the feveral legiflative powers of Britifh America : So that, an invafion, which the natural ftrength of the colonies united, and an eafy expence, might have once repelled, is now become matter of ferious concern and im- portance to their mother country, and calls for q. B b 3 provincial :i I- ' 1IP 1' 374 The general HISTORY of 1. V. A D. 1756. nia 1 1 Si' provincial afTiftance in arms and money ; and muft coft immenfe fums to tliofe colonies, which a friendly union and care might have favcd. Had no ef. Solemn and well grounded as thefe remonftran- thtqu'likl-is ces were, the fpirit of oppofition ftill continued, fcmbr'of e^ccially in the afiembly of Penfylvania-, in Pcniyiva- which thc leading men, amongft the quakers, did all in their power to obftrudl the pafTing any bill for raifing money, and for eftablilhing a militia ; and fome of them went fo far as to vindicate th6 enemy, and to advife forbearance, as the- be.ft means to fecure their liberty and property. To confirm this delufion, which had feized upon the majority of the reprefentatives, many preachers, 1 1 111 o • ^ Demand God and nature, and under the protection of go- relief and vernment. Thefe unhappy and deferred people P^'^^'^^'^'°"* applied themfelves firfl: to the governor, who pitied their difl:refs ; told them that he had done all in his power to gain from the afiiembly the re- lief they follicited, and fliewed them the order for 5000 1. from the proprietaries, to be hid out as a free gift in defence of the province. Upon which Bring they hurried to the Staut-houfe with a waggon '^"'^'l *'^1"^ J ^ 00 nnirdercd loaded with the dead bodies of their friends, who fnends. had been fcalped about 60 miles off, by the Indians •, threw them down at the door of the aflembly houfe ; curfing the quakers principles, and bid If f 578 A- D. 1756. Attend- ed with threats. The general HISTORY of bid the committee of afTembly behold the fruits of their obftinacy, and confefs that their pretended fanAity would not fave the province without the ufe of means •, at the fame time threatning, th^t if they fliould come down on the like errand again, and find nothing done for their proteftion, the confequences (hould be fatal *. And this wzis declared with fuch marks of grief and miferyin their faces, who had loft their wives, their chil- dren, and the labour of their whole lives, that they, either moved by the diftrefs, or over-awed by the threats of the injured people, immediately dropped all their difputcs; pafled the money-bill for 60,000 1. on the fame terms offered to therti in Auguft laft ; and alfo paffed a militia- bill, by * The quakers, Icaft the aflcmbly fliould waver in their oppofition, fu'emnly conjured them, in a public addrefs, not to grant any money for purpofes inconfiftent with the peace- able TESTIMONY they profcfTed, as it would deftroy the religious iiberties and the fundartiental part of their cohftitii- tion ; for which their forefathers left their cduntry, and fettled that, then a wildernefs ; declaring alfo, that if a tax fliould be granted to raife money for any uupeaceuhle pui-pofes, many would be undfer a neceffity of fnffering, rather than conferlt thereto, by the payment of it. The other inhabitants of the province addreffed them in the ftrongeft terms, to come into contrary meafures. *• We hope, faid they, that we flia'l always be able to preferve that refped for you, which is due to the faithful rcprefentatives of freemen ; but on the prefcnt bccafion you will forgive us, if we aflume cha- rafters higher th&n that of humble fuiters, praying for the de- fence of our lii-es and properties, as a matter of grace : yoti will permit us to make a pofitivc and ablolutfe demand cif it, as a matter of perfedl and unalienable right by the laws of God and Iftan. which Y OF ic fruits bf pretended ithout the ning, thilt ike errand proteftion, d this wzis mifcry in their chil- lives, that over-awed imediately money-bill ] to therti ia-bill, by iver in their addrefs, not I the PEACE- deftroy the leir cohftitd- y, and fettled a tax fhould rfo/t's, many :han conferit inhabitants [I terms, to 1 they, that :6l for you, ffie/i; but on aflume cha- 3 for the dei- RACE : yoli DEMAND df by the laws which "tut L At fe W A R. which thofc, who bear ariYis, might be formed into regular bodies, fubjed to difcipline, and rendred morfc able to fcrve their country, and more terrible to their enemies. Which being the firlt militia- ad ever pafTcd in Penfylvania, and containing fome very remarkable pafliiges, in regard to the fcrupnlofity of thofc, who refiife to bear arms for the defence of their country and of their own li- berty, property and religion ; the reader will find it at the bottom of the page >'. In • ■ y yf» A£i for the better oi'dering and regulating fuch as art nvi/Zing and dejtrous to be united for military purpofes ^within the prtmince of Petifyl'vamai pajjed Nonj. 25, 17554 "l^'Hereas this province was firft fettled by (and a majority of the allemblics have ever fmce been of) the people called Quakers, who, though they do not, as the world is now ciicumftanced, condemn the ufe of arms in others, yet are principled againft bearing arms themfelvcs ; and to make any law to compel them thereto, againft their confcicnces, would not be only to violate a fundamental in our conflitu- tion, and be a cjireft breach of our charter of privileges, but would alfo in efFedl be to commence perfecution againft all that part of the inhabitants of the province : and for them by any law to compel others to bear arms, and exempt them- felves, would be inconfiftent and partial. Yet forafmuch as by the general toleration and equity of our laws, great num- bers of people of other religious denominations are come among us, who are under no fuch rcllraint, fome of whom have been difciplined in the art of war, and confcientioufly think it their duty to fight in defence of their country, their Wives, their families, and eftates, and fuch have an equal right to liberty of confciencc with others. And whereas a great number of petitions from the feveral counties of this province, have been prefenied to this houl'c, fetting forth, that 579 A. D. 1756. ^^nlv; r . I \ "» 38o The GENERAL HISTORY of A. n. In Virginia the government, prevailed upon by ' the miferies fuffered by the back-fetders, who had been that the petitioners are very willing to defend thcmfclves and country, and defirous of being fcjtmed into regular bodies for that purpofe, inftrufted and difciplined under proper officers, with fuitable and legal authority ; reprefcnting withal, that unlefs meafures of this kind are taken, fo as to unite them together, fubjeift them to due command, and thereby give them confidence in each other, they cannot affemble to op- pofe the enemy, without the utmoft danger of expofing them- fclves to confufion and deftruftion. And whereas the voluntary afiembling of great bodies of armed men from different parts of the province on any occa- iional alarm, whether true or falfe, as of late hath happened, without call or authority from the government, and without due order and dire(5lion among themfelves, may be attended with danger to our neighbouring Indian friends and allies, as well as the internal peace of the provincie. And whereas the Governor hath frequently recommended it to the Afiembly, that in preparing and pr.fllng a law for fuch purpofes, they fhould have a due regard to fcrupulous and tender confciences, which cannot be done where com- pulfive means are ufed to force men into military fervice ; Therefore, as we rcprefent all the people of the province, and are compofed of members of different relij^ious perfuafions, wc do not think it reafonable that any fliould, through a want of legal powers, be in the lead retrained from doing what they judge it their duty to do for their own fccurity and the public good i wc, in compliance with the faid petitions and recommcudations, do oiTer it to the Governor to be cnn6led, And be it enacted, by and with the advice and confent of the reprefentatives of the freemen of the faid piovincc in general aflembly met, and by the authority of the fame. That from and after the publication of this aft, it fhall and may be lawful for the freemen of this province to form -themfelves into companies, as heretofore they have ufed in time of war without ^4^ fim. THE LATE WAR. been killed or taken, to the number of 70 perfons, ordered the militia of the counties of Dumfries, Prince without law, and for each company, by majority of votes in the way of ballot, to chufc its own officers. And that as foon as the faid companies and regiments are formed, and their officers commiffioned, it fliall and may be lawful to and for the governor, or commander in chief, by and with the advice and confcnt of the colonels, lieutenant- colonels and majors of all the regiments, to form, make, and cftabliih articles of war, for the better government of the forces, that (hall be under their command, and for bringing offenders againft the fame to juftice; and to erecl and conili- tute courts-martial, with power to hear, try, and determine any crimes or offences by fuch articles of war, and inflift pe- nalties by fentence or judgment of the fame on thofe, who fliall be fubjeft thereto, in any place within this province.- ■ Provided always, that the articles fo to be made and efla- blifhed, fhall contain nothing repugnant, but be as near as pof- fible conformable to the military laws of Great Britaiti and to the articles of war made and eftablifhed by his Majefty in purfuance of the lail: acl of parliament for punifhing mutiny and defertion, the different circumftances of this province compared with Great Britain, and of a voluntary militia o;'^ freemen, compared with mercenary flanding troops, being duly weighed and maturely confidered. Provided alfo, that nothing in this ad fliall be underfiood or conftrued to give any power or authority to the governor or commander in chief, and the faid ofiicers, to make any articles or rules that (hall in the Icafl afFeft thofe of the inha- bitants of the province who are confcientioudy fcrupulous of bearing arms, either in their liberties, perfons or eUates ; ncr any other perlbns of what perfuafion or denomination foever, who have not firft voluntarily and freely f:gned the faid ar- ticles after due confideration as aforefaid. Provided alio, that no youth, under the age of twenty-one years, nor any bought fervant or indented apprentice, fliall be admitted to enroll himfelf, or be capable of being enrolled in 381 A. d: 1756. ^H The general HISTORY or i. A. r>. Prince William and Fairfax to be draughted ; and '75°* that 1 60 of them fliould march out of Winchefter towards the fouth branch of the river Potomac, where feveral late murders had been committed ; and 500 more were draughted about the middle of Odlober, from the regiments at other places, and oraered to rendezvous at Fort Cumberland, to prevent further excefles from the French and Indians in thofe quarters, who had depopulated five or fix counties, and cut off the correfpond- ence with Fort Cumberland and Wills's Creek, for a time. The Moravian fcttlement at Guaden Hutten, or Mohony Creek, about 85 miles from Phila- in the faid companies or regiments, without the confent of his or their parents or guardians, mailers or miftrefTcs, in writing under their hands firft had and obtained *. Provided alfo, that no enliftment or enrollment of any per- fon in ar.y of the companies or regiments to be formed and raifed as aforefaid, (hall proteft fuch perfon in any fuit or civil aftion brought againll him by his creditors or others, except during his being in a^ftual fervice in field or garrifon ; nor from a profecution for any offence committed againft the laws of this province. Provided alfo, that no regiment, company, or party of volunteers, fliall, by virtue of this ad, be compelled or led more than three days march beyond the inhabited parts of the province; nor detained longer than three weeks in any garrifon, without an exprefs engagement for that purpofe, firft voluntarily entered into and fubfcribed by every man fo to march or remain in garrifon. This aft to continue in force until the 30th of Odlob' .iext, and no longer. * See how this agrees with the claufe in the aft paffed in No- vember luft at Weftminfter, page Z12. delphia. or edi and inchefter ^otomac, nmitted : e middle ;r places, nberland, •ench and populated irrefpond- Creek, for 1 Hutten, om Phila- onfent of his :,s, in writing t of any per- formed and 1 any fuit or s or others, or garrifon j againft the or party of Celled or led [ted parts of [ecks in any lat purpofe, tvery man fo )ftob' .^ext, jaffed in No- delphia. THE L A . E WAR. S83 A. D. 1756. delphia, was deftroyed by the Indians, led on by the French, only two perfons efcaping alive •, who continued burning and deftroying every thing they met with, and barbaroufly murdered all, with- out regard to age or fex. Which had fuch an efFedt that the fettlers at Bethlem and Nazareth, amongft whom were many Moravians, formed themfelves into bodies, to oppofe and defend them- felves againft the enemy, and thereby prevented the like outrages for the future in thofe parts. Thefe, and an infinite more calamities, were strength of dally reported from the weftern frontiers of our the French. colonies ; where the French were in pofleiTion of the vaft country on the Ohio, fecured for the pre- fent by Fort du Qtiefne ; and had cut off the Indian iiations from our colonies by Crown Point and Fort Cohaffer, Niaguara and Frontenac, and a multitude of fmall forts, on the back of New England and New York, that commanded all the pafles and the lakes ; and by Fort Conde, and its commandaries, properly eftabliflied behind the Carolina's, to finifh that chain, intended to girt all the Englifli colonies from Nova Scotia to Georgia : and the French in Canada employed the whole winter in preparations for the fiege of Of- wego, and to complete their operations on the Ohio -, placing ftrong garrifons at Crown Point and Ticonderoga ; from whence, and other fta- tions, they fent out fmall parties to dillrefs the Englifli out-fettlements. On our part, General Shirley exerted the ut- moft of his Ikill and intereft to unite the Pro- vinces J f ■) iwfii 1^ -• •- V • ^ i' ' '} II IK:; ti b 384 The general HISTORY op A. D. vinces in vigorous meafures for the next cam-' ^^ * P^^g" j ^"d was fo fuccefsful, as to efFecft in fome meafure the long-wifhed for union of the Governors of New England and New York, in the common caufe of defence againft- the encroachments of the enemy -, in particular, to avenge the deftruftion of their back-fettlements, and to attack Crown Point with 8000 New Englandmen and 1,300 men from New York •, and to conciliate many of the Indians to the Britidi interefl:, who had gone over unto, or had given great fi^fpicion of their intentions to join, the French. But he was recalled before an opportunity ferved to carry his winter councils into adion *, being iuperfeded in his chief com- mand, at Albany, by Colonel Webb, who deli- vered to him his Majefly's orders to repair to England without delay, dated the 31ft of March ♦, his Majefty having, on the 17th day of February preceding, appointed John, Earl of Loudon, Ge- neral and Governor in Chief of Virginia ; and on the 20th General and Commander in Chief of all his forces in North America. Affairs in ^" Nova Scotia matters did not favour the ene- Nova Sco- my at all. General Lawrence purfued his fuc- cefs, and was obliged to ufe much feverity, to extirpate the French neutrals and Indians, who refufed to conform to the laws of Great Britain, or to fwear allegiance to our Sovereign, and had engaged to join the French troops in the fpring, expected to arrive from Old France, as early as poflU>le, on that coaft, or at Louifbourg -, fome of which, with ammunition, ftores, 6tc. fell into the hands I tia. ( OF ext cam- it in feme jovernors common nts of the riiftion of own Point men from he Indians )ver unto, tentions to led before er councils chief com- who deli- ► repair to of March ♦, f February Dudon, Ge- and on hief of all la ?d ur the ene- his fuc- everity, to dians, who eat Britain, and had the fpring, as early as y ; fome of iell into the hands 1, THE LATE WAR. hands of our cruizers off Cape Breton. , General Lawrence did not only purfue thofe dangerous in- habiiants with fire and Iword, laying the. country wade, burning their dwellings, and .driving ofF their ftock \ but he thought it expedient for his Majefty's fervice, to tranfport the French neutrals, fo as entirely to extirpate a people, that only waited an opportunity to join the enemy. This meafure was very commendable. But the excution of it was not quite fo prudent. The method taken by the General to fecure his pro- vince from this pefl-, was to diftribute them, in number about feven thoufand, among the Britifh colonies, in that rigorous feafon of winter, almofl: naked, and without money or effeCls to help them- felves. In which diftribution too many were tranfported to thofe colonies, where they might with great eafe get to the French forts, or might iacilitate any enterprize from thofe forts, on the back of our provinces on the fouth of the Bay of St. Lawrence. Befides it was exercifing a power he had no riffht unto. For his comma id reached not beyond the limits of Nova Scotia : and this was lo;^ding each government, into which thofe neutrals were tranfported, with an arbitrary and great expence. • ' This may be exemplified in the cafe of Penfil- vania. The quota impofed upon that province were 415, men, women and children. • They landed in a moll deplorable condition at Phila- dtlphia, to be maintained by the province, or turned loofe to beg their bread : and this city not Vot. I. C 6 9 385 A. D. 1756. (hi '■ t French neutrals how dif- polcd of. In Pciilll-. vania. being r • ( > < ' '■ ■■ * ^U The general HISTORY of A. D. being abo\rc two hundred miles diftant from Fort ^^^ ' d'j Quefne, it was very probable, the men might endeavour to get unto, and join their countrymen at that fort 5 or to ftrengthen the parties, which hovered about the frontiers, and were continually laying wafte the back fettlements. The government, in order to get clear of the charge, fuch a company of miferable wretches would require to maintain them, propofed to fell them, with their own confent : but when this ex- pedient for their fupport was offered to their con- fideration, the tranfports rejedled it with indigna- tion, alledging. That they were prifoners, and expeded to be maintained, as fuch •, and not forced to labour. They further faid. That they had not violated their oath of fidelity, which, by the treaty of Utrecht, they were obliged to take j and that they were ready to renew that oath, but that a new oath of obedience having been pre- fcribed to them, by which, they app ided, the neutrals would be obliged to bear arn: .gainft the French, they could not take it, and thought they could not be compelled to do it. Thus Ge- neral Lawrence cleared tlie country of the French neutrals 5 and the Indians in their intereft, who had been very troublefome, being moft of them Roman catholicks, retired to Canada for pro- tedion. Which eflabliflied peace and tranquillity throughout the province of Acadia or Nova Sco* tia, according to its antient limits, as ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of Utrecht ; till Fe- bruary 1756, when a party of 300 French and ^ Indians f OF From Fort len might untrymcn es, which ontinually ear of the ; wretches >fed to fell :n this ex- their con- h indigna- )ners, and , and not That they which, by ;d to take j t oath, but been pre- p ided, rnr .gainft id thought Thus Ge- the French cereft, who ft of them for pro- tranquillity Nova Sco- ts ceded to i till Fe- ^^rcnch and Indians V THE L AT E W A R. 3^7 Indians returned to make inroads about Chieg- A. D, nefto, and to cut off the Englilh wood-rutters, *7S^« as they Uved in a (late jf fecurity ^rom an enemy, fj^fj^^^j^j^,"'! Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, having intelligence of p»tei Nova this party, marched with 300 provincials in queft Oi them, came up with them, killed eight Indians on the fpot, and wounded a confiderable number of the enemy ; as was conjedlured from the vaft quantity of blood, which the Englifli faw, in the puffuit after thofe invaders. Let us hence return to Europe, and refume the Affairs of affairs on the continent. The treaty concluded "'°f^' between his Britannic Majefty and the King of Pruffia, furniflied the court of Vienna with a pre- tence to form an alliance with the court of Ver- Treaty of failles, in order to facilitate a much further view, between which it had been watching an opportunity to ^'"^"^ ^"'^ effeft, againft the King of Pruffia. In confe- quence of this alliance treaties were drawn up, between thofe two covrts, under the name of treaties of friendlhip and neutrality ^, with a for- mal » By which the contrading parties reciprocally obliged themfelvcs to the guarantee of all their dominions in Eu- rope: and to furnilh each other with 18,000 foot, and 6000 horfe ; or with a proportionable fum of money, viz. 8000 German florins for 1000 infantry, and 24,000 ditto for looo cavalry, in cafe of any attack from any power whatever. This treaty was preceded by the following convention of neutrality, which was figned the fame day. The differences between his moft Chriftian Majefty and the King of Great Britain, concerning the limits of their re- fpei\ive poflelhons in America, feeniing more and more to Auftria. I if *?u»Sujii. C c 2 threaten ■a I 1-' f:^^ 388 A. D. 1756. Its inten- tion. The general HISTORY of mal invitation to neighbouring powers to accede thereunto; and folemn .?iTurances that the con- tradling parties had no ether view than to prelerve the general tranquility of Europe, and to prevent the flames of war, already kindled between Great Britain and France, from fpreading to other coun- tries. But, notwithflanding thefe pacific declara- tions, the King of PrufTia foon difcovered, th?.t the principal end propofed by the Emprefs Qiieen, in this alliance, was the recovery of Silefia-, in M-'l threaten the public tranquility,' his moft Chriftian Majcfty, and the Emprefs Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, who equally defired the unalterable duration of the friendlhip and good underllanding that now happily fubfifts between them, have thought it necelTary to take proper meafures for that pur- pofe. To this end the Emprefs Queen declares and promifes, in the moft folemn and binding manner, that ftie will not, either diredlly or indireftly, take any part in the above differences, in which fhe is now no way concerned, but on the contrary fiie will obferve an exaft and perfedl neutrality during the whole time of the war that may be occafioned by the faid differences between England and France. His moll Chriftian Majefty on his part, far from defiring to engage any other power in his private quarrel with England, reciprocally declares and promifes, in the nr.oft folemn and binding manner, that he will, on no pretext or reafon what- foever, attack or invade the Low Countries, or any other kingdoms, ftates or provinces, under the dominion of her Majefty the Emprefs Queen ; as likewife neither direftly nor indireftly injure her poffeilions or rights j which her Majefty the Emprefs Queen doth in the fame manner promife with re- s fpeft to the kingdoms, ftates, and provinces, of his moft ■ Chriftian Majefty. This convention or aft of neutrality fliall be ratified by the Emprefs Queen within the fpace of fix months, or fooner if poflible. which r OF to accede the con- ) prelerve prevent een Great :her coun- ic declara- :rcd, th?.t its Qtieen, Silefiav in tian Majcfty, , who equally ip and good 1 them, have for that pur- promifes, in n\\ not, either re differences, • contrary ihe ing the whole lid differences )m defiring to vith England, : folemn and leafon what- or any other linion of her ;r direftly nor I her Majefty imife with re- of his moll eutrality fli.'iU fpace of fix , '•» *. .-1 * which THE LATE WAR. 3S9 i A.D. 1756. which France, who had afTifted him in the con- queft thereof, a few years before, did now con- cur with her new ally ; it being, at this time, the intereft of the French court to reduce the power of one, who is no longer to be made their tool in the ruin of Germany. His Pruflian Majefly was further confirmed in his opinion concerning the hoftile intentions of thofe powers towards him, by the intercourfe of thefc two courts with Pe- terfburgh. To which firft Vienna, and then Ver- failles fent a fpecial minifter. From thence he concluded that a projecft was carrying on, by thofe three courts, againft him ; becaufe his power was obnoxious to them all. And he was foon convinced of the truth of thefe conjeflures : for, early in the fpring of this year, he received certain intel- ligence, that the two imperial courts had agreed upon a plan to unite their forces, and to invade his dominions. In this fituation, he took every meafure, that could be fuggefted by the utmoft vigilance and magnanimity •, as will foon appear in the courfe of this hiftory. The adual invafion of Minorca, at lafl:, drew on that open and formal declaration of war from affairs. Great Britain, which had been provoked, and ought to have been done long before •, as we have fhewn by fufficient evidences, in the courfe of this hiftory ; wherein almoft every page exhibits fome breach of faith, hoftile intrigue or open hoftility of the French, from the very figning of the treaty of Aix-la-ChapcUe ; and which is confirmed C c 3 by Domeftic 1 M. ■; ! • \ -'IJi: ' II m 390 The general HISTORY or A. D. by his Maje(ly*s declaration publilhed on the 1 8th ^ ' of May, 1756, in this form and thefe words. His Majejlfs declaration of war againji the French King, agninft the Ficiicli King. GEORGE REX. Declara- ^T"^ fj £ unwarrantable proceedines of the French tion of war ■ r a in the Weft Indies and North America, fince the conclufion of the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and the ufurpations and encroachments made by them upon our territories, and the fettlements of our fubjeds in thofe parts, particularly in our pro- vince of Nova Scotia, have been fo notorious, and fo frequent, that they cannot but be looked upon, as a fufficient evidence of a formed defign, and relolution in that court, to purfue invariably fuch meafures as fhould moft effedually promote their ambitious views, without any regard to the moft folemii treaties and engagements. We have not been wanting on our part, to make from time to time the moft ferious reprelentations, to the French King upon thefe repeated ads of violence, and to endeavoir to obtain redrefs and fatisfaftion fop the injuries done to our fubjeds, and to prevent the like caufes of complaint for the future : but though frequent afllirances have been given, that every thing fhould be fettled agreeable to the trea- ties fubfifting between the two crowns, and parti- cularly, that the evacuation of the four neutral iflands in the Weft Indies fhould be efteded, (which was V .1: Y OF 1 the i8th rords. litjji the :he French ;rica, fince -Chapelle, made by lements of in our pro- orious, and )ked upon, lefign, and riably fuch >motc their 5 the moft e have not :>m tinne to the French ice, and to 'action for to prevent uture : but griven, that to the trea- and parti- )ur neutral ited, (which was It' THE LATE W A R. was cxprelly promifed to our Ambaflador in France) the execution of thefe aflurances, and of the treaties, on which they were founded, has been evaded under the moft frivolous pretences : and the uniuftifiable pra(5tices of the French Gover- nors, and of the officers adting under their au- thority, were dill carried on, till, at length, in the month of April 1754, they broke out into open a(5ls of hoftility, when in time of profound peace, without any declaration of war; and with- out any previous notice given, or application made, a body of French forces, under the command of an officer bearing the French King's commiffion, attacked in a hoftile manner, and poffefled them- felves of the Enlifli fort on the Ohio in North America. But notwithftanding this aft of hoftility, which could not but be looked upon as a commence- ment of war ♦, yet, from our earneft defire of peace, and in hopes fhe court of France would difavow this violence and injuftice, we contented ourfelves with fending fuch a force to America as was indifpenfably neceflary for the immediate de- fence and protection of oqr fubjeds, agj»inft frelh attacks and infglts. In the mean time great naval armaments were preparing in the ports of France, and a confider- able body of French troops embarked for North America j and though ^he French Ambaflador was fent back to England with fpecious profeffions of a defire to accommodate thefe differences, yet it appeared, that their real defign was only to gain C c 4 time 391 A. D. i7S6. 'IH!|| »! • J il 392' A. D. 1756. The -GENERAL HISTORY of time for the palTage df thofe troops to America, which they hoped would fecure the fuperiority of the French forces in thofe parts, and enable them to carry their ambitious and opprefTive projedls into execution. In thefe circumftances we could not but think it incumbent upon us to endeavour to prevent the fiiccefs of fo dangerous a defign, and to oppofe the landing of the French troops in America j and in confequence of the juft and neceffury meafures we had taken for that purpofe, the French Am- balTadorwas immedir^.tely recalled from our court; the fortifications at Dunkirk, which had been re- pairing for fome time, were enlarged ; great bo- dies of troops marched down to the coaft, and our kingdoms were threatened with an invafion. In order to prevent the execution of thefe de- figns and to provide for the fecurity of our king- doms, which were thus threatened, we could no longer forbear giving orders for the feizing at fea the fhips of the French King, and his fubjeds : notwithftmding which, as we were ftill unwilling to give up all hopes that an accommodation might be cffefted, we have contented ourfelves hitherto with detaining the faid fhips, and preferving them and (as far as was polfible) their cargoes entire, without proceeding to the confilcation of them : but it b^ing now evident, by the hoftile invafion aflualiy made by the French King, of our ifland ftf Minorca, that it is the detiermined refolutibn of that court, to hearken'io no terms of peace, but to' carry on the war, which has been long begun V '-^ •-' on •■■>» 'ti- f OF America, priority (/f ible them t projefts 3Ut think event the to oppofe rica i and meafures ;nch Am- )ur court ; 1 been re- great bo- loaft, and nvafion. - thefe de- our king- could no ing at fea fubje6ts : unwilling ion might J hitherto 'ing them es entire, of them : I invafion [)Ur iOand 3lutibn of eace, but jg begun on THE LATE WAR." on their part, with the utmoft violence, we can ,no longer remain, confidently with what we owe to our own honour, and to the welfare of our fubjefts, within thofe bounds, which, from a de- fire of peace, we had hitherto obferved. - We have therefore thought proper to declare war, and we do hereby declare war, againft tlicj French King, who hath fo unjuftly begun it, re- lying on the help of Almighty God in our juft undertaking, and being afllired of the hearty con- currence and afllflance of our fubje(?is in Ibpport of fo good a caufe; hereby willing and rcqurinrr our Captain- General of our forces, our Commif- fioners for executing tlie ofnce of our Higli Ad- miral of Great Britain, our Lieutenants* of our fe- veral counties. Governors of our forts and gar- rifons, and all other officers and foldiers under them, by fea and land, to do and execute all afls of hoftility, in the profecution of this war, againft the French King, his vaffals, and fubjedls, and to oppofe their attempts; willing and requiring all our fubjedls to take "notice of the fame, whom we henceforth ftridly forbid to hold any correfpond- ence or communication with the faid French King, or his fubjefts : and we do hereby command our own fubjedls, and advertife all other per Ion :^, of what nation foever, not to tranfport or carry any foldiers, arms, powder, ammunition, or other contraband goods, to any of the territories, lands, plantations, or countries of the faid French King ; declaring, that whatfoevcr ihip or vefil-l fhail be met withal, tranfporting or carrying any foldiers, :f> • arms, i 393 A. D. 1756. '1\ ■ .,,,-■, . -■M Mi: H] 394 The general HISTORY of A. D. arms, powder, ammunition, or any other contra-* '^^ ■ band goods, to any of the territories, lands, plaa- tations or countries of the faid French King, the fame, being taken, fhall be condemned as good and lawful prize. xm And whereas there are ren.aining in our king- dom, divers of the fubjeds of the French King, we do hereby declare our royal intention to be, that all :h^ French fubjefls, who fhall demean themfelves dutifully towards us, fhall be fafe in their perfons and effeds. Remarks on the de var.> Certainly the found of war never echoed with -■ more fatisfa6lion, than at the prefent conjundlurc. It was the general requeft of the nation; efpe- cially of them who were to fight our battles, and of thofe who, by their fortune and condition in life, were likely to contribute mofl to the expencc thereof. For, they reafoned thus -, can a decla- ration of war, to oppofe French hoftilities by open force, and to treat the French King and his fub- jefts as our avowed and irreconcileable enemies, be attended with more calamitous circumflances, than to be continually alarmed with invafions and other attempts upon the Britifh dominions and trade ? Is it not as expenfive to be driven to the neceffity of maintaining an army on our coafls, and a fleet in a capacity to fail upon the firft or- ders, as to ferret the enemy out of their lurking holes, from whence they are continually making new encroachments ; and to repel force by force ? War is the only remedy a/jainfl injuries in times of .Y OF ler contra- nds, plaa- King, thq d as good our king- inch King, ion to be, ill demean be fafe in choed with Dnjundlurc. tion ; efpe- >attles, and ondicion in he expencc n a decla* es by open id his fub- le enemies, :umftances, vafions and linions and ven to the our coafts, he firft or^ eir lurking \y making : by force ? s in times of 3 THE LATE WAR. of peace. But there was another fort of men, who, on this occafion propagated very induftri- oufly a diiagreeable reprefentation of this meafure, as if the .miniftry had been forced to adopt it, not by choice, but in order to ftop the mouths of a people ready to exadt an account of the money already expended in the greateft armaments ever known in Britain, both by fea and land, and ac the fame time permitting France to invade our territories. And thefe infmuations gained too much upon the timorous and avaricious. However, national virtue made a ftrong pufh againft every effort of the miniftry to render this juft and neceffary war unfuccefsful. The friends of our king and country could not help their doubts of the fincerity of the court, and their fears for the fatal confequenccs of a coUufive war. *' Should this war, faid they, prove to be a mi- *' nifterial collufion, only a meafure to facilitate " the raifmg new taxes; or an expedient, after *' the people have been fleeced full as much *' as they are able to yield at one (hearing, to *' frighten them into an infidious peace; what •«- would become of Britain ? And to relieve the nation from thefe apprehenfions, it is incum- bent upon thofe in power, not only to conduft *' the war with integrity, prudence and vigour ; *' but to patch up no peace till the juft cries of *' the nation fliall be fatisfied for loffes and da- mages, and upon fuch terms, as no free par- liament can difapprove. •* A war 395 A. D. 1756. <( (C Ci •• -I I I'll: 39^ 1756. The general HISTORY or ^' Ivil Mi ce C( C( Engage- ment be- tween two Englifh and two and brouglit to condign punifhment : and may heaven dire<5t our councils, and infpire us with a refolution never to accept of any terms of ?.c- *' commodation, which might affc<5t either our re- " ligion, reputation, peace, trade, or naviga- *' tion. *« Should thefe be neglefted, it would be dif- *' ficult to perfuade a Briton that the times are " mended, or that more falutary meafures are *' purfued, than when they had reafon to com- ** plain of thofe traitors to their country fo often •' mentioned in hiftory, who joined with the " prince in the fpoil of the fubjedls, or kept him " under fuch reftraints, as obliged him to be " content with their mifreprefentations of fafls, in " order to extort from him unjuft orders to juftify *« or to Ikreen their wicked counfel. They will ** look upon this declaration of war to be only a *' fcheme to keep the minds of the people under *' conftant fears and alarms, in a conftant hurry and agitation about their own fafety, to pre- vent their looking into public frauds ♦, and to ** reduce them to fuch a low ftate, as to render them incapable of punilhing thofe, who under the name of peace, attempt to enQave the peo- ple, impoverifhed by the exceflive burden of a " collufive war." On the 17th of May, 1756, the very day that his Majefcy figned this declaration of war, there happened a very warm engagement off Rochfort, between the Colchefter of 50 guns, Captain Obrian, with the Lime of 20 guns, and two French mert of cc «c cc cc cc OF and may us with ns of ac- r our re- naviga- be dif. imes are fures are to com- ' fo often with the kept him m to be f fafls, in to juftify rhey will DC only a pie under int hurry to pre- and to to render ho under : the peo- rden of a dav that ^ar, there lochfort, n Obrian, . :nch mert of vr fHE LATE WAR. ' 399 of war, the Aquilon of 48 guns, M. de Maur- A. D. ville, with the Fiddle of 36 guns, M. de Litar-j,^*"^ dais : an a6tion that begun at fix in the evening, men of and lafted till half an hour paft eleven between Re,ciif\^t. the Lime and Fidelle, and till half an hour paft twelve between the Colchefter and Aquilon, when diftrefs and the darknefs of the night obliged them to part honourably. They engaged fo clofe and warmly, that the forefail of the Lime was fet on fire by the wad« of her adverfary, foon after the fight began. Which being extinguiflied, the Lime returned to the charge, and continued the battle, till the Frenchman flacked his fire., and (he was obliged to bear away, to flop the holes received between wind and water, having three feet and a half of Water in the hold •, in about twenty minutes re- turned a fecond time to the charge : but the Fi- delle, though file fired the fignal of diflrefs, made fhift to efcape ; the Lime being in no condition to give chace, all her rigging, main, fore, and mizen ftays^ all her main fhrouds, being (hot away, except two on a fide, and every maft and yard in the (hip wounded and rendered unfervice- able *. The Colchefter never quitted her adver- fary till (he took fire, occafioned by red-hot bul- lets fired by the Aquilon, as fuppofed ; which ob- liged her to bear away ^. On * Eighty-fix (hot Vent through the maintop fail, fifty-fout through the main fail ; every fail looked like a fieve ; and a great number of fhot went through the hull. '' About this time the admir?lty received advice of the lofs *f the Warwick of 60 guns, Captain Shouldham^ taken by the . ''■ '^ .1. ,.j The Speaker's addrefs to ty 400 The GENERAL HISTORY of A. D. On the 27th of May the parliament, after ^^^ ' granting all that the miniitry aflced, to enable his Majelly to carry his declaration of war efFc6tualiy into execution againft France, was adjourned, by his Majefty's command, to the i8th of June : upon which occafion the Speaker, when the money bills were prefented for the royal affent, addrefled his Majelly in the following remarkable fpeech. • May it pleafe your Majelly, "VTOUR faithful commons, juilly fenfible of the blefTings they have enjoyed under your his Majef- happy reign, in juft indignation at every attempt to difturb it, have exerted themfelves to the utmoft of their abilities, to fupport your Majefty in the juft war, which the ambition and perfidy of France have obliged you to enter into, by giving, for the fervice of this year, ordinary and extraordinary, ten millions, btfides a vote of credit to anfwer any unforefeen emergency. . They beg leave moll humbly to fay — they hope the fword you have fo bravely drawn, and they fo efFcdlually fupported, will be entrufted only in brave, capable, and honeft hands ; that fo the naval, the natural llrength of England, will, make t\c Prudent man of war of 74 guns, who had in company with her a 60 gun fhip, and a frigate of 36 guns, ofF Mar- tinico. The Warwick perceiving. herfelf over matched, en- deavoured to get clear by a running fight; and had adually got clear of the large fhips, but the frigate got under her ftcrn, and raked her fo tenibl/ that the Prudent came up again, and the Warwick Ilruck ; having loft tlie captain «,n4 a great number of men. : OF It, after nable his flfeftualiy rned, by )f June : le money addreiTed fpeech. nfible of ider your \/ attempt be utmoft ty in the of France y, for the lordinary, to anfwer they hope and they d only in It fo the will, make in company s, ofF Mar- atched, en« lad adually under her nt came up captain r.n4 TfiE LATE WA R. a figure, will do fervice, ns much greater, as it is exalted higher than ever before. '' They apprehend ; the prefent critical juniflure convinces, that alliances on the continent, as they are unnatural, fo they mufl ever be prejudicial to the true intereft of England -, that there is no gratitude to he expected from, no dcpendance to be had on, fuch allies : allies, who though faved, fupported, fubfifting by the blood and treafure of this kingdom for more than an age, have taken the opportunity of the firft profped of prefent profit, to break through every tye. Ndt difcouraged by the ingratitude of allies, nor the ambition of enemies, they have with pleafure beheld the fword drawn to vindicate your honour, the honour and intereft of England ; convinced, and proud to let all - the world fee, that England is able to fight her own battles, to ftand by her own natural ftrength, againft all her enemies. Though ever attached to your Mnj eft y's perfon, ever at eafe under your juft government, they cannot forbear taking notice of fome circum- ftances in the prefent fituation of affairs, which nothing but the confidence in your jufticc, your love to the people devoted to you, could hinder from alarming their moft ferious apprehenfions ; and to whom ftiouldthey make their fears known, to whom ftiould they complain, but to their pro- tedlor, their guardian, and their father ? — Subfi- dies to foreign Princes, when already burdened with a debt fcarce to be borne, cannot but be Vol. I. D d feverely 401 A. D,' ■:•^■ ;: ., J^91 The general HISTORY or Mn] A. D. fevcrely felt •, an army of foreign troops, a thing ^^^ unprecedented, unheard of, unknown, brought into England, cannot but alarm : but ftill they depend, ftill they confide in your Majefty, and only beg leave moft humbly to fay, they hope that their burden may be lightened ; their fears removed, as foon as pofTible ; and in the mean time, that the fword of thefe foreigners Ihall not be entrufted a moment out of your own hand, to any other perfon whatfoever. His Ma- jefty's fpeech. His Majefty then clofed the feffions with a moft gracious fpeech, thanking the members of both houfes for their unwearied application to public bufinefs, and for their vigorous and effedual fup- port in maintaining the juft and national caufe.— He acquainted them, that as the injuries and ho- ftilities, which have been, for fome time, com- mitted by the French, were now followed by the adbual invafion of Minorca, an ifland guaranteed to Great Britain by all the powers of Europe, and and in particular by the French King •, he had therefore found himfelf obliged to declare war in form, and relied on the divine protedlion, and the vigorous afliftance of his faithful fubjefts. — Then addreffing the commons, his Majefty particularly thank'd them for their readinefs and difpatch in grant- ing the large fupplies ; and gave his royal word that they fliould be ftri(5tly applied to the good purpofes for which they were granted.— —Then fpeaking to both houfes, he concluded with thefe words : Nothing has given me more inward fatisfadion, than or a thing brought, till they fly, and ley hope leir fears he mean ihall not hand, to [h a moft i of both to public ^ual fup- caufe.— 5 and ho- ne, com- d by the uarantced •ope, he and had TC war in and the s. — Then irticularly 1 in grant- word that i purpofes fpeaking c words : tisfafbion, than 4O3 A. D. 1756. THE LATE WAR. than the confidence which you repofe in me. It is the mod acceptable return you could make to me ; and you may be aiTured, ihall be made ufe of only for your good : the prefervation of your religion, liberties, and independency, is, and al- ways fliall be, my great aim ; and I truft you will not be wanting to yourfelves. In this feffions of parliament a bill for eftablifh- ing a regular and well-difciplined militia pafTed the houfe of commons i and though it did not meet with the fame fuccefs in the houfe of lords, who threw it out at the third reading-, it was recom- mended to the members of both houfes to take the fcnfe of the people on it, in their refpedlive neighbourhoods, during the recefs of parliament, that an effeftual a6b might pafs for that purpofe at their next meeting. Soon after ^ the French King thought proper alfo to make a formal declaration of war; in which he concealed and evaded all the hottilities committed by his governors and commanders in the diftant parts of the world, and fully fet forth in this hiftory, before the year 1754 : which take in his own words. The French King's declaration of war againji Great Britain, T is known to all Europe, that the King of Fiench England, in the year 1754, was the aggreflbr ^^"3°;;,^^^. in the contefts concerning the fettlements in North waragaimt America i and that in the month of June laft, the uia. ^f"4 m :'ifi -t' I Kinj-'s de- i m ^ On the 9th of June. D d 2 Britifh 404 The general HISTORY or ,'■ ft. A^ !>• Britifh fleet, in conii'^mpt of the lawa of nationi *^^ ' and the faith of treaties, began to commit the moft violent hoftilities againlt the (hips of his Majefty, and the navigation and commercf* of hi* fubjeds. The King, juftly oflFended by this perfidious condu6l, and the many infults that were offered to his flag, would not have fufpended his refent- ment, and with- held what he owes to the digpity of his crown for eight months, if he had not beea unwilling to expofe Europe to the calamities of a, new war. It was upon this falutary principle, that France hehaved with the utmofl: moderation, during the moft injurious proceedings of Eng- land. While the'Britifli fleet, fometlmes by thebafeft artifices, and fometimes by the motl outrageous violence, were feizing the veflels of France, which were fa^iling without fufpicion of danger, under the common fafeguard of public faith, his Ma- jefl:y fent back to England a frigate which had been feized by the French fleer, and iuffered the Britifli merchantmen to continue trading without interruption in the ports of France. While the French foldiers and failors, captives in the Britifli iflands at a time of peace, were treated with a feverity.by which the bounds that the laws of nature and the common principles of humanity have let to the rights of war^ were ex- ceeded, the Englifh lived and traded without mo- leftation in France, under the protedion of that reci- OF ' nations nmit thtt, 5 of his Qr of hia lerfidiou*. e offered: 19 refent- e digjQity not beea ities of a^ principle, ideration, of Eng- the bafeft Litrageous :e, which sr, under his Ma- hich had fFered the 6 without captives ace, were unds that ncipks of were ex- hout mo- m of that reci- THE LATE WAR. reciprocal kindncfs and refpefl, which civilized na- tions owe to each other. "While the Britifli miniftry, urtder the appear- ance of fincerity, impofed upon his M.ijefty'a am- baffador by falfe proteftations, they caufed ordei\,, dire(5b]y contrary to the deceitful afllirances they had given of an approaching reconciliation, to be executed in all parts of North America. While the court of London was exhauftirto: all the fubtilties of intrigue, and all the fubfidies of England, to engage the othe * powers of Europe tt) a^ ofFenfively againft France, his Majefty did not demand even the fuccours which guarantees, or defenfive treaties, authorized him cq require of tliem, but advifed only fuch meafLres as might bed conduce to their peace and fecurity. Such has been the condud of the two nations ; and the ftriking contrafl. of their proceeding? can- not but convince all Europe of the jealoufy^ amr. bition, and unreafonable defires of the one, and the honour, juftice, and moderation of the other. His Majefty hoped that the King of England, ading upon principles of natural equity and the true intereft of his honour, would at length have difavowed the fcandalous excelTes, which the officers of his fleet continued to commit ; efpecially as his Majefty gave him an opportunity of doing it with equal juftice and decorum, by demanding a fpecdy and complete reftitution of all the veffels of France, ^hich had been taken by Britifli (hips ; and had oflFered, upon this preliminary condition, to enter into a negociation concerning other fatisfadlions, D d 3 which 405 A. D, Ml v.- i . I it A.D, 1756. The general HISTORY of which his Majefty had a right to cxpeft, and rea- dily to concur in an amicable accommodation of the differences concerning America. The King of England having rejedled this pro- pofition, his Majefty could not but confider his refufal as the moft authentic declaration of war, as his Majefty had faid he ftiould do in his requi- fition. The Britifh court therefore might have difpenf- ed with a formality, which was become needlefs ; the manner, in which flie had already declared war, was a better reafon than any that was explicitly afligned, why fhe would not fubmit, to the judg- ment of Europe, the pretended grievances, which were alledged againft France in the written decla- ration of war, that was publiftied at London. : The vague imputations, which that writing con- tains, have not the leaft foundation in truth, and the very manner, in which they are fet forth, would have confuted them, if they had not been demon- ftrated to be falfe in the memorial, which his Ma- jefty has caufed to be remitted to all the courts of Europe, containing an exa6t ftate of all the fa^s relative to the prefent war, and the negociations that preceded it, fupported by inconteftible evi- dence. There is however one faft of great importance, which is not mentioned in that memorial, becaufe it was not poftible to forefee that England would carry her indelicacy, in the choice of the means of illuHon/ fo far, as ftien^w appears to have done, She r OP and rea- dacion of this pro- nfider his ra of war, lis requi- e difpenf- needlefs ; lared war, explicitly thejudg- :es, which ten decla- idon. iting con- :ruth, and rth, would en demon- h his Ma- s courts of II the fa^s :gociations eftible evi- nportance, il, becaufe land would ; means of ave done* She THE LATE WAR. She talks much of the military works carrying on at Dunkirk, and of the troops which his Ma- jefty has caufed to aflemble upon the coaft j and it might fairly becor.Iuded from her declaration of war, that thefe works and thefe troops have alone determined her to feize whatever (he finds at fea belonging to his Majefty, or his fubjeds. It is however univerfally known, that the works at Dunkirk were not begun till after the capture of two of his Majefl:y*s fhips, which were attacked in a time of profound peace by an Englifh fquadron of 13 men of war. It is equally notorious, that the Englifh fleet had been making prizes of French veflels more than fix months, when the firft bat- talions, which his Majefty ordered to the fea-coaft, began their march. If the King of England fhould ever refle<5l on the falfliood of the reports, which have been made to him concerning thefe fafts, he will not furely forgive thofe, who have betrayed him into the af- fertion of what is fo far from being true, that it cannot by any artifice be rendered fpecious. That which his Majefty owes to himlelf and to his fubjeds, has at length obliged him to repel force with force ; but being ftill fteady to his fa- vourite principles of juftice and moderation, he has direfted his military operations to be carried on only againft the King of England, his aggrelTor ; and all his political negociations have been intend- ed merely to juftify the confidence, which has been placed in his friendftiip, and the integrity of his ifltentions, by the other nations of Europe. D d 4 It 407 A.D. 1756. * r^ 1 III t ;'■ ; * n * 4oSi A. D. 17^-6. Remarks thereon. The general HISTORY or It is not neceflary to affign more particularly the motives which have induced his Majefty to fend a body of his troops into the iQand of Minorca, a,nd which have at length obliged him to declare war againft the King of flngland, as the King of England has declared war againft him both by land ana Tea. His Majefty thus ading upon principles fo worthy to determine his refolutions, doubts not but to find, in the jiiftice of his caufe, in the va" lour of his troops, and in the love of hi: fubjeftsj fuch aftiftance as they have a!\vays hitlierto afFordr led him : but i h»ove all he relics for protedion upon the Lord >f Hofts. This declaration concludes with a fjbvere prohi- bition of all communication, commerce, and in^ telligcnce with the fubjedsof Great Britain, upon pain of death. In this declaration the moft Chriftian King lays afide that politeni^i^, for which his court take great pains to adopt in all their tranfactions, and that veracity, on which the French monarch endeavours to avail himfcflf in all negociations and communi- cations. He, forgetful of that decqrum, which is due to fovereign Princes, like a man raving with defpair, charges his Britannic Majefty with piracy, perfidy, inhumanity, and deceit, even againft thp convi6tion of his own confcicnce ; which told hi^n that the very ads, faliely imputed, in the decla- ration, tq the King of Great Britain, were prac- lifed continually by himfelf and his miniilers: as has Y or ukrly the to fend a orca, and iclare war King of 1 l?oth by iciplcs fo jLibts not in tht! va" : fubjefts) rto afFordr tion tipoa ire prohi- j, and in- ain, upon King lays take great and that ndeavours rommuni- m, which ivingwith th piracy, gain ft the L told him the decla- ^cre prac- liilet's : as has THjE LATE W A R, > : has been proved at large by the fafts fo often pro- duced in the courfe of this hiftory, and fummcd up in the declaration of war, made by his Britan- nic Majefty. BeOdcs this farago of abufe and fcurrillity, there is nothing more than an aecufa- tion of Dur making reprizals, and oppoflrjg an open force to the French hoftilities, witiiout the ceremony pf an open declaration of war : which, though ^t is not juftified ftridly in point of form- ality, or i*fage between nations at peace with each Other ; yet it can never make that Prince the ag- grqflbr, who is obliged through necefTity to defend himfelf and his dominions, againft one, that in time of peace invades and deftroys his property, and feizes, imprifonsj and murders his fubjeds ; as the French had don^, with impunity, for feve- lal years in America. As the fuccefs of this war feems to depend chiefly on a naval force, it will be proper to give the following lift of the royal navy of Greax Bri- tain, at the time it was declared. A. D, First Rates. ^00 Men, 100 Guns, ROyal Ann Britannia Royal George Royal Sovereign Royal William Second Rates. Blenheim . Dukq Saint George Nam UP Prince Rami) lies Princefs RoyaJ Union • Third Rates. 600 Men^ 80 Gum, Barfieur Boyne Pi'incefs Carolina ' Cambridge Lift of tlie ioy:il navy of Great Britiii'", 1756. t,tj! 'Ml (9 1 .. ■! ' 'ii ' *l u I.' * ib.: [I ^' 1 ;', 4XO A. D. The general HISTORY of Camhridge Cornwall Prince George Marlborough Neptune Newark NorfoJk Ruflel 6oo Meftj 74 Guns» Culloden Invincible Monarque Terrible Torbay Fougueux 6oo Mefiy yo Guns, Bedford Berwick Buckingham Burford Captain Chicheftcr Dorfetfhire Edinburgh Elizabeth EfTex Prince Frederick Grafton Hampton-Court Kent Lenox Monmouth Naflau Northumberland Royal Oak Orford Princefla Revenge Stirling-Caftle Suffolk Somerfet Vanguard Yarmouth Swiftfure Magnanime 6oo Men, 66 Guns, Princefs Amelia Cumberland Devonfhirc Lancafler 6oo Menj 64 Guns, Ipfwich Intrepide Trident Fo URTH Rates. 400 Men, 60 Guns, Saint Alban's Anfon Augufta Canterbury Defiance Dragon Dreadnought Dunkirk Eagle Exeter Greenwich Jerfey Kingfton Lion Medway Princefs Louifa Princefs Mary Prince of Orange Montague lY OF T'he late war. 411 :aftle I 6 Guns, Amelia ind e »4 G«»j. Rates. 10 G««J. an's ght h ^ouifa ^ary Orange Moniague Montague Nottingham Pembroke Plymouth Rupert Rippon Strafford Sunderland Superbe Tilbury Tyger Vigilant "Windfor Weymouth Worcefter York 300 Merty 50 Guns. Advice Afliftance Antelope Briftol Centurion Chatham Colchefter Chefter Dcptford Falkland Falmouth Gloucefter Guernfey Hampfhire Harwich Ifis Litchfield Leopard Newcaflle Nonfuch Norwich Oxford ' Portland ' Prcfton Panther . Ruby Rocheftcr Salifbury Severn Sutherland Taviilock Winchefter Fifth Rates. 250 Men, 44G««J. Adventure America Anglefea Ambufcade Chefterfield Crown Diamond Dover Eltham Prince Edward Expedition Enterprize Gofport Glory Prince Henry Humber Haftings Hcdor Jafon Kinfale I^auncefton Ludlow-Caftle Lark Liverpool A.D. J7S6 • t T Looe 412 AD. 1756. The. GENERAL HISTORY OF M m m ■ V ■ '1 ^.'■-J' Looe Lynn Mary Galley Pearl Penzance Pool Rainbow P^cbuck Romney Saphirc South Sea Caflle Thetis Torrington [ Woolwich Sixth Rates. 130 Men^ 20 and 24 Guns. Amazon Alderncy Al^ borough Arundel Bellona Biddiford Bofton Bridgewater Blandford Centaur . Deal Caftle Durfley Galley . Dolphin Experiment Flamborough Fowe Fox Gibraltar Greyhound Garland Glafgow Grand Turk , /.' Hinde Inverncfs Kennington Leoftoife Lively Lys Lyme Margate Mercury Mermaid Nightingale Phcenix Portmahon ^ Queenborough Renown Ranger Rofe Rye Sea- Horfe Shoreham Squirrel Seaford ' ■. Sheernefs Syren Sphinx Surprize Succefs Scarborough Solebay Tartar Triton Unicorn Winchelfea Wager Royal Caroline Bombs. Firedrake Furnace Granado th th le fe K ar fu Sloops. \\ i n o THE LATE WAR. ■•i ■.. s. Sloops, Albany- Badger Baltimore Cruizer Difpatch Falcon Ferret Fly Fortune Grampus Happy Hazard Hornet Hound Jamaica KingfiQier Otter Peggy Peregrine Porcupine Ranger Raven Saltafh Savage *^* There were tranfports, Scorpion Shark Speedwell Swallow Swan Swift Trial Viper Vulture Wafp Weazle Wolf Yachts^ Catherine Charlotte Dorfet Fubbs Mary William and Mary Bolton Chatham Drake Portfmouth Queenborough. alfo a number of fire-fhips^ hoys, fmacks, lighters and hulks. 411 A. Dt Befides thefe (hips of war, his Majefty ordered Letters cf that a commiflion fliould be prepared to empower "^.l^'^^^^^j the lords cominiflioners of the admiralty to grant letters of mark, or commifllons to privateers for feizing (hips and goods belonging to the French King and his fubjeds, or others inhabiting within any of his countries, territories or dominions, and fuch other fliips and ^oods, as are or (hall be liable to '■'.■ « A. D. 1756. Encou- ragement for Priva- teers. Claufe re- lating to neutral fliips. The general HISTORY of to confifcation, purfuant to the refpedlive treaties between his Majefty and other Princes, States and Potentates. There was alfo a proclamation iflued by his Ma- jefty for the encouragement of privateers, and for rcj^ulating prizes, &c. by which the fole in- tereft in, and property of, every ihip and cargo, was given to the flag-officers, commanders and other officers, feamen, mariners and foldiers on board his Majefty 's ftiips,from and after the 1 7th of May 1756, during the continuance of the war with France : and further allowing to them, and to priva- teers, the fum of five pounds for every man alive at the beginning of the engagement, on board of any ftiip taken, funk, burnt, or otherwife deftroyed. By the Britiffi declaration of war it is manifeft that our court was determined to feize and con- demn as good and lawful prize, any ftiip or vefTel, of what nation foever, that ftiould be found tranfport- ing or carrying either foldiers, arms, ammunition, or other contraband goods, to any of the territories, l^nds, plantations or countries of the French King : accordingly we find that his Majefty*s fhips of war kept an immediate look out for Dutch fliips, and brought a number of them into the Downs, in the beginning of June, from ofl?* the coaft and ports of France \ and one into Portfmouth ; fome of which were laden with mafts and yards, from Riga for Breft ; of which the Dutch complained as a hardftiip : and the magiftrates of Rotterdam proceeded fo far as to lay a tax, equal to four guineas a week, upon every Englifli ftiip that fhould Y OP ve treaties States and )y his Ma- tters, and le fole in- and cargo, inders and bldiers on the 1 7th of le war with d to priva- lan alive at lard of any [Iroyed. is manifeft : and con- )r veflel, of tranfport- imunition, territories, nchKing: ips of war {hips, and Downs, in coaft and ath ; fome irds, from omplained Rotterdam al to four (hip that ihould ,c THE LATE W A Ro fiiould take in lading at that pore ; and even in a manner prohibited our (hips taking goods in there at all. But of this affair more hereafter, when, in the courfe of this work, we fhall have occafion to fhew the iniquitous pradlices of the Dutch carriers for the French, and to confute their claim of right by treaties, to fuch a trade and navigation, in a ftate of ftrid neutrality. Thefe were meafures perfeflly agreeable to the inclinations of the people •, yet England never wore a more melancholy afpedt. The lofs of Mi- norca raifed a clamour not only againft Byng, but againft the miniftry, in every corner of the na- tion ; fo much as to addrefs his Majefty, from every quarter, in the ftrongeft terms, to remove the minifters of ftate -, and to change thofe mea- fures, which had brought fuch a difgrace upon Great Britain, and expofed us to derifion and ruin. The voice of the nation was collefted, as it were, and handed up to the citizens of London ; amongft whom every art was tried, to difluade them from that part, which they had always taken, in any public calamity, or danger, to lay the na- tional grievances before the throne, and to fue for redrefs. " In the time of the moft alarming •' circumftances, the whole kingdom, faid the *' common voice of the people, flies to the an- " cient and famous city of London for fafety : " upon her it cafts her eyes for deliverance : to *' her it will impute its deftrudlon, if it fhould become (which heaven forbid !) a province to ♦' France, A. D. 1756. National (Jifcontent, The voice o( the na- tion, by way of pe- tition to th? city of London. ti ;m ::i 4t^ TheGENEKAL history or It fwU • I ill A. D. «« Franc^. The city of London i^ ftill able td »75 • tc fjjyg jjjrcc kingdoms*, to favei millions and mil- " lions from French tyranny and popifh fupcrfti- ^* tion. O let not the Syren luxury, let not a *' mean fclfifli fpirit, the bane of every virtuous *' adlion, lull you into indifference ! confider po- •' flerity, and hand down to them that freedom *' and happinefs, which were delivered to you, " for that purpofe, by your forefathers. Provi- *' dence often fends great evils upon nations to " rouze them from a ftate of indifference and in- " a<5livity, and thereby to fave them from utter " deftrudlioH. If this has no effed, a total dilfo- *' lution and ruin muft follow : this has alwaya •* been the cafe under every government. Angels " as well as men are witnefies, ye honourable ci- *' tizens, that ye are now publickly told this im- " portant truth : angels and men will bear wir- *' nefs againfl: you, if you do not regard it. Long *' has it pofieiTed your minds, that England has *' an invincible fleet, that we are entirely fecure *' in thefe wooden walls ; but the experience of *' late aifairs has ihewn, that vvirhout fome confi- •*' derable amendments, you truft in that, which *' may fail you. *' Deceive not youifelves by thinking (though *' he deferves your higheft refentment) that one .*' man only is faulty ; but, remember, and let it *.' ftrike deep on your minds, that a whole council *' of war approved of your fleets flying before the •' enemy, inferior in number and fl:rcngth ; — Think *' not youpfelves iu((t, becayfc-you-rurpais innwm- ber of fliips ; for if you are not equal m tcou- ' (( u rage, LY OF ill able td i and mil- h fupcrfti- let not a f virtuous ^nfider po- ^t freedom d to you, s. Provi- nations to ice and in- I'rom utter total diiro- iias always :. Angels lourable ci- )ld this im- bear wif- it. Long ngland has *ely fee u re >eiience of ome confi- lat, which g (though ) that ONE •, and let it ole council before the 1 ;— l^hink ifs innwna- iiil imcou- i Ci rige, ' to exert our naval and natural ftrength ; and to ** difplace and punifh bad minifters and officers." A'lJrers to The city of London, accordingly, in common bl^^'cuy council aflembled, prefented ' their humble ad- wfLondon. ^j^qC^ ^0 his Majefty, " humbly begging leave to approach his facred perfon, and with hearts full of gratitude for his Majefty 's paternal care of the true intereft of his people, to exprefs their forrow and apprehenfions, from the difquietudes, which the late lofles and difappointmcnts muft have created in his royal mind." Then they fignifie4. their fears, " That the lofs of the important for-. trefs of St. Philip, and ifland of Minorca, (pof* fefTions of the utmoft confequence to the com^ merce and naval ftrength of Great Britain) withf out any attempt, by timely and effedlual fuc- cours, to prevent or defeat an attack, after fuqh early notice "* of the enemy's intentions, and whcn^ his Majefty's navy was fo evidently fuperior to tlieirs, would be an indelible reproach on the ho^- nour of the Britifh nation. They exprcfled their, apprehenfions for the great danger his Majefty's poflefilons in America were in, by the rnifmanage^ ment and delays, which had attended the defence '.,ri t' :?." c On the 20th da^ of Auguil. - Seepag«235. ^ir". of ir or ! as the your ey^* one bpcjy thcking- fovereign carriages i h ; and to fficers." common mble ad" r leave to earts full are of thq eir forrow es, which nuft have ,r fignifie4 ►rtant for- rca, (pof- thc comr lin) withf 5tual fuc* after fuch and when iiperior to 1 the hoi- fled their. Majefty's ifmanage- le defence 5ag« 235. of .iv'> TH£. L AT E W A R. ' of thoie invaluable colonies, the objeA of the pre- fent war, and the principal fource of the wealth and ftrength of thefe kingdoms. They begged permiffion to lameit the want of a conftitucional and well-regulated militia, which they accounted to be the moft natural and certain defence, under Providence, of his Majefty's facrcd perfon and government, againft all invaders whatfoever ; be^ caufe thereby his fleets and armies might be more fecurely employed abroad, to the annoyance of the enemy i affuring him, that they were ready and willing, whenever called upon by his Majefty, to fhed the lad drop of their blood in his fervice. They fignified their hopes, that the authors of the late lofles and difappointments would be en- quired into and punifhed : that his Majefty's known intentions of proteding and defending his fubjedts in their rights and pofleffions, might be faithfully and vigoroufly carried into execution 5 andj that the large fupplies, fo neceflarily called for, and fo chearfully granted, might be religi- oufly applied to the defence of thefe kingdoms and colonies } and to their commerce ; and to the diftrefllng of our inveterate and perfidious ene- mies I as the only fure means of obtaining a laft- ing and honourable peace : concluding with the utmoft fmcerity of heart, to aflure his Majefty, that his loyal city of I^ondon would, at all times, readily and chearfully contribute to whatever might be neceflary for the defence of his Majefty, and his illuftrious family, and towards the attain- ment of thefe great and dcfirable ends.** To which E e 2 his 419 A. D. lyi 1 J«>j ' UT' ;p j ':'•' ' f .'•• '& i t.- i' f ;■ I i . p n 'y:l':_ ^ ,^ 'M ;■ 420 The general HISTORY of A.D. his Majefty anlwcred. That his concern for the '''5 • lofs of Minorca was great and finccrc: that he would maintain the honour of the nation and the commerce of his fubjedls with the utmoft care and vigilance : That nothing fliould be wanting, on his part, towards carrying on the war with vi- gour, in order to a fafe and honourable peace, and for recovering and fecuring the poffefTions and rights of his crown : and that he would not fail to do juftice upon any perfons, who might have been wanting in their duty to him and their coun- try ; to enforce obedience and difcipline in his fleets and armies, and to fupport the authority and refpe(5l due to his government. inihuc- "^^^ citizens did alfo inftru<5t their rcprefentatives tions to the j^ parliament, " calling upon them moft earneftly tives of the to exert their utmoft ability towards procuring a London. ^^"^^ ^"^ impartial parliamentary enquiry into the caufes of fo many late national calamities. An almoft total negledt of our important fortrefles in the Mediterranean, of fuch ineftimable confe- quence to the trade and power of thefe kingdoms 5 and the permitted abfence of their principal of- ficers, many months after the commencement of hoftilities ; the adual lofs of Minorca, and appa- rent danger of Gibraltar, are circumftances that filled them with amazement and concern. But when they reflefted on ihe great preparations for an embarkation of troops and artillery, and the equipment of a powerful fleet publickly known to be carried on at Toulon, whofe neighbourhood to Minorca was lufficiently alarming, they could not impute '^^1 lY OP rn for the c: that he ion and the jtmoil care be wanting, irar with vi- rable peace, flrefTions and lid not fail might have their coun- }line in hi» le authority prefentativea oft earneftly procuring a uiry into the mities. An fortrefles in lable confe- ; kingdoms ; principal of* encement of and appa- iftances that ►ncern. But parations for :ry, and the ly known to bourhood to ey could not impute THi LATE WAR, 421 1756. impute thofe fatal events to ncgled alone; and ^^ ^ therefore conjured them to enquire, why a re- fpcftable fleet was not immediately fent from hence ? and why, at laft, fo fmall a fquadron was ordered upon this important fervice, without any frigate, fire-fliip, hrfpital-ftiip, tranfport, or troops beyond their ordinary compliment ? and this at a time when the Britilh n-^val force was confefledly fuperior to the enemy's. As the cruelties fufFered and lolfes fuftained by their fellow-fubjefls in North America, had long called for redrefs ; whilft the mifmanagements in the attempts for their fup- port, and the untimely and unequal fuccours fent to their relief, have only ferved to render the Bri- tilh name contemptible ; they therefore required them, to ufe their utmoft endeavours for detetSling all thofe,who by treachery or mifcondu(fl, have con- tributed to thofe great diftrefles. They added their prefling requeft, that they would ufe their earlieft endeavours to eftablifh a well-regulated and con- ftitutional militia, as the moft honourable de- fence of the crown, and the moft ». "mfiftent with the rights of the people : And this, they faid, they were more anxious to recommend to their particular care and attention, as every apprehtn- fion of danger has furnifhed a reafon for increafing the number of regular forces, and for the intro- du6kion of foreign mercenaries ; the expenct of which is infupportable : trufting that they would purfue this meafure before they fhould confent to the grant of fuppiies ; experience having convinced them, that their laudable endeavours afterwards hinted at feme viola- might prove They Ee 3 tionr 11 J.J i,') '42ft The general HISTORY of ii 1^'" A. D. tion of the Bill of rights, by a fufpcnfion or in- ^^^ ' terruption of the ordinary form of juftice in fa^- voar of the foreign troops, then in England ; and defired that they would endeavour to bring to juftice ti»e advifersand inftruments of fuch an infultoiFered to our laws. They intreated thciu, at all events^ to oppofe the continuance of any foreign troops within the kingdom •, a circumftance, which would ever be confivlered as a reproach to the loyal ty^ courage and ability of this nation. They expreilJed their hopes, that they would endeavour to limit the number of placemen and penfioners, that had of late fo rema/kably increafed ; and at a proper fcafon to reftore triennial parliaments ; as the y conceived it to be the only means to obtain a f-^e reprefentative of the people. The immenfe fumi fo chearfully paid, when almoft ever) meafure rc-r flefts national difgrace, they faid, called upon thei itridly to enquire into their application ; and they expreiTed their dependance upon their wifdom and integrity to prevent all unnatural connedlioni on the continent, in order to preferve the inde* pendency of thefe kingdoms.** This example was fpeedily and ftrongly copied of^the^na? ^Y ^^c moft refpcftable parts of the nation ; all of them breathing a true patriotic and loyal fpirit, anc fome of them fo truly Britifh, that it Would be doing injuftice both to thofe patriots and tO pofterity, fhould we pafs them over in filence, - The borough of Southwark, after afllirance s of loyalty and readincfs to fupport his Majefty, &e, )n ** to exprcfs their deep forrow Followed tJon. South- walk. \s ad drtls. begged pcrmi (( and Y OF on or in* ice in fa^* land ', and g to jufticc fult offered all events> gn troops lich would le loyal ty^ r expreflibd r to limit , that had t a proper •, as they itain a f-^e lenfe fumi leafure re* iled upon Ltion; and eir wifdom 3nned:ionl the inde* *ly copied dn ; all of yal fpirit, t h Would 3ts and to Hence, - lirances of jefty, &c, :ep forroW " and « tWe LAt6 war. the lofs of Mi and amazement at tne lois or iviniorca, at a time *' when our naval power fo eminently exceeded "that of our enemies, and the deftination of •' theirs had been fo long apparent. But, they added, ftedfaft in our allegiance, unalterable iri our loyalty, unanimous in tlie defence of your Majefty's lacred perfon and government, and animated with a juft fenfe of your Majefty's martial virtues, if fupported by a well-regu- lated militia, we fear not the vain threats of fo- reign invaders, and moft humbly beg leave to aflure your Majefty, with the greateft fincerity, that we will chearfully devote the utmoft ex- " ertion of our abilities to crufli all impious at- ** tempts, either foreign or domeftic, to fubvert ** our prcient happy conftitution ; and alfo to •* fupport and invigorate thofe meafures, which ** your Majefty's great wifdom ihall didlate, in '* conducing the fcenes of this moft neceffary •' and important war, and for bringing to juftice ''* thofe, however dignified and exalted, who by " their bid counfel, or mifcondud, have .occa- •* fioned this our prefent and ignoble diftrefsful ♦« fituation." alarming rfully and Majefty'3 applied. I and ab- lave been ardice, or itions, by ^re (hame- arge fums Minorca, 5 lefs va- ) our com- your Ma- jandoned, and your ; an enc- lave often we refle(fl; : national 15, though they THE LATE A^TA R; ..^t 425 ^iiii !>U.)I. they multiply •, by which, v;e fear,- we may- be A. D. too foon difabled from raifing the neccflary fup- ^l^^' plies for the fupport of your Majefty's and our country's rights. We behold alfo, with the deepeft forrow, fo- reign troops unavailingly imported, and expen- fively maintained within this kingdom, while your Majefty's faithful fubjefbs are unarmed and re^ jefted ; who, innately brave, and cordially inte- refted, would llrenuoufly defend your facred Ma- jefty, and their now endangered country. Thefe melancholy refledtions fill us with fear and amazement ; and our allegiance to your Ma- jefty, and love of our native country, once the arbitrefs of Europe, induce us to unbofom our thoughts to your royal confideration ; not doubt- ing redrefs of our grievances from a King, who loves to be efteemed the father of his people. Permit us, therefore, moft humbly to reprefent to your Majefty the abfolute neceflity of having o.ur natural guards, a well-regulated Militia, upon the footing of the Englifh conftitution : and we likewife moft humbly hope, from your Majeftyts known juftice and goodnefs, that you will be pleafed to direft fuch a fpeedy and Arid enquiry into the condudl of all thofe, who, when it was in their power, did not prevent our lofles ; but have conduced, or confpired, to overwhelm this na- tion, gnd your Majefty's crown, with reproach and difhonour •, that they may receive their due punifh- ipent, which they fo juftly deferve," I m 'I H^'JW.t •a In ki ■ir. ity York. cc c« ^1^ The 'GENiSRAL HISTORY of •A. i>. In the ilfiftnJ<5lions from the gentry, clef^y and '^^ ' freeholders of the county of York, are the follow- inftruc- Jng rcffjarkablc paflages. *« We moft tarneftly tionsof the (( recommend to you a diligent attendance on county or . , ' , " parliartient, and an aflive fcrutiny into all thofc dire and fatal fprings of our military difaftiers •* and perj5lexed riegbtiatiortis, which h^ve l)rough!t •* fuch ihdighity and burden lipon thefe "abufeci •* realms. " The extremity long pre^ift^d feems rtow to " advance with much hafty ftrides. It is, alas ! ** a trutli, which every voice iauthentjcatcs ; and, ** thei-efore, your cdnftitucntb cbnjiire that yoii ** will be tiie faithful and librieft coiinfellors cif •* royalty, ind be no longer iamufed with the futile |ircJJe£ls and venal fpeech'es of felf-defigri- ing men, who, in proportion as they prbmife *' and difjienfe. Only attempt to endave, and bc- *• come the prbdigal fpendthrifts of oiir patrimo- *' nics And acquirements. •* That the welfare of this country may not be •* totally unhinged, either through our crimes, or •* the abufe of fecbndary means, we hope, th^t *' you >^in nbt only endeavour to introduce a ** change of tnen, but of morals and meafures ; that the rank enormities, which deluge this land, may not be laid to the charge and example of its magiftrates ar.d fenators: Tha: venality and gaming, the bane cf bufinefs and the ruin of integrity, may, in particular, no longer make •' their profelytes to fcrvile dependence, or prefs " into cc cc C( cc cc cc cc "( OF lefgy aria \t follow- danCe on 3 all thofe y difafters e broiigfit ife abufed IS rtbW to i is, alas ! ites ; and, that yoii nfellofs olf with the elf-defigri- :y prbmife ?, and be- patrifno- "lay not be crimes, or iope, th^t troducc a meafurcsi : this land, xample of nality and He ruin of iger make ?, or prefs " into V i ■ 430 A. D. 1756. « cc cc «( «( cc C( «c The general HISTQRY of rather more aflfedting. In the Weft Indiea our enemy has a confefTed fuperiority, which has been pagmented by the capture of almod the fiDgle (hip of force we had then cruizing in *' thofc feas.. In North America our colonies •' have been ranfacked for many months, by the *' moft barbarous nations, almoft without de** fence. We have been deprived of Minorca m a manner, whi h does as little honour to the *' French a v;.s Our navy has been difgraced ** in the Mil J^nAczn. If this, inftcad of a *' public, were a privdie cafe, on fu<:h fuggeftions as thefe, a court of equity would, beyond a queftion, decree an account." The county of Eflex, in their reprefenta- x^^ ° tion of the grievances on this occafion, obferve. That " ftianding armies and foreign troops *' have not heretofore been thought the proper *' means to repel an invafion : They are grievoudy burdenfome to the fubjeft, always dangerous to the conftitution, and in every refpedl difagree-* *' able to the nation, as well as every way inade-? quate to the real fervice againft our enemies, without the afliftance of a greater part of ouc fleer, than ought to be confined for that pur^r pofe. Therefore, when a truly loyal, brave, *' and generous people, from every quarter, ar-* *' dently defire that arms may be put into their •* hands for the defence of themfelves, their fa^ ** milies, their King and their country, againft •' the encroachments and attacks of a perfidious and dangerous enemy, it was hoped, that they would Of the CO «( y pri- t, fays noving )f con- :s after it im- ting to lames ? mwich, ants to led fo ? of that ;ems to ' having le rigid Ity, dated Dting to on calcu- of guilt, additional as if all the hof- ch in the men were middle of 1&. fearch find anv jratcd for of fmiths o bar up Of ders THE L A r E WAR. 44c ** ciuers given in cohfequence of it, , R-ar Admiral of the Blue — Captain Charles Holmes — Car ".airs William Boys — Captain John Simcoe — Captain John Bertl^'y — Captain Peter Dennis — Captain Francis Geary-Captain John Moore — Captain James Douglals —The Honourable Captain Augullus Keppcl. 'i From the zSiii of December 1756, to the 27th of January '* to OF the wit- : admiral 'hich his a difpu- quibble, le ftatute from the on board irtfmouth )ur admi- ind thirty witnefles, 1 he made :ed againft ^ery thing a man, is My cha- \ih are at ;at reafon Red, Prefi- ■ the Red— te — Thomas itain Charles n Simcoe — s — Captain acs Douglal's h of January '* to THE LATE WAR. cc (( to be alarmed, were nocence, ar fully perfuaded of the jullicc and •' equity of the court. , *' It is no new thing, gentlemen, to be ac- " cufed : court inartials have of late, been very *' frequent. I have been a long time under the *' difagreeable fituation of a confined prifoner, of *' a man accufcd, and conlLquenlly condemned *' by many. No means^ no aytifice bus been omitted ** by my enemies, to injure my reputaticu. I lowever, *' I will not take up your time vvith a detail of •' thcfe matters, but beg leave to obferve, that *' the nature of a fea fervicc is complicated, de- " pending on fo many circumitances, and lubjeft *' to fuch variety of accidents, that for a com- " mander even of the greateft capacity, to pro- •' vide againft all contingencies, is impoftibie. *' But to fet upon a foft chair and cenfure, and, *' after the event of an a6Vion, to point out how, *' and by what means it might have fucceeded bet- *' ter, is extremely eafy. This fort of fcience re- *' quires no other abilities, than a great deal of *' ill- nature and little wit. Even thofe anions, *' which have been attended with the greateft fuc- ♦' cefs, and refledled the greateft glory on this na- " tion, have not efcaped the venom of thcfe ma- •* licious critics \ and, perhaps, there never was ** an adion fo complete, but it might have beta ** better conduced, were it pofllble to have fore- •' ^ctn all circumftances attending it. But I con- ** fide in the candour and the equity of this court, •' that my enemies will be difippointcd, " As 44J not 1 confcious of my in- A. D 1756. (I'tn ••I m'^ 'Hi 444 A.D. 1756. (( •< The general HISTORY of '* As to the article exhibited againft me, relat- •* ing to my making any unneceflary delay in " failing of the fleet from St. Helen's to Gibraltar, *' and from thence to Mahon, the teflimonies of the evidence have, doubtlefs, fufficiently proved ' the contrary ; I fliall therefore trouble the court with nothing further on that head. ** As to the other articles exhibited againft me, *' I hope to make my innocence appear, by a con- •* cife relation of the whole of my condudl." "Which he began with the account, as related above, on page 276 to 283, and then, added: " This behaviour will, I hope, appear to the *' court to be fuggefled by prudence, all that *' could have been attempted in the fpace of an " hour, and the moft advantageous ftep, which " could have been taken on that occafion. It '* proves that I did not depend on the hear-Hiy '* evidence which I had received even from the " befi authorities at Gibraltar, nor on the united " opinion of every officer at that place -, but that «• I was determined to be certified of the true •' flate of the harbour and citadel from General " Blakeney himfelf, as I expected that Captain ** Scroopj who, together with all the foldiers and '* marines of Mr. Edgcumbe's fliips, and 100 ** feamen, had been left to reinforce the garrifon, •* would come off in his barge, and bring me a juft *' relation of every circumftance neceffary to be " known-, and though I mentioned in my letter *' of the 25th of May, ' That it was the opinion officers, that they could nder cc CI re I St. OF , relat- elay in braltar, onies of proved le court inft me, ^ a con- )ndua:.'* ; related Wed : r to the all that :e of an ), which fion. It hear-fiy om the le united but that the true Genera"! Captain diers and and 100 garrifon, meajuft ry to be ny letter I opinion ley could "• render THE LATE WAR. ** render no Cervice to the garrifon, as no place was *' covered for the landing of any men, could they *' have /pared any * in this I only gave my opinion *' agreeable to that of all the other officers. I'hcir *' opinion had no influence on my conducfV, and *' v;as only meant to fignify what might have *' been the event fuppofing the French fleet had " not appeared at that time. " So far then I hope it will appear to the court, " that neither knowledge in my profefTion, pru- *' dence in conduding the expedition, or duty to *' my King and country, appear to be deficient " in me. " My letter to General Blakeney, ient by Mr. *' Harvey, though never deHvered, for realbns *' immediately to follow, will, I think, evince this " truth. " My firft care, after coming in fight of the ** port, was to know the true ftate of the harbour *^ and garrifon, to encourage the General and fol- " diers, by acquainting him that I was arrived to " his fuccour, and defiring to know how it might *' moft effe£lually be put in execution. " Thus then I hope all things will appear to *^ the court, to be well conduced to the time of " the French fleet's appearing in view -, when, on ^' feeing the enemy, confiderations of another na- " ture took place, and it became neceflary to defer " the execution of all refolutions, which I had ** taken fince I faw Mahon, and to recall the men ** of war which I had difpatched to reconnoitre *;5 the harbour, and procure intelligence from General 445 A. D. i I.' '■ii 1 i iS M ■., ■'■, ^ :l 1 i It ! ^i '' ■ ;(■ !'''«BS Si '■ }:'1| 446 A. ID. i7S6. The general HISTORY of General Blakenev. It was now to no piirpofe to know the ftate of the citadel and harbour, before I had engaged the French fleet •, I had no foldiers to land, but what made part of the complement of my (hips, and ferved as marines ; and if I had been provided with them, it would have been abfolutcly imprudent to have landed them before the engagement with the enemy, and thereby render that force lefs, which was already too little, for the intent it ought to have been fent upon. Landing the troops would have rendered the fleet unfit for a6tion, and ob- liged it to flee before the enemy. Had I be- haved in that manner, fuch a prepofl:erous a6b could not have failed rendering me juftly delin- quent, and unequal to the command I prefided in. " I was very fenfible that if fuccefs was the con- fequence of engaging the French, that I Ihould have X more in my power to relieve the citadel, as far as landing the troops, which ferved as marines, could efl^efl it. But I fufpeded alfo, and with reafon, that I might probably be ren- dered unable to keep the feas, though I obtain- ed the vidory, and therefore prevented from efifedually fuccouring the citadel. " So far all, I hope, will appear to the court to have been conduced with knowledge and prudence. *' Am I deferving of blame for not feeking the enemy in the difabled condition I was in after the engagement ? "To OF purpofc harbour, ., I had rt of the marines •, it would T landed 2 enemy, 'hich was ought to )ps would , and ob- ^ad I be- terous afu ftly delin- I prefided \s the con- It 1 fhould he citadel, fervcd as aed alfo, y be ren- I obtain- ited from the court ledge and Peking the IS in after "To THE LATE WAR. 447 *' To what purpofe would this fecond engage- A- ^• ** ment have been attempted with a fleet originally ^^ ** fo greatly inferior to the French, and now rcn- " dered much more fo by the damages received in *' the late battle? A total defeat, in all probabi- " lity, is the anfwer of reafon -, and if Monf. la ** Galifilonere had fought it, which providentially *' he did not, it is a reafonabls prcfumption that " the whole Englifh fquadron would have pcrifh- *' ed, or fallen a prey to the French, fince there '* was no port to flielter them. Whereas, had I ** been in the Mediterranean before the arrival of " the French at Minorca, a defeat on mv fide *' even might have faved the ifland : I could have " then faved my fhattered remains in Mahon, and " though conquered at fea, by means of the fiilors *' and foldiers, have preferved Sl, Philip's, and " probably the ifland. I'hus a defeat of our fleet, " had it been timely fet out, would have done more " fervice than a vidlory, after St. Philip's was in- " veiled. "It has been the fettled rule of all generals, " that no commander fliould ever rifque an en- " gagement, but when there is greater expecfla- *' tion to gain by a vidory, than to lofe by a de- " feat. " When then, from the inferiority of theEngliHi, *' nothing could be reafonably expected but mif- *' fortune and difgrace -, or if, by the greatefl " efforts of good fortune, victory fliould declare *' for our fleet, that no advantage could be drawn *' from it J when the rifque of lofing the whole '' fleet I h 11 ■■.i!" IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /.Q v ^4l :/. 1.0 I.I m 21 12.5 ■ 50 m/ ^•^ nig 1-25 1.4 III 1.6 ^ 6" ► V] I Y OF n:ed it on m fteering rear, each i line, and d the worft :o preferve :he fignal "* • from the [{ion of the igaging the up his fore- icking, or n order that get a-head d of fhort- 2 made the make more fet fo much he CuUoden to have kept in order to tion as pofii- .ve properly :er the (hips, ion, were as )uld permit, ith the fqua- :leavoured to iftle •, and to for its relief. , THE L AT E W A R. before he returned to Gibraltar." They then came to the following resolutions y. That the admi- ral appears to fall under the following part of the twelfth article of the articles of war : to wit, *' Or " Ihall not do his utmoft to take or deftroy, every *' fhip which it fhall be his duty to engage j and " to affift and relieve all and every of his Majelty*s " fhips, which it Ihali be his duty to aflift and re- " lieve." And as that article pofitively prefcrlbes death, without any alternative left to the difcre- tion of the court, under any variation of circum- ftances, they adjudged him to be fliot to death.— But as it had appeared by the evidence of Lord Robert Bertie, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, Captain Gardiner and othe-. officers of the fliip, who were near the perfon of the admiral, " That they did not perceive any backwardnefs in him, during the a6bion, or any marks of fear, or confufion, either from his countenance or behaviour ; but that he feemed to give his orders cooly and diftindlly, and did not feem wanting in perfonal courage; and from other circumftances, the court did not be- Heve that his milcondud: arofe either from cowar- dice or difaffeoiiGn ; and did therefore unanimoudy think it their duty, mod earneftly to recommend him as a proper objeiSl of mercy." So that when they made a report of this fentence of death, of which they found him guilty, thele fame members of the court martial, added the following remoH' 453 A.D. 1756. Refolutl- ons of the couit. Sentence Iiiin to be Hiot. Acquitted of cowar- dice and diihffec- tion. Recom- mend him to the ad- miralty for mercy. i!i !i', '■ before y Art. 36 and 37. See alfo the report made by the faid court martial of their fentence. G g 3 ' ftrance. ' 1 1 m 454 Th£ general history of tiu <:i i \ «\\ A.D. ftrance, to the lords of the admiralty, in favour '"^^* of the criminal. -Mi^viv.. i o " We theimderwritten, the prefident and members " of the court martial, aflcmbled for the trial of " Admiral Byng, believe it unnecefTary to inform '* your lordfhips, that in the whole courfe of this *' long trial, we have done our utmoft endeavours " to come at truths, and to do the flri, ^ ..1- h; ^' Sv "M. 458 A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY or March 1757, on board his Majefl:y*s (hip Mo* narque in Portfrnouth harbour, for the fake of juftice, and of example to the difciphning of the navy, and for the fafety and honour of the na- tion, as his Majefty's meflage to both houfes of parliament on the 26th of February did fignify. A few minutes before he was called out of the cabin to die, the Admiral addrefled himfelf to the Marflial as follows : " Sir, thefe are my thoughts " on this occafion : I (hall give them to you, that *' you may authenticate them, and prevent any " thing fpurious being publifhed, that might tend " to defame me. I have given a copy to one of " my relations." vi(J\ory, though both are equally men of honour; yet one muft neceflarily be worfted ; and there is nothing againft Mr. Byng, but his being worded ; for his whole conduct was that of an able feaman, and is juftly worthy of admiration. The ftrength of the two fleets was at hafi equal j the Englifh had thirteen fhips and we twelve much better equipped and much cleaner. Fortune that prefides over all battles, and efpecially thofe that are fought at fea, was more favourable to us than to our adverfaries, by fending our balls into their fhips with oreater execution. I am perfuaded, and it is the generally received opinion, that if the Englifh had obftinately continued the engagement, their whole fleet would have been deflroyed. In fliort, there can be no higher aft of injuflice than what is now attempted againft Admiral Byng, and all men of ho- nour, and all gentlemen of the army, are particularly interefted in the event. Richelieu. I received this original letter from Marfhal D. de Richelieu, the I ft of January ,1757, in witnefs of which I have figned my name. Voltaire. The r OF Lip Mo* ; fdke of ig of the • the na- houfes of signify. ' )ut of the elf to the thoughts you, that :vent any light tend to one of Hr; yet one againft Mr. udt was that ation. The Englilh had ■ii and much ud efpecially e to us than ir flbips with he generally ly continued 1 deftroyed. :e than what men of ho- rly interefted RiCHELISU. le Richelieu, ve figned my The THE L A:t E WAR. 459- The paper was wrote in his own hand, and A. n. . contained as follows : '^^^* On board his Majefly's fliip Monarque in Portf- iiis hn mouth harbour, March 14, 1757. ^1:!:/^ the M:u ** A Few moments will now deliver me from ^^^'^ '" the Virulent pcrlccutions, and irultratc the *' farther malice of my enemies •, — nor need I *' envy them a life fubjed to I'.ie fcnfations my in-. " juries, and the injullice done me mud create. ** — Perfuaded I am, julVice will be done to my reputation hereafter — The manner and caufe of raifing and keeping up the popular clamour and pn^judice agaiiiH: me, will be fcen through. — I lliall be confidered, (as I now perceive myfelf) a victim, deftined to divert the indignation and refentment of an injured and deluded people, from the proper objects. — My *' enemies themfclves muft now think me inno- '* cent. — H?ippy for me at this lad moment, that " I know my own innocence; and vjn confcious ^ *' that no part of my country's misfortunes can *' be owing to me. — I heartily wifh the flicdding " my blood may contribute to the happincfs and " fervice of my country • — 'but cannot rcfign my *' juft claim to a faithful diicharge of my duty, " according to the bed of my judgment, and the *' utmoft exertion of my ability, for his Majcfty's- " honour and my country's fervice. — I am lorry ** that my endeavours were not attended with " more fuccefs, and that the ;irmament under my *' com- • C( C( (( iU. m 4^0 The general HISTORY of A. D. 17^6. It (C Ml (( ce (C (t cc «c cc command proved too weak to fucceed in an expedition of fuch moment. — Truih has pre- " vailed over calumny T^nd faljhood, and jujiice has *' wiped off the ignominious ftain t)f my fuppofed want of perfonal courage, or difafFecSion— my heart acquits me of thefe crimes, — but who can be prefumptuoufly fure of his own judg- *' ment : If my crime is an error in judgment or differing in opinion from my judges ; and if yet, the error of judgment (hould be on their fide, *' — God forgv^e them, as I do-, and may the diflrefs of their minds, and uneafinefs of their con- fcicnces, which in jujiice to me they have repre- *' fented, be relieved, and fubfide, as my refent- *' ment has done. — The fupreme Judge fees all ** hearts and motives, and to him I fubmit the " juflice of my caufe." John Byng, Thus ended the enquiry into the conduft of Genera] Fowke and Admiral Byng, with the An- gular punifhment of the Governor of Gibraltar - broke and diUTjilfed his Majefty's fervice, for not complying with inftrudlions or orders he could not underftand, and appeared to him inconfiftent and contradit5lory : and of the Admiral for ad- hering to a council of war, and for not doing all that, in the opinion of others, was in his power to do, for diftreffing the enemy, and for the re- lief of Minorca. Wc RY OF cceed in an th has pre- id jujiice has my fuppofed EdioH' — my — but who own judg- judgment or J and if yet, n their fide, md tnay the of their con- have repre- s my refent- jdge fees all fubmit the OHM Byng, condud of fiiih the fin- of Gibraltar I'ice, for not IS he could \ inconfiftent liral for ad- lot doing all n his power d for the re- • > We THE LATE WAR. 461. »vng s We have thrown the proceedings of this re- /- D. inarkable cafe together, though they were, by fe- ^^-' * vcral incidents, prutradted nine months, or there- j;,^/^f^"ir_ abouts, to prevent any unneceffary digreflions : <-umibn- and we have been more pr jcular m this narrative, count cf becaufe, on the part of the Commander in Chief, y,1 '"" in this expedition to defend or relieve Minorca, it ^"^'^* exhibits the beft view of the caufes of its lofs -, which he attributes, primarily to the negle6b of the miniftry ; to the wcaknefs of his fquadron, and to a want of land-forces fufficient to rrife the fiege : and on the part of the miniftiy, it ihews how far the influence of a court intereft is able to ikreen men in power from the refentment of the nation ; and how far they are able to expiate their own guilr with the blood of that fervant, v.'ho dares to complain of their milconduft. But more cfpecially, becaufe this act of jufiice upon a perfon of a noble extradion ; and this example, the dif- ciplining of the navy in the perfon of an Admiral, the fon of an Admiral enobled for his f^rvices, contributed greatly to convince the people that his Majefty would fpare nobody, of what rank or degree foever, if found deficient in his duty; that he would do all, in his power, for the fafety and honour of his people ; and that he was determined to maintain difcipline, as well as to punifli cow- ardice and treachery in his navy. In the mean Enquiry time his Majefty, by warrant dated November ''"^ ^^^ 22d, appointed Sir John Ligonier, General Hofketijc Jand- and General Cholmondeley, to enquire why Ma- J'.J ^'in!,^'*^ jor-General Stuart, and the Colonels Cornwallis,*^^- and ! 'ill;' ifl II' (I !> 4 i " '■]. ;i. . 462 A. D. 1756. ThcJr pleas. Acquitted, mentiry enqui.y in to t'lie lol's oi- Minor- ca. How baf- fled. > . i'£ The general HI5TORY or and the Earl of Effingham, did not join their re- fpecflive commands in the ifland of Minorca ? and whether they had ufed their utmoft endeavours to throw themfelves into Fort St. Phihp's ? and why, being only pafTengers, they afTifted at the fea- council of war ; which advifed Mr. Byng to re- turn immediately to Gibraltar ? To which they pleaded. That it was not in their power to be at Minorca before Mr. Byng's fleet ; that they were ready and willing to join their commands, but had no means to land them at Fort St. Philip ; and that they aflifted at the council of war by or- der of the Admiral, under whofe command they thought themfelves to be ; and that th^y thought it their duty to co-operate with the fca-officers, to the utmoft of their power, for the advance- ment of his Majefl-y's fervice. Upon which the Board fubmitted to his Majefty, That in their mod humble opinion, th'^ condudl of thefe three officers was clear from any fufpicion of difobedi- cnce to orders, or neglect of duty. When the parliament met, one of their proceed- ingswas to enquire into the caufes of the lofs of Mi- norca, and they addrefled his Majefty for all papers, that might explain that intricate aflrair. To which his Majefty condefcended. But they whofe fafety depended upon intricacy, confufion and a majority, fo managed, that this enquiry was committed to the whole Houfe, and the papers were fwelled into fuch aprepofterous number, that it required more time to digeft them, than a whole feffion of par- liament Y OF I their re- irca ? and avours to and why, ; the fea- ig to re- ;iich they to be at they were ands, but t. Philip: /ar by or- iand they y thought a- officers, advance- vhich the : in their hefe three difobedi- r proceed- ofs of Mi- ill papers. To which lofe fafety majority, mitted to relied into lired more n of par- liament THE LATE WAR. 463 A. D. 1756. liament would allow ^ Howeve>, though this method of enquiry may be faid to deliver fome people from the loud accufations of the people, under the protection of a parliamentary approba- ^ tion of their condud, which on this occafion de- clared that the miniftry had done all in their power both by fea and land to fave Minorca; yet it muft be allowed, that it was this countenance and difpofition of the King to gradfy his faithful fubjeds with all the lights he could help them to, and to inflidl exemplary punifhment on delin- its cffcas quents, without diftindion, that difcouraged and terrified fuch, as knew themfelves to be obnoxious and guilty, and brought about that grand change both of men and meafures, which delivered the nation from a timorous and inadlive miniftry j and revived that cour*age and condud, for which our progenitors had been univerfally efteemed, and without which ,not only Minorca, but our colo- nies, our allies, and thefe kingdoms, muft have fallen a prey to an enemy, whofe courage was founded upon our timidity, and whofe fuccefs was owing to our negligence ; as will more fully ap- pear from a due attention to the fadls in the fe- quel of this hiftory, compared with thofe already publilhed in this book. « The mod material fadls in thofe papers arc to be found in page 234 to 254. - iG T H r: -1> ll %i- if I" A. D. 1756. THE GENERAL HISTORY - • :: : o f t h e ' L AT E W A R. I _ _ --- ■ ■— — ■■ ■— - .. - ■ - ■ _ . - — p j^ B O O K 11. Containing its progrefs in the Eaft Indies and North America, Our operations by fta and land, The ' German ixar^ wherein the Auftrians^ Ruffians^ French^ Swedes^ Saxons, and Imperialijis were confederate againft the King of Prujfia : And the French invajion of Hejfe Cajfel and the Electoral dominions of his Britannic Majejiy : to the conclu- ' ftonof theyear I'j^y. THE voice of the people having prevailed with the Sovereign to refolve upon vigorous meafures ; and his Majefty provoked to declare war againft the French, by an adual invafion of his donriinions, and with threats to pour a nu- merous army into Great Britain; they omitted nothing that might convince him of their willing- nefs to fupport him in fo juft and necelTary a war. Great as the fupplies were, granted by parlia- ment, the national generofity difcovered itfclf in many * ^ * w w 3RY R. RuffianSy alifts were : And the >e Ele5ioral the conclu- prevailed n vigorous to declare nvafion of 311 r a nii- y omitted nrwilling- ary a war, by parlia- i itfelf in many THE LATE WAR. 4^5 rtiany laudable aflbciations fof the public good, A. D. The landholders and corporations, thinking that ^^ their property and rights were at (lake, not only fubmitted with pleafure to the refolutions of their reprefentatives ; but raifed great numbers of men, for the fervice of their country, by voluntary con- tributions and large premiums. Nay, fome mer- chant5: of London, convinced, by the difficulties Marine fo- the ftate met with in manning the navy, upon ^'^ ^* luch an immergency, that there was a necelTity to train up a young nurfery, from whence the go- vernment might always draw an immediate fupply on any occafion, joined heartily in that extenfivc and moft comrriendable plan, called the Marine So- ciety -y and by their exemplary fubfcriptions ert- gaged fuch a fund, as, during the courfe of the war, equipped for the fea fervice on board his Majefty*s fhips many thoufand orphans, friend- Jefs and forlorn boys ; who were thereby refcued from mifery, and made ufeful members of the commonwealth *'. The * Sofne account of the Marine Society, from a letter addrejjed hj a member to tJje public. In order to make an account of the views of this fociety generally underftoodj, it is neceffary to premife that the of- fiters of every (hip of war, which carries 60 guns and 400 men, have a right to carry 30 fervants, and to receive their wages, which wages are confidered as part of the officer's Thefe fervants are generally boys between thirteen years gf age and eighteen ; for when they are at or near their full growth, as they can then r^nk as feamen, and receive pay in Vol. I. Hh that 10 , 1 r r i ■ 1 rl 11 ^# if 466 The general HISTORY of A. D. The firft objed of the court, after the lofs of ^^^^' Minorca, (which the miniftry could not but be fenfible. Firllobjeft of the couit. that clafs, it is not to be fuppofed they will be content to enter on board as an ofiiccr's fcrvant, for lift^ Ihillings a year, which is their ttated wages. The government therefore has allowed this number of boys to officers, not only bccaafe they are necefiary in the fhip ; but becaufe by this means every Ihip becomes a nurfery of young feamen, who acquire fkill and ftrength together, and are not only able, but expert failors before they are one and twenty years of age. Thefe fervants, however, it has been found very difficult to procure ; the poor vagrants, who are covered with filth and rags, and fubfili either by begging or by pilfering, had 00 im Tiediate inducement, wretched as rhey were, to enter on board a fhip, where they mufl at once renounce their lounging and idlenefs for conflai.t: aftivity and labour ; and if they had at any time a tranfient wifr. for fuch a change of fituation, ihey did not know how to apply to bring it about : the officers, who wanted them, had neither time nor opportu- nity to fearch and follicit them, and the gentlemen who re- fide in the country, though they might be inclined to render the children of the poor thus ferviceable to their country, there being no eftablifhinent to which they could apply, had no means of putting their intention into pradtice. But befides that it is defirable for every Ibip to have its com- plement of boys, it is defuable, in a time of war, that not more than one third of the number fhould be lels than fix- teen or feventeen ; becaufe it would be too long before thofe, that are younger, can be rated ab feamen ; nor can they create a quick fuccelfion of youth into the fervice of officers, as a ttate of qualification. It mull alfo be obferved, that the youth, that are procured, lofe fcveral advantages by the difficulty of procuring others ,• for an officer, vhen he lofes a fervant, ioies his wages, ^nd he will naturally be unwilling his fer- vant fhould be rioted as a fcaman, when he knows not how to get anoiher. 4 The 4 it i. Y OF he lofs of )t but be fenfible, z content to lings a year, mber of boys in the ftiip ; a nurfery of Dgether, and are one and very difficult ed with filth lilfering, had 'ere, to enter nounce their labour; and I a change of ing it about: nor opportu- ;men who re- led to render heir country, 1 apply, had ft have its com- war, th;it not els than fix- before thofe, Ui they create officers, as a lat the youth, e difficulty of "es a fervanr, liing his fer- lOWvS rot how The THE LATE WAR. i?nfible, had fallen to the French arms, through their negleft cf that ifland, occafioned by too much attention paid to the French threats to in- The vijw of this fociety, therefore, is to encourage the induftrious poor to lend their children to fea, and invite the vagabond and pilferer, not only boys and lads, but men, to become ufeful to the ftate by the following advantages. 1. They fhall be received immediately upon application, and taken care of in a proper place, where they will be accommodated with fire and beds, and three meals a day, of good bread and broth, and roots, and meat, till they are fent on board. 2. If any that offer are diftempered, they are immediately put under proper methods of cure, and when they are fent on board they are compleatly fitted out with cloathing and bedding-. Thus are men and boys ftripped of their rags, cured of their difter.^-ers, and fent clean and well cloathed, with as good bedding and accommodations as any common feaman OK board. As to the lads, if they are fixteen or fevcnteen, they are very foon qualified to receive wages as feamen ; and as to the men, the diftinflion between landmen and fea- men on board, which ufed to create animofity, and fubjecl the landmen to fome hardihips, is loft, as they are no longer known by their apparel. Thefe accommodations, befjdes that they are an immediate inducement to lads and men to enter, are fo necefTary to health and life, that for want of them many have mifcrably perifhed, who might otherwife have been of fingular fervice to their country. The advantages are not lefs to the community than to the individual j far it procures a fpeedy fupply of ftout mariners in the room of thofe, who, in the prolecution of a war, mult neceflarily be cut off, at the fame time that thofe evils are prevented, which the idle and diflblute peer of the riling ge- neration would produce, if they had continued at home. H h 2 vade '467 A.D. 1756. ij! . 1 1 1 , < 1; *: Ir ' 468 A. D. Why Mi- norca was now difie- Meafurc;. purUiet} for North A- nieiica. Lord Lou* ilon iip- pointcd Conunun- cl'jr in Chiet. The general HISTORY of vade thefc kingdoms) was the defence and fecurity of our colonies ind territories in North America. From which objed it was very evident the French intended to draw the BritiOi councils, by attempt- ing to carry the feat of war into the Mediterranean. For, there was nothing in the conqueft of Minorca of that fingular importance to the French, as to prefer it to the fupport of their American fchemes ; except we look upon it, as we ought to do, to be a feint to keep England employed in a ccnteft for that ifland in the Mediterranean, while their ma- rine from Breft, &c. might be at liberty to re- cruit and fupport their forces and encroachments in America. Therefore Minorca was fuffered to remain un- der the dominion of France, till a more proper time fhould favour our arms to retake it, or it fhould be reftored at a peace. His Majefty had promifed to prefer the fecuritv of his American fubjefts, and the chaftifement of the French ufurpatlons and hoftilities in North America, to all other confiderations. For this purpofe, it was thought neceffary not only to ft^d more troops, but to have the army, on that con- tinent, better officered. We have feen that Lord Loudon was appointed Commander in Chief, with powers, that were llippofed fufficient to remove all the delays, and the caufes of thole obftrudions, which had defeated moll of the former opera- tions, and falutary meafures, propofcd for their common defence : and General Abercrombie was fent OF I fecurity America, e French attempt- erranean, Minorca :h, as to fchemes ; do, to be cnteft for their ma- rty to re- ach men ts jmain un- re proper it, or it le fecurity fement of in North For this ly to k-^d that con- that Lord "hief, with o remove Irudions, er opera- for their )mbie was fent THE LATE W A R. 4% A.D. 1756. fent before ^ with two regiments, and with orders to fupercede General Shirley. Every one wiflied for, and turned their thoughts towards an American war -, and loolced upon thefe meafures to prefage a vigorous effort to drive the French out of their ufurpations, and to avenge the inhuman practices of their Indian allies. But, ohftmc- P.S if procraftination had been the favourite mea- jeiats^'iu fure of that adminiftration, his Majefty's good ^^^'^ ^"^^^ intentions, and thi people's fxpeflations were meaiUres. once more difappointed, by a detention of the Earl of Loudon, who was charged with the chief diredlions of the operations and plans in North America ; but ordered to wait for certain foreign officers of experience, invited from Germany, to command in a royal American regiment, confift- ing of four battalions, to be raifed in Virginia ; and of which the Earl was to be Colonel. So that notwithftandipg the preparations made by the provincials under General Shirley, to open the campaign early in the year, they were obliged to halt at Albany, for the arrival of a Commander in Chief, and of the regular forces from Eng- land, till the latter end of June, when General General a. Abercrombie arrived there, and took the com- ^>er5rombie r ■ • 1 1 n- I arrives in mand of the two regiment* led off by Dunbar, North a- after the defeat of Braddock, two battalions raifed '"^^'"' in America, two regirrents brought with him The num. from England ; four old independent companies ^^'' "^ belonging to New York, a New Jerfey regiment, ' In March 1756. It was the latter end of May before the Earl of Lcudon ftMled. 3 H h four I \, hi: f. if. m ,•■■•■■ h ' W rHi') A.D. 1756 Refolu- tions for the opera- tions this fummer. Why not executed. The general HISTORY of four companies levied in North Carolina, and a body of provincials fent from New England only. It had been refolveo the council of war held laft year, at Albany, by Mr. Shirley, &c. to endeavour to cut off the French communication, between Canada and Louiliana, by the reducing of fort Niagara, fituate between the lakes Onta- rio and Erie : which alfo would have obliged their new forts on the Ohio, to fubmit to the Britifh arms, without much bloodfhed : to cover the borders of New York, and fecure the navigation of Lake Champlain, by the conqueft of Ticonde- roga and Crown Point : to befiege Fort du Qiiefne on the Ohio -, and, while thefe feveral and diftant fervices were carried into execution, to alarm the capital of Canada by a body of troops detached up the river Kennebeck ^, But Abercrombie, though approving of the plan, thought it, by far, too extenfive, for the forces under his prefent command, to be carried effedually into execution. Befides the feafon was too far advanced, to promife fuccefs. He there- fore waited the arrival of Lord Loudon : and by that determination another year was loft ; the provinces left expofed to the invafions and barba- B See page 166. ^ The troops deftincd for the campaign on Lake Ontario, were intended to march for Ofwego, thence to be canled over in 200 whale boats, built long, round and light, laft winter &t Schenedady, on Mohawks river, and already brought intq thg lake. rities OF ina, and EngUnd war held ^, &c. to Linication, reducing Les Onta- iged their be Britifh cover the lavigation Ticonde- du Qiiefne ind diftant ► alarm the 3 detached ng of the for the be carried feafon was He there- i : and by- loft ; the aqd barba- ake Ontario, carried over laft winter brought into ritics THE LATE WAR. 471 / A. D. 1756. i'l: rities of the enemy ; and the French ' at liberty to ftrengthen their polls, and to diftrefs the BritiHi fettlements with impunity. Duringthisftateof inaflivity, andof dependance upon reinforcements from their mother country, the army received the difagrceable news of the enemy's entring the country of the Five Nations, Operations our ancient allies ; where they reduced a fmall French. fort, garrifoned by 25 Englifli, whom they put to the fword, and butchered in a moft barbarous manner. The French improved the opportunity : they formed a camp at Ticonderoga of 330 tents and 70 log houfes, with 3000 troops at that place and Crown Point, and daily increafed their numbers. But the defence of this fort was not their only objefl ; and as they were perfedly informed of the orders for the Englifli army not to undertake any expedition, till the arrival of Lord J -^udon ; and that his lordfliip could not land 'n North America, before the time would be elapfed. either to attack Crown Point, or to prevent Ofwego falling into their hands ; the enemy refolved upon the fiege of Ofwego : and in order to facilitate their operations againftthat fort, ambufcades were formed to harrafs and intercept any reinforcement, or convoy of provifions, 5rC. which might be fent to Ofwego, from Albany, or from Scheneflady. " Who received a reinforcement of about 3000 men, un- der the command of M. Moutcahn, from Europe, under a ftrong convoy of men of war. il'l ( H h 4 Elowever, ■ •. , - -If' A. D. 1756. Colonel Brad- 472 The general HISTORY of However, a confidcrable convoy of provifions and ftores was condu(5led thither very Tafely by Colonel Bradftreet, before the ambufcade was ftreet's ad- jj^jj^ guj- [^ j^jg retum down the river Onondaga, vantage , " over the and {lemming the ftrcam with his battoes, formed ' ^' in three divifions, he was falutcd '' by a party of Indians, fecreted amongft the buflies and trees, on the north fhore, with the war-hoop and a general difcharge of miifquetry : which killed about 70 of the battoe mtn. Colonel Bradftreet landed his men immediately on the oppofite bank, and took pofTcfTion of a fmall ifland \ where he with fix men only, drove off 40 of the enemy, who forded the river to attack them. Then quitting the ifland, and colleding his whole ftrength of about 200 men, he marched to meet another party of French and Indiins, who had forded the river a mile high- er i whom he with only 40 men, fell upon, fword in hand, in a large fwamp, and cut moft of them in pieces or drowned them : then he boldly march- ed up and attacked the main body of the enemy, confiding of 660 men, which had pafled at ano- ther ford, and entirely routed them alfo. This afiion lafled upwards of three hours. Our chief lofs was amongft the battoe men, by the firft fire from the i.oi- of the bullies : but the enemy had about 200 killed and e.it.iy. y^ taken prifoners j and had not the reft been fa- voured m their flight by a heavy rain, and the fwelling of the waters, which put an end to Brad- ftreet's purfuit, it is very probable, that the whole '" Wy 5. 'T^6. 1 About nine miles from Ofwcgo. detach- or >rovifions fafely by :ade was londaga, , formed party of trees, on a general ibout 70 anded his and took with fix ho forded he ifland, Dout 200 of French nile high- 3n, fword : of them ly march- e enemy, :i at ano- his adion lofs was from the illed and been fa- and the to Brad- Ihe whole )f\vcgo. detach- A.D. 1756. • THi L AT E W A R. 473 detachment, confifting of 700 French and Cana- dians chiefly, would have been entirely cut off: for, Colonel Bradftreet was joined the fame night by Captain Patten and his grenadiers, marching from Oneida to Ofwcgo -, and next morning by 200 men detached to his afliftance from Ofwego. So that thefe parties feparated. Bradftreet made the beft of his way to Schenedtady : and the others marched together for Ofwego. By the prifoners brought in by Colonel Brad- Tiie ficge ftreet. General Abercrombie was informed that °*/^''''|-ii'» Ofwego was the immediate objcfb of the French ^pon. arms, and that its fiege was determined upon by a large body of Europeans, encamped on the cas- ern Ihore of Lake Ontario. * The importance of this place, to interrupt the its defence commerce, as well as the motions of the enemy -, ''"^^ '^'^" and its being the only place to build veifels, for the navigation, upon that lake or inland-fea; and to fecure an interell with the Indians, that had not declared againft us ; determined General Aber- crombie to detach a regiment of regulars, under the command of Major General Webb, to its re- lief. But, notwithftanding the advantage, which the lofs of Ofwego would give the enemy in all their future operations, and meafures -, and altho* the Englifh army at Albany could mufter 2600 regulars, and 7000 provincials, or thereabout, under the command of General Winflow'", be- ftdes a confiderable number of battoe men j their '1 ! I I , .1' luyod. At Fort William Henry. march •■ n 8 I! ^) h^: ■■:'■<. Ml}- '>',■' 1 474 The general HISTORY or A. D. march was flopped by the arrival of Lord Lou- '^^ * don, while the ncccflaries were providing for their fubfiftence on the road. For, his Lordlhip, how much foever incHned to forward General Aber- crombie's orders for the relief of Ofwego, was fa peremptorily and obftinately oppofed, in that meafure, by New England, New York and the adjacent provinces, which infilled upon the reduc- tion of Crown Point previous to all other opera- tions, that, although they were at laft pre- vailed with to confent to the march of Major General Webb, with the regiment firft ordered by General Abercrombie, it was the 12th day of Augufl, before this fupply could fet out from Al- bany, and indulged the enemy with fuch an unac- countable opportunity to complete their plan again ft Ofwego, that, by the time Major General Webb could reach the Carrying Place, between the Mohawk's river and Wood's Creek, he met with the diiagreeable news, that the French were mafters of Ofwego, and had made the garrifon, and 300 workmen and failors, employed to defend the palies between the fort and Burnet's field, prifoners of war. The 'ege By this misfortune the nation loft the two forts FortsOn- Ontario and Ofwego": Forts, that had been run up tari;), Of- jn a hurry, unfiniftied, and untenable againft a re- ' "^ ' " gular force. The Marquis de Montcalm, an enterprizing officer, and fucceffor to Mr. Diefkau, v/as charged with this expedition, having under *» See page 164 and i6ij. his m Y or .ord Lou- g for their fnip, how :ral Aber- rOj was fa , in that k and the the reduc- ler opera - laft pre- of Major ■ft ordered ith day of t from Al- h an iinac- their plan jor General e, between :k, he met rench were le garrifon, I to defend net's field, e two forts een run up gainft a re- itcalm, an r. Diefkau, v'lUQ under his THE LATE W A R. 475 A.D. 1756. 110. his command 1300 regulars, 1 700 Canadians, and 9. confiderable number of Indians. His firft care was to prevent fuccours and intelligence between Ofwego and Albany ; which he effected by pofting a ftrong body of Canadians on the road by land, and by blocking up Ofwego by water with two large armed veflels. This done, he, without op- pofition, or danger of being difturbed, tranf- ported " his ftores and artillery over the laka to the Bay of Nixouri, appointed the place of general rendezvous for this expedition. Having proceeded with all the caution in his The np- power to prevent a furprize •, and, in cafe of a Jl^the'^* mifcarriaare, to fecure a fafe retreat, he made the ix^^^ch neceflary difpofitions tor the fiege, and opened FortOnta-. the trenches before Fore Ontario, with about 5000 men, and 32 pieces of cannon, from 10 to 18 pounders, befides feveral large brr;.s mortars and hoyets (part of the artillery which h^.d be^ n takea from General Braddock) about midnight, on the i2thof Auguft, at the diftance of 90 tviifes (or fa- thoms, of fix feet each) from the foffe of Fort Ontario, and like unto a parallel of about 100 toiles in front, and in ground vaftly embarr?fl!ed with trunks of trees, and fuch like obftrudllons. The parallel was finifhed at five in the morning, when the workmen began to ere6l the batteries in the midft of a hot fire, kept up by the garrilbn very brifl^Iy from day break to fix o'clock at night, ^nd killed their chief engineer in the trenches. o From Fort Froiitenac, where he had arrived on the 29th of July. But. ;^ij i "1 m f ■•;;, it . :■■■'- - 'f. ■ ■ %': m ^i Againft Olwego. 476 The general HISTORY of A.D. Blu, as Colonel Mercer apprehended, that the '"^ ' fort was not tenable againft fuch a fuperior force, and fevcral pieces of heavy cannon mounted on a battery at no more than 60 yards from it ; he, about three in the afternoon, having received an account from the commandent, of his bad fitua- tion, ordered him to fire away all his (hells and ammunition, to fpike up the cannon, and to make the bcft retreat he could to Ofwego. Which was punflually executed by deftroying the cannon, am- munition and provifions, and pafling the river fo as to join the troops on theweftern ihore, without the lofs of a man. The French General, informed of this defer- tion of Fort Ontario, immediately took poffeffion thereof, and ordered the communication o? the parallel to be continued to the bank of the river i where, early in the fame night, he began a grand battery, formed in fuch a manner, that it could not only batter Fort Ofwego, diftant about two miles Englifh, and fecure the way from thence to Fort George, fituate on a hill, about four miles and a half up the river, but annoy the entrench- ment of Ofwego. On the part of the EngliOi, the troops, to the number of 370, or thereabout, which had re- treated from Fort Ontario, were ordered to join Colonel Schuyler immediately, who was chargs'd with the defence of the fort on the hil' to the weft- ward of the Old Fort, under the direction of Mr. Mackellar '•he engineer. But the advantages, propofed by a communication between thcfe two fort?. f-V hiviour til" gHi- i'.l'Oii. Y OF , that the ?rior force, untcd on a m it; he, eceived an bad fitua- fhells and id to make iVhich was innon, am- le river fo ■e, without this defer- i poffeflion ion o7 the ' the river j an a grand lat it could about two thence to four miles entrench- >ps, to the Ih had re- [ed to join IS chargv'd b the well- on of Mr. Idvantages, thefe two forts. THE LATE WAR. 477 I A. D. 1756. forts, were foon fruftrated -, not fo much by the fire from the enemy acrofs the river, who at that diftance could never have pretended to batter in breach, and to have reduced Ofwego to the necef- fity of furrendering ; but from a bold acflion of a body of 2500 Canadians and lavages, whofwam over the river in the night between the 1 3th and 14th, and cut off the communication between the two forts. At the fame time the enemy were very bufy in bringing up their cannon ; and raifing a battery of 10 cannon, 12 pounders, on thceaft fide of the river, againfl the Old Fort : tho* there was kept up a conftanf fire of cannon and fliells, from the Old Fort and works about it. On the 14th day. General Mercer, informed that a large party of the enemy had croflbd the river to fall upon him on the weft fide, ordered Colonel Schuyler to march againft them with 500 men. But this order was annulled by a cannon ball, which, a few minutes, after, killed Colonel cdonei Mercer. ^''''' killed. Colonel Littlehales, who fucceeded Mercer in Council of the chief command, being better informed of the ^^'^^ '^^'^'^^• numbers of the enemy, that had croffed the river ; that they were 2500 men ; countermanded the de- tachment Lnder Colonel Schuyler -, and obferving, that the enemy had, with great celerity, raifed a battery of nine guns, and another of mortars ready to play : that there were 2500 irregulars and Indians on the back of his garrifon, ready to ftorm them, on that fide, and 2000 regulars ready to land ' ) I m U' 478 A. D. 1756. Rcfolvcdto fur: eiulcr. Not agree- able to the foltiiery. Mifcon- du6^ in the propolals. Th£ general history of land in front, under the fire of their cannon, and that all the places of defence, under his command, ■were either enfiladed or ruined by the conftant fire of the enemy, he called a council of war ; who, after taking the opinion of the engineers, were unanimoufly of opinion, that the works were no longer tenable ; and that it was by no means prudent to rifk a ftorm with fuch unequal num- bers. A capitulation was accordingly refolved upon ; a white flag was hung out, and the chamade was beat, and the firing ccafed on both fides ; though not without great relu6lance of the foldiery, who for fome time kept and ufed their arms, declaring their rcfolution rather to die, than yield and furrender to the French. But the officers, though they had behaved like men, determined to difpute their pofl and liberty to the laft extremity ; yet, to pre- vent a mutiny, and any mifcarriage, that might happen by the bad ufe the enemy could make of the interval of this cefTation of arms, two of them are faid to have been inconfiderately fent out to the French General, not with the conditions, a brave garrifon has a right to demand, and fel- dom fail of gaining by a proper countenance in their diftreffed circumftances •, but, — but to know the terms he was ivilling to grajit : and the enemy were permitted openly to bring up more cannon ; to advance the main body of their troops, within muil^et (hoi of the garrifon j and, to pre- pare every thing for a ftorm, while the treaty for a furrender was carried on. The Marquis of Montcalm i. r\ Vt Y oi- nnon, and command, ic conftant 1 of war ; engineers, A^orks were no means ;qual num- ved upon •, amade was ;s j though ry, who for laring their jrrender to 1 they had ifpute their 'et, to pre- ;hat might d make of ^o of them :nt out to iditions, a and fel- itenance in — but to / : and the J up more leir troops, id, to pre- trcaty for /larquis of Montcahn 47? A. D. 1756. THE L A T E W A R. Montcalm informed by thcfe officers of the diffi- cuhy, with which the garrifon were brought to fubmit to a capitulation, anfwered, That the Englifli were an enemy he efteemed •, that none, but a brave nation, would have thought of de- fending fo weak a place fo long againft fuch a Itrong train of artillery and fuperior numbers; that they might expedl whatever terms were con- fident with the fervice of his moft Chriftian Ma- jefty. But tied them down to the following pro- pofals, viz. *• The Marquis of Montcalm, Army and Field *' Marfhal, commander in chief of his moft Chri- T '* ftian Majefty's troops, is ready to receive (a rcapiuda- •* capitulation) upon honourable conditions, fur- ^''^"' " rendering to him all the forts : he requires them " to be prifoners of war : they fliall be fhevvn all *' the regard the politeft of nations can (hew : I *' fend an Aid de Camp on my part, viz. Monf. *' de Bougainville, captain of dragoons \ they " need only fend the capitulation to be figned : •' I require an anfwer by noon : I have kept Mr. «' Drake for an hottage. 'c pro- Auguft 14, 1756. " Montcalm." And accordingly the following demand was made : ne ■''(i .•n.fr 4i. ''V 480 A. D. 1756. The capi- tuiation. cc (C TiiE GENERAL HISTORY of 77je demand made by the commandant of Ofwego frctn the Martinis of Montcalm^ Army and Field Mar- Jhat to the King^ commander in chief of his mofi Chriflian Majejlfs troops in North America, Article I. 'T^ H E garrifon fliall furrender prifoncrs of ''" war, and fhall be condiidted from hence " to Montreal, where they Ihall be treated with *' humanity, and every one fliall have treatment *' agreeable to their re fpediive ranks, according to *' the ciiftom of war, " II. Officers, foldiers, and individuals (hall *' have their baggage and deaths, and they fhall *' be allowed to carry them along with them. "III. They fhall remain priioners of war until *' they are exchanged.'* To which the Marquis de Montcalm gave an- fwer as follows : " f Accept of the above articles in the name of " his moft Chriflian Majcfty, under the con- *'• dition of delivering up faithfully the fortifica- " tioiis, ammunition, m.igazines, barks and bat- ** toes, with their appurtenances. *' I give full power to Monf. de la Pauze, Ma- " jor-General, to reduce this prefent capitulation, •' and to agree upon the manner of becoming *' mafter of the faid fort, of which our troops Ihall *' take pofleffion, and to infure the garrifon from receiving any infult. ** Given at the camp before Ofwego, the 14th " day (at eleven o'clock in the morning) of " the month of Augull, 175^. *• Montcalm.*' By . battoes of rVilTercnt fizes, whofe officers and crews were mclrided in tlie capitulation. Future As foon as the forts were demoliflied the French JJ^*^!p"^J^."j[ marched with the utmoft fpeed, with their pri- jbners " and booty, to join their army at Ticon- doroga, and to oppoie the motions of the provin- cial army, of about 7000 men, which ought to have ionjr before attacked Crown Point ; but had laid idle, under General Winflow, till reduced by ficknel's and defcrtion to 4000, and till the French were now in a condition to hold them at defiance. The provincials deferred, becaufe they were dif- heartned by an inadive campaign ; and the new- raifed troops contradled many diforders, for want of care and cleanlinefs. But no enemy appearing, they proceeded to Montreal, and thence to Quebec, where the prifoners were immediately embarked and fenr -to Portfmouth in a cartel fhip. Thus within the fpace of four days, from the time the trenches were opened before Fort Onta- rio, we have feen the lofs of the only poft Great Britain had on the Great Lakes ; much in the fame way as Mahon was loft in the Mediterranean ; though it was of as much or greater importance to maintain this poft on the continent of North America, to overawe the wavering and hoftile In- dians, to prote(5b our allies, to cover our fettle- mcnts and tochaftife our enemies j as to preferve " Such as were loft alive ; for, contrary to the faith of the capitulation, Montcalm not only fufFercd the garrifon to be (tripped and many of them to be murdered by his army ; but he delivered twenty of them up to the mercy of the Indians, by way of atonement for the lofs of their friends, that had fallcr in battle. 4 Fort o.'uhiilwlt w n RY OF officers and in. I the French :h their pri- ny at Ticon- ' the provin- :h ought to nt i but had I reduced by II the French n at defiance, ley were dif- md the new- ?rs, for want ny appearing, :e to Quebec, :ly embarked hip. lys, from the e Fort Onta- ly poft Great h in the fame lediterrancan -, importance nt of North Ind hoftile In- r our fettle- ,s to prefervc the faith of the garrifon to be his army ; but of the Indians, lends, that had Fort T H E L A T E V/ A R. ' 48 J Fort St. Philip's in Europe. For, though the -A.D. vail quantity of artillery, ammunition, ftores, and provifions of all forts, and the number of work- men employed in building, and of others in the navigation upon Lake Ontario, is a convincing proof that the perfons concerned in the manage- ment of the American war, were not infenfible of the importance of this poft, both for defence and offence -, yet nothing can appear more notorious, except the procraftination of the defence of Mi- norca, that this poft was alio loft by delays and negled, and, at laft, by not doing all that was in the power of a garrifon to do; as will more fully appear from the following review of the ftate of Ofwego for fome time before ; when there was the greateft reafon to expeft a vifit from the French, who made no fcruple to call it an encroachment, or an invafion upon the French King's territory, made in the time of a profound peace ; and it was declared that thev would attack, take and de- ftroy it, as foon as opportunity would permit. Neverthclefs Ofwego was fo negleded, that the How of- French might have executed their defign upon it been neg- in the fpring of the year 1755, when this fort was ^^^^^' garrifoned only by 100 men, under Captain King, had no works but the Old Fort, mounting eight four pounders only, and fo commanded by an emi- nence direftly a-crofs a narrow river, whofe banks were covered with a thick wood, that made it utter- ly incapable of defence ♦, or to command any re- fpecl upon the Lake. As was the cafe on the 24th and ?6th of May 1755, when 41 battoes, with 15 men in each, in all 6co men, pafled in I i 2 fight t.'iL ; ( 11', 4^4 A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY of fight, and bid defiance to a fort, which they might then have reduced in a few hours with one finglc moftar. A refolution was then taken to enlarge the fort, or rather to ereft fome additional forts, to build vcflels upon the lake, to increafe the garrifon, and to provide every thing necefiary to annoy an ene- my, and to render the place tenable. Accordingly Captain Bradftreet was difpatched with a reinforce- ment of two companies, fome fwivel guns, and the firft fet of workmen to build veflfels : but thefc men were employed in building fuch craft, that, when, foon after, 1 1 more French battoes, with troops on board pafled by Ofwego, and we had a greater number of thofe boats in the harbour, they were fuffered to pafs unmolefted, to the great danger and terror of our back fettlements ; our battoes not being (lifF enough for the foldiers to (land to fire off at fea j fo ticklifli that the in- advertent motion of one man wouki overfet them, and fo fmall, as not able to carry more than fix men each. Yet, if thai was the real cafe, no care was tp.ken to build their boats upon a more ferviceablc plan, agiiinft any future emergency, and to main- tain the dominion of the lake. But there was another moft unpardonable overfight in thofe, who had the dire(5tion of thefe works. Capacious flout veflels require a coniiderable deal of irgn work in their compofjtion. The managers had provided fmiths enough : but there was no more than one pair of bellows. So that the firft acci- dent, which might unavoidably happen to that neccflary )RY OF :h they might ith one finglc arge the fort, Drts, to build gariifon, and nnoy an ene- Accordingly h a reinforce- el guns, and els : but thefc h craft, that, battoes, with .nd we had a the harbour, , to the great lements ; our he foldiers to 1 that the in- overfet them, than fix men no care was e ferviceable and to main- It there was n thofe, who Capacious deal of iron anagers had vas no more le firft acci- tien to that necefTary THE LATE WAR. ncceflary inftrument, would ftop all the operations of the forge at once. The next ftep, towards impr(3ving the naval force at Ofwego, was a fchooner of 40 feet in the keel, with 14 oars and 12 fwivel guns, launched on the 28th of July 1755. This was the firfl veflel of force we ever had on this lake, and, with 320 men, was all the ftrength we had to defend this poft in the beginning of July, that year : and the French were expedled daily to attack it, on the 13th of the fame month, when General Shirley, with all his forces, was 300 miles dif- tant, without making all the expedition, the fcr- vice required : for, it was the 8th of Augufl: be- fore that General arrived at Ofwego, and the 31ft before the laft divifion arrived under Colonel Mercer. Where this army, at that unfeafonable time of the year, ferved only to eat up the pro- vincial ftorcs, and brought on fuch a fcarcity of provifions, that they were almoft famillied, and the party, left to fecure the important Carrying Place at Wood's Creek, were adually obliged to defertit for want of food. About the middle of Sepf-mber four other vef- fels ° were got ready, as per margin, with which armed vellels, and a confiderable number of thofe battoes, which had been reported unferviceable, or too fmall to live, and to dilpute with an ene- • A decked floop, eight guns four pounders, thirty fwivels. A decked fchooner, eight guns four poundcis, twenty -eight fwivels. An undecked fchooner, fourteen fwivels, 14. oars. Ditto, twelve fwivels, fourteen oars. I i 3 my 485 A. D. 1756. i^rS T^n-^ 486 A. D. 1756. The general HISTORY of my upon the lake in the calmeft weather, Gene- ral Shirley prepared to attack Niagara, under another moft unhappy circumftance, the want of provifions to carry his army in fight of the enemy, and the impoflibility of getting any fupplies within 300 miies of the place they were going againil. However, the improbability of fucceeding in an expedition, undertaken without victuals, was dif- covered time enough to countermand the orders to embark ; and a friendly ftorm, fays an officer then prefenr, prevented an embarkation, when a ftock of provifions was got together, fufficient to prevent the men from eating one another, during the firft twelve days. All thoughts of attacking Niagara were laid afide •, the General, indeed, made a great fhew of his intention to maintain the port of Ofwego, by the diredions given for ftrcngthening the old, and for building new forts ' ; 'but his leaving the place before the additional works were completed, and permitting the veflels belonging to the fort to be unrigged and laid up, without having been put to any ufe, while a French veflel was perm'tted to cruize on the lake, and to carry fupplies to Niagara, without inter- ruption, and five more, as large as ours, were ready to launch at Frontenac 5 and while our gar- rifon at Ofwego increafed, by infenfible degrees, 10 the number of eleven hundred, without pay, and in perpetual terror, on the brink of famine ; it gave very little reafon to believe that his intcn- As related before on page 163 to 165 tion RY OF ithcr, Gcnc- gara, under the want of f the enemy, ippHes within )ing againil. reding in an als, was dif- d the orders lys an officer :ion, when a , fufficient to >ther, during of attacking 3ral, indeed, to maintain ns given for r new forts *■ ; le additional y the veflels and laid up, e, while a on the lake, thout inter- ours, were lile our gar- ble degrees, ithout pay, of famine ; at his intcn* ! THE LATE WA R. tion was real, and filled every one with fad appre- henfions for the fate of that important poft. 487 A. D. 1756. The reafon, why the French did not ftrike the ^^v "f*^ blow, when Olwego remained in this defencelcfs the Kiouii ftate, was founded upon good policy, and not to '' '"*'■ be afcribed to any overfight or negle6l in their commanders. I'hey knew that it would be im- poflible for their arms from Canada to complete their grand fcheme on the Ohio, without the aid of the Indian tribes, or at leaft againfl: the united ftrength of the Indians and EngliOi. I'hcy alio were acquainted with the fentimcnts, which the Indians entertained of the proceedings of the Ohio company, and particularly of their objeclion to the ereding fortifications at Ofwego ', which they made the grounds of their refufing to join him in the pretended expedition againft Niagara. Therefore, they firft tried to inflame the Indians againft the proceedings of the Englifli on the lake Ontario; cafl upon them the fole caufe of the miferies to which their country was expofed by warj conciliated the friendfliip of the moft con- fiderable tribes, with promifes to protect them from the encroachments of the Englifh upon their lands, and prevailed with them to afTift in the re- duflion of Ofwego, with a promife to raze the forts to the ground ; and, as foon as thele In- dians were, by thofe means, alienated from the Englifli, and the French operations on the Ohio . were thought to be irrefiltible, they, as you have ^ir defmn in execution. read, put 165. tion See page 109 and page 165. I i 4. General f : i tins Ida. a fear for the prefervation of New York, and New England : as Minorca, the key of the Mediter- ranean fea in Europe, was loft by the terrors of a pretended and impradlicable invafion, which locked up our ftiips and foldiers at home, when they fhould have attacked the enemy on their own coafts ; by paying no regard to ths intelligence, given concerning the real defign of the enemy iigainft that ifland; by negledling the neceflary means to recruit and ftrengthen the garrifon, and by fending an infufficient force, and at a time it was impradicablc to fave it. But the lofs of this poft, and of the garrifon, and j^s fad ef- of the implimcnts of war, which had been ftowed ^^^** up there without difcretion, was not the worft effed of fuch fatal mifcondud. It was followed with that imprudent meafure of immediately flopping up Wood's Creek, our orjy communication from the ! I I ' 'V 11 ! ' ll! ' it; i iff » si'i I" ! 'il • A. D. 1756. The general HISTOilY of the Mohawks rivei to Oneida, with great logs and trees for feveral miles ; and of deferting and dc- ftroying the forts at the great Carrying-Place 5 which, after the lofs of Ofwego, was become our moll advanced poll into the country of the Six Na- tions i though there were at that time three thoufand men, including 1 200 battoemen, at that poll : a pofl: fo ftrongly fortified, and fo inacceflible to the ene- my's artillery, that it might have defied the whole French army in North America, to take it. Which, with General Webb's retreat with his forces to a place called the German Flatts, about 60 miles nearer to Albany, and foon after to Sche- nedady, not more than 1 7 miles from that city v having expofed the Six Nations, and all the ad- jacent country, to the mercy of the enemy (who were at liberty to over- run the fine country on the Mohawks River down to Albany, and to pe- netrate into the provinces of Penfylvania, Mary- land, New Jerfey and Virginia) either encouraged the Indians to join our enemies, or to obferve a flrid neutrality, when they found, that we were either not able, or not willing to protefl them i and that the French had not only conquered, but performed their promife to dcftroy the forts at Ofwego ". Befides, during the ftate of inadlivity, fo fatal to the Britifli iiation, this year, both in Europe " It Is remarkable, that while the French were bufy in de- nioliflung the works at Ofwego ; we, to fave them the trouble and hazard of attacking the forts at the great Carrying-Place, had them demolifhed by General Webb, in his retreat. „-. and llY OF at logs and ing and dc- jring-Place j become our the SixNa- ree thouiand poft: apofl: to the ene- ;d the whole to take it. It with his latts, about fter to Sche- n that city ; all the ad- enemy (who country on , and to pe- ania, Mary- encouraged o obferve a lat we were teft them; quered, but ;he forts at ity, fo fatal in Europe re bufy in de- em the trouble !arrying-Place, retreat. and THE L A T E W A R. 491 A. D. 1756. and North America, there were above 1000 inha- bitants of the weftern parts of Philadelplfia maf- facred in cold blood by the Ohio Morians ; againft whom, nothing was attempted, till Colonel Arm- Some ad- llrong, with a party of 280 provincials, marched gii„cLf on from Fort Shirley, on the Juniata "^ river, (150^'^'^^*''* miles weft of Philadelphia) to Kittanning, an Indian town, and the rendezvous of the Morian murder- ers, fituate about 25 miles above Fort du Quefne, on the Ohio, a rout of 140 miles through the woods ; with whom he came up, in the morning early of the fifth day, while the Indian warriors were regaling themfelves at a danee. Colonel ^ In order to revenge the particular caufe of the inhabi- tants and of Fort Granville, on this river, which is thus related in a letter from Philadelphia, dated Aug. ig. That on the 30th of July, Captain Ward marched from the fort, with his enfign, and all the men belonging to it, except 24 under the command of Lieutenant Armftrong, to guard fome reapers in Shearman's valley : that foon after he left the fort it was at- tacked by about 100 French and Indians, who took Juniata creek, and creeping under its banks to a gut about 12 feet deep, came within 30 or 40 feet of the fort, where the fhot from our men could not hurt them, and there, by gathering together pine knots, and other combullible matter, they made a pile, and fet fire to the fort. The enemy called to the befieg- ed, offering them quarters, if they would furrender; on which one John Turner immediately opened the gates, and gave them pofleffion ; 22 foldiers, three women, and five or fix children were made prifoners, of which the French took the young men and women, and the Indians the old men and children ; and having loaded them with flour, Sic. they fet off in triumph ; but when they had marched a little way, the French commander ordered Captain Jacobs back to burn the fort, which he did. Armftrong n I": ' ,1 !• • '!h V-' f'* ' ■-■ir 492 The GJ^NERAL HISTORY of A.D. 1756. Captain Arm- ftroiig's Armfh'dng difcovercd their fituation by their whooping; and, halting about 100 perches below the town, on the bank of the river, he prepared hrs men, and began the attack as foon as it was light. Captain Jacobs, the chief of the Indians, gave the war whOop, and defended his houfe bravely expedition, through loop-holes in the logs. The Colonel of- fered them quarter; but they, fearful of our fincerity to pardon the many and inhuman murders they had been guilty of, upon the innocent and defencelefs Britifh fubjeds, moft of them refufed to fubmit prifoners of war. Wherefore Colonel Armftrong ordered their houfes to be fet on fire ; which was immediately and with great a6livity done by the officers and foldiers. By this obflinacy many were fufficated and burnt ; others were (hot in their at- tempt to reach the river " ; and Captain Jacobs, his fquaw and a boy, called the King's fon, were fhot as they were getting out of a window, and were fcalped. Thefe Indians had a large quantity of arms lodded in their houfes, and of gunpowder. The loaded arms went off in a quick fucceflion, as the fire reached them ; and the gunpowder, which was flowed in every houfe, completed their deflruc- tion, by blowing up the houfes and all that were found in them, when it took fire. Eleven Englifh prifoners were happily releafed from captivity, or violent death ; who informed t They were 40 in all thatperifhed in this afTault. the wiHBHHHBi^ IV OF by their rches below lie prepared n as it was idians, gave ufe bravely Colonel of- ourHncerity lers they had 1 defcncelefs i to fubmit I Armftrong ; which was ione by the ' many were : in their at- tain Jacobs, s fon, were indow, and iry of arms vder. The ion, as the der, which eir deftruc- 1 that were \\\y releafed informed THE L AT E W A R. 49i iffault. the ihe Colonel, that on that very day two battoes of A. D. Frenchmen, with a large party of Delawares and French Indians were expcdled to join Captain Jacobs, in order to proceed in an expedition con- certed for attacking and reducing Fort Shirley, and that an advanced party of 24 warriors had been detached, the preceding evening, to reconnoi- tre and alarm the country. This was foon after confirmed by Lieutenant Hogg, who upon the report of the fcouts, that there were not above four Indians about a fire, on the road, about fix miles from Kittanning, was ordered, the night before, to halt with ?2 men, and to endeavour to furprize them, and to bring them up to the main body : but the Lieutenant, upon his ap- proach, found them to be the 24 warriors above mentioned. They flood upon their defence, killed three of his men, mortally wounded the Lieuten- ant, and put the other nine men to flight; who abandoned their commander, not able to help him- jelf, when Colonel Armftrong fent out a party to .bring him and his men into the conquered town. I'hefe, we apprehend, are fome of the bad cir- lqi-^^ l^,,. cumftances to which Lord Loudon refers in his ^,''"'''^'="^*''^ arti;r the letter to the governors of the provinces, after the lofs of oc- lofs of Ofwego. " As, fays his lordfliip, by ^''^^^" " accounts I have received, his Majefty's fort and garrifon of Ofwego, together with the naval armaments and ftores, have, by a /cries of bad " circujyyfances^ fallen into the hands of the *''• French •, and as from the condition and number " of the troops Itrft to me, when I came to my *' rornmaad, CO (( \l U V i»f If. ill I 1 494 The general HISTORY of A. D. 1756. " command, I can fcarce hope to do more than *' to refift French power in tha. quarter : I moft " earneftly recommend to you, to confider with- ** out delay, how far the provincials, now in arms, *' are expofed to the weight of the French, in " the parts towards Crown Point -, and che dan- " gerous events of any accident happening to " them in confequence of thefe circumftances, *' and what forces you can iend immediately to *' reinforce them, as it feems abfolutely neceflary " to do, for the fecurity and fafety of the country, " Therefore, in confequence of the power given " to me by his Majefty's commiflion, under the *' Great Seal ; and of his orders fignified to you *' by his Secretary of State, I do demand of you «' an aid of as confiderably a body of men, with '* arms, as you can fend off, as fafl: as raifed ; and " alfoa number of carriages and ox-teams, where- *' with I may be able to tranfport provifions, as " this province alone is not able to fupply all ^" Remarks ^7 this letter it is evident. That his lord(hip> on this let- j.}^g commander in chief of the Britilh forces in tcr. North America, gave up all thoughts of ading ofFenfively againft the French this year. But how juft fo ever his lordfliip's reafons were for that in- active refolution, it is certain that the delay, which followed our retreat from the lakes, when we had a fufficient force in the field, raifed, maintained and fupplied with all things neceffary for the ex- y Dated at Albany, Caober 20, 1756. pedition -f *• STORY OF J to do more than .- quarter: I moft , to confider with- :ials, now in arms, of the French, in int ; and che dan- snt happening to -fe circumftances, d immediately to bfolutely neceflary ny of the country. the power given mifllon, under the s fignified to you o demand of you )dy of men, with 'aft as raifed ; and ox- teams, where- ort provifions, as :o fupply all y." hat his lordfhip, Britifli forces in ughts of ading year. But how ere for that in- he delay, which s, when we had fed, maintained ry for the ex- THE L AT E W A R. ' . pedition againft Crown Point, which was the only meafure, that could promife to retrieve our late lofs J and wafting the remainder of the feafon in entrenchments at Lake George ; and fortifying Fort Edward and Fort "William Henry, gave the enemy time to ftrengthen Crown Point, to recruit and to refrefh their forces, and to improve their late fuccefs. 495 A. D. END OF THE FIRST VOLUME, ■ k r • t V *» » - r * > • I T 1756. pedition ■ill \l pi m pv?W II m i't Ami Ma: Is,; i: 1-: .' ■ ' . I • • If ■- m (Toi-ei-jioi- ofXeTrTori: . ..J^' i I . m ! 1 m '1 i^M^RJii'^i 1 ' • i(! * 1 |: ^t'- w Si ' \ Major GE:xERAii ^roT."FE. * ' ■