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In which, among many interefting particulars, the caufes and previous events of the prefent war are explained. , By an impartial Frenchman. ■ * i^ti neftit frifum tffi hiftorta legtmt nt quidfalji iictrt auJeai f Dtindt nt quid veri non audeat ? Cic. de Orat. lib. 2. Tranflated from the Author's ori^nal manufcript. LONDON, Printed for J. Nouns e in the Strand* s.760. # r'. ii 4/. ■I !/l :»^('ii>a.fciiik>CI- aJfiiq^ 5 .J I M« o .V i. >; 'l-V^f '-*^A. vr ^tv**''*''*'^''*'^*''**''*'**'**^^' 'liy:ml-:ki^:> ^ •whfKO ri" .* f^ b 'S^mnirry iv^ ) !!i .'/ ^fi ./:. cr Epiftle Dedicatory. ii I -y. i, « AWORK relating to Cape Bre- ton ought naturally to be offer- ed to the four illuftrious perfonages, who (hare the honour of this glorious and important conqueft ; and on that account I pay them this homage. It is as needlefs to mention their names, as it would be to attempt their pane- gyric : the fervices they have done their country, hath engraved them in the hearts of the people. The able mi- nifter who formed the plan, which has rendered England fo fuperior to her enemies; the refpeftable diredor of the board of trade and plantations, f ft ^t A 2 who iv Epifile Dedicatory. who had fo great a hand in this noble defign ; the admiral and genera), who difplayed fuch conduft and braveiy in the execution, will ever command the veneration and gratitude . of their countrymen, the admiration of fore^n nations, and the profound refpeS of their moft devoted, and moft v.^ v - -♦ . .. j; .,, » . ^1 :v. ■ .„ .. r. ■ V ■»%- 'V^4'*tr * *» • 'C'; m PREFACE. , v-,-4- >»■> rHK prefent ftdie of Europe is an objeEi too interejling to men of found judgment^ not to fix their atten- tion* Who is it that would chuje to be ignorant of the caufe and particular circumflances of events^ which raife our admiration andfurprize f But our cu- riofityy however commendable^ is often difappointed. The generality of man- kind are unacquainted with the in- ternal n cure of things^ and viewing only their furface^ are blinded by pre- judice. Hence they difcern the truth as it were amidjl a cloudy which of- te72times makes them lofe fight of it ; and in its fiead they embrace an airy phant07n. The difficulty of making re^ fisarckesy increafeth this inconveniency, 3 People ' \ I VI PREFACE. ^.A People are fatisjied with a Juperficfal account of thingSy rather than be (U the trouble of invefligating the caufe. The motives of an aSlion are foon forgot^ for want of refleSling on thofe fpringt which imprint them in the memory : we know no more than incidents y which we attribute to extraordinary motives^ in^ flead of the natural caufesj of which wt have lofl fight. It would require a man of abilities and application^ and withal a real cofmopolite^ to write the hiflory of a wary in which the account ofjteges and battles is a matter of the leajl im- portance. Such a writer would demon- flrate to usj that what we look upon as the prificipal objeSiy is a confequence very natural to forefee^ when once we are acquainted with the caufe that was to produce it. But I am afraid it will be dtjficult to find a perfon qualified for fo general a plan : we mufi there- fore be content with the beft hands we can get ; with men whofe charaEier bears fpme refemblance to that which I have V > # been Vli M P R ft F A C E. iifen defer ibhtg, and who have employed their fim& in giving us fart of this dejtgn. This worij of which I am only the editor J has a right to make its way in the world. It contains many details^ which a friendly confidence has freed from all conjirainty and in which nv national prejudice obf cured the truth. Thefe are letters written from Louif burg, They begin at the year 1752, and are continued down to the fiege of that place \ the particulars of which^ as Will as the fet^erat operations of the war previous to that event y are fully defcrihed. :'" ' ' ^' ^ ^^ * "^^ ^ ^ We begin with a general and parti^ cutdr defcription of Cape Breton^ and the utility of its produQions, Then we enter into the fame detail in regard to the ijland of St. John^ the proximity of which conftitutes^ in fome meafure^ an integral with Cape Breton. An account of the manner Sy inclinations^ and pre^^ judices of the Indians^ ^^g^g^^ ^^^ ^^* V A 4 riofity .■**.. <^ viii P R E P A"C E;' rtQtfij next \ and introduces fucb r^-, flexions as may be of very great ufe to, thofe who /ball have occajion to deal with thofe people. .m.\. \k 'The ether letters are concerni/tg, the French government ejiabliflsed at laouijburg* Thefe contain fome anecrr dotesj and an examination of the conduEi of thofe officers. On this oc^ cafion we mention the concerns they had in trade j and the feveral fchemes which they either had formed^ or might have formed upon this fubjeEi. Tie inconveniencies arifing from their bad confiitution of government ^ are demon" ftrafed in thefe letters. Tie errors of thofe employed in the adminiflrathnnre aljo pointed out ^ and the four ce of thofe troubles is unlocked. Laftly^ the war which has been a natural confequence of this whole bad conduEiy together with its unprofperous events in regard to the Frenchy are related with the utmofl impartiality. ^> \n Thi ts PRE F AlCiB, ' M -xHisfubjiSiy $f itfrif fo inttrejiing\ becomes JiiUptorM fo^ as it may occafion, very folid reflexions^ and give rife to the moft prudent refolves. v*r n- % ^.s Hit defire I had of rendering this work asufeful as fojftble^ has unluckily been the caufe of my deferring to fend it abroad^ before the public attention was fixed on other objeSls. It fl^ould have made its appearance upwards of a twelvemonth ago : but the difficulty of recovering ail the letters that were ne^ cejfary to complete the undertaking ; to- gether with the defire of obtaining the approbation of per font y whofe higo em- ployments do not afford them much leifure for readings have retarded the publi- cation. However I am fi ill time enough fot thofe^ whofe ftation in life ren- ders them attentive both to pajl and prefent tranfa&ions^ to the end that they may be able to conduSl their ne^ gotiatio?is with fuccefs at the conclufion of the war. But whether the viEiors ■f V i X PREFACE fre/irD4f their c^uefi^ or the van-r fmifM mtemfft f^ ncemr^4t^ htk the one and the ether muft he obliged to pur author^ for rendering them fenji-^ tie of confejtienees efuaUj ejfentiat to tbemfehes and to the puhH^y ^md fir placing matters in their proper light. ^^ W- .^■-V^^ > 1 Vi'ovi^^ hm-M Wv^s«'rt *'! -4* '4**»V .1 a W^^^ "^^ - 'i>j '^^ A t>^:^h^. V* ►4> - i 1^ 4 ft C O N- S 3 DA "l.RJiJK. *' -, HZ ' '^\^\J^^*^ ■ CONTENTa- ., iO:'^i; 'Aiaslv.i-U \l;iv?i-V.i. ;^\iii^^;^- v *;»V^-'i L E T T E R I. /""« ENERjiL and particular defcription of IJle Roy ale y or Cape Breton^ of the town and harbour of Louijburg, pag. i L E T T E R II. Defcriptiofi^^ the ijUnd of Cape Breton con* tinued i ^^he^^ipd^ parts inhabited i ofitsprodiSHonh^i^Cp, >♦ ]8 * LET T E R m. Defcription of Cape Breton continued -/ of the coaft to the rights &c, 36 L E T T E R IV. 7'he fame defcription continued \ of the coaft to the left, and of the ijland of St. Jdm. -«» «^w*' LET- '!! ! , . J? T" ryr ^ T H O 1 C O N T E N T S. L E t t E R V. Defcriptiori of the tjland of St: John contimeit and of its produSHons. pag. 77 ..\Ti >a,-: \ ^ wS T t^'.'^-' LETTER VI. .,fT - ■*, Of the different animals on both ijlands -, of the cod-fjbery j of the French manner of "curing it ^ and of the ghe madeoffjhy &c, LETTER VIL ' ^ * Of the favageSf and their manners ^ &c. Of \. the means which the French make ufe of in order to draw them over to their party » w L E T T E R VIIL ^he manner s^ charaSler, and ceremonies of the favages continued, and of their method of expreJKng themfehes. Speech of a Mickmac favage. - ^ "^ ^ ^ ["^^ 127 , -^^^A vL E T T E H IX. v^^*--- T'he manners of the favages continued; of their '• feajls, and councils. Speech of a female favage j of their wars and Jlratagems, <^ii 139 L E T:. * ••• XUI nttnuedt nds i of inner, of 97 *. *- ■< fc. Of fe of in party, 114 of the ihod of 'ickmac 127 of their female (gems, 139 E T^ * r -r CONTENTS. /^ tf E T T i B. X. , > _ J. yjf manners of the favages continued j tf ''^ypeecb made to them by the Count de Ray^ mondy to hinder them from making peace V-'^^^K with the 'Englifh: 1' T-T^ H 1 '^L E t T E R XI. '§m ^^;. ^■-V^''^ . .. ^ - ^ ' Cf the government of Cape Breton ; o/" the w/- j^ litary eflablijhmenty &c. ijz ^ LETTER XII. •jrj. 0/* /^^ fupreme council^ and other jurifdic^ V *. tions J £/* //&f hojpitalt priejisy monks i and ''Uof the ^ijponaries of the favages.''' "-'tB9 ^'' l/jPT T E R XIII. Of the comf^erce of both ijlands ; of the «?«- ^ traband trade, and the abufes in this refpeSl, - L^ T T E R XIV. • Account of the trade cont^fiued i of the com- v. V • • • . merce which ought to be ejlablijhed at Cape ( Breton X and of that which is now carried fX on with the t^er chants of NeW'England^ LET- I 11 li »r G O hf.. TENT S» JLefleKto^ or cpnjeffures on C^fe Breicn j vrf a fcheme for mahing Louijbur^ in^regna'^ by. Plans and maris fropofed to the court of ^ -Frame by the Count de Raymond, pag. 235 ''%. L E T T E R .Xyi. ,,v.^ Of the war between the favages and She Mnf^ lijh. Curious reflexions pf the Count de Raymond upon this head. ' ,* ^45 ., LETTER XVtf. ,a.,^ Reflexions on the caufe and origin of the fn- Jent war. ^efe an not tbeCmtf dt Ray- ,mond*,^reflexionff.^ \v;:*'m . . ;^ W-257 -t^v^ L ET tlE fe i^n. ^""^ ^hunt tf what the Count % Raymond liff-ote to the French mimflry cificerning the pretended grievances ^gmnft the Eng*^ 'Jifl)i whom he accufed of being inclinidip ■'^ fUarrel with yk /% '^ V^-"^'^.\-^' -^68 \j%Vh^ ■■Jj E T T E R ^^* ; >i<^n*r--i Difcuffivn vf the taufss of the 'war f, faffs proved by the Englijh^ which refute the ^TiH-a 'ir charge charge of their mnliei^ and Jujiify their ^taking .-i^ ifvi CO NT E N TS. •u*:.^. ii*,l^ '^Ti* T.-E-R ■'XXII.I.^^/^v. ike-JtegiUf Louijbtirg continued, Rejtfla^ce of the garrijhn, fwbo^are at length obliged to capitulate, treatment of tbem and. the in-^ habitants^ Qc. ^ \ X^","- pag. 363 LETTER XXIV. .:\> Onverfation between an^EngliJbman of merit and the author-, reflexions on the importance of Cape Brttqn-to bitb^poiieri; ^ ^ 3?6 z a.-T T Z J » .* ,. » |\ ./^VA;^ . . - V , ■' 'S • .;-^\^ *~ V •^ . V Jit- ' ' ■■ S', 141. Til. {Qtif^aiigiAUt.indtfmtiga6k, • ._^:,4 J VC323. 1. li. after p/ infert /*«». .'i^'in.Al^l^ 330. 1. 15. for ontrtji r. •tureu$. 3 5 2. 1. 1 1 . from the bottom before nwu infcrt »f, •■ i. wi v^ , ,■ L E T* I i Af rissd Ltid .y L E T T E R I. ^ICV General and particular defer tftion of Ifle^ . Rqyi^le^ or C(ipe Breton^ o^ the town and' ^ harbour xf Loutfiur^. .^.^,^ .^iikr^Til SINCE I cannpt refufe.complybgwith your earneft reqvieftj^ I intetid fdrth- Vfith to; e^cute, the taflcypq have beeajpleafed ta enjoin me. ^ I (hall begiil' vi^i^cSI defcription of the country you are; dc^Fpus of knowing, and omit nothing worthy of your curiofity. •':*»'! IJle B^aki or the Royal Iflal^d, was firil of all called IJle du Cap, or the Ifland of the Cape, and afterwards the EngUp bar- hour. It is faid that the name of Cape Breton was owing to its firil difcoverers, who were natives of Brittany. It was not called IJle Royale till the year 1713.^ _ £> r B The I IF ! j3 Description of. The fame thing might be fai^ pf fhi^ as o{ feverai other iflands, that it ^as a fragment of our terraqueous globe» from which it had been detached by fome violent concuffion -, and the revolution, migfit bt fixed to the time of the deluge. But with* out wafHng tim» in fuch idle con)e£hires/ let it fuffice to obferve, that it is <^ a very irregular figure, indented by numerous clefts, and ftuck round, as it were mth fmall rocks, feverai of which rife above die furface of the water. In (hart, it 13 oj^ vered with lakes/ rivufetsi mdhegjik X^g ^,^ This iflaad'lay defert ^d udcultivated tilt the year 1714, wh^ the French of Newfoujidfoiid andAcadia^ made fenne-ftt* tlementfr on it. Th^y took up their qwurtes near the fea-(hore, where there are viftagesf containiiig k few fcattered hodfes« Bach perfon built according to his fanqr,- tod> juft as he found proper ground for as| !t was of the utmoft confequence to tlfem not to be entirely driven out of the cod- fifhery. They had likewife anotheji^ ii^-^ tereft, namely, to be wjthin a pro^ diftance for obfei^ving the progr^is of ^e Englifh colonies in that neighboujiibood, which in time might give umbrage, or prove detrimental, to thofe of the French. Befides, it was incumbent upon this nation tbpreferve a poft, which enables tl^cm to command the mouth of the river of St., Lawrehce, whereby a communication is kept open with Canada or New France; Ca^ Breton ahd Louifiurg. ,5 ixiA tiiey have alfo a convenient harbour for their rtilps in diftrefs of weather, which in thofefeas IS very common. "^ 'Confidcrations fo folid, induced the court to plant the colony of Cape Breton, and to build the harbour of Louiiburg. The Segnelay, a fliip commanded by M. de Contreville, arrived on that ifland the 13th of Auguft 171 3, ^nd took pofftflion of it in the kihg*s name ; and then it was, as I before. obferved, that it received the appel- thi^ iffahd is fituatecl in the^ Alfantic ocean aiid j^lph of St. Lawrence, about two hutidred leagues from Quebec, the capital of Canada, to whofe jurifdi^llon it belongs. It lies between the ifland of New- fbrindland, from which it is only about' fifteen fekgues diftant; Acadia, now called Nova Scotia; and the ifland of St. JohnI Fr6m 'Nbva Scotia it is parted by a very narrb^i^^ channel, called by the French the ftrait '6f Fronfac, It is in length about thirty fix leagues fi'om noith-eaft to fouth- weft, twenty two in its greateft breadth,' S3 .tii^Ji ana lia % f' ': 51 (Jr D«SCRIPT I ON O/" 'C> and about a hundred and five in ckrunw fcrence. The fhore is very (lesp^ confe-r quently of dangerous accefs to iptriners| and it is every where covered with fmall wood, of the fpruce or fir kind, and with brambles. There are feveral harboyrs ^d bays round the iiland. «^-^i '>rj ^raoaiindii^ ^^ The chief of thcfe, and at the fame l?nia the only town in the ifland^ is Louiibjui^^ iituate in forty one degrees of nort^ li^ititttdei and fixty two degrees and a quarter of longln tude^ fo that its meridian is four hours mpf niinutes wed of Paris» according to the pbfervationts which M. Chaber, l^^utenan^ 6f i man of war, made in the year 175^ and 1 75 1 by order of the court of Br^t^ce^ ^' The winter is very fevere at ]Loui^pfg| ^tid' fubje^l to violent fqualk pf livipdi efpecially from the fouth. The iky is gc? iieraliy c^ercafl either with heavy rainsi qfg with thick fo^i^, efpecially in fiiinmer| which renders it di$cult to he difcen^ at fenf- The earth is covered with fiioy^ duiH ing the winter, and the froft fetsf in af ChrifliHa^j during yvhich tiine bot|i lan4 ' ^ .4t . " and . i-j »j Capt Breton and Louj/hurg, 7 •ad wtter form but one folid mafs. All kind of oommeroe it then at a. ftand, aad the tovm puts on a melancholy afpedt, very different from the appearance it makes in fummer, when crouded with fea-faring people. Yet the air is whok(bme» not«- withftaoding the tediou&efs of the winter. Properly fpeaking they have but two fea- fons, winter and autumn ; but in the in«- land parts there are three, fummer^ autumn, and winten jt (••i» ii l>tlK ?')'f>'\' wi vTKfr pne. The furface of almoft the whole country 18 extremely difagrecable, being nothing ^Ife but a light kind of mofs and water. The goeat humidity of the ground is produdtive of continual vapours. ^- -tnfi^.i t/H a^^v ■ h.^ A eircumilanee that confiderably adds to the horror of this feafon, is a. )&ind of meteor ^dom obferved in other countries, and which' tiie ii^bitants diftinguifh 1^ the name of fmdrerie or pstmdtring. , It is a ^cdea of very fine fnow, which infi- nuates itfelf into every hole and cornery and even into the nunutefl: crevices. It does not feem to fall upon tl^ ground, hm B, 4 but I III hi but to be carried away horizontally by the violence of the wind, fo that^ great heaps of it lie againft the walls and eminences ; and as it hinders a peribn from diftinguifliing even the nigheft obje6ls> or to open his eyes for fear of being hurt, the confequence is, that he can hardly fee his way. It even takes away one's breath. From thence we may judge of the many inconveniencies in. this country, beiides the exceHive cold. Should anyone be furprized at the vaft difference in this refpe^ between this ifland and the greatdt part of North America, and even <'• is It,? ntally by y^ lat' great ' '^^i^fl rails and ^l^H 'fon from ■ i^s? rtiOhjedis, ing hurt. n hardly vay one's judge of -4 country. M 1 anyone M ce in this e greatdl rcn ' thofc ■ 1 de on the M vill ces^e 1 is part of I ted, and 1 1 on the 1 ring the ■ he other. I idmitdie 1 t may be ■ :on, that I which it 1 IS Cafe Bntdn and Lou^urg. 9 is partly covered, the middle of it contain^ a confiderable arm or inlet of the fea, which is oftentimes intirely frozen up, and the cold difFofes itfelf immediately from thence over the whole ifland. rrc?r: :7*v The fea frequently (lands ftill in the harbour of Louifburg, and it is generally Iralf an hour, and fometimes ^ whole hour, in the fame ftate.*?^ ?^r^-^t r^rr^ Kt^i-??^ The French did not begin to fortify Louifburg till the year 1720. This town 18 built on a neck of land which juts out into the fea, foxith-eafl of the ifland: it. is of an oblong figure, and about half a league in circumference. The flreets" are wide and regular; and near the princi- pal fort or citadel there is a hahdfome parade. To the north fide of the town there are three gates, and a fpacibus quay. They have iikewife conftrufted a kind of bridges, called in the French lan- guage calles^ which proje6t confidcrably -into' the fea, and are extremely convenient for loading and unloading of goods. The fortifications confift of two baftion?, called the ;.<;^- it* I I the King and Queen's ; and twd defni*- liaftions^ diftinguiihed by the fiame^ of the Dauphin ^nd the Princefs. Thefe two out- ivorks, which were conftru^ed towardf the end of lad year, are commanded by feVeral eminences. .. ui ^ «^ There is one general defeat in all Ask fortifications, that the fand, of which they make their mortar, is not at all proper for inafon's work. The revetements of the dif- ferent curtains are intirely mouldered away ; and there is only ons cafemate, proof againft bombs of a middling {kze, wi& a very fmall magazine, (^ii mm mMm:> >m ^ This is the more furprizing, as they hiiv^ all the reafon in the world to expert a war with England, considering the boi^ilities al- ready committed on both fides. Hut whether it be owing to the ncgHgence of thofe viiote province it is to provide for the ^curity of the place, or whether they depend on the fh-ength of the garrifen» I aqd afraid that the bravery of the enemy will make them repent either their imprudence or their prefun^ptioUi V - 7 *^ *cl^^ ^#t The m syhavfc^ M :a war tiesal- ■.■'(?-- hether M. viiote rity rf m the .r d that M them 1 thek m Cape Breton and LoHifittrg. The houfes in Lpuifb^rg fr^ ^^n^ ^ of wood. The jlone oi|e$ h^ve iie^ Jbfi^ 4t the king's expence, and are di^^)^4 % the accommo^atipn of the trpops and.tb^ qgicer^. Whei^ the Englifh we^e laaaftery of the town in 1745, tl^^y ewfted vfiy ^Qpfideirable c^ieins. T^ French :5yef^ obliged to tranfport all the mat^ials of thf ^one-f buildings, as well as of their o^r iwp|-)cs, fron^ J^iirqpe. A-nr* ;>^r,' \..s .j „ There is hardly a frtt}?^nejtt that ba$' l^?ef> attiBiMtei. with, g^^eafer. cxpe^cc %q $hf f^refi^ n^nPi? rtW ^hi§ of L^uifljujrg. ft fi^ certain that they havf kid o^ ^\ifi/^ thif ty piJJiQji§ 9f Uvrcs, thoiigh tji^flaw f)pe^ ijftt |^efa[i Jfj h^v^ beer> pfQ4H<5|iv* of any gre^t^^^vafijage : yet,, fp 0g«i|t wer? the mo^ve^ W^l^h ii)dupp4 thfcnji to put|his iphfii^ Mr ei([)Bftmioai ^ba| tjip -efeirw^io^ 9^ JjOuiD^ufg wi)l t:^ Mw^ys ^pnfldered ai 5l» 9l?j^ of t9f^ gr^t ifflppr^a?ipe j)pt ta i*^^i% cvg^ thiB|[ to it. S'»> t'^ K*->rien-^ *^^ The entrance of the harbour of Louif- burg is defended by a battery, level with the furface of the water. It is planted ojp- pofite the light^houfe on the other fide of the grande terre 5 and cohfifls of thirty fix pieces of cannon, all of them four and twenty pounders. The harbour is alfo de->> fended by a cavalier called by the name of Maurepas^ which has twelve embrasures. ^'■" The royal battery, fituate at the diftance of a quarter of a league from the town, is mounted with thirty pieces of cannon, eight and twenty of which are thirty fix pounders, and two are eighteen pounders. It com-- mands the fea, the town, and the bottom^ of the bay. ^»*^*»^ ,m^0in^4^;M ;mE i^i^^stt - t i The port of Louifhurg is at leafl a league •HJ-\ ^»\,-,« •• i Cape Breton andLoui/kurg. x 3 league in length, and upwards of a quarter of a league at its fmalleft breadth. There is very good holding ground, and generally from fa ip. ten fathoms waten They have a very fafe and convenient plfice ta careen their (hips, where they may be laid- up in the winter, only taking proper pre-; cautions agmnil the ice. The harbour begins tp ^be> frozen in the month of No- veijfiber, and. is not open .again till,. Mfjyi and oftcntinjies till Jime*', f^*-* )t%-^^\i)HWi^f^ > I have already taken nodce that tlie inner pi|t of the ifland is covered with Isfkesir riyers, brooks, and morafles^ The tide runs up moft of the rivers. Among the reft, the greiat Bras-fPor, or Golden arm, penc^^ trates it |n fqch a manner, that the ifthmus between it and Port Toloufe, is not above three hundred and fifty fathoms, s i>p t-'iv The country is extremely mountainous, and full of morailes, in general abounding with various forts of ftone, and parget, and iQ ibme places with fea«coal. ^'j^ ^-^t Si>^H '^ Before any fettlements were made on this ifland, it was all over covered with ira* :?3gfi» wood. i I ^11 I I m mil Ilit t4 Mfi^fffid^Ti^^ itmd. I Thttt a ttit itty littlfe^ o* • Sttt aaidribrtsf bf tirtA^f ^ fc:xC6fcib|; Icbritoiiort. ^Ws a kfihfd 6f ttttrAffdoni; ty* the ihHafei- fthti cdlcl* ^/*i%^, ^hfch: flie 'fkvages^ iife WlA ^if gc^ futeefs agakift^ p^thl ih" tfee Wtftkft, itof dyftfttci^les. th^y fav'c fcuf ft^ 6f ff^itecs. *rhe fir* 'a t±t 6^1 ttit other tfcfitffe aite l!h6 wfehif ^hd^ lt(i dl6f«, a«d^fli^jf>rifr<' ^ tlte fetdhrf ^rf ffic fetfhh ^ow to a great heij^, ^^d M^d^eiMSThl KlMf^ife go6d tiftififtf. the barfe ^s fWbdflV *\^' gfory, and i^(jdti(^ MM pm^t httiihci^of (he bigf^ df ^ ktdneff fefeaili, Vfh&ft cOTlt^tf tL kihrf of tofjiWiitJnef 61? c*^ ccflfeht 'fervice fof J^fiiig Ifft 1b?t§ 'bif faid to be a fpecJ6c a/g^M ttie feKW, )i^ Yfai is the fevetd- (ttfefdefs df tt^ftofttSch ai?'.t^ a ftf^> thfeife "is « pfom ^m' of rftdiA^ch ifetfe ft but Cape BretcH and L^uifiurg* 15 but do^ not. produce a Aifficietit quamitjf for general ufe. The wood is very donifaifr and therefoft pr(^r for pali&detf and ift<* clofurcs* The b^k is of cxiEdleiit uli for tanner^ s andUnds^ and 4ti ^ baxiiitf # levers', whkh^ ^oduce <^M<:dleht pis^ltlrei The lung is th|r^foi« obSged to mainttMit one port of the jnhabit^^M^i whim fhaot^eK^ fubfift by the fiihery; and there are Vl»y i^ of them thlt can be j^d&oned W#rth In' fo«Ete: ^c^s they have bdgd^ to i^V^ Wheal and rie; but never €butd king cheM to proper maturity. I believe that Oiat«^ would grow h^re, M the fniall <|tian^ty ^ ifland is able to produce, was Wt/^ filWing,. . It has l^een even obfeh^d that :■'■' I ; .1 r li)i9 grain fown in thb. country, 4egcmfll?afl0 t}ie 6cod4 year. There are jCfverad {Qm of legumes which agree with the (i^i , but tt^e: feed, muft be had from Europe, ^r from New-England. Cabhage, lettice, and different ki^ds cf puUe, thrive h^e ac w^U a^ in France, though they are Qot altogether fa fprward. They have no. manner of fruit except raiberries in th^£ wjQods^.with flrawberries, and blue-bottles Ul jAie plains. The latter are as big^as; gopfeb^rricjs J ; ^nd ■ jiiay be had till |her month of Q£lober. They have lik&fftf^ a fmall red fruit of the bignefs of a cherry* diiljingui&ed^^by the name of fqmpit de pri ; but it is pnly made pfe of in fweet- 'neats., ^., , . -.. - .I'^yfcsajy^ : /■ Hndiix jf : .Witb regard to gaine>. th^re is plenty. of all forts, as well as of different kiiids or £fh# But I fh^ refer this fubjeft toran- other letter, wherein I pRrp<^e to treat of hunting ^nd filhing. . ui-: ;X:r ot \:J A?g» jSir, you will be pleaftd %€f 9^^ cepi of ,my good intention iii endeavouring IflL. oblige ypiii^ In ; my ne^t J proprfc. «»?ii4,ir-,» , finifh* \3 I iom of oil, . but ope, or tice, and are Qot l^ave no. » in th^, ie-b9|tties IS big^as till lllfc like^U^ & of a of fqmmt infwect- ►lenjy of |kiii4s or tOffm- treat^f M Capk Braon and htm^rg. t y SitHhlnl^.the defbriptibn of the iihndy and its principaK harbours next to Lduilburg: This I am the more capable of peiforming, as I afteompanied the perfoAs, appointed inr J 752 by the Count de Raymond, maref-^ chal de camp j and govemcMT of Cape Brctort, to furvcy the whole coaft. I fhall afterwards proceed to more interefting matters, and you may judge of the pleafure I ihali receive in contributing to your amufement, from the opinion you have of my iinccfity. I bave the honour cif being, ' '■■^'- ^ ^' ''f- - • "*^»€i-R, •. " ■ ' ~ ?r-^' ,>^^^\kA^^^^ii*. ■ "VourSi &c, • L b t T is R, II. V** T ** - • t ■ ■ * ' ' ' iJefcrtpHon of the ijldnd of Cape Breton cimtiniied\ of the principal pdrti inhabited j^ of its produffionSi &c, . .^, SIR, IN my laft I promifed you a particular defcription of the remainder of the ifland (tf Cape Breton, before I came to j#t*4 C ' Louif- (I i 'I m tS .-" Dbscriftiov ^ ^ t' ^ - This poft notwithftanding would be of the utmoft importance, were it only forti- fied. It ferves as a ftaple or magazine for the ifland of St* John, which is no more than forty leagues diflant : there the inha* feitatits of :5^ Madame^ Little Degraty VAr^ iJdifii St. EJp^it, and of the river of inhabi-^ fonts, may eafily affemble. Befides, it is /tont^iently iituated for giving intelligence ^ the motions of the Engli^, either on the fide of Canfb, which is only eighteen Itttgues from Louifburgj or towards the ^flage of Froniac. r^r v^ ^t f « I fet out upon my journey the fifth of Fe- ktiafy 1752, in company with the perfpns whom the commandant had directed to make an ttw^ furvey of the coaft^ The road we .«yi C 2 took I ! aO D B S C R I P T I € "« £^ took was that of the Count de St. Raymond, leaving on the left-hand a lake» which forms the rivulet of Point fiaU Th^ fixtK we aiTived at Gabarus bay» after travelling half the way from the firfl habitation through a foreft of beech in a very fai>dy foil, and the other half through a road *^ which brought us to the foot of the ^evns inouHtaia*,;} rtirffrV/ ^rt"'.Vt> (^w^^9»^rf Gabarus bay, in the neiighbourhood of Louifburg, }s forpied by the wbUc pointy didant from each other about thnee leagues by fea, and fix by land. It is nearly a league and a half in lengthy to the northr. weft of what we properly call G^b^us point ; where there aie two peninfula*s^ called 2}(^0«/m and the Governor^ within which there is fafe anchorage in all weather* except during the fouth-eaft winds, for then the fea is moil boiderous. The bottom is gravel, and good holding ground. Tb« "■■ * Tho French call it chtmin plaqui, the nttftre of whiclk Ss as follow^ : when they intend to make a rqa^ «cro£i a wood, thofe that go foremod have a hatchet In their hand, with which they cut off the bark of the trees to tktii^t and to the left, withio ^ certain diftancc, in ordtK to> a^k .out the way. ^^ '• - -^-"^ ■ ^^ •r Ctipe Breloh mhufl if t^o points forming this bay, are fituated north -caftf and fbuth-€aft. On the fat feint tdihe north-weft of the ifland, between the loBite point and Cote Morandiere^* which is only half a league from Louiiburg, there is a creek, where the Englifh made a defcent in 1745. Here you may eafily tike in freih water, upon the Governors ijland, which has two fprings within feveti or eight fa- thoms from the fea-diore, that run into the neighbouring baracbo^s or pond^. ^^^^^ They give the name of baracbois in thii country to fmall ponds near the fea, from which they are feparated only by a kind of ^ofewfty. There is no poffibility of tra- velKftg even the diftance of a league along 'the cbaft without meeting with fbme of thei^ pieces of water. ^^^ '^^-'-^ Thie laiid between Gabarus poiVit aiid the tbwn' is very uneven, tnarftiy, and MX of l)rambles. It is covered with turf twelve iieet deep, which all the art of man can never dry up. Neither is there any poflibihty of draining off the waters, the bogs being furrdunded with high rocky '■^' C i ground. ,i: -i 2i DESCRIpTrON 0f ground. The bottom is a mixture of fat clay, and round ftones, that form a very hard cement. From thence it is «afy to judge of the difHcuUy of n^aking a defcent in this part of the bay, and of tranfporting artillery over fuch ground. But from Cote l^randiercy which is four leagues upop a defcent from Bafque point to the D^il^i tnpuntain^ there are fever^l ci^-eeks or little |}ayo at a fm^U diflance from each olhcf, where an enemy may lan4 without ^fu^ing any great danger, ^S^^li\:^-i '?ff:'^v»'^v*?ff!* '* ^pvWe left the Devifs mount ^n behind '^> and arrived at Bafque point; ot^erwilb <:9lk4 Point dehors *, which is two leagues fiir^JF. At the foot of the mountain begins' a f^nd-bank, half a league in lengthy an4 from forty to fifty fathoms in bfe^^ltti^ Here m. enemy may land at any tim^frith the tide, excegl it blows a ftortn. J^cither could the redoubts proppfed to be ^e6^d on Point flat^ and on Cote Morandiere» ' hinder a defcent in this placei b^ing at too great a diftance. ifurifi :i ^^fifriJrlb' ... ^ yet ■ 'Jji :-i_ >-4_!^ •'JJCI c of fat I a very eafy to . dcfcent iporting rom Cote . upc^i a or Iktici liipd us^ ;th, and mf vith g at too Yet Cape Breton continued. t^ J y^t thefe redoubts, as I have before ob- ferved, woujd ftiU be of great ufe. For not only they wo\ild hinder the enemy from landing too near the town } but even when he ha4 effe£buated a defcent by means of the Auid-bank at the bottom of the bay* they Vfould annoy him greatly. Becaui^ jEiftej; forcing his way through a road almoft impra6licable, 1^ woul4 be under a ne- <;^03lty of at^cking tl^ redoubts before he cou]4 g^t into the other roa4: and this would be attended with fo much the more danger, as by making pjroper detaduwcntst of the ga^rrifon, iunder bray^; a^id able coini99Ander8, together with the afSftance of thefevages, tjiofp little forts might he ren^ dered in fome mp rfure impregnable, ^ ^ ^^ ^i r Wi^in.a qu3M:tertof a league of the fend- hank.foiithW'ftrd^ there is a, cre^k near the Qutw4rd point of the abovementioned bay, wheTiC yeffels may ride at anchor in four eet. fivetfethonjs water, Oielt^red frpm all wind$, except the north, which blows over th^ land. This place is very well f^tuated i^ th? Qod-fi(hery, which the old inhabi-. ■ C 4 tanis, -Y U,!r/ I! 124 D B S C R I TT IB Kr^ tants fc^owcd with fiicceft"beforc the laft war J and fomc do follow k ftill : but upon the whole, this fettlemcnt has been- very much 'neglc6lcd. The foil is of a£ iniddling quality. There are fever^* fine hwadows in this neighbourhood-, that proikicc ex- cellent pafture, proper for griawng a large number of cattle, though a grea:t puptof the land lies altogether wafte*'>>^-'*^-J^^-''{= • ^ We ict out from Gabards the eighth, and tooh our route by ^he -harfcoui? of Foufchi; diftant' from thence three^leaguej. Behind the fand^bank we found .k lake, tehich we followed for -a quarter of a league weftti^attl. This lake may be two Inindred and fifty fathoms in breadth, The banH are covered with fir, and the neighliobrir^ lands with beechi We crdied a Uiidket of fir-trees, of abdut forty Aithomr:: this brought us to the long lakci which may be a Quarter of a league in lengthy and two hundred and fifty fathoms in bivad^i The banks are covered with beech. We followed this water about a hundred fathoms^ til! we arrived at the great lake of Gabanis, form- >^i^f^ii ' i* v>^ ^ ' ing HA:-! -m ■W^'f « t^pe Briton cwtinuei. 2115 Iflg thi^ee branch#ti which run a great way upth J country, to the north, north-caft, and ^th-eaft. The river of the pond of Belm kfeuilk has ks rife in the north branch. We went acfofi it, dire<5ting our courle fouth*-weft about four hundred ^thcima, send then weft northrweft for a quarter of a^ league. The borders of the Jake have very little beech, hut almp|t^very where are ^covered vwth fir^C> i*^^^*t^^ ^"^<^^f m At the^ further etid of ihis lake we tmadc a carriage of fourfcore fathoms, . and a fe> cond of fotpr hundred^ afiterifinding anodnor lake fiv6 h^drcd and ftfty fllhoms long tind feveifty^in hreadth s ai^ at lengthjwi^ • arrived at 4he >{)0|id ^f-BiM^miilk. x^^nh-^h I This, ii^d is ^very fpacioufl, land forms fevera! large branches, that run iip>Mthe . jCbtintry, rncrth^eaft,^ nooth and norl&r^weft; The bbrd^ of it are coveitd with brambles and fir. Tho entrance is north and foodi, aM m^y be about two fathoms in breadth. A light boat may get in at high water*i a A quarter of a league beyond this pond on ibc f^rfid? there is a fand-bank. which runs ^u *- north'. i*!8 I i north'-eaft and fomh-^K^: to fitg^tion bn the openbeach wiU nM afford any ihelter forlbips; fo thatt if an en^my wei^ to maki^ a defoc^t there in fine weather, he would run the danger of beiiig ci^t off, if there was^ to /he a ftorih b^ore he reimbai*ked« ; . £efi(te9, lie *would ha^ a thouftnd pbfidde^; to formount, iii caife he/atteknpted to advt^i^ into the country, a3 £ar as Gabarus % the road we have been juft now delcribiQig, ^hich is acc^fiible only to a few people. ^*';Wc kft this pond to thoft who we^e raBi' enough to Venture bdi^ loft th^m, and entered intt> an aunig^^ % v^hkti brought us eaft fouth-vreft f ombove fo^r hundred fadidnlsvto the pond of M^f^icbef, 4*f2 This place is afit^gne in breildth, and has ieveral branches^ That td the iiordi-«w^ is a league and' a half in length* fommg a great tnany little iflanda ; the gullet of :it Ees north and fouth, and' may he; aboMt twelve fathoms iii breadth* t ^;lugh: >S^aler * A tenn nf^d by the favag^ to figmfy t plate wXkh file tide oomes up ta, 99A is left t|^e^ H^fi^ lpw.«water. The ravages drive ftak^ oj |>iles to keep in the fifb a^ter the * water w ru9 qf, - . «' a b9^t, Tbe.b«F4c?s 9^ the pon^f are covered with fir« a^d bej^i[lf tbej^ there is a fand^ban^ Qpt wljto IP t^at of ^elle- fQUiUe, Afecwt * to^fue wid^ irpm hence ther« are a good many bre^bf^> )vbich liavf 00^ ab|?v« #(ftthom. v^ejTi ^«d th^e ^e great numbers of theny ^ 1^ coaft, ai there are df faod^lianHp th^l fj^ ^bova watjar all ai»ng from llie s^k <>r gull^ tp tb«i harbour rf f ourcbe, dift^l^ frq?^ tbeace jwn a quarts pf li^lpi^i^, > :s^?!r; g-^-r^a A Thtb^bp^ of ls>ur€be l^.^tuated ^ the cea4 t(^ the fpvth^f^ ^ ^ iflan4, lupdr is ail m^leaH pja^e fop :t|i€to4-6(beiy. The en^fuyjf.fe wy diAfu}|).])>f^t^ o^ the Oieial^* It i^di^fid in^:|wo bran^§ ; onp runs Mj^ft iiortiirweft^ «n4 the otj|?ker weft. TH? l^cK W^ i©^ vej^; q^iwaor .Jbiis htforfi Atif9g a m^^ laxinegl iibttndr«4 C«^. wte^ikftiU' to * : being, i:l|i. !' i9t Descri PTi'Ok^ being. The lands around this haVen pro-' duce very good paftur^, and ki great abun- dance. •i5»*'f:»;tH '.::V4i;,M>U>4>iA ; -u Ji.. .ii iJfU' * We fet out from Fourche the ninth, and after traverfing a wood of fprace* fii' about a quarter of a league, we came to tt lake extending alfo a quarter of a league ift length, and about a hundred artd fifty fa- thoms in breadth; and following one 6f its bi-anchcs, we arrived at length at the Great ralberry^pondi i-^rifo cir Jiiii'i^^s^*: • y -This place is fiftiated within 4ialf ft \6^t of the harbour of FourchiJ. The entrtifice lies north-weft and ibutif foUth-weft/ ft^ may be about a hundred and tett fathditts at its grealjfcft breadth.^ > There ire two ^breakei'S' over agunft the MoutHc^ k^ but •thi^ does not hinder boatd-v«ith fttrebr fix cords of woodi from enterinjpi iior veflels from riding fafe at^ andiorf« It itmD^a league and a half up the coflfitry;^ and Is divided into feveral brandh^ s thKt tO'^lfe north north-weft forms towards the^ m^ die a greait mluy little i&md^ The lands being fwam^y, you fee^nottuftl; won^ .,■*» cat abun- ti SI htty ^e ninth,' came to it leagii6 itt d fifty fa- \g one of jth at^e If a league e entrtilice weft^ U^ fathdms are two if iU but ftire br fix lor ve^ls t itms^a y^^attd is it toM*c hit ^>ittii- t Capi Breton continued. 2g notice except a few meadows. The coun- try is covered with firs, and briars ; yet with fuch a prodigious intermixture of raf- berriesi as to give name to this pond, as well as to another which we arrived at by an auniguerty preceding weftward the fpace of t\yo hundred fathoms, t.^ '•< The fecond pond» knownby the name of » the StnalUraJbcrry^ is very inconiiderable^ \ being acceflible only to the canoes of the i favages. It is a league in breadth to the fouthHvell) and is divided into feveral \ branches, vrhich run about two leagues up the lan4» forming . feveral fmall iflands^ That which branches out to north north- I eall;> is faid to form a river, which empties itfclf into the lake of the river of Mire, .ct (l<^rem dience we continued to furvey the coaft the fpace of four leagues, till we ar- rived at 5/* Efprit. In this paflage we per- ceived no more than two creeks, where boats may be fheltered from the winds, reckoning from the weft and north-weft points to. north north-eaft. That creek which they diftinguilh by the name of Cap^ „30I?0/i . tarty ■^ fan; h the fafcff. But exeeptihg thfcfe t¥r6 pl^es of fhefter for fhdllops knd ca^oes^ the remaJndef of the coaft is infifeeeflible^ beiftg lined Wrth rocks and high grotnids, tHe to^* 6f ^kh ait covered with f^* •the har66fur of St. Efprit ^ stdmt^ tt veflels of fixty or ffeventy tutij T^id^ nwiy Artdior there W^eittiddld of the road, ten or twtM fefet i6tp ttt high water. The ittdutH tfifertbf fi^^ Aorth-^aft and v¥eft ibmh-V^eflf; T'tkrt ^pb' tWo hrtaktf^, ot4 on each Mb, BehM the i^d «h«fro^ l§ a pond, v^hiefi tdnj lip tfte land- ab6iS«^ hirff a feagneto the tioith^-wift; k is linerf With pattdit ijttitlhdfe ; ^d thettb'^tH ot guM is ^etp' eftdtigft at K%h wa^fer for boat^ lad^ with five tordS 6£ tvt)Od. ^ *^ -^ ^^^ ^^^4, ■^ ^/. E^rfr i^ 1^11 pMted; dnd ti^ ftery cohvehifetit for the cod'^ftlhery^. R^Hmd afiout it tltett ait a great rii^y ttidi^fe^j but the fc^ ill geneM ' is- M^fi a«r<^ vered" with ft- • yet'th^ Ikve a great nmy vefy ' ^t^ gat*dens; ^bouiidSiig' with dl im^ -^ •' The'Ffeftch cSlI'Jt ifd^'forknify ^tOi ft^tii^ ilhkt tri/img.vcfftti'cxn havtaceefr to it only at particulitf tynes ©f the year. *. ' ■ ■ of Cape Breton cdntinmtL 3! of legumes. Notwithftaiklmg that thig place has. fuffiuvd greatly hf the laft.vrar^ yet it be^nS' to recover kfclf < apace. . j The nth of February we fet out fronl St. E^it for jirdoifi %> where we ar- rived the fame day/. In the courfe of fuc leagues^ which was the whole diftance» we found a fand bank whicb prodaoetlL Hbfoa* dance of herbs, efpecially wild peaie and rock parfleyr and a kind of wild (alary, of exoeflent uib for Mad$ and foups. This bank extends from St.EJprit as far as the Cahb^gi creek -f-. The place ^ but fmall,' yiet veiTels may ridb' Aere in fouth- weft^ nortki-weft^ and north north-eaft winds: but if it blows from any odier quarter of the compafs, they are greatly ^xpoied. The circumfeience may be three quarters of a league, and in the middle k has fevea or eight fathoms water. There are two. breakers wide of the creek, which iiqp(m your entrance you leave to Ae rights The great river difembogues itfelf into this creek. Were it poffiWe for * Ardotji fign^cs zjlufe id FrcnCK. ' ^ Anft dt la chonx. 4> • vefiels 32 De SCRIPtI Oli ^ vefiibls of eighty tun to enter,, they nught : run up the fpace of two leagues. The bankt are covered with beech and with various forts of fir and pine-trees. ^.ti** ^ From thence as far as Ardoifi, tht di^ fiance of four leagues, we faw nothing but a chain of fleep rocks, and a fani»bank oppofite the iflands of Micbauk, which lie half a league out to fea, iuid abound with fuch plenty of game, that the whole fur^ face of the ground feems to be covered with it. In ihort, the coaft all along to jirdttfe, exhibits nothing but precipices to the eyci and 10 abiblutely inacceffibk. ' The bay of Ardatfe divides itfclf into two branches ; the fmaUeft, though expofed to the winds from the main, is preferable to the other, becaufe it does not run fo far up the country, and has a larger column of water. VefTels are obliged to layeer with all windis in the great bay, and of courfe are detained there a confiderable while : fb that they never come to anchor there but when neceflity oblige^ them to it. This branch advances above half a league up ■''^^■^ " U • the ^ Cape Bret en continued. 3 J. t^€ land, but is navigable only for fhallops.; ' However, it is an excellent bay for fifhing,* as it aboimds with veiy good cod. There k plenty of pafturc and beech in the neigh- bouiiiDod ; but the foil is too fandy to be proper for any other pnrpofe than^rriening/ ' In t4».i»* bay there is a quarry of flate, from whence it takes its name. The coaft is very fteep, and towards that part near the ferf-fliore, you may fee the diflereht ftrata. This quarry rims a great way, and if the flate were but of a good. quality, it would be a cohfiderable advantage to the colony. We examined it in two different places, but mii&d the right ftratum. We found only fome large flakes, fo loofe as to break at the leaft contaft, f-^^^ From Ardsife we fet out the 13th, and came to a fpacious bay, the entrance of which lies fouth-eaft and north-weft. It is four fathoms in depth j and when vefTels have got in, they may ride extremely fafe in fifteen or fixteen feet water, except in very high winds. As the bottom is a qUick-fahd, if they were to drive from .«< D their # 34' X Description of their anchors, they would either run upoA the rocks of Cape Ardoife^ or be loft upon a fand-bank at the bottom of the bay. This inconveniency is the caufe of its not be- ing frequented by mariners in autumn, at which time it frequently blows hard upon the coaft ; and then no vefTels venture ex* cept thofe concerned in transporting cord* wood. - Within a quarter of a league of this bay, you difcover the ifland of the fputh fouth-weft point, which may be about half a league in circumference. It is the boun« dary of the lands of the great iiland by the cape of the fouth-weft part of the bay, and is covered with beech. ^ Upon quitting this place we difcovered a fmall auniguen and two ponds, one of which is called the pond of the feven little ^ iflands 5 but they are too inconfiderable to cngrofs your attention. From thence we proceeded through a wood of different forts of trees, at the end of which we difcovered Port Tou- loufcy. where we arrived foon after. As ' '' this n£:!3fET A*. *. nf. 1 ' Ca^e Bre}ofi t'ofitinued. ' j 5- ^his \i a very fafe harbour, you will per- hiit me, Sir, to land you. Indeed this ac- count has been fo diffuse, that I can add no- thirtg further to it without being tirefome: and the barrennefs of the fubje£t is fuch, that I ought even to alk pardon for taking up f<5 much of your tirtie. Yet this narrative hiay be of advantage j and fmce you are d^- firous of making the tour of the ifland, 1 hiurt: give you proper dire6tions for land- ing. But fhould you be curious to know how tttany enemies you would have to cn- touAter, if like Amadis of Gaul, you were to Vfcrtture by yourfelf upon an expedition of 'this high importance, I am qualified to give you a fatisfa6tory account from Louif- burg is far as Port Touloufe. The whole number is no more than one hundred arid eighty inhabitants, fome of whom live very Comfortably, and others indifferently j but they fare befl towards Gabarus, where there is plenty of game, and where the woodcocks are lb extremely tame, that you may knock them down with ftones. Confult your courage upon thefe articles, and in the "•Tin^*- « D 2 mean 'S H''- '\) 36 Descriptioi4 of mean while believe me that I am with the grcateft attachment. ,..'n. ^i^' Yours, &c. :r^c.no ,5 , LETTER III. Defer iption of Cape Breton continued, of the coaji to the right, &c. ,Si*4'JxiJ'^ V S I R, -^ ^ ? I Have received the favour of yours, in an- fwer to my firft letter concerning the ifland of Cape Breton ; and am greatly pleafed that you make no other complaint than at my not having entered into a fufHcient detail. You will have no occaiion, I am fure, to find the fame fault with the fecond, nor with thofe which I (hall write to you hereafter. As for refle6lions which arife from the nature of the fubje6t, and afford entertainment to the mind, you will agree with me that it is proper to defer them, till I have finifhed the dcfcrip- tive part, in which you are not for having the leaft thing omitted. You mufl there^ fore bear with the fterility of the fubje6l ; fpr I do not rank you among thofe who 'A I -^^ Cape Breton continued. 37 take pleafure in criticifing the works of the Creator, or in finding fault with people when they have done their bcft. This is ftriftly applicable to far the greateft part of the topogiaphy of Cape Breton j but perhaps we (hall be more entertaining, after we have finifhed the account of this voyage, which has been hitherto conducted as far as Port Touloufe. ^ You enter this harbour, which is fituat- cd to the right, by a narrow pafTage. The* entrance runs eaft and weft for the fpace of three leagues, and is of unequal breadth : yet it may be reduced to a hundred andfe- venty fathoms. Veflels of a hundred and. fifty tun cannot get in, there being two fhoals in the middle. It requires great fkill even to pilot the fmall vefleh. Port Touloufe is formed by the coaft point, and that of the brick-kiln, which lie north-weft and fbuth-eaft. The diftancc from one to the other is three quarters of a kague. There is a channel through which the king's frigates might pafs, if there was not a very long winding, which renders it of ^^ ^ ' D X dmu <^A^i i.. 38 I)jsej^lfTlQU Q^ difficult ^^^&f Y^t ijn c^ pf nea^ffity tbjc ctitr:^m^ Jniglat b^ fiaciritate4 ^m XQ^ Urge {l^\)s^ onlj by b^g ^t rhe ^pf ow o^ marking the channel to the ^-igkt s^ii4 toi the left J for then a veflel ijiigjiit pai§fwitboufe riiijiiring any rifle. It is pity that this tefbptil? i^ not rendered palpable of a#nitt^ig ihipsi of ail burdens, as it a3brd^ a mi^jl 4eiAgbir> ful profpedl, and is eafy tp fortify,; ;i$f|y^t r^ forts piigjit be coiiftrudt^ on ^e (life- rent points around it^ whicfh ^opld bifid^i? an enemy from ^ppr^^bipg- bu| in i|s pnefeijt condition ft is ^pjjt tp .impoJH^to prevent a d^fcent, ^s yoii gagy judge fro^v ^, Ffom the point of the $ld mten4^ce li^ the river Qf Tillar^, an4 fipni then »?»*fi%»f The favages who aie almoft all in a body on the ifland of the holy family m l^abxador, wh^rp they have a miffionary ;I whom 42* Description fif^ whom they highly refpe6V, mi^ht likewiie be of fisrvice in giving early intelligence. Beddes, being fo near, they might come over in a trice upon the leafl appearance of danger ; as wdl as the people of the i%nds of Madame y Pifit Degraty Ardoife^ Sf, Efprity and the river of inhabitants. ^*^^^^ ^'- You fee, Sir, that fuch a number of men colle6ted in a body, would make a fmall army, ib as tp render thi^ place im- pregnable, efpecially with the afBftance of a few fortifications J' :iM'iJtffmik bmirt^.:^j After making thefe remai^lisi We fet^tut from Port Touloufc the twentieth of Fe- bruary, and dite^ed our courfe by a river diflant from thence a league and a half. It lofes itfelf in thtfmali fafage, and takea its rife in a large bafon fituated within a quarter of a league of the gullet iii the north part rf the ifland, It$ length from ea^ to weft is about half a league ; and its breadth, which is very unieqtial, may be at the moft a hundred atld fifty fa- thoms. The entrance lies ilorth and fouth, In a courfe of upwards of a quarter- of- a league . dX'^i, v. ij;^*,^iii|S\,;^T Cape Breton continued* 43 league it is from fifteen to fixteen feet deep/ ^t high water 5 and in every part throngb* ( put yQu meet with from three to five. It is [ navigable for vefiels of a hundred tun,whichY are laden here with timber and cord-wood. ; The badnefs of the weather obliged us to fojoqm fome time on the banks of this nviQr. which are covered with beech* We fet out from hence the next day, and 1 after making a carriage for about a quar-p ^ ter of a ipile through a plantation of &'» | we arrived at the creek pfDecoux^ fituate on the lands belonging to the iflands ofMoikme^ This creek would form part of the.fbrait of Froniac, were it not for the feparation ef^efled by two inlands, which lie in a dire^ line with the north lands, bordering on each other^ There are two entrances at the two oxtiVBmities of thefb iilands« The north and fbuth-weil: part of the eaC^em extremity, is by far the wholfomeft. Veflels of a hundred tun may anchor here in every part from three to nine fathoms. The nortk-eaft and fouth-w^ft part of the liippftern extremity is navigable only for vef* "'^ ^ i,^L\.^ fa Englilh, Cafe 0/ tin gtekt rmf$. i, I fre- ■'ii frequented this creek with vcflels of threes hundred tun to take in cord-wood. But they are more adventurous than out cruizers. In the middle of this treek there are three little idandii, which appear at fome didance/ let the Tea be bver fo tempeftuous. Small veffels arc Ihcitcred here from eaft-, fouth- caft, and fouth-weft winds ; but you muft- take care to avoid a breaker between the landf and thefe littla iflands. There is a paffage or channel between them and the breaker, and another between this and the land; There is another breaker within a quarter of a league of Cape la RonJe, which, upon your entrance, may without any danger be left to the right or left, as there is a paflage between it and the cape. One part of the land is covered with beech and the other with fir. r.f^'Hihy^ .rfl . * The creek of Petit Degrat is diftant from the harbour only about a quarter of a league. Before the laft war, there was a communication between them by. means of a channel} the mputh of which has been ^ i " filled )f tlirc* i. But! m out ire three diftance, ^- jSmall •j fouth- ^bu muft* the Ian J I paiTago break^er, he land; quarter ;h, upon danger lere is a me part ch and mt from ;r of a was a leans of las been filled Gapi Breton continuedi 49 filled up by a violent (lorm. Yet boats with five or fix cords of wood continue to go throu^. ^ This channel was extremely convenient for the fi(herinen» who carried their fifli to Louilbfurg) becaufe as foon as they got out of the great creek, they made their way acrofs the pond of Ardoifi in lefs than an hour. But at prefent they are obliged to go through the mouth of the harbour of Fttit Degrat ; to double the cape of Gnt NeZy which projedls a great way ; and to run out four or five leagues to fea, in order to ikowhXt ArdUfty which they are not always^ fure of doing in four and twenty hours :. for y(H] may judge that when they meet with contrary winds, they chufe rather to* caft anchor, than venture to run twelve or fifteen leagues out to fea. . ,,.s This pafTage was likewife of great ufe to^ the fifhermen at Petit Degraty becaufe let the weather be ever fo bad, their boats might get out and back again to the harbour The txpence of refloring this communi- cation, and of repairing the channel, would SjO & not 5Q De SCkIFTiQ.N fl/" not exceed three hundred livres ; a fum m itfelf very iiicontiderabk, but Aill more fo when compared to the advantage it inuft produce. Kjdnt This creek is likewife of exceUerjt ule for the fifhery in the fpring. At the fur- ther end of it the Ihore is very level, and there are excellent banks for drying the cod- fifli, which is caught here in great plenty. T|ie harbour of Petit Degrat is fituate on the coaft, fouth-eaft of the iflands of Madame y oppo/ite the famous port of Canfo, three hundred leagues diflant from each other. They lie fouth Xoutlv^yeft, and north north-eaft. ,;j^v* -• ■ ■.' ■^''^-'ii^. This fame harbolir is formed by the j^int of the river on the lands to the north- wci% and by Cape de Ftr to the foutbreaft. The entrance may be about half a quarter of a league in breadth, and lies north-eaft and foiith-weft. . Tliis harbour runs half a league into the country liorth-eaft, and is almoft throughout of the fame breadths There is a breaker ^t the difl^ce of aI;)out a hundred falhcims •cft • a 0^ Cape Breton continued. ^t of Its mouth, oppofite to cape de F^cr. You leave it to the right upon your en- trance J and after you have pafled it, you keep clofe to the land, follov/ing the chan- nel. The clufter of rocks to the left, will permit no boat to approach the fliore at low water, without running a very greai ri(k. The harbour itfelf is pra^Slicable only for vefTefs of a hundred and fifty tun at the moft, the channel being but twelve or thirteea feet deep at high water. When they have got in, they caft anchor in thJr creek aux narires *, where they ariC flief- tered from the fouth-weft winds, which blow here chiefly in the fpfing. ^^ The (oil about Petit Degrat cOntalill a mixture of pebbles and' flints, with a fupcrficies of turf. The inhabitants ai'c intirely employed in the fifhery, in vvfiich they meet with fuccefs i for on iliis fpot they catch by far the beft cod, and i'l). the greatefl: quatitity, of any part of* the ifland. Hence it is that mbft of the iiilVa- bitant5, who in the wholfe roay lie' a :o^ • fbt wttk far f:ift. IniH' !■ ■* !. ^2 DESCil?TlOM (j^ hundred and thirty fevcn, ate fiflicrmen. The twenty fixth of February vft de- parted from Petit Degrat, and fleering our courfe for the harbour of Grand Ne- ricka, diftant half a league from thence, we came upon lands intirely covered with different forts of wood. -nino sioriv Grand Nericka is one of the beft har-| hours in the whole country, and extremely proper for fifhing in large veffels. It is formed by the iflands of Madame^ and by the ifland of Pichot, There are two ^entrances to it 5 but the eafl one is I the befl. It lies north and fouth-weft, and may be a quarter of a league in breadth. | There are two breakers oppofite to UJJlt ji'Entrie, which upon your entrance, you I leave to the left. Take care you keep clofc to the land on this fide, in order toj avoid thefe breakers, becaufe they are fituate ' almoft in the middle of the firfl entrance. The fecond to the wefl, lies weft north- well and fouth-eafV. It is about half a league | ■ in breadth, and practicable only for vefTelsj ''* of fifty tUUt ' ** . "* ^'l-f**-y iT ilillii /1 to • •^■S^'-'^' Tliisl Cape Breton cmtinued. ^% This harbour is very fpacious, and runs a whole league north-eaft into the country, which is intirely covered with beech. Leaving Great Nericka we entered the harbour of hittle Nericka, which is Iprafticable only for fmall velTels. The whole confifts of fevcral creeks and ponds, I which are formed within the land, and covered with beech. ' From thence we kept along the coaft as far as Cape Rouge, and traverfed the nar- row p^flTage in order to proceed to the river of inhabitants, diftant about nine kagues from the haven of Little Nericka, We followed the right banks of the lejfer faffage, till we arrived at the great bafon of the river of inhabitants, whi h lofetb itfelf in this little paffage of Fronf^^c. The entrance of the bafon j; fituated caft and weft, and has a depth of fcven fathoms at low water ; but is not equal throughout. The bafon, which is k league in length, and a quarter in breadth, runs eaft north-eaft. There are three breakers within a quarter of a league to the right Si A E3 of 54 Description of of the mouth of the river j but they «re no way dangerous to vefTels that enter la- veering. Along the banks you behold moft beautiful meadows abounding witli good paflure. ^x.^a^ i'f^ lefty and of the ijland of St, John, *» S' I R,- • f-.-T' , -.'•y^-^vS.hrrjt!! IN confequenceof my laft, yottwcre no more to expedt fudi a minute defcription of the iiland of Cape Breton , as that with which you have been hitherto entertained; yet I (hall be fo copious, that there will be very little occafion to add any thing fuither upon the fub)e6l. Wc are now returned to Louifburg, after (urvcying the coaft to the right. We ihall next entertain you with what is to be feen to the kft. The firft place we came to, is Cape l*oren- bec, to the north-ea(^, and not a great way from Louifburg. Here is a haven of the fame name, and another called the Balaine. The entrance of both thefe harbours is extremely difficult. They admit only of fmall vefTcls, and fifhing boats, of which there are a great many on the coaft. Wc came next "*> the little ifland, called Portenovey about two leagues north-caft ti*.x«^.i- • 4. « of '^€ape Briton tontinuiS. ^J of the lightT-houiie of Louifburg, and about a quarter of a league from the coaft. Between Pertenove and the land there is a rock under water, on which the king's frigate Le Chameau was loft in 1725. The Tea breaks here in all forts of weather. The bay of Menadou, to which wc pro- ceeded next, is about half a league iii breadth at the entrance, and two in length. Overagainft it lies the iiland of Scatari, from which the bay of Mire is leparated only by a narrow neck of land. The figure thereof is nearly triangular, ft is about two leagues in length eaft and weft, being feparated from Cape Breton by an arm of the fea, aboyt a mile over, called the paflage of Menadou. Ships of war may pafs this way, without any danger but from the breakers on the fide of Cape Breton, which are avoided by keeping clofe to the ifland of Scatari, where thev will be extremely fafie. ;;ns ^liiiwv itKiii: Towards the north-eaft point of Scatari, you perceive two fmall ifiands, or rather two black rocks, called Cormandicres, The ^Wt * largeft :l I . if' t' §8 .D«SC EMOTION of iargeft veflels may approach them with Safety on the fide towards the fea. " The ifland of Scatari is covered with a lighter kind of mofs, than what I obferved in any other part of the country : whcrc- cvcr you tread, the mofs gives way, as it only covers the furface of the water. There is a pretty large ftream, with feveral lefler rivulets, and different ponds, efpecially in the eaflern part. Two families -of fifhermen live upon the ifland. 7- ^»' »^^ The bay of Mir6 is eight leagues in length, and the entrance two in breadth ; but it grows narrower ?ifterwards> and receives (everal little river^i. Large veflels run fix leagues up into it, and find very fafie anchorage, protected from all weather. Here likewife you meet with a great many lefler iflands, and with rocks that are vifible at fome diftance. The bay of Morienne lies higher up, being feparated from that of Mire by Cape BruU *, and a little further on is tlie Flat ijland. Among thefe iflands and *r^- rocks, th^rc is very good (belter for fiup- ping. I fhall be a little more dtffuie upon ythsx they call the Indian bay, which is diftant three leagues from thence, afcend- ing north-weft. This bay, or rather har- bour, is very fmall, and hardly proper fpr any other ufe than fifhing, as it admits only of vefTels of about a hundred and twenty tun. The few inhabitants hereabouts negleA all fort of agriculture. Yet this is grown a re- markable place, in confequence of a fort credled liere by the Englifh during the laft war, 9X ^ place called Cj/^ CW, from a coal-pit of their difcovering. This fort was 10 ftrong, that with fifty men they were able to defend tliemfelves againfl the incurlions of the favages, and to keep pof- ieilion of the pit. It was likewife of fer- vice to the French, fmce the coals were made Mfe of to warm the troops at Louiiburg > and the intend ant of the colony frequently gave leave to particular favourites to load their fl^ips with it inftead of ballaft. But the pit took fire in tl^e fummer oi 1752, and Jutirdy confumed the fort. The l! . 60 Description «/> • '' . ' * The Spanifh bay, fituate two leagues north of the Indian, is of a confiderable length, and admits of all forts of veflels. It is divided into two branches, one fouth and the other weft. Some of the inhabitants of Acadia have fettled in this fpot, and be> gun to clear the land } yet hitherto it has yielded nothing round the borders of the bay. There is a great deal of wood, and lime-ftone, with another fort of ^or\Q pro- per for building, and two coal-pits 5 but there is very little pafturagc. From hence to the entrance of the little Labrador it is two leagues ; and the ifle of Verdermnty which feparates it from the wideft entrance, is as many. This ifland belongs to M. le Poupet de la Boularderic. '• Labrador is a kind of a gulph above five and twenty leagues in length, and three or four in breadth. It extends, as hath been already obferved, from the carriage of Chetekant, very near to Port Touloufe. The banks are covered with different forts of trees, and there is a quarry of frce-ftone. Thefe places are all very o^ * - • ^'' proper i.ii' Cape Breton continued. 6i proper for the fiftiery (there being great plenty of cod) as well as for the cultivation of different forts of grain. And indeed this is the moil populous part of the iiland. They reckon but a league and a half from the great entrance of Labrador to Port Dauphin, VefTels may anchor very fafe to the ofFward among the iflands of Port Dauphin is a very fine harbour, two leagues in circumference, and was here- tofore called Port Saint Anne. It is al- mofl entirely ihut up by a neck of land, which leaves only a palTage for one vefTel at a time. The (hips can hardly perceive the leaft motion of the winds, the grounds, that furround it on all fides, being of fo great a height : befides they approach the (hore as near as they pleafe without danger; and the harbour is capable of admitting vefTels even of four hundred tun. The bay is capacious enough to contain a thou- fand. Before it is the great bay of St. Anne, covered to the fouth-eaft by the two iflands of Ciboux and Cape Dauphin, and -•^•x ' to hC n 6z D K 8 C R 1 P T I O N V m the northward by the coart vvhkfi' runy to the north north-caft four degrees north in the fame direflion, as far as Cap^ Hfifum^*, diftant (bv^en leagues from the Entrance of Port Dauphm. - - wi«. ^«f; . Cape Eft/am^ is very remarkable, not only by reafon of its great height, but moreover for two white hills or clifts to the fouth-werf of this cape. Thefe two hills are called the veils of Cape Enfutrii, France was long in ftilpenfe between iJlls and the EnglUh harbour, which of the two (he fhould make the chief fettlement. From it? fituation and difficulty of accefs, there is no doubt but it might be rendered impregnable at' a very fmall cxpehce. Yet this very circumftancc made that crowii de- termine on the oppofite fide. I believe the French have by this time repented, and will have ftill more reafon to repent, thcii^ liav- ing preferred cO'nverticrtcy to fecbrity. The maintaining- of the ^nglijh karhourxtynii' nitely more expcnfivt^ 5 and we have at me- laffcholy proof'of it& not'beirtg impfegrtabk. ♦ The Smoky-Cape. '■'■^1'' ■ The Cape Breton coruhmecL 63 The ftrand of Port Dauphin is of greater extent than that of any other harbour in the ifland ^ and notwithilancl-t ing that there is plenty of cod-fi(h, yet this is not the only advantage of the place : the neighbourhood of Labrador and Niganiche renders it eafy for the inhabi- tants and the favages to af&mbk upon ne« , cefTary occafions. The vefTels employed in the filhery at Niganiche, are obliged by the king's ordon-^ nance, to retire to Port Dauphin towards the 1 5th of Auguft, becaufe of the Aarms that rage in that feafon. When thiey have got into thofe harbours, they expofe- the cod-fiih on fhore, where nature ieems< to have made a bed for that purpx)fe. Some* times you fee a hundred and Mty boats em^ ployed in this bufinefs. True it is that even; at Port Datiplun; they cannot fifh in their ihallops ; buttflill they may make ufc of their; fmaller boats, as in. other pdaces. Thns inconveniency is likewife compenfatedhyr the> fertility of the land^. by dbie quandtr of fine virood, and i 1 Jl' m 64 D B S C R 1 F T I O N ^/* efpedallj oak. In €ne, this harbour, which is only twenty leagues from Louifburg, fuN nifees the latter town with great part of its provifionsy and with a thoufand cprds of wood annually for firing. /^Ms*'i|j/dv/ i/uFrom Port Dauphin we arrived at Niga- niche, which is only a road, where the vef- feU are far from being fafe -, but there is great plenty of cod-fifh. Yet as it muft be deferted at a certain feafon, and the coun- try thereabouts is quite barren, there are , hardly any dwellings upon the place. Even thofe few inhabitants are obliged to fetch their wood for firing from Port Dau- phin. ^/#.^ ij^J'M ti'iyit: Of Leaving Niganiche we came toi the creek ^ Ouarachouque, and from thence fuccef- iively to the harbour of Afpc, Cape North, the creek of St. Lawrence, and the cape of the &me name. Cape North, or the moun- tain which forms it, is a peninfula joining to the iiland of Cape Breton by a Tery low n^ck of land. But none of thefe places are inhabited, or hardly at all frequented, no more than Limbach, t^e Bafcjue creek, '^^^^ •* the tie ijland tf Si.ySi. B^ (he Salmon-road, Xht illa^ds of iMtfs Miitif^ and Jti/fe^ati-carfi ; therefore 1 ittil of t^ fiion you will approve of my olkiittkl^ ^leM in the particular defcriptioh of Cape fitttoti» of which I am now come to a cotict^oti. • Perhaps I ought alfo to cohckde tnf letter he^, left I fhould confouftd two dif*^ ferent objeds ; but the opportunity of ibid^ mg' you my obfervatlohs ii fb ^fdciousi and your curiofity fo great, thit I thitifk it incumbent upon me to improve the for- mer, and fatisfy the latter. Let us there^' fore proceed dire^ly frbm Cape Bistort to St. J6hn*s J and although the fea fepa- rates theie iflands, yet the fame po^^r Haid itttereft uftites them.^ -"^''^ ''^ '^ ^" -n -?v f! ^ • *S^ John's is the largeft of all thd iflands in the gulph of St. Lawrence, attd has ev«n the advantage of Cape Breton in pbint of fertility. Its length is twcftty leagues, and circumference about fifty. It has a fafe commodious harbour, with plenty of wood, and as great a con- vicniency for fifliing as any place on the cotft. It had been altogether neglected as F well V.' li! . ' 1' 1 1 l»" 'Vt' 66 Di sCRiptiON (^/ yirell as Cape Breton -, when necefTity having (hewn the French the utility of the latter, thdr eyes were aUb opened in regard to the former. They have fince been at great pains to plant this idand, though not at enough^ coiiiidering its advantageous fituation. Hav- ing made a voyage upon this coafl, I (hall from thence, and not from fecond hand relations, which are frequently defedtive, give you a defcription of this country^ >>h. ..'Though the iiland of St. John is fubjed to a particular commandant, he receives his prders from the governor of Cape Breton, and adminiders juftice conjundlly with the fubdelegate of the intendant of New France, f They reude « Port la Joye, and the go^ vvernor of Louilburg furniihes tljL^ witjti a , garri(on of (ifty or fixty men* i^i)^ ,^^ and proper for culture. We fpund feveral forts of trees, with a prodigious number of foxes, martens, hares, partridges, whick conce^ themfelves under ground. The rivers abo^md in fiih, and are bordered wi|:h p^flure-lands that produce exceeding good grafs. I confefs there is no great plenty of it, yet the quantity might be improved by carrying thofe meadows up to thje rifing grounds, which are extremely fit for this purpofe^ The inliabitants came over here from Acadia during the laft war, and are about eight and forty in number. Wq fet out from the harbour of Fortme, directing our courfe towards the eaft point, and $fter doubling the point of the creek of Matieu, we proceeded fomewhat to th« ofFward of the harbour De la Souris> Th« latter runs northward a league and a half into the country, and extends an arm to- wards the eaftward. The entrance is prac- ticable only for fmall boats, of the burden cf ;thrpe or four cords of wood. From thence wc proceeded to two . fmall creeks, *. - '*' diftant tbt ijland of St. John. 69 diftant from each other a league and a half; one of thefe runs weft, and the other north- weft. You cannot get thither but in a fhallop or a canoe. There is very little grafs upon this fpot ; but the rifing grounds fccm to be very proper for cultivation. They are covered with all forts of tr^es proper for building. "^^^' ' ^''^^^ Within two leagues of the(e fmall har-i^ bours, we came to that of VEfcouJjier^ the entrance of which runs north and foiith. It ts of a middling breadth, and divides itfclf iiitb two branches, which run eaft and weft. The entrance of that to the right is a league in length, and a quarter in breadth^ that to the left is three quarters of a leaguW, This harbour is capable only of receiving (hiall boats ; but its banks are adorned with beautiful meadows. It was formerly no more than a creek, but the winds and high tides have raifcd the downs, which part it from the fea. After coafting for about ■two leagues, we doubled the eaft point, which we found deferted, becaufe a fire had obliged the inhabitants to abandon it, in '^*' V I ^ order « 'W. J; «i !! ,11 ' :%:'■ I -A V -3» 70 Pes c flip Tiplw if order to go and fettle two leagues further upon the north fide. The place they have tsiken (Jielter at, is a great deal more con- venient th^n that from which they were burnt out. They n^ay clear a good deal of land, which they have already begun to do, 4s far pjs their exceffive poverty, occafioned by this incident, will permit them. Thei;: number is t^yo and twenty in all.*'*-«^«3 Jf ^ Wp continued our courfe fo^ fix leagues^ till we arrived at the Pool de Naufrage *, Th^ ^paft, though veiy level, prefents the eye with npthing but a country laid wafte Jjy fire; and further on it is covered with beech. We met with but one inhabitant, uvho told us that the lands about the pool are exceeding good, and eafy to cultivate; and th^t every thing grows th^re in great plenty. Of this he gave us a demonflra- tion, which afforded us a fingular pleafure; this was a fmall quantity of wheat which |ie had fown that year : and indeed nothing could be mor^ beautiful than the ears, which >iverc larger, longer, and fuller than any I had fc:jn in Europe. < confequently navigable for vefiela dravring ten or twelve feet, ^?ff ^^i ^? rH ti kiv In order to render this a €omniodion& har- bour, I think they ihould raifb, from the foot of the eafl downs to the borders of.1^ channel, a caufey of fufiicieht height to force the waters of the currents as ^dik as the river, through the channel, and pr^• vent them from fpreading over the lands ) to the end that the rapidity of the current 4*; -I ^ might the ijknd of Shjiihn. 7J might carry away the bar, which flops up the mouth of the harbour, o -* * « ir ; u The fifhcry is carried on here with the fame fucceTs as at the harbour of St. Peter. The cod is even of a larger fke than that on the coaft of Cape Bttiott; and is caught in greater plenty ; but it is difficult to cure, which obliges the lifhler- men to catry a large quantity of it to the other iilands 6{ America. I think it \^6fM anfwer very well to fait and barrelk di^ redtiy, aAd then fend it to Europe. * 4^ i Thu plantation of the harbour of' ^t. Pc-i tei' is of gi'CBt coiifequence, as^well id regard to the fifheryi as to the conAfmefrce whi^ tke inhabitants may carry on in^the intttHor piirts of the ifland. But to render it more iblid and durable, they fhould at- tend to^ the effcntial part, namely to agri* culture and pafturage, for the brccdmg and maintaining of all forts of cattle, and efpe- cially flieep. By keeping them together in folds, the upper lands might be improved, and meadows and corn-fields hid out; from whence the inhabitants would reap a plcnti- i«i ^ fill '; l-0\ V^ 11^ T^ D E s ,c thoknbacks, barbels, mackerels, and herrings. In feveral pools and lakes along the downs, they have excellent tifouts, and fuch a prodigious mul- titude of eels, that three men might fill three hogflieads of them in four and tw.eiuy hours. Laftly, you meet here, as w^ as in other parts of the i^and^; with gret^t plenty of game, particularly ortolans^iand white rabbets of a moft delica;te tafte? It is not therefore at all furprizing that fo plen-' tiful a country (hould abound n^osif^'than any other part with inhabitants^ ^n thi^ harbour only we reckoned tbr^e hundfe4 and thirty nine. : . *v ,^ innr^ i*f-- ^j^; Jt is tw that fome of Cheffl, though ranked ■«'• tie ijland of St, John. 75 mnkcd among the inhabitants of the hitr- bour of St. Peter, have their plantations ;|bout the harbour of the Savages^ which ia 4i^nt only a league from the former. - The harbour of the Savages advances half a leagpe (bpth into the country, and is divided intq two branches. One runs a quarter of a league fputh fouth-weft : at the further end there is a bropk with a mill for grinding of com ; the other runs half a league weft nprth-weft. Near this haven grows thp beft wheat in the iiland. ,; From dience we proceeded three leagues further to the harbour of Uracadie^ and found the fame conveniency for fiihing, and agriculture; io that the inhabitants i^rsi to be very much at their eafe, thq fiatural confequencc of induflry. The entrance of the harbour of I'racadie is formed by a cut of the downs at both extremities eaft pjid weft. Their diftancc is half a quarter of a league. The breadth of the channel is. fixty fathoms^ and it f uns north north-eaft, and fouth fouth- weft. 1% is of eqqal depth thrpughout, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 11.25 14.5 |iO — ^-" Z8 |25 2.2 lAO I^tDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTER.N.Y. M5S0 (716)872-4503 ^^'^ '^ ? ii. dnt is, fixteen ficet at high water. At tht itioath there is a bar of fand, which txxm eaft and weft, and prevents veflels that draw above eleven or twelve fcetj frbm entering. The hArbour however is hand- fbme and fpacioiis, running two le^tgues ^^fbvard behind the downs, and a league ibuth into the country. The breadth of it is ^e fame to the further actrcinity. The weftem coaft is the only part itilmbited, and has very handfome caufeys. The neigh* bouring country is covered with trees of' all forts ; ahd the borders are alfo embeUlflied with meadows, which produc^e abundande of paihire. ■■'* -\^-^^r -v'-^^^*^-^^^^-'-^^-'-^^*^^ ^' In this harBbuF, and^in^ihe Sbepbtrds fod belonging to it, we reckoned feventy feven inhabitants; From thence we fet out for Malpec.- ■**^ "f*"!"**' . "'i^-iii^ ,^k^ ik,, i'l believe, Sir, I need hot tell you; that in thefe calculations I never included the ravages. In all probability you will Cl^[ie^ that I fhaH give you a feparafe artiiie In regard to thefc poor peopled ^ Inddid y^ are in the rights and: I have^ tikent'ii)^ ^^..;^^ ' ftep, I! . i f^ii'-iOOilui the ijland of Sh jfoini 77 ftep, m order to methodize what I have to obTerve upon the fubjedL But I have A»d enough for the prefent ; and itnce the com*' pafs of a ktter will not permit me to finiiht the defcription of the iiknd of St. John j it is far preferable to defer the. remaindei; of my taikto another oppommitf. Imfift therefore beg to be excuied, if the de(ir0 of making you acquainted with an iflaadi hitherto but very little known^ lays me under: the necefHty of enga^g a little tnott, of Jour time. Yet I giant yoa a^ truec for Jthe prefent» upon condition that the' lefs I fpare you hereafter, the more you willbelKve me.to be, i;r^ , ^^mfieri Yours, ocCi "ot n'm t E T T E tt. V. of^xjiffDci^i: fimitt. , ..._... ^^ _ ■ ,4- i^^-}t^i^p/' Vefcftpiton of the ijland of St. John continued. "^'^1.1 '^j i^* ' tf»«j2^ tts produmons. \,. T^B IStcqad^ o£ the defcription of the > ' ifland of St John will come into^ your hapdfll a|;.die.&QiQ.tim&as thefonneirw mfi part; m '■i'*' 78 DESCRI^^PiON Sf part ; bec^ufe the (hip that was to coYi-' vey my laft« has made a longer (lay than I expedled. We left off at our fetting out frdm Tracadic for Malpec : here we (hall take up our narrative ^gain, and continue the Voya^fe.' 'i!?*'**«'^*s*'ir*«i>iiat«^-t^"**Tf!'^j'»'.' iu^^. ^ From Tracadie ive fet oat the twenty fecond of Auguft, in Very bad weather ; and after an hour's failing, we found our- £slves in the middle of the harbour of Little Racic9i The entrance lie$ north north-eaft, and fouth fouth-weft, and is practicable only for boats sit high water, and in very fair weather. ?ter^^^ -h ^? - The country round about this harbour is proper for culture, and covered vwth all forts of fine timber. But what is very remarkable, there is a conveniency here for building of large vefTels, ihalkps^ and canoes. :?. ->tj. «i*t The badnefs of the wejfther obliged m to put into the harbour of Great Racico, the entrance of which is a hundred and twenty fathoms in breadth noith-caft Mid fouth-weft. It has twa brtdidies, one ef ■^^txiBvti.... which the ijland of St. John. 79 which advances call fouth-eaft about three leagues on the fide of Little Racicoy and the other runs half a league fouth-^ef^« Thefe two rivers are e3£tremely rapid : their banks are covered with timber ^ and they might likewife have mills for fawing, and for grinding of com. a. uji:.v ftreams. r 'H'i m 60 D E ^ C E r F T I O N ioMi)*i^) The harbour of MalpeC' is within iixteen leagues of tliatof St. P^er. It is fitnate on the north co^, and vei^ convfrnient for the cod^fifhery, nature having formed feveral fmall iflands, as well as i^rand$ td* apted for drying its and beftdes, there k a briik fharp air propisr f&t the purpofe. It is therefore a convenient -fpot for this '*^W' v. kind •*% the ijiand of St. John. 8 1 kihd of comhiercii, and thefa little iflands contribute to the fccurity of the harbour. Malpcc has four difiiBrentbntrances* The firft to theweftward, is formed by the fouth- weft point, fituate on tht gfianJe tern of the ifland of St. John, and by the north^iaift pwnt of the little ifland of the eaft entrance. The diftance from one point to' another li' edimated at three quarters of a league, and runs north-eaft and fouth-weft. Veflels that draw twelve or thirteen feet water are obliged to. laveer the fpace of a quarter of a league between the two points, where yotr have generally three fathoms at low water. The fecond entrance which lies north north-eaft, and fouth fouth*weft, is formed by the weft north-weft point of the little iik.of ^entrance, and that of the eaft fouth* eaft point of the north. This is wider thaii' the other. The channel may be three hundred and fifty fathoms in breadth, £ve or fix in depth at the loweft ebb, and fcven at high water. None but thefe two entrances admit of all forts of veflels ; the other two are only for (hallops and canoes. G ThQ •ir * »'i^ r !' i'l ' 't ■ i '? i,u &2 DfiSCRiPti diy means of which a veflfel is always certain of riding fafe in the middle of the channel. Thei^ is a fecond iiland weft fouth-wdlj pf that of the Savages. The latter was re- signed intirely to them, and is three quar< ters of a league diftant from the former. I It makes the eaft north-weft, and may be /about a league and a half in circumference. The lands are high, and covered withj beech. The rapidity of the currents of thl$| hayeri, hath forced the three different en- trances here mentioned. That further on to the weft, was not formed before i']l^\ when a violent ftorm beat off the fands; and the ftrength of the currents has hin-i dered -^-i«t^- * t yi-t ifl- T ■' *J" »f" *■•»> 'il!)e iprJ of St. John. 83 i^erci them fince from returning. Froni the north-weft point it is two leagues and tt qtiarter; and from the eaft and north- weft to the bottom of the bay we reckoned two Ibagtrcs. They go up with venels from a hundred to a hundred ^nd fifty tun. The harbbur h divided into two branches ; the firft futls about a league ibuth fouth-weft; and at the fiifther extreiiiity there is a little river, which rifeth half a league within the fouth lands. The fecond runs three leagtte^ weft fouth-weft. Small veffels may lafcehd it the fpAce of t\vo leagues* *'*^ ' Keepihg alohg the weft point we arrived Itt a kind of canal, which runs north-weft as far as the harbour of Cachecampec. It Sfthhits only of fmall veffels, and forms a tiofamtirtication betwixt the two harbourc diftant from each other fix leagues. V The lands adjacent to the harbour of Malpec aire of a fuperior quality to thofe of St. P^tei-, and indeed by far the beft of the wfeole ifl^nd of St. John. The banks of the tivei'^ ai*6 covered with all forts of beau- tiful trees. Between this and the harbour "^^^ G 2 of ' ::! I l^\ 84 Db s cription of of Cachecatnpec there is a large grove of cedars, above three leagues in circumfe- rence. There are two forts of cedar-trees, white and reds the white is the largeft, and ferves to make (hingles or covenngs of houfes, inclofures, &cc. The wood is ex- tremely light ; and diflils a kind of incenfe, but bears no fruit like the cedar of mount Libanus. The fragrancy is in the leaves: that of the red cedar is in the wood, and far more agreeable, ^h>\ arjohHnovbB -jH y The Acadian women are accufiomed to chew this incenfe, which preferves their teeth, and makes them look exceeding white. In the neighbourhood they have like>yife difcovered a particular kind of clay, proper for making of bricks. They baye alfo great plenty of all forts of game. Notwith- {landing thefe advantages, the inhabitants are by unforefeen accidents reduced to great miferyj for which reafon they ought, i« my opinion, to be allowed the privilege of fiiliing. It is a miftake to imagine that this method of fubfifting would make them indiligent with regard to agriculture. The . r> har- the ijland of St. John. 85 harbours of St. Peter and Tracadie arc proofs of the contrary. It is even dcmon- fbrable that the fifhcry is a fure means of promoting tillage, becaufe it enables thofe who follow it, to maintain domeflics and cattle, without which the lands mud needs remain uncultivated. Neither is this the only advantage they would reap from the fiihery; for the ftock of dry cod which they would keep by them, together with the adventitious helps of milk, butter, and ^hedc, would fupply any fcarcity in bad yeJurs^, iaiid repair the damage done to the gfiliri by locufts and field-mice. Thefe Miknah are the fcourge of the country. Whdrievcr there happens to be plenty of beech-maft, the fi<5ld-mice come out of their lurking places, and devour whatever lihcy find either in the woods or the open 'fefMdT and after every thing is confumed, they ifuih headlong into the fea; where in all probability they expect to find fome liidufiftitnent. In rainy weather, or in dile of intmdations of rivers, or of thick • fogs, the field-mice are fiiccceded by locufts, G 3 which ■■i^U ; ' ( mm ^ 86 Description of which commit the like devaflatign, Thefb misfortune^ frequently reduce the inhabit* tants, who are two hundred in numher« to great mifery^ and fucb indeed was their condition, when we happened to be aov)ng them. , ..u,_ ^iii^jH- * From Malpec we fet oiit in a canoe, and after croiCng a bay three leagues, we landed near a fmall rivulet, intirely ied .by the filtration of the waters, which 'lodge thcm- felves in this low marfhy neighbourhood. From thence we dire&d our courfe by a way that begins at the bottom of the livu-^ let, and juns a league to the foujbhwafd. The earth was coveiied with beech, and crpecially with a prodigioxis quantity ;Qf French-beans, and a kind of pine-ti?ws. At len^h we arrived at Bedec*^.,^;^;;K.r,:i^v ^: The harbour of Bedec is inhabited b)^ eight families, which by our computation made four and forty fouls. It i$ fitu^on the fo^th fide of the ifland within {ij^teen leagues of Port 4e h j%^> ?nd eighteen of tiie Green-bay of Acadiai. The^oH 15 very proper for ^i^l^uie^ imd tlw borders are the ifiand of St. John. 87 adorned with beautiful meadows. The entrance b formed by the point of the ifle of^Bcdec upon the lands eafbvard, and by the weft north-weft point upon thofe to the weft. Thefe two points being fouth- eaft, and weft north-weft, are three quar- ters of a league diftant from each other. The channel, iituate north-eaft and fouth- weft, may be about a quarter of a league in breadth, and from four to five fathoms depth at low water. After doubling the ifle of Bedec, the harbour divides itfelf into two branches ; one runs north-eaft about a lei^tie and a halfj the other fouth-eaft three quarters of a league. In both you may caft anchor in four or five ftthdms at low water : but for greater fafety you had better move to the foutb-weft fide, which i» ' thoroughly prote Aed from the v'')-i»;iiv;i. ji-i'' Leaving the harbour of Bedec, we fol* Ipwed the coaft* and reached the l^raverfi rivery where we reckoned only three and twenty inhaWtahts, but obferved that the bmks were covered with very goodpafture. to(fei>i; G 4 From mm 11'; 1 38 . D i s Kri p*r Id N ^ From thence wc proceeded to the River awt bhiidsy following the coaft for three leagues 7 his dream runs up the country four league north. The inhabitants, to the rumher; of thirty^feven, are fettled on both jfide?-* league from t*ie mouth. Thofe la^ds which we faw cultivated, pjomife very fair; {ind thofe \mtilled are covered with timber^ This river is navigable only for boats^ and its )>anks are enriched with excellent paflule. ^ Keeping along the coaft we arrived at the jRiV^ of toadsy where wc fQti;«d-but thirteen inhabitants, ^4 nothiqg ren^arb^ able. From thence we proceeded (o^ tixe creek north- weft,. The coaft all long is very low, ai^ covered with plenty o timher. Here we reckpned thirty inhabttr .bj. "\Vc left this placp to r^u^-n to for de hjf^e, from which we were diftant ni mprc than three leagues: but before this we landed at the Cnek of tt>e n»ild ^^iif, iii order to fee )en pocir inhfibitants, w^ipic |n^eiy greatly pxcitcd our compaffion. -ii<:ij|^//di^f|fcl *^v »% ;+ From the Urawrje river to B(^i de 4aJofe^ ^hc cof^ j[w|yriE|s wjth jiU fprts 9tf . w^d fowl ttfilo?! . efpcci- the ijland of St. John: Sg^ crpectally with vaft multitudes of buftardSi crevans \ and teals. There are a great raaoy beautiful meadows that produce good erops of iiay, and might even furnifh a fuffictent Quantity for the remainder of the iilandi if they would but undertake to mow it. Yet it would be more proper to increafe the numbed of inhabitants, efpecially to^ wards the north-weft creek, • ' ~» r- * In the woods you meet with a vaft number of foxes, martens, and hares, but fcry few partridges; however, you are made amends by the woodcocks, which keep together In numerous flocks, and {bme- times are fo tame, and fly fo tiear > the ground, that you may knock them down with ftones. The plenty of ikellvfifli h fikewife a great relief to the inhabitants;^ *^ We aiB now returned to Port de lajoyt^ of which J ihall give you a fketch. This harboory called the «reek of Point primes is formed by a point of this name, fltuate on the lands fouth fouth-eaft oi the en- la^ance of the port, and by the north-wefl; '-m^^. point. ^if, }■; ^ ; » f . •f- 1 ,• u I :ii' ' FiH ^ Description ^v pcttnt, (itiiate on the lands north norths wcfft" cf the faid entrance. Thcfe two pcvints are the fouth-eaft and north-weft. Thedifbiice fiPom one to the other in a dl^€6t line is feven leagues and a half, with tsfi^in d^h^ and ieven in circamference. * The channel is ikuate north north-«aft, slM foudi fpnth-trefl: of the entrance, and runs up to Port di ia Jye, The depth is g^ii&r^lly from ftven to eight fathoms at Id>^ water, atid in (bme places nine. The biiiiad^, though -variable, is reckoned a quarter oi z league. u't^A»ei^H:,3*yf it»'iyir' '-'HP'he moft ildUM pilots of the cotuMiry aifitni; that w^n you are in five fathoms Watiet', you have not as yet entered the right channel, hut that yoaihoi;did fail near the wind) according to what direction yda ar^ in. Upon yoiir entrance you leave the Governors ijland to the right > but take care of the fhoats, which run out confix drably into tlie main, and are a large dMtr of rocks. The Govtrnor's ijk^ is ef il ^ound figure, about a kague and si half in circumference^ and bcdf a league in ci'^-'it^I breadth. h \M'A the ijland of St.Johi i^ breadth* Tliere is a great deal of timber of different forts, and vaft pknty of game« To the left alfo upon your entrance^ you leave the iiknd of the Count of StiPeter, which is much more acceflihk than the. Govtmors ijland^ the fhore being very level. It is a quarter of a league long, and four hundred fathoms broad, being covered v^ith pine and £r-trees. You may even wade over the bar, as it is quite dry at \oiff water, be^nning from the north- weft point. . Upon this bar and all along the banks of the ifland, there is a prodi^ous quantity <^buftards^rr^tf»i, and woodcocks. Eort de lajoye is fituated at the bottom of the creek of La Joye^ live leagues from P»nt prinKiy making the circuit from point to point. It is formed by tjie Rafberry point, £tuato. on the lands to the eailward, and by the point A laflatne^ iituate on thofe to the weft. Thefe two points lie eaft north- caft, and weft fouth-wcft. The diftance be- tween them is but a quarter of a league. The channel that runs juft in the middle between tiie two |)qi»tSJ^^ay be three hun- ■:i* 9a DEscki?Tio^ hf dred fathoihs,where it is widefl at lowwatei! . The road is a quarter of a league from die entrance, between thofe two points, diflant one from the other a quarter of a league. There is good holding ground in nine fathoms, aijd a miry bottom. Three rivers difemboguethemfehres into this road, from the wefty north, and north^eaft. V iThe mouth of the weft river is formed by one of the latter \ ints, fitaate to the left afcending, and by the north point at ihe diftance of a quarterof a league^ .This river runs four leagues into the land, and is almoft every where of the ^me breadth. •r-The mouth:^ the nqrth^caft river is formed by the north point o£ths weft river, and by the eaft point of this norths nver, dK ftant from eav:h other a quarter of a league, Jt runs four leagues up the country* r^-v^f •*/5 The north^aft river is formed by a point .towards the entrance to the right, and by die eaft point of the north river. Thde iwo points are north-weft and fouth^eaii;, ^xA die diftance from one to the other is nine, hundred li^tfaomsu This river rum ^365; ni^e tie if and of St yohL ^^ niae>leagu€$ iip the country. It is one of the beft planted ilreams in the whole ifland i ^nd not without good reafon, for the foii being light and Ibmewhat fandy, is ^ more proper for culture*^.! ^w**k- ''-\^)ity>}i^i After taking a view of all thdfe places, we arrived at the river of the Great Afcenfion^ three leagues fouth of Port de lajoye* It iH formed by the weft point and that of the birch-trees^ (ituate on the lands to the eaft-^ ward. They are diflant from each other a quarter of a league. This river divides ttfelf into three branchest which run eaft,' north, and weft, about three quarters of a league. They are navigable for fmall vef-^^ fels. At the further extremity of the norths weft branch, a little rivulet joins this ftream, and is of fufficieut rapidity for ere£ling a faw-mill upon this fpot, efpecially as there is plenty of wood at hand. All thefe places are more or le& inhabited, in proportion to the goodnefs of the foil: but as the people live at fome diftance from one an^ other, as well as from Port de lajoye j when I hav|i^ concluded my account of fuch places 'ssm as •ilil ^ tJfztctii^'ftoif of as merit attention, I (hall give ycb otrr calculation of the number of inhabitants, After furveying the rivers abovie mentioned, we went to the little rivter of Pcugiguit, from thence to the river of the Saw-mill^ and thencef to the River of Whites^ and in each place we took notice of the habitations, till at length we afrived at the Bujb^cteek, fituate on the river to the north-eaft, and fiom thence to the Dead-'Creek^ to the Litth Afhenfion^ and to the Pirogues. -'^ ^^^ ?^* , Lea^ng the Pirogues^ we fet fail for the Count of St. Peter's creek, doubling the pcnnta of Marguerite and Pramboifi^ and arrived thore in half an hour. Thei country round this place i& pretty goodi but there are no paflure grounds, con« fequently no cattle. They have the fame want at thfe creek of the PircgoeSy Whkb is fiipplied ffotfi tht' Little Afcef^om ^n<^i t ^^ ; At a fmall diftahce from Ob^m/ iS^. Peter t creei, we found that of ^^-Semteff* They are both fituatedc oti the fouth ftdc of the bay oi Port delajtye, I do not inteAd to fend you a defcription of ithfem, finct Ihey '^ti are m-- the ifiand af St^ Join. ^j sre remarkable only for their popubfity. The coaft on thi^ fide is feparated frdfli the nortl^eaft river bj a very thick wood^ which makes their diftance from two to feven leagues. In the middle of this wood is the royal road of the threec rivers. It^as undertaken by Couirt de Raymond, and btt^ ginning from point Marguerite^ was catned on as far as the peninfula 6f thr three rivers. A very good fettlemeat m^ht be made on this part of the ifkind, if £ne wood% pleafant meadov^, fruitful land^, plenty of game aaid fifh, can be any taa^ couragement to planters. \ *4v. i;,,m4 xuia vjfi After having been to fee Ae Creek of fbe feamen, and the little mcrafs, we fet out fyom the latter, diflant two leagues froitk Port de lajoye, and keeping dofe to tfie coaft, which is very low, and covered with all forts of wood, we arrived at the largt creeki and dire^ed our courfe by the Gredt jifienfion. On the banks of this river, which tuith been already defcribed, we found fomc timber proper for fhip-building. a i^^i>* ^avirtg palTed the Point of the birch-trees^ **; itlyt^j'lf Point ^v^> lit s '■ ^'M 0, B S C A I f T S O.M , ^, ^ 1^ plantation in the ii^d^ |ii>d in aUdicfe dilBSarfnt places, i^cfuc^ng P^r/ 4^ 'A^'7<^^< we rcckbned a tfaouiand three hiuo^d and fifty four inhabitantSi Though the fettlemcnts on ^e iflanf} o{ St John increafe every day by the Aoiv^ of Acadians aiid others, yet a jconfiife« raUe quantity, of land, as good as thst we have been defcribing, remains ftili uncultivated. There is no doubt, but d» fame advantage might be derived from this as from any other part j and with alittlft care this ifland might be. renderfd as ftr* viceable as Acadia, t - f---- r{r^-' '?^f I Indeed. the winter is very long, . and the cold intenfe. If you (Hr out in the frofl:, you are in danger of perifhing in a quarter of an hour; and the fnpw falls fo heavy, that it frequency lies four feet deep in four and twenty hours. Flies and mufquetdes are likewiie a great inconveniency. Thefe abqittinable infects darken the air, and faflen themfel^t on the leaves of tress, efpedally ia the -i^^m V" woods J tUfi ijland of !St. ^ohA. t^j #d6(il \ yet it Ites been obferved, that in proportion as the lands are m^ured, and the touhtry is peopled, the number of !he& infd6t^ diminifhes. fiut granting they arc very' troublefome, I want to know what place in the world, is exempt from all incon- Venieney ? And ii not this we have been' Aiertioning, fufficiently compenfated by the advantages that might eafily be derlx^ed from fo promifing a colony ? Sure 1 art/ that nbtwithftanding this barren defcription, you would be glad to perufe it regularly once a \veek, oh condition of being in- i^eftcd with the property of the ifland of St. John J and you would foon find your account. I wifh it with all my heart, and am^ ^^ SIR, Yours, &c. •*;■'"" ^1 E T T E R VL *■""- ■'^; Of the different animaU on hath ijland s-, of, . the cod-jijhery j of the French manner of . furing it, and of the glue made offijh^ ^c. . •SIR,'. -"^^ -' "^'-^^^^.^^-^mm' Urfuant t6 thifc ordef I propdfecfat firft fettingoutj it is incumbent upon me,' #^r^v H after .^1 i? «' I >M'l' !■ :;rfV pi:" 9^ JXBsqRi^T^^i^^.. aftey jjWip^ yo^ a defijri^^n o|; the ifl^tj^ of St. jptin, to cn^rtapl you yit^^ ,)^ ofv tA^ ml^bitaiii^$/ In this, numfe I include all animated tx)dies. But m or- der to preserve the gr^^^Uon in whic^ na« ture has placed the human f^pef> .1 ^ap begin with that heii^, to which ^Y9,, b^Y?, giv^n the n^me of animal by w^y of pre- ference, though it too often ljiap|)«M t^j die difiin£iio^ is only verbal. . You have npt loft memory of , the ]^o-, novirable mention | n\ade of d^ai^jjdc ^^- inals. in takine notice of the labour of their maftera. There are homed cattle, and ...» " ' ' J '■ ■ * I * 1 . i i . ' •■ ^ beafts of burden in thi^ country^ and much of the fame/ fonii and rnalce. ss tfyofp^ m Europe. They Tikewife enjoy in .part the fruit of their labour; though there i^ no merit in the indulgence,, becaufe, It is ne« 'irirary, and, attended with greater aa<^ ^ges here than any where elfe. * The pia- nuring of 'wdle laTuIs, and the^ cliangbg them into gardens or ploughed field^ je- ^ui^^'i^at ^ propef* care fhou{d b^ takep rh *iil' H ■ £"f: rt Wi and pai(ii}re'oauhd for their Aib* inct« It ceo^ios therefore that I fay ibtx)etihu]i^.,tp 'jTQU .q£ thdc animals, for. vhidi we have tifx manner of reffard^' tjbougt^ the^' contribute to our food and riin^i^nt There are feme voii ace not ac^ qiifliintid wltb» of v^hicK nuinber is the beaver, and I make no doubt but piu wouki be: gl^ to luve fome knowledge of thoie anioials* Indeed the accounts that have becii given of them is not at all fabulous. No* d&i|; qn^ be compared to their fagaclty ^^ b:^^ cQiurivance. I muil confefi ibat upo|i obferviog the order, induftry,^ fid f:iitSt ftdsordinatioQ that prev^ amon^' i^vA, 1 have faid to my&(f, though theft ofoatubs^: have not perhaps a &ul like ours,^^ ^lyjwith ib unerring an inftln^ they arc no great loiers. Yet in^ead of adminas (dboni^r arts which we have only borrowed /9f tbenu w^ ga and diftyrb them in the Mit qS their work, in which t^ey ^iplay Jillihfe ingjmii)^ <^ able archjte6ts. . tnileed I am Qfieijjin^s grieved at this, and I had much rather be without knowing that their •^'^ )tl 2 Ikin m >: too DESCHIf-f loiSf 0^*^^ fkiti 18 of ufe for covering my head af^ feet, or for other purpofes, and that their flefh is of a delicate tafle, than be fo ill-natured as to difturb thenii/ But fince k is not in my power to preferve them ftxmx fo cruel a fate, 1 muft benefit by dieir misfortunes like the reft of mankind ; and indeed the favages would ftill continue to deftroy them here and in other places, were I to preach for ever againft their bar* barity. -■ --y^h^l iiai j:. to zr linsi ir^,^-' sI fhall much more readily iefign all the large game, the hunting of which> is the favourite and almdl only occupation of thofc people. Their bears are much the fame as thofe in Europe; fome of them •are white. Their fat, or rather thdr oil, is very good to eat ; and the fle(h of the young bears is a perfect dainty;^ i j|j » -fi^The orignal is as large as a mule, with :;Vcry thick hair, of a dark brown colour in i futnmer, and almoft intirely white in winter. "A great many are of opinion that this is * the fame animal, as in ©thcr places is called ••-4hc\elk^;^.: -j.iri^^u. t?ai;.tajj.:. Jii;i^-:jfiy,i The ,^iA the different jlnimah^ A^. tot Tlvt eariifou it a kind of deer» whoft- head, as well as that of the orignal, is or-* naroented with very large horns like a (lag» and the branches are almoft flat. The fle(h of this beaft is eatable, but they prefer that of the orignal ; and indeed it makes as good ibop as beef. As there is no fpecies of animal, but what hath its natural ene« my, befides man, that of the orignal is the ^uincajm. This creature refembles a large cat ; his hair is of a red brown ; and the tail fo very long, that when he tu^ns it up, it makes two or three curls on his back. This is. his offenftve weapon. Wttb it fae entwines the poor animial, after firft fetzihg him with his paws, then he bites him in the neck under the ear, and does not let go his hold, till the orignal drops dowxi dead. But do not imagine that the ^;v« ii^u alone has the honour of an engage* nteat, in appearance fo unecjual; he a^s in eon)un£tion with the fox, T/ho facilitates the attack by furprizing or decoying the enemy. Thus you fee it isnot our fpecies alone that gets the better of fi>rceby can* H 3 ning i r 11 I ■ ■4t;. tot '^^$St^4^,XA^%.^fi,\ tbiPUj;h{>u)^ : the. whole l^ilg^ of /I)^i0g9| and dQUbtJiefs :to r€0d^t u^ Hiorev%vKUe «f iKr Jb^r^Uty i)^ the diffpenfation j^ ff^fwlrs, fcoi diftrife^Li#e9 wl wUh the fttt»; iii^N ^qateriefe.in tfaci|ig;,thfe o0gpd.,..^hcy;aw dMfcipgy^ijfeJiy the fe«Pt v-zlitther if b,a m^ 4ifta|i^ I rUJ^itteBjE^ da ith^y; loi^ fei^nlnofr iti ,^,-)iThey m^^m Ihe feenc^ipf this tninfijil^ ^ PQlv^, #o4;a|te^j^*tfft boil M; «i/i?»tcr. fi^Wi -mi^^^m ft» w^f. This iitidhek provifiqii wh^n they ait Upon thd chM;; UirRyey^^ ^ fre^ nMmbcr ,f>f iJysixesi %^k9uim^m^^^rai% 4M^ apt o^ vety ^«S" 4 i^ aw^ iftiiltaM'; thh Md t>ee» ddh^ t^ 6^ the yekr, fc^^ally in ^ptittgf'attd ^ttttAtii with all fofts df wkt*•foH^ai ^b^vk^l irihjMs, coimh^, Mlfr-dtMcfaf, canards bVancbus, a' ^ fcfe^lM; ' t^, ^^a^a^^Si t^amiii marcMix^ ' caiitbs^l^H* 4\4 i" fca pigeons, peringouim *p and a- great many other forts, the names of which I omit for brevity, intending to make you acquainted with them when you arc v^ii the: fpQt* ^Yet I will mention a word, or two in particular of fome of thofe animals. The buflai'd lays its eggs only every othor year, and changes its feathers during the year of repofe : but as it dioc$ not iogia to hatch tin its fourtli year j in xs^^tx to irepair the lofs of time, it lays- fifteen ot fixteen eggs at a tim?. Unfortun^tdy it builds its neft in lo^ maifiiy places, an4 great numbers^ of them are deftroyed by the foxest It grows as tam^ as a goofe % and then it is much better eating than thpft vri}d birds of, the Tame fpeciesi^ff^^v t^^a '^ '■ :: The crevant is a bird of palTage, fmaller than t]ie buAard, and better eating than a wildrdvipk. , The goijland is bigger than % pigeon, ah|i lives ypon fiih. The e|gs of thcff Urd^ aj:e very goo4 to eat/ except thofe of the, cormprant,, v »^ |i uoi i ^currui -^ iajUl;thi?fe different forts of birds £yovq: vjf . The above-^irds are kxal and tot$tit6 to that cbjintrf ^ jr^/|liat we have no Englifh names for then. in indifferent i/lnmdlsy&c. 105 J^' large fipcks to the ijlaffiii of hirtisf y/hkh belong to the EngUfli, in order to lay their c^s there it\ the fpring. They generally range themfelves oji the white point within a quarter, of a league of Louifburg. There is then rfuch plenty of game, that you may hear a,tlioufand mufket ihots in a day." „ Thij^ kind of fport is a great relief to. the inhabitants, who are generally, in want of £re{h pxoviAons this time of the. year ^ though xQoft of thefe wild-fowls have a kind pf oily tafte, owing to the fifh and. the goimoniy their conftant food. The goimtmd if a large glutinous weed, . of a - yelkyw^ brown, which, ^e fea throws up along thi^ Fifh being one of the chief produ£lion$ pi the£b. iflands, deferves our particular notice, efpecially the cod-fi(h, which ktliit principal fupport of their trade. ^i;i;f|.BII-^^^ V The rivers and lakes in the inner parts of thefe iiland$, abound with very good falmon, trout, eels and finelts : the fea produceth thorn-backi tench, plenty of flji^4r|ifli| ft^rgepn, pfeic^ mackerel, . ga- I.: 11' i 1 jfparJtir, \ rpeciel pF AactereK^l^t feint: fKmg fibaier j tHk ^s 'fem^iW as^te M ttfee, ami the" fl^rfe* is fii^i ahd as Ivhilt j ncarrings oh thelfi^e ortabfliSifrr Wfintes, bylfeh, ikJ&tters; VrfufcTc^, 'cp^kfe, fee; ' An along Ihfe cdaft they cdtch pldh^ 6f i^wolves, porpoiies, lea-cows, and Mh^- Jifees wkJes: t'r^-'^thrfe-fiffitl Ucy ex: fi^thVoii, diii'atlbfeerlfebg; '^ life of mi^ you ^rc as welilcvtA ^ irm ^JON l^if!-, fctitte-fifti, Ifea^teo^^^^ anfl ptter fifh without fcales. As the ittetb(>^oP|>riN ipanrig 11 is vei7 liRte KidVfn, i iiaft^i^ you a^tiaiifted witli it ; and tS?s 11^ dm affirm, that if ever you cbdirto'^dle R %*erc, you will find it vWll an!fvw- ^r eitpeft^ 'tlorr. Aiid indeed 1^ tRcy wfel:o-li{3|yly tteihfelves hafff to this Knfli of gtii^,' t!rari€e ^might fooh diTperil^ ^ith 4l5at* ^wrtiioh'ltt ''^reierit fiie' Is biligiSd lb impc^ Woitt "Hot T&iitf and:"tfxe Limu 'thbU^' tKc fi^cft H?- " - at ttk dif event AnlmaUy 9fc. TOf atika fight icems to be bilt of fitudl im-t porJMmicejv ]re^' it will appear in a idifferent Kghi! txy Jthgbi who lf.nav[ ctf what cbnfe^ qii^noB itir ^n kingdom^ not to be obliged fi)r:ne0ef&Ems to any mother country whai-i^ .. 'Thefr tafee the 4^h|s of die abcveihen^ obnbdfiftit^s^ withr.thcdr iihs, taib» headt^ catittUg^iaikort. the whole body of tht ifi^ .tkosj^ th^ ^fl^vSMid tbe fat or dlt $A thi^.tli^eyi boil^ inviititer, tddngi ti^ li6i>fv^j^^Xit 'from ^e -finpke^ or triM a^y thinf jthat ihight Afioloiir die liqooii iyiteii' itilB^boifed d0)i^y'4md:the;>^^ mtimO^ all V the iiibftance of the iSOxf ^ai^ tfaeylet it (land to^growcoo^ and Aftent «s^ ibon »i they cool. When they K9^ jlidge from th^ce that the ghie is mad^, #cy let. it 500I51 littk, hut npt fo ai to hinder it from running o^ the taW* of ^mi Of ilate iqpon w^di^ thejir fcm iu ■r For ' I m : \V'\ 'Ml yi to& D'e s CR I ¥riokof\\ For want of fuch convenient^, fc\^oral' other* things Dnay be contrived to receive it, takhij^ care hovrever to put paper /over it, and ta raife the edges of the paper, becaofe the glue ought to fpread itfelf, and t& rife without faflening to any other fubflance^ As foon as it is become bonfiftent, lit is twifted round like;'paftey an4' fiHnged m order to bang lip in rows iaithe fhade: and when they are obliged tocmake it upcii paper it is not taken ofl^ but th^ either twift the paper along with the ghie,' or elft they do riot twift it at alii y*^ % uVi) vr.i r t trhe glue xriade in this manner is? taott oi^jefs )perfe&, according as :ttey take more or leg care to clarify it, and insdoe it keep its c©lour. It intirely diffolves in fwatcr, without leaving the lead mark behind it. ^•?JBwt fmcc I have begun to reveal our .fccretj, I riiuft inform you of/ the manner •in which we dure our cod, which we: catch in ihallops during the iuimner; and yoa jwillr; foon perceive that it lis prcferalde to ith4;t:;iof our neighbours.ta3:ii;Via .3:\.?;k ^w ;ii /ii^ ihallopi'icome afhorelcvby^ day, and tkdiffennf AnimaUj ^e. tof tnd' the fiihermen throw the cod upon a' flage prepared for that purpofe. One- of ^ them, -who is called the beheader, open^. the- fifk ivith a two-edged knife, iharp>* pointed; then he breaks the head, ^d paits it from the body. Another puflie* die^iifh on to the carver, who ftands. op^ pofite to hinif at a table Creeled upon the ftage; The latter with a (ingle edged knift^ fix inches longji eighteen lines in breadth, and very thick towards the back in order to increafe its weight, draws the ijkia -olf two-thirds of the body near the head, and Jets the ' cod tumble into a bairreL> The falter immediately draws it afide, and places it with the ikin undermoft. Then he covers it with fait, but very (lightly, and lays the fifh regularly one upon another ::KJfiJ:#; rf After leaving the cod in fait three or four vlays, and fometimes eight or longef, ac- cording to the feafon, they put it into a tub, and wafh it well. Afterwards they h'-ap it up in piles, which they call fau or an me. In fine weather they ftretch it 4)«t with the ikin undermoft) oi^ :i kind of >. i *: 'm-i-WV b" iM-' \S va^f cAn«d ^Hgnnun, railed iiboui; two Ibet ^m 4e ^o^4, tr ii|;«>fi iHphcs ca8«t; jpraoes^ Before iiigbt th^y tOra the fluiit tLTgfm^ofkt vrhlch they tifo do WheiM^r it raks. When th« fifli hath bein dried a little* It }$ laid iix toidks of fii^ qir fix^ alwayl with the 114^ uppermoft in the night time 9i^d k bad weather. Thus it c6n^ t^uen to lie for a ihorter or \os)i^ tiipe, wording as the weather pftnlti tytit ia half dry, Tbea U IB raifed iilt(r^rhiculai: |i]e% or in tiie fonn ol |i»%eLQh-lu)uies. In thjs poiitioa it continiies for fiinifi days* •fter wiuch it is expoied to. the opeii '%\t^ tud teamed according as there is occ^on, before they r^ife it into large piks i]ci tha &me form, in which manhsr it; fiunftiimei remains fifteen days without being cither turi^ed or ilretched om:. Qnce more they cxpofe it to the open air, and when i^ is almoft dry, they gather it together, ia prder tb ^eat. Then they remove it again to another place, an operatba^whichr dii French^' caU recapikr. ^^% m -r'. '.v*':4'r,"W : Gt'fhort^ the cod ^ cored m tKls inariner. 'M ii M/ifi iii^'t 19 tafte,in9i:^;9r,kfs however acc9^fd|iflg ,^c> //w^tfW, which ifi.laj4 tR'h? # W^l? 9f *hS Ifl^, cpd fj^yg^t in ^^nji}, tti^ i^ % f^i*^¥i>J^f?y^^ C9i>4nu€s m^^tq TI;L§n ij isi^iva|h©d, an4 u^dergoes th^ pj^i^ 0s. a^^^kl]h^(L \et it is n^ i^lt^. ««}<; 9ifri^i *^i)ff ♦" - i' The boats that atb emplbycdl at fea from twenty to forty days, in this iiihery, take off the head of the cod, and flice it on board | mxid as (bon as the fifhermen get to fhore, tliey foUow the abovementioned receipt. I have g^ven you the particulars, becaufe I think it very efTential for thofe ^o have any intention of trading in thefe parts, to be thoroughly acqusunted with this prin< fcipal branch of commerce. ' .>«';:; y»; «^ The Englifh manner of curing the cod- ' fifh is very different from ours; neithei is Vit of fo good a quality ; firft of all, becaufe •'the fait they make ufe of being of a mi- ineral nature, is confequently more corro- t: five, and gi;^es it an acrimonious tafle ; in r. the next place, becaufe they do not take fo much pains. It is true likewife that they are at lefs expence, and they catch a greater quantity. Hence it is that they fuppl'y an Spain, Italy, and even the Weft- Indies. To thofe countries they tranfport a yaft deal of fifh, and fell it much cheaper A v^ift-^ r than the different ^imab. 113 than the French do theirs, who ihdeed fend but very little to thoie markets. The En- l^fli carry on this trade eren to Louiflmrg ; and notwitkftanding its being an article tx- preisly prohibited, yet whether it be tikat thofe in power connive at it, or that tfi«|r dot not tadce fuffident precaution, thecoti- tcttband tirade continues. On the other hmi^ it is certaia that the French fiih being more eftecmed by theEngliOi, the latter buy vqxa Itt^ quantity of the former, in order to gra- tify the moil delicate palates. Would it not be- tb^fefore a much better way, for both nations ta ufe equal care and (kill, to the tnd that iSiey might reap equal advantages ? i'know you are too candid not to allow this truth, and at the fame time too good natttred to diiregard my diligence, though I may not be fo happy as to a&rd yo|i fufiiOTtnt amufement. ^1 ^ ^ . <,"^f.^A^i ■■'j>fii itM^m ^i-tKfSi-H r'ti.ato^.Sir, &qici ■M^i ?^fetws.:i'-3;:^liu:,»d^^ hi* \V4C|Wr> •Wi ~ % '■ LET 4 1 114 1 1 1 III 1 1 1 n r > f J 4 1^{' ' i 1 ' 1 1 1 ^ ■ i'* '' i* ' ■, '• i ^j i'^*'i ! r li li 11 11^^: li'lP ^'iHW'hD : n : iJ •f ■' ^ ^ '-J*!' 1 IS m ' ^llffi 1 i! nlilB iK'flt' i It' i!l€ I iii' 'i 1 il 1 ij iw 1 %' ' pflfti il' : i [ ' i|ffl |i iiH' Isifi^ M< 1 III" JH^B ill i V i i; :M| «f1 li- 'ii^'Mr g , , ifl^' ■-' '' 'r^'' "'rai^ #: iJ * Ki '*•#! j ■ 1 '^i '1^ 1 > i iiii' ft ii^tti K 1 wBp ' 1 i Wsi i' 1 ffl ^ i ^B Mnl^ i Hllffili 1 c i i D E S C R LP T I p N Cf LETTER VII. Of the favagest and their manner s^ &c*, Of , the means which the French make ufe of in i order to draw them over to their party i. ^ SI R, ERE I to be direaed by the idea which niofl Europeans have formed df the lavages, I fhould reprefent tbein to you only as part of the produ£tions of the iflands I have been de{cribing ; but far am I from, having the leafl particle of that ridi- culous' felf-Iove, which ufurps to itfelf an exclufive right to reafon. This is .a faculty I had almofl granted to beavers j and indeed in many refpeAs we are furpafied by thofe animals. I will therefore take upon me to fay that the favages are upon an equality with ourfelves. Yet it is not merely to prove this afTertion, or to fatisfy your cu- riolity, that I enter upon the prefent difcufTion concerning thefe people.. To be atquaihted. with a nation whofe prin- ciples and cuftoms differ fo widely from ours, is a matter of great importance, whenever we intend to enter into any treaty or .,.,-.* ^' i ■.■■«■■ si S Savages, mdnfjirs.tlfc. It^ br commerce with them. Our neighbours the Engliih, whofe manners are not f6 engaging at ours, huve negle^d this point, without reaping fuch advantage from theif conduft, as excites us to follow their tXf ample. Neither ought we to be furprited that tht favages (hould (hew lefs afFe£tion towards theEnglifh than towards us, though the latter are capable of doing them aii much good as burlelves ; if we r^fleft that to conciliate the benevolence of ^ people, we ought furely to be diredled by a regard to their humour and inclination. Neither will t 'pretend to fay that the French have made themlelves intirely maders of this art in regard to the favages. Mod travellers have prefented us either Avith too high, or too low an idea of thefe people. Nothing but converfing with them, ahd carefully fludying their manners, can prevent our fplitting upon one of thefe two rocks, which are both alike to be dreaded. And yet this is generally the fate of thofe fuperficial obfervers, who find k more convenient to «cprefs either the higheft admiration, or I z the -Ill •:.n^f ; & ' i :!i'i ?■•■ ■I t i;:j*fi-># f J^ n ii6 "^Description >/"> the mod folemn contempt, f6r what they havt neither inclination nor abilities tb Jiertdtratt Though the external habit and^ctiilomg of the favages may appear barbarous to us, yet it is not true that their inwand fenti^ inents deferve that appellation. Neither ^s their manner of life exempt fr^)ln. dtt Ihofe defe^ls, by which our fdcial hap^ ^inefs is fo oft6n difturbed. They ha^c yx>nly the advantage '<5f being fubje^l to fewer of thofe defe6ls' th^n we: yot as they generally bdiavfe witli the greateft •calmnefs, while we are apt to bfe whirled cEnd toft by a ftorm of pafflons; it Ss ex- ^^remely difficult to find the touch-flone, * ;whcreby we may diftinguiflt whert tlicy fall •only into an erfor of the underftahding, or 'are guilty of a eorfuption of the heart, ^o other way is there of coming at it, tliari by making a nice fubftradlion of every ■IV ' fentiment unneceffary to the wants and prefervationof the individual. Bilttodiftin- guifli the gifts of nature froni the prc- judijCes of education, is perhaps the moft * diffieuk talk of alU ifor. <:>ne. who has im- ' t,a:r ■ i i bibed tb^ Savages Manners^ Wc. ii^ fiybed ihek Vpry prejudices 'from his in- fancy.: Heacc aiifes that pity which we think due IjQ &ur fdlow creatures, whom we loo): iopOQ^s bereft of the con^forts of life : but this is only becaufe we cannot confider thoie £fiunfprts, as altogether foreign to the hap- |)inefs of people who have no ide^ oi them. The favages were perhaps the only h^ppy cneatures upon eardi, before ihe knowledge sli idle objeds, not in the lead connected JKvith the prefervation d the individual, had alter£4 the fimplicity of their inclinations and.defires. Notwithftanding tjjat our pre- judices of this kind have as yet made no gceat progrefs amongfl them, yet if they could diveft themfelves of thofe few which they have learnt of us, they would not think themfelves obliged to us for our fo much boafted favours. ,; A mixture of manners the moft opposite, fuch as a brutal fury, joined to that a^iiable -Toftnefs which does honour to humanity, appeared to us at firft a monftrous aflem- :hlage. Yet we might have obferved, that .this charaderiftic of ^ favage was a^con- >;*>M>it I 3 fequence '^-^ 1 18 D E 8 e it fl^ T I O H a princiT pie which ckcumftances make us consider as variable, though it neither is, nor can be foch, but by human contrivance* They who will difpute tliis truth with me, need only to prove that we have cured thof^ people of their vices^ or improved) their virtues. It is true, we have made; them alter their cufloms, but furely they are no gj^in^rsi by the change. Be that as it may, I inuft defcribe them to you f^cll as they are. j, So ftrong and fo general is their averiion IP defpptic power, that we can confider it in no other light than as a paflipn founded in nature i and if we confult our own brea/l£i< we fiiall readily fall into this opi- nipn; therelore here it is that we ought to zct with the greateft circumfpedlion. Force will never do ; they will yield to nothing but perfuafion. There is very little rifk in nfing gentle me^tns, becaufe you are air- ways fure of prevailii^ with a favage by Iieafon. The light of nature operates, much IftOfe effe^uj|lly with them than with us. ;.: *\ i Hence tS^iSavagis, MaHfkrs\ Wc. 1 1 $ Hcnee it is th^t although they know no*, thing of precq^ts or fubordintt* j», yet they enjoy almoft every advantage derived taos from a wcfl regulated authority. Theii* laws and their cuftoms are imprinted ill their hearts, and always flow from the di6lates of good fenfe, unlefs this internal voice ihouid happpn to be filenccd Ijy their ncccffitics. Then indead of having re- courie to conftr&nt, which would only increcfe the flame, the way either to fatif- fy, or to prevent thofe neceffities, would be to appeal to reafon. This method of Aibduing their wills, mud ever tneet with fuccefs. 3ut in order to obtain this kind of empire, it will he neceflary firft to gain their efteem J for tJiey never coriflde in a pcrfoiii for whom they have Hot ai value. Upon obferving the leafl contradi^ion be- tween^ the example ^nd die itiflru^ien of their teacheris they wouki confid^r it as ft defign to impofe upon them 5 which they never forgive. And though it be certain that a perfon intirely poflefled of their «ijtecm^ might <;ondu$ th^m with great ni' Ml Wv 120 J? ^ « C^XiP TIP H,.^:Js\ e^; yet this cft^e^ is very 4iffipult to obtain. I^m^ke no doublr but you will laugh at me^ when I inform you that the favages are at kafl as cpnaplete judges pf me- ^it, as thofe who pretend mQft to that iun4 of krpwlcdge amongft us j.a^d yet notJnng is more true. They hy/^ a method of judging, which to us «pp^ai:s equally de- feftive and ridiculpusu.becavfe H has beeo too ftriftly /reduced to .the rvrfs^s, of art. It icannot Jb^ faid with the^n, ^at phyiioguoimy is deceitful; for in this .reipeft they arc hardly ever miftaken in their judgment. They have an exccll^i^t tafte thi? way; and 1 believe for the foUowitig reafon. They have nope of thofe[ external appearr ances that deceive jlis ; ftone; of that ambi- tion which dazzles the -miiads of thofe, who with envy behold th^ golden chain^ In- terefi with them b^ing pnjy a view rdjttive %o then* prefent waists, which, are but hw, «iay be ^oiifidered rather A9 a momentary kiftindt,, fh^fi ^ paflioitj! attended with dan- ger. No wonder thei^fftre, if being devoid »• - >:^ ?:.^>.^■; .. .^.^ In the £rft place, we may derive from thence great comfort to ourfelves, and be firengthened in ou^: faith : fpr whether w« i 'i.>. fup- ^I.P4 P * 8 C R t f T I Q Al. ^A^ /upppfe that tfce light of n^vupe fwppW tbern with ^^ fame ideas s^ purltlv^s i ipr wMlw they w^e indehte4 for them, ,» ,yi^ arie,. to the^fiiflapc^ pi xcy^htioni it l»uj(]b be agr?^4 pn all hand?, that wba^ ^^ver we* ar^ j^itturally. tayght by r^itfon tp h^jijyeye, ^s incontcft^ble j and that >^^hich is imiverfaHy aflented jp, moft bfj Wdt on 3 jjl^id fpuadatijpn, You wiU eifity JM4ge Jihmyvb^i I am ^eiitiwing bi^m. tnjyft be • more.f^rticuJafiy mcaut of the knoyfki^ ojE a jdeky, a^4 the natwre . of the hnKWji iqpl, :^hao of other points that have be^ji ^jeqp^mly detcTOined by fatticy and ca- jvr,.i5ecoadly, in coqlequeuce of the traces m^ find of %h(4h fame whiitis, and capricious iaclinations, we may determine the wor- ship moft foitahJe to the fayages; ^nd il p%judice apart, this U uijdoybtgdly the Wi^orfhij of, ithfi cbmch of Romie, What would become of thofe poor creatures whole afliive geniMs cannot take Xip with thofe jdifferent fcenes pf intrigue and ioterrf ,^^l^]^,?ngrQf$ ojiU a.tjtentipiii what W9# .>. the Sa^d^h] Manners, 9^c. t^l become of them, I fey, during their ifti tcrvals of repde, wheti they ai-c no terigfei^ bufied in fatisfying, or providing idt thd^ natural Wants } Prayera and religious cere- monies^ which iawt the nund and engagii the attcntitoii> a^e 4Jdne capable of foppty- irtg the plactf of thoft fupterftitions, larftich we haVe baniO^^d froiD adoiigd them ; ^fM the lofs of vdifch thfey twi^d itgret, did we tiot fubftitute f^edifmg in their ftead. IThe fhi^e ^ftidle of cm^feffibn i^ ^iTolutely nfecefliry. The Iflfltiehe^ iKiq^iired by this ptt€^ttf appears to theift as ft kind of to- h\\xi^ Aibje^Hofti the ^rily one they are capable of be^ng $ and rivets their chanffta m fo ft^ofig a ibann^, that they fub^ rtit to the wieighf for the good of their fouls, While fhey confider It at the/ fath^ time as a kind of relaxation. And thi^ is one re&fon -Of the inclination of ^he fSwi^S in FayOtJr oi the Fre..^h. True n% Wik our enemies may make a proper ufe of it, not only by fufFering thofe people to enjoy the free exercife of a religion to which they have given the preference, but moreover ^ H,.i ; ^ ^ by' iiiJ' f ■'■■:■ ,! Jij: by confirming them in their incimation td this worihip, as it may even redouhd td their own advantage. ^^'^^^*^^?»^ -y)^^M » ^ I fpeak here merely as a politician in giving this counfel ; and I riiake no doubt but our people will find their account in following it. Th6 bufinefs would be to appoint fuch miffionaries for the favages fubjeft to our dominion^ as are iiicapiStble of feparating the intereft of religion from that of the prince s by which means diey Would more furely deprive the exlemy of all pof- filulity of drawing them aflray. YoU will be (till more convinced of the n^ceflityof this policy^ when I ihall have given you a full account of the feveral cufl:oms and man-i ners of the favages ; and I promife to en- tertain you upon this fubje^ in my next letter. At prefent there remains nothing frxsihitt for me, than to renew the ufual |iroteftatiojQS with which I declare myfelfi ^ , . ' -'y ■ Ybuts, &Ci . J^,J» • * - j^» ?■.■■%. .1-.. .J TUi'— •- • ' • ' LET- iU SavagiSy Manner fy 9fc. i s 7 ^,^^1,, L E T T E R Vm. rfiJ-^f ^ manners^ cbara^er, and cenmomet tf the favages continued^ and of their method of exfrefjing tbemfelves. Speech of a Mick'- mac favage* S I R, \\^ tn^i ^y„ ,*Vi*'i*f)W AFTER having given you my opi- nbn of the favages in my la(t, ic remains now for me to demonflrate on what that opinion is founded. Even their cuitoQis and ceremonies are alone fufHctent to proye my points But thefe have been ip often and fo copioufly handled by other writers, that I fhall confine myfelf to thofe by which they are chiefly characterized; And perhaps I fhall give you a more exaA [account, becaufe I have been eye-witnefs ta [the greateft part of them myfelf; yet they are all relative, as well thofe which I intend. I to defcribe, as thofe which I (hall fiftoit,r to the plain dictates of nature, fey which^ alone, as I mentioned to you before, |thefavages are directed. We generally form a judgment of the I inclinations of mankind from the nature of ■:1 128 » DA8Cltl>TIOJl^^ a', their plcafuits aod dmufements & and it is ill thofc mom^U defigned for joy » that we pry into the feaets of their hearts. Let Us therefore be^in with the defcription of an entertainment, which the favages give to one another in the cafe of cex^monial vifits, either as friends, relations, or allies, or ;as deputies from one nation to another. There is no doubt but on thefe occafiom diey manifoft ^ kind of oftentation,. which, one would imagine, implies fame degree of vanity and pride : but as their pomp is founded in objeds immediately connedled with the fenfes, and not in things of ima- .ginary or arbitrary value, they do not de- viate from the principle above eftabliflied. j^i The perfon who receives this fort of vifits, and intends to fhew a regard to his gueft, does not difplay his rich cup-board, ,a fight that rather mortifies the ipe(5lator. .His aim is not to pleafe the eye of hb friend, but to fatisfy his dcfires. The fa- . vage therefore hath no notion of acquiring cfteem by a difplay of his riches, but by ^ fliaiing them with his friend, ,prhe_^|ruits J7 ike Savages^ Manners] ^c. iix) of a whole year's chace, that has ccft him an Infinite deal of fatigiic, he frequently diftributes among his friends in a fingle day ; and thcfc diflributions are made with far greater joy on the part of tlic donour than of the receiver* -•- - —-^ Y* After thefe prefents, which are given with a tone of voice that enhances their value, comes the entertainment. The prin- cipal difli confifts of the feveral dogs he has killed ; for this is with thetrt a diih of ceremony. You fee, Sir, there is no dif- puting of taftes ; not but that this may be every whit as good as a great many others to which we are accuftomed. Befides, who knows but that the favagcs, who are all naturalifts, have difcovered that dog's flefh is capable of transfufing into the blood that inflinft of fidelity, which we attribute to this animal ? Who can tell but they chufe it for their food, to remind them of a virtue fo neceflary to be exerted on thefe occa- fiohs ? And indeed as they never do any thing without a "caufe, I think it more rcafonable to fuppofe they a6l through a ^ 'If V-- nio- 1 m U '^\ 130 , Des CRtPTI 0K> of, motive of this kind, than to ridicule an adtion, which is no more an object of laughter than many of our European CUftomS. * i ^>; - tWrifn I'll . . 1 In the middle of the cottage belonging to the perfon who gives the entertainment, a large copper is fet, in which the vidluals are diefled. The guefts bring with them each man a large bafon made of the bark of a tree, which bafou they call an cumgan. Then they carve the meat, and the por- tions being equally divided, they add an- other lefler ouragan, filled with Tea- wolf's oil. Being all ferved in this manner, they eat their bit of dog, dipping it intp die oil But do not imagine that they eat in the French manner, that is, by flunning one with eternal clack j no, they fit in profound (ilence before they utter a word. After they have eat fufHciently, and drunk what oil is left, and wiped their hands with their towel, which is no other than their hair, they make a fignal, and the women enter. Im- mediately each woman takes away her huf- band's plate; and they retire by themfelves to eat the fragments. ' ^' ' Ift the Savages J Manners^ ^c. 131 In the mean time the eldeft in company ftni or prttends to fall into a kind of rcvery, • that lafts about a quarter of an hour, during which time they take care not to difturb him. He then orders pipes and tobacco. He lights his own iirft, puts it for a moment to his mouth, and then oflfers It to the next in rank. They all per- form the fame ceremony, and conclude with fmoaking in the utmoft tranquillity. Thei pipes are hardly half out, when the leading perfon in company rifes to return thahks to the holV. But as this ceremony albne li capable of fhewing you, that the favages have no ideas but fuch as are relative to the paffions or inclinations above men- tioried,' I will give you an abridgment i'O.^fef T muft previoufly acquaint you with their {)articulai^ manner of expreffion, which would otherwife occafion your furprize. The Ifl^gu^ge of the favages, and particularly of fhofe I am acquainted with, viz. the Mick- Wacks, Malcchites, and Abcnakis, bears a great reiemblance to the oriental tongues. i.v.> - K 2 . ' - The %' l' The ikm^ copioufnefs. of pxpr^ffioB, the ftme turn of phrafe, the {m» turgidity of j[tile, the fame flrain of met^^phpr and alle- gory. Spme would infer ftom thence thatt the inhabitants of this new; wo|id ^ar^ de- (cended from the Tartar^ i a, notion nojt deftitute of probability* pe that as it i;bay, the following is the (peech or thankfgiying made by our grateful fj^vag^. -j/t,t mr:i " Q thou, who heapeft thy favours oil m, ,**' who exciteft the trapfports of cur grati- 'Vtude, tliou ait like unto a tree, whpfe .** wide-fpreading roots fopport a thooiand ** little branches. Thou art like unto a be- i* nefa6tor whom we meet \yith on the IxJr- ** ders of a lake : thou rcfembleft the turpcn* tine tree, which in all feafons impaiteth its juice. Thou may 'ft be Compared to.|li<^^ '< mild pleafant days, which we ibqi^tiine^ '< behold in the middle of the rudeft ^*.^ winters, and whofe bcnigi> inftj^nct gladdens our hearts. Thoo art great v^ thyfelf, and fo much th- more, as the J* remembrance of the fignal exploits of thy ^J anceftocs does not degrside th$64 Ap4 in- I''*^^'*' " deed E S CRI^TION .fl/" ^ " of game, bamfhed all envy from oujr ** breafts, and filled us with fentimenta t » I W-, ; T ,,• I » * *■ • ■ ' '*■, • ** of gratituie. '^" In regard to the encomiums I might " beftow on thyfelf, I confefs, that loaded 1 have been with the favours thou cc rt as haft jufl now conferred upon me, I want *« words to exprefs them. Therefore thou ** may'il read my fentiments in my looks, ** and be fatisfied with the thanks which I ** give thee, by fqueczing thy hand/' , -5;, " This fpeech being ended, another favage ftands up, and abridges it. He commends the eloquence, with which the other has celebrated the anceftors of thpir generous hoft. He fays that he has nothing further to add to his encomiums ; but at the feme time, he conliders that the principal taik has been left to himfelf, which is to cele- brate the feftivity with fongs and da^ices. Then he defires the hoft to look upon every ftep he is going to make in cadence, as a tranfport of his gratitude, and at the fame time he begins tq dance vyith all his agility. After this danc^, to which all th^ bbii^a fpec- theSavagesy Manners^ &c* 137 fpe6tators beat due meafure, he be^s bis panegyric on the feaft, and on the wprtby hoft. This fpeech dwells on the fame points of merit that were cejebratcd in the former difcourfe, and is terminated by a ' fecond dance. E^ch gueft takes his turn in the fame manner, and the gratitude of the whole company differs only according to the genius of the perfon that expreffes it. Do not you think, Sir, that this is in great meafure a copy of the harangues of our celebrated matters in philofophy and, • eloquence ? This favage, who makes the> u^ firft fpeech, and the others that pay ap-, -^. probation to it, by improving on what he . has faidj do not they refemble our Acade-\yj micians, who offer incenfc to each other in the moft fulfome manner ? I find only pnc difference, which is that the favages beftow .< their encomiums only upon neceflary meriti^ whereas we lavilh ours on thiaigs the moft abfurd and ridiculous : and moreover they enliven their adulations with elegant alle^,,. j gory 5 whereas ours is generally % nif)fi^ fulfome and infipid dawbing. , : i Belies, Hi^ iJfHIl Hii III iHIIP 1! 'j^l^^liH i 1 ' ^' 1^^'^ jB 1 ^^t Wl; 1 fl|^^Bjfl H' i ^ liira ffi 11 1' '' ii^H'-S' !i iM 6 l^pff 1 i ^hI Hlj^^s '>i f| HNH i r :1 im 1 138 Description o/Ai '' Bcfidcs, Sity would it not be of * infinite ufe to our parafites, if they were to come and take inflruftions of thefe innocent people ? You would not then iind them fo ready to calumniate the generous hand that feeds them ; nor fo prone to the deteftable vice of adulation, which inflead of promoting the intereft of their bene- faftor, only hurries him to his deflruc- tion. , norjj; -iuifim Ifi :id \ But I beg you will likewife take into ^our conlideration, the great ufe that may be made of this liberality and gratitude of the favages. Nothing is more eafy than to gain the hearts of the generous and good natured ; yet in the prefent cafe, the faci. lity is increafed by the cheapnefs of the means. Since we are often put to an im- menfe expence, in order to procure allies, who inftead of being really attached to our intereft, only (hew us an outward friend- fhip ; how generous ought we to be, where fo fmall a matter is fufficient to obtain the alliance and lamity of men, who are more friendly difpofed, more fincere, and at the fame t«r -'^- the Savages^ Manner Sy fifr. 139 dune time equally capable of doing us fervice ? This indeed is a point not much attended to : fain would we exercife one of their predominant inclinations i but we are too apt to negledl the other, which is ncceflarily connected with the former. We endeavour to ruin and deftroy a people^ whom we might ealily gain over to our interefl: by this method. I hope that this will be at lad hit upon s and if the reflec- tions which have interrupted the thread of my narrative, and with which I intend to conclude this letter, fhould in any wife contribute thereto, I (hall not be at all ferry for anticipating yours. I have the honour of being, &c. ^ , *• I ■■- « ,. „,. 1j, E T T E R IX. The manners of the favages continued -, of their feaftsy and councils. Speech of a female favage ; of' their wars, and Jlratagems, iiu o 1 JR., i'^, .i -..; iJ ji D O not imagine you have done with my favage entertainment. I intend to >» e\ 1»»^ »> 'l\ 1^ :l li»' 1)1 X4Q Description of to trouble you further with a very intereftr ing circumflance, as it regards a fex that has a right to engage out attentbn. In this refpeft the favages are not fo baibarous by far, as natk)ns that confider themfelves qua* lificd to inflruft thefe poor people in the principles of civil fociety. They admit the women into all their parties of pleafurc, which indeed may be faid to terminate in that amiable part of the. creation. True it is, that their women make a very good ufe of this privilege: for you are not to imagine that they taint their hufbands with effeminacy ^. or with any thing tending to enervate their courage : far from it -, the notions they inftil are of a very different kind, as you fhall prefently be convinced. ' The men having thanked their hoft, the women make their appearance. They are introduced by the eldeft in company, who holds a large piece of the bark of a birch tree in her hand, the very hardeft that can be found, and ufing it as a kind of ta- bour (though the found be fomewhat dif- agreeable to the ear) fhe excites the young people / r the Savages y Manner s^ &c. i+t people to dance. After which (he makes a fpccch in her turn, addrefling hcrfelf to Ac men. ' " You who \o6k upon me as of a frail " fex, and of courfe fubordinate to yoii " in all its wants ; know that in my own ' " fphere, the Creator has endued me with • * "abilities and accompliftimems fully equi- " valent to yours- 1 have been the mother ** of great warriors, of excellent huntfmen, " of voyagers who have been expert and ** defatigable in the life of their canoes. •* This hand which you behold now wi- " thered, has more than once plunged the "poniard into the boibms of prifoners, " who were delivered up to me for my •* divcHion. The woods and the banks of rivers can attefl, that they have feea me pluck out the heart, the entrails, " and the tongue of enemies committed to " my avenging hand : they can tell whe- " ther I have changed colour; or whether *^ my courage was in the lead daunted, ** when I was called upon to ferve my 'J country. How often have I bedecked " my- .1 " tc ri i ] IP' I \ f il p. €t *t «f « Z42 Description 0/^ myfelf and my daughters with the fcalpi of thofe traitors ? How (lirongly have I encouraged our young people. to bring " me thofe marks of their valour, for which they were to b^ rewarded with honour and glory ? J " I have done fomething more ; for 1 " have removed every difficulty that ob- t* ftrufted thofe marriages which were *\ founded in love ; and Heaven has bled my endeavours. All the matches of oiy making have been fuccefsful \ they haw been produ6live of men, who wei*c the props of the nation, men capable of perpetuating our race, and of fcreen- ing us from the infults of our ene- mies. I am like thofe old fir-trees, " full of knots from the upper bough to the root J the very bark of which drops off with age, though it covers their internal juice. No longer am I what I formerly was. My Ikin is all wrinkled and furrowed J and my very bones do almofl pierce through me on every fide. As to my external part, I appear to be a fM-»# if:,..:." :i ?f MJ -^ '4. Si; « nMI '> ^^ thele people. Befides, will it hot be eafv for you to form an idea of their abfurdity, from the knowledge you have of the fu- perftition of bther nations i Could it be underftood of thefe people only, that fear and hope had given birth to the gods, determined different worfhips, and confe- crated fuperflition ? But what r intend to recommend to your obfcrvation, is the manner in which thejf ufed to begin,, and do ftill begin lioftilities, The people that aft upon the offenfivc, make an inroad upon the lands of the na^ tion they intend to attack. There they commit all the havock poffible, deftroylilg the prefent game, demolifhing all the bea- vers huts, and breaking up the roads, which are none of the heft. After thcfe opera- tions they hold a council of war, at which the men think, reflcft, projeft, and deter- mine J while they are excited and encou- raged by the woden. '" '^^■^ ' '^"' The refult of this council is to fend and declare war againft thofe people, to whom they have already done fuck a deal of mlf- chief, the Savages 'i Manners^ ^c. 145 chief, and who are therefore to confider it as duly and properly declared. ^ '^■^ They fend off two different forts of he- ralds. Thefe carry along with them thtir bow and quiver, with their arrows and done hatchets. Tims accoutercd, they fet out for the chief habitation of the enemy, and take care not to apprize any body upon the road of their intention, or even to open their mouth. Then they halt within a certain diftance of the village, and flrike the ground feveral times with their hatchets. In confequence of this fignal, the enemy know that their lands have been ravaged, and that they are henceforward to be upon their guard for the fafety of their perfons. In the mean time the heralds, after fliooting two of their bed arrows againll the village, return very quickly to give an account of their errand ; and in order to prove their" having been at the place appointed, thcyi bring along with them fuch marks as put ^ it beyond all manner of doubt. -u r One day I aiked a favage for what rea-'J fon they did not/^eclare war before they ;;/ h com- 146 D E S C R If T I N af^^ committed hoftilities ^ and how they came to trouble themfclves afterwards with {q ufelefs a ceremony? What, anfwered he, would you have us be fuch forls, as to give our enemy time to fill their maga- sjines, and to deprive ourfdves of the means of drawing provifions from tlteir territory? Is it not fufficieiit for us to forewarn them to defend their perfons ? The declaration of war, fo ncceflary for mutual prefervation, fhould not be a foolifh civility, fuch as the cuflom of European nations has xn.ade it. I leave you to judge, Sir, whether the good fenfe contained in this argument, ought to fuperfede, or give way to the eflablifhcd laws of civilized nations ? But 1 forefee that this queflion will be fpme tim^ ©r other determined by abler mailers. ^ In the mean time the favages being ap^ prized by word and deed of the intention of their enemy, think on both fides, either of maintaining tlieir ground, or of remov- ing themfelves to a better fpot, or of meeU ing one another in the field. In order tp determine upon the propereft of theff three, Uim ■4i the Savages f Manners j &c. 1 47 tfirec, they hold both long and frequent debates. Thefe councils hotvever are extremely entertaining, being a matter of curiofity and importance. As the favages are di* refted by reafon only, and have no othef view than the public good, being no way btaffed either by ambition or private in- tereft -, he who is moft (killed in the mili- tary art, and moft capable of conducing an cntcrprize, prcfides on thofe occafions. If^ the perfon who has hitherto poffefled the confidence of the nation, perceives that an- other is more dteferving of it than himfelf, he refigns his authority to him without the leaft difficulty. But you will alk me, how Is it poffible for him to perceive this dif* ferencc ? What a queftion ! Is there any greater difficulty in confefling that we are devoid of a certain qualification poflefled by another, than in doing juftice to our own merit ? And when the love of our country infpires us with a franknefs fo repugnant to felf-love, furely it can meet \^ith no great difficulty in difpcUing thofc - L 2 mifts ^i S !l il li !!*' I ■: ;l 1^ ?i n 148 De SC RIT T ION ^/*^^ mifts which ariie from that very fame felf- love, and are not altogether fo thick as is commonly imagined. '»^y-^ y' But without making all thefe analyfes and reflexions, the favages appear to per- form by inftindl:, what in our part of the world requires great efforts of reafon. And indeed there are no inftances of any of them having converted their popularity, or fu- perior art and (kill, to the prejudice of their country. Yet it is amazing to fee thofe very favages fometimes fo indifferent in re- gard to the public weal, while they fhew a blind prepofTefTion in favour of their immediate interefts. But thefe different difpofitions flow from the fame principle. The favage is ready to knock a man down, that attempts to run away with his faga- mitJ *, juft as he is going to put it into his mouth ; and he is capable alfo of rea- foning cooly upon the fubjecl:, in order to deprive that perfon of the power of coming near him. ''"-^ "♦'*^ In regard to their military flratagcms, they are fo plain and fimple, that one • Sagamitt, a dilh in ufc among the favages. WOUlu the Savagesy Manners^ &^c. 1 49 would think they Ihould hardly meet with fiiccefs J yet fo careful are they in adapting them to circumftances and perfons, that they feldom mifcarry. Sometimes they pre- tend to give over all thoughts of attacking, and retire into the woods. Then they lay wait in places frequented by unexperienced young people ; and counterfeiting the cries of animals, they impofe upon the fimpli- city of their enemies, fo as to overpower them by open force, or by cunning. For- merly their wars were never ended but by the total deftrudtion of the conquered party. ^. j True it is, that we have made fome alteration in their manner of fighting, which was not perhaps the worft in tlie world ; but ftill they are far from follow- ing iours. The real fervice we have done them, was to infpire them with horror of the barbarities they ufed to commit againft a conquered enemy ; barbarities, which though invented to remove unjuft quarrels, did but perpetuate their animofitics and hatred. :i;(?*^fi t3tnoJyv2*\*/tt '• We have likewife cured them of the folly 'Uia* L3 of IJ i? I H I r <\.\»* 1 50 D E s e H A# T I O N ^v, of divination, and reicucd them from the terrible fiibjedtioii tiiey wene under to th^ malice and knavery of their jugglers. I know not whether they have the fame ols ligation to us for the changes we have efFb6^ed in their manner of perfonmng the cereniony of marriage. I am apt to think that thdur cuflom was as good ad ours> and better fuited to their own ' ideas, ^h i mn >* 1 The ravages, though naturally very amor- ous, were accuftomed however to enter into this engagement in fuch a manner, as to reconcile tlieir plcafurc to their intereft. As ibon as the parents had determined that a youth was of a propei* age to marry, they agreed the matter amomg themielves, and (aid to him : *^ thou may*ft go now *' and light thy pipe day and night *« in the cottage of tky intended father- <^ in-law : thoii wilt let the fmoke go <^ towards her who is deiigned to be thy ** fpoufei and a6l fb that (he ihail take ** a pkafure in this fumigation, andtleLc ♦* thee to let her raife it herfelf. Shew <* thyfcif worthy of thy nation 1 do ho- i QOkijii 1 1 M <( nour thi Sa^agesy Manners j &Fc. 1 5 1 « nour to thy Jbx and to thy youth, by *< providing that none belonging to the " cottage thou art going to, fhall want ** either for neceffaries or convcniencies. " But particularly be fui'c tc exert thy ** whole attention, m the fervice of her, ^ who is to be one day thy companion; ** let thy bow and arrows be imployed in *' finding provifiais for her, with the ne- ^* ^elTary ^quantity of oil and fiirs. Four ** winters are dlowed thee to make a tiial ^' of thy fidelity and refolution." i^/ff Thi* fpeech being fini(hed, the young man, without making any aniwer, betook himieif to the cottz^ appointed. His mif- trefs, being apprized of his intentions, lent hirt a favourable ear, at firft out ctf com^ plarfariec; and then, if he proved agree- able to her, ihe fignified her mind to him, by a^ing for his pipe, of which (he made no other tlfe :of than by puffing the fmoke «it6 KiB noftrils. This agreeable declaration would Ibmetimes ctcQk the perfon that made his addreffes, to fail quite fick upon the grourtd : ftill it was a declaration of af- '•'l^'^ Z . ■ ' L 4 ■ feaion ; »< I ■ ■' '*■■£■■ ifl i" •"?■;■ r !''( ly. <.t iii^ 152 Descriptio If of fedion: and in what; manner focvcr the lover is informed of a return of his paffion, it ninft be attended with plcafure. Neither would U)e future bride flop there, but flie would tie up the hair of her paramour, and dye his face witii colours moft pkaf- ing to her own fancy. . On this occafion flie would difplay that fl^ilL in which all the favage women excell, of pricking fuch marks in the ikin of her lover, as are relative to their amours j and would fuit her fancy in chufing 1 that part of his body, which feemed the belt adapted to do honour to her own ingenuity. Tfi^'M^i *%* ' »• w }f thefe little civilities made a quick im- predion in the hearts of the two lovers, and the parents of the girl were fatisficd, they fhortcned the apprentieeihip of their fon- in-law, and faid unto him 5 " thou mayft *',, whenever thou pleafeft, take thy {hare *^ of what covers thy beloved by night.'* This fpeech, which the lover underftood at half a word, and which he hardly gave them time to fini(h, was the harbinger of his h^ppinefs. Inflantly he flew from the cot- .«i t 1 tage the Savages y Manners ^ SPf. 153 tagc with h'lB bow and arrows, and went home, whcire he faid to his parents : ** you •* are to expect me no more, I am going " to tlie woods, from whence I fhall not «» return, till my beloved is pleafed to call " me back." As foon as he had made tliis 4cclaration, he betook himfelf to fome neighbouring foreft, where he exerted his whole . agility and Ikill to procure a large quantity of the choiceft game. In three days all the young people of the village went in triumphant prbceffion to fearch for him ; and each man loaded him« felf with provifions and furs, which the bridegroom had purchafed with great fa- tigue and toil, to honour the nuptial feail. In order to. give him fome relaxation, he was permitted to bear no (hare of the burden. Being condu6ted by the juggler, or one of the oldeft relations, he repaired to his miftrefs's cottage, and immediately covered himfelf with her bed-cloaths. This ceremony did not hinder the young couple from liftening to a long difcourfe on the duties of the married ftate j and ended with »» a feaft, 'R. ;l t i i\ i ni :|*) U i 1 l\ mT I "I "I )|'^ *t I j|4 b B S C It I'f T I O K (jf A^ il feaft, which in fome meafure put the laft fcal to the union. The bridegroom being feated among the lads, and the bride among the girls, each waited for their re- ^x6Hve di(h of meat. This was brought Co them in two ouragans of equal bigntfs; which were placed in the middle of tho cottage. Then the prefident of the fcaft iddi^fied himfelf to the bride in the fol* lowing words : " O thou, who art upon c^itht point of enteiing into a refpei^tabk ^J flrtte, know that ilie nouri(hment thou *^ art going to take, forebodes the greatcft ••^bf'tt33c«i betray thy hufband and thy country, *^ tlie V^dluals contained in this etn-agan will ^'li&ve' the dffelft of a flow poifon, with ♦•'Hi^hich thou wilt be tainted from this very •* inftatrt : but if on the other hand thou "reittaineft fkithful to thy hulband and to '^ thy country, if thou wilt ne^'er infult ^0/'.. .. <* the <« ^' this miftake^ of ^' ours is an evident fymbd of the intimate <^ alliance this day contracted by the two ^ parties. It is done, they are joined ; and '* let: them multiply." Thefe words bang fiepeatfid with loud acclamations by all the company, were followed by embraces,. fef< tivity, and dancing.. | | ;^n.^*| j I confefs theie different circumftanpes of foolery and nonfenfe are hardly worth your notice \ but I beg ypu will attend to the prin- cipal objed:. Do not you diflinguiih moft evident marks of an honed fimplicity, which we might eafily convert to our advantage ? And is it not much more becoming a man of im "*■ -' ienfe it I 5 1^ >'. K ■ ■ r, ; :l wi 156 Description 0/ .^\ fenfe to draw a good ufe from thofc cuiloms and pafTions, which appear to him different from his own, than to make them the fub- je6l of laughter and derifion ? I could men- tion many inflances, even of perfons of fhaliow capacities, who have fucceeded by this method, the fureft of all others, th it vf winning the heart. And to convince you of this truth, I need only acquaint yoa that it has fucceeded with our comman- dant* In my next you Ihall have one of his Tpeeches, which produced a mofl won- derful effe^l:. True it is that he only pro- nounced it 5 for it was penned by. another: ib that you need not be difcouraged by hearing his name. It is enough for you to ho tired with the length of nay letter; therefore I beg you will accept of my cxcufes, and only permit me to renew the aii usances, vvith which I conclude myfelf, il. SIR, 4^'#^ts. ■^■r^J^^'m'Hm- Xom% ace, , imi.. LET- the Savages y Manners y &c. 157 •\. J LETTER X. ^be tnnnners of the favages coulinuei ; a fpcecb made to them by the Count de Ray-^ mond, to hinder them from making peace ivith the EugliJJj* SIR, AFTER what I have mentioned to you concerning the favages, you will eafily imagine, that they are to be gained only by perfuafive means. Even in our converfation with thofe people, we fhould behave with an air of approbation : for if we only fcemed to bear with their manners and cuftoms, they would want to know our motives, which it is im- poffible fhould flatter their vanity ; there- fore tliey would fancy we a6ted from fome other principle; and this might re- dound to our prejudice. Our diiTimula- tion they would think to be the effe^l of weaknefs and fear ; which undoubtedly would hurt us. On the contrary, if they imagined that we approved of their man- ners from a conformity of inclination, they ir^ would fi If \i I 'J^;^' li 158 DE»cl*f^T?d'-M^V' would furcly be attached to us by the ftrongeft tie of fociety, that of ,felfIove. From this ftudy of their paflSons arid incli- nations, and from a conftant endeavour to conform to their cuftoms, the Frenchman derives that magnificent elogium, which the favage thinks he beftows upon him by faying, be is a man like bimfelf,^ f You will prcfently be abte to judge, whether we are not better acquainted than any other nation, with the fecret fprings of thefe people's anions ; and the fpeech I promifed you, wUl fcrve as mi example. Perhaps you will be of opinion that this fpeech might have been made with a better intention j and you will fay, that it is nei* ther juft nor fair to revive or to perpetuate quarrels ; but we give the example fuch as it is. They who underftand the real mo- tive for which he made it, may apply it afterwards to other objects. What follows is therefore the difcourfe wliich the Count. de Raymond thought proper to pronounce at a meeting of the favages. '^' Liftea to me^ my children, yott call <'\. captain of an Englifh privateer, hav^ ing artfully fet up French colours in the {l« ait of Fronfac, contrived lb, by means << of a renegado who ferved under him as an interpreter, as to invdgle the chief of the ravages of Cape Breton, together with y his whole family> to come on board his (hip. This chief, whofe name was James Padenuque, was firft of all con- fined to a dungeon, afterwards carried to Boflon, and iiil|ed at length on board a velTel, in which the EngliQi pretended to convey him back to Cape Breton. Yet they detained his eldeft fon, who was only eight years old > neither would they confent to reftore him, though the ra- vages had returned feveral prifoners with- out ranfom, in order to recover his liberty, and notwithflanding that this condition ** had been accepted. *' In the month of July 1745, the fan.e David by the like ftratagem took a favage family, who had no other way to get " out of his hands, than by making tlieir . / . " ' «* efcape m '^ « w 164 DE5 CltlPl*!ON ^. '< him extremely ill, and though he was in " a very bad ftate of health, obliged him <' to embark for England, from whence <* .;e was not remanded to France till fome " time after. * rt* ' . " It was alfo in the year 1745, that *' the dead bodies of feveral of the favages .•* were dug up at Port Touloufe, and ^^ thrown into the fire by the inhabitants of ** Bofton, who likewife infulted the bury- *' ing ground of your nation, and broke .** down all the erodes erected over the ;* tombs. " The horrid affair of 1746 is another " event that ought never to be blotted out ** of your memory. The woollen goods, " which the favages bought of the En- *< glifh merchants at that time trading in *' the bafon of Mejagoueche, were all poi- '^ foned, fo that upwards of two hundred *' favages loft their lives. . ^^., ,,^ ^,^,,1 *' What happened in 1749 is an event ** of the fame atrocious nature. Towards " the end of the month of July, when I' the inhabitants of New France were , ; ' -' " ftran- tie Savagesy Manner Sy &c. 165 << Grangers as yet to the fufpenfion of ** arms concluded between the two crowns, << the ravages had taken fome Englifh pri- •< foners on the ifle of Newfoundland ; by " whom they were informed of the fufpen- f< fion of arms figned the year before at " Aix-larChapelle, to which they gave credit " upon the bare aflertion of the prifoners. f < After this eafy acquiefcence, they exprefl^d •* the greateft joy upon fo happy a reconci- ** liation. Nay, they treated them as bre- *' thrcn, untied them, and condu6led them ** to their cottages, in order to fhew them " fome marks of hofpitality ; but notwith- <* {landing this generous behaviour, thofe **• perfidious guefts murdered five and twenty " of your people, men and women, in the " middle of the night. There happened " only to be two favages at fome diftance, '* who brought us the news of this horn id " maflacre. ^ v^a* . 4 . -**: -v , ^. " Towards the end of the fame year, '* the Englifh being gone to Chcbu6lo, " in order to make the fettlements they "have there at* prefent, fo prejudicial to J: M cc our ^■I'lH^^ f CI ■i ■■ !:,i m .^ t: -^f t:/. 'ry ^'' i li f# l66 jP;^scRif Ti^^n jp/^va "our mtereli, caufed a rejport to he fpread, ••that they wcfc going; fp d^ftfoy all the *' (avagfs J -aii4 finff tlf^ tjme, tbcy hav« V la^^^ W tQO much in ^pf^queiif^e of ** thi$ menace. They evei^ fcnt fjet^^rh- » V mepts of their trofi^s pu alt fuies in •*: purfuit of ypur pcopje, , i )w: vjA " * " Thefe ar& ^he apcounl^ tM havobgen y liven me : bnt to thm attpve rd?^to4 fi^^Si <*• which muft have cooie to your know** ** ledge, X fl^all add ^ pjiece of intelligence ••which I have receive^ btelyj namely^ •' that the Englifh traders have talM (Irangely here to one another, in tho hearing of people who they imagined did '' not undcrfls^nd them» and from whom ** I have received this information, i^ the courfe of their converfa^ion they e^^Uneil themfelyes very clearly concerning their intention of concluding a (haiafi peace wiih your nation. They faid that Wi- der this fpecious pretext^ they ibould find means to affemble ap rtiany (s they " could from among your difeiwt trH>C5, •« and then to mafTacre you nHii-iu ijvf.i! • •.:t '' ' V • ' ' •• It «( <( ft 4' H «l fl •< It ift ndt my inMntion> in reminding M yoii of fo many t£b of cruelty, to excite « you to a barbarous and bloody war. A " true chriftian ii inci^able of any fuch " de(ignr-^u{ .;.'^i^ -^. • , c< " Befidet, you are at liberty to conclude ** war or peace. The king lays you un- « der n6 reftraint upon this head ; but « you cannot enter into a peace under the *< prefent circumilances, without confult* ^ ing that proteftor, wLo has never fail- <• ed to grant you what fuccours you ** had occafion for, and who has given " you fo many marks of his affedlion. <* BdideS) the repeated oaths you made in •« my prefenCe fome time ago, th^t you •* would conclude nothing without my << knowledge, muft furcly be the more «* binding, as they were voluntary and <« liflalked. YoCi called in your patriarch " atf witnefs to this engagement ; and from « the marks of joy which you fliewijd on ^' that occafion, there was room to think <* yoU'WOutd not break it xunt i u^u.* ** But on the other hand, have not you *^ ' ' M 4 " realon i68 " De5cm>.tion ©Z' «* rcafaa . to apprehien(l, tji4t iu fach a y cafe Jii^majeijy jkypuldybc iuftly iiiiccnfed <* againil your beh^viQUji:, foa^to ftophis '' bounteous hand, to withdraw hisfuc- " cours, and to abandon you toi your i,\ barbaiQUs enemias ? A misfortiwc. Which " tliofe very enemies d?fu'9 may hefaU you, ** and to which tliey would be glad to fee " you reduced. Confider therefore that it .*< is of the greateft confequence fdr you ♦* not to tumble into the pit they are << digging for you : and fueh is your real ." intereft. ...jljliz ,4ui\ iM-^i-t^«i^^ ,*m*^i \ ** With regard to your prefervation, in *' general and particular, ought not all <* the favages under the prote^tioi^ of my ^* ibvereign, to be convinced by the fafts ^< above relate^, of the fhpcking extremity ** to which they would be reduced without ♦' the affiftance of France ? But if on the ** other hand you will not make peace ♦* without the confent of your chief fupport, ** you will ever find him a bulwark of de- y fence betwixt you and your enemies. ' ■■ y Confult you; patriaiqh, who is & man , u - <» of y "'1 rt A\ tie Savages^ Mamtrs^ Wc. cifij ^« 'of fenfe and underftatidhrg, and Has the «< fame patemaY bowels for* you* as .xnyfelf; t< and thot^h continually employed m^tht " care of your fbul8i'«ftill endcavou^ito ^ prodmd you' sdl the^fWects and ooififoirts "off lifiw br.v. \ * v V.h ' ■^Dfio *' r •* Coald the afhes of yoikr fathers, your ^ mothers, your wivc^i, ybtir children, your " friends and relations', be raifed again to " lifei and become capable of utterance, <* they woidd fpeak t6 you in thefe words': ** Never dondude a peace without the khow« " ledge and cbnfent of your fupport ; |bo '* luce yoU'tniftrufl an'enemy who ftudi^s '* nothing^ bat your hiini and whq v^an^ ^ to:feparate yasiiiiam your friends only «• with ^ai:^ew to furround youi and* to "make you: dh eafidr' prey. Beyirare of " their' prcfents : ' for ^theiie is. fufely a '< fnake in the gcais^ ; They would fur- " thcr add' : Send two : of your people "to yoiir brethren i let them kt off " diredly and lofe nd time, but acquaint ** them with the dangerous ftep they ha'vc I* taken J let them open their eycsJnrre- «*e <« gard v>, ^ .^^ >, o Ar^^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A* *'.^ 1.0 I.I Hi 14.0 MtUu IL25 IHI 1.4 I M 125 2.0 L8 iJ4U4 ^ ^/ V HiDtQgraphic _Sciences Corporation ^p'*? m <\ ^ <■ «' 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER N.Y. MSM (716) •72-4S03 '^ f /. % J^. .<,* .** 1 . ': j 'i Vi 1 '1 ' '■' ': : ' 'ill .' ft tfii : III ji 't^ II ■ Hn 11 1 vl i MMm H ■f.f* jiill Ti,*¥il *A 'Ji JaSmw 1 i ' m mmi K^^^M^m^ " 'wKi flt« fSii-. n vIkII fiOSBl^^^B i^H^^^ili ^m jfljR^nHQ ilHlf Vf fH i ll^M ■ill « II 1 Hfi 1 Melil^nl W# IBEi 1 ■ i: H fii ill ! ' M i' u-.>m ;! ■1 ( rap i^n Ij^Bi I R ijSB l':|'!' ^ K ilw l-it'',i. nil lap ' ij j':i '' ii' II^KJ 1 ' if ' ■* 7301 ' 'm« h |i '! ^9r§! ^ IHp^ i ■ f, ■ ■ r ^fli IH'I ,'1 nwfi'f Wpaa in wk^ t ioLti heiA {iBc^mi, am! f^'A^Qsny uMj wmI oc pf dvfeui^ ^ frotB cn<^ «* tednl; kito a petteev i^tkli^Mll infailU ^'Uf tmi^ate iri>tl^ hitni ''^^^^ '*^'^ - cu'^^.1Pke&» mjchiMreh, arermj fandoientl *< concermng your welfare, ^nd mUMj cm ^ llns«cc6iiiit'i odkd ychtto^ieflktj • It it ^movf jtme bofineii to dflisnmne which H-fidB,-yoii:'wiH '«tabrac«.'*^'K'.--'Tf^'^*^ ^^'--^ fptahy IhiEive jttdged^tiiopcirtQgive'ityoti idinc'il word fidrwoiti, for tlisTreaib^^ o^laised^ rYov muftnot find ftukwft^ the doM de Raymoiid'ferluse iillAUfii i fti c lad-i pmgiyiMi i»A Me ihaft tidAW^d with Aefir^q^f andfforel tiii/'lta'Witlt r^EMe 0IQPB jexnggafttioti and a>ie«^ hk^ liiphor% ^Ihey woukblse'ftiil^ nnce fixbngly Biov^^^ All di^iiiliRrifhrfbnir that the cotiiR:iekos of tiielbrator may ti^ree with hh eloquence I that the/fa£fcr he ^MUkcosm^ 1ie>fo:#eUi^£ertaiiie((> astecaCbtdnonxxH to 'CbiBigB hfitti Widi haf\^hig'ixtvtitted a h^^ 0f and f lm i whTt ^>^^^ *^'' « f-W#^/ ^^^ '^>*^"" ^^ You may yei^ wctt ima^^e; Sir, that tf our our iavagef weselo be ^d, «Hhaf theyoi^|ht «< not to jnak<» peace^ but tocontinue a bloociy ^< war, becauib tb| enemy of their nation iti- '< filled upon their lowering a !l4g belonging Vto^m of iheir canoes }*' I ^y> yoir may imagiiu^ 4iey would be aa little moVed wit& this impcutant reafon^ for cut^hg one an- ocheii's throats, as with any other of the fame kind. But the prefervation of the indivi4ual a{>peaFs a good motive to them, vs^weUas to^u6|»:and. even more ia; ns^, it is the only One that touches them. If on the other hand they had been inforrtied^ that tWrfcmg-oC Fr^coiif^c^ b|ve tiseBnio malf^ pliice, or comihanded them not to4;(iQ$tote l^i^eflty, theirimrwer v^rouU libdfty af^ tko^^^ ^^^ lul?j^o jx> the Anic g^j^jiqr^ \^^^^r^^^^^ at I^qyifbiiTg i but this gj;^l^nor,^vWeIl as that ,ofs\t ^ul^prdlp^io^ Ji^om be^ng^ any , w^y irldbme }p jihie; cpmowpdin^ I l^m.^ey Qf^^iT^fffi th5«; h^wo]uld^»grefet0 ^j ffiill .^(^e^|/ul;|f^rdk^t^itp,,t^ pncjal, ijB0ij,jq;wi4i|i9^jjpf;Jhkay% to rival him in his authority in 'the tdWri of Louifburg. This rival is the commiflSty for regulating^ the colony ; and the follow- ing are their: different funftionSi Froxrf the advantages and privileges which they enjoy in their rcfpeftive offices, you may cafily judge of the jarring there rtiuft - be between them, .whenever they prefer, a$ k but too often happens, their private in- tereft to the public welfare. Whatever re- lates to the military eftablifhment, and to the dignity of command, belongs to the governor only. It is his -province to giro, orders to the troops, to fee that tb^ be well difciplined, and able to do fervice.' It is his bufihefs to make the ftaff-ofiicers^ give an account of their companies, ahd^ to enter into fuch explications with them^V as fliali make them fenfible of their duty.' He ought to take care that they commit no^ injuftice to the men under their command/, by withholding either their pay or. their provifions s and if he finds any that have* been guUty of this mifdemeanor, it is his duty to punifli them; but the commifTar/ ought 'h'm urn it ■^ .•• i-:.- ^^ I ■ ■ of- '. f.r ■■'■' f>^ ' t ^ ought to onier reftitutioh'at theiex^ce of AcoSbadcrs.-' ^--r^M'i' ^r- -^-^ ^•- llie governor, togMhtr'witb tiir com- woU&XY» inay gram abfoltttid dtfcharges to tho ftijeants and to kWalkb ; eonfertnmg how^ ewer in this r^^^ to the fcing*s edi6ts; - ^J Hie dh-eftkm of this ^a^, a^-«vrell a) die fecurky o#' the cobhy, belongs parti^ cuhirly to the' goYemor. The admhnf^ tration of ^ miHtliiy che£6, of ^iroviBom and amravmitioiifi sTtid genierdlf of 'etety article relatidg to^ the magasines^ ii tKe fecttliar prO¥inQe df the cofinniiSffy; ib that there ought to be no payment^ no iale, lior confumptioii^-vv^thout hisf dr^er£ Yet Whenever tho govednor ir pl^Ued tb afk for aa account of tlie fcveralftdres, it ihould be given lArt by aB tneans, to thi endr that he m&y Be inftmicd of ^ true ftate of the pliace. Tlrdirdaaon trf the-h^Fsitals IHcewife bcloitgsr tti^ie i^» m^ftry^ though the governor Us af right to fee thftt every thin^ be done aceoBing to rule. The adthlmftraliori? o# f ofticc' » abfoiutely in tibeb^idr of tldieomiiiiirai^^ , ^r^ and - * and the governor has mc^luQglodbwitk; it, but to affift the other with ali fcirinrai^ whenever his afiiflancc is necefiarj^^ nor ought he ever to refufe k. IttsttKOsn^ miflary's bufinefs, as firft coui^idioiv t» perform, in the abience of the vaSmiint of Canada, the funftiofis of prdEdenl' in the Tupreme council i f or iiiftance^ tOL^bit hearing to ,the caufo, to collo^b vatee^ to pronounce ^ui^menlSy &c. Andiwhaii* over he ^naks proper to fummoaaiL extras ordinary council, he ought to acquaint tb^ governor thereof Iqr a 070: belonging; ^ court. "'ft.sd c ' tUifi^ The goviemor and the comauffiuT: |^ve jmntly aa^ account o0 die condu& of dif officers of juflke, and propole prefer pBf» jbns to fill up Hich places as are vacant h]r death or jrefignation » hut it particubnlf concems die governor to fte that the gei^ tlemen belonging to the army pay' fuck regard to^ the (^cers of juftice, as i^duc to the chara&er with which they arc in» vefted^ and to inculcate that fame regard ill t^ pca^ I but e^fcially to ieave^ the 5nK ■ ^ ^' mM 2«fi 0lBs (irittTrolr ^ £^eafe council tor-dieir intirc: liberty m ^y»i|g: their opinions^ The commll&ry on the o^her hand oughtito' hinder ithe council fromnbddlirij; ei^er dire£l!ly or iridlnsdly with" Whatever relates to the" ^virnment and gehoral adminidratibn of the, colony | becauft he has beenentrufted with authority tai^dtf to do ju(tic6 to individosib in'cori^ tefled ihattecs. ; ;Bpth the governor and thetoobn^fTary'ov^t «^uflllf to prevent any praftitioners^ q£ the law, Ahit ihould liiij){xen to.fettle:it;L the.colOhy^ from inter- ferijog in any manner whatever! in private caufes. ty. The grants of lands, ftrands, , &c. ap- pert^in commoh to the governor and die commifTary ; who ihould be particn- larly .carefiil to a£l; in' this urd^ft. aftcf likdi a manner : as^ f^all pro^ imoft con'-r du in conteAed>cares, to obtain a decHion from the prince; but confidering our great dif- tance, how many inconveni«ncies might arife before we could receive a plenary de- termination from the fountain head ? I do not think you will have recourfe to the weak fhifc of fubmitting to the decrees of the government of Canada s if or you cannot be ignorant that during the greateO: part o( the year, it would be as eafy to have intel- ligence from Paris as from Quebec. I own the king's inAru^ions expreflly take notice, that in affairs requiring difpatch, and where the commiilary and the governor cannot agree, the opinion of the latter (hall have the preference. But then it is neceflary that the commiilary fhould at leaft confent ' to the neceffity of this difpatch, before he can rcfolye to dclivtr out the public money, N 2 with- m 'ipr I'ili , (Mil. ii % lie' fill III p> i !l: i if: m i I 180 DESCRIfTlON of\' without which nothing can be done. And as this conftflion or agreement fubjedts him to the will of a perfon contrary to his ap. probation, it is obvious he cannot come into it but in the very la(! extremity, of courfe when probably it is too late, t :»t(.« ^i^ i The proofs of what I have been here advancing, are flill recent in every body's memory. We had a late inftance of an oppofition, which was not fo much as ow- ing to a miClaken zeal for the public good. . In the year 1 75 1, a mew governor landed on the ifland, and in fix weeks became the commiffary's mortal enemy. The former wanted to humble his collegue, who on the other hand, being long accuftomed to the inhabitants and to the cuftoms of the country, found a thoufand ways to mortify his rival. Do you imagine that during thefe - difputcs the jftate was well ferved, or 5^, proper; care; taken for the fecurity of the V colony ? Whatever the governor propoied, iwas fure to be contradidled by the com- mifTary. The lattpr ufed to deny that the cafe was fo urgent as to require his > eonJ- vim: pli- the Government^ ftff. ' i8i pllance ; neither would he, without an cx- prefs order, deliver out the public money, which he has generally in his cuftody. In the mean while the fortifications were negle^Ved ; and a formidable enemy was ready perhaps to take advantage of our di- vifions : fo that before the ' quarrel betwixt two rivals in ambition, authority, and in- tcrcft, could be decided, the proper precau- tions were likely to come too late. But thefe, you will fay, are not examples to the point. There is no fort of doubt but thofe two men were guilty of failings inconfiftcnt with the love of their country. But who can' tell whether their fucceflbrs have be-' haved ' better ? The choice of thofe officers- is fubje^ to great miftakes, without reck-' oning the voluntary errors owing to' par- tblity and favour. Therefore fince it is iiflpoffible to dive into the heart of man, and it would be too laborious a talk for. the fovereign to make a general inquiry himfelf, would it not be far preferable for him to entruft his authority into the hands of a fingle perfon, in a country where it is . N 3 fo 'I ml^ t 182 EXescrfptio ^t^ fo difHcult to remedy the abuie and incon- veniency of dilatory dccifions ? At kaft tho apprcheniion of fhame, and of tiot being able to throw the fault upon anocher per- fon, would be feme check to this officer, The moft defeftive plan, if it meets with no interruption, is far preferable to the moft j^aufible fchemes, when they happen tO be fubjeft to contradiftion and deIays^V*> ; ' You muft not however imagine that thofc two gentlemen had not their admirers : but I would have you to form your juagmcnt from this impartial accoimt. The commiflary, who is ftill in tvs co* lony, is grown grey^ as it were, in the fervice. He came very young to & 3 coun^ tiy 5 and brought up a Creolian ^rl him- felf, whom he afterwards marrif .. A great many people fay that he perfev'Jy undcr- ftands the advantages and interefts of this colony 5 others, and particularly his ?id- verfary, pretend that he underftands his own much better; that he favours only his friends and relations } and that through an Unjuft partiality, he difcourages the in-. cr ^r% ' ha- :; w* the Goviernmenty ^r.. 183- habitants, and hinders the improvement of the colony. The governor upbraided the other with the meaunefs of his extra6lion, 5 with his firft employment as clerk to the navy, and with the mediocrity of his abilities, , in every thing that does not regard his own perfonal intcreft. Lt But the perfon that throws thefe rcr- fle6^ions upon him, is not exempt himfelf. from cenfure. In vain does he pride him-; felf of the honour of being related to one of our moft eminent mini(lei*s of ftate j his; pretenfion was flatly denied. You may well judge that after this, they gave him nc^ quarter. Even his perfon, for which he could not be accountable, was not fpared. True it is, that his figure is rather apt to excite derifion than refpeft^ efpecially i^ people who feemed the more inclined to pay bim too little, as he required too mueh^ His imperious air, and defpotic tone of voice, are extremely ill fuited to a crab- bed countenance and diminutive figure ; not to mention his ^indle flianks, which muft needs diigrace a perfon, who would N + r -- faiii It I ir it I ' i*l^i 184 D E S C E 1 P T I-O H (7X fam raife himfelf above all thq. world. Thefe however are blemifhcs that, might be eafily effaced by an extent of genius, with prudence and refolution ; qualifications, which our governor feems not to be fo happy as to poflefs. ^ It is faid only that he has an itch to meddle with every thing, without abihties to fupport him. And indeed, not- withftanding that the fuai6lIons of thefe two officers are as diftinft as poUible, ftili he has encroached to fuch a degree on that of his cpUegue, as to produce a very dan- gerous ichifm in the colony. He tired the court with his projedls ; and it was to no purpofe to defire he wpuld confult with the commiffary, who \yas prefumed from his long experience to be better informed > ftill he would return to the fame point. Obfti- Jiacy is the infeparable attribute of fhal* low capacities. To expe6l efVeem merely from the decoration of their titles, is their common pra6Hce. Befides, does not a difdajnful air exalt their perfonal qualities in the eye of fools ? and are not fools the greateft number ? are not tlxey perhaps .the , -iii'P H^ ^4 only the Govenimenf, ^c. ' 185 * t. only people that take notice of one who re-" femblcs themfelves ? Thefe rcfledions, you fee, are general; though the perfon that occafioned them, may eafily point out the application : all we can fay in particular is, that he appears to us the man in the world we had the leaft reafon to expe£l, for, our governor. He had never fhewn any fpecimen of his abilities in an art fo necef- fary to our welfare. A^ he had been hitherto employed only in the land-fervice, he was of courfe unpraftifed in maritime . affairs ; nor had he ever diftinguilhed him- ielf in his own province. It is faid that he was a gteat proje6lor ; but I qu(eftioi\ whether this fort of merit ought to paft for any thing in a country generally over- ' burthened with fchemes. -'^ ' Yet his capacity was not the only thing ] inquired into ; the commiflary finding the public all of one mind about this article, made a clofer attack upon him : I fay clofer, becaufe I think as you do, Sir, that the difpofition of the heart, is a more pro- per charafteriftic of a man, than certain qua- 1- iSfc D i^ J C R I E T I O 5^ qualiti(bs> tht ^/uaflt of which ought rather to be imputed to his^ patron than to himfelf. £^ wtts charged with having purchafed a piece of ground of confiderahle extent, that hadbeen qlearedat a very great expence, and with having r©fufed' to pay the money; ^ aUb with havtfig obliged ieveral of tbe inhabitants to di^ofe of their ppiTef. fion^ ^on that fpot. It was likewife faid fhat his cook-maid, wh^ n he had raifed to be- li^s^ govematite, fold every thing that could poflibiy be obtained byway of favour, and thereby ent^hcxl herfelf to the prejo- "-^IS^ of perfons of real merit* Thefe are iiecfufations fufficiently proved by the great ^ipj^nee he was at above his income -, by the teAirnqny of fotiie perfons, who, notwi^h- flanding their obligations to him, could jBOt avoid f|)ekking the truth} and lafliy, by the indulgences of the court. For after ^U^^this very ttiani whofe memory has been pfeferved here fp much to his difhonoui, has obfedned, by way of gratification, a T^mifflon of all his debts, which were very %ofiiiderable, and a penfion of four thau- iand livres. You iJri' the Gofoernmenty &^€.i 187. Yoili fee, Sir, that neither doubt^ nor ceitainty abcmt this matter, is of any conie** quence to people who fufFer from both. The inhabitants, defirous of acquiring a little property, are ready to undertake a tkoufand ' things, though ever fo laborious, for the advantage of the colony : but fome are flopped by injuftice and oppreflion i while others are afraid of being flripped by our divi^ns, of the fruits of theic labour^ From^ what quarter foever thefe fcourges come, they put a damp to all indi^ftry. Once more I iay it, to &pply the eye of the fovereign, we {land in need of a f^gh reprefentative, worthy of his majefty. But I was not aware that my complaints and wifhes have lengthened out my letter to fuch, a degree, that I ihould find no room for the other particulars of government^ the abufes of which, as a good citizen, I ought; to lament. As a good friend, I ought aUb to give you a caution concerning tbem, fince you are very (liortly to feel their in* convcniency. Let us referve the remainder f^ another letter, and conclude this with .f^^ivrj L^ the i 1 88 De 8 C R I P T ION ^\V the fame fentiments as I finiihed all the reft. I am. Sir, &g. w • . LETTER Xll. Of the fupreme council i and other jurijdic* . tions 'y of the hofpital^ pricfii^ monks \ ani .yof the mijjionariei of the favages, AFTER having fufficicntly entertained you in regard to thd two leading men of the colony, to their different func- tions, their divisions, and the inconveniencies from thence arifing, I muft ndw proceed to. the fuhaltern bodies that are entrufled with the particular branches of govern- ment. The fupreme council is compofed of the governor, the commiflary, the king's lieutenant, an attorney-general, four or five counfellors, afccretary, and a tip^flaff j and if any of the council happens to be indifpofed or abfent, fome inhabitant of the colony is appointed to fupply his place, when there are caufes to try.. ; But fince I have taken the refolution to difclofe my mind to you in regard to the uneafmefs I have )iyy XS't the" Supreme Council j &€. 189 have felt from th B S 6lt I P T I O M of voite dvam^ tUs kind of noviciate, h iftcmtd likewife be advifeable to introduce one lOf tilt ^ptams into the council, witliout tttkiag htm in Ms rank of feniority, but t^iuting him from among the whole coq)s, ^Ipon finding that he had the qualifications tequifitc for this employment, and had given full proof thereof for the fame fpace jof time a^ was fixed for the major. '• This very method ought to be obferved in regard to the king's lieutenant, and the 'It. — •<5ther members. By thefe means we ihould always have a wife council j at leaft it is ttiorally certain that they would he xnuch more fo than thofe who are taken at a •venture, !Befides,'this mixture of the gen- tlemen of the army with thofe of the long *^^robe, muft be produ6live of a very good •effeft, and prevent a multitude of abuies, rwhidi you may eafily guefs at from my -'^remedies againft them. Another confi' ;^q^able advantage arifmg from this mixture, ^WOtild he the .reconciling thefe two orders I ' '^of men to the fame way of thinking. Thii ^^is 'a point thart cannot be too ftrongly in- \f !;-■ the Supreme Council^ 9fc. igi culcated j for it would prevent the con- tempt that prevails on one Me, and 'the in- veterate hatred on the other -, whfch' 'ikic oftentimes a matter of ridicule in flotirifll- ing kingdoms, yet e^^tfefnely ptejuldiciarte a new colony. And fuppofing thofe Oppo- flte paflions could not he dbfolut^ly fup- prelled, fome advantage might ftiU be drawn from them : for as Union m coun- cil is of great ufe, moderate oppbfttibn Is alfo conducive to a good purpofej fittCb tt renders the avenues to corruption of mote difficult accefs. It likewife Creates jealbulleis, which frequently end in aii emulation ad- vantageous to the community. This at leaft 1 am fure of, that in a council confti- tuted after my manner, we fhould not fte inftances of judges fitting to determine caufes without knowing any thing of the proceedings ; at leaft they would be de- firous of fome information by a brief 6r ipemorial, were it only for the pteliftitc of vying with one another in fagacity arid knowledge. For there is not a tiiaii of the law, Or even a comtnon accompknt, " ' ^ - . ■-.^ -■ \- but urn y .:■ .»; IQ2 P E S C R I fJlO W of. but tbinks himfelf ;pnorq knowing, and pre^ tends to more learning than a military Qffi. cer. And among , the gentlemen of the ^rmy, furely there is not one that would chuic to be noted for his ignorance. Next to the fupreme council comes the bailiwick, which notwithftanding its being an inferior court, deferves the fame care ifiid regulation as the former, This kind 'of jurifdidion extends itfelf to the civil adminiflration, and the particular police of t)ie colony 5 being compofed of a judge, the attorney-general, a fecretary, and a tip- ftafF. It is at prefent exercifed by the ^officers of the admiralty, which feems al- together abfurd. The bailiff fhould be therefore an honeft man, that at leaft had fome tincture of the laws, and was ac- quainted with the cuftom of Paris, which is the fame as is followed in the French colonies. This judge, and his fubaltern officers, ought to have a competent fub- |fiflence, without being obliged to fqueeze 4 Upon the public. And indeed the falaiies annexed to this- jurifdi^tion are far from l^- - - '."-■" .r.: teing ;, and pre- ilitary qffi- en of the :hat would nee. comes the ig its being I, fao?e cate This kind o the civil ar police of )f a iiidge, ', and a tip- fed by the :h feems al- fhould be at lead had d was ac- aris, which the French is fubaltern ipetent fub- to fqueeze the falarics •e far from being being ftifficieht t they have been fettled by i tax, hb lotigyr ^c*it)atiblc with the im- pfovtttti^nt bf the colony. .■* • But Gttt rtisfortune is, that not only we have n6 ftiih thirig ^s a genteel mainte- nance for otit Judges, whkh may induce thcfti to admirtJfter juftice impartially, but Mire aft' Kkewile i6 Unlucky as to be defti- ttitej of' die m^^tl^ of executing their de- crees* 'We have neither a common hang- many niirai'tef mtritor *i nor fo much as a jail. Yotk will fay perhaps, you have no occafioh for themV Pardon me, Sir, for we are nbt bf a partlculur frame or make : arid would to God we could do without thofe'riiings ; I (houtd be under very little concern about the maintenance of our judges." ^'■"' I The admiralty confifts of a lieutenant, the attorney-general, a clerk, and a tipftafF. I cannot help wifhing for the good of this court, that they made choice of difinterefted officers, and fuch as carried on no trade * Tl^e officer appointed to rack criminals, or to in^fl penal tortures. • ' O of 194 Description of of any fort, but fhewed themfelves extremely a^ve in preventing all illicit commerce, in vifiting the feveral fliips and veflT^U that enter the harbour, and in fending to in- {pe£t the other ports in the ifland. It is Ht the court of admiralty that the mer* chants enter the different commodities, that are imported into the colony, as well in foreign as in national bottoms. The emo* luments they receive on this account, are ycry c 1. - Il :xtrcmcly )mmcrcc, tS^X^ that [\g to in- nd. It is the mer- litics, that as well in Thccmo. xaunt, aw the (hips, ^e accounts there hap- prohibited^ ptain§ con- tnd to the The iu4g« rhile ago, is IS heretofore but after- • lerchant i^ two ju* Lfion of th« jiralty, ^P9^' ,e branch oil trade, fie Supreme Councily &c. 195 trade, raifed this man to be ]udge of that court, and procured him the pod of bailiff, in order to render him more ferviccable in his commerce at Louiiburg. This ma- giftrate, and the others of fubordinate jurifdiftion, arc grown extremely rich, which is not at all furprizing, fince they are intereiled in different branches of com- merce, particularly the contraband. ^,.„,,i We muft now proceed to the fpiritual government, which is not the leaft eflential to the minds of a people, whofe zeal and fimplicity render them fufceptible of every impreffion. The fame precaution fhould therefore be taken to chufe proper members for this fort of government, as for the other branches above mentioned. Nay, there ought to be more 3 for the favages are ex- tremely apt to be fcandalized, and carried away by their prejudices, when they fee rdigion expofed to ridicule. The inha- bitants have alfo imbibed fome part of thefe notions. Therefore you may eafily imagine what havock and mifchief might be committed here by thofe turbulent fpirits, O 2 . et 196 ^Description 0/ or by thofe hypocondriacs> who are apt to difguife the acrimony cf their natural dif- pofition, under the cloak of piety* As thefc ' men ought to fet an example to the reft, do but think what confufion there would be, if they were to lead a diiTolute life, and to influence thofe whofe inclinations are of themfelves but too prone to debauchery* , But why fhould I mention thefe misfor- tunes, as diftant and barely poffible ? Let us be candid ; we feel them already, and the worfe of it is, we feel them in both extremes. > numv t. We have fix mifllonaries, whofe conti- nual einployment is to fpirit up the minds of people to fanaticifm and revenge. I confefs that thefe arms are turned againft . our natural enemy j but this enemy has not ^ as yet violated the peace between the two 'i nations ; and I queftion whether the Chri« \' flian religion admits of our raifmg, with- cout a caufe, fuch fentiments in the minds «vof the vulgar, as are conducive to envy ri and hatred, and deftru6tive to our fellow- 3b creatures, I cannot bear thefe odious de- cla- H rH iv.o * the Supreme Council^ &^c. 197 damations, which our priefts make every day to the poor favages, " Tlie Englifh "are the enemies of God, arid companions " of the devil : fince they do not chufe to " adopt the fame way of thinking with " us, you mtift do them as much mifchief " as you can. Our king dould* not avoid ** concluding a peace with them, which is " not to be of long duration. But this " peace does not relate to you at all: go " on with your hoftihties ; ^tilt we think " proper to affift you. To behave in this " manner is your duty towards God, to- ^ wards your neighbour, whofe blood calls *' olit aloud for vengeance 5 and, laftly, towards yourfelves, lince they aim at nothing but your total deftruAion." Let us grant, for a while, that the gover- nor, for political reafons, feldom confident with the gofpel, may, harangue them in this manner ; but that the minifters of this very gofpel fhould preach fuch fermons, is fo abfurd, that I do not think our miniftry, Tjotwithftanding they may be pleafed with the efFe(5^, can approve of the caufe. And (< a .. /' 03 what ,* H' 198 Descrittxok of^ what anfwer could we give to the ^pgllfhy if to refute the chargp of being aggreiTor^ whenever a war broke ^ut, they ihould fend us a copy of one of tho£b edifying diA:ourfps ? Here indeed one might jdlly does not approve of any fuch fanatical pro^ ceedings. And really^ if his minifler^ were to be dii'e£l/ed by bis holy c;ommandmentss inflead of feduqing t^fe weak ignorant ibuls, they would Jjpeak to them in the following manner. ^* We are aU of us the children of God>i the £ngli(h as well as youriekea i it ,helongs to our common father alone to determine whether they " arQ difphedient to his orders. He has ** not,pntruft€d us with the decifion of ** his caufe, but referved it to himfelf. " They afe your brethren} and for this **^,iVery reafoijL you fhould forget that ever " tjiey were your enemies : nay, you ought '* to be afraid left tlxofc calamitous times Ihould return.} and inftead of promoting fuch an event, you fliould rather la- ment the gnhappj |iecei5ty, of a juft Were c< cc cc I ,e;,pth(^r^, tj^ reqot*. 1^61;. fjf^arSr who arc, jointly, concerned in tji^qadmif^iftration of fpiritual affgins,, fet a 1^^ example ito the cojoimon people, efpe- cially ; ^ ^hy , theif ; intemperance and jgno* ^.^ yhe boi^it^lis fcc^qd.by.fuf hrq^{icrs of tUe, eh^it^if c(;>nfrati^;|iity:,,i .WitH-^j:egaji4 tc^ ijh^fe p^opk,,;^s W^Uvvas the j:^;;<;41e6b, jpvi ^all ica^^ ,5ii[ieet;.,)«ithr^ cqgimon fQldkr ^i^j|b,e^ whole arpy,- butk^ds afar .better, ^ii^ ; than the jf, , JS^ay* tfeey jtja not ifcc^ t<>^,tbi»J^ ^a(:^c^ity jis a.vij;t^9 for w,?^*^^,jt pqt ^hat ftjlji^^ has |i. careful eye , (jyj|r ( J^eir confif^l^, the poor ^people Ji^liat arc feat to this hofpiisal, would, be fure pf5b?ii>g,fciffstOjtJieuvgra,v^^ Yetthe.king p^ys. tl^f m -a& generoififly, as if they drferved jl^is,lien(;y,©le»,(^ l^p ej^ijli p( the fethers he allo.vys %9.hui)d4^iivresa year, a thopfand livres fpf ttieir board, .th|-ee thpufawd for tli^^ f mi^Jture and utenfil^ of the hofpital/ and jiix .hun^r^d. fo^ tlie^.pufcj^afe pft medicines confunivd tlii;oughoi^t the year, Fpn f very thi Supreme^ Council ^tr. 201^ foldfer under their care, they ai^ allowed fixteen foU^a day, be(ide$ his ration of breads which is valued at above five and twenty, fous^ For the other people of the colony, who are received into the hofpital Oft the Icing's account, they are likewife allowed five and twenty fous; and they cxpeftimore fr^m the burghers, and other inhabitants that chufe to be there at their own expience. They have the largeft, ftr.' where they breed poultry and" cattle |vW^ichr>ndeed would perfeftly enabk theiurto d^ntheir duty towards the fick, if they w^re f^ diipoied. j ^^ ^ But I t^ke upon me to affirm, that they never will ;do it, and there is no other wayi t^ provide for the fafetyof the infirm, thaw to plac^ a. furgeon in the hofpital, with a power, f to infpe6l the drugs, it being known that thofe charitable brethren ge* ncrallyconfult their own profit, and not the prefcrvatioa of the patient. Their \jj\\\S •■ , be- mm m dt i^'fkk pe(<^, is ^'(|^aIi)r^«^f)ddou^i f6 th^t !hc fhdftcft- way 'W«bW be net Wettpfoy thM ^f ill, 4)ut^ferid th«ife^ Mfters" for thrift - that it feems to be the bafis of all their pditics, fo that there is hardly a country with wluch they have not eftablifhed a regular traffic. And I make no manner of doubt, but that the prodigious influence which thofe nations have on the affairs of Europe, and the eafe with which they fucceed in their fe- veral negotiations, are owing to the con- ^A ci w4 • neftions nc6lions origin^iy introduced, and a£tcr. n ;-t.fff^- And i^d^pd France has within hcr&lf the ri^hefl mate^'i^ of (|Qnimerce of apy country ipi ]^\ii;9pey The whple kingdom almoil i^ f(uitfi^l ^f^4 ^ultivated^ She has a prodir gipqs nu|ilber , of ip(\c^^£a6):ures ; and her colonies alone afford a yearly fupply of cop^iH^pdiitiea nesMfJy to^, the value of a hun» dred millions of livres, by which a confi;- derablQ.];]^^vigation is fupported. This pro^ duces aq^^ jn^fuepfe quantity qf fuperfluitie^, which;] can only be a burthen to her, unlef^ they a.re exported to other nations; but the prpmoting a foreign confumptipn of them, muft neceflarily raife her to the higheft degree of power. . n-syvi^ ^ii>:,^ Such a, fund of commerce ought naturally 1^ ,''^i:>Dn to toi DBSCItlPTION 0/ to coxmeA the French with adl other 'iiH tioni. There arc but very few that do not make ufe of our commodities, nay, that do kiot eagerly defire them, and give them the preference. We (houM therefore have en- couraged them all to enter our harbours, and have taken off of their hands whatever they were able to import to us, without prejui dicing our own national intereft. By this method we might have increaied the num- ber and competition of purchafers ; there would have been a much greater demand for our goods, and a quicker confumption; the confequence ^bf which would be, that the price of commodities would have rifen, or aft leafl been maintained upon a very advantageous footing. But inftead of purfuing this meafure, we have taken quite a contrary flep. With*- out concerning ourfelves about other na- tions, we have relied upon the Dutch alone for the management of our whole com* mcrCCi This is the foundation of the fc* veral treaties concluded with thofe people, wherein we have favoured them with moll exor- V'he. Commerce^ ^c. 209 fxoi1)ltant privileges, fuch as were incom- patible with the commerce of other nations. :If fo extraordinary a condu6t were not repugnant to reafon, flill experience would cQiivince us of its abfurdity. Before thefe tr^tlcs our feas were covered with (hips from the north and from the Baltic j but fmce that time, for one Danish, or Swedifh- veOfcly tiiat we feiQ in our hatliours, we have a hundred Putch. Therefore as navigation is tpgether the means and the caufe of commerce^ our commodities were all ex-* ported, to our great national detriment, to Holland ; for nothing contributes fo much to lower the price of merchandize, ascoUeft* iag too large a quantity in one fpot. Beiides, as only a very fmall part of our commo- dities wa^ confumed in Holland, and the rel^ were to be forwarded to the north and to the Baltic for a fecond market, it was th^ intereft of tlie Dutch to keep them down at fo low a price, that they might be gainers by felling them again, and other nations fhould not find their account in fetching. th^mfronx Fiance, which indeed . . B ^ the 1 it y I i iio Description^ the extraordinary duties prevented them from doing. This fyftem of commerce had like to have been the ruin of France. The Dutch difpofed <^ our moft valuable commodities in what manner they pleafed. They ex- ported our goods at our own expence^ and at our own ri(k ; and finding themfelves fopplied in fuch plenty, they turned this irery circum^ance to our difa. vantage, by fixing our commodities at an arbitrary price, generally relative to their markets in 1^ north. On the other hand^ this dimi- nution of the price at Amflerdam^ was felt over the reft of Europe; for the Dutch ufed to regulate the current price of all merchandi^s, and France was obliged to follow them 5 in confequence of which the price of French goods was fometimes re- duced to fuch a point, that they coft our- ielves twice the value erf . what we were offered for them. It was therefore of the utmofl: importance to fet afide thofe treaties, which deftroyed the fmcws of our government, excluded ■[i ,%/f * -pf- Cf US ts frotft the iBakic, of xxmife^reifcttted tbe veflels of that pact of the world fvom ta- tering QUi^ poxtts« ^nd ^almoft jnttrdy broke off all corre^oodence hotweeri iFrance find the AOrttarn -ftates; For commeiioe is Jthe firineft and mo^hSasxg conne6lioii bohwixt difFeretltfiations. To this e^iotfo't^fons of Hate Vi L » teiefl itfelf does not always furmoiuit. ■ ^ This digreffion, Sir, upon trade in ge- .>vi neral, edj fo that m- eye of that they Bnglifhand ftate'Woid4 [Kaiuee with abolitm of s fkmagej ^ of time. 1 i and their s» are fettled it even in- tount ade in ge- neral, the Commerce i ^c. 215 ncral, which to you perhaps may appear mifplaced, h not fo however, conddering the influence which the fubje6l in hand has on the commerce of Cape Breton. . Had we regained the aiFedion of the Engliih at the time of the treaty of Utrecht, when the two courts feemed to be To favourably inclined towards each other; and had we given to them the preference before a nation, of whom we had far more reaibn ta complain, and who fooner or later are apt to requite our favours with ingratitude, our affairs would have taken a very different turn. But in vain did we promife at that time to fettle a treaty of commerce advantageous to both nations i and in vain were thofe promifes renewed in the treaty of 171 8. Nothing of all this has been done. Hence it is that the two kingdoms have continued at as great a diftance as ever ; and in confequence of their rcientments, have mutually prohi- bited all importation and exportation of merchandizes, and their bofoms nourifh the feeds of jealoufy and envy, which are '»f P 4 ready ^1 "1 M (■1 i< i 'I • \ 4: 2i6 Description^ ready to fhoot up. They watch, and eiK deavour to defeat each other's fchemes. Whatever tends to the advantage of one of thefe kingdoms, immediately becomes an ol^e£t of jealQufy to the other ;. and this difpolition is frequently the forerunner of an open rupture. ■ Yet France at prefent is fenfible of the great occafion fhe has for opening her ports to all nations, and entering into a general commerce. For it is to be prefumed, that experience and neceflity muft have fhewn her the means of extending and fecuring her different branches of trade. But wiU her enemies confent to it ? Will not the Englifh oppofc her out of fpite, and the Dutch through inteieft ? A fermentation is raifed in our minds, and we ourfelves feem to pick a quarrel with a people, by whom we know ourfelves to be mortally hated. I am afraid indeed the opportunity will offer but too foon. Yet how great a dif- ference would it be to thefe infant colonies, confidering the periodical calamities under which they groan, could they enjoy but a ^ r , : fuffi- \ :l ble of the 5 her ports > a general lined, that lave fhewn d fecuring I But will not the and the mentation ourfelves people, by mortally )porturuty reat a dif- colonies, ies under joy but a fuffi- '^^the Commerce J ^cd 217 fufficient duration of peace with their neigh- bours, and by means of a regular and juft commerce, fhoot up to a proper heighth and improvement. I would venture to fay that the conne6Vions being once eftablifhed, it would be difficult to break them ; that our animofities would fubfide 5 and we fliould not have always the fame work to begin again. Would to God it was in my power to divert the ftorm, which I fee gathering over our heads. It is really my regard for the general good of mankind, and the particular advantage of my own country, that excites thefe fentiments within my breaft ; and it becomes a cofmopolite as well as an honeft citizen, to point out the means of improving our commerce as I have done. Nothing further remains than to (hew like wife the advantages thereof; which I lliall be able to effe6l in my next. For this end I have only to acquaint you with the internal commerce 'of the ifland, with the trade now carried on with foreign nations, and laft of all with that \vhich oyght to be prohibited. I air^, &g. LET- Si H [ 1* I 4'f s m t|i. J di8 Description ^ LETTER XIV. Account of the trade continued ; of the com- merce which ought to he eftablijbed at Cape Breton ; and of that which is now carried on joith the merchants of New-England, S I R, o^ ■B^f6qT|s ^iBii^n ifjj THE moft eiTenddl, and almoft tlie only branch of trade at prefcnt carried on in our colony, is that of the cod-fiihery. This is what fupports the inhabitants, and finds them employmtot, confequently is the article which the government ought Tnoil to encourage for the general good of the coimtry. ■'f^qnf^iiirxr\ti'pmhfi">^' The e:!tportation of dry cod is effe^^ed by means of the (hips that come from France,' and from the French iflands in the Weft-Indies. From France they bring f« » - »,. rv.^i».* . As the colony of itfelf is too inconfi- derable for the confumption of thefe fyr- ups, fugar, coffee, &c. in order to pro- mote the fale and exportation of them, as well for the advantage of the- inhabitants of the place, as for that of the merchants of the Caribbee iilands, the Englifh are permitted to come and trade to this colony, and to export this fort of provifions, of which they ftand in great need. This is a very beneficial commerce to us, provided it be under a proper regulation, and that the Englifti import no fort of merchandize capable of prejudicing the commerce of France, and efpecially that they import no cod-fifti. The prohibition of the latter is the ftronger for this reafon, as it would be infinitely detrimental to the colony, fincc '>iiu . ' . " this it.-^VTfy^l ■!',}■{. ^the Commerce^ ffe. 3ai this fifliery is our only fupport^ There is no doubt but we oqght to be very attentive to this article^ becaufe as the Englifh have more extenfive colonies than we, and a greater filhery, they naturally look out for a vent for thefe commodities: befides the temptation of' intereft might prompt fome dlihonefl people among ourfelves to deal with them ; for, as I have already obfervcd, our cod-fifh is dearer than, theirs. - 1 > . However^' they are permitted to import provifions of . various forts, as legumes, cattle, poultry, maze, or Indian wheat, oats, planks, (hinges, . timber, and bricks. As thefe (brts of goods are not always Efficient to make their returns, they pay the balance in fpecie, and they like wife fell to our merchants a kind of boats, called goelettesy which come cheaper than if they were made in the country, and are far more durable, being of much better wood than ^K^ of Cape Breton. As there are very fevere prohibitions againfl giving any money to the Englifh, and on the contrary we ought to receive the balance in fpecie '•t . from \ ' ♦Ell 'i ,, .A ■ J mm is'' Li- n ail . \<* ■ B r^'j .EjSclttrttbW 0/ fron lhem» the trade ivith that natioit Buift needs be aichrantageous to our colo. xiiiOt, dtid maiod «8 dcfire a peace. Yet it wotiild he ftill itifiniteiy more to our in- tereft» were we to make the moft we can of the roimtry^ in the manner I ihall point out in another letter. In that cafe« our IBands bem^ provided r/Mi necelTaries, would be ithfblotely independent of every kind of conuiteice, that did not redound intively to their advantage. With reipcd to the inhabitants of the French iflands an die Weft-Jndies, we .muft :^v£ them fome money as a b^t; for they are ex^ tremely greedy after it, as thdrc Is profit upon the fpecie from hence to the Weft* Indies : but what iittle We gave them, Would, if we. p]ieafed,.be birt a ivery im cohiiderable part of )the cn'oidtttiou of the Engliih fpecie, whidii jas yaujJbGtaycai% perceive, niiift make oiir fgaltuncfi, tf t fkrid: regard was paid tD uoion tni ' 'ommerce ' ' '■■'"*'''^''^'^f^t^''f^ff^r^''^**-^^''f^-^^-h ^itThe fifhermen of this country qgeneraBy ^o out a fifhing in their ifhadlops. For *f!:t^ ■■ the the Commercij ftfr.' 22% the better conducting of tiiis work, they endeavour to have thirty fix months to alTiil them, and thefe bang abfokitely ne- ceflary, the public good requires they (hould not be wanting. Thefe tiurty fix months are men hired on the coaft of Normandy and Britany, to go over to America and ferve for that fpace of time* The captains of fhips, who come to t^is part of America, are obliged by the tdng*8 prdonnances, to tranfport a certain num- ber of them, in proportion to the fize of their vefTels. The greatefi; part of the in- habitants>. even thofe who make the beft figure in the colony, came over firft upon this footing. Thefe are the people, who confining therrifclves intirely to the com- merce of the country, tranfaft the whole of it by commiflion. It is they that employ men in catching the fifh, and that fur- ni(h the reft of the inhabitants. Hiey firike at every thing, and are always ready to throw difficulties in the way of firangers. Nay, they frequently advance money to the inhabitants^ and then obligb m 1.-"' » :H ^ " ;■■ ,i^l ill 5il ! mi %' C 24 t5. 9 § C^RI f T I N of them to fell ,their fifh at a low pricei when '' they might difpofe of^it to a much greater advantage to for^gn traders. They do ,worfe, for when tjic poor people happen to be dlArelTed m winter for provifions, they fell the fame fi(h to them again at a very exorbitant pri(;e. This fort of abufe docs a great deal, of damage to the colony; but the^ e is no remedying it, unlefs you can punifh fome of the leading men, who are oftentimes the enpouragers and tools of thjs iniquitous pradice. ^ ^.I am of opinion, that the fame attention ought to be paid to thefe points, as to the > king's edi6ls concerning contraband trade) yet I will ingenuoufly own to you that we are equally deficient in both refpeds. Not but that the means of obferving them are pofiible, as yo^ may judge by the fol- lowing remarks. ,^* ^n*-' It is evidentj that fo Igng as we ftand in need of the commodities of our neigh- ... - . . ' . , . ■ ■ ' . , . *j •hours, we ought to trade with them ; it is alfo evident, that when we can do with* out thofe commodities, their trade v/ith us «Bdj --niay > the Commerce^ SPr- 225 niay be doubly to our advantage, and of courfe it is our intereft to encourage \% and to put ourfelves into that happy fittiar tlon. But it i& equally evident that aU intercourfei whatever would become preju* dicial to the (late, and of ^ourfe in time to indi^iduali^ if by iconniving at a contr% band trade, we Occafioned the ruin of our own comit\erce and manufa6lures. There- fore this inconyc^ieticy cannot be too much guarded againfl ; for which reafon I have thrown together the foilpwing' hints. The contraband trade confifts in meal, bifcqit, pitch, and t;ar, and all forts of dry goods, as fluffs, toys, and other Englifh mer- chandize, but particularly cod-fifh. Yet theie different forts of commodities are not only fold in the harbour of Louifburg ; but the fame trade is alfo carried on in the other ports and havens of the two iflands. The following is the common pra6lice at Louifburg. The captains of Englilh fhips are obliged to fhew their bills of lading ; but they take care to mention only fuch goods as are permitted, and fo ufeful to Q . this i:- m i26 £>B SCRIPT lON of this colony, that we can neither do wkh^ eut them^ nor have them from France, i own indeed that upon their firft arrival, a guard is knt on board to prevent breaking bulk, before the vefTel has been vifited by the officers of the cuftoms, who are to ifcake their report whether Acre are any other goods thaji thofe which the governor and commi(fary have permitted to be brought aihore, and whether the bill of lading be faithful and exa£t. Bat thefe precaution^ are of littk ufe, Thofe who are en- trufted with this office, are very remifs. They make this inqueft in a carelefs man* tvei} and after they have done vifiting, and the cuftom^houfe officer is withdrawn, the pnglifh captains, who generally hold a "correfpondence with private traders in the town, find means in the dark night to fmuggle fome of the moft portable mer- chandize, unnientioned in the bill of lading. In regard to heavy commodities, fuch as cod-fifli, flour and bifcuit, there arc like- wife merchants in town, who contrive to get thofc goods removed in the night from «.;(i^i«. on WboM At Engfiih -into French vcflels : fortie ^f thcfe they enter, and the re- mainder they knd to other parts' of di6 ^t)ny^^ '--■■■■" ^'- ' '^^ ■ -. -•'-./- --'^'^'^ C- 1* hWt i^'ahb ahotlier manner orckrryiVig on a tontraband" trade* Some of our mef- chkntsf iii this jpface, under pretence # pordidSng a quahtrty of cod-fifh at Gafp€, '6lrati*avt)y, both of which are dependent tJh the goverhrtient of Quebec, and where it is 'cheaper than Jn our iflands, give di- rcftioii^ foi^ buying it in Newfoundland aiid at the ifland of St. Peter's, which Wohg to the English. *--*-- -. -/^ iSirice the reffitution of Lotiifbufg, we haVc frequently feen merchants from the iflsiilds' of St. Domingo, Guadaloupe, and Martmitoi who come as paflengers on bbardr of EngHfh velFels. The captains make f6me ftay here, under pretence of felling ofP fiich goods as are permitted 1 and when they have difpofed of part, the prdtended paflengers alk leave to purchalb thcfe vei*y fhips together with their cargo's, which confift chiefly in cod and other TV' Q 2 nicr- ^^A IHI 1 wK^^^B^M Ira ^^H^B M ^^B H H H I^^Hj^^H , m 1 H ^9 ■^^B^hK^ ^ni^ ^n 11 WKB- 1 m ^^BUB^^' ffil m ^H 1 ^^^n H ■I^H^H^ K'flffl j^^^^^^^^HM|^^^|Hli| t ^!i ■ ?'"1 J^^^^^^^W^^^^^ffi L Si^.'ll ^^Hw^^Mfj,' i '■ ; i '1 22g DbSCRJI^TION^ merchandize, not mentioned in the bill of lading, Afterwards they difpofe of thefc goods to other parts of the colony, and divide the profits, as it is but juft, wit(i the Englilh owners of tliofe (hips, who are only at the tiouble of changing jtheir flag. On the contrary, fhould the > whole c^rgo be fold ofF, the Frenchman, in whofe name this (hip appears to have been purchafed^ takes in a little £lh merely for form fake, then pretends he has completed bis cargo, and is going to fell it at Martinico. The officers belonging to the cuftom-houfe be- lieve him upon his word, and figi} his bill of lading, upon which he returns very fafe . to Bofton with Englifh hands. At his de- parture from Louifburg he puts out a French flag; and as foon as he gets to fea, hp hoiils Englifh colours. The fame game he plays after he has taken in what lading of fifh he pleafcs at Bofton or elfewhere, and i^ this manner he arrives fafe at the French iflands in the Weft-Indies, where he fells his cargo, for the account of thofe who employ him in this hazardous praftice. , '«^ PS> They ^ - f» iahe Commerce^ Wc* 2ig ' They %o' hot 'Ulfe lb* much precaMon in wittier ports and Harbours of Cape Breton. As thcfe Have been no officers yet appoint- ed to inarch foreign vefTels, the inhabitants^ hiye ho' (cruple to buy their cod V which they afterwards carry to Louifburg, and fell ¥thtre,'Usihc produce of their own fifhery. F\!irthief, "there are feveral merchants at L6tiilHiir^, who have commiffioners to buy this fifli in (Uftant havens, and bring it ta this town ; then putthig it on board their owri* veflels, where they have feme iifh 'Already, they export it to the French iiknds itt^^^e Weft-Indies. \ . V^ 'In contequence of thefe underhand prac- ticfeSi the money goes out of the country ; whei^eA«, corifidering the quantity, and el^cially the quality of our fifh, the ha- latiCib of trade (hould be m our favour. Nay, we feem to connive at this abufe, While we aire extremely watchful in regard to' th^ rl^ro trade, which is alfo proni- Wed; ■ Yet as it is very difficult to commit iny fraud in the latter, without being dif- covered, ' it needs not fuch a vigilant eye to >: - 0^3 over^ I 230 P ili C JL I P t It)' N ^ ^ overlook it ^ whereas the utmoft «areig requifite in regard to the ibrmeir* I ihal| therefore begin with pointing o^t ibaie of the particular methow, for remedying.^ above abufes, fo far as concerns the har«^ hour of Louiibui:g; . .v iiiiiii^;i. mw? ^ A$ ibon as the Englifh (hipt cOtfie to aa anchor, we ought to fend, not only -a ^« poraJi and four men, according tb coftbm, but likewife an officer^ who fliotil^ Astfm board till the fearch was oompletecL ^ Firft, this officer, fuppofing him an honeil; man, would in all probability preveiit the captain of the ftiip from bribing^ the fbldiers*' St* condlyi his prefence would induce the cuftom-houfe people to do their duty, ef* pecially: as he would be coBumffioaed to give ;^n account to the governorv of the manner in which every thing was tEanf- • It would be likewife necefiaryf that the perfons belonging to the cuflom-houfe, on their part, made a ftrift fearch into every thing without exception, in the pwfence of the officer ; and it would be proper,, now, f,p p and md tketi, f tlie order mi ptiA6h)ality> with which thb iearcii puglH to be performed. In fome cales they (ho^ make a -fecond fearcb, when tkpfe veSt^if are. upon the poiipt of returning to their own country. This happens particularlyi when dsie biU of lading givem in hy the captaiii&y mentions only fueh goods^ a$ aetthor the governor nor the commiiiary «0l^d fulFer to be landed ^ and then it is light and prudent to inquire, whether they carry thofe goodis away with ib^em. la ihort, this fearch is abfolutely neceilary for foreign vcffels, which have been pcr- ffiitted to be £oid, 9x4 $0 <:bAn|;« ibsif The officecs of the CD&oms ought like* wife to vifit all French velfcls, efpecially thofe which ^e faid to come from Gaijp^ and Paboze or Pavos i for theie aise ^ moft fufpefted. But in order intirely to put a flop to this fmuggling, the gover*- iior> of Quebec ibouU appoin^i; fome perfoa at Gafpe and Paho^e, with a commiiCoii to gi asiLt certificates to all captains of ihips Q 4 that ♦ t that took in any lading of 'Cod^li(h in thofe ports, rpecifying the quantity $ which Cer- tificates the captains fliould be obliged to produce at Louift)urgr lff*>;*VwOr - When a fhip is fufpe6ted of having any contraband goods on board, Aie ought to be ordered upon the key> becaufe there (he li more in public view j befides, no fhip and cargo fhould ever be difpofed of;^ with* out making a thorough fearch. The dap* tain of the port ought alfo to take bii i^ounds eviery^ night, in his boat or canoe, with the utmofl: diligence. I ' ^-^4^ -.lU'.^U- -"i>.4 proper execution of thefemeafures Wioiild infallibly pievent any further Smug- gling at Louifburg. , -?^ii4^' • In regard ^to the contraband trade carried 0n in t{he other ports ^and havens of the two ifl^nds, as tliere arc no cuft^m-houfe offi- cers to fearch the ihips,' the want of thefe might be fupplied by means of redoubts, which the government intends to erec^l in thofe parts ; and the commanding officer ought to keep a flri^ look out to prevent the approach of fmugglers and interlopers. u. "i^i 9- He the Cctnmereey &(^ ^i 233 Hfe fhould ' pierihit no foreign veflcls to anchor there at all; confcquently they, would be obliged to fail directly to Louif- burg. But if bad weather^ or fome unfore- feen accident fhould conftrain any of thofc veflets to put into fome of our harbours, the commander of the ne^reft redoubt may permit them to take -flielter, till they are in* a condition to get out to fea again. Still he ought to fend a ferj^ant, ortrufty corporal on board; to prevent their landing gooda, orany of our people from going near them : this ferjeaiit fhould re- main on > board till t^it time of their depar- ture:' ^-^hus' the officer, at the fanie time that I he obferves the rules of hofpitality, in granting all neceffary affiftancc to ftangers, may be faid toconfult the public welfare. Another part of his duty would be, nbt toilifFer any boat whatc/cr to ftir out of the harbo»iir belonging to his own jurifdi6lion, without having obtained an exprefs per- niiflion from himfelf in writing, and takert the declaration firom the captain or com- manding officer of the place he is bound' ■HM^i ' for; \\ i| ft' i - 1 ",•>•■■ ?l m I for ; ind at lib return heibofiikl carefully examine whether he has not brought baok any contraband goods with him. > It is howeirer to be prefumed, that wheu the commiffioners of the cuftoms come to (fit redoubts ere6led in the different ports of the two iflaiids, they will likewife a^>oint a proper officer to manage their interefb : ib that at all events, the contraband trade will be intirely fupprtffed, ^ 4 M <> \ f f But I begin now to pcifc^iTCi that the part of legiflator, which methinks I have a6ted tolerably well, has carried me far beyond the bounds I had prefcribed to my* ielf. I have been ib prolH that there i< no room to infert a fhort memorial of the fteps neoeffiuy for a private pcrfbh, or eveii for a governor, to cnrkh himfelf in this place. However, as thcfe hints may be of fervice to yoOj I fhall*, upoafomc' future occadon, conmiunicate them to you in ano- ther epiftle, after trcarit^ of matters more intcrefting to you at prdait : befides, the fubjeft being an affair of calculation, is dry tnotrgh of itfclf to be confidered as fomewhat foreign *i * '•■ Rsfiemns en Cape BretoH. d 3 5 ibireign to tbc purpoTe. But enough, for tbil LETTER XV.^"*^^^ ^epxlons, or conjectures on Cape Breton j of ' afchemefor making Louijburg impregnable. plans and means propofed to the court oj France %y Cqunt de Raymond* ' '—"'-• ^-^ ; ih'M ';!:/: n hot '^ 'i\.n oi k'M OULD you ux^gine it? The plear? ri fare I formed tp xayfelf in dramng lip the regulations in , my laf(» has been diftUfbed by fome vexy ugly reflej^ioos. Do noit think that this is owing to any 4kr k^'m my |>roj^s : {^ from it i it is rather becsiufe they ^^ extremely reafonable, and |iot only.^fpfu^, but eafy 10 (:arry into exe- who perceiving the benefits wt have reaped from^ it, grows jealous ^t.],aft, and endeavours to depnve ^s of this advantagev Bejldes. as it is an ^conveniency on the one hand, to (land in «6cd, (>f.^ ^ly a^ftan^ pf q^x m^T t^biui^ , hour;. 9}6 Refltjikm m Cape Breton: bodi^'S 6n the otHcr/ it is very dangcf^6iij to have no occafion for any dealings with him at all, cfpecially when we muft in con- /equcnce attempt to deprive him of a moft hcneficial branch of commerce. For then the. 0I4 jealoufies and animnfities Revive ; (tifficulties are ftarted ; and endeavours are ufcd to defeat our defigns, as foon as they arc begun to be put into execution. Hence v^6 fittd,- that notWng gives us fo 'rauA dflbhce, ' «i to fet sa neighbouring ftate at- tempt to (hake W a conneicion, which hW befen-long to^our advantage. Mutual dt^eridahce is Certainly agreeable to' the vidviTif of the creatfoh ;' but that which arifeth^from ighcir§ftce on the- one hand- aftdtyi^^nhy on the other, is ihfup^ortable. Theft <6fifiderationy have infcnfibly led m^ t6' slh enquiry aftfer a proper retttedy againft thofei evils ; and the ^followin'^ appeared to me the moft advifeaWe^ In the firtl place/ 1 think that we fliould begin witfi putting ourfel^^es into a pr©per ikiit' 6f \iefence agailf(l a foreign force, before 'w^'^hdeiavottr u^to\Jk{^iPi we (hould befurc df^the utiHtt ^ JwVa/J of » ■ R^o^mi Qf^ Cape Br^fo/k 137 oC ourfchcmcsy before w& publifheo uiemj gnd it would He even prudent to rclinqUifU fuch A9 could be of no great fervice to us^ i^qcauijb ti)e publication would b^. attended with more danger than profit. Upon tlicf« pcinciples,. li the goverpment were in my biuids, I.ilioUld fortify both thcfe iflands by degrees, and as it were in the way of amufcment. Far from neglefting the fecu- dty of Louifburg, I fhould endeavour to render it impregnable, without feeming in tbe lead to alter the prefent ftate of com- merce. Then finding, that to fupport this colony, cofts the king upwards of a million three hundred thoufand livres, I fhould calculate> as near as poflible, how much I (hould be able to dedu6l from that fum. 1 fhould not think of making an intire re- dutStion, nor trouble my head with a thou- (and chimerical fchemes on this account. The example of an able olHcer, whom I mentioned to you before, would not tempt xne. Would you imagine, Sir, that thi« man fhould take it into his head to re^fy nature ? He found that the cabbagc^> and letticc. "It .■''' I- if li 1 «3l Rtflea&f^^ 6up€ Braok IctUGie, with fome other legumes, did m, turn ta a proper account; and therefore he refolved they^ ihould make way for the real ibuToea of plenty. In confequence of tim noble ambition, he prefented a plan to the courty for clearing smd manuring all th« laadi, which were afterwards to produce every fort of grain. This memorial wai dated at Louifburg, and might, with a jufler title, have been dated l^om the ca!ftk ofjlidne, or from Merlki's cave. It abound* ed in fai^ fpeculiation ; in paiticuUr, the rules of midtiphcation were ftrained td fuch a degree, that whereas we have hardly grain enough at preient to maintain twelve men, we (hould have been enabled, by hiii magic art, to fupport all the inhabitants rf Canada, and no doubt but ii^ time, the whole kingdom of France. But as, in all probability, he would have difcbvered the iecret of changing our dry barren foil, our irocks, and our turf, into fruhfiil plains } and for my part, I am poflefTed of no fuch wonderful power ; I (liall, therefore, con-» £nc myielf to what I had been mentioning idbpi to Reflexiomm Cafe BrkaiL 339 to you already, in legard tQt the cod-Macty^ fdikh indeed is our ftaple trsde^ avd witfii ptoper managomenty might be rendered a gold mine. Not but fomSething mi^ be done on the ifiatid: g{ St. John f wkkh, befide its natural productions in difieceot kits of wood, of which I had before made mention, is capable of many improvements. Firft of all, the fifhery alone is a very confidecable article. A company that would undertake the management thereof, mighty with a little oeconomy, eftaUi(h a due pro- portion between the cxpence and profit; and the country being alfo more proper for culture, r 'ght be parcelled out to fuch as muft be maintained upon the iiland. The for trade with the favages, is likewife of very great ufe towards increafuig the de- mand for our cod-fifh ; fo that all we have to do, is to augment the num- ber of inhabitants. By this flep the mea- dow lands would be improved; the cattle wovdd multiply -, and the feveral fpots, fit forfowing of corn, which are not near fo icarce as in the iile of Cape Breton, night be iim^ If *• ( ^^t> Reflexkm m 6npe BrkeH. be turned to ai good account. This fchcmt has been Qften propofed; but ^ev&r f^eadily executed; which* has? be^ owing to the great poverty of thofe who are to put it into execution, and to the unfair and im- prudent difbribution of lands. Neither lias there been any greater progrefs in peo* .{^ing Labrador. It ha& been the opinion of a great many, that the fertility of' this lafl country, with the commodioufnels of .the cod-fiihery, would draW over all the • Acadians, difalfed^ed to the new govero-^ . ment \ and that the conveniency of enter- ing upon the fur trade with the fa v ages, who inhabit that country, would be ftili a further bait. And to obviate the inconvc- niencies that might arife from thefe new fettlements, and from the vicinity of thofe very favages, care had been taken to allift the former with advanced funis, • in propor- tion to their neceflities, and to keep the • latter in awe by ftrift vigilance and order, :and by maintaining a body of regular troops. ' - '*' »4 tiJ ; i» There was likewife another fchcmc, which, Reflexions on Gape Breton. 241 which, in my humble opinion, was the inoft plaufiblc of them all. You 1 cmem- ^ ber, that upon the iirft foundation of this * colony, they had fame notion of fortifying * Port Dauphin. I told you their reafon for^ giving the preference to Louiiburg. But^ it was not long before they became fenfible ' of their error. Louifburg, which they looked upon as impregnable, was taken in ^ thelaft war : this, in all probability, would ^ not have happened to Port Dauphin, or^ the eiiemy would have paid fo dearly for* ' the acquiiition, that we fhould have no oc-*-^ cafion to bewail the lofs. Thefe confidera- ^ tions (hould have immediately determined the government to enter upon fuch mea-^ fares, as muft have been efteemed a nccef-; fary precaution, fmce the caufe of the quar- ' rei fliU fubfided. But inflead of that, the I commandant, fo often mentioned, and who, \ if I may take the liberty fo to exprefs my- fdfj had lulled the court into a lethargy,' prdp^fed fomc other expedients of fecu^^ |rity. He took int6 his head to build re- - jtloiibtb,' and ht that purpofe, opened the R road W^\ i/^2 Reflexions, on Cape Bretofh road of Mi^e. True it is that tliereby he facilitated the communication between Louif- burg and Port Toqloufe j but, at the fame time, he paved the way for the enemy. For ^he Englifli would have found it very difficult to, march over bogs and precipices j but now the road is like a gravel walk. And very likely you will alk me, what is become of the redoubts ? In .truth, Sir, tlieic Jiave been none built as yet; though lie Ihould have begun with this ai:ticle. So that I am much afraid,, as things are now candu6led,, that the enemy will benefit by the conveniency , withqut meeting, with the o^ru6lion that fhoul^ have been annejKf^d to it* In this critical conjun6luf 6;, feme well-difpofed perfons haye revived the khmx, of fortifying Port p^uphip.^. Thf a^yaJl- tages of its fituatipn have been again in- culcated, efpecially that anting from the impoflibility of enteiing the harbpur with moie than pi)e (hip at a time. The.vicipi- ty of Lab^a^pr, which reiniers the QomW- nication fi;om hence, a§. eafy ^ f^pm any other part of the iflandj is a great addition vi'*' 'I" A to rj .\ iteflextons 07l Cape Breton. 243 to the importdnce of the defign. I wiih we vvoiild fct about this work in good ear- ned, that the affair may not end in mere IpecLilation ; becaufe if deferred much longer, it will be too late ; and its getting wind may be of dangerous confeqiiencc. For I forefec we (hall have only the glory of being inventors of this fcheme 5 and our ible reward will be the honour we (hall daim from the original plan. There is reafpn to believe, the enemy will foon ex- cufc our carrying it into execution. The ftorm begins to gather over our heads, and we feera to be but very ill prepared againft it; In tluis refpedb, our imprudence is fo much the greater, as it is impoflible for us, without being giiilty of the mod abje6t flattery, to lay, that we have not contributed to it our- felvcs. In fhort, we are not only at the eve of a war, by which we are likely to fiiffcr ; but we have alfo the misfortune of having given room to fay, that however undracly, it is our own fault. The Engliftl begin to be roufed j which we have been convince^ of for fome time. But in order R 2 to 1^^ •ft i.t? «' li« m > M % M ifs; if ,, It Mi 244 Reflexions on Cape Breton. to make you fully acquainted with thefe di* flurbances> and that you may judge impar- tially between both nations, we muft enter into a difcudion of their old quarrels, and the different kinds of hoftilities committed on both fides 5 for as to their mutual difpo- (ition, you are no ftranger to it, having been fufficiently informed thereof by my letters. Little does it fignify which of the two nations declared themfelvcs opeirfy j the real aggrefTor is he, that was the canfe of the quarrel. Happy, if we could only charge ourfelves with having been too pre- cipitate in difclofmg our defigns ;> or, at lead, if we had been in a condition to bear the confequences of our imprudence. You fee plainly, my dear Sir, that 1 am. un- bofoming myfclf to you iwith the moft un- referved confidence ; which I have always done, and (liall always continue to do on the mofl important occafions. A& it is the greateft pain to me to difguife my ienti- mcnts, whenever I conceive a didike > f) I am overjoyed, when I have an op^Jwi t diity of opening myfelf to my friend^, and de- riii^ j>C H • daring f s 7 lidt \ Of thi War between &^c. 245 claiing the (incere attachment, with which' Um devoted to his perfon. I am, 6cc, LETTER XVI. Of the war hetnae'cn the fa*vages an(^ th Eng^x lifi. Curious rcflexiom of the Count de^ Raymond upon this head, fiw*^ AS the war of the Mickmac, Marichitc, and Abenalci favages is, to our great misfortune, very likely to kindle a general combuftion, I fhall therefore begin to en-^^ itcrtain you with a narrative of this event/ I With regard to the origin, or fecret* Icaufe of this very fame war, it belongs to'^ racft of ienfe and impartiality to determine it. Yet I think fome hints may be drawn from a knowledge of the refpedivc interefts, vvhith each of the two nations miglit have to infringe the peace. We ought alfo to enter into another confideration of equal importance, in order to produce a difpofi- tion of doubting, without which it is very difficult to form a right judgment. I (liall [afterwards entertain you with the different . R 3 inte- rs f%; m sn K ;'s' i fli 246 ^^ t)flhWar between M\^ inteiefts, which the enemy lajjid ;. we may have in going to v^r, and fliall w^igh them %ith the uimofl impoitiality. Tl>e point, lat prefcnt, is to examine whetlier the pao- tives which the favagcs, our allies, had for going to war with the Enghih, were real, or only pretended. If tliey arc I'olid, there is no fort of doubt, but thevJEnglilli are to blame, for tendering P9 aciiOunt^bk for their confequences j but if^ . on tlic otha hand, they Ihould appear to be fi^ggcfted by us, and invented only as a prpter^ce, then we are certainJy the aggrcfTors. For after all, it cannot be faidy that in cafe thC; lavagcj build theiif averfion end hoftilities on frivo- lous pretences, tl>at it- . is not our fault. Every man is anfwerablc for ihc mifchief he I approves, and cfpecially when the pcrfon that does the mifchief is, in ibiisuQ ipeafure, his dependent. But I (hould be glad they eould lay nothing mor^, than that tacit approbation, to our charge. Can the| ' fpcech of one of our conuDandants £0 the favages, which I gave you woridfor word, in pm oi my letters > jpanit, I %, bfr^l the Savaget and the Englip- 2 4.7 fafourably interpreted, as to wipe off thiR ftain ? The exhortations of pricfts, who have repeated the fame things a thoufand times, and €nforced them with the different difpenfations of religion, of which thefe poor people think them the fupreme depo- fitaries J the purpofes ordained by this very rtligion, as inculpated by thcfe priefts ; all thefe circumftances make too much againft us, tmlfefs our quarrel is founded in the main upon equity and juftice. In order to decide this important queftion, we rauft iirft of all know what duties are enjoined by a t'reaty of peace, and what difpofitions it ought to promote in the con tra6Hng parties. In the firft place it is certain, that a rccoA^ cilittion, folemnly fwom to, ought to be followed by an abfolute pardon of all paft provocations and injuries. GouH the hu- man breaft be fo generous as intircly to forget every refentment, the merit would fe flill ' the greater ; but thofe who perpe- tuate their arnmoiity and revenge, without having received a frefh injury or provoca- tion, arc guilty of thcr moft horrid pei-fi- R 4 . dioufnefs h'X lU >l 248 ^^4)f theWar between ', dioufnefs. In the fecond place, a treaty of peace fuppofeth in the contracting par- tics, either an incapacity of continuing the war; or motives of convcniency, which make them deiire to fee an end thereof ^ or very cogent reafons which oblige them to it. In either of thofe three cafes is it not certain, that we ought to rcfolve to comply with a duty, which we are con- vinced, at the fame time, is become an acl of necefiity ? And is it not very proba- ble, that though this refolution may be fomewhat involuntary in the beginning, yet it will afterwards fit eafy upon our minds from our natural diipofition to fociety and repofe ? And can there be a more efFe6lual method to weaken the ilrcngth of the paf- iions, which have operated under particu- lar circumftances, than to vary the fcene ' by a more agreeable courfe of amufements? I do not mean to fpeak here of thofe am- bitious ftatefmen, (to give them no worfc epithet) whofe minds are full of cr^ft and deceit ; whofe hearts arc compounded of r ambiguity j vv|io, in evciy treaty of peace, the Savages and the Englijh, 249 contrive to infert fuch claufes, as Hiall fiir- nifh them with a pretence to renew the war. I beg you will remember, that I am fpieaking of favages, fuch as I liave aheady .(lefcfibcd to you, and fuch as tliey are in re- ality ; confcquently, that I am fpeaking only of a fimple people, whofe tricks and amnmg arc but momentary ftarts j whofe views and puifuits feldom go beyond the necefTaries of life ; whofe paflior.s, after the firft indulging, generally fubfide -, who moreover are of an open difpofition, and remarkable for a certain franknefs in their behaviour, which though it may be fome- what ruftic, yet is not fo dangerous, ns th^ addrefs of a pohtc diflemblcr. Yet thefe are the men that violated the peace, to which they had confented together v\ Itii us, and who have alledged fuch motives iu their defence as perhaps we ourfelves fliould have been afhamed of. Though in the re- capitulation of the grievances, the memory of which we took fuch particular care to preferve, you have feen the greateft part of what the Ravages alledge, ftill it is proper to mMmK ^^ i ^iffliji im 2^S ^ Of the War beliieen ^^ to lay them once more before you. Ihc fame cortimandiug officer, who knew them fo well, has explained himfelf to court tip- on this fubjeft, in the following terms. •• The favages have never been able to " forget, the feveral efforts which the Eng- •• lifh in North America have ufcd, at the time of their firfl fettling in that country, in order to complete their utter deftruc- 5* tion : which is the reafon that they have continually ibught for opportunities to fhew their utmofk refentment. They have ever had prefent to their memories, " the aflions I am going to mention/* But as this is only a recital of what I wrote to you in a former letter, 1 refer you to that once more, and as foon as you have p^rufcd it, you may return to what follows: ifMilJf ^ ,1BV; ^ " Towards the beginning of the year 1750, the Englifti, upon their arrival at Chebukto, caufed a report to be fprcad, that they were going to extirpate the fa- vages ; and they feemed to a^k accord- ingly, by fending different detachments "^m ' . <. of « cc that the favages ima- . ' " ginc i( (( (( V ■ ■r-l ■i m fa "'■'' ,•'•■ ■;.■ -1 ^1^ • •!? m m ■ .1 252 ^0/ ^ie HTar between 'i^V ** gine that they may Gommit what violence ** they pleafc agaiiift their enemies. And, *' indeed, it has coil an infinite deal of pains to check this vindidlive difpofition, which they thought they might lawfully indulge by way of reprifals j and this ** charitable zeal has faved the life of many i( i( cc * an Englifhman. v^«-^»7 h^^'i tm^m "-^ ;.j,V Thefe very mifllonaries have it in their power to fliew manufcript copies of tiie inftruftions, which they gave to the fa- ** .vages, concerning the moderation and humanity we are bound to ufe, even in time of war. They have likewife com- pofed, on this veiy fubje6t, a kind of catechifm, which they teach the children, and it hath been already productive of excellent efFefts." vf"^*^^/"^ "'''''• ^ Mi*-*^ Should not you be apt to determine from this memorial, that we did not blow the coals ? Independently of the harangue, with which both you and I are fo greatly taken, was I to blame in faying, that fuch far fetched motives, the effeft of which, in yurfuance ot the principle above laid down, -■^ ought «k (C Cf C( cc cc (C j ,^i' •* In drawing up the preceding mcmo- " rial, I have had different views. I was ** willing to demonflrate, that France had ** no fhare in the declaration of war, which •' the favages made againft' the Englidij •* arid that the motives of the former were *^ juft: and well-founded* The particulars relating to thefe motives were communis cated to me by a miflionary of credit, ** who is a very honeft man. Yet the <* minifter may eafily guefs, that I have ** drawn thi& memorial in fuch a manner, as it may be (hewn to the ambafTadors of hi.<> Britannic Majefty ; and that I have ^* tafcen care not to infert any of the barba- '« rous proceedings of the favages. Befides, '' I have been at the fame pains here to juftify our condu£l ; for at my arrival, I found a great ihany, who were of opi- " nion tliat we were in the wrong. " True it is, that the officers who com- ** manded tlie detachments fent by the go- « «c « C( :^w ** vernor (( u (( <( (I chafed fb dear, had we received the law from our enemies combined. For, let «s fuppofe that France had been compelled at thiat time to rclinquidi the Spani^ fucceifion ^ ^ " to '^^ of the prefemfFar^^ 259 to the hoirfe of Auftria, and the barrici* towns to the importunity of the Dutch, would not (he have been able in time to repair thefe lofles ? But the Englidi would alib have infilled upon her fhare of the fpoils ; no doubt of it : yet this fhare would have been in proportion to the lofs fuilained upon .the whole, fiefidcs, tlic jcaloufy which the allies began to conceive of the Englifh, would have greatly dimi- ni(hed the proportion of the latter ; and perhaps thofe feeds of divifion alone would have' preferved a power, which they want- ed rather to reduce, than intirely to demo- lifli. It is however certain, that the French government, under that dread and a{^re- henflon, could not think of a worfe method of attaining a little refpite, in the opinion of all good judges. It would have been a hun- dred times better for us, had the facrifices, which we were obliged to make, been with- in our reach; we might, at leaft, have taken an opportunity to recover them again, if ever we repented our bargain. But when we enabled an enemy, almoil inac- 'Ti * ^2 edible, f IV ' \ ' i M U ■b,\ Ui'A r m i (8 2&0 Reflexions m tbi Caufe ceffible, to aggrandize himfetf to fuch a degree at our expence, that nothing could hinder him from fwallowing up the remain* der of our poffeinons, whenever he pleafedj wai not this much the fame as giving our- f(?lves up to him, with our hands and feet tied ? The naval force of Great-Britain is formidable, even to nations that have been at greater pains than we to rival them on that element i how much more fo mud it have appeared to the French, who have never made the firft figure as a mari- time power ? Upon yielding Acadia, New- foimdland, and Hudfon's Bay to the Eng- lifh, what refource had we left, in cafe our new friends fhould have been tempted by this baity to covet the reft of our pofleiTions ? Could it enter into our heads, that by ren- dering them more powerful upon an ele- ment, the empire of which we have ever in vain difputed with them, we (hould be the more able to defend ourfelves againft an attack, after we had wantonly expoTed our- felves to danger ? Did we imagine, that we could invade them with flat-bottomed boats, ^. or of the frefent War. 2 6 1 or fit out great fleets to cope with them at fea, with the fame eafe as we might march an army into Flanders, or fend a hundred thoufand men upon any of our frontiers ? No, it is impoflible our miniders could have dreamt of fuch chimeras ; and the decay of our marine but too plainly proves, it ne* ver fo much as entered their heads. Once more I repeat it ; the treaty of Utrecht was the effect of confternation and defpair ; the articles were drawn up, without the leaft regard to prudence, and I doubt whe- ther they were figned with fmcerity. Be diat as it may, I believe it was oiir intered not to break it, till we could form ourfelves into a Atuation that depended on a thou- fand concurrent circumflances, which we had put altogether out of our power to combine. But having found fmce by ex* perience, how difficult it was to ra?fe our- felves to fo favourable a (ituation, and hav- ing difcovered to our coft, how greatly we had expofed our weak fide to the enemy, we began at lad to think, that in order to prevexU th? jntire ruin of our colonies, it S 3 was (i -4 #• 'M' '4 d-4 I 262 Reflexions m thiCaufe was incumbent upon us to make the mofl vigorous efforts. Thefe confiderations led us back to the treaty, which had reduced us to that melancholy fituation ; and wt- found one way to ;a;et off. Whether this was left open with dcfign, or whether our nc- ccflitics unclofcd our eye:s Aill we were under the fame difficulty to make ufe of it. To wreft a treaty to our intereft, or even to break thrvough it at once, is no filch great matter, when we have the greater weight of power on our fide ; othei'wife it is a very dangerous attempt. In the latter cafe, the fcheme may even prove detri- mental to the projeftor, if he is not a perfon of fiiperior (kill and ftratagem. It is therefore evident, that wc fli6uM have uied all pofRble endeavours, to re- cover that degree of force, 'which was neceflary to loofen our chains ; and it is equally evident, tlidt we ought not to have given time to the enemy to rivet thofe chains too faft. Neither is it left manifefV, that all thefe jfteps fliould have t>een taken gradually j for inftance, we ought ?, 1. I of the prefent War. 263 dught to have ftarted a difpute, as it were by chance, after which we might have infenfibly enlarged the obje6^, and gain- ed ground continually, at the fame time that we concealed our defign as much as poflible, and wefe even protefting the in- nocence of our intention j in a word, we ought to have fteadily purfued this mcafure, till the time came that we were flrong enough to pull off the maik, and to a6t without conftraint. Such is the condu6l we ought, in good policy, to have obferved, and what fome ^etend we have obferved. Can we there^- fore confider the accufation as abfurd ? ^fo furely, the moft we could do would be to deny it ; for people very often omit doing, what one would naturally think they ought to have done. We iliould therefore, in that cafe, have recourfe to proofs : but fup- pofing thefe are contradidlory ; fuppofmg the fame anions are related in a different manner by the oppofite parties, we muft then have recourfe to the motives that de- termined their a6tiort». i w^ ill..''' >! '. I ■ I I .•■\ S4 But ).'.<'7 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ .«*> , 1.0 I.I Ui»2^ mgs ■^ Bii |2.2 lAO 12.0 M l.2_5||.4 |,.6 < 6" ► '9 Ta ^: o 7 /A HiotQgraphic Sdences Corporation \ i\ •ss v> ^•^ ^.>^ \ 23 WIST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. I4S80 (716) S72-4S03 264 Reflexions mthe Capfe '< But here a notion occurs to me, by \yhich tills afFdir might very eafily be determined, without difallowing the pretenfions of rither of the parties. • • . ;.v/y '- The French fay, they did not want to go to war 5 but it was the Englifh who defucd it: they fay veiy true, if they mean ao open and declared war. The Englifh pretend, they were attacked, and obliged to de- fend thcmfelves ; true, if by attacks they mean fome little attempts made gr^idVfilly, to difiodge a formidable neighbour, and a few precautions taken to put it imirelyout of that enemy's power to do as any \s2ixm. You fee, Sir, we may reconcile both parties, fincq the events have two differe^i^; ^fpefts;, and it is our bufmefs to exan^ji^c^^ t^en^ thoroughly, when there is no Jonge^jmy poflibility to recall them. Yet in ^all pror bability, if the power of enchai^ting ^as {lill in falhion, as it is faid to haye.foiripcily been, there would be no difpijte at ^11 in regard to this matter. We (hpuld haw begged the favour of fome magician tp faf- cin^te the eyes of ouc enemies, to render tj^e 265 of the prefent War. fliips we were building, and the forts we were ~ creating, altogether invifible till the very moment it was proper to draw the curtain \. for if we could have difclofed our defigu with impunity, they would not have had a word to fay to us. On the other hand, if the Englifh had fufpefted any thing of the matter, they would have had recourie , in ; private, to the fame good friends as our- ^ felves, and would have learnt how to defeat. ^ our dtfigns, without being fo brutifti as to , feize on our (hips, and to fire againfl us the ^ firft. Pardon me, Sir, if for a moment Lti;eat ♦ a viery ferious fubjedl in a ludicrous manner, f I am diverted to fee people raifing doubts fi where the fubje«5l; will not bear anyj ^nd to ^.^ hear a thoufand difputes about an empty [^ ceremony, with a multitude of arguments q to juftify, or condemn the want of form in 4 a quarrel, while they give themfelves no % fort of pains to examine the main point in queflion. For my part, I think th?it with- out fuch a number of arguments and invec- Uves, one need only to fay, that it w^ the intereft of Fmac^ to wage warj but {he was ^mm llf 111, yi>^'\ it * m i ?' u ■iimi 466 Rejk^ns on the Caufe was in na hurry ; kx fhe wanted to ^aki her dtds by flow and fare meafures. England had no motive in the vt^orld to defire a warj but her cAenyy ftirnifhcd her with godd feafon$, and, fhe did not chufe to wait for their conveni^ncy. The former hath un- dertaken a pbiht, which good policy direft- ^d her to undertake ; thcf latter hath' dififo- veitd what ncceffi^ obliged htv Co- difcdverj jt£lir f '^€»i-» ^1*1-3 :i I ^m^ Set. i will's ■i«/-l'll '^^t^'ft'?' •i-i , . ■<., ■K. .■ i **^fti:.i*{^Hf^ ■ '■ ^ f^ >j I ' , i.i..= ' '"i',.,iifcjr r .ia-'U'^TJ- LET- ^68 R^m^d^s Grievances Account of what the Count de Raymond wrote to the French minijiry concerning ihe pre^ i tended grievances againji the Englijh^'whom ^''pF accufed of being inclined to quarrel nvnfo us, ■^, $ I R, . /m-tyi^tpnihflD .tei^^iTlfilrs I: TO LD you that I flioqld. begin with our complaints ag^inft thjGi Englifh, and I intend npw ^ keep my. word. You wi|l (ind nothing relative to the pr^enfions of our en^miesy for we 4o ^9t trace n^atters fy high, and you Jhall receive the infor* mtiqi^ from them. The , prcfeit point relates only to purielves, and tp, the charge we bring agdnft that natipfi^jj but in or- der to flate the afFair clearly, I ihall once more borrow the words of the comman- dant, whom I mentioned to you before. " The following extra6t (this is what he writes to court) containeth the tranfac- tiona between the French and Englifh on ** the frontiers of New France and Acadia, *\ jinqe the peace of 1748, in which it is ^#^i V clearly cc << i*^. ik tT.■r^?T?!n. y mond wrote .( ng ihe pre^ gtipy whom to quarrel iW rvry if-t- begm with ic EngUlh, vord. You pretenfions tace n)atters the infor* ejbnt point >, the-, charge ,but in or- I {hall once le comman- u before. is what he |the tranfac- Englifh on and Acadia, which it is cleaily (( . ft againftthe Bftglijb^' 169 »< clearly proved, that the Englifh, on fe- « veral occafions, violated the laft, as well « as former treaties. «* The governor of New France having <* received advice in 1750, that the Engliih " were going to fend troops to thofe parts, " which were ftill in conteft between France " and England, and at the time when com- " rtiiflar ies were appointed to regulate the "limits, he ordered a detachment of troops " to advance that way. Yet he gave di- « regions to the commanding officer, to uri- " dertakc nothing Ivhatever that was capa- " ble of altering the good hafmony which « fdbfifted between the two courts ; to avoid^ <* by iiU iheahs, being tht aggreflbi: ; but "only to repet force by force, in cafe he " was attacked. ^^^>'"'**^^^fi"-*^' ' -^^ '^^ '^'^^ <* The C3iievalier de la Come, who cf6mi ** mandfed this French detachment, efpicd ** oh the 12th of September 1750, in Fun- " di Bay, feveftteen fail of different fixes, " which came to an anchor the rjth at Wef- " kak ; and the 15th fome of them parted ** from the reft, and arrived in Fundi Bay. 41 m mm ii^i. :\ cc (C cc cc cc cc cc f^'jo Rcgfmond^s Grievances >«* The Chevalier de la Corne was then at f * Faint d Beaufejour^ within five leagues of Bay VertCy which is feparated from Fundi Bay only by a fmall river, called ,if Mefagoueche, or Saint Mary. He had " left part of his detachnient at Welkak, <' under the command of the Sieur de la Valiere^ capt^n of a company of the troops of Louifburg, who perceiving two £ngli{h boats, with twenty armed met) in each, and colours flying \ and judging that their defign was to ma)^ themfelves •* matters of fome pirogues in the river of *^ Wefkak, which wcre< Rationed there with 5|.:ft view to fecure the communication be- *' liween his detachment and that of the ** Chevalier de la Come, he difpatched two *A officers, with forty men, to enquire into ** the real intention of the En|;lilh. The '' latter cocked their pieces twice, doubdefs with a view of inducing the French to fire firft. But the orders to our people «< of not a6ting oiFenfively, were too clear f' to admit of the lead contravention on our "part. This the Englifli perceiving, re- ,. "~ " folved cc cc « f( n (( (( ii (( (( (( it u <( <( C( (( « menced txiAttities againft the French the folioiying yiear. *^ In the month of June 1752,: 4 dctach- - , " ment m. : /■ ■ ; ^l^s i^ii AlVJi '""^ain/l theEngliftji^ I77 « bccaufe of the frequent menaces of tha^ "nation. They continued to build vefleis « of airfizes, to feizc on every thing they " met with, and even on the perfbns of fea- " men, which was done on feveral occa- " fions. This very year, at Petit Degrat " in Cape Breton, they took three (hallops,' " with all the crew, whom they fet afhore " for a while, but obliged them to go on " board again, and fent them back by " land, after plundering them of all the " cod which they had caught on the coaft " of Martengo. ' •* When they had made their fettlements "at Chebukto, they fent out detachments "all over Acadia, without any regard to " ancient treaties, to oblige the French and " their families to continue there with their " goods and efFefts, as well moveable as im- " moveable J otherwife to depart from thence, " withoitt taking away the leaft thing. ' " In Auguft and September they feized " on two miffionaries, namely, theSieur " Girard at Cobequit- whom they kept pri^ 5* Ibnt]^ upwards of three months at Che- T 3 " buktoj '**# vU \ tir mm 11 M Uw mm ny Ar 78 Raymonas Grievances M f bukto 5 and the Sieur la Goudalic, whom " they obliged to retprnto France.., •* Since their fettling at Chebukto, they *.* have conftantly kept (liips of force cruizing <* in the paffage of Fronfac, under pretence " of tranlporting cattle from Acadia to the ** iflan(} of St. John, or to Cape Breton. If They have likewife committed feveral ** other hoflilities againft the French veffds ** going and coming from Cape Breton to " St. John's, fo as tp ufe the refpe^^ve crews •* extremely ill, and to feize on theif cargoes, ** and fometimes their velfels, notwitbftand- ^' ing that they produced the moft authcn- " tic pafsports. If they have not afted this •Vyear jn the above manner, it is be^uie *^ France being informed of thefe procecd- ** ings, has kept fome fiigates cruizing on " that coaft. ■s,^lln the month of September 1749^ Mr. ** Jofepb porhron, ^nEn^Ufh captain of a *' prlyateqr, had the affurance to appear off ** the coaft of Cape Breton, and pvpn to .*? touctv: %t Part Tpulo^ie withom pfWif- ^^j(jp%^i>4^egfa|e4Aisipiracyievcral limes. againft the EngUJb.,^ 279 "In 1750 they took, in tlie Strait of ** Ffonfac, one John Michaux, an inhabi- " tant of Port Touloufe, together with hi? •' boat, which they towed behind their fhip : " then they obliged this man to pilot them " as far as Point Prime, in the ifland of St. « John, where they made him land, in or- <» der to look out for provifions, and to beg " leave for them to come afhore ; and the " Sieur Bonaventure, the commanding offi- " cer in that ifland, granted their requeft. . " In the month of Auguft of the fame " year 1750, Jofeph le Blanc, an inhabitant " of Port Touloufe, was taken by the Eng- " glifli, and detained prifoner, together " with feveral other French men and wo- " men, during the fpace of eight days ; at " the expiration of which they were fuffered " to depart, after they had been ftrippcd of " their canoe, and of every thing in it. "There are feveral other fa6ls of the like " nature, which we pafs over in filence, and " which have happened fince the peace, by ** reafon that we have not at prefent the "names of thofe who have becnfvLffcrcn by T4 (( the *M ■V'!v •i,M-& fi\ m 1 28o Raymoml^ 5 Grievances *• the Engliih; yet the fa£l:s arc certain. '- <« The 1 8th of the fame iponth of Auguft i*/ 175c, an inhabitant of Cobeguit, by name ** John Fergufon, was taken by the Ehglifh *' in the London, from Quebec, commanded "by Captain Jaluim, juft at the entrance "of Vixchu. They carried -the veffel "to Chebukto, though there were only " feme Acadian families on board, that " wanted to etire to Port la Joye in the " ifland of St. John, together With their *^ moveables and effeds : but the Englifli " took all they had. - ilK. " Thefe outrages were only a prelude to " the violence committed by Mr. Roux, cap- ^' tain of a frigate belonging to the king of ^ Great-Britain, who had the affurance to 5^ attack one of the king's brigantines, ..Jf named St. Francis, on the 16th of O6I0- •* ber 1750, laden with provifions/ dothes, " and arms, for the French pofta on the f j^iver of St. John. ^ iThis brigantine was ••carried to Halifax, and declared a good J*' prize, though the governor, : upon rc- V fjpivin^.an accouot of the circumftances, ^ -m " h^4 >r ragainji the EngHfth . 281. «* had declared that Mr. Roux was in th^ ** wrong, and had even ordered provifions <* on board the brigantine, with an intent of "fending her back. But as the papers and " declarations of what paffed in regard tO '♦ this affair, have been traiifmitted to court ** by MeflieursDefherbiers and Prevoft, we '* fhall wave entering any further upon this " article, i ij: ; : iik i^tl. . ; ;>. ' ** It is moft notorious, that there has ^* hardly a month paflcd lince the conclud- " ing of the laft peace, in which the Englifh " privateers have not infefted thefe coafls. ** They have even appeared at the niouth "of our harbours, as if they really in- ** tended to frighten us; and no doubt f^^hnX. their defign was to found thefc har- *!^ hours, in order to invade us, upon the ** foft favourable occafion ; and fometimes 'V wc have feen five of their (hips employed ♦• in this buiincfs at a time, - •? The 2 8th of the fame month of Au- *^ guft ^75^^ ail Englifli ^tfr* :v^al times upon a French canoe, in " which 111 i h* w m if. individuals ^ bul; ^ from the; sKTtui^e of the tii^iite, which gave nfe to thofe a^Hons \ thatib, we ought not to jiidge by the effect, bint by the cauie. As for our upbraiding the Engliih, becau^ we have done fome adls of humanity to people of that nation, the charge is not only groundlefs, but puerile j the former, becaufe the generofity of a few individuals, which has frequently met with an equal re- turn from the enemy, does by no means deter- ge m I Vt>\ il ■ '! I " <: s \ /4 i s . J^ :^\ .A „ *^ ■ 284 Raymond s Grievances csrc. deter^iine the interefl of a nation ; the latter, becaufe thofe very individuals haci it not ~ in their power to comply with thofe impulfes of humanity, but on thofe parti- cular .occafions ; in every other refpe£^, they were obliged to fplloiw the orders of their refpedlive fpvereigns, to whom s^one it be- longs to determine the real ihtdrefls of their people. Cbnfequenly there is no ingratitude, ^^here duty andinecdlity.are both a fufficiem plea. ^(«?nWith regard to the true rcafons of the , meafmre that followed, I think I may^ enter into a difcuilion of them with fuch a friend as you ; which I (hall take the liberty to after I have informed you. of the grievances coipplaiiied of by. the Engliih, Y and of their ani^^ tojours^ which I pro- , pofe dbing in my next. I am, . .. ,aoiti.a j fill Yours, &c. f^r? . ' :; J (Mi LET- Difcuffton of the Caufes &c. 285 LETTER XIX. A Dlfcuffion of the caufes of the war j fa^s proved by the Englijby which refute the charge of their enemies^ and juftify their own conduSt, : -^^ S I R, ^^i THE Englifli, previous to their an- fwer to our complaiilts, propofe a queftion, which every body living is ca- pable of anfwcring, if we will not ; it is this : the party who has bore with all kinds of infult, private and public; who through moderation, love of peace, and perhaps through imprudence, has patiently fubmitted to the encroachments of an aftive and vigilant enemy j quaere, whether that parly is obliged to fit down quietly till he is completely ruined, upon pain of being confidered as an unjuft aggreflbr ? Indeed there is fo very little doubt con- cerning this point, and the law of felf- prefervation and defence, which nature has imprinted in our hearts, is fo clear and exprefs, that our enemy immediately pro- in mm m m W »it ^I§ X)i/cuff(m of the proceed to prove their charge. And firft of all, they condemn themfclves for being fo eafy as to fuffer our encroachments and> ufurpations in th6 feveral colonies border- ing on our frontiers ; and it is very certain, that here they are in the right. What a blindnefs muft it have been in them to fuffcr m fa tamely to eredl our forts on the back of their colonies, on the Ohio, and in otlier places I Did th)»y imagine we ihould not hav^ fenfe enough to conclude, that their acquiefcencc was more than a tacit con-r feflibon, of our right to thofe lands^ which they did not hinder us* from poilfffing? Or did they pretend to hurt us more by de- priving us of a property acquircdi than by oppofmg our acquifition ? In truth, I think that either way they were much in the wrong. The former was too hazardous a prefumption ; the latter, too ingenious a renaement^ But whatever they thought aboiut this matter, I can hardly believe they ever dreamed of what has happened. And how could they forefee, that our daily en- aoachments fhouihi not only invefl us with ■■^'i^,:. ' ■ the C^ufes of the War. s9f the property of the lartds we ufurped, bu^ likewffe give u^ a tight to exclude oaf good-nitured neighbours from any fha^e T Hencie they were in the utraoft aftonifli- ment, when cortilng to look about them ar little Upon the back of their fettlcmentj, they heard tis fay, Gentlemen, pray Tc-< tire, here ai^ boundaries, which you vtkXkft not paft. Where are thofe boundaries; they cried out, and who has a right t6 prcfcribe any to us in a country that is oat own pr<^rty ? Nature, Wc anfwered thettiT^ Nature^ knew we fliould have need of ^ communication with our colony of Mifll^ fipfii; that this communication would' b^ very nertr your fettlements ; and (he has placed the Apalachian mountains betwixt us ; this is tt natural barrier. What do you think of this dialogue? Don't you imagine the Englifh might fur-* ther add': Yes, indeed, we have in fome merfu'rfe reafon to believe, that nature in- tended to favour you in this refpe^, fmct (he be\^'tehed us to fuch a degree, as hath enabled you to interpret her laws ? But ^5«5 they m !'!' N ! ./:' a88 Difcujfton of the ^ they made no fuch remark. They were fatisfied with referring to the general laws and cuftoms of nations. Upon this footing they obferved, that ever fmce the firft dif. covery of America, there had not been the leaft doubt about the property now difput- ed ; that the Spaniards, and all other na- tions, had been ever confidered, as mailers of the inland country, wherever they had taken poflTeffion of the fea-coad, unlefs fome other European nation had been fettled there before them ; that this kind of pof- fefllpn being generally allowed, it was not only unfair, but abfurd, to make excep- tions againft the Englilh ; that their for- bearance, in regard to the encroachments of the French, ought not to deprive them of the advantage of this general rule, be- caufe a mere forbearance never was confi- dered as an abfolute agreement, or acquief- cence, much lefs as a renunciation of^ efta- blifhed rights j therefore as they never ima- gined there could be any other boundaries, in refpeft to their fettlements on the banks of the Ohio, than the South-Sea weft ward, ,, , their Cdu/eso/ tii T^ar. 289 their own pleafure, or an oppofition from thcf natives of the country, thcf could not have prefumed/ that their e^fy temper in fufFering the French to occupy part of 'a ccuntry, of which they had no need at that time, fhould make them forfeit their right of dominion, and even deprive them of the country which they aftuklly occupied, or render it more burdenfome than ufeful to them. > ' * ^Trr) 'n'M •*— -Imt jsr rr *— •*r'' ■ Do not you think it is a very cafy matter to determinb a ri^jht, acknowledged! in every other cafe but that in debatevi tidiereitB the intereil of one of the parties' riot to acfi knowledge it ? Da not you think th^ point too :dear tottake up 'any more of our thhe ? Would libt youi 'fay boldly, if yforu were not a Frenchman, •■ 1«t las do as ; wfe" would ht done by, withoufc wfefting a general rule to our oWA private pnarpofe I At hz^% I think fo J hut fhould r hot you h^\ tempted* to adapt ; tVis ' Ikmli reafoning' to the other pdin'tp which we\^j6uld fain' rtfpreftnt as dui Hoib betweerLth'^ ^gli^ and us'; 1 xheaik the 'difprute:>aboBt' the limits of Acadia, Jo U When i iv \i '^ m lii ,j<; ! !'' * 'J 11:",; y a^o D^ufftoh of the Wlten the £ngti(K, before ilie treaty of Utredit, d^pofletTed us 6f that countiy, which is 'tx>mpmze4 under the name of Aca* diiL« did not T7e demand it back again under the &nle na!me» ahd had inbt we the very iame idea. of it, as. our enemies have at pre- ient ? At what time did we alter our no* tioh about ko limits I If we had ^ fame ^certainty comreming this article, as we pre- tend to at prefent, how came we to give "^e dendmination of the finalleft part to the whole, Which we demanded i>ack again? 'i)o you tbiok, that if rviife had taken pof* ieffion t>f England, the Ei^lilh would ima« gine thty had demanded a fuH reftidition, only by mentioning the county of Surry? But if people would exiplain themfel^^es iiif- ficidritly, v^rhen the point was only concern* ing a reftitution (and in that cafe it would be agreeing they ha^ the fame notion8)ou^ not they at lead to explain themfelves iwhen the queiHon related to a ceffion abfolute ade: this a condition , It be. hoved us, that the country we had fo lately acquired, (hould not be depopulated im- mediately \ but at preient we Woi^ld fooner chufeto fee it intirdy wafte, than to find that »ur new fubieSts held a fecf et corre-f fpondence with our enemies, or that we ihoHld be perpetually obliged 1^.]^ upo9 U 2 our •■S if ■■ \\ ' 11? ^\r' u i iif rat \l nil* m il 292 ' Difcujftonofthe-^ our guard againft the fnares of thofe, whom we ourfelvcs enabled to hurt us, • I know not what anfwer can be given to thefe reafons: indeed the fhortef): way is to deny their folidity ; and do you imagine it would be worth while to prove it? No furelys therefore both nations have thought proper, for motives of a diffe- rent nature, but eafy to guefs at, to drop the original caufe of the qnarrel, which was too trifling for one fide to merit a longer difpute, and of too much confe- quence to the other to anfwer all objections. It remains therefore for us to imitate their condu6^ ; and fince while they amufe them- felves with the expe6lation of a peace^' they only rail at one another for having com* menced the war, let iis follow thdr ex- ample. ; ijtjvt. i-i You fee. Sir, that with my wonted im- partiality, I have weighed our grievances, together with the ftrong reafons we have to complain of the Engliifh ^ you have like- wife feen, that notwithftanding my natu- ral inclinatibn, I have (hewn too great a re- l^^}^ '-ard Caufes of the War» 293 gard for truth to make the balance prepon- derate on our fide. Let us now inquire whether our enemy's apology will aniwer their defign, better than ours hath done ours. I (hall wave the feveral complaints, which the Englilh make againft our en^ croachments from the peace of Utrecht to that of Aix-la-Chapelle. This laft treaty ought to have effaced the memory of them, or at leaft, ought to have ^lade us hope for mutual redrefTes, and neceffary explica- tions. While we waited for the effeft of thofe promifes, both (ides had agreed to a fufpenfion of all hofhlities ; fo that we mu(t confine ourfelyes to the (leps that have been taken fmce that period. The follow- ing is the account given by the enemy, w^hich we (bould find extremely difficult to inva- lidate. *• The court of Verfailles has always *^ looked upon North America, as an ob- " jeft worthy of her chief attefxtion, and ** without -all doobt has formed a plan ** to -makp hcffelf miftrefs, of it j a plan " which (fee iiaa ftc^diJy purfued^ though ft^jj »v U 3 " with "^^ Hi €C C( 294 Difcujjion of tht *' v^th dll the privacy ^nd art imaginable. ** However, fmcc the treaty of Aix-la- Chapelle, the French have difciofed their views more openly^ becaufe thby have ^* purfued them with greater warnith, their *' encroachments having been more nume^ f< rous, and their hoflilities more violent. i., " In the province of Nova Scotiii, herc- ** tofore Acadia, they have eredled a fort ^* near Bay Ve^|ie, from whence th^y have *< an eafy communication by wat^r With ^* Louifburg, Canada, and the other French " fettl^ments. They have likcwife erefted **,aiiother, mppnting ijpwards of thir^ f' guns, wl)ich commahds the further end " of tjic Bay iof Fundi. Thfey liay^ made »* themfelves tn^fi;tf$ of the i^er pf St, *« Johft, and built therecfh two forts, frorn ** which they have had the infolepcc t6 fire ^f* againft one of the King^s (hips. Theyhave ' «' run away widi ajl this trade, ^ich before ?< this (at peate 'betcmged intirely to the f< £n|;lilhf lb fbat t^onfid^i^ing ^ things 'ff « prtjperly, thp Ftench, and Hit favages Ijtwally c< fC (C (( ti a « tt } U4 *< paffage i i! 4 'i'-j III ''{.. 4 ■ ,- ,;!• "?\- .;:; ■\^^-'§\ -296 Difcujfton of the ^ y^ palTage of thofe favages, who afcehd the '* lake in their way to Ofwego. ^i^^i- •^^^ " In the year 1753, they marched acori- " (idei*able body of regular troops, militia, '" and favages, into the country of the *• Iroquois, though the latter had entreat- ** ed them, feveral times, to defift. Nay, ** they threatened to deftroy every body that ** oppofed their defign. r ^inw -.it " " The fame year they built two forts j f* one upon the river that falls into the lake " Erie ; and the other at the diftance of •'• fifteen miles upon the river aux JBoeufsy ^' which empties itfelf into that of. the Ohio, -n** Early the next year they marched V to the:. little Englifh fort ^at the paft" f * of Mohagouata, below the river :Ohia, J*, \vhich being but weakly guarded by £^i few troops from Virginia, furren- ^*jderedby capitulation at the firft fum- ^* mons. Some time . after, a body of *• twelve hundred French attacked Major i>\ Waflimgton, who cominanded the troops; /^ from Virginia, confifting of about three J!ihUftdrci4 ojen^ japd Qb%elaine our(elve«, theve is not fe much as a common peaiant in this place but would be «bfo to condemn us. without going to kt whether tMre was a date on the frontifpieoe. I own, indeed^ it is a mif* ibrtimefer us not to be able to diipute about lieifb, at you have done in Europe : to 'nMlGe us foroe amends, we have leifure -enough to inquire into. the caufe of thofc 49&%^ and we have the £itisfa6bion, whick a generous breaft always enjoys, of ibeing aUe to do juftioe even to an injured enemy. '^'Iforefec very plainly, that this generous 'w|ng relation J which I fend you, accOriJ-^ H>g[;i^9 wy. promife, without the baft abridgm9nt;>;^o"i •??£ U ' ^tinT^'r^atiitr -Ht miation of ^whs^t paiTed at the taking of .^rthcj .e EngM). 307 «* puttied comply the fame day, icame up "to m^ after we had made fignals to each ** otJ^er. Towards fix in the everting, the •* -Wifid being very flack, and weft north- •* weft, :W I was refolved to be thoroughly ^* fatisfifd about the matter brfpre nigiit. ** I therefore drew only within fi*ch*adi- ** ftance, as to .fii[id out 'tl>e finals. The ** wind ftill abating and the fea beirtg per^ <* feOily.calm, o%v three veffels lay by. «« The 8th, by .break of day, a frefh •' gale fpririgiitg up in the 'fouth, I found " myfejf advanced within three leagues of " the' fquadron, which I had taken for " oilTjs. I made the proper figrtals, to " which the enemy gave no anfwer, but I" crowded all the fail they could to come I" up with:ine. For my part, I bore away j":to the north- weft, which feemed to me 1" the beft co'Urfe^ I could take in my pre- . X 2 *' fent i- 1111 liif ' <( « 3oft 725^ Alcide and Lyt fent fituation, making the rear with the Lys, and the Dauphin Royal the van. ** In this order we continued our courfe, •* with a very flack fouth-weft wind> which '' is a confidcrable advantage to the Eng- ** lifli, becaufe their main fails are much ^< lighter, and their other fails much larger '* than ours. As they fenfibly advanced upon *' US) I hoifled my colours, and fired a gun '* with powder only j they likewife hoift- " cd theirs, but without firing. I reckon- ed, by the courfe I was fleering, and by hoifling French colours, I fhould draw the befl failing ihips of the enemy upon ** me, and give time to the two tranfports | '* to make their efcape. Between ten and I ;^* eleven in the forenoon, the Dunkirk of fixty guns, in company with two| other fhips c^ the fame force, the ad- ** miral of feventy-four guns, and the I ** refl of the fquadron, bore down upon me, within fuch a diflance, that I might have raked them mofl terribly, if ** I had dared to begin the attack. The ^' fea was as fmooth as gla£i>. with very '^im^'^ * « little « u <( c< C( C( .«« it ic- a u «c (» H (t CI (C (f (( C( ti u ck M M CC l( l< U « faien by the Englifh. 309 little wind \ and though I made no doubt, trom the enemy's motions, but they in- tended to fight me, dill I was refolved to ' wait till they commenced hoftilities. For when I left Europe, there had been no war declared ; and I was thoroughly fen* fible of the confequence of being the aggreflbr. I was very fure the enemy would make a handle of it to charge me with having begun the war, for which I fhduld be blamed over all Europe. Thefe reflexions however hurt me greatly, *< As foon as the Dunkirk, Captain Howe, came near enough to be fpoke to, he worked his ihip in fuch a manner* as if he intended to board me : and I thought fo myfelf for fome time. Yet as I wanted to know what he would be at, I begged of Meflieurs de Roftaing, de Vaudreuil, Somerviile, and Drelincourt, to mind what I was going to fay to the captairi of the Dunkirk. Meflieurs du Moulin and GeofFroy, and the Chevalier de Percevaux, who were upon the flern, did not lofe a fuigle word^ and the M^^ ' X 3 ?* whole ' H.t m^A ;..„i.i'i"^- 3 %o lh jitciek and Lyi '* whole fliip's crew were very attentive. « I therefore made out people call edit ^< aloud thi:ee tim^s in Englifii, ar^MeM <* peace vr *ibdt ?' They made anfwer> we do <*' net unie'rfidnd y6tt. The fatne Iqudlion "was tlijen aflcicd in' Fifcnch, and we had <* Xht fame, ahjweri J^ then took the fpeak- **? img trufepetr and afked twice again ; <« Yire 'me at peace 9r war? The captitbi an- *^ fwcred md twice himfelf, Very dillul£tly, * I arid in good French;. Jir pdix^ Idpaik-^ ^^ peaccy peaoe. Yet the fignal tO' engage <,*. had been made foine tim& fbeforeon hoard <* the adthiral hy a red flag. I aiked again, %< what was the admiraFs name ? tiiey an- ^} fwered me,. Admiral Bofcawen. I. know « you, Sir, repliedthcy, may wc know your <5 name?'! Made anfwer, Hocquart. The ** converfetiDji was hot long. " No iboiier l^liad I pronounced my name, and the 1* enemy the word penke, feut rfiey imme- *f} diateiy poiired a biroad-^iKie into m &om ;< their tipper and lower tiers, with ia dif- <^. ch^ge q£ thvir fmall arms, wJbkh '^a^ ?!vi'r ; ;^ X 2 declaring taieny'^eEngUpii^^ 311. "icd^ng wat. 'f Wir ^ns were charg- <^ cd with crofs-bar fhiot atid j^eccs of brals «^ ft!id-old iron. The fea was too calm to ** lofe a fingle ftMSt, and we were fo near *< to- ^e fenemy, tiwit the mouths of their " guias touched o\xi ftiips. ThUi together " with the ConftdeiKe iflfpired by the word " ^tfivj from the mouth of a ciaptaiii, made ' " us lofe a great (many men ; yet our fire *» wik^.rtiither retarded nor ilackeiied, but' '* part <& the helm being carried away by an " uiilii^ky (hot, the pilot was forced to abati- " which h^ immediate- ly pronounced to be the enemy's s to b^-r bold the fignal fpr an en^gement, and yet to be fo obftinate as to enter into a friendly converfation ; to give more credit to a few W0|:4s fjTQm a private captain, than to the .^ decla-, ILI^^ m '■■% ■I . :• '::V I'.- ' %. 'P^i^ m fm ;r ''"'.IP t^* . r, ;■■*!' aftdf ^11, not onvihi Seiafilifts 5 that M>Hhw tranfpired. << They demanil pick^s and pallirade$ for *< Loivflmrg, and orders are given tc>t:ut ^" wciod for thfttpurpofe at Gafparaux.A - ! ?!* Monday the 2d of Jiioc { was iftform*^ *5 cd,, that the commandant had told every ^ l)o4y of lie EngUfti fleet's beiog under **^ fail ; that iji; toi>fifted of thirty fix veffels <^ of difierenit fi^es; that one of the ii^a* biidants, whq had feen it, (aid it might enter as to day ijito the river of Mefa*- goueche ; and, accordingly it arrived there ^* at two in the afternoon. On Wednef* <^ ,day they made themfetves Rafters of the *« bridge of B«^/, killed fome of our men, *• and drove the reft up to the bank of Mi*- " ,raadc5 which determined us to fet fine to ^ the habitations, farms, wood-houfes, and «* even to the church itfelf. In the mean " time the outworks of the fort were finiih^ " cd, and fome new ones, bomb-proof, ** were ere6lcd on the baftions. From ** time to time we fent out detachments> tliat •* fkirmiflicd with the enemy. . " The cc iC ,cc "The Sri*:^ Engli(H>:ilen only fixtipn-poUiidirs; <* and dght mdrtars^ to Whidi^ the offktt « repUed, that they had not fefen alL^'i^- " *^ ITucfdoy i;he 9th feme favages from Ha- " lifox infohried'uR, that the EngUfh were ** aitaid the JVench fiedt would bebefbre •^handwHhftheirsi -^ •'.' r^-^^ 't^' "f q'» ** : « Tuefday the twelfth dfjtuie we iteeiv- " cJdintielUgenc(3i that there wei'e three of **^the klng^s^ frigates^ at Louifl>iirg, with ** troops on board; and deftmed for Ba^ "■ Trr/^. Friday the 13th wfe were appriftdj *» that the Englifh were entrenching thwii* « felv^bat^kWardSy aaid upon the rock bl>r- " dering on St. Omer's. The wrks ar6 " carried on With vigour. We are about " fix hundred men, reckoning the inhabl- *' tants.. Some cannon have been fired, '' and m ■' m '''iCiMii'' •'. itl t X'. Nlill \ . .• i r |:r I St' ■.' ■- ■i ■. 1 I "i ;•■-- !l' ^Jii c< 3 ap Surrender of Fort biau/ej(4^t. and the Englifli have begun to throw '< ibells. The i6th one of two hundred ** weight fell upon the jail, where it kilU ** ed an Englifh officer who was a prifoner, << and leveral others. The ravage it has ff, made, together ^th the bad condition of f< almoft every part of the fort, and our ** being difappointed in the fuccours we ex« 5f, pe£lcd, have determined Vergor to capi^ *< tulate. The confufion was fo much the " greater, as, contrary to the opinion of every *' man of fenfe, five hundred Acadians had " been forced as it were to fliut themfelves up in the fort, which was only a burden to us> and great prejudice to them. Thefe !V were fome of the Acadians, who had << taken the oath of allegiance to the king «• of Great-Britain 5 therefore it was ex* *< pofing them, without any good reafon, to «* be butchered j fmce they muft have ex- ** pefted either to be crulhed to death under «< the ruins of the fort, where it was im- << poffible for them to fubfift ; or to be *< hanged like dogs, if they fell into the >* hands of the Englifh. For my part, I em from a delign, fo greatly to their prejudice. Accordingly I prevailed with feveralj and after tlie redu6Uon of the fort, I made an apolo- gy for the reft, imputing it to the im- plicit fubmiflion which thofc poor people paid to their miflionaries. And in fome meafure I have fucceeded, fince the Eng- Hfh did not treat them with the utmoft feverity, as undoubtedly they had a right to do. » " The 1 6th of June, in the morning, the Sicur de Vannes, who is a relation of Vergor, and one of the oldeft lieu- tenants, fet .out with propofals for the Englifh camp. M. Scherif returned with an anfwer : we deputed him once more to the enemy's camp, and the capitulation was concluded. Before the Englifh entered the fort, we fent away as many of the inha- bitants as we poflibly could, and all heavy loaded, together with Vergor's domeftics, who had feized upon the moft valuable efFc6ls. The enemy took pofl^flion of (C :,-j^ the J. w i - fir , ,,v,i, ]i- (i''! if (I (C c< > ^ ^ f- ' 'i i^ " The 1 8th the enemy fent five hundred ^* men to take poflcffion of Fort Oifperau, which had been furrendered by M.de Vil- leray, the commanding officer, txpbn the receipt of 'a letter, a^tiaintirig him With the capitulation, atid ^t the (ame time, «* with the importibHity of ^efiftirig the "^ enemy. Jofeph Brdfferd, l^o^n by the ** name df BeauJhkiJ, and by theniifchief ** he has. done to the EngUfli, is coriic widi ^"^ a pafljiort to propofc a peace with 'the (dr ** vages. He has only demanded a general amnefty, and l^is own pardon trt parti- cular, which Mr. Monckton has granted *' The inhabitants all around have been ^f perfuadeiL to bring in their arms to the ft << f( *i«n§!ilhr OrW oFtfem Mfays'-Kc'ckm^ ^ fit^l;oluiftte^, ^ivltere he^left-fivc'fhips *«^t!*lirie»k!«vetlitoufina -^^ and ^ forliifei- -^dd^, 4:fcat they w6rc* preparing « t6^1tiq<^duf Affci/jf^ ^ ^ ^^•' ^^^^^-^ Yb^ ttiity ver} WeB' 5udgt?- that^ I have ^tridl^d 't^i^ : jow-Ji^l?" for Upon thefe occa- tibns the -details att^ gcnctally the fame. Be- fides, I think h ftrfittrient to acquaint you with'thfc principai fai6b, which if you had eveii been infbrmdd of ailrca^dy, I fliould nevcithdcfs haHrc idd before you again ; bc- taufe tbcy-furniihtiic with reflexions, (uita- ble to the View I propofed to myfelf in thefe Icttfeps i ' which was to 'make you fen- flble ';:{iU,V Y 2 of -.' 4? '. !3 ,1 ■ t: '! \^'% 324 Events preparattiry itt^ja . . «? of June the fame year. . Ohferve a)ib, i;liat the Alcide and the Lys, which belonged to the fquadrr^i li elevenjDhips of war ui^der the conunand of M. du Bois de I4 Motlie» made part of thofe thirty two fliips of the line that weve deftined againft Acadia. From thence pleafe to draw a very, natural conclufion : fince we have had a pu)[)Hcacr count here the 27th of May, |that the French fleet was fentto invade Acadia, M. iHocqnart, who was come du*?6Uy from France, and belonged to that fleet* muft undoubtedly have known, i^ tl^e -8th of June J therefore fince he faw that notwidi- .ftanding the pretenfions of , the French to peace, they were going to wre:s a, 326 Events prepdf^iitofy &?r. to Amciica before thfiia^ by jjjptt^ng Loulf- burg into a. ftate bi^ft,cuptjr and..ckfcpcej and above all, by aitti^ig q\Jt work fojrthe Englifti at hon>e j qr,at Icaft by ipaHing a Vigorous ftand a^ainft.^he nunn^fous^ forces, with which. they intend to crufli U8 to pf^^es. to observe the laws of peace in ^^rqpe, when trance is upon the point of being ftripped qi all her pofleffions in America. We have roulcd the €nerny, an(| a^e. mt^ pdrfefves. *l' wilt ;ni'patiently for a letter from you, and hope it will briiig ,m^ an account^ tTiat our court ha^. changed both their toric and their conduct. I am» 01 t V Lb 1- Dtclar^ti^$fWar^c. 327 ^/oaTI^E T T E R XXI.'"^'-'^^^ Anfwef* to a letttt from Europe ^ wherein the author '1) apprized of the declaration of nJoar het*voeen the tt»30 ctoions j clamour 6f the French againfi the 'Bnglijh % the i^ing of Minorca^ and the treaty he^ tnci^ Prance^ and the jueen of Hun* ' ' ^p'^rf * * ^* ' ''•"'^'-'K'i ' j-v > '♦'*' i ^>**> V '-^^ '•?<*> a - tii IHAy.E rccdvcd the bvoax pf youw, , after waiting for it almoft a whple year. Wq bad already beei^ inf^qi^ed of part q£ l;he, contentSi an4 I own it wa^ fqch news as gave me alternately pleMl^e and pain« The taking of Minorca, as you may very well imagine, swords me great fatis* ffidion, as well as the declaration of war, which fets all things to right. Iq regard to the alliance which France has cpncluded with the queen of Hungary, I am affected in another manner. Neither do you feem altogether to approve of it. What 1 did we imagine we had to deal with too weak a foe» and therefore refolved to bring more powers Y 4 UpQ3 i< •( )■! 3^8 • Declaration rf JV^ar^.^^^^h upon our backs i Inikad of turning our whok force againft an enraged enemy, who accufes us of treachery and breach of treaties, how could we engage in a meafurc fo pre- judicial to our real intcrefls ? The taking of Minorca had almoft intircly juftified us, even in the opinion of the Englifh. They were angry with thcmfeives for having been too much alarmed at our proje6ls. But weakening ourfelvcs, as we are likely to do, by this fatal diverfion, we (hall encourage our enemy to revive their accufations againft us 5 for the vanquished is always in the wrong. Perhaps you will fay, the ene- my are ftill very far from viflory. Wc are gping to march fourfcore thoufand men into Germany ; and the king of Pruffia will fobn be demolifhed. In the firft place, I do not grant this point j the king of PrufTia i^ able to withfland much fuperior forces. On the other hand you muft allow, that the land aimies which the queen of Hun- gary, the Ruffians, and we are to fend into tlie field, wall of courfe diminifli our fleet, by which alone wc can hdd the balance/ jpj^o • 4^ i Our between France and England* 3 i^ Our viftory over General Bfaddock, which has been founded To high in Europe, irfar from determining our fate. The maritime power of the Englilh is a hydra, in oppo- fition to which we ought to fet up another of the fame nature. France fhould hav6 em- ployed her people and her treafure in build- ing and fitting out a confiderable fleet, equal to cope with the enemy, and not in fending her men to be knocked on the head in Ger- many. But fince the Englifh entered into a continental alliance, what ought we to have done? We fhould not have followed their example, if we had a mind to be revenged for their treaty with the king of Pruflia; which in the main, if we purfued our real interefl, was of very little fignificatioh to us : at leafl we ought to have confined our- felves to the articles of the treaty of Ver- failles. Fourfcore thoufand men would not have exhaufted our ftrength 5 we might flill have maintained the war in America, where every fuccefs we met with, would be a ftcp the nearer towards enabling Us to prefcribe the law in Europe. Then I ' we it i \\p i. '\ \l ^ ' k I w»• ■» •v>:r **#' p^^^-y^vxi, 't>^" I Jjaf Declaration oj ** or two arid twenty tfioafand Tixtn at Ha- •* lifax, fixteen of whom were tranfported •• ix^m Europe., They had likewife a nume- •* roiis train of artillery and implements of " war, two and twenty fhips of the line, and *' upwards of two hundred tranfports. So " formidable were their preparations ! Their *• view was firfl of ^11 to difpolTefs us of Cape ** Breton and Canada, and then to drive us ** out of America. But we have defeated all thofe magnificent proje6ts, only with fix- teen fhips of war, ftationed in Louifburg *• road. Our fuccefs in Canada has been equally rapid. The fort of St. George is taken 5 and our Canadians are now upon the frontiers of the beifl provinces of the ** enemy. Yet Admiral Holburne, who had " the command of that terrible Englifli •* fquadron, appeared off Louifburg with ** his two and twenty fail of men of war, " while our fleet was detained in the <* harbour by a very thick fog. M. du *^ Bois had made ready to put to fea, ** as foon as the enemy appeared. Our " people had all but one heart and one voice ' " to iC « fliould be (hackled with orders gnly " to keep a look out. If ever there was a " ^certainty of firing gun-powder to the ho- ** npur of the French flag, it was the 19th " of Augufl, the day on which Adnliral *\Holbunie appeared before our harbour. "He returned afterwards with two and ^ twenty cc ^*c?' «* more IC 4i u u •(, «c IC c« it u it t( ft «< tft <« u u u u «t (i «c you gteat offene<^ b tke language of the multitudci whemyouare very fenilble we are fometimes obliged to anfwqr. Fi^ftof all> that bravado in regaurd to the d^figns of the Fngli0i, an4 the eondu^ of admiral Holbume, is exactly a copy of the behavilHlf which the Writer of ^e Itytter mtends to'e](po&. I know that the French deiired nothing better than to fight } and that t^y longed tafee admiral Holburne) biitdeeftitfolk^wfitMnthenee, thfitttoyhava aright to -reproach the enemy with want of courage* If upon aUngle ocCafion we might imagine they deierved this cenfure) fure I am, that there have been more than a thou-^ UfA inftances, in ^hich there 'was not the lead foundation for this charge. And as for the projects of the Englifh^ What is there in them (b ridiculous ? Did we ever fancy ourfelves able to make an attempt upon one of tlieir ports, but immediately we Gon^lilded we ftiould become mafters of ^V^ . Z ^ the 111' > Mil :1.»'. Hi MlU'liil ■j. ; * s I ::.:^ t' ; i in 338 %D€clarutim of War ^^ the whole kingdom of Great-Britain ? fie-^ fides, every body knows that thofe caftks in the air are built for the populace, and not for men of fenfe. Mud not we tell this giddy multitude (unlefs we chufe to dif-. hearten them) that we are going to feige on the enemy's country, and to fpread terror and defolation around us ? They who talk in this drain, are capable neverthelefs of judging between poflibilities and impoffibili^ ties. Admiral HolbuiiMs ha» retired, becaufe he faw we had an equality. What equality could there be between a fquadron (belter^ ed under the cannon of a fortified town^ and a fleet, againft which that very fame cannon was pointed ? War the admiral fo much to blame, for endeavouring to get a reinforcement in order to balance thi^ fii-' periority > But even if he was really in fault, how can we tell but tile diancc might have been againft us ? So thatperiiaps wc have more reafon to th>mk Providence, than to crack our illiberal jokw^ upon this commander* '4,,*.-i4w»** 4-j,«; 41.3^*.^-^ I have nothing to fay to the hurricane, «*^ virc. ' i V . and 339 htiveen Franct and Evglofid* and th« hand of Co4 vifibly exerted in quc favouTf I accept the omeni %tA wiih thai he may always prptoA us in to dKtinguifli^ ing a manner. I am only furpd^^d that thofe who complain fr fevercly of the in* aftion, can be overjoyed at an events which deprived them of the opportunity of fignalizing their valour. Tbi9 I mention^ tp fliei/^ thp abfurdity of the letter I have been criticising \ for I am very fure^ that the French are o&dued v^ith too much va- lour and humanity* to deSre the adlftanc^ of to terrible a tempefl;* This is manifoft from the averfion we have to the bar-^ barities of the favage^^ Nay it is certain, that '9fp (houid not be content with reprov-^ ing them for this praflice, could we do without them, or wtre they intircly fubjeft to our command. I Audi confine myfelf tlierefore to the re- (blutic^y which the miniflry is faid to have takeUi not to hazard any thing this year. I wi(h ^ey may not change their minds the next, and run the rifk of lofing Louif- burg ; and that the firfl fquadron which Z 2 nppcar^^ 1 .1 :i:: Ai Wm , 11' ., '' >('■/. appears off our ooaft, may not be thofe very EngUfli flups (itiittforccd by douUe the number), ivhich we pretend tQ haye been jdeftroyed. Vott will tell me that I ^ a feeond Cailandra : I perceive it *too well, and am afraid that my predictions .wiH be fulfilled, becaufe our danger is prelfing, and the neceflary fuccours are at a greater cUftance than ever. Befides, I Hxd very much miftaken, if while your ' littehtibn in France is takm up with thie exti'acMlniry fuccelTes of the long of Pi1:rffia, 'you will trouble your heads about -us simd then will my alarms and apprehMfidhs bb ill- grounded ? Again, if bur fonifidtflons were finifhed, we might m^keiEi ftaiid'.* 1 cbtild add, if we had the ^ble dffidef ^ffo cdtii- manded here not long ago : fitit'as'hehas fulFered Cherburg to be tak a whole battalion of Highlanders, and four companies of gsena^ers, under the com- mand of general Wdfe. In the meaa whil^, feneral Whitmore pretended to land to the righ^ of Cgpe Blanc j and general Lawrence, who {CQmm$uided the center, fnade a Uke feint at the foft water creek. Their intent was to divide our attention ^ fH)d thii was a very propef (tep for that iTfVii»\n purpofe, li \ . ■ ii. J46 Landing of the Englijh purpofe, coniidering the fmallnefs of our numbers : but we foon found out the main defign of the enemy, when we faw that general Wolfe began to land his men at the creek of Cormoran. Yet nothing ought to have infpired us with a greater confidence than fuch an attempt : for this being, as I before obferved, the weakeft part, we had thrown up fiich entrenchments, that it was impoiTible for an enemy to land there with any fuccefs. We had two thoufand regu- lar troops drawn on the ihore, and feveral ravages pofled in different parts. We were behind a good parapet, defended by feveral pieces of cannon within proper di{lance$, «nd by (lone mortars of a confiderable bore j the whole covered by felled trees, which were laid fo clofe, that it would have been very difficult to pierce through them, even if they had not been defended by our troops under fhelter. And as our batteries were mafked by this palifade, fo that at a di- flance the whole muft have appeared to the enemy like a fmooth field ; we might have ^•endered this circumftance of the greateil " ' ,, * . fcrvicc ^^ fcrvice to us. at Lou^urg. 347 We had even abfolutdy de- pended upon it, which was the reafon of our not being fo much alarmed at the weak condition of the town. For what did it fignify to us, whether it was fortified or not, if we could hinder the enemy from landing ? In fo advantageous a pofition, on which our whole fafety depended, we might have a6ted a much better part than that of keeping merely upon the defeniive j and this would have been the cafe were it not for an imprudent ftep, for which we cannot condenm ourfelves too much. As the ene- my would naturally march up to us, in ex- pectation of finding only a few paltry en- trenchments, which they could eafily force, it was our bufinefs to let them continue in this error, till they had all landed. Then we (hould have faluted them with our batteries smd fmall arms; and in all pro- bability, every man of them would have been either killed, or drowned in reim- barking in a hurry : and fo great a lofs would perhaps have difheartened the enemy to fuch a degree, that they would never make I •■'« !l' !f:| iv ,t>'i m •AM m$\ 348 Landing 9f the Englijh inak« another attempt ButwhercNrerfucccTt dqiends on command of tempti!r» tiie French ftand but an indifierent chance i as it ap* peared unfortunately on this, oeeafion. Scarce had the enemy made a movement to draw near the (here, when we fhewed our- felves in a hurry to difcover tjie fnaie, into whidi they muft have inevitably fallen. By our firing upon their boats, they perceived our c^poiition ; nay, we were ib preci^tate as to unmafk it ourfelve^, by removing the boughs out of their places, whereby we un- luckily convinced them of their gieat dan- ger. Immediately they put back, and the lofs they fuil^ned on this occafion, inftead of difheartening them, only ferved to redou- ble their ardour. They now thought no place fo proper for landing as that whrch we judged inacceffible. Major Scot, upon this occai^on, performed a moft gallant a6lion. General Wolfe, who at that time was bufy in reimbarking the troops, and putting off the boats, ordered him to climb up the rocks, where they had already fent a hundred nien» The m^jor went thither with ) '*. AA^.rat Louffburg. ^/l 349 wkh the troops under his command 1 but his own boat arriving before ifaereft, and beiqg (loved to {tteces the tnftant he landed, he climbed up die rock by lumfeif. He was in hopes that' the hundred men who had been ftnt before htm, were engaged hj this time widi our people ; but feeing no more than teil» he rdfolved with this fmall number to get a^top of the rocks. There he found ten ikvages, and threefcore French, who killed two of his men, and wounded three. Still this brave Englifhmah woidd not, even in this extremity, abandon a poft, on which the fuccefi of the whole hiterprize depend- ^. He (kfired the five foldiers remaining not to be difixiaycd ; and even went fo far, as to threaten he woUld fire upon the firft man that would flinch. In the mean time, he had three balls lodged in his clothes, and would have had all the feventy Frenchmen upon him at once, were it not for a copfe that was between them, and through which he fired a few (hot. At length this hero (for I cannot help doing judice to his va- lour) was fecoadcd by the reft of the Eng- lifh ili^ ) •• 350 Landing of the Englijh liih troops, who perceiving there was no other way to fucceed, determined to run all rilks in order to carry this point." ^_ *' It is the interefl of die conquered not to dimihifh the glory of the viftor % and befides, it is our duty to do juilice, even to our mortal enemy : for which rcafon I confefs, that the Engliih on this occa- fion behaved with fuch valom^, as beibre the event mud have appeared te;merity. Yet it mufl be allowed, that at the fame time the difficulty of the enterprize does them infinite honour, it faves ours. Who could have forefeen tliat they would venture to climb up rocks, till then reckoned inacceifi-- ble ; that notwithftanding their boats were every iiiflant daihed in pieces, and notwith- flanding the furf which drove them back, and drowned great numbers, flill they per- Med, with their clothes all wet, and their fpirits almofl e:?^haufled, to mount the rock, in defiance of our batteries, from whence we plycd them moft vigorouily, as foon as wc perceived their defign f " ^.., - " The furprize we vrerc thrown into by the ir3 '^)^ at Loui/burg. '^^ 3$ I the boldriefs of this attempt, Contributed greatly to its fucctifs j fo that when the cnc-« my attacked the battery which took them in flank, they carried it with ea(e. Be- fides, it is very certain that notwithftanding we might have hindered their defcent with a little more prudence and circumfpe6lion ; yet neither one nor the other, nor even the mod heroic bravery would have availed us, when once they had efFe6led their defcent. Tlie beft thing therefore we could do, was to retire, Which we did the more precipi^ tately, as we were informed that general Whitmore, in the confufion we were under, had landed to the right of Cape Blanc. We had great reafon ^o be afraid that he would cut us off from Louifburg, where we had left only three hundi'ed men j for in that cafe all would have been over with us. Though our lofs, on that fatal day, amounted to about two hundred men killed and taken prifoners ; and though our town was in (o bad a ftate of defence, ftill we did not de- fpond. We had reafon to expe6l we fhould not be defertcd ; and that M. de Montcalm, as iiif '^ . 'i I 'hi 35 s Landing af the Englijh as we had been promifed} woold come ivith ^ fquadron to our afliiUnce." '^ Befides fo well-grounded an expe£la^ tion, the council of war confidered, that hjr retarding, as much as poffible, the re-* duf^ion (^ the place, (upon a fuppoiltion that no fuccours at all arrived) we (hould retard alfo the e3q>cdition of the enemy againft Canada, and even render their de« lign abortive, at leaft for this year. Fof this reafon we detained five French men of war in the road, though the commodore had afked leave to retires suid we prepared to render our defence at leaft of ibme (er- vice to our country, if it eQi|ld be none to ourfelves. Befides this refolution, we prayed heartily that the enemy would (hew lefs con- duct and bravery in their otlier enterprizes : fo greatly was our tone altered fince thc^ mis- fortune and retreat of admiral Holburne." ^< In the mean while, we had left tlie enemy in polFcdion of fome provifloiis, and arms, and fourteen pieces of cannon, with twelve ftone mortars, and two fbumeaus for red-hot balls, one of which was ready PTj - „ charged. tharged. As ouc %4it, qoulfl , not be effected the directed w^y, and a greait many; of u» were obliged to n>ake oujr efcapc f)m rocks uid nooraiiesi we did not gel; undpr ^^tjie cannon of Louifburg till t^n o'clock, in the mornings . And then w« ended this ,a^air, in the« fame, unlucky manner as wre began it, with an a£l of imprudqQce. By a^^fqharg^ from onr ramparts^ |h^ ^nemy were a|>- prized of ithe reach of: pur batteries, wlie^ we might very eafUy have forefeen, that they were at too great a diftance to receive any detriment. Thus we regulated ^haifi- tuation of their camp, which accordingly they kept during the whole liege." i ^^ . , > " Sir Charles Hardy, who was cruizing at the mouth of tlie harbour, to prevent our receiving any fuccours, could not hinder a French man of war horn palling through his fquadron by the help of a thick fog. In vain did admiral Bofcawen orocr this vefTel to be chaced -, it got {^^c into Louif- burg road(> fo that we had now fix (liips of the line, and as many frigates. After the junftion of Sir Charles Hardy's ii^ua- n/. A a if.i^ '^ J. dron m ' m ti ' i I', 3 54 Landing tf the EngUJb dron to that of admiral Bofcawen, occa- fioned by a ficknefs on board the fleet, the Echo, one of our frigates, ventured to put to fea* She was to fail to Canada, and to run all hazards, in order to apply for fpeedy afliftance : but (he was ftopped (hort In her voyage. Admiral Bofdaweh ordered the Scarborough and the Jono to f^ve chace to her, and (h^ was taken. In the mean time, fome of the enemy's (hips had advan- ced as far as Lorembec, with fafcines, am- munition, and artillery. The ninth day after the enemy's landing, they pitched their camp within about three hundred fttHioms of Louifburg. They had likcwife pofled fome troops in the credc of Cormoiran, and other adjacent parts, in order to prevent the incur- (ions of the favages. There was alfo another detachment to fecure the communication between the camp and the fca-fidc. The ele\'en hundred men, under the command of major Scot, with three hundred irregu- lars, were continually beating the rounds in order to prevent any furprize from the favages or Canadians, whom we expc6bed to come to our affiftance. All All thd€ precautions, however, did not hinder four hundred of the regiment of Cambife, from throwing them&lves into tlie town, after landing at Port Dauphin, nor the men of war that brought tliem, from getting fafe back. In the mean time, Sir Charlea Hardy returned to his former ftation, witli a view to block up the harboin*, left our (hips of war (hould take the oppor'^ tunity of a fof to make their efcape. The nth, whilft the enemy were em- ployed in cutting through rocks and in drain- ing morales in order to open the necefTary parages through the camp ; and wliile our men wd:e endeavouring to repair the forti- fications 5 a ftrjeant major, and four foldiers of Filchcf •• regiment of foreign volunteers, deferted to the Englifh. No doubt but ithcy encouraged the enemy's workmen by Jetting them know our iituation, our inca- pacity of bettering it, and the great de- spondency of the garrifon, who were ready to defert. They likewife told them, that we had deftroyed the great battery, together with that of the light- houfe, and every A a 2 tiling it'ii I' If li» % ,; ■ jir (V I I I '1' ■■ ' t: . . 1P 3 5^ Landing of the Englijh thing that we could poflibly dcftroy around the town. * *' " Upon this intelligence, major Scot was commanded the next day to put himfelf at the head of five hundred men, and to hiake himfelf mafter of tht light-houfe battery. He was followed by brigadier general Wolfe, who had under him four companies of grenadiers, and twelve hundred men de- tached from the lines. They found that the deferters had informed them right, and that we had left only four cannon, and thofe nailed up. The fituation of this poft being extremely advantageous to the enemy, as they might eafily annoy our fhips from thence, and throw bombs upon the ifland battery, they fent away immediately for a fufficient quantity of artillery and machines. But the impoflibility of maintaining this poft obliged us to abandon it 5 for it was more than we could do to guard the bat- teries and ramparts of the town. Not far from hence there was a little creek, very convenient for landing of provifions and ' artillery, or any other necelFaries j and to ^ * complete at Louijhurg. v:^ 357 complete their good fortune, on that very fame fpot they found, in two fmall camps lyhich we had abandoned, all forts of pro- vifions, and among the reft, fome Lorem- bec fifh and very good wine. True it is, that we had not any reafon to be forry for this lafl capture. For we had no fcarcity at all} nay we could have wiihed that we had mouths enough to confume our provifions. This plenty was the caufe of great wafle; and die foldiers were fo ufed to profulion, that they would neither work nor go upon a fally, unlefs they were half drunk. A perfon muft have been witnefs to the indulgences, which a com- ixnander is obliged to iliew to difheartened troopf, when there is no longer a poflibi- lity of concealmg from them, either their own wpaknefs, or the fuperioiity of the eneipy s before he can be a judge of the fi- tuation we were now reduced to. Honour and glory are the incentives of gentlemen ; but as for the common people, when the bounds of fear are once broke through, .we muft fublUjtute thofe of intereft and 4niiiH .. . A a 3 • ^^^^ w IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) K^ 4^ 1.0 I.I 11.25 ■a lie 12.5 £ 1^ 12.0 ■it I: 3 6" ^. V / '/ # Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STUiT WfBSTER.N.Y. 14510 (716) •72-4503 3^ij8 Landff^ if thi Englifh coiidefcchfion, though ev^ theft A6 ftt^'' quently prove infufficicnt and dange^to\» tJci officers who are obliged TO have irec0i#fe tt* feh an extremity. " " -'''Him^] As theie was a poffiMlity of tetidWg'W thofe places where the Englilli rcbk pfdft, we had erected parapets and ^tifades m the fame manner as at the cfeek of Corcn^ran, btit had not time to d^th-o^ thofcf SdttiCti, The EngUfli however knew how to ajf^ly them to a proper ufe. 'Early the iifext; inorning, in order to divert the enemy froin their works, tye lent arty, Who made a feint ^s if they intended to a^ari :vrn«^fr;i « !^ ^l^Qthiptg i^pw i^mained but /t9 s^ixnpy the liglit-ho^fe f:2^p as much a^ ppllible Ic9m |h,e; iife^nd battery, which yft djd with iUcc^fi, till the Eng^^ judg^ F^P^r. ^9 j;c^p^v^ t^r line to a pofition out of puf reach. True it is, that they ^^ on; thi^ ipcffifiw like n>ei> pf ^jrit, for^heir groia- dfpr? cpntijn^ed <^; thi^ <^nger^u? fppt jtilJL h^.rTJW^^*^ anpther attac^: q^.tj^ejr^ght fi^C gf majorRofs J or rathe^r }^^^}jiji^ attempted it, if a hq^j^qiXfpogs, r^Vfii (uperior tx> pp^s, had n9tjffpe vg to )iU aflTiftance. We jtowed ^i^^ds » il^Upp to the mouth of th^ h^jijipW^j ^ ^lom^ted two twenty-fpur ppvoid^i^s ^^n it, yp.^ a yiew of annoying Mr. Wolfe 's new camp, whicl^ was fituated ,^B!nofisY A a + ^ pear M ■■ i' irl-(i tfill 360 Landing'sf the Englijh near the ihorc. This fhaHop cad ahchor near the ifland battery, and after firing heir guns for fomc trmc, returned to her former fituation in the harbour. This operation flie renewed feveral times, which caufed more uneaiinefs than real damage to the enemy. She likewifc played tfjxin the two men of war that had drawn near to dbferve us ; \\xi as they returned the fite, fix of her men were killed : yet the enemy did not venture to purfue her, becaufe (he wis covered with ten forty*two pounders oft ihe ifljlnd battery. ^ -^^i^* * •^^^ Notwithltanding all we could do from 'the 14th to the 19th, we had thcmortlfi- cationto fee the entrenchments round* both the camps of the enemy completed 5 neither was it lA our power* to hinder '-the tranf- porting of the feveral impletncrits^ and litcn- fils- deftincd for the fftget It viras about this time that the trigaie Echo, wMch I mentioned to you btfbr^,-wa#takeh j and that Sir Charles Hardy's fijuadroii rd^rhed to the pofition, whicnithad quitted^ order to join the admir^. ' ■ ^;f ^tliW 'H^t^ 'lu^' ' -4. .^i\ Yefterday, ai £jouiJ6urg. ^'^^ 561 ^'* Yeftcftay/'^ the i9tfi, towariis ^evening, the enemy in the light-houfe camp opened tt battery of cannon anid mortars, which iplayed very briikly upon the ifland battery, tilnd npcm the ihips till mofniiig. We an- fvered theto' Witl? the fame vivacity, but tiot tvith ihc16me iiclVantage, becaufe the ftuationl^ of^the enemy upon an eminence hindred us ffbriVdoing them ajay great harm ; ^ttd befi^es, they have a^oodfhelter be- hind the precipices and high grounds. Iii fhort, this very montin5 the light-houfe battery continued to thtinder upon our fliip$ with fuch fury, that^lth^ were obliged to draw iix hundred y*iWs ri^arer the' town, which ind^d keeps thettt^ little mote otit of cshinph-lhot, but at the fame time leaves litore rt)^om''fdi- the -enemy to approach, and mafces* it left incohvehlent to advance their w6rks, which the fire from our ihip$ had greatly dbftrufted. ' ^ " 'I amvietyfenfibli, that upon the receipt of this letter, which I ahi going to fend you bythe Arethufa, a frigate juft ready to fail, you will be under the greateft inquietude: *'-^^ « i.vi^_-^u. k, , yet; iA \\\ ',' 'y\ ii ;'' »:i:'; 1 t; . 36a Landii^^ th$\P*ngUJh &c.}^ yet what W0UI4 jou Q^ of mc» were I to negk£t this opportunity of tcqpaizuipg yov^ with our misfoitiuxe ? doubtld^ you would receive the iiew» £rom oth^$^ wi would be dilbhUged with une for lenving you in fuch m iwoertainly hi tug^d to pqr fate. I promiih to continup a fiuthful d^arrative of the &fffi I if the town is tato^ by (bxvf^ this account perhtpi will nprer reach you^ but as a good citizen, :moii5 than as a folr dier, I hope we Audi capitulate* when wfc are no longer aUe to defend our&lves. In all probability^ I (hall &e you very foo^ after/ijny next» if Ido jiot bring it myfi;lf. In the mean time you will allow, that J was not fo much miftaken in px\edii£ting and 'la- .nieatiing what has happmied> ^ ^ ^ r^on to fay» Jifhat your f avd j^ac on tl^ cpntipfr^t would prove ths ruin of this yiji- luable ,ai^ fiouriihing colony* What^ immenfe fum it will coft to v^ftfift it to its /ormer condition^ fuppofiog tlv^ the ^ng- iiih, who are but too ^.ell ac^ainted wit)> t^(5 .value of it, Ihould confei^ t9 part wi^x .it again, or that wc (houJd bp jibkto qoxft- pel t] fhoul ftrvai poVta conct whkl AdUi Nim ■¥iih-'f§- Y^OU Wit) Mtttcdve my tsift fotter fo eaily tfis 1 Imagined jtitither fh^l 1 follow this fo foon as I could have wifted; The Areihofa lirri0 tr^ith, nothing but their valoUr can equal their generofity : but my narrative and encomiums (hall keep pace together v therefore let PS continue to recount the e(fe6ls of that virtue, for which we have paid fi> dear ; and we (hall after- wards come to the other, of which every one of lism^ght to^referve the moft grateflil re- membrance. I left off, if I am not miflaken, at the recital of a iituation, whicjir (had re- vived ^ay etpre(Ii<^^s of: fprrow ; and you 5vilJ itov be ablv :o jud^ ^whether tiey were ju(t or not*^ , ^ . -^ '>^ # Ir :j ^^^fc]^ %^l?he 2 ift of June, pm^ &ips)nade a moft terrible peal "Upon the ^ght^bou(e battelry, which was (md to have be^^ femewhat damaged. We fired againil tho^ enemy froqi fill fides, ais.far ♦a^ pur^^ftrength, or ths - ^4iH¥' " ' * ' (bowers f^'-YTfry^ Siege of Louifiurghhtirmid. 36 J (howers Of bombs woubi permit All thf next day there was a vefy thick fogi of which the enemy availed themfelves to efe£t an advanced redoubt, betwixt the center of the grand camp and that to the right. Bj this ftep it became eafier for them to j;et podeffion of an eminence, which com-* manded the part of ^e camp tow^4s f^^ town, at the diflance of about eight hun* dred yards from the glacis. They lik^wife ere^^ed a battery of fix cannon at the light* hoiife, in qrder to filence the ifland battery^ by which they were greatly incommoded. They eredled another againO: qui; (hips ; and laft of all, diey ma4e an. epaule-^ ment to facilitate their approaches, to the town by the eminence. This work was about a quarter of a mile in length, iixty feet v\ride, and nine deep j confifting of gabions, fafcines and earth. Four days were fpent in thefe preparations, and the 25th we experienced their effe6i. One of the embrafures of the ifland battery was damaged, fo that we could only make ufe of bombs. This defeft was (iipplied, ^s. tvmuA^ ' much $,66 Si^i^f i^t^tirg mtinuiiil. much as poAUe, by our battery of Captf Maurepas, aiidliy the cannon of our fhips. The ^6th vm refelved xxn fet fire, to the enemj^t new fott } but thde who attempt- ed it, were repuUed without cffe6ting their ^6'The' 27th, perociini^ that the eiiemy %ss cbntkiuallf advaneii^, we redoubled tparfat witlloutMng able to intecrupt the workmen ; on the contrary, we "ourfdvei were terriUy ineotvimoded by the. enemy's i>ombe. Betid^t ^ admiral extending his -vigilance t^ eivory part, cai^ftd fiour hun^^ dred foldiers fo be landed in the oredc of Cormorant a preoaucioa of great uTe to the xz Two day$ after we fimk two frigates and two fhips in the Rarit>weft'partof tiirmouth of the harbour ; and fafteoed them^ toge^ ther, to the end tliat if tlie enemy -^&ip^ (hould attempt to force thdr way through, there might not be room for above one at.a time. Daring this operation, ouo &-igate Arethufa ventured out as far as {he commanded by brigadier general Lawrence. We furprized them by the help of a very dark night : but what could nine hundred men do againft the whole van-guard of the enemy, who immediately flew ^to the aflSfiance of the .fappers ? We had two captains and a few foldiers killed. The qay followine we fent a flag of tyuce, to beg.Jeave to bury the dead. ^^ The loth, the admiral fet two hundred miners to work. In the mean while, we fired chain-fliot .at, them, and made as much noife as poflible* The Arethufa em- , ployed ^'■'ti\ Siege of Louijhurg anttnued^ 369 ployed the time (lie was hindrcd from failing, in fuch a manner, as made us amends for* this involuntary delay. The night of the 1 ith, we perceived a great fire in the woods, and as it was a fignal of the ap-^ proach of M. des Herhiers with a reinforce- ment of Canadians and favages, we began to pluck up our fpirits. Befides, we knew , that as M. de Herbicrs piqued himfelf more . for his bravery than for his humanity, there was no doubt of his harafllng the enemy as much as poflible with the troops, which he would keep hovering about their camp, after he had reinforced the garrifon. This fame officer had the good fortune to fnap up an Englifh foldier that was driving a cart,; and being apprized by this fellow of the fituation of the enemy's camp, he im- mediately let us know it, to the end that we might point our batteries accordingly. The 1 5th a thick fog arifmg, the Are- thufa embraced the opportunity to flip away in the night, and though the enemy ufed all pofTible expedition in giving chace to this fhip, flie got clear off. Yet I am of opinion, B b that •fl V << '■■•si- I ,1 370 Siege of Louijhurg continued* that her departure gave more pleafure to the Englifh than to us. The i6th Mr. Wolfe made himfelf mafter oF the poft occupied by our piquets, fituatcd within four hundred yards of the weft gate j and there lie maintained himfelf in fpite of all our fire from our cannon and bombs. A deferter from the camp having informed us where the enemy's magazines lay, we diredled our fhells in fuch a manner, as to alarm them greatly. The enfuing days their approaches towards the town were carried on with fucefs, as were alfo the new batteries, one of which began to play very brifkly on the Dauphin baftion, and the weft gate. : .f The 2ift proved fatal to us : our Ihip* the Entreprenant of fixty-four guns, hiving ^ been fet on fire by a cannon-fhot from tin?' enemy, blew up m the middle of the har-^ hour 5 and in its fall the fire fpread itfelf to two more (hips, the Celebre and the Capricieux/ which were both burnt. The other veflels ^ efcaped with very great difficulty and fiik,* l)eing obliged to pafs between the enemy's- battery. l.'^-'A^ii- *-'- T> Siege of Loutjourg cpHitnueS. 371 battery, and the cannon of the fliips on fire, which played upon us as well as upon them. Several of our fmall craft were burnt j in fhort it was a night of horror and dcfola- tion. The Prudent and the Bienfaifant of fixty-four guns, which had efcaped this time, fbon after fell a prey to the enemy. Admiral Bolcawen had given orders for each Ihip under his command to get ready two boats, two pinnaces, and a barge, ifmcd with mufquets, bayonets, cutlafles, hatchets, and piftols. Thefe, under the command of the captains La Forey and Balfour, entered the harbour in great fi- lence, on a very dark night. As our bat- teries and ramparts had been very much damaged thefe three days ; and as the fire of the enemy's fmall arms made it almoft impracticable for us to maintain ourfelves on thofe fame ramparts, which we were endeavouring to rcpair ; and laftly, as a breach had been already made in the Dauphin baftion and the weft gate ; we did not want for work. Befides, we had feen the beficgers bring ladders to the ', B b 2 trenches ; i( ' *!• '' i r 372 Siege of Louijhurg continued. trenches > and as we apprehended a fcalade every moment 5 we kept firing continually from our fmall arms on the ramparts, whUe the enemy plied us in the fame manner without intermiffion. It is not therefore at all furprizing, that in fuch confufion and alarm, we did not perceive the hoats, which, as I mentioned to you before, flipped into the harbour. Their aim was againft the two only fliips we had left, and they fucceedcd. Captain La Forey attacked the Prudent, and captain Balfour the Bienfai- fant. The report of the guns made us fen- fible of our frefli misfortune 5 but it was too late. In vain did we dire^l: every bat- tery that w^s ftill in a condition to play, againft the enemy's boats : we could not hinder the Bienfaifant from being towed clofe by our walls into the north-eaft har- bour, under the prote6lion of th** enemy's batteries J nor the Prudent, which was aground, from being fet on fire. I muft confefs. Sir, that this a£lion did as much honour to the Englifti, as damage to us. And, indeed, fo long as our Ihips ^ » i remained K •t, , !.('-. Siege of Louijburg conwtued, 373 remained in the harbour, it would have been difficult for them to make a general aflault. Here then was our coup de grace. Of this we were convinced the next day by the faocking fpedlacle before us. We were under the greateft concern to fee our har- bour dcfolated, and laid wafte : it was co- 'vered with the wrecks, as well of thofe (hips that had been burnt, as of thofe > which either we or our enemy had funk. When we turned our eyes to view the fitu- ation of the town, our affliftion was heigh- tened. Our batteries were almoft ruin- ed, not above tvVelve pieces of cannon were in a condition to fire, a breach had been "rendered pra6licable, our numbers were greatly reduced, and the redoubling of the enemy's fire had nearly deftroyed us. Add ^ to this, no ways and means to repair our toflfes ; no appearance of relief; nay, we had feen the enemy a few days before, fcize on two Spanifh veiTcls that were bringing " us fuccouis. ^^''tn io melancholy a fituation, there was no- ^'"* thing left but to capitulate j fo that we fuf- V 1^ t) 3 penderf n ""'] ' f ;r :m ■■.'rS il }» I i 5 374 Capitulation oj Lauifhurg. ' pendcd our fire, and Tent to demand a truce in order to regulate the articles of furrender. We infilled upon terms, far more ho- nourable, and more advantageous, than we had a right to expeft ; and in cafe of a refufal, we were refolved to hold out to the laft. The officer charged with the propofals of our commandant M. de Dru- court, returned with the following letter from general Amherft. ** In anfwer to the propofal received on- the part of your excellency, I have no- thing further to fay, than that his ex- cellency admiral Bofcawen and I have determined, that our men of war fhall ** enter the harbour to-morrow, in order to make a general aflault. Your exceU^ lency knows full well the fituation of the army and fleet, as well as of the town j but as admiral Bofcawen and myfelf are both defirous of avoiding any further effufion of blood, we give your excel- lency an hour to determine on the only capitulation we are willing to grant, which is to furrender yourlelves prifoners "of <( r;** Secondly, all the artillery, ammuni'- •''tion, as well as arms of what kind focvcr, ^* at prefent in the town and idands of *>:Capc Breton and St. John, fhall be con- iigned into the hands of commif&ries ap- pointed for that purpofe, in order to be .** delivered -Up to his Britannic majcfty. ^ .-^n^l Thirdly, the governor (hall give or- f' ders to the troops in the ifland of St. -*'. John, to furrender to fuch (hips of war 55 as tl^ admiral fhall pleafe to fend to take ♦^ them on board. 'u rj:** Fourthly, the gate called Dauphin fhall if be opened to his Britannic majefty*s troops ♦• by' ten o'clock to-morrow morning, and '!: the garrifon, as well as thofe who have ff borne arms, fhall be drawn up to-morrow M upon the efplanade, where they fhall lay *f down their arms, colours, and mihtary /.* accoutrcnjcnts ; after which they fhall go f^ on board thofe vefTeJs which are to Iranf- ^' port them to Epglandt .:" " Fifthly, ii ; »: ' !i ,1 i «c (C cc 378 Capitulation cf Louijburg. ** Fifthly, the fame care fhall be taken of the fick and wounded in the hofpitals, as of the fubjeds of his Britannic ma- jcfty. rm , . . " Sixthly, the merchants and tlieir clerks, " that have not borne arms, (hall be fent *' to France, on board fuch veflels as the •" admiral ihall Judge proper to appoint.*' £i This capitulation was made the 26th of July, and of courfe after a bloody fiego of two months, which we could never have maintained for fo long a time, had it. not been for thofe four fhips of war, which we were unfortunately obliged to facrifioc. The day following^ at the hour agreed to, major Forqhar took pofTelfion of the gate Dauphin at the head of three cooapanies of grenadiers, fiy noon general Whitmore, who had fo greatly contributed to the tak« ing of the place, had the honour due to him of receiving the fubmiflion of the gar- rifon in the efplanade. He then caufed the arms and colours to be carried off, ordered corps de gardes and fentinels, and in fhort, afted as governor of Louifburg. 1 We Capitulation of Louijburg. 379 We had only one misfortune more to apprehend; though perhaps this gave no great uneafmefs to thofe filly fools (and many fuch there were amongft us) who never troubled their heads, either about what is paft, or to come. For would you imagine how our officers were cm- ployed during the heat of the fiege ? When they were not upon duty, they aflembled together, and gamed fo very high, that to fee them, one would have thought they wtfre certain of the future inutility of their money. Perhaps it was a mark of cou- rage ? I fhould fay fb, if a tranquillity du- ring the moment of deftruftion merited that name; but I am very far from being of this opinion. I could not help cenfuring the folly of thofe bold gamefters, whom a (ingle bomb, out of a thoufand that fell every day, might have crufhed to pieces in the midft of fo laudable an occupation. You will tell me, perhaps, that I am going to turn preacher. Not I, indeed ; at leaft I fhall give no le6lure of morality ; but as to an elogium on our conquerors^ I hope you .:i i) :i f 3^0 Capitulafhn of Ijowjhur^,.^ you will indulge me in it j both jurtice and gratitude demand it of our hands ; and therefore I have only to return to the fub- je6l which preceded this digreifion. ^ Yes, Sir, we had one misfortune more to apprehend ; viz. that our enemies fhould on ' the prefent occafion copy after our example. *rhey had not forgot the extraordinary barbarities and cruelties, which we had fuffercd the favages to praftife upon them after the taking of Ofwego, and Fort Heniy William, which had funendered neverthe* ^ lefs upon a more advantageous capitulation, than that which we had but juft concluded. There had not been time enough to efface ^ the memory of that aftionj and the con- tinuation of the war had kept up the fpirit "^ of juft refentment. Beddes, though wc . were conquered, we frequently let fall fome expreffions that (hewed our animofity, and were far from foothing exafperated minds. The evening before the Englifh took pof- feflion of the town, we fuffered the foldiers ^^ to plunder the magazines ; and the priefts Ipent the whole night in marrying all the ^ ' , , . girls Capitulation of Louifhurg. 381 girls of that place to the firfl that would have them, for fear they fhould fall into the hands of heretics. Befides, the exhaufled Hate of the military cheft had raifed a fufpicion* which was likely to create more ill blood \ but notwithflanding all theie circumdances^ the probity, honour, and humanity of the Englifh chiefs prevailed. Meffieurs Bof- cawen and Amherfl, after a£ling with that fpirit of harmony, which is fo uncommon in joint commanders, and redounds {o greatly to their hpnour j and after condu6ling this enterprize with equal valour and ability^ (hewed themfelves pofiefTed of thofc virtues that form the man of honour, as mijjjh as of thofe that diftinguiih the hero. ^** ' The vigilance of the admiral during the whole time of the fiege, his application in fearch of the, proper means to bring it to a happy iffue, his judgment in the choice of thofe means, as appeared moft evidently in executing the fcheme againft our two m^n of war ; his adivity, which was not fatis- fied with the bufinefs of the fleet committed to his care, but induced him to come every ^ ^ . "^ day ('■ P 382 Capitulation of Louijiurf: day to the camp, in order to concert matters with general Amherft; thefe are objefVs, which the Englifh will never loTe fight of, and which undoubtedly mufl command the perpetual gratitude of his country. Our acknowledgment is alfo due to him upon a very juft title, though of a different kind ; and our cdeem is a tribute, which he mod richly deferves on both accounts. »*'*" i**- To be brief. Sir, no body here can per- ceive, at leaft by any perfonal inconve-^ iiiency, that we are in a conquered town. The garrifon has embarked with as much tranquillity, as if it had been going upon a voyage of pleafure. Every fol- dier has taken away whatever belonged to him, without fuffering the leaft injuftice. M. de Drucourt has received all the ho-^ Hours which a perfon of his rank dcferved. The admiral has fliewn all the refpefts to Madame de Drucourt as were due to her tntrit : every favour (he afked, was grant- ed. True it is, that fuch behaviour does honour to the difcernment of the gentlemen that fhewed it. This lady has performed \ . ^ fiich -i'i latters 3Jc£\:8, ht of, cidthe Our upon : kind ; e mod in p^t* Lconvc-^ i town. B much going ry fol- ged to ijttlilice. he ho- eferved. )e6ts to to her grant- lur docs itlemen formed fuch 1 Capitulation of I^ouijiurg. 3 ft 3 fuch exploits during the fiege, as muft en-^ title her to a rank among the moft iHcftrious of her fcx ; for fhe fired three cannon e^ery day, in order to animate the gunners. After the furrendcr of the town, fhe intc- rcfVed herfelf in behalf of all the unfor- tunate people that had recourfe to her me- diation. In this number, M. Maillet dc Giandville was a flriking inflance of the inflability of fortune. He left France at the age of f^cnteen, and arrived at Quebec in very indifferent circumflances. But by his induftry and application to bufinefs he foon advanced himfclf in the world, (b as to be ^blc to purchafe the lordfhip of Mount Louis, which coft him fourfcorc thoufand litres. But now by the taking of Lcujlburg, he lofes upwards of a hun- dred and fifty thoufand, and is left quite deftitute with a numerous family. Yet what have thefc private lofTes, you will fay, to do with our country in general ? A great deal, I afTure you 5 though the perfons en- truftcd with the reins of government, feem to a6t as if thefe were matters of no con- ! cern ^$4- Capitulation tf Louijhufgi ce«n at all. Do you imagine, that thcr^ will be fudi numbers henceforward, fo ready to quit their country, and to fpend their days in inceflant toil, when they might pafs them agreeably at home; if they find that they are to be fkipped of the fruit of all their labour, by a moft fhame- ful negle6t of our colonies ? But this revives my old lamentations; and in all probability you have had enough of that flrain already in France; Nothing there- fore remains but to let you know, that I propofe very foon to have the plea- fure of embracing you j if my departure, which depends on my ftate of health, ihould be fo near at hand as I ex-* peiSt. Yet I fancy you will liave another letter before that time. I have contra6ted a particular intimacy with an Englifliman of extraordinary good fenfe, with whom I have been feveral times in company. I propofe giving you an account of our con- verfation j and I fancy you will not be dif-^ pleafed to hear what our enemies think in regard to the importance of their conqueft ; th^ '•.'^> and Capiiulatkn t>f Z/iuifburg. 385 and you will be able thereby to fprni a better judgment of the, reafons we had to be fo ftrenuous, both for the defence, ai^d reco- very of that fortrefs. But I (hall conclude^ with giving you a commiffion, which, I fancy, will be extfemely agrfceable to your difpolition : this is, to tell our merchants that the enemy have done ho injury or vio- lence here at all. to people in trade, but have fuffered them to difpofe of their effefls in what manner they pleafed ^ to let our officers know> that the gentlemen of the army have been treated with all the re- i^^ and moderation imaginable ; to ac^ quaint the common people, that the moft humane ufage has been fhewn to perfons of their condition ; and laftly, to apprize all our countrymen in general, that if this reverfe of fortune fhould increafe their natural antipa- thy againft the Englifh, it furnifhes us vyith another motive to endeavour to get out of their debt ; and therefore we ought to em- brace the firft opportunity of making them a proper return, not fo much for the lofs we have fullained, as for their humane be- C c haviour ii W Viii^ 386 Jmjfwmme^f CaptBrtioit havioQr to oar people. I dunk, and doubttefi you will think fo too, that fuch ought to be the wiihes, and fuch the condufi of a ge^ nerous mind. Your moft &c. LETTER XXIV. and laft. % Converfatim between an Englijhman rf merit and the author ; refiexioni on the importance rf Cape Breton to both powers. -^'^^ J/^f SIR, ^ 1 SHOULD not be willing tb augment the chagrin, which France muft reccivfc from the lofs of Cape Breton j I am fenii- t)le, that in general our difcourfc ihould be on fuch topics, as rather give plcafure than uneafinefe to thofe with whom we converfe ; and that there arc Wy few, who chufe to think of future difficulties, let this f oretho» ;;ht be attended with ever fo great an advam^ge. But I am writing to a friend, whochufesto hear the truth, be it ever fo difagreeable j and to fix his eye on fuch a point of view, as fhall reprefent the real pofture of affairs. 1 may therefore inform you, that oibt lofs, 91 all probability, is irreparable. And why ¥ 4 u •> ^ Why fb f you wiUrepIy. Did hof tKe Erig- B(h take Lbuifburg in the laft war ? And did nbt th6y rettbre it at the concluding ot xh6 ptitt ? I propofed this very queftidn to the Englifhman, whom I mentioned to you in my pteceding letter, and one day that I preim him very hard, not fo much froni any doubt I entertained of his way of thinking upon the fubjeft, as from a glim- mering hope, which I would willingly have grotinded on the infatuation of our enemies^ He gave me the following anfwer. ^j, ,„^_- ' You talk, faid he, of the reftitutioh which we made to you of thefe iflands iii the laft war, as if you expefted we fhould bbferve the like c6ndu6t again j but our ininds as well as the times are changed. Threfe ftiotiveis which, upon figning the peace, appeared very cogent to our go- vernment, determined us to agree to that meafure. The firft was the lofs of the battle of Fontenoi, joined to the inteftine divifions which you had raifed in our coun- try, in order to compel us to make peace -, and which you might have revived in good t**^- C c 2 earncft, 388 Importanceof Cafe Breton. earneft, if we had not compUed. The fecond was the expe6tation of feeing the limits of Acadia fettled to our fatisfa£^ion> as no explication had been given as yet in re- gard to this article. The third and la(l was, that we had but an imperfeA idea of the utility of our conqueft ) and befides, the weak condition of your navy made us very eafy in regard to all your proje6^^. Thefe three motives no longer fubfifl:, and in all probability will not return again. The war on the continent does not turn out to your advantage ; and you have to contend on that fide with generals of top much bravery and ikill, to flatter yourfelves with any hopes. I am even of opinion, that this continental war will do as much in our favour, as we ourfelves fhall be able to efFefl ; of this we have a demonfl:ration in the negleft, which France has lately Ihewn with regard to this colony. The attention of your government is fixed upon Germany 5 you have almoft loft fight of the original quarrel ; and we ought to profit by your miftakes, as no doubt but you would hit- t\ ^A^C V "^v '^# 'i"^"^^^ Soti Powers. ^"^ ^389 profit by ours. And is it poffible for us to commit a greater, than to follow your ex- ample, and forget our real interefts ? This would be quitting the fubftance to run aftsr the ftiadowj no, let the fuccefs be what it will on that fide, we (hall free- ly refign your palms, and keep our own* Befides, the univerfal bent of the nation is againft any fuch defign, which might even prove dangerous to thofe who fhould ven- ture to propofe it. With refpeft to the ar- tifice you had recourfe to, in order to bring about' the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, you ^re too much exhaufted to employ it again: the maintaining of three powerful armies is fdb'gr^at an expence for you, to be able to * fpiare any money upon that fchemc. And befides, how do you know they could bs" dicdyed again?* Do you imagine they tvb\ild be your tools and dupe? a fecond iime? Arid woiild they venture to truft ydtl, without a moral certainty of fuccefs? feut perhaps you will attempt to invade us ? Cah you think of fuch an enterprize, with fee leafl pfobability of fuccefs ? The hatred -"i-f C c 3 between f 15, J 99 Ifnportancepf C(^pe Breton between the two nations is too flrong, for either of them to fubduc the other. In cafe of u foreign invafion, even the ftocks apd ftones. would turn foldiers. Such a projefl: has never fiicceeded, but by means of jr^teftine divifions, either in France or England. , i ;non lioviao * . But perhaps we may imagine, that yovi will rc(ign to us, bona &de.y all liiat you had ceded., to us already at the treaty of Utrecht. AniJ did not you promifc to dp ioby the Jaft treaty? purely yqur formeif ^bterfuges npuil make us feni&ble of what we are to cp{pe6l for the future. Beiides^ fo gitat is the difference between your pr^ teniion^ and ours, tl^at i^e have not the leaf); pro^(^ of pbtainmg any fatisfaft^^^ but by mean* of the longeft fword. >iU lo. ixoit Inibort, we hay^ha^ time andoppor-* ^nity to be convinced, a,t pur pwn^ coftj, pf the real value of this cplonyr; to know ^hat it enables^ you \o undertake ai^d esc&r ^ute ; conifqtiently, of what value it may hoi, tp us : and we own, if ever we fliould |^ve it up, it WQutd be too late to recover it* whe^ 'C.qX^ 'to ktb Powers. ^ ^^ 391 you were better able to defend it by th« augmentation of your navy. y. You fay you will not make peace but upon this condition ? Well then, let us fee who will beaUetoholdoutthelongeft. Forourpart^ wc entered into the war, only in order to hin- der you from ruining our colonies, and from robbing, us of thoie which you had yielded by treaty. And how were you likely to fucceed I Cape Breton alone wguld havc^ enabled you ta ef&6b your piu:pofe. By keeping poffeflion of this important conqueft, we put an end ta^e dilute about the limits of Acadia 1 we. confine you within the bounds, whicli you had prefcribed to yourfelves $ and we deprive you of the flower of enlarging an4 chang^g them at pleafure. The naviga^. tion of the river vof St Lawrence muA: aU ways .be commanded by thofe who are ia poQeilion of Cape Breton. And who ought^ to be in poi&ifion of this idand, but they^ who by the treaty of Utrecht have moft territories bordering upon it? Confequently k ought to belong to Great-Britsun. But you difpute about your own free gift ; and C c 4 for ■"if 592 ImporfawS of Cape Breton for this very reafon, we ought not to {)iqtie ourfclvcs upon (hewing you any a6l of gc- ncrofity, as you would foon give us reafon to repent it. Ought a peace to deprive us of the fruits of a fuccefs, fo dearly pur- chafed, and even fo neceffary for the end we propofcd in going to war ? Our bulincfs is to enlarge our commerce, to fccui'e ^ur colonies, and to proteft them from being continually a prey to your invafions, or to the cruelties committed, at your mftigatioxiji on the part of the lavages. By keeping Louifburg, we (hall not be afraid of be- ing molefted, or (heightened in bur cb«^' Ionics, much lefs of hearing you diipute the legdity of our^pofrefTions, Nekher will you come to difturfc us in ou«'fifhery, and thereby deprive us of the greateft adW vantage' we can po(fibly derive from thia country. Befidea, you will be ti0 tonget the* folc poffeiibrg of the f ur-tnide ; ' the (kviges mufl: deal with us 1 and as fbon lit they ceafe to be animated by your inftigations, and cuftom- has familiarized di^ intcrcotlrfe betWeeU theui and USj^ we to Both Powers, y^' 3^3 ihall hv/t an end of that periodical defola^ tion with which thcfe provinces art Co often affli6bed. We are maftcrs of all the coaft from Newfoundland to Florida ; and the jtaloufy you may conceive againft our power, will be a leffer evil, both to you and to u$, than the vicinity of our colonies, which will be always a fource of diiputes and quarrels. Thefe are the real, and prefent advantages accruing from ♦he pofTef- fion of Cape Breton. With regard to oc- cafional" benefits, they are ftill equally great oh our fide, if reduciiig the- power of our natural enemy can be reckoned fuch. And, indeed, if you ceafe to be mafter^of Cape Bnetdrt, you arc intirely driven 6ut of the cod-^fifhery 5 and theft, aS' you lofc at the fam^' time your imaginary rights to Acadia, theJ territories remaining in your pofleflTion in North Amerifca will be f-ather a burden than an advantage to you. Louifburg being you? ftaple town, and the center of communication for veflels that come from France, as well as ' from the Weft-Iridies j your navigation will be in as ruinous a condition ais youV Ki^? com- f 394 Ifnperianutf Cape Breton c«pimfce» Qefide«, du3 will be ftriking ^ffOHJif uf(^ a« tbe£fhery alone fursuflied jfH^ wi;^ f^lor? i whereas, you ufed before tpi Jiifi9:.thfiipa of ypyr wightooun./sp'' - -v^ ., At iefigtb I interrupted bind, with fame lU^ $l^ranpa]F: ^d fou Sir, you would |[f4^q^ Hs ^ pv^r.old pofleflionji in £uropp ) li^l^tbia wb^t ypu wovid be at, and what yo^ ^keiUe^ Yes, anfwered the Engliibr t9m very cooly, if it d^)ended upon me, ^nd y^ yiuft, poffiUe. Bujt would not yon hiKre ftiU enpugh to make you amends, fOntiiHifd b« : are not tb^ produAipns of yiHir pw^ country preferable to tbofe of p^|W!0 iflaiids,in Eufope? 9efides, do yon lopkiippn th^ gr^ extent of youf do;^ »i$iiipns, pi>4 l^e be^y of your cUmat^ ^- npl;bi]?g ^ An4 is not your wine alone ^ ^rii^, equivalent to i^hatever we might HiquijBe ii| Amerio^ I Indeed, replied I fmUingy' ve will not fit; down contented with tWi? equivalent, I fee very plsunly^ fiOQjdniiied J more feripuily, that Cape Bre^ tc^ i$ lil^ely to be the Dunldrk of North A»eri^ f nd tltet tfe Ipngsft f^ord will carry li««^' -< ^ry it; yet as after a very long conteft. yfp, gained our point in regard tathe Ewtch. pe^ DunkirH, perhaps we may have the j^e.gQQd.%tun^ in rcfpedt to the Ameii* qua* You are fenfible how greatly it be^ ^v^s us to ru^ aU riiks ii^ ^rder tp recovee it f jtoo fenfible indeed to p^^ume ivf can bp fgnorant of b> importer ^i» interoft. K» tjtv^ftp we h^d fuppofed; Of r#th^ ^Bve aSM ^ \{ w;e (uf^fed you i^ora^ 0f this poiiiti h\^% ^e mow ypu (eem to he eotivinccd o£ ^ jgreatne^ of piu* lof^ ^ the more bufU« ai^ noii^ you piffce ^ut pever delivering ^ place up to vs^^gain, the fm^H ihall we d^eA our atteii^tion to tlui ohjeA. M ta what .ycttimentipxied c^ncecM^ the preju^ 4^M; WQ^lddo us, and the^adv^tage yoia ^^14 l^eap f^pi^. M^ ) haye IIQthi^ fiirthee tpN^^i an4 ^1^1 \f I the«ghl ipf any tMn^ tjf^t^yp^ )uf^ f?«ita^> I flic^ld take care tcr ^qi;i^q^>niy imB4* I^ would not be at alt ^ttyi4 iP^i W: *® ftrengthen your arguv y^^^l >i|t )^a^ muft aUpw me to tell you,- 1^ 4^]figs ^n^ turn out qu^« difFerent m ^M^W^y ^^^ ^^ ywr pieten^ons ii» .jrlf^ ' ' fuccefi ^1" '! 3 9^ Importance i)f^ape Breton ibccefs fo juft as you imagine; I d6 n6t fee that the poireffion of Acadia, ^vcn in thfe extent yoirglve it, ought to include Aat eiP Cape Bi-eton. Nay, you did not think ib .yourfelves, (ince you left tis the latter, at a time when perhaps we could n6t have fefiifed td* deliver it up to ybu. And bc- cinofe- We hslve made you a pfdent, is this any reaibn we (hould he ftrippcd of bttt lawful poTTeffions ? Not . ^t - all; iinfwit^ ihe Englifhman ; but yo^y'attemjpt to re- voke that very prcfent ; yotif irifiticerity iti your promifes^ and in all* your dealings'^ ;our ol>(tinady iti reviving the quarrel \ atid laftly, your artifices in throwJng the blaiiic upon us 3 tkefe are the h^ives' that in- duced us to entar into a refbluVionfb ^atly to your prejudice. It was itfere hetfcflity that forced us into this meafUrei when the whole tenour of yoiir ^ottduft tted coiivitii^ ced us of your treacherous ddi^sl But ybu will not find it fo eafy a mattei^,' ritplicd 1, to put your threats into* executicftil The Jcveral European ftates^^hat are po^^ddFfbireign cdonies,^ have the fame inteifcft to preferve a;^*:-jui a ba- ^,i,,, y\p both Powers. .\ 397 lanc« of power in America, as, they can poiTibly have in Europe. The Spaniards ^nd the Dutch will join us, in order to re- duce you within proper bounds; befides, you have a country on the continent to ranfom ; an ally to fave ; and there we (hall be even with you. But you are not as yet in poit fefllon of the former, replied the £ngli(h- man ; neither have you conquered the latter : but I anfwered this objedtion before. In re- gard to the alliance, with which you threat- en us, a thoufand circumftances may pre- vent it J and if there was nothing elfe in our favour, you may depend upon this, that the powers fuppofed to form fuch an alli- ance, are equally divided in their fentiments ifl^^X'Sgard to both nations, that is, they have the fame diiinclination to, the fame fear, and the fame diftruft of both. Thus being dubious which (ide to take, in all pro- bability they will determine to ftand neuter, in order to let us weaken each other : and in that cafe you mufl allow, that the party which comes off the winner, muft by means of his conquefts, and other coincident ad- vantages, &>M ^ ^^S Importance bf €ape Breton • irailti^s, beteirabled to fecdrehils acquiiid6hd, before the ftottn arifing from a combiriatiSh of jksfwers breaks but. Atid beftd^is, doiidt yoil fee that we itiuft abfolntely play double tit quits ; that a^ W^ cah h^ve neither peaee- noir reft in buf c6k>tiies Wlthbtit the pbflfef: Sort of Lduilburg, we muft itfolve to fte^f) It, let die confequence be what it will } "'^ t; the above, Sir, is si fpecim^n of the C6fl- ferences'Ihad withatiian, whofe ftatiktiefb and plaiti d^iti^, t aiti fure wbtild comifiahd yWir efteem. With Frehch vivatity, cbiiver- fations of thiskihd would take quitfe adifFe- rent ttitn ; ttibft of us would break out into fotfle angry ^rdfion; of clfe would ma- nage the argument with craft and infincerity. i do not fay but there are a great tttany na- tives of fingl^nd, who behave in this refpeft like Frenchmen ; fori flatter myfelf, that they have not ^ the fame coolhefs and refo- iution as my hbndl friend. It ii fome com- fort that every nation hath its weak fide; the Englifhrtian is inconftant, and his manner of viewing the fame obje£ts frequently arifes froiti fuch rmpreflions, as would fliock him greatly. l>r r.,* -^v- h i&h Powers J f§^ greatly, if they had becsn recdi^cRded to^ him by' any other peribn. To-day he fce# nothing equirt to the poffeffion of Cape Ett>^ tOft ; to-rtjorrow ^critalw he will hncf thitt* the value of Minorca rifes; and then ho t^ofl ima^ne that an exchange of thefe t#a yiarfds may be a very ptoper meafune. But let us not depend too much upon flich un- certainties ; neither fetus forgetaiiy ftep thiat is capable of producing fo favOuttibfe Ji dif* pofition in our enemy. The ingttiuity of fnen in regard to expedients; \s geheraBy a confcquence of the exigencies to wUdl they are reduced : the rdburce indeed is ds^ ptecarious^ as^ hope in tile utmoft dt^ ftrefs^jiiii lil UllU ^a' .. ^ «. i J 4. '" ^ I J s I 1 t ' . J ' *J' til ^* S' t.t r r *>t'- 4W ;**• ■ •* ..,■'.■ -«, - ' 'kits** >' c-,/ ,:. -t« I"- >■?:♦, *.•' ■i H - / pon trade lat I have is epifto- 1 and im- ly afFord- his is not eceive: I need that ; have the : the fa- , in con- generous his mind juftice, 'is to abibrb mff'^'M-'i P>