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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, II est filmd d partir de I'angle supirieur gauche, de gauche d droits, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 1/ // w mm t^;'( ' -^ .♦! s^; F-1 .•fT"'!^ MEMO I"^ S O F THE ^■^■'■f IS. 4 PrincipaW^ranfadions OF THE A:S T W >*;'-. Sit'. BETWEEN THE .' ^:' Englifi and Fr^;/c/& in 7Vbr/A America. ' ': i FROM T H E '\ , ^ Commcneetj^ot of it in i744> lA; t^ ^o"- V clufio» of tb> Treaty at ^/^ Wf^^k-- I An Agco^&t of the Importantci of N^a, i.*^^ BreiQifio both Nations. ' ' L ON DO Ni Printed for R. and J. Do©ffE^y, in P^d-mlh and Sold by M. C odi;^tt, 1#*«f«»^«|^ '^ r Price Une SfeijSngihd Six PenceJ Row, ,-*-*'" r*; .* I \ r % » To His G R A G E the Duke of Newcastle, » ■ Pirft Lord Commissioner of His majesty's Treasury, ;[ . Knight of the Moft Noble Order of the GARTER, &c. &c. f4> My Lord*. : n: > : HE Events, which are the Subjed of thefe Memoirs, had their Rife in North America^ when your Grace's particular De* partment, iv D E D 1 C A T I O N. " partment, as one of his IWtajefty's Principal Secretaries of State, put the Affairs of that Continent under your Grace's more imna^diate Direction : And thofe, who are acquainted with the firfl: Springs and Movements, which fet thefe Expeditions on foot, and with the Character of the Perfon in America^ who was chiefly inftrumen- tal in conducaing them there, muft be fenfible, that the Succefs was wholly owing to the Influence of your Grace's Adminifl:ration, and ought therefore to be reckoned among the other happy EffeSs of it. . ^' •■> ■ "^M * '.- -Mil; * V :*/• Thefe, my Lord, together with the Ambition, which the Author has of making 4J ;..,., r ■A'-y *' •^- :^;\i V. DEDICATION. v making his public Acknowledgments to your Grace for perfonal Obligations, are the Motives, which have induced him to take the Liberty of addreffing the following Sheets to your Grace ; and encourage him to hope, that they will be honoured with your Grace's Proteftion, 'Jr .iV -av.'--VV * I am fenfible, my Lord, that the Succefs of the laft War in North Ame- rica was not equal to the great Idea formed in your Grace's Mind at that time for the Service of your King and Country. * Xf'Xv..'^ ■ Had your Grace's Plan tranfmitted to IVew England in 1746 for the Re- dudion <*■ •»»»■ \ : 1 vt DEDICATIOK. dufiion of Canada been carried into Execution that Year> as it would havt been, if it had not been fruftrated by unforefeen, inevitable Accidents in Europe^ againft which it was not in the Power of Human Policy to pro- vide \ that would have crowned the War with the moft important Con-^ queft to the Interefts of Great Britain^ that was ever made upon the Conti- nent of u^/«^riV/aJ. But, my Lord, fliort as the Events of the War fell of your Grace's Scheme ; yet the Confequences were, not only the Prefervatlon of Great Bri- tain^ moft effential Territory in North America for fecuring to her the Pof- feflion i \ if DEDICATION. feffion of all her other Colonics there (at a time when the Enemy had re- duced it to fuch Extremities, that its Fate feemed to depend upon as flcn- der a Thread, as it could poflibly do ; but an Acquifition to his Majefty's Dominions, which, in all Appearance, accelerated the Extinftion of a moft expenfive War to Great Britniny and laid the Foundation for reftoring at that time the public Tranquillity of Europe, May your Grace's unwearied Coun- fels for the Nation's Welfare be con- ftantly attended with Succefs, equal to the Patriot Views, with which they are forn^ed ; and your King and Country ii!f> ^^M! • «•• viii DEDICATION. Country long reap the falutary Fruits of them. u.,.--.>' .f* ^t^xl^f^.^:■mh' '-i, }' I have the Honour to be with the higheft Refpea, V -jJ • . » - My Lord, ,..i , •■ • t « ;\ 1 ( / Your Grace's • 4 ». « ^ . '. moft obliged, and 'i ' ■.. '■ " « moft devoted Servant. •I -*t , .i MEMOIRS O F T H E • > Principal TranfacSions of the Lajf War between the Englijh and French ia North America. - • * ' : - = - ? H E two firft Objeds of the War in ISlorth. America were Nova Sco- tia or Acadie^ and the Ifland of of Cape Breton : again ft the for^ mer of thefe the French^ fooa after the Declaration of War m Europe , made three Attempts ; in the firft of which they furprized the Ifland of Cajzfoy burnt its Forts and other Buildings, deftroyed the Fifhery there, and carried the Garrifon Prifoners to Louisbourg ; and in the two laft reduced Ari" napolis Roy ah the principal Fort and ancient Metropolis of the Province, to great Extremi- ties ! In the Year following the Colonies of New Ek^/^W profecuted an Expedition againfl Cape Breton ', in which they took it, and brought the Inhabitants of the Ifland of St, B Johns, m,^ 1. '. : [2] : jfbBns, fltnate in the Gulf of St, Lawrence, to make their Submiffion upon the fame Terms with thofe granted to Louisbourg, and to give Hoftages for delivering PofTeflion of the I (land ta the Engiijh, •'-■ -5 < , - / . . .; r^' - - .,•> As an Account of the Importance of the two firft-mentioned Places to both Nations wiH throw Light upon the feveral Operations and Incidents of the War, it will be proper here briefly to ftate it. ' Nova Scotia is the Key of the Eaftern Colo- nies upon the Continent of North America ; it has about ninety Leagues of Sea Coafl upon the jitlantit Ocean extending from Cape Canfo Eaftward, which lies at the Entrance in- to the Gut or Streights of that Name (through which there is a Paffage into the Gulf of St. Lawrence) to Cape Sables Weftward, which forms one Point of the Entrance into the Bay of Funda : This Coaft abounds with moft comniodious Harbours for capital Ships of War, and Banks of thebeft Cod-Fifli in North America -, and is very advantageoufly fituatcd for commanding the Navigation of that Part of the Ocean : Its Eaftern Side forms Part of the Gulf of St, Lawrence^ along which it lies extended about no Leagues from the Gut of Curfoy at its Entrance into the Giilf, to Cape Rozier, which forms the South Point of the Mouth of the River St. Lawrence, through which the whole Country of Canada receives all its Supplies and Supports from France: This Coaft alfo has feveral good. Fisheries and Harbours,, 'enct, to Terms to give i Ifland of the Nations -rations proper iCoIo- ica; it t upon Cape ICC in- rough oi St. tvhich Bay moft ps of North uatcd Part art of t lies ut of Cape the )Ugh ^ives nee : and >urs. , [3] Harbours, particularly the Bay of Gaff^t Bay des ChaleurSy and Bay Verte, the latter where- of is feparated by a narrow Ifthmus, about 18 Miles long, from the Bay of Funda^ which is about 50 Leagues deep, and comprehended within the Province: In this Bay are the three Bafons oi Annapolis ^ Minas or Les Minesy and ChicgneSlo ; the Coafts whereof and Banks of the adjacent Rivers abound with Salt Mar* flies, which by the Force of a rich Soil, con- ftantly recruited with marine Salts, and io, not to be impoveriflied by conftant Tillage, pro- duce large Crops of Englijh Grain, with little Labour to the Hulhandman ; and among other Rivers, which fall into it, lies that of St. Johfisy through which the City oi^^uebec has a Communication with the Bay, and acrofs the Head of that, through the Gulf of St. Law- rence^ with Louisbourg : The North Side of the Province is bounded by the Southern Bank of the River St. Lawrence, along which it is extended from Cape Rozier to LeBik, about 80 Leagues ; and the Weftern Side by the River Pentagoet, or Penobfiot, which fe- parates it from New England: Its inland Parts afford a Plenty of Pafturage, with all Kinds of Roots, produces good Oak Timber for Ship Building, tnd white Pine Marts, and has a large Store of Mines in the Diftridt of Minas or Les Mines, which derives its Name from them* Thus fituated, it is evident, that Nova ^sotia^ when in the Hands of the Englijb, muil be a ' " * B 2 Barrier V' [4] Barrier to the Britijh Colonies in North Ame-' rica ', and by the Command, itgives them of the Navigation of the Gulf of St Lawrence and BayofFww^j,- puts it into their Power to cut off the Communication between France and Canada^ through the River of St, Lawrence^ which empties itfelf into the former, and St* Johns^ that falls into the latter ; which leaves the French no Entrance into it, except by the Mijjifippi \ the Paflage through which, the River Ohio and the great Lakes and Rivers beyond it, to Montreal^ is a moft difficult Na- vigation of 2000 Miles, for the greateft Part againft the Stream, and incumber'd with Falls, fo that it is impradicable iox France to give her Colonies in Canada an effectual Support through this Route ; and confequently in fuch Cafe file mud hold them at the Will of Great 'Britain, On the other hand, whilft Nova Scotia is in the Pofleffionofthe French^ it puts it into their Power, by the Command it gives them of the Navigation to and from the Britijh Northern Colonies, particularly thpfe of New Englandy to harrafs and diftrefs them exceedingly; and by its near Situation to the Eaftern Parts of the Maffachiifcts Bay, and the Province of New Hampjhiref to deprive Great Britain of th 2 Na- val Stores, which are now drawn from the King's Woods there for mailing the Royal Navy : And whereas the cold Climate and unfruitful Soil of Canada and Cape Breton yield Qnly a bare Sustenance for their prefent Inha- '. . . bit^at?, Cm h Ante* lem of mce and r to cut nee and wrence, and St. 1 leaves ; by the h, the Rivers Lilt Na- :ft Part 1 Falls, to give support in fuch f Great bitants, and make thofe Colonies incapable oF fupporting a large Number of Troops ; in which Circumftance confifts very much the Security cf the Britijh Colonies againft the Incroachments of France -, if France v^^as aug- mented with the Province of ATbt^^to^/^, which is fertile of every Species of Provifions, {he would then be able to maintain in North A- merica a numerous (landing Army. The New Englanci Colonies, in every Period of this Province's Subjed:ion to the French jCon- tinually felt moft pernicious EiFedts from it, in Depredations upon their Trade, and Incur- iions into their Territories; fo that in 1654 Oliver Cromwell, for their Proteftion, was obliged to feize on all its Forts, and difpolTefs the Frefich of the whole Country : After the Reftitution of it to them by the Treaty of Bre- da^ New England again experienced the fame mifchievous Confequences from their Poffef- fion of it, which always threatened Deflrudion to her Colonies : And not to mention the in- termediate Expeditions form'd againft it from thofe Governments, and the alternate Change of PofTeffion, it has undergone ; when Fra?ice was funk to its loweft Ebb of Power in Europe^ by a long Series of adverfe Campaigns, during Queen Anne's Reign, yet even then the New England Governments were fo diftrefled by this Province's remaining in the Hands of the French (though the Number of its Inhabitants did not exceed 4000), that they twice ad- drefled the Crown in the ftrongeft Terms tp fit \/ \\\ f i ir? t 6 ] fit out an Armament from England for the Reconqueft of it ; in confequence of which an Expedition was formed againft it, under the Command of General Nicholfon^ who took it : And the Negociations at the Treaty oiUtrecht^ by which it was ceded to Great Britain^ will fhew with what extreme Reludtance France made the Ceffion j and that nothing but the feeble State, flie was then in, could have re- duced her to fubmit to it. By the Ceffion of this Province, and PAz- centia in Newfoundland, to the Englijhy the French were lefi without any Harbour or Sea Coaft in that Part of the Atlantic Ocean ; in Confideration of which the Ifland of Cape Breton, which lay within the ancient Limits of Nova Scotia or Acadie, but was excepted by the Treaty of Utrecbt out of the Ceffion, was yielded to .Fr^;zr^. This Ifland, or rather Colledlion of Iflands, called by the French Les I/les de Madame, which lie fo contiguous, that they are com- monly fuppofed to be but one, and compre- hended under the Name of the Ifland of Cape Breton, or L'l/le Royale, has a Sea Coafl: up- on the Atlantic Ocean extending from the Gut of Canfo, the Eaftern Boundary of Nova Scotia, about 34 Leagues E. N. E. to the En- trance into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, between the Eaftcrmofl: Part of the Ifland, and the Weft of Newfoundland, from which it is about 175 Leagues diftant : Its Weftern Side forms Part of the Gulf 3 and the Importance of it to the %«' ■W [ 7 1 the French may be eftimated from the Ad- vantages which they have reaped from it fince it has been in their PoiTeflion. Altho' the Harbour of Louisbourg is not a very good one for Shipping, and the Ifland is barren; andbutafmall Numberof Ships fi(h there, in Comparifon of thofe v^^hich are em- ployed in the French Fifheries on the Banks of Newfoundland^ the Gulf of St, Lawrence^ and the neighbouring Shores, Bays, Harbours, iSfr. yet the Situation of it is fuch, that all their fiihing VelTels can repair thither on any Danger or Emergency j efpecially thofe which .fi{h in the Gulf, on the Mainy or at the North weft oi Newfoundland^ none of which are above one or two Days Sail, at moft, from Louisbourg j as may a^fo thofe Veflels which load with Mud-Fifh on the Banks ; fo that this Ifland is the Center and Protedlion of their whole Fifhery : And of what Value that has been to them will appear by the following Computation taken of it from Perfons intimate- ly acquainted with every Branch of it, accord- ing to the State, in which it was carried on, the Year before the War. According to this Computation the Quan- tity of their Fifli caught that Year was I » 149,000 Quintals of dry Fi(h, and 3,900,000 Mud-Fifh; the Value of both which, includ- ing 3>ii6i Ton of Train Oil drawn from the Blubber, amounts to 926,577/. loi. accord- ing to the prime Coft of the Fifti at Newfound- land ; and witli the Addition of its Freight to the tf [8] , the feveral Markets, where it is fold, makes 949,192 /. 10 J. Sterling; and, if to this is ad- ded the Confumption, which is nmade of their coarfe Woollens by the Men employed in the Fiihery, reckoning for each a Blanket, Watch Coat, Rug, Pea Jacket, ^c, in the Whole 30J. fcr Man, as alfo the Brandy they confume, to- gether with the Canvas, Cordage, Nets, Hooks, Grapplins, Anchors, ^c. that the Ships and Shallops of this Fifhery mufl expend at Sea and on Shore, the Value of it will amount at leaft to one Million Sterling per Annum, at which it is generally computed. But in order to form a jufl: Eftimate of the Value of this Branch of Trade to the French, the Confideration of its beneficial Confequences fliould be taken in j thefe confift principally in the following Articles : ift. The Train Oil produced by it is necef- fary to the French in their Woollen Manufac- tory ; in which they have already rivard us with too much Succefs ; and their Sugar Co- lonies abroad, which cannot do without it, are fupplied with it from France out of this Fifliery. 2dly, The Trade, it opens for them into the Mediterranean^ and all the Roman Catholick States, where they carry their Fi(h to Market, and by the Means of it force a Vent for other French Manufactures j which has been found fo beneficial to their commercial Intereft, that they have been indefatigable in the Cultiv^^ $ionofit, fparing no Pains nor Coft, and ufing every te of the e Frenchy Sequences incipally is necef- ■anufac- [ival'd us igar Co- out it, of this [into the itholick farket, )r other found ift, that f '[9\ . ' <5very Art to monopolize it j for which Pur- pofe, from the Beginning they have ufed their titmoft Endeavours in time of War between the two Nations, to procure a Neutrality in North America, fo far as relates to the Fifli- ery there j that they might even then carry it on, and profecute their Voyages unmolefted. 3dly, The great Increafe of their Navigation and Seamen arifing from this Fifhery 5 in \vhich 564 Ships, befides Shallops, and 27,500 Seamen are employed; Circumftances, efpe- ally the latter, which confidered with regard to their maritime Force, are of themfelves as valu- able to France as the Revenue of the Fifhery itfelf : Well therefore might Pere Charlevoix in his Hiftory of New France obferve, " That " this Fifliery was a more valuable Source of ** Wealth and Power to France^ than even the *• Mines of Peru or Mexico would be. " And this great Branch of Trade may be faid to depend upon their PofTeffion of the Illand of Cape Breton^ as it is impoffible for them to carry it on without fome convenient Harbour of Strength to fupply and protedl it ; and Loti^ isbourg is the only one, they have in this Part of the yf/to//V Ocean. ''^ Befides the Fifliery, there are likewife other Advantages which arife to the French from their PofTeflion of this Ifland ; France has not one Sea Port for the Relief and Shelter of her trading Ships either to, or from the Eajl or Weft Indies open to them any where in North America, to the Northward of the River Mijt- fippiy except Louijhourg', and of confequence, C that 1 1 that whole 'I'fade would be cxposM to the Englip Privateers from the Northern Colonies in time of War, without any Place to retreat to J and in time of Peace, they would be with- out any Sea Port, they can call their own, or lay any Pretenfions to in thofe Seas j but Loiiif- boiirg ferves them as an Harbour for their Ships employed in this Trade to refort to for Wood and Water, to clean or repair, for Convoy from thence to Old France^ t. A on occafion of any Diftrefs ; as it likewife vioes to their VefTels to and from Canada, by having the Cover and Command of great part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; without which Protedlion and Re- treat their Trade from thence, and even the Country itfelf, would not be worth the Ex- pence, which France is at for the Maintenance of them. To all this muft be added, that the Poffef- fion of {'lis Ifland puts it into their Power to annoy the Trade of the Britijh Northern Colo- nies in time of War with their Privateers from this Harbour, to fo great a Degree, that it has ever been called by the EngliJIj, the Dunquer^ que oi North America, From the foregoing Enumeration of the Advantages accruing to the French from their PofTcflion of this Ifland, it is obvious of what Importance the Pofleffion of it would be to the Englifi. The EngliJIj^ when the French are intirely excluded from the Cod Fifhery j which they muft be, when they lofe Cape BrctoUi and arc not allowed any Privilege at -■'... New- M • ■ [ '« ] Newfoundland^ would have the whole Benefit of it to themfelves j in which Cafe all the Ro- man Catholick States muft then depend on the Englijh folely for their Baccalio; which, be- fides the Profits arifing immediately from it, would give them almoft the whole Trade of the MediterraneaHy with an Increafe of 27,000 Seamen for the Royal Navy, and put it abfo- lutely in their Power to cut off all Communi- cation between France and Canada, except through the Mijijippi (as is before obferved) and thereby not only render Ca?2ada of little or no Utility to the French, but deprive it of all eflfeduai Support from France, againft any At- tempts of the Englifi for the Redudion of it. From the State of thefe two Colonies it is clear, what the Difference would have been to Great Britain in the Courfe of this War, if in- ftead of the Prefervation of Nova Scotia and Redud:ion of Cape Breton, JJpe had loft the former to the Frenchy and they had kept Pof- fefllon of the latter : In that Cafe, France by gaining the principal Key of the Northern Colonies, extending her Sea Coaft 90 Leagues further upon the Mantic^ and augmenting her Territories in Canada, and the Ifland of Cape Breton with fo large a Provifion Country as Nova Scotia, lying contiguous to both of them, would have had it in her Power to in- troduce and fupport a Body of regular Troops th re, which in Conjundion with the Militia of Canada and the Indians upon the Continent (every one of which, the Six Nations not e?;- ^ Z cepted^ !L i ijiv [ '2 ] cepted, would foon then have gone over tQ their Intereft) would over- run the ^r/V//^ Colo- nies, already furrounded with a Line o( French Forts carried on upon the Back of them for that Purpofe. If ever Great Britain (hould receive fuch a Blow in her Jlmerican Dominions, it would be in vain to hope to retrieve it by her fuperior Naval Force j on the other hand, if it is con- fidered, how much the Strength of the French Marine would be thereby increafed, and that of the Britijh diminifhed, little doubt can be made, that the prefent Superiority of the Naval Force of Great Britain to that of France would furvive the Lofs of her Colonies but a few Years, * Upon the CefTion of Nova Scotia to Great Britain at the Treaty of Utrecht^ it was gar- rifoned with nine Companies of the late LJeu-f tenant General Phillips's Regiment of 3 1 pri- vates each, five of which were pofted dX An- napolis Royal and four at Canfo* As to the French Inhabitants (whom for Dir flindtion-fake I {ball call Acadians) which were found in the Province at the Redudlion of it, they were by the Treaty allowed their Option either to retire with their move- able EfFeds to any other Place within a Year, or to remain there and be fubjedl to the King- dom of Qreat Britain^ and to have the free Exercife of the Catholic Religion, as far as the Laws of Great Britain would allow. Much the greateft Part made their EledlioH %Q remain in Nova Scotia^ but could not be inr duce4 M^ .['31 dticed to take the Oath of Allegiance, pleading in Excufe, that if they bound themfelves to take up Arms in defence of the EngH/h Go- vernment, they fhould be expofed to be made a 'iSacrifice to the Ravages of the Indians in the JFrench Intereft : Upon this Plea General Phil-' Jlipiy then Governor of the Province, permitted hem to ftay there for fome Years without giv^ ng this Teft of their Allegiance ; but at length, to bring them to comply, he indulgccj them, (though without being authorized, as ppears, by the Crown,) with an Exemption rom bearing Arms upon any Occafion whate- ver ; they were likewife not only allowed the ublic ProfefTion of the Romijh Religion, but uffered tc be fupplied with French Miflionaries from Canada, who under the Bifhop of ^ebec exercifed Rule over them in fecular as well as fpiritual Matters, enforcing an Obedience to their Decifions and Mandates by the Infli(ftion f Ecclefiaftical Penalties ; whilft the only, or t leaft principal A6k of Government exercifed y the Englifl) Governor among them fcems to have been, the Appointment, or rather Allow- ance from time to time, of Deputies chofen by and among themfelves for their feveral Di- ridts J and even thofe frequently behaved in he Execution of their Office, as if they bought themfelves fcarcely accountable to the Englijh Government for t'he Exeycife of thj|t Authority. By this means, though thefc Inhabitants be- came Engli/h Subje(fh by Virtue of the Treaty and II! f! I' I ll [ 14] and their Oath of Allegiance ; yet the French Governor in Canada preferved the chief Influ- ence and Command over them, and cultivated in them their former hereditary Attachment to the French King ; lb that they continued a di- llindt Body oi French /?o/«<7« Catholics, exempt- ed by the Englijh Government from bearing Arms in Defence of itj and kept by their Priefts fo unmixed with and feparate from the ErjgUJh^ that but two Englijh Families could fettle among them, tho' feveral had attempted it J the Confequence of all which was, that the Increafe of thefe j^cadiam^ inftead of flrength- ening the King's Government, as they natu- turally ought to have done, became dangerous to it ; and by remaining in the Province were of much greater Service to France^ than if they had removed into the French Government im- mediately after the Treaty oi Utrecht, as they were a growing Stock in Nova Scotia for fet- tling it with French Inhabitants, even whilft it was in the Hands of the Englijh j and at the fame time contributed to the Growth of Cape Breton by fupplying it with Provifions j where- as by removing into Canada, they would have been rather burdenfome to it by occafioning (for fome Years at leaft) a Scarcity of Provi-. fions among the Inhabitants there. In the mean time the Ifland of Cape Breton, which it appears from the Negotiations of the Trezty of Utrecht y France hzd it much at Heart to obtain the exclufive PofTeffion of, was im- mediately begun to be fortified and fettled with French' :•■•( , ifk ■ Trench Inhabitants, in doing which no Cods of Pains was fpared : A new Colony was fet on foot to confift of Fifhermen only with fuitablc Encouragement ; the Town of Louijbourg was built and garrifoned ; the Harbour made at an immenfe Charge almofl impregnable ; and the Place became fo national an Ohjedt, that it was valued by France equal to any one other of her Colonies ; and the Fishery flourifhed fo faft, that they could foon afford to underfcll the Englijh at foreign Marke*o : for the Prote(5lion of this Trade, Ships of War were annually fent from France^ to vifit and fupply the Set- tlers and Fifhery with what they wanted, and had Orders not only to protedl and defend the Sea Coafts of this Ifland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence t and their Veffels upon the Banks oi "Newfoundland^ &c. from Infults, but to keep up their Pretenfions to the feveral Banks ei- ther within or without their Line, and make to themfelves a Privilege of Fifhing where they pleafed, by force of Cuftom : And fo early were theO; Encroachments on the Englijh at Canfoy and upon the fifhing Banks along the Sea Coaft of Nova Scotia (from which France was wholly excluded by an exprefs Article in the Treaty of Utrecht) that it was found neccf- fary to have one of the King's Ships fent every Year from England^ and flation'd at Canfo to guard againft them : And to fuch a Pitch had the French advanced the Trade, Shipping and Settlements of this Ifland by the Year 1744, that upon the breaking out of the War, Mr. Dtiqueffiel t i6 ] buquejjid then Governor of the Colony, wltb'« in three Days after the Declaration of it ar- rived from France^ fitted out an Armament under the Command of Mr. Duvivier from Louisbourg (being favoured therem by the cafual Abfence of the Canfo Station Ship, omitted to be fent that Year, as was like wife the ufual Station Ship to Bojlon) which entering the Harbour of Canfo about 20 Leagues diftant by Night, furprized the Fort, burnt it with the other Buildings there, deftroyed the Fifliery (as is before obferved) and carried the Garrifon, which confifted of about 80 pri- vate Men fit for Duty, to Louisbourg ; where, by the Terms of their Capitulation they were to remain Prifoners of War for one Year from the 24th oi May 17441 at the End of wb ch they were to be fent by the French Gover- nor, eithe*' to Annapolis Royal or to New England. Among the Artifices pradlifedby the French of Canada, for paving their Way to regain the PoiTeffion of Nova Scotia, and ^eize the firfl favourable Opportunity for that Purpofe j the following may ferve as a remarkable Speci- men : A (hort time before the Declaration of War, and when the Colonies were in full Ex- pedlation of it, the French procured the In^ dians of St. John^ River to fend a Deputation of their principal Men to the Commander in Chief of Annapolis Royal, on pretence of re- newing the Covenant of Peace and Amity with his Government (which was accordingly done with m •f ■J' i ■■iS- 4m ':J[ U fiy, witlii I of it ar- ^rmament vier from ti by the on Ship, s like wife 1 entering les diftant t it with )yed the irried the : 80 pri- ; where, hey were 'ear from of wh ch b Gover- to New le French gain the the firft ofe ; the Speci- ration of full Ex- the In- putation ander in e of re- ity with ;ly done with [ '7 ] with the ufual I:..iian Formalities) but in rea- lity to lull the Governor into a falfe Secarity with rcfpedl to the Indiam, and at the fame time gain Admittance into the Fort, in order to difcover the State of it, and hold themfelves in readinefs to attack it, upon the firfl: Sum- mons 5 which they did, and together with the other Indians of their River compofcd Part of the Body, which inverted the Fort under the Command of Le Loutre. The firft Notice, the Englifi had of Ca?2fo*s being taken and burht, was brought to Bojlon by a Fifherman, who had defcried, as he was fifhingupon a Bank oppolite the lfland,aCloud of Smoke rifmg from fome Ruins; and at the fame time miffed the Sight of the Block-houfe and other Buildings there, which uled to be fecn off at Sea from the Bank, he was upon ; and this was in a Day or two confirmed by another Majfachufets Fi(hcrm2in, who, after be- ing chaccd by a French VelTel, went on Shore upon the Ifland, where he found all the Build- ings in Ruins, and that the Gariifon, Inhabi- tants and Cattle were removed off. This Intelligence left the Governor and Council of the Province of Maffachufets Bay no room to doubt from what Quarter the fudden Blow mufl come, and that the War, which before was expedled to break out foon be- tween Great Britain and Frafice^ had been proclaimed in Europe. For this Succefs Te Dmm was fung at Paris, and pub! c Rejoicings made, and a pompous D Account [ i8 ] Account of it was publiflied in the French Pa- pers; which, as the Conqucft confidered in itfelf appeared but fmall, was imputed to a Vanity of magnifying the llighteft Adions to the World j but France eftimated it from the Importance, which the Deftrudlion of the Englifh Fi{hery, and the Redudlion of the whole Province oi Nova Scotia would be of to her J and looked upon her Succefs againft Canfo as a fure Forerunner of the Reconquefl of the one, and the utter De{lru(5lion of the other ; both which they had in View to ac- complifh s and that her Hopee were not with- out Foundation will appear from the State of the Province at this Tundlure : The whole Defence of it, after the Reduction of Canfoy con filled in the Fort of Annapolis Royal, the Works of which were of Earth revefled with Timber, but fo ruinous in feveral Parts, that the Cattle could walk over them into the Fort ; and the Garrifon had not above 80 Men fit for Service, ;he reft being fuperannuated, or Invalids. The following Circumftances increafed the Alarm upon this Occafion : A few Months be- fore the Arrival of this Account, the * Majfa^ chufefs Governor had received Letters from the •f- Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of Nova Scotia^ ac- quainting him, that |his Majefty's Fort at An- napolis Royal was in fo defencelefs a Condi- * Governor Shirley. ■\ Lieutenant-Governor Mafcarene. ^«on. [ 19 ] tlon, and the Garrifon fo weak, that in cafe of a fudden Ruptuie with Fratice^ they fliould, without fpeedy Afliftance from Boftotiy be in Danger of falUng into the Enemy's Hands : It was alfo known that his Majefl:y's Engineer for Nova Scotia had, in the preceding Winter, received Orders from the Board of Ordnance, to build a new Fort of Stone at Annapolis Royaly as foon as the Seafon would pt -mit, and that he was preparing to lay the Foundation of it ; which would make the Garrifon lefs at- tentive to repair the Works of the old Fort. This Account therefore of the Motions of the French gave juft Grounds to dread their following the late Blow, they had given Can- J'o^ with an immediate Attempt again ft the Fort of Annapolis Royal -, the Reducftion of which would have put them into the PolTef- fion of the whole Country of Nova Scotia, with about 16,000 French Inhabitants, who werejuftly fufpedted of a Difpofition to join v^'ith them againft the Englijh. Wherefore to prevent the Garrifon at An- nnpolis Royal from being furprized by the Ene- my, and to apprize Mr. Af<3/?^/r^;2(? of the Ne- ceffity of repairing the old Fort in the bcft manner, the runious State of its Works, and the (hort time he had to do it in, would admit; the Governor of the Majfuchufets Bay difpatched an armed Veffel in the Service of the Province, to Annapolis Royaly with an Account of the Motions of the Fri'^/rZ;, and a Promife to fend the Garrifon a fpeedy Reinforcement. II D 2 Upoa • [ 20 ] , Upon this Emergency likewlfe he reprefent- cd to the Aflembly the imminent Danger, his Majefty's Fort at Annapolis RoyaU with the whole Province of Nova Scotia^ was in ; and prefTed them to enable him to fend it imme- diate Succours ; whereupon, with their ufual Readinefs to exert themfelves upon all Occa- lions for his Majefty's Service and the com- mon Caufe, they granted a Bounty and other Encouragements for four Companies of Volun- teers of 60 private Men each to inlifl, together with three Months Provifions, and the Coils of their Tranfportation ; but as the Charge of maintaining the Garrifons of that Province ap- pertained to the Crown, they left the Pay for the Otiiccrs and Men to be provided for by the Governor ; who accordingly proceeded to raife them with the utmoft Expedition, upon the Faith of his Proclamation : but as the Ur- gency of the Service w^ould not admit of flay- ing till the whole Complement could be raided, and the Fate of the Province was brought to a Crifis ; as foon as 80 of them could be got ready to embarkjwhi^h was within a few Days, he fent them under Convoy of the Maffachufets Snow of 16 C'SiXx \2igQ, Guns to An7iapoli 5 Royal y where upon their Arrival they found the Fort had been invefled eleven Days by a Body of about 700 Indians mix'd with a few Frejich In- habitants in Indian Difguife, and the Prieft Le Loutrc at their Head : ThisEnemy,tho' without Artillery for making regular Breaches, yet as the Works were ruinous and allailable almofl on every ^* [ 21 ] every Side, attacked it without Intermiffion, but chiefly in the Night j whereby the Garrifon was kept in continual Alarm in every Quarter, and both Officers and Men were fo harrafled and worn out by conftant Fatigue of Duty and continual Watches, that they could not have held out many Days longer : And it was per- haps in fome degree owing to the Barbarity of a favage Foe, and the Reproach which would have arifen from the King's Fort's being given up, by a Garrifon of regular Troops, to an undifciplined Indian Rout, with a Prieft at their Head, together with the daily Expec- tation of Succours from Bofton, that they held out in Defence of the Fort fo long as they did. Uyon the Appearance of this Reinforce- ment in the Bafin of Annapolis, and the Snow's Muting the Fort with a Difcharge of its Can- non, the Indians were thrown into fuch Con- fufion and Panic, that they not only made a precipitate Retreat, and gave the Troops an Opportunity of landing and marching into the Fort, without the lead Oppofition, but foon after difperfed, and could not be brought back to give the Garrifon any Moleftation, till Mx, Duviviers Attempt againft it two Months after. This Relief gave the Garrifon time to breathe, and repair the Works of the Fort, and kept the French Inha' itants, who by this Vifit from Bolton were perfaaded that the Gar- rifon would be effcduaily fupported, in fuch refpedt, '•■'•I 1 'f P [22] , refpeO:, that upon the Departure of the 7W/- ans they renewed their Communication with it, and readily furnifhed whatever Materials and Workmen were wanted for flrengthening the 1^'ortj and fupplied the Garrifon' with Refrefliments. Soon after this the Malfachufets Governor fent to Annapolis Royal a fecond Party of lOO of the new raifed Succours, with an armed Brigantine belonging to the Province ; which Reinforcement put the Garrifon into a State of Security againfl an Indian Enemy, and the Fort by this time was fo much ftrengthened, that it was not to be reduced without a Train of Artillery. The fourth Company was defigned to be compofed wholly of /^/^i?V7;?j, ifpoffible, to be employed in fcouting Parties through every Part of the Peninfula both by Land and Wa- ter, for which Service they were to be pro- vided with two Row-Gallies, fo that the raif- ing and fitting this Company out took up more Time than the other three, Whilft thefe Operations were carrying on, Mr. Duvivier, who commanded the Arma- ment upon the Defcent againfl Canjo, was fent by * Mr. Duquejhcly immediately after his Return from that Expedition, upon another againfl Flacentia in Newfoundland: This Attempt, in which he was difappointed by contrary Winds, made a very happy Di» ♦ Governor of Cape B vet on. verfio [ 23 1 vcrfion in favour of Nova Scotia ; where it was apprehended he would have immediately pro- ceeded upon the Redudlon of Canfo ; had he done that, he would have furprized the Fort and Garrifon at Annapolis Royal as he did that at Canfo ; before they had got any Notice of the Declaration of War, or were in the leaft ap- prifed of his coming. It was indeed an Error in Mr. DuquefneFs Condudl, that he did not ftrike his iirft Blow at Annapolis Royal-, his Forces, in conjundlion with Le Lontre% Indians, muft at that time have fecured the Conqueft of it, before any other of the Englifi Colonies, or even the Garrifon at Canfo could have gained Intelli- gence of the Attempt 5 this would have put him inPoffeflion of the whole Province, except C^^,with4or 5000 iightingMen ready to join him 5 and theRedudlion of Canfo after that could not have been a matter of the leaft Difficulty : his Omiffion to avail himfelf of fo favourable an Opportunity for making an Acquilition of this important Province at one Stroke, feems to have proceeded from his too eagerly gralping at Flaccntia^ and the Deftrudion of the Eng- lifh Fifhery at Newfoundland, almoft at the fame Inftant -, but to whatfoever Caufe it was owing, it was certainly the Frefervation of Nova Scotia by giving an Opportunity for re- lieving it with Succours from Bojlon. Upon Mr. Duviviers Return from the Expedition againft Placentia, which was to- Vi^ards the latter End ofAuguJl, Mr. Duquefiel loil 1 .Li, loft no Time for forming an Attempt againft Annapf.,s Royal-, and for that Purpofe dif- patchcd Mr. Duvivier with fome Troops from Louisbourg to Beau Bajin ; there he land- ed, and being joined by the Indians^ who waited his Arrival at Minas, proceeded with a Body of about 700 Men to Annafolis Royal, and inverted the Fort, in Expedation of be- ing foon followed up the Bay oiFunda by three French Men of War of 70, 56 and 30 Guns, with 280 more Land Forces, and a large Train of Artillery and Ordnance Stores, that Mr. Duquejnel then depended upon fending him out of the Squadron, which at that time lay in Louisbourg Harbour, and was deftined to convoy the Weft India Fleet in their Return to France : Thefe did not follow him j if they had, it would have enabled him to form a regular Siege by Land and Water againft the Fort, and in all Probability to have carried it : However Mr. Duvivier, by afTuring Mr. Mafcarene in a Letter, that the French Ships were already got to the Mouth of the Bay, and that though he fhould fail of this ex- pedled Reinforcement, he was determined to fpend the Winter in the Siege, fo far fuc- ceeded, as to bring Mr. Mafcarene to treat with him about a Surrender of the Fort, in cafe of the Arrival of thofe Ships, with the Land Forces and Ordnance Stores which he affured him, they had on board ; but this Treaty breaking off upon Mr. Duvivier s in- filling at laft, that the Fort fhould be immedi- ately [ 25 ] ately put into his Hands upon his Promife to redeliver PofTeflion of it, if the expedled Ar- mament did not arrive by a Time limited j and the Garrifon mofl opportunely receiving a fur- ther Reinforcement by the Company of Indi- an Rangers about the fame time from the Go- vernor of the Maffachufets Bay, the French Commandant defpairing of the Arrival of the Veflels v^^ith the Troops, Artillery and Stores, decamped and retired to Minasy with an Intent (as it was then apprehended) to win* ter there, and work upon the Inhabitants to join with him in an Attempt againft the Gar- rifon early in the Spring ; of their readinefs to do which, their Behaviour ever (ince the time of his having entered Minas, they had givei; great Reafon to fufped: them. To prevent this by dillodging Mr. Duvivier and his Party from their Winter Quarters, and guard the Bafin of Annapolis Royal againfl an Attempt by Sea with any fmail Veflels of War, which might be fitted out from Louijbourg^ the Governor of the Majfachiifets Bay (who was then unacquainted with the Arrival of the French Squadron there) determined to fend to Annapolis Royals though it was very late in the Year, an armed Snow, Brigantine and Sloop belonging to the Province, with Orders to take in fome fmall Cannon and Mortars, with fuch a Detachment of Soldiers from the Garri- fon, as Mr. Mafcarene could fpare, and pro- ceed to Minas, in order to land them with a Party of Seamen and drive Mr. Duvivier from E thence j iM rffi [26] thence j and in the mean time acquainted Mr, Mafcarene with this Defign. Whilfl thcfe Preparations were making at Boficn in the latter End of Odlobery the Gover-r nor had Intelligence brought hirn by a Fifh-» erman from the Ifle of Seah^ that he had feea forty Hours before three Fr^;?r^Veirels {land- ing iip the Bjiy of Funda ; thefe were found afterwards to be a Banker of about 400 Ton with a Brigantine and Sloop, which Mr. Du" miefnet upon being difappointed of Afliftance from the Men of War had fitted out fron^ Louisbourg in a warlike Manner, and order'd tp proceed up the Bay of Funda with Ord-f liance Stores for attacking the Fort at Annafolis, Royalhy ^Q2iy whilfl Mr. Z)«i;/'u/Vr, whom he fuppofed they would find before the Fort, at- tacked it by Land ; whereupon the Governor of tbe Majfachufeii Bay difpatched, the Day following, a Schooner to Mr. Mafcarene with Advice of the Defigns of the French^ and AfTu- rances that he would fend the three arme^ VefTels before-mentioned, all well appointed, jn four Days to his AlTiftance. The French Yelfels accordingly arrived at the Narrows below the Bafin of Annafolisy where they came to an Anchot till they could get Information whether Mr. Duvi'vier was ftill before the Fort : Two Days after, the Englifi Schooner, which carried the Difpatches for Mr. Mafcarene, incautioufly fell in among them in the Nighttime ; and the Mafter in his ^urprize f^fi'efed the Governor's Difpatches to m 1^7] fall Into the Enemy's Hands ; the EfFecft of this was, that the French Commodot-e finding Mr. Duvhier had retired from before the Fort^ and that a Naval Foi'cG was coming after him from Bo/iony cut his Cable and immediately quitted the Bjly, and by that means efcaped the Majfachtifets Vejfelsy which eiiteted thd Bay fbon after he had got out of it. The Majfachiifets VelTels upon their Afrival at Annapolis Royal atterttpted to look into thd Bafins of Minas and SchicgneBo in queft of Mi** Duvlvler and his Party, According to theil: Orders from S'jfion ; and to aflift the Inha- bitants in fvch mariner as Mr. Mafcannd fhould diredt : But the Seafon being veiy tempeftuous, the Navigation of th6 Bay ex- ceeding dangerous, and Mr. Mafcarc7?e having received certain Advice, that the Indians were difperfed, and Mr. Dtivi^^ier* gone with the Remainder of his Party to Louisbourg (as iri Fadlhe was) after flaying at Annapolis till iht htter End of jfanudry to countenance the Gar* rifon, and keep the Trench Inhabitants in i. I i |ropef Refpedi and Awe, returned to hojioH, Mr. Duvi^idr having retired to Minas ^ thd Company of Rangers was pofled without th^ Fort, under the Cover of the Carinon, and fe«* cared by fiich further Defence, as could be im- mediately raifed with Pickets and othet flight Works; which manner of polling thdm v/as better adapted for the Service they were to be Employed in, at the fartle time, that it was mdre E a agreeably 1I..A, [22] agreeable to them than to be lodged in fidr-^ racks within the Fort. ^ , Before their Arrival, the Garrifon was con- fined within the Walls of the Fort, fo that the Spot upon which it flood might juflly be faid to be the only one in the Province, which they were Mafters of: But thefe Indians under the Management of Officers, who underftood the proper Ufe of them, and to whofe Orders they were perfedlly obedient, foon freed it from that Reflraint, and were in many other Refpedts of infinite Service to it : By their fudden Excur- fions (frequently made in the Night time) into different Parts of the Province either by Land Marches, or Defcents in their Row-Gallies, they gained Intelligence of the Motions of the Enemy, and fecret Correfpondence kept up between them and the Inhabitants, and, when Occafion required, feized fuch of the latter* as appeared to be the Ringleaders and the moft dangerous among them j by which means, and fometimes by furprizing Parties of the Cape Sa6Ie Indians, which were found in the nerghbouring Woods, they not only became a Terror to the French Inhabitants, but to the Indians too ; and the Garrifon Troops, by go- ing out with them in Parties, were likewife made ferviceable in that Duty, To thefe timely Reinforcements and Sue-- cours, the Governor and his Majefly's Councilor Nova Scotia In their Letter of Thanks to the Governor of the Majfachufets Bay impute the Prefervation of his Majefty's Garrifon and the • whole ■>r 1 2^ whole Province from falling into the Encmy*S Hands that Year ; and his Majefly, upon hav- ing an Account of the Proceedings for the Pre- fervation of the Province laid before lilm, wa3 pleafed in Council to declare his Royal Appro- bation of his Conduct therein, and that his Ma- jefty would ftand to the Engagements w^hich he had made upon this Occafion in his Name ; and a Copy of his Majefly's Royal Declaration was accordingly tranfmitted to him at Bo/lon un- der the Seal of the Council Office. Whilft thefe Matters were in Agitation, a Flag of TrUce arrived fometime in Aiigiijl at hofion from Louisbourg with EngliJJ: Prifoners to be exchanged, and Difpatches from Mr. Duquefnel to the Majfachufets Governor, who learned from the former, that the Cmifo Sol- diers Were confined very clofe in unwholfomc Prifons, and fuffered great Mardftiips, by which fome had died, and others been forced into the French Service j and in the Letter, Mr. Duquefnel propofed to him a Neutrality between the French and Engli/J) Colonies, fo far as related to the Fifliery j as alfo that for the future the fifliing VefTels of each Nation fhould carry on their filhing andprofecute their Voyages unmolefted by the other ; in Anfwer to this Propofal, the Majfachufets Governor told him, he could not avoid expreffing fome Sur- prize, that after having taken and burnt Can- foy deftroyed the whole Englijh Fifliery along that Coaft, and made the Fifliermen Prifoners, contrary to the Treaty of Neutrality conclud- ed [ 3° 1 ed in 1686 between the two Kingdoms^ )\d 4iould propofe one upon the Foot of a pri- vate Convention between the Governors of two Colonies, and even without offering to indem- nify the Ejiglifi for the Damages they had already fuftained by his Hortilities from Lomf- hourg ; that he was obliged like wife to ac- quaint him, he was forry to hear, his Maje-^ fty's Troops which were made Prifoners at Canfo by Capitulation for one Year only, under-^ went fuch Hardfliips in their Confinement at Lotiisbourgi as deftroyed fome of them, anrf forced others, for Relief, to engage in thcFrerch King's Service ; whereby the Articles of the Capitulation were fruftrated, and his Majefty was likely to have few or none of his Troops left to be returned at the End of the Year \ that 3c he doubted not of Mr. Duqiiefnef^ Dif- pofition to have the War carried on with Mo-* deration and Humanity towards thofe, wh6 fliould have ihe Misfortune to be made Pri-^ foners on either Side, and a due Regard to the Rights of each Crown in its Subjedls, who jdiould be made Prifoners by Capitulation, he would propofe, that the Canfo Troops Ihould be fent to Bojlon as foon as might be, and he would be anfwerable that both Officers and Soldiers fhould perform the Conditions, upon which they furrendered ; and he hoped Mr* t)uquef?iel would have no Objedtion to the Pro- pofal, as his fending them away would eafb the Government of Fraiice of the Expence of maintaining them, the Remainder of the Year. The [ 31 ] The French Governor, upon receiving this Propofal, acquainted the Englijh Officers with it i and let them knqw, he fhould accede to it, upon their giving their Parole, that neither they nor the Soldiers Ihould ferve againft the French for the Space of one Year after the Ex-r piration of that, for which they had agreed by the Articles of Capitulation to remain Pri- foners : And upon their objedling to it, he told them, that as their remaining at Louisbourg would be inconvenient, he (hould, if they did not accept of thefe . iCW Terms, be obliged to fend them to ^ebec^ from whence :t woulcl te impracticable for them to get Home long before the time, he propofed to them. Though the French Governor's exadllng from the Officers this new Agreement, where- by the K-ing was to be deprived of the Service of his Troops one Year longer than they had furrendered themfelves for, wa3 a manueft Infringc.ment of the Articles of the Capitula- tion, and what the Officers had no right to confent to ; yet they thought it for his Ma- jefty's Service to fubmit to it ; and accordingly gave their Parole j upon which the Troops Wrere fent to Bojion, Upon the Arrival of the Officers there the Governor of the Majj'achufets Bay gained fuch Intelligence of the State of LoiiiJImirg, as with other Motives induced him to entertain a De- fign of forming an Expedition againfl it early in the fucceeding Year. Thefe Motives were as follows ; With m w 11* I' PV it;. C: 1 r 1. •Ji.- i'l !■ 111, With regard to the State of Louijbourg^ It appeared, that the Garrifon and Inhabitants muft be diftrelTed in a lliort time for want of Provifions, huving been a few Weeks before exhaulled by furnifhing the "Eafi India Fleet and Squadron, which convoyed it, with Sup- plies for profecuting their Voyage to France.'-^ That the Troops of the Garrifon, which con- lifted only of fix Companies of Marines and one Swifs of loo Men e?ch, were fnort of Complement, and badly difciplined, the whole greatly difcontented, and the Company of ^wifs very mutinous ; that the Inhabitants were but few, and mofk of them unacquainted with the Ufe of Fire Arms j that feveral Parts of th^ Fortifications were out of Repair, par- ticularly the Grand Battery, which had one End almoft open, occafioned by a new Work's being unfinifhed, and many other Parts of it extremely low, and the whole commanded by a Hill clofe ^^ehind it.-r^That Mr. Tiiichambon^ who fucceededMr.D/^5'w^y;/t-/,then lately dead, as Governor of the Colony, was wholly un- f!cilled in the Defence of a Fortification, the Engineer abfent, and the other Ofiicers not much ufed to military Difciphne ; and that their Number of Troops was fo fmall, as put it intirely out of their Power to defend the feveral Parts, they were liable to be attacked ir^. — That though the Harbour was flrongly fortified, there were many convenient Places in Chapeau Rouge Bay for landing Troops, Cannon and StorCs on the back Side of Louif- bourgy. t33] iolirgy free from any Annoyance, and laying up the Tranfports in fuch manner, that the Troops might have it in their Power to retreat to them upon an Emergency ; that the City of Louijbourg had no Batteries upon the Land Side ; and the Extent of it was (o fmall, that every Houfe in it was expofed to the Bombs and Cannon of the Befiegers ; which mufl oblige both Inhabitants and Soldiers when off Duty, to retire into the Cafmates, that were extremely damp and unwholfome.— That the Grand Battery, which could not make any Defence by Land, and from the beforemen- tic '^d State of it appeared not to be tenable, licii attacked on that Side, would probably be deferted on the firfl Approach of an Ene- my 5 and that by getting Poffeflion of it, and erecting Fafcine Batteries near the Light- Houfe, and in other convenient Places, it would be difficult, if not impradicable for any Ships to enter the Harbour againft the Fire from them. — Upon all which Accounts it was extremely improbable that the Place fhould ho-' ' ut long againft a Body of 3 or 4000 Mv,*" "i^hout Succours from Fraru:i\ which migii: \ ^ prevented from receiving In- telligence of its Circumftances in time to icwd it Relief, by the armed VefTels, which might be coUedled in the Colonies, and would be a fufficient Force to intercept whatever miglit come from Canaday as alfo any Merchant Ships w 'th Provifions fiom Trance in tlui Spring* F The '"^■ I / [ 34 ] The other Motives, which induced thd Governor to think of forming an immediate Expedition againft it, vere — That Mr. Duvi-" vier W2is fent by Mr. Duquefnel^ a {hort time before his Death, to France^ in order to re-* prefent to the Government the v^^eak Condi- tion of Annapolis Royal, and State of the whole Province of Nova Scotia j and to procure an Armament from thence early the next Year to make an Attempt againft it : — That the New England Fifiery was wholly deftroyed j as would likewife the Trade of the Northern Colonies be by i ^rench Ships of War and Privateers from Lo: .^ourg the Year follow- ing ; that the Reduction of Louisbourg would be the moft effecflual Means of fecuring Nova Scotia, reftoring the Englijh Fifhery, and de- stroying that oit\iQ French, and protedling the Trade of the Colonies j and would facilitate the Conquejl of Canada itfelf, if that (hould be thought proper to be attempted in the fucceed- ing Year : But in cafe the Succefs of the Ex- pedition fliould fall (liort of the Redudion of Cape Bretony yet the certain Effects of it would be the recovering of the Ifland oi Canfo, and the whole Fifiiery along the Coaft as far as Neisofoundland by deftroying the Buildings, and breaking up all the Settlements and Fish- ery upon the Illand of Cape Breton ; the cauf- ing fuch a Diverfion as would probably fecure Nova Scotia for the following Year at leaft j and the difarming the Harbour of Louisbourg of the Grand Battery 5 which would make it more [ 35 ]. _ . ■ more pradicable for the King's Ships to enter it, in cafe a naval Armament fhould be fent againft it from England ; all which would greatly overpay the Expence of the Attempt. It was not doubted, that the French would form another Attempt from Canada againft Annapolis Royal early in the Spring; but as the Fort was then in a much better Pofture of Defence by the Repairing of its old Works, and the Addition of new ones, and its Garri- fon ftrengthened with the feveral Reinforce- ments fent from Bollon, and it appeared pro- bable to the Majfachufefs Governor, that the Expedition againft Cape Breton, which he had determined to fet on Foot, would make a confiderable Diverfion in favour of it, he fent no further Reinforcements to it that Year : Early in the Spring 1745, Mr, Marin, as was expeded, inverted the fort with about 1 1 00 French Indians from Canada, but could make no Impreflion upon it ; he continued however his Hoftilities there, till the Landing of the New England Troops upon the Ifland of Cape Breton, whereupon the French Governor found means to fend for him to come to his aflift- ance ; which broke up the Siege of Annapolis Royal, and ridded the Province of the Enemy for fixteen Months. About the Middle of January 1741 the Majfachufets Governor recommended it in a Meffage to the Aflembly to profecute an Ex- pedition againft the Ifland of Cape Breton early in the Spring. , . Fa The .^ J 1-: ^ 1' ,.yr. ■ I*,*!'* [36] The Affemby, upon the Secretary's laying the Mellage before them, bound their Mem- bers to Secrecy ; and after three Days clofe Deliberation upon it, fent him an Anfwer j the Subftance of which was, ** that they were ** fenfible of the Neceflity, there was for mak- *' ing an Attempt, as foon as poffible, for the ^* Redudion of the Ifland of Cape Breton 5 " but the Undertaking was too great for the ** Abilities of the Province, and prayed him to ** reprefent to his Majefty, how effential it " was for the Security of the Colonies and his ** Service in North America^ that an Expedi- *' tion (hould be fitted out from England Sig^nH \ ** this Ifland, and that they were ready tocon- <* tribute towards the Profecution of it to the •* utmoft of their Power." * "-■^ If every Advantage propofed by the Gover-^ nor in this Expedition had depended upon ef- fecting the. Redudtion of the Ifland, the Mca- lure recommended by the AfTembly mufl have been more eligible to him than fetting on foot, without the Sanation of the King's Orders, an Attempt of that Confequence j which, if it had failed of Succefs, might have been con- demned as imprudent and rafh 3 but as he was fully perfuded of the high Probability, or ra- ther Certainty, of fucceeding at leaft in the other Points before-mentioned, particularly the Prefervation of his Majefly's Province of Nova Scotia from the Danger, it appeared to be threatened with that Year ivomFrance j the re- covering the EngliJJo Fifhery, and Deftrudion of t 37 ] . , of that of the French; and that the fame Ad- vantages, which prefented for efFeding this early in the Spring, could not be expeded af- terwards in the Courfe of the War, he thought it incumbent on him to avail himfelf of that Opportunity for promoting the National In- terefts as well as hofe of the Northern Colo- nies ; which muft have been loR, if he had waited till he could have received his Maje fly's Plcafure thereupon. The Subjed of the AfTembly's Deliberations, a" ^ the Refult of them, notwithftanding the C ^e taken to keep them fecret, had fo far tranfpired, that Marblebead^ the principal iifh- ing Town, and Bo/ion the chief trading Town and Metropolis of the Province had determined to petition the General Court to have the pro- pofed Expedition fet on foot 5 and the Go- vernor thereupon moved the Aflembly in . two other Meflages to refume the Confidera- tion of this Enterprize ; and the more efFedu-. ally to induce them to come into it, recom- mended to them to examine the Perfons, from , whom he had received his Intelligence, con- , cerning the Pradlicablenefs of it. '^- > The Aflembly immediately entered into a fecond Confideration of the Affair, and after.. fpending three Days more in examining the Perfons, whom the Governor referred them to, with the clofeft Attention, came to the follow- ing Refolves. ^ ^ ^ '•' ' " That It was incumbent upon the Maffa^ J* chufets Government to embrace the favourable ** Oppor- >::! . *f'.i -4 . 1 41 m ; >- i' 1 wm [ 38 ] ** Opportunity, which then offered, for at- *• tempting^he ReduSlion of the Ifland of Capo ** Breton, r: " Tiiat . Captain-General fhould be dc- *' fired to iiTue his Proclamation for the inlift- " ing 3,000 Volunteers (which they increafed " after to 3,250), for that Purpofe, under fuch " Officers as he fhould appoint. \. . ''. " That Provifion fhould be made for fur* *• nilhing the necefTary warlike Stores for the ** Expedition. * 'v " That four Months Provifions fhould be " laid in. *' That a Committee fhould be appointed to ** procure fit VefTels to ferve as Tranfports, to •* be ready to depart the Beginning of March, *' That a fuitable Naval Force fhould be *' provided for their Convoy, as the General ** Court fhould thereafter order. "And that Application fhould be forthwith " made to the Governments of New Tbrk, <« New yerfey, Penfihama, New Hampjhire^ *' ConneBkuty ^nd RboJe Ifland^ to furnifh their " refpedlive Quota's of Men and VefTels to ac^ ** company or follow the Forces of the Pro- ** vince." From thefe Refolves it appears, that this Expedition was undertaken by the Province of the MaffachufetsBay before it was known, whe- ther any of the other Colonies would aflift them in it ; and upon this Circumflance in a great meafure depended the Succefs of itj nei- ther the Difpatch nor Secrecy, with which ■ te t 39 ] k Was to be pufhed on, would admit of a Par- ticipation of Councils with the other Colonies in the Formation and Direction %f it : The Length of Time, it would have taken up be- fore all the Governments concerned would have agreed, firft upon the Expediency of the Attempt, afterwards upon their refpedive Qiiota's of Troops and other Expence, the Plan to be form'd, the Partition of Command in the Execution of it, and other Points, would in all Probability have rendered the Scheme abortive j whereas, when the voting of every thing requilite for carrying the At- tempt on in the be.' manner centered in the AlTembly of one Province, whofe Governor had the Diredlion of the whole, there was a &ir Profpedt of fucceeding in it : It was be- fides an eafier Tafk to bring the other Colo- nies to accede to an Expedition, in which they were deeply interefted, after it was refolved upon, and undertaken by the Majfachufets Go^ ijernmenty than to induce them to a Concur- rence in it at firft, as Principals : But if every one of the other Governments had failed to aflift in it, as fome of them in fad: did, the Majfachufets was determined to have taken the whole Burthen of profecuting it upon them- felves. The Governments, which joined with the Majfachufets Bay in this Expedition, were thofe of ConneBicut ^ New Hampflnre^ and Rhode J/land'y the firft voted ^^jO Men for the Ser- vice, upon Condition that the Mafachufets Go- vernor il :, *- J: f4o1 vernor would give the commanding Officer of their Forces the fecond Commiffion in the Expedition, which he accordingly did by his Commiflion: The Province of New Hamp- Jhtre voted 300, and the Colony of Rhode IJland the fame Number. The Colony Naval Force for this Enterprize confided of 3 Frigates of 20 Guns each, a Snow of 16, a Brigantine of 12, and 5 armed Sloops mounting from 8 to 1 2 Carriage Guns, provided at the Expence of the Majfachujets Bay ', and of the ConneBicut and Rhode ijland Sloops, both of 10 or 12 Carriage Guns, and a fmall armed VefTel from New Hamp/hire, The Train of Artillery collected by the Go- vernor of the Majfachufets Bay confifted of 8 Cannon of 22 Pound Ball, 12 of 9 Pounds 2 Mortars of 12 Inches Diameter, one of 1 1, and one of 9, taken from his Majefty's Caftle William in the Majfachufets Harbour, being all that could be fpared from thence without weakening the Fort too much, and ten Can- non of 1 8 Pound Ball borrowed by him for this Occafion of the Governor of New York : This is the whole, which could be procured in time, and the Majfachufets Governor de- pended upon its being increafed with feme Pieces of Ordnance from the Grand Battery in. Louisbourg Harbour, foon after the landing of the Troops upon the Ifland; in Confidence of which a fuitable Quantity of 42 Pound Bali was tranfported from Bofloji with the rcfi: of the Ordnance Stores for the Siege. As t40 ♦ #.• • As the Majfachufets AfTembly at firfl: entered into the Expedition upon the cooleft: Delibera- tion ; fo did they on the other hand exert themfelves with uncommon Vigour in the Profecution of it : As foon as the Point was carried for undertaking it, every Member, which had oppofed it, gave up his own private Judgment to the public Voice, and vied with thofe,who had voted for the Expedition, in en- couraging the Enliftment of the Troops, and forwarding the Preparations for the Attempt. The Bounty, Pay, and other Encourage- ments allowed by the Majfachufets Government to both Officers and Men, efpecially the for- mer, was fmall j but the Spirit , which reigned through the Province, fupplied the Want of that J the Complement of Troops was foon inlifted 5 not only the Officers, who ferved in this Enterprize, were Gentlemen of conlider- able Property j but moft of the Non-commif-, fioned Officers and many of the private Men- had valuable Farms, and enter'd into the Ser- vice upon the fame Principles that the old Ro* man Citizens in the firft Confular Armies ufed to do, with a Refolution to behave like Men,;, who were to fight pro aris et focis ; which they were perfuaded was the Cafe in this En- terprize. ., , The Vote of AfTembly for undertaking the Expedition was not pafted till the 25th of January, when intenfe cold Weather begins to fet in J yet all the Vefiels of War were got rea- dy for the Sea, (the principal one of which was G ■ but : ...... [42] ,..•;■.... but then lately put upon thc'Stocks), theTranf- ports were provided, the Provifions, Artillery, Ordnance, and other Stores (hipp'd, the whole Armament equipped, and the Troops embark- ed at Bo/ion; within feven Weeks after the Go- vernor had iflued his Proclamation for fetting it on foot, and feveral of the armed Veffels were upon their Station before Louisbourg, many Days before, in order to hinder Intelli- gence or Supplies from getting in ; and to prevent it's being fent from the Colonies Embargoes were laid, and every Precaution taken ; and the Preparations were condudled with fuch Secrecy, that the firft Notice, which the French had of the Attempt, was given them by the Appearance of the EngUp in Chapeau- Rouge Bay. The Maffachufets Governor^ from' the Be- ginning, depended on the Affiftance of fome of his Majefty's Ships in ISIorth America^ and as foon as the Expedition was determined up- on, fent an Exprefs Boat to the late Sir Feter Warren^ then Commodore Warren^ at Antigua^ acquainting him with it, and defiring his Af- fiftance in it with fuch Ships, as could be fpared from his Majefty's Service in the Lcward Ifiands j at the fame time he inform- ed the late Sir Chaloner Ogle of it, who was then upon the Point of returning Home from 'Jamaica with a Squadron of his Majefly's Ships, and propos'd' to him to make Louif- bourg in his Way ; and as foon as the Troops -were embarked, he acquainted his Majefty's > ' ■* ' ' Miniflers r, Minifters with the Expedition, and his Mo- tives for fetting it on Foot, informing them, that 4000 New England Forces would be landed upon the Ifland of Cape Breton in Aprils if no unforefeen Accident prevented ; but that in cafe it fhould not be his Majefty's Pleafure to fupport the Expedition, he had. concerted Meafures in fuch manner, as to pro- vide a fafe Retreat for them j that though he could not take upon him to promife the Redudlion of the Ifland, yet he would be anfvverable for the Succefs of the At-, tempt fo far, as that Canfo fliould be re- covered for his Majefty, all the Buildings in the Town of Lonijbotirgy and upon the whole Ifland deflroyed, the French Fifhery depend-- ing upon it broke up ; and the KngliJJ^ Fi- flie' ^> upon the Bank o^ Nova Scotia^ and all ,..ig the whole Coaft as far as New- Joundhmd xt^ovtd ; and that at leaft the Grand Battery in the Harbour of Louisboiirg fhould be taken, fo that the Advantages gained in the Expedition would abundantly recompenfe for the Expences incurr'd in it, even though it fliould fail of the Redudion of the Ifland to the Obedience of his Majefliy ; and he de- flred particular Directions, whether in cafe a Conquefl: fhould be made of the Ifland, he fhould caufe the Fortrefs and Works in the Harbour to be demolifh'd or kept to be gar ^ rifoned by his Majefty's Troops. Upon the Arrival of the Exprefs fent to England y it was determined there to fupport the Expedition, and in confcquence of it his , . . • ■ G 2 Majefty's nn ir^ [ 44 ] Majefty's Ships Pr/«f^y} Mt.ry, HeBor, Chefter^' Canterbury, and Sunderlmid were difpatched with Orders to join Mr. Warren ?> Squadron at Louisbotirg, which they did during the Siege j in Anfwer to the Difpatches fent to Sir Cha- loner Ogle at Jamaica Admiral Davers who relieved him, acquainted the Governor, that he had prefTed him much to comply with the Propofal of his Letter, but could not prevail on him to do it : And in Anfwer to his Let- ter fent to Mr. Warren at Antigua^ he re- ceived one from him, dated the 24th of Fe^ briiary, inclofing a Copy of the Couiultation of the Captains then prefent, held on Board the Launcejlon the 23d of February, in which was fet forth, ** That Commodore Warren hav- ing laid before them a Letter from Gover- nor Shirley of his Majefty's Province of New England, together with a Scheme for attacking and furprizing the Fort and Town of Louhboiirg and Cape Breton, requefting lome of the Ships from that Station to his Afliftance, they had taken the fame into their mature Confideration, and it appear- ing uie faid Scheme had been undertaken without firft receiving his Majefty's Appro- " bation, and that no Orders had been fent by the Lords of the Admiralty for any Ships giving their Affiftance, and that the taking any of the Ships off thofe Stations (in the Room of the Weymouth, which had been unfortunately loft) would be a great weakening of thofe Iflands, and could be *' of no great Service in fuch an Undertak- (( cc IC cc cc (C cc «; cc cc «c cc C( emes, in order to receive their Lord(hips Dire<5lions thereupon." This Pacquet arrived at Bofion the Day be- fore the New England Fleet failed from thence for Loiiisbourgi ?.c which time the Governor was not certain that the Expedition would be fupported with any of his Majefty's Ships ; and as the Contents of it, if publickly known, could have had no good EfFe. [so] . take the Place, burn the Houfes, and demolifh the Fort; which was accordingly effedled. On the 30th of Aprils between Nine and Ten in the Morning, the Fleet having the main Body of the Troops on board came to an Anchor in Chapeau-rouge Bay, at the Di- flance of about two Miles from Flat Point Cove : Upon the Difcovery of this the Enemy ' fired fome Cannon, and rang their Bells in the Town, to alarm and call in their People living in the Environs, and fent out of the Town a Detachment of about 150 Men, under the Command of Mr. BoU'-zrderie^ late an Officer in one of the Regiments in France, to oppofe the landing of the Troops j whereupon the General made a Feint of landing a Party of his Men in Boats at Flat Point Cove, in order to draw the ir^wc^ thither (which had its EfFedl) and upon a Signal from the VefTel thofe Boats returned, and joined another Party under his Stern, from whence were landed two Miles higher up the Bay, about 100 Men, before the Enemy could get up there ; whom they bridcly attacked, though under the Advantage of being covered with their Woods, and after killing fix of them upon the Spot, taking as many Prifoners, (among whom was Mr. Bou- larderie)^ and wounding feveral others, forc'd the Remainder to make a precipitate Flight towards the Town, in which fome others were taken Prifoners, with the Damage fuftained on the Part of the Englijh^ of only two Men be- ing ing nightly wounded : On the fame Day ?.bout 2000 more of the Troops were landed with- out Oppofuion, and the Remainder, being near 2000, the Day following. On the Day following a Detachment of 400 Men marched round to the North-eaft Har- bour, behind the Range of Hills there, and burnt all the Enemy's Houfes and Stores in the Neighbourhood, at the Diftance of about a Mile from the Grand Battery ; whereupon the Enemy deferted it the fame Night, leav- ing the Artillery, confifting of 28 Cannon of 42 Pound Ball, and two of 1 8 Pound, with the Ordnance Stores (except their Powder, which they threw into a Well), fo precipitate- ly, that they only fpik*d up their Cannon in a flight manner, without knocking off the Trun- nions, or doing other Damage to them, and but very little to the Carriages : The next Morning a Party of fixteen Men difcovered, that the Enemy had abandoned the Grand Battery, and drove off a Party of them, as they were attempting to reland there that Morning in Boats. As foon as the New England Men had taken Poflfeflion of the Grand Battery, the French kept an inceflant Fire againft it with their Cannon and Bombs both from the Town and Iiland Battery ; the former of which is diftant 59 1 3 Feet from it, and the latter 4800 ; not- withflanding which three of the Cannon in the Grand Battery, which pointed againft the * ; , H 2 Town, .1:1, M ^^^WM w [ 52 ] T6tvn, t^^re cleafcd by the Day following,' and the Enemy's Fire was returned upon the Town from then^, as was that from their Ifland Batteiy foon after, by other Cannon, which pointed againil it, and were drilled within a few Days. : <( ■ t ; ■ rru f />. . The New England Troops, within the Com- pafs of 23 Days from the time of their firft landing, erected five Fafcine Batteries againfl: the Town, mounted with Cannon of 42 lb. 22 lb. and 18 lb. Shot, Mortars of 13, 11, and 9 Inches Diameter, with fome Cohorns ; all which were tranfported by hand, with incredible Labour and Difficulty, moft of them above two Miles j all the Ground over which they were drawn, except fmall Patches or Hills of Rocks, was a deep Morafs, in which, whilft the Cannon were upon Wheels, they feveral times funk fo deep, as not only to bury the Carriages, but their whole Bodies : Horfcs and Oxen could not be employed in this Service, but all muft be drawn by Men, up to the Knees in Mud ; the Nights, in which the Work was done, were cold and foggy, their Tents bad, there being no proper Materials for Tents to be had in New England, at the Out-fet of the Expedition: But notwithftanding thefe Difficulties, and many of the Men's being taken down with Fluxes, fo that at one time there were 150a incapable of Duty, they went on without be- ing difcouraged, or murmuring, and by the Help t I [53] Help of S ledges tranfported the Cannon and Mortars over thcfe Ways, which the French had always thought impaflablc forfuch heavy Weights ; and belides this, they had all their Provifions and heavy Ammunition, which they daily made ufe of, to bring from the Camp over the fame Way upon their Backs. To annoy the Beliegers in making their Approaches, and carrying on their Batteries, the Enemy ereifled new Works, from which, as well as from the Cannon of other Batte- ries, and their Mortars, they continually maintained a ftrong Fire, till they were filenced. The moft advanced of the New England Batteries ^which was finifhed the 17th of May) was within the Diftance of 250 Yards from the Weft Gate of the Town 5 fo that from this Battery feveral of the Enemy were killed by the Mufquetry of the Beliegers, as were fome of their Men by the Enemy from the Wails ; and indeed this Battery was fo near the Enemy's Works, that the Men were obliged to load the Cannon there under the Fire of t4ieir Mufquetry, which was very {harp on both Sides, the French generally opening the Adlion every Morning with the Fire of their fmall Arms for two Hours j which was con- ftantly returned with Advantage : The Exe- cution done from the Batteries of the Beliegers was very confiderable ; the Weft Gate was entirely beat down, the Wall adjoining very much (,!■ :'' [ 54 ] much battered, and a Breach made in it at about ten feet from the Bottom of the Wall : The circular Battery of i6 Canno,n 24 Poun- ders, near the Weil Gate (and the principal one againft Ships next to the Grand Battery, and Kland Battery) w?.*^ almoft entirely ruined, and all the Cannon but three difmounted : The North^eaft Battery, confifting of two Lines of 42 and 32 Pounders, in all 17 Can- non (another principal Battery againft Ships) was damaged, and the Men drove from their Guns } the Weft Flank of the King's Baftion belonging to the Citadel, and the Battery there of fix '24 Pounders, which pointed to the Laud Side, and greatly annoyed the Works of the Beiiegers, was almoft demolifhed : Two Cavaliers of 24 Pounders each, raifed during the Siege, and two other Cannon of the fame Weight of Metal, run out at two Embrazures cut through the Parapet near the Weft Gate at the fame time, (all pointing againft the New England B'2i.ttcnes) were filenced : The Citadel was very much damaged; feveral Houfes in the City entirely demoliftied, and almoft every one, more or lefs hurt j and Mau* repas Gate, at the Eaftermoft Part of ihe City, fhattered : And as crofs Fires from the Cannon aiid Mortars of the Befiegers ranged through the Streets in every Part of the City, and through the Enemy's Parades, whereby many were kill'd, it drov? the Inhabitants out of their Houfea ;1'vlt: C « 1 :, , Houfes into Cafmates, and other cover*d Holds, where they were obliged to take Refuge for fome Weeks : And befides this,;the Fire from the Grand Battery annoyed the Barracks of the IQand Battery. , \ • ,., ». * During this time the Nenv England Parties of Scouts fo thoroughly ranged the Woods, that they feldom returned without bringing in fome Prifoners ; which very much confined the Enemy within their Walls, who were con- Itantly woriled in all Skirmiflies, and repulfed in every Sally, which they made, frequently by an inferior Number of Men, and with very little lofs upon thefe Occafions fuftained on the Part of the New England Men. On the 26th of May, after fome ineffectual Preparations for making an Attack upon the Enemy's Ifland Battery, which is a flrong Fort built on a rocky Ifland, at the Entrance into the Harbour, mounted with 30 Cannon of 28 Pound Shot, and having fome Swivels upon its Breaft Work, and two Brafs 10 Inch Mortars, with 1 80 Men, it was at Night at- tempted by a Party of 400 Men in Boats j but from the Strength of the Place, and the Ad- vantage which the Enemy had by being under Cover,and the Affailants expofed in open Boats, the Surf running, high, the Men not being thoroughly acquainted with the beil Place for landing, and the Enemy befides Cas is mofl pro- bable) being apprized of their Defign, they were repulfed with the Lofs of having about fixty i-4 [ ^6 ] fixty killed and drowned, and one hundred and fixteen taken Prifoncrs ; however feveral of them got within the Enemy's Battery and killed fome of them. «::*•- It being judged extremely dangerous for his Majefty's Ships to enter the Harbour, till the Enemy could be annoyed in that Battery j and thought after the laft Attempt impradi- cable to reduce it by Boats, it was determined to eredl a Battery near the Light-Houfe op- pofite to it, and at 3400 feet Diftance from -it 5 and the fame was by the nth of jfune, not- withflanding the almofl infuperableDifHculties, which attended the Drawing of the Cannon up a fleep Bank and Rock, raifed in fuch a manner, as not to be expofed to more than four of the Enemy's Cannon, and at the fame time to flank a Line of above 20 of their Guns j and two 18 Pounders were on that Day mounted, and began to play ; by the 14th of yune four more Cannon of 1 8 Pound Shot were added, and on the 1 5th a Mortar of 1 3 Inches was removed thither, out of which 1 9 Bombs were thrown, 17 whereof fell within the Illand Battery, and one of them upon the Ma- gazine of Powder 5 and this, together with the Fire from the Cannon of the Beficgers, which flanked the Enemy's Cannon and Line of Barracks, fo annoy 'd them, that tliey could not remain with Safety in any part of the Fort. : , And I I [S7] .; And now the Grand Battery being in the J^offeffion of the New England Men, the liland Battery (efteemed by the French the Palladium of Louisbourg) (o much annoyed Trom the Light- Houfe Battery, that they could not entertain Hopes of keeping it much longer ; the North Eafl Battery da- maged, and fc much expofed to the Fire from the new advanced Battery, that they could not ftand to their Guns ; the circular Battery ruined, and all its Cannon but three difmounted ; whereby the Harbour was dif- armed of cU its principal Batteries j the Weft Gate of the City being demolifhed, and a Breach made in the adjoining Wall j the Weft Flank of the King's Baftion almoft deftroyed ; and moft of their other Guns, which had been mounted during the Time of the Siege, be- ing lilcnced • all the Houfes and other Build- ings withi.^ tl^e City (fome of which were quite demolifli'd) fo damaged, that but one among them was left unhurt j the Enemy extremely harrafled by their long Confine- ment within their Cafipates ; and their Stock of Ammunition being almoft exhauflcd, Mr. Duchamhon fent a Flag of Truce to the Camp on the 15th Day of ^une in the Afternoon, defiring time to confidcr of Articles of Capi- tulation 5 which was accordingly granted till next Morning, when they fent Articles which were rejedled, and others propofed in their Stead, and accepted by the Enemy : And Hoftages being exchanged on the fame IXay ... i fbr h'^''\ • m it :i m ■ ■III III' [58] for the Performance of the Articles, on the 'Day following, being the 1 7th of Jtme (49 Days after the New England Men landed up- on the Ifland) the City was Surrendered, and the Garrifon, confifting of about 650 Regular Troops, and the Inhabitants of the City, be- ing abouc 1 300 efTedive Men, befides Women and Children, made Prifoners by Capitulation,, with the Lois of no more than 10 1 Men killed by the Enemy, and all other Accidents from the Time of their Landing to the Redudion "of the Place, with about 30 who died of Sick- nefs. " -In the Articles of Capitulation propofed by Mr. Duchamboji -f-, it was provided, that upon his Surrender of the Ifland the Inhabi- tants ihould have their Option either to tranf- port themfelves and their Moveables to France or Canada^ or to remain in Cape Breton^ and enjoy their Eflates there with the free Exercife of their Religion ; but former Experience of the mifchic ous Efi'eds of the hke Indulgence to the Inhabitants of Nova Scotia or Acadie by the Treaty of Utrecht^ occafioned the latter Part of the Propofal to be rejeded, and they were only permitted, by the Ratification of the Articles finally concUided on, to tranfport themfelves and their Efied:s either to France or Canada ; but not to remain in the Colony.. LTpon the Surrender of Loidshourg the Inha- bitants of the Ifland of St. Johtro made their Submillion, defiring to be included in the Ar- 'l" Governor of Caps hrcion. ticks [59 ] tides of Capitulation granted to thofe of Cape BretoUy and delivering Hoflages for the Per- formance of them on their Part, which was accordingly granted. ^ ^ - .^ • During the Siege fome of the "New England Cruizers made a Defcent upon the Ifland of St. Johns^ in which they burnt fome Ploufes, and committed other Ravages ^ and Parties of the Beiiegers broke up all the Fifhing Settle- ments at Cape Breton ; and on the 1 9th of Mayy the Vigilant^ a French Ship of War of 64 Guns, bound for Loiiijhourg with Ordnance Stores, fell in with the Mermaid of 40 Guns, Captain Douglafs, who was cruizing at a fmall Diftance from honijbourg^ and by maintaining a running Fight decoyed the French Com- mander to follow him till he got in among Mr. lVarren\ Ships, who took him after an Engagement of fome Hours, in Sight of the Camp at Louisbourg ; w^hich cut off from the Enemy all Hopes of any Succour, and gave great Spirit to the Land Forces in carrying on the Siege j and on the 14th of June^ it was determined by the General and Commodore to make an Attack by Land and Sea, as foon as his Majefty's Ships Sunderland and Canter^ buryy which were then daily expedled, fLould arrive ; accordingly the next Day all the Tranfports were ordered off to take out the fpare Mads and Yards, and other Lumber of the Men of War -, and the Soldiers employed in gathering Mofs to barricade their Netting, and 60Q of them were put on Board the I Z King's :;;* [ 60 ] KIng*s Ships at the Commodore's Rcqueft to alTift in the Attack by Sea j but the intended AfTault was prevented by the French Gover- nor's fending out a Flag of Truce, as is be- fore mentioned, on the i6th, and the Sur- render of the Fort and Batteries in the Har- bour the Day following. The Attempt againfl Louisbourg not being yet known either in France^ or any part of the We/i Indies, the Englijh, after they were in PofTeffion of it, kept the French Flag fly- ing in the Port for a Decoy to the French Ships bound thither ; this had its EiFedl in drawing feveral valuable Prizes to it ; particularly three homeward bound Ships from the ^outh Sea and Eaft Indies, having rich Cargoes on Board, to the Amount of above 600,000 /. which were prevented from entering the Harbour, as they were making it, by fome of Mr. War-- rcns Squadron then lying there, which juft went out to make Captures of the French Ships before they could get in. It feems dubious, whether the taking of theie Ships under fuch Circumflances was a Capture within the Intent of the King's Pro- clam uion, and intituled the Captors to the Benefit of them : If it was not, the Ships and their Cargoes belonged of Courfe to the pub- lick Treafure ; and, in fuch Cafe, would of themfelves have more than doubly paid the Nation's Expence in the Redudion of the Ifland ; but this Point not being moved in the Court of Admiralty, where they weracon- demneci [6'] demned, the Captures were treated as ordina- ry Captures at Sea, and the Ships and Cargoes adjudged as Prizes to the Officers and Crews of the Ships concerned in taking them. Upon Mr. Duviviers Arrival in France the preceding Winter, and reprefenting to the Court of Verfailles the weak State, he left No'va Scotia in, upon which Commiflion, as has been obferved, Mr. Duquejnely the late Go- vernor of Cape Bretofiy had fent him, it was determined to fit out an Armament fromBrefi for the Redudion of it ; and a Squadron of feven Ships accordingly failed from thence for Annapolis Royal ^ the Beginning of yidy 1745^ but upon gaining certain Intelligence from a VelTel, which they took in their PafTage, that the Englijh were in PoirefTion of Loidf- bourgy and had a itrong Squadron there, they defifted from profecuting their Enterprizc againft Nova Scotia, - The immediate Confequences of the Ex- pedition were the recovering the Pofieffion of the Ifland of Canfo, reftoring the Englijh Cod Fishery, and breaking up that of the French ; the Capture of the greateil Part of the French Trade, which that Year pafled through the Atlantic Ocean j the fr'^eing Nova Scotia of the Attempts with which it had been conti- nually harrafled from Canada the Year before, and the Prefervation of it againft the Arma- naent, which was fitted out from Breji in July following. Soon i't j.-^' Soon after making this Acquifitioh to Irfs Majefty's American Dominions, a new Scene of Difficulties opened in providing for the Prefervation of it, till Troops could be fent from Europe to garrifon it j which was not done till the Spring following. Much the greateft Part of the New England Forces, efpecially thofe of the Majfachufets Bay, were (as hath been obferved) Farmers, who own d valuable Freeholds in the Country, and entered into the Service with an Expeda- tion of returning home as foon as the Siege was ended, without confidering the Neceflity of ftaying to keep Pofleffion of Louisbourgy till they could be relieved by other Troops j that Zeal and Ardour, which made them the fore- moft to engage in the Expedition, and en- counter all Difficulties in making the Con- queft, when that was made, fooner abated in them, than it did in thofe, who had no Property in the Country, and were only Mer- cenaries in the Service : The Thoughts that their Hufbandry Bufinefs and Families were both fuffering by their Abfence, made them uneafy at being detained at Lonisbourg j and this increafed by the inadlive Garrifon Duty, which fucceeded the Toils of the Siege, and a fait fcorbutic Diet (both which they had been unaccuflomeid to) made them fickly, and foon grew into Difcontent; which fpread fo much, that the General acquainted the Majfachufets^ Governor, his Prefence was neceffary to all^y it ; and, in the mean time, to pacify the great Numbers, [63] Numbers, which daily prefled him for Dif^ charges, referred them to him, telling them that he had reprefented their Cafe to the Governor^ who only had Power to dif- charge them, and would come to Lotiisbourg in a (hort time ; and defiring them to ceafe their Importunity for being difmifled orily till his Arrival, Other Calls likewife required the Govern nors Prefence at Louisbourg ; a Notion that the Captors were intitled to the Soil of the Ifland had fo far prevailed there, that Mr. Warren^ in his firft Letter to him from thence after the Redudlion of it, defired his Opinion upon that Point. Tho' this Miftake was very palpable, as the Expedition was at firft fet on foot under a Proclamation of the King's Governor, iflued by Virtue of his general Authority received from the Crown j carried on by Officers un- der his Commiffion, iffued by the fame Au- thority ; the Soldiers inlifted exprefsly into his Majefty's Service for the Expedition ; both Officers and Men fubjedled to Courts Martial eredled by his Governor upon that Occafion ; and paid with the King's Money ; (for fuch was every Sum raifed to defray the Expence of the Expedition, being granted by Adt of AlTembly to his Majefly for that Service) all which was fignified to the Commodore in Anfwer to his Letter j yet fo ftrongly had the Opinion been adopted, that it was ftill en- tertained, and a Day thought of for proceeding to m. , S'(,!il|li i [ 64 ] to make aiDiflribution of part of tho cohquej*» ed Lands among fuch of the Officers and Sol- diers, as would engage to fettle upon them. , It was evident how ill concerted a Meafure this would prove, if in the End of the War his Majefly (hould think fit to make a Reftitution ^f Cape Breton to France j both on account of the Difappointments it muft have occalion'd to thofe, who fliould have Lands alligned them, and the public Murmurs it might be attended with : A Court of Vice Admiralty yf2i.?, likewife appointed at Louijbourg (in dero- gation of the Jurifdidion of his Majefty's high Court of Admiralty in England) for the Con- demnation of the French Ships and their Car- goes ; and Notice fent to the feveral BritiJJj Colonies upon the Continent, that Sale would be made of them under fuch Condemnation at a Time prefixed ; all which Proceedings, if carried into Execution, would probably have produced great Confufion j and it was there- fore incumbent upon the Governor, under whofe Commiffion this Acquifition was made for his Majefly, and to whom confequently the Exercife of his Majefly's Government within the new Colony appertained, until his Majefly's Pleafure fliould be known, to ufe his utmof^ Endeavours to prevent or redify. Another forcible Reafon for the Governors repairing to Loiiijhoiirg was ; the Commodore had at firfl taken and kept Poileffion of one or more of the Land Batteries, with his Ma- rines J and once taken the Keys of the City ^. ' * ■ Gate$ [ 65 ] Gates into his Cuftody, and intcrfer'd in the Naval Office : Thefe Adts, though gone into by him on the fudden, and but of a very fhort Continuance, were aggravated to the Mufa^ chufets AfTembly by inflammatory Reports from Louijbourg ; and, together v^^ith other Steps he had taken, which they conceived de- rogatory to the Honour of the Province in the late Expedidon, gave fuch Umbrage, that they were urgent to the laft Degree with the Go- vernor to proceed diredtly to Loiihboiirgy and take the Government of it upon him; promif- ing in his Abi'ence to encourage and forward the raiiing Recruits for relieving the Troops, which had been employed in the Siege ; and to ufe every other Meafure for fupporting the new Conqueft from Bojlon -, all which, in the Temper they were then thrown into, they would have been flack in doing, if the Go- vernor had not complied with their Defire ; and befides, the Troops at Loiiisboiirg were impatient for his Arrival there : He therefore determined to proceed thither in his Majefty's Ship Hedior, which Mr. JVa?'ren had fent to Bofton for that Purpofe, and waited for him. Before he ^embark'd, the commanding Of- ficer of the Rhode Ijland Troops, which were then juft raifed, arriv'd at Bojlon with Dif- patches^from the Governor of that Colony, ac- quainting him, that the Troops were ready, and he had fent the Officer to him for his Or- ders : This being an acceptable Corps de re- ferve towards relieving the Troops at Louif- K bonrgt oHHainjmglll J.ftl:: \ ^ [ 66 ] botirg, and, as it happened, more opportunely raifed than if they had aflifted in the Siege, he ordered directly thither. Upon the Governor's Arrival at Louisbourg a general Joy appeared in the Troops, which was {till heighten'd in the Men by an Ex- pedation of having a (hort Day fix'd for their being relieved ; on the other hand, the Necef- iity which the Governor was under of dif- appouiting thefe Hopes in a great meafure, was no fmall EmbarrafTment to him : It was thought moft advifeable upon this Occafion, that he fliould fpeak to every Regiment fepa- rately, and that Regiment fpoke to firft, which was thought to be the leaft difcontented ; he obferved to them, " that it was a moft unrea- fonable Notion, which heheard fome had en- tertained, that the Expedition was to end with *' the Siege and Surrender o[ Louislourg -, that *' they had entered into it, in order to make a *' Conquefl: (which to their great Honour they " had happily efFedted) for the Service of their " King and Country, not to abandon it imme- •* diately after to the Enemy : That for fecuring '' the Benefit of it, it was necelTary a fufficient ** Number of them fliould keep PoUeflion till •' they could be relieved by other Troops ,which he hoped would foon be done by fome of his Majcfty's Regiments from Europe; and in the mean time, till they (hould arrive, Recruits were raifing in the Colonies for the famePur- pofe ; that as faft as they were tranfported to Lom'sbourg th&So\dkv^ of theprefentG^rrifon **lliould (C cc cc ti (C c C( (C <( over they feizc 61 ion in] bf Capt Breton y Canada w^s Igoi;*i1 Upon %f the Inhabitants to be in fo defperate a State^ that it was thought, if it was made known there, that fach of them, as woulcj not take up Arms againll the Englijh^ fhould be permitted upon the Redudlioh of the Country to remain there, and enjoy their Eftates and Fortunes, and that fuch, who did take up Arms, (hpuld be oblig'd to leave Canada, and forfeit their Eftates, not one Man in ten would appear in Arms. The Governor thercf<^re concerted Mea^- fures with the General and Mr. Warren^ thcj^ lately made Adrr ral Warren ^ who both agreed with him in Sentiment, for forming an At- tempt againft it the next Year j and before hi^ leaving Louishourg, he and the Admiral pro* pofed the m^aking one in a joint Letter tq hi^ Majeily's Minifters for their Confideration., No'uember the 30th. The Governor having ftayed at Loiiisbourg as long as the Seyfon of the Year would permit, and the Occafions of his Maj'ifty'b Service in his Government of the Majfachufefs Bay would allow of his A-b* fence, and done every thing in his Power for the Security of the new Acquiiition, \iQtil hll Majelly's Troops, which were €Xpe6led v^ry early in the Spring, fliould arrive to take poflef- iion of it, embarketl for Bojim ; where he landed in the beginnini^ of December, The Spring following an Expedition by Land and Sea was formed by his Majeily's Orders in England for the Reduction of Cuna^ L Ja, lis u i'fin i:! ,-t ; [74] J&, under the Command of Lieutenant Gene- ral St, C/air, to be attempted with eight Bat- talions of regular Forces in conjun i:'?< % *The Majfachufets Governor, upon receiving Intelligence from Mr. Mafcarene of Mr. Dt l?<2w/^/s Motions, determined to fend 1500 of the Majfachufets Troops to Annapolis Royal^ to prevent the Execution of his Defigns, the Remainder of them being then deftined to make an Attempt againft the French Fort at Crown Pointy in Gonjundion v^ith thofe of NewTbrk and the Southern Governments} and ordered 600 of them to be forthwith embark- ed ; Admiral Warren, who was then at Bofion^ ordered at the fame time his Majefty's Ship Chefter from thence to reinforce the Ships in Annapolis Harbour : The Chefler arrived in a few Days at Annapolis, and 400 of the New Ew^/^W Forces foon after. ^'' * ^'' About the fame time Mr. Confians arrived before ChebuBo (now Halifax) with four ca- pital Ships from Cape Francois under Orders to join Duke D'Anvilk ; but after cruizing there fome Days without hearing any thing of his Squadron, and imagining that the Deftina- tion of it was altered, quitted the Coafl : No- tice of the Appearance of thefe Ships was foon brought to Bojhn by Filhermcn oft thofe Banks ; but as they difappeared fo fbon, the Alarm, they occafion'c, lafted not long. Some Days after the Departure of Mr. Confians, Duke UAnvilk arrived in CJoebuih Harbour with a few Ships, after a tcmpcituous Pal "age i:: k ^ \i Squadron. . During the Conflernation, which the Ap* pearance of the Breft Squadron at firfl occa- M . . cafioiicd- ^^^'i! !•*■ :f 'i '% ^m nil. #*■ [ 82 J fioned, N(/\3a Scotia^ and the Garrifon of ^ttnapoih Ruyaiy with the Ships in the Har* hour were in the general Opinion given up for loft J whereupon' the Majfachufets Governor detifted from fending more Troops to Annapo^ lis J but it afterwards appeared, that the De- tachment of Troops fent laft from Bofton, and the Chejier eventually proved the Prefervation of the Garrifon and Province ; for foon after their Arrival at Annapolis^ Mr. De Ramfay who had then advanced within lefs than a Mile and half of the Garrifon, and encamped in open View of it, apprehending the Num- ber of Troops to be double what they were, and that another large Imbarkation of them, with a greater Sea Force was foon to follow, and defpairing of the Arrival of the French Armament that Year, (the time by which it was expefted upon the Coaft being long elapfed) fuddenly decamped, fent 1200 of his Troops back to Canada, and retired with the Remainder to Minas -, from whence he com- municated the falfe Alarm, he had taken at Annapolis Royal to Mr. La Jonquiere, who fucceeded Duke jyAnville in his Command at Chebu5io'y which, as it afterwards appeared from the Examination of feveral intelligent Merchants and others, who had been carried Prifoners into Chcbudto by French Cruizers, (whilft the Armament lay there) and were con- verfant with the French Officers, prevented Mr. yonquiere from fending feme light Frigates up Sie Bay of Funda with Troops, Ordnance S' tores [83 ] Stores and Artillery; as indeed it cannot be reafonably doubted that he would have done, had not the Reinforcement been fent to An^ napolisy and Mr. De Ram fay had remained with his Party before the Garrifon j in which Cafe, he muft have infallibly made himfelf Mafter of Nova Scotia, , In the Beginning of November Mr. La Joti" quiere^ after having fpent about eight Weeks in Chebudio Harbour in recovering his Men *from their fickly State, and repairing his Ships, fome of which he burnt in the Har- bour, partly for want of Men to navigate them without too much v/eakening his other Ships, and pardy for want of the Means of repairing them, failed out of the Harbour, fleering his Courfe for the Bay oiFunda^ but upon his making Cape Sabky with an Ap- pearance of a Defign to fend at leaft fome of his Ships up the Bay to look in at Annapolis^ an exceifive hard Gale drove him off the Coaft, and difperfed his Ships : However, a fe Days after, tv^o of them re irned, one of which, a 50 Gun Ship, went up the B^y, expeding (as was fuppofed) to find the reft there, as high as the Narrows, but being dil- covered from the Fort, and thereupon chaced by the Chejier^ {lie efcaped out of the Bay. Thus ended this Expedition of the moft formidable Armament, that was ever fitted out againfl the Coaft of North America^ and which, including the four capital Ships Mr. Conjiam brought from C pe Francois^ was M 2 computed % II';' 1' I, illl. ;?i' i I ■ (•■ 1; IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ''V ^"y"^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 i^ i^ 12.2 ^ ti^ 6" 2.0 1.8 1.4 II 1.6 m ■WM /,. on Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 W6sT MAIM STREBT WEBSTEk',N Y. 14SB0 (716) a'J^SC i^."Q ^^ 1 [ 84] computed to confift of near half the Naval Force of France : To compleat their Series of Cataftrophes, fome of them were loft, and others taken in their Return Home ; and an* other mifchievous Effect of their Expedition was, that Mi'.LaJcnqmerey by his Preferits of the Cloaths of the Seamen , and Soldiers, who died on board his Ships of a contagious Di- flemper, to the Cape Sable Indians in the French Intereft, communicated the Infection, and deftroy'd near two-thirds of them. In the mean time Difpofitions went on for preparing the Attempt againft Crcwn Pointy in lorwarding which at Albany^ fupplying Necef- faries for the Southern Troops, and engaging the Indians of the Six Nations in it, the * Go- vernor of New Tork had many Difficulties to jl:riiggle with, which he fur mounted ; and Preparations had proceeded fofar, that Battoes were provided for the Tranfportation of the Men, Artillery, and Stores acrofs Lake Cham^ plain ; Ordnance Stores and Provifions were fent from Bofton, and a Train of Artillery from New Tork to the Fort at Sarataga ; and by the Middle of 06iober 1 500 of the Mafachufets Troops were upon their March from Albany to join tbofe of the Southern Governments. . Hov/cver, the general Alarm which had been occaficned by the Appearance of the FrcTich Armament upon the Coaft of Nova Scotia had fufpended the Profecution of the * Governor Clinton* intended for [85] intended Attempt till the Seafon of the Year •iwis fo far advanced, that one or more of the Colonies concerned in it judged it too late to proceed, and refufed to join with the Province of the Majfachufets Bay ; and a Difunion of Councils in this Point finally prevented its be- ing carried into Execution. Mr. De Ram fay ftill remained in Nova Scotia^ with about 560 Canadians and Indians^ Part in ChicgneBo and Part at Minas ; the Inhabitants of the former of thefe Diftri6ts were openly- devoted to the French Intereft, thofe of Minas and Annapolis River at that time wavering; his Scheme was to winter in the Province, and gain over the whole Body of Acadians to take up Arms, and join with him in an At- tempt upon the Fort at Annapolis Royal early in the Spring : To compafs this he fummon'd the Deputies of all the Diftrids to attend him ; told them he had Intelligence that the Governor of the Majfachufets Bay was fending a large Body of Troops from JSIew England to force them off their Pofleffions, and exhorted them to join him, and ftand upon their De*- fence ; and he had proceeded fo far with them as to induce chem to promife to make Report of what he had propofed to them, to their re«» fpedtive Principals, and let him know their Refolutions by a limited time. * There appeared Danger in this Scheme; had Mr. DeRamjay been fuffer'd to go on un- molefted in his Pradices upon the Inhabitants during the whole Winter, what EfFeds he might <{■ ■i 1 'i il 5 t 86 ] might have wrought oii fome of them by his , Perfuafions, upon others by Menaces, was un- certain ; but if he had fucceeded, it muft have hazarded the Lofs of the whole Province by the enfuing Spring : To counteradt therefore Mr. De Ramfay and fruftrate his Deligns, the Majfachiifets Go'uernor determined, though the Winter was then far advanced, to attempt driving him out of Minas, as foon as a frefli Recruit of Troops could be fent to Annapolis Royal. In the mean time, to prevent him from making any Progrefs in gaining over the Inha- bitants, he immediately tranfmitted from Bof- ton to Governor Mafcarene a Number of printed Copies of a Declaration tranflated in- to French, and figned by himfelf, to be dif- peried throughout the Diftridls of Minas and jinnapolh River ; wherein he afTured the De- puties and Inhabitants, " that fuch of them *' as fhould remain firm in their Allegiance to " his Majefty fhould be proteded in the Pof- *' feflion of their Lands and juft Rights, ac- " cording to the Treaty of Utrecht ; letting " them know at the fame time, that he fhould *' very foon fend a fufiicient Force to Minas to ** remove Mr. De Ramfay and his Party from ** thence, and protect them from the Infults " of the French and their Indians ; and in parti- " cular afTuring them, that the King's Soldiers " fhould not live upon free Quarter, nor be ** fuifered to commit Adts of Violence or Ma- ♦* roding among them, but that they fhould ".. "be (( it C( [87] <* be fully fatisfied for all the Provifions and other NecefTaries, which they fliould fup- ply the Troops with during their being quarter'd among them.'* Thefe Declarations arrived very feafonably at Annapolis ; Mr. Mafcarene found means to difperfe them among the Deputies and Inha- bitants before the Day, by which they were required to give Mr. De Ramfay their Anfwer, and they had the EfFedt to make them una- nimous in declaring to the French Commander their Refolution to truft to the Affurances given them by the Governor of the Majjachufets Bay, of being protedted in the Enjoyment of their Eftates by the King of Great Britain, and abfolutely refufing to take up Arms and join with the Canadians : And they immedi- ately fignified the fame to Mr. Mafcarene, with their feveral AddrefTes to Mr. Shirley y thank- ing him for the Protedtion he had promifed them, and declaring their Refolutions to be loyal Subjecfts to the King. In the latter End of November and Begin- ing of December, the Troops deftined for Mi- nas embark'd at Bojlon for Annapolis Royal; one of the Tranfports with the greateft Part of the Soldiers on board was lofl in its Paflage upon the Rocks near Monts Deferts, the Re- mainder arrived fafe ; and in a few Days, be- ing ftrengthened with a Party from the Gar- rilbn, embark'd for Afinas, and entered Grand Pr^y the chief Town in that Diftrii^, about the latter End of December, . 'The t liiiffii t ■il!! :|l :h if' , ':iii I a !i'! ■'■t'li t *§!§ - f 88] • The French Commander upon having In- telligence of their Arrival at Annapolis^ and their Embarkation for M/Wj, had quitted the Diftridl and retired with his Party to Scbieg- ne^o, the extreme Part of the Peninfula ; The Scafon being extremely fevere hindered the New England Men from immediately follovvr- ing him thither, as the commanding Officer bad Orders to do 5 fo that they determined to wait till the Rigour of it was abated. On tlie laft Day of January the French Commander having gained Intelligence of their being diftributed in Quarters at a great Diftance from each other, and being fecretly encouraged with the Promife of Ailiftance from /bnie of the Inhabitants, made a March, which was thought imprafticable in that Sea- fon of the Year, through the Wood^ with a Party of Canadians and Indians ; and taking the Advantage of a violent Snow Storm, which bad lafted 36 Hours, entered the Town im- mediately after, at Midnight, and furrounded moft of them in their Quarters ; the greateft Part of whom were killed, wounded or taken Prifoners : In the mean time, thofe Parties which were not furrounded, marched out and forced their Way through the Enemy to the Guard-Houfe, being a large defenfible Stone Building, fituatcdin the middle of the Town j and fome others, which had been furrounded* beat off the Party which attacked them and lecovered it : The next Morning two Com^ panics marched out of the Guard-Houfe to nuk«' 1 89 ]■ tnake an Attempt npon the Enemy's head Quarters, but having been furpri'/ed withoirt their Snow Shoes, and Ending iti the March, that the Snow was too much drffted for them: to reach the Enemy, after having made two Difcharges of Murquerry upon them, they were obliged to defifl: from their Attempt : The Day following Mr, La Corne^ who them commanded the French and Indians^ propofed a Parley, which was agreed to ; and after- wards that each fliould bury their Dead; Terms of Capitulation were then offered to the Nemo England Men j the Subftance of which was, that upon furrendering the Fort, they fhould have leave to march out with Drums beating and Coloijrs flying, and other ufual Honours' of War ) a fa#icient Quantity of Ammunition and Frovifions allowed tofcrve them in their March back to Annapolis ; and Neceffaries for carrying off their Sick and Wounded ; the New England Troops to quit MinaSy and not to take up Arms in any Part of Nova Scotia during the Term of one Year. Upon this a Council of War was held, and the Garrifon fubmitted to the Terms pro- pofed. The killed, wounded and Prifoners taken in this Adion by the French amounted to about 160, and the Number of CarMdiam 2Lnd Indi- ans killed and wounded by iht New Ejigknd Men was computed at between 50 and 60. N The iS I. ii [ 90 ] The New England Men being thus obliged to retire, Mr. La Corne quitted Minas in a few Days, leaving the Command of ar fmall Party there with an inferior Officer. Upon gaining this Advantage Mr. De Ramfay fent Declarations to the French Inhabitants in the Name of the Governor of Canada^ which were publickly ported up, requiring them to take up Arms, whenever they fliould be call'd upon by him, again ft the Englijh^ on pain of Death, having their Houfes burnt, and their Eftates confifcated ; and with thefe he pub- lifli'd the Biftiop of ^ebec*% Declaration, pro- nouncmg them abfolv'd from their formerOatbs of Fidelity to the King of Great Britain : On the other hand the Governor of the Majfacbu/ets Bay, to cut off all Pretenlions of a Right of Conqueft to the Diftridt of Minas, which might be grounded on the Capitulation at Grand Pre, recommended it to Lieute- nant Governor Majcarene to fend there what Troops he could fpare out of the Gar- rifon, who were not reft rained by the late Capitulation from bearing Arms, to repoflefs themfelves of the Diftrid of Minas, and bring as many of the French Deputies as they could to Annapolis Royal to renew their Oaths of Fidelity to his Majefty. Accordingly, foon after^ Mr. Majcarene fent out a Party of Rangers with orders to land at Grand Pri -, purfuant to which the command- ing Officer landed there and furprized fome of [ 91 ] of the Inhabitants, who informed him that the Canadians apprehending tiiat another De- fcent might be made upon them fr mi Annapolis by a frefh Party of Troop?, au i rot thinking themfelves fafe at Minas. iiad abandon 'd it and marched back to Sckie^nei'yfo ; which the Officer upon entering the Boviv of the Town found true ; and after taking PofTeffion oi the Diftridt by eredling the Englijh Standard upon the Guard-Houfe, &c. and feiziiig fuch of the Deputies and Inhabitants, as he thought moft proper to carry to Annapolis Royal ^ returned thither. Soon after thiSj Mr. De Ramfay evacuated the Province of all his Troops, and returned with them to Canada j and the Province, be- ing thus cleared of tb.e CanadianSy remained quiet from any Attempts of the French, dur- ing the Remainder of the War. In September ij^J, the Governor of the Majfachujets Bay received his Majefty's Orders, lignifying his royal Approbation of the Pre- parations, he had made for the intended Expe- dition againft Canada, and direding him in Conjunction with Admiral Knowks, then Go- vernor of Cape Breton, to dilband the Ameri" can Troops rais'd for that Service, retaining fuch a Number of them as they Ihould judge neceflary for the Protedtion of Nova Scotia j to colledt and liquidate the Accounts of the Expence incurred by the feveral Gqvernments N 2 on '\ ^,./:'1^ "V%\ [92 1 on account of the Expedition, and tranfmit them to be laid before his Majefty, Purfuant to the former Part of thefe Orders Mr. Knowles and be retained 6 Companies of JO Men each for the Defence of No'ca Scotiay and it appearing neceflary for the Protedion of the Province that fome Ship of War (hould be ftationed at j^nnapolis Royal, the Governor of the Majfachujets Bay fent the Maffacbufets Frigate, the Province Gjuard-Ship of 20 Car- riage Guns upon that Service. ^ Upon this Occafion Mr. Mafcarene, whofe fingular Prudence and Vigilance omitted no Opportunity of reminding the Acadians of their Duty, and exhorting them to confult their own Interefl by their Fidelity to the King's Government, wrote the folluwing Letter to the Deputies of the three Diftri(^s. cc Meffieurs, cc cc cc cc cc (C cc cc (( " Though I am much preiTed and embar- rafTed with Bufinefs, I will not however let this Opportunity flip without writing to you, left fome ill intention'd Perfons fhould have have room to fpread falfe Reports among you, which mi^t occalion you fome Trouble ** Mr. Shirley has received from Court ex- prefs Orders to watch over the Safety of this Province, and to employ all the Means and all the Forces that his Excellency (hall judge [[ necelTary, m ec C( cc (C « (( <( C( i^\f f I N I 5. ./)^;-r'- v'-;.;:/^ '.^ ,-, , . •V»' ?i^, > %,i - ^ •-''.i I I iil ll; ■ ■ .'ii 'mA\ 'W^\ % m ili':! :il''!' jiji ■'!.■!' 11 WW rm '.;!' if I ii"?!! .!■ \;l!lli!ll