^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I LA 12.8 12.5 |5 (maaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol y (moaning "END"), whichavar applias. Laa imagaa suivantas ont 4t4 raproduitas avac la plus grand soin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da I'axampialra film6, at tn conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. Las axamplairas originaux dont la couvarturs an papiar aat imprimte sont filmfo an commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'illustration, soit par la sacond plat, salon la cas. Tous las autras axamplairas originaux sont ffilmAs an commandant par la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'illustration at an tarminant par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una talia amprainta. Un daa symbolaa suivants apparaftra sur la darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha, salon le cas: la symbols — ^ signifia "A SUIVRE". la symbols V signifia "FIN". Maps, platas. charts, ate, may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratios. Thoaa too larga to ba antiraly includad in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to right and top to bottom, as many framas as raquirad. Tha following diagrams illuatrata tha mathod: Las cartas, planchas, tablaaux, ate, peuvant Atre fiim^a A das taux da reduction diff Arants. Lorsqua la documant ast trop grand pour Atre raproduit an un aaul clichA, 11 ast ffilmA A partir da I'angla aupAriaur gaucha, da gaucha A droits, at da haut an baa, an pranant la nombra d'imagas nAcassaira. Las diagrammas suivants illustrant la mdthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 [yT'*^**^**'*— '^■^*w>l»SllNi M ' " n^ m ^'^mmmmZZZmmmSm Lord Loudoun. THE CONDUCT O F A NOBLE COMMANDER I N AMERICA, Impartially reviewed. WITH The genuine Caufes of the Difcontcnts at NEW-YORK and HALLIFAX. AND The true Occcafion of the Delays in that important Expedition. INCLUDING A regular Account of all the Proceedings and" Incidents in the Order of Time wherein they happened. » LONDON: printed for R.Baldwin, in Patcr-noftcr-Row. M DCC LVIII, ^wimyi^^njm p ' ■ I ' • ■«' K Q in \ %. • A will. • .i i C "N D U G T O F T H & 1 f 1- Earl of LOUDON. • I A Writer, not vfcry long fince, dropped fome ambiguous words, which might be fuppofed to refledt upon lord Loudon ; and the whole people were alarm- ed : it was an infuk upon the wifefl mea- fures J and an abufc of one of the firft of men. Power in a little time changed hands^^; and the publick voice changed with it : fluc- tuating and weak as water ; and driven, like that, any way, with the leaft breath of artful men. Nothing was now expedted, \yhere all before ieemed certain of fuccefs/ and wagers were offered by thofe who afFeifted to be in the fecrets of government; that the reft- of the world might form the defigned opinions. B Th« I ■ II U|p,H«H^y^H mmm The meafures were ftill the fame j and the man the fame who was to condudt them : and if he had not deierved the fkd extrava- gant applaufe, far lefs did he merit the new obloquy. The defign was as likely to fuc- ceed under one adminiftration as another, for the force to execute it was unaltered ; and neither the old nor new miniflry Jiad any fhare in its contfitance. The. plan was his alone who ftood entrufted with the exe- cution of it ; and there neither was nor is any caufe to doubt, but he would have pur- fucd- the true path to its Aicccfl. I'i:- . -a He is now returned : and in the place of that glory which he would r probably 'have gained ; he has the unfair reprefen- tations of interefted men to combat; ixA hears his condud arraigned by thole who have as little knowledge of the circumAances^ as of the nature of the fcrvice. v This his lordfhip has pafTed hitherto, and I fuppofe will continue to pafs over, unre- garded. The good and great are above the 'notice of popqlai clamour: but what them- felves defpife, others often feel for them. I think the earl of Loudpn would be as much ? above anfwering iuch accjufations, as defer- ving them : but they are fo cafily refuted, :that it were mueh to be regretted if none (hould do it. The t • [3l The general opinion of thefe perfons is> (at leaft it is their general exclamation) that his lordfhip did not fufficiently pufh the fer* vice $ and that Louifbourg might have been taken with the force under his command* They are bold enongh alfo to urge the meafures of government in changing the command, as a circumilance of proof &r their affertion. It little becomes fuch perfons to judge of the refolutions of a minifiry, which it is impoflible they ihould underhand 3 and it would be as improper for me to queftion their propriety, who am as far from any knowledge of their motives : but it will be eafy to (hew, this nobleman deferved no cen-^ fure I ^nd it mud then be indif&rent frpm whpm it comes. - If it fhal 1 appear by the following fair de*- tail of circurnflances, that the earl of Lou- don laid a plan of operations, equally for the ?lory and intereil of his country ; that this deiign received the fandtion of the go- vernment ; and himfelf, its author, had the honour of the command ; that the mea- fures by which he purfued this purpofe were conformable to reafon, and the nature of the iervice j and that they were approved by tbofe moil immediately concerned -, that the expedition was puflied with all poflible vi« gour by his lord (hip ; and was rendered im* practicable by accidents in which he had no • ^' B 2 concern} "■ P' ^■p iu — .-— -*- .*--- ."JSSSSZ [ 4 ] concern ', we have reafbn to Hope the candid and honed will continue to pay that regard to his lordfhip's great qualities, with which they received the notice of his being appointed to command in that enterprize. . This we fhall attempt to (hew, by a plain recital of fads ; which will be related, Wc hope with accuracy ; at lead with impar- tiality : for we have no view but truth; This has been hitherto obfcured by artifices, or defaced by rancour, but it is not difHcult to clear off thofe flains, and prefent the fair relation to the world. It has not yet been done, and indeed, / according to the circumflances, could not ealily -, for we have depended in England upon the reprefen- taticns of things from thofe on the fpot, who, though they knew the. truth, were partial. The people of New York hated lord Lou- don for two things j his quartering the troops upon them, and the embargo pn their fhips : and power changed hands in England. The enterprize mifcarried, as half the entcrprizes in the world have dope, from the cir-. cumilances of things, not from any fault in the commanders : and though we lu^er, no one is to blame. This is the general date of the cafe; and this will appear by the. fol* lowing fads. C.i w« is] We Hull take in the whole time from the firft plan of the enterprize,to the return of the troops J and we have neither defire nor power to mifreprcfent them. They have been laid before the publick as they occurred, and oc- cafionally, in large recitals : and we may ap- ply to every account that has been publiflied from the articles of news-papers, to the fyf- tems of the temporary politicians, that they are as here reprefented, and that they never have been reprefented otherwife. Thefe be- ing allowed, the reafonings cannot be con- tradidcd, for they flow from no other fource; and we flatter ourfelves the impartial publick (to whofc judgment kings appeal) will en-» tertain no doubt in any circumftance. What IS here offered is the plain and uninfluenced voice of reafon : if his lordfhip had been confulted, doubtlefs it would have been bet- ter ; but it is thus diflntereded ; and I believe no one will have fo much caufe as himfelf to be diflatisfied. -. The ftory will ftand as an example of ^^^c vanity of the Arbitrium popular! s aura. And if the reader wifhes to fee another, let "him remember the poor good old lord JBlakeney. The vehemence of appl^ufe, and the fudden and unmerited turn from it tp cenfure or negledt, are miferable ipftances of f.:' B the I. n.«Pi"P' I I t6] tte unAeadihefs of the hum^n miftd ; find while they teach us caution, they ihould be alfo leiTons of humility. Toward the latter end of the year before laft, the earl of Loudon laid before the mi- niftry his fenfe of the ftate of the waf. The importance of North America needed not to be ihiifted on ; it was too obvious for argu- ment : the little fuccefs of our forces there^ be (hewed, was owing to their having un- dertaken little ; and it was propofed to at- tempt Cape Breton, and thence all Canada. The cnterprize was great, and it was there- fore fit for Britons. The thought was wor- thy of a hcroe ; and with the proportion, this nobleman laid down fhe means and toeafures for its execution : vafl as it appear- ed, he fhewed it was prad:icable ; and we have no reafon to doubt but that he Wt)uld have proved it fo in the execution. Perhap$ \ve £hall ftill fee it done with the fame forces^ and upon the fame plan : and I think I may venture to fay, that in this cafe no man will be more rejoiced at his country's fuccejs than lord Loudon, or more indifferent whe- ther it were brought about by himfelf or by another. When this nobleman propofed to the go- vernment an cnterprize againft thefe places, he delivered in an account of the forcfc which might be required for its execution ; and id [7] tnd the greateft perfons in the kingdom, after a mature confidcration, did equal honour to his lordihip's head and heart, by approving pot the purpofe only, but the plan of ope- rations ; and by committing to his care the condudt of the expedition. Lord Loudon received the approbation of his fcheme with *^he fame coolnefs wherewith he had laid It ; and, with an undifturbed mind, planned the neceilary meafures, not of fuccefs alone in the enterprize, but of fafety in the colonies which might be expofcd by it. Three points demandied great confiderar tion. The preventing the enemy from re- ceiving intelligence of his defigns ; the pror Tiding an uninterriipted tranfportation for the troops; and the fecuring the frontiers of the fcvcral colonics, moft expofed to be attacked by the enemy, while the main force was ading cfFedually on tlie great feheme. Theie are the requifites to a rational undertaking of fuch importance, and with- oat thefe fuccefs would either be impof- fibie; or the confcquences worfe than its failure. For thefe lord Loudon provided by a timely care, and by fuch meafures as ap- peared to him the moft eafy and ef- fcaual . [8] Had things at home continued in the ftatc wherein he left them, thefe meafures would have been applauded, as they cer- tainly appear to have dsfcrved ; and every one of them would have been a new ar- ticle in his praife : but men judged diffe- rently by the time the accounts arrived: and thp mob who had before applauded not with- out reafon, though without knowledge, were now taught to cenfure and condemn equally ^.without either $ and they who knew a litde againft both. • ^i'^r Men who were at this vaft diflance were to judge of operations, without knowing uppii what circumilances he who was on the fpot found them neceflary ; and they who were ignorant of the nature of com- mand, were to determine concerning the 1 meafures of the war. The politician of a •^ cx)ffee-houfe was to fit in judgement upon his - defigns, whom the government had under- « ftood to be perfe<5tly capable of the fcr- 2 vice I and it may be faid with that freedom zt which becomes the truth, ignorance was not I'his moft dangerous enemy. Men were !: taught to fay what thofe who influenced :2fthem knew to be falfe j and the reputation of the commander was to be facrificed, while he was puffuing a deiign approved by hisi country, by thofe very meafures which he had laid down for it^ execution. Ifliall lly [9] Ifliall not anticipate by entering into par-^' tjculars what may be neceflary on a more important occaiion; but I fhall add, there are fome who will blu(h to read this ; and perhaps fear what may follow. As to the popular opinion, no man de- ipifes that, except he who knows he does not deferve it; but J may add, I think, with truth, that this commander, though per- haps he has felt with as much warmth of gratitude as any man the applaufes of his country, yet would difclaim thern upon the conditions on which fome have tried : tp gain them. The meafures by which this general pro- vided for the execution of his enterprize, and the defence of the colonies, though they be now controverted, were once ap- proved : they ftill are what they were, and it feems plain to reafon they would have been approved flill, if any other man had follow- ed them. He was in a command that au- thorized his taking thefe ileps ; and he was upon the fpot to know, though we are not, that they were neceffary. This will appear hereafter; and it is juA: it ihould be believed now, unlefs fome reasonable caufe be fhewn to doubt it. • In the colonies, the governors whom his lordfliip affembled on that occafion, entered into all his reafons, approved all his propo- litions. [ '* 1 fitf6n3, and, like the government at home, adopted all his meafores ; and by their ready concurrence did him peculiar honour. ^'They were pieaifed to think he under^ flood the ft ate of their refpcfStivc govern- ments better than they did themfelves ; and white they acknotrlcdged the wifdom trf placing them only on the dcfcnlive, they virctt at once furprized «t the eafy means by which he propofed to cfft^ it 5 and per-r fcftly conTinccd that thofc means were fuffirr - I know this Embargo has been an occafion of much complaint at home, for ibmecaufe of di(ratisfa<5tion muft be afligned ; and this was beft, for it was popular. Far be it from thofe who int'Treft themfelves in lord Loudon's caufe to endeavour to deny, to extenuate, or even to excufe this proceeding. If there be blame laid on it, what is the caufe? was it not necef* fary to the fervice ? none would diipute i^ that would be too hardy : it would betray aa ignorance no man would charge upon faim^ ^f. Had he not a right and juft authority to do it? there is no queflion but he had* His orders were abfolute : he was fuppofed to underfhind the fervice ^ he was conficlered as a brave aind an honeft man : and he wiU be confidered as fuch a one when even the de«* tefbition fhall ceafe, which will long purfue their memories who now affe^ to think, him otherwife. It muft be owned that the layinganembargo on the outward bound vefiels was a neceiiary mtafure, and ttet lord Loudon had juA au*' thority ' *.vsm »<•>«■ I 12 ] thorky to do it^ Of what then is it that men would complain ! Is there any one will fay a commander is to blame, who does a liecefTary action by his proper power ? there is none fo abfurd ! Let them on the other hand fay, whether they would not have •blamed him if he had omitted it? They would have had juft reafon. *^ This embargo was attended with many inconveniencies to private perfons : it is al- lowed; but it could not be avoided. Pub- lick meafures of the moft ufeful kind qfteri are fo, and when the people's voice is left to •its^ free courfe, the neceflity is feen, and there is no complaint. None will difpute the neceflity of it in this inftance. It is impoflible. At the fame time it muft be owned, it was attended with parti- cular inconveniencies. England was in want of corn ; at leaft the publick by bad men were made to think f o ; and to fufFer as much as if the fcarcity was real : there was corn in the colonies that could be fpared ; iand the embargo prevented for the time its exportation. The circumftances are certain. But did lord Loudon create thefe circum- ilanjces ? was he the author of our imaginary famine, or in the plan of his enterprize could he fore fee it ?' ' It is allowed thofe perfons in the co»- lonies who had ihipped corn for England loA • ap Ml ap [ 13] tm kdvahtage : but it was a lofs that could not be avoided : and if thofe who have been Joudeft in complaints would make out a fair lift of the fuflfercrs, the quantity fhipped, and the time delayed, it would be found that very little occaiions, when it is thought conveni- ent, can raife * great clamours. This is the fair way of.ftating the account: it is very, plain why they will not be brought to do it j bqtjf we hear more" of it, 'tis not impoffiblc that we may do it for them. . . In plain truth the inconvenience was much lefs than has been pretended ; and the impor* tence of the meafure greater than can be well imagined. The candid reader fees the fair, ftate of the cafe; and he will perhaps fay .for himfelf, what, after the meafures that have been taken, it would be indecent for me to fzy to him. , v^-^h The government has, in confequence of the clamours on this fubjcdt, taken from com- manders, for the future, the power of extend- ing an embargo to (hips deftined hither from the colonies. I flialLnot take upon ,me to judge whether this ftep be wife, or what were its immediate motives; fpr.Lthiuk greatly of their integrity -xnd wifdom who now. have power: but if it be thought by any that thisi new regulation refledts difgrace upon lord Loudon, they may be told .that on the cou* trary, the taking away, this power for the future. ri4] future, acknowledges he had it juftly when be exerted it } and the neceflity of the ier* ▼ice was really enough to have anfwered linuch greater private difadvantages. Men, whofe own hearts had taught theni to feek bad motives for the condudt of others, laboured to attribute this embargo to a different caufe : and there were not wanting feme weak enough to imagine, or wicked enough to pretend they imagined there, diat this flep was taken to favour the bargains of thofe who were to provide for the forces : nor did we want here men who were impo- litick enough, I had like to have faid abfurd enough, to adopt the opinion. I diall not enlarge here upon the private charadler of lord Loudoh; but they muft have known very little of it, who could fup- pofe him capable of being influenced by fuch motives ; and they mufl have furely fVfange heads as well as moft abandoned hearts, who when the nature of the publick fervice fo plainly and fo needfully required this mea- fure, could attribute it to private views and perfonal intereflr Thofe who were upon the fpot can ac* quaint the incredulous, that it was not till late in the clamour, that this accufation Was ftarted. The firfl: complaints were of the hftrdfhips of the fneafure ; the unhappy ^te of private men who muft be oppreiiad to fcrve m of to fervc the publick % and the neceifitiea of Eng* land. Thefe were the firft cxpofttilatiot>3 ^ but when lord Loudon fteadtly cppofed the publick caufe to thdfe private hardfliips ; and thoiigh he was concerned to fee them, would not endanger the general fer^'ice to remove them; then.it was that private purpofe^ were pretended ; then malice taught the fuf«- ferers to invent caufes, which themfelves did not believe ; and thefe were added to the former clamours. Lord Loudon, in the confcioufnei^ of bjjii own innocence, flemmed this torrent of car lumny there 5 but probably he did not inwr gine it ever could be received in England. If it be a crime to prefa'.the publick fer** vice to the ccnveniencies of a few private per- fons, it cannot be denied that lord Loudon has been guilty. If the care of chofe forces, which are expe- ibniS' who are too low fer anfwering; and to sU thefe I believe he-will plead guilty.. £ngr w '* land ' the magiftracy anfwered, with as little decency as feeling, that they fhould not be admitted into private ones. The qoaunandor knew f- knew equally his pcwerj and the neceflity of the fei vice : he ordered them in a fair and equal diflribution to the private as weU as publick houfes. The magiftracy inililed on their rights and privileges 3 to v^hich lord Loudon oppofed his authority, and the ne- ceffity of the fervice. They were outrageous, and he was refolute. . He alw^ays fpoke v^ith great refpedb of their natural and political rights ; but he would not facrifice to them the lives of the foldiers. His lordfliip carried his point ; and he then took orders for the good behaviour of the foldiers. In this he was as indefatigable, as he had been refolute in giving them quarters ; and it will be owned at New- York for ever, in fpite even of prejudice itfelf, that the foldiers l>e^ haved with fo perfedt regularity and decency, that thofe who had been loudcft in the op- pofition, owned afterwards they fufFered no hardfhip. Let us now fairly review thcfe two capital incidents. It was on thefe the commander firft loft the good will of fonie peoJDlc in thp • colonies 3 and thefe as foon as they found cri- ' courageraent from England, fpread the mod unjuft afperfions. :,— ' »" " ' Lord Loudon had the honpur to bS en- trufted with chc coridudt of a very imp6rtanlf enterprize ; and he mahifefted a due care and a becoming fpirit in providing in* thefe two' inftances for ihe prefervation of the troops, C and •--« "i",/-, - [ i8] and for preventing that comnnon fourcc of difappointment in Englidi enterprizes, the intelligence of the enemy. In each of thefe cafes fome private perfons fufFered incon- veniencies : and there are mouths in which a kittle h^dihip will make a loud complaint. It is enough to fay, that the difadvantages in dach cafe were the leaft that could be expected ; and that, wkh a determined care for the fitccefs of the enter prife, all poflible attention was fliewn to the intereil: of the people. The embargo was continued no longer than the neccdity of the fcrvicc required : and the people fufFered nothing from receiving then* deliverers into their houfes. Perhaps they faved all by it. The fchemcs and purpofcs of the enemy for that year's campaign are now known ; and their dirappotntment was owing folely to thefe fuc- cours : fo that it is not too hiuch to fay, that the numbers of thefe forces, and the determined fpirit of the commander in chief, which the French alfo knew, faved thefe co- lonies without ilriking a blow. If they knew what it is for a country to be the feat of war, they will at length underftand what are thofe fer vices of a force which deters the enemy from attacking them : and they will know, what thofe who are fit to command armies always know, that much more fer- vice may in fuch cafes be done by keeping the nt. no [ '9 J the forces together, than even by the gaining a vidtory. . i.hi ). Whether or not this has been the cafe in that quarter of the worW, let thofe fpcak who have been upon the fpot at the time : others talk as they arc influenced, often wickedly and always ignorantly. It is pro- bable, that we fliall now fpeedily receive the news of vidtories and acquititions there $ but it will be allowed, that the operations of the preceeding campaign have laid the foun- dation of them, and led the way to them : and no man will have tlie prefumption to fay, that equal advantages would not have fol- lowed, if the command had continued in the fame hands. For my own part, and I am not altogether unacquainted with the circumftances, I think certainly they would: and when I recolledt the fury of applaufe and good opinion, which accompanied this no- bleman on his undertaking the fervice j and fee no ftep by which he has juftly forfeited that good opinion, or deferved even the lighteft cenfure, I cannot join the multitude in difdaiming my firft ientiments : but rather pity the weaknefs of human nature, and blufh to fee men of greater abilities carried with the torrent, and adopting opinions which they could not defend. It. was an article of high importance in the regulation of this enterprize, that a fleet of C 2 con- [ 20] confidcrable force (hould fail from England at fuch a leafon as to join its influence in the adlion. The commander in chief of the forces knew very well at what time this fleet ought to fail from England -, and when it might rcafonubly be cxpeded in America. His Ic/fdfliip computed the voyage, as ac- curately as iiich circumfiances will admit of computations; for a voyage to America is always longer than one from thence to Eng- land : and allowing for this and for the chance of winds, he computed that they might be expcdted the firft week in June. , -*. Let me demand, with that fair freedom which becomes the truth, can any man fay lord Loudon judged amifs in this refpcdt? was it not reafonable that he fliould expedt the fleet at that time ; or was it reafonable he ihould undertake without them an enter- prize of fo great moment, and in which they were deftined to have io large a fliare. Plain as the anfwers to thefe queftions are, the demand is not the lefs neceflary. What I have heard objedled to the condudl of this nobleman, lias arifen either from want of knowledge of the moft plain fadls ; or from a relblution to conceal that knowledge. The anfwer to all the cavils is fo plain, a man of reafon is almofl alhamed to make it : but they fliould bluih who liave rendered it ne- ceiTary, Much [ 21 ] Much more might be faiJj and may be if farther occafion calls ; but, for the fatis- fadtion of the dilintcredcd publick, this will be fufficicnt. We have fccn the ftate of the cnterprizc, its dcpcndance upon a fleet from England ; and the regular expedition of that reinforce- ment. Let us review the conduct of lord Lou This was the employment of die land force, while intelligence was fought by the fhips : and by this the men were fo well taught their duty, and fo familiar with every article in the attack of an enemy, that per** haps from a body, in great part raw and undifciplined, they were, by the end of that ihort interval, fuch as it would be difficult to equal in many armies* j.ia. « ;{.. '3ij:^ It :-\:.-'''»'-^iiC'.f,m'm0-i^ -^imf^tt^tM^I^^ 11 [ 28 ] It does not appear to me, that a better ufe could have been made of the time necel- farily employed in gaining intelligence : nor can it appear to any, that Louifbourg fhould have been attacked before this information was obtained. There is no man fo loft to rea- fon. Yet this is by fome ftrange artifice, and by a more ftrange condudt in the gene- rality, attributed to the commander in chief as a crime ; and he is thought blameable for it. This alfo gave occafion to the gallant impa- tience of an officer in high command ; which I yet think deferved applaufe not cenfure ; much lefs the harfti fteps which a council of war thought proper to take upon that oc- cafion. He who blames eagernefs in the troops, condemns what he ought of all things to encourage and applaud. The earneft valour of '^e officers is of the fame true ftamp, and of the fame high charafter ; the regula- tions of the fervice will always prevent its going too great a length, and it is a good prefage of fuccefs in adtion. Thefe arc to wiili for the engagement, but it is the commander in chief who is to de- termine when to enter upon it. His valour ihould be of another caft and character, tempered with cool thought, and under the abfo! te controul of reafon. fLO:fr' He » He [29] He alone is to determine when and m what manner to attack the enemy : his place and office give him this authority j and the fir ft praife in thofe who are under him in command, is acquiefcence in his opinions, with unaninr»ity. nr>r« The repeated exercifes and conftant em- ployment of the troops in thefc attacks, had railed in them a fpirit of earneft defire to enter on the real feivice ; and it is no won- der their officers breath'd the fame generous ardour. 1 think it may be faid within the bounds of modeft truth, that no man in the army defired the opportunity of entering up- on a<5lion more earneftly than lord Loudon ; but in him it was a defire tempered with a thoufand cautions. The lives of the men, the fuccefs of the enterprize, the glory of his country, and her immediate and moft impor- tant interefts, depended folely upon him : he muft anfwer it to God and to his country, if all was not conducted rightly, and the leaft overfight of his might coft the lives of the men, and the very hope of the caufe. For thefe reafons he earneftly fought the neceftary intelligence ; and certainly the ma- nagement and employment of the force while he waited for it, (however fome men, in whofe minds raillery takes the place of reafon, may have reprefented it) was the moft '»i -iiii^h'fssissfmm**'^^ [ 30 1 ^ft rational that could me been dc- '^The foldiers thought fo, «"ntaUgence vve iV.^_ 't''''' "VeteSn 'cannot iay blam. chances in the ««cui ^^^^^^^ upon the commaiider who ga.^^ with re. This and this only 18 tne q ^^^ ^^ ?ru°vffraf-P« difpatch veueib «it y r . ^^nt fervice ? p^er i"ft^«5-Xtte dT and this was I is «^°ft,ri' wt?an no more charge upon all he could do We can n ^^^^ ^^^ lord Loudon the ' »"<^Jj^f J ^f the Eng- for this purpofe, than the a<^^ y li(h fleet. _ , fl t the force It is certain that fuch a nee ^^ and deftination of which wcie ^^^^ [ 31 ] long before, might have arrived in North America at a much earlier period ; and in t4iat cafe the time neceflary for gaining intel- ligence v(rould not have (wallowed up the fea- fon fit for a<5lion ; but it is not lord Lou*^ don's fault the Heet from Englnnd came fo much too late. He could do no more than get in readinefs to adl with it when it Hiould arrive; and he was in that readinefs. The time of gaining intelligence between the ar- rival of the fleet, and the entering upon adion, mud be allowed as a neceflary pe- riod of delay, by all who weigh the action. This could not be retrenched by lord Lou- don ; the only quedion^ which can regard his lordihip's condu^ is, whether he pro- longed it. Let this be examined ftridtly, for it will be to his^dvantage every article (hould be fo fcrutinized ; but let us fet out juflly. The time was prolonged beyond all expedta-j tion 5 but lord Loudon no more prolonged it, than he delayed the fleet. It is allowed, intelligence was neceflary from time to time, ?ind mofl eflfential of ail] before the entering upon adtion. Lord Lou- don had from time to time fought and ob- tained it, and juft before the engaging in the fervice, he difpatched fwift failing vefllels, and good pilots to obtain it, and to make a fpeedy return. Some time mud elapfe in this employment ; and during this time, his I* ■i^m:ihm»<>*%'-m»mmmmKibM'Mm I? [32 I his lordfliif) cxercifcd and accuftomcd ;tbe farces to the intended fcrvicc. This was not cenftired : far otherwife; it was applaud-" cd. But the time of waiting was protradted^ and when the intelligence was flow, he was cenfured as if he had been the caufe ; and the employment of the troops in mock fights and counterfeit attacks was condem-^ ndl'and ridiculed even by thofe who had before applauded it. So light is human nature. If this employment of the foldicrs was reafcnable at firfl -, it could not be ri- diculous afterwards : if it was once right; it could not become wrong, unlcfs by wafting ufeful time upon it. But the time could not be ufeful till the intelligence arrived ; and the cenfure was therefore moft unfair. The commander in chief ordered thefe exercifes for the inftrudion and improvement of the foldiery, in a time of inadtion : this in- action was neceflary, while the intelligence was fought, and it could not but continue till the intelligence arrived. There could be no better or more ufeful employment of the foldiers during that period, and it was not continued any longer. One almoft blufhes to ftate propofitions which are in themfelves fo clear, fo largely, but there is no other way to combat the popular clamour. They who have been fo rafh as to cenfure this commander, either [33] cither do not uiiderdand ihefe tkingSi tbo! they are (o plain ; or they aficd not to do them clearly. It is neceiTary therefore ta Aate them as they are ; cither to convince thofe^ perfons, or to (hew the publick tlul they ad againd convidion. ^ With regard to the delay itfelf, now let the impartial hear the reafons. The ver)( day the commander in chief came to HaU iifax, the moft experienced pilot of the; place, captain Coram, was (ingled out fo^ the important fervice of gaining intelligeficj of the enemy's (Irength and condition^ Hi^ orders were expreis, and they implied dili- gent enquiry, and a quick return. He found in the harbour of J^ouifbourg fourteen Hiips of war ; ten of the line, the others fri-. gates : this was the condition of the enemy before the arrival of the Briti(h fleet : and I fuppoTc the moft fevere accufer of this general's condud^ will allow, all that ho could do was to gain intelligence of it. There is none ^yho would have had him enter on the attack ag^inil this force^ and without thq fleet. ^.j ,. The time of waiting for the EngVifli il lips was fo confiderablc, that great altera- tions in the date of the enemy's -afiairs might: have been made in that period: therefore freil^ knowledge of tA4eir ftrength was afterwards jieceflary. Captain Rous Wfis then fent out D in •m ,11111 1— iiiii III '— iii.iniiwwm ^ [34] m the Succcfs, and twoveffcls of lefs force, with one of the tranfports, the beft faiior among thenn. Intelligence from this fourcc was of the highefl importance, and the de- fign was excellent for obtaining it. The tranfport was to be fcnt as clofe into the mouth of the harbour as poflible, that the French might take her for a pi*ize : this would naturally have brought out a pilot, and they were to have come back with him, to the general and commander of the fleet. If this failed, and he fhould be chafed by the (hips of war, the orders were for the ihips in %he offing to get between the enemy and land, and take up any veficl they fhould fee, that the people might be examined for the neceflary intelligence. The coipmander in chief can have no more to anfwcr for, than this plan of fer- vice, and thefe orders. We know the plan was not executed, and the orders were not puniflually followed ; but this lies not at his door: nor indeed at any man's. There feemed a better opportunity of intelligence to offer, and the purfuit of that prevented the other. All that regards lord Loudon, is the propriety of this dcfign for gaining it j and that we may prefume none will at- tempt to blame ; it is certain none there blamed it; and they were ^>etter judges than any can be here. Thg| [35 1 That the commander in chief was fully determined to attack the French, upon the flate of evidence firfl brought in by captain Goram, none pretend to doubt, nor can it be faid that any neceflary or proper meafure tending to that purpofe was omitted. The arrival of the fleet was to give the means of the attack ; and all that could be done now^ was to have every thing in readinefs. After this all was conduded in the fame manner: and the lad day of July all the tranfports were order *d in divifions to the weft Ihore, and to have the boats ready for re- ceiving the troops ; a proper number of men draughted from thr Hallifax regiments were fcnt on board the men of war ; and the whole force had orders to be ready for embarking at an hour's notice. The next day all the troops were embarked, councils were held for the immediate condud of the en- terprize, and a floop of war was dif- patched to England with intelligence of all that had pafTed. The Succefs, whofe captain had the com- mand of the fhips fent out for intelligence a full fortnight before, thought he had fallen in with readier means than thofe contrived for this purpofe : two vefTels came in ilght as he failed toward Louifbourg, which by all marks and charaders appeared to be a pri- vateer fchooner of the enemy, with a fri- t . D 2 gate ■>^. Ky > gmnr i i «i> »»>' > •, i .f.j t 3-6] gate of Louifbourg. The captain put him- iclf in Tuch pofition, that they could not fcapc him > and while he purfued them, difpatched the tranfpoi't back to acquaint the governor what fortune had thrown into his way. When he came up with thefe vcflels, his hopes of information vanifhed : he had the misfoi'tune to find, that all his zeal and carneftncfs for the fervice had only ferved to )ead him into an error. The vcflels were an Englifh privateer with a prize. , What added to this ill fartur: was, that the traaifport being gone, it was impoffible for him to execute the firft intended plan. He jfought by every means to repair the mif- chance, and fucceeded fo far, as to take a fiihing velfel newly come from i^ouifbourg, which he carried into Hallifax. The intelligence thefe people gave, ftrengthned the refolution of immediately at- . tacking the place, and gave that fpirit and eager expedtation to the forces which rife from certainty of fuccefs. They confirmed in every inftance the truth of captain Go- rom's hri\ account, as to the ftate of things at the time when he gave it ; and they re- prefentcd them in a yet fairer light for our enter prife at prefent. The account the peo- ple obtained from this intelligence was, that of the fourteen fhips of war feen there by captain l37l ,^ca- captain Coram, ^^J^^/^^'peneTrated into Mda: d«,enea.y ?^°'^/J^^^^ knowing the fecr^t of o«- purp^^J Th? garrifoa wliere ^y,. dcihacA ^^f'J, J|t more of Louilbovirg, they added, wa» than three t^o"^"^'"^"' t^ate and encou- Allnowconfp.redtoammatea^^^^ ^^ rage the troops i and 'J^^recution of the^ attacking or .""V* lArmbcd by the force have been in reafon ^^f"^^^ ^^3 we pc> there : what our own ft«"S*^ J ,nce now ftated, there was fair renfon J P^^^^^^ felves fuccels. Under the ecu cu .^j^ attack wasrefolved, and under t^, have been "^'^"f ^„ I,]'";,," a„d neceffarily arrived the next day but one , a occafioned other meafures ^ ^^^ CaptainGoram/erUout a f - ^^^ ^^ t yet n"ff4S^J, Se ^^^^ •"•• . oi Auguft, a Inencu pu ^ .,. ,„ and was £be h.d been fent from -°Y^^^^% ,« carry bound to France; her bufue^j^ ^^^ intelligence, and Hie was taken, ppers. p . Thefe ^j«,^i*..>«(S«iB#n df their fbrcfr; had been gained by it. This wa« a confe- quence of the embargo : acad it was fuch as promifed the moft certain fuccefs to our en- terprize, if the fleet from England had arrived at that dme, to have joined in the ej^ecutlon. That fleet was delayed ; and it ippears by the intelligence obtained from the other prize, that, in the mean time, the French had en- creafed their feven fhips to nine and twenty. That which was prad:icable againil the fmal- ler force, was impoflible to be performed in oppofition to the larger; and the attack of Louifliourg which might have been made at the firft favourable time, was poftponed by the delay of our fleet to a period when it was impradlicable. I accufe no perfon : but this accident was the caufe, and this Angle circum- fiance was the reafon, we did not attack Louifbourg at a time when probably wc might have taken it. In the mean while, the people of our cof- lonies, difgufled at the high hand with which lord I>oudon had neceflarilv carried the afi^air of quartering the troops and the embargo, I i ibught •«to>*><<*^ t 44 ] there was proved in it abfolute faliliood. |t wad not likely that captain Coram, wl^eu he had been fcnt iaii an enterprizc of fecrecy and im^ portance, (hould come on fhore to tell what he had fcen to a poor. ^ v, be%e he gave zn account of it t t» '*^ who employed him ; nor is it any more pi^^bable, that what he faw fhouki contradict what the French officers themfelves had jud wrote home to their fovereign. ♦ Captain Coram declared the whole an ut-^ tcr falfity. He aflured all who aiked him, that he never came on fliore that night ; nor then or at any other time had fpoke with the Jew upon that fubjcdt. This was a conviction there wss no withftanding 5 the Itory was given up there, though it has been revived in England. The Jew was imprifoned as an impoftor, but foon after difcharged without punifti- ment : the commander, whofe reputation was intended to be hurt by this poor contri- vance, being very much above fuch mean re- fentments. He confidered the fellow as he was, the tool of a fet of defigning men, whom as he would not have condefcended to puniQi in their own perfons, much lefs would he regard this miferable inftrumcnt of their bafenefs. What account captain Co- ram really brought can be no fecret f if lord LoudcMi be^ fuppofed a perfon interefted in 2 the '1 ' [45] the event, it may be known from admiral Holbourn. Thefe are the proper fources of intel- ligence ; and it is upon thefe and no other, we fhould found our good or bad opinion, our cenfure or applaufe of diflinguifhed per- fons. There is great merit in the adlion, when men of ranlc and affluence expofe them- felves to the dangers and fatigues of war for the publick benefit -, and we ought to look on thofe who do it with a high refpedt. No rank or influence fhould fcreen the guilty from infamy or punifhment ; but it becomes the publick to be very fure of fads before they form injurious fufpicions. If it become a practice to indulge this difingenuous and indecent condudi; of railing without caufe, at all who do not fucceed, we (hall difgufl thofe who are fit for high employments ; and no man will undertake the fervice, bot he who fets no value on his reputation. FINIS. ym .mmsmim^ -^'--^'