1745. CHAP. X. tages, nor to the eclat it gave to the American arms. In England, as well as in France, it was entirely unexpected; and, although some disposition was manifested to attribute the merit of the conquest to the navy, colonel Pepperel received, with the title of Baronet, the more substantial reward of a regiment on the British establishment, to be raised in America; and the same mark of royal favour was bestowed on governor Shirley. Reimbursements too, were made by parliament for the expenses of the expedition, by giving the colonies which had made advances of money towards it a credit at the British treasury to the amount advanced. It was the only decisive advantage obtained by England over France, during this whole war. The capture of Louisbourg most probably preserved Nova Scotia. Duvivier, who had embarked for France in 1744 to solicit an armament for the conquest of that province, sailed with seven ships of war and some troops in July 1745. He was ordered to stop at Louisbourg, and to proceed from thence in the execution of his plan. Hearing at sea of the fall of that place, and of the British squadron stationed there, the expedition against Nova Scotia was relinquished, and he returned to Europe. History of South Carolina and Georgia.... CHAPTER XI. Great plans of the belligerent powers....Misfortunes of the armament under the duke d'Anville.... The French fleet is dispersed by a storm....Expedition against Nova Scotia.... Treaty of Aix la Chapelle....Paper money of Massachussetts redeemed....Revival of the contest between the French and English colonies respecting boundaries....Statement of the discovery of the Mississippi by the French....Scheme for connecting Louisiana with Canada....Relative strength and advantages of the French and English colonies....Defeat at the Little Meadows....Convention at Albany....Plan of union agreed to in convention....Objected to, both in America and Great Britain. of the powers. VERY important operations for the ensuing 1745. campaign in America were planned by the Great plans belligerent powers. France contemplated not belligerent only the recovery of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, but the total devastation of the sea coast, if not the entire conquest of the country of New England. Britain, on her part, calculated on the reduction of Canada, and the entire expulsion of the French from the American continent. Shirley, whose active and sanguine, mind seems to have been much more capable of extending to the most hazardous projects than of maturing them, repaired to Louisbourg after its surrender, where he held a consultation with Warren and Pepperel on the favourite subject of future and more extensive operations April 6. CHAP. XI. against the neighbouring possessions of the 1745. French. From thence he wrote pressingly to the British ministry, to obtain their countenance to his plans, and strong re-enforcements of men and ships to enable him to execute them. His solicitations, enforced by the brilliant success at Louisbourg, had such weight, that in the 1746. following spring the duke of New Castle, then secretary of state, addressed a circular letter to the governors of the British colonies as far south as Virginia, requiring them to raise as many men as they could spare, and form them into companies of one hundred each, to be held in readiness to act according to the orders that should be afterwards received. These orders were given in consequence of the following plan of operations, which had been digested in the British cabinet. It was proposed to detach a squadron of ships of war, having on board a body of land forces commanded by sir John St. Clair, who should, as early as the season would admit of action, join at Louisbourg the troops to be raised in New England, from thence they were to proceed up the St. Lawrence against Quebec. The troops from New York and the more southern provinces were to be collected at Albany, and to march from thence against Crown Point and Montreal. This plan, so far as it depended on the colonies, was executed with promptness and alacrity. The men were raised, and waited with impatience for employment; but neither CHAP. XI. general, troops, nor orders arrived from Eng- 1746. land. The fleet, said to have been destined for this service, sailed seven times from Spithead and as often returned. After the lateness of the season had induced the military commanders in America to despair of receiving the stipulated forces from England, it was determined, in a council held at Boston by Shirley, Pepperel and Warren, to assemble a body of provincials at Albany, and make an attempt on Crown Point. While employed in the necessary preparations for the execution of this plan, accounts were received of the danger which threatened Annapolis from a body of French and Indians at Minas, who would be joined, it was feared, by the Acadians. Orders were issued for the troops of Massachussetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, to embark for Nova Scotia, and drive the enemy out of that province. Before these orders could be executed, intelligence was received, which, it was supposed, would furnish them with sufficient employment at home, and which excited throughout the country, the most serious alarm. A large fleet and army under the command of the duke D'Anville, was reported to have arrived in Nova Scotia. The views of conquest, which had been formed by the northern colonies, were now converted into fears for their 3 A VOL. I. 1746. CHAP. XL. Own safety. To the troops which had been raised to act against Canada, the militia were added, and the fortified places of the country were enlarged and repaired. For six weeks, continual apprehensions of the enemy were entertained; and the most vigorous measures for their reception were taken. From this state of anxious solicitude, the colonies were at length relieved, by information received from some prisoners set at liberty by the French, of the extreme distress of the fleet they had so much dreaded. Misfortunes of the armament under the duke D'Anville. This formidable armament consisted of near forty ships of war, of which seven were of the line; of two artillery ships; and of fifty-six transports laden with provisions and military stores, carrying three thousand five hundred land forces and forty thousand stand of small arms, for the use of the Canadians and Indians in the French interest, who were expected to. co-operate with the regulars. This fleet sailed in June, but in its passage was attacked by such furious and repeated storms, that many dispersed by of the ships were wrecked, and others dispersed. In addition to this, the troops on. board those vessels which reached their place of destination, laboured under a dreadful mortality which carried them off in great numbers. While lying in Chebucto, under those circumstances, an express vessel, which had been dispatched by governor Shirley to admiral Townshend at Louisbourg, with a letter stating The French fleet is a storm. |