Upon the First account I had of the Arrival of these Ships of Warr at Louisbourg I was in some pain for Annapolis Royal, but find the Canso Officers are of Opinion that nothing is design'd against it at present by those Ships; but am Inform'd by 'em that an Embarkation had been before made & two Bombs actually put on board a Vessell to Attack that Place, and that the design was lay'd aside upon Advice which the Captain of the First French Flagg of Truce, who came to Boston, Carry'd from hence, that Commodore Warren was to be joined here by a Number of his Majesty's Ships and a Bomb Vessell from the West Indies upon some secret Expedition, supposed to be design'd against Cape Breton (a Report which I did not think fit to discourage at that Juncture) and that I had sent a very considerable Reinforcement of men from hence to the Garrison at Annapolis Royal which was justly founded and has hitherto had its desired Effect. However the French have actually proceeded to send a Detachment of 60 soldiers into the neighbourhood of Annapolis Royal to be Posted in some small wooden Forts in Accadie, in order to draw the Inhabitants from their sworn allegiance to His Majesty, and to induce 'em to take up Arms against the Garrison, which Scheme they Flatter themselves they shall be able to Effect this Winter, unless they should be disturb'd by the Appearance of one of his Majesty's Ships in the Harbour, which would give Countenance to his Majesty's Garrison and keep the Inhabitants of Accadie in a proper Awe and respect, as has been repeated to me in every Letter from the Officers of the Garrison.

I find also the English Officers think it is likely that Annapolis Royal will be attack'd very early by Sea next spring; and they further Inform me that the French at Louisbourg have been under Apprehensions all this year of a Visit from England and in great want of Provisions, which appears to have been the Case also of their Countrymen at Canada by John Richards, John Nealson, and Peter DeJoncourt as to French privateers on New England coast. See also Shirley to Governor Jonathan Law of Connecticut (Conn. Hist. Society Coll. 11, 225).

undoubted Advice from thence and from Old France from whence Store Ships were sent in May and June last to supply 'em with Flower &ca., but have been one of 'em at Least intercepted by our Privateers as have been three or four Provision Ships bound for Louisbourg. It is I suppose owing to this Scarcity of Provisions at Louisbourg and my Refusal to supply the Canso Troops with Provisions from hence during their Imprisonment at Louisbourg and the very small Quantity which I allow'd Ensign Bradstreet Agent for the Officers to carry from hence for their Subsistence that the Governour of Cape Breton has released the English Officers and Soldiers from their Confinement at Louisbourg and sent 'em here, thô your Grace will Perceive by the Inclos'd Copy of the new Agreement enter'd into between the French Governour & Captain Heron the late Commandant at Canso, whereby Capt. Heron has stipulated that the Officers and Soldiers shall not bear Arms against the French King or his Allies, 'till the 1st of Septemr 1745 N: S: which is near four months longer than the time for which they surrender'd themselves Prisoners of War at Canso by their Capitulation there (a Copy of which I inclosed to your Grace in a former Letter) that they are not released upon the Terms of my Proposal to the French Governour (a copy of which I also inclosed to your Grace in a former letter) which was made with a View of rend'ring them of Immediate Service to his Majesty in his Garrison. at Annapolis Royal. The reason of this new Agreement on the part of Mr. Heron your Grace will find assigned by himself in the inclos'd Copy of his Letter to me, whereby your Grace will Perceive that all the Share I have in this new affair, is to find a proper Place in Boston for the Reception of Soldiers till they may be of Service to his Majesty, which I shall do in Castle William, and if there is any difficulty in procuring Credit for furnishing the Troops with Provisions Bedding Cloaths, and other Necessarys till his Majesty's Pleasure shall be known concerning the further disposition of them, I shall Endeavour to Assist the Officers in that Matter and in the mean time inclose to your Grace

my answer to Monsieur Duquesnel the French Governour upon the head of this new Agreement between him and Captain Heron.

I would also observe to your Grace upon these several informations concerning the French East India ships and the time of their departure from Louisbourg which I send in the several shapes that I receiv'd 'em in that they may speak for themselves, that I make the greatest dependance upon that of Mr. Ryal Lieutenant of his Majesty's Ship Kinsale, who was left at Canso by Captain Young last summer to Cruize between that Place & Cape Breton for Preventing the Provision Trade, and Ensign Bradstreet whom I esteem the most Competent Judges in this Affair.

The Privateers fitted out from this Place which are eight or nine besides a snow, a brigantine, and a sloop equipp'd by this Government for Guard ships, have taken in the whole upwards of 40 Sail of French Vessells and much annoy'd the Enemy's Fishery, some of whose small settlements they have broke up by burning their Works & Houses as the Enemy did at Canso, which kind of Hostility there I Perceive they now think wrong, and repent of setting the Example.

If I can prevail upon the Assembly to Enable me to disturb from hence the French detachment in their new Posts in Accadie, I shall not fail to do it, and I shall also apprize the Neighbouring Governments of the Enemy's attempts there in hopes of their joining with us.

I am with the most Dutifull Respect
My Lord Duke

Your Graces most Obedient and
most Devoted humble Servant
W. SHIRLEY.

I hope your Grace will excuse the hurry which these Dispatches

are made in.

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

Endorsed:

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH1 Boston, 24th September, 1744.

SIR,

There are two Fellows that were imprisoned in Salem Goal, in order to be prosecuted for counterfeiting Bills of Credit, who have broke prison, and it is supposed have escaped into the Province of New Hampshire, their Names are Joseph Boyce and John Scias. As it is much the Interest of all his Majesty's Governments in these Parts [th]at this wicked Practice should be detected and the Authours of it punished, I must pray your Excellency would give Orders that Search may be made for these Fellows in your Government, that they may be apprehended and delivered up to Justice, and be brought to their Trial for these Facts: If they may be seized in your Province you will please to order that they may be conveyed to Newbury, and delivered to the Authority there.

1 Massachusetts Manuscripts, Vol. I, Library of Congress. 2 It was with the greatest difficulty that counterfeiting was kept down, but Shirley seems to have given the same aid to his neighbors that he requests in this letter. Writing to Governor Greene of Rhode Island on Sept. 1, Secretary Willard in behalf of the Massachusetts Governor informs his correspondent of the discovery that counterfeit Rhode Island bills are being made in the northern government and requests directions. Corres. Rhode Island Govs. I, 269.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE LORDS OF

MY LORDS,

TRADE1

Boston, N. Engld, October 16th, 1744.

Yesterday I fitted out an Arm'd Snow, Brigantine and Sloop, Vessells in the service of this Government with orders to proceed to Annapolis Royall, and there to take in such a Detachment of Soldiers from the Garrison to join 'em, as Collonel Mascarene can spare with four field Carriages some Cohorns, and a Mortar upon a small Expedition against the party of French Troops which I mention'd in my last to your Lordships, were to winter in Menis or Chignecto, and also to take satisfaction of such of the French Inhabitants as have already revolted from their Allegiance and join'd the French Enemy, by destroying and burning their Settlements and taking them prisoners, and to take Hostages from among those, who have not yet revolted to be deliver'd to the Garrison as Pledges for the fidelity of the Country These Vessels wait for nothing but a Wind, and will be join'd with two small Tenders in the Service of the Ordnance, now at Annapolis and a Schooner that is to carry provisions there, and I am in hopes cannot well fail of having it's desir'd Effect; unless the Garrison's late Treaty with Monsieur Duvivier which I mention'd in my last to your Lordships and their condescending to agree with him upon preliminaries (thô the same were not actually sign'd) for surrendring upon the arrival of the Armament from Louisbourg, which I likewise mention'd in my last, should have encourag'd the French to make a Trial with a Thirty gun ship, and one or two small arm'd Vessells which are, I am inform'd, now at Louisbourg and the Garrison should upon the sight of 'em be prevail'd on to surrender before our Vessells arrive.

I have also to inform your Lordships that with the unani

1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 884, 491. A similar letter to the Duke of Newcastle is in C. O. 5, 900, 129.