naval Force to ours should come from France & drive ours off the Coast, it will be necessary to have two small vessels with about Two hundred men at Canso, & the day after the Fleet is sail'd for Louisbourg for them to sail so as to get in by night, and it being but six Leagues from Canso to St. Peters they can get there before day & surprise that place, which is an exceeding good harbour for small vessels, but has not Water sufficient for vessels of that size which will be able to drive ours off the Coast, so that the vessels for the Retreat will lay there safe, and the Troops be able to go to them by Land; there will be an advantage besides this in surprising this place as there is always a number of Indians with their Families which keep with a French Priest at a small Distance from the French Inhabitants, and the Booty taken there will pay the Expence & more in taking it. It is to be observed that during the time our Troops lay seige to the Town, it will be in their power to send parties and Destroy all their Fishery on the Island as well as the north side of the Harbour which would ruin their Fishery for four or five years; and as it is impossible to fail of taking the Royal Battery at least, that would in a great measure lay open their Harbour exposed unto an attack by Sea from England, as the new Batterys in the Town in the greatest part of the Ambroziers, there are no guns & there are two gates that are made in Diamond fashion facing the Harbour that can be beat down in an instant the pieces not being but two Inches and an half thick.

N. B. The full complement of the Troops is 700 out of which deductions must be made of 50 for each of the two Batteries, viz. the Royal & Island Batteries, and 50 for Death, sickness &c. which reduce them to 550, and the other fighting men in the Town do not exceed 300, and that the Swiss. Troops which are their best Troops are exceeding Discontented and mutinous; also that at St. Peters there may be about 200 men in scatter'd houses, and in the suburbs of the Town of Louisburg without the Walls about 200. it is improbable that more than two 30 or 40 Gun ships should come with Mr. Duvivier who may be expected the first

with Recruits and supplies, and in case the naval Force that comes should be superiour to our naval Force, that our 3000 men would command the Field, and continue so till they could be protected and Reinforc'd from England.

Endorsed: Governours Shirley's letter and scheme dated 29th January 1744.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH 1 Boston, Jany. 31, 1744.

SIR,

To the inclosed Circular Letter 2 drawn by the Secretary and sent to all the neighbouring Governmts as far as Pensilvania, I have to add that it may be urg'd with respect to your Province that it seems to be more deeply interested in the Event of this Expedition than any of the other colonies: For if Cape Breton is not reduced, there appears to be great danger that the French will soon be masters of Nova Scotia, the consequences of which would be an addition of 4 or 5000 fighting men to the Enemy immediately from the Inhabitants of that Province; who in conjunction with the Indians of all Tribes, and assistance from Canada would irresistibly over run and destroy all our eastern settlemts as far as Portsmouth itself in your Province, and whether they would stop there may be some Question; Whereas the reducing of Cape Breton would on the other hand be the Destruction of Canada. This, I observe with respect to your Assembly; with regard to yourself I know no other motives need be urged than our Duty to his Majesty and zeal for the good of the common cause.

I am, Sir

Your Excellency's most obedient
Humble servant

His Excy Govr Wentworth.

W. SHIRLEY.

1 Original, Belknap Papers, N. H. Hist. Soc., 1, 202. Printed:

N. H. Prov. Papers, 5, 932.

2 See Shirley to Law, Jan. 29, ante, p. 171.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH1 Boston, Feby 2, 1744.

SIR,

In answer to my repeated applications for that purpose, I received an Instruction from his Majesty whereby I am permitted during the continuance of the present Warr to give my consent for the Emission of such sums in paper bills as the Emergencies of the Warr shall require and I should think, if you consent to the Emission of a further sum in bills than what your Instructions would otherwise permit, for the service of so extraordinary Emergency as the intended Expedition, provided such sum is appropriated to that use, that you would not run any great risque of censure at home, but rather have your conduct approved of, if you can't promote the Expedition upon other terms.2

As your Express only stays for my answer, I will detain him no longer than till I wish you success with your Assembly, wch I dare say would be very acceptable to his Majesty upon this occasion; and subscribe myself with much sincerity and esteem, Sir

Your Excys most obedient
Humble servant

His Excy Govr Wentworth.

W. SHIRLEY.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH $ Boston, Feby 3d, Sunday, 1744.

SIR,

I am this moment favor'd with your Excellency's second Express, and am extremely glad to see so good a spirit in

1 Original, Belknap Papers, N. H. Hist. Soc., 1, 203. Printed: N. H. Prov. Papers, 5, 933.

2

Shirley had secured permission to issue £50,000 in bills of credit. Parkman considers this persuasion of Wentworth by the Massachusetts governor as a mark of the latter's talents in working upon a pompous and self-important personage.

Original, Belknap Papers, N. H. Hist. Soc., 1, 204. Printed: N. H. Prov. Papers, 5, 933. The letter is not signed.

the Gentlemen of your Assembly as is discovered in the Resolution of the Committee of both Houses with wch you have acquainted me. As to your giving your consent to an Emission of bills of Credit for defraying the expenses of your share in the Expedition wch so nearly concerns his Majesty's service and the interest of his Northern Colonies, as also of his British Dominions, upon the most mature consideration I am clearly of opinion that you may safely do it (as I should not hesitate to do was I in your case) and that it will be approved of by the ministry upon this extraordinary, unforeseen Emergency; As to myself I shall sign an Act tomorrow for the Emission of 50,000 new Tenour upon this occasion. You will doubtless take care that whatever sum is emitted shall be appropriated to the service of the Expedition.

Half an hour ago I received a Letter from Rhode Island, by wch I have an assurance that their Assembly will also exert themselves to the utmost at this crisis of the Fate of New England; and I hope all the neighboring governments will vie with each other who shall contribute most in proportion to their ability, to the common cause.1

SIR,

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO GEORGE THOMAS 2

Boston, Feb. 4, 1744.

Since the Departure of the Gentlemen, by whom I sent my Dispatches to you referring to the Expedition which we are forming against Cape Breton, I have Advice from Gov

1 Shirley was not so successful in Rhode Island as in New Hampshire. The Rhode Island Assembly sent no men to aid in the expedition since it was not approved by the British authorities. The colony sloop Tartar, “equipped with all necessary warlike stores," was placed at the disposal of Shirley. She carried fourteen cannon and twelve swivels, and was to be manned by a force of not over one hundred and thirty seamen. R. I. Col. Records, 5, 100. 2 Original, Hist. Soc. Penna. Coll. Same letter except P.S. to Governor Law of Connecticut, Conn. Hist. Soc. Coll. 11, 255.

ernour Wentworth that the Assembly of New Hampshire have very chearfully determined to join with us, and have Voted to raise two hundred & fifty Land Forces for this Service, and that he hopes to persuade them to raise a greater number. I have likewise Letters from the Gentlemen I sent to Rhode Island, informing me that the people there are much spirited to engage in this Business, & that the Assembly will meet in a day or two to consult on the Affair; And that it looks probable that they will furnish their full Quota of Land Forces for this Service, if not more, as also a private Ship of War of Twenty Guns which now lyes in their Harbour. I thought it of Importance that your Honour should be informed of these things; not doubting but you will make a proper Use thereof for exciting an Emulation in your People & for encouraging them to do their part to promote His Majesty's Service & the common Interest of these Provinces, which so much depends upon the Success of this Enterprise. We are going on in our preparations & now beginning our Levies; And I think Our People are full of Spirit & with Dependance on the Blessing of Providence I hope for a prosperous Event.

I am Sir

Your Honour's Obedt.
humble Servant.

W. SHIRLEY.

P.S. Be pleased to give me leave to add to this Circular Letter, that the assistance of one or both of the two large privateers belonging to some of your provinces would be of infinite importance in this Expedition.

To the Honourable Governour Thomas