And though Lieutenant Aldrich of General Phillips's Regiment was not in his Majesty's Service upon this Expedition, yet I owe so much to him for the Intelligence he gave me when I first entertain'd Thoughts of setting it on foot, that I take the liberty of making a favourable mention of him to your Grace, as I am perswaded he is a good Officer and of great Zeal for his Majesty's Service. But among others whom I would represent to your Grace, as deserving of his Majesty's Favour for their Services, I must not omit mentioning the Province under my Government in particular, as I have it extremely at heart that the people, whom I have been so instrumental in leading into an Expence greatly beyond their Abilities for his Majesty's Service, and have found upon all occasions most readily dispos'd to promote it, should not be overburthen'd with a Debt, which their Zeal and Loyalty have brought upon 'em; and Justice as well as the Affection, which I bear to 'em, constrains me to beseech your Grace to recommend their Case to His Majesty's paternal Care and Tenderness in the Strongest manner. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE LORDS Abstract of a Letter from William Shirley Esqr Mentions his Arrival at Louisbourg, and gives some Acct of what Mr Warren has done for the Defence of that Place. Has transmitted to the Duke of Newcastle some Proposals for the better maintaining and supporting this valuable Acquisition. His Remarks thereupon. The Necessity of driving the French out of Nova Scotia, and the Advantages that will accrue to Great Britain from the Reduction of Canada and the rest of the French Settlements upon the Continent of America. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE DUKE OF MY LORD DUKE, Louisbourg, Novem. 20th, 1745. I take the Liberty to request of your Grace that if his Majesty should be pleas'd to make Grants of any Parcells of Lands on Cape Breton to private Persons I may be recommended to His Majesty for the Grant of a few Veins of Coal lying on the Back Part of the Island. If to the many other favours, which your Grace has been pleas'd to bestow upon me, you would be so good as to add this, it may possibly be of some Service to my Family hereafter, though I don't apprehend it to be of much Value in 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 923, p. 165. about two thousand words is in C. 2 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 900, p. 282. The original letter comprising present, and will with the utmost Gratitude be acknowl edg'd by My Lord Duke, Your Grace's most Oblig'd and most Dutifull Servant W. SHIRLEY. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle. Endorsed: Louisbourg Novr 20. 1745 GOVR SHIRLEY B Janry WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO WILLIAM PEPPERRELL 1 SIR, I think it will be necessary to have Evelath dismissed in order to make room for Hall's Regiment to do Duty with yours. Be pleas'd to think of it. Will you propose his being dismiss'd to the Admiral: you know my promise to him not to dismiss any field officers without his Consent. Yrs. &c. W. SHIRLEY. Don't forget your appointment with me at one. Louisbourg Novr. 22, 1745. To Sir William Pepperell Baronet. 1 Original, A. L. S., Mass. Hist. Soc., Pepperrell Manuscripts, 71 A, p. 233. This letter illustrates again the care with which Shirley acted lest that harmony with the British regulars, so essential to success, should be lost. The Evelath mentioned is Edward Eveleth, Lieutenant Colonel of the 5th Massachusetts Regiment at Louisbourg. WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE DUKE OF MY LORD DUKE, Boston, Decemr. the 14th, 1745. Six days ago I arriv'd here from Louisbourg having left the Garrison there upon their recovery from their late sickness, (which I hope may by this time be almost if not quite over) and well satisfy'd to stay 'till June under the Command of Sir William Pepperell, whom I have engag'd to remain with 'em 'till the arrival of the Troops from Gibralter, or at least till Mr Warren's Comission for the Government shall come over; so that I hope my leaving the Soldiers will have no ill effect, as was fear'd here. Just before I sail'd from Louisbourg seventy five recruits landed from Boston, and in my Passage I met a Sloop with about fifty more bound for Louisbourg from the same place, and at my Arrival here found about one hundred and thirty more ready to embark for the Garrison, all which with one hundred and seventy more recruits hourly expected at Louisbourg from the Government of Connecticut before I left Cape Breton will upon. their Arrival make the number of private Centinels and Non Comission'd Officers, which I left in the Garrison, 2623, besides more than a proportion of Comission'd Officers, and provided the Sickness abates, as I hope and expect it will, render the place stronger than the Camp was some time during the Siege, when they have had fifteen hundred men at a time down with Fluxes and Unserviceable. I find a prospect of raising 150 or 200 more recruits here shortly, and shall not fail to use my utmost endeavours to influence the Neighbouring Governments to furnish their Quotas towards the defence of this important Acquisition, though I have no hopes of getting any men except from the Governments of New England, or rather from two of 'em only besides my own Government; an officer whom I permitted to go upon Furlo to Rhode Island to raise recruits 1 P. R. O., C. O. 5, 900, p. 284. there being return'd to Louisbourg after several weeks absence with no more than twelve men; and notwithstanding Mr Warren has assur'd me that he has some influence in New York, and I doubt not has try'd it to the utmost, not one man has been procur'd from thence for the Garrison, nor could he get a single Marriner for his Squadron, though Governour Clinton informs me there were eight or nine hundred stout Sailors daily walking the streets there out of employ, and he offer'd to pay 'em down the Bounty money granted by this Government, as I desired him, for manning the Vigilant during the time of the Expedition only; so that no dependence is to be upon that Colony; and indeed I am perswaded that Governour Clinton (for whose ready assistance in this Expedition and upon all occasions for his Majesty's Service I am greatly indebted to him) if the people of New York were to be prevail'd upon, must have influenc'd 'em by his Superior Interest there and Generous Publick Spirit constantly manifested for the good of the Colonies as well as his Majesty's Service among 'em. Among those who are gone to Louisbourg I have the pleasure to find that some families are already gone out of this Government to settle there; and I hope their Example will be soon follow'd by some out of other Colonies; and as it seems probable that the Ordnance Stores and Provisions for the Garrison and Cloathing for the American Troops from England may not arrive at Louisbourg this winter, it is very happy I have procur'd those Supplies for the Garrison from the Colonies. Upon my Arrival here I found a letter from Mr Agent Kilby informing me that His Majesty had determin'd to Establish two American Regiments at Louisbourg, and that I was to be Honour'd with the Command of the first of 'em, for which mark of his Majesty's gracious acceptance of my Services I hold myself bound to him by the strongest tye of Duty and am extremely oblig'd to your Grace's goodness for recommending me to his Majesty for that Comand, as I am for the other Expressions of your Grace's regard and Friendship for me, with which your Grace is pleas'd to Honour me |