The officer who brought me the despatches from Annapolis, saw nothing of the French fleet in the Bay of Fundy, in his passage; and I have just now heard that they have been seen sixty leagues to the south-west of Cape Sable; at all events, every one here is persuaded, with myself, that they are in a miserable, sickly, weak condition, and are making the best of their way to the West Indies; and we have now an opportunity of giving the finishing stroke to the Canadians in Nova Scotia, which I hope we shall not let slip; as it might prove of bad consequence to us, in every respect, the next spring. I am, with all due regard, Sir,

Your Honour's obedient humble Servant,

To Governor Greene.

The post stays for this; excuse haste.

W. SHIRLEY.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH 1

SIR,

Boston, October 28, 1746.

I trouble you with this to let you know that I have this day order'd three more Companies of 100 men each, which will make nine Companies in the whole from Boston, for Annapolis Royal; I hope your Excellency will not fail to send three or four more besides the two now ready to embark from your Governmt which will effectually drive the Canadians out of Nova Scotia, free it from the Danger, which may ensue by next Spring, from their Wintering there; and be undoubtedly esteem'd a singular Service by his Majesty.

I am with great regard and Esteem

Your Excy's most Obedient

Humble Servant

His Excy. Govr. Wentworth.

W. SHIRLEY.

1 Original, A. L. S., Mass. Hist. Soc., Belknap Manuscripts, 61

C, p. 83.

SIR,

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO WILLIAM GREENE 1

Boston, November 4th, 1746.

I have now the pleasure of informing Your Honour of the French Fleet's quitting the Coast, of Nova Scotia, and going off to the West Indies, and the Canadians breaking up their Camp before the garrison at Annapolis Royal; But notwithstanding this, as service of the greatest Importance remains yet to be done in Nova Scotia, viz. taking or destroying all the Enemy's Magazines of Warlike Stores and Provisions, at Minas and Chicknecto; taking all the grain in the Country (except what is wanted by the inhabitants for their present use), for His Majesty's service, and the same with respect to their Cattle; by which means, all the inhabitants and Indians might be disarmed; and the latter, together with the Canadians (in case they should return next spring) be without Subsistance from the Country; driving off the Canadians, designed to winter in Minas or Chicknecto, and distressing the Indians there; among whom a very bad sickness prevails which has already swept off hundreds of 'em, visiting Chebucto, and seeing what footsteps the French have left there, calling the Malecontents, who are the most obnoxious among the French Inhabitants, to an Acct. for their joining an open correspondence with the enemy, and destroying the Settlements of such of 'em as shall abscond; and perhaps recovering some of the Prize Vessels and Goods taken from the English; By all which means, the Canadians would be discouraged from renewing their attempts next Spring, the friends to His Majesty's Government in that Province confirmed in their fidelity, the abettors of the French interest diminished, and deterred from open or even secret acts of hostility, and the Indians very much harassed

1 R. I. Col. Rec. 5, 203. A similar letter to Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire is in Mass. Hist. Soc., Belknap Manuscripts, 61 C, p. 84.

2 More correctly Chignecto, at the head of the bay of the same name forming the western arm of the Bay of Fundy.

and disabled from giving the Enemy the usual assistance; so that if the Canadians should repeat their visit in the spring, they would not be able to make any progress in the Country, to the disadvantage of the Garrison.

I say as all these services, which have so plain a tendency to settle the lasting security of the Province, remain yet to be done; and this fall is the only opportunity for doing it; and I am informed by persons well acquainted with the seasons in Nova Scotia, that the Winter is not yet too far advanced for doing this with a probable prospect of the men's returning afterwards, this Winter, I have determined to send the reinforcement of five companies, which I proposed before my receiving the last advices; some of which, are already sailed, and others go to-day, and the rest in two days, at farthest; and I hope Your Honour, if your three companies are not already sailed, will order them to proceed forthwith.

If our endeavors are attended with success at this critical conjuncture, as I hope they will, it will be a most beneficial service for His Majesty and the Colonies.

I am in haste the Post waiting Sir,

Your Honour's most obedt Humble Servant,

W. SHIRLEY.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO BENNING WENTWORTH1

SIR,

Boston, Novr. 11, 1746.

I receiv'd your Excellency's Express with great Pleasure; and immediately sent to Mr Apthorpe to supply your Messenger with sixty Blankets, which he promis'd to do, But the next morning upon my sending for Mr David Jefferies he told me that one of your Committee of Warr had found a sufficient Quantity here; and upon his Application to me for the Delivery of forty Barrels of Gunpowder for you, I 1 Original, A. L. S., Mass. Hist. Soc., Belknap Manuscripts, 61 C, p. 84.

immediately order'd it. I fully design'd to answer your Excy's favour by the post; But he slipt me.

The Inclosed is sent you at the Desire of the Assembly; and, tho' I remember I mention'd in one of mine to you, that I thought there would be forces enough left to be employ'd in the Reduction of Crown point without any from your province, yet I think our succeeding in that attempt will next to the preservation of Nova Scotia (which I acknowledge I esteem of Infinitely greater Importance in every respect) be attended with the happiest Consequences to the Colonies; I am exceedingly glad that your Excellency's firmness has carry'd you tho' all Obstacles in the way of sending Succours to his Majy's Garrison at Annapolis,1 which I doubt not will turn out right; and I shall be very glad of your contributing to the Success of the Expedition against Crown point, which ought certainly to be attempted with as strong a force as we can send, after taking care of Nova Scotia.

I am with great truth and Esteem

The late Apprehensions we have had of an Invasion from the French as well as of their Designs against Annapolis Royal and the Province of Nova Scotia, have lately so much employed the Care of this Government (as we suppose it has done that of the Government of New Hampshire) that we have been in a great Measure diverted from prosecuting

1 The underlining is by Wentworth.

2 Original, L. S., Mass. Hist. Soc., Belknap Manuscripts, 61 C, p. 85.

1

the Expedition against the French Fort at Crown Point; But the French Fleet being now gone off, I shall attend closely to the Prosecution of this great Affair, And I have according sent Provisions, Powder and all other necessary Stores of War, including our large Mortar with a sufficient Quantity of Bomb Shells, to Albany to be ready for the Forces on their Arrival there: And I have also sent a thousand or twelve Hundred of the Soldiers raised for the Canada Expedition in this Province, and shall make them up fifteen hundred Men at least to proceed in that Part of the Winter as shall be judged most seasonable for this important Expedition 1 and to join the Forces from the Southern Colonies now on Hudson's River and those from your Province: And as this is a Matter of the utmost Importance to the future Tranquillity of these Provinces and Colonies, and the Forces of New Hampshire are so well versed in this kind of War; I must intreat your Excellency to take effectual Care that the whole of your Forces raised for the Expedition against Canada, saving what you detach for his Majesty's Service in the Province of Nova Scotia, shall be ready to join the rest of the Troops. That this Affair may be effectually prosecuted, (a Miscarriage wherein may be of fatal Consequence) I shall not have a Man taken off from this Service, more than what I have thought necessary to be sent to Annapolis. And therefore I must repeat my earnest Desire that your Excellency would press this Matter with the greatest Zeal and Vigour: And I send this to you by Express, by whom I shall hope for an Answer.