of which are confirm’d to me by other authentick Accounts, it appear’d to me that there was no room to doubt but that a considerable Body of French and Indians from Canada was assembled in Nova Scotia, with Expectations of a Reinforcement from France; and if they fail’d of that this Year a Design of at least wintering in Minas or some other Part of the Country, by which means they would have an Opportunity of fortifying themselves in it, transporting their great artillery (which there was then the utmost reason to believe they had landed either at Bay Verte or Chebucto Harbour) to Annapolis, and work upon the French Inhabitants already ripe for a Revolt to join ’em in attacking his Majesty’s Garrison there so early in the Spring that it would be extremely difficult if not impracticable to relieve it by any Succours either from Louisbourg or the Colonies on the Continent. Whereupon I immediately sent Mr Mascarene an Assurance that I would send him as soon as possible 300 of the new Levies from this Province, 200 of ’em (which seems to be as many as the Garrison can hold at present besides the Troops already there) for the Reinforcement of it, and 100 of ’em to be employ’d in two Sloops up the Bay in the manner Mr Mascarene proposes in his Letter to me, and that I would do the utmost in my Power to make the number up 2000 soon afterwards, in order to dislodge the Enemy, & prevent ’em from wintering in the Province; And in the mean time upon my advising with Rear Admiral Warren (who is still here) he immediately sent his Majesty’s Ship Chester a 50 Gun Ship to Annapolis Royal for the further Countenance & Protection of the Garrison there.
“Some Days after this I receiv’d Information that a Fleet of upwards of 30 Sail were discover’d about 15 Leagues to the Westward of Chibucto Harbour, which lies upon the Cape Sable Shoar (the Coast of Accadie or Nova
Scotia) about 150 Leagues to the Eastward of Boston, and about 60 Leagues Westward of Louisbourg, & about 80 distant from Annapolis Royal according to Champions inclos’d Deposition, which was confirm’d by another of the same Tenour made by one Thornton sent me from Piscataqua, upon which I dispatched an arm’d Brigantine with orders to look into Chibucto Harbour, & if the Master should discover any thing to proceed directly to Louisbourg, & give Vice Admiral Townsend & Governr Knowles Intelligence of it, & to send me Advice of it Express by some fishing Vessel taken up at Sea; But the Brigantine return’d in less than 24 hours with one Stanwood a Fisherman on board, whose Vessel fell in with the Fleet on the 9th day of Septr about 10 Leagues to the Westward of Chibucto, the particulars of which are contain’d in his inclos’d Deposition; and the day after Stanwood’s falling in with this Fleet, Haskell another Master of a fishing Vessel discover’d it standing a right course for Chibucto about 8 Leagues to the Westwd of it, & was chas’d by one of ’em according to the inclos’d Deposition; which Series of Intelligence, as no Vessel has arriv’d here yet from this Fleet (which must in all probability have happen’d had it come from England) compar’d with the Accounts in the English News Papers of the Brest Fleet’s sailing, & the Intelligence gain’d from a french Prize lately taken by one of Mr. Townsend’s Squadron near the Mouth of St Lawrence, that she came out with the Brest Squadron & sail’d in Company with it eight days; the Account we had of two large french Ships being seen to go into Chibucto Harbour about two Months ago; the behavior of the French in Nova Scotia, & their declar’d Expectations of a large French Armament about this time, seems to make it very probable that these Ships may be part of the Brest Squadron, & that they have an immediate design upon Nova Scotia at least.—Hereupon
I sent an Express Boat to Louisbourg to apprize Admiral Townsend & Mr Knowles of it, & another to Annapolis Royal to give Mr Mascarene Advice of it, & to let him know that I was embarking 300 Men for the Reinforcement of the Garrison under his Command (which is done & part of ’em sail’d) with a Promise of farther Succours, and to apprize him that from the publick Accounts in the English Prints we had reason to depend upon the speedy Arrival of Lieutt General St Clair with the British Troops under his Command, & a Squadron of his Majesty’s Ships with ’em at Louisbourg; And as I have reason to think that an Apprehension generally prevails among the french Inhabitants of Nova Scotia, that they shall all of ’em soon be remov’d from their Settlements there without Distinction, which may have a bad Influence upon ’em in favour of the Enemy at this critical Time. I have wrote Mr Mascarene a Letter (a copy of which I inclose to your Grace) which is translated into French, & printed, in order to be dispers’d among the french inhabitants, if Mr Mascarene (to whose Discretion I have submitted it either to make Use of or suppress the printed Copies) shall be of Opinion that the Publication of it among ’em may be for his Majesty’s Service.
“If the Fleet discover’d on the Cape Sable Coast should be Part of that from Brest, doubtless their visit to Nova Scotia has been encourag’d by the general Disposition of the Inhabitants, & the strength they will add to ’em for the Reduction of that Province, & afterwards for an Attempt upon Louisbourg (if they should think it adviseable to make one) as also for the defence of Canada. Should they succeed in an immediate Attempt upon Nova Scotia (which I should not be surpriz’d at) & General St Clair with the Squadron expected from England should arrive in time for that purpose, I should propose attempting the immediate
recovery of it out of the Enemy’s hands this Year; For their holding that Province till they can fortify it and farther strengthen themselves there must be attended with very bad Consequences to his Majesty’s Service, worse than may be immediately apprehended, & create no inconsiderable Perplexities; at least it seems a clear point to me, that if the French should hold the Possession of Nova Scotia in Addition to Canada, the fate of Affairs in his Majesty’s Northern Colonies will be suddenly alter’d in a surprizing manner & it will then soon be discern’d that the Mastery of the Northern Parts of this Continent, together with the Sources of Wealth & Power depending upon it, will be in a very fair way of being finally transfer’d to the Enemy.
“Upwards of two Months ago upon receiving Intelligence of the Appearance of two large French Ships being seen to go into Chibucto Harbour, Mr Warren & I sent Mr Townsend notice of it; But as we had not learn’d whether any Vessell had been sent from Louisbourg to look into that Harbour, I sent an arm’d Brigantine to make Discoveries there, which was hinder’d from proceeding thither as is before mention’d; & I have now sent a Schooner thither with a Person who has undertaken to go into it in a Whale boat high enough to make an exact discovery of the Enemy’s strength (if any of their Ships are there) & to carry the Account to Louisbourg; But it seems possible if any of ’em have been there, that after landing some Troops and Stores at Chibucto, & getting what Intelligence they can from the Nova Scotians, their Ships may be gone to Canada; for which Place we have been inform’d that sixteen french Vessels, some of ’em Ships of War, had some time ago pass’d up the River of St Laurence; & since that six other Vessels with Stores; so that it is very probable that Quebec is much better prepar’d to receive a Visit from his Majesty’s Land & Sea Forces now than it was a little time ago.”
Shirley to Newcastle, 23 Oct. 1746.
(Extract.)
“It is agreed by all the Prisoners that the French have not fortify’d at Chebucto, nor sent any Troops from thence by Land to join the Canadeans; as also that Mr. Destonnel the chief D’escadre & Commandant upon the Death of the Duke D’Anville, who was of Opinion, to return to France after the Admiral’s Death without attempting any thing, upon being over rul’d in a Council of War & having his Flagg struck, fell upon his Sword, & dy’d of his Wound as all of ’em say, except Sanders.