“It seems very observable from Sander’s Declaration how ready a Disposition the Nova Scotians show’d to afford Refreshmts. & Pilots to the Enemy, & that they had signified to the french Ministry their readiness to join with any force they should send for the Reduction of his Majesty’s Garrison at Annapolis Royal. Also from the number of Engineers the French had with ’em that their Scheme was to hold & fortify Annapolis, for wch. Purpose it seems to be that the 50 brass Cannon were brought, rather than for raising Batteries against the Fort: and that from the Number of their small Arms, which they had with ’em to arm the Nova Scotians (doubtless) as well as the Indians, they had a dependance upon being join’d by them. Likewise the Apprehensions which prevail among the Nova Scotians that they are at present rather Neutrals than Subjects to the Crown of Great Britain. And I think it is not to be doubted now but that the principal Part of the french Scheme was the Reduction of Nova Scotia in the first Place.
“Upon the whole the sickly State of the French Fleet, wc. is extremely ill mann’d, the hurry & Uneasiness they
discover’d upon seeing the Contents of the Packets which fell into their hands, & precipitate departure from Chebucto, with their detaining the Flag of Truce & English Prisoners ’till they were got 30 Leagues from Chebucto, & then dismissing ’em with a Notion that their Fleet was going up the Bay of Fundy to Annapolis (instead of carrying ’em up there with ’em to prevent that’s being known to us) makes it seem probable that the Enemy is making the best of their way to France or the West Indies, & was afraid of even M. Townsend’s following ’em.
“I am with the most dutiful Regard
“My Lord Duke,
“Your Grace’s most Devoted
“and most Obedient Servant
“W. Shirley.”
Shirley to Newcastle, Boston, 21 Nov. 1746.
(Extracts.)