Nothing further occurred in 1710, which is in any respect connected with my subject.
[CHAP. VI.]
Early in 1711 it was resolved to attempt the town of Quebec, the capital of the French dominions in Canada, for which service Sir Hovenden Walker and General Hill were nominated as Commanders in Chief. A respectable force was appointed, and they were directed to proceed for Boston, in New England, there to arrange every thing necessary for this undertaking. They reached Nantasket, near Boston, upon the 24th of June, and having prepared the Provincial Corps, and withdrawn the Marines who garrisoned Annapolis Royal since its surrender, they sailed for the object of their destination, after many delays, upon the 30th of July.
This attempt was rashly adopted, without examining the difficulties it involved. The urgent suggestions of the American Provinces first gave the idea, in order to get rid of a hostile and dangerous neighbour, but their energies were by no means adequate to the extent of their designs. A general ignorance of the navigation of the river St. Laurence very early exposed us to the loss of more than 800 brave men, who perished from this fatal cause, and these sad examples put a period to an expedition formed in misrepresentation, and conducted by incapacity.
The whole squadron and forces returned to England on the 9th of October, after having left the provincial auxiliaries upon their own coast.