ON CAPE BEETON. 



193 



value of money iu those days over ten million dollars of our money, and even then they 

 were never completed in accordance with the original design, on account of the enormous 

 expense which far exceeded the original estimates, and of the reluctance of the French 

 king to spend money in America when it was required to meet the lavish expenditure 

 of mistresses and the cost of wars of ambition in Europe. The walls of the fortifications 

 were chiefly built of a porphyritic trap — a prevailing rock in the vicinity.' A considerable 



French Medal istruck at fouiuiation of forlilications of Louisbourg.'- 



portion of the finer materials used in the construction of the brick and stone masonry of 

 the fortifications and buildings was actually brought from France, — as ballast probably iu 

 the fishing fleet from year to year — but it is also well known that a good deal of the 

 timber and brick was purchased from traders of New England who had no objection to 

 earn an honest penny, even among a people whom they at once despised and hated, and 

 some of whom, in all probability, helped at a later time to demolish the very walls for 

 which they had furnished materials.^ It is stated with such persistence by French 

 officers, that we must believe that there is some truth iu it, that the fortifications had been 

 constructed carelessly and worthless sea sand used in mixing the mortar. It is quite 

 probable that in Louisbourg, as in Canada, the ofiicials in charge of the works cheated the 

 government in every possible way in order to amass enough to get out of the country to 

 which many of them had a strong aversion. 



' Dr, Gesner's "Induistrial Resources of Nova Scotia," ji. oOS. "Tlie quarry," lie is writing of a visit to the ruins 

 in 1849, " is seen about half a milo from the town. '1 lie stones were emjiloyed in their rough state. AVith them 

 I found a handsome cut rock, closely resembling the Portland stone of England. I have been informed that this 

 rock was obtained by the French at Mira Kiver, but 1 have never seen any like it in America. Pieces of fine 

 polished marble were also found among the ruins of the governor's dwelling." See App. XVI to this book for a 

 reference to Dr. Gesner's work on Nova Scotia. 



- From the collection of Mr. McLaohlan, Montreal. See App. XII to this work. — No. 1 in list. 



■' The New England merchants were always ready to take advantage of their position and make money out of 

 England and France according to existing circumstances. Sir Hovenden Walker, admiral of the fleet that met with 

 disaster in 1711, while in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the way to attack Quebec, (see supra sec, XI) tells us in his 

 account of the ill-fated expedition, that while in Boston, for the purpose of obtaining supplies, Mr. Belcher, a rich 

 and leading man of the province, refused to continue his contract to furnish provisions, because he could not get 

 the exorbitant prices he asked. (See pp. 64, 65 of .lournal.) Some of the captains of the ships expressed the 

 opinion that " Belcher designed to buy up all the provisions to be had in the country to enhance the prices and so 

 make the whole advantage to his own private interest." Mr. Peter Faneuil — a famous name in Boston still — was 

 also remarkable for " the exorbitance of his prices." (See pp. 11,12 of Journal.) Puritan and Profit appear to 

 have been often synonymous terms in the early history of New England. 



Sec. II, 1891. 25. 



