Fort Anne. 305 



St. Lawrence to befiege Quebec, and General 

 Nicholfon, who was the greateft promoter 

 of this expedition, headed a numerous army 

 to this place by land, to attack Montreal, at 

 the fame time from hence ; but a great part 

 of the Englifh fleet was (hip wrecked in the 

 river St. Lawrence, and obliged to return 

 to New England. The news of this mif- 

 fortune was immediately communicated to 

 General Nicholfon, who was advifed to re- 

 treat. Captain Butler who commanded 

 Fort Mohawk, during my ftav in America, 

 told me that he had been at Fort Anne in 

 1711, and thatGeneral Nicholfon was about 

 to leave it, and go down the river Ifood- 

 creek, in boats ready for that purpofe, 

 when he received the accounts of the dif- 

 after which befel the fleet. He was fo 

 enraged, that he endeavoured to tear his 

 wig, but it being too ftrong for him, he 

 flung it to the ground, and trampled on it, 

 crying out Roguery, treachery. He then fet 

 fire to the fort, and returned. We faw 

 the remains of the burnt palifades in the 

 ground ; and I afked my guides, Why 

 the Englijh had been at fo great an expence 

 in erecting the fort, and why they after- 

 wards burnt it without any previous con- 

 sideration ? They replied, that it was done 

 to get money from the government once 

 Vol. II. U more. 



