HISTORY OF VERMONT. 335 



Europe, having succeeded In eiFectIng the con- 

 quest of Louisbourg by the New-England 

 troops, was deeply engaged in a plan for the re- 

 duction of the French dominions in the northern 

 parts of America. For this purpose in the fall 

 of 1745, he had written to the British Ministry, 

 soliciting the aid of a fleet and army to attempt 

 the conquest of Quebec, while the colony forces 

 should be engaged in an expedition against 

 Crown Point, The British Ministry agreed to 

 the proposals, and Shirley with his usual spirit 

 of energy and enterprise, engaged all the New- 

 England provinces, and New-York in the pro- 

 posed expedition. The provinces, animated 

 by the success at Louisbourg, pursued the bu- 

 siness with great eagerness j their troops were 

 raised early in the season, and they waited all 

 summer, impatient for intelligence and orders 

 from England. In this state of impatience and 

 expectation, the news came that a large fleet 

 and army from France, had arrived at Nova- 

 Scotia, commanded by the duke D'Anville ; 

 that it was designed, and povv'erful enough to 

 recover Louisbourg, take Annapolis, to break 

 up the settlements on the eastern coast of Mas- 

 sachusetts, and effect the conquest of Boston, 

 and perhaps of New- York. Engkmd was not 

 more alarmed by the approach of the Spanish 

 armada in 1588, than was Boston, and the other 

 sea ports, on this occasion. Alarm and terror 

 ran through the country, an^ nothing was to be 

 seen or heard, but preparations to defend the 

 maritime towns, and sea coasts. An uncom- 

 mon series of m.isfortunes, losses, storms and 

 shipwrecks^ destroyed the power, aud defeated 



