17 



Iry* said, in the House of Commons, that the colonists " took Louishourg 

 from the French single-handed, without any European assistance — as 

 cnettled an enterprise as any in our history — an everlasting memorial 

 to the zeal, courage, and perseverance of the troops of New Englan(l."t 



These are the mere outlines of the accounts ot" this extraordinary 

 affair.l Several of our books of history contain full details; but the 

 correspoudence of Shirley, Pepperell, and Warren, which is i)reserved 

 in the Collections of the Historical Society of Massachusetts, as well as 

 tlic letters and narratives of subordinate actors, should be read in con- 

 nexion. 



A centur}' has elapsed. With the present condition of Cape Breton 

 in view, we almost imagine that we hold in our hands books of fiction 

 ra'ther than the records of the real, when we read, as we do in Smol- 

 let, that the conquest of Louisbourg was " the most important achievement 

 of the tear of 1744 ;" in the Universal History, that " New Evghind gave 

 ]ience to Europe by raising, arming, and transporting four thousand 

 men," whose success ^^ proved an equivaJeiit for all the successes of the 

 French upoji the continent ;''^ and in Lord Chesterfield, that, "in the end 

 it produced peace," and that the noble duke at the head of the ad- 

 miralty declared that, " if France teas master of Portsmouth, he would hang 

 (he men iclio should give Cape Breton iti eichavgey 



The peace of Aix la Chapelle, in 174S, w^as dishonora1)le to England 

 at home and in her colonies. Of the adjustment of the questions which 

 relate to our subject, I may remark, that she not only restored Cape 

 Breton to France, and submitted to the humiliating condition of send- 

 ing two persons of rank and distinction to reside in that kingdom as 

 hostages until that island and other conquests should be actually sur- 

 rendered, but consented also to omit all mention of the ris^ht of Enijlish 

 sul)]ects to navigate the American seas without being liable to search 

 and molestation, though that pretension on the part of the French was 

 one of the original causes of the war, as well as the basis of the attacks 

 made on Walpole's ministry. The results of the peace to England 

 were an immense debt, the barren glory of supporting the German 

 sovereignty of Maria Theresa, and the aUenation of the affections of 



* He was one of the British commissioners of peace in 1783. 



t Hor.'ico Wiilpdlc calls 8ir rctcr Warren "the couijucror of Cape Breton," and says that 

 he was " rielier than Anson, and absurd as Vernon." Walpole also quotes a remark of Marshal 

 Belleisle, wJHi, wln-n he was told of the taking of Cape lireton, said, " he could beiievi- that, 

 because the niinisrry lia<i no hand in it." Walp(de adds: "We are making; iionfires for Cape 

 Breton, and thundering over (ienoa, while our army in Flanders is running aw a} and dropping 

 to pieces by detachments taken i)ri8oners even,- day." 



t April 4, 174"^, a eotnmittee of the House of Connnons came to the fidlowinc; restdution : 

 " HiHfilrr/l, 'I'hat it is the opinion of iliis connnittee that it is just an<l reasoiialdc liiat th<5 

 dcveral provinces and eoloni'-s of Massachusetts Bay, New I fanipshire, Connecticut, and Khodo 

 Island br- reimbursed tiie expenses they have been at in taking and securing to the crown of 

 (in-Ht Britain the island of Cape liretou and its dependencies." 



Mr. iJurkt^ remarks on this resolution that " these e.\])enses were immense for such colonies ; 

 tiiey wfTc above jC"2II(),00(( sterling — money first raised and advain-ed on their ])ublic credit. '* 



William l5ollan, ccdlector (d'the customs for Salrm and Mnrblchead, who married adan«hter 

 of (lovernor Sbirit-y, was sent to l']nL;land to solirit tin- reimbursement of these cxix-nses. Ilo 

 obtaini'd the sum of ij |i;i,t;|!) stcrliiig, after a tliflicMlf and toilsome ageiicN ot liin-e years. 



He rctuno'il to 15oston in 174'', with si.x hundred and lifiy-tliree thousand ounces of silver 

 and ten t<uis ol copper. 'Diis money was landed on Long Wliarf, placed in wagons, and 

 carried through the streets mid much rejoicing. 

 2 



