I02 HlStOnitAL GEOGRAPHY OF NEWFOUNDLAND 



' ' ' ' ftdVeiideh Walkeri' \\-hile on his way back from his disastrous 

 expedition against Quebec, entertained a proposal to attack 

 Placentia, referred it to a council of war, and the proposal 

 was rejected, so that he too passed by Placentia on the 

 other side. Both colonists and soldiers complained of the 

 inaction of the Royal Navy. Probably Commodore Williams, 

 Admiral Wheler, Admiral Norris, Admiral Graydon, and 

 Admiral Walker, had they had more knowledge or nerve, might, 

 like Captain Williamson, have seized or destroyed Placentia 

 with landing parties. Possibly, too, they thought that the 

 operation would be useless. But all wars, even the most 

 successful wars, are strewn with lost opportunities, and history 

 has no right to discuss what might have been. 

 St. Ovide Actual history repeated itself a third time, and on this 

 and last occasion St. Ovide was the paymaster, who had to repay 

 raid himself by his plunder. On January i, 1709, two hours 



^ir John's before the dawn, in the bright moonlight, there came silently 

 dr'c, 1709. skimming over the white snov/, like ghosts, some 170 French- 

 men, Canadians, and Indians. A sentry saw them and fired. 

 Only eight or ten English soldiers sprang to their posts. 

 A covered way led from the soldiers' fort into the colonists' 

 fort. St. Ovide entered it, for its gate was open (!), rushed 

 the soldiers' fort, seized an unlocked (!) drawbridge which 

 connected the soldiers' and the colonists' fort, and the 

 colonists being, as they said, leaderless, yielded. Major 

 Lloyd, the commandant, was wounded and taken prisoner. A 

 third fort, containing 80 men, who forgot 1705, surrendered. 

 The prisoners numbered 477, and 200 Placentians were sent 

 for in post-haste to guard them. Then the colonists offered 

 a ransom, payable in fish, and computed at £7,280 in value, 

 and the offer was accepted. Verily the last of the freebooters 

 had his reward, but his victories, like those of his predecessors, 

 were mainly pecuniary. The garrison of 80 men was dispersed 

 and its officers were sent to France ; 1 50 men were taken to 

 Placentia, where they were forced or persuaded to work for 



