Ch.VII. south AMERICA, 383 



their payments at the time of their feveral harvefts. 

 Thefe a6ls of kindnefs, and the open courtefy with 

 which he always treated them, had endeared him 

 to fuch a degree, that they looked upon hini as 

 their father and fo fenfible are even the rudeft 

 minds of difinterefted beneficence and affability, that 

 they on all occafions expreffed an unreferved devo- 

 tion to him ; and no doubt v/as made, but they 

 would readily facrifice themfelves for him at his 

 defire. On this confidence the governor of Bofton, 

 propofed to Mr. Pepperel, that he fliould go gene- 

 ral of this expedition as thus all the country peopk 

 would offer themfelves to go volunteers, and grudge 

 no dangers or fatigues which they fhouid undergo 

 in his prefence. Mr. Pepperel was not ignorant of 

 his interell, and faw all the weight of the propo- 

 fal but declined it, as being entirely deftitute of that 

 military knowledge required in much inferior pofts. 

 At length yielding to the indances of the governor, 

 and the entreaties of his acquaintance, who feconded 

 the propofal, he accepted of the poft •, and at once 

 from merchant became a warrior. This was no 

 fooner made public, than multitudes of the country 

 people flocked from all parts, defiring to be enlifted, 

 and impatient for the enterprize : rather from a zeal 

 to accompany their chief protedor, than for any con- 

 cern about the conqueft of Louiibourg. 



Such was the privacy of the enterprize, that even 

 in England nothing of it was known till the execu- 

 tion. The governor had fent notice of it to his ibve- 

 reign, but it went no further, left an enterprize under- 

 taken with fo much fpirit, and of fuch importance, 

 Ihould be rendered abortive. 



Thus the new raifed troops with provifions and 

 military ftores, but little fuitable to fuch an attempt, 

 embarked at Bofton ; and, in company with com- 

 modore Warren's fquadron, failed for Louiibourg 



which 



