S84 A VOYAGfitO Book IX 



■which received the firft notice of the defign from the 

 appearance of the armament. 



1 HAVE already mentioned that France every year 

 fends a remittance to Louifbourg of money and pro- 

 vifions for the payment and fubfillence of the garrifon 

 . and for the repairs and improvement of the** fortifica- 

 tions : at which the foldiers themfelves, when not on 

 guard, very gladly work as being a comfortable ad- 

 dition to their pay. But through covetoufnefs, one of 

 the general vices of mankind, thofc who were com- 

 miffioned with the payment of the foldiers, and even 

 the very officers of the garrifon, befides wronging them 

 in what they earned by their work, curtailed them 

 even in their fubfiftence money. This was no recent 

 evil ; and on the death of the governor, the foregoing 

 winter, the opprefTion of the rapacious paymalters 

 and officers rofe to fuch an excefs, as twice to occafion 

 a mutiny in the garrifon, and for want of timely 

 lenitives, thefe refentments contributed not a little to 

 the lofs of the place. 



The garrifon of Louifbourg and all its forts^ 

 confided only of fix hundred French and Swifs re- 

 gulars, and eight hundred militia ; formed of all the' 

 inhabitants capable of bearing arms. The governor 

 of Canada, who was not ignorant of the difcontented 

 Itate of the garrifon, and knowing that even with an 

 unanimous zeal, it was not a fufficient number in 

 time of war for a place of fuch confequence, had, 

 without any knowledge of what was on the carpet, 

 offered to fend a reinforcement to Louifbourg, But 

 the commandant, either apprehending that there 

 would be no occafion for making ufe of thofe fuc- 

 cours, or that he judged the ufual force fufficient for 

 its defence, or for fome other fecret reafon, thanked 

 the governor of Canada for his offer, and told him 

 that on any appearance of danger he would em* 

 brace it. It was not long after before be faw him- 

 felf furrounded by the enemy j and all the ways for 



applying 



