Ch.VII. south AMERICA. 3S9 



this fort, employed againft the principal place ; and 

 under the fhelter of thefe guns, which kept a very 

 fmart fire, they began their approaches, and raifed 

 forts for battering in breach. The place was bravely 

 defended : but a large breach having been made, and 

 every thing prepared for a ftorm, it was thought pro- 

 per to capitulate on honourable terms ; which were 

 readily granted by the EngliOi, not iefs out of efteem 

 for that valour v/hich a concurrence of misfortunes 

 had forced to yield, than from a defire of putting an 

 advantageous period to a ftate of life, which had drawn 

 them from their domeftic concerns, and was not at all 

 agreeable to their difpofition. The officers of the be- 

 fieged were not ignorant, that the moft favourable 

 opportunity of repelling the enemy, v/as to fall on 

 them when they were beginning their works, in order 

 to form their approaches : yet fuch v;as the miftruft 

 from the too recent mutinies of the regular troops, 

 that though they themfelves made the offer, a fally 

 was not judged advifcable, fearing that the foldiers in 

 their prefent difcontent, being once without the walls, 

 would go over to the enemy, either from a dread of 

 the punifhments which they were confcious their dif- 

 obedience deferved, and would on fome favourable 

 opportunity be inflifted on them ; or to be revenged 

 for the opprefiions which they had undergone from 

 their commanders. 



Under a combination of contrary events, and with 

 a weak garrifon, this place held out a fiege of fix 

 weeks not furrendering till the end of June, By 

 this fuccefs England made an acquifition of new domi- 

 nions, and the colony of Bofton acquired an increafc 

 of territory, profperous before throughout its large 

 inland extent, it only v/anted this ifland to command 

 the whole coaft : and Louifbourg being now annexed 

 to it, a fhort account of this colony will not perhaps 

 be unacceptable, 



C c 3 



C H A 



